Not Quite by the Book by Julie Hatcher

  

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre:  Romance, Contemporary Romance
Content: Strong Language

 

A bookstore owner discovers that life as a recluse isn’t for everyone in this sharp yet sweet novel about how sometimes you need to abandon the quest for love to find your true passion.

Emma Rini is in a rut so deep she could shelve books there. While her sister awaits her first baby, and her parents kick off retirement with vow renewals and travel, Emma stays put among the stacks of the family bookshop.

In fact, she can’t remember the last time she took a vacation. Or had a romance that hovered above disappointing. When her parents assume she’ll take over the shop for them without a break, she realizes she needs to get away—back to the nineteenth century. Channeling her favorite poet recluse, Emily Dickinson, Emma rents a crumbling manor house outside Amherst where she can learn how to be quietly, blissfully alone.

But becoming a world-weary spinster isn’t easy. She can’t start a fire or reason with the bunnies that are destroying the garden. She finds herself sparring constantly with the grumpy-hot architect who is renovating the manor. And then there’s the secret admirer who keeps sending her complicated floral messages…

No matter what she does, the outside world keeps knocking, and Emma starts to dream about the future. Will she forgo love for the family legacy? And will she shrink away or become the sort of bold person fortune favors?

 

Every time I come across a book that includes a book store or books in general I have high hopes that it's going to be great. More often than not I end up being disappointed. This one was ok in the beginning but before I got even halfway through it started to drag. The main character, Emma had this obsession with Emily Dickinson that got old fast. I got really tired of reading what Emily did, or wrote, or might have thought. I wanted to know what Emma thought, but Emma wouldn't trust herself. I get that she was in a rut in her life and was unhappy, but I thought that Emma was ridiculous to mistake the love of an author's works with having anything in common with the author. She quickly learns that she doesn't but still keeps trying to turn herself into Emily Dickinson anyway. 

It would have been much more logical for Emma to have booked a vacation somewhere far away to just relax and recharge. Instead she's only 40 miles from home trying to live the life of someone from the past for 6 weeks. And speaking of 40 miles, why do some people in this book act like it's a huge distance? It irritated me that her family acted like she was going to be on the other side of the world. But then, a lot of things irritated me about both Emma and her family. That being said, I liked the growth Emma experienced in the book in regards to herself and her family. I especially liked some of the realizations she came to about the other people in her family after she learned their perspectives on things. 

Now for my biggest gripe, and that would be how the romance was handled. What could have been a sweet romance ended up being incredibly frustrating, so much so that I felt like throwing the book at the wall a few times. There was so much needless secrecy and drama in this book. Just talk to each other for gosh sakes! It didn't make sense that Davis withheld the things from her that he withheld. For me, there was never a good enough reason given for why he went about things the way he did. Add on top of that the fact that Emma was so obtuse. There were some very obvious clues staring her in the face throughout the book but she couldn't see them. Overall, I didn't think Emma and Davis behaved the way real people would have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 2025, March 2025, and April 2025 Book Clubs

 To catch up on my book club posts I'm combining the last three into one. 

February-

 

Summer with the Leprechauns by Tanis Helliwell 

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre:  Supposedly Non-Fiction, but I'm categorizing it as Magical Realism
Content: Clean

 

An astonishing true story about one woman’s journey to Ireland where she lived in a cottage with leprechauns.

These seldom-seen beings taught her about the evolution of elementals—the race to which leprechauns, faeries, elves, trolls belong. They explained the importance of humans and elementals working together for the betterment of both of their races and the Earth. Far more than a faery tale, this book is a classic that has been published in eight languages.

Now the author has re-edited her book so that the reader can hear the leprechaun’s voice in all his mischievous wisdom. You also learn about body elementals that keep you alive from lifetime to lifetime and about the beings in the center of the Earth who are helping our planet. And all this with a great sense of humor as Helliwell captures life in a remote Irish village with an insight into the people that is infectious.

An Irish Jewel, this is a good humored, true account of Tanis’ summer in a cottage in Ireland where the resident leprechaun taught her about the evolution of elementals (fairies, elves, leprechauns).

 

This was such a weird book. It wasn't what any of us were expecting. We thought this was going to be a cute magical realism story about leprechauns, sort of like Darby O'Gill and the Little People, but somehow missed that it's supposedly a woman's real life spiritual journey. We thought the true story claims were going to be tongue in cheek. I can't figure out if the author really believes this crazy stuff happened to her or if that's just a gimmick. This is categorized as non-fiction, but I'm not shelving it as that. Apparently there are sequels, but needless to say, I'll pass.

