a GREAT read

Can't Wait Wednesday #247

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

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.

How did Joe Goldberg become Joe Goldberg? What led to his first love…first obsession…first kill?

Find out in the highly anticipated prequel to New York Times bestselling author Caroline Kepnes’s hit You series, which inspired the blockbuster Netflix show.

Joe Goldberg is ready for his life to start. He’s seventeen years old, working in Mr. Mooney’s bookshop, falling in love with every girl on the subway all while wondering who will be the one. He knows what he A woman who will force him to get his GED, go to night school, and make something of himself. But who would ever fall in love with him?

Then he spots MISSED CONNECTION, NYC Bookstore Babe.

Someone is looking for Joe. And that someone is Vail Gunderson, a production assistant with a passion for rom-coms. The only she’s twenty-four, which means that Joe has no choice but to lie about his age…and, naturally, nearly everything else in his life. Joe thinks he’s found true love, but when Vail needs more convincing that Joe is her happily ever after, he’s determined to convince her…no matter what it takes…

With her incisive and darkly comedic prose, Caroline Kepnes captures Joe poised on the edge of manhood, entering the vicious, dog-eat-dog New York dating scene for the very first time, and buffeted by forces that will determine what kind of man he will become—and how he will write his own twisted love story.

I still need to read the last YOU book but this has been a fun series! It was surprising to me but yeah, I am pretty hooked! Just need to circle back to Joe's last "adventure" before I read his "first" one!

TITLE: You First
AUTHOR: Caroline Kepnes
PUBLISHER: Random House
GENRE: Thriller
RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2026

A mystical new YA series that blends fantasy, sci-fi, and romance.

All seventeen-year-old Dusty wants is to escape into books and the wilderness that surrounds her mountain home. What she doesn’t know is that there’s something waiting for her in the shadows of the forest.

One morning, Dusty wakes up with dirt on her feet. Then she realises that her body and senses are changing. And after a chance encounter with quiet and mysterious Will, she feels an attraction unlike anything she’s experienced before. It isn’t just an emotional connection making her heart beat faster—it’s a thirst.

But Dusty isn’t the only person experiencing strange events in Black River. Darker forces are at play, and Dusty must uncover the mystery—or risk losing everything and everyone she loves…

This one sounds soooo intriguing! And this cover! Gah! I need it!

TITLE: Black River
AUTHOR: Ruby Jean Cottle
PUBLISHER: Henry Holt and Co.
GENRE: YA Paranormal
RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2026

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

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

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.

"'You hurtle yourself through a metal cage on a death machine and you subsist on a diet of waffles and sugar. I can't say I trust your self-preservation instincts.'" p 138

TITLE: Scythe & Sparrow
AUTHOR: Brynne Weaver
PUBLISHER: Slowburn
GENRE: Dark Romance
RELEASE DATE: February 11, 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 10 Authors I Wish Were Still Writing Today

*in no particular order
**oh this had me crying and just sad! Only a few authors that I know of have ever passed away, the rest, it seems, just fell out of writing.

10. RACHEL CAINE--sadly Rachel passed away a few years ago. She was one of the first authors I ever got to meet and she took time away from the convention she was attending to meet me in the hotel lobby with my mom! She was so sweet and I continued to see her over the years at other conventions/festivals.
9. ALYSSA ROSE IVY--I'm not sure what happened to Alyssa and it saddens me. I was on her review team and then one day, the emails just stopped coming. I was too shy to reach out, wanting to see if everything was okay and I kind of regret that now as things have just been so silent.
8. L.J. SMITH--another author I found when I was young and loved her books. Sadly never got to meet her and within the last year or so I had seen that she passed away too.

7. JEANNIE HOLMES--I'm thinking Jeannie might have stopped writing after her first two books didn't do well in sales. The publisher didn't ask for more, despite my asking for more! Lol. Social media wasn't what it was back then so when newsletters/blog posts stopped I had no way of keeping up with authors who vanished.
6. JENNA BLACK--another one of the greats! I've met Jenna a few times as well and loved her books. I continued following her on Instagram after she seemed to stop writing, but then her posts stopped too.
5. NICOLE PEELER--another author I loved who seemed to have fallen out of writing. I know she is also a professor at a university, so that job probably became more fulfilling for her? Not sure really. I still get an occasional newsletter from her though.

4. KALAYNA PRICE--I fell in love with Kalayna's first indie series that sadly will likely never be finished. I did enjoyed her mainstream Alex Craft series and was glad that that series got to be completed with a few hiccups over the years. I recall she had health issues that partook in the delay, which I totally understand. Still wish her first series could've gotten its final book. I hate that Goodreads is allowed to have these non-existent books up on their site. It's pure torture.
3. ELIZABETH RICHARDS--I loved this author's debut series and from what I could find out, that's all she ever wrote too. Not sure what happened to cause the "no more books" scenario here, but it's another one I mourn.
2. NANCY HOLDER & DEBBIE VIGUIE--my first author duo team! Loved their books they wrote together but I really haven't seen anything from them at all lately, either as a duo or solo.

1. RICHELLE MEAD--the author who brought me back to YA when I thought there would never be another YA Paranormal book! Her last series, The Glittering Court, was the last books she wrote. I remember she toured here for the final book and had mentioned not being on contract for anything at the time and she was just going to see where the muse took her. It's been 8 years since then and still now new news.

BUT ON A HAPPIER NOTE...

There are of course more authors I could add to this list, but instead I decided to add some new and/or upcoming releases from authors I hadn't heard from in awhile who have NEW BOOKS coming out THIS YEAR!

RACHEL VINCENT--just when I thought Rachel might be done with writing since she became a professor at one of her colleges, she wrote a new book that came out this year and I was STOKED that she came to St. Louis for her tour! I still need to read it, naturally, but I am so happy!
BREE DESPAIN--I loved all of Bree's books! The Dark Divine and The Shadow Prince were among my faves and now she has a new thriller coming out in August! It was supposed to release in March, but it got pushed back, but at least it's still 2026!
BECCA FITZPATRICK--Becca would've been at the top of this list and almost was, but then just weeks before I drafted it, she announced she will have a NEW BOOK out THIS YEAR! I AM STOKED! SO STOKED! I loved her Hush, Hush series and all her standalone thrillers. So this book is making me incredibly happy and I haven't even read the blurb all the way through yet! Lol. I read enough that had me excited!

