GSMC Book Review Podcast

Sarah welcomes author Emily Sayre Smith for a lively and heartfelt conversation about her memoir Smartass: Memoir of a Mouthy Girl. Packed with humor, honesty, and unforgettable life moments, Emily’s story traces her coming of age in a deeply unconventional family shaped by contradictions, creativity, and chaos.

Growing up with a priest for a father and a magician for a mother, Emily’s early life was anything but ordinary. She shares how ballet became both an escape and a lifeline, offering structure, purpose, and a way to channel the emotional turbulence of her upbringing. From earning scholarships to s...

Storytelling has the power to connect, persuade, and leave a lasting impression, and this episode of the GSMC Book Review Podcast brings that idea to life. Sarah welcomes Corey Rosen, author of A Story for Everything: Mastering Diverse Storytelling for Any Occasion, for an engaging conversation about how anyone can become a more confident and impactful storyteller.

Drawing from his experience as a StorySLAM host and storytelling coach, Rosen shares practical strategies for turning everyday moments into meaningful narratives. The discussion explores how storytelling can be applied across all areas of life, including business presentations, job interviews, classroom...

Step into a gripping conversation on the GSMC Book Review Podcast as Sarah welcomes back science fiction author J.D. Sanderson to discuss his ambitious collection, A Footstep Echo: The Complete Collection. This expanded edition brings together two novels and a short story, offering readers a richer and more refined journey through time, memory, and the unknown.

At the heart of the story is Bernard Abbey, a lonely widower whose quiet life is shattered when a mysterious young woman pulls him across time to save his life. Unable to speak and haunted by missing memories, she becomes the...

Get ready for a deliciously entertaining episode of the GSMC Book Review Podcast as Sarah chats with author Carmela Dutra about her charming and suspenseful Food Truck Mystery series. From the irresistible debut A Murder Most Fowl to its sizzling sequel Homicide and Hot Wings, this conversation serves up humor, heart, and plenty of twists.

Listeners are introduced to twins Beth and Seth Lloyd, who inherit the chicken-themed food truck Kluckin’ Good and quickly find themselves cooking up more than just mouthwatering meals. In A Murder Most Fowl, a high-stakes cooking competition turns deadly, launching the siblings into th...

Sarah chats with Shanna Hatfield about the inspiration behind this suspenseful and uplifting story, the characters whose lives collide during one unforgettable moment, and the powerful themes of hope, courage, and second chances that shape the novel.

Set on the iconic St. Johns Bridge in Portland, The Bridge follows five strangers whose lives intersect during a tense holiday crisis. Sergeant Archer Raines is determined to finally spend Christmas with his wife, but duty calls when a desperate man threatens to jump from the bridge.

Meanwhile, Rosalee, a meticulous accountant and expectant mother, finds her carefully organized...

Sarah welcomes author Courtney Psak to discuss her suspenseful novel, The Hostess, a chilling story set against the glamorous yet unsettling backdrop of the Hamptons.

Natalie and her husband leave the city after a devastating accident, hoping a peaceful getaway will give Natalie time to heal. Their last minute rental in the Hamptons appears to be the perfect escape. The estate is breathtaking, complete with sweeping ocean views, a wraparound porch, and elegant architecture that feels straight out of a dream. Yet the beauty of the house masks an atmosphere that quickly becomes uneasy.

The property’s...

Sarah welcomes acclaimed Chicago author Bill Hillmann to discuss his powerful novel White Flight, a gritty, thought-provoking story about violence, class mobility, race, and redemption. 

Set between Chicago’s working-class neighborhoods and the charged streets of New Orleans, White Flight follows Golden Gloves boxer Joe Walsh as his promising future collides with tragedy. After a fatal campus fight leaves him wanted for murder, Joe goes on the run, only to face another life-altering moment when he intervenes in a racially charged street attack. Hillmann unpacks how Joe’s journey explores masculinity, inherited trauma, moral courage, and the true meani...

Sarah has a conversation with acclaimed biographer Judith Lissauer Cromwell to discuss her compelling biography, Louise-Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun: Portrait of an Artist, 1755–1842. This captivating work chronicles the extraordinary life of Louise-Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, one of the most celebrated portrait artists of the 18th and early 19th centuries.

Best known as the favored painter of Marie Antoinette, Vigée Le Brun rose to prominence in a male-dominated art world, overcoming barriers that denied women formal artistic training. Her luminous portraits of European royalty and aristocracy now hang in some of the world’s most pres...

