K.J.’s Shelfies

If Bath & Body Works’ Twisted Peppermint had a bookish soulmate, it would absolutely be Dear Monster Claus by Maeve Black. Both hit you with that instant peppermint snap, equal parts sweet, chaotic, and a little bit dangerous.

Twisted Peppermint is all cooling tingle + cozy holiday magic… and Dear Monster Claus gives the same energy: frosty vibes, tension that crackles like winter air, and a story that leaves you feeling warm even when the monsters are anything but.

Basically:

If you’ve ever sprayed Twisted Peppermint and thought “this smells like trouble wrapped in a candy cane,” …welcome to the Monster Claus experience. 🎄💀

It gets bonus points for making me LOL

Genre: Psychological Thriller / Horror

Vibes:

•Creeping dread that sinks under your skin

•Isolation, paranoia, and survival

•“What if your worst fear was watching?”

•Think The Strangers meets The Girl on the Train

Best Read With:

A hot cup of tea (or maybe whiskey), your doors double-locked, and the lights on. Trust me.

My Rating: 5 out of 5

I grabbed this book as a Blind Date with a Book at a Bluebell Book Bar event. Let me tell you it did not disappoint. This book had me checking my locks at 2am. Noelle W. Ihli builds tension like a pro and doesn’t let go until the last chilling page. The pacing is tight, the terror is palpable, and the atmosphere? Utterly haunting.

This trend is a fun, low-pressure way to break out of your reading rut, discover new genres, and embrace the thrill of the unknown. It turns choosing a book into a little adventure, picking a book by its soul and not its cover. Whether you find your next favorite author or just enjoy the surprise, a blind date with a book makes reading feel fresh, spontaneous, and a little bit romantic—perfect for any book lover looking to spice up their shelf. If you are looking for a place to grab a Blind Date with a Book check out @thebluebellbookbar as they have not let me down yet!

#blinddatewithabook #localbookstore #shoplocal #BlindReadChallenge #wrappedinwords #unwraptheplot

Get ready to raise a glass to your next book obsession with this Happy Hour Challenge—a lineup of reads that are as bold, buzzy, and refreshing as your favorite summer cocktail. These books are worth the hype and then some, packed with salty enemies-to-lovers tension, sweet moments that melt your heart, and friendships so beautiful they’ll make you tear up poolside. Add in a generous splash of spice and you’ve got stories that go down smooth but leave a lasting buzz. Whether you’re beachside, bedside, or just binging with a bookish drink in hand, these picks are your perfect summer escape.

Ready to sip, swoon, and obsess?

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry delivers all the good buzz and is totally worth the hype—a gripping blend of emotional depth, small-town secrets, and slow-burn romance that hooks you from the first page. With Perry’s signature heartfelt storytelling and rich character work, this one earns every bit of its praise.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins reminds me of summer—it’s filled with sun-drenched beaches, tropical vibes, and a hint of danger lurking beneath the surface. It’s the perfect vacation read: breezy, bold, and just twisty enough to keep you hooked till sunset.

Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli is peak salty enemies to lovers—full of biting banter, simmering tension, and the kind of chemistry that crackles with every clash. If you love your romance with a side of rivalry and magic, this one delivers.

The Fall Risk by Ally Jimenez is so sweet—a heartfelt hug of a story filled with tender moments, genuine vulnerability, and a romance that feels like coming home. It’s the kind of book that leaves you smiling long after the last page.

Just for the Summer by Ally Jimenez embodies a beautiful friendship at its core—full of heartfelt conversations, unwavering support, and the kind of connection that blossoms into something deeper. It’s a warm, feel-good story that celebrates love built on true companionship.

Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver packs all the spice—bold, unapologetic, and sizzling with tension that scorches the page. It’s daring, deliciously dark, and absolutely unputdownable for anyone craving a steamy, high-stakes ride. Bonus points for an Irish man in glasses!

Genre: Psychological Thriller / Domestic Suspense

Vibes:

• Epistolary thriller meets chilling confessional

• Quiet dread with creeping tension

• Motherhood, morality, and the monsters within

• Feels like: Sharp Objects crossed with a locked diary you shouldn’t open

Best read with: A black coffee, a thunderstorm, and the lights just dim enough to question every sound in your house

My Rating: 4 out of 5 quietly unhinged plot twists

Dear Hanna is an unsettling, slow-burn thriller told through a series of raw, confessional letters from a mother trying to explain the unexplainable. Zoje Stage masterfully crafts a story that’s equal parts intimate and disturbing, peeling back the layers of trauma, guilt, and generational darkness.

You won’t be able to look away—even when you want to. Would absolutely read the rest of her letters, even if it meant losing sleep.

Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance

Vibes:

• Witches + curses + forbidden love

• Enemies to lovers

• Magic meets morally gray chaos

• Spicy with a side of shadowy secrets

Best read with: A black candle burning, Billie Eilish on vinyl, and a hot mug of cinnamon chai (preferably laced with danger).

