#author: ashley winstead

[haveyoureadthispoll]

While in college in upstate New York, Shay Evans and her best friends met a captivating man who seduced them with a web of lies about the way the world works, bringing them under his thrall. By senior year, Shay and her friend Laurel were the only ones who managed to escape. Now, eight years later, Shay's built a new life in a tiny Texas suburb. But when she hears the horrifying news of Laurel's death—delivered, of all ways, by her favorite true-crime podcast crusader—she begins to suspect that the past she thought she buried is still very much alive, and the predators more dangerous than ever. Recruiting the help of the podcast host, Shay goes back to the place she vowed never to return to in search of answers. As she follows the threads of her friend's life, she's pulled into a dark, seductive world, where wealth and privilege shield brutal philosophies that feel all too familiar. When Shay's obsession with uncovering the truth becomes so consuming she can no longer separate her desire for justice from darker desires newly reawakened, she must confront the depths of her own complicity and conditioning. But in a world built for men to rule it—both inside the cult and outside of it—is justice even possible, and if so, how far will Shay go to get it?

[rachelblairy]

- midnight is the darkest hour, ashley winstead.

[authorunpublished]

Book Review: The Boyfriend Candidate

Title: The Boyfriend Candidate Author: Ashley Winstead Genre: Contemporary, Romance Rating: 5 Stars Description/Synopsis: As a shy school librarian, Alexis Stone is comfortable keeping out of the spotlight. But when she’s dumped for being too meek—in bed!—the humiliation is a wake-up call. She decides she needs to change, and what better way to kick-start her new more adventurous life than with…

[ijustkindalikebooks]

Review: The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead.

As a shy school librarian, Alexis Stone is comfortable keeping out of the spotlight. But when she’s dumped for being too meek—in bed!—the humiliation is a wake-up call. She decides she needs to change, and what better way to kick-start her new more adventurous life than with her first one-night stand? Enter Logan, the gorgeous, foul-mouthed stranger she meets at a hotel bar. Logan is audacious and filterless, making him Alexis’s opposite—and boy, do opposites attract! Just as she’s about to fulfill her hookup wish, the hotel catches fire in a freak lightning storm—and in their rush to escape, Logan is discovered carrying her into the street, where people are waiting with cameras. Cameras Logan promptly—and shockingly—flees. Alexis is bewildered until breaking news hits: pictures of her and Logan escaping the fire are all over the internet. It turns out Logan is none other than Logan Arthur, the hotshot politician challenging the Texas governor’s seat. The salacious images are poised to sink his career—and jeopardize Alexis’s job—until a solution is proposed: to squash the scandal, he and Alexis could pretend to be in a relationship until election day…in two months. What could possibly go wrong?

For me, if you combine Politics and pretty much any fictional genre, I will be there and when I read the description of this book, I knew I would love this and I really did, I mean a librarian as well? Sign me up, as soon as possible.

When you begin this book, don't really expect to stop reading it. This plot has such a great pace and you will be flipping pages as this couple's chemistry goes off the charts. I really appreciate the characters throughout this book, they feel really fleshed out and well written throughout - it does feel like it's part of a universe almost (I only found out reading reviews here after writing this that this book is part of a series? With characters here in a different book).

Plot wise, I really respect the things this book touches upon in this book, romance yes, but also family relationships, how you feel about yourself and grief and loss. I think this book really handles all these really important moments so well and it definitely makes me want to read more from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy for honest review, I am so glad I requested it!

[bookcoversonly]

Title: In My Dreams I Hold a Knife | Author: Ashley Winstead | Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (2021)

[jeanmoreaux]

hiii! I saw your tags on that reading goal/how many read post and?? 238??? that's so impressive omg, I hope you reach your 250 goal! From all the books you've read so far, which are your favorite? :0

hi!! ohhh, there are some highlights for sure! i read the green bone saga (jade city is the first book in the trilogy) by fonda lee which blew me away and instantly became a new all-time favourite! the sword of kaigen by m.l. wang was one of the best character-driven fantasy standalones i have read in recent memory. bable by r.f. kuang was probably my most anticipated read of the year and it did not disappoint. i who have never known man by jacqueline harpman & hamnet by maggie o'farrell both fascinated me so so much for completely different reasons. i could not put down in my dreams i hold a knife by ashley winstead—it was SO entertaining and exactly my kind of mystery thriller. i also discovered some authors whose works i love: mieko kawakam (standout: all the lovers in the night) & octavia butler (standout: kindred) were definitely standout authors new to me.

idk i could mention so many more. i read so much and so many great books it's hard to narrow it down. if you want to have a closer look at my favourites, i posted my quarterly favourites here, here and here. all my other 4 and 5 star reads are found in my monthly wrap ups! you can find them here :) i will also post my monthly wrap up and my last quarterly favourites post at the end of december which will definitely include some more favourites (i am currently reading a 600 page classic which i didn't expect to fuck as severely as it does).

