Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

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If you are one of the many, many people who were immediately captivated by the LuLaRich documentary and are waiting, somewhat patiently for more seasons of The Dream podcast, you are going to love Cultish. Montell goes in deep on the language used by various well-known cults and show the way that many new business such as gyms and clothing companies go on to adopt similar language and then can feel very similar to a cult. I really appreciated Montell’s very accessible and readable language-ha, I know-that made this such a fast paced and interesting read. Montell also provides stories told to her during her childhood, her father was associated with Synanon, and her own run-in with Scientology as a college student.

I was already familiar with MLMs and the language they use to manipulate people into joining them, but to see it laid out so clearly for such businesses as SoulCycle, CrossFit, and even Amazon, was quite stark. One of the most interesting facts to me, was how cults will often develop new words, or alter commonly used words, to create a sense of being special and “in the know” within a community. Now, after reading Cultish, it feels like I’m finding those types of phrases everywhere. This, of course, is nothing surprising, I’m just hyperaware after reading the book but it’s still jarring to find this language everywhere.

I found Cultish to be an absorbing, compelling, and highly-readable book. If you’re looking to branch out into new and different genres and non-fiction is on your list, definitely pick this one up.

You can thank me later.

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

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Wave for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

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

GLAMOROUS Harlequin Series Fall Blog Tour: Manhattan's Most Scandalous Reunion by Dani Collins

He can’t turn her away, and it has nothing to do with the media storm outside his penthouse! Enjoy this sizzling romance from USA TODAY bestselling author Dani Collins.

She left him.
That doesn't mean she's forgotten him.
When paparazzi mistake Nina Menendez for a supermodel, she takes refuge in her ex’s New York penthouse. Big mistake. Guarded Reve Weston is incapable of emotional intimacy—and is intensely seductive…
Reve has had enough of scandal. To keep his name out of the tabloids, he insists Nina stay with him. But as their spark reignites and she shares the mysteries of her past, Reve realizes his cynicism has a downside. If he can’t give Nina the fairy tale she dreams of, he’ll have to let her go…for good!

Add Manhattan's Most Scandalous Reunion to your Goodreads!

Dani Collins has given us a smoking hot second-chance romance! The chemistry between Reve and Nina is absolutely electric and they indulge in that chemistry in some of the most luxurious locations around the globe. I loved how independent and determined Nina was in pursuing her design career on her own merits and how frustrated Reve got every time she pushed his money away. The tension was a living, breathing thing between them and when they clashed-whew!

Interested in reading more? Harlequin was kind enough to share an excerpt for all of my readers!

Add Manhattan's Most Scandalous Reunion to your Goodreads!

Excerpt of Manhattan’s Most Scandalous Reunion by Dani Collins (Aug 24)

Harlequin Presents

Dear God, they were everywhere. She was surrounded. Her airway tightened and her wild gaze swerved every direction, seeking a path of escape.

A blue-and-silver awning struck her eyes. She had walked in this direction unconsciously on purpose because, deep down, she was a masochist.

Normally, she would have stayed on this side of the street and glared upward as she walked by, but in her agitation, she darted straight for the entrance, not computing that she was running into traffic.

A car squealed its brakes and stopped on a dime right before it would have struck her. The driver laid on the horn, then honked again as the horde of cameramen chased her, all of them batting and bumping into the car in their haste to get around it.

Nina brushed past the startled doorman and ran inside, straight to the security desk where Amir sat today.

“I’m sorry. Please, can I stand here a few minutes while I figure out what to do? They won’t leave me alone.
She was quivering with reaction, breathless and barely able to speak. She looked back to see the doorman holding out his arms while he ordered the men, “Back off! No entry.” 

Amir frowned at her, then at the disruption outside. One of the men evaded the doorman and pressed his camera lens to the window, clicking and flashing through the glass.

Amir picked up his phone and dialed.

Was he calling the police? Nina’s scrambled brain tried to decide whether she should involve them.

“It’s Amir, sir. Ms. Menendez is here in the lobby.”

“What?” she whispered. “I didn’t come here to see him.”

Her stomach began to churn. She held her breath in dread-filled anticipation.

“Yes, I understand, sir. But she seems upset.”

