★★★★☆ “The dead don’t care if you’re religious.” Haze by Rebecca Crunden Unexpected phone calls in the middle of the night are usually either creepy or scary. The phone call Eliza Owens gets late one evening from her fiance's ex is no exception, especially since the girl on the other end of the line has … Continue reading Haze by Rebecca Crunden
Month: May 2022
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
3 stars The Hunting Party is a character-driven murder mystery set in Loch Corrin, an exclusive hunting lodge in the Highlands of Scotland. The story primarily unfolds over the course of a 4-day trip a group of 8 pals from university takes to celebrate the New Year. While the focus is on the present day, … Continue reading The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
★★★★☆ Lydia owns a bookstore and her husband works as a journalist, and the couple lives with their 8-year-old son, Luca, in Acapulco, Mexico. Their home is invaded by members of a cartel during an extended family celebration, and only Lydia and Luca survive the violent massacre. A shell-shocked Lydia flees with Luca and sets off on a quest to cross the border to safety.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
3 stars A Goodreads Readers Choice award winner, Lucy Foley’s closed-room thriller takes us to the glamorous destination wedding of a magazine editor and a handsome TV celebrity. The book opens at the reception moments before a dead body is discovered. Foley builds suspense by using multiple POVs to flashback to the events leading up … Continue reading The Guest List by Lucy Foley
The Alchemy Thief by R.A. Denny
The first in the Pirates and Puritans series, The Alchemy Thief has an ambitious, intricately woven plot that spans centuries and continents. Experience “Peri” Fuller is about to start her studies at Harvard when she discovers an ancient hairpin in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. She becomes intrigued by the symbol … Continue reading The Alchemy Thief by R.A. Denny
The Glorious Views of Asheville, N.C.
Located in the western part of N.C., Asheville is one of the most diverse and scenic cities in the state. Its location along the Blue Ridge Mountain range makes it a popular fall destination for tourists looking to see beautiful fall foliage. A 4-hour drive from where I live, we have been able to make … Continue reading The Glorious Views of Asheville, N.C.
The Man and the Crow by Rebecca Crunden
★★★★★ In this short story, what starts off as a seemingly ordinary evening for Jessica, a part-time sales clerk at a hardware store, takes a shocking turn. Jessica arrives home to the flat she shares with Clara, the odd roommate she barely tolerates, and makes her way through Clara’s various house pets. Jessica stumbles into a horrific scene.
The Original Superheroes by Kayla Hicks
★★★★☆ The Original Superheroes is book 2 in the Backup Superheroes series. In this story, a prequel of sorts, we learn more about Frank, the barkeeper who played a supporting, yet important role in book 1.
Awakening (Commune’s Curse Book 1) by Lucy McLaren
4 stars This well-written fantasy novel by Lucy McLaren centers on the story of Evelyn, a teen-aged orphan, and Raif and Rose, two young siblings who end up in her care. One of the things that made this multi-point-of-view book so interesting is the central role that two children play in the story. It’s unusual … Continue reading Awakening (Commune’s Curse Book 1) by Lucy McLaren
Juniper Level Botanic Garden
My husband and I are always looking out for nearby locales we can explore together and feed my photography habit. As long-time residents of the city and frequent explorers of local parks, museums, and arboretums, it is hard for us to find previously undiscovered places. A few weekends ago, we were thrilled to find out … Continue reading Juniper Level Botanic Garden