Muder Under Redwood Moon - haunting, heartfelt, and impossible to put down

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Murder Under Redwood Moon is a cozy yet chilling paranormal mystery that drew me in from the first page. Arista Kelly is such a likable protagonist, quirky, grounded, and full of heart. Her use of herbs, crystals, and her connection to the natural world add a unique dimension to the story while still keeping her relatable and real.

 

About the Book: Murder Under Redwood Moon 

The Santa Cruz Mountains setting provides a beautiful backdrop, almost becoming a character itself, serene and mystical but shadowed by danger. The mix of small-town community, family bonds, ghostly presences, and a serial killer gives this story warmth, tension, and suspense in equal measure.

BookHookup Review: Murder Under Redwood Moon 

The plot is well-paced and builds with page-turning suspense as young women begin turning up dead and Arista realizes the terror is inching closer to her. I especially loved how the paranormal elements blended seamlessly with the murder mystery, creating something that feels both cozy and thrilling. If there is such a thing as a Cozy Mystery Thriller, this is it.

If you’re looking for a fresh take on the cozy mystery with a supernatural twist, Murder Under Redwood Moon is haunting, heartfelt, and impossible to put down.

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As BookHookup, I am a longtime book reviewer. I received a free review copy of this book from Black Tide Book Tours and have not received compensation for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

About the author: Sherri L. Dodd 

Sherri was raised in southeast Texas. Walking barefoot most days and catching crawdads as they swam the creek beds, she had a love for all things free and natural. Her childhood ran rampant with talk of ghosts, demons, and backcountry folklore. This inspired her first short story for sale about a poisonous flower that shot toxins onto children as they smelled it. Her classmate bought it for all the change in his pocket. It was not long after that her mother packed the two of them up and headed to the central coast of California. She has ping-ponged throughout the area ever since.

Her first real step into writing was the non-fiction fitness book, Mom Looks Great – The Fitness Program for Moms published in 2005, and maintaining its accompanying blog. Now, transmuting the grief of her father's passing, she has branched into Fiction, specifically the genre of Paranormal Thriller with generous dashes of Magick Realism! Her Murder, Tea & Crystals Trilogy released book one - Murder Under Redwood Moon - in March 2024. Book two - Moonset on Desert Sands - released in March 2025, and the final book in the series will release October 2025!

In the House of Root and Rot - Echoes of cosmic dread & alternate histories

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 

I’m not usually a horror reader. I tend to steer clear of stories heavy on gore for gore’s sake, but In the House of Root and Rot by Sam Weiss won me over. This book is horror in the truest sense of the word: eerie, unsettling, and relentlessly atmospheric. While there are moments of violence and blood, the story leans much more into psychological suspense, twisting reality until you’re never quite sure what’s lurking behind the next page.

 

About the Book: In the House of Root and Rot 

The premise is as compelling as it is chilling. Will Deadmarsh doesn’t buy into his family’s supposed curse until a shady sleep study coincides with his grandfather’s disappearance and the reappearance of his long-dead sister, along with other unsettling, zombie-like figures that blur the line between the living and the dead. From there, the story spirals into a mind-bending exploration of interdimensional forces, ancient secrets, and a hunger that has been feeding on his bloodline for generations.

 

BookHookup Review: In the House of Root and Rot 

What I appreciated most is that this isn’t just horror for shock value. The book reads like The Twilight Zone filtered through a modern lens, with echoes of speculative fiction that touch on parallel universes and alternate histories. It’s less “slasher flick” and more “existential nightmare.” Readers who enjoy layered, reality-bending narratives will find plenty to sink into here.

Ultimately, In the House of Root and Rot blends the uncanny with the intimate, forcing its characters and its readers to confront questions of trust, family legacy, and the thin veil separating our world from something far older and darker. The story builds steadily, and just when you think you’ve reached some answers, it ends on a cliffhanger that leaves you both unsettled and eager for what comes next.

*** 

As BookHookup, I am a longtime book reviewer. I received a free review copy of this book from Black Tide Book Tours and have not received compensation for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

About the author: Sam Weiss

Sam was named after a dog, a fact her mother disputes to this day.

While she’s terrible at writing “About Me”s about her, she’s been told she’s great at writing about what fictional people do. The more miserable she can make them, the better.

Her love of horror films from the 80s, sci-fi shows from the 90s, and alternative music from the 00s have inspired her to write what she’s calling “Weird Sci-fi Horror” although she’s kind of making that up as she goes along.

When she’s not ready to pull her hair out after discovering another plot hole she’s created, she goes camping with her husband as far away from society as possible. So far, this tactic has been mostly successful and she’s only had to physically converse with a grand total of nine people this year. Next year, she hopes to get that number down to six.

 

 

Miss Blaire in Blackwell's Island - Chilling, romantic, unforgettable

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Miss Blaire in Blackwell’s Island by Grace Hitchcock is a historical romance with a haunting twist. Set in 1887 New York, the story follows heiress Edyth Blaire, who refuses to live by society’s rules. While other young women lace themselves into corsets and search for husbands, Edyth rides her velocipede boldly through the city (corset-free). She takes fencing lessons with the man she has secretly loved for nearly a decade. When he finally notices her in a new light, sparks fly, and their friendship begins to deepen into something more.

But just weeks before her twenty-fifth birthday, Edyth’s uncle finds a way to seize control of her inheritance: he declares her insane and has her committed to Blackwell’s Island asylum. To tighten his hold, her name is never recorded, and the staff mockingly call her “Duchess,” stripping away her identity along with her freedom.

Inside the asylum, Edyth meets Nellie Bly, the undercover journalist determined to expose the truth about the institution. Their friendship brings strength and hope, while Edyth’s slow-burn romance with her longtime friend offers a tender counterpoint to the suspense. Meanwhile, her beau does everything in his power to rescue her, but he’s up against immense wealth and influence, forces that make escape nearly impossible.

 

BookHookup Book Review: Miss Blaire in Blackwell's Island 

The novel shines in its mix of fact and fiction. Real history enriches the fictionalized narrative without ever weighing it down. The asylum scenes are vivid and unsettling, yet the emotional core remains tender, reminding us that love and hope can bloom even in the darkest places.

With twists, danger, and a heartfelt friends-to-lovers romance, Miss Blaire in Blackwell’s Island is engrossing, emotional, and ultimately uplifting—a perfect read for romance fans who also enjoy a touch of mystery and historical intrigue.

Hope in Paris - Clever and Unique Suspense

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Hope in Paris (Vol. I The Teddy Bear Chronicles) by Donnalyn Vojta is a suspenseful and unexpectedly heartwarming story told through an entirely unique lens: the eyes of three stuffed teddy bears—Fair Bear, Love Bear, and Sleepy Time Bear. These adorable inanimate narrators share the story of Kelly Donovan and her desperate attempt to escape an abusive relationship, bringing a blend of charm and tension to an otherwise heavy subject.

 

BookHookup Book Review: Hope in Paris 

At first, the narrative structure threw me off. Expecting three distinct stories told by different teddy bears, I didn’t immediately recognize that it was one continuous tale with rotating perspectives. The early shifts—from Richard’s arc to Kelly and Mark’s, and later to Ms. V’s—felt jarring until I understood that each bear was offering a window into their own household. Once that became clear, the design revealed its brilliance: the interconnected storylines deepen the drama, and the gradual layering of suspense makes the book increasingly immersive.

                                      Available on Amazon

 

Hope in Paris is a quick, engaging read with a creative narrative style and an emotionally rich plot. The mix of suspense, light romance, and clever narration makes this read an enjoyable experience. I'm intrigued to see what happens in Volume Two and how Vojta continues to develop this unique storytelling format.

⚠️ Though it features teddy bear narrators, this is not a children’s book. It includes serious themes such as domestic abuse and is best suited for readers 14 and up.

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As BookHookup, I am a longtime book reviewer. I received a free review copy of this book from Black Tide Book Tours and have not received compensation for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites. 

About the Author: Donnalyn Vojta

• 2019 Underground Indie Film Festival Official Selection (Script Hope in Paris!)
• 2018 Quarterfinalist SCREENCRAFT Cinematic Novel Contest
• 2018 EYELANDS BOOK AWARDS TOP FINALIST! (international)

Donnalyn Vojta doesn't read for pleasure. She doesn't know why and knows it's weird. But she loves movies (especially action/adventure and thrillers), and absolutely loves writing.

To stay up-to-date on info on her novels and reviews check her out on Goodreads (link below).

She practiced law as a litigation and real estate transactions attorney for over 13 years but then quit that career to do something that makes her happy, and thus she is a novelist and loving it. Volumes I and II of THE TEDDY BEAR CHRONICLES have been met with wonderful ratings and reviews. All of the details about them can be found on Goodreads.com and on Amazon. In addition to writing novels, she is an award-winning screenwriter with two feature scripts in development with fantastic producers.

https://www.instagram.com/suspense_author/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnalyn-m-vojta-85481813

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07HJGNN29

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16869100.Donnalyn_Vojta