Secret Movie Club: Movie #1

I have been really excited to see which movies would be included in TIFF's Secret Movie Club and it has finally arrived!

This event is typically held in person in Toronto so I have never had a chance to participate until it went virtual this year. It seems to be a seamless transition because they already had a digital component to their offerings that expanded with their festival this year due to the pandemic.  

The first selection is I'm Your Woman. A movie about a woman named Jean who has to go on the run when her husband shows up, hands her a random baby, and promptly disappears. It turns out he has betrayed his crime partners and they are not pleased that they can't find him.

Rachel Brosnahan gives a solid performance as a woman who kind of knows about the shady business her husband gets up to without really knowing the full extent of it. As the story progresses she realizes how much she doesn't know and how unprepared for any of this she was. Her role could have easily been overacted but she manages to keep it reigned in and believable.

She is surrounded by equally solid actors for the supporting cast. Of special note are both Marsha Stephanie Blake as Teri and Arinze Kene as Cal. The relationship dynamics between Jean and both of these characters stood out to me. Cal plays the man who shows up to usher Jean out of her house and into this whirlwind she finds herself in. They have an ease and a chemistry that while not romantic is still palpable. Teri and Jean also have an interesting bond as two women who find themselves with quite a few things in common. They are never pitted against each other even though that is typically what would happen in a movie like this which I found refreshing.

If you are someone who needs every loose end tied up and every question answered this movie may not be the one for you. Many plot elements, especially when it comes to the actions of Jean's husband, are left unresolved and unknown. It feels more realistic that way to me. Of course she doesn't find out certain things because she logically couldn't based on the plot of the story. You may want to know where that random baby came from but you won't necessarily get to.

It is a familiar but engaging crime drama that introduced me to Rachel Brosnahan as an actress worthy of keeping an eye on. I had not seen her in anything before this and was pleasantly surprised by her.

You can check out I'm Your Woman for yourself on Amazon Prime Video on December 11th. 

My next secret movie releases on the December 18th weekend. I am hoping it is Promising Young Woman. 

2021 Most Anticipated - Take Me Home Tonight

The next book on my 2021 most anticipated list made me do a happy dance when I heard the announcement. Kind of like this gif right here:

Turns out this gif is appropriate for a couple of reasons as the book has a bit in common with the movie it is from. The book in question is Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson.

The Goodreads synopsis is pretty much guaranteed to make you want to read this book, especially if you are a fan of Morgan's previous books.. 

Two girls. One night. Zero phones.

Kat and Stevie—best friends, theater kids, polar opposites—have snuck away from the suburbs to spend a night in New York City. They have it all planned out. They’ll see a play, eat at the city’s hottest restaurant, and have the best. Night. Ever. What could go wrong?

Well. Kind of a lot?

They’re barely off the train before they’re dealing with destroyed phones, family drama, and unexpected Pomeranians. Over the next few hours, they’ll have to grapple with old flames, terrible theater, and unhelpful cab drivers. But there are also cute boys to kiss, parties to crash, dry cleaning to deliver (don’t ask), and the world’s best museum to explore.

Over the course of a wild night in the city that never sleeps, both Kat and Stevie will get a wake-up call about their friendship, their choices…and finally discover what they really want for their future.

That is, assuming they can make it to Grand Central before the clock strikes midnight.

Here are the top three reasons I cannot wait to get my hands on this book:

1. It takes place all in one night. It's one of the things that this book has in common with Adventures in Babysitting. It would seem from the synopsis that everything that can go wrong will go wrong but they'll have an unforgettable adventure as a result.

2. The New York City setting. New York is one of my favourite cities. It has so much to explore and the things you can do are always changing. There is just something kind of magical about it and I predict Morgan will capture that.

3. The friendship angle. Some of my favourite books by Morgan Matson focus on friendship. This one seems to be driven by the relationship between the two main characters. 

I also want to highlight the playlist that Morgan created for this book. Her playlists are always amazing and can give you a good sense of the vibe the book will have. I highly recommend listening to the one for Take Me Home Tonight. You can access it on Spotify.

Take Me Home Tonight releases May 4, 2021 which means I'll be able to keep the tradition of reading a Morgan Matson book while enjoying some ice cream sitting outside. Be sure to use some of those holiday gift cards to preorder yourself a copy.

Chapters // Amazon // Barnes and Noble // BAM

You can find out more about Morgan by following her on Twitter, and by visiting her her website. You can also find out more about her books on the publisher website.

