If you're planning to read The Secret Thread by Eve Chase, we've created everything you need to turn this unforgettable historical mystery into an immersive reading experience.

Whether you're hosting a book club, reading with your favorite buddy reader, or enjoying a quiet solo reading escape, our newest companion kits are now available!

✨ Now Available to Download:

📖 Book Club Kit & Individual Reader Guide
Perfect for book clubs, libraries, classrooms, and readers who love thoughtful discussions. Inside you'll find discussion questions, themed activities, an English country estate-inspired menu, printable worksheets, host tips, and much more.

💕 Buddy Reader Kit
Designed for both in-person and virtual buddy reads, this kit includes guided check-ins, interactive activities, prediction pages, discussion prompts, and everything you need to enjoy uncovering every secret together.

☕ Solo Reader Deep Dive Kit
Love reading on your own? This immersive companion includes annotation prompts, symbolism and theme trackers, reading journal pages, literary analysis, creative activities, reflection exercises, and more to help you experience The Secret Thread on a deeper level.

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Book Club Kit & Individual Reader Guide 

Buddy Reader Kit 

Solo Reader Kit 

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Happy reading, and we can't wait to hear what you think of The Secret Thread!

#TheSecretThread #EveChase #BookClubKit #HistoricalMystery #BookClubBooks

What if the objects we treasure remember the stories we've tried hardest to forget?

Some books invite you into a mystery. Others quietly wrap you in their atmosphere until you feel as though you've stepped onto the grounds of a sprawling English estate, listening for whispers hidden beneath the gardens. The Secret Thread by Eve Chase is firmly the latter. Blending historical fiction, family drama, gothic atmosphere, and slow-burning suspense, this novel delivers an emotionally layered mystery that asks whether the truth can ever truly stay buried.

For our book club, this wasn't simply a mystery to solve it was a conversation starter about family loyalty, social class, identity, ambition, and the weight of secrets carried across generations. Every chapter uncovered another thread connecting the past to the present, leaving us eager to compare theories before Eve Chase masterfully tied everything together.

Book Synopsis

In 2024, aspiring writer Jo O'Mara accepts what appears to be the opportunity of a lifetime: documenting the stories behind the treasured possessions of Mimi Mott, the legendary interior design icon preparing for a public auction after the death of her husband.

But Jo has a secret of her own.

As she begins cataloging Mimi's remarkable collection, she realizes every object carries pieces of a hidden past that reaches back to Rushwood, a magnificent English country estate where Mimi spent the transformative summer of 1969.

Growing up in the gardener's cottage alongside her quieter sister Pamela, young Mimi dreamed of escaping the limitations imposed by class and circumstance. When the wealthy Caswell family's adult children arrive for the summer, friendships blur into romance, privilege collides with ambition, and one glamorous evening ends in tragedy.

Decades later, Jo discovers that one priceless object and one important person have disappeared. Solving both mysteries means unraveling a lifetime of carefully guarded lies before time runs out.

What We Loved

A Beautifully Layered Dual Timeline

Dual-timeline novels can sometimes feel uneven, but Eve Chase balances both eras with remarkable skill. Rather than feeling like separate stories, each chapter in the past directly enriches the present-day investigation.

The gradual unveiling of Mimi's history keeps readers invested while allowing Jo's own emotional journey to develop naturally. Every revelation feels earned, making the final pieces especially satisfying.

Rushwood Steals the Show

If there were an award for Best Setting, Rushwood would deserve it.

The English country estate becomes more than scenery it becomes a living character. The lush gardens, elegant manor house, secluded cottages, and carefully maintained grounds all reinforce the divide between privilege and service.

Our book club loved discussing how the setting reflects each character's place within society. The beauty of Rushwood constantly contrasts with the emotional tension simmering beneath its polished exterior.

Rich Themes That Spark Discussion

One reason this novel works so well for book clubs is the depth of its themes.

Throughout the novel we discussed:

• The invisible barriers created by social class

• The pursuit of reinvention

• Family obligation versus personal ambition

• How memory changes over time

• The stories people choose to tell and the ones they intentionally leave behind

• Whether protecting someone from the truth is ever an act of love

These questions continued long after we finished reading.

Mimi Is an Unforgettable Character

Mimi may be one of Eve Chase's strongest protagonists.

As a teenager, she is intelligent, determined, and restless, desperate to build a life beyond the expectations placed upon her. As an older woman, she remains fascinating successful, guarded, and carrying decades of unresolved grief.

Watching both versions of Mimi slowly merge into one complete portrait made her journey especially compelling.

Jo Provides Emotional Balance

Jo's investigation isn't simply about uncovering history.

Her own personal connection adds emotional stakes that elevate the mystery beyond a traditional historical suspense novel. Rather than acting solely as an investigator, she becomes part of the story she's uncovering, making every discovery feel deeply personal.

Our Book Club Discussion

This novel inspired one of our longest discussions in recent months.

Some readers immediately sympathized with Mimi's determination to escape her circumstances, while others questioned the decisions she made along the way.

Several members admitted they completely changed their opinions about certain characters multiple times as new information surfaced. Those shifting perspectives became one of the novel's greatest strengths.

The pacing also generated thoughtful conversation. While readers expecting a fast-paced thriller may initially find the story more deliberate, most agreed the slower approach allowed the emotional weight of each revelation to land far more effectively.

Themes Worth Exploring

⭐ Class and Privilege

The contrast between the Caswell family and the estate workers shapes nearly every relationship throughout the novel.

⭐ Family Secrets

Generational silence becomes almost as powerful as the events themselves.

