Tales from the Book Nerd-4

…because we could all use a good book and a stiff drink.

Happy WICCHE GLASS TAVERN Day!
I hope this newsletter finds you well. It’s October, which means I get to break out my collection of art glass pumpkins. Even though I swear I’ll stop, I always end up getting another one when the Glass Pumpkin Patch comes to town.

In The Wicche Glass Tavern, Sam learns a little more about her background and family. She also meets George and Coco’s grandmother Benvair, the formidable matriarch of the Dragon clan. I must admit, though, my favorite setting in this book is The Wicche Glass Tavern itself. The bar sits in the carved out center of a massive tree that straddles the human and fae realms. A mirror on the wall of the tavern loses its reflection as Sam gazes into it. What she sees instead is a window into Faerie. The pull to step through is hard for Sam to resist.
Owen’s mom Lydia finds a necromancer to train Sam. The necromancer lives in Colma, a town just south of San Francisco that began as an unincorporated area filled with cemeteries, miles and miles of cemeteries. The dead still outnumber the living to this day, but it’s a city now with residential and businesses districts. I used to drive through Colma every day on my way into San Francisco for college.
As someone who grew up holding her breath when she drove by graveyards, making it through Colma without passing out required training (and a heavy foot on the pedal).
I don’t make a big deal about the time of year that my books take place, but if you’re interested, it’s the fall. In The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore & Bar, Sam goes to the San Francisco Library where she sees a huge display for Hispanic Heritage Month. That means it could be sometime
between mid-September and mid-October. It’s September. In The Dead Don’t Drink at Lafitte’s, Sam is packing for their trip and wonders about the advisability of wearing leather in New Orleans in October. The Wicche Glass Tavern is set in November, bleeding over into December.
I hope you all enjoy the latest book in the Sam Quinn series. You’ll meet some new characters and revisit some old friends. I’m working on The Hob & Hound Pub right now. Sam’s story continues as she and Clive travel to England.
Book Recommendation Corner

As I’m also a librarian, I want to share titles of amazing books you might want to pick up. I’ll switch up the genres in each newsletter. If you like any of the books I suggest, remember to write a quick review for it. Reviews helps authors <3
Mystery/Suspense: The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth. I love an unreliable narrator. It lets me get my Nancy Drew on. I hesitate to say too much for fear of giving away a clue. Suffice to say they are twins, one good, one not. A couple of people die as we try to parse through words and actions to determine which one is the good sister. Bonus points for Wally (great character, adorable story as to how he ended up with that moniker). If you enjoy mystery/suspense, try this one!
Young Adult: As I’m a young adult librarian, you’ll see this genre in every newsletter. This month’s recommendation is The Haunted by Danielle Vega. It’s a spooky ghost story. Our main character is coming out of an abusive relationship. Mom and dad want to get her away from the guy, so they buy a fixer-upper in upstate New York, intending to renovate and sell. They soon learn why it’s been left empty all these years.
Fantasy: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning. This is the first of the Fever series. Our main character’s sister is killed. The only clue she has as to what happened is a cryptic message left on her phone. Our gal travels to Ireland (where her sister died) to try to find out what really happened. What she learns on the first night is that the veil between the human and fae realms is far too thin and Dublin has become overrun with the blighters. She also learns that she’s able to see past the glamour to the monsters hidden behind human faces. It’s a fantastic series with lots of truly terrifying scenes. Perfect for October.
😊 Happy Reading!