The Haunting of Maddy Clare Book Review

I’ve read a handful of mysteries, yet there’s one kind that I haven’t encountered in a while: a ghost story. The fact that it has taken me this long to read a book with this kind of plot is actually not surprising. I’ve never cared that much about ghosts, for I haven’t had any formal experiences with them. But, I can imagine how it would feel especially after I read today’s book The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James. It’s a mystery novel that beautifully blends many genres together and richly explores characters and trauma even if the mystery itself was easy to figure out.

The Haunting of Maddy Clare is about a woman summoned to assist a ghost hunter. In 1920s England, Sarah Piper lives a lonely life when her temporary agency sends her to aid Alistair Gellis – a rich, handsome, and obsessive ghost hunter who’s also scarred by World War I. He has been sent to investigate the spirit of the 19-year-old maid Maddy Clare. It has been said that she still haunts the barn in which she took her own life. Maddy hated men while she was alive, and she refuses to speak to them in death. Sarah is unprepared to confront the angry ghost on her own. She’s even more so when Matthew Ryder arrives. He is Alistair’s rough associate. He, too, fought in the war, and his scars go deeper than Sarah realizes. Soon, she is caught up in a desperate struggle, for she discovers that Maddy is real, angry, and has powers that defy all reason. Sarah and Matthew must discover who Maddy was, where she came from, and her reason for vengeance before she destroys them all.

On the surface, The Haunting of Maddy Clare may seem like a mystery that deals with ghosts in the 1920s, but it’s more than that. It blends history, the paranormal, and romance that sparks between Sarah and Matthew naturally. Each is given its attention in ways that reflect the characters and the times, while the others are actively working in the background. I especially love how it addresses the historical context. Since the book takes place in early 1920s England, the Great War (aka World War I) was still fresh in people’s minds. Alistair and Matthew both were in the trenches and suffered the consequences of engaging in constant warfare. The latter even more so, but people didn’t talk about the mental health of soldiers at that time. This colors Matthew as a character, his struggles, and the relationship between him and Sarah. 

Each of the three main characters are well-developed and have a clear reason for why they want to go on this ghost hunt. For Alistair, he’s obsessed with the paranormal, and it’s a good way to get out of his dull life living by himself in a mansion with a bunch of servants to attend to him. For Matthew, it’s a distraction from his personal demons as he works on the recording equipment. Then, for Sarah, it’s the feeling of being important and secure. Prior, she felt like she was unimportant as she went from job and job without much security. She becomes more confident in herself when Alistair and Matthew discover more of her potential as she interacts with Maddy. As a result, I was wholly invested to see how these characters interact with each other and react to how the mystery unfolds, especially when Maddy starts manifesting herself in other ways.

I also love how it explores the theme of trauma and its effects on people’s wellbeing. Both Alistair and Matthew have varying degrees of that after fighting in a war, and both deal with it in different ways. Sarah has trauma related to the death of her parents due to the Spanish Flu. The way that they, especially her mother, died made her feel insignificant and that no one cared for her. Even Maddy had a horrific experience being taken advantage of, which led to her refusing to speak and avoiding men in general while she was a servant to the Clare family. Even her death was related to that event.

The Haunting of Maddy Clare reminded me so much of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny. It was in the way that the story was about the people involved just as much as the mystery. I could tell that St. James enjoyed writing characters, which in turn, made me – the reader – feel invested in their journey to find the truth about Maddy. It’s a shame that the book is not part of a series because it would’ve been a good debut. I would have liked to see one with Sarah, Matthew, and Alistair as they go ghost hunting in other places.

As much as I praise the book, it will always be good, but not great for one reason: the mystery itself. It was easy to figure out why Maddy remained in the Clare barn and more importantly, who assaulted her when she was alive. It wasn’t a loud hint per se, yet there weren’t many other suspects who knew her. And, the ones who did were arrogant, had something to hide, or both.

The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James is a good historical mystery. Even if the mystery part was easy to deduce, I was still invested because of the characters. They were well developed, and I wanted to see how they were going to figure it out and react to the latest developments in the case. It also helps that the historical, paranormal, and romantic aspects were well handled. St. James definitely did her research on how England acted after World War I. I would recommend this novel to readers who love historical mysteries, want more character development in their whodunits, and watch Acorn TV. I’m not into ghosts all that much, but I was into this story.

Before I go, I want to let everyone know that I have recorded the latest episode of the Adapt Me Podcast recently. Returning guest Mel B – owner of DBA Publishing and I talk about how we would adapt this novel. Keep an eye out for the link.

Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!

Go West, Girl! Book Review

Full disclosure: I was given a free kindle copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Move over, Annie Oakley! There’s a new sharpshooter town. Her name is Jeannie Delaney. I usually don’t read a whole lot of westerns, but when I heard about Go West, Girl! by Kit MacKenzie, whose main character is a bisexual cowgirl, I was intrigued. And overall, it was pretty good, for it had an intriguing framework, a unique voice, and compelling characters.

Go West, Girl! is the first book in the Jeannie Delaney series. Jeannie is devastating and charismatic. She can be tough as nails, and her looks can kill by staring at anybody. She grew up in New Orleans with her parents and several brothers. Her mother wants her to act like other girls, while her father is fine with who Jeannie wants to be. The family moves to Wyoming when she is 10 years old. As Jeannie grows up, she discovers that she has a phenomenal gun hand, a powerful persona, and a fluid sexuality. Many men and women desire her, and there are some that she yearns for as well. However, she finds it difficult to live on a land, where a number of men want her dead. She kills two of them in self-defense and is wanting to take revenge on a group who harmed a dear friend. Will she be able to live the life she wants to live?

Go West, Girl! is essentially a biography of the fictional Jeannie Delaney. What makes it interesting is the framework. The first two chapters center around a journalist named Kate Howard. She’s desperate to write a book about Jeannie because of how much she admires her. At first, Jeannie is not keen on the idea, but later on, she tells Kate to “give it to ‘em in a barrel load” and make it pretty.

