Posts Tagged ‘review’

Antarctic Ice Beasts ~ Need I Say More…..

Posted: March 2, 2019 in horror, New Release, reviews
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Not too long ago I posted about the upcoming release of Hunter Shea’s newest book, Antarctic Ice Beasts. I sat down and read it in one night and now have my review to share with you.. Horror fans are gonna want to grab their copy. Just click on the cover or link to get yours.

Antarctic Ice Beasts

by Hunter Shea

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My Review

I have been reading a lot of books set in inclement weaher conditions, especially in Antarctica. I was beyond thrilled when I spotted Hunter’s upcoming new release in his newsletter. Went right over and ordered me a copy and dove in the minute it showed up.

You know the skinny from reading the blurb, but just in case, here’s a brief recap. The crew of US Freedom Base, located in the worst part of Antarctica, are staying through the long, dark winter. Conditions are bad. A  huge storm is blowing outside and they’re worried if the structures can withstand it. Then, they learn an even worse storm is following close on it’s heels. But they have far worse things to fear. Another storm is coming. It’s not the weather. It’s not human. It’s something other. None of them may survive until help can arrive. And who knows when that will be.

Hunter never wastes time on dropping you right in the thick of things. I met the characters. Got to know some. Like some. Not like some so much. Then the things came knocking on the door. Or rather, trying to knock it down. They weren’t what I was expecting. In fact, the way the rest of the story went wasn’t what I was expecting. That’s okay. The author threw me a curve ball and gave me bloody violence, characters to use as chum, monsters of a most unusual and creepy kind and a twist to the story that, while it felt like he was reaching somewhat, sure did have me poring over each word, making sure I grasped it right and didn’t miss anything.

 I would say this fell between three and four stars for me. As I don’t do half star ratings I always bump it up. While I might not have got the story I thought I was going to get, it was a goodie. And Hunter can surprise me anytime. I’ll keep coming back for more.

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Synopsis

The South Pole in winter is one of the deadliest places on Earth. The seven person crew of the US Freedom Base lives alone in months of utter darkness with no hope of help or rescue. A freak storm batters the walls and threatens to expose them to the deadly cold. All they can do is wait…and pray.

The ground quakes. An alien screech rips through the night. There’s something, or someone, lurking outside. Fists bang on the walls. Each tiny crack in the base spells death by hypothermia.

Untold horrors have come to Freedom Base…and they want in!

Amazon

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Author Hunter Shea

Hunter Shea is the product of a misspent childhood watching scary
movies, reading forbidden books and wishing Bigfoot would walk past
his house. He’s the author of over 17 books, including The
Jersey Devil (Pinnacle 2016)), Tortures of the
Damned (Pinnacle 2015), and We Are Always
Watching (Sinister Grin). Hunter’s novels can even be found on
display at the International Cryptozoology Museum. The Montauk
Monster (Pinnacle 2014) was named one of the best reads of the
summer by Publishers Weekly. He was selected to be part of the
launch of Samhain Publishing’s new horror line in 2011 alongside
legendary author Ramsey Campbell. His video podcast, Monster
Men, is one of the most watched horror podcasts in the world. Living
with his crazy and supportive family and two cats, he’s happy to be
close enough to New York City to see the skyline without having to
pay New York rent.

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Adina Donati, Accidental Sleuth Series ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Posted: February 27, 2019 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, reviews
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Think Murder
Adina Donati, Accidental Sleuth Book 1
By Cassidy Salem
Genre: Cozy Mystery
 
Good friends, wine and conversation… Great fun – until somebody turns
up dead.
Adina Donati came to Washington D.C. to find excitement, not a dead body.
When a friend is murdered, Adina is drawn into the middle of the
police investigation. Tensions rise as the suspect list expands to
include Adina, her friends, and colleagues at the prestigious think
tank where she works. But every cloud has a silver lining. Between
the nice detective, the hot new volunteer at the dog rescue center,
and the newly available preppy ex-boyfriend, Adina’s dating dry
spell appears near its end. That is, if she doesn’t become the next victim.
 
