I liked this. Most of the story takes place in the year following an EMP attack. It‘s how a rural mountain community is able to gather and ration what they have and work as hard as possible to survive impossible conditions. Many don‘t survive and there is a lot of violence. Not the most polished writing, but the story is thought-provoking and engaging. And bleak, especially near the end. It inspired some great conversations with my family.

A very cute novella featuring single Dad Grant, his daughter Casey, and chocolate shop owner Emma, who is new to town and desperately wishes for a family of her own. Grant‘s family is warm and inviting, and they fold Emma in easily. There is plenty of Christmas in this story and it was a nice quick and refreshing holiday read after finishing a darker Stephen King story. Next in this series is a Valentine‘s novella which I will read soon.

I went into this book completely blind and really liked it! Unlike most of King‘s other work, I feel like it started off with a bang and maintained its pace throughout the entire story. I love the supporting cast here, especially Sheriff Alan Pangborn, and I think the concept of the story is a pretty great one. The ending was a bit lackluster, though, and all of the birds completely creeped me out.

Next up #readingStephenKing: Four Past Midnight!

It has been such a long week. This is my busy season at work. I worked extra long days Monday thru Thursday, so I‘m taking today off to catch up around my house and hang out with my doggos. But first, coffee and a few pages of my current read ☕️ #readingStephenKing

This was a super cute novella featuring Tanzy, who runs a shelter and dog-grooming business, and her friend Jake, who is new to town, handsome, kind, and a little mysterious. It was a great length to read along with my coffee over two mornings before work. Not a lot of Thanksgiving in here, sadly, but there were a bunch of dogs! 🐾 There‘s also a lite mystery and one storyline that is quite heart-wrenching (but doesn‘t involve the dogs). Loved it!

This was great! It took a long time to get into it and I considered DNFing. I‘m so glad I didn‘t! There are a lot of twists and I didn‘t predict the end. I loved Lucy‘s grandmother so much! I‘ve never listened to a true crime podcast, so that whole angle was foreign to me. There is subtle feminism in here along with some very frustrating situations happening toward some of the female characters, but overall I think Tintera‘s points are effective.

Second-chance romance-lite where Hollywood actress Tallula has retreated home after the humiliation of a scandal. She reacquaints with Jesse, a reformed bad boy-now-cop who she shared a kiss with many years ago. This is extremely easy reading from the Coffee Loft collection, featuring a chain of coffee store locations. The story isn‘t developed enough for its 215-page length, but it was fine to wind down with a chapter or two nightly before bed.

I liked it more than I thought I would! But it‘s nowhere near my favorite by King. Started and finished strong, dragged throughout the middle. Loved the nods to his other books & characters, IT & Firestarter especially. King is THE MASTER at taking inanimate objects and making them killers. A Coke vending machine, an Electrolux vacuum cleaner, a lawn edger-these things were out for blood!

Next in my #readingStephenKing challenge: The Dark Half!

Eliza is on her way home to Vermont to surprise her parents for Christmas-during a blizzard. When her car skids off the road, the only person close enough to help is her ex-husband River. She has to stay at his cabin to ride out the storm. From there, it‘s a forced proximity second-chance romance. Nothing especially new, but I enjoyed it. I adore seasonal novellas and this fit the bill while my husband and I watched football last night.
🏈🎄❄️

I loved this nearly as much as I did the (tagged) previous book. The Bergman family is fantastic! Ren js a pro hockey player who is secretly in love with Frankie, the team‘s social media manager. She is on the autism spectrum and doesn‘t pick up on the clues that he is into her. Ren is gentlemanly, respectful, and obsessed with Shakespeare. I adore him! A little steamy for my taste (usually) but I love this family so much that I didn‘t even care.

Ev Hillman from The Tommyknockers left Haven, Maine when the town started creeping him out. He went to Derry, Maine, where other things creeped him out. !!!!!!!!!

#iykyk #readingStephenKing

p. 201/747: There is a point in each of King‘s books where the slow, descriptive foundation has finally been set and I feel like I finally know the characters well. Then things really start to pick up for me. From that point on, I can‘t stand to put the book down. I‘m totally there now. Still not a huge sci-fi fan, but King has my attention and I wish I didn‘t have to stop reading to “adult” (aka work) for a little while.

