GSMC Book Review Podcast

It's almost Mother's Day, and Sarah takes a trip down memory lane as she waxes nostalgic about the moms in her life and the ways they inspired her love of reading. She talks about her mom, her mom's mom, and her sister. She also talks about some of the favorite books from her childhood that she read with her mom. It's an ode to all things moms and books!<br /><br />As always, if you en...

Sarah speaks with Laurie Fagen, author of the Behind the Mic series, specifically about Fade Out, the first book in that series. The series follows Lisa Powers, a young radio journalist who covers the crime beat in Chandler, AZ. Lisa also writes and produces a mystery podcast, helps the Chandler police solve cold cases, and gets herself into some sticky situations in the process. Laurie is also on...

Sarah speaks with Julia Whelan about her book, My Oxford Year. The book tells the story of Ella Duran, and American woman doing a year of study at Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship. Ella's journey takes an unexpected turn when she is asked to work remotely on a political campaign for a presidential campaign. It takes another turn when she meets and becomes involved with Jamie Davenport. Both turns wi...

Sarah speaks with Michelle Hazen about her book, A Cruel Kind of Beautiful, the first in Hazen's Sex, Love, and Rock and Roll Series. This is the story of Jera and Jacob. Jera is a college student, a drummer, and someone who has trouble with physical intimacy. Jacob is a former college baseball player who now works several part-time jobs while going to school and caring for his younger brother. He...

Sarah speaks with R.J. Rosatte, author of Dark Side of the Mountain, one of the novellas in the Tawnee Mountain Mystery series. This is the story of Katie Douglas and Casey Malone, who find themselves at the Tawnee Mountain Resort at the same time that three mountain bikers go missing, a cave full of explosive materials is discovered, and and FBI investigation is launched. Even though they've just...

Sarah interviews Marla J. Hayes, author of Cassidy's Deadly Exit, which is part of the Tawnee Mountain Mysteries. This is a series of 7 mysteries, written by different authors, set at the Tawnee Mountain Resort. Cassidy's Deadly Exit tells the story of Cassidy,  Tony-award winning actress who finds herself facing a situation with a fan that could prove to be deadly.<br /><br />As alway...

Sarah speaks with Cynthia Diamond, author of the Wyrd Love series, especially the newest book in the series, Alchemy's Hunger. This contemporary/urban fantasy romance tells the story of Tony and Faith who are both trying to move forward from pasts that are haunting them. As a person skilled in magic Tony needs Faith to complete a ritual that might lead to his redemption. Faith just wants to move o...

Sarah talks with Claire Marti, author of the Finding Forever in Laguna Series, specifically about the 2nd book, At Last in Laguna. The book is about Alyssa and Brandt, characters who are connected with the main character from the first book, Nick. Alyssa is Nick's sister and Brandt is his best friend, but the 2 don't get along at all. Or do they? As they begin to explore a potential relationship e...

With the recent release of Disney's A Wrinkle in Time Sarah talks about the book which inspired the movie. It is the first in the Time Quintet by Madeleine L'Engle, a series that combines science fiction, fantasy, faith, and epic battles of good and evil.<br /><br />As always, if you enjoyed the show, follow us and subscribe to the show: you can find us on iTunes or on any app that car...

Sarah and Staci have a book chat about Harry Potter. They also talk about numerous other books because like all book lovers, one book makes them think of another, which reminds them of that one book they read that one time, which takes them down memory lane to that book they read in childhood...<br /><br />As always, if you enjoyed the show, follow us and subscribe to the show: you can...

Sarah speaks with author Priscilla Oliveras about the second book in her Matched to Perfection series, Her Perfect Affair, which was just published on March 27th. The book tells the story of Rosa and Jeremy who find themselves in an unexpected situation after making an impulsive decision. They need to get to know one another better, learn to trust one another, and figure out how their lives will l...

Sarah interviews Jim Heskett, author of Nailgun Messiah, the first book in the Micah Reed series. Nailgun Messiah is a thriller with a complicated hero. Micah isn't exactly an anti-hero, but he's not your typical larger-than-life hero, either. After a series of events leads him to leave town and seek out his sister Micah finds himself inadvertently involved in a cult, running from drug dealers, wo...

