XJZ's newest book, Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor is being released today! I have it on order, so it should be here sooner or later. (My Iron Widow book got delayed for like... ever ORZ) So in honor of XJZ, we're going to do a small blurb on their first novel, Iron Widow.

"Stop killing girls" is the raw theme of Iron Widow, using feminism as a bludgeoning weapon in a tale of brutality. Murder, hatred, and revenge are all on the docket as the main character Wu Zeitan carves as path through the patriarchy. This Kaiju fighting-beat-'em up has all the wanton drama you would expect of YA with an exceptionally unsympathetic protagonist. I really adored Iron Widow when I first read it. However, I was really unsure where to place it on a statistical scale. I'm still on the fence, hovering between 4.5 out of 5, to straight 5 stars some days. There are just... some things that really bother me with this book, and I'm hoping if they get resolved in the later books I can have a more positive outlook on this one. Look forward to Zachary Ying sometime soon!

"A brave and original debut, Weyward is a spellbinding story about what may transpire when the natural world collides with a legacy of witchcraft." --Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary

I am a Weyward, and wild inside. 📚 BookDepository

“Rip currents were narrow and fast moving, breaking through sandbars as they pulled whatever they could from shore to sea.” — lake effect, @nicoletommasulo #bookstagram #booksandcats #catsandbooks #bookworm #writer #writingcommunity #bookish #amreading #darkacademia #darkacademiaaesthetic #cozy #fallreads #fallbooks #bookblogger #bookphotography #metoo #feministfiction #bookgram #bookblog #bookreviews #bookquote #buffalo #buffalove #716 #bostonwriters #booktok #bookreview https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj3LpBNLxSR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I'm delighted to welcome Katharine Quarmby and her new book, The Low Road, to the blog #WomensFiction #FeministFiction #HistoricalFiction #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour

I'm delighted to welcome Katharine Quarmby and her new book, The Low Road, to the blog #WomensFiction #FeministFiction #HistoricalFiction #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour @katharineq @cathiedunn @katharineq_ @thecoffeepotbookclub @cathiedunn.bsky.social

I’m delighted to welcome Katharine Quarmby and her new book, The Low Road, to the blog, with searching for The Low Road in Historical Sources. Searching for The Low Road in Historical Sources Katharine Quarmby The search for the story that became The Low Road started around seven years ago now, when I came across a description of one local area in my Norfolk, England, hometown. It mentioned in…

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Book Review The Low Road Katharine Quarmby #WomensFiction #FeministFiction #HistoricalFiction #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour @katharineq_ @thecoffeepotbookclub

