~Adult/YA Book Reviews~

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~Book Reviews~

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Lark Ascending 

 – by Silas House 

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LARK ASCENDING  – by Silas House – My Heart! 

‘Lying back in the grass and laughing while my aunts leaned over me, both of them tickling me at the same time. Their wiener dogs are on either side of me, licking at my face. My aunts smiled down at me. There was a long period in my life when nobody smiled like that. Only recently has that returned.

‘But that’s about all I have of the Before. Glimpses, brief encounters.’ 

LARK ASCENDING is a touching, heart-wrenching novel about family, love, friendship, and the hope of acceptance and survival. The story centers around Lark, a twenty-year-old forced to flee America along with his family and others, hoping to make refuge in Ireland, the last country taking in American immigrants. 

Highly Recommend! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Algonquin Books Of Chapel Hill, for providing me with an eBook and Paperback copy of LARK ASCENDING at the request of an honest review. 

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Mystery Road

– by Kevin Lucia

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MYSTERY ROAD And The Bonus Novella A NIGHT AT OLD WEBB – by Kevin Lucia 

MYSTERY ROAD – My Heart! I Love This Story—5 Stars

‘ . . . I think it all started back then, in the discovery of that strange road, which seemed at the time to represent a story with an unknown ending. For the first time in my life, I realized I could put routine aside while, turn down the road, discover what awaited me at its end and maybe also discover something new, something hidden . . .’

A NIGHT AT OLD WEBB—A coming-of-age story with a touch of the supernatural—Love It! — 4 Stars

‘“When you give up something you love, when you stop fighting . . . you lose something, inside. And you’re always haunted by it. Trust me.”’

Thank you, Kevin Lucia and Cemetery Dance Publishing, for sending me a paperback copy of MYSTERY ROAD at the request of an honest review. 

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Chasing Whispers

– by Eugen Bacon

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CHASING WHISPERS – by Eugen Bacon – Afro-irrealist Collection Of Black Speculative Fiction 

The Cover Art By D. Harlan Wilson is Beautiful!!

I had difficulty getting through some of these stories, so I decided to put the Collection aside for the time being. DNF – page 78

From what I have read thus far, my favorite stories are:

‘When The Wind Blows’ and ‘Nyamizi, The Skinless One’

Thank You, Raw Dog Screaming Press, for providing me with a Paperback copy of CHASING WHISPERS at the request of an honest review.

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Girls From The County

– by Donna Lynch

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GIRLS FROM THE COUNTY – Poetry By Donna Lynch

‘Known for weaving folk horror with confessional poetry, unflinching true crime approaches with myth and fable, contemporary appetites with gothic literature, award-winning author Donna Lynch has composed a lyrical reconstruction for readers to navigate the lives—and deaths—of girls from the county.’

The Following Are My Favorites:

‘The Exodus Of Us’

‘These Places Want To Kill You’ – Love! 

‘A New Day, Every Day’

‘Seven Minutes (I)’

‘In Heaven (ii)’ 

‘Everything Was Haunted’

‘The Other Leeds Kids’

‘Hexenkopf’ – Love!

‘My Grandmother, The Hunter’ – Love!

‘Drag’ – WOW – Love! 

‘Cannibal’

‘Plot’

‘Blue Light’

‘Of Guillotines’

‘Eighteen Years’

‘Girls From The County’

‘Whoever It Is That’s Dreaming Me, Wake Up’

‘To Elizabeth and Regina, with regret—’

‘At Parties’

‘We Could Never Find The Church’

‘Thirty-Two Years (Eighteen Years Reprise)’

Thank you, Raw Dog Screaming Press, for sending me a paperback copy of  GIRLS FROM THE COUNTY at the request of an honest review. 

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Preternatural

– by Peter Topside

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PRETERNATURAL – by Peter Topside – Urban Legend? Yes, Please!

That. Was. Awesome!!

‘Welcome To Meadowville…’

‘God Almighty, who lives above,

Hear my prayers and feel my love.

Please keep me safe until day’s light, 

Using every bit of your power and might.

As this town is plagued by a century-old myth.

And that name we fear is Mr. Smith.’

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, Peter Topside, for providing me with a Paperback copy of PRETERNATURAL at the request of an honest review. 

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Preternatural Evolution

– by Peter Topside

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EVOLUTION – PRETERNATURAL Book Two – Welcome Back…

‘[F]fifteen years after Blackheart was defeated, the town still was under his control…Even the cool breeze on this early spring day felt like a monster breathing on someone’s neck, preparing to feed on their body and soul, sending the uncertainty of their mortality into a tailspin.’

Though Blackheart the tangible figure lingers a bit in the latter part of book two—his mythical presence mocked many a newb in the former—the bulk of the story centers around two of our main characters, Alexandra and Christian, who, due to the aftermath and internal turmoil in book one, must face their deepest traumas and insecurities. 

Not the pulsating journey I experienced when reading PRETERNATURAL, but rather a character-building segue with a tinge of tension and a dash of closure leading into a possible resurrection, new beginning, and/or formidable foe in the last book in the trilogy, RECKONING? I can’t wait to find out. 

Recommend!

Thank you, Peter Topside and Smith Publicity Inc., for providing me with a paperback copy of EVOLUTION at the request of an honest review. 

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Preternatural Reckoning

– by Peter Topside

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RECKONING – PRETERNATURAL Book Three – by Peter Topside

‘He instilled himself in them, forcing the creatures to see him as their leader, making them feel his raw power over them. It didn’t matter to him whether he was worshipped by free will or fear.’

‘“I will save you. All of you. All I ask is that you love me. Me and me alone. . . . I am the Second Coming.’”

Though there are parts, especially the ending in Book Three, that felt rushed, I like how the trilogy as a whole played out—Recommend!

Thank you, Peter Topside and Smith Publicity Inc., for providing me with a paperback copy of RECKONING at the request of an honest review. 

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Sleep State Interrupt

– by T.C. Weber

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SLEEP STATE INTERRUPT by T.C. Weber billed as a Sci-Fi Technothriller, is an engaging read, though a bit of a slow-burn, was an enjoyable ride with characters you love and love to hate.

‘He shivered. It was the most terrifyingly beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Countless thousands of machines, each one anonymous, but together, in this blue twilight, shaping the thoughts of the world.’

Thank you, T.C. Weber, for providing me with an eBook of SLEEP STATE INTERRUPT at the request of an honest review.

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The Survivors

– by T.C. Weber

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If you like Post-Apocalypse Horror, then I think you will enjoy reading THE SURVIVORS by T.C. Weber – Creepy Good!

‘In a calamitous future, runaway climate change has made the planet nearly uninhabitable. Civilization has collapsed, and every day is a struggle. Lucy, a young mother of two, dreams of a better life by bringing back vanished knowledge. But the rest of her group is focused only on day-to-day survival—at any price….’

I love the ending – Recommend!

Thank you, T.C. Weber, for providing me with an eBook of THE SURVIVORS at the request of an honest review.

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The Night Doctor And Other Tales

– by Steve Rasnic Tem

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THE NIGHT DOCTOR AND OTHER TALES – By Steve Rasnic Tem – Rerelease 

I may dive back into this Collection at a later date, but for right now I’m putting it aside at 31%.

From what I have read thus far, the following are my favorites:

‘Blattidae Wine’ – Creepy And Oh So Disturbingly Good

‘Breathing’

 ‘Red Rabbit’

‘Paula Breaks’

‘Lost in the Garden of Earthly Delights’ 

Thank you, NetGalley and A Macabre Ink Production (Crossroad Press), for providing me with an eBook of THE NIGHT DOCTOR AND OTHER TALES at the request of an honest review.

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The Christie Affair

– by Nina De Gramont

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THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR by Nina De Gramont started quite interesting. I quickly disliked Nan—the other woman set on breaking up the Christies’ marriage. However, as a mother, I could not help but empathize with her plight regarding her past—which is heartbreaking.

Where the narrative skewed for me was in the repetition and the ongoing scenes specific to Agatha’s disappearance—the reader learns the truth early on, so everything that follows feels too drawn out and anti-climatic, resulting in a DNF for me at 82%.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an ebook of THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR at the request of an honest review.

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The Violence

– by Delilah S. Dawson

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THE VIOLENCE – Delilah S. Dawson 

‘They are victims. They are infected. They are survivors.’

‘“Your trauma is part of what makes you a survivor … And you’re not alone.”’

My Heart—Love The Ending!

Highly Recommend! 

Thank You, NetGalley and Del Rey Books (Penguin Random House), for providing me with an eBook of THE VIOLENCE at the request of an honest review. 

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City Of The Dead

– by Jonathan Kellerman

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CITY OF THE DEAD – An Alex Delaware Novel – by Jonathan Kellerman

I love the pairing of an LAPD Homicide Detective with a Psychologist Consultant—the main character of the series. However, my issues with this story stem from the lack of following police procedure regarding death notification (to non-relative interviewees, first) by a seasoned detective—placing assumption of identification before obtaining tangible, biological proof—has me scratching my head. 

Later, at one point, the Detective is told by the coroner that DNA on Jane or John Doe (no spoilers) will take twelve to twenty weeks to get back due to an unrelated cold-case serial, which is believable. However, why is it that the DNA results from three perps accused of murder and that of the murder victim—a murder that takes place after Jane or John Doe—comes in immediately?? 

The DNA issues and a couple of bumps aside, my curiosity for this whodunit and why they dun-it still had my interest piqued…so I read on to the end, and I’m glad I did—I Loved It! I did not see that ending coming! 

It is important to note that the version I read for this review is an uncorrected proof—a review that admittedly is long overdue—my hope is corrections were made in the final copy. 

Because my review is based on the version I read, I will give this one a three-star rating.

Will I continue reading Jonathan Kellerman’s books a chance? 

Of Course! I want to start from the beginning of the series and learn more about Alex Delaware and his working relationship with the LAPD.

I’m from Cali. baby, what can I say. 😉

Thank You, NetGalley and Ballantine Books (Random House), for providing me with an eBook of  CITY OF THE DEAD at the request of an honest review.

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Mickey 7

– by Edward Ashton

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MICKEY7 – by Edward Ashton — Science Fiction

I LOVE the opening sentence:

‘This is gonna be my stupidest death ever . . . 

‘In my line of work, you spend a lot of time pondering different ways to die—when you’re not actually experiencing them, that is.’

Nine years ago Mickey ‘Mickey1’ Barnes volunteered to be an Expendable, his first assignment takes place aboard the colony ship, Drakkar, as it makes its long journey to the planet of Niflheim. 

‘[L]ife on Niflheim is getting worse. The atmosphere is unsuitable for humans, food is in short supply, and terraforming is going poorly. The native species are growing curious about their new neighbors, and that curiosity has Commander Marshall very afraid. Ultimately, the survival of both lifeforms will come down to Mickey7.’

I had a Blast reading MICKY7 (Love The Ending), and I can’t wait to read Book Two, ANTIMATTER BLUES, released March 2023. 

Highly Recommend! 

Thank You, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eGalley of MICKEY7 at the request of an honest review. 

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Slice Of Paradise

~Edited by~

Ben Long & Andrew Robert

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SLICE OF PARADISE: A Beach Vacation Horror Anthology – Edited by Andrew Robert and Ben Long

It’s The Perfect Time Of Year For A Beach Vacation Horror Anthology—I Had A Blast Reading It!

The Following Are My Favorites: 

‘Secret Beach’ –  by Mark Towse – Creepy Good!

‘After a few more laboured strokes, I have nothing left, and as I helplessly begin to tread water. . . There’s an ominous silence. Even the crows have ceased their cacophony, observing the scene from the nearby blackened trees like a hushed audience before a performance.’

‘Night Dive’ – by Drew Starling – That Was Good!

‘Her heart pounded as she envisioned for the umpteenth time the idea of scuba diving at night. No light. Cold. Exposed. It felt perilous and almost clandestine.’

‘Paradise Lost’ – by Sheri White – That Was Good! 

‘I only wish I had brought my cell phone, but I knew Cathy would never forgive me. It doesn’t matter now, I guess. I am glad I can record the story anyway, just in case. Just in case someone survives.’

‘They Eat People, You Know?’ –  by Rowan Hill – That Was Good!

‘The Guardian’ – by Philip Fracassi – Creepy Good!

‘Astorgos’ – by Ashlei Johnson – That Was Good!

‘Misery Guts’ –  by Craig Wallwork – Gross, Yet, Creepy Good!

‘Beach Snakes’ – by Aiden Merchant – Gross, Yet, HeHeHe 😉

‘The Fons Juventutis’ – by Kay Hanifen – The Ending – My Heart! 

‘Plant Zipline’ – by Nick Kolakowski – My Heart! 

‘That Look When They’re Leaving’ – by Scott J. Moses – That Was Good!

Thank You, DarkLit Press, for providing me with an eBook of SLICE OF PARADISE at the request of an honest review. 

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Road of Bones

– by Christopher Golden

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The Devoured And The Dead

–  by Kristopher Rufty

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THE DEVOURED AND THE DEAD – by Kristofer Rufty – Western Horror 

That Was Intense And Creepy-Good!

Side Note: Love The Cover!

The book opens with one of the most disturbing hook lines I have ever read, wherein the main character and narrator, William ‘Billy’ Coburn, recounts the horrific events that occurred decades earlier when he was eleven years old, in the winter of 1884.

In the hopes of staking their claim of gold in Harvest Hill, the Corburns and three other families decide to travel via horse-drawn carriages through the mountains of North Carolina, where they face unrelenting snow storms and unexpected peril that leave them stranded and eventually with no food.

After one of their own dies, a depraved decision is made that results in a curse that threatens to end them all…

Let’s just say…payback is a be**h! 

Highly Recommend! 

Thank you, Death’s Head Press, for providing me with an eBook of THE DEVOURED AND THE DEAD at the request of an honest review. 

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Game On

– by  Janet Evanovich

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GAME ON is the twenty-eighth book in the Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich, my introduction, if memory serves, to a pair of amateur sleuths by the name of Stephanie Plum, a bail bonds enforcement agent who stores her gun in a cookie jar, and her sidekick Lula, who has no trouble brandishing—let alone firing—a sidearm willy-nilly at perceived formidable foes (permit be damned!) whilst uttering the words, ‘Stop, or I will shoot!’

The duo don’t seem to take themselves too seriously but do attempt to give it their all as they track down wanted fugitives, the likes of Oswald Wednesday, an international computer hacker, with the help of a security expert named Ranger, a man known only as, Diesel, and Plum’s current boyfriend, Joe Morelli.

GAME ON is full of some suspenseful, intense moments coupled with humorous banter making for a lighthearted read that feels slightly slapstick sprinkled on top of an action-packed narrative—one that this reader thoroughly enjoyed!  

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for providing me with an eBook of GAME ON at the request of an honest review. 

Recommend!

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Midnight Hour

Crime Fiction Anthology From Twenty Authors Of Color

Edited By – Abby L. Vandiver

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MIDNIGHT HOUR – An Anthology Of Crime Fiction From Twenty Authors Of Color – Edited by Abby Vandiver

Highly Recommend! 

‘Welcome to Midnight Hour…’

The Following Are My Favorites: 

‘Lucky Thirteen’ – by Tracy Clark – As an avid fan of Horror, I must say, That. Was. Awesome!

‘Skin’ – by David Heska Wanbli Weiden – My Heart!

‘The Bridge’  – by Abby L. Vandiver

‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ – by Callie Browning – That Was Awesome! I Love the ending!

‘Doc’s At Midnight’ – by Richie Narvaez – My Heart!

‘Nighthawks’ – by Frankie Y. Bailey – That Was Good!

‘The Search For Eric Garcia’ – by E. A. Aymar – My Heart! 

‘The Vermeer Conspiracy’ – by V. M. Burns – I Love This One!

‘Midnight Confidential’ – by Delia C. Pitts – That Was Good!

‘Midnight Escapade’ – by Jennifer Chow – That Was Creepy Good!

‘The Diamond Vanishes’ – by Gigi Pandian – My Heart! I Love This One! 

‘Cape May Murders’ – by Tina Kashian

‘The Black Widow Of Oshogbo’ – by Stella Oni

‘The Witching Hour’ – by Marla Bradeen – Love This One!

‘In The Matter Of Mabel And Bobby Jefferson’ – by Christopher Chambers – That Was Good!! I love the last line—relatable. 

‘The Night The Internet Died’ – by Rhonda Crowder – That Was Good! I love the last line. 

Thank You, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with an eBook of   MIDNIGHT HOUR at the request of an honest review. 

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The Hidden

– by  Melanie Golding

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THE HIDDEN – by Melanie Golding

Oh My! I LOVE stories based or centered around Folklore, and THE HIDDEN ticks off all the boxes for this reader. I laughed, cried, and cringed—Yes, that is a compliment!

As a mother, my heart breaks for these characters: Constance, Leonie, Ruby, and Joanna, as I bear witness to the unraveling thread that binds mother to child and the strength it takes to hold on for dear life even when the only option may be to let go. 

The novel opens on a cold day in December; on the stoop of a shop, a young girl makes star hand prints on the frosted window. She turns to her Mother with a smile on her face…only to discover the eighteen-month-old is all alone. 

In another part of town, a downstairs neighbor who is about to have tea is suddenly startled by a dripping from the above apartment. Visually impaired, she doesn’t see the blood-tinted water, but she can smell it…

How do these lives intertwine? 

You will have to read THE HIDDEN and find out for yourself. 😉

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with an eBook of THE HIDDEN at the request of an honest review.

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Tethered To Darkness

– by Justin Holley

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‘The most beautiful of surroundings can harbor the vilest of occurrences…Mia should have seen it coming, but it happened too slowly, gradually, its momentum building like a rock rolling downhill through mud.’

TETHERED TO DARKNESS by Justin Holley started out really well; I love the supernatural premise; however, the storyline and characterization felt off in parts to the point of pulling me out of the book, leaving me with more questions than answers. 

Though this book didn’t work for me, I look forward to reading what Holley comes up with next.

Own/eBook

Crossroad Press – April 17, 2022 

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Nocturnal Pursuits

– by  Glenn Rolfe

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Dead In The Water

– by Jennifer Soucy

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My Heart! I Love everything about DEAD IN THE WATER by Jennifer Soucy, a story centered around three sisters, triplets Cordelia, Shaelyn, and Riley, who reunite after their eighty-two-year-old grandmother, Maureen Donnelly McNamara, escapes a nursing home and walks into the Atlantic Ocean.

The McNamara girls haven’t seen each other in almost nine years, except for occasional phone calls; this mournful reunion unveils secrets from the past and present…

‘They’d endured, her girls blossoming into strong, smart, and fearless women. She hadn’t allowed for anything less, molding them with a firm hand and well-meant intentions. Their lives hadn’t been perfect, but who was? A little suffering was good for the soul, that’s what Ma had always said. Now her precious girls would have to prove themselves in battle, carrying on the McNamara legacy.’

I LOVE Soucy’s writing DEAD IN TNE WATER, a tale steeped in Irish Folklore, familial bonds, relationships, and heartbreaking and intense moments, along with those heartwarming, whilst bringing a smile to my face. 

Highly Recommend!

Source: Own eBook

Crossroad Press (January 27, 2023)

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Wish You Were Here

– by Jodi Picoult

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I love the way the novel opens by way of a flashback memory of Diana’s as she reflects on a moment as a child with her father, who is working as a conservator restoring the zodiac ceiling of Grand Central Terminal, and she says, “When I was six years old, I painted a corner of the sky.”’

WISH YOU WERE HERE, by Jodi Picoult, was published on November 30, 2021; a story that opened March 13 of the previous year in New York City and centered around twenty-nine-year-old Diana O’Toole, an associate specialist at Sotheby’s, and her boyfriend Finn who is a surgical resident at anyway New York Presbyterian.

The couple made plans to celebrate Diana’s thirtieth on the Galápagos Islands. On the day before departure Finn is told, along with the entire staff of the hospital, everyone is needed—the virus in the City.

On an expensive trip and non-refundable tickets, Finn convinces Diana to go without him, and she does, unaware upon arrival that everything is shut down for two weeks due to the pandemic. With no immediate place to stay and spotty Wi-Fi, though she is unable to send messages to Finn, she receives intermittent emails from him…

‘Sometimes I sit and listen to the whir of the ECMO machine, and I think, This person’s heart is outside his body, and I understand completely. Because so is mine.’

WISH YOU WERE HERE is a touching, heartfelt, heartbreakingly relatable novel that I Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books (Random House), for providing me with an eBook of WISH YOU WERE HERE at the request of an honest review. 

‘I can no longer tell the sky from the sea, but I can hear the waves. A loss of sight; a gain of insight. When Finn and I booked a trip to the Galápagos, the travel agent told us it would be life-changing. Little did she know.’

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Hello, Transcriber

– by Hannah Morrissey

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HELLO, TRANSCRIBER, by Hannah Morrissey, is set in Black Harbor, Wisconsin, wherein Hazel Greenle starts her new job as a transcriber for the police department.

Though the position requires her to sign a non-disclosure agreement, as an inspiring writer, Greenle reflects on the words of wisdom handed down to her from a former College Instructor, ‘Write what you know.’ and so she does.

Greenle soon learns that Black Harbor, though a small town, is filled with Big City crime. As a transcriber, she is privy to secret information about a suspicious death involving a drug dealer known as the Candy Man.

Immersing herself so deeply in the case in search of fodder for her book, Greenle manages to get close to the lead detective, Nikolai Kole, and possibly—the killer.

Love This:

‘Write what you know is shit advice. Because life isn’t like it’s portrayed in books. Most of us aren’t heroes of our own story. We’re not villains, either. Worse, we’re ancillary characters of our own lives, who stand by and watch it crumble with zero power to change what happens on the next page.’

There are several intense moments throughout the book that kept me on my toes, constantly wondering who the killer is—Love It!

Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books), for providing me with an eBook of HELLO, TRANSCRIBER, at the request of an honest review.

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Small Things Like These

– by Claire Keegan

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I would classify SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE, by Morgan Entrekin, as a historical fictional story set in 1985 in New Ross, Ireland, that centers around a coal and timber merchant, Bill Furlong, his wife Eileen, and their five daughters in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

As Bill makes his daily deliveries, he stumbles upon a ‘secret’ at the convent, one that the Catholic church and its congregants are willing to turn a blind eye to …

‘Was it possible to carry on along through all the years, the decades, through an entire life, without once being brave enough to go against what was there and yet call yourself a Christian, and face yourself in the mirror?’

You will have to read the book and find out for yourselves.

Highly Recommend!

‘This story is dedicated to the women and children who suffered time in Ireland’s Magdalen laundries.’

Thank You, NetGalley and Grove Press, for providing me with an eBook of SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE at the request of an honest review.

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The Churchill Sisters

by Dr. Rachel Trethewey

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The Ballerinas

by Rachel Kapelke-Dale

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Though the narrative is slow-paced (Not A Thriller), it’s the hook line that immediately pulled me into the story—the nagging question of who she killed and why is ever-present in mind throughout:

‘Before Nathalie emailed and offered to take me back before I killed anyone, I saw variations of the same quotation everywhere: Paris is always a good idea.’

THE BALLERINAS, by Rachel Kapelke-Dale, is very much a coming-of-story centered around the narrator, Delphine Léger, her fellow ballerinas and best friends Lindsay and Margaux.

The story is told by way of alternating timelines of past and present events, through Delphine’s perspective, the reader bears witness to three young girls who grow up in the shadow of great ballerina dancers—like Isabelle Durand Étoile, Delphine’s mother—each striving to be the best at any cost.

‘Paris was my birthplace, my home for the first twenty-three years of my life. It was where I had my first kiss, where I met my two best friends, where I danced in sixty-four performances of Swan Lake, forty-three Nutcrackers, twenty-six La Sylphides. Where my mother wrenched my three-year-old hand and ground it, smarting, against the wood of the barre.’

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eBook of THE BALLERINAS at the request of an honest review. 

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Dark Night

-by Paige Shelton

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DARK NIGHT is the first book that I have read by Paige Shelton and is the third book in the Alaska Wild Series. 

Mystery + Thriller + Sleuthing + Alaskan Wilderness = Why, Yes, Please, And Thank You!!

As I mentioned, DARK NIGHT is book three is the series, set in Benedict, Alaska wherein mystery thriller writer Elisabeth Fairchild a.k.a. Beth Rivers, who—seven months ago, highlighted in previous books—was kidnapped, hurt, tortured, held captive for three days in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, before she managed to escape from her abductor, Travis Walker.

Seven months after the abduction, Beth is living in a room at Benedict House, a halfway house for female felons, where she spends her time writing her next book, working on the one-sheet local newspaper, and helping out local businesses when needed.

Life takes an interesting turn when Beth’s Mother, wanted for shooting Walker in the leg, tracks her down, a man conducting a census goes missing, a battered woman stubbles into a bar whose husband is later found murdered—all in a Alaska town cutoff via ferry or plane due the incoming storms. 

I have to admit, I am a bit puzzled as to why Beth—writer of Thrillers—knowing her abductor knows both her real name and the pseudonym she writes under, never changes it when she goes into hiding. 

After reading the book, I understand who Travis Walker is, but what reason is there behind the kidnapping and torture, to me, doesn’t make any since. 

Another question I have is about Beth’s mother, Mill, specifically, the reason she had to go underground as it relates to her actions at the end of this book and her daughters future well being seems to be dismissed. 

Overall, I love the characters, murder mystery, amateur sleuthing, and the setting, though the storyline, in parts, has me a bit confused.

I would like to dive into books one, two, and four, THIN ICE , COLD WIND, WINTER’S END, for possible clarification, as I wait patiently for book five, LOST HOURS, scheduled to release in December 2023, though subject to change.

Thank You, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books), for providing me with an eBook of DARK NIGHT at the request of an honest review. 

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The Scavenger

–by Aiden Lucid

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THE SCAVENGER – Book One Of The Hopps Town Series – by Aidan Lucid – 4.5 Star 

First, let me just say I LOVE THE COVER ART! 

Second, My Review…

Though I have no definitive answer, I believe this story is set in a fictional(?) place called Hopps Town in Ireland and centers around three High School students:  Jared Duval, Jessica Barlow, and Adrian Cole.

 As if the trials and tribulations of home life coupled with the dreaded days of High School and the foes within are not enough for this trio of friends to deal with, Lucid slips in a nice dollop of the Supernatural by way of haunted dreams and daymares that stem from the towns dark past and something as seemingly innocent as—a wishing well.

I would describe THE SCAVENGER, based on content, as a Young Adult Horror book—Highly Recommend! 

Thank you, Aiden Lucid and Jongleur Books Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of THE SCAVENGER at the request of an honest review. 

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Drowning

-by Kevin Lucia

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A  C L I F T O N H E I G H T S  T A L E — DROWNING – by Kevin Lucia – Horror Novella 

‘All Andrew McCormick wants is to pay his NYSEG bill and go home. Go home, and try to forget the ruin his life has become. But he’s repressed his grief for far too long, and it’s unleashed something dark, and angry…and hungry.’

In a word, WOW! I love how Lucia wrote the Drowning, a novella centered around a heartbreaking story of grief—My Heart!

I also love the way Lucia wrote the short story, ‘THE WAY OF AH-TZENUL,’ included at the end of the book, narrated from the perspective of a farmer conversing with the town Doctor (the reader) about his wife. This story made me laugh and cringe (in a good way); I LOVE the ending. 

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, Cemetery Dance Publications, for providing me with an eBook of DROWNING at the request of an honest review. 

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Count To Three

– by T.R. Ragan

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COUNT TO THREE, by Theresa Ragan, is a mystery thriller centered around motherhood, loss, grief, and a visceral pulsating vein of nature versus nurture that’s palpable throughout the narrative.

The novel opens with a Prologue wherein five-year-old Tinsley Callahan, on her first day of kindergarten, is kidnapped from the school by a woman who looks similar to her mother, Dani. 

Five years later and no definitive leads, Dani Callahan—now a private investigator—works with her twenty-two-year-old assistant, Quinn Sullivan, to help find other missing children.

Dani never gives up hope that her daughter is still alive, despite the confession given by prison inmate Kyle Harmon three months earlier, who admits to the kidnapping and murder of Tinsley. However, a body is never found in the location he provides. 

Quinn, whose mother left her and her father when she was a child, is determined to help Dani find Lindsey whilst working the kidnapping case of a local teen, Ali Cross.

Though there are a few hiccups along the way, coupled with a few familiar tropes and plot points, COUNT TO THREE, with its clipped chapters and one formidable foe in particular—LOVE IT!, overall, was, for me, an engaging read.  

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of COUNT TO THREE at the request of an honest review. 

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Apex Magazine Issue 129

~Edited by~

Jason Sizemore & Lesley Conner

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APEX MAGAZINE ISSUE 129 – Edited by JASON SIZEMORE & LESLEY CONNER 

‘In this one, familiar faces return along with several first-timers to our pages.’

The following are my favorites from the magazine:

‘IT HAPPENED IN ‘LOONTOWN’ – by LAVIE TIDHAR – HaHaHa, I Love This One! 

‘Dancers rose and fell on gentle thermals, skirts twirling, hoppers hopping, silver foil flashing everywhere.’

‘SHERI, AT THIS VERY MOMENT’ – by BIANCA SAYAN – My Heart! 

‘LAMIA’ – by CRISTINA JURADO – Creepy Good!

‘THE CURE FOR LONELINESS’ – M. SHAW – Love This One!

CLASSIC FICTION

 ‘O2 ARENA’ – by OGHENECHOVWE DONALD EKPEKI – My Heart!  

NONFICTION

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESENTING DISABILITIES IN LITERATURE – by MERCEDES M. YARDLEY – LOVE!!

REVIEWS WORDS FOR THOUGHT: SHORT FICTION REVIEW – by AC WISE

‘At its best, horror and dark fiction acts as a catharsis, a way to process emotion and speak about the unspeakable. Each of the stories discussed here does this in its own way. Some offer hope and others let you know that even if it doesn’t seem like a comforting thought, remaining in the dark is okay because you’re not in it alone.’

‘Missing Dolls Around the World’ – by Ai Jiang in THE DARK

‘Vampirito’ – by K. Victoria Hernandez in KHŌRÉŌ MAGAZINE

‘The Genius and the Devil’ – by Stephanie Feldman in CATAPULT MAGAZINE

‘That Story Isn’t the Story’ – by John Wiswell in UNCANNY MAGAZINE

‘That House’ – by Simon Strantzas in BOURBON PENN

KETURAH BARTERS – BOOK REVIEW: BLACK CHAIN BY DOMINIC MARTELL

TRACY ROBINSON – BOOK REVIEW: FLOWERS FOR THE SEA BY ZIN E. ROCKLYN – (D.K. Hundt: I, too, read this book—Highly Recommend!)

‘Much like life, there are small flashes of beauty that shine through the struggle of a woman whose existence and determination matches those of so many in today’s society. It causes the reader to break through their lenses, to see and feel through the experiences of another.’ – Nice! 

Thank you, Jason Sizemore, for providing me with an eMagazine, APEX Issue 129, at the request of an honest review. 

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The Sharp End Of The Rainbow

– by Madeleine Swann

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THE SHARP END OF THE RAINBOW – by Madeleine Swann – A Collection Of Horror Stories – 2 Star

The Following Are My Favorites: 

‘Typhoid Ananya’

‘Teeth Out for PewDiePie’

‘Seed Man’

‘Dreamscribing’s Not for the Weak’

‘Suckle His Poison’ – Ewe! – The dream I had the night I read this was really creepy!

‘Last Chance Dinner Party’

‘An Unexpected Reunion’ – That Was Creepy Good! 

 ‘All She Needs’ – Creepy Good

‘The Octopus in the Corner of the Room’ – Love This One!

‘Above the Bloodline of the Wayward Flower’ 

‘How We Met’ – That Was Good!

‘No Stranger’

 Thank you, Madeleine Swann and Heads Dance Press, for providing me with an eBook of THE SHARP END OF THE RAINBOW at the request of an honest review.

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The Decoy

– by Chloé Archambault

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The Maid

– by Nita Prose

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THE MAID – by Nita Prose – A Whodunit 

My Heart! Highly Recommend!

I absolutely love the main character, twenty-year-old Molly Gray, an old soul who works as a Maid in the Regency Grand Hotel and discovers the emphasis Charles Black dead in his suite from natural causes, or could it possibly be murder?

‘I am your maid. I know so much about you. But when it comes down to it: what is it that you know about me?’

I LOVE the ending!

 Thank You, NetGalley and Ballantine Books (Random House Publishing), for providing me with an eBook of THE MAID at the request of an honest review. 

