Mother's Day Part 1
How my mother broke Mother's Day and some book recommendations
With Mother’s Day two weeks away, I decided to make this week’s email all about giving books as gifts. But first, a story about how my own mother wrecked Mother’s Day.
My mom was hard to buy for. She never really made it known to me what she wanted. I was usually left to guess, and I was usually wrong. She didn’t want flowers or chocolate. When I asked her, she was vague, saying things like “I’m sure you can figure it out” or “I’ll be happy with anything”. The truth was, she was never happy. The last time I bought her anything for Mother’s Day was when I was a teenager. She had seen some stoneware dishes and casually mentioned how much she liked them. I took a 40-minute, 2 bus journey to the store that had the dish set to buy it. That shit was heavy. When she unwrapped them on Mother’s Day morning, he response was “Oh, I don’t really like this pattern. Can you return them?”
Heartbroken, I asked her for a lift to the mall. “I have to drive you to return my Mother’s Day present? No. I won’t do that.” I hauled that heavy dish set back on the busses. That was the last time I made any kind of effort for Mother’s Day.
I still feel the hurt from that rejection.
Fortunately, my take away was to be a more grateful mother - all the time. I don’t place unrealistic or seasonal expectations on my sons. In return, they give me thoughtful gifts and like to prank me. On my birthday this year, they presented me with a Bic 4-colour click pen. That was the prank part, but the joke was on them. They had no idea the Bic pen was something 11-year-old me wanted but as the kid of a single working mom, there was no money for fanciful pens. I envied the other kids in my class who had them. The real gift was a GORGEOUS Lamy fountain pen.
I still tear up at how thoughtful this gift was. They know I love fountain pens, an obsession that only developed 7 years ago when osteoarthritis in my left thumb forced me to learn how to write with my right hand. I am now fully ambidextrous, but I can also use a fountain pen without worrying about dragging the side of my hand through the ink. #lefthandedproblems
So, with Mother’s Day on my mind, I put the call out to my independent author community to share their books with me. I posted the form for two weeks, and 13 stepped up to the task. I hope you find a new author your mom will love.
Until the Last Star Fades, contemporary romance/women's fiction
Touching, heartfelt and passionate, UNTIL THE LAST STAR FADES blurs the line between slow-burn romance and women’s fiction, and is a must-read for hopeful romantics, devoted daughters, and the moms they cherish.
COULD YOU BE THE ONE WHO CHANGES EVERYTHING?
In her senior year at NYU, Riley Hope appears to be on top of the world. With a loving mother who makes Lorelai Gilmore look like a parenting slacker, ride-or-die friends, and a long-time boyfriend destined for the National Hockey League, she puts on a smile for the world. But behind it, she’s drowning. Racked with fears for the future, she battles to stay afloat amid life in the shadows of a heartbreaking illness.
And then, Ben Fagan comes crashing into her life. Twenty-three-years-old, British, and alone in the Big Apple after a disastrous pilot season in LA, the struggling actor is looking for an escape: booze, mischief, sex—minimum commitment, maximum fun—anything to avoid returning across the pond.
As they form an unlikely bond, Riley keeps her reality from Ben so that he remains a happy refuge. But how long can she hold back the truth…and is Ben keeping his own secrets, too?
From the award-winning author of LONDON BELONGS TO ME and LONDON, CAN YOU WAIT?, comes a bittersweet story about love, loss, sacrifice, and the life changing decisions we make.
About the Author: Jacquelyn writes love stories for hopeful romantics because her novels are always optimistic and she believes 'happily ever afters' are more important now than ever before. But life is messy, relationships are messy, and her books aren't afraid to go there, too. If you enjoy character and relationship-driven stories about people dealing with the triumphs and disasters we all face, Jacquelyn’s books are for you. Jacquelyn lives in and writes from Ontario, Canada.
What would your mom say about your book?
My mum passed away before I started writing novels. Mum always encouraged me to write one, so now with every book I try to make her proud. The relationship between Riley and her mum Maggie is a major thread in Until the Last Star Fades (and parts of it are inspired by my own relationship with my mum), so I can only hope that she would love it.
Chaos Calling: Book I of The Xenthian Cycle, fantasy action
Anna Lin is done with crying. Her mother has died and her father’s refusing to deal with, well, anything. Her brother Jason, an emergency physician in Vancouver, has long since checked out.
Meanwhile, caring for her mother’s decline and sorting out her estate has iced Anna’s realty career. The bills are piling up. The kids are out of school for the summer. And her husband, Malcolm, is running out of patience.
Beyond frustration, Anna hears raccoons in her Toronto garage late one night. But no neighbourhood pest awaits her.
For the first time in two millennia, mysterious creatures have returned to our world to hunt us. As the strange attacks increase, Anna realizes that she, Jason, and Dave LaRoque Montcalm, a recovering startup CEO and their best friend from childhood, hold the keys to defending their city and the world—if she can convince them to join her.
About the Author: Born in Northern Ontario, E. M. Williams once gave a TedxTalk on women, superheroes, and power. Intended to make her past scholarship work accessible, it spawned her fantasy action series. She is a member of the Writer’s Union of Canada and the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association.
What would your mom say about your book?
My mom was my first reader and still reads every draft. Bonding over my books has become a big part of our relationship. There's also a lot in the series about mothers, daughters, and how powerful that relationship can be.
