REVIEW: The Sorrows

The Sorrows
Author: Jonathan Janz

This story is seriously messed up.

I don't mean that in a bad way. I mean that in a creeptastic horror story way.

Totally.  Messed. Up.

After reading a couple of Jonathan Janz's books, I realize this is his normal MO. Awesome!

With a deadline to produce a music score for a horror movie quickly approaching, Composers Eddie and Ben decide to spend some time at an island estate off the coast of California. Castle Blackwood is nicknamed The Sorrows because of all the twisted, horrible things that have happened there. In 1925, there were several murders on the island. A group that stayed there in the 1970s to research the murders met a similar fate. Now the two composers and two female companions head to The Sorrows hoping to revive their musical muse.

Not a good idea. Very, very bad idea.

Hallucinations. Dark Thoughts. Violence. Ancient Evil.

The Sorrows has plans for all of them.

I'm not going to reveal much about the plot because it needs to catch readers by surprise. There were some parts I really liked....others that felt a bit B-movie....and some were just completely out there. But, all in all, as I finished up this story I felt like it all worked.

What I will say is this --- prepare to dislike every character in this story. They are all pretty reprehensible people for one reason or another. And travelling to a cursed/evil island with a group of folks like that is never, ever a good idea for those involved. Luckily, a reader does not have to like the characters in a horror story to enjoy the creepiness. To be completely honest, I found myself rooting for the ancient evil. Go evil! Eat the awful people! :)

The Sorrows is actually a re-release. First published in 2012, The Sorrows was Janz's first book. There is a sequel, Castle of Sorrows. Definitely adding this second book to my TBR list!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Flame Tree Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Haunted Horror of Haverfordwest

Haunted Horror of Haverfordwest
Author: G.L. Davies

I love haunted house stories. A great creepy tale about things that go bump in the night is right up my alley, especially when the story is supposedly true. So, of course, I had to read the nonfiction account of a haunted house in England.

The Haunted Horror of Haverfordwest is the continuation of a story about a house G.L. Davies wrote about in a prior book, A Most Haunted House. The events in this new book start 13 years before the paranormal events Davies first wrote about. The house is the same, but the experiences are a bit different.

From 1989-1991, a married couple, Dai and Anne, lived in the house in Haverfordwest, until they couldn't stand it any more. Their terrifying experiences finally drove them out of the house. Paranormal events ranged from disembodied voices to physical attacks by an entity. The author interviewed this couple 46 times over a two year period to gather the facts of the case. The specific location of the house and the actual names of those involved are kept confidential.

Davies presents the facts in an interview format with a bit of extra information on the surrounding area, the house, and his thoughts on the interviews and the haunting.

These events predate the occurrences outlined in Davies' prior book, A Most Haunted House. The text of that book is also included. A Most Haunted House outlines another couple's experiences in the house starting in September 2003. Their experiences were somewhat different -- unexplained lights, shadowy figures, cold spots and a menacing atmosphere made it difficult for them to remain in the home. Just like the first couple, they finally abandoned the property.

Davies offers a few non-supernatural explanations -- electromagnetic fields, mold, radiation, infrasound and other possible causes. He also offers a few supernatural suggestions -- ghosts, demons, aliens, or other dimensions.

While I enjoyed reading the accounts of experiences in this house,  I'm not sure I totally believe the story. It's easy to list experiences as fact when the locations, people and events can't be corroborated. Although I would not want to live in a house where I was experiencing any of the events reported by these couples, I didn't find this book particularly scary. I found most of the experiences to be basically trope-y things used in almost every bad movie or book written about ghosts. One scene about a female spirit actually trying some sort of weird sex attack on a resident of the house just seemed ridiculous.....more silly than scary. But, I'm a skeptic. Someone who believes in ghosts and that these experiences could actually happen might be more frightened by the story of this house.

While I don't buy the story, I did enjoy reading both books. I love stories about ghosts and creepy occurrences. Stories about hauntings are one of my most guilty pleasures. But, I don't believe the tales are true. I am not a believer in the supernatural. Dead is dead. Ghosts or hauntings just don't exist. I firmly believe that most hauntings are just misinterpretations or hallucinations brought on by suggestion, or environmental issues like magnetic/electrical problems. But....in the event of factual proof being brought to light....I would be willing to admit I'm wrong and change my mind. For now, I will just continue to love stories about hauntings, and leave the actual ghost hunting to others.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from John Hunt Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Paring down my TBR pile!

On January 1st 2018 I made a resolution to read whatever the hell I wanted to all year long! And.... I did!

I re-discovered old favorites. Read some awesome backlist stuff and new releases just 'cause I wanted to. Discovered some new-to-me authors. And, I cleared a lot of books off my over-filled shelves! I learned to use my library's physical and digital offerings more, and even joined a nearby urban library system to expand the digital books available to me. 

I think the one major change in my reading habits is I came to love audio books. I used to hate trying to listen to books. I would get distracted and miss large sections....or I didn't like the narrators....or the thought of listening for hours and hours to a story just didn't interest me. But....since I have been using my library's digital offerings more and forced myself to try more audio, I find I actually enjoy listening to books now! I have an audible account that I use to buy books I know I will listen to more than once. I used Kindle Unlimited to listen to free books that come with audio (they are adding more all the time) and my library has thousands to choose from. Nice change! I can "read'' now even when I'm busy driving, doing housework, or whatever! Yay! 

I'm so happy with my results for 2018 that I'm going to do it again! I don't have my reading totals for 2018 yet as the year isn't over. I have a tradition of doing a New Year's Eve post ringing out the old year of reading and starting the new....I will put totals in that one. 

My goals are simple: 

In 2019: 

I am going to continue to read anything and everything that interests me.....any genre, any audience (children's, middle grade, YA, adult, giant gila monster....whatever!), just whatever strikes my fancy! And I'm going to review everything I read...new, old or inbetween. 

I am not going to set a # of books goal this year. I'm just going to focus on free-range reading. Both in reviews and TBR/off-my-own-shelves reading, I'm going to read things that interest me and just enjoy. I want that to be the goal...not a #. I will set a Goodreads challenge #....but will just increase it when I get close to hitting that mark. Reading for reading's sake.... 

I love reviewing new releases, but I always end up reading more new books than backlist....and my bookshelves are still crammed full. This year, I'm going to balance new releases with my humongous TBR pile. 1:1 ratio this year! For every new release or ARC I review, I need to get an older book off my shelves and winging its way to somewhere else. I have thousands of books....and I need to pare it down. I have a few keeper books (of course), but everything else....gotta get read and out the door. That makes room for NEW BOOKS! :) Some I donate to the local library....some I give to the local charity thriftshop....others I trade for books I don't have. It all works out. Less on my shelf means more books read...and more shelf space for new books. Win-win all the way around.

I am going to rein in my book buying habits. I do not need to buy every book that catches my interest. Many books are available through my library -- I belong to a consortium of libraries (several small town libraries working together) and a large urban library -- and I use Kindle Unlimited and OpenLibrary/Internet Archive for OOP older books. Plus there is always the Gutenberg Project as well. With that many physical, ebook and audiobooks available to me.....I need to limit my purchases of new books to ones I really want on my keeper shelf until I have my bookshelves pared down. I own too many books. I know....I know. There is no such thing as too many books to a bibliophile. BUT......I have five crammed full full-size bookshelves in my bedroom. Floor-to-Ceiling built-in bookshelves in my office that are crammed full. And two shelves in the livingroom....also full. I have made progress on this. My books are sorted and orderly. They are neatly displayed on the shelves and not crammed everywhere because there are too many. So, I have pared down the collection substantially over the last two years. But.....I want fewer bookshelves so that there is room for a desk in my room. Basically....I want room for ME which is now taken up by my ponderous personal library. 

