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Reader’s Log 019: Book Stack Part 6

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Acquiring books and reading them are entirely two different hobbies. I must say in the last few years, I have been working on curating my home library and working out what criteria I want to set to grow my stacks.

In this book stack series, I’m sharing books I’ve previously read and reviewed from NetGalley and want to obtain a physical copy for my home library. Today, I’m doing something a little different with this post.

A fellow blogger tagged me in a, “Spook Scary Book Tag” post and was excited to spot a few titles I’m not familiar with and appreciated the tag. As I was checking out the books listed, I came across, “I see You” by Clare Mackintosh. I made a comment on the post stating “I see you” is on my to-read list. Umm…shortly after, I remembered I read and reviewed the book for the publishers! Good grief. That said, it is worth reading the story again and I will be adding a physical copy of this story to my book stacks. It is also a perfect October read. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend you do.  

About the Book:

When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it’s there. There’s no explanation: just a website, a grainy image and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it’s just someone who looks like Zoe. But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that.

Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make . . .

I See You is an edge-of-your-seat, page-turning psychological thriller from one of the most exciting and successful British debut talents of 2015.

My book review of, “I See You” here.

In the mid to late 90’s and early 2000s, I used to read Dean Koontz books. Well, this past Tuesday, I went over to my local thrift store to get out of the house a bit and came across one of his books! I’ve read so many books, I can’t remember if I’ve read the book I spotted. So, I picked it up and examined the book for wear and so forth… It’s a hardback and the edition is from 1992. The book is called, “Hideaway.” Are you familiar with the story? Maybe once I start reading it, I will remember if I have read it or not.

About the Book:

Strange visions plague a man after he survives a near-death experience in this chilling thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz.

Surviving a car accident on a snowy mountain road is miraculous for Lindsey Harrison, but even more so for her husband, Hatch, who was clinically dead for eighty minutes.

 After experimental procedures bring Hatch back to life, he awakens with the terrifying feeling that something is it out there. But it soon becomes apparent that the evil stalking Hatch is within him—a dark force of murderous rage that hides within us all…

Tagging:

Mybookworld24

Be sure to check out Alex’s books he mentioned in the post he tagged me on.

Stephanie

Reader’s Log 017: A Very Short Story and New ARCs

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Sunday Morning Drive

Yesterday morning, the air was cool, crisp in an autumn sort-of way and I had the urge to go for a Sunday drive. Normally, I would have waited later in the day. Although, morning drives on Sundays means less traffic. Not a walk you ask? Well, that would have been nice but a drive it was. After I drove around near my local favorite spots to drive by, Not ready to go home yet, I pulled in an almost empty parking lot. I parked next to a spot facing a street and a tree for shade. The sun was so bright. While I sat there, I watched cars drive by while reflecting on this coming week’s blog posts. After a few minutes, I cracked my two front side windows just a bit to feel the cool fresh air and as I began to back out of the parking space, I suddenly heard voices. I pressed down on the break and looked behind me and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I was completely stunned. Surely my eyes were playing tricks on me. A man appeared out of nowhere-it seems-and as he walked by, he smiled and waved to me. That wasn’t what what stunned me. The man-for the exception of modern-day clothes and phone in hand-looked exactly like the character, Ragnar Lothbrok in the Viking show. Literally. I kid you not. What are the odds I ask you? So, I made a mad dash home -I drove safely-to write down what I had just experienced. Funny how this happened close to Halloween. Now I’m thinking about catching up on the show because I never finished the seasons. Maybe it was meant to be.

Now let’s talk about books.

Since recently getting back to reviewing books for Publishers on NetGalley, I’ve created a rule that I have to turn in a certain amount of ARC reviews before accepting (Auto Approved) or requesting more. How is the rule going for me and why the rule? Well, I almost obeyed the rule by short of two reviews. Sigh. I know. I’ve got to stop looking at the Dashboard. The rule- I set for myself- is so that I can get through my backlog on the site. I am determined. You might be thinking, “Not determined enough if you’re breaking your rule.” I can’t help but laugh thinking that. Okay, I will do better. I will really try. In my defense, I’m mostly reading on my free time so I’m getting through them in a timely manner.

