Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Spotlight of Buyer Beware by Catherine Ryan Howard

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA

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BUYER AWARE
CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD
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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF EMILY FAREBROTHER | ASSOCIATE MANAGER OF MARKETING | SIMON & SCHUSTER | AND THE PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE
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From the internationally bestselling author of 56 Days, a page-turning thriller about two women whose shattered lives come crashing together around a house whose secrets could bury them both.

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July 28

Simon And Schuster

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PRAISE FOR BUYER AWARE:


"An intricately plotted, intelligent thriller—every page vibrates with emotion. A masterpiece. Catherine Ryan Howard has done it again—her best novel yet." —Andrea Mara, bestselling author of It Should Have Been You and All Her Fault


"Howard’s latest delightfully wicked novel is a mesmerizing thriller filled with love, betrayal, paranoia, and revenge."Library Journal (starred review)

“Howard's latest is an emotional thriller with multiple points of view and plenty of twists and turns. As Ellie’s mental state deteriorates, readers will find themselves questioning everything that happens and being surprised by what ends up being revealed. This is an engrossing story that will appeal to fans of Alex Michaelides and Peter Swanson.”—Booklist

“Bestseller Howard delivers a devilish domestic thriller that follows three narrators connected to a notorious house in the suburbs of Dublin…she gets points for delivering surprises and crafting well-rounded characters who are easy to invest in. It’s an entertaining ride.”—Publishers Weekly

"Sharp, twisty, and full of surprises. Buyer Beware is another knockout from Catherine Ryan Howard, a true force in suspense."—Jeneva Rose, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Catherine never disappoints and Buyer Beware is no exception. It's the perfect blend of chilling discoveries, red herrings and shocking twists. The payoff was a chef's kiss."—John Marrs, bestselling author of The One

“Chilling and captivating. Catherine Ryan Howard is a master at taking a crime and cracking it open in ways you never see coming.”—Flynn Berry, New York Times bestselling author of Northern Spy

"An intricately plotted, intelligent thriller—every page vibrates with emotion. A masterpiece. Catherine Ryan Howard has done it again—her best novel yet."—Andrea Mara, bestselling author of It Should Have Been You and All Her Fault

"Creepy and compulsive, Buyer Beware is another bitingly smart thriller from the extremely talented Catherine Ryan Howard. Pick it up for the nightmarish premise, stay for the outstanding writing, sharp plotting and compelling characters. Just be careful you don’t suffer whiplash from the twists."—Gilly Macmillan, bestselling author of What She Knew and The Burning Library

"This book was a wild ride...Masterfully told in two timelines, the occupants of this home have so many skeletons in their closets, and some of them are screaming to get out. Beautifully written, brilliantly entertaining, and brutally terrifying, this is Ryan Howard's best book to date and that is saying something. Highly highly recommended."—Liz Nugent, author of Strange Sally Diamond

"In Buyer Beware, Catherine Ryan Howard proves once again that she is one of the most intelligent voices in contemporary suspense. A sharp, controlled and deeply unsettling novel which constructs its tension brick by brick. A hugely clever premise that evolves into a plotline that you'll never see coming. This is a brilliant, psychologically piercing thriller that I found impossible to put down."—Amanda Cassidy, bestselling author of Beautiful Liars

“Catherine Ryan Howard is an absolute master.”—May Cobb, bestselling author of The Hunting Wives

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ABOUT BUYER AWARE: 

If these walls could talk, they’d scream...

When Ellie moves to 1 Delaney Row, she hopes to find a fresh start—a place where no one knows her name, her history, or her secrets. But what she doesn’t know is that her new home is already hiding someone else’s secrets—and the people determined to keep them are watching her.

As Ellie starts to unravel the house’s disturbing backstory, coming closer to the shocking mystery at its center, she unwittingly puts herself on a deadly collision course not just with her new home’s history, but with her own as well.

A puzzle box of a thriller full of mind-boggling twists and turns, Buyer Beware is a chilling exploration of the dark secrets that any house can hold—and of the lengths we’ll go to start over.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo Credit:  BrĂ­d O'Donovan

Catherine Ryan Howard is an award-winning, #1 bestselling thriller writer from Cork, Ireland.

Her work has been shortlisted for the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best Novel, the UK Crime Writers Association John Creasey/New Blood and Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Awards, and the An Post Irish Crime Fiction Book of the Year multiple times.

Her novels have been included in The New York Times Best Thrillers of the Year, The Washington Post’s Best Mysteries and Thrillers of the Year, and The Sunday Times (London)’s Best Thrillers of the Year.

She is published in twenty languages, and a number of her titles have been optioned for the screen.

Catherine’s fifth novel, 56 Days, won the An Post Irish Crime Fiction Book of the Year and was longlisted for the Dublin Literary Award, the world’s most valuable annual literary prize.

A screen adaptation starring Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia debuted exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in early 2026.

Prior to writing full time, Catherine worked for a travel company in the Netherlands and in Walt Disney World, Florida.

She lives in Dublin.
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FOLLOW AUTHOR ON SOCIAL MEDIA:




Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Meet Me In Paris by Kristin Harmel


Love, loss, and many characters greet us in MEET ME IN PARIS.

We meet quite a few characters who traveled to Paris for different reasons.


Some for love, some for a last trip together, some for finding a love from long ago, some for a reunion, and a few other connections in the city of love.


We follow each character as they go through their situation hoping for the best outcome.


I did enjoy the stories, and my favorite stories were of Henry and Celeste and Julia and Piper, but there were just too many different stories going on, and it was difficult to figure out everyone and the storylines until almost the end.


There is heartbreak and some good outcomes. You will need tissues for one of the stories.


MEET ME IN PARIS wasn't Ms. Harmel's typical book that I have read as she mentioned in the author’s notes, and I actually struggled to continue reading even though a lot of advice was sprinkled throughout the pages.


I am looking forward to her next historical fiction book.  3/5.


Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.


Monday, July 27, 2026

Spotlight of The Seance Garden by Juliet Blackwell


PHOTO CREDIT:  TYPORAMA

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THE SEANCE GARDEN


JULIET BLACKWELL

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS TAKEN FROM AN E-MAIL FROM KAILA MUNDELL-HILL | PUBLICITY BERKLEY | PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AND THE PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE

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After an amateur ghost tour in one of California’s oldest towns stumbles upon an actual haunting, a skeptical historian of the occult becomes entangled in a murder case on the grounds.

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July 28, 2026

Berkley Trade Original

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PRAISE FOR THE SEANCE GARDEN:

“Blackwell returns to the windswept California coast for her latest mystery, seamlessly blending murder, mayhem and ghostly secrets. A shivery story with an colorful cast of characters!”New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin

“Blackwell excels at creating atmosphere. She weaves Monterey itself into the story, using the city’s history to set the tone of the mystery, and writes the supernatural element in such a way that it slowly builds throughout… This enjoyable read, suspenseful and eerie without slipping into horror, will please Blackwell’s fans.”–Booklist

“Well-developed characters, shrewd plotting, and a dash of romance will keep readers hooked. The author has a promising potential series on her hands.”–Publishers Weekly

**PRAISE TAKEN FROM THE PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE**

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ABOUT THE SEANCE GARDEN:

When Professor Harper Grae loses a bet with a friend, she finds herself on a nighttime tour of “haunted” locations in Monterey, California. Harper’s a lifelong nonbeliever of the occult, though her academic career is devoted to the historical and societal significance of witchcraft, ghosts, and poisons of all sorts. But her skepticism is immediately tested when the tour stumbles upon the body of renowned artist Delilah Mason—who’s found murdered on the grounds of a two-hundred-year-old mansion.

On the night Mason is discovered, Harper catches sight of something in the house that she can’t shake, something that’s impossible to explain, at least not rationally. Soon the investigation reveals that this is the second time a woman has been found murdered beneath the sprawling cypress tree in the garden of the Perles Mansion, which once belonged to an infamous local family. And when Harper’s closest friend is questioned by the police, she fears the authorities will fail to uncover the real killer.

As Harper digs deeper into the supernatural speculation and rumors surrounding the deaths, she sees evidence she can’t ignore that the notorious mansion is truly haunted. Can Harper admit she’s been experiencing a paranormal phenomenon, even if it goes against everything she believes about crossing the veil between the living and the dead? And can she figure out what the ghost needs her to know about the two women killed under similar circumstances nearly two centuries apart?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE


Juliet Blackwell is the pseudonym for the New York Times bestselling author of The Asylum Hotel, The Paris Showroom, and The Vineyards of Champagne.


She also penned three popular mystery series: the Witchcraft Mysteries, the Haunted Home Renovation series, and the Agatha Award–nominated Art Lover’s Mystery series.

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FOLLOW:

Instagram

Facebook

Goodreads

Website


It's Monday!! What Are YOU Reading? - 7/27/2026

                                         http://bookdate.blogspot.com/

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I hope you had a great reading week.
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This is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at BOOK DATE!

Post the books completed, the books you are currently reading, and the books you hope to finish at some point.
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Books Completed:

WHEN PARIS WHISPERS by Marianne C. Bohr - spotlight will be on September 3, 2026.

Wasn't getting pulled in.  

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A FINE LAYER OF DUST by Barbara Conrey - review will be on September 1, 2026.

A beautifully written, emotional read that will appeal to women’s fiction fans and fans of domestic turmoil. 

You won’t want it to end.

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A FARMHOUSE IN FRANCE by Rachel Lucas - review will be on August 28, 2026.

