Books from the Backlog #135

 

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks. This is a fun meme hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books!

The Angel of Death has a name: Azrael. He also has a purpose - to soothe the souls of the suffering into the peaceful passage of the afterlife. But in his twilight existence, Azrael himself has never known peace or pleasure...

Until he meets Sara, the first mortal who can somehow see him in his Reaper form. Charming and spirited despite bearing her own burdens, she intoxicates him with the pleasures of life, even taming his brutal dark side with her fearlessness. But Azrael’s new happiness is short-lived when he realizes Sara’s health is fading. The bright flame of her life is about to be blown out.

And he’s to blame.

I added Kristen Painter's Dark Kiss of the Reaper to my TBR in July of 2016! I was enjoying her House of Comarre series at the time so I added this to my wishlist and I believe I received it as a gift. It's a standalone and it sounded super intriguing with the Reaper vibes! I still want to read this one at some point...as to its actual location in my TBR pile, it's hard to say as I don't rightly know! Lol.

Review--The Boy Who Cried Bear by Kelley Armstrong

 

In The Boy Who Cried Bear, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong keeps readers on the edge of their seats while detective Casey Duncan tries to locate the threat before it’s too late. . .

Haven’s Rock is a well-hidden town surrounded by forest. And it’s supposed to be, being that it’s a refuge for those who need to disappear. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton already feel at home in their new town, which reminds them of where they first met in Rockton. And while they know how to navigate the woods and its various dangers, other residents don’t. Which is why people aren't allowed to wander off alone.

When Max, the town’s youngest resident—taught to track animals by Eric—fears a bear is stalking a hiking party, alarms are raised. Even stranger, the ten-year-old swears the bear had human eyes. Casey and Eric know the dangers a bear can present, so they’re taking it seriously. But odd occurrences are happening all around them, and when a dead body turns up, they’re not sure what they’re up against.

I am past due for a Kelley Armstrong read, so I landed on The Boy Who Cried Bear, the second book in her Haven's Rock series which is a continuation of her Rockton mysteries but a new town means a new name for Casey and Dalton's adventures! While this one was definitely a somewhat chilling read, I can't help but feel like something was missing. Some kind of spark of intrigue to make things really exciting. While it was still an enjoyable read, it just felt like something was missing.

Casey and Dalton are still still trying to get everyone settled in their new Rockton, Haven's Rock and things are going as well as they could be. But there are still many dangers and problems surrounding them in the wildness that's pretty much in the middle of nowhere. You have the group of people looking to escape the modern world, the group of people who are more wild and unsavory, and then there's the new mining group who shares property lines with Haven's Rock. Things remain steady...until they upheave.

Max is one of the youngest residents of the town. His mother moved him and his brother to the town to escape serious dangers from down south that left their mother injured. Max begins to think he sees a bear walking the edge of their property lines and the thing is, he thinks he seems it actually walking...as it right side up, like a person, but totally covered in the thick hide of a bear. And then the unthinkable happens, Max goes missing.

Soon Casey and Dalton are scouring the forest looking for any sign of the young boy and trying to work with the miners in getting permission to enter "their" land. It's not long into the search that they find a dead body that begins a whole new set of problems.

I don't know why, but this book felt almost too simple compared to Armstrong's previous books. Or perhaps I'm still getting off my fantasy kick and this mystery just felt too easy for me. I think with having finished a few books with a more complex plot going with characters deceiving others that this one just came off as too clean cut. Like you knew the villains right from the get-go and you were just waiting for the heroes to figure it all out.

There was also a bit of personal complications going on with Casey and Dalton that will likely continue onto other books, which should prove for interesting developments given the situation. I'll be curious to see what other side characters might be popping up in this series to bring about new mysteries. It kind of gives you Angela Lansbury feels where there's always a killer running about wherever they go! Lol.

As far as pacing goes this one was pretty good; I'd put it at moderate. Not too slow, not overly fast, but just right for a mystery of this caliber. Did I solve the whodunit? Not quite, I'll be honest! Lol. I felt like there were factors I couldn't foresee until Casey started doing her investigating!

