12/5/2022 WITCHA GONA DO By Avery Flynn

 

Publisher: Berkley (December 6, 2022)

An unlucky witch and her know-it-all nemesis must team up in the first of a new, hot romantic comedy series from USA Today bestselling author Avery Flynn.

Could it possibly get any worse than having absolutely no magical abilities when you’re a member of the most powerful family of witches ever? It used to be that I’d say no, but then I keep getting set up on dates with Gil Connolly whose hotness is only matched by his ego. Seriously. I can’t stand him. Even if I also can’t stop thinking about him (specifically kissing him) but we’re going to pretend I never told you that part.

So yeah, my life isn’t the greatest right now, but then it goes straight to the absolute worst hell when I accidentally make my sister’s spell glitch and curse my whole family. And the only person who can help non-magical me break the spell? You guessed it. Gil the super hot jerk.

Now we have to work together to save my family and outmaneuver some evil-minded nefarious forces bent on world domination. Oh yeah, and we have to do all that while fighting against the attraction building between us because I may not be magical, but what’s happening between Gil and I sure feels like it.

REVIEWS:

“With a sexy train ride, a cocky hero and a big-hearted heroine, Witcha Gonna Do? blends romance, heat and wickedly modern magic.”—Lauren Blakely, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Witcha Gonna Do? will make your heart bubble, swoon and giggle with its fantastic mix of hilarity and heat. Appealing characters and a delightfully unique setting make this vibrant, witchy romcom really shine!”—India Holton, national bestselling author of The League of Gentlewomen Witches

“Adorable, hilarious and positively sizzling with charm, this is a delightfully magical read I’m going to come back to again and again!”—Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

"Sexy and hilarious, Witcha Gonna Do? is an ideal mash up of contemporary romance and magic.”—Book Riot

“There's plenty of charm in the wise-cracking characters, hot-as-hell chemistry, and pun-filled worldbuilding. This sexy romp of a romance is sure to win fans.” —Publishers Weekly

“Flynn's enemies-to-lovers romp is replete with the titillating details of Tilda's and Gil's escalating relationship. Fans of fast-paced, sexy romances in magically transformed contemporary settings will enjoy this clever, breezy rom-com.”—Booklist

THOUGHTS:

WITCHA GONNA DO is book one in the Witchington series by Avery Flynn. The book is set in a magical world of witches with a world very similar to ours but that it’s residents hold a certain amount of magic except for Tilda Sherwood. Tilda is on outré and has absolutely no magic at all. Enter Gil Connolly whose family has been exiled for their type of magic and is working as a double agent for both The Council and The Resistance to uncover the truth about Tilda’s lack of magic.

Though the background and development of characters were sparse, I found that it moved the story forward quicker and I am certain that in Book 2 we will definitely learn more about the history of the opposing factions, and the different types of magic, as well as the families that rule Witchington.

Overall I thought that the chemistry was sizzling hot, and Avery Flynn’s representation of body positive women that are beautiful, intelligent, and attractive, was a real delight for me to read. The sex scenes were out of the charts hot hot hot!

I look forward to reading the rest of the series!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Avery Flynn is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling romance author. She has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip.

She was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.

Find out more about Avery on her website (averyflynn.com), follow her on Twitter (@AveryFlynn) and Pinterest (pinterest.com/AveryFlynnBooks), and like her on her Facebook page (facebook.com/AveryFlynnAuthor).

Join her street team, The Flynnbots, and receive special sneak peeks, prizes and early access to her latest releases!

Also, if you figure out how to send Oreos through the Internet, she'll be your best friend for life.

Contact her at avery@averyflynn.com. She'd love to hear from you!

11/7/2022 Godmersham Park @GillHornby, @Pegasus_Books, @Austenprose

 

· Title: Godmersham Park: A Novel of the Austen Family

· Author: Gill Hornby

· Genre: Historical Fiction, Biographical Historical Fiction, Austenesque

· Publisher: ‎Pegasus Books (November 1, 2022)

· Length: (416) pages

· Format: Hardcover, eBook, & audiobook

· ISBN: 978-1639362585

· Tour Dates: October 24 – November 13, 2022





A richly imagined novel inspired by the true story of Anne Sharp, a governess who became very close with Jane Austen and her family by the #1 International bestselling-author of Miss Austen.

