I have no words to explain how this book made me feel Erin Zak just gets better with each book. Right from the get go this book pulled me in not just for the romance of it, as I could actually feel the heat between Stevie and Bernadette, the chemistry was burning off the pages from the first time the two of them meet at a tarot reading. The scene actually took my breath away.

I’m all in for a good age gap romance and this ticked all the boxes for me. Most of the time when you read an age gap romance every other chapter is about the angst due to the age difference but not this I almost forgot about that as I was reading this book.

Kudos to Zak for taking the emotional struggles that are involved in caring for your elderly parent, but then taking it to the next level and making it into a believable story that tugged at your heartstrings. This is something that many of us deal with as we ourselves age and to read a book like this gives myself as a reader a renewed vision on the scope of making good on your promises to your parents

I totally recommend this book to anyone that is looking for an interesting story that will play on every emotion that you have Well done Erin Zak WELL DONE

I was given an ARC for an honest review

Another good book from Erin Zak. The theme of the book was very original and done well. The connections between the MC’s was believable and they were interesting. The supporting characters were fun, and I loved their banter. Stevie is an improv actor, and when she reluctantly joins her friends in the cast for a psychic reading from a deaf psychic, she finds herself seriously connecting with the psychic's ASL interpreter, MC Bernadette. The two both feel a physical spark immediately, but Stevie has dreams of moving to New York to join the Saturday Night Live cast, and a relationship doesn't fit into that picture anywhere. On top of that, Bernadette's relationship with her psychic friend is very complicated, and she's not quite ready to give up her unrequited love for her friend either.

What a delightful story of two youngsters falling in love with a little help from the paranormal side. Stevie and Bernadette had loads of great chemistry that I’m actually sad that this author chose fade to black intimate scenes. She sure knows how to write fiery chemistry. I loved the story as piece by piece and page by page, Stevie and Bernadette are tipped toward each other by some really unique storytelling.

I sometimes have trouble with Zak's books, mostly because they are so full of angst that I do have to be in the right mood for them. Sometimes the stories work for me and sometimes they don't. I want to say that this one fell down the middle, mostly due to the prolonged vacillation from Bernadette. Especially when it comes to hanging on to her first love, Connie, and moving to a much healthier relationship with Stevie. Sometimes this type of plot line works really, really well like in Breaking Character, by Lee Winter, where Elizabeth knows she has a crush on her mentor, but doesn't realize how toxic the relationship is until she's essentially slapped over the head with it. With Bernadette and Connie, there's this undercurrent of awareness that gets under my skin.

Bernadette's relationship with her mother is way more understandable. Her mom represents safety and steadfastness, and the need for someone like Bernadette to have that type of relationship is understandable. I felt like that need to stay with her mom - the safety - was a much better conflict than between Connie and her. I think that the focus on the themes surrounding that relationship would have made for a much better read.

I would say that this is a nice read with one huge, exacerbating plot line, and some smaller issues. Over all, though, if you want big dramatic feelings, Zak is the way to go.

This is a difficult review for me because I think its a really well written story but I didn't like it. The characters were developed, the dialog was real and the pace was ok. But I didn't like many of the characters. They are mainly interested in themselves and too bad if that hurts someone else. With the exception of the lead character that puts everyone ahead of her own interest, goals and love life. And thats aggravating in the opposite way.
Starting the story with a improvisational troupe going to a deaf psychic with and interpreter was an interesting beginning. And I had high hopes for an unusual story but I felt it was basically a repetitive, one note story that dragged a bit.
Also I would have liked an epilogue because, besides Stevie and Berns attraction for each other, I didnt think they had a lot in common. Where does their life go next?

ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my favourite of Zak’s so far. Here we have MC Stevie, an improv actor who’s auditioned for SNL and is waiting to see if she gets her big break. The other MC is Bernadette, who is a ASL interpreter for her deaf, psychic, straight best friend, who she also happens to be in love with.

