So, word on the street is that traditional book blogs are as antiquated as boomboxes. HOWEVER, I refuse to stop in defiance of all things techy and trendy! I’m an unemployed writer in need of an outlet, and this is all I’ve got. That said, it would be a disservice to my fellow readers to not branch out and reach ALL the audiences, so I’m launching a new BookTube series with my fellow reader, Mariam! This girl is a speed-reading machine–and she’s got exquisite taste in books! So, please watch, bookmark, subscribe and tell all your friends!
Sidenote: We’re new to this, so please bear with our lackluster backdrops!
As for the first book on my TBR pile, The Cursed Moon, it was a three-star read. Here are my thoughts:
The gist: Raf and his sister, Brianna, are dealing with a LOT! Their incarcerated mother is about to come home and possibly derail their lives again, and they’re being tormented by an evil force that kills children under the red moon. It’s up to Raf to break the curse before he becomes the next victim of the Caretaker–mu ha ha ha-HA!
What I liked: This book has some faults (we’ll get into that later), but the author did an amazing job with Raf. I absolutely loved this character for many reasons. He’s a fighter and a fierce protector of his sister. Their relationship gave me Dani and Max vibes from Hocus Pocus, and I could almost hear the musical score during chase scenes in the haunted forest. So, if you’re looking for a YA spooky season read, this is it!
What irked me: I loved everything about this book except for the moral of the story. The Caretaker is scary, but the more threatening dark force looming over these kids is the soon-to-be-paroled incarcerated mother. We get bits and pieces of the chaos, negligence and child endangerment Raf and Brianna endured, and I’m not okay with any of it. Raf is justifiably angry and fearful, yet his grandparents and sister just keep pestering him to embrace his mother with open arms. I’m glad this is a work of fiction, otherwise, I’d fear for their safety. Who knows what could happen when the mother falls of the wagon and whisks them away to some chaotic drug den. Come to think of it…shouldn’t she be in some sort of treatment facility or halfway house for recovering addicts instead of returning straight home to her children? As nice as it sounds to forgive and move on, life just doesn’t work that way, and I feel like this book sends the wrong message to people. Here’s my message: Don’t pressure or shame others who aren’t ready or willing to forgive. Child abuse and neglect is serious, and I don’t think the author handled this very well. Period.
The spook factor: On a scale from one to ten, I’d give this an eight on the spook-o-meter. We’re dealing with witchcraft, a child-killing demon, a haunted pond, and even a demonic furry toe! Again, perfect for Halloween reading.
Overall: Aside from the problematic morality tale, I really enjoyed this creepy adventure. I’ve seen this storyline a time or two in movies (ex: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Goosebumps), but a few new elements were added to the mix to keep it fresh–including a spotted shape-shifting kitty named Balam. I recommend this to fans of R.L. Stine and Mary Downing Hahn.
The Gist: Two unlucky-in-love, attractive 20-somethings find each other through a Reddit thread titled “Am I the Asshole?” Is this seriously what it’s like to be dating in 2024? Yeesh! Enter the gimmicky plot device: Both Emma and Justin decide to fake-date each other to break a curse. You see, Justin’s ex-girlfriends all find true love after dating him, and despite his movie star good looks, great job and affable personality, he just can’t find his person. Since you can’t see my face right now, picture the meme of Brady Bunch Marsha saying, “Sure, Jan.” Turns out, Emma has the same curse (much more believable in her case), so she reaches out to him after reading his desperate Reddit rant and the push-and-pull romance ensues.
What I Liked: In hindsight, I should have DNFed this book and moved on to something more worth my time, but the snappy dialogue kept it somewhat interesting. The author has clearly mastered the dry and snarky millennial humor. Therefore, I will throw in one singular star.
The Romance: Although this author tries very hard to put a new, creative twist on the usual fake-dating trope, the “let’s just date for experimental purposes” idea isn’t all that revolutionary. So, despite not wanting any longterm commitment (I’ll get into that later), Emma convinces her best friend to forfeit their trip to Hawaii to meet with a stranger from a Reddit thread. Can someone please help me make sense out this? Do people really resort to such extreme measures to find love? Anyhoo, the guy is just perfect— like the sweetest, most obedient golden retriever you’ll ever meet. They both seem to be smitten with each other, but the chemistry just isn’t there. Maybe the romance would’ve been more believable if they at least kissed before the book was more than halfway over! Geez—Miss Jimenez—way to drag it out.
The Main Character: In a word, Emma is problematic. Due to her childhood trauma, she can’t form attachments with people. She enjoys living out of a suitcase and roaming from state to state with no place to call home, which begs the question: Why is she trying to break a curse with the goal of landing a committed, romantic relationship? She clearly doesn’t want one, so why even go on this quest? My frustration ratchets up a few notches when her pathological mother enters the scene. Does Emma grow a backbone and draw some boundaries? Does she listen to Justin and her best friend’s warnings? No! She keeps letting the woman into her life because she “chooses empathy, not anger.” [insert “Sure, Jan,” meme here]. I’m sorry, y’all, but I can’t deal with Emma. Maybe it’s because I actually was tormented by a malignant narcissist of a mother back in the day. Here’s the thing with authors: despite their best intentions, they can do a lot of harm when writing about things they don’t TRULY understand. Sure, they can research this stuff and talk to therapists, but unless they have a Ph.D. on the subject or actually lived these experiences, they can get it all wrong and make readers like myself feel unvalidated and downright angry.
