All Dragons Read

The past year brought a lot of ups and downs, with seemingly more downs than ever.  But one thing I’ve always been able to count on is escaping into a good book.

When it came to FICTION, I found myself branching out from my usual horror and thriller/mystery choices.  I sought out lighter comedies, family dramas, even a few romantasies.  Thanks to the quarterly Goodreads reading challenge prompts (and my local library), I discovered some true gems that I probably would have otherwise overlooked.

When I was putting together my favorites from the past year, these are the first five titles that jumped to mind.

AFTERTASTE by Daria Lavelle — 5 out of 5 stars

Kostya has always been surrounded by ghosts.  While he can’t see them, he can make contact with them by eating their favorite foods.  He opens a restaurant devoted to helping others make contact with their late loved ones.  However, there is chaos erupting in the ghostly realm, and Kostya finds himself caught in the middle.        I went into this one pretty much blind, and wound up loving it so much!  The foodie in me enjoyed all of the wonderful food descriptions, while my inner horror and magical realism fan was caught up in the strange world Lavelle created.  At its core, though, this is a story of grief, acceptance, and love.  Well worth checking out.

BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL by V.E. Schwab — 5 out of 5 stars

A vampire tale set in three different timelines (1532, 1827, 2019), with three very different women and their interwoven stories.  I had been hearing a lot of raves about this one so I chose it for a Halloween read…and it definitely lived up to all the hype!  Haunting and mesmerizing are the first two words to come to my mind when trying to describe it.  The characters are well fleshed out, although I would have liked a bit more about Charlotte.  Highly recommend.

TO THOSE WILLING TO DROWN by Mark Matthews — 5 out of 5 stars

It’s difficult to describe this book without spoilers, but here are some key elements:  grieving parents, a mysterious pastor, and an unknown entity at the bottom of Torch Lake.  A blend of horror and folklore (one of my favorite combinations), this is by far my top read by Mark Matthews to date.

THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA by T.J. Klune — 5 out of 5 stars

T.J. Klune has quickly become one of my must-read authors.  This delightful story of Linus, Arthur, and six magical orphans truly warmed my blackened, broken heart (and that is saying A LOT in this day and age).  I laughed, I cried, I loved every single character.  I can’t recommend this one enough.

THE GUNCLE by Steven Rowley — 4.5 out of 5 stars

When Gay Uncle Patrick, a 43-year-old former sitcom star, suddenly finds himself caring for his beloved young niece and nephew, well, you just know there’s going to be some hijinks, hilarity, and family bonding.  The whole “person without kids suddenly has to care for kids” storyline is not new to books or movies, but there’s something truly charming about The Guncle that has me still thinking about it several months after reading it.

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Some other titles I would recommend checking out…

WHEN THESE MOUNTAINS BURN by David Joy

THE BRIGHT YEARS by Sarah Damoff

THE UNWORTHY by Agustina Bazterrica

TOO OLD FOR THIS by Samantha Downing

COUNTRY by Michael Hughes

Now that I’ve caught up a bit, and with April just a few hours away, I’ll be starting back with my Reading Mash-Ups, monthly TBRs, and perhaps a few other surprises!

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Stay safe, and Happy Reading!

While I’m putting together ideas and reading lists to go forward with this blog space, I decided to share some of the great books I read over the past year.  There were a lot, so I’m going to focus on the ones that really stood out and the ones I still can’t stop thinking about.

First up, I’ll start with NONFICTION, mainly memoirs and autobiographies.  I always love reading celebrity memoirs.  I mean, who doesn’t want to find out the dirt on their favorite (or even their not-so-favorite) stars?

These are my two most recent reads…

LAST RITES by Ozzy Osbourne with Chris Ayres  * 5 out of 5 stars*

Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath were true rock legends, inspiring countless musicians over the decades and paving the way for heavy metal.  In his final memoir, Ozzy talks about the health problems that plagued him over the last few years.  He also shares various stories from his past, including some truly heartbreaking details behind the death of Randy Rhoads.  Highly recommend.

