Xepherus Reads

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,         The Sanatorium is written by Sarah Pearse and is the first book in the now three-book series. It is published by Penguin Books and was a Reese Witherspoon pick.     In it, we are introduced to Elin Warner, a detective on leave after a traumatizing case almost killed her. She is on her way to the posh hotel, Le Sommet, in the Crans-Montana area of Switzerland. There, she will be reunited with her estranged brother, Isaac, to celebrate his engagement to their longtime friend, Laure.    But the hotel has a past that has been kept hidden from the public. It is a past that begins a new body count, as staff begin to turn up dead. And with a snowstorm, avalanche, and cunning killer on the loose, can Elin defy the odds to solve the case or become the next victim?    The Sanatorium was a page-turner. Pearse has a writing style I enjoyed and she gave the reader a cast of excellent...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,      It is time to begin sharing my  2026 Xepherus Reads  Reading Challenge results.    The challenge dates are January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026  Book Challenge books read: 12/50) Books Read Not in a Category: (88) Total Books Read: (100)   Updated 08/24/2026   Xepherus Reads Challenge categories (in alphabetical order):                 A 2025 Goodreads Choice winner- A banned book- A biography of a celebrity- A book a Netflix show was based on- A book by a debut author- A book by your favorite author you have not read- Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena (****) A book featuring your favorite character- One Last Kill by Robert Dugoni (****) A book from your childhood- Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury  (*****) A Book of the Month Club Book- A book over 500 pages- A book published during the 1970s- A book pu...

    Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,          Don't Let Him In is written by Lisa Jewell, and is published by Atria Books.    In this tale of deceit and murder, we meet Ash Swann. She is currently living with her parents after a rough patch. But when her father is pushed in front of a subway train, her life falls apart. During their bereavement, a man from her dad's past arrives. He is kind and loving and has stories of her father. Her mother begins seeing this man named Nick, and suspicions begin to rise to the surface.   Ash begins to look into Nick Radcliffe's past. With each interview it is becoming clear he is not who he claims to be. As she closes in on the truth, she realizes she is playing a game of cat and mouse with a man one step ahead of her.    Lisa Jewell has always been the kind of author that writes a juicy plot. When I open her books, I can expect family drama, suspense, and a few surprises. This nove...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons, July was a fun month for reading. I tackled a 24- hour readathon, visited some old favorites, and added more research for my second novel. Here are the results. Novels Read in July: A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh Other People's House by Clare Mackintosh Comics Read in July: Aliens: Dead Orbit#3 by James Stokoe Aliens: Dead Orbit#4 by James Stokoe Batman '89: Echoes #1 by Sam Hamm & Joe Quinones Batman '89: Echoes #2 by Sam Hamm & Joe Quinones Batman '89: Echoes #3 by Sam Hamm & Joe Quinones Batman '89: Echoes #4 by Sam Hamm & Joe Quinones Batman '89: Echoes #5 by Sam Hamm & Joe Quinones Batman '89: Echoes #6 by Sam Hamm & Joe Quinones The Huntress #14 by Joey Cavalieri and Joe Staton The Huntress #15 by Joey Cavalieri and Joe Staton The Huntress #16 by Joey Cavalieri and Joe Staton TBR Jar Hopes: Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand ...

    Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,    I love a good reading challenge or book tag. But one challenge I have yet to try is a 24 Hour Reading Challenge.  After deciding a 24 hour challenge might be something I would enjoy, I needed a plan. Rules: Choose my books (I chose 2 novels and 5 comics to read.) Carve out comfortable locations to read (I had two sitting locations, and I included audiobooks for my daily walks.) Set a clock to countdown a 24 hour period (This clock can be stopped for eating, sleeping, work, and personal care.) Always be fed and hydrated (No problem with that. I did eat while reading at times. But also I stopped the clock for dinner.) Charge my wireless headphones (This came in handy for when I listened to audiobooks as I did my daily walks.)   Books read: A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh Other People's House by Clare Mackintosh Aliens: Dead Orbit#3 by James Stokoe Aliens: Dead Orbit#4 by James Stokoe The Huntress #14 b...