About Sassy

So how did a girl who grew up hating to read end up here?

Well, for most of my life, I was convinced books and I just weren’t meant to be. I tried everything from classic novels to historical fiction, and even my mother’s Harlequin romances, which teenage me considered a housewife’s version of “porn.” Nothing held my attention, and reading felt more like homework than entertainment. It probably didn’t help that I have the attention span of a squirrel on its third espresso and absolutely zero patience for any unnecessary fluff. I’ve always been a get-to-the-point kind of person, whether I’m reading a book or listening to someone tell a story. If it drags on too long, I’ll lose interest, and it’s really that simple.

Everything changed when I bought my daughter, Sam, a special edition of To Tame a Shifter by A.K. Koonce. As she told me about the characters and storyline, I found myself asking questions, especially after she mentioned dragons. Eventually, she sarcastically told me, “Why don’t you just read it for yourself?” So I did, and I freakin’ loved it! I binge-read the entire book, then immediately went looking for more of Koonce’s stories. I found myself falling headfirst down the supernatural rabbit hole.

That’s when my daughter-in-law Emily introduced me to the Zodiac universe by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. She recommended starting with Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac, followed by Zodiac Academy and Darkmore Penitentiary. Between the vampires, shifters, dragons, and other supernatural creatures, it wasn’t long before I was completely obsessed and texting or calling Em to discuss theories, ask questions, or rant about something that happened.

Unfortunately, Em is both the best and worst person in the world to read a series behind because she absolutely refuses to give away spoilers. No matter how desperate I was for answers, all she would say was, “Keep reading.” Woman, I called YOU because I need answers, like, NOW! What can I say? Patience has never been one of my better virtues, especially when fictional lives are hanging in the balance.

By the time I finished the Zodiac universe, I had become ridiculously attached to Solaria and the characters who brought it to life. Well, not Lionel. I hated him with a passion! I’m not even kidding when I say I spent an incredible amount of time mentally plotting all the different ways the other characters could finally put an end to him. And just when I thought he couldn’t possibly get any worse, he always found a way to prove me wrong. I swear, I’ve never wanted to reach into a book and personally help take down a fictional character so badly ever in my life!

I also discovered that fictional characters can emotionally traumatize you for thousands of pages and somehow leave you missing them when it’s over. So when I heard the Twisted Sisters were returning to Solaria with Zodiac Academy 10: On the Cursed Day of Christmas, releasing October 13, 2026, I was beyond excited. A Christmas adventure with my favorite characters? Oh, hell yes! Did I really need more emotional damage and another hit to my bank account? Probably not. Did I preorder it anyway? Abso-freakin’-lutely!

Of course, my reading interests didn’t stop with supernatural creatures. Sam introduced me to Jeneva Rose’s The Perfect Marriage and The Perfect Divorce, followed by Navessa Allen’s Into Darkness series, beginning with Lights Out. That’s when the door to the dark side was ripped completely off its hinges. Suddenly, my dragons, vampires, and shifters were sharing shelf space with fictional men whose moral compasses were either questionable or completely buried with the body. And that’s how I became the collector of fictional red flags you see before you today.

Somewhere along the way, I realized I never actually hated reading. I just hated being bored. Apparently, my inner BookDragon had been hibernating all those years, waiting for the right stories to wake her up. These days, I’ll read almost anything with a storyline that keeps me interested, although I have a weakness for HEAs, fated bonds, badass FMCs, emotional roller coasters, and unexpected plot twists. If a book hasn’t hooked me by chapter three, maybe five if I’m feeling generous, it’s probably headed for the DNF Abyss.

When a book does grab my attention, though, I’m completely invested. I get emotionally attached to characters, collect morally questionable Book Boyfriends, hold grudges against authors over fictional deaths, and lose sleep because I absolutely have to know what happens next. I laugh, cry, yell at characters, question their decisions, and occasionally threaten my Kindle. Apparently, I skipped casual reader territory and went straight into full-blown obsession.

Reading has also become important to me for a much more personal reason. I live with advanced DDD and fibromyalgia, so chronic pain is part of my everyday life. Books give me an escape from that pain, allowing me to disappear into another world and focus on something other than what I’m physically feeling. That’s why certain authors and their stories hold such a special place in my heart. They may never realize how much it means to give someone like me somewhere else to be for a while. Sassy’s Nook is my way of thanking those authors, recognizing their work, and showing my appreciation through the reviews I write and the stories I share.

I’ve also discovered that I love talking about books almost as much as reading them. Whether I’m discussing theories, complaining about cliffhangers, sharing favorite moments, or ranting about some fictional alpha-hole who deserves a good slap, I always have something to say. Those conversations eventually led to connecting with authors, reading their ARCs, and sharing my honest reviews. And somewhere along the way, Sassy’s Nook was born.

What began as a place to share my thoughts about books eventually grew into something bigger. Through my conversations with authors and fellow readers, I realized I wanted to create a community where we could connect, discover new stories, support authors, and share our love of all things bookish. That vision became Sassy’s Nook, the community I’m building today.

So here I am, a former book hater turned completely obsessed BookDragon, with an entire website dedicated to books and a TBR that will probably take several lifetimes to finish. Clearly, things have escalated! Now that you know a little about me, welcome to Sassy’s Nook. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, look around, and stay awhile. And if you leave with a dozen or more books on your TBR than you arrived with, I won’t judge you, but I accept zero responsibility!