Beach Read Pick: The Stepsisters by Susan Mallery

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery pens a love story of a different sort…a heartfelt tale of friendship between two women who used to be sisters.

Beach reads are a staple for every book lover during the summer. Whether they're light and sweet, humorous, or compulsively readable with an edge, there's one out there to fit every reader's taste. The Stepsisters centers around mending broken family relationships with a hint of romance. 

THE STEPSISTERS by SUSAN MALLERY

Series: Standalone

Publication date: May 25, 2021

Published by: Mira

Genre: women's fiction

 

SYNOPSIS

Once upon a time, when her dad married Sage’s mom, Daisy was thrilled to get a bright and shiny new sister. But Sage was beautiful and popular, everything Daisy was not, and she made sure Daisy knew it.

Sage didn’t have Daisy’s smarts—she had to go back a grade to enroll in the fancy rich-kid school. So she used her popularity as a weapon, putting Daisy down to elevate herself. After the divorce, the stepsisters’ rivalry continued until the final, improbable straw: Daisy married Sage’s first love, and Sage fled California.

Eighteen years, two kids and one troubled marriage later, Daisy never expects—or wants—to see Sage again. But when the little sister they have in common needs them both, they put aside their differences to care for Cassidy. As long-buried truths are revealed, no one is more surprised than they when friendship blossoms.

Their fragile truce is threatened by one careless act that could have devastating consequences. They could turn their backs on each other again…or they could learn to forgive once and for all and finally become true sisters of the heart. 

The Stepsisters is available now!

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Praise for The Stepsisters:

"This engaging character study by Mallery is sure to please her many fans as well as readers of similar authors such as Nancy Thayer and Debbie Macomber."—Library Journal

PRAISE FOR SUSAN MALLERY

"Susan Mallery never disappoints."—Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Mallery beautifully illustrates the power of female friendship and the importance of reaching for one's dreams."—Publishers Weekly

"Mallery is one of a kind."—RT Book Reviews

“Mallery is an expert at writing about strong women, their friendships, and their romances.” —Booklist

“Fans of ReaAnne Thayne and Robyn Carr will enjoy how prolific women's fiction master Mallery orchestrates community connections, friendships, and fulfilling romances.”—Booklist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.

Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.

Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.

Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society.

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Spotlight: Seasons of Chaos by Elle Cosimano

Perfect for fans of Holly Black and Victoria Schwab, this enthralling duology follows Jack and Fleur, star-crossed lovers trapped in an endless cycle of death.

SEASONS OF CHAOS by ELLE COSIMANO

Series: Seasons of the Storm #2

Publication date: June 8, 2021

Published by: HarperTeen

Genre: fantasy romance

 

SYNOPSIS

As immortal Seasons, Jack and Fleur wielded powerful magic in their roles as a Winter and a Spring. Yet there wasn’t magic strong enough to keep them apart, and they risked everything for their love, for the freedom to live their lives as they choose—together.

That choice came at a cost. Jack sacrificed his Winter magic—and his immortality—to ensure their survival. Although he’d do anything for Fleur, he can’t deny the emptiness he’s felt since. Or the fear that his choice to give up his magic may have doomed them after all.

The world they thought they left behind is still dealing with the fallout of the rebellion they started. With Professor Lyon as the new Chronos, Seasons are free to do as they please. But not everyone is happy with the change in leadership. When an old enemy seeks revenge, the world’s most powerful magic runs wild and unchecked, creating global chaos.

Thrust into the middle of a new war, Jack and Fleur are faced with the aftermath of their choices. But are they strong enough to save the world from a storm that’s spinning out of control.

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Praise for Seasons of the Storm (Book one):

“Enticing and thrilling, Seasons of the Storm is flawless and addictive.” -- Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Seasons of the Storm is a mind-boggling mix of mythology, nature, competition, and powerfully original characters. I couldn't read this book fast enough—captivating on every level." -- Megan Shepherd, New York Times bestselling author

"Cosimano tells a story of the bonds of friendship and the power of hope for the future. The themes of friendship despite differences and self-sacrifice shine through." -- Kirkus Reviews

"With lots of action and an exploration of when and how much to trust those in authority, the story asks whether you will be the user or the used." -- Booklist

"Narration alternates between Jack and Fleur, adding some depth to the action. It’s the scenes wherein the Seasons whip up their elemental powers that really grab attention, with vivid descriptions of murderous vines, killer waves, and suffocating fire. Fans of Holly Black and April Genevieve Tucholke will hope that their time with these characters is not yet up." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elle’s debut thriller NEARLY GONE was a 2015 Edgar Award Finalist, winner of the ITW 2015 International Thriller Award for Best Young Adult Novel, and was awarded the 2015 Mathical Book Award recognizing mathematics in children’s literature. Her novel HOLDING SMOKE was a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award and the International Thriller Award. Her novels have appeared on several statewide school and library reading lists.

