Sisters of Blood and Spirit ~ By Kady Cross – 3.5 Stars

Tags

Ghost Stories, Horror, Paranormal, Twins, YA Fiction

  This e-ARC was provided to me by NetGalley and Harlequin Teen in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: 3/31/15

Lark and Wren Noble are not your average twins. Lark is living, but Wren died at birth, and she only exists through her sister. It’s hard enough being a teenager, but when when you have a dead sister tagging along and at times taking over your your body, well, you become something of an outcast. Lark finally decides it would be easier to join Wren in the Shadow Lands, but her suicide attempt is thwarted by a classmate and instead she winds up at New Devon’ s mental hospital. Newly released, she’s approached by her savior and a small group of classmates who have been marked for death by a malevolent spirit, and now both Lark and Wren may be their only hope of surviving.

I’m a huge fan of The Steampunk Chronicles series by Kady Cross, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading Sisters of Blood and Spirit. I can now say this is completely different than her other books and it’s a unique take on the paranormal. The worldbuilding is intriguing, although I wish there had been more included about the Shadow Lands. The plot was fast paced and exciting with plenty of chills and thrills. It actually reminded me of the tv show Supernatural with it’s references to “meat-suits” and it’s rules regarding iron and salt. I kept imagining Lark and Dean teaming up. I loved Lark who is a mix of snarkiness and vulnerability. Because of her treatment at the hands of her classmates and even her parents, she finds it very hard to trust people, and it was nice seeing her attitude thaw as the story progressed. Wren was an interesting character whose personality is the polar opposite of her sister’s and she serves as a counterbalance to her sister’s aloofness. At the same time sweet Wren also has a dark side which saves her from being too perfect. This is just touched upon, which brings me what I found problematic after finishing. I’m assuming this is the first book in what will be a series, but I wish there had been a little more regarding the sisters connection and their abilities. Was there anything in their family history to explain this? Also, the descriptions of the Shadow Lands were great, but I think it’s mysteries could have been explored a little more. To be perfectly fair, the book is under 300 pages, so there’s only so much that could be included. Hopefully the missing pieces will be part of the next book. 

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The Haunting of Sunshine Girl: Book One ~ By Paige McKenzie & Alyssa Sheinmel – 4.5 Stars

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Haunted Houses, Horror, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Paranormal Fiction, YA Fiction

 I received this e-book from NetGalley and Weinstein Books in exchange for an honest review.

Sixteen-year old Sunshine Griffith and her mother Kat move from sunny Austin, Texas, to the damp, dreary town of Ridgemont, Washington. Although adopted, Sunshine and Kat have always been especially close, but from the moment they arrive in their new home, a strange uneasiness springs up between them. Although Kat doesn’t seem to think there’s anything wrong, Sunshine knows there’s something creepy about the new house. In the days that follow, Sunshine begins to feel that they are not alone. She’s followed around the house by an icy breeze, and she keeps hearing the sound of a child’s laugh, which eventually turns into sobbing. Then there’s the moving of her belongings by unseen hands. It’s soon apparent to Sunshine that not only is the house haunted, but that her mother is in danger from a malevolent entity. Thankfully, she has her new friend Nolan to help her for she discovers that she’s not your typical teenager and that ultimately she is the only one who can save her mother. 

First of all I had no idea that this started as a YouTube series with Paige McKenzie playing the role of Sunshine. That’s actually her on the gorgeous cover. After reading the book, I’ve been catching up with the series and I must say it’s quite clever. I’m happy though that I hadn’t heard of it so I was able to jump into the book with no preconceived notions. The novel is a refreshingly original version of a classic ghost story. The strongest part of the story is Sunshine. She’s a well-adjusted teenager who isn’t exactly happy with moving halfway across the country when her mom gets a new job, but she understands the need for the move. Her relationship with Kat is so close that I had the impression she’d be fine living pretty much anywhere, as long as they were together. And that’s what makes it so heartbreaking when that relationship begins to unravel. Sunshine is quirky without being annoying. She loves wearing vintage clothes, much to the dismay of her best friend, and is a bit of a bookworm. She’s also pretty accepting of other people no matter their idiosyncrasies. Nolan is the perfect match for her and I found their budding romance sweet, without being a distraction. The tension slowly builds throughout the book beginning with the odd “Huh” moments to more “creeptastic” ones. I actually found myself wishing that things got a little more scary. Without giving away any spoilers, the mystery involves not only what is going on in the house, but what Sunshine’s destiny is, and peripherally what role is Nolan supposed to play. It’s evident from the conclusion that the story will be continuing and I’m very interested in seeing in what direction the authors take it. Meanwhile, I’ll have to be content catching up with the YouTube series.