FEATURED AUTHOR: KATHARINE QUARMBY It is my pleasure to introduce Katharine Quarmby as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour that is being held between January 16th — February 6th, 2024. Katharine Quarmby is the author of the Historical Fiction / Lesbian Fiction / Women’s Literature novel, The Low Road, released by Unbound Publishing on 22nd June 2023 in the UK, on September 2023 in the US, and on 2nd January 2024 in Australia/NZ (400 pages). Below are highlights of The Low Road, Katharine Quarmby's author bio, and my review of her poignant 19th-century novel. Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/12/blog-tour-the-low-road-by-katharine-quarmby.html HIGHLIGHTS: THE LOW ROAD   The Low Road By Katharine Quarmby Blurb: In 1828, two young women were torn apart as they were sentenced to transportation to Botany Bay. Will they ever meet again? Norfolk, 1813. In the quiet Waveney Valley, the body of a woman – Mary Tyrell – is staked through the heart after her death by suicide. She had been under arrest for the suspected murder of her newborn child. Mary leaves behind a young daughter, Hannah, who is later sent away to the Refuge for the Destitute in London, where she will be trained for a life of domestic service. It is at the Refuge that Hannah meets Annie Simpkins, a fellow resident, and together they forge a friendship that deepens into passionate love. But the strength of this bond is put to the test when the girls are caught stealing from the Refuge's laundry, and they are sentenced to transportation to Botany Bay, setting them on separate paths that may never cross again. Drawing on real events, The Low Road is a gripping, atmospheric tale that brings to life the forgotten voices of the past – convicts, servants, the rural poor – as well as a moving evocation of love that blossomed in the face of prejudice and ill fortune. Buy Links: Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mg5RAD Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-low-road-katharine-quarmby/7418138?ean=9781800182394 AUTHOR BIO: KATHARINE QUARMBY   Katharine Quarmby has written non-fiction, short stories and books for children and her debut novel, The Low Road, was published by Unbound in 2023. Her non-fiction works include Scapegoat: Why We Are Failing Disabled People (Portobello Books, 2011) and No Place to Call Home: Inside the Real Lives of Gypsies and Travellers (Oneworld, 2013). She has also written picture books and shorter e-books. She is an investigative journalist and editor, with particular interests in disability, the environment, race and ethnicity, and the care system. Her reporting has appeared in outlets including the Guardian, The Economist, The Atlantic, The Times of London, the Telegraph, New Statesman and The Spectator. Katharine lives in London. Katharine also works as an editor for investigative journalism outlets, including Investigative Reporting Denmark and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Author Links: Website: https://www.katharinequarmby.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatharineQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katharinequarmbywriter/ LinkedIn: Katharine Quarmby - Writer, Journalist, Editor - Self-employed | LinkedIn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katharinequarmby_/ Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Katharine-Quarmby/author/B004GH8LS6 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2082356.Katharine_Quarmby BOOK REVIEW: THE LOW ROAD     The debut historical fiction novel, The Low Road by Katharine Quarmby, is a tragic tale about female prisoners banished from Britain to Australia in the 19th century. Based on real-life events, the story takes place in the Victorian era when women were judged by rigid moral codes and suffered social injustice. At the beginning of the story, Hannah Tyrell reflects on how her fate was cast at the moment her out-of-wedlock mother—Mary Tyrell—gave birth to her. She recalls how they were taken in by a kind couple in exchange for work on their farm. Fate throws Hanna's mother a cruel twist when she is raped and impregnated. She keeps her pregnancy a secret until her baby dies shortly after birth. Arrested for murder, she is jailed and commits suicide. Hannah is forced to witness the gruesome act of her mother's body being staked through the heart for her unpardonable sin before being buried. Later, Hannah is sent away to the Refuge for the Destitute in London, where she is trained in domestic service. She meets and falls deeply in love with a fellow resident, Annie Simpkins. Their strong bond and friendship are tested after they are caught stealing from the Refuge's laundry and are imprisoned in filthy prisons where they wait for their sentences. Eventually, they are separately banished to Botany Bay where they may not see each other again. Author Katharine Quarmby has written a compelling story told from the first-person perspective of Hannah Tyrell. The lyrical stream-of-consciousness narrative delves into her inner thoughts and emotions from childhood to adulthood. The tale is gripping and engaging as we learn about the injustices that Hannah and her mother must endure. The aspect I liked best about the book is Hannah's relationships with other females: her mom, her friends at the Refuge, and other various side characters. Mary Tyrell comes across as a strong and tragic heroine—a protective mother who has a profound impact on her daughter Hannah. The spiritual bond between mother and daughter permeates throughout the story. The story reflects the author’s impeccable research and passion for the subject. At mid-point, the story promises to be an epic tale of Hannah's fight to overcome her struggles. However, the relationship between Hannah and Annie did not resonate with me, and the story veered in a different direction than I anticipated when Hannah arrived in Australia. Still, it is an evocative, gripping tale of cruelty juxtaposed with courage and kindness that an orphaned girl experiences, struggling to survive poverty and seek love on the other side of the world. I recommend The Low Road to historical fiction readers interested in the realistic depiction of female convicts transported from Britain and Ireland to Australia where they help build a young colony in a harsh land.     Instagram Handle: @thecoffeepotbookclub Bluesky Handle: @cathiedunn.bsky.social Read the full article

MAGGIE MOVES ON by Lucy Score

New #bookreview: MAGGIE MOVES ON by Lucy Score, a super fun romance sure to appeal to #HGTV fans! #LucyScore @readforeverpub #romance #romcom #feministfiction #mustread

CLICK TO PURCHASE From the publisher: Can these opposites turn up the heat… without burning down the house? House-flipping sensation and YouTube star Maggie Nichols can’t wait to dig into her next challenge. Arriving in tiny Kinship, Idaho, with only a cot and a coffeemaker, Maggie is prepared to restore a crumbling Victorian mansion in four months or less. She has her to-do lists, her…

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The Daylight Gate

by Jeanette Winterson🕸️🧹

That's how I love my books on witches. Dark, creepy and with sapphic romance.