⭐ Identity and Reinvention

Can we truly leave our past behind, or does it always find a way back?

⭐ Memory and Storytelling

Whose version of history deserves to be believed?

Is The Secret Thread Right for Your Book Club?

We highly recommend this novel if your group enjoys:

• Historical fiction

• Gothic atmosphere

• Dual timelines

• Family sagas

• Character-driven mysteries

• Slow-burn suspense

• English country estate settings

• Emotional literary fiction with mystery elements

If your club prefers nonstop action or rapid-fire thrillers, this may feel slower than expected. However, readers who appreciate thoughtful storytelling and carefully constructed mysteries will likely find plenty to love.

Final Thoughts

The Secret Thread reminds us that every family has stories hidden beneath the surface. Some are tucked safely inside treasured heirlooms. Others linger in forgotten gardens, abandoned cottages, and memories too painful to revisit.

Eve Chase delivers an elegant blend of historical fiction and suspense that prioritizes atmosphere, emotion, and character over shocking twists. By the time the final secrets emerged, our book club wasn't simply interested in solving the mystery we were deeply invested in the people whose lives had been forever shaped by it.

It's the kind of novel that rewards patient readers, sparks meaningful discussion, and lingers long after the last page.

📚 Free Reader Kits & Premium Book Club Resources

Want to take your reading experience even further?

✨ Tap the link and download our FREE Mini Reader Kits for The Secret Thread. They're the perfect way to enhance your reading with sample discussion questions, reflection pages, and reading guides.

Free Mini Reader Kits

📖 Free Mini Reader Kits

• Mini Book Club Kit

• Mini Individual Reader Kit

• Mini Buddy Reader Kit

• Mini Solo Reader Kit

Looking for the complete experience? Join The First Editions, to unlock our full collection of exclusive reader resources, including:

🌿 The First Editions Exclusive Collection

• 📚 Deep Dive Book Review

• 👥 Complete Book Club Kit

• 📖 Individual Book Club Member Kit

• 💕 Buddy Reader Kit (In-Person & Virtual)

• ☕ Solo Reader Deep Dive Kit

Whether you're leading a lively book club discussion, reading alongside a friend, or enjoying a quiet solo reading escape, there's a kit designed to help you uncover every hidden thread in Eve Chase's unforgettable novel.

Book Club Question

If you discovered a family secret hidden inside an heirloom or treasured object, would you want to uncover the entire truth or leave the past where it belongs?

#TheSecretThread #EveChase #HistoricalMystery #BookClubBooks #BookReview

I have been DYING to share the cover of the next book from our imprint, Cracks by Stoker Award winning author, Kristy Park Kulski.

This cover will not be released to the public until Wednesday at 12 pm EST! I would love it for your to help us make a big splash on Weds by posting the cover (anytime after 12 EST) with the preorder link to your IG STORIES and THREADS.

Here is the bookshop link: https://bookshop.org/a/99626/9781967967452

this is my affiliate link. Feel free to use your own!

Would love to start building preorders early (you guessed it! Our goal is 1000)

And now…. For the cover:

are we obsessed???

I was traveling for a chunk of last week, so I only finished two books this week. They were both excellent plane reads, though, so good job with that timing, me. Books marked with an * were gifted to me.

Coldwire by Chloe Gong* - The sequel to this book is almost here, so I figured I should probably finally get around to it! I have loved every Gong book I've read and this is no exception. I was so drawn into this cyberpunk dystopia. You know I love a prickly girl character, and this book is full of them. It's excellent and horrifying how you can see exactly the trajectory our world might take to become the world of Coldwire. I found it a little hard to follow the reveal near the end, but I think that's on me rather than the author since other reviewers didn't seem to have that problem.

This Princess Kills Monsters by Ry Herman* - I am very into fantasy comedy right now and this one is chef's kiss excellent. It reminded me a lot of The Princess Bride, if that story was more queer. It's deeply silly while also giving old fairytales a new point of view. Literally everything about this book is a delight.

In her upcoming sophomore novel Let’s Kiss and Tell, Joss Richard explores sex-positive topics like sex work, vasectomies, and childfree happily-ever-afters. In this episode of Rebel Ever After, we dug into what romance genre conventions are made to be broken, and writing stories that make readers feel seen. Plus! You will not guess what fan fiction Joss wrote as a teenager. She shared how an idea for a Three’s Company fic led to her first novel, It’s Different This Time.

This episode is not appropriate for children, or people who don’t want to bonk radioactive ghouls in the post-nuclear fallout wasteland. If you know you know.

Listen on:

• Apple Podcasts

• Spotify

• Castbox

• Libsyn

You can find Joss on social media at @joss.richard or on her website jossrichard.com. Purchase Joss's books from the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore at bit.ly/REAbooks

Rep the podcast with Rebel Ever After MERCH! Browse our new store here: https://rebeleverafter.creator-spring.com/

Don't forget to rate and review on your favorite podcast app, too!

Theme music created by Dalton Deschain.

Authors and media mentioned this episode:

• Emily Henry

• Ali Hazelwood

• Elissa Sussman

• Kennedy Ryan

• Emily Griffin's Something Borrowed

• Sophie Kinsella's Confessions of a Shopaholic

• Fallout (video game franchise and Amazon Prime show)

• Three's Company

• Mary Poppins

• The Sound of Music

• How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

• Heroes

This week was mostly Small Town Slasher release prep as the release date is a little over a week away!

The preorder stickers arrived, and I love them. There is something very satisfying about finally having a physical piece of the preorder campaign after spending so much time staring at files, listings, graphics, captions, and deadlines. If you have not preordered yet, there is still time.

