#s.j. bennett

[tudorblogger]

Monthly Reading Summary – July 2024

[virgilean]

Books Read in 2024: The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett

“One could do what one liked in one’s own castle, but staff did not appreciate surprises in areas they considered their own.”

[bargainsleuthbooks]

👑💎🎧📚A Death in Diamonds (Her Majesty the Queen Investigates #4) #BookReview #CrookedLaneBooks #DreamscapeMedia #ARCReview #CozyMystery #Audiobook

Two murders in Chelsea plague amateur detective Queen Elizabeth II in the 4th book in this series. I've been waiting a long time for this book! #Bookthreads #BookReview #Booksky #BookBlogger #Audiobook #ADeathInDiamonds #NetGalley #DreamscapeMedia

Two murders in Chelsea plague amateur detective Queen Elizabeth II in the fourth book in the charming series, perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Jacqueline Winspear. Most books mentioned in my reviews can be found at the affiliate links below. (Amazon US) (Kindle Unlimited) (Amazon CA) (Amazon UK) (AbeBooks) (Booksamillion)  (Audible.com) (Audiobooks.com) (Biblio.com) Want to help some of my…

[happygirl2oo2]

Some More Queer Sports Romance Books For Pride Month 🌈 (all are books I've read/currently have on my own tbr list)

[another year another one of these lists 'cause I wanted to see how many new queer sports romance books I've added to my tbr list since I posted part 1 last year]

Hockey

Zero Pucks - E.M. Lindsey [mlm]

Power Forward (Chicago Thunder Book 4) - Jodi Oliver [mlm]

Like a Power Play - Elle Sprinkle [wlw]

Final Breakaway (For Puck's Sake #11) by Crea Reitan [mlm]

Skating to Him - Christie Gordon [mlm]

Puck Love - Lane Hayes [mlm]

Gross Misconduct - A.J. Truman [mlm]

Rule Breaker - Ava Olsen [mlm]

On the Edge (SCU Hockey Book 3) - J.J. Mulder [mlm]

Crossed Sticks (Buffalo Warriors Hockey #1) and Net Bet (Buffalo Warriors Hockey #2) - Ryan Taylor, Joshua Harwood [mlm]

The Shots You Take - Rachel Reid [mlm]

Pucking Strong (Jacksonville Rays #4) - Emily Rath [mlm]

Breaking Through the Doubt (Espen Jetties #4) - Haven Hadley [mlm]

Love Pucked - Emily Silver [wlw]

Voices - Joey Parker [mlm]

Call It Home - Catherine Cloud [mlm]

One-Time Shot (Smithton Bears #1) - Lane Hayes [mlm]

Zone Entry (Camrose U book 1) and Off the Boards (Camrose U book 2) - Maia Kinley [mlm]

Speed (Railers Legacy book 1) - R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey [mlm]

Bar Down - Stef C.R. [mlm]

Marriage of Ice-venience (The Crawford Family Playbook #6) - Kendall Hale [mlm]

Crossed Lines - Sierra Bennett [mlm]

Slew Foot (Scoring Chances #3) - Brigham Vaughn [mlm]

Spinning to the Goal - Christie Gordon [mlm]

The Puck Contract - M.M. Phoenix [mlm]

Cold Front (Michigan U Hockey #1) - Denver Shaw [mlm]

Figure Skating

Kiss and Cry - Keira Andrews [mlm]

Soccer

Playing The Field - KC Leonard [wlw]

Hits Different - Joel Rustin [mlm]

Futbolista - Jonny Garza Villa [mlm]

Always on My Mind - Kelsey Painter [wlw]

Volley - Crea Reitan [mlm]

The Other Team - Felix Fowler [mlm]

Two Left Feet - Kallie Emblidge [mlm]

Lacrosse 

A Bit of You (Farewell Fairwood #3) - Hannah Ellie [wlw]

Football

The Brotherly Shove - Emily Shacklette [mlm]

Changing the Play - Morgan Sloan [mlm]