Those are my basic reading goals for 2019. I will post more specific goals on New Year's Eve. I have a month to think it over and decide! 

REVIEW: A Deadly Chapter

A Deadly Chapter
Author: Jan Fields

The Christmas season brings the Charles Dickens Society to Castleton Manor for a retreat. It's all things Dickens all the time. Unfortunately one of the main presenters is rude, annoying and handsy. Manor Librarian Faith Newberry puts up with Charles' stupid come-on comments and bad disposition for the sake of her job....but she is a bit surprised that nobody seems to like the man, even the members of the society. The week starts off festive but goes downhill when society members start reporting thefts from their rooms. Then it gets worse.....a murder. How much Dickensian drama can one retreat handle?

I enjoy this series.....the characters, the setting, the pets, and the plots. Despite the books being written by several authors, the sweet vibe of this cozy mystery series is present in all the stories I have read so far. The background plots are varied (each retreat has a different theme) and very entertaining. All in all, this series delivers a nice cozy mystery experience each time. The books are sold on a monthly membership basis by Annie's Attic. Luckily, most of the books have been donated to my local library! :) Yay!

I like the fact that guests and staff can bring their pets to the manor. Each book has different authors and retreat guests and their various pets. :) I know an upscale retreat resort would in reality never, ever allow pets, especially in a library.....but it makes for a sweet cozy mystery. :) I love Faith's cat Watson....he has an abundance of cattitude. :)

The hardcover books are high quality and attractive. The cover art is colorful, engaging and cute (as is common with cozy mysteries). The series would look quite nice displayed on bookshelves. But I'm content to borrow them from my local library as I only read mysteries once.

Another enjoyable cozy experience. Moving on...I picked up the next book in the series (An Autographed Mystery) at the library today! Can't wait to find out what Faith and Watson are getting into next! :)

REVIEW: Prose and Cons

Prose and Cons
Author: Amanda Flower

I love this series about a magical bookshop! Customers in Charming Books get mysteriously matched with the books that fit them. Only proprietors Violet Waverly and her grandmother Daisy know the secret. They are the caretakers of the bookshop and the magical oak that grows up through the middle of the building. In Prose and Cons, everyone is gearing up for the annual Food and Wine Festival in Cascade Springs. The bookshop is hosting a reading of Edgar Allen Poe's work. The presenters will dress in period costumes and read selections on the front porch of the bookstore to entice tourists into the shop. It all goes along Poe-fectly until......one of the presenters is found dead just moments before the reading is to begin. When the magical shop starts giving Violet hints that the identity of the killer can be found within Poe's stories, she reluctantly investigates. Violet has learned in the past that chasing after killers can be dangerous and she doesn't want to be the next one that turns up......nevermore.

I know when I start reading a book by Amanda Flower that it's going to be magical and entertaining. I read this book when it first came out, but decided to re-read the first two books in this series before the third book comes out. Murders and Metaphors releases in February...so this is a perfect time to enjoy this enchanting series again. Although it isn't completely necessary to read the books in order, I would recommend it. There is a lot of character development, history of the shop and other details in the first book. I'd highly recommend reading it first before delving into this story. But.....a reader could piece together most of the characters and plot if they had to skip over book 1 and start with this one.

I listened to the audio book version of this 2nd book in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. At just under 8 hours long, the audio is narrated by Rachel Dulude. I liked her reading and voice. She read at a nice, even pace and did a great job voicing the different characters...even Faulkner the Crow. :)

I did have a hard time with one thing though. And this is just me. Because the poetry reading is from the works of Edgar Allen Poe, it's called a poe-try reading. So the characters say that word over & over & over again....poe-try, poe-try, poe-try. For whatever reason I found this grating on my nerves. At first, I thought the narrator was mispronouncing the word. When I was fussing about it, my husband remarked that it might be written that way. I got down my print copy of the book and looked....sure enough....Poe-try reading.  If I had been reading that over and over in print, I would have found it cute. But pronounced that way in an audio book more than 1000 times.....it got annoying by chapter 3. Overused. But....most people would probably not find that irritating. [Mental note to self: When you start getting annoyed by cute, quirky things in cozy mysteries, it's time to drink more coffee, relax and just enjoy literature.]

This second book in the series is just as enjoyable as the first for me. I love the concept of a bookshop enchanted by a magical tree. I love the fact that the shop owners are caretakers of the tree. And, any shop where books magically choose readers.....OMG....I would be there every day! There is a bit of a spooky edge to this story....Poe lends that splash of darkness. I loved it!

Luckily I don't have to wait for the 3rd book to come out....I have a review copy waiting for me on my digital TBR. I'm so glad I took the time to go back and re-read this series before jumping into the new book. It's just a magical, entertaining, feel-good cozy mystery experience.

REVIEW: The Body in the Attic

The Body in the Attic
Author: Judi Lynn

I enjoy discovering authors who are new to me so I jumped at the chance to read this first mystery novel by Judi Lynn, a romance novelist. I don't usually read the romance genre at all....but decided to give this a try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The Body in the Attic is the first book in the "Body in the.....'' mystery series. Judi Lynn is the author of several romance books including the Mill Pond Romances series.

The basics: Jasmine "Jazzi'' Zanders flips houses along with her cousin Jerod. After four years they are pretty good at it. Most of the time they make good money. This time, their project is a home of a recently deceased family friend. In fact, the man was engaged to Jazzi's Aunt Lynda before she ran off to New York more than 25 years ago and never came back. Lynda was a bit of a wild, free spirit having been engaged multiple times, breaking it off with each man when she found someone more interesting. Jazzi and Jerod are both completely shocked when they begin cleaning out the attic and find a stained cedar trunk. Inside is a skeleton, red hair still clinging to the skull and a silver locket around its neck.   Aunt Lynda.....she never ran off to New York after all.....

When I request review copies of books, I promise to give an honest review. I carefully read each book....and then I give my honest opinion. And I'm going to do that with this book just like all the others. That being said.....

I really wanted to like this book. I tried....but it really felt like a formula romance novel with a bit of mystery sprinkled on top. A lot of fluff and little substance. The plot of a long-time missing family member being discovered dead is one that has been used so many times, it just fell flat for me. The minute I read the first chapter and learned about the missing aunt, I knew they would find the body in the house.  There is very little character or setting/background theme development. The writing style is choppy, and the mystery is just too simple with very little suspense or investigation. I knew the identity of the killer before I even reached the half-way point of the story.

This book just isn't for me. That doesn't mean that others won't read it and absolutely love it.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Trixie Belden and The Mystery of the Emeralds

Trixie Belden and the Mystery of the Emeralds
Author: Kathryn Kenny

Leave it to Trixie Belden to discover a mystery while cleaning the attic at Crabapple Farm! The Bob Whites of the Glen are helping the Beldens clear out their attic and barn. Trixie accidentally damages a wall in the attic and finds a forgotten room. Inside the room, she finds a letter dating from the Civil War era about the Sunderland family and a cursed emerald necklace. The Bob Whites travel to Williamsburg, VA to try and track down the lost jewels.

