Freakin Fridays is my own little meme. I’ll be posting about books, movies, and all things scary.
Feel free to join in and do your own Freakin Fridays posts.
Get your scare on!
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It’s Release Day for Santa’s Little Helper!
I’ve been waiting anxiously to tell you about this book. When the author sent me the ARC I dropped what I was reading and dove in. H.D. Gordon writing horror! I couldn’t wait!
Come on in. I dare ya!
And check out the giveaway after my review.
You could win a signed copy!
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Santa’s Little Helper
by H.D. Gordon
My Review
When H.D. told me she had a new story and did I want to read it, I was so excited. When I found out the title and what it was about, I couldn’t wait to get started. A Christmas Horror story. How cool is that!
I’ve read all of her books, and her writing is incredible so I was sure this would scare me. Be one that would make me afraid to read it at night, alone, in the dark. It takes a lot to do that, and when I find an author who can scare me that good, I want to scream from the rooftops, “This book scared me!”
Horror has always been my first love, even when I was young. Books or movies, I devour it. My DVD collection and bookshelves are overflowing with the stuff. With all of those to choose from, you’d be surprised to know that a lot of them didn’t really scare me. Sure, they have there moments, but a really good scare, not that many.
Santa’s Little Helper scared me, a lot. I think part of it was the kids. There are several of them in this story and you’ll get each of their stories as they deal with the surprise.
The surprises mysteriously appear on each of their doorsteps, nothing saying where they came from. Upon opening the white boxes, they each discover a doll, one of Santa’s elves, along with a little red book saying the doll was there to watch over them for Santa.
Right away the kids sense something’s off, wrong about the elves. They each try to get rid of it and some succeed. But they know. The doll will be back.
The terror begins quickly. The elves get to work right away, terrorizing the kids, and scaring me too. A few scenes had me pulling the covers up to my chin, with my hands peeking out to hold my kindle. My elbows were drawn in close to my sides. I was almost in a fetal position, making myself as small as possible.
Then my imagination stepped in. I put myself in their shoes. The were frustrated that the adults didn’t get it. Didn’t feel the wrongness settle into their homes. They didn’t want to come home from school, afraid of what awaited them.
There was one particular scene that reminded of the movie Legion. If you’ve seen it you’ll recall the scene where the ice cream man shows up and transforms. It was scary and the scene in this book is even more so for two young brothers.
They tried reaching out for help and that went very bad for one person. So now they each have to face a doll alone. And there’s a storm coming. Peculiar, Missouri has never seen one like this. It’s almost Christmas. Santa’s little helpers are about to get busy.
How will they fight something that can’t be killed? What do can they do when the one person who can save them doesn’t exist?
H.D. Gordon has proven she can write horror with the best of them. Don’t think because the main characters are young kids that this won’t scare you. Remember Stephen King’s IT? That one still scares me and this book will sit right next to it on my bookshelf. Where it belongs. In the “Scared the s#!t out of me section.”
5 Stars
Some of my favorite quotes from the book:
“If the Bible Belt had a buckle, Peculiar was it.”
“…it had been the only good part of the holiday, just a sprinkling of sugar on top of a poo pie.”
“Selflessness is a powerful thing if just because of its rarity, but fear is even more powerful, and in an opposite sense. It is the food of the darkness.”
And this one really hit home with me. I got it. I do this with my reviews.
“Sometimes, you’re so close to the words you can’t see the whole picture they’re forming.”
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Synopsis
He shows up in a white box, with a bright red book under his arm… He wears a jolly grin and hat, a suit with gold bells and green yarn… He watches you for Santa, or so his red book claims… But though his grin is jolly, he’s not here for fun and games…
The children have been chosen, such precious little souls they are… And may the Gods be with them, if they wish to make it very far… For Santa’s Little Helper does not say, but knows important things… He knows when you’ve been bad or good, and what monsters stalk your dreams… He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you’re awake…He’s picking out his presents…He’s got some souls to take.
Purchase Links
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The author has a giveaway on Goodreads. She’s offering two signed copies.
Click HERE to enter and Good Luck!
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Other books I’ve read by H.D. Gordon.
Click on the covers for my reviews.
The Joe Knowe Series
The Surah Stormsong Series
The Alexa Montgomery Saga
and two more in this series that I’ve read and reviews will be coming soon..
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H.D. Gordon
H. D. Gordon is the bestselling author of THE ALEXA MONTGOMERY SAGA, THE SURAH STORMSONG NOVELS and THE JOE KNOWE SERIES. She is twenty-five years old and a true lover of words. When not hanging out with her two beautiful daughters, she can be found reading, writing, or just taking in the world so that she can translate it’s beauty and wonders into the written word.
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.
Happy Halloween!
Yeah, IT scared me too, and just reading your review scared the you know what out of me! What I love the most is that you read this post about all these scary books, and then at the bottom you see this sweet, beautiful picture of the author!! Guess you never know what’s lurking behind a pretty face!!
LOL That’s the idea. Share the scare!
She does look sweet. Who would a thunk it?
This sounds very interesting and I have never heard of this author. I need to remedy that as I love horror. 🙂
She is a wonderful writer. You’ll fall in love with her books!
Good one Taylor…lurking behind a pretty face. H D. writes some very scary stories and I love her work. I was looking forward to your review, Laura, and you didn’t fail me. The one person that can save them doesn’t exist? That makes me very curious.
LOL Sherry, you have to read this one!! Just sayin:)