Buried by Books #5

 

It's been a while but it's time for another edition of Buried by Books where I showcase some fun and sometimes unusual books which have landed on hold through my local libraries.  This time around I'm once again focusing on books on Kindle Unlimited I have added to my KU borrow wish list on Amazon.  You all know there are ALWAYS some interesting books on KU.

Thank You for the Days: Dan Brotzel - I'm pretty sure I was sucked in by the dog in this one named Ziggy.  It is also centered around the premise of celebrating some weird pop culture holiday every day for a year.  Sounds peculiar and perhaps like something I will enjoy.  And also - Ziggy.

I Pittie the Yule: Kathryn Mykel - I have to make time for this one before the season is over.  Look at that adorable cover.  And I'm in the mood for a cozy.  Do you see a theme here?

The Vampires of York Tower: Kirsten McKenzie - What's a list without a vampire book?  I don't even remember adding this one to be honest, but when I read the synopsis again, I'm glad I did.  

I really have to start making an effort to use my KU subscription more.  These books might be a good place to start.

Two Cute Dogs and a Cinnamon Roll in Horsebox...

 

TITLE: That Festive Feeling

AUTHOR: Heidi Swain

PUBLISHER: Simon and Schuster

PUBLISHING DATE: October 12, 2023

PAGES: 448   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Holly has the place to herself this Christmas. It's not her place, though - she is house-sitting for friends who live on Nightingale Square - just there to keep the place warm and cosy and only for long enough for her to sort her life out. Newly single and finding herself unsure about next steps for her career, she plans to hunker down and make some life decisions. 

To clear her mind, she sets off on early morning walks around a nearby lake and bumps into May, an older lady who is also new to the area, and her dapper Dachshund Monty. Quickly, a firm friendship blossoms. Then when Holly meets Bear, a rather large and rather attractive man, at the local pub, and his rescue dog Queenie, her stay at Nightingale Square suddenly feels even more appealing. 

As the community comes together for the season's festivities, Holly must start thinking about where her life will take her next. Some big decisions need to be made, but distractions close to home make thinking about the future trickier than ever...

MY THOUGHTS: Wow, I had no idea when I borrowed this on Libby it would become one of my favorite reads of the year. I am so glad I picked it up. And I'm not going to lie, it was a complete grab based on those two tiny dogs on the cover.

Holly is recently divorced and looking to move. She gets the chance to housesit for two friends over the holidays and wants nothing more than to hide away and contemplate where she wants to live and decide if she is really happy being an illustrator.  Holly has no intentions of trying to fit into her friend's small community of Nightingale Square, but the neighbors won't let her be.  One morning while walking, she saves an elderly lady's dog from drowning and she and Holly strike up an unexpected friendship.  It's after this that she meets Bear.  A grumpy man visiting for the holidays and parking his horsebox, which he converted into a living quarter, in Nightingale Square (he really isn't that grumpy, but Holly did step on his dog - I'd be grumpy too!)  Holly quickly finds herself caught up in the spirit of the season and discovers hiding away isn't the best way to move on.

This book was everything I want in a holiday read.  It has romance, but also a few pretty serious storylines.  In addition, the whole book really brings a found family together and that is hands down one of my favorite tropes as I recently discovered.  And the dogs!  Bear has a dog he rescued named Queenie, and she is the most adorably pittie everyone and she becomes so enamored with Monty the dachshund. 

I had no idea this was actually part of a series when I picked it up and didn't even learn about it until after I had finished.  I really loved the characters and the community and can see me checking some of the others out at some point in the future.  However, this book was such a perfect timely read for me, maybe I should just leave well enough alone.  Anyone else have any suggestions or experience with this series or this author?  Let me know what you recommend.

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - Mask of the Deer Woman

 

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.

January 21, 2025

FROM GOODREADS: To find a missing young woman, the new tribal marshal must also find herself.