Would you like to see the books I got? One of the publishers auto-approved for and the other one, I requested. Matter of fact, they approved my request within literally minutes of requesting the book. I don’t believe that has ever happened to me before.

Stephanie

We Are Made of Stars by Rochelle B. Weinstein

Pub Date Feb 25 2025 by

Lake Union Publishing

Description:

Secrets, lies, and second chances are served up beneath the stars at a picturesque mountain getaway in this powerful novel about love and family by the bestselling author of This Is Not How It Ends.

At the Vis Ta Vie inn, Reneé and Jean-Paul De La Rue face the daunting decision to close their beloved home for good.

They’re not the only ones going through a season of change, though. Their guests include three couples in crisis: Hollywood celebs Leo and Penny are spending their silver anniversary together while on the cusp of divorce. Lucy, a practical-minded therapist, and Henry, an astronomer with his head in the stars, are struggling to find common ground. And former lawyer and current stay-at-home mom Sienna and charismatic sports agent Adam look perfect but are hiding rifts of their own. Thrown into the mix are self-absorbed single mother Cassidy and her sullen fifteen-year-old daughter, Rosalie.

The stage is set for a week of betrayals, regrets, and shocking truths that can rend the heart or heal it. Vis Ta Vie—live your life—captures what it means to love through the darkness, and to find the light even after the magic fades.

The Secrets of Good People

by Boo Walker; Peggy Shainberg

Pub Date Mar 18 2025 by

Lake Union Publishing

Description

A whirlwind romance. An impulsive marriage. A Floridian paradise. And a murder among friends in a twisty whodunit by Boo Walker, the bestselling author of The Stars Don’t Lie and An Echo in Time, and coauthor Peggy Shainberg.

On a tiny island off Paradiso, Florida, in 1970, neighbors gather to toast two new arrivals: shy Catherine and her taciturn husband, Dr. Frank Overbrook, who is taking over an old friend’s medical practice. It’s an intimate welcoming for the newlyweds, who have abandoned city life for swaying palms and an ocean breeze. But the morning after is anything but peaceful when Frank is found dead on the beach.

Detective Quentin Jones has his eyes on the island’s residents and the welcome party’s guest list. There’s the retiring doctor and host, as well as his nurse. Volatile marrieds Miriam and her husband, David, constantly at each other’s throats. The Carters, a strangely antisocial young couple. And Sylvie, a blind sculptor to whom Quentin lost his heart years ago.

But which one is a murderer? As the investigation unravels a close-knit group of friends, secrets are exposed—and more than one of them is worth killing for.

The Perfect Ex-Wife

(A Psychological Thriller)

by Winter K. Willis

Pub Date Dec 02 2024 by

Celestial Bear Publishing

Description:

Ramona has spent the last twelve years trying to build the perfect family with her husband and stepdaughter. In their picture-perfect home and neighborhood, she thought she’d finally found the life she always dreamed of. But one thing still haunts her every day: the shadow of her husband’s missing ex-wife. No matter how hard she tries, neither her husband nor stepdaughter can let go of the past.

Ramona has quietly hoped that time would help her replace the memory of the woman who disappeared without a trace. But when the police show up at her doorstep with new evidence, everything changes. As buried secrets resurface, Ramona is forced to confront the truth about the woman who came before her—and just how far she’ll go to protect the perfect life she’s built.

Perfect family. Perfect home. Perfect lie.

For fans of Freida McFadden, Jeneva Rose, Daniel Hurst and John Marrs.

In this gripping domestic thriller, family secrets unravel and Ramona is pulled into a web of mind games and psychological manipulation. Her once-perfect life spirals into a tense, heart-pounding mystery, filled with suspenseful twists and a twisted past that refuses to stay buried. As the truth unfolds, Ramona must confront her worst fears in a mind-bending, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller that will leave readers questioning everything they thought they knew.

Writer’s Log 002: Growing as a Book Reviewer

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Last weekend, I spent most of my free time on the screened-back porch reading, sipping on mint green tea, and listening to the birds sing their harmonious song. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the weekend. I was right where I needed to be and the time spent also gave me new reflections on matters of story-telling and writing I’ve been thinking on of late.