#readingStephenKing

I have SO loved this novella series. I wish there were more published so I could keep reading. There is no drama, and the characters all get along well and care for one another. There is a found family aspect, and I adore the author‘s love for animals and cooking/baking, which comes thru wonderfully in these stories. I hope she continues writing these.

I always love the chance to sit in my chair with my best reading buddy, Beau!

#dogsoflitsy

This is the 2nd in the Paws & Pastries series of novellas following Clara Conway as she rebuilds her life in the charming community of Pinewood after her marriage ends. Picks up immediately after the first book and mostly details the steps Clara took to open her patisserie. Her dog Noelle is adorable and the found family of people around her are all supportive. Very easy, very enjoyable, happy novellas involving baking and dogs, and I love them!

Super cute novella covering the time leading up to Thanksgiving thru Christmas. Newly-single Clara has a dream of opening a bakery of her own, but her dreams are delayed when she is stuck in Pinewood while her car is being repaired. Only about 150 pages, very Hallmark-y. I loved all of the baking in the story and I adore the little stray dog that finds Clara. I‘m definitely reading the rest of this series. This was delightful!

#dogsoflitsy

My current #readingStephenKing and I‘m not sure how excited I am about it. I don‘t particularly love sci-fi or aliens BUT I do trust the King!! I‘m on page 66/747, so I‘m still in King‘s usual very slow, getting-to-know-the-characters part. Short chapters make for great car reading.

My third book by this author and all have been very firmly in the horror-lite category, with a little bit of camp and a lot of dark humor. I liked this one more than the others. Sloane and BFF Naomi go on a girls‘ trip for Sloane‘s birthday when things escalate and they are turned to vampires. Most of the story involves Sloane learning to lean-in to life in practically every way, with Naomi‘s help. I liked her growth into a more confident Sloane.

I loved this! Ryder lost his hearing two years ago due to illness and he subsequently lost his athletic scholarship as well. Willa is a student athlete who struggles in her business math class. Their professor forces them to work together on a project, and a delicious slow-burn, frenemy relationship ensues. I adore Ryder‘s large family and his capacity for empathy too. Willa is tough to love in the beginning, but I eventually grew to like her.

Starting a new book, snuggling with my reading buddy, Beau 🐾

Another cute seasonal novella from the Coffee Loft fall collection, this time only around 72 pages. So a very cute, very quick romance read. Coffee barista Edwin is obsessed with Elvis Presley and loves to sing Elvis tunes along with the jukebox while he‘s working. When a huge talent show comes to Tahoe, Charlotte encourages him to enter.

This one could easily be expanded to a full length story. I would have loved more from these characters!

Cute romance novella set in the fall around a chain of Coffee Loft coffee shops. Features coffee and football ☕️ 🏈 It has a lot of the things I love in it, and the romance is sweet. It‘s a second chance, brother‘s best friend relationship. As typical with a novella, it isn‘t super duper developed and moves fairly quickly, but I adore seasonal romance novellas so I didn‘t mind. They‘re easy to read and perfect for my own morning coffee time.

Based on the story of Alice Kyteler, the first Irish woman condemned of witchcraft. The language, story structure, and atmosphere are wonderful, and medieval tales are my favorite. Alice isn‘t a likable woman, know that going in. But her story is compelling as a woman with money and power during the 1300‘s made her a target for hate and jealousy, as did her many marriages.

Reminded me of Eleanor from Karen Brooks‘ wonderful The Wife of Bath.

My favorite part of the weekend is mornings with my coffee, my book, and my napping pups!

I‘ve just started this tagged book from Knopf via NetGalley which looks to be atmospheric and inspired for the coming fall (crossing my fingers!). The story features Alice Kyteler who was the first known woman to be accused of witchcraft in Ireland.

#dogsoflitsy #weekendreads

*Not in Litsy database, but I have requested it be added.*

I went into this expecting a quick, lighthearted read, which it was! Funny with good-hearted characters in some silly circumstances. And I loved the dragons!

There is also an expected depth in here-a commentary of sorts on living in rural America with drug addictions, poverty, and an understanding of rural diversity which I believe is far more accurate than not. I enjoyed it! 🐉

We‘ve been renovating our kitchen since we moved here which included doubling its size and adding a wall of cabinets for my collection of dishes and cookware.

