#BlogTour! The Revenge List: A Novel by Hannah Mary McKinnon

The Revenge List : A Novel 

Hannah Mary McKinnon

On Sale Date: May 23, 2023

9780778333463

Trade Paperback

$18.99 USD

368 pages

ABOUT THE BOOK:

As a therapy exercise, a woman writes a list of people she wants to forgive, and thinks nothing of it when she loses it in an Uber…until one by one the people on the list become victims of freak accidents. Set in Portland, Maine, Hannah Mary McKinnon’s breakout suspense novel THE REVENGE LIST will appeal to fans of Lisa Unger, Joshilyn Jackson, and Tarryn Fisher.

Following an epic run-in with a client who threatened to pull out of a contract at her father’s company if she doesn’t suffer some consequences, Frankie Morgan agrees to go to anger management. With the business struggling with cash-flow and her brother needing help with the medical bills for his sick daughter, she can’t risk harming the business further. But that doesn’t mean she’ll be happy about attending.

During the first session, the group is asked to spend some quiet time exploring their pasts and sitting with the emotions that generates, before making a start on a Forgiveness List—a list of people with whom they’re angry and might work on forgiving. She begrudgingly goes along with it and doesn’t worry too much when she forgets the list in an Uber on her way home. It shouldn’t matter—it was just a therapy exercise—except a few days later the first person on that list is injured in a freak accident. When the second person gets hurt, she hopes it’s coincidence. After the third is targeted, she knows it’s a pattern. And she’s in trouble. Because the next name on that list is…hers.

CHAPTER ONE

***

The sharp sound of a high-pitched scream filled the air. A noise so unrecognizable, at first I didn’t register it had come from deep within me, traveling up my throat in stealth mode before bursting from my mouth.

The remnants of the yell reverberated around the car, forcing their way into my ears and penetrating my skull, urging me to do something. Survival instincts kicked in, and I fumbled with the seatbelt, my other hand grasping for the door handle. The need for the relative safety that solid, stationary ground would bring was so intense it made my stomach heave. A loud click of the central locking system meant my captor had outsmarted me again, obliterating my immediate plan to throw myself from the moving vehicle.

When I looked out the windshield, I knew there was no time to find an alternate escape. The end of the road—the edge of the cliff—announced by signs and broken red-and-white-striped wooden barricades, had been far enough away seconds ago but now gleamed in the car’s headlights, a looming warning yards ahead. I couldn’t comprehend what was about to happen, couldn’t do anything as the vehicle kept going, splintering planks and racing out the other side with nothing but air below. I let out another scream, far louder than my first, the absolute terror exploding from my lungs.

For the briefest of moments, we were suspended, as if this was a magic trick or an elaborate roller coaster. Perhaps, if I were really lucky, this was all a dream. Except I already knew there were no smoke and mirrors, no swirling track leading us through loop-the-loops and to safety. It wasn’t a nightmare I’d wake from with bedsheets wrapped around my sweaty body. This was happening. It was all terrifyingly real.

As the car continued its trajectory, it tipped forward. The only thing to stop our momentum was whatever we were rushing toward, obscured by the cloudy night skies. Pushing my heels into the floor, I tried to flatten my shoulders against the seat. My hands scrambled for the ceiling to brace myself, but I flopped like a rag doll, my loosened seatbelt tearing into my shoulder.

They say your life flashes before you when you’re close to death. That didn’t happen to me. Instead, it was all my regrets. Choices I’d made. Not made. Things I’d said and done. Not said. Not done. It was far too late to make amends. There would be no opportunity to beg anyone for forgiveness. No possibility of offering some.

As the finality of the situation hit me full on, I turned my head. The features of the driver next to me were illuminated in a blueish glint from the dashboard lights. His face had set in a stony grimace; his jaw clenched so tight he had to have shattered teeth. But what frightened me the most were his eyes, filled with what could only be described as maniacal delight.

He’d said we were both going to die. As the car hurtled to the bottom of the cliff, I closed my eyes and accepted he was right.

***

Excerpted from The Revenge List by Hannah Mary McKinnon, Copyright © 2023 by Hannah McKinnon. Published by MIRA Books.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hannah Mary McKinnon was born in the UK, grew up in Switzerland and moved to Canada in 2010. After a successful career in recruitment, she quit the corporate world in favor of writing. She now lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her husband and three sons, and is delighted by her twenty-second commute. Connect with her on Facebook, on Twitter @HannahMMcKinnon, and on Instagram @HannahMaryMcKinnon. For more, visit her website, www.hannahmarymckinnon.com.

SOCIALS:

Website: www.HannahMaryMcKinnon.com 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HannahMaryMcKinnon (@hannahmarymckinnon)

Instagram: www.instagram.com/HannahMaryMcKinnon/ (@hannahmarymckinnon)

Twitter: www.twitter.com/HannahMMcKinnon (@hannahmmckinnon)

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/15144570.Hannah_Mary_McKinnon

BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/hannah-mary-mckinnon

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/hannahmarymckinnon 

BUY LINKS:

Bookshop.org B&N IndieBound Amazon Books A Million

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

Available now

Love this cover!

If you, like me, saw this book all over social media last fall but put off reading it, stop waiting! It truly is just as good as everyone was saying. It’s one of those delightfully genre bending romances that immeadiately hooks with you with the detailed and unique world building, interesting characters, and compelling romance.

Mercy Birdsall is doing her best to keep Birdsall & Son Undertakers running while her father’s health recovers and her brother finishes mortuary school. But running a business single-handedly is exhausting work, especially when a rival company wants to put you out of business and the local marshals are so irritating and exasperating. Exasperating and handsome. So handsome.