Be sure to stop by on Tuesday to find out the next book on my 2021 most anticipated list. The event will take a break on Monday so I can talk about the first movie in the Secret Movie Club.

2021 Most Anticipated - Survive the Night

My 2021 Most Anticipated list continues with a book that is basically perfect for all of my fellow Murderinos out there. 

The book revolves around a woman who takes a ride with a stranger who just might (or might not) be a serial killer. It's called Survive the Night and is written by Riley Sager.

The Goodreads synopsis captures everything I need to know to be completely obsessed with this book. 

It’s November 1991. George H. W. Bush is in the White House, Nirvana’s in the tape deck, and movie-obsessed college student Charlie Jordan is in a car with a man who might be a serial killer.

Josh Baxter, the man behind the wheel, is a virtual stranger to Charlie. They met at the campus ride board, each looking to share the long drive home to Ohio. Both have good reasons for wanting to get away. For Charlie, it’s guilt and grief over the murder of her best friend, who became the third victim of the man known as the Campus Killer. For Josh, it’s to help care for his sick father. Or so he says. Like the Hitchcock heroine she’s named after, Charlie has her doubts. There’s something suspicious about Josh, from the holes in his story about his father to how he doesn’t seem to want Charlie to see inside the car’s trunk. As they travel an empty highway in the dead of night, an increasingly worried Charlie begins to think she’s sharing a car with the Campus Killer. Is Josh truly dangerous? Or is Charlie’s suspicion merely a figment of her movie-fueled imagination?

What follows is a game of cat-and-mouse played out on night-shrouded roads and in neon-lit parking lots, during an age when the only call for help can be made on a pay phone and in a place where there’s nowhere to run. In order to win, Charlie must do one thing—survive the night.

Here are the top three reasons I cannot wait to get my hands on this book:

1. The 90s setting. Not only will it be nostalgic but it heightens the stakes quite a bit. No cell phones means you cannot call for help (or can only do so from a pay phone like the synopsis teases).

2. The tension. Is he the Campus Killer or isn't he? It's a delicious premise all the more promising by the Hitchcockian vibes the synopsis has going on. Less is more and I predict this one will have our imaginations working overtime.

3. Riley Sager's previous books. I have a few friends who love all of Riley's other books and I have enjoyed the ones I have read. I feel like I know what to expect going in.

Survive the Night releases July 6, 2021 which is perfect because it is exactly the kind of book you want to read while by the beach or sitting near the pool. Be sure to grab your copy because I expect it might be one of THE big books of next summer.

Chapters // Amazon // Barnes and Noble // BAM

You can find out more about Riley by following him on Twitter, and by visiting her his website. You can also find out more about his books on the publisher website.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to for the next book on my 2021 most anticipated list. 

2021 Most Anticipated - City of Villains

The next book on my 2021 most anticipated list is pitched as Jessica Jones meets Disney and I was immediately sold. It's a bit of an origin story for some of Disney's most iconic villains as well as the beginning of a crime series.

City of Villains by Estelle Laure not only sounds amazing but it is begging to be picked up by Disney+ as a television show. 

The Goodreads synopsis makes this sound incredibly fun and probably a little darker than we're expecting.

Disney’s Villains meet Gotham in this gritty fairy tale-inspired crime series.

Mary Elizabeth Heart is a high school senior by day, but by night she’s an intern at the Monarch City police department. She watches with envy from behind a desk as detectives come and go, trying to contain the city’s growing crime rate. For years, tension has simmered between the city’s wealthy elite, and their plans to gentrify the decaying neighborhood called the Scar—once upon a time the epicenter of all things magic.

When the daughter of one of the city’s most powerful businessmen goes missing, Mary Elizabeth is thrilled when the Chief actually puts her on the case. But what begins as one missing person’s report soon multiplies, leading her down the rabbit hole of a city in turmoil. There she finds a girl with horns, a boyfriend with secrets, and what seems to be a sea monster lurking in a poison lake. As the mystery circles closer to home, Mary finds herself caught in the fight between those who once had magic, and those who will do anything to bring it back.

This dark and edgy YA series explores the reimagined origins of Maleficent, Ursula, Captain Hook, and other infamous Disney Villains like you’ve never seen before. 

I love that is is embracing the magic and wonder that we all love about Disney while incorporating a more gritty feel.

Estelle has kindly taken the time to answer a few questions about the book, Disney villains, and shares her favourite detectives in pop culture.

