Feed Your TBR - The Mean Ones

 

Can't Wait Wednesday, which I have adapted to better suit my blog as "Feed Your TBR" is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

September 1, 2025

FROM GOODREADS: So what if Sadie hears talking dead animals and a strange, comforting male voice in her head? The therapist insists these are just symptoms of PTSD. It makes sense considering that she hid under the bed and watched as her best friends were slaughtered.

But the murders were seventeen years ago, back when her name was Sabrina. Now, she’s Sadie: a perfectly normal 29-year-old. She works as a physical therapist assistant and lifts weights with her boyfriend, Lucas, who’s the sweetest, most considerate man—as long as he’s not angry. But when Lucas spontaneously agrees to join a couple's trip to a cabin in the woods, the visions get worse, a strange figure stalks her during the night, and that male voice in Sadie’s head keeps calling, asking her to do things she’s never fathomed.

Sadie’s not sure if it’s her paranoia or something else entirely . . . But she is sure of one thing—this time, she’s not going to sit idly by as everything starts to unravel.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I honestly wasn't going to feature another horror this week but when I saw this cover, that notion was sunk.  I need to know what dead animals Sadie hears in her head and I need to see something bad happen to Lucas.

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Dead Beat (Dresden Files #7)

 

I am happy to say I am stilling marching along reading the Dresden Files series.  Sometimes I end up leaving the book until the end of the month which means they run into the next month, but it is what it is.  I need to start them earlier.  But Dresden, as much as I love him, can be exhausting so once I finish a book, I usually need a few weeks before diving back in.  So read on for my thoughts about book seven and then hop over to Stormi's to see her thoughts.  

 

TITLE: Dead Beat (Dresden Files #7)

AUTHOR: Jim Butcher

PUBLISHER: Ace

PUBLISHING DATE: May 3, 2005

PAGES: 528   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Meet Harry Dresden, Chicago's first (and only) Wizard P.I. Turns out the 'everyday' world is full of strange and magical things - and most of them don't play well with humans. 

That's where Harry comes in. Luckily, however, he's not alone. Although most people don't believe in magic, the Chicago P.D. has a Special Investigations department, headed by his good friend Karrin Murphy. They deal with the . . . stranger cases. It's down to Karrin that Harry sneaks into Graceland Cemetery to meet a vampire named Mavra. Mavra has evidence that would destroy Karrin's career, and her demands are simple. She wants the Word of Kemmler - and all the power that comes with it. But first, Harry's keen to know what he'd be handing over. Before long he's racing against time, and six necromancers, to get the Word. And to prevent a Halloween that would truly wake the dead. 

Magic - it can get a guy killed.

MY THOUGHTS: While I am really enjoying reading this series, I have to admit, I sometimes wonder how much more Harry can take (spoiler alert - apparently a lot as there are close to 20 books in the series to date). 

In this installment, necromancers have invaded Chicago and are trying to find an old book which will enable them to assume complete power over the city and wipe out tons of people in the process. In addition, the vampires are after Harry because they also want the book, and they are threatening to ruin Harry's friend and head of the Supernatural Investigative Unit, Murphy's life and career if he doesn't deliver.  Harry ends up enlisting one of the city's medical examiners, Butters, to assist him.  That is if he doesn't get him killed first.  

I loved seeing some familiar faces working with Harry to save the city.  Butters is quickly becoming a favorite and can I just say Mouse, Harry's dog, better never die.  I will simply not survive it. I wish Murphy had been in this one but she took off on vacation with someone I predicted would play into her future after the last book.  

I plan on reading the next book in January but need to start a bit early.  This one was a whopper and ended up running into February.  The only issue is these books exhaust me with everything Harry does and all the trouble he finds so I am needing a few weeks into between them.  I do need to get back on schedule instead of running behind.  I really can't wait to see what trouble finds Harry next!

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Farm News - January 5, 2025

 

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.  Things were very laid back and chill at The Farm and we had a lot of fun hanging out with each other and the boys.  We were all spoiled for Christmas, but the most important thing was that we were together.  We went back to work January 2nd and kept asking ourselves why we didn't just take Thursday and Friday off as well.  As I am typing this Saturday night, we are waiting to see how much snow is going to be dumped on us Sunday night into Monday.  Thank heavens I work from home 95% of the time.

Mr. Barb did grab me a few books for the holidays.  The two Prince books were always a bit too pricey for me to justify buying myself and I have always loved Cher. 

