Thanksgiving has come and gone. The turkey and all the trimmings are just a memory. Now I’m decorating for Christmas. Got the tree done and I’m now crafting some decorations that I got inspired to try from looking on Pinterest. Some are coming out good and some were complete failures. LOL
I’ve been watching the telly, binging some shows and just finished watching L I F E. It’s a space movie about bringing back a life form from Mars. Of course, it goes horribly wrong. I really enjoyed it. Have you seen it yet?
And I’ve loaded my QUE with a bunch of holiday movies. And recording some to On Demand. I love the Hallmark Channel! I also like to catch the holiday episodes on my favorite shows and cartoons. And there’s those traditional movies I watch every year, like White Christmas, Rudolph, Charlie Brown and some horror thrown in for sh#ts and giggles.
And I’m reading a whole bunch of books. Adult, YA, middle grade and early readers. Since I’ve really gotten into children’s books, I may start a new blog just for reviewing them. For now I have my Kid’s Korner feature on Wednesday’s.
Okay, I’ll stop now and share my bookish stuff. LOL
I hope you all had a fabulous week and thanks for stopping by!
*****
My new books this week.
Trouble Under The Mistletoe is a new release short story and it’s free! Click the cover to get a copy.
And I received the If You Were Me And Lived In….series by Carole P. Roman.
And five books from The Adventures Of Mitee Mite Series by David John
I’m wrapping up my reviews for her Captain No Beard series this coming Wednesday and there will be a giveaway for print copies of the complete 10 book set. Be sure to mark you calendar!
*****
And here are some FREEBIES for ya. Click on the covers to get your copies. Remember to make sure they’re still free before you hit that buy button.
*****
Books I reviewed this week. Click on the covers to read my reviews.
Welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share books that, well, make you scream!
I’ve got a creepy little story to share today. Caught me by surprise.
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Passing Strange: The Well
by P.W. Creighton
Genre: YA Mystery / Thriller
My Review
Aidan is spending his summer break volunteering at the archaeological dig located on the Parish Cove Historical Society property. Some interesting things are being discovered, especially in the well that was uncovered, and it beats sitting home. One night while walking past the property he catches sight of a light prowling around the site and that’s when he first meets Maddie. She’s a bit odd, but he can’t resist her attempts to draw him into the mystery of the towns dark history. And soon the entire town is in danger. Something has awoken in the well and it’s very, very angry.
I love stories about archaeology and couldn’t resist reading this book. Learning about the towns history and the evil that dwells in the well was exciting and got the creepy vibes going.
Aidan and Maddie are like oil and water. Their personalities don’t really mix. But they soon become friends and get themselves into the pickle of all pickles.
The author never once missed a step with his character’s. The young teens acted their age and as they dealt with the creeping horror from the well, I thought their actions were quite genuine. Their curious nature and acts of heroism rang true. No one can know how they’ll react to situations like this and I’d like to think I would act half as brave as these kids did.
I felt a sense of mystery right from the beginning of the story and once Aidan and Maddie started digging into past events the story flew by. I read it in one sitting, feeling the sense of adventure, the glee of discovery, and the terror of a threat that seems unstoppable.
The ending was an exciting showdown and leaves things somewhat open to interpretation. I went with my first impression.
While I think this might be aimed at a younger reading audience, it still managed to give me the willies. And if the ending is any clue, I’m sure we’ll be seeing more Passing Strange mysteries in the future.
5 Stars
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Synopsis
For Fourteen-year-old Aidan Reynolds, the archaeological dig at the Parrish Cove historical society is the only thing making the summer interesting.
That is until he meets Maddie, an unusual girl who has just moved to town and is convinced that there is more to the local legends surrounding the historical society than even he knows. While Aidan may not believe her, the strange artifacts that are recovered from the dig force them into exploring the dark, twisted history of Parrish Cove and its strange doctor…a man who vanished over a century ago.
Together, they uncover a town secret that has been forgotten for centuries, and discover that there are some things that should stay buried.