I devoured this book and can't wait to read more books on witches.

Thank you my sweet friend for this beautiful read @gingerfoxtales

"Stand on the flat top of Pendle Hill and you can see everything of the country of Lancashire, and some say you can see other things too. This is a haunted place. The living and the dead come together on the hill.

You cannot walk here and feel you are alone.

Those who are born here and branded by Pendle. They same a common mark. There is a still a tradition, or a superstition, that a girl-child born in Pendle Forest should be twice baptized; once in church and once in a black pool at the foot of the hill. The hill will know her then. She will be its trophy and its sacrifice. She must make her peace with her birthright, whatever that means"

🏷️ #jeanettewinterson #thedaylightgate #historicalfiction #bookstagram #winterreads #bookphotography #bookquotes #witchyreads #witchyvibes #witchbooks #booklover #feministfiction #feministbooks #gothicaesthetic #bookworm #bookreview #booksofinstagram #bookaholic #darkacademia #darkacademiavibes

Since I stepped back from the Reylo fandom and removed my fics (RIP Broken Things), I’ve been working on original fiction. I’ve been terrible about coming back to tumblr and checking in despite all my lovely readers and friends asking about my original work and what I’ve been up to, so I’m here with an update post of sorts. FORGIVE ME. First, I’ve been writing for Lemon and Lime, a feminist publication with monthly issues of short stories and art. It has been absolutely amazing to put my original stories out there and work with such an amazing team of ladies. 

Here’s the link if you want to check it out: https://lemonlimefic.com/

I’m Camilla there and it has links to my twitter and instagram, so come say hello! I’m on those platforms way more often than tumblr

Here’s a link specifically to my profile if you’d like to check out what I’ve been writing: https://lemonlimefic.com/creators/camilla/ I’ve had a few different short stories published and it’s been the most amazing feeling. I wouldn’t have gotten that far without the support and encouragement of my Reylo family so I’m sending all of my thanks and love to you

And for my latest and EXCITING news... I’m running a discord community for Lemon and Lime. It’s for all writers, artists, and readers to come and connect with other creators and have access to our chats, resources, events, sprints, etc.  I’ve been running the Reylo Writing Den discord for... several years now, and it’s been an amazing experience that introduced me to so many great friends and kept me on track with my writing. I couldn’t be more excited to broaden that now to run a community with writers, artists, and readers of all kinds.  Here’s a peek at the discord:

If you’re a writer, reader, or artist of any kind and you’re looking for a community to join, friends to make, people to connect with, ways to keep on track with your writing or art, fun events to share your work, self promotion opportunities, or anything related, check out the discord! 

It’s run through Lemon and Lime so you can read more about it and how to join on their Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lemonlimefic ANYWAY... my final thing, which happens to be Reylo related, is an apology for not getting back to my full inbox of people asking for my stories that I took down. I logged in today to share this news about the new discord and felt terrible to see all of the messages I missed about that. If you missed downloading any of my Reylo stories and wanted them (Broken Things, Written on the Heart, Silver and Shade, etc), feel free to message me now. I pinky promise I’ll be logging into tumblr a bit more and checking my inbox And again, biggest THANK YOU to everyone for all the encouragement and support you gave me while I was in the fandom. I don’t know that I ever would have made the jump into original fiction without it. Please reach out and say hi and I hope to reconnect (or connect for the first time, new friends are the best) in the new Lemon and Lime discord community! 