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A Three Book Problem

– by Vicki Delany

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A Flicker In The Dark

– by Stacy Willingham

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A FLICKER IN THE DARK by Stacy Willingham is set in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2018, wherein thirty-two-year-old Chloe Davis, the daughter of serial killer Richard Davis, works as a psychologist helping others whilst grappling with inner conflicts of her own: panic attacks, hypochondria, insomnia, and nyctophobia.

You see, in July of 1998, in her hometown of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana—when Chloe was twelve years old, her brother, Cooper, fifteen—their father was tried and convicted of killing six teenage girls…

‘Learning to fear should be a slow evolution—a gradual progression from the Santa Claus at a local strip mall to the boogeyman under the bed; from the rated-R movie a babysitter let you watch to the man idling in a car behind tinted windows … For me, the concept of fear came crashing down with a force my adolescent body had never experienced … it made me realize that monsters didn’t hide in the woods; they weren’t shadows in the trees or invisible things lurking in darkened corners.’

‘No, the real monsters moved in plain sight.’

Twenty years later, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a young girl goes missing…

I have to admit; I had mixed feelings about the familiar narrative as I dove further into A FLICKER IN THE DARK, almost stopping at one point when the bulk content had me skimming. Character action felt off for one particular scene though convenient for a seamless narrative around the eighty percent mark.

However, my need to know won out, so I decided to continue, and I’m glad I did—the ending was *chef’s kiss* perfection.

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books, for providing me with an eBook of A FLICKER IN THE DARK at the request of an honest review. 

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The Last House On The Street

– by Diane Chamberlain

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I would classify THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET by Diane Chamberlain as historical fiction, a gut-wrenching story told from alternating timelines. The first centers around a young college student, Ellie Hockley, who, in the year 1965, spends her summer break as a volunteer for SCOPE—the Summer Community Organization and Political Education project—a group of college students helping to register black voters.

After orientation and training at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, Ellie, along with her fellow volunteers, is sent to the town Turner’s Bend in her home state of North Carolina, wherein each volunteer stays with hosting family, spreading the word about the importance of registering to vote throughout the community, as they wait for LBJ to sign the voter’s rights bill into law.

Though met with life-threatening resistance, the volunteers refused to give up—including Ellie, whose racist family lives in the neighboring town of Round Hill—demands she comes home. 

In the second timeline, set in 2010, young widow Kayla Carter and her three-year-daughter are getting ready to move into the house Kayla and her deceased husband Jackson designed and had built at the end of Hockley street, when a mysterious woman warns Kayla against moving into the house. 

THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET was a difficult read, a gut-wrenching narrative that ripped my heart out. At various points throughout the book, the budding relationship between Ellie and one of the volunteers warmed my heart tremendously.

By the end of the book, I felt enraged at the lack of justice.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eBook of THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET at the request of an honest review. 

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A Life Transparent

– by Todd Keisling

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A LIFE TRANSPARENT: BOOK ONE OF THE MONOCHROME TRILOGY – by Todd Keisling 

‘In the time since, Donovan rolled with life’s

punches, working his a** off to keep the seams of his world from tearing. At the

center was Donna, and if he could overcome those early years of hardship, he

could overcome this—whatever it was.’

As I made my way through the pages of Book One in the Monochrome Trilogy, it was like looking in a mirror, my life on the page—by stories end, I couldn’t help but wonder if the flickering image looking back at me each morn is real or just an illusion.

Love This! – From The Afterword:

‘We can only look forward with the

experience of where we’ve been, and hope that where we’re headed is a little

easier, the road not quite as bumpy and cracked. And things rarely ever work out

that way, do they?’

Thank you, Todd Keisling, for providing me with an eBook of A LIFE TRANSPARENT at the request of an honest review.

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Bad Luck Bridesmaid

– by Alison Rose Greenberg

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I had a blast reading BAD LUCK BRIDESMAID by Alison Rose Greenberg, a Rom-Com wherein Zoey Marks believes she is a cursed Bridesmaid—in a span of ten years—three engagements—no brides have walked down the aisle. 

When Zoey’s best friend Hannah Green announces her engagement, making Zoey a Bridesmaid for the fourth time—she is determined to break her bad luck streak whilst healing from a recent breakup with her boyfriend Rylan Harper III—hoping to get him back.  

I Laughed. I Cried. And Oh My, I think my glasses fogged up a few times cause there’s a whoooollleee lotta Hot, Hot, Hot, and McSteamy going on…

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin, for providing me with an eBook of BAD LUCK BRIDESMAID at the request of an honest review.

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The Liminal Man

– by Todd Keisling

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Such A Pretty Smile

– by Kristi Demeester

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SUCH A PRETTY SMILE by Kristi DeMeester started really good for me; specifically, the perspective of Lila (2019) as she tries to make sense of what’s happening within and around her is perfection. However, Caroline’s internal turmoil in (2014), in the latter part of the book, weighs down the narrative to the point I was skimming. 

As a fan of Horror, the dark storyline mystery surrounding the murders, coupled with Caroline’s state of mind when creating her artwork (2004), really amped up the tension—Loved It!

And the ending—My Heart! 

‘Around her, the park breathed in and out, and whatever secrets it held would die inside of it.’

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eBook of SUCH A PRETTY FACE at the request of an honest review.

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Nonentity

~ by Todd Keisling

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The Wakening

– by JG Faherty

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hat. Was. Intense! 

THE WAKENING by JG Faherty ticked off all of the boxes for me: possession, poltergeists, characters you love and those you can’t help but hate, clipped chapters that pulsate with tension, and the perfect ending—though the last scene broke my heart, as a Horror Fan—I Loved It!

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for providing me with an eBook of THE WAKENING at the request of an honest review.

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Mestiza Blood

– by V. Castro

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MESTIZA BLOOD – A Short Story Collection – by V. Castro – Highly Recommend!

The Following Are My Favorites—Two in particular that made this collection shine, in my opinion; see top favorites below:

‘Night of the Living Dead Chola’ – Love!

‘I was a ghost in life and still in death, but who knew I would have so much power without a heartbeat or breath?’

‘The Demon in My Eye’

‘I woke up this morning wanting to die. I told myself it’s just the demon in my eye, a little bug stuck inside my pupil.’

‘Nightmares & ICE’ – My Heart!

‘Cam Girl Sally’ – Love The Ending!

‘I wanted to live again. I didn’t survive ‘that day’, I died and just went to a place between life and death. But everybody’s luck changes. God can’t ignore all prayers.’

‘Dancehall Devil’ 

‘They say she is a beauty with hair that will tangle you in tendrils of brown as you spin her around. Before you know it, you are as helpless as a spider’s next meal.’ 

‘Mal de Ojo’ 

‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’

‘The Cold Season’ – Love This One! (Top Favorite)

‘The Latin Queens of Mictlan’

‘We are a crew of ride-or-die mujeres making the best of our nightmares, running the levels of Mictlan with the bravado of politicians of the twenty-first century and raking in the profit like those Fortune 500 companies of old. Here, the currency is blood, flesh and piety.’

‘Truck Stop’ – Love This One! (Top Favorite)

‘The Final Porn Star’ – Creepy Good X Vibes From This One!

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for providing me with an eBook of MESTIZA BLOOD at the request of an honest review.

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Dead Silence

– by S.A. Barnes

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DEAD SILENCE by S.A. Barnes read like a mix between a Star Trek and Dr. Who episode I watched many, many, moons ago—Love It!

The novel opens in the year 2149, wherein the Team Leader of commweb sniffer L1N4 (LINA), Claire Kovalik—after being rescued by Raleigh, a search and rescue team—is being interviewed by an investigator of Verux’s QA Department. 

The accusation made against her—that of murdering her entire crew for financial gain after their discovery, two months prior, of the Aurora—a luxury space liner that went missing twenty years.

Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Nightfire Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of DEAD SILENCE at the request of an honest review. 

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Unlucky Charm 

– by Aidan Lucid

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‘“Sins from the past always come back to haunt you. Don’t do wrong to nobody because karma…well, you know what they call that.”’

UNLUCKY CHARM, Book Two Of The Hopps Town Series, by Aidan Lucid, takes place a year later, wherein we follow Jared Duval, home from college for two weeks, who is visited by a specter with a dark message.  

On the other side of Hopps Town, we follow Zane Miller and his best friend of ten years, Reggie Danes. After purchasing an antique watch for his mother, Zane and Reggie’s world begins to unravel as darkness enters their lives.

With the help of his Aunt Maybelle, will Jared decipher the message in time?!?

You have to read the book and find out. 😉 

As a fellow SUPERNATURAL fan, this part made me laugh:

‘“You gotta admit, though, it’s cool riding shotgun with me, solving cases like Dean and Sam Winchester.” “Yeah, it’s cool. I’m Dean, though.” “Pfft. You wish, homeboy,” Maybelle scoffed. They shared a brief laugh.’

Based on the ending, I can’t wait to read Book Three!

Thank you, Aidan Lucid and Jongleur Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of UNLUCKY CHARM at the request of an honest review. 

Category: YA Horror 

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Violeta

~ by Isabel Allende

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VIOLETA by Isabel Allende, written by way of a letter from Violeta and is addressed to an unknown recipient named Camilo. 

Violeta is an interesting character, flawed as we all are to a certain degree—whether we choose to admit it or not—Violeta lays hers bare on the page, beginning in the opening paragraph…

‘Dear Camilo,

My intention with these pages is to leave you a testimony of my life. I imagine someday, when you are old and less busy, you might want to stop and remember me. You have a terrible memory since you’re always so distracted, and that defect gets worse with age. I think you’ll see that my life story is worthy of a novel, because of my sins more than my virtues. You have received many of my letters, where I’ve detailed much of my existence (minus the sins), but you must make good on your promise to burn them when I die, because they are overly sentimental and often cruel….’

As interesting as Violeta’s life is to read about, the form in which it’s told is a difficult one to stay absorbed in, resulting in a did-not-finish for me at eighty-one percent. 

Thank You, NetGalley and Ballantine Books (Penguin Random House LLC), for providing me with an eBook of VIOLETA at the request of an honest review. 

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These Deadly Games

– by Diana Urban

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THESE DEADLY GAMES – by Diana Urban 

That. Was. Intense! 

‘Sometimes when you bury a secret, it claws at your heart like bloodied fingernails scraping against a coffin lid as you suffocate under the weight of all that compacted dirt.’ 

‘But now, after all this time, someone had dug up our secret—and they were trying to whack us with the shovel, one by one.’

Highly Recommend!

Young Adult Thriller

Reading Age: 14-18

Grade Level: 7-9

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Publishing), for providing me with an eBook of THESE DEADLY GAMES at the request of an honest review.

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Paused 

– by Stephanie Ellis

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PAUSED – by Stephanie Ellis

‘A terrifying pandemic sweeps the world, rendering its victims completely immobile but leaving them conscious with their minds intact.’

‘Was mankind going out, not with a bang but a whimper? Switched off by a god who had become disenchanted with his toys, was moving on to something new, improved, shinier. Theories had gone viral.’

My Heart! I love the premise, characters, and story, though I am a bit perplexed by the mention of an important detail at the beginning of the book that never comes to light, from the scientist’s perspective, until much later. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press, for providing me with an eBook of PAUSED at the request of an honest review. 

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Wicked Bleu: Paranormal Suspense

– by E. Denise Billups 

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COFFEE AND THORN BOOK TOUR – January 23, 2023 – 5 Star 

WICKED BLEU –  Simone Doucet Series – Book Two – by  E. DENISE BILLUPS 

Though I have not read TAINTED HARVEST, Book One in the Simone Doucet Series—wherein an ancestral specter awakens Doucet’s second sight, thus enabling restless spirits to vie for her attention—I had no trouble navigating the storyline in Book Two, WICKED BLEU, which features a spectral pull from a being whose plight and intentions reveal in the Prologue. 

Here is a snippet:

‘Your light gives me hope, another chance to set matters right before returning to that ultimate sleep. Fear, not my wiles. I may wander into your warm flesh, alive again, to roam beneath wrought-iron terraces, strut to the beat of sultry jazz in my beloved city once more. For a century, I’ve waited for someone to hear my story.’

‘Can’t you see the distance I’ve traveled?’

The novel opens on February 16, 2020, in Brooklyn, New York, and centers around Simone Doucet and her three Brownstone roommates: Stacy Sahara Alanis, Mitchell Hu Young, Jude Michael Foster, and a ghost who was murdered one hundred and three years ago. 

Wanting to get away from the mysterious ghost, Doucet and her roommate’s venture to New Orleans, Louisiana, to take advantage of the seven-day complimentary Mardi Gras hotel accommodations she received for a travel magazine article she wrote about the aforementioned hotel, the Bourbon Orleans—that’s—you guessed it—haunted. 

Having stayed there before, Doucet has never experienced anything paranormal, that is, until this trip. Having awakened her second sight, the spirit that’s drawn to her the most is the one she’s worked so hard to evade, a lady of the night in 1917 who lived a dangerous life in Storyville, near the French Quarter; her name is Bleu.

‘Visions of her past and horrific death beset Simone….But why are the images fragmented? Has Bleu forgotten what happened the stormy night she died? Can Simone uncover Bleu’s murderer and reunite her with her loved ones before it’s too late?’

You will have to read the book and find out for yourselves. 😉

From this reader’s perspective, WICKED BLEU ticked all the boxes for me! 

Would you care to partake in a Supernatural tale? 

Possession? 

Witness a romance or two? 

Try and solve a centuries-old murder whilst you are seamlessly thrust to and fro from present-day to events from the past in search of answers?  

If you answered yes to one or all of the above, then I encourage you to dive into the Simone Doucet Series, starting with TAINTED HARVEST, then WICKED BLEU, and… 

I hear there is going to be a Book Three!

Insert *squeeeeeeee* here

Thank You, Coffee And Thorn Book Tour, for inviting me onboard the tour, and Next Chapter Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of WICKED BLEU at the request of an honest review. 

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The Real Valkyrie: The Hidden History Of Viking Warrior Women

by Nancy Marie Brown

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press/eBook~

~08/31/2021~

Rereading

~Available On Amazon~

~The Real Valkyrie – The Hidden History Of Viking Warrior Women~

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Faithless 

–  by Hunter Shea 

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Flame Tree Press/eBook/10/26/2021~

FAITHLESS by Hunter Shea, In a word—WOW! 

I have been a fan of Shea’s writing for a few years now, so it’s always an honor and a pleasure to receive an advance copy of any book in Shea’s catalog for review. 

The storyline in FAITHLESS centers around Father Raul Figeuroa, his wife Bella, their two young children Abel and Lizzy, and the heinous act that destroys the family…

How does one bear witness—over the phone—to their entire family being brutally murdered and emerge from the other side unscathed?

You don’t.

When the weight of loss, grief, and maintaining a semblance of faith becomes too much for Father Figeuroa to endure, he decides to leave the priesthood to live in his Aunt Ida’s empty farmhouse in upstate New York, wherein he tries to numb his mind and body with alcohol and pills. As the reader, you soon wonder…

Are the voices and noises he hears in the house real, or only a figment of his inebriated stupor?   

You will have to read the book and find out for yourselves. 😉 I will say—My Heart! 

Highly Recommend! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for providing me with an eARC of FAITHLESS at the request of an honest review. 

Side Note: Please don’t view the delay of this review as a lack of interest, want, or respect on my part towards the author and publisher as I try to catch up on my vast to-be list.

~Available On Amazon~ 

~Faithless~ 

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 Music Shall Untune The Sky (Book Two)

–  by Lou Kemp 

~Amazon Image/eBook/Independently Published~ 

~08-18-2021~

DNF – 69%

I LOVE the premise of the book, the characters, and the direction the storyline ventures into, however, the way in which the story is told, specifically regarding tense moments, is frequently glossed over or dismissed altogether thus diminishing the weight each scene is meant to carry regarding the plot.

Though this series didn’t work for me, I look forward to reading what Kemp comes up with next.

~Available On Amazon~ 

~Music Shall Untune The Sky~ 

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 The Restoration 

–  by J.J. Moncrieff 

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Flame Tree Press/eBook/10/26/2021~

THE RESTORATION, by J.H. Moncrieff, centers around Terri Foxworth, her ten-year-old daughter, Dallas, the red-brick, three-story, Vandermere mansion—that Terri is in charge of restoring—and the ghosts that may or may not dwell within…

‘What does one do when the nightmares are real? Who was ever going to believe her?’

I love the premise of the book, though, at times, the characterization felt off to me; throughout, Moncrieff does an excellent job of creating creepy-formidable foes! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for providing me with an eBook of THE RESTORATION at the request of an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~The Restoration~ 

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David Copperfield’s History Of Magic 

– by David Copperfield 

Amazon Image/NetGalley/ Simon & Schuster/eGalley~ 

~10/26/2021~

DAVID COPPERFIELD’S HISTORY OF MAGIC – 

Written by: David Copperfield,  Richard Wiseman & David Britland 

Photographs by: Homer Liwag

In this personal journey through a unique and remarkable performing art, David Copperfield profiles twenty-eight of the world’s most groundbreaking magicians. From the 16th-century magistrate who wrote the first book on conjuring to the roaring twenties and the man who fooled Houdini, to the woman who levitated, vanished, and caught bullets in her teeth, 

I can still remember, as a child, watching with my three older brothers as Copperfield performed his Magic on television in the late 70s, all of us in awe at his ability to do the impossible before our eyes and wonder—to this day—though not really wanting the answer, ‘How did he do it?’

So you can imagine my trepidation and excitement when I was approved to read and review Copperfield’s HISTORY OF MAGIC—which includes…wait for it! 

Photographs!

Some may be thinking, ‘So what, Lady, [insert eye roll here] books have photographs in them; it’s a thing. Get a grip—geez!’

Yes, that is true, but not all eARCs provided by publishers include the images that will later be added to the final draft. (Aaaaaannnddd, Yes, I am aware this review is a year late. *sigh*)

So, allow me to reiterate…

Photographs!

*Squeeeeeeeeeee*

There is a reason for my excitement, and, what has prompted me to put the hardback version on my to-be-purchased list, are the images that tie into this non-fiction narrative ever so nicely on the pages of Copperfield’s HISTORY OF MAGIC.

Will you learn the trade of the tricks? 

The how-tos and what-not from the magical masters of Illusion from the past? 

Nope, that’s not what this book is about. 

Within these pages, you will, however, learn about Copperfield’s mysterious, cleverly disguised Museum Of Magic and the exclusive contents complemented with one hundred never-seen-before photographs—hence my excitement! 😉 

I can’t even begin to imagine how Copperfield must feel being in possession of such time-honored treasures owned and once used by his predecessors, many he looked up to—Yep, I am in awe, once again. 

‘On the face of it, my job is to perform the impossible. But when I see audience members being moved by my magic, I am moved, too: magic has the power to redirect people away from their worries and concerns and, perhaps most important of all, to inspire and to provide hope.’

Whether you are a fan of Magic, a would-be Illusionist, drawn in by-way-of the origin stories, or all of the above, I Highly Recommend This Book! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Publishing, for providing me with an eARC of DAVID COPPERFIELD’S HISTORY OF MAGIC at the request of an honest review; my sincere apology to all for the delay. 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~David Copperfield’s History Of Magic~ 

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Maiden Voyages

– by Siân Evans

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press/eGalley~

 ~08/10/2021~

MAIDEN VOYAGES – by Siân Evans 

‘[A] collection of selected biographical tales, both cautionary and life-affirming, about dynamic women on the move ….’ 

As the reader, MAIDEN VOYAGES will take you on a journey by way of maritime travel aboard vast ships, one professed to be unsinkable, abroad to destinations either foreign or familiar, for business, pleasure, employment, or survival—numerous pinpoints on a timeline of the past, if you will, that spans between the two World Wars during what s considered to be the golden age of transatlantic travel. 

I tend to lean toward stories about the underdog, those struggling to make ends meet despite their circumstance who never give up. However, tales of the affluent are also highlighted in this book—Mmmmmm, not so much. 

Of the women featured, there are two that draw my attention, one being though her circumstance at various points throughout her maritime life as a stewardess is similar to many, she was given the moniker, the ‘Unsinkable Violet Jessop’.

In a word—WOW!!! 

And, yes, you will have to read the book to learn more about her, but I will say: 

Due to a combination of family connections and financial desperation, in 1908, Violet Jessop embarked on her maiden voyage as a stewardess on board the Orinoco, working sixteen-hour days seven days a week—a career that would span forty-two years and more than two hundred ocean voyages.

And The Other:

Victoria Drummond…

‘There were many tales of individual bravery by women on the Atlantic during the Second World War. Victoria Drummond, the first woman to qualify as a marine engineer in the 1920s, had given up her job ashore and joined the war effort, becoming a second engineer in the Women’s Mercantile Naval Reserve, and assisted with the evacuation at Dunkirk in 1940. According to the Evening Standard, Councillor William Lockyer, the Mayor of Lambeth, who was a friend of the family, said: ‘She has been bombed during her voyages, but all she says about it is ….’

Nope, No Spoilers! 😉

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group (Macmillan), for providing me with an eBook of 

MAIDEN VOYAGES at the request of an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~

~Maiden Voyages

---

Nocturne

– by H.B. Diaz 

~Cover Design by – Daniel Jensen/IndependentlyPublished/eBook/10/03/2020~

NOCTURNE – A Collection of Dark Tales – by H.B. Diaz

I enjoyed every one of the twelve Dark Tales within; I hope you do as well—I Highly Recommend!

‘The Patient in Room 96’ – Love This One! 

‘Imogene knew even before her fingers touched the doorknob that she belonged to Harwood House, and now it would belong to her, too.’

‘Insomnia’ – That was short, but Oh So Creepy Good!

‘Wendigo’ – Creepy Good! 

‘The Malady of Mrs. Monroe’ – Creepy Good!

‘The Cave’ – ‘Love This–‘A creature hissed beside her foot. She cried out, and the shadows dragged her voice down the latticework of tunnels only to return it to her, diseased and strange.’

‘The Parasite’ – All Kinds Of Dark And Creepy—LOVE IT!

‘The Pocket Watch’ – That Was Good! 

‘The Monkey’s Paw Spore – Love This One! 

‘The Ruins’

‘Oranges’ – Creepy Good, But So Dark…

‘Caroline’ – Love This One!

‘The Echo of Eleanor Mae’ – Love This One!

Thank you, H.B. Diaz, for providing me with an eBook of NOCTURNE at the request of an honest review. 

 ~Available On Amazon~ 

~Nocturne~ 

---

The Playground 

– by Jill Benson 

~Amazon Image/Independently Published/Audiobook/12/05/2020~

THE PLAYGROUND: Three Tales of the Supernatural – by Jill Benson – Recommend!

My favorite stories are:

‘The Playground’ & ‘Crack In Wall’ 

Thank you, Jill Benson, for providing me with an Audiobook of THE PLAYGROUND at the request of an honest review. 

Own/eBook

~Available On Amazon~ 

~The Playground~ 

---

Last Resort  

– by Josh Reynolds 

~Cover Image by – Riccardo Crosa & Francescutto/NetGalley/Aconyte/eGalley~

LAST RESORT – Zombicide – by Josh Reynolds – DNF 28%

As a huge fan of all things Zombie and Apocalypse centered, I knew I needed to read this Book. I understand that LAST RESORT is based on a video game; though I have never played it, my interest is somewhat piqued. 

The opening of the book pulled me right in immediately and held my interest; however, the way certain scenes play out seems to contradict the narrative. Also, the peril the characters are placed in loses tension with the ease with which they walk away unscathed, never touched by Zombie’s hands even though they surround them.

Though this Graphic Novel didn’t work for me, I look forward to reading what Reynolds’ comes up with next.

Thank you, NetGalley and Aconyte Books (Asmodee Entertainment Ltd), for providing me with an eBook of LAST RESORT at the request of an honest review. 

~10/12/2021~ 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~Last Resort~ 

---

 Mouth Full Of Ashes 

– by Briana Morgan 

~Cover Design by – Kealan Patrick Burke/Independently Published/Mother Horror/Night Worms/eBook~

DNF – 42%Though this book didn’t work for me, I look forward to reading what Morgan comes up with next.

~10/04/2021~ 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~Mouth Full Of Ashes~ 

---

The Last Guest 

– by Tess Little

 

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Ballantine Books/Random House LLC./eGalley/10/05/2021~

THE LAST GUEST – by Tess Little

The opening paragraphs of the book immediately hooked me into this Whodunit, coupled with one very interesting guest, in particular, which had me at the edge of my seat. 

How is this story going to play out?!?! 

As the reader, submerged in the depths of a who’s who dinner party, wherein drinks and delicious detectable are aplenty—by dawn early light, there on the floor lay a dead body.

 Desperately Need to know how this story ends; unfortunately, the narrative lags quite a bit with the repetition of thought from our main character, Elspeth; as we are transported between intermittent present-day interrogation with law enforcement, events of the distant past commingled with what transpired during the dinner party. 

At the beginning of Act II, around the fifty-three percent mark, the repetition continues, so I quickly lose interest in the narrative, no longer submerged, just bobbing on the surface.

My need to know what happens, however, hasn’t waned a bit, so I’m going to request an Audiobook from my local library and give this book another try. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books (Random House), for providing me with an eBook of THE LAST GUEST in a request for an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~The Last Guest~ 

---

 The Book Of Magic 

– by Alice Hoffman 

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Simon & Schuster/eGalley~

THE BOOK OF MAGIC – by Alice Hoffman

‘What would you do for the one you loved? Would you place yourself in exile, see wrong as right, forsake all others, do what you must?’

‘A bargain was a bargain, and you always paid a price.’

I enjoyed reading THE BOOK OF MAGIC, Book Two in the Practical Magic series; though I have read MAGIC LESSONS Book #0.1, I have yet to read THE RULES OF MAGIC #0.2 (Up Next/Audiobook/Library) and PRACTICAL MAGIC Book 1. 

THE BOOK OF MAGIC can be easily read as a standalone, as it, in what I’m guessing, is a recap of the events in the previous books, which, too, accounts for much of the slow burn. 

The drive for me, as I made my way through the narrative, was the incessant pull of my heartstrings by the characters that never let up—and by stories end—My Heart!

Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of THE BOOK OF MAGIC at the request of an honest review. 

~10/12/2021~ 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~The Book Of Magic~ 

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The Corpse Flower 

– by Anne Mette Hancock 

~Cover Design by Kara Klontz – NetGalley/Crooked Lane Books/eBook – 10/12/2021~

THE CORPSE FLOWER: A Kaldan And Sháfer Danish Crime Novel – Book One – by Anne Mette Hancock

‘Danish journalist Heloise Kaldan is in the middle of a nightmare. One of her sources has been caught lying, and she could lose her job over it. Then she receives the first in a series of cryptic and unsettling letters from a woman named Anna Kiel.’

I thoroughly enjoyed reading THE CORPSE FLOWER—I Loved The Ending! I can’t wait to read Book Two, THE COLLECTOR, scheduled to release on November 8, 2022, though subject to change. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books (The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC), for providing me with an eBook of THE CORPSE FLOWER at the request of an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~The Corpse Flower~ 

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 Truth Of The Divine 

– by Lindsay Ellis 

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press/eGalley/10/19/2021~

TRUTH OF THE DIVINE – by Lindsay Ellis

I love the first book in the series, AXIOM’S END; unfortunately, TRUTH OF THE DEVINE is a DNF for me at forty-two percent. 

What Cora goes through emotionally is very relatable, yet it felt inconsistent throughout the portion I read, considering what happened in the first book. 

There are moments when the tension builds nicely and then tamped down by a character response that, to me, doesn’t make sense as I reflect on past events. 

Though this book didn’t work for me, I look forward to reading what Ellis comes up with next.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eBook of TRUTH OF THE DEVINE at the request of an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~Truth Of The Divine~ 

---

AXIOM’S END

– by Lindsay Ellis

Amazon Image/Own eBook/St. Martin’s Press~

I love everything about AXIOM’S END—My Heart!

If you enjoy Conspiracy Theory Political Thrillers centered around Extraterrestrial Beings with characters you care about, I think you will love this book.

Highly Recommend!

Next Up, Book Two In The Series – TRUTH OF THE DIVINE (10/2021)

AXIOM’S END –  Book One Of The Noumena Series – by Lindsay Ellis 

Source: eBook/Local Online Library

~07-21-2020~ 

~Available On Amazon~

~Axiom’s End~ 

---

The City Of Dr Moreau 

– by J. S. Barnes 

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Titan Books/eBook~

I have yet to read THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU, by H G Wells, a tale of a lone, shipwrecked traveler in the South Pacific who finds himself on an ‘island ruled by a mad doctor and inhabited by creatures who are both beast and human. He escapes…but that is only the beginning of the story.’

J.S. Barnes’, THE CITY OF DOCTOR MOREAU, opens on the 16^th of November, in the year 1877 London, and centers around the history of the islanders …

‘In the wake of the resultant scandal, many descriptions were circulated of the laboratory, which was owned and operated by Dr Moreau in the part of the old city known then as Ratcliffe. The popular press were most exercised upon the subject and strikingly vivid in their treatment of it. “Hovel of Horrors” was one such description, “Basement of the Bizarre” another. All of the reporting at the time made it sound like some gothic extrusion, some far-flung medieval castle. The truth …’ 

You have to read the book and find out. 😉

I will say I gasped a few times at the unexpected—and the ending—I loved It! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Titan Books, for providing me with an eBook of THE CITY OF DOCTOR MOREAU at the request of an honest review. 

~10/12/2021~ 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~The City Of Dr Moreau~ 

---

 The Nameless One 

– by John Connolly 

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Atria/Simon & Schuster/eGalley~

That. Was. INTENSE!!

THE NAMELESS ONE’S, if memory serves (Yeah, no guarantee there—let’s just say—I am an AVID, to the point of ferocious Reader and gobble Books up like they’re orange Tic Tac’s.), is not only the first novel I have read in the Charlie Parker Series but the first book I have read in the Connolly Catalog.

Allow me to say—More, Please! 

THE NAMELESS ONE’S – Book #19 is an Intense read using clipped, informative chapters that reveal the perfect amount of detail that not only makes this an easy-to-read standalone but aids the suspense. 

As I mentioned, this novel is part of the Parker Series; though Parker does make an appearance, the center stage goes to Louis and Angel, two characters I really enjoyed and hope to read more of. 

I also LOVE books that have Supernatural elements, which this one most definitely does, and if my Scooby-senses picked up on a particular reveal, can I expect more as I venture into Book One and future installments?

I Hope So! 

Next Up—Book #20 THE FURIES—Available Now!

Thank you, NetGalley and Emily Bestler Books (Atria – Bad Dog Books Limited – Simon & Schuster), for providing me with an eBook of THE NAMELESS ONE’S at the request of an honest review. 

Highly Recommend! 

~10/26/2021~ 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~The Nameless Ones~ 

---

The Pizza Deliveryman’s Tale

– by Ronan Barbour

~Cover Art by Thomas M. Baxa/Paperback/Green Gingerbread Press~

~10-24-2020~

DNF – Page 152

~Available On Amazon~

~The Pizza Deliveryman’s Tale~

---

Nothing But Blackened Teeth

– by Cassandra Khaw

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Nightfire/Macmillan Publishing Group LLC./eBook~

Unfortunately, NOTHING BUT BLACKENED TEETH is a DNF for me at 31%. The cover art is fantastic, and the story’s premise is horror perfection; however, the execution and characterization felt confusing and off to me, which may, to a certain degree, attribute to my love for diving into a book blind, though I read the synopsis months ago, I had since forgotten.

Though this book didn’t work for me, I may revisit it at a later date; I look forward to reading what Khaw comes up with next. Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan (Tor Nightfire), for providing me with an eBook of NOTHING BUT BLACKENED TEETH at the request of an honest review. 

~10/19/2021~ 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~Nothing But Blackened Teeth~ 

---

October Night 

– by Kevin Lucia

 

~Cover Art by Ben Baldwin/Crystal Lake Publishing/eGalley/10/22/2021~

OCTOBER NIGHTS – by Kevin Lucia – Four Interconnected Horror Stories

I finished the first story, ‘THE RAGE OF ACHILLES,’ and Loved It! Though I LOVE the beginning and characters in both ‘LONG NIGHT IN THE VALLEY‘ and THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THE NOT-SO-GOOD REVEREND FORD,’ about midway through each, I found myself skimming due to the slow pacing and repetition of events, specifically in the third story. 

I decided not to read the final tale, ONE LAST PITCH’, as I am going to save it until I reread the book at a later date, as each story is interconnected.

Status: DNF/Reread 

Thank you, Crystal Lake Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of OCTOBER NIGHTS at the request of an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~October Nights~ 

---

Once Upon A Wardrobe 

– by Patti Callahan 

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Harper Muse/HarperCollins Focus LLC./eGalley/10/19/2021~

You know that moment, Dear Readers, as you are engrossed in a book and suddenly realize that you have a smile on your face so long your cheeks hurt, with warmth in your heart, a lump in your throat, and tears pricking the corner of your eyes? 