On January 21, 1804, Anne Sharpe arrives at Godmersham Park in Kent to take up the position of governess. At thirty-one years old, she has no previous experience of either teaching or fine country houses. Her mother has died, and she has nowhere else to go. Anne is left with no choice. For her new charge—twelve-year-old Fanny Austen—Anne's arrival is all novelty and excitement.

The governess role is a uniquely awkward one. Anne is neither one of the servants, nor one of the family, and to balance a position between the "upstairs" and "downstairs" members of the household is a diplomatic chess game. One wrong move may result in instant dismissal. Anne knows that she must never let down her guard.

When Mr. Edward Austen's family comes to stay, Anne forms an immediate attachment to Jane. They write plays together and enjoy long discussions. However, in the process, Anne reveals herself as not merely pretty, charming, and competent; she is clever too. Even her sleepy, complacent, mistress can hardly fail to notice.

Meanwhile Jane's brother, Henry, begins to take an unusually strong interest in the lovely young governess. And from now on, Anne's days at Godmersham Park are numbered.

ADVANCE PRAISE

· "This is a deeply imagined and deeply moving novel. Reading it made me happy and weepy in equally copious amounts…I read it straight through without looking up.”— Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Bookclub

· Hornby’s skillful mix of fact and fiction captures the complexities of the Austens and their era, and her crisp, nimble prose sparkles throughout. Best of all, Hornby genuinely channels the sentiment of 19th-century English literature. Janeites aren’t the only readers who will relish this smart, tender tale."— Publishers Weekly, starred review

· “…a well-written and delightfully observant novel…an excellent read.”— The Historical Novel Society

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS

MY REVIEW

When I first heard about Godmersham Park and that the story was about Anne Sharpe, a governess that worked with the Austen family, I was all over this book. I was so fascinated in learning about every facet of Jane Austen's life, that books like these have me intrigued and excited to read. More than that, I enjoy learning about the role of women in the early part of 1800's, that tells the story about the complexities of societal class, position, friendships, and matters of the heart. 

In 1804, Anne Sharp in need to support herself after the death of her mother, and with not much help from her estranged father, finds herself the only position a young unmarried woman in poor disposition would have, as a governess. Anne's charge is Franny Knight, Jane Austen's twelve-year-old niece. Through Anne's time there, she develops a special kinship with Jane and the attention of Jane's brother Henry. Anne finds herself in a precarious situation where she is neither family nor is she servant, and finding the balance in navigating her role is crucial to her livelihood. 

Gill Hornby proves herself adept in Austen's world through immense research and imagining, creating a phenomenal story that is about a woman who is clever enough to play the game of survival that is required of women in the Regency period. I enjoyed the pace of the story as well as learning about the family. 

I highly recommend!

AUTHOR BIO

Gill Hornby is the author of the novels Miss Austen, The Hive, and All Together Now, as well as The Story of Jane Austen, a biography of Austen for young readers. She lives in Kintbury, England, with her husband and their four children.

 

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

 

THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES By Sangu Mandanna @berkleypub @berkleyromance @sangumandanna

 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (August 23, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages

A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family—and a new love—changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos "pretending" to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when peril comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for....

MY REVIEW:

THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES is a story of found family, belonging, and love.

This is exactly what I have been wanting to read that is perfect for the season… well any season to be honest, if you want a nice uplifting light read – perfect with a hot cup of tea to end your day with.



Mika Moon is a thirty something witch who is an orphan and part of a Secret Society of Witches. Mika is lonely, forced to be discreet with her witchy powers, and can’t seem to find her place in the world.

Her only way to express herself is through YouTube pretending to be a witch, but catches the attention getting her an invite to the Nowhere House – where she meets other witches and all rules goes out the window.



I love the writing, the motley crew of characters, and the sweet romance. I just love a magical read with heartwarming moments that make this the perfect fall read.



I hope you give this read a go as part of your Fall TBR – I enjoyed this one a lot.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sangu Mandanna was four years old when an elephant chased her down a forest road and she decided to write her first story about it. Seventeen years and many, many manuscripts later, she signed her first book deal. Sangu now lives in Norwich, a city in the east of England, with her husband and kids. Her work includes Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom, A Spark of White Fire, Color Outside the Lines, and more!