 

Here are some book themed foods we had-

 

 

 

 

 

Peat fire brownies

 

 

 

Irish Soda Bread

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March-

 

Planetside (Planetside #1) by Michael Mammay 

I had already read and recommended this book to my husband. He liked it so much that when it was his turn to pick books, this one was on the list. 

Here's a copy of my original review:

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Sci-fi, Mystery, Space Opera
Content: Strong language

 

A seasoned military officer uncovers a deadly conspiracy on a distant, war-torn planet…

War heroes aren't usually called out of semi-retirement and sent to the far reaches of the galaxy for a routine investigation. So when Colonel Carl Butler answers the call from an old and powerful friend, he knows it's something big—and he's not being told the whole story. A high councilor's son has gone MIA out of Cappa Base, the space station orbiting a battle-ravaged planet. The young lieutenant had been wounded and evacuated—but there's no record of him having ever arrived at hospital command. 

The colonel quickly finds Cappa Base to be a labyrinth of dead ends and sabotage: the hospital commander stonewalls him, the Special Ops leader won't come off the planet, witnesses go missing, radar data disappears, and that’s before he encounters the alien enemy. Butler has no choice but to drop down onto a hostile planet—because someone is using the war zone as a cover. The answers are there—Butler just has to make it back alive…

 

Military sci-fi can be hit or miss with me, but Planetside was one that I ended up really liking. It felt rather like a space opera at times, so maybe that's why. I loved the mystery in this book. It really kept me guessing as I tried to figure out what in the world was going on! I thought the characters were very well done. The author is a retired Army officer, and I think that made his characters more convincing as military personnel.

One of the things I liked the most about this book, was that the main character is an older retired guy, instead of the usual younger character. He's also married, which can be rare for a main character in books like this. My friend said his personality reminded her a bit of Avasarala, from The Expanse series, and I can see that. She was one of my favorite characters in that series, so maybe that's one reason I liked him so much. I like his no-nonsense personality. He just does what needs to be done with no apologies. It was great!

There are three books and I'm looking forward to reading more.

April-

 

Orconomics (The Dark Profit #1) by J. Zachary Pike

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Satire
Content: Strong Language

 

Professional heroes kill and loot deadly monsters every day, but Gorm Ingerson's latest quest will be anything but business as usual.

Making a Killing in Professional Heroics

The adventuring industry drives the economy of Arth, a world much like our own but with more magic and fewer vowels. Monsters’ hoards are claimed, bought by corporate interests, and sold off to plunder funds long before the beasts are slain. Once the contracts and paperwork are settled, the Heroes’ Guild issues a quest to kill the monster and bring back its treasure for disbursement to shareholders.


Life in The Shadows

Of course, while professional heroics has been a great boon for Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and all the other peoples of light, it's a terrible arrangement for the Shadowkin. Orcs, Goblins, Kobolds, and their ilk must apply for to become Noncombatant Paper Carriers (or NPCs) to avoid being killed and looted by guild heroes. Even after getting their papers, NPCs are treated as second class citizens, driven into the margins of society.


An Insane Quest

Gorm Ingerson, a Dwarven ex-hero with a checkered past, has no idea what he's getting himself into when he stands up for an undocumented Goblin. His act of kindness starts a series of events that ends with Gorm recruited by a prophet of the mad goddess Al'Matra to fulfill a prophecy so crazy that even the Al'Matran temple doesn't believe it.


Money, Magic, and Mayhem

But there’s more to Gorm’s new job than an insane prophecy: powerful corporations and governments, usually indifferent to the affairs of the derelict Al’Matran temple, have shown an unusual interest in the quest. If his party of eccentric misfits can stop fighting each other long enough to recover the Elven Marbles, Gorm might be able to turn a bad deal into a golden opportunity and win back the fame and fortune he lost so long ago.

 

I actually read this book twice in April. The first time I listened to it and my mind kept wandering. There were big holes in what I could recall from the story. I felt like this was a book I could really enjoy but I just didn't enjoy the audio, so I decided to read the ebook after I had finished the audio. A weird choice in a month that I didn't have a lot of reading time, but it was my book club read and I wanted to give it another chance for that reason too. So, after reading the ebook version I bumped what would have been a 3 star rating up to 4 stars. I enjoyed the characters in this story and I loved the satirical nature of it. There were even a few moments where I teared up. 

Here are the book themed foods we had-

 

 

Healing Potions. These were significant in the book.

Rice Krispie Treats made to look like rocks or boulders. The purple sprinkles are the purple treasures given to the troll in the book. He would hide them under rocks, and he could change his shape to look like a boulder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beef Buns. They ate beef buns at the beginning of the book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Elf Food

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The View from Coral Cove by Amy Clipston

  

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre:  Romance, Contemporary Romance
Content: Clean

When a jilted romance novelist escapes to a small beach town, the last thing she expected to find was the start of an even better love story.