1 What gif do you feel best represents City of Villains?

2 If someone were to make a signature drink in honour of your book, what might be included?

The Caterpillar, featured in the book and served at Wonderland where my characters like to hang out, is bitters and tonic. I’d add a cherry, a splash of lime, and a good vodka, plus a butterfly wing (the butterfly was already dead) and dried rose petals. 

3 This involves Disney Villains. Which Disney villain is your favourite?

I love this question and it changes every time. I’m always torn between Maleficent and Ursula. They’re both moods, you know? Sometimes you have to be the kind of queen who smites everyone in sight and sometimes you have to be the kind that had a great time being wicked. Monday’s a Maleficent kind of day and Friday is all Ursula, know what I mean? But then again, teen Captain Hook is so intriguing…. I failed this question. I can’t choose.

4 The main character in this book gets to be a little bit of a detective. Who is your favourite detective from entertainment media? 

Seriously? I don’t know if I can choose that either! I’m a big fan of the British procedural Marcella; I loved the HBO Perry Mason last summer and can’t wait for more; I also have an obsession with true crime so I love Michelle McNamara, an actual person, and her determination to track the Golden State Killer. I listen to a bunch of True Crime podcasts as well, and appreciate the people who bring attention to cold cases. Listen, you opened a whole can of worms here. 

5 What 2021 release are you most anticipating?

Too many to name! I’m going to say IN THE WILD LIGHT because Jeff Zentner emotionally hobbles me every time I read his books, but also give me every Danielle Paige, Dhonielle Clayton, Elana K. Arnold, and I loved Julie Buxbaum’s ADMISSION (I was lucky enough to get an ARC of that one and it’s just so good).

6 If not too spoilery, can you share the first line of City of Villains.

“The world ended because of me.” 

We definitely share an admiration for Michelle McNamara and what a bad ass she was. Jessica Jones is one of my favourite television detectives so I am thrilled to have this be compared to her and her series.

City of Villains releases February 2, 2021 but is available for pre-order it right now from any retailer. Be sure to grab your copy because I expect this one might cause a lot of buzz.

Chapters // Amazon // Barnes and Noble // BAM

You can find out more about Estelle and her books by following her on Twitter, and by visiting her her website. You can also find out more about her books on the publisher website.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to for the next book on my 2021 most anticipated list. 

2021 Most Anticipated - The Project

The next book featured in my 2021 Most Anticipated event is pretty much guaranteed to destroy you. It focuses on a woman attempting to save her sister whom she believes is in a cult.

The book, of course, is The Project by Courtney Summers! Anyone who has read a book by Courtney before knows exactly what they are in for and those discovering her for the first time are in for quite the experience.

The Goodreads synopsis sets up the book perfectly, and I am already looking forward to meeting Courtney's version of a cult leader.

"The Unity Project saved my life."

Lo Denham is used to being on her own. After her parents died, Lo's sister, Bea, joined The Unity Project, leaving Lo in the care of their great aunt. Thanks to its extensive charitable work and community outreach, The Unity Project has won the hearts and minds of most in the Upstate New York region, but Lo knows there's more to the group than meets the eye. She's spent the last six years of her life trying--and failing--to prove it.

"The Unity Project murdered my son."

When a man shows up at the magazine Lo works for claiming The Unity Project killed his son, Lo sees the perfect opportunity to expose the group and reunite with Bea once and for all. When her investigation puts her in the direct path of its charismatic and mysterious leader, Lev Warren, he proposes a deal: if she can prove the worst of her suspicions about The Unity Project, she may expose them. If she can't, she must finally leave them alone.

But as Lo delves deeper into The Project, the lives of its members, and spends more time with Lev, it upends everything she thought she knew about her sister, herself, cults, and the world around her--to the point she can no longer tell what's real or true. Lo never thought she could afford to believe in Lev Warren . . . but now she doesn't know if she can afford not to.

Welcome to The Unity Project.

The next pulls-no-punches thriller from New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author Courtney Summers, about an aspiring young journalist determined to save her sister from a cult. 

I figured I would tease this with the top three reasons I cannot wait to get my hands on The Project:

1. Did you miss the part where it is written by Courtney Summers? She may rip your heart out and stomp on it for good measure, but her books are always incredible.

2. Lev Warren. If I know anything about Courtney Summers and her writing it is that her characters are always complex and layered. There is no way that Lev isn't going to be entirely fascinating even if he is a creep. I also bet Lo is something special too.