The Setting: I’m looking at a beautiful book cover depicting two people and a dog frolicking into the lake or ocean. So, throughout the book, I kept wondering WHERE ARE THE SUMMERY VIBES?! Considering the heavy subject matter, it would’ve been nice to get a little break with some ice cream on the boardwalk or maybe some windsurfing, but nope. I know they’re in a cute little town somewhere near Duluth, but they might as well be anywhere because the summery setting is nonexistent.
What Irked Me: Aside from Emma’s meaningless search for love, she has a way of gaslighting Justin’s very valid anger issues. He has to kiss his footloose-and-fancy-free bachelor life goodbye because his mother is going to prison, and he’s left in charge of all his kiddo siblings for six years! When he expresses his valid reasons for being angry to Emma, she hits him with the ol’ “choose empathy over anger” sermon. Wow, Emma! So helpful. Way to gaslight someone who needs a shoulder to cry on. Sheesh.
What’s Missing: I’m not sure if I’ll read another Abbie Jimenez book again, but I might if she could close some plot holes in her next installment. I want to know what happened to the rescued raccoon babies—which, by the way, were the best part of the entire book. And what’s the deal with Justin and his incarcerated mother? Where do they go from here? Clearly it’s all about Emma, but I stopped caring about her midway through the book.
Overall Thoughts: This is not the beachy summer romance I signed up for. Honestly, I don’t know why I didn’t kick this book to the curb the moment Emma made it clear she was just in Minnesota to mess with Justin’s head. This really was a frustrating reading experience. I need to go grab my new Stephen King book to break out of this slump. He never lets me down!
Wowza—it’s been a minute since my last post. I’ve had a rough go of it lately with the whole job-loss thing and equally depressing job-search thing. Life sure can throw some curveballs, eh? Either way, we’re here to have fun, so let’s talk five-star reads! Here are some highlights from my spring 2024 reading list:
Nimbus by Jan Eldredge
Cat lovers, you’re in for a treat! This is such a cute book with magical felines, a kind-hearted witch, and the cutest little sweater-wearing, Shakespeare-quoting rat sidekick! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and was completely invested in little Nimbus’s homeward-bound journey. Fantasies aren’t really my cup of tea, but I made an exception for this one. The cover alone sold me. I mean, how could I turn away from those adorable little faces? The evil dream demons were terrible, but the worst characters were the cruel humans dumping their pets. Nimbus’s newfound friends have tragic backstories involving human cruelty, which can be hard to read, but the kind-hearted witch, Agatha, renewed my faith in humanity, reminding me that there’s a lot of good in this world. I loved getting to know each of the resident cats–even the grumpy ones–through Nimbus’ magical dream-walking escapades. They’re all quite fascinating, and I’m rather fond of the tubby calico, Fern, and her stuffed squirrel toy. This story is just too cute and the ending was the cat’s meow!
Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan
This book was a fun—and much-needed—surprise that arrived at my doorstep, thanks to my sister! She even sent me a Disney cats throw blanket so I could cozy up with a good book during my dark days of sudden unemployment. Isn’t that the nicest thing? Anyhoo, this book proved to be the perfect distraction with its cast of vampire-slaying Southern women. Judging by the cover, I was expecting more of a light paranormal romance, but this book was SCARY!!! Yo! I was not expecting grisly scenes of vampires/zombies (a hybrid, I guess?) tearing people apart. This is NOT a cozy little Southern romantasy, people! Lucky for me, I absolutely love gross horror stories with feral, non-sparkling vampires terrorizing the town. I also loved that this story centered around four generations of vampire-slaying women. One of whom has a dark secret that comes out later in the book…when things get real. Whilst protecting the town from the newly-turned vampire/zombies, they sort out their family drama issues, and boy does it get messy. Think Steel Magnolias meets 30 Days of Night meets Six Feet Under. Loved it!!!
Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowman
Once again, I’ve realized I can never go wrong with a Royal Spyness mystery. I only “read” these books via Audible because the narrator cracks me up with the characters’ voices. Since watching “Emily in Paris” (please don’t judge me!), I’ve been drawn to books that transport me to this fascinating city with streetside cafes, dazzling cityscapes, and croissants galore. Naturally, this story surrounds a fashion show by none other than Cocoa Chanel! Hijinks ensue when Lady Georgianna stumbles upon a dead body at a VIP runway show and soon becomes suspect number one! Seriously, the detectives in these books are always so clueless. I mean really…why would a pregnant British woman come to Paris to kill a complete stranger? Is it terrible that I was happy the murder victim turned out to be a pushy, entitled, “new money” woman who thought she could buy her way into everything? Ugh…Americans! Anyways…I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical whodunnits that are heavy on comedy and light on mystery.
Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano
I love, love, love a slow-burn horror story, but only if it’s done well. It could be ruined with an underwhelming ending or turn into a convoluted, confusing mess. Lucky for me, this book delivered a dark, creepy ending that left me wanting more. The premise alone gives me the willies! Imagine going to a sparsely populated island with secretive townsfolk who are all living in a time warp. There are just SO MANY QUESTIONS! Why don’t the townsfolk ever leave the island? Why did an outsider’s dead son scribble “Clifford Island” on the floorboards of his bedroom right before he died? Why do the islanders participate in strange daily rituals? And why is it so scary for them to deviate from their routines? What’s out there in the woods peeking inside of windows??? All these questions had me glued to the pages—and boy was I creeped out. We’re dealing with different narrators throughout the book: Willow, the interloping woman trying to solve the puzzle of her dead son’s cryptic note; and Harper, Willow’s brother searching for his missing sister—a quest that gets darker and stranger by the day. Slow-burns aren’t for everyone, but I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with creepy, ghostly stalkers lurking in the woods.