All in all I felt like The Boy Who Cried Bear was an intriguing read and a good segment of the Haven's Rock series. It wasn't quite a bone-chilling mystery, but it was a mystery filled with some twists and a few shudders that's for sure! As with any Kelley Armstrong novel, I am eagerly anticipating the next one...which happens to be in my TBR pile somewhere! Lol.

Overall Rating 4/5 stars

Can't Wait Wednesday #196

 

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

A teen girl's dream job aboard a luxury train derails when she discovers the strange cargo being transported—a mysterious and beautiful greenhouse—but its flowering façade may hide deadly thorns beneath, in this atmospheric and lush novel from the author of Those We Drown.

Lara Williams is desperate to get away. When she gets a job working aboard the luxury train The Banebury for her gap year, she this is her chance to reinvent herself, after the incident that wrecked her relationships and her college prospects several months ago.

At first, the train is everything Lara expected—a five-star escape from her past, demanding customers and all. Even after she learns that her ex-friend, Rhys, who she definitely did not have feelings for before their relationship imploded, is one of her new coworkers, she's determined to make things work.

But on the first night of their journey, the trip takes a strange turn when two mysterious carriages, filled with an array of beautiful and rare plants, are attached to the end of the train in the middle of the night. With them come a pair of siblings. Gwen and Gwydion are wealthy, Welsh, and alluring as they are odd--not to mention, incredibly protective of their botanical cargo.

The siblings claim the plants they're transporting are for research, yet Lara can't shake the feeling that there's something...otherworldly about them. Something that calls to her, night after night, whispering in her dreams. 

Soon, Lara will you can't outrun your troubles. You have to grab them by their roots. And if she can't dig up the secrets of the Banebury, they might just consume her whole...

I loved Amy's debut and still need to read her second book but I feel pretty much like a fangirl already because that first book was soooo good! And the second book gave off the same supernatural thriller vibes as does this one, so yeah, I am excited for this one for sure!

TITLE: Predatory Natures
AUTHOR: Amy Goldsmith
PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press
GENRE: YA Supernatural Thriller
RELEASE DATE: July 8, 2025

Let's Discuss: Who's Your Book Dealer?

 

Where do you frequently buy your books? I feel like my "dealer" of choice has changed greatly over the years and now it's a bit of a mixed bag, depending on the occasion!

Who's Your Book Dealer?

In the beginning...lol, I would shop at Borders! They were my go to store! I also loved their smaller store Waldenbooks at the malls! Before they just decided to hop into a larger space at the mall! Those were the places I shopped at the most growing up. 

Then they closed, and my heart broke and I had to switch to Barnes and Noble. Because, ironically, the Books a Million that we had also closed. Plus it was just one location that was far out of the way kind of thing at a dying mall that is dead now. So B&N it was.

I will admit, I also shopped Amazon for a time. Not proud of it, but they did discount their books for awhile and since I'm a book hoarding bibliophile I needed to save money wherever possible! But I stopped shopping them for books when their prices were cover price. I mean, I will gladly shop at Indie stores as well and if I'm paying the same price, there's no question as to where I will shop!

That being said, I also go to Indie bookstores. Not as much as I would like, but I go for events and will always buy a book when I attend. I also frequent my favorite one on Indie Bookstore Day and when in the area I always pop in to see if there's something I need right away!

I will also buy from Target and Walmart on occasion as well! Particularly if they have an exclusive edition! Or a sale like they did last week! BOGO 50! And most of their books usually have a bit of a discount well, so when I decide to spontaneously purchase two $33 hardcovers, I came out getting them for the price of 1! Walmart purchases tend to be more sporadic and rarer. I think I usually only buy an exclusive edition from them and maybe the once in a blue moon random purchase. They are the store where I found a MMPB of a book that was originally just in HC at the time. My mom didn't believe me when I said I saw it somewhere and we went to like 4 different Walmarts that day and the last one we stopped at, one we usually avoided, had it! 

So yeah, I pretty much buy from all over! But usually just B&N and the Indie stores with a rare purchase elsewhere on occasion.

Where do you typically get your books for your keeper shelves?

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Purple Princess of The Purple Booker. 

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc.

Sharing a teaser from my last read yet again! What with Mother's Day on Sunday I didn't really get a chance to dive into my next read, so there you go! Lol.

