*Not the tagged book* Haggard House by Elisabeth Rhoads is an exceptional novel that I‘m grateful to have received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. (Pub date 7.15.25) A captivating blend of genres, including history, horror, suspense, and a coming-of-age story with forbidden love, left me with a profound emotional impact.

Full review abookandadog.com/blog/haggard-house

While I‘ve enjoyed Chris Bohjalian‘s previous works, I must admit that I didn‘t enjoy this one, despite my anticipation of loving it. I found the narrative to be extremely slow, which made it difficult to get engrossed in the story. I often felt bored and anxious for the book to have some excitement.

Full review abookandadog.com/blog/the-jackals-mistress

I‘ve finally made it to book #25 in the Jack Reacher series! The Sentinel marks the first book where Lee Child collaborates with his brother, Andrew Child, to take over the writing of the series. I thoroughly enjoyed Andrew Child‘s contribution to the series. Reacher remains the same character who finds himself entangled in familiar predicaments while assisting those in need.

Full review abookandadog.com/blog/the-sentinel

While I may not have been a huge fan of grunge or alternative rock, I couldn‘t help but appreciate the raw talent and unwavering determination displayed by musicians like Dave Grohl. Over time, I‘ve come to know him for his kindness and generosity. Therefore, when his autobiography, The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music, was released, I knew it was a book I had to read.

Full review abookandadog.com/blog/the-storyteller-dave-grohl

I‘ve always thought giraffes were pretty amazing creatures, but I never fully appreciated their magnificence until I got to meet two of them up close.

This is a captivating tale that beautifully illustrates the extraordinary influence and transformative power of animals on our lives. Every aspect of this book enchanted me.

For the complete giraffe story and full review abookandadog.com/blog/west-with-giraffes

This is my first time reading Gillian McAllister. I had a strong feeling that I had read at least one of her books before, but my Goodreads account says otherwise. Regardless, Famous Last Words was an excellent starting point for me. A suspenseful hostage situation, marital secrets, and a puzzle to solve all made this a great book!

Full review abookandadog.com/blog/famous-last-words

This is my second time reading this. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of novellas just as much as I did the first time. However, this re-read revealed something about my preferences for re-reading books. This book review appears more like a personal journal entry as I‘ve come to understand my preferences for rereading books, particularly those that hold significant personal meaning.

Full review abookandadog.com/blog/different-seasons

Wow! This is my first time reading William Kent Krueger, and I must say, I‘m thoroughly impressed with his storytelling. I absolutely adored this book! The unexpected turn of events in the story took me by surprise, revealing new insights into the characters that I had never anticipated.

Full review abookandadog.com/blog/this-tender-land

Ruth Franklin gained access to previously private letters and conducted interviews to compile this comprehensive biography of the renowned horror author, Shirley Jackson. This book chronicles Shirley‘s life, starting with her upbringing and her tumultuous relationship with her mother. She met her husband, Stanley Hyman, while in college. They raised four kids.

Full review abookandadog.com/blog/shirley-jackson-a-rather-haunted-life

Spring is coming, and with it, a flurry of exciting book releases! I had the pleasure of participating in The Back Room: Cocktails and Conversations with Your Favorite Authors, hosted by the talented authors Hank Phillippi Ryan and Karen Dionne. This unique event brought together authors with new books hitting the shelves this month!

I wrote about my experience on my blog abookandadog.com/author-events/the-back-room-march-2025

*Not the tagged book* Conscious Aging is a two-part recorded session featuring Ram Dass delivering a talk at the Omega Institute. At the time of the recording, Ram Dass was 60 years old. He begins the teaching by sharing humorous and relatable stories about aging, allowing him to laugh at himself while simultaneously offering a profound spiritual application for the listeners.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/conscious-aging

*Not the tagged book* I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, The House on the Water by Margot Hunt. She skillfully crafted her own unique twist into a classic locked-in murder mystery. Surprisingly, I managed to decipher the motive behind the murder and identify the murderer even before the reveal. This didn‘t diminish my appreciation for the captivating narrative.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/the-house-on-the-water