Elle grew up in the Washington, DC suburbs, the daughter of a maximum security prison warden and an elementary school teacher. A failed student of the hard sciences, she discovered her true calling in social and behavioral studies while majoring in psychology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Fifteen years later, Elle set aside a successful real-estate career to pursue writing.

In 2019, after living in Mexico for six years, Elle settled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Central Virginia with her husband, her sons, and her dog.

Elle writes thrillers, mysteries, and speculative fiction for adults and teens. 

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Review: The Devil and the Heiress by Harper St. George

Sparks fly when a runaway heiress bargains with a devilish rogue to escape a marriage of convenience.

THE DEVIL AND THE HEIRESS by HARPER ST GEORGE

Series: The Gilded Age Heiresses #2

Publication date: June 29, 2021

Published by: Berkley

Genre: historical romance

 

SYNOPSIS

No one would guess that beneath Violet Crenshaw's ladylike demeanor lies the heart of a rebel. American heiresses looking to secure English lords must be on their best behavior, but Violet has other plans. She intends to flee London and the marriage her parents have arranged to become a published author--if only the wickedly handsome earl who inspired her most outrageously sinful character didn't insist on coming with her.

Christian Halston, Earl of Leigh, has a scheme of his own: escort the surprisingly spirited dollar princess north and use every delicious moment in close quarters to convince Violet to marry him. Christian needs an heiress to rebuild his Scottish estate but the more time he spends with Violet, the more he realizes what he really needs is her--by his side, near his heart, in his bed.

Though Christian's burning glances offer unholy temptation, Violet has no intention of surrendering herself or her newfound freedom in a permanent deal with the devil. It's going to take more than pretty words to prove this fortune hunter's love is true....

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Praise for The Devil and the Heiress:

“A sparkling jewel of a love story, full to the brim with Victorian wit, romance, and heart-stopping heat. Road trips in a carriage and four don’t get much sexier than this.”—Mimi Matthews, USA Today bestselling author

 

"Dear Reader—if you love great characters—sexy rakish heroes and strong heroines—and an emotional story set in Victorian England, The Devil and the Heiress is the historical romance for you!"—Terri Brisbin, USA Today bestselling author

“St. George’s characters are wonderfully nuanced, and their chemistry is all the more enticing for it. It’s a pleasure to watch this complex duo navigate their relationship.”—Publishers Weekly

“A rich, compelling, and beautifully written romance. St. George brings us the story of Violet Crenshaw, an American heiress with distinctly modern ideas about love and marriage.”—Elizabeth Everett, author of A Lady’s Formula for Love

"Captivating...A delightful romance between a man who learns to be vulnerable and a woman who discovers her strength."—Kirkus Reviews

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Harper St. George was raised in rural Alabama and along the tranquil coast of northwest Florida. It was a setting filled with stories of the old days that instilled in her a love of history, romance, and adventure. By high school, she had discovered the historical romance novel which combined all of those elements into one perfect package. She has been hooked ever since.

She lives in the Atlanta area with her husband and two children. When not writing, she can be found devouring her husband's amazing cooking and reading.

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REVIEW

The Devil and the Heiress by Harper St. George
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Once again, poor Violet Crenshaw is on the marriage mart chopping block. In The Heiress Gets a Duke, her social climbing parents shamelessly dangled her in front of the Duke of Rothschild. Violet's belief that she was in love with her childhood sweetheart didn't affect their plans-their children were nothing more than bartering tools for financial and social gain. They ended up marrying into a noble family, albeit with August instead of Violet. Everyone should have lived happily ever after, right? Wrong. Before the ink is dry on August and Evan's marriage certificate, they immediately start plotting Violet's downfall again. It's enough to make you despise her parents with a passion, though I will admit to some disbelief that her parents could possibly be that greedy. An American family with "New Money" should be satisfied with a Duke to prop them up...right? They could have gotten an invitation into the most discerning snob's home.

