100 Pages A Day.... Stephanie's Book Reviews - Blog Tours

The Reel Life of Zara Kegg

6/15/2026

Sixteen-year-old Zara Kegg is still adjusting to her mother's death three years prior. In her small seaside tourist town of Carolina Beach, winters don't provide much entertainment. Zara fills her time with Chess Club which consists of her, her friend Carla and their teacher Ms. Yamada and her job as a projectionist at the Palace Theatre. The Palace only shows vintage sci-fi and horror films, attracting few visitors during the winter. From her booth, Zara spots a young man whom she deems Mr. Inconsistent. When Mr. Inconsistent finds his way up to the booth, Zara is intrigued. Zachary travels with the fair and doesn't go to school. Zara is fascinated by how Zachary thinks and lives, but as his actions become more erratic, she worries about his safety. In addition, her boss at the theatre gives Zara an impossible task. To advertise their upcoming Godzilla marathon, Zara must find a giant inflatable Godzilla for the theatre. Zara may not be able to find exactly what she needs for the theatre, but she might be able to help Zachary, Ms. Yamada and her father.

The Reel Life of Zara Kegg is a heartfelt coming-of-age story. Zara's character is complex, featuring hardships, triumphs, and interesting relationships. After her mother passed, Zara's outlook changed; she began valuing truth above everything else. She also became part caretaker for her father, who had chosen to take risks with his job and view people differently. Zachary enters Zara's life, introducing inconsistency and unpredictability, which she welcomes unhesitatingly. With Zachary, Zara learns that she can change and grow in her relationships. She also welcomes a shared grief with her father which neither of them had explored before. Zachary's mental illness also opens up a broader understanding of the world for Zara as she learns how to trust, rebuild and find happiness. The Palace Theatre provides a wonderful backdrop with quirky movies and a boss who acts unconventionally but believes in Zara unconditionally. A unique story of change, growth and finding yourself featuring Godzilla.

This book was received for free in exchange for an honest review.

Conjuring the Hurricane

4/27/2026

Conjuring the Hurricane is a memoir told in verse. Each poem deals with survival, hardship, overcoming, grief, acceptance, different forms of love and freedom. The first two poems set the tone with a deep emotional impact, reflecting on her father's anger and abuse. These were powerful statements to see written down and helped me to understand my own experiences. Each poem tells its own story and I had to sit with many verses for a while after reading them to let the words sink in. Each poem can be read separately; however, when read together the author takes you on a journey of self discovery through a series of difficult topics. Written with intense honesty, humility and dashes of humor, author Sarah Hansen offers an authentic selection of poetry that allows the reader to connect and reflect.

This book was received for free in exchange for an honest review.

Stay For A Spell

4/13/2026

About the Book:
A cursed princess must discover what her heart truly longs for in this charmingly cozy romantic fantasy for everyone who’s ever lost – or found – themselves in a bookshop.

Princess Tanadelle of the Widdenmar is disillusioned with life as a princess. She longs for real conversation, the chance to build a life of her own making, and uninterrupted reading time.

During a routine royal visit to the town of Little Pepperidge, Tandy’s dream comes true when she finds herself cursed to remain in a run-down bookshop until she unlocks her heart’s desire. Certain that someone will figure out how to break the curse eventually, and delighted by the prospect of an entire bookstore of her own, Tandy settles into life among the stacks. She finds it easy to exchange balls and endless state dinners for teetering piles of books and an irritatingly handsome pirate who seems bent on stealing her stock.

She even starts to believe she's stumbled into her very own happily ever after.

There's just one, minor problem: as Tandy's royal duties go unfulfilled, her frantic parents start sending princes to woo her, each one of them certain their kiss will break the curse. After all, what more could a princess want but a prince?

About the Author:
Amy Coombe grew up in California and lived in Chicago and New Haven before moving to the UK, where she puts her degrees in law and modern history to good use by doing something else entirely. She lives in London with her family and three cats. Stay for a Spell is her first novel.

Review:
Princess Tanadelle of the Widdenmar is the second princess, relegated to attending openings, fancy dinners, kissing babies and traveling non-stop around the kingdom. When visiting the small town of Little Pepperidge, Tandy stops at a charming bookstore only to be handed a curse by the proprietor. The curse prevents Tandy from leaving the bookstore until she unlocks her heart's desire. Tandy takes her new curse in stride, organizing her new store, learning how to be a proprietor, and attracting customers. With the help of her new shop assistant, Sasha, a teen draconae and Bash, a pirate who has been cursed himself, Tandy creates a bookstore the town is proud of. However, Tandy's parents are determined to break her curse as quick as possible by calling in the other princes of the realm to break Tandy's curse with a kiss.