I also finished editing the stories for Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Yuletide Horror Anthology, which is a huge step forward. It is a little strange to be working on a summer slasher release and winter horror at the same time, but I love all horror so much.

We had a really fun book club this week too, which was nice. Not every book-related thing has to be a deadline, an email, a preorder reminder, or me trying to understand TikTok against my will. Sometimes it can just be people talking about books, which is still one of my favorite things AND next week I have two podcast appearances and you know that panel I mentioned that I'm on with STEPHEN GRAHAM JONES! Busy week!

I also watched some movies and listened to the new Charli xcx album. Behind the scenes, I am still working on release prep, website updates, social media, future events, and all the little tasks that somehow keep multiplying. I am excited for Small Town Slasher to be out in the world, but I am also very aware that release weeks are a lot, especially when there are already more books waiting behind it.

So this week was stickers, Yuletide edits, book club, movies, Charli xcx, and the ongoing countdown to Small Town Slasher.

Very normal. Very calm. Definitely not nerve-wracking at all.

BOOKS

Bodies of Work by Clay McLeod Chapman
The Creed Falls Massacres by Jon Cohn
Summer Never Ends by Judith Sonnet

Currently reading: The Reimagining of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson, Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier, and reading Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison (for the second time).

SHOWS AND FILMS

I have mostly been relying on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X-Files, Owl House, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and my usual late 1990s and early 2000s comfort rewatches while I work. Oh and I watched the first episode of the Lizzie McGuire show

For movies I watched the Tobey Maguire Spidermans and now I'm onto my rewatch of the Andrew Garfield ones. Also I watched Saltburn (it was...a lot but I loved it),

That is all for this week. What is something that brought you joy this past week?

xoxo

Spooky Girl

Oh hey book buddies,

Did you think I forgot about you? NEVER!!!

I used my morning to record some Youtube content before temps got too high. I don't know about where you are, but it's HOT here in Los Angeles.

This week is a little quieter than last in terms of new content, but I have been reading quite a bit. Why so little new content, you ask? Well, I prioritized time with friends this week, seeing a wonderful Suki Waterhouse concert on Thursday and brunching with girlfriends on Saturday. I've also been suffering from migraines a bit more this week, likely due to the high temps. But I'm determined to get back in the content saddle in anticipation of August 1's newsletter. If you've not signed up for my monthly newsletter, now's the time to do so.

Ok, let's talk books! Since we last chatted I finished The Parisian Heist and Should the Waters Take Us, both on audio. The Parisian Heist was a fun summer suspense novel full of art and art history. It's perfect for the type of folks who gravitate to historic museums while traveling. I really enjoyed getting to know Jo Van Gogh, the sister-in-law of Vincent who helped ensure his art and legacy. 4⭐️

Should the Waters Take Us was not at all what I expected, but I did very much enjoy it. Far more literary than historical, it's a story that focuses on the human element of migration and legacy. It blends love of land & nature with land rights and disaster (both natural and manmade) to tell the story of South Louisiana. 4⭐️

As part of a larger project (more on that soon), I finally read Where the Rivers Merge by Mary Alice Monroe. I've not read any of her work before (mostly Southern women's fiction with contemporary settings), but I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. All about family legacy and one woman's relationship with her family's land, it's the type of Southern fiction that I love to sink my teeth into. I can't wait for the sequel now! 4.5⭐️

I'm still chipping away at The Intrigue and A Time of Witches; both are so good that I'm feeling torn each time I pick up my Kindle. Hopefully I'll find the time to finish both this week.

I'm also still savoring A Founding Mother, the July BBFL book club book. It's SO SO SO good that I had to pull out the pen and highlighter to annotate, something I never do. I'm about halfway through and eager to put this laptop down to read more of this great Revolutionary War story.

ICYMI:

• I finally posted by full Yesteryear reading vlog over on Youtube so check that out if you're still wondering if that book is for you

• The May & June reading wrap-up is live over on Youtube, and it's full of GREAT reads

• Suki Waterhouse has a message for us all

• Check out this little mixed genre bookmail haul

• Meet the Montana tote from Portland Leather goods

• All the books I purchased on the Great California Bookstore Tour

• Paid subscribers get full access to exclusive vlogs like my very first episode of Library Adventures

Hear it Here First:

Stay tuned for a list of my favorite reads of the year so far! Planning to share on Booktube, Bookstagram, and Booktok this week.

The August historical fiction look ahead should be live by the end of the week on social media; there's a few indie authors on this month's list which makes me happy.

Don't forget that The Shadow of the Wind is the August BBFL book club book. Not a member yet? Join here!

Thanks so much for being here and for all your support!

Happy reading, friends!

xoxo

c

Hello Friends,

I have been screaming busy at work and will be for the next two weeks, but after that I expect a bit of a reprieve! (read: I will get better at posting more regularly!)

BIG NEWS FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS COMING

If you've been thinking about upgrading, now is the time. Paid subscribers:

• will be getting to see the cover for our next book (CRACKS, by Stoker Award winning author, Kristy Park Kulski. https://bookshop.org/p/books/cracks-kristy-kulski/6a2cfef9ca5618c5?ean=9781967967452&bkshp-astro=t. TOMORROW!!!!

• will be getting an update on our THIRD BOOK (hopefully soon!!!!!)