Trixie Belden was my favorite teenage sleuth when I was a kid. I had the entire series of books and read them over and over again. This story was one of my favorites. I had a great time re-visiting the story. The gang has to track down clues, do some research, and even visit an old cemetery! Great fun! :)

The Mystery of the Emeralds is the 14th Trixie Belden book. It was first released in 1965.

The Trixie Belden series has 39 books and was written from 1948-1986. The first six books were written by Julie Campbell. The rest of the series was written by various authors using the pen-name Kathryn Kenny. I really wish I knew which authors wrote which books in the series! I'm slowly reading my way through the series again, and enjoying it just as much as I did back in the 80s. Most of the books are out of print (Random House owns the rights and re-released the first 15 books in 2003), but it's relatively easy to find used copies.

On to the next book! #15.....The Mystery on the Mississippi!

REVIEW: The Way the World Ends

The Way the World Ends
Author: Jess Walter

The Way the World Ends is a short story/novella included in the Warmer Collection from Amazon/Audible. This is the second Amazon Originals Collection I have come across. The first -- The Dark Corners Collection -- included 7 horror tales with a lot of commentary on the modern world swirled into the mix. The Warmer Collection is along the same lines with climate change (cli-fi) being the basic theme. I'm always up for creative storytelling....so jumped on this second collection.

I have to say I expected something completely different from this piece. But I really shouldn't have. What starts out as a tale of people enduring a snow storm in March in Mississippi quickly becomes musings on the changing concerns facing gays coming out, and how to navigate in a world that is partially warming towards acceptance while still holding on to some bitterly cold winds, or forming new obstacles for those seeking to just openly be themselves. When is it ok to jump in to a pride event? Is there such a thing as being too "new'' at being gay? As the weird weather rages outside and forces the characters to deal with it, there are musings about inner changes. Interesting and creative. But.....a bit all over the place. I think with this story that works though. The mix of humor (the bits about middle aged people having sex made me chuckle) and serious, along with the characters' confusion about navigating a changing world  and information on environmental climate change required that confusion.

All in all, an enjoyable story. I wonder if any of the stories in this collection will actually be about climate change for the planet? lol Hopefully one will be more disaster oriented and less pure introspective. Sometimes I just want a good action-filled story.....not another reflection on current issues. I've been current issued to death lately.....I wanted some good, old-fashioned disaster action. But.....despite my slight disappointment....I enjoyed this story for what it offered. Everyone faces confusion in learning what the world is about, and their place in it. Careers change. People change. Momentous moments in life occur. Choices have to be made. Those really are climate change moments on a more personal level. 

The sun'll come out tomorrow....bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there'll be sun...

Yeah....when I get introspective, I pop out the show tunes. :)

On to the next story in this collection! There are 7. Very curious about the rest.....climate change....or Climate Change? Can't wait to find out!

REVIEW: Ready Player One

Ready Player One
Author: Ernest Cline

OMG.....as a child of the 80s, this book.....I can't even describe how happy this book made me. It brought back so many memories.

.....the six months I was The Coolest Kid in the neighborhood because I was the only one with the newest thing....an Atari gaming system. We called it "TV Game'' because the console hooked into the back of my family's television with prongs. Some of the games we all played together during those early years of video games are still some of my favorites -- Centipede, PacMan, Space Invaders, Asteroids.....   I even had the infamous ET game (and I can understand why they buried thousands of copies in the desert....it really was a horrible game ha ha)

.....The day I played Asteroids all day and beat the game. All the way to the credits at the end....which had a screen that told me to take a photo of the credits screen and send it in for a prize. I grabbed my camera and took several photos. When I took the film in to be developed, none of the photos came out. The flicker of the TV made them all fuzzy and horrible....so I never found out what you got if you mailed in the photo. Did anybody actually do this?? I'm still curious all these decades later.

.....Saturday afternoons laying down on my parents horrid 1970s puke green shag rug watching Johnny Sokko on television. Or hurrying home from school so I could watch G-force at 4 pm.

.....and reminders of video game titles, television shows, movies and other parts of my childhood that I haven't heard mentioned in decades.

I loved every moment of this book!

I listened to the audio book version of this story, enjoying the ending fight sequences while cooking Thanksgiving dinner. It was the perfect accompaniment to my holiday prep. Read by Wil Wheaton, the audio from Penguin Random House is almost 16 hours long. Wheaton was the perfect choice for narrator. He gave an outstanding performance.

And now that I've enjoyed the book....I can finally watch the movie! :)

Anybody who grew up in the 80s or who loves classic video and arcade games, manga, comic books, etc....will love this story. The author is currently writing a sequel....I will definitely be reading it! He also has another similar book called Armada (published in 2015) that mixes video game adventures with an alien invasion. I'm waiting in the queue for the audio book on my local library's digital site. :)

I read a lot of books....and I can honestly say that this story was the most enjoyable adventure I've come across in years. Definitely earned full stars from me. I own the print book.....it's going on my keeper shelf. :)

REVIEW: A Scandal in Scarlet

A Scandal in Scarlet
Author: Vicki Delany

While walking her dog late one night, Gemma Doyle sees the local museum is on fire and calls the fire department. Her quick action saves the building, but much of the antique furniture and items inside The Scarlet House could not be saved. The town of West London and its businesses decide to work together and hold an auction to help repair and re-open the museum. The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium donates a basket of Holmes-related items, and Gemma's uncle donates a signed first edition copy of The Valley of Fear. The fundraiser never gets started though because the chairwoman of the museum board is found dead in a back room filled with donations for the auction. A local businesswoman is the top suspect. She's rude, difficult and annoying....but Gemma knows she isn't a murderer. Can she solve the case?

I love this series...not just because of the Sherlock Holmes theme, but also because the author mentions many Sherlock related books in each story. I end up with quite a few new titles on my TBR each time a new book comes out in this series! I love the idea of a Sherlock Holmes book and gift shop with a tea room right next door! And located on Baker Street, too. :) As a devout Sherlock Holmes fan, it makes me smile. Gemma is a great main character...she is intelligent, loyal and feisty when required. Her friend Jayne and all the rest of the secondary characters round out the theme and the plots quite well. Quirky, sweet and awesome.

A Scandal in Scarlet is the 4th book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. I enjoy this series and will definitely continue reading! The mystery was nicely paced this time with plenty of suspects and twists to keep me interested. All in all, an entertaining cozy mystery!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: House of Ashes

House of Ashes
Author: Loretta Marion

Cassie Mitchell is 37 and in trouble. She lives in her family's historic Victorian house on Cape Cod...but the house comes with ghosts. Literally. Or bad memories. Or a curse. Whatever you want to call it. Three generations of her family have met with sadness and death because of a long-ago curse placed on the family by an unhappy lover...a lighterman named Robert Toomey. 80 years ago Toomey supposedly started a fire in the house, killing Cassie's great-grandmother Celeste. Percy Mitchell then jumped from the nearby cliffs clutching his dead wife's body, yelling that he was not yet finished with Toomey. Flash forward 80 years....the house is in need of repairs, but Cassie is out of money, in the midst of a divorce, and despondent. She loves Battersea Bluffs at Lavender Hill -- or just The Bluffs as modern residents of Whale Rock, MA call it now -- and doesn't want to lose the house, or the lovely vanilla and caramel scent reminiscent of baking cookies that means the ghosts are about. Mysteriously a young couple and their dog show up one day asking about the house and the legend of the curse. Cassie instantly befriends them. Vince and Ashley start helping renovate the carriage house. Cassie can rent it out and bring in some money to start paying off the debt her ex-husband racked up before leaving. She comes to love them as friends. Then one day Vince and Ashley head out on a biking excursion and never come back. The bikes and picnic basket are found abandoned. She files a missing person report but it seems law enforcement really doesn't want to solve the case. Where are her friends? And why did they just disappear?