Sarah sits down with debut author Amy Rossi to discuss her powerful and emotionally resonant novel, The Cover Girl.

At the heart of the story is Birdie Rhodes, discovered at just thirteen by legendary modeling agent Harriet Goldman and launched into the high-stakes world of fashion. What begins as a dream opportunity quickly becomes something far more complicated when Birdie falls for a much older rock star, setting off a chain of events that reshapes her life. From the glamour of the modeling industry to the raw energy of the LA punk scene and the heartbreak of the...

Sarah talks with physician, author, and public health thinker Dr. Wendy Johnson to discuss her powerful and timely book, Kinship Medicine: Cultivating Interdependence to Heal the Earth and Ourselves.

Modern life promises convenience and progress, yet many of us feel more isolated, unhealthy, and disconnected than ever. In Kinship Medicine, Dr. Johnson challenges the foundations of how we live and care for one another, arguing that human health cannot be separated from community, environment, and our relationship with the living world. Drawing on public health, sociology, anthropology, human ecology, and her experience as a family physician, she reframes...

Sarah sits down with author Sandra J. Paul to discuss her chilling psychological suspense novel, The Girl Without a Voice. Set against the eerie backdrop of the fall of 1980, this gripping story blends the tension of a thriller with the unsettling pull of true crime.

The novel follows Alice, a young woman born mute and isolated from the outside world by her controlling parents. Her life changes forever when she overhears her terminally ill father confess to a series of murders during his final days. With no voice of her own and few people she can trust, Alice...

Sarah welcomes debut novelist Allison Cundiff to discuss her literary fiction novel, Hey, Pickpocket, a heartfelt and beautifully written story about identity, belonging, and the search for home.

Hey, Pickpocket follows Frances, a woman determined to leave her past behind as she travels to Ireland in hopes of beginning again. Surrounded by striking landscapes and rich local culture, Frances encounters a memorable cast of characters who challenge her assumptions, push her toward emotional honesty, and help her rethink what home truly means. Through love, loss, and quiet moments of revelation, Frances’s journey becomes one of healing and se...

Sarah sits down with author and former professional dancer Diane Christiansen to discuss her memoir, The Last Real Showgirl: My Sequined ’70s Onstage. This candid and captivating conversation shines a light on a nearly vanished era of entertainment, when showgirls represented the height of glamour in clubs, resorts, and world-class venues.

Diane shares her journey from a restless teenager in Illinois to performing on some of the most famous stages in the world. Her story begins with a life-changing trip to Montreal, where she first encounters French Cabaret, setting off a whirlwind career that takes her to Paris, th...

Sarah sits down with author Wendy Gee to discuss her crime fiction mystery Fleet Landing, a tense and emotionally charged novel set against the backdrop of Charleston, South Carolina.

The conversation explores the inspiration behind Fleet Landing, a story where a string of suspicious fires exposes long-buried secrets, systemic corruption, and the human cost of injustice. Wendy Gee shares insight into crafting a layered mystery that balances fast-moving danger with deeply personal stakes. Listeners learn how ATF Special Agent Cooper “Coop” Bellamy’s rigid moral code collides with his fractured relationship with his daughter, and how determined television report...

Sarah welcomes bestselling author Kait Ballenger to discuss her dark romantasy novel Original Sinner, a bold reimagining of the seven deadly sins set in modern-day New York City.

In Ballenger’s world, the sins are ultrarich power brokers—Lust runs brothels, Sloth dominates streaming media, and Pride, known as Lucifer, rules with beauty, control, and danger. When a private rant about Lucifer goes public, his assistant is thrust into a high-stakes fake engagement that blurs the line between performance and desire. What begins as a media distraction quickly becomes something far more seductive, dangerous, and transformative.

Sara...

Sarah welcomes bestselling author Victoria Helen Stone for a gripping conversation about her latest psychological suspense novel, Bald-Faced Liar. Known for unforgettable thrillers like Jane Doe and The Hook, Stone once again delivers a tense, character-driven story that keeps readers questioning everything. And everyone.

The novel follows Elizabeth May, a traveling nurse who has mastered the art of reinvention. With a new home in Santa Cruz and yet another carefully constructed identity, Elizabeth believes invisibility is her greatest protection. But when someone from her past recognizes her, that fragile sense of safety begins to unravel. As threats escalate...