Welcome to Freakin Fridays, where I share my reviews of books that scare you, thrill you, and get those endorphins pumping.
Today I’m sharing a couple of scary good werewolf stories. These continue the Outage Series. Got them on sale. And the boxed set for the first three books is FREE! Grab it on Amazon HERE.
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The Reckoning
Outage #4
by T.W. Piperbrook
Genre: Horror / Suspense
My Review
The storm is still blowing, people are still dying, and the wolves are still raging.
Tom is the lone survivor of the showdown at the end of book three. He’s lost his wife and seen some hideous things. When he wakes up in the hospital, he thinks it’s all over. He’s made it. But he soon learns the storm isn’t finished and neither are the wolves.
Something this author excels at is group dynamics. He puts a bunch of people together in close confines, threatens them with horrible death, and their reactions ring true. Being a fan of character driven stories, especially in the horror genre, I eat this stuff up. And I often wonder how I’d react. Would I be the brave one, step forward and handle things calmly and wisely?. Would I be the hysterical one, fall to pieces and scream my head off? Or would I be the coward, the one no one can rely on who does something stupid?
I’m glad I’m not one of the characters in this book as the body count’s high and there’s no guarantees for anyone. The wolves are too many to count and almost impossible to kill. Claws slash, teeth gnash and it’s bloody mayhem. Perfect for creature and horror fans. And a great continuation in the series.
4 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
I’m at the hospital…it’s over.
When Tom awakens, he is greeted by law enforcement, medical treatment, and a sense of normalcy—all the things that have been missing for the last day.
What Tom doesn’t know is that some nightmares are meant to be relived, and The Great Storm is far from finished…
The massacre at the hospital is over. Tom’s survived another night. But with only one more night to feed, the wolves are more dangerous than ever. And Tom isn’t feeling like himself anymore.
With each book I read in this series, I was left wondering what could be worse than this. And with each new book, the author showed me. So I came into this last book with open eyes, knowing it was going to be crazy. And Piperbrook gave me so much crazy. So much suspense. So many bloody werewolf scenes. And a protagonist I’d grown too fond of. That’s not wise as the character’s usually don’t survive. And that ramped up the suspense for me.
The ending is violent. It’s almost over and the wolves won’t go gently into the night. And the epilogue is a hoot. Or should I say a howl.
If you like the sound of this one, be sure to start at the beginning of the series. Each books picks up right where the last leaves off.
4 Stars
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Synopsis
Survival is just the beginning…
Having escaped the hospital, Tom must face a new enemy: himself. New questions arise as he travels through the white wasteland. Will he survive the remainder of The Great Storm?
I reviewed this a while ago but thought I would share it again.
Outage Boxed Set
Books 1- 3 of the Outage Horror Suspense Series
by T.W. Piperbrook
My Review
I read the first book in this series and loved it, so when I saw this boxed set for the first three books on Amazon, I had to grab it.
It’s kind of hard to review these separately as it would have to contain some spoilers, so I’m going to tell you about it like it’s one book.
It literally does start on a dark and stormy night. The blizzard has arrived, the power is staring to fail, and the residents of the town, those that haven’t left yet, are free game for the creatures. Doors don’t keep them out. Guns don’t seem to do more than slow them down for a bit. And the dark and snow work to their advantage.
I love a scary good creature story and the ones offered up by the author are so bad, so cunning and vicious, so hungry. And they are everywhere. They’ve been waiting for this.
Another thing I like is when the elements work for the monsters and against the humans. What could be worse than the snow storm of the century. These werewolves knew it was coming and planned accordingly. Some were already living there, and some came with the storm.
Imagine how horrible it would be. First, you witness something so horrific and unbelievable. Then you get past the fear and shock, and accept that the creatures exist. Now what?
Well, you round up anything you can use for weapons and enter the dark, cold night.You try to drive out of town, struggling through snow drifts and hoping you don’t slide off the road. You see some people being attacked by the creatures. Do you stop to help? Probably not the best idea. Too many of them and you’ll probably just end up torn to pieces. You’re cut off from the outside world and your fear and doubt escalate. Is this happening everywhere?