Review--Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver

2026-05-04T09:00:00.001-05:00

Doctor Fionn Kane is running from a broken heart, one he hopes to mend in small-town Nebraska, far away from his almost-fiancé and his derailed surgical career. It’s a simpler life: head down, work hard, and absolutely no romantic relationships. He wants none of the circus he left behind in Boston.

But then the Silveria Circus finds him.

Motorcycle performer Rose Evans has spent a decade on the road with Silveria, and it suits her just fine, especially when she has the urge to indulge in a little murder and mayhem when she’s not in the spotlight. But when a kill goes awry and she ends up with a broken leg, she finds herself stuck in Nebraska at the home of the adorably nerdy town doctor.

The problem is, not every broken heart can be sewn back together.

. . . And the longer you stay in one place, the more likely your ghosts are to catch up.

Scythe & Sparrow brings a conclusion to Brynne Weaver's The Ruinous Love Trilogy and it was a nice fitting end. We still met up with the past couples, so it gave a nice send off to the characters and their futures. While the ending teased at possibly something new to come, I am not sure what it means until I pick up her new series which supposedly takes place in the same universe as this one.

For some reason, I found I didn't quite enjoy this one as much as I did the previous books. I don't know why that is to be honest. The characters were still great, Rose is a riot and I love her brash and boldness. She works in a traveling circus and, as has been the way, when she meets someone absolutely loathing, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Although, compared to Sloane and Lark, Rose isn't as smooth with her killings. Things get a little messy...

Then you have Fionn, the youngest of the Kane brothers, but instead of taking the the lives of evil people like his brothers, Fionn is a doctor and saves lives instead. Although, that wasn't always the case as we learn...or have learned...the timeline of this series has sometimes made it hard to discern what events we know in what books. Which is possibly one of the issues I had with this one. Time is just wonky in this series. We saw that in the first book with I think a 3 or 4 year timespan going on. So basically, we get that in each book as well and we can kind of fill in the blanks of the other characters and what they were doing when we focused on one couple.

Rose gets injured by her target. She had found her next kill, a real douche bag who enjoyed beating and berating his wife and possibly his children. She decides to take him out...but wasn't anticipating on him fighting back, and especially fighting back so well. She barely escapes with her life, but at least she took his eye out before she nearly collapses at the doctor office of one Dr. Fionn Kane.

Fionn helps to get Rose to a bigger hospital and essentially saves her leg. Since she lives in an RV, traveling with the circus as her job, she's out of commission and an RV is no place to heal when on crutches, so he offers her a place to stay until she's healed. Which is why we see her wielding crutches at Rowan when he and Sloane come for Fionn's help in the first book. We eventually catch up in time to see when Rose helps Lark and nearly loses her life again, if it weren't for Fionn's help.

I'm not sure where my disconnect with this story happened. I guess, maybe it's because there wasn't enough killing? Lol. The Dexter vibes are still sort of there, but Rose comes off as an amateur compared to Sloane and Lark. And if I am recalling correctly, we really only had two "incidents" happen in the book with a few being brought up in conversation, but it was much more minimal compared to the first two books I feel like.

Fionn and Rose both aren't the best with relationships, so instead decide to indulge in a "just for physical fun" kind of deal. But naturally, that too doesn't go as plan. Both have their own emotional issues that they need to work though and overcome before they can finally let the other one in...at the same time.

We're once again treated to some very hot and heavy romantic interludes throughout this one which probably also contributed to some of my disconnect. Sometimes it got a little over the top for me, as I'm the kind of reader who could do with the "less is more" with the intimacy levels. The "just for fun" aspect always kind of bored me in books in general, so it's not just this series.

But still, all in all, it was a fun and entertaining read. I loved seeing the past couples still popping up. Trying to make out the timeline does get a little tricky at times, so it's usually best to just roll with it. Lol. While this one brought and end to the trilogy there definitely was a backdoor left open for other possible things to happen in this world. One of the epilogues definitely had my head spinning a bit and I had wondered if it connected to the new series. But since I need to start that one still, I can't say that it does with certainty. All in all, a fun and entertaining read, but not necessarily my favorite of the trilogy. Highly recommended for those Dexter/rom-com combination vibes if you enjoy that untold blend! It makes for high entertainment nonetheless.

Overall Rating 3.5/5 stars

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2026-05-04T00:00:00.001-05:00

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.

Last Week I Read:

The Other Side of the Mirror by Dana Evyn (4 stars)
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver (4 stars)
Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver--review to come later today!

Currently Reading:

The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert

What I Plan to Read Next:

Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim

Other Posts of Interest:

Spring Flavors Book Tag
Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Can't Wait Wednesday #246
Books from the Backlog #184
Book Blogger Hop #409
April Wrap-up
Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves

2026-05-03T00:00:00.001-05:00

This week feels like a blur. And nothing even happened! Lol. I'm trying to reflect on the week to remember the highs and lows...and really, it was just a blah kind of week. Nothing wrong with that. We did have some scary weather on Monday, but luckily, it wasn't quite as bad in our area as they anticipated. I mean, really it's always a "be ready" kind of deal. It could be really, really bad or it might just by a typical thunderstorm and luckily, this time it was the latter. This week I have a book signing to go to with Mai Corland, Abigail Owen, and Rachel Van Dyken! I've been anticipating this one for months as I bought my ticket as soon as it was announced!

Here's what I got this week:

The Ranger Courts the Celtic Witch by Kristen Painter--I am so behind on this series as it lives in the dusty kindle! But it's one I enjoy when I do get around to it, so I make sure to buy the new releases as I get the notifications! Lol.
The Mirror in the Mountain by Dana Evyn

Then I got my Fairy Loot book for this month! This was one I was excited for, even though I ended up getting the US edition as well for the author toured here recently! That's all I'll say on that matter, lol. I try not to share the book box covers right away as I know the mail can be delayed for others and even though the blogosphere is getting smaller and smaller, I still like to avoid spoiling things for someone who might stop by!

