a GREAT read

Can't Wait Wednesday #254

2026-06-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Sometimes, you just want to belong.
When Claire’s fiancé mysteriously dies of an unknown neurological illness, seemingly destroying her chances at the belonging she’s sought, she’s prepared to sink back into the lonely life she lived before. Orphaned by a freak boating accident in her childhood, she never expected to find connection like she did with Elias, anyway. Even if sometimes, that connection seemed more like something he felt obligated to than something he wanted.

Their relationship wasn’t perfect—his coldness, his secrets, his strange aversion to the ocean—but what relationship is?

When Elias’s family reaches out—his incredibly wealthy family, from whom he was estranged—and invites Claire to a wake at their family home on a private island, Claire is given the chance to have connection again. To belong to something, just like she’s always wanted. Just like Elias knew she was desperate to have.

Even if that family is a little strange. Even if their home built partially into the sea stirs up memories of the accident that killed her parents and sister. Even if Ash, Elias’s older brother, seems insistent on Claire leaving as soon as possible.

Claire can’t bring herself to be lonely again. And as the strange circumstances of Elias’s familial connection with the sea becomes more and more apparent, her window for escape is rapidly closing.

Does she even want to?

This one just sounded so spooky when I remember Hannah talking about it on tour last year! Definitely looking forward to this one!

TITLE: Reliquary
AUTHOR: Hannah Whitten
PUBLISHER: Orbit Books
GENRE: Horror
RELEASE DATE: August 11, 2026

She doesn’t believe in magic. He is magic. But when they meet, a spark is lit, and neither will ever be the same—in this charming new stand-alone in the Witches of West Harbor series from New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot.

Frankie

A trained therapist, Francesca Giovanni knows there’s a scientific explanation for everything. Unfortunately, she lives in West Harbor, CT, a town that’s recently exploded in popularity thanks to “witch tourism.” Suddenly, witches are everywhere, offering locals their psychic services. Frankie’s fine with this…until aspiring teenage witches begin to disappear, and strange things start happening in the lake house next door. Frankie begins to suspect not all newcomers to West Harbor have the good of the community in mind—especially not her new neighbor, Ash Merit.

Ash

Ash Merit finds lost things—and people—for a living. All he wants is to help his clients, and maybe get to know the stunningly beautiful (and newly single) Dr. Frankie Giovanni a little better. But thanks to some troublesome young witches—not to mention his often faulty psychic “superpower”—everything goes wrong. If only Frankie wasn’t so distractingly attractive…and so unwilling to admit there might not be a logical reason for everything, including the flames that ignite whenever the two of them kiss. Ash hopes to change that, but first he and Frankie have to find the missing girls, as well as the truth about what’s happening in West Harbor…a truth that could change everything they thought they knew about themselves—and the magic of love.

I still need to read the first book of this series (as I am writing this post, but likely, I still need to read it, but it's on my schedule!)! I love Meg Cabot's magical/paranormal reads so this sounds like it will be my kind of read!

TITLE: The Magic We Made
AUTHOR: Meg Cabot
PUBLISHER: Avon
GENRE: Paranormal Romance
RELEASE DATE: August 11, 2026

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

2026-06-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Purple Princess of The Purple Booker.

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc.

"'Lyssa, if you don't want us going in there, you have to keep it clean. I will not tolerate filth. The cobwebs, I mean--read whatever books you want to, dear.'" p 24

TITLE: Kill the Beast
AUTHOR: Serra Swift
PUBLISHER: Tor Books
GENRE: Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: October 14, 2025

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and The Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week's topic is: Top Ten Books on My Summer 2026 To-Read List

*going in order of how I plan to read them starting at 10

10. DRAGON CURSED by Elise Kova--Elise is touring here at the end of July, so I am hoping to read this one and her other one before the stop!
9. ARCANA ACADEMY by Elise Kova
8. NIGHTWEAVER by R.M. Gray--I am attending the Forbidden Love event in Nashville, also at the end of July, so I am hoping to read a handful of titles before then too! We'll see how far I can get through this list!

7. STARCHASER by R.M. Gray
6. SPARKING FIRE OUT OF FATE by Brigid Kemmerer--somehow missed the announcement that Brigid was also attending as I had to rewrite my list just last week! Lol.
5. THE LAST LOST GIRL by Casey L. Bond--been wanting to read this one and hoping to pick up another of Casey's books there since this is already signed!

4. THE FIRST LOST BOY by Casey L. Bond
3. THE MIRROR IN THE MOUNTAIN by Dana Evyn--aching to read this one after the first book's cliffhanger, I may need to up it in this tentative queue. 3-9 on this list are interchangeable since they are all at the same event!
2. SHATTERED MIRROR by Dana Evyn--okay, now I may need to wait to read book 2 as this one doesn't release until July 10th but I'll have it in time for said event! Lol.

1. THE NIGHTSHADE GOD by Hannah Whitten--bought my ticket either last week or two weeks ago for her August stop here, and I just realized I never added this to my Goodreads list! Whelp! Still need to read it obviously!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2026-06-22T03:24:34.410-05:00

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Last Week I Read:

Outtakes from the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (5 stars)
Both Feet in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (5 stars)
Kill the Beast by Serra Swift (4 stars)

Currently Reading:

Dragon Cursed by Elie Kova

What I Plan to Read Next:

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Can't Wait Wednesday #253
Books from the Backlog #191
Book Blogger Hop #416
Stacking the Shelves--The Ups & Downs Editions

Review--Kill the Beast by Serra Swift

2026-06-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

The Witcher meets Howl’s Moving Castle in this debut original faerie tale of revenge, redemption, and friendship―for fans of T. Kingfisher, Naomi Novik, and cozy fantasy with a dash of gritty adventure.

The night Lyssa Cadogan's brother was murdered by a faerie-made monster known as the Beast, she made him a promise: she would find a way to destroy the immortal creature and avenge his death. For thirteen years, she has been hunting faeries and the abominations they created. But in all that time, the one Beast she is most desperate to find has never resurfaced.

Until she meets Alderic Casimir de Laurent, a melodramatic dandy with a coin purse bigger than his brain. Somehow, he has found the monster’s lair, and―even more surprising―retrieved one of its claws. A claw Lyssa needs in order to forge a sword that can kill the Beast.

When the witch Ragnhild decrees that Alderic and Lyssa must gather the other ingredients to forge the weapon together, or else the spell will fail, Lyssa gets more than she bargained for. Alderic is ill-equipped for the task at hand, and almost guaranteed to get himself killed.

But as the two of them search for the materials that will be the Beast's undoing, Alderic reveals hidden depths: dark secrets that he guards as carefully as Lyssa guards hers. Before long, and against Lyssa's better judgment, they begin to forge a blooming friendship―one that will either lead to the culmination of Lyssa's quest for vengeance, or spell doom for them both.

