Cover Runway Sunday

  

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes the cover initially catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon!

There's a killer on board a luxury yacht, and two former friends must team up to figure out which of their privileged classmates has a penchant for murder before they become victims themselves. Don't miss out on this gripping thriller from New York Times bestselling authors Kristin Cast and Pintip Dunn!

Ex–best friends Naya Morgan and Yana Bunpraserit have always felt like outsiders in their small Oklahoma town. But this year, everything changes when they’re inducted into an exclusive society of Yatesville High’s top recent graduates. Unimaginable opportunities await them, starting with a celebratory yacht trip to Bermuda. Despite the likely onslaught of microaggressions and backhanded compliments from their peers—in addition to their own rocky past—Yana and Naya are ready for an epic voyage.
Then one of their classmates is brutally murdered, leaving them stuck at sea with a killer. Yana and Naya may have avoided each other for years, yet as the body count rises, rekindling their friendship might be the only way they’ll both survive.

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

 

Vampire library! There is a vampire library in this universe! I loved how absolutely detached the vampire monks are from reality. Nothing outside of the library matters, the deaths happening around them hardly mattered. Just keeping the books safe, returning on time, and the ones meant to be a secret are kept a secret. Though I did love which books needed to be hidden away, and which ones didn't. It was nice to see another Judge appear finally in this series. Seeing some classic vampires making an appearance was nice too. Even if one of them wasn't exactly how I remember him, it was nice to him have a softer side. This one is a little more about Judge Dee himself, not really a backstory, but he takes a little bit more of a front seat than normal. While Jonathon is just sort of around. Though it was nice to see him have a bit of a nicer time. At least he was getting fed properly. I'm loving this series so much! Between the amazing covers and the silly little plots that are becoming more and more unhinged. Even better to learn that a new book in the series is coming out in April!!

HAPPY READING!!

Unbecoming A Lady - Review

Author: Therese ONeill

Genre: Nonfiction

Format: Hardback

Pages: 256

Seven years since I got to crack open a book for the first time by Therese ONeill. It seems like a lifetime ago, but it was worth every second of the wait. Because before I even broke the spine on this one I knew I was going to love it. I knew this was going to be one of my favorite books this year.

And it did not disappoint. I don't think there was one section of this book I didn't find interesting to some degree. 

Most of the women in these pages I had never heard of before. I think only knew of four of the women, and what I knew about them was small, a footnote of every history class I've ever taken. But the rest, I had no idea how they were. Oddly enough I knew some of the organizations they helped found or the ideas they tried to push. One was the creation of a department store I have totally shopped in my lifetime. 

Which is what makes this book so important. Not because what these women did was right every single time. Some were crazy, but others were amazing without even trying to be.

This was a book that I shared with my roommate as I was reading. Talked about this with friends who also read, and pushed me to Google more about these women. I cannot imagine the amount of research that Therese ONeill had to do to create each of these little chapters. Because they were little but back full of facts, jocks, and even a bit of social commentary.

But, what I love so much about ONeill's books, is how easy they are to read. They don't get dry or stuffy. You never once feel like you're being talked at. It feels like ONeill is sitting with you telling about these women who shaped and wrapped history. Some for the better, and some for what they thought might be the better. 

This a great jumping-off point for anyone wanting to learn more about the forgotten women of history. It's fun where it needs to be, purposeful, and ONeill knows when history needs fewer jokes or more facts.

I learned so much through this book, and I'm excited to have another of her books on my shelf! My fingers are crossed to get another book from ONeill in the future. Even if I have to wait seven more years!

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they are books that have yet to be released but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

In the midst of the Napoleonic Wars and the rise of the floriography craze in Europe, two sisters separated at birth are bound together by a secret language of flowers passed down to them by the mother they never knew. When Cornelia leaves her cruel uncle’s home to join Napoleon’s army as a traveling naturalist, her ability to heal any wound and bring soldiers back from the brink of death earns her praise from higher-ups—and exposes her to those who would exploit her powers for themselves.

Meanwhile, Lijsbeth lives in indentured servitude, her only respite her time spent flower arranging. When she meets a young English soldier and falls in love, Lisjbeth must decide whether to flee the clashing of two great armies at Waterloo or risk everything by staying. As the English and French armies collide in Waterloo, the sisters finally cross paths on opposite sides of the war.

With the sisters reunited on the battlefield, they must work together to solve the mystery of their mother’s death and their father’s disappearance, all while surviving the war raging around them.

Why I'm Waiting: Hester Fox is an instant buy author for me, she writes some of my favorite gothics and historical fiction. This one is a period I don't usually pick up, but I'll give it a go for Hester Fox!