"Lake Effect is a timely, tense meditation on misplaced guilt after trauma in the #metoo era. Tone's prose conveys the intoxicating and lethal dynamics of creation, and control." - @genevieveslycranewriter, author of Sorority 📖 #bookstagram #bookworm #bookish #bookreview #booklover #mondaymakeover #metoo #amreading #currentlyreading #bookclub #feministfiction #writingcommunity #smallpress #buffalove #buffalo #716 https://www.instagram.com/p/B_fKGVTAPAr/?igshid=1ssl2nfc4rv6s

It's been a few years since I first read the Bell Jar, but one scene has always stayed with me. Esther, suffocated and disconnected, goes to the beach with her friends and a boy suggested (she speculates) by her mother. She makes a silent and unannounced attempt to drown herself, but fails due to her body's innate sense of self preservation. I imagine to her in that moment the water felt like a portal to another world where the pain didnt exist. The whole scene feels like a foreshadowing to the famous quote that appears at the end of the novel "... I am, i am, i am." ☄🌊🌠 I haven't had a lot of time for personal work in the last two weeks so I had lots of pent up creative energy to let loose on this project which i started and finished today. 🦄 // Wacom tablet and Adobe Illustrator ♤ ♤ ♤ ♤ ♤ #illustration #drawing #drawingoftheday #bookfanart #adobeillustrator #digitalart #vectorillustration #vectorart #femaleartists #femaleillustrators #femalewriters #sylviaplath #thebelljar #feministfiction #depression #anxiety #literature #literature #wacomtablet #mentalhealth #darkcomics #pointillism #etching #lowbrow #lowbrowart #comicart #capetownartist #southafrica #capetown #southafricanartist https://www.instagram.com/p/BucOvorhNRx/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=i8xofzsud7iw

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner! I read this one in the summer sometime. I thought it was a pretty good book, and I did enjoy it. However I would only rate it 3/5 stars because there were several issues I had with it. Still a Pretty Solid Feminist Work though!

Is anyone else watching @mrsam_fxonhulu this weekend? Or feel like they’re in the beginning of a dystopian feminist novel like #handmaidstale or #the water cure? Times are weird. #weekendvibes #sundaythoughts #bookstagram #bookworm #feministfiction #feminism #mrsamerica #amreading https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Kuy9NHlUe/?igshid=1qbgq71cieafu

Louisiana Uproar - Chapter 27

Summary: Jason takes in Anna, an escaped member of the Ensanglante Cult; Dottie travels to Empire Bay and meets an old friend of Vito Scaletta’s.

I met with Travis at the Frazier offices.

“You here because of the rumor that I want out?” “Do you?” “What’s the right answer?” He makes a drink. “Don’t worry, I told him you wanted out, too.” “Who?” “Maguire. Dude from the state department.” He seems to so impressed with himself. “We could put these guys out, Dot.” “No.” The anger boils inside of me. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” “Dottie. You’re gonna be worth more than them. Cut it before the boardwalk.” “That’s fine, the man is an investigator. I came to you for a reason. I knew your name.” I pause. “You want to get us killed?” I need to put fear in him. “I want to save us.”

“I assure you---this isn’t the way.” I pause. “Tell you what? I appreciate what you were trying to do. Keep your head down and I’ll consider how to keep us alive.” “That guy is a resource.” “I don’t need him, yet.” I sigh, before leaving.

When I get home, Nicki is watching the television. We haven’t been the same since my drunken conversation with John. She doesn’t look to the door when I get in. The phone rings and I grab it, because I am closer. “Burke-Jetson.” “Dot, I’d like to see you at my place.” “Sure, what’s up?” “I’ll be here.” Jason hangs up. I guess that means now. I grab my keys and leave again.

“Jason.” I greet when he lets me inside. “Shhh. She’s asleep.” “Who?”  Jason points to the petite woman, she’s sleeping on his couch. “Her name is Anna.” “Oh, Anna.” I pretend like I have an idea who she is. “Ray and I heard of a place.” He says, “we went over there, today, and she came bursting out. A few men were after her.” “The men?” “Ray and I dealt with ‘em. Freakish looking.” He says, “she’s pretty gone in the head.” He hands me the horrific photos. Pictures of dead people, carved up, it looks ritualistic.

“What do we do with her?”

“She has some information that I need.” He says, “but she can’t stay here.” “So you want me to find a place for her?” “That I can access.’ “Okay.” I take some time to think. “I’ll be back.”

Today is turning longer than I planned.