Stay for a Spell is an incredibly charming and cozy fantasy romance. A new type of fairytale, Stay for a Spell includes amazing characters and a setting that is a love letter to book lovers. Tandy has always been dutiful, taking on whatever responsibilities her family requires. When she is stuck in the bookstore, Tandy realizes that the world did not end, and she is glad for the break. Happily taking on her new duties, Tandy builds a life for herself within the confines of the bookstore. I loved Sasha, Bash and each of the Princes as well. Sasha brought teenage drama, creativity, and a down to earth outlook on Tandy's situation. Bash is charming and mysterious, his curse is well crafted and through his annoyances, he helps Tandy discover what she really wants. In the end, I loved that Tandy broke her own curse and made a decision that benefited her.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

The Porcelain Menagerie

11/4/2025

In 1732 Johann Kandler was apprenticed to a stone carver. His attention to detail caught the eye of King Augustus II who ordered Johann to his porcelain factory at Albrechtsburg. Johann is tasked with creating a lifesize porcelain menagerie for the King's pleasure. Twenty years prior, Fatima, a lady-in-waiting to Augustus' mistress, was called to be his next mistress. Knowing her future, Fatima boldly enters her role and does what she needs to gain favor. Fatima's favor from Augustus is her own living menagerie of animals she can care for.

The Porcelain Menagerie is an emotional story of power, desire and fate based on King Augustus' passion for white gold, or porcelain. The King's need drove him to enslave artists to decipher porcelain's secrets. Fatima's menagerie inspired him to create his own in porcelain. The historical context is well researched and meticulous. Augustus is a character of duality, his sweeping accomplishments for the arts contrasted with his overwhelming cruelty to those closest to him. Told through alternating points of view and timelines between Johann in 1732 and Fatima 20 years prior, we see Augustus' cruelty and passion grow and the impacts these have on those around him. I enjoyed watching Fatima grow stronger, interact with her animals and gain autonomy in her life, as well as watching Johann perfect his craft to create stunning works of art and build relationships. The story maintained a good pace, weaving mystery and intrigue as Johann tried to unravel the secrets of porcelain. Fatima's story began to collide with Johann's, revealing the many secrets Albrechtsburg holds.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

The Pond Beyond the Forest

10/22/2025

Shigeko Ito grew up in a neglectful home in Japan. Her mother was narcissistic and cared more about her appearance and shopping habit than raising children. Her father was a workaholic and rarely home. As a 16-year-old exchange student, Shigeko experiences a functional family in Napa, California, and forms a strong bond with her exchange mother, Joanne. After receiving a foundation in the US, Shigeko returns for college at Stanford, meets her husband Peter, and soon starts a family. However, Shigeko's traumatic past affects her ability to connect with her family and raise her teenage son. In trying not to repeat her parents' mistakes, Shigeko realizes her mindset has regressed to her childhood.

The Pond Beyond the Forest is an honest and emotional memoir. Shigeko's emotional journey through highs, lows, and deeply personal moments is told with an astonishingly open and direct manner, even the parts that cast her in a negative light. At times, I almost forgot that I was reading a memoir and not fiction. The chapters alternate between Shigeko's childhood and adulthood, showing the correlation between her experiences growing up and the decisions she made as a wife and mother. Shigeko's parents' hands-off attitude clearly contributed to her being overly involved in her son's life. Shigeko's institutionalization in a mental health unit was also insightful. While she desperately needed help, the hospital made some questionable choices that led to more trauma. Conversely, the hospital stay also allowed Shigeko to relax away from her parents and find the root cause of her distress. After sharing everything she went through with her parents, husband, and sons, I was amazed that Shigeko emerged ready to rebuild, grow, and fix relationships. Ultimately, a transformative story of trauma, growth, and acceptance.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

The Council Trilogy

9/22/2025

The Others

About the Book:
SAN FRANCISCO – In the pulsating heart of San Francisco lies a world hidden from ordinary eyes, a realm where supernatural forces shape the fate of humanity. This is the captivating backdrop of "The Others," (September 2024, SparkPress) a spellbinding urban fantasy novel by acclaimed author Evette Davis, which is set to enthrall readers with its potent blend of mystery, romance and magic.

Olivia Shepherd is a political consultant with a secret: She possesses empathic abilities, the power to sense the emotions of those around her. Keen to keep her supernatural gifts hidden, Olivia's world is upended when Elsa, an ancient time-walker, appears in her kitchen, unveiling a destiny she never knew she had. As Olivia delves deeper into the hidden world of the "Others" who lurk beneath San Francisco's foggy streets, she finds herself drawn into the clandestine organization, the Council, and Gabriel Laurent, the enigmatic leader of a realm where vampires, witches, fairies and demons navigate a delicate balance of power. Caught between her burgeoning abilities, her new role within the Council, and her blossoming romance with the centuries-old vampire William, Olivia must confront shocking revelations about her own past and embrace the true extent of her powers.

"The Others” is a tour de force, weaving together themes of self-discovery, empowerment and the timely issue of the dangers of political extremism. With its richly drawn characters, pulse-pounding plot twists, and atmospheric San Francisco setting, the novel promises a gripping ride from start to finish. With its darkly seductive tone, sophisticated storytelling, and cliffhanger ending, fans of urban fantasy and paranormal romance will be captivated and left eagerly awaiting the next installment.