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

 

Temple Baker knows that evil runs in her blood. Her father is the North Point Killer, an infamous serial killer known for how he marked each of his victims with a brand. He was convicted for murdering 20 people and was the talk of countless true crime blogs for years. Some say he was possessed by a demon. Some say that they never found all his victims. Some say that even though he’s now behind bars, people are still dying in the woods. Despite everything though, Temple never believed that her dad killed her mom. But when he confesses to that crime while on death row, she has no choice but to return to his old hunting grounds to try see if she can find a body and prove it.

Turns out, the farm that was once her father’s hunting grounds and her home has been turned into an overnight camp for queer, horror-obsessed girls. So Temple poses as a camp counselor to go digging in the woods. While she’s not used to hanging out with girls her own age and feels ambivalent at best about these true crime enthusiasts, she tries her best to fit in and keep her true identity hidden.

But when a girl turns up dead in the woods, she fears that one of her father’s “fans” might be mimicking his crimes. As Temple tries to uncover the truth and keep the campers safe, she comes to realize that there may be something stranger and more sinister at work—and that her father may not have been the only monster in these woods.

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

  

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes the cover initially catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon!

A sharp-witted, high fantasy farce featuring killer moat squid, toxic masculinity, evil wizards and a garlic festival - all at once. Perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, K. J. Parker and Travis Baldree.

It’s bad enough waking up in a half-destroyed evil wizard’s workshop with no eyebrows, no memories, and no idea how long you have before the Dread Lord Whomever shows up to murder you horribly and then turn your skull into a goblet or something.

It’s a lot worse when you realize that Dread Lord Whomever is… you.

Gav isn’t really sure how he ended up with a castle full of goblins, or why he has a princess locked in a cell. All he can do is play along with his own evil plan in hopes of getting his memories back before he gets himself killed.

But as he realizes that nothing – from the incredibly tasteless cloak adorned with flames to the aforementioned princess – is quite what it seems, Gav must face up to all the things the Dread Lord Gavrax has done. And he’ll have to answer the hardest question of all – who does he want to be?

A high fantasy farce featuring killer moat squid, toxic masculinity, an evil wizard convocation, and a garlic festival. All at once. Dread Lord Gavrax has had better weeks.

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they are books that have yet to be released but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

She glanced over her shoulder. Had the scarecrow moved? It stood there, smile stitched on its face, but now it felt like a smirk." Prepare to be scared silly in this creepy middle-grade novel! Twins seek medical help in a remote village after their father is in a canoeing accident...only to discover the scarecrow that stands watch in town may have a stronger hold over the residents than expected. Perfect for fans of R.L. Stine, Dan Poblocki, and Mary Downing Hahn. Twins Oliver and Trisha love going on adventures with their dad. Canoeing and camping on the Champion River will be their best trip yet! But when they capsize in rapids, their father is knocked unconscious. Alone and without cell phone reception, their only choice is to continue down river for help. Hours of paddling brings them to an old dock, and a narrow path leads them to a small village. The townspeople are kind and helpful, but strangely focused on the giant scarecrow in the village square. "He watches over us," the twins are told in whispers. "He keeps us safe." An old woman warns the twins not to spend the night in the village. Not if they ever want to leave. But with the sun soon to set and their father not well enough to be moved, how can they escape? Better yet, how can they survive?

Why I'm Waiting: I mean you had me just with this cover, everything else is just a bonus at this point!

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

But is the house truly haunted?
Of course the house is haunted.

Button House has stood for generations, digging its roots and its rot deeper and deeper. Button House would consume all who approached: twin brothers, a child bride, an innocent baby, four young factory workers.

And then came Rose Billings, who had an affinity with the house no other did. Rose, who could hear the house and the pleas of its many ghosts. Rose, who would attempt to solve the mysteries of Button House, or die trying.

HAPPY READING!!

Silent Book Club

Just a reminder that this Wednesday I will be co-hosting a Silent Book Club from 7pm to 9pm! It's super low stress, read the way you want, and meet other readers. 

Cover Runway Sunday

  

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes the cover initially catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon!

What happens when a very human kid ends up at the wrong summer camp—FOR VAMPIRES?! This quirky and heart warming graphic novel about making friends and getting in trouble is perfect for fans of Witches of Brooklyn.

After a lackluster school year, Maya anticipates an even more disappointing summer. The only thing she’s looking forward to is cooking and mixing ingredients in the kitchen, which these days brings her more joy than mingling with her peers . . . that is until her dad's girlfriend registers her for culinary summer camp! Maya's summer is saved! . . . or not. 

What was meant to be a summer filled with baking pastries and cooking pasta is suddenly looking a lot . . . paler?! Why do all of the kids have pointy fangs? And hate garlic? Turns out that Maya isn't at culinary camp—she's at a camp for VAMPIRES! Maya has a lot to learn if she's going to survive this summer . . . and if she's lucky, she might even make some friends along the way.