Trick Play (Playing the Field book 4) - Ajay Daniel [mlm]

Most Valuable Player - A.M. Woody [mlm]

The Kings of Beacon - Mike Jakubowski [mlm]

Cross-country

Out of Step, Into You - Ciera Burch [wlw]

Rowing

See you at the Finish Line - Zac Hammett [mlm]

Swimming

Poolside (Southeastern Alumni #2) - Taylor E. Weston [mlm]

Field Hockey

All's Fair in Love and Field Hockey - Kit Rosewater [wlw]

Baseball

Switch Pitching (Off the Bench Book 1) - S.J. Crawford [mlm]

Honeysuckle (The Hornets Nest #3) - Aubrey Taylor [mlm]

Totally Opposed (Love In Play #3) - Becca Jackson [mlm]

Rounding for Home - Fallon Brown [mlm, trans MC]

Crew (Comeback Duet #1) - Kimberly Knight, Rachel Lyn Adams [mlm]

Wrestling

Dropkicks and Dandelions (Titan Wrestling #2) - Val Simons [mlm]

Sucker Punch (Wrestling Girls #1) - Kayla Faber [wlw]

MMA

Hits Different - Joel Rustin [mlm]

Roller Derby

Learning to Fall - Peach Morris [wlw]

Rink Rash - Santana Knox [wlw]

Leave It on the Track - Margot Fisher [wlw]

Car Racing

Crash Test - Amy James [mlm]

Speed (Railers Legacy book 1) - R.J. Scott , V.L. Locey [mlm]*

Rugby

Every Move You Make - Sloan Spencer [mmf]

Summer Breakdown (Training Seasons Book 2) - J.S. Jasper [wlw]

The Fly-Half (Lincoln Knights #2) and The Scrum-Half (Lincoln Knights #3) - Charlie Novak [mlm]

Volleyball 

Double Hit - Katie Steele [mlm]

Smash or Pass - Birdie Schae [wlw]

Karate 

The Silver Dragon - Ellis Colton [mlm]

Tennis

Backhanded Compliments - Katie Chandler [wlw]

From the Courtroom to the Court - Eva Gonzay, Julia C. Brown [wlw]

Basketball

Tip In - Josie Mae [wlw]

Scoring the Player (Chasing Rings book 2) - Kit Grey [mlm]

Play You For It - Samantha Saldivar [wlw]

Deeply Loved Bayou (The Baton Rouge Bayou #2) - Aricka Alexander [wlw]

[monstersmutpeddler]

Books That I Couldn’t Finish 2023

Here are all of the books I tried to read but couldn’t finish in 2023. Some of these books do seem like a lot of fun, I just wasn’t as invested or in the mood for them, so I may revisit them in the future. 

You may enjoy a book I don’t like, so I recommend trying these out if they spark your interest. For example: I’ve read a bunch of Sci-Fi Alien Romance books, so it takes a lot for a new one to catch my attention because so many follow similar plot points. 

More information is available below!

Her Orc King: A Monster Fantasy Romance (Black Bear Clan Book 1)

By: Zoe Ashwood

It seemed like a good time; I just wasn’t in the mood for it. Maybe I’ll come back to try again?

Headless: An Erotic Short Story

By: Aveda Vice

Could not tell you what the plot was or what happened in this. 

Chamber of Monsters

By: Amber Foy

Got confused/bored. 

Her Soul to Take (Souls Trilogy)

By: Harley Laroux

Not my thing.

Hunted by the Alien Warlord: A Sci-Fi Alien Warrior Romance

By: Kyra Snow

Not interested. 

A Monster's Treasure: A Sci Fi Alien Romance (Kadrixan Mates Book 1)

At first, it sounded interesting, but then it kept repeating the same pages over and over again. Then I got bored. 

Blood Moon: A Rivals to Lovers Vampire and Witch Romance By: Jillian Graves

Not interested, but I think others will like it. Especially if you are familiar with the overarching series. 

