Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig

Available September, 26, 2023

He did it again! Chuck Wendig has gifted us all with another terrifying, enthralling, and completely irresistible novel. This time, instead of causing an irrational fear of groups of people walking down a street, Wendig has instilled in me an irrational fear of apples and their glorious homes, apple orchards. I currently have six apple trees on my property, just one tree shy of the notorious Ruby Slipper apple tree from Paxson Family Orchards, and after reading this book, I can’t look at them the same way. I just can’t.

From the Publisher:

It’s autumn in the town of Harrow, but something besides the season is changing there.

Because in that town there is an orchard, and in that orchard, seven most unusual trees. And from those trees grows a new sort of apple: strange, beautiful, with skin so red it’s nearly black.

Take a bite of one of these apples, and you will desire only to devour another. And another. You will become stronger. More vital. More yourself, you will believe. But then your appetite for the apples and their peculiar gifts will keep growing—and become darker.

This is what happens when the townsfolk discover the secret of the orchard. Soon it seems that everyone is consumed by an obsession with the magic of the apples . . . and what’s the harm, if it is making them all happier, more confident, more powerful?

Even if something else is buried in the orchard besides the seeds of these extraordinary trees: a bloody history whose roots reach back to the very origins of the town.

But now the leaves are falling. The days grow darker. It’s harvest time, and the town will soon reap what it has sown.

This book has everything. It has small town drama, teen angst, a mysterious magical element, creepy woods, diverse characters, and all set over a frighteningly realistic timeline. In our story, we follow Calla Paxson, high school senior who is willing to do anything to get her and her boyfriend Marco out of her small town. Her father, Dan Paxson, carries a grudge against all the townspeople who helped steal his father’s farm and push him towards an untimely death. Emily and her wife Meg have moved from the big city to start over in the small town of Doyle’s Tavern only to let the Unspoken Thing fester between them. Joanie Moreau grew up the tough chick from the wrong side of town, only to come back to a wealthy and confident businesswoman. Lastly, John Compass, military veteran turned apple hunter, who is on a mission to find his former best friend.

And what ties all of these characters together? The Ruby Slipper Apple. An apple so dark red it’s almost black. An apple that makes you feel like you can conquer anything. An apple with power. The paranormal elements are brilliantly interwoven with the real world, small town drama that our poor characters are caught up in. I found myself completely invested in their survival and was so stressed out, in a very good way, I read this in just two days. I HAD TO KNOW how this book ended.

I thoroughly enjoyed how the history of the apple was woven into the story. It added a richness to the setting and a real depth to the characters without feeling like you were in a history lesson.

Black River Orchard is a compelling and terrifying novel full of dark humor and enthralling horror. I can’t wait to see what Wendig brings us next!

If you would like to add this amazing novel to your shelf, you can click on the cover above or here for ordering information.

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

Deephaven by Ethan M. Aldridge

Available now

Ages 8-12, 288 pages

I was first introduced to Aldridge’s work with his graphic novel Estranged. The Kid selected that one during one of our many bookstore runs and I fell instantly in love with his art style. When I saw the news about Deephaven, I immeadiately went to all the usual ARC request sites and placed my request. Yes, I was sent an advanced digital copy and yes, life got in the way and I’m late getting the review out.

From the Publisher:

When Guinevere "Nev’" Tallow receives an acceptance letter to Deephaven Academy, an exclusive and secluded school, they know it’s the fresh start that they’ve been looking for.

But things are strange from the moment they arrive—the house itself seems to breathe, students whisper secrets in dark corridors, and the entire east wing of the academy is locked away for reasons no one wants to explain. And Nev knows something strange and ragged stalks the shadowy corridors, something that sobs quietly and scratches at the walls, waiting to be released.

With the help of another first-year student, Nev takes it upon themself to unravel the mysteries hidden in Deephaven's halls. But will they risk their fresh start to bring the academy’s secret to light?

Deephaven is a beautifully written coming of age story set in a magical boarding school. If you have a young fantasy reader in your life, this book is a perfect addition to their bookshelf. It's the perfect balance of compelling story, quiet character development, and a gentle spookiness perfect for young readers. There are several parts that involve some fantasy violence and scariness, but it’s all age appropriate and written with care for the readers.

You can feel the love and care Aldridge has put into his characters and their story. Nev is struggling with a complicated home life and knows that Deephaven could be their way to a happier life. But with a fresh start comes other complications that many readers will readily identify with: finding new friends, the stress of a new environment, and wanting to fit in. Anyone who has been the new kid knows how scary that can be.