 At rock bottom following her daughter’s murder, ex-Chicago detective Carrie Starr has nowhere to go but back to her roots. Starr’s father never talked much about the reservation that raised him, but they need a new tribal marshal as much as Starr needs a place to call home. In the last decade, too many young women have disappeared from the rez. Some dead, others just… gone.

 Now, local college student Chenoa Cloud is missing, and Starr falls into an investigation that leaves her drowning in memories of her daughter—the girl she failed to save. Starr feels lost in this place she thought would welcome her. And when she catches a glimpse of a figure from her father’s stories, with the body of a woman and the antlers of a deer, Starr can’t shake the feeling that the fearsome spirit is watching her, following her. What she doesn’t know is whether Deer Woman is here to guide her or to seek vengeance for the lost daughters that Starr can never bring home.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I love indigenous tales, and this one seems to have a good mystery at the root of it.  Plus, I need to know more about the woman with the antlers.

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

Not Your Typical Hallmark

 

TITLE: To Hell with Hallmark

AUTHOR: Brad Ricks

PUBLISHER: Unveiling Nightmares Press

PUBLISHING DATE: November 15, 2024

PAGES: 228   

SOURCE: Kindle Unlimited

FROM GOODREADS: Welcome to Hallmark, Vermont, the setting for every cliched Christmas dream. Idyllic and picturesque, it's where real Christmas magic happens. 

Here, a lonely librarian bumps into the man of her dreams and is swept away into a whirlwind romance. A big city girl runs into her high school sweetheart and rekindles a forgotten spark. A secret prince escapes the pressures of royalty - and finds his true love. 

Except this year, something sinister has infected Hallmark's Christmas magic, turning Christmas morning dreams into Christmas Eve nightmares.

MY THOUGHTS: Now I don't mind a traditional Hallmark Christmas movie or two this time a year, but I also love my Christmas horror and think overall, it's an overlooked niche at Christmastime.  So, when I ran across this book and saw it was available on KU, I grabbed it and immediately devoured it.  

This book had it all - serial killers, werewolves, murderous gingerbread men and vampires.  It's told through a connection of interwoven short stories all set in Hallmark, Vermont at Christmas time.  My favorite stories were "Dimples for the Holidays," "Santa's Roadside Assistant," and "Oh, Christmas Tree."  While the stories aren't extremely gory, they also aren't for people looking for kisses under the mistletoe and good cheer. 

This is probably the closest I've come to giving an anthology a 5-star rating and I will definitely be seeking out more from this author.  

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Family Sure Can Be Messy!

 

TITLE: Dog-Tired at Christmas

AUTHOR: Lori Hayes

PUBLISHER: Seaquine Publishing

PUBLISHING DATE: November 27, 2024

PAGES: 186   

SOURCE: Own Library

FROM GOODREADS: Alone during the holidays, Christmas enthusiast Brittany Adams leaves her sun-drenched beach town to help her injured cousin in the Great Smoky Mountains. But she finds herself thrown into the heart of small-town Christmas dynamics. Tasked with saving her cousin’s failing home tour, she decides to convince charmingly grumpy Chris Hart to open his historic Amelia House for the tour. 

But Chris, haunted by painful Christmas memories, has sworn off holiday festivities. Undeterred, Brittany sets out to win him over by pledging to ready his home if he agrees to participate. As they work together, chemistry ignites, but their budding romance is threatened by the secrets of Chris’s past. With the help of a stray dog named Bo and the warmth of mountain-town hospitality, can Chris find the true meaning of Christmas before Brittany leaves for good? 

Dog-Tired Christmas is the charming romance to curl up with during your holiday season.

MY THOUGHTS: You know with a title and cover like this book, I would read it sooner rather than later.  And I have to admit, Bo, the lab, is a pretty cute dog and does play a decent-sized role in the novel.  However, this one didn't hit as hard as I wanted.

