“A puppet is a possession that possesses the possessor”
Hendrix has done it again, y’all! How to sell a Haunted house is everything I never knew I needed in a horror book, and *spoiler alert* it’s not actually about a haunted house. I mean kind of, but it’s so much deeper than that. The puppets sucked me in, and the wild ass family drama kept me going.
When Mark and Louise’s parents unexpectedly pass away in a car accident Louise comes home to South Carolina to help her brother with the arrangements. Mark and Louise have never been close, their strained relationship made worse by the reading of their parents will. The drama unfolds as we learn that Louise gets her moms prized art collection (haunted puppets included) and Mark gets everything else. Everything. As Louise starts clearing her moms art collection from the house scary things start happening….and only get worse. Mark and Louise have to work together to not only clean out and sell the house, but try to stay alive while doing it.
Hendrix’s campy style never gets old to me, and I absolutely love how the book is sectioned by the stages of grief. It was a perfect added touch! I found myself invested in the family dynamics and fell in love with every character. Even Pupkin. I finished this book in one day and as soon as I closed it I wished I could read it again for the first time.
This book made me laugh AND cry. I really loved it, and I will always recommend it!
It’s the LAST day of my NetGalley series, and I CAN NOT wait to share this book with you! Today we’re going to talk about Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates. Gallows Hill is a gothic, paranormal, psychological ride, and I want on! I love a good coming home story, and this one sounds delicious!
DAY 5
Gallows Hill
Description
Darcy Coates brings you a brand-new horror novel that’ll take your breath away… Gallows Hill is: Perfect for fans of Jennifer McMahon and Simone St. James For lovers of ghost stories and anyone mesmerized by the twisted secrets of the past
The Hull family has owned the Gallows Hill Winery for generations, living and working on the beautiful grounds where they grow their famous grapes. Until the night Mr. and Mrs. Hull settle down for the evening…and are dead by morning.
When their daughter, Margot, inherits the family business, she wants nothing to do with it. The winery is valued for its unparalleled produce, but it’s built on a field where hundreds of convicts were once hanged, and the locals whisper morbid rumors. They say the ground is cursed.
It’s been more than a decade since Margot last saw her childhood home. But now that she’s alone in the sprawling, dilapidated building, she begins to believe the curse is more than real-and that she may be the next victim of the house that never rests…
All the vibes with this one! I love a good paranormal mystery. I haven’t read any books by this author yet, this will be my first, and I can’t wait to devour it!
Also By Darcy Coates: The Haunting of Leigh Harker From Below The Whispering Dead The Haunting of Ashburn House The Haunting of Blackwood House Craven Manor The House Next Door Voices in the Snow
Hey friends! It’s day 4 of what’s on my NetGalley shelf, highlighting 5 books in 5 days!
First, I just want to say that a NetGalley decline of one of my most anticipated books this year has led me to this book! If you’re new to NetGalley, let me leave you with this one nugget of invaluable advice-Always read your NetGalley emails! Whether it’s an approval or denial-it might lead you straight to your next favorite book!
DAY 4
The Ghosts of Paris
Description
A thrilling tale of courage and secrets set in postwar London and Paris, in which a search for a missing husband puts investigator and former war reporter Billie Walker on a collision course with an underground network of Nazi criminals
It’s 1947. The world continues to grapple with the fallout of the Second World War, and former war reporter Billie Walker is finding her feet as an investigator. When a wealthy client hires Billie and her assistant Sam to track down her missing husband, the trail leads Billie back to London and Paris, where Billie’s own painful memories also lurk. Jack Rake, Billie’s wartime lover and, briefly, husband, is just one of the millions of people who went missing in Europe during the war. What was his fate after they left Paris together?
As Billie’s search for her client’s husband takes her to both the swanky bars at Paris’s famous Ritz hotel and to the dank basements of the infamous Paris morgue, she’ll need to keep her gun at the ready, because something even more terrible than a few painful memories might be following her around the city of lights . . .
THIS COVER IS EVERYTHING. I mean how glamorous; I love all the details! Day 4 and I’m 4 for 4 on covers that I absolutely adore!
I don’t usually read historical fiction, but I fell for Billie Walker so hard you guys! It was love at first sentence. I’m a sucker for a strong woman, and I have to meet her! The Ghosts of Paris is the second Billie Walker novel, the first being “The War Widow”, which, by the reviews is CLEARLY a book I need to put on my TBR!