That was my state of being as I made my way through ONCE UPON A WARDROBE by Patti Callahan—A beautiful and touching historical fiction story that opens in December of 1950 in Worcestershire, England, wherein we meet eight-year-old George Henry Devonshire and his seventeen-year-old sister, Margaret, or Megs, for short.

Unable to venture outdoors due to illness and explore the world around him, young George transports himself to Narnia in C.S. Lewis’ novel, THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE.

When George learns that the author of his favorite book is an English literature tutor at Magdalen, an all-male College near Somerville College, where his sister attends, George presses Megs to ask Lewis one question: “Where does Narnia come from?’ 

Rather than answering her question outright, Lewis tells Meg stories about his own life whilst relaying each story to George that opens with …

‘“Once upon a wardrobe, not very long ago . . .”’ 

‘“And not very far away,” he says.’

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Muse Publishing (HarperCollins Focus LLC), for providing me with an eBook of ONCE UPON A WARDROBE at the request of an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~Once Upon A Wardrobe~ 

---

Beyond The Veil 

– Edited by Mark Morris 

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Flame Tree Press/eBook/10/26/2021~

BEYOND THE VEIL – Twenty New Horror Short Stories In An Anthology Edited By Mark Morris 

My Favorites:

‘THE GODBAG’ – by Christopher Golden – My Heart! I was not expecting THAT ending, though something similar. Well Done, Mr. Golden, Well Done!

‘CLOCKWORK’ – by  Dan Coxon – I Love This One! ‘PROVENANCE POND’ – by Josh Malerman 

‘FOR ALL THE DEAD’ – by  Angeline B. Adams and Remco van Straten 

‘THE GIRL IN THE POOL’ – by  Bracken MacLeod

‘A MYSTERY FOR JULIE CHU’ – by  Stephen Gallagher – I Love This One! 

‘AWAY DAY’ – by Lisa Tuttle  

‘POLAROID AND SEAWEED’ – by Peter Harness – Whoa, That Was Creepy Good! 

‘ARNIE’S ASHES’ – by John Everson

‘A BRIEF TOUR OF THE NIGHT’ – by Nathan Ballingrud 

‘THE CARE AND FEEDING OF HOUSEHOLD GODS’ – by Frank J. Oreto – I was reading this cute story and made the mistake of forgetting for a hot minute I was reading one in a Horror Anthology, that is until … Hahahaha, Nope, No Spoilers! 😉

‘YELLOWBACK’ – by Gemma Files – I LOVE THIS ONE!

Thank You, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for providing me with an eBook of BEYOND THE VEIL at the request of an honest review. My sincere apology for the delay in reviewing; not intentional, I assure you. 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~Beyond The Veil~ 

---

The Violins Played Before Junstan 

– by Lou Kemp 

~Amazon Image/From The Author/eBook/06/15/2021~

THE VIOLINS PLAYED BEFORE JUNSTAN – by Lou Kemp

‘When faced with an opportunity to provide a distraction, the magician always tried to make it appropriate and tasteful. Of course, music would accompany the scene to make it memorable, too. He was reminded of one of his favorite quotes. ‘Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.’ ~Victor Hugo.’

 In THE VIOLINS PLAYED BEFORE JUNSTAN, set in 1865, a diegetic fanfare follows our immortal main character and magician, Celwyn, with a flourish as he confronts formidable foes in various forms throughout the narrative, though intense in the beginning; these moments feel brief and somewhat glossed over which slows down the pacing, never allowing me to submerge in the story or character. 

Unfortunately, this book is a DNF for me at sixty-five percent; however, I like what little I know of the characters and hope to learn about and see more of them as I delve into Book Two, MUSIC SHALL UNTUNE THE SKY. 

Thank you, Lou Kemp, for providing me with an eBook of THE VIOLINS PLAYED BEFORE JUNSTAN at the request for an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~The Violins Played Before Junstan~ 

---

The Waiting

– by Hunter Shea

~Cover Design by Kealan Patrick Burke/Own/eBook~

THE VIOLINS PLAYED BEFORE JUNSTAN – by Lou Kemp

‘When faced with an opportunity to provide a distraction, the magician always tried to make it appropriate and tasteful. Of course, music would accompany the scene to make it memorable, too. He was reminded of one of his favorite quotes. ‘Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.’ ~Victor Hugo.’

 In THE VIOLINS PLAYED BEFORE JUNSTAN, set in 1865, a diegetic fanfare follows our immortal main character and magician, Celwyn, with a flourish as he confronts formidable foes in various forms throughout the narrative, though intense in the beginning; these moments feel brief and somewhat glossed over which slows down the pacing, never allowing me to submerge in the story or character. 

Unfortunately, this book is a DNF for me at sixty-five percent; however, I like what little I know of the characters and hope to learn about and see more of them as I delve into Book Two, MUSIC SHALL UNTUNE THE SKY. 

Thank you, Lou Kemp, for providing me with an eBook of THE VIOLINS PLAYED BEFORE JUNSTAN at the request for an honest review. 

~09/14/2021~ 

~Available On Amazon~ 

~The Waiting~ 

---

Daphne

– by Josh Malerman

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/eBook/Del Rey/Penguin Random House LLC~

DAPHNE – by Josh Malerman

‘It’s the last summer for Kit Lamb: The last summer before college. The last summer with her high school basketball team and with Dana, her best friend …But the night before the big game, one of the players tells a ghost story about Daphne, a girl who went to their school many years ago and died under mysterious circumstances.’

‘Some say she was murdered, others that she died by her own hand. And some say that Daphne is a murderer herself.’ They also say that Daphne is still out there, obsessed with revenge ….’ 

DAPHNE is admittedly a hard book for me to review. I love the main character, Kit, who is very relatable; however, I found myself wanting to know more about Daphne, the specifics I won’t reveal here as it ventures toward Spoilerville Lane.

Though the first half is a bit of a slow burn, the hook is immediate and pulls me in, followed by some cringe-worthy (in a good way) scenes that had this horror fan’s full attention, with a conclusion I love but felt like it needed to be fleshed out a bit more. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Del Rey (Random House Publishing), for providing me with an eARC of DAPHNE at the request of an honest review. 

~09-20-2022~

~Available On Amazon~

~Daphne~

---

Sunray Alice

– by Jeremy Hepler

SUNRAY ALICE – by Jeremy Hepler

‘Approaching the end of her life, Alice Mayes, notorious caretaker of the anomaly known as The Garden of Sunray, is eager to tie up one last loose end before moving on. The last loose end. For decades she’s been dreaming of finding someone to share her secret with, someone worthy of her truth, and in twenty-year-old Emily Newell, she thinks she finally has.’

The one issue I have in regards to Karl, without delving into spoilers, is in relation to the optics of the reader specific to who he is perceived to be, and the tangible outcome of his actions, which felt off-putting at times.

Overall, I enjoyed the book told from the alternating perspective of sixteen-year-old Alice in 1944 and ninety-three-year-old Alice in, the present day.

Recommend

Source – Own/eBook

~Cover Design by Kealan Patrick Burke/Crossroad Press/Own/eBook/03/14/2022~

~Available On Amazon~

~Sunray Alice~

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Haunt Of Southern-Fried Fear

– by Ronald Kelly

~Cover Design by Alex McVey/Macabre Ink/Crossroad Press/Own/eBook/03/29/2022~

HAUNT OF SOUTHERN-FRIED FEAR – by Ronald Kelly

‘TALLOW’ – The imagery this story conjures up in my mind in certain scenes is creepy good.

‘ANNIVERSARY’ – Love This One!

‘FOREVER ANGELS’ – My Heart—Love The Ending!

‘THE PEDDLER’S JOURNEY’ – Love This One! 

‘FORGET ME NOT’ – Hahahaha—LOVE The Ending! 

‘SAWMILL ROAD’ – Creepy Good! I think I’ve read this one before.

‘BLACK HARVEST’ – Love The Ending!

Source: Own/eBook

~Available On Amazon~

~Haunt Of Southern-Fried Fear~

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Wasps In The Ice Cream

– by Tim McGregor

~Cover Design by Kealan Patrick Burke/Own/eBook/04/26/2022~

~Available On Amazon~

~Wasps In The Ice Cream~

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There Is No Death, There Are No Dead

– Edited by Aaron J. French & Jess Landry

~Cover Image by Jana Heidersdorf/Crystal Lake Publishing/Mother Horror/NightWorms~

THERE IS NO DEATH, THERE ARE NO DEAD – Dark Horror Fiction Anthology 

Edited by Aaron J. French & Jess Landry 

‘There Is No Death, There Are No Dead is a horror anthology that tackles all aspects of the spiritualist movement: from the true believers to the nay-sayers, the hoaxes to hauntings, the real mediums to the scam artists. From ghosts to possessions, from profound loss to insurmountable grief, these short stories explore limitless genres (historical fiction, Gaslamp mystery, modern horror, and everything in between) with a diverse cast of characters challenged at every corner.’

My Favorites:

‘HAUNT ME’ – by Gemma Files

‘THE HAPPY MEDIUM’ – by Helen Marshall

‘THE MARBLE LILY’ – by Kathe Koja

‘THE BONE EATER’ – by Lee Murray – Love This One!

‘A FEATHER FOR MRS. EDMOND’ – by  David Demchuk – Creepy Good!

‘MEETING KATIE KING’ – by Lisa Morton – Whoa—That Ending! I had my hopes set for a Christmas Carol-esk ending, wherein the main character not only sees the light but… (hehe, no spoilers).  

‘THE MAD MONK OF THE MOTOR CITY’ – by Gwendolyn Kiste – Love This One!

‘THE ONE WORD I CAN’T SAY’ – by S. P. Miskowski 

‘TALITHA CUMI’ – by Chesya Burke – That Was Good!

‘TRUE LOVE WAITS’ – by  Nadia Bulkin – Love This One!

‘THE SHAPE OF HER SOUL’ – by Michelle Belanger – My Heart!

‘AMERICAN REMAKE OF A JAPANESE GHOST STORY’ – by Laird Barron – Love This One! Look up the  Japanese Mythology and Folklore this story is based on—Creepy Good! 

Thank you, Crystal Lake Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of THERE IS NO DEATH, THERE ARE NO DEAD at the request of an honest review. 

~08/27/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~There Is No Death, There Are No Dead: Tales of Spiritualism~

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The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 5

If you’re looking for a free sampler of delicious bits of calorie-free goodness, allow me to introduce to you THE MINOTAUR SAMPLER, VOLUME 5.

Let me forewarn you, the need to know how these stories end is highly addictive, though user-friendly to your waistline, your pocketbook—not so much, and I’m more than okay with that! 😉

My favorite flavors, though shocking to no one, are ALL Eight Books…

THE FAVOR – by Nora Murphy – Yes, Please! (Released May 31, 2022)

‘Leaving would be dangerous. Staying could be worse.’

Let me just say, Dead Readers, the first page is the tantalizing bait, whilst the narrative that follows with its Grip-Lit vibe sets the hook quite nicely, in my opinion.

OUTSIDE – by Ragnar Jónasson – (Released June 28, 2022)

‘Four Friends. One Night. Not Everyone Will Survive.’ – Yes, Please!

‘He put down his backpack in the corner and drew a deep breath. It was chilly in here but a little warmer than it had been outside, the four walls offering a respite from the violence and screaming of the wind, and Daníel felt as if he could finally get enough oxygen in his lungs and relax a little …’

‘It was then that Gunnlaugur let out a yell.’

LAST CALL AT THE NIGHTINGALE – by Katharine Schellman – (Released June 7, 2022)

New York – 1924 – Speakeasy named Nightingale – Murder Mystery—Yes, Please!

‘The long, drawn-out wail of a trumpet could hide almost anything. Even the sound of murder.’

THE GATEKEEPER – by James Byrne – Need! I Love Dez! – (Released June 7, 2022)

A RIP THROUGH TIME – by Kelley Armstrong – A rip in time indeed—I can’t wait to read this one!

THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK – by Jennifer Hillier – NEED! – (Released July 19, 2022)

DIE AROUND SUNDOWN – by Mark Pryor (Released Today – August 16, 2022) – Love the main character,
Inspector Henri Lefort!

THE BLAME GAME – by Sandie Jones – I need to know how this ends! My Heart! (Released Today – August 16, 2022)

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Press (St. Martin’s Press) for providing me with an eGalley of THE MINOTAUR SAMPLER, VOLUME 5 at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/eBook/Minotaur Books/03-08-2022~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 5~

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Apex Magazine – Issue 125

Edited by – Jason Sizemore

~Amazon Image/Apex Publishing/eMagazine/09/04/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Apex Magazine Issue 125~

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Let Me Out I’ve Had Enough

– by Mark Matthews

‘

LET ME OUT I’VE HAD ENOUGH – by Mark Matthews – Dark Horror Story Collection

Unfortunately, LET ME OUT I’VE HAD ENOUGH is a DNF for me at twenty-four, though I am a fan of Dark Horror, the content of all the shorts in this book centers around suicide, as mentioned in the synopsis—a miss on my part.

That being said, the misgivings I have about the book are personal and my own, and not a reflection of the book itself. I look forward to reading more work from Matthews and Wicked Run Press.

Of the few stories, I read, ‘Mastectomy Scars’ is one of my favorites—Love The Ending!

I agree wholeheartedly with what Matthews says here in a snippet from the Introduction:

‘I find that dark fiction unites us, understands us. Or at least, it understands me, when it’s at its best and not afraid to talk about anything, take me to any dark place. Fiction holds my hand while I have a look, and returns me back to a more understood place.’

Thank You, NetGalley and Wicked Run Press, for providing me with an eBook of LET ME OUT I’VE HAD ENOUGH at the request of an honest review.

~Cover Art by Kiren Bagchee/NetGalley/ Wicked Run Press/eGalley/08/09/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Let Me Out I’ve Had Enough~

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Human Tenderloin

– by Craig Wallwork

HUMAN TENDERLOIN: A Collection of Horror Stories – by Craig Wallwork

I Love Every Story In This Collection—And The Writing—Perfection!

I just purchased a hardback copy!

‘Human Tenderloin is a collection of horror stories with heart. Some will goose the skin. Others will leave you bloated with terror. But each one will stay with you.’

Some of my thoughts after reading:

‘Bird Girl’ – My Heart!

‘Dollhouse’ – Creepy Good! I Love Wallwork’s Writing…

‘All things can be explained, she reminded herself. Darcy lowered herself out of bed and tiptoed out of her room. Shadows huddled for warmth in every corner she saw, floorboards moaned and grumbled under her step.’

And…

‘A cool breeze roamed and presented itself as she neared the attic, goosing her skin and forcing her to cradle her body. Crude steps made from wood ascended to a blanket of darkness beyond its staircase. Darcy approached slowly, and peering up toward that darkness, called out an amiable salutation. Only the wind replied, its breath hurried like that of a person running from danger.’

‘Suffer the Rains’

‘Farewell Valencia’ – Love This One!

‘The Hole’ – Creepy Good!

‘Human Tenderloin’ – Love This One!

‘Time’s Flies’ – My Heart!

‘Murder Song’

‘Mother’s Day’ – Love This One!

‘Night Holds a Scythe’ – My Heart!

‘Nothing Short of Dying’ – Love This One!

‘Paradise Won’ – The Ending—My Heart!

‘Everybody Hurts’

‘Rosemary and Time’

‘They Were Born Without Faces’ – Creepy Good!

‘The Ballad of Windsong House’ – Love The Writing…

‘She heard her breath marry with the wind, her heart a bony finger poking her chest from within.’

And…

‘The other people waiting for her were, in contrast, more level-headed with an unwillingness to allow conjecture, or the yawns of a floorboard, to court their sanity.’

One More… My Heart!

‘The debt assigned to a parent, of which there are many, is to ensure their child’s sadness is fleeting, that their pain is shared and troubles unburdened promptly and without wound.’

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, Sadie Hartmann and Underbelly Books, for providing me with an eBook of HUMAN TENDERLOIN at the request of an honest review.

~Cover Photo by Thomas G. Anderson/Underbelly Books/Mother Horror/Night Worms~

~09/15/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Human Tenderloin~

---

Elevator Pitch

– by Linwood Barclay

If you are looking for a suspenseful thriller, one that has admittedly been on my TBR pile for longer than it should have *cough2019*—Allow me to introduce to you Linwood Barclay’s novel and one I wholeheartedly recommend ELEVATOR PITCH.

The story pulls you immediately, keeps you guessing throughout, and thankfully, doesn’t let up!

Now a fan of Barclay’s writing, what book should I dive into next?

Perhaps, A NOISE DOWNSTAIRS or PARTING SHOT?

Decisions, Decisions…

Source – Hardback/Own
Published by – William Morrow (HarperCollinsPublishers) 2019

~Designed by – Willam Ruoto – Own/Hardback – 09/17/2019~

~Available On Amazon~

~Elevator Pitch~

---

Into The Forest

– by Rebecca Frankel

INTO THE FOREST: A Holocaust Story of Survival, Triumph, and Love – by Rebecca Frankel

How does one put into words, as I sit here with tears streaming down my face, how important it is that you read INTO THE FOREST?

There are no words that I can fashion together that adequately reflect the heartbreaking and at times heartwarming moments of the true story within …

‘In the summer of 1942, the Rabinowitz family narrowly escaped the Nazi ghetto in their Polish town by fleeing to the forbidding Bialowieza Forest. They miraculously survived two years in the woods―through brutal winters, Typhus outbreaks, and merciless Nazi raids―until they were liberated by the Red Army in 1944. After the war they trekked across the Alps into Italy where they settled as refugees before eventually immigrating to the United States.’

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eARC of INTO THE FOREST at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press/eGalley~

09/07/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Into The Forest~

---

The Necklace

– by Matt Witten

THE NECKLACE – by Matt Witten

Having to work a double shift as a waitress at the local Diner, Susan Lentigo asks her mother, Lenora, to pick up her seven-year-old granddaughter Amy after school and watch her until Amy’s Dad, Danny, comes to get her after he gets off work.

After dropping Amy off at school that morning, running errands, and then heading straight to the Diner to work the lunch shift, Susan never gets the message on the answering machine at home from her mother, telling her she can’t watch Amy after all—and they soon learn Amy has been missing for hours…

Twenty years later, Susan, with limited funds, is determined to drive fifteen hundred miles to attend the execution of the man who killed her daughter—only to discover new evidence that may prove he’s innocent. The FBI refuses to reopen the case.

In a word—WOW! As a mother, my soul hurt as I bore witness to Susan’s grief; my heart ached for her and Amy with every turn of the page. Susan’s resilience and determination to reach her destination and discover the truth are palpable throughout the narrative.

THE NECKLACE—Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of THE NECKLACE at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Oceanview Publishing/eBook – 09/07/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Necklace~

---

Certain Dark Things

– by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

‘Welcome to Mexico City, an oasis in a sea of vampires. Domingo, a lonely garbage-collecting street kid, is just trying to survive its heavily policed streets when a jaded vampire on the run swoops into his life. Atl, the descendant of Aztec blood drinkers, is smart, beautiful, and dangerous. Domingo is mesmerized.’

‘Vampires, humans, cops, and criminals collide in the dark streets of Mexico City. Do Atl and Domingo even stand a chance of making it out alive? Or will the city devour them all?’

If you enjoy Vampires and Noir, then I think you may like CERTAIN DARK THINGS by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

I enjoyed the physical (Awesome!!!!!) and semi-mental transition of Atl’s character.

Personally, as an avid fan of the underdog, Domingo, who is treated horribly by Atl (I didn’t, but should have excepted) and by other characters (I anticipated), is one of the characters I rooted for throughout.

As the reader, you soon learn the ideology of vampires regarding humans, which gives reason for Atl’s treatment of Domingo and her mindset.

By the story’s end, my heart broke for Domingo—though I must admit—I love the ending!

Overall, I enjoyed the book. However, my biggest pet peeve is the slow burn and what felt like a sagging middle that struggled to push the narrative forward, in my opinion.

Thank you, NetGalley and Nightfire (Macmillan Publishing), for providing me with an eBook of CERTAIN DARK THINGS at the request of an honest review.

~Cover Art by John Picacio /Cover Design Lesley Worrell/NetGalley/Nightfire/eBook~

~09/07/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Certain Dark Things~

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 The Missing Hours

– by Julia Dahl

THE MISSING HOURS – by Julia Dahl

Claudia Castro, a freshman at NYU, decides to spend spring break at the dorm and ventures out on her own to a bar one night, using a fake ID, and wakes up the following morning looking beat up with no memory of what happened to her.

When more evidence of that night in question is revealed to her, instead of confiding in her parents, sister, or the police, embarrassed and humiliated, Claudia decides to flee the school, telling no one where’s she going.

As the reader, it’s easy to empathize with Claudia and what she’s going through; however, it’s Trevor, a fellow student she befriends, who I ultimately feel bad for, up to a point.

THE MISSING HOURS is, in large part, a vengeance story centered around money, power, privilege, and what one can get away with if the price is right.

Overall, I thought the book was okay, though it didn’t tick off all the boxes for me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books (St. Martin’s Press) for providing me with an eBook of THE MISSING HOURS at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Minotaur Books/eGalley~

~09/14/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Missing Hours~

---

Mastermind

– by Andrew Mayne

MASTERMIND – by Andrew Mayne – Highly Recommend!

‘A mysterious electrical storm plunges Manhattan into darkness. As a strange, smothering fog rolls in, all communication crashes. In the blink of an eye, the island seems to vanish into a void.’

‘FBI special agent Jessica Blackwood and brilliant scientist Dr. Theo Cray know this isn’t a freak accident. It’s a sinister sleight of hand….’

That. Was. Awesome!!

MASTERMIND is an intense Thriller and an engaging storyline with well-placed humor and bad*ss characters that will keep this reader coming back for more!

I can not wait to read Book Two in the series, THE FINAL EQUINOX: A Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood Thriller, Scheduled To Release September 13, 2022, Though Subject To Change.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of MASTERMIND at the request of an honest review.

~Cover Design by Shasti O’Leary Soudant – NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer Publishing/eBook~

~09/07/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Mastermind~

---

Slewfoot

– by Brom

SLEWFOOT, by Brom, is a blend of Dark Fantasy and Historical Fiction; it is set in the small village of Sutton, Connecticut, 1666, wherein nineteen-year-old Abitha, recently widowed and labeled an outcast in her pious village, seeks the help of an ancient spirit in the dark forest when her homestead is threatened…

‘The wildfolk call him Father, slayer, protector.’

‘The colonists call him Slewfoot, demon, devil.’

SLEWFOOT feels unique to anything I have ever read before, though the early release version I read did not include the artwork I now know to be within—I believe—after viewing a few pieces online, each will deliciously serve to enhance the visual of the story further as it plays out in my mind.

I look forward to rereading a physical copy of the book I hope to purchase later this year, and delving into more of Brom’s writing. Perhaps, KRAMPUS THE YULE LORD for my December adventure…hmmm?

Decisions, Decisions.

Thank you, NetGalley and Nightfire (Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.) for providing me with an eBook of SLEWFOOT at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Nightfire – eBook~

~09/14/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Slewfoot~

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The Girl Upstairs

– by Georgina Lees

My Heart!

A page-turner that keeps you guessing until the end—THE GIRL UPSTAIRS, by Georgina Lees—I Highly Recommend It!

‘I’ve been in London for over ten years now and I haven’t found a quiet place. I live in Angel, Islington… I’m on the ground floor of a two-story house and Emily is above me. She moved in over six months ago…’

‘Now she’s gone missing, and I’m the only one who can find her. The only one who can save her.’

Thank you, NetGalley and One More Chapter, for providing me with an eARC at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/One More Chapter Publishing/HarperCollins UK/12/09/2021~

~Available On Amazon

~The Girl Upstairs~

---

 Flowers For The Sea

– by Zin E. Rocklyn

FLOWERS FOR THE SEA – by Zin E. Rocklyn – Science Fiction & Fantasy Short

In a word—Wow!!! To say I love Rocklyn’s writing is a complete understatement!

Here’s a snippet:

‘Seventeen hundred forty-three days at sea. Recollections of a life without the current in our legs are the stuff of fables and faery tales. We trade stories. The babes listen in wonder, having taken their first steps on this cursed boat, their disbelief palpable. Teens brood in mildewed corners, hissing at daylight and orders to earn their keep. The girls bleed late, and we are eternally thankful to the godless depths below.’

‘Survivors from a flooded kingdom struggle alone on an ark. Resources are scant and ravenous beasts circle. Their fangs are sharp.’

‘Among the refugees is Iraxi: ostracized, despised, and a commoner who refused a prince, she’s pregnant with a child that might be more than human. Her fate may be darker and more powerful than she can imagine.’

Thank You, NetGalley and Tor Dot Com (MacMillan Publishing), for providing me with an eARC of FLOWERS FOR THE SEA at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/TorDotCom/eGalley~

~10/19/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Flowers For The Sea~

---

 The Last House On Needless Street

– by Catriona Ward

My Heart!

THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET – by Catriona Ward – Dark Fiction – Highly Recommend!

I don’t want to delve deeply into the storyline, Dear Readers, one that will surely keep you glued to the mind-bending narrative with its various twists and turns…

‘In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three … An unspeakable secret binds them together, but when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees may come back to haunt them all.’

‘How many times can someone bend before they break forever? You have to take care, dealing with broken things; sometimes they give way and break others in their turn.’

Thank you, NetGalley and Nightfire (Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.), for providing me with an eARC at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Nightfire/Macmillan Publishing Group LLC./eBook~

~09/28/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Last House On Needless Street~

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 The Horror At Lavender Edge

– by Christopher Henderson

THE HORROR AT LAVENDER EDGE – by Christopher Henderson

Setting – London, 1971

‘Harry Undine is psychic, and it’s tearing him apart.’

‘When his so-called gift kicks in, the pain can be deep and soul-wrenching – a pain nobody would understand, even if Undine revealed the truth. Which he won’t. That sort of sensitivity might be considered ‘cool’ by hippies and New Age freaks, but it’s a million miles from the tough Rat Pack image Undine aspired to when he was growing up.’

In the first half of the book, there is a hiccup or two along the way but in the second half…Oh, My—Hold On To Your Knickers!! *Chefs Kiss* Perfection!

Recommend!

‘A few inches from his face, a spider had spun a web between the old brick wall and an overhanging branch of a tree that stood inside the garden, and [he] fleetingly wondered whether a fly could ever appreciate the intricate strands of the pattern that had ensnared it.’

Source: eBook/Own
Currently A KU Book
Publisher: Shadowtime

~Amazon Image – Own/eBook – 11/05/2019~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Horror At Lavender Edge~

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The Stowaway

– by James S. Murray & Darren Wearmouth

The head of the Psychology Department at Columbia University, Maria Fontana, sat on a jury of an alleged serial killer, Wyatt Butler. When Maria, in good conscience, cannot convict him based on circumstantial evidence—her deciding vote sets Wyatt Butler free.

Outed as the lone juror, enduring constant media and public backlash for the past two years, Maria, her fiancé Steve, and her eleven-year-old twins Chloe and Christopher, go on a twelve-night Cruise to England that quickly turns into a nightmare…

THE STOWAWAY- by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth is an unputdownable, fast-paced, suspenseful tale of a serial killer at sea.

Is it Wyatt Butler or a copycat??

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

Highly Recommend!!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eARC of THE STOWAWAY in the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press/eBook~

~09/21/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Stowaway~

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 When Things Get Dark

– Edited by Ellen Datlow

WHEN THINGS GET DARK – ‘A collection of [eighteen] new and exclusive short stories inspired by, and in tribute to, Shirley Jackson, Jackson is a seminal writer of horror and mystery fiction, whose legacy resonates globally today.’

‘For this anthology, I did not want stories riffing on Jackson’s own. I did not want stories about her or her life. What I wanted was for the contributors to distill the essence of Jackson’s work into their work, to reflect her sensibility. To embrace the strange and the dark underneath placid exteriors. There’s a comfort in ritual and rules, even while those rules may constrict the self so much that those who must follow them can slip into madness.’ – Editor Ellen Datlow

The following are my favorites:

‘Funeral Birds’ – by M. Rickert – Creepy Good!

I love this line:

‘She always wanted to be a woman who appeared chic and vaguely kick-*ss in black when, in fact, she looked like a half-plucked crow.’

‘For Sale By Owner’ – by Elizabeth Hand – That Was Good!

‘In the Deep Woods; The Light is Different There’ – by Seanan McGuire

I LOVE this story, and the writing is *chef kiss* perfection! No spoilers, but here’s a snippet of McGuire’s writing, in particular, the last line made me laugh:

‘Surely the house comes with garbage service, one more question she should probably have asked before coming here, one more mystery to unravel. Most of life’s mysteries are boring ones, she’s found, barely worthy of the name. Maybe there was another word for those little, boring enigmas once, but it’s been lost. The English language undergoes constant simplification, words escaping and running home to their root languages with dire tales of their time held captive by the American tongue.’

‘Quiet Dead Things’ – Cassandra Khaw

‘Something Like Living Creatures’ – by John Langan

‘Money of the Dead’ – by Karen Heuler – Creepy Good!

I love the setup and tone in this snippet of the opening paragraph, and of course, the story:

‘Each floor had a slightly different odor, created—Stella on the fourth floor once told Laura—by the skin cells they each shed every day over the decades. She said that the cells stuck to the walls and produced an odd stippling effect after a fresh paint. There would be the smell of paint for a week, and then the old smells would creep back like spiders repairing their webs.’

‘Hag’ – by Benjamin Percy – LOVE!

‘“You can’t go already,” it said. “Not until we’ve played,”….’

[I]t’s in the winter—when the wind sharpened with ice, when the shadows lengthened, and the island was at its most desperate….’

‘Take Me, I Am Free’ – by Joyce Carol Oates –Oh, My! So Very Dark!

‘The mistake must have been, the child woke too soon from her afternoon nap.’

‘Really she knew better….’

‘A Trip to Paris’ – by Richard Kadrey – Whoa—Love This One!

‘How could she possibly have forgotten a date like that, she wondered. But she forgave herself because there had been so much to think about since her husband and children left…And in filling the silence, it felt as if she’d broken a dark spell that h surrounded her for the previous three hundred and sixty-five days. She took a long breath and twirled on the burner under the kettle. There was time for a cup of tea before she had to be at church.’

‘The Party’ – by Paul Tremblay

‘Refinery Road’ – by Stephen Graham Jones – In A Word—WOW! And, My Heart!

‘Special Meal’ – by Josh Malerman

‘Sooner or Later, Your Wife Will Drive Home’ – by Genevieve Valentine

‘Tiptoe’ – by Laird Barron – Creepy Good!

‘Skinder’s Veil’ – by Kelly Link – Bizarre, but in a good way. I look forward to a reread of this one!

Thank you, NetGalley and Titan Books, for providing me with an eBook of WHEN THINGS GET DARK at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Titan Books/eGalley/09/28/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~When Things Get Dark~

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 The Burning

– by Jonathan Kellerman

&

Jesse Kellerman

THE BURNING – by Jonathan & Jesse Kellerman

‘A raging wildfire. A massive blackout. A wealthy man shot to death in his palatial hilltop home.’

“We climbed a steep, peaceful residential neighborhood crammed with split-level wood-frame ranch homes built in the late fifties. Long before anybody could imagine that million-acre fires, killing winds, and weeklong blackouts would become a season unto themselves.’

Having lived in California my whole life, I am vastly familiar with the many wildfires throughout the state, specifically those in Northern Cal, the setting in THE BURNING, by Jonathan & Jesse Kellerman, Book Four, and the first novel I have read in the Clay Edison series.

Overall, I enjoyed the novel, though based on the intense setting, not the Thrill-ride I expected.

I had no difficulty reading THE BURNING as a stand-alone; however—san spoilers—I recommend diving into the previous book(s) in the series as this one alone will leave you wanting to know more.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books (Penguin Random House LLC.), for providing me with an eARC of THE BURNING at the request of an honest review.

~Book Design by Victoria Wong/NetGalley/Ballantine Books/Random House/eBook/09/21/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Burning~

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Under The Whispering Door

– by TJ Klune

 Love The Cover!!

Above the fireplace, a clock, but it appeared to be broken. The second hand was twitching, but never advanced. A high-backed chair sat in front of the fireplace, a heavy blanket hanging off the armrest. It looked . . . welcoming.’

‘Time . . . slips a little in here. Sometimes it crawls to a halt, and then it skips and jumps.’

As I write these words, I’m eighty percent of the way through this book with tears in my eye—My Heart!