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
Kakaweeeeeee! Oh my goodness, y’all, this book was a hoot! With his mix of comedy and horror, Grady Hendrix is an acquired taste. For the most part, I avoid horror satire, but Grady Hendrix is an exception because his characters and storylines are just so entertaining. This one revolves around a divorced single mom who’s summoned back to her dreaded family home to take care of her dead parents’ affairs. To make matters worse, she must deal with her deadbeat brother who is a real piece of work. He carries some deep-seated disdain for his sister, and we soon learn why as the memories of their bizarre childhood start to unfold. Something is VERY WRONG with that house, and it all boils back to their eccentric mother’s love of puppets. One puppet in particular is Pupkin, a demonic toy that tends to take control of its handlers! Think Slappy from Goodbumps meets the Exorcist. Things escalate very quickly—power tools are involved. Seriously, this book would make one heck of a movie. Despite the comedy aspect, this book has some very creepy parts, especially the childhood flashback of Pupkin whispering in ears and forcing people to do some bad things. Trust me, it’s intense!
Reading slumps are never fun. 😦 That’s why I’m starting this off with some good news! I have added a new editorial assistant to my staff. Meet Princess Belle! She comes to the Bubble Bubble Books and Trouble Publishing House by way of Pflugerville Pets Alive. Adopt, don’t shop, folks!
Now for the bad news…it’s been a year of DNFs and one-star books. There’s been a few stellar reads sprinkled in the mix, which I’ll get into in a later post, but for now I must bring you my biggest flops of 2024 thus far.
The Stroke of Winter by Wendy Webb
I read this all the way through because Wendy Webb’s characters are always interesting, and her atmospheric descriptions of Wharton, Minnesota transport me to such a lovely place. I’ve been to Duluth (Wharton’s neighboring town) a couple of times to run the Grandma’s marathon (well, half marathon for me since I’m only half crazy…har har har), and I just fell in love with the idea of living in such a beautiful, yet sometimes spooky town right on Lake Superior. Anyhoo, I enjoyed the escape, but the story left much to be desired.
The mystery of the haunted artist studio took a backseat (we’re talking waaaaay in the back of a bus) to the romance between Tess and her new boyfriend. Apparently, he can do a little bit of everything, including assisting the resident ghost hunters next door. How convenient! So yeah, this is a sloooooooow, meandering read, yet I didn’t hate it. I did. However, the big reveal was vastly underwhelming. It was tacked on at the very end of the book in an info dump. Clearly, Miss Webb had a deadline and needed to hastily wrap things up!
If you’re looking for a gothic ghost story with a twist, give this a pass. But this might be a good read for someone who needs an escape to a quaint, wintery town full of kindly neighbors, good food and ice skating parks!
The House on Royal Street by Karen White
Karen White has quite the following for her “Tradd Street” series and hundreds (maybe thousands?) of glowing reviews. Clearly, she appeals to many readers who enjoy her meandering writing style. Me? Not so much.
Yeesh…this was bad, guys. I mean, where do I begin? We’re dealing with a cast of white-bread characters; the only people of color are construction workers who are nicknamed “the two stooges.” I don’t know if I’m being overly sensitive here, but that left a bad taste in my mouth. The ghostly mystery plot goes on all thesase meandering twists and turns that have nothing to do with the cold case mystery that needs solving to send the ghosts to the beeamign white light! Somebody, please call the Ghost Whisperer already!
And then there’s the antiquated “Southern Belle” attitude that harkens back to the bygone era when women were trained to sit up straight and act like “ladies.” A plucky, feisty Southern Belle side character keeps dropping patriarchal bits of wisdom like, “women should wear clothes tight enough to show off their figures, but not tight enough to no longer look like a lady.” And then there’s the main character…sigh.
Nola, has a lot going on. She’s an architectural engineer, a home renovator, a recovering alcoholic, a lover of spreadsheets, and a vegan living in the Big Easy—land of sausage jambalaya and crawfish boils. Readers will continuously be reminded of her vegan diet because she’s constantly picking food out of her plate, ordering tofu or avoiding eating altogether. I fully support veganism, but do her dietary restrictions need to be drilled into our heads in every chapter?
The author also wants to make it very clear that Nola is thin, beautiful and the object of desire for every man who crosses her path. I don’t have much to say about the haunted historic cottage because there’s not much to that cold case mystery. But I will say that this series is a one-and-done for me. Nola really got under my skin, especially when she micromanaged her contractors on her stupid spreadsheet by scheduling potty breaks. No wonder she couldn’t keep anyone on staff. Woof.
All Hollows by Christopher Golden
This was my second ho-hum Christopher Golden horror novel, and sadly it is my last. The man comes up with some great concepts but can’t deliver a good, campy horror story. This one checks all the boxes: Halloweenie book cover with a glowing jack-o-lantern: check! Halloween night slash-and-stalk horrors: check! Good old-fashioned 1980s trick-or-treating vibes: check! But yet, nothing about this book worked.