Now, usually I’m not a fan of books with the whole ‘lesbian character in love with their straight best friend’, unless the two of them are endgame. But when it’s just the lesbian character pining for the friend, it’s less fun. There’s a whole lot of that going on here, and I admit to being frustrated with Bernadette over that, especially given her age and how long this had been going on, but her chemistry and romance with Stevie easily off-set that. The two of them hit it off immediately after Stevie has a reading with Connie and there’s a lot of cute ‘accidents’ that keep bringing them together.

I also loved the secondary characters, Stevie’s family (especially Harper) and her BFF Laurie and Bernadette’s family are all wonderful characters, I especially liked that her brother was not at all the deadbeat I thought he was at the start. The only sour note here is Connie (Bernadette’s BFF), and she’s supposed to be a problem. As with the general rule of thumb of these stories, she’s mostly happy to string Bernadette on because it suits her, and she’s a selfish bitch. Thankfully everyone in this story points this out, even her own daughter, so it’s not like she was fooling anyone. But I’d have preferred Bernadette to have had a bit more of a backbone about that whole situation.

Still, I loved the romance between the two leads, how they meshed with each other’s important people, and how the inevitable breakup was resolved. There’s a fair amount of humour in this story, but it also has some really emotional moments, I had pretty much ‘all the feels’. 4 stars.

American Sign Language interpreter, improv actor, and a deaf psychic, what an engaging read. Stevie and Bernadette's story is not your typical lesbian story. Unique professions with two people not looking for forever. Stevie Adams, has dreams and is driven to stay the course. I appreciate the self-talk as she thought about life, success, and what happiness looks like. Bernadette (I really like that name) Thompson, dealing with unrequited love, promises made, and a future without love. Both of these women tugged on my heart strings as they worked to figure out how to deal with their attraction and future. I like the detail information shared about the MCs and most of their family and friends. I must say, Constance Russo, a character that is difficult to like but a very important part of the story.

I adored this book! It was unique and sexy and fun and heartwarming. It has everything you could ask for and more. Erin Zak gets better and better with every book and I adore their writing!

Stevie is an improv actor waiting for her big break to take her to NYC to be on SNL. She's practical and focused and romance isn't in the plans. When her friends take her to see a deaf psychic, she feels a moment of connection with the sign language interpreter, Bernadette. The reading throws Stevie for a loop, even more so when she keeps bumping into Bernadette at every turn. The two women give in to their attraction, but Stevie is determined for her career to take off and Bernadette is determined to stick to her commitments at home in Chicago. Will love find a way, or is the attraction only meant to be fleeting.

There were so many beautiful people in this book, Stevie's friends and family, Bernadette's friends and family. They were all very well developed and did so much to bring this story to a whole other level of connection between the reader and the characters and the story. I didn't feel like any of the secondary characters were left out or left hanging, they were all lovely and played a heartwarming role. The coziness from the family and friends that Bernadette and Stevie have around them was such a cozy contrast to the description of the chilly Chicago fall and winter. Stevie and Bernadette had amazing chemistry and a beautiful relationship. I loved them so much.

This book was really special. I do think I'll be finding myself a paperback copy of this book and getting is signed next year at GCLS because damn I know I'll be thinking about it for a while.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Stevie Adams is a star in the Chicago improv scene and waiting for the break of her career after auditioning for Saturday Night Live (SNL). One night after a show, she joins her fellow performers when they decide to see Constance Russo, a deaf psychic. Stevie is reluctant and does not want to get a reading, but literally stumbles through the beaded curtain where she meets Constance and Bernadette Thompson. Bernie is an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for Constance along with being her lifelong friend. Bernie and Stevie have a moment ignited by an electrical first touch. A few accidental meetings bring them together even when the relationship already has an expiration date since Stevie will be moving to New York City and Bernie lives with her elderly mother. Can their love survive all these hurdles?

The scene at the psychic where the main characters meet was great. It immediately grabbed my attention and even made me a little giddy. The tarot card reading made it all the more alluring. I have to say, I have never seen a psychic or gotten any kind of reading done. I fear hearing things and letting them influence my life. My own apprehension about the reading was mirrored by Stevie, who lost her parents in a car accident and wants nothing to do with fate. However, I can admit I was intrigued by the reading and enjoyed it (hey, it was not mine so I could!). Kudos to Ms Zak for creating such a great and original scene.