Hart Ralston is a marshal who keeps people safe from the many drudges roaming the wild lands of Tanria. Delivering bodies to local undertakers is just one part of his job, but some undertakers are far more annoying and exhausting than others. Especially those undertakers who are tall, curvy, beautiful and fiercely independent like Mercy Birdsall. And her having a lovable dog doesn’t hurt.

For four years, Mercy and Hart have traded increasingly hostile barbs at one another, all fueled by a bad first meeting. After a particularly unpleasant encounter with Mercy, Hart writes a letter to “A Friend.” Pouring out his feelings of loneliness in an uncharacteristically vulnerable letter, Hart is surprised and delighted to receive a response. What he doesn’t realize, is that kind, warm, and funny person he is corresponding with is none other than Mercy Birdsall. That’s right! They’re falling in love through anonymous letters.

As the two fall head over heels for each other, the world around them seems to be falling apart. Mercy’s undertaking business is in grave jeopardy. Hart is battling an increase in drudge attacks. And then the unthinkable happens. Hart discovers Mercy is his pen pal. Terrified that he’ll lose her friendship and hate him forever, he keeps his discovery a secret.

You guys. This is one of the best enemies-to-lovers I have ever read. These two can’t stand each other in the real world but are so smitten with each other in their letters it’s unreal. It’s so good! Also, the world building is really interesting. Magic is so prevalent in this world that it’s almost an afterthought. Hart is a demigod. His father is one of the Old Gods and it’s quite possible that he is immortal, but he won’t know until he dies. Or doesn’t? A magical occurrence/disaster/something caused “drudges” to be created. Souls that take over the living and can only be killed by piercing their appendix. I love how quirky this is. All of this is just normal and treated as such. And the best part-those magical letters that made it to “A Friend?” They are delivered by magical animal postal workers!

I love how passionate Mercy is about her job. She truly feels that ushering people into the afterlife is a calling and one that she enjoys doing. She has to deal with all sorts of patriarchal b.s. that is infuriating to read and completely relatable. And of course, Hart is perfect throughout all of it. He’s such a delightfully tall cinnamon roll.

This book is fun, quirky, sweet, sexy, and very romantic. If you love family drama, magic, witty banter, and epistolary novels, this will be perfect for you. If you’d like to add this fabulous book to your collection, you can click on the book cover above or here for ordering information.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

Available now

CW: Discussions of pregnancy loss, divorce, gaslighting, severe illness, depression, and anxiety. This is all covered, and more, in the Author’s Note at the beginning of the book. I listened to this book on audio and this is what I remember from that section, apologies for anything missed.

This is a perfect book! It’s absolutely, hands down, 100% perfect! And contemporary romance is far from my favorite genre! It’s technically book 2 in the Part of Your World series, book 1 is on my nightstand waiting for me to read it, but you can easily read it as a stand-alone novel.

From the Publisher:

Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass” scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,” and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse.

This book is sweet, hilarious, cringey in a good way, and incredibly romantic. After making a horrible first impression at his new job, Jacob and Bri exchange funny, snarky, and sometimes ridiculous letters to each other for weeks. Through those letters, and lunches in a supply closet, the two fall head over heels for each other, but they are both such dumbies that they let all of their, very valid, past experiences and insecurities get in the way and instead of jumping into bed, they start a beautiful and supportive friendship. Jacob has severe social anxiety and Bri immeadiately gets him. She understands what he needs to feel comfortable and secure when going to new places and meeting new people. Bri does all of this without making a big deal about it. She just does it. I found it so sweet.

Their banter is sharp, witty, and highly entertaining. Bri loves to ask ridiculously specific questions and you could feel how much fun the two were having. All of the supporting characters are fabulous and there are some real #friendshipgoals going on.

I listened to the audiobook version and the narrators, Kyla Garcia and Zachary Webber, gave a fabulous performance. If it’s available to you, I highly recommend it.

I truly loved this book. If you would like to add it your shelf, you can click on the cover at the top or here for ordering information. I listened to it through my Library’s Axis360 app so if you’re a Library user, put that hold in now. I had to wait a few weeks for it to become available.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

Available now

From the Publisher:

In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots—fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “HAP,” he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio–a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic’s assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?

I really, really enjoyed this one! Klune has this way of making, what I felt was, a very action packed and plot driven novel still seem very quiet and contemplative. Set in a dystopian future, our characters always seem to be on the verge of grave danger and yet, still find humor and joy throughout their days. If anyone can write a whimsical, dystopian love story, it’s Klune. Full of adventure in a futuristic setting, at it’s heart, In the Lives of Puppets is a magical story of found family, loyalty, acceptance, and love.

If you’d like to add this wonderful novel to your shelf, you can click on the cover or here for ordering information.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate Links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

My Favorite Fiction Podcast and Book Pairings: Spooky Edition

My family and I have been so busy lately that finding time to read has been extremely difficult. As someone who always has an earbud in and a podcast playing, I’ve come across a few fiction podcast gems that have completely sucked me into their worlds and made me slightly obsessed. I have always enjoyed audiobooks and still listen to several a month, but there is just something different about a story in podcast form. Maybe it’s all the time I spent watching soap operas growing up, but the short episodes filled with a wide range of characters and multiple concurrent storylines has always been the best way to keep my attention and interest.

Some of these podcasts are no longer active, but all their episodes are available for listening. Some have some pretty intense content warnings so definitely check their websites for details.

Because I loved:

I listened to:

Old Gods of Appalachia. Created by Steve Shell and Cam Collins, this horror anthology podcast is set in an alternate Appalachia and features dark gods, magical people, and intricate storytelling. Steve Shell’s voice is almost disturbingly perfect for the narration of these stories and the full cast episodes are absolutely haunting. It’s highly recommended that you begin with episode 1 and continue in episode order. This is one of my absolute favorite podcasts.