I wonder what parts that Kate “wrote” about Jeannie are the truth. Sadly, she disappears afterwards. Maybe Kate will come back in the second volume. I’m also curious to know how Jeannie will react to it when the biography is done. Regardless, this framework shows the motive of writing such a story about someone the writer admires so much. The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers by Sarah Tomilson does this too, but it emphasizes the ghostwriter so much that it leaves behind what makes the subject that they’re working on so special. Go West, Girl rightly focuses on Jeannie while still finding the time to develop the journalist.

Since the novel mostly takes place in the American West, various characters speak in that dialect. Words like “I” and “something” are turned into “Ah” and “summat.” This is on purpose because people living in such a rugged area are not going to talk like those in more refined locations. I was able to understand what the characters were saying even if I had to read it outloud sometimes to get it. So, no, it doesn’t need a professional edit.

But of course, the book’s crowning achievement are the fleshed-out characters. Jeannie is quickly established as a strong and confident woman. She always knew that she was different since she was a kid when she favored pants over dresses. There are plenty of scenes that demonstrate that side of her personality. However, I felt more for her when she showed her softer side. I enjoyed the scenes, in which she tells stories to people, especially the children (much to the dismay of their parents.) It displays one more side of why people like her. She’s even vulnerable and doubtful at times. These come in the second half of the story when she’s discovering more of her sexuality, and she doesn’t know what to do. I wondered how she was going to deal with that since she couldn’t always shoot it away nor retort with a witty line.

It’s not just Jeannie who’s fleshed out. I love her dad Dean (lovingly called Pa.) He was the parent who supported her decision to wear pants and dress more masculine when she was a child. Pa was also the one that allowed her to work with the farmhands when they relocated to the west, particularly during their cattle drives, and taught her how to use a gun. At the same time, he later ponders on what would’ve happened if Jeannie acted like a lady once in a while. Even her brothers have a variety of thoughts on her choices. Most are supportive and try to help (even if it’s not what she wants), yet her oldest brother is religious and expresses his disappointment with her “lifestyle” in one scene.

This book is not for everyone. The language can be quite foul, especially with the f-word being dropped on several occasions. Some readers might interpret it as vulgar. Furthermore, there are a handful of scenes, in which Jeannie has her rendezvouses with men and women. These are tastefully done, yet I understand that there will always be people who don’t like love-making depicted in books and in media in general.

I have only one minor complaint. Some characters are of color, and they mainly exist to help Jeannie – a white woman. For example, when Jeannie gets herself into a fight with some men at the saloon, an Asian man notices and performs martial arts to defeat them. She asks him if he could teach her his moves, and he agrees. Readers never hear from him again. Earlier in the book when her family are in New Orleans, Jeannie goes to Jackson Square and sees some Africans dancing in a way she’s never seen before. They show her their moves. Like with the Asian man, they are never heard from again, but the dancing comes back into play when she attends a barn dance in Wyoming years later, proving how different she is from other women. 

Go West, Girl! by Kit MacKenzie is a wonderful story about a courageous bixsexual cowgirl. Jeannie Deleany is an interesting character who’s more than just a sharpshooter. The exploration of her vulnerable side is what elevates her. Other characters like her father and brothers are well developed too. Also, the language fits well with the environment, and the framework makes me wonder how much truth is being presented. I would recommend this to readers who want more strong, confident women and LGBTQ+ characters in their western novels. The second volume The Outlaw’s Return is coming out on Saturday, August 3, so if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to order my copy.

Interview with Bari Beckett

Full disclosure: this interview was recorded at the Bloomfield Township Public Library in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and has been edited for clarification.

Hello Everybody,

We have something special on Book Reviews by a Chick Who Reads Everything today. Our guest is the author of the book Big Love. Please welcome, Bari Beckett.

Bari: Hello! Thank you for having me.

Emily: Of course! How are you doing today, Bari?

Bari: I’m doing great. It’s sunny out and warm, my kind of weather.

Emily: Absolutely, and as we do this interview in a library, where it’s nice and cool and quiet. What was the catalyst for writing Big Love?

Bari: You know, I am online dating. I’m divorced, and I met someone. He’s a recruiter for hockey. He owns his own company. But I never really met him. I talked to him and everything, and then, he found someone else before I could meet them. But I did a story off of it. What would it be like to be in love with a person like that or any person really, but it got me to writing. How it started was I wrote [to] him like I texted him the sexy note saying what I would do if we were with your friends at a table. I would pass you a note to meet me in the bathroom, and then he wrote this really romantic sexy text back.

Emily: Ooo!

Bari: So then what happened was I started writing these little mini stories. So I would write him one, and then, he would love it, and then he met someone, but I continued to write the stories, and that’s why it’s 40 short stories. But really, it’s one book about the same characters into their 90s.

Emily: Wow! That’s really wonderful. I’m glad that you were inspired to make a book like this because if anything, books are always about imagination. Yes, there’s a lot of things that are based on some reality, but sometimes we take too much of the truth. I’m glad that we still act like every story that we put on is still based in some form of imagination.

Bari: Exactly! It’s like that, and I think everybody wants somebody to really love that, you know, and then you know, I write hot spicy romance. But really wanting this spice to communicate your love is one of the ways, and that’s what the book’s about.

Emily: Oh, that’s wonderful. To you, what is big love?

Bari: Big love is big. It’s gorgeous love. It’s like loving somebody for who they are and who they’re not and being really intimate with them because you want to express how much you love them. But also outside the bedroom, being okay with the way like some of their weirdness do you know? And, just loving them like one of the things in the book, one of my favorite ones is called “The Dance.” It’s one of the chapters, and it’s really romantic, where he looks at her across the room, and they can read each other. And, they come together to dance. And then, they make this beautiful love, but it’s like they know each other, and that’s what Big Love is all about, just really being there for each other.

