The Whispering Dead-Gravekeeper #1

Well, Darcy Coates has done it again. There has not been one book by her that I have disliked. Although I have read several of her books, I had not heard of this series. I happened to be approved for the latest installment of this book, not realizing it was part of a series. I figured I should read the first two and was happy to see this was on Kindle Unlimited. 

I really enjoyed this story. Kiera (last name unknown) wakes up in the woods with a very nasty bump on her head and quickly discovers she's being chased by someone. While running through the woods she manages to escape whoever is chasing her when she stumbles upon a parsonage with a priest inside who agrees to hide her. 

The priest, Adage, starts to ask Kiera questions but promptly discovers that she has a bit of amnesia. She does not know her last name, where is she from or why someone might be chasing her. He decided to put her up in the guest cottage on the property until she figures out what's going on. The parsonage and cemetery attached to it are in a tiny town called Blighty. 

One night while she's alone in the cabin, she sees what she thinks is an apparition. She learns that while she may not know who she is, she has the gift of second sight and uses it to talk to the ghost, a woman named Emma. The town harbors a dark secret in regard to what happened to Emma and Kiera believes she needs to help her to move on. 

Kiera meets the grocery store owner, Zoe and a local doctor intern, Mason, and they end up helping her to discover what might have happened to Emma. Kiera is happy to stay in Blighty in the cottage and help the spirits move on. 

I love a good mystery/ghost story. Kiera is an interesting character and I'm very interested in finding out her backstory, especially considering at one point she shows having some sort of possible military training. Zoe is a fun character too with her theories and antics. And Mason could be a possible love interest for Kiera. Considering this is the first book in the series, not a lot of loose ends in regard to Keira are resolved but it definitely makes me look forward to the next two books. 

The Rack and Cue

Bloody gore and guts galore! 

The author reached out to me and asked me to read this book and after reading the synopsis, I was definitely intrigued. I am new to this author but if this book is any indication, I will most assuredly be checking out more of his books.

The basic premise of the book is simple. A pub called The Rack and Cue, positioned in the middle of nowhere on a lonely road, is running a billiard tournament. The pool competition ends with a $2000 purse. Sounds pretty sweet, doesn't it? 

The story begins with introducing us to the players, an odd assortment of people. A couple of girls backpacking through, a couple of truck drivers diverted due to the rain, a couple of undercover cops and a biker gang. The owner of the pub Porky seems like just your run of the mill barkeep. However, he is harboring some very dark secrets and intentions. We also meet Doc and Baby but I won't say anything about them, too many spoilers.

The tournament begins and they are soon picked off one by one. The losers are sent to an alternate exit than the one they came in and are told they are going to another lounge. However, that is not the case. Unbeknownst to the other players, the losers are encountering something much more sinister than they could have imagined. A few of the patrons start to get suspicious and soon enough a few of them are in a fight for their lives, literally.

The initial story I thought was over, but I was happily and surprisingly wrong! At about the 70% mark (I read this on my Kindle) the story takes another turn. The plot thickens and a new one begins. Still at the same location and involving some of the same people but with a big twist. I really love a good twist in a story. If I had one thing I didn't like, the second part left me wanting more. I was really intrigued by the two characters that are introduced in the second part and I would love to get more of the story there although I felt the author did a good job of giving us some of it so we wouldn't be completely in the dark.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Its full of blood, gore, crazy folks, and some really disgusting moments. Which is precisely why I liked it! The characters are interesting, and I think the author did a good job of giving us enough of a backstory with each. The ending is pretty perfect too, even if I wanted more. I really liked the setting as well. An intensely rainy day, a roaring fire in an old English pub, complete with meat pies and local ale. Underneath the seemingly normal building, it is anything but that. Secret rooms, a bloody basement and a creepy attic makes this place the perfect place for what's truly going on. If you love a good, gory story with monsters and blood and guts, then this is the book for you!

The Strange Nighttime Journey of Father Marlowe

The author reached out to me to read and review this book. The synopsis definitely intrigued me and I'm so glad that I accepted. A harrowing story of a man in a crisis of faith and how he regained it.

Father Stephen Marlowe is a priest at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, and he is currently facing a crisis of faith. So much so that he is considering leaving the church. After the suicide of his brother, also a priest, he's still drowning in his grief. He decides to go see his monsignor, Monsignor Michael Smolenski. Believing he is no longer qualified to wear the cloth, Monsignor Smolenski suggests that he go see another priest, Father Andrew Eagan. Father Egan is touted as "a miracle worker when it comes to helping struggling priests get back on track".

Soon after meeting Father Egan, Marlowe set on a quest. After falling in the Well of Lost Souls he is met by a creature named Garrok. A sort of fairy across the Great Desolate Sea. He quickly discovers he's in a sort of purgatory on a mission to rescue his brother's soul. The quest is fraught with monsters and demons and delusions of his past. Hes trying to get to a place that "The Beast" lives, "A'ch'Ba'Hu: The Black Fortress that Sees". There is much pain, sorrow, self-reflection and terror on his journey to the black fortress. Once there can Marlowe save his brothers soul, or will he be trapped there with him?

