But I found a place where I can erase my past: THE MAN IN BLACK - STORIES.

The Man in Black: Stories by Elly Griffiths
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's funny, I just read a set of short stories recently and concluded that short stories are not really for me. But this set proves that is not true. I love all these stories from Elly Griffiths, one of my favorite writers.

All of these stories are interesting and do not feel unfinished. They seem just right, which is rare for short stories. What I love most is that they do not come across as pretentious or force you to grasp for meaning.

The stories in THE MAN IN BLACK often center around Griffiths' series -- so we see Ruth Galloway, Max Mephisto, Justice Jones, and Harbinder Kaur. I believe they all stand alone if you don't know these folks, but will mean more if you know their backstories. For instance, we see Ruth and Nelson on a cruise in the nearly present day, allowing us to know what they are up to post the most recent book. We even hear from Ruth's beloved cat, Flint.

But there are plenty of other "regular" tales, too, featuring bits of crime or archaeology or little snippets of everyday life. Many are centered around various holidays. They cover parts of mysteries or daily life, are easy to read, and keep your interest.

I loved reading about Harbinder's first day as detective and meeting Neil! I also very much enjoyed a story with a brief Nelson/Ruth and Harbinder crossover!

As always, Griffiths is a wonderful writer who brings you into her character's lives, whether for two pages or an entire novel. This is an excellent collection for devout fans and a great introduction for new ones.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Mariner Books in return for an unbiased review.

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When you look behind you there's nothing there to see: MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager


I started this one on audio thanks to a work trip and will say that I quite enjoyed the audio (not always the case for me). I finished it via hardcover because I had to know what happened--this is a true page turner!

As with many Sager books, MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT exudes eerie tension. Now 40, Ethan Marsh returns to his childhood home to lick his wounds after his marriage ends. He's living in his parents' old house as they have fled the coop to Florida. Ethan has never loved the place--ever since, at age 10, his best friend Billy was snatched from a tent in Ethan's backyard while the two were camping. Billy was never seen again. Ethan has been unable to remember any events of that night, but he's haunted by dreams and insomnia, even thirty years later.

Being back on Hemlock Court, a small, exclusive neighborhood where all the families know each other--and each other's business--isn't the best for Ethan's mental health. How reliable of a narrator is this exhausted 40-year-old man, we wonder?

The story unfolds between Ethan's present-day perspective, as suspicious events begin happening in the neighborhood, and the past, with various POVs from the folks of Hemlock Court relaying the events the day before Billy's disappearance. I found this format nearly impossible to put down--it was incredibly effective at raising suspense and tension.

As with many a Sager book, you'll find yourself wondering if the supernatural or ghosts are at play, or just sinister forces. There are plenty of suspects and the story kept me wondering and guessing until the end. The ending was a little less robust than I'd hoped, but this was still an enjoyable thriller, and it was nice to find such a hard-to-put-down read! 4+ stars.

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If I don't keep my head up, I may drown: THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING.

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not quite what I expected after all the hype.

LAST ONE is a slow burn of a read that ends up as half thriller, half rumination on father/daughter relationships.

Frank, a UPS driver, reunites with his only daughter, Maggie, after a three-year rift. Maggie calls to invite him to her wedding and he learns that she's engaged to a rather wealthy guy. Well, the son of a rather wealthy, guy. Maggie's fiance, Aidan Gardner, is the offspring of a rich and famous tech billionaire (who happens to be Maggie's boss). Frank heads to Maggie's three-day wedding festivities at the Gardner's country property, but can't help but feel weird vibes. Soon, a lot of strange things begin to happen, including a mysterious death.

This is a slow read for a thriller. It does a very good job of cultivating a sinister and suspicious feel, but about halfway through, I felt frustrated that nothing of much importance had really happened yet. Frank is a bit of a whiner--much of the book is spent on him ruminating on his relationship with Maggie and wishing she was spending more time with him. Maggie, however, is busy with work, and you know, getting married.

Frank shows up to his wedding with his sister, fine, but also the sister's foster child. This is a really odd side plot, but cute, I suppose, and lends some humanity to the story in later chapters. It's still a very odd juxtaposition to the story. I was also shocked at how much time Frank thought Maggie should be spending with him leading up to the wedding. He came across as demanding and self-centered.

Frank discovers that *gasp* the Gardners are a rich family with too much power and too many secrets. Shocking--this is a plot never explored in literature before. Sigh. The story is dark and suspenseful, but the twist was not as surprising as I would have hoped. The story could have benefited from someone other than Frank's POV--I tired of his repetitive thoughts. If you like your thrillers with family drama thrown in, you'll love this one.