In the wake of a broken engagement and the death of her last surviving family member, romance novelist Maya Reynolds moves to the haven of Coral Cove, North Carolina, to take over her great-aunt’s toy store. Some of her grief is immediately eased by imaginative eight-year-old Ashlyn Tanner, who talks her into adopting a kitten and inspires Maya to create a princess tea-party room in the store.

Ashlyn’s dad, local veterinarian Brody Tanner, is quickly smitten by the newest resident of his hometown. As a single parent, he sacrifices a lot in order to give Ashlyn the world, so a romantic entanglement with Maya is not a distraction he is looking for.

As the three develop a deepening bond in the seaside town where Maya experienced some of her happiest childhood memories, clouds cast a shadow over Maya’s hope for the future: an impossible deadline looms over her next novel, a long-held secret by her late mother about Maya’s absent father comes to light, and Brody’s resolve to avoid romance seems unbreakable.

But together, they just might discover that sometimes happy endings happen outside the pages of Maya’s novels too.

 

This is the first Amy Clipston book I've read. I've been wanting to try one of her books, especially since she's a local author to me. I always enjoy it when a book has places in it that I'm familiar with, and since the author is local there was an abundance of that. 

I liked the characters Maya, Brody, and Ashlyn, and I liked the side story of Maya finding her dad. However, the writing was simplistic and the characters spoke a bit too formal. In particular, I thought the 8 year old in the book spoke too formal for an 8 year old. I also didn't feel like there was enough depth to the story. There was too much telling and not enough showing. I want to be able to feel what the characters are feeling through the author's descriptions and I didn't get much of that. 

I was set to give this 3 stars until the book went stupid. Minor spoiler here- If Maya's ex Kyle coming back had been left out I probably would have given it three stars, but I just couldn't believe Maya's actions after this point. Brody's reaction to Maya at one point was also unbelievable considering how much she had proven herself to him.

Although this book was a disappointment for me, I do plan on trying another one of this author's books.

 

 

 

 

 

May 2025 Reading List

 I have eight books planned to read for May, plus I'm finishing up three that I started in April. 

Reading at Fantasy Buddy Reads-

 

Last of the Dragorn (The Echoes Saga #8) by Philip C. Quaintrell

 

THERE IS NO WAR. THERE IS ONLY REBELLION.

Alijah's reign sweeps from Erador to Ayda. Those who would stand against the king are few, their numbers cast across too many battlefields. Does hope lie in the east? Can the elves turn the tide and keep The Rebellion alive?

The weight of Dhenaheim now rests on Doran's shoulders. Chained and imprisoned, the clans are shattered and spread across the realm. On the island of Qamnaran, they build to the heavens. In The Moonlit Plains, they dig down into the dark. Only the Heavybellys have the mettle to do what must be done.

Astride the mighty Athis, Inara Galfrey fights for The Rebellion as both sword and shield. With blood and sweat she has kept Alijah's forces at bay, but Inara knows there is only one way to defeat her brother. Following this path, however, will take her far from the front lines and into lands long forgotten.

After ten thousand years, the future that was foretold looms near. But Fate has one last hand to deal...

LAST OF THE DRAGORN IS THE PENULTIMATE CHAPTER IN THIS UNMISSABLE EPIC FANTASY SERIES.

 

 

  

Dragons of the Dwarven Depths (Dragonlance: The Lost Chronicles #1) by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

 

The Companions are back! In an untold story from the War of the Lance, the companions have saved the refugees of Pax Tharkas and led them to a hidden valley. For a time, they are safe, but the forces of the Dragon Army are in pursuit.
 

As Tanis and Flint seek out a haven in the dwarven kingdom of Thorbardin, the rest of the companions face their own challenges. Raistlin is strangely drawn to the haunted fortress known as Skullcap. Sturm seeks the legendary Hammer of Kharas, the forging tool of the fabled dragonlances, while Tika Waylan must make a perilous journey to rescue those she loves from certain death.

 

 

  

Disturbing the Dead (A Rip Through Time #3) by Kelley Armstrong

 

Disturbing the Dead is the latest in a unique series with one foot in the 1890s and the other in the present day. The A Rip Through Time crime novels are a genre-blending, atmospheric romp from New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.

Victorian Scotland is becoming less strange to modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson. Though inhabiting someone else’s body will always be unsettling, even if her employers know that she’s not actually housemaid Catriona Mitchell, ever since the night both of them were attacked in the same dark alley 150 years apart. Mallory likes her job as assistant to undertaker/medical examiner Dr. Duncan Gray, and is developing true friends―and feelings―in this century.

