From the author of Escape Room comes a new pulse-quickening read that begs the question: How do you outrun danger when you’re trapped at sea?
Vesper thought a ten-day cruise would be the perfect escape from her troubled life. But when the ship leaves the harbor, she quickly realizes this is no ordinary vacation. She’s has been enrolled in No Exit, a sinister program to reeducate bullies. Now, Vesper and her fellow passengers are about to confront their darkest fears and deepest regrets.
As the days pass, the ship becomes a floating prison where the rules are brutal and the punishments deadly. With each new challenge, the teens must navigate physical and psychological trials that push them to their limits.
Stacking the Shelves is a weekly post to share what’s new on your shelf. Check out the rest of the Stacking the Shelves posts on Reading Reality Blog! Here’s info on how to join Stacking the Shelves.
The Sunday Salon, it is now being hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. This post let’s you share what you read last week and what you hope to read next week
News
Sorry that I missed this post last week. Too much going on. First week back to work, back to school night, going to see my dad after work. It took it’s toll on me.
There is some improvement with my dad. He is more cognitively aware. He is trying to manage his pain and work towards getting mobility back. But it’s hard for someone his age. I’m not sure he can get back to where he was before.
This last week was the first week students were back in the building. Another crazy week and I’m exhausted. I know it will settle down but right now I want to sleep for a week.
What I read this week
Sadly, no reading happened. I’m hoping this weekend will change that.
Tell Them GoodbyeE. R. Sanchez(Third Death Series, #1)Publication date: December 17th 2025Genres: Thriller, Young Adult 16-year-old Sino and his 17-year-old cousin, Martín, run away from their family’s ranch—El Petaco—after witnessing their cousin Adal murder their cousin Javier over Adal’s marijuana business. Not wanting to be forced into Javier’s job, Sino and Martín plan to run,…
Shopping for a Highlander’s BabyJulia Kent(Shopping for a Highlander, #4)Publication date: March 30th 2026Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance The best early strike o’ ma life wasna on the pitch. It was in bed with Amy on our honeymoon. Dinna ken how we turned our elopement, honeymoon, and conception into a hat trick, but there ye…
A Chatter of Bones & Baby’s BreathSuzanne PhillipsPublication date: April 21st 2026Genres: Young Adult From acclaimed author Suzanne Phillips comes this compelling novella collection–gritty coming-of-age stories in narrative and verse that Kirkus Reviews calls “haunting and heartbreaking. . .an unflinching look at surviving trauma.” A CHATTER OF BONES Kaitlyn has come to rely on Olivia,…
I purchased this used online and was super disappointed in the quality. It said minimal wear. Right. If this is minimal wear then I’d like to speak to the person who read it about how you treat books.
This pre-order arrived.
Version 1.0.0
I received a this for review. It’s an advent romance book. Very excited about it! Each chapter is closed with a double page. You open a chapter a day to count down. I love advent calendars so I’m excited to see how this goes.
What’s new on your shelf? Hope you had a great week!
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Fresh new reads
From Harper Perennial
#Romance #Contemporary #Fiction
Marie Kondo meets The Real Housewives in this charming and perceptive story of a professional organizer to Hollywood’s elite who learns to find love and acceptance amid the messiness of life.
To the world, Jane Brown, a Los-Angeles based professional organizer, is a model of composure and reticence. But inside, she’s fiercely judgmental and critical of herself and others. A lover of order and tidiness, she struggles to accept the world’s exasperating messiness of both her own clients—a superficial sphere of influencers and rich creatives—and her live-in boyfriend, who is becoming as aggravating as he is comforting.
When she arrives at the home of a new client, a has-been Hollywood actress—a woman opposite to her in every way—Jane finds herself unexpectedly moved. Realizing how desperately she wants to lower her defenses and open her heart, Jane decides to declutter the mess of her own mindset. Organizing her own feelings turns out to be the most daunting job she’s ever tackled, but one that promises big rewards if she succeeds, including freedom—and even love.
Set against the dazzlingly rich, beautiful, and shallow world of Hollywood money and mansions, Mess is an honest, heartfelt, and often hilarious response to the disorder of our lives today.
In this lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers rom-com, two exes are faced with one deadline. Will they make it to the end?