[someonelookingpraediti]

Monthly Roundup July 2024

Monthly Goals: ✔️ Take part in a "social" read ✖️ Read a current subscription book ✔️ Read a backlog subscription book ✖️ Read a free book ✖️ Annotate a book ✔️ Read a sequel I've been putting off

The Spirit Bares its Teeth - Andrew Joseph White ★★★★☆

This was my backlog book for the month. I think this was technically a good book, I just didn't really get on with it, personally. I think it just wasn't my style. It did get better the further I read, though, and the ending was great, so I'd recommend it.

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife - Ashley Winstead ★☆☆☆☆

This was just rubbish. It was trying so hard to be exciting, but actually it wasn't a very interesting plot. In order to keep us guessing, the author threw in about twenty unnecessary and unrealistic twists.

By the Pricking of my Thumbs - Agatha Christie ★★☆☆☆

My social read was another Book Club pick. I enjoyed this, but Agatha Christie does get same-y after a while. I didn't like this as much as the Poirots I've read previously.

In Order to Live - Yeonmi Park ★★★★★

This is the best autobiography I've read. I'm not normally a fan of non-fiction, but this was really emotional and moving.

The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890 version) - Oscar Wilde ★★★☆☆

I wanted to read the original version of this book, before it was edited for novel publication, but actually, it wasn't that different, so it wasn't really worth reading it.

The Wicker King - K. Ancrum (re-read)

This has probably become one of my favourite books. It's such an interesting read, and such a beautiful story. I've recommended this to so many people, and I've just ordered a copy to send to Henry. I will make him read it.

[halflingkima]

First Chapter Test

Of all of these.

Crossbones by Kimberly Vale: The tightness of the worldbuilding without sacrificing of high-stakes action hooked me immediately. I love the mood, the vibe, where it seems we're going. The complete swerve of info-dumping is laudable. I'm engaged in this world immediately and can't wait to see where it leads. (5/5)

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows: I have tried this in audio a few times, and feel as though something's been going over my head. Reading it physically appears to be much more engaging. I think because it's written in first person, it carries that Fantasy Speak which I suppose is easier to parse in my own head – i can fill in gaps if i think i've missed something instead of rewinding 80 times. So far, it sounds amazing! The worldbuilding is complex and i've quickly imprinted on Vel as a character voice. My only worry is the Fantasy Speak (and in turn their terms, politics, etc.) slowing me down a bit. (4/5)

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness: I have started this a number of times and it is dry. Like. Too dry to even fall asleep to (as it doesn't engage my own thoughts). But it's such a long one (and kinda older? I think?) that I feel like I've got to give it more time to let itself be known. She does get to the ~special manuscript~ very quickly, but we start as an academic in a library, which is really only engaging when you're doing it yourself, imo. Lotta info-dumping about her heritage that I don't care to retain yet. Something about alchemy. (1/5)

The City & The City by China Mieville: There's an intro of a murder scene that reads like almost every police procedural, but it's sprinkled with subtle worldbuilding that adds a layer of interest. The beat of seeing into the other city at the end was off-putting. I'm engaged enough to keep reading, but the tone and delivery put me in mind of straightfoward magical realism, which may or may not ultimately work for me. (4/5)

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead: The tone of this is engaging, as one expects of a thriller. I do not like our narrator. So far, I doubt I'll be able to refrain from comparing this to If We Were Villains the whole time, which i doubt will be a favorable comparison. However. If the driving force of the thriller-tone persists, I may enjoy it. Short(er) chapters are working in its favor. (2/5)

The Killing Moon by NK Jemisin: Engaging, as all her writing seems to be. Falls victim to the front-loading of the fantasy genre – lots of unfamiliar terms and practices, that we spend to time to explain. The weaving of the introduction and action are seamless, though. The next chapter appears to be an interlude, which I enjoyed in the fifth season. Longish chapters, maybe? Or I might have to adjust my ebook font. (3/5)

Fire Season by KD Casey: Either a real short chapter, or I spend through it. The leads have met nearly immediately, which is a great sign for a romance. They also seem to have chemistry already, which is impressive. There's little character nods already. I'm once again reminded why I liked the previous book in the series – this author's got a great gravitas of style. there's an anxiety pushing this chapter forward – a last-minute trade, from minors to majors on top of that – so I nearly sped-read. But. Intriguing. (5/5)