I love a good haunted house story! And this one fit the bill perfectly! House of Ashes is a nice mix of mystery and supernatural. The house clearly has a mind, or spirit, of its own. And as Cassie works to find out what happened to her friends, she learns more about the background of the house, her family, and the curse. She also has to battle small town gossip. Nobody really wants to find the young couple. The residents of Whale Rock don't trust outsiders and seem glad they are gone. The local police are pulled off the case by the FBI. And the FBI doesn't seem all that interested in solving the matter.

I enjoyed Cassie as a main character. She is intelligent and learning to stand on her own and fight for what she wants in life. She's creative -- a very talented painter. Plus Cassie is loyal and determined. She isn't just going to let this go and forget about the two people who stayed with her for four months and helped her at her lowest.

On the front cover of House of Ashes it says "A Haunted Bluffs Mystery'' so I'm assuming this is the first book in a series. I will definitely be reading more books by this author -- and more books about Battersea Bluffs, if this does turn out to be a continuing series. This story was perfectly paced and nicely suspenseful. There were plenty of twisty developments to keep me guessing what the final outcome would be. I binge read this book in one sitting -- I couldn't put it down. I had to know how it ended!

Loretta Marion is the author of another unrelated suspense novel, The Fool's Truth. I've added it to my tbr stack! I like her writing style and will definitely be watching for more by this author.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Twas the Knife Before Christmas

Twas the Knife Before Christmas
Author: Jacqueline Frost

It's Christmastime in Mistletoe, Maine once again. Holly White is gearing up for all the holiday festivities and helping out with the family business, Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm. They are renovating and expanding to add an Inn for guests, but construction is way behind schedule. She's also trying to cheer up a friend who just had a really bad experience at a benefit dinner. Her date, the son of a local judge, behaved badly...and they had a fight. To kick off the holiday season, everyone goes to the town's tree lighting ceremony. What should be a fun holiday gimmick -- guessing the number of holiday mints in a giant glass bowl -- turns for the worst when Caroline's handsy date is found dead inside the glass bowl, covered in Christmas candy. Not only is that a terrible waste of lovely mint candy.....but Caroline is a murder suspect. A knife from her cupcake business emblazoned with Caroline's initials is the murder weapon. It might just take a Christmas miracle to prove that Caroline didn't stab Derek.....

This cute, enjoyable holiday cozy mystery got me in the mood for the Christmas season. :) I love the background theme of a Christmas tree farm...especially in a small town named Mistletoe. :) Finding the murder victim in a huge dish of candy was also a nice touch. I wanted the killer arrested not only for killing Derek the Handsy Jerk, but also for ruining the lighting ceremony and huge glass container of candy gimmick. I just kept imagining how pretty that big glass bowl filled with peppermints under all the lights would have been....until a body was stuffed into it. What sort of grinch does something like that?  All is revealed by the end of the book! The mints however were a lost cause....

I enjoy this series. The characters are fun...from Holly White the main character clear down to Theodore the pet goat. I'm always a sucker for holiday themed cozy mysteries...and this series never fails to entertain me. The mystery is nicely paced....it's just Christmas-y enough to be fun....and there are enough twists and turns to keep the plot interesting. And, a couple special Christmas miracles are thrown in for good measure. All in all, an enjoyable holiday cozy with lots of feel-good moments. I will definitely continue reading this series!

Ho, ho, ho....Merry Christmas! :)

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. My guess....there were 20,947 candies in the giant bowl before the addition of a Dead Derek.**

REVIEW: Trapped

Trapped
Author: Michael Northrop

Weather conditions develop that are just right to stall a heavy winter blizzard over the upper east coast of the United States. New Englanders are used to Nor'easters, but this storm is something much worse. Seven kids and a teacher wait at their high school. The kids were waiting for rides home, but the snow is coming down so fast that the roads become impassable. They soon realize that nobody is coming for them. When the teacher ventures out into the storm to get help and doesn't come back, the kids are left alone in the school to fend for themselves. Then the power goes out.....and the snow keeps falling.

I enjoyed this story for the most part. I had a hard time believing that seven kids would be left with one teacher in a locked down building during a weather emergency....but I guess since they were waiting for their usual rides it might be plausible. I really think a teacher or law enforcement would have evacuated them from the building with or without parental permission before the roads completely snowed shut. But....if a storm could truly intensify that quickly without warning....then I guess I can see how the last stragglers might be stuck in the building. But, as an adult, I would not have left them alone to wander out into the night trying to get help. Not only does that leave the kids alone....but it also leaves them without keys to the building, knowledge of where emergency supplies might be or other info a teacher could provide them. Plus....where was the principal (surely they can't leave the building before all the kids are gone?) or school security? Even the schools in the small town I live in have security officers....why didn't this school have more than one teacher who stayed until all of the kids were out of the building? In the end, the kids figured things out the best they could. I think their reactions were pretty close to realistic....jokes and fun in the beginning when it was novel to be stuck inside their school with no adults, changing to a bit of panic and fear when the power and heat went off.

The ending of the story was a bit abrupt. I wanted more of a finish with more information on what happened to the kids and the aftermath of the storm. But it got to a point and just.....stopped. I felt it ended before the story was really complete.

Despite a bit of adult incredulity at some aspects of the basic premise and my need for more of a finish, I enjoyed this story. My 14 year old read some of the story and we talked about it. He had the same concerns with the tale that I did -- administration would never leave the building following an early dismissal until all students were safely out of the building, and they would never have been left alone like that. But, he did say the premise was interesting and agreed that their reactions would be realistic. It would be fun for the kids for awhile.....until the situation became dangerous.

Michael Northrup has written several other YA books including the TombQuest series and Surrounded by Sharks. The shark story sounds like it's similar to this book in that teens are put in a life or death situation. Sounds like an exciting story! I will definitely read more by this author.

The story is complete age appropriate for teens. No gory deaths, sex, inappropriate language/topics, etc. Just a survival story. Quite enjoyable!

REVIEW: City of the Lost

City of the Lost
Author: Kelley Armstrong

Casey Duncan is running from her past. Years ago she killed a man and she knows his relatives are mixed up in organized crime. Someday they will be coming for her. Casey's best friend, Diana, isn't fairing much better. She is in a relationship with a violent man and just can't seem to escape from him. When Diana gets beat up once again, the two women decide to disappear. There is a town, Rockton, where people can pay to disappear. No phones. No internet. No outside contact. People have to apply to be admitted to Rockton. Normally they don't accept murderers and other violent offenders. Casey wouldn't normally be admitted to town, but she's a detective and they need her investigation skills. There's been some disappearances, murders....  Something is going on in Rockton. And Casey can help them solve the case.

I listened to the audio book version of this story. Narrated by Therese Plummer, the audio is almost 14 hours long. I liked Plummer's voice and reading style. She read at a nice steady pace, did the character's voices convincingly and helped build the suspense of the story. All in all, a nice listening experience!

The story had me hooked from the start. A cop who murdered someone and was never caught......a cop who lives with real guilt and self doubt, but still manages to excel at her job. Awesomely creative and very suspenseful plot! I enjoy thriller/crime novels. But when I come across a series that has a plot angle that's new to me, creative and different....it makes me so excited! I loved every moment of this story, and I'm going to jump right into the next book! There are 3 books in this series so far, with a 4th (The Watcher in the Woods) coming out in Feb 2019.