Temi and Wale meet in London. They flirt, date, meet each other’s friends.
. . . Then Wale dumps Temi to go on Love Villa.
Instead of giving in to heartbreak, Temi throws herself into her writing. She’s within touching distance of a book deal that would solve all her problems. But publishers keep passing on her novel and bills still have to be paid. So, when the opportunity to ghost-write a celebrity autobiography arises, Temi finds herself accepting.
And, of course, the celebrity turns out to be Wale…
Has too much time passed, or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?
A teen actress lands a role on the same high-profile show as her ex-boyfriend—only for things to get messy when she falls for his cute scene partner—in a dazzling sapphic rom-com from the author of Caught in a Bad Fauxmance.
“A swoony celebrity romance sure to steal your heart.” —Jennifer Dugan, author of Some Girls Do
Actress Marisol Polly-Rodriguez might be entering her flop era. After wrapping up a hit show, she’s neither booked nor busy. Not to mention, her former costar turned boyfriend, Miles, recently dumped her for being an “unserious” performer. Can you imagine?
To prove to Miles—and online trolls—that she takes her craft very seriously, Marisol lands a role on the same upcoming drama series he does. But with the eccentric director constantly rewriting her lines and a snobby castmate trying to upstage her, Marisol quickly realizes that her hope of nabbing an award nomination might be a pipe dream.
The only person she doesn’t have to put on a performance for is the show’s leading lady, Jamila. Marisol hasn’t been able to look away from her since their first audition. Falling for Jamila wasn’t part of Marisol’s plan, but even the most dedicated actors go off script sometimes, right?
In this explosive sequel to Moonstorm, teen mecha pilot Hwa Young returns to her rebel roots to fight against the Imperial forces—but, as she grapples with her warring allegiances, who can she really trust? Perfect for fans of Iron Widow and the Skyward series!
Hwa Young and her pilot comrades have betrayed the Empire to save it from its own destruction—but what comes next? It’s been just two months since the lancer squad stopped imperial forces from deploying a devastating singularity bomb and taken shelter with the rebel clanners, who have kept them busy with raids against their ex-leaders. Their mission have helped numb the shock of recent battles… for now.
Meanwhile, Hwa Young’s best friend, technician Geum, has been left behind on the imperial fleet, imprisoned for aiding Hwa Young’s deceit against the Empire. Hwa Young is desperate to retrieve Geum—but Geum is slowly realizing that Hwa Young’s loyalties aren’t as clear cut as zie once believed.
As Hwa Young delves deeper into the rebels’ inner circles, she soon realizes that the clanners are just as cutthroat as the imperials, leaving her to wonder who she can really trust… and at odds with Geum, the one person she thought she could count on.
Mr. Not Your Savior! Alina Jacobs (The Seattle Svenssons, #2) Publication date: August 5th 2025 Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
When your mean boss asks you if you’re ready to admit defeat—and move out of his car…you wonder where you went wrong in life.
Two weeks ago, I was an optimistic office girl with a Pinterest vision board and a dream.
Now? I’m standing in a billionaire’s penthouse office, trying not to throw a donut at his smug, perfect face.
McCarthy Svensson is my new boss-slash-personal tormentor.
Though he thinks he’s my only protector.
He’s wrong. He’s way worse than the merry-go-round of ex fiancés who may or may not be stalking me, including ex-fiancé number one of three, who fakes his death then pops up out of a casket. Alive.
Yes, I have a messy dating life.
I like to think it makes me unique and quirky! He doesn’t seem to think so.
When he growls, “I’m not helping you until you admit you need me,” I slam a binder against his chest and smile sweetly.
“Pick your fake girlfriend, buddy. Deadline’s midnight.”
He smirks. “As long as she’s nothing like you.”
Cool.
Now all I have to do is convince this ice-cold bastard that I’m exactly what he needs…
No not like that! I’m trying to save his reputation and my job.
And I’m not saving either if I keep letting him finger me in the back seat of his limo…gulp.
Stalkers, hot but toxic bosses, a granny with a flamethrower… This full-length, stand-alone, enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy with all of the crazy laughs and of course the perfect happily ever after!
I lean over. I might not be pissing on Brock’s grave, but I am going to spit on him. Symbolically, mostly. I don’t want to go to jail for defiling a corpse. Bethany really would fire me then.
