Monday, May 19, 2025

★★✰✰✰ THE MADNESS [Review]


THE MADNESS
by Dawn Kurtagich
Graydon House, 2024
★★✰✰✰

With one unexpected email from her estranged best friend, Lucy, Mina Murray’s carefully curated life is turned upside down. Leaving behind her psychiatric practice in London, along with her routine and the calm it brings, she returns to the windswept shores of Wales. Faced with everything she’s left behind, she soon discovers that Lucy’s symptoms mirror those of her mysterious patient with amnesia hundreds of miles away.

With nothing but an untreatable sickness connecting the two women, and with Lucy’s life on the line, Mina finds herself asking questions and being drawn ever-deeper into a web of secrets, missing girls, and the powerful, nameless force at its center—one that has been haunting her for years.

As terrible, ancient truths begin to reveal themselves, Mina prepares to confront her own darkest secrets, and with them, an evil beyond comprehension. Together with a group of smart, savvy women, Mina seizes one last, desperate chance to stop the cycle that began so long ago. But there are dangers to inviting the attentions of what might not be a man, but a monster.

Dear Readers, 

I’m finally here to share my thoughts on Dawn Kurtagich's THE MADNESS after holding onto an ARC for about ten months—my sincerest apologies to the publisher for the delay! Life has a way of getting in the way, but I couldn’t let this one slip away without a word. 

Let’s dive in! THE MADNESS is a contemporary vampire thriller that puts a fresh spin on the classic characters Lucy and Mina from Bram Stoker's iconic DRACULA. Now, don’t get me wrong—DRACULA is a personal favorite of mine. But I must admit, I’m a bit weary of the endless cycle of unofficial sequels and reboots that seem to flood the market. Is it too much to ask for authors to come up with their own original characters and worlds instead of leaning on Bram Stoker’s legacy? The vampire genre has been recycled to the point of absurdity, especially since the days of those sparkling Twilight vamps. 

Kurtagich’s storytelling has some merits. She attempts to weave a modern tale that captures the essence of Gothic horror, though I found the rich, atmospheric descriptions that are so essential to the genre somewhat lacking. The characters felt all too familiar, conventional, and one-dimensional, making it hard for me to connect with any of them. This disconnect ultimately dampened my engagement with the story, which, at its core, follows a familiar plotline centered around Mina but set in today’s world. 

I can’t say I loved or hated THE MADNESS; it left me in limbo. While the story is intriguing enough to keep turning the pages, I found myself forgetting much of it by the time I reached the final page. It's aimed at a new generation that might be hesitant to tackle the original DRACULA, and that’s a frightening notion. I’ve heard from several readers who enjoyed this book, so perhaps I’m just an outlier, or maybe I’m too seasoned for another vampire reimagining. 

In the end, I’m afraid I can’t recommend THE MADNESS. If you’re a Dracula fan and are curious about a modern twist, you might give it a go—but I’ll be sticking with the classics. 


⁓B.J. Burgess



Friday, May 16, 2025

Your Favorite Re-Reads {Book Blogger Hop}


Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop! 


To prepare for next week’s post, check out the upcoming prompts. If you'd like to submit a prompt, fill out this form. Join our Facebook group to connect with other book bloggers and get updates. 


Here’s what to do: 
  1. Share your response to this week’s prompt.
  2. In the linky list, enter your name or nickname followed by your blog name and the URL to your post (e.g., Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer). 
  3. Visit others on the list and leave comments. 

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Barcelona’s Hidden High: Inside the Secret World of Spanish Coffeeshops


Although most travelers come to visit the Gothic cathedrals, and gold beaches, as well as Gaudí’s surreal architecture in Barcelona, a side of the city have grown quietly, is attracting global attention, and exists underground - that is, it still operates but people do not see it and it operates on the basis of discretion, trust, and community.

Here actually is the untold story of coffeeshop culture in Barcelona - cannabis enthusiasts don’t come out in the open, but inside private members-only spaces known as cannabis social clubs.

Monday, May 12, 2025

★★★★✰ MIDNIGHT BLACK by Mark Greaney [Review]


MIDNIGHT BLACK
Gray Man, #14
by Mark Greaney
Berkley, 2025
★★★★✰

Midnight has descended on the Gray Man's soul. Not only has his lover, Zoya Zakharova, fallen into the hands of the Russian intelligence service, but the CIA is convinced she was executed. The one thing keeping Court Gentry going is his repeated belief: She's not dead.

He's spent six months trying to bribe, bully, and kill his way into Russia to rescue Zoya.There's only one move left to him, and it's something only a crazy man would try—seeking aid from an organization of anti-communist believers who once helped political dissidents escape from the Soviet Union. It's a desperate ploy, but if he can reactivate the chain of agents that's been dormant for thirty-five years, he's got a shot.

Crossing the border is only the first of his problems. If Zoya is anywhere, she's in IK-2 Yavas, a former Stalinist gulag that squats in the icy cold more than four hundred miles from the nearest border. It's a place where dreams and prisoners go to die. If he's going to get Zoya out of there, he'll need help. The kind of help that can start a war.

Sunday, May 11, 2025

THE SUNDAY POST, ISSUE #270


Happy Sunday, Everyone!

