{I've Been Reading} Love You to Death

 It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest

The mansion of silent film star Venita Rost has sat empty since the last man who attempted to fix it up died in an upstairs bedroom and literally rotted through the hardwood floors. Ronnie Mitchell isn't going to let the house's condition, or the fact that she knows darn well it has ghosts, intimidate her. Despite the weird smells and sketchy wiring, she's moved in with an inflatable mattress and plans to restore it to its former glory.  I don't think I'd describe it as scary, but I absolutely loved this book. It's got a different tone from most of the haunted house novels I've read and goes in some unique directions. 

A Deadly Deception by Amelia West

I absolutely adore this series! Set in 1930s, it evokes Nancy Drew Mysteries if they were written for grown ups. The book touches on some serious themes, but it also has plenty of those nostalgic black and white movies vibes that I loved so much in the first one. Clara and her friends have gathered to celebrate New Year's Eve at an elegant hotel. There's a murder, and a ghost walking the halls, and the developing relationship between Clara and Tuck, which is complicated by a few pesky details from her past. I can't wait to see what's next for these characters!

Love You to Death by Christina Dotson

Kayla and Zorie are best friends, linked tightly together by their past mistakes. They owe each other and nothing is going to pull them apart. Crashing an antebellum-themed wedding to steal gifts, even knowing that they'll stick out and draw unwanted attention, isn't the worst decision they've made. Not until things go terribly wrong and what started out as a bad idea fueled by desperation quickly descends into a nightmare. This is a wild, fast-paced read that barely slows down for a moment. Imagine a bleaker version of Thelma and Louise with a lot more blood and violence (but they're nowhere near the rim of the Grand Canyon, so at least there's that!)  The girls aren't particularly likeable and keep doing the stupidest things,  but I kept turning pages just to see what was going to happen next.