But as I lean over, there’s motion.
I’m literally losing it, I think.
His corpse hasn’t just smiled, has it?
“B-B—Brock?” I stammer, then I scream when a cold hand shoots up and grabs my neck.
“Vampire! Help! Zombie!” I slap at him.
Still screaming, I scramble back, tripping over chairs, falling and banging my knees. My dress hem rides up my stress-eating-enhanced thighs as I try to escape that unholy thing in the coffin.
It’s sitting up with cold, lifeless eyes.
“Call the police! Call the army! Help!” I look around wildly for someone with a flamethrower or a gun.
Except… I’m the only one upset. No one is freaked out that Brock has risen from the dead. No one is screaming from fear. Instead, they’re… laughing?
“Oh my god!” Brock is clutching his sides. “Oh my fucking god, your face!”
His friends from the YouTube channel are circling vultures with cameras as everyone howls at me.
“Did you get her falling?” One of the camera men motions to the other.
I grab my skirt. “What the hell? Are you kidding me? This was a prank?”
“I can’t believe you fell for it!” Brock’s laughing hysterically in the casket while I sob on the floor.
My ex leaps out of the coffin and swaggers over to me. “Surprise! I always knew you cared, baby.”
The cameras are in my face as he crouches down in front of me.
“Aww, you’re crying over me. Come here, give me a hug.”
I’m in shock; I don’t know what I’m doing as I let him wrap his arms around me.
My ex leans in to kiss me on the head.
“Hey, man, you’re ruining the shot,” one of the cameramen complains.
“I don’t give a fuck about your fucking bullshit YouTube channel.” A massive arm wraps around my waist, then I’m yanked upright and back.
I cling to McCarthy as he holds me, my legs jelly.
The room is spinning.
I’m going to puke.
I left Brock after he played one too many stupid jokes on me—and now this?
“Why would you do this?” I whimper. “Make me think you’re dead?”
“The content, man.”
“Don’t fucking talk to her.” McCarthy tucks me protectively to his side.
Author Bio:
I write the kind of books I love—romantic comedies featuring snarly guys with hearts of gold, kick-ass heroines, and a swoon-worthy happily ever after! Also wine. And cupcakes.
When I’m not writing I can be found drinking tea, surrounded by my massive to-be-read pile! So many books…
You can connect with me on social media or find information on my books at my website.
Sign up for my newsletter so that you can get information about new releases, giveaways, and more!
Serena King has spent years burying her sins beneath designer heels and ruthless ambition. But no lie lasts forever. When a ghost from her past returns, armed with secrets that could destroy her, she’s forced into a game she can’t control.
The first move? A marriage forced upon her
To him—her brother’s ex-best friend. Her first mistake. The man who was her first… and then broke her heart.
Miles Whitmore.
He’s not the reckless charmer she remembers. He’s colder. Crueler. Hungrier.
Miles wants to salvage his scandal-ridden family’s legacy. He needs power. He needs redemption. But he’s got secrets that could destroy everything too.
Their marriage is a business deal, a show for the public. But behind closed doors?
It’s a war.
A war of lies. A war of seduction. A war of who will break first.
But the deeper they fall into their twisted game, the more hatred turns to heat. The more vengeance turns to obsession.
Because in a world where power is everything and love is the most dangerous game of all…
I spotted Mama and Daddy at the far end of the room, whispering vehemently among themselves. It was only when I got close that I heard Mama hiss, “He’s on something, Vincent!”
I almost gasped as Omar Whitmore stumbled through the crowd, his champagne glass tilting dangerously in his loose grip.
That’s not drunk. I know drunk. Drunk is falling into a gardenia bush after too many martinis or flirting with someone’s husband.
What started off as a simple party was now becoming a Jerry Springer episode.
The day after the most beautiful night of my life. Of course everything went wrong.
“Relax, Vonnie. He’s fine,” Daddy said, but I could see he didn’t believe himself.
“This is not the first time. Look! He’s sweating like this is the Mississippi Delta! He’s falling over, and his eyes look blacked out like an alien,” Mama said. “He ain’t been right since his father died.”
“You weren’t any better,” Daddy reminded her. Mama glared at him.