So, understanding the Victorian fascination with death, Mallory isn't that surprised when she and her friends are invited to a mummy unwrapping at the home of Sir Alastair Christie. When their host is missing when it comes time to unwrap the mummy, Gray and Mallory are asked to step in. And upon closer inspection, it’s not a mummy they’ve unwrapped, but a much more modern body.

 

 

 

My Pick It For Me book-

Isabelle by Sophia Holloway

 

Isabelle Wareham, whilst caring for her beloved widowed father, has not seen much of the world. After his death, Isabelle finds she is no longer her own mistress but under the guardianship of her unscrupulous brother-in-law, Lord Dunsfold, who sees her as a way to improve his own fortunes.

The outlook looks bleak until events throw Isabelle and the impoverished Earl of Idsworth together. However, Dunsfold is determined to force her into a more lucrative match and Isabelle will need to rise above her circumstances to reach her chance of happiness.

 

 

 

My Book Club Read-

  

Monster Menu by Terrell Garrett

 

An LA taco truck chef is transported to a fantasy realm where bad reviews are the least of her worries in this cozy culinary LitRPG adventure.

For Renee “Nay” Favreau, food is life. She’s the owner of a Los Angeles taco truck who dreams of becoming a respected chef and expanding her fleet, and whose greatest enemy is an unhappy food critic. Always hunting for her next great dish, the search eventually leads her to a near-fatal encounter with an interdimensional spider.

Awaking in a strange world where words appear before her eyes, a talking tentacle befriends her, and people are trying to kill her, Nay learns she has the ability to become an one of the special chefs who prepare the magical meals that power the enigmatic Marrow Eaters.

Soon, Nay is working in a remote village, where she wins the hearts—and stomachs—of the locals. But when evil threatens to destroy the place, she’ll have to employ all her wit and newfound skills to survive and save her new friends . . .

 

Reading with The Mystery Book Club-

 

The Winter Girls (Agent Tori Hunter #2) by Roger Stelljes

 

Gazing out the cabin window at the raging blizzard, fear suddenly floods through her as she feels a stranger’s hand clamp across her mouth. No one can hear her stifled screams as she is dragged from the couch by the fire out into the snow.

When seventeen-year-old Savannah Devenish vanishes from her family’s remote vacation cabin in Minnesota, FBI Agent Tori Hunter races along treacherous icy roads to be first on the scene. Savannah’s parents are frantic with worry for their beautiful, carefree girl. Haunted by memories of her own missing sister, Tori vows to do whatever it takes to reunite this family.

When the police uncover that Savannah’s father Jacob was having an affair, they suspect his involvement, but Tori is convinced his despair is genuine. Her close relationship with the chief detective means the team won’t listen, so Tori strikes off alone, persuading Savannah’s distraught best friends to share their secrets. It seems this ‘good girl’ was sneaking out to parties to meet up with a mysterious man…

Then another teenager is snatched from the street, snowy footprints and a discarded hot chocolate cup the last trace of her. The girls are the same age, strikingly pale and blonde. Is a twisted collector stealing them away? And what chance is there that they are being kept alive?

With a deadly snowstorm closing in, Tori battles the elements—and her own team—as she follows the trail to an abandoned cabin by a frozen lake. In the basement are bedrooms filled with clothes for teenage girls. Tori was too late to save her own missing sister twenty years ago, but can she find these girls before they disappear forever?

 

 

  

The Icarus Coda (The Icarus Saga #6) by Timothy Zahn

 

For years Gregory Roarke and his Kadolian partner Selene have worked for the ultra-secret Icarus Group, hunting for the mysterious Icari teleportation portals so valued by the Commonwealth.

But their job has now come to a wrenching end. The two of them are fugitives, sought by the Commonwealth, the rival Patth, and the remnant of the ancient Ammei who once controlled the portals and who hunger for a return to those days of glory. All three groups want Selene and her unique ability to understand and deal with Icari technology.

Or is it unique?

In the shadow of an Ammei stronghold they stumble across an unfamiliar and badly confused alien named Bubloo who has the same ultrasensitive sense of smell as Selene and her fellow Kadolians. If the Ammei get hold of him, can they achieve their goal of domination without Selene?

Roarke doesn’t know. But he doesn’t dare take that chance.

Things are looking grim, with multiple puzzles and questions intertwined around Bubloo and the portals, and the future of the Spiral hanging in the balance.

And then, the Patth assassination squad arrives . . .
 

 

 

 

Reading for NetGalley-

 

A Drop of Corruption (Shadow of the Leviathan #2) by Robert Jackson Bennett

 

The brilliant detective Ana Dolabra may have finally met her match in the gripping sequel to The Tainted Cup—from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.

