Early Writing, Book Festival, and #AmWatching

On June 29, 2026 By Teri PolenIn Monday Share11 Comments

We finally got some much needed rain over the weekend and were fortunate none of the flash flooding affected us. You might have seen in the news that other parts of KY weren’t as lucky. This week brings a heatwave with predicted temps above 90 every day. Our air conditioner will be getting a workout.

Last week I discovered a printed copy of the first book I wrote – the one that will never be seen by a living soul besides me. I honestly thought I’d tossed it years ago. I flipped through it and lost count of the number of times I cringed. It was written before I read books on the craft and attended workshops and writer’s retreats. Most authors understand that feeling. I rarely look at my earlier books because I’ve grown and evolved as a writer since those words were written. Any of you authors come across something you hadn’t seen in years?

I almost didn’t apply to the Louisville Book Festival this year, but I decided to give it a shot since it’s most likely the last time I’ll attend because of the upcoming move. I was thrilled to receive an acceptance email over the weekend. It’s a festival that’s experienced some rough patches since its inception in 2020, but it’s finding its stride and adds new features every year. I’m glad I’ll get one more visit with them.

Have you watched The Sheep Detectives? It’s a fun movie Mike and I watched on Prime over the weekend. Many of the lines are laugh out loud funny, and we enjoyed trying to figure out the voices (the sheep talk) before I looked them up. Here’s a description: George Hardy is a shepherd who loves to read murder mysteries to his sheep, never suspecting that they can understand him. When George is found dead under mysterious circumstances, the sheep decide to solve the crime themselves, even if it means leaving their meadow for the first time and facing the fact that the human world isn’t as simple as it appears in books.

Stay cool and have a great week!

Bond’s Week #catlife #catlover

On June 26, 2026June 26, 2026 By Teri PolenIn Bond's Week14 Comments

Two of my favorite things in life are naps and boxes. Napping in a box is… there are hardly words to describe the perfection. My usual napping spots are on my tower in front of the window (prime sunning in late afternoon), on top of the shelf in the bonus room (I can go undetected for hours), under the guest room bed, and in the closet on top of Mike’s clothes. He complains about the fur, but I don’t see what the big deal is. I wear cat fur all the time, and it’s never bothered me. But sometimes I like trying new snoozing places.

Bathtubs are good spots. It’s usually cool, private, and darker with the curtain drawn. If there’s a drip, I play with the water. Unfortunately, there’s no drip in this tub, but sometimes I drag my toys in with me. When I bat balls around in the tub, they roll right back to me, and I don’t have to chase after them. It’s all about energy conservation. It’s also an excellent place to hide when Teri drags out that monstrous contraption she runs across the floor.

Sometimes I nap in my carrier. Don’t judge me. This may seem wrong to you because when the carrier comes out, that means I’m going to the vet. Teri stores it in a closet upstairs, so if it’s in there, I know I’m safe. She keeps the door closed, but I can open it with my paw. My old blanket was replaced with a nice, fluffy red and black checked one made by Teri’s mom that’s nice to burrow in. When you think about it, the carrier is like a box. And what’s that saying? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?

Since so many of you enjoyed my joke last week, I’ll leave you with another one. What do you call a cat who loves bowling? An alley cat.

Bond out.

Seconds to Spare by Rachel Reiss #thriller #suspense #timetravel

On June 25, 2026 By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews16 Comments

Eighteen-year-old Evelyn Werth is trapped in what feels like a never-ending nightmare. She’s the only person onboard Aloha Airways Flight 1333 who’s stuck in a 28-minute time loop, one that repeats over and over again. During each loop, four things always happen:

1. The Internet goes out and the pilot warns of upcoming turbulence.
2. There are five minutes of moderate shaking.
3. A woman in the very last row collapses.
4. The plane tilts forward and begins to nosedive.

When Orion James –the cute boy who’s been asleep the entirety of each cycle– wakes, it triggers an alarming change in the events Evelyn has come to count on. As the two grow closer and learn to trust each other, they discover there’s more to the loop than they initially realized. They must discover the hidden clues, piece together the moving puzzle, and save everyone onboard –before it’s too late.

This novel feels claustrophobic – but that makes sense since the bulk of it takes place on a plane. It’s also repetitive – but what can you expect when the characters are stuck in a 28 minute time loop? To the author’s credit, a new element is added at each iteration, and by the nail-biting end, it’s nothing like I’d expected.

The action starts on page one when Evelyn’s in the middle of a loop she’s experienced hundreds of times. She’s tried different approaches including getting to know the passengers, questioning flight attendants, and changing her actions – some resulting in her being held down and secured with zip ties – but nothing prevents the plane from nosediving 28 minutes into the flight. None of the other passengers realize they’re in a time loop. Except for Orion.