Violet is portrayed as the more quiet and obedient sister of the two, however in this installment we get to see a new side of her. We learn that she dreams of becoming a published novelist, and a slightly more rebellious nature starts to shine through. I think witnessing her friend's recent tragic marriage was the main thing to bring about this change. Knowing how miserable her friend's new life was, she was almost desperate to avoid the same fate. Being married to an older man who had little to no respect for her who abused their power over her was not what she wanted out of her life. Her parents are dead set on her accepting Lord Ware, despite the fact that he attempted to take liberties with her. Now she is in even more dire straits than she was with Rothschild. She has no allies around her to help and there are sharks circling from every direction.

    The man was willing to ruin her to get what he wanted. 

The fact that she wanted something else wasn’t even 

a consideration to him. What made it worse was 

that her own mother supported him over her. 

Violet didn’t know what to do with that. 

She felt lost and alone.

Christian Halston, Earl of Leigh is the definition of a rogue. He needs an heiress and doesn't have much of a conscience when it comes to getting his way. After getting turned down by Violet's father, he decides to take matters into his own hands. I wasn't sure how I felt about him at first because he was just another person who treated Violet like an object rather than a human being worthy of making her own choices. He's kind of a despicable guy, even plotting to sell the home she inherited from a beloved family member if her father cut her off. However, it didn't take long in her company before he started to feel guilt gnawing at him, and fear started to build at the thought of the truth driving her away. Despite his chivalrous knight in shining armor act, he's really the villain in this story. She just doesn't realize it quite yet. I do love a good redemption story when it's done right. The good news is that I truly believed that Christian not only understood his mistakes, but made amends for them by the end.

I enjoyed seeing his wicked, charming personality paired with Violet's sweetness and innocence. I think she really softened him up and helped him to become a less selfish person after he fell so hard for her. There was such a tenderness that developed in him which I don't think he ever felt in his life. His parents had a horrible and toxic marriage, and neither had time to show him the affection he needed. They were also a horrible example of love, which is one of the reasons why he never felt inclined to get truly close to a woman before Violet.

As with any relationship that is rooted in deception, Violet and Christian's is doomed for disaster. It isn't a matter of if, it's when. After the truth bomb drops, and the stars are lifted from Violet's eyes, there is nothing but destruction. There was a point where I wondered if Christian would be able to adequately come back from the betrayal that he delivered. One of the things that I really appreciated was that his actions weren't brushed under the rug after a quick apology, and he didn't use her attraction to him to smooth things over either. He set about winning her heart back with actions rather than words.

All in all, I think this was another win for the Gilded Age Heiresses series. The writing is once again easy to engage with, and very fast paced. I never had any issues with boredom or temptation to skim. Anyone looking for a historical romance with a reformed rake and a sweet heroine will most likely really enjoy this couple! Violet and August's brother Max was much more fleshed out in this book which made me really happy. He finally started to feel more three dimensional as we got into his head a little bit and understood some of his thoughts and feelings. I look forward to reading his full length story in The Lady Tempts an Heir, scheduled for release next February.

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Review: The Shadows of London by Nick Jones

A time traveler's work is never done.

THE SHADOWS OF LONDON by NICK JONES

Series: Joseph Bridgeman #2

Publication date: June 1, 2021

Published by: Blackstone Publishing

Genre: sci-fi, time travel

 

SYNOPSIS

Likable antiques dealer Joseph Bridgeman is back in the present and dreaming of a quiet life. But when a mysterious and enigmatic time traveler arrives in his shop, Joe learns that his first trip was just the beginning and this time, the rules of the game have changed.