 
Dying For Data
Adina Donati, Accidental Sleuth Book 2
 
A rival suitor and a deadly attack are enough to put a damper on any date.
A romantic evening with a hot guy goes downhill fast when dinner is
interrupted by the scream of sirens and the arrival of Adina’s
favorite police detective.  
Afraid her bartender boyfriend might be accused of murder, Adina’s neighbor
enlists her assistance, and in the process exposes her to the seamier
side of illegal immigration and crime in the city. Hard as she tries
to limit her involvement, the more Adina learns, the more she needs
to know – until a case of mistaken identity lands her in hot water.
Will she uncover the truth before it’s too late?
 
 
Killer Reputation
Adina Donati, Accidental Sleuth Book 3
 
Adina can’t resist snooping when someone she knows turns up dead. Again.
When a colleague at a prestigious think tank meets a violent death,
Adina’s not convinced any of the obvious suspects disliked him
enough to want him dead. Can the young research assistant, her quirky
neighbor, and a lovable rescue pup help the police put together the
pieces of the puzzle?
Killer Reputation is the third mystery in the Adina Donati, Accidental
Sleuth Series by Cassidy Salem. The books are standalone reads and
can be read in any order.
 
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My Review

A violent attack. The victim recovers only to be found strangled several days later. Adina can’t let it go. The safety of people she cares about hangs in the balance. The assailant struck so close to home.

This was a fun, quick read. Finished it in a couple hours. There’s a bit of a mystery in a mystery as the two attacks could be the same or two different assailants. I quickly grew to bond with several of the characters. Adina and her policeman boyfriend, Jonathan, were adorable. And retired policeman and neighbor Bart Crockett is someone I’d like to have living in my neighborhood. I spid a little romance brewing between Bart and Joan, owner of the Cutie Pie dog rescue center. His recent adoption of one of her puppies doesn’t appear to be the only reason she comes to visit.

While I haven’t read the previous books in the series. I had no trouble following along and enjoying the characters. And being a huge fan of cozies, I’m sure I’ll be going back to the beginning to see how the series began.

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Cassidy Salem has always been an avid reader. She is especially fond of
mysteries (both cozy and traditional) and police procedurals. Over
the years, her favorite mystery authors have included Agatha
Christie, Kathy Reichs, Mary Higgins Clark, and John Grisham. When
she’s not reading, she enjoys music and spending time with family and
friends, and travels with her husband and son whenever possible. Her
travels have taken her to destinations throughout the United States,
Europe, and Scandinavia.
Cassidy is the author of the Adina Donati Mystery Series, which includes
Think Murder, Dying for Data, and Killer Reputation. Cassidy
co-authors, together with Christa Nardi, a YA mystery series, which
includes The Mysterious Package, Mrs. Tedesco’s Missing Cookbook, The
Misplaced Dog, and Malicious Mischief.
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive content and a giveaway!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 
 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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No way could they have seen her coming ~ Moses & Mac by Franca Pelaccia

Posted: February 26, 2019 in Action/Adventure, Mystery, reviews
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Moses and Mac banner

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Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Book Tour for Franca Pelaccia’s Moses & Mac from Febraury 4th – 28th. I sure had a blast reading this book and I’m excited to share my review!

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Moses and Mac

 MOSES & MAC
Author: Franca Pelaccia
Publisher: Solstice Publishing
Pages: 303
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Adventure/Mystery

My Review

Mackenzie didn’t expect much for her 30th birthday. A cake would be nice. But it seems everyone forgot about her. No phone calls from family. Well, except for a strange package that arrived from her Aunt Sara. That can’t be right. Her aunt has been dead for some 30 years. Maybe it’s an elaborate ruse to throw her a surprise party.

Not so fast there, Mackenzie. I don’t think getting shot at by terrorists is a birthday party. A surprise yes. Before she can say we’re off, she is off on the adventure of a life time. She’s initiated into the Vatican Archaeological Service, VAS,  and is whisked off to foreign lands. Before her plane leaves the ground, bullets fly and the plane is blown up. It’s a race against time to stop global domination.

