~Adult/YA Book Reviews~

Writer with machine

~Book Reviews~

The Year’s Best Science Fiction Vol. 1

– Edited by Jonathan Strahan

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Simon & Schuster/eGalley – 09/08/2020~

Star Rating – Currently Reading – 75%

~Available On Amazon~

~The Year’s Best Science Fiction~

Jedi Summer

– by John Boden

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~Purchased From Night Worms Book Club Monthly Package – November 2020~

~Cover Design by Alex McVey ~

– Night Worms/ Thunderstorm Books / Paperback/Own – 11/2020~

Star Rating – Currently Reading

~Available On Amazon~

~Jedi Summer~

The Perfect Daughter

– by D.J. Palmer

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press/I received an eBook – 04/20/2021~

~Pre-order Now On Amazon~

~The Perfect Daughter~

About:

The book opens with Grace Francone, mother to Ryan, Jack, and sixteen-year-old Penny—the youngest—who’s arrested for murder.

Penny’s fate is most assuredly sealed, found in the victim’s apartment, holding the murder weapon and covered in the victim’s blood—her guilt is beyond doubt.

The only question is, where will she serve her sentence:

Will the jury find her not guilty by reason of insanity?

Or will she get a life sentence in a maximum-security prison?

‘As Penny awaits trial in a state mental hospital, she is treated by Dr. Mitchell McHugh, a psychiatrist battling demons of his own. Grace’s determination to understand the why behind her daughter’s terrible crime fuels Mitch’s resolve to help the Francone family.’

My Thoughts:

As a mother, it’s easy to empathize with Grace as she struggles to keep her family together, keep the family business from going under, all while trying to prove her daughter’s innocence.

Palmer did an excellent job keeping this reader guessing throughout. I honestly thought I knew how it would end, but nope!

THE PERFECT DAUGHTER—Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for loaning me an eGalley of THE PERFECT DAUGHTER in the request for an honest review.

Hummingbird Salamander

– by Jeff Vandermeer

~Designed by Abby Kagan – NetGalley/MCD Publishing/I received an eBook – 04/06/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Hummingbird Salamander~

The opening chapter in the novel HUMMINGBIRD SALAMANDER, an eco-thriller—is written in a ‘What if?’ scenario using the second-person point-of-view, placing you Dear Reader in a coffee shop, recipient of a mysterious envelope drawing you into the narrative.

Do you take it?

Vandermeer’s lead by way of his writing is deliciously dark, mysterious, and had this reader effectively tethered.

Here’s a sample:

‘Standing there on the sidewalk. Black slush of snow pushed to the sides of the street. A dead robin in the gutter, one torn wing spread toward the drain like an invitation to the underworld.’

‘Another winter morning in a city in the Pacific Northwest.
Where, exactly?
I won’t tell you.
Who am I?
I won’t tell you. Exactly.
But you can call me Jane.
Jane Smith. If that helps.
I’m here to show you how the world ends.’

The unreliable narrator security consultant ‘Jane Smith’ is given a mysterious envelope that contains a note and key to a storage unit, wherein she finds a cardboard box that contains a taxidermied hummingbird and clues left by a woman named Silvina.

Lured by the mystery and obsession to know more about Silvina, Jane sets into motion a chain of events that put her and her family in danger.

‘I didn’t know anymore if Silvina was a false beacon. The kind that wrecked you on the rocks. But she shone so darkly in my imagination. The only light I had to guide me.’

‘As [Jane] desperately seeks answers about why Silvina contacted her, time is running out―for her and possibly for the world.’

Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and MCD Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, for loaning me an eGalley of HUMMINGBIRD SALAMANDER in the request for an honest review.

The Forest

– by Michaelbrent Collings

~Amazon Image – Written Insomnia Press – eBook~

~08/16/2020~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Forest~

‘Three kids went in.
Now, twenty years later, the two survivors are going back…’

‘For Tricia and Alex, the idea is simple: find and rescue their friend, Sam, from his insane mother. But when they enter the forest, they discover that their idea is anything but simple.’

THE FOREST starts really good—the opening chapter is full-throttle as the reader bears witness to two high school students, Alex and Tricia, running for their lives in the forest from whatever is chasing them as they search for their friend, Sam.

In the subsequent chapters, two timelines are intertwined, present-day that centers around Alex and Tricia as adults when they go back to the forest, and flashback scenes when they’re teenagers in the woods, moments leading up to the build at the beginning of the book.

It’s in the midway point of the book, wherein the timelines are similar, that the pacing lulls for several pages, pulling me out of the book to the point I was skimming forward.

Though this book is a did-not-finish at fifty-six percent, based on the plot, my investment in the characters (Sammy and Silly-Corny—My Heart!), and my inner sleuth, I have a growing need to know how it ends.

Will I be returning to THE FOREST at some point to find out?

Most Definitely!

Thank you, Michaelbrent Collings and Written Insomnia Press, for providing me with an eBook of THE FOREST in the request for an honest review.

Wild, Dark Times

– by Austin Case

~Cover Art by Jim Tetlow – eBook From The Author~

~Between The Lines Publishing – 07/22/2019~

~Available On Amazon~

~Wild, Dark Times~

WILD, DARK TIMES by Austin Case was, well . . . a wild and dark good time for this reader, my favorite character is Eddy, a wise-cracking sorcerer who first saves and befriends Elizabeth—a bank teller, and then Hugh—a skeptical scholar of the occult.

Eddy then drags Elizabeth and Hugh to Europe where they meet three of Eddy’s friends Albert, Veer, and Frater, who also have magical abilities—their collective mission—‘preventing a Demiurge, a creature out of Gnostic Christian mythology, from fulfilling the visions of doom in the Book of Revelation.’

‘Through ritual magic and a series of psychedelic experiences, the group learns that Elizabeth is the key to taking down the Demiurge . . . .’

I had fun reading this WILD, DARK TIMES, moments that made me laugh, made me cringe, and broke my heart.

Here are a couple of excerpts that made me laugh out loud:

‘As Elizabeth opened the door Maya grabbed her and flung her to the floor. “Jesus Christ!” shouted Elizabeth. “What the hell, Maya?!” Maya thrashed and clawed Elizabeth at the same pace that she had been knocking on the door.’

‘Elizabeth screamed and struggled helplessly in an attempt to throw her off. Maya’s blue-painted fingernails dug into the flesh near Elizabeth’s collarbone. Suddenly, Maya was tossed off which was promptly slammed shut and locked by a man [Eddy] now standing in her entryway looking down at her.

“Those Jehovah’s Witnesses have gotten really persistent lately.”

And . . .

[Albert:] ‘“Chaos magic in particular just tends to view the imagination in a way that’s faster and looser than traditional ceremonial magic.”’ . . . “‘I mostly do invocations or spells composed from scientific treatises and sci-fi or fantasy films and TV.”

‘“He tends to take a lot from Star Trek and Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” said Eddy.’

‘“Remember when Albert did that ritual…” started Veer, “…and my apartment got haunted for a week by a phantom Tribble?”’

Thank you, Austin Case, for providing me with an eBook of WILD, DARK TIMES in the request of an honest review.

Recommend!

The Minotaur Sampler Vol. 2

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press/I received an eBook – FREE 04/05/2021~

‘Looking for a new book that will make your heart race? This free, second edition of The Minotaur Sampler compiles the beginnings of five can’t-miss novels publishing Spring/Summer 2021 for easy sampling.’

~Available On Amazon~

~The Minotaur Sampler – Volume Two~

If you are looking to add to your potential pre-order want-need-must-have list of books to make your heart race—that is coming out soon, and you are undecided—then I Highly Recommend downloading the eBook(s), [insert echoey announcer voice here] THE MINOTAUR SAMPLER, Volume 2!

Bonus Kids, THE MINOTAUR SAMPLE catalog in the eBook format containing potential books to purchase is Free for the Barnes & Noble Nook, Amazon Kindle (I use the app. or my Kindle) Kobo, Google Play, iBooks, and eBooks dot com.

No, I’m not talking about Kindle Unlimited ‘Free,’ I mean FREEEEEEEE to download now!

What you will find in each volume are enticing excerpts from each featured book followed by the date of release and a conveniently placed purchase link.

After reading the excerpts from each of the five books in Volume 2, those that tickle my fancy are:

ALL OF THEM!!

Mary Dixie Carter’s – THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Ragnar Jónasson’s – THE GIRL WHO DIED
Joanna Schaffhausen’s – GONE FOR GOOD
Ashley Weaver’s – A PECULIAR COMBINATION
Brian Klingborg’s – THIEF OF SOULS

I’m not going to spoil the contents of each, a discovery that is yours alone to make, Dear Reader. Have fun, happy reading, and don’t forget to pre-order.

Okay, I lied—here’s a snippet from GONE FOR GOOD only because it made me laugh out loud:

‘DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOMENT YOU REALIZED YOU WERE GOING TO DIE? I was five years old, lying in my princess bed with its canopy and pink dust ruffles. My mother had sent me there after I put her expensive brassiere on Louie, our beagle. I might’ve gotten away with it, but I also used the Polaroid camera to take a picture of him and showed it to our mailman.’

I love the opening lines above, as the reader is first introduced to Grace Harper by the way this lighthearted journal entry segues into her contemplation about death—the focus then turns to cases that involve THE LOVELORN KILLER in subsequent entries. You see, Grace is a member of The Grave Diggers—a group of amateur sleuths who take on dead cases, ‘gone cold so long that most others have forgotten about them or given up.’

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for loaning me an eGalley of THE MINOTAUR SAMPLER, VOLUME 2, in the request for an honest review.

The Sweet Taste Of Muscadines

– by Pamela Terry

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~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Ballantine Books – 03/16/2021~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

About:

How can you not be drawn into the story with a hook line such as this in the Prologue spoken by the book’s narrator, Lila, as a child:

‘The first time Mama died, I ran off to hide in the muscadine arbor.’

The story centers around three adult siblings, the eldest Lila, Henry, and the youngest, Abigail, as they all return to their childhood home in Wesleyan, Georgia, after the sudden and suspicious death of their mother, Geneva, her body found under the muscadine arbor behind the estate.

‘[A]s they uncover more about Geneva’s death, shocking truths are revealed that overturn the family’s history as they know it, sending [them] on an extraordinary journey to chase a truth that will dramatically alter the course of their lives. THE SWEET TASTE OF MUSCADINES reminds us all that true love never dies.’

My Thoughts:

In a word, WOW! I cannot recommend reading Pamela Terry’s debut novel, THE SWEET TASTE OF MUSCADINES, high enough, Dear Readers, but be prepared for the tears to flow.

As I read this book, my mind kept circling back to how I feel each time I watch STEEL MAGNOLIAS, a narrative set in the south featuring southern women, wit, charm, and heartbreaking moments that never fail to bring me to tears.

Terry’s writing, to me, is outstanding!

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books (Penguin Random House LLC.), for loaning me an eGalley of THE SWEET TASTE OF MUSCADINES in the request of an honest review.

Scheduled For Release—March 16, 2021 (Subject To Change)

~Available Now On Amazon~

~The Sweet Taste Of Muscadines~

Your Turn To Suffer

– by Tim Waggoner

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~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Flame Tree Press – 03/23/2021~

Star Rating – 2.5/5.0

‘Lorelai Palumbo is harassed by a sinister group calling themselves The Cabal. They accuse her of having committed unspeakable crimes in the past, and now she must pay.’

