Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
Bless Your Heart- Lindy Ryan: The Evans women--Duecy, Lenore, and Grace--have spent their lives ensuring the recently departed are given a proper burial. They've been running the only funeral parlor in their small Texas town for decades and have gotten by without any incident since the Godawful Mess left two bodies in the ground and Grace raising her infant daughter alone. But when the body of the town gossip is brought in for burial and instead rises from the dead, it's clear that the Evans women's pasts have come back to haunt them. As more bodies start piling up and the local deputy begins asking more questions, the Evans women realize that the Strigoi--the original vampires--have returned, and it's up to them to protect their town.
Based on the title and cover, I thought it would be some campy horror à la Grady Hendrix, but it felt serious. I liked the premise of this family of women, who each have distinct personalities, protecting their town from evil, but if I had to read about one more butterscotch candy, I was going to offer myself up to the Strigoi. The pacing was too slow, and instead of building tension, it left me bored. I needed more action because it started to feel like, "Here's a body we found," and "Oh look, here's another body we found." That comes down to the writing, which I thought was vague, repetitive, and lackluster. Maybe I went into this with my expectations too high, but the description promised Southern charm with a bite, and it was more like teething.
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| Pub Date: 4-9-24 Adult - Contemporary |
The Kiss Countdown- Etta Easton: Until recently, Amerie Price was a successful event planner, had her apartment, and had a serious boyfriend. Now, Amerie finds herself jobless, boyfriendless, and about to be homeless. Nothing is going right for her, so when she runs into her ex and his new girlfriend, Amerie panics and pretends to be dating the handsome stranger she spilled coffee on. Astronaut Vincent Rogers is gearing up for a six-month mission to the moon, and the hardest part of his prep is not the rigorous training but convincing his mother there's nothing to worry about. Vincent decides the best way to get his mom off his back is to pretend to be in a supportive relationship. He offers Amerie a rent-free room in his house in exchange for her pretending to be his girlfriend for his mother's nerves. With her struggling new business and family medical bills piling up, Amerie can't refuse the offer. But the more time she and Vincent spend together, the more the lines between what's real and what's not blur.
I had this on my most anticipated releases list, and I'm happy to report I loved it! I'm so impressed by this debut. Easton's writing was breezy and fresh. Her dialogue felt natural, and I loved the playful dynamic of Vincent. He was always trying to get under Amerie's skin and rattle her, which was adorable. I also liked how cautious Amerie was. She wasn't one for thrill-seeking but became more open the longer she was around Vincent. They brought out the best in one another, and I loved seeing them grow closer. There was also a bit of a slow burn to their romance, which I wasn't expecting. I think the ending wrapped up a little too quickly, but overall, I thought this was great, and I can't wait to read more from Easton.
I had this on my most anticipated releases list, and I'm happy to report I loved it! I'm so impressed by this debut. Easton's writing was breezy and fresh. Her dialogue felt natural, and I loved the playful dynamic of Vincent. He was always trying to get under Amerie's skin and rattle her, which was adorable. I also liked how cautious Amerie was. She wasn't one for thrill-seeking but became more open the longer she was around Vincent. They brought out the best in one another, and I loved seeing them grow closer. There was also a bit of a slow burn to their romance, which I wasn't expecting. I think the ending wrapped up a little too quickly, but overall, I thought this was great, and I can't wait to read more from Easton.
Rating: 4.5/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 4-9-24 Adult - Horror |
Bless Your Heart- Lindy Ryan: The Evans women--Duecy, Lenore, and Grace--have spent their lives ensuring the recently departed are given a proper burial. They've been running the only funeral parlor in their small Texas town for decades and have gotten by without any incident since the Godawful Mess left two bodies in the ground and Grace raising her infant daughter alone. But when the body of the town gossip is brought in for burial and instead rises from the dead, it's clear that the Evans women's pasts have come back to haunt them. As more bodies start piling up and the local deputy begins asking more questions, the Evans women realize that the Strigoi--the original vampires--have returned, and it's up to them to protect their town.
Based on the title and cover, I thought it would be some campy horror à la Grady Hendrix, but it felt serious. I liked the premise of this family of women, who each have distinct personalities, protecting their town from evil, but if I had to read about one more butterscotch candy, I was going to offer myself up to the Strigoi. The pacing was too slow, and instead of building tension, it left me bored. I needed more action because it started to feel like, "Here's a body we found," and "Oh look, here's another body we found." That comes down to the writing, which I thought was vague, repetitive, and lackluster. Maybe I went into this with my expectations too high, but the description promised Southern charm with a bite, and it was more like teething.
Rating: 2/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 2-13-24 Adult - Fantasy |
An Education in Malice- S.T. Gibson: Laura Sheridan has left her small Southern town to attend boarding school in Massachusetts. Saint Perpetua's College has stood amongst the barren hills for years, an isolated and intimidating structure where secrets hide in corners, and elaborate ceremonies herald in new students. On Laura's first day, she unintentionally finds herself an academic rival in the form of Carmilla when she gets invited to join a poetry group headed by their demanding profession, De Lafontaine. But Laura and Carmilla are the only students involved, and Laura notes that Carmilla and De Lafontaine have a strange obsession with one another. As the rivalry between Laura and Carmilla grows, so does a desire unlike anything Laura's felt before.
I read A Dowry of Blood by this author and liked it, but wasn't as obsessed as everyone else. It seems I'm in the same boat with this latest release. I loved the dark academia vibe, and I love a boarding school setting. Laura started as this doe-eyed, naive girl, and it was almost enthralling watching her fall into the dark world of Carmilla and De Lafontaine's. There was such an obsessive, dangerous feel to their dynamic. It was twisted, and Laura and Carmilla were pitted against one another at every turn. As for the plot, it was intriguing but meandering. It felt like watching an old movie that is a little fuzzy around the edges. I won't deny that Gibson's writing is lush and sensual, but something about it never totally pulls me in. Even so, I'd still recommend it if you're a fan of vampires of Gothic-feeling stories.
I read A Dowry of Blood by this author and liked it, but wasn't as obsessed as everyone else. It seems I'm in the same boat with this latest release. I loved the dark academia vibe, and I love a boarding school setting. Laura started as this doe-eyed, naive girl, and it was almost enthralling watching her fall into the dark world of Carmilla and De Lafontaine's. There was such an obsessive, dangerous feel to their dynamic. It was twisted, and Laura and Carmilla were pitted against one another at every turn. As for the plot, it was intriguing but meandering. It felt like watching an old movie that is a little fuzzy around the edges. I won't deny that Gibson's writing is lush and sensual, but something about it never totally pulls me in. Even so, I'd still recommend it if you're a fan of vampires of Gothic-feeling stories.
Rating: 3/5
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