Unwell: A Midwestern Gothic Mystery is a fabulous full cast fiction podcast. Lillian Harper returns home to care for her estranged mother and discovers that there is so much more to the small town of Mt. Absalom. Centered around the boarding house her mother runs, Unwell is full of ghosts, creepy mysteries, and disturbing happenings in the woods.

Because I loved:

I listened to:

After losing his job, Nate moves across the country with his precious dog Bella and discovers a disturbing stash of letters in the cellar of his rental house. As Nate tries to uncover the mystery of his new house, he documents it all in podcast form with some….mixed results. I really love this one and luckily, the third season is coming soon!

I’m pretty sure I was the last person on earth to discover this fantastic podcast. Jonathon Sims is the new head archivist of the mysterious Magnus Institute. As Jonathon begins the overwhelming task of organizing and recording disturbing witness statements that were left in disarray from the previous archivist, Jonathan uncovers a disturbingly dark side of the Institute. Full cast, completely engrossing and horrifying, it’s no wonder it has won ALL the awards.

What are your favorite spooky podcasts?

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Houseplants and Their Fucked-Up Thoughts: P.S. They Hate You by Carlyle Christoff

Available now

Yes, I totally clicked on this book for its title and I’m not going to feel bad about it. While perusing the spring catalog I stumbled across this gem and instantly thought of my sister. She’s a Fancy Plant Lady and I know better than to try and buy her actual plants as gifts. Her bookish tastes also run towards humor so I knew this would be a perfect fit for her.

Spoiler, she hasn’t seen the book yet but I know she’ll love it.

The book is organized into three sections: The Popular Crowd, The Drama Queens, and The Bitches. Each plant is given a witty description, watering instructions, and if it’s edible or not. It’s snotty, snooty tone is quite funny and it’s small, consistent color palette is very pretty and soothing. I showed it to the Hubs and he spent a good 20 minutes flipping through it and reading aloud his favorite parts.

Perfect for giving as a gift or to set out on a (probably child-free) living room coffee table, this is a book that is certain to elicit giggles.

Thank you to The Collective Book Studio for an advanced digital copy of this book. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate Links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Lassiter by J.R. Ward

Available now

It’s here! Lassiter has his book!

From the author’s website:

Lassiter, the fallen angel, is too good at the savior business.  In his new role overseeing the fates of all vampires, he’s influenced outcomes he shouldn’t have- so the Creator is calling him home.  But the angel has a reason to stay in Caldwell.  He’s bonded with a mysterious female who’s seemed to appear from out of nowhere… and has powers that defy all reason.

Rahvyn is well aware that she doesn’t belong in the present.  And she never intended to stay, for her true place is in the past.  Lassiter proves to be undeniable, however, and she lets herself fall for the angel- until a secret he’s been keeping comes out and she fears that for him, it’s not about love, but duty.

As the Omega’s son reestablishes the Lessening Society, and the Brotherhood must resume the deadly war- an unfathomable tragedy occurs.  In the aftermath, Rahvyn has to decide whether to stay and help- or save herself from an immortal heartbreak she knows will crush her very soul…

I have been a fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood from the very beginning. When my husband and I built our bookshelves around our new fireplace, these books were the first to be shelved. When I was pregnant with my son, I was so scared of losing another pregnancy that I took rest very seriously. During this time, I fell back in love with reading for pleasure and discovered many authors that have become the core of my reading. But with all long running series, this is book 21 of just the core series!, sometimes you get a bit of reading fatigue. I fully believe that you can love a series with all your heart and also wonder how much longer an author is going to keep it going. If you have felt that way at all with the BDB, I get it, and also, this book made me remember why I love Ward and this series so much. And, as with long running series, it’s so hard to discuss them without all the spoilers.

So here’s what I loved:

• Lassiter really gets to show his humanity and express his true feelings about his role in the Brotherhood’s life.

• Rahvyn’s character is given more depth and complexity. I really like her storyline.

• Lassiter and Rahvyn’s romance felt so pure, but also so fragile. I really loved the uncertainty of it all.

• Beth gets to be more than LW’s mom.

• Devina and Lash. My word these two are diabolical. I love it.

• I screamed during a pivotal scene. Screamed. While working a local election.

• (I live in a tiny district and it was a sloooow day. Don’t judge.)

• I think this book sets up the opportunity for a huge shift in the world.

This book was amazing! I fell right into the story and was completely enthralled from beginning to end.

Thank you to the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne

Available Now

Spring is in full swing on the farm and finding time to read has been a struggle! One of my favorite things to do when I’m short on reading time and can’t seem to pick out a book from either my own stash or upcoming arcs, is to hit Kindle Unlimited and find the most bonkers cover and dive right in.

It works every time.

I really enjoyed this wonderfully wild and slightly chaotic book. I do, of course, say this with love. While I found the world building to be a little uneven, I loved the characters and found their journey to love to be sweet, super hot, and quite adventurous.

Reia has been shunned by her entire village. Forced to live alone and treated horribly for supposedly bringing on the deaths of her family, Reia has been offered by the village to be a virgin sacrifice to a Duskwalker. Faced with with a lifetime of imprisonment, Reia has no choice but to be the one who ensures the Duskwalker renews the ward that keeps the village safe from demons.

But, of course, our Duskwalker is not the soulless monster that everyone assumes. He is instead a kind, caring, and thoughtful (as much as he can be) individual who has been horribly hurt by a previous lover and has his own emotional issues to overcome.