The Ghosts of Paris comes out on June 7, 2022 -go put it on your TBR!
Hi, hey friends! I’m baacckkkkk with what’s on my NetGalley shelf- highlighting 5 books in 5 days.
Today I want to talk about The Wilderwomen by Ruth Emmie Lang. If you know me you know I’m a HUGE sucker for a strong female protagonist, and this book is IT! I love when I meet a cast of characters that I know I will never forget, and I have a feeling I’m going to find that in this book. Adventure, mystery, and magical realism with some sci-fi peppered in. LETS GO!
DAY 3
The Wilderwomen
Description
Ohioana Book Award finalist Ruth Emmie Lang returns with a new cast of ordinary characters with extraordinary abilities in The Wilderwomen.
Five years ago, Nora Wilder disappeared. The older of her two daughters, Zadie, should have seen it coming, because she can literally see things coming. But not even her psychic abilities were able to prevent their mother from vanishing one morning.
Zadie’s estranged younger sister, Finn, can’t see into the future, but she has an uncannily good memory, so good that she remembers not only her own memories, but the echoes of memories other people have left behind. On the afternoon of her graduation party, Finn is seized by an “echo” more powerful than anything she’s experienced before: a woman singing a song she recognizes, a song about a bird…
When Finn wakes up alone in an aviary with no idea of how she got there, she realizes who the memory belongs to: Nora.
Now, it’s up to Finn to convince her sister that not only is their mom still out there, but that she wants to be found. Against Zadie’s better judgement, she and Finn hit the highway, using Finn’s echoes to retrace Nora’s footsteps and uncover the answer to the question that has been haunting them for years: Why did she leave?
But the more time Finn spends in their mother’s past, the harder it is for her to return to the present, to return to herself. As Zadie feels her sister start to slip away, she will have to decide what lengths she is willing to go to find their mother, knowing that if she chooses wrong, she could lose them both for good.
First of all, I want to take a second to just appreciate that gorgeous COVER ART! I’ve loved the cover of every book I’ve shared so far- My toxic trait is that I choose my books by the cover, and my wine by the label!
The Wilderwomen is Ruth Emmie Lang’s second book, her first being “Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance” which was published in 2017 and was Target Book Club’s pick of December 2018!
I’m highlighting 5 books in 5 days, and I’m back for day 2! Today we’re going to talk about a YA thriller from one of my FAVORITES- Courtney Summers!
Courtney Summers has written quite a few YA thriller/mysteries, a few of my favorites being “Sadie” and “Cracked up to Be”. Summers has a unique voice in the YA world- Her books are always thrilling and ALWAYS have me on edge, so I was PUMPED when I got an approval for this book!
Sidenote- Let’s talk about this beautiful cover! it’s perfect!
DAY 2
I’m the Girl
Description
When sixteen-year-old Georgia Avis discovers the dead body of thirteen-year-old Ashley James, she teams up with Ashley’s older sister, Nora, to find and bring the killer to justice before he strikes again. But their investigation throws Georgia into a world of unimaginable privilege and wealth, without conscience or consequence, and as Ashley’s killer closes in, Georgia will discover when money, power and beauty rule, it might not be a matter of who is guilty—but who is guiltiest.
A spiritual successor to the breakout hit Sadie, I’m the Girl is a bold and masterfully written account of how one young woman feels in her body as she struggles to navigate a deadly and predatory power structure while asking readers one question: if this is the way the world is, do you accept it?
I’m the Girl checks all of my thriller-bingeable-read boxes, and I can’t wait to start it! All 5 books highlighted on my blog this week will have reviews up this month, so watch this space, you might find your next favorite book!
I have 5 books on my NetGalley shelf, and I want to talk about ALL of them so I’m sharing one book from my shelf every day for 5 days. I can’t squeeze them all into one post, so here I am, making a NetGalley series!
I’ve been reviewing on NetGalley for a few years now, and I’ve met a lot of really great books there! They make it easy for us reviewers to support the authors we love- and share the books we love!
If you’re new to book reviewing, you should stop reading this and go get a NetGalley account- It’s easy, and free! Right now, I have 5 books on my shelf, and I’m excited about ALL OF THEM!
I only request books I REALLY feel like I would be interested in, so when I get approved, I’m always SO stoked, and when I get declined it’s a huge bummer. My toxic trait is buying all the books I get declined for….so that’s been working out for me!