And then I got my preorder incentive for Kelly Andrew's The Gravewood! It was a candleholder with a black candle that drips red as it melts! I left the candle in its wrapping for now as I'd like to burn it once I have my own place, so I want to ensure the travel and packing of the candle stays secure until that wonderful day...although it's been looking pretty bleak the last month. Sigh...

THANK YOU Scholastic Press!

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

April Wrap-up

2026-05-02T10:00:00.001-05:00

I was just looking at my April log of books read and even I was impressed by myself! If I didn't have one DNF where I gave it almost 100 pages, I think I could've gotten 10 books in, but alas, it was only 9!

ARC Reads

It Came from Neverland by Cynthia Perano (6/9/26)--Review to come June 1st

New Release Reads

The Heartless One by Emma Hamm (3/3/26)
What We Did to Survive by Megan Lally (3/31/26)

TBR Reads

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer (6/18/24)
The Deathless One by Emma Hamm (8/5/25)
The Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore (9/5/23)
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver (8/15/23)
The Other Side of the Mirror by Dana Evyn (4/9/24)
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver (6/4/24)

Book Blogger Hop #409

2026-05-01T00:00:00.001-05:00

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

This week's question is: Is there a book you've been meaning to read forever but haven’t gotten to yet? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee-Addicted Writer)

MY ANSWER: Where even to begin? Lol. There are soooo many, sooooo sooooo many! Books I bought from the Borders closing sales are still on my TBR pile! I am easily grabbed by books but I am a slow reader! Lol.

One series I still can't believe I can't get worked into my schedule is Jennifer L. Armentrout's The Return! I LOOOOVED her books, I mean I still do but her current series are ones I cannot read fast at all and they are all 500+, probably even 700+. I can't keep up anymore! But I still somehow still have yet to start this one! I want to! Really, really badly! Lol. I just need to figure out how to give up sleep and still be healthy. That's the dream!

Review--Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver

2026-04-30T09:00:00.001-05:00

Contract killer Lachlan Kane wants a quiet life working in his leather studio and forgetting all about his traumatic past. But when he botches a job for his boss’s biggest client, Lachlan knows he’ll never claw his way out of the underworld. At least, not until songbird Lark Montague offers him a deal: use his skills to hunt down a killer and she’ll find a way to secure his freedom. The catch? He has to marry her first.

And they can’t stand each other.

Indie singer-songwriter Lark is the sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend’s soulmate, Lachlan thinks she’s just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend’s happiness on the line, she’s willing to make a vow to the man she’s determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be.

As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it’s not just familiar dangers that haunt them.
There’s another phantom lurking on their doorstep.

And this one has come for blood.

Brynne Weaver's second installment of The Ruinous Love Trilogy, Leather & Lark does not suffer from middle book syndrome at all! In fact, I think I liked it even more than I did the first book! This is series is definitely shaping out to be where the books just keep getting better and better!

We were left with just the slightest teaser at the end of Butcher & Blackbird that would set a course for Leather & Lark. A mysterious person being called The Phantom is out for revenge for what Rowan did to his brother and he's set to take away everyone Rowan loves, starting with his own family and for whatever reason, that means he's gunning for Lachlan first.

We have a bit of time warp going on in the first part of the book. We get a prologue with Lark and her secrets--which no surprise, she's a killer of killers too--then we jump to an event in the past and then we jump to periodic moments from when Sloane and Rowan were just getting together. We get a little insight to the tension that was running between Lark and Lachlan throughout the end of the first book.

Lachlan is looking to get out of the killer-for-hire business. He was taken in by his "benefactor" when he and his brothers needed it most and now, he just wants out. But since he lost a contract for his boss the previous year, he's stuck. Unless he works with Lark who in turn needs his help. Lark knows that her stepdad has some shady business going on and when his business partners are being murdered and he suspects Lachlan of being involved, Lark cooks up a mutually beneficial idea.

Lark and Lachlan will get married, that will put protection around Lachlan from her father and in return, he helps her find out who's killing her dad's partners, and then in another return, she will help him get out of his contract with this boss. Lots of turns going around there, but it makes sense when you read it! Lol.

What made this one a little more intriguing for me was that we continued to get the mysterious Phantom's point of view. It's not a lot, just every now and then, but it made for curious developments along the way. And of course, we still got both Lark and Lachlan's point of view to see how the two began to hopelessly fall in love.

I was definitely a bit surprised by Lachlan's character. In the first book, I found him to be broody and a grumpy Gus. But getting his point of view totally changed my opinion of him and omg, so far, he's my favorite of the brothers! Lol. That might change with the final book, but we'll see!

I feel like the tone of this book was a little different than its predecessor. The elements are all still there to keep them connected, but I guess I felt like it was less focus on the uncontrollable lust between the two lovers. For there was no love between these two in the beginning and I think that's maybe why I enjoyed it more. Yes, there was some mutual attraction, but other issues put up a solid wall between them that took awhile to break. Both Lark and Lachlan were a bit flawed and broken, but together they helped one another heal past wounds and grew closer.

Of course, as far as the romance went, you can still expect some of the same heat and tension and "activities" that we saw from the first book, too! Lol.

Truly, there's nothing I love more about a series of standalones that are interconnected. I love that we get to see new couples and familiar faces throughout. We stay in the same world, so the territory is familiar but following new characters each time is such a trip! Definitely looking forward to Rose and Fionn's story next!

If you're a dark romance fan, and have a thing for Dexter and vengeance, then this will be the series for you...of course, I'm late to the game, so you've probably already read it! Lol.

Overall Rating 4/5 stars

Books from the Backlog #184

2026-04-30T00:00:00.001-05:00

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!

Officially licensed John Winchester journal! We have recreated in detail pages seen in Supernatural episodes and on the original website! Some assembly is required. The high quality faux leather journal has been custom created with the pockets and "HW" for Henry Winchester on the inside. The journal includes over 40 pages with John Winchester's diary entries, sketches and notes. There are 40 additional blank lined pages for you to fill in your own hunting stories. The journal also includes a packet of 6 news articles to stick in your journal, a Biggerson's Turducken Slammer ad and the Mystery Spot brochure! Product Specs: 6" x 9" PU (faux) Leather 3 ring binder with 3 inner pockets, HW embossed and pen loop, diary and monster pages with original artwork 40 blank lined pages 6 Newspaper articles including funeral notice, Provenance episode article and House Fire piece Mystery Spot brochure Biggerson's Turducken ad. SUPERNATURAL and all related characters and elements.