FROM HERE TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough  *4.5 out of 5 stars*

Shortly before her untimely death, Lisa Marie Presley asked her oldest daughter, Riley Keough, to help write the memoir she had been wanting to do for years.  After her passing, Riley listened to her mother’s recordings and interviews, then went on to share them in this book.  Most of the book is Lisa Marie’s voice, with Riley adding extra information and her own recollections of certain events for clarity.

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Some other great titles worth mentioning…

I’M GLAD MY MOM DIED by Jennette McCurdy  *5 out of 5 stars*

Jennette McCurdy hadn’t been on my radar before her memoir came out, but the title intrigued me so I decided to check it out.  Wow.  Even all these months later, I am still feeling angry on her behalf, as well as sad, but also cautiously optimistic for her future.  A difficult read at times, but well worth reading.

TREJO:  MY LIFE OF CRIME, REDEMPTION, AND HOLLYWOOD by Danny Trejo with Donal Logue  *5 out of 5 stars*

Everyone’s favorite bad guy gone good.  What I’ve always liked about Danny Trejo is that he seems so down to earth and truly appreciative of his success.  He tells his story, from the street gangs and his time in prison to his surprising break into the Hollywood scene.  A mix of gritty and inspirational.

CHER:  THE MEMOIR, PART 1 by Cher  *4.5 out of 5 stars*

Imagine having such a full life that you need two books to write your story?!  In part 1 of Cher’s autobiography, she talks about her childhood, her relationship with Sonny Bono, and other events through the Gregg Allman years (late 1970’s if I remember correctly).  I have to say, I really felt my age when she talked about certain episodes of The Sonny and Cher Show that I remember watching as a kid!  Entertaining, and I can’t wait for Part 2 (I believe is set to release in May).

BROTHERS:  AN INTIMATE ACCOUNT OF BROTHERHOOD AND ROCK MUSIC by Alex Van Halen  *4.5 out of 5 stars*

Edward Van Halen (Ed or Edward, NEVER Eddie) was a guitar icon who, with his brother Alex, formed a band that helped define a generation.  In this book, Alex  shares stories of their upbringing and their journey into rock n roll stardom.  There are some truly wild and entertaining tidbits, but Alex will always be the protective big brother of Ed, so don’t expect too much scandal.  However, you will find out the story behind the famous “no brown M & M’s,” which is probably not what you would expect, yet it makes so much sense.

FACE IT by Debbie Harry  *4 out of 5 stars*

The first rock album I bought with my own money was Parallel Lines by Blondie (I believe I was around 9 years old, using birthday and Christmas money gifts).  I fricking loved their sound and I was in love with Debbie Harry’s style, so this was a must-read for me.  I enjoyed this one overall, but at times she seemed disconnected from her own narrative.

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Support your local libraries!

Until next time, stay safe and Happy Reading!

Watch out, I’m back…and I’m here to stay.

So, a year ago I was not in a good place.  From personal issues to the daily news, I was feeling drained.  Every time I read a great book, I couldn’t find the energy or the words to write even a basic review.  So I let my blog slide.

Then around May I found some inner strength and wanted to revive this blog.  I wanted to share good things with others.  That is when I found out that my website had been hacked and was offline.  I still had my second wordpress account, but my website had all of my drafts, unpublished pictures, etc.  I was pissed and I was devastated.  My computer-savvy husband tried to fix things.  He thought it was a problem with the hosting system as one of his accounts was down as well.  But after two months, I still didn’t have my site, so I threw in the towel and said fuck it.

Fast forward to a couple of days ago when my husband wanted to know my user name and password for this site.  He told me he had potentially fixed things, then logged in with my information and showed me that my site still existed.  I actually started crying.  I didn’t realize how much I missed sharing my love of books, how much I really needed this in my life right now.

I know I will never be an influencer.  That was never my goal.  My goal has always been to share my love of reading, and to maybe point someone to a book that they will enjoy as much as I did.  I think this is even more important now.