• will be signing up for this quarters SNAIL MAIL - Tuesday

• Paid subscribers get arcs of all of our books, so if CRACKS sounds like something you'd love (and it should! Not to brag....but I think I pick BANGERS), you should subscribe now

IN OTHER NEWS

• All of my Pango books are 50% off until Tuesday morning. https://www.pangobooks.com/bookstore/jackofallnays

• I'm going to be focusing on growing my Youtube! I'm most posting SHORTS there right now, but I have a plan to be consistent with long form as soon as my schedule relaxes a bit. LET ME KNOW: What kind of long form content would you like to watch from me! Follow me here:

  https://www.youtube.com/@fromthemixedupdesk

• I'm going to Shelves and the City! I haven't seen many people talk about this publicly, but we are talking about it privately! I filled out my travel form. I booked my extra hotel nights (You know I can't just spend ONE WEEKEND in NYC!) I've got my Gluten Free NYC playlist on instagram. And I just found out there is a TAROT exhibit at the Morgan Library. First of all I love the Morgan Library. Second, if you didn't know. I'm tarot obsessed and have over 20 decks. I'm sure I will be coming home with more. Should I do a post with my Tarot Books (again?) because I have books, too!

• I have gotten so MUCH book mail! It's too hard to update when I slack on posting, so I am just going to add all of the books I've received recently to this post and promise I'll be better about updating regularly. See any that stand out?

• We've been doing a readathon all weekend in the Discord? Have you joined our reader community on Discord (hot tip: If you've left because of the tagging, you can turn that feature off and come back haha)

I just finished up:

Die for Me by Shirlene Obuobi and am currently reading Headlights by CJ Leede

Reading Updates are COMING BACK BABY!

If you watched this week's Tails & Tales, you know my reading week looked a little different than usual.

Normally I'm the person who somehow manages to squeeze reading into every spare moment. Waiting in line? Reading. Lunch break? Reading. Ten minutes before bed? Definitely reading.

This week, though, life had other plans.

What was supposed to be a fairly straightforward trip turned into a marathon of canceled flights, rerouted connections, six different airports, and a suitcase that decided it wanted its own vacation. Somewhere between sprinting to gates and wondering whether I'd actually make it home, reading became less about making progress and more about finding little moments of calm.

And honestly? I'm okay with that.

One of the things I think social media accidentally teaches us is that every week has to be bigger than the last. More books. More reviews. More content. More productivity.

But reading isn't a competition. Some weeks you'll finish six books. Other weeks you'll barely finish one because life simply demands your attention somewhere else.

The books will still be waiting.

Ironically, the books I did finish all wrestled with that exact tension in different ways.

The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood asks whether ideals are worth pursuing even when you know they'll eventually fail. Camelot has always represented this impossible dream of creating a better world, and Parry leans into the tragedy that goodness isn't permanent, but that doesn't make striving for it meaningless. That question lingered with me long after I finished the book.

Then The Demon Star explored faith from a completely different angle. Not blind belief, but the choices we make when the systems we've trusted become instruments of control. One of my favorite things about speculative fiction is that it creates distance from our own world just long enough for us to ask uncomfortable questions about it. Strip away the demons, living gods, and space-opera politics, and you're left with questions about power, identity, resistance, and hope that feel incredibly human.

Even Dungeon Crawler Carl (beneath all the explosions, absurd monsters, and dark humor) keeps returning to the same idea: what parts of yourself are you willing to sacrifice just to survive? Carl's journey has never really been about defeating monsters. It's about refusing to let the Dungeon decide who he becomes.

That's one of the reasons I love fantasy and science fiction so much.

People often dismiss these genres as "escapism," but I think the opposite is true. The dragons, demons, magic systems, alien empires, and post-apocalyptic landscapes are simply different lenses for examining the questions we're already asking in our own lives.

• Who deserves power?

• What makes someone a hero?

• How do ordinary people resist impossible systems?

• What do we owe each other?

• What does hope look like when the odds are terrible?

The best speculative fiction doesn't help me escape reality...it helps me understand it.

So yes, I read fewer books this week than I normally do.

But the ones I finished reminded me exactly why I keep coming back to this genre over and over again. Not because I want to disappear into another world, but because those worlds so often teach me something about this one.

Thank you for being a valued member of our community! Because you are a paid subscriber, you get exclusive access to the complete, unedited interview with Marina Ramwell, the brilliant author behind the True or Knot series.

Below, check out the full conversation where Marina reveals her chaotic writing schedule, how her day job as a Software Engineer influences her Omegaverse worlds, exclusive updates on her upcoming releases, and her passionate final thoughts on what it truly means to be an author.

1. The 3-Word Pitch

For readers discovering the True or Knot series for the very first time, how would you describe your books in three words?

Marina: Multicultural, intriguing, and spicy

2. The Double Life

By day, you’re climbing the corporate ladder as a Software Engineer, and by night, you write romance. What does your typical writing day look like, and do you prefer writing in the morning or as a night owl?

Marina: Definitely a night owl! I can’t write during working hours; my job is mentally exhausting enough as it is. But I do write while I walk the dog, in the bathroom, while I wait in a queue, on weekends, and 80% of it happens in the evenings, when everyone’s asleep, and I have all the peace to focus.

3. The Bookish Life

When you sit down to read or write in the beautiful Canary Islands, what is your ideal reading day, and what is your go-to reading snack or beverage?

Marina: If it's the weekend, I love to read and write on the beach, with the salty breeze and the sound of the waves. I also do a lot of writing lying in my hammock. My usual drink is coffee, but if I want to treat myself, I have a "Barraquito," which is a typical coffee with cinnamon, condensed milk, lemon peel, and liqueur.