DAY ONE
All Good People Here
Description
In the propulsive debut novel from the host of the #1 true crime podcast Crime Junkie, a journalist uncovers her hometown’s dark secrets when she becomes obsessed with the unsolved murder of her childhood neighbor—and the disappearance of another girl twenty years later.
You can’t ever know for sure what happens behind closed doors.
Everyone from Wakarusa, Indiana, remembers the infamous case of January Jacobs, who was discovered in a ditch hours after her family awoke to find her gone. Margot Davies was six at the time, the same age as January—and they were next-door neighbors. In the twenty years since, Margot has grown up, moved away, and become a big-city journalist. But she’s always been haunted by the feeling that it could’ve been her. And the worst part is, January’s killer has never been brought to justice.
When Margot returns home to help care for her uncle after he is diagnosed with early-onset dementia, she feels like she’s walked into a time capsule. Wakarusa is exactly how she remembers—genial, stifled, secretive. Then news breaks about five-year-old Natalie Clark from the next town over, who’s gone missing under circumstances eerily similar to January’s. With all the old feelings rushing back, Margot vows to find Natalie and to solve January’s murder once and for all.
But the police, Natalie’s family, the townspeople—they all seem to be hiding something. And the deeper Margot digs into Natalie’s disappearance, the more resistance she encounters, and the colder January’s case feels. Could January’s killer still be out there? Is it the same person who took Natalie? And what will it cost to finally discover what truly happened that night twenty years ago?
Twisty, chilling, and intense, All Good People Here is a searing tale that asks: What are your neighbors capable of when they think no one is watching?
I am a HUGE Crime Junkie fan, so when I heard that Ashley Flowers herself was writing a book, YOU GUYS, I HOPPED ON IT SO FAST! I’m starting this book today, and I can’t wait to share my review with you all when I’m finished!
All Good People Here comes out on August 16th so mark your calendars and set your alarms! If you’re into murder-mystery, small town-who done it, coming home stories, you won’t want to miss this book.
Happy Monday my bookish fam! Today I want to talk about how much I love Netgalley. Do you use Netgalley, Edelweiss, Booksirens, or any other platform to request ARC’s? I have used all listed above, and Netgalley is by far my favorite place to find new and exciting upcoming releases.
Netgalley helps authors and publishers promote their books by providing digital copies and audiobooks to to their community to request & review before they are published. They make it possible for avid readers like you and me to share their books with our audience, and help promote and share the books we love! And it’s all free!
Some of the things I love about Netgalley
BADGES- One of my favorite things about Netgalley is the badges that you can earn! I know, it might sound silly, but it gives me a sense of accomplishment when I earn a new badge, and I love showing them off on all of my social media outlets.
NETGALLEY INTERNATIONAL- Another thing that is really cool, is that not only can you request books from US publishers and authors, they allow you to request from international publishers/authors as well. One of my favorite places on the Netgalley site is the UK section. I LOVE British literature.
REMINDERS- One of the things I truly appreciate about Netgally is that they remind me whenever a book that I have reviewed has been published, and they also include links to post the review on the Barnes & Noble website, and Amazon. I have a tendency to forget about PUB days, so I love this a lot. Sometimes it’s the little things, am I right?
AUDIOBOOKS- Audiobooks are a fairly new addition to Netgalley. I love audiobooks, and I am so excited to use this feature. Although I always have my nose in a book, I am excited to be able to listen to the audiobooks I request whenever i’m not nose deep in my current read.
APP- I recently downloaded the Netgalley Shelf app for iOS, and It was a definite game changer for me. Now I can easily see the books on my shelf, and I don’t have to wait for that approval/denial email ding, I can just check the app. ALSO, another awesome app feature, is that you can download your digital books right onto your device from your app. You know, in case you dont have your kindle with you. They make it SO EASY!
FEEDBACK RATIO- One important thing I’m going to mention is the feedback ratio portion of your profile. While Netgalley is free, and you are free to request 1,000 titles if you feel the mood strike you, one thing you really have to pay attention to is your feedback ratio. The suggested feedback ratio is 80%. Basically the publishers want to know that they can depend on you for an honest meaningful review of the book they are planning on sending over. Reader reviews are the most important part of Netgalley in my opinion. Our reviews help the books we love be SEEN, shared and most importantly purchased on their book birthdays!