I loved this book and if you want to add it your shelf, you can click on the cover above, or here, for ordering information.

Thanks to Edelweiss and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post may also contain associate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg

Narrated by Amanda Leigh Cobb, Graham Halstead, and Nicholas Boulton

Available now

CW: murder, child abuse. It is kept pretty brief and matter of fact, with the majority of the story being quite light, but there are a handful of violent scenes.

I don’t remember adding this to my KU library but Past Me has excellent taste! This book was the perfect field mowing companion and I immeadiately downloaded the second book in the series as soon as I finished it. It’s so sweet, a little silly, and incredibly compelling. If you’re looking for a light, magical, cozy fantasy read with a dash of romance, this book is perfect.

From the Publisher:

Rhode Island, 1846. Estranged from his family, writer Merritt Fernsby is surprised when he inherits a remote estate in the Narragansett Bay. Though the property has been uninhabited for more than a century, Merritt is ready to call it home—until he realizes he has no choice. With its doors slamming shut and locking behind him, Whimbrel House is not about to let Merritt leave. Ever.

Hulda Larkin of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms has been trained in taming such structures in order to preserve their historical and magical significance. She understands the dangers of bespelled homes given to tantrums. She advises that it’s in Merritt’s best interest to make Whimbrel House their ally. To do that, she’ll need to move in, too.

Prepared as she is with augury, a set of magic tools, and a new staff trained in the uncanny, Hulda’s work still proves unexpectedly difficult. She and Merritt grow closer as the investigation progresses, but the house’s secrets run deeper than they anticipated. And the sentient walls aren’t their only concern—something outside is coming for the enchantments of Whimbrel House, and it could be more dangerous than what rattles within.

It’s so good! This one is hard not to spoil, so apologies for the brief and excited squealing. Keeper of Enchanted Rooms is incredibly fun. It begins with dual narratives. One is from a wealthy wizard who has a tragic childhood and the other is Merritt Fernsby, bachelor writer who inherits Whimbrel House. The magic found within Whimbrel House is quite whimsical in the beginning, balancing out the darkness of the story of our tortured wizard. There is a light romantic element that is full of pining and Great Concern for Propriety but isn’t the main focus of the story, more of a delightful bonus. There is delightful banter amongst all the characters, as well as some found family elements. The magic system, widely known to all in the world, is simple and easy to follow and provides some great comedic moments. Hulda holds an important and respected position within the BIKER, the magical agency that oversees enchanted homes. I love a heroine with an interesting job and Hulda definitely has an interesting job! She’s incredibly competent and I don’t remember her dealing with any type of patriarchal b.s. It could be there, but I don’t remember. Quite refreshing, to be honest.

I found the Keeper of Enchanted Rooms to be delightful and engrossing story with a fantastic mystery. I listened to the audio version and the performances were absolutely fantastic. If you would like to add this magical mystery to your shelf, you can click on the cover above, or here, for ordering information.

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

Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano

Available now

CW: child death, grief

Picture this: You’re overcome with grief over the death of your child. You find a name mysteriously written on the floor of your child’s room. When you discover the name is actually that of a real island, you travel there and find something really, really strange. Time has stopped. People dress like it’s 1994. The cars are all pre-1994, there’s very little tech, cell phones aren’t allowed, the O.J. car chases is everywhere, and people seem very, very odd.

And then you go missing.

That’s Dead Eleven.

This is a weird, twisty tale with so many twists and turns that I really don’t want to spoil anything. This will be a quick, and hopefully, spoiler-free review!

It’s a strange, quirky novel that explores the complexities of grief, family dynamics, and how teenagers will always mess up a decades long cover-up. The characters were well written and interesting, even if a few felt like horror novel stereotypes. While a dark power taking over a small island isn’t exactly breaking new ground, I really liked the originality of how the residents tried to battle it and keep it contained. The mystery of Clifford Island was strong enough to keep my interested in the story and while the plot moved along pretty quickly, there were a few sections that felt repetitive and the ending seemed a bit rushed. Overall though, I really enjoyed it and found it to be a solid debut novel.

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

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Available now

Reader friends! It’s a spooky ghost story set during the 90s in Mexico City! And it’s so, so good.

