Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 15
August 26, 2024
ARC Review: The Madness by Dawn Kurtagich
The Madness by Dawn Kurtagich 
Adult, Horror, Standalone
eBook, Hardcover, 288 pages
August 27, 2024 by Graydon House
Blurb:Beware what waits in the shadows…
With one unexpected email from her estranged best friend, Lucy, Mina Murray’s carefully curated life is turned upside down. Leaving behind her psychiatric practice in London, along with her routine and the calm it brings, she returns to the windswept shores of Wales. Faced with everything she’s left behind, she soon discovers that Lucy’s symptoms mirror those of her mysterious patient with amnesia hundreds of miles away.
With nothing but an untreatable sickness connecting the two women, and with Lucy’s life on the line, Mina finds herself asking questions and being drawn ever-deeper into a web of secrets, missing girls, and the powerful, nameless force at its center—one that has been haunting her for years.
As terrible, ancient truths begin to reveal themselves, Mina prepares to confront her own darkest secrets, and with them, an evil beyond comprehension. Together with a group of smart, savvy women, Mina seizes one last, desperate chance to stop the cycle that began so long ago. But there are dangers to inviting the attentions of what might not be a man, but a monster…
My Review:Dawn Kurtagich’s adult debut felt so different than her other books, and I lapped up every second of it!
We’re introduced to Mina, who is a psychiatrist with a clear case of PTSD and OCD brought on by a trauma she endured as a teenager that caused her to flee her small Welsh hometown. Mina’s habits are spot-on for anyone that suffers from OCD or knows someone who does. Very well written and described.
On the day Mina examines a strange new patient who was found naked on the docks who is anemic, light-sensitive, and has an appetite for flies, Mina also gets an email from her estranged childhood friend Lucy begging for help.
Mina hurries back to Wales – a cold homecoming for her from her witchy mother, the grown up version of the boy whose heart she broke, and the insular townsfolk she once knew. At first, the reunion with Lucy seems normal. Then her health begins to deteriorate rapidly – at the same time Mina is needed back in London for a downward turn of events with her patient.
As Mina begins to see similarities between her patient and Lucy she falls down the rabbit hole of the dark side of the web, conspiracies, and underground clubs with sinister motives as the list of missing and dead young women begins to multiply.
Mina must join together with her mother, Lucy’s ex-girlfriend Quincy, and a sharp as nails hacker named Helen Singer with a tragic link to the missing and dead – if she wants to bring down an ancient evil that is all too real.
This book was fantastic! It had mystery, a beautiful yet eerie setting, complex characters, romance, and the fierce bond of friendship and among women who couldn’t be more different brought together to defeat something bigger than they could imagine. I loved the folklore aspects that Mina’s mom believed in – it felt so right in the setting.
I’d read anything this author wrote. I love how she blends mental health and illnesses into the horror she writes, I always feel that it’s so well done. This is the feminist Dracula reimagining I didn’t know I needed. I can definitely see myself rereading this on a chilly, atmospheric October evening.
My Rating:
5 of 5 Knives!
August 24, 2024
The Sunday Post: Gorgeous Views, Migraines, and Spooky Season Shows
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.
Gorgeous Views, Migraines, and Spooky Season ShowsHey Book Blogger Friends! How was your week? I think I mostly got caught up on things last week. I responded to comments on my posts on the blog and on social media, listed hardcover copies of my upcoming book for preorder on Etsy, and caught up on back ARC reviews on Netgalley.
This week I went hiking in a beautiful county park to the northwest of where I live and got to soak up these gorgeous views!
Dells of the Eau Claire County Park, Marathon County, WisconsinOn and off all week I’ve been battling never-ending migraines. I woke up with them, I went to sleep with them, and regular aspirin wasn’t doing anything. I switched to Excedrin on Friday and finally found some relief. I’m not usually prone to migraines but I think the root is pushing myself too hard with exercise or caffeine withdrawal.
This week I started rewatching American Horror Story from the beginning for the spooky season. I also started the AMC shows Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches now that they’re on Netflix.