His Darkest Desire (The Cursed Ones Book 2)

By: Tiffany Roberts

I wanted to like this book, and I did at first, but when our male lead is about to take advantage of the female lead? I couldn’t continue. First book was fun though!

Bonded by Thorns (Beasts of the Briar Book 1)

By: Elizabeth Helen

I keep trying to read books, and I need to sit back and realize it’s really not my thing. Nothing wrong the book, I’m just not into fae stuff. 

Heart of the Fae: A Beauty and the Beast Retelling (The Otherworld Book 1)

By: Emma Hamm

Sounds like a lot of fun, but I wasn’t in the mood for it. Maybe I’ll check it out in the future?

Cosmic Kiss: An Alien Burlesque Romance (Galactic Gems Series Book 1)

By: Clio Evans

Sounds like a lot of fun, but I wasn’t in the mood for it. Maybe I’ll check it out in the future? 

Snowed Inn (With a Demon) (Trapped with a Monster)

By: L.E. Eldridge

Nice winter romp, just wasn’t really interested. 

Scheme: An On The Shelf Omegaverse Romance

By: Colette Rhodes

If you like Omegaverse maybe this’ll be fun? I couldn’t get into it. 

The Dalwick Demon

By: Ashley Bennett

Sounds like a lot of fun, but I wasn’t in the mood for it. Maybe I’ll check it out in the future?

Falling for Mr. Hyde: A Paranormal Academy Headmaster Romance (Finger Licking Monsters)

By: Layla Fae

Sounds like a lot of fun, but I wasn’t in the mood for it. Maybe I’ll check it out in the future?

Hollow: A Trick And A Treat For All Hallow's Eve Sleepy Hollow Duology

By: C.M. Nascosta

Not as interested. 

Across the Stars: An Alien Dragonrider Romance Trilogy (Cosmic Threads of Fate Book 1)

By: Jade Waltz

Not as interested. 

Bound by the Vori: The Mate Index: Vora

By: S.J. Sanders

Not as interested. 

Soul Eater: M/M Fantasy Romance (Monstrous Book 1)

By: Lily Mayne

Sounds like a lot of fun, but I wasn’t in the mood for it. Maybe I’ll check it out in the future?

Surrendering to Scylla: A Greek Mythology Monster Romance (Monstrous Waters Book 1)

By: Wren K Morris

Not as interested. 

Watch Your Orbit: An Intersolar Alien Romance (Over the Moon Book 1)

By: Etta Pierce

I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn’t get invested. ;_;

Alien Prince's Mate: A Scifi Alien Romance (Fated Mates of the Seed Book 1)

By: Tammy Walsh

Not interested. 

Phantom: A Dark Retelling (Tattered Curtain Series)

By: Greer Rivers

Sounds like a lot of fun, but I wasn’t in the mood for it. Maybe I’ll check it out in the future?

Within Obsession and Lies (A Court of Gilt and Shadow Book 1)

By: Stacy Jones

Just not into fae, but this series looks like it could be fun if you like dark harem fae books? 

My Jurassic Mate (Jurassic Mates Book 1)

By: Michelle Deimos

Not interested. 

Fallen (Chosen Series Book 5)

By: Stacy Jones

I wanted to like this one, but it felt off and weird. 

Royal Alien Mate (Savage Martians Book 1)

By: Sue Mercury (Author), Sue Lyndon (Author)

Not interested.

[critical-quoter]

March Books

Why does this year feel like it's both dragging way too slowly but also speeding by way too quickly? I don't know. The husband and I are trying to be more mindful of our spending to get us out of debt. So that means, I need to be more mindful with my book purchases (or just give up purchasing new books for a while.)

