Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #613: Hell to Pay by Kylie Lee Baker

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher: The new book from Kylie Lee Baker, the critically acclaimed, USA TODAY bestselling, New York Times Top 100, Shirley Jackson Award–winning author of Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng and Japanese Gothic.

A riveting, darkly humorous, and deeply strange story of three roommates whose everyday struggle to survive in New York is complicated by the intestine-eating demon who haunts their apartment.

Leni was kidnapped and almost sacrificed to the devil as a child, but now she’s perfectly fine. Aside from the fact that she has three reflections in the mirror…and one of them wants her to poison people.

Emerson was a leading heart surgeon until The Incident that left his patient dead. Now he’s too sick to work, keeps finding severed fingers in his water bottles, and is followed around by a faceless Girl Scout with a creaky red wagon.

Jasper is a line cook with a criminal record, just trying to keep his chosen family together. Sure, he sees a man in the shadows who likes the taste of blood, but he’s very good at ignoring that. He would do anything for Leni and Emerson. Anything.

They’re fine. They’re normal. They’re roommates making it work in New York City. 

That is, until a demon leaves his sigil on their wall. 

Now, they have seven days to bring Sychar a sacrifice, or he’ll tear off their skin. Who knew demon-slaying wasn’t a valid excuse to miss work? Why are murder supplies so expensive? Just how is a low-income household supposed to afford a human sacrifice?

As their personal ghosts grow louder and Sychar’s deadline draws nearer, Leni, Emerson, and Jasper discover just how far they’ll go to protect each other.

Hell to Pay by Kylie Lee Baker is expected out March 30, 2027 from Hanover Square Press.

Why am I waiting on this book? From what I've read, this book is supposed to appeal to fans of Grady Hendrix and Stephen King. I have enjoyed reading both of those authors. I am hoping it will have a lot of humor as it is described as "darkly humorous and deeply strange." It certainly sounds weird and appealing from the synopsis. And just a little bit, it reminds me of the plot of King Sorrow by Joe Hill, which I also enjoyed.

What book are you waiting on? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever-growing TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Pants on Fire by Alex A. King

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR! You can also just share what you are currently reading. We make it very easy to play along. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Ambrosia at the Purple Booker.

1: Grab your current read. 2: Open to a random page. 3: Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title and author so that other people can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

 The fifty-something principal, who was never an educator herself, has the complexion of an old leather canteen and the personality of razor wire. She's a person accustomed to finding fault in everything, including puppies and cake. As for children, mention kids and watch her inner Roald Dahl villain emerge. Any moment now Andreas expects her to present him with a massive chocolate cake and scream at him to eat until the plate is licked clean.(pp. 16-17)

Pants on Fire by Alex A. King was published May 9, 2025. It's part of the Women of Greece series. Each book can be read as a standalone. The series is a lot of fun and makes for great beach reading.

What are you reading?

Friday Favorites: Southern Cozy Mysteries

 

Southern Cozies are a favorite of mine at least in part because I live in the south. For the purpose of this post I am using the Census Bureau's definition of the south-- South Atlantic: Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, amd Delaware East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas.

What makes a southern cozy? It takes place in the South. The dialogue is generally polite, but can be sharp (Bless her heart.) There is usually nothing overtly graphic in the way of violence, gore, or sex. The murderer is always caught and brought to justice and harmony restored. The main investigator is usually a likable, female character. And the villain is despicable.

I like the easy, light reading of the southern cozy. The banter is usually good. Settings for the most part are pleasant. I found when I was out of town for an extended period, that the southern cozies helped with my homesickness. 

Murder on a Girls' Night Out is the first in the Southern Sisters mysteries by Anne George. This is one of my all time favorite series. The books take place in Birmingham, Alabama. Patricia Anne (aka Mouse) and Mary Alice (aka Sister) are the sleuths. There is a lot of humor to the writing as well. There are 8 books in the series.

Another humorous series is the Cherry Tucker series that takes place in Halo, Georgia. Cherry Tucker is a talented artist who ends up having a skill for finding trouble as well. She has 6 novels and 2 novellas according to Goodreads. Portrait of a Dead Guy by Larissa Reinhart is the first book in the series.

Another humorous southern cozy is The Liz Talbot series by Susan Boyer. It starts with Lowcountry Boil. I love the description of the plot of the first book on Goodreads. There are 11 novels and one novella. The novels take place in South Carolina. "Private Investigator Liz Talbot is a modern Southern belle: she blesses hearts and takes names."

Some other humorous southern cozies include: The Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano (Virginia), The Miss Fortune series by Jana DeLeon (Louisiana), The Southern Ghost Hunter series by Angie Fox (Tennessee), The Claire Malloy series and The Arly Hanks series by Joan Hess (Arkansas).

Two series that I have on my TBR list, but haven't gotten to yet are The Sarah Booth Delaney series by Carolyn Haines (Mississippi) and The China Bayles series by Susan Wittig Albert (Texas).

Do you have a favorite southern cozy series? Or does one of these appeal to you? Share in the comments. Happy Reading!

(All links open in new tabs and come from Goodreads.)

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #612: The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) by Tiffany Hunt

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher: Kazimir and Arabella embark on a honeymoon where the only thing more dangerous than their enemies are their growing feelings for each other in this deliciously wicked and riotously funny second book in the Guides to Villainy and Love romantasy series that’s Assistant to the Villain meets Dreadful.  Step Four: Take her on a honeymoon.

Step Five: Learn to co-villain effectively.
Step Six: Try not to get possessed by ancient evil.