For me, I’m finding there needs to be a balance of reading and writing. Maybe it is so for other people. I know I want to be more deliberate with my writing and take more time on fine tuning my thoughts on paper or typing. Like writing book reviews, for example. Writing reviews is an art form and I want to spend more time in developing a more structured, concise and enticing summary of my thoughts on stories. Not all stories I read inspire me to do so or at times, I find myself just wanting to get the job done for whatever reason I’m feeling. Maybe it is because I’m a mood reader? That is not where I want to be in my journey of writing book reviews. Being honest with my struggles on the endeavor and admitting I need to do better at writing reviews is the first step.

I tend to absorb reading books at a fast pace- at times, and I make reviewing goals that quite frankly, aren’t sustaining and that is largely part of the problem. Slowing down would be best, though it can be hard when a story grabs you and swallows you whole. Maybe it is not that part that needs slowing down. Spending more time with writing the review and not rushing is the direction to follow. I’m usually reflecting on a story as I’m reading anyway. Hmm…

It’s funny, I know the ends and outs of writing book reviews and I take notes. Sometimes, I take pages and pages of notes. Alas, oftentimes, I’m not addressing or reflecting all the key questions to ask myself while sitting down to write the review. My goodness, that was hard to openly admit. It is time to step out of the boundaries I’ve been stuck in too often and do something amazing. One has to keep growing as a writer after-all.

Another thought is that authors deserve the reviewers best when it comes to critiquing the their work. Not only that, reviews are for the readers you are writing to and readers should know if they want to read the book or not based on your analysis of the story.

Do you oftentimes have the same struggles when it come to writing book reviews? Do you want to do a better job? Do you want to grow in your craft of writing book reviews or writing in general?

Stephanie

Reader’s Log 016: Book Lists

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I’ve been making book lists for as long as I can remember. Occasionally, I find lists on scraps of paper between pages of books, notebooks or scattered in random places. The latter reminds me of a passage in Possession by A. S. Byatt of paper referring to leaves. Do you know it?

Knowing I won’t get to all the books on my lists, I still keep adding. Also, I break up the list into categories sometimes. Recently, I watched a couple of book vloggers on YouTube who went through the New York Times top books of the 21st Century-or something like that. There were a few I was interested in and I started a new list for those books. One of them was Stephen Kings book “11/23/64” and I have owned a hardback of that story for years but have not read it as of yet.

Last week, I went to our local used book store and only found two of the books on my list! Collecting these books may take a while but I’m determined. Perhaps, the library sale next year will have them. Do you make lists and how many books do you think you have you want to acquire? I’m pretty sure I may have over 3,000 give or take.

Below are the two books on the list I purchased last week and the list of books I want to add to my home library to-read. I may be adding to this list. We will see. Have you read any of these books? Do share!

Stephanie

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

(Paperback)

I really want to read this book soon.

An audacious, darkly glittering novel set in the eerie days of civilization’s collapse—the spellbinding story of a Hollywood star, his would-be savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity.

Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.

Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.

The Martian by Andy Weir

(Paperback)

I saw the movie when it came out. I see people keep talking about the story, so I’ve decided to read it. Read the first few pages already.

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills — and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit — he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

Book List:

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer ( I randomly just added this one.)

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

2666 by Roberto Bolaño

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

11/23/64 by Stephen King (Own)

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Tomorrow by Gabriella Zevin

The Wager by David Grann

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler

Yellow Face by R.F. Kuang

The Last House on the Cliff by Anne Wyn Clark

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (Own)

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke

The Martian by Andy Weir (Own)

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

Book Review: The Married Man by K.L. Slater

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Pub Date: Nov 01 2024 by Bookouture

Choices in life have consequences.

Eleven years ago, Liv’s husband Rich and their son Maddox left the house to fly a kite at a park and she began to worry they had not returned home. A storm was brewing, and it was not like her husband to not respond to her calls or texts. She began to search for them and soon after, her son was discovered but her husband was nowhere to be found.  Soon after, Liv changed her name and she and her son moved to start a new life.

As the years go by the authorities declared Liv’s husband dead despite never finding his body.  As Maddox got older his attitude and behavior became troubling to Liv and the school he attends. While her concerns for her son grow, a woman named Kait appears and claims that she is Rich’s wife, and she believes her husband-whose name is Daniel- is the son of Maddox.

Detectives, Helena and Brewster are investigating a case that leads them to Maddox and the detectives find themselves trying to connect the dots of what on the surface seems to be two different situations.

Liv has been hiding secrets as to why her husband disappeared all those years ago and her troubles are about to explode, and her life is spiraling out of control.

At first, I couldn’t stop asking myself if there was one redeemable or likeable character in this story. Nothing is as it should be, and everyone has something to hide. When secrets and lies start to reveal themselves, I felt like I just experienced whiplash. There are so many turns of events going in many different directions but oddly enough, they are all connected. When I began to think I had figured it out, another detail came to light, and I was shocked all over again.

What an extraordinary psychological thriller.  K.L. Slater certainly knows how to weave a thrilling story.

Stephanie

I obtained an ARC from Bethany House through NetGalley for an honest review.

Book Review: The Burning of Rosemont Abbey Naomi Stephens

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Pub Date Oct 15 2024 by Bethany House Publishing

Book Description:

1956: In the quiet village of Wilbeth Green, the smoldering ruins of Rosemont Abbey set the residents’ tongues wagging, and everyone is quick to accuse troublemaker Paul Everly of being the arsonist. Paul has vanished without a trace, leaving only his twin sister, Louisa, certain of his innocence. Fueling her conviction is an inexplicable connection–she felt her twin’s death an hour before the abbey went up in flames. Knowing no one will believe her, Louisa embarks on her own investigation, challenging the skepticism of her neighbors and the disdain of her aunt and uncle. Even Inspector Malcolm Sinclair, once Paul’s closest friend, is torn between his duty and a lingering loyalty to Paul and warns Louisa to abandon her pursuit. But Louisa is determined to solve a murder no one else believes was committed, even if it means unraveling secrets that could shake Wilbeth Green to its core.

My Thoughts:

The title of this book is what captured my attention to this story in the first place because of my deep fascination of Monasteries in England and its history. My heart clinches when I imagine an old abbey burning that survived through the centuries despite its history. Why would someone do such a deliberate act of destruction to such an historic building. Particular one that can be traced back to the pre-Norman conquest. I needed to find out plus I love a good mystery.

The mystery surrounding the burning of the abbey had me thinking of all sorts of scenarios of who could have done it, Paul being the number one suspect. Stephens does a brilliant portrayal of bringing to light of other potential suspects, their backgrounds, connections and the possibility of how it could have happened and why. I must say, I was really caught off guard on who the arsonist was and the plot twist I did not see coming! Despite Louisa’s feeling her brother’s death, I couldn’t help feeling and hoping throughout reading the story, that she was wrong.

Louisa’s inner turmoil is shown throughout the story and she is flawed-of course-as we all are. Louisa certainly gets herself in sticky situations and despite her rocky relationship with her brother Paul and her disapproval towards him, her convictions to find out what happen to him, despite the obstacles she faces, is commendable. It is an extraordinary thing to see someone seeking redemption for a person whose lifestyle they don’t approve of or no matter how strain their relationship is to each other. We see that with Louisa in regards to her brother and I am proud of her.

What an excellent period for the setting of this story and I admire a writer who can develop realistic characters of the time period, and culture. I also love how the author weaves in a brief history of the Abbey and how much the building meant to the community. My heart was saddened right along with the congregation.

Wonderfully written mystery, fast paced, suspenseful, thought provoking, and a great plot! I will definitely be on the lookout for more stories by this author.

Stephanie Hopkins

I obtained an ARC from Bethany House through NetGalley for an honest review.

Side Bar: It has been quite a while since I’ve read a Christian fiction story. In the past, oftentimes, I found the stories to be cheesy and unrealistic. I felt the genre was too confining and I sensed-at times-writers were walking on egg shells. While I understand the sensitivities on topics and how it is to be written for the genre and such, I feel like that is where many writers failed to make the characters actions, and speech at times believable. My feelings on the genre left me not picking it up any longer. This is NOT to say I want to read explicit scenes and such. I don’t particularly care for that one bit. You can write strong dialog, plot, conflict, danger, character development and relationships without explicit scenes, profanity and so forth, while getting your point across. The Burning of Rosemont Abbey has proven that and I’m delighted I chose to read this story.

Writer’s Log 001: Just Write

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I know many writers-published or unpublished-who have those stories that are still in the writing phase and may have been so for quite a few years. They may work on them regularly or may come back to them years later. Maybe those stories are what we can surmise as “pet projects.” Ones that may never be shown to the public. I often hear people say they write stores as a sort of hobby and have no intention of publishing their work. Whatever the case, there is nothing wrong in that of course. People write stories for all sorts of reasons and what a worthwhile endeavor. I suspect that there are unpublished works out there that if they were to come to light, they would be those unforgettable stories people would talk about through the ages. The ones that stay with us always.

Quite a few years ago now, I expressed on Facebook-I no longer use Facebook- a new story I was beginning and thought perhaps someday I might publish it. I was and still am excited about the story I created. I believe that may have been the first time I shared to the public that I write stories. I cannot say for certain though. When I did post about it, I had a lady-who’ve I’ve never met in person- in so many words comment that most people don’t get past the first two chapters of their story. I don’t know the motive behind that comment or what she was thinking when she expressed her unsolicited opinion. I don’t even remember who she was and that is probably a good thing. When I read her comment all those years ago, I was a bit taken back. Whatever this person’s reasons were, it is an odd thing to say to someone who is sharing news they’re thrilled about. Despite being taken back, I know that statistically she was right but in the big scheme of things, why does that matter? I know the answers in my head that people would say why it matters. I can think of many reasons why. In the last few years, I’ve been in a totally different mind space about writing stories and why I write stories in general. I used to dream of becoming a world renown author since I was a kid. I loved and still love the written word and the adventures they inspire and evoke. To this very day, I play our scenes in my head to possibly get on paper. I remember in the early nineties when my dad gave my sister and I a floppy disk. I was over the moon excited. I began writing these short stories and my protagonist’s name was always Jennifer. She was always on some sort of adventure or caught up in drama. That subject is for another post.

Thinking back to the lady’s comment on Facebook -for some reason I thought of this recently, which I had not thought of since it happened-I chuckle and think how silly it was. I’m happy to report, she was exceedingly wrong in my case but it doesn’t really matter because I don’t write for validation or approval from others. Plus, so what if a person(s) has only written two chapters? The important thing is that they actually wrote something regardless of word count or completion. I’m here to defend those writers who have only written two chapters. That is their personal business and theirs alone until they decide otherwise.

Something else came to mind about writing when I began this blog post. I follow a few YouTubers that talk about the structures of writing and give advice on how to incorporate them. Oftentimes, I see comments from writers or inspiring writers who are so hard on themselves. They are stuck in fear and negativity to press forward. They worry so much about what others will think of their writing, they’ve talked themselves into not writing at all or they’ve put up a mental block that keeps them from writing. Or they obsessively watch these videos on how to write in hopes that it will inspire them to press forward. They’ve openly and honestly admitted that fact and then words of encouragement or expressed sentiments from others follow.

The reasons why I am sharing these two experiences is to say that if you are a writer-or a beginner writer- and you have unfinished work whether it be from self-doubt or from negativity from others-don’t allow discouragement to keep you from writing. Maybe reevaluate why you are writing in the first place and definitely ignore the unsolicited comments from people you would most likely not take advice from to begin with. Even if you don’t like what you wrote, it is not a disaster or unfixable. We learn and grow from what we deem as “bad writing”. Put one word in front of the other and see where it leads you. You’ll never know where unless you travel the unknown.

At the risk of repeating myself, people write for all sorts of reasons. If, publishing your stories is not your destination, then that is the right road traveled for you. If you’ve only written two chapters, that is okay. Maybe revisit it again one day or not. Perhaps just those two chapters was meant to be.

Write what you want to read. Write what you know. Write what you are feeling, good or bad. Write what you love. Write to discover. Write what inspires you. Write with purpose. Be you and no one else.

Just write.

Stephanie Hopkins

Reader’s Log 012: Book Spotlight

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Death Comes in Threes (Book 9) by Michael Jecks

The period in which, “Death Comes in Threes” takes place is one of my favorites. That said, I love reading stories that take place all the way back to ancient civilization. The complexities of the human condition and imagining their lives gives us a broader sense of perspectives and design other than our own-if you will. Making connections to people whether it be from the past or present allows us to develop and nurture empathy. There is also the adventure of time traveling through reading and immersing yourself in other cultures. I could go on but wanted to give you a small glimpse into why I love reading history non-fiction, and historical fiction so much.

Today’s post is largely about spotlighting books under three hundred pages. I used to be one of those readers who challenged myself on how many books I could read in a year. While I understand the concept and meaning behind the challenge, I believe it can also foster stress and anxiety to some and it becomes no longer enjoyable to read. Needless to say, I don’t participate in those reading challenges any longer because it became a chore overtime for me.

There are so many books I want to read and knowing I won’t get to them all, oftentimes I find shorter books allow me to fit in more stories. That is just common sense for any reader. I also find reading shorter books gives one a connection to characters almost immediately, if written well. Of course, longer novels can do that as well but shorter books set a higher bar for the author to achieve within its scope.

Michael Jecks is a writer I have payed attention to for a while now and while I haven’t read his, “A Bloody Mary Mystery Series” from the beginning, I’m looking forward to diving into, “Death Comes in Threes.” Yes, I’m really bad about starting series from the beginning. I used to be diligent about starting them at book one but somewhere along the way, I veered way off course. I can’t explain why really. Does that happen to you?

Stephanie Hopkins

Death Comes in Threes (Book 9) by Michael Jecks

Pub Date Jan 07 2025 by Severn House

240 Pages

Description:

Princess Elizabeth’s unlikely assassin finds himself on the hook for two murders in this light-hearted Tudor mystery series!

August, 1558. As London is bustling with growing trade from foreign lands, and Queen Mary’s health is once again a hot topic, Jack Blackjack has much to keep him busy. And that’s before his new tenant – a Dutch merchant – disappears under a cloud of suspicion, quickly presumed murdered, and Jack’s latest female companion’s body is found mere streets from her dwelling place.

People around Jack keep inconveniently getting murdered, and he seems to be the most likely culprit! With both the authorities and the unsavoury echelons of London on his tail, nowhere is safe for Jack to hide. He must go about proving his innocence – and uncovering the murky truth – while ensuring he doesn’t find himself dancing the Tyburn jig!

The question is – can he rely on friends in high – and very low – places to get him out of this ever-increasing mess?

Reader’s Log 011: Book Stacks Part 4

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Acquiring books and reading them are entirely two different hobbies. I must say in the last few years, I have been working on curating my home library and working out what criteria I want to set to grow my stacks.

In this book stack series, I’m sharing books I’ve previously read and reviewed from NetGalley and want to obtain a physical copy for my home library.

I reviewed, “The House Between Tides” by Sarah Maine back in October 11, 2016 and I remember being really intrigued with the story. Imagine a house on a small island in Scottish Western Isles that is have prehistorical structures. Though, “The House Between Tides” is a modern story that blends with a story in the not too distant past. This story is about a woman who inherits a house that was owned by her relative Theo Blake who was a painter. The house is crumbling and basically in ruins. When human remains are discovered, her plans change…

I love these kinds of stories blended with mystery and atmospheric surroundings. I must confess, I have not read any of the author’s other works.  

About the Book:

Pub Date: Aug 02 2016 by Atria Books

Following the death of her last living relative, Hetty Deveraux leaves London and her strained relationship behind for Muirlan, her ancestral home in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. She intends to renovate the ruinous house into a hotel, but the shocking discovery of human remains brings her ambitious restoration plans to an abrupt halt before they even begin. Few physical clues are left to identify the body, but one thing is certain: this person did not die a natural death.

Hungry for answers, Hetty discovers that Muirlan was once the refuge of her distant relative Theo Blake, the acclaimed painter and naturalist who brought his new bride, Beatrice, there in 1910. Yet ancient gossip and a handful of leads reveal that their marriage was far from perfect; Beatrice eventually vanished from the island, never to return, and Theo withdrew from society, his paintings becoming increasingly dark and disturbing.

What happened between them has remained a mystery, but as Hetty listens to the locals and studies the masterful paintings produced by Theo during his short-lived marriage, she uncovers secrets that still reverberate through the small island community—and will lead her to the identity of the long-hidden body.

Other books by Sarah Maine I would like to read:

Women of the Dunes

Beyond the Wild River

The Forgotten Shore

Check out the previous book picks in this blog series:

Reader’s Log 002: Book Stacks Part I

Reader’s Log 005: Book Stacks Part 2

Reader’s Log 009: Book Stacks Part 3

May this series inspire you and perhaps you will discover books you want to add to your stacks.

Stephanie Hopkins

Book Review: The Murderess by Laurie Notaro

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First published October 8, 2024 by Little A

Book Description:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurie Notaro comes a haunting true-crime novel about Winnie Ruth Judd, one of the twentieth century’s most notorious and enigmatic killers.

It’s October 1931. When Winnie Ruth Judd arrives at the Los Angeles train station from Phoenix, her shipping trunks catch the attention of a suspicious porter. By the time they’re pried open, revealing the dismembered bodies of two women inside, Ruth has disappeared into the crowd.

The search for, and eventual apprehension of, the Trunk Murderess quickly becomes a headline-making sensation. Even the Phoenix murder house is a sideshow attraction. The one question on everyone’s How could a twenty-six-year-old reverend’s daughter and doctor’s wife—petite, pretty, well educated, and poised—commit such a heinous act on two people she’d called “my dearest friends in the world”? Everyone has their theories and judgments, but no one knows the whole truth.

My Thoughts:

In the mind of Winnie Ruth Judd is a troubling place to be to say the least. Did Ruth actually commit the murders? Did she have help or did someone else murder those poor girls? We will never know what really happened in the bungalow the day of the murders but Notaro gives the reader a believable plausibility leading up to and the day it happened.

So many people couldn’t believe Ruth could commit these murders and it is no wonder. She came across naturally thoughtful, unassuming and kind. That said, Notaro shows another side to her and it is manic at times. You won’t know what is real or not real when you step inside the mind of Winnie Ruth Judd.

I must confess, due to the graphic details of their deaths and the circumstances of Ruth’s mental state and what she went through had me pause at first. Could I get through this story unscathed? Surprisingly I did but this story was a deeply emotional one, disturbing, and wrought in such tragic events. The topics may be triggering to some. I will say, I had to step away a few times to get a grip on what I was feeling while reading this story.

When I got about half way through the book, I did a bit of research on my own about this crime. I had not heard of this case before or the people involved. Quite frankly, I was blown away by it which is a bit of a shock about the details considering I read true crime often. From what I researched, the author of this book has weaved a brilliant story of what-ifs and her character development and narrative is fantastic.

Stephanie Hopkins

I obtained an ARC from Little A through NetGalley for an honest review.

Side Bar: (10/12/2024) After I posted this review, I kept thinking I’ve missed something I wanted to share. Actually, there is a lot but I can’t give spoilers. One thing I really wanted to get across is how well Notaro established Ruth’s relationship with both Sammy and Ann leading up to the murders. That is important and made Ruth’s mental state more impactful to the story. There is so much complexity to the story which gives readers much to ponder. Also, there is Ruth’s husband that had severe problems as well and I absolutely hated what he did to Ruth. Sometimes when I come across stories that make quite the impression on me, I struggle at times knowing where to begin talking about it. I had definitely thought about discussing the apparent mental illness of Ruth a bit more and the choices we make-big or small-can change life circumstances within an instant. That is brilliantly shown in this story.

I would also like to state that there are some triggering themes in this story. I did state that as much in my review but wanted to talk a little more about it. The triggers: Forced abortion, graphic murder and body dismemberment, drug addiction, possible rape while being drugged, and mental illness. While these themes are heinous and traumatic, to say the least, I have to give credit for the author’s handling of these topics. Normally I would have just given up on the story but for the exception of having to take a few breaks to compose myself, I got through it.