I like Casey Duncan as a main character. She is intelligent and driven, but also very flawed. She has a hard time with real relationships and carries the scars, both physical and mental, of her past.  She is always ready to jump into an investigation and gives it her all...even when it might be incredibly dangerous. She is also a loyal friend. This first book has a lot of character and place development. The concept of a hidden settlement completely off the grid for people who need to disappear is intriguing. And the side characters fit that concept. Most are rough. Some are dangerous. But they all pitch in and help in an emergency. They all need each other to survive off the grid.

This is the first book by Kelley Armstrong that I've read. She has written several other series that look so interesting! When I have caught up on the Casey Duncan series, I'm definitely going to read some of her others! I love it when I discover a "new to me'' author that I really enjoy! I already have book two of this series, A Darkness Absolute, checked out at the library! Binge read! Binge read! :)

REVIEW: The Grim Reader

The Grim Reader
Author: Margaret Welch

It's Simmering Suspense Week at Castleton Manor. Three authors are in-house for the suspense themed retreat...one is quite famous and the other two are lesser known writers. Castleton Manor librarian Faith Newberry is excited about the suspense retreat because it has gone over well. The event is sold out! Her excitement quickly turns to panic when famous author Gloria Bauer disappears after leaving her first event of the week early. Then a ransom note turns up. Maybe this won't be such a great week after all? Faith is on the case to search for the missing author. Turns out much more is at stake than a ruined retreat.....

I am really enjoying this series so far! The Grim Reader is the 3rd book in the Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library series. I love the background theme of a writers retreat that holds writer and book enthusiast retreat weeks with interesting themes. This time, suspense novelists are at the manor....makes for a great mystery! The plot develops at a nice pace with plenty of suspects and surprises along the way. I like how the guests and authors are allowed to bring pets with them. Faith's cat Watson is a great side character. This time one of the authors brought a pet that has the cutest dog name I have ever come across -- Sir Arfer Conan Doyle. Love it!

This series is published by Annie's Fiction (part of Annie's Attic) and released as part of a book club with a monthly subscription. Luckily, a wonderful person donated most of this series to my local library! :) I had to look online to find the reading order and book list because the books do not have a list of the books in this series. The series is written by various authors. The books are hardcover with nice cover art...quite attractive.

All in all, an entertaining cozy series. I will definitely continue reading. :)

REVIEW: Prince Caspian

Prince Caspian
Author: C.S. Lewis

Prince Caspian is the only novel in the Chronicles of Narnia series that disappointed me as a child. Now...before Narnia fans bristle and start leaving hate comments....hear me out. After I read this book I was always hopeful on every first day of school that I would magically be whisked away to a magical other land while waiting for the school bus. And, it never happened. Every year, the school bus showed up and I was whisked away to prison the new school term. No Aslan. No Reepicheep. No DLF. Sigh. Utter disappointment.

But it certainly did make me understand the disappointment of so many children decades later when they didn't receive an owl with a letter from Hogwort's. I too have felt this pain....

But isn't it lovely that there are stories that can make us hope (even as adults) that magic exists? :) I was sorely tempted at 9 to check the back of my clothes closet just in case it was a hidden doorway to Narnia. But nope.....only clothes and the back wall. But it was worth a try, right? And I will admit that I was happy when we removed the old gas logs from our fireplace this year and refurbished the chimney. Not only does that allow Santa a way in....but perhaps the owl can deliver my Hogwort's letter now. Better late than never! :)

The reading order of this series has been moved around since I first read these books. I stick with the original publication order. Prince Caspian refers multiple times to The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe...it makes sense to read it in 2nd place. I do understand why many people read The Magician's Nephew first since it does explain where the Wardrobe came from....but it really isn't necessary to read it first. Kids don't need things in order....I understood the story just fine as a child and didn't mind the main characters changing. Kids are not stupid....they are, at times, smarter than adults who get all bogged down with stress, work and adulting that they can't use their imaginations anymore. BUT.....in all fairness, it really doesn't matter if someone reads the books in publication order....or the new reading order. Prince Caspian is a wonderful story if it's 2nd or 4th!  I choose to read it second. But the key really is....read it! :) The Chronicles of Narnia is a wonderful series of books! :)

Reepicheep is introduced in this book....the most valiant of mice! And I always loved how the Pevensies nicknamed their dwarf friend their DLF (Dear Little Friend). :) A wonderful adventurous story for children (and adults!)

I have re-read the Narnia series many, many times. This time my return to Narnia was prompted by The Great American Read. I was very happy when at the conclusion of the PBS show, the series was voted #9 in the list of 100 books that got the American public reading and talking about literature! Yay!

Great series! I have loved it for more than 40 years!

I read the audio book version of this book. Read by Lynn Redgrave, the audio is almost 5 hours long. Redgrave reads the story masterfully. All in all, a great listening experience!

REVIEW: The Horse and His Boy

The Horse and His Boy
Author: C.S. Lewis

The Horse and His Boy is my favorite of the Chronicles of Narnia books. The story of a peasant boy and his journey through the desert with two talking horses and a girl was just magical for me as a young girl. I've never lost my love for this story....and for the entire Narnia series. Shasta learns so many life lessons on the journey....as do all of the characters. One horse is a bit vain....he learns that there are other things more important. The other horse is a bit timid and she learns to be brave. Aravis learns to respect others and to judge them on their merits. And Shasta.....he learns that there is so much more to life and friendship than he ever dreamed. It's just a wonderous story!

I received a box set of the entire Narnia series for Christmas when I was 9 years old. It was cold, grey and miserable outside on winter break that year, so I remember holing up in my room with blankets and cocoa and binge reading this series. I read and re-read those paperbacks so many times over the next few years that the books finally just fell apart. So many hours of joy in seven paperback books! Best Christmas present ever! :) As an adult, I still re-read this series every couple of years. The adventure, battles and lessons in them never grow old for me. And, The Horse and His Boy is still my favorite. :)

They have changed the reading order of these books over the years. The Horse and His Boy used to be #5 in the series I believe...but it has since been moved to #3. I prefer to read this series in the order Lewis wrote the books...so I ignore the suggested reading order and stick to Lewis' order. It really is reader preference. There aren't any glaring spoilers or problems with reading them in the order they are listed now or in the original order.

I listened to the audio book version this time. Narrated by Alex Jennings, the audio is nearly 5 hours long. Jennings reads at a nice pace with good inflection. I have partial hearing loss but was easily able to hear and understand this entire book. All in all, a great listening experience.

I was prompted to re-read this series because the Chronicles of Narnia was included in The Great American Read. 100 books that got the American public reading and talking about books were chosen...and votes were cast for several months. In the end, the Narnia series was voted #9! So happy the series is in the top 10! :) The list for the GAR can be found here: https://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/books/#/  The PBS show and voting might be over....but I'm still plugging away at the list. So many great books and authors! I'm going to try and read them all. :)

REVIEW: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
Author: C.S. Lewis

One of the best Christmas presents I ever received as a  young child was a box set of the entire Chronicles of Narnia series. I read those books over and over again until they literally fell apart. I have re-read this series many, many times since then. The stories of adventure, friendship and loyalty, and magic never grow old for me.

