Typewriter Tango Book Review

ABOUT THE BOOK

Chicago, 1951
Janet Wilson’s life runs on lists: packing lists, to-do lists, and carefully plotted five-year plans. Determined to prove herself, Janet leaves her small Ohio town to be a lifestyle reporter at a Chicago newspaper.

But Janet’s lists fail her in the chaotic, rough-and-tumble newsroom where she doesn’t fit in. Everything is unexpected, including her recipe column that uncovers an ugly side of Chicago.

The greatest surprise of all is fellow reporter, Bridger Jensen. A playful exchange of notes left in her typewriter turns into something more. But Bridger’s life is a messy package deal with a darling five-year-old daughter—exactly the kind of entanglements she promised her parents she’d avoid.

Now Janet must decide whether to cling to the orderly life she’s always planned, or risk everything for the messy, marvelous tango of love. Maybe the best stories are the ones you never planned to write.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

​Laura Rupper spent her first six years of life in Metlakatla, Alaska. There was no T.V. reception on the island, so a great love of books was born. Laura loves creative activities ranging from painting to designing fourth grade math lessons. Boring chores, like laundry, make her daydream of magical worlds and happy endings.

Laura has three beautiful daughters and one giant dog who was supposed to be 50 pounds but is almost twice that size. Laura is under five feet tall and hopes having lots of energy makes up for her lack of height. She has a degree in Human Biology and works as a school counselor because life can be hard and sometimes students need a helping hand.

BOOK REVIEW

Typewriter Tango tells the story of two reporters coming together in 1951 Chicago. With the author's authentic storytelling, the main and minor characters come alive in this character-driven romance. The romance starts with a memorable and original meet-cute and continues to build throughout the story. The author also immerses the reader in the era by including concerns of the time period from gangs to racial and cultural tensions. The story was interesting, unique and engaging. I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next. To learn more about Typewriter Tango, click here.

Please note this post is in cooperation with the author, however, I wrote my honest opinion. This post contains affiliate links that help support this blog.

Into the Thicket Virtual Book Tour, Author Interview, and Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Into the Thicket
Written by Gail Kuhnlein
Illustrated by John Megahan
Ages: 4-7 | 60 Pages
Publisher: BookBaby (2025) | ISBN: 979-8990747807

Publisher’s Book Summary: Inspired by a true story, Into the Thicket begins with the moment the author’s young son discovered an injured baby rabbit — an encounter that sparked a heartfelt journey of care and connection.

This tender picture book follows a boy and the rabbit he hopes to help, gently exploring themes of compassion, courage, love, and the bittersweet beauty of letting go. It invites young readers to develop empathy and a deeper appreciation for the natural world, showing how even the smallest acts of kindness can ripple through a great, big world.

Featuring stunning watercolor illustrations by acclaimed Ann Arbor artist John Megahan, Into the Thicket is a story families will return to again and again. A portion of all proceeds benefits wildlife rehabilitation and conservation.

Available for purchase on: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BookBaby, Bookshop.org.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gail Kuhnlein has been writing stories since she was young. Her first self-published picture book, How Happy Is a Lark?, made her as happy as a, well you know. She’s just as excited about her new picture book, Into the Thicket.

Gail majored in journalism and public relations at Michigan State University. She worked in the field for over 30 years, most recently at the University of Michigan’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. People she met at UM were instrumental in publishing her picture books, a long-awaited dream come true.

After surviving multiple life-threatening complications following heart valve surgery in 2022, including several weeks in an induced coma, Gail considers every day as “bonus time.” She savors life with her husband, Tim, just outside Ann Arbor, Michigan. They adore their two adult sons, Davey and Trevor, and bunk with the sweetest kitties in the galaxy.

https://authorgailkuhnlein.com/

https://www.instagram.com/gkuhny/

https://bsky.app/profile/gkuhny.bsky.social

https://www.youtube.com/@kuhny4

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583958753308


ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

John Megahan’s lifelong passion for art and nature has shaped his remarkable career. Growing up, he spent countless hours outdoors exploring and sketching the natural world around him. In college, he combined his interests by studying biology and art, which led him to the field of scientific illustration — a perfect blend of his interests.

After college, he worked as a freelance illustrator, developing a large clientele that included governmental and advertising agencies, universities, publishers, and more. After freelancing, John became the senior scientific illustrator at the University of Michigan’s Museum of Zoology, where he continues to work today. Alongside his illustration work, he has enjoyed teaching art and biology, inspiring others with his knowledge and enthusiasm.

John’s other children’s picture book credits include W is for Waves, An Ocean Alphabet, Thumping on Trees, and The Red Fox and Johnny Valentine’s Blue-Speckled Hound. He looks forward to creating more wildlife and nature-inspired artwork and illustrating many more picture books.

For more information, visit johnmegahan.com.


AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Life Is What It's Called - What inspired you to write this story?

