Don't Expect Fun in this Family's Dysfunction

TITLE: The Bluff

AUTHOR: Wade Rouse

PUBLISHER: MIRA

PUBLISHING DATE: October 13, 2026

PAGES: 304   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: The Chapmans do Christmas the way they do impeccably, expensively, and with the unshakable belief that good lighting can conceal bad blood. Their annual Christmas card may look picture-perfect, but behind the polite smiles there’s a storm brewing. This year, at their grand lakefront cottage on Mackinac Island, a snowstorm traps generations of Chapmans—and their schemes—under one roof. 

Chris Chapman is on the verge of losing his father’s trust, his role at the helm of the family business, and his wife’s respect. Kat Chapman is already fed up with hosting her critical, stuck-up in-laws and their impossibly inflexible holiday traditions. Her solution? Invite her working-class parents – born and bred Islanders – for Christmas, much to the horror of the Chapmans, whose rule that “We do not share Christmas with other people” is about to be broken. 

As the snow piles up, so do their issues. Teenagers—fiercely liberal Leah and conservative golden-boy Chip—are locked in a battle of wits, Chris’s vaguely corrupt brother Cormac and his calculating trophy wife are stirring the pot, and Kat’s mother is holding onto a secret that could up-end the entire game. Deliciously messy and surprisingly tender, The Bluff is a feisty festive family drama about money, marriage, power, and all the things we bring to the holiday table besides the turkey.

MY THOUGHTS: Fresh off Spooky Season I was in the mood for some holiday spirit and as I had an ARC of this one languishing on my Kindle, I figured it was a good time to dive in. I also saw it compared to The Family Stone which just happens to be one of my favorite movies to watch around Christmas.  If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend it as well as this newly released novel.

The Bluff tells the story of the Chapman family and their highly uptight and extremely rigid Christmas traditions.  However, this year looks a little bit different.  Kat has finally been given reign over the holiday plans on Mackinac Island, and she plans on shaking things up.  CS and Charli have always insisted things been done their way.  They dictate what they expect from their adult sons, including the one that walked away many years ago and who has been excluded every Christmas since.  Chris has taken over his father's business and is trying to make a success of it, despite the fact that CS had to "retire" after the Board demanded a change in reign.  Kat, Chris' wife, was an island girl when the two met and has never been good enough for the Chapmans.  Corman and his Barbie wife are secretly trying to take over Chris' leadership and Barbie (not her real name but you get the point) has a plan up her sleeves that seriously backfires in her face - and I loved every minute of it.

Then you have Kat's parents, Shirley and Pop-Pop, who have never gotten to spend the Christmas holiday with their daughter and her family because Charli insists on things being done with them.  These two have some issues going on surrounding retirement and life slowing down which leads to some pretty drastic considerations from Shirley.  And finally, there are Chip and Leah, Kat and Chris' children.  Chip is inheriting his grandfather CS's entitlement while Leah is fighting against the stringent Chapman family expectations.

This book was a lot.  I don't mean that in a negative way, but just that there was a lot of serious subject matter.  It is told from 12 different POV's, including one from the island as well as a famous hotel located on it.  There is also an adorable dog belonging to Kat's parents and to say I thought the unthinkable was going to happen is an understatement.  I am happy to report that Lizzie does manage to survive.  I also really loved Leah.  She is not a bit afraid to point out how much CS and Charli frustrate her and how she doesn't feel close to them at all.  CS clearly favors her brother, and she is quick to point out that Chip got a 5-digit Christmas check from them whereas she got $500.00 (which she ripped up).

I devoured this book in a bit over a day and enjoyed every minute of it.  This is not a rom-com holiday romance but rather messy family drama and I ate up all of it.  If you are looking for a holiday read with a more serious side, this is the one for you!

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

 

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.

May 6, 2027

FROM GOODREADS: Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden
grow?...

After the unfortunate death of her parents in America, Mary is
sent back to her uncle's grand manor house in Yorkshire, England.
To deal with her grief, Mary throws herself into renovating the
walled garden she used to play in when she was a child. But the
more Mary digs, the more secrets and lies she unearths.