Ohhh...LOVED this book.   A sweet read with great characters and setting.

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A KILLER PLOT by E. C. Nevin - reviev will be on August 17, 2026.

If you enjoyed THE MAID by Nita Prose, this one is for you.  A bit tricky to follow, though, since it is the second in the series and the same characters are in the book.

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HOW TO FIND ROMANCE IN A BOOKSHOP by Poppy Alexander - review will be on August 18, 2026.

A fun, sweet read.

THE ONE WHO WALKED AWAY by Karen Rose - review will be on August 14, 2026.

My first book by Karen Rose - I really enjoyed it.  Mystery, Murder, and a bit of romance.

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THE MATCHMAKER'S COTTAGE by Kat Sloane - review will be on August 12, 2026.

LOVE the cover!!  A sweet read!!

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PRETTY AS A PEACH by Grace Helena Walz - review will be on August 10, 2026.

A lovely read!!
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WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE by Anna Johnston - review will be on August 5, 2026.

Enjoyable with life lessons and some heartbreaking parts, but on the whole it was uplifting.

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THE WOMEN IN WHITE by Sarah Pekkanen - review will be on August 4, 2026.

A very dark, creepy read.

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TAHOE FEAR by Todd Borg - review will be on August 2, 2026.

Todd's books are always good.

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BUYER BEWARE by Catherine Ryan Howard - spotlight will be on July 29, 2026.

Wasn’t connecting with the two timelines.

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THE WHISPER by Chelsea Iversen - spotlight will be on July 31, 2026.

Couldn’t get into it!!

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THE MORTAL ENEMY MURDER CLUB by Gloria Chao - spotlight will be on July 30, 2026.

Not what I thought it would be.

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MEET IN PARIS by Kristin Harmel - review will be on July 28, 2028.

Disappointed - I normally LOVE her books.

This one isn’t historical fiction, but a story about people heading to Paris for one reason or another.  There are TOO many characters.  

I’ll be looking forward to her next historical fiction book.

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THE STORY KEEPER by Kelly Rimmer - review is in the book's title.

Ohhhhh….DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!  A book within a book and just an amazing read!!  

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THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lisa Scottoline - review is in the book's title.

A good one, but not her best.

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THE SINS OF SUMMER DAUGHTERS by Lo Patrick - spotlight is in the book's title.

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THE HALF LIFE by Rachel Beanland - spotlight is in the book's title.

Wasn’t working for me.  

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Book Currently Reading:

UNTAMED COAST by Kevin C. Morris - review will be on September 4, 2026.

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Books Up Next:

THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett - review will be on a future date.

Sounds good, but putting this on hold for now - it is 600+ pages.

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THE MYSTIC AND THE MISSING GIRL by Vikki VanSickle - review will be on September 8, 2026.

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A BEAUTIFUL LIE by Tanya Grant - review will be on September 9, 2026.

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I'LL BE WATCHING YOU by Allison Brennan - review will be on September 15, 2026.

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THE BOOKSHOP WOMAN by Nanako Hanada - review will be on September 16, 2026.

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BLUE JEAN SUMMER by Maggie Gates - review will be on September 17, 2026.

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A DEADLY ENTANGLEMENT by Cathy Pegau - review will be on September 18, 2026.

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FALLING FOR PEACHTREE BLUFF by Kristy Woodson Harvey - review will be on September 19, 2026.

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THE MEMORY OF BORROWED BOOKS by Meg Anderson - review will be on October 6, 2026.

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THE UNDERCOVER BOOKSHOP by Katherine Reay - review will be on October 7, 2026.

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THE STORY BAKER by Carsten Henn - review will be on October 13, 2026.

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RED SEAL by Rosa Kwon Easton - review will be on October 18, 2026.

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MISSING MOLLY by Natalie Barelli - review will be on October 21, 2026.

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THE PIANO TEACHER OF MONTPARNASSE by Heather Morris - review will be on October 23, 2026.

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THE FRIDAY BOOKSHOP by Sawako Natori - review will be on November 3, 2026.

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PEREGRINE HILL by Nina De Gramont - review will be on November 10, 2026.

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WHEN THEY FIND ME by Carter Wilson -  review will be on November 11, 2026.

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REVENG PLOT by Stephanie Wrobel - review will be on November 12.

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THE BUREAU OF UNKNOWN FATES by Gaëlle Nohant - review will be on December 8, 2026.

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MURDER UNABRIDGED by P. J. Nelson - review will be on December 1, 2026.

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DARLING YOU'RE NEXT by Marlee Bush - review will be on January 5, 2027.

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BAD HONEYMOON by Jessie Garcia - review will be on January 19, 2027.

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SCREAM CITY by Hannah Norrissey - review will be on January 26, 2027.

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