The Strangler Vine ~ By M.J. Carter – 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Adventure, India, The East India Company, Victorian Historical Fiction

  I received this e-Arc from NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’ s Sons in exchange for an honest review. Release Date: 3/31/15

It’s 1837 and William Avery is a young Ensign in the East India Company, cooling his heels in Calcutta while he becomes increasingly frustrated at not being summoned to join the regiment in Bengal where all the action is. Instead, he’s being swindled by his servants and getting deeper into debt due to his fondness for card games. Then he’s assigned to accompany former Company agent Jeremiah Blake to track down a missing writer whose latest book threatens to expose secrets about not only Calcutta, but the Company itself. While they dislike each other quite heartily, it’s soon apparent that William and Jeremiah will have to trust each other if they’re to not only complete their mission, but make it back to Calcutta alive. 

The Strangler Vine is a historical mystery that is rich in atmosphere. The descriptions of India are so gorgeously detailed that I felt as though I were there. The book doesn’t begin with a lot of action, but instead, slowly and steadily builds, letting you become acquainted with the characters and the customs of India. By the time the book finishes, young William and the older more jaded Jeremiah have survived beautiful but dangerous jungles, assassination attempts, possible attacks by the Thugees, and the increasing tensions between the English and Indians. I wasn’t that familiar with the history of English rule in India during this time so I found M.J. Carter’s detailed account fascinating. She describes India during the Victorian era in all it’s glory; including descriptive passages featuring the Indian hierarchy and politics, and the exquisite but at times deadly landscape. Adding another layer is her inclusion of actual key figures of the time. The characters were equally interesting, although I must admit I found William extremely annoying at first. Thankfully, Jeremiah who I loved, was a good, (or bad depending how you look at it!) influence. In a way this reminded me of a sleepier version of Indiana Jones. The ending of the book was a bit convoluted but ultimately satisfying and I’m looking forward to reading the next book featuring the odd couple of Avery and Blake.

One last note: I always consider a historical fiction novel a success if it’s made me want to research more about it’s subject, and that’s what happened with The Strangler Vine. I think it must be the librarian in me! I found myself looking up everything from the history of the East India Company to the political struggle between England and India’s royalty, to whether the Thugees really existed. 

Go Set A Watchman Cover Reveal!

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Harper Lee

How gorgeous is this cover? As you can see, it’s similar to that of it’s predecessor. Only 111 days to go. But who’s counting?

The Truth Is Out There!

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Science Fiction, X-Files TV Series

Much to the delight of X-Files fans everywhere, Fox announced today that after 13 years there will be a a six episode “event” series which will begin filming this summer. Even better news: both David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are reprising their roles of Fox Mulder and Dana Skully. Before my current obsession with the tv show Supernatural, (which I may have mentioned once or twice) for nine seasons I was an X-Files fanatic. I not only attended my first and only fan convention, but I had a Barbie & Ken doll set that had them dressed as the two FBI agents:

I know. This is slightly disturbing. But look! They have their FBI badges and credentials! How cute is that? Ahem. Sorry, I digress. So what was it about this science-fiction series which aired from 1993-2002 that drew so many people in? Well, for those of you who haven’t watched it, the series revolved around Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Skully who investigated unsolved cases involving paranormal activity. Mulder believes in aliens and the paranormal, while Scully, who begins as a sceptic, is really there to debunk his work. During the first season, it soon became obvious that both of them were pawns in a much larger conspiracy and they came to trust only each other. While paying homage to such tv classics as Kolchak: The Nightstalker, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Twilight Zone, Chris Carter’s The X-Files was completely unique for it’s time.  It tapped into people’s mistrust of government institutions and not only featured conspiracy theories, but also spirituality as well. The chemistry between Duchovny and Anderson was off the charts, and characters such as The Cigarette Smoking Man, and The Lone Gunmen, became household names. During it’s nine seasons it won numerous awards including 16 Emmy Awards, 5 Golden Globes, and a Peabody Award. So, given everything that’s happened since the show took it’s final bow, creator Chris Carter has this to say: “I think of it as a 13-year commercial break. The good news is that the world has gotten that much stranger, a perfect time to tell these six stories.” I’m half excited and half dreading this revival of my beloved show. What if it’s a total flop? I still haven’t gotten over the rather dismal last two seasons. Well, for right now I’m going to let Mulder’s poster speak for me:

House of Echoes ~ By Brendan Duffy – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Horror, Revoltionary War, Suspense

 I received this e-ARC from NetGalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review. Release Date: 4/14/15

After a tough several months, Ben Tierney and his wife Caroline relocate with their two young sons to the picturesque community of Swannhaven which is also Ben’s ancestral home. They purchase a huge, rundown mansion which is on a 1,000 acre estate, hoping to renovate it and turn it into a bed and breakfast. “The Crofts”  and the village itself however come with some horrifying secrets, ones that will impact the Tierneys in ways that they could not have foreseen.

House of Echoes is a debut novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. Brendan Duffy has a beautifully descriptive way of writing and when you add that to a plot rich in atmosphere, well, that’s probably why I finished this 400 page book in one day. Although most of the novel is set during the present day, the story has an almost gothic feel to it. Interspersed throughout are short chapters in which old letters dating back to the Revolutionary War from one of Ben’s ancestors, detail the traumatic winter which actually sets everything that follows in motion. Slightly reminiscent of The Shining, the story has enough originality that I didn’t mind the similarities at all. Except for the baby (Bub), the Tierneys are all struggling with inner demons. Caroline has just been diagnosed with Bipolar and has lost her longtime banking job, eight-year old Charlie has been traumatized by bullies at his previous school, and Ben, who is a novelist, is suffering from writer’s block and is trying desperately to be there for his family. Not surprisingly the family needs to come together before they can face the true horror that’s at the center of the plot. Some readers may find the pacing a little slow, but I found it added to the suspense because it was obvious that something was very wrong with this seemingly idyllic community and it was just a matter of time before the terrifying truth was revealed. The only thing I had a problem with were some scenes featuring graphic animal deaths. These were difficult to read so I wound up skimming them. While I wouldn’t call House of Echoes groundbreaking, I think it’s a very promising start for a new author. I’m looking forward to Brendan Duffy’ s next book. 

The Stranger ~ By Harlan Coben – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Conspiracies, Mysteries, Suspense

 This e-ARC was provided to me by NetGalley and Penguin Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: 3/24/2015

Adam Price is living the American Dream. He’s happily married to his college sweetheart, has two wonderful sons, the perfect house, and a job he loves. When he’s approached by the Stranger who tells him a devastating secret about his wife. Adam’s perfect life turns in a nightmare. Corinne disappears, leaving only a brief message on his cell phone, and he soon realizes that there is far more at stake than her deception. If he doesn’t untangle the web of lies and betrayal exactly the right way, this far-reaching conspiracy will not only destroy all their lives, it will finish them, permanently.

What I truly enjoy about Harlan Coben’s standalone novels is that they’re always based on a premise that could actually happen and then given a totally unique twist. This results with me staying up into the wee hours of the morning feverishly reading and biting my nails. The Stranger is no different. This is a warning regarding the information about ourselves that we leave behind every time we’re online, which is pretty much available to any so-inclined hacker. Can you imagine what you would do if a complete stranger walked up to you and gave you credible information that one of the people you trust implicitly may have actually been deceiving you about one of the most major events of your life? This is what happens to Adam, and when he starts to investigate he discovers his life may actually be built on a house of cards. And it’s not just his wife that may have been deceiving him. Neighbors, friends, and other loved ones could be part of the conspiracy. This is classic Coben which why I never tire of reading his books. There are so many twists and turns in this book that I really didn’t start to figure out what was going on until right near the end, and even then the conclusion still caught me by surprise. If you like mysteries with nail biting suspense and you haven’t tried Harlan Coben, I highly recommend him. He also writes the Myron Bolitar series and it’s YA spin-off series.

Harrison Squared ~ by Daryl Gregory – 5.0 Stars

Tags

Horror, HP Lovecraft, Humor, Massachusetts, YA Fiction

 I received this e-Arc from NetGalley and Tor Books in exchange for an honest review. Release date: 3/24/2015

Sixteen year old Harrison Harrison, or as he’s affectionately called by his marine biologist mother, H2, is moving to the Massachusetts town of Dunnsmouth so she can carry out her latest research involving creatures of the deep. It’s not long before things take a very strange turn. The kids at school all share a similar look and are oddly silent, and his mother disappears in a boating accident two days after they arrive. Harrison already lost his father when he was a toddler during the same boating incident which claimed one of his legs. He’s not about to give up on his mother and determinedly sets out to investigate the accident. Aided only by a few of his classmates and a mysterious stranger, Harrison will have to face off against not only town officials, but also otherworldly foes if he’s to rescue his mother and save the world before it’s too late.