Her heart stalled out. How humiliating. After seducing her and leading her on, Reve had dumped her when she had asked if he wanted to meet her father. Three months later, he didn’t even want to see her.

She covered her face, turning her back to the windows so she had a shred of privacy while she tried to think of where she could go or who she might call. The few friends she’d made in New York had fallen away when she’d been fired and moved in with Reve. And the friend who’d gotten her today’s interview lived in London. The one who was loaning her his studio was backpacking in Australia.

She didn’t know what to do. She was upset by more than the fact those men had chased her. It was everything that had happened lately. Her ears were rushing with the sound of her galloping pulse. Her life was falling apart at the seams, but she couldn’t crawl home this time. Where was home? Who was she? 

“Miss…” Amir’s voice was loud enough to make her jerk her head up. His frown told her he’d had to repeat himself to get her attention. She saw he had opened the doors for Reve’s private elevator.

“Mr. Weston will see you. Would you like me to come with you? You seem unsteady.”

She stared into the elevator, longing to see Reve even though she knew he only pretended to rescue damsels. Deep down, he was more of a dragonwho lured them in and ate them.

Still, she could hear the doorman arguing with the men outside. She had to leave the lobby so they would disperse. She desperately needed to be transported out of her entire overturned, mixed-up life, and, God knows, Reve’s world was the furthest thing from her own.

Buy Manhattan’s Most Scandalous Reunion by Dani Collins

Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335568953_manhattans-most-scandalous-reunion.html 

About the Author

When Canadian Dani Collins found romance novels in high school she wondered how one trained for such an awesome job. She wrote for over two decades without publishing, but remained inspired by the romance message that if you hang in there you'll find a happy ending. In May of 2012, Harlequin Presents bought her manuscript in a two-book deal. She's since published more than thirty books with them and is definitely living happily ever after.

Connect with the Author 

Website: https://danicollins.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaniCollinsBook

Flashback: The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

I’ve been on a great streak of spooky/creepy/thrilling books lately but short on time to squeal about them. Here’s one that I think about constantly and still infiltrates my dreams.

Available Now

I have absolutely fallen in love with this author’s books. They are this fantastic blend of horror, humor, and incredibly relatable characters. I loved the Hollow Places and couldn’t wait to get my hands on The Twisted Ones.

In The Twisted Ones, Melissa, who always goes by Mouse, is asked by her ailing father to help get her recently deceased grandmother’s house read for sale. What seems like a simple task quickly becomes overwhelming when Mouse discovers her grandmother was actually a hoarder. Piles of junk weave in and out of newspaper towers and the stench of mice and insects nearly cause Mouse to walk away and forget about any potential money from the sale. But Mouse knows her dad’s health isn’t good enough to take on this task, so she does her best to get started. As Mouse spends time in town buying supplies and hanging out at a coffee shop for the wifi and great drinks, she finds that she isn’t the only person who believed her grandmother to a terrible, horrible person. Dislike of her grandmother was a common theme amongst her neighbors and it became more and more puzzling why her step-grandfather every married her.

While cleaning out her step-grandfather’s room, she discovered that Frederick Cotgrave was obsessed with the idea that his wife had stolen and hidden a green book that belonged to him. Uncovering a typewritten manuscript, Mouse discovers that Cotgrave was convinced that there were creatures that lived in the woods and they were out to get him.

Cotgrave wasn’t wrong. As Mouse investigates further into what she believes are delusions of an unwell man, Mouse discovers that there are places within the woods that lead to dark, and terrifying lands full of the Twisted Ones. After her beloved dog Bongo goes missing in the woods, Mouse must save him from whatever fate the Twisted Ones have planned for him.

SPOILER

The dog lives.

I love how T. Kingfisher is able to write a horrifying novel that is also hilarious. There is the perfect balance of both in the two novels I have read and it’s just so well done. Again, my favorite trope of a book within a book plays out. Cotgrave describes in his journal a manuscript he wrote based on his memory of the Green Book that was given to him by a friend. Within that book is a story of a young woman who discovers small creatures that live in the woods and the journeys they go on together. By trade, Mouse is an editor and the way that she picks apart Cotgrave’s writing was so funny juxtaposed against the horrors he described in his writing. As Mouse uncovers more and more about the Twisted Ones, and her experiences become more and more unworldly, she is still cleaning out her grandmother’s house and describing what a horrible person she had been while throwing out multiple microwaves. The humor is very dark, and I loved it.