Three contractors and fourteen months later: I‘ve just put the very first things inside my cabinets. What went first? My beloved cookbooks, of course! I have had most of them packed away for months and months. Now I can finally re-join the #mtcookbook fun!! #shelfie

My first by Sally Hepworth and I flew thru it in just about 24 hours. I loved the bond Jessica, Alicia, and Norah had as three foster siblings, and their foster mother was absolutely horrible. I‘m not sure that any of the twists shocked me, but I still felt delighted every time I came to one. Just a tight, fast-paced thriller story with a very satisfying ending. Except for the last chapter which, frankly, didn‘t add anything to me.

I loved this. The cover makes it look like it would be a Halloween read but actually takes place in Florida during the summer. The ghosts that haunt the town are (mostly) friendly and playful, and there are comedic moments associated with them. The romance between Cassie and Nick is nice and doesn‘t overshadow the mystery involving the ghost that inhabits Cassie‘s house. I‘ll definitely pick up more by Jen DeLuca after this one. Lots of fun.

I‘ve been meandering my way thru this one over the past week when I can find a few minutes here and there. I‘m almost halfway thru but hoping to finish it up today or tomorrow. This is my first time reading one of Jen DeLuca‘s books.

It‘s cute so far! The ways the ghosts haunt this town are a lot of fun.

When I saw the pitch saying this was a toxic female friendship with vampires, I thought it would be a lot of fun because I LOVE both types of stories. And it probably will be fun to some people-the reviews are mostly good! I just feel like it wasn‘t toxic enough and it also wasn‘t vampire enough. I think if the author had chosen one of those tropes to really lean into, the story would have been better. But it felt not-quite-there on both fronts.

Very sweet novella-length romance between Shelby, whose husband died one year ago, and Scott, who has had feelings for her since high school. Shelby is a designer, Scott is a builder. The two work together to renovate a home with a mysterious past. I love stories featuring home renovation so this one was right up my alley. And there‘s a hint of autumn in there too.

I found this story when it popped up as an ad on my Kindle.

This is part of a great collection of novellas featuring weddings. I have read most of them and I love these authors.

This novella features a love triangle after Alyssa is left at the alter by Brendan and later begins a new relationship with Dalton. It was okay, but not great. Mostly I wish it had been longer because more character and story development would help me understand why these characters made so many questionable decisions.

Gosh this was so good! But I knew it would be. I‘ve learned that each TJ Newman release is absolutely must read for me, as soon as I possibly can.

This was a fast-paced, gripping, white knuckle disaster story set in small town US when a plane crashes into a nuclear power plant. Three major plots converge into an intense, explosive ending. I barely breathed the entire way thru.

Just as I expected from this author! So intense, so fun to read.

So cute! I had a lot of fun reading this. I love books that have a cool weather vibe to them, that make me want to take a slow walk in crispy cool air with a warm coffee. It was a great palate cleanser after a few thrillers. It was lighthearted, but had great depth. This kicks off my fall reading 🍂

It had everything I love in fall-themed sweet romances. I especially loved the found family aspect and Laurie‘s sweet little dog, Max 🐾

The last 1/3 or 1/4 is really where this one shines, but a great read all the way thru. A slow start that inches its way to an exciting ending. I loved how atmospheric and frigid the story felt, and how haunting and actual story was. There is a lot in here about trauma and how we hold onto it, in our minds and our bodies. So well done. I had no idea how the different timelines would converge until they finally did and overall I loved this one.

Very cute! I liked that Lexi‘s life as a chef was so different than Jake‘s life as a rock star. Their romance was very cute and I adore Lexi‘s supportive friends.

The food aspect of this story was actually my favorite part and what drew me to it in the first place. Lexi and Jake fell in love over homemade food and I loved that. She and I are quite similar in how we show people love by cooking for them so this story was really fun for me.

I thought about bailing because it‘s such a slooowww burn in the beginning. I wanted a faster pace. However, there is a point where it clicked for me and I couldn‘t read fast enough. Is it a thriller? A ghost story? Horror? It‘s sort of all three, with a mystery thrown in. I love the way Tremblay captured the anguish of Tommy‘s mother in the days after his disappearance-the “not knowing” nearly did her in. Great work by one of my favorites.