From the Publisher:

Montserrat has always been overlooked. She’s a talented sound editor, but she’s left out of the boys’ club running the film industry in ’90s Mexico City. And she’s all but invisible to her best friend, Tristán, a charming if faded soap opera star, though she’s been in love with him since childhood.

Then Tristán discovers his new neighbor is the cult horror director Abel Urueta, and the legendary auteur claims he can change their lives—even if his tale of a Nazi occultist imbuing magic into highly volatile silver nitrate stock sounds like sheer fantasy. The magic film was never finished, which is why, Urueta swears, his career vanished overnight. He is cursed.

Now the director wants Montserrat and Tristán to help him shoot the missing scene and lift the curse . . . but Montserrat soon notices a dark presence following her, and Tristán begins seeing the ghost of his ex-girlfriend.

As they work together to unravel the mystery of the film and the obscure occultist who once roamed their city, Montserrat and Tristán may find that sorcerers and magic are not only the stuff of movies.

I absolutely love this book! Moreno-Garcia has a real talent for crafting characters that feel incredibly real and relatable. Many ghost stories involve silly people who make silly decisions for silly reasons. Not in this book. Montserrat and Tristán get caught up in a decades old magical mystery purely by knowing a great deal of horror movie trivia and stumbling across a once famous horror director. What starts as a friendly chat between a director and devoted fans, quickly becomes a terrifying adventure into the dark occult underground in Mexico City. It’s beautifully written, incredibly complex, and perfectly paced.

I really liked how the author set this in 1993-no internet or cell phones-and how it impacted the characters’ actions and ability to research the history of our occult characters. At several points, Montserrat has to go to an actual bookstore to find books for research and to me, it’s such a fun detail. There’s also something about Tristán carrying around a pager and being tied to his apartment awaiting a phone call that was quite charming.

Montserrat is a very interesting character. She grew up being bullied for a disability but never let it stop her from pursuing her love of film and sound editing. As an adult, she has to put up with sexism at work and unwanted advances from coworkers and other men connected to the business. But Montserrat stays strong and true to herself and was a great character to follow on this dark adventure.

I truly loved this book and if you want to add this dazzling dark adventure 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.

She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran

Available now

From the Publisher:

When Jade Nguyen arrives in Vietnam for a visit with her estranged father, she has one goal: survive five weeks pretending to be a happy family in the French colonial house Ba is restoring. She's always lied to fit in, so if she's straight enough, Vietnamese enough, American enough, she can get out with the college money he promised.

But the house has other plans. Night after night, Jade wakes up paralyzed. The walls exude a thrumming sound while bugs leave their legs and feelers in places they don't belong. She finds curious traces of her ancestors in the gardens they once tended. And at night Jade can't ignore the ghost of the beautiful bride who leaves cryptic warnings: Don't eat.

Neither Ba nor her sweet sister Lily believe that there is anything strange happening. With help from a delinquent girl, Jade will prove this house--the home they have always wanted--will not rest until it destroys them. Maybe, this time, she can keep her family together. As she roots out the house's rot, she must also face the truth of who she is and who she must become to save them all.

Look at that cover! Isn’t it incredible!

This book comes to you from not just me, but also recommend by my two fabulous, real-life teenage interns at the Library! It’s definitely one of the most compelling, horrifying, and imaginative books I’ve read this summer. It delves into the complexities of colonialism, identity, belonging, and intergenerational trauma. Jade is a very complex character that is dealing with SO MUCH. Her relationship with her father is strained even more with her bargain to stay in Vietnam with him for the summer in exchange for tuition money. She’s scared to come out to her mother but also wants to live her life as she wishes. She feels the need to protect her siblings as much as she possibly can. She also has a house that is actively trying to do her harm. You know, life stuff.

It’s beautifully written, incredibly compelling, and very fast paced. The highly descriptive writing makes you feel like you are right beside Jade as she’s learning more about her ancestors and the horrors they faced. Also, don’t read this book hungry! The food descriptions alone are worth reading for. I learned so much about Vietnamese culture from this book and for that, I’m so grateful.

I loved this book, as did my fabulous interns, and if you want to add it to your shelf, you can click on the cover or here for ordering information.

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

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.

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.

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.

Holiday Book Gift Guide: 9 Spooky Middle Grade Books That I Love

Here’s a post from October with my favorite middle grade spooky books for your young spooky book fan!