I added the Supernatural John Winchester's Replica Journal by Con*Quest Journals to my TBR pile in December of 2017. Goodreads isn't showing a release date, so I can only go with my "Want to read" date! I was and still am a HUGE fan of this show! It's probably one of my all time favorites ever, right there with Buffy and Roswell (the first one, not the remake)! This is exactly what it sounds like, a replica of the character, John Winchester's journal that the brothers use when they are trying to figure out what creepy monsters they are up against! It should be a fun and quick read whenever I get to it. Will likely reserve it as a December read since it's so short! Lol.

Can't Wait Wednesday #246

2026-04-29T00:00:00.001-05:00

An intoxicating, haunting new novel from New York Times bestselling author Melissa Albert, in which the estranged adult children of a legendary author, written into their dead mother’s beloved fantasy series, contend with the vine-like creep of legacy, memory, and magic.

Guinevere Sharpe has two childhoods.

In one, she lives in the wooded shadow of her family's isolated Vermont farmhouse; in the other, the pages of her mother’s world-famous Ninth City books, where her magical adventures have made her a household name. In reality, Guinevere's childhood isn't the enchanted idyll her mother’s readers imagine: she and her older brother are growing up near-feral, unwashed and underfed, escaping each day to the lichen-clotted woods they’ve made their playland. As Edith Sharpe’s books explode into epic popularity, the threats of a rural childhood give way to the escalating perils of fame—until the night it all goes up in flames, leaving Edith’s series unfinished and her children the sole survivors.

Now an adult coasting on her mother's name, Guinevere is mid-promotion for a ghostwritten memoir when her estranged brother, an artist who has until now spurned his family's legacy, announces an upcoming installation titled Mother. As rumors swirl around a death connected to his last show, unsettling recollections from Guinevere’s childhood begin to surface. Her public facade starts to crack, forcing her to confront the questions she's spent the last twenty years running from: What really happened the night of the fire? And what dark history lies behind their mother’s creative genius?

Wise to the mythic weight childhood memories gather over time, The Children whispers to you from the hallway outside your bedroom, lights flickering as you turn the pages of a book that didn't seem so scary a moment ago. It's a story for anyone who's ever revisited an old favorite and found it cast in a darker light, the line separating magic and memory blurring as the gap widens between the authors we imagined and the people they turn out to be.

I love me a good spooky book! Also excited for Melissa's adult debut!

TITLE: The Children
AUTHOR: Melissa Albert
PUBLISHER: William Morrow
GENRE: Horror
RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2026

"Bears all the hallmarks of addictive YA fantasy. . . This is going to be huge.” —Laura Steven, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Our Infinite Fates, on Heir of Storms

Return to the spellbinding world of Heir of Storms in the explosive second installment to the Storm Weaver trilogy, perfect for fans of Red Queen, Throne of Glass, and The Rose Bargain.

Having survived three treacherous trials to win her crown, Blaze is now Queen of the Aquatori. But before she can take the throne, she must set out to find the Eye of the Soul, one of the realm’s most powerful weapons, before another claims its power for themself.

Her journey will take her deep into the forests of Ostacre and into a temporary alliance with the infuriating but undeniably compelling Fox. She can’t help but feel drawn to him. . . but can she trust him? Fortune favors the brave, but will it protect the Storm Weaver on her most dangerous mission yet?

Narrated by not just Blaze, but her brother, Flint, and the newly-discovered Shadow Magi, Elva, the epic journey that began in Heir of Storms continues in the sweeping adventure of Tides of Fortune.

This is tentatively on my Watchlist. I STILL need to read the first book and refrained from ordering this in the last B&N sale. But also partially because I have the FL edition and want to see if they do a matching set. Lol.

TITLE: Tides of Fortune
AUTHOR: Lauryn Hamilton Murray
PUBLISHER: Roaring Brook Press
GENRE: YA Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2026

Review--The Other Side of the Mirror by Dana Evyn

2026-04-28T09:00:00.001-05:00

What if the fairytale was always a lie?

Seven years after her family’s murders, Eva is attacked by a magical creature and abducted to the faerie realm. When a handsome fae saves her, Bash reveals that he must bring Eva to her faerie soulmate to stop a world-ending Curse. She relents, but only for the opportunity to find answers about her parents’ deaths.

As their journey progresses, Eva delves into her previously hidden magic—and grows steadily closer to Bash. But when she meets her prince, she soon learns that all is not what it seems. While mystery and intrigue surround her, Eva takes it into her own hands to uncover the truth. But what she discovers is beyond her imagination, as she unravels the fae’s web of lies.

The Other Side of the Mirror is Dana Evyn's first book in The Mirrored Trilogy and is the start of a pretty awesome fantasy story! There's fae, there's magic, mystery, secrets, and mayhem and of course some romance! The story was engaging and kept me guessing things, even though I was making my own predictions throughout and now I am left pining for the second book! It's been ordered, believe me, but ugh, that shipping time is going to take forever! Lol.

Eva thought she'd just celebrate her birthday with her best friend when her life took a turn for the worse, again. When she was just seventeen, her parents were murdered and her twin brother has been missing ever since. She thought she would just celebrate with her new potential boyfriend only to find a surprise attack lying in wait at her home and rescue came in the form of a sword-wielding guy. But Eva isn't a damsel meant to be rescued and she takes care of her attacker herself.

Bash, her would-be-rescuer, reveals that he's here to bring her to her prince charming, her betrothed. That she and her betrothed are meant to help fight back against the darkness infecting the fae realms and bring peace and and all that good stuff to the lands. But naturally, Eva finds herself falling for Bash instead on their journey to her betrothed.

This book was far more intriguing than I anticipated! Granted, I started to suspect a few things when Eva finally meets, Aviel, her betrothed. There are a lot of questions going around as to who Eva's parents really were and their connection to the fae lands, which we do get answers to eventually and it's about what you might expect given the circumstances.