I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I began this story. From the title and cover photo, I thought it might be somewhat of a straightforward horror story. It was so much more. Father Marlowe is a likeable character and I love the journey he is on. As a Christian myself, I think at one point or another, I have questioned my faith. Thankfully I had a strong guide along my journey, and it deepened my faith and my resolve that what I believe is true. I can tell the author did a great deal of research especially into the workings of the Catholic church. The story moves along well. It's not broken down into chapters, but instead into three parts with an epilogue. I really enjoyed the ending of the story and I have high hopes that we will see Father Marlowe again. 

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2022

When I set my reading goal for the year, I really wasn't sure that I would actually meet it. I mean 150 books is a lot for anyone, but I tend to be a slow reader. However, yesterday I completed my goal for the year with a little over a month to spare. I have to admit I am pretty proud of myself. I know that I could have read more this year as I had several days that I didn't read at all. So, who knows, next year I may shoot for 175!
 

The Prisoner of Fear-Doyle and Braham Book One

I was contacted by the author asking if I would read and review this book. After reading the synopsis I was intrigued and agreed. I love a good period piece with mystery and horror included.

The year is 1889 and the setting is Philadelphia. John Doyle has a fear. A fear that immortal souls do not exist. He is a sort of supernatural detective, together with his friend Thomas Braham, in search of proof that the supernatural does exist. He takes on unusual cases that unfortunately usually end up being fake. 

Dr. Charles Thorton reaches out to Doyle through a letter in which he describes a dear friend, Cordelia, of his having a mysterious illness that no one, not even the best doctors, have been able to diagnose. Thorton rushes to see her in the hopes that he may be the one to help her. After arriving at her home, he discovers not the beautiful friend he once loved but a creature with no explanation as to how she became that way or how to cure her. Now, Thorton is missing, and Doyle and Braham must figure out not only where he is but what is going on with Cordelia. 

This book really surprised me. I really enjoyed it! The book is written in the form of diary entries. It's just under 200 pages but the author has packed so much into those pages, you will not be bored. The characters are relatable and even likable. They each have their own intricate backgrounds and aspirations. I really enjoyed the relationship between Doyle and Braham, sort of had a Holmes and Watson feel to it. 

The descriptions and imagery in this book are fantastic, vivid and gory and maybe even a little disturbing but in a good way so you can really get a feel for what is happening to these people. I can tell the author did quite a bit of research for the story as well.  I really enjoyed the way the book is written. The journal entries bring a personal feel to the story, and I am especially intrigued but the journal entries that are marked anonymous. The book itself ends on a cliff hanger and I cannot wait for the next book due out next year. I will definitely be checking out more from this author!

The Bucket List

"Think, Judy, MacGyver this f*****! Like the original, not that crappy reboot either. Be like Hannibal with a random garage, five minutes, and the A-Team van."

Ever think about all the things you'd like to do once you retire? My husband and I often talk about all the things we want to do once he retires, and our kids are grown. The first thing up on our list is to visit the Grand Canyon. There are other things of course and even if we never get to all of them, it's nice to just think about enjoying like together as we get older. 

However, although this book is about 3 couples that all have bucket lists, they each have very different lists. Especially the bed and breakfast owners, Marge and Albert. Things go from somewhat stranger, to even more strange, to downright deadly. 

This book will definitely have you rethinking taking a vacation to your local bed and breakfast. I myself, have never been to one and now I'm not sure I ever will. There is just something about staying in what is essentially someone's home that has never really interested me. 

The characters are relatable, well the two sane couples anyway. The setting is described very well and even though I love pink, it being my favorite color, the way this house is described, I would hate it. The writing is well paced, and the chapters are short which makes it for an easy read. I was able to read it in one afternoon. This is my first read by Chisto Healy, but if this story is any indication, I will definitely be checking out more from him. Beware though, blood, guts and flying body parts are more than a possibility when you stay at Beatrices Bed and Breakfast. 

On Spine of Death-Book 2 in the By the Book Series

This is the second book in the By the Book series by Tamara Berry, but the first book by this author that I have read. This is a great cozy mystery book with lots of laugh out loud moments and a great twist ending that I never saw coming. 

Tess Harrow is a bestselling author who has moved to the town of Winthrop, Washington, after her grandfather left her a very rustic cabin (I'm assuming this occurred in the first book, which I will definitely be reading soon). She lives there with her daughter, Gertrude and are in the process of updating the cabin, as well as her grandfather's old hardware store. 

Tess has plans to turn it into an independent bookstore. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned. Once renovations begin, not one, but two bodies are found within the floorboards of the old hardware store. One is the body of a local woman who went missing and the second is the body of an out of towner. A hiker who was seen in town and then later went missing while out in the woods. Tess comes across a book she has once endorsed called "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" and while reading it she discovers that it is nearly a confession to the two murders of the women found. Even worse, the book indicates that there will be a third body found. Could her grandfather be a murderer or is something bigger going on in this sleepy little town? 