[haveyoureadthispoll]

Beware of the dark. You might like what you find... Ruth Collier has always felt like an outsider, even as her father rains fire and brimstone from the church pulpit. In Bottom Springs, his word is as good as law. But there are things the townspeople fear more than God, like the Low Man, a vampiric figure said to kill sinners in their beds on moonless nights. When a skull is found deep in the swamp, a hunt for the Low Man begins. Suspicion turns to Everett – Ruth's oldest friend, with a dark past. As Ruth and Everett grow closer, Ruth begins to unearth the town's secrets, determined to discover the truth. But as the line between good and evil grows ever thin, how far will Ruth go to save the person she loves most?

[quirkycatsfatstacks]

Review: Midnight Is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead

Author: Ashley WinsteadPublisher: SourcebooksReleased: October 3, 2023Received: Own (Aardvark) Find it on Goodreads | Aardvark | More Aardvark Book Summary: Ruth Collier never really fit in with her small and tight hometown. While most of her classmates were happy to follow the church path (and worship Ruth’s father), Ruth was more inclined to be her own person. Her love of books was just one…

[thenerdcantina]

Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead: Book Review

Ruth Cornier is a preacher’s daughter in Bottom Springs, Louisiana. But her father isn’t just a leader of the religious community in her small town. The residents and parishoners believe he is the authority of God and follow him without question. Hence, Ruth is under a lot of pressure to be a “good” girl (despite being 23 years old) and live up to expectations. However, one night from her past…

[gailycovercrit]

Cover Critique — The Boyfriend Candidate, by Ashley Winstead.

Reading Status — Have not read. No interest in reading.

We wanted to go over this one because it's entirely outside our zone of genre preference, but it is technically competent enough to draw some respect.

Story Suitability — I can tell what genre the book is at a glance (contemporary romance,) I can tell that it's wlm, I can feel the "US politics" theming at play here, and I know what the main characters look like. Without reading the book and knowing if the art matches the character descriptions, I can't get a full read on it, but it seems to suit the story fine.

Text Display — The use of fonts is pretty solid here. There are at least two fonts in play here. Firstly, there's the basic serif. A thinner weight of it is used in the quote, and a bolder weight is used for the titling, distinguishing the two. Then we have the display font for "boyfriend," bringing in a nice pop of interest right in the title zone. I like the tilt.

I might(?) move the "the" in the title down a little bit. And I would definitely change the pink behind "boyfriend" from that near barbie-pink to something rosier that would match the red accents everywhere else.

The pink is my biggest gripe here. Why does that color show up only once in the whole cover? The text shadow is a fine point of interest even without deviating from the base palette, and using pink specifically feels a bit too on the nose for a book that obviously has a pinkmarket demographic. If you want the pink to stay, then there should be pink accents in other places too.

Illustration — Decent. The color choice are good, and I like the texture in the details and around the edge of the solid coloring. The downside of this is that the density of detail concentrated in the faces makes the flat coloring feel empty in other parts of the body.

I'm not sure if I like the linelessness around the edge of the characters? It is pretty conventional for its genre though.

As for anatomy, the man's right arm is a little awkward (too short, even for foreshortening), and the woman's left wrist looks a little broken. But it takes some looking to notice that.

Overall, it's not my thing. But it is serviceable!

Layout — I'm not the only one who's noticed a recent trend in contemporary romance covers looking like they were put together in Canva. A lot of books lately are content to space a title out across a monocolor background and paste little sticker-looking pieces of artwork around it. It's a bland trend, if I'm being honest. But that's just how art works under late-stage capitalism baby!

Relievingly, this cover tries a little harder than that. There's an actual structure to the elements.

You're likely to look at the art first, since it takes up the most space and has the most detail. Then the size of the title draws you in. Then you're likely to glance up at the quote, which is right by the title and has a dark color that distinguishes it from the background. Then if you're invested, you'll probably check out the author name.

It's a simple vertical layout, but simple can be effective. And it's certainly more coherent than just dotting elements on like magnets on a fridge.

Personally, I might think about giving the background a subtle gradient to make it feel less flat, and to draw attention down to the couple. But that's a matter of personal taste. It's fine as-is, especially with the star details helpfully adding texture to the blank space around the illustration.

Verdict — Better than a basic Canva cover!

[foxfren]

Books I’ve Read In May

I FORGOT TO POST THIS!!

