Title: Lucy UndyingAuthor: Kiersten WhitePublisher: Del ReyPublication date: September 10, 2024Length: 464 pagesGenre: HorrorSource: PurchasedRating: ★★★★ In this epic and seductive gothic fantasy, a vampire escapes the thrall of Dracula and embarks on her own search for self-discovery and true love. Her name was written in the pages of someone else's story: Lucy Westenra was one of Dracula's first victims.

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week's topic is Satisfying Book Series, with the prompt: Maybe all the books were amazing or there wasn’t any second book syndrome or the final book wrapped everything up soooo perfectly The prompt seems to put the focus on series that are already completed, but there are at least a few I can think of that really satisfy me even though they're not done!

My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead -- what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too. Life. What a difference a week makes! The week before last, I was basking in the sun with good books and fruity frozen drinks, enjoying a vacation with my husband...

Title: Green RiderSeries: Green Rider, #1Author: Kristen BritainPublisher: DAWPublication date: 1998Length: 481 pagesGenre: FantasySource: PurchasedRating: ★★★★★ Magic, danger, and adventure abound for messenger Karigan G'ladheon in the first book of the New York Times-bestselling Green Rider fantasy series On her long journey home from school after a fight that will surely lead to her expulsion, Karigan G'ladheon ponders her uncertain future.

Title: A Pirate's Life for TeaSeries: Tomes & Tea, #2Author: Rebecca ThornePublisher: BramblePublication date: February 23, 2023Length: 444 pagesGenre: FantasySource: PurchasedRating: ★★★ "You asked for this, Rain. Let's go capture a pirate." While searching for stolen dragon eggs, newly engaged couple Kianthe and Reyna find themselves smack-dab in the middle of a swashbuckling love story.

Somewhat accidentally -- I really didn't plan for this to happen! -- I ended up reading two light, cute, Austen-inspired romances during my recent vacation. Both were lots of fun. Let's dive in! Title: Emma of 83rd StreetSeries: For the Love of Austen, #1Authors: Audrey Bellezza and Emily HardingNarrators: Brittany Pressley and Teddy HamiltonPublisher: Gallery Books…

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week's topic is Book Covers that Give off Fall Vibes. I last did this TTT topic in 2020 and 2019 -- let's see if I can come up with a fresh batch of 10! When I think of autumn, I think of browns and oranges and yellows -- so here are a selection of books from my shelves with cover colors in a fall palette. What books make you think of autumn? Please share your TTT link! Save Save Save Save Save Save

My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead -- what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too. Life. I'm back! My husband and I just spent a week in Hawaii... pure relaxation! Our trips tend to be go, go, go all the time -- whether daily hikes or road trips or running from point A to point B to point Z.

Title: Alone in the WildSeries: Rockton, #5Author: Kelley ArmstrongPublisher: Minotaur BooksPublication date: February 4, 2020Length: 369 pagesGenre: Thriller/mysterySource: PurchasedRating: ★★★★★ In #1 New York Times bestseller Kelley Armstrong's latest thriller, the hidden town of Rockton is about to face a challenge none of them saw coming: a baby. Every season in Rockton seems to bring a new challenge.

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books on My Fall 2025 to-Read List. Once again, summer whooshed by! I read 8 out of 10 books on my summer TBR list, and I'm including one of the two remaining on my TBR for fall.

My husband and I leave tomorrow for a one-week getaway... looking forward to blue skies, white sand, and refreshing ocean breezes. Plus, you know, lots of time to site on the beach and read, preferably with a fruity, blended, icy drink in hand. I don't expect to be online much (or at all) while away, so this space will be pretty quiet until I return.

I participated in Birthstone Books Covers for the first time in August, and now I'm hooked! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme -- and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I just had to jump in. The rules are simple: Mention the creator (Leslie @ Books Are The New Black…

Title: Silver and LeadSeries: October Daye, #19Author: Seanan McGuirePublisher: Tor BooksPublication date: September 30, 2025Print length: 400 pagesGenre: Urban fantasySource: Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalleyRating: ★★★★ Seanan McGuire’s New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-nominated October Daye series continues as Toby Daye is thrust once again into danger... and this time she has more than ever to protect.

Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Meeghan Reads -- check out the next batch of upcoming topics here. The theme for September is classics, and the this week's topic is Top 5 classics I’m not interested in reading. I struggled at first -- I have plenty of classics that I do want to read, but I've never really thought about identifying books NOT to read!

My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead -- what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too. Life. It's been a busy week, and I have another hectic week coming up... but after that, a week off! I won't be posting a Monday Check-in post next Monday -- my husband and I will be heading out of town for a mini-vacation, and I can't wait to relax, refresh, and (of course) do lots of reading.

Title: First-Time CallerSeries: Heartstrings, #1Author: B. K. BorisonNarrators: E.J. Bingham & Hathaway LeePublisher: BerkleyPublication date: February 11, 2025Print length: 420 pagesAudio length: 11 hours 54 minutesGenre: Contemporary romanceSource: LibraryRating: ★★★ A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K.

Title: My TheodosiaAuthor: Anya SetonPublication date: 1941Length: 418 pagesGenre: Historical fictionSource: PurchasedRating: ★★★ Anya Seton’s bestselling first novel, originally published in 1941, captures all the drama of the short life of Theodosia Burr (1783-1813). Theodosia’s father is Aaron Burr--Thomas Jefferson’s vice president, most famous for his great duel with Alexander Hamilton. With charm and tenderness, he holds sway over young Theodosia’s heart, but his arrogance forces her to choose between the man he insists she marry and her love for a young soldier who will turn out to play a decisive role in her father’s fate.

Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Jana at Reviews from the Stacks. To participate, find a book title that starts with each letter in the month’s name, make a list, share your link, and that’s it! You can share anytime by the end of the month. Some months have additional themes, but feel free to participate however you'd like!

Title: Road Trip with a VampireAuthor: Jenna LevinePublisher: BerkleyPublication date: September 23, 2025Length: 416 pagesGenre: Contemporary romance/fantasySource: Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalleyRating: ★★★★ A vampire who can’t remember his past and a witch with secrets of her own hit the road in this zany, cross-country romantic comedy from beloved author Jenna Levine.

Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Meeghan Reads -- check out the next batch of upcoming topics here. It's been a while since I've done one of these... and she always has such fun prompts, so I'm going to try to be more regular with my T5T posts! This week's topic is Top 5 classics I meant to read (but never got around to)

My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead -- what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too. Life. I went back to work last week after a week out sick, and was (mostly) happy to be jumping back in.

Title: The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary BennetAuthor: Melinda TaubPublisher: Grand Central PublishingPublication date: September 30, 2025Length: 320 pagesGenre: Classics mashup / scifiSource: Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalleyRating: ★★★★★ An utterly fantastical and undeniably queer melding of Pride and Prejudice and Frankenstein that recasts Mary Bennet as an insatiable scientist, one who creates a monster in an attempt to save herself from spinsterdom…

Title: Pugs & KissesSeries: Doggone Delightful, #2Author: Farrah RochonNarrator: Marissa HamptonPublisher: ForeverPublication date: July 15, 2025Print length: 352 pagesAudio length: 7 hours 56 minutesGenre: Contemporary romanceSource: LibraryRating: ★★★★★ The New York Times bestselling author of Almost There delivers a second chance romance between two dog lovers, perfect for readers of Abby Jimenez and Jasmine Guillory.

Title: There is No Ethan: How Three Women Uncovered America's Biggest CatfishAuthor: Anna AkbariPublisher: Grand Central PublishingPublication date: June 4, 2024Length: 304 pagesGenre: Memoir/true crimeSource: PurchasedRating: ★★★★★ Part memoir, part explosive window into the mind of a catfisher, a thrilling personal account of three women coming face-to-face with an internet predator and teaming up to expose them…

Title: Writing Mr. WrongAuthor: Kelley ArmstrongPublisher: ForeverPublication date: June 24, 2025Print length: 333 pagesGenre: Contemporary romanceSource: Purchased ★★★★★ From a New York Times bestselling author, a second-chance rom-com about an author who goes viral when readers discover her book’s hero was inspired by a beloved pro hockey player—and her high school crush. Debut author Gemma Stanton knows romance readers love a bad boy—and she has the perfect prototype for her novel: Mason Moretti.