Kingfisher is able to create horror stories that are so close to reality that the terror level goes up with each page. Like in The Hollow Places, the threat to Mouse and Bongo is very close to home. It’s literally in their backyard and can attack at any time. Mouse is in a new area without any friends or family close and knows that it’s incredibly unlikely that anyone would ever believe her story. She doesn’t know if she believes her story. And worst yet, her dog goes missing! This book is so stressful and engrossing that it was one sitting read for me. If you love horror that contains more suspense, mystery, and fear of the unknown, as opposed to blood, torture and gore, this is a great book for you.

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

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

The Devil You Know by Kit Rocha

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The Mercenary Librarians and the Silver Devils are back in The Devil You Know, the next installment of USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Kit Rocha’s post-apocalyptic Action/Romance, with hints of Orphan Black and the Avengers

Maya has had a price on her head from the day she escaped the TechCorps. Genetically engineered for genius and trained for revolution, there’s only one thing she can’t do—forget.

Gray has finally broken free of the Protectorate, but he can’t escape the time bomb in his head. His body is rejecting his modifications, and his months are numbered.

When Maya’s team uncovers an operation trading in genetically enhanced children, she’ll do anything to stop them. Even risk falling back into the hands of the TechCorps.

And Gray has found a purpose for his final days: keeping Maya safe.

I absolutely adore this series! Kit Rocha has created a thrilling and dark world for their characters to navigate through as they continue their quest to save the people around them in a post-apocalyptic Atlanta. Maya is a technological genius who has used her skills to maintain their precious Library and provide those around her with the knowledge necessary to keep the community fed and safe. Of all the Mercenary Librarians, Maya is definitely my favorite. She doesn’t have the typical super strength and fighting skills the other Librarians and Silver Devils have, but what she does have is a perfect memory and a level of empathy that makes her the perfect addition to their crew and community. She’s also a gorgeously curvy and soft heroine who finds herself obsessed with book scanners. 

Her relationship with Gray develops in such a gentle and respectful way and is at complete odds with their surroundings. They have both been treated horribly in the past, and yes, horribly is a vast understatement, but are still able to overcome that abuse to develop a true level of trust. Also, these two show us that there is nothing sexier than consent. 

The Devil You Know also gives us a truly cathartic story of a really bad guy who gets all the consequences coming their way. There is some true justice served that is incredibly satisfying. 

This fast-paced, thrilling adventure is a perfect balance of dark and light. There is a true sense of community between the Mercenary Librarians and the Silver Devils that really shines in this novel. A little something that is much needed in our current climate. 

Intrigued? Want to add this amazing series to your collection? You can find ordering information here:

Mercenary Librarians Book 1

Mercenary Librarians Book 2

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Books for the advanced copy of this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. 

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

My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

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Reader Friends, every once in a while a book comes along and kicks you in the gut. It then follows through with an uppercut to the chin, a hook to the cheek, and a kick to the rear when you finally fall to the ground. Who am I kidding, I fell after the kick to the gut. 

My Heart is a Chainsaw embodies those feelings. It sweeps you up in a story of high school angst, fueled by the misunderstood, horror-obsessed chick with a complicated homelife. It then knocks you down with the reasons for her trauma, her obsession, her need to find escape and meaning in the Final Girl phenomenon of slasher films. Just when you think you’ve had all you can take, you’re given a reason to hope. But we all know that hope is fleeting in horror films and in books. 

Jade is so close to graduating high school and moving out of her tiny town and away from her drunken father. She can smell the bus ticket that will bring stress and uncertainty for her future, but it smells better than home. But then a night goes sideways and she finds herself drifting across a haunted lake with horror films on her mind and a course set for her final destination. But that course is interrupted and she ends up in a hospital only to be spit out weeks later into the same circumstances that brought her there. Now with her town being split into two castes; the rich in Terra Nova, and the workers in the small town of Proofrock who are building the new mansions, Jade finds herself face to face with an actual Final Girl. She’s everything a Final Girl should be and Jade takes it upon herself to equip the Final Girl with all the tools and knowledge necessary to save the town of Proofrock from an angry spirit that lives in the lake and is determined to kill all that comes in her path. 