And…by stories end…Yes, yes I am still crying *moves facial-leakage-tissue-mountain to nearest waste receptacle whilst calculating how soon I will be able to buy a hardback copy…Not Soon Enough!*

I have never cried so much when reading a book as I did while reading UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR – by TJ Klune. I laughed, I cried—it’s such a beautifully written novel, one that the I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

Thank You, NetGalley and Tor-Forge (Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.), for providing me with an e-ARC of UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR at the request of an honest review.

~Cover Art by Red Nose Studio/NetGalley/Tor/Macmillan Books/eBook~

~09/21/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Under The Whispering Door~

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 Chapter And Curse

– by Elizabeth Penney

CHAPTER AND CURSE – by Elizabeth Penney 

Let me begin with the setting, a centuries-old book store in Cambridge, England, the aromatic bouquet of old books, coupled with murder, mystery, scandal, and deceit in a delectable whodunit—Why yes, please and thank you, I am very interested!

Amongst the interesting cast of suspects…err, I’m mean characters, are two cute and only one cuddly, cat—Clarence and Puck.

Here’s what the book is about:

‘Librarian Molly Kimball and her mother, Nina, need a change. So when a letter arrives from Nina’s Aunt Violet in Cambridge, England requesting their help running the family bookshop, they jump at the chance…Determined to bring much-needed revenue to the bookstore, Molly invites Aunt Violet’s college classmate and famed poet Persephone Brightwell to hold a poetry reading in the shop. But the event ends in disaster when a guest is found dead …’

Overall, I enjoyed the book. The one pet peeve I have is the presumption of incompetence required by the reader regarding a particular inspector and his men’s inability to find crucial evidence after two searches.

I look forward to reading volume two in The Cambridge Bookshop series, A TREACHEROUS TALE, scheduled for release, though subject to change, on August 23, 2022.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eARC of CHAPTER AND CURSE at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press/eBook~

~09/28/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Chapter And Curse~

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 The Santa Suit

– by Mary Kay Andrews

‘“I guess I just like the taste of peppermint. It reminds me of Christmas. And hope.”’

Looking for a little romance?

Or, perhaps a sweet treat?

Care to partake in Christmas in July?

My answer—Why, Yes, Please, and Thank You!

Here in Cali, it’s been triple digits the past few weeks, today’s high being ninety-nine degrees, it felt good being submerged in the small rural town of Tarburton, North Carolina in the middle of Winter—the setting in Mary Kay Andrews’ sweet and touching, Highly Recommended story, THE SANTA SUIT…

‘When newly-divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love—but Ivy didn’t bargain on just how much labor…’

‘At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit—beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit, she finds a note written in a childish hand: it’s from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission.’

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (Macmillan Publishing), for providing me with an eARC of THE SANTA SUIT at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press/eGalley~

~09/28/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Santa Suit~

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 Shaula

– by A.M. Kherbash

 like how the story began, and the premise held promise, but the narrative felt off to me. Unfortunately, SHAULA is a DNF for me at thirty-one percent. I look forward to reading what Kherbash comes up with next.

Thank you, NetGalley and A.M. Kherbash, for providing me with an eBook of SHAULA at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Self-Published/eGalley~

 ~09/30/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Shaula~

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 Deadly Games

– by Steve Frech

‘I know your name, your birthday, your kids’ names, where you live, where you work. I know when you get that big promotion or when you argue with your spouse.’

‘But someone knows everything about me too. Someone knows all my secrets, and they’re using them against me…’

DEADLY GAMES by Steve Frech was an engaging whodunit that kept me invested and intrigued in the storyline throughout, though the ending felt more predictable than the well-placed twist I believe it was meant to be, I still recommend this book.

My next Frech read, DARK HALLOWS or NIGHTINGALE HOUSE, I haven’t decided yet.

Thank You, NetGalley and HQ Publishing (HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.), for providing me with an eARC of DEADLY GAMES at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/HQ Digital/eGalley/12/04/2020~

~Available On Amazon~

~Deadly Games~

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 Sleeping Beauties

– by Stephen King & Owen King

SLEEPING BEAUTIES – by Stephen & Owen King
Source – eBook/Own
Publisher – Scribner

DNF – 35%

I have to admit, I didn’t feel a connection or care about any of the characters, and I found myself struggling to get through this one—deciding to call it quits at thirty-five percent.

With a book that weighs in at roughly 720 pages, as the reader, I need that connection, be it character or plot, and that didn’t happen here.

When I learned that Stephen King and his son Owen wrote a book together, I knew I had to buy it! Though SLEEPING BEAUTIES didn’t work for me, I look forward to reading what they come up with next.

~Amazon Image – Own/eBooks – Reprint 09/26/2017~

~Available On Amazon~

~Sleeping Beauties~

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 Rage

– by Jonathan Maberry

 

A small island off the coast of Korea is torn apart by a bioweapon that drives everyone―men, women, and children―insane with murderous rage.’

‘Joe Ledger leads his newly formed band of international troubleshooters in their first mission to stop the terror cell, fighting alongside agents from North and South Korea. With the lives of billions at stake, Ledger is willing to bring his own brand of terror to this frightening new war.’

That. Was. Intense!! And The Ending—My Heart!

I begin my journey into the Joe Ledger novels with Book One of Two in the Joe Ledger and Rogue Team International series, the second being, and up next, is RELENTLESS.

Highly Recommend!

I listened to the Audio Version of the book; though I have the paperback somewhere, I can’t find it at the moment amongst my many TBR—so yeah—I need more bookcases.

Ray Porter does such an excellent job with the book’s narration; I’ve decided to use my Audible credit for RELENTLESS, and couple it with the eBook NetGalley provided me for review.

Source:
Own – Audiobook/Paperback
Macmillan Audio
Joe Ledger & Rogue Team International
Read By – Ray Porter

 ~Amazon Image/St. Martin’s Griffin/eBook/Own/11/05/2019~

~Available On Amazon~

~Rage~

---

Enola Holmes And The Black Barouche

– by Nancy Springer

ENOLA HOLMES AND THE BLACK BAROUCHE – Book Seven In The Series – by Nancy Springer is the first ELONA HOLMES book I have read, and I just learned it’s also a series on Netflix—YEEESSS!!!

‘Enola Holmes, at the age of fifteen, is living as an independent young woman on her own in London when a young professional woman, Miss Letitia Glover, shows up on her [older brother] Sherlock’s doorstep, desperate to learn more about the fate of her twin sister, it is Enola who steps up.’

I have to say—in all honesty, and without reservation—that I absolutely LOVE Enola Holmes’ unconventional personality as she breaks free of all norms and propriety—how society deems a ‘Lady’ should behave—which is paramount to giving prim and proper the middle finger—and let me tell you, Dear Readers, I’m here for ALL OF IT!

I found the Prologue, penned by Sherlock Holmes in 1889, to the attention of we Gentle Readers—a telling of his own logical and dispassionate account of dealings with his younger sister, Enola Eudoria Hadassah Holmes, and his role as her ‘savior’ to be quite comical.

I won’t spoil it for you, but I will give you a snippet of the beginning:

‘To absolve myself at once of any suspicions of sentimentality, let me state that I have no childhood memories of my sister, Enola; indeed, I barely knew her until July of 1888. In 1874, when she was born, I was on the point of leaving home and living on my own to pursue my studies; indeed, I hastened my departure due to the most unpleasant household disruption consequent upon her infant arrival. I encountered her over the next few years only occasionally and only with the natural revulsion of a gentleman toward a messy and undeveloped specimen of humanity. At the time of our father’s funeral, she was four years old and still incapable of maintaining the cleanliness of her nose. I do not recall having any sensible discourse with her at that time.’

The book is relatively short, which makes for a quick but enjoyable read. If you’re a Sherlock Holmes fan and that of bad*ss female protagonists, then I think you will love the book as much as I did.

I can not wait to read Springer’s new book—ENOLA HOLMES AND THE ELEGANT ESCAPADE – Scheduled For Release, Though Subject To Change, On September 6, 2022.

ENOLA HOLMES AND THE BLACK BAROUCHE – Teen & Young Adult Historical Fiction

Highly Recommend!

Thank You, NetGalley and Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Publishing Group), for providing me with an eBook of ENOLA HOLMES AND THE BLACK BAROUCHE at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Wednesday Books/eGalley~

~08/31/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Enola Holmes And The Black Barouche~

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Unnatural Resources

– by Mindy Uhrlaub

UNNATURAL RESOURCES – by Mindy Uhrlaub – Historical Fiction

When her village in the Democratic Republic of Congo is destroyed by an invading militia group led by The General, eleven-year-old Therese is assaulted.

Stranded with only her little brother’s best friend, ten-year-old Virgil, in a war-torn jungle, she is forced to make a choice: lie down and become another victim of the war or stand up and survive.

Desperate to find her mother, Luna, and beloved nine-year-old brother Felix, she uses her greatest gift, her knowledge of English taught to her by her mother, to navigate the vast web of humanitarian aid groups.

As a woman and a mother, to say I empathise with the characters in this book is a vast understatement.

At the forefront of my mind as I delve deeper into the story is the children—what they and their families are forced to endure and bear witness to—is gut-wrenching.

UNNATURAL RESOURCES centers around female empowerment and a resurgence of hope at a time when everything—including one’s innocence—has been taken away.

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, Mindy Uhrlaub and The Permanent Press, for providing me with an eBook of UNNATURAL RESOURCES at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/The Permanent Press/Smith Publicity, INC./eBook/11/17/2020~ 

~Available On Amazon~

~Unnatural Resources~

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Murder Most Fair

~ by Anna Lee Huber

If you enjoy reading Historical Fiction set in post-World War I England, I think you will like MURDER MOST FAIR by Anna Lee Huber— Book Five of Six in The Verity Kent Mystery Series.

The novel opens in November 1919 at a leisurely getaway in Seaford, Sussex. Verity Kent and her husband Sidney are finally falling into a routine of what I would call a resemblance of their version of normalcy—considering Verity’s role in the British Secret Service—when her Great-Aunt Ilse lands on their doorstep.

‘After years in war-ravaged Germany, Ilse has returned to England to repair her fragile health—and to escape trouble. Someone has been sending her anonymous threats…’

‘When Ilse’s maid is found dead, Verity must uncover whether this is anti-German sentiment taken to murderous lengths or whether there is a more personal motive at work. Could Verity’s shadowy nemesis, Lord Ardmore, be involved? And if so, how much closer to home will the blow land when he inevitably strikes again?’

MURDER MOST FAIR is an intriguing-slow-burn-murder-mystery with the right amount of back story. The mystery of the whodunit simmers in the background as suspects pop up throughout the narrative. At the same time, we wait and perchance predict the highly anticipated boiling point known only as of the reveal…

‘Colonel Mustard did it with the Candlestick in the Billiard Room!’

*winks*

Technically, there are candles, and Billiard Room is mentioned in the book, soooooo not out of the realm of possibility—Amirite?

Seriously, though, and speaking of backstory…

Can you recall, Dear Readers, when you read a book that hits you in all the feels? For me, at this moment in my life, MURDER MOST FAIR is that book, and let me tell you why.

As the reader, I’ve gotten to know Verity Kent in a short time; having read three of the six books in the middle of the series, I know enough to say she is relatable on so many levels, from the troubled relations and love she has for her family and the unimaginable pent-up grief she feels at the loss of one of her brothers.

That one scene, no spoilers, but—My Heart! I will say have lots of Kleenex on hand for all the facial leakage; you’re gonna need it.

I have yet to read the first two books in the series, though I plan to. I am eager to see what’s next for Verity and Sidney Kent in Book Six, A CERTAIN DARKNESS, scheduled for release on August 30, 2022, though subject to change.

MURDER MOST FAIR—Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp., for providing me with an eBook of MURDER MOST FAIR at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Kensington Publishing Corp./eBook~

~08/31/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Murder Most Fair~

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August’s Eyes

– by Glenn Rolfe

AUGUST’S EYES – by Glenn Rolfe – The Ending, My Heart!

Social Worker John Colby grew up in Spears Corner, Maine, a seemingly quiet town that just so happens to be abundant with graveyards—a serial killer’s sinister sadistic playground.

When John’s nights are plagued with horrible dreams that seep into reality, his wife, Sarah, convinces him to see a therapist that enables him to confront the past, one his mind has worked so hard to forget.

AUGUST’S EYES is a Dark Horror novel equated with Jack Ketchum’s books; though I haven’t read his work yet, I am familiar with the premise.

Rolfe does an excellent job setting up the story through the Prologue, just enough to keep the reader in the know as we bear witness to John’s past and how it ties into the present.

If you’re not a fan of Dark Horror, I would say this book may not be for you, but if you are, then I say buckle up—You’re in for one h*ll of a ride!

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for providing me with an eBook of AUGUST’S EYES at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Flame Tree Press/I received an eBook – 08/17/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~August’s Eyes~

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 The Family Plot

– by Megan Collins

THE FAMILY PLOT – by Megan Collins – My HEART!

This story is told from Dahlia Lighthouse’s perspective, a gut-wrenching tale filled with secrets, lies, and murder.

In this whodunit, as the reader, you’re first introduced to twenty-six-year-old Dahlia, who returns to her childhood home on Blackburn Island, a place she hasn’t been to in years, upon learning of her father’s death.

Homeschooled by their True-Crime obsessed parents, living a life of seclusion in what is known as Murder Mansion—so named by the islanders—Dahlia, her twin brother Andy, and older siblings, Charlie and Tate are submerged in a life of horror which includes crime reenactments and honoring the dead, specifically, their namesake, it becomes quickly evident why each sibling is eager to get away when they reach adulthood.

However, Andy, on their sixteenth birthday, runs away without Dahlia, leaving the family a brief note and more questions than answers…

‘My entire life, I thought that Andy and I saved each other from loneliness, when really, we just built a different kind, one that felt like comfort, like safety, but in the end, was only a cocoon. And that seemed normal to me … But what I didn’t understand, never paused for a moment to consider, is that cocoons are inherently temporary, too tight a space to grow.’

‘Andy knew that; that’s why he urged me to leave with him, get away from our family, our unnatural life.’

It’s easy to empathize with Dahlia throughout what feels like she’s living in a Twilight Zone episode (As a Horror Fan—Yes, Please, and Thank You!) from start to finish; as each family member deals with the grief and revelations in their own, albeit seemingly bizarre way.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books (Simon & Schuster), for providing me with an eBook of THE FAMILY PLOT at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Atria Books/Simon & Schuster/I received an eBook – 08/17/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Family Plot~

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Velvet Was The Night

– by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

VELVET WAS THE NIGHT by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a Historical Noir; as a fan of Historical Fiction, I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis.

The novel is set in Mexico and opens on June 10, 1971, the day of the Corpus Christi Massacre. The story is told from the perspective of Elvis (No, not the King), who is a member of Los Halcones, and Maite, a secretary who works for a law firm and spends her free time submerged in romance comics—though aware of the protests going on around her—Maite deems politics as dull and chooses to ignore them.

Charged with watching her next-door neighbor Leonora’s cat for a couple of days and owed much-needed money for the deed, Maite has no choice but to search for Leonora when she never returns.

‘Swirling in parallel trajectories, Maite and Elvis attempt to discover the truth behind Leonora’s disappearance, encountering hitmen, government agents, and Russian spies. Because Mexico in the 1970s is a noir, where life is cheap, and the price of truth is high.’

As much as I am intrigued by the book’s storyline, my need to know what happened to Leonora and one other character driving me forward, it was hard to stay invested in this slow burn. This one is a DNF for me at seventy-two percent.

Thank you, NetGalley and Del Rey Publishing (Penguin Random House LLC.), for providing me with an eBook of VELVET WAS THE NIGHT at the request of an honest review.

~Design by Fritz Metsch/NetGalley/Del Rey/Penguin Random House/eBook~

~08/17/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Velvet Was The Night~

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Chasing The Boogeyman

– by Richard Chizmar

CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN – by Richard Chizmar – 4.5/5.0 Stars

I have to tell you, Dear Readers, that I was hooked immediately after reading the foreword by James Renner. If you’re a fan of True Crime and Horror Fiction (Yes, Please, And Thank You!)I think you will love this book!

The novel takes place in the author, who also happens to be the main character, the hometown of Edgewood, Maryland, in 1988, when several girls go missing.

Why does this connect with me as a reader?

1.) *See Above*

2.) Because in 1988, I was a junior in high school, and the nostalgic and familial reflection Chizmar brings to the storyline hits home on so many levels.

3.) Serial Killer(s)

The version I read, though I own the hardback that I loaned to a friend, is the uncorrected proof provided to me by NetGalley, which has some minor content issues that may have been corrected in the final edit. For example, A Power Ranger costume was mentioned in 1988, and the franchise didn’t come out until 1993.

I LOVE the ending of the novel, but I have to admit, I was shocked, disappointed, and confused by the abrupt end of a particular interview.

I’m not going to delve into spoilers; however, if you haven’t read the novel yet and can avoid spoiler-ish reviews, continue to do so, and read this book!

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster), for providing me with an eBook of CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Gallery Books/Simon &Schuster/eBook~

~08/17/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Chasing The Boogeyman~

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The Island

– by Ben Coes

THE ISLAND – Book Nine – A Dewey Andreas Novel – by Ben Coes – Fast Paced Political Thriller & Suspense

‘When the President arrives in New York to address the U.N., embedded terrorist assets blow up the bridges and tunnels that connect Manhattan to the mainland. Taking control of the island with it’s hidden forces, they race to the U.N. in search of Dellenbaugh and to launch an even deadlier attack that will wreak unimaginable destruction on the country itself.’

I have had THE ISLAND on my TBR list for some time now—and of course—when I am finally able to read it, the storyline is slightly similar to real world events happening now.

Would I recommend reading THE ISLAND? Yes, if you are a fan of Political Suspense Thrillers as I am, and/or are a fan of movies like the ‘Has Fallen’ series, I highly recommend it.

Would I recommend reading it now?

That’s entirely up to you, Dear Readers. If I weren’t reading the novel for review consideration, I would have set it aside.

Perhaps, if you’re like me, purchase the book as part of the Dewey Andreas Series, and read it at a later date.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eGalley of THE ISLAND at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press/08/17/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Island~

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Choose Your Own Adventure

Eighth Grade Witch

-by Andrew E.C. Gaska, E.L. Thomas & C.E. Simpson

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE: EIGHTH GRADE WITCH – by Andrew E.C. Gaska, E.L. Thomas, & C.E. Simpson

‘This book will be different from others you’ve encountered ….’

‘For here, YOU, and YOU ALONE, are in charge of what happens on your adventure into the witchy world located on Cherry Tree Lane …’

Your choices may lead you to a thrilling magical ending or a disastrous deadly consequence with the turn of a page. But don’t fret! You can go back and make another choice, alter the path of YOUR story, and change the result.

My adventure begins as Rabbit; I’m thirteen years old and with my parents at our spooky new house on Cherry Tree Lane in Graves End, Brooklyn…on the day before Halloween! *Creeeeeppppy!*

‘Isn’t this Great,’ Mom said.

Inside, the house is dark, dirty-looking, and in disrepair. White dusty sheets are draped over the furniture.

‘It just needs a bit of love and care, that’s all,’ Mom said.

‘And a whole lot of elbow grease,’ Dad adds, with a sigh.

This place is huge, much bigger than I expected. As I pick out my new room, something doesn’t feel quite right—which is perfect for my ghost-hunting parents.

As I look out my bedroom window, I see a strange man opening the trunk of my parent’s car… That’s when things start to get really weird, and my adventure begins…

Let’s just say, I did I not choose wisely, and was met with a tragic end—more than once. *sigh*

I’m going to keep reading until I can figure out what the story is behind Felix and his seemingly twisted sister, Astrid.

P.S. Don’t forget to feed my, I mean YOUR cat, Teacup, between adventures. 😉

‘Will you choose a path that leads to the light?’

‘Or will the path you choose lead to a gruesome end?’

‘You get to decide!’

Thank you, NetGalley and Oni Press, for providing me with an eBook of CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE: EIGHTH GRADE WITCH at the request of an honest review.

Reading age: ‎ 12 years and up
Source: NetGalley eBook (Archived) Paperback/Own
Published: Oni Press

~Cover by – Valerio Chiola & Thiago Ribeiro/NetGalley/Oni Press/eBook~

 ~08/24/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Choose Your Own Adventure – Eighth Grade Witch~

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My Heart Is A Chainsaw

– by Stephen Graham Jones

MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW – by Stephen Graham Jones

‘Jade Daniels is an angry, half-Indian outcast with an abusive father, an absent mother, and an entire town that wants nothing to do with her. She lives in her own world, a world in which protection comes from an unusual source: horror movies…’

I want to open this review by saying a sentiment that rolls out of my mouth more often than not when I’ve just read a book or short story that emotionally grabs me, and that is—My Heart!

As a lover of Horror and an Avid Slasher Fan, I knew this book would resonate with me on so many levels; I was not disappointed.

The narrative told from Jade Daniels’ point-of-view felt at times like she was channeling Randy Meek’s: ‘There are certain RULES that one must abide by in order to successfully survive a horror movie.’

Jade navigates her world through the lens of a slasher film aficionado, her eyes affixed to who she deems as The Final Girl in this real-life movie—if only in her mind—fellow high school senior, Letha Mondragon.

If you go into this book thinking it’s an ode to slasher films, then you would be right. Like the films, there’s more to the story and more to Jade than what’s on the surface.

The execution of the storyline in the book felt bumpy and a bit confusing in parts; however, the last twenty percent of the novel wraps everything together with a heart-wrenching-bow, which was *Chefs Kiss* Perfection.

The Last Scene—Hit home on so many levels!

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press (Simon & Schuster), for providing me with an eBook of MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Saga Press/Simon & Schuster/eGalley~

 ~08/31/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~My Heart Is A Chainsaw~

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The Mad Trinkets

– by Cameron Scott Kirk

THE MAD TRINKETS – by Cameron Scott Kirk

‘When a madman resurrects from the shadows to exact revenge upon the land of White Cloud, they must join forces with a deadly assassin and a mysterious knight to save its inhabitants—and then kill the king.’

I would describe THE MAD TRINKETS as a Dark Horror Fantasy seasoned with dashes of well-placed humor for balance. I LOVE Kirk’s writing style; the following dark opening lines and the cover art set the stage perfectly as we delve into Act One:

‘The gibbet creaked in the wind, its rusty iron squeak unhurried—for the dead are always unhurried. Creak, squeak. The metal cage and its corpse slowly rotated one way, then another, in the sharp breeze coming from the Western Sea.’

I LOVE a book that centers around strong women, the likes of Warrior Princess Brynhild Grimsdott, Rebecca Occitane, and Amal Muna. The following line describes one of them, the moment when the reader is first introduced to one of these women, though I won’t tell you who—Love This:

‘The king’s soldiers all stared at the girl, their fear showing. Suddenly, she was no longer a fragile child. Now, Death sat on her blood-spattered shoulder, sharpening his teeth.’

CW – Sexual Violence

Thank You, NetGalley and The Mage’s Lantern, LLC, for providing me with an eBook of THE MAD TRINKETS at the request of an honest review.

~Cover Illustration by M.L. Anderson/NetGalley/The Mage’s Lantern, LLC/eGalley~

~09/07/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Mad Trinkets~

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Mummy’s Little Secret

– by M. A. Hunter

You can’t help but be immediately pulled into the story when five-year-old Daisy, daughter of Morag, tells Grace’s mum Jess four words that propel her—and by extension the reader—on a roller coaster of obsession to learn the truth…

‘She’s not my mum.’

The narrative plays out in alternating chapters titled ‘Before’ and ‘Now’, each from Jess’, Morag’s, or another character’s perspective.

I love this writing style as it builds tension by giving the reader snippets of past and present events that we, along with Jess, must piece together to learn the truth.

There are times wherein it is difficult for me to stay engrossed, which comes down to when certain plot points are revealed and plausibility by way of execution comes into question for this reader.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it.

Thank you, NetGalley and One More Chapter (HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd), for providing me with an eBook of MUMMY’S LITTLE SECRET at the request of an honest review.

~Cover Design by Lucy Bennett/NetGalley/One More Chapter/HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd/eGalley~

 ~08/05/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Mummy’s Little Secret~

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The Noise

-by-

James Patterson & J.D. Barker

Let me begin by saying I am a huge fan of Michael Crichton’s books, thrillers that add that *Chefs Kiss* Sci-Fi element I love so much about his writing, which kept me coming back for more.

THE NOISE, by James Patterson & J.D. Barker, is a mixture of Thriller, Sci-Fi, and a dash of menacing Horror found when reading Barker’s books (Yes!).

As you dive into the story, you are immediately pulled into a scene wherein two sisters, eight-year-old Sophie and sixteen-year-old Tennant; while checking rabbit traps in the forest, are overcome by a deafening crescendo of screams.

As the novel progresses, tension builds as the need-to-know drives the narrative forward. Each chapter divulges speculation in a piecemeal fashion that keeps this reader yearning for the reveal—What is causing THE NOISE?

Unfortunately, without giving too much away, I’m left with more questions than answers regarding how certain scenes play out and the relation to the storyline as a whole, making plausibility a factor in the plot progressing—by this, I’m not referring to the suspension of disbelief regarding fictional elements.

Though this book did not tick off all the boxes for me, I can’t wait to read what Patterson and Barker come up with next.

Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company (Hachette Book Group, Inc.), for providing me with an eBook of THE NOISE at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Little, Brown and Company/eGalley~

 ~08/16/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Noise~

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Ghosts

– by Dolly Alderton

GHOSTS, by Dolly Alderton, is so relatable—a story that centers around family, friendship, and love interests—the only specter within are the heart-breaking shadows of the latter that may remain.

Nina Dean, the main character, is single in search of love when she meets Max on a dating app., who seems perfect in every way… and then, a few months later, he ghosts her.

As she struggles to understand why, ‘Nina is forced to deal with everything she’s been trying so hard to ignore: her father’s dementia is getting worse, and so is her mother’s denial of it; her editor hates her new book idea, and her best friend from childhood is icing her out.’

My Heart! This snippet is from Nina talking about her father’s dementia:

‘As I watched him surrender to the silly, untameable joy of hysterical giggles, I realized that while the future might strip him of his self, something mightier remained. His soul would always exist somewhere separate and safe. No one and nothing—no disease, no years of ageing—could take that away from him. His soul was indestructible.’

Thank You, NetGalley and Alfred A. Knopf Publishing (Penguin Random House LLC), for providing me with an eBook of GHOSTS at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image -Knopf Publishing/Penguin Random House LLC./eGalley~

 ~08/03/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Ghosts~

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Holdout

– by Jeffrey Kluger

Unfortunately, HOLDOUT is a DNF for me at 70%. The story pulled me in immediately to the point I was fully invested in the characters—the reason I continued reading. I want to know what happens at the end of the book, however, the pacing is too slow. I may revisit this one, but for right now, I’m setting it aside.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dutton Books, for providing me with an eBook of HOLDOUT at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Dutton Publishing/Random House/eGalley/08/03/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Holdout~

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Did I Say You Could Go

– by Melanie Gideon

‘Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive…’ – Sir Walter Scott

DID I SAY YOU COULD GO, an unputdownable page-turner centered around family, friendship, secrets, and lies.

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for loaning me an eGalley of DID I SAY YOU COULD GO at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Simon & Schuster/eBook – 08/03/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Did I Say You Could Go~

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Dark Roads

– by Chevy Stevens

DARK ROADS – by Chevy Stevens – WOW!

‘The Cold Creek Highway stretches close to five hundred miles through British Columbia’s rugged wilderness to the west coast. Isolated and vast, it has become a prime hunting ground for predators. For decades, young women traveling the road have gone missing … Hailey McBride calls Cold Creek home. Her father taught her to respect nature, how to live and survive off the land, and to never travel the highway alone. Now he’s gone, leaving her a teenage orphan in the care of her aunt whose police officer husband uses his badge as a means to bully and control Hailey.’

I love a book that immediately hooks me in, my attention set full throttle as I ride out the twists and turns of the narrative, never knowing where the story will take me, and honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way.

DARK ROADS checks all the boxes–I Highly Recommend!

‘“Wild roses are tough. You can mow them down to the roots or set them on fire, and they’ll still come back.”’

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eBook of DARK ROADS at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press/eBook – 08/03/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Dark Roads~

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If The Shoe Fits

– by Julie Murphy

‘With a shiny new design degree but no job in sight, Cindy moves back in with her stepmother, Erica Tremaine, the executive producer of the world’s biggest dating reality show. When a contestant on Before Midnight bows out at the last minute, Cindy is thrust into the spotlight…’

‘But being the first and only fat contestant on Before Midnight turns her into a viral sensation—and a body-positivity icon—overnight. Even harder to believe? She can actually see herself falling for this Prince Charming.’

I LOVE This Book! I laughed, I cried, and I gasped in surprise. If you’re looking for a modern-day Cinderella story with a twist, I Highly Recommend reading IF THE SHOE FITS, Book One in the Meant To Be Series by Julie Murphy.

More, Please!!

Thank you, NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue (Disney Publishing), for providing me with an eBook of IF THE SHOE FITS at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Disney Publishing Worldwide/Hyperion/Young Adult/eBook – 08/03/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~If The Shoe Fits~

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Where The Truth Lies

– by Anna Bailey

Unfortunately, this book is a DNF for me at 41%. The content is dark, which is never a problem for me; the parents intended by the Author to be deplorable ‘God-fearing’ people. The way the book is written, one aspect I like is the mystery throughout the narrative; the reader is given clues by way of actions that keep you guessing how it all fits together. Also, I like Noah, Rat, and Emma, all characters I care about;–how they’re treated is heart-wrenchingly disturbing.

Where I had to call it quits is the intermittent POV of Noah’s father, wherein you learn more about him, his past, and the possible reason he acts the way he does. The father’s perceived concern over his missing daughter and the mystery behind it is overshadowed by how he and his wife treat their family coupled with the father’s disturbing past. For me, it got to be a bit too much.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for providing me with an eBook of WHERE THE TRUTH LIES at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Atria Books/Simon & Schuster/eBook – 08/03/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Where The Truth Lies~

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The Girls Who Stepped Out Of Line

– by Major General Mari K. Eder

U.S. Army, Retired

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

As you delve into THE GIRLS WHO STEPPED OUT OF LINE, you will read about amazing young women the likes of…

ALICE MARBLE, a professional athlete, inspiration for a Comic book character, played a crucial role in World War II as a spy for the U.S. and fought against institutional racism in Women’s Tennis.

‘“When my life was in danger, I did what I’ve always done. I fought.”’ —Alice Marble

HILDA GIMPEL EISEN, Escaped from a ghetto during World War II, ‘out of a cell, through a forest, and into a stark and destroyed landscape where she picked herself up ….’

‘“You’re going to see what the next day is going to bring.”’—Hilda Gimpel Eisen

MARY TAYLOR PREVITE and her three siblings were imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp in China during World War II. ‘The four Taylor children hadn’t seen their parents since just after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.’

‘“Some people say America has no heroes. I know their names.”’ –Mary Taylor Previte

IDA AND LOUISE COOK – ‘It was a blessing to be taken for granted and dismissed without a second thought. With their bland, unassuming faces and gawky figures, the Cook sisters would never stand out in a crowd, much less be considered a threat.’

‘Not all acts of humanity have to be large or sweeping to have an impact. Every life saved matters. More than twenty-nine families lived because of these modest heroines. Two unassuming women stepped out of line and broke the law to serve and save others.’

‘“We were lucky enough to see the problem in terms we could understand.”’ —Ida Cook

ELIZABETH BEMIS ROBARTS – ‘The women worked behind locked doors guarded by armed Marines. Inside, they connected wires and rotors for the behemoth Bombe. Betty was one of six hundred Navy women whose work, she learned at the reunion, saved thousands of lives.’

‘“The work that we did shortened the war by a year and half to two years. That’s a good feeling… Our generation…only did what we had to do to be free.”’ – Elizabeth Bemis Robarts

OLA MILDRED ‘MILLIE’ REXROAT MCDONALD – ‘Millie attended both public school and Indian School and after high school, worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Nebraska and New Mexico. She went to college, earning a degree in art from the University of New Mexico. She tried a few jobs after graduation, but nothing seemed to stick. She took flying lessons and thought about the WASP [Women Air Service Pilots] program.’

‘“Worry about being killed? I never gave it a thought. You couldn’t worry about things like that… You can’t live forever.”’—Ola Mildred Rexroat McDonald

‘MILLIE was the only Native American woman to serve in the WASP.’
‘HAZEL YING LEE and MAGGIE GEE were the first Chinese American women to serve as WASP pilots.’

‘Two Hispanic women, VERNEDA RODRIGUEZ and FRANCES DIAS, also earned their silver wings with the WASP.’