I also landed a few Netgalley ARCs I really wanted to get my hands on.  I'm so excited to read these!

Another Fine Mess (Bless Your Heart #2)

: Lindy Ryan

Victorian Psycho: Virginia Feito

The Cut: C.J. Dotson

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter: Stephen Graham Jones

We managed to watch a few movies while we were off and I really recommend the new one called "Werewolves" as well as the newest Venom movie, "The Last Dance." We also watched "Gladiator 2" which was good, but the original is still the best in my opinion. 

Finally, I am trying to reply to comments in 2025 as I really enjoy interacting with you guys and a lot of times when you leave comments, which I really enjoy, I usually have more to say.  Hopefully you'll enjoy hearing back from me.

Stay warm and safe if you are in the path of storms this coming week and I hope you all have a happy and healthy 2025!

Wanna Hang in a Graveyard Late at Night?

 

TITLE: Graveyard Shift

AUTHOR: M.L. Rio

PUBLISHER: Flatiron Books

PUBLISHING DATE: September 24, 2024

PAGES: 126   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Every night, in the college’s ancient cemetery, five people cross paths as they work the late shift: a bartender, a rideshare driver, a hotel receptionist, the steward of the derelict church that looms over them, and the editor-in-chief of the college paper, always in search of a story. 

One dark October evening in the defunct churchyard, they find a hole that wasn’t there before. A fresh, open grave where no grave should be. But who dug it, and for whom? 

Before they go their separate ways, the gravedigger returns. As they trail him through the night, they realize he may be the key to a string of strange happenings around town that have made headlines for the last few weeks—and that they may be closer to the mystery than they thought.

MY THOUGHTS: Let me start by saying that I feel this book is 75% atmosphere and 25% plot.  In addition, there is kind of an open ending so if that bothers you, keep that in mind before picking it up.  However, I hate open-ended books for the most part, yet this one didn't bother me at all so either I've grown or else this is an oddball.  Either way, I am very glad I grabbed this one from my library when I saw it on the New Release shelf.

Every night five characters from different walks of life meet in a graveyard near the local college.  They have very little in common but all five agree they are insomniacs. Something is happening in town which they are all interested in for their own reasons - people are suddenly turning violent and out of control.  Together, they all play a part in investigating what is going on which may be related to research going on at the college.  Oh, and rats and fungi.  Can't forget that.

I loved the darkness of this book.  The characters are all highly flawed, but I enjoyed seeing them connect in sometimes non-traditional manners.  I also felt this was the perfect for a novella length tale.  I've not read If We Were Villains but own a copy I will definitely be picking up in 2025 now.  I can see why people rave about Rio's writing style and am interested in checking out anything she might produce in the future. I really don't have any complaints about this book and found it a completely enjoyable shorter read.

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

   

Reading Challenges Wrap Up!

 So out with the old and in with the new!  I'm still trying to figure out my 2025 challenges but wanted to give a brief rundown of how I fared in 2024.  

WHAT AN ANIMAL CHALLENGE:

My goal going in was Level 3 which is 13-20 books.  I hit that pretty early and ended up reading 45 books with animals (real or supernatural) featured somehow.  This remains one of my faves and I'll probably do it again in 2025 but raise my goal a bit higher.  

LIBRARY LOVERS CHALLENGE:

My goal for this one was "Overdrive Junkie" which was 36 books.  I hit this one easily and read a total of 58 books I obtained from my library either on Libby or in physical form.  Just don't ask me how many I checked out and didn't return.

BANDS AND BOOKS:

This was a challenge I found which had 144 different prompts connected to music somehow (singers, songs, bands, etc.)  I knew I wouldn't hit them all but without doubling up, I did manage to knock 111 out of the way.

2024 BOOKS OF HORROR CHALLENGE:

This one came from a Facebook group I am in.  It had 24 horror related prompts and I was able to hit 20 of them.  It made me mad I didn't knock off the last 4 but I will also admit I didn't try very hard.  Can you believe I didn't read one dystopian book all year.  It was a prompt on two different challenges and I blew both of them.

2024 GOODREADS CHALLENGE:

I set a goal of 100 books and ended up reading 120.  Not too shabby and heck, I'm just glad I think I logged them all this year.

2024 KINDLE UNLIMITED CHALLENGE:

I really don't know what to call this.  Every three months, Kindle has 15 different prompts you can achieve by reading on your Kindle.  They vary from reading during certain days, finishing certain genres, and reading so many days a month or quarter.  It's the first year I really paid attention, and I ended up completing all 60 prompts.  Go me!

