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The Dead and the Dark
The Dead and the Dark
Courtney Gould | 2021 | Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Captivating look at the supernatural and the pull of family
In Snakebite, Oregon, teenagers keep disappearing or turning up dead. Things just seem off. The locals blame Brandon and Alejo Ortiz-Woodley, two former Snakebite residents who are back in town. They now host a popular ghost hunting show and travel the country with their daughter Logan. Wanting to clear the family name, Logan winds up joining forces with Ashley Barton, whose boyfriend was the first to go missing. Ashley is sure she can feel his presence guiding her around Snakebite. But as the two team up, they discover some pretty terrifying and dangerous things about Snakebite.

I loved this book so much. Sometimes it feels like I read similar books over and over. Not this time. Gould’s book is original and spellbinding. This is such a dark and ominous read. Gould truly brings you into Snakebite, the supernatural, creepy, and quite unwelcoming small town. It’s atmospheric and spooky. I could not put this book down!

DARK is filled with LGBTQIA representation, between Logan’s dads, the fact that she’s an out lesbian, and her own burgeoning friendship (and more) with Ashley. I loved everything about all of it.

This book is part horror story, part exploration of the meaning and depths of darkness, and part look at family dynamics. It’s an extremely well written ghost story with a sapphic love interest. It really doesn’t get much better than that! (It’s so good, read it—and it’s a debut!)

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
  
Hooked On You (EMS Station 1 #1)
Hooked On You (EMS Station 1 #1)
K. Evan Coles | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
HOOKED ON YOU is the first book in the EMS Station 1 series and we begin with Connor, a paramedic, and Judah, the owner of a yarn shop. Connor suffers from GAD (General Anxiety Disorder) and his co-worker has suggested he learns to knit in order to help with that. Being as she's pregnant, he decides he will knit her a baby blanket. This brings him into contact with Judah and the attraction is there immediately, although Connor thinks he is straight, so there's that.

Both Connor and Judah were brilliant characters and I loved how their personalities complemented each other. I can say I didn't like Seb much though. Yes, he's supposed to be this happy-go-lucky kinda guy but he was also completely clueless and sometimes caused hurt where he didn't mean to but just didn't think.

I really enjoyed this story! It was so well written and I loved how although they both were attracted to each other, their friendship grew first. It felt very natural in the build-up to more, and both of their reactions afterwards made perfect sense. I think 'natural' would be my word for this book because not everything was easy but it wasn't with unnecessary angst either.

A great read by a new-to-me author. I give this book 4.5 stars and definitely recommend it.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 24, 2025