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

 

This is becoming my favorite series of the year because with every book the plots become a little more unhinged. The first book was just over twenty pages and was a fun little vampire murder mystery. Now four books later there are flying limbs, several dead vampires, and feeding frenzies. I love that Jonothan is food-orientated, and no matter how long he's been with the Judge, he's still scared of his own shadow. I cannot wait to see what kind of trouble these are to find now that they're back in England. 

I had such high hopes for this book. Jack O'Dander is the boogeyman and Slenderman rolled into one character. And, he was the best part of this book. I also started to piece this together fairly quickly. But as for the story as a whole, it was just fine. I always felt this book was always on the verge of getting scary, but never really freaked me out. There was one little moment with Jack and one of the girls. But, it was just meh.

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they are books that have yet to be released but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

Lights. Camera. Lies.

18-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness, but she has no memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and Bel wishes everyone would just move on.

But the case is dragged up from the past when the Price family agree to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again.

Rachel has an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And – could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead . . .

Why I'm Waiting: I a fan of Holly Jackson's writing style, so I have high hopes this one will be a perfect summer thriller!

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

I love this series! Each one gets better and better. This is the third book in the series, and at least a year has passed since the last book for Jonathan. Now the duo are in Paris, one case wrapped, and another about to begin. This was definitely the grossest so far. I pulled a few faces during one of the death scenes. It was very gross and very detailed. I liked the murder mystery of this one and the outcome. It was just as silly as the others. Jonathan is still a great narrator and so very put upon. But, it was good to see him get to eat in this book, and not just wander around reminding Judge that the human needs food.

Okay, okay, I always forget how much I love Lish McBride's books. So when I found Heads Will Roll on my library's Libby app, I didn't even think twice about it. This is my favorite series, by one of my favorite authors, with a unicorn named Steve. This was a lot of fun and filled with great one-liners and found family. I, too, would have adopted a waheela given the opportunity. And those hell hounds if they were willing. This book was only 22 pages, but I laughed throughout the whole thing. And, I probably read about half it out loud to my roommate. I'm so glad I finally got the chance to read this, and I definitely need to go back and re-read Sam's series!

HAPPY READING!!

Night Worms Unboxing

 

March Theme: Blood Oath

I don't know where to start with what I love about this months package. When I don't know about the books, I try not to research too much into them. It's a personal thing, I get stressed with books with a lot hype around them or too many people excited to read them. Because what if I don't like them. So I generally leave it alone until the books come, which is what I did this month. And, I'm glad I did because both sound right up my alley.

Though, Forgotten Sisters, is at the top of the pile right now.    

As for the goody bag, I cannot wait to try this coffee! I love these little bags of coffee for when a few days solo in the house. So I love collecting them, but this is easily my favorite logo! So I hope it's delicious because the packaging is amazing. 

I know I've mentioned it several times, but I love that we're getting magnets! My fridge looks amazing, if I do say so myself. Though I need to find where to put this amazing sticker. My laptop is currently full. So I need to find somewhere amazing!

Huge thanks you the ladies of Night Worms for another amazing month!

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

   

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes the cover initially catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon!

Cover Runway Sunday

  

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes the cover initially catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon!

Get ready to solve the mystery at the heart of this middle grade adventure about family—and a house with a mind of its own.

Twelve-year-old Perigee has never met a problem they couldn’t solve. So when their Dad’s spirits need raising, Perigee formulates the perfect road trip to Dad’s childhood home to reunite him with his estranged mother. There's something in it for Perigee, too, as they will finally get to visit “Eklunds' Puzzle House,” the mysterious bed & breakfast their grandparents built but never opened. They arrive ahead of a massive storm and the House immediately puts Perigee’s logical, science-loving mind to the test. Corridors shift. Strange paintings lurk in the shadows. Encoded messages abound. Despite Perigee’s best efforts, neither the House nor Grandma will give up their secrets. And worse, prickly Grandma has outlawed games and riddles of any kind. Even the greatest of plans can crumble, and as new arguments fill the air, the House becomes truly dangerous. Deadly puzzles pop up at every turn, knives spin in the hallways, and staircases disappear. The answer lies at the heart of the House, but in order to find it, Perigee and their new friend Lily will need to solve a long-lost, decades-old riddle… if the House itself doesn’t stop them first.

HAPPY READING!!

Book Mail

Hands down, without a doubt, this is one of my most anticipated reads of the year.  I have been waiting years for Therese Oneill to write another book. Thanks to the library I stumbled across her first book, Unmentionable. Devoured it in a single day, then waited for the second book, Ungovernable, to be released, and again devoured that one in a single day on my patio absolutely laughing until I cried.