This story also happens to be an age gap romance. Stevie is twenty eight years old and Bernie is almost fifty. I’m not crazy about this category, but mostly it was a non issue in this book and the chemistry was fabulous for the most part. I guess the only issue was expecting Bernie to be more independent at her age. She lives at home with her deaf but otherwise healthy mother so the need to stay home was not a great reason for the book’s events. Perhaps I’m a little on the extreme independence side but I would have totally not been ok with someone that attached to their family, especially when Bernie’s brother was leaving town after getting a promotion.

Since I’m ranting about one of the older characters, let me rant about Constance. I thought the character was great but then realized she was basically evil. She knew Bernie was in love with her and spent a lifetime under the shadow of loving a straight woman but only made it harder for Bernie to be happy. Turns out when Constance finally had to, she had the perfect advice for Bernie: ‘Start living your life for you’. Twisted, selfish love. Young Stevie with her career first mentality seemed more selfless and mature than the other two characters. So yes, I found this a little frustrating.

The book is otherwise well written with some great secondary characters. I really liked the premise of the psychic and the deaf characters, creating room for a non typical profession such as ASL interpreter. Improv performer was nice as well as was the inclusion of a prominent show such as SNL. We can all immediately recognize how big this opportunity was for Stevie’s character...and why the only path was for Bernie to move and leave her family behind, but I digress.

Overall an age gap romance with an interesting premise and a predictable plot. 3.5 stars


ARC generously provided to me by BSB via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This was a nice enough read about a improv actress, Stevie, getting to join the Saturday Night Live crew, always putting career first and then she meets Bernadette, an ASL interpreter still living with her deaf woman who keeps putting other people needs first and not living life for herself.

After an accidental Tarot reading they keep bumping into eachother and there is a strong connection, but Stevie still is certain she's making the right choice by going to New York and Bernadette won't leave her mom, even though her mom wants her to leave her. And then there is Connie, the woman Bernadette has loved for more than 30 years. Honestly, I have to wonder why cause that character had no redeeming qualities, at all! She annoyed the *** out of me and I can't really understand why she had such a long hold on Bernadette. I could have gone without that plotline to be honest, didn't make sense to me.

Anyways, good enough romance to while away some time with, but not one that will keep lingering in your mind.

I enjoyed the romance in this book. It’s rather sweet, despite all the angst and fear over past relationships, hanging on to security regardless of knowing it’s bad for you. This book is all about moving forward and not being stuck in old patterns. And this part of the story is well written. In fact the whole book is well written. I’m just a bit unsure about one central aspect. Basically, I’m not sure how I feel about the deaf character and the ASL interpreter’s relationship. On the one hand I applauded the inclusion (I’m deaf and I rarely, if ever, see it included in a romance) and it’s an interesting addition to being in love with the straight best friend trope, on the other hand there are snippets that sit a bit wrong with me. Maybe it’s because Connie isn’t a pleasant character and that somehow feels connected to her being deaf rather than just her being a controlling woman who happens to be deaf. The CODA dilemma is nicely explored though and Bernadette’s mother, also a deaf character, seems nice enough. So going on these two things, I’m going to give the author a free pass. I think they know about deafness and Interpreting and Connie is just a bit selfish unconnected to her being deaf. But I do wish that when she practises with her voice it wasn’t somehow seen as such a positive thing.

This author just goes from strength to strength. This will be the third book by her that I have read and like the others I loved this book. I would say from the ones I have read, it is my favourite one so far.

Stevie is an actor/performer with the Improv Scene and is trying to get a spot on SNL (Saturday Night Live). Bernadette is a Sign Language Interpreter and has been in love with her best friend forever.

Stevie is an absolute sweetheart. I fell in love with her from the beginning. Bernie, I do like her, but she grated on my nerves to begin with. When Stevie and Bernie meet at a tarot card reading they are both instantly attracted to the other. I loved the chemistry between them both and there were some hot scenes. I enjoyed the story line; the pace was just right and the secondary characters are a great bunch, although; I took an instant dislike to Connie.