Gail Kuhnlein - My inspiration for writing Into the Thicket came from our sons in our backyard. One fateful early summer day, over 20 years ago, they were playing football catch. The book begins exactly as it happened in real life, with a toss soaring over our younger son’s head. As he ran next door to retrieve the ball, he noticed “something” near it. From this point forward, I leaned into fictional storytelling to make the story more appealing to children: to add imagination, suspense, conflict, a crisis, and (spoiler alert) — a happy ending.

Life Is What It's Called - What do you hope readers will learn from this story?

Gail Kuhnlein - I hope readers take to heart the compassion for wildlife that’s modeled by our hero, Patrick. The story touches on overcoming fears with bravery, independence, falling in love, and the bittersweet reality that sometimes what’s best is learning to let go. I hope the deeply felt emotions help children who will inevitably deal with similar situations in their own lives. I hope children and adults alike will be more prepared if they find an injured or abandoned creature, knowing who to contact, and have handy resources about what to do until they can get to wildlife rehab. Notes in the back of the book cover these points. Perhaps more importantly, they’ll know when it’s best to let a nest of rabbits be. In case a family dog finds and disrupts a rabbit nest, I included ways to handle the situation expertly, with minimal effort.

On a grander scale, I hope that our book encourages a respect and love for nature and our environment, in the midst of our climate crisis. The new generation will be the ones to save the planet.

Life Is What It's Called - How does this book stand apart from others on the market?

Gail Kuhnlein - From what I’ve seen, I believe our book is fairly unique in its emphasis on wildlife rehabilitation, particularly regarding rabbits. It’s a hybrid of fiction and non-fiction. Pressed to choose a category, it’s fiction. While based on a true story, it’s highly fictionalized in its development.

I think our book could be especially great for children’s social-emotional development. Patrick’s character and how he influences even his older brother can be powerful messages. The book can also be integrated into an early elementary science curriculum. In these days of increased reliance on AI, I’m happy that the artist’s illustrations are hand drawn and painted. His painstaking work shines through every page, with incredibly detailed backgrounds and great care taken with each scene. John took my manuscript with its limited number of settings and created different perspectives and angles so that each page is surprising and delightful. He’s so naturally talented and I was fortunate to work with him. Having worked together for many years at the University of Michigan’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, we are a dynamic duo.

Life Is What It's Called - What was an unexpected challenge you faced when writing this book?

Gail Kuhnlein - That I was writing about a true story presented the unexpected challenge. There were elements that really happened that I happily included in earlier drafts. You’ve likely heard the expression “kill your darlings,” well, that’s what was needed. In other words, something I (as the writer) loved about the story was better off on the editing room floor because it didn’t really serve the narrative in a broader sense. This can be hard.

I had an expert editor who guided me through the tough task of fine-tuning. I’ll give one brief example. In order to give Patrick more independence, I pretty much wrote myself out of the story. In real life, and in early drafts, my son ran inside and fell into my arms to tell me what he found, then I joined him outside to see the small creature. Long story short, bye-bye Mama! There’s not a single illustration with me, or rather, “Mom” included, and that’s just fine. I do shout out from another room one time!

Life Is What It's Called - What is your favorite sentence from this story and why?

Gail Kuhnlein - I love this question and it really made me think. As you can imagine, I read through the book again with your question in mind. I have several, but the winner, short and sweet, is: “The sun kissed his pink ears.”

This is while Patrick’s emotions are torn, releasing the rabbit in his backyard. I like that such a short sentence is highly evocative. I think the personification of the sun’s kiss is special. I love seeing sun shining through a rabbit’s ears. This autumn, at dusk, several rabbits were grazing in our backyard. The sun, low in the sky, shone through a rabbit’s ears and they glowed with a pink hue. (I took a photo, of course.) These small moments in nature are so moving.

Life Is What It's Called - What other writing projects are you working on?

Gail Kuhnlein - My main project currently is marketing Into the Thicket. There is so much that can be done, especially with my background in communications/public relations. I’m happy I decided on this virtual awareness book tour.

I write a monthly blog post on my author website. As a newish self-published author, I write about my experiences, what I’ve learned (tips) and thoughts. I sometimes include fun tangents, like recommending not-too-scary shows for Halloween (I don’t like horror), or thoughts about my volunteer work at the University of Michigan NICU, which I have grown to love so much. Our youngest spent his first month in a NICU.

I have a couple of ideas for my next picture book. I have a couple of manuscripts drafted I may edit. I have one in particular in mind. Coincidentally, it’s also based on our youngest son, and fictionalized. Without saying too much, it focuses on his highly sensitive nature, particularly to how clothing felt, when he was young.

After a trip with a friend last summer to the Toledo Zoo, I was hit with a fun idea for a book that would be more akin to my first picture book, How Happy Is a Lark? When I Googled to see if anyone had written something like it, I came across at least one. But, I think similar ideas for books can be written in such different ways. I need to find that book to see how they did it, so that if I pursue the idea, I can be sure mine is quite different.