Here’s what went wrong: The book is 80% domestic drama (cheating spouses, money troubles, teenage crushes, etc.). Adding to the ick-factor is some pedophilia. Yuck. I could’ve done without that bit of grossness.
The characters weren’t very likeable or relatable, probably because there are too many narrators. I just couldn’t root for any of them, so it wasn’t a big deal when the “Cunning Man” and the evil costumed ghost children started knocking them off. If you’re looking for something spooky for Halloween, pick up a classic like “Something Wicked This Way Comes” or “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
The Haunting by Natasha Preston
WTH? I thought this would be a slam dunk five-star read because “The Lake” was such a fun thriller, and surely I found a new favorite YA horror author. Nope! I’m failing to understand why this is titled “The Haunting.” Someone—anyone—please explain! There are no ghosts or paranormal happenings, just a gaggle of teenagers running around from one place to the next with a masked killer on the loose.
This is “Scream,” but without the snappy dialogue and interesting characters. With all the frenetic scenes of car crashes and fires, I’m still bored. The main character constantly gets scolded by her sort-of boyfriend for not eating. Why is this a constant thing throughout the book? We get it; she’s not good at self-care and throws herself in danger with reckless abandon. I wish I cared for her welfare, but nope.
I enjoyed a few atmospheric Halloweenie scenes, like being stalked by a killer in a haunted forest, but those thrills were few and far between. If you’re looking for a ghost story, this isn’t it. Don’t be fooled by that title!
Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban
I must confess, I had to DNF this at the 40% mark, so I have no idea how it all ended. There could very well be a very meticulously plotted twist, but I just couldn’t waste any more of my time on this turkey. I’m a good three hours into this audiobook, and nothing important is happening on this dang cruise ship. It’s just middle school-level drama with a lot of “he said, she said” drivel. Jade, the MC, is stuck on a “semester abroad” cruise ship with her cheating BFF and BF. Oh boo hoo, how horrible it must be to explore Western Europe on a luxury liner while getting academic credit.
Anyhoo, she has been mysteriously shunned by the two lovebirds, and throughout the cruise, they all cast each other dirty looks. Jade is confused as to why they hate her with a burning passion. Clearly, she did something terrible, and maybe we’ve got ourselves an unreliable narrator. Who knows? I guess they couldn’t stand her incessant whining. There’s an equally annoying cast of secondary characters who all have their own little gimmicks. One is trying to be a YouTube star (insert eye-roll emoji here), another is a glamorous, wealthy influencer, and then you’ve got the brooding bad boy with mysterious secrets.
They’re all supposed to be in college, but they seemed very middle-grade to me. I guess I’ll never know who killed Jade’s former bestie and why, but that’s cool. There are plenty of whodunnits on my TBR that might actually follow a cohesive plot! So there you have it! If you’re looking for a good YA mystery on the high seas, skip this and try “Death Sets Sail” by Robin Stevens.
Ladies and gentlemen, boils and ghouls! I bring you all of the gems from my 2024 reading list! It’s been a year and let me tell ya—I’m glad it’s over. I lost two beloved animals and had to read a LOT of Carolyn Brown Southern romances to get through the grief. I’m a little hard on her for devising the most ridiculous plots and characters, but to be honest…I don’t know how I would’ve coped without her books. So, while we all fill out our gratitude journals (a New Year’s resolution I really should implement!), let’s give a nod to all the authors who filled our darkest days with joy! Here’s to a great 2024 filled with many, many five-star books!
BEST TWISTY THRILLERS
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
Wow. Just wow! I loved everything about this book! Say what you will about Riley Sager, but he can really hit the mark when it comes to twisty, edge-of-your-seat thrillers. I love the entire storyline involving a girl with a haunted past (think modern-day Lizzie Borden) who takes a job as a caregiver for an elderly woman who also may or may not be a crazed murderess! The creep-factor is through the roof in this isolated mansion that’s dangerously teetering on the edge of the cliff. The slowly sinking opulent mansion served as both foreshadowing and symbolism of a wealthy family’s fall from grace. Just when I thought I had the twist ending all figured out, Riley Sager threw a curve ball at me. Well played! Do yourself a favor and curl up with this book on a blustery winter’s night. It’s the perfect way to spend a Saturday!
Holly by Stephen King
This may very well be in my top ten Stephen King books of all time—and that’s a pretty high ranking considering it has no supernatural entities. Instead of vampires and werewolves, the killers are elderly professors! I’ve been working in higher ed for many, many years, and let me tell you—I can think of a few professors who could totally turn cannibal to fulfill their self-serving needs. These two retired professors are a married couple who believe they’ve found the cure for old age: human flesh! Little do they know, Holly Gibney, a local PI with OCD issues, is a worthy adversary. Oh, how I just love this character! She was in “The Outsider” (another amazing Stephen King novel), and now she gets her very own standalone! There’s a lot going on with Holly after she lost her no-good mother to COVID. There’s so much more to say about her journey in this book, but I’ll save you from any spoilers! If you’re an audiobook lover, I highly recommend listening to the audio production because it is absolutely perfect. It’s 15 hours long, but the time will fly by—especially when you reach the climax, which had me biting my nails down to the quick! Chef’s kiss!