‘Several African American women applied and made it to the final interview stage, only to have their applications rejected.’

‘One woman faced two acts of discrimination.’

‘First, despite having earned an aviation certification at age nineteen, MILDRED HEMMANS CARTER was asked to withdraw from the WASP application process because of her race. Then, the Tuskegee Airmen, the first group of Black male pilots to serve in the war, also rejected her—because of her gender. Seventy years later though, she finally received redemption from both slights, and was retroactively named a WASP, taking her final flight at age ninety.’

KATHERINE ‘KATE’ FLYNN NOLAN –’Kate was a brand-new second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Her unit, the Fifty-Third Field Hospital (Heavy Casualty) was assigned to support the troops there on the beach, and onward to wherever they went to pursue the retreating Nazis. Kate, like nearly 60,000 other Army nurses, was mobilized “for the duration,” the orders said, plus six months, for good measure.’

‘“It felt like I waited all my life to meet just one of my former patients and know that he made it all the way home.”’ —Katherine Flynn Nolan

CHARITY ADAMS EARLEY aka Big Ma– ‘Charity had commanded a training company, which was a good experience but now—to have been selected to command a battalion, a brand-new unit, overseas during wartime known as the “Six Triple Eight,” was the only Black WAC unit to be deployed. Another first, with an impossible mission. The Six Triple Eight’s 855 women were sent to Birmingham, England.’

‘Their arrival came with a message about the danger of their work—a German V1 rocket, the “Buzz Bomb,” came screaming in just as the women were heading down the ramp. They ran for cover as it hit the dock close to where they were disembarking. No one was injured, but it was a definite reminder that they had arrived in a war zone.’

‘“I have opened a few doors, broken a few barriers, and, I hope, smoothed the way to some degree for the next generation.”’—Charity Adams Earley

More amazing women featured in this book include:

Stephanie Czech Rader
Elizabeth Peet McIntosh
Virginia Hall (Goillot)
Ruth Gruber
Dame Mary Sigillo Barraco
Berendina Diet Eman
Marion Armstrong Frieswyk

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks, for providing me with an eBook of THE GIRLS WHO STEPPED OUT OF LINE at the request of an honest review.

~Cover Design by Lauren Harms – NetGalley/Sourcebooks/eBook – 08/03/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Girls Who Stepped Out Of Line~

---

The Rising

– by Brian Keene

THE RISING – Brian Keene
Published by – DEADITE PRESS (AN ERASERHEAD PRESS COMPANY)
Published: 9/10/2013
Source: eBook/Own

In a word—WOW!

I have been waiting so long to read this book, putting it aside as I make my way back into my reading and reviewing obligations, I decided this one is for me and I am not waiting anymore.

To be honest, I am glad I did, because THE RISING is one of if not the best Zombie Apocalypse books I have ever read.

From the very being of the book Keene grabs your heart strings and never lets up, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

If you haven’t read THE RISING, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND reading this book.

‘“Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then I would fly away, and be at rest.”’

~Amazon Image – Own/eBook – 09/03/2013~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Rising~

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A Final Call 

– by Eliot Parker

~Amazon Image/eBook/Headline Books/01-05-2021~

~Blackthorn Book Tour~

~Available On Amazon~

~A Final Call~

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The Minotaur Sampler Volume 4

THE MINOTAUR SAMPLER – Volume 4

A FLICKER IN THE DARK – by Stacy Willingham – Released 01/11/2022

‘I thought I knew what monsters were…My body could sense them, sense danger, the way your skin seems to prickle just before a hand is placed on an unsuspecting shoulder, the moment you realize that unshakable feeling you had was a set of eyes burrowing into the back of your skull, lurking behind the branches of an overgrown shrub…No, the real monsters move in plain sight.’

My Immediate Thought – Yes, Please!

A Blast From The Past In The New Thriller by Alex Finlay—THE NIGHT SHIFT – Released 03/01/2022

‘NEW YEAR’S EVE 1999’

‘The night was expected to bring tragedy. Planes falling from the sky. Elevators plunging to earth. World markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. But Y2K was an otherwise typical Friday night at the Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey’

That is until…

Need!

UNDER LOCK & SKELETON KEY – by Gigi Pandian – Released 03/15/2022

‘An impossible crime.’

‘A family legacy.’

‘The intrigue of hidden rooms and secret staircases.’

Yeeeesssssssss!

‘Secret Staircase Construction specializes in bringing the magic of childhood to all by transforming clients’ homes with sliding bookcases, intricate locks, backyard treehouses, and hidden reading nooks.’

‘When Tempest visits her dad’s latest renovation project….’

Nope, no spoilers; go check it out for yourselves.

THE RESTING PLACE – by Camilla Sten – Released Today 03/29/2022

‘A heart-thumping, relentless thriller that will shake you to your core, The Resting Place is an unforgettable novel of horror and suspense.’

‘Eleanor. Her steadfast boyfriend, Sebastian. Her reckless aunt, Veronika. The lawyer. All will go to this house of secrets, looking for answers. But…’

Color Me Intrigued, Yes, Please!

THE SHADOW HOUSE – by Anna Downes – Scheduled To Release On 04/05/2022

‘A HOUSE WITH DEADLY SECRETS. A MOTHER WHO’LL RISK EVERYTHING TO BRING THEM TO LIGHT.’

‘Alex, a single mother-of-two, is determined to make a fresh start for her and her children. In an effort to escape her troubled past, she seeks refuge in a rural community. Pine Ridge is idyllic; the surrounding forests are beautiful, and the locals welcoming. Mostly.’ – YES!

PAY DIRT ROAD – by Samantha Jayne Allen – Scheduled To Release On 04/19/2022

‘Friday Night Lights meets Sue Grafton in this small-town mystery about an unlikely private investigator searching for a missing waitress.’

‘As Annie works to uncover the truth she finds herself identifying with the victim in increasing, unsettling ways, and realizes she must confront her own past—failed romances, a disturbing experience she’d rather forget, and the trick mirror of nostalgia itself—if she wants to survive this homecoming.’

Need!

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books (St. Martin’s Press), for providing me with an eBook of THE MINOTAUR SAMPLER – Volume 4 at the request of an honest review.

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Minotaur Books/eGalley/09/28/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Minotaur Sampler Volume 4~ 

---

 Exploring Dark Short Fiction:

A Primer To Ramsey Campbell

– Edited by Eric J. Guignard

~Cover Design by Eric J. Guignard/NetGalley/Dark Moon Books/eBook~

~09/07/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Best Of Dark Terrors~

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Damned Hunger: Four Terrors 

– by Aiden Merchant

DAMNED HUNGER – FOUR TERRORS

‘This short collection—I think of it as a sampler, to be honest—was designed to tease my readers with new material in preparation for SICKNESS IS IN SEASONS, which is currently being viewed and edited by its publisher for an early 2022 release.’—Yeeeeeesssssss!!

The following are what I hope to read as enticing snippets of each sampler, without giving too much away:

‘SHOWDOWN’

‘The trees that surround you are heavy with powder, their limbs reaching toward the ground as they moan for relief. In this storm, they appear sad and defeated. Like you, nature is chilled to its core…Your eyes scan the mountainside, but it all looks the same. You’ve completely lost your way. At least, you’re alone now. That beast must have lost its way, as well. Or just your scent—’

‘RAVENOUS’

‘It was a typical Saturday on the Corel Farm when the kids headed off into the fields that bordered the property. There was a large section beyond the barns they liked to frequent. Though the horses used it often, the kids rarely came across them in play. In fact, one of their father’s horses hadn’t been seen in a week…’

‘HOLES’

‘At first, he didn’t move. He just observed his surroundings intently, trying to keep his breath shallow and quiet. After a minute or two of this, he decided to move forward and explore the area nearby. If he came up with nothing, he’d head back home. And if he found something…well, he supposed his next move depended on what that something might be.’

‘SWALLOWED’

‘Kevin bit his tongue as his friends argued the details. He’d experienced something surreal on Mr. Firth’s farm over the summer with a guy he’d been seeing. They’d gone out into the field by the woods together to drink and make themselves a fire. Everything was going great until…’

Note From The Author:

This book is intended for 16+ audiences. These stories contain violence and language. Turn to the back of this book for other triggers you may wish to know beforehand.

Thank you, Aiden Merchant and Snow-Capped Press, for providing me with an eBook of DAMNED HUNGER at the request of an honest review.

~Cover Photography by Emiliano Vittorio/Snow-Capped Press/eBook/09/28/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Damned Hunger~

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 Waif

– by Samantha Kolesnik

~Cover Design by Matthew Revert/Grindhouse Press/eGalley/12/01/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Waif~

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Behind The Veil

– by E.J. Dawson

~Amazon Image/Literary Wanderlust LLC./eBook/10/01/2021~

BEHIND THE VEIL – by E. J. Dawson – Literary Wanderlust

Note: Content warnings are listed in the back of the book.

‘In 1920s Los Angeles, Letitia Hawking reads the veil between life and death. A scrying bowl allows her to experience the final moments of the deceased. She brings closure to grief-stricken war widows and mourning families.’

‘For Letitia, it is a penance. She knows no such peace.’

After reading the above synopsis of BEHIND THE VEIL, I knew this book was a perfect fit. I’ve been fascinated with the paranormal ever since I watched POLTERGEIST as a kid, embedding my lifelong interest in what lies beyond the veil. 

I would describe BEHIND THE VEIL as a Gothic, Historical Fiction with a budding romance blooming within.

I must admit, I had to remind myself of the period and ideology the novel is set in, the 1920s. Societal do’s and don’ts are vastly different today.

My one pet peeve is characterization and dialogue, though spot-on for the period, felt off at times during certain scenes, pulling me out of the story.

Thank you, Blackthorn Book Tours, for providing me with an eBook of BEHIND THE VEIL at the request of an honest review. 

‘Cruelty akin to hell lay below as the domain above was heaven, and he was master of both.’

 ~Blackberry Book Tour – 01/17/2022~

~Available On Amazon~

~Behind The Veil~

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Billy And The Cloneasaurus

– by Stephen Kozeniewski

~Amazon Image/Independendly Published/Audiobook/03/20/2017~

~Available On Amazon~

~Billy And The Cloneasaurus~

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 Dragon Rain

– by Vonnie Winslow Crist

 ~Cover Art by Maya Presiler/Mocha Memoirs Press/eBook~

~09/03/2021~

DRAGON RAIN – Short Story Collection – by Vonnie Winslow Crist – Fantasy With A Dash Of Horror – Highly Recommend!

‘“In stories inspired by other folk traditions, dragons take human form and are able to love and marry. These eighteen stories are set in various cultures and locales: exotic, mundane, and even fairytale-like milieus…”’

The following are my favorites: 

‘Weathermaker’

‘Papa Chang had taken her hands in his, looked into her dark eyes, and added, “No one else in this family believes except for you and me, so it is up to us.”’

‘Beneath the Cherry Blossoms’

‘Hisa wished for love as she stood beneath a spread of Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms. The wisp of a late April breeze which sent pink petals sailing to the grass, paths, and red bridge arching over the blossom-covered water, also fluttered her ebony hair.’

‘Princess Rina’s Execution Day’

‘“If it had not been for the dragon, I would be queen of one of Lenatnahi’s neighbors by now. Though Her Royal Highness of which realm, I am uncertain,” said the princess. The man in the black hood nodded.’

‘The Hearth Dragon’ – Awwwww, the ending. 

‘The Rannell family had excelled in the making of wooden chests, cabinets, coffins, tables, and storage benches for more than eighty years. Now, the weight of completing items for current contracts and soliciting new orders fell to Luca—a heavy responsibility for an eighteen-year-old.’

‘Dragonflies’ – That Was Creepy Good!

‘While hiking, Allen and Ori spotted a body. They stopped dead in their tracks and stared…’

‘Motherhood’ – Greek Mythology, Nice! 

‘As she curled around the magical stone, Python saw her arrow-riddled body decomposing beneath the harsh light of the sun. The dragon pulled her lips back and hissed.’

‘Balancing the Scales’ –  That Was Good!

‘With a morning breeze stirring the curtains, Lizzie sat in the main room of the house she and Ty Harper shared, listening to the Good Will Redemption Holiness Church’s bell ring twenty-two times. “Ty,” she whispered…’

‘Riches’ – That Was Good!

‘It began with a snake. Yukio spotted the creature watching him from the foot of a plum tree. Then, it was gone.’

‘Wolfbane’ – My Heart! 

‘On the first day of spring, Maud heard the cries of the creature before she spotted the featherless body struggling to crawl from its shell.’

‘Kindness’ – Love This One.

‘It was a lonely life for a young man, but he tried to make the best of things and was known in his village, despite his poor circumstances, for being helpful and pleasant.’

‘Bloodguiltless’ – My Heart! Love This One.

‘In order to dip their oars in the Nodin in a synchronized manner, Paco, Grandfather, and Nina sang a seafarer’s tune. Using the rhythm of the song, they were able to smoothly row to the sacred beach where they would honor Anna Tuwa, the spirit of this world.’

‘Bayou’ – Love This One!

‘There are things living in the bayou which nobody wants to know about. At least that’s what Latrell’s grandfather said.’

‘Dragonskin’ – Love This One! 

‘Taking pity on the woman crying in the royal gardens, Granny Elder, tree fairy of birth and death, decided to reveal to Queen Glynnis how to…’

‘Veil’ – Love This One! That Ending, My Heart! 

‘Vision limited by the dark veil she wore, Leanna didn’t notice the creature until it tapped the top of Dylan’s tombstone with a wickedly-curved claw and said, …’

‘Salamander’

‘“Demon-spawn,” said Widow Esenwine as she pointed at a salamander crawling from a Daghini Manor fireplace.’

‘Magic’ – Love This One!

‘Trees had spirits. As did waterfalls, fjords, and even the land itself. Which was why Oddvar was told to be careful when selecting wood for carving.’

‘Dragon Rain’ – My Heart! 

‘Safety, thought Voruntil, Beloved of Nyzenth, as she spotted a cave opening at the base of a rocky outcrop.’

Thank you, Vonnie Winslow Crist and Mocha Memoirs Press, for providing me with an eBook of DRAGON RAIN at the request of an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~

~Dragon Rain~

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The Dead Inside

~Edited by~

Laurel Hightower & Sandra Ruttan

~Cover Art by Gemma Amor/Dark Dispatch Press/02/26/2022~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Dead Inside~

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Slash-Her

~Edited by~

Janine Pipe & Jill Girardi

~Cover Art by Gemma Amor/Kandisha Press/02/24/2022~

SLASH-HER – WOMEN OF HORROR ANTHOLOGY – Twenty-One Short Stories 

‘It is also dedicated to all those iconic women out there kicking-ass…’ – LOVE THIS!

‘21 women from across the world came together to evoke their inner Lizzie Borden and re-invent the slasher. Some embrace the tropes; others rip them to shreds. These powerful tales are provocative, contemporary and need to be told.’

Edited by Janine Pipe and Jill Girardi

The following are a list of my favorites: 

‘THE GRUKKEN’ – by Sarah Budd

‘[T]he Estate was built around the beating hungry heart of Grukken woods. Sealing it in where it was left undisturbed.’

‘With time the forest had grown over the paths until everywhere was protected with Nature’s thorns and spikes.’

‘YOU’RE DYING UP THERE’ – by Somer Canon – Love This One! 

‘In the grand scheme of things, when one considers all of the ways that employment in this great country of ours can easily turn into absolute shit, I have to admit that the Beat n’ Bean was a pretty good job. Well, I mean, until…’

‘HOW TO POSE THE DEAD’ – by Holly Rae Garcia 

‘[I]f you wanted a unique shot, you needed a unique perspective, an angle most other people didn’t get.’

‘HOOKING UP’ – by Laurel Hightower

‘“Has anyone ever told you, you’re beautiful?”’

‘His tone tells me he expects me to blush and modestly declaim. His expression is earnest, his mouth curved in a half-smile, his eyes soulful like he thinks he’s Jordan Catalano.’ – Love! 

‘PREDATOR’ – by Sarah Jane Huntington 

‘It’s true that a person can only resist their true nature for so long until the mask slips.’

‘THE COLLECTOR’ – by R. J. Joseph – Whoa! 

‘They’d fallen into step with one another one evening at the beginning of fall term and now that the holidays were around the corner, Tanita wanted more from the afro wearing dude who made her heart flutter with the low timbre of his voice and particular choice of sparse conversation. The less he said, the more she wanted to know about him.’

‘#THEVACATIONERS’ – by Kenzie Jennings – Love That Ending!

‘If it’s peace and quiet you’re looking for, our condo community boasts soundproof walls and blackout curtains in every condominium so that you can relax after a day of fun on the beach.’

‘PRO KNIFE’ – by Vivian Kasley – My Heart! 

‘Melinda pummeled the pillows on her bed with her fists, then paced the floor of her bedroom. She reminded herself again that she was only eighteen years old and had her whole life ahead of her.’

‘LEFTY’ – by Mai Kil – Dark. So Very VERY Dark. 

‘Sam’s back pocket was buzzing again. She pulled the phone out and buried it in the bottom of her backpack, letting the call go to voicemail, along with the rest…’

‘LEGEND OF THE NAMELESS ISLAND’ – by Red Lagoe – That Was Good! 

‘It’s easier to brand a girl with a label, burning flesh and scarring her for life, rather than trying to get to know her. Truth is, most people don’t care to see beyond a single character trait.’

‘BUS STOP’ – by Julia C. Lewis 

‘They say doing the same thing over and over again yet expecting different results is insanity. But what happens if you don’t have a choice?’

‘TUPPERWARE PARTY’ – by Villemey Mist – That Was Good! 

‘The time of the party was upon them. No kids in the way. None of those high shrieks that made anyone grind their teeth and wish they’d just drown in the summer pool. No one had time for that…’

‘RAILROAD’ – by Briana Morgan – My Heart! 

‘An alert chimes from the phone’s speaker…The countdown app flashes confetti and rainbows accompanied by trumpets. It’s time.’

‘THE BUTCHER ON BLUE JAY WAY’ – by Haley Newlin – That Was Good!

‘HATE SLASHERS’ – Cynthia Pelayo – That Was Good!

‘We are here to rid ourselves, free ourselves from all of these manipulative people. You asked for a way, and you were open to all of my suggestions, and each of you has delivered. I know…’

‘THE CRIMSON BRIDE’ – Mocha Pennington – There’s a glitch in my copy, and I wasn’t able to read this one.  

‘A HELPING HAND FROM PETER PAN’ – by Stephanie Rabig

‘THE ONE WHO WON’ – by Ali Seay – That Was Good! 

‘SPELLBOUND’ – by Antonia Rachel Ward -That Was Good!

Thank you Sadie Hartmann and Kandisha Press, for providing me with an eBook of SLASH-HER at the request of an Honest Review. 

~Available On Amazon~

~Slash-Her~

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Don’t Break The Oath

Women Of Horror Anthology Volume 4

–  Edited by Jill Girardi & Janine Pipe

LOOK AT THAT COVER!!

~Amazon Image/Kandisha Press//Night Worms/eBook/10/19/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

DON’T BREAK THE OATH WOMEN OF HORROR ANTHOLOGY VOLUME 4 – Highly Recommend!

‘Twenty-three authors from around the world have joined together to tell their stories of pacts with the devil, blood sacrifice, demonic encounters, torment and obsession. Horrors of the body, mind, and soul. Don’t break the chain of hands as we speak our Dark Oath.’

The following are my favorites, my immediate thought after reading each, and a snippet I hope will entice you: 

‘What The Sea Gives’ – by K.P. Kulski –  Love It! 

‘I do my best to push the memories of my life before the island away. My world before here breathes in perpetual gray. The memory of color would be maddening if I allowed it space in my thoughts.’

‘Black-Eyed Susan’ – by  Ariel Dodson – My Heart!

‘She drank it to forget, of course; as if it were possible to forget something like that. As though it were possible to wipe her away, as though she had never been.’

Susan.

‘The Silver Horn’ – by Alyson Faye – Creepy Good!

‘The planned buddy’s camping trip had not gone to plan. Not from the moment Jay’s car had broken down on the deserted stretch of unclassified road curving around the tops of the moor…’

‘Breaking Up Is Hard To Do’ – by Caryn Larrinaga – Hehehe, I’m not gonna lie, this one gave me a warm fuzzy feeling.

‘“Go away, Nathan.” Jessie’s thin fingers curl around the edge of her front door as she blocks the narrow opening with her body…“I told you. We’re through.”’

‘I’m standing on her stupid “Wipe Your Paws” welcome mat and gripping her doorframe with both hands, partly to stop myself from swaying but mostly to give myself something to squeeze that isn’t her throat.’

‘Shoot Your Shot’ – by Charlotte Platt – Creepy Good!

‘“I’m not afraid to die,” he said, blinking sweat out of his eyes…Athletic, he’d shaped his body through hard work and venom. Smelled like he’d had years to marinate in his own hate and righteousness, letting it slowly boil up.’

‘The Groom Of Lorelei’ – by Holley Cornetto 

‘As the years passed, Liam found himself dreaming more and more often of the maiden of the rock. Some nights she sat staring out to sea, as if she saw more than the turquoise waves pressing in around her. Other nights she sang, and the sea stilled to listen to her melancholy song.

‘The Coachman’s Cottage’ – by Anna Taborska – Creepy Good! 

‘The vast guesthouse that had been hired on account of the matriarch’s upcoming birthday had enough bedrooms to house all of them bar one…[T]he prospect of not being woken by hordes of screaming brats at the crack of dawn rather appealed to him. But how welcome the screaming brats would have been now.’

‘Capable Of Loving’ – by Sonora Taylor – That Was Good!

‘The set had to look exactly like it did on television, or else the children would sense that something was amiss, and they wouldn’t trust their meeting. It was important that the children never lost their trust in Desmond. For many of them, Desmond was the only person they thought they could trust.’

‘Perfect Girlfriend’ – by Angela Yuriko Smith – That Was Good! 

‘I have no knowledge of how I came to be standing on a corner next to a row of low budget Scroo-Boos in the rain. I only know that I am here with an activated directive and the wet weather is counter-productive. I don’t mind. I am impervious up to -50° Celsius and waterproof to a depth of 552 feet. But my target consumer isn’t.’

‘Misneach’ – by Roxie Voorhees – That. Was. Awesome! 

‘If I could bring him back to life, I’d fucking kill him. I adjust the blanket, and the glowing pain of heartbreak grows in my chest. Once again, I’m hit with the stark realization that he is gone for good.’

‘The Kinda True Story Of Bloody Mary’ – by Tracy Cross – A Blast From The Past – Love It!

‘Taneisha sat in the taxicab, angry her mother had planned her Halloween night. She was finally invited to the double feature at the drive-in by one of the hottest jocks in school…Now, while her friends and the hot jock sat at the drive-in watching Friday the 13th and He Knows You’re Alone, she would be babysitting.’

‘Close To You’ – by Cassie Daley – That Ending, My Heart!

‘Taking a deep breath, she inhaled the scent of lavender and rosemary from the bushes planted just below the window, the combination of pine and floral scents an intoxicating blend that would always remind her of this place and these mornings. They’d been her wife’s idea shortly after buying the house, a small personal touch that Nora didn’t realize would end up impacting her so much later on. So much of being with Sam was like that; small things turned into bigger, better ones along the line.’

‘Agreement’ – by Sheela Kean – That Was Good, Love The Ending!

‘Joey couldn’t believe his luck. It had been ten years since his father died. That meant ten years of entering his name into the state elk hunt drawing and coming up empty-handed. Until now.

‘Lady Killer’ – by Melissa Ashley Hernandez – Love This! 

‘About fifteen minutes later, John was highlighting a route on a paper map he found in the glove box, scarfing down an old granola bar he’d scrounged from his briefcase, and swearing he would only fly commercial for the rest of his life. With a new understanding of the road, and his belly somewhat sated, he turned the key to start the truck again, only to be met with a gut-wrenching grinding sound.’

‘Subscribe For More!’ – by  Jessica Burgess – Hey now, I feel attacked! 😉 It was my Mom spiel, too, back in the good ol’ days. Creepy Good – Love This One! 

‘‘I was your typical teenager, always with a phone glued to my face, countless hours spent lost in a rabbit hole of God knows what. I’d roll my eyes anytime my dad made those ‘back in my day remarks.’ The ones about the good ol’ days. ‘We didn’t have cell phones and computers, back in my day we communicated like everyone should—face to face, having real conversations…Meeting up with your friends on a Friday night and hanging out was never ‘virtual’. More eye rolls in three…two…one. Blah, blah, blah, the usual dad spiel.’’

‘The Trial of Jehenne de Brigue’ – by C.C. Winchester – That Was Good!

‘“Jehenne de Brigue, you stand before this court accused of witchcraft. How do you plead?” Tapestries decorated the stone walls of the large, cold room. A group of men sat up high against one wall, garbed in the colorful robes of religious leaders. A man in a plain black robe sat at the center of a small stone desk below them…He approached the woman who stood before them, her hands bound by rope. The man spoke to her. “What say you, madam?”’

‘Seeds’ – by Marie McWilliams – Dark And All Kinds Of Creepy, Love!

‘‘Plant a seed and something grows. That’s what my grandfather always taught me.’

‘Fluid’ – by R.A. Busby – That Was Good!

‘One evening browsing YouTube to find new Photoshop techniques (“High-End Skin Retouching! Click the red button to subscribe!”) I fell into an Internet rabbit hole and ended up on this video.’

Thank you, Janine Pipe and Kandisha Press, for providing me with an eBook of DON’T BREAK THE OATH WOMEN OF HORROR ANTHOLOGY VOLUME 4 at the request of an honest review. #WIHM

~Don’t Break The Oath : Women of Horror Anthology Volume 4~

---

 No Second Chances

– by Rio Youers

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/William Morrow/Paperback~

~02/22/2022~

‘Luke Kingsley’s glory days are behind him. A star on the rise, his life and career imploded after his soul singer wife, Lisa Hayes, disappeared without a trace, silencing a very public and tumultuous marriage. Most people, especially an avenging PI, think Luke got away with murder.’

‘Wannabe actress Kitty Rae has chased her dreams all the way from Kentucky to Hollywood. Saving a washed-up actor’s life wasn’t one of them, but she believes in Luke—as much as she believes her own career is just one lucky break away. For now, she works for Johan Fly, a charismatic, wealthy, and seriously unbalanced drug dealer to the rich and famous.’

‘When Johan discovers that Kitty has been skimming the product, he vows to make her pay.’

NO SECOND CHANCES—In two words—My Heart!

It’s always a pleasure reading Youers’ writing; I read LOLA ON FIRE last year and Loved It!!  

When I read one of Youers’ social media posts about the release of his next book, NO SECOND CHANCES, coupled with the word ‘Vikings’ being in the story, I knew I had to read this book, STAT! 

I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out, but…

I have to say—as I delved deeper into the book, I was getting some serious Finnies vibe that added depth and perfection to character in this unputdownable intense Thriller. 

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, William Morrow (Harper Collins Publishing), for sending me a paperback ARC of NO SECOND CHANCES at the request of an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~

~No Second Chances~

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Perish

– by L.C. Barlow

~Cover by James T. Egan of Bookfly Design/eBook/10-13-2020~

PERISH – by L.C. Barlow – Jack Harper Trilogy, Book 2 – Paranormal Urban Fantasy – Recommend!

‘Jack Harper is a dangerous woman, capable of death and resurrection. Raised and utilized by Cyrus, the leader of a mystical religion, she was once a fearless and brilliant weapon against all who blasphemed. Now, having destroyed Cyrus, Jack is free to be more.’

PERISH can easily be read as a standalone, though to emerge fully into the storyline, I recommend reading Book One, PIVOT, first. 

Next up for me PEAK Book 3. 

Thank you, L.C. Barlow, for providing me with an eBook of PERISH at the request of an honest review. My sincere apology for the delay in review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Perish~

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 Apex Magazine – Issue 123

~Edited by~

 Jason Sizemore

~05/04/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Apex eMagazine – Issue 123~

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Trap The Devil

– by Ben Coes

 

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/St. Martin Press/eBook~

Book Seven Of Nine In The Dewey Andreas Series, The TRAP THE DEVIL by Ben Coes (2017).  

‘A group of some of the most powerful people in the government, the military, and the private sector, has begun a brutal plan to quietly take over the reins of the U.S. government. They’ve begun to remove the people who stand in their way—and replace them with their own sympathizers and puppets. They’ve already taken out the Speaker of the House. . .’

Who’s Next?

You have to read the book and find out. 😉

TRAP THE DEVIL, the first book that I have read in the series is a fast-paced narrative that shocked me from page one and even more so as the story progresses.

I love reading books from a series, be it a journey that begins with Book One or, in this case, Book Seven—an easy-to-follow standalone that entices you to read and learn more about Dewey Andreas, the main character, and the various foes that cross his path. 

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eBook of TRAP THE DEVIL at the request of an honest review. 

~06/20/2017~

~Trap The Devil~

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 Righteous Assassin

– by Kevin G. Chapman

~Amazon Image/Independently Published/eBook/04/10/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Righteous Assassin~

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Devils You Know

– by Miles Watson

~Amazon Image/eBook/10-25-2016~

 ~Available On Amazon~

~Devils You Know~ 

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Relentless

Jonathan Maberry

 

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/St. Martin Griffin/eBook/Own-Audiobook~

~07/13/2021~

JOE LEDGER’s world has been torn apart. The people closest to him have been savagely murdered, and Ledger is on the hunt for the killers. His already fragile psyche has cracked apart, allowing a dangerous darkness to overwhelm him.’

The one aspect of diving into a series I can never get enough of, be it novels that center around a central or group of diverse characters is the authors’ unique ability to make me the reader feel like I’ve known them for years, even though we’ve just met. 

Be it friend or foe, I can’t help but succumb to the incessant urge to learn more about them as I seek answers to questions like: What makes them tick? How did they first meet?

So yes, Dear Readers, I am officially a fan of not only Joe Ledger, but also the bad*ss women and men Mayberry’s created, and I can’t wait to read more about them!

Also, sans spoilers, I will say if you’re a fan of Joe R. Lansdale books…

Well, You will have to read the book and find out for your selves. 😉

RELENTLESS—Highly Recommend! 

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin, for providing me with an eGalley of RELENTLESS at the request of an honest review. 

Note: I purchased the Audiobook (published by Macmillan Audio) of RELENTLESS, read by Ray Porter—who does an excellent job portraying all the characters.

~Available On Amazon~

~Relentless~

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Soaking In Strange Hours

Erik Hoffstatter 

 

 ~Cover Art by – CoverMint /Next Chapter Publishing/eBook/11/05/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Soaking In Strange Hours~

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Apex Magazine – Issue 124

~Edited by~

 Jason Sizemore

 

~Cover Art by Martina Boscolo/eMagazine~

~Available On Amazon~

~Apex Magazine Issue – 124~

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Cuts You Up

– by David Blackwood

 

~Cover/Interior Design by Matthew Revert/Paperback From The Author~

~08/04/2021~

Highly Recommend!!

“One chilly night in 1990, Cassandra and her friends went out to a concert. But their plans changed when they fell into the clutches of a near-mythical killer known as The Huntsman.’

‘CUTS YOU UP’ is a tale of trauma, survival, and Goth music.’

In a word, WOW!! Let me say it again, WOOOOOWWW!! I didn’t know this until I finished reading the book—mentioned after the Acknowledgements—that CUTS YOU UP is David Blackwood’s first novel and I love it. More, Please!

Thank you, David Blackwood, for mailing me a physical copy of CUTS YOU UP and Mother Horror (Sadie Hartmann), for connecting me with the author, and for putting this book on my radar. 

~Available On Amazon~

~Cuts You Up~

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They Call Him Sizzleborne

– by Bret Tallman

~Cover by Andy Stalboerger/Self-Published/Paperback Book From The Author~

~11/11/2020~

~Available On Amazon~

~They Call Him Sizzleborne~

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 The Island

– by Ben Coes

 

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press/08/17/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Island~

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 David Massie And The Quantum Flux

– by Andrew M. Nehring

 ~Amazon Image/Self-Published/eBook~ 

~07/13/2021~

DAVID MASSIE AND THE QUANTUM FLUX – by Andrew M. Nehring – A Middle-Grade Sci-Fi Action And Adventure Book.

‘In this ordinary world of extraordinary technology lies a kid genius, David Massie. After the abrupt disappearance of his older brother, Morgan, David spends his days fending off the class bully and searching in Morgan’s past for answers. Then one rainy day, his world implodes thanks to a mysterious dark armored figure.’

I had a blast reading DAVID MASSIE AND THE QUANTUM FLUX, a story centered around fantastic characters, imaginative scenes, tense moments, and at times, its laugh-out-loud funny. 

Highly Recommend!