Now bound by marriage and the formidable power of the Heirloom, Dark Lord Kazimir Blackrose and his Dark Lady Arabella are the realm’s most feared and chaotic power couple. And after years of scheming, Kazimir is poised to conquer Solandris. But when the Alchemist calls in a debt, Kaz is forced to postpone his reign of terror or face consequences even he can’t escape.

Arabella declares it the perfect opportunity for the honeymoon she was never promised. But their villainous getaway soon devolves into mayhem involving mass kidnappings, uncomfortable truths about Kazimir’s demonic past, and a talented pastry chef with heroic blood who won’t stop baking scones.

As if that weren’t enough, Kazimir’s mind is also filling with whispers not his own, while Arabella secretly tries to recover her stolen memories. But the greatest threat may be those three dangerous little words that could shatter their carefully constructed walls…and unleash an evil that destroys them all.

This sexy and side-splittingly funny fantasy romance is perfect for readers who love: villains who stay deliciously wicked (but are catastrophically in love); a powerful heroine carving out her place in the world; touch them and die; plotting world domination; sizzling spice and wickedly amusing banter; dark humor; found family of villains; and a honeymoon phase with assassination attempts.

The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) by Tiffany Hunt is expected out September 8, 2026 from Scarlett Press.

Why am I waiting on this book? Book one, The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) by Tiffany Hunt has been on my TBR for a while now. The books sound like they will be funny as well as interesting. A morally gray villain that stays that way sounds like a different kind of character from what I usually run into. And I like that the female lead isn't a timid mouse.

What book are you waiting on? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever-growing TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Cackle by Rachel Harrison

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR! You can also just share what you are currently reading. We make it very easy to play along. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Ambrosia at the Purple Booker.

1: Grab your current read. 2: Open to a random page. 3: Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title and author so that other people can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

 It's best not to be specific with wishes. Otherwise, you end up getting what you think you want instead of what you really need. How dangerous.

(p.285)

The kindle edition of Cackle by Rachel Harrison was released October 5, 2021 from Penguin. I borrowed my copy from the local library.

Friday Favorites: Urban Fantasy

 

Urban Fantasy is a genre that became more popular starting in the 1980s. In Urban Fantasy, the magical shares our world, but is often hidden in some way. It differs from Magical Realism in that in Magical Realism, the magic is accepted as a normal part of the world. Not everyone has magic, but those that do or those around them more or less accept it as part of the status quo. When you think of Urban Fantasy, think about perhaps some of the magical people/creatures living underground in old subway tunnels. Or perhaps inhabiting an arts studio where their eccentricities might be discounted rather than really noticed.

My introduction to Urban Fantasy came with the book Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint. It is a collection of short stories that take place in the fictional city of Newford. Since the birth of Newford, the author has gone on to write many more stories that take place there as well as in other locations. Newford is a favorite of fans as are some of the characters that inhabit there such as Jilly Coppercorn and The Crow Girls.

Terri Windling is also of note as she has been editor, writer, artist and more in the genre and beyond starting when it became more popular.

Some other favorites of mine include, but are not limited to:

C.E. Murphy - The Walker Papers

Faith Hunter - The Jane Yellowrock series and the Soulwood series

Seanan McGuire - The InCryptid series and October Daye series

SM Reine - Preternatural Affairs and more

Kim Harrison - The Hollows series

Patricia Briggs - The Mercy Thompson Series

Jennifer Estep - The Elemental Assassin Series

Jim Butcher - The Dresden Files 

Kevin Hearne - The Iron Druid Chronicles

If you enjoy contemporary fantasy, you will most likely enjoy urban fantasy. I remember being surprised at how many people chose to use a blend of Celtic and Native American beings. For example, in book one of the Walker Papers, Urban Shaman, Joanne Walker discovers that she is a shaman and must save people from the Wild Hunt. Some other authors design a magic system virtually from scratch - the Elemental Assassin series for example.

Question: Is it possible to have urban fantasy in a historical city setting such as Boston? An example here would possibly be The Whimbrel House series by Charlie N. Holmberg.

Please understand this is not a definitive list, but rather some Urban Fantasy authors I have enjoyed over the years. If you have a favorite you don't see here or have something you'd like to add, please feel free to do so in the comments. Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #611: Mr. & Mrs. Dixon Hide a Body by Jennifer Holdich

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher: 

From the author of Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath ("wickedly funny and darkly compelling") comes a twisted new thriller following one couple who will do anything to get away with murder, even frame each other. 

Daisy Dixon lives in a stately home, but the grandeur on the outside hides a leaking roof, dusty rooms and a failed marriage. But that isn't the only thing she has to worry about now. On the night before she plans to leave her abusive husband, James, Daisy accidentally runs a man over, with James in the passenger seat beside her. But at her husband's behest, instead of calling an ambulance, they take the man home.

When he dies, panic ensues, and the Dixon's do what any sane couple would: bury him in the family mausoleum, on the grounds of their rickety, tumbledown estate.

And that's where he lies, until a storm washes him out into the nearby village.

Her dreams of freedom postponed indefinitely, with James' help, Daisy covers up the crime and together, they seem to be doing a good job of it, until she learns that James has helped the police with their inquiries, and blamed it all on her.

Two can play games, and Daisy is very good at winning. What was once a cover-up is now a race to prison, and Daisy will do anything to make sure James gets their first.

Mr. & Mrs. Dixon Hide a Body by Jennifer Holdich is expected out July 21, 2026 from Sourcebooks Landmark.

Why am I waiting on this book? It sounds like a good read. Seems like it will have a lot of humor to it. Murder, mayhem, and mischief will abound. Well, a murder followed by mayhem and mischief anyway, 

What book are you waiting on? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever-growing TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!