Zero Days by Ruth Ware
I never would’ve thought I’d get into a tech thriller, but this was mondo-beyondo suspenseful! You remember the big ticking tock of the overheating boiler in Stephen King’s “The Shining”? The same is happening in this book, but instead of an impending explosion, we have a woman with a festering, infectious wound that is slowly killing her! She can’t get medical attention because she’s a fugitive on a quest to prove her innocence. A lot of book vloggers have given Zero Days mixed reviews, but for me this was a ten-out-of-ten! I loved figuring out the mystery and motives behind the murdered web-hacker husband. Admittedly, I did peg the killer way before the big reveal, but I was still on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how this woman was ever going to survive, let alone clear her name. I’m just going to say it: I have never read a Ruth Ware book I didn’t like. She’s becoming one of my faves!
BEST TEXAS NOIR MYSTERY
The Donut Legion by Joe Lansdale
While I’m on the topic of favorite authors, Joe Lansdale can do no wrong. This author knows how to pen a good Texified thriller filled with sinister villains with bizarre sidekicks. In this case, it’s a blood-thirsty ape that wears a funny hat. Oh boy…classic Lansdale. You don’t want to mess with this ape nor his owner—a goon employed by a murderous cult that is taking over East Texas town by running a chain of donut shops manned by cult followers/recruiters. Our hapless hero, Charlie Garner, gets sucked into the cult’s orbit while investigating the case of his missing ex-wife. Did she get sucked into the “Saucer People’s” lair? If so, what did she uncover? You’ll have to read the book to find out! Kudos to Mr. Lansdale for delivering another solid mystery with loveable, yet highly dysfunctional characters. I loved Charlie and his sidekicks: Felix, the lawyer brother with anger issues; and Scrappy, the investigative journalist/love interest. Together, they make one heck of a crime-solving team! There’s even a paranormal ghost story added to the works, which was the icing on the glazed Crispy Cream for me.
BEST HORROR
The Beast You Are by Paul Tremblay
I’m not really a fan of experimental horror because…well…it’s more so strange than terrifying. However, Paul Tremblay has a knack for giving me the heebie jeebies with highly ambiguous horror stories. Are ghosts and demons at work? Are the characters just nuts? What’s going on?! Those questions are always swimming around in my head while I’m grappling with his storylines. But I know, Mr, Tremblay, that the paranormal is almost always at work! Ugh…that levitating dresser in “The Pallbearer’s Club” still haunts my dreams. Don’t even get me started on “Head Full of Ghosts”! This here, is a collection of bizarre stories–many of which are of the apocalyptic/dystopian variety. There’s a little something for fans like me who need more “Head Full of Ghosts” action. And I really loved the first story involving a boy who stops by his crush’s lemonade stand and gets lured into her spooky house! What truly stands out, however, is the very last story, which is more so a novella. OK, now bear with me because this is off-the-charts weird, but it’s a Shirley Jackson-esque horror story involving a make-believe village filled with Winnie the Pooh-type creatures who all gather every 30 years for a sacrifice to the monster in the woods. They all talk and act like humans, yet they’re a bunch of furry woodland creatures coexisting together. At first, I was thinking, “OK, this is too weird; GET ME OUTTA HERE!” But the story just sucked me in. The political parallels between their dystopian world and ours are spot on, and I hope it will nudge readers to think and vote! I know, I know…we’re here for entertainment, not political commentary. But I promise you, it’s interesting! Y’all should give it a try and tell me what you think. This Paul Tremblay guy has quite the imagination.
BEST NOVELLA
The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson
It’s ridiculous forking over $20 on a hardback I’ll breeze through in a couple hours. However, this is a book I will pick up every December when I’m in the mood for a gothic Christmas mystery to curl up with while sipping a hot toddy! It checks all the boxes: spooky English manor surrounded by creepy woods—check! An unsavory cast of British bluebloods with questionable motives—check! A cold case involving a murdered girl and a brooding bad boy—check! The simmering tension in this story kept me glued to the pages until I finally figured out who murdered the local girl and why! Furthermore, why was our main character—an American college student with few friends— lured to this Christmas gathering? You’ll have to read this little story to find out. Let me tell ya, you’re in for a treat!
BEST CHRISTMAS MYSTERY
Up on the Woof Top by Spencer Quinn
Spencer Quinn has done it again! Seriously, this author can do no wrong with Chet the Jet (a 100-plus pounder of a dog) and his PI owner, Bernie. Here, we are dealing with a missing reindeer, aptly named Cupid, and his owner, a wealthy British mystery writer who lives on a Santa-themed ranch out in the sticks. A lot of action is packed into this holiday-infused mystery—from wild skiing adventures to car chases to reindeer wrangling! I loved every second of this mystery and adore the doggie narrator. He does his best to stay focused on the story, but he can’t help it when food drops from the table or a random thought pops into his head. I couldn’t think of another writer than Spencer Quinn who perfectly captures the voice of dog.