I would describe YOUR TURN TO SUFFER as a weird, Dark Fantasy, Occult Horror novel that borders on the bizarre—the imagery and corresponding dialogue Waggoner conjures up in certain scenes is ‘Chef’s Kiss’ perfection.

Before reading this book, I don’t recall having ever seen goat eyes before, so I made the mistake of Googling images of the aforementioned eyes. Let me tell you, Dear Readers, that imagery added a whole other layer of creepy to my reading experience.

I have to admit that though I stopped reading this book at a little over sixty percent of the way in, I have an almost desperate need to know how the story ends, so a may return to this book at a later date.

The main issue I had when reading was the inability to stay submerged within the narrative–scenes that, to me, felt over-explained or repetitive to the point I was skimming through some of the pages.

The tease of the main character Lori’s past related to her present-day circumstance is palpable on the pages, so perhaps, my need for answers bypassed my patience in a race to the reveal by way of the conclusion. So, again, I will be revisiting this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for loaning me an eGalley of YOUR TURN TO SUFFER in the request of an honest review.

Scheduled For Release – March 23, 2021 (Subject To Change)

~Available Now On Amazon~

~Your Turn To Suffer~

Creature

– by Hunter Shea

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~Amazon Image – Own/Kindle – 09/06/2018~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Creature~

Kill Creek

– by Scott Thomas

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~Cover by M.S. Corley – Own/Paperback –10/31/2017~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

About:

‘At the end of a dark prairie road, nearly forgotten in the Kansas countryside, is the Finch House. For years it has remained empty, overgrown, abandoned. Soon the door will be opened for the first time in decades. But something is waiting, lurking in the shadows, anxious to meet its new guests…’

My Thoughts:I have waited a long time to read KILL CREEK, a novel that has been sitting ever so patiently on my bookshelf, my fingers sliding across the spines of each of my to-be-reads—with a wink and a nod—a bit of self-restraint, I chant my morning mantra, ‘In due time my friends, in due time.’ 😉

I Love This Book—I had a blast reading it! If you are a Horror fan, I Highly Recommend reading KILL CREEK.

Love Thomas’ writing, here’s a sample:

‘The furry green vines that draped the countryside like exposed muscle began to awaken at the soothing touch of the cool rain. Their movement was subtle, the construction slow like the stirrings of an animal roused from hibernation. As the creek bed filled with rainwater, the vines wriggled beneath the surface, leafy worms digging in the dirt. Still the ground did not drink.’

KILL CREEK – By Scott Thomas
Source: Paperback I Purchased
Published: 2017/First Edition/Inkshares, Inc.
Cover Design: M.S. Corley

~Available On Amazon~

~Kill Creek~

The Bounty

– by –

Janet Evanovich & Steve Hamilton

~Amazon Image /Atria Books/ I received an eBooks/03/23/2021~

Star Rating – 2.0/5.0

About:

Special Agent Kate O’Hare and international criminal Nick Fox pair up again in this thriller wherein the two team up with their fathers to find the $30 billion in Nazi gold before The Brotherhood finds it first.

My Thoughts:

THE BOUNTY, book seven in the Fox and O’Hare series, features indestructible foes amongst likable, though seemingly invincible characters in this plot-driven narrative.

I will say that suspension of disbelief is necessary as you delve into this action-filled novel which reminds me of the 007 movies I watched as a kid with unbeatable characters like James Bond, Blofeld, and Jaws with his steel-capped teeth.

The main issue I have with the storyline in THE BOUNTY, specifically the historical aspect, is morally based and has nothing to do with the writing, per se. To me, the thought of anyone looking for and possibly finding the Nazi gold makes me sick to my stomach.

Why did I want to read this book?

1.) To know that the gold isn’t found.

2.) If it is found, see that it doesn’t get into the hands of The Brotherhood.

3.) To bear witness to The Brotherhood and their affiliates get taken out.

Did any of that happen?

You will have to read the book and find out.

I look forward to reading novels one through six; the first five co-authored with Lee Goldberg (Yessss!), and number six with Peter Evanovich, who is new to me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for loaning me an eGalley of THE BOUNTY at the request of an honest review.

Scheduled For Release – March 23, 2021

~Available On Amazon~

~The Bounty~

Buzz Books

Great Reads

Spring/Summer 2021

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~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Kindle – 01/19/2020~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

‘BUZZ BOOKS 2021 presents passionate readers with an insider’s look at the buzziest books due out this spring [/summer] season.’

Here are a few of the standout-picks I requested from NetGalley, and there are SO many to choose from, be it fiction or non-fiction, and don’t even get me started on some of the awesome cover art:Kat Chow, SEEING GHOSTS: A MEMOIR
Gareth Worthington, A TIME FOR MONSTERS
Sanjena Sathian, GOLD DIGGERS
Emma Stonex, THE LAMPLIGHTERS
Danielle Henderson, THE UGLY CRY
Daniel James Brown, FACING THE MOUNTAIN
Gregory Brown, THE LOWERING DAYS

I have to admit, I don’t recall having ever read a BUZZ BOOK catalogue featuring up-and-coming books before, but color me excited when NetGalley approved me to read and review it.

I mean, how can a bonafide bibliophile not drool over the mere prospect of possessing a gold mine such as this, that includes summaries, excerpts, and conveniently placed request links of new releases for NetGalley reviewers.

Will I and fellow reviewers get approved for every request we wholeheartedly hope for? Nope! I equate that feeling to the Sears and Roebuck Christmas catalogs of yesteryear filled with all the toys our little hearts desired. Did I get everything I wanted on my list to St. Nick?

Nope! Did it sting? Yup, a little bit. I never did get that Barbie Dream House I asked him for year after year. *sniff*

Sorry, I went off on a tangent…

It’s important to note; you don’t have to be a book reviewer to take advantage of this catalog and be in the know of new releases, free as an eBook on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, which includes summaries, excerpts, and pre-order links for each book.

The only question left is, what are you waiting for? Check It Out!

Thank you, NetGalley and Publishers Lunch, for loaning me an eBook of BUZZ BOOK 2021 in the request of an honest review.

~Free Kindle Edition Now On Amazon~

~Buzz Books Spring/Summer 2021~

Flora & Jim

– by BP Gregory

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~Amazon Image – Kindle/Own – 07/30/2018~

Star Rating – DNF

~Available On Amazon~

~Flora & Jim~

The Night Crawls In

– by Steve Stred

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~Amazon Image – Kindle/Own – 09/01/2019~

Star Rating – 2.0/5.0

THE NIGHT CRAWLS IN – by Steve Stred
Source: eBook/I Purchased/First Edition/2019
Genre: Horror

There are thirty-three drabbles and seventeen poems in this horror collection; the following is a list of my favorites including snippets from each one: ‘The Night Crawls In’ (A Drabble) – I Love this one; probably my favorite.

‘The path rolled its way through the trees. The branches overhead worked to create a claustrophobic enclosure. If you listened close enough you would swear you could hear the sun yelling to be let in.’

‘ScareCrow’ (A Poem)

‘“I saw the scarecrow wave at me.” / “No you didn’t, keep walking.” / We kept pushing our way through the acres of hay, knowing the house was ahead.’

‘The Clearing’ (A Drabble)

‘It took us three days to hike to the edge of their territory. My daughter grew heavier and heavier on my back, but I knew we needed to make it.[…] We had to try. We wanted to live, to survive.’

‘Worms’ (A Poem) – Love this one.

‘They live just below our feet /Crawling, slithering, trying to latch on / We go about our normal days, / Oblivious to the horror three feet below.’

‘Dinner Guests’ (A Drabble)

‘The man eats alone at the table.
Old, wooden, hand crafted. A thing of beauty.
He looks at the empty seats, momentarily wishes that he had company.
But it won’t happen.
The seats were filled in years gone by. But one by one they met their fate.’

‘Out of Time’ (A Drabble)

‘We hid in the cave for four days.
Whatever it was that was out there made sure we knew it was still around.’

‘Rumble Strip’ (A Poem)

‘Five hundred miles alone/ Driving down that stretch of forgotten highway /Just me and the radio keeping me company/ Robert Earl Reed crooning about Hattiesburg/ My bags were packed Destination somewhere out there’

‘Introvert’ (A Poem)

‘A cold corner in a darkened room / Is the only place where I feel loved/ For rather than deal with the perceptions of others / Wouldn’t you seek shelter from the storm?’

‘The Crooked Lady’ (A Poem)

‘The crooked lady who lived in the shack/ Was the lady I was told who made kids a snack / If it was the truth and she really ate kids / Would she keep the leftovers fresh with Tupperware lids?’

‘Sundown’ (A Poem)

‘“The clouds, the clouds!”/ The old man yelled, / As he ran as fast as he could./ “They’ve ate my wife,/ Taken her life, ”/ But none of us understood.’

‘Final Goodbye’ (A Drabble) – My Heart!

‘Sixty four years of marriage. The last thirteen she hadn’t remembered my name or my face. But every day I still visited. Fed her lunch, wiped her chin, played cards with her. The days grew long but her time was getting shorter.’

‘Summers’ (A Poem) – Love this one.

‘Remember how grass used to feel between your toes? / Long summer nights under the moon’s tender glow./ Evening thunderstorms down the valley ahead, / The rattling boom after the lightning had led.’

~Available On Amazon~

~The Night Crawls In~

Remains

– by Andrew Cull

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~Amazon Image – Kindle/Own – 09/16/2019~

Star Rating – 5.0-5.0

REMAINS – By Andrew Cull
Source: eBook/I purchased/2019/IFWG Publishing International
Genre: Horror

Love this opening paragraph:

‘No one talked openly about the space, the empty corner of Lucy Campbell’s room. The way it would draw your attention, like a stranger quietly whispering your name. The way it was filled with a cold that felt as if it moved over you, pulling the warmth from your body, like someone pulling in a breath before a scream.’

And this one…‘What had she done? Lucy answered her own question. She’d done what any mother would have done. She took one last breath of dusk air, steeling herself. She stepped over the threshold and the house swallowed her whole.’

My Thoughts:

As a Mother, my heart bleeds for these characters. Specifically, Lucy, her grief is so deep it’s palpable on every page.

~Available On Amazon~

~Remains~

Diabolica Britannica
– Edited by Keith Anthony Baird

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~Amazon Image – eBook From John F. Leonard – 07/13/2020~

Star Rating – 4.5/5.0

DIABOLICA BRITANNICA is an anthology of fourteen dark tales from the dark isles.

My Favorites Are:‘CARREG SAMSON’ – BY CATHERINE MCCARTHY

‘’I am Carreg Samson, cromlech of Cwm Badau, Pembrokeshire. For five millennia I have stood on this spot.[…] Think of me as a lookout post. I watch and I listen, as do thousands of my brethren the world over. We are stewards of the earth.’’

‘’Her grief awoke in me a sense of caring that I did not think possible. You see, until knowing her I was not even sentient. Unthinking, unfeeling, devoid of emotion. But this girl brought me to life.’’