Emily: That’s so wonderful. I was just looking at that chapter, and I definitely see where you’re coming from with the big dance and just how much love they have for each other whether it’s private or public.

Bari: Exactly.

Emily: What are some ways people can tap into big love? I know you discussed being out and open about your love and accepting your partner no matter who they are, no matter their flaws.

Bari: You know, love is different for everyone. So, my way of love is expressing, you know, really being straight with them and telling them, “Hey, I love you. And, I love you for all these reasons and even the goofy ones.”

And, that’s why in the back, I have pages where they can make up their own love stories because love is different for everyone.

Emily: Absolutely! I’m glad you mentioned those blank pages at the end because my next question was about that. One of the most unique things about this book is that there are over 60 pages, which allows readers to tell their own love story. What made you think of that?

Bari: I just thought that people sometimes forget after a number of years of being married of why they’ve been married. And, even single people, what do they want in a relationship? What kind of love story do they want and how can they imagine it? So, it’s for the couples that maybe it’s stopped getting spicy, and they start spicing it up by reading these. I encourage them to read what they wrote to each other and then act it out. And, it’s for the single people to really imagine what it would be like to have this love story you’ll always want and create it.

Emily: It’s so wonderful. Even my husband and I have been looking at parts of Big Love. We have a good relationship, but in any relationship, we always can be better, and there’s things that we want out of it, and we’ve been doing more of it. Thank you, Bari.

Bari: You are welcome. That’s the purpose of the book. That makes me happy. Even though it’s hot and spicy, there’s a purpose to the book. The purpose is that people forget how much they really fell in love and that, you know, being spicy in the bedroom is a good thing and that kind of gets you closer together.

Emily: Big Love is one of those books, where it’s very much chasing your dreams and passions, especially when it comes to relationships. What do you say to women who hesitate to chase after their own dreams? 

Bari: Right. I’m 64 years old, and I’m not embarrassed to say it, and I am living my dream as an author right now. And, one of the things I do is a couple of things. I have a Facebook page called Dream Up, where women older can get support and live their dreams and advertise what they do. Women own businesses, you know, get skills, and I just started it for that reason because the characters in the book are older. And, you know, we think women after a certain age don’t have passion, don’t have love, and we are the same people. We just happen to have a lot more wrinkles and gray hair. So yeah, so that’s what encouraged me. I’m a really creative person and writing makes me, it calms me and makes me so happy. So, everybody still has a dream, whether you’re 20 years old or whether you’re 80 years old, I want you to be able to. I want to encourage people to not give up.

Emily: Lovely on that! I have to confess that I cried while reading parts of it, especially when you were defining big love. What kinds of reactions have you gotten from people about the book?

Bari: It’s just, you know, a love story. People think it’s smut. You know, people would think it’s a smutty book, but when you read the book, it’s really truly like a Romeo and Juliet book, you know, like it’s just love, and that’s what that’s part of the reason it’s big love. So, and that’s why there’s parts of it that there isn’t, you know, sex in it. There’s you know, what does it mean to be in love? And, you know, like one of my favorite things I say is that the man reaches his hand out and makes sure you don’t walk behind and look beside him. 

Emily: I remember that part. It was so beautiful.

Bari: And, then the spicy part, you know, I write about that too is, you know, one of you sleeps naked, and one of you wears something a little fancy. And then, if that’ll spice up your ‘cause you’re there, you know, how do I say it your love life.

Emily: That’s certainly wonderful. How does your husband feel about the book?

Bari: I’m not married. I’m single. I think if I had a husband because I’ve learned from this book, I think it would be magical. And, I’m committed that other women and men have magical relationships. It helped me to figure out what I wanted in a relationship. So, as I was going through it, I was like the reader.

Emily: That’s really nice because I imagined that anybody would see themselves in this book to various degrees because love is different for everybody. And, I’ve heard they’ll find different things that they’ll get attached to.

Bari: Exactly.

Emily: I run the “Adapt Me Podcast,” where a guest and I talk about books that have never been adapted and how we would go about it. Who would you cast as yourself and your fantasy lover in a possible adaptation?

Bari: I love Minnie Driver, but she’s getting older. I don’t know how old she is. She’s not as old as me. And…..I don’t know who I put, for he would have to be calm and sturdy and tall cause the guy in this book Big Love is tall, so I don’t know I would have to think about that.

Emily: I certainly have some options. You got Robert Redford, and he’s still alive.

Bari: That actually would be great. I want to show young people that there is a life for you after you grow up, you know. And, I want to show people that are my age or, you know, you’re in your 40s and you’re like, “I don’t want you to be counting the years. I want you to be living the years.”

Emily: And, that’s the beauty of it. You know how we always try to live life to the fullest and pursue our dreams as much as we can, and sometimes it just gets caught up in everything. So, I’m glad you mentioned that.

Bari: Thank you.

Emily: Besides being a writer, since we’ve talked a lot about dreams, what are some of your own dreams?

Bari: I am writing a book called Ungraceful, and it’s about a girl Grace that’s ungraceful.

Emily: Oh no!

Bari: She’s in her 30s, and she’s never really stepped out in her life. She has a mother that’s very perfect. And she’s like ballerina perfect and always wanted a daughter that was perfect. And, she got Grace. 

Emily: Ah geez!

Bari: So, it goes from there. I’m still writing it. It’s going to take me to write it. So, it’s a story I’ve had in my head for 10 years, and I hope eventually it becomes a movie.

Emily: Oh, that will be wonderful. That sounds like a wonderful, powerful story.

Bari: Thank you.

Emily: Besides Ungraceful, what are some other projects that you are working on now?

Bari: I have The Frenchman out. Sometimes, books are based on experiences I had, and I met a Frenchman that was a producer at the Whitney in New York. And, it started from there, and then, I met somebody that I actually fell in love with in an elevator.

Emily: Wow!

Bari: We looked at each other, and we fell in love. So, that’s the second part of the book and how it transitions into that. So, that also is out right now.

