A Clean Slate | Reviews

"Caldwell's follow-up to Burning the Map introduces Kelly McGraw, who discovers that she has inexplicably forgotten five months of her life, during which her boyfriend dumped her and she was fired from her job. Something else happened, too, something that sent Kelly spiraling into depression, but she told none of her friends, so no one can fill her in. Kelly looks at the memory loss as a chance to start over and gets herself a new job working as a photographer's assistant to the mercurial Cole, who is trying to break back into the industry after a fall from grace. At first Cole is difficult, and Kelly fears she is wasting her time, but then he softens and gives her a chance to shoot some pictures herself. As Kelly grows comfortable in her new life, flashes of the forgotten five months haunt her, and she fears that if her memories return, they could derail her newfound happiness. Weightier than the usual fare, Caldwell's winning second novel puts an appealing heroine in a tough situation and relays her struggles with empathy."
-Booklist

"A Clean Slate is Laura Caldwell's page-turner about a woman with a chance to reinvent herself, something most of us have imagined from time to time. Her protagonist, Kelly McGraw, suddenly can't remember the last five months of her life and seizes the opportunity to start over. There is a mystery here along with some adventure."
-Chicago Tribune

"A Clean Slate" told with a little mystery, a little humor, and more than a few twists and surprises."
-The News-Dispatch.com

"Told with great energy and charm, A Clean Slate is for anyone who has ever fantasized about starting over--in other words, this book is for everyone!"
-Jill A. Davis, author of Girls' Poker Night

"The heroine of A Clean Slate may lose her memory, but readers will remember her with pleasure for years to come."
-Diane Leslie, author of Fleur De Leigh's Life of Crime

"Caldwell is the new Chick-Lit champ. Her prose is sharp, witty and thought-provoking, but she never lets you forget that there's mystery involved here, too. A Clean Slate is an exciting, funny adventure as one woman searches for her memory and herself."
-Jerry Cleaver, author of Immediate Fiction and creator of the Writer's Loft

"Laura Caldwell has become an author for me to watch for. A Clean Slate is her second novel, and I'll definitely be looking for her first, Burning the Map. Both books just happen to be under the Red Dress Ink imprint, and I can only hope that the powers-that-be know the gem they hold in their arsenal. Give A Clean Slate a try today! It's a refreshing ride."
-Romance Reviews Today

"Don't let the Red Dress Ink label fool you. A Clean Slate isn't a hip chick-lit novel filled with sardonic humor and ditzy characters. Instead it's a fascinating, compelling, thought-provoking book about one woman's efforts to find five missing months of her life, and what she learns about herself and what she wants in the process. This is a terrific book. The characters are fully developed and realistic, and the basic premise of the story is fascinating. A Clean Slate is different, but in the best possible way."
-All About Romance.com

"Kelly is a heroine that shows us that all things work out for the good. Losing one's lifestyle might be the way to really find one's life. This unusual book will get you to think, intriguing you with what it really takes to start one's life anew."
-Huntress Book Reviews

"This is an interesting character study of an adult suffering several traumas that erase her recent memory. Though terrified, Kelly sees this as an opportunity to start anew and do what she wants to do with her life. Readers will enjoy the insight into Kelly and place themselves in a similar position of grabbing a second chance Fans will appreciate this delightful second chance at life tale."
-All Readers.com

"This fast read has a thought-provoking theme and an interesting medical angle."
-Romantic Times

"Laura Caldwell's A Clean Slate is an interesting concept. Haven't we all wondered what it would be like to start anew with a clean slate? A Clean Slate is also a study about the relationship between two longtime friends and the storms a solid friendship weathers. Go with Laney and Kelly as they work to discover the secret Kelly has locked inside her. A Clean Slate is an intriguing read."
-WritersUnlimited.com

"Thirty-one year old of Kelly McGraw wakes up one morning feeling fine-only to discover that she's spent the last five months bedridden with depression. As this intricately woven story unfolds, Kelly comes face to face with the painful memories she's fought hard to suppress. Intriguing at times hilarious, this is a life-affirming tale."
-Australian New Idea