Going forward, while I usually avoid making political posts, I want to make it  clear that this is a safe space .  And if you identify yourself as MAGA, get the fuck off of my page.  Believe me, you don’t want to open that can of worms with me.

So, for the immediate future, I will be recapping some of my favorite books from the past year that I didn’t have the opportunity to share.  I am still planning monthly themes/goals (starting with April), and I’ve been thinking about some other features as well.  But, baby steps at the moment.

Thank you for reading this, and for your support!

Stay safe everyone!  And, as always, Happy Reading!!

I love short stories.  A good short is able to deliver the same message/mood/emotion  as their longer counterparts.  I’m continuing my annual February choice with these titles…

Since we’re still in the middle of winter, and we have definitely entered dark times, I felt The Darkest Night seemed appropriate.  This anthology has some of my favorite horror authors plus a few I haven’t had a chance to check out.  Looking forward to starting this one.

After the People Lights Have Gone Off is an older collection (2014 I believe) from Stephen Graham Jones, another fav of mine.  It’s been out of print for some time, and after searching for it everywhere, I was super excited to find out they reissued it AND a signed copy came in one of my NightWorms packages!  I enjoy reading an author’s earlier works, it’s always fun to see how their writing has changed and grown over the years.

I’m also adding this anthology to the mix for this month as well.  Recently released by one of my favorite new indie publishers, Bad Hand Books, this is an eclectic mix of stories and poetry that, well, the title sums up pretty well.  I started reading it in late January, and as of this writing (early February 2), I’m probably going to finish it later today or tomorrow.  I’ll let you know what I think!

As for January, I finished my monthly goal of 10 books.  I’m still reading A Court of Thorns and Roses, my pick for the month, but only have around 100 pages left.  It’s been a mixed bag for me, but I’ve been enjoying more than I thought I would.

What are your reading goals for February?  Drop me a line and let’s talk books!

Stay vigilant, stay safe, and Happy Reading!

Starting out the New Year with some great new books!

As usual, my monthly subscriptions did not disappoint.  Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao (Fantastic Strangelings Club) is the tale of a woman who inherits a pawn shop where you can sell your regrets, and soon “…embarks on a magical journey when a charming young physicist wanders into the shop, in this dreamlike and enchanting fantasy novel.”  Something about the cover blurb reminds me of an earlier FS selection, The Full Moon Coffee Shop, another magical realism story involving a mysterious “hidden” location.  I’ve been on a fantasy kick since the holidays, so I put this one high on my to-read list.

From NightWorms — A novelist seeking inspiration moves into the historic home of a 19th century poet and spiritualist in Beneath the Poet’s House by Christa Carmen.  I’m sure nothing good will come from that!  Feast While You Can (Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta) has a woman living in a small, isolated community who apparently awakens the evil forces in nearby caves.  Sounds intriguing for sure.

Of course, I had to start the New Year by treating myself to a little online shopping (and to also serve as a distraction from current events).  I’ve been searching for a copy of The Last King of California by Jordan Harper for a couple of years now, and was super excited to finally find a copy!!  It arrived January 30, and I immediately pushed aside my current reads pile and dove right in (apologies to my current reads!).  I’m only a few chapters in, but so far it is meeting all of my expectations.

I recently stumbled across the movie, Battle Royale, on a free streaming service.  Seeing that it was based on a book, of course I had to look it up.  How have I not heard of this before?  A 21st century twist on Lord of the Flies, well, that immediately got my attention!  At 627 pages, this isn’t going to be a light read in any sense, and definitely one I will need to be in the right reading mood to start.  And no, I didn’t watch the movie…if you have, what did you think?  Worth watching?

Have you received any great book mail lately?  Or checked out any awesome reads from your local library?  Drop me a line and let’s talk books!

Until next time, stay vigilant, stay safe, and Happy Reading!