Hawk - Charlotte McGinley ⭐️⭐️ Muscles and Monsters - Ashley Bennett ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Off-Limits Protector - Jenna Gunn ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Matteo - T. Priceton ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Strayed - A. M. Wilson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Umbra King - Jamie Applegate Hunter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pretty Little Mistake - Michaela Smeltzer ⭐️⭐️ Egotistical Puckboy - Eden Finley & Saxon James ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Too Wrong - I. A. Dice ⭐️⭐️ Beartown - Fredrik Backman ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Recipe for Love - Anne Malcom ⭐️ Beautiful Beast - Neva Altaj ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Accepting Fate - J. Laine ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Chained Hands - T. L. Smith ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Locked Hearts - T. L. Smith ⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Sweet Spot - Bella Matthews ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Promises and Pomegranates - Sav R. Miller ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ One Percent of You - Michelle Gross ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Caging His Dove - K. L. Carter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reclaiming His Dove - K. L. Carter ⭐️⭐️ Fugitives and Refugees - Chuck Palahniuk ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Someone You Deserve - Harlow James ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Serpents of Sky and Flame - Rebecca F. Kenney ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ His Bittersweet Regret - Christine Michelle ⭐️⭐️ The Road - Cormac McCarthy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Other Side of Blue - Anna Bloom ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Aeternum - Jamie Applegate Hunter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Body Check - Maria Luis ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ With Dreams of Payne - Gemma James ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kidnapped by the Italian Mafia Don - Lia Zari ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rancher's Pride - Bonnie Poirier ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Still Mine - Nadia Lee ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mountain Boss - S. J. Tilly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Daydreamer - Susie Tate ⭐️⭐️ Enigma - RuNyx ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sunshine and the Sheriff - Alina Lane ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wishing on a Daisy - Whitney Miller ⭐️⭐️ Be My Muse - Chantelle Blake ⭐️ Howl - Meg Alivien ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Chaos - Luna Mason ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sicilian Sunset - Nikila Rose ⭐️ All Rhodes Lead Here - Mariana Zapata ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Frisco - Tijan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dating and Dismemberment - A.L. Brody ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kidnapping the Mafia Boss - Tierney Storer ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Slow Burn - A.K. MacBride ⭐️⭐️⭐️ What I Should Have Known - R.L. Atkinson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For Her - R.L. Atkinson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Chasing Phoenix - S.E. Emory ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Salvation - Aquila Thorne ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Bloom - E.J. Blaise ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nero - S.J. Tilly (Audiobook) ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Trapping Sophia - Izzy Sweet ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thick Beef - Layla Fae ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Puck Me Always - Sofia Aves ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Crash - Bex Dawn ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Burn - Bex Dawn ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Taming Seraphine - Gigi Styx ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Painted Scars - Neva Altaj ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Delicate Escape - Catherine Cowles ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Yulean Sister's Guide to Getting Married - L.E. Eldridge ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Detour - A. Marie ⭐️ The Wrong Play - C.R. Jane ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wonder Girl - Charm Harlow ⭐️⭐️ Same Time Next Year - Tessa Bailey ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fender - Crystal Daniels & Sandy Alvarez ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tame the Heart - Ava Hunter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

67 total books read for March 2025

[madmonkeysandrum-blog]

Books read in August: 11 and I liked 3.

Best books: "Slow AF Run Club" by Martinus Evans made me want to run. Tom Hindles "Murder on Lake Garda" made me want to read his other books. "Devils Chew Toy" by Rob Osler made me want to give the second book a try.

Worst books: "Instagoner" by Sydney Leigh. It was flat and dull, and felt like an old person trying to write a young character without knowing what an influencer does.

Thoughts: I messed up and reserved too many books from the library and ended up having to read all of them at once and... I should have read some of the Goodreads recommendations based on my latest 4 star reads. I didn't really get to that this month. I did start "The Windsor Knot" by S.J. Bennett but I DNF:ed it, it wasn't for me. I knew that Queen Elizabeth was the sleuth but it was too much sucking up to the monarchy, I couldn't take it. I'm off to Amsterdam but I'll try to do better this month and get to some of those recommendations.