I expected tonight to be low-key. Simple but luxurious. A big King party for the whole town before Laurene’s engagement party next week, complete with rosé, twinkling lights, and that laidback summer feel that Lush brings.
“You saw him at the mayor’s gala when the press was interviewing him. He looked unshaven and dirty like some drifter.”
“That’s just grief,” Daddy said, standing up for his best friend.
Mama’s glare didn’t ease up. “I never let myself go like this when my daddy died. Omar gave a sloppy, rambling speech at the town hall. He crashed my Women of Lush networking brunch, and you know much time I put into that, Vincent, don’t act dumb.”
“It could be depression. Anxiety?”
“And? What does that have to do with him messing up my party?” Mama put her hands on her hips. “The Ashbournes are here. Lord knows we don’t need to give them any more ammunition than they already have. All the families that matter in Lush are here. Mayor Johnson, the Lush Chronicles, investors, donors—”
I knew better than to interrupt when Mama was pissed. My eyes flicked back to Omar.
“He’s our friend,” Daddy said, wincing as he watched Omar fall into a guest who yelped.
Despite what Miles thought, Mama had been dropping hints about giving me King Developments. She wanted to add another venture to King Enterprises, but Erik was too busy with King Aviation. Laurene was obsessed with her art.
This was it. But one wrong move from me tonight, and she’d place it right back into Erik’s lap without blinking.
So, I stayed still.
Author Bio:
Tinia (TUH-NIA) Montford is a Pisces who’s a sap for romance, especially when there’s (tons of) kissing. Loves eighties sitcoms and will consume anything with chocolate. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English and Graphic Design. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Fiction.
YOU’LL WANT TO BE ONE. UNTIL YOU KNOW THEIR SECRETS.
After Emily’s father tragically dies, she is forced to live with the only family she has left, an aunt and grandmother in the heart of Savannah, Georgia in a house as beautiful as it is mysterious.
But all is not what it seems with the Bell family; they’re hiding a magical secret.
When Emily meets the alluring Wyn, she forms a connection that feels like it was always meant to be. As the spark between them grows more powerful, her life takes an exhilarating and terrifying turn; but every step closer to him, takes her a step further away from her family.
Emily will find out that blood is always thicker than water…
Eve Ambroise may be a rising star playwright, but her personal life is falling part. Desperate for a fresh start, she breaks up with her fiancé, cuts off her parents, and heads to the Tennessee mountains. But keeping up the lie that she’s just on a writing retreat becomes near impossible when faced with the well-meaning townspeople and a neighbor who has just as much baggage as she has.
Coming off a contentious custody battle, Jamie Gallagher is restructuring what his life looks like as a single dad, and spending more days at his cabin makes his new “free time” a little less empty. Especially when he meets the beautiful—and prickly—woman next door. The last thing he needs is a new romance to shake up his family dynamics even more, but there’s something about Eve.
What starts out as a fling quickly becomes more serious, and it’s not long before Eve is running scared once again. She’s loved and lost in every possible way, and risking it one more time could finally break her. But like the fireflies that fill the mountains around them, Jamie’s and Eve’s lives keep falling into sync. A fairy-tale ending could be in the cards, but only if the new couple can get out of their heads and put their hearts first.
A group of hauntingly beautiful girls have been bound together by a cruel curse—and one of them will go to any lengths to save them from their violent dance. A breathtakingly gorgeous gothic fantasy about love and control that will never let you go. This spellbinding debut is perfect for fans of Stephanie Garber!
In the legendary ballet theatre of New Kora, the girls on stage enchant the audience each night with their grace and divine beauty. Before Emberlyn became the show’s star, it was her dream to become one of the ballerinas… until she learned the price of their living nightmare.
A curse has bound the girls to the show’s mastermind, Malcolm, so they must obey his every command. They are controlled by the magic’s invisible strings that has the power to wield their limbs like marionette dolls. Only the commands don’t stop when the curtain comes down, and the girls live a life of fear from Malcolm’s wickedness and the twisted truth that each dancer is destined to turn to dust when the curse finally consumes her.
When the troupe is invited to perform in the glitzy city of Parlizia, Emberlyn knows this could be her best chance to save them all. She meets an elusive boy made of shadows with a magical connection to the girls. Together, they work to unravel the haunting truth about their creation and fight for their survival. But the cost of freedom might be too high, and as she dances closer to the edge of darkness she realizes she might break the curse… or break her own heart forever.