I do have one question for the author after reading this book, ‘When do we get to read the sequel???’ 

I Neeeeddd It!

Thank you, Zoe Venezia, for reaching out to me to request an honest review of DAVID MASSIE AND THE QUANTUM FLUX. My apology to you and Andrew M. Nehring for the delay in my review; thank you so much for your patience. 

~Available On Amazon~

~David Massie And The Quantum Flux~

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Whitesands

– by Johann Thorsson

 

 ~Cover Art by Don Noble/Headshot Books Publishing/eGalley~

~09/26/2021~

‘Detective John Dark’s daughter has been missing for two years. In his frantic and unfruitful search for her two years ago, J Dark overreached and was reprimanded and demoted.’

‘Now suddenly back into the homicide department, Dark is put on a chilling case – a man who killed his wife in their locked house and then dressed the body up to resemble a deer but claims to remember none of it. A few days later, an impossibly similar case crops up…’

WHITESANDS, A John Dark Case, is not only heartbreakingly good but also Thorsson’s debut novel. I hope this won’t be the last we see of John Dark, hint hint, perhaps a series?? 

The only issue I had, if you can call it that, are that some of the reactions of the characters felt I little over the top—but not enough to pull me out of the story as I eagerly wanted to know more. 

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, Sadie Hartmann (Mother Horror) and Headshot Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of WHITESANDS at the request of an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~

~Whitesands~

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 Below

– by Kev Harrison

 

~Cover Design by Kealan Patrick Burke/Silver Shamrock Publishing/eBook~

 ~08/17/2021~

BELOW – by Kev Harrison

“Nick has revered his grandfather his entire life. The absent hero, his namesake, buried alive in his final act of courage an ocean and thousands of miles away.’

‘Jess has outgrown her status as an all-action social media celebrity and the endless demands that come with it. Adventure Travel TV has thrown this unlikely duo together, promising Jess the launchpad she craves and Nick the chance to tell his grandfather’s story first-hand…’

That was a fun ride—though not as intense as I expected throughout—the women are bad*ss, and the ending was perfect! 

Recommend!

Thank you, Silver Shamrock Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of BELOW at the request of an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~

~Below~

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Born To The Dark

– by Ramsey Campbell

 ~Amazon Image/ NetGalley/Flame Tree Press/eBook~

~09/21/2021~

BORN TO THE DARK, Book Two in The Three Births Of Daoloth Trilogy – by Ramsey Campbell

I love the story’s premise, wherein Campbell creates some spectacular creepy imagery in scenes aligned with dialogue that made me cringe. 

Where the novel fell flat was in the slow burn, a few moments that felt monumental to me—thus escalating the tension (Yes!)—was followed by day-to-day nonchalance, as if what we just witnessed never happened, and what felt like too much time in Dominic’s head as he examines/overanalyzes other characters’ perceived intentions and actions, though some appear seemingly mundane to this reader. 

As a parent, however, it’s easy to empathize with Dominic as he battles internal and external foes in pursuit of saving his marriage whilst protecting his son…

‘[J]ust then I believed that Christian Noble was no longer our concern. I suppose that was a kind of faith. I might as well have put my trust in the neon signs that lit up the streets – in imagining they had done away with the infinite darkness that surrounded us when they couldn’t even hold it back.’

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for providing with an eGalley of BORN TO THE DARK at the request of an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~

~Born To The Dark~

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The Last Crucible

– by J.D. Moyer

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Flame Tree Press/eBook/09/21/2021~

‘Earth is mostly depopulated in the wake of a massive supervolcano, but civilization and culture are preserved in vast orbiting ringstations, as well as in a few isolated traditional communities on Earth.’

‘Jana, a young Sardinian woman, is in line to become the next maghiarja (sorceress) by way of an ancient technology that hosts a community of minds.’

‘Maro, an ambitious worldship artist, has designs to use the townsfolk as guinea pigs in a brutally invasive psychological experiment. Jana must protect her people and lead them into the future, while deciding whom to trust…’

THE LAST CRUCIBLE, Book Three of the Reclaimed Earth series, is the first novel I have read in the trilogy thus far. I do, however, look forward to not only seeing where the storyline will take me in what I’m guessing (hoping!) will be a Book Four, but also the thrill ride of diving into Books One and Two to get to know the characters even more and how their journeys began.

I mean, come on, how could I not, based on the synopsis tempting me with ‘the mostly depopulation of the earth in the wake of a massive supervolcano?’

Allow me to Polly-Repeat for you, Dear Readers—SUPERVOLCANO!!

Now, does Book One begin pre, during, or post-eruption?

Enquiring minds want to know, right? And. I. Need. To. Know. More!

Book Three, THE LAST CRUCIBLE, can be easily read as a standalone if you are not able to read the first two books in the series.

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press Publishing, for not only your patience but also for providing me with an eBook of THE LAST CRUCIBLE at the request of an honest review.

Recommend!

~Available On Amazon~

~The Last Crucible~

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Lambs Among Wolves

– by Russell James

 ~Cover Design by Kealan Patrick Burke/Silver Shamrock Publishing/eBook~

~07/05/2021~

AMBS AMONG WOLVES by Russell James—Highly Recommend!

‘Evil may soon consume mankind, if the demons have their way.’

‘After the death of her father, young Cyndi Fisher travels to Paris to meet the grandfather she never knew. That man turns out to be Father Jack Cahill, a renegade exorcist who was unaware he’d fathered a child before taking his vows.’

‘Cyndi is soon drawn into Father Jack’s world, where demons from H*ll are possessing humans and robbing Europe’s churches of sacred relics.’

In a word, WOW!

As odd as these words are to say, considering the intense content of the book, I can’t help but utter—with a smile on my face—that I had an absolute blast reading it!

I mean, think about it…

The story centers around:

Possession *check*
Exorcism *check*
Sacred Relics *check*
Characters You Love And Love To Hate *check* *check*

Thank you, Silver Shamrock Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of LAMBS AMONG WOLVES in the request of an honest review.

Though I read this as an ebook, if you’re like me, you’re going to want to purchase the paperback version. 😉

~Available On Amazon~

~Lambs Among Wolves~

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Women’s Health

The Menopause Manifesto

– by Dr. Jen Gunter

~Publishing Corp./eBook – 05/25/2021~

~Amazon Image – Citadel Press/Kensington~

Reread

~Available On Amazon~

~The Menopause Manifesto~

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Oblivion In Flux

– by Maxwell I. Gold

~Cover Design by Dan Sauer~

Crystal Lake Publishing/eGalley~

Reading

~08/03/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Oblivion Flux-Collection~

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Zombie CSU: The Forensic Science Of The Living Dead

– by Jonathan Maberry

 

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Tantor Audio Publishing/Audiobook/Own/06/29/2021~

Reread

~Available On Amazon~~

Zombie CSU – The Forensic Science of the Living Dead~

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The Boy With The Spider Face

– by AJ Franks

~Amazon Image/Crystal Lake Publishing/11/26/2021~

Fifteen-year-old Jeff Pritchet is made to feel like an outcast at school, called names, and bullied because he looks different when what he wants most in the world is to make a friend who likes him for who he is, both on the inside and out.

When Jeff meets the new student Aarav Jain, the two boys become friends, immediately giving Jeff hope that his life has finally changed for the better.

‘But as the boys grow closer, their deepening relationship becomes hijacked by a darkness Aarav can’t escape, and a life-altering secret Jeff can barely contain.’

THE BOY WITH THE SPIDER FACE is the first book that I have read by AJ Franks, and I can’t wait to read more.

TW/CW: Racism, Homophobia

Thank you, Crystal Lake Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of THE BOY WITH THE SPIDER FACE in a request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Boy With The Spider Face~

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The Warden

– by Jon Richter

~Amazon Image/Bloodhound Books/eBook/Blackthorn Book Tour – 11/24/2021~

~05/25/2021~

‘The year is 2024, and the residents of the Tower, a virus-proof apartment building, live in a state of permanent lockdown. The building is controlled by James, who keeps the residents safe but incarcerated….This suits Eugene just fine. Ravaged by the traumas of his past, the agoraphobic ex-detective has no intention of ever setting foot outside again.’

‘But when he finds the Tower’s building manager brutally dismembered, his investigator’s instincts won’t allow him to ignore the vicious crime….To unravel the Tower’s mysteries, he must confront James…’

‘The flickering lights gave the dimly-lit space an otherworldly glow, as though it was full of fireflies; the gentle hum of the straining servers might have been the laboured breathing of some lurking, monstrous creature.’

I was introduced to Richter’s writing early last year by way of the short story collections, DISTURBING WORKS Vol. One & Two, AUXILIARY: a Cyberpunk Science Fiction novel set in 2039, London, and now, the Physiological Thriller THE WARDEN: set in 2024, London.

I LOVE stories that place characters, and by extension, the reader, into situations where survival is key. Favorite movies that come to mind that remind me of this book are DIE HARD, P-2, and TRAPPED.

If you’re like me and you enjoy reading a fast-paced narrative via short chapters and alternating timelines that ultimately converge the past and the present into a suspenseful tale, then I think you’re going to love THE WARDEN.—Highly Recommend!

THE WARDEN – by Jon Richter
Publisher: Bloodhound Books
Source: Blackthorn Book Tour
Tour Date: November 24, 2021

~Available On Amazon~

~The Warden~

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 The Twin Paradox

– by Charles Wachter

~Cover Design by – Rafael Andres/NetGalley/ Trevaney Bay Pubishing/eBook~

 ~08/27/2020~

THE TWIN PARADOX by Charles Wachter started out really good, I was getting Michael Crichton vibes throughout until the sixty-three percent mark. I’m not going to delve into spoilerville, but I will say how the narrative plays out, including the introduction of certain characters, at this point, didn’t work for me.

DNF – 63%

Thank you, NetGalley and Trevaney Bay Publishing, for providing me with an ebook of THE TWIN PARADOX in the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Twin Paradox~

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 Absolute Unit

– by Nick Kolakowski

~Cover Art – by Ben Baldwin/Crystal Lake Publishing/eGalley~

~07/29/2021~

‘Yes, our future spreads before us, bright and pure….Our one regret is a small one: that we didn’t realize our potential from the very beginning. . .’

ABSOLUTE UNIT by Nick Kolakowski is a unique ride that still has me tripping on the bizarre, funny, and heartbreaking content within; however, part of me—by stories end—feels like this fast-paced narrative needed more meat in the center to create the informative whole eager readers may be thirsting for.

I LOVE the perspective narration Kolakowski chose for this book, which was perfect!

Go into this one without reading the synopsis, Dear Readers, if you can avoid it.

Thank you, Crystal Lake Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of ABSOLUTE UNIT at the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Absolute Unit~

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 The Perfect Ruin

– by Shanora Williams

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Dafina Books/Kensington Publishing Corp./eBook – 07/27/2021~

‘A brutal tragedy ended Ivy Hill’s happy family and childhood. Now in her twenties and severely troubled, she barely has a life—or much to live for. Until the day she discovers the name of the woman who destroyed her world…’

WOW! I love when a good book doesn’t play out the way I expect, the twists in the Psychological Thriller THE PERFECT RUIN, kept me on pins and needles until the bitter end.

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Dafina Books (Kensington Publishing Corp.) for providing me with an eGalley of THE PERFECT RUIN at the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Perfect Ruin~

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 Just One Look

– by Lindsay Cameron

 

~Book Design by Diane Hobbing – NetGalley/Ballantine Books/Random House/eBook – 07/27/2021~

JUST ONE LOOK centers around the life and time of Cassie Woodson, wherein we follow Cassie as she begins a new chapter in her life as a temp reviewing correspondence for a large-scale fraud suit.

As the reader, you’re given retrospective moments served in bits and pieces that lay the foundation of her past that explains her current circumstances in the present. (Love It!)

Does the causality of her past explain her unhinged behavior—coupled with a lack of love, friends, and stability in her life, that creates a fixation that ultimately turns into stocking?

You will have to read the book and find out.

I love the premise of the book and the ending is perfect! What I didn’t feel whilst reading JUST ONE LOOK was a sense of suspense-thriller throughout and the pacing, to me, felt too slow.

Do I look forward to reading more books by Cameron?

Of Course!

I can’t wait to see what Lindsay comes up with next!

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books (Random House), for providing me with an eGalley of JUST ONE LOOK at the request of an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~

~Just One Look~

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Razorblade Tears

– by S.A. Cosby

~Book Design by Donna Siisgalli Noetzel/NetGalley/Flatiron Books/eGalley~

~07/06/2021~

The following is a snippet of the synopsis, in whole, provides enough of a setup into the storyline that to divulge more would delve into unnecessary spoiler alert territory:

‘Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with little else in common other than a criminal past and a love for their dead sons, band together in their desperate desire for revenge. In their quest to do better for their sons in death than they did in life, hardened men Ike and Buddy Lee will confront their own prejudices about their sons and each other, as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys.’

My immediate thoughts and feelings after reading this Book:

In a word, WOW!

Little Bit—My Heart!

Yes, Yes, I am crying again.

I Highly Recommend RAZORBLADE TEARS, written by S. A. COSBY. Thank you, NetGalley and Flatiron Books, for providing me with an eGalley in the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Razorblade Tears~

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Come With Me

– by Ronald Malfi

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Titan Publishing Group Ltd./eBook/07/20/2021~

COME WITH ME pulled me in and kept me glued to every page—Highly Recommend!

I LOVE Malfi’s writing and the story—that ending—My Heart!

Here’s a couple of snippets that hit me in all the feels:

‘I thought of the image I saw—or imagined I saw—standing in this very doorway nights earlier. The certainty that you were in that room right now was so profound in that moment that I felt a grim and terrible smile crack the lower half of my face. My arms itched to embrace you. A taste in my mouth was your taste, as if in anticipation of a kiss…’

‘I stood there, waiting for you to materialize out of nothing right before my eyes. But when that didn’t happen—when the grim smile faded from my face, and the taste of you drained from my mouth—I was left with nothing but a hollow jack-o’-lantern sensation, as if someone had taken a sharp utensil and scooped out all my vital bits.’

And…

‘She opened the lid and I saw that it was filled with photographs. They were scattered about in there, in no particular order or arrangement, just loose and existing and touching each other like memories do.’

Thank you, NetGalley and Titan Books, for loaning me an eGalley of COME WITH ME in the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Come With Me~

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 A Woman Of Intelligence

– by Karin Tanabe

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press eBook – 07/20/2021~

A WOMAN OF INTELLIGENCE, by Karin Tanabe, started out really good, slowly progressing into an intriguing plot with interesting characters I wanted to know more about—how their paths intertwine, as the reader, eagerly waiting to partake in this Historical Mystery-Thriller.

However, as I ventured towards the end of the book, the lead-to felt nothing like a Thriller, seeped in some Mystery, but unfortunately not enough to sustain me to the end—resulting in a DNF for me at eighty-four percent.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eBook of A WOMAN OF INTELLIGENCE at the request of an honest review

~Available On Amazon~

~Woman Of Intelligence~

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 The Book Of Accidents

– by  Chuck Wendig

~Design by Fritz Metsch – NetGalley/Del Rey/Penguin Random House – eGalley – 07/20/2021~

Some say this book is too Political, I say ‘More, Please!’ I love that aspect Wendig brought to this book!

The twisted-mind-bending-storyline-by-design that is the foundation throughout THE BOOK OF ACCIDENTS is intriguing and unique to me. 

I like how the storyline plays out, but its repetitive scenes, some featuring familiar formidable foes, overall fall flat in action and slow the pacing too much, in my opinion, making for a difficult read.

Unfortunately, this is a DNF for me at eighty-three percent. 

Will I be reading more books by Wendig, even though this book didn’t work for me?

Absolutely! 

Thank You, NetGalley and Del Rey Books/Random House, for loaning me an eGalley of THE BOOK OF ACCIDENTS at the request of an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~

~The Book Of Accidents~

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The Sinful Lives Of Trophy Wives

– by Kristin Miller

~Book Design by Jo Anne Metsch – NetGalley/Ballantine Books/Penguin Random House~

~eGalley – 07/20/2021~

‘Georgia St. Claire allegedly cashed in on the deaths of her first two husbands, earning her the nickname “Black Widow”—and the stares and whispers of her curious neighbors. Rumored to have murdered both men for their fortunes, she claims to have found true love in her third marriage, yet her mysterious, captivating allure keeps everyone guessing.’

THE SINFUL LIVES OF TROPHY WIVES is a Domestic Thriller that centers around three women you love, and at times, may love to hate.

A little predictable in parts and unpredictable in others—an ending that didn’t play out as I expected, though it genuinely satisfies my little dark heart. 😉

Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for loaning me an eGalley of THE SINFUL LIVES OF TROPHY WIVES in the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Sinful Lives Of Trophy Wives~

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 Steel Fear

– by Brandon Webb & John David Mann

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Bantam/Random House/eGalley~

 ~07/13/2021~

‘The moment Navy SEAL sniper Finn sets foot on the USS Abraham Lincoln to hitch a ride home from the Persian Gulf, it’s clear something is deeply wrong. Leadership is weak. Morale is low. And when crew members start disappearing one by one, what at first seems like a random string of suicides soon reveals something far more sinister….’

‘Finding the killer offers a chance at redemption . . . if he can stay alive long enough to prove it isn’t him.’

Or is it?

You have to read the book and find out! 😉

STEEL FEAR is a fun and engaging thriller-whodunit that kept me guessing until the very end.—Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Bantam Books – Random House, for loaning me an eBook of STEEL FEAR at the request of an honest review

~Available On Amazon~

~Steel Fear~

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 The Very Nice Box

– by –

Laura Blackett & Eve Gleichman

~Book Design by Emily Snyder – NetGalley/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/eBook – 07/06/2021~

‘Ava Simon designs storage boxes for STÄDA, a slick Brooklyn-based furniture company. She’s hard-working, obsessive, and heartbroken from a tragedy that killed her girlfriend and upended her life. It’s been years since she’s let anyone in.’

That is until she meets the young and magnetic Mat Putnam.

The storyline centers around Ava’s work, with heartbreaking flashback moments that unveil the past, as she tries to move forward when Mat enters her life and changes her world—for good or bad?

You will have to read the book. 😉

I will say, I Love the ending!

THE VERY NICE BOX is the first book that I’ve read by Laura Blackett & Eve Gleichman, and I can’t wait to read more.

Thank you, NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, for providing me with an eGalley in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Very Nice Box~

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 Dear Miss Metropolitan

– by Carolyn Ferrell

~Designed by Steven Seighman – NetGalley/Henry Holt And Company/Macmillan Publishing Group LLC./eBook – 07/06/2021~

DNF – 38%

~Available On Amazon~

~Dear Miss Metropolitan~

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 The Strange Thing We Become

– by Eric LaRocca

~Cover ©Leopardmoth/Off Limits Press/eBook From The Author~

~09/01/2021~

If You Are A Fan Of Dark Horror, Allow Me To Introduce You To —THE STRANGE THING WE BECOME AND OTHER DARK TALES – by Eric LaRocca

‘The Strange Thing We Become and Other Dark Tales collects eight stories of literary dark fiction. Tense and terrifying, these masterful stories by Eric LaRocca explore the shadow side of love.’

As a parent reading this Collection—Holy Crap!!

Below are my immediate thoughts after reading each one, though short and to the point, displays the emotions that swirled through my mind by stories end:

’YOU FOLLOW WHEREVER THEY GO’ —My Heart!

‘BODIES ARE FOR BURNING’ —

I…Words…Dark…So…Dark…Good?…Yes…Disturbing?…Yes!…Very!…And…So Dark…

Hence The Title 😉 *whispers* ‘Not for the squeamish.’

‘THE STRANGE THING WE BECOME’ —Just, Wow—My Heart!

’THE TREES GREW BECAUSE I BLED THERE’ —Dark And All Kinds Of Creepy

’YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE’ —Whoa!

’WHERE FLAMES BURNED EMERALD AS GRASS’ – The question that immediately comes to mind, ‘What would you do?’ My Heart!

‘I’LL BE GONE BY THEN’ – WOW!

‘PLEASE LEAVE OR I’M GOING TO HURT YOU’ – Heartbreaking with a side of Creepy.

Thank You, Eric LaRocca and Off Limits Press, for providing me with an eBook of THE STRANGE THING WE BECOME AND OTHER DARK TALES at the request of an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~

~The Strange Thing We Become and Other Dark Tales~

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Somebody’s Voice

 – by Ramsey Campbell

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Flame Tree Press/eBook – 06/22/2021~

In the beginning of the book, which hooked me in immediately, Carl Batchelor tells his life story to ghostwriter Alex Grand, which is heartbreaking and in parts difficult to read, as are many biographies and fictional stories centered around abuse.

Overall, the storyline admittedly confused me a bit at the halfway in regards to where it was going and a puzzling ending.

Also, there are different points throughout the book wherein Alex and various characters constant inner monologue and dialogue about questioning the true meaning of what each other says, got to be too much, though I understand it’s meant to be a means to reflect Alex’s insecure mind in some scenes.

There are other misgivings I have that venture into spoiler territory that I won’t reveal.
Not my favorite Campbell book, but most definitely not my last.

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press Publishing, for loaning me an eGalley of SOMEBODY’S VOICE in the request of an honest review.

TW/CW – Child Sexual Abuse 

~Available On Amazon~

~Somebody’s Voice~

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Aniela

– by William Presley

 ~Cover Design by BetiBup/Little Demon Books/eBooky~

~07/05/2021~

‘There is something so dark, and yet so fantastical, about a Slavic fairytale. It tugs at our morbid sensibilities, begging us to read on. . .’

‘He didn’t know her name; he didn’t know any of his victims’ names. That made killing them easier…Yet, he couldn’t stop. Shewouldn’t let him.’

‘“She blurs the line between real and imaginary. She isolates you, makes you feel like you’re living in a sort of… unescapable fairy tale. A very dark fairy tale. One that she gets to write.”’

ANIELA Prelude to the Apprentice’s Notebook Series is the first book that I have read by William Presley; I look forward to reading the entire series.

The story idea as a whole I Love, though it left me with questions, specifically regarding the end—meant to tie into the beginning—didn’t quite fit together.

The opening scene is perfection that pulled me into the story immediately—followed by moments that had me gasping in surprise.

Thank you, William Presley and Little Demon Books for providing me with an eBook of ANIELA: Prelude to the Apprentice’s Notebook at the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Aniela~

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The Barrens

– by Joe Goodglass

~Amazon Image/Dark Stroke/Self-Published/eBook From The Author~

~06/03/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Barrens~

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Darkside Of Sunset Pointe

– by Michael Allan Scott

~Amazon Image – From The Author/eBook – 11/26/2013~

DNF – 39%

~Available On Amazon~

~Dark Side Of Sunset Pointe~

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Floaters

– by Garrett Boatman

~Amazon Image/Crystal Lake Publishing/eGalley/09/10/2021~

DNF – 23%

~Available On Amazon~

~Floaters~

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Slattery Falls

– by Brennan LaFaro

~Cover Design by Kealan Patrick Burke/Silver Shamrock Publishing/eGalley/07/20/2021~

‘A Book About Paranormal Activity? An Evil Spectre, You Say? Haunted Houses? Why, Yes, Please!!

Tis The Season For All Things That Go Bump—Or Boo—In The Night.

*insert evil laugh and menacing grin here*

In SLATTERY FALLS by Brennan LaFaro, the reader is introduced to a Ghost Hunting Duo turned Trio who hunt Ghosties without the use of modern-day technology as their guide.

LaFaro does a great job of creating that spooky vibe; here’s a snippet:

‘Not so much as a creak to suggest the old, empty house settling. Almost too quiet, like something holding its breath, ready to pounce.’

And …

‘This place felt like it had a pulse. I guess I’ll never know whether my knowledge of the events that took place here impacted my train of thought, but the woods felt alive, like something ancient and inhuman studied our every move. . . . I recall taking every step with care, afraid to put a foot down in the wrong place in case it stirred up whatever made the hair on the back of my neck crawl.’

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, though, at times, I didn’t feel fully submerged in the storyline by way of narration. However, I do recommend it.

Thank you, Silver Shamrock Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of SLATTERY FALLS at the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Slattery Falls~ 

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Malignant

– by Michaelbrent Collings

~Amazon Image/Written Insomnia Press/eGalley/10/23/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Malignant~

‘When armed commandos storm an elite boarding school, the police think it’s a plot for ransom or an attempt to extort favors from the teens’ powerful parents.’

‘But the men, led by a killer who calls himself ‘‘Teacher,” have much darker plans in mind.’

In a word, ‘Whoa!’ MALIGNANT, by Michaelbrent Collings, is an intense read that kept me engaged to the very end. 

Highly Recommend!

‘Teacher wasn’t a DJ of some maleficent music, he was a snake charmer, weaving and bobbing and inevitably drawing first the attention and then the subservience of a snake that, though deaf, danced the way the master desired.’

From The Authors Note:

MALIGNANT is a horror story, in its purest sense – or at least, I hope it is. The things that happen in this story are horrific, and should cause readers to shudder and squirm. And, worst of all, they are representatives of real things that happen to real people.’

Thank you, Michaelbrent Collings, for providing me with an eBook of MALIGNANT at the request of an honest review. 

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God Forbid

– by A.A. Medina

~Amazon Image/UglyByProxy Books/eBook~

~10/15/2021~

GOD FORBID: SHORT STORIES – by A.A. Medina – Highly Recommend!

***Content Warning Is At The Beginning Of The Book***

I wanted to provide a snippet from each story; however, some are shorter than others, and I don’t want to give anything away. I want you, Dear Reader, to experience these Gems for yourselves.

‘In this collection of fifteen short stories, be prepared to dive into multiple worlds of horror, mystery, intrigue, and dread. Visit dystopian futures and get a glimpse at the dark underbelly of the human condition. Cyberpunk, steampunk, and military science fiction. Demons and devils—both metaphorical and literal. Tales of life, death, and rebirth.’

The Following Are My Favorites:

‘I’M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS’ – Love This One!

‘I knew I would not be able to sleep with all the ruckus going on outside my bedroom door—so I did not even attempt to… I found some relief when the screaming stopped, but the sound of the poor b*stard choking on his own blood was not much better. At least it wasn’t as loud.’

‘A NIGHT IN BLACK CANYON’ – On pins and needles until I read that ending.

‘Janis’ mind often drifted off during her father’s rants. She always knew when his speech was over—he ended it the same way every time: “Remember, Jan,…there were many evils on this earth before the demons crawled up from hell.”’

‘THE CUPBEARERS’ – Love This One

‘I had seen nearly two dozen worlds outside of Earth…These missions rarely made me anxious, but something about this planet left me unnerved.’

‘SALVAGE’ – Love This One

The countryside was once a peaceful place; blue skies, rolling hills, singing birds, and frolicking children. Now, pillars of smoke rose from the fires that pockmarked the fields, ash and remains—of both man and machine—littered the landscape.

‘THE NEGLECTFUL ARMS OF MORPHEUS’ – My Heart!

‘LUNCH WITH JACK’ – Yes, Yes, I am crying!

‘TRADITIONS’ – Oh, Wow!

‘THE TOPHETH PEDIGREE’ – Oh, Wow!

‘EVERY NIGHT’ – Oh, Wow!

‘OUBLIETTE’ – Oh, Sh*t!

‘FROM RIPPLES TO WAVES’ – Whoa!

‘HAGRAVEN’ – WooooooooW! That was good!

‘BLUEBERRY PANCAKES’ – My Heart—Love The Ending!

‘8-BIT REBELLION’ – Love This One!

Thank you, A.A. Medina, for providing me with an eBook of GOD FORBID: SHORT STORIES at the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~God Forbid~

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 Followers

– by Christina Bergling

~Cover /Crystal Lake Publishing/eBook~

~09/24/2021~

‘Sidney, a single mother with a dull day job, has big dreams of becoming a full-time horror [movie] reviewer and risqué gore model. Between managing a cellphone store, honoring her soccer mom duties, and wrangling her hostile ex-husband, it seems building her following and interacting with her fans is the only authentic outlet she has—and the validation it gives her is proving to be a little addictive.’

‘Her website is gaining traction, and every day it seems more and more people are sliding into her DMs to chat with her and tell her how amazing she is. In fact, Sidney has so many followers that chatting with them is getting to be a job in itself. More than a job, it might even be getting a little risky….’

FOLLOWERS – by Christina Bergling Published by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from The Darkest Depths

I’m a Uberfan of the SCREAM movies, which FOLLOWERS seem to pay tribute to, from the names of two of the main characters, Wes and Sidney, to the horror movie tropes—does and don’ts, the dialogue comparison, and lastly—sans spoilers—the well-known scream of ‘Sidney!’ a time or two.

Is the above depiction of the book a bad thing, in this reader’s opinion?

No, not at all.

There are moments, however, throughout the book, wherein viewing the world via Sidney’s perspective; as the reader, you swirl around her every thought that at times becomes too much repetition and bulk that I found myself skimming through certain parts.

There are points in this book where I want to grab the fallible (aren’t we all) Sidney, shaking her while screaming, ‘Don’t You Watch Web Of Lies?!?!’ ‘WAKE UP!’

*Deep Breath*

I digress…

Overall, this book didn’t tick off all the boxes for me, but I will say it was a (fun—because, hello, I’m a Horror Fan) and creepy ride I recommend.

Thank You, Crystal Lake Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of FOLLOWERS at the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Followers~

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Savage Island

– by Brian Moreland

~Cover Design by Kealan Patrick Burke/Silver Shamrock Publishing/eBook~

~06/28/2021~

THAT. WAS. AWESOME!!

SAVAGE ISLAND – by Brian Moreland – Highly Recommend!

‘We cruised our fishing boat here on holiday to escape from the civilized world. We anchored near the lagoon’s beach, picnicked, and swam. Then we made the mistake of exploring the island. . . .’

‘Those fortunate enough to pass by this isolated green hell will never learn its secrets.’

Thank you, Silver Shamrock Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of SAVAGE ISLAND at the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Savage Island~

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 What One Wouldn’t Do

– Edited by Scott J. Moses

~Cover Art/Design: George C. Cotronis/eBook~

~10/05/2021~

WHAT ONE WOULDN’T DO An Anthology on the Lengths One Might Go To Edited by Scott J. Moses

The Following Are My Favorites:

‘With Animals’ – by J.A.W. McCarthy – Love This One!

‘The first time Ezra brings me back, thirty seagulls fall from the sky.’

‘The Grievous Art of Compulsion’ – by Avra Margariti – The last line is beautifully perfect and heartbreaking (Not included here).

‘Sleep, sweet son, and dream what you like best./ This, I whispered in your ear during the latest siege / of our jeweled city, our home for all your young life.’

‘Moira and Ellie’ – by Marisca Pichette – Wow, Love this one! I wasn’t expecting that ending.

‘Radha got her imaginary friend before me. We were walking home from school on Tuesday when she stopped and stared at the fence. I kept walking until I realized she wasn’t with me anymore. When I looked back, she was smiling.’

‘Cry Me a River’ – by Stephanie Ellis – WOW! As A Mother, My Heart.

‘It wasn’t even really a gym. It was officially a Generator Unit, an addition to the bunker’s power supply dreamt up by the council’s scientists. It was one of the few remaining places in the complex capable of adding to the power grid, and the incubator was a greedy beast.’

‘The Opening of the Mouth’– by Christina Wilder’ – Love This One!

‘I cut through the thread that’s woven between your lips. Your mouth is stained a dark red, and a memory emerges…’

‘Traditional Women’ – by Donna Lynch – That Was Good

A simpler time/ overflowing with tragedy/ and ironic curses/ We’ve always said / you can’t appreciate what you have/ if you don’t know what it is to lose

‘Conversion’ – by Katie Young – That Was Good!

‘Looking back now, I wonder if it was chance that led us to find Saint Augustine’s or whether something else was at play even then.’

‘The Witch of Flora Pass’ – by Scott J. Moses – That Was Good!

‘My name is Thomas Reardon, and I did not kill my wife. I want to be absolutely sure the one recording this typed that correctly. Her hand is quick, and I must ensure that inattention to my words does not birth me a death sentence.’

‘Blood is Thicker’ – by Angela Sylvaine – WoW! That Was Good!

‘They were twins, but of the fraternal variety, merely siblings born one after the other. Viviane was thirteen minutes older and stood three inches taller…Viviane liked to joke that Diane had spoiled a bit during those extra minutes in their mother’s womb, coming out bruised and soft like an overripe piece of fruit.’

‘Baby Girl’ – by J.V. Gachs – Love the ending

‘Just two words. A simple incantation to destroy a world. The doctor speaks as I wipe off the ultrasound gel.’

‘Red Rotary Phone’ – by Tim MacGregor – My Heart!

‘Take Control’ – by Emma E. Murray – That. Was. Intense!

‘Ella Minnow’ – by Nick Younker – Wow! That Was Good!

‘Maze-Minded’– by Jennifer Crow – Love This One!

‘We stitch ourselves/ into the labyrinth,/ walls tapestried/ with silk cocoons/ and torn webs/ where our knives/ carve away/for nightmares/ to cross into flesh.’

‘I Married A Dead Man’ – by Joanna Koch – Love Koch’s Writing

‘The rules change down at the docks after dark. That’s where I’d find him, where daytime people masquerade, donning their desires inside-out, so the raw truth shows…Things go on that don’t stand up to logic and light, things that need to happen so the daytime world can keep on kidding itself that it’s all merry and bright.’

‘I Have Become A Graveyard’ – by Lex Vranick – Love!

‘I carry them with me, these past-tense people./ But I can’t ever seem to keep them in the past./They were here once, and aren’t they still?

‘The Last Word’ – by Laurel Hightower – That Was Good!

‘Silver Dollar Eyes’ – by Eric Raglin – My Heart!

‘The Wishing Well’ – by Daniel Barnett – That Was Good!

I love the description Barnett uses to set the scene here:

‘There were floorboards in the kitchen that groaned even when no one was walking on them. There was the rain gutter that had come loose outside and conspired with the wind to tickle and scratch the walls. Windows clicked in their frames. The chimney told secrets under its breath. I listened, and I listened, and I shivered all the worse until the only warm part of me was the blood leaking out of my leg.’

‘Holding’– by Simone le Roux – WOW! That Was Good!

‘The Thread That Dreams Are Made Of’ – by Hailey Piper – Love This One!

‘They Don’t Eat Teeth’ – by Jena Brown – Love This One!

‘She’s learned how to navigate this treacherous land. How to avoid the raging floods that come out of nowhere and the importance of watching for creatures the color of sand. It’s the deadly side of nature that appeals to her. There’s no bullshit here. Only life. Only death. And a blink between the two.’

‘The desert adjusts to her intrusion, coming alive with every footstep. Predators hunt, and prey tries to hide, both following instincts centuries old. She does the same.’

‘The Old Switcheroo’ – by Christi Nogle – That Was Good!

Thank you, Scott J. Moses, for providing me with an eBook of WHAT ONE WOULDN’T DO at the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~What One Wouldn’t Do~

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Hungry Business

– by Maria Deblassie

~Amazon Image/Kitchen Witch Press/Short Story/eBook~

~Copy Provided By – Blackthorn Book Tours~

~10/12/2020~

~Available On Amazon~

~Hungry Business: A Gothic Story about the Horrors of Dating~

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Petrichor

– by Melanie Rees

~Cover by – Jade Zivanovic/Hague Publishing/eBook/10/15/2021~

 ~Blackberry Book Tour – 10/21/2021~

PETRICHOR, written by Melanie Rees, touching, heartbreaking Teen & Young Adult Paranormal/Fantasy story about family, love, loss, inner courage, and hope.

Highly Recommend!

‘Drought has turned the paddocks of Paddle Creek Station to dust. Now the death of Clayton’s older brother has shaken his family to its core and left a gaping hole in Clayton’s memory. A hole his parents won’t even discuss. . . .’

‘The wind picked up and tossed whiffs of dust into the air. Clayton let the hot air dry his eyes. The breeze swept through the window, stirring the flies that had been content to cling to the inside of the windscreen. Clayton swatted at the little black beasts, but his dad seemed content to let them dance around his eyes and cracked lips. It was as if they were clinging to a carcass. Clayton wanted to swipe them away. There was still life in Dad, somewhere—deep down.’

15% of the publisher’s revenue from the sale of this book will be donated to the following charities: Rural Aid and Beyond Blue

Thank you, Blackthorn Blog Tours and Hague Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of PETRICHOR at the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Petrichor~

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Someone To Share My Nightmares

–  by Sonora Taylor

~Cover Art by Doug Puller/eBook From The Author~

10/19/2021~

***A list of content and trigger warnings can be found at the back of this book, before About the Author.***

A Snippet From The Foreward [LOVE!]Written By V. Castro:

‘Besides being a wonderful human, she is a splendid voice in horror right now. And this is most definitely a time when women are leaving their mark in horror. We are redefining what it is and how it is told. From the horrors we experience with our bodies, life experiences, love and the mundane, there is a huge shift in the genre. Women are charging through fearlessly not caring if they are called shrill or crazy.’

‘Sonora’s work reflects the shift happening below our feet. She is not only part of the shift, but she is also cheering on other women in the game.’ *chef’s kiss*

‘Someone to Share My Nightmares’

It almost seemed like the woods delighted in Ransom’s death and had seen his flesh as a means of creation. Kristin knew it was silly to think so, and yet she couldn’t shake the feeling. Something was wrong with the forest…’

‘Branches reached towards the moonlight and arched and cracked, their maws gaping wide as the stars gave them eyes. All of them watching, all of them whispering.’

‘Petal, Page, Piel’ – Dark & Creepy—Love It!

Each flower was a gift from Seth, each page a transcript of the loving words he’d said to her. A book of love notes that would hold what he’d said to her forever, even though he stopped saying such words to her long ago.

‘Bump in the Night’

The doorbell interrupted Tasha’s nighttime cup of tea. She didn’t mind at all. She stood up and smiled as the ends of her white satin robe fluttered against the tops of her thighs. She closed the robe over her matching lace teddy.

“Late-night plumbing,” the woman said as she held up a bag. “Tasha?”

Metal Meticulous’

Metal meticulous / Blood upon bone / She held him aloft / And she turned him to stone.

‘The Parrot’ – This One Is My Favorite!

He wouldn’t be surprised if she’d intentionally walked in front of that car. How dare she leave him like this? How could she leave him alone, after all he’d done to take care of her? To improve her as a woman, to make her perfect by making her his?

‘Candy’ – Sweet & Dark—Yum!

‘Martha hated Valentine’s Day, but she loved the candy. Her favorite was a box of truffles filled with fruit-flavored cream. Every February, when she walked by CVS and saw the sickening display of hearts and teddy bears in the window, her mind would wander to a heart-shaped box filled with truffles, and her mouth would water as she imagined biting into each piece of candy’s tender flesh.’

‘The Sharps’ – Love This One!

‘On that first day, as her boat entered the cove, she heard rustling in the water. She smiled at the sound, an aquatic hush she’d loved since she was little.’

‘She gazed down at the water, then furrowed her brow. The river was still, and yet the rustling noise continued. It grew louder, and soon . . .’

‘You Promised Me Forever’

Cody gasped with pleasure, then bent to kiss her neck. “I want to feel your skin,” he said with his lips still pressed against her body. “While it’s still warm.”

‘Tis Better to Want’ – Oh My! *Is it hot in here, or is it just me?* 😉

‘Lydia had misbehaved before, but it was her seventh Christmas that brought the demon to her window.’

Thank you, Sonora Taylor, for providing me with an eBook of SOMEONE TO SHARE MY NIGHTMARES at the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Someone To Share My Nightmares~

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Echoes Of Fate: Book Three

– by Cheryl Campbell

~Amazon Image/Sonar Press/Paperback~

~11/02/2021~

‘Dani’s return home to Maine after three years of diplomatic missions overseas lands her in jail and within Colonel Houston’s crosshairs. Maine’s civilian and Commonwealth forces continue to work together against the Wardens-the genocidal faction of alien Echoes-but Dani’s relationship with Colonel Houston deteriorates into a personal conflict, putting others’ lives at risk.’

Wow, Just Wow! Having just finished Book Three in the ECHOES TRILOGY, ECHOES OF FATE, before reading Book One, ECHOES OF WAR, and Book Two, ECHOES OF DARKNESS, I’m even more excited to see how this story begins.

I LOVE the bad*ss women in this Trilogy—as the reader, it’s easy to follow their storyline if ECHOES OF FATE Book Three is where you chose to begin.

ECHOES OF FATE will have you laughing out loud one minute and will break your heart the next.

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, Sonar Press and Smith Publicity, for providing me with a Paperback copy of ECHOES OF FATE in the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Echoes Of Fate~

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The Forest Of Vanishing Stars

– by Kristin Harmel

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster/eBook – 07/06/2021~

***Amazon would not post this review, however, Barnes & Noble Did***

Yes, yes, I did cry—nonstop. Have a box of tissues (or ten) nearby; you’re going to need them.

THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS By Kristin Harmel is a heart-wrenching, suspenseful, Historical Fiction novel with a love story at its core—at the moment; it has me at a loss for words; other than—WOW!

Here’s A Snippet Of The Synopsis:

‘After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what’s happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest—and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation.’

I love the depiction of Yona, the young heroine in the book, specifically: her strength, perseverance, bravery, and selflessness.

Opening her heart isn’t something Yona has done before, so when a moment presents itself—My Heart!

Here’s A Snippet Or Two:

‘“Perhaps I just don’t know how to love.” “Or maybe there is something broken in me.” Somehow, speaking the words aloud felt like releasing a flock of birds to the sky.’

‘“You will know. . . When it is the right person, you will know.” [He] took a deep breath. “And you’re not broken, Yona. . . It’s the cracks in us that make us who we are, and you . . . you are stronger than anyone I have ever met, I think.”’

And . . .

‘The only thing that remained was the only thing that mattered: love—the kind that could be found in the darkness when all pretenses had disappeared, the kind borne of pain and despair and hope, the kind that was a shelter in the storm.’

THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS—Highly Recommend!

PLEASE, make sure to read the Author’s Note at the end of the book, highlighting the research and interviews that went into creating the book.

Thank You, NetGalley and Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster, Inc.), for loaning me an eGalley of THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS in the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Forest Of Vanishing Stars~

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Black Sci-Fi Short Stories

Senior Project Editor – Josie Karani

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Flame Tree Publishing/eBook – 06/15/2021~

BLACK SCI-FI SHORT STORIES – Anthology – Recommend!

‘Dystopia, apocalypse, gene-splicing, cloning and colonization are explored here by new authors and combined with proto-sci-fi and speculative writing of an older tradition (by W.E.B. Du Bois, Martin R. Delany, Sutton E. Griggs, Pauline Hopkins and Edward Johnson) whose first-hand experience of slavery and denial created their living dystopia.’

Those That Stood Out To Me:

‘An Empty, Hollow Interview’ – by James Beamon

‘Élan Vital’ – by K. Tempest Bradford

‘The Floating City of Pengimbang’ – by Michelle F. Goddard

‘The New Colossuses’ – by Harambee K. Grey-Sun

‘Imperium in Imperio’ – by Sutton E. Griggs [This Book Was Published In 1899 – Historical/Social Science Fiction]

‘Of One Blood: Or, The Hidden Self’ – by Pauline Hopkins – [Published in 1902-1903]

‘Space Traitors’ – by Walidah Imarisha – ‘In conversation with Derrick Bell’s short story ‘Space Traders’.’ [Published 1992]

‘The Line of Demarcation’ – by Patty Nicole Johnson

‘e-race’ – by Russell Nichols

‘Giant Steps’ – by Russell Nichols

‘You May Run On’ – by Megan Pindling

‘The Pox Party’ – by Lyle Stiles

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for loaning me an eGalley of BLACK SCI-FI SHORT STORIES in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Black Sci-Fi Short Stories~

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Malignant Summer

– by Tim Meyer

~Front Cover Design by Kealan Patrick Burke – Silver Shamrock Publishing/eBook~

~06/01/2021~ 

‘Every road looked haunted, every parking lot vacant. The days weren’t much better; fossil-gray clouds stole the sun from the skies, cool and airy afternoons laying waste to the last granules of summer. But the nights were still much worse. Empty and soulless, a town lost on the edge of total destruction.’

‘It was like Hooperstown had forgotten how to live.’

The lead-to and build-up are good; I would be remiss if I did not equate the vibes I felt—specifically regarding my love of the characters throughout the narrative with those I felt while reading Stephen Kings, IT.

I won’t delve into spoiler territory, but I will say—to this reader—certain aspects in the conclusion worked while others didn’t.

Overall, MALIGNANT SUMMER is not my favorite of Meyer’s books; however, anything written by him will always be an Auro-Yes, Please! from me.

Those last few pages, though, hand to my heart and tears in my eyes. . .

‘When you’re eleven, friends feel like they will last forever. It isn’t until you’re older that you’ll realize the naivety of that mindset. The reality that not all of them will stick around. It happens. Friends come and go, but their memories will last forever.’

Thank you, Silver Shamrock Publishing, for providing me with an eGalley of MALIGNANT SUMMER in a request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Malignant Summer~

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Apex Magazine Issue 122

– Edited by Jason Sizemore

~Cover by Thomas Tan/Cover Design by Justin Steward – eMagazine- 03/02/2021~

‘Strange. Beautiful. Shocking. Surreal.’

‘APEX MAGAZINE is a digital dark science fiction and fantasy genre zine that features award-winning short fiction, essays, and interviews. Established in 2009, our fiction has won several Hugo and Nebula Awards.’

APEX EMAGAZINE ISSUE 122 – Highly Recommend!

Original Fiction:

‘Barefoot and Midnight’ – by Sheree Renée Thomas

‘The faith she once had was replaced with an unholy rage, an anger so hot, it incinerated all forgiveness. She willed her body to move. But the scent of roses, overpowering in the night, strengthened her resolve, holding her there.’

‘The Amazing Exploding Women of the Early Twentieth Century’ — by A.C. Wise

‘“Think of Georges Méliès,” the old woman says. “Moon men appearing in puffs of smoke. Only these were like fairy tales, the old kind meant to assure the world that women were empty-headed, foolish, and vain. I’ll give Don Leaming this, he thought up dozens of clever ways to make us die.”’

‘Black Box of the Terraworms’ —by Barton Aikman

‘“We begin to make the planet a place that one day can be called yours. We do this for you because this is what you created us to do. This is our purpose. But we don’t call you gods.
You are not gods.
That is the first thing you coded us to know, which was wise.
If you were gods, we would want to eat you too.”’

‘If Those Ragged Feet Won’t Run’ —by Annie Neugebauer

‘The night comes. It can’t yet be seen, felt, tasted, or smelled, but you can hear it. You can hear all things fall quiet as the dusk draws near. It is a fearful silence, waiting.’

‘Las Girlfriends Guide to Subversive Eating’ —by Sabrina Vourvoulias

‘Philadelphia is a food city.’

‘If you don’t believe us, believe Travel + Leisure, which last year wrote that our city has a “vibrant culinary landscape” and named us “one of the most exciting food destinations in the nation.”’

‘A second site lauded our cheesesteaks, meatballs in red gravy, and innovative vegan eateries. Yet another reminded us that top restaurateurs like Marc Vetri, Stephen Starr, Michael Solomonov and José Garcés have all left their imprint on how, and what, we eat in the city.’

‘FWIW, all of that is true.’

‘But we know how you are.’

‘You want to know the hidden.’

‘You want to know the real.’

‘A Love That Burns Hot Enough to Last: Deleted Scenes from a Documentary’ — by Sam J. Miller

‘Listening to her on the radio, watching clips, you feel it, a little, you know this is something special, something (supernatural) different, and if you really listen hard and let your guard down maybe it will start to stir up something you can’t explain—give you something you didn’t have before—a faint smell in the air, a memory that’s not yours, a shadow shaped like her in your dreams that night.’

Classic Fiction:

‘She Searches for God in the Storm Within’ — by Khaalidah Muhammad-Ali

‘For a time I left my grandmother’s home far below, as well as the indecision and uncertainty. I left behind the jittering bone-deep ache of the coming storm. Then I became the storm. I shed the tempting brown flesh in favor of that which cannot be possessed and obscured.’

‘One cannot rope a cloud and keep it for their own. Can they?’

‘The Eight-Thousanders’ –by Jason Sanford

‘[I]t wasn’t good enough to want to climb. You had to have the means to climb. And that’s what working for Ronnie gave me. Not that I hated Ronnie. Working for him was like aiming for Everest—it didn’t matter what we created, only that we reached the top.’

Also, In This Issue –

Interviews with Authors:

Sabrina Vourvoulias
Annie Neugebauer

Interview with Cover Artist:

Thomas Tan

Nonfiction:

Jimi Hendrix Sang It’ – by ZZ Claybourne

‘Telling Stories of Ghosts’ – by Wendy N. Wagner

‘Words for Thought: Short Fiction Review’ – by A.C. Wise

Thank you, Editor Jason Sizemore, for providing me with an Emagazine of Apex Publications Issue 122 at the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Apex Magazine – Issue 122~

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Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Geirmund’s Saga – by Matthew J Kirby

~Cover Image by Jung Gi Kim -NetGalley/Aconyte/Simon & Schuster Inc./eBook~

 ~11/10/2020~

“‘Show me a man who is never afraid, and I’ll show you a fool.’”

ASSASSIN’S CREED VALHALLA: GEIRMUND’S SAGA by Matthew J Kirby—’Introducing Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Geirmund’s Saga sets the scene for Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, the latest game in the world-conquering series by Ubisoft.’

I read somewhere there may be an expansion pack letting players play on either side.

*squeeeee*

‘Mid-9th Century CE. The Viking attacks and invasions are shattering England’s kingdoms. Born into a royal lineage of Norwegian kings, Geirmund Hel-hide sets out for an adventure to prove his worth as a Viking and a warrior. A perilous journey across the sea brings him into contact with a being out of myth and grants him a mysterious ring that promises both great power and bitter betrayal.’

Where or where to begin with this review,’ she mutters to herself as she resists the urge to set aside this tablet and plunge headfirst into the world of Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla on my daughters PS4.

Having never played the game, I asked her to acquaint me with the storyline within, which doesn’t appear to be in line with this book—a fact that did not put me off of reading it, either.

As a huge fan of the show VIKINGS and Norse Mythology, my Norwegian lineage on me Pops side (both my kids are over six feet tall and tower over me), I could not wait to read this book!

If you’re a fan of the show and/or Norse history, then you will know who Ragnar Lodbrok is and his many sons (Björn Ironside—My Heart!).

*ahem*

Sorry, I was thinking about one of the last episodes of VIKINGS.

*sniff*

As mentioned above, the book is set in the Mid-9th Century CE, wherein Ragnar’s son, Halfdan, is King of Northumbria, and Hjörr Halfsson, King of Avaldsnes, is father to Geirmund Hjörrsson, the lead character in this book whose life this story is centered around.

The book started really well, though a slow burn; immediately pulled me in and eager to see how this saga would unfold as we follow Geirmund on his journey to England, which is somewhat similar to that of Ragnar’s—an aspect of the narrative that has me on this fence with this book?

Possibly. That, and I wish the Kirby fleshed-out scenes a little more.

Overall, not a fan favorite, but a book I recommend.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Inc., for loaning me an eGalley of ASSASSIN’S CREED VALHALLA: GEIRMUND’S SAGA in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Assassins Creed Valhalla: Geirmunds Saga~

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Morningside Heights

– by Joshua Henkin

~Jacket Design by Kelly Blair – NetGalley/Pantheon Books/Penguin Random House LLC./eBook – 06/15/2021~

‘When Ohio-born Pru Steiner arrives in New York in 1976, she follows in a long tradition of young people determined to take the city by storm. But when she falls in love with and marries Spence Robin, her hotshot young Shakespeare professor, her life takes a turn she couldn’t have anticipated.’

‘Thirty years later, something is wrong with Spence.’

As the synopsis reveals very little regarding Spence, I won’t reveal any spoilers, but I will say that some readers may find certain aspects of the family dynamic (myself included, minus the affluence and Ivy League education) heartbreakingly relatable.

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS – Recommend

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, for loaning me an eGalley of MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS in the request for an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~

~Morningside Heights~

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Blue Madagascar

– by Andrew Kaplan

~Amazon Image/NetGalley/Smugglers Lane Press/eBook~ 

‘The only person you can ever really trust is yourself.’

If you enjoy reading Fast-Paced Cat & Mouse Spy Thrillers, (Yes, Please!) then I think you’re going to like BLUE MADAGASCAR.

‘She was a throwaway kid from the mean streets of Central Los Angeles. Now a Homeland Security Special Agent [Casey Ramirez], the future of America may depend on what she does next.’

The lead-in scene of the book immediately hooked me in, followed by murder, mystery, and puzzling clues that Special Agent Ramirez must solve before it’s too late.

I LOVE Casey Ramirez, the main character in this book, and that ending! Please tell me this is Book One in what I hope will be a series.

The only issue I had was I struggled a bit with the timeline regarding the sequence of events. Also, there are numerous characters to follow throughout the book; many of the key players are discernible while others, not so much.

Overall I enjoyed reading my first Kaplan Book, and I look forward to reading more.

Thank you, NetGalley and Smugglers Lane Press, for loaning me an eBook of BLUE MADAGASCAR in the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~06/30/2021~

~Blue Madagascar~

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La Reina De Las Chicarras

The Queen Of The Cicadas

 – by V. Castro

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Flame Tree Press/eBook – 06/22/2021~

‘The currency of loyalty and blood surpasses anything that can be exchanged by hand.’

THE QUEEN OF THE CICADAS La Reina de las Chicarras is the first book that I have read by Castro, the storyline and mystery behind the title—as I had not reread the synopsis prior to diving in—pulled me in immediately!

The various scenes Castro creates in this book run the gamut from: heartbreaking, anger inducing, cringeworthy, creepy good, hot and steamy erotica, and touching moments that brought me to tears.

It’s easy to get invested in the characters, as the reader you are first introduced to Belinda as she arrives for her friends wedding at a Victorian farmhouse in Alice, Texas.

Then, what’s viewed by many as an urban legion we learn—through alternating timelines—the story of Milagros and her sister, Concepcion, my curiosity piqued as more is revealed about them.

I couldn’t wait to learn more about Milagros, though I won’t reveal spoilers, I will say— Bloody H*ll! My Heart!

The first half of the book was hit and miss for regarding the frequent change in the timeline, which at times was confusing. The second half was perfect, all the feels with an ending I was and wasn’t expecting.

Recommend!

‘Science says we do not exist.. But next time you hear that scratch or howl or have a sensation of unease, it is not science in the room; it could be one of us, passing through your realm.’

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for loaning me an eBook of THE QUEEN OF THE CICADAS La Reina de las Chicarras in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Queen Of The Cicadas~

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Bad Girl In The Box

– by Tim Curran

~Cover by – Kealan Patrick Burke/ Silver Shamrock Publishing/eBook~

~05/17/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Bad Girl In The Box~

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Scorpion

– by Christian Cantrell

~Amazon Image/Random House/eBook~

~05/25/2021~

‘Quinn Mitchell is a nine-to-five spy—an intelligence analyst for the CIA during the day, and a suburban wife and mother on evenings and weekends. After her young daughter is killed in a tragic accident, sending her life into a tailspin, Quinn hopes to find a new start in her latest assignment: investigating a series of bizarre international assassinations whose victims have been found with numeric codes tattooed, burned, or carved into their flesh.’

If you’re a fan of In-Depth Mind-Bending Techno-Thrillers (Yes, Please!), then I think you’re going to like SCORPION, the first book that I have read by Christian Cantrell, and most definitely NOT the last.

I have to say; I really like how Henrietta is portrayed in the book—the childlike innocence coupled with a weeeeeeee bit more to her character (Sorry, no spoilers) that honestly had me glued to the pages.

Now, which Cantrell do I read next? Most likely, CONTAINMENT, though I am open to suggestions.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House, for loaning me an eBook of SCORPION in the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Scorpion~

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Double Vision

– by Hamelin Bird

~Amazon Image/Piper House/eBook From The Author~

 ~12/01/2020~

~Available On Amazon~

~Double Vision~

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Transmuted

– by Eve Harms

~Amazon Image – Unnerving Publishing – eBook From The Author – 07/15/2021~

‘Next time, I will not fail. Next time, I will create an unworldly being of indisputable beauty. Next time, they will know my genius . . . .’

‘Her doctor is giving her the body of his dreams…and her nightmares.
Isa is a micro-celebrity who rarely shows her face, and can’t wait to have it expertly ripped off and rearranged to look more feminine. When a successful fundraiser makes her gender affirming surgery possible, she’s overjoyed—until she has to give up all her money to save her dying father.’

If you’re a fan of queer body horror, then I think your going to like TRANSMUTED—a story that is creepy good—with a dollop of hot and steamy—followed by a conclusion I wasn’t expecting.

Recommend!

~Available On Amazon~

~Transmuted~

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Inheriting Her Ghosts

– by S.H. Cooper

~Cover by – Morrighan Corbel/ Sleepless Sanctuary Publishing/eBook From The Author~

– 07/09/2021~

INHERITING HER GHOSTS by S.H. Cooper – I Love This Book, I Love The Writing—Highly, Highly, Highly Recommend!!

The opening sentence:

‘The house inherited me as much as I did it. We were alike, this house and I. Both filled with bones that creaked and dark hallways where memories lingered still.’

Here’s another example:

‘‘Night made a labyrinth of the house and it seemed to build itself further in shadow. Rooms doubled in the dark, hallways pressed in and pointed on, longer than they had before. It was a restless place in a way I had not known a building could be; unsatisfied, hungry, the very air thick with its disquiet.’

Thank you, S.H. Cooper, for providing me with an eBook of INHERITING HER GHOSTS in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Inheriting Her Ghosts~

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Ride Or Die

– by James Newman

~Cover by – Kealan Patrick Burke/Silver Shamrock Publishing/eBook~

 ~06/15/2021~

‘Amelia Fletcher is a good girl. She’s a straight-A student, second chair in her middle-school chorus, and she never uses the Lord’s name in vain.’

‘But a few days ago, she discovered that her dad has been cheating on her mom.’

‘For the first time in her life, Amelia decides she would like to know what it feels like to be a bad girl. For just one night . . .’

Teenage mischief turns a night of harmless revenge into a horror-filled nightmare Amelia, and her friends will never forget in RIDE OR DIE – Recommend!

Thank you, Silver Shamrock Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of RIDE OR DIE in the request for an honest.

~Available On Amazon~

~Ride Or Die~

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The Apocalypse Seven

– by Gene Doucette

~Book Design by Emily Snyder – NetGalley/John Joseph Adams/Mariner Books/eBook~

~05/25/2021~

‘The whateverpocalypse. That’s what Touré, a twenty-something Cambridge coder, calls it after waking up one morning to find himself seemingly the only person left in the city. Once he finds Robbie and Carol, two equally disoriented Harvard freshmen, he realizes he isn’t alone, but the name sticks: Whateverpocalypse. But it doesn’t explain where everyone went. . .’

THE APOCALYPSE SEVEN, by Gene Doucette, was fun! Twisty-mind-bending-fun-at-times, but fun nonetheless. As many of you know, I’m a massive fan of survival-apocalyptic-type stories; this one is minus the Zombies.

So, when I say ‘fun’—from the reader’s perspective—I love to see the said writer of the story I’ve submerged in throw their characters into the literal apocalyptic-sh**t-storm, stir it up a bit, and bear witness to the tension-filled narrative that unfolds.

Doucette does a great job confusing this reader, and the characters, as we struggle to piece together their altered surroundings.

The one pet peeve I have is the depiction of Carol regarding her inability to be self-sufficient and contribute. I don’t want to tread down Spoilerville Lane, so I will stop there.

Thank you, NetGalley and Mariner Books, for loaning me an eGalley of THE APOCALYPSE SEVEN in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Apocalypse Seven~

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Knight In Paper Armor

– by Nicholas Conley

Love This Cover!

~Cover Art by Streetlight Graphics/Red Adept Publishing, LLC./09/17/2020~

~Available On Amazon~

~Knight Of Paper Armor

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From Death Reborn

– by Kenneth W. Cain

~Cover Design by Kealan Patrick Burke – Silver Shamrock Publishing/eBook~

~04/12/2021~ 

~Available On Amazon~

~From Death Reborn~

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Raising LGBTQ Allies

 – by Chris Tompkins

~Amazon Image – Edelweiss/Rowman & Littlefield Publishing/eBook/Own Audiobook~

~05/14/2021~

Reread

~Available On Amazon~

 ~Raising LGBTQ Allies~

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Rabbits

– by Terry Miles

 ~Book Design by Simon M. Sullivan – NetGalley/Del Rey/Random House/eBook – 06/08/2021~

‘I felt like I’d uncovered something in the arcane mythological puzzle that was Rabbits—an access point to a world as far away from our own mundane existence as Narnia or Middle-earth. It was a world of mystery that I desperately wanted to access.’

Excellent premise, but the storyline feels disjointed, especially the characters’ reactions regarding what’s going on around them—palpable tension one minute and then nonchalant the next.

The mystery behind the game may be enough to pull me back in for a reread, but RABBITS is a DNF for me at 46% for right now.

Thank you, NetGalley and Del Rey Books (Random House), for loaning me an eGalley of RABBITS in the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Rabbits~

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Chasing The Lion

 – by A.J. Tata

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press /eBook & Paperback – 06/01/2021~

About:

‘As a child, Dariush Parizad survived Iran’s Islamic uprising, becoming a symbol of the revolution. Named The Lion of Tabas by the ayatollah himself, Parizad rose through his nation’s military to become a lethal soldier and brilliant tactical commander. Now a general, he leads Quds Force, an extremist terrorist organization targeting America and its western allies.’

‘Assigned to stop the terrorist strike are Army Lieutenant General Garrett Sinclair and his Joint Special Operations Command team. Across the Middle East, Europe, and the US, Sinclair pursues Parizad only to discover a deeper conspiracy . . .’

My Thoughts:

That. Was. Intense! If you enjoy reading Military Thrillers, (Yes, Please!) I Highly Recommend CHASING THE LION!

Thank you, NetGalley and St Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eBook and physical copy of CHASING THE LION in request for an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~

~Chasing The Lion~

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The Making Of Gabriel Davenport

– by Beverley Lee

~Amazon Image – Kindle/Own- 04/08/2016~

About:

‘Something is waiting for its time to rise.’

‘Beth and Stu Davenport moved to the sleepy English village of Meadowford Bridge to give their young son, Gabriel, an idyllic childhood. But one night a hidden, ancient darkness shatters their dream and changes their lives forever.’ 

My Thoughts:

THE MAKING OF GABRIEL DAVENPORT: GABRIEL DAVENPORT SERIES BOOK 1 is the first novel I have read by Beverley Lee, and I can’t wait to read Book 2 in the Series, A SHINING IN THE SHADOWS. 

It has been some time since I read the book synopsis right before purchasing the eBook, so I was excited to watch the making of Gabriel Davenport unfold before my eyes at the will of unexpected malevolent forces. 

And That Ending! 

Well . . . No spoilers. 😉

Highly Recommend!

THE MAKING OF GABRIEL DAVENPORT: GABRIEL DAVENPORT SERIES BOOK 1

Source: eBook/Own

Released: April 8, 2016

~Available On Amazon~

 ~The Making Of Gabriel Davenport~

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The Disappearing Act

– by Catherine Steadman

~Book Design by Susan Turner – NetGalley/Ballantine Books/Random House/eBook – 06/08/2021~ 

 ~Available On Amazon~

~The Disappearing Act~

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Three Cold Hours: Supernatural Thrillers Collection

by – Jonette Blake

~Amazon Image – BookSirens/I received an eBook – 01/14/2021~

 ~Available On Amazon~

~Three Cold Hours~

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Wagon Buddy

– by Steve Stred

~Amazon Image – Gift From The Author/eBook – 09/15/2018~ 

About:

‘Wagon Buddy tells the tale of a man and his creature, his only friend, who time and time again comes to his aide. But what happens when you can’t control the creature anymore?’

My Thoughts:

I have read a few books by Stred, and I must to say WAGON BUDDY is hands down my favorite! The imagery and creepy vibes mixed with the angelic child-like quality of the creature were perfect! 

WAGON BUDDY

Source: Gift From The Author/eBook/Own

Released: September 15, 2018

Recommend!

~Available On Amazon~

~Wagon Buddy~

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Jedi Summer

– by John Boden

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

~Cover Design by Alex McVey~

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

Boden touches on life, love, and loss in JEDI SUMMER WITH THE MAGNETIC KID, a coming-of-age story about two brothers, John, and Roscoe, growing up in the 80s that is not only nostalgic but oh so relatable. The boys spend their summer eagerly waiting for the release of the new JEDI movie and spending time with their mother, who works three jobs to support them. 

‘We are history, and we are memories. Here are some of mine:’’

JEDI SUMMER WITH THE MAGNETIC KID—Recommend!

~Available On Amazon~

 ~Jedi Summer~

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Horrific Holiday

– by Aiden Merchant

~Amazon Image  – eBook From The Author – 11/20/2020~

If you’re a fan of Splatterpunk, you’re going to LOVE Merchant’s gore-infused Collection, HORRIFIC HOLIDAYS! As you dive into this collection, the gore amps up, so have your waders at the ready—you’re in for a bloody ride.