I know that everything is going to hell in a handbasket right now, but I will not be commenting on those things through this blog.  Books are my safe space, and this blog was created to share that.  I will continue to be vocal on other platforms about certain things, but not here.  I hope everyone can find time to lose themselves in a good book, whether it’s a favorite re-read or a new author, fantasy or romance, horror or comedy.

What I’ve Been Reading

I Might Be in Trouble by Daniel Aleman — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars

Novel.  Author David Alvarez had a successful first novel, but his second was a total flop.  He’s lost his boyfriend and is having trouble coming up with his next story. Things get even worse when he wakes up to find his latest one-night stand dead in his bed….       There was something about this book that I just couldn’t put it down.  What starts out as a quirky comedy of errors turns into a heartwarming tale of a guy just trying to figure his life out.  Yes, there were some outlandish moments, but that was part of the fun.  By the end I just wanted to give David a big hug.  A good choice if you’re looking for a lighter read with some memorable characters.

The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim — 3.5 out of 5 stars

Novel.  If you’re looking for a body horror novel narrated by an unreliable character as she descends into madness, this may be one for you.  Ji-won’s dad has abandoned the family, her mom has taken up with a jerk, and Ji-won has become obsessed with eyeballs.  This was a strange tale, but overall not bad.  Fair warning:  if you are squeamish about  eyes in any way, you may not want to put this high on your reading list.

Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven — 2.5/3 out of 5 stars

Novel.  A powerful hurricane rips through Florida, and employees of Fantasticland, a large amusement park/resort, are left stranded.  They quickly turn on each other and fight to survive the next two months.  First of all, I am soooo glad I did not buy this book when it first came out (and I was really tempted).  A modern-day Lord of the Flies intrigued me, especially being set in an amusement park.  But the whole concept of 18-25 year-olds losing their minds within the first five minutes of a power outage and starting to kill each other??  All because they couldn’t get on social media???  JFC.  That got old really fast for me.  There were some good chapters (each chapter is an interview with a different survivor), but wound up being a big disappointment for me.

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky — 4 out of 5 stars

Novel.  Earth is a wasteland.  The last remaining humans have set off across the universe to find a new home to inhabit.  Meanwhile, an earlier space pioneer and scientist has transformed a habitable planet into a new Eden, but not necessarily the one she had envisioned.  What will happen when these two groups meet?   I thoroughly enjoyed this one!  The pacing was good (it didn’t feel like 600 pages), and the tech-speak was just enough to explain and not so much to make my eyes glaze over.  I would have liked a bit more character background or development with a couple of the mains.  This is the first in a series, and one that I would highly recommend for sci-fi fans.

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Stay safe and Happy Reading!

I love making lists (yes, I’m weird), so I love this time of year when I start sifting through my unread books, trying to decide which ones are “must-reads” for the new year.  This year, I decided on 25(ish) titles, including the five nonfiction and fifteen fiction pictured below…

A rather eclectic mix, with new-to-me authors and longtime favorites, and genres ranging from crime thrillers to fantasy.  I also went through my Kindle and picked out four more titles:

White Pines by Gemma Amor

Tin God by Stacy Green

The Things We Cannot Say by Mitch Sebourn

Stronger Than Hate by Robert Essig

Which leaves the 25th book, one that I can’t decide which direction to go.  I’ve thought about tackling a classic (The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, The Monk by Matthew Lewis, or Emma by Jane Austen).  But I also like the thought of diving in to a meaty 600+ page epic novel (Shogun by James Clavell, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara , The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon are just a few that are calling out to me).  In the end, I probably won’t know until I start one of them.

As for Goodreads, I’m keeping my total for the year at 125 again.  This is a nice comfortable number for me.

And for my January theme, I’m sticking with my favorite, “A New Year, A New Series.”

I am finally checking out this series just to see what all the fuss is about.  Why now all of a sudden?  Not gonna lie, I absolutely love the new covers on these books and wound up getting the first three of the series based solely on the covers.  Now to find out if Sarah J. Maas lives up to all they hype I’ve been hearing for years.