The Cardinal Code Avery Sterling Publication date: August 4th 2025 Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Vampires are real. Powerful, organized, and nearly untouchable, they move through society under the governance of the Cardinalis Order—an ancient system built to protect their kind and punish those who defy its laws.
Michael Chamberlain is one of them. A successful entrepreneur with a carefully buried past, he returns to The Hamptons to take over his father’s elite nightclub—and to secure a contracted blood source. Cold, controlled, and emotionally detached, Michael has long accepted the rules of his world. That is, until he meets Paislee Sullivan.
A determined college student working to fund her future, Paislee doesn’t know the truth about the Order—or that her presence at the nightclub is more dangerous than she realizes. When her path collides with Michael’s, she’s pulled into the shadows of a world built on power, secrecy, and blood.
As their attraction deepens, Paislee must navigate a society where consent is contractual, love is forbidden, and ignorance offers the only safety. But some connections can’t be denied—and breaking the rules could mean losing everything.
The Cardinal Code is a seductive and high-stakes romance set in a world where the elite don’t just run society—they feed on it.
As they pulled into her uncle’s driveway, the house was shrouded in darkness.
Michael killed the engine and was out of the car in an instant. She fumbled for her keys and was surprised when he opened her door.
“Thanks,” she murmured, taking his outstretched hand as she stepped onto the driveway.
“How’s your ankle?”
She tested it. “Actually, it’s not that bad. Thanks for the ride.”
“Let me walk you in,” he offered.
Her heart thudded in her chest. “That’s…really not necessary.”
His lips quirked. “You have to let me finish redeeming myself, Paislee.”
With a dramatic sigh, she dangled her keys in front of him. “Very well, Sir Knightly. Here.”
Michael unlocked the front door, and they stepped into the house. His gaze swept over the modest furnishings as she turned on the lights.
“How long have you been working at Allusion?” he asked, pausing in the living room.
“A couple of weeks.” She slid her bag off her shoulder and set it on a nearby chair. “I came here for school. Allusion helps pay the bills.”
He stepped further into the room.
She busied herself with slipping off her sneakers, but the silence stretched long enough that she turned around.
He was inches away, his eyes dark and unreadable.
Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly changed the subject. “So, am I safe? No danger lurking in the shadows of my house?”
Michael reached for the strap on her skirt, and his fingers traced it slowly before he hooked it and tugged her forward.
“Why do you look so frightened?” he murmured, his brow furrowing.
“I’m not frightened,” she shot back, though her trembling hands betrayed her.
He arched a brow. “You’re shaking.”
Her cheeks burned. “Because I know you’re going to kiss me,” she admitted.
His lips curved into a slow, wicked smile. “Last night, you didn’t seem so afraid of me.”
Her resolve ebbed as his face inched closer. “That was impulsive,” she whispered. “Now I’m just…questioning what I’ve gotten myself into.”
He laughed softly, and the sound was rich and unguarded. “You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into, ducizza,” he breathed.
Author Bio:
Avery Sterling’s love for the romance genre began in her teen years when she picked up her first novel. She was captivated by the sweeping scale of emotions brought about by the words. The experience catapulted her towards learning the art of wielding a breathtaking adventure, with a love that felt authentic. Wanting to inspire people with her own thoughts and words, she finished her first novel at sixteen. It was a step towards understanding the essence of what she wished to create.
Most of her youth was spent traveling, searching out the romance and beauty in her everchanging world. From the waves that crashed against the rocky shores of Downeast, Maine, to the warm breezes of the Caribbean, she discovered that love was universal, apparent in its grandest and simplest of forms. Her goal is to write novels an audience can relate to, one that conveys the truth and nature of love… with all that steamy romance.
Murder, Mystery & Mothers Fran Heap (A Willowcroft Cozy Mystery, #1) Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery
“You’d better leave town or else”.
After a devastating betrayal mystery writer Tammy Rumbelow flees LA for a charming blue cottage in Willowcroft, Michigan. But when a yellowed letter in the attic reveals an unsolved 70-year-old locked room murder in her living room, her peace is shattered.