But it won’t be easy.

Oh, this book! I want to wrap Jade up and make everything better even though that’s the last thing she would want. My Heart is a Chainsaw is complicated, thrilling, and nightmare-inducing. The characters are fully fleshed out people with histories and futures and the horrors inflicted on them is a living, breathing entity. This is an absolutely terrifying novel that needs to be on every horror fan’s bookshelf. 

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy of this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

Ready to add this book to your shelf? You can find ordering information here:

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

Ghost Girl by Ally Malinenko

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Zee Puckett loves ghost stories. She just never expected to be living one.

It all starts with a dark and stormy night. When the skies clear, everything is different. People are missing. There’s a creepy new principal who seems to know everyone’s darkest dreams. And Zee is seeing frightening things: large, scary dogs that talk and maybe even . . . a ghost.

When she tells her classmates, only her best friend Elijah believes her. Worse, mean girl Nellie gives Zee a cruel nickname: Ghost Girl.

But whatever the storm washed up isn’t going away. Everyone’s most selfish wishes start coming true in creepy ways.

To fight for what’s right, Zee will have to embrace what makes her different and what makes her Ghost Girl. And all three of them—Zee, Elijah, and Nellie—will have to work together if they want to give their ghost story a happy ending.

I absolutely adore this book! Filled with delightfully spooky elements, fierce friendships, and a complicated family life, Ghost Girl is a dark adventure perfect for middle grade readers. Zee is an outsider. Picked on by the class bully Nellie, Zee spends most of her time with her best friend Elijah. Together, the two of them can overcome anything, even the strange events that seem to coincide with the arrival of their new principal, Principal Scratch. People around town are acting strangely and suddenly, the rumors about Zee’s mother having the ability to speak to ghosts don’t seem so far-fetched. As tensions increase around town, Zee and Elijah must work together with an unlikely ally to save their town from the dark and sinister Principal Scratch.

This book is very relatable to young readers. There are many different types of families and living situations represented in Ghost Girl. Zee and her sister are living on their own after their father leaves town to look for work. Elijah has a mother who is battling mental illness and a father who is constantly criticizing him and desperately wants his son to live the same the childhood fueled by football that he had. Nellie, a spoiled bully, has parents who seem to be uninterested in her and pay her little attention, but do shower her in the latest clothes and tech.

I really enjoyed the creepy school principal elements. The author has imbued Principal Scratch with all the characteristics of a shady motivational speaker who is secretly trying to take over the town. Watching the principal quickly worm his way into the hearts and minds of the members of the town was eerie and disconcerting. The entire town is filled with a weirdness that is hard to put your finger on and helps to enhance the overall haunted feel of the story.

Ghost Girl is an excellent spine-chilling read for middle grade readers. It has the right amount of spookiness to draw readers in and a fast-paced plot that will keep them engage.

Thank you so much to Katherine Tegen Books for sending me a beautiful copy of this book. All mistakes and opinions are completely my own. Interested in putting this amazing book into the hands of your favorite middle grade reader? You can find ordering information here:

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

Velvet Was The Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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Set in 1970’s Mexico City, Maite spends her days as a secretary and her evenings alone with her favorite serial romance comics. As the city becomes consumed with student protests and political unrest, Maite escapes into her romances and crafting tales of a glamourous, but non-existent, love life to regale her co-workers with. When the glamorous and beautiful Lenora moves in next door, Maite is both intrigued and extremely put out by her request to watch her cat while she’s away for a few days. When Lenora doesn’t return on time, and with Maite’s payment, Maite has no choice but to track her down and collect the money owed to her. 

What she doesn’t expect is to cross paths with a hitman who is also looking for Lenora and get drawn into the darker side of politics and dirty government officials. But Elvis isn’t just any goon, he’s a man tired of violence and wants nothing more than a life outside of crime. 

Both Elvis and Maite are complex and intriguing characters. I found Maite very hard to like which made reading her character even more enjoyable. She was prickly, obsessed with the characters in her comics, and felt she was immensely better than the people around her. She constantly lied about her personal life, had a difficult relationship with her family, and was also a petty thief who regularly stole from her neighbors. It’s very, very hard to like or relate to someone like that but I found her absolutely fascinating. Add in a mob henchman who is obsessed with Elvis Presley, rock and roll, and is an avid reader, you get a fascinating combination of characters. The mystery behind Lenora, her identity and her disappearance, was really well done and I loved how Maite’s obsession with her drove the story.   