I would highly recommend giving this a read. You will not be disappointed.

My first Erin Zak read and I'm pretty happy.

Car crashes, tarot cards, SNL and fate is a pretty big combination but Zak manages to deliver a very smooth read.

Stevie is on the cusp of a big break, with an opportunity to join SNL. A chance meeting with American Sign Language interpreter Bernadette and a blinding instant connection almost puts everything in doubt. They agree their road will be short but it's worth it, but what happens when they really fall for eachother?

Well written and let's put it out there, 'Stevie' is a great name.

I enjoyed the pace and character interactions and would have given this a stronger rating if the ending was a bit more developed.

3.5 stars

4.25 Stars. This was really good! Zak can be a little up and down for me but this is her best book to date. After reading the early reviews I had some high hopes for this but it was even better than I expected. I could see noticeable growth in Zak’s writing which was really nice to experience. If she can keep this high level up she’s going to be an author every lesfic fan talks about.

Stevie is an improv actor who hopes to make it to Saturday Night Live. After her Chicago improv show, she goes with her friends to see a psychic. The psychic is deaf and has an ASL interpreter named Bernadette. Stevie cannot believe the energy she feels around Bernadette. But she is only there for a reading, she won’t ever see Bernadette again or will she?

I was surprised how fast I became fully invested in this book; from the characters jobs, to the characters themselves. The main characters that sizzled around each other to the great cast of secondary characters that you either love or dislike. Everything about this book was interesting and I was never bored for a second.

While I really got into the characters and their occupations, the romance is where this book really shined. Holy chemistry Batman! I could not believe how good the chemistry in this book was. I was eating up every little describing word that Zak tossed out there. This is the perfect example of an author “showing” what two characters are feeling for each other instead of “telling”. It was really refreshing and more than once when my heart was pumping I said “damn that was well written.”

I also have to quickly mention that while this is an age-gap romance, it is almost not an issue at all. So many age-gaps have angst that seems to be all about age and it becomes tiresome. I love that it was mentioned so little that I almost forgot that there was an age difference at all.

I feel like I’m finally on a roll of some really good books. This romance is going on my favorites list of 2019, that’s how much I enjoyed it. This made me really excited about future Zak books. This is an easy one to recommend to romance fans who like a lot of chemistry and some angst.

4.25 stars - I was surprised by the originality of the storyline when I read Zak’s previous novel, but the author did it once more with Beautiful Accidents.

After losing both her parents in a car crash when she was 7, Stevie is terrified of accidents. Focused on her improv career, she’s prepared to sacrifice anything in order to make it to New York and star on Saturday Night Live. Her plans are somewhat derailed when she literally stumbles into Bernadette, an ASL interpreter. Pushing 50, Bernadette has always lived for others in order to avoid living her own life. Bernie’s been in love with her best friend, Connie since they were in high school. Connie has never and will never reciprocate her feelings, but Bernadette can’t seem to let go. When she catches Stevie’s fall at the psychic parlour where she interprets for Connie, they both feel a spark that unsettles them. From that moment on, a chain of beautiful accidents keeps bringing them together.

You know how sometimes you just pick up the right book at the right time? Beautiful Accidents was one of them for me. I could really identify with what Bernadette was going through, how she was feeling, and so I got very emotional reading this novel. I laughed, I cried...

I am usually not a fan of insta-love romance, but in this case, it’s done really well and it sort of goes hand in hand with the theme of the novel. Both MCs are likable, and there’s amazing chemistry between them. As soon as they met, I could feel their connection and rooted for them to get their happily ever after. I love that the age-gap between them isn’t an issue at all and it isn’t used as an excuse to create unnecessary drama.

Honestly, apart from the rushed ending, there’s nothing I didn’t like about this book. The narration is great, the dialogue flows naturally and the cast of characters and the atmosphere Zak created are…cozy? I don’t know how else to describe it. I just had a good time reading it. It was a comforting read somehow. I think the fact that it took place in the fall/winter, during the holidays, made it even more special.

