Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

Book Review: The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

Rachel Hawkins’ The Heiress is a masterclass in Gothic thrillers—a story as lush and foreboding as the Blue Ridge Mountains it’s set in. This book grips you from the first page and refuses to let go, making it one of those rare novels where “just one more chapter” spirals into a sleepless night. The twists, turns, and unanswered questions will haunt you long after you’ve closed the book. 

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

At its heart, The Heiress delves into the mysteries surrounding Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore (yes, that’s quite the name), North Carolina’s wealthiest and most infamous figure. A survivor of a notorious childhood kidnapping and a widow four times over, Ruby’s death doesn’t just leave a trail of unanswered questions—it pulls her adopted son, Camden, and his wife, Jules, back into the shadow of Ashby House, her sprawling estate. 

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Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

Book Review: Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda

Megan Miranda’s Daughter of Mine is a haunting exploration of secrets long buried—both in the depths of Mirror Lake and within the lives of its characters. With an eerie atmosphere and tightly woven suspense, Miranda masterfully intertwines a gripping mystery with timely themes of family, climate change, and the dangers of making assumptions. 

Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda

The novel begins with Hazel Sharp returning to Mirror Lake, a town she left behind nearly a decade ago, after inheriting her childhood home from her father, Detective Perry Holt. Hazel’s return coincides with an unprecedented drought, which lowers the lake’s water level and unearths a rusted car, potentially holding answers to her mother’s mysterious disappearance. 

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Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

Book Review: Afterlife by Julia Alvarez

I recently watched a PBS/American Masters documentary on Julia Alvarez, and I was so captivated by her story and insights that I had to dive into her work. Afterlife did not disappoint—it’s a novel that gracefully intertwines the personal and the political, exploring themes of grief, immigration, and the messy, beautiful entanglements of human connection.

Afterlife by Julia Alvarez

Antonia Vega, the novel’s protagonist, is a retired English professor grappling with profound loss following her husband Sam’s sudden death. Her grief is compounded by unexpected events—a sister’s disappearance and the arrival of a pregnant, undocumented teenager seeking help. These disruptions challenge Antonia to confront questions about her own capacity for care, the obligations we owe to others, and how to keep moving forward when life feels unbearably heavy.

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Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

Book Review: Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger

Lisa Unger’s novel, Christmas Presents, is the perfect blend of cozy holiday charm and chilling suspense. Set against the backdrop of a quaint bookshop in a snow-dusted small town, the novel invites readers to unravel a decade-old mystery alongside Madeline Martin, the sole survivor of a brutal attack. 

Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger is an excellent holiday gift choice for the thriller reader on your shopping list!

The story begins when Harley Granger, a notorious true crime podcaster, arrives in Madeline’s bookstore just days before Christmas. Known as much for his fame and wealth as for his controversial tactics, Granger is on a mission to reexamine the horrific events that forever altered Madeline’s life. 

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Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

Book Review: Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

Sally Hepworth’s Darling Girls is a psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of sisterhood, trauma, and the haunting shadows of a past that refuses to stay buried. At the heart of the story are Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—three women whose childhoods were marred by tragedy and shaped by the unpredictable and controlling presence of their foster mother, Miss Fairchild.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

A Story of Secrets and Survival

From the outside, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia had everything a child in foster care could wish for—a safe, idyllic home on a sprawling estate, and the promise of a second chance at happiness. Miss Fairchild, their foster mother, was seen as a saint by the outside world, offering them a haven in the wake of their traumatic pasts. However, the truth of their upbringing was far from idyllic. Miss Fairchild’s “love” was superficial and performed only for others to see.

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Book Review: No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall

Kate Alice Marshall’s No One Can Know is a hauntingly suspenseful psychological thriller that explores the powerful yet precarious bonds of family, wrapped within a storyline that unearths long-buried secrets and painful truths. The Palmer sisters—Emma, Juliette, and Daphne—are central to this dark narrative. After years away from their family home in Arden Hills, they’re reluctantly reunited in the house they all share ownership of, a place shadowed by the traumatic murder of their parents years ago.

No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall
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Book Reviews

Book review: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King is one of my favorite writing manuals that I often recommend to writers during the revise and refine stage of the novel writing process. It is a popular guide among authors that focuses on practical techniques to improve the quality of a manuscript during the revision process.

In Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, the authors teach you how to apply the editing techniques they have developed to your own work. 

Here are some of the main concepts covered in this writing manual:

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Book Reviews, Poetry

Guest post: This poetry reading and author discussion panel at LBF made my friend cry

Today I bring you a guest post from my good friend and author, Erika Berglund. Erika is the author of two novels, Winking at Pomona and Mountain Grove Monarch, both of which I highly recommend! Erika joins us today to discuss her experience attending a poetry reading and author discussion at the Louisville Book Festival a few weeks ago. Welcome, Erika!

Guest post

I hate poetry.

Or at least I thought I did. Turns out I was just scared of it—scared of the intimacy, scared of the power, and scared of the empathy it invokes that can lead to so much pain.

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Book Review: Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe – A Witty, Thought-Provoking Delight

I recently had the pleasure of reading Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, and let me tell you—it’s an absolute gem! The novel strikes the perfect balance between being a fun and lighthearted read, while also digging into deeper themes about modern life, ambition, and how we all navigate the pressures of financial stability.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
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Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

Spooktober Book Review: So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison

Rachel Harrison’s vampire novel So Thirsty is by far my most favorite horror(ish) read this #Spooktober! It is a thrilling exploration of female empowerment, friendship, and the darker sides of human nature, wrapped in a vampire tale that is both bloody and thought-provoking. The story centers around Sloane Parker, a woman dissatisfied with her life, including her failing marriage and stagnant sense of self. When a birthday getaway with her impulsive best friend Naomi takes a wild turn, the two women are transformed—literally and metaphorically—into vampires. This transformation forces them to confront their dissatisfaction with life, their friendship, and their buried desires.

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison is so far my favorite #Spooktober read of 2024!
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