So on you go. Seeking shelter and safety, and the things out there are following you. This is their time.
There was a lot of suspense and carnage to keep this horror fan happy. The suspense was edgy, and there were some good surprises. Even when I knew what was coming, it was fun reading how it happened.
This is a series I would only recommend you read in order. The books all start pretty much where the last one left off.
Books four and five are out now, so I’ll be grabbing them too.
4 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
This specially-priced bundle contains the first three books in the OUTAGE series:
*Outage
*Outage 2: The Awakening
*Outage 3: Vengeance
ABOUT OUTAGE:When an early snow ravages the small town of Plainfield, the residents are stripped of heat, power, and mobility. They’ll soon wish they had protection. Somewhere outside, something else is lurking. Waiting for the chance to strike…
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Tor Books (November 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250172624
ISBN-13: 978-1250172624
Genre: Science Fiction
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My Review
When I realized this was based on a podcast series I thought I’d listen to them first. Glad I didn’t so I can compare them now.
This is a very different take on discovering aliens exist. They’ve had Moss, the alien, hidden away for a long time. If you are chosen to work at the facility, you are an employee for life. No quitting allowed. And just going to work each day is a whole bunch of weird, complicated check points.
Dak won me over right away. She’s something else. You wouldn’t want to get on her bad side. But she’s also vulnerable, lonely. When Matt, a handsome, eager younger man joins her security team, she’s immediately smitten, as is he. But fraternizing between employees in any way is expressly forbidden and could get them sent to the far corners of the planet, or worse.
I know, sounds like insta love. Sure, they fall for each other quickly, but working for such a secretive project doesn’t allow you many opportunities to connect and the mushy stuff isn’t a focal point in the story.
Their decision to run away and take Moss with them isn’t as simple as it sounds. I got nervous just reading how they had to plan and sneak and lie. I felt for sure one or both would trip up.
Very suspenseful reading. And the ending isn’t anything I was prepared for. All I could think was I liked how it concluded and, it figures.
Great science fiction and now I must listen to the podcasts.
4 Stars
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THE NOVEL BASED ON THE DEBUT SCIENCE FICTION PODCAST FROM TOR LABS
Dakota “Dak” Prentiss guards the biggest secret in the world.
They call it “Moss.” It’s your standard grey alien from innumerable abduction stories. Moss still sits at what looks like the controls of the spaceship it crash-landed twenty-five years ago. A secret military base was built around the crash site to study both Moss and the dangerous technology it brought to Earth.
The day Matt Salem joins her security team, Dak’s whole world changes.
It’s love at first sight—which is a problem, since they both signed ironclad contracts before joining the base security team, vowing not to fraternize with other military personnel. If they run away, they’ll be hunted for the secret they know. So Dak and Matt decide to escape to a better life on the wings of an incredibly dangerous plan: They’re going to steal the alien body they’ve been guarding and sell the secret of its existence.
NatCassidy is an actor, director, musician, and playwright. He has appeared on shows such as The Following (Fox), The Affair (Showtime), Red Oaks (Amazon), High Maintenance (HBO), Law & Order: SVU (NBC), as well as on stage in numerous productions and workshops both Off- and Off-Off-Broadway. Nat’s plays have been nominated for a combined total of 17 New York Innovative Theatre Awards, including 3 times for Outstanding Full-Length Script (which he won in 2009, and in 2011 for Outstanding Solo Performance for his one man show about H.P. Lovecraft). In 2012 Nat was commissioned by The Kennedy Center to write the libretto for a world-premiere opera, and in 2014 his play Any Day Now was chosen to be part of Primary Stages’ ESPADrills (The Duke Theatre, directed by Tony-nominee Moritz von Stuelpnagel). He is also thrilled to be writing the novelization of Steal the Stars, which will be published by Tor Books in November 2017.