Tess is definitely an amateur detective, has a sort of relationship thing going on with the local sheriff, Victor Boyd and he of course can't admit that she's good at figuring out cases. Her daughter is interested in shadowing the coroner and seems to be ready and willing to help out with the case. 

I really enjoyed this story. It's well written, thoughtful, clever and surprising. The characters are believable and engaging. The setting is wonderful, and I felt that the imagery the author wrote was done so well, it was easy to visualize. If you love a good cozy mystery with twists and turns, then this is the book for you. I received this book free from NetGalley for an honest review. 

The Lindbergh Nanny

I decided this would be the first book I read for nonfiction November. I would venture to say most people my age knows the story of the Lindbergh baby. In 1932, Charles Lindbergh Jr was kidnapped from his bedroom in his home in New Jersey, while his mother and nanny and some other servants were downstairs. The story immediately made international headlines. This book is from the viewpoint of Betty Gow, known as the Lindbergh Nurse, and what she endured because of it. The aftermath of his kidnapping and subsequent death affected all those who surrounded him. Betty herself was questioned and considered a suspect as well as several of the other servants on staff. 

It is clearly obvious that the author of this book did extensive research into this topic and is able to blend fact and fiction in a way that is believable but not over the top. The story takes us on a journey into the lives of not only the help but also the rich and famous. Betty loved Charles Jr and was just as distraught as his family was but was not able to express it openly. Even though this is a famous story, and we all know how it ends, I felt the author was able to keep me engaged throughout the story and the telling from Betty's point of view made it personal and intimate. 

I rather liked the ending of the book where the author gave information about the real Betty Gow, how her story came about and was told, how she lived and died. She also goes into detail about the fiction parts she put into the story and why. I always enjoy a good true crime novel, and this was no exception. A fascinating story with so many moving parts and of course the topic of many theories as to what really happened that fateful night. I received this book free from NetGalley for an honest review. 

Wicked Bleu-Simone Doucet Series Book 2

This is the second book in a series about a woman named Simone Doucet. I have not read the first one, however, I liked this book, so I will check out the first one. 

This book is set in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. The Big Easy is the perfect setting for a paranormal mystery thriller. The book features a dual timeline that shows us the events of the past as Simone experiences them too through her second sight. Before setting off on the trip, Simone starts to experience some things involving a ghost that won't show who they are. However, once arriving in New Orleans, things take a turn when her roommate Stacy is possessed by the ghost. Simone must investigate and try to figure out what the ghost wants in order to help her move on.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and I love the New Orleans setting. Even though I am just being introduced to the characters, I really enjoyed the dynamics between them. I can tell the author did a lot of research into the area and the dialects from the city and it brought a lot of realism to the book. I will definitely look into the first book, and I look forward to more from this author. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review. This book will be available November 16, 2022.

The Murder of Sleepy Hollow- A Charlie Kingsley Mystery

I think I've said it before, but Michele Pariza Wacek has done it again and knocked it out of the park! I really loved this story. Heading back to Redemption once again to visit Charlie and see what trouble she's gotten herself into this time. 

This story revolved around a guy named Ike Krane. Ike has come to Redemption, from Sleepy Hollow, to continue research on his book about haunted houses across America. He wants to tour what has been named the most haunted house in Redemption, Charlie's house. She of course, says no but is intrigued by Ike as he believes he's being haunted by the Headless Horseman. Every town he's visited has had weird goings on. Someone has been leaving pumpkins on porches and people say they've been hearing the sounds of a horse galloping through the streets but when they look, no one is there. The plot thickens when Ike goes missing and a man looking for him ends up dead. Throw in Ike's girlfriend showing up and Charlie definitely has her hands full. 

I really love this series. The Charlie Kingsley series is one that I am never bored with. In fact, the whole Redemption series is just fantastic. The writing is very well done, the characters continue to evolve and grow and of course the setting is wonderfully described so you feel like you're there. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review. 

Into The Forest-An Anthology of Baba Yaga Stories

I originally picked this up to read during short story September but never got around to reading it, so I saved it for October for a spooky read. 

Prior to reading this I did not have much knowledge of Baba Yaga other than hearing the name a time or two. So, I kind of went into this blind to the stories about said entity. That being said, out of the stories within this book, there were two that I really enjoyed. "Of Moonlight and Moss" by Sara Tantlinger ; "Mama Yaga" by Christina SNG; "Flood Zone" by Donna Lynch; "Sugar and Spice and the Old Witch's Price" by Lisa Quigley; "Birds of a Feather" by Monique Snyman; "Fair Trade" by Jacqueline West and "Where the Horizon Meets the Sky" by R.J. Joseph were the ones that really stood out to me. 

Just from the 23 stories in this anthology, I can tell that Baba Yaga can take on all forms. She can be ancient, traditional, modern, all ethnicities, can be young, old, pretty and ugly. She is everything and nothing all at once. While all the stories are written well, there were just some that stood out to me more than others. I really enjoy a good collection of stories as it gives you a chance to get a feel for several different authors, yet in the same place. I received this book free from NetGalley for an honest review.