And when she finds out her Aunt Lily was killed under mysterious
circumstances in the garden, it seems that everyone has something
to hide - which doesn't help with Mary's investigation.

Nell Sowerby - her best friend from childhood seems to be hiding
something, Colin - Aunt Lily's son seems to be sick all the time
with no obvious signs of illness, and her uncle is clearly not
telling her the whole truth about what happened the day her aunt
died. Who is protecting who? And why?

As Mary gets to the bottom of the investigation with the help
of a questionable detective and nosey podcaster covering the case,
she begins to realize that not everything is as it seems...

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I read Beth is Dead at the beginning of the year and fell in love with it.  I don't know if it was because I've always loved Little Women or if it has to do with the author.  Either way, I'm excited to read this one and see if it hits the same.

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

Reaper Romance Anyone?

TITLE: A Date with Death

AUTHOR: Kelly Creagh

PUBLISHER: Gallery Books

PUBLISHING DATE: July 14, 2026

PAGES: 384   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Helena Hart isn’t having the best night. Her date just ditched her, her Halloween costume bombed, and her only sympathetic ear is a dead silent partygoer in a Grim Reaper get-up. But when she falls off a balcony and he catches her with a very real skeletal hand, she realizes he may not be a party guest at all. Before she can process the near-death experience, he vanishes, leaving her to wonder if she hallucinated the whole thing. 

Grim isn’t supposed to save souls. He’s supposed to reap them. And while he’s not sure why he spared Helena, he does know that if his superiors find out, he’s as good as dust—which is saying something for a guy who’s mostly bones. But keeping away from Helena is proving harder than expected—especially when she isn’t the least bit afraid of his monstrous form.

Worse, to his horror, Helena makes him feel. And for a reaper, feeling is a fate far more dangerous than death.

MY THOUGHTS: I figured I could end off October with a cute little romance and when I saw the grim reaper on the cover, I knew this one was for me.

Helena is at a costume party with the date from hell when she actually meets the date from hell.  She is out on the balcony chatting up an individual in a grim reaper outfit, never suspecting it isn't a costume. That is until she almost falls off the balcony and he manages to save her and then vanish.  

Helena is a librarian, so she does what every librarian does - she researches and tries to learn more about her mystery man.  A few days later, Helena almost plunges to her death when he is once again saved.  This time, she gets a chance to interact more with the savior, Grim, and they eventually start getting closer.  But Grim has messed up.  Helena is a Fated One and he really messed up the dynamic of the otherworld when he saved her.  Even more, he is pretty sure he is doing more than just catching her when she falls, he is falling for her himself.  

What transpires is a forbidden love story with a found family aspect and some fun, yet creepy characters.  I really loved Helena and even when it looked like she and Grim would never be allowed to be together, I maintained hope. My only real complaint is that I felt the story did drag a bit in the middle and it could have possibly been 30-40 pages shorter.  However, in the end, it all worked out. 

I was pretty sure I had read from this author before but did my own research and realized I hadn't.  I do remember her name for a popular YA series "Nevermore" which I almost picked up years ago.  "A Date with Death" is her first adult novel and I can't wait to see what she releases next!

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

All's Well That Ends Well - Except for the Victims

TITLE: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Halloween Special

AUTHOR: Patrick Hovarth and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (letterer)

PUBLISHER: IDW Dark

PUBLISHING DATE: October 7, 2026

PAGES: 60   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Years have passed since Samantha Strong left Woodbrook, but her legend has only grown. Now that the cat is out of the bag, more and more horrific murders have been tied back to her. Some are her doing…others mere folklore…but all absolutely gripping stories featuring everyone’s favorite cuddly serial killer. Gather around the campfire on Halloween night with some of the best creators working today and listen as the citizens of Woodbrook spill the beans on Samantha Strong’s most terrifying deeds.

MY THOUGHTS: I guess my October obsession ended up being this graphic novel series.  I managed to get my hands on this last installment this past week and the completist in me is extremely happy.  