What a crazy, fun read. Mackenzie is a hoot. She’s just a normal gal turning 30 and now she’s off on adventures that could get her killed. More than one group is trying to kill her and she has to adapt and think on her feet. She finds she can do a lot of things she never would have considered and is growing to like it. Not bad for a Victorian Scholar.

The action is relentless and the pages are filled with character’s of all walk’s of life. Is the plot believable? Well, maybe or maybe not. It reminds me of The Da Vinci Code, only funnier and with some potential for romantic hanky panky. Did I enjoy Moses & Mac. You betcha. Lots of action, snark, sexual innuendo and surprising characters.

I like that the author included an epilogue answering some lingering questions about certain events and characters. There was a lot going on in this book and including it left me with questions answered and a satisfied feeling. Now that Mackenzie is finding her way place as a member of VAS, I’m excited to see where she lands next and whether it’s on her feet or on her rear end. Either way, it’ll be fun.

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Synopsis

On her dismal 30th birthday, unassuming Victorian scholar Mackenzie Braden receives a mysterious package from her Aunt Sara, urging her to locate Moses’ rod. The most powerful weapon in history will start global chaos if it lands in the wrong hands. Sara was an agent for the top-secret Vatican Archaeological Service. She has also been dead for 30 years and the agency dormant for just as long. Mackenzie’s only clue is a souvenir figurine of Moses, and except for hunky ex-military pilot Eoin Reilly, her allies are as inept as she is.

But nothing is going to stop Mackenzie from recharging her lacklustre life, fulfilling her mission, finding answers about her aunt, and making Eoin her birthday present. Armed with the figurine, Mackenzie sets off with Eoin for the Middle East. There she has to fend off a Ph.D. candidate turned terrorist, a dysfunctional family of treasure hunters, a fake Mossad operative, a manic former VAS agent, the underground tunnels of the Gaza Strip, and a whole lot of rocket launchers. But this is training for the ultimate confrontation with her aunt’s and now her greatest foe, a charming deposed Saudi prince with world domination on his mind.

Purchase link: Amazon

Author Franca Pelacci

Franca Pelaccia

 

Franca Pelaccia is the author of Moses & Mac, a fast-paced and lively action/adventure/mystery and the first book of the Vatican Archaeological Service series published by Solstice Publishing. The second book is tentatively entitled Mac & the Crusaders. Under the pseudonym of Kirsten Paul, Franca is the author of two romantic comedies for the Calendar Men of King Court series. The first book, The Hockey Player & the Angel will soon be published by the Wild Rose Press. The second book, The Detective & the Burglar is in progress. Writing as Francesca Pelaccia, Franca self-published The Witch’s Salvation, a historical paranormal novel, which won the Beck Valley Reviewers’ Choice Award for 2013. An avid reader, Franca reviews novels for the Historical Novels Society.

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook

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That Which Grows Wild ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: February 22, 2019 in Dark Fantasy, giveaways, horror, reviews, Short stories and collections
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That Which Grows Wild
by Eric J. Guignard
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Short Stories
 