3. The sisterly relationship at the heart of the story being told. The fact that this isn't a guy trying to save his girlfriend or anything like that makes this sound even better to me.

The Project releases February 2, 2021 which is perfect because we'll all need something to look forward to during the very long winter we're about to have. I say use those holiday gift cards and snag yourself a copy.

Chapters // Amazon // Barnes and Noble // BAM

You can find out more about Courtney by following her on Twitter, and by visiting her her website. You can also find out more about her books on the publisher website.

Are you as excited by the idea of a Courtney Summers book about cults as I am? If so let me know in the comments.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to for the next book on my 2021 most anticipated list. 

2021 Most Anticipated - A Better Bad Idea

It is one again the most wonderful time of the year! It's time for me to kick off my annual most anticipated event. Each year I spotlight the books that I am eager to get my hands on in the upcoming year in hopes it'll put them on your radar as well.

I debated about hosting this event at all this year. I didn't want to bother authors during what is already a stressful time. I wasn't sure if anyone would even be interested in hearing about these books right now. Ultimately I decided that we could all use a little joy and something to look forward to in the future.

This year I am starting with a book whose author has been included in this event previously. She writes complex female characters and storylines that are equally layered. 

Her newest involves a dead girl, a match, and two broken characters at its core.

The first book included in the event is Better Bad Idea by Laurie Devore.

The Goodreads synopsis is intense and I expect the book be a captivating page turner.

Laurie Devore's new YA novel is a searing look at a forgotten girl who has no good choices left, but one better bad idea . . .

Evelyn Peters is desperate. Desperate for a way out of McNair Falls, the dying southern town that’s held her captive since the day she was born. Desperate to protect her little sister from her mother’s terrifying and abusive boyfriend. And desperate to connect with anyone, even fallen golden boy Ashton Harper, longtime boyfriend of the girl Evelyn can never stop thinking about ― beautiful, volatile, tragically dead Reid Brewer.

Until a single night sends Evelyn and Ashton on a collision course that starts something neither of them can stop. With one struck match, their whole world goes up in flames. The only thing left to do is run―but leaving McNair Falls isn’t as easy as just putting distance between here and there and some secrets refuse to stay left behind.

A reckoning is coming . . . and not everyone is getting out alive.

Elements of this scream Bonnie and Clyde to me, even though I don't quite think that is what Laurie is going for here. I think it is just the idea of two people on the run together.

Laurie has very kindly, agreed to answer a few questions about the book and her writing of it.

1 Describe A Better Bad Idea in three words.

Burn it down.

2 If someone were to make a signature ice cream in honour of your book, what might be included?

Like my first two books, this novel relies heavily on southern culture, so I'd probably borrow the flavors from one of my favorite lines: "Imagine someone who looks so attainable but so beautiful all rolled up into one and a voice laced with southern in the best way possible, clipped vowels and forgotten syllables, dipped in bourbon and peaches and honeysuckle." :)

3 You write complex, nuanced, and often flawed female characters. Some people may call them unlikeable female protagonists. What makes it important to you to write these types of characters? 

Thank you for asking the question this way! It's interesting--the more books I write, the more tired I find myself growing of the phrase "unlikeable female characters." While it's certainly a useful shorthand in terms of communicating the kind of protagonist readers are getting for marketing purposes, I really like to think I'm writing books about interesting characters and they may or may not expand a reader's empathy. The truth is, I don't care if readers like my characters! Awful, I know. I--like many YA authors, I'm sure--write about teenage characters because it's a time when you are still deciding who you're going to be and often that means messing up in big, awful ways that feel life-ruining at the time. My books so often tend to be about characters who need to forgive themselves for their past mistakes to move forward, and the truth is I find that relatable--not unlikeable.

4  What is one song that made your playlist while writing this book? 

I think it's a sign of how much music inspires my writing that I could give you a hundred different answers for this. But, for the sake of simplicity, this book was actually named after a song (the song went perfectly with the book, so I included it as a title option when we were throwing them around and it stuck): "Better Bad Idea" by Sunny Sweeney.

5 What 2021 release are you most anticipating? 

I've already read one of my most anticipated reads, The Project by Courtney Summers, which is a wonderfully tense novel about two sisters and their involvement with a cult. Some other books I'm really excited about: Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, Anna K: Away by Jenny Lee (had so much fun with the first one!), and She's Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard.