Recently, my husband and I discovered a captivating television show on National Geographic called UFOs: Investigating the Unknown. There, I added books to my TBR, including the tagged book. This biography about John Mack, a Harvard psychiatrist, who stumbled upon an opportunity to meet with individuals who claimed to have been abducted by aliens.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/the-believer-john-mack

Whitaker is a brilliant writer. His talent took me on an emotional journey with these captivating characters as they struggled with emotional and physical pain, loss, and heartbreak.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/all-the-colors-of-the-dark

Original painting pictured by artist, Patrick Riley, is available at https://patrickriley.art/original-artwork-pss/p/its-what-i-live-for

I enjoyed this. Initially, I was excited about the book but soon found myself growing disengaged as the pace was slow. I even considered giving up. However, when Mills finally introduced some action, I became committed to finishing the book. Now that I‘m done, I found the second half to be engaging and suspenseful, with a satisfying ending. Mills created characters who felt real and flawed.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/bitter-passage

This is another remarkable novel by Pam Jenoff. It was engrossing and fast-paced. Stories about WWII are always incredibly sad and astonishing. Pam crafted characters full of strength and determination to confront the challenges of war while also unraveling mysteries that ultimately reinforce the power of hope and love.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/last-twilight-in-paris

This is our February selection for the Constant Reader book club. I‘ve watched the original 1983 movie adaptation multiple times and first read the book in 2015 as an audiobook. This time, I decided to read my physical copy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it again and liked it better the second time.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/the-dead-zone

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and appreciated the references to well-known haunted houses. I found the protagonists to be likable characters and was rooting for their marriage. The narrative was well-crafted and effectively conveyed a sense of suspense.

Full review abookandadog.com/blog/still-house

Freida McFadden has an ability to immerse me into the story so deeply that once I start a book, I want to shut out the world with my AirPods until the end. Book 3 has a lot of suspicious behaviors among the characters, which kept me wondering what was going on in this idyllic cul-de-sac. As the pieces began to come together, I started to anticipate some of the twists.

Full review abookandadog.com/blog/the-housemaid-is-watching

*Not the tagged book* I thoroughly enjoyed Rachel Howzell Hall‘s novella, How It Ends. It is a thrilling mystery and suspense story. It incorporates several unexpected and ingenious twists.

Full review abookandadog.com/blog/how-it-ends

Fiona Davis is one of my favorite historical fiction novelists, and one author that I have read all of her books. I acknowledge that I am about to express an unpopular opinion: while The Stolen Queen was enjoyable, it did not fully resonate with me as some of her other novels have.

Full review and video of Fiona‘s author event at the Poisoned Pen Bookstore at abookandadog.com/blog/the-stolen-queen

My January Reading Recap blog post includes my book reviews for the month, books I added to my massive TBR, and the bookish events I went to. You can read the full recap at https://abookandadog.com/campaigns/view-campaign/H9X5XMbCyHhPukrz6VaysatMeNC6Iyi...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was genuinely surprised by the revelations I gained, and I must admit to being somewhat disappointed to discover the extent of Elvis‘s unfavorable traits. While I do not pass judgment on these behaviors, I am instead curious about the inherited traits, the effects of drug use, and the underlying personality factors that contributed to them.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/elvis-and-me

It‘s been too long since I‘ve read a Joseph Finder book! The Oligarch‘s Daughter is an outstanding, suspenseful, fast-paced spy thriller — I kept turning the pages as I couldn‘t wait to see what was going to happen next! This book is full of intensity!

It releases on January 28, 2025. Run, don‘t walk, to your nearest bookstore!