Blackmailed into accepting a new mission, Joe is flung back to 1960s London where he comes face-to-face with a ruthless gangster and witnesses the brutal murder of an innocent woman. Joe knows better than most that death can be reversed and the final chapter is sometimes where the story actually begins. Emotionally involved, he has no choice but to act, and quickly. With the help of Vinny, his vinyl-loving sidekick, Joe once again sets out to change the course of history. Sounds simple enough ... but when it comes to time travel, nothing is ever as it seems. Who is the old time traveler working for? And who decides what can and can't be changed? In a thrilling twist, Joe discovers that the victim is critically important to the future and what starts out as a straightforward mission soon becomes a race to unravel a mystery--one that threatens the very timeline he fought so hard to protect. Joe must dig deeper than ever, master his newfound skills, and save the woman before the past catches up with him for good.

Turns out time doesn't heal after all. It just adds salt.

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Praise for The Shadows of London:

''A time traveler ready to settle into a new home and a new reality is convinced to return to the past to prevent a gang murder ... Travels to the past drive the plot, but it's the complexity of the present that makes this book worth spending time with.'' --Kirkus Reviews

''In the Joseph Bridgeman series you find yourself smack-dab in the middle of a time-traveling thriller mash-up written with a vividness that both enthralls and inspires.'' --Thrillerfix

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nick Jones was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire in 1972. He is the author of the Downstream Diaries, a series of novels that tell the story of an average Joe, who discovers he can time travel. It's autobiographical. He lives in his writing shed in the U.K. and can usually be found surrounded by notes and scribbling on a large white board.

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REVIEW

The Shadows of London by Nick Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


After reading and loving And Then She Vanished, I knew I had no other option but to continue with this exciting time travel series. I'm a huge fan of the genre, but unfortunately, it's been difficult for me to find a lot of quality series to enjoy. The first book in the series was my first read by the author Nick Jones, and I was very impressed with his skill in creating a detailed, suspenseful, and flawless plot. With time travel stories it's very easy for plot holes to occur, but once again he managed to wrote a seamless story that my analytical mind could not find fault with. Book one was centered around the protagonist Joseph Bridgeman discovering his abilities and using them to save his sister. The Shadows of London focused on the aftermath of the events in book one as well as a new time traveling adventure in 1960s London. He's still the same lovable guy that appeared previously-Joe couldn't have asked for a more loyal friend to support him as he navigates his new life and mission.

Joseph was desperate to save his sister Amy who disappeared when he was a teenager. Her disappearance was the catalyst that destroyed the happy life his family once knew. He always believed that if he could just rewind time and change history that everything would be perfect again. It seemed that it would be at first. Then he realized that altering time has consequences. Changed events change the trajectory of people's life, people's personality, and so many other small things.

    All these huge changes and it’s sometimes the smallest details 

that are the hardest to get your head around.

When Joseph changed history, his family consequently lived a happy life free of tragedy. After jumping back to present time he replaced the version of himself that lived that happy life with his parents and sister. This is something that he finds difficult to accept-that he virtually erased who he calls "Other Joe." It's hard to imagine the guilt you would feel erasing someone from existence. Even if it's yourself and you still exist in another version. Rather than jumping into the perfect life, Joseph must now learn to adjust to his altered reality. Other Joe was adventurous, wealthy, self-absorbed, and athletic. Joseph is none of those things and now must walk in his new shoes convincingly.

    We all rode the same train until I was fourteen, 

and then the track split violently in two.

I enjoyed discovering the many various changes along with him. One of the most interesting developments for me was how he altered his relationship with the love interest Alexia. At the end of book one, he discovers that Alexia has no memory of the developing relationship they once shared. Instead of sharing a budding romance, she now can't stand the sight of him. He must discover what caused her animosity and hopefully make amends to form a new relationship. I was rooting for him to make things right once again because even though his sister was returned to him, he lost the woman who was just starting to mean something very special to him. His friend Mark did not make an appearance in this new installment, but his best friend Vinny returned to make Joe's new mission a little bit lighter. You couldn't ask for a more loyal and fun sidekick than Vinny, and he brings some much needed levity to some life or death situations.

There is new pivotal character introduced by the name of William P. Brown. (side note: I couldn't help but wonder if his name was a nod to Doc Brown from Back to the Future.) Bill is a man with intentions that you can't quite pin down. He forces Joe's hand in time time traveling once again and randomly pops up to give him advice and guidance. Joe despises him with a passion for entangling him in a mess that he wants no part of, but not everything is always black and white. Sometimes things must be done for the greater good. The question is, who will benefit if Joe manages to save Lucy in the 60s? Will it alter his own future for the worse either way?