THE BELLE OF BELGRAVE SQUARE: BELLES OF LONDON (BOOK 2) @MimiMatthewsEsq, @BerkleyRomance, @Austenprose

 

QUICK FACTS

·         Title: The Belle of Belgrave Square

·         Series: Belles of London (Book 2)

·         Author: Mimi Matthews

·         Genre: Historical Romance, Historical Fiction

·         Publisher: ‎Berkley Romance (October 11, 2022)

·         Length: (432) pages

·         Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook 

·         ISBN: 978-0593337158

·         Tour Dates: October 3 - 23, 2022

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

A BookBub Best Romance of 2022

A London heiress rides out to the wilds of the English countryside to honor a marriage of convenience with a mysterious and reclusive stranger.

Tall, dark, and dour, the notorious Captain Jasper Blunt was once hailed a military hero, but tales abound of his bastard children and his haunted estate in Yorkshire. What he requires now is a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has his sights set on the enchanting Julia Wychwood.
 
For Julia, an incurable romantic cursed with a crippling social anxiety, navigating a London ballroom is absolute torture. The only time Julia feels any degree of confidence is when she’s on her horse. Unfortunately, a young lady can’t spend the whole of her life in the saddle, so Julia makes an impetuous decision to take her future by the reins—she proposes to Captain Blunt.
 
In exchange for her dowry and her hand, Jasper must promise to grant her freedom to do as she pleases. To ride—and to read—as much as she likes without masculine interference. He readily agrees to her conditions, with one provision of his own: Julia is forbidden from going into the tower rooms of his estate and snooping around his affairs. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes…

 

ADVANCE PRAISE 

“A grand cross-class romance, a twisty mystery, and emotional internal struggles combine to excellent effect…fans and new readers alike will root for this well-earned love story.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

 
“[C]ombines deception, risk, and a resourceful heroine to create an intoxicating, suspenseful romance. Highly recommended.”— Library Journal (starred review)

 
“If you’re a fan of Beauty and the Beast, this regency romance will rapidly become a new favorite of yours. Wallflower meets an infamous war hero in this fascinating and intriguing love story.”— BuzzFeed

 
“Mimi Matthews never disappoints, with richly drawn characters and couples whose individual shortcomings become strengths, when paired together. In this Beauty and the Beast retelling, we get to root for two underdogs who get to rewrite their own stories.”— Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here

 
“The Belle of Belgrave Square is such tremendous, good fun: a heroine with a big horse, an even bigger novel-reading habit, and a hidden anxiety; a hero with a crumbling estate, a trio of wary children, and a literary secret—what's not to love? Mimi Matthews paints Victorian England with vivid humor, and her Belles of London is set to go on for at least a few more much-anticipated installments. Julian Fellowes fans will rejoice!”— Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

MY REVIEW 

Thank you @mmimatthewsesq, @berkleyromance, @austenprose for the beautiful gifted book and having my spot on tour. ⁣
⁣
𝐀 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐁𝐮𝐛 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐!⁣
⁣
𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐞 ⁣
𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒: 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟐⁣
𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: 𝐌𝐢𝐦𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰𝐬 ⁣
𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝟏𝟎.𝟏𝟏.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 ⁣
𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒: A London heiress rides out to the wilds of the English countryside to honor a marriage of convenience with a mysterious and reclusive stranger.⁣
⁣
𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝗪: ⁣
⁣
A Beauty and the Beast Retelling? Oh yes! I am all here for it. I absolutely fell head over heels over Julia and Jasper’s characters. ⁣
⁣
Julia loves reading and riding her horse, and if she can do it all day long she would. Captain Jasper Blunt once a hailed military hero is in need of a wife, and has secrets of his own. For convenience sakes, he agrees to Julia’s conditions not to Interfere with her passions, but he has conditions of his own, and that is for Julia never to snoop in the towers of his estate.⁣
⁣
Mimi Matthews write such beautiful well drawn characters. The perfect dashing and brooding war hero and the charming and strong headed heroine with hidden anxiety are the perfect couple in this gothic romance. In a tender narrative, I just can’t have enough. This series just keeps getting better and better, and of course each can be read as a standalone. ⁣
⁣
I love the twists and surprises Mimi Matthews offers in this addictive read.⁣

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS

 

AUTHOR BIO

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

 

VICTORIAN READING ROOM

Join Mimi at her Victorian Reading Room Facebook Group for exclusive access as she shares her love of writing, historical romance, Victorian fashion, brooding heroes, independent heroines, and of course, her beloved pets!

