Buried by Books #9

 

It's time for another addition of what books, sometimes weird and out-of-norm for the blog, I've put on hold with Libby or added to my KU possibility list.  One of my resolutions in 2026 is to get my money out of KU each month so who knows, you might see some of these reviewed in the new year! Oh, and I also have a Hoopla Wish List (TBR) going of sorts so I'm going to break today's posts into three categories.

LIBBY

The Dollmakers: Lynn Buchanan - I feel like this has been on my list forever, but I am still really interested in it.

Dreams: The Many Lives of Fleetwood Mac: Mark Blake - I ADORE Stevie Nicks and will get to this sometime.  I may even add the hard copy to my Christmas list.

Greenteeth: Molly O'Neill - I've seen some wonderful reviews of this one and it sound just odd enough to work for me.

HOOPLA

The Inheritance (Breach Wars #1): Ilona Andrews - I love this author duo and this one is fairly new. Doesn't hurt that there is an animal sidekick in the form of a German Shepard named Bear.

Playlist of the Damned: Edited by Jess Landry - A dark and weird anthology focusing on music and horror. Say no more.

Serial Killer Support Group: Saratoga Schaefer - I still need to read Grady Hendrix's take on this as well.

KINDLE UNLIMITED

Her Solstice Vampire: Monica Corwin - This one doesn't release until Christmas day but who knows, maybe I will want some vampires to spice up my Christmas.

The Christmas Leprechaun: Tiffany Royster - Another holiday horror.

Wormfood: Jeff Jacobson - There are no words (and apparently Goodreads agrees because they have no synopsis).

Have you read any of these?  Where would you start?

At Least There Was No Mariah Carey

 

TITLE: The Holiday Mixtape

AUTHOR: Liberty Stowe

PUBLISHER: RupertBossier

PUBLISHING DATE: October 3, 2025

PAGES: 439   

SOURCE: Netgalley

FROM GOODREADS: When a failed pitch at her Chicago ad agency leads an idealistic dreamer to the perfect Christmas town, Erika with a "K" stumbles on a holiday mixtape at a flea market that guides her path straight to the town’s most eligible bachelor. But does he want to be eligible? 

And is Blitzen, Kentucky a Christmas town? Erika’s campaign for an old-fashioned Christmas hinges on help from the bachelor basketball coach slash Volunteer Fire Department's assistant chief in need of a new firetruck, and he’s not happy about it.

MY THOUGHTS: I won't lie.  This was completely a cover grab.  It immediately caught my attention and after reading the book, I believe it couldn't be better. Maybe it's because I always wanted a VW Beetle, who knows.

Erika with a "k" leaves Chicago for the holidays to go stay at a mysterious home in Blitzen, Kentucky left for her by an even more mysterious aunt.  She immediately meets Kourt, also with a "k" who is the local basketball coach/high school teacher.  They meet with a bang when she hits him with her aunt's stick-shift Beetle.  Even though they irritate the heck out of each other, Erika learns that the town is in desperate need of a new firetruck or their insurance rates will increase devastating the town.  

Erika vows to use her marketing knowledge to help Blitzen raise the needed funds and remember how they used to enjoy celebrating the holidays.  Throw is some great grumpy/sunshine vibes, holiday cheer, a possessed mixtape (well, not really but it does play random songs at random times), and a two side characters who I know are destined to be together eventually, and you get a wonderful book perfect for the Christmas season.

I really loved the setting as well as the characters in this book.  Blitzen, Kentucky basically becomes a character of its own I loved its small-town vibe. Erika is quirky and loveable and both she and Kourt have a backstory which the author does well to share without involving flashbacks or a dual timeline.  Also, Erika's best friend Archer and Kourt's best friend Helen are two of the strangest, but also the best characters I've met in a long time.  And yes, there is a companion book coming out in October 2026 the author teased me with at the end of this one which I may NEVER forgive her for - JK.

My only real complaint with this book is that I felt it was a tad too long and the middle part tended to drag a bit.  However, the payoff is worth it, and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a bit of spicy holiday cheer!

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - The Best Dog in the World: Essays on Love

 

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.