I really enjoy being able to recommend the books I love with my audience, and sharing in the hype when a really great book comes along! So friends, if you are an avid reader, and would love to get your hands on copies of some of your favorite author’s books before they are published, I HIGHLY recommend you give Netgalley a test-drive……and let me know what you think!
Hello Friends! It’s Monday, and I know Mondays are tough! If you, like me have spent the last few days at home trying to avoid every other living person on planet earth, I KNOW you are getting some serious cabin fever! I am with you, friends!
Today I am going to shine a spotlight on Lisa Matthews’ DEBUT novel, Death by Curiosity, which is one of my favorite reads this year! If you are into magical realism, witches, cults and enjoy a good mystery with fun characters, you have to pick up this book! Death by Curiosity is the first book in the Armitage Black series, and GOOD NEWS- the sequel will be released next year!!! EEK!
Lisa Matthews is not only an amazing storyteller, she is a lovely person that I always look forward to talking to, so I’m really excited to share my interview with all of you!
Everyone knows that witches aren’t real. And yet when the sleepy village of Habely is rocked by a series of bizarre murders and James Pettyfer is arrested after being caught whilst disposing of the bodies, he claims that he was made to do it by Elodia Knight – a lady who’s capable of magic and can get into other people’s souls.
Armitage Black is a very relatable, witty protagonist. She is a police typist that will stop at nothing to solve the mystery of the dead bodies that keep appearing in the woods of her sleepy town. Elodia Knight is a local witch with a devious plan, AND a coven of people who worship her, and stop at nothing to see her plan through.
I enjoyed this book, and what I enjoyed most was the witty banter between Armitage and, well everyone. I related to Armitage, she was a very real protagonist that had me laughing out loud several times throughout the book.
I am giving this book a solid 4 stars. It had a strong premise and a fun story. At some points during the book I felt overwhelmed with detail, and to get through a scene sometimes took paragraphs and paragraphs of detail, which wore me out a bit. The magical realism in the book fell flat for me, but I don’t think that took away from the story.
This is a solid mystery with a great cast of relatable characters, and I will definitely be reading the next installment in the Armitage Black series!
SO, lets talk about your debut novel, “Death by Curiosity”, the first book in the Armitage Black series. I just recently finished it, and it was a fun read! I like the way Armitage’s character developed throughout the book. Where did you get your inspiration for her character?Believe it or not, Armitage was actually inspired by Sherlock Holmes! I have to admit, I’ve never read any of the actual books – not for lack of trying – but I absolutely loved the first Robert Downey Jr film and the modern show starring Benedict Cumberbatch. I remember watching both and thinking how much I’d love to write something like that. I had a vague idea about what I wanted to write for a few years, but it wasn’t until I started working in the Typing Pool for my local Police Force that I realised how Armitage would find a way in to the case – I’m not sure Armitage would’ve had her story told if it wasn’t for that job! This is your debut novel, which blew my mind, because it was so well written, and so incredibly witty! At times I was laughing out loud! How did writing/publishing your first book change your writing process?Thank you very much! I’m really glad you enjoyed it 🙂 I actually wrote the book about eight years ago now, and this has been its third (and final) rewrite. I think my own life experiences have helped in reshaping Armitage – I’ve grown up a lot since the first version – but I also think it helped to really know the characters. I’ve hand-written three sequels so far, which has allowed more development of the characters, and Armitage & Co have been in my life for so long that I know how each of them would act and react much more now than I did when I first started writing about them. I loved the supernatural realism in Death by Curiosity, and let’s be honest, witches and cults make fun reading too! Do you live in an area with a lit of witchcraft history, or is that just something you are interested in? What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?Unfortunately, I don’t! The nearest place with a supernatural history is Whitby, which is much more about Dracula than witches. I’ve tried a few stories about witches over the years, but this is the first one that really found its way. One of the things I really enjoyed about writing the book was that I didn’t have to do any research whatsoever – I spent most of my teenage years writing about twins who were the Presidents’ kids, so that took a lot of Googling about High School grades and American politics. Because Habely and the surrounding areas are only based on my own home town and region, and because of the witch element, it was such a breath of fresh air to just get stuck in and write whatever I wanted to.