Orion slept through most of the loops, but when he’s awakened, he experiences them along with Evelyn. Finally she has an ally to help her figure out what’s happening. With another set of eyes they soon discover details, some extremely dangerous, Evelyn missed. But then they realize time is running out. I enjoyed trying to puzzle things out and connect the dots along with them, but I didn’t uncover the truth any sooner than they did.

I felt the characters’ frustration, especially Evelyn’s, over how many times she experiences the same 28 minutes, and then the sense of urgency when she and Orion learn their time is limited. I appreciated the epilogue that wraps up unanswered questions. It’s normal to not be okay after experiencing trauma, and the story does an excellent job at getting that message across.

Recommended to readers who enjoy locked room settings, life or death stakes, and the movie Groundhog Day.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Father Material (London Calling #3) by Alexis Hall #contemporary #LGBTQ #family

On June 23, 2026 By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews9 Comments

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes…what was that, exactly?

Luc and Oliver have been through it all: fake dating to save Luc’s career, I-guess-this-is-actually-for-real dating when all of that blew up spectacularly, (briefly) breaking up over irreconcilable differences, (definitively) getting back together over perfectly reconcilable everything else, (almost) getting married, (finally) moving in together, and ultimately celebrating years of perfect domestic bliss.

But as all their very grown-up-now friends begin reaching new life milestones, advancing careers and having babies, Luc and Oliver decide it’s time to open their hearts and lives to something new: a tiny, squirming, adorable bundle of furry joy named Spud.

And maybe now that hearts-and-lives are already open, there’s room for someone else. Something more. Something that may require them to find in themselves a little father material.

I’ve found another family I’d love to join. If that’s not possible, being part of their zany friend group would suffice.

First, a big shoutout to Joe Jameson. He’s narrated all three audiobooks in this series and now ranks among my favorites. His voices are distinct and perfect for the characters.

I’ve watched Luc and Oliver through fake dating to dating for real, then almost getting married, to moving in together. Their relationship has been full of peaks and valleys but never short on love. Now they’re dipping their toes into the pool of parenthood by adopting a dog before they foster children. Spud is a perfect, adorable addition to the family. Luc questions whether he’ll be a good dog dad, but it’s not long before Spud wiggles his way into Luc’s heart.

And then Jasmine, a fourteen-year-old girl, is placed with them, and Luc and Oliver become foster parents. Talk about a pothole-filled road. She challenges them at nearly every turn, and their interactions with an obstinate teen are entirely realistic. Neither of their fathers were role models to speak of, so both men are kind of winging it. Luc knew he’d struggle as a parent, but it was also nice to see Oliver, who’s usually good at everything, flounder as well. No parent is perfect, but these flawed characters communicate and work their way through it, and that’s the best you can ask for.

This may be the final book of the series, and it’s been a delightful journey every step of the way with these characters. Between their diverse, loyal friend group, Luc’s mother Odile, her friend Judy and her dogs, and Luc’s eccentric co-workers, I’ll miss them like they’re family. Highly recommended for fans of flawed characters who steal your heart, found family, and disastrous dinner parties (trust me on this).

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Bond’s Week #catlife #catlover

On June 19, 2026 By Teri PolenIn Bond's Week26 Comments

This was a mostly normal week. The exceptions were when people came and did something to the driveway that made it smell horrible. I don’t like it when people who aren’t on my approved human list interrupt my day. Another day Teri sprayed something on the grass and weeds in the mulch then shortened my patio leash so I couldn’t reach them. I did not care for that at all.

Have your felines watched videos for cats? I don’t mean the kind where cats are caught in compromising situations on videos which are then posted for the amusement of humans. Teri lets me watch videos on YouTube sometimes. In the photo below I’m watching goldfish. They’re not nearly as exciting as the squirrel and bird videos. Once when I was watching and a bird flew off the screen, I looked behind the laptop to see where the winged creature went. Teri said I was too smart. Which is clearly obvious.

In my opinion, there aren’t enough boxes in the world – large, medium, or small – it doesn’t matter. They’re excellent, multipurpose creations. Last June when Son #1’s wedding invitations came in a big orange box from Shutterfly, I played in it for months. Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen that box lately. Hmmm. I’ve heard rumors that Amazon is actually a secret, massive plot created by cats to get more cardboard boxes delivered to their homes. A genius idea.

This week I’ll leave you with a joke. Why don’t cats play poker in the jungle? Too many cheetahs.

Bond out.

Deathbringer by Sonia Tagliareni #fantasy #mystery #darkacademia

On June 18, 2026 By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews14 Comments

For fans of Naomi Novik and Kerri Maniscalco, a dark academia romantasy steeped in necromancy, forbidden love, and a twisty murder mystery set within the perilous halls of a magical institute, as a death mage who hates her magic and a poison mage who hates her are forced to work together to stop a killer before one of them is next.