4. Current Reads

What book is currently on your nightstand, and what genres do you enjoy reading most when you’re not writing?

Marina: I have a couple of technical and management-related books on my nightstand that, honestly, I've been putting off for ages. My e-book TBR is long and filled with Omegaverse and romance in general. Right now I’m reading “Summoning Trouble” by Luisa Perez.

5. The Warning Label

If your writing process had a warning label based on how you balance engineering, gaming with your son, and writing, what would it say?

Marina: “Warning: chaos and sleepless nights ahead.”

6. The Soundtrack

Music can set the perfect mood for a book. If Beta or Knot had a theme song or a track on a soundtrack, what would it be?

Marina: Let the tears fall – Kelly Clarkson

7. The Animal Critic

We hear you have an attention-seeking dog! If your dog could read, how do you think they would react to you spending your free time typing away at your books instead of giving them belly rubs?

Marina: Oh, he gets belly rubs! And since I write a lot during our walks, sometimes we end up walking more than intended, so I think he would approve.

8. The Spark

What first inspired you to become a writer, and when did you realize you wanted to pursue publishing your stories seriously?

Marina: Being an author had always been a dream of mine, but then things happened, and somewhere between my engineering career and a divorce, life kind of crushed my creativity. I told my son once that I wanted to write a book someday, and when he asked me to make up a story for him, I couldn’t. So that was a turning point. I started doing writing exercises and reading a lot more fiction to rekindle that spark. It took me some years, but it seems to have worked.

9. Planner vs. Pantser

Because your day job involves engineering and logic, does that carry over into your writing? Are you a meticulous planner/plotter, or a write and discover type of author?

Marina: A bit of both. I start with a rough idea. I draw a few steps and cornerstones and then let my imagination run free and discover the story as it goes. I knew Lars’ story from day one! But what was supposed to be one book about a very indecisive Alpha and how two packs formed… somehow transformed into a five-book series. Don’t ask me how; it just happened.

10. The Challenge

Which part of the writing process do you enjoy the most, the cozy parts, the spice, or the tear-jerkers, and which part challenges you the most?

Marina: I enjoy all of it! I struggle a bit with the spice. Though it's getting easier as I go. Some of the tear-jerier parts just poured out of me and surprised me a little; I didn’t expect those to be so emotionally healing.

11. The Advice

What is the best writing advice you've ever received that you would pass along to aspiring authors?

Marina: I still think of myself as an aspiring author, so this question is funny. But I would say, find yourself a good dev editor. You have no idea how much I’ve learned from mine, Steph Rawlins. Also, just write. With all the mistakes, typos, plot holes, and weird phrasing, just get the idea out. You can have as many iterations as you need later.

12. The Corporate Setting

Pack or Knot and Beta or Knot both feature Paylance, bringing a corporate tech-style setting into the Omegaverse. Did your real-world experience as a software engineer inspire the setting or the mysterious security breach plotline in Book 1?

Marina: Yes, I’m lucky to love my job, but it is true that I have a lot of corporate shenanigans and anecdotes to get inspiration from.

13. In a Crisis

The Fredriksson pack deals with some intense dynamics. Out of all the characters you’ve created so far across Book 1 and Book 2, which of your characters would you trust most in a real-life crisis?

Marina: Lucía Oramas, definitely! Now, her character is heavily inspired by my own personality, work, and experiences… so I don’t know what that says about me. sigh. Jonas from Book 3 is a close contender.

14. Character Surprises

Did any of your characters like Lars, the new Omega, or the Beta in Book 2 completely surprise you and take the plot in a direction you didn’t originally plan?

Marina: John, from Book 2. I added this character because I needed someone to balance the pack’s dynamics, and it turned out to be perfect for the job. I wish men like him were the norm, honestly.

15. The Big Screen Dream

If the True or Knot series were adapted into a movie or TV series, what would you be most excited to see brought to life on screen?

Marina: Oh, Hannah’s and Lucía’s love. It's so cute and tender, and I loved writing them falling for each other.

16. The Takeaway

Beta or Knot comes out on July 29th! What emotions do you hope readers experience while reading this new installment, and what can readers look forward to next from you?

Marina: I wish more people knew that strength and vulnerability are not mutually exclusive. You can be strong and yet fall prey to manipulations and coercions. If a woman or really, anyone in this situation reads this and finds the courage to step out of a bad relationship… I’ll consider all this worthwhile.

I’ll keep bringing the multicultural aspect to the packs. I like thinking that in a society like the one in my books, we would all be more open to diversity of all kinds. I think the Omegaverse genre, in general, does a great job with this, and it's one of the things I liked about it. Other authors are doing a great job incorporating LGBTQ+ and BIPOC representation, but I was kind of missing a strong multicultural dynamic, which is why I added it so heavily in mine. But I’d love to add even more diversity going forward.

I’m already editing book 3, though I can’t give you the title yet; it’s scheduled to come out in November. And I’m one-third of the way through books 4 and 5. Hopefully, we’ll close this series in spring 2027.

17. The Dinner Guest

If you could have dinner with any author, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Marina: This is an impossible question! All right, I’ll bite. Ayn Rand. I know, I don't agree with all of her philosophy, but debating with her would be amazing.

18. The Time Machine

What is one book you wish you could experience again for the first time?

Marina: “Búscame donde nacen los dragos” by Emma Lira. Can’t explain it; I just loved that book.

19. Fictional Travel

If you could visit any fictional world for a day, where are you going?

Marina: Is it selfish to say… mine?

🛒 Support the Author: Shop the Series

Ready to jump into the corporate Omegaverse? Use the links below to secure your copies!

