PLEASE Someone Save (and Rename) This Dog!

 

TITLE: A Matter of Pedigree (A Carole and Poopsie Mystery #1)

AUTHOR: Leslie Meier

PUBLISHER: Kensington Cozies

PUBLISHING DATE: September 30, 2025

PAGES: 256   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Carole Capobianco has always counted her blessings, but it’s even more fun now that she and her husband Frank are finally making serious money, thanks to Frank’s newly patented Bye-Bye Toilet. With the kids finally on their own, Carole and Frank are empty-nesters, which will give her uninterrupted time to add to her impressive shoe collection—and lavish care on Poopsie, her beloved, very spoiled Brittany spaniel. The cherry on top is a hefty bid on a luxury co-op in a prestige building . . . 

But that dream is quickly flushed when the offer is refused by venture capitalist Hosea Brown. Hearing the claim that the Capobiancos won’t fit into their wealthy, snooty community, Frank is outraged enough to roar something about killing that “old Yankee” on his way out the door. Three months later, Carole is shocked by the news that Hosea has been bludgeoned to death. 

When Carole learns Hosea was one of the backers of a big new construction project for which Frank’s company has also been contracted, she’s worried. And that worry grows with every new twist in the case that’s discovered. Armed with her favorite Jimmy Choos and her beloved, if quirky, Poopsie, Carole sets out to clear Frank’s name—and just maybe save their lives.

MY THOUGHTS: When I saw this book on the new release shelf at my library, I grabbed it because come on now, there is a dog on the cover.  Plus, I enjoy cozy mysteries from time to time because even though they can be quite formulaic, they are also comforting and break up some of my darker reads.  However, grabbing this was clearly a mistake and honestly, I can't believe I finished it (I blame the short page count).

Carole and her husband Frank have recently come into a lot of money after Frank, who owns his own plumbing business, developed, patented and sold a newfangled toilet.  His product and business is all the rage now and he and Carole are looking to move up into a swanky new home since both of their children have left the nest.  They are initially turned down for a place in a snotty co-op because Hosea Brown does not think they are a good fit.  Soon after, Hosea turns up dead and since he was also connected to one of Frank's big construction projects, Frank is quickly suspected.  Worried about how bad everything looks, and that the police will stop investigating since the thing they have their man, Carole starts her own investigation to clear her husband's name.  

Let me start by saying the mystery in this book wasn't half bad.  However, it was so overshadowed by the biggest group of despicable characters I have met in a long time.  Carole and Frank are rich snobs who spend the entire book looking down on everyone else.  Their son, a struggling artist, is surviving on handouts from them and their daughter, a high-priced lawyer, may be the only one smart enough to run fast and hard away from her entire family.  The whole family is judgmental and I'm sure there were some mafia-related connections hinted at which might make future installments somewhat interesting, but I won't be signing on to read them.

And now, poor Poopsie.  Of course, the Capobianco's bought a purebred Brittany Spaniel.  However, while the synopsis indicates Poopsie is spoiled and beloved, I would say she is neglected and borderline abused.  Poopsie is drug around on walks, yelled at for doing dog behaviors such as barking, left in cars and when she barks in the car is immediately drugged with meds from the vet because Carole whines her dog needs help.  No Carole, what your dog needs is better parents.  And while we are at it, a better name.  I bet if Poopsie could talk, she would have some poop related names for Frank and Carole. 

So needless to say, I'm not recommending this book, and I can't figure out why this author is so popular.  I know she has a previous long-running mystery series, but I don't think it is worth the risk. 

MY RATING: 2 PAWS

How DOES a Vampire Kill Themselves When Sunlight Doesn't Work?

 

TITLE: Aubrey Wants to Die

AUTHOR: Pip Knight

PUBLISHER: Hanover Square Press

PUBLISHING DATE: March 3, 2026

PAGES: 368   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: Love is hard. Being undead is harder ... Dolly Alderton meets True Blood in this dark, funny hell of a story 

Aubrey is not what she seems. She's young, beautiful, romantic, obsessive and ... a vampire. All she wants is to be human again, and failing that, she wants to die. But the problem is, she can't. Not by stake through the heart or holy water or crucifix or garlic or fire. And she'd know, she's tried every method ... Twice. 

