REVIEW: The Exes Revenge

The Exes' Revenge
Author: Jo Jakeman

Actions have consequences.

Phillip Rochester is abusive, manipulative and controlling. There are three women who know just how much of a nightmare he can be.  One decision acts as a catalyst to start a battle in motion. Three women against one man.  If hell hath no fury like a woman scorned....what about three women?

This book is disturbing, action-packed and suspenseful. I usually find at least one redeeming quality in characters, even villains...and I tried. But Phillip Rochester is just a total wanker. Not that the three women he wronged are much better. Imogen, Naomi and Ruby all have their faults and have all made huge mistakes in judgement. And normally they wouldn't have allied with each other for any reason, given their former attachments to Mr. Wanker. But.....adversity makes strange bedfellows.

 I usually avoid books that center around abusive relationships, divorce, kids stuck in the middle, etc.....but this one sounded different. Revenge. Powerful emotions. And dark decisions. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop.....wow....just wow. The story is just incredi-disturbing, scary and wrong....but I couldn't stop myself wanting to finish...to find out what happened. 

This story is heavy....emotional and dark. I think I might just have to watch 2 Disney movies and binge a season of Gilmore Girls to clear out my head. But, a book that can bring me on a emotional roller-coaster ride is well-written. This story moves along at a perfect pace....has plenty of unexpected twists along the way....and is stellar at building suspense and just feelings of dread, disgust, anger, sadness.... 

Not for the faint of heart or for those who just can't handle stories about abusive (mental and physical) relationships.

Kudos to Jo Jakeman for totally creeping me the hell out. By halfway through the book, even I was afraid of Philip Rochester! Total wanker!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Hometown

Hometown
Author: Matthew Keville

Many horror stories are cautionary tales for teenagers.....don't go into the woods alone at night, don't park in out of the way places to have sex in a car, parties can be dangerous, never pick up hitchhikers, don't talk to strangers, don't drink, don't do drugs....  I think the reason why books and movies based on this trope are entertaining is because we all (at some point) did all of those things. And made it out alive. But we eagerly read/watch the story unfold of the unlucky ones who get caught by the killer/monster/predator.

Hometown is a horror story just like that. I could almost see the story playing out as a movie in my head as I read this book. Belford, NY. 1994. Fall. The weather is turning misty and cool. And, the local teens are out doing what all small town teens do before it gets too cold to be outdoors being stupid. But, unfortunately, this time something is in the mist....something old, hungry and unfeeling has awoken....and its hunting them. It's open season on teenagers. Local legends about a creature in Black Lake are true.....

I found this story entertaining and engaging. But I love this sort of story! From the first two victims that die because they parked out at the lake to the bitter end where all is revealed, this book had my attention. The story had so many of the same legends that the small town I grew up in did -- a black car running people off the road, people disappearing at the lake, monsters lurking in the fog.....   I'm glad that the legends from my town were all BS, but it was great to see those stories play out in Belford.

All in all, an entertaining scary read! Anyone who likes slightly cheesy horror stories will love this book. I'm definitely going to read more by this author. Totally entertaining story!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. **

REVIEW: Adrift

Adrift
Author: Brian Murphy

January, 1856. Captain Alexander Kelley is sailing the packet ship John Rutledge from Liverpool to New York, completing his first transatlantic voyage as a captain. He leaves his wife behind in Liverpool as the voyage will be rough given the time of year, and promises to pick her up in the spring when they can return to New York together.  It is a promise he will break. After 35 days at sea on February 20th, 1856, The John Rutledge struck an iceberg in the Atlantic and sank. 13 survivors boarded life boats. Nine days later, the only survivors were one crew member and the ship's log book.

A disaster tale such as this one is even more emotional when it's a true story. Murphy weaves the story of the fate of the John Rutledge with great skill. It chilled me to the bone thinking about the few survivors floating in open boats in the freezing cold elements, only to die. And the many emigrants from Ireland -- men, women and children seeking a better life -- who never made it off the ship. I had to watch two Disney movies after I finished this book to get the sad, emotional thoughts out of my head. Those poor people....and what a horrible, lonely way to die.