‘TOURIST TRAPS’ – BY CHRISTOPHER HENDERSON – THAT WAS GOOD!

‘You stand in London’s most haunted spot. You will never find this tale recorded in books, nor will other tours ever lead you here. What took place beneath this claustrophobic roof was so evil, so malevolent, so inexplicable, that its very existence was hidden from the world.’

‘THE SECRET OF WESTPORT FELL’ – BY BEVERLEY LEE – LOVE THE ENDING!

‘’This is as far as I go. And God knows it’s half a mile too long.’’

‘’Could you not take me into the village at least?’ she asked, wishing she could fall into the simpering prettiness of Clara, her younger sister.’

‘’Wild horses wouldn’t drag me any further, Miss. And mine know the score.’ He waved his arm at the two bay mares shivering in their harnesses.’

‘’She wanted to ask what he meant but it was obvious he was going to leave her here, and she was in no mood for folklore and superstition.’

‘THE FLOW’ – BY TIM LEBBON

‘She’d spent over twenty years of her life in the little village, most of them happy, the last few much less so, and she’d walked these hillsides many times before. She knew them well. Knew the sweeps and slopes, the streams and small ravines. The places to hide.’

‘WE PLOUGH THE FIELDS AND SCATTER’ – BY STEPHANIE ELLIS

‘They appeared at dusk. Six phantom shapes against the dead winter skyline. Not ghosts though. These were real, filled with blood – oh, so much blood.’

‘LINGER’ – BY JOHN F LEONARD

‘Edward wasn’t overly bothered. His father had joined his mother in the sweet hereafter. This time, the bequest was more than an in-arrears mortgage on an ex-council house and a pile of mouldy paperbacks. A hell of a lot more.’

‘SONG OF THE MOOR’ – BY ALYSON FAYE

‘Ilkley Moor held a hoard of caches. He’d been surprised though when Eva had suggested the idea to him, then texted the coordinates and instructions. His prize – the key to her cottage.’

‘I love games, Luke, don’t you? All sorts of games,’ she’d said.’’

‘WALKED A PALE HORSE ON CELTIC FROST’ – BY KEITH ANTHONY BAIRD – LOVE IT!

‘Firelight from the already burning homes lured a watcher from the woods. Locals had spurned her for as long as she could remember, and so this day held a poignant rapture she savoured.’

‘THE HOLE’ – BY SARAH J BUDD

‘Books were a portal for her, once opened she would slip away from her surroundings and be transported somewhere else. Away from the death of her mother. But today of all days she had left her book back at the chalet.’

‘SCRIPTED IN SHADOWS’ – BY MORGAN K TANNER – LOVE IT!

‘Looking back at her discovery, it was really more like the book had found her. The curious nothingness of the tome had first attracted her. It was like nothing she’d ever seen before but at the same time looked like a thousand other old books. A mysterious aura emanated from it, enticing her to make it hers.’

‘CALL THE NAME‘ – BY ADAM L. G. NEVILL

‘She has no doubt now that it will finish the destruction initiated by the burning of coal on an industrial scale. Mankind has obliviously, yet fastidiously, spent its last two hundred years waking an angry parent.’

‘New voices now sang through the wind, rain and relentless tides, and in dreams that required a lifetime of interpretation. But every shriek in her nightmares foretells far greater horrors, yet to be endured.’

Thank you so much, John F Leonard, for providing me an eBook of DIABOLICA BRITANNICA in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Diabolica Britannica~

Wormwood

– by Chad Lutzke & Tim Meyer

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~Purchased From Night Worms Book Club Monthly Package – November 2020~

~Cover Art and Design by Elderlemon Design~

~Night Worms/ Thunderstorm Books /Paperback/Own – 12/15/2020~

About:
‘For some kids, Long Lake, Georgia is home. But for fourteen-year-old Baker Gray, it’s just another stop, another town in another state. Because of his mother’s nomadic lifestyle, he’s never had a best friend, never kissed a girl, and he’s certainly never met anyone like Cassandra Larsson […]‘

My Thoughts:

Oh, My horror-filled heart! I have waited a long time for WORMWOOD to crawl up to the top of my TBR list, and now that it has and I have read it, I reiterate—Oh, My horror-filled heart!

When I learned on Twitter that Chad Lutzke and Tim Meyer were going to co-author a book together, I was beyond thrilled!

I have had the pleasure of reading their books over the past couple of years; (though I haven’t read them all yet), they never disappoint in bringing all the feels in their writing that grabs your heart and squeezes, refusing to let go even after you turn the last page.

I think Sadie Hartmann said it best in her foreword regarding the collaboration of Lutzke and Meyer, calling them the Dream Team, and I wholeheartedly agree.

That’s not hyperbole, horror peeps; that’s just being honest.

WORMWOOD – Highly Recommend!

Source: I received my paperback copy of WORMWOOD in a Nightworms Subscription Box that I purchased in November of 2020.

~Available On Amazon~

~Wormwood~

THE DEAD BOXES ARCHIVE
– by John F. Leonard

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~Amazon Image – eBook From The Author-12/10/2020~

Star Rating – 4.5/5.0

THE DEAD BOXES ARCHIVE: Dark Tales of Horror and the Diabolical – Volume One – By John F Leonard

‘The Dead Boxes Archive’ is a chilling collection of short horror stories and horror novellas. Together for the first time in one volume, seven tales from the critically acclaimed Dead Boxes series.’

My Favorites:CALL DROPS – A Short Horror Story – 5.0/5.0 Stars – Love this one, dark and a whole lot of creepy!

‘Vincent Preece acquired an odd object. It looked like an old mobile phone, but it wasn’t. It was something called a Dead Box. Even after experiencing the effects, he didn’t understand it. Why would he, they’re incredibly rare items.

‘The Dead Boxes are scary things. They can be easily overlooked. They’re ordinary on the surface. At first glance, that is.’

DOGGEM – A Tale of Toy Dogs and Dark Deeds – 5.0/5.0 Stars

‘Time for a five-year-old is, after all, an elastic thing. Stretching and folding in ways that are forgotten as age dulls wonder, and everyday mundane takes the reins. Moments littered with whispered conversation and simmering discord.

‘There was something amiss between his parents.’

I had the pleasure of being introduced to Leonards’ writing last year when I purchased DOGGEM as a standalone. Though the story enticed my dark heart, it was also his writing that held me captivated in the moment. Here’s an example:

‘Even the everyday tired and tedious has a spangly fascination when seen with fresh eyes. The creeping progress of a shadow as dawn unfolds with implacable composure. The hypnotic see-saw swing of a feather at the mercy of invisible tides. The nimble industry of a spider as it spins a web of hope and hunger.’ – Love It!!

A PLAGUE OF PAGES – Dark Words and Darker Hearts – 4.0/5.0 Stars

‘What did they call it when you wrote without any real knowledge of doing so? Automatic writing? Psychography? Whatever you called it, his version had a lovely little twist, a proper belter of a variation.’

‘His stuff, scrawled in a swirling mist of forgetfulness, came true.

NIGHT SERVICE – A tale of travel and terror – 5.0/5.0 Stars

‘It was surely the worst experience of Luke’s short life. He couldn’t say for the rest of them. The statement was undoubtedly true for at least some. Certainly those that died.’

‘LINGER’ – A Tale of Art and Abomination – 5.0/5.0 Stars

Thank you so much Author John F Leonard for providing me with an eBook of
THE DEAD BOXES ARCHIVE in request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Dead Boxes Archive~

Food Yum!

– by Chris Zeid

food-yum-use-cover

~Amazon Image – eBook/From The Author -03/21/2020 ~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

‘What if beings from another planet came to earth with a peace offering in the form of a small candy which would kill all excess body fat, build muscle, give you incredible energy, and clear, wonderful skin?’

‘Would you be interested?’

A tough question, and one that Isaac internally struggles with as he watches his friend’s extraordinary transformations. Once a hard sell, it has gotten a lot easier for him to say yes—but does he?

You will have to delve into this quick, creepy-good read and find out. 😉

Thank you, Author Chris Zeid, for providing me with an eBook of FOOD YUM! in the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Food Yum!~

The Searching Dead

– by Ramsey Campbell

the-searching-dead-cover

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Flame Tree Press – 02/16/2021~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

About:

THE SEARCHING DEAD is set in Liverpool, England, in 1952-1954, and is centered around three friends—a.k.a. The Tremendous Three— Jim Bailey, Bobby (short for Roberta) Parkin, and our narrator, Dominic Sheldrake.

Shortly after Jim and Dominic begin their journey at Holy Ghost Grammar School, their history teacher, Mr. Christian Noble brings in a guest speaker to talk about World War I, followed by a field trip to France. Rather than the promised adventure, the boys get an eye-opening glimpse of what’s in store for the world.

‘Dominic used to write tales of their exploits, but what they face now could reduce any adult to less than a child…’

My Thoughts:

I didn’t know that THE SEARCHING DEAD is book one of a trilogy (Yeeeessss!!) Which has me wondering if books two and three will be re-released, and perhaps, a book four is in the making?

The pacing is a slow build; however, I like the time Campbell lets the reader spend getting to know his characters—three friends whose relationship gets taxed by the day-to-day navigation of grammar school, love interests, and, of course, the darkness that stirs in the shadows of Liverpool.

If you like cosmic horror, coming-of-age stories, then I think you will like this book!

Recommend!

Scheduled For Re-release – February 16, 2021

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for loaning me an eGalley of THE SEARCHING DEAD in a request for an honest review.

Up Next By Campbell – Reread of WISE FRIEND

~Available Now On Amazon~

~The Searching Dead~

A Caller’s Game

– by J.D. Barker

a-callers-game-cover

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Hampton Creek Press – 02/22/2021~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

Happy Book Birthday! – A CALLER’S GAME – Released Today!

About:

Jordan Briggs is a no-nonsense take-no-crap-from-anyone kind of woman who clawed her way to fame as a popular satellite radio talk show host in New York City—who’s not afraid of taking risks, speaking her mind, and doesn’t spare anyone’s feelings.

However, success comes at a price—a failed marriage, a troubled relationship with her mother, and balancing motherhood with her career.

Briggs’ one solace in life is her eleven-year-old daughter, Charlotte, who’s not surprisingly just like her.

The book opens with Jordon stuck in morning traffic in the Big Apple, running late with seconds to spare—she makes it into the lobby of SiriusXM, snatches a wireless headset from the hands of a wide-eyed intern, grabs a cup of Joe after she starts the intro to her show, Overdrive with Jordan Briggs, and settles in for what she thinks is going to be a day like any other.

That is until she gets a call from a listener who asks if she wants to play a game.

And what starts as a game soon turns deadly…

‘I’m going to offer you a choice.’

My Thoughts:

That. Was. Intense!

An action-packed suspense thriller with the tension set at full throttle? Yes, Please!

A CALLER’S GAME, if memory serves, is the third book that I have read by Barker, an author whose writing I was introduced to last year and is now one of my favorites.

As I read the novel, I noticed a few times where suspension of disbelief may be required. However, it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press Publishing, for loaning me an eGalley of A CALLER’S GAME in a request for an honest review.

Highly Recommend!

