Shelf Indulgence Book Club

  THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK is a brilliant new thriller from Jennifer Hillier, the award-winning author of the breakout novels LITTLE SECRETS and JAR OF HEARTS. Paris Peralta is suspected of killing her celebrity husband, and her long-hidden past now threatens to destroy her future. When Paris Peralta is arrested in her own bathroom --- covered in blood, holding a straight razor, her celebrity husband dead in the bathtub behind her --- she knows she'll be charged with murder. But as bad as this looks, it's not what worries her the most. With the unwanted media attention now surrounding her, it's only a matter of time before someone from her long-hidden past recognizes her and destroys the new life she's worked so hard to build, along with any chance of a future. Twenty-five years earlier, Ruby Reyes, known as the Ice Queen, was convicted of a similar murder in a trial that riveted Canada in the early '90s. Reyes knows who Paris really is, and when she's unexpecte...

For readers of  Room  and  Sharp Objects , a propulsive and psychologically immersive novel about a young girl who escapes captivity--but not the secrets that shadow the rest of her life. "'Girl A, ' she said. 'The girl who escaped. If anyone was going to make it, it was going to be you.'" Lex Gracie doesn't want to think about her family. She doesn't want to think about growing up in her parents' House of Horrors. And she doesn't want to think about her identity as Girl A: the girl who escaped, the eldest sister who freed her older brother and four younger siblings. It's been easy enough to avoid her parents--her father never made it out of the House of Horrors he created, and her mother spent the rest of her life behind bars. But when her mother dies in prison and leaves Lex and her siblings the family home, she can't run from her past any longer. Together with her sister, Evie, Lex intends to turn the House of Horrors into a force fo...

We were so lucky today to have  David Bell  here with our book club to join us for our discussion of She's Gone. He was such a delight to talk with. You all won't want to miss this one and all of the drama Hunter get's into. We wanted to share the discussion with those that couldn't make it but may have loved the book as much as we did:  Watch the Video Note there are spoilers ahead if you've not finished the book. Enjoy!!   

Summary:  When a girl disappears, who do you suspect? When 17-year-old Hunter Gifford wakes in the hospital on the night of homecoming, he’s shocked to learn he and his girlfriend, Chloe Summers, have been in a terrible car accident. Hunter has no memory of the crash, and his shock turns to horror when he is told Chloe’s blood has been found in the car—but she has disappeared. Back at school, his fellow students taunt him, and his former best friend starts making a true-crime documentary about the case—one that points the finger directly at Hunter. And just when things can’t get any worse, Chloe’s mother stands in front of the entire town at a candlelight vigil and accuses Hunter of murder. Under mounting pressure from the police, Hunter takes matters into his own hands by questioning anyone who might know the truth and posting videos to prove his innocence. When Hunter learns he and Chloe were seen arguing loudly outside the dance, he faces a sickening possibility. Was he angry en...

Synopsis  From the #1  New York Times  bestselling author of  The Wish  comes a poignant love story  about risking everything for a dream—and whether it’s possible to leave the past behind.   Colby Mills once felt destined for a musical career, until tragedy grounded his aspirations. Now the head of a small family farm in North Carolina, he spontaneously takes a gig playing at a bar in St. Pete’s Beach, Florida, seeking a rare break from his duties at home.   But when he meets Morgan Lee, his world is turned upside-down, making him wonder if the responsibilities he has shouldered need dictate his life forever. The daughter of affluent Chicago doctors, Morgan has graduated from a prestigious college music program with the ambition to move to Nashville and become a star. Romantically and musically, she and Colby complete each other in a way that neither has ever known. While they are falling headlong in love, Beverly is on a heart-pounding journey o...

  Thank you J.T. for the early sneak peak. I was captivated from the moment I started this short story about Addison Blake on her search looking for her big break. The pages quickly take you to some unexpected places. And this was one I needed to finish as quickly as I started. It left me wanting even more of Addison and particularly Todd’s story.  I would love for you to explore this story for a longer format story. I wanted so much more. It's one you certainly wont want to miss.  Brittany P.  Addie is a journalist in DC looking for her big break. A local photographer falls unresponsive on a public sidewalk, and a Good Samaritan saves his live. Addie recognizes this hero as her former high school crush and heads to her home town to hopefully interview him for a story.  A fast placed, short psychological thriller. I would recommend as a quick read!  Bailey S. When Addison Blake in ‘These Cold Strangers’ by J.T. Ellison recognizes someone from her ...

