Release Day! The Unwritten Rules of Magic by Harper Ross ~ My Thoughts #TheUnwrittenRulesOfMagic

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Harper

on the release today of

The Unwritten Rules of Magic!

The Unwritten Rules of Magic by Harper Ross

Magical Realism, Fiction, 320 pages

Published January 27, 2026 by St. Martin's Press

For fans of The Midnight Library and In Five Years, The Unwritten Rules of Magic is a spellbinding novel that blends magic and memory in an unforgettable journey through love, grief, and the hidden cost of perfection across three generations of women.

Emerson Clarke can’t remember a time when she felt in control of her life. Her father—a celebrated author—blew in and out of her childhood like a hurricane until he got Alzheimer’s. Her mother numbed loneliness with gin. And recently, her teen daughter has shut her out without explanation. The only place Emerson has ever been in charge is in front of the keyboard where, as a ghostwriter, she dictates everything that happens on the page. If only she could arrange reality the same way, life could be perfect. An impossible fantasy—or so she believes until she makes a startling discovery.

After her father’s wake, Emerson steals her father’s vintage typewriter—the very one he’d forbidden anyone to touch—and tests its keys by typing out a frivolous wish. After it comes true the very next day, she tries another. When those words also spring to life, she becomes obsessed with using the typewriter to engineer happiness for herself and her daughter. Easier said than done.

As Emerson shapes her real-life circumstances, she uncovers disturbing truths about her family’s history and the unexpected cost for each story-come-true. She should destroy the typewriter, but when her daughter's secret finally emerges, Emerson is torn between paying the price for bending fate and embracing the uncertainty of an unscripted life.

My thoughts about The Unwritten Rules of Magic ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"My father kept his good-luck charm locked in the antique curio cabinet in his office."

I'm a huge fan of magical realism stories. I didn't know this about myself until I found myself lost in some of the most wonderful stories I've read. The Unwritten Rules of Magic is a great addition to these books that I have come to love. 

Emerson Clarke never would have guessed that her father's 'most prized' possession would open up a magical world for her. But it's magic comes at a cost and is that cost worth it to Emerson and her loved ones? As she works through the magic her father experienced and that she is now discovering, she finds out a lot about her family and what is most important to all of them.

The Unwritten Rules of Magic was an amazing escape read and made me, as the reader, really think about being careful what you wish for because all wishes are not granted in the way you want them to be. This is Harper Ross' debut novel and I'm excited to see what she writes next. 

I received an ARC of The Unwritten Rules of Magic and this is my honest opinion.

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About the author

Harper Ross’s debut magical realism novel, The Unwritten Rules of Magic, releases with St. Martin's Press on January 27th, 2026. She's eager to meet every bookworm who picks up her work and hopes they’ll stay in touch via social media or email.

Harper has enjoyed a lifelong love affair with the dramatic story worlds in books and movies. After leaving her legal practice, she discovered her own creative side and began writing novels that explore friendship, family, and forgiveness. Because she also appreciates the magic in everyday life—from the spark of attraction to those serendipitous moments we all experience—you’ll find a dash of that in her work too. When she’s not at the keyboard, she’s likely to be singing badly in her car, dancing in her kitchen, or walking her adorable dog, Mo. She’s also a lucky wife and mother to a very patient and supportive family. 

Connect with Harper

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? January 26, 2026 #IMWAYR

        

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are! 

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Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. 

Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

Keeper of Lost Children

 by Sadeqa Johnson

eARC for review

Pub date ~ February 10

Restrung: Fatherhood in a Different Key

by Matt Fogelson

print ARC for review

Pub date ~ February 3

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things

by Bryn Greenwood

audio-book borrowed from Audible

Published August 9, 2016

What I recently finished

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

(The Tattooist of Auschwitz #1)

by Heather Morris

print from my TBR shelf for a challenge

Published January 2018

What I am going to read next

The Fourth Princess

by Janie Chang

print ARC for review

Pub date ~ February 17

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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Release Day! A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James ~ My Thoughts #ABoxFullOfDarkness

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Simone

on the release today of

A Box Full of Darkness!