Engrossing, thrilling, and filled with complex and interesting characters, Velvet Was The Night is a dark historical that will keep you guessing with every twist and turn.  

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. 

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

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

A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers

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I recently listened to the latest episode of Smart Podcast, Trashy Books where Becky Chambers spoke of wanting to write a book that would be like “sending a hug out into the world.” Chambers definitely delivered that warm hug with A Psalm for the Wild Built. In a world that has turned the corner from near climate devastation, a monk has found themselves wanting to make a vocational change and start a new journey as a tea monk. After a slightly rocky start, Dex becomes one of the most popular tea monks in the area. Helping people talk through their struggles and sadness, finding the perfect cup of tea to meet their needs, and traveling from town to town is both exciting and emotionally draining. When Dex begins to feel overwhelmed, they strike out on a spontaneous journey to find an old hermitage in the mountains. Along the way, they encounter a robot. A real, honest-to-goodness robot named Mosscap who has  just met his first real, honest-to-goodness human. Together, the two begin a journey that will take them into the unknown wilds of Panga, and the unknown territory of a robot and human friendship. 

This is such a lovely story set in an imaginative new world. Panga, the world’s one continent is carefully divided into areas for human living and carefully protected wildlife. Balance between the humans and the living world has been found and the people now treat their world with reverence and respect. Chambers has created a world that understands the need for tech for things like communication and data storage, and strives to learn from the devastation that an oil-fueled civilization had on the planet. 

Dex and Mosscap are wonderful and interesting characters. Together, they explore what it means to be human, what it means to evolve, and what it means to be brave. Mosscap is a gentle and enthusiastic robot who loves to learn about everything. Absolutely everything! Their fascination with Dex’s belongings and confusion about many of their actions played out in a delicate balance between child-like wonder and old-soul wisdom. Dex is an incredibly relatable  person who could be from any planet and from any time. Dex is struggling to find their place in the world, their purpose in life, and unsure of why they never feel fulfilled. 

I loved this little book and can’t wait to see what Chambers comes up with next in the series. Will there be more adventures with Dex and Mosscap? Will we get to meet other robots? Explore more of Panga? I know I’ll be watching for book 2.

If you would like to add this lovely novella to your bookshelf, you can find ordering information here: 

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

Paper & Blood by Kevin Hearne

Book 2 in the Ink & Sigil Series

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Al, Buck, and Nadia are back and this time, they are battling supernatural beings in the wildly beautiful Australia. 

When the local sigil agent goes missing in Australia, Al and Buck immediately prepare for a search and rescue mission. Armed with sigils and the sharp wit of a hobgoblin, Al and Buck find themselves embroiled in a much larger conspiracy involving the Iron Druid, a God, and finally let us in on a few secrets about our mythical monsters. 

*Spoiler!* It’s Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster! We finally get her secrets! 

Hearne has delivered another action-packed joy ride full of humor and sharp dialogue. In this latest installment, we get even more insight into the lives and lore of Celtic legends and discover that there may be more to Al’s secretary, Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite, than previously known. One thing I love about Hearne’s writing is how his characters are not annoying all-knowing creatures who can come across as talking down to readers. Al truly doesn’t know what’s going on with Gladys and the missing sigil agents' curious connections to the Iron Druid. As Al learns about the connections, the reader does as well. I dig that. 

This book is absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious. Buck is one of my favorite characters, and his ability to bring levity to some pretty dire situations was quite a feat. His love of stolen whiskey and cheese and powers of spicy peppers bring so much fun and joy to the story. I also really enjoyed how Nadia gets to showcase her amazing fighting skills and all-around kick-buttness as she helps save the day again.  Also, with Atticus entering the scene, now known as Conner, we get to spend some time with our favorite good dugs Oberon and Starbuck, and as always, they are an absolute delight.

This is a solid second book in the series and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I’m hoping Gladys is the focus of the next book but I completely understand if she remains a mystery forever. 

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

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. 

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

New Releases for August 3, 2021 plus some Freebies!

Happy New Book Day!