Have you made your reading goals for 2025?  Drop me a line and let’s talk books!

Until next time, stay safe and Happy Reading!

It’s almost time to say good-bye to 2024.  Wishing you all a wonderful 2025!  Set your sights high and never give up!

What I’ve Been Reading

Bruises on a Butterfly by Chad Lutzke — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars

Novella.  Earlier this year, Lutzke announced on his Patreon page that he was taking a break from writing.  Whether this is just temporary or winds up being a permanent decision, we will have to wait and see.  Bruises is his “last” published work, and if he decides not to continue writing then I can honestly say that he stepped away from writing on an extremely high note.  This story is everything I’ve come to love and expect from his writing:  coming of age horror that will break your heart.  I know I’ve recommended many of his previous works as good places to start if you are new to his writing, this one is no exception.

Wanderlust:  Extraordinary People, Quirky Places, and Curious Cuisine by Karen Gershowitz — 4 out of 5 stars

Nonfiction.  The title of this one pretty much says it all.  The author has traveled the globe, and this book offers some short essays and commentaries on some of her more memorable trips.  I love reading travelogues, and, for the most part, this was a very entertaining read.

Cozy Mysteries

My theme for December involved cozy mysteries.  I had a few on hand I had planned on reading (I did finish Laura Childs’ Death By Darjeeling, a solid 3 out of 5 stars and a good introduction to her Tea Shop Mystery series), but a message from my friend, Mr Pink Ink, sent me down the rabbit hole of stories and series by Rosie A. Point.  I found several Kindle box series for only 99 cents on the ‘zon so I picked up five different ones.  Not sure where to start (and a bit overwhelmed by all the great choices), I decided on Strawberry Swirl Murder, immediately followed by Mint Freeze Murder (the first two in the Spies and Food Truck series, both 4 out of 5 stars for me).  I loved the characters and the fast-paced narrative (with very good mysteries as well).  But, as is pretty normal with me, I found out at the end of Mint Freeze that this series is tied in to a previous series with the arrival of two guests (I have a tendency to pick up a series in the middle, so this development didn’t really come as a surprise to me)…so that led me back to the ‘zon where I found the Bite-Size Bakery series that I am now devouring (pun intended!).  Murder By Chocolate was a 3.5 stars, but things really kicked up a notch with Marzipan and Murder (4 out of 5 stars).  At around 110 pages, these stories are perfect for a rainy afternoon or for those times I’m in the mood to read but don’t want to get involved in a longer novel.  Thank you again Mr Pink Ink, two thumbs up!

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Until next time, stay safe and Happy Reading!

To say this past year has been interesting would be an understatement.  A year of ups and downs, with an uncertain future ahead, the one constant in my life has been reading.  And this year was a great one for that!

I made two changes at the beginning of the year, which I think set me up for a more successful and enjoyable time.  First, I set my reading goals to a more leisurely rate.  I mean, where’s the joy in cramming ten books at the end of December just to meet some arbitrary number I picked twelve months earlier?  Second, I ditched NetGalley.  I’m still signed up (unless they eventually delete my account for inactivity), but I really have no intentions of going back.  I found that I was overwhelming myself with books I “had” to read and review, rather than just enjoying the ones I already had at my own pace.  Plus, I’m not an influencer by any means so I always felt that my reviews were just shouts into the void.  Eliminating that stress was truly lifting a weight off of my shoulders.

But enough about that…what about the books I did read??

Going back through the titles from this past year, I think it was a very successful reading year.  I have a lot of 3.5 and 4 stars, and some stellar 4.5 and 5 stars (and yes, there were a few duds, but they were easily forgotten).  So, without further ado, here are my favorite reads from 2024!

