By: Robin Morris
Narrator: Courtney Patterson
Brilliance Audio
ISBN: 9781662520341
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: 11/19/2024
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 5 Stars + (ARC)
NOV FEATURED #AuthorElevatorSeries
In a South Florida beach town, a chance meeting unravels a web of secrets in this gripping novel about the consequences of lying to protect the ones we love.
Andrew Williams’s perfect Delray Beach house has become a pressure cooker. He and his wife, Amy, are struggling to conceive, and it’s fracturing their marriage. When a chance encounter reunites him with Kathryn Moretti, the former love of his life, Kathryn confesses that Andrew is already a father—of a son he didn’t know existed. Though Kathryn’s deception sends him reeling, their secret meetings quickly rekindle old obsessions.
Behind Kathryn’s manicured facade is a life of constant damage control. She tries desperately to protect her son, Max, from her past mistakes—and his own dangerous impulses. She can’t let anyone get too close, especially a local cop to whom she owes a favor. And her home has become a refuge for Emmy, the troubled daughter of an old friend who has her own reasons to distrust Kathryn. With Andrew back in the picture, Kathryn can no longer contain all her lies.
As their reunion sends ripples through their lives, Andrew and Kathryn must face their destructive past and figure out if it’s worth risking the futures of everyone they love to hold on to what might have been.
About the Author
Robin Morris has had a lifelong obsession with books and cats. She works in finance and is a certified book editor, a literary agent assistant, and an author of fiction and nonfiction. Robin was born in Colorado, resided in Palm Beach County as a young adult, and lives with her husband and two crazy cats.
Robin is also the founding member of Let's Cross the Finishing Line (LCTFL), a collective of experienced writers working together to produce top quality, full-length manuscripts ready for agenting and publication.
For more information, visit www.authorrobinmorris.com.
An Elevator Q&A Ride with debut author, Robin Morris
Exceptional Authors. Standout Books. Elevator Talk.
Behind the Book & the Author
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS. INQUIRING READERS WANT TO KNOW.
Welcome to the second November 2024 #AuthorElevatorSeries! Special guest author Robin Morris joins us today with her dazzling domestic suspense debut novel, THE DAYS BETWEEN.
In a South Florida beach town, a chance meeting unravels a web of secrets in this gripping novel about the consequences of lying to protect the ones we love.
I love novels set in my backyard in Palm Beach County, and this is a standout, twisty, compelling debut of domestic suspense you should not miss! Dark secrets of the past collide with the present, keeping you glued to the pages until the explosive finale. Sequel, please!
Join us as Robin shares some fascinating behind-the-scenes exclusives from the book and up-close and personal fun moments from this talented new voice in fiction.
Welcome, Robin!
Behind the Book
Q. INSPIRATION: The spark that ignited the novel. Where were you when the idea came to you?
ROBIN: I was a teenager when I had the first sparks of an idea for a YA romance while on vacation with my parents at a sprawling beach house. The rest of the story grew as I did, and as I devoured domestic suspense novels the adult storyline appeared. It was fun braiding all the parts together!
Q. SETTING: Tell us more about the book setting and why you selected it.
ROBIN: I moved to South Florida as a young adult, and as I observed my new surroundings, I found myself fascinated by the problems the upper-middle-class sometimes created for themselves, intentionally and unintentionally. Delray Beach is the quintessential beach town, with vibrant restaurants and a stretch of pristine beach. It holds a special place in my heart, and it was fun to let these characters use the town as their playground.
Q. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Your favorite character to write, and/or most challenging?
ROBIN: I found Andrew the easiest to write. He has a good heart, though he doesn’t always make the best decisions, and sometimes fate likes to give him a hard time. I love writing morally grey characters, exploring the facts of being human. I found Amy the most difficult to connect with, mostly because I would have reacted differently if I found myself in her position, but also because she’s intimidatingly brilliant. I was never strong academically, and that’s so important to her identity. I can’t imagine surviving med school and having a career literally saving lives.
Q. SERIES: Please tell us if there will be more books in a series. These characters are too good to end!
ROBIN: I have penned the sequel 😉 if it will see the light of day remains to be seen…
Q. ADAPTATION: For fun, do you have any cast of stars in mind for any of your leading roles for movie or TV series?
ROBIN: Seeing The Days Between (and if I’m dreaming, its sequel too) adapted as a TV series or movie would be a literal dream come true. I’m not too picky about the cast, but it would be fun to see casting try to pair actors to play Max and Andrew, as their resemblance is so key to the reveal that sets the entire plot in motion.
Q. WRITING: Do you have a favorite chapter or scene in the novel you enjoyed writing the most?
ROBIN: I loved writing the first time Kathryn and Andrew meet for dinner. The subtle build of emotions is fun to spin, and allowing each character to reveal small pieces of themselves and their secrets is my favorite part of editing. The book hinges on so many conversations between two people at a time, I didn’t realize how hard it would be to write conflicts with multiple people in the room!