Nick Jones did a great job setting the scene in the past for the reader. The clothing, language, and London's sights and sounds were all there in vivid detail. When Joe travels, he has new tools and knowledge to guide him on his path. He's not quite as green as he used to be, and there isn't that fear underlying his jumps because he has a better control over how and when to go home. That may have affected the level of suspense somewhat for me, but I did enjoy seeing Joe gain his new skills. He even got to enjoy himself a little in the past, more so than the first time when he was terrified that he wouldn't be able to get home.

The end sets us up a little bit with what's to come. After another successful read, I'm really looking forward to continuing on to see where the news twists lead Joseph Bridgerton. There are still plenty of questions unanswered-especially in relation to Amy in the past and future. She seems to be a troubled person and she didn't get a huge amount of page time in this installment, so I look forward to discovering some of her secrets. If you're like me, and you love a time travel book with plenty of twists and turns, there's a good chance you will love this series! I'm solidly hooked now and there's no looking back.

    “The future is in the past,” Vinny says conspiratorially, 

“and it’s waiting to be rewritten.”

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Blog Tour with Giveaway and Excerpt: The Checklist by Addie Woolridge

In an energetic debut novel about personal and professional chaos, author Addie Woolridge introduces a multicultural cast whose exploits are redefining the modern rom-com.

THE CHECKLIST by ADDIE WOOLRIDGE

Series: Standalone

Publication date: June 1, 2021

Genre: contemporary romance

Publisher: Montlake

 

SYNOPSIS

Killing it at work? Check. Gorgeous boyfriend? Check. Ambitions derailed by an insecure boss? Sigh—check.

Things were going a little too well for Dylan Delacroix. After upstaging her boss on a big account, she gets dispatched to the last place she wants to be: her hometown, Seattle. There, she must use her superstar corporate-consulting skills to curb the worst impulses of an impossibly eccentric tech CEO—if she doesn’t, she’s fired.

The fun doesn’t stop there: Dylan must also negotiate a ceasefire in the endless war between her bohemian parents and the straitlaced neighbors. Adding to the chaos is a wilting relationship with her boyfriend and a blossoming attraction to the neighbors’ smoking-hot son.

Suddenly Dylan has a million checklists, each a mile long. As personal and professional pressures mount, she finds it harder and harder to stay on track. Having always relied on her ability to manage the world around her, Dylan’s going to need a new plan. She may be down, but she’s definitely not out.

Guest Post: Checklists, Broken Hearts, & James Brown with Author Addie Woolridge

Hi, I’m Addie Woolridge, author of The Checklist. A bit about me—I am a classically trained opera singer with a deep devotion to glitter, coffee, Beyoncé, and The Rock. In my free time, I am also a marathon runner who is desperate to finish up the seven continents marathon challenge so that I can retire and go on vacations where running is not a requirement (just two races left, Sydney and Antarctica). I was born and raised outside of Seattle, WA, and although I now call Northern California my home, a piece of my heart will always be soggy in Seattle. That’s why I set my debut novel, The Checklist there!

The Checklist is a multicultural, contemporary rom-com that centers around Dylan Delacroix, a type-A, corporate consultant with a plan for her life. That plan includes making partner at her firm and purchasing a condo in Texas with her boyfriend. It does not include dealing with her bohemian family and their longstanding feud with their straight-laced neighbors. However, that plan is derailed when she accidentally upstages her temperamental boss. Banished by her boss, she is forced to return to Seattle on a career-killing assignment to try and revive a struggling tech company. Once she is home, she is immediately sent to negotiate a peace with the neighbors. Between her client, her fizzling relationship, and her family, it is hard enough for Dylan to stay on track, but when she finds herself falling for the neighbors’ son, Mike, sticking to the plan becomes near impossible. As pressure mounts, Dylan has to decide if she wants to keep checking things off of her list, or if she needs a new plan entirely.

I love Dylan so much, even when she is messy and uptight! While coming up with her, I was inspired by the idea of a fish out of water. I think a lot of people are expected to grow up to be like Dylan—responsible, competent, and predictable. I wanted to play with the idea that what many of us are told is “normal” behavior could be absolutely bizarre to someone else.