It’s Spooky Reading Season! These are some of the most popular books going out at the Library right now, and, they also happen to be some of my favorite middle grade horror novels. I’ve done my best to add in any content warnings that I remember from my reading, but as always, you may want to preview before handing these off to kids. All are super spooky but some contain more humor than spook so there should be something for everyone.

CW: Parental death, grief, bullying, threats to children

Eleven year-old Ollie has been dealt a tragic blow that is affecting her relationships at home and at school. When a magical book finds it’s way to her through troubling means, Ollie becomes obsessed with the book and the characters found within. Ollie’s obsession becomes reality when a class field trip takes her to the graves of the very people she is reading about.

Now, Ollie and two of her classmates must battle unimaginable forces to save themselves and the lives of their classmates.

CW: Violence, Mild Violence, Discrimination, Disability

From the Publisher: When Ned and his identical twin brother tumble from their raft into a raging river, only Ned survives. Villagers are convinced the wrong boy lived. Across the forest that borders Ned’s village, Áine, the daughter of the Bandit King, is haunted by her mother’s last words: “The wrong boy will save your life, and you will save his.” When the Bandit King comes to steal the magic Ned’s mother, a witch, is meant to protect, Áine and Ned meet. Can they trust each other long enough to cross a dangerous enchanted forest and stop the war about to boil over between their two kingdoms?

Barnhill is an excellent writer and crafts beautifully written fantasy stories about family and friendship.

Charlie Hernández loves the myths and stories his abuela told him growing up. When he begins to turn into something similar to a creature from one his favorite stories, Charlie knows he’s in for an adventure. Charlie is quickly thrown into a world of brujas, magic, monsters, and danger!

This is a great pick for kids who are looking for action, adventure, and lots of magic!

CW: Cruelty to Animals, Mild Language, Mild Violence

When Mup’s father is kidnapped by witches, Mup and her mother must set off on a journey to rescue him from the evil queen who has outlawed magic. This evil queen also happens to be her grandmother…

For readers who love a character on a magical journey, as well as family and political drama.

CW: Parental death, majority of the book takes place in a funeral parlor, kid danger and peril

When Molly’s neglectful father passes away, Molly returns to her mother’s home to collect her inheritance. What she finds, is a brother who doesn’t want her around and his business partner who really wants her to leave. But Molly is persistent and she has a plan to get what she wants.

What she doesn’t anticipate is the business she so badly wants a stake in is a mortuary for monsters.

Yep. She’s about to find out the supernatural is all around her and she and her brother will have to work together to keep the monsters safe.

CW: death of a grandparent, racism, segregation, harassment, gun violence

After the death of their grandmother, eleven year-old twins Jezebel and Jay begin training in root work with their uncle. Their family has crafted small potions and charms for their community for generations but when a dark force begins to threaten their home and community, Jez and Jay discover their magic goes far deeper.

An excellent story that weaves history, culture, magic, and mystery seamlessly.

Portal fantasy! When her parents go missing after a series of mysterious letters are delivered to their home, Emily must gather her courage and clues to rescue them. Emily discovers a parallel London, full of magic, mystery, and the fae.

This is book 1 in a 3 book series so if your Reader loves it, there are more books!

A funnier take on the spooky tale

This is a much lighter and funnier take on the spooky story. Will Hunter is dealing with his parent’s divorce, a move to a new town, and a brand new school. On top of all that stress, he seems to be the only one who notices all the spooky stuff in his town. There are monsters where his teachers should be and weird stuff all over the town’s streets. Luckily for Will, he makes friends with the school outcasts and together, they work to solve the mystery of the super spooky shenanigans.

This book is a ton of fun and has a mysterious secret narrator!

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

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling

Available now

Welcome back to Graves Glen! This time, we get to see the witchy and romantic adventures of Gwyn Jones, cousin to Vivi from book #1, The Ex Hex. Gwyn is the owner of Something Wicked, a witchcraft shop that appeals to the many tourists that flock to Graves Glen each fall for the many festivals and fairs. She’s currently apprenticing three “baby witches” from the local witch college and is living a genuinely happy life.

Then Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow shows up. That’s right, Rhys’s brother who couldn’t be bothered to come to Vivi and Rhys’s wedding. Not only does he show up in Graves Glen, he has the audacity to open a similar store directly across the street from Gwyn. When their competitiveness takes a steamy turn, Gwyn and Wells find themselves in quite the predicament.