#Galleybrag!!! I‘m so excited for this approval from NetGalley! Ms Newman‘s books are terrifying and fast-paced and so much fun to read!

On sale: August 13, 2024

Really enjoyed this! It took turns I wasn‘t expecting and kept me on my toes throughout. That‘s what I want in a mystery-thriller.

I read somewhere that someone mentioned not flipping ahead thru the illustrations and I wholeheartedly agree. It‘s definitely better to come to each one blindly. There are a lot of them and they‘re fantastic! I tried the audiobook but quickly abandoned it because I wasn‘t getting to see the illustrations.

Sunday morning, my favorite ☕️🐾

I have one pup snuggled up on my right side and one pup snuggled up on my left side. I have a book and some coffee, and my house is nice and quiet. It‘s a good time over here.

Currently 2/3 thru Hidden Pictures! Enjoying it!

I loved this, cover to cover. Although I think the first half is the best, featuring Frankie‘s time in Vietnam and her experiences there as a combat nurse. The second half dealt with her return home and the years after. I know it‘s fiction but it‘s also based on fact. And I had no idea about most of what happened in this book. I‘m astounded.

Lots of emotion in here. Not as much as Hannah‘s previous books, but man oh man, this was a good one.

My first by St James. I really liked it! The offending highway had a deliciously creepy atmosphere and I loved that Eddie and April got sucked into a crime on their honeymoon. I loved the paranormal aspect too. The only thing that felt a little off-kilter were the parts concerning the police and the explanation for everything. That part was so-so. But the rest of the book was a lot of fun! I‘ll read more by this author 🚙

Rescued a puppy yesterday, started a new book this morning!

#dogsoflitsy

I loved every second of this one. It‘s Lydia‘s first person account of her struggle as half-vampire/half-human. More than anything, she wants to experience eating human food, but her vampire body will not allow her this. The whole book is comprised of her thoughts and then her actions in response to her thoughts. A very quiet, very introspective, strange little story. So good! I chose it because I love books about vampires and books about food.

I chose to read this because I love books set in the Colonial time period and this one takes place during The Starving Time at Jamestown in the early 1600‘s. It‘s not a romance by definition although the Ellis‘ romantic feelings for Jane are prominent for half of the story, then it takes a solid turn to horror. The end is pretty dark, but this is understandable as The Starving Time was awful for both the native population as well as the settlers…

I listened to this one chapter at a time and I loved it from start to finish. The author and her husband buy a home in serious disrepair and she details their road to renovating it over the course of many years. My husband and I are one year into remodeling our own home, and I felt kinship with the author in some instances and shock at some of their financial decisions in others. I particularly loved the history of houses and rooms she included.

Oh man, this was something unexpected! I love the movie but I had no idea the book went so much further. Annie Wilkes is terrifying! This one had me gasping and holding my breath with some of the crazy scenes with Annie terrorizing Paul and others 🪓🔥 🐀💉

Also, about the audiobook: I listened to it here and there and at first, I hated it. Sounded boring! But as I kept listening, narrator Lindsay Crouse started sounding just like…

I knew when I saw this cover, I had to read this. It just called out to me. The fork‘s shadow is just so creepy and compelling. And that‘s how this story was. It‘s popcorn horror, and I loved it. The pacing was fast, the story was crazy, and I would have read it straight thru if I‘d had the time.

I agree with other Goodreads reviewers that get a big Invasion of the Body Snatchers vibe-Moss was clearly a fan of that story. I‘ll read more by him.

Sunday morning puppy snores 💤 with my book and coffee. My favorite time of the week!

I‘ve tried so hard to create characters and images in my head for this story. But no matter how hard I try, after seeing the movie many years ago, I can still only imagine Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes and James Caan as Paul Sheldon. #readingStephenKing

Heck yeah!! Started it this morning!! I‘m so excited to finally be reading Misery!

#readingStephenKing

Quite good, a lot of fun to read! I love vampire stories so I was thrilled about this one from Tudor. I loved the police procedural aspect. I loved the characters both good and bad. I loved all of the secrecy and twists. I especially loved the snowy, cold, remote atmosphere of this fictional Alaskan town. I do wish Tudor had leaned in to the vampire aspect a bit more but it‘s still a very solid story with fun vampire lore. I need more from Tudor!