Mac Rogers is an award-winning audio dramatist and playwright. His audio/podcasts dramas The Message and LifeAfter have been downloaded over eight million times. His stageplays include The Honeycomb Trilogy (winner of the New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Premiere Production), Frankenstein Upstairs, God of Obsidian, Ligature Marks, Asymmetric, Viral, Universal Robots, Hail Satan (Outstanding Playwriting Winner at FringeNYC 2007), and Fleet Week: The Musical (co-written with Sean Williams and Jordana Williams; winner of Outstanding Musical at FringeNYC 2005). He has earned acclaim from The New York Times, The Guardian, Backstage, The Wall Street Journal, Time Out New York, New York Post, Flavorpill, io9, Fangoria, Tor.com, Show Business Weekly, New York Press, and many others.
I decided to do this feature as I have so many great children’s books to share. From picture books, to books for beginning readers, to middle graders, I have plenty of fun ones.
Today I’m sharing some more fun adventure books in the Captain No Beard series by Carole P. Roman.
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Strangers On The High Seas
A Captain No Beard Story #4
by Carole P. Roman
Genre: Adventure / Children’s Book
My Review
It’s a beautiful day on the high seas and the crew of the Flying Dragon are getting to know the newest member of the gang. Cayla, the cabin girl, is a bit young and they all take turns making sure she doesn’t get inot trouble. But trouble finds them.
A ship flying the Jolly Roger is heading their way. Oh no, it’s the Shark Bait pirate ship. They say the captain is so mean he bites his own tail. What will they do?
Oh boy, I got a case of the giggles reading this one. And I laughed out loud at how new crew member, Cayla inadvertently saved the day.
Each new book I read in this series just endears the characters to me more and I’m anxious to see who joins this zany pirate gang next.
Your kids will get the giggles too, and ooh and aah over the fun, colorful illustrations. Sure to be a big hit.
5 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
When the Flying Dragon gets a new crew member, Captain No Beard soon discovers that every person is valuable in his or her own way.Responsible for his new crew member and baby sister, the Captain becomes unhappy with his situation and begins to think that being a captain is hard work.
However, when the dreaded Barnabas the Scurvey Dog begins to chase the Flying Dragon, the fearless Captain has to put aside his problems and keep everyone safe. In their race to escape, the Captain, his loyal First Mate Hallie, Mongo the Monkey, Linus the Lion, Fribbet the Frog, and Polly Parrot soon find out that help can come from the most unlikely of places.
The Captain’s new award winning adventure is the charming fourth entry in the Captain No Beard children’s book series. With a delightful message that teaches children not to judge a book by its cover, this exciting journey will excite young readers as well as teach them valuable life lessons. While stressing the importance of never marginalizing someone because they don’t look like they can help or keep up, the adorable crew teaches children the importance of not talking to strangers. Filled with thrilling adventure, this amusing book will teach children the important lessons in their young lives, all while keeping then riveted from the very beginning.
The seas are calm and it’s a beautiful red sky morning on the Flying Dragon.. But Polly says to take heed. A storm is brewing. The crew doesn’t believe her so she explains what she read in a book.
Red sky in morning, sailor take warning. Red sky at night, a sailor’s delight. I learned some hand rhymes like this when I was young. There’s also one for poisonous coral snakes. Red on black, friend of Jack. Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Another snake is very similar to it and it helps you know which one is poisonous.
I love how the sailor’s poem prepared the crew for a storm they couldn’t even see yet. And all because Polly the parrot loves books.
They weather the storm and follow a treasure map to a small island to hunt for bounty. It’s what pirates do, don’t you know?
Oh, it was crazy cute what was in the treasure chest they dug up. Carole sure knows how to spin a charming, funny story.
Kids will want to go on a treasure hunt too. But they’ve already found it. It’s this wonderful book of adventure and imagination.
5 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
After a fierce battle with a storm, the crew goes in search of treasure. Alexander, that is, Captain No Beard uses a map to locate it on the ominous sounding Snake Island. Bravely they dig until they find the best treasure ever!
Welcome to my Monday Minis where I share shorter reviews of books I’ve read.