“Good evening, father, is this a bad time?” “Dorothy. Come in.” “I won’t be long.” I step in. “I came to ask you for a favor.” “What’s going on?” “We found a girl running from a cult. It was a bad situation and she’s damaged.” “So, you need her out of the city?” “Hidden.” I say, “these people don’t seem right. Neither is she, I hear.” “I have...a parishioner who is out of town. Her apartment is safe. In Tickfaw.”

“I’ll call my guy.”

By midnight, we have Anna moved to that apartment. I haven’t had much to say to her, but I want to find out what she knows.

It turns out that Father knows a bit about the Ensanglante. Sammy and a few others had battled them, in the past.

“Anna.” I saw while the two men talk. “B-Bonnie?” “No, I’m Dottie. Nice to meet you.” I nod. The men join us. “You remember Jason. This here’s father.” I gesture to them. “Anna.” Jason sits. “You know anything about this?” He gives her a painted playing card.

She tells us her story. At times, she seems perfectly coherent. I can’t help but look at the splashes of blood on her clothes. Poor girl, it sounds terrible what she went though. “And the tears and...the bl-blood. He was choking. Th-th-the...sadness.” “Anna.” Jason says, “People like this have a process for indoctrination. Where else did Bonnie take you?” She looks out of breath. “..A night club...Uh...Nuit Blanche. That’s where they bring people to the family.” “Familiar to you?” “They took that bar.” Jason says, “hippie club.” “And that playing card...it’s the only way they’ll let you in.” “Got you.” He gets up. “You did good here, Anna.” I assure her. “Be careful, Jason.” He nods to me. “I did...good. I-I...good.” She repeats. She looks like she’s gonna lie back down. She’s saying something to herself. “Be careful of the fallen sky!” Whoa. I can’t gather the rest of what she repeats, I don’t understand. She plops down to rest.

---

Is anything in my life stable, at this point?  The company is about it.

“Dottie.” Stacy says. “Stacy.” I greet. “Mr. Saggio is here to see you.” Great. After my last conversation with Larry and Pierre, I don’t want to be seen with him. “Send him in.” “Hi there.” “Hello.” I put my files down. “Danna is not happy.” “Yeah, I’d imagine not.” “Don’t worry, kid.” He shrugs. “With all of us. He’s upset with you about the committee, me about this Ensanglante business. Shit, Morty is the only person he hasn’t shut out.”

Well, that’s not how you do business. “He wants us to announce everything to the team---today.” “Today?” “Today.” He starts a cigarette. Danna is having a hissy fit. “Watch your ass after this, kid.” He says, “you’d think you’re exempt from being put down.” “You thought you were exempt.” “I didn’t.” He adds. “Kid, I’ve been in this business a lot of years. No one is exempt.” He pushes out a breath and offers me a cigarette. What the hell? I shrug and he lights. “You met our friend, Anna?” “I did.” “How is she?” “Resting when I left her.” I say, “She isn’t right.” “No.” Ray slightly shakes it off. “Those people...are beating me, DOt.”

“We’ll  get them.” “They might be my Lincoln Clay. A fucking cult.” He says, “and that guy, Jason? I knew you were holding out on me.” “Is it holding out if he’s working with you?” I turn to him. “Ray, I gotta prepare for today.” “Pity parties don’t last for you, huh?” He stands and finishes his drink.

It’s hard to describe the looks on their faces when I made the announcement. I try to give a good opener, drop the bombshell, tell them what I know, and end with a supportive finish. This is a rough time for the team, and it’s only gotten worse.

“Nicki.” I catch up to her as she’s headed to her car. “Hey.” She pauses. Despite her being upset with me, I can see her empathy.

“I tried.” “I know you did.” She touches my cheeks. “You did the best you could.” “Thank you.” We share a quick kiss. “I’ll see you at home.” I say, seeing Morty run up. “Dot, hey, the Don wants to see you.” Oh, great. Nicki and I exchange one more look before I leave.

“Good work out there.”

“Seriously?” “You did the best you could.” “So what’s going on?” Morty starts a cigarette.

“It’s a shit show-”

The Don spots me. “Don Danna.” “Dot.” He nods to me. Morty leaves. “Dot, someone with the commission has been tipped off about the committee forming. They want answers.” “Great.” “You had it under control back there. We all had good things to say about you, the last time you went to meet with the Commission. Work your charm and get them off our backs.”