Emily: For readers who constantly check on Book Reviews by a Chick Who Reads Everything, I will have my review of The Frenchman out in the near future.

Bari: Great!

Emily: Indeed, where can people find you?

Bari: Well, they can find me on baribeckett.com, or they can email me if they have any questions or anything at barilynn1218@yahoo.com. I’m on Amazon. Our books are on Amazon, Etsy, and Kobo Worldwide.

Emily: That’s absolutely perfect! So, thank you so much for talking to me today. This was so wonderful.

Bari: Thank you!

Emily: You’re very welcome.

Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!

Big Love Book Review

Full disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

In all my years of reviewing books, there’s one thing that I haven’t done before, and that’s crying while reading. I don’t get super emotional most of the time, but when I do, it’s for a good reason. Which book made me cry? It was Big Love by Bari Beckett – a beautifully effective collection of stories that guides readers on creating their own love story.

Normally, I would sum up in my own words about what the book is about, but I personally think the blurb on the back did this perfectly.

“Big Love by Bari Beckett is forty short stories about love, sex, and romance. Use these stories as a guide for yourself or with your partner to act out or to learn what you want in a relationship. These stories are to encourage you to discover your own love story, manifest your passions, and solidify your wants and needs. You are encouraged to read the stories and then use the journaling pages to write your own.”

Beckett was inspired to write these stories by a man she knew but never met in person. She wanted to make it clear what romance looks like to her. Part of what she desired was lots of sex with her partner. She wants it so much that she’ll never say no to it “because it is an expression of how much” she loves him (p.17). Some people might take issue with that, but it’s Beckett’s fantasy. No one will have the same love story. In addition, the ones that depict sex are always consensual.

Beckett encourages readers to think and write their own love stories with empty lined pages at the end. Even though the book is advertised as 137 pages, the 40 stories take up 73 of them. This leaves over 60 sheets for the readers to jot down their own love story, passions, wants, and needs. As a result, Beckett gives readers, who are inspired by her own story, agency to tell theirs.

Now, I must reveal why I cried while reading Big Love. I had a feeling that I was going to get emotional because romance does that to me sometimes. It happened when I was reading the story called “Loving You, Big Love.” In it, Beckett lists the ways that big love is to her like reaching for her partner’s hand at dinner to learning patience and dealing with inpatients. I lost it while reading the part about holding hands and kissing each other good morning and good night because I do that with my husband. It gave me some good ideas for other ways that I can express my big love.

Big Love by Bari Beckett is an undoubtedly helpful guide for people to strengthen their relationships and what they want from them. I love how the author gives her love story as an example and how she gives space for readers to do the same. Also, it made me weep in a good way. I would recommend it to those who, regardless of relationship status, love to read about romance and need guidance on how to express what they want in a relationship. I will definitely reread and use it to build up mine even more.

Before I go, I want to let you know that I had the opportunity to interview Bari Beckett for the website. The transcript can be seen here. Enjoy!

Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!

Cul-de-Sac Book Review

Full disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book by Author Marketing Experts in exchange for an honest review.

Content warning: this review discusses sex and swinger parties.

There are certain topics that I never would have encountered without this website. I could list them here, but it would be too long. One thing that I can add is swinger parties in well-to-do neighborhoods. What book tackled that topic? It was Cul-de-Sac by Liz Crowe, which is an excellent slow-burner about a tight-knit neighborhood.

Cul-de-Sac explores how well one truly knows or should know about their neighbors. Connelly Court in the suburbs of Ann Arbor, Michigan is a secluded old money neighborhood. It harbors a web of desires and deceit behind pristine facades and manicured lawns. This is where a group of neighbors – bound by their secrets and unconventional lifestyles – will see their lives unravel. Amelia and Michael Ross move into their dream home and get seduced into the allure. However, their house once belonged to a previous family whose lives were ruined by their participation. This leads Amelia to question everything about the neighborhood and her new-found friends. Suspicions run wild as the close-knit group turns on each other, and secrets and lies are revealed one by one.

I love the location. I grew up in a cul-de-sac, where many of the neighbors were friends with my family. Luckily, there were no swinger parties in my neighborhood, or at least to my knowledge. Also, I like how it takes place in Michigan. As a Michigander, I’ve noticed that not many stories take place in that state. The only titles that I can think of are The Women of Copper Country, Firekeeper’s Daughter, and books written by Robert C. Jones. And of course, did you think I was going to leave out The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides – a novel with similar themes to Cul-de-Sac? The fact that Cul-de-Sac takes place in Ann Arbor is an inspired choice that reflects the neighborhood’s mentality. That city is famous for being liberal, but it also reeks of privilege. The neighbors, in turn, may seem open-minded, yet they are set in their traditions no matter how much they try to get out.

The novel has a strong ensemble with fully-developed characters. Each scene focuses on one couple at a time. Our protagonists are Amelia and Ross, who want the perfect home in the city they went to college in and have a two-year-old son. Then, there’s Janice and Allen – the older, alpha couple; Emily and Sai – the childless pair; and Cassie and Barnett – the duo who are expecting a child, but no one is certain who the father is. Even though they have been engaging in sex parties orchestrated by Janice and Allen, each has their own reasons for ending it. It doesn’t help that a man from one couple who had previously lived in the neighborhood died while living there. The emphasis on each pair results in slow pacing in the beginning, yet this was done on purpose. The book establishes the personalities of each character and how they interact with others, and then it gets to the action. When things started to unravel, it was exciting to see how each couple reacted. 

While reading it, one of my first thoughts was that Cul-de-Sac could make a good play. Since the focus is on the characters, one could have a black box or roundabout theatre production of the book. Different props can be used to signify the house of one couple, yet Janice and Allen’s house is the one with an actual set. Or, it could be like the musical Into the Woods with three sets all at once, and then, they could roll away to reveal the home of the older couple. No matter how the production does it, I would love to see that show.