[theroyalspamspace]

Thanks for tagging me @leonisandmurex ♥

last song: Iris by Goo Goo Dolls

favourite colour: blue, purple, pink

last movie/tv show: The Hunchback of Notre Dame

sweet/savoury/spicy: sweet... I definitely do have a sweet tooth lol

last thing i googled: augusta caroline, and I got people confused............

current obsession: again, I'm in my hyperfixation phase, currently it's BRF

last book: The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett

looking forward to: finishing my damn academic paper, but it's not gonna happen anytime soon :'(

As usual, I don't tag anyone but if any of you wish to participate, feel free to reblog!

Get to know me/People to know better

thank you so much for tagging me @cosmmicdancer :)

last song: bobby sox by green day, I think

favorite color: yellow or a yellowy orange

last movie/tv show: the OA

sweet/savoury/spicy: I need a perfect balance between sweet and savoury/spicy, because of the tism, but my wife would say its definitely sweet

last thing i googled: bahnstreik 2024 (hello fellow germans)

current obsession: moral panics and everything surrounding them

last book: currently reading stone butch blues

looking forward to: my wife getting their passport and moving in with me after almost 4 years of long distance <3

tags: @leaskisses444, @signforsign, @starsendlessly, and @amarettofemme and @sunkissedbutch, because we recently became mutuals and you seem like darlings :)

(absolutely no pressure to participate )

[real-book-reflections]

AUDIO VERSION of The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett - Narration by Jane Copeland. YES!! This was absolutely lovely to listen to! So much fun! The 1st in a new cozy series: Her Majesty the Queen Investigates, the book starts out with a death right at that the beginning, taking place right under the roof of Queen Elizabeth, at Windsor Castle. With Queen Elizabeth II, being a primary character, she is flanked by Asst Private Secretary, Rozie Oshodi, who proves to be quite capable in her owns rights. Brilliant chemistry of mutual respect between all the characters, dominated by an intelligent, witty, often humorous, sometimes cheeky dialogue. I LOVED the few personal conversations between Philip and the Queen. (Phillip’s pet name for the Queen is “Cabbage”.) This was a wonderful portrait of some the Queen’s responsibilities, her family, staff, the public she has to deal with, and her beloved home, Windsor Castle. Coordinating all those things, she is using her wisdom and keen eye to guide the proper authorities to unmask the truth about the death of one of her guests, a Russian piano player. But questions abound - Suicide? Murder? Accident? A killer? Who? The narrator, Jane Copeland, is fantastic! Pitch, pace, power, accent(s), enthusiasm, and fluency were spot on. The narrator did this story justice, and brought life and authentic realism, making the listening experience even more enjoyable.

[tudorblogger]

Monthly Reading Summary – January 2025

[nevinslibrary]

Mystery/Thriller Monday

This. I. Give me a second.

Okay. Back now. So, this is a mystery where the amateur (do you count as an amateur if you’re the sovereign of a nation?) detective is Queen Elizabeth II. Yep, that one, although, now I sorta wonder/want a series where the detective is Queen Elizabeth I.

In this book she is about to celebrate her 90th birthday when a Russian pianist is killed in one of the Castle’s bedrooms. MI5 is on the case, but, so is Queen Elizabeth. With the help of her Assistant Private Secretary Rozie Oshodi.

I really liked the book, the mystery part, and the fact that the author managed to not make this something, weird, or slightly off. I’ve read other ‘famous names turned into detectives’ mysteries. Some were good, some, not so much. This one I really really liked and can’t wait to read the next part of the series!

You may like this book If you Liked: Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William M. Kuhn, Hope Never Dies! by Andrew Shaffer

The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett

[bargainsleuthbooks]

💲Murder Most Royal (Her Majesty the Queen Investigates #3) $1.99 Kindle Deal + Book Review #KindleDeals #BookReview

Leading up the U.S. release of the 4th book in the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series; there's an awesome Kindle deal on book 3: only $1.99! #Bookthreads #KindleDeals #Booksky #BookBlogger #SJBennett #MurderMostRoyal #HerMajestytheQueenInvestigates