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/the-oligarchs-daughter

This is my first time reading Samantha Downing‘s work, and it definitely won‘t be my last! Sleeping Dogs Lie is a thriller novella that I acquired through my Audible membership. At just over two hours, this novella impressed me with its twist and surprising outcome! This is the perfect read for any animal lover.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/sleeping-dogs-lie

Continuing my literary journey of Neil Peart‘s writing with his third book, Traveling Music. It picks up right where he left off in Ghost Rider. Neil shares his experiences driving to Big Bend, talks about the music he was listening to, and opens up about the stories that came to mind during his trip. 🚗

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/traveling-music

*Not the tagged book* David A. Anderson‘s, The Drowners, is a creative non-fiction that follows 15-year-old Aaron through a poignant year in his life. Set in 1990s Dublin, Ireland, the story builds in emotional intensity as he emerges on a journey of self-discovery and navigates the ups and downs of high school.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/the-drowners

*Not the tagged book* Second Coming by George Bachman is a novella set in 1857 Victorian London. Seven-year-old Melissa Hawthorne is taken from her home in the English countryside and sent to a boarding school. From the beginning, Melissa is treated badly by the headmistress, Miss Grandine, the staff, and a few of her classmates.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/second-coming

*Not the tagged book* Audible produces a Words + Music series, which allows listeners to consume a brief overview of various music artists. I enjoyed learning about legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma in this Audible Original, Beginner‘s Mind. Yo-Yo Ma immediately had my attention when the audiobook opened with him describing a remote home he and his wife enjoy that is immersed in nature.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/beginners-mind-yo-yo-ma

I waited six long months for my library hold to become available. In my opinion, The Hunter was an exceptional novel. The characters were well-developed, and their unwavering loyalty to one another was truly captivating. I am hopeful that French will continue to write novels featuring Hal Cooper. The narration by Roger Clark was also outstanding.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/the-hunter

*Not the tagged book.* Hourglass is a collection of thought-provoking poems by C. Martins. I thoroughly enjoyed each poem. Her poetry is so relatable, and I could see myself in each one. It made me think about my own life and how it relates to the ideas she was exploring. C. Martins‘s exceptional talent shines through in this collection, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/hourglass

Empty Your Cup is a unique poetry collection by C. Martins. I often find poetry difficult to comprehend, but this collection is so relevant to my experiences that I was immediately impressed by the poet‘s insight. Each poem made me think about a personal experience, which speaks to the poet‘s talent.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/empty-your-cup

Laura Harris, a former celebrity chef, recently moved to Texas to help her friend improve her pastry business. This move allows her to be closer to her father and reconnect with her elderly friend and mentor, Hattie Stenburg. But tragedy strikes when Hattie is murdered shortly after her visit, and Laura becomes the prime suspect.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/a-hush-at-midnight

I re-read Doctor Sleep by Stephen King, which is the January selection for our Constant Reader book club. I first read it in 2013, so it was like reading it for the first time. I had forgotten so much, and I had no idea how the story was going to end. I seldom re-read books, but being part of this book club has required me to change that behavior. I‘m discovering that I enjoy re-reading books.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/doctor-sleep

Kicked off the new year with a fresh Back Room event! Hosted by authors Hank Phillippi Ryan and Karen Dionne, this event featured authors Alafair Burke, Joseph Finder, Rachel Howzell Hall, and Lisa Williamson Rosenberg. It was an absolute blast listening to these writers chat about books, puzzles, and even their other jobs. I wrote about my experience on my blog.

abookandadog.com/author-events/the-back-room-january-2025

This novel took me on an unexpected journey through the life of Tom Lowe. Dubus‘ narrative style of gradually revealing Tom‘s character— the man he was, the man he has become, and the man he wants to be— kept me engaged in the story.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/such-kindness

My December Reading Recap blog post includes my book reviews for the month, books I added to my massive TBR, and all the bookish events I went to. You can read the full recap at abookandadog.com/recapblog/december-2024-recap