While the blurb spouts ideas that this might be a fairy tale retelling what with a mirror and royalty being involved, it really wasn't. The "fairy tale" is just a generalization I feel like. It's still an amazing story involving fae with intriguing twists and an enticing plot! The secrets and twists were drawn out to perfection! Then you add in the "forbidden" romance between Eva and Bash. Of course, not much really gets to happen when Bash thinks she's meant for another, but things eventually sort themselves out and you continue to root for these two!

The ending, oh that ending was devious! Granted, I always expect a cliffhanger these days, but man that one hurt! Which is why I need book 2 asap! Let's just hope B&N can get that processed and shipped right fast now! Lol. Then the wait for the third book in July will ultimately be another travesty of waiting!

If you love a good romance story involving fae coupled with secrets galore and devious royalty then this will be the book for you! The Other Side of the Mirror is not your ordinary fae story but will have the typical tropes we all tend to love and enjoy! Definitely looking forward to the second installment!

Overall Rating 4/5 stars

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

2026-04-28T00:00:00.001-05:00

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.

"The library was its own kind of magic, books and manuscripts surrounding me on every shelf, stacked high to the ceiling on glossy white bookshelves. It would have been a travesty not to climb the attached rolling ladders.
Books had always been there for me--an escape where I need it the most." p 132-133

TITLE: The Other Side of the Mirror
AUTHOR: Dana Evyn
PUBLISHER: City Owl Press
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2024

This week's topic is: FREEBIE: Titles Beginning with the Letter "A"

*in no particular order
**was running out of ideas so I turned to this one! This will officially be my backup plan where I just move to the next letter when I can't think of a better topic! Lol.
***bonus irony is that 4 of these were written by authors whose names begin with the letter "A" too!

10. ALL THE STARS AND TEETH by Adalyn Grace
9. A PROMISE OF FIRE by Amanda Bouchet
8. A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY by Brigid Kemmerer

7. AURORA RISING by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
6. AWAKE AT DAWN by C.C. Hunter
5. ALWAYS CARRY A SILVER CROSS by Andrea Robertson

4. AS SHADOWS FADE by Colleen Gleason
3. AN ICE COLD GRAVE by Charlaine Harris
2. A CURSE FOR TRUE LOVE by Stephanie Garber--wait for it...

1. ALCHEMY OF SECRETS by Stephanie Garber--did I have you confused for half a second there? Lol.

Spring Flavors Book Tag

2026-04-27T10:00:00.001-05:00

So I saw this post the other day on Instagram at StacisBookishProbs and thought it looked like fun, so here we are! I borrowed the image she created here as I have zero tech skills, as I have mentioned several times before! Lol.

MINT
a refreshing take on a classic story

Ahh, sooo many good ones, yet since I write this post a little too early as I've a busy day ahead, I'm going with one of the very first ones that I read that pretty much cemented me as a fan of fairy tale retellings...Snow by Tracy Lynn! A total old school choice, but I just loved this take on Snow White! You might also know this author as Liz Braswell!

LEMON
a character that left a bad taste in your mouth

So apparently, when my brain can't quite wake up, my answers are old school choices! Lol. Malone was definitely one of those characters. Ugh. I just wanted that b*st*rd to die! I feel like by Shift I was more than done with that dude! Lol.

STRAWBERRY
a popular book that is worth the hype

I mean, I might be in my own world thinking this book is still being hyped, which to me, all of Stephanie's books are totally worth the hype! I feel like we're giving this one a wee bit more attention this year since she has a chunky novella coming out to add to the conclusion which I am STOKED for!

LAVENDAR

a book with flowers on the cover

Ironically, I was just drafting a post for this for May! The first book that came to mind was Lady Tremaine as I just read it around the time of said drafting! Lol. It was an intriguing read for sure and there are plenty of unrelated flowers on the cover!

HONEY
a sticky sweet romance

Tired brain malfunctioning led me to searching my own posts and this one popped up where I talked about the sweet romance! So that is my choice! Lol. I do vaguely remember it being a sweet, slow kind of buildup.

VANILLA
a book that was just okay

I remember I read Cinder expecting many great things. I feel like I built up too much hype in my head because of all its hype. I liked the book, don't get me wrong. But I think I ended up just liking it enough. I almost turned away from the series but then I was told Scarlet was way better and I really enjoyed that one a lot. So while I had a rough start to this series, it ended up being a favorite in the end. I guess the introduction to this one was perhaps a little space/sci-fi heavy in some areas and those usually never work out for me.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2026-04-27T00:00:00.001-05:00

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:

What We Did to Survive by Megan Lally (4.5 stars)

Currently Reading:

The Other Side of the Mirror by Dana Evyn

What I Plan to Read Next:

Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Random Discussion: Novellas
Can't Wait Wednesday #245
Books from the Backlog #183
Book Blogger Hop #408
Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves

2026-04-26T00:00:00.004-05:00

This was a pretty tame and quiet week for the most part. Work was normal, preorders were sparse. I endured agony over all the coastal events that I couldn't attend and seeing all the authors being on one end or the other. But yesterday, oh yesterday was pretty great with Independent Bookstore Day! I went to Main Street Books like I usually do and FINALLY got to check out their new space! And I wasn't totally without seeing authors this week as Megan Bannen returned to St. Louis! I was able to get my last Fairy Loot copy of her book signed and then of course I shopped the store! I also popped into B&N this weekend for their double stamp day as I had a gift card to them as well! So while lots of fun was being had on the coasts to events I can never get tickets to (well, the east coast one at least), I still had a pretty good day yesterday at least!

Here's what I got:

The Rebel and The Final Blood War by K.A. Linde

Reborn by Jaymin Eve
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver
Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver
A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann

Then I made a Mercari purchase to get the stunning Fairy Loot edition of The Wicked Sea! Haven't gotten onto the Romantasy sub box yet and I really wanted this edition and luckily found it at not too high of a markup as I expected to pay more for it anyway, so luckily this seller wasn't super over-charging! And she included freebies which was so sweet!

The Wicked Sea by Jordan Stephanie Gray--Fairy Loot edition!

And speaking of Fairy Loot, I FINALLY got my copy of The Rebel Witch, the second book of The Crimson Moth duology! I honestly forgot I ordered this as it was before I started keeping track of all my FL special edition orders! But happy to finally have a complete set!

The Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli--Fairy Loot edition!