 

READ AN EXCLSUIVE INTERVIEW WITH MIMI MATTHEWS

Discover intriguing insights into The Belle of Belgrave Square and Mimi’s writing life in this exclusive interview at austenprose.com.

 

GIVEAWAY

 

Mimi has generously offered a fabulous giveaway that book tour participants can add to their post and on social media. Here are the details:

 

Giveaway period: October 3 – October 30

 Terms & Conditions:

Giveaway hosted by Mimi Matthews. No Purchase Necessary. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Open to US residents only. All information will remain confidential and will not be sold or otherwise used, except to notify the winner and to facilitate postage of the book to the winner. Void where prohibited.



Giveaway Details:



1 winner (selected at random by Rafflecopter) receives a paperback copy of The Belle of Belgrave Square, signed and annotated by the author with personal comments, underlining of her favorite lines, and other highlights by Mimi Matthews.



Giveaway is open from 12:01 am Pacific time 10/03/22 until 11:59pm Pacific time on 10/30/22.



The winner will be announced on Mimi's blog on 10/31/22.

Rafflecopter Form:

Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92989f07662/?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

IN THE SHADOW OF A QUEEN By Heather B Moore

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shadow Mountain (October 4, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639930507

#IntheShadowofaQueen, #HeatherBMoore, #HistoricalFiction, #VictorianFiction, #BiographicalFiction, #Bookstagram, @authorhbmoore, @shadowmountainpub, @austenprose

Based on the true story of the free-spirited daughter of Queen Victoria.
Princess Louise’s life is upended after her father’s untimely death. Captive to the queen’s overwhelming mourning, Louise is forbidden to leave her mother’s tight circle of control and is eventually relegated to the position of personal secretary to her mother—the same position each of her sisters held until they were married.

Already an accomplished painter, Louise risks the queen’s wrath by exploring the art of sculpting, an activity viewed as unbefitting a woman. When Louise involves herself in the day’s political matters, including championing the career of a female doctor and communicating with suffragettes, the queen lays down the law to stop her and devotes her full energy to finding an acceptable match for her defiant daughter.

Louise is considered the most beautiful and talented daughter of Queen Victoria, but finding a match for the princess is no easy feat. Protocols are broken, and Louise exerts her own will as she tries to find an open-minded husband who will support her free spirit.

In the Shadow of a Queen is the story of a battle of wills between two women: a daughter determined to forge her own life beyond the shadow of her mother, and a queen resolved to keep the Crown’s reputation unsullied no matter the cost.

MY REVIEW:

Reading about royalty had always fascinated me. As a commoner, being allowed a glimpse of their extravagant lives of privilege, wealth, and the unattainable, are what my dreams were made of. That is why reading IN THE SHADOW OF A QUEEN was so interesting to me, because of the life of Princess Louise, who is clearly the anti-princess and also somewhat of a hero to me. Princess Louise's life truly is quite a story to be told, and Heather B. Moore did this amazing justice. I enjoyed every bit of this book. 

About the Author:

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than ninety publications. Heather writes primarily historical and #herstory fiction about the humanity and heroism of the everyday person. Publishing in a breadth of genres, Heather dives into the hearts and souls of her characters, meshing her love of research with her love of storytelling.

Her historicals and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, and . . . speculative fiction under Jane Redd. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. Despite failing her high school AP English exam, Heather persevered and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in something other than English.

Please join Heather's email list at: HBMoore.com/contact/

Website: HBMoore.com

Twitter: @heatherbmoore

Instagram: @authorhbmoore

Facebook: Fans of Heather B. Moore

And yes, the Blog still lives: MyWritersLair.blogspot.com

Literary honors: 2020 Goodreads Choice Award Semi-Finalist, Foreword 2020 INDIES Finalist, ALA Best New Books - September 2020, 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 2019 Maggie Award Winner, 4-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner.