"Our mouths were too close. All it would take was a shift and we'd collide. We'd crash into each other, and the shock waves would destroy us both." p 264

TITLE: Shield of Sparrows
AUTHOR: Devney Perry
PUBLISHER: Red Tower Books 
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
RELEASE DATE: May 6, 2025

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and The Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week's topic is: Top Ten Ways My Blogging/Reviewing Style Has Changed Over Time (submitted by Susan @ Bloggin' 'bout Books)

*in no particular order

10. ELIMINATED INTERVIEWS--in the early days I would interview authors a lot, have a contest for their new release. But that kind of engagement has gone way down over the last few years.
9. STOPPED CONTESTS--I've also stopped holding said contests as well, since even that kind of engagement had gone down.
8. STOPPED POSTING MILESTONES--I also used to post blogoversary posts with a contest but I think I stopped doing that in the last 2 years maybe? I would also celebrate follower milestones, but stopped doing that too when the number never changed.
7. ENDED COVER REVEALS--it seemed like in the early days, seeing a cover early in some vein was a BIG DEAL and I always loved posting about them as soon as I saw them somewhere.
6. LESS RANDOM POSTS--yes, I even stopped doing my random posts. I bought books filled with random whatnot info that I shared and I would occasionally post about other random-like things. If they are book related I end up making it into a discussion post.
5. STARTED REVIEWING RE-READS--I use to hardly ever re-read anything, and it's still pretty rare when/if I do, but on the more recent re-reads I did a little re-review even if it was more just me gushing over things! Mainly with Stephanie Garber's books! Lol.
4. LESS BLOG REFRESHES--when I used the free blog templates from wherever I used to get them...honestly I don't even remember! I would update it maybe once every 2 years or so? Then I won this blog design maybe 5 years into my blogging life and just never bothered to change it. I still like it, but yeah, it's been awhile.
3. BLOGGING TIME WENT DOWN--there used to be a time I spent hours blogging a day! Like with visiting blogs on the traveling meme and reading reviews, but then most bloggers I knew retired and other people took to BookTok, which I don't have time for. So the time I spend blog hopping and all is seriously less than it used to be!
2. HARDER TO FIND REVIEWS--I know I could always go to Goodreads, but I find it harder to find reliable reviews from readers I can trust. I know my TBR pile is still out of control and I could use the break of adding to it with new things that I'm taking a chance on, but I kind of miss that "ooh, something new!" vibe I used to get with blogging.
1. REVIEWS ARE MORE PERSONABLE--I feel like in the beginning when I was trying to find my review vibe I didn't know how to write them, but now I just kind of write the review I want to read and turn into an almost conversation piece. Like if you let me ramble about a book I just read this is pretty much what I would say...if I could think as coherently as I sometimes type and have time to fashion my words. Lol.

 

Let's Discuss: "Video" Reviews

 

Do you find "video" reviews informative? I started noticing a lack of written reviews lately when it comes to books and it saddens me as that's my preference for consuming reviews. I say "video" since there's so many ways to do this with TikTok and Instagram Reels, whether the poison of choice tends to be for reviewers. I just feel like they aren't as helpful for me as a reader.

"Video" Reviews

I think the main part is time. I so do not have time to sit for whatever length of minutes these reels/TikToks take. I can read a review faster if this was put into written format. If only I could train my brain to do this with books, but I guess that's a different bag as well. Lol.

The few times I've tried to sit and listen, too much time goes by and I end up running behind on other things. It's just so lengthy. I know it's just the changing of time and the way things are done. But as a reviewer I can honestly say I hate the camera. I don't like being on camera and that's what has always appealed to me of blogging, the anonymity. Yes, I still occasionally will post a photo of myself, usually at an event or something silly for a contest but it's rare! Lol.

And I don't know, I guess with the reels/TikToks I feel like the reviewer didn't have time to compose their thoughts as well and is just going on the spur of the moment. Maybe it was just the one or two I tried watching and had to give up. That's totally possible. But I feel like with written reviews there's no rush, you can compose all your thoughts out, go back and edit, redact or add something here or there. You can make it perfect! Now maybe some reviewers also spend that amount of time with their reels/TikToks, again, can't really say. But based on the wee bit that I consumed, it didn't feel like it.