So she's stuck here on this earth, all alone. Even the vampire who made her this way — an aristocratic douchebag called Oscar — has abandoned her. 

But everything changes when one fateful night, she meets Jonathan. He's everything Aubrey's ever dreamed of, and what's more, he's her soulmate. Her Bella—Edward story. For the first time in 150 years, she has a reason to hope — eternal life might be bearable after all. So when Jonathan unexpectedly breaks up with her, she'll do anything to get him back. 

But that's the exact moment Oscar swoops back into her life. And he has other plans for her. Soon, she's thrown into a world of glamour, glitter, blood and hedonism, a world that has her questioning everything she knows to be true—about life, but also about herself. A world where nothing is simple ... And no—one is safe, either.

MY THOUGHTS: I want to clear something up.  I went into this not really knowing what genre it fell in.  I thought horror, then I thought thriller, then romance.  Who knows what I thought?  But now that I've read it, I will say it probably leans more heavily into romance with a few horror/thriller aspects.  But be warned, these vampires do not sparkle - thank the Heavens!

Aubrey was turned 150 years ago and immediately afterwards, her maker split.  This left her to figure out a lot on her own.  After seeing another vampire kill a young buy while feeding, Aubrey refused to feed on humans, so she has lived on blood bank blood ever since.  Because of this, she never reached her full vampire potential and after 150 years, is getting tired of her boring life where she has to move every 5-10 years and start over because doesn't age and can't tell the people around her, she is a vampire. 

She is tired of living this way and has tried to kill herself in the past, just to find out all the things she believed killed vampires isn't working.

Fast forward and Aubrey has finally fallen in love with a man named Jonathan.  She is happier than she has ever been but is trying a bit too hard so Jonathan dumps her.  She enlists her only two friends to try to win him back but about that time, her maker Oscar walks back into her life.  She is very angry with him for leaving her helpless all those years ago but gets stuck spending time with him because there is a new group of Vampire Hunters trying to prove vampires really exist and Oscar fears that Aubrey, with her lack of skill and knowledge, may lead to their downfall.  

This book was so much fun.  Don't get me wrong, Aubrey is a hot mess, but I loved her as a character, and it was nice to see someone trying to navigate their way through life and who hasn't been sold on the vampire lifestyle even though she herself is one.  I found myself really rooting for her and Jonathan...until I wasn't.  And Oscar is a jerk.  He is mean to Aubrey a lot of the time and definitely has his own agenda so of course, I loved him as well.  I feel this book does lean heavily into its True Blood comparison (one of my favorite book series) and if you are familiar, think Eric more than Bill.  

This book was very unpredictable, and I loved how the ending played out. I also feel it would appeal to a lot of people as it does seem to encompass elements of a lot of different genres. Although everything basically wraps up in the end, there is a hint that it could continue so I really hope a sequel is in the works. I really do need more Aubrey and Oscar too!

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - The Disco at the End of the World

 

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 2, 2026

FROM GOODREADS: In 1977 - a world in which America launched its space program shortly after WWII - Mitch Ward followed Flynn, the lost love of his youth, into the US Space Guard. Now, he’s stuck on a backwater moon base with his only friend, Gloria, watching every shuttle in the hope Flynn will be on it.

After an inexplicable encounter with a strange, euphoric being, Mitch and Gloria find themselves dishonorably discharged, and stuck in a USA rapidly sliding into fascism with no plans and no future. There’s nothing for it but to move to Los Angeles to chase their dreams, and find their people in the discos of the city.

But when Flynn crashes back into their lives, claiming to be the host for an emissary of a utopian civilization approaching Earth, he offers Mitch the power to protect himself and friends across the queer community, so they never have to live in the shadows or face oppression again.

With the world on the brink of cataclysm, and Mitch and his friends being squeezed out of every space, it’s down to this community of disco-loving outcasts to stand up for what is beautiful and right.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT: This doesn't sound like something I would pick up on first glance, but I love nostalgic reads and it sounds like it may have a "found family" vibe which I love.  We will see.

