Heartthrobs, Zombie Mobs & Hollywood Divas

Laughs, gore and drama galore!

[3 trade paperback books from left to right: One Death at a Time, He Falls First, Zom RomCom]

One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman

contemporary mystery

Berkley, April 2025

Sobriety challenges, meetings, an uneasy alliance, a road trip, an assortment of unusual and unlikely allies, betrayals, lots of laugh and profound sentiment make Julia and Natasha's journey an enjoyable ride even as it addresses ageism sexism with organic candor.

He Falls First by Jill Shalvis

contemporary romance

Sourcebooks Casablanca, August 2025

This love story focuses on the joy of support offered by biological and found family even as it references the evolution of recovery from past experiences of domestic violence.

Zom RomCom by Olivia Dade

contemporary speculative adventure romance

Berkley Romance, August 2025

A laugh-aloud spoof of manmade horrors with its own unique quirkiness that delivers so many good feelings even as it addresses significant loss and grief. Readers missing the Sookie Stackhouse dynamic with Erik(?) the vampire should especially enjoy the banter between Edie and Max.

This week's BAC (Book Acquisition Compulsion) Issues

[bookstack of 8 books from top to bottom: Chocolate Chip City, Vengeance of the Pirate Queen, The Dirty Version, Sometimes You Stay, Scotch on the Rocks, He's to Die For, The Baby Dragon Cafe, The Launch Date]

Life is even more challenging than usual for most of us so savor all of the everyday pleasures each day and encounter offers.

Always wishing you good health, peace of mind & joy!

Comments

Legacies of Octavia Butler & June BAC Issues

It's so exciting to read about a trailblazer who was ethical, thoughtful, generous, and funny in addition to being diligent and multifaceted. [Positive Obsession atop a bookstack of 7 books - The Last Lady B spine showing, then 6 books showing page edges; Communion propped to the left of the bookstack] Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Morris non-fiction biography Amistad, 2025 Opening with a quote from Parable of the Sower, this biographer uses every word in the O.E.B. chronology, author's note, introduction, six chapters, epilogue, and acknowledgements to engage readers in an intimate personal study of this extraordinary, talented, driven woman who was vulnerable and complicated in her brilliant humanity. The author's access to the O.E.B. archives adds layers of emotional depth that enrich the context of the details of the author's personal life and creative and professional development. from the Author's Note:...

When What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Funny

Need to laugh out loud? To feel inspired? To feel seen? To feel encouraged to pursue your heart's most ambitious desires despite overwhelming odds against succeeding? Read Zarna Garg's memoir, which offers an intimate, compelling coming of age, immigrant's journey, family saga, and keen observations about humans and life as experienced by a hilarious, intrepid individual. [front cover of "Zarna Garg, This American Woman: A One-In-A-Billion Memoir" showing the Statue of Liberty holding the author in her arms with the New York City skyline in the lower half of the background] This American Woman: A One-In-A-Billion Memoir by Zarna Garg non-fiction memoir Ballantine Books, April 2025 Universal themes of family love and family conflict, support and abandonment, grieving as a years' long process with lulls, parenting and being parented (or not), finding your people in friendship, romance, community presented and dissected with the author's sharp wit ...

New Arrivals Giving BRBF Vibes + BAC Issues

Even as my friends and I enjoyed a fantastic community event yesterday in and around the Bowie Branch of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System, there was envy in my heart for all of the attendees and participants at the Black Romance Book Festival in Atlanta, Georgia. Reports of issues of crowding just made me happy for the event organizers' success while they posted apologies and corrective strategies for crowd control during the last day. In the meantime, the new arrivals shelves at the closest library in the neighboring county offered a variety of books by BRBF authors. "Where the Melanated Are Celebrated" indeed. [9 books, from left to right: Positive Obsession, Communion, Big Girl Blitz (atop a bookstack), The Started Ex, Fire Sword & Sea, Leave Your Mess at Home, Archangel's Eternity, It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, First Sign of Danger] Currently reading Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Mo...

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