By P.J. Nelson
​** Publication Date 10 December 2024 **
5 stars
One of the most enjoyable mysteries I’ve read in a while. I wouldn’t exactly call it a ‘cozy’ mystery, but it definitely wasn’t much of a horror mystery either. Truly loved the story of Madeline and her return to Enigma, Georgia.


After pursuing a career in the theatre, Aunt Rose opened a bookstore in Enigma. It’s an old Victorian home where the first floor serves as a store, and the second floor as a home. Rose had a successful run selling books and textbooks for the local college. When she passed, the bookstore went to her niece Madeline. 


Madeline returns to Enigma after her own somewhat successful career in the theatre. Kindred spirits were Madeline and her Aunt Rose. Madeline isn’t quite sure what her next act is, so she latches onto the inheritance and heads home. She isn’t in Enigma but minutes, when the gazebo behind the house is in flames. Arson. Then she gets a troubling phone call late at night threatening to burn the rest of the house down.


Not the return she imagined.


With her Aunt Rose’s best friend Philomena and the new Methodist minister Gloria, Madeline is going to tackle figuring out who wants her out of Enigma. Along the way she’ll also have a murder to solve. It does get sticky down in those parts.


Very fun. Very engaging. With so much humor and grace, this story was a pleasure to read. I don’t think I’ve read any P.J. Nelson before, but I can guarantee this won’t be the last.

By Ann Hood (edited by)
** Publication Date 12 Nov 2024 **
​4 stars

​If you’re a Gilmore Girls fan, you’ll enjoy this. Each of these essays touches on a personal relationship with Gilmore Girls. How Gilmore Girls affected each of these people in different ways. Good and bad. But so interesting how each of these essayists felt about the show. 


This is one of those books you can pick up and put down without losing track. Made me want to crawl back into Star’s Hollow and reminisce. 

By Charlene Thomas
** Publication Date 5 November 2024 **
4 stars

For centuries, man has tried to control time. Relive the good days. Change the bad. Stop time from moving forward. In Streetlight, there are powerful families that apparently do have the power to control time. When a teenage girl named Kady stumbles across this ability, she just wants to use it to have her time with her boyfriend Nik last longer.


Nik is one of the IV boys, a secret society at the elite private school Iverson. In Streetlight Kady describes them as the have-lots, while on her side of town are the have-nots. Normally the two do not intermingle. Kady and Nik have crossed those lines. Still, Nik keeps her at arm’s length from IV. He refuses to take her to the annual ball, attended by the have-lots and their select guest list. Kady is blatantly unwelcome. 


Then there is Aaron. Nik’s IV brother, and Kady’s friend. Aaron tries to keep Kady from abuse by the IV boys, but there is only so much he can do. When Kady stumbles upon the truth of what is really happening in Streetlight, Aaron might be the only thing that can save her.


Truly creative novel about being a teen, not belonging, even when it’s the town you’ve grown up in. Of power and the abuse of power by those who have more. It’s so well written and engaging. Kady is a hero and anti-hero all in one, but when presented with her ultimate choice, will she choose the good or the power? 


I really enjoyed this one. Twists and turns and self-reflection abound. It’s wild. 

By Olivia Worley
** Publication Date 29 October 2024 **
​4 stars

A lot of girls dream of being debutantes. Very few have that chance. In New Orleans, the Krewes are private clubs. These private social clubs are very active in Mardi Gras and Carnival events, and they sponsor debutante balls. Some girls are born to be debs, and some dread the idea. 


Lily is the queen of the debutante ball for her parent’s krewe. Last year’s queen tragically died shortly after the ball. Lily is a good girl though. Nothing like that expected of her. But events at the ball lead to Lily’s disappearance. Three of her ‘maids’ are going to try to figure out what happened to Lily, and possibly how Margot, last year’s queen, died as well.


Along the way they’re going to encounter some pretty seedy elements in the krewe. Things they never could have imagined were actually going on. Secret societies, dark elements in their own parent’s lives. Things as a teenage girl you just would rather not know.


While these teens think they’re invincible, there are some who want to keep secrets buried. And these three debs are making that next to impossible, putting their own lives in danger.


Great novel. So much darkness, which hopefully doesn’t infiltrate all the Krewes of New Orleans. A lot of history too. Really enjoyed this trip into the high society of that culture. 

By Olivia Blacke
** Publication Date 29 October 2024 **
​4 stars



What would you do if you suddenly realized you were living with a ghost? Would you call someone to exorcise the ghost, or befriend it?  Ruby has always been fascinated by ghosts, so when she realizes the woman who killed herself in Ruby’s apartment is still hanging around, Ruby decides to make the ghost comfortable.


Cordelia supposedly committed suicide in the bathroom of this very apartment. A bottle of Jack Daniels and some pills, and she took a permanent sleep. Until she woke up to realize that she was truly dead. When Ruby moves in, Cordelia decides to stick around. When Ruby and Cordelia’s neighbor Jake also turns up dead, something is truly fishy.


Together Cordelia and Ruby are going to solve a crime. 


With not much more than a magnetic poetry set to communicate with, they form quite the pair and seek out a murderer. Often with more comical results than not. This is a great mystery, but with such a sense of humor.


Apparently there will be more mysteries to solve for Cordy & Ruby, which makes me ever so happy. I think this is a truly fun novel. Easy to read. Can’t wait for book two.