“A rollicking supernatural jaunt through time that leaps out of the famous San Francisco fog and right onto our latest news pages. Davis combines her inside knowledge of Bay Area politics with a gripping tale of vampires and shape-shifters that leave us never quite looking at the city the same way again."
— David Callaway, former editor in chief, USA Today

Review:
Olivia Shepherd has always known that she has empath capabilities; however she has blocked her powers after watching them take a toll on her mother. Olivia has set herself up as a successful political consultant in San Francisco, lately things have not been going quite her way. With a visit from a time walker, Elsa, Olivia learns to open up to her powers and fight the demon that has been attacking her. With her newfound powers, Olivia also learns about the Others that live amongst humans, fairies, witches, vampires and more. Olivia is also introduced to the Others Council and offered a job that she is perfectly suited for, running a political campaign for a former boss. As Olivia is more involved with the Council, she learns of their involvement in human affairs and the dangers that come with it. On the other hand, Olivia has a hot new vampire boyfriend, William to keep her company and keep her safe.

The Others is a supernatural political thriller focusing on reaching your potential. Olivia's character is interesting in that she knew her mother had extra powers, but was unaware of the Others around her in San Francisco, including some of her friends. Olivia accepted the existence of the Others without hesitation and joined the Council readily. Once Olivia's senses were opened, her world became brighter and more dangerous all at once. I enjoyed experiencing all of the Others along with Olivia. It was interesting to learn the purpose of fairies, some vampire history and the different powers witches have in this world. While I loved all the supernatural elements, the plot really centered around the political campaign and the lengths some people and Others will go to in order to have influence. I enjoyed watching Olivia in her element writing campaign speeches, dealing with slip ups and unruly opposition. Olivia's supernatural friends added elements of fun, whimsy and magic. Olivia's and William's relationship was fast-paced, fun and deep adding another layer to the dangers Olivia faced with the campaign. With several twists at the end, I can't wait to see what the Council has in store next for Olivia.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

The Gift

About the Book:
Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Hunter and Charlaine Harris, The Gift picks up where The Others left off, pulling readers into yet another death-defying paranormal adventure as Olivia battles more secrets and lies inside the Council.

After a brutal act of terrorism shakes the Council to its core, they send supernaturally gifted Olivia Shepherd on assignment in Eastern Europe. What Olivia really wants is time to recover and process the stunning revelations she recently uncovered—secrets her parents have hidden from her all her life. But with a thousand-year-old vampire on her trail, rest is not in the cards for the reluctant witch, who is still discovering the extent of her powers.

When her nemesis makes the fight horribly personal, Olivia becomes blinded by her need for revenge. Pulled back into the Council’s treacherous politics, she finds herself separated from her lover, William, and thrust into an uncomfortable partnership with his beguiling brother, Josef. Meanwhile, danger lurks around every wintry corner in Eastern Europe.

As everything in Olivia’s life spins out of control, will she surrender to destiny—or forge her own path?

“A thrilling global mystery ... In the fantastical thriller The Gift, a woman in a rich paranormal world works to understand her mother’s death.”—Foreword Reviews

“…an immersive adventure filled with romance and supernatural intrigue from cover to cover. Davis's vibrant world is brimming with diverse and compelling characters… a captivating read that left me eagerly anticipating the next installment, and I’d certainly recommend it to fantasy fans seeking a new accomplished author.”—Readers Favorite, 5 STARS
Review:
Olivia Shepherd is now fully enmeshed within The Council, the governing body of supernatural beings of which she just recently discovered that she is part of. Olivia has been working on honing her gifts that her mother passed down as a witch along with her vampire boyfriend, William, timewalker mentor, Elsa and fairy friend, Lily. Now, Olivia is being put to the test to combine her human skill set in politics along with her abilities to bring down a thousand year old vampire who will stop at nothing to rule the Council. Nikola's dangerous tactics have caused deaths close to Olivia and her friends and have been seen as acts of terrorism within the Council. Now, Olivia is on a mission to Eastern Europe with William's brother, Josef to try and find evidence of Nikola's misdeeds. Meanwhile, William is on a separate mission to infiltrate Nikola's gangs that are actively hunting Olivia.

The Gift is a suspenseful supernatural fantasy filled with political intrigue. The Gift picks up right after book one, The Others, and I would highly recommend reading first. Olivia is thrown right into action and danger as she meets with Nikola and a tarot card reader who gives them both strong warnings. As in the first book, Olivia stays true to herself, finding her limits and doing what is best for both the human and supernatural communities. Olivia was tested in her relationship with WIlliam as they were unexpectedly separated for the mission and while her feelings for Josef came to the surface, Olivia decided that she needed to live for herself and make her own decisions in both her love life and work life. Through Olivia's adventures in Europe, different Others were seen and many different dangers were faced. Reading this book in the current political climate was interesting as I found many parallels to the current situation that the US is facing. Exciting to the very end, I'm glad that Olivia not only grew in her powers and as a person, but made decisions for herself and forged her own path. I can't wait to see what the third book has in store.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

The Campaign

Olivia Shepherd, now a full member of The Council and a trained witch, takes on a new role as a political consultant for presidential nominee Diana Chambers. This puts her head-to-head with Stoner Halbert, a political consultant she's defeated before. However, Stoner, who has delved into black magic and now has a demon attached to them, is far more prepared this time. Stoner launches vicious and frequent attacks, even publicly exposing Olivia as a witch. Thankfully, Olivia has also grown in strength and has the support of a powerful group of supernatural friends and companions.