Now, I have to address the elephant in the room: the sex. Since this novel explores swinger parties, some readers might not want to pick it up. Like many who have read the book, I will say that while there’s plenty of erotica depicted, it’s not explicit. I mean, yes, take a drink anytime the book mentions hard nipples, but that’s besides the point. Even the way that the swinger parties are portrayed is actually nuanced. Sure, many of the couples don’t want to get involved anymore because they’ve gotten too entangled with the other pairs, especially pregnant Cassie, who doesn’t really know who the father is. At the same time, Janice initiated these parties to not only get closer to the neighbors, but also to keep an eye on her husband Allen, who had cheated on her before. All she wants to do is to be a good wife and mother, yet she realizes how difficult that can be. On top of that, it’s all consensual. If a couple wants to leave, they would have to exit together. However, some start to have businesses and sexcapades with each other outside of the parties, which leads to more complications.

Cul-de-Sac by Liz Crowe is a fascinating look at a suburban neighborhood and how the residents try to get close to each other. I love the setting, and it’s not just the fact that it takes place in Michigan. It informs the environment, which the sex parties thrive on. In addition, it had a strong cast that I was invested in. It’s a pure slow-burn, so it was fascinating to see how each person acts when things start to fall apart. And yes, its sexual landscape might turn off some people, but it’s still entertaining. To quote Chewable Orb on Goodreads, “In a nutshell, if you love your novels steamy with a penchant for lies, secrecy, and betrayal, this book is for you.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Cul-de-Sac  is out now, so go grab it wherever you get your books. 

Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!

Adapt Me Podcast – Nightbitch

Hi Everybody!

Grab some raw meat and channel your inner dog because Sam Meltzer from the Oscar Buzz YouTube Channel talk about how we would adapt Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder and the upcoming movie version on the latest episode of the Adapt Me Podcast! Check it out at this link!

In the meantime, you can see my review of Nightbitch here.

Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!

Literary Travel – Las Vegas Edition

Hi Everyone!

About six months ago, my husband and I traveled to Las Vegas, so he could attend the Consumers Electronics Show. Like the previous trip, neither of us had been there before. While he was writing articles about the latest technologies, I decided to do the most sinful thing I could do while in Sin City: go to four book-related places. Today, I’ll show them all to you. All of the photos used were ones that I took.

First up is Diamond Sutra Books.

Located in the Art District north of the Strip, Diamond Sutra Books specializes in vintage, rare, and out of print books and ephemera. The earliest ones date back to the 1700s.

I found it in a building that held a gallery and several other businesses. It occupies a single space, but the owner knew how to use it well.

They also have first editions of classic novels like Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

In addition, they sell vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, 1980s and 1990s nostalgia-related items, and other objects.

One of the most unique things I found there was a basket full of walking canes carved from trees. These could’ve fit right in the Lord of the Rings universe. I also saw an artillery shell with Albert Einstein’s face on it with the description “Forces Always Attract,” which was pretty cool.

Another thing I noticed while at Diamond Sutra Books was a display of sex-positive books. It was placed near the entrance, so people would notice it going in and especially as they were leaving. Knowing how Las Vegas is known for its sensual atmosphere, this became a theme in the bookstores I visited.

I was the only person in the store at the time, which allowed me to chat with the owner Aaron. He’s a nice guy who love books. He even told me why he decided to open a bookstore since he spent years selling rare prints online and wanted to have a physical place for them. He even showed me the display sign that turns on. Bottom is the picture I took of the both of us.

In case anyone is wondering, I got the graphic novel Giraffes on Horseback Salads: Salvador Dali, the Marx Brothers, and the Strangest Movie Never Made by Josh Frank and Tim Heidecker. It’s another book for my Marx Brothers shelf!

Overall, Diamond Sutra Books was impressive in the items it held. It contained a variety of objects that appealed to a wide range of people. The space might be small, but it was spacious. You can check them out on Facebook, Instagram, and eBay. It’s definitely not your average bookstore.

The second bookstore is Avantpop Books and Art Gallery.

According to its website, Avantpop Books is “a specialty, subversive, subculture, independent bookstore and publisher based in Las Vegas, Nevada.”

When I went there the day after my trip to Diamond Sutra Books, I was not disappointed. Although it was confined to one space, it was full of books, new and used, and pieces of art curated for the most unique of individuals. Specifically, it had a diverse collection of titles to help readers to have a better understanding of various ideas and concepts.

They are absolutely committed to the diversity, equity, and inclusion because they had this sign at the front of the store. Browsing through the store made me realize that they put their money were their mouth was. This was especially true with this sign.

I also love how it knows that people might come in with drinks like bottled waters. It was really dry when I was out there, even in January.

It contained books who subjects ranged from the Illuminati to John Waters. If that’s not subversive nor diverse enough, I don’t know what is.

Furthermore, they had paperbacks in plastic bags. I had to take this picture because of the Doctor Who ones on the left.

The artwork was pretty cool. Think of the weirdest stuff you’ve seen in a gallery and make them 10 times stranger. I like the monkey with the fez the most. Fezes are cool.

In addition, they had plenty of merchandise. They included magnets, newspapers made to look like ones from the olden days, and art prints. And, they even had their own published books on the shelves. I bought one called Oh, The A**holes You’ll Meet by Shwa Laytart – one of the owners of Avantpop Books – as well as The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan and a sticker.

My favorite part of the store was a mirror that displayed the following text.

I’m glad that I got to meet one of the owners Sugar. Her mother was there too. Both were very cool. While talking to Sugar, it became clear of how passionate she was about books, art, and diversity. They have author events and a podcast called Avantpop Books Presents, where they interview said authors as well as artists and businesspeople in the area. You can see the latest videos here and on YouTube.

All in all, Avantpop Books lived up to its name. It fully commits to selling a wide range of books and art pieces and to highlighting creators living in the Las Vegas area. Along with their website, you can check them out on Facebook and Instagram. It brings out the reading freak in anyone who comes in.