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is the first book in the series, although it is second in the accepted reading order (Many read The Magician's Nephew first). Four children are evacuated from war torn London to a country estate. The youngest, Lucy, finds a magical wardrobe that is a doorway to another land....Narnia. Narnia is under control of a horrible witch and the children soon find themselves drawn into a battle to save the magical land from evil. Boo to an evil witch that makes it always winter and never Christmas! Boo! Hiss!

My favorite character in this first book has always been Lucy. I was the youngest of 5 children. My closest sister was 9 years older than me, so I got used to my brothers and sisters never listening to me or believing anything I said. Lucy has similar problems at the start of this story. I remember laying across my bed the first time I read this story just livid that nobody would listen to her....and then angry with one brother who lied to make her look a fool.

I listened to an audio book version of the story this time. It was so nice to have one of my favorite stories read to me. :) I listened to a bit each night before bed. Nothing like Aslan, the Pevensie children and Mr. Tumnus to provide happy dreams. I still smile every time the book repeats Lewis' aside comments that the Pevensie children are bright enough to know that they shouldn't never shut themselves into a wardrobe. :)

Awesome classic book! The audio version I listened to is narrated by Michael York. He has a very nice, relaxing deep voice...perfect for this story, in my opinion. The audio from Harper Collins is just shy of 4.5 hours long. Enjoyable listen!

A big thank you to The Great American Read for getting me to re-read this favorite series. The votes are in and the Chronicles of Narnia placed 9th on the list of 100 favorite American books. The list can be found here: https://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/books/#/  My plan is to read through the list until I've read all 100 books....or at least attempted to read each book. I've already DNF'd two books that I didn't like. Reading is personal....and if I'm not enjoying a book, I move on. The list is varied...a little something for everyone. So glad Narnia placed in the top 10! It's been a favorite series of mine for 40 years!

REVIEW: City of Ghosts

City of Ghosts
Author: Victoria Schwab

I'm going to admit first thing that City of Ghosts is the first Victoria Schwab book I've read. Ok....Ok....I can hear the snorts of derision and feel the side-eye glances....   I do have several of her novels on my bookshelves. My TBR pile is ponderous (literally THOUSANDS of books) and I hate cliff-hanger endings where I have to wait a year or more to find out what happened. So generally I wait until a series is on book 3 or 4 before I start reading. Victoria's books have been waiting patiently on my list for me to get to them.....   With millions of readers and thousands of glowing reviews for her work, she hasn't missed me.

I read the book blurb for this series, and immediately broke my rule. City of Ghosts is the first book in the Cassidy Blake series. Book two won't be out until sometime in 2019. But, this YA series sounded like so much fun to read, that I jumped right in. I took my chances with cliff-hangers.....so stop snorting and side-eyeing me. I read Victoria Schwab! And loved this book!

Cassidy Blake can see dead people. While that's nothing new....she had to actually almost die to gain that power. Not only does she see dead people, her best friend is....you guessed it....a ghost. Cassidy's parents are excited that their book series has been picked up as a television series. The Inspectres will shoot episodes in haunted places around the world. First destination? Edinburgh, Scotland. Cassidy and her BFF Jacob soon meet up with an evil spirit that wants Cassidy's life force. Can she escape? Or will she really be a ghost this time?

Great story! I listened to the audio book version, narrated by Reba Buhr. She reads at a nice pace, with great inflection and acting skills. The story definitely kept my attention from beginning to end. And I can't wait for the next book! This series is YA...so there isn't any cussing or adult themes. Just an enjoyable story. Cassidy is definitely a teenager, but she's also determined to help people, even dead ones. Her friendship with Jacob is sweet.

Overall, an entertaining, slightly spooky, story. Great start to a new series. And YES -- I'm going to start reading the other books by Victoria Schwab that are now calling me from my TBR shelves. How could I not?

REVIEW: Night Shift

Night Shift
Author: Robin Triggs

Anders Nordvelt has been hired to work the night shift. But in Antarctica in a mining camp, the night shift is six months long. Anders will effectively be stranded at the end of the world with 12 other people. While Anders feels he isn't really qualified to be the security chief at an Antarctic station, the mining operation is well supplied and safe....so what could possibly go wrong? Turns out.....a lot.

I love reading action stories or thrillers about Antarctica. It's the ultimate spot, isn't it? Especially with darkness falling for six months. The port closed. No help for months. If something goes wrong....if things go bad....all the mining crew has to rely on is themselves. But what if one of them is a saboteur and murderer? Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Only 13 people within 1000 miles. 12...11...10....

Definitely not a place for the cowardly.

The pace and suspense of this story definitely kept my attention. There were enough twists to surprise me several times. Really I should have seen the ending coming....but I didn't. Perfect ending. Nicely done!

I enjoyed this story. I will definitely be looking for more by this author. And so far I'm quite impressed with the horror and fantasy books published by Flame Tree Press. I've enjoyed every one I've read so far.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Flame Tree Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Oak Avenue

Oak Avenue
Author: Brandi Reeds

Ana Clementine's husband buys an old victorian house in his hometown. He's dreamed of living in the house since he was just a boy. He even paid more than asking price for the run-down house. Ana moves in with her young daughter, and starts trying to make the old house a home. Strange things start happening almost immediately....and Ana realizes the old house harbors dark secrets.

Oak Avenue is the final story in the Amazon/Audible Dark Corners Collection....an anthology of seven darkly emotional stories written by bestselling authors. I'm reviewing each story on its own as they are novella length, and many of the authors are new to me.

I really enjoyed this story. Not many of the tales in the collection are actually horror....or even really scary in any way. This story definitely had the haunted, creepy house vibe to it from the start but morphed into a combination of horror and morality tale about the cycle of abuse. Loved it! Very well-written and enjoyable!

I listened to the audio book version of this story. The audio book is just over two hours long. Amy Landon does an amazing job narrating. She does a great job of building suspense and reads at a nice, even pace. All in all, Oak Avenue is one of the most enjoyable stories in the Dark Corners Collection, IMHO.

REVIEW: The Remedy

The Remedy
Author: Adam Haslett

**CAUTION: If discussion of depression, self-harm, suicide and other dark topics are triggers for you -- please avoid reading or listening to this story.**

Derrick has been dealing with extreme, untreatable pain for years. Nobody has been able to help. Then his cousin tells him about a miracle cure offered by a New York clinic. The treatments are expensive, but Derrick sees the improvement in his cousin so he decides it is worth trying. The treatment does work....but in very unexpected ways.

I have to say that this is my least favorite of all the stories in this collection mostly because I found it bordering on offensive. I can't come right out and say why without spoiling the story.....so I will just say it offers up something as a solution that might trigger a reader dealing with depression to harm themselves. I understand the author's intentions....and his point. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. Nope....this story is just not for me. All of the stories in this collection have been more psychological in nature and not really horror stories. I can enjoy them for what they are and have liked most of them. This one just went too far for even me to give it space.

The Remedy is the sixth story in the Dark Corners Collection, an Amazon/Audible Originals horror series. This series doesn't offer run-screaming-into-the-dark horror, but more emotional, creative tales designed to horrify in a more cerebral way rather than scare readers. There are seven stories in the collection, each written by a different bestselling author. I listened to the audio book version of each one. I'm reviewing the stories separately as most of these stories are vastly different and the authors new to me. I didn't want to lump it all together in one jumbled review.

Adam Haslett has written several other books including Imagine Me Gone and You Are Not a Stranger Here. He seems to focus on some dark, depressing topics so although this story was well-written and interesting, I'm going to pass on reading more by this author. The audio book, narrated by Will Damron, is just under an hour long. Damron reads with skill and at an even pace. I have partial hearing loss but was easily able to hear and understand the entire story.

REVIEW: A Birder's Guide to Murder

A Birder's Guide to Murder
Author: J.R. Ripley

A Birder's Guide to Murder is the 8th book in the Bird Lover's Mystery series. I love the characters, background theme and humor in this series. Always an enjoyable cozy mystery experience!

This time, Amy Simms is taking her crew from Birds & Bees on the road to the American Birding Expo. It's a last minute trip....an exhibitor cancelled at the last minute, leaving open booth and hotel space. Amy snaps up the reservations and they hit the highway. The fun is a bit dampened when a main Expo VIP causes a scene. J.J. Fuller is a famous bird photographer.....and a huge jerk. Things get worse when Fuller is found dead by Amy and her business partner, Esther Pilaster. When Esther ends up being the number one suspect....Amy knows she needs to investigate fast to clear her.  Who clonged the bird expert over the head with a pair of binoculars? The Birds & Bees crew is on the case!

My favorite character in this series has to be good ol' Esther the Pester. Her character has developed quite a bit from the start of the series. And I was happy to see her be more of a main character in this newest book....even if she was accused of murder. There is a little bit of everything in this book -- birding info, a murder, investigation, spy intrigue.....lots going on!

I love the background theme of this series. The characters are entertaining and quirky. It makes for a very entertaining cozy mystery each time. A Birder's Guide to Murder has an interesting plot that moves along at a nice speed. It's set in Philidelphia at a birding expo...so lots of new places and situations for the characters this time.

Will Esther the Pester be arrested for murder?? Did her curmudgeonly behavior morph into murderous intent?  Read the book and find out!

J.R. Ripley also writes the Maggie Miller mysteries and Tony Kozol mystery series.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Death and Daisies

Death and Daisies
Author: Amanda Flower

Amanda Flower has quickly become one of my favorite cozy mystery writers. Her books have a magical quality, great characters and creative plots.

Death and Daisies is the second book in her new Magic Garden Mystery series. Fiona Knox is the caretaker of a magical garden. She is still trying to wrap her head around the fact she inherited the cottage and garden in Duncreigan, Scotland from her godfather. She has since opened a floral shop in a nearby village. Climbing Rose Floral Shop is named after a magical rose that grows in her walled garden. She's the 12th keeper entrusted to upkeep the garden and protect the rose. A local minister hates the garden and threatens Fiona, leaving her a cryptic note that the garden will bring evil. As if threats can't possibly be enough to put a damper on her shop's grand opening, the minister is found dead. Some villagers blame her for the death....Can Fiona find out the truth before everyone starts believing there is something sinister about her and the magical garden?

I love this series! It has the same wonderful, magical feel as the author's Magical Bookshop series! The location is awesome...who wouldn't love to inherit a cottage and walled garden in Scotland? The characters are well-developed and have that village quirkiness about them. The plot of this newest book is interesting and the mystery moves along at a nice pace with plenty of suspects, investigation and twists. There is just the right touch of the supernatural/magical to sparkle up the story....never over-done, just right.

While it isn't necessary to read the books in order, to get the full character and location background and development it might be best to read book one (Flowers and Foul Play) before jumping into Death and Daisies. But, a reader could jump in at this second book and still totally enjoy the story!

All in all, this is an entertaining and fun cozy to read. I'm definitely in line awaiting the next book! 

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: In Peppermint Peril

In Peppermint Peril
Author: Joy Avon

In Peppermint Peril is the first book in the Book Tea Shop Mystery series. Callie Aspen comes home for the holidays to visit her Great Aunt Iphy, who runs a tea shop catering to book themed events, parties and get-togethers. Iphy knows just the right extra touches to add to the baked items and decorations for these parties, wowing her clients every time. In this first book in the series, Iphy and Callie prepare goodies for an Agatha Christie type atmosphere at Haywood Hall. Dorothea Finster, 93 year old owner of the hall, has an announcement about her will that she wants to make. Unfortunately, a murder interrupts the evening before she can make her announcement. Callie finds herself investigating to help Dorothea and childhood friends discover a murderer.

I enjoyed this book! To be honest, the plot was pretty predictable and a bit trope-y....but I like the background theme (I would so attend a bookish themed tea party!!!) and the characters. Aunt Iphy makes constant book references and decorates her baked goods with bookish clues. Callie is intelligent and a pretty good investigator, even when the local police (and the killer) tell her to back off. Dorothea Finster is bound and determined to do the right thing by her family and by her ancestral home. It just made for a fun, entertaining cozy mystery, despite the plot being nothing really new. Sometimes, with cozies, it's comfort reading. This book was awesome fun reading for me on a cold, fall evening with a steaming cup of Earl Grey and my two chihuahuas snuggled up on my lap. :) I love holiday themed cozies!

I'm definitely going to read more of this series. I can't wait to find out what's in store for Callie, Iphy, the tea shop and Haywood Hall!

**I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Tangled Woods

The Tangled Woods
Author: Emily Raboteau

An American middle-aged man discovers the horrors within himself while on a resort vacation with his family in this short story by Emily Raboteau. The Tangled Woods is the fifth story in the Dark Corners Collection, an Amazon/Audible original series of horror stories by bestselling authors. Each story in this collection is creative and different. These ain't your mama's Halloween tales. While some of the horror elements in each might seem a bit over-used at first, each writer put their own spin on it and made it their own. In the end the stories aren't really scary, but horrifying in other ways. Sometimes reality is far more frightening than made up monsters.

Reginald Wright, a film critic, is the main character in this story. He expects to experience everything that is wrong with America on this trip to an over-priced resort with his kids and wife....and he does. But he also discovers that he just might be part of the problem. I loved how his self revelation was wound around a backdrop of very dark imagery. Some of us only see the bad in others....but never in  ourselves. Raboteau rips off Reginald Wright's blinders and shows him......himself. Wouldn't that be truly horrifying for every one of us? Imagine if we suddenly saw ourselves as we really are.....not how we imagine that we are. Eek!

Great story. Not really scary or horrifying, but very thought provoking. I identified with the characters as they spent time at the resort doing all those tourist trap things. That really pulled me into the story because my own family has spent time at similar resorts and looked at other kids and parents behaving badly. And, as we all do, we ignored our own faults, choosing to raise an eyebrow at the bad behavior of others. Again....   eeeek!

There are a total of seven stories in the Dark Corners Collection. I'm reviewing them all separately because they are by different authors, most new to me. Emily Raboteau is the author of several other books and short stories, most dealing with race issues. After enjoying this story, I'm definitely going to read more by this author. Her themes are hard-hitting -- this story really struck home with me. I see that this story has some low ratings on Goodreads -- perhaps the topic really hit home with others as well, in an uncomfortably raw and truthful way??  Or perhaps we are all getting tired of racial, political and social commentary because we feel powerless to scrape the shit off ourselves and fix things? Yes, the main character is detestable, immoral and a complete narcissist. But -- in today's world, aren't we all at least a bit that way ourselves? Aren't we all part of the problem? Just some thoughts.....

The audio book, narrated by JD Jackson, is just over an hour long. Jackson has a nice, easily understandable voice and read at an even pace. All in all, an emotional story rather than a scary one. The audio provided a nice listening experience, even though the truth behind the story was disturbing.