In the third and final book of The Council Trilogy, Olivia transforms into the woman who can lead The Council and defeat a demon. Over the three books, Olivia has grown, accepted her powers and her position and now finally believes in who she is as a person and a witch. The Campaign begins right in with the action as Olivia accepts a place on Diana's team and must face Stoner again. This time Olivia readily accepts the help from her vampire lovers, witch family and other supernatural friends. I enjoyed watching Olivia come into her own, taking action when needed and calling the shots. It was wonderful to see her solidify her relationship with WIlliam and Josef and feel comfortable with the love she has. The writing blends the supernatural aspects expertly along with a political thriller. Amazingly, the vitriol of this fictional political race being led by demonic forces accurately mimics some of the discourse of politics today. The ending pulls together all of the forces that Olivia has worked on uniting in her life for an exciting and deadly confrontation between good and evil.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

About the Author
Evette Davis is a science-fiction and fantasy writer. She is most recently the author of “48 States,” which Kirkus named one of the Best Indie Books of 2022. The book was also a quarter-finalist for the BookLife Prize 2023 and longlisted in the 2023 Indie Book Awards.
Davis is also the author of “The Others,” the first installment of The Council Trilogy, which will be released in September 2024 by Spark Press.
Davis is a member of the Board of Directors for Litquake, San Francisco’s annual literary festival. In 2023 and 2017, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library honored Davis as a Library Laureate. Her work has also been published in the San Francisco Chronicle.
When she's not writing novels, Davis advises some of the country’s largest corporations, nonprofits and institutions as a consultant and co-owner of BergDavis Public Affairs, an award-winning San Francisco-based consulting firm. Before establishing her firm, Davis worked in Washington as a press secretary for a member of Congress. She previously was a reporter for daily newspapers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Davis splits her time between San Francisco and Sun Valley, Idaho. For more information or to sign up for her newsletter, visit www.evettedavis.com.

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Follow Evette Davis on social media:
Facebook: @evette.davis.399 | Twitter: @SFEvette | Instagram: @evettedavis.author

The Golden Toad

6/23/2025

Trevor and Kyle Ritland grew up listening to their father's stories of the many magical animals of Costa Rica, including the striking Golden Toad which inhabits the cloud forests of Monteverde on the continental divide. The little toads, which only come out from underground a few weeks a year to mate, entranced the brothers. By the time the brothers make it to Costa Rica for themselves, the Golden Toad population has steadily decreased and they are now believed to be extinct. In The Golden Toad, the Ritland's dive into the natural history of the Golden Toads, the first known sightings to their last, detailing their personal journey to find the Golden Toads again and the factors that have contributed to their disappearance.

"The Golden Toad" is an ecological mystery that beautifully captures the unique emotions of hope and grief associated with species endangerment and extinction. Despite being a scientific nonfiction book, it reads like an adventure, complete with travel, danger, and intriguing characters. The book highlights how some of the first people to observe the Golden Toads were Quaker settlers in Costa Rica. Word then spread among scientists, drawing them to the cloud forests. By the time a dedicated team of scientists began researching the Golden Toads, their numbers were already shrinking. The Ritlands embark on several treks to locate the toads 30 years after their last reported sighting. The vivid descriptions of Costa Rica's cloud forests truly made me wish I could experience them firsthand. These distinctive micro-ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots, with Costa Rica's cloud forests potentially harboring up to 25% of Earth's biodiversity. The Ritlands skillfully integrate local and Indigenous knowledge in their quest to rediscover this species, which was lost to science but not always to local communities. I particularly enjoyed Eladio's insights into the search for the Golden Toad and what its rediscovery would mean for the forest, as well as his perspective on the forest without the toad. A significant portion of the book focuses on the chytrid fungus, *Batrachochytrium dedrobatidis*, which has devastated amphibian populations globally. While chytrid has been found in Costa Rica, the book explores whether it was truly the sole cause of the Golden Toads' disappearance. Although Kyle and Trevor's expeditions may not have uncovered the Golden Toads, their efforts, combined with those of other scientists and citizen scientists worldwide, have significantly contributed to amphibian conservation and the rediscovery of several other species once thought to be lost forever.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Skin

4/22/2025

About the Book:

SKIN by Kathe Koja
With a new intro by Eric LaRocca
RELEASE DATE: April 22, 2025
GENRE: Horror / LGBTQ
BOOK PAGE: Skin – Meerkat Press
SUMMARY:
Thirty years ago, SKIN changed the landscape of dark fiction forever. And now this classic of queer body horror is back in print, with a brand new introduction from Eric LaRocca
Tess burns. Bibi cuts. Together they create chaos, love, pain, and unstoppable art, in SKIN, the story of a partnership that sparks like flying metal and bleeds like a breaking heart.
BUY LINKS: Meerkat Press | Bookshop.org | Amazon

Review:
When Tess, a struggling metal artist and welder meets Bibi, an eclectic dancer, sparks fly. They combine their talents into a unique performance art, metal and bodies twisting together for a new underground experience. Their group gains momentum and a following, finding new ways to push boundaries and create something unseen. Tess learns to make machines that interact with the dancers and Bibi's choreography moves toward stretching the limits of the body. After a tragic performance, the group splits and Tess and Bibi each have separate artistic groups; although neither seems whole without the other. Tess' sculpture becomes more obscure and grotesque while Bibi's performance art turns to self-mutilation as a gateway to transcendence.

