SaschaD
saschaadarlington.bsky.social
SaschaD
@saschaadarlington.bsky.social
Book and music lover, writer, dog fan, gardener, chef, baker
https://saschadarlington.me
Passings #death #autumn #sadness

A very dear colleague of thirty-odd years passed from a valiant battle against pancreatic cancer a few weeks ago. She was such a huge part of what she often referred to as "our work family." She was vibrant, kind, smart, sunshine, and could cook and bake like no…
Passings #death #autumn #sadness
A very dear colleague of thirty-odd years passed from a valiant battle against pancreatic cancer a few weeks ago. She was such a huge part of what she often referred to as "our work family." She was vibrant, kind, smart, sunshine, and could cook and bake like no one's business. She was French, need I say more? I looked up to her. She was goodness incarnate. This poem is for Isabelle.💔 #poem #death #cancer #heartbreak #aging #life Passings Like the ambered leavestwisting tornadic in the windmemories domino, one upon another…
saschadarlington.me
October 23, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Review of The Gallery Assistant by Kate Belli

An art/murder thriller set a few months after 9/11 bringing back all kinds of memories of being in DC that day. And the thought: there are legal adults who were not even born then! Before I go too far into yikes-land, let's get on with the review,…
Review of The Gallery Assistant by Kate Belli
An art/murder thriller set a few months after 9/11 bringing back all kinds of memories of being in DC that day. And the thought: there are legal adults who were not even born then! Before I go too far into yikes-land, let's get on with the review, shall we? Chloe has an incredible job that she loves but can't seem to keep herself from spinning out of control until a situation arises that forces her to straighten out her life or lose it in The Gallery Assistant. #TheGalleryAssistant #KateBelli #AtriaBooks #EmilyBestlerBooks #Thriller #BookBlogger #BookReview #Bookstagram #Books #9-11 #NewYork #Artists #PsychologicalThriller #Suspense #Fiction…
saschadarlington.me
October 17, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Review of The Twelve Days of Christmas Dogs by Amanda Sobotka and Chris Dunn

I don't know if I'm quite done finding horror/scary novels for Halloween yet, but, anyway, LOOK at THIS! IT'S CHRISTMAS!! Maybe that's scary enough. 😼😏 And you know I'm just kidding. Well, sorta. But when it's time, I'll…
Review of The Twelve Days of Christmas Dogs by Amanda Sobotka and Chris Dunn
I don't know if I'm quite done finding horror/scary novels for Halloween yet, but, anyway, LOOK at THIS! IT'S CHRISTMAS!! Maybe that's scary enough. 😼😏 And you know I'm just kidding. Well, sorta. But when it's time, I'll be all about Christmas! I'll be decking the halls and boughing that holly and all the rest of it. 😉 But seriously, I have a sweet book to review. Puppies and squirrels! 🐶🐿️ What could be better? #TheTwelveDaysOfChristmasDogs #ChrisDunn #AmandaSobotka #ChildrensBook #TheTwelveDaysOfChristmas #Dogs #BookReview #BookBlogger #AppleSaucePress #CiderMillPress #ChristmasBook The Twelve Days of Christmas Dogs: The Classic Edition…
saschadarlington.me
October 16, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Review of The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong

Happy Book Birthday: The Haunting of Paynes Hollow! Do you need a little horror reading (supernatural or not . . . ) for your Halloween? The Haunting of Paynes Hollow has you covered! 👻 #TheHauntingOfPaynesHollow #KelleyArmstrong
Review of The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong
Happy Book Birthday: The Haunting of Paynes Hollow! Do you need a little horror reading (supernatural or not . . . ) for your Halloween? The Haunting of Paynes Hollow has you covered! 👻 #TheHauntingOfPaynesHollow #KelleyArmstrong @stmartinspress #ARCReview #BookReview #BookBlogger #Bookstagram #Books #Horror #Supernatural #Folklore #Halloween #HeadlessHorseman #LakeOntario The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Press Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 14, 2025 Language ‏ : ‎ English Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250360560 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 
saschadarlington.me
October 14, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Review of What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher

Convoluted! Not T. Kingfisher's novella, but my journey to reading it. Read on! #WhatStalksTheDeep #T.Kingfisher #MacmillanAudio #BookReview #Audiobook #Novella #BookBlogger #Booksf="/hashtag/Bookstagram" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#Bookstagram #Lovecraft #Caves #Books #Horror #TorNightfire What Stalks the…
Review of What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher
Convoluted! Not T. Kingfisher's novella, but my journey to reading it. Read on! #WhatStalksTheDeep #T.Kingfisher #MacmillanAudio #BookReview #Audiobook #Novella #BookBlogger #Bookstagram #Lovecraft #Caves #Books #Horror #TorNightfire What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tor Nightfire Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 30, 2025 Language ‏ : ‎ English Print length ‏ : ‎ 192 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250354927 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250354921 Blurb: Alex Easton does not want to visit America. They particularly do not want to visit an abandoned coal mine in West Virginia with a reputation for being haunted.
saschadarlington.me
October 8, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Review of Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane

Happy Book Birthday, Cover Story! The always witty Mhairi McFarlane writes about a fake relationship, not one but two women done wrong but sleazy men, and so many current British colloquialisms, slang, and cultural references that you'll need to keep an…
Review of Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane
Happy Book Birthday, Cover Story! The always witty Mhairi McFarlane writes about a fake relationship, not one but two women done wrong but sleazy men, and so many current British colloquialisms, slang, and cultural references that you'll need to keep an open Google tab to understand what's going on in Cover Story. #CoverStory #MhairiMcFarlane #Avon #ARCReview #Bookstagram #ManchesterEngland #podcaster #journalist #Books #BookReview #Romance #Contemporary #FakeDatingTrope #Rom-Com Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 7, 2025 Language ‏ : ‎ 
saschadarlington.me
October 7, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Review of Audiobook The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell

Despite the fact that so many are having a love affair with anything Austen these days (years?), I am not (gasp) one of them. In fact, I have not even seen the Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice! (Although I have heathen-ly devoured the version…
Review of Audiobook The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell
Despite the fact that so many are having a love affair with anything Austen these days (years?), I am not (gasp) one of them. In fact, I have not even seen the Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice! (Although I have heathen-ly devoured the version with Keira Knightley and Matthew McFadden. Alas, there may be no hope for me! 😉 ) Regardless, I do like twisty takes, as you may well know if you read my mystery/thriller reviews, and adore when someone goes off in a novel direction (the punster). Such is the case with Madeline Bell's time-traveling…
saschadarlington.me
September 28, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Review of The Accidental Rewrite by Milly Johnson

What happens when steadfast, loyal, smart Polly loses her memory in an accident and becomes the dynamic character, Sabrina Anderson, from the novel she's been writing? A once in a lifetime chance to live life on her own terms in Milly Johnson funny…
Review of The Accidental Rewrite by Milly Johnson
What happens when steadfast, loyal, smart Polly loses her memory in an accident and becomes the dynamic character, Sabrina Anderson, from the novel she's been writing? A once in a lifetime chance to live life on her own terms in Milly Johnson funny and heart-felt, The Accidental Rewrite. #TheAccidentalRewrite #MillyJohnson @harpermusebooks @themillyjohnson #BookReview #BookBlogger #ARCReview #WomensFiction #Yorkshire #ContemporaryRomance #Fiction #Books #Bookstagram #RomanticComedy #Rom-Com The Accidental Rewrite by Milly Johnson Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Muse Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 30, 2025 Language ‏ : ‎ English Print length ‏ : ‎ 
saschadarlington.me
September 16, 2025 at 4:39 PM
On Kindness — Kindness Rocks! #kindness/hashtag/kindness" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#kindness

Scout, October 6, 2009. One month into hour fostering him. #kindness #EnglishShepherd #lemonstolemonade #love #beingkind #kindnessrocks For several days now I've been thinking about kindness. What does the word kindness mean? Is my society, the American…
On Kindness — Kindness Rocks! #kindness
Scout, October 6, 2009. One month into hour fostering him. #kindness #EnglishShepherd #lemonstolemonade #love #beingkind #kindnessrocks For several days now I've been thinking about kindness. What does the word kindness mean? Is my society, the American society, kind, or has it lost its ability to be kind? Am I kind--still? Kindness was a trait that I took for granted. Most people when I was growing up, and indeed, for most of my life were kind. There were some who seemed more barbaric, unapologetically unkind, but they were anomalies. If there was any type of suffering, someone would step in to assist.
saschadarlington.me
September 10, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Review of The Literati by Susan Coll @harpermusebooks

Happy Book Birthday to The Literati!! How is it possible that it's been three years since I read a Susan Coll novel when it feels like it was recently? Oh, for the halcyon glory days of early August 2022! #TheLiterati @susan_keselenko_coll…
Review of The Literati by Susan Coll @harpermusebooks
Happy Book Birthday to The Literati!! How is it possible that it's been three years since I read a Susan Coll novel when it feels like it was recently? Oh, for the halcyon glory days of early August 2022! #TheLiterati @susan_keselenko_coll #theliterati #harpermuse @harpermusebooks #BookReview #BookBlogger #ARCReview #Bookstagram #Books #IGBooks #LiteraryFiction #Satire #Slapstick #Clowns #Writer #SaschaDarlington The Literati by Susan Coll Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Muse Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 9, 2025 Language ‏ : ‎ English Print length ‏ : ‎ 400 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 
saschadarlington.me
September 10, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Review of The Belles by Lacey N. Dunham @atriabooks

