What do witches, ghosts, psychics, bibliomancy, and ghost dogs have in common? They’re in spooky reads to help you get ready for October. Plus, Amanda Flower has started a new series starring Emily Dickinson.
The tourist-attracting town of Miracle Springs, North Carolina, deserves its reputation as a haven for those looking to heal and be rejuvenated in its hot springs and glorious views. Nora Pennington has even built her Miracle Books bookstore around her practice of bibliotherapy, in which she “prescribes” the perfect books to help customers heal from their mental and physical ailments.
Another year has ended and once again we take a look back at just a few of the many books that were reviewed in KRL and KRL News and Reviews in 2021. While 2021 was another difficult year, a lot of wonderful books came out! All but one of our main reviewers share in this post their top 5-10ish favorite books they reviewed in 2021. Katherine Costa wanted to include favorite authors and TV shows that she has reviewed, so hers is going up in a separate post next week!
Here is your weekly reminder that there are also new articles up on our other website KRL News & Reviews! Every week there will be book reviews and giveaways, plus sometimes pet articles, theatre articles, and more! And listen to our new podcast!
Famous for their book-themed rooms and specializing as a resort for bibliophiles, Virginia’s Storyton Hall is about to be the site of a televised cooking competition show, A Bookish Cookoff. Six renowned American chefs will be competing against one another in book-themed challenges for bragging rights and a prize of $100,000, all hosted by young billionaire entrepreneur Mia Mallett. Before they even begin filming, there’s a fire on the archery field grounds and resort manager Jane Storyton fears that the sabotage has already begun.
After inadvertently burning her life down in a moment of rage and fury, Nora Pennington found healing and her purpose in the town of Miracle Springs, North Carolina. Renowned for their healing springs, Nora does her own bibliotheraphy there for those needing help in her Miracle Books bookstore. Though her many customers find bliss through the messages they learn through the books Nora selects for them, there is a very loud contingency less than pleased by her new autumn window display.
So many elements must come together just right for a good mystery—plot, character, language, theme, setting. As both reader and writer, location is huge for me, so it’s no surprise that my favorite mystery reads of the last few months have featured pitch-perfect portrayals of intriguing places. And of course, armchair travel is not just the next best thing but the only thing right now.
Readers will be delighted to return for the sixth time to Storyton Hall, a five-star resort in West Virginia catering to bibliophiles from around the world. Book-themed rooms, enormous libraries, book clubs, and now a Family Valentine’s Celebration event specifically for young readers and children’s book authors are all featured at this unique destination. A lucky family has been awarded a free vacation stay at the resort during the special weekend as well, and Storyton manager Jane Steward is looking forward to welcoming the deserving Gilbert family.
After North Carolina’s heavy April rains drive a deluge of customers into Miracle Books for warmth and even more comforting reads, Nora Pennington decides to venture out to restock her supply of popular shelf enhancers. The striking bowls Nora finds at the tobacco barn flea market are irresistible, and she finds them as memorable as their creator “Cherokee Danny.”
Although it seems like a lifetime ago, not much time has passed since Jane Steward learned of her family’s legacy as the guardians of a secret library full of rare and possibly dangerous books. She and her two sons, Hemingway and Fitzgerald, have found a new home and family within Storyton Hall, but this path has also led to threats, murder, and kidnappings.