Brittany owns a seaside business, but when her cousin breaks her shoulder and needs help, Brittany drops everything and heads to the Smokey Mountains.  While there, Brittany tries to save her cousin's job by organizing a Christmas tour of area historical tours and of course, Chris, the local restaurant owner, has a home which just needs to participate.  Brittany works to convince Chris to participate and then to get his house ready and of course, Christmas magic ensues.  The only problem is Brittany's cousin has her eyes on Chris as well.

This book was a cute Christmas romance, but I have to admit, it needed better editing.  If it had been a KU grab, I could have given it more grace, but I did actually purchase this one. Chris does end up rescuing Bo, a stray dog, and the ending is sweet but the whole thing felt very rushed.  I'm not sad I read it but as far as favorites go, Bo is the only thing that will stick out in my mind in the future when I think of this book.

MY RATING: 3 PAWS

 

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Fractured (Will Trent #2)

 

Stormi and I figured it was about time we gave book two of the Will Trent series a go.  It was so long ago since we read the first one and to be honest, I wasn't completely sold on it and was really in no hurry to continue.  However, we took the plunge in November and boy, am I glad we did.  I loved this one and am now very excited to continue on.  So, after you read my thoughts, hop over to

 

TITLE: Fractured (Will Trent #2)

AUTHOR: Karin Slaughter

PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press

PUBLISHING DATE: July 29, 2008

PAGES: 388   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: When Atlanta housewife Abigail Campano comes home unexpectedly one afternoon, she walks into a nightmare. A broken window, a bloody footprint on the stairs and, most devastating of all, the horrifying sight of her teenage daughter lying dead on the landing, a man standing over her with a bloody knife. The struggle which follows changes Abigail's life forever. 

When the local police make a misjudgment which not only threatens the investigation but places a young girl's life in danger, the case is handed over to Special Agent Will Trent of the Criminal Apprehension Team - paired with detective Faith Mitchell, a woman who resents him from their first meeting. 

But in the relentless heat of a Georgia summer, Will and Faith realize that they must work together to find the brutal killer who has targeted one of Atlanta's wealthiest, most privileged communities - before it's too late...

MY THOUGHTS: The second book in this series jumps right in with the action and doesn't stop.  In the beginning there is disturbing murder, a death committed in self-defense and a missing teen. Add in a prominent family, Will Trent and his quirky investigative techniques and a new partner and you have a recipe for fast-paced book I had a hard time putting down.

Will is teamed with an officer, Faith Mitchell, from the Atlanta Police Department even though he doesn't want to be.  In the previous book, his actions led to several officers being dismissed and to say the APD has a grudge against Will is an understatement. The family is the missing teen is also having marital problems and have more money than they know what to do with so that only complicates Will's investigation.  Will and Faith must work against the clock to find out who kidnapped the high school teen as they know every passing hour lowers the chances that she will be found alive.

I loved seeing Will and Faith grow as an investigative team and enjoyed learning a bit more about how Will ticks.  I do believe there were a few gaps that I didn't remember from the first book (if they were mentioned at all and neither Stormi nor I are sure they were), but the book still flowed easily enough. Will's fiancée is still present but thankfully she isn't in the book much which is good because I think she is the main reason I didn't enjoy the first book so much).

I realize how much I enjoy a police procedural from time to time and this series looks like it will fit that bill nicely. I've also had great reading experiences with the author so I'm glad to be back on track with this series.  If you like action and crime stories, be sure to check this series out.  

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Farm News - December 9, 2024

 

So, I wanted to do a quick update so I wouldn't forget anything.  Thanksgiving came and went, and wouldn't you know, I ended up getting sick the day before.  In fact, I'm still not completely over it.  This is hands down the worst cold/sinus infection I've had since I had covid over two years ago.  It was probably a good thing I was off already because there was no way I could have worked through it.

I did manage to read 8 books/novellas for the HoHoHo Readathon.  I was pleased with the total but wished I could have participated more.  Anyway, look for some Christmas reviews this month as I have plenty to spare.