I’m reading this cute, fun series By Carole P. Roman called Captain No Beard.
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An Imaginary Tale Of A Pirate’s Life
A Captain No Beard Story
by Carole P. Roman
Genre: Adventure / Children’s Book
My Review
It’s a busy day on the Flying Dragon and all hands are on deck for a new adventure. But before they set sail, the pirates all have their assigned chores to do. Then its off to sea, where they battle a raging storm and a mysterious voice from the deep to get back home.
What a charming story.
Alexander is a young boy with a big imagination. His crew is made up of stuffed animals and his cousin and first mate, Hallie.
I adored the fun character’s in Carole’s story, such as Fribbet the frog, Mongo the monkey and Captain No Beard. And the illustrations were colorful and busy.
This crew of pirates set my imagination to buzzing, remembering when I was young and all of the flights of fancy I had then. And while there’s lessons to be learned, they’re subtle and add to the fun.
A story to be shared and read over and over again, the adventure will never get old and the lively illustrations will reveal something new each time.
5 Stars
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Description
Captain No Beard and his pirate ship The Flying Dragon set sail for a voyage of the imagination with his fearless crew of four: First Mate Hallie, Mongo the Monkey, Linus the loudmouthed lion, and Fribbit the floppy frog. Normally a young boy named Alexander, his cousin Hallie, and three stuffed animals, once they board his bed their world is transformed into a magical vessel, sailing the seven seas on dangerous and exciting adventures!
Captain No Beard – An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate’s Life named to Kirkus Reviews’ BEST OF 2012 for Children’s Indie Books, and garnered the star of remarkable merit!
There’s a new member on the crew of the Flying Dragon. Before they can set sail, Pepper the Parrot must learn the drills. Pepper can’t tell left from right and keeps getting frustrated. It’s up to the crew to help her learn and to accept that some things take time and practice.
Carole once again makes learning fun with her lovable band of pirates. I fell in love with them all over again. And every page shares delightful illustrations that will charm both parent’s and children.
I love these pirates. How they work together. Help each other overcome obstacles. And all end up happy and ready for the next adventure.
Another extraordinary children’s tale, sure to get plenty of bedtime story requests.
5 Stars
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Description
The crew of the Flying Dragon is sailing again. This time, new crew member, Pepper Parrot is having a hard time keeping up with the drills. Captain No Beard and his mates join together to help Pepper achieve her goals with patience and tolerance.
Captain No Beard always says being captain is hard work. He thinks he has to be best. That he knows all. But when his crew doesn’t do what he wants, he gets mad and decides he doesn’t need them. Until he does.
A fun story about having friends but also being one. And that it’s okay to ask for help. You don’t have to do everything yourself. I’m sure many kids will identify with that.
The lively illustrations tell the story as much as the words do. I continue to be charmed by these rambunctious pirates.
This is the third book in the series and I love that a new character was added. I wonder who the next one will be and what challenge they will face. I’m sure it will be fun to find out.
5 Stars
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Description
When the wind stops blowing, Captain No Beard and his crew, including First Mate Hallie, Linus the Lion, Fribbet the Frog, Mongo the Monkey and Polly the Parrot, are stuck on a desert
island. Marooned with nothing to do, they begin to play and enjoy themselves. However, Captain No Beard has other ideas, bossing his crew around and making playtime cheerless for everyone. Soon, Captain No Beard decides he has had enough and storms off. When his ship is attacked by a giant squid, he realizes he needs his crew more than ever.
Captain No Beard and his crew show young readers that’s it’s important to cooperate and share your belongings. The crew teaches us that if you want to have friends, then you must be a friend too.
Another week of not much happening. Work was slow and I had a couple of extra days off. The weather has been wonderful. Cool nights and warm days so I worked in the yard, cleaning out the dead stuff and spiffing everything up.
I was so tempted to start decorating for Christmas. It takes time to get everything the way I want and then it’s almost time to take it back down.
Been doing a bunch of reading. So many of them were really good too. I realized most of them weren’t my holiday books so I’m starting on those now. Other than that, just watching the telly and taking some naps. The daylight savings time makes it get dark so early I struggle to stay awake.