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

2 Bloggers 1 Book - Shadow of the Mothman

 

 Stormi and I have a long history of buddy reading Hunter Shea books.  He is one of my favorite indie authors and his creature books are some of the best I've read.  So, when this one came out at the end of last year, it was a given we would get to it eventually and well, February ended up being the month. So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's at Storm Reads for hers. 

 

TITLE: Shadow of the Mothman

AUTHOR: Hunter Shea

PUBLISHER: Severed Press

PUBLISHING DATE: December 15, 2025

PAGES: 271   

SOURCE: KU

FROM GOODREADS: First There Was Dread and Death

In 1967, the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, was terrorized by a winged creature stalking the night skies, along with a host of other bizarre and frightening paranormal phenomena. It all came to an end with the tragic collapse of the Silver Bridge on a cold December evening. 

Then It Returned 

Ken Orsulak survived the Silver Bridge disaster, only to awaken from his coma sixteen years later. A man out of time and confined to a wheelchair now, he’s taken back to his childhood home of Remington, Massachusetts. By day, the bucolic farming town is just as it was when he left in 1967. By night, shrieks, strange shadows and unexplainable lights send ripples of fear throughout its residents. Something sinister has descended on the town. Has the terror of Point Pleasant come for Ken? 

Now All Hell Has Broken Loose 

The creature has a name – Mothman. The high strangeness surrounding the monster defies explanation. Ken and the town fight for answers, then find themselves fighting for their lives. Enter John Keel, the stalwart reporter who made the mysterious cryptid infamous. Has he arrived just in time, or is he too late to save Remington from the unknowable intentions of the Mothman? Remington is coming apart at the seams. Will anyone be left standing when…and if…the Mothman’s reign of terror ends? 

A cryptid tale of existential dread unlike any other. Shadow of the Mothman will pull you into a world of mythical beasts, UFO folklore, men in black, and ghostly visions. The nostalgia of the 80s is plunged into the mystifying world of In Search Of in this love letter to the beasts and enigmas that plague our nightmares.

MY THOUGHTS: I love creature feature books and since I reside in WV and actually grew up about 35 miles from the home of the Mothman and the Silver Bridge incident, I couldn't wait to read this one.

Ken and his parents are traveling back from a Christmas visit with family when the find themselves stuck in traffic on the Silver Bridge in Pt. Pleasant.  Ken starts hearing some weird radio transmissions and soon sees two glaring red eyes right before the bridge collapses.  Ken and his mother survive but the accident leaves Ken in a coma for 16 years.  When he finally awakens, he has trouble adapting to the 80s and the fact that mentally, he is still a teen who is waiting to give his girlfriend an ankle bracelet for Christmas.

Ken and his mother, along with that girlfriend from long ago who is now Ken's primary nurse, head to the family's hometown of Remington.  Soon, weird things start happening, men in black start showing up in town and people start seeing a large, winged creature with glowing red eyes. Ken is convinced that he is the reason the Mothman is back and terrorizing his hometown.  Working with a John Keel, a reporter who first covered the Mothman years ago and is now investigating a link between it and the current happenings in Remington, Ken tries to survive the Mothman's curse and more importantly, save the ones he loves.

Some things worked for me in this book, and some didn't.  I loved the 80s nostalgia and for the most part enjoyed the characters. Especially the elderly owner of the town grocery store who runs the local Video Rental store - Ken's favorite way to catch up on what he missed while in the coma.  I loved the Mothman lore and true to Shea's other books, the action was spot on.  However, there was kind of a lull before the action started happening and quite a few animal deaths (well, and people too but let's be honest, you know I'm all about the animals).  Also, I felt the ending was a bit weak and am not sure I bought the explanation for the Mothman's arrival in Remington.

 

Finally, I have to mention Patch, a brave dog who lives with his owner on her farm.  RIP Patch - you never stood a chance.  I actually messaged Shea about sacrificing Patch and he pointed out others died as well but if you know me, I pretty much automatically deduct a rating point for pointless dog deaths. If you are really interested in the Mothman, which I am, and love cryptid tales, this one is worth picking up.  Not my favorite Shea book but still worth a read.

