A Wine and Words Book Preview

Are you trying to decide between author panels Saturday at Wine and Words? We can help!

We're excited to bring you so many authors this year. From staff favorite Annie Hartnett, who brought us The Road to Tender Hearts and my favorite literary animal, Pancakes the Cat, and her writing partner Tessa Fontaine (whose memoir depicts being part of a traveling sideshow?!) kicking things off first thing, until Rob Rufus and Craig Shelburne close the evening, the day is jam packed. So hit those panels and the author signing lines after, and here's a few reviews from some of our favorite Plenty regulars to give you an idea of what to expect.

She's Gone by David Bell

I love how David Bell builds the twists and turns in such a realistic way that She's Gone genuinely felt like something you might read about in the news or experience in your own town. Hunter’s grief, confusion, and missing memories make him an intriguing narrator, and unraveling what happened to Chloe after the dance—along with the mystery of how Hunter made it from the crash site to the hospital—kept me hooked. The mounting pressure from classmates, the true-crime documentary, and the public accusations added to the tension and sense of isolation Hunter feels, making the story emotionally engaging as well as suspenseful. I had so many possible suspects right up until the very end, which made the payoff especially satisfying. Overall, this was a fast-paced, believable YA thriller that kept me guessing and fully invested throughout. –Sarah Kessler.

The Ground That Devours Us by Kalla Harris

Grief is a sinking feeling into your shoulder blades, pressing into the stone until I feel like it’s going to give, sacrificing to the earth below it. To the ground that devours us.

The Ground That Devours Us is a fun, entertaining, and fast-paced YA post-apocalyptic paranormal romance that had me hooked immediately! Set in a post-apocalyptic world in Charlotte, NC where vampires and blood walkers have taken over and humans are forced to live in compounds. Twin sisters Ruby and Ripley are taken in by the compound known as The Vale and trained to become slayers. When a supply run goes wrong and they run into the notoriously deadly vampire X, Ruby’s sister Ripley gets turned into a vampire. Desperate to protect her sister while waiting for the cure to vampirism to be finished, Ruby is forced to strike a deadly bargain with the annoyingly handsome vampire X. Can Ruby betray her own kind and still make it out alive?

The Ground That Devours Us explores surprisingly deep topics  like grief, loyalty, sacrifice, and love in a very relatable and palatable way. Ruby quickly learns things aren’t as black and white as she was taught to believe and that maybe vampires and humans can coexist. I thought the character development was great and you can really feel Ruby’s internal struggle as it’s at odds with her belief system. I really liked the worldbuilding and finding out about the vampire’s powers. The side characters stand out to me as well. I wouldn’t mind a spin-off or two with some of the side character’s backstories. I thought the banter and the way Ruby and X’s relationship developed was done well and didn’t feel rushed or forced. I thought Ripley grew into her new life exceptionally well and enjoyed seeing her relationship with her sister evolve over time. I would’ve liked for the storyline about the vampire’s special abilities to be explored a little more in depth. Overall, I devoured this book up and was thoroughly entertained! –Kasey Chattha

Unlock the Dark by Sasa Hawk

Looking for your next read? Maybe one with a heroine that feels relatable–not perfect, not infallible, but full of heart and good intentions. Perhaps with a male lead that has a (very reasonable) fear of spiders and the dark, and more book smarts than street smarts. How about a magic system that has the lead spitting out keys to any lock? It would be wildly useful, considering how many times I’ve locked myself out of my house, my car … Just this morning, in fact. But, I digress.

In Sasa Hawk’s debut YA fantasy novel, Unlock the Dark, Elia Tallis takes us on an adventure full of twists and turns, monsters of our own making, and that irresistible fall into love. Channeling her dying father’s magic to care for her family, Elia enrages the God of Death, who takes her brother as an acolyte in payment. To get him back, Elia makes a bargain with the prince: his hand for her help unlocking a dangerous scroll with unintended consequences. Can she stop the monster she helped make and save her brother before it’s too late?

“Time is priceless because anything can happen if you have a little of it. Even the briefest moment can change your fate.”