BEST RUNNING BOOK
The Slow AF Run Club by Martinus Evans
I’ve been following Martinus Evans on Instagram for quite some time now, and I really do need to purchase one of his Slow AF Run Club turtle shirts! I really didn’t need to read about the basics of getting into running, but some of his pointers were a good refresher. What I truly loved about this book was his journey of marathon running, and the many pitfalls he experienced while trying to find his people…not to mention the unwanted commentary from passersby. I, personally, can relate to that particular struggle!!! I just wanted to hug him when he shared his experiences of “running while Black.” It’s heartbreaking to think of the crap he had to endure while just running in the neighborhood—and that he strategically ran with a little dog and wore a shirt emblazoned with cute turtles so people would find him less threatening. Wow…what a world we live in.! I also appreciate him calling out the running groups that aren’t inclusive to runners with larger bodies. Again, relatable!!! It’s wonderful he poured all of these experiences into something amazing: an all-inclusive virtual run club that rolls out the welcome mat for people of all shapes and sizes and fitness levels. YES! This is such a feel-good book with some fantastic pointers for new and seasoned runners—or anyone who enjoys an inspiring story told by a seasoned marathon runner!
BEST YA GOTHIC GHOST STORY
Ghosts Come Rising by Adam Perry
I’m a fan of classic ghost stories—especially if they take place in age of spiritualism and charlatans with crystal balls! Set in the 1920s, this story takes readers back to a time when “spiritualists” were commonly employed by grieving family members. Enter the Silver Star Society, a spiritualism commune that offers an array of cosmic services—from telekinetic ghost writing to psychic mediums to ghost photography. Some are legit, the others not so much. Mr. Spencer is among the many con artists who are looking to benefit from other people’s pain—and he’s dragging his orphaned niece and nephew into his money-grubbing schemes. While staying at the estate, they must do his bidding to avoid getting the boot. All the while, the spookies are coming out to haunt the children in dark, shadowy halls of the mansion—and somehow, they no longer need to doctor their camera plates to make ghosts appear on film! Oh, such spooky fun! I enjoyed every minute of this book and highly recommend it to readers young and old!
BEST HOLIDAY ROMANCE
On a Night Like This by Liz Maverick
Does this book have all the tried-and-true Hallmark movie tropes? Yes. Do I care? No! This little holiday love story is just so sweet, and not in a cloying saccharine way. Our two lovebirds, Cher and Eliot, are both recovering from bad breakups amidst the hustle and bustle of the Hanukkah season. Lucky for Cher, who just got the short end of the stick in a house swap (do people really do this anymore?) but is lucky to have Eliot for a neighbor! After a short, quarrelsome meet-cute, sparks start flying. Before Cher knows it, she’s got her very own hunky tour guide of New York City! Romance ensues, and I’m sure you can figure out the rest! I absolutely enjoyed listening to this full-cast production on audio while wrapping gifts and going about my little Chrstmassy chores. It’s just a sweet delight that transports readers to the festive city NYC streets during the most wonderful time of the year. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to re-watch “Serendipity” for the 500th time.
GrrrrrRUFF! Merry Christmas to one and all! As you may know, I’m a dog rescue enthusiast (adopt don’t shop, people!), and there’s nothing I love more during this time of year than curling up with a good, Christmassy book with furry sidekicks. Here are just a few of my selections from this year’s holiday reading list:
Up on the Woof Top by Spencer Quinn
The gist: Chet and Bernie are at it again! This time it’s Christmas in the chilly desert, and they are tasked with finding Rudy the missing reindeer for a client who writes a popular cozy Christmas mystery series. Soon they get wrapped up in an unsolved murder cold case! Oh how I love cold cases! Everything about this synapsis was a yes for me when I found this gorgeous hardback in the bookstore.
What I liked: This series always puts me in a good mood. I absolutely love that everything is narrated by Chet the dog (aka Chet the Jet!), who often goes on tangents about table scraps and how much he adores Bernie. I’m just going to say it! Chet is my favorite character in contemporary literature. Bernie comes in at a close second. He’s the best dog dad, and he cares about the environment to boot! Officer Weatherly is a lucky lady.
What irked me: I can’t think of anything to critique here. I just loved every morsel of this book!
Overall: If you love mysteries and dogs, this series is a real double-whammy. Also, I really love the desert setting, especially in the winter. Not many of the books I read are set in the American Southwest, so this is a fun departure from the norm. There’s just something about the wintery desert that sparks my imagination.
Christmas at Corgi Cove by Annie England Noblin
The gist: Small town Texas girl is on a quest to save her aunt and uncle’ s beloved Corgi Cove Inn and falls in love with the big city boy who is working to buy the inn and turn it into a soulless resort for a company that’s taking over the town. Corgis make appearances here and there, and the townsfolk all came out of central casting for a run-of-the-mill Hallmark holiday movie.
What I liked: Being the Texas girl that I am (born, but not bred), I liked this fictional town set outside of Austin that’s full of old Victorian houses and mom-and-pop shops. It made me think of Wimberley, and I adore that town!
What irked me: The destined-to-fail romance was just soooooooo cliched. I’ve seen this time and time again, and it’s getting to be such a bore. Also, I could’ve used more dogs and less humans. The corgis make brief appearances in just a few scenes, so it’s really not a dog story at all.
Overall: This book is waaaaaay too long for what it is. I kept putting it down and not really caring what happened next because the climax was just so glaringly obvious. The romance aspect was a snoozefest, but I did rather enjoy the mother-daughter side plot that was thrown into the mix toward the very end, which added more depth to the formulaic love story. This wasn’t my favorite Christmas read, but I do highly recommend picking up the author’s other book, “Pupcakes,” which was fantastic!