Scheduled To Release — February 22, 2021

~Available Now On Amazon~

~A Caller’s Game~

I Spit Myself Out

– by Tracy Fahey

i-spit-myself-out-cover

~Design And Cover by J.R. Park~

eBook From The Author/Sinister Horror Company/I Purchased Paperback – 02/13/2021~

Star Rating – 4.5/5.0

This quote from Fahey’s Introduction in the book resonated with me so much, specifically the last line, which hit home with me, and I wanted to share it with you:

‘To write the Gothic body is to recognise what we already hold within us. Like a series of Russian dolls, our bodies contain within them shadows of illness, trauma, memory. The worst monsters of all are inside us; the most destructive seeds are those we plant within ourselves.’

After reading and reviewing THE UNHEIMLICH MANOEUVRE, to say I am a fan of Fahey’s writing would be a complete understatement, so when I saw her promoting this collection on Twitter, I knew I had to read it!

‘This collection, I SPIT MYSELF OUT, presents eighteen stories of female-voiced terror inspired by Julia Kristeva’s 1982 essay ‘The Powers of Horror.’

I haven’t read Kristeva’s essay yet. However, I did find it online and look forward to reading it.

The following stories are my favorites and those that resonated with me the most:‘I’ll Be Your Mirror’ – That is really good!

‘The Wrong Ones’

‘Becoming’ – That is really good!

‘It Comes Up‘ – Wow! I wasn’t expecting that ending.

‘I Write Your Name’

‘The Cure’ – Wow! I didn’t expect that ending.

‘I Kiss the Wounds’

‘The Girl Who Kissed the Dead’ – Love It!!!

‘Sin Deep’ – My Heart!

‘Noli Me Tangere’ – My Heart!

‘Reducing’ – Wow! This one hit home!

‘Inside Out’ – That is really good!

‘Love Like Blood’ – That is really good!

‘The House Under the House’

‘I Spit Myself Out’ – My Heart!

Thank you, Tracy Fahey and Sinister Horror Company, for providing me with an eBook of I SPIT MYSELF OUT in the request of an honest review.

~Available Now On Amazon~

~I Spit Myself Out~

Children Of Chicago

– by Cynthia Pelayo

children-of-chicago-cover

~Cover Design by Mimi Bark – NetGalley/Agora Books- 02/09/2021~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

CHILDREN OF CHICAGO – by Cynthia Pelayo
Released – February 9, 2021

‘Legends, myths, and lore all came from somewhere, and, as Lauren discovered, all came back.’

‘When Detective Lauren Medina sees the calling card at a murder scene in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, she knows the Pied Piper has returned.’I love the way Pelayo sprinkled bits and pieces of Chicago’s history throughout the narrative (both the good and the bad), including the tangible history on view today, the likes of THE DREAM LADY in Lincoln Park—the hag depicted in granite on its base—is particularly disturbing in its juxtaposition with the angelic bronze figure and sleeping children on top, which lends to the darker side of the book as does the folktales of Brothers Grimm at the core of the story—Love It!

Quite a bit is revealed early on, so the ending doesn’t hold a lot in the way of a big reveal or surprises that I was hoping for in the conclusion.

Pelayo wields some awesome cringe-worthy moments throughout, imagery that feels forever embedded in my mind. I can honestly say sleep may not be peaceful for me tonight.

Thank you, NetGalley and Agora Books Publishing, for loaning me an eGalley of CHILDREN OF CHICAGO in the request of an honest review.

~Available Now On Amazon~

~Children Of Chicago~

The Damned Highway

– by –

Brian Keene & Nick Mamatas

damned-highway-cover

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Macabre Ink Production/eGalley – 02/15/2021~

Star Rating – 2.5/5.0

As you delve into this book, and, perhaps, your first impression of the narrative is that it reads like the nonsensical (at times hilarious) ramblings of a drug and alcohol-infused unreliable narrator who’s on a road trip, or perhaps he’s just tripping, you would be on point, because, well…that is kind of the point.

THE DAMNED HIGHWAY: FEAR AND LOATHING IN ARKHAM, intended as both a tribute and a parody,is set in the early 1970s—Authors Nick Mamatas and Brian Keene mix the gonzo journalism of Hunter A. Thompson, the Comic Horror of H.P Lovecraft, and 1972 Presidential election featuring Incumbent Republican Richard M. “I Am Not A Crook” Nixon.

Thompson wrote his novel FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS in 1971, billed as a cult classic that centers around the journalist and his lawyer, their drug-addled brains, and a road trip they go on during a long weekend.

As much I am transfixed by the Shroom-induced hallucinations—out of pure curiosity, to be honest, as to where this book is headed, I had to call it quits at the fifty percent mark.

Trust me, Dear Reader, the promise of seeing Nixon portrayed as a tentacle-waving member of the Cult of Cthulhu (mentioned in the synopsis) is well worth the price of admission—my one hope—that he’s met with an unpleasant end. So, I may return to this book at a later date.

I have to admit I have yet read any of Thompson’s work, and this is my first introduction to Brian Keene and Nick Mamatas’ writing, though Keene’s book THE RISING has been creeping it’s way up to the top of my towering TBR pile, which I hope to read soon.

Thank you, NetGalley and Crossroad Press, for loaning me an eGalley of THE DAMNED HIGHWAY: FEAR AND LOATHING IN ARKHAM in the request of an honest review.

~Available Now On Amazon~

~The Damned Highway~

Unethical

– by Marla L. Anderson

unethical-cover

~Amazon Image – BookSirens/Wolfheart Press/eBook– 01/08/2021

~Available On Amazon~

~Unethical~

UNETHICAL, a Psychological Thriller, is the first book that I have read by Marla Anderson, and I can’t wait to read more!

About:

‘Josephine aka ‘Jo’ struggles to balance the demands of her budding legal career with caring for her recently widowed and very cantankerous father who’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. […] When Jo’s boss suggests she enroll her father in a client’s residential research program at the Kessler Institute, it seems like the perfect solution.’
‘But her relief is short-lived when questions about Dr. Kessler go unanswered, and she is forced to hire Scott Benson, a private investigator, to find out what is going on behind closed doors.’

My Thoughts:

This novel simultaneously warmed and broke my heart, surprised me, and sent me on a roller coaster of emotion as certain parts of the narrative hit home for me as I reflect on my loved ones who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

The conclusion brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes—Highly Recommend!

Thank you, BookSirens and Wolfheart Press, for providing me with an eBook of UNETHICAL in the request for an honest review.

Published – January 28, 2021

Roadside Attractions

– by Eric Lahti

roadside-attrations-cover

~Amazon Image – BookSirens/Kyanite Publishing – 01/27/2021~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

I introduce to you…The Terror!, a roadside attraction in the small town of Dragoon, Arizona, wherein a ghost resides—and something far more sinister.

By way of a strange text message, ghost-hunters Jordan Jones and his girlfriend, Char Rivera, are summoned to Dragoon with the lure of hunting a ghost unlike any they’ve ever met and a substantial payout.

As they coast into town on a wing and a prayer in Jordon’s 1978 Dodge Van, the couple soon discovers they’ve just entered a literal hell on earth scenario, and I am not only talking about the Arizona heat.

If you like dark occult horror with a touch of humor, then I think you will like this book.

I like strong women portrayed in books, so I immediately liked Char, Jennine, and to a certain extent, Lilith.

Thank you, BookSirens and Kyanite Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS in a request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Roadside Attractions~

The Burning Girls

– by C.J. Tudor

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Ballantine Books/eGalley – 02/09/2021~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

THE BURNING GIRLS – by C.J. Tudor

About:

Single parent and Vicar, Jack Brooks, moves to the small village of Chapel Croft to start anew, though her fourteen-year-old daughter Flo wants nothing more than to return to city life in Nottingham. Well, that is until Flo meets the dark-haired and green-eyed teen named Wrigley.

Jack and Flo soon discover that the seemingly quiet town of Chapel Croft is rife with conspiracies, age-old rifts, mysteries, suspicions, and specters of girls ablaze that refuse to be laid to rest.

The history of the burning girls is at the core of Chapel Croft—dark times dating back five hundred years when Protestant Martyrs were betrayed—and then burned.

‘Uncovering the truth can be deadly in a village with a bloody past, where everyone has something to hide, and no one trusts an outsider.’

My Thoughts:

THE BURNING GIRLS is the second book that I have read by Tudor, the first being THE OTHERS, which I immediately purchased as a hardback copy, both books I highly recommend!

Though the ending wasn’t a complete surprise to me, as I pieced it together early on, there was one detail at the very end in the last scene that explains a lot, and I’m not going to spoil it for you.

THE BURNING GIRLS – Scheduled To Release February 9, 2021 (Subject To Change)

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for loaning me an eGalley of THE BURNING GIRLS in a request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Burning Girls~

The Future Is Yours

– by Dan Frey

~Book Design by Elizabeth A.D. Eno – NetGalley/Del Rey/eGalley – 02/09/2021~

Star Rating – 2.0/5.0

The premise of the story I Love! LOVE! The characters, not so much, except for co-founder Adhi Chaudry, to a certain extent, the brains behind the revolutionary technology, a computer that can connect to the internet one year into the future.

As I delved into THE FUTURE IS YOURS, my first and lasting impression of one of the main characters and co-founders of THE FUTURE, Ben Boyce, is that he comes off as a complete and utter arrogant, greedy, [Insert your choice of expletive here].

How it all began…

Ben Boyce and Adhi Chaudry met at Stanford University in California as roommates. (hence the use of ‘Bro!’ and ‘Dude!’ and I was waiting for the occasional ‘Sweet!’, but that didn’t happen) I’m from California, so…yeah. I mean, ‘Like, Totally Fer Sure!’ 😉

Chaudry is working towards his Ph.D. in Computer Science, that is, until the department put the kibosh on his thesis and Chaudry drops out of the program.

With a good word from Boyce (kudos to him for that), Chaudry lands a job with Google.

A short while later…

Ben asks to read Adhi’s thesis paper, which begins the ball rolling.

For any big idea to get off the ground, it takes startup money, and that’s where Boyce comes in, even if he has to lie to potential investors to get it, while later treating them and his staff like the dung on his shoe.

Overall, I wanted to love this book in its entirety, but that didn’t happen.

I liked the formatting and narrative style—using emails, text messages, blog posts, transcripts, and online news articles.

I look forward to reading what Frey comes up with in the future. Next up by Frey, the Audible Original, THE RETREAT.

Thank you, NetGalley and Del Rey Publishing, for loaning me an eGalley of THE FUTURE IS YOURS in request for an honest review.

Scheduled For Release – February 9, 2021 (Subject To Change)

~Available On Amazon~

~The Future Is Yours~

Crimsom Lake Road

– by Victor Methos

~Cover Design by Christopher Lin – NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer/eGalley – 02/09/2021~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

CRIMSON LAKE ROAD is Book Two in the Desert Plains Series; A KILLER’S WIFE is the first and scheduled for release in August of this year, Book Three, THE UNRELIABLE TRUTH.

Getting ready to retire as a prosecutor, her office already packed up, Jessica Yardley is asked to stay on for one last investigation—a set of murders depicted like the grisly scenes in a series of paintings called The Night Things.

‘[T]he more Jessica finds out, the less clear her case becomes. Out of options, she’s forced to consult her serial killer ex-husband—to gain additional insight into the crimes and the killer’s motivations.’

Having not read the first book in the Desert Plains Series, as I dove into book two, I knew right away that would need to be remedied, not due to something lacking in CRIMSON LAKE ROAD (easily read as a standalone), but a growing need to learn more about Tara and Jessica Yardley and Jessica’s serial killer ex-husband and Tara’s father, Eddie Cal.

As I made my way through book two, I couldn’t help but wonder if the narrative plays out similar to the film Mr. Brooks, wherein his daughter may or may not be just like him—a killer?

Will Jessica catch the killer or become the final addition to the killer’s masterpiece?

You will have to read the book and find out! 😉

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, for loaning me an eGalley of CRIMSON LAKE ROAD with a request for an honest review.

Scheduled To Release – February 9, 2021 (Subject To Change).

~Available On Amazon~

~Crimson Lake Road~

The Last Tiara

– by M.J. Rose

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Blue Box Press/eGalley – 02/02/2021~

Star Rating – 2.0/5.0

~Goodreads – The Last Tiara~

I love the story’s premise—the mystery of the tiara from two separate timelines—that of a mother’s perspective, Sofiya Petrovitch in 1915, and her daughter Isobelle Moon, 1948.

Though it is the secrets surrounding the diadem that held my interest for almost three-quarters of the way through the book, it wasn’t enough to sustain it.

I never felt fully submerged in the narrative and the characters’ lives as there was more telling than showing throughout, pulling me out of the story.

THE LAST TIARA may not have ticked all the boxes for me; I am, however, looking forward to reading more by Rose.

Thank you, NetGalley and Blue Box Press, for loaning me an eGalley of THE LAST TIARA in exchange for an honest review.

Scheduled To Release – February 2, 2021 (Subject To Change)

~Available On Amazon~

~The Last Tiara~

In Darkness Shadows Breathe

– by Catherine Cavendish

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Flame Tree Press/eGalley – 01/19/2021~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

‘You’re next…

Carol and Nessa are strangers but not for much longer.

In a luxury apartment and in the walls of a modern hospital, the evil that was done continues to thrive. They are in the hands of an entity that knows no boundaries and crosses dimensions – bending and twisting time itself – and where danger waits in every shadow.’

IN DARKNESS, SHADOWS BREATHE is the second novel that I have read by Cavendish, the first being THE GARDEN OF BEWITCHMENT, and the third will be THE HAUNTING OF HENDERSON CLOSE.

I love the title of this book, IN DARKNESS, SHADOWS BREATHE, and how it ties into the story, which I will let you discover on your own.

There are parts of the novel that confused me a bit, specifically the Prologue when the reader is first introduced to Carol. Later towards the end, through a recap that seems to contradict what the reader learns early on about the father of one of the characters regarding his demise or lack thereof?

It’s important to note, from different points-of-view, characters stress that time isn’t linear throughout the novel, that it can’t be bent, twisted, and curled, as flows the narrative and possibly the source of my confusion.

I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say that Cavendish’s writing is dark and beautiful, in parts, bringing me to tears. It didn’t take long for me to become fully invested in the lives of the two main characters, Carol and Nessa.

I will be rereading this book in the future, and I look forward to reading what Cavendish comes up with next.

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for loaning me an eGalley of IN DARKNESS, SHADOWS BREATHE, in exchange for an honest review.

Scheduled To Release – January 19, 2021 (Subject To Change)

~Available On Amazon~

~In Darkness Shadows Breathe~

Bone Canyon

– by Lee Goldberg

~Cover Design by Shasti O’Leart Stiydabt – NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer/eGalley – 01/05/2021~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

BONE CANYON, Book Two in the Eve Ronin Series, is the first book that I have read by Lee Goldberg, and I can’t wait to read Book One, LOST HILLS.

I love reading books centered around strong women protagonists, the likes of Eve Ronin, who aren’t afraid to stand up and do what’s right, but who are also not infallible. This well-placed flaw had this reader donning a tweed jacket, cloth cap, and puffing on an old briar-root pipe by the end of Act One, whilst quoting Jessica Fletcher, ‘I may be wrong, but frankly, I doubt it.’

About:

Eve Ronin is the youngest homicide detective in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, paired with the seasoned detective and soon-to-be-retired Duncan (aka Donuts) Pavone.

A catastrophic wildfire sear through the Santa Monica Mountains, exposing the charred remains of a woman who disappeared years ago, and Ronin is assigned to investigate. What else she discovers, well, no spoilers!

I can’t wait to read more about Eve Ronin in LOST HILLS and what I hope will be published shortly, Book Three in this series.

Side Note: How did I not know that Lee Goldberg and Janet Evanovich co-wrote not one but several books in the Mystery/Romance Series, Fox and O’Hare?

Oh, If I could live in a Library, I would! #BookLoverProblems *sigh*

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, for loaning me an eGalley of BONE CANYON in exchange for an honest review.

Scheduled to release January 5, 2021, though subject to change.

~Available On Amazon~

~Bone Canyon~

The Survivors

– by Jane Harper

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Macmillan Audiobook – 02/02/2021~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

Category: Mystery & Thriller
THE SURVIVORS – By Jane Harper
Source: NetGalley/Audiobook Review
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Narration – By Stephen Shanahan
Scheduled To Release: February 02, 2021 (Subject To Change)

About:

Kieran Elliott’s haunted past and guilt resurface when he, his girlfriend, and their three-month-old daughter visit with his parents, who live in the small coastal town of Evelyn Bay, Tasmania.

‘When a body is discovered on the beach, long-held secrets threaten to emerge. A sunken wreck, a missing girl, and questions that have never washed away….’

Narration/Pacing/Flow:

THE SURVIVORS is narrated by Stephen Shanahan, who does an excellent job of capturing each character’s essence, making each distinct. The flow and pacing are perfect, in my opinion.

My Thoughts:

As I listened to the story, it’s easy to see the title’s connection as it relates to certain aspects of the narrative and the setting. But, it’s the tie into the present-day relations of Kieran’s parents that I found so heartbreakingly relatable.

THE SURVIVORS is the first book that I have read by Harper, and I look forward to reading more of her books. If you’re a fan of Mystery/Thrillers as I am, then I highly recommend reading this book.

Overall: 4.5/5.0 Stars
Performance: 5.0/5.0 Stars
Story: 4.0/5.0 Stars

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio Publishing, for loaning me an Audiobook of THE SURVIVORS in exchange for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Survivors~

Lola On Fire

– by Rio Youers

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Harper Audiobook – 02/16/2021~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

LOLA ON FIRE – by Rio Youers
Source: NetGalley/Audiobook Review
Publisher: HarperAudio
Scheduled To Release: February 16, 2021 (subject to change)

Have you ever said to yourself, after reading a book that encompasses all the feels, ‘How in the world can I do this book justice in a review?’ LOLA ON FIRE is that book for me, at this moment.

Youers’ writing pulled me in immediately with the action, then slowly tightened up on my heartstrings and refused to let go until the very end.

I want to share an enticing tidbit without revealing too much, so here goes: Lola is essentially the female version of John Wick; in other words, Bad A##, and her nemesis?

Well…No spoilers. 😉

Like the movie I referenced above, LOLA ON FIRE is more than tension-filled gun fighting throughout; there’s more to the story, A lot more. I will let you discover these gems on your own, but I will say, at its core, it’s about love, loss, family, friends, sacrifice, and forgiveness.

‘Empathy is a valuable resource when it comes to forgiveness.’

My Thoughts About:

Narration

The narration enhanced my reading experience from the very beginning, delivering heartfelt moments that brought tears to my eyes, the tension so thick through sinister inflection coated with calm from the red lips of one foe, had me eagerly waiting—anticipating— for that moment when calm meets the firestorm.

Jim Meskimen brought life and emotion to all of the characters in a distinct voice; each is discernible from one another, which is no easy task when the cast is so varied.

Pacing/Flow

The pacing of an audiobook is a tricky thing. In this reader’s opinion, I find that I tend to speed up the narration in all the audiobooks I listen to, except for a narrator who has a thick accent, then I slow it down a bit from my norm.

The flow and pacing of the narration are perfect. I have hearing loss in both ears, so the ability to speed up or slow down an audiobook helps tremendously.

Brief Overview Of The Story:

When life deals Brody Ellis with a lousy hand, he finds himself in need of cash to buy the medication his sister Molly needs, so he robs a convenience store. As he flees the scene, he bumps into a young woman and loses his wallet.

Expecting the police to arrive on his doorstep at any moment, he gets a phone call from Blair Mayo, the woman he bumped into; she has his missing billfold. If he wants it back, he has to do something for her, first: steal her late mother’s diamonds from her wicked stepmonster.

When Brody enters Blair’s house, he soon discovers that he’s just walked smack dab in the middle of a gruesome crime scene, in front of a security camera. Brody knows he’s been framed.

After arriving back at home, Brody gets another call from Blaire, who tells him her mobster father, Jimmy Latzo, won’t provide the security footage to the police because he wants exact his own kind of revenge.

Highly Recommend!

Overall: 5.0/5.0 Stars
Performance: 5.0/5.0 Stars
Story: 5.0/5.0 Stars

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperAudio Publishing, for loaning me an Audiobook of LOLA ON FIRE in exchange for an honest review.

~Available Now On Amazon~

~Lola On Fire~

Prodigal Son

– by Gregg Hurwitz

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Minotaur Books/eGalley – Own/Hardback – 01/26/2021~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

Evan Smoak, a.k.a. Orphan X was a government assassin until he eventually broke ties with the program and became The Nowhere Man—helping the most desperate. That is until the highest power in the country offers him an unofficial pardon; however, he must cease his activities as The Nowhere Man.

As Evan tries to settle into early retirement, he gets a call for help from a woman claiming to have given him up for adoption—his mother.

Her one request, help a man by the name of Andrew Duran, whose life is upside down after he finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, bringing him face to face with a team of assassins.

PRODIGAL SON, the first book that I have read by Hurwitz, is Book Six of the Orphan X Series, and one of the best Mystery-Tech-Thrillers I’ve read in a while, centered around characters I genuinely care about and never-ending tension that had me on the edge of my seat until literally the very last word.

Please tell me Book Seven will be released soonish!

Needing to know more about Evan, Joey (I love her!), and how these cast of characters happened to converge together, I will be delving into Books One through Five of this series in what I hope will be the near future.

PRODIGAL SON – HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

Scheduled To Release On – January 26, 2021 (Subject To Change)

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books, for loaning me an eGalley of PRODIGAL SON in exchange for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Prodigal Son~

Writing In The Dark

– by Tim Waggoner

~Cover Design by – C.V. Hunt – eBook From Raw Dog Screaming Press – Own/Paperback – 09/16/2020~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

WRITING IN THE DARK includes excellent advice from the award-winning author of this book, Tim Waggoner, who has thirty years’ experience as a writer and teacher, and includes…tips from some of the best horror professionals working today, presented at the end of each chapter.

If you are new to the genre or are unfamiliar with the different sub-genres of horror, Waggoner takes time to explain each and gives examples of authors to read who excel in that type of writing.

It is often that I feel, after reading a book, including those that center around the art of writing, a compulsive need to highlight every favorable and remarkable detail to include in a review and for future reference.

After reading WRITING IN THE DARK on my Kindle, I found myself highlighting almost the entire book, which was evidence enough for me that I needed to purchase a physical copy for my library on writing, and so I did.

Now, that brings me back to the question of what quotes to include in this review; as I said, there are many excellent tips and advice to choose from as a means to entice you without revealing too much, I hope.

I will start with a couple of my favorites from Waggoner:

‘Horror writers are like dark clowns that caper in front of our readers, making grotesque faces in the hope that the audience won’t look over our shoulder and see the true darkness of existence behind us.’

‘Any type of fiction can teach us more about ourselves and our fellow humans by showing us how particular characters deal with conflict—both external and internal. But horror turns up the conflict all the way to eleven.’ (Exactly!)

One of my favorite horror novels is Stephen King’s NEEDFUL THINGS, a story that taps into human behavior by way of external and internal conflicts that result in ‘What would you be willing to do?’ scenarios to get what said character wants—or rather—Needs. Consequences be damned?

Yep!

‘Kill them all. Let God sort them out.’ –Leland Gaunt, NEEDFUL THINGS

For me, as a writer, reader, and viewer of horror, the following quote sums up my viewpoint and interest in the genre perfectly:

‘Horror stories allow us to confront our deepest fears through the buffer of fiction. Wrestling with the darkest questions of human existence—why is there violence, pain, cruelty, and death?—can be emotionally overwhelming. These questions can be too intense to deal with directly. Like an eclipse, the only way to safely view these aspects of life is indirect. Horror allows us to do this.’

Bryan Smith, the author of MERCILESS, is one of the writers who answered a couple of interview questions for this book regarding writing tips hit home to the point I said aloud, ‘Hey now, I feel attacked!’ 😉 But, he’s right.:

‘[D]on’t get hung up on finding the exact right word to perfectly describe a thing in your first draft. Just write and get the story told. If you can do that, you’ll have an easier time finding that perfect word in the revisions phase.’

Have you ever spent an insane amount of time trying to find that perfect word or sentence structure only to go back to the original version…hours later.

*raises hand and sighs*

Craig Spector, the bestselling author of TURNAROUND, said (and I wholeheartedly agree), ‘To me, good horror is something that gets under the skin of the characters: it has an intimacy, regardless of the scope and scale of the ghastly events. Good horror shocks and unsettles and lingers long after. It can be “loud” or “quiet,” but it resonates either way. Good horror rocks.’

And…

‘Write from the inside out. Crawl inside your characters, make us care about them living, then we’ll care about them dying.[…]’

I love the advice Michele Garza, co-author of THOSE WHO FOLLOW, gives beginning writers about adding a build-up of suspense in horror writing while allowing the reader to use their imagination to fill in the blanks.

Here’s a snippet of what she said:

‘Though it can be fun to go into every gory detail, and we do quite often, letting your audience’s imagination fill in some blanks can be effective […] It’s not the maggot falling out of an undead attacker’s maw and into a squirming protagonist’s screaming mouth, it’s imagining watching it dangle from his dry lip and knowing where it’s going to end up that will leave someone thinking about your story for a long time.

My apology for barely scratching the surface of WRITING IN THE DARK, as there is so much more to this book for you to discover about writing horror; I want you to experience it on your own.

Whether you’re a newbie to the horror writing genre, a seasoned pro, or somewhere in between, I highly recommend reading this book.

I want to close with my favorite quote from Tim Waggoner, that made me laugh out loud in agreement:

‘So if anyone ever asks you why you’re wasting your time writing horror instead of “real” fiction, tell them, “Horror is as real as it gets, baby.” For good measure, hiss and bare your fangs, then get back to work.’

Thank you so much Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi and Guide Dog Books, for providing me with an eBook of WRITING IN THE DARK in a request for an honest review.

~Available Now~

~RDSP – Writing In The Dark~

The Gulp

– by Alan Baxter

~Amazon Image – eBook From The Author – 01/12/2021~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Goodreads – The Gulp~

Baxter melds five novellas together into a dark and twisted harmonious horror tale set in the harbor town of Australia known to the locals as THE GULP.

‘The Gulp has a habit of swallowing people. But sometimes it spits one out.’

That was a fun ride I did not want to end—More, Please!

Thank you, Alan Baxter, for providing me with an eBook of THE GULP in exchange for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Gulp~

Ever Winter

– by Peter Hackshaw

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Podium Audio – 01/26/2021~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

My Thoughts:

The Post Apocalypse Thriller, EVER WINTER, narration by Dan Stevens, is the first book that I have read by Peter Hackshaw, and I look forward to reading more of his works.

One of my favorite books to read are survival stories, so it’s not surprising that I thoroughly enjoyed reading EVER WINTER, a tale filled with love, loss, courage, strength, revenge, and a willingness to survive against overwhelming odds, be it the elements or the worst of humanity.

As a horror fan and one of the revenge stories, I love the books mentioned within and Henry’s interpretation of each in relation to his circumstance at various points in the novel.

About:

‘Henry and his family have managed to survive on the tundra of what was once a vast ocean, far from the savage remnants of humanity. When the family is discovered, their peaceful existence is shattered, and their lives are changed forever.’

Overall – 5.0/5.0 Stars
Performance – 5.0/5.0 Stars
Story – 5.0/5.0 Stars

Thank you, NetGalley and Podium Audio, for loaning me an Audiobook of EVER WINTER in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Scheduled To Release – January 26, 2021 (Subject To Change)

~Available On Amazon~

~Ever Winter~

Unfettered Journey

– by Gary F. Bengier

~Amazon Image – eBook From The Author – Own/Audiobook – 09/07/2020~

Star Rating – Reread

~Available On Amazon~

~Unfettered Journey~

Dead Woman Scorned

– by Michael Clark

dead-woman-scorned-cover

~Amazon Image – From The Author/PDF & Paperback – 11/12/2019~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Goodreads – Dead Woman Scorned~

~Available On Amazon~

~Dead Woman Scorned~

Ink

– by Jonathan Maberry

~LOOK AT THAT AWESOME COVER!!!!~

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 11/17/2020~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Goodreads – Ink~

~Beers and Fears: The Haunted Brewery~

Human Resources

– by Robin Triggs

human-resources-cover

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 11/10/2020~

Star Rating – DNF 15%

~Goodreads – Human Resources~

~Available On Amazon~

~Human Resources~

Machine

– by Elizabeth Bear

machine-cover

Stories of The Vampire Noire

– Edited by Nicole Givens Kurtz

LOOK AT THAT AWESOME COVER!!!

Slay - cover

~Cover Art And Title Concept by Taria Reed – NetGalley – 09/28/2020~

~Goodreads – Slay~

Star Rating – 3.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Slay~

The Fearing: Blood & Brimstone

– by John F. D. Taff

~Cover Art by Francois Vaillancourt – Saturday Morning Scenarios – 10/20/2020~

~Goodreads – The Fearing: Blood & Brimstone~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~ Kindle eBook Available On Amazon~

~The Fearing: Blood & Brimstone~

– by Lucy A. Snyder

~Cover art by – Lynne Hansen – Raw Dog Screaming Press – 10/05/2020~

~Goodreads – Halloween Season~

Star Rating – 4.5/5.0

~Available From The Publisher~

~RDSP – Halloween Season~

Highway 181

– by D.S. Ullery

~Amazon Image – From The Author – 10/01/2020~

~Goodreads – Highway 181~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Highway 181~

Edited By

~Ellen Datlow~

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 09/30/2020~

~Goodreads – Edited By~

Star Rating – 2.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Edited By~

Gobble, Gobble Murder

-by Leslie Meier

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 09/29/2020~

Star Rating – DNF – 48%

~Available On Amazon~

~Gobble, Gobble Murder~

To Sleep In A Sea Of Stars

– by Christopher Paolini

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 09/15/2020~

~Goodreads – To Sleep In a Sea Of Stars~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~To Sleep In A Sea Of Stars~

The Hollow Places

-by T. Kingfisher

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 10/06/2020~

~Goodreads – The Hollow Places~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~The Hollow Places~

Our Biggest Fears

-by Bo Chappell

Our Biggest Fears - cover

– Directed By Joshua Viola

Let us take a moment and bow our heads to pay tribute to that Nostalgic Kickass 80s Cover!!!

I’m getting all misty-eyed *sniff* I need a minute…

*ahem*

‘I am a Generation Xer and I approve of this cover.’

Roll Credits…

The Darkest Evening: A Vera Stanhope Novel by [Ann Cleeves]

~Amazon Image – From The Author – 09/21/2020~

Star Rating – DNF 46%

~Available On Amazon~

~Dreams Of Thunder~

Out At Sea

– by Aiden Merchant

~Goodreads Photo~

Source – eBook From The Author

Star Rating – 3.0/5.0

Tenebris

– by Aiden Merchant

~Goodreads Photo~

Source – eBook From The Author

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

Peck

– by Aiden Merchant

~Goodreads Photo~

Source – eBook From The Author

Star Rating – 3.5/5.0

Follow The Dead Tracks

– by Aiden Merchant

~Cover Photography – by Andrea Boldizsar – 07/2020~

Source – eBook From The Author

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

The Day I Disappeared

– by Brandi Reeds

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 8/25/2020~

~Goodreads – The Day I Disappeared~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~The Day I Disappeared~

sins-of-the-father-cover

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 08/11/2020~

~Goodreads – Sins Of The Father~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Sins Of The Father~

The Living Dead

– by George A. Romero & Daniel Kraus

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 08/04/2020~

~Goodreads – The Living Dead~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0 Stars

~Available On Amazon~

~The Living Dead~

Blue

– by Lare’va Lemorte

~Amazon Image – From The Author – 04/24/2020~

~Available On Amazon~

~Blue~

The Ancestor

– by Lee Matthew Goldberg

~Amazon Image – Blackthorn Book Tour – 08/21/2020~

~Goodreads – The Ancestor~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~The Ancestor~

The Night Swim

– by Megan Goldin

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 08/04/2020~

~Goodreads – The Night Swim~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~The Night Swim~

This Is My America

– by Kim Johnson

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 07/28/2020~

~Goodreads – This Is My America~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~This Is My America~

Devil’s Creek

– by Todd Keisling

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 06/16/2020~

~Goodreads – Devil’s Creek~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Devil’s Creek~

Deadlock

– by Catherine Coulter

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 07/28/2020~

~Goodreads – Deadlock~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Deadlock~

Crossings

– by Alex Landragin

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 07/28/2020~

~Goodreads – Crossings~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Crossings~

The Apocalypse Strain

– by Jason Parent

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 08/11//2020~

~Goodreads – The Apocalypse Strain~

Star Rating – 1.0/5.0 – DNF 65%

~Available On Amazon~

~The Apocalypse Strain~

Touch The Night

– by Max Booth III

That Cover is Creepy As F**K–I LOVE IT!!!