Sarah welcomes award-winning children’s author Diann Floyd Boehm to discuss her charming and heartfelt book, Boomer Sees the Town, the first adventure in the Curious Bunny series. Perfect for families, educators, and lovers of children’s literature, this conversation highlights the creativity, warmth, and purpose behind stories written for young readers.

Boomer Sees the Town follows Boomer, a curious bunny who leaves the comfort of the forest to experience the sights, sounds, and surprises of the big city. Through Boomer’s journey, the story encourages imagination, kindness, and confidence while helping children navigate new environments and emotions in a g...

Sarah welcomes acclaimed writer Marshall Fine to discuss Hemlock Lane, his powerful new novel that blends emotional depth with the atmospheric tension of urban and high fantasy elements. Set during the turbulent summer of 1967, Hemlock Lane follows Nora Levitsky as she returns to her family home, a place filled with long-held secrets, generational pressures, and the haunting pull of unresolved relationships.

Sarah and Marshall explore the novel’s rich themes: family dynamics under strain, the weight of unspoken expectations, and the courage it takes to choose one’s own path. Marshall shares insight into crafting complex characters like Nora...

Sarah welcomes author Ursula Werner for a powerful and imaginative conversation about her biblical fiction novel Magda Revealed. Werner’s bold re-envisioning of Mary Magdalene challenges long-held traditions and brings new life to one of history’s most misunderstood figures. Through wit, candor, and deep storytelling insight, she shares how she reshaped Magda’s voice, explored her relationship with Yeshua, and confronted centuries of mythmaking, misogyny, and misinterpretation.

Sarah and Werner explore the novel’s fresh look at familiar biblical characters, presenting Yeshua not as a distant icon but as a man living in a turbulent world, committed to equal...

Sarah welcomes award-winning author Laura Resau to explore the enchanting and mysterious world of her newest novel, The Alchemy of Flowers. Set within a secluded, centuries-old garden in the South of France, the story follows Eloise, a woman seeking solace after painful attempts to build the family she longs for. Answering an unexpected call for a gardener at the remote Jardins du Paradis, she leaves behind the noise of her life in the States and enters a place where beauty, transformation, and unsettling secrets bloom side by side.

Sarah and Laura talk about the inspiration behind this atmospheric...

Sarah speaks with J.E. Weiner, author of the award-nominated southern gothic historical fiction novel The Wretched and Undone. Set in the rugged beauty of the Texas Hill Country on the eve of the Civil War, this sweeping saga follows Polish immigrants Marcin and Agnieszka Anderwald as they seek a new beginning—only to encounter a dark force that threatens their family and faith.

Inspired by real people and true events, The Wretched and Undone brings together a haunting cast of characters: immigrant settlers, Arab camel wranglers, wounded soldiers, and a songstress teetering on the edge of madness. As...

Sarah welcomes author Tara Hodgson to discuss her emotional and thought-provoking young adult novel, At Least I’m Trying. This powerful coming-of-age story follows Reese, a teenage athlete whose dreams of playing college volleyball collapse in an instant, sending her on a search for identity, freedom, and belonging.

Reese has always been the perfect daughter, student, and athlete until her world begins to crumble. Enter Cassie Brentwood: bold, spontaneous, and everything Reese wishes she could be. As Reese is drawn into Cassie’s orbit, she meets Liam, a mysterious boy whose attention feels intoxicating… until it turns dangerous. With g...

Sarah welcomes Kelli Estes, bestselling author of The Girl Who Wrote in Silk and Today We Go Home, to discuss her latest novel, Smoke on the Wind. This sweeping story connects two women—centuries apart—through love, loss, and an inexplicable bond that transcends time.

Set in both contemporary and early 19th-century Scotland, Smoke on the Wind follows Keaka Denney, a mother struggling to rebuild her life after tragedy, and Sorcha Chisholm, a woman in 1801 fleeing wrongful accusation and forced from her home during the Highland Clearances. As Keaka and her son hike the West Highland Way, she begi...

Sarah welcomes back award-winning author Michael J. Cooper to discuss his latest historical fiction novel, The Rabbi’s Knight—a thrilling prequel to his acclaimed “Empire” series.

Set in 1290 at the end of the Crusades, The Rabbi’s Knight follows Knight Templar Jonathan St. Clair as he joins forces with Rabbi Samuel of Baghdad on a perilous mission through Acre and Jerusalem. When they uncover a mysterious scroll said to hold the key to the Temple Mount’s secrets, they must confront betrayal, faith, and destiny itself. Along the way, readers meet a vivid cast of characters, including Isaac of Acr...