Then I received some preorder incentives this week as well:

First up is the gorgeous art print from Nikki St. Crowe's West of Wicked! Ah! I loved this book so much! AND I got a SIGNED book plate, which I plan to save for the second book since I was lucky enough to see Nikki on tour for WoW!

THANK YOU Bramble!

Then this was a gift from Penguin Teen for preordering multiple copies of their latest releases...already forgot which ones I used for the gift as it was a while ago! Lol. It's a nifty little bookmark holder! It's so pretty and really sturdy!
It also came with three sturdy bookmarks from some of their titles. I can picture 2 of them but their titles escape me at the moment and the third one I am drawing a blank on entirely! Lol. But I like em!

THANK YOU Penguin Teen!

Then I got a few goodies for being one of the first 25 in line to the bookstore today! I got a tote bag, hat, patch, and a Christmas ornament, plus the Midwest Map of Indie Bookstores!

Then I bought a shirt that features Main Street Books new location!

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

Book Blogger Hop #408

2026-04-24T00:00:00.001-05:00

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

This week's question is: Imagine creating a book-themed board game—what kind of gameplay would it have? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee-Addicted Writer)

MY ANSWER: Oooh interesting! Well, you can probably guess my theme...

Oh yes! We'd be playing CARAVAL!! I imagine it would likely be something along the lines of Clue...but not so much trying to guess anything major, like a whodunit. You're trying to find solve the riddles and find the puzzle pieces to earn your one true wish at the end!

Review--What We Did to Survive by Megan Lally

2026-04-23T09:00:00.001-05:00

A vacation in paradise turns deadly when four teens' sailing charter hits stormy seas in this propulsive new thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Megan Lally!

Hannah is having an incredible spring break. A week at a resort in Mexico with her best friend Emmy and her family is perfect for de-stressing from senior year, even if it’s awkward being around Emmy's older brother, Jackson, who she’s had a crush on for as long as she can remember.

Still, the beach is gorgeous. So is the guy they meet in the surf. Except Hannah is now the third wheel in Emmy’s vacation romance.

Eager to impress Emmy, her wealthy new boyfriend charters a private sailboat to make the most of their last day in paradise, and Hannah and Jackson are invited along. As the clouds roll in and the skies darken, their boat is the only one leaving the marina. And the further they get into open water, the more unsettled Hannah becomes. A storm is brewing onboard that’s as deadly as the one racing toward them. Forget surviving graduation. Who will make it back to land alive?

I think it's safe to say at this point that I love Megan Lally's thrillers! They are so ultimately creepy and chilling and will forever have you second-guessing everything! Her latest one, What We Did to Survive definitely makes you want to rethink being friendly with others on vacation!

Hannah is enjoying her spring break of her senior year with her best friend, Emmy. Along with Emmy's parents and older brother, Jackson, who Hannah has had a crush on since forever. Things were going well and just as their days were coming to an end at the resort, the girls meet Ben, who charms his way into Emmy's heart. They decide that on their second-to-last day they would charter a boat and go on an ocean cruise/tour of the surrounding area.

And as you can imagine, everything that could go wrong, does. The first clue should've been the weather. Storm clouds were on the horizon and practically every tour boat and regular old sailor was staying off the water, but Ben manages to find a private cruise that was willing to brave the weather. The storm wasn't expected to hit until later that day, so there was plenty of time. But Emmy was insistent on going with Ben, Jackson, who also came along was going to keep an eye on his sister, so by default, Hannah decided to go as well.

It's not until later that everything goes south real fast. The storm gets closer to them and the waters turn rougher and it's basically the worst time possible to be on the ocean. And then that's when everything spirals out of control and becomes incredibly dangerous. Before we know it, the teenagers are on their own in open waters with no idea how to get back to shore.

This book was ultimately chilling and oh so twisted! I have a healthy fear of the ocean. I live in the Midwest, so I'm pretty safe from it, lol. But yeah, I grew up watching Jaws and no matter what anyone tells me I will not be getting into the water! Then there are all the other horror movies revolving around open water and sharks and movies based on true events that just have me terrified of it even more. The movie Cast Away gets mentioned quite frequently and in a sense, that's what this book turns into on the YA scale.

There were a few eyerollers in this one when it came to relationship drama. But honestly, coming from a YA novel, this fit the genre. Honestly, what kept griping me was why they went out on the ocean when everyone else with a boat was staying on land! I mean, that to me was the biggest red flag. Of course, there would not have been a story without them going out there, but I can almost overlook some of the other relationship dilemmas instead of this one. I mean if professional tour guides are staying on land, why would you go out to sea with an independent guy? But I digress. Lol.

There's not much of a whodunit to be solved. Scary stuff happens and you can easily pinpoint the perpetrator, but really, that's only the beginning. When we get to the end and all is finally revealed, I was flummoxed and yet...not. I was more smacking myself for not putting it together sooner. I had the clues and even questioned the evidence at the time, but for whatever reason I did not think of the answer! Which really, I should've because it fits with me and all the other "survivor" media I've consumed.

Needless to say, Lally delivers yet another spine-tingling read that kept me on my toes and eagerly eating up the pages! If I hadn't have started this midday I could've easily read this in one day for sure! It was an on the edge of your seat page turner! Pretty much like Lally's previous novels. Needless to say, if you're looking for a summer thriller, What We Did to Survive is the way to go!

Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars

Books from the Backlog #183

2026-04-23T00:00:00.001-05:00

The New York Times bestselling Psychic Eye Mystery series continues with P.I. Abby Cooper facing the ultimate locked room murder...
Professional psychic and FBI consultant Abby Cooper has used her inner visions to get her out of many a scrape and solve many a crime but she s about to face a murder scene that will put all her powers to the test. Abby s husband Dutch has a side business providing security and building panic rooms for wealthy clients. One morning, one of Dutch s partners, Dave, goes missing on his way to meet a client. Abby s intuition tells her something terrible has happened to him.
Then two of Dutch s clients are found brutally murdered...inside their brand new panic room, and most of the evidence points to Dave as the killer. With the authorities racing to find and arrest him, Abby's got to use all her intuitive prowess to get to Dave first, discover the real killer, and save her husband's business. This is one case where Abby is positive there s far more to this mystery than meets her inner eye.