Next up is The Writer’s Block also located in the Art District.

According to its website, The Writer’s Block is “a bookshop, coffee shop, young writers’ workshop, & artificial bird sanctuary in downtown Las Vegas.”

Yes, you heard right. It actually contains an artificial bird sanctuary. We’ll get to more of that in a bit.

When I walked into the bookstore, the first thing I saw was the coffee shop. Specifically, I encountered a giant bird cage that held artificial birds, magazines, and other items for sale.

There was a little entrance to the bookshop itself off to the side. What I saw was amazing. It had books galore in every possible genre, and they were organized in well put together displays. Also, it contained stationary, puzzles, and toys for sale. For the latter, many of which like kites and puppets hung from the ceiling. I’ll admit that some of the puppets were a bit creepy, but they were still cool to look at.

I also enjoyed seeing rulers that showed off the famous people in specific categories.

What makes this a truly unique bookshop is the artificial bird sanctuary. I had never seen a bookstore with a reserve like that before. On top of that, each bird had a name and an autobirdography. My favorite is Lillian the Blue Jay. I wish I would have bought her, yet I have cats, and they might try to eat her.

Another cool aspect about the sanctuary was where the birds were placed. There were some types that were all over the store like blue jays and cardinals. And, there were others that could be found in one spot. For example, the penguins were in the Photography & Fashion/Art Folios section, chickens were in Cooking, doves were in Romance, and ravens were in Horror. In addition, I thought it was cute that the flamingos were in the Graphic Novel part of the store.

The other cool thing about the bookstore was the amount of cardboard cutouts of famous historical figures. They included people like Frederick Douglas, Amelia Earhart, and Rasputin. It adds to the charm.

One last thing that made the store special was that it had a rabbit mascot named “The Baron.” He was chilling in his cage when I saw him back in January. What other bookstore has a mascot like that?

While I was there, I bought Sun, Sin & Suburbia: The History of Modern Las Vegas by Geoff Schumacher as well as a smoothie. I hope to read the book before or during my next trip to The City That Never Sleeps.

The Writer’s Block easily proved to be one of the unique bookshops I’ve ever went into. The artificial bird sanctuary goes without saying, but the diversity of books and how they were organized were impeccable. Along with their website, you can check them out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you only have time to check out one bookstore in Las Vegas, go to this one.

On my last day, I was able to squeeze in some time to visit the Meadows Library.

Located in the Stupak Community Center near the Strip, the Meadows Library is a part of The Library District in Las Vegas. The district itself consists of 27 libraries. Meadows Library was the closest one to my hotel.

The library was no bigger than a living and dining room combined. Nonetheless, it still offered plenty of items to check out and services for its patrons.

This included books, DVDs, S.T.E.A.M. kits, and braille books. They also had citizenship toolkits available. This makes sense since Las Vegas has a huge Spanish-speaking population, and I’d imagine that many of them are trying to obtain their citizenships. It’s a wonderful way to address community needs.

As for the services, the library has computers, a 3D printer, and a Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station. The last item permits patrons to charge many devices at one time. This is quite nice for anyone who needs to plug in their devices.

Another cool thing that the library was doing was growing herbs and spices. They had them in Idoo Hydroponics Growing System pods. Apparently, a group of children had planted them prior, so the library was keeping an eye on them as the plants grew. This is another great way to address community needs by teaching children how to plant stuff.

Although the Meadows Library may have been the smallest place I went to while I was in The Meadows (that’s the literal translation of the city’s name), it still had a lot of things patrons could do. It was also creative in how they offered various services. You can check them out on their website.

And that concludes the fifth installment of “Literary Travel!” I hope all of you had a great time on this trip. I traveled to Wisconsin again, this time to Elkhart Lake, as well as to Gaylord, Michigan this past May, so stay tuned for that!

Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!

Nightbitch Book Review

Back in April, an announcement was made that the movie version of Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder was going to have a theatrical release on December 6, 2024 and star Amy Adams. This novel has been well known for the last few years. I’ve been wanting to get my hands on it ever since it came out in 2021. Once the film was announced, I knew that now was the time to read it. And I’m glad I did because it’s one of the most insane novels I’ve ever consumed, and I’ve read some bizarre ones before.

Nightbitch is about a woman who thinks she’s turning into a dog. As a stay-at-home wife and mom, a woman is exhausted and lonely because she can’t do the thing she loves: creating art. Her husband travels for his work, and she believes she’s going to lose her mind if she had to put her kid to bed one more time. Instead, on one such night, she begins to develop sharper canines, new patches of hair in strange places, new appetites, new instincts, and a new voice from deep within her.

 The cover is one of the most iconic ones I’ve ever seen. It’s not just that there’s raw meat on it. There’s also the slabs being held by hands that could’ve come out of a 1950s dish detergent advertisement. And if one looks closely, there’s a dog or a wolf’s head in the shadows. When I first saw this cover on Literary Hub in 2021, I was intrigued because it’s weirdly enchanting even if it’s a bit on the nose. I’m not just saying that since one can see the dog/wolf’s nose on the cover.

I didn’t know what to expect outside of its initial premise. It kept me on the edge of my seat because I wanted to know how insane it was going to get. And reader, it got pretty crazy. If I reveal anything of what went down, I would be spoiling it. 

Instead, I’ll focus on the characters, themes, and writing. The main character, who only refers to herself as Nightbitch, is frustrated with her situation. As a housewife and mom, she’s stuck at home with a toddler who has trouble sleeping at night. It doesn’t help that her husband travels for work, and when he’s home, he barely helps out. Yoder repeatedly reminds readers of Nightbitch’s circumstances, which can get irritating to some. Luckily, what happens to her makes her realize her true desires and to be more vocal about them. When she musters up the courage to tell her husband to put their son to bed whenever he’s home, he’s actually pretty cool with it. Even though this was all resolved a bit too neatly and quickly, it was nice for the husband to realize that his wife has needs and that marriage is about working together.

