Book Review Round-Up (#28)

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

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This was my first ever horror book and it was gruesome! it was downright grotesque! Just as much as it was haunting, horrifying, and absolutely not something I could read before bed. That said… I loved it.

This book follows Patricia Campbell, a 90s Mom, and housewife in Charleston’s deep South Carolina. She ends up meeting a group of women at a book club. What starts out as smutty romance novels, turns to crime novels (ted bundy, etc). Til one day James Harris moves to town and the very next night, his zombified aunt physically attacks Patricia when she goes to put out the garbage!

This book weighs heavily on trusting your instinct, community, and how neglected the black communities are. And fair warning: you will hate all of the husbands.

Check out my full review for more.

The Vampire Knitting Club by Sarah Zimmerman

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What a fun read! Lucy’s Gran lives and owns the local yarn shop in Oxford, England. When Lucy, a nomad, shows up for a visit, she finds out her Grandmother has passed away.

To Lucy’s shock, her grandmother left everything to her. One night, she uncovers vampires knitting at the yarn shop. What’s more shocking, her Grandmother is one of them! Dum dum dummmmm!

Did I mention Lucy also discovers she’s a witch? And her gran was murdered? And she has to team up with the super hot detective AND a charmingly handsome vampire to uncover the murder??

This book is perfect for October with all the Autumn, dark academia, and black cat vibes. 🐈‍⬛

Summer in Tuppenny Bridge by Sharon Booth

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This book left me feeling like I was floating! I adored every single character and relationship built through out the story. I absolutely loved Tuppenny Bridge and genuinely felt like I was with the in the english countryside.

One day, Summer and Ben run into each other. Despite knowing each other their whole lives, something is different. There’s spark and butterflies. As they spend more time with each other, they learn and grow together and to accept themselves and life as it comes.

This is the ultimate summer beach read, in my opinion. You won’t regret picking up this darling novel.

Special thank you to Dreamscape Media, Storm Publishing, and Netgalley for this beautiful audiobook ARC!

The Witch Is Back by Sophie Morgan

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To say “I enjoyed this book” is an understatement. It, literally, ended my romance hiatus! If you love an unrequited wallflower love trope and/or an arranged magical marriage (hex included!), you should snatch this one up!

Emma has always been the shy girl who’s been made fun of and pushed down her whole life by everyone. Including her own retched mother. The only person who ever got her out of her shell was her childhood best friend/crush, Bastian, who never looked at Emma twice. However, when they were young, Emma’s mother pushed for an arranged marriage between the two of them because they were so close.

To everyone’s surprise, especially Emma, Bastian left weeks before the marriage with nothing more than a note to his parents.

Since then, Emma left her magical neighborhood world in New Orleans and opted for a human life in Chicago owning a bar with her two best friends. Whom, as you can imagine, are the BEST and Sophie H Morgan better make a second and third book for them or I might cry!

I loved how this book didn’t bleed magic all around but it was definitely fun to experience. Pick this one up if you like steamy open door romance scenes and unique HEAs!

I’m so thrilled I got to experience this book. A major thank you to Sophie H, Morgan, Harlequin, and NetGalley for this eARC. I cannot wait to see what else Sophie H. Morgan writes!

The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires, #1) by Lauren Asher

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Wooooheeeee. HAHAH! Ummm. Alright.

Here’s the deal, as someone who used to work for the most famous mouse in the world, this book pulled at every single heartstring I have. Not only did it touch on a theme park that mimics the most magical place on Earth but it also had a grumpy/sunshine trope (one of my faves)! Like, come on!

I liked this book so much I am determined to read all three books. That said, this one is … spicy! The chemistry and tension was *chef kiss* and the fact that this book revolved around the main characters having to communicate like adults made me love this book even more.

As someone who’s always wanted to be an Imagineer – this book took the cake for me. I was SO excited to go to work with Zahra everyday to see and hear what they were working on at the park. This was just as exciting as Ali Hazelwood’s Love on the Brain where she worked at NASA. I love love love smart and nerdy STEM women!

This book also touched on inclusivity and disabilities/autism in theme parks, real talk on the American Healthcare crisis and minimum wage gap. My only small and tiny gripe is that there is no way Zahra is 23. Period. She’s at least 28.

PICK UP THIS BOOK! 💕🌶️

Murder at Wedgefield Manor by Erica Ruth Neubauer

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I’m loving this series so much. I adore how Jane is always traveling with her deceased husband’s Aunt Milly and kind of cousin. I’m also so happy that Mr. Redvers rejoined this tale.

I can’t wait to see where the 3rd in the series takes me. I feel like we’re always traveling to a new location! Jane is such a feminist for her time and she’s always doing things no other women are doing. In this one, she’s taking flying lessons!

Terms and Conditions (Dreamland Billionaires #2) by Lauren Asher

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Woooooooeeeee! Well, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this series as much as I am but here we are! Book 2 complete and I’m giving myself a beat before moving on to book 3 because … danggg. 😅

I also want to state for the court that, I generally cannot stand billionaire romances. It gives every one involved too much of an out. That said, this is an exception because, again, it’s based on the world famous mouse’s park and it’s family.

Anyway, there’s way more spicy scenes in this book than the first and I wasn’t ready. Haha! I gave a verbal “GAH! WHAT?! Okayyyy” in my car driving to work. I sank deep into my bus seat on day two of going to the office. These are definitely NSFW. Haha.

My only gripe with this book is, yet again, the age gap. Iris cannot be 24. Period. The End. Like, don’t even argue it. Old soul or not. She’s not.

How the Murder Crumbles (Book 1 in the Cookie Shop Mystery Series) by Debra Sennefelder

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First and foremost, thank you so much to Dreamscape Media, Debra Sennefelder, and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook!

This book was such a fun read for me on my daily walks. I absolutely love a murder mystery but even more so when I get to own and operate a small business along side my main character. This one follows Mallory who owns a cookie shop in Wingate, Connecticut!

Are you hooked yet? You should be!

Not only is this book filled with silly cookie puns and a recipe at the end, Mallory is happy living her quiet life until she discovers her boyfriend has been cheating on her the entire time. Then a local food blogger accused her of stealing her cookie recipe! To put a chocolate chip on top, said food blogger turns up dead and Mallory finds the body! Dum dum dummmmm!

THEN the girl her ex was cheating on her with MOVED TO TOWN and rents the flat above the cookie shop!!

Guys, as a gemini, I loved the drama! I don’t want to give anything away so I shut my mouth but I will say you’ll root for Mallory and her small business. You’ll also love her cat, Agatha (named after Christie!).

Anyway, you’ll get loads of small town gossip, two potential love interests, great friends and tons of community support. I super enjoyed this book and Ellen Quay was a fantastic narrator! Def a book I recommend to anyone interested in murder mysteries.

Danger of the Atlantic (A Jane Wunderly Mystery #3) by Erica Ruth Neubauer

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Last, but certainly not least, is the third installment in the Jane Wunderly series and this is my favorite one yet! I loved it!

I was completely engrossed in this story and trying to figure out the murderer. Not only that but I just adore how every book is unique and different and how Erica Ruth Neubauer takes us to different places in each book. This one took place on a cruise ship and I was completely obsessed with reading about how formal everything was back then!

Dinner jackets and silk gowns for dining in the ball room. How you’d reserve a lounge chair in the day but must wear a hat for women. Oh goodness, I could read about it all day.

As for the murder, I won’t spoil it for you but this was such a fun adventure. I absolutely LOVE how Jane finally comes around to our dear Mr. Redvers and he finally opens up about his family and past. They’re the best of partners! I can’t wait to snag the next one from the library. 🕵️‍♀️