This past weekend was football central.  Marshall became the Sunbelt Conference champs and Georgia won the SEC Championship so all in all it was a great outcome for our household.  Now to wait for the bowl games.  I can't believe college season is already over.  

I am currently trying to cram as many Christmas reads as possible in amongst my buddy reads.  Here is what I'm currently reading, although I did finish I'll Be Home for Mischief late yesterday.

Dog-Tired Christmas: Lori Hayes

You Better Watch Out: James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth

I'll Be Home for Mischief: Jacqueline Frost

I hope everyone is enjoying the season and as always, thanks for stopping by Booker T's Farm!

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Blood Rites (Dresden Files #6)

 

I feel like I'm running behind each month, but I am still managing to keep up with our series read of the Dresden Files each month.  I am really enjoying these reads, but I need to start counting how many times I mutter "Oh Harry."  So read on to see my thoughts on #6 and then hop over to Storm Reads to see if Stormi liked it as well. 

 

TITLE: Blood Rites (Dresden Files #6)

AUTHOR: Jim Butcher

PUBLISHER: ACE

PUBLISHING DATE: August 3, 2004

PAGES: 372   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: For Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, there have been worse assignments than going undercover on the set of an adult film. Dodging flaming monkey poo, for instance. Or going toe-to-leaf with a walking plant monster. Still, there is something more troubling than usual about his newest case. The film's producer believes he's the target of a sinister entropy curse, but it's the women around him who are dying, in increasingly spectacular ways.

Harry is doubly frustrated because he got involved with this bizarre mystery only as a favor to Thomas, his flirtatious, self-absorbed vampire acquaintance of dubious integrity. Thomas has a personal stake in the case Harry can't quite figure out, until his investigation leads him straight to Thomas' oversexed vampire family. Harry is about to discover that Thomas' family tree has been hiding a shocking secret; a revelation that will change Harry's life forever.

MY THOUGHTS: Once again this book opens with Harry neck-deep in some serious life-surviving action.  Except this time, he is saving puppies for a Tibetian monk.  You guys know that's something I can fully get behind right? That catastrophe is quickly avoided and the puppies safely returned all except for one who ends up being left behind because he hides under Harry's car seat.  This poor pup spends the rest on the book on adventures with Harry and even though Harry claims he is not getting a dog, it's official, Harry has a dog!

The main story however centers around Harry being asked for a favor from Thomas, a vampire that has shown up in several previous books.  A curse has been placed on a porn producer and Thomas needs Harry's help to keep everyone safe.  Harry agrees but while all that is going on, he is still trying to take out the Red Vampire Court before they take him out.  

These books can be a bit confusing if you don't know all the players and I'm actually glad we are reading one each month because it gives me little time to forget all everything.  Trouble still follows Harry like a dark cloud but I don't think that will ever change at this point.  I really liked Thomas in the past books and am glad that this book reveals a connection which means he may be seen more in future installments.  Overall, if you love urban fantasy and action and haven't already given this series a go, what are you waiting for?  This book is probably my favorite yet!  (May have something to do with the puppy perhaps).

MY RATING: 5 Paws

Disturbing Pranks and a Cute Pup!

 

TITLE: The Christmas War Paws

AUTHOR: Tereece M. Clarke

PUBLISHER: LifeSlice Media

PUBLISHING DATE: December 24, 2023

PAGES: 118   

SOURCE: Kindle Unlimited

FROM GOODREADS: Dr. Francesca Johnson-DeWitt is ready for a Bahamian Christmas vacation, but her post-divorce plans take an unexpected turn when fate intervenes. In the charming town of Ohio Falls, her college nemesis, the smug Dr. Sebastian Bing, rekindles an old rivalry, sparking a hilarious and heartwarming Christmas War that turns the quaint town upside down. 

Join the festive chaos in this delightful, heated, rom-com novella filled with pranks, pie, forgiveness, and unexpected love.