We started with talking about weather. Yep, small talk started out our meeting, but in Shelf Indulgence fashion, it led to some provoking conversation. Hank let us in on a secret to television stations (don’t tell), but the weather department doesn’t have a window, so they are using radar, science, technology, but they haven’t looked outside, so keep that in mind when your weather app says no snow but there are fluffy flakes coming down. Naturally, we talked about snow storms in the south, because nothing is more suspenseful than snow and ice in Atlanta. This led to the collaborative concept ‘Not My Smartest Day’ (inspired in part on our own Brittany’s experience), a rom com about two lovers meeting in Kroger after getting stuck in the snow and having to overnight in a grocery store together. Hank’s spin on this concept is much more intriguing and complex, so now we are tasked with coming up with a Hank-specific title for her. Check back with us in 2025 to see if this idea panned o...

We were so lucky today to have  Hank Phillippi Ryan  here with our book club to join us for our discussion of The House Guest. She was such a delight to talk with. You all won't want to miss this one when it's out February 7th. We wanted to share the discussion with those that couldn't make it but may have loved the book as much as we did:  Watch the Video Note there are spoilers ahead if you've not finished the book. Enjoy!!   

  We were so honored to get our hands on Hank Phillippi Ryan's book before it releases on February 7th, 2023. We can tell you it's one you certainly don't want to miss!! Here is our playlist to get you pumped up to read it:   Play on Spotify . Wedding Bell Blues – The 5 th   Dimension It’s Nice to Have a Friend – Taylor Swift Money – Pink Floyd So What – Pink Gaslight – Nessa Barrett Better By Myself – Hey Violet Money, Money, Money - ABBA Suspicious Minds - Elvis Thelma + Louise – Bastille Via Chicago – Wilco Money (That What I Want) – Barrett Strong Gas Lighting – Lizzy Farall Gonna Get Over You – Sara Bareillis The Policy of Truth – Depeche Mode One Way Ticket – LeAnn Rimes Cold Day in July  – The Chicks You're So Vain   – Taylor Swift  Island Song   – Zac Brown Band Detective   – No Doubt Revenge   – Danger Mouse FBI   – Psychic Ills  Down To The Water Line   – Dire Straits  Building A Mys...

  The House Guest  is another diabolical cat-and-mouse thriller from  USA Today  bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan—but which character is the cat, and which character is the mouse? After every divorce, one spouse gets all the friends. What does the other one get? If they’re smart, they get the benefits. Alyssa Macallan is terrified when she’s dumped by her wealthy and powerful husband. With a devastating divorce looming, she begins to suspect her toxic and manipulative soon-to-be-ex is scheming to ruin her—leaving her alone and penniless. And when the FBI shows up at her door, Alyssa knows she really needs a friend. And then she gets one. A seductive new friend, one who’s running from a dangerous relationship of her own. Alyssa offers Bree Lorrance the safety of her guest house, and the two become confidantes. Then Bree makes a heart-stoppingly tempting offer. Maybe Alyssa and Bree can solve each others’ problems. But no one is what they seem. And the fates and ...

First I want to thank Hank Philippi Ryan for letting Shelf Indulgence Book Club have an early peak at this book. It's one you certainly don't want to miss when it's due out February 7th.  We open with Alyssa meeting her new friend Bree in a bar and inviting her into her house - which had me screaming oh no from the very start...  Each chapter left you wanting more.  Every time I thought I had 'The House Guest' figured out, it took me for another twist and turn. It leaves you on edge questioning who can you really trust? And isn't that like like sometime? I can guarantee you, you'll be shocked by the ending. This must be on your 2023 reading list.  Brittany P. Do we truly know 100% everything about our spouse or significant other?  Do we truly know what they do all day long when they are ‘working’, and what does ‘working’ exactly mean?  In ‘The House Guest’ by Hank Philippi Ryan, we learn that we don’t know 100% about our spouses. We do learn ...