“Understood. Yes, sir.”

---

I flew out with Danna to Empire Bay. This place is always associated with death to me. I think about Vito, when I came here to meet Ray and Danna. I feel like I’m potentially walking into an ambush. I look over at the Don, we’re sitting in first class. I don’t trust him, I don’t even think he should be the Don. He’s just throwing me under the bus.

The first night, we were invited to a very nice restaurant. I’m nervous and I’m expecting a gunshot to the back of my head. I have to remind myself to keep a plastic smile. It’s like all the etiquette that my father taught me is working.

Ninety minutes in and I’m hating all of this. These men have come together to suck their own dicks. The compliments flow like water. It looks like one big reunion for the Don. My only escape is the bar or bathroom.

“Who is this young lady?” A heavy set man, slightly older than me, says.

“This is one of my associates, Dottie.” We shake hands. “Dottie, this is Randy Barbozo.” “Pleased to meet you.” “The pleasure is mine.” “Randy used to run around with me, a few years back.” More dick sucking.

As the night progresses, Randy is still making eyes at me. I’m bored and I’m game for something different.

“You stick out like a sore thumb, you know that?” “I’ve noticed.” “It’s nearly ten. You can leave now.” He attempts to dismiss me. My head snaps to him. “A-alls I’m saying is I have a better place to take you.”

“I’m fine.” Now, he wants to save me. “Hey, I’m bored too. Why not change pace?” I look around at the white men in the room. “I’ll bring my car around.” He raises his eyebrow once or twice.

I don’t want to stay in the love fest, but going with Randy is how women get murdered. I slip outside to call a taxi. He’s outside.

“Hey!” He honks, noting my embarrassment, he laughs.  What the hell? I’m a made guy. A made guy who is probably gonna die on this trip, either way.  I get in his car and check his backseat. “Hey, it’s all good.” He shrugs. “We might even make it.” “Where are we going?”

He took me to a boxing match. The seats are pretty good. There is a man yelling at the fighters. He gives a head nod to us both. Nice crowd.

“That’s my friend, Joe. He’s friends with the guy who runs this joint.” He gestures. We take a seat, at the front, with Joe.

What time is it? I’m actually having a good time, already. His friend, Joe, gestures for me to switch seats with Randy, so he does. Now, I’m sitting next to Joe. We pop up and stand as one fighter staggers before getting knocked out. Everyone is so excited. It’s deafening in here!

“Nice to meet you.” Joe puts out a hand for me to shake. “I’m Joe Barbaro.”

My legs nearly give out from under me. I bring both my hands to hold his. “I-” Fix your face, Dot.

“Have we met?” Joe notices my reaction. I get on my the tips of toes to say, in his ear:

“Only in my dreams.” “Oh?” He takes my hand and kisses it.

The night progressed and I’m glad I’m here. Joe is a cool cat. Towards the end of the night, he dismissed Randy. “I’ll get you a ride out of here.” “Sure.” He’s such a gentleman.

We walked through the crowd and take an elevator downstairs.

“So, where ya headed after this?” “I’m headed to the Empire Arms.” “Oh. Big meeting after this?” “You bet.” I don’t want to talk about that right now.

“What do ya do? Randy said Don Danna brought you to an event.” “He did. I handle his affairs.” The door opens and he gestures for me to leave first. He gestures at something. “Car’s coming.” He tells me. “Listen, if you’ll be here tomorrow night. I could take you on a nice night.” “I could use more fun like tonight.” I nod. “Sure.” “I’ll find you at the Empire Arms.” “Or with Danna.” A black vehicle pulls up and Joe gets the door. “Thanks for this, Joe.” “Thanks for showing up.” I take a step closer. “I would have loved to see what Joe Barbaro and Vito Scaletta were like as kids.” “What?” “I named a restaurant after Vito. Scaletta’s Ristorante.” Joe doesn’t know what to say. I simply get in the car.

“Ray speaking.”

“Ray, it’s Dot. I need a favor.” “It’s late.” “In the morning. Call Joe Barbaro and vouch for me.” “Vouch what?” “That I know Vito.” There’s a pause. “You got it. Now, how’s it going out there?”