NO ONE CROSSES THE WOLF By Lisa Nikolidakis

I have a great memoir today, that has received a lot of attention for the brace account of Lisa Nikolidakis' childhood, traumas, and redemption that leads to hope and healing. 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little A (September 1, 2022)


A powerful memoir about the traumas of a perilous childhood, a shattering murder-suicide, and a healing journey from escape to survival to recovery.
Growing up, Lisa Nikolidakis tried to make sense of her childhood, which was scarred by abuse, violence, and psychological terrors so extreme that her relationship with her father was cleaved beyond repair. Having finally been able to leave that relationship behind, surviving meant forgetting. For years, “I’m fine” was a lie Nikolidakis repeated.

Then, on her twenty-seventh birthday, Nikolidakis’s father murdered his girlfriend and her daughter, and turned the gun on himself. Nikolidakis’s world cracked open, followed by conflicted emotions: shock, grief, mourning for the innocent victims, and relief that she had escaped the same fate. In the tragedy’s wake, questions lingered: Who was this man, and why had he inflicted such horrors on her and his last victims? For answers, Nikolidakis embarked on a quest to Greece to find her father’s estranged family and a reckoning with the past she never expected.

In her gripping and moving memoir, Nikolidakis explores not only the making of a killer but her own liberation from the demons that haunted her and her profound self-restoration in the face of unimaginable crimes.

Review


“In this frank and often searing narrative, Nikolidakis examines what she describes as monstrous abuses perpetrated by her father, who, after leaving her family, murdered his new girlfriend and her daughter before committing suicide…With compelling clarity and eloquence, she anatomizes his ability to manipulate…A brave and inspiring account of a movement through pain to a complex reckoning and self-recovery.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A gripping, brutally honest memoir that deals with some heavy themes but will leave readers feeling hopeful and reflective by the end. Readers who enjoy examining the human spirit will be drawn to this book.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“…the best of the [true crime] genre seeks to answer questions more complex than whodunnit. In No One Crosses the Wolf, out from Little A, Lisa Nikolidakis recounts her father’s murder of his girlfriend and her daughter, followed by his suicide, and traces a family history of psychological manipulation.” —Vanity Fair

“Prepare yourself: reading Lisa Nikolidakis is a revelation, the kind that makes you gasp and call your best friend and say, ‘Listen to this sentence, this paragraph, this chapter. Listen to how she has made sense of the parts of us we ran from.’” —Mira Jacob, author of Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversation and The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing

“No One Crosses the Wolf is a striking, thoughtful, and engaging exploration of the inheritance of abuse—the way it passes through generations, the way it echoes through the lives of survivors.” —Dan Chaon, author of Sleepwalk

“This is a benediction as much as a book, a plea for, as Lisa Nikolidakis so beautifully puts it, the cradle of someone else’s tongue. No One Crosses the Wolf is for anyone who has ever been silenced, anyone who has ever had to learn to be a soft cradle to themselves. As a reader, as a writer, and as someone else who lives in this broken and beautiful world, I honor what Nikolidakis has made. This book will mean so much to so many.” —Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, author of The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir

“When a woman tells the truth by beginning with her body, she cracks open the world. Lisa Nikolidakis’s memoir, No One Crosses the Wolf, is a force of nature, a story unearthed from under the weight of a father that brings a woman back to life. Sometimes we carry generational burdens that nearly crush us. Sometimes we run like the wind. This book is a triumph and soul song.” —Lidia Yuknavitch, author of The Chronology of Water and Thrust

“Lisa Nikolidakis’s memoir illuminates the dark and unspeakable, in ourselves, in others. Her story is crucial, and her tenacious exploration of the farthest reaches of her life’s difficult corners leaves readers with a fascinating portrait of violence and survival, as well as insight into and comfort around shadows in their own.” —Gabriel Mac, author of Irritable Hearts: A PTSD Love Story

“No One Crosses the Wolf is an insightful, brutally honest, and gripping portrait of a family marked by violence, murder, and suicide. This is a voyage fueled by hope, the desire to know the truth, and incredible resilience. Lisa’s is a beautiful, fast-paced, deeply emotional journey readers won’t soon forget.” —Julianna Baggott, author of The Seventh Book of Wonders