As Gwyn and Wells fight their attraction to each other, Gwyn finds her magic fritzing out more and more, especially now that a mysterious newcomer is in town. Can Wells and Gwyn work together to find a cure for her magical woes? Can they work together without destroying the town or Vivi’s honeymoon?

This book is so much fun! Gwyn and Wells play perfectly off of each other and the banter is top notch. Wells and Gwyn kind of know each other from college so while they have some history, it’s definitely more memorable for one of them than the other. Wells is a very straight laced scholar who likes to talk in a very classic and old fashioned way. Gwyn, has a more fun loving and open personality and she loves to poke fun at Wells’ suits and old-timey phrases. One of the best parts of this book is when Gwyn discovers that Wells is a truly talented filthy talker. Absolutely amazing dirty talk. It comes out of nowhere and lands quite the punch. These two just have stellar chemistry and they were a true joy to hang with.

In The Kiss Curse, we get a little more information about Rhys and Wells’ relationship with their father and other brother, Bowen. I really like how Sterling has crafted this tight knit family of Gwyn, Vivi, and Gwyn’s mom Elaine, but the Penhallows are very divided and can barely stand each other. I just found it really interesting how Gwyn immeadiately knows Vivi and Elaine have her back and Wells is just like, well my family is full of dicks so I guess I’m on my own…except for Bowen-I think there’s a preview for book 3 going on here. I think it all shows how the ladies want to protect and preserve their community and the Penhallows have been raised to see as a legacy and status symbol. Simon Penhallow is a true dirtbag and I’m hoping the next book really puts him in his place.

We also get to see Gwyn take on the responsibility of three “baby witches” and the friendship and admiration they all have for each other was great. Such a fun and funny dynamic between the four of them.

The Kiss Curse is an absolute delight and I loved every page. If you’d like to add this incredibly book to your shelf, you can click on the book cover for ordering options.

As always, the post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. These are also my opinions, and all mistakes are completely my fault.

9 Spooky Middle Grade Books That I Love

It’s Spooky Reading Season! These are some of the most popular books going out at the Library right now, and, they also happen to be some of my favorite middle grade horror novels. I’ve done my best to add in any content warnings that I remember from my reading, but as always, you may want to preview before handing these off to kids. All are super spooky but some contain more humor than spook so there should be something for everyone.

CW: Parental death, grief, bullying, threats to children

Eleven year-old Ollie has been dealt a tragic blow that is affecting her relationships at home and at school. When a magical book finds it’s way to her through troubling means, Ollie becomes obsessed with the book and the characters found within. Ollie’s obsession becomes reality when a class field trip takes her to the graves of the very people she is reading about.

Now, Ollie and two of her classmates must battle unimaginable forces to save themselves and the lives of their classmates.

CW: Violence, Mild Violence, Discrimination, Disability

From the Publisher: When Ned and his identical twin brother tumble from their raft into a raging river, only Ned survives. Villagers are convinced the wrong boy lived. Across the forest that borders Ned’s village, Áine, the daughter of the Bandit King, is haunted by her mother’s last words: “The wrong boy will save your life, and you will save his.” When the Bandit King comes to steal the magic Ned’s mother, a witch, is meant to protect, Áine and Ned meet. Can they trust each other long enough to cross a dangerous enchanted forest and stop the war about to boil over between their two kingdoms?

Barnhill is an excellent writer and crafts beautifully written fantasy stories about family and friendship.

Charlie Hernández loves the myths and stories his abuela told him growing up. When he begins to turn into something similar to a creature from one his favorite stories, Charlie knows he’s in for an adventure. Charlie is quickly thrown into a world of brujas, magic, monsters, and danger!

This is a great pick for kids who are looking for action, adventure, and lots of magic!

CW: Cruelty to Animals, Mild Language, Mild Violence

When Mup’s father is kidnapped by witches, Mup and her mother must set off on a journey to rescue him from the evil queen who has outlawed magic. This evil queen also happens to be her grandmother…

For readers who love a character on a magical journey, as well as family and political drama.

CW: Parental death, majority of the book takes place in a funeral parlor, kid danger and peril

When Molly’s neglectful father passes away, Molly returns to her mother’s home to collect her inheritance. What she finds, is a brother who doesn’t want her around and his business partner who really wants her to leave. But Molly is persistent and she has a plan to get what she wants.

What she doesn’t anticipate is the business she so badly wants a stake in is a mortuary for monsters.