Leading up the United States release of the fourth book in the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series, there’s an awesome Kindle deal on book three: only $1.99! Check out my review below and link to the sale. “Evidence that an aristocrat has gone missing–and was possibly murdered–near Sandringham House sets Queen Elizabeth II on the path to discover unsavory family secrets and much more in…

[cowboystudies]

My 2022 100 books reading goal list.

this is where I keep track of every book I read in 2022 in full. Books for classes are allowed as long as I read cover to cover. PLEASE NOTE: a book listed here does not mean I agree, or condone, the book’s characters, themes, morals, etc. I sometimes read books I do not agree with because they are written by people I disagree with, or that have characters who perform reprehensible actions I would not condone in real life.

The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori

The Maddest Obsession by Danielle Lori

The Darkest Temptation by Danielle Lori

Thunder Thighs by Evie Mitchell

The Accidental Werewolf’s Mate by S.J. Sanders

Bad Alpha by Kathryn Moon

Bound to the Battle God by Ruby Dixon

Heat Haven by Sarah Blue and Ashley Bennett

Pack Darling pt 2 by Lola Rock

Throne of Power by Rina Kent

Double the D by Evie Mitchell

Viper by Naomi Lucas

Muffin Top by Evie Mitchell

The Mrs. Clause by Evie Mitchell 

Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools by Jonathan Kozol 

The Shake-Up by Evie Mitchell

Dominant Desires by Molly Doyle

The Protector by Morgan Elizabeth 

Something Like Hate by Harloe Rae

Magic of Discover by Britt Andrews

Double Breasted by Evie Mitchell

They Also Burn People by Marcos Antonio Hernandez

Locked Up Liars by Ella Thorpe

Banned Books: Informal Notes on Some Books Banned for Various Reasons at Various Times and in Various Places by Anne Haight

His First Cherry Pie by Hope Ford

Ace: What Asexuality Reveals about Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex by Angela Chen

Tampa - Alissa Nutting

Rabid by Ivy Asher and Raven Kennedy

The Child Catchers: Rescue, Trafficking, and the New Gospel of Adoption by Kathryn Joyce

Torn to Bits by Katie May

[byneddiedingo]

Sylvia Sidney, Desmond Tester, and Oscar Homolka in Sabotage (Alfred Hitchcock, 1936)

Cast: Sylvia Sidney, Oscar Homolka, Desmond Tester, John Loder, Joyce Barbour, Matthew Boulton, S.J. Warmington, William Dewhurst. Screenplay: Charles Bennett, Ian Hay, Helen Simpson, based on a novel by Joseph Conrad. Cinematography: Bernard Knowles. Art direction: Oscar Friedrich Werndorff. Film editing: Charles Frend. Music: Hubert Bath, Jack Beaver, Louis Levy. In one of the coldest-hearted scenes ever put on film, a young boy plays with a puppy held by a woman seated next to him on a London bus, and then they are blown to bits by the bomb he has unwittingly been carrying. The scene would be less shocking if we hadn't spent a good part of the movie getting to know Stevie (Desmond Tester), the younger brother of Mrs. Verloc (Sylvia Sidney), whose husband (Oscar Homolka) belongs to a terrorist group. We have seen Stevie carrying his lethal package, which Verloc has commissioned him to leave at a specific location by a certain time, and we have grown fond of him when he is detained by a street hawker selling toothpaste and hair tonic and pauses to watch a parade. As the fatal time grows closer, we feel sure that something will happen to defuse the bomb, as usually happens in movies, so its detonation comes as a reversal of movie convention, one so radical that even Hitchcock will not attempt anything quite like it until he kills off the star of Psycho in mid-film 24 years later. Even then, he will not do anything so sadistic as add a puppy to the scene. Sabotage is not one of Hitchcock's more famous movies -- it's often confused with his Saboteur (1942). But it is, I think, one of his most characteristic because of his willingness to violate convention. The film is based on Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent -- a title he couldn't use because it was the title of his other 1936 release, an adaptation of a Somerset Maugham story that starred John Gielgud and Madeleine Carroll. But Sabotage is closer to Kafka than to Conrad, a film that verges on the surreal and dreamlike at times. The Verlocs own a movie theater and their home is separated from it by a passageway behind the screen, so that sometimes the sounds from the movies that are playing enter their daily lives. Stunned by Stevie's death, Mrs. Verloc goes out into the theater, where a Disney short, "Who Killed Cock Robin?", is playing, and suddenly begins laughing at the absurd cartoon action. Much else in the film is similarly askew: The bomb-maker, for example, keeps his explosives in ketchup bottles and condiments jars, and when he goes to get the bomb for Verloc, he finds his granddaughter's doll in the cabinet. (If, indeed, she's his granddaughter -- there's much coy mystery about that.) There's an oddball romance between Mrs. Verloc and Ted (John Loder), the Scotland Yard detective who works undercover at the greengrocers' next to the Verlocs' theater, keeping an eye on Verloc. And the ending is a mare's nest of ambiguities that don't lend themselves to summary. What keeps the movie from descending into incoherence is Hitchcock's sure sense of style and the occasionally expressionistic cinematography of Bernard Knowles. Later, Hitchcock would express regret over the way he handled Stevie's death, but it remains consistent with the haunting effect of the film as a whole.