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Emily McIntire spins a witchy web of lust, legacy, and power in Hexed. If you like your romance a little twisted and your characters beautifully broken, this one’s for you. Think dark fairy tale energy but make it seductive and unholy.

2023 - Week 32 - A book set in a UNESCO City of Literature | City - Melbourne

My Pick: The Soulmate - Sally Hepworth

Loved this book. The chapters are short making it a pretty quick read. The storyline is told from 2 people’s perspectives as wells as from the past and present. Mental health and how it can effect a person, marriage, and family is a key component and Hepworth nailed it.

2023 - Free Read

My Pick: Night Will Find You - Julia Heaberlin

I listened to this on a recent road trip. Heaberlin was able to keep me guessing and on the edge of my seat. Super quick read and a great story. Would recommend.

My Rating: 5 out of 5

2023 - Free Read

My Pick: Adelaide - Genevieve Wheeler

Ever live through a horrible, life changing breakup? Unfortunately, I’ve been there and done that. I related a lot to Adelaide. I’ve never been the same person since that breakup. However, it’s something that we go through and if the right support system is in place it’s something that helps us learn more about ourselves.

Here is to loving, heartbreak, and growth. Here is to Adelaide.

My Rating: 5 out of 5

2023 - Free Read

My Pick: Darling Girl - Liz Michalski

I love a good retelling of the fairy tales I grew up reading and watching. A dark retelling always piques my interest. It’s a good reminder that there are always two sides to every story. Liz Michalski doesn’t disappoint with retelling of Peter Pan’s story.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

2023 - Free Read

My Pick: A Welcome Reunion - Lucinda Berry

This is what I get for not reading the description before diving in. However, my feelings for the characters in this book didn’t change.

My Rating: 3 out of 5

2023 - Week 10 - A book related to one of the Spice Girls' "personalities" | Scary Spice 😱

My Pick: Ward D - Freida McFadden

As a mental health professional, I think it is important for readers to know that not everything in this book is depicted accurately. Working on inpatient psychiatric units for years I can tell you most of the incidences mentioned in this book are impossible to occur in real life on psychiatric units. It is also imperative for the readers to know that not everyone experiencing mental illness is dangerous. That is not saying there can't be dangerous people with mental health diagnoses. However, those like some of the characters described in this book make up a very small percentage of those with mental health diagnoses.

The depiction of Spider-Dan was spot on to the characteristics I've seen with some of my patients. He is a very lovable character and for me is totally worth reading this book (I should also mention I am a Spider-Man fan). To me his character illustrates that people with mental health diagnoses are more than their diagnoses. The author does a wonderful job of illustrating Spider-Dan's character as a person with a diagnosis (schizophrenia) who sees the world differently, but is still a person who is capable of caring for others.

This book wasn't as predictable as I thought it might be from reading the description. I also enjoyed the twists and turns throughout this read.

My Rating: 5 out of 5

2023 - Week 27 - A book by an author from continental Europe

My Pick: Palm Beach, Finland - Antti Tuomainen

I had high hopes for this book. The cover screamed “READ ME!!!” but something about it was hard to get into. Not sure if it had something to do with the book being translated to English but it didn’t grab my attention or make me want to go back and reread it. There were a few humorous parts but I felt they were few and far between.

My Rating: 2 out of 5

2023 - Kindle Summer Challenge - Series Summer

My Pick: The Last Sister - Kendra Elliot

I enjoyed this book more than expected. There were some twists and turns that kept me interested. However, I don’t see myself dying to start the next in the series soon, but would put it on my TBR list. Mainly as I didn’t feel like there were any cliffhangers with this ending.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

2023 - Week 6 - A book where books are important

My Pick: - The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires - Grady Hendrix

Being born a Southerner I loved this book and all it’s Southern references. The book club in this story is my kind of book club. Strong friendships that get pushed to their limits. True crime and spooky reads is the way to go.

“. . . Let me tell you something…there’s nothing nice about Southern ladies.”

My Rating: 5 out of 5

2023 - Free Read

My Husband’s Fiancée- Wendy Owens

Found this gem on Kindle Unlimited. It was a super quick read. Also, some people just deserve one another while others deserve better, I will let you decide. I will definitely be following up with the 2nd in the series, My Wife’s Secrets to see if what I am thinking is true.

My Rating: 5 out of 5

2023 - Week 18 - A book related to science

My Pick: Love on the Brain - Ali Hazelwood

Absolutely loved this book! If you’re a fan of The Love Hypothesis then Love on the Brain won’t disappoint. That saying both books are very similar but definitely have their differences. Needless to say Schrödinger was one of my favorite quirky parts of the book. There is so much to love about this book from nerdy Star Wars references to spice to cats.

My Rating: 5 out of 5