February Coming Attractions

 

Another new month!  I know I didn't do a Coming Attractions post for January, but I blame holiday recovery mode. I did want to get one out as soon as possible this month though so you can see what I'm reading this month as well as some of the reviews you might find here. Remember, I know I won't possibly get to all of these but want to showcase them either way. Plus, I have found these are good posts for me to look back on to jog my memory of what I am supposed to be focusing on. Oh, the daily perils of a mood reader.

First up are my buddy reads with Stormi for this month. We decided to read Realm of Shadows at the last minute because I was craving some romance for February and it would count for a Retro Romance challenge she is doing.  We are almost at the end of Dresden Files and finally, Shadow of the Mothman is Shea's latest, and she and I always seem to buddy read Shea's books.

Next up I have some ARCs I would love to get to.  I am currently reading The Body and hate to say it isn't going too well.  I'm 25% in and I really hope it picks up for me. This will be my first Matt Dinniman read even though I plan on starting Dungeon Crawler Carl sometime this year.  Temple Fall looks to be an interesting Gothic read.

Here are a few more ARCs mostly in the thriller/horror/fantasy genres.  I LOVE Lindy Ryan and am so excited for Dollface.

And finally, a few odds and ends that are sitting by my couch waiting to be finished and/or picked up.

So what are you plans for February? Have you read any of these?

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Peace Talks (Dresden Files #16)

 

Stormi and I keep moving along on our buddy read of the Dresden Files series and the end is almost in sight!  The newest installment, number 18, recently released so that means two more book and we are current and up to date.  So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's to see hers. 

 

TITLE: Peace Talks (Dresden Files #16)

AUTHOR: Jim Butcher

PUBLISHER: Ace

PUBLISHING DATE: July 14, 2020

PAGES: 340   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: When the Supernatural nations of the world meet up to negotiate an end to ongoing hostilities, Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, joins the White Council's security team to make sure the talks stay civil. But can he succeed, when dark political manipulations threaten the very existence of Chicago—and all he holds dear?

MY THOUGHTS: I am still enjoying Harry's world, but sometimes Harry's world is a really wordy one, so I was thrilled this installment clocked in under 350 pages. 

A Supernatural summit is taking place in order to try to garner some kind of peace among all the entities and once again, Harry finds himself in the thick of things.  Because of his role as Mab's right-hand man, the White Council is becoming more distrustful of him.  Since this is book 16 and everything is considered a spoiler, I'll just say we get to see quite a few familiar faces including Molly, Thomas, Maggie, Mouse, Ebenezer and Butters.

There were quite a few things that made me unhappy in this book, especially pertaining to Thomas, but it didn't mean I didn't enjoy it.  I just question a few directions the author is headed toward but hey, he's the boss, right?  

Overall, I'm glad to have gotten this far and Stormi has warned me the next book is really going to tick me off.  I am struggling between a 4/5 or a 5/5 but my rating is reflective of my appreciativeness for a short installment this time around.

MY RATING: 5 Paws 

Feed Your TBR - The Stars Look Like Home

 

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 12, 2027

FROM GOODREADS: From beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune comes a heartwarming story about a good boy in search of a great life. The Stars Look Like Home is a funny and moving adventure about finding one’s place in the universe from the perspective of a dog.

Also, the dog does not die in this.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I just saw this a few days ago and there is no way I can wait a whole year!  I love The House in the Cerulean Sea and its sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea. I vow to read more from Klune this year but man, I wish I had this in my little greedy hands!

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

She Sees Dead People

 

TITLE: Soul Searching (Sweetwater Peak #1)

AUTHOR: Lyla Sage

PUBLISHER: Dial Press Trade Paperback

PUBLISHING DATE: September 30, 2025

PAGES: 368   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Collins Cartwright does not want to go home. Sweetwater Peak, Wyoming, was supposed to be in her rearview mirror, but when she finds out a developer is trying to buy her parents’ antique shop out from under them, she doesn’t have a choice—at least, that’s what she tells her family. They don’t need to know she’s lost her job and is out of money. Or that the ghosts that have always been her companions have recently gone silent. 

But just because she’s returned home doesn’t mean she has to stay with her parents or crash on her twin sister’s couch. Lucky for her, the new-to-town upholsterer has a room for rent above his store. Unluckily, it is absolutely crawling with more ghosts who are freezing her out. And Collins hates being ignored. 

Brady Cooper is absolutely and totally fine. Seriously, there’s no secret reason why he decided to uproot his life and suddenly move to Sweetwater Peak. He just needed a change of pace. At least, that’s what he tells himself. And everyone else. 

When he agrees to let the elusive Collins Cartwright stay in his spare room, he doesn’t know that she’s absolutely bonkers—constantly talking to herself and having conversations with no one—or that she looked like that. But as they begin to get closer, the lines between them start to blur, leaving both of them—and the ghosts that have been pushing them together—wondering whether or not their temporary arrangement could be something more permanent.

MY THOUGHTS: Lyla Sage has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors, so I was thrilled when this one released and had a paranormal twist.

Collins Cartwright is moving back to her very small hometown, something she said she would never do.  Knowing how independent Collins is, her twin sister arranges for her to work at a local upholstery shop and live in an apartment upstairs. Unbeknownst to her family, Collins is out of work and hasn't picked up her camera in months because her other hidden talent, communicating with ghosts, is on the fritz and it was the source of a lot of her inspiration.

Brady Cooper moved to Sweetwater Peak to escape and since arriving, other than making friends with Collin's family, has pretty much remained non-social. He just happens to own the upholstery shop and the apartment upstairs. As time passes, he becomes more curious about Collins and she can't deny she feels an attraction to him. However, Brady doesn't believe in the paranormal, even though there may be a few spirits working to bring him and Collins together. In addition, Brady is more than willing to be flexible if it means spending more time with Collins and eventually helping her unearth her creative block.

I loved everything about this book. Collins is a bit edgy, and Brady is a bit of a cinnamon roll hero. Together they just work.  And for a romance, this book does not suffer from insta-love OR a third act conflict which are always pluses in my book. Also, who can resist a meet-cute that involves pepper spray!  In addition, I loved the sister and family dynamics and look forward to the next book, which focuses on her.

If you love romance with a paranormal twist, this one is for you.  I will devour anything Sage writes as she hasn't disappointed me yet!

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

A Late Christmas Vacation!

 

TITLE: The Dogs of Venice

AUTHOR: Steven Rowley

PUBLISHER: G.P. Punam's Sons

PUBLISHING DATE: October 14, 2025

PAGES: 80   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: A heartbroken Paul takes a solo trip to Venice while his ex-husband moves out of their joint place back home. While on the trip Paul looks for a connection and meaning.

MY THOUGHTS: This is a short novella I grabbed around the holidays because of course, DOGS!  I didn't get to it until January but still wanted to share my thoughts because I feel it needs more notice.

Paul is going through a divorce and although he has a history of not doing anything alone, he decides to go through with the vacation he and his husband had planned for the holidays. While in Venice, Paul notices a stray but confident dog and he spends the majority of his time seeking the dog out because he wants to be more independent-just like the dog appears.  Along the way Paul breaks out of his comfort zone and starts doing more and more on his own, realizing he too can be more dog-like if he wants.

Paul was a nice character to read about and honestly, I think this read is best described by the word "nice."  The fact that it is on the shorter side lends itself to a solid tale that doesn't get weighed down by unnecessary side plots or details.  I loved that I was able to read it all in one sitting as well.  

The dog doesn't play a big part in the story, but he is a major influence so I think animal lovers would still be quite interested.  I know this author has a few other books which have recently been quite popular so I think readers of those should seek this one out as well. And even though it takes place during the holidays, it isn't really a holiday story so it could be read at any time. My rating is only reflective because I wanted more dogs (of course I did), especially with "Dog" on the title. 

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

I'm Expecting Tons of Snow but They Got Tons of Rain!

 

TITLE: The Storm

AUTHOR: Rachel Hawkins

PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Press

PUBLISHING DATE: January 06, 2026

PAGES: 258   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama is famous for three things: the deadly hurricanes that regularly sweep into town, the Rosalie Inn, a century-old hotel that’s survived every one of those storms, and Lo Bailey, the local girl infamously accused of the murder of her lover, political scion Landon Fitzroy, during Hurricane Marie in 1984. 