[cheshirelibrary]

Hidden Gems for YA Superfans

[via GoodReads]

For this roundup, we chose books that have been added fewer than 200,000 times on Goodreads members' shelves. From there, we only included titles with a minimum four-star rating. Then we broke down the results into recommendations for fans of  Suzanne Collins, John Green, Jenny Han, and Cassandra Clare.

If you love Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games trilogy, try:

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray

The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

If you love John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, try:

Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes

A List of Cages by Robin Roe

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

If you love Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before, try:

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

Between Two Skies by Joanne O'Sullivan

If you love Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments series, try:

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

...

Click through to see more titles.

[monstersmutpeddler]

Current Book Backlog (July 2022)

I have read a lot this first half of the year, so much so that I’ve crossed out quite a bit from my last Backlog list! So I’ll be writing out my current list of books (some will be repeats from the previous list, I haven’t gotten to them yet) that I want to read, along with books who aren’t out yet and will be released later this year or in 2023!

Keep reading below to see the list!

Books That Have Been Released

The Mirror (Dark Spirits Fairytales)

By: S.J. Sanders

Glass Slippers (Dark Spirits Fairytales)

By: S.J. Sanders

Broken Earth: Argurma Salvager Book 01

By: S.J. Sanders

Monsters in Love: Lost in the Labyrinth: A Paranormal Monster Romance Anthology

By: Eva Priest writing as Evangeline Priest, Vivienne Hart, Nova Blake, Dee J. Holmes, Atlas Rose, S.J. Sanders, Opal Fairchild, Elle Cross, Clio Evans, C.M. Nascosta

Claimed by the Orc Prince: An MM Fantasy Romance (The Orc Prince Trilogy Book 01)

By: Lionel Hart

River of Shadows (Underworld Gods Book 01)

By: Karina Halle

Dustwalker

By: Tiffany Roberts

Wolves & Warriors: A Limited Collection of Paranormal and Sci-Fi Romances

By: Kathryn Ann Kingsley, Kathryn Moon, Rory Miles, Loxley Savage, Aleera Anaya Ceres, Loni Ree, Sara Ivy Hill, RuNyx, C.M. Nascosta, Lana Kole, Lyx Robinson, Chloe Gunter, Flora Quincy, Lydia Reeves & Xu-Ji Westin, S.K. Reign, Lydia Guleva, Leann Castellanos, Jinx Layne, Crystal Ash (writing as Sophie Ash), Clarissa Bright, Chloe Parker

Girls Weekend: a Monster Bait Romance

By: C.M.Nascosta

When She's Lonely: A Risdaverse Tale

By: Ruby Dixon

When She Belongs (Risdaverse)

By: Ruby Dixon

When She's Married: A SciFi Alien Romance Novella (Risdaverse)