To write Dylan, I borrowed a few things from my life (take that terrible exes!). Like Dylan, I do make lists anytime I feel like things are getting a little chaotic, although I love colored markers and glitter, and Dylan would never sully a list with glitter. Both of us are Janet Jackson devotees—seriously, do not get me started on how much credit I think she deserves for normalizing female sexuality or we could be here all day. Also, both of us have perfected the OMG-this-is-bad smile. At this stage, my coworkers can spot “the smile” a mile away and know to ask what is wrong (or, maybe they know to hide from me?).

Unlike Dylan, I’m not named for a 60s folk singer (I actually have a family name and I love it). Nor do I have an awesome corporate wardrobe (I’m a skirts and dresses with pockets kind of girl). Similarly, none of our family dogs were as well behaved as Milo, who is not well behaved so that is saying something. Our family once had a German Shepherd who chewed up three couches when we weren’t home. Feathers were everywhere. That dog was so naughty and we loved her like she was made of gold.

The biggest thing that we have in common is that both of us have loving, albeit quirky families. My family is not composed of visual artists (with the exception of my Aunt Bob), but we are creative. Like Dylan’s family, my parents gave us a lot of freedom. We had one real rule, you had to be kind. Other than that, the rules were kind of a hodgepodge of different parenting philosophies. One of my favorite childhood “rules” came from the James Brown song, Hot Pants. My parents would frequently quote the lyric, “Never let anyone tell you how to wear your pants.” To them, it meant that no one in the family could tell you how to dress. It also meant that I wore overalls and Doc Martens at least three days a week throughout high school. Thanks, mom and dad.

To wrap it up, I hope that readers see a little bit of themselves and the people they love in this book. I also hope that readers get a break from the real world and fall in love with the Delacroix family, Mike, and Dylan—lists and all.

Praise for The Checklist:

“The diverse cast and amusing hijinks make this an appealing pick for rom-com fans.” —Publishers Weekly

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EXCERPT

The Checklist Excerpt

“Dear God. Are they trying to signal someone in outer space?” Setting her book down, Dylan unpretzeled herself from the armchair she’d been installed in. Quietly she opened her bedroom door to survey the rest of the house’s response to the neighbor’s giant motion light. 

“I told you so! Now, do what you must.” Bernice’s mocking voice floated up three stories. Dylan marveled at her hearing the bedroom door open over her dad’s experimental Ghanaian drum-circle music. 

“I’m on it,” Dylan called back before slinking down the stairs and grabbing her heels from over by the door. “‘Do what you must.’ Who says that?” she mumbled as she reached for the handle, already regretting how quickly she’d caved. What had she said to her mother? Something about her age and independence? Obviously, that wasn’t true. 

Cursing herself, she closed her parents’ door and began the slog to the Robinsons’ house. Although modestly painted and well landscaped, the house wasn’t entirely dissimilar to her parents’ home. However, it was scientifically impossible for the family living inside of the house to have less in common with her own. Linda and Patricia Robinson were both tech-industry big shots in their own right. Linda was a patent attorney and the recent recipient of the Latina Bar Association’s Trailblazer Award, a fact she never failed to mention. Patricia was an accomplished programmer and volunteer youth-cheerleading coach who’d even made the cover of American Cheerleader magazine when her all-Black squad had pulled a real-life Bring It On–style competition victory. Both had come through the tech boom when the industry had still employed few women, and they took absolutely no shit from anyone—including Dylan’s parents. Dylan believed her parents objected more to the Robinson women’s love of golf than their jobs. As far as Bernice was concerned, golf was like standing for hours in a glorified front lawn.

The Robinsons had two boys around Dylan’s age, and she had been jealous of the entire family growing up. They’d gone to church and played organized sports, their clothes had always matched, and their mothers had joined the PTA. Dylan’s dad had endured a short stint with the PTA, but the Delacroix didn’t do organized anything. If Dylan had left the house wearing something that matched, it was by accident. 

Distracted by the past, Dylan had stopped paying attention to where she was walking until her foot sank into the divot near a storm drain, filling her heel with water. She cursed, her heart thwapping in her chest. Visions of her father toilet papering the neighbors’ house ran unchecked through her head. As did the memory of her mother nailing the police citation to the Robinsons’ door when it had arrived in the mail a week later. Dylan thought this was a tame response where Bernice was concerned, but it led to the Robinsons sending boxes of craft-store glitter to the house. The Robinsons had lost that round, and the joke was on them, because her mother loved glitter. It had appeared in several of her most lauded collages that year, which she’d named for Linda and Patricia Robinson when she’d taken out an ad in the Seattle Times to feature the work.