Pre-Order / Purchase Beta or Knot:

• Amazon

• Barnes & Noble

• BookVault

• Bookshop.org

Catch Up on Book 1 (Pack or Knot):

• Amazon

• Barnes & Noble

• Bookshop.org

Connect with Marina Online:

• Official Website

• Instagram

💭 Closing Note from Marina

"Just adding that my first language isn’t English; it’s Spanish. But that didn’t stop me from chasing this crazy dream. I worked really hard to rebuild that figurative “muscle” that's creativity, and even harder to improve my English to reach this point.

So people using gen-AI to “write” and “draw” because they lack the “natural talent” have no excuse. The learning curve, the journey, is a substantial part of calling yourself an Author. If you’re not putting in all the work, you’re just a prompter. Leaving aside the ethical and environmental implications, if that's what you want to be, all right, but be honest with your readers and, above all, with yourself about it."

Ever wondered what happens when you mix a demanding day job in tech with a passion for high-stakes, multicultural romance? Meet Marina Ramwell, the brilliant mind behind the True or Knot series. By day, she's navigating the corporate world as a Software Engineer; by night, she’s building a captivating, diverse Omegaverse.

Today, we are sharing a sneak peek of our exclusive interview with Marina. Dive into the first 8 questions below to learn about her writing process, her gorgeous Canary Islands workspace, and the chaotic "warning label" of her life!

1. The 3-Word Pitch

For readers discovering the True or Knot series for the very first time, how would you describe your books in three words?

Marina: Multicultural, intriguing, and spicy.

2. The Double Life

By day, you’re climbing the corporate ladder as a Software Engineer, and by night, you write romance. What does your typical writing day look like, and do you prefer writing in the morning or as a night owl?

Marina: Definitely a night owl! I can’t write during working hours; my job is mentally exhausting enough as it is. But I do write while I walk the dog, in the bathroom, while I wait in a queue, on weekends, and 80% of it happens in the evenings, when everyone’s asleep, and I have all the peace to focus.

3. The Bookish Life

When you sit down to read or write in the beautiful Canary Islands, what is your ideal reading day, and what is your go-to reading snack or beverage?

Marina: If it's the weekend, I love to read and write on the beach, with the salty breeze and the sound of the waves. I also do a lot of writing lying in my hammock. My usual drink is coffee, but if I want to treat myself, I have a "Barraquito," which is a typical coffee with cinnamon, condensed milk, lemon peel, and liqueur.

4. Current Reads

What book is currently on your nightstand, and what genres do you enjoy reading most when you’re not writing?

Marina: I have a couple of technical and management-related books on my nightstand that, honestly, I've been putting off for ages. My e-book TBR is long and filled with Omegaverse and romance in general. Right now I’m reading “Summoning Trouble” by Luisa Perez.

5. The Warning Label

If your writing process had a warning label based on how you balance engineering, gaming with your son, and writing, what would it say?

Marina: “Warning: chaos and sleepless nights ahead.”

6. The Soundtrack

Music can set the perfect mood for a book. If Beta or Knot had a theme song or a track on a soundtrack, what would it be?

Marina: Let the tears fall – Kelly Clarkson

7. The Animal Critic

We hear you have an attention-seeking dog! If your dog could read, how do you think they would react to you spending your free time typing away at your books instead of giving them belly rubs?

Marina: Oh, he gets belly rubs! And since I write a lot during our walks, sometimes we end up walking more than intended, so I think he would approve.

8. The Spark

What first inspired you to become a writer, and when did you realize you wanted to pursue publishing your stories seriously?

Marina: Being an author had always been a dream of mine, but then things happened, and somewhere between my engineering career and a divorce, life kind of crushed my creativity. I told my son once that I wanted to write a book someday, and when he asked me to make up a story for him, I couldn’t. So that was a turning point. I started doing writing exercises and reading a lot more fiction to rekindle that spark. It took me some years, but it seems to have worked.

🌟 Want More? Join First Editions for the Full Interview!

This is just the beginning! In the full interview, Marina dives deep into how her engineering job inspired her corporate tech-style Omegaverse setting, her thoughts on character surprises, a fierce defense of the creative journey, and a major sneak peek into the future of the True or Knot series including timeline updates for Books 3, 4, and 5!

Unlock the Full Interview: Join our First Editions Membership tier today to read the rest of Marina's answers, support our community, and get access to exclusive author content, early reveals, and more!

🛒 Grab Your Copies of the True or Knot Series

Don't miss out on Marina's captivating world. Grab her latest release, Beta or Knot (releasing July 29th!), or catch up on the book that started it all.

Pre-Order / Purchase Beta or Knot:

• Amazon

• Barnes & Noble

• BookVault

• Bookshop.org

Buy Book 1, Pack or Knot:

• Amazon

• Barnes & Noble

• Bookshop.org

Connect with Marina:

• Official Website

• Instagram

The Sunday Prescription

One reading topic, one week of plans, and plenty of books administered weekly for chronic readers.

Symptoms: We're all a bunch of liars!

Hi everyone, and welcome back to another Sunday Prescription. This week, I want to talk about some of the discussion going around the book world recently about creators and influencers being liars when it comes to the books they're reading. Most of this has come down to accusations that bookish content creators and influencers are not reading the books they are reviewing, and they're only reviewing books to chase clout when the book is popular/trending, or they have been paid or have been given free books and as such, just promote them blindly. Another one is that there is no way book influencers are really reading as many books as they claim they are. I definitely have some thoughts on this!

