Review: Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs

Goodreads Blurb

Wealthy cannibals who dine on the discarded limbs of peculiars. A fork-tongued princess. The origins of the first ymbryne. These are but a few of the truly brilliant stories in Tales of the Peculiar—known to hide information about the peculiar world—first introduced by Ransom Riggs in his Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series.

Riggs now invites you to share his secrets of peculiar history, with a collection of original stories, as collected and annotated by Millard Nullings, ward of Miss Peregrine and scholar of all things peculiar.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Ransom Riggs is unbelievably the best storyteller ever. Each story left the reader with a learning lesson. I was able to learn a lot from these stories even though they aren’t real. We as human tend to dislike others because they are different. At times, we are different, too, but still can’t accept others who are just as different in fear that you won’t be accepted. The first story with the cannibals was one in which money and luxuries were more important than living life like a normal human. We as humans can relate to all these stories one way or another. If our society was accepting, we could all live in a wonderful world where we all are treated the same even though we are all different. Please read this book because your horizon will broaden and will make you see that being peculiar isn’t any different in today’s world. But maybe we all can work together and make a difference.

Author Biography

Hi, I’m Ransom, and I like to tell stories. Sometimes I tell them with words, sometimes with pictures, often with both. I grew up on a farm on the Eastern shore of Maryland and also in a little house by the beach in Englewood, Florida where I got very tan and swam every day until I became half fish. I started writing stories when I was young, on an old typewriter that jammed and longhand on legal pads. When I was a little older I got a camera for Christmas and became obsessed with photography, and when I was a little older still my friends and I came into possession of a half-broken video camera and began to make our own movies, starring ourselves, using our bedrooms and backyards for sets. I have loved writing stories and taking photographs and making movies ever since, and have endeavored to do all three.

Cover Reveal: Lush by Tinia Montford

BOOK DETAILS:

Lush

by Tinia Montford

Publication date: March 31, 2025

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

Synopsis:

Laurene King had it all: beauty, wealth, and a sexy secret affair with Reese Ashbourne— the brooding heir of her family’s sworn enemy.
But one reckless night shattered everything.

Tragedy struck. Laurene disappeared. And Reese was left with betrayal, unanswered questions, and scars he’ll never forget.

Now, Laurene is back, forced to return to the life she fled, but her homecoming comes with a cruel twist. Their families, teetering on the edge of ruin, have resurrected an old deal to save themselves: an Ashbourne and a King must marry—or lose everything.

Only this time, Reese is the groom. Not his brother.

Haunted by the past, Reese craves revenge as much as he still craves her. Trapped in a forced proximity neither can escape, their chemistry ignites—and so do their secrets.

But someone knows the truth about that night. The lies that tore them apart are unraveling, and the shadowy danger lurking in their luxurious world could destroy them both.

With their second chance at love and their families’ legacies hanging by a thread, Laurene and Reese must choose: bury the past or watch everything crumble to ashes.

The clock is ticking, and some truths are better left buried…

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223915711-lush

Pre-orderhttps://amzn.to/4aQPPa4

AUTHOR BIO:

Tinia (TUH-NIA) Montford is a Pisces who’s a sap for romance, especially when there’s (tons of) kissing. Loves eighties sitcoms and will consume anything with chocolate. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English and Graphic Design. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Fiction.

You can find Tinia at www.tiniamontford.com or on social media: @tiniawritesbooks

Author links:

http://www.tiniamontford.com/

https://www.facebook.com/tiniawritesbooks

https://www.instagram.com/tiniawritesbooks/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21958554.Tinia_Montford

https://amzn.to/3WR3KHf

Review: Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

Goodreads Blurb

Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth; she has charm and elegance. He’s a dedicated attorney who has never lost a case; she is a flawless homemaker, a masterful gardener and cook, and dotes on her disabled younger sister. Though they are still newlyweds, they seem to have it all. You might not want to like them, but you do. You’re hopelessly charmed by the ease and comfort of their home, by the graciousness of the dinner parties they throw. You’d like to get to know Grace better.

But it’s difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are inseparable.

Some might call this true love. Others might wonder why Grace never answers the phone. Or why she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. Or why she never seems to take anything with her when she leaves the house, not even a pen. Or why there are such high-security metal shutters on all the downstairs windows.

Some might wonder what’s really going on once the dinner party is over, and the front door has closed.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

How well do you know people?? Once upon a time, a woman falls in love with the perfect man. He was loving and caring. She could only imagine what her wonderful perfect life was going to be. We all dream of having the best husband. But in the blink of an eye, the perfect husband was devious with a goal of torture and pain. This was the best 2016 thriller, which I read it in a matter of two days. I just couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. Grace made this story come to life. She was the strongest woman I could have ever imagined. To have to go through what she went through and complete her vengeance, it was brilliant. This was a book that gave all battered women a chance to be brave, and if there is a will, then there is a way to escape this torment. Jack ruled with fear, which exhilarated him, but Grace overruled with strength, protection, and courage. I absolutely recommend you read this heart pumping novel.