Fieres, sci-fi fantasy
Grace is weird and there’s no denying it. She a humanlike albino automaton with no idea of where she came from. The only time she talks to anyone is at her small dojo in Toronto. But something has been stalking her across time and space.
When seemingly random encounters with four other women unearth shared memories of a distant planet called Fieres, everything changes. Not only does this secret, breathtaking world link them all together, magical abilities are awoken as a mission comes into clear focus: Fieres needs their help. An ancient predator has it in their sights, and it’s one that Grace discovers she knows far too well.
She must now face the hard truth about herself, her past, and who— and
what— she really is. Not returning to Fieres is not an option. If they fail to stop the threat, Earth will meet the same terrible fate.
About the Author: Jendra is a Canadian author living with her husband and son in Toronto. A former art student turned journalism grad, her primary love is, and has always been, the written word. Her favourite theme is human nature, wrapped in a mix of fantasy and science fiction.
What would your mom say about your book?
It's a fun but thoughtful story that explores themes of female friendship, motherhood, bodily autonomy and sacrifice.
Mr. Darcy's Complex Courtship, a Pride & Prejudice Regency romance
Would Mr. Darcy sacrifice his legacy for love?
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy’s marriage proposal comes as a shock to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Despite the temptation to rail at him for his past injustices, she restrains herself and declines his offer with civility.
Following a heartfelt and enlightening discussion with the perplexing gentleman, Elizabeth is persuaded to judge him anew and allows him to call upon her in London. As her understanding of Darcy’s nature improves, so does her regard for him.
But Darcy’s aunt Lady Catherine confronts Elizabeth with a startling declaration: her ladyship maintains she has the means to take Pemberley away from Darcy. Could this outrageous assertion be true?
In this Regency variation of Pride & Prejudice, shocking developments and unforeseen obstacles combine to drive Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy apart. Will they manage to overcome these impediments and find their happily ever after?
About the Author: Award-winning author Kelly Miller writes Austenesque Regency romances. She lives in Silicon Valley with her husband and their pets.
What would your mom say about your book?
My mother adored my books. Unfortunately, she passed away last year. "Mr. Darcy's Complex Courtship" is the first of my books that she did not get to read. :(
The Friday Friendship Club, Women's Fiction
The lives of prime-time friends Leonora, Selena and Dorothea are about to take a very interesting turn.
Leonora discovers her husband is having an affair and struggles to come to terms with this crushing blow. Selena is about to meet the love of her life but is utterly unprepared for the heartbreak it might bring. Finally, Dorothea’s beloved career is under threat, but her job is the only way she can make sense of herself and she can't see a future without it.
Can the three friends support each other through life’s challenges, and is there the slightest chance of a happy outcome for any of them?
Perfect for fans of Clare Pooley and Cathy Hopkins!
About the Author: Anne Brooke writes fiction about prime-time women & how they live their lives. She is also a poet. She enjoys crosswords, gardening, swimming and the theatre, and would love to learn how to dance.
What would your mom say about your book?
The story and the friendship between the three women made my mother smile!
Love, Loss, & Lists, Romance
Henry Moore always has a plan. Whatever the situation, he’s already thought through five different scenarios, outcomes, and proceeds accordingly. His thorough nature has served him well; a successful executive career, close-knit family, and a long and happy marriage.
Eva Cruz is everything to everyone. A dutiful employee who goes above and beyond, a loyal wife always ready to compromise to make her marriage work; Eva just wants to do the right thing and keep everyone happy.
When a simple phone call throws their lives off course and eventually into each others’ paths, they both find themselves struggling to figure out life and love all over again.
***recently optioned by a major studio
About the Author: Amber West is a Northeastern transplant dodging rodent sized bugs and sweltering heat in the jungles of Central Florida. When she isn’t battling the urge to pass out, she’s busy being a slayer of spreadsheets, a geek of many shades, and a writer, in no particular order.
What would your mom say about your book?
She’d probably say she always knew I was talented and then give it four stars. 😂
Shared Hearts, romantic suspense
Mae’s life is a delicate balance. Living with type one diabetes, navigating teaching, and managing her fractured family history isn’t easy—especially with her mother vanishing five years ago, leaving only echoes of addiction and betrayal. But Mae’s world turns upside down when her house is broken into, forcing her to seek refuge with her best friend, Pierce.
As they face the mystery of who is targeting Mae, their friendship ignites into a heated pact: a temporary romance without the risk of deeper feelings. As Mae and Pierce delve into the shadows of her past and confront the ghosts of her mother’s choices, the lines between friendship and love blur. Mae must navigate a path filled with danger, self-discovery, and heart-wrenching choices.
Can Mae reclaim her sense of safety and forge a new future without losing the love blooming between her and Pierce? Or will the weight of her past—and her heart—pull her under?
About the Author: Leigh Jack is a reading teacher and mom. When she's not working with students, she's busy keeping up with two energetic kids and three fluffy pups at home. Leigh has always dreamed of crafting her own stories. When she's not breaking up sibling squabbles or enriching her students' minds, you can find her hiding in the pantry with a snack, plotting her next literary adventure.
What would your mom say about your book?
What an electrifying read from a first time author! The story brought romance, fun, adventure, and mystery all into one. The author did a very good job describing all the characters! Bravo! Can’t wait to read the next adventure. I’m so proud!
Part 2 coming next week with more book recommendations.
I’m so sorry that was your experience, Dana. You felt the love that your mother couldn’t. So glad you have rewritten this story.
Thanks for including my book, Dana!