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Susan Wiggs
The gist: An unlucky-in-love woman reluctantly accompanies her friend on a road trip to deliver twelve shelter dogs to their new homes (site unseen!!!). How does this fly, exactly? As a shelter volunteer, I can see this going 50 shades of wrong. But I digress…she gets into a wreck on a snowy night and falls for her hunky first-responder. Romance ensues, and I’m sure you can figure out the rest.
What I liked: The dogs, of course! I love a good rescue story, and the idea of dogs being transported to their perfect little homes at Christmastime just warms my heart! Also, I really liked the secondary character who was leading the expedition. She genuinely cares about dogs and goes out of her way every Christmas to transport them to their happy forever families. I think this would’ve been a much more interesting story if she was the main character, but oh well.
What irked me: The main character—and her Christmas-phobia—was annoying from the get-go, and she just kept getting increasingly obnoxious. First, I felt a little salty about her vehement reluctance to help out her friend and be her copilot. I mean, she has nothing going on in her life other than a shallow but hunky boyfriend, so why is this such a problem? And don’t get me started on the boyfriend situation. Did the author forget that she had one? How am I supposed to care about this character when she’s two-timing her big city boyfriend while pursuing a romance with the hunky EMS hero?
Overall: This is my first book by Susan Wiggs, and I’m sad to say it’s my last. Her stories just aren’t for me. I can’t believe I did this, but I DNFed it with only two more chapters to go. I have a feeling the author had to figure out a way to create conflict toward the very end, so she turned the main character into an incessantly whiny brat. She has everything: the perfect man who knows exactly what to say and do, a wonderful new community of friends, the perfect life laid ahead of her….but yet she can’t stop bitching and moaning about her commitment issues and Christmas-phobia. It just got to be a little much. Bah Humbug!
Santa’s Little Yelpers by David Rosenfelt
The gist: Lawyer Andy Carpenter is on a quest to exonerate his friend and fellow dog volunteer from murder charges. Murders and kidnapping ensue—and all clues lead to a dangerous mob!
What I liked: Andy is a quirky guy, and I rather enjoyed his snarky humor—especially his jabs at his own job. He can’t wait to retire, and I gotta say, that makes him a relatable character in my book! He’s also passionate about rescuing dogs and putting the bad guys in jail—all commendable qualities. Also, I liked the mystery plot, which had me guessing for quite a while. Andy and his team of crack-shot investigators had to do a LOT of digging to figure out who would want to frame a man for murder—not once but twice! The stakes kept getting higher with mafia threats, but they bravely stayed the course on thier quest for justice. If I’m ever in a pickle, I’m calling this guy!
What irked me: I wanted more dog action! I’m looking at a bundle of puppies underneath a Christmas tree on this glossy book cover, and there were very few puppies involved in this story!!! Also, Christmas ended halfway through the book, so this really wasn’t much of a holiday story. Aside from the false advertising, I got very confused with all the names of people that were dropped on me at the very end. I had to flip back to see who was who because it just go so messy. It would be great if authors could stick with just one name and not flit back and forth from a characters’ first and last name. It’s crazy-making!
Overall: This is a solid series with a lovable main character. He’s kind of a smart-ass, but I’ll let it pass because he rescues dogs and puts the baddies in jail. If you’re looking for a heart-warming dog story, this isn’t it. But if you like a puzzling mystery involving the organized crime and secretive small town cults, give this book a whirl.
I’ll start off on a good note by saying the covers of these Kitty Couture Mysteries are gold! The cute kitties and pink backgrounds lure me in—hook, line and sinker! If they’re trying to cater to their target audience (ME!), it’s working.
The story, however, is less than dazzling. It’s formulaic with a capital “F,” with your “Mary Sue” protagonist, bossy mom and dreaded love triangle. I felt like the author was going overboard to make her MC, Lacy, likable. Some of her monologues about her love for New Orleans sounded like rehearsed politician speeches. She’s just a little too polished and poised for my liking. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the mother! She’s your cliched rich, stuffy socialite with control issues. Is she supposed to grow on me with her rare sentimental moments? If so, it’s not working.
As for the mystery plot, here’s what went down: Lacy finds a dead body in a freezer while delivering hundreds of dreidel-shaped dog treats for a Saint Berdoodle’s bark-mitzvah. Seriously, these cozy authors love their designer dogs. ADOPT DON’T SHOP, PEOPLE! Lo and behold, her dear ol’ dad was the last one to see the murder victim, making him suspect No. 1. I’m no legal eagle, but this sounds a little circumstantial to me, no? Either way, she must investigate a whole slew of suspects, making my head spin with all the talking heads. We’ve got a bunch of “Cuddle Brigade” pet nannies, a sketchy thrift store worker, a bitter widoow, scandalous cheating women and more. The big reveal kind of came out of nowhere, but I’ll save you from spoilers. Yeesh.
On the bright side, I will say that “Furry Godmother” is a fantastic name for a pet costume store! I would most certainly shop there because I’m a doggie stylist for the stars! And if I had a high-maintenance diva dog, I would love to hire a pet nanny from a “Cuddle Brigade” agency.
I don’t know, y’all. This series isn’t my favorite, but maybe it’ll appeal to those who like extremely formulaic cozy mysteries with straight-laced protagonists. I just need a little more flair, and you’d think in a place like NOLA, there’d be more colorful characters.
Here’s another case of you can’t judge a book by its cover. When will I ever learn? Despite the gorgeous cover of the Haunted Mansion and a Nancy Drew-esque teenage investigator, this book does not deliver. Why is it so hard for writers to create a mystery around the legends and lore of the Haunted Mansion? There’s so much great material to work with!