Yep. She’s about to find out the supernatural is all around her and she and her brother will have to work together to keep the monsters safe.

CW: death of a grandparent, racism, segregation, harassment, gun violence

After the death of their grandmother, eleven year-old twins Jezebel and Jay begin training in root work with their uncle. Their family has crafted small potions and charms for their community for generations but when a dark force begins to threaten their home and community, Jez and Jay discover their magic goes far deeper.

An excellent story that weaves history, culture, magic, and mystery seamlessly.

Portal fantasy! When her parents go missing after a series of mysterious letters are delivered to their home, Emily must gather her courage and clues to rescue them. Emily discovers a parallel London, full of magic, mystery, and the fae.

This is book 1 in a 3 book series so if your Reader loves it, there are more books!

A funnier take on the spooky tale

This is a much lighter and funnier take on the spooky story. Will Hunter is dealing with his parent’s divorce, a move to a new town, and a brand new school. On top of all that stress, he seems to be the only one who notices all the spooky stuff in his town. There are monsters where his teachers should be and weird stuff all over the town’s streets. Luckily for Will, he makes friends with the school outcasts and together, they work to solve the mystery of the super spooky shenanigans.

This book is a ton of fun and has a mysterious secret narrator!

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

Always Practice Safe Hex by Juliette Cross

Available today!

Reader friends! Welcome to my new favorite series! I stumbled across book one in the Stay a Spell series, Wolf Gone Wild and instantly fell in love with the Savoie sisters and their lives in New Orleans. In the fourth installment of the series, we are given the epic romance of two fierce rivals, Livvy Savoie and Gareth Blackwater. It’s wildly funny, incredibly sexy, and full of magical mayhem. I absolutely loved watching these two hard-headed dummies realize that the chemistry between isn’t toxic, it’s explosive! If you’re looking for a new paranormal romance series that is full of heart, heat, and magic, this is definitely the series for you! Read on for more information about this amazing new book!

Something wicked this way comes, everyone. And his name is Gareth Blackwater—a grim reaper with secrets and sexiness to spare. Happy Release Day to ALWAYS PRACTICE SAFE HEX, book 4 in the STAY A SPELL series. Here’s what you’ll find in the newest addition to this popular paranormal series:

Steamy, enemies to lovers

Forced proximity

Werewolf wet t-shirt contest

Telekinetic bed play

Bondage with a grim's monster

Dominant hero who is ALL in

There's a reason no one messes with a grim...

Livvy Savoie is a people person. Not only does she have the magical gift of persuasion, but her natural charisma charms everyone she meets. She hasn't met a person she didn't like. Until her annoyingly brilliant competitor walks through the door. No matter how hard she denies it, loathing isn't the only emotion she feels for him.

Grim reaper Gareth Blackwater is rarely, if ever, moved beyond his broody, stoic state. But the witch he's partnered with in the public relations contest is destroying his peace of mind. He's convinced that the flesh-melting attraction he feels for her is merely her witchy magic at work.

But forced proximity proves there is more than magic sparking between them. Livvy learns this enigmatic grim's abilities are beyond any supernatural she has ever known. And when Livvy becomes the obsessive target of a dangerous warlock, Gareth proves just how powerful he truly is. Because no one is going to hurt his Lavinia.

AM: https://amzn.to/3FgSfim

AM UK: https://amzn.to/3KKehuX

AM CA: https://amzn.to/3sg62QZ

AM AU: https://amzn.to/3KTCsaI

B&N: https://bit.ly/3wgE764

KOBO: https://bit.ly/3Lhobo8

APPLE: https://apple.co/3MrrA58

GOOGLE: https://bit.ly/3MwFrHK

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/37l1YI6

---

Something wicked this way comes, everyone. And his name is Gareth Blackwater—a grim reaper with secrets and sexiness to spare. Happy Release Day to ALWAYS PRACTICE SAFE HEX, book 4 in the STAY A SPELL series. Here’s what you’ll find in the newest addition to this popular paranormal series:

Steamy, enemies to lovers

Forced proximity

Werewolf wet t-shirt contest

Telekinetic bed play

Bondage with a grim's monster

Dominant hero who is ALL in

There's a reason no one messes with a grim...

Livvy Savoie is a people person. Not only does she have the magical gift of persuasion, but her natural charisma charms everyone she meets. She hasn't met a person she didn't like. Until her annoyingly brilliant competitor walks through the door. No matter how hard she denies it, loathing isn't the only emotion she feels for him.