In the canton of Yarrowdale, at the very edge of the Empire’s reach, an impossible crime has occurred. A Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air—abducted from his quarters while the door and windows remained locked from the inside, in a building whose entrances and exits are all under constant guard.

To solve the case, the Empire calls on its most brilliant and mercurial investigator, the great Ana Dolabra. At her side, as always, is her bemused assistant Dinios Kol.

Before long, Ana’s discovered that they’re not investigating a disappearance, but a murder—and that the killing was just the first chess move by an adversary who seems to be able to pass through warded doors like a ghost, and who can predict every one of Ana’s moves as though they can see the future.

Worse still, the killer seems to be targeting the high-security compound known as the Shroud. Here, the Empire's greatest minds dissect fallen Titans to harness the volatile magic found in their blood. Should it fall, the destruction would be terrible indeed—and the Empire itself will grind to a halt, robbed of the magic that allows its wheels of power to turn.

Din has seen Ana solve impossible cases before. But this time, with the stakes higher than ever and Ana seemingly a step behind their adversary at every turn, he fears that his superior has finally met an enemy she can’t defeat.

 

 

 

 

 

April 2025 Wrap-Up

April was an extremely busy month for me. I had multiple family members in town visiting for 3 weeks out of the month, and then we took a trip for 3 days to help clean out my mother-in-law's home so that it can be put on the market. Needless to say, I didn't have as much reading time this month. I did however, somehow get around to at least starting all but one of the books on my list for this month, and I threw an extra one in to boot. I decided to push A Drop of Corruption back another month. Also, I'm going to be very cautious about promising reviews to come this time since I haven't posted any in a couple of months, but I do want to post about the last few book clubs soon.

 

I finished up two books that I started at the end of March-

Deliverer (Foreigner #9) by C.J. Cherryh

 

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Sci-Fi, Space Opera
Content: Strong Language

 

This is the last book in this series that I'll be reading for a while. I need a break from it. There are a lot of other books I want to try and this series at this point is endless. I do plan to come back to it later.

 

 

 

Everyone on This Train is a Suspect (Ernest Cunningham #2) by Benjamin Stevenson

 

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Content: Strong Language

 

After really liking book one, I was looking forward to reading this. Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me. The main character, who I liked in the first book, came across as really dumb in this one. He irritated me with the way he went about solving the murder, and seemed quite clueless (don't even get me started on the relationship blunders he makes) about everything until near the end when he suddenly got super smart. Really, the only character in this whole book that I found likable was Juliet. I think the first book worked well as a standalone.

 

 

 

The books I read from start to finish in April- 

 

Orconomics (The Dark Profit Saga #1) by J. Zachary Pike

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Satire
Content: Strong Language

 

I actually read this book twice this month! The first time I listened to it and my mind kept wandering. There were big holes in what I could recall from the story. I felt like this was a book I could really enjoy but I just didn't enjoy the audio, so I decided to read the ebook after I had finished the audio. A weird choice in a month that I didn't have a lot of reading time, but it was my book club read and I wanted to give it another chance for that reason too. So, after reading the ebook version I bumped what would have been a 3 star rating up to 4 stars. I enjoyed the characters in this story and I loved the satirical nature of it. There were even a few moments where I teared up. 

 

 

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret (Ernest Cunningham #3) by Benjamin Stevenson

 

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Content: Strong Language

 

Yes, I know I didn't like book two in this series, and I'm sure you're wondering why I bothered to read book three. Well I owned it and it was a novella, so I decided to go ahead and read it. Plus, I was hoping that book two was just a fluke and that three would be better. It wasn't. Well, maybe a smidge better but not enough to raise my rating even a half star. I'm not sure if the author is planning to write more in this series, but I'm moving on.

 

 

  

Rewind by Catherine Ryan Howard

 

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Content: Strong Language

 

This was probably my least favorite book I've read my this author. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't as good as her other books. I kept expecting a big twist but there was only a mild one. If you want to try any of this author's books I would recommend starting with The Nothing Man. Definitely save this one for later.

 

 

The Poisoner's Ring (A Rip Through Time #2) by Kelley Armstrong

 

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Time Travel
Content: Strong Language

 

It took me forever to get through this book. It's not that I disliked it, I just didn't feel in the mood for it. Add all the other things going on this month and it just felt like I was never going to finish it. But of course I did, a few days before the end of the month. Overall, I didn't like this one as much as the first book in the series, but it wasn't bad. I think I'm just really impatient to see if more is revealed about the time period she came from, and that didn't happen in this book. It may never happen, and I feel like if it doesn't I'll probably eventually lose interest in this series. 

 

 

 Still currently reading-

 

Magic Slays (Kate Daniels #5) by Ilona Andrews

Continuing on with my reread of this series with my husband.  