This edition is basically some kids partying out in the woods who end up telling urban legend tales about Samantha and her dastardly deeds. I believe there are three small vignettes told from the POV of several animal characters who have either known someone who encountered Samantha in the past, or heard stories passed down through the years.

Again, the artwork is muted, that animal cute (when they are alive) and the story chilling.  I'm so glad I stumbled across this recommendation this spooky season and honestly, I'm sad to see it over.  However, I do believe there is a spin-off slated for next year and of course, I'll definitely be picking it up!

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

2 Bloggers 1 Series - The Dire King (Jackaby #4)

 

Boy has it been a while since Stormi and I last read from this series.  I had to do some searching but I believe it was the end of November 2023.  Wow!  Almost three years.  So, I was actually surprised about how much I remembered once I read a few chapters.  This was a great choice to read for spooky season too.  So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's blog to see hers.  

TITLE: The Dire King (Jackaby #4)

AUTHOR: William Ritter

PUBLISHER: Algonquin Young Readers

PUBLISHING DATE: August 22, 2017

PAGES: 352   

SOURCE: KU

FROM GOODREADS: The fate of the world is in the hands of detective of the supernatural R. F. Jackaby and his intrepid assistant, Abigail Rook. An evil king is turning ancient tensions into modern strife, using a blend of magic and technology to push Earth and the Otherworld into a mortal competition. Jackaby and Abigail are caught in the middle as they continue to solve the daily mysteries of New Fiddleham, New England — like who’s created the rend between the worlds, how to close it, and why zombies are appearing around. At the same time, the romance between Abigail and the shape-shifting police detective Charlie Cane deepens, and Jackaby’s resistance to his feelings for 926 Augur Lane’s ghostly lady, Jenny, begins to give way. Before the four can think about their own futures, they will have to defeat an evil that wants to destroy the future altogether.

MY THOUGHTS: This book basically completes the Jackaby arc of this series and is the final conclusion to what has been building in the previous book - the big battle with the Dire King. Thankfully I was able to jump back into this series pretty easily and since the book contained lots of the supernatural entities in Jackaby's world, it was a fun one to read in October.

The Dire King is trying to gain domination of the world again and Jackaby has been asked been tasked with trying to prevent it from happening.  Once again, he is relying heavily on his assistance, Abigail Rook, to assist him, along with Jenny the ghost and Charlie the shifter.  Charlie's extended family also comes into play and adds some extra tension as they want Charlie to return home and assume leadership over their clan.  In addition, they are not pleased Charlie has fallen for Abigail and is planning a life with her.

This series has always been a lot of fun and this one especially such since it brought a lot of the supernatural being, including trolls, fairies, witches and monsters together for the final battle.  I have always enjoyed Jackaby's relationship as a teacher and mentor with Abigail, and added with his dry wit and sense of humor, he is one of my favorite characters.  And of course, I still love Charlie which is to be expected because he shifts into a dog. 

The ending of this book went pretty much as expected and was full of action and peril.  There is a spin-off book which starts the Rook series which I plan to read in January.  However, I don't think anymore were ever written so it might be sad to visit this interesting world one last time.

If you like mysteries, action and urban fantasy, this is a good series to pick up.  I believe it is classified as YA but overall, I would say it leans into the older side of YA more than the younger.  It might have even been classified as new adult if that were a thing when they first were written. So glad Stormi picked this for this month's buddy read and we both vowed not to wait three years before reading the last one.

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

This Book Might be Therapy Inducing!

TITLE: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring

AUTHOR: Patrick Hovarth and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (letterer)

PUBLISHER: IDW Dark

PUBLISHING DATE: July 21, 2026

PAGES: 144   

SOURCE: Amazon Comixology Unlimited

FROM GOODREADS: It’s been eight long years since a bloodlusting brown bear drove into the city, kidnapped a kind young duck, dissected his body, and buried the pieces in the woods. The duck’s family painstakingly sought justice…but this brown bear was smart…she covered her tracks…and in the ’80s, there simply wasn’t a way for the duck’s family to find answers. 

