Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
I haven't heard anyone talking about this book, but it seemed like the perfect read for this time of year. The atmosphere was top-notch and full of occult and mythology references that lent to the spooky vibe. I liked Mazzy as a main character, but Nora drove me bonkers. A lot of the trouble they found themselves in could've been avoided had she not been so impulsive. I thought the mystery was well done, but it felt a bit repetitive. There's also a little bit of a romance thrown in, which was cute, but didn't add much to the plot. I'd recommend checking it out if you're looking for a quick read reminiscent of a '90s teen witchy movie.
I really want to like Harrison's books. This is the third one I've read, and it was...fine. I think I figured out where my disconnect comes from. I love her plots, but I hate her characters. This was a very well-done haunted house story. There were moments where I genuinely felt creeped out, and couldn't read fast enough to find out what was going to happen. I was all in when it came to the storyline. But, ugh, the characters. I couldn't stand Clio. She was spoiled, bratty, and just plain mean, and her family wasn't much better. There was also a romance that was okay, but didn't do anything for me. It was a quick read with some decently done horror elements, but I don't think I'll be picking up more from this author.
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| Pub Date: 9-30-25 Adult - Contemporary |
Soul Searching- Lyla Sage: Collins Cartwright may love her small town of Sweetwater Peak, Wyoming, but she prefers viewing it in her rearview mirror. But when a developer tries to buy her family's beloved antique shop, Collins decides to head home to help. It has nothing to do with the fact that her photography career is stalled, her bank account is dwindling, or the ghosts she's spent her whole life talking to have now gone quiet. Since she's here to fix her family's problems, not the other way around, Collins takes the spare room for rent above the new upholstery shop in town. While it's full of ghosts that ignore her, Collins is more concerned with Brady Cooper, her new roommate, who thinks she's bonkers and spends most of her time talking to herself. But as the pair grow closer, Collins helps break Brady out of his shell, and he helps her reconnect with her abilities, leaving them to wonder if it was fate that brought them together.
I adored the Rebel Blue Ranch series, so I couldn't wait to see what Sage would bring out next. I loved the idea of another small town, but this time with a paranormal twist. Perhaps my expectations were a little too high, but it didn't have the same impact as I thought it would. I still liked it, but something was missing. I liked our two main characters. Collins was feisty, and Brady was a sweet little nerd. I loved watching him get all flustered by Collins. There wasn't a lot of character development, and sometimes the romance got a little boring, but I still had a good time with it. My main complaint is that I wanted more ghosts. Don't sell me on a paranormal romance and barely deliver! We got crumbs, and I wanted a full meal. Other than that, it was fine, and I'm still excited to pick up the next one.
I adored the Rebel Blue Ranch series, so I couldn't wait to see what Sage would bring out next. I loved the idea of another small town, but this time with a paranormal twist. Perhaps my expectations were a little too high, but it didn't have the same impact as I thought it would. I still liked it, but something was missing. I liked our two main characters. Collins was feisty, and Brady was a sweet little nerd. I loved watching him get all flustered by Collins. There wasn't a lot of character development, and sometimes the romance got a little boring, but I still had a good time with it. My main complaint is that I wanted more ghosts. Don't sell me on a paranormal romance and barely deliver! We got crumbs, and I wanted a full meal. Other than that, it was fine, and I'm still excited to pick up the next one.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 8-26-25 YA - Fantasy |
A Spell to Wake the Dead- Nicole Lesperance: Mazzy and her best friend Nora have dabbled in witchcraft for years, but one night they get more than they bargained for. As they were attempting a moonlit spell on the beach, they stumbled upon the dead and mutilated body of a young woman. The pair knows they should leave the investigating to the police, but they can't shake the feeling that something supernatural is going on, especially when Nora begins hearing the voice of the deceased woman in her head. As they use spells to dig deeper, they uncover a rash of disappearances stretching back decades. With more bodies cropping up and Nora acting strangely, Mazzy's left desperately trying to piece together the puzzle before she and Nora are the next victims.
I haven't heard anyone talking about this book, but it seemed like the perfect read for this time of year. The atmosphere was top-notch and full of occult and mythology references that lent to the spooky vibe. I liked Mazzy as a main character, but Nora drove me bonkers. A lot of the trouble they found themselves in could've been avoided had she not been so impulsive. I thought the mystery was well done, but it felt a bit repetitive. There's also a little bit of a romance thrown in, which was cute, but didn't add much to the plot. I'd recommend checking it out if you're looking for a quick read reminiscent of a '90s teen witchy movie.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 9-9-25 Adult - Horror |
Play Nice- Rachel Harrison: To her millions of followers, influencer Clio Barnes' life is one to be envied. Everything is curated down to the tiniest detail. When Clio's estranged mother suddenly passes away, she and her sisters are left with their childhood home, and Clio thinks it's the perfect opportunity to get some house flipping content. But there's one problem: the house is possessed. Or at least, that's what her mother believed, which led to her losing custody of Clio and her sisters. Clio's sisters want nothing to do with the house and the traumatic memories it holds, but Clio is determined to prove everyone wrong. Only, the longer she stays in the house, the more she feels something sinister is lurking in its darkened shadows, and her memories of that time start coming back thanks to the book her mother wrote about her experience. Everyone thought Clio's mother was crazy, but what if she was telling the truth about the demon haunting the home?
I really want to like Harrison's books. This is the third one I've read, and it was...fine. I think I figured out where my disconnect comes from. I love her plots, but I hate her characters. This was a very well-done haunted house story. There were moments where I genuinely felt creeped out, and couldn't read fast enough to find out what was going to happen. I was all in when it came to the storyline. But, ugh, the characters. I couldn't stand Clio. She was spoiled, bratty, and just plain mean, and her family wasn't much better. There was also a romance that was okay, but didn't do anything for me. It was a quick read with some decently done horror elements, but I don't think I'll be picking up more from this author.
Rating: 2/5
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