"Skin" delves into themes of pain, obsession, and compulsion, using a distinctive writing style that mirrors the rawness of the characters' experiences. The intense and often unsettling relationship between Tess and Bibi is central to the narrative, portraying two individuals grappling with profound hurt and seeking solace in extreme ways. Bibi's descent into increasingly disturbing performances creates a palpable tension, blurring the lines between art and personal crisis, as highlighted by a show reviewer's observation of something profoundly "wrong" beneath the surface. "Skin" is a compelling, albeit disturbing, exploration of body horror and the depths of human pain. It is a story that is likely to evoke strong reactions in readers, potentially intriguing some while repelling others with its unflinching portrayal of its themes.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kathe Koja writes novels and short fiction, and creates and produces immersive fiction performances, both solo and with a rotating ensemble of artists. Her work crosses and combines genres, and her books have won awards, been multiply translated, and optioned for film and performance. She is based in Detroit and thinks globally. She can be found at kathekoja.com.

GIVEAWAY: $25 Meerkat Press Giftcard
GIVEAWAY LINK: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7f291bd845/?

Read an Excerpt:
Crane was six feet tall and all in black, steel-rimmed glasses with tinted lenses round as the little juice bottles she bought downstairs. He started talking as soon as the door opened and worse yet had not come alone: a woman with him, behind him, hanging a little back in the hall but not shy; waiting. Waiting, Tess saw, for her and not Crane to say it was okay.
“Come on in,” she said, and the woman stepped forward, past Crane; not quite as tall as him, not quite as tall as Tess: younger but more muscled, athlete’s legs, or dancer’s, smooth bare skin like Teflon over steel. Her handshake was very strong but she did not squeeze the way a man might.
“I’m Bibi Bloss,” she said.
Foxface bones, pale bright hair and eyes the same: incandescent, less broken glass than the sheer act of breaking. When she smiled Tess saw her teeth were very small, milk teeth, strange childish grin.
“You do all your own welding, don’t you?” Crane was looking around the room, moving to the pieces she had pushed in a corner, sculpture forestry about his legs and waist. “This one’s kind of interesting,” he said, careless hand above the razored ribs of Mater Intrinsecus, fierce her crown of sheared bearings and Tess pushed his hand brusquely away.
“That’s really sharp,” she said. “Listen, why don’t you tell me what you need.”
“Fine,” he said. “I don’t even know if you can help me at all. What I need primarily,” and Bibi now to where the toilet was, the green wall of the shower, moving as if through a particular silence of which no one but she was aware, “is information. I have a special piece in mind,” and off on some weird impossible tangent, he worked with aluminum, he should know better. Maybe he didn’t. She tried to explain why there was no doing what he wanted to do but he wasn’t listening, he was talking about layers of metal mimicking layers of meaning, talking about metallurgy as metaphor and the intrinsic barbarism of iron in such a way that she felt like striking an arc off his steel-rimmed glasses; and looking past him to see Bibi beside another piece, Dolores Regina and her fingers loose and deft on half-deliberate spatter, the flat fillet weld, streetlight from behind less halo than warning light and chicken-wire shadows on her face like the solemn etching of tattoo. Standing there she was sculpture, strong iron bones and solder muscles, the tilt of her head a construct so subtle that Tess stared, the flat appraising stare of the scrapyard as with the grace of gears meeting Bibi’s head turned, to watch Tess watching her.
Crane just noise in the background now and Bibi’s gaze calm and calmly thorough, Tess and the room and the sculpture both harbored, everything plain to those eyes. Tess still as metal in her own silence and Crane finishing up, so what did she think? How long would it take to do?
Shaking her head, can’t be done and his irritation immediate, “Why not? It seems easy enough to me.”
Then go do it, asshole. “Look, all I can tell you is I can’t do it. All right?”
“Well, then,” a busy man in pursuit of his art, “can you recommend anybody? I have to get—”
From across the room, still in that posture: “Tess. Why haven’t I seen your stuff before?”
Glance down, reluctant now to meet those eyes straight on. “I don’t show much.”
“Why not?” Nodding inclusion, the sculpture, the worktable. “It’s brilliant work. Don’t you have an agent or anything? Are you represented by a gallery?”
Tess’s smile involuntary, and Crane again, excluded and annoyed, “She’s showing right now at the Isis,” and again Bibi ignored him, or rather accepted the information as if it had dropped like a pearl from the bodiless air: “The Isis? You don’t belong there.”
“I don’t belong anywhere,” and wondering as she said it why she had, it sounded so sophomoric, so moronically proud. “I just, I don’t really show much.”
“Listen,” Crane louder, dragging back attention, one hand full of keys impatient, “can you help me or not?”
“No. I can’t.”
Before his answer, Bibi’s smile: “Thanks,” as if it had been on her errand they had come. “I’ll see you.” And gone that moment, out the door and Crane pausing to watch as she did Bibi’s silhouette, one long-stepping muscle in tension and his irony, “Well thanks,” and graceless down the stairs. Tess watched for a moment longer, to see if she would come back. Nothing. Closing the door, slowly, strange strange eyes and then forgetting it all in the turn and step, back to the workspace and taking up her mask, flipping the grounded switch to start the final burn.
--
Sleeping in to wake sweaty and muscle-sore; the piece was done. Scrap steel and Lexan, glass and the warped plastic throat, it was better than she had expected though still not where she wanted to be; where was that? who knew? She would know when she got there. Still the piece was good: textures all a-mesh and it almost seemed to move, to twitch when not watched, calm semblance of silence in the moment of attention. Smiling a little to think of it creeping loose around the room, trying the windows, trying the door, peering eyeless to clear its plastic throat; dry in self-mockery: anthropomorphizing; watch it. She knew people, artists, who liked to gurgle about their “babies,” their “children”: “Every one of my pieces is a child of mine,” who had said that to her? Horseshit. Children were children and work was work and people were assholes when they started believing their own arty bullshit. They should all work with metal, get burned once in a while: keep them grounded.
In the shower, the last of the soap in her eyes and somebody knocking, not banging but hard, Tess heard it plainly over the water. Determined. “Shit,” hissed between her teeth, eyes burning. Loud: “Who is it?”
Indistinct.
“Who is it!”
“Bibi Bloss.”
Dripping on a T-shirt, the towel around her head, shooting back the dead bolt: “Come on in.”