Serra Swift's debut, Kill the Beast, was a remarkable fantasy read that just the right amount of faerie and fairy tale like essence. I say this, because despite that familiar title name, this is not a fairy tale retelling, but more of a fantasy read that blends in familiar fairy tale tropes mixed in with good old fashioned fantasy style storytelling.

For the past thirteen years, Lyssa has been trying to hunt down the faerie beast that killed her brother when she was young. In the meantime, she is happy to kill any other faerie creature that plagues upon humanity. She travels between faerie worlds and the mortal ones on the regular and has made a contented life for herself. Not a happy one, not a miserable one. Just one where she is existing...existing to find and kill that beast.

Then one day, she receives a letter from a rich fellow named Alderic, who wants her help in killing a faerie monster that has been terrorizing his homeland. While she debates about meeting the man, fate takes the choice away from her when she runs into him at a bar where he's getting drunk as a skunk. He then offers her untold riches if she helps him to kill a beast that has been terrorizing his land. Naturally, it becomes clear that this beast and the one that killed her brother are one and the same. So, Lyssa is loathe to admit wanting to take up this dandy's offer, but she does because it's a chance to fulfill her oath she made to her brother's memory and to rake in a lot of cash too.

I feel like at its heart, this story was about friendship and forgiveness. Oh there was plenty of adventure and magic and faerie creatures that were evil and wreaking havoc. Lots of good action scenes and sleuthing. For with the help of her companions, Lyssa learns that she needs items of great importance that will be challenging to obtain that when worked together in the proper magical way they can create a weapon strong enough to kill the infamous beast. And along the way, other thing happens...of course.

Honestly, from the get-go, I had a theory of what was going to take place in this story and I was tickled with delight to find out that my theories were correct. There was still plenty more to learn and see transpire over the course of the tale, but there's always a kind of delight to have your first page theories pan out! Lol.

While not heavy on the fairy tale retelling what with a "beast" involved that needs to be killed, there were aspects that seemed to resonate with the fairy tale theme. We have curses, we have fae creatures, we have fae creatures setting curses upon humans. All things we are familiar with that tend to happen in the original fairy tales. So this story had that going for it, of course. Shockingly, though, there was little to no romance. I felt like the bond that was forming between Alderic and Lyssa bordered more on friendship than anything romantic like. It was kind of refreshing in some aspect, but I guess I've become too much of a romantic at heart these days and I was hoping for maybe a little more. Granted, there were moments between them that felt like they bordered something along the romance lines...but at the same time, I just didn't get too many romantic vibes from this story. Still completely enjoyable of course, but something I feel like needs to be noted. As I question why Goodreads throwing in the tag "romantasy" on this one as I did not get that vibe at all!

Now fair warning, as it's on the cover. Lyssa does have a faithful and adorable doggy companion! He's been her "sidekick" you could say, for years. Since she travels between the fae worlds and our mortal one, he's definitely lived past the normal age for a big dog. Now, I will say there was a scene where he gets injured, but the dog lives in this one! I don't know if you want to call it a spoiler, but I know animal lovers or even sort of animal lovers like myself--long story--don't like enduring animal violence or deaths. But when the adventure starts to get too dangerous, Lyssa takes her dog back to her companions to watch over him while she finishes her quest and we do see him again before the story ends. So yes, the dog lives and is perfectly happy! And despite the scene where said dog gets hurt, Lyssa exacts proper vengeance for her faithful companion, so all is very well.

All in all, I will say that Kill the Beast was a surprising story on many counts. It wasn't quite the fantasy read I was expecting, but it was the one I was anticipating after starting. Sure, I would've like maybe a little more romantic vibes, spice isn't necessary really, but just maybe some deeper connections would've been nice. At the same time though, I deeply value friendship and I enjoyed seeing the hardened Lyssa grow closer with someone and solidified a new friendship of sorts over the course of the story. Since this was a standalone, the ending was satisfactory if maybe a little cheesy in some ways, but still satisfactory. Swift is definitely an author I will be keeping an eye on as this was quite a refreshing fantasy that kept me entertained over the long weekend!

Overall Rating 4/5 stars

Stacking the Shelves--The Ups & Downs Edition

2026-06-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

Stacking the Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks! The meme is now hosted by Reading Reality.

Well, it was another week! I kicked it off by driving a little under 5 hours to Nashville to see Brynne Weaver. It was while I was in line that I learned that it wasn't a signing styled event and no books were going to be signed. Which kind of stunk as I had my first edition Tourist Season that I would've liked to had signed, but no dice. Then Monday night I went to see K.A. Linde which was nice! She was a riot and I loved hearing her stories. I met her last year in Kansas City when I had holiday off right at the day of her signing, so it worked out then! Lol. Work was a bit stressful as there was talk of potential layoffs happening again and they were essentially seeking volunteers to leave the company. I guess for those who might be closer to retirement or such? I don't know. Since I am still in my working years it's causing me stress. Add to that and a recent deletion of an email "rule" basically unfiled every single email from the last year and restored them to my inbox caused me more grief. There was no "undoing" that change and after filing away emails through I think April, I had to call it quits and delete the rest. It was just too many to handle. SO naturally, after that, I am getting emails about issues dating back to January and December...which those emails are now gone. So yeah. Fun times all around. The search for a house is now at something of a pause? I don't know, every time I feel like I am getting closer life throws me a curveball that knocks me out of the game. Really hoping to catch a break one of these days that can actually be a break and not something intended to break me.

But onto the best parts of the week:

Kill the Beast by Serra Swift
Royal Vengeance by Aimee Carter
A Cursed Son by Day Leitao--I participated in Day's Kickstarter to get these gorgeous editions. I initially saw the first book with the edges thinking that was the norm, but learned otherwise. Then time was on my side as almost right after that she had a new Kickstarter to get the third book in that treatment but you could also buy the first two in that vein, so that's what I did!
A Traitor Sister by Day Leitao
A Devious Brother by Day Leitao
The Raven at the Ash Door by K.A. Linde--SIGNED!
Harvest Season by Brynne Weaver--SIGNED BAM edition!

Then I got this month's Fairy Loot YA book. This was one I remembered being the FL pick but when I saw the standard US edition, I had to have that too. So yeah, two copies again, but that shouldn't really surprise anyone by now! Lol. Won't share the book itself as per usual, but here's my stand-in pic as per usual too! Lol.

And then I also got this fun hat at the Brynne Weaver signing that was included with the ticket! That was a fun surprise after my somewhat disappointment in learning that she wasn't signing books. Still not sure how I missed that memo when everyone else seemed to have gotten it. But that's what I get for buying my ticket lickety split without reading any fine print! Lol. My paperbacks weren't first print editions this time around, so I may have decided to treat myself to an upgrade. So leaving with only 1 unsigned book wasn't a big travesty, but let's just say that if BAM had had their sprayed edges hardcover for book 1, I would've spent a lot more money! Lol.

And that was it for me this week! Hoping things will get better in the coming week, but honestly, with these potential layoffs coming at work, I don't really know when the "you're safe" period will come around and I can breathe again. Until then I feel like I'm hanging off the precipice.