Grim reaper Gareth Blackwater is rarely, if ever, moved beyond his broody, stoic state. But the witch he's partnered with in the public relations contest is destroying his peace of mind. He's convinced that the flesh-melting attraction he feels for her is merely her witchy magic at work.

But forced proximity proves there is more than magic sparking between them. Livvy learns this enigmatic grim's abilities are beyond any supernatural she has ever known. And when Livvy becomes the obsessive target of a dangerous warlock, Gareth proves just how powerful he truly is. Because no one is going to hurt his Lavinia.

AM: https://amzn.to/3FgSfim

AM UK: https://amzn.to/3KKehuX

AM CA: https://amzn.to/3sg62QZ

AM AU: https://amzn.to/3KTCsaI

B&N: https://bit.ly/3wgE764

KOBO: https://bit.ly/3Lhobo8

APPLE: https://apple.co/3MrrA58

GOOGLE: https://bit.ly/3MwFrHK

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/37l1YI6

She Wolf by Maya Morrison

Available now

CW: parent death, threats of sexual violence, alcoholism

After Edith’s father loses his place as pack alpha in Sibyl Falls, her family becomes ostracized and her life of comfort is quickly replaced by poverty and violence. When her mother is senselessly killed by the new pack alpha, her father finds solace in the bottom of the bottle while Edith is left to mourn alone, defenseless against their abusive pack. When she meets a boy, Tiam, in the Forbidden Forest, their friendship becomes one of her few sources of comfort and joy.

As Edith grows older, her feelings for Tiam grow into something more than friendship but pack laws ensure the two can never be together. Also, Edith has an enormous secret that she has spent her whole life hiding, even from Tiam. When a chance to leave the oppression and abuse of her pack finally becomes available, Edith flees. But when girls start to disappear from her pack, including her only friend, Edith finds herself working with an unlikely ally to discover not just where her friend is being held, but Edith’s possible connections to the disappearances.

I was very excited to receive this book from the fabulous Book Fairy Polly, as I’ve been wanting to get back into paranormal romance and finding myself coming across far more misses than hits. When I picked it up, it was just to read the first few chapters to get a feel for it but then I blinked and it was dark outside. I love when that happens. This does land on a HUGE cliffhanger but luckily for you, the next book comes out at the end of the month.

I really love this book. Edith is a total badass who has spent most of her teen years gritting her teeth and dealing with the abuse and nastiness from the other kids, and adults, in the pack. Their wolf shifter pack is kept very isolated from the outside world so Edith has to deal with the pack’s disdain for her family on a daily basis. It would be so easy for her to turn bitter or give up and instead, she walks through her day finding ways to figuratively, and sometimes almost literally, give the pack the middle finger. She refuses to be intimidated and keeps her focus on saving enough money to escape. Her relationship with Tiam is incredibly complicated, not just by them meeting in a literal forbidden forest, but also because he is the heir to his pack’s alpha and his life is already laid out by his father. Of course, both Edith and Tiam are hiding secrets from each other, secrets that can jeopardize both their lives, so when the fates match them as mates, Edith has to reject him to save him. I love that it was Edith that did the rejecting for “saving his life” reasons and not Tiam. Nice little trope twist.

I really enjoyed the world Morrison created for her characters. The bar Edith works at is magically cloaked and requires a little chanting to enter. Her work as a bartender influences later events and I really enjoyed the cocktail descriptions. Working there with her best friend gave her a small escape from the constant harassment of her pack. The magic system was also really well thought out and I like how it influenced and revealed aspects of the characters to the reader. At one point, Edith finds herself in a magical tree house that can alter it’s form and dimensions in really interesting ways. Edith’s inner wolf is far different than any wolf found within her pack, something only she and her parents suspected but had no proof of, and I’m very curious as to how this will play out in the coming books.

Really loved this one. It’s full of action, tons of angst-so much angst, mystery, drama, some politics, and tons of sexual tension. There’s a dinner scene-you’ll know what I’m talking about when you read it-that I nearly screamed when I read it. I’m really hoping Edith gets some revenge! I also hope she gets to throw some well deserved punches.

