So my husband hates this mug. He thinks commercial candy is poison and is not a fan of corporate merch. But it's perfect for this time of year because this is one of my favorite Halloween candies.
Anyway, never mind that. Here's some Halloween music and reading. They'd both go perfect with candy.
I'm doing something a little different this week. I've been inspired by Nicole Luiken in her post last week on the Here Be Magic blog. Here's my "bingo list".
GHOSTS: Into the Dark by Jordan L Hawk. It's the third book in her Outfoxing the Paranormal series. Ghosts galore in an exceptionally gothic setting!
DEMONS: Wayward Devils, book four in Devon Monk's Souls of the Road series. I'd start with the first book (probably) or even the spin off, Oak and Ink. Love these and her Ordinary Oregon series. Highly recommended!
GRIM REAPER: Dead Serious (About You) by Alistair Kennedy. To be honest, I just started this one, but it looks like fun!
WITCHES: Dead Witch in the Library (Sonoma Witches, book 7) by Gretchen Galway. I'd just about despaired of their being any more books in this series, so this was a pleasant surprise. Even though I think this one might really be the end. Another really good series.
WEREWOLVES: Wolf Gone Wild, book one in Juliette Cross' Stay a Spell series. I'm re-reading this one for my book club this month. Another of my faves.
VAMPIRES: Tanya Huff is one of those annoying authors who started writing in pre-internet times and still doesn't have a website. But her vampire books (originally--and rather horribly, IMO--titled "the blood books" because, apparently series titles hadn't yet been invented yet either, or no one else was writing vampires, or something) inspired me to start writing my own vampire series. Well, the TV series (Blood Ties, starring actor Kyle Schmid) certainly helped.
I have a few Halloween-themed books, you can find them here: https://www.pgforte.com/happy-halloween
Two of them, Going Back to Find You and Hungry Heart are FREE between October 16th and October 20th. See the links below!
Well, it's October, so I had to find something suitably Halloweenish to post. And this year, with the influx of kittens in my yard (specifically black and orange kittens) I really felt like I needed a black cat mug.
This is cutely cartoony, but the way the rim turns in makes it somewhat awkward to drink out of. Of course, YMMV and this didn't stop me from acquiring several more mugs all of which possess the same unfortunate feature. Such is life. I'm thinking that's the fashion now? Also, the ears and tail make this impossible to dry upside down on the edge of a ledge, which is my preferred means of doing so.
What can you do? I guess it's irritatingly cat-like.
I know, it's just October; so why am I reading Christmas books, right? Well, usually at this time of year I'm elbows deep in a Christmas WIP and it helps keep me in the right frame of mind if it's December in my reading worlds, as well. Real life can be very disconcerting, at times.
Anyway, this was a cute book. Predictable in all the usual Christmas RomCom ways--which isn't a criticism, btw. Low angst--also not a criticism. And I loved the setting (inside a publishing company) and that both h/h were editors! That was different and fun and dear to my heart. Although I think it has to be said: those competing children's book they're both working on? They sound HORRIBLE.
The scorching hot stripper is my new co-worker? Yes, I drooled over Finn Hayes last weekend as he gyrated in a sparkly fuchsia thong. So what?
But Lacy Callahan, the unflappable career woman, does not let her hair down, does not blab her secrets, and certainly does not try to kiss a stripper! Except last weekend. I flapped.
And now, I have to make senior editor at Sutton & Sutton Publishing by getting my author's children's Christmas novel on bookshelves everywhere. It's also how I plan to rekindle the spark between me and my ex, Joshua, who just got promoted at Sutton.
My roadblock? Finn, who came up with a concept for a competing children's Christmas novel. Unfortunately, he's witty, quirky, and brings me chip-infused sandwiches. It's too bad I have to crush him.
And what's he hiding? Why is he editing by day and stripping by night?
I don't know how anyone could not love this series. It's the most amazing, tongue-in-cheek, hilarious mashup of classic noir detective fiction with Stephen Sondheim-esque fairy tales. They're clever and entertaining and nothing you're expecting. And the covers! OMG, I love the covers.
Marybeth Cendrillon works her life away at her family’s bakery, but two nights a week she gets to be someone else. If her malicious stepmother and stepsisters knew about her other persona, she’d be locked in the attic for good. She lives for the nights when she can transform into Cindra, sultry songstress at Rosie’s Place.
Charles Charmer, co-CEO of Royal Steele, suspects his father, Kingsley Charmer, of dirty dealings and wants to stop him from sullying the family name and possibly ruining the company. There’s a plan to take the man down once and for all, but Charles could be caught in the crosshairs.
A covert meeting with some of the members of the FBIM ends with Charles seeing Cindra, and he’s enraptured by the doll on stage. He wants her to perform at his father’s upcoming gala because she’d be perfect, and it would give him another chance to hear her voice again. He wasn’t expecting her to be caught in the crosshairs along with him.
