2 Bloggers 1 Series

 

So this month Stormi and I are buddy reading not one, but two in the Virgin River series.  We are on target to definitely finish it up in 2023 and I'm pretty impressed with how we're doing.  In our next post, you'll see why we were so anxious to slate two on the schedule this month.  So check out my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's at Storm Reads to see her's.

TITLE: Harvest Moon (Virgin River #13)
AUTHOR: RObyn Carr

PUBLISHER: MIRA

PUBLISHING DATE: February 22, 2011

PAGES: 361

SOURCE: Hoopla

FROM GOODREADS: Rising sous-chef Kelly Matlock's sudden collapse at work is a wake-up call. Disillusioned and burned out, she's retreated to her sister Jillian's house in Virgin River to rest and reevaluate.

Puttering in Jill's garden and cooking with her heirloom vegetables is wonderful, but Virgin River is a far cry from San Francisco. Kelly's starting to feel a little too unmotivated…until she meets Lief Holbrook. The handsome widower looks more like a lumberjack than a sophisticated screenwriter—a combination Kelly finds irresistible. But less appealing is Lief's rebellious stepdaughter, Courtney. She's the reason they moved from L.A., but Courtney's finding plenty of trouble even in Virgin River.

Kelly's never fallen for a guy with such serious baggage, but some things are worth fighting for. Besides, a bratty teenager can't be any worse than a histrionic chef…right?

MY THOUGHTS: No real spoiler but this installment kind of hints at a cheating trope which I have to admit, never really sits well with me.  However, it quickly pulls it out of the dumpster and a few chapters in, the MC Kelly, who I found very problematic in the beginning, became more likable and I became invested in her story.  For a few reasons, Kelly is leaving the big city and her fast paced job in a famous restaurant.  She goes to stay with her sister in VIrgin River and soon meets Lief and his rebellious teen, Courtney.

I really liked the dynamic between Lief and Kelly and it was really nice to not have a baby-focused Virgin River book.  I have to admit the daughter Courtney is probably my favorite character in the book and it's fun to see her growth and learn what makes her tick.  We get to see some of our old series faves but not as much as in the past.  Carr has created such a huge cast of characters that it only makes sense that it's harder and harder to work some of the people in to each installment.  

Overall, this is another strong installment, and I can basically crank these books out in a day or two, even when working, so they've become my go-to reads for something light and quick in between some heavier reads.  I'm so glad we added two to out December plans so stay soon for another review soon!

RATING: 4 PAWS

2 Bloggers 1 Book - The Witching Hour

 

So, this time around Stormi and I tried a new series.  I read the entire trilogy when I was in high school/college and loved it so much. I'm pretty sure I've been on to Stormi for several years to read it.  Well, we finally did - or should I say we tried.  Read on to see my thoughts.  In order to make it a tad more interesting, I'm doing my review in the form of a conversation between Past Me (PM) and Current Me (CM).  Then hop over and see what Stormi thought at Storm Reads  ... and if she is still talking to me.

TITLE: The WItching Hour (Lives of the Mayfair Witches #1)

AUTHOR: Anne Rice

PUBLISHER: Alfred A. Knopf

PUBLISHING DATE: October 1, 1990

PAGES: 965

SOURCE: Own

FROM GOODREADS: Demonstrating, once again, her gift for spellbinding storytelling and the creation of legend, Anne Rice makes real for us a great dynasty of witches—a family given to poetry and to incest, to murder and to philosophy; a family that, over the ages, is itself haunted by a powerful, dangerous, and seductive being.

On the veranda of a great New Orleans house, now faded, a mute and fragile woman sits rocking... and The Witching Hour begins.

It begins in our time with a rescue at sea.  Rowan Mayfair, a beautiful woman, a brilliant practitioner of neurosurgery—aware that she has special powers but unaware that she comes from an ancient line of witches—finds the drowned body of a man off the coast of California and brings him to life.  He is Michael Curry, who was born in New Orleans and orphaned in childhood by fire on Christmas Eve, who pulled himself up from poverty, and who now, in his brief interval of death, has acquired a sensory power that mystifies and frightens him.

As these two, fiercely drawn to each other, fall in love and—in passionate alliance—set out to solve the mystery of her past and his unwelcome gift, the novel moves backward and forward in time from today's New Orleans and San Francisco to long-ago Amsterdam and a château in the France of Louis XIV.  An intricate tale of evil unfolds—an evil unleashed in seventeenth-century Scotland, where the first "witch," Suzanne of the Mayfair, conjures up the spirit she names Lasher... a creation that spells her own destruction and torments each of her descendants in turn.

From the coffee plantations of Port au Prince, where the great Mayfair fortune is made and the legacy of their dark power is almost destroyed, to Civil War New Orleans, as Julien—the clan's only male to be endowed with occult powers—provides for the dynasty its foothold in America, the dark, luminous story encompasses dramas of seduction and death, episodes of tenderness and healing.  And always—through peril and escape, tension and release—there swirl around us the echoes of eternal war: innocence versus the corruption of the spirit, sanity against madness, life against death.  With a dreamlike power, the novel draws us, through circuitous, twilight paths, to the present and Rowan's increasingly inspired and risky moves in the merciless game that binds her to her heritage. And in New Orleans, on Christmas Eve, this strangest of family sagas is brought to its startling climax.