First, I am sure that there are people out there who do this kind of stuff, but I genuinely do not feel it is widespread. In terms of the accusations that influencers are paid for good reviews, companies and publishers do their research - when publishing companies have reached out to me asking if I want to try a book, it is typically because they have seen other book reviews I have done that are similar to that book, or that I liked and reviewed that author previously, and that's just research for sending out ARCs or copies of released books. When it comes to financial relationships, I would imagine they do their research even more. And most content creators do more positive than negative reviews because they don't want to trash authors, especially when they are high profile. So to me, it makes sense why you see so many positive reviews from people - the companies are finding the right books for the right people, and creators want to talk about books they love, not books they hate.

In terms of the volume accusations, I had someone recently make a similar comment on my YouTube page, saying I had clearly lied about how many books I read in the first half of the year. I think this stems from people not comprehending how someone could read that much when they maybe read a few books a year. In my case, I don't really watch much TV, and I make time to read every day. That adds up! I gain nothing from lying about how many books I've read.

And as far as whether or not people are reviewing books they have read, I have no idea how you can tell this. We all read for different reasons and at different levels, and we all have different retention abilities. Additionally, with AI and the internet, if you really wanted to fake it you could make as detailed a video as you want pretty easily without reading a book, so I just don't know how anyone can really tell.

So, all that said, here's my approach and what you all can expect from me in terms of my policies when it comes to bookish honesty. First, if I feel a creator is not genuine or just doing it for the content, I just don't watch, don't follow, and don't engage. Pretty simple. In terms of my own personal policies:

• I will never review a book without reading it. If I DNF a book, I make that clear. I also do not personally recommend books without reading them, and when someone asks me about a book I haven't read, I tell them that.

• If you watch my monthly reading wrap ups, you will notice I'm very transparent about what I have read and in what format (e book, physical, or audio). I do not and have never had numeric reading goals, and I stand to gain nothing from beefing up numbers, so what you see is what you get. And, that number is subject to change from month to month or year to year.

• I always tell authors that if they send me a book I will do an honest review. Now I won't make a video to trash an author or book I don't like (especially an indie book), but I will always write honest StoryGraph and Goodreads reviews. I have had authors withdraw their request to send me a book when they hear that!

• When I do reviews, video or written, I will always say whether that book was given to me for free or not, and who gave it to me. I think that's important for the viewing public to know so they can take any review with a grain of salt, because there can be subconscious bias there.

• Lastly, I have not entered into any financial agreements with companies in terms of direct reimbursement, but if I do down the road, I would always let you all know (in fact, legally I have to!).

So what's your take - do you think lying about books is rampant on social media amongst big influencers, or do you think this is another accusation without much basis?

The Rx: What I'm Reading and Doing

This has been a fun week of reading and hobbies. First, reading has been great. After I finish writing this newsletter I'm going to be finishing up Valour by John Gwynne, and I finished up Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff last night. These have both been great fun! I am going to finish out the month with Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice, and possibly finish up my reread of the Silmarillion.

With August on the horizon, there is some great stuff coming! For our main book club on Bindery and Discord, we'll be reading the Jasad heir, and for my new Fable Book Club, Dr. Bob's Literary Apothecary, we'll be reading The Wolf and His King by Finn Longman. Our monthly reading challenge is to "read an indie published book." You can read and be eligible to win a $25 bookshop.org gift card by participating in the StoryGraph Challenge page, or on our Discord server. I'm going to be reading The Butcher of Nazareth by David Scott Hay for this. And lastly, my paid member's picked King Sorrow by Joe Hill for the monthly pick a book. If you want to read along or hear my blow by blow thoughts, join up as a Dark Traveler!

In terms of hobbies, as you can see above, I'm working my way through the Minas Tirith Lego set that my lovely wife surprised me with for Father's Day. It's a beast, but I'm having so much fun! This is one of my favorite things to do while listening to an audiobook. The weather is nice, and I'm hoping to be able to get out and do some mountain biking as well here over the next few weeks.

And in terms of content, I took the weekend off of YouTube this week, and am working on batch recording some stuff for August since August is always a busy month. If you make book content or are thinking about it, I highly recommend batch recording - when you have your stuff all set up, recording a bunch of stuff at once and then editing later makes this much easier for me than trying to record a little every day!

Hope you all have a great week of reading and life, and I'll see you next week!

Want More In-Depth Access?

If you enjoy getting into the details with me about reading, then consider upgrading to The Dark Travelers tier! My Dark Travelers get an exclusive Discord role and channels, a weekly deep dive reading update video, early access to YouTube videos, and each month they get to pick a book for me to read. This can be a book they want to read with me, or something they want me to try for them. It's super fun and a great tight knit group that I really enjoy talking books with, and I'd love to have you part of it!

As you know, I was informed my cat needs to have two teeth removed and the high estimate is $3300 (SF prices).

I just dropped all my Pango books to 50 % off orders of $20 or more. I’ve got maybe 60 books left.

If they don’t sell by Tuesday morning, they will be at my free little library!

https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/jackofallnays

Check them out! Every little bit helps!

I’ve added some books to this post, so you can also click through to bookshop- if you’re doing any shopping this weekend. If you buy any book after clicking my link (even if I didn’t include it) I get a small percentage!

Hey Rebels! On Tuesday I'm interviewing one of my favorite authors, Alicia Thompson, about her magical new Ireland romance In Every Possible Way. What are you dying to know about her career and her craft?

Submit your questions in the comments by Tuesday morning and I might ask her during the next episode of Rebel Ever After.