In no particular order…

FICTION

Those We Thought We Knew by David Joy

Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

The Elementals by Michael McDowell

Kill Your Darling by Clay McLeod Chapman

Bruises on a Butterfly by Chad Lutzke

She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister

NONFICTION

Red Sands by Caroline Eden

Beyond the Great Wall by Naomi Duguid and Jeffrey Alford

The Rocks Will Echo Our Sorrow by Elin Anna Labba

Monsters on the Couch by Brian Sharpless

Dinner on Monster Island (Essays) by Tania De Rozario

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What were your favorite reads of 2024?  Drop me a line and let’s talk books!

Until next time, stay safe and Happy Reading!

Maybe one of these days I’ll actually post updates in a timely manner!  I’m thinking of creating a schedule for 2025.  We shall see about that…

What I’ve Been Reading

Extreme Medical Services by Jamie Davis — 2 out of 5 stars

Novel.  Who would have thought that a book about a paramedic who helps vampires, werewolves, and the like would be so fricking boring??  Dean graduated top of his class in medical training and was assigned a position at Station U, a relatively “secret” station that provides emergency aid to the large population of non-humans in the city.  His partner, Brynne, is dating a vampire, but don’t get in her business ‘cuz she has it under control.  The “action” is repetitive, the dialogue is awkward (and at times preachy), and unless you’ve watched every episode of E.R. or are a paramedic yourself, you will probably find your eyes glazing over at the medical jargon and tech-speak at every emergency.  There is no plot development until the last five pages or so, when we get the dangling carrot and “stay tuned for the next book!”  For me, this would have been a one star read if not for Gibbie the vampire and the zombie who was a chef when he was alive.

The Redemption of Morgan Bright by Chris Panatier — 3 out of 5 stars

Novel.  This was one very strange story.  After the mysterious death of her sister, Morgan Bright checks into the Hollyhock Asylum as a “troubled housewife” to find out what really happened.  What seems pretty straight-forward quickly turns into a total mind-fuck as layers are peeled away to reveal the dark underside of the asylum (having an unreliable narrator doesn’t help much either).  I had mixed emotions about this book.  Overall I liked it, it was weird and, at times, creepy, but there were a few things that just left me feeling like I was missing something, leaving me with more questions than answers by the end.

Kill Your Darling by Clay McLeod Chapman — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars

Novella.  Forty years ago, Glenn Partridge’s 15 year old son was brutally murdered, the killer never found.  Still haunted by his death after all these years, Glenn’s wife enrolls him in a creative writing class, hoping this will help with his grief.  But Glenn’s writing seems to have a life of its own…    This is by far my favorite of Chapman’s stories, grief horror at its best.  Beautifully written, haunting, and heartbreaking, I am still thinking about this one several weeks after finishing it.  Highly recommend.

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby — 4 out of 5 stars

Novel.   Titus Crown, the first black sheriff in Charon County, discovers things are not what they seem after a teacher is shot by a former student.  As he searches for a reason behind the shooting, he finds himself spiraling down a rabbit hole of depravity and dark secrets.     I have yet to read a novel by Cosby that I haven’t liked, and this latest offering is no exception.  Strong character development, fast action, and some crazy twists make this a great read for anyone looking for a dark noir novel.

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So, I realize that I forgot to post my theme for November!!  November was Native American Heritage Month, and these are the two excellent books I read…

Red Paint:  The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk by Sasha LaPointe — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars

Nonfiction.  Sasha LaPointe shares her story of tragedies, abuse, and her search for herself in this amazing, heartfelt memoir.  I grew up in the same small area as Sasha, so seeing her mention certain places brought her story to life even more for me (I can still smell the mix of stale cigarette smoke and frying grease as well as see the battered red vinyl booths at the Horseshoe Cafe).  Her writing is amazing, at times I could feel the raw emotions coming through the pages.  Don’t miss this memoir.

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann — 4.5/5 out of 5 stars

Nonfiction.  A compelling look at the murders that shook the Osage Indian nation in the early 1900’s and the long road to finding justice and closure.  Grann does an excellent job with his research and with introducing the many key players.  I’ve heard mixed reviews regarding the 2023 movie.  If you’ve seen it, let me know what you thought of it!

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Stay safe and Happy Reading!