I hope you all had a fabulous week and thanks for stopping by!
*****
My new books this week.
*****
And here are some FREEBIES for ya. Click on the covers to get your copies. Remember to make sure they’re still free before you hit that buy button.
*****
Books I reviewed this week. Click on the covers to read my reviews.
Welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share books that, well, make you scream!
I’ve got a couple wicked ones to share today. How do you like your mermaids. Pretty and sweet…or dark and lethal?
Rolling In The Deep
Rolling In The Deep #0.5
By Mira Grant
Genre: Horror / Mermaids
My Review
What a rush. For a short story it sure came packing a lot of terror and bloody mayhem. And we like that, don’t we?
I like how the story is presented. It’s like found footage, only in words instead of tapes. And you don’t miss a thing.
With failing ratings, Imagine Network discovers its golden ticket when they decide to do a documentary on mermaids. Many believe they exit and others scoff. Mermaid, myth or real? The Atargatis sets sail hoping to delve the depths and find answers. They travel to the an area far from land, anchoring over the deepest part of the ocean, in an place known for mysterious disappearances.
Along with Image Network members, scientists with studies in several areas, and a film crew to document everything, an unusual group is included. Professional performing mermaids. Partly for show and also to provide a mermaid sighting if the real ones deign to avail themselves. I really liked the gals with tails. The descriptions of the many colored mermaids was amazing. I could see them cavorting and dashing about in the water.
Just as visual was the description of the real mermaids. They claw up from the depths, scale the ship, and devour their bounty. Slimy, gray things with mouths full of needle sharp teeth and cold lifeless black eyes like a shark. I admit I have a fondness for the pretty, sparkly mermaids, but I’ll always go for the scary ones. The ones of nightmares. I feel if we ever do find real ones, they’ll be a lot more like these.
Knowing the outcome, that none survived, didn’t take away from my enjoyment while reading this book. In fact, it heightened my curiosity and excitement. I was going to get my evil mermaids and a high body count.
What I didn’t expect was how easily I connected with some characters. This isn’t a long book but I came to know and care for several of them. And then there were those I felt deserved to become mermaid poop.
I was hooked before I even started reading Rolling In The Deep. Just look at that spectacular cover art. Read that thrilling blurb. This was horror fodder for me and I read it in one bloody, happy gulp.
5 Stars
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Synopsis
When the Imagine Network commissioned a documentary on mermaids, to be filmed from the cruise ship Atargatis, they expected what they had always received before: an assortment of eyewitness reports that proved nothing, some footage that proved even less, and the kind of ratings that only came from peddling imaginary creatures to the masses.
They didn’t expect actual mermaids. They certainly didn’t expect those mermaids to have teeth.
This is the story of the Atargatis, lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy. Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the bathypelagic zone in the Mariana Trench…and the depths are very good at keeping secrets.
After devouring and loving Rolling In The Deep, I couldn’t wait to get on the ocean, set sail, and see how this next venture would wind up.
It’s been seven years since all were lost on the Atargatis. It’s no longer top news and many think it was a hoax. Imagine Network isn’t done yet. They commission a new ship, a much larger crew, security guards, and supposedly failproof systems to protect them from what they now know lives under the waves, deep in the Marianna Trench.
Among the crew is a girl who wants vengeance, a reporter trying to make her name, two big game hunters looking to add mermaid heads to their walls, more scientists than you can shake a stick at, and some who feel it’s their duty to be there.
There is a lot more character development in this second book. It’s a longer story and I needed that. Sure, I couldn’t wait for the mermaid scenes, and there were were plenty of crazy ones, but I wanted to care about the character’s, feel their hopes and fears, and worry for their safety. I also wanted to select the ones I’d feed to the mermaids. It’s fun to have some that you loathe. I imagine how they might meet their sticky ends. And Mira Grant doesn’t disappoint with any of this.