You can find all of Alicia's books in the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore here. Never Been Shipped is my current favorite, but With Love, From Cold World is a bisexual classic.

the best book mail today from Penguin Random House ⋆˚꩜｡

I'm so into the history of punk, DIY, and zines, and James Spooner (founder of AFROPUNK) has a new memoir that combines comics and all sorts of fascinating punk ephemera documenting his rise from punk to founder to walking away from it all. This has been on my new release radar for a minute, so I'm very honored to have been gifted a copy from Penguin.

IT STARTS WITH ANGER is available everywhere on August 4th and you can preorder it right now <3

Things are heating up! And that includes crime—here are my reads of the week, plus lots of excellent book mail.

This week’s reads:

• Wisdom Corner by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (finished): Virgil Wounded Horse is trying to escape his vigilante past on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. This was an enjoyable action-packed thriller with strong cultural themes and a flawed but compassionate protagonist. It moves along pretty quickly and works well as standalone.

• The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (finished): A disturbing yet captivating read. Highsmith taps into not just the psyche of a sociopath, but the incessant trust of everyone in his circle—showing us just how trusting we can be, especially when nudged in the direction of what we want to believe is the truth. Timeless. This is the Read Herring Book Club’s July pick.

• You’ll Be Sorry by Lisa Gardner (currently reading): A creepy, decades-old unsolved crime in rural New Hampshire. I am loving the multi-POV and eerie vibes of this so far.

• We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman (currently reading): I couldn’t resist starting this one. I always know I’m going to laugh with Osman. Rosie remains a favorite, but I’m starting to really love Felicity as well.

This week’s book mail:

• Tell Me Something True by Michael Robotham (out January 5): Small-town Australian suspense for which I have read nothing but rave reviews.

• Vice and Virtue by Libby Klein (out now): A special box to celebrate a rock-themed cozy mystery! This looks so, so cute and hilarious.

• Murder in the Crooked House by Soji Shimada (out now): After loving The Tokyo Zodiac Murders, I was stoked to receive its sequel.

• Sex on Murder Island by Jo Firestone (out now): Another sequel score!! I freaking loved Luella van Horn and Murder on Sex Island and I hope this one makes me laugh just as hard.

• The Wedding Week by Aisha Saeed (out now): Long-buried secrets resurface when a woman returns home for her sister’s lavish resort wedding in the Everglades.

• Liberty Street by Heather Marshall (out now): One journalist’s harrowing journey into an infamous real-life 1960s women’s prison—and the detective who uncovers her story decades later.

• Nine Lives by Catherine Steadman (out now): When she begins to peer into the lives of her glamorous neighbors, one woman discovers a terrifying secret in this riveting psychological thriller with nine lives worth of twists. (Previously, I enjoyed the author’s The Family Game.)

• Perfect Life by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores (out now): Following a shocking murder, a woman must face the husband she thought she knew in this twisty, sizzling novel from the bestselling authors of Happy Wife.

• The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (out now): A 1940s noir novel about a handsome con man and the two women who get in his way.

Thank you to Atlantic Crime, Libby Klein, Pushkin Vertigo, and Bantam Books for these gifted books.

Yours mysteriously,

Manon

I want to talk about a complicated issue without people assuming I mean the worst version of what I'm actually trying to say.

I've talked about this on TikTok before, but I'm revisiting it because I don't think I articulated my thoughts clearly.

And I want to be clear: I'm speaking specifically about being Black in the Black BookTok space, not about white readers or their experiences.

I've seen comments on Black BookTokkers' accounts where people say they will unfollow creators who they feel aren't reading or recommending enough Black books. (And that's fair; people are allowed to follow creators who align with their values.)

I've even had someone comment on one of my own videos asking, "What's the point of being on Black BookTok if you aren't making videos on Black authors?"

But I've also seen posts like, "Me when I see a Black BookTokker who only reads Kennedy Ryan," or people saying they check a Black BookTokker's shelves to make sure they have Black authors.

And I saw one black book content creator say that black booktokkers are mean.

And it made me sit with a bigger question:

How do we advocate for better representation without turning advocacy into a purity test that pushes people away?

Because I want to be clear: reading diversely matters.

Black authors continue to face systemic barriers within publishing that impact visibility, marketing, and opportunities. When someone has a platform, especially within the Black community, I do think there is power in using that platform to uplift Black voices and share these stories.

But I also think we have to acknowledge that online, we only see a small piece of someone's life.

We don't know their full lived experiences, what books they read privately, or what stories have impacted them outside of what they post.

And sometimes I worry that we've lost some of that nuance. That we can reduce an entire person down to whether or not we see them reading or recommending certain books.

At what point does encouragement become a test? Who decides when someone has read "enough" Black books to be considered someone who belongs?

Because sometimes it feels like the conversation shifts from "let's encourage people to read diversely" to "are you reading enough of the right books to prove you belong?"

And as someone who does read a lot of Black romance, I find myself conflicted.

Because why do we keep creating these tests where if someone doesn't pass, they're pushed out?

I understand the frustration. I understand the exhaustion of constantly having to explain why representation matters.

But I also wonder if shame is the best way to create change.

There are systemic reasons these books aren't always placed directly in front of readers. Sometimes finding new authors and stories requires intentional effort, and that work is valuable. But it can also be unfamiliar, especially when mainstream publishing has historically done a lot of the organizing and recommending for readers.

So how do we create a space where people are encouraged to learn instead of afraid to participate?

Because at the end of the day, I think we'd all benefit from focusing less on proving who is doing it "right" and more on continuing to uplift amazing authors and stories.

I'm curious, what do you think?