This was a fun book. Reia doesn’t really fear Orpheus, our Duskwalker, and that really throws him off. Every time she shows him the slightest kindness he nearly loses his mind with joy and Orpheus expresses his emotions through the glowing orbs that are his eyes which leads to some really cute scenes. Just like the cover, our hero has a skull for a head. Just a bony skull. When Reia discovers the different colors signify emotions, she is determined to see his “happy” colors as often as possible. It’s really quite sweet.

This book is also super hot. It’s a slow burn but it’s definitely worth the wait. Reyne’s Duskwalkers are incredibly complex and unique in their anatomy and that made for some wild and creative sexual adventures. Reia was forced to remain a virgin until her sacrifice to Orpheus, but don’t worry, he pledged to never touch her without her permission, and she is quite confused about her feelings and desires towards him. If you love the microtrope of a human discovering she digs a “monster,” you’re going to love this.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and already started the second book in the series. I’ve been on a bit of a monster romance kick and this was definitely worth the read.

If you’d like to add this book to your collection, it’s included in Kindle Unlimited or you can click on the cover, or here, for ordering information.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

Available now

This book is incredible! Absolutely one of the best books I’ve ever read. Told in alternating points of view, we watch as The Bridegroom falls hopelessly in love with Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada, an incredibly wealthy and enigmatic woman. He’s known from the beginning that he can never ask about her past and is so swept up in his love for her that he manages to never question her until they are summoned to her childhood home to say goodbye to her dying aunt. As The Bridegroom wanders the mansion, he discovers the house wants to reveal secrets that Indigo is desperate to remain hidden.

Indigo’s childhood is revealed to us through the eyes of Azure, her closest friend. Orphaned as a young child, Indigo inherits not just her family’s wealth and business empire, but closets full of designer clothes and jewelry. Together, they crafted spells to take them to the world of fae and spent their days in preparation of becoming fae royalty and a life of immortality.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is hauntingly beautiful. It’s part mystery, part fantasy, and completely engrossing. Chokshi is an incredibly talented writer and has crafted some of the beautiful sentences I’ve ever read. This ended up being far darker than I anticipated, but was so enthralling that I couldn’t put it down.

If you would like to add this amazing book to your collection, you can click on the cover for ordering information.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

#BlogTour: The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais

Hey all! This week is the #TransRightsReadathon and I’m rounding up some of my favorite books by, or featuring, trans people. If you’d like more information about the origins and goals of this movement, you can find it here.

On Sale Date: August 23, 2022

9780778386995, 0778386996

Trade Paperback

$16.99 USD, $24.99 CAD

Fiction / Magical Realism

400 pages

About the Book:

A coven of modern-day witches. A magical heist-gone-wrong. A looming threat.Five octogenarian witches gather as an angry mob threatens to demolish Moonshyne Manor. All eyes turn to the witch in charge, Queenie, who confesses they’ve fallen far behind on their mortgage payments. Still, there’s hope, since the imminent return of Ruby—one of the sisterhood who’s been gone for thirty-three years—will surely be their salvation.But the mob is only the start of their troubles. One man is hellbent on avenging his family for the theft of a legacy he claims was rightfully his. In an act of desperation, Queenie makes a bargain with an evil far more powerful than anything they’ve ever faced. Then things take a turn for the worse when Ruby’s homecoming reveals a seemingly insurmountable obstacle instead of the solution to all their problems.The witches are determined to save their home and themselves, but their aging powers are no match for increasingly malicious threats. Thankfully, they get a bit of help from Persephone, a feisty TikToker eager to smash the patriarchy. As the deadline to save the manor approaches, fractures among the sisterhood are revealed, and long-held secrets are exposed, culminating in a fiery confrontation with their enemies.Funny, tender and uplifting, the novel explores the formidable power that can be discovered in aging, found family and unlikely friendships. Marais’ clever prose offers as much laughter as insight, delving deeply into feminism, identity and power dynamics while stirring up intrigue and drama through secrets, lies and sex. Heartbreaking and heart-mending, it will make you grateful for the amazing women in your life.

Doesn’t this sound amazing? Read on for an excerpt from The Witches of Moonshyne Manor.

 1

Saturday, October 23rd

Morning

Half an hour before the alarm will be sounded for the first time in decades—drawing four frantic old women and a geriatric crow from all corners of the sprawling manor—Ursula is awoken by insistent knocking, like giant knuckles rapping against glass. It’s an ominous sign, to be sure. The first of many.

Trying to rid herself of the sticky cobwebs of sleep, Ursula throws back the covers, groaning as her joints loudly voice their displeasure. She’s slept in the buff, as is her usual habit, and as she pads across the room, she’s more naked than the day she was born (being, as she is, one of those rare babies who came into the world fully encased in a caul).

Upon reaching the window, the cause of the ruckus is immediately obvious to Ursula; one of the Angel Oak’s sturdy branches is thumping against her third-floor window. Strong winds whip through the tree, making it shimmy and shake, giving the impression that it’s espousing the old adage to dance like no one’s watching, a quality that rather has to be admired in a tree. Either that, or it’s trembling uncontrollably with fear.

The forest, encroaching at the garden’s boundary, looks disquieted. It hangs its head low, bowing to a master who’s ordered it to bend the knee. As the charcoal sky churns, not a bird to be seen, the trees in the wood whisper incessantly. Whether they’re secrets or warnings, Ursula can’t tell, which only unsettles her further.

That infernal billboard that the city recently erected across from the manor property—with its aggressive gigantic lettering shouting, ‘Critchley Hackle Mega Complex Coming Soon!’—snaps in the wind, issuing small cracks of thunder. A storm is on its way, that much is clear. You don’t need to have Ivy’s particular powers to know as much.