MY THOUGHTS: I grabbed this from KU for a readathon over the Thanksgiving break.  When I saw it featured two veterinarians, I assumed there had to be a cute puppy somewhere and I wasn't wrong!

Frankie has returned to Ohio Falls to settle her grandmother's estate.  When she arrives, some wood collapses at the residence and she ends up rescuing a cute puppy she affectionately calls Puddin'.  Puddin' needs medical attention and since the local vet office is closed, Frankie, a vet herself, breaks in to get treatment.  She is soon met by her old best friend and her brother Sebastian, whom Frankie dated years ago.  Frankie and Sebastian despise each other and continue to go out of their way to make each other miserable.  Then one night of hate sex in a stranded truck opens the way for communication to start and they realize they may not hate each other after all.

I really enjoyed this read but I will warn you, this is a pretty spicy novel.  Considering it was rather short, there was still plenty of plot and backstory woven in which made for an enjoyable read.  Puddin' was a very special pup, and his appearance really works into the ending and tugs at the heartstrings.  I would recommend this for anyone wanting a cute Christmas romance with a side helping of puppy breath! 

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - The Haunting at Morsley Manor

 

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 23, 2025

FROM GOODREADS: World-famous paranormal investigator Eric Thompson's career took a nose-dive after a particularly gruesome case which left most of his camera crew dead. His partner and best friend also abandoned Eric, leaving him floundering.

He is soon approached by a mysterious woman who has purchased the supposedly haunted, but previously off-limits to paranormal sleuths, Morsley Manor. To drum up publicity about the house, she hires Eric to perform and host a paranormal investigation on the premises.

As he ventures over to England to uncover the darkness bleeding through the veins of Morsley, horrors begin to spring from every corner and Eric soon begins to realize that not all is as it seems…

WHY I CAN'T WAIT: I'm always on the lookout for new horror and while it's still quite a long wait, I just had to share that cover!

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

A Lemon in a Santa Suit!

 

TITLE: A Merry Little Murder Plot (Library Lovers #15)

AUTHOR: Jenn McKinlay

PUBLISHER: Berkley

PUBLISHING DATE: October 8, 2024

PAGES: 317   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: During the most wonderful time of the year, famous author Helen Monroe arrives in Briar Creek to be the writer in residence, but her “bah humbug” attitude excludes her from the many holiday celebrations the town residents enjoy. To try to spread some Christmas cheer, library director Lindsey Norris invites the new writer in residence to join her crafternoon club. Helen politely refuses and when an altercation happens between Helen and another patron, Lindsey begins to suspect the author has been keeping to herself for a reason. 

Another newcomer, Jackie Lewis, reveals she’s visiting Briar Creek to be near Helen because she believes they are destined to meet. Having dealt with a stalker in the past, Lindsey feels compelled to tell Helen about Jackie, as she suspects that Helen is unaware her “number one” fan is in town. 

When Jackie’s body is later discovered in the town park beneath the holiday-light display with a copy of Helen’s latest manuscript in her hand, the reclusive novelist becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her self-proclaimed mega-fan. Helen’s frosty demeanor melts when Lindsey offers her help, and now the librarian and her crafternoon pals must prove the author innocent before "The End" becomes Helen's final sentence.

MY THOUGHTS: There's a certain feeling you get when you pick up one of your favorite series and immediately feel transported to a town you know and love.  That's how I feel whenever I visit Briar Creek each time McKinlay writes a new installment.  Plus, it says something that I'm still rating books in this series so high given this is number 15.

It's Christmas time and the Lindsay's library is sponsoring a visiting writer, Helen Monroe. However, Lindsay soon starts to believe someone else visiting the town is there to cause Helen some trouble and her feelings are validated when someone ends up being electrocuted by Christmas lights in the town square.  Lindsay and her husband Sulley, along with their pals Robbie and his cop girlfriend, team up to figure out what is going on before Helen goes down for a murder she may have not committed.