About the Author

Lisa Nikolidakis is an associate professor of creative writing and faculty adviser of P.R.I.D.E. Her essay “Family Tradition” was selected by Jonathan Franzen for inclusion in The Best American Essays 2016, and she won Bellingham Review’s Annie Dillard Prize for Creative Nonfiction 2021 for her essay “Whale Song for the Weary.” Other writing of hers has won various prizes and mentions, including the Gulf Coast Prize, Indiana Review’s Fiction Prize, the Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction, the Calvino Prize, A Room of Her Own’s Orlando Prize, Cincinnati Review’s Robert and Adele Schiff Award for Prose, Hunger Mountain’s Howard Frank Mosher Short Fiction Prize, Briar Cliff Review’s annual nonfiction contest, and Chattahoochee Review’s Lamar York Prize. For more information, visit www.lisanikolidakis.com.

CHRISTMAS IN BLUE DOG VALLEY By Annie England Noblin @avonbooks @aenoblin @WmMorrowBooks @harpercollins

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon (September 20, 2022)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 20, 2022

For anyone who ever loved All Creatures Great and Small, Annie England Noblin’s newest novel—about a big city vet transplanted to a small Wisconsin town—is pure delight as we meet aging alpacas, stump-tailed cats, goats in tutus, a vagabond border collie named Kevin, and the people who think they own them. And through it all, Goldie McKenzie, DVM, navigating the small town of Blue Dog, Wisconsin.


Welcome to Blue Dog Valley. Home of the Fighting Elk. Population 3,411.

When Goldie McKenzie, DVM, vet to the L.A. pet stars, arrives from Los Angeles to Blue Dog Valley she realizes three things.Never agree to upend your life when you’re hungover
Pot-belly pigs are not true farm animals
She’s going to need a warmer coat

At first Goldie is nothing more than a fish out of water, with few clients and few friends. But after a less than pleasant encounter with a man whose dog is suffering from a possibly fatal case of bloat, she’s finally earning the trust and goodwill from her fellow Blue Dog Valley citizens. Her clientele grows to include the many farm animals in the town, including a horse named Large Marge, a cape-wearing therapy alpaca, and a yardful of sweater-wearing goats. Add in Kevin, the “worst sheepdog in Blue Dog Valley,” and a Sphinx cat named Airport, and Goldie is having the best time a vet can have. . . aside from the annoying attractive town grump, Cohen, who seems intent on making sure she always feels like an outsider.

With her newfound goodwill, Goldie comes up with an idea to reinvigorate the once flourishing Blue Dog Valley: a Christmas carnival. A petting zoo, pictures with Santa, a baking contest, what more could they want? After only some brief resistance from Cohen and his father, they begin the great plan to reinvigorate Blue Dog Valley.

Will Christmas be enough to salvage this dying town—and be enough to bring Goldie closer to a certain grumpy man?

MY REVIEW:

Picking up an Annie England Noblin novel is like getting embraced by the warmest and softest blanket during a cold winter's night. I love this immersive and escape feel-good read perfect for a nice week-end read or for winding down after a stressful day.

I picked up my very first Noblin book, St Francis Society for Wayward Pets two years ago, and Maps for the Getaway last year, both of which I loved and warmed my soul. I had been looking forward to reading CHRISTMAS IN BLUE DOG VALLEY, and I absolutely loved it!

I am from Los Angeles and a city girl and often wondered what it would be like to live and relocate in a small town. So the premise of this story intrigued me. Noblin wrote a romance read that had all the feels and write the character of veterinarian Marigold "Goldie" McKenzie so well, along with the funky residents of small town Blue Dog Valley - the alpacas, potbelly pig, goats in sweaters, and of course, Cohen. 

I adored how Goldie acclimated to the town and how slowly but surely, the town enveloped her with love and affection. The story is so heartwarming, complete with a bit of Christmas magic and the motley crew of animals that will surely bring a delightful smile to your face. Fantastic!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Annie England Noblin lives with her son, husband, and three dogs in the Missouri Ozarks. She graduated with an M.A. in creative writing from Missouri State University and currently teaches English and communications for Arkansas State University in Mountain Home, Arkansas. She spends her free time playing make-believe, feeding stray cats, and working with animal shelters across the country to save homeless dogs.