By: Ruby Dixon

When She's Ready: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance Novella (Risdaverse)

By: Ruby Dixon

Pretty Human: A SciFi Alien Romance Novella (Risdaverse)

By: Ruby Dixon

Prison Planet Barbarian (Risdaverse)

By: Ruby Dixon

The Beast: A Monster Romance (Monsters and Beauties Book 01)

By: Jenika Snow

A Soul to Keep: Duskwalker Brides: Book One

By: Opal Reyne

Moon Blooded Breeding Clinic (Cambric Creek: Sweet & Steamy Monster Romance Book 03)

By: C.M Nascosta

Books That Aren’t Out Yet

The Clecanian Series Book 06

Coming Summer 2022

By: Victoria Aveline

The Clecanian Series Book 07

Coming Spring 2023

By: Victoria Aveline

Zoey Draven’s New Series

Coming Fall 2023

By: Zoey Draven

Monsters in Love: Lost in the Dark: A Monster Paranormal Romance Anthology

Coming September 29th 2022

By: Eva Priest writing as Evangeline Priest, Vivienne Hart, Nova Blake, Dee J. Holmes, Elle Cross, Atlas Rose, S.J. Sanders, Clio Evans, C.M. Nascosta, YD La Mar, Ashley Bennett, Vera Valentine, Cassie Alexander

Monsters in Love: Lost in the Forest: A Paranormal Monster Romance Anthology

Coming March 25th 2023

By: Eva Priest writing as Evangeline Priest, Vivienne Hart, Nova Blake, Dee J. Holmes, Opal Fairchild, Elle Cross, Atlas Rose, S.J. Sanders, Clio Evans, C.M. Nascosta, YD La Mar, Kathryn Ann Kingsley, Ashley Bennett, Vera Valentine

Monsters in Love: Wicked Tales and Monstrous Ever Afters: A Monster Paranormal Romance Anthology

Coming March 7th 2023

By: Eva Priest writing as Evangeline Priest, Vivienne Hart, Dee J. Holmes, Elle Cross, Nova Blake, Clio Evans, Atlas Rose, S.J. Sanders, C.M. Nascosta, Opal Fairchild, YD La Mar, Vera Valentine, Ashley Bennett, Cassie Alexander, Ursa Dax, Karen Kincy, L.V. Lane, Cara Wylde, Sonia Nova, Alexa Michaels, Salem Cross, Holly Hanzo, Eden Ember, Cady Austin, Krista Luna, Elsie Winters, Salem Sinclair, Daisy Shell, Elizabeth Austin

The Kraken’s Sacrifice Book 02 

Coming October 11th 2022

By: Katee Robert

The Gargoyle’s Captive Book 03 

Coming March 28th 2023

By: Katee Robert

Mounting Her Minotaur: A Monster Romance (Obsidian City: Love and Monsters Book 01)

Coming October 31st 2022

By: Evangeline Priest

Resting Witch Face (Stay For A Spell Series) Book 05  

Coming October 2022

By: Juliette Cross

Grim And Bear It (Stay For A Spell Series) Book 06 

Coming May 2023

By: Juliette Cross

Entranced by the Basilisks Book 04 

Coming December 31st 2022

By: Lillian Lark

Enchanted by the Birdman: An Alien Monster Standalone Romance (Interstellar Protections Agency Book 02)

Coming December 26th 2022

By: Jade Waltz

Entangled to the Naga: Interstellar Protections Agency Book 03

Coming January 21st 2023

By: Jade Waltz

Tentacles & Triathlons  (Leviathan Fitness) Book 02 

Coming May 2023

By: Ashley Bennett

Superbia: Shades of Sin Book 02

Coming May 9th 2023

By: Colette Rhodes

Sanctuary with Kings (Tempting Monsters Book 03)

Coming June 20th 2023

By: Kathryn Moon

The Weaver (The Vrix Book 01)

Coming June 24th 2023

By: Tiffany Roberts