Velvet was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
1970s, Mexico City. Maite is a secretary who lives for one thing: the latest issue of Secret Romance. While student protests and political unrest consume the city, Maite escapes into stories of passion and danger.
Her next-door neighbor, Leonora, a beautiful art student, seems to live a life of intrigue and romance that Maite envies. When Leonora disappears under suspicious circumstances, Maite finds herself searching for the missing woman—and journeying deeper into Leonora’s secret life of student radicals and dissidents.
Meanwhile, someone else is also looking for Leonora at the behest of his boss, a shadowy figure who commands goon squads dedicated to squashing political activists. Elvis is an eccentric criminal who longs to escape his own life: He loathes violence and loves old movies and rock ’n’ roll. But as Elvis searches for the missing woman, he watches Maite from a distance—and comes to regard her as a kindred spirit who shares his love of music and the unspoken loneliness of his heart.
Now as Maite and Elvis come closer to discovering the truth behind Leonora’s disappearance, they can no longer escape the danger that threatens to consume their lives, with hitmen, government agents, and Russian spies all aiming to protect Leonora’s secrets—at gunpoint.
Velvet Was the Night is an edgy, simmering historical novel for lovers of smoky noirs and anti-heroes.
REVIEW: The concept of the book immediately caught my attention. I'm super interested in the 1970s time period and learning more about Mexican history. I love a good noir and I obviously love an anti-hero. Our MCs Maite and Elvis are definitely an interesting pair. Maite is a exaggerating, self deprecating, mess and Elvis is an intriguing, sad, and searching for a family. This book took a long time to get into for me. The second have finally gains some momentum and the ending and the afterword with more historical information was great. This was a 2 out of 5 for me but would love to read more from the author because I definitely enjoyed the writing style and the infusion of historical moments. And come on.....that cover though!
Evie and the Truth About Witches by John Martz
We’ve all read about witches, those pointy hat wearin’, broom ridin’, spell castin’, superlative olfactory organ sportin’, child nappin’ creepies. But Evie wants to be scared, and Evie has found out the truth about witches, and she didn’t find it in a book.
REVIEW: Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the approval of this ARC. This is a children's picture book and a major win!! This is the perfect fun spooky Halloween witchy book for kids. The illustrations are adorable and have an amazing orange color scheme that was very eye-catching and captivating. It ends with the perfect creepy moment. This is definitely one to add to your Halloween stash for parents and teachers alike.
A Sprinkle of Sorcery by Michelle Harrison
This sequel to A Pinch of Magic is another spellbinding sisterly adventure, this time with a haunted shipwreck, a fierce pirate, and, of course, a little magic!
The family curse has been lifted, and the Widdershins sisters—Betty, Fliss, and Charlie—are free to leave the misty prison isle of Crowstone. But when a mysterious girl arrives at their inn accompanied by a will-o’-the-wisp, or ghost, it seems another adventure has landed on their doorstep. The stranger, named Willow, is an escaped prisoner from nearby Lament, desperate to clear her father's name before he's executed for a crime he didn't commit.
Then Charlie is kidnapped by poachers, swept away on a dangerous mission in search of pirate treasure that's protected by a vengeful ghost. Betty, Fliss, and Willow pile into their trusty boat and embark on another incredible adventure, one that involves ghosts, fierce pirates, and a journey to a mythic island that exists only in legends. Can they save their sister—and themselves—once more?
REVIEW: Thank you to NetGalley and Clarion Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for a review. I tried to read this one but I didn't realize that it was a sequel and so I was a little lost with the story and ended up not finishing it. It seems like a really great magical and fun story and I plan on revisiting this after I read the first one.
What new release are you excited about today??
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