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

Ghost Thrillers, Paranormal Suspense, 344 pages

Published January 20, 2026 by Berkley

Siblings return to the house they fled eighteen years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request to come home.

Strange things happen in Fell, New York: A mysterious drowning at the town’s roadside motel. The unexplained death of a young girl whose body is left by the railroad tracks. For Violet, Vail, and Dodie Esmie the final straw was their little brother's shocking disappearance, which started as a normal game of hide-and-seek.

As their parents grew increasingly distant, the sisters were each haunted by visions and frightening events, leading them to leave town and never look back. Violet still sees dead people—spirits who remind her of Sister, the menacing presence that terrorized her for years. Now after nearly two decades it’s time for a homecoming—because Ben is back, and he’s ready to lead them to the answers they’ve longed for and long feared.

My thoughts about A Box Full of Darkness ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"When I wake in the middle of the night, I don't always see darkness."

What can I say about A Box Full of Darkness? I absolutely loved it! 

I am a huge fan of Simone St. James and love her stories. This one takes the reader to the dark world of Fell, NY, where lots of mysterious things and deaths have happened over the years. Is it all a coincidence or is there something really evil in the town? 

Violet, Vail, and Dodie Esmie are 'called back' to their hometown and they all reluctantly go. They need to solve the mysterious disappearance of their little brother Ben once and for all. But what they discover is not pleasant for anyone. Do they have the strength and belief in themselves to conquer the evil that they uncover?

This was a gripping, creepy story that I devoured, just like I have all of St. James' other tales. It kept me on the edge of my seat while pushing me to the exciting ending. I highly recommend A Box Full of Darkness, especially if you like creepy suspense thrillers. This is a definitely a good one!

I received an ARC of A Box Full of Darkness and this is my honest opinion.

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About the author

Simone St. James is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Book of Cold Cases, The Sun Down Motel, The Broken Girls and The Haunting of Maddy Clare, which won two RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. She wrote her first ghost story, about a haunted library, when she was in high school, and spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. 

She lives outside Toronto, Canada with her husband and a spoiled cat.

Connect with Simone

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

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Release Day! The Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia ~ My Thoughts #TheFairWeatherFriend

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Jessie

on the release today of

The Fair Weather Friend!

The Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia

Thrillers, Mystery, 320 pages

Published January 20, 2026 by St. Martin's Press

The next gripping domestic suspense novel from Jessie Garcia.

It's always sunny in Detroit for Faith Richards. The popular TV meteorologist, endearingly referred to as "The Fair Weather Friend" by her viewers, has the world by the tail. But one night, Faith leaves work on a dinner break and never returns. Her body is found the next morning.

The town is reeling, suspects emerge, and long-buried secrets are uncovered. While her allies rally, her list of adversaries also grows. Little does anyone know that only the deepest secrets will expose the truth.

In this riveting thriller from the author of The Business Trip, Jessie Garcia's signature multi-POV, rapid-fire style will propel you into the heart of a mystery no one could have forecasted.

My thoughts about The Fair Weather Friend ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"June 1 and 2. When television viewers in Detroit sat down to watch the eleven o'clock news on Channel 9 that Friday, they expected to see the usual:..."

Expect a twisty storyline with a lot of interesting, possibly guilty, characters. When Faith, the very popular online weather person, goes missing, it seems that everyone might have a motive and their own opinions about what happened to her. It turns out, Faith might not be the beloved person everyone thought she was. The twisty part is that with each new point of view, you will be wondering if that person is the guilty one. 

This was a fast read as I wanted the mystery to be figured out and find out for sure what happened to Faith. The ending is not what I expected, a total surprise. I love when an author can do that for me. The Fair Weather Friend was in intriguing read that I enjoyed very much!

I received an eARC of The Fair Weather Friend and this is my honest opinion.

I also read Jessie's book Business Trip. 