Life Is What It's Called - What do you want readers to know about you as an author?

Gail Kuhnlein - This is a fun and interesting question! Let’s see. I have such a love and respect for children that writing for them is my great honor. One of the best memories I have from the time our boys were babies through their childhoods, was when we cuddled together, every night, reading. Such coziness! To write books that children and their adults will read (and maybe even love) is one of my fondest wishes. In this spirit, I hope our book is discovered and experienced far and wide.


GIVEAWAY

Enter for the chance to win one of three signed hardcover copies of Into the Thicket, each accompanied by a set of custom stickers featuring illustrations from the book. One grand prize winner will receive a signed hardcover of Into the Thicket with an adorable rabbit companion stuffie and a set of custom stickers, plus a signed paperback of How Happy Is a Lark? along with a singing lark stuffie.

Into the Thicket: Book Giveaway

This post is sponsored by Gail Kuhnlein. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.

Highland Holiday: A Scottish Christmas Romcom

ABOUT THE BOOK

One rejected kiss. Two clashing personalities. And a snowstorm that traps them in an isolated cottage.

Callie Winter is the kind of person who holds everything together—for her family, her friends, her coworkers. But this Christmas, she’s hoping to catch her breath in the Scottish Highlands and maybe rediscover a little joy along the way. A kiss with a charming stranger in a pub? The perfect holiday distraction.

Until he rejects her.

Gavin Mackenzie doesn’t do flings, especially not with tourists who’ll be gone before the snow melts. He’s got enough on his plate—keeping the old family cottage running, managing the quiet that sometimes feels like loneliness, and pretending he’s just fine, thank you very much. The last thing he needs is a whirlwind American trying to kiss him in a pub… or move into his personal space.

But when a snowstorm leaves them stranded together, Callie’s forced to stay with the last man she wants to face. She’s prickly and wounded. He’s charming but distant. And neither of them are prepared for the slow burn that starts to crack their walls.

In between the cocoa and the Christmas tree, they’ll both have to face what they’re really afraid of: asking for what they need… and trusting someone else to give it.

A grumpy-sunshine, snowed-in holiday romance about messy feelings, unexpected healing, and the kind of love that doesn’t need fixing—just the courage to claim it.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kasey Stockton is an Amazon bestselling author, Whitney Award finalist, and winner of the Swoony Award Book of the Year. She publishes both contemporary and historical novels, and all of her titles fall under clean romance. She loves reading, chocolate, and period dramas, but nothing tops exploring new places with her very own prince charming and their three children.


AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Life Is What It's Called - What inspired Highland Holiday?

Kasey Stockton - When I visited the Highlands a few years ago, I was struck by the rugged beauty, but also by some of the one-track roads and how remote it felt. Shortly afterward, I saw a photo of the Highlands during winter, and all the snow gave me the thought that being snowed in would actually be feasible in a place like that. I've always known I wanted to write Luna's sister's story and that it would take place in Scotland, so I set up a character in Cotswolds Holiday who has family in Scotland in order to give me a reason to write a book there. And then it all came together!

Life Is What It's Called - What is your favorite sentence in this book and why?

Kasey Stockton - I’ve never had a hug make my knees weak. Probably because it highlights the beauty of slow burn romance and how underrated a good hug can be.

Life Is What It's Called -What do you think readers will like most about this book?

Kasey Stockton - The Christmas vibes and hot Highlander, Gavin MacKenzie, of course!

Life Is What It's Called - If this book was a food, what would it be and why?

Kasey Stockton - A cup of hot chocolate by the fire, sweet and it warms you inside.

Life Is What It's Called - What do you want your readers to know about you?

Kasey Stockton - I write both modern romcoms and Regency historical romance! And this is my tenth Christmas book, so if holiday stories are your thing, I have you covered across both modern and historical genres.

BOOK REVIEW

In Highland Holiday: A Scottish Christmas Romcom, Callie Winter comes to Scotland to enjoy the Holiday season. After being rejected for a kiss and snowed in away from family, Callie learns to make the best of it by getting to know her host, Gavin McKenzie.

This romance is a fun one to read. The plot moves forward steadily with a few reveals. The characters are memorable and interesting. Callie is a relatable and engaging character. I enjoyed the asides that Callie has in her thought processes. They're hilarious. The hero, Gavin McKenzie is well-rounded with his own troubles. This story deals with mental health issues, family drama, and work troubles in a relatable helpful manner. There are some awkward moments, fun scenes, and a slow build up that makes this book a truly enjoyable read. To learn more, click here. 

Fans of Curtis Sittenfield, Sarah Adams, and Julie Wright will love this book.

Please note that I received a free ebook to read, however, this is my honest opinion. This post contains Amazon affiliate links.