Review When it comes to gripping suspense that you can't simply put down, Harry Hunsicker has got the formula down. And his latest title, Mother May I, only solidifies that statement. The FMC, Meg, lives through every mother's worst nightmare when her daughter disappears as a toddler. Then one day she happens to come across the first clue about her daughter's well-being in 15 years. And her entire life changes once again. Nothing else matters. She's going to follow that trail and learn the truth once and for all.

Review I read White Mulberry and spoke with the author about how she developed her story when it first released. That character's journey and conversation stuck with me. She said she was working on a story about what happens to the characters after escaping Japan and her late husband's family. When Red Seal was announced, I crossed my fingers that I would get the opportunity to read and continue our conversation from the first book. I can confidently say that the wait was worth it.

Review I'm noticing that spicy slashers, or "horrormance" is rising up in popularity. I'm not one for dark romance, but after reading a few titles like Camera Stays On by Tylor Paige, I'm pretty sure I'm becoming a fan.

Review I never anticipated that The Hunger Games could be reimagined with queer characters and Mexican lore. I would have been curious yet not knowing what to expect. Sonido Reyes delivers a powerful and poignant story with To Our Untamed Core. But adding themes such as colonization, religious indoctrination, and detribalization raised the stakes higher that I could have predicted.

In this podcast interview Megan welcomes Sarah M. Anderson, who talks about her writing career and performs a reading of her short story, “An Exciting Career Opportunity” under the pen name Sally Sultzman. Links to find the author and titles discussed in this episode: Website: Instagram: YouTube: Goodreads: Please rate, review, and subscribe so that you never miss an episode! Follow on social media to stay connected! Book Reviews: Author Interviews: Podcast Players: Bookstagram: BookTok: BookThreads: BookTube:

In this podcast interview Megan welcomes Ann Aguirre to talk about her new cozy fantasy, The Hocus Pocus Handbook, available now. She talks about her characters and connections to her previous books. Links to find the author and titles discussed in this episode: Cantina Book Club Book Review: Website: Instagram: TikTok: Bluesky: Facebook: Link to Purchase: Please rate, review, and subscribe so that you never miss an episode! Follow on social media to stay connected! Book Reviews: Author Interviews: Podcast Players: Bookstagram: BookTok: BookThreads: BookTube:

In this podcast interview Megan welcomes Nina Simon to talk about her new book, My Sister is Going to Kill Me, available now. She talks about her love for the outdoors and her own sister relationship. Links to find the author and titles discussed in this episode: Cantina Book Club Book Review: Website: Instagram: Substack: Facebook: Link to Purchase: Please rate, review, and subscribe so that you never miss an episode! Follow on social media to stay connected! Book Reviews: Author Interviews: Podcast Players: Bookstagram: BookTok: BookThreads: BookTube:

In this podcast interview Megan welcomes Nina Simon to talk about her new book, My Sister is Going to Kill Me, available now. She talks about her love for the outdoors and her own sister relationship. Links to find the author and titles discussed in this episode: Cantina Book Club Book Review: Website: Instagram: Substack: Facebook: Link to Purchase: Please rate, review, and subscribe so that you never miss an episode! Follow on social media to stay connected! Book Reviews: Author Interviews: Podcast Players: Bookstagram: BookTok: BookThreads: BookTube:

In this podcast interview Megan welcomes Brianna Labuskes to talk about her new psychological thriller, Clean Slate, available now. She talks about her fascinating research into crime scene cleaners.    Links to find the author and titles discussed in this episode:   Cantina Book Club Book Review:        Website: Instagram: Threads: Facebook: Link to Purchase:   Please rate, review, and subscribe so that you never miss an episode! Follow on social media to stay connected!   Book Reviews: Author Interviews: Podcast Players: Bookstagram: BookTok: BookThreads: BookTube:  

Review The Hocus Pocus Handbook by Ann Aguirre is my first time reading a cozy fantasy, and now I get the hype. As a companion piece to The Only Purple House in Town, it explores the other side of the events - how did the switched-at-birth changeling fare in the magical realm?

Review Brianna Labuskes delivers a sophisticated, suspenseful crime thriller with Clean Slate. I haven't read any of Brianna's work before, but she is now an author that I have faith in when it comes to great storytelling. With multiple POVs and flashbacks, readers are led through FMC Olive's investigation into how the victims and her personal life are connected.

Review Evelyn Ash takes several well-known fantasy tropes and gives them a gothic vibe in A Beautifully Crafted Lie. The FMC Bryndis, a governor's daughter, isn't welcomed in her own blended family, which includes her stepmother and half-sister. On top of that, she's a descendant of witches. If anyone learned about her secret or her mother's belongings she hides, she'll be taken away. She's seen it happen. Right from the first chapter, we understand that Bryndis is up against society, her family, and the mysterious voice in her head.