This book had quite a few twists and turns and I loved how McKinlay kept me guessing until the very end.  I also loved seeing some of my favorite characters show back up again.  Briar Creek has some truly colorful people living there. I hope the author has plenty more tricks up her sleeves and plans on keeping this series going.  Oh, and the new Mayor and old librarian, Ms. Cole, also known as the "lemon" dresses up like Santa at the end.  Seeing her character development has been a joy.

MY RATING: 5 Paws

Farm News - November 24, 2024

 

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.  Things here at the farm have been going well.  Mr. Barb and I started our vacations on Friday after work and don't return until December 2nd.  I love a good staycation and this is when we usually take the first of our year-ending vacations.  We celebrated our anniversary yesterday.  Mr. Barb spoiled me, and I am blessed to have such a wonderful husband and best friend.  We learned a few years ago we enjoy making a nice dinner at home and chilling much more than going out to eat so we did that again and ended up watching Deadpool and Wolverine while sipping champagne.

Thursday started the Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon and so far, I've finished three books.  I am mixing them in with the two buddy reads I have left for the month so here is what I am reading on for the next few days. If you want to learn more about any of them, clicking on the titles will take you to the Goodreads page.

All By My Elf - Olivia Dade

Blood Rites (Dresden Files #6) - Jim Butcher

Only Santas in the Building - Alexis Daria

I also snagged a couple of review copies from Netgalley.  Many thanks to the publishers.

Cold Eternity - S.A. Barnes

Parents' Weekend - Alex Finlay

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) - Jessie Q. Sutanto

Well, that's about all I have.  Just wanted to stop in and do a brief update.  I hope everyone that has plans for Thanksgiving has a good one and stays safe.  It will be just me, Mr. Barb and the boys this year but that's fine with me. Until next time!

So, I Guess It Did Have a Christmas Tree

 

TITLE: Merry Ever After (Under the Mistletoe #2)

AUTHOR: Tessa Bailey

PUBLISHER: Amazon Originals

PUBLISHING DATE: November 12, 2024

PAGES: 59   

SOURCE: Kindle Unlimited

FROM GOODREADS: A single mother working in a thrift store. A gentle giant farmer who can’t find jeans that fit. When opposites attract, they find themselves making alterations in more ways than one in this smoking-hot short story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey. 

Evie Crowe is starting over in a strange town with her newborn, and men are the furthest thing from her mind. If only the quiet, hulking farmer, Luke Ward, would stop coming into the thrift shop and piquing her reluctant interest. Evie wants to stay single all the way—she can’t trust anything more than friends-with-holiday-benefits. But Luke is in it for the long haul. He’s fixed on making this a Christmas Evie will remember forever. If she gives him a chance.

MY THOUGHTS: I knew I had a readathon coming up so I saved all of the recent Amazon Original Under the Mistletoe Collection specifically for it.  I love Tessa Bailey, so it was a no-brainer that I picked this one up first.

I know Bailey's books can be a bit spicy and I have no problem with that.  And I've pretty much enjoyed everything I've read from her.  However, I don't know that her formula transfers well to short stories/novellas.  Evie has moved to a small Texas town with her infant son Sonny. She is working in a thrift store when she meets Luke, a giant farmer.  I won't go any further because it's only 59 pages, so I don't want to risk giving anything away.  

I really want a full-length book with Evie and Luke's story.  Bailey did a fine job of giving me enough back story that I understood where the story was headed and why, but I guess I just enjoy all the buildup and getting to know the characters before they get to the down-and-dirty. There was a prologue at the end which was definitely needed to wrap things up or else I feel like the whole book would have been "I work in a shop.  I work on a farm. Let's have sex on the floor."  

