The Phantom Paragrapher

Review: Witchcraft for Wayward Girls - Grady Hendrix - January 2025 Set against the haunting backdrop of a 1970s unwed mothers home in St. Augustine, Florida, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is Grady Hendrix at his most chilling—and most heartbreaking. Combining the author’s signature horror-tinged storytelling with a devastating slice of social history, this novel struck an especially personal chord with me. Like the girls in this story, my own mother had her child taken from her as a teenager under the guise of “what’s best,” a story so many women in that era know too well. We follow 15-year-old Fern, frightened, pregnant, and utterly alone as she enters the rigid confines of the Wellwood Home. Girls like Fern are labelled “loose” and “troubled,” stripped of their autonomy and made to follow a life path dictated by shame and control. But what begins as a bleak narrative of conformity slowly morphs into something powerful, strange—and even a little magical. When a mysterious Mobile Libra...

lush Tinia Montford Publication date: March 31st 2025 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense Laurene King had it all: beauty, wealth, and a sexy secret affair with Reese Ashbourne— the brooding heir of her family’s sworn enemy. But one reckless night shattered everything. Tragedy struck. Laurene disappeared. And Reese was left with betrayal, unanswered questions, and scars he’ll never forget. Now, Laurene is back, forced to return to the life she fled, but her homecoming comes with a cruel twist. Their families, teetering on the edge of ruin, have resurrected an old deal to save themselves: an Ashbourne and a King must marry—or lose everything. Only this time, Reese is the groom. Not his brother. Haunted by the past, Reese craves revenge as much as he still craves her. Trapped in a forced proximity neither can escape, their chemistry ignites—and so do their secrets. But someone knows the truth about that night. The lies that tore them apart are unraveling, and th...

Review: The Good Samaritan - Toni Halleen - March 2025 The Good Samaritan by Toni Halleen is a chilling psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of redemption, moral choices, and the consequences of helping others—even when it might be the wrong thing to do. Matthew Larkin, a sociology professor whose life has unraveled in the wake of his toddler son’s death, is barely holding it together. After a messy divorce, the estrangement of his daughter, and the loss of his job, Matthew is clinging to the last thread of stability with a new tenure-track position at a small college. But life has a way of testing you when you're already at your breaking point, and that test comes on a desolate stretch of road one stormy evening. Caught in a hailstorm, Matthew’s attention is drawn to a small child huddled under a tarpaulin. The boy is unconscious, soaked, and potentially hypothermic. In a split-second decision, Matthew makes the choice to rescue him, even though it means putt...

Review: Return to Wyldcliffe Heights - Carol Goodman - July 2024 Reading Return to Wyldcliffe Heights felt like stepping into a world of eerie deja vu. Even though Goodreads told me I hadn’t read it before, there was something about this book that felt so familiar—perhaps because it taps into a beloved trope of mine: the unreliable narrator. It’s a type of story I can never resist, and this one absolutely delivered. Agnes Corey, a junior editor, is hired to transcribe the long-awaited sequel to The Secret of Wyldcliffe Heights , a 1993 literary hit by the reclusive author Veronica St. Clair. St. Clair’s life has been shrouded in mystery since the release of her book, which was followed by a tragic fire that left her scarred and blind. When Agnes arrives at St. Clair’s crumbling estate, once a psychiatric hospital for “wayward women,” she expects a routine project. But as St. Clair dictates the sequel, Agnes uncovers chilling details that blur the line between fiction and reality, h...

Review: A Tempest of Tea - Book #1 Blood and Tea Series - Hafsah Faizal - February 2024 A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal is a whirlwind of steampunk vibes, danger, and deceit, with a twist of romance and intrigue that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Set in the vibrant city of White Roaring, the story centers on Arthie Casimir, a criminal mastermind who runs a seemingly innocent tearoom by day, which secretly transforms into an underground bloodhouse catering to the city's feared vampires by night. When her empire is at risk, Arthie must forge an unlikely alliance with a dangerous adversary to protect her world—one that balances precariously between the living and the undead. Faizal’s world-building is exceptional. Picture the elegance and intrigue of The Parasol Protectorate series combined with the high-stakes action of Heist Royale, and you’ll get a glimpse into the dazzling yet perilous life of White Roaring. Arthie is a force to be reckoned with, balancing power, wi...

Review: The Problem With Neighbors - Book #1 The Town of Gentry Series - M.Morgan - February 2025 If you’re after a small-town romance that packs a punch, M. Morgan’s The Problem with Neighbors is everything you need and more. After devouring Morgan’s dark romance These Vicious Games , I was intrigued to see what her take on a lighter, funnier romance would be—and wow, did it deliver! Marcilynn’s fresh start in the quaint town of Gentry is anything but easy. Moving on from a painful betrayal by her ex-fiancé and sister, she’s ready to open her dog grooming business and live life on her own terms. Enter Tucker Dixon, her grumpy but undeniably handsome neighbor who keeps getting in her way (in the best possible way). From the get-go, their chemistry is undeniable, but what starts as a reluctant, fake relationship quickly turns into something much more real. Tucker, a lifelong Gentry resident, likes his quiet, routine-driven life, and the last thing he needs is a messy, sassy neighbor ...