Last Week on the Blog:
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 19 August 2024 and WWW Wednesday – 21 August 2024
Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Second-Chance Romances I Love
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Beast of the North Woods
Release Day Blitz: Delicate Escape
ARC Review: The Madness by Dawn Kurtagich
Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Posts I’ve Written That Give You the Best Glimpse of Me
WWW Wednesday: 28 August 2024
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Seven Year Itch
Library Hoopla Audiobook:
Bookmarked Posts and Posts I Loved This Week: Romance Readathon 2024: PHANTOM | Announcement and Details
#BookBlast ~ A Corpse at the Witching Hour by Debra Sennefelder
August 22, 2024
Release Day Blitz: Delicate Escape by Catherine Cowles
𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄!
𝙂𝒆𝙩 𝙧𝒆𝙖𝒅𝙮 𝙩𝒐 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝙤𝒓 𝑺𝙝𝒆𝙥 𝙖𝒏𝙙 𝙏𝒉𝙚𝒂’𝒔 𝒔𝙩𝒐𝙧𝒚 𝒊𝙣 𝙩𝒉𝙞𝒔 𝒓𝙤𝒐𝙢𝒎𝙖𝒕𝙚𝒔 𝒕𝙤 𝙡𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙧𝒔, 𝙜𝒐𝙡𝒅𝙚𝒏 𝒓𝙚𝒕𝙧𝒊𝙚𝒗𝙚𝒓 𝒙 𝒃𝙡𝒂𝙘𝒌 𝒄𝙖𝒕, 𝙨𝒎𝙖𝒍𝙡 𝙩𝒐𝙬𝒏 𝒓𝙤𝒎𝙖𝒏𝙘𝒆, 𝙛𝒓𝙤𝒎 𝑼𝙎𝑨 𝑻𝙤𝒅𝙖𝒚 𝑩𝙚𝒔𝙩𝒔𝙚𝒍𝙡𝒊𝙣𝒈 𝑨𝙪𝒕𝙝𝒐𝙧, 𝑪𝙖𝒕𝙝𝒆𝙧𝒊𝙣𝒆 𝑪𝙤𝒘𝙡𝒆𝙨!
𝖳𝗋𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖽𝗈𝖾𝗌𝗇’𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝖾𝖺𝗌𝗂𝗅𝗒 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎’𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗋𝗎𝗇𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖺𝗌 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗌 𝖨 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾, 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁 𝗂𝗌 𝗐𝗁𝗒 𝗆𝗈𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗇 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖺 𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝖨 𝖻𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗎𝖼𝗁 𝖺 𝖻𝖺𝖽 𝗂𝖽𝖾𝖺.
𝖲𝗁𝖾𝗉𝖺𝗋𝖽 𝖢𝗈𝗅𝗌𝗈𝗇 𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗀𝗈𝗅𝖽𝖾𝗇-𝖻𝗈𝗒 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗆 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝖾𝗏𝖺𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗌. 𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝖨 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗍’𝗌 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝗇 𝖻𝗒 𝖾𝖺𝗌𝗒 𝗌𝗆𝗂𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗌𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋—𝖨 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖼𝖺𝗋𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗂𝗍.
𝖮𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗈𝗋 𝗐𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗉 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖻𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗉𝗋𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗍𝗅𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝗍𝗁𝗌 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗆𝗒 𝗅𝗂𝗉𝗌—𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗌𝖾 𝖺𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋 𝖾𝗒𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝖺𝗋 𝗍𝗈𝗈 𝗆𝗎𝖼𝗁. 𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖾𝖼𝗋𝖾𝗍𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝖼𝗋𝖺𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖽𝗈𝗐𝗇, 𝗁𝖾’𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗄𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝗆𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝖿𝖾, 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝖿 𝗂𝗍 𝗆𝖾𝖺𝗇𝗌 𝗆𝗈𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝗒 𝗋𝗎𝗇𝖽𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝖼𝖺𝖻𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝖽𝗈 𝗂𝗍.