Born with the ability to speak with the dead, Viola hates her magic. It killed her sister, Olivia, and if she doesn’t learn why, it will kill her too. Her only hope lies within the perilous walls of Gorhail Institute of Magic, where Olivia spent her final days.

There, Viola clashes with Sylas, a poison mage whose magic stems from three magical snakes. Immortal, tormented, and reckless, Sylas is tethered to a life he never asked for and haunted by guilt for his father’s death. His hatred for death mages runs deep, and he’s determined to keep Viola at a distance. But when an attack forces him to heal her, their fates become intertwined by a magical bond that threatens to upend his loyalties—and his common sense.

As more students start turning up dead, Viola and Sylas are drawn into an uneasy alliance that pulls them deeper into Gorhail’s treacherous passageways, where secrets fester beneath the stone and the dead do not rest. And as enemy lines begin to blur and their undeniable attraction grows, Viola and Sylas uncover a chilling someone is hunting mages for their magical relics, and if they can’t uncover the killer in time, Viola will be next.

I’ve been a little burned out by dark academia over the past several months, but it was the death/poison mage angle that convinced me to give this a try, and that gorgeous cover didn’t hurt.

I think bats are adorable, I’ve rescued mice from garbage cans, and I’ve carried spiders out of the house instead of killing them. But when it comes to snakes? I’ll trample anyone in my path to get away from them. And snakes figure prominently in this story. I convinced my brain they were some other, much cuter animal and ignored the whole slithering and coiling thing. Besides the snakes, I had my doubts about Viola for a few chapters, but once she found her groove, I rooted for her. Even though she’s read all her renowned grandmother’s books about the subject, Viola’s always hated her magic and wanted nothing to do with it. Instead, her beloved sister Olivia pretends to possess magic and attends Gorhail in Viola’s place. When she’s murdered, Viola blames herself and vows to find her sister’s killer.

Sylas comes with a dumpster full of baggage. Due to his reckless behavior, he’s responsible for many deaths. Several were poachers (the enemy), but some were also from his own squad. He also blames himself for the death of his father. When death mage Viola is violently attacked and her life hangs in the balance, Sylas is forced into a magical bond that heals her, something he’s not happy about. He despises death mages and, as far as he’s concerned, the world would be a better place without them.

While the two MCs are a mess, supporting characters Lyria and Beau, Sylas’s siblings, are a good balance and maintain calm in the face of danger for the most part. Honestly, Lyria is so clever the others could have taken a coffee break while she figured things out on her own. All four have suffered tremendous losses, and I liked seeing them come together and evolve into found family – my favorite trope. Viola and Sylas’s relationship comes with a heavy dose of insta-love, but I snickered at their banter over the course of the story.

I was absolutely convinced I knew who the villain was, and I didn’t even have a backup list – I was wrong. Because of that heart-wrenching ending, I’ll have an impatient wait for the sequel. Reviews are mixed but, in spite of the snakes, this novel gets a thumbs up from me. With themes of power, prejudice, grief, and forgiveness, quotable lines, and a mystery that keeps you guessing, Deathbringer is recommended to readers who enjoy a unique magical system, strong character development, and life-changing secrets.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#WWWWednesday: What Am I Reading?

On June 17, 2026 By Teri PolenIn WWW Wednesdays12 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a meme from Sam at Taking On A World Of Words

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

I missed last week’s WWW post because I was out of town, so let’s get started. A town plagued by a deadly black mist that kills all it touches, a joyous and challenging journey into parenthood, and a supernatural thriller set in Hawaii are the selections for this week.

I’m not very far into Shadow Reaper, so I’m still getting a feel for the world-building and characters. I read another title by this author several years ago and liked it, so I’m hoping this will be the same. Isn’t it a gorgeous cover?

Never bargain with a reaper.

The city of Aravell is in peril, plagued by a deadly blackmist that kills all it touches and reapers who roam the streets, stealing magic from innocent children in their thirst for power. Seventeen-year-old Viridia Solace has trained for years to hunt these reapers, but their ranks keep growing, led by the man who murdered her parents: the notorious Reaper Priest.

When the Priest’s most loyal follower, Reeve Ashton, is captured, he offers Viri a chance to avenge her parents . . . for a price. She knows better than to bargain with a reaper, let alone this reaper, but his offer is too good to resist.

Soon she’s breaking him out of prison, colluding with his crew of magic thieves, and following him deep into the blackmist forest in search of an ancient legend, all so they can stop the Reaper Priest’s plot to doom the city. Viri is staking her life on Reeve’s plan, but how can she trust a silver-tongued criminal to keep his word? And how can she trust her own heart when a buried secret could shatter everything?

Full of relentless twists, enemies-to-lovers romance, found family, and high stakes action, Shadow Reaper is the start of a breathtaking new duology from international bestselling author Lynette Noni.