I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Dinosaur Triplets, how’s that for a great name? Stevie is an improv actress in a troupe bearing this name and she’s one phone call away from making it to her goal, a spot on Saturday Night Live in New York. One evening, her best friend convinces her to accompany her and other colleagues to consult a psychic. Against her better judgment, Stevie agrees to go but not to have the cards read for her. She doesn’t want to know what the future holds, she’s had enough pain in her life and she’s extremely wary of anything unplanned, unexpected (which is kinda of ironic when you work in improv). Once her friends have all been called in, she finds herself alone in the psychic’s waiting room and ends up with a reading anyway. The psychic, Constance, is deaf and an interpreter, Bernadette, is there to translate the reading for her.

Bernadette’s relationship with Connie is so fucked up. She’s been in love with her half her life but besides the whole unrequited love thing, she also sort of depends on her financially. Connie’s both her boss and her best friend, which makes it close to impossible for Bernadette to tell her to back off when she interferes with her private life. Which is what happens when Bernadette can’t get Stevie out of her head.

This book made my heart ache from the start. When Stevie sees Bernadette for the first time, her breath catches. Mine did too. The way Erin Zak describes reactions, both physical and mental, pulled me in absolutely. It’s both wonderful and painful. It’s what I’m looking for in romances. It’s the best feeling.

On the flip side, it means that I was also right there with Bernadette when her anxiety flared up. I love how mental health issues are becoming more and more common in lesfic. They’re everywhere IRL so they should appear in books too. The only thing is, when it’s done well, it sometimes triggers my own anxiety and I’m not a fan of that happening. So I’ll take a break, breathe for a while and come back.

One last thing: the secondary characters are fantastic, whether it’s Stevie’s friends or both MCs’ families. I’m not going to list them all, they are wonderful, each and every one of them.

Apart from repeating how awesome this book is, I’ll just add this: do you remember the time, not so long ago, when dildos were unheard of in lesfic? Then characters began to talk about them, even bought them but you didn’t get to see them use them. And now they just exist, in so many books (such as this one), and it makes me sooo happy. They’re not a dirty little secret anymore.

Very Well Done!
This was a very good read. Stevie is a 28 year-old improve actress who is waiting for her big SNL break. She meets and falls for an almost 50 year-old Sign-Language interpreter, Bernadette. I really enjoyed seeing the connection between Bernadette and Stevie. In this story, Erin Zak does an excellent job of portraying the inexplicable attraction and connection that Bernadette and Stevie have regardless of the age gap. In fact, the age gap is a non-factor between them or any of their friends & family. Would Stevie's Big Apple dream or Bernadette's unrequited love for her best friend Connie and her commitment to taking care of her mother keep them apart? I must say that I liked that the story did not focus on the age gap, but we are instead drawn into how both characters come to terms with all the doubts they have with important matters of the heart and whether they can finally begin living life for themselves! This is a very well written story!

It's in the cards.

Stevie is an improv player in Chicago that has just auditioned for Saturday Night Live and is impatiently waiting to hear back. She begrudgingly tags along when the other players in her troupe when they decide to go get a reading from a def tarot card reader. Stevie fumbles into the room and is instantly touched by Bernadette (Bernie) who is the ASL interpreter.

I was really impressed with the overall planning of the book. There were things that were easy to predict, but I didn't mind because I kept thinking that it was a really smart idea.

It was train wreck waiting to happen, though. The author keeps letting you know that it is going to happen. Through actions and words you know that Stevie and Bernie (Can I tell you how much I loved that name? Don't ask me why.) are headed for heartbreak. Stevie's dream is SNL. She is going to go to NYC no matter what. Were the tarot cards right when they predicted sacrifices would have to be made for true love? Hmmm.

Oh the heartbreak. It hurt. I cried. So the execution of that was achingly good.

A couple of thoughts.

This reminded me a lot of 'Breaking Character' because Bernie has been in love with Connie (the tarot card reader) all of her life. Very much like Elizabeth being hung up on Grace. And like in that book, it took a sufficiently long time to move beyond it.