 

The Knights of Erador (The Echoes Saga #7) by Philip C. Quaintrell

 

I'm halfway through this one and liking it so far. 

 

 

 

The View From Coral Cove by Amy Clipston

 

I wanted to get to this one earlier in the month but didn't have time. So far so good, although I'm only up to chapter 6.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 2025 Reading List

I've got 7 books planned for April, but first I'll be finishing up Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson, and Deliverer by C.J. Cherryh, both of which I'll be done within the next couple of days. 

Reading with my book club-

 

Orconomics (The Dark Profit Saga #1) by J. Zachary Pike

 

Professional heroes kill and loot deadly monsters every day, but Gorm Ingerson's latest quest will be anything but business as usual.

Making a Killing in Professional Heroics

The adventuring industry drives the economy of Arth, a world much like our own but with more magic and fewer vowels. Monsters’ hoards are claimed, bought by corporate interests, and sold off to plunder funds long before the beasts are slain. Once the contracts and paperwork are settled, the Heroes’ Guild issues a quest to kill the monster and bring back its treasure for disbursement to shareholders.


Life in The Shadows

Of course, while professional heroics has been a great boon for Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and all the other peoples of light, it's a terrible arrangement for the Shadowkin. Orcs, Goblins, Kobolds, and their ilk must apply for to become Noncombatant Paper Carriers (or NPCs) to avoid being killed and looted by guild heroes. Even after getting their papers, NPCs are treated as second class citizens, driven into the margins of society.


An Insane Quest

Gorm Ingerson, a Dwarven ex-hero with a checkered past, has no idea what he's getting himself into when he stands up for an undocumented Goblin. His act of kindness starts a series of events that ends with Gorm recruited by a prophet of the mad goddess Al'Matra to fulfill a prophecy so crazy that even the Al'Matran temple doesn't believe it.


Money, Magic, and Mayhem

But there’s more to Gorm’s new job than an insane prophecy: powerful corporations and governments, usually indifferent to the affairs of the derelict Al’Matran temple, have shown an unusual interest in the quest. If his party of eccentric misfits can stop fighting each other long enough to recover the Elven Marbles, Gorm might be able to turn a bad deal into a golden opportunity and win back the fame and fortune he lost so long ago.

 

 

 

 

 

Reading at Fantasy Buddy Reads-

I had planned to start this one at the end of March but didn't get to it so it's now on my April list. That means I'll be pushing book three in this series to the beginning of May.

 

The Poisoner's Ring (A Rip Through Time #2) by Kelley Arnstrong

 

Edinburgh, 1869: Modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson is adjusting to her new life in Victorian Scotland. Her employers know she’s not housemaid Catriona Mitchell―even though Mallory is in Catriona’s body―and Mallory is now officially an undertaker’s assistant. Dr. Duncan Gray moonlights as a medical examiner, and their latest case hits close to home. Men are dropping dead from a powerful poison, and all signs point to the grieving widows… the latest of which is Gray’s oldest sister.

Poison is said to be a woman’s weapon, though Mallory has to wonder if it’s as simple as that. But she must tread carefully. Every move the household makes is being watched, and who knows where the investigation will lead.

 

 

 

We're resuming our read of this series in April and will read the last three books over the next three months.

  

The Knights of Erador (The Echoes Saga #7) by Philip C. Quaintrell

 

“HERE IS TODAY’S LESSON; HEROES DIE…”

It’s fifteen years since the Orcs were defeated. Fifteen years since a new king rose from the battlefield. Fifteen years since Illian knew the horror of war.

Fifteen years of peace are about to end.

Something is coming. Shadows gather. Whispers of rebellion have reached the king. Darkness stirs beyond Illian’s borders.

Beyond the mountains, Dhenaheim has lost a quiet war. Refugees pour into Illian, bringing suspicion and unrest. For Doran Heavybelly, Dhenaheim's war means facing a personal tragedy that demands his attention... and his axe.

A simple job for too much coin should have been warning enough for Asher but, like Fate, trouble always has a way of finding him.

Conspiracy. Rebellion. Betrayal. Time to find out who the real heroes are.

THE KNIGHTS OF ERADOR CONTINUES THIS UNMISSABLE EPIC FANTASY SERIES.

 

 

 

 I'm reading this one at Fantasy Buddy Reads and for NetGalley

 

A Drop of Corruption (Shadow of the Leviathan #2) by Robert Jackson Bennett

 

The brilliant detective Ana Dolabra may have finally met her match in the gripping sequel to The Tainted Cup—from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.

In the canton of Yarrowdale, at the very edge of the Empire’s reach, an impossible crime has occurred. A Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air—abducted from his quarters while the door and windows remained locked from the inside, in a building whose entrances and exits are all under constant guard.