So there you have it.  Look for a post soon highlighting this year's challenges.  

How did you guys do with your 2024 goals?

Feed Your TBR - The Farmhouse

 

Can't Wait Wednesday, which I have adapted to better suit my blog as "Feed Your TBR" is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

June 17, 2025

FROM GOODREADS: Every woman who has lived on this farm has died. Emily just moved in. 

When Emily Hauk's mother dies, it's time for her and her husband, Josh, to finally leave San Francisco. A farm in rural Nebraska is everything they want for a fresh clear skies, low costs, and distance from the grief back home. 

They should have asked why the farm was for sale. 

Three years ago, a teenage girl went missing from the farm. Soon after, the girl's mother mysteriously died. The deeper Emily digs, the more stories she finds of women with a connection to her new home who've met their own dark ends.

The farmhouse was meant to be Emily's fresh start, but with each passing day, her sanctuary slips further away. The barn seems to move throughout her property, as though chasing her. Her mother's favorite music drifts across the corn. She swears she saw blood in one of the farmhand's trucks. And the screams that wake her are not foxes, no matter how many times her husband says otherwise.

Despite Josh's skepticism, Emily feels the darkness that has seeped into the soil of her farm. And if she wants to claim this place as her own, she'll have to find the truth before whatever watches from the cornfield takes her too.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT: I need to know what is watching from the cornfield.  This sounds really atmospheric and like a great summer read.  

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK????

2 Bloggers 1 Series - I'll Be Home for Mischief

 

One of the favorite series Stormi and I are buddy reading is The Christmas Tree Farm cozy mysteries.  The fifth one came out much earlier than we anticipated and to be honest, it's always a question as to whether this series will continue or not.  Either way, we knew we had to read it this Christmas season.  Read on to see what I thought and then hop over to Storm Reads to see if Stormi liked it as well.  

TITLE: I'll Be Home for Mischief (Christmas Tree Farm Mystery #5

AUTHOR: Jacqueline Frost

PUBLISHER: Crooked Lane Books

PUBLISHING DATE: November 12, 2024

PAGES: 288   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: It’s Christmastime in Mistletoe, Maine, and the Historical Society has launched a widespread campaign to celebrate the town’s 150th anniversary. Descendants of the founding family, the Snows, have returned for the first time, and Holly is determined to make the family’s visit magical. In an attempt to put Mistletoe on the map, Holly’s mother, a respected local baker, attempts to break a record by baking the world’s largest gingerbread man, but her plans are whisked away when Mr. Snow’s body ends up in the batter. 

When Mr. Moore, the local mistletoe farmer, is accused of the crime, Holly reprises her role as amateur sleuth to protect the sweet older man. Between hosting the inconsolable Mrs. Snow and other guests at the inn, receiving threatening messages telling her to stop her investigation, and preparing for her first wedding anniversary with Sheriff Evan Gray, she might need a Christmas miracle to survive. 

When someone breaks into Holly’s office and scratches a warning into her desk, she knows she has little time left. Can Holly uncover the killer before someone else gets burned, or is her involvement a recipe for trouble?

MY THOUGHTS: As I mentioned, I love this series a lot.  It's always fun to see what is going on at Christmas Tree Farm each season.  This time around, Holly's mom is trying to break the world record for the largest gingerbread man ever made.  I just had a feeling that someone was going to show up dead in the gingerbread man and I was right.

The morning of the baking, Mr. Snow, a historical figure who is visiting Mistletoe with his mother for the first time in years, is found dead inside the batter.  An elderly friend of the family, Mr. Moore, quickly becomes the top suspect but Holly knows there is no way he can be responsible.  So of course, she starts meddling into the investigation despite her husband, the local sheriff's, protests.

While I really loved the mystery in this book, as well as seeing all the characters once again, I really found Holly nerve-wracking at times - more than usual.  She continues to investigate even though she knows everyone is worried about her getting hurt and at times, doesn't seem to have faith that her husband can solve the mystery on his own.  This conclusion of this one threw me for a curve as the author really incorporated a few plot twists which kept me on my toes.  

I hope there is more to come of this series as I do believe there are still stories to be fleshed out amongst the side characters.  However, if it is the end, it does sum everything up pretty nicely.  If you love cozy mysteries and holiday reads, then this is the series for you.

MY RATING: 4 Paws