And the mermaids. We learn quite a bit about them. We already know they’re killers. Now we find out what they really are. What it might mean to mankind, and the world. Scary stuff, indeed.
If you like your mermaids dark and lethal, you’ll love this one. You don’t have to have read Rolling In The Deep to enjoy it. Mira does a great job of filling in the blanks without breaking the easy flow of the story. But why miss out on more fun. I’d recommend you read them both.
And I’m hoping for more in this series. That titillating ending has me crossing my fingers that the author hasn’t weighed anchor on these mermaids yet.
5 Stars
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Synopsis
New York Times bestselling author Mira Grant, author of the renowned Newsflesh series, returns with a novel that takes us to a new world of ancient mysteries and mythological dangers come to life.
Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy.
Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.
Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves.
Did you happen to catch the Animal Planet Documentary, Mermaids The Body Found, when it came out? Here’s a short clip supposedly capturing a real mermaid on video from a deep sea submersible.
This is my stop during the book blitz for the Moto Maddie BMX Portal series by Kat de Falla. This book blitz is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 6 till 19 November. See the tour schedule here.
Flying Mutant Zombie Rats (Moto Maddie BMX Portal #1) By Kat de Falla Genre: Fantasy Age category: Middle Grade
My Review
I confess, the cool cover and title were the first things to catch my attention. Once I read the blurb, I was in for the fun.
Pea O’Neil is stoked. Summer vacation is starting today and the super cool new BMX track is open and calling his name. He’s been practicing his back flip and can’t wait to show off with his friends. He’s nailing it until…. something knocks him flying. He’s accidentally opened a portal to another dimension and nasty mutant zombie rats come pouring out, eyes glowing red, teeth gnashing, and they have wings.
It’s a race against time to stop the horde of rats, especially after his cranky neighbor gets bitten and starts to act strange.
This brought back so many memories for me. That last day of school, the last bell rings, and the mad dash to freedom. I lived on a dead end street and there were tons of kids in my neighborhood. Pea and his pals remind me many of the kids from back then. The camaraderie and competition between them brings on the excitement as they battle the otherworldly rats. I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the weapons they come up with.
Brave boys battling mutant zombie rats in order to save the world. And a smart aleck talking cat. What’s not to love?
4 Stars
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Blurb:
Summer vacation is almost here! And Pea O’Neil is stoked to try out the new local BMX track which is finally open. He and his gang of friends can ride all summer long!
But when Pea tries a back flip, he unwittingly opens a portal to another dimension and hordes of flying mutant zombie rats are unleashed upon the city. With the help of an otherworldly talking cat sent to help prevent the demise of humankind, Pea and his friends must hunt down the hungry mutants and send them back before the portal closes.
But when the zombie rats attack a neighbor man, the boys have to enlist the help of a graveyard looney and the city’s stray cats. With time running out, Pea and his gang track the monsters to the city’s sewer system. But in the city sewer of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, it’s eat…or get eaten.
You can find Flying Mutant Zombie Rats on Goodreads
You can buy Flying Mutant Zombie Rats for only $0.99 on Amazon
Flying Mutant Zombie Rats is available to read with Kindle Unlimited.
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Slime Spewing Vampire Velociraptors (Moto Maddie BMX Portal #2) By Kat de Falla Genre: Fantasy Age category: Middle Grade
My Review
The boys are back in action. They thought it was all over when they closed the portal, stopping the mutant zombie rat invasion. But another strange events opens it again and out come some slime spewing vampire velociraptors, armed with huge fangs and a raging hunger.
After the previous invasion, most adults scoffed at the boys claims of zombie rats. But they can’t ignore the velociraptors rampaging through their streets leaving trails of glowing slime.
Pea’s father is bitten while trying to capture the creatures and the infection is taking hold. Max, the talking cat, and now the O’Neil’s family pet, along with the boys and some believing adults must race against time to save Pea’s dad and stop another otherworldly invasion.