---

The next morning, I have meetings with commission regarding the hearing. Just like my first meeting with Ray, Danna, and Mr. Galante; it’s a lot of talk. I just had to make these men trust that I know what I’m doing. It’s not easy, considering I’m the only black person in the room.

After the meeting, I stood at the bar of Empire Arms hotel. He knows that I want him. He just has to get here. “You uuhhh come here, often?” “Just one more night.” I flash him a bright smile. “Let’s make it count.” He extends his arm for me to hook.

We start off at a diner.

“Ray tells me that you and Vito were friends.” “He thought you died.” “Hey, me too. I thought Galante took care of Vito in that very car.” “Hmm.” I paused. “I loved Vito.”

We spend time relating to each other over food. They seem so different, yet similar. Joe is forty-seven. He’s married with two daughters in high school. They happen to be out of town. Like Vito, he’s done prison time.

I hear him chuckle when he returns from the bathroom.

“What?” I follow his smile. “So, old Vito mentored you?” “Among other things.” “I must say that I’m impressed.” he says, “You talk about me and Vito. You and...Clay must have been something.” “We’re far from you and Vito. Why do you think so?” “Unique looking.” Because we’re black? “That guy was a monster. I have to give him a double take.” “What does that say about me?” I ask, teasingly. “Hey, kid, something is different about you. Maybe it’s because you don’t look like you belong here.” We make eye contact and he winks. I try to hide my smile.

“Do you miss him?” “Sure, you can’t have a friend like that and not miss him.” He pauses. “You got any friends like that, kid?”

I pause to think. Maybe Nicki? Or Betty? Betty, more so than Nicki. I look at Joe and I guess my answer is telling. The waiter comes with two drinks in small glasses.

“You serve alcohol at diners?” “Only for special guests.”

“Cheers.” We both take a drink. He’s still looking at me. “I miss him.”

“Yeah.” “I get this sinking feeling that if he were alive. He’d be doing my job.” “I wouldn’t say that too loud, kid. On account of people might think things.” “I didn’t kill him.” I shrug. “I’ll have you know, I killed people because I thought they killed him.” I think I’ve had enough of this conversation.

“Hey, kid, I got some old pics of Vito back at my place. We could---” This sounds interesting. I lean forward and he nearly stops speaking. “I think you’re very interesting, Joe.” I say, “So I want to be honest with you.” Joe says nothing. “Tonight...when we go back to your place and...you know. Could I call you his name?” “Oh.” He thinks. “Vito?” “Please. I’m going to do it, either way. I just want to show you...respect.” “That’s a hell of an ask, kid.” He pauses. “Let me think on it. Let’s go someplace darker.”

Joe took me for a drive around Empire Bay. He showed me some historical spots. It’s nice. Maybe this is just how Vito was. I always heard he was old school, you just don’t meet people like them these days.

He brought me to some bar. Do they know him everywhere he goes? We walk arm in arm, Joe says it’s so people know that I’m cool. I’m him, always in his direct sight.

I haven’t played this role in a long time: girlish, young, still learning. It’s refreshing.

“Your drink.” I put it down next to Joe, he’s playing poker. “Hey, thanks.” “Who is the girl.” One guy asked. “She’s a friend of mine. My right hand for tonight.” Interesting choice of words.  “Hey, are you having a good time?” “A great time.” I pause. “What time is it?” “It’s nearly midnight.” I check his watch. I’m not sure why I took his wrist. I’m too drunk to read time. “I have to catch a flight in six hours.” “We should get you out of here, then.”

My hormones are running wild in his car and I can’t feel my face.

“How are ya doing over there?” He checks on me.

“I can’t believe you can drive, right now.” I smile. “Years of practice.” His hand finds between my legs. He’s touching me harder than I’m used to.  I close my eyes and imagine Vito’s hand. “You alright?”

“Are you really taking me to your place?” “Sure.” “What about your family?” “They won’t be back tonight.”

He lives in a nice place. I’d hoped to see Vito live in a place like this. The thought sobers me.

“Get comfortable.” He offers a drink. “I got something for ya.”

Joe leaves and returns with a photo album. “What’s this?” “I told ya.” I start to flip. I always knew Vito was an attractive young man.