Read my thoughts here.

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About the author

Jessie Garcia knew she wanted to be a writer or a reporter from about the age of 8. After growing up in Madison, WI she attended college at Boston University, gravitating to television journalism.

Jessie spent over 25 years on the air as a sportscaster and became the sideline reporter for the Green Bay Packers as well as a host of NFL coach's shows. She then got into TV management and now oversees a newsroom of journalists.

Jessie also taught journalism at four universities and produced a documentary on a little-known piece of track and field history.

She has several award-winning non-fiction books out but recently turned to fiction. She has always been drawn to mysteries and thrillers and is excited to be bringing you The Business Trip.

Jessie has two adult sons and lives in Wisconsin with her husband. Their two animals truly rule the house: a savvy cat who simply appeared in the front bushes one day, and a dog who won their hearts at the Humane Society.

Follow her on Instagram at jessiegarcia_author for behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

Connect with Jessie

Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

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Release Day! Remember to Eat and Other Stories by Meryl Ain ~ My Thoughts #RememberToEat

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Meryl

on the release today of

Remember to Eat!

Remember to Eat and Other Stories by Meryl Ain

Multigenerational Fiction, 224 pages

Published January 20, 2026 by SparkPress

For fans of Hilma Wolitzer and Jhumpa Lahiri comes a collection of short stories about a mother and daughter as they navigate their changing roles through tumultuous times. 

Following a Jewish family from before World War II to the not-too-distant future, this collection of loosely linked short stories explores the experiences of Marjorie, a baby boomer; her mother, Alice; and the friends and family that make up their community over the decades. As they each pursue higher education and choose career paths, both mother and daughter encounter challenges as they make choices within a changing society—from in-law problems to illness to antisemitism and beyond. 

Sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous, Remember to Eat takes on themes including patriarchy, technology, the changing role of women, the challenges of raising children, the COVID-19 pandemic, complex family relationships, and what it means to be a Jew with empathy and insight. Ultimately, the twenty-two stories contained in these pages offer not only an intimate journey into these women’s lives but also an illuminating portrait of the times in which they live.

My thoughts about Remember to Eat ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"Margaret got pregnant on the first try only a few months after she and Eric married"

Remember to Eat is an entertaining, insightful saga of multi-generational women. There are funny, humorous incidents as well as beautiful, heartwarming moments as these individuals try to figure out life. 

I relished all of the stories and felt each one flowed easily into the next one as I came to know Marjorie and Alice. Their lives were interesting, while their experiences could be stories you might hear from your family members or your neighbors. 

Remember to Eat is a collection of stories that will stick with me a long time. There was entertainment and well as food for thought.

I received an ARC of Remember to Eat and this is my honest opinion.

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About the author

Meryl Ain is a writer, author, podcaster, and career educator. Her new collection of short stories, Remember to Eat, will be published on January 20. The Takeaway Men, her award-winning post-Holocaust debut novel, was published in 2020. The sequel, Shadows We Carry, was published on April 25.

Meryl's articles and essays have appeared in numerous publications, and she is the author of two non-fiction books. She is the host of the podcast, People of the Book, and the founder of the Facebook group, Jews Love To Read!

Connect with Meryl

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram

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Release Day Spotlight! A Tiny White Light by Linda Bass #ATinyWhiteLight

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Linda

on the release today of

A Tiny White Light!

A Tiny White Light: A Memoir of a Mind in Crisis by Linda Bass

Memoir, 312 pages

Published January 20, 2026 by She Writes Press

From an author with a psychology background, a candid memoir about the interior of her own psychotic episode and its origins in guilt, lost purpose, conflict between mothering and career, and the ambiguity in her relationship with her therapist.