Now something like seven years later I finally have another of her books in my hands. I'm so excited to crack this one open despite the fact I'm currently elbow-deep into two other books. Also, it's the weekend, the busiest time at my job. So it wouldn't really be responsible of me to start this book now.

I should totally wait until my actual weekend on Wednesday so I can do my usual couch nesting to read this cover to cover. I probably won't. There is a good chance I'm about to read past my bedtime.

But, if you like nonfiction, especially the ones that border on stranger and unusual, check out Therese Oneill's books. They are a lot of fun. I recommend getting the physical copies because there are so many photos to look at it and copies of articles. Just a ton of fun and filled with strange Victorian facts. 

HAPPY READING!!

Book Fair!

Oh yeah, you read that correctly. One of the bookstores in my area held a book fair yesterday. Being the 90s baby that I am I couldn't pass that up. Not when the bookstore in question is only one quick ferry ride away. Though, for a hot second we weren't sure if we'd be able to make the event because the ferry was super delayed. But we managed to squeak out a little luck yesterday.

This was a great excuse to get out and support a local business. Despite how close I live to Saltwater, I need to get to the actual brick-and-mortar more. So this was perfect to be able to do and support them! Also, I'm nearly finished with Stevenson's first book the Ernest Cummingham Series, and I've been enjoying it. So it was a no-brainer to pick up the next book in the series. 

Also, I've been seeing the Murdle books on Instagram a lot, and a bit like Clue in book form. So I'm excited for this one, especially because I have a trip coming up in May and this seems like the perfect way to pass the time on my flight.

A bonus was the amazing tote bag I got! I can never have enough of those. Not pictured is the card game I bought as well. It sounds hilarious, Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza, and it can be a two-player game that is perfect for house and camping trips. Also, would it be a book fair if you only got books?

Seriously, I wished more bookstores could do this. It was a lot of fun and a great reason to support a small, local, business!

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they are books that have yet to be released but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

Two unlikely allies race through the cobbled streets of 1920s London in search of a killer targeting Chinese immigrants.

London, 1924. When shy academic Lao She meets larger-than-life Judge Dee Ren Jie, his life abruptly turns from books and lectures to daring chases and narrow escapes. Dee has come to London to investigate the murder of a man he’d known during World War I when serving with the Chinese Labour Corps. No sooner has Dee interviewed the grieving widow than another dead body turns up. Then another. All stabbed to death with a butterfly sword. Will Dee and Lao be able to connect the threads of the murders—or are they next in line as victims?

Why I'm Waiting: I adore cozy murder mysteries, and this is one of my most anticipated reads of 2024!

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

 

A quippy and irreverent collection of illustrated profiles of the great American women who weren’t attractive, well-spoken, demure, or sinless enough to receive their rightful place in history, until now, from New York Times bestselling author Therese Oneill.

Slut. Shrew. Sinful. Scold. The 19th- and early 20th-century American women profiled in this collection were called all these names and worse when they were alive. And that’s just fine.

These glorious dames earned those monikers, and one hundred years later they can wear them proudly! They refused to conform to societal standards. They bucked everyday niceties and blazed their own trails. They were collectively unbecoming as women, but they forever changed what women can become.

With irresistible charm and laugh-out-loud impertinence, New York Times bestselling author Therese Oneill chronicles the lives of eighteen unbecoming ladies whose audacity, courage, and sheer disdain for lady-like expectations left them out of so many history books. Curious readers will learn about forgotten heroines such
-Dr. Mary Edwards who, despite being the only woman ever awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, was shunned and forgotten due to her insistence on wearing pants in public.
-Elizabeth whose careful record of her own unjust incarceration in a 19th century madhouse by her husband (her not wanting to be Presbyterian anymore) led to nationwide law reforms to protect the rights of those with mental health issues.
-Lilian best remembered for being the real-life mom of Cheaper by the Dozen but who probably should be remembered for scientifically removing the stigma of the sanitary napkin and designing the modern-day kitchen.
-And many more!

With dozens of illustrations and historical photographs throughout, Unbecoming a Lady shines a light on unforgettable, impressive women who deserve to be remembered.

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

  

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes the cover initially catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon!

Someone has murdered the queen bee of Sierton High School. All the dead girl’s friends are suspects. And each one has a reason for wanting her dead.

Ella Moore was the most popular girl in school…and also the most hated. When she’s murdered at her own party, there are too many suspects to count--and too many people who think she deserved it. The police’s prime suspect is the new girl, Dawn Foster. She was the last to hand Ella a drink on the night Ella died. Plus, all of Ella’s friends with a motive for wanting her dead are more than willing to implicate Dawn.

But Dawn refuses to go down without a fight. She’s determined to clear her name. As she delves deeper into the past, she discovers that Ella and her friends had enemies, and someone is out for revenge. She must uncover the truth before the police arrest the wrong suspect and before the next person dies.

HAPPY READING!!