Book Blogger Hop #416

2026-06-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

This meme is hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addict!

This week's question is: If you could pick any fictional character to live with, who would it be, and how would they change your daily life? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee-Addicted Writer)

MY ANSWER: Oh tough one. I want to go old school and say Katy from Jennifer L. Armentrout's Lux series! She was a reader and a blogger, so I feel like we'd get along swimmingly!

Review--Both Feet in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

2026-06-18T11:05:38.441-05:00

If you thought you learned more about the dangerous and sexy alpha vampire, Bones, in the USA Today bestselling scorcher, THE OTHER HALF OF THE GRAVE, you haven't seen anything yet...

Cat disappeared from Bones’ life to protect him, but this Master vampire will keep his promise to find her.

Two hundred years of bounty hunting made Bones the best at what he does, yet it's still taken him four long years to find Cat, the half vampire now known as the "Red Reaper." There's a price on Cat's head, and not even her job as a secret government agent can save her. Only Bones can. But has time hardened Bones too much to love again? Or will his passion for Cat burn through every obstacle—alive, undead, or otherwise—between them?

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Night Huntress series comes a fresh, new perspective on the origin saga of Cat and Bones, in Bones' own words…

Naturally, I had to dive straight into Both Feet in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost after reading the first book from Bones' point of view and the deleted scenes collection! My memory was definitely more spotty for this book but as I read through the storyline more and more came back to me and yet, still some things were a surprise, but it was yet another amazing read for sure!

It's been four years since Cat left Bones and he has been looking for her ever since. Bones' devotion to Cat is one thing I have fiercely loved about this series, yes, there was one slip which he admits to and all is eventually forgiven considering the circumstances. But regardless, Bones never once stopped loving her and that just makes me melt! Lol.

Bones has also been taking care of other hitmen who are out to get the famed Red Reaper. Honestly, if you make any kind of move at Cat and Bones is liking to tear off some limb! What I did forget in this one was how unlikable Ian was in the beginning. Yes, this is when we meet Ian, who was a character I grew to love, but omg he is absolutely deplorable in this one! Lol.

We only go a few chapters with Bones looking for Cat before he finally finds her at Randy and Denise's wedding, of course, he knew she'd be there and that's when everything we thought we knew starts! Once again we get to see what Bones was thinking and feeling when everything was going down. We learn that Cat is working for a secret organization within the government hunting down the supernatural bad guys and taking them out.

This truly is yet another story that is meant for the fans of the Night Huntress series! After reading the deleted scenes book, I found it ironic that Jeaniene said she had no intentions to ever write solely from Bones' point of view as she treated us to one scene, and then just a few years later we not only got Bones' point of view from book 1, but also book 2! So magic can happen folks! Lol.

It's funny having a fuzzy memory about books, because though I am reading this story (again from new eyes) for the first time in years, some things I vaguely remember so I wasn't taken by total surprise, but then other things I was like "THAT'S HOW THAT HAPPENED?!" It's weird what my brain can remember or vaguely remember and then the rest being like...whhhhaaaaat?! But needless to say I full-heartedly loved this book once more! I remember my aversion to certain side characters and funnily enough how I later grew to like them if only by tolerance. Lol.

Both Feet in the Grave was purely delectable! I love a good vampire read and returning to this series through Bones' eyes has been the highlight I didn't know I needed! I feel like just getting two books is enough satisfaction, redoing the whole series from Bones' point of view seems slightly unnecessary, but of course, I would never say no to reading the entire thing again, should it ever happen! Lol. Besides, we got to relive THAT chapter again through Bones' eyes, so this was a solid win and a perfect ending should it be that!

Overall Rating 5/5 stars

Books from the Backlog #191

2026-06-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks. This is a fun meme hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books!

A sexy professor.
A logical lawyer.
A determined ghost.
And a very real killer...
Welcome to Wicks Hollow: a cozy town near Lake Michigan filled with quaint houses, eccentric residents, and more than its share of ghosts, murders, and romance.

Diana Iverson needs a break--from her stressful job, from her philandering boyfriend, and from the rest of her fast-paced life. When she inherits her eccentric Aunt Jean's home on Wicks Lake, Diana takes a much-needed vacation in the cozy little town.

But when the lake house becomes the scene of multiple break-ins and other unsettling events, Diana begins to suspect Aunt Jean’s death was not as innocent as it seems.

And then there’s Ethan Murphy, the sexy college professor who lives next door… He appears to know a lot more about Aunt Jean than he should, and Diana doesn’t trust him.

But most of all, there's Aunt Jean herself…who seems determined to communicate with Diana—from beyond the grave.

A ghost story romance set in a small town, featuring a cozy mystery about a ghost that just won’t rest until justice is served. The perfect blend of romance, suspense, and ghosts.

I added Colleen Gleason's Sinister Summer to my TBR pile in February of 2018 and then somewhere between then and 2025 they were tweaked a little bit into a new series! So I think I have the first two books in their OG format and then I think I picked up the other ones in their rebranded versions. She said not much was changed overall, just the minor tweaks and such. But it was a ghost story by Colleen and I LOVED her Gardella Vampire Hunter Chronicles, so anything paranormal from her immediately goes to my TBR pile, but I think it's safe to say she might have left that genre behind now.

Can't Wait Wednesday #253

2026-06-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

What the River Knows meets The Mummy in the first installment in a heart-pounding, richly imagined young adult duology from the New York Times bestselling author of To Kill a Shadow, Katherine Quinn.

I'm really hoping this one releases this year as it was already pushed back at least once. Still not much to go on about it's storyline but I pretty much heard What the River Knows meets The Mummy and was sold because I LOVE that movie!

TITLE: The Golden Huntress
AUTHOR: Katherine Quinn
PUBLISHER: Mayhem Books
GENRE: YA Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: August 4, 2026 (maybe)

Perfect for fans of Adalyn Grace, this captivating sequel to the New York Times-bestselling Dream by the Shadows is filled with revenge, romance, and redemption.

Esmer Havenfall thought freeing Erebus from his five-hundred-year imprisonment would end her nightmare. Instead, it has only just begun. Now bound by fate and darkness, Esmer and Erebus are no longer just dreamers—they are Shadow Weavers, wielders of a power both divine and damning. And something is already clawing its way through the Dream Realm’s cracks.

Raelion, the demon king lurking within Mithras, is poised to destroy the world. His corruptive curse spreads like a plague, twisting dreams into nightmares and turning humans into monsters. If Esmer and Erebus are to survive, they must achieve the forge an army from the broken and unravel ancient horrors before it’s too late. But when Esmer and Erebus are abruptly cast from the Dream Realm into a kingdom teetering on the edge of ruin, they quickly learn that something monstrous has already slipped through—and their love might be the first thing it devours.

I'm dying to start this series but since I knew it would be a duology I held off on reading the first book right away. Luckily, we're winding down to its release...almost! Lol.

