THE WAY OF KINGS – Brandon Sanderson

“Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, wore white on the day he was to kill a king… White to be bold. White to not blend into the night. White to give warning. For if you were going to assassinate a man, he was entitled to see you coming.” “They were not demons, they were just men whoContinue reading “THE WAY OF KINGS – Brandon Sanderson”

COUNTING THE COST – Jill Duggar

While doing my latest book nook, I listened to Counting the Cost, Jill Duggar’s 2023 memoir that was written with her husband, Derick Dillard, and Craig Borlase.  I had watched the Duggars with a bit of morbid fascination throughout the years, much like most reality TV, and was even more captivated when the religious houseContinue reading “COUNTING THE COST – Jill Duggar”

CONFESSIONS – Catherine Airey

When I saw Catherine Airey’s Confessions (1.14.25 Mariner Books) being compared to The Goldfinch, I groaned.  I’m serious. I audibly groaned. I think The Goldfinch is one of the more overrated novels of my time, and I still hold the opinion that the story deserved to have someone different tell it, someone with a lessContinue reading “CONFESSIONS – Catherine Airey”

BRAIDING SWEETGRASS – Robin Wall Kimmerer

One of my 2025 resolutions is to read more non-fiction and to use mundane tasks as opportunities to be more intentional with my time.  Enter audiobooks (and laundry!).  My first read of the year was Robin Wall Kimmerer’s 2013 release, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants (Milkweed Editions). Kimmerer, aContinue reading “BRAIDING SWEETGRASS – Robin Wall Kimmerer”

SONGBIRDS – Christy Lefteri

“One day, Nisha vanished and turned to gold. She turned to gold in the eyes of the creature that stood before me. She turned to gold in the morning sky and in the music of the birds.” I ended my 2024 having read 68 books – far less than my goal, but considering the wayContinue reading “SONGBIRDS – Christy Lefteri”

A NOVEL LOVE STORY – Ashley Poston

I’m likely not the best person to listen to when it comes to reviewing romance.  That said, I tried really hard to like Ashley Poston’s A Novel Love Story (Berkley 2024), but it fell way flat for me.  The premise is cute enough – a woman who loves romance novels heads to a cabin forContinue reading “A NOVEL LOVE STORY – Ashley Poston”

THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR – Ally Carter

While heading home for Christmas, I decided to listen to an audio book.  (I usually get one or two audio books in a year, but it’s really not my reading preference.) I settled on Ally Carter’s The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year (Avon 2024), and I’m so glad I did.  What a delicious holidayContinue reading “THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR – Ally Carter”

THE DAVENPORTS: MORE THAN THIS – Krystal Marquis

I really thought The Davenports was going to be a continued series, with each subsequent novel a deep dive into one of the Davenport siblings (with a branch out for Amy-Rose and Ruby Tremaine), but it would seem the second installment, The Davenports: More than This (Dial Books 2024) seems to wrap all the storyContinue reading “THE DAVENPORTS: MORE THAN THIS – Krystal Marquis”

THE GOD OF THE WOODS – Liz Moore

“It came from the Greek god Pan: the god of the woods. He liked to trick people, to confuse and disorient them until they lost their bearings, and their minds.” “Something about her looks immortal…a spirit, an apparition, more god than child.” Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods (Riverhead Books 2024) is in myContinue reading “THE GOD OF THE WOODS – Liz Moore”

SO THIRSTY – Rachel Harrison

“Besides, anticipating  the worst-case scenario doesn’t prepare you for the worst-case scenario. Just gives you the opportunity to be smug in the face of disaster.” Rachel Harrison’s So Thirsty (Berkley 2024) was supposed to be my dedicated “spooky season” read, but I was too entrenched in Booker season to get to it.  Oops. In allContinue reading “SO THIRSTY – Rachel Harrison”