“What’s the attraction here, kid?” “Between us?” “Between you and Vito.” “I told you. He was my boss, he looked out for me.” A lot. “I…” I think back to those days. I think of Alma, she loved him too. “This business… it changes you and-” I try to breathe in my tears. “He made me feel I wasn’t so alone. He heard me. He..” I chuckle. “Taught me how to be around them, without going yes, master.”

“Sounds deep, kid.” “He didn’t deserve what happened to him.” “You’re different...he always liked those.” I stand and try to gather myself.

“Joe, I’m gonna ask you again.” Joe gestures lightly like he wants to hear it. “In about ten minutes…” A smile forms across my face. “Could I call you his name?” “You have no clue how sick of a request that is.” he stops, “Yes, you can call me what you want.”

---

Nothing special was accomplished by having sex with Joe Barbaro, besides that I slept with someone new. He didn’t feel like Vito. How could he? They were shaped differently. Joe didn’t fuck me, I fucked him, he was too fat. The name “Vito” escaped my lips, just as I was sure it would.

It was just great to relate to Joe. He made me think about things. I thought I was a terrible person for cheating on Nicki. Look at Joe, he brought me to the bed that he shares with his wife. I must be in good company.

Nonetheless, Joe drove me to the airport with no sleep in our system. “You’re one of a kind, kid.” He tells me as he pulls over. “And you’re a wild ride.” We pop out to get my luggage. “You wanna know a tip? Between us?” “One for the road.” “Invest in the Jetson Organization.” I tell him. “Don’t tell your friends. Just you.” “Will do.” “We’re gonna blow up by October. Trust me.”

When we arrived back to New Bordeaux’s airport. There are men waiting to take us to our respective homes.

“Good job out there.” Danna gives me a nod. “It’s a waiting game.” The man in black opens the backseat.

“Have a good day.” I slip inside and the doors close. I feel a shift in my seat and my car speeds away. The man who closed the door doesn’t have the time to load my bags. My head snaps behind me to see Danna in the distance. I’m about to get whacked. “Driver! Driver!” I hit the glass.

The vehicle is armored, of course. I can’t get out. I try to yell to any drivers but the windows are tinted. The window to the driver rolls down and something is thrown to me. It smokes heavily. Is he trying to drug me? It looks like a joint so I roll it against the window to put it out. The energy feels like it is being sucked out of me before I can’t take it anymore.

Spotlight Review: LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus

Spotlight #BookReview: LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus, a fantastic debut - don't miss it! @BonnieGarmus @doubledaybooks #STEM #STEMinista #FeministFiction #WomensFiction #literaryfiction #romance #chemistry #chemistryisforgirls #womeninstem

CLICK TO PURCHASE From the publisher: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • A must-read debut! Meet Elizabeth Zott: a “formidable, unapologetic and inspiring” (PARADE) scientist in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show in this novel that is “irresistible, satisfying and full of fuel. It reminds…

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The Bass Rock by

Evie Wyld

"I don't know how long we chant for, but it is like I'm a bat or a whale, and I can see that there are people in the kitchen with us, there are children and women, all holding hands like us, and I wonder, is this the ghost everyone sees, is it in fact a hundred thousand different ghosts?..... they are on the golf course and on the beach and their heads bob out of the sea, and when we walk we are walking eight through them. The birds on the Bass Rock, they fill it, they are replaced by more, their numbers do not diminish with time, they nest on the bones of the dead. "

🦴

In this captivating book we follow the lives of three women. Each of them lived in different historical eras but their lives were interconnected. The lives of these three women, Sarah, Ruth and Viviane were linked by pain, grief, violence, femicide and the shadow of Bass Rock that stays still through the years, a silent witness and companion.

🕯️Thank you @dianahincureads for keeping me company while I was reading this and for encouraging me to keep reading! It was an intense experience🖤

TW: paedophilia, rape

🏷️ #thebassrock #eviewyld #historicalfiction #bookstagram #octoberreads #bookphotography #bookquotes #scotland #scottishliterature #booklover #feministfiction #feministbooks #mustreads #autumnreads #bookworm #bookreview #booksofinstagram #bookaholic