Stars Like Gasoline & BloodLily

Speaking of flesh, we’re exactly two weeks from Halloween, the time of year when the veil is thinnest, the spirits restless, and the books spooky. Or they should be. If you want to hear fun facts and anecdotes on the origins of Halloween, Crystal King’s latest Substack delves in quite deliciously (no, really, she even has a recipe) and ties it into her latest book, In the Garden of Monsters, a Proserpina and Pluto retelling set in post war Italy. This is next on my spooky reads list. I’ve read so many great books lately. I’ll pop links to some below. As for my books, last week I revealed the cover for Bromeliad House, my forthcoming Florida gothic haunted house story. You can preorder now from Quill & Crow Publishing here.

If spice, modern gothic, and kind of Christmassy (albeit bloody and spicy—but festive!) is more your vibe, BloodLily is my donor-vampire plot-forward paranormal romance book that’s ideal to take you through this shadow dappled time of year. If you like a little bit of chills set along the balmy shores of Florida’s Treasure Coast, then Stars Like Gasoline might be your speed. It’s filled with art, beachside bungalows, slow burn (non-spicy) romance, vengeful ghosts, stalkers, and hidden journals. Both books speak of different sides of my 90s emo-kid je ne sais quoi. I don’t know what. That was a joke. Before I see myself out—Narrator: she has no intention of seeing herself out as she’s probably still listening to Frightened Rabbit and thinking of more books to recommend—well, actually, narrator, I’m listening to The Last Dinner Party. Again. Have a listen and thank me later.

I’m rushing off now to see my friend Paulette for a much needed writer friend coffee date—one of the most cherished of rituals. Her book is linked below.

If you’ve read any of the books I’ve linked or have recommendations of your own, please let me know! My TBR has no limit.

Until next time, be well, be weird, and eat your carbs. Just like Javier, my pasta loving vampire in BloodLily.

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--Jessika

Books:

The Artist of Blackberry Grange by Paulette Kennedy

Where Dark Things Rise by Andrew Clark

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewar

The Black Carnival by Harlequin Grimm

The Ghost House by Andie Newton (today is release day)

If you’re on Instagram, you can find me at www.instagram.com/jessikagreweglover (where I’ll soon be announcing an exciting giveaway)

*All of my previous posts are free to read. There’s flash and short fiction, essays, recipes, allegorical burger bowls, poetry, and music. I don't take myself seriously, so have fun.