Alone, smile and ripped leggings, slipping off her black sunglasses to hook them in the stretched neck of her T-shirt. “Hi,” closing the door. “If this isn’t a good time, please say so.”
“No, it’s okay.” Stringy wet bangs, dripping onto her cheekbones. Crane’s errand? or her own?
Unerring toward the worktable, she had little feet, Bibi, bony ankles above disintegrating sneakers, she cocked her head like a listening animal and said nothing at all. Examining the new piece for literal minutes, a long time to stand staring but her eyes were busy as a bird’s, she left nothing out. Finally: “It’s ready to move, isn’t it,” not a question and Tess nodded, pleased with more than the pleasure of surprise.
Glancing at the metal rack, tools still in last night’s orderly scatter; sun through the chicken wire, endless burn holes and dust. “Tess. Why do you live here?”
Surprised, “It’s cheap. Why?”
“I just wondered.” There was definitely more to it than that but no more was coming now. Silence; Bibi’s dirty finger on the piece’s throat.
“What?” wiping at her wet neck, water in her eyes. She felt no footing here, was unsure what to say until she did. Bibi saw, or seemed to; seemed to understand because she nodded, once and brisk.
“I know; what do I want. Listen, today I made a pilgrimage to that creepy Isis Gallery. —Without Crane, incidentally, who’s back at his place with two other guys trying to figure out what you told him last night.”
“Doesn’t he do his own welding?”
“Crane doesn’t know shit about welding. Why else do you think he came to you?” A pause. “I’m glad I came with him.”
It sounded rude; she said it anyway. “Why?”
“Because of your work.” Full stare, her eyes washed marble light and fingers unconscious on the piece before her. “I wanted to talk to you last night, but not in front of Crane. You must have noticed he’s a size-eleven asshole, once he gets started you can’t shut him up. And besides, it’s none of his business.”
“Are you, is he your—’
“I used to live with him, if that’s what you’re asking. He’s part-time in a dance group I’m in—he’s a much better dancer than he is a sculptor. Which still isn’t saying a whole hell of a lot,” and that strange little grin again, dry as the curve of a bone. “No, what’s mostly wrong with Crane is that he doesn’t have anything I want.”
Tess smiled, as much in surprise as discomfort; at least she was honest. “Do I?”
“Yes. I want to see all your stuff.”
“Why?”
“Show me,” shark’s grin, “and I’ll tell you.”
She ended up showing everything, all the way back to Mother of Sorrows, the oldest piece she still had. Beginner’s work, not even good enough to be called crude but Bibi inspected it as she did all the others, attention severe and severely focused, all of her there in her eyes. Hot crouch in the endless turn of the fan, windows empty of any breeze and both of them sweaty, spotted with the floating grime from moving between pieces, moving the pieces themselves. Some were painfully heavy, but Bibi was strong as she looked, and stronger; she held up her end with ease. The afternoon passing in a running catalog of material, place, title, then on to method and juice drunk standing, cookies eaten crumbling from the box. The theory and practice of welding, her own experiences, dreary and not, keno accompaniment a chatter and grind to the rod-tip-in-the-shoe story and Bibi’s shut-eyed laugh, really funny.
More talk, Bibi’s questions and they were good ones, ancient to modern history now and asking why this place, why not more shows; why the Isis? One dirty hand light on the swollen iron back of Lay Figure, its hideous humps like bones distorted, the face one howling O of blackened wire: “And this is one of the pieces you were going to show there?”
“That, and Delta of Silver,” nodding to the riverine figure of solder and charred iron bone, melancholy line of shine beneath the overhead fluorescents. Night coming on and this day gone purely in talk, when had she done that last? Past memory, loner weeks and months, plenty to do; still did; always did. But no one to talk about it with since, what? All the way back to Peter? Sweet ugly Peter, last lover, almost-best friend with his found sculpture, plastic milk jugs and detergent bottles, and sidewalk paintings that took him finally where it was warmer, where, he said, the sidewalks stayed dry all year. Two letters, one long awkward phone call, already long gone but she was stubborn, she had to be hurt hard to let go. He ended by obliging her, poor Peter, she had not meant to cause such pain to either of them; he was not a monster, he did not want to wound her so. What would he think of her work now? What would he think of her? Strange to think of Peter, now; she had not in so long.
A sigh, and back all at once to Bibi’s quizzical gaze, there was something she should be saying, explaining. The Isis show, right, the pieces they wanted and didn’t want. “They only took one,” sitting up straighter. “The one you saw, Archangel.”
Impossible to read those eyes, washed to nothing but light. “Why didn’t you show them all?”
“They didn’t want them all.” The painstaking slides rejected, half an explanation half a month late but she had not wasted time with anger, she had been through this before. Leaning on the toilet wall, pinch of green plastic against her sweaty back. “You were there, you saw what they show. They don’t want stuff like mine, that’s not what they’re interested in.”
The exposed tines of Lay Figure’s bones denting the bare skin of Bibi’s arm, she did not seem to feel or notice. “What are you interested in?”
“Metal.”
At once, like a teacher, a cop: “What else?”
“Making it . . . work.” Her hand moving in half a circle: frustration’s symbol, the answer incomplete. “Making it do what I want.”
“What do you want?”
“I don’t know,” flat and honest, out before she could think or rethink to call it back. “I guess I’ll know it when I see it. If I see it.”
“You won’t. Unless you build it yourself.” And trapdoor sudden, little meat-eating grin and “Hey: come on. Come see what I do, now,” keys without looking, open door and on the landing to stop: and wait for Tess.
Who stood, waiting herself. “You never said,” scarred hand poised on the light switch, the light from the stairway a greasy yellow, cloudy with the tiny blunderings of flies trapped by false eternal daylight, around and around. Downstairs the sounds of big kids yelling, the dumpy thump of a loaded handcart over the uneven threshold.
“Said what?”
Hitting the switch, sudden black and Bibi clear, then shadowed as she moved closer, half-back across the threshold. “What you want.” Want to give. Or share. Or take.
Very close in the dark, one hand on the jamb and a smell to Tess like sugar, like sweat, distinct and oddly nameless, your own secret scent found inexplicable on the flesh of another. Her eyes could have been marbles, or bearings, or Lexan chipped cold with scavenged glass, eyes that wait and see in any dark, the eyes of sculpture ready to move when no one watches, ready to crawl and buck and scratch slow paint from the shivering walls like skin from the shrinking lines of tender bone.
“I don’t think I need to tell you,” Bibi said. Voices up the stairwell, the jitter of empty bottles like tumbling coins, somebody’s curse and her closeness, close enough to touch, her stare to Tess as vivid as taste in the mouth. “I really think you already know.”