Turning her back on the ominous view, Ursula heads for the calendar to mark off another mostly sleepless night. It seems impossible that after so many of them—night upon night, strung up after each other seemingly endlessly—only two remain until Ruby’s return, upon which Ursula will discover her fate.

Either Ruby knows or she doesn’t.

And if she does know, there’s the chance that she’ll want nothing more to do with Ursula. The thought makes her breath hitch, the accompanying stab of pain almost too much to bear. The best she can hope for under the circumstances is that Ruby will forgive her, releasing Ursula from the invisible prison her guilt has sentenced her to.

Too preoccupied with thoughts of Ruby to remember to don her robe, Ursula takes a seat at her mahogany escritoire. She lights a cone of mugwort and sweet laurel incense, watching as the tendril of smoke unfurls, inscribing itself upon the air. Inhaling the sweet scent, she picks up a purple silk pouch and unties it, spilling the contents onto her palm.

The tarot cards are all frayed around the edges, worn down from countless hours spent jostling through Ursula’s hands. Despite their shabbiness, they crackle with electricity, sparks flying as she shuffles them. After cutting the deck in three, Ursula begins laying the cards down, one after the other, on top of the heptagram she carved into the writing desk’s surface almost eighty years ago.

The first card, placed in the center, is The Tower. Unfortunate souls tumble from the top of a fortress that’s been struck by lightning, flames engulfing it. Ursula experiences a jolt of alarm at the sight of it for The Tower has to signify the manor; and anything threatening their home, threatens them all.

The second card, placed above the first at the one o’clock position, can only represent Tabitha. It’s the Ten of Swords, depicting a person lying face down with ten swords buried in their back. The last time Ursula saw the card, she’d made a mental note to make an appointment with her acupuncturist, but now, following so soon after The Tower, it makes her shift nervously.

The third, fourth and fifth cards, placed at the three o’clock, four-thirty and six o’clock positions, depict a person (who must be Queenie) struggling under too heavy a load; a heart pierced by swords (signifying Ursula); and a horned beast towering above a man and woman who are shackled together (obviously Jezebel). Ursula whimpers to see so many dreaded cards clustered together.

Moving faster now, she lays out the sixth, seventh and eighth cards at the seven-thirty, nine and eleven o’ clock positions. Ursula gasps as she studies the man crying in his bed, nine swords hovering above him (which can only denote Ursula’s guilt as it pertains to Ruby); the armored skeleton on horseback (representing the town of Critchley Hackle); and the two bedraggled souls trudging barefoot through the snow (definitely Ivy). Taking in all eight sinister cards makes Ursula tremble much like the Angel Oak.

Based on the spread, Ursula absolutely should sound the alarm immediately, but she’s made mistakes in the past—lapses in judgment that resulted in terrible consequences—and so she wants to be a hundred percent certain first.

She shuffles the cards again, laying them down more deliberately this time, only to see the exact same shocking formation, the impending threat even more vivid than before. It couldn’t be any clearer if the Goddess herself had sent a homing pigeon with a memo bearing the message: Calamity is on its way! It’s knocking at the window, just waiting to be let in!

And yet, Ursula still doesn’t sound the alarm, because that’s what doubt does; it slips through the chinks in our defenses, eroding all sense of self until the only voice that should matter becomes the one that we don’t recognize anymore, the one we trust the least.

As a result of this estrangement from herself, Ursula has developed something of a compulsion, needing to triple check the signs before she calls attention to them, and so she stands and grabs her wand. She makes her way down the hallway past Ruby’s and Jezebel’s bedrooms at a bit of a clip before descending the west wing stairs.

It’s just before she reaches Ivy’s glass conservatory that Ursula breaks out into a panicked run.

Excerpted from The Witches of Moonshyne Manor @ 2022 by Bianca Marais, used with permission by MIRA Books.

Buy Links:

Amazon

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Kobo

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About the Author:

Bianca Marais cohosts the popular podcast The Sh*t No One Tells You About Writing, aimed at emerging writers. She was named the winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies in 2021. She is the author of two novels, Hum If You Don’t Know the Words and If You Want to Make God Laugh, as well as the Audible Original The Prynne Viper. She lives in Toronto with her husband and fur babies.

Social Links:

Author website: https://www.biancamarais.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biancamaraisauthor 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/biancam_author/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ 

The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey

Available Now

Hey all! This week is the #TransRightsReadathon and I’m rounding up some of my favorite books by, or featuring, trans people. If you’d like more information about the origins and goals of this movement, you can find it here.

I was very fortunate to have this gem with me while on my forest getaway and it was the perfect way to spend an afternoon cuddled under blankets, watching the snow fall. I have loved everything Gailey has previously written and I had no doubts they would deliver an amazing and thrilling adventure in The Echo Wife. 

Readers, this is an amazing  book.

Imagine being the scientist who perfects cloning. Now, imagine that scientific discovery being stolen by your husband to not only clone you, but to leave you for your own clone. Yeah, completely messed up. As if that isn’t enough drama for you, imagine that clone coming to you for help burying your ex’s body. 

Uh huh. I told you, this book is amazing!

From the beginning page, Gailey has given us a story that starts off running and never slows down. From the moment we are introduced to our main character, Dr. Evelyn Caldwell, we know that she is driven, brilliant, and has a complicated childhood which drives her every decision. It was fascinating to see her next to her clone, Martine, and see the nature vs. nurture argument play out in real time. Dr. Caldwell was an interesting character in that she is written as your typical “ice queen” and could care less. She loves science and is determined to be the best in her field. She chose career over family and doesn’t feel guilty about it. When problems come up, she approaches them with an almost clinical calm and thrives on the stress of solving them. 

Gailey’s writing is gripping and compelling, driving the story forward through a never-ending series of twists and turns. Very bizarre and creepy turns, but many, many twists and turns. It’s a fascinating exploration of marriage, identity, family, and the effects of abuse. 