Let’s be honest here, Armitage is kind of a badass, and so is Elodia Knight! How did you select the names of your characters? I love books that have characters with unique names, and I have always been curious about how authors choose the names of their characters! You should see the list of original names I have in the notebook I first wrote Armitage in! I always wanted Armitage to have a unique name, primarily because who she was inspired by. She was originally going to be called Fallon Blackwood, but I can’t say I was every in love with the name. As soon as I stumbled upon the name Armitage, I knew that was the right choice for her. Elodia Knight was much easier – I wanted something that sounded vaguely witchy, and the name just popped into my head. To this day, I have no idea where I got Elodia from – but I think it suits her down to a T. Hadaway was actually the hardest character to find a name for – I have two long lists of names just for him!
Death by Curiosity is a fast paced, fun mystery and I loved every scene! Was there anything that you chose to edit out of the book? Yes, I took loads out this time. In the previous versions, there was a lot of Armitage arguing with herself about Hadaway, and I realised that that was telling more than showing – so I took all of that out and tried to make it more subtle. I moved a couple of scenes around and took a whole scene out, because it didn’t add anything to the story. Luckily for me, I absolutely love editing 🙂 I would think that the magical realism would be a hard thing to write about in a believable way, but you smashed it! What was the hardest scene in the book to write?The fight scenes are always hard to write; I’m not a natural action writer, but I knew that there had to be some scraps in there. I constantly question myself as well, asking myself if what I’m writing is believable in terms of Police procedure – but where it isn’t, I’d like to go ahead and claim poetic license 🙂 Armitage is getting a sequel soon, and I am SO EXCITED about it! How many books do you predict will be in the series, and can you give us an idea of what Armitage will be up to in the next book?Thank you! I’m really excited too 🙂 there will be ten books in Armitage’s series – the first four are already written, and I’m typing up the second book at every chance I can (although admittedly I’ve been distracted by wedding planning over the last couple of weeks). I’m really nervous about the next one – I know I struggled with the handwritten version, so I’m putting a lot of pressure on myself to get it right. I know there’s a lot of waffle in there that needs to come out, so I’m also really excited to see how it turns out. The supernatural realism will continue, but this time it’s a demon instead of a witch. (If it sounds a bit out-there, bear with and all will be revealed.) Hadaway’s got a temporary promotion in this book, and he’s determined that Armitage won’t get any chances to get herself involved in this case. You also get to meet Armitage’s older sister, Coveney, who’ll cause a bit of chaos of her own. After reading Death by Curiosity, and it being your debut novel, it is clear that you have amazing talent when it comes to storytelling. have you always wanted to be a writer?Thank you, that’s really kind! I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember – I’ve always wanted to see my name on the front cover of a book. I wrote my first short story when I was about seven or eight (in bright red Jokerman font on the first computer we had), and I was writing from being ten – mainly the Presidents’ twins mentioned above, but also a few stories that didn’t get past the first chapter. I came up with plenty of ideas as a teenager that I still remember, and I’m planning to revisit them some day. What advice would you give the Lisa that is just beginning her writing journey, and have you gotten any good advice from any other authors along the way?The biggest surprise I got with Armitage – and the thing I enjoyed the most when I was handwriting the first draft – was that the story went in a totally different direction than I originally meant it to. So I guess my advice would be to not put pressure on yourself – just put pen to paper and let it flow, and let yourself enjoy it. Also to develop your own cures to Writers’ Block; it’s going to happen, and everyone’s got their own way through it – what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. And last but not least, the question I ask every author I interview, What is your favorite under-appreciated novel?Oooo, good question! I don’t know if it’s under-appreciated, but I’m the only person I know who’s read it – so I’m going to say Marley & Me. I absolutely love it, and it’s even better than the film – it’s got more stories than those that made it into the movie. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll coo over the pictures. It’s really well-written, and I never get tired of reading it.
Amazon first reads is pretty awesome. If you are an Amazon Prime member you have early access to editors picks, one FREE kindle book each month (Chosen from a selection of books each month) and you can shop select print editions for $9.99 or less in participating months.
ANYWAY, I wanted to share with you my February pick! I’m pretty excited about this one, and after reading a few contemporary YA books recently, I am SO READY for a good thriller.
DRUMROLL PLEASEEEEEEE- I present to you, my February pick, “A Killer’s Wife” By Victor Methos.