TITLE: Cursed by the Dawn
AUTHOR: Logan Karlie
PUBLISHER: Christy Ottaviano Books
GENRE: YA Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: August 4, 2026

Review--Outtakes from the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

2026-06-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

Cat and Bones fans, sink your teeth into this new outtakes compilation from New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost!

Indulge your love of paranormal super couple Cat and Bones with this ultimate “director’s cut” collection of deleted scenes and alternate versions from the first four novels in the Night Huntress series, complete with author commentary on each selection. Includes: the original beginnings of Halfway to the Grave, One Foot in the Grave, At Grave’s End, and Destined for an Early Grave: a chapter written in Bones’s point of view; alternate versions of sections of Halfway to the Grave, One Foot in the Grave, and Destined for an Early Grave; the “white wedding” scene between Cat and Bones that never made it into the final books…and much more!

So this review will be slightly different and weird as Outtakes from the Grave by Jeaniene Frost is exactly what it sounds…outtakes from the Night Huntress series books 1-4! So this is truly a book for the fans who wanted more Cat and Bones!

In this one we get alternate beginnings, middles, scenes that were cut for pacing issues or other reasons. Jeaniene gave an author’s note before each scene saying why it was cut and where said scene would fall in its given book. So even if it’s been awhile since you read whichever book, Jeaniene kind of refreshes things a bit to say where the deleted scene would fall.

What’s funny is a lot of scenes being cut due to pacing issues and some reasons were because there were too many sex scenes! I was shocked that Jeaniene had to cut some and then other people saying there were too many and usually there are only 2-3ish? I am not usually one for spice, I like some spice don’t get me wrong, I just don’t like it taking over the whole book.

Having LOOOOVED Jeaniene’s books, I was excited for this collection of deleted scenes. What’s funny is that this was published a few years before The Other Half of the Grave, and in here we get a first look from Bones’ POV and she mentions having no plans to ever right directly from his POV entirely! My how time changes things! Lol.

It was great revisiting this series even through deleted scenes wise! Some things I was remembering for the first time in years! Lol. I loved seeing different plot points that didn’t quite make it and even light-hearted scenes that were just normalcy. Jeaniene’s author notes were really interesting too and very eye-opening.

Needless to say this book was just a lot of fun! I don’t usually read books like this but honestly when it’s Jeaniene Frost it’s hard to say no to anything! If you’re a fan of vampires or even already a fan of Jeaniene’s then I highly recommend reading these deleted scenes as they were a lot of fun!!

Overall Rating 5/5 stars

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

2026-06-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Purple Princess of The Purple Booker.

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc.

"Feelings returned slowly to me. My back ached. Something heavy was on me. My leg was twisted. My shoulder hurt. I tasted blood in my mouth. I was still alive." p 12

TITLE: Outtakes from the Grave
AUTHOR: Jeaniene Frost
PUBLISHER: Self
GENRE: Urban Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: December 22, 2015

This week's topic is: My Top 10 Bookish Wishes

*in no particular order
**nothing is expected but if you think to...thank you ever so much! <3

***My Amazon Wishlist

10. THE BLOOD COUNTESS by Shelley Puhak--one of the very rare non-fiction books that caught my eye! I mean it is also related to vampire mythos...but HISTORICALLY accurate vampire mythos! ;)
9. TURNS OF FATE by Anne Bishop--still can't believe I missed buying this one!
8. TO LOVE A GRIMM by Christina Farley--fairy tale retellings always catch my eye!

7. BOUND TO YOU by Alyssa Brandon--I am both equal parts a werewolf girlie AND a vampire girlie!
6. THE IMMORTAL'S LIFE by Jade Christy--case in point! lol V V
5. A THORN IN EVERY HEART by Kate King--just love this one's cover! And the story concept, of course!

4. HOW TO FAKE A HAUNTING by Christa Carmen--read a review for this awhile ago and it sounded soo good! Love when the spooky becomes real! Although, not anything I would want to experience myself! Lol.
3. THE POSSESSION OF ALBA DIAZ by Isabel Canas--this one sounded good too!

2. A SEA OF UNSPOKEN THINGS by Adrienne Young--still need to try her adult books and they all sound amazing!

1. BITTER MAGIC by Jana Oliver--I truly, truly must finish this series! I lost track of it when Jana started self publishing the rest of the books!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2026-06-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Last Week I Read:

The Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion (4 stars)
The Other Half of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (5 stars)

Review That Was Posted:

The Raven at the Ash Door by K.A. Linde (ARC) (5 stars)

Currently Reading:

Outtakes from the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

What I Plan to Read Next:

Both Feet in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Can't Wait Wednesday #252
Books from the Backlog #190
Book Blogger Hop #415
Stacking the Shelves--The MIA Edition

Stacking the Shelves--The MIA Edition

2026-06-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

I write this post early on Saturday again as I have evening plans. Also TODAY I WILL BE MIA! Yup, I'm doing another of my 1-day road trips! I'll be driving to Nashville to meet Brynne Weaver and won't be back until later tonight, so I won't be around for my usual commenting. But I'll be back on Monday, so be sure to leave your links if you comment and I'll try to stop by then, but I also have a signing to attend Monday night, so I probably won't be coherent until Wednesday at the earliest! Lol.

This week I attended a Fantasy Author signing where I got to meet Tara Sim and Clare Sager and Summer England! It was a fun and somewhat exhausting night! That area of town and the path to get there is just sooo stressful, I really wish the bookstore would stop hosting signings there. The rest of the week was more mundane and normal. I got some new reads this week and a very special surprise that had me squealing!

Here's what I got this week:

Nobody's Quest by Alyssa Day--an impulse purchase, lol
You First by Caroline Kepnes--still need to read last year's You book but also excited for this one!
Black River by Ruby Jean Cottle--vampires, need I say more?

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout--ApollyCon Edition, SIGNED! I may never ever, ever, ever, ever get to attend but I am still eligible to buy the books! I was just telling myself I needed to stop doing this but then I saw this edition and I was like okay...just one more! Lol. But it has POPPIES on the sprayed edges! How could I say no to that?

And then at long last, my Fairy Loot edition of Holly arrived! I forgot how long this one got delayed, but it's here and beautiful!

Holly by Adalyn Grace--Fairy Loot edition

And then, the BEST part of my week arrived on Friday and I was on pins and needles HOPING that this was what I thought it was...and it was!

It is the Apple Coin Pin for The Mirror of Infinite Endings! This preorder freebie apparently went lightning fast and I panicked and was worried that I goofed my typing since I was going so fast as I thought there would be some sort of confirmation email that came after submitting, there wasn't and then before I could try double checking or something it was gone! But the pin arrived, and I did not know it was a pin as I thought it was just a coin! Lol. But I LOVE IT!

THANK YOU Flatiron Books!!!

And that was my haul this week! What all did you get?

Review--The Other Half of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

2026-06-12T10:41:13.218-05:00

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Night Huntress series comes a thrilling new look at the iconic origin story of Cat and Bones, as experienced by Bones…from the other half of the grave.