Of course, I still rated this pretty high because I did enjoy it and I am trying to capture some more Christmas spirit.  That's the other thing, the story takes place in Texas and other than it happening at Christmas and there being mention of an undecorated Christmas tree, it wasn't very festive.  Could they have at least had sex under a Christmas tree?

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

The Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon

 

Once again, I am thrilled to be participating in the Ho-Ho-Ho readathon.  It's hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and she has several people hosting activities as well.  Check out her site for all the details.  I am off on vacation next week so I hope I can get lots of holiday reading done.  Let me show you some of the books I have to choose from this year!

As you can see, I'm making that KU subscription pay off.

Merrily Ever After - Tessa Bailey
All By My Elf - Olivia Dade
Cruel Winter With You - Ali Hazelwood
Merriment and Mayhem - Alexandria Bellefleur
Only Santas in the Building - Alexis Daria

Some Like It Cold - Elle McNicoll

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year - Ally Carter

Puppy Love at Mistletoe Junction - Shannon Richard

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret - Benjamin Stevenson

As you can see, lots of good reading ahead.  There's still time to join so hop over and check it out!

Feed Your TBR - The House of Monstrous Women

 

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.

August 12, 2025

FROM GOODREADS: A young woman is drawn into a dangerous game after being invited to the mazelike home of her childhood friend, a rumored witch, in this gothic horror set in 1986 Philippines.

Josephine del Rosario feels like a pariah in her town. Long ago orphaned after her father’s political campaign ended in tragedy, she’s all alone, taking care of the family home while her older brother is off in Manila, where a revolution brews. And it’s starting to feel like he’s abandoning her.

When she receives a letter from a cherished childhood friend, Hiraya, inviting her to play a game, she jumps at the reason for leaving town. Josephine will have whatever her heart desires if she wins. Maybe she can change her life. It doesn’t matter that dark rumors have always surrounded Hiraya.

Except Hiraya’s house is strange—labyrinthine and huge, and something seems to be following Josephine everywhere she turns. What’s worse is there’s something her old friend isn’t telling her.

There is something insidious about this invitation, and if Josephine isn’t careful, she’ll find that change is sometimes bought with blood.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I want to know more about Hiraya and the maze within.  Plus, the words "witch" and "Gothic" always get my attention. 

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

I Needed a Good Shark Attack...

 

TITLE: From Below

AUTHOR: Darcy Coates

PUBLISHER: Poison Pen Press

PUBLISHING DATE: June 7, 2022

PAGES: 469   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: No light. No air. No escape. Hundreds of feet beneath the ocean's surface, a graveyard waits... 

Years ago, the SS Arcadia vanished without a trace during a routine voyage. Though a strange, garbled emergency message was broadcast, neither the ship nor any of its crew could be found. Sixty years later, its wreck has finally been discovered more than three hundred miles from its intended course...a silent graveyard deep beneath the ocean's surface, eagerly waiting for the first sign of life. 

Cove and her dive team have been granted permission to explore the Arcadia's rusting hull. Their purpose is straightforward: examine the wreck, film everything, and, if possible, uncover how and why the supposedly unsinkable ship vanished. 

But the Arcadia has not yet had its fill of death, and something dark and hungry watches from below. With limited oxygen and the ship slowly closing in around them, Cove and her team will have to fight their way free of the unspeakable horror now desperate to claim them. 

Because once they're trapped beneath the ocean's waves, there's no going back.

MY THOUGHTS: I read this for an upcoming on-line horror book club and have had some experience with the author in the past, so I was pretty excited.  I have very mixed feelings about this book and while I was initially very glad that I had the extra motivation to pick it up, I'm even happier that I managed to finish it.