I added Victoria Laurie's A Panicked Premonition to my TBR pile in December of 2017, according to Goodreads. It released in July of that year, so I likely had it around then and forgot to add it to my GR list! I think this is where I stalled on the series. I do truly love this series, it's so cute and fun. Not sure how I fell behind on it. Probably trying to get caught up on other series! Lol.

Can't Wait Wednesday #245

2026-04-22T00:00:00.001-05:00

Half-blooded Wren escapes her old life among humans to go live with the fae. After a warm welcome, Wren slowly begins to accept herself for who she is, until she encounters a more sinister court that would rather see the child of their enemy dead.

When an unexpected attack on the nearby village effectively renders Wren homeless, she encounters the wild and frightening Thain, who would take her to the Wyldes: the land of the fae creatures. As a half breed raised among humans, Wren was shunned for her non-human half and taught to fear the fae. Now that she's living among them, she has to face her fears and accept her own heritage in order to live among them. But as the mystery of her parentage begins to unravel, Wren might find herself in more danger than she could have ever imagined.

I still need to finish her first series but I did enjoy the first book! This one sounds like it will be a good mysterious kind of read so I'm pretty much adding it to my list!

TITLE: Half Wylde
AUTHOR: Sabrina Blackburry
PUBLISHER: Wattpad Books
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
RELEASE DATE: May 26, 2026

They matched on a dating app. Then the universe dropped them into a magickal fire kingdom.

Amanda Ward has a five-step manifestation routine, a ritual kit in every purse, and a dating profile designed to reflect the version of herself she wishes she could be: grounded, glowing, and in total alignment. In reality, she's overwhelmed, under-satisfied, and one passive-aggressive email away from a full-blown meltdown.

When a sext thread with her in-app temptation, Declan Thorne, leads to an invitation she can't resist, Amanda finds herself face-to-face with the man behind the messages—a devastatingly hot, emotionally constipated venture capitalist. And the moment she tries bringing a bit of magick into their night, a tarot-triggered portal yanks them both into another realm entirely.

Now stranded in the Kingdom of Wands with an aggravating, broody CEO-turned-reluctant-bodyguard and zero clue how to get home, Amanda's facing nightly on-stage performances, suspicious queens, and magick that refuses to cooperate.

What's worse is that her biggest issue might not be the kingdom—it might be catching real feelings for the one man who makes her want to drop the act.

To survive and find their way back home, she'll have to ditch the affirmations and the carefully controlled persona she's been clinging to and learn how to wield something way more powerful—her truth.

Even if it burns everything down.

Another series I still need to start which makes me feel like I better do that before I add any more to my TBR pile! lol.

TITLE: Fortune
AUTHOR: Kristin Cast
PUBLISHER: Bloom Books
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
RELEASE DATE: May 26, 2026

Random Discussion: Novellas

2026-04-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

So I had a random thought the other day and thought let's do one of my now very rare discussion posts! Seriously think I got a little burnt out over the last few years when I was doing the actual challenge, so I am taking things easier this year at least! But still don't mind writing up the occasional post when something occurs to me and I don't think I've discussed it...or at least not recently. I don't think. Lol.

Anyway, my prompt today is:

Do you ever read the novellas that come in between books in a series? Do you have any kind of process you follow to decide to read it or not?

For me, as usual, it just depends! Now when I saw novella, it can be actual novella length like within the vicinity of 100+ pages or less even. I guess short story would be the one for like 1-100 pages maybe? Not sure where we draw the line or where we personally draw the line.

Anyway, way back when I pretty much always read them! Whether it's 50 pages or 150! If it was in a series I enjoy, I would read it! You sometimes never really knew if the novella would be a bridge in between books and it would be beneficial to read the novella before diving into the next novel.

These days, well I can go either way. I guess first it depends on my level of enjoyment of the series. There are series I love and would read whatever extra scraps I could get! Then there are some that I enjoy, but am fine with just reading the novels themselves.

If the novella has more "vital" information towards the series, I am more likely to read it...possibly. I remember one series I read the first novella and it ended up being a prequel, but it really confused me, so after that I just stuck to the novels and skipped the novellas.

I used to read a lot more short story collections and novellas. I still have a few collections on my TBR pile that I would like to read at some point! But I remember enjoying the collections as it does let you get to know other authors in a small format. So they definitely are nice!

For novellas that tie to series...it will really just depend on how I feel about the series. And naturally what the novella is about and how long it is and what my schedule is looking like. Little things, but I am definitely not opposed to reading them though!

What about you? Any thoughts on novellas that tie into series?

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

2026-04-21T00:00:00.001-05:00

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.

"He manages to move before I slam it on his hand but I still catch his teasing laugh and his parting words: 'You'll love me someday.'
The next day is not that that day." p 104

TITLE: Butcher & Blackbird
AUTHOR: Brynne Weaver
PUBLISHER: Slowburn
GENRE: Dark Romance
RELEASE DATE: August 15, 2023

This week's topic is: April Showers: Top Ten TBR Books I'd Read on a Rainy Day

*in no particular order

10. THE GRAVEWOOD by Kelly Andrew--naturally, I'm thinking more April 2027 when I can have the sequel at the ready, but yeah, why not! Lol.
9. THE VERDANT CAGE by Jess Lourey--you'll see a theme with my picks here!
8. WHAT WE DID TO SURVIVE by Megan Lally--maybe possibly save this for the cruise I'm hoping to take next year because I am weird like that...but then again...maybe not as I scare easily! lol.

7. CURSED CRUISE by Victoria Fulton & Faith McClaren--see reasoning #8
6. THE CALL HER REGRET by Channelle Desamours
5. A DEADLY INHERITANCE by Kelley Armstrong

4. LET'S SPLIT UP by Bill Wood--love a good Scooby Doo-esque book! Need to read this soon!
3. THE HAUNTING OF PAYNES HOLLOW by Kelley Armstrong
2. LOST GIRLS OF HOLLOW LAKE by Rebekah Faubion--because thrillers are always a good idea!

1. THE STORM by Rachel Hawkins--because I like irony! Of course, I'm Midwest, so no hurricanes but we do get the other cyclone that I am super afraid of. So yeah...maybe not a good idea either. Lol.