There are two sides to every story–and the sizzling British alpha vampire, Bones, has a lot to say…

Ever wondered what Bones was thinking and feeling when he and half-vampire Cat Crawfield first met? Or how their story might differ if he were the one telling it? Now, relive the beginning of Cat and Bones' bestselling love story through Bones' point of view, which reveals a darker, sexier take on their early days, as well as a deeper dive into Bones' past, the vampire world, and other things that Cat didn't see when their story was told only through her eyes in Halfway to the Grave.

Cat had her say. Now, it's Bones' turn.

As a longtime fan of the Night Huntress series, I was ecstatic that Jeaniene Frost wrote the first (two) book[s] from Bones' point of view! I did tend to wonder what he was thinking since we were in Cat's point of view for the series. The Other Half of the Grave is basically, Halfway to the Grave but all Bones' point of view and man was that a trip! Halfway to the Grave was one of the last books I can remember re-reading back when I had nothing new to read, little did I know my TBR pile was about to come toppling down on me in a few years! Lol. Coming back to this book but from a new persepective was like coming home.

Bones has been a vampire for over two hundred years and there's a lot he's seen and very little he hasn't seen. That is until the night he meets Cat Crawfield when she ends up killing the very vampire he was hunting. Bones is looking for a particular vampire who he was hired to kill because said vampire is up to some very nefarious dealings and Bones is never one to walk away from an opportunity. But then Cat shows up and ruins all his plans. He's sure she's working for the enemy but finds out otherwise the very next night.

Cat--as we all know--is a half-vampire hybrid who hunts vampires in retribution for the vampire who raped her mother and thus created her. Her skills are not top notch but aren't half bad either, so Bones offers her a deal to help train her in exchange that she doesn't kill him and he'll let her help hunt other vampires while he looks for the Big Bad.

Bones' point of view was very interesting! I will say that. I always wondered what Bones was thinking and how genuine he was at certain moments. And what we learn is ultimately revealing about his character and honestly, made me love him even more than I did wayyy back when I first "met" him! Lol.

This book truly was a fangirl moment from beginning to end! Though the years have been many, I still remembered quite a bit about this book. So there were no ultimate surprises, but I did enjoy the trip down memory lane and I could practically hear Bones' sexy English accent! After all this time, my heart still beats madly for that vampire! lol.

If you love a good Urban Fantasy series with hot vampires and lots of butt kicking action a la' Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then this series is definitely one to check out! I enjoyed the added modern day touches Jeaniene mentions adding it. It brought a smile to my face thinking how easier things were just a handful of years ago, but here we are now! Lol.

Overall Rating 5/5 stars

Book Blogger Hop #415

2026-06-12T00:00:00.001-05:00

This meme is hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addict!

This week's topic is: How do you decide which books to highlight on your blog? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee-Addicted Writer)

MY ANSWER: Well, I post a review to every book I read on my blog. I don't do too many random book spotlight posts anymore. In the early days I would highlight any new cover I stumbled upon or signed up to share. Usually, it was me stumbling upon it on Goodreads. This was before Instagram and TikTok took off, so wanting to share cover reveals of amazing books, blogging about it was the way to go! So pretty much any book I love/like or like the look of, it gets highlighted on my blog in some way!

Books from the Backlog #190

2026-06-11T00:00:00.001-05:00

Le Grand’s Carnival Fantastic isn’t like other traveling circuses. It’s bound by a charm, held together by a centuries-old curse, that protects its members from ever growing older or getting hurt. Emmaline King is drawn to the circus like a moth to a flame…and unwittingly recruited into its folds by a mysterious teen boy whose kiss is as cold as ice.

Forced to travel through Texas as the new Girl in the Box, Emmaline is completely trapped. Breaking the curse seems like her only chance at freedom, but with no curse, there’s no charm, either—dooming everyone who calls the Carnival Fantastic home. Including the boy she’s afraid she’s falling for.

Everything—including his life—could end with just one kiss.

I added Jaime Questell's By a Charm & a Curse to my TBR pile in February of 2018 for real this time! Lol. I remember reading good reviews on it and it made me want to give a it a try. So on the TBR pile it sits still. It sounded mysterious enough and who doesn't love a mystery with magic surrounding a circus? I just hope there aren't killer clowns.

Can't Wait Wednesday #252

2026-06-10T00:00:00.001-05:00

New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan is back with an epic romantasy set in the world of A Fire in the Sky, about a girl on the hunt for the witch who cursed her, unaware of her own dormant power…waiting to emerge.

For ten long years, Arden has been invisible, trapped in her village by a spell she cannot break. She listens to friends chatter, watches her family grieve, but can never touch, speak, or be seen. Living like a ghost among those who’ve forgotten her, she dreams of vengeance against the witch who cursed her.

Until one fateful day, her village is devoured in flame, and everything changes.

From the wreckage rises a pride of dragons that can transform into humans. Their piercing eyes slice through her curse, and for the first time in a decade, Arden can be seen.

Swept off to the Crags by the enigmatic alpha dragon, Tage, Arden is forced into a world of fire and power, where danger lurks in every shadow. Though she plots her escape at every turn, Tage’s fiery intensity and undeniable magnetism spark an unwilling response in her.

But Arden’s fate is bound to a secret she has yet to uncover, a magic older and more perilous than she could ever imagine. With war on the horizon, Arden must decide whether to trust the dragon she swore to defy, harness the wild magic around her, or risk losing everything.

Sometimes all it takes to break a curse… is to cast another spell.

I loved Sophie Jordan's A Fire in the Sky series! The first two books concluded with those characters' arcs, from the sounds of this one, we're looking at new characters. I remember they were mentioned in the epilogue of the final book. What I want to know is, if this will be another "duology" within the series or not. My mentality and heart cannot handle the wait between those duologies and I've made the mistake of starting a few still and not having the time to get back to that final book still! Ack!

TITLE: Spellcast
AUTHOR: Sophie Jordan
PUBLISHER: Avon
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
RELEASE DATE: July 28, 2026

From New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, The Lion & the Deathless Dark – the first book in the Bloodborn Duet.

Some blood tastes like vengeance. Some blood tastes like grief. Some blood tastes like nothing at all.

Under an eternal night, the world has been ravaged by ten years of war between humans and vampires. Kyrene scrapes by as a bounty hunter, bearing a blessed sword from the goddess of justice. But in the wake of a devastating loss, Kyrene commits a crime that makes her a target for mortals and gods alike – and she is still desperate for vengeance.

Her only chance at survival – and revenge – is making a deal with her enemy, the silver-tongue vampire prince, Septimus, who offers her one final to slay the gods themselves.

Together, Kyrene and Septimus must hunt the ultimate marks, all while navigating a web of prophecies and curses. Septimus is calculating and mysterious, masking secrets bloodthirsty enough to consume them both. Yet, most dangerous of all, Kyrene finds an unexpected kinship in him.