6 If not too spoilery, can you share the first line of A Better Bad Idea. 

"Reid Elaine Brewer, 17, of McNair Falls, passed away on October 11, 2018." 

I need to try that ice cream immediately. It sounds delicious and exactly like something I would enjoy in the south. I also love her thoughtful, and thought provoking, answer about the female characters that she writes.

A Better Bad Idea releases March 16, 2021 but is available for pre-order it right now from any retailer. Consider it an early present to yourself.

Chapters // Amazon // Barnes and Noble // BAM

You can find out more about Laurie and her books by following her on Twitter, and by visiting her her website. You can also find out more about her books on the publisher website.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to for the next book on my 2021 most anticipated list. 

#2020PopCultureResolution - Pillow Talk

Pillow Talk 

Director: Michael Gordon

Length:  102 minutes

Cast: Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Randall

Release Date:  October 7, 1959

Synopsis: A man and woman carry their feud over the telephone line they share into their real lives.

***********************************************

I have heard a lot about Pillow Talk thanks to reading a Rock Hudson biography earlier in the year. I was expecting a fun watch and I think it delivered.

I should probably start by talking about the one aspect of the movie that I did not like. Rock Hudon and Doris Day's characters do not like each other when we first meet them. They bicker thanks to the shared use of a phone line. Since they have never met in person before it is no surprise to anyone familiar with rom-coms that once they do meet they each find the other attractive and charming. Rick Hudson's character figures out who she is though and knowing she would not want to talk to him lies about who he is. He makes up a whole persona and it feels kind of icky that he is basically catfishing her. She wouldn't talk to him if she knew who he was and he lies to get around that. It taints what is otherwise a charming movie a little for me.

You spend most of the movie waiting for the lies being spun by Rock Hudson's character to be revealed and if that would make you anxious this is probably not the movie for you

The duo of Rock Hudson and Doris Day ooze charisma. They really work as a pair and it is easy to see why the studio put them together in a few films. They have chemistry that works for this type of movie. They both have an innocent quality that makes the (quite tame) innuendo seem endearing. Doris Day was known for being the 'good girl' and it is easy to see why she had that reputation while watching this movie.

The use of the split screen was cleverly done and enhanced the witty banter between the two leads. The bathtub scene is talked about for a reason and it works in large part due to the use of the split screen.

The movie is quite funny with both Hudson and Day providing performances that make the movie what it is. Also of note is Thelma Ritter's Alma who is the housekeeper to Doris Day's character. Her comedic timing is on full display and she is just as charming as the two leads. Overall it is light, fluffy, and kind of perfect for a rainy afternoon.

This movie taught me that I would not want to share a phone line with anyone. It seems like a nightmare (even if it might lead to a meet cute). It also may be a movie that shows its age a bit but is still worthy of a watch particularly if you are a fan of either of the main stars. It has made me curious enough to seek out more of Rock Hudson's movies.

Waiting On Wednesday .... The Marriage Pass

 Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is The Marriage Pass by Brianna Cole

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

In a smart, sexy spin-off from her Unconditional Series, Briana Cole continues to explore unconventional relationships and question all assumptions about love, lust, and monogamy in this tantalizing drama that takes the what if of a free pass to a whole new level...

Can you really have the best of both worlds?

He's rich, successful--and has been faithfully married to his longtime girlfriend for nearly one grueling year. Because for Dr. Dorian Graham, too many women is never too much--no matter how loyal his wife, Shantae, has been since their college days. So when she proposes they both celebrate their first anniversary by spending a no-questions-asked, no-consequences night with their greatest temptation, Dorian is shocked, but can't resist. Especially since Shantae's wild-card younger sister, Reagan, is gorgeous, uninhibited--and the one who got away...

It turns out one sizzling night with Reagan isn't enough. Yet the more Dorian takes, the more she demands--and the more he suddenly has to lose. Soon, with his mind games being used against him and his every move checkmated, Dorian will be forced to go all-in on one last desperate play to win. But winning might just be another way to crash and burn... 

This sounds like a fun read that will be reminiscent of some of your favourite television dramas. I saw it on a list of most anticipated books of 2021 and immediately had to add it to my Goodreads.

It seems like it would be a perfect summer beach read but it is releasing in February to help with the winter blahs.

Expected release date - February 23, 2021

Let It Snow by Cassie Cross - Blog Tour - Excerpt

 

Today we have the blog tour for Cassie Cross’ Let It Snow! I am sharing an excerpt below so be sure to check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!