In this podcast interview Megan welcomes Nina Simon to talk about her new book, My Sister is Going to Kill Me, available now. She talks about her love for the outdoors and her own sister relationship. Links to find the author and titles discussed in this episode: Cantina Book Club Book Review: Website: Instagram: Substack: Facebook: Link to Purchase: Please rate, review, and subscribe so that you never miss an episode! Follow on social media to stay connected! Book Reviews: Author Interviews: Podcast Players: Bookstagram: BookTok: BookThreads: BookTube:

In this podcast interview Megan welcomes Clay McLeod Chapman to talk about his new book, Devil Inside, available now. He talks about combining horror and romance in several of his books. Links to find the author and titles discussed in this episode: Cantina Book Club Book Review: Website: Instagram: Threads: Substack: Bluesky: Facebook: Link to Purchase: Please rate, review, and subscribe so that you never miss an episode! Follow on social media to stay connected! Book Reviews: Author Interviews: Podcast Players: Bookstagram: BookTok: BookThreads: BookTube:

Review My Sister is Going to Kill Me by Nina Simon piqued my interest based on the title alone. Once I met sisters Liv and Mandy as they began their adventure in the Grand Canyon, I knew I was in for a ride.

In this podcast interview Megan welcomes Rhys Bowen to talk about her new book, The Castle in the Glen, available now. She talks about the challenge of writing in a different voice for a story-within-a-story. Links to find the author and titles discussed in this episode: Cantina Book Club Book Review: Website: Instagram: Goodreads: Facebook: Bluesky Link to Purchase: Please rate, review, and subscribe so that you never miss an episode! Follow on social media to stay connected! Book Reviews: Author Interviews: Podcast Players: Bookstagram: BookTok: BookThreads: BookTube:

In this podcast interview Megan welcomes Hilary Davidson to talk about her new book, Every Lie I Told, available now. She talks about the fascinating things she learned about real-life “fixers”. Links to find the author and titles discussed in this episode: Cantina Book Club Book Review: Website: Instagram: Facebook: Link to Purchase: Please rate, review, and subscribe so that you never miss an episode! Follow on social media to stay connected! Book Reviews: Author Interviews: Podcast Players: Bookstagram: BookTok: BookThreads: BookTube:

Review It seems as if "horrormance" has been slowly making its mark on the book scene. Having only read a handful of these stories, I definitely see the appeal. And Devil Inside by Clay McCleod Chapman certainly meets expectations for both genres.

Review Rhys Bowen successfully blends historical and crime fiction with The Castle in the Glen. The story-within-a-story takes readers along for the ride with FMC Emma, as she studies storylines and details that lead to a surprising reveal. The author packs a lot into The Castle in the Glen. We meet Emma and learn the lonely-esque state she's in, searching for a place to belong. We continue meeting more and more characters, but that just sets the stage at this point. The real meat of the book comes from the story that Emma is reading and asked to help with.

In this podcast interview Megan welcomes Dara Levan to talk about her new book, Shaken to the Core, available now. She talks about incorporating serious themes into her stories.   Links to find the author and titles discussed in this episode: Website: Instagram: Substack: Facebook: Link to Purchase: Please rate, review, and subscribe so that you never miss an episode! Follow on social media to stay connected! Book Reviews: Author Interviews: Podcast Players: Bookstagram: BookTok: BookThreads: BookTube:

In this podcast interview Megan welcomes Kerri Maher to talk about her new book, Summer of Love, available now. She talks about her sobriety journey and research for the book. Tune in for a Summer of Love mocktail recipe!  Links to find the author and titles discussed in this episode: Cantina Book Club Book Review: Website: Instagram: YouTube: Link to Purchase: Please rate, review, and subscribe so that you never miss an episode! Follow on social media to stay connected! Book Reviews: Author Interviews: Podcast Players: Bookstagram: BookTok: BookThreads: BookTube:

In this podcast interview Megan welcomes Candice and Chrissy from Bookalicious Pod to discuss the bookish podcast life, books that make them feel things, and other bookish topics.  Links for this episode: Bookalicious Pod on Spotify: Bookalicious Pod on Apple Podcasts: Instagram: YouTube: TikTok: Please rate, review, and subscribe so that you never miss an episode! Follow on social media to stay connected! Book Reviews: Author Interviews: Podcast Players: Bookstagram: BookTok: BookThreads: BookTube:

In this podcast interview Megan welcomes Marian Yee to talk about her new book, 4 Janes, available now. She talks about building upon a literary classic to develop a time travel historical fantasy novel.  Links to find the author and titles discussed in this episode: Cantina Book Club Book Review: Website: Instagram: Link to Purchase: Please rate, review, and subscribe so that you never miss an episode! Follow on social media to stay connected! Book Reviews: Author Interviews: Podcast Players: Bookstagram: BookTok: BookThreads: BookTube: