A book of repetition, and the flashbacks were shared at the worst times. I don’t feel like it’s worth the effort of sharing anything other than the moA book of repetition, and the flashbacks were shared at the worst times. I don’t feel like it’s worth the effort of sharing anything other than the most glaring issues I have with the book. So - lastly, Henry never explained what happened to the main character’s sister. The sister was very important to her, so it should have been included. And would it have been too difficult to include an epilogue? Very disappointed overall. Two stars ⭐️⭐️. Do not recommend....more
This was my first Taylor Jenkins Reid novel, and TJR surprised me. I really liked this! Does it make me old school to simply love a plain, good story?This was my first Taylor Jenkins Reid novel, and TJR surprised me. I really liked this! Does it make me old school to simply love a plain, good story? Not that this was really plain. I love a story that flows well and has interesting characters, characters with substance. Reid created a cast where each one was well fleshed out, memorable, and relatable.
This is the story of the annual party thrown by the Riva siblings in Malibu and all the family happenings that lead up to it. Each family member has a major life change about to happen, and their journey is what makes this such a great read. This year, though, the party will light the hills afire. Literally!
Reid took the characters and used them as a source of not only entertainment, but also a source of learning. I had three favorite character responses by the siblings -
- Hud when he told his brother he was still going to date his brother’s ex but he was also going to keep his relationship with his brother. - Nina when she realized that she had been living a life of acceptance. - Nina when she discovered that she could put those ill memories of her past in a box and shelve them.
The entourage and supporting cast were excellent as well. Who can forget Carrie Soto, Kit’s best friend Vanessa, or my favorite - Nina’s best friend and fellow model, Tarine. The pages came alive when she was included in the story!
Overall a very good book. I don’t really have anything bad to say about it, other than the forced effort to include things from the 80’s was a bit much (MTV VJ’s, Family Ties stars, clothing styles, etc). I felt like they were out of place for the most part.
Great story, I highly recommend it, yada yada yada! Four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!...more
I did not know that Joanne Fluke wrote horror until I came across this book on Libby. I have read many of her Hannah Swenson mysteries and enjoyed thoI did not know that Joanne Fluke wrote horror until I came across this book on Libby. I have read many of her Hannah Swenson mysteries and enjoyed those. This book had promise in the beginning, but it became repetitive and boring.
Karen is a single mother to Leslie when she marries Mike. Expecting their first child, they move to a mansion in the country with the purpose of fixing it up and showcasing the updates in the magazine Mike works for as a photographer.
It isn’t long before it’s apparent that Karen and Leslie simply do not fit in. There was potential when the ghost of a little boy shows up. Leslie is able to summon him by holding a key (to the cellar where his skeleton lies), and he harms or kills others to protect her interests. Karen in the meantime develops an obsession with the house and it’s former occupants and is unable to leave. Mike is useless.
After the ghost shows up in the story, the same thing happens over and over. Someone picks on Leslie or threatens her family in some way, she calls in the ghost by holding the key, and he helps her to stop those people. Over and over.
I really don’t want to rehash the whole thing, but I was irritated at all the characters by the end of the book and really didn’t care what happened to them. There was so much that just didn’t make sense. Leslie is nine I believe but acts 30. Mike is locked in the root cellar that no one knows exists (but they do actually) but no one can hear him when they look for him a week later. I just can’t even. In the beginning I saw shades of John Saul, but that feeling didn’t last long!
So because the book had promise, I’m giving it two stars. And I’m being generous. I don’t really recommend it. But I do suggest Fluke stick with cozy mysteries....more
There were a lot of gaps in the story line, and I wish more history of the minor characters and events would have been shared. I think it would have hThere were a lot of gaps in the story line, and I wish more history of the minor characters and events would have been shared. I think it would have helped make me care a little more about what happened to the main protagonists. I suspect that may occur in the rest of the books from the series, but I’m not sure I’ll be reading those just yet.
All the action was saved for the last 15 percent of the book. One of the sisters showed signs of a mild possession, but it was never addressed. The husband was oblivious, and the other sister experienced most of the spooky happenings - apparently because of her history with the house as a child. But what were the details of that history? It was never shared.
It was a fairly good book, though, a good 3 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ . ...more
I started this book hoping I would really enjoy it. I saw the movie and was hoping the book was just as good. It was almost there, just not quite.
WooI started this book hoping I would really enjoy it. I saw the movie and was hoping the book was just as good. It was almost there, just not quite.
Woodrell captured the atmosphere phenomenally well. The settings he placed you in felt real. I could feel the rolling hills as Uncle Teardrop drove Ree looking for information on her Dad. The snow, the beatings, the way she taught her brothers - all were written with care. But I finished the book with a close to ambivalence for Ree Dolly, the main character. Her character was developed to be so tough with so many walls, I don’t feel the real Ree was ever exposed. Her mother’s haunting “craziness� and her Uncle’s psyche regarding his brother’s situation were handled much better.
So the setting of the Ozarks and the people who live there definitely get a five star rating, but the character of Ree only gets a three. If Ree had been developed with a stronger weak side (I know, confusing lol), I would be yelling five stars across the board.
I think others would like this book. It stayed on point and true to the story and flowed very well. It was a quick read and I may revisit it again one day. I’m giving this a strong four ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. ...more
Well, this was different. A short story about Pygmalion and the statue the goddess brought to life for him, Galatea, from Galatea’s point of view. WhoWell, this was different. A short story about Pygmalion and the statue the goddess brought to life for him, Galatea, from Galatea’s point of view. Who knew a former statue could be a feminist? One who would use her beauty as the most becoming woman in the town, to work her wiles?
STOLEN TONGUES IS EXCEPTIONALLY CREEPY AND WONDERFULLY SCARY!!
Five stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stolen Tongues had me creeped out in the prologue, with the atmosSTOLEN TONGUES IS EXCEPTIONALLY CREEPY AND WONDERFULLY SCARY!!
Five stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stolen Tongues had me creeped out in the prologue, with the atmosphere, drama, and action. It never let up. My senses were under a constant barrage of descriptive writing that made me feel what the characters were going through.
“A shotgun blast of panic exploded through me, propelling me into a full sprint. My screams echoed all across the mountain, summoning a choir of evil voices to join in. A thousand cries rang out all around me, stoked by my fiery terror.�
The pace of the story quickens at all the appropriate places and slows just enough to let you catch your breath before assaulting you with yet more creepy vibes. The writing was steady and flowed very well.
Fiancé whose eyes roll back in her head as she talks to someone not visible? Check. Animals sensing an out of this world, paranormal presence and alerting you that you aren’t alone? Check. Native American folklore that leads you to not realize, but know these experiences are not your normal ghostly happenings? Check. Deaths of the ones trying to help you? Check.
The only drawback I had from the entire book is that a few occurrences were never explained, yet it made sense. It just added to the paranormal aspect of the book.
This is one my favorite horror books, ever. I would give it ten stars if I could. I very highly recommend this book to everyone! (But be sure to leave the lights on as you read!)...more
”Inside Joe’s room, someone was laughing. But it wasn’t Joe; it couldn’t have been. It didn’t sound human at all. Instead, what emerged fromHmm. Well.
”Inside Joe’s room, someone was laughing. But it wasn’t Joe; it couldn’t have been. It didn’t sound human at all. Instead, what emerged from that room was a sepulchral, moist, hacking chuckle that sounded like it came from a rotting throat.�
This was about halfway through the book - is it any wonder I was loving this so much?! It so started as a five star read for me. I love books that just tell a story. No clever hooks. No cliches. No latest fads. And this one did all that. Until �
I know this is fiction, but the reasoning got a little nuts at the end - implausible, even beyond ghosts. So it quickly came down to a three star read after the first half of the book. All the double guessing, constantly changing the patient’s diagnosis - it became bogged down and stepped away from the horror. I didn’t find it all that scary, and the horror just wasn’t enough for me (which is saying a lot!). The ending left a lot to be desired. Overall it was okay.
One of my favorite booktubers loves this book, so I’m definitely disappointed. If you like shorter horror novels, bordering on a novella, give it a try....more
Preston & Child set the standard. Once again, another marvelous novel filled with action, mystery, suspense, and soooo many thrills!
The story is abouPreston & Child set the standard. Once again, another marvelous novel filled with action, mystery, suspense, and soooo many thrills!
The story is about Malin Hatch who loses his brother while digging for pirate’s treasure as a kid, treasure on their family-owned island that just happens to have a history akin to Oak Island of TV fame. Jump forward about 25 years, and Malin agrees to let a treasure hunting conglomerate onto the island to bring up the treasure once and for all, with him acting as their partner.
The only faults I found were the technical mumbo jumbo included that made no sense - such as listing the secret to digging up the treasure, but before the code was cracked. I also wish some of the characters and their relationships had been more fleshed out, such as Niedelman and his right hand devoted war buddy, Streeter. But Kudos for the French archaeologist chic, Isobel Bonterre. What a flirtatious and dynamic character! There are some great interactions between her and the other characters, especially Malin. The pages woke up when she made an appearance.
This is definitely a strong four star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, teetering on a five for me. If you like stories of buried treasure and pirates, this novel is for you!! ...more
This book was decent � the main protagonist makes every decision a person in a horror novel should not make � to the point where I out loud called himThis book was decent � the main protagonist makes every decision a person in a horror novel should not make � to the point where I out loud called him a dummy lol. And I never could figure out if the undead people were ghosts or monsters or what?
I liked the main character though - a good guy with a sweet heart. That was nice to see!
Three stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Coates didn’t hit it out of the park with this one, but it was pretty good effort!!...more
Seriously! The Haunting of Ashburn House is the story of a young woman who inherits the home of a great aunThis book. Scared. The. Crap. Out. Of. Me.
Seriously! The Haunting of Ashburn House is the story of a young woman who inherits the home of a great aunt, a great aunt who she does not remember. Once she arrives, spooky times are afoot.
The first 75% of this book is a slow burn but still fun to read. Then the drama, ghostie happenings, and gruesomeness are kicked up a thousand fold. Coates does a phenomenal job of isolating the character into what appears to be a no win situation. I felt those vibes as I was reading, and it sent this book up another notch.
Add in an awesome cat (**who not only survives but has some awesome moments himself**) and you have an awesome duo - trio actually with the great aunt - fighting evil � a decent twist at the end - what more can you ask for?
I rate on pure enjoyment - while it took a while for the action to kick in, it was definitely worth the wait and added to the suspense and guessing game. The spooky factor was some of the best I’ve read. I’m definitely giving this one four stars and a strong recommendation for others!! ...more
Hendrix once again aced not only the 80’s but also the whole 80’s Charleston and Mt. Pleasant high school scene.
This book could easily be a throwbackHendrix once again aced not only the 80’s but also the whole 80’s Charleston and Mt. Pleasant high school scene.
This book could easily be a throwback to the 80’s horror movies with a bit of comedy thrown in. Three rich girls - one sarcastic leader, one shy and one pleaser - are friends with the “poor� girl on scholarship at the private school. And it goes downhill once they hit their sophomore year in high school.
An enjoyable read, this is my third Hendrix book so far. One drawback I have is that all three are basically written the same way, Vampires and Exorcism could have segued from one to the other. But if it isn’t broken, no need to fix it, right? The other drawback is that I kept waiting to find out what happened in the abandoned building the night Gretchen goes missing. No details are ever given.
**Warning** There is an animal death included, and I wasn’t happy about it. I really don’t feel it was necessary to the plot.
Three stars for the novel, and an extra star for helping me relive high school memories - not only the location but the music, clothing, watches � you name it.
I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, in fact, much better than the last McFadden book I read.
Having marital issues, Claire and herI really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, in fact, much better than the last McFadden book I read.
Having marital issues, Claire and her husband start out on vacation with two other couples for a week at an inn located out in the woods. The car breaks down on the final leg of the trip, and they become hopelessly lost while trying to walk the rest of the way. Slowly, they begin to disappear or die � who or what is the killer?
I honestly thought I had the book figured out and knew who the villain was, but I was completely wrong!! The twist appears at the end (with a bonus twist in the epilogue), and I thought the ending was appropriate.
Character development was good, and the book flowed at a steady pace after the tepid and slow beginning. The main character, Claire, was a bit much in that she was constantly complaining, but it wasn’t over the top. The one major problem I had was the summary for book, and even the prologue, states only one person makes it out alive - WRONG. I feel like I was coerced into reading this lol! Good thing it was free on KU ...more
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