In his introduction to the book, the author says: Scores of ships -- carrying tens of thousands of passengers and crew -- met a similar fate in the Atlantic before twentieth-century advances in communications technology enabled better advance notice on looming ice fields and approaching storms. The names of some lost ships are remembered. So are a few of the prominent figures that perished at sea. But almost totally forgotten are the others who went down with them: emigrants, seamen, travelers, merchants and envoys. Entire families. Young men and women striking out for a new life. Children too young to grasp the dangers of an Atlantic crossing. They are the anonymous dead. The sea is good at swallowing lives without a trace.  It happened that way for so many.....dreams of a new life over so quickly...and now nobody even remembers their names or anything about them. I thought about each and every one of them as I read this book.

A book that can elicit a profound emotional response in a reader is well written. This book sucked me into the story of this doomed ship and kept my total attention from start to finish. I felt an emotional tie to the people I knew were going to die. Brian Murphy is a skilled story-teller. Excellent book. Heart-breaking story. Anyone who enjoys adventure stories, historical tales or the sea will love this book. It's hard to read -- the outcome is bleak. But I'm glad a skilled writer told their story. Those who crossed the ocean before the age of modern communications and safety precautions were taking a huge risk. So many were lost. I'm glad that some are still remembered.

I have a son in the Navy and even though I am not really a religious person, I thought of this hymn while reading this story:

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Perseus Books/DeCapo Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Premeditated Peppermint

Premeditated Peppermint
Author: Amanda Flower

Premeditated Peppermint is the 3rd book in the Amish Candy Shop cozy series. Bailey King left New York City to return to her roots in Harvest, OH. She helps her grandmother run the family candy business, Swissmen Sweets. It's nearly the holiday season in this newest book and the shop is gearing up for the annual Harvest Christmas Market. Peppermint is the theme for the candy shop's table this year, so the shop is filled with all things chocolatey and minty. mmmmm :) Just as she is feeling her holiday spirit returning, Bailey is horrified when her ex-boyfriend, Eric Sharp shows up with a television crew in tow. While this would help boost business for Swissmen Sweets and all the businesses in Harvest, Bailey knows Eric and his entourage will cause a disturbance in the village. Unfortunately, it's a bit more than just a disturbance...  The executive producer for the holiday special is found strangled to death with Christmas lights in the village square. Decking the halls with a dead producer is not a great way to start off the holiday season. Bailey finds herself investigating to find the killer before the holiday season is ruined.

I really enjoy just about anything Amanda Flower writes. I enjoy the characters in this series and the candy shop theme is just yummy (not to mention the great peppermint bark recipe included in the back of this newest book!). The mystery moves along at a nice pace. Strangling someone with Christmas lights was a nice sinister touch. The plot was entertaining and engaging. All in all, a nice addition to this series.

The next book, Toxic Toffee, will be coming soon! Yay!

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

REVIEW: Downright Dead

Downright Dead
Author: Pamela Kopfler

Downright Dead is the second book in the B&B Spirits Mystery series. I really love the humor and the characters in this series. The stories never fail to have me laughing out loud. I can't imagine the annoyance of having a supremely irritating ex-husband come back as a ghost....and in this newest book, Holly Davis has to contend with two spirits. Twice the irritation! :)

While it isn't necessary to read the first book before reading Downright Dead, the first book is a great read and I highly recommend it.

Holly Davis turned the family home, Holly Grove, into a B&B so that she could afford to keep it. Soon after opening her B&B, the ghost of her ex-husband Burl showed up and caused quite a stir. The B&B was featured on a television show, Inquiring Minds, where footage clearly proved that that the haunting was real. But then Burl moved on....ascended....joined the choir invisible...whatever you want to call it. The ghost is gone. Holly is relieved....and then horrified. Sylvia Martin, host of Inquiring Minds, uses a sneaky clause in the contract Holly signed to demand a follow-up visit. Not only is she bringing the film crew back to Holly Grove.....but she's also dared a snarky internet sensation to come de-bunk the haunting. Holly is unsure what to do......since the ghost is gone. Just as the follow-up production is hitting an all time embarrassing low, one of the guests is pushed off the widow's walk, crashing to the ground below. That solves the ghost problem...but the even bigger question is which person is a murderer? And why?

I am definitely going to continue reading this cozy mystery series. Holly and her staff are such a hoot. And the ghost(s) never fail to be entertaining. The mystery in this newest book clipped right along at a nice pace. I love the mix of humor and mystery. The B&B/ghost background theme didn't over power the mystery but added to it.  This is just an all-around fun, entertaining cozy!

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

Review: Bah! Humbug!

Bah! Humbug!
Author: Michael Rosen
Illustrator: Tony Ross

Harry Gruben has the lead in a school play. He's playing Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. His parents and his sister are going to the production. Harry just wishes his dad would stop thinking about business or reading emails on his phone and just be his dad for once. Little does he know a little Christmas Carol magic will play out for his dad, while Harry portrays Scrooge on the stage.

A Christmas Carol has been one of my favorite books since childhood. I love the imagery, the characters and the happy ending for the ol' curmudgeon, Ebenezer Scrooge. I re-read the book every holiday season at least once, and read every retelling I can get my hands on. :) When I saw this book's title, I knew I had to read it! I'm glad I did! Not only does the book include a lot of passages and dialogue straight from A Christmas Carol, giving the lines and actions that Harry is performing on-stage...but it weaves in the tale about Harry's dad, preoccupied with business and missing his son's play, and his lesson in priorities.

This story is such a creative way to give the ageless tale of redemption a modern feel....workaholic parents, smartphones, email, computers, instant information.....and kids who just want their parents to stop running and just be mom and dad for awhile.

Lovely book! I'm buying a copy for my A Christmas Carol theme bookshelf....for when I need a reminder of what my top priorities should be. Sometimes the tech needs to be turned off!! :)

This is the first book I've read by Michael Rosen. I'm definitely going to read more of his children's stories, especially one he wrote about the life of Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Dahl. The illustrations by Tony Ross were perfect and really added to the book! He illustrated the Horrid Henry series and many others. The cover for Bah! Humbug! is awesome....very colorful and festive!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Candlewick Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. No spirits appeared to point out my poor life choices during the reading of this book. God bless us, every one!**

REVIEW: Born Scared

Born Scared
Author: Kevin Brooks

Elliott is afraid of everything. In fact, he doesn't remember ever not being afraid. His mother, his aunt and his doctor are the only people that don't remind him of monsters. But there are even some things he has to keep secret from them....like the fact he sees and talks to his twin sister, Ellamay, even though she died shortly after they were born. The only thing that shuts down the beast, his fears, are the little yellow pills he takes six times a day. The pills quiet his fears enough for him to not spend every second of every day terrified. Then one day the pharmacy makes a mistake and he might run out of medication during a holiday. His aunt goes to pick up his meds....but doesn't arrive at their house. Then his mother goes out to find out what happened and doesn't come back. It's a bit more than 500 yards from their house to his Aunt Shirley's home. But, Elliott doesn't usually leave the house. It's scary out there. Anything could happen.  Elliott knows he has to brave his fears this one time and find out what happened to his aunt and his mother.

This story is so different. I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it at first, but then as the characters developed more and the story started forming, I couldn't stop reading. What an awesome way to bring about more awareness about mental illness and its effects on children. This story is amazing! At times Elliott was so adult -- he understands he has a mental condition, he understands he needs his medication and he understands that at times how he feels is irrational......but then at other times, he is a 13-year old child dealing with a constant mental battle, feeling lost and alone, surrounded by monsters. The story is told from Elliott's point of view, painting a picture of how he views the world. His fears control his life, but he's still willing to step outside and find his mother.

Outstanding book! I'm not sure I would call it a "thriller'' like one of the book blurbs I read. For me, it was more emotional, showing the world from the point of view of a fearful, mentally ill child. It would be terrifying to almost be out of medication on Christmas Eve, then to have your two trusted caregivers disappear. That 500 yard walk to his aunt's house was terrifying.....and the situation that developed afterwards made Elliott face many more fears than just a walk through the snow.

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