I finished the audiobook of Father Material over the weekend, and what a joy it was to watch these characters venture into parenthood, first with a dog, then a foster daughter. I’m hoping it’s not the last in the series, because I’ll miss every one of these completely flawed but extremely loveable characters.

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes…what was that, exactly?

And maybe now that hearts-and-lives are already open, there’s room for someone else. Something more. Something that may require them to find in themselves a little father material.

You know I’m a fan of anything supernatural, and the Hawaiian setting adds bonus points. On the surface this checks a lot of boxes, so I’m hoping it doesn’t disappoint.

A native Hawaiian teen travels to a luxury island resort in search of her missing twin and uncovers the dark side of paradise, in this YA supernatural thriller that’s Mexican Gothic meets She is a Haunting.

For the world’s wealthiest, Kōpaʻa Island Resort is more than a destination. It’s the ultimate escape. With no cell service or Wi-Fi, the Hawaiian island is a coveted wellness retreat renowned for its persimmon orchard and promises of rejuvenation.

But their dream vacation is Lehua’s nightmare. When her twin sister, Ohia, goes missing, Lehua follows her trail to Kōpaʻa to find her. Instead, Lehua is cut off from civilization—and help—after the island’s boat leaves without her, stranding her with the resort’s lavish guests and enigmatic staff.

As Lehua investigates Ohia’s disappearance, she discovers her missing sister isn’t the island’s only mystery. Kōpaʻa’s rich exterior and sweet persimmons hide its dark plantation past. And Lehua can’t ignore the dreams haunting her each night—nor the warning telling her to leave the island at once. To uncover what happened to Ohia, Lehua will have to unearth the island’s bloody history and face the horrors that lurk within its sugarcane fields—or risk being consumed by them.

Sharply observed and gorgeously written, That Which Feeds Us explores the true cost of paradise as Lehua must fight to reclaim the land, the stories, and the very souls of her people.

House Haunters by KC Jones #horror #thriller #paranormal

On June 16, 2026 By Teri PolenIn Uncategorized11 Comments

From Bram Stoker Award finalist KC Jones comes House Haunters, a fast-paced thrill ride perfect for fans of How to Sell a Haunted House and Play Nice, in which a skeptical reality TV show producer and a misanthropic ghosthunter must team up to survive a shoot from hell.

Grace Wonderly needs a hit show. Desperately.

If the aspiring director-turned-reality television producer doesn’t find the next big thing, she may have to abandon her dream job.

Her long-time friend might have just the a misanthropic ghost hunter named Frank Pendleton (and his trusty corgi sidekick, Fish Stick). But Frank is no ordinary ghost hunter. He claims that he can’t feel fear, which makes him more sensitive to paranormal phenomena. Skeptical but intrigued, Grace gathers a film crew to shoot a proof-of-concept for her studio.

What should be a straightforward shoot quickly spirals into a nightmare and Grace must confront some hard ghosts are real; and though callous and distant, Frank is their only hope of getting out alive.

This started a little slow for me, but I sure felt Grace’s frustration with her boss who’s relying on AI for show ideas instead of Grace’s own. But once she meets Frank? Hang on for the ride.

Haunted house stories are my kryptonite. I’ve read more than a few, but I’ve never met a character like Frank. He doesn’t possess the ability to feel fear. That may not sound like a bad thing, but think about the dangerous situations you might walk into lacking those instincts and a warning voice in your head. Enter Fish Stick, the bestest boy and coolest corgi ever. Frank relies on Fish Stick’s spot on judgement to know if something is safe (a paw stomp) or dangerous (bark). Since childhood, Frank’s been able to see and communicate with ghosts. Grace believes the combination of that ability and Frank’s home inspection business will be the next big thing in reality television. She’s a skeptic, but after everything that happens – she’s a confirmed believer.

This is a different spin on hauntings that I really like. Frank refers to the entities as “spectrals” because that term covers all manner of remnant energies. Houses, furniture, jewelry, etc. may contain moments and experiences from the people that owned them with varying degrees of strength. It’s the stronger energies that can take shape and interact with the environment – which is when folks call Frank.

The first shoot of the reality show is a disaster, and it’s clear something doesn’t want the crew there. Subsequent attempts at filming grow even more dangerous resulting in injured crew members and others who refuse to come back. But the occurrences aren’t confined to the condo where they’re filming. Something is following Grace and leaving her threatening messages.

My hands and eyes were glued to my Kindle during the last 40%, and we’re talking with Gorilla Glue. Unless blood or a body were involved, I wasn’t parting with this book. The ending is satisfying, but I think a door was left open for a sequel, and I’m hoping this isn’t the last we’ll see of Frank and Fish Stick. Highly recommended for fans of ghost hunters and haunted houses, adorable corgis, and adrenaline-inducing scenes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.