The following are snippets from each story and my immediate thoughts after reading each one:

‘Fresh Start, Fresh Blood’ – Love the ending! 

‘Have you ever drunk yourself to a comforting abyss? I save all my urges for New Year’s Eve. That may sound odd, but it intensifies the experience for me. I look forward to it more than any other holiday. My new girl, however, has a different urge she staves until December 31st. I don’t know what it is yet – she wants to surprise me. . . ‘

‘Love You Like Hell’ – Bloody Hell! 

‘Sometimes you just know, am I right? It’s the way he looks at you. The way he says your name. Kisses your neck. Nibbles on your earlobe. The way he fucking breathes. That’s how it was with Adam.’

‘House of Eggs’ – Love This One! 

The lights were momentarily blinding when Newman opened his eyes for the first time in the pastel blue house. After wishing and blinking away the spots that danced before his eyes, the parlor room came into view . . . Looking about his unfamiliar surroundings, he realized everything that surrounded him was at least that much bigger than it should have been. It was as if he’d shrunk in size and become a toy miniature.’

‘Nummy Fingers’ – Not for the squeamish, but creepy good. Love the ending!

‘I don’t know what I should get this Halloween. I’m not much for candy myself, so shopping for the stuff isn’t exactly fun or easy. Those variety packs seem to be my best friend. But sometimes I think of switching things up. Not use candy at all. Maybe I’ll just hand out human fingers instead . . . .’

‘Stuff the Turkey’ – Love the ending!

Sadly, for me, Thanksgiving falls flat in every way. That’s why I stopped celebrating it. Now, don’t get me wrong – I do have my own tradition for this time of year. But it’s not Thanksgiving. I call it STT, or Stuff the Turkey. It’s kind of like a game. . . .’

‘Awful Gifts’ – Creepy Good

‘Apparently, the Reece’s even had a reputation beyond the neighborhood borders. People knew of them all over town. Sam didn’t take well to their harassment. We knew he disliked them – we all did – but we didn’t realize just how deeply his hatred ran until winter rolled through.

***Trigger Warning – ‘[P]lease refer to the back of this book for warnings we’ve listed per the individual story.’

Thank you to the Author, Aiden Merchant, for providing me with an eBook of HORRIFIC HOLIDAYS in request for an honest review. 

~Available On Amazon~

~Horrific Holidays Vol. 1~

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Buzz Books Fall/Winter 2021

~Amazon Image/Buzz Books Preview/Free eBook~

 ~05/25/2021~

‘For book-lovers looking to discover their “next great read,” Buzz Books 2021 is a treasure-trove of what readers value the most: substantial excerpts from a curated selection of dozens of the most highly-touted books scheduled for publication this fall and winter.’

The following are a few of the MANY books in this catalog that spark my interest:

THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT – by Mitch Albom

ONCE UPON A WARDROBE – by Patti Callahan 

ANTHEM – by Noah Hawley

THE SPANISH DAUGHTER – by Lorena Hughes

SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE – by Claire Keegan 

PERPETUAL WEST – by Mesha Maren 

BUZZ BOOKS – THE FALL/WINTER 2021 PUBLISHING PREVIEW eBook is FREE! What are you waiting for? Go Check It Out!

~Available On Amazon~

~Buzz-Books 2021-Fall & Winter~

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The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 3

~Amazon Image/Minotaur Sampler/St. Martin’s Press/eBook~

 ~05/25/2021~

THE MINOTAUR SAMPLER VOLUME 3 – 

I love reading excerpts from books, especially those that are due to release soon-ish or later in the year— reading just enough to entice me—then—stopping to request the book on NetGalley and/or clicking Order link at the end of each if I have money in my Need/Want/MustHave BookFund.

Also, THE MINOTAUR SAMPLER VOLUME 3 eBook is FREE!

*Insert-Internal-(because-I-am-at-work-and-people-will-stare-at-me)-Squuuuuuuueeeeeeeee!*

Books that I have requested thus far from NetGalley/Want To Purchase are:

ALL OF THEEEEMM!! Shocking, I know!;)

Hannah Morrissey’s HELLO, TRANSCRIBER 

I LOVE Morrissey’s Writing! Here is a snippet:

‘It called to me like a siren that day and has every day since. I was already halfway across when I suddenly felt its railroad ties beneath my feet, and I stared for the first time into the cruel black below. Everything went silent, then, as the river demanded something of me. Just one piece. A tribute in exchange for it letting me remain above its obsidian surface.’

Kimi Cunningham Grant’s – THESE SILENT WOODS – My Heart!

Julia Dahl’s – THE MISSING HOURS – My Heart! 

Nancy Springer’s – ENOLA HOLMES AND THE BLACK BAROUCHE – I cannot wait to read this one. I love Enola already!

~Available On Amazon~

~The Minotaur Sampler Volume 3 – eBook Is Free!~

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Creepy Sheen

by Rebecca Gransden

~Amazon Image/eBook From The Author~

 ~03/17/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Creepy Sheen~

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Kill For Them

 – by Aiden Merchant

~Cover Photography by Alexander Krivitskiy/I received an eBook From The Author – 01/20/2021~ ~Available On Amazon~

~Kill For Them~

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Dead As Soon As Born

– by Aiden Merchant

~Cover Photography Aron Visuals – Snow Capped Press/I received an eBook From The Author- 12/15/2020~

~Available On Amazon~

~Dead As Soon As Born~

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The Bell Witch

– by John F.D. Taff

~Amazon Image – Own eBook/Audiobook/12/11/2017~

 ~Available On Amazon~

~The Bell Witch~

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If It Bleeds

– by Stephen King

When reviewing a work by Stephen King, be it Novel, Novella, Short Story, or Collection, words often fail me when I try to describe what I just read—hoping, praying to jot down something other than ‘Book Good, Buy Book.’

When I reviewed books for Kendall Reviews a few years ago, having never reviewed a book before in my life, Gavin Kendall gave me a chance and always sound advice. One of his suggestions was to explain to potential readers when writing a book review, ‘How the book made me feel.’

While reading the novellas in IF IT BLEEDS, the one-word descriptor for how I feel while reading any King book, to be honest, is, ‘Home.’

Ridiculous, I know, but true.

Like many of you, Dear Readers, I grew up reading Stephen King Books at the age of ten. The one constant throughout the King catalog is his ability to write characters you can’t help but care about:

In ‘Mr. Harrigan’s Phone’, nine-year-old Craig not only works for but befriends Mr. Harrigan, an elderly neighbor.

Next is an apocalyptic puzzle that has everyone wondering who the mysterious ‘Chuck’ is, his face plastered everywhere in ‘The Life Of Chuck.’

‘If It Bleeds’ reunites us with Holly Gibney (a.k.a. Hollyberry) and Jerome from MR. MERCEDES and THE OUTSIDER, and a familiar foe they face.

And lastly, ‘Rat,’ wherein struggling writer Drew Lawson, desperate to write his first novel, drives to his cabin in the woods for privacy and is confronted with an internal and external storm.

And like Dorothy says, ‘There’s No Place Like Home.’

IF IT BLEEDS—Highly Recommend!

Source: Own/Hardback
Publisher: Scribner/Simon & Schuster
Released: 4/21/2020

~Available On Amazon~

 ~If It Bleeds~

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A Dark And Secret Place

– by Jen Williams

~Cover Design by Nicole Lecht – NetGalley/CrookedLane Books Publishing/eBook~

~06/08/2021~ 

About:

After the suicide of her mother, Heather Evans returns to her family home, a place she hasn’t been to in decades, wherein she discovers hidden secrets about her mother’s past by way of letters written to her by a serial killer dubbed as The ‘Red Wolf.’

‘What did Heather’s mother know? Why did she kill herself? And with the monstrous Red Wolf safely locked inside a maximum-security prison, who is stalking young women now?’

My Thoughts: 

If you’re a fan of horror and mysteries, A DARK AND SECRET PLACE, which is dark and all kinds of creepy, might be right up your alley.

As a fan of both, I couldn’t wait to read this book. Though the execution was hit and miss for me, I liked the expected/unexpected ending. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for loaning me an eGalley of A DARK AND SECRET PLACE in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~A Dark And Secret Place~ 

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The Cuts That Cure

– by Arthur Herbert

~Amazon Image/eBook & Paperback From The Author- 05/11/2021/White Bird Publications~

~Available On Amazon~

 ~The Cuts That Cure~

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In Human

– by Eric Leland

Love The Cover!!

~RTNY Image – NetGalley/RTNY Publishing Inc./eBook & Paperback – 02/05/2021~

About:

Sergeant First Class John Nicholas and his Recon Team New York, lead by the inexperienced Captain Brandon Doran, are sent on a rescue mission in North Vietnam to find Recon Team Florida have gone missing. 

‘At first, John expects heavy resistance. But intercepted radio traffic suggests something near that village has spooked even hardened NVA. And soon after New York’s midnight insertion behind enemy lines, John finds out what.’

My Thoughts:

INHUMAN is an intense Supernatural, Military Thriller that I didn’t want to end—with unexpected, cringeworthy moments and scenes that broke my heart. Author Eric Leland does an excellent job submerging the reader into the vast jungle of Vietnam alongside characters you genuinely care about as they come face to face with formidable foes.

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, Eric Leland and Publicist Shelby Kisgen, for providing me with an eBook and Paperback copy of INHUMAN in the request for an honest review. 

Trigger Warnings: sexual abuse, suicide, child abuse, discrimination

~Available On Amazon~

~Inhuman~

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The Year’s Best Science Fiction Vol. 1

– Edited by Jonathan Strahan

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

Rereading

~Available On Amazon~

~The Year’s Best Science Fiction~

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Synchronicity

– by Michaelbrent Collings

~Amazon Image/Written Insomnia Press/eBook/Paperback I WON!~

 ~05/10/2021~

‘What if you could be anyone, anytime?’
‘What would you do?’
‘Where would you go?’
‘Who would you KILL?’

Tyler “Book” Malcolm has lived a life on the run. Off the grid, out of sight of the authorities. Hoping to escape a terrifying secret; to outrun what he has seen and what he has done.’

‘But how do you know who to trust, when the man who wants you dead can be anyone he pleases?’

I had a blast reading Michaelbrent Collings’ Suspense Thriller SYNCHRONICITY, book one in a series, I’m hoping!! *fingers and toes crossed*

Highly Recommend!

Thank you to the author, Michaelbrent Collings, for providing me with an eBook of SYNCHRONICITY in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Synchronicity~

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Promises To Keep

by – Nan Rossiter

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/HarperCollins Publishers/ eBook – 04/27/2021~

PROMISES TO KEEP, Book Two in the Savannah Skies series, is a heartwarming story about love, loss, faith, family, and forgiveness—Highly Recommend!

The novel, set in Tybee Island off the Georgia coast, centers around thirty-somethings Maeve Lindstrom and Gage Tennyson, as they begin their relationship—though it’s love at first sight—each has not been forthcoming about their pasts, which threatens to put an unyielding wedge between them.

I don’t want to give too much away, Dear Readers, but I will say you may want to keep the tissues close at hand. I haven’t cried this much while reading a book in a long time—touching moments that brought a smile to my face and warmth in my heart, and at times, mournful tears of memory and remembrance of life, love, loss, and longing of hope.

I look forward to returning to Savannah as I delve into Book One of the series, PROMISES OF THE HEART, as I eagerly wait to see if Rossiter writes a third in the series, or perhaps, the start of a new one.

Either way, it’s an Auto-Yes from this reader!

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing, for loaning me an eGalley of PROMISES TO KEEP in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Promises To Keep~

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The Nirvana Effect

– by Brian Pinkerton

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Flame Tree Press/eBook – 05/04/2021~

 I would describe THE NIRVANA EFFECT as a plot-driven narrative wherein a new fad of escapism takes the form of an addictive virtual high that divides society into groups of chippers and anti-chippers—add a dash of politics and a pinch of conspiracy theories–and you have a compelling read. . . .

What would you do if offered a means to escape the natural world through virtual reality technology, the lure of a promised utopia in which you too can exchange your freedom for false pleasures?

Would you say yes?

What would you do if saying no wasn’t an option?

‘The Nirvana Effect has taken over. . . What started as a playful diversion turns deadly. The future of the human race is at stake.’

Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for loaning me an eGalley of THE NIRVANA EFFECT in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Nirvana Effect~

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The Last Fallen Star

– by Graci Kim

~Designed by Joann Hill – Rick Riordan Presents/Disney.Hyperion/eBook – 05/04/2021~

I had an absolute blast reading THE LAST FALLEN STAR, action-filled from beginning to end, complex and often spur-of-the-moment life choices made by thirteen-year-old protagonists—as a Mother, those moments broke my heart, made me laugh, and made me cry.

As I neared the sixty-eight percent mark in the book, my immediate two thoughts were: 1) ‘Wow, I love this book with all the feels, I don’t want it to end!’ and 2) ‘Holy Mac-N-Cheese-Doodles ‘What new foe will they have to endure next?!’

Literally, on pins and needles at this point in the book, but, No spoilers! I will say. . .

THE LAST FALLEN STAR centers around love, loss, family, friendship, diversity, inclusion, bravery, sacrifice, bad*ss characters, and an ending that gave me the chills.

That’s not hyperbole, Dear Readers, that’s the truth—THE LAST FALLEN STAR—Highly Recommend!

‘I won’t have to rely on someone else to write my story if I’m brave enough to take the pen into my own hands.’

I can’t wait to read more books by Graci Kim, including the sequel to this book—Yeeeesss!

Thank you,  NetGalley and Disney • Hyperion Publishing, for loaning me an eGalley of THE LAST FALLEN STAR in the request of an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Last Fallen Star~

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 The Secret Talker

– by Geling Yan 

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/HarperVia/HarperCollins Publishing/eBook – 05/01/2021~

 THE SECRET TALKER is a secret stalker, both cyber and real-world—someone that the main character Hongmei seems all too enamored with, revealing more about herself through their email correspondence.

 ‘Desperate and self-destructive, she embarks on an investigation into her emailer’s secret history…one that may tear her life and marriage apart forever.’

 Though THE SECRET TALKER isn’t a favorite for me, it’s definitely one I want to reread in the future.

 Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Inc., for loaning me an eGalley of THE SECRET TALKER with the request for an honest review.

 ~Available On Amazon~

~The Secret Talker~

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 THE CLEANER

by – Mark Dawson

~NetGalley Image – NetGalley/Welbeck Fiction Limited/eBook/ Rerelease – 05/04/2021~ 

 ‘John Milton is the man the government call when they want a problem to vanish. But what happens when he’s the one that needs to disappear?’

‘After a botched job leaves a bloody trail, government assassin John Milton does the one thing he’s never done before: he hides.‘

The ending of THE CLEANER, Book One in the John Milton, left me puzzled to the point I Must read Book Two to see what direction the Series takes next.

Overall, an intense read that has me hoping one character in particular and their parent survive, and that more is revealed in the books that follow.

Thank you, NetGalley and Welbeck Publishing, for loaning me an eGalley of THE CLEANER in the request for an honest review.

 ~Available On Amazon~

~The Cleaner~

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 Firebreak

– by Nicole Kornher – Stace

~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Saga Press/Simon & Schuster/eBook – 05/04/2021~

 ‘[H]eroes, . . . of nothing they were expected to be . . . . The beginning, I hope, of the changes to come. A spark that starts a fire of our own.’

 ‘It’s a nice thought anyway.’

About:

‘Two corporations have replaced the US, splitting the country’s remaining forty-five states (five have been submerged under the ocean) between them: Stellaxis Innovations and Greenleaf. . . . . New Liberty City is the only amalgamated city split between the two megacorps, and thus at a perpetual state of civil war as the feeds broadcast the atrocities committed by each side.’

My Thoughts:

FIREBREAK is a Science Fiction Thriller depicted as a mix between READY PLAYER ONE and BLACK MIRROR—a bonafide Fangirl of the latter and future reader of the former; I couldn’t wait to dive into FIREBREAK!

That Ending—My Heart!

The narrative is a bit of a slow build, with some repetitive parts within, likely cut or trimmed in the final editing process. The version I read is an unedited ARC.

The storyline, gameplay, and real-life tension in this futuristic setting held my interest to the point when during the wee hours of the morn, when my eyes screamed for last call, my mind pleaded for just one more page until my dreams started to meld into the storyline.

You ever done that?

Wake up and say, ‘That’s not part of the book!’

Or my favorite, waking up abruptly in bed because you fell asleep and your eReader or IPad slammed into your nose.

Just me? 😉

FIREBREAK—Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Saga Press (Simon & Schuster), for loaning me an eGalley of FIREBREAK in the request for an honest review.

 

~Available On Amazon~

~Firebreak~

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 The Crucifixion Experiments

– by Gord Rollo

Front Cover Design by Kealan Patrick Burke – Silver Shamrock Publishing/eBook~

~05/11/2021~ 

About:

Criminal profiler Jake Mercer, one of the senior homicide detectives in the Oakland Police Department, has spent the last twenty-five years getting inside the minds of a madman, to the extent that he becomes an alcoholic who’s recently suspended from active duty. That is until the police commissioner has no other choice but to reinstate his best homicide detective when a serial killer makes a game out of murdering Catholic Priests.

My Thoughts:

THE CRUCIFIXION EXPERIMENTS is the first book that I have read by Gord Rollo, and I look forward to reading more of his work. I enjoy reading detective/murder mysteries, and this one kept me guessing throughout, with an ending I wasn’t expecting.

Recommend!

Thank you, Silver Shamrock Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of THE CRUCIFIXION EXPERIMENTS in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Crucifixion Experiments~

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The Legacy Of Old Gran Parks

– by Isobel Blackthorn

~Amazon Image/ Blackthorn Book Tours – May 17, 2021~

~Available Now On Amazon~

~The Legacy Of Old Gran Parks~

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Slow Burn On Riverside

– by Chad Lutzke

~Cover Design by Chad Lutzke – eBook From The Author – 03/19/2021~

~Available Now On Amazon~

~Slow Burn On Riverside~

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 Chatroom With A View

– by Glenn Maynard

~Image/Cactus Monn Publicaions, LLC/eBook From The Author – 01/08/2021~

~Available On Amazon~

~Chatroom With A View~

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Goblin

– by Josh Malerman

 ~Book Design by Edwin Vazquez – NetGalley/Del Rey/Random House/eBook – 05/18/2021~ 

‘These six novellas tell the story of a place where the rain is always falling, nighttime is always near, and your darkest fears and desires await. Welcome to Goblin. . . . ‘

I enjoyed reading GOBLIN, a town that I hope to revisit in future works by Malerman, a place that incorporates the right amount of Dark and Creepy Goodness that has this reader yearning for more.

The following are my favorites, some with snippets and my immediate reaction after reading each:

Prologue: Welcome’/ ‘Epilogue: Make Yourself At Home’

‘If Tom hadn’t left his sweater in his locker, if he hadn’t gone back to get it, and if he hadn’t passed the main office on the way, the whole dark night might’ve been avoided.’

‘A Man Of Slices’.– That was Creepy Good – Richard and Charles are childhood friends, and let’s just say Charles is a little. . .off.

‘Kamp’– That was good!

‘The next Gobliner in line. Maude used to say it was in the water. And it always made Mrs. Doris laugh because she knew her sister wasn’t talking about the tap. She was referring, of course, to the endless rainfall outside and the fact that nobody ought to be tasked with maintaining their sanity forever in a city that never stopped crying.’

‘Happy Birthday, Hunter!’ – Hahaha, LOVE the ending!

 ‘Neal Nash was, as the invitation for his party proudly boasted, the most celebrated big-game hunter in the history of Goblin.’

‘Once upon a time, a fabled hunter tracked the one thing he was not allowed to have …’

‘Presto’– Love this one!

‘Roman Emperor was a fixture on the Spell Circuit, and all his peers considered him a threat … His show was electrifying. It was dangerous. He did things with weapons so frightening audience members would leave an Emperor show with a sense of having survived it.’

Thank you, NetGalley and Del Rey Publishing (Random House), for loaning me an eGalley of GOBLIN in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Goblin~

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 Punch Me Up To The Gods

A Memoir

– by Brian Broome

 ~Book Design by  Emily Snyder – NetGalley/HoughtonMifflin Harcourt Publishing Company – 05/18/2021~

 About:

‘Punch Me Up to the Gods introduces a powerful new talent in Brian Broome, whose early years growing up in Ohio as a dark-skinned Black boy harboring crushes on other boys propel forward this gorgeous, aching, and unforgettable debut. Brian’s recounting of his experiences—in all their cringe-worthy, hilarious, and heartbreaking glory—reveal a perpetual outsider awkwardly squirming to find his way in. Indiscriminate sex and escalating drug use help to soothe his hurt, young psyche, usually to uproarious and devastating effect. A no-nonsense mother and broken father play crucial roles in our misfit’s origin story. But it is Brian’s voice in the retelling that shows the true depth of vulnerability for young Black boys that is often quietly near to bursting at the seams.’

My Thoughts:

Though I do know what it’s like to be treated as different, I can’t even begin to imagine what life was and  like for Broome growing up, and later into adulthood. My heart broke and my soul hurt reading what Broome’s life story.

Raising a daughter who is Bisexual, from a parent’s perspective, our children need to know they’re loved and supported.

Life is hard enough without adding the burden of isolation and loneliness. Thank you, Brain Broome, for your strength and sharing your life story with the world.

My Heart:

‘My biggest failing in this life has been my gasping need to be loved at the expense of so many other things. I have allowed others to tell me who and what I am supposed to be and, when I failed to meet their expectations, I blamed myself. This need to be loved by everyone has led me down dark roads more times than I can tell in one book — in one thousand books even — and all I have to show for it are these stories.’

PUNCH ME UP TO THE GODS: A MEMOIR—Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing, for loaning me an eGalley of PUNCH ME UP TO THE GODS: A MEMOIR in the request for an honest review.

 ~Available On Amazon~

~Punch Me Up To The Gods – A Memoir~

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Howls From Hell: A Horror Anthology

– Editing by HOWL Society

~Cover Art by P.L. McMillian/Cover Design by Molly Collins/ HOWL Society Press/eBook~

~05/18/2021~

‘In HOWLS FROM HELL, sixteen emerging horror writers pave the way for the future of the genre. Fans of dark and macabre fiction will savor this exhibition of all-original tales born from one of the fastest-growing horror communities in the world: HOWL Society.’

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this Horror Anthology! I had a Blast reading each story from Authors that are new to me, and I can’t wait to read more of your work!

SIDE NOTE – I LOVE the interior artwork (And The Cover), which precedes every story, each created by different Illustrators’ Joe Radkins, P.L. McMillan, Solomon Forse, and Drew Nault,

The Following Are My Standout Favorites; some include snippets and my immediate thoughts after reading each one:

 ‘A Casual Encounter’– by Quinn Fern – Creepy Good!

‘Manufactured God’– by P.L. MCMILLAN – That Was Awesome!

‘Red Punch Buggy’ – by B.O.B. JENKIN – That was good!

 ‘She’s Taken Away’ – by Shane Hawk – That was good!

‘It’s okay, Annie. Breathe. Let’s start over. Can you describe your feelings regarding your sister’s situation?’

‘Um, well. I hate it. I hate when she’s taken away. Barbara and Father console me by saying she will be back in no time, but she never comes back that fast. It’s always a while.’

‘Suspended In Light’ – by Alex Wolfgang – That. Was. Awesome! Love it!

‘The countdown flickered past, and the scene opened on a man sitting in a plain wooden chair who stared out of frame. An overcoat wrapped his lanky body, and a wide-brimmed hat concealed half his face in shadow. Idly, he stroked his mustache as if lost in thought.’

‘Gooseberry Bramble’ – by Solomon Forse – Love it!

‘“Well, Yer Honor, I s’pose that was when it all began—with that warnin my grandmammy gave me some sixty years ago. She looked me right in the eye, wavin that switch in her hand, sayin, “Boy, ya stay away from Gooseberry Bramble, ya hear?”’

‘Clement & Sons’ – by Joe Radkins – My Heart—That was good!

‘Possess And Serve’– by Christopher O’Halloran – That. Was. Awesome! One of the best in this collection.

‘Duplicitous Wings’ – by Amanda Nevada Demel – That was creepy good!

‘It Gets In Your Eyes’ – by Joseph Andre Thomas – Wow, that was good!

‘The Intruder’ – by Justin Faull – That was good!

‘Sprout’– by M. David Clarkson – LOVE IT!

Oh My! That opening sentence, I can’t stop laughing (sorry, not sorry) 😉

‘When my right testicle popped, I think that’s when I realized how serious the situation was. That I wasn’t getting out of this alive.’

Love This: ‘She was everything I had ever wanted, but yet the only things I’d ever truly feared. The first hint of sunlight after a rainstorm, yet the creeping shadows behind trees at night.’

 ‘Junco Creek’– by S.E. Denton – That Was Good!

‘A Fistful Of Murder’ – by Lindsey Ragsdale – That Was Awesome!

Thank you, Solomon Forse and Society Press, for reaching out and providing me with an eGalley of HOWLS FROM HELL: A Horror Anthology in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Howls From Hell – A Horror Anthology~

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 Six Weeks To Live

– by Catherine McKenzie

 ~Amazon Image – NetGalley/Atria Books/Simon & Schuster/eBook – 05/04/2021~

When forty-eight-year-old Jennifer Barnes is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, she decides to spend the remaining six weeks of her life with her adult daughters Emily, Aline, and Miranda, and her grandchildren.

‘[W]hen she realizes she was possibly poisoned a year earlier, [Jennifer] is determined to discover who might have tried to get rid of her before she’s gone for good. Separated from her husband and with a contentious divorce in progress, Jennifer focuses her suspicions on her soon-to-be-ex.’

I honestly thought I knew how this psychological thriller would play out; though I was right in one aspect, I am pleased to say I was wrong another. Books with endings that I am unable to predict are my favorites. More, please!

Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books (Simon & Schuster, Inc.), for loaning me an eGalley of SIX WEEKS TO LIVE in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Six Weeks To Live~

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Gulf

– by Shelly Campbell

~Cover Design by Kealan Patrick Burke – Silver Shamrock Publishing/eBook~

~04/27/2021~ 

About:

GULF centers around seventeen-year-old protagonist David, the youngest of seven siblings, who goes on vacation with his three older brothers James, twins Jess and Jordan, and their parents at a lakeside rental cottage.

A life spent constantly fading into the background, David longs to be seen, heard, and become a part of something bigger—when his siblings discover a new extension added to the cottage they stay at every year, David is first to find the key and opens a gateway to an ever-changing version of his world in a different timeline.

My Thoughts:

You can’t help but feel for David from the hook-line, ‘The first time my parents forgot me; I was six years old—the first time that I know of.’, to the very end of the book, that I’m hoping leads to a sequel.

I love the imagery and description Campbell creates in a book that I would describe as quiet horror—a slow walk into the narrative allowing the reader to see, feel and experience what David does.

The family dynamic is heartbreaking—the longing and need to stay connected with the one family member who sees David is palpable on the page.

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, Silver Shamrock Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of GULF in the request for an honest review.

~Available On Amazon~

~Gulf~

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The Perfect Daughter

– by D.J. Palmer

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

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.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Perfect Daughter~

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Hummingbird Salamander

– by Jeff Vandermeer

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

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.

~Available On Amazon~

~Hummingbird Salamander~

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The Forest

– by Michaelbrent Collings

~Amazon Image – Written Insomnia Press – eBook~

~08/16/2020~ 

‘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.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Forest~

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Wild, Dark Times

– by Austin Case

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

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

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!

~Available On Amazon~

~Wild, Dark Times~

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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.’

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.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Minotaur Sampler – Volume Two~

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The Sweet Taste Of Muscadines

– by Pamela Terry

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

About:

~Available Now On Amazon~

 ~The Sweet Taste Of Muscadines~

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Your Turn To Suffer

– by Tim Waggoner

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

‘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.

~Available Now On Amazon~

~Your Turn To Suffer~

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Creature

– by Hunter Shea

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

CREATURE – By Hunter Shea HUNTER
Source: eBook/I Purchased/FLAME TREE PRESS/2018

In a word, Wow! If you haven’t read CREATURE already, I Highly Recommend it. If you have read it, I encourage you to reread it.

~Available On Amazon~

~Creature~

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Kill Creek

– by Scott Thomas

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

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~

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The Bounty

– by –

Janet Evanovich & Steve Hamilton

~Amazon Image /Atria Books/ eBooks/03/23/2021~

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. 

~Available On Amazon~

~The Bounty~

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Buzz Books

Great Reads

Spring/Summer 2021

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

‘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~

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Flora & Jim

– by BP Gregory

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

~Available On Amazon~

~Flora & Jim~

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The Night Crawls In

– by Steve Stred

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

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~

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Remains

– by Andrew Cull

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

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~

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Diabolica Britannica
– Edited by Keith Anthony Baird

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

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~

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Wormwood

– by Chad Lutzke & Tim Meyer

~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~

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THE DEAD BOXES ARCHIVE
– by John F. Leonard

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

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 – 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 

‘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 

‘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 

‘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 

‘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.’

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~

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Food Yum!

– by Chris Zeid

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

‘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!~

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The Searching Dead

– by Ramsey Campbell

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

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~

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A Caller’s Game

– by J.D. Barker

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

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!

~Available Now On Amazon~

~A Caller’s Game~

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I Spit Myself Out

– by Tracy Fahey

~Design And Cover by J.R. Park~

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

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~

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Children Of Chicago

– by Cynthia Pelayo

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

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~

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The Damned Highway

– by –

Brian Keene & Nick Mamatas

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

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~

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Unethical

– by Marla L. Anderson

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

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.

~Available On Amazon~

~Unethical~

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Roadside Attractions

– by Eric Lahti

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

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~

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The Burning Girls

– by C.J. Tudor

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

THE BURNING GIRLS – by C.J. Tudor *****Amazon Won’t Post My Review/I Have No Idea Why*****

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~

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The Future Is Yours

– by Dan Frey

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

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.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Future Is Yours~

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Crimsom Lake Road

– by Victor Methos

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

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.

~Available On Amazon~

~Crimson Lake Road~

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The Last Tiara

– by M.J. Rose

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

~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.

~Available On Amazon~

~The Last Tiara~

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In Darkness Shadows Breathe

– by Catherine Cavendish

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

‘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.

~Available On Amazon~

~In Darkness Shadows Breathe~

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Bone Canyon

– by Lee Goldberg

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

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.

~Available On Amazon~

~Bone Canyon~

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The Survivors

– by Jane Harper

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

Category: Mystery & Thriller
THE SURVIVORS – By Jane Harper
Source: NetGalley/Audiobook Review
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Narration – By Stephen Shanahan

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.

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~

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Lola On Fire

– by Rio Youers

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

LOLA ON FIRE – by Rio Youers
Source: NetGalley/Audiobook Review
Publisher: HarperAudio

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!

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

~Available On Amazon~

~Lola On Fire~

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Prodigal Son

– by Gregg Hurwitz

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

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!!

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~

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Writing In The Dark

– by Tim Waggoner

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

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~

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The Gulp

– by Alan Baxter

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

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~

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Ever Winter

– by Peter Hackshaw

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

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.’

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

~Available On Amazon~

~Ever Winter~

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Unfettered Journey

– by Gary F. Bengier

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

Reread

~Available On Amazon~

~Unfettered Journey~

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Dead Woman Scorned

– by Michael Clark

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

~Goodreads – Dead Woman Scorned~

~Available On Amazon~

~Dead Woman Scorned~

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Ink

– by Jonathan Maberry

~LOOK AT THAT AWESOME COVER!!!!~

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

~Goodreads – Ink~

~Available On Amazon~

~Ink~

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After All I’ve Done

– by Mina Hardy

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

~Goodreads – After All I’ve Done~

~Available On Amazon~

~After All I’ve Done~

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They’re Gone

– by E.A. Barres

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

~Goodreads – They’re Gone~

~Available On Amazon~

~They’re Gone~

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The Tech

– by Mark Ravine

~Amazon Image – From Dawn Hill Publications  – 02/03/2020~

~Goodreads – The Tech~

~Available On Amazon~

~The Tech~

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Seeds Of The Dead

– by Andy Kumpon & Gary Malick

~Cover Illustration by – KillerBeam Entertainment- 06/29/2020~

~Goodreads – Seeds Of The Dead~

~Available On Amazon~

~Seeds Of The Dead~

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Disturbing Works – Volume One

– by Jon Richter

~Amazon Image – Own/Kindle & Paperback – 10/15/2019~

~Goodreads – Disturbing Works Vol. 1~

~Available On Amazon~

~Disturbing Works Vol. 1~

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A Pretty Deceit