We did it! We made through July and so now we get to celebrate with new books! Click on the covers for more detail and ordering information.

For the Kids:

For the Adults:

Did you make it all the way to the end? Guess you wanted the Freebies!

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

A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones

Available Now!

CW: sexual assault, murder, child abduction, and death of a parent.

Reader Friends, I cannot express to you how much I love this author. I fell in love with the snark, sarcasm, and witty banter during the Charley Davidson series and stayed for the steaming hot spiciness that is the Charley and Reyes Farrow relationship. All of that deliciousness was brought back for her latest mystery series centered around Sheriff Sunshine Vicram. A Good Day For Chardonnay is book two in the series and you really should read the series in order to fully appreciate it. That said, if you haven’t read book one, start with A Bad Day for Sunshine and then meet me back here.

Between shaking off annoying suitors set up by her parents, a rascally raccoon named Randy who is terrorizing the police force, and a daughter intent on solving the murders seemingly committed by a local serial killer, Sheriff Sunshine Vicram is a bit busy. Oh, don’t forget the bar fight that nearly kills the love of her life and possibly leads to clues in a years old kidnapping case. Wait, there’s also the prisoner who claims to know what truly happened that day, years ago, when Sunshine herself was kidnapped and the true identity of her daughter’s father.

It’s a lot to take in and in true Sunshine fashion, she stumbles through it all with gallons of coffee, several glasses of chardonnay, and with the help of her loyal friends and family who she would gladly die for. Really, I think she has a t-shirt that says so.

I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment of the Sunshine Vicram mystery series. In classic Darynda Jones fashion, A Good Day for Chardonnay tackles intense crimes such as kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder with the perfect amount of levity to keep the story from going too dark. Her characters are incredibly relatable and human and you can feel the pressures they face as they try to solve crimes, raise children, and just live in the world. Sunshine is still trying to regain her memories of the time she was kidnapped at 17 and the identity of the person who rescued her. The complexity of her feelings over not remembering that experience, wanting to move on with her life and pursue a relationship with Levi, and protect her daughter from the trauma of learning she may be the child of rape really influences so many of her decisions. You can feel her frustration in wanting to move on with her life but not feeling like she can trust her judgement. But because Sunshine is a true badass, she manages to deal with all of that emotional stress while also solving major crimes and I love that Jones creates such powerful and complex female characters. One of my favorite parts of this series, and Jones’ writing, is the friendships found within the books. Sunshine and Quincy are absolute ride-or-die and their interactions made me jealous of not being in their group text.

A Good Day for Chardonnay is hilarious, heartfelt, and a delightfully witty tale of friendship, loyalty, and the lengths people will go to find justice for those they love. I cannot recommend this series enough and if you would like to dive into this amazing series, you can find ordering information here:

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

New Releases for July 27, 2021 and some Freebies!

Happy New Book Day!

Here’s a round-up of today’s new releases. Click on the covers for more detail and ordering information. This post contains affiliate links and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

For the Kids:

For the Adults:

You made it this far, here’s some free ebooks!

The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig

Available Now

The Book of Accidents is one of the creepiest, thrilling, and twisted novels I’ve read in quite some time. After the death of his abusive father, Nate and his family see inheriting the house in the country as a fresh start, be it very reluctantly on Nate’s part. As his wife Maddie settles into her new space with grand plans for an art studio, flashes from her past intertwine with disturbing occurrences that leave her unsettled and questioning her own sanity. Their son Oliver, sensitive and strongly empathetic to those around him, finally finds a group of friends at his new high school, only to find himself the focus of the school bully. When Oliver is saved from a violent encounter by a dark and disturbing teen named Jake, Oliver finds the two of them beginning an unsettling but close friendship. Meanwhile, Nate is encountering his own mysterious events out in the woods as the newest game warden. 

As the family tries to settle new roots, a dark force that has plagued the area for years has settled on them to be it’s latest victims and will stop at nothing to get what it wants. 

Wendig has crafted an intricate story that delves into the darkest traumas of its characters, while also remaining hopeful about the power of love. The Book of Accidents combines the very best of horror: the dark history of an abusive family, a mysterious power intent on domination, characters with strange and unexplained powers, and a magical book. Oh, how I love a magical book that can threaten all of mankind. Wendig’s masterful writing seamlessly blends horror, science fiction, and fantastical elements into a layered and complex story that will pull you in and keep you immersed until the very last page. 