But their growing attraction is deadly in a world where the only currency is blood. And Kyrene will stop at nothing to fulfill her ultimate to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.

Falling so behind on this series! I still need to read the last "duet" AND the mega novella!

TITLE: The Lion & The Deathless Dark
AUTHOR: Carissa Broadbent
PUBLISHER: Bramble
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
RELEASE DATE: August 4, 2026

Review--Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion

2026-06-09T09:41:32.384-05:00

After a group of teens visits a dangerous island where three are left behind, the surviving girls realize they must return to confront the sinister force hunting them. This dark YA thriller is perfect for fans of Yellowjackets.

Eight were lost. Five were found. None will ever be free.

For Evie Williams, life is about to get a lot more complicated. Haunted by the events of a school trip to Hollow Lake National Park that went disastrously wrong, Evie and her friends returned changed, their lives forever marked by the mysterious Island they encountered—and the three girls they left behind.

Now, someone is picking off those who were involved, one by one. Their families, friends, and even online investigators are all caught in a deadly game. The stakes are raised when Evie receives a chilling to save her loved ones, she must return to the Island.

As Evie and the other "Lost Girls" navigate the treacherous terrain of the Island once more, they must confront the secrets they’ve buried, the horrors they witnessed, and the person—or thing—that’s hunting them. But some secrets refuse to stay hidden, and the Island demands a price for freedom.

Rebekah Faubion's debut, Lost Girls of Hollow Lake was a chilling supernatural thriller that has so many twists and turns and deadly intrigue that it was hard not to devour this book in one go! I nearly would've if I started this earlier than I did! Lol.

I'm always up for a good YA thriller and if there's a supernatural twist, I am even more intrigued! I've never seen an episode of Yellow Jackets, so I can't speak to how the comparison of that works with this one. That being said, I definitely got a bit of LOST and The Lord of the Flies vibes going on. Not explicit comparisons but the vibes were definitely ringing true!

Evie is our heroine and she was one of five survivors when eight girls went missing on an island that no one can see...or at least that not everyone can see. That part itself was trippy, and very resonate with LOST too! Evie and a class of students were doing extra credit type activities in the woods across from this mysterious island and when all of the girls in her cabin could see it, they decide to sneak out at night and "visit" it, because why not? But honestly, with all the local legends and horror stories surrounding this island, why would you want to? But that's just me!

The girls end up getting lost for nearly a month. They can't tell if they made it to the mysterious island or if they are still on the mainland. It's foggy and their sense of direction is cloudy, so they are essentially stuck on a creepy island where creepy things are seen and felt.

The book largely takes place in present day which is few months after the girls made it home. We are treated to alternating chapters that show us what happened during that time and it's essentially whackado! It's so bizarre and confounding, but it does eventually paint an eerie picture.

Back in the present day, however, people connected to the incident are being murdered. We even get excerpts of seeing this happen which is always surreal! But when the evidence points to one of the missing and confirmed dead girls being the possible culprit, Evie isn't convinced, but it's clear someone connected to what happened to them might be behind these grisly murders.

This was quite the chilling tale! It's got definitely slasher vibes when it came to the murdery bits. Like any YA thriller, there is a thread of romance between Evie and one of the girls, but the romantic interludes were sparse, which is my preference when it comes to thrillers. There's a psychotic killer on the loose, now's not the time to make out! Lol.

I do want to forewarn any fellow animal readers out there, there is a dog in here who is loyal to a fault to Evie. The sweetest and most protective dog. But Rebekah herself has an animal menagerie as said in her bio, so you can deduce how she will do things when things happen. I did not need tissues, so take faith in that!

All in all, Lost Girls of Hollow Lake was a chilling supernatural thriller with an eerie mystery to it. The murderous rampage of the killer made it a struggle to figure out whodunit, but the answer made sense in the end...in its own way! Needless to say, I didn't figure it out this go around, but that's just as exciting as figuring out sometimes! Lol. If you're looking for a creepy read for when you go camping (or just anytime!) be sure to check this one out!

Overall Rating 4/5 stars

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

2026-06-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Purple Princess of The Purple Booker.

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc.

"'And by the Chosen One, you mean me? All because it says so in some book someone found buried in a wall? Oh, come on.' I guffawed, but the air around me did seem to be getting chillier. 'You know this is basically the beginning of every supernatural horror film ever made, right? You can't actually believe it.'" p 24

TITLE: Enchanted to Meet You
AUTHOR: Meg Cabot
PUBLISHER: Avon
GENRE: Paranormal Romance
RELEASE DATE: September 5, 2023

This week's topic is: Top Ten Books with Handwriting on the Cover

*in no particular order

10. RHAPSODIC by Laura Thalassa
9. SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING by Kelley Armstrong--bonus, it's multiple handwriting looks!
8. I FEED HER TO THE BEAST... by Jamison Shea--definitely a creepy kind of handwriting!

7. PRINCE OF GLASS & MIDNIGHT by Linsey Miller
6. SWEET UNREST by Celia Crosby--apparently GR removed this version from their library as I had a helluva time trying to find it! I had to login to my account to find it and was told I could no longer rate/review it because it had been removed. Weird.
5. WE TOLD SIX LIES by Victoria Scott--apparently I equate cursive to handwriting!

4. JULIET IMMORTAL by Stacey Jay
3. THE SHADOW by Marianne Curley
2. EMBERS by Laura Bickle

1. ENCHATED TO MEET YOU by Meg Cabot--ironic timing! Lol.

ARC Review--The Raven at the Ash Door by K.A. Linde

2026-06-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Can love survive an unbreakable curse?

Kierse McKenna’s magic is bound to a man she hates―one who has spent lifetimes fighting the man she loves.

To end this binding, Graves―her winter god, her monster―will stop at nothing. He discovers that the only hope of freeing Kierse is to locate a stone relic of legend, rumored to lift any curse.

The only problem? The stone has been missing for a century.

And the Oak King is on their trail.

Now Kierse is trapped at the heart of a centuries-long battle while the rest of the world comes unraveled. The Fae Killer is hunting. The peace with monsters is fracturing. And as the very rules of their myth start to shift, escaping the Oak King’s hold may demand more than stolen artifacts and clever heists.

For Kierse and Graves, it may mean risking the only thing they have left to lose.

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

K.A. Linde's The Raven at the Ash Door was a rollercoaster of emotions! This book grips you tight and doesn't let go until you're freefalling at the very end after that cliffhanger of an ending! Be forewarned, this book had me in a rage and a messy tangle of emotions! It's positively haunting!

When we last left Kierse, she had been forcedly bonded to Lorcan, making them soulmates who are completely entwined with one another. The only problem us, Kierse still loves Graves and would do anything to break this bond that she doesn't want. The rumor is that the magical stone that Graves has been searching for can possibly break the bond. Kierse is determined to chase down any lead that will help rid her of this thing she doesn't want.