From the bestselling author of The Neon Lawyer comes a gripping thriller about a prosecutor confronted with the darkest part of her past and the worst fears for her future…
Fourteen years ago, prosecutor Jessica Yardley’s husband went to prison for a series of brutal murders. She’s finally created a life with her daughter and is a well-respected attorney. She’s moving on. But when a new rash of homicides have her ex-husband, Eddie, written all over them—the nightmares of her past come back to life.
The FBI asks Jessica to get involved in the hunt for this copycat killer—which means visiting her ex and collaborating with the man who tore her life apart.
As the copycat’s motives become clearer, the new life Jessica created for herself gets darker. She must ask herself who she can trust and if she’s capable of stopping the killer—a man whose every crime is a bloody valentine from a twisted mastermind she’s afraid she may never escape.
Okay, Yes, yes and yes. I am all for a good thriller. This book has great reviews on Goodreads, and sounds absolutely delicious. Have you read A Killers Wife? Let me know!!
There are quite a few new and exciting books on the horizon, friends! These are the ones that I am most excited about. Check them out, and get excited with me!
Enter The Aardvark
Only one thing stands between Alexander Paine Wilson and his destiny… and it has long ears, spoon-like claws and a tubular snout.
Republican congressman Alexander Paine Wilson is determined that nothing will stop him in his campaign for re-election. Not the fact that he is a bachelor, not the fact that his main adversary Nancy Beavers – married, with children – is rising in the polls. Nothing. That is, until one hot day in August, he receives a large parcel via FedEx. Inside is a gigantic taxidermied aardvark.
This aardvark has a surprising history – from the Victorian naturalist who discovered it to the taxidermist who deemed it his finest creation. But for Wilson, the entrance of the aardvark sets off a chain of events that threaten to ruin his entire career.
Constantly surprising, brilliantly comic and piquantly provocative, Enter the Aardvark is a tale for our times, a biting satire with a tender underbelly.
Political satire, a taxidermy, and mystery? what more could you ask for? This synopsis reeled me right in, and I can not wait to devour this comical morsel! Enter the Aardvark will be published March 24, 2020, and you can pre-order it here-
A spellbinding story of a mother with nothing left to lose who sets out on an all-consuming quest for justice after her daughter is murdered on the town playground.
Sometimes the answers are worse than the questions. Sometimes it’s better not to know.
Set in the poorest part of the Missouri Ozarks, in a small town with big secrets, The Familiar Dark opens with a murder. Eve Taggert, desperate with grief over losing her daughter, takes it upon herself to find out the truth about what happened. Eve is no stranger to the dark side of life, having been raised by a hard-edged mother whose lessons Eve tried not to pass on to her own daughter. But Eve may need her mother’s cruel brand of strength if she’s going to face the reality about her daughter’s death and about her own true nature. Her quest for justice takes her from the seedy underbelly of town to the quiet woods and, most frighteningly, back to her mother’s trailer for a final lesson.
The Familiar Dark is a story about the bonds of family–women doing the best they can for their daughters in dire circumstances–as well as a story about how even the darkest and most terrifying of places can provide the comfort of home.
If you know me, you know I am ALL IN when it comes to a good atmospheric thriller! I am digging the creepy feel of this book, and I have to admit, it is one of my worst nightmares as a mom to think about things like this! On of the things I am loving about this book is the strong female protagonist. I have been looking for a book with a strong female character, and this is the one I am most excited about! The familiar dark will be published on March 3, 2020, and is available for pre-order here-
The first novel written for an adult audience by the mega-selling author of the Divergent franchise: five twenty-something heroes famous for saving the world when they were teenagers must face even greater demons—and reconsider what it means to be a hero . . . by destiny or by choice.
A decade ago near Chicago, five teenagers defeated the otherworldly enemy known as the Dark One, whose reign of terror brought widespread destruction and death. The seemingly un-extraordinary teens—Sloane, Matt, Ines, Albie, and Esther—had been brought together by a clandestine government agency because one of them was fated to be the “Chosen One,” prophesized to save the world. With the goal achieved, humankind celebrated the victors and began to mourn their lost loved ones.
Ten years later, though the champions remain celebrities, the world has moved forward and a whole, younger generation doesn’t seem to recall the days of endless fear. But Sloane remembers. It’s impossible for her to forget when the paparazzi haunt her every step just as the Dark One still haunts her dreams. Unlike everyone else, she hasn’t moved on; she’s adrift—no direction, no goals, no purpose. On the eve of the Ten Year Celebration of Peace, a new trauma hits the Chosen: the death of one of their own. And when they gather for the funeral at the enshrined site of their triumph, they discover to their horror that the Dark One’s reign never really ended.