What about you? Do you enjoy consuming reels/TikTok reviews? Do you find them helpful if you need to know what a book is about and do you get the information you're wanting to help make a decision of "to read or not to read?"

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Last Week I Read:

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry (ARC) (4 stars)

Currently Reading:

The Boy Who Cried Bear by Kelley Armstrong

What I Plan to Read Next:

No Place Left to Hide by Megan Lally

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Let's Discuss: Starting with the Wrong Book
Can't Wait Wednesday #195
Books from the Backlog #134
Book Blogger Hop #357
Stacking the Shelves--I Have No Shelf Control

Stacking the Shelves--I Have No Shelf Control

 

Stacking the Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks! The meme is now hosted by Reading Reality.

Wow. These weeks are really starting to become a blur. I'll be saying this in a few months again, but then it will be because I was so busy at work! Lol. We're still in the slow season but it honestly doesn't bother me too much since once our "ramp" season starts it will be nuts! I decided to attend a signing this week to see Seanen McGuire! She had a new horror book she was promoting and though it seemed too scary for me--alien invasions kind of freak me out, don't ask, lol--but I had read her short story in Carniepunk years ago and liked it and since I have a handful of authors from this anthology who have signed their story I decided to go and have her sign hers too! Then the rest of the week was pretty mundane after that. I bought wayy too many books this week what with Target's sale and then I made an impulse decision outside of the Target sale...it was just crazy! And then yesterday I went shopping with my mom and made one too many impulse purchases, but when Kohl's gives you a 40% off coupon it's hard to pass up that cute top! Lol.

Anyway, here are my bookish goods:

No Place Left to Hide by Megan Lally--I am debating about going to an event this summer where Megan is attending. I just finished her first book and loved it, so I added her second book to my TBR pile!
Archangel's Ascension by Nalini Singh--so behind on this series but for now, I keep buying the books because MMPB are insanely hard to find years later! This was also bought during the preorder sale with B&N!
Beneath the Burning Sea by Amanda Bouchet--another B&N preorder sale purchase!
The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten--I was o the fence about this series but then I impulsively bought a ticket to her July signing for the final book of the series so I bought this one off Pangobooks and it's in such good condition and was at a great price too!
Silver Elite by Dani Francis--started seeing this on my Instagram and once I read what it was about I was intrigued! I miss the good ol dystopian reads and then this had silver edges so I added this to my Target cart along with...
Shield of Sparrows by Deveny Perry--this was the other book I added to my Target cart! With them both at 30% off and then getting them another 25% off after that with the BOGO 50 sale they were a steal and I wanted a finished copy of this one to get those sprayed edges since the book was shaping out to be amazing as I read the ARC!

Then my Fairy Loot Powerless books arrived! Never received my shipment notification email so it was a complete surprise! I haven't started this series but once I saw FL's copies I decided I would like them best! Lol. Now I just need them to do the final book so I can queue it up!

Powerless by Lauren Roberts--FL Signed!
Powerful by Lauren Roberts--FL Signed!
Reckless by Lauren Roberts--FL Signed!

Then my preorder gift for The Notorious Virtues came! It's overly pages with character art! Assuming they are main characters since I still need to read this one. Lol.

THANK YOU Penguin Teen!

And finally, while at Target, I picked up my new blog planner for the year...got myself on the academic calendar for planning posts! Sadly, nothing colorful on the inside pages like I used to find, but the cover was too perfect! Lol.

I've actually planned out my posts through June already, they aren't all written but I at least know what books I'm picking for memes and all and I have sale dates for certain books and shops all written up too! Now once July dates start rolling out and once I finish drafting June posts, I'll be moving into this little beauty! 

And that was it for me this week! What all did you get?

Hope all the mothers out there today have a Happy Mother's Day!

ARC Review--Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry

 

Shield of Sparrows is a slow-burn, high-stakes romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros―where enemies become lovers, monsters stalk a cursed realm, and a forgotten princess finds the strength to tear off her crown and become the warrior she was never meant to be.

The gods sent monsters to the five kingdoms to remind mortals they must kneel.

I’ve spent my life kneeling―to their will and to my father's. As a princess, my only duty is to wear the crown and obey the king.

I was never meant to rule. Never meant to fight. And I was never supposed to be the daughter who sealed an ancient treaty with her own blood.

But that changed the fateful day I stepped into my father’s throne room. The day a legendary monster hunter sailed to our shores. The day a prince ruined my life.

Now I’m crossing treacherous lands beside a warrior who despises me as much as I despise him―bound to a future I didn’t choose and a husband I barely know.

Everyone wants me to be something I’m not―a queen, a spy, a sacrifice.

But what if I refused the role chosen for me? What if I made my own rules? What if there’s power in being underestimated?

And what if―for the first time―I reached for it?

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

I was deeply curious about Deveny Perry's Shield of Sparrows when it arrived unexpectedly at my doorstep and it was a most welcoming surprise in the end! Shield of Sparrows is a stunning and captivating fantasy read with terrifying monsters at every turn, and just a hint of romance to give it some added spice! There's action, danger, secrets, and deadly monsters throughout and characters who are so complex that it will make your head spin just a little bit, but in the best possible of ways!

Odessa has always known she was the "spare" princess of Quentis, even though she is the eldest daughter. It was always her younger, half-sister Mae who was to be the favored daughter. The one who would eventually marry the prince of Turah and bring about a steady union between the two kingdoms. Odessa was always fine with this as well, but then one day when the prince had come to see her father after having slain seven monsters and now declares the Chain of Sevens to come into motion, which basically allows the prince to have his choice of a bride instead of his intended, Mae. He wants Odessa for his bride instead and before she knows it, Odessa's life has been upended and her betrothal to her father's favored guard is ended and she's sent with the prince and his legendary soldier simply known as, The Guardian, to return to Turah.

Before leaving though, her father recruits her to be a spy for him and find the hidden location of Allesaria so that he might invade and essentially try to put an end to the terrifying monsters that attack the surrounding kingdoms. He also throws in that if she's given the opportunity to kill the unstoppable Guardian, she is to take it. 

Soon Odessa goes on a long and perilous journey with her husband, his Guardian, her ladies maids, and a handful of soldiers to her new home. Naturally a bit of chaos ensues with monsters and fighting for their lives. Odessa will soon also learn the ways of self-defense by the Guardian himself. The training is rigorous and tiring and Odessa gets bested again and again, but the Guardian is relentless.

A pattern begins to form within these moments and that's when we sense a love complication brewing. Odessa rarely spends time with her husband, Zaiver, who fought fiercely to get her instead of her sister and yet she rarely sees him as he goes off on missions quite a bit. Time is a funny thing in this book as with just a sentence or two, days or weeks will have passed and we just roll into the next scene. I wouldn't say you could sense the love triangle coming, as Odessa doesn't really have feelings for her husband so much, it's a bit more complicated than that, hence the love complication.

This book is the very definition of what you would call a slow burn. Not just a slow burn romance, but a slow burn kind of read. There are moments where the pacing is just sedate. Action is not filled to the brim on every page in this one, but yet, I felt compelled to carry on. It was truly Odessa and the other characters she meets along the way that kept me going. Because trust me, this one ends with all kinds of explosions!

We are teased with hints of mystery here and there. Things that just get mentioned in the form of a comment or question but kind of fizzle out. You wonder if you read something right as it will be another 100 pages or so before it gets teased again. There are always more questions than answers, but the air continues to thicken with mystery as the pages turn in this one!

If you're a fan of a strong romance, be advised that the romantic elements in this one run on the low burn side. The romance itself is definitely slow burn and a sort of enemies to lovers kind of vibe, but once the flames erupt, they burn bright! Good things come to those who wait, so keep that in mind when waiting for the spicy moments of this one! It's also a tamed spice, so nothing heavily graphic either. Just to be advised if that's your thing or not!

Shield of Sparrows had me constantly guessing what would happen next! What twisted, tragic, or completely unexpected bombshell would befall these characters next and I was never quite prepared for what happened! This book was filled with endless surprises and I wouldn't be surprised if the sequel has even more! It will definitely be a book worth waiting for and will make the top of my reading queue come 2026!