Here’re my thoughts:
The mansion: The writer did a mediocre job with the New Orleans setting, which is surprising because according to her bio, she lives there! Most of the scenes take place inside the derelict haunted mansion, which is wide open for anyone to come inside and explore. How is this possible? Who owns it? That could’ve been a fun mystery all onto itself. Oh well…so yeah, the teenagers come and go as they please, and the rooms keep switching around at random, a-la-Hogwarts. The author throws in a few bits and pieces about iconic scenes, but most of the time our MC, Audrey, is flirting in the library with the resident hottie ghost named Sterling.
The plot: Like all four seasons of the CW’s Nancy Drew (how did I sit through all that craziness?!), there’s way too much going on here. We’ve got a love triangle between Audrey, Sterling and her Toxic boyfriend; a VERY concerning case of possessions; a little brother with a VERY concerning gaming addiction that was never addressed (is this considered normal?), a goth mean-girl who’s poking around with black magic; a hurricane on the rise; and an almighty evil force that must be vanquished to save the friendly ghosts! Yeesh…my mind is spinning.
The possessions: Wow, okay. Where do I begin? Things escalate very quickly when ghosts jump into Audrey’s body and do some crazy stuff…like taking a ship out to sea, dancing and singing in a nightclub (how did a 15-year-old even get in?) and breaking into a house with an axe! My personal favorite was the boat theft, where she and her loyal friends take a boat out to sea and have to consult YouTube to figure out how to get it back to the landing. Somehow this all went down without a hitch. Huh…I had no idea boat docks in New Orleans had zero security systems whatsoever.
The main character: I’m all for representation in books, but it seems like authors can’t quite do it right. In this case, the MC has clinical anxiety (same here), and that’s basically her entire identity. I thought for a second that she had a photography hobby, but that sort of fizzled out. She has a toxic, co-dependent relationship with her boyfriend because he shields her from the scary world. She goes to regular therapy sessions when her parents get concerned, which I think could’ve been edited out because this book draaaaaaags.
The hurricane: I don’t know abotu y’all, but it seems highly unlikely that any dutiful parent would allow their kids to run off to a “hurricane party” during a catastrophic hurricane. Of course, this was a cover for something else the teens had planned during the deadly weather event, but seriously? The parents didn’t even call the parents in charge of the alleged party to corroborate? Strange.
The spookies: Disney authors, move out of the way so I can just write a dang story that gives the Haunted Mansion justice! This author didn’t do it right. Why dream up some all-powerful evil force that has nothing to do with anything that we all know and love about the Haunted Mansion? Why not do something fun with the ghostly bride? It could be a cold case about her murder with all the fun spooks helping out with clues! Or why not revolve the mystery around Madame Leota? How did she become a spiritualist trapped in a crystal ball? Now there’s a story!
Either way, this is another Haunted Mansion story done wrong. There’s a chance this could become a series, but I hope not. Yuck.
Oh man, I really wanted to like this one! When I saw the gorgeous cover and read the description, I just had to splurge on the gorgeous hardback filled with spooky charcoal drawings. As the cliche goes, you can’t judge a book by its cover. Boo.
The book starts off great. We have an orphan with special ghoul-seeing powers who mysteriously gets summoned to her family’s gorgeous, sprawling estate named “Gallant.” She receives a not-so-warm welcome from her cousin who is adamant about sending her packing.
The intrigue kept me glued to the pages until I realized that nothing was happening. All this great build up and then the author just loses steam. Eventually I discover that this is less of a gothic mystery and more of a high fantasy involving different dimensions. Not my thing. I finished out of duty (also because I spent $20 on the book) and vowed to only stick to V.E. Schwab’s middle-grade thrillers, which are absolutely fabulous! Although she lost me with Gallant, her Cassidy Blake books will always have a special place in my heart.
This cover caught by eye, and then I read the synapsis–WOWZA! It really has it all: haunted woods, and isolated haunted house, the ghost of a “Sad Lady”–I’m sold! And then I started reading it…whomp whomp whomp.
This book was bad, y’all. We’re dealing with an “unreliable” main character who really didn’t make any sense at all. In the first chapter, we learn that she’s suicidal and homeless. Next, she cons her way into a nanny job and miraculously turns into a highly functional caretaker of two children. Huh? And what I thought would be a spooky ghost story filled with Nordic folklore really just turned out to be a convoluted cautionary tale preaching against the environmental dangers of home building in the wilderness.
I agree with all of this; however, I really get annoyed with authors trying to teach their readers a lesson under the guise of a horror novel. This is probably an unpopular opinion, especially given the state of our rapidly declining planet, but I’m just keeping it real, folks!
I’m here for the fictional escape into a haunted forest, not a finger-waggling cautionary tale. I know that in this crazy world we’re currently living in, it’s hard to not try to push an agenda to get into the readers’ psyche, but that’s just not what I’m here for. I’m just glad I borrowed this from the library and didn’t regret spending money on such a yawner. Some call this a slow burn, but I don’t recall this story even reaching a simmering boil. If you want to read a book about a creepy kid who sees dead people, check out ‘The Shining.” Heck, even “Hidden Pictures” was spookier than this, and it was hardly even a horror novel!
BUBBLE BUBBLE BOOKS & TROUBLE 