𝖭𝗈𝗐, 𝖲𝗁𝖾𝗉 𝗂𝗌𝗇’𝗍 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝖻𝗎𝗂𝗅𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗆𝗒 𝗁𝗈𝗆𝖾; 𝗁𝖾’𝗌 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝗒 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍. 𝖲𝗎𝖽𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗅𝗒, 𝗁𝖾’𝗌 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾: 𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗋𝗍𝗅𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝗆𝗒 𝗀𝖺𝗋𝖽𝖾𝗇 𝗈𝗋 𝗂𝗇 𝖺 𝗍𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗅 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗆𝗒 𝖻𝖺𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗆. 𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝗆𝗒 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗈𝗅𝗏𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝗇𝗈 𝗆𝖺𝗍𝖼𝗁.
𝖮𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗂𝗍’𝗌 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗀𝗈𝗅𝖽𝖾𝗇 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗌. 𝖨𝗍’𝗌 𝗁𝗂𝗆. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗍𝖼𝗁𝖾𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗒 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗅𝗌 𝗆𝖾 𝖨’𝗆 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗈𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗁𝖾’𝗌 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐𝗇. 𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝖼𝖺𝗇’𝗍 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝗉 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗅.
𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝖨 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽’𝗏𝖾 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝖨 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖻𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗒—𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝖺 𝗀𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗆𝗒 𝗉𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝗆𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗌. 𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝗆𝖾, 𝗁𝖾’𝗅𝗅 𝖽𝗈 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝖾𝖺𝗋 𝗆𝗒 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾 𝖺𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍, 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝖿 𝗂𝗍 𝗆𝖾𝖺𝗇𝗌 𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽…
𝗲𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 & 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱➝ https://geni.us/DlcteEscpAmzn
𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 → https://geni.us/DlcteEscpAudio
𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 → https://geni.us/DlcteEscpPaperback
𝗔𝗹𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 → https://geni.us/DlcteEscpSEPaperback
𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘄/𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 → https://geni.us/DlcteEscpHardcover
About Catherine CowlesWriter of words. Drinker of Diet Cokes. Lover of all things cute and furry, especially her dog. Catherine has had her nose in a book since the time she could read and finally decided to write down some of her own stories. When she’s not writing she can be found exploring her home state of Oregon, listening to true crime podcasts, or searching for her next book boyfriend.
Connect with CatherineAmazon: https://amzn.to/2IEQXSw
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Lc4mU0
Twitter: https://twitter.com/catherinecowles
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2RFY7Jv
Instagram: http://bit.ly/31TE3rJ
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2xdUZLn
BookBub: http://bit.ly/2J3dWWF
Website: https://www.catherinecowles.com/
Stay up to date with Catherine by joining her mail list:
August 20, 2024
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Beast of the North Woods
Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released.
Beast of the North Woods (Monster Hunter Mystery #3) by Annelise Ryan
Cozy Mystery, Monster Hunter Series Book 3
eBook, Hardcover, Audiobook, 320 Pages
January 28, 2025 by Berkley
Blurb:When a local fisherman is mauled to death, it seems like the only possible cause is a mythical creature in the latest puzzling entry in this USA Today bestselling series.
An ice fisherman is savagely mauled to death in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and an eyewitness claims the man was attacked by a hodag. There’s just one problem with that: it’s well known that the creature is not real and was created by a local hoaxer. So how could an imaginary creature be chomping on local sportsmen?
The suggestion that a hodag killed someone isn’t well received by the townsfolk because of its beloved ties to the town and the money it generates from tourist dollars. Due to this, people begin to suspect the witness is the real killer, especially when it’s discovered he has a tangled past with the victim.
The witness to the attack happens to be the nephew of Morgan Carter’s bookstore employee, Rita Bosworth, who convinces the professional cryptozoologist to travel to Wisconsin to prove that a hodag not only exists but killed the victim.
Clues may be hard to come by, but one thing’s for sure: something killed that man, and that something now has its eyes focused on Morgan.
Why I Want to Read This Book:I loved the first book in this series and I enjoy how vividly this author brings different parts of Wisconsin to life in her books. I knew she’d have to do a book that incorporated the Hodag! While I didn’t love the second book as much as the first, I have higher hopes for this one!
Will you be checking this book out? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?
