R.L. Maizes - The New York Times "Wedding Venues That Are Cheap for a Reason"

The New York Times | January 11, 2019

“Hooray! You got engaged over the holidays! But now the reality of what your wedding will cost is beginning to sink in. You’ll have to take out a second mortgage for fondant, but hey, the cement-like coating is très French. At the bridal store, you’ll max out your credit card for a gossamer veil that looks remarkably like the doily on your grandmother’s end table. When your planner mentions favors, run, or you could end up pawning your new ring to buy each of your guests a personalized platinum bottle opener.

Not everyone breaks the bank for a wedding, though. Frugal couples go to great lengths to cut costs, marrying in tree houses or in caves. But if neither of those venues appeal to you, consider these alternatives. Word of warning: They’re cheap for a reason.”

Follow the link above to read the entire article!

Jessica Spivey
Sara Blaedel - CrimeReads "Why Small Towns Are So Perfect For Crime Fiction"

CrimeReads | January 2, 2019

“Though I’ve made my home in big cities for most of my adult life, I spent much of my childhood in a small town. The contrasts between the two have dramatically intensified for me over the last decades. The differences can be vast and pervasive, and while it is true that people are people and that we have more in common than not, regardless of where and how we live, there is a sensibility and sets of customs in these insular communities that set them apart.  

Whether set in the countryside of Denmark, in rural USA, or the backroads of Japan, small towns would seem, on the surface anyway, to possess less mystery. Everyone knows everyone else, families often go back for generations within the same town, and their histories, triumphs, scandals, and both clean and dirty laundry are open books. Unlike in metropolitan centers, where it is easy and even commonplace to get lost amongst the masses, with the huge populations and people coming and going with frequency, in small towns it is more challenging to hide. Or is it?”

Follow the link above to read the full article!

Jessica Spivey
AN ANONYMOUS GIRL by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen - Good Morning America "Best books of 2018 make great gifts for the holidays"

Good Morning America | December 18, 2018

“A perfectly selected book as a gift for the holidays can make you the most thoughtful of gift-givers.

Whether you're looking for something new to pick up for yourself or stumped by what to get that very special bookworm in your life, check out our list of best reads of 2018. It's curated by our ‘GMA’ Booker Editor, including what we just can't wait to get our hands on in the New Year.”

Good Morning America selected An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen as a great gift for the holidays! Follow the link above to see the full list.

Jessica Spivey
WHEN THEY CALL YOU A TERRORIST by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and asha bandele - The Root "These 28 Brilliant Books by Black Authors Are the Standouts in What Was a Stellar Year in Black Literature"

The Root | December 17, 2018

“Let’s talk about books because, as usual, the past year has been an amazing one for books by black writers. The only problem is narrowing a list to under 30 books standouts when all the books are so good. From Michelle Obama’s autobiography to the latest collection from the poet laureate of the United States, black literature is stunning, necessary and timely.

In Iceland, during the evening of Dec. 24, books are exchanged as presents and then read all night in a holiday called Jólabókaflóð. This year, I’m going to do that with loved ones during each night of Kwanzaa. We may not get further than a chapter, but we will have books to read the rest of the months, and it will be a joy in the moment. Here are 28 of the best books published by black authors this year to get you started.”

When They Call You a Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and asha bandele was included in this amazing round-up! Follow the link above to see the full article.

Jessica Spivey
AN ANONYMOUS GIRL by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen - January 2019 LibraryReads Pick

LibraryReads | December 13, 2018

The January 2019 LibraryReads picks are live and An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen was included!

“Struggling to stay afloat with a job as a makeup artist, Jessica signs up for a study, thinking she will earn some easy money. After the first two parts of the study, she gets invited to the professor’s house for more questions and more compensation. Fans of psychological thrillers won’t want to miss this one as Jessica is a compelling character and the novel will keep you reading long into the night.”

Follow the link above to see the full list.