But it’s not the ’80s anymore. Almost a decade after cuddly brown bear Samantha Strong solidified herself as the sole serial killer in Woodbrook, the world is entering a new era. As Samantha will soon find out, there are no secrets in the age of the internet. And those who lost loved ones to her massacre haven’t given up the flame of justice.

MY THOUGHTS: So, after some digging, I was finally able to get my hands on this graphic novel sequel by implementing a free 30-day trial of Amazon's Comixology Unlimited.  It translated pretty well on my Kindle Fire tablet and was a perfect way to spend a dark Saturday evening.

The town of Woodbrook has entered the 90s and along with it, are learning how hard it is to hide things as technology expands.  The sister of one of Samantha's victims in book one has spent years trying to find out what happened to her brother.  Someone finally reaches out to her on the internet saying they may have info for her if she travels to Woodbrook.  Meanwhile, Woodbrook is still recovering from what happened years prior.  Will they ever find out what evil lurks beneath their small town?

I liked this installment a lot, but it was much darker than the first one, which is saying a lot. This one shows the reader Samantha's teen years and some of the things back then.  If anything, the author hammered home the fact that Samantha really is a murderous psychopath.  In addition, the town is still reeling from what happened in the past and we get to see elderly animals in nursing homes abandoned and forgotten as well as those who have lost their loved ones at a killer's hand resorting to substance abuse to get through the days.  

I am glad I read this and I did like it overall.  It went way darker than I anticipated but again, kind of perfect for this time of the year.  I also have to note the artwork which manages to portray bloody and gruesome situations using muted colors which lure the reading into a sense of false security. 

If you enjoy graphic novels and dark themes, definitely try to get your hands on this series.

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

At Least There Was a Dog - Wait, Was There a Dog?

TITLE: Find Me Where It Ends

AUTHOR: Cassandra Khaw

PUBLISHER: Tor Nightfire

PUBLISHING DATE: October 6, 2026

PAGES: 144   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: Antigone is no stranger to death. 

For the women of her family, death always comes in the form of a black dog. 

When Antigone’s own black dog arrives, she isn’t afraid. She invites it inside, where it soon becomes a daily source of companionship and comfort. It also forces her to reflect on the life she’s led—the parts of herself she’s hollowed out for the sake of others, and the bone-deep exhaustion that’s hounded her every step. 

Her Death’s arrival must be a sign, permission to finally let go. To rest. Because while mortality is inevitable, living is a choice. 

But a good death comes at a price.

MY THOUGHTS: I'm really not sure how to review this one so this might be a short one. The book is a rather short novella anyway and I'm afraid to give away too much to boot.

Antigone comes from a line of women who are always heralded into death by the appearance of a black dog.  Antigone lives alone in the home she inherited when her mother died a few years ago.  She planned to pack it up, but it on the market and leave, but never did.  Her mother had been visited by a black dog right before she passed so when Antigone finds a black dog on her steps one evening, she knows she doesn't have long left.

Antigone starts tying up loose ends.  She has one close friend in town and to be honest, I found their relationship strained at best.  She has a sister who lives state's away who begs Antigone to ignore the dog.  And halfway through the book, a man from Antigone's past - a boyfriend, ex-lover, demon from hell, your guess is as good as mine - shows up.  He is a comfort to Antigone because he isn't pressuring her to do anything but be herself and handle things as she wants.  As the book progresses, Antigone grows closer with her dog and they become friends. But how long with the dog stick around before he expects Antigone to leave with him.

This book was odd, depressing and beautiful.  I really wouldn't call this horror if it wasn't for the man I still don't understand.  I think for the most part, I figured out this book at about the 90–100-page mark, but even then, I'm sure parts of it went over my head.  It would be interesting to reread and see what I pick up on the second time around but reference the depressing mark above.

This is the second book I've read by this author, and this one is sitting about the same as the first one.  I do believe I enjoyed this one a bit more though.  I would recommend this to anyone who likes shorter, unusual reads and beautiful, thought-provoking writing.  

MY RATING: 4 PAWS