In the 1920's the Arcadia vanished without a trace. In current day, a few new artifacts have surfaced and they've assisted in pinpointing its location.  Cove has established a crew to go out and investigate the ruins, filming it for an upcoming docuseries.  (Can I insert a side note about the name Cove - I hated it.  Not so much the name itself but that we have a deep diver named Cove.  To me that's like having someone stuck in an avalanche named Snowy, but I digress). The crew plans on going down on three different days.  Due to the depths of the sink, it is basically preserved in a part of the ocean that has little oxygen and cannot support sea life very well.  My first indicator that I wasn't getting any shark action.  The crew ends up finding out that most of the passengers and crews have weathered their watery graves really well - perhaps too well.  The crew keeps disturbing things and those who died on the Arcadia aren't happy about it.  Will Cove and her crew make it out alive or will they join the others?

This book really had a great claustrophobic atmosphere. Coates does a great job making the reader feel like they are deep diving along with Cove, Aiden, Hestie, Vanna and Roy.  And I loved a few of the characters a lot.  Aiden is young and inexperienced and probably shouldn't even be diving but he was endearing and one of my faves.  Roy is a smart-mouthed adventurist who would be fun to have on any trip. The wild card in the book is Vanna.  Early on one of the non-diving crew members discovers a diary with some pretty shady entries so Coates plants a seed pretty early on that Vanna may have some ulterior motives for her trip.  Also, every once in while there would be a chapter counting down the days to the Arcadia sinking. These historical additions really helped the reader understand what might have happened on the ship. 

Now for what didn't work for me - you knew it was coming right?  This book is close to 500 pages long and in my opinion, could have cut out about 150 of them or so.  The first 150 pages were pretty interesting and really set the scene, the middle 200 dragged on and on and left me swearing the book was actually growing the more I read, and finally the last 75 pages or so were pretty action packed and very interesting.  The middle 200 pages could have really used some shark or creature action in my book.

So overall, reading this wasn't a bad experience and I wanted more from the story or less pages. Or maybe even both.  I don't mind Coates' writing and there are a few more books by her sitting on my TBR. She is great at creating atmospheric tales and this one wasn't a complete bust.  Did I mention it needed fewer pages?

MY RATING: 3 PAWS

Farm News - November 18, 2024 (a long time coming)

 

 So, I kind of fell of the face of the earth the past three months.  I did enough to keep the blog going but fell drastically behind on updates.  Now I want to play catch up.  I'm going to do a life update, hopefully a post with reading updates for August, September and October and then a few book hauls.  That's the plan so let's hope I stick to it.  Anyways, here is step one!

SEPTEMBER: This month kicked off with major repairs at the farm.  I mentioned we had to have a big job done which was having all of our plumbing replaced and redone.  Our home is 124 years old and we still had a huge cast iron septic pipe which ran from the attic to the basement.  It was cracking and finally reached the "We need to do this soon" stage.  We threw in all the other plumbing as well because we got a good deal but still, no one likes to spend a high 4 figure amount right?  Also, three days of working in my bedroom with two 100 pound dogs?  Not fun at all. Not much of note for that month although I did have fun reading lots of vampire books for #Vamptember.

OCTOBER: We were full steam ahead of festive mode.  My work bestie came in from out of town to visit for a few days and we enjoyed good food, good games and good movies.  Mr. Barb and I watched tons of horror movies as well as lots of football.  The pups had fun handing out candy and I didn't see as much of my mom as usual because she had a person quit at work and she was working insane hours. I had to go out of town for work for 2 days which always upsets the boys' schedule even though Daddy takes vacation time with them.   

NOVEMBER: The main news so far this month, at least here at Booker T's Farm is that on November 8th, Apollo turned five.  Since it fell on a Friday and we had off on Veteran's Day, we made the whole three-day weekend about him.  He had a birthday party, a giant puppy cookie, gifts, extra walks and lots of cuddling.  And of course, Zekey was right there with him. We are gearing up to celebrate our wedding anniversary soon as well as Thanksgiving.  I have managed to get half of my Christmas shopping done and even made a hand-crocheted blanket for my friend's cat, Baby.

So hopefully I will now feel like doing bi-weekly updates.  I also plan on blog hopping so more so be prepared to see me around!