~Amazon Image – Own/Paperback – Cemetery Dance Grab Bag Sale~

~Goodreads – Touch The Night~

~06/16/2020~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Available Now On Amazon~

~Touch The Night~

Bird Box

– by Josh Malerman

~Amazon Image – Kindle/Own – 05/13/2014~

~Goodreads – Bird Box~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Bird Box~

What You Wish For

– by Katherine Center

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 07/14/2020~

~Goodreads – What You Wish For~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Available Now On Amazon~

~What You Wish For~

Bad Parts

– by Brandon McNulty

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 06/23/2020~

~Goodreads – Bad Parts~

Star Rating – 4.5/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Bad Parts~

The Only Good Indians

– by Stephen Graham Jones

~Amazon Image – NetGalley~

~Goodreads – The Only Good Indians~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~The Only Good Indians~

Auxiliary

– by Jon Richter

~Amazon Image – From The Author- 05/01/2020~

~Goodreads – Auxiliary~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Auxiliary~

The Heron Kings

– by Eric Lewis

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 04/23/2020~

~Goodreads – The Heron Kings~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~The Heron Kings~

Worst Laid Plans

– Edited by Samantha Kolesnik

~Amazon Image – From Grindhouse Press – 07/01/2020~

~Goodreads – Worst Laid Plans~

Star Rating – 3.5/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Worst Laid Plans~

A Fatal Fiction

– by Kaitlyn Dunnett

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 06/30/2020~

~Goodreads – A Fatal Fiction~

Star Rating – 3.5/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~A Fatal-Fiction~

The Bright Lands

– by John Fram

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 07/07/2020~

Star Rating – DNF 47%

~Available On Amazon~

~The Bright Lands~

Devolution

– by Max Brooks

devolution-cover-use

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 06/02/2020~

Star Rating – DNF 41%

~Available On Amazon~

~The Second Home~

Subcutanean

– by Aaron A. Reed

~Amazon Image – From The Author – 02/18/2020~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Goodreads – Subcutanean~

~Available On Amazon~

~Subcutanean~

Feasible Living

– by Ken Kroes

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Goodreads – A Song Below Water~

~Available On Amazon~

~A Song Below Water~

Of Mice And Minestrone

– by Steve Stred

~Amazon Image – From The Author – 07/01/2020~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Goodreads – The Window In The Ground~

~Pre-order Now On Amazon~

~The Window In The Ground~

Dark Of Night – Flesh and Fire

– by Jonathan Maberry & Rachael Lavin

~Amazon Image – From The Author/Own – 04/22/2016~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Goodreads – Dark Of Night – Flesh And Fire~

~Available On Amazon~

~Dark Of Night – Flesh And Fire~

Boy In The Box

– by Marc E. Fitch

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 04/23/2020~

Star Rating – 3.5/5.0

~Goodreads – Boy In The Box~

~Available On Amazon~

~Boy In The Box~

– by Lee Matthew Goldberg

Star Rating – 1.0/5.0

~Goodreads – Slow Down~

~Available On Amazon~

~Slow Down~

Envious

– by Lisa Jackson

envious-cover

Amazon Image – NetGalley – 03/31/2020

Star Rating – 2.0/5.0

~Goodreads – Envious~

~Available On Amazon~

~Envious~

She Has A Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be

– by J.D. Barker

she-has-a-broken-thing-where-her-heart-should-be-cover

Amazon Image – Own/Kindle – 10/01/2018

Star Rating – 3.5/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~The Forgotten Island~

Dead Daughters

– by Tim Meyer

Dead Daughters

– by Michael Patrick Hicks

Cover by – Elderlemon Design- NetGalley – 04/07/2020

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Goodreads – Borne Of The Deep~

~Available On Amazon~

~Borne Of The Deep~

After She Wrote Him

– by Sulari Gentill

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 04/07/2020~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Goodreads – After She Wrote Him~

~Available On Amazon~

~After She Wrote Him~

The Forever House

– by Tim Waggoner

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 03/26/2020~

Star Rating – DNF @ 53%

~Goodreads – The Forever House~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Forever House~

The Patience Of A Dead Man

– by Michael Clark

~Amazon Image – From The Author- 04/22/2019~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Goodreads – The Patience Of A Dead Man~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Patience Of A Dead Man~

No Good Deed

– by Heather Chavez

No Bad Deed: A Novel by [Heather Chavez]

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 02/18/2020~

Stolen Obsession (Annalisse Series Book 1) by [Bell, Marlene M.]

The Yellow Bird Sings: A Novel by [Rosner, Jennifer]

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 03/03/2020~

~Goodreads – The Yellow Bird Sings~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~The Yellow Bird Sings~

Disturbing Works Vol. 2

– by Jon Richter

Jon Richter's Disturbing Works (Volume Two): Another Collection Of Dark Stories by [Richter, Jon]

~Amazon Image – From Blackthorn Book Tours – Own/Paperback -10/31/2019~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Goodreads – Jon Richter’s Disturbing Works Volume Two~

~Reviewing for Blackthorn Book Tours – March 14, 2020~

~Available On Amazon~

~Disturbing Works Vol. 2~

The Girl Who Cheated Death

– by Alan Baker

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 02/23/2019~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Goodreads – The Girl Who Cheated Death~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Girl Who Cheated Death~

A Head Full Of Ghosts

– by Paul Tremblay

~Amazon Image – Own/eBook – 11/10/2016~

Star Rating – 4.5/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Head Full Of Ghosts~

The Turing Revolt

– by Rob Bartlett

Amazon Image – eBook – 07/31/2019~

Star Rating – 3.0/5.0

~Goodreads – The Turing Revolt~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Turing Revolt~

Till The Score Is Paid

– by Gemma Amor

~Cover Illustrated by – Mark Pelham – 12/09/2019~

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 01/21/2020~

Star Rating – 1.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~The Words I Never Wrote~

The Museum Of Desire
– by Jonathan Kellerman

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 02/04/2020~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Goodreads – Museum of Desire~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Museum Of Desire~

The Other People
– by C.J. Tudor

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 01/28/2020~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Goodreads – The Other People~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Other People~

We Are Monsters
– by Brian Kirk

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 01/30/2020~

Star Rating – 3.5/5.0

~Goodreads – We Are Monsters~

~Available On Amazon~

~We Are Monsters~

My Best Friend’s Exorcism
– by Grady Hendrix

~Cover Design by – Doogie Horner / Cover Illustrated by – Hugh Fleming – Own Paperback~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Goodreads – My Best Friend’s Exorcism~

~Available On Amazon~

~My Best Friend’s Exorcism~

The Intended Victim
– by Alexandra Ivy

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 12/31/2019~

Star Rating – 3.5/5.0

~Goodreads – The Intended Victim~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Intended Victim~

Lullabies For Suffering
Edited by – Mark Matthews

Lullabies For Suffering: Tales of Addiction Horror by [Kepnes, Caroline, Burke, Kealan Patrick, Iglesias, Gabino, Taff, John FD, Yardley, Mercedes M, Matthews, Mark]

~Cover Art and Design by – Dean Samed~

~LOOK AT THAT LINEUP AND COVER~

Star Rating – 4.5/5.0

~Goodreads – Lullabies For The Suffering~

~Available On Amazon~

~Lullabies For Suffering: Tales of Addiction Horror~

True Crime
– by Samantha Kolesnik

~Cover by Squidbar Designs – Grindhouse Press – 01/15/2020~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Goodreads – True Crime~

~Available On Amazon~

~True Crime~

Snowball
– by Gregory Bastianelli

Midnight in the Graveyard by [McCammon, Robert, Monteleone, Thomas, Massie, Elizabeth, Burke, Kealan Patrick, Everson, John, Lutzke, Chad, Meikle, William, Hepler, Jeremy]

The Shape of Night: A Novel by [Gerritsen, Tess]

~Amazon Image – NetGalley -09/20/2019~

Star Rating – 3.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~The Art Of Dying~

The Girl On The Porch

– by Richard Chizmar

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 09/05/2019~

~Goodreads – The Girl On The Porch~

Star Rating – 2.0/5.0

~The Girl On The Porch~

29 Seconds

– by T.M. Logan

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 09/10/2019~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Goodreads – 29 Seconds~

~Available On Amazon~

~29 Seconds~

Swan Song

– by Robert McCammon

~Amazon Image – Kindle Unlimited – Original Date – 1987~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

~Swan Song~

Violet

– by Scott Thomas

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 09/24/2019~

Star Rating – 3.5/5.0

~Goodreads – Violet~

~Available On Amazon~

~Violet~

The Nightmare Room

– by Chris Sorenson

~Amazon Image – Kindle Unlimited – 01/25/2018~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~The Nightmare Room~

Slash

– by Hunter Shea

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 10/24/2019~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Goodreads – Slash~

~Available On Amazon~

~Slash~

Stoker’s Wilde – by

Steven Hopstaken & Melissa Prusi

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 05/30/2019~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Stoker’s Wilde~

In The Scrape – by

James Newman & Mark Steensland

~Cover by – Elderlemon Design – NetGalley – 07/01/2019~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Goodreads – In The Scrape~

~Available On Amazon~

~In The Scrape~

Spicy Constellation & Other Recipes

– by Chad Lutzke

~Amazon Image – Own/Kindle – 05/15/2019~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

~Spicy Constellation & Other-Recipes~

Those Who Came Before

– by J.H. Moncrieff

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 10/24/2019~

Star Rating – 3.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~Those Who Came Before~

The Fearing: Water & Wind Book Two

– by John F.D. Taff

~Cover by – Grey Matter Press – 08/20/2019~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Goodreads – The Fearing: Book Two~

~ Available On Amazon~

~The Fearing: Water & Wind – Book Two~

Of Foster Homes And Flies – by Chad Lutzke

~Amazon Image – Kindle Unlimited – 07/22/2016~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Goodreads – Of Foster Homes and Flies~

~ Available On Amazon~

~Of Foster Homes And Flies~

All Things Lead To The End – by Edward Lorn

~Amazon Image – Kindle Unlimited – 07/04/2019~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

~One By One~

Rites Of Extinction – by Matt Serafini

Rites of Extinction: A Short Novel of Occult Horror by [Serafini, Matt]

~Amazon Image – Kindle Unlimited – 03/30/2019~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Goodreads – Rites Of Extinction~

~ Available On Amazon~

~Rites Of Extinction~

Recursion – by Blake Crouch

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 06/11/2019~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Goodreads – Recursion~

~ Available On Amazon~

~Recursion~

Gwendy’s Button Box

by Stephen King & Richard Chizmar

~Amazon Image – Own/Audiobook – 05/16/2017~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Goodreads – Gwendy’s Button Box~

~ Available On Amazon~

~Gwendy’s Button Box~

The Stranger – By Steve Stred

The Stranger by [Stred, Steve]

~Amazon Image – From The Author – 04/15/2019~

Star Rating – 3.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

~The Gordon-Place~

Cruel Works of Nature – by Gemma Amor

~Illustrated by – Gemma Amor and Mark Pelham – Kindle Unlimited – 09/04/2019~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

~Cruel Works of Nature~

~Amazon Image – From The Author – 10/03/2018~

Star Rating – 3.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

~Three Days In Ashford~

Doggem – by John F Leonard

Doggem: A Tale of Toy Dogs and Dark Deeds by [Leonard, John F]

~Amazon Image – Kindle Unlimited – 12/02/2018~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

~Doggem~

Wanderers by Chuck Wendig

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 07/02/2019~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

~Wanderers~

~Review – WANDERERS by Chuck Wendig~

The Fearing: Book One – Fire and Rain

by John F.D. Taff

The Fearing: Book One - Fire and Rain (The Fearing Series 1) by [Taff, John F. D.]

~Cover Artwork by – Sabercore Art – From Grey Matters Press – 07/09/2019~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

The Fearing: Book One – Fire & Rain by John F.D. Taff

~Goodreads Review – The Fearing~

The Resurrectionists – by Michael Patrick Hicks

The Resurrectionists (The Salem Hawley Series Book 1) by [Hicks, Michael Patrick]

~Cover by – Elderlemon Design – NetGalley – 06/04/2019~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

~The Resurrectionists~

‘THE RESURRECTIONISTS is the first book that I’ve read by Michael Patrick Hicks, and one that I enjoyed reading. The one pet peeve I have, is that little is revealed about Salem, the main character, and I found myself wanting to know more about him. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series and more books by Hicks, my only problem is, deciding which one to read next. Highly Recommend!’ – D.K. Hundt

The Dead Wake – Vol. 1

by Ellie Douglas

~Cover Art – by Ellie Douglas – Own/Kindle – 12/28/2017~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

~The Dead Wake Horror Collection Vol. 1~

Death O Death: Horror Collection Vol. 2

by Ellie Douglas

Death O Death Horror Collection Vol 2 by [Douglas, Ellie]

~Cover Art – by Ellie Douglas – From The Author – 10/31/2018~

Star Rating – 3.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

Death O Death: Horror Collection Vol Two – Ellie Douglas

Dreaming At The Top Of My Lungs

– by Israel Finn

Dreaming At the Top of My Lungs: A Horror Collection by [Finn, Israel]

~Amazon Image – Paperback From The Author – 02/11/2016~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

Dreaming At The Top Of My Lungs – by Israel Finn

Darkest Hours – by Mike Thorn

~Amazon Image – From The Author – 11/21/2017~

Star Rating – 3.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

Darkest Hours – by Mike Thorn

The Dark Game – by Jonathan Janz

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 04/11/2019~

Star Rating – 4.5/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

The Dark Game – By Jonathan Janz

‘THE DARK GAME is the first book that I have read by Jonanthan Janz, the narrative feels like a blending of one of my favorite Stephen King and Agatha Christie novels – Love It!’ – D.K. Hundt

Little Darlings – by Melanie Golding

~Amazon Image – NetGalley – 04/30/2019~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

‘“Mother knows best” takes on a sinister new meaning in this unsettling thriller perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman, Grimms’ Fairy Tales, and Aimee Molloy’s The Perfect Mother.”

~ Available On Amazon~

Little Darlings – By Melanie Golding

LITTLE DARLINGS is the first book that I have read by Melanie Golding and one I couldn’t put down. I would describe this book as a Psychological Thriller/Folklore, that hooked me in from the very first page and kept me guessing until the very end. Highly Recommend! – D.K. Hundt

Dead of Winter – by Kealan Patrick Burke

~Cover by – Elderlemon – Own/Kindle – 12/15/2010~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

Dead of Winter – By Kealan Patrick Burke

She’s Lost Control – Edited by Elizabeth Jenike

She's Lost Control: The female voice is strong, and will not be controlled by [McHugh, Jessica, Snyder, Lucy A., Wytovich, Stephanie M., Pelayo, Cynthia, Jayne, KT]

~Amazon Image – From Cynthia Pelayo – 02/26/2019

Star Rating – 3.0/5.0

~Goodreads – She’s Lost Control – My Favorites~

~ Available On Amazon~

She’s Lost Control – Edited by Elizabeth Jenike

To Dream Is To Die: The Dead Dreamer Series

by Sarah Lampkin

To Dream Is To Die by [Sarah Lampkin]

~Amazon Image – From The Author – 10/09/2018~

Star Rating – 3.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

To Dream Is To Die: The Dead Dreamer Series – Sarah-Lampkin

The Pale Ones – by Bartholomew Bennett

~Amazon Image – From The Author – 10/17/2018~

Star Rating – 3.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

The Pale Ones – Bartholomew Bennett

Garden Of Eldritch Delights – by Lucy A. Snyder

~Cover Art – by Daniele Serra – From The Author – 10/18/2018~

Star Rating – 3.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

Garden Of Eldritch Delights – Lucy-Snyder

Cthulhu Wars: In The Belly Of The Beast

– by Ben Monroe

In The Belly Of The Beast - smaller Image

~Cover Art – by Richard Luong – From The Author – 09/10/2018~

Star Rating – 3.0/5.0

~ Available On Amazon~

In The Belly Of The Beast – Ben Monroe

Hell Ship – by Benedict J. Jones

~Cover Design by: Vincent Hunt – 08/01/2018~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

Hell-Ship – Benedict J. Jones

SuperNatural: Joyride – by John Passarella

~Cover photograph – by Warner Bros. Entertainment – 10/30/2018~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

Supernatural: Joyride – John-Passarella

By Year’s End: A Year 47 Anthology

~Cover by: Bo Chappell – From The Author – 11/25/2018~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Available On Amazon~

By Year’s End: A Year 47 Anthology

The Unheimlich Manoeuvre – by Tracy Fahey

The Unheimlich Manoeuvre by [Fahey, Tracy]

~Amazon Image – From The Author – 03/16/2018~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Posted On Kendall Reviews~

The Unheimlich Manoeuvre

~Available On Amazon~

The Unheimlich Manoeuvre – Tracy Fahey

Rabid Heart – by Jeremy Wagner

~Amazon Image – From The Author – 10/03/2018~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Posted On Kendall Reviews~

Rabid Heart

~Available On Amazon~

Rabid Heart – Jeremy Wagner

Limbs: A Love Story – by Tim Meyer

~Cover Design by – Rachel Autumn Deering – From The Author – 02/09/2019~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Posted On Kendall Reviews~

Limbs: A Love Story

~Available On Amazon~

Limbs: A Love Story – Tim Meyer

The Auld Mither – by William Meikle

~Amazon Image- From The Author – 02/20/2019~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Posted On Kendall Reviews~

The Auld Mither – By William Meikle

~Available On Amazon~

The Auld Mither – William Meikle

The Girl Who Hid In The Trees – by Steve Stred

The Girl Who Hid in the Trees by [Stred, Steve]

~Cover art by: Mason McDonald – Paperback From The Author – 02/28/2019~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Posted On Kendall Reviews~

The Girl Who Hid In The Trees – Steve Stred

~Available On Amazon~

The Girl Who Hid In The Trees

Tracing The Trails – by Chad A. Clark

~Amazon Image – From The Author – 12/18/2018~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Posted On Kendall Reviews~

Tracing The Trails – by Chad A. Clark

~Available On Amazon~

Tracing The Trails – by Chad A. Clark

Shadows At The Door – An Anthology

– by Mark Nixon and Helen Grant

Shadows at the Door: An Anthology by [Nixon, Mark, Grant, Helen, Cassell, Mark, Long, Christopher, Holt, Kris, Marceau, Caitlin]

~Illustrated by: Barney Bodoano – 12/14/2016~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Posted On Kendall Reviews~

Shadows At The Door – Anthology

~Available On Amazon~

Shadows At The Door: An Anthology

Coyote Songs – by Gabino Iglesias

~Cover art and design by – Matthew Revert – From The Author – 10/31/2018~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Posted On Kendall Reviews~

Coyote Songs

~Available On Amazon~

Coyote Songs – Gabino Iglesias

~Cover by – Zach McCain – From The Author – 10/05/2018~

Star Rating – 5.0/5.0

~Posted On Kendall Reviews~

Out Behind The Barn

~Available On Amazon~

Out Behind The Barn – John Boden and Chad Lutzke

The Mask Shop of Doctor Blaack – by Steve Rasnic Tem

The Mask Shop of Doctor Blaack by [Tem, Steve Rasnic]

~Amazon Image – From The Author~

Star Rating – 4/5*

~Posted On Kendall Reviews~

The Mask Shop Of Doctor Blaack

~Available On Amazon~

The Mask Shop Of Doctor Blaack – Steve Rasnic Tem

Phantoms: Haunting Tales from Masters of the Genre –

Edited by Marie O’Regan

Phantoms: Haunting Tales from Masters of the Genre by [O'Regan, Marie]

~Amazon Image – From The Publisher – 10/09/2018~

Star Rating – 4/5*

~Posted On Kendall Reviews~

Phantoms

~Available On Amazon~

Phantoms: Haunting Tales From The Masters Of The Genre

Predators by [Collings, Michaelbrent]

~Amazon Image – From The Author – 09/04/2018~

Star Rating – 4.0/5.0

~Posted On Kendall Reviews~

Predators

~Available On Amazon~

Predators- Michaelbrent-Collings

Scary women with red eyes

‘If my review or the synopsis sparks your interest, then, by all means, take a bite, and delve into the creative mind of the author – you may be surprised what you find lurking within.’ – D.K. Hundt

~Adult/YA Book Reviews~

~Book Reviews~

The Year’s Best Science Fiction Vol. 1

– Edited by Jonathan Strahan

Jedi Summer

– by John Boden

The Perfect Daughter

– by D.J. Palmer

Hummingbird Salamander

– by Jeff Vandermeer

The Forest

– by Michaelbrent Collings

Wild, Dark Times

– by Austin Case

The Minotaur Sampler Vol. 2

The Sweet Taste Of Muscadines

– by Pamela Terry

Your Turn To Suffer

– by Tim Waggoner

Creature

– by Hunter Shea

Kill Creek

– by Scott Thomas

The Bounty

– by –

Janet Evanovich & Steve Hamilton

Buzz Books

Great Reads

Spring/Summer 2021

Flora & Jim

– by BP Gregory

The Night Crawls In

– by Steve Stred

Remains

– by Andrew Cull

Diabolica Britannica– Edited by Keith Anthony Baird

Wormwood

– by Chad Lutzke & Tim Meyer

THE DEAD BOXES ARCHIVE– by John F. Leonard

Food Yum!

– by Chris Zeid

The Searching Dead

– by Ramsey Campbell

A Caller’s Game

– by J.D. Barker

I Spit Myself Out

– by Tracy Fahey

Children Of Chicago

– by Cynthia Pelayo

The Damned Highway

– by –

Brian Keene & Nick Mamatas

Unethical

– by Marla L. Anderson

Roadside Attractions

– by Eric Lahti

~Available On Amazon~

The Burning Girls

– by C.J. Tudor

~Available On Amazon~

The Future Is Yours

– by Dan Frey

~Available On Amazon~

Crimsom Lake Road

– by Victor Methos

~Available On Amazon~

The Last Tiara

– by M.J. Rose

~Available On Amazon~

In Darkness Shadows Breathe

– by Catherine Cavendish

~Available On Amazon~

Bone Canyon

– by Lee Goldberg

~Available On Amazon~

The Survivors

– by Jane Harper

~Available On Amazon~

Lola On Fire

– by Rio Youers

Diabolica Britannica
– Edited by Keith Anthony Baird

THE DEAD BOXES ARCHIVE
– by John F. Leonard