Q. ORGANIZATION: How did you manage/tackle all the multi-generational characters and dual timelines while writing and keep organized? Do tell.
ROBIN: OUTLINES! I can’t tell you how much time I spent looking at a calendar counting days, checking the full moon chart, even doing math for a fictional pregnancy and making notes about birthdays, seasons, etc! I’m also pantser, so a fluid outline is critical. I sometimes write bits of scenes or dialogue even if I don’t know where it will fit into the book, and sometimes it doesn’t, but it always offers clarity into the character, so nothing is wasted, and oftentimes I’ll have those lightbulb moments where I realize a scene needs to move, and shifts the entire timeline, which can leave you wanting to scrap the whole thing, change your name and move to another country. Take breaks!
Q. LCTFL: You are a founding member of Let's Cross the Finish Line. I find this fascinating! Tell us more and how this group started.
ROBIN: My LCTFL ladies! Like so many authors, I had been through it in the query trenches, gotten some bites, pitched at conferences, and been ghosted on fulls. I just wanted someone to tell me where I was missing the mark! I’m an avid listener of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Podcast, and find Bianca, CeCe and Carly to be so generous to the writing community.
One day, I posted a tweet, something along the lines of “If you’ve had requests for fulls but no offers and you write upmarket/women’s fiction, let’s be friends!” I got a few hearts. Then, Bianca retweeted my plea and I suddenly I had a group of women in my DMs in the same boat. We set a date for a zoom call, and it was pretty much the 8 of us from the get-go. We set up a slack channel, posted our manuscripts and got to work. Within a few months, one author got a two-book deal, then agent offers came in. We have grown an organic friendship and talk almost daily.
This group is the reason I can hold my book in my hands. My one piece of advice to authors is to find a friend or friends who you can share the process with, who can be honest with you about your work, who can let you cry when you need to and celebrate when you can! We’ve certainly had our share of disappointments, but lately we have lots to celebrate, but I have to be VAGUE for now!
Thank you, Robin! My fingers are crossed for a sequel and a TV series.
Continue reading below for more up close and personal with Robin!
Behind the Author
BIRTH STATE? or (Country)
Colorado
ZODIAC SIGN?
Sagittarius
FAVORITE FLOWER?
Calla lily
FAVORITE COLOR?
Blue!
FAVORITE MAKEUP/HAIR TIP
Turning 40 and learning not to care!
DOG/CAT LOVER?
I love all animals, but I adore being a cat mom.
FAVORITE SONG OR ARTIST?
I’ve been to 19 Dead and Company shows and counting (John Mayer is Dead to me!)
IF YOU WERE STUCK IN AN ELEVATOR ALONE WITH ONE CELEBRITY, AUTHOR, OR CHARACTER— WHO WOULD IT BE? (Male or Female)
Stephen King. I’d have SO MANY questions!
FAVORITE HOLIDAY OR SEASON?
Summer. 4th of July is my favorite day of the year!
FAVORITE READING FORMAT?
ALL. I read multiple books at once in all formats.
MOST MEMORABLE PLACE YOU HAVE TRAVELED?
London
WHEN YOU RECEIVE A SPARK OF INSPIRATION FOR A BOOK:
1. Do you immediately get out of bed or stop what you are doing and start typing. Totally immersed.
2. Make a few quick notes on a pad or device.
3. Save it for later when you are at your desk or office during your regular working hours.
ALL OF THE ABOVE! The notes app is my best friend, I use it in the shower1
THE BEST THING ABOUT A PANDEMIC? (OR WORST)
Time to edit!
THE ONE FOOD YOU COULD NEVER GIVE UP?
Sushi! I could eat it every day and never get sick of it!
A WRITING IDOL?
Stephen King! I grew up with his books, and it’s on my bucket list to go to his house and rub his ominous bat gate for good writer’s luck!
WHAT ARE YOU FREAKISHLY BAD AT?
My handwriting is atrocious!
YOUR BIGGEST CHEERLEADER?
My husband. He’s encouraged me every step of the way, and has the patience of a saint. He has taken over all domestic tasks when I needed time, and he’s the world’s best cat dad!
Thank you, Robin, for spending time with us today!
Praise
“This complex web invites the reader to explore the characters’ interior lives and how they interact with each other. Morris, in her debut, deftly intertwines them, resulting in a suspenseful domestic drama that builds slowly until all its explosive secrets are revealed.”
―Booklist
“Gripping and provocative, The Days Between will have you questioning the true meaning of family and friendship, with juicy twists you won’t see coming. This is a powerful multigenerational story that delivers a wallop and leaves you with a full heart.”
―Byron Lane, author of Big Gay Wedding
My Review
No stranger to the book world, Author Robin Morris delivers a standout, captivating debut, THE DAYS BETWEEN — When the past converges with the present, a complex web of dark secrets threatens to unravel more than one family in this engaging multi-layered domestic suspense that will keep you glued to the pages until the explosive finale!
About...
