Maria Antokas Publishing

18/09/2025

I’ve always been hooked by a great first line - nothing pulls me in faster. These five classics prove that sometimes one sentence is all it takes to become unforgettable. Feel free to add your own great opening lines to my list!

Few things outrank a killer opening line. These five didn’t just grab readers—they helped crown their books as timeless classics. Lesson learned: nail the first sentence, and history might just do …

09/09/2025

Just finished The Oligarch's Daughter and wow! Talk about money, secrets, and betrayal on a global scale. Read my full review before you dive in!

Joseph Finder never misses, and The Oligarch’s Daughter is proof. Wall Street hotshot Paul Brightman thinks he’s found love with a glamorous Russian beauty, only to discover her dad is a full-blown…

27/08/2025

Gabriel Allon is back, and Venice will never be the same. Check out my review of An Inside Job - sharp prose, global scandal, and a dash of Da Vinci await!

Gabriel Allon is back in An Inside Job, trading espionage for a quiet life in Venice – until a body in the lagoon pulls him into another global scandal. Silva delivers his trademark sharp pro…

19/08/2025

https://thebookaholicblog.com/2025/08/19/bookish-red-flags-reader-habits-that-should-be-crimes/

Every reader has their quirks, but some habits are less “quirky” and more “felony-level crimes against books.” From dog-earing first editions to dropping spoilers like confetti, the literary police…

19/08/2025

Some reader habits are cute quirks. Others are straight-up crimes against books — here are the worst bookish red flags (and how to fix them)

Every reader has their quirks, but some habits are less “quirky” and more “felony-level crimes against books.” From dog-earing first editions to dropping spoilers like confetti, the literary police…

12/08/2025

Steamy sparks, small-town secrets, and a cold case that won't die = here's my take of Blood Moon by Sandra Brown. Its heat and suspense in equal measure.

Sandra Brown had me from page three of Blood Moon — rugged detective John Bowie (pronounced Booie, which sadly rhymes with “phooey”) walks into a Louisiana dive bar and spots TV reporter Beth, and …

09/08/2025

The Bookaholic loves this article!

Ladies were asked to designate a hobby as “attractive” or “unattractive” as part of a perception survey.

08/08/2025

This is the one for the August read on the beach!!!!

If you like your mysteries with a side of glam and old-money scandal, check out Marble House Murders. Check our my full review on The Bookaholic Blog.

02/08/2025

Nora Kelly is back, and so is the chaos. This time, she’s teaming up with FBI agent Corrie Swanson to investigate two suspicious deaths in the Badlands of New Mexico—because apparently, digging up ancient secrets never ends well. Preston & Child do their thing: blending history, action, and a sprinkle of the macabre with characters we love (and some we really don’t). Skip shows up to make terrible decisions, Sheriff Watts swoops in just in time, and several new characters don’t make it to the final chapter—gruesomely. Pro tip: don’t eat dinner while reading the ending....

Nora Kelly is back, and so is the chaos. This time, she’s teaming up with FBI agent Corrie Swanson to investigate two suspicious deaths in the Badlands of New Mexico—because apparently, digging up …

27/07/2025

Walking the Line Between Fit & Fabulous is your no-nonsense guide to looking good, feeling strong, and not sacrificing your love of books in the process. Whether you're strutting in sneakers or power-walking with plot twists, this blog proves you can tone your glutes and feed your brain at the same time. From beach walks with audiobooks to sneaky wrist-weight hacks, we’re blending fitness with flair—minus the toxic gym talk. Expect sass, sweat, and seriously good reading recs. Because being fabulous isn’t a phase—it’s cardio with a side of character development...

Walking the Line Between Fit & Fabulous is your no-nonsense guide to looking good, feeling strong, and not sacrificing your love of books in the process. Whether you’re strutting in sneak…

17/07/2025

My nightstand is less a piece of furniture and more a chaotic book club where no one finishes the assigned reading. This week’s lineup includes FBI agents, twisted husbands, ’80s rock drama, and—ob…

16/07/2025

My nightstand TBR is looking more like a suspenseful tower of temptation. FBI agents, romantic thrillers, ’80s rock star drama—basically, the perfect mess. Take a peek at what I’m (supposed to be) reading this week!

My nightstand is less a piece of furniture and more a chaotic book club where no one finishes the assigned reading. This week’s lineup includes FBI agents, twisted husbands, ’80s rock drama, and—ob…