I absolutely loved this book and if you love a good psychological thriller, you will too. 

If you’d like to add this book to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

Available Now

Hey all! This week is the #TransRightsReadathon and I’m rounding up some of my favorite books by, or featuring, trans people. If you’d like more information about the origins and goals of this movement, you can find it here.

Reader Friends! Buckle Up! This is a glorious, captivating wild ride through the lives of the rich and elite.

When Mars’ sister dies under mysterious and bizarre circumstances after unexpectedly returning home from her elite summer camp, Mars becomes consumed with the need to find answers to their twin’s death. On the night of Caroline’s death, she brutally attacked Mars, seemingly intent on ending their life. But in a moment of clarity, she apologizes to them before tragically dying. After her death, a brain tumor seems to be the cause of her erratic behavior but Mars is convinced there is more to the story.

After convincing their parents to let them take Caroline’s place at Aspen, the exclusive summer camp for the children of the wealthy and connected, Mars returns to the place that is a great source of trauma and pain. Mars’ gender fluidity and nonbinary identity goes against the very core of Aspen and it’s incredibly gendered values. Once at Aspen, Mars does their best to get in with the girls from Cabin H, better known as the Honeys. Caroline was a part of the Honey’s and they are convinced they have all the answers. But the Honey’s exist outside of the rules of Aspen and Mars is constantly shadowed by Wyatt, a leader in training and nephew to the camp’s director. As Mars gets closer to the answers they seek, they discover a world where people disappear, memories are altered, and the power of the Honeys seems to know no bounds.

This is a dark, twisting, captivating story of love, power and betrayal. I was so enthralled by the darkness in the story that I flew through this book in one sitting. The Honeys is a perfect blend of the horror, mystery, and paranormal genres told through the eyes of a grieving twin. It’s so much more than a story of a mysterious death. It’s an examination of greed, wealth, family expectations, toxic masculinity, and the way societal expectations about gender and generational wealth impacts teens. Nearly every activity at Aspen is based on gendered roles and expectations and how someone like Mars, a nonbinary teen who refuses to change for others, is forced into unsafe situations and ridicule when they reject the pressure to conform.

It’s also a lesson in underestimating the next generation-they are terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

This book is fantastic-definitely give it a shot. If you’d like to add this book to your shelf, you can click on the book cover or here for ordering information.

This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. As always, these are just my opinions and ramblings and all mistakes are my own.

Defekt by Nino Cipri

Available April 20, 2021

Hey all! This week is the #TransRightsReadathon and I’m rounding up some of my favorite books by, or featuring, trans people. If you’d like more information about the origins and goals of this movement, you can find it here.

Last year, I was fortunate enough to read a review copy of Finna by Nino Cipri and I realized just a few moments ago, that I neglected to share that wonderful and quirky book with all of you. In Finna, we are introduced to the bizarre and chaotic world found within LitenVärld. A store so large, it’s very layout has the ability to create wormholes that can ensnare customers and employees alike.

In Defekt, we return to the mysterious world of LitenVärld and it’s eclectic group of employees. Derek is a proud employee of LitenVärld, spending his days stocking merchandise and creating beautiful displays in the many showrooms. Derek appreciates the company’s devotion to it’s employees as LitenVärld provides housing in the extra cargo containers at the end of the parking lot and drafts detailed employee handbooks, answering any and all questions that employees may have. Derek is always receptive to feedback on his performance and routinely practices smiling at customers in the mirror while getting ready for work. When Derek becomes unexpectedly ill, the first illness he can ever remember, a call to the employee helpline and a chat with his manager leave him with more questions than answers. When a high-up human resources official makes Derek the point person for a special inventory team, Derek realizes that everything he has ever known about the world, and his very existence, is a lie. Because truly, isn’t life better with more Derek’s?

This is a smart, snarky, and witty novella that is brimming with humor and insight into the human experience. Nino Cipri crafts these darkly hilarious novellas that break down the horrors of capitalism and it’s effects on people in such a way that you are laughing when you really should be enraged and crying. If you’ve ever been inside an extremely large department store, like an Ikea, you can imagine how massive the place would seem without any people in it. Now, add in an overnight shift and furniture that comes to life. It sounds like the start of a horror novel. But what if we didn’t immediately believe that everything that is different is inherently evil? What if we initiated contact with the hopes of understanding and creating a new friendship? This was a fascinating take on a “first contact” story. I also really enjoyed how the team of “Dereks” were not only different in personalities and temperaments, but also genders and identities. While it’s not necessary to have read Finna before Defekt, the two genuinely compliment each other and I highly recommend both. If you like witty and snarky takes on current events, this is definitely up your alley.

Intrigued? Feel like shopping? How about adding this to your bookshelf? You can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post also contains affiliate links and I do earn from qualifying purchases.

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

Available Now

Hey all! This week is the #TransRightsReadathon and I’m rounding up some of my favorite books by, or featuring, trans people. If you’d like more information about the origins and goals of this movement, you can find it here.

Content Warnings for harm to children, partner abuse, and body horror.

Look at this gorgeous cover!

If you are able to, avoid all descriptions of this book before diving in. I mean it; just go in blindly. All I knew when I requested this book was that it was by Rivers Solomon and it was about a woman who is going through a metamorphosis and needs to escape a religious compound. I didn't really need any more information than Rivers Solomon being the author to get excited and I am so glad that I didn't read further. This made every twist and turn that much more exciting and I was completely caught off guard multiple times. Now if you really need to know more, then by all means keep reading this post before putting this book on hold at the Library. But trust me, this book is amazing.