The one way this book suffered was with the relationship between Stevie and Bernie. It relied too heavily on this meant-to-be and cosmic connection. It was a great way for them to begin, but I would have liked to have seen more interaction with them where we SEE them falling for each other because of who they are. To me, it felt like it was based more on the meant-to-be and great sex. (Which the scenes were fast but enticingly spicy). This sounds more critical than it should be. You still get attached to these two and root for them. But this is what could have took this from a 4 star to a 5 star.

Another thing that could have elevated this if if it were released during the holidays. It was heavily Christmas focused and had it been that time of year, I think it would have evoked even more emotion.

I really liked how both Stevie and Bernie had to grow and get beyond their pasts in order to give their future a chance. It created a deepness to the book that I appreciated.

The cover is beautiful. But who is that woman? From the descriptions of the main characters, I am guessing it is supposed to be Bernie. However, there is no way that lady on the cover is pushing 50. Just saying.

Erin Zak's books keep getting better. Looking forward to the next.

I recommend this to people who love romance, lady loving, comedy troupes, improv, tarot cards, failing at trying to keep things casual, family drama, angsty break-ups, and sign language (I mean, come on.)

"Hell in a Bike Basket". This is funny.

"I want you to come with." This is uniquely Chicagoan phraseology, dropping the "us" or "me" at the end of the sentence. Being a Chicagoan by birth, so many phrases and references in this book bring me back to my hometown in such delightful ways!

Lynnette Steven "Stevie" Adams, an aspiring comedian, waiting for her chance to perform on "Saturday Night Live", if they would just call her back for an audition!

Bernadette Thompson, an American Sign Language interpreter who lives with, and takes care of, her hearing impaired mother and works for and has been in unrequited love for years with...

Constance "Connie" Russo, a temperamental, hearing impaired Tarot card reader who depends heavily on Bernadette to interpret readings.

Bernadette and Stevie meet one night when Stevie and her friends decided to have their Tarot cards read by Connie. It's almost literally electric when Stevie and Bernadette first meet and touch for the first time.

As their relationship grows, after many stops and starts, second guessing and a lot of angst, and with Stevie trying to be brave and determined to go through with her plan to be on SNL, this wonderful effort shows that following the rules and sticking to the plan isn't always what works. Living to make others happy seldom works, either.

"Beautiful Accidents" is one more book in a growing and impressive body of work from a talented and supremely thoughtful author!

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the well-written story of two competent women who have no desire to get into a serious relationship with anyone. Stevie is a young woman working in improvisation and auditioned to be in Saturday night live. She has had a challenging past starting with riding in the car that killed both her parents at a young age so she was raised by her Polish grandmother. She does not want to get into or let anyone into her heart for fear of them leaving her as her parents did.
Bernadette is an older woman working as a sign interpreter which she needed to learn at early age because her mother is deaf. Bernadette made a promise to her father on his deathbed that she would not ever leave her mother . This always gave her a ready excuse of why she could not get into a deep relationship with anyone however the real reason is also that she is in love with Connie, a death psychic who she works for. Connie has always been straight and has no desire whatsoever to be in a relationship with Bernadette however she does prevent Bernadette from ever getting close to someone.
As a fluke when Stevie goes to Connie the psychic there is an immediate magnetism between she and Bernadette, Who interprets the reading for Connie. No matter the strong pull she knows she cannot become involved with anyone who had a reading from Connie. Yet fate gets in the way and these two women run into each other constantly at the oddest places. When an opportunity arose for Stevie to drive Bernadette home they both realize that they want to get to know one another. Stevie knows there is nothing and no one that can stand in her way to obtain her dream of being an actor on Saturday night live. Bernadette knows that she would lose her job as an interpreter if she became involved with Stevie. Is there hope for these two?

In addition to a great storyline with marvelous characterizations I like the fact that there is a difference in age between the two women and a difference in body size yet neither of these were ever an issue for each other which was really wonderful. They just accepted the difference in age and the difference in physical features without making an issue out of any of them. This story moved me to tears at some points and some marvelous exuberance at other points. Eryn Zak is a terrific writer and this is a marvelous book.