Title: Let It Snow 

Author: Cassie Cross 

Genre: Holiday Romance 

About Let It Snow: Amy Winstead is a twenty something video producer who loves Christmas more than anyone she’s ever known. This year, the holidays are gonna be a lot less happy because she can’t afford the plane ticket home to celebrate with her family, and her best and oldest friend Josh is moving halfway across the country for a new job that he couldn’t turn down.   When Josh asks her to accompany him on his road trip from Texas to Connecticut and offers to pay for her plane ticket back home, how could Amy say no? He’s promised some fun surprises on the trip, and more time with him could never be a bad thing.   One surprise Josh hasn’t planned on is the record-breaking blizzard heading their way. They decide to wait out the storm in the charming town of Holly Hill, where a little holiday magic and a lot of snow combine to help Josh and Amy realize that the something that’s always simmered between them could easily become something more…  

Get Your Copy!

 

About Cassie Cross: Cassie Cross is a Maryland native and a romantic at heart, who lives outside of Baltimore with her two dogs and a closet full of shoes. Cassie’s fondness for swoon-worthy men and strong women are the inspiration for most of her stories, and when she’s not busy writing a book, you’ll probably find her eating takeout and indulging in her love of 80’s sitcoms.  

  Connect with Cassie: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook  

Secret Movie Club

We might not be able to see movies in theatres right now (mostly because most of them are closed and movies are not releasing) but there is still movie excitement to be found.

I was immediately intrigued by TIFF's Secret Movie Club when I first heard about it and knew I needed to sign up. It is typically held in Toronto and is an in person event but due to the pandemic it has gone virtual and I can take part this year.

As the title may suggest the movies that I will be watching are a secret. It offers seven mystery movies over the next 6 months. That's seven weekends that I will be enjoying a film that is not yet released in theatres or digital platforms in Ontario at the time of the Secret Movie Club screening. It also features interviews with the cast and creatives behind the movies. It seems like a very fun way to still experience the magic of the movies.

The weekends that the screenings will take place are:

 November 27–29

December 18–20

January 15–17

February 5–7

February 26–28

March 19–21

April 16–18

I have no clue what movies may be showcased. I am really hoping that Promising Young Woman is one of them. I'll be posting about my experience with each movie as they are streamed and you can expect that the post will go up early in the week following.

I am excited to see what movies are picked and to see what this whole experience is like and at the very least it is something to look forward to.

If you are in Canada and want to take part yourself subscriptions are available to purchase up until November 25th. If you do decide to join please let me know so we can try to guess the movies together from the clues that will be released. 

Have you taken part in a secret movie (or book) club before? Is this something you would want to try? Let me know all about it in the comments. 

Waiting On Wednesday ... Survive The Night

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is Survive The Night by Riley Sager

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

It’s November 1991. George H. W. Bush is in the White House, Nirvana’s in the tape deck, and movie-obsessed college student Charlie Jordan is in a car with a man who might be a serial killer.

Josh Baxter, the man behind the wheel, is a virtual stranger to Charlie. They met at the campus ride board, each looking to share the long drive home to Ohio. Both have good reasons for wanting to get away. For Charlie, it’s guilt and grief over the murder of her best friend, who became the third victim of the man known as the Campus Killer. For Josh, it’s to help care for his sick father. Or so he says. Like the Hitchcock heroine she’s named after, Charlie has her doubts. There’s something suspicious about Josh, from the holes in his story about his father to how he doesn’t seem to want Charlie to see inside the car’s trunk. As they travel an empty highway in the dead of night, an increasingly worried Charlie begins to think she’s sharing a car with the Campus Killer. Is Josh truly dangerous? Or is Charlie’s suspicion merely a figment of her movie-fueled imagination?

What follows is a game of cat-and-mouse played out on night-shrouded roads and in neon-lit parking lots, during an age when the only call for help can be made on a pay phone and in a place where there’s nowhere to run. In order to win, Charlie must do one thing—survive the night.

With the popularity of true crime podcasts still at an all time high I predict we will be seeing many more books that feature them like this one (potentially) does. 

This book is already giving me Hitchcockian vibes and that interests me very much. I also love that we do not know if Josh is a serial killer. I predict it will make the suspense and unease a little more intense.s

It releases just in time for summer reading so get your sunscreen and favourite beverage ready.