March 10, 2026

FROM GOODREADS: Anyone who has ever been fortunate enough to share their life with a dog knows the experience is both profound and transformative. Here, in this charming collection of essays, fifteen celebrated authors share unforgettable tales of the dogs who left their pawprints on their hearts.

With contributions from Chris Bohjalian, Roxane Gay, Emily Henry, Ann Leary, Tova Mirvis, Jodi Picoult, Elizabeth Strout, Amy Tan, Adriana Trigiani, Nick Trout, and Laura Zigman, The Dog Who Changed My Life captures the full range of the canine-human connection, from the joy of welcoming a new puppy to the heartache of saying goodbye to a beloved friend.

A love letter to the loyal companions who enrich our lives and teach us about empathy, joy, and unconditional love, this anthology is the perfect gift for dog lovers everywhere, offering a blend of laughter, tears, and inspiration that will resonate with anyone who has been fur-ever touched by the love of a dog.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  Isn't it obvious???

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

The Eurythmics Apparently Never Read This Book!

 

TITLE: Beautiful Nightmares (Scared Sexy Collection)

AUTHOR: Katee Robert

PUBLISHER: Amazon Original Stories

PUBLISHING DATE: September 23, 2025

PAGES: 52   

SOURCE: KU

FROM GOODREADS: For one awkward sleep paralysis demon, scaring humans should be simple—except Gemma’s first solo haunting goes hilariously wrong in this tantalizing dream of a short story by New York Times bestselling author Katee Robert. 

When Gemma’s supposed to terrify her appointed victim, she ends up captivated instead. Caleb, a romantic who believes in all things supernatural, finds her adorably pink-skinned, horned form more alluring than alarming. But as their steamy night unfolds and unexpected feelings bloom, Gemma must choose between her demonic duties and the human who makes her feel anything but monstrous. 

MY THOUGHTS: I guess this was a cute enough short story if you can use the word "cute" to describe a monster romance.  Gemma is a sleep paralysis demon who is in training and desperately failing.  She becomes fascinated with Caleb, who just happens to believe in the supernatural and has no qualms about entering a relationship with a demon.  

I've read a few books from Robert and know what to expect with her writing.  Some I have enjoyed, some I found just "meh."  This one was better than the only other one in this series I've read so far but apparently wasn't enough to inspire me to read the other four stories by other authors.  If Amazon was going to do a Halloween collection, I would have preferred tales more horror in nature. Maybe I will save the last four for Valentine's Day as I think they would be more fitting.  I'm pretty sure that is part of the reason I am not connecting with them.

MY RATING: 3 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - Winter Folk

 

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.

July 21, 2026

FROM GOODREADS: This is the story of Moth, who earned her name working for the Winter Folk.

Every year, the Winter Folk gather at a secret lodge in the Appalachians, a place known as Deerhaven, refuge for the time-worn and weary. As a child, Moth heard warnings from her mother: They are heartless, wild creatures—and they got no concern of us. At twenty-one, Moth is a college dropout, indebted, impoverished, and desperate for better things. She falls instantly for Deerhaven’s beautiful antlered host, the mild-mannered Mr. Oslin. When he offers her a housekeeper’s contract—one wish granted for a winter of service—she signs without question.

But Deerhaven is a dangerous place. Staff must follow strict rules or else face dire consequences, and the guests can be unpredictable and savage. And yet, Moth endures, enticed by a rumor that Mr. Oslin is looking for a protégé. A singular worker who would stay with him forever and be transformed.

Decades later, Moth returns to Appalachia with her husband and teenage daughter. She can't shake the feeling that she needs to return to Deerhaven, which banished her twenty years ago. As she hunts for a way in, her haunting memories and harrowing experiences come roaring back — her friends and rivals, her growing obsession with Mr. Oslin, and her mysterious exile.

A door exists in the dark of the woods. After so long away, what has Deerhaven become?

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I love Appalachian horror, and I need to know more about this Deerhaven place.  

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

1 Snowstorm + 0 Snow Tires ÷ 1 Big Moose = Saw That Coming!

 

TITLE: Christmas at the Ranch

AUTHOR: Julia McKay

PUBLISHER: G.P. Putnam's Sons

PUBLISHING DATE: September 23, 2025

PAGES: 320   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to a run-in with my ex, two flat tires, and a miracle horse to help me find love. 