More fun and creative antics await you in this second installment in the Moto Maddie BMX series. Some of my favorite parts have to do with Pea’s two step-brothers They’re big bullies and love to torment Pea, taunting him, beating him up, and doing all this away from their parent’s prying eyes. Made me kind of wish the dinos would chomp them and reminded me, in a round about way, of Cinderella. LOL
Just like in the first book, there’s plenty of action and creative solution solving to keep you laughing and cheering on the characters. I hope the author keeps this series rolling.
4 Stars
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Blurb:
When Pea opened a portal and the alien cat, Max Gigan, jumped through from another dimension, he certainly didn’t expect the talking tomcat to stay on as a family pet. He soon learns it can come in handy to have a fur ball from an alternate universe around when his friend re-opens the portal letting in vampire velociraptors who want to slime and eat the whole city!
Pea’s dad is one of the first infected. But his dear old dad isn’t the only one. The dinosaurs escape the museum where the portal opened, and rampage through Milwaukee. As Pea’s dad gets sicker, the BMX gang joins together with the feline army to corner the raptors and use them to develop an antidote. But Pea’s meddling step-monster brothers threaten to ruin everything! A city wide alert goes out for the misidentified “turkeys” while Pea and his gang try to stay ahead of the hunt.
Can the kids capture the dinos and get them home before they control everyone with their vampire powers? Will Pea’s dad remain infected forever?
Join Pea and his gang in their battle against the SLIME SPEWING VAMPIRE VELOCIRAPTORS.
You can find Slime Spewing Vampire Velociraptors on Goodreads
You can buy Slime Spewing Vampire Velociraptors for only $0.99 on Amazon
Slime Spewing Vampire Velociraptors is available to read with Kindle Unlimited.
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About the Author:
Author Kat de Falla was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she learned to roller-skate, ride a banana seat bike, and love Shakespeare thanks to her high school English teacher. Four years at the UW-Madison wasn’t enough, so she returned to her beloved college town for her Doctor of Pharmacy degree and is happily employed as a retail pharmacist where she fills prescriptions and chats with her patients. She is married to her soulmate, classical guitarist, Lee de Falla and raising four kids together ala the Brady Bunch.
I do love a good cozy and I’m always looking for a new one. The clever title and whimsical cover caught my attention immediately. I thought this could be a fun one.
Claire works with her grandfather at their shop, The Rescued Word. I love that name. It’s a typewriter repair shop and they also restore old books and sell paper supplies. Sounds like a place I could spend time in. And the location for their shop is fun too, Bygone Alley. We have some side streets like these in the town I live in and they have such unique little shops hidden in them.
When a man comes in demanding a typewriter be given to him that was earlier dropped off for repair by someone else, he gets irate and the police are called. They take a closer look at the typewriter and something is strange about it. Later the man is found dead and the mystery begins.
I enjoyed visiting Star City. Who doesn’t want to spend time in a ski resort. The isolation made the mystery more intriguing too. Lots of strangers to add to the suspect list.
Many of the characters were a joy to meet and I loved the friendship between Claire and Jodie. Jodie’s her friend but also a cop and she could be one or the other as needed.
A fun, frisky cozy with genuine characters and a good spin on a mystery, I’m glad I read To Helvetica And Back. I’ll be back for more.
4 Stars
Read by Marguerite Gavin
Marguerite did a wonderful job telling this fun tale. I sat back and enjoyed her pleasing voice. And sat up when she got to the dicey parts. I hope she continues to tell this series.
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Thanks so much to Tantor Audio and the author for the complimentary copy.
My review is voluntarily given.
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Synopsis
Star City is known for its slopes and its powder. But nestled in the valley of this ski resort town is a side street full of shops that specialize in the simple charms of earlier eras. One of those shops is the Rescued Word, where Chester Henry and his adult granddaughter Clare lovingly repair old typewriters and restore old books. Who ever thought their quaint store would hold the key to some modern-day trouble?
When a stranger to town demands they turn over an antique Underwood typewriter they’re repairing for a customer, Clare fears she may need to be rescued. A call to the police scares the man off, but later Clare finds his dead body in the back alley. What about a dusty old typewriter could possibly be worth killing for?
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