That Which Grows Wild collects sixteen dark and masterful short stories by
award-winning author Eric J. Guignard. Equal parts whimsy and weird,
horror and heartbreak, this debut collection traverses the darker
side of the fantastic through vibrant and harrowing tales that depict
monsters and regrets, hope and atonement, and the oddly changing
reflection that turns back at you in the mirror.
Discover why Eric J. Guignard has earned praise from masters of the craft such
as Ramsey Campbell (“Guignard gives voice to paranoid vision that’s
all too believable.”), Rick Hautala (“No other young horror
author is better, I think, than Eric J. Guignard.”), and Nancy
Holder ( “The defining new voice of horror has arrived, and I stand
in awe.”)
Stories include:
• “A Case Study in Natural Selection and How It Applies to Love” – a
teen experiences romance, while the world slowly dies from rising
temperatures and increasing cases of spontaneous combustion.
• “Dreams of a Little Suicide” – a down-on-his-luck actor unexpectedly finds
his dreams and love in Hollywood playing a munchkin during filming of
The Wizard of Oz, but soon those dreams begin to darken.
• “The Inveterate Establishment of Daddano & Co.” – an aged undertaker
tells the true story behind the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, and
of the grime that accumulates beneath our floors.
• “A Journey of Great Waves” – a Japanese girl encounters, years later,
the ocean-borne debris of her tsunami-ravaged homeland, and the
ghosts that come with it.
• “The House of the Rising Sun, Forever” – a tragic voice gives dire
warning against the cycle of opium addiction from which, even after
death, there is no escape.
• “Last Days of the Gunslinger, John Amos” – a gunfighter keeps a decimated
town’s surviving children safe on a mountaintop from the incursion
of ferocious creatures… until a flash flood strikes.
Explore within, and discover a wild range upon which grows the dark, the
strange, and the profound.
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My Review
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I usually find that when reading a collection of short stories, some of them are great, some are okay and some miss the mark. I was thrilled to find that I was happy with all sixteen tales in That Which Grows Wild.

The book begins with A Case Study in Natural Selection and How It Applies to Love.  I’m a huge fan of dystopian and apocalyptic tales and this one adds human combustion to the mix. The fact that the author made it seem like something that could actually occur was like sprinkles on an ice cream cone. Tasty.

From there I went on to devour the book. I was expecting to need a break somewhere. For my interest to taper off. But, no. I kept right on to the end, encountering tormented beings, creatures big and small, aliens and ordinary people facing difficult and fantastical situations. But that wasn’t all I found. There were some deeply moving scenes and some characters I wanted to tuck under my wing and keep safe from harm.

I was going to list my favorites but I found myself adding another and then another. The writing is powerful and the stories intoxicating. Eric is a storyteller in the true sense of the word.

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Eric J. Guignard is a writer and editor of dark and speculative fiction,
operating from the shadowy outskirts of Los Angeles. He’s won the
Bram Stoker Award, been a finalist for the International Thriller
Writers Award, and a multi-nominee of the Pushcart Prize. His stories
and non-fiction have appeared in over one hundred genre and literary
publications such as “Nightmare Magazine,” “Black Static,” “Shock Totem,”
“Buzzy Magazine,” and “Dark Discoveries Magazine.” Outside the glamorous
and jet-setting world of indie fiction, Eric’s a technical writer and
college professor, and he stumbles home each day to a wife, children,
cats, and a terrarium filled with mischievous beetles.
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
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a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

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The Kid’s Korner #34 ~ The Firefly

Posted: February 20, 2019 in Children's books, horror, middle grade, reviews
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Welcome to The Kid’s Korner.

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 another spooky fun tale from Nancy Gray’s Spine Chillers!

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The Firefly (Spine Chillers)
by Nancy Gray

The Firefly

Genre: Horror
Age category: Middle Grade
Release Date: November 19, 2018

My Review

The fireflies appeared in autumn. Strange, as they’re only supposed to appear during the summer. Leila asked her mother for a net and jar to capture some in. They didn’t act like normal fireflies because… they weren’t. She spies something lurking in the woods. A bug man with skin the color of charcoal. She soon learns what it wants and has to make the toughest decision of her young life. Lives hang in the balance.

This book would have given me such shivers of delight when I was young. It did a pretty good job of doing that now. Leila was a brave little girl. Her love for her baby sister and her sense of right and wrong put her between a rock and a hard place and I admired her bravery.

The bug man was creepy as all get out. The author’s description had me visualizing a cross between a praying mantis and The Crooked Man. Once Leila confronted the thing I knew she couldn’t defeat it by herself and was excited when she discovered the Spectral Investigator’s Society. It’s supposed to be a boys club but exceptions are made. Supernatural creatures don’t distinguish between boys and girls.

The story really picks up the pace as Leila realizes she doesn’t have to fight this battle alone and a plan is formed to stop the creature.  This is fiction, but how they kids rallied together and executed their trap reminded me so much of my childhood and how my friends and I would stand by each other, even when scared.

A good campfire tale to raise the goosebumps and make you jump at those bumps in the night.