Let's Call Her Barbie

1/27/2025

About the Book:
She was only eleven-and-a-half inches tall, but she would change the world. Barbie is born in this bold new novel by USA Today bestselling author Renée Rosen.

When Ruth Handler walks into the boardroom of the toy company she co-founded and pitches her idea for a doll unlike any other, she knows what she’s setting in motion. It might just take the world a moment to catch up.

In 1956, the only dolls on the market for little girls let them pretend to be mothers. Ruth’s vision for a doll shaped like a grown woman and outfitted in an enviable wardrobe will let them dream they can be anything.

As Ruth assembles her team of creative rebels—head engineer Jack Ryan who hides his deepest secrets behind his genius and designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, whose hopes and dreams rest on the success of Barbie’s fashion—she knows they’re working against a ticking clock to get this wild idea off the ground.

In the decades to come—through soaring heights and devastating personal lows, public scandals and private tensions— each of them will have to decide how tightly to hold on to their creation. Because Barbie has never been just a doll—she’s a legacy.

Review:
After an overseas vacation in 1956, Ruth Handler returns to her burgeoning toy company with a new idea; a new doll for children that isn't a baby doll, but is an adult woman. Ruth's team isn't exactly on board with the idea, but she persists, wanting to give young girls a play option other than pretending to be a mother. Ruth's team of engineers including head engineer, Jack Ryan, get started on the multitude of problems that need be solved in building the doll including types of plastic, hair placement and proportions. Ruth then sets out to find someone who can design fashion forward clothes for the doll. Ruth finds Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein who set out on dealing with issues of fabric thickness, patterns, closures and proportions for the doll. As things progress with the doll, Ruth still has the matter of the name. Finally deciding on Barbie, after Ruth's daughter and Jack's wife, Barbie debuts at the Toy Fair to lackluster reactions. However, once Barbie hits the toy shelves, she is a sensation. Now, Ruth must deal with a rapidly growing business, new staff members, growing tensions within her team and fallout from financial woes.