To solve the case, the Empire calls on its most brilliant and mercurial investigator, the great Ana Dolabra. At her side, as always, is her bemused assistant Dinios Kol.

Before long, Ana’s discovered that they’re not investigating a disappearance, but a murder—and that the killing was just the first chess move by an adversary who seems to be able to pass through warded doors like a ghost, and who can predict every one of Ana’s moves as though they can see the future.

Worse still, the killer seems to be targeting the high-security compound known as the Shroud. Here, the Empire's greatest minds dissect fallen Titans to harness the volatile magic found in their blood. Should it fall, the destruction would be terrible indeed—and the Empire itself will grind to a halt, robbed of the magic that allows its wheels of power to turn.

Din has seen Ana solve impossible cases before. But this time, with the stakes higher than ever and Ana seemingly a step behind their adversary at every turn, he fears that his superior has finally met an enemy she can’t defeat.

 

 

 

 

 

Reading with the Mystery Book Club-

 

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret (Ernest Cunningham #3) by Benjamin Stevenson

 

Benjamin Stevenson returns with a Christmas addition to his bestselling, Ernest Cunningham mysteries. Unwrap all the Christmas staples: presents, family, an impossible murder or two, and a deadly advent calendar of clues. If Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club kissed under the mistletoe.

My name’s Ernest Cunningham. I used to be a fan of reading Golden Age murder mysteries, until I found myself with a haphazard career getting stuck in the middle of real-life ones. I’d hoped, this Christmas, that any self-respecting murderer would kick their feet up and take it easy over the holidays. I was wrong.

So here I am, backstage at the show of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, whose benefactor has just been murdered. My suspects are all professional tricksters: masters of the art of misdirection.

THE MAGICIAN

THE ASSISTANT

THE EXECUTIVE

THE HYPNOTIST

THE IDENTICAL TWIN

THE COUNSELLOR

THE TECH

My clues are even more abstract: A suspect covered in blood, without a memory of how it got there. A murder committed without setting foot inside the room where it happens. And an advent calendar. Because, you know, it’s Christmas.

If I can see through the illusions, I know I can solve it.

After all, a good murder is just like a magic trick, isn’t it?

 

 

  

Rewind by Catherine Ryan Howard

 

PLAY

Andrew, the manager of Shanamore Holiday Cottages, watches his only guest via a hidden camera in her room. One night the unthinkable happens: a shadowy figure emerges on-screen, kills her, and destroys the camera. But who is the murderer? How did they know about the camera? And how will Andrew live with himself?

PAUSE

Natalie wishes she'd stayed at home as soon as she arrives in the wintry isolation of Shanamore. There's something creepy about the manager. She wants to leave, but she can't-not until she's found what she's looking for ...

REWIND

Psycho meets Fatal Attraction in this explosive story about a murder caught on camera. You've already missed the start. To get the full picture you must rewind the tape and play it through to the end, no matter how shocking ...

 

 

 

 

 

Pick It For Me book-

 

The View From Coral Cove by Amy Clipston

 

When a jilted romance novelist escapes to a small beach town, the last thing she expected to find was the start of an even better love story.

In the wake of a broken engagement and the death of her last surviving family member, sweet romance novelist Maya Reynolds moves to the haven of Coral Cove, North Carolina, to take over her great-aunt's toy store. Some of her grief is immediately eased by imaginative eight-year-old Ashlyn Tanner, who talks her into adopting a kitten and inspires Maya to create a princess tea-party room in the store.

Ashlyn's dad, local veterinarian Brody Tanner, is quickly smitten by the newest resident of his hometown. As a single parent, he sacrifices a lot in order to give Ashlyn the world, so a romantic entanglement with Maya is not a distraction he is looking for.

As the three develop a deepening bond in the seaside town where Maya experienced some of her happiest childhood memories, clouds cast a shadow over Maya's hope for the an impossible deadline looms over her next novel, a long-held secret by her late mother about Maya's absent father comes to light, and Brody's resolve to avoid romance seems unbreakable.

But together, they just might discover that sometimes happy endings happen outside the pages of Maya's novels too.

 

 

 

 

 

On Hold for now-

 

Conspirator (Foreigner #10) by C.j. Cherryh

I think I'll be dropping out of this buddy read, although there's a small chance I could change my mind. For the most part I've enjoyed this series, but after 9 books I feel like I need to take a break from it. It's over 20 books long, and I honestly don't feel like it needs to be. The author clearly loves writing this series and it's obvious she plans to write it until, well, she can't any more. While there are a few series that I would be happy to go on indefinitely, this one isn't one of them. The books have been hitting between 3 and 4 stars for me, with the last three books being 3, 3, and 3.5 stars. The good news is that there are mini trilogies within this long series, so the plot wraps up after every three books and that makes for several good places to stop. So I've read books 1-9, 3 trilogies, and I'm good with stopping here. At least for now. I think I will probably come back to this when I feel in the mood to read it again, but for now I'm a little burned out and need a break. 