Review--Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

2026-04-20T09:00:00.001-05:00

The viral friends-to-lovers dark romantic comedy full of murder, chaos, and sizzling chemistry―unlike anything you’ve read before―now available in all bookstores

When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, they find something elusive―the friendship of two like-minded, pitch-black souls who just happen to enjoy killing other serial killers.

From small-town West Virginia to upscale California, and from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country.

But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love.

Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves?
Or have they finally met their match?

I picked up Brynne Weaver's Butcher & Blackbird randomly during a book sale somewhere down the line! It sounded edgy, dark and a little bit funny (from some of the reviews I read) and I am happy to say that all of these things were true! If the series Dexter was a rom-com, it would look something like this!

Rowan and Sloane meet by chance when he finds her locked in a cage in a basement with a serial killer dead on the outside. Turns out, Sloane and Rowan are both serial killer killers. So like Dexter, they decide to kill the truly depraved and evil who manage to stay under the law's radar. I love a good "revenge" styled novel, I think ever since I read The Count of Monte Cristo, I could not get enough of revenge stories! Lol. While the Count played a long game, Rowan and Slone are on a looser schedule.

Apparently, the serial killer killers' circle is pretty well known in the darkest parts, if you know where to look. Rowan has heard of Sloane, The Orb Weaver and Sloane has heard of Rowan, The Butcher. It's at a diner they decide to have their own sort of competition. They'll have a third party give them the name of the next ne'er-do-weller who needs to be taken out and it will become a race to see who can track them down and get the job done. And it becomes an annual thing over the years.

I wasn't really sure what to expect in this one. I was hoping for some bloody good times and we do get that. There was also some of the norm of what you'd expect from a romance novel, the who-falls-first vibe and the who-has-emotional-issues that need to be overcome situation. Both Sloane and Rowan have their dark pasts, it's why they do what they do. So in a sense, this book does have some very dark themes, more than you'd expect from a romance novel. It's not a light and fluffy happy story, that's for sure. But I am sure compared to other "dark romances" that I have not read, this one falls pretty low on that scale. That's just from what I gather over the whispers or this or that book. Honestly, couldn't even give you a title, because they don't hold the same kind of interest for me.

This one, I took a chance on. And oddly enough, it was just about my kind of read! Yes, some of the romance scenes were a little overdone a little too much of the time, but at least it took awhile for Rowan and Sloane to get to that moment with each other. Add in the fact, that the first part of the book spans about 4 years or so, so it took a really long while for any move to be made!

But at its heart, this is a romance story. A romance story for people who are a bit broken inside but come to find love anyway. I love that they worked through difficult issues and overcame their own personal demons as well. There's definitely something to waiting a series out because now I can pick up the next standalone installments of this series the next chance I get! Hoping to find them during the Indie Bookstore Day festivities this weekend, so I will have to turn to the TBR pile in the meantime! Lol.

If you're looking for that book with revenge, dark themes a la Dexter, but also with romance and some vague lightheartedness, Butcher & Blackbird might just be the read for you! It's definitely what you would call a dark romantic comedy and it was far better than I could've imagined and I cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy!

Overall Rating 4/5 stars

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2026-04-20T00:00:00.027-05:00

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 Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore (3.5 stars)

It Came from Neverland by Cynthia Pelayo (ARC)--Review to come at a later date

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver--Review to come later today!

About to Start Reading:

A Dark and Wild Wood by Sarah Nicole Lemon (ARC)

What I Plan to Read Next:

The Other Side of the Mirror by Dana Evyn

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Can't Wait Wednesday #244
Books from the Backlog #182
Book Blogger Hop #407
Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves

2026-04-19T00:00:00.001-05:00

Another great week! Granted, the first half was dull and boring but then on Wednesday I went to yet another book signing, this time to see Nikki St. Crowe! I really enjoyed her new Wizard of Oz book (and its sequel that releases in November!) so naturally, I had to go since she actually came to St. Louis! And then on Thursday Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss came to promote their new book they cowrote together! So it was exciting times and very, very little sleep after each event! Lol. I guess "luckily" this week I have no late nights ahead of me so hopefully I can catch up on sleep. I try sleeping in on weekends, but it never works out.

Here are the books I got this week:

West of Wicked by Nikki St. Crowe--SIGNED!
The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss--SIGNED!
Across the Pressing Dark by Veronica Wolff--a kindle deal!

Then I signed up for yet another book box at least for a little while! I joined Allurial because I could not stop staring at their edition of Jordan Stephanie Gray's book! So it looks like I'll be collecting her books now too!

The Wicked Sea by Jordan Stephanie Gray--Allurial edition

Then for review from the publisher I received:

A Dark and Wild Wood by Sarah Nicole Lemon (ARC)

THANK YOU Harper Voyager!

And then when I saw Nikki post about sending a PoP for WoW, she'd send you a handwritten letter, so naturally, I had to send mine in:

THANK YOU Nikki!

Then I also got some cool swag from the Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss signing:

tote bag--which I got signed!
bookmark, postcard, sticker, and a pamphlet about the book's game!

And then my friend who let me buy her FL copy of Alchemy of Secrets also ordered the page overlays for me as well and those arrived this week as she had to wait for the second run. Never sure what to do with these but they were so pretty I had to have them, plus it's Stephanie Garber! Lol.

THANK YOU Shell!

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

Book Blogger Hop #407

2026-04-17T00:00:00.001-05:00

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

This week's topic is: Do you have any bookish habits or quirks you catch yourself doing again and again? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee-Addicted Writer)

MY ANSWER: Well, anytime I buy a book or receive one from an online order, I examine it with a close eye. I check out the spine, the corners, the dustjacket. If I remember I try to flip through the pages to make sure they are all there. I once had a book that repeated half a chapter...and it was a mystery and it was getting close to the solving of things and I was like WHAT IS GOING ON?!

I've heard horror stories of a completely different book's pages being within another too, so that's frightening as well! But yes, new books get a full exam before bracing my TBR shelves.

Another "quirk" I suppose you could say is that I sometimes color coordinate my bookmark with the book cover. When possible! Obviously, I don't have endless colors of bookmarks, but I will try to choose one in the same color wheelhouse if I can. Or I might go rogue and choose my new bookmark that does not coordinate at all with whatever my current book choice is! Lol.