Nocturne Falls- Books 1 -4 by Kristen Painter 

 

The Vampire's Mail Order Bride- 370 pages 

This is a cute, fun little town full of interesting characters. On the run from her mob boss in New York she ends up hiding out in Nocturne Falls and marrying a vampire. Funny and entertaining.

The Werewolf Meets His Match- 356 pages

Biker werewolf chicks. 'Nuff said LOL 

The Gargoyle Gets His Girl- 356 pages

In this story a gargoyle meets and falls for a fae who has run away from the Fairy kingdom and is living in Nocturne Falls. She mistakenly enslaves him and he falls for her charms. 

The Professor Woos the Witch- 370 pages

I liked this story of a witch with broken powers and a shifter who doesn't realize what he is. When his daughter runs away and meets up with a witch chaos ensues.  It includes an obese cat on a diet! Funny and quirky. 

Week of February 15

The Gates (#1 in the Samuel Johnson series) by John Connolly – 320 pages

As 11 year old Samuel is trick or treating 3 days early to “show initiative” he comes across his neighbors opening the gates of hell. Life gets a little complicated for a while as Samuel tries to stop the end of the world. This book reads a little like Harry Potter mixed up with Terry Pratchett. I loved it! Samuel is a hoot, funny and entertaining. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn—432 pages

Ummm wow! This is a crazy ride through the lives of some messed up people. Lots of twists and turns along the way to have you doubting what you thought you already understood.

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James—352 pages

This was slow to start but really finished well. A girl is intrigued by the disappearance of her aunt in 1980’s upstate New York and goes to the town to investigate. She ends up working at the same motel as her aunt and starts to unravel what happened to her there. Throw in some ghosts, murder, lies, and subterfuge and you have a spooky, fun read. 

The Hit (#2 in the Will Robie series) by David Baldacci—432 pages

I love Will Robie! He is an assassin with a heart, even though he thinks he doesn’t deserve one.  In this installment he is tasked to take out a fellow assassin who has supposedly went rogue but Will has his doubts. And when his gut tells him to check things out he follows his instincts. It’s worked before for him and turns out that he was right this time as well. Now he has to figure out how to find a solution that lets him live through it. 4 Stars! 

Read by Salena Morgan

Week of January 25 - Salena

Full Throttle stories by Joe Hill – 496 pages

If you enjoy offbeat creepy stories then you will love this compilation of stories written by Stephen King’s son Joe Hill. Some are co-written with his father and the introduction, read by the author in the audiobook version, is a really interesting look into how Joe grew up and got into writing as a career.

 

The Opposite of Everyone by Joshilyn Jackson—352 pages

Joshilyn’s stories are down to earth and entertaining. This one about a dysfunctional family brings, smiles, heartaches, and even some tears.

 

The Andromeda Evolution by Michael Crichton—448 pages

This is the sequel to The Andromeda Strain. Exposure to an extraterrestrial microbe has devastating effects. I definitely recommend reading the books in order and Crichton says there may be more to the series on the way.  Good reads if you like sci-fi and biology tech.

 

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald—400 pages

Sara travels from Sweden to Iowa to meet her pen pal Amy but unbeknownst to her she arrives the day of Amy’s funeral. The town takes her under their wing and tries to make her vacation in Iowa fun and eventful. What will happen when it is time for Sara to go home? Small town fun as you get to know the residents and Sara!

 

Split Second (#1 in the King and Maxwell series) by David Baldacci—608 pages

All of Baldacci’s books are filled with action and suspense. This one is no different. King and Maxwell share some experiences as Secret Service agents and team up to find a kidnapper. They run into more than they bargained for and must solve an 8 year old assassination attempt in order to find the current perpetrator.  Baldacci doesn’t disappoint if you are looking for a good mystery with lots of action and great characters.

Window on the Bay by Debbie Macomber—432 pages

An empty nester picks up her life and tries to incorporate some of the dreams from her youth. Being an empty nester myself this book hit close to home. Fun and bittersweet, it made me want to get “back out there” myself. J

Read by Salena Morgan

Week of January 19- Salena

Showdown in Mudbug by Jan Deleon (#3 in the Ghost-in-law series)—291 pages

Another fun romp through Mudbug and New Orleans. This one includes the FBI, a hacker on the run, and the mob.

 

Buried Bones (Sarah Booth Delaney #2) by Carolyn Haines—368 pages

Old secrets and a new tell-all book create chaos for the residents of Zinnia Mississippi. Sarah Booth is asked to find the manuscript when it goes missing. Not as good as the first installment but not a bad read. I will be giving the 3^rd title a chance at some point in the future. 

 

Shakespeare’s Landlord (#1 in the Lily Bard series) by Charlaine Harris – 336 pages

Not real impressed with this one.  This was pretty depressing and the characters were weak. The relationships between them all were really superficial. I probably won’t be trying book #2.

 

The Whisper Man by Alex North – 400 pages

Wait…. What! There is a moment about halfway through the book when you think everything is coming to a head and you understand what is going on and then… wham! You are left wondering what the heck just happened. If you enjoy a good murder mystery with some twists and turns give this one a try.

 

Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen—352 pages

Time travel with some interesting twists. I really enjoyed this story and the glimpses into a not so distant future world. How far would you go to protect your child? Some things were predictable yet not boring. Great read!

Read by Salena Morgan

Week of January 4- Salena

Them Bones (#1 in the Sarah Booth Delaney series) By Carolyn Haines – 336 pages

This irreverent look at Southern bell society is a lot of fun. Sarah Booth is unmarried and over 30 (GASP) How dare she buck convention like that. It isn’t as if she isn’t being pursued by eligible men…. She just chooses to follow her own path to love. 

In this first book of the series Sarah Booth is in dire financial straits and falls headfirst into working as a PI for her friends after “rescuing” a friend’s kidnapped pampered pet. Sassy, southern charm keeps this book rolling along and me turning the pages.  

The Fate of Mercy Alban by Wendy Webb—352 pages

I love a good, creepy, gothic story. This is the 3^rd title I have read by Wendy Webb and I have enjoyed each one.  Ghosts, secret passages, and 50 year old mysteries are just waiting to be discovered. 

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes- 448 pages

This story packs a punch and includes topics such as education for women/poor, civil rights, small town politics, marital problems, domestic abuse, murder, and more. Give it a go and see what you think.

Read by Salena Morgan

Week of December 14 - Salena

The Sweetness of Forgetting by Kristin Harmel -- 

This was a really poignant story dealing with several different issues. Old age, young love, divorce, teenage rebellion, regrets, Alzheimer’s disease, the Holocaust, religious intolerance, the list goes on. Remarkably, this book brings all of these things together in a wonderful story that tugs at your heart strings as you fervently wish that things turn out all right in the end. Highly recommend!

368 pages

Mischief in Mudbug by Jana DeLeon (Ghost-in-law #2)   -- 

Another fun romp through the Louisiana bayou. The “ghost-in-law” is still causing trouble for those that can see and hear her. This time a murderer is gunning for the local psychic and she has no idea why. All the characters from the first book in the series are back and a few more are introduced who are sure to play larger roles later in the series. If you are wanting to kick back and laugh a little this book is a great choice.

304 pages

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager—

Now this was just creepy! A couple of weeks ago I tried to read another of Sager’s titles and was disappointed but this one lived up to the hype. If you enjoy haunted house stories give this one a try. (Just try not to dream about snakes in your kitchen!) 

416 pages

Read by Salena Morgan

Week of December 7 - Salena

The Silent Corner- (Jane Hawk #1), by Dean Koontz 

I found this disappointing. It seemed slow and not-at-all suspenseful.  I am big fan of the Odd Thomas series and I enjoyed Koontz’s take on the story of Frankenstein. Those I would recommend but this one, not so much. L
576 pages

Trouble in Mudbug- (Ghost-in-Law #1) by Jana Deleon  

This book was a lot of fun. Some parts were pretty predictable but not at all boring. Helena, the rude, pushy, manipulative ghost-in-law is pretty hilarious and her daughter-in-law fires her smart mouth right back.  They learn to “live” with each other as the story unfolds and try to save the town of Mudbug Louisiana.  This a fun, uncomplicated read if you are looking for a short trip to solve a few mysteries.
321 pages

The Toll- by Cherie Priest  

It took me a little while to get into this book. It is pretty bland at first and I even wondered if I wanted to finish it, but I persevered and I am glad I did. Creepy, monsters, mysteries, with a little magic thrown around (if you are afraid of dolls you might want to skip a chapter or two). You will definitely think twice before taking a vacation to the Okefenokee Swamp.
336 pages

Read by Salena Morgan

Week of November 6

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager  

No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen's new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan's most high-profile and mysterious buildings.

I like this book but it was a little slow to get off to a start. I have heard a lot of good things about this author and I will try another title or two so all in all I can recommend this book.
400 pages

Welcome to the Pine Away Motel by Katarina Bivald 

A charming tale of the folks who reunite at a ramshackle roadside motel in Pine Creek, Oregon, after the unfortunate death of Henny, a local who worked at the cabins all her life, and who isn't going to let a tiny thing like death stop her from living fully — not when her friends and her little town need her the most.

This book totally crashed midway through the book. I was really intrigued at first but instead of sticking with the “ghost” story it gets into political and social issues and focuses on that instead of the original plotline. I didn’t finish it. L

Well Met by Jen DeLuca 

Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?

This was a fun read. There are some serious points in this book but the most fun comes into play when the studious teacher plays the part of an unscrupulous pirate during the faire. Which personality traits are actually the real ones?
336 pages

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell 

Soon after her twenty-fifth birthday, Libby Jones returns home from work to find the letter she’s been waiting for her entire life. She rips it open with one driving thought: I am finally going to know who I am.

This book has a lot of unexpected turns in it. I highly recommend it to those who like a suspenseful mystery. 
340 pages

Read by Salena Morgan

Week of October 30

 The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl by Theodora Goss 

This is the third volume in The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club. I highly recommend the whole series. If you enjoy weird adventure stories this one has a lot to offer. In the pages of this book you will get to know Mary Jekyll, Diana Hyde, Justine Frankenstein, Katherine Moraeu, Lucinda Van Helsing, Sherlock Holmes and more.
464 pages-

 

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix 

The name of this one says it all! I didn’t like this as much as I expected I would but it was still a fun Halloween read.
424 pages-

 

Real Murders by Charlaine Harris 

A small town librarian gets caught up in solving a real murder instead of just reading about them.  I really liked this book. Aurora “Roe” Teagarden may be familiar to some since several movies have been made from this series for the Hallmark channel.
304 pages-