About Me

The story behind A Book A Week, and the reader behind the reviews.

It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Back in 2011, I was an avid reader who had somehow lost my way with reading. Between working and being a full-time student, reading for pleasure had slowly fallen by the wayside.

I wanted to change that. So I gave myself a New Year's resolution to read one book every week for a year. I started A Book A Week on January 1, 2012 as a way to hold myself accountable and share what I was reading along the way.

I didn't quite reach my goal that first year, but I kept reading. I kept reviewing. And all these years later, I'm still here, looking forward to whatever book comes next. Some years I crush my goals, some years I don't, but my love for a good book has never wavered.

Line drawing portrait of Ethan

Hi, I'm Ethan

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

I'm a lifelong reader with a particular soft spot for mysteries and thrillers. I've always loved the genre, and I credit those stories—the twists, suspense, and need to know what happens next—with keeping me a reader as an adult. My reading has taken me in all kinds of directions since then, but I'll always come back to a good mystery.

I love creepy horror novels. A fascinating work of nonfiction can completely pull me in, too. And I've found plenty of favorites in science fiction, literary fiction, romance, and other genres I might never have picked up when I first started the blog. That's part of the fun. I never quite know what kind of story is going to grab me next.

When I'm not reading or writing reviews, you'll usually find me at home with my husband and our pets. I'm a classically trained musician and composer, an enthusiastic home cook, and a backyard gardener. There's usually a trip to look forward to or some new project that has caught my interest, too.

At the end of the day, I just really love books. There's nothing quite like discovering a story I can't put down or finding an author I can't wait to read again. Even when a book doesn't quite work for me, I still enjoy thinking about why and putting those thoughts into words. That's what keeps me reading, reviewing, and sharing it all here on A Book A Week.

Loose hand-drawn fountain pen illustration

Review Disclaimer

Honest reviews, always.

Some of the books I review are ones I've purchased myself. Others are provided by publishers or authors in exchange for an honest review. Either way, what I write here is always what I really think.

Not every book is going to work for every reader, and that's part of the fun of talking about books. I'll tell you what worked for me, what didn't, and hopefully give you enough to decide whether a book might be right for you.

Good, bad, or somewhere in between, you'll always get my honest take.

Contact

Have a question about the blog, a book you think I should read, or just want to say hello? I'd love to hear from you.

Drop me a note using the form below.

Let's Connect

I'm always happy to hear from readers, publishers, authors, and fellow book lovers.

Review Copies

I'm always open to considering books for review. I read across a pretty wide range of genres, though mysteries and thrillers tend to be particular favorites. If you'd like me to consider a book, send along a little information about it and why you think it might be a good fit for A Book A Week.

Publishers & Authors

Review requests, interviews, features, or something else you have in mind? Send me a note. I'm always happy to hear about new books and opportunities that might be a good fit for the blog.

General Inquiries

Have a question, a recommendation, or just want to talk books? Those messages are welcome, too.

Find Me Elsewhere

Send a Message

Your information will only be used to respond to your message.

Showing posts with label Florida. Show all posts

Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen

Monday, May 19, 2025

Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen

Carl Hiaasen has built a career out of sharp, satirical novels set in his native Florida—books that blend tightly woven plots, eccentric cha...

Read the review →
Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen

Thursday, September 10, 2020

Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen

Over the long holiday weekend, I decided to get as much of my last-minute summer reading in as I possibly could. By the time I sat down to w...

Read the review →
Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen

Florida based author Carl Hiaasen is known for his clever and intricate novels. Prior to reading his latest novel, Bad Monkey , my only enco...

Read the review →
Found by H. Terrell Griffin

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Found by H. Terrell Griffin

The small town of Longboat Key, Florida is a pretty quiet place. While many tourists visit in the summer, winter sees only a few residents...

Read the review →
Fatal Decree by H. Terrell Griffin

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Fatal Decree by H. Terrell Griffin

Last year, I stumbled upon the Matt Royal series by author H. Terrell Griffin. The novels follow Matt Royal, a middle-aged lawyer who, fed...

Read the review →
Collateral Damage by H. Terrell Griffin

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Collateral Damage by H. Terrell Griffin

Matt Royal attracts trouble. No matter what he is doing, the retired lawyer always seems to find himself in intriguing and life-threatenin...

Read the review →
Double Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Monday, May 14, 2012

Double Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

There is really only one rule that all criminals must follow: Don't Get Caught!. In the latest Dexter novel by author Jeff Lindsay, De...

Read the review →
Wyatt's Revenge by H. Terrell Griffin

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Wyatt's Revenge by H. Terrell Griffin

H. Terrell Griffin begins the fourth installment in his Matt Royal Mystery Series with a bang. Literally. Laurence Wyatt is enjoying the c...

Read the review →
Blood Island by H. Terrell Griffin

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Blood Island by H. Terrell Griffin

After reading Bitter Legacy, the fifth novel in the Matt Royal series by author H. Terrell Griffin, I knew I wanted to read the earlier bo...

Read the review →
Dexter Is Delicious by Jeff Lindsay

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Dexter Is Delicious by Jeff Lindsay

It has been said that the birth of your first child is the kind of event that shapes the rest of your life. Your priorities shift as you ...

Read the review →
Bitter Legacy by H. Terrell Griffin

Monday, January 2, 2012

Bitter Legacy by H. Terrell Griffin

Taking a hint from other authors, such as Carl Hiaasen and Jeff Lindsay, H. Terrell Griffin sets his story in a fascinating Florida, that ...

Read the review →
Powered by Blogger.