August 19, 2024
Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Second-Chance Romances I Love
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish and currently hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.
Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Second-Chance Romances I LoveThis week’s TTT is a relationship freebie. I decided to go with my favorite trope: second chance romance. In no particular order, here are a few of my favorites!
1. Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie
2. Cold Hard Truth by Eva Simmons
3. Happily Haunted Afters by Brittany Kelley
4. The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
5. Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie
6. Whispers of You by Catherine Cowles
7. Repeat by Kylie Scott
8. Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen
9. Reckless by Elsie Silver
10. Persuasion by Jane Austen
What did you pick for the this week’s freebie? Have you read any of these? What are some of your favorite romance tropes?
🩷 DELICATE ESCAPE SNEAK PEEK 🩷
USA Today bestseller, Catherine Cowles, has a sneak peek for the next book in the Sparrow Falls Series, Delicate Escape, coming August 22nd!
Excerpt:Thea twisted the bag around her fingers, tightening it with each revolution, but she didn’t move toward the house.
A heaviness settled back in my gut. “There’s no rush, Thorn. I don’t set foot inside that house until you’re ready for me to be there.”
Her brown eyes cut to me. “Why are you being so nice?”
There was suspicion there, and I knew that if I didn’t tell her the truth now—and all of it—I’d lose any shot with Thea. For friendship or more. She needed to know that I wouldn’t hide things from her. Wouldn’t lie. So, I gave it to her.
“I like you. Even when you were prickly as all hell, I admired it. There’s something real about you. An honesty you don’t see a lot these days. And there’s kindness. You might try to hide it beneath those thorns you love so much, but I’ve seen it. And, somehow, it’s more potent since you’re not using it for show. You’d rather have no one see you extending a hand to someone else. That’s why.”
“Oh.” Thea’s mouth formed the shape, along with the word.
I stood, taking my Coke with me. “And you’re damn nice to look at, so that doesn’t hurt either.”
Pre-Order E-Book ➝ https://geni.us/DlcteEscpAmzn
Preorder Audiobook → https://geni.us/DlcteEscpAudio
𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 → https://geni.us/DlcteEscpPaperback
𝗔𝗹𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 → https://geni.us/DlcteEscpSEPaperback
𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘄/𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 → https://geni.us/DlcteEscpHardcover
About Catherine CowlesWriter of words. Drinker of Diet Cokes. Lover of all things cute and furry, especially her dog. Catherine has had her nose in a book since the time she could read and finally decided to write down some of her own stories. When she’s not writing she can be found exploring her home state of Oregon, listening to true crime podcasts, or searching for her next book boyfriend.
Connect with CatherineAmazon: https://amzn.to/2IEQXSw
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August 18, 2024
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 19 August 2024 and WWW Wednesday – 21 August 2024
This week I’m linking up to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? Hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date and WWW Wednesday hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words!
#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.
WWW Wednesday was created by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and was taken over by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. To participate answer the 3 W’s:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
I finally finished the ebook I was reading last week and another I borrowed on KU last week and I’ve been breezing through audiobooks!
Currently Reading:The Woman In Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
This was the first book I almost picked up by Ruth Ware and I finally borrowed the audiobook from my library. The beginning with the break-in was a bit slow but now that the main character is on the ship and the story is moving I don’t want to stop listening.
Murder At Wedgefield Manor (Jane Wunderly Series #2) by Erica Ruth Neubauer
I was torn on what ebook to read next. I have an eARC that I was supposed to read by the 15th but I wasn’t grabbed by the prologue but then I remembered Murder at the Mena House, which I read several months ago after meeting the author at a Kensington book event in March and was interested in checking out the next book. I just started it and I’m looking forward to getting into it more!
Recently Finished:Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge
I liked this one but it was a little dry in places. The setting reminds you of Downton Abbey – which I believe was the intent. The main character hints to something in her background but I wish it would have been revealed in this book instead of dragging it out. Will I continue the series? Probably… but not anytime soon.
Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop by Emmeline Duncan
I was disappointed in this one. I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. A town that sounds like it’s based on the Oregon town where Halloweentown was filmed? Where all the stores and businesses are Halloween named or themed? And add in a few murders? I should have loved this. But it fell short for me. I didn’t care much for the main character or her dog. The narrator on the audiobook also made me want to fall asleep. Will I continue the series? Maybe?
Cold Hard Truth by Eva SimmonsEva Simmons: take all my money! While not as dark as Saint, I loved this one just as much and can’t wait to check out the rest of the series as well as the rock star romance series whose characters made an appearance. I fell hard and fast for the main characters, Sage and Lyla and was feeling all the feels for them by 10% into the ebook. With a MC (motorcycle club) nearly as bad as Sons of Anarchy and a meant to be couple torn apart by the lifestyle… I couldn’t stop reading this one.
Reading Next:I’m undecided on my next read. I’m kind of in a Poirot mood but I have a couple romances to read and there are a couple new thrillers that look good.
What are you reading and loving this week? Have you read any of these?
August 17, 2024
The Sunday Post: Catch-Up Week, Getting into the Fall Mood, and Comfort Watching
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.
Catch-Up Week, Getting into the Fall Mood, and Comfort WatchingHey Book Blogger Friends! How was your week?
I’m behind on posts and comments here and on social media so I’m going to take the upcoming week to catch up. I’m still feeling a bit flustered and burned out but I have some plans to remedy that this coming week.
It’s been so rainy lately I’ve been feeling ready for cozy fall days. I’m still not ready to give up warm, summer days but my watchlist and book choices are starting to take a turn toward the spooky season.
I’ve been rewatching Gilmore Girls lately because I’m stuck on what to watch next. I’m having mixed feelings this re-watch and don’t love it as much as I used to.
Last Week on the Blog: It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 12 August 2024 and WWW Wednesday – 14 August 2024
Top Ten Tuesday: Trains, Planes, and Automobiles
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 19 August 2024 and WWW Wednesday – 21 August 2024
Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Second-Chance Romances I Love
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Beast of the North Woods (rescheduled)
Library Libby Audiobook:Probably Smut Book Club Box:
August 12, 2024
Top Ten Tuesday: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish and currently hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.
Top Ten Tuesday: Planes, Trains, and AutomobilesThis week’s TTT is all about books whose plots involve travel or feature modes of transportation on the cover/title. Inspired while watching Murder on the Orient Express, I decided to see how many Agatha Christie Books I could find to fit this prompt.
1. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
2. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
3. Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie
4. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
5. The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
6. The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie
7. Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie 
8. Murder is Easy by Agatha Christie
9. Destination Unknown by Agatha Christie
10. Dead Man’s Folly by Agatha Christie
I did it! 10 Agatha Christie novels with trains, planes, cars, and ships/boats on the cover! What books did you pick for this week’s prompts?
August 11, 2024
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading – 12 August 2024 and WWW Wednesday – 14 August 2024
This week I’m linking up to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? Hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date and WWW Wednesday hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words!
#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.
WWW Wednesday was created by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and was taken over by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. To participate answer the 3 W’s:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
I spent most of last week volunteering and attending a festival so I definitely had more audiobook time vs physical/ebook time.
Currently Reading:Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen CambridgeI’m about halfway through this one and really enjoying it! I think Phyllida would have been a good match for Poirot!
Recently Finished:The Guest List by Lucy Foley
I enjoyed my reread of this one. It’s a good read, probably my second favorite of Lucy Foley’s after The Hunting Party… or maybe tied for second with The Midnight Feast!
Return to Wyldcliffe Heights by Carol Goodman
I loved this one! It had a creepy story-within-a-story and it kept me hooked, needing to find out what was going to happen next. The twists were twisty, the setting was sufficiently spooky, and this author is clearly becoming a favorite.
Reading Next:Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop by Emmeline DuncanI’ve been looking forward to this one ever since I read about it in the author’s newsletter earlier this year. It’s the perfect book to kick off the spooky season early! I just borrowed the audiobook from the library’s Hoopla.
What are you reading and loving this week?