With the holidays around the corner and her father under arrest for financial fraud, journalist Emory Oakes has no idea where to turn. She’s only certain of one she needs to get away. 

Fate and her subconscious take her to Evergreen Lake, the picturesque town where she spent her happiest Christmas as a teenage girl – and fell in love for the first time. Stranded due to car trouble and a blizzard, Emory is rescued by Charlie Wilder, father of her first love, who offers her the guest house at Wilder Ranch. Tate, he promises, is out of town. 

But kismet and Christmas magic have other ideas, and when Tate comes home early and finds a half-dressed Emory in his cabin, all bets are off for what else the holidays will hold this year.

MY THOUGHTS: This book has about every romance trope I've read recently rolled into one - miscommunication, second chance romance, close proximity, yet it also has the Christmas vibes and cowboy/ranch element my dark heart apparently needs right now. Add in that I read it in less than 24 hours during our first snow of the season, and you could say it was the perfect storm - at least for me and perhaps for Emory too.

Ten years ago, Emory and her annoying, pretentious family spent three weeks at Christmas in Evergreen Lake. Emory was 18 and bored tearless when she met Tate Wilder, son of the ranch owner next door.  Emory and Tate strike up a friendship late one night and basically become inseparable for the next three weeks. However, something happened and now 10 years has passed and there has been no contact between the two.  When Emory receives news that her father has been arrested for a Ponzi scheme, something she always knew he was capable of, Emory jumps in her car and starts driving.  She doesn't stop until the snow starts making things difficult and she ends up back in Evergreen Lake.  Emory is afraid being around Tate will bring back too many unresolved feelings so after getting snow tires, she goes to leave when she is run off the road by a giant moose. Now, stuck in town for even longer, can she and Tate resolve what happened 10 years ago despite his new friend Marielle and Emory's pigheadedness?

While this book is primarily romance, I really enjoyed the other aspects of it much more. Tate and his father are trying to make the family ranch prosper despite the smalltown economy, Emory is trying to come to terms with how awful her parents have behaved, and horses, lots of cute horses. Overall, it was a tad predictable but that didn't make me enjoy it any less.  I really enjoyed Emory as a MC and all of her down-to-earth qualities.

I've seen this book compared to Gilmore Girls and Virgin River, both faves of mine and I would have to agree.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a holiday read with low-spice romance and lots of heart.  However, I am left with two questions - what happened to Mistletoe (did I miss this somewhere in the pages) and why is does the synopsis on Goodreads call Emory Everly through the entire thing?

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

 

This past Saturday we celebrated Apollo's sixth birthday! As you can see, he was more than spoiled and he and Zekey received two toys each, some of their favorite snacks and special puppy cupcakes (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle themed).  Last weekend, my best friend came into town (Auntie Chris), and she spoiled both of them as well.

As spoiled as the boys are, it is nothing compared to what they give back to us each and every day.  Apollo was basically my emotional support dog when I lost Cassius and made each day a little bit easier for me.  

2 Bloggers 1 Series - A Wonderful Christmas Crime (Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries #2)

 

I kind of talked Stormi into catching up on this series now that Christmas is moving closer. I know it just released at the end of October but I believe both Stormi and I have had an ARC for a while now. I adore this series but that being said, I also would not be upset of this was the last installment. I believe it was actually supposed to end a few books back but then the author was greenlit for some more.  So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Storm Reads and see what Stormi thought.

 

TITLE: A Wonderful Christmas Crime (Christmas Tree Farm Mystery #6

AUTHOR: Jacqueline Frost

PUBLISHER: Crooked Lane Books

PUBLISHING DATE: October 21, 2025

PAGES: 288   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: As Christmas descends on Mistletoe, Maine, Holly White has an extra gift this year - a new baby on the way. Her husband, Sheriff Evan Gray, has been worried about her elevated blood pressure and Holly has agreed to take this year easy. Being idle has never been one of Holly’s gifts, so when Evan surprises her with tickets to the town-wide dinner, she and her many cravings thank him. But when a thief tries and fails to steal an antique ornament from the dinner’s holiday display, it’s clear that someone is on the naughty list. 