If you would like to order this fabulous book for your shelf, you can find ordering information here:

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

Three of Hearts by Lillian Lark

Available Now

After devouring Stalked by the Kraken, I immediately went to KU to find every book available from Lillian Lark. Not only was there more, but we get to find out a tiny bit more about Sophia, the harpy from Stalked by the Kraken who was banned from the bathhouse. Sophia is one of three sisters, all harpies are born in groups of three, each beautiful and talented in their own right. Zephyrine, a no-nonsense software developer, is the perfect person to play the bait in a bounty collection operation. While Zeph is well aware of the dangers involved, she is not prepared for the handsome shifter on the team.

Gregory is also not prepared for his reaction to Zeph. His inner wolf had already chosen Asa as his mate but when his wolf began to search for a new mate, Greg is left confused and heartbroken. Is it possible for his wolf to want two mates? What does this mean for his relationship with Asa, a demon who has not only fallen in love with Greg, but made plans for them to be together as both lovers and business partners.

If trying to navigate this new relationship wasn’t complicated enough, generations of societal expectations, illegal shenanigans, and good old family drama threaten them at every turn.

Reader friends, Lillian Lark seriously made our big, gruff wolf shifter a baker! A baker! i loved it so much.

I’m really enjoying this world that Lark has created for these characters. I’m a sucker for a fated mate and it was really interesting to see it play out within a poly relationship. Adding to the complexity of navigating a relationship between three people, it was interesting how the harpy family dynamics greatly influenced Zeph’s reactions to her new mates. In this world, it’s extremely rare for a harpy to remain with her mate after becoming pregnant and staying with a mate is seen as a sign of weakness and an affront to the harpy species. Zeph grew up in a family that was nearly ostracized from the community after her mother chose to stay with her husband and raise their children together. Naturally, this creates a huge source of conflict for Zeph in both her relationship with her family and with Greg and Asa.

We also get a bit of a second chance romance between Greg and Asa. Greg, understandably has a bit of a freak out over his wolf’s reaction to wanting another mate and doesn’t handle ending things with Asa well. There’s some really good groveling, and making up, throughout the book. Gotta love a book that can weave together multiple romance tropes.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and will definitely continue on with the series. I’m curious how the stories will weave together the characters from both series and the criminal shenanigans that occurred in both. Also wondering if Sophia or Amara get the next book…

If you would like to add this book to your collection, you can find it in Kindle Unlimited or order it here:

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

As always, these are just my opinions and all mistakes are my own.

Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest

Available now

This is hands down, one of the best books I’ve read this year. It’s hilarious, full of heart, quirky, and just an absolute delight.

When Seattle police detective Grady narrowly misses a plane crash due to a last minute flight change by his travel agent Leda, he knows he has found the one person who can help him solve a cold case. With her ability to see flashes of memories while holding objects, Leda makes a perfect partner. But Leda hasn’t really spent a lot of time honing her ability and uses it mainly as way to draw customers to a friend’s bar where she performs karaoke inspired by objects people bring her. Can her unpredictable gift help solve Grady’s cold case and possibly, the case of her murdered fiancé?

I loved this book so much! It was full of hijinks and amazing friendships where everyone has great quippy banter. Leda was a really fun character. She has this amazing gift of seeing flashes of memory when she handles objects and has a devoted following at her friend’s bar where she gets to drink for free while she wows crowds with her Klairvoyant Karaoke. Her day job is the owner-operator of Foley’s Far-Fetched Flights of Fancy and I think that is one of the best fake business names I’ve ever heard. That business name? Tells you about everything you need to know about the tone of the book. Even though our characters are searching for a killer, it’s done in a very light-hearted and sarcastic way. Leda and her best friend Niki take over the bar’s whiteboard to create a “murder board” and manage to wrangle all the bar’s employees to help in solving the murder of Leda’s fiancé and another victim. Detective Grady Merritt takes his job very seriously and truly wants to solve the case, but also feels deep down that trusting Leda is key to finding his murderer. There are some great scenes where Grady and Leda are trying to question witnesses but it devolves so quickly into chaos.

The story moves along very quickly and I was completely enthralled from start to finish. It’s so well plotted with so many twists and funny moments that I never wanted to put it down. Luckily, I had this with me on vacation last month and was able to read it in pretty much one sitting. The humor is great, the friendships were delightful, and the plot never gets to gruesome. Sorry, I just want to keep you telling it’s delightful because that’s the best description-it’s just absolutely delightful. If you like Darynda Jones and any of her series, you will love this.

Seriously, pick this book up. It’s amazing. If you’d like to get your own copy, you can find ordering information here:

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