Harrison Squared is the prequel to Daryl Gregory’s 2014 novella We Are All Completely Fine, which I really need to read now. This is definitely an homage to Lovecraft and if you’re a fan you should consider adding this to your collection. While it has all the elements of Lovecraftian horror, it also possesses a sly sense of humor which had me laughing several times while reading. For example, one of the in-jokes are the names Harrison and his mom have given to their research buoys. They’re named after masters of horror: King, Straub, Poe, and of course Lovecraft. And then there’s the parody of high school with it’s mausoleum-like atmosphere, nautical themed classes, and students that are strangely well behaved. The humor never gets in the way of the story though. Harrison is an intriguing character who is wonderfully written. Having memories of a tentacled sea monster not only killing his father, but severing his leg, he hasn’t let this define him. He has an engaging personality with a refreshing sense of humor, and shares a touchingly close relationship with his mom, Rosa. He’s also loyal and stubbornly will not give up on the people he cares about. His allies which include a classmate named Lydia, and the aforementioned mysterious stranger further add to a richly told tale. It’s often difficult to maintain a balance between humor and horror, but Daryl Gregory pulls it off brilliantly. I think any horror aficionado will love this book.

Someone Is Watching ~ Joy Fielding – 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Family Relationships, Female Investigators, Mysteries, Rape, Thrillers

  I received this e-Arc from NetGalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review. It will be published 3/24/15.

Twenty-nine year old Bailey Carpenter seemingly has it all. She’s gorgeous, wealthy, and loves her job as the special investigator for a respected Miami law firm. During a routine investigation she’s the victim of a horrifying attack and Bailey’s life begins to unravel. Suffering from PTSD, Bailey is trapped in her own home and finds herself spying on some of the neighbors in a nearby apartment building. When she fixates on one particular neighbor she becomes suspicious of his actions and with increasing fear, wonders if he could actually be the man who attacked her. When no one will believe her she launches her own investigation, but will she survive when her credibility and sanity is being questioned by nearly everyone, including herself?

First, I have to warn you that there is a graphic rape scene which is really difficult to read. I actually found myself skimming it. It’s brief though, and it’s the set up for the rest of the book. Also, you need to suspend disbelief, because some of the things Bailey does in her quest to bring her rapist to justice will have you shaking your head. That said, this was a really enjoyable read. It’s 384 pages, but I finished it in one sitting. This was mainly due to the fact that I stayed up until almost 2:00 in the morning because I was so riveted. Bailey is a flawed, yet likeable character who simultaneously made me want to hug and shake her. She’s one of those people for whom her greatest strengths can also be her greatest weaknesses, but can’t you say that about us all? What she’s been through is truly horrible, but then Joy Fielding slowly reveals that her life before the attack wasn’t quite as perfect as it seemed. It’s only when she starts seeing a therapist after the attack, that she realizes she’s needed help for quite awhile. The best part of the novel though is her snarky and cynical teenage niece Jade, whose observations of people and life in general are hysterical. The relationship between her and Bailey is absolutely priceless. The plot itself is an obvious homage to Gaslight and Rear Window, and once you start reading I challenge you to try putting it down. As to the identity of the actual attacker, I had pretty strong suspicions before I was halfway through the book, but this didn’t lessen the impact when he is actually unmasked. I’ve had mixed feelings regarding some of Joy Fielding’ s books, but Someone Is Watching is actually one of my favorites. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she writes another book featuring the dynamic duo of Bailey and Jade.

M.I.A.

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Pet Loss

Hi everyone. I have to apologize for my lack of posts over the past week. Early last Tuesday morning my husband and I lost our almost fourteen year old Pomeranian Lacey. It was rather sudden, and we’re still pretty traumatized. We don’t have children and Lacey was pretty much our baby. I know every pet parent feels like theirs is special and that’s how we felt about our little girl. No matter what was going on in our lives, our Angel never failed to make us smile and bring peace to our souls. I can’t describe the loss we are feeling right now. I realize it will ease over time, but I know our lives were better for having her as part of our family. Anyway, I’m endeavoring to keep busy, which includes not neglecting my blog.