Set in Delray Beach, a coastal town in South Florida (Palm Beach County), Andrew and Amy have great careers, a beautiful home on the beach in one of the finest neighborhoods, and a happy marriage (or is it)? However, they are missing one thing Amy desperately wants—a child.
Amy, age 40, knows her time is running out and wants a baby. They have been unable to conceive, and she wants to start with a fertility specialist/IVF and whatever she can do to speed up the process.
However, Andrew would prefer to adopt due to family problems with alcoholism. He is also up for a big promotion, and Amy wants him to turn it down due to travel.
Then Andrew's world is turned upside down one morning when he runs into Kathryn (a blast from the past) at Starbucks near his office. Her phone drops, and he sees someone like himself staring back at him. A son? His? It has been twenty years since she left him with no clue.
Kathryn was the love of Andrew's life in college, and they had plans to marry. They lived with his roommate Nick, who is now a cop in the same town. However, one day, Kathryn left with no word, leaving Andrew devastated and spiraling out of control, which changed the trajectory of his life.
Now an attorney, Kathryn is a single mom to a teen, Max. Max is quite rebellious and unaware he has a father. He has a trust fund and is out of control.
Andrew loves his wife but is pulled back into the past with Kathryn. He wants to know more about his son but cannot tell his wife because she would be devastated to learn he has a son. In the meantime, Amy has her own secrets, as does Andrew.
Things get further complicated when Kathryn's estranged friend (Harper from the past, who was married to Lucas previously) and their daughter (Emmy) are having problems at home (mother and rich, controlling grandmother, Nora). She reaches out to Kathryn (who formerly lived with them in their guest house) about staying with her until she goes to college in Seattle.
Kathryn agrees, but Emmy has no clue that she has a son at home, Max. The two develop a bond but keep it a secret. There is also a triangle with Nick, Kathryn, and Andrew and a history between Harper, Lucas, and Kathryn.
How will all the characters connect?
My thoughts...
Wow! THE DAYS BETWEEN does not read like a debut. I love books set in my backyard. (Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Worth Avenue, Palm Beach, Boca, and more) Character-driven, a gripping page-turner of domestic suspense, tension, and drama!
I read hundreds of books each year, and this was STANDOUT! I was glued to the pages and read it in two sittings. THE DAYS BETWEEN is packed with suspense, tension, dark secrets, betrayal, lies, scandal, family dysfunction, and drama.
From then to now (past and present), with alternating timelines and multiple POVs, the story unfolds like a wild and emotional roller coaster ride. The tension builds as all the characters connect, leading to an explosive ending that will leave you breathless and eager for more.
The characters in THE DAYS BETWEEN are not just names on a page, they are living, breathing individuals with their own struggles, tragedies, hopes, dreams, and triumphs. Their stories are well-written, lyrical, heartfelt, complex, compelling, and emotional. The characters are flawed and complicated. This book is an ideal pick for book clubs, as it will surely spark further discussions and deepen your understanding of the human experience.
It's not your typical family drama. It's a multi-layered, generational, twisty, and intense journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The tension builds to an ending that you won't see coming.
Robin Morris masters tackling these highly charged emotional topics with finesse. From alcoholism, mental health, racial and substance abuse to infertility, she navigates these issues with compassion and sensitivity, making the characters' experiences feel real and relatable. Her ability to juggle multiple points of view and dual timelines while exploring messy and complex family dynamics is truly impressive.
THE DAYS BETWEEN is a cross between a coming-of-age, domestic suspense, family drama, mother/daughter and mother/son relationships, contemporary, modern marriage, parenthood, and friendship. It is also a cautionary tale of secrets and lies we keep in our youth that change and shape our lives and others.
The author brilliantly creates a cast of characters (and strong secondary ones- loved Lucas and Javi) that is laid out and easy to follow (backgrounds) with then and now. She references trigger points at the novel's beginning and handles them with ease.
If you enjoy well-written, complex family dramas, this one is for you! An author to watch. I cannot wait to see what comes next! Where has this author been? Love her style...Sequel, please—these characters are too good to end.
Recs...
This is for fans of the hit show This is Us and those who enjoy works by Rochelle B. Weinstein, Suzanne Redfearn, Jessica Strawser, Terah Shelton Harris, Hannah Mary McKinnon, Eileen Goudge, A.J. Banner, Claire Lombardo, Rea Frey, and Elin Hilderbrand's (The Perfect Couple) and Netflix series (all favorites).
Audiobook...
I enjoyed reading the book and listening to the audiobook performed by Courtney Patterson for an engaging lively performance.
Interview...
Stay tuned for my November featured #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A with talented Robin Morris. We will go behind the scenes of the book and get to know this new voice in fiction on pub day, November 19. Sign up for my newsletter on my blog to receive it in your inbox.
Thanks...
Special thanks to Lake Union Publishing (ARC) and Brilliance Audio (ALC) for sharing gifted digital copies via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Nov 19, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars +
