This is the last post for me this year, friends. I had a marathon gift wrapping session Saturday while watching The Family Man, there’s only one more present to check off my list, and I’m waiting on two deliveries, both due today. Keeping my fingers crossed – one of them is Bond’s present, a Self-Warming Cat Mat to keep him toasty warm even when he’s not sleeping by the fire.
Wishing all of you a joyous and peaceful holiday filled with family and friends – I’ll see you in 2026!
Twelve-year-old Amanda Jane Ross is invited to be a bridesmaid for her cousin’s wedding in Ireland! She falls in love with the Emerald Isle the moment she lands in Dublin. The warm, friendly Irish people immediately make her feel at home. Towering castles, ancient graveyards, and the stunning green countryside are filled with fascinating legends, enthralling folktales, and alarming secrets.
Things take a dark turn when disaster strikes. Amanda wonders if there will be a wedding at all. As she joins the search for a missing horse, she stumbles upon a world of screaming banshees, bloody battles, and dangerous peat bogs. The closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous things become. Will she become another body in the bog?
Amanda is thrilled to be included as a junior bridesmaid in cousin Taylor’s wedding in Ireland. She’s excited to visit the Emerald Isle and tour Dublin’s castles and museums as well as the beautiful countryside. If you’re familiar with Amanda’s adventures, you know that things never go as planned. Just days before the wedding, Taylor’s fiancée Roisin and her horse go missing. It’s not long before Amanda suspects someone in the wedding party is responsible.
Amanda’s flying solo on this investigation since her friend Leah didn’t make the trip. Her curious nature has its pros and cons. On one hand Amanda is very perceptive and picks up on things others miss. Young teens hanging around tourist attractions are easily overlooked and generally not suspicious, so she overhears private conversations. On the other hand, her curiosity occasionally lands her in dangerous situations. Like Amanda, I thought I had things figured out and knew where the story was headed. I should have known better. The red herrings along the way will keep you guessing.
This series is full of history and details about other countries and cultures and isn’t just for middle grade readers. Adults will also be enamored with Amanda and enjoy accompanying her on adventures as she solves mysteries around the world. Recommended for fans of travel, suspense, and clever, young amateur sleuths.
First, a big thank you to Staci Troilo for hosting the virtual cookie exchange again this year! I’ve gotten some scrumptious recipes over the past several years, so make sure to visit other participating blogs HERE. Happy Baking!
This recipe popped up in an email from The Food Network about six weeks ago. As a devoted peanut butter and chocolate fan, the rest of the world fell away as I hurriedly clicked the link to read more about this brilliant concoction. Clearly it’s creator was a genius.
Friends, this is a simple recipe. No flour is involved, and other reviewers mentioned making this for their gluten-free friends. Below is the official recipe (click HERE for the Food Network page), but I made some changes I’ll mention below.
Nonstick cooking spray, for the muffin tin
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg
Coarse sanding sugar, for rolling
12 full-size peanut butter cups
1/4 cup chopped honey-roasted peanuts
A few reviewers mentioned exchanging the full size Reese’s cups for minis and using a mini muffin pan to make 24 cookies intead of 12, and that’s what I did. Some commenters said their cookies were oily, but I used Reduced Fat Jif and didn’t have that problem. With several varieties of Reese’s cups out there you can choose your favorite, but I used the dark chocolate. Instead of sanding sugar I rolled the balls in granulated sugar before baking. That’s how it’s done in the Peanut Butter Blossom cookie recipe I’ve used, and it worked fine with these also.
I was unsure about the baking time since the cookies were smaller. The first batch I left in for 8 minutes. They were nicely browned, but slightly crumbly when I tried to remove them from the pan after cooling. I found the sweet spot at 10 minutes with the second round, and they came out easily. I also opted not to top them with peanuts, but that’s just a personal preference.
My husband and I gave these a big thumbs up, but I had to get them out of the house quickly (I took them to book club) or I would have happily devoured every single one!
The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
Variety is the name of the game this week, friends – a new dystopian series where humanity has moved to virtual reality, a missing bride in Ireland, and a secluded settlement surrounded by Warding Stones.
Everything I’ve read by Chloe Gong has pulled me in from the first page, but for some reason I’m struggling with Cold Wire. It’s got so many elements I look for in novels, but I’m nearly 50% in and still not hooked – and I started this in early November, so that tells you how long it’s taking me to get through it. Normally I’d have given up by now, but I’m sticking with it a while longer because of my track record with Gong.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong comes the start of a daring new dystopian series where humanity has moved to virtual reality to flee their deteriorating world, following two young soldiers who must depend on unlikely allies in their fight for survival.
The future is loading…
To escape rising seas and rampant epidemics, most of society lives “upcountry” in glistening virtual reality, while those who can’t afford the subscription are forced to remain in crumbling “downcountry.”
But upcountry isn’t perfect. A cold war rages between two powerful nations, Medaluo and Atahua—and no one suffers for it more than the Medan orphans in Atahua. Their enrollment at Nile Military Academy is mandatory. Either serve as a soldier or risk being labelled a spy.
Eirale graduated the academy and joined NileCorp’s private forces downcountry, exactly as she was supposed to. Then Atahua’s most wanted anarchist frames her for assassinating a government official, and she’s given a choice: cooperate with him to search for a dangerous program in Medaluo or go down for treason.
Meanwhile, Lia is finishing her last year upcountry at Nile Military Academy. Paired with her academic nemesis for their final assignment, Lia is determined to beat him for valedictorian and prove her worth. But there may be far more at stake when their task to infiltrate Medaluo and track down an Atahuan traitor goes wrong…
Though Eirale and Lia tear through Medaluo on different planes of reality, the two start to suspect they are puzzle pieces in a larger conspiracy—and the closer they get to the truth, the closer their worlds come to a shattering collision.
I read Amanda in Ireland in just a couple of delightful hours while on a road trip over Thanksgiving. Foster never fails to educate me about new countries and cultures, and tagging along with Amanda guarantees a captivating mystery and adventure. I’m ready to go to Ireland now – who’s with me?
Twelve-year-old Amanda Jane Ross is invited to be a bridesmaid for her cousin’s wedding in Ireland! She falls in love with the Emerald Isle the moment she lands in Dublin. The warm, friendly Irish people immediately make her feel at home. Towering castles, ancient graveyards, and the stunning green countryside are filled with fascinating legends, enthralling folktales, and alarming secrets.
Things take a dark turn when disaster strikes. Amanda wonders if there will be a wedding at all. As she joins the search for a missing horse, she stumbles upon a world of screaming banshees, bloody battles, and dangerous peat bogs. The closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous things become. Will she become another body in the bog?
I’ve read several YA books by Craig, and A Land So Wide is her adult debut. Reviews are mixed, but as with Gong above, I’m hoping my track record with Craig holds true with this novel.
The town of Mistaken has a secret…and it’s up to one woman to uncover the truth, confront her past, and save the man she loves.
Like everyone else in the settlement of Mistaken, Greer Mackenzie is trapped. Founded by an ambitious lumber merchant, the village is blessed with rich natural resources that have made its people prosperous—but at a cost. The same woods that have lined the townsfolks’ pockets harbor dangerous beasts: wolves, bears, and the Bright-Eyeds—monsters beyond description who have rained utter destruction down on nearby settlements. But Mistaken’s founders made a deal with the mysterious Benevolence: the Warding Stones that surround the town will keep the Bright-Eyeds out—and the town’s citizens in. Anyone who spends a night within Mistaken’s borders belongs to it forever.
Greer, a mapmaker and eccentric dreamer, has always ached to explore the world outside, even though she knows she and her longtime love, Ellis Beaufort, will never see it. Until, on the day she and Ellis are meant to finally begin their lives together, Greer watches in horror as her beloved disappears beyond the Warding Stones, pursued by a monstrous creature. Determined to rescue Ellis, she figures out a way to defy Mistaken’s curse and begins a trek through the cold and pitiless wilderness. But there, Greer is hunted, not only by the ruthless Bright-Eyeds but by the secret truths behind Mistaken’s founding and her own origins.
New York Times bestselling author Kalynn Bayron is back with a Frankenstein-tinged horror romance.
Meka is used to death. After all, it’s the family business.
As a newly certified mortician’s assistant at her parents’ funeral home, her days are not for the faint of heart. Luckily her boyfriend Noah isn’t squeamish, and Meka is finally feeling ready to say the three little words that will change everything.
But then tragedy strikes, and Meka’s world is torn apart. Nothing makes sense, especially the strange things start happening. Ravens are circling her home. Strangers are following her. Someone is leaving mysterious items at her door. And worst of all . . .
The dead don’t seem to be staying dead.
Meka thought she understood death better than anyone. Turns out, the family business is a bit more complicated than it seems. And Meka isn’t the only one desperate to unearth their secrets . . . because the truth may be worth dying for.
I’ve recommended other books by this author to several people, and I was excited to see that her new release leaned hard into the horror genre.
Meka’s parents own a funeral home that’s attached to their house. As a newly certified mortician’s assistant, her job responsibilities have increased, and it’s something she takes very seriously, treating their “clients” with compassion and respect. Be prepared – the story dives deep into the details of mortuary life. That level of detail may not be for everyone, but I was fascinated.
Some of Meka’s friends are creeped out and uncomfortable being in her home, but not boyfriend Noah. Their connection feels genuine, and every first love would be lucky to mirror their relationship. They’ve been together a year, and both are on the verge of saying the “L-word”. Meka’s relationship with her parents is also well done and based on mutual love and respect. I liked her parents, but my favorites are still the scene-stealing moms in Bayron’s Poisoned Heart series.
When tragedy strikes, it’s unexpected and devastating. Meka is blindsided. I knew it was coming, and it still hurt. When the eerie, unsettling events occur, I tried to connect them to an overall picture. I guessed a part of it, but I wasn’t even in the ballpark when the big reveal came.
Make Me a Monster is a perfect balance of spookiness and tenderness with themes of love, grief, and moral ambiguity. Recommended for fans of slow burn horror, bittersweet story lines, and loose retellings.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is how Bond spent his Saturday evening – does he know how to live or what? The first year we had him, he wasn’t sure about the fire and kept his distance. The second year saw him sprawled on his back, four paws in the air up flush against the tile surround. Now he enjoys napping on his bed among his toys. The stockings belong left to right to our DIL – hers says “Just a girl who loves books”, Son #1 who chose Thor years ago, Emmy – bats for the Halloween lover, Reese who grabbed the dark side with Darth Vader, and Bond’s that says “I Believe in Santa Paws”.
Mark your calendar – this Thursday is Staci Troilo’s Annual Cookie Exchange! I spent Saturday afternoon baking my cookies, something PB and chocolate – this can’t surprise you. It was a new recipe, and I made some alterations with varied success, but it all turned out yummy in the end. Make sure to visit Staci’s blog HERE on Thursday for a list of all the participating bakers. Who doesn’t need new cookie recipes?
I was heartbroken to learn of the passing of blogging friend, fellow author and cat lover Joan Hall over the weekend. Please keep her family and friends in your prayers and thoughts. She will be missed.
To save her sister, she must enter the House.
In the middle of a deadly bog sits the House of Quiet. It’s a place for children whose Procedure triggered powers too terrible to be lived with—their last hope for treatment. No one knows how they’re healed or where they go afterward.
Birdie has begged, bargained, and blackmailed her way inside as a maid, determined to find her missing sister, Magpie. But what she discovers is more mysteries. Instead of the destitute children who undergo the Procedure in hopes of social advancement, the house brims with aristocratic teens wielding strange powers they never should have been burdened with.
Though Birdie wants to ignore them, she can’t help being drawn to stoic and silent Forest, charmed by clever River, and concerned for the youngest residents. And with fellow maid Minnow keeping tabs on everything Birdie does, danger is everywhere.
In her desperate search for Magpie, Birdie unearths terrifying threats and devastating truths, forcing her to confront just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to save her own sister. Because in the House of Quiet, if you find what’s lurking beneath . . . you lose everything.
Unravel the mystery. Ignite the rebellion.
In one review I read, this book is described as “a weird little story”, and I have to agree. Birdie finagles her way into working as a maid at the House of Quiet in the hope of locating her sister who went missing while Birdie was employed at another house. Upon her arrival at the House of Quiet, she meets several residents with various abilities/ailments. It took me a while, but I was eventually able to keep them straight and grew attached to all. The found family vibe is strong and my favorite trope.
When it comes to the house and treatments, I’m still a little unsure of their purpose or what they are. Sometimes I thought I had a handle on it, but then something would happen that killed my theory. In a way, that adds to the mystery and unpredictability of the story. Atmospheric descriptions are also a strong point. Most of the story takes place in the house with its enigmatic rooms, many of which are locked.
A couple events near the end took me by surprise, but I was satisfied when all was said and done. Recommended for readers who enjoy slow burn horror/fantasy, stories featuring distinct class systems, and unique plots.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Miracles saturate the sweet-scented Christmas season—a reminder we aren’t alone.
Miracles & Ghosts Past: A Christmas Collection brings eight stories from past holidays. Rita buys train tickets for her and Morris’s 30th anniversary in the novelette, “The Christmas Train Mystery.” She’s convinced this trip will bring her and Morris closer—if he can find the time. A murder mystery excursion will change Rita’s life in more ways than one, but will she go with her workaholic husband or by herself? In the first short story, “Christmas Rescue,” Opal trusts the wrong man and loses her mother in the same year, leaving her feeling lost. On a mission to get candles for the dinner table, she makes an unexpected find. “Is There a Santa?” goes back to the 1920s, where a widower is desperate to hold on to his farm and children. He doesn’t want charity, just a bit of luck or a miracle. In the final stories, you’ll meet an eleven-year-old who’s home alone, a family living in the aftermath of war, a girl who gets some shocking news, a widow with a warning from beyond, and a woman trapped on an elevator with Santa. Hope underlies these stories; it endures even in the direst of circumstances. Whether help comes from a ghost, Santa, or an angel, miracles are just within reach.
Friends, I’m a day late posting this because when we got back in town Monday, a vicious virus took me down hard and fast. I’m just starting to feel human again today, but it’s a guanteed way to lose a couple of those Thanksgiving pounds I added.
Usually I have favorites when I read short story collections, but that’s not the case with this one – I loved them equally. A woman choosing happiness and leaving behind her cheating husband, a recent widower struggling to provide for his children, a woman who finds she’s not alone at Christmas after all, a child home alone during a snow storm, a woman’s memorable encounter in a stuck elevator – they all captured my heart.
Along with the varying time periods from the 1920’s through the 90’s, I particularly enjoyed the spirits/angels who offer the characters guidance and protection while watching over them. As with most of Finn’s stories, family pets and stray animals who find their forever homes are included and enhance the overall feeling of peace and happiness these tales inspire.
If you’d like to be filled with Christmas magic, grab your beverage of choice, curl up in front of the fire, and dive into these stories filled with hope.
If you celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you had a peaceful weekend (which might have been impossible if you braved the shopping crowds) spent with loved ones. We traveled to WV and celebrated our Thanksgiving on Friday with extended family, some we hadn’t seen in over a year. I mentioned last week we’re fried turkey fans, and Son #1 has assisted Mike and my dad several times in the prep and cooking. Tomorrow he’s going solo and frying his own turkey for a Friendsgiving. We went to Kroger on Saturday to buy the marinade injector (think Tony Chachere’s), and they were sold out. We tried another Kroger and found one deep in the back on the top shelf. If my much taller son wasn’t with me, I’d have never seen it. I felt like Nora Krank finding that last Hickory Honey Ham – only the marinade wasn’t smashed in traffic. Keep your fingers crossed – I’ll let you know how it turned out next week.
We were also in WV for Son #1’s Christmas gift to Mike. Yesterday they traveled to Pittsburgh (an hour from family) to watch the Steeler game and had pretty good seats as you can see from the photo. It was a cold, windy day, but they bundled up. I got some Christmas shopping done (finally!), then stayed inside the warm house.
I managed to wait several days, but I’ll be diving into the first four episodes of season 5 of Stranger Things this week. I watched the other four seasons over the summer in preparation, and I’m anxious to see how this story wraps up.
Have a great week!
A swoon-worthy YA rom com about an ambitious college student whose plans get derailed when he discovers his roommate is the prince of hell.
Owen is not going to college to have fun. Nothing is going to stop him from achieving his goals: study hard, get a good job, and set himself up for the rest of his life. The last thing he needs is to have a loud, obnoxious, and infuriatingly hot roommate. Especially since said roommate just so happens to be the prince of hell.
Prince Zarmenus has come to Point University for the first-ever Earth/hell exchange program, and he’s determined to make the most of it. Which may or may not include wild parties, bringing in random boys to his and Owen’s room, and accidentally setting Owen’s furniture on fire. Sparks fly (literally) as Owen and Zar clash, but Zar’s actions threaten to not only ruin Owen’s peaceful college life, but demon-human relations as well. To clean up his image, he asks Owen to be his fake boyfriend and teach him how to be a better human in exchange for an internship that will secure Owen’s future. That, and Zar will consider being a better roommate.
A deal is struck, and the two start pretending to be in a relationship where they each have agendas of their own. Only Owen has a secret―dating his mortal enemy, even if it’s fake, is the most fun he’s ever had.
Charming and fun, My Roommate from Hell is a rom com with a magical twist. Think just one bed, but that bed is in hell, surrounded by fire and brimstone.
When the publisher offered this novel for review I nearly passed, but the premise sounded amusing. I’ve enjoyed another title by this author so that sealed the deal.
Can you imagine an Earth/Hell student exchange program? Can’t say it’s ever crossed my mind, but the author does a fantastic job at imagining what it would be like – religious extremists protesting (and more), equal parts fear and fascination with the prince of hell. Owen and Zarmenus are mismatched roommates to say the least. Owen is a serious student and very goal-oriented. Zar… isn’t. He fits classes in between parties and guys and doesn’t pick up after himself. Then there’s Belle, Zar’s soul-sucking cat (part demon?), the ghoul who lives in the bathroom, and a visiting goat. It’s a little too much for Owen. But the dean promised him an internship that will lead to a stable job and future if he sticks it out for a semester and shows that human/demon relations are possible.
I laughed out loud several times over the course of this story, and it’s got a nice balance of humor, heartfelt emotion, and paranormal elements. As the story progresses, it’s obvious how Owen and Zar feel about each other, and Zar surprised me with how good a friend he can be. Turns out he’s an excellent listener and helps Owen put things in perspective. That being said, I was frustrated at the length of time it took for them to admit their feelings for each other. I wanted to throttle both of them. Shoutout to Belle the demon-cat for being a creative matchmaker.
This gets a thumbs up from me, and I can see the potential for a sequel. Recommended for fans of the fake dating trope, readers who don’t mind a little campy and cheesy in their stories, and light-hearted, enjoyable reads.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Books and Such 