But naturally, Lorcan is there to continue to thwart her plans and show her why she should choose him even though her heart belongs to Graves. Now, don't get me wrong. Kierse does admit to some feelings for Lorcan, but it is truly Graves that she loves and wants to be with. Honestly, it was Lorcan forcing the bond on her without her consent that did him in for me. I've been rooting for his death ever since, but thinking he's not a character that will be killed off so easily! Lol. The feminine rage I had throughout this book was intense! Of course, I was sometimes yelling at Kierse too, because there were times I felt like she was leading him on. Yes, her feelings were mixed over the two, she didn't loathe Lorcan like I did. But I felt like she let him get away with too much. There were too many touches she allowed Lorcan to get away with when she kept telling him no, that it was Graves who she wanted. He kept at her and she allowed it.

So yes, even Kierse was driving me nuts with what she allowed him to get away with. And I totally understood about her mixed feelings. The bond somehow brought up feelings she might not have realize she had, but she kept making her choice clear and Lorcan kept ignoring it. I do not like that. To me when anyone says NO, that should be the end of it. But obviously, if that were the way of things, this story would've been a LOT shorter! Lol.

There were other things going on throughout the story as well. We dealt more with the Fae Killer, Kierse exploring her new powers that Lorcan can't control (another reason why I can't stand that man!), learning of new enemies, and seeing some familiar faces and of course, planning more heists! Tons of action and drama and just this mass intensity that kept me on edge until the very end!

The relationship between Kierse and Graves of course had its highs and lows. There was drama, but there was still plenty of heat and some spicy moments. Well, I suppose spicy in my book! Lol. I guess it depends on your preference of spice. There were frequent moments but definitely not as graphic as my last read! Lol.

The ending of this book was what really kills! It was INTENSE and insanity inducing! Yes, I am spiraling into a pit of craziness! Be prepared to shout and yell and scream because omigosh I can't believe I have to wait a whole year until the next book! That is the truly scary part! I can handle cliffhangers--to some extent--it's the waiting until the next book that drives me up the wall! And holy cats I was not expecting THIS kind of cliffhanger at the end and I'm going to go bananas before 2027 finally rolls around! So...be prepared! Take that into consideration for sure! Lol.

The Raven at the Ash Door was an emotional rollercoaster ride! My heartstrings were tugged, my rage flared several times and my heart might have been broken at least twice. K.A. Linde is a mastermind of the emotional minefield and still produces one helluva read with all the paranormal goodness of a dystopic future! This book truly had it all and I highly recommend reading this series as it is mind-blowing!

I need the next book yesterday.

Overall Rating 5/5 stars

The Raven at the Ash Door releases June 16, 2026

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2026-06-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Last Week I Read:

The Rebel and The Final Blood War by K.A. Linde (5 stars)
For She is Wrath by Emily Varga (4 stars)
Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot (4.5 stars)

Review That Was Posted:

It Came from Neverland by Cynthis Pelayo (ARC) (3.5 stars)

Currently Reading:

Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion

What I Plan to Read Next:

The Other Half of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
May Wrap-up
Can't Wait Wednesday #251
Books from the Backlog #189
Book Blogger Hop #414
Stacking the Shelves--The I May Be Losing My Mind Edition

Review--Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot

2026-06-07T12:07:28.455-05:00

A witchy rom-com from New York Times bestseller Meg Cabot about a plus size witch who must team up with a handsome stranger to help protect her village from an otherworldly force—but will she be able to protect her heart?

It’s Magic When You Meet Your Match In her teenage years, lovelorn Jessica Gold cast a spell that went disastrously wrong, and brought her all the wrong kind of attention—as well as a lifetime ban from the World Council of Witches.

So no one is more surprised than Jess when, fifteen years later, tall, handsome WCW member Derrick Winters shows up in her quaint little village of West Harbor and claims that Jess is the Chosen One.

She’s the Chosen One Not chosen by West Harbor’s snobby elite to style them for the town’s tricentennial ball—though Jess owns the chicest clothing boutique in town. And not chosen finally to be on the WCW, either—not that Jess would have said yes, anyway, since she’s done with any organization that tries to dictate what makes a “true” witch. No, Jess has been chosen to help save West Harbor itself...

As Summer Ends, Her Power Grows But just when Jess is beginning to think that she and Derrick might have a certain magic of their own—and not of the supernatural variety—Jess learns he may not be who she thought he was. And suddenly Jess finds herself having to trust Derrick and work with him to combat the sinister force battling to bring down West Harbor, or use her gift as she always to keep herself, and her heart, safe. Can she work her magic in time?

I love a good cozy paranormal romance and Meg Cabot certainly delivers that with Enchanted to Meet You! This is the start of a new series that seems to be a collection of standalones all taking place in the same town! So it should be fun just as its first installment was!

Jessica--gotta love when the heroine has my name, lol--is a 30-something year old witch, but not one who's truly "accepted" by the witch community, particularly the World Council of Witches. Her high school nemesis/antagonizer, Rosalie definitely loves to remind Jessica that she is the true witch! It always amazes me that people still like to live out their high school glory days as if that was the standard of life. But unlike me, this Jessica doesn't let Rosalie drag her down. Jessica knows she's capable of magic, even if it's not in the way Rosalie does it.

Her life gets uprooted when a mysterious man named Derrick comes to town and tells her she's the Chosen One. Yup, a glorified Chosen One! Jessica is to help train the Bringer of Light with their magic in order to stop a growing evil that is threatening the town. The kicker is that this Bringer of Light is a teenager in high school named, Esther. Which I thought would prevent a whole new challenge for Jessica, but Esther was a surprising kind of character who was pretty easy going for such a young age. She was a force to be reckoned with, that's for sure but her acceptance of magical things was definitely surprising since in this world magic is kept secret from those who are deemed "normal."

This was such a delightful book to read! It's always kind of nice to have a more relaxing book to read even if the plot does get to some pretty high stakes. There's danger, there's secrets galore, and plenty of high school snobbishness happening about even after all the years since those days. It was light-hearted and fun while still being magical and mysterious!

Naturally, the chemistry between Jessica and Derrick pretty much started from their first meeting. But if you're looking for spice, you're going to be a bit disappointed. There's romance for sure, but it's a closed-door kind of romance.

Pacing wise, things move at a pretty brisk pace once things get going. We get both Jessica and Derrick's point of views throughout, plus some excerpts of Jessica's high school journal which helped to show how the rift between her and Rosalie got started and Jessica's journey with her magic.

Overall, this was a quaint and delightfully fun magical romance read. Yes, that was a mouthful! Lol. If you're looking for a cozy romance that has just a bit of magic and mystery then this is a read I highly recommend! Meg Cabot has always written incredible magic filled books and this is yet another shining example!

Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars

Stacking the Shelves--The I May Be Losing My Mind Edition

2026-06-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

What a week. This was an exhausting week for me and I felt like each night I only got about 4 hours of sleep, if I was lucky enough for that! Work was moderate, as we continue to slowly pick up speed on items. It's the calm before the storm really. But our team works well together and we should be fine...now our vendors who are sending the stuff to us is another thing entirely! I attended two signings this week and saw Melissa Albert on Wednesday, who remembered me from previous signings--which is always so exciting! I'm excited to (eventually) read her adult debut which has promise to be one strange and mysterious read! Then yesterday I saw Sabrina Blackburry again at Main Street Books! She also remembered me as she's did signings with my favorite indie store for each of her releases and I always attend! Lol. This week I will attend a multi fantasy author signing on Monday which should be fun. Hopefully I can catch up on sleep starting Tuesday then! Lol. Then next Sunday, I will be MIA as I will be road-tripping to Nashville to see Brynne Weaver! I signed up at the beginning of the year practically and since I enjoyed her books to a point--lol--I decided to go ahead and go! Naturally, I will be missing out on more sleep on that Sunday to Monday night but it is what it is! I'll hopefully catch up again somewhere in that coming week!

More mail snafu this week. Oddly enough, it was not with my books! Those actually arrived early! Who'd thought! I vented my frustration on Threads yesterday, but it turns out I had the day wrong! My missing mail should have been delivered on FRIDAY and it STILL wasn't delivered on Saturday, so my frustration was still justified, more so even! I just HATE when my important bookish mail doesn't get delivered when USPS says they will deliver it. So yeah...I'm not happy right now. Hoping it comes in Monday's mail, I know this has happened occasionally with some pieces where it scanned for one day's mail but didn't show up for 2-3 days later, this is just a very important, highly anticipated piece of bookish mail that I desperately needed!

But anyway, onto the goods!

Shadow Reaper by Lynette Noni
The Secret Attic by Chelsea Conradt--one of my favorite authors (who may or may not be retired, not sure on that) recommended this one and when I read what it was about I was immediately hooked and ended up buying a copy this weekend! Lol.
The Children by Melissa Albert--SIGNED!
Half Wylde by Sabrina Blackburry--SIGNED!

Then my Fairy Loot copy of Throne of Nightmares came in this weekend and it is SO pretty!

Throne of Nightmares by Kerri Maniscalco--Fairy Loot edition

*ironically it was just this week, I think--time is getting so hard these days, lol--that I realized I forgot [again!] to add this to my Goodreads list back when it released earlier this year! Sigh...

And that was it for me this week! What all did you get?

Review--For She is Wrath by Emily Varga

2026-06-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

What if the man you loved was the very person who betrayed you?

Dania has been betrayed by her lover and falsely imprisoned for a crime she didn't commit. She's counting down the days until she can exact her revenge, when a fellow prisoner offers a chance at escape and the keys to a dangerous jinn magic.

Armed with a brand new identity and all the power she could want, Dania enacts a plan to bring down those who cheated her and her family. But when the one person standing in her way is the very man who signed her life away, retribution becomes a complicated game of cat and mouse.

Because betrayal isn't simple and revenge certainly isn't easy, not when your heart is involved.

Emily Varga's For She is Wrath was the gender-swapped Fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo that was I was looking for! I've had this on my TBR for ages and I finally decided to crack it open (this is the Fairy Loot edition, by the way)! It was exactly what I was hoping for when it came to my favorite tale of revenge and I thought that Varga played it out sooo well, paying homage to its origin story while still staying original and unique!

One year ago, Dania was accused of a murder she didn't commit but was locked away anyway, all while the man she loved, the guard, and the king himself got away with the injustice of it all. Dania has been planning her revenge for a good long year, while also trying to escape her hellish prison. Then finally, an opportunity comes crawling up from the ground and she meets Noor, another prisoner who is trying to escape the prison and they team up, naturally.

Noor was in prison because she has knowledge that she won't relinquish for anything. She knows where a horde of treasure is that also includes zoraat seeds which contain djinn magic. Noor also wants revenge against the king because he is the reason her father was killed and she wants revenge and justice. They devise their plan that Dania will use the zoraat seeds' magic to disguise herself into one of the rich and elite to weedle her way into places where her targets will be.

I think what I really enjoyed about this story was the revenge! Yes, I have a bit of a dark side sometimes, lol. But I really liked that Varga kept the plot for revenge alive in this book. And not just wanting to kill people, death is too easy sometimes, which is what I loved about the original classic, the Count decimates the people who wronged him and leave them in ruin (which considering their time and place was a fate worse than death) and the same is applied here with Dania plotting her revenge. And like with the original classic, some things...happen. Lol.

But since this is a YA Fantasy, there was a bit of romance happening between the pages. Although, here, we learn that it's Dania's ex-lover who betrayed her. But naturally, old feelings are harder to get rid of than not. While she's out to break his heart this time around, we are treated to a series of flashbacks that show us how their romance came about and eventually, the betrayal. Now, some of these flashbacks I felt like were unnecessary. Some were long and just seemed out of place. I mean, I get the need to show there was an established relationship. There was no insta-love going on, Dania hated Maz in the first flashback, but eventually hate turns to companionship and just keeps going further after that.

We also have more magical elements happening in this one as well, that really amped up my enjoyment! The djinn and their magic are involved. I don't want to get too into it, but basically Dania is able to pull off her new disguise as the rich and elite thanks to magic and hide her identity from the people who might know her, who she's out to destroy!

I think one of the few issues I had with this book were the flashbacks. Some of them just felt ill-timed. I would be really getting into a scene or a moment and then suddenly the next chapter puts us back in time and it just throws you out of the story for awhile. And sometimes, the flashback just didn't seem to work with what was happening. I mean, there was a small connection or so, but I felt like a lot of the flashback chapters could've been shorter to contain those moments and get you back to the present day where the action was happening.

But overall, I did really enjoy this one! This is how I enjoy seeing a retelling of a classic done! It still has the main drive or story element of its predecessor but puts a new spin or twist on it. That this story has Pakistani roots gives it a new flare that was enjoyable; a new environment with different rules and lore, make for a fresh new setting to a familiar tale.

As a bonus in this Fairy Loot edition, I loved seeing a collection of letters passed between Dania and Noor! It was reminiscent of the letters and journal entries I vaguely remember from the original tale as well. Perhaps it was a little nod to the classic, or it truly was just for fun!

For She is Wrath was the perfect tale of revenge done right! I loved The Count of Monte Cristo for this very reason and I enjoyed reading Varga's YA Fantasy take on this beloved classic of mine! This is probably my favorite retelling of the classic to date and I highly recommend it if you too love a story of good old fashioned revenge!

Overall Rating 4/5 stars

Book Blogger Hop #414

2026-06-05T00:00:00.001-05:00

This meme is hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addict!

This week's question is: What’s the quirkiest or most unexpected place you’ve ever read a book, and why? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee-Addicted Writer)

MY ANSWER: Hmm...I can't really think of any that could be considered "quirky." I mean, everyone reads and walks right? I remember sometimes in school, depending on where I was walking to, I might have read while I walked to my next class. Or you know, read my book while following my mom on a trip to the hardware store.