If you're looking for that next new fantasy read to completely blow past your expectations and have you spellbound by its end, then Shield of Sparrows will be the read for you! It was a surprising kind of read in all the best possible ways and I cannot wait to read more of this dark and twisted world and uncover all the secrets and mysteries that were presented to us in those final chapters! 

Overall Rating 4/5 stars

Book Blogger Hop #357

 

This meme is hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addict!

This week's question is: Have you ever looked at the young adult book section in a modern bookstore and felt out of touch or old? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

MY ANSWER: Not so much. They say age is just a number, so I don't really feel too old or out of touch. Usually I know what I am looking for in the YA section and can find it fairly easily. Although even new releases can still be difficult to find. One of my B&Ns has supremely tall shelves and I'm thinking...what teen is even THAT tall to get to those shelves?! Lol. I'm short so I either need to find one of those step stools or track down a tall employee if that's the only spot the new release is in...which it has been on occasion! At one point a LOT of the authors I loved were writing both adult and YA, so I basically went all over the store picking up their books. But no, I don't feel out of touch or old when I step into that section.

Books from the Backlog #134

 

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks. This is a fun meme hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books!

The Haunted Mansion is one of the most popular and beloved attractions in Disney theme park history, and can be found in each Magic Kingdom Park around the globe. This newly updated book brings the Mansion's inhabitants to an afterlife like never before. Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion illustrates how the Mansion's 999 "grim grinning ghosts" moved from sketches to reality, evolving from earliest story concepts through adaptations and changes as it moved into each of the parks, to the very latest ideas for show enhancements. This book also confirms and dispels the various myths and rumors that have surrounded the mysterious Mansion since its opening. And now new history has been added as the attraction continues to evolve. In this third edition, there are even more details and artwork depicting the imagineering of the attractions in California and Florida, as well as the corresponding Haunted Mansion attractions in Paris, Hong Hong, and Tokyo.

I added Jason Surrell's The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic to my TBR pile in July of 2016! The Haunted Mansion is one of my FAVORITE rides at Disney World and this book basically talked about the imagineering of all different versions of it! It's rare that I add a non-fiction book to my TBR pile at all, but that it's a Disney related one pretty much checks out! Pretty sure other than the 2 celebrity bio-type books that I have, the few other non-fiction books are all Disney!

 

Can't Wait Wednesday #195

 

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

From the author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy comes a new heartwarming fantasy rom-com with an opposites-attract twist set in the delightful world of Tanria.

Immortal demigod Rosie Fox has been patrolling Tanria for decades, but lately, the job has been losing its luster. After one hundred and fifty-seven years of being alive, everything is beginning to lose its luster. When Rosie dies (again) by electrocution (again) after poking around inside a portal choked with shadowy thorns only she can see, she feels stuck in the rut that is her unending life.

Thanks to Rosie’s meddling, the portal’s inventor, Dr. Adam Lee, must come in person to repair the damage. When all the portals begin to break down, he declares an emergency evacuation of Tanria. In the mad rush to get out, Rosie and Adam end up trapped inside the Mist. Together.

And uptight Adam Lee in his bespoke menswear seems to know a lot more about what’s happening than he lets on….

Rosie is determined to crack the shell of his cool exterior. But the more she learns about Adam, the more she realizes that they both have personal histories as tangled and thorny as the plant that has them trapped inside the Mist. Maybe two people who have found themselves stuck in this life can find a way to unstick each other … just when their time on this earth seems to be running out.

I still need to read the second book of this series but I'm thinking it will mostly be comprised of standalones in the same world with minor carryover spoilers. But you know me, I won't touch this one until I've read the second, but still gotta feature it! And did you see that cover?! DRAGONS!

TITLE: The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam
AUTHOR: Megan Bannen
PUBLISHER: Orbit
GENRE: Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: July 8, 2025

Let's Discuss: Starting with the Wrong Book

 

So random thought popped in my head as I was commenting on a post the other day. It made me wonder if this happened to anyone else and what you did?

Starting with the Wrong Book

Have you ever started a series and realized things were a bit off with the story? That the characters kept mentioning something that never "happened"? And then it finally hits you, this is not book 1 of the series like you thought it was! So now what do you do? Do you track down book 1 and start over? Or just roll with it from where you're at?