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Stealing kisses from a boy: CATCH AND KEEP.

Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Easily one of my favorite reads of the year.

Third in a series, but works as a standalone; I loved reading Maren's story. After saying no to a wedding proposal, Maren flees to Wisconsin, where she spent her summers growing up, and the tiny bait shop/cabin she inherited. Once there, she finds Joe--previously thought of as just a friend of her older brothers.

Joe is now a sexy single dad, running his parents' inn and raising his two kids. The two feel drawn to each other immediately, but Hahn does a wonderful job of illustrating their chemistry and attraction, not just some sort of insta-love. The two have a history, yes, but also hangups. Maren is getting over her breakup and Joe is a divorced, busy father.

Maren is a great character; it's wonderful for her to have her own book. She's just... Maren. Tougher than she thinks, figuring out life, totally knowledgeable about fishing and willing to do the dirty work of fixing up an old bait shack.

Joe, meanwhile, is a dreamboat, and his kids are adorable. I don't blame Maren for falling for all of them. I did too. Hahn deftly explores the topic of autism through Joe's younger daughter, but never strays into trope or treacly territory.

If you've read the first two books in this series, you'll be excited to see appearances from Maren's BFFs Lorelai and Shelby and their beaus. But this story is truly Maren's, digging into her old days as "Musky Maren," a fishing YouTube Star (a Musky is a fish, don't worry). It makes some wonderful points about how women are treated simply because they dared to put a piece of themselves on the Internet--and how men feel they are owed something in return for that appearance. Her older brother has a big role, making Maren feel bad about herself and generally just being a jerk.

Still, this is a sentimental and lovely book. When it ended, I thought, "that was perfect." It's a wonderful blend of romantic, sexy, and sweet. The lake acts as another character, providing a wonderful summer/camp-like atmosphere, even as winter sets in.

I love a story that is easy to read--that makes you laugh and smile. CATCH AND KEEP is that book. It's just fun to read (even though it has its serious moments) and makes you happy while reading it. The characters are great and easy to root for, and it offers a wonderful wrap-up for Maren, Shelby, and Lorelai. And Maren and Joe are pretty awesome too, illustrating that not everyone takes the same journey to find one another. 4.5+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin in return for an unbiased review.

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There's a road that I remember leading to a special place: I'LL BE GONE FOR CHRISTMAS.

I'll Be Gone for Christmas by Georgia K. Boone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, this was cute!

I'LL BE GONE FOR CHRISTMAS is basically the movie The Holiday, but diverse and gay.

Bee and Clover switch houses via an app. Bee heads to Clover's farmhouse, where she meets Clover's ex, Knox, and gets to know Bee's dad, Jimmy. While there, she works on the issues she has of being in business with her sister and feeling inadequate in her family.

Clover, meanwhile, heads to Bee's city apartment. There, our country mouse meets Bee's twin sister, Beth, with a stop along the way for a high school crush. Clover works through a belated coming out, of sorts, and getting past people's expectations of her.

This is simply a pleasant read. The characters are easy to like and relate to. They're well-drawn, with realistic issues and things to work through. Even though the story digs into serious topics like grief and coming out, it has plenty of light and humorous moments to balance everything out. There's a holiday flavor, but Christmas is not the main focus of the story. Boone captures lesbian friendships and relationships extremely well. Also, Clover's dad Jimmy is adorable and steals many a scene.

GONE has a fun concept. I've discovered that I like holiday reads that feel Christmas-y without going overboard. It's emotional but fun and while a little simplistic at times, this diverse romance is a winner overall. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Avon in return for an unbiased review.

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And I will tell you again about the first time I saw you: NO ONE WILL KNOW.

No One Will Know by Rose Carlyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those wild fantastical thrillers that you just want to keep reading, even though it's completely preposterous!

Eve finds out she's pregnant after she's lost her wealthy boyfriend in an accident. His family wants nothing to do with her, so she's adrift. She finds herself recruited by a wealthy couple, the Hygates, to be their nanny in a remote island location. She soon realizes, however, that they don't have a child: they want hers. They offer Eve the opportunity to raise her own child in utter luxury in return for adopting it.

Now, is Eve naive for not seeing a million red flags about this situation? Yes. The story is silly and crazy, but shines in its focus on Eve's determination and a mother's love for her child. The characters are dark, the remote setting is fun, and it's just an all-around good page turner/escape, if you can set aside your need for a believable story. 4 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and William Morrow in return for an unbiased review.