The main theme is motherhood. Specifically, it’s supposed to be a commentary on how it can be violent as children may enter the world in a brutal manner and deprive the mother of any sense of individuality even if they do work. The book is on the nose about this, as Nightbitch herself has these realizations along with several scenes of her pondering what she wants to do with her life and putting her son to sleep. Normally, I wouldn’t have an issue about this if it weren’t for the fact that the novel spells out the motherhood theme at the very end. On top of that, although I’m not a mom, this take on the subject seems basic. I wouldn’t be surprised if other feminist-based stories have taken a more nuanced stance on it. At the same time, there are people who need to read this, and this may be their introduction to seeing motherhood from that angle.

The writing is the strongest aspect of the book. The whole tale feels as if Franz Kafka was a woman and wanted to write about motherhood. It’s fitting because this month marks the 100th anniversary of his death. The reason why I was on edge was because the text was that way. I could feel the anxiety between the lines. Yoder balances this out with sections of relaxation like the mother and son bonding by pretending to be dogs. My one complaint about this element was that the story could’ve been shorter. Considering that it constantly reminds readers of the main character’s frustrations with her lot, how demanding her son is, and the violent theme of motherhood, it gets a bit tiresome. Sometimes, I was like, “Ok, I get it,” but not in an annoyed manner, yet it could’ve gotten there if the novel had more than 250 pages. I’m sure this will be greatly condensed for the movie.

Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder is one of the strangest novels I’ve ever read. The plot will always have people intrigued. It had me on the edge of my seat because I wanted to know what was going to unfold. It may not have the most profound take on motherhood, but those who need to hear it will certainly feel empowered. Also, look at that cover. Will you ever see something like that again? It’s iconic! I would recommend this to readers who like Kafkaesque plots, stories about motherhood, and plenty of insanity. Reading the book makes me excited to see the film when it comes out in December. And yes, I plan on reviewing the movie, so watch out!

Before I go, I want to let everyone know that I plan to record the latest episode of the Adapt Me Podcast soon. Guest Sam Meltzer and I will talk about how we would adapt this novel. Keep an eye out for the link.

Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!

Win Book Review

Sometimes, readers come across protagonists that they might not like right away. I’ve talked about this before with curmudgeon characters like Ove and Eleanor Oliphant, but let’s look at another type of person: the rich morally gray type. It’s self-explanatory, especially if they constantly remind the readers of how wealthy they really are. Some will not like them for obvious reasons, yet others might admire them despite their flaws. I fall into the latter camp when it comes to the title character in Win by Harlan Coben – a mostly average mystery/suspense novel with a standout protagonist.

Win is the first book in the Windsor Horne Lockwood III series. Over 20 years ago, Patricia Lockwood was kidnapped during a robbery of her family’s estate. For many months, she was locked up in an isolated cabin. She managed to escape, but so did her captors, and the stolen items were never recovered. In the present day on the Upper West Side, a recluse is found dead in his penthouse apartment. There are two objects of note: a stolen Vermeer painting and a leather suitcase bearing the initials WHLIII. Now, the police have a lead on not one, but two cases – Patricia’s kidnapping and an FBI cold case. Windsor Horne Lockwood III or Win doesn’t know how those items ended up there. However, his interest increases when the FBI tells him that the man who kidnapped his cousin was also behind an act of domestic terrorism and that the conspirators may still be at large. The two cases have baffled the FBI for decades, but Win has three things they don’t: a personal connection to the case; an ungodly fortune; and his own unique brand of justice.

While reading this, I didn’t realize that this book was a spinoff of the Myron Bolitar series. It turns out that Win is Myron’s best friend who helps him out with various cases as a wingman and fellow investigator. That explains why Myron’s name is mentioned on a few occasions, but for those who love that series, he doesn’t show up at any point.

What clearly makes the novel stand out is Win himself. He tells readers right away that he’s very rich, and he’s not afraid to flaunt it. Some might like him because of his quick wit, bluntness, and how he gets the job done. Others might not like him as much because of how arrogant and White Anglo-Saxon Protestant he can be as well as how he insults almost everyone that comes in contact with him (even if they don’t deserve it). For me, Win is like what would’ve happened if Groucho Marx got reincarnated into Aaron Eckhart’s body, was extremely rich, and became aware of the pop culture happenings of the last 50 years. 

The thing that I like about Win the most is his self-awareness. He knows that he’s not going to be liked by everyone, and he’s aware that he can’t always use violence to solve cases although he’ll use it when he feels he’s most justified. He also realizes how people might perceive his privilege and decisions, particularly at the end. In addition, although he acts like he doesn’t want any attachments, he really does. This is especially true when it comes to his family and his biological daughter. At the end of the day, Win is a wealthy man who tries to utilize his resources and skills for the greater good even if his actions lead to some dire consequences. So yes, I enjoyed this morally gray character.

One complaint that I heard from various reviewers was how hard it was to keep track of other characters. I honestly didn’t have this problem because the audiobook narrator did a great job with distinguishing one from another. At the same time, there were some people that I wanted to show up more, but they were only in certain bits of the book. For example, Sadie is one of Win’s assistants whose work involves helping battered and abused women. She is a no nonsense feminist who gets upset when she finds out how Win took care of one of the assaulters early on in the novel. Sadly, she disappeared in the middle. I hope to see her more in subsequent Win titles.

Now, it would be easy to spend the rest of the review gushing over specific Win moments, but it’s best to evaluate the mystery/suspense aspect of the novel. As mentioned earlier, Win gets caught up in not 1, but 3 cold cases. From what I understand, complex stories are common in Harlan Coben books. In this case, each of these plots peels away like an onion, and they were pretty easy to follow. I wanted to know what was going to go down with kidnapping and the Hut of Horrors the most. It’s not like I didn’t care about the stolen paintings and the terrorist act even though I liked how the main people involved with the latter regretted that decision or confessed that they didn’t participate in certain actions. It’s that I wanted to know more about the kidnapping the most along with the domestic abuse case in the beginning of the novel. Additionally, the way the mysteries unfolded was executed in a predictable way. It does the thing, where the detective would go to one person and get some information with little resistance. Granted, Win has to “coax” some people into telling him the full truth like repossessing a car and a house for example. Even though Win doesn’t fully fall into this trap like The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper does, it stills feel cliche.

The audiobook is narrated by Steven Weber. Weber is best known for roles like Brian Hackett on Wings and Jack Torrance in the TV miniseries version of The Shining. He’s also recorded various audiobooks for authors like Stephen King and Harlan Coben. I’m not surprised that Coben likes having Weber narrate his books. Weber gives Win an effortless suave, confident manly voice. Furthermore, he’s also really good at distinguishing other characters even if they can come off as over the top. Sadie – Win’s assistant – is voiced with an assertive tone, but it doesn’t come off like a caricature. On the other hand, a drunk at a local bar is voiced like WC Fields’s less dignified drunk brother. It was as if Weber was recalling drunk people that he’d seen on TV as opposed to real life, but hey, it’s a choice. Despite that, Weber still delivers a really good vocal performance.

Win by Harlan Coben is a fairly good mystery with an unforgettable lead. I look forward to seeing Windsor Horne Lockwood III in more titles. I recommend this to those who love Harlan Coben, especially the Myron Bolitar series, as well as complex mysteries with shocking twists and turns. Win may not be liked by everyone, yet those who like him love him, especially how morally gray he is.

Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!

Stress Test Book Review

Content warning: this review discusses sexism and racism.

Full disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book by Mindbuck Media Book Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

It’s always interesting to learn about history from the ground up. What do I mean by this? Simply, I enjoy hearing stories about regular people dealing with important events and changes in history. Take for example: Stress Test by Kay White Drew. It’s a memoir which details a neonatal physician’s experiences as one of the first women to go through medical school in the 1970s. It stressed me out in a good way because of what she had to endure and how she balanced becoming a doctor with her personal life.

Stress Test is about a 5-year period, in which Kay White Drew undertook medical training in the 1970s. This experience would take her from the lecture halls to an internship in pediatrics. During this time, she would make difficult diagnoses and dangerous mistakes, connect with patients, and reel in their loss. Women consisted of less than a fifth of Kay’s medical school class, so sexism was unfortunately present. On top of that, she was a white woman working in West Baltimore – a predominantly Black urban environment, so she saw the human cost of racism. All this took place while she navigated personal struggles like her mother’s death within two months of starting medical school; several ill-starred romantic relationships; a roommate’s suicide; and her own battle with mental health, which led to her going to therapy.

First off, Drew does a great job painting the picture. She sets up the physical and mental environment, in which she had to work, beautifully. Kay constantly remarks on how bleak the hospitals she had her clinical rotations and how grueling the hours were. In addition, since she was part of a small group of women who were among the first to go into medical school, the sexism was inevitable. This included patients mistaking her for a nurse, teachers only acknowledging the male students in the room, and one mentor trying to get her to sleep with him. That last one was particularly gross. She also witnessed racism, especially when she saw a white male resident perform a pelvic exam on a black woman (p. 149-153). Despite those encounters, she had male colleagues and professors who helped her out as much as they could by showing her the ropes and allowing her to build up her own confidence in practicing medicine.

Moreover, I appreciate how earnest Kay is about her experiences. She makes it no secret that she felt exhausted during this period in her life. Not only was the work tiring, but she also was going through some personal issues like her mother passing away during her first year in medical school and finding a man to settle down with. Kay admits that there were times that she wanted to quit, yet she didn’t. These sections made me feel sorry for her, for it seemed that she had to go through several hoops in order to succeed. Nevertheless, she had a good support system with her father; siblings; friends that she made while at school; the therapy she undertook; and a mentor and part-time lover Dr. Preston, who always believed in her. They all encouraged her to do her best.

She’s also honest about the mistakes that she made while in medical school. For example, she recounts that when she began her first year as a pediatric resident, she was assigned a premature baby who appeared well. She noted that he had “a lovely shade of pink, indicating that he was oxygenating himself in room air without difficulty” (p. 280).

Later that night, that infant turned blue. I’ll leave it up to the reader to find out the fate of that infant.

Kay’s main struggle in medical school was finding a man who could take care of her. Her main source of conflict was the balance between being a doctor and a woman. Since the 1970s was a time in which women were beginning to encroach into male-dominated fields and asserting their independence, it’s no surprise that people like Kay were having this dilemma. Kay found a handful of lovers, some better than others, but she always had something nice to say about them no matter how tumultuous the relationship was.

Considering that this is the core conflict in the book, it was shocking when she revealed the name of the man she eventually married. Even though I’m sure that she loves him very much, her husband is not given any backstory, nor even a tale of how they met. I certainly thought it was going to be John – the divorced medical student who was very cordial to her and listened while she told him of the struggles she was going through. Despite this, I will give her credit for at least acknowledging that all of her past loves prepared her for the relationship with her husband, for it’s a nice outcome.

Lastly, Kay’s writing is personable. Along with being transparent about her personal life, she’s that way too with her work. She describes various procedures that she had to perform in words that anybody could understand. There were times that she saw that her colleagues didn’t, especially during the pelvic exam episode. In other words, she wanted to set an example not only for herself, but also for future doctors.

Stress Test by Kay White Drew is a fascinating look at one woman’s journey in medical school in the 1970s. Drew holds nothing back while describing the obstacles she had to go through in order to be a doctor that patients could trust. She describes the environment well, and I admire her honesty about everything she went through, including relationships, her mental health, and what it means to be a doctor and a woman. While it may not be for everybody, especially those who easily get bored with all of the descriptions of the medical procedures, I would recommend it to those who are involved in the medical field from students to retirees. This is a great primary source for what it was like when more women were becoming doctors in the 1970s. Stress Test is out now, so go grab it wherever you get your books.

Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!