This happened to me at least once. I feel like after this instance I was better at checking the sources and verifying without a doubt that the book I'm about to read is the correct one for the series lineup, be it 1 or whatever!

The first time it happened to me was with Kim Harrison's Hollows series! I picked up The Good, The Bad, and The Undead because I could tell it would involve vampires what with that title and as I was reading I kept thinking something seems off. They kept mentioning something that happened not too long ago, yet this was the first time this person popped up on the page and I kept thinking WHO ARE YOU???

Then I looked at the front of the book and those early pages and saw I was missing an entire book! I immediately went out to Borders and picked up the first copy and likely started it then and there. I want to say I was maybe 30-40 pages into the second book before this happened and I'm like, starting fresh! Let's do this! Lol.

So needless to say, it was a lesson learned kind of situation for then I made sure to always check those first few pages to see the author's previous works and verify that I am in the "correct" spot!

Has this ever happened to you? Did you mistakenly start a series with a book other than the first one? What did you do? Did you stop and go get the first one and carry on?

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Purple Princess of The Purple Booker. 

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc.

So yeah, here I am giving another teaser from my last read! I ended up finishing this one late Friday night and then was busy so I haven't started my next read as of writing this post, so here's a teaser from my last read again! Lol. I never saw this movie the teaser is mimicking, but know of it and it just made me laugh.

"Max leans over from the driver's seat. 'Get in, losers, we're going sleuthing.'" p 190

TITLE: That's Not My Name
AUTHOR: Megan Lally
PUBLISHER: Sourcefire Books
GENRE: YA Thriller
RELEASE DATE: December 26, 2023

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and The Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. 

This week's topic is: Top Ten Authors Who Live in Missouri OR Books That Mention St. Louis! (submitted by Jennifer @ Funk-N-Fiction)

*in no particular order
**kind of twisted the second half, as apparently, not many of the authors I read live in my state, which totally makes sense as they so rarely come here...either I get them once or maybe twice, and other times I go to them!

AUTHORS WITH MO CONNECTIONS:

10. PAULA STOKES--so this is a twofer! Not only did Paula live in St. Louis for a time, but this book takes place in St. Louis as you can see by the Arch!
9. TIFFANY D. JACKSON--Tiffany, I read, has connections to the Midwest area by being the Executive Director of the Gateway EITC Community Coalition. I totally forgot what this was, but it came up when I was trying to search for MO authors that I've read!
8. SABRINA BLACKBURRY--she lives in more southern MO if I recall! She's come up to the St. Charles area for her last two books at least! Here's hoping she comes for the next book...though I still need to read the second book!

BOOKS THAT MENTION ST. LOUIS/MO:

7. THE DEVIL'S THIEF by Lisa Maxwell--I still need to read this series, but this second book mentioned St. Louis in the blurb, so stuff happens there! Lol.
6. BLOOD MAGIC by Tessa Gratton--in my review from long ago--don't read it. It's from my early blogging days and might be scary. I can't vouch for my early stuff.--I mentioned that this book name drops St. Louis! I don't remember in what context, but it's there! I can't remember if Tessa was from MO or not, her bio mentions Kansas prairies so she could be near the border?
5. DYING BITES by D.D. Barant--I saw I mentioned in my review--another early one, read at your own risk--that St. Louis was name-dropped again! I think it was a bureau location or something like that. A HQ or something was in St. Louis, though the characters never go there.

4. THUNDERHEAD by Neal Shusterman--checking my review of this one, I recalled that the characters visited the long ago city named St. Louis! So that was fun! What they saw or happened there I cannot say, for I do not remember. Lol.
3. THE INDIGO SPELL by Richelle Mead--you know I was doing a search all over my blog for this post! But yes, Sydney actually goes to St. Louis in this one! 
2. FIRST DROP OF CRIMSON by Jeaniene Frost--now this one, I vaguely remember, but Spade LIVED in St. Louis, or had a house here at least! 

1. PALE DEMON by Kim Harrison--this is probably my favorite instance of St. Louis being mentioned in a book for Rachel and her friends were on a road trip of sorts going cross-country pretty much and they have a stop in St. Louis...where they knock over the Arch!