Carolyn Astfalk has a first Wednesday of the month book review linkup!

I am so excited that I have the time to participate in Open Book not one but two months in a row! Having the time to blog is elusive these days, but I’m in a quieter season for the moment, so I’m making hay while the sun shines!

I’ve even had some time to chip away at the beloved fiction section of the TBR pile.

The Black Bottle Man by Craig Russell is wonderfully, WONDERFULLY WEIRD!  It has been a long time since I’ve read something this kind of weird–creepy, honest, detailed, believable! There’s so much to love in The Black Bottle Man, whether it’s the heartbreak of the story of a long and very drawn-out battle for good over the forces of evil, the delicate failings and impossible triumphs of the characters, and the proof of the power of symbolic thinking. Russel’s eye for language and imagery is an excellent sauce to the meat of the storytelling. HIGHLY recommended! (I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

Secrets: Visible & Invisible gives readers a taste of the work of several Catholic YA authors. There really is something for everyone in this anthology, and it does well what anthologies do best: give readers an opportunity to expand their options and get out of reading ruts, such as, “I only read books by Author So-and-so.” The other thing Secrets does well is show examples of relatable characters facing their own options to face the truth or keep hiding, a choice that teen readers must face every day. It’s a quick read for the reluctant reader but also series of thrill rides for the book-devourer. I am looking forward to the next anthology in the series! (I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

Ellen Gable has her third installment out in her series, Great War, Great Love. This latest is my favorite out of all three: Ella’s Promise. A sweet romance where the main character seeks to live truthfully in a world where everyone has something to hide, Ella’s Promise delivers thrills and satisfaction. I loved the tension and the pacing, not to mention how the characters captured my heart. (I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

All In Good Time rocketed to the top of my TBR pile, and it did not disappoint. Carolyn Astfalk‘s latest became my new favorite of hers, and it took less than 24 hours for that to happen! The mounting suspense matched the perfectly paced romantic tension. I’m looking forward to another day soon when I can read it again. What are you reading?  Don’t forget to link up YOUR #OpenBook reviews over at Carolyn’s!