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Synopsis

Leila’s sister has come down with a terrible fever that the doctors can’t explain. It started with the fireflies that mysteriously appeared in November, and then when she was visited by “the bug man.” When Leila confronts the FIREFLY that has made her sister sick she must make a terrible choice to save her sister or offer it another victim to satiate its terrible appetite! The monster needs to feed on blood and it needs another body to inhabit. His eyes are set on Leila!

You can find The Firefly on Goodreads

You can buy The Firefly on Amazon

Nancy GrayAbout the Author:
Nancy Gray has published a number of works including her young adult fantasy series Blood Rain. Her short story “Chosen” appeared in Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Author Quest: a Penguin Special from Grosset & Dunlap. Her work also appears in various anthologies.
Nancy Gray has been writing for over ten years. Gray lives in South Carolina with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys books, video games, anime, manga, and horror.

Other Works by Nancy Gray:
Blood Rain
Blood Moon
Blood God
Spine Chillers: The Scarecrow
Spine Chillers: Big Bad Wolf
Spine Chillers: The Beast of Black Pond
Spine Chillers: Empty Eyes
Spine Chillers: The Firefly

You can find and contact Nancy Gray here:
– Website
– Blog
– Facebook
– Goodreads

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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The Puppy Who Knew Too Much ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: February 19, 2019 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, reviews
Tags: , ,
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The Puppy Who Knew Too Much

A Dog Club Mystery

by V.M. Burns

43354588
The Puppy Who Knew Too Much (A Dog Club Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Lyrical Underground (February 12, 2019)
Paperback: 190 pages
ISBN-10: 1516107918
ISBN-13: 978-1516107919
Digital ASIN: B07D233MVK

My Review

Lilly is eager for a fresh start. Three months ago her cheating husband was murdered and she was the prime suspect. She’s finally cleared of suspicion and moves to Chattanooga and a new beginning, Her tiny poodle, Aggie, isn’t so keen on the move and finds creative ways to make it known. Fate is on Lilly’s side and she finds the perfect rental house and a great new job at the museum. But her rosy new life hits a bump in the road when she stumbles upon a dead body. Then her new house is ransacked. She won’t sit idly by when her new beginning is threatened.

I was surprised when I reached the end of this book. It felt like I’d just started it. I was immediately charmed by the characters. Lilly is so authentic and likable and would be such a great friend to have. Some other favorites are her boss and co-worker at the museum. I loved how they welcomed Lilly, made her feel at home, and how they actually used some of the antique pieces. Dixie is the perfect best friend. And her daughter and son-in-law are very supportive and a great couple. As for the grouchy neighbor, I couldn’t wait to see if she could win him over. The author brought them all to life and I had such fun getting to know them.

I don’t want to forget the other characters. The four legged ones. So many dogs in this book. I say, the more the merrier. Each have their own personalities and charms. And the part where Lilly’s daughter rescues a stray golden retriever had me almost in tears. So sweet.

The mystery here wasn’t easily solved. There were some obvious suspects and then some that lurked off the radar. I picked my culprit and followed the story closely, sniffing out clues, wandering off the obvious paths, and I was wrong. What a fun surprise.

This is my first book by V. M. Burns and I’m thrilled to discover another cozy author and series. I’ll be following these characters to their next adventure and I’ll miss them til we meet again.

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Lilly Echosby and her toy poodle Aggie find a fresh start in Chattanooga, Tennessee, spoiled by the scent of murder . . .

Having solved the shooting death of her cheating husband, Lilly’s left behind the drama of Lighthouse Dunes, Indiana, to start over in the hometown of her best friend, Scarlett “Dixie” Jefferson. As she gets settled in her new rented house, Lilly gives Aggie, short for Agatha Christie, her own fresh start by enrolling her in the Eastern Tennessee Dog Club, where Dixie is a trainer.

But drama seems to hound Lilly like a persistent stray. Her cranky new neighbor appears unfamiliar with Southern hospitality and complains that Aggie barks too much and digs up his prized tulips. But what the poodle actually unearths is the buried body of a mysterious man who claimed ownership of the lost golden retriever Lilly recently rescued. Now it’s up to Lilly and Dixie to try to muzzle another murderer . . .

Author V.M. Burns

V.M. Burns was born in Northwestern Indiana and spent many years in Southwestern Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline. She is a lover of dogs, British historic cozies, and scones with clotted cream. After many years in the Midwest, she went in search of milder winters and currently lives in Eastern Tennessee with her poodles. Her debut novel, The Plot is Murder was nominated for a 2017 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and a lifetime member of  Sisters in Crime. Readers can learn more by visiting her website at vmburns.com

Author Links:

  Website / Facebook / Twitter

Purchase Links – Amazon –  Barnes & Noble – IndieBound:  – Books-A-Million – Kobo

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This counts towards my They Call It Puppy Love Challenge

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Freakin Fridays #68 ~ Unidentified by Michael McBride

Posted: February 15, 2019 in Aliens, audible, horror, reviews, Science Fiction
Tags: , , , ,
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Welcome to Freakin Fridays, where I share my reviews of books that scare you, thrill you, and get those endorphins pumping.

I’ve been delving back into some science fiction. Those of you who know me won’t be surprised that this also has elements of horror. It’s time for some aliens!

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Unidentified

by Michael McBride

Narrator: Joe Hempel
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: July 10, 2018
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length:  2 hrs. and 24 mins.
Genre: Horror / Science Fiction
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My Review

The opening scene is from 40 years ago. A group of friends slowly regain consciousness, battered and confused about what had happened to them.  Flash forward 40 years and the suicide of one of the group. The event brings them back to the place they’d hoped never to return to. It was time to dust off the buried memories they couldn’t outrun and once and for all put an end to them.

This is a fairly short story and I think that worked well. I was quickly filled in on past events and the author kept the momentum of the story moving right along as the story leapt to the present and the scary stuff began.

Ever wondered about those reported cattle mutilations? Does the government know who or what is behind them?  Michael McBride took those elements and gave me quite the scary read. He also kept me guessing. What really happened to all of those missing people? Was it aliens or wasn’t it?

As the childhood friends meet up 40 years later they have their own set of questions. Did they stop it all those years ago or did whoever or whatever was doing the killings just learn to hide their actions better? How could they not be discovered? This is where it got particularly creepy. As the characters get their answers so did I, and they weren’t what I was expecting. I leapt to one conclusion and then to another and back again.

I wish I could share how it all ends. Another surprise.

Did I enjoy Unidentified? Yes, I did. Especially when the story took a surprising and creepy turn. Would I recommend it? Sure enough. It’s a fun spin on alien’s that would make a great movie.

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 Read by Joe Hempel

Joe Hempel did a good with the creepy scenes and I could easily tell which character was speaking. He made this a fun experience and I’d gladly listen to him again.

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Synopsis

Four teenagers awaken in a scorched cornfield with no memory of how they got there. All they know is that there were five of them when they found the carcass of the mutilated cow.

Forty years later, Eric Devlin sends a cryptic email to the other three survivors: I remember everything.

Karl Doering has spent the majority of his life trying to understand what happened that night and learn the fate of his missing friend. He responds to the mysterious message and finds that Eric has killed himself in a decrepit barn, behind which is a cornfield filled with mutilated cattle.

When a local girl goes missing, Karl realizes that he and the other two survivors are her only hope. To find her they must confront repressed memories so traumatic they’d driven Eric to take his own life . . . and creatures straight out of their worst nightmares.

Amazon / B&N / Tantor

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The above cover is for the audible edition.

Here are some additional covers.

33285353  38310393

Which do you like more?

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Who survives the Night Shift

Posted: February 9, 2019 in reviews, Science Fiction
Tags: ,
18

Got a chilly one for you today. Thanks to Flame Tree Press I received this beautiful paperback ARC of Night Shift by Robin Triggs and I’m happy to share my review with you.

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 Night Shift

  by Robin Triggs

39654846

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Genre: Science Fiction

 My  Review

I was really wanting to love this. Stories that are set in Antarctica are a big draw for me. The harshness of frigid temps and the isolation from society. It brings group dynamics into play. Another favorite aspect for me.

It was fascinating to see how this group of miners would handle the challenges that were thrown at them. The long night is coming. A new Chief of Security, Anders Norvekdt, arrives. The crew lacks confidence in his abilities as the winter over starts. His own self doubt is evident and when the commander’s body is found frozen outside and communication with the outside world goes down, he’s the likely suspect. But, trust is in short supply, and the crew also turn their suspicions on each other.

Who would fall to the hunger, fear and isolation and who would rise to lead was the best part of this story. I can’t say it was the character’s personalities. I didn’t warm up to any of them. And I was disappointed in the world building. I gathered it was in the near future as the mining operation was a last ditch hope to discover a new energy source to keep society alive. But it was never really explained. You’re left to draw your own conclusions.

The last quarter of the book was pretty thrilling. As the last remaining crew members have to rely on each other to survive, despite their mistrust, their situation gets more dire. Lack of food and water and a way to stay warm force them into smaller and smaller locations. The author put me in their shoes as they despair, grow weaker and weaker. Crammed together, they wait for the night shift to end.

 The issues that kept me from loving this book weren’t major, yet, they did add up. I can say I never wanted to stop reading and I did enjoy it.

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Synopsis

Antarctica. A mining base at the edge of the world. Anders Nordvelt is over-promoted and he knows it. Arriving at Australis base on the last transport before the long night falls, he is to take over as Chief of Security. It should be an easy job. The crew have all been rigorously psychoanalysed and he’s there only because the rulebook says the position must be filled. The biggest challenge Anders anticipates is to find his place within an established group. But shortly after his arrival communications to the outside world are cut. Suspicion immediately falls upon Anders. It’s his job to uncover the culprit – but how can he find answers when the rest of the crew, bound by relationships, resentments and passions he knows nothing about, see him as the threat? Surely no-one can have crossed thousands of miles of wasteland – the sabotage must have been an inside job. But how could a criminal have got past the screening process? Then the commander’s body is found in the ice. The running of the base falls to the senior staff, Anders included, but there is open hostility towards him. Only the uncertain support of the engineer, Max, gives any hope. But can he trust her? Is he giving her too much leeway as it is? Amidst the fear the work must continue. In a world where every last scrap of fuel is precious, the minerals must keep flowing. But the attacks continue, leaving them with no heating and little food. As they shelter in a basement room, claustrophobia, starvation and madness become as big a threat as a murderer. Will Anders live long enough to find the killer? Will anyone survive the night shift, or will future explorers find only ice and frozen corpses in the last remaining wilderness on the planet? FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launching in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

Amazon / B&N

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Saturday Screams #61 ~ That Which Grows Wild

Posted: February 2, 2019 in Dark Fantasy, horror, reviews, Short stories and collections
Tags: , , ,
10

Welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share books that thrill and chill!

Today I’m sharing That Which Grows Wild, a collection of short stories by Eric J. Guignard. There’s a lot to offer in these pages, including some dark fantasy, horror and the bizarre.

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That Which Grows Wild

by Eric J. Guignard

40725558

Genre: Dark Fantasy / Horror / Short Stories

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My Review

I usually find that when reading a collection of short stories, some of them are great, some are okay and some miss the mark. I was thrilled to find that I was happy with all sixteen tales in That Which Grows Wild.

The book begins with A Case Study in Natural Selection and How It Applies to Love.  I’m a huge fan of dystopian and apocalyptic tales and this one adds human combustion to the mix. The fact that the author made it seem like something that could actually occur was like sprinkles on an ice cream cone. Tasty.

From there I went on to devour the book. I was expecting to need a break somewhere. For my interest to taper off. But, no. I kept right on to the end, encountering tormented beings, creatures big and small, aliens and ordinary people facing difficult and fantastical situations. But that wasn’t all I found. There were some deeply moving scenes and some characters I wanted to tuck under my wing and keep safe from harm.