Expected release date - July 6, 2021

None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney

None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney 

Release Date - September 1, 2020

Publisher Website - Hachette
Publisher Social Media - Twitter

Pages - 400 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received for an honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

The Silence of the Lambs meets Sadie in this riveting psychological thriller about two teenagers teaming up with the FBI to track down juvenile serial killers.

In 1982, two teenagers—serial killer survivor Emma Lewis and US Marshal candidate Travis Bell—are recruited by the FBI to interview convicted juvenile killers and provide insight and advice on cold cases. From the start, Emma and Travis develop a quick friendship, gaining information from juvenile murderers that even the FBI can't crack. But when the team is called in to give advice on an active case—a serial killer who exclusively hunts teenagers—things begin to unravel. Working against the clock, they must turn to one of the country's most notorious incarcerated murderers for help: teenage sociopath Simon Gutmunsson. Despite Travis's objections, Emma becomes the conduit between Simon and the FBI team. But while Simon seems to be giving them the information they need to save lives, he's an expert manipulator playing a very long game...and he has his sights set on Emma.

Captivating, harrowing, and chilling, None Shall Sleep is an all-too-timely exploration of not only the monsters that live among us, but also the monsters that live inside us.

Did you love Silence of the Lambs and waited impatiently for the new season of Mindhunter to drop? If you answered yes to either of those I have the perfect book for you to read. None Shall Sleep combines intense action with character development to create a highly engrossing read. 

Ellie Marney's writing showcases that she put a lot of thought and time into the creation of her characters. She makes sure that all of them are interesting in their own way and also ensures they fit into the story being told. It, for me, was where her writing really shined.

Emma's a victim who would rather be seen as anything else. The survivor of a serial killer her trauma is woven into both the character and story subtly and with care. Ellie Marney could have laid out every horrible thing that Emma suffered via flashback scenes but instead chooses to provide just enough hints to allow the reader's imagination to fill in the rest. A prospect that will conjure up more horrors than the author ever could. I like that she is tough but not closed off. She is strong and resilient in ways that felt true to her character.

Travis is a victim as well but in an entirely different way. Violence has touched him in its own way and it makes these two two halves of a whole. Their connection and chemistry felt natural because they each could instantly understand the other in a lot of ways.

The Mindhunter aspect of the story should be evident from the synopsis. It shares interviewing serial killers and of course its backdrop of the FBI and profiling. This aspect is where a bit of disbelief has to be given to the story. It was hard to believe that they would have been allowed to assist the FBI at all never mind in such a large capacity. I get why the main characters needed to be younger but it does pull you out of the story a bit. It is not enough to distract from your enjoyment but something that the reader is aware of and tracks.

The most compelling part of the story is Simon and his interactions with Emma. A teenaged serial killer who has plenty of charm and intelligence. He is Hannibal Lecter to Emma's Clarice Starling. Their conversations will bring flashbacks to the movie in particular. I found those scenes to be the most eclectic part of the story and the parts that had me most on edge. I could have easily read an entire book of just those conversations. The author captures a sort of breathless dread that is felt in a well done scene like this. 

If you, like me, are missing Mindhunter I highly recommend picking up this book. Ellie Marney has written a book that immediately made me want to reach for the sequel.

Cover Reveal: Let It Snow

Today we have the cover reveal for Cassie Cross’ Let It Snow! 

Check it out and be sure to pre-order your copy today!

Title: Let It Snow 

Author: Cassie Cross 

Genre: Holiday Romance 

Release Date: November 12th 

About Let It Snow: Amy Winstead is a twenty something video producer who loves Christmas more than anyone she’s ever known. This year, the holidays are gonna be a lot less happy because she can’t afford the plane ticket home to celebrate with her family, and her best and oldest friend Josh is moving halfway across the country for a new job that he couldn’t turn down. When Josh asks her to accompany him on his road trip from Texas to Connecticut and offers to pay for her plane ticket back home, how could Amy say no? He’s promised some fun surprises on the trip, and more time with him could never be a bad thing.   One surprise Josh hasn’t planned on is the record-breaking blizzard heading their way. They decide to wait out the storm in the charming town of Holly Hill, where a little holiday magic and a lot of snow combine to help Josh and Amy realize that the something that’s always simmered between them could easily become something more…

Pre-Order Your Copy!

 ......