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood || 2.5/5

“I love you enough for the both of us.”

I thought I would like this more? But I found that the story was repetitive and clunky a lot of the time, especially towards the end. The big twist felt very disconnected from the rest of the story as well, and I didn’t find it satisfying to finish reading. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, and a lot of the dialogue felt unrealistic.

In My Dreams I Hold A Knife by Ashley Winstead || 2/5

“It was all so clear now, so terrifyingly obvious. I was the villain; I always had been.”

I didn’t start enjoying the book until the last fourth of it, when everything actually started to unfold. Before that, it was uninteresting; all of the characters felt very shallow and unlikable, the romance subplots were subpar at best, and there was really nothing there to keep me reading. Also, the title has no relevance to the plot, which I found disappointing.

An Enchantment of Ravens by author || 3.5/5

I wished that just once, I could tell him I loved him, and it wouldn’t be a curse upon us both.

I enjoyed the whimsy and the world building, it was very immersive as the descriptions were very rich. However, I felt that some of the subplots were abruptly dropped (e.g. Isobel going to court for the painting). Also, the ending of the book felt very abrupt. It was a very enjoyable read overall, but to look closer at the details is to unravel some plot holes and inconsistencies.

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall || 3.5/5

I’ll never believe your anything less than remarkable

It was cliche (fake-dating, opposites attract, etc), but I find that I didn’t mind that at all? It was cute and charmingly awkward, and I liked the way that Oliver and Luc grew as characters. The plot could’ve been more engaging, but overall, it was an enjoyable read.

[bookmark-lit]

Blog Tour: The Boyfriend Candidate

Review I had only read IN MY DREAMS I HOLD A KNIFE before starting this book and really loved it, so naturally I’ve added all of Ashley Winstead’s books to my TBR regardless of genre. I love when authors are able to write both excellent romances and excellent thrillers… not much more I could ask for! 😉 Needless to say, I was excited for the opportunity to read THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE! The story…

[bookcoversonly]

Title: The Last Housewife | Author: Ashley Winstead | Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (2022)

[romcombc]

Review for The Boyfriend Candidate

New to the world of Ashley Winstead, I was optimistic when I saw the review by Lynn Painter (one of my favorite authors) and was thrilled that it not only delivered, but overflowed with laughs, aww moments, and a ton of heart. The Boyfriend Candidate takes you behind the scenes of the insanity of the political life – from slimy politicians, to back room deals, to debates, to scandals, and all the insanity in between that it takes to create the perfect optics in the name of winning.

Alexis is the primary example of what happens when good girls try to go bad, and fail at it spectacularly! Celebrating the anniversary of her split from her ex (but still hearing and feeling the impact of his criticisms), Alexis is determined to prove once and for all that she can be desirable, spontaneous, passionate, and wild. Well she can fake it til she makes. Entering the Fleur, dressed to kill, she snags the attention of the last fish she would want – an overly loud and aggressive man who can’t seem to take no for an answer. Lucky for her, this fish was perfect bait for the gorgeous specimen that decided to come to her rescue. After buying him a drink to show her gratitude, Alexis and Logan hit it off and agree after a passionate kiss in the lobby that the night is not over. Apparently mother nature had a different opinion as a lightening strike causes a fire, requiring immediate evacuation of the hotel. A stair mishap and a rush exit, Logan finds himself partially dressed carrying Alexis out of the hotel. Unfortunately his heroic endeavor is caught on camera. Unbeknownst to Alexis, her dashing knight is no other than gubernatorial candidate Logan Arthur. Quickly thrown into the limelight on the brink of a scandal, Logan’s team orchestrates a counter attack – present Logan and Alexis as a couple, casting the intimate moment caught on camera as a mere invasion of privacy between two people in a committed relationship. Still determined to break free of the “Old Alexis” shackles, Alexis agrees to play pretend as long as they are willing to make a deal. As the two are forced to date, the lines between fictional and reality (with a little dash of fantasy) start to blur, leaving two people who are already in over their heads drowning in a sea of unknowns and what ifs.

I can’t express enough how much I enjoyed this book. Throw in a love triangle, a zany political crew, topped with a grumpy vs. sunshine aura and you have a wonderful romance that keeps you thinking, smiling, and hoping that no matter what, everything will work out in the end.

Thank you NetGalley and HTP Books for allowing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Available now!

Check out the spoiler-free review in the Facebook Group - The Romantic Comedy Book Club (https://facebook.com/groups/romcombc) or the full review on the main website: https://romcombc.com/book/the-boyfriend-candidate/