 I was going to list my favorites but I found myself adding another and then another. The writing is powerful and the stories intoxicating. Eric is a storyteller in the true sense of the word.

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Synopsis

That Which Grows Wild collects sixteen dark and masterful short stories by award-winning author Eric J. Guignard. Equal parts whimsy and weird, horror and heartbreak, this debut collection traverses the darker side of the fantastic through vibrant and harrowing tales that depict monsters and regrets, hope and atonement, and the oddly changing reflection that turns back at you in the mirror.

Discover why, after only several years, Eric J. Guignard has developed an ardent following and earned praise by masters of the craft such as Ramsey Campbell (“Guignard gives voice to paranoid vision that’s all too believable.”) and Rick Hautala (“No other young horror author is better, I think, than Eric J. Guignard.”)

Table of Contents includes:

A Case Study in Natural Selection and How It Applies to Love
Last Days of the Gunslinger, John Amos
Momma
Footprints Fading in the Desert
The House of the Rising Sun, Forever
The Inveterate Establishment of Daddano & Co.
Last Night…
Those Who Watch From On High
Vancouver Fog
A Curse and a Kiss
Whispers of the Earth
A Serving of Nomu Sashimi
Certain Sights of an Afflicted Woman
A Journey of Great Waves
A Quaint Ol’ Bigfoot Tale
Dreams of a Little Suicide

Amazon / B&N / Kobo

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The Current by Tim Johnston

Posted: January 31, 2019 in Mytery/Thriller, reviews
Tags: , ,
24

The Current

by Tim Johnston

36387759

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

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My Review

Sometimes I think reading the synopsis for a book spoils the reading experience for me. Not in this case. Instead, in my eagerness to know what happened to the two young women on that cold, dark night, I made sure I set aside plenty of time to savor the story. I knew this was going to be a straight through read for me.

The two girls weren’t friends, but then they were.  How that came to be was a great idea by the author. It  made the girls real and likable. I quickly formed a connection with them and it saddened me. I knew the events of that night would leave one of them dead. It had me wishing I could change the outcome. That, to me, is a sure sign the rest of the book will take me places I might not want to go, make me feel things on a higher level and, perhaps, give me an ending I wish were different. Not that that is a bad thing.

All of those feelings, and that’s just the beginning of the book. What comes next is a string of events and reveals that had me both holding my breath, wringing my hands and thinking, oh no, that did not just happen.

I read Descent, another of Tim Johnston’s books. I liked his writing and how he could pen genuine characters and have me thinking I knew what was going to happen and then taking the story in a whole other direction. I got more of that with The Current. And a boatload more suspense. Lovers of this genre need to grab a copy and dive in. Just remember to breathe.

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Synopsis

A Stunning New Novel from the Bestselling Author of Descent

Tim Johnston, whose 2015 national bestseller Descent was called “astonishing” by the Washington Post and “unforgettable” by the Miami Herald, returns with another tour de force about the indelible impact of acrime on the lives of innocent people.

When two young women leave their college campus in the dead of winter for a 700-mile drive north to Minnesota, they suddenly find themselves fighting for their lives in the icy waters of the Black Root River, just miles from home. One girl’s survival, and the other’s death—murder, actually—stun the citizens of a small Minnesota town, thawing memories of another young woman who lost her life in the same river ten years earlier, and whose killer may yet live among them. One father is forced to relive his agony while another’s greatest desire—to bring a killer to justice—is revitalized . . . and the girl who survived the icy plunge cannot escape the sense that she is connected to that earlier unsolved case by more than a river. Soon enough she’s caught up in an investigation of her own that will unearth long-hidden secrets, and stoke the violence that has long simmered just below the surface of the town. Souls frozen in time, ghosts and demons, the accused and the guilty, all stir to life in this cold northern place where memories, like treachery, run just beneath the ice, and where a young woman can come home but still not be safe.

Brilliantly plotted, unrelentingly suspenseful, and beautifully realized, The Current is a gripping page-turner about how the past holds the key to the future as well as an unbreakable grip on the present.

Amazon / B&N

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

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