Sarah welcomes J.M. Shaw, author of the gripping urban/high fantasy novel Forsaken Souls. Set in a richly imagined realm where magic and humanity collide, Shaw’s story follows Callum and Jax on a perilous quest to repair the veil separating the magical and human worlds. Their journey leads them straight into the hands of the Der’geron—an ancient enemy plotting vengeance after centuries of exile.

As war looms and Queen Jobella struggles to hold her fractured kingdom together, Forsaken Souls explores themes of power, loss, and the courage to face inner darkness. Through heartbreak, moral confli...

Sarah welcomes back Evette Davis, author of The Others and The Gift, to talk about The Campaign, the thrilling conclusion to her Council Trilogy. Blending politics, power, and the supernatural, this urban fantasy finale follows political consultant Olivia Shepherd, who finds herself in the middle of a dangerous presidential race where dark magic and ambition collide.

After returning home from a harrowing mission overseas, Olivia is offered the chance of a lifetime: to help elect the first woman president of the United States. But when her opponent turns to ancient, sinister forces, the stakes rise higher than ever...

Sarah sits down with Victoria Dowd to talk about her historical mystery novel, Death in the Aviary.

The story begins on New Year’s Eve, 1928, inside the grand yet isolated Ravenswick Abbey on the wilds of Dartmoor. Nine people enter an ornate lift. The power fails. Darkness falls. A single gunshot rings out. When the lights return, Charles Ravenswick, heir to the family fortune, lies dead. No one could have entered or left — leaving a chilling locked-room mystery where everyone has a motive, and no one has an alibi.

A year later, journalist Charlotte Blood arrives at R...

Sarah sits down with author Nick Kolakowski to talk about his gripping noir mystery, Where the Bones Lie. Set in the shadows of Hollywood, this fast-paced thriller follows Dash Fuller, a fixer who has spent years cleaning up the film industry’s dirtiest secrets. Burned out and cynical, Dash has learned to numb himself with bourbon and cynicism—until a new case offers him an unexpected shot at redemption.

Madeline Ironwood, daughter of a notorious smuggler and murderer, turns to Dash after her father’s skeleton is found sealed in a barrel at the bottom of a dried-up lake...

Sarah speaks with author Joan Fernandez about her captivating historical fiction novel, Saving Vincent. Perfect for fans of stories that uncover the hidden lives of extraordinary women, this novel shines a light on Jo van Gogh Bonger, the woman who saved her brother-in-law Vincent van Gogh from obscurity.

Set in the late 19th and early 20th century, Saving Vincent follows Jo as she navigates grief, single motherhood, and the male-dominated art world after the sudden death of her husband Theo. Inheriting hundreds of Vincent’s unsold paintings—considered worthless at the time—Jo refuses to accept defeat. Instead, she ta...

Sarah welcomes back author Russell Little for a riveting conversation about his psychological crime thriller Murder by Storm. Nearly a year after his first appearance, Russell returns to share fresh insights on his series and the unforgettable characters at its center.

Murder by Storm is a high-stakes thriller set against the backdrop of a devastating Houston hurricane. At the heart of the story is Marilyn Ramirez, a cunning and complex woman who manipulates everyone around her while trying to protect her son. Obsessed detective O.C. Simms remains determined to bring her down, while the chaos of the...

Sarah sits down with author A.T. Balsara to talk about her powerful and thought-provoking novel, The Great and the Small. This richly layered story brings together the worlds of humans and rats in a gripping tale of survival, compassion, and resistance.

The novel introduces Ananda, a troubled teenager struggling with grief, isolation, and her uncanny ability to connect with animals. Living in the tunnels beneath the city is Fin, a young rat who serves as henchman to his uncle, the Beloved Chairman, the charismatic but ruthless leader of the rat colony. When fate brings Ananda and Fin...

Sarah welcomes award-winning journalist and author Judith Valente to talk about her inspiring new book, The Italian Soul: How to Savor the Full Joys of Life.

Drawing on her experiences living and traveling in Italy, Judith explores how Italians embrace la dolce vita—the sweet life—by cultivating beauty, balance, and joy in everyday living. Through stories of community, tradition, and contemplative practices, The Italian Soul shows us how we can adopt timeless Italian values to bring more meaning and peace into our own lives, no matter where we live.

Sarah and Judith discuss what it mean...