When Geneva Corliss, the current owner of the Rosalie Inn, hears a writer is coming to town to research the crime that put St. Medard’s Bay on the map, she’s less interested in solving a whodunnit than in how a successful true crime book might help the struggling inn’s bottom line. But to her surprise, August Fletcher doesn’t come to St. Medard’s Bay alone. With him is none other than Lo Bailey herself. Lo says she’s returned to her hometown to clear her name once and for all, but the closer Geneva gets to both Lo and August, the more she wonders if Lo is actually back to settle old scores. 

As the summer heats up and another monster storm begins twisting its way towards St. Medard’s Bay, Geneva learns that some people can be just as destructive—and as deadly—as any hurricane, and that the truth of what happened to Landon Fitzroy may not be the only secret Lo is keeping…

MY THOUGHTS: Looking back, I've never really had my socks knocked off by a Hawkins novel.  In fact, I think I've been telling people I've only read two, so I was going to pick this one up to see if I just needed to stop and move on.  However, I looked it up and I've actually read ALL of her adult novels and one of her YA ones, which I loved.  The adult ones have all hit around 3/5 starts except for The Villa, which is the only one I really remember.  Imagine my surprise when this one really hit for me!

In 1984, Hurricane Marie hit St. Medard's Bay leaving death and destruction in its wake.  One death was the Governor's son, who was having a pretty illicit affair with a residence 19-year-old.  Lo Bailey was accused of murdering Landon Fitzroy but was eventually acquitted. However, everyone just assumed she as guilty.  Fast forward to current day.  There is a new hurricane on the horizon and Geneva, who is now running the family business, the Rosalie Inn, is trying to stay afloat (no pun intended).  She ends up renting out some rooms for the summer to both Lo and August, who has chosen to ghost write a book about the whole situation with Lo's help.  Yet there is another hurricane on the horizon, and it might just uncover buried secrets along the way.

This book was a fast-paced read for me. Of course, it also may have been because it is on the shorter side for a thriller.  Nonetheless, I really enjoyed getting to know the characters who all seem to have distinct strong personalities and to learn how they all intertwine both historically and currently.  There were a few major twists, once of which I predicted and one I never saw coming, which made for an interesting read.  And I would say it held a bit of my favorite trope as well - found family.

This is one I'm really glad I picked up.  Although now I'm guess I'm going to have to read her next book to decide if she is an author for me.  Of course, I've read everything else so at this point, why not.

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - The Only One Who Knows

 

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 3, 2026

FROM GOODREADS: Minnow Greenwood, previously known for stealing her way into the hearts of viewers as Melbourne’s number one morning show host, is now back in her small hometown of Kangaroo Bay. After a horrifying and unexpected episode, she has no choice but to join her estranged brother in their family business of shark fishing. For an insomniac like Minnow, the work is strangely thrilling—there’s something alluring about the dark water at night. Something exciting, grimy… fitting. And maybe it’s not even so bad reconnecting with her brother, who’s the only person who ever saw her for herself. But the last thing she expects to surface on the beach is a human body.

Kangaroo Bay is a town quietly brimming with rage towards invasive tourists and host to a disquieting number of shark attacks—there's no sympathy for the wayward swimmer. Except the media soon uncover that the victim was declared missing weeks before and was long dead before they even entered the water. When the journalist in Minnow kicks back into drive, she discovers something for over forty years, there have been a steady number of missing persons around the area, including her own father’s disappearance ten years ago.

This is her one opportunity to reclaim her career as a journalist, and to learn what really happened to her father, but as Minnow digs deeper into the spate of missing tourists and the mystery of her father, she realizes someone is desperate to keep the secrets buried. . .and then another body washes ashore.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT: I love the fact that this involves water and the MC's name is Minnow.  Too funny.  Besides that, I am fascinated by sharks and wanted to be a marine biologist when I was young for a long time.  Go figure considering I grew up and have always lived in a landlocked state.  

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