The thief manages to escape, but after dinner, Holly spots their lifeless body. It’s clear that someone in town was keen to kill them. Evan is less than jolly to find his wife at the scene of yet another holiday homicide and asks her to promise that she’ll leave the investigating to the police. But Holly has never been one to turn down a challenge and has to get creative with the help of a few of her friends in order to find this killer. 

Will she and her friends be able to stop the killer, and uncover the motive behind the attempted robbery, or will the killer strike again and paint the town a bloody red?

MY THOUGHTS: I continue to enjoy the series and reading each new one is kind of like visiting old friends. This year's murder, because yes, they are a yearly thing in Mistletoe, finds a new Mistletoe business owner suspected of murder when someone dies during the theft of some rare Swedish goat figurines.  

Holly and her sheriff husband Evan have just learned Holly is pregnant.  While everyone is excited, they are also worried because the doctor expressed some concerns with Holly's blood pressure being high. Holly really tries to stay out of the mayhem this year but it she really likes the suspect, Alice, and wants to help. Will she be able to watch from the sidelines or end up in the middle of another Christmas caper?

It is always fun visiting the crew from Mistletoe and see all the reindeer games going on at the farm. There are so many likable characters in this series and Frost does a great job of working them all in. This year, they may even be an appearance from Santa himself, but you'll have to read it yourself to find out.  The addition of an antique road show going on provides a new backdrop and intensifies the latest investigation. 

I have gone back and forth between four and five stars for my rating.  It is one of my favorite cozy series and it was just the Christmas vibe I was looking for.  The mystery was good and threw in a few surprises along the way.  There is also a side plot that really pulled the heartstrings (yes, I have some) as well. My only issue is that since each book happens at Christmas time, we miss a whole year of happenings and have to be caught up through the author's narration.  I would love to see one set at a different time, maybe even a Christmas in July event, just to switch things up.  

If you are looking for a light Christas read and love cozies, I can't recommend this series enough.  It's become a yearly tradition to read the newest and if there is another one next year, I will be right there reading it as well. 

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - The Dreadfuls

 

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.

March 31, 2026

FROM GOODREADS: A Victorian-era Nancy Drew meets The Woman in the Window as true crime and historical fiction collide in this atmospheric thriller featuring real-life figures and a rebellious, uniquely inventive young reform school inmate determined to solve the serial killer case dominating the headlines in London, and soon, in the world: the Jack the Ripper murders.

London, 1888. Committed to the Whitechapel Hall Reform School for “incurable delinquency” 15-year-old Adelaide “Dell” Morton is a precocious, defiant misfit. She’s also a voracious reader of true crime and detective fiction, including the sordid, sensationally popular Penny dreadful stories. In an unlikely stroke of luck, she’s found a kindred spirit in her poised, perfectionist roommate, Pippa. Their obsession is only further fueled by the Jack the Ripper murders blazing a trail of terror throughout London’s seediest streets . . . right outside Whitechapel Hall’s front door.

Desperate for adventure, they embark on their own investigation—and discover an ally in Noah, son of the local butcher. But Noah’s motives are not mere fascination: His father is the prime suspect. Noah is desperate to clear his name, and Dell and Pippa are only too eager to help.

Their budding spywork soon yields shocking results: they witness straightlaced Whitechapel teacher Miss Kaye escaping the school the night of the latest crime. Could Jack the Ripper be a she? Delving into Miss Kaye’s background, Dell is both horrified and thrilled to find that within Miss Kaye’s past lies a chapter dark enough to rival any Penny dreadful . . .

Dell’s fixation with Miss Kaye reaches dangerous heights while a series of suspicious events leave Miss Kaye in sole command of Whitechapel Hall. Trapped in their teacher’s ever-tightening web of control, the three devious detectives devise a risky plan to track her. But what ensues may only propel them ever deeper into secrets, lies, ruthless acts, and betrayals that go back decades—and a confrontation that will irrevocably change the fates of all involved . . . if they survive.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I'm a sucker for Jack the Ripper tales and the possibility that this book might make the Ripper female is quite interesting. Also, the physical hardback has gorgeous, sprayed edges so it may be one I need to grab physically.