Did I laugh? Absolutely. Try keeping a straight face when the bookish prince uses antiquated language with a drunk. That was great. Did I cry? I sobbed. I challenge you to keep a dry eye as Sasa explores loss and grief in ways that feel so real, even in a fantasy world. Did I lose sleep? Absolutely, and not just because of my insomnia. The adventure didn’t quit, so neither could I! –Savannah Buckley

The Lord of Blade and Bone by Erica Ivy Rodgers

This second installment of the Waking Hearts duology is darker, richer, and impossible to put down. I loved how the story digs deeper into the past, especially how the war with Brouillard shaped the coup against the royal family, adding layers of context and emotional weight to everything happening in the present. Watching characters break free from the Cardinal’s unyielding grip and confront who they truly are—and the legacy they want to leave behind—was incredibly powerful. It was a joy to finally see all the Guardians in action, especially those we didn’t fully meet in book one, and the contrast between how Charlotte’s and Luc’s powers evolve was fascinating. Even though they stand on opposite sides of settling wraiths versus wielding them, I loved how both learn to treat the dead with dignity and respect. Prince Artus’s growth was especially rewarding, and seeing the kingdom through his eyes made me fall in love with Niveaux all over again. With shocking betrayals and threats coming from every direction, this book delivers nonstop tension and emotional payoff, making it a thrilling and deeply satisfying conclusion to the duology. –Sarah Kessler

A Dagger of Lightning by Meredith R. Lyons

If you like feisty 45 year old FMCs, alien fae, and lots of Princess Bride references, A Dagger of Lightning is the book for you! Imogen, the female protagonist, feels like a real person and not your stereotypical naïve 20-something fantasy female character. She has a mind of her own, life experiences that have shaped her view of the world, and strong values she’s not willing to compromise on.

The story is set up in such a uniquely complex way that I didn’t want to put the book down! Watching Imogene navigate the complex relationships and the volatile political situation all while trying to gain some control over her newfound alien powers was so entertaining. I love the way the story steadily unfolds and how it is all connected to her childhood. The side characters are just as well rounded as the main characters and stood out to me. I also enjoyed the wise and endearing proverbs from her grandmother at the beginning of each chapter.

This book was humorous, heartfelt, and deeply entertaining. I have recommended this book to so many people that you would think I was earning a commission off the sales! 😂I can’t wait for the sequel! –Kasey Chattha

Colton Gentry's Third Act by Jeff Zentner

Colton Gentry’s Third Act is a second chance romance that takes you on a journey about healing, resilience, and finding love. It shows you that no matter your age or situation, it is never too late to start over and find a new path. 

Colton Gentry is a man who is deeply familiar with disappointment, heartbreak, and loss. Nothing in his life has worked out like he planned. After tragically losing his best friend, music career, and his marriage, 38 year old Colton is forced to return to his small hometown in Kentucky with his tail between his legs. After wallowing for a bit, he runs into his old high school best friend and decides to repair all his broken relationships with his hometown friends and his high school sweetheart that got away. This sets him on the path of trying to reinvent himself and accept who he is today and not who he could’ve been. Colton’s resilience is admirable and inspiring. He builds a good support system around him when he’s at his lowest and it ultimately saves his life. Colton finds not only himself, but a passion for his new career path and gets a second chance at love. –Kasey Chattha

The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman

Love is a bit like madness.

The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds felt like pure magic from start to finish. I loved following Josephine as she moved back and forth between the present day and 1927, with each shift feeling seamless, sweet, and emotionally rich. Jennifer Moorman’s writing is so vivid and grounded that it made the world come alive—I could practically smell the fall air and garden flowers, and the 1920s setting felt vibrant and real. The relationship between Josephine and her great-grandmother Alma was especially touching, anchoring the story in themes of love, family, and self-discovery. I also loved how the line “among the whispering and the stars,” a nod to The Great Gatsby, became the spark of magic that led Josephine to Danny and Alma. This story was achingly beautiful, full of heart, and so engaging that I honestly would have kept reading forever. –Sarah Kessler

When She's Gone by Rea Frey

When She’s Gone completely pulled me in with its nonstop twists and emotional weight. There were so many moments that had me literally saying “NO!” out loud as yet another shocking revelation unfolded. Rea Frey does an excellent job portraying Cora’s lifelong struggle to feel normal after surviving such public trauma, especially as she tries to raise her daughter while carrying the scars of her past. That emotional depth makes her frantic search for her missing child even more intense, as Cora is forced to confront whether her daughter’s disappearance is connected to her own kidnapping years earlier. The story balances suspense with a powerful exploration of trauma, healing, and a mother’s fierce determination, making this a gripping and unsettling thriller that kept me hooked until the very end. –Sarah Kessler