Ignoring the panic sweat forming on her palms, Dylan knocked on the door, then frowned, looking down at her soaked woolen pant leg. If she didn’t dry-clean those ASAP, they were going to reek. 

“One minute.” She had barely registered a man’s voice when the door swung open. “Hello.” 

“Uh. Hi.” Dylan’s voice cracked. 

Mike was, if possible, better looking than the last time she had seen him. His thick hair had been cut short, highlighting his high cheekbones and the ambient glow of his golden-brown skin. Time had turned him into the sort of made-for-TV manly pretty that seemed unfair for one person to achieve. The vaguely chiseled features and broad-shouldered Latino archetype that beer commercials aspired to. 

Aware that she needed to state her purpose, Dylan said the first thing she thought—“You still live here?”—and instantly regretted her decision. 

“No, I’m visiting. Do you still live here?” Mike asked with an incredulous laugh. The Robinsons’ younger son filled up what felt like the entire doorframe, with one arm on the handle and the other resting comfortably on the jamb, as if being the J.Crew catalog guy were no big deal. 

“I’m staying with my parents while I’m here for a work assignment. How are you?” Dylan smoothed a hand over the hem of her blouse and collected herself. 

“Great. I live in Capitol Hill. I’m finishing my PhD at the U-Dub. I basically come here to bum dinner off my parents.” He smiled, and Dylan wished he still had braces. Braces had made him just above-average looking in high school. Now, hazel eyes and straight teeth made him uncomfortable to be around. Or maybe that was the vast amount of water in her shoe. 

“I’m sorry. My dad’s drum circle carries all the way over here. I forgot how loud it is.” Dylan gestured around the front door with a nervous laugh. 

“We’ve gotten used to it. Do you want to come in?” He stopped leaning on the frame and took a step back to let her in. 

“Thank you. I . . .” Dylan nodded, then paused as her shoe squelched. Panic left the little corner of her brain and seeped all the way to its outer edges as she tried to find a graceful retreat. If she walked in, she would track muddy water into the Robinsons’ otherwise spotless home, further cementing her place in the Worst Neighbor Hall of Fame. “Actually, I really shouldn’t.” 

Mike must have sensed her guilt, because his face relaxed into an easy smile. “No worries; I wouldn’t want to be seen entering the home of the enemy either.” 

“Oh no. It’s not that.” Dylan rushed to explain herself before she was firmly entrenched in Camp Dreadful Delacroix. “It’s just, my shoe is full of storm drain water, and your house is always spotless, and I don’t want to track it in.” She pointed erratically at her heel, which seemed more absurd now that she was drawing attention to it. What kind of Seattleite wore expensive shoes in this weather? “I promise I’m still significantly less strange than the rest of my family. Shoe thing aside.” She let her hands drop helplessly to her thighs. 

To her horror, Mike started laughing, his face cracking into a lopsided grin. “Why don’t you dump your shoe out and come in? My parents are picking up dinner, so we don’t have to tell them about the averted carpet disaster.” 

“That is probably the most reasonable option,” she admitted, adopting a woman-as-flamingo pose as she tried to take off one heel while still wearing the other. 

Wobbling precariously close to a fall, Dylan threw her hand out to catch the front of the house, but instead she caught the lean muscle of Mike’s bicep as he grabbed her forearm to keep her from toppling over. Appreciating the feel of muscle under the cotton dress shirt he wore, Dylan grabbed her heel and pulled. He likes the gym, she thought, smiling. Those don’t just happen overnight… 

***

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and raised outside Seattle, Washington, Addie Woolridge is a classically trained opera singer with a degree in music from the University of Southern California, and she holds a master’s degree in public administration from Indiana University. Woolridge’s well-developed characters are a result of her love for diverse people, cultures, and experiences.

Woolridge currently lives in Northern California. When she isn’t writing or singing, Woolridge can be found baking; training for her sixth race in the Seven Continents Marathon Challenge; or taking advantage of the region’s signature beverage, wine.

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