TBR Jar Of Horror #2 - The Streeter

 

So Stormi and I kind of fell out of sync with this last year but we both still have some horror books lingering in our jar.  So we've started it up once again and hopefully it will become a regular feature at least every 2 months or so.  Just to remind you, we are both reading and reviewing different books with this feature and they are always older releases or some lesser known book we might have stumbled upon on Kindle Unlimited or so. So read on to see what I dug off the shelf this month and then hop over to Stormi's to find out what she read.

TITLE: The Streeter

AUTHOR: Scott Ian Barry

PUBLISHER: Tor Books

PUBLISHING DATE: February 1, 1994

PAGES: 288

SOURCE: Own

FROM GOODREADS: Around Amsterdam Starpark, people are dying. Packs of dogs lope through the concealing mists--dogs who have lost their last fear of man. They have been driven to the brink of insanity by chemical waste . . . driven to hunt and kill . . . and eat.

MY THOUGHTS: Trigger warning - dogs dies in this book.  But there is also hope and a really really strong dog advocate and some bad people die too so in my twisted mind, it's all good.  

This book opens with a young on her bike going home one evening when she runs across 5 dogs who proceed to chase her to a local amusement park.  It's obvious there's something wrong with these dogs and the carnage starts pretty early.  The amusement park manager, Adam, is known for rescuing dogs off the street and giving them a better life - some even provide security for the park.  Adam becomes concerned with this new pack and the havoc they are causing and since he has little trust that the local officials can handle the situation, he starts tracking the pack as well.  As the book progresses, the reader learns why the dogs are acting this way, and also runs across an individual who clearly thinks she is better than everyone else and wants ALL dogs destroyed.  She was definitely on my hit list. 

I really did enjoy this book. It was the right length for a quick read and despite the subject matter and my dog sensitivity, the book really didn't upset me a lot.  I think it's because the author focused a lot on rehabilitation and the role humans play in animal behavior and it didn't feature dogs being bad because they dogs.  It took place around an amusement park which added to the atmosphere and although there was a time I am sure I had a question mark over my head because of an editing error here or there, 

they didn't detract much from the book.  

If you are looking for a fun retro horror read, maybe you can get your hands on this book and give it a try!

RATING: 4 PAWS

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Grant County #2

 

So this month Stormi and I continued on with the Grant County series.  I was excited to dive in but will admit this book fell a tad bit short for me - but not a lot.  I am still enjoying the series and have no doubt it's one we will continue on with even though we are taking a break from it next month.  So read on to see what I thought about it and then hop over to Stormi's at  Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! to see what she thought as well.

TITLE: Kisscut (Grant Co. #2)

AUTHOR: Karin Slaughter

PUBLISHER: Harper Collins

PUBLISHING DATE: 2002

PAGES: 448

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Saturday night dates at the skating rink have been a tradition in the small southern town of Heartsdale for as long as anyone can remember, but when a teenage quarrel explodes into a deadly shoot-out, Sara Linton -- the town's pediatrician and medical examiner-- finds herself entangled in a terrible tragedy.

What seemed at first to be a horrific but individual catastrophe proves to have wider implications. The autopsy reveals evidence of long-term abuse, of ritualistic self-mutilation, but when Sara and police chief Jeffrey Tolliver start to investigate, they are frustrated at every turn.

The children surrounding the victim close ranks. The families turn their backs. Then a young girl is abducted, and it becomes clear that the first death is linked to an even more brutal crime, one far more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Meanwhile, detective Lena Adams, still recovering from her sister's death and her own brutal attack, finds herself drawn to a young man who might hold the answers. But unless Lena, Sara, and Jeffrey can uncover the deadly secrets the children hide, it's going to happen again... 

MY THOUGHTS: So let me start by saying I'm not a reader who really pays much attention to trigger warnings and such.  I guess because I read a lot of horror, I expect bad things.  In fact, the only trigger warning I really care about is "Did the dog die?"  or any type of animal abuse.  Well, that is pretty much the only thing this book didn't contain.  I mentioned to Stormi several times while buddy reading it that this book definitely has an "ick" factor.

On a night off at the local skating rink (oh I remember those days), Sara and Jeffrey are trying to have date night which is cut drastically short when Sara find a dead baby and Jeffrey has to shoot a teen in the parking lot.  And the book just rolls on from there.  As local law enforcement works to piece together the parts of a very messy and very secretive puzzle, the reader learns just how scary small towns can actually be - and trust me, I grew up in one so I know.  We also get to see the fallout from what happened to Detective Lena Adams in the last book and while I most definitely have some empathy for her and her situation, I often wanted to slap her and I really hope her character arc goes through some serious development in the next book.  

I don't want to give a lot away but this book is your typical police procedural with a lot of characters and various relationships built in.  We see more of Sara's sister in this book and I'm kind of curious where things head with her in the next installment.  I am still enjoying the series and despite the length of the books, I find myself flying through them pretty quickly so this is a series I recommend.  It's just probably not for the squeamish.  

RATING:  4 PAWS

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Virgin River

 

 So February was the perfect month to pick up another book from the Virgin River series.  I'm enjoying these books so much and reading one is like visiting old friends.  I can't believe we are over halfway done.  So read on to see my thoughts and then  hop over to Stormi's at  Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! to see what she thought as well.

TITLE: Forbidden Falls (Virgin River #8)

AUTHOR: Robyn Carr

PUBLISHER: Harlequin MIRA
PUBLISHING DATE: December 29, 2009

PAGES: 377

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: 

Virgin River is abuzz with the news that a stranger bought the town's abandoned church on eBay. The buyer, a young widowed reverend, is a little like the building itself: in need of some loving care.

Noah Kincaid arrives ready to roll up his sleeves and revitalize his new purchase, but he's going to need some help. An ad in the local paper brings an improbable candidate his way.

"Pastor's assistant" is not a phrase that springs to mind when Noah meets brassy, beautiful Alicia Baldwin. With her colorful clothes and even more colorful past, Alicia needs a respectable job so she can regain custody of her children. Noah can't help but admire her spunk and determination, and she may just be the breath of fresh air he needs.

This unlikely duo may come from two different worlds, but they have more in common than anyone would have expected. And in Virgin River lasting happiness is never out of the question. 

MY THOUGHTS: This installment finds us focused on the new Pastor in town.  Noah has purchased the old church in Virgin River with the plans of reforming it to glory and providing a place for the community to gather and worship.  He quickly finds himself in over his head so he hires an assistant.  While Noah needs all the help he can get, he was never prepared for Ellie.  Ellie is trying to get her children back from her ex-husband and she hopes a calm job with the local pastor will change the Judge's mind.  Along the way, Paul comes home from a business trip and surprises Vanessa with the baby of his past girlfriend.  This seriously complicates their future plans and adds some additional drama to the tale.

I loved seeing Paul and Vanessa again but Noah and Ellie are clearly the stars of this tale.  They are the exact opposites of each other but that's what makes them so much fun together.  Ellie has such a good heart and Noah wants to do everything he can to keep her children safe.  Ellie also makes friends with an older couple in town and along the way, helps them mend some fences which have been standing for ages. 

I really do love this series.  Every book brings something new and while I might think I'd be tired of them by book 8, I'm not and I can't wait to pick up the next one!

Oh, and I almost forgot, right of the bat Noah saves a dog he finds alongside the road who has been seriously harmed.  You know that makes him a star in my eyes!

RATING: 5 PAWS