MY RATING: 3 PAWS

Watch Out for Falling Buckets

 

TITLE: The Silenced

AUTHOR: Diana Rodriguez Wallach

PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press

PUBLISHING DATE: September 16, 2025

PAGES: 384   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Hazel Perez thought her school project on the abandoned Oakwell Farms School for Girls—or "The Farm" as it’s known to locals—would be just another assignment. But when a late-night research trip ends with her falling unconscious, she reawakens with a desire for revenge that isn't her own. Desperate to free herself from these sudden violent urges, Hazel begins to investigate. 

As she delves deeper into Oakwell Farms' past, Hazel discovers the harrowing experiences of the girls who were once forced to live within its walls—under the eyes of sinister men—and the spirits who still linger. 

With the help of some unlikely allies, Hazel must navigate a treacherous path of corruption, history, and the supernatural to bring peace to the restless spirits and uncover the truth about her family's involvement. 

The Silenced delves into the Trouble Teen Industry through a riveting exploration of a reform school's haunted past colliding with the traumatized present.

MY THOUGHTS: I had seen this book on a few sites and the cover immediately drew me in so when I saw it at my local library, I had to snatch it up.  

Hazel Perez is pretty much a loner at school.  She used to be part of the "in" crowd until her sister died and her best friend ghosted her.  However, her other sister, Maddie, is her best friend and the two support each other no matter what.  Hazel ends up being paired up with her ex-bestie and her clique on a class project which takes them to the abandoned Oakwell Farms.  The Farms used to be a home for troubled girls and is owned by her ex-bestie's family.  While there one night, Hazel has an accident which not only has people questioning her health but has Hazel questioning her sanity.  Not only does Hazel feel like someone is always following her and doing things which are totally out of character, who is the scary young woman who she sees attached to her back whenever she sees her reflection.

I really enjoyed this book a lot more than I anticipated.  I really enjoyed how Wallach opened up the history of girls' reformatory schools and how misrun they were throughout history.  I also think it really addressed sexuality and choices as the ghost haunting Hazel was sent to The Farms after falling in love with another girl.  I loved the character arc of the ex-bestie and the family drama around who Deidre, the ghost haunting Hazel, really is.  

Told from Hazel's POV with interspersed chapters from "The Farm" and Deidre, the book is fast-paced and although YA, still quite terrifying.  Of course, it's no secret that real life is often more terrifying than fiction and people are often the real monsters. If you want a YA horror with some meat to it, then definitely consider this one.  

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

My Year in Books (2025)

I saw this over at Lark Writes blog and thought it looked like fun.  She credited it for originating with Anne over at My Head is Full of Books.  Make sure you check out their posts as well. They state you may end up with some serious as well as some silly answers.  Yep, I sure did! 

In high school I was: Done and Dusted (Lyda Sage)

People might be surprised: I'll Make a Spectacle of You (Beatrice Winifred Iker)

I will never be: (a) Victorian Psycho (Virginia Fieto)

My fantasy job is: Death in the Dark (Bryce Moore)

At the end of a long day I need: (a) Roadtrip with a Vampire

I hate: The Unholy (Heather Graham)

Wish I had: Christmas at the Ranch (Julia McKay)

My family reunions are: Another Fine Mess (Lindy Ryan)

At a party you’d find me: Proven Guilty (Jim Butcher)

I’ve never been (on a): Dead Stream (Mar Romasco-Moore)

A happy day includes: Fang Fiction (Kate Stayman-London)

Motto I live by: Life's Too Short (Darius Rucker)

On my bucket list is: The Blond Dies First (Joelle Wellington)

 [

In my next life, I want to have: A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer (Maxie Dara)

Hope you enjoyed this fun little tag.  Look for a review of a recent read tomorrow!

Feed Your TBR - Fitcher's Bird

 

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.

October 6,2026

FROM GOODREADS: When sisters Chloe, Zoe and Dido were children, their father died and their mother could no longer care for them, so they were sent to live with the local doctor’s family: mother, father and three sons. Soon after, however, Ashwood Farm burned to the ground, and only the three young girls survived.

Years later, the sisters live very separate lives, each dealing with their painful past in different ways. But when first Chloe, and then Zoe disappears, it’s left to Dido to rake through their history and find out if her sisters are still in the world or paying the price for what happened that long ago summer night.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  Simple - the cover. Well and the Gothic vibes aren't hurting its chances to be picked up either.

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