I absolutely loved this book and went on to rave shamelessly about it to all that would listen. This should be on the radar for all horror and science fiction lovers.

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

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. 

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

New Releases and more for July 19, 2021

Happy New Book Day!

Here’s a round-up of today’s new releases. Click on the covers for more book detail and ordering information.

For the Kids:

For the Adults:

Here’s some freebies!

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

Neon Gods by Katee Robert

Available now

I vividly remember checking out the same books on greek mythology over and over again from my local library when I was finally old enough to walk there on my own. They were small blue hardcovers and contained the basic stories of all the gods and goddesses and I was hooked. I have read some great retellings, Alisha Rai wrote a great one, and I was intrigued to see what Katee Robert’s take on the Hades and Persephone story. Especially a take that includes a wealth of rich people problems. 

The city of Olympus, divided into the upper and lower city by the River Styx, is ruled by the Thirteen. Thirteen Gods and Goddesses, titles given through birth or election, who control the economic interests and laws of Olympus. The Thirteen revel in their wealth and power and most are willing to go to any lengths to increase that power. When Persephone Dimitrou, daughter of Demeter, is engaged against her will to the known wife-killer Zeus, she flees the glamorous party on foot. Discovering she is being followed, she kicks off her heels and flees for her life. Crossing the River Styx places her in Hades’ territory but as he is nothing more than a myth, Persephone takes her chances in the lower city. 

The last thing that Persephone expected to find was a large, growling, incredibly handsome man intent on carrying her to safety and bandaging her feet himself. The man who should be nothing more than a myth, is now her best chance for survival and way out of Olympus for good. Hades sees Persephone as the perfect weapon to exact revenge against Zeus for killing his father decades before. Together, Hades and Perspehone develop a plan that will benefit them both: a very public and sex-driven fake-dating scheme to show the Thirteen that Persephone now belongs to Hades. 

As the two plot their scheme, ripples begin to form in the powerful connections between the Thirteen and the citizens who fall under their rule. When Demeter threatens to cut off supplies to the lower city, Hades must do all he can to protect his people. The harder he works to protect those around him, the more Persephone discovers that he is much more than the intimidating and ruthless gangster that so many make him out to be. Hades exposes Persephone to more than just life in the lower city, he also shows her the powerful attraction of unbridled passion and public erotic play. 

Robert created an intriguing world for the Thirteen to rule. To me, it felt like a take on Gotham City. There are the exclusive and wealthy high rises filled with penthouse suites and security details, but also high levels of crime and tensions between the areas governed by different gods. Persephone grows up believing the lower city is somehow more crime ridden and depressed than it actually is. She is shocked to find something that feels far more like an idyllic small town filled with small shops and cafes. There is a sense of underlying magic in both parts of the city. There is a force within the River Styx that prevents unwilling crossing and many of the buildings have a distinct sense of history and age with them, but people also have cell phones and credit cards that can be frozen. There’s a lot of discussion about trust funds and high end fashion, but also Hermes is able to perfectly mimic the voices of the people she carries messages for. It’s very interesting how the author blends the mythology with the present day and I’m curious to see how the series plays out in the future. 

This is my first Katee Robert romance so I’m far from an expert on how Neon Gods lands on her steam scale. This is definitely a hot and highly erotic romance.  Hades loves kink and loves public displays of sex. When he discovers that Persephone intends to use that to her advantage, he takes great care to introduce her to the rules and expectations that level of kink comes with. It doesn’t take long for the two to genuinely fall for eachother, and they fall hard. 

There is a great cast of side characters that I hope will all have their own books. It was really fun to watch grumpy Hades clean up after the hard partying of Hermes and Dionysus. Hades doesn’t want friends, or the responsibility of having friends, but Hermes and Dionysus don’t seem to care. They are going to be there whether he wants them or not. Persephone’s sisters are all distinct forces on her life and they’re hatred of the Thirteen should make for some interesting plot lines in the future. 

Overall, this is one great book! I plowed through this in a day and loved every minute of it. It’s fast paced, very steamy, and has great characters. I loved watching Persephone and Hades fall in love and I can’t wait to see what happens next. 

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

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