Just after Linda, nineteen, and her brother Brian, eighteen, move from their tiny country town in Wisconsin to the tumult of Los Angeles in 1967, the Summer of Love, their parents decide to divorce—and for the first time, the two teenagers find themselves truly on their own. Forced to fend for himself, Brian’s life quickly spirals He hitchhikes around the country, lands in psychiatric hospitals and jails, and, finally, commits an irrevocable act. Plagued with guilt over her role in Brian’s deterioration, Linda loses her own sense of purpose, gives up a promising career in psychology, and finds herself in a life she never envisioned—poor, alcoholic, an accidental parent in an unhappy marriage, feeling invisible and alone.

When Linda’s husband, Jake, urges her to see Sam, a psychologist, for help in quitting smoking, Sam quickly becomes a touchstone for what she has her sense of self. Feeling truly seen, she falls in love with him, and she believes he might return her feelings. But he offers her only mixed messages, and the ambiguity triggers her descent into a psychotic episode—one that echoes her dreams, Brian’s experience, and Sam’s own phobia.

Will she follow her brother’s path—or will she find her way back to herself and create the life she longs to live?

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Advance Praise for A Tiny White Light 

"Through poetic and thought-provoking prose, [Bass] examines the human need for companionship and connection with refreshing candor, not shying away from describing the darker aspects of her own impulses and behavior . . . the work’s exceptional prose and unflinching honesty make for an engaging read . . . A skillfully written personal exploration.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Exquisitely written with vivid imagery, this enthralling memoir takes one on a harrowing journey to madness and back.”—Bonnie R. Strickland, PhD, former president of the American Psychological Association and author of Leaving the Confederate Closet

”An evocative memoir that immerses the reader in the author’s descent into psychosis. With unflinching vividness, Bass translates the logic of madness, the distortions of perception, and the sensory overload of a fractured mind not just as an experience, but as a surreal world with its own internal consistency. For anyone interested in how the mind works, this story is critical and relevant.”—Rosie McMahan, EdM, author of Fortunate Daughter: A Memoir of Reconciliation

”Brave, bold, illuminating, and well-written, this memoir is essential reading for anyone interested in the human mind and overcoming adversity. It is especially relevant for those touched by mental illness and clinicians seeking to understand the lived experience of psychosis from the inside."—Julie Savitch, EdD, author of My Other Kids: A Memoir of Child Advocacy and the Power of Showing Up

“Truly the most authentic, disturbing and riveting description of psychosis I’ve ever read, barring perhaps Jack Kerouac’s depiction of alcoholic psychosis in his memoir Big Sur.”—Dori Ostermiller, author of Outside the Ordinary World

“A Tiny White Light is a lyrical memoir in which living is treated as a continual search for meaning and self-worth . . . A revealing memoir about hitting rock bottom and digging one’s way out . . . toward a triumphant ending.”—Foreword Clarion Review

”Burdened by a life marked by trauma, neglect, and solitude, Bass begins to experience a psychotic episode during psychotherapy. This book shows how what she calls “craziness” is a strategy for survival in the face of deep hurt—and a catalyst for confronting life’s challenges in a new way.”—Stijn Vanheule, professor of clinical psychology at Ghent University and author of Why Psychosis Is Not So Crazy

“Spanning time, place, and people, A Tiny White Light provides a compelling portrait of mental illness and the long, winding road of recovery.”—Maria Galano, PhD, assistant professor of clinical psychology, UMass Amherst

“A brave, brilliant and beautifully written book.”—Michele Orwin, author of Waiting for Next Week

About the author

Linda Bass holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCLA and a master’s degree in psychology from UC Berkeley. She worked in the workforce development field for thirty years, most recently as the executive director of a regional workforce board in Cambridge, MA. Now retired, she devotes her time to writing, painting, solving puzzles, reading, singing (to herself), enjoying friends and family, and feeling grateful for the life she has now. She currently lives in South Hadley, MA, and is working on a second book.

Connect with Linda

Website | Goodreads | Amazon

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? January 19, 2026 #IMWAYR

         

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are! 

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

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. 

Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

Keeper of Lost Children

 by Sadeqa Johnson

eARC for review

Pub date ~ February 10

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

(The Tattooist of Auschwitz #1)

by Heather Morris

print from my TBR shelf for a challenge

Published January 2018

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things

by Bryn Greenwood

audio-book borrowed from Audible

Published August 9, 2016

What I recently finished

The Unwritten Rules of Magic

by Harper Ross

eARC for review

Pub date ~ January 27

A Tiny White Light: A Memoir of a Mind in Crisis

by Linda Bass

print ARC for review

Pub date ~ January 20

What I am going to read next

Restrung: Fatherhood in a Different Key

by Matt Fogelson

print ARC for review

Pub date ~ February 3

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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

Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!  

Release Day! The Lost Ballerina by Deanna Lynn Sletten ~ My Thoughts #TheLostBallerina @DeannaLSletten

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Deanna

on the release today of

The Lost Ballerina!

The Lost Ballerina by Deanna Lynn Sletten

Women's Sagas, 229 pages

Published January 13, 2026 by Deanna Lynn Sletten

Two generations. Two dreams. One story powerful enough to change a life.

1963—Evalina Ashford has spent her life reaching for her dream. Raised with little more than determination and a passion for dance, she has fought her way into the revered halls of the New York City Ballet under the watchful eye of the great choreographer, George Balanchine. Just as her long-held dream is finally within reach, a devastating betrayal from someone she loves threatens to shatter everything—her future, her trust, and the very identity she has built through years of sacrifice.

Today—Seventeen-year-old Madison Carlson is having the kind of summer she’d rather forget. With her car wrecked by her boyfriend and her parents urging her toward a “sensible” career path, she’s stuck mowing lawns to earn repair money and questioning every choice she’s made. When Maddie reluctantly knocks on the door of the old house the neighborhood kids whisper about, she expects to be turned away. Instead, she meets two elderly ladies with a past that glimmers with secrets and heartache—and one woman whose extraordinary story inspires Maddie to reclaim herself, her dreams, and her future.

Across decades, the lives of a rising ballerina and a struggling teenager intertwine, revealing how courage, mentorship, and the stories we share can change everything.

My thoughts about The Lost Ballerina ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"Madison Carlson stood at the end of the long driveaway, staring at the home that all teens in the neighborhood believed was haunted."

I got lost in the storyline of The Lost Ballerina. (See what I did there.) I love dual timelines in stories, where we learn the story behind what is happening in the the present. And no one does dual timelines better than Deanna. I'm a huge fan of her historical novels—you can tell she does the research to write her stories authentically. And then to throw in two related stories takes her stories over the top.

Madison has to step out of her comfort zone to approach the two elderly women who are perceived as witches by the neighborhood kids. What she finds is not at all what she expected and she forges a deep friendship with them. As their past is revealed, Madison discovers so much about them, her family, and herself. 

The Lost Ballerina was an eye opening look at the world of ballet for me. I now understand a little bit of what it takes to be the best and and how hard people have to work studying ballet. It was heartwarming to learn about the love and sacrifice that Evalina and her mother went through so that Evalina could live her dream. Life lesson for all of us—live your best life and follow you dreams. 

I loved everything about The Lost Ballerina and highly recommend it. 

I received an ARC of The Lost Ballerina and this is my honest opinion.

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About the author

Deanna Lynn Sletten is the author of Mrs. Winchester's Biographer, The Ones We Leave Behind, The Women of Great Heron Lake, Maggie's Turn, The Lake Harriet Series, and several other titles. She writes compelling historical fiction, heartwarming women's fiction, romance novels, and murder mysteries. She has also written one middle-grade novel that takes you on the adventure of a lifetime

Deanna has recently begun a new murder mystery series, The Rachel Emery Series which includes The Truth About Rachel and Death Becomes You.

Deanna is married and has two grown children. When not writing, she enjoys walking the wooded trails around her home with her beautiful Australian Shepherd or relaxing on the lake in the summer. ~ Goodreads

Deanna loves hearing from her readers.

Connect with her here—

Website | Blog | Facebook | X | Amazon

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