Happy New Year! 🎉🍾📚

As we near the end of 2024, I‘m filled with gratitude for all the incredible books I read this year. I devoured the works of my favorite authors and discovered some amazing new ones. Reading them with my furry sidekick made it even more special. Linked below are my top 10 picks for the best books I read in 2024. ❤️📚🎉🍾🐾

https://abookandadog.com/best-books-2024

Smoke Signal is a fun historical fiction novella set during WWII with famed mystery writer Agatha Christie at the center of the story. It‘s a unique blend of storytelling by Marie Benedict, who‘s written about Agatha Christie, and Kate Quinn, who brings her expertise in female code breakers to the table.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/smoke-signal

I‘m still hooked on Freida McFadden‘s books. I chose to give the Housemaid series a pause and read The Perfect Son. It was another great one! Freida delivers that unexpected twist I‘ve come to rely on. The twist in this book literally stopped me in my tracks.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/the-perfect-son

I‘m a huge fan of Jessica Strawser! This book was so hard to put down whenever I started reading, so I mostly read it when I had chunks of uninterrupted time. really liked Lark and Mikki; they are extremely likable, admirable, and humble characters. There is such a strong relationship between these two lifelong best friends. The story is a beautiful mix of pain, hope, and suspense. 🌴

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/catch-you-later

Not the tagged book. I was immediately impressed that Alanis Morissette opened this Words + Music session by normalizing human emotions, especially anger. The use of music has been instrumental for her to process her own emotions. Throughout this audiobook, Alanis shares her insights into specific songs from her earlier albums and performs them acoustically.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/alanis-morissette-words-music

I absolutely adored this book! Lisa shared stories about growing up in Graceland, and even her returns to Graceland as an adult. Her relationship with her dad was amazing. This memoir covers everything from her adolescent struggles, the relationship with her mom, marriages, children, addiction, and her son‘s tragic suicide. Lisa‘s own death is also detailed in the book.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/from-here-to-the-great-unknown

I‘ve read a few books by Kate Morton, and The Distant Hours wasn‘t my favorite. I loved the historical fiction, dual timeline story, and setting of an old, European castle. But there were so many little things going on that made the story confusing at times.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/the-distant-hours

I‘ve read The Shining by Stephen King twice now, and it‘s one of my all-time favorites. I first read it 12 years ago and loved it just as much the second time around. Sure, I knew how the story ended, but I totally forgot a lot of the details.

In my full review, you can see the trailer for the TV mini-series and info about The Stanley Hotel that served as King‘s inspiration for the Overlook.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/the-shining

Not the tagged book. Buried in my Audible library was this short story, Yard Work by David Koepp. Kevin Bacon narrates the tale of 88-year-old Judge Calvert, who‘s recently widowed. His wife dying first was completey unexpected and not what the two had planned. To escape the memories of his wife, Judge moves into his cabin on the lake.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/yard-work

Tis‘ the season for holiday-themed reading! Peter Swanson‘s novella, The Christmas Guest, has all of the necessary elements for a holiday story — an old manor house in the Cotswolds, a large family gathering for Christmas, and a murder mystery. 😆🎄

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/the-christmas-guest

My Audible library is overflowing, so sometimes I just pick the book that has been waiting patiently the longest to read next. This book had been sitting in my library for so long, I couldn‘t remember what had piqued my interest. Based on the description, I suspected this was going to be one of those really long books that dove deeply into the characters‘ lives, and I was going to love it.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/the-great-believers

This book is relatively short for an autobiography of a man who has truly lived a fascinating life and made amazing inventions that were ahead of his time. He shared about his parents and significant events in his childhood. As he humbly wrote about his inventions, he dropped interesting personal nuggets of information. His work ethic was incredible!

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/my-inventions-nikola-tesla

Freida McFadden totally won me over this year! I‘m currently hooked on the Housemaid series, and the second book, The Housemaid‘s Secret, is just as wild and unexpected as the first. I can‘t believe how she weaves these crazy twists and surprises into the story. She‘s a total writing wizard!

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/the-housemaids-secret