About Cassie Cross: Cassie Cross is a Maryland native and a romantic at heart, who lives outside of Baltimore with her two dogs and a closet full of shoes. Cassie’s fondness for swoon-worthy men and strong women are the inspiration for most of her stories, and when she’s not busy writing a book, you’ll probably find her eating takeout and indulging in her love of 80’s sitcoms.  

Connect with Cassie: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Waiting On Wednesday ... That Weekend

 Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is That Weekend by Kara Thomas

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Three best friends, a lake house, a secret trip - what could go wrong?

It was supposed to be the perfect prom weekend getaway. But it's clear something terrible happened when Claire wakes up alone and bloodied on a hiking trail with no memory of the past forty-eight hours.

Three went up the mountain, but only one came back.

Now everyone wants answers - most of all, Claire. She remembers Friday night, but after that... nothing. And now Kat and Jesse - her best friends - are missing.

That weekend changes everything.

What happened on the mountain? And where are Kat and Jesse? Claire knows the answers are buried somewhere in her memory, but as she's learning, everyone has secrets - even her best friends. And she's pretty sure she's not going to like what she remembers.

Those looking for mysterious and creepy books to read in 2021 will want to add That Weekend to their list if the synopsis is anything to go by. I also love that it has friendship as one of the central focuses.

These types of books tend to perfect for long days by the pool so I am happy it is coming out in summer of 2021! Hopefully we can all toss this into our beach bags next year.

Expected release date - June 21, 2021

Monthly TBR and Wrap Up

 

We're heading into the holiday season! I am trying really hard to be excited about it the same way I am every year but this year feels so different.

I am trying to read a lot this month because I have some shorter books on the pile. Hopefully I can get a few of them crossed off the list.

Before I can look forward to this month I have to recap what happened in October first.

The books that were on my list are:

Hollywood Babylon by Kenneth Anger (goodreads)

The Damned by Renee Ahdieh (goodreads)

Plus I had some ebooks on my list:

The Comeback by Ella Berman (goodreads)

Majesty by Katharine McGee (goodreads)

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab (goodreads)

Here is what I managed to read in October:

Well Met by Jen DeLuca (goodreads)

Lords of Chaos by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Søderlind (goodreads)

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab (goodreads)

Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. by Sam Wasson (goodreads)

Misery by Stephen King (goodreads)

My #2020PopCultureResolution book for October was Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. by Sam Wasson and the movie was Gaslight. My reviews of the movie and the book are both up.

Here is what I hope to read in November:

Hollywood Babylon by Kenneth Anger (goodreads)

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian (goodreads)

The Cousins by Karen M McManus (goodreads)

Mind the Gap, Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (goodreads)

Bonnie by Christina Schwarz (goodreads)

I also have some ebooks I am hoping to get to:

None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney (goodreads)

Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt (goodreads)

In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren (goodreads)

My November #2020PopCultureResolution choices are Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt and Pillow Talk. Complete opposites this month! I am excited to see more Rock Hudson movies because I have only seen one or two.

What books are you reading this month? Have you read any of the ones on my list? If so, let me know what you thought in the comments.

Cover Reveal - Holiday Hookup

Title: Holiday Hookup

Author: S.A. Clayton

Genre: Contemporary Romance (Christmas Novella)

Release Date: November 17, 2020

Cover Design: Outlined with Love Designs

I never thought I’d be divorced and a single mother before I turned thirty. But life had other plans. 

I was content with my life. Being a mom to Jaxon, working as a legal assistant, and hanging out with my best friend. 

Then I met Dane Thompson. 

Lead singer of Blanked Edge and my new neighbor. 

The man looks way too delicious in those tight shirts and baggy jeans, with eyes that seem to sear into my very soul. 

And when my apartment floods and he asks us to move in for a few days, I find myself saying yes. 

Is it a good idea?

Probably not. 

Do I do it anyway regardless of the way he makes me squirm with just a look? 

Of course. 

Nothing at all can go wrong….right?

 

S.A. Clayton lives in a small town outside of Toronto, Canada with her husband of five years and her scary large collection of books that seem to take over every room.

She has worked on both sides of the publishing industry, both in a bookstore and for actual publishing companies. Although she loved both for different reasons, she found that writing was her true passion and has spent the last few years breaking into the industry as best she can.

She is a lover of all things romance and began her writing journey in her late twenties. Since then, she has immersed herself in the romance genre and couldn't be happier.

When she's not writing or reading, she enjoys binging a great Netflix show (Stranger Things anyone?), baking (because who doesn't love cookies!), and spending time with her family.

HOSTED BY: