Natalie
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abookandadog.com
Natalie
@abookandadog.com
I love to read and hang out with my dog. I blog about it at
https://abookandadog.com
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Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! I truly love this season of gratitude and peace. Nikolette and I have so much to be thankful for. 🍁🦃🍂🍗📚🥧

#Thanksgiving

abookandadog.com
Indie publisher Bad Hand Books and author Benjamin Percy are collaborating with Stephen King to publish a monthly newspaper called The End Times. A post-apocalyptic newspaper set during the time of The Stand. I loved the first issue. Details on my blog.

#booksky
The End Times (by Benjamin Percy and Stephen King) — A Book and A Dog
The facilitator of my Constant Reader book club shared exciting news with the group. Independent publisher Bad Hand Books and author Benjamin Percy are collaborating with…
abookandadog.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:58 AM
This weekend I’m enjoying some holiday short stories by a couple of beloved authors.🎄The Kill Clause by Lisa Unger and The Gift by Freida McFadden. 🎁

#booksky #FridayReads
December 5, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Clear by Carys Davies was just okay for me. I love stories that immerse me in nature, gradually explore the development of relationships, and leave me feeling warm and fulfilled. This story had those elements, but the hurried pace left me with little emotional impact by the end.

#booksky
Clear (Carys Davies) — A Book and A Dog
Clear by Carys Davies has been on my list of books to read, and the Goodreads Community Challenge abruptly moved it to the top of my list. A short historical novel set in 1843 during the…
abookandadog.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:43 AM
I enjoyed reading The Cinnamon Bun Book Store. It shares similarities with the first book as it focuses on a specific couple and their dating journey. The narrative revolves around the “will they or won’t they” theme, but it also stands out for its heavier emphasis on romance.

#booksky
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store (by Laurie Gilmore) — A Book and A Dog
I’ve returned to the Dream Harbor series already thanks to the Goodreads Community Challenge. The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore is a qualifying book for the Heartwarmers…
abookandadog.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:22 AM
While visiting The Poisoned Pen bookstore in Scottsdale, Az., I stumbled upon a copy of It’s the End of the World as We Know It signed by Meg Gardiner. I was also able to get signatures from Richard Chizmar and Joe R. Lansdale. I wrote about this experience on my blog.

#booksky
It’s the End of the World As We Know It (Anthology) — A Book and A Dog
In September, my husband and I embarked on a vacation to Arizona and had the delightful opportunity to visit my beloved independent bookstore, The Poisoned Pen…
abookandadog.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Such a pleasure to see evidence of the deer that share my walking trail. ❄️🦌

#winter #nature
December 2, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Sandwich by Catherine Newman is a delightful novel that explores the complexities of family life with humor. The perspective of a newly menopausal mother adds depth to the narrative. Humor is a valuable tool for exploring middle age and family dynamics.

#booksky
Sandwich (by Catherine Newman) — A Book and A Dog
I’ve been observing the overwhelming praise for Catherine Newman’s novel, “Sandwich,” and initially had no intention of reading it. I didn’t think it was for me. However, after seeing endless…
abookandadog.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:31 AM
I’m a huge fan of Fiona Davis and have read all her books. I genuinely wanted to enjoy her novella, The Gimlet Slip, co-written with her partner Greg Wands, but it just didn’t quite capture my attention. I can’t pinpoint a specific reason; I just didn’t feel fully immersed in the story.

#booksky
The Gimlet Slip (by Fiona Davis and Greg Wands) — A Book and A Dog
I’m a huge fan of Fiona Davis and have read all her books. I was eagerly anticipating reading her novella, “The Gimlet Slip,” co-written with her partner Greg Wands.
abookandadog.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy is an incredibly beautiful and profoundly moving novel. It’s an excellent read for nature enthusiasts, offering beautiful prose and a gripping narrative. It’s a book that has the power to tear your heart out, but I couldn’t help but love it.

#booksky
Wild Dark Shore (by Charlotte McConaghy) — A Book and A Dog
I first encountered “Wild Dark Shore” by Charlotte McConaghy on a bookstore shelf, and the gorgeous cover instantly captured my attention. The intriguing description piqued my interest…
abookandadog.com
November 30, 2025 at 1:51 AM
‪This weekend I’m continuing the Dream Harbor series with The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore for the Goodreads Heart Warmers community challenge. 🍁🥮📚‬

#booksky #FridayReads
November 28, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have some time to enjoy reading while savoring your favorite foods. 🦃🍽️📚

#booksky #Thanksgiving
November 27, 2025 at 5:56 PM
In The Sun Down Motel, Simone St. James skillfully weaves an eerie ghost-story atmosphere with suspense, crafting a haunting narrative about secrets, vengeance, and women who refuse to remain silent, even after death. The motel itself becomes a character.

#booksky
The Sun Down Motel (by Simone St. James) — A Book and A Dog
During the recent Halloween spooky reading season, I read a book set in a haunted motel that left me feeling underwhelmed. A fellow reader had recommended Simone St. James’ “The Sun…
abookandadog.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! I truly love this season of gratitude and peace. Nikolette and I have so much to be thankful for. 🍁🦃🍂🍗📚🥧

#Thanksgiving

abookandadog.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:12 PM
‪This weekend, I’m experiencing isolation vicariously through Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. So far, it’s a deep story with darkness lurking. Wonderful literary prose. ‬

#booksky #FridayReads
November 22, 2025 at 2:41 AM
I thoroughly enjoyed Naomi Watts’ “Dare I Say It,” a helpful guide to menopause. It’s a pleasure to learn from someone who’s experienced it firsthand. Naomi covers the most common aspects, plus clothing, makeup, diet, exercise, skincare, and brain health.

#booksky
Dare I Say It (by Naomi Watts) — A Book and A Dog
This year, I read a few books on menopause, but I wasn’t particularly inclined to read another when my library hold arrived for Naomi Watts’ “Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known…
abookandadog.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:53 PM
“Brooklyn” by Colm Toibin, initially captivated me with Eilis’ journey from her home in Ireland to the land of opportunities in America. I became disappointed and frustrated by her passivity, which led her to make decisions I don’t believe she genuinely wanted.

#booksky
Brooklyn Marceau (by Colm Toibin) — A Book and A Dog
“Brooklyn,” a spontaneous read by Colm Toibin, caught my attention amidst a flood of bookish emails. One email introduced me to Toibin’s standalone short story, “A Long Winter,” which…
abookandadog.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Our Zulu Giant finally bloomed, and it’s beautiful! I was hoping it would bloom during the summer when it was in the greenhouse. Thankfully, the odor isn’t pungent as I feared. 💛🌱

#gardening #succulents #bloomscrolling
November 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Diving into three books this weekend. A physical book, one on my Kindle, and one audiobook. I’m set for any occasion. 😄📚

#booksky #FridayReads
November 14, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Marybeth Mayhew Whalen’s book, “Every Moment Since,” captivated me despite its challenging subject matter of a child missing for 21 years. The story is narrated from the perspectives of four people close to the child at the time of his disappearance.

#booksky
Every Moment Since (by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen) — A Book and A Dog
‘Last year, I attended my first author event at The Back Room: Cocktails and Conversations with Your Favorite Authors, hosted by Hank Phillippi Ryan and Karen Dionne. Marybeth Mayhew…
abookandadog.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:07 PM
“Lovers at the Museum” by Isabel Allende was just okay for me. I struggled to connect with the story and found the writing unimpressive. It’s not uncommon for short stories to fall flat for me, but this one nearly caused me to give up.

#booksky
Lovers at the Museum (by Isabel Allende) — A Book and A Dog
I acquired Isabel Allende’s short story “Lovers at the Museum” through Amazon First Reads, a feature included with our Amazon Prime Membership. The story unfolds in the locked fortress of…
abookandadog.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:24 PM
I participated in an author event at The Back Room. Authors James Dodson, Heather Gudenkauf, Vanessa Lillie, and Danielle Valentine engaged in fascinating conversations. I wrote about my experience on my blog and it’s loaded with book recommendations.

#booksky
The Back Room - Brilliant Storytellers — A Book and A Dog
Another wonderful Sunday evening unfolded at The Back Room: Cocktails and Conversations with Your Favorite Authors, hosted by authors Hank Phillippi Ryan and Karen Dionne. This ….
abookandadog.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:17 PM
I enjoyed Orion Gregory’s well-crafted crime thriller, ‘Serves You Right.’ Sydney Livingstone, a former tennis star turned detective, finds her peaceful life shattered when a vigilante kills former defendants acquitted of murdering their spouses.

#booksky
Serves You Right (by Orion Gregory) — A Book and A Dog
‘Serves You Right’ by Orion Gregory is a crime thriller and the second installment in the Sydney Livingstone Detective Series. Sydney Livingstone, a former professional tennis star, trades the…
abookandadog.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I was completely unprepared for the level of creepiness that this story unleashed upon me. A family of strangers is merely the initial layer of this unsettling narrative. It delves deeper into psychological delusions, the supernatural, and the classic setting of a haunted Victorian house.

#booksky
We Used to Live Here (by Marcus Kliewer) — A Book and A Dog
‘We Used to Live Here’ by Marcus Kliewer piqued my interest with its gorgeous cover featuring a stunning Victorian house. The intriguing title immediately sparked my curiosity, and I promptly…
abookandadog.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:35 PM
November’s Amazon First Reads allows a free bonus short read, The Kill Clause by Lisa Unger, plus a new book of your choice. Looking forward to this holiday read. I also selected The Night Watcher by Tariq Ashkanani.

#booksky
November 7, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Christine by Stephen King is the November selection for our in-person Constant Reader book club. I’ve seen the movie many times and first read it in 2018. While I enjoy the movie, the book dives deeper into Christine’s former owner, has more intense horror scenes, and a suspenseful ending.

#booksky
Christine (by Stephen King) — A Book and A Dog
‘Christine’ by Stephen King is the November selection for my in-person Constant Reader book club. I’ve seen the movie countless times and first read the book in 2018. During the recent…
abookandadog.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:41 PM