Author Biography

B.A. Paris is the New York Times and Sunday Times Number 1 bestselling author of seven novels including the word-of-mouth hit, Behind Closed Doors.

Over 7 million editions of her work have been sold worldwide and her books have been translated into 41 languages. Her novels have been optioned for major screen adaptations with a film of The Breakdown, titled Blackwater Lane, in post production.

Before becoming an author, B.A. Paris worked as a bank trader and teacher in France. Today, she writes from her cottage in Hampshire, England, where she lives with her husband with visits from her five grown-up daughters. She has a newsletter baparis.com and is on social media @baparisauthor

Review: A Mad Zombie Party by Gena Showalter

Goodreads Blurb

The battle rages on.

Ali Bell and Cole Holland’s crew of zombie slayers thought they’d won the war against Anima Industries, the evil company responsible for capturing and experimenting on zombies in an effort to discover the secret to immortality. In the last epic clash, the slayers lost many of their crew and closest friends. But Frosty, the ice man himself, has not recovered from one casualty in particular—the love of his life, Kat Parker.

On the path to self-annihilation, Frosty receives a message from beyond—Kat’s spirit returns, insisting he partner with rogue slayer Camilla Marks. Frosty will do anything for Kat. Except that. Camilla is the one who betrayed them all, leading to Kat’s death.

But when Anima rises from the grave to become a force the slayers may not have the strength to overcome, Frosty, Camilla and all the slayers will have to work together to survive. And one broken slayer will learn that sometimes, the line between hate and attraction is blurred…and the road to redemption isn’t through revenge, but in letting go of the past and grabbing hold of the future.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I was a little disappointed with the fourth book in this series. It took me some time to get through the book. I didn’t grasp the story until halfway through the book. The first three books grabbed my attention from the very beginning. When I heard this book was coming out, I was so excited, but after reading it, I’m not so sure I was as excited. I was very happy with the ending and that Anima hopefully won’t come back. Good always prevails evil.

Author Biography

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over seventy books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series, the Gods of War series, the White Rabbit Chronicles, and the Forest of Good and Evil series. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs and cats.

Currently Reading: Thick as Thieves by Tonya Kappes

Goodreads Blurb

In Thick as Thieves, the latest laugh-out-loud installment in the Kenni Lowry Mysteries, Tonya Kappes delivers the perfect blend of southern charm, small-town drama, and a jaw-dropping mystery.

Sheriff Kenni Lowry should be blissfully planning her wedding, but Cottonwood, Kentucky has other plans. When Judge Horace Blackwell is found murdered in his chambers, Kenni is thrown into a case packed with family feuds, a mysterious inheritance, and secrets buried—literally—beneath the town.

With her ghostly Poppa offering his usual (and sometimes unwelcome) advice, her trusty hound Duke, and her fiancé Finn by her side, Kenni is racing to solve the case before the killer strikes again. As the trail winds through high-stakes poker games, long-forgotten tunnels, and scandalous secrets, Kenni realizes the culprit may be closer to home than she ever imagined.

Can Kenni crack the case and keep her wedding plans on track, or will the murderer make sure she never makes it to “I do”?

Perfect for fans of southern cozies with sharp humor, clever twists, and just the right amount of romance, Thick as Thieves will keep you guessing (and laughing) until the last page.

Author Biography

Tonya Kappes has written more than 180 southern cozy mysteries, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today . Best known for stories charged with southern charm, emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband in northern Kentucky. Now that her four boys have flown out of the nest, Tonya writes full-time in her camper!

You can find her all over social media and at Tonyakappes.com .

My review will be posted soon.

Cover Reveal: Walk through Line by Paula Dombrowiak and Natalie Parker

BOOK DETAILS:

Walk the Line

by Natalie Parker & Paula Dombrowiak

(Blood & Bone Legacy, #1)

Publication date: April 22, 2025

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

It was supposed to be simple: Film the tour. Build my portfolio. And for Heavens sake, keep it in my pants.

Then I met Felix Krasinski.

The captivating and infuriatingly cocky frontman of Velvet Drift commands attention everywhere he goes—including mine. Am I proud of it? No. I’m supposed to be filming their perfromance, not fantasizing about his perfect abs. I’m determined to be taken seriously, and hooking up with the ridiculously hot rockstar is the fastest way to tank my credibility.

Felix is always in control, and I’m an impulsive rule-breaker. We don’t make sense. But we can’t seem to stay away from each other.

Because, between his uptight habits and annoyingly perfect jawline, there’s more to Felix than his stage presence and legendary last name. He’s protective, vulnerable, and gets me in a way no one else does.

But my career depends on keeping things professional, and his future hinges on staying laser-focused on his band’s success.

Every heated argument, every stolen kiss, makes me want to throw caution—and professionalism—to the wind.

One thing’s certain—this summer tour is about to get a lot more complicated than I bargained for.

Walk the Line is the first book in the Blood & Bone and Turn it Up second generation series crossover. Grab this new adult, angsty, forced proximity, steamy contemporary rockstar romance. Walk the Line can be read as a standalone.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220299201-walk-the-line

Pre-orderhttps://amzn.to/3CDzfOf

AUTHOR BIO:

Paula Dombrowiak grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois but currently lives in Arizona. She is the author of Blood and Bone, her first adult romance novel which combines her love of music and imperfect relationships. Paula is a lifelong music junkie, whose wardrobe consists of band T-shirts and leggings which are perpetually covered in pet hair. She is a sucker for a redeemable villain, bad boys, and the tragically flawed. Music inspires her storytelling.

For more ways to learn about Paula and her books, check out her website: @www.pauladombrowiak.com

Natalie Parker resides in the Seattle area with her husband and two rugrats, but is originally a Michigan girl. 

She always enjoyed writing and noticed she had a knack for it while earning her Psychology degree and has always been an avid reader, but never thought of becoming an author until one day there seemed to be a story to tell.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, reading, reading to her kids, drinking coffee, reading, occasional yardwork, reading, listening to music, reading and writing. 

Stay tuned for more to come for your favorite characters of the Turn it Up series!

Pre-Order: Thick as Thieves by Tonya Kappes

In Thick as Thieves, the latest laugh-out-loud installment in the Kenni Lowry Mysteries, Tonya Kappes delivers the perfect blend of southern charm, small-town drama, and a jaw-dropping mystery.

Sheriff Kenni Lowry should be blissfully planning her wedding, but Cottonwood, Kentucky has other plans. When Judge Horace Blackwell is found murdered in his chambers, Kenni is thrown into a case packed with family feuds, a mysterious inheritance, and secrets buried—literally—beneath the town.

With her ghostly Poppa offering his usual (and sometimes unwelcome) advice, her trusty hound Duke, and her fiancé Finn by her side, Kenni is racing to solve the case before the killer strikes again. As the trail winds through high-stakes poker games, long-forgotten tunnels, and scandalous secrets, Kenni realizes the culprit may be closer to home than she ever imagined.

Can Kenni crack the case and keep her wedding plans on track, or will the murderer make sure she never makes it to “I do”?

Perfect for fans of southern cozies with sharp humor, clever twists, and just the right amount of romance, Thick as Thieves will keep you guessing (and laughing) until the last page.

☠Releases February 23rd
☠CLICK PREORDER ☞ https://bit.ly/40c1KdD
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4jakm6s
Bookbub: https://bit.ly/3E7hpDF

Upcoming Event: Come Meet Krysten Ritter at B&N

Taken from the B&N website

About this Event

Join Barnes & Noble – Union Square in New York City on Monday, March 24th at 6 PM, as we welcome actor, director, and author of the internationally bestselling novel BonfireKrysten Ritter to celebrate her newest release, RETREAT. In this serpentine thriller about identity and obsession, a beautiful con artist insinuates herself into a wealthy socialite’s life . . . with deadly consequences.

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To make this event safe and enjoyable for all attendees, please read the below guidelines ahead of buying a ticket, so you know what to expect on the day. To avoid disappointment, we must stress that there will be no access to the event for non-ticketholders.

  • Barnes & Noble reserves the right to make new rules and orders in its sole discretion with regard to COVID-19 at any time and any person not abiding by the Barnes & Noble directives will be refused entrance or directed to leave the premises.

TICKETING INFORMATION

Book Admission – $31.61 (Admission + one copy of RETREAT5-cent bag fee): **LIMITED QUANTITY AVAILABLE**: A ticket PER PERSON includes:

Krysten will pose for photosA B&N staff member will be on hand to take your photo.

Krysten will sign (signature only) copies of RETREAT and up to two additional books or items of memorabilia per person.

Any gifts for the author will be collected at check in.

Please arrive by 6PM in order to secure your place in the signing line. Late arrivals may not have the opportunity to meet the author.

GUIDELINES

No large bags will be permitted into the event.

Ticket holders will be admitted into the event beginning at 5:30 PM the day of the event. Please have a copy of your ticket available (either printed out or on your phone) for check in.

Due to health and safety and space limitations, those without a ticket will not be permitted into the event space.

Please note that Eventbrite is the only authorized dealer for this event. Each person must have a ticket to enter.

All event guidelines are subject to change.

If you have any additional questions, please call the store directly at: 212-253-0810.

RSVP Link: https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/event/9780062179658-0