If you've read any of my other book reviews, you'll know that I'm a reader who gravitates toward books about books, libraries, bookshops, and authors, regardless of genre.  This book hits all the marks in ways I never anticipated.

I discovered this title while browsing for audiobooks on ChirpBooks.com, and after reading the synopsis, and listening to the short snippet, I was drawn in to the story.  

This is a fantastic tale of a small town that gains a new bookshop.  The proprietor is a strange, enigmatic man, but super generous.  Everyone who visits gets a free book on their first trip into the shop.  The books are compelling and nearly impossible to put down.  Everyone in the town is drawn to read their story, even if they're not generally readers.  Having a book selected just for you, will do that, I suppose.  Reading a great story is a tremendous gift, after all.

The town changes because of the bookshop.  People become differently engaged with their neighbors, and mysteriously, the energy of this once gentle town, turns ugly very quickly.  Books are powerful weapons, especially when wielded by the unsuspecting.

The pace of the story is super quick, and it's difficult, because of that, to find a place to pause reading.  My favorite parts of this book?  The high school English teacher, the Librarian, the Student, and an ending left hanging and festering in your mind with a strong, unyielding desire to want more than you should.

This book was creepy good, and even though there was more "language" than I'm usually comfortable with, the story insisted I overlook that part and keep going.  I'm glad I did.  I'll be reading more from this author in the future. 

My only disappointment with this book (aside from the creative language) was the fact that it's not available in paperback (only audio and ebook).  It's a point I hope the author changes, as this is one I'd enjoy putting on my shelves, signed by the author, someday.

A story of a haunted house, told with a twist... okay, several twists.  This is not just a story about ghosts roaming the halls, things going bump in the night, and lights flickering when they shouldn't... this story aims to justify science and ​the paranormal.  The house itself has a story goal, and works well to disengage the characters that visit from the reality they thought they understood. 

It's an interesting notion, to have a scientist, in this case, a physicist, attempt to explain the unexplainable.  He brings with him, his wife, who serves as an "unbiased witness", and two mediums, one physical and one mental, to help support the notion that the paranormal has energy that can be explained, and therefore, eliminated.  Each has their own reason for coming to the house, and each has a different emotional impact on the reader.  

I enjoyed the idea that one of the characters endured time in this house in the past, and another is religious in their beliefs.  Those oppositions made the story far more intriguing. They were all being paid to be there, but it seemed they all had a far more important stake than just the cash.  Throughout the book, I constantly asked why they wouldn't just leave, but at each turn, something far stronger than money drew them back, regardless of their longstanding beliefs, and in spite of the house's reputation.   Given the puzzle of trying to figure it all out, I probably would have stayed, too.

I thought the author created a foreboding sense of urgency in the story goals of each character.  The combination of the physical, psychic, and emotional responses from the characters, along with the mysterious origins and later reclusiveness and abandonment of the house, certainly held my attention.

The ending seemed too tightly wrapped up... but I didn't have nightmares, so I'm okay with that.  It was fun to be startled intellectually as well as emotionally.  The gore factor was relatively low, considering this is a horror novel, so that made it easier for me to read and enjoy.

Stephen King calls this book "The scariest haunted house novel ever written."  I don't think I agree with that.  I thought Amnityville Horror was a far scarier haunted house... but if you like scary stuff, this is certainly worth the time spent, and I had more than a few chills crawl up my spine when reading.

I discovered a new-to-me-author today!  While browsing through my Facebook feed, I noticed a recommendation to try out this new children's book.  I was grabbed immediately because the post told me that this book was promoted in honor of Deaf Awareness Month.  As a hearing impaired person, this is a topic that always grabs my attention.  

Reading children's books brings me a few moments of "nice" during my work day, and I enjoy taking the break.  This story was a joyful read.  Although the main character, Mila, has cochlear implants, and they do make the world different for her... they certainly don't make HER different.  She experiences the same daily goals of being a "big kid" that I think every child encounters at one point or another... some of us grown ups are still working on that challenge, too.

There was a strong message of independence, amid an underlying theme of inclusiveness.  The illustrations are wonderfully drawn with characters who exude lots of personality... even the cat.  I especially enjoyed all of the fun accent words the author used throughout the text to make the reading more engaging.

There are Listen, Look, and Think questions in the back of the book that make it an even better reading experience for the whole family or classroom.

​I will look for more books by Ms. Petruzziello for the little ones in my life.

I was overwhelmed reading this book... not because it was difficult material (which it was), and not because the complexity of the relationships and internal dialogue of the characters was so intensely emotional (which it also was), but because everything written in this story is REAL LIFE.  Confronting that can sometimes be overwhelming... and I've never been happier for the experience.

D.A. Reed has created a masterpiece of Young Adult fiction with this story.  From the complexity of teenage angst to the thoughts, speech patterns, and body language of teenagers, to the adult interactions... this author got it all right.  As a person who has been touched by teen suicide in both my generation and my son's generation, I cannot endorse this book enough.  It is poignant, it is accurate, it is raw, it is unsettling, it is tender, it is difficult, and it is necessary.