Sarah speaks with author Jeri Bronson about her debut novel, Seeking Perfect. Seeking Perfect tells the story of high school senior Jessie, who just wants to  make it through high school so she can go to college and escape her abusive, alcoholic mother. She wants to keep her head down, stay under the radar, and graduate. Her plans are disrupted by Derek Aames who takes an interest in Jessie and th...

Sarah speaks with Debbie Burke, author of Instrument of the Devil. This is the story of Tawny, a technophobic widow from Montana. Tawny receives the gift of her first smart phone and finds herself frustrated by it's many mysteries. She soon finds herself in a dangerous and threatening predicament as the phone was not a gift but part of a plot to bring down the power grid and place the blame on Taw...

Sarah interviews Jim Nelson, author of Bridge Daughter and Hagar's Mother. Bridge Daughter is the story of Hanna, a young woman who dreams of college and becoming a horticulturist. On her 13th birthday, though, she learns that she is a Bridge Daughter, born pregnant with her parents real child, and that she will soon give birth to that child and die herself. Hanna then struggles to make a decision...

Sarah interviews Louise Cole, author of The Devil's Poetry, the story of a young woman named Callie who discovers that she can save the world from war simply by reading from a book. Or is it that simple? Callie must determine whom she can trust and what she believes in order to make a decision that might affect the fate of the entire world.<br /><br />As always, if you enjoyed the show...

Sarah interviews Yi Shun Lai, author of Not a Self-Help Book: The Misadventures of Mary Wu. Yi Shun also writes non-fiction, is an editor and writing coach, and is part-owner of the Tahoma Literary Review.<br /><br />As always, if you enjoyed the show, follow us and subscribe to the show: you can find us on iTunes or on any app that carries podcasts as well as on YouTube. Please rememb...

Sarah speaks with Laura Heffernan, who has returnd to the podcast to discuss her final book in the Reality Star trilogy. Royal Wedding was released today and follows the continuing adventures of Justin and Jen who met on one reality show, got engaged on a second, and are about to get married on a third, despite the crazy drama the producers and showrunners have put them through in both of their pr...

In this replay of episode 9 Sarah talks about 3 books with young, male protagonists.  First, she looks at the Fudge Series by Judy Blume, which centers on Peter and his little brother "Fudge."  Fudge is little, cute, and opinionated, 3 things that drive Peter up the wall.  Next, she talks about How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell where two boys make a bet that one of them can't eat 15 worms...

Sarah speaks with Donalyn Maurer, author of the McGinty's of San Antonio series.  The series follows the McGinty family through numerous adventures, romances, life changes, and more, creating a rich tapestry of a family who loves and supports each other through everything life throws at them.<br /><br />As always, if you enjoyed the show, follow us and subscribe to the show: you can fi...

In this replay of episode 8Sarah discusses 2 series featuring smart, curious, stubborn, sassy young heroines: Junie B Jones and Ramona Quimby.  The Junie B Jones series is by Barbara Park and tells the story of Junie B and her adventures during Kindergarten and first grade. The Ramona Quimby series is by Beverly Clearly and tells of Ramona and her family over the course of several years.  Both ser...

Sarah interviews ML Ruscsak, author of the Of Lite and Darke Series.  There are currently two books out in the series: The New Reign and The Fallen (which is a prequel to The New Reign).  The series starts by telling the story of Nisha, crown princess of Darke, whose parents were killed just days after her birth.  She is to be crowned on her 18th birthday, but when she goes to Darke she uncovers m...

Sarah talks about her complicated relationship with the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.  The series encompasses elements of historical fiction, romance, science fiction, fantasy, and is an epic 8 book (so far) series with a spin-off series as well as short stories and novellas.<br /><br />As always, if you enjoyed the show, follow us and subscribe to the show: you can find us on iT...

Sarah interviews Lisa Jakub, author of Not Just Me: Anxiety, Depression, and Learning to Embrace Your Weird.  The book mixes Lisa's own experiences with anxiety and depression, the stories of others who have also faced mental health struggles, and lots of facts and research on anxiety, depression, and mental wellness issues.<br /><br />As always, if you enjoyed the show, follow us and...

Sarah interviews author and life coach Karen L. Kristjanson about her book Co-Parenting form the Inside Out: Voices of Moms and Dads.  Karen and her ex-husband made the decision 25 years ago to co-parent their 2 young sons after their divorce.  At that time there wasn't much information on the process, how to go about it, what to avoid, etc.  Karen eventually realized that the book she wanted to r...