 

 

 

 

 

March 2025 Wrap-Up

 In March I finished up 3 books that I had started reading in February, completely read 8 books and 3 novellas, and started two other books that I'm still in the process of reading. I had planned on reading A Drop of Corruption (Shadow of the Leviathan #2) by Robert Jackson Bennett this month, but decided to push it to April. I also haven't yet started The Poisoner's Ring (A Rip Through Time #2) by Kelley Armstrong but will get to that one first thing in April.

 

These are the books I started in February that I finished this month-

 

 

Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels #4) by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Content: Strong language, Some gore and violence, One sex scene

 

Reread with the husband. Still 4 stars.

Original comments- I love Kate and Curran together. I wasn't sure how I would like it once the sexual tension ended and they finally got together, but it works really well. I love the whole alpha male who shows his tender side to the woman he loves.

 

 

 

A Rip Through Time (A Rip Through Time #1) by Kelley Armstrong

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
Content: Clean as far as I can remember

 

 I really enjoyed this mash-up of the mystery and fantasy genres. I liked the time travel element and there were a couple of surprises. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes.

 

 

 

 

Age of the King (The Echoes Saga #6) by Philip C. Quaintrell

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Strong language

 

 

These are the books and Novellas I read this month-

 

 

Kingscastle by Sophia Holloway

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Romance, Historical Romance
Content: Clean

 

This one was almost as good as Celia by this author which I rated 5 stars. I loved this!

 

 

 

  

 

Her Charming Distraction (A Change in Plans #2) by Rachel John

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance, clean romance
Content: Clean

 

This was a nice sequel to The Start of Us. I didn't think it was quite as good as that one, but I appreciated the way the author wrote these characters. They talked to each other and avoided to usual 'misunderstands' trope that is so present in romance novels. Everything the character did in this book made sense to me and I loved that!

 

 

 

  

The 3:00 A.M. Series (Henry Bins Books 1-5) by Nick Pirog

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Mystery, Sci-fi, Suspense, Political intrigue
Content: Strong Language

 

This was a reread of the first 5 books (which were actually novellas) in this series. Because it had been so long since i read it, I wanted a refresher before reading book 6. I originally gave this 3 stars but I'm bumping my rating up to 3.5 this time. Also, After rereading this I think the cat thing is purely in his head, as in he is just pretending to hold conversations with the cat. You can see my original review here.

 

 

 

 

3:53 A.M. (Henry Bins #6) by Nick Pirog

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Mystery, Sci-fi, Suspense, Political intrigue
Content: Strong Language

 

There were some big revelations in this one. Some of them I liked and others I didn't like. There will be one final book and I hope the author doesn't take too long to publish it because I don't want to have to do another reread to remember what has already happened. It was 7 years between books 5 and 6!

 

 

 

 

 

More good stories from Curran’s point of view. I love that we get to finally know what was happening on his end during these events. 

 

Curran's POV Collection: Magic Bleeds- Naked Dinner (World of Kate Daniels) by Gordon Andrews

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Content: Strong language

 

 

Curran's POV Collection: Magic Bleeds- Conclave (World of Kate Daniels) by Gordon Andrews

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Content: Strong language

 

 

Curran's POV Collection: Magic Bleeds- Awake (World of Kate Daniels) by Gordon Andrews 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Content: Strong language

 

Protector of Her Heart (A Change in Plans #3) by Rachel John

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance, clean romance
Content: Clean

 

This was probably the weakest book in the series. The characters danced around each other for way too long! Both were afraid to say how they felt and it got old. I complemented this author on her first two books in this series because she didn't go that route, but this time it was the same old romance tropes. 

 

 

 

 

Pretending He's Mine (A Change in Plans #4) by Rachel John

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance, clean romance
Content: Clean

Still too much not talking to each other in this one, but it was better than the previous book. I'm interested in reading other things by this author because I know she can write a good romance with characters who actually communicate with each other.

 

Trouble Walked In by Mike Kupari

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Sci-fi, Mystery
Content: Strong language

 

This reminded me a lot of The Icarus Hunt. I enjoyed this and would read more by this author.

 

 

 

 

The Tides of Time (Storm Tide #1) by Sarah M. Eden

See my review here.

 

 

These are the books I've started but not finished-

 

  

Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect (Ernest Cunningham #2) by Benjamin Stevenson

 

 

 

 

Deliverer (Foreigner #9) by C.J. Cherryh