I hope you’re all having a fantastic weekend! As I sit here sipping my coffee, I’ve realized that no amount of caffeine seems to be enough to fuel my brain today. The disaster every book blogger dreads struck me this week—a bookcase went into a dramatic collapse! This wasn’t just any bookcase; it was a flimsy particle board one that’s been my trusty companion for over twenty years. The last few days have turned into a chaotic DIY project. I spent hours carefully removing books, disassembling the wobbly structure, wrestling with sagging shelves, and then, after some much-needed reinforcement, reassembling the whole thing. Last night was dedicated to the gratifying yet arduous task of organizing my precious books back onto the shelves. Once my back recovers, my next mission will be giving that second bookcase a sturdy reinforcement before it decides to join its sibling in peril!

Friday, May 9, 2025

Do You Feel Out of Touch or Old? [Book Blogger Hop]


Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop! 


To prepare for next week’s post, check out the upcoming prompts. If you'd like to submit a prompt, fill out this form. Join our Facebook group to connect with other book bloggers and get updates. 


Here’s what to do: 
  1. Share your response to this week’s prompt.
  2. In the linky list, enter your name or nickname followed by your blog name and the URL to your post (e.g., Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer). 
  3. Visit others on the list and leave comments. 

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

★★½☆☆ Ted Bell's MONARCH [Review]

Cover to "Ted Bell's Monarch" by Ryan Steck, Alex Hawke #13, published by Berkley in 2025

Following a successful but costly mission to destroy an enemy outpost in Antarctica, Alex Hawke is looking forward to some quiet time at Teakettle Cottage, his home in Bermuda, along with his family. But he's not a man who can avoid trouble.

Former Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard Ambrose Congreve calls him with stunning news. Just days away from a controversial vote threatening to tear the United Kingdom apart at the seams, King Charles has disappeared while vacationing at Balmoral Castle. The prime minister believes she can keep the news quiet for no more than 72 hours. After that, Britain will be plunged into chaos.

With the fate of the kingdom hanging in the balance, it's up to Lord Hawke to find and rescue the missing monarch before it's too late.

Ted Bell's
MONARCH
Alex Hawke, #13
by Ryan Steck
Berkley, 2025
★★½☆☆

Monarch, the newest Alex Hawke spy thriller, has left me feeling ambivalent. On one hand, I'm excited to see the series continue with its thirteenth installment. Then on the other hand, it appears to have strayed off course in ways that are difficult to ignore. This uneasiness has a tragic explanation: Ted Bell, the creative force behind the series, sadly passed away in 2023. However, his legacy will continue on with author Ryan Steck. It isn't exactly ghostwriting, as Steck's name is prominently featured on the cover. However, I must mention that the cover image is strikingly generic—what happened there, Berkley

I've never read any of Ryan Steck's work before. I cannot tell you he has the talent to write an engaging story. His pacing is efficient; however, he struggles to convey Alex Hawke's personality effectively. Hawke feels slightly off—the character's usual nuance and sharpness are nowhere to be seen. Some scenes are superfluous, adding little more than filler to the plot. It’s tough to pinpoint exactly what went wrong. The characters are unconvincing, and the absurd plot often overshadows the thrilling potential of a classic spy story. 

Don't get me wrong—Monarch isn't completely terrible. I've read significantly worse thrillers. I just had high hopes for this book and was inevitably disappointed with the execution. Even the most loyal Alex Hawke fans are unlikely to be pleased with it.

⁓B.J. Burgess


Sunday, May 4, 2025

THE SUNDAY POST, Issue #269


Happy Sunday, Everyone!

Spring has sprung, and with it comes a breath of fresh air—especially for my Sunday Post, which I’m giving a little makeover in hopes of attracting more of you lovely readers! Let’s be honest: my Sunday Posts deserve a bigger audience. I adore writing them, but the process can be quite the time commitment—thinking, writing, curating photos, and editing. So today, I’m keeping it straightforward and to the point!

Just a quick note: I’ll also have a separate Sunday Post on my Gunsmoke & Grit blog—be sure to hop over there and check it out!

Friday, May 2, 2025

What's Your Review Writing Process? {Book Blogger Hop}


Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop! 


To prepare for next week’s post, check out the upcoming prompts. If you'd like to submit a prompt, fill out this form. Join our Facebook group to connect with other book bloggers and get updates. 


Here’s what to do: 
  1. Share your response to this week’s prompt.
  2. In the linky list, enter your name or nickname followed by your blog name and the URL to your post (e.g., Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer). 
  3. Visit others on the list and leave comments. 

Thursday, May 1, 2025

★★★✰✰ Blumhouse's DROP (2025) [Review]


From the minds behind classics like A Quiet Place, Blumhouse and Platinum Dunes bring you DROP, an electrifying thriller that will make you think twice about your dating choices. Dubbed a “tightly plotted thrill ride” by IGN, this nail-biting film is now available exclusively on digital platforms for rent or purchase, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. And if you’re a fan of physical media, mark your calendars for June 10, 2025, when DROP hits 4K UHD and Blu-ray! Don't miss out on exclusive bonus content featuring insights from the filmmakers and cast that dive deep into the film's production, available at select retailers like Apple TV, Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), Comcast Xfinity, Cox, Microsoft Movies & TV, and Movies Anywhere.