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

November Coming Attractions

 

I can't believe October is already over. I had such great reading plans and then something happened. I started strong but then fizzled out.  I'm not gonna stress over it too much though. However, someone please explain how my dark horror-loving heart now wants to read all the Christmas books and it's not even Thanksgiving yet.  Who am I and what have I done with dark, creepy Barb?

I read five books off of last month's coming attraction feature which isn't good but it's a loose guideline anyways.  Not sure how many total I read.  I'm actually afraid to count.  Surely it was more than five!  Let's take a look at what you might see on the blog this month.

Up first are my buddy reads with Stormi.  We figure it is time to catch up on the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery cozy series with the latest release, and we ended up pushing Domain to this month.  Personally, Harry is killing me so I'm glad to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Next up are some November ARCs I want to get to.  And yes, that is a turtle in between two horror books.

Here are a few ARCs from last month I would still like to squeeze in somewhere.  The Holiday Mixtape may scratch my holiday read itch but tell me please, when did cute/spicy Christmas romances start clocking in at over 400 pages?

And finally, let's confuse things up a bit with some library books which cover Fall AND Christmas.  I'm telling you, I'm all over the place this month!

So there you have it.  I hope to get at least 9 of these done this month.  I'm on vacation the week of Thanksgiving to celebrate the holiday as well as our wedding anniversary. That means I will plan to read lots and then probably read nothing. Also, Apollo's birthday is coming up this weekend so look for a special weekend post! 

Mommy's Special Boy!

Book Tour - The Sound of the Dark/Daniel Church

 

TITLE: The Sound of the Dark

AUTHOR: Daniel Church

PUBLISHER: Angry Robot

PUBLISHING DATE: September 28, 2025

PAGES: 400   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: In 1983 experimental artist Tony Mathias began work on a new installation – it was to be a collage of visuals and sounds collected at an abandoned RAF base called Warden Fell. Various stories and rumours swirled around the place, but Tony was interested only in the echoes of history. But soon after visiting the site to tape-record the sounds there, he returned to the caravan where he was staying with his family and killed his wife, his two children and then himself. Another dark twist in Warden Fell’s history? 

But the past reaches out. Decades later Cally Darker, gets the chance to investigate the terrible story and perhaps even solve the mystery – a fantastic exclusive story for her true-crime podcast. 

Tony's actress sister Stella is desperate for the mystery to be solved before she dies will do all she can to help and passes on the tapes left behind by her brother. But before long, Cally realises that Warden Fell has a far older and darker story to tell. Be careful what you listen to…

MY THOUGHTS: I was pleased when Angry Robot reached out and wanted me to participate in this tour and I was provided with a physical copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Cally has a semi-successful podcast and is hoping to grow it some more with the latest cold case she is investigated.  In the beginning of her book, she calls it quits with her current live-in boyfriend and takes off for her dad's place, where she can focus on her work and delve further into what prompted Tony Mathias, a fairly prominent author in the area, to mysteriously murder his family and kill himself one day in 1983. Cally is unable to obtain some lost tapes from Tony's sister Stella, which contain recordings from Warden Falls, a secretive military site Tony was basing his last art project on.  As Cally starts to listen to the tapes, her life starts to unravel around her. Can Cally learn what drove Tony to such madness before she succumbs to it herself?

The Sound of the Dark started off strongly for me but around the midway point, I found it slowing down and lagging.  I really enjoyed Cally in the beginning.  Even though she suffers from depression, which led to her quitting her main job, she is likable enough and I really loved when she made the decision to leave her boyfriend who seemed to be holding her back.  However, Cally grew a bit tiring as the book progressed and I became focused on her use of Claritin, which is a weird thing to become focused on.  In fact, I sort of had flashbacks of the grape Kool-Aid and Xanax from Riley Sager's Final Girls.   

The book then picked up again at about the 70% mark and from there on out, it flew by.  I enjoyed the resolution, but at times, it almost felt like two different books. One thing I can say with confidence, Church knows how to create an atmospheric read and for some reason, I had on overwhelming feeling of dread while reading the entire books. 

If you like slow burn, atmospheric stories seeped in description and uncertainty, then I definitely recommend The Sound of the Dark.  I will also be picking up more from this author in the future.

MY RATING: 3.5 PAWS

Make sure you stop by the other stops for the tour listed below!