This story channels the day-to-day experiences of teenagers in a way that feels a little like voyeurism; and if that thought doesn't frighten you just a little bit, it should.  The bravery these characters show reminds us that everything is worth healing when we take the time to talk and listen.  The resources and discussion questions in the back of the book encourage this dialogue between friends, families, and teachers.

This is a book that should be on a bookshelf in a central part of every family home, and in every classroom.  It should be a part of every educator's and religious leader's continuing education program.  I am certain that all who read it will be touched and motivated to help others in some empathetic way.

When you are given the gift of seeing teen suicide from the inside, you can't help but become changed.  Thank you, D.A. Reed, for giving us this profound insight into a world we must not ignore.

If you don't have tissues nearby, make sure you have them when you read this book.  If you're a writer yourself, make sure you have two boxes.

I was incredibly impressed with Ms. Torre's ability to reach deep into herself, pull out the emotional angst every writer experiences at some time or another, and place it squarely on the page.  From realizing you need to write a story, to realizing you can't write it, to finally realizing that there is no other solution than to collaborate with your career nemesis, the story grips strong at the heart strings and daily struggles of every writer I've ever known, myself included.

Ms. Torre has created an ideal recipe for escape reading.  She begins with the hearty stock of a frustrated writer. That alone, however, isn't enough to make the story a part of the reader's soul, so she mixes in the unfailing love of a motherhood.  To that, she adds the doubt of a marriage that feels somehow, "off".   She then adds suspenseful spice in the form of a backstory that has missing pieces.  For good measure, she throws in a couple heaping spoons full of an undercurrent threat of what comes next.  Garnish it all with the necessity to maintain professional boundaries, and you have a story that digs deeper than most. 

This book will take you through the beginning, middle, and end, hanging by threads you didn't know were hanging, and attached to characters in ways you didn't know was possible.  The emotional connection you feel to the writing will last long after you've finished the story.

I read this book in audiobook format, on a long drive while traveling to our cabin.  I listened to it while walking the trails with the dog, I listened to it while making breakfast and sitting in the hammock in the afternoon.  It was sincerely, unputdownable.  The narration was exceptional, and added depth to an already impressive story.  Some books lend themselves very well to being read aloud, this is one of those books.  I finished the story while driving home one afternoon, and was grateful for the fact that I was driving on the highway, and passing cars couldn't tell that I was crying like a heartbroken teenager at the end.

I have not read any of Alessandrea Torre's other books, yet, but you can be sure that they are on my list of must reads.  I highly recommend this particular story for all of my Indie Author friends.  You will NOT be disappointed!

Suspense, Humor, Mystery,  A Dashing Englishmen, A Flattering Younger Man, the Wonder of a Museum's Backstage, and Chocolate... what's not to love about this story! 

Luba Lesychyn is an extremely talented writer.  She understands how to dangle details in ways that have you looking forward to more excitement, without anxiety.  She's a comfort writer.  Pull up a cozy blanket and dive right in.  I immersed myself reading her pages at night, after a day of work... shunning the rest of the real world, and allowing myself to get lost in her imaginative Toronto.  I regret nothing.

Theft By Chocolate is an amusing and spirited read.  The story eavesdrops on the days of a chocolate addict, who is also sleuthing her way through an irresistible mystery.  At every new chapter, I was impressed by Luba's expressive writing style.  When her characters walk through hallways filled with anxiety, sit quietly in a cathedral, or collapse on the bed in sheer exhaustion, you experience every moment as if that character's reality was your own.  Luba entices you to step into her world and live it fully.

Through the intrigue of the story, she shares valuable reminders of some of life's most important lessons, in ways you'll never forget.  Yes, a spoonful of powered chocolate does affect us in exactly THAT way!  Secrets are often hidden in (nearly) plain sight, so you should be keenly observant.  Public humiliation doesn't always have to be the precursor to a doomed life.  And most importantly, Librarians can indeed be seductively charming, in their own bashful way.

Luba Lesychyn is an author who clearly understands how to bait her literary fish and then reel them in for the vigorous PLOP on the sandy shore.  But not to worry, she'll tuck you back into the water again, safely returning you to the comfort of characters you are sure you know, and environments that you wish you could visit, without ever revealing the entire mystery.  And that's exactly what we want from an author.

Thank you, Luba Lesychyn, you will continue to have a place in my TBR pile!

​Treat yourself to to this book.  It's a ghost story that well defines the genre.

This book was sincerely, "un-put-down-able".  I was pulled into the story and didn't want to leave.  The characters were rich and vibrant, even those who were more than a hundred years old. The storytelling was full in it's detail - and when necessary - just as strong in its withholding.  There were times I felt precariously dangled from a cliff and other times I felt snuggled up warmly with the comfort of canine sentinels.  As a Michigan resident, I felt quite at home with Halcyon and her family's house. I have a very strong urge now, to visit the island to seek out the places... emotional and physical, real and imagined.  

I listened to the audio book version.  The narrator was exquisite in captivating story, character, and the intent of the author.  Her cadence and rhythm were spot on... the only error I found was the single mispronunciation of 'Mackinac' (she's probably not a Michigan native).