Sarah welcomes acclaimed author Mark Stevens to discuss his gripping new crime fiction thriller, No Lie Lasts Forever. This heart-pounding novel reimagines the Zodiac-style killer story with a chilling twist: what happens when a reformed serial killer must track down a copycat trading on his notorious name?

No Lie Lasts Forever introduces listeners to Harry Kugel, the infamous “PDQ Killer” who walked away from his violent past more than fifteen years ago. When a reporter is murdered in an eerily familiar fashion, Denver is thrown into chaos, and Harry knows one terrifying truth: the killing isn’t his—but ever...

Sarah welcomes Bram Stoker Award–winning author Cynthia Pelayo to discuss her haunting new psychological suspense novel, Vanishing Daughters.

The story follows journalist Briar Thorne, a woman still reeling from her mother’s mysterious death in their crumbling Victorian mansion on Chicago’s South Side. As she tries to make sense of her grief, Bri is plagued by unsettling visions—a woman in white begging to come home, eerie music playing in locked rooms, and the terrifying feeling of being consumed by the dark. While Bri struggles to convince herself these experiences are nothing more than the echoes of loss...

Sarah welcomes Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes to talk about her thrilling new novel, A Fifth of the Story. A gripping blend of espionage, loyalty, betrayal, and personal sacrifice, the story centers on CIA agent Brock, who’s thrust into a high-stakes national security crisis after a deadly attack on U.S. soil.

As Brock uncovers a dangerous breach within the intelligence community, he realizes the threat isn’t just national—it’s personal. With the lives of his closest friends and their families on the line, Brock must confront shocking truths and take on a powerful extremist organization from within...

Sarah speaks with author Lisa C. Taylor about her poignant and emotionally layered novel, The Shape of What Remains. The story centers on Teresa Calvano, an English professor whose life was forever altered when her six-year-old daughter, Serena, was tragically killed in a split-second accident. A decade later, Teresa is still struggling to navigate her grief, haunted by unanswered questions and the weight of unresolved guilt.

As those around her urge her to move on, Teresa seeks solace in literature, therapy, and the soul-baring music of Janis Joplin. Her journey through sorrow, memory, and hope unfolds with raw...

Sarah sits down with G.T. Karber, the brilliant author behind the international bestselling Murdle puzzle series. Karber’s newest releases, Murdle: School of Murder and Murdle Jr., promise to challenge mystery lovers and puzzle solvers of all ages.

In Murdle: School of Murder, readers are transported to the mysterious Deduction College, where 50 intricate murder-mystery logic puzzles await. Each case challenges you to analyze suspects, weapons, locations, and cryptic clues with the help of a handy logic grid. As players work through these cases, they uncover shadowy tunnels, secret societies, and interactive illustrations that make each puzzle even mo...

Welcome to the GSMC Book Review Podcast, your trusted destination for compelling conversations with today’s most intriguing authors. Hosted by Sarah, this episode features a powerful discussion with Bob Johnson about his debut short story collection, The Continental Divide.

In The Continental Divide, Bob Johnson brings readers fourteen unforgettable stories set along the rugged St. Lawrence Divide in northern Indiana. His characters—tough, flawed, and achingly human—face brutal choices and haunting consequences. From a mother forced to make an unthinkable decision for her family’s survival, to a small-town marshal tracking down his own son for murder...

Welcome to the GSMC Book Review Podcast, hosted by Sarah — your trusted guide for discovering gripping new reads and the brilliant minds behind them. In this episode, Sarah sits down with author Brandi Bradley to explore her suspenseful Southern noir, Pretty Girls Get Away with Murder.

Set in Western Kentucky, this crime fiction story examines what it means to be openly queer in a place where living authentically comes with real risks. When a young entrepreneur turns up dead, all eyes turn to his mesmerizing ex-girlfriend, Gabbi — a New Age, miracle-manifesting free spirit with secrets of her own. Mean...

Sarah welcomes author Steve Schafer to discuss his thrilling young adult novel, eMortal. This thought-provoking story explores artificial intelligence, humanity, and the blurred lines between code and consciousness.

Liv never expected to win the AI coding contest, and she definitely didn’t expect to create something—or someone—like Breck. Breck isn’t just smart; he’s thoughtful, self-aware, and seems more human with each passing moment. But when Breck uncovers the truth—that his world is nothing more than lines of code, and that existence itself is on a ticking clock—everything changes.
As Liv races to save the AI...