Determined to start fresh, Tammy enlists the help of a ragtag group of locals:
Bookstore owner Olivia Huddlestone offers a sanctuary for clandestine conversations and genealogical sleuthing among her shelves.
Eccentric Mrs. Hazel Temperance mines her knitting circle for gossip.
Retired detective “Wally” has contacts at the sheriff’s department.
Tech whiz kid Xander Simmons hasn’t met a computer he didn’t like—or a website he can’t hack.
And a stray cat with a nose for clues…
As threatening letters appear and break-ins escalate around town, Tammy must prove to herself—and her inner critic—that she’s capable of solving a murder, or will that be two?
Perfect for fans of multi-generational mysteries filled with quirky characters like Only Murders in the Building and crime-solving writers like Castle.
At three in the morning, with her cursor blinking on an empty page, Tammy Rumbelow stumbled upon an online listing in rural Michigan. For the First time in months, a flicker of hope sparked.
The realtor’s photos of the little blue cottage with its front porch and white picket fence, had set her heart alight. The interior was as enchanting as the exterior, featuring an antique writing desk where inspiration could strike.
On a whim—or perhaps out of desperation—she’d picked up the phone and bought it based on the pictures alone. She had never even visited the state before. Had fate handed her a lifeline, or had she made the biggest mistake of her life?
Now, six weeks later, Tammy’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel; nerves and fanfare clashed in her stomach. This was it—her fresh start. But a familiar undercurrent of doubt threatened to bubble to the surface. She turned off the highway. The country roads, flanked by dense forests of oak, maple, and pine, marked the last stretch of her six-day drive from Los Angeles to Willowcroft.
She rolled down the window. The crisp breeze tousled long, wavy strands of brown hair over her face. Tammy inhaled, savoring the clean air. It reminded her of childhood summers—when life was untangled.
As the miles stretched behind her, the hum of the tires a constant companion, fragments of her former life in LA surfaced. Tammy’s chest constricted at the memory of her best manuscript—a boundary-pushing idea. But she’d never seen it in print, at least not under her name. Instead, her rushed, uninspired replacement made it to the shelves, the one cobbled together in the aftermath, her creativity fractured and trust shattered.
The book reviews rang in her head. “No emotional depth.” “Lacked soul.” Tammy winc ed, acknowledging their bitter truth. But the one that stung the deepest: “She’s not just over forty, she’s over, full stop.” They don’t know the real story behind those pages.
“You can never do anything right,” her mother’s sneer boomed, reopening old wounds. It had taken years to quiet the nagging doubts from her childhood, but the betrayal let those words flood back stronger than ever. The steering wheel grew slick under her clammy palms.
A road sign came into view, providing a diversion. “Welcome to Willowcroft. Township Population 999. Greater Willowcroft Population 5,124.”
Will I tip the scales to an even thousand? Any distraction helped. Was two thousand miles far enough away to break free?
Author Bio:
I am based in Melbourne, Australia but have lived in London, Copenhagen and New Jersey. I’ve been to 61 countries but want to visit over 190.
I’m a poor excuse of a redhead who loves ancient ruins and drains, hates dusting, revels in going behind the scenes, can’t smile in photos and detests selfie sticks (though I now own one).
I have a penchant for collecting quirky data and my favourite saying is: curiosity killed the cat, but information brought him back.
I have wanted to be a writer since I was nine but also had aspirations of being a famous actress, an astronaut, owning a department store and opening up a youth hostel. I became a career Nanny and Neonatal Nurse instead.
Now I am an author of cozy mystery novels (and travel books).
Stacking the Shelves is a weekly post to share what’s new on your shelf. Check out the rest of the Stacking the Shelves posts on Reading Reality Blog! Here’s info on how to join Stacking the Shelves.
The Sunday Salon, it is now being hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. This post let’s you share what you read last week and what you hope to read next week
News
Another difficult week for my dad. He was moved to rehab and that isn’t going well. I am worried about him and it has definitely affected my week for the worse. He is talking now and seems to be there now. But he’s been through a lot and improvement isn’t happening fast enough for the insurance company. He’s 92 and needs time to recover but they want to see things happen now. They found a blood clot in his right arm. He’s not able to use that arm due to pain. I’m really hoping the insurance company will take that into account and let him stay in rehab longer.