Let's Call Her Barbie is a fictionalized, behind the scenes look at the business, design and engineering of the Barbie Doll. Focused mostly on Ruth Handler, the story also incorporated the points of view of Ruth's husband, Elliot, their lead engineer, Jack Ryan, Barbie's clothing designer, Charlotte Johnson and fictional clothing designer, Stevie Klein. I was intrigued by Ruth and her fiery attitude, determined to lead, push boundaries, forge a new path for women and girls and not back down when things were difficult. Going into Ruth's childhood, I felt a connection to Ruth's feelings of needing to be useful or productive to be loved and how that translated into her business savvy. Ruth's role as a mother was also surprising, feeling ineffective at home and impactful in the workplace. Jack Ryan is an enigmatic character, boundless intelligence paired with magnetic charisma and an addictive personality making him a womanizer, alcoholic and drug user. It also caused tension between himself and Ruth as he claimed to be the sole inventor of Barbie, leading to a series of downfalls for Jack, Ruth and Mattel. The business side of Mattel was intriguing dealing with patents, acquisitions, board members and intra-staff relationships. Let's Call Her Barbie brings together the human and business elements of a doll that revolutionized the way we play.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

About Renée Rosen: Renée Rosen is the USA Today bestselling author of Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, The Social Graces, Park Avenue Summer, Windy City Blues, White Collar Girl, What the Lady Wants, and Dollface. Renée lives in Chicago.

The Nightman's Odyssey

10/25/2024

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE NIGHTMAN'S ODYSSEY by Tony-Paul de Vissage Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: THE NIGHTMAN'S ODYSSEY

Author: Tony-Paul de Vissage

Pub. Date: December 19, 2023

Publisher: Epic Publishing

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 397

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/u/m26e6G

â€œHe wanted to continue his existence . . . to be with his Antoinette . . . to live and love with her . . .â€

Sacrifice. Love. Loyalty. Damien is willing to sacrifice anything to save his love, Antoinette. He makes a deal with the undead, and while he gains immortality, he is rejected by Antoinette. He swears off humans and dives into the adventure of the New World. Damien is at a crossroads, he wants to write off humanity, but that was all before he metâ€¦her. She makes him want to love again, to belong. Damien must decide, will he risk it all again?

â€œPerhaps itâ€™s true we have to suffer to deserve what we receive.â€

â€œIn that moment, I understood why my search was never successful. I had been looking for love in the wrong places.â€

Excerpt:

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About Tony-Paul de Vissage:

A Southerner of French Huguenot extraction, one of Tony-Paul de Vissage's first movie memory is of being six years old, viewing the old Universal horror flick, Dracula's Daughter on television, and being scared sleepless. That may explain his lifelong interest in vampires and why he's now paying back his too-permissive parents by writing about those who walk the night.

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Limousin, France in the year 1249, the Plague arrived. Damien La Croix learns that his beloved, Antoinette, is stricken and takes fate into his own hands. A chance meeting with a sans mort gives Damien the opportunity to escape the effects of the Plague and save Antoinette and her brother from certain death. Just as Damien is settling in with his new eternal existence, he is betrayed by his love and evicted by his town. Traveling the world, Damien looks for a purpose and love. Damien finds himself working for Dracula in Romania, in Paris and England before coming to the new world. Through thousands of years, Damien loves and loses, wondering if he'll ever find the person that he's meant to spend eternity with.

The Nightman's Odyssey is an epic vampire saga spanning thousands of years from past to the future. Told through Damien's point of view, he tells of his quest for love and meaning that keeps slipping through his fingers. Each section tells of a different love in Damien's life and how he has adapted to the changing times. I enjoyed learning about how vampires survived in each era and found their places. Each time Damien found a partner, fate seemed to intervene, showing the human side of Damien. Damien's friendships were another highlight of the story for me as he formed eternity long relationships. The writing carefully kept up the pacing as the time moved through the centuries, creating a new story and plot within section, yet carrying through Damien's need for companionship. The ending saw the vampires in the future, doing their best at survival. I enjoyed seeing Damien find his place and the love he deserved.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE NIGHTMAN'S ODYSSEY, US Only.

Ends October 29th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/14/2024	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt/IG Post
10/15/2024	Deal sharing aunt	Excerpt/IG Post
10/16/2024	Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt/IG Post
10/16/2024	ilovebooksandstuffblog	Excerpt/IG Post
10/17/2024	Brandi Danielle Davis	IG Post
10/18/2024	@callistoscalling	IG Post

Week Two:

10/21/2024	Lifestyle of Me	Review
10/21/2024	Rajiv's reviews	Review/IG Post
10/22/2024	@heyashleyyreads	IG Review/TikTok Post
10/23/2024	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post
10/23/2024	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
10/24/2024	@thepagelady	IG Review
10/24/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
10/25/2024	Shauna's Book Journal	Review/IG Post
10/25/2024	100 Pages A Day	Review