This is the second book this year with an ending that I expected but wasn't certain I liked. Let's just invoke: Karma rules. 😉 #TheBelles @atriabooks @lndhop #SouthernGothic #Virginia #BookReview #ARCReview #1950s #BookBlogger #Thriller
Review of The Belles by Lacey N. Dunham @atriabooks
This is the second book this year with an ending that I expected but wasn't certain I liked. Let's just invoke: Karma rules. 😉 #TheBelles @atriabooks @lndhop #SouthernGothic #Virginia #BookReview #ARCReview #1950s #BookBlogger #Thriller #Supernatural #Murder #DarkAcademia #Bookstagram #Booksta #Books #SaschaDarlingtonReviews #FishOutOfWater #literaryfiction The Belles by Lacey N. Dunham Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atria Books Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 9, 2025 Language ‏ : ‎ English Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1668084864 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1668084861 Blurb: In this richly atmospheric, dark academia debut novel, a young woman with a secretive past will risk everything—including her life—to fit in.
saschadarlington.me
September 6, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Season to Season

Sweet song
of goldfinches
sate early September
days like innocent honey snacks--
stash them.

While
soon winter winds will
knife old bones, they cannot
oust your ember warm memories:
em-brace.
(c) Sascha Darlington

saschadarlington.me/2025/09/05/s...
Exploring Nature's Poetry: The Beauty of Cinquains
Explore the beauty of nature and creativity with vibrant poems inspired by goldfinches and the changing seasons. Join the journey!
saschadarlington.me
September 5, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Gratefully #dVerse="/hashtag/dVerse" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#dVerse #Poem

So, yeah, no idea of when I last tried to write anything. I remain hopeful. Always. Mostly. Many thanks to dVerse for giving me the opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade. #poetry #poem #creativewriting #grateful #sunnyday #dogs #EnglishShepherd #birds #dVerse…
Gratefully #dVerse #Poem
So, yeah, no idea of when I last tried to write anything. I remain hopeful. Always. Mostly. Many thanks to dVerse for giving me the opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade. #poetry #poem #creativewriting #grateful #sunnyday #dogs #EnglishShepherd #birds #dVerse #LemonsToLemonade Gratefully Somedays sunny days refusejoy opposing songs & poemsprofessing sadness with thunder, rainhappiness with golden embracing warmth.But the sun’s starkness sometimes highlightsthe wrong: it’s a beautiful day---shouldn’t you be happy, grateful?Sure, I should, then shrug.Give me a few minutes.Give me a song.
saschadarlington.me
September 4, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Review of How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates @darcybooks @poisonedpenpress @netgalley

It's that time of year. 🎃🦇👻 When you can read about things that go bump in the night or, in this case, things that go slassssssh on the island. Darcy Coates is back just in time to give slasher horror fans a…
Review of How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates @darcybooks @poisonedpenpress @netgalley
It's that time of year. 🎃🦇👻 When you can read about things that go bump in the night or, in this case, things that go slassssssh on the island. Darcy Coates is back just in time to give slasher horror fans a bloody good time. RUN!!! READ!!! @darcybooks @poisonedpenpress @netgalley #HowBadThingsCanGet #BookBlogger#NetgalleyARC #Horror #DesertedIsland #Cult #BookReview #Bookstagram #Bookish #ARCReview #InstaBook #DarcyCoates #ReadersOfInstagram #AdvanceReaderCopy  How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates Publisher ‏ : ‎ Poisoned Pen Press Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 26, 2025 Language ‏ : ‎ 
saschadarlington.me
September 2, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Review of Audiobook The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan #MacAudio2025htag/MacAudio2025" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#MacAudio2025 @macmillan.audio