Veronica Roth’s first adult fantasy novel…..FIRST OF ALL, YES, and SECOND, pick me up off the floor, I’m so excited about this. The trend of YA authors branching out into the adult genre is everything. I love everything about the premise of this book, and YET AGAIN, a strong female protagonist. BRING IT TO ME! Chosen ones will be published on April 7, 2020 and is available for pre-order here-
weetbitter meets The Firm in this buzzy, page-turning debut novel—already optioned to Netflix—about sex and power in the halls of corporate America.
Alex Vogel has always been a high achiever who lived her life by the book—star student and athlete in high school, prelaw whiz in college, Harvard Law School degree. Accepting a dream offer at the prestigious Manhattan law firm of Klasko & Fitch, she promises her sweet and supportive longtime boyfriend that the job won’t change her. Yet Alex is seduced by the firm’s money and energy . . . and by her cocksure male colleagues, who quickly take notice of the new girl. She’s never felt so confident and powerful—even the innuendo-laced banter with clients feels fun. In the firm’s most profitable and competitive division, Mergers and Acquisitions, Alex works around the clock, racking up billable hours and entertaining clients late into the evening. While the job is punishing, it has its perks, like a weekend trip to Miami, a ride in a client’s private jet, and more expense-account meals than she can count.
But as her clients’ expectations and demands on her increase, and Alex finds herself magnetically drawn to a handsome coworker despite her loving relationship at home, she begins to question everything—including herself. She knows the corporate world isn’t black and white, and that to reach the top means playing by different rules. But who made those rules? And what if the system rigged so that women can’t win, anyway?
When something happens that reveals the dark reality of the firm, Alex comes to understand the ways women like her are told—explicitly and implicitly—how they need to behave to succeed in the workplace. Now, she can no longer stand by silently—even if doing what’s right means putting everything on the line to expose the shocking truth.
Gather round children, have a seat, and lets talk about YET ANOTHER strong female character. I am starting to see a trend here, and I LOVE IT! The Boys’ Club is Erica Katz’ debut novel, and if the amazing, smart, synopsis doesnt make you want to RUN out and pre-order this book, I am positive this will…..Drumroll please……Netflix has aquired the screen rights to this book! SOOOO now you can not only binge the book, but the Movie too! YAAASSSSSS! The Boys’ Club will be published on August 4, 2020 and is available for pre-order here-
Written with the haunting emotional power of Elizabeth Strout and Barbara Kingsolver, an astonishing debut novel that explores the lingering effects of a brutal crime on the women of one small Texas oil town in the 1970s.
Mercy is hard in a place like this . . .
It’s February 1976, and Odessa, Texas, stands on the cusp of the next great oil boom. While the town’s men embrace the coming prosperity, its women intimately know and fear the violence that always seems to follow.
In the early hours of the morning after Valentine’s Day, fourteen-year-old Gloria Ramírez appears on the front porch of Mary Rose Whitehead’s ranch house, broken and barely alive. The teenager had been viciously attacked in a nearby oil field—an act of brutality that is tried in the churches and barrooms of Odessa before it can reach a court of law. When justice is evasive, one of the town’s women decides to take matters into her own hands, setting the stage for a showdown with potentially devastating consequences.
Valentine is a haunting exploration of the intersections of violence and race, class and region in a story that plumbs the depths of darkness and fear, yet offers a window into beauty and hope. Told through the alternating points of view of indelible characters who burrow deep in the reader’s heart, this fierce, unflinching, darkly funny, and surprisingly tender novel illuminates women’s strength and vulnerability, and reminds us that it is the stories we tell ourselves that keep us alive.
This is probably one of the books I am MOST excited about. The town of Odessa, Texas is close to my heart, and it is always exciting to read a book that is set somewhere familiar. The oilfield can be a crazy, scary, exciting place! The premise of this story is heartbreaking and raw, and I am excited to meet yet again, another strong, smart female protagonist. Valentine will be published on April 7, 2020, and is available for pre-order here-
Many thanks to Netgalley and Buzzbooks 2020 for sharing these wonderful books, and giving me the opportunity to preview them, and share them with all of you! Let me know if you read them, and what you think about them!
The Literary Wife 