Reader Friends, this book is an intense ride and I was completely enthralled from start to finish. Vern gave birth to her children alone while hiding in the woods from her abusive husband and the repressive religious compound she grew up in. Only more surprising than her not knowing she was pregnant with twins is Vern´s age. At only 14, Vern is now tasked with not only her own survival against a dark and evil force, but that of her children as well. Deep in the woods, Vern and her small family spend their days gathering, foraging, and hunting their food while spending their nights drying and preserving their surplus. As the days pass on, her children grow into inquisitive toddlers as Vern discovers her own body changing and developing as well. When the forest fiend gets too close to her children, Vern knows she must finally ask for help. Packing up her children and their meager supplies, Vern and her children set off across the country to find an old friend from Vern´s childhood. As the days pass, Vern continues to change and hallucinations from her childhood return with greater force. With no one to trust but herself, Vern must learn more about her past in order to secure a future for herself and her children. 

Sorrowland is one of those magical books that crosses so many genres that it becomes something new altogether. It is part historical fiction, part science-fiction, and a whole lot of gothic horror. Solomon´s writing is intense and compelling with richly drawn characters caught up in an intricate and complicated plot. Much of the book's impact comes from it's too-close-to-reality storyline of racism, misogyny, and distrust in authority. Spoiler, everyone has every reason to distrust all authority in this book. It's also incredibly fast paced and I was so engrossed in the story that I finished it in one sitting. I loved this book and can't wait to hear what you all think of it. 

If you would like to add this book to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post also contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. 

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Available Now

Hey all! This week is the #TransRightsReadathon and I’m rounding up some of my favorite books by, or featuring, trans people. If you’d like more information about the origins and goals of this movement, you can find it here.

I have seen this book everywhere and for good reason-it’s a perfect book. Just perfect. If you are someone who is remotely interested in a young adult paranormal romance, you must pick this up. Now. Go get it. 

Yadriel believes with all his heart that Lady Death will see him for what he truly is: a brujo. When his father refuses to listen to Yadriel and bans him from participating in his quinces ceremony, he knows the only way to prove himself is by performing in his own ceremony. With the help of his best friend and cousin Maritza, Yadriel defies all expectations and receives the blessing of Lady Death. When his cousin Miguel goes missing, the community begins a search for him but they are quickly overcome with the feeling of his death. Yadriel knows that he can help by summoning Miguel’s spirit and solving the mystery of his death but when Yadriel performs the ritual, he summons a ghost...the ghost of the high school bad boy Julian. 

Now, Yadriel must hide the existence of Julian’s ghost from his brujx family, no small feat, solve the mystery of both Julian and Miguel’s death, and prove himself to his father. I mean, no big deal right?

This is a fantastic book! I loved every page, every word. Yadriel is such a wonderfully written character. He is determined to live his life as his true self-a boy who wants to become a brujo. His mother was the understanding parent who accepted his transition but he still has his father and grandmother who struggle to see him as a boy and use his real name, not his dead name. The connection between Maritza and Yadriel is so pure and accepting. They are cousins, family, best friends, and completely honest with each other. Aiden Thomas gives readers an honest and frank look at the life of a trans teen and all of the ways their identity dictates everyday decisions. There is a scene where Julian finds out that Yadriel hasn’t used the boys’ bathroom at school because he’s afraid and it just broke my heart. Julian’s presence has a significant impact on Yadriel. He is openly gay and quite blunt about Yadriel’s interactions with his family and their treatment of Yadriel. Julian questions his loyalty to a family that is holding him back from becoming a brujo because he is trans and the two have conversations that provide incredible insight into Yadriel’s life.

The descriptions of the family’s belief system were rich and detailed. I love magic in all its forms and learned so much about Yadriel’s history and culture. The tight knit community and the closeness of the family members creating such an elaborate set of festivities to honor their dead was fascinating and beautiful. Be prepared for some incredible descriptions of food-I was starving the entire time I read this!

The story takes place on a very quick timeline-they must find Miguel’s killer and release Julian’s spirit before Dia de Muertos. I love YA that has a tight timeline the characters have to follow but still have to go to school. I love it. This urgency is really felt in the development of Yadriel and Julian’s relationship. What do you do when you fall in love with a ghost who only has a few days to remain on earth? It’s pretty incredible Readers. 

This book checks a lot of boxes: found family, family friendships, magic, history, culture, romance, coming of age, and so much more. Best part-this is a debut! I can’t wait to find out what wonderful novels Thomas has in store for us next. 

If you would like to add this amazing story to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

Bad Cree by Jessica Johns

Available now

Hey all! This week is the #TransRightsReadathon and I’m rounding up some of my favorite books by, or featuring, trans people. If you’d like more information about the origins and goals of this movement, you can find it here.

As the anniversary of her sister’s death approaches, Mackenzie finds herself plagued with strange and disturbing dreams. After a nightmare where she has to battle a murder of crows, she awakens to find the severed head of a crow in her hands. As the nights go on, her dreams become more vivid and she finds herself bringing objects from the dream world into the waking world. Her dreams keep sending her to her family’s favorite camp site, and to a memory that has disturbed Mackenzie for years. When her dreams become too disturbing to handle alone, she finds herself back home for the first time in years.

Her family, still grieving the loss of Sabrina, Mackenzie’s sister, and the recent loss of her kokum, comes together to discover what is behind her disturbing dreams and how to keep her safe.

This is a fascinating story. Mackenzie is a compelling character who is burdened by the grief of her sister’s death and her guilt over not going home for the funeral. Growing up, Mackenzie was always surrounded by family. From camping trips to late night card games and cousin sleepovers, Mackenzie has always been surrounded by her family. But Sabrina’s sudden death and Mackenzie’s behavior created a rift that’s she’s unsure of how to heal. Johns does an incredible job of expressing the different ways that we grieve and how that impacts our relationships with others.