Jessica Spivey
T. Greenwood - Bookreporter "A Very Young Dancer"

Bookreporter | December 12, 2018

“Award-winning author T. Greenwood’s most recent book, RUST & STARDUST, is the gripping, heartwrenching novel of Sally Horner, the 11-year-old kidnapping victim whose abduction in 1948 inspired Vladimir Nabokov's LOLITA. In her holiday blog post, Greenwood fondly remembers the “single most magical book” she received on Christmas when she was seven years old: A VERY YOUNG DANCER by photographer Jill Krementz. Although her passion for dancing was eventually eclipsed by her love of reading and writing, she credits the book for quietly teaching her the power of narrative and photography. It also inspired her oldest daughter, Mikaela, to pursue a career in ballet, a journey that Greenwood has documented for the last 15 years with black and white photos she has taken capturing every step in Mikaela’s development as a ballerina.”

Follow the link above to read the beautiful holiday blog post from T. Greenwood.

Jessica Spivey
THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU by Liv Constantine - Bustle "'The Last Time I Saw You' By Liv Constantine Is An Addictive & Thrilling Follow-Up To 'The Last Mrs. Parrish'"

Bustle | December 11, 2018

“When it was published in 2017, The Last Mrs. Parrish received rave reviews from critics and readers alike. It quickly rose on the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists, became a New York Times bestseller in paperback, and was chosen for the Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club. Now, the sister writing team known as Liv Constantine is back with a brand new novel that is sure to satisfy old fans and create brand new ones. An addictive novel about a shocking high-society murder, The Last Time I Saw You doesn't hit shelves until next year, but Bustle is thrilled to give readers a first look at the book's cover and an exclusive excerpt.”

Follow the link above to see the cover real and read the entire article!

Jessica Spivey
THE WIFE BETWEEN US by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen - Audible "The Best of 2018"

Audible | December 4, 2018

“Every single person I turned on to this complex domestic thriller—and there were a lot—has called it one of their favorite books of the year. With its shifting POVs and time frames, along with heart-stopping intensity, The Wife Between Us has you questioning everything you think you know about the lives of one woman, her Master-of-the-Universe ex-husband, and her replacement (his new fiancée). Julia Whelan’s wholly engaging way of navigating this mind-play makes you want it to simultaneously linger on this listen, staying wrapped in its delicious suspense, and race to end towards its oh-so-satisfying conclusion.”

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen was selected as 2018’s best mystery and thriller title on Audible! Follow the link above to read more.

Jessica Spivey
THE GOOD DAUGHTER by Karin Slaughter - Bustle "14 Bustle Editors Recommend The Best Book They Read In 2018"

Bustle | December 3, 2018

"There have been an absurd amount of books with Girl/Daughter/Wife/Sister in the the title published in the last few years, but if you're going to read just one, make it The Good Daughter. It's well-written, emotionally grounded, and filled with the type of twists and reveals that many thrillers can't pull off: Those that completely shock even the biggest mystery fans, while still making perfect sense and feeling totally earned. It also keeps the compelling relationship between two sisters at the forefront, even when their lives are filled with chaos. (TW: There are some extremely violent moments and depictions of sexual assault.)"

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter was recommended by Bustle as one of the best books they read in 2018! Click the link above to see the full list.

Jessica Spivey
R.L. Maizes - NPR "Hanukkah Lights 2018"

NPR | December 3, 2018

“Family, community, faith and strength. Hanukkah commemorates both the rededication of the old temple in Jerusalem and the resilience of the Jewish people. For 28 years, NPR's Hanukkah Lights has celebrated the Festival of Lights with seasonal stories of magic and meaning.

This year, Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz read tales by Lynne Bronstein, R.L. Maizes, Susan J. Gordon, Jennifer Lang and Kate Schmier.”

R.L. Maizes short story, “Not My Birthday,” was featured in this NPR piece. Follow the link above to listen.

Jessica Spivey
RUST & STARDUST by T. Greenwood - Library Journal "Best Books 2018"

Library Journal | December 3, 2018

“This year, LJ eschews our traditional top ten list of best books in favor of a larger and more diverse mix across 20 categories—with 188 titles in total.

We cast a broad net and coalesced small committees for each category, each headed by an LJ Reviews editor and composed of columnists, reviewers, additional LJ editors, and/or industry experts, culminating in a compelling collection of titles that spotlight the full spectrum of the thousands of books that were published this year.”

Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood was included in this amazing list under the “Pop Fiction” category. Follow the link above to see more!

Jessica Spivey