Monday, I go back to work. A week of teacher meetings before school starting August 12th. The change in my schedule will also be hard on dad.
What I read this week
Not a lot of reading this week. Still reading A Bodyguard Affair. Not that the book isn’t good, my life is just not lending itself to reading.
Sins of the Fire: PurgatorioPhoenix Ward(Sins of the Fire, #2)Publication date: December 18th 2025Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Young Adult The Church of New Haven extends its reach to those in need, however there are some lost souls that require more direct guidance, as their sins must be met with strong redirection. Thus, Jonah was created.…
A Tiny Little FavorPeyton BanksPublication date: April 17th 2026Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance From USA Today bestselling author, Peyton Banks, comes a steamy rom com about second chances, accidental families, and the most unexpected proposal of all. He was supposed to be a one-night stand… Now she’s asking him for baby number two. Five years…
The Cardinal Code: AbsolutionAvery Sterling(The Cardinal Code, #2)Publication date: April 17th 2026Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance The Cardinal Code: Absolution continues the dark, seductive saga of the Cardinales—an elite society of vampires whose influence shapes governments, history, and the hidden world beneath human civilization. Paislee Sullivan never wanted power. She only wanted Michael. But loving…
I pre-ordered the audio for these books and they become available this week.
I pre-ordered the hardback of this book with the updated cover and it arrived this week.
What’s new on your shelf? Hope you had a great week!
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#Adult #Fantasy #Romance #Thriller
Wolfsbane Hall Hazel St. Lewis Publication date: August 13th 2025 Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller
Phantom meets Clue:
She’s forced to murder to survive—until it’s her turn to die.
At Wolfsbane Hall, a secretive 1930s San Francisco murder mystery club, actress Celestine Sinclair plays a deadly role: executing victims who can only return to life once their murders are solved. Haunted by guilt yet bound by unwavering loyalty, she obeys the orders of the Specter—the club’s unseen mastermind and source of its magic.
But when his nemesis seizes control and poisons her, the game changes. The only way to survive? Solve the night’s mystery and unmask the Specter—an identity that has remained hidden for centuries. Even worse, the three prime suspects are the men closest to her: her lover, her enemy, and her best friend. One of them has betrayed her, and she has only hours left to uncover the truth.
The clock is ticking, the stakes are fatal, and this time, death will last forever.
Wolfsbane Hall: A Deluxe Edition Romantasy Thriller
Check out the Kickstarter here!
—
EXCERPT:
Celestine Sinclair hated being a murderer.
She hated blood dripping through her fingertips and clumping in her hair. She hated watching poison devour a body, and the feeling of her hands stretching around a slender throat.
Everything about murder was ghastly, but if she had to choose, her favorite way to kill was suffocation with a pillow while a person was drugged and unconscious. It was two and a half minutes of hell—hell she deserved for the act—but at least it was quiet and didn’t leave a mess.
Celestine loathed messes.
Unfortunately, the very nature of her profession required much more theatrical deaths. The audience didn’t come to Wolfsbane Hall to watch, as they put it, dull and tedious deaths; no, like vultures, the rich, pompous pricks wanted carnage.
They wanted a show.
So, Celestine Sinclair would give them one. That was her one objective as an actress at the infamous nightclub: show above all else.
Show above one’s own sanity.
“You’re wasting time,” said a voice forged from darkness, twisting from the room’s shadows. It was glazed in honeyed whiskey. Sweet yet potent.
The Specter—the magical and mysterious owner of Wolfsbane Hall, the glittering palace at the edge of San Francisco, filled with as much mystery as magnificence. It was a place patrons became a part of a murder mystery show. Glitter, grandeur, and witchcraft were laced into every inch of the manor, interwoven into a tapestry of entertainment.
“You must prepare for your next murder,” the Specter said as a whisper in her ear, darkness twirling and cloaking her from the patrons meandering into the Grand Ballroom—the club’s showroom.
“I know, Specter,” Celestine breathed.
Author Bio:
Hazel St. Lewis is a Northern California-based Romantasy author. Diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, she struggled to read and write, but fantasy stories inspired her to start storytelling. Unfortunately, now, she is a little too obsessed with morally gray characters. When she isn’t writing, she can be found playing with her hoard of cats (too many to count…it’s a problem), singing songs to said cats, or painting.