REVIEW: Miao Dao

Miao Dao
Author: Joyce Carol Oates

Miao Dao is the 4th dark tale in the Dark Corners Collection from Amazon/Audible Originals. These tales are not formula horror with chills and jump scares....but more emotional and psychological stories focused on modern issues. The darkness in these stories come from human nature, not beasties and ghosties or things that go bump in the night.

I listened to the audio book version of this story. Narrated by Amy Landon, the audio is 2.5 hours long. A 14-year old girl is confused by puberty, her parents divorce and remarriages and just all the changes flying at her all at once. She becomes obsessed with a feral cat colony near her house and adopts a fluffy white orphaned kitten. Named Miao Dao, the cat becomes the girl's best friend...even after it disappears. She learns from the cat....hunting, hiding and fighting skills. Very useful for a girl dealing with some very adult problems....

I found this story just a bit over-the-top -- lots of man hating. There isn't a single normal or likable male character in this story. While it is told from a teenage girl's perspective, I just found it to be a bit too much. She hates all men -- her father, her brothers, her stepfather, kids at school...   While the behavior of most of the men in the story is horrific.....there are no redeeming male characters in this story. No friends. No neighbors. It gives a strangely warped "all men are bad'' vision of growing up. The cat was an interesting concept, but really seemed an afterthought. The cat portion of the story just seemed to hang in limbo and was never really fully developed or resolved. The main theme of this story seemed to be that men are all sexual perverts who treat women like crap. Just not really a story I enjoyed.....   I get the author's point...and her intention. And, I have read Joyce Carol Oates writing before. I just expected more from her -- a better developed story and less obvious "I hate all things with a penis'' mentality.

The story is well-written, and I did enjoy listening to it. Just not really a tale for me.....  Middle of the road rating for this one. Not all bad....but not great.

REVIEW: There's a Giant Trapdoor Spider Under Your Bed

There's a Trapdoor Spider Under Your Bed
Author: Edgar Cantero

I'm familiar with Edgar Cantero's writing. His book Meddling Kids has a permanent spot on my keeper shelf. So I was totally excited to listen to this short story. And Cantero did not disappoint!

Remember sleep overs as a kid? Not the teenaged ones with whispered confessions about boys/girls or comparisons of puberty progress....but the younger, first experiences when imagination games powered the evening's fun. And The Rules that everyone knew you had to follow.... Don't let your feet dangle over the edge of the bed. Stay out of the dark. Never, ever look under the bed. Jump over the last step on the stairs. All of those kid's games that fade away with age. Cantero paints a picture of such a sleep-over....but the kids' imaginations bring their fears to life. Multiple kids.....multiple fears. Before dawn, they must use their smarts and figure out how to win the Boss Fight with their collected fears and save their lives.

As with most of the stories in the Dark Corners Collection from Amazon/Audible, this story is not horror....but a fun mix of humor and fear. I remember being quite serious about my arms or legs never straying over the side of a bed for fear something in the dark, or under my bed, could grab me. At six, I was adept at tucking my blankets around my body so that I couldn't roll over in the night and be boogie man fodder. My life was saved when I turned seven and my mom let me have a cat. Snoopy slept with me every night. And everybody knows that a cat scares away the boogie man and all creepie crawlies that think they can hide in a child's room at night. I was safe.....as long as the closet was shut. Always keep the closet closed at night. Always.......

This story made me smile the entire time I was listening to the audio book. A brilliant game of pretend among friends that turns a bit too real.....and they struggle to come up with a plan to defeat their Rules and their fear-created monsters. As I went to bed last night, for the first time in 42 years I checked to be sure the closet was securely closed....and armed myself with my pets (I have added dogs to the mix now. We all know that dogs take care of anything that might sneak in past the cats....unless there is a mirror in the room or if you step on a crack in the floor while walking to the bathroom at 2 am.)

I'm giving this story full stars because it made me happy. :) It reminded me of The Rules, sleepovers and years of happy, safe, terror-filled nights with friends, some of whom I haven't seen in 30 years.

Be sure to keep your closet closed. And.....never, ever look under the bed!

There's a Giant Trapdoor Spider Under Your Bed is the 3rd story in the Dark Corners Collection. These stories aren't really horror, but a collection of psychological, emotional dark tales. Some I liked....some I didn't. But, I have to give kudos to this collection because all of the stories are different and creative with a spin on modern problems. None of the stories are in-your-face typical horror. These seven stories are more subtle. More of a nod to the darkness of the modern age, rather than ghosties and things that go bump in the night. Give them a try....if you dare.

Edgar Cantero has written several books including Meddling Kids (the Scooby Doo gang investigates as adults -- awesome book!) and The Supernatural Enhancements.

REVIEW: The Sleep Tite Motel

The Sleep Tight Motel
Author: Lisa Unger

Lisa Unger never disappoints me! The Sleep Tight Motel is my favorite story in the Dark Corners Collection from Amazon/Audible. The Collection gathers seven dark, emotional tales from bestselling authors. The stories aren't really horror in the true sense, but more like dark looks into human nature and behavior. Most of the tales in the collection are dark and psychological, but not really scary.  This story (and Oak Avenue by Brandi Reeds) is actually more typical horror mixed with cautionary tale. Loved it!

Eve is on the run. She has escaped her violent, criminal lover...but her ordeal has her on edge and exhausted. Her ex is following her....threatening her....coming after her. But she can't run anymore. She has to rest. Stopping at an isolated motel, Eve is scared but the friendly manager calms her, telling her she is safe. But he knows something Eve doesn't.

The Sleep Tight Motel is the second story in the Dark Corners Collection. I listened to the audio book version. The audio, narrated by Amy Landon, is just over 1.5 hours. Landon reads at a nice pace, building suspense.

All in all, a great story! I wasn't too surprised at the ending....but the suspense and creepy feel of the tale was entertaining.

Lisa Unger is the author of several books including The Red Hunter and Beautiful Lies.

REVIEW: Hannah-Beast

Hannah Beast
Author: Jennifer McMahon

Hannah-Beast is the first story in the Dark Corners Collection, a collection of seven short stories offered up as Amazon/Audible Original content. I love listening to original horror stories on audio, so I jumped right on this collection! Glad I did -- each story is creative and different.

They say that urban legends and myths are based in fact. In this short story (I lean more towards novella really as the audio version of the story is just over an hour long....a bit lengthy for a short story), a town's legend about a young girl who once went crazy while trick-or-treating turns out to be more truth than legend. Many, many kids dress up as the Hannah-Beast and the legendary figure is even hanged in effigy in the public park each year. But one woman knows the truth.....and it's going to come back around in a predictable but gruesome way.

While similar stories have been told before, I liked how this one is told in present time and in flashbacks. The story is a mix of horror and morality tale. Secrets and lies never really go away.....they come back around when least expected. No escaping karma. I wasn't surprised at the ending, but this was still an enjoyable listening experience. I longed to tell two characters in this story that under no circumstances should you ever, ever, ever trust the mean girls. Never. Not ever.

There are seven stories in the Dark Corners Collection. This is the first one I have listened to. I'm definitely going to listen to the rest. I'm reviewing them separately because they are all by different authors that are new to me. Jennifer McMahon is the author of several other creepy stories....after enjoying this one I'm definitely going to read more by her. She has also narrated several audio books including Haunted Ground by Erin Hart.

The audio book version of this story is narrated by Amy Landon and runs just under 1.5 hours. Landon reads at a nice pace. At first, I thought her performance was a bit wooden...but her voice and delivery grew on me as the story progressed. Her tone made more sense as I came to know the main character a bit better. All in all, a nice listening experience.