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Let there be love that lasts through the year: THE MERRIEST MISTERS.

The Merriest Misters by Timothy Janovsky
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Ironically, I'm writing this review while watching The Santa Clause, which probably tells you all you need to know.

THE MERRIEST MISTERS is the fanciful story of Quinn and Patrick, who are struggling after their recent marriage. Quinn is the stressed out teacher pretending to be something he's not, while Patrick, a recently fired architect (something he's keeping from his husband) just wants to make everyone happy (major daddy issues) and to "support" Quinn as the breadwinner.

However, those problems get set aside when they clock Santa with a frying pan on Christmas Eve and one of them must put on his golden cloak and take over Santa duties at the North Pole.

This story is cute and a bit cheesy--it certainly would work well as a Hallmark or Netflix movie. It has heavy queer Santa Clause vibes. On the positive side, it has such a wonderful, diverse cast--yay for holiday inclusivity! It explores being yourself and non-traditional gender roles, as well as the importance of being there for queer youth. It's not quite as Christmas-y as more a look into relationships, with plenty of focus on the issues in Quinn and Patrick's marriage. It's fantastical but an enjoyable holiday romance. 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin in return for an unbiased review.

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And the hills move like lungs, the river speaks in tongues: WHAT THE WOODS TOOK.

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I will start out by saying that I adore Courtney Gould and will read anything she writes. Her writing is beautiful, original, and a gift for the queer community. Even WOODS, which is not my favorite of hers, is well-done.

Devin has spent just a short time in her latest foster home when she's awakened in the night and taken away. She soon learns that her foster parents have sent her to the Revive Wilderness program, a program for troubled youth where a small group of teens spends 50 days in the woods with two counselors. You know, the teens are there against their will, but whatever, right?

Devin clashes immediately with Sheridan, another strong-willed female in the group, but has better luck with Ollie, a lost and troubled soul; the younger Aiden; and religious Hannah. It doesn't take Devin long to realize that things seem off (beyond the forced kidnapping) and soon counselors disappear, the woods seem extra eerie, and more.

This isn't true horror, I don't think, but it sure is creepy and certainly sinister. Gould does a wonderful job of building up the tension. Unfortunately, it takes a while to get to a lot of the scary parts, and they sometimes fizzle out. A huge part of the novel's beginning is spent on the discord between Devin and Sheridan, to the point of repetition and frustration. There's far more focus on interpersonal relationships and the camper's backgrounds than the horror vibes. What does show up is unique and intriguing and often quite spooky.

I especially loved the focus on these wilderness camps, which really do exist, and how they can affect the psyche of already fragile young teens. Also important is Gould's emphasis on queer relationships and her consistently strong portrayal of teens overall. This is a bit of a slow burn, plot-wise, but there's a lot to love here too. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for WOODS on 12/10/2024!!

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But you came along and finally I see the type of love I know I need: THE SLOWEST BURN.

The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Enjoyable romance with a foodie angle!

THE SLOWEST BURN is a cute romance, though there's nothing hugely original about it. The entire time it nagged me that it reminded me so much of another book I'd read -- believe it was Ashley Poston's Seven Year Slip.

Here we have the usual set-up for a love story: two people with baggage have to get over it if they want to wind up together. Kieran won a reality cooking show and now he's trying to capitalize on that fame by publishing a cookbook. Ellie is the ghostwriter for said cookbook. Kieran is dyslexic with ADHD, but--of course--Ellie is orderly and uptight. The two clash... until they don't.

The serious aspect of the story revolves around a study of grief. Ellie is a young widow who still lives in a cottage behind her late husband's parents, and they depend heavily on her. Kieran has his own family problems, with a family who always had very high expectations for their son.

Kieran and Ellie are frustrating in the beginning, when they lack the ability to communicate. Once they get to know each other, it's an enjoyable book. The two feel they can't have a relationship due to perceptions in the publishing world. And Ellie is hung up on the fact that she can't have anything for herself (the usual) while Kieran is sure he'll destroy anything good he touches. I do feel badly for Ellie, as she has a lot going on, and Kieran seems like a pretty decent guy. Their chemistry is good, and there's a lot of cooking/baking references, if that's something you enjoy.

There are not a ton of major happenings or deep revelations, despite the serious topics covered, but this is still a sweet romance. 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin in return for an unbiased review.

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