When she returns home, Mackenzie discovers that her mother, aunts, and cousins have more experience with the mysteries of dreams and the supernatural than she realized. I really loved learning more about Cree culture and the myths that were shared in the story. Many of the women all had some type of special gift and it was a bit sad to hear how they felt the need to keep it secret, especially when it became clear that they needed everyone’s knowledge to solve the mystery and keep everyone safe.

I was a bit surprised to find a horror novel that was more of a slow burn and character driven. I found it very well written, the story very compelling, and the characters very interesting and realistic.

If you would like to add this amazing book to your shelf, you can find ordering information by clicking here or on the book cover above.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post may contain links, including Amazon Associate Links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Available Now

Hey all! This week is the #TransRightsReadathon and I’m rounding up some of my favorite books by, or featuring, trans people. If you’d like more information about the origins and goals of this movement, you can find it here.

This is a brutal, violent book that deals with death, abuse, suicidal ideation, assault, alcoholism, and torture.

If you, like me, get excited when you find out a book is 400 pages of feminist rage, this is the book for you! Zetian Wu has lived her whole life at the mercy of her family. Her sole purpose is to sacrifice herself so the family may succeed. When her older sister dies, Zetian focuses her rage on the person responsible and vows revenge.

Set in a future China, a battle rages between humans and the massive aliens beyond the Great Wall. Using Chrysalises, giant mechanical robots (kind of, it’s so complicated) that require one male and one female to join their life forces to pilot. One extremely unfortunate side effect of this arrangement is that the female pilots die in nearly battle, sacrificing themselves to save the male pilot. Shortly after enlisting, much to the disappointment of a young, wealthy man who offered to marry her, Zetian is given her chance to kill the pilot who sacrificed her sister. His death was fast, brutal, and gave her the title of Iron Widow. Unfortunately for the higher ups, Zetian is an incredibly powerful warrior and with nothing to lose, they have no leverage against her and she’s too valuable to kill.

When Zetian is paired with the terrifying and notorious Li Shimin, Zetian believes it’s a death sentence. Addicted to alcohol, known for violent outbursts, and convicted of killing his entire family, Li Shimin appears to be as volatile as he is deadly. What Zetian quickly realizes, is that Li Shimin is a pawn in a twisted government plot and feels deeply about the girls who have died as his partner. Luckily for both Zetian and Li Shimin, that young, wealthy man who wanted to marry Zetian has found his way to her and is able to work with both of them in an official capacity.

As Zetian points out over and over again, is a triangle is the strongest shape…

Iron Widow is a fast paced, thrilling, scream of a book. Zetian’s rage is palpable and she holds nothing back. She is an absolute force and a joy to follow in her adventures. I loved this book so much! It looks like it’ll be part of a duology and I’m really excited to see how the story moves further.

If you would to hear the author pronounce all the characters names, you can find it here.

If you would like your own copy, you can find ordering options here:

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Entranced by the Basilisks by Lillian Lark

Available now

Reader Friends, I love Lillian Lark’s books. I love how imaginative and sexy they are. I love how the characters have real, interesting lives and jobs. I love how easily she can turn magical elements into something that feels completely believable and relatable. I also love how imaginative and sexy they are.

Her books are so hot. So. Hot.

In Entranced by the Basilisks, we are back with Emilia from Deceived by the Gargoyles. She is still reeling from learning that magic is real and the discover that her best friend and co-worker has been lying to her for their entire relationship. When a crate of books is delivered to her office for restoration, she follows all of the precautions taught to her by Grace, including using crystals to check for, and deactivate any magical wards. When the first book appears to be nothing more than a beautiful antique book, Emilia is delighted to have a project that will keep her busy and focused on something other than her new-found magical knowledge.

But, magic is fickle and instead of hours of peace and quiet, Emilia discovers a curse. A curse that turns her into a Medusa-like creature and a threat to all who come near her. Desperate to find a cure, Emilia finds herself at the magical Love Bathhouse and in the capable hands of Rose, our favorite magical matchmaker. Will finding her mate cure the curse? Will finding pleasure on a serpent’s tongue be just what she needs?

Gods I love a book with the possibility of sex magic!

Luckily for Emilia, everyone steps up to help her control her new magical power. Everyone, including Jasper Adder, her very grumpy boss who has been harboring a secret crush on his employee. Everyone, including Ari Zeyad, the rich antiques dealer who has spent the last seven years wanting a real relationship with Jasper, only to be pushed away.

Lark has gifted us with a steamy romance that is a glorious blend of enemies to lovers, workplace pining, age gap, and “ancestor did something wrong so the entire line suffers” longing. It’s an incredibly sweet book, with characters that feel real even with all the magic involved. Jasper and Ari have a long and complicated history together with real reasons for not taking their relationship public. Ari’s tendency to be very pushy and manipulative makes things more difficult, not just for his relationship with Jasper, but for his relationship with both Jasper and Emilia. Emilia isn’t one for casual relationships and to just jump into a relationship with not one, but two men is an incredibly hard choice to make. Add in their shapeshifting abilities and the whole “magical curse” thing and it’s quite a lot for her to take in. But it all works. Lark is able to weave together all these elements and craft a beautiful, steamy, romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.

This is part of the Monstrous Matches series but can be read as a standalone. Deceived by the Gargoyles is fabulous so I recommend you read that first, then come back to Entranced by the Basilisks. Both are available in KU.

If you’d like to add this fantastical romance to your collection, you can click on the cover above or here for ordering information. If you’re interested in starting a Kindle Unlimited subscription, you can find information here.

This post contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.