This one. This ONE. THIS ONE! Do I need to say more? 🤔 Okay. You twisted my arm. 😉 @archer_sullivan #TheWitchsOrchard #MacAudio2025 @macmillan.audio @emily_acting_up #AudioBookReview #BookReview #Fiction
Review of Audiobook The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan #MacAudio2025 @macmillan.audio
This one. This ONE. THIS ONE! Do I need to say more? 🤔 Okay. You twisted my arm. 😉 @archer_sullivan #TheWitchsOrchard #MacAudio2025 @macmillan.audio @emily_acting_up #AudioBookReview #BookReview #Fiction #Bookstagram #BookRecommendations #SouthernGothic #5Stars #Mystery Note: I like to use AI to create my background photos because--typically--I get exactly what I want. Typically is the operative word. The Witch's Orchard frequently references "apple head dolls," which are a North American folk craft that may have started with the Native Americans. What a great item for my AI background, I thought. AI wasn't having it.
saschadarlington.me
August 27, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Review of Tricks of Fortune by Lina Chern

Katie True, one of my recent favorite characters, is back! Snark, intuition, a little mess and a lot of magic. #TricksOfFortune #LinaChern #Bantam #Tarot #MurderMystery #PlaytheFoolSeries #AmateurSleuth #Booksf="/hashtag/Bookstagram" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#Bookstagram #Books #BookReview #BookBlogger Tricks…
Review of Tricks of Fortune by Lina Chern
Katie True, one of my recent favorite characters, is back! Snark, intuition, a little mess and a lot of magic. #TricksOfFortune #LinaChern #Bantam #Tarot #MurderMystery #PlaytheFoolSeries #AmateurSleuth #Bookstagram #Books #BookReview #BookBlogger Tricks of Fortune by Lina Chern Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bantam Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 1, 2025 Language ‏ : ‎ English Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593500687 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593500682 Play the Fool Mysteries Blurb: Katie True has gotten her crap together. . . sort of. Now that the sinister events of the past year have wound down, Katie has finally made her dream come true and opened her own tarot reading room—even if it’s in her sister’s old real estate office in an outdoor strip mall.
saschadarlington.me
August 11, 2025 at 6:37 PM
In honor of Owl Awareness Day

This picture of a Barred Owl was taken in August 2022 at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge near the Outer Banks of NC. I went to see bears but instead came back with a cool picture of an owl. #BarredOwl #OwlAwareness #AlligatorRiverNationalWildlifeRefuge #OBX
In honor of Owl Awareness Day
This picture of a Barred Owl was taken in August 2022 at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge near the Outer Banks of NC. I went to see bears but instead came back with a cool picture of an owl. #BarredOwl #OwlAwareness #AlligatorRiverNationalWildlifeRefuge #OBX #WildlifePhoto
saschadarlington.me
August 4, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Review of You Belong Here by Megan Miranda #MeganMirandahtag/MeganMiranda" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#MeganMiranda #Mystery

The return of one of my "must-read" authors, Megan Miranda, with a creepy mystery set in a small Virginia mountain town that's home to a college with a hazing ritual called, "The Howling." #YouBelongHere #MeganMiranda…
Review of You Belong Here by Megan Miranda #MeganMiranda #Mystery
The return of one of my "must-read" authors, Megan Miranda, with a creepy mystery set in a small Virginia mountain town that's home to a college with a hazing ritual called, "The Howling." #YouBelongHere #MeganMiranda @marysueruccibooks #thriller #Bookstagram #BookReview #BookBlogger #mystery #suspense #Books @simonandschuster You Belong Here by Megan Miranda Publisher ‏ : ‎ S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 29, 2025 Language ‏ : ‎ English Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1668080974 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1668080979 Blurb: Beckett Bowery never thought she’d return to Wyatt Valley, a picturesque college town in the Virginia mountains steeped in tradition.
saschadarlington.me
August 2, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Review of Audiobook The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen

Prepare yourself for a world where nothing is as it seems . . . #TheLockedWard @sarahpekkanen #SarahPekkanen @januarylavoy #MacmillanAudio @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2025 #AudiobookReview #Thriller #PsychologicalThriller #Bookstagram #books
Review of Audiobook The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen
Prepare yourself for a world where nothing is as it seems . . . #TheLockedWard @sarahpekkanen #SarahPekkanen @januarylavoy #MacmillanAudio @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2025 #AudiobookReview #Thriller #PsychologicalThriller #Bookstagram #books #BookBlogger #JanuaryLaVoy #TwistyMystery The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanennarrated by January LaVoy Listening Length 9 hours and 4 minutes Author Sarah Pekkanen Narrator January LaVoy Audible.com Release Date August 05, 2025 Publisher Macmillan Audio Program Type Audiobook Version Unabridged Language English ASIN B0DG9BHC7J Blurb: Was it...Bitter, all-consuming jealousy?Pathological sibling rivalry?Pure insanity?Whatever the cause—and everyone has a theory—it's the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, is accused of killing the biological daughter of her wealthy, Southern family.
saschadarlington.me
July 31, 2025 at 6:08 PM