MY THOUGHTS: 
PM: Man, I loved this book.  It's so great everyone should read it.  The witches, the New Orleans atmosphere, the creepy characters.  It's all so great I'm sure it's gonna be one of my all-time favorite reads.  I carried this book around in my car for years I loved it so much.

CM:  Yea, it was an all-time favorite until you tried to read it again.  You were in college when you read this.  Are you sure you weren't influenced by something else?  And as for it being in the car for years, I'm pretty sure it was in the trunk from where you moved and you just left it there.

PM:  No, Anne Rice is a wonderful writer.  I'm going to read everything she comes out with. The woman is a genius. 

CM: In all honestly, you've read three books from her in the past 30 years, she can't be THAT much of a favorite.  And as for her being the best???  Do you know how many other books you are going to read in your lifetime? You should probably hold back on making judgement calls after falling in love with one book.  And I'm pretty sure she's weird.

PM: Well, more people definitely need to read this and man, it's so good, they should make a series.  I'm so glad it was almost 1000 pages long.  More pages equal more to love.

CM:  Yea, that Anne Rice sure was a wordy woman.  And you didn't even manage to make it past 400 pages this time around.  If it wasn't for the fact that you finished "Little Heaven" which she DNF'ed, I'd say Stormi might not do any more buddy reads with you.  How did you convince her to read such drivel? How much description do one really need about the Louisiana heat and the decrepit porch or the growing kudzu?  That guy should have hit his head when he went off the bank into the ocean and died.  Book over.

PM:  You don't know what you're talking about.  You're so lucky they finally are making a series.  And the relationship between Michael and Rowan is so romantic.

CM:  Pretty sure you had a pretty low bar for romance back then.  Yep I'm lucky alright.  I can't even bring myself to watch the new Vampire series after being scarred by Tom Cruise as a would-be romantic bloodsucker years ago.  I'm not so sure I'll be tuning in to the witch one.  On the other hand, it might be somewhat better than the book but seeing as how I didn't finish it this time around, I'll probably never know!  I still think you were on something.

RATING: DNF

2 Bloggers 1 Book - Wild Man Creek (Virgin River #12)

 

If you would have told me the one series Stormi and I would have continued on with when we started this project would be the Virgin River series, I would have thought you were nuts.  This was really NEVER on my radar until Netflix released the show, but I've really come to love both the books and the Netflix adaptation. So this month we read another one and we actually have 2 slated for December.  So read on to see what I thought and then hop over to Stormi's at Storm Reads to see her's.

TITLE: Wild Man Creek (Virgin River #12)

AUTHOR: Robyn Carr

PUBLISHER: MIRA Books

PUBLISHING DATE: January 25, 2011

PAGES: 361

SOURCE: Hoopla

FROM GOODREADS: Colin Riordan came to Virgin River to recuperate from a horrific helicopter crash, the scars of which he bears inside and out. His family is wonderfully supportive, but it's his art that truly soothes his troubled soul.

Stung personally and professionally by an ill-advised affair, PR guru Jillian Matlock has rented an old Victorian with a promising garden in Virgin River. She's looking forward to cultivating something other than a corporate brand.

Both are looking to simplify, not complicate, their lives, but when Jillian finds Colin at his easel in her yard, there's an instant connection. And in Virgin River, sometimes love is the simplest choice of all….

MY THOUGHTS: This installment continues on with the book's exploration of the Riordan brothers.  We've seen glimpses of all of them in the past few books and now it's Colin's time to shine.  COlin is still recovering from a major military air crash which left both his spirit and body broken.  He goes to Virgin River to plan his next steps and ends up meeting Jillian.  Jill is coming off a bad corporate work experience and trying to find her way as well.  Her way ends up in a garden and one day she stumbles across Colin who is painting on her property.  She encourages him to explore his art and he encourages her to explore her love of all things garden related and as they say, the rest is history.  

As far as the series goes, the relationship in this book was almost smoother than most of the others.  Yes, they both had their issues and yes, it was not going to be easy all the time, but it wasn't so much drama that it sent me off the deep end.  The book also has a good side story of Jack and Denny but for the most part, not many of our old faves pop up. Which might be good because as much as I love Mel, her name has been synonmous with drama the past book or two.

My only real complaint in this book is that the author really goes overkill on talking about all of Jill's gardening, planting and harvesting.  It got a bit old but overall, I still loved this book.  The author is also pretty good at setting up the next book and I have my suspicions on who it will focus on.  Virgin River is a series that keeps on giving and the cozy reads I need from time to time.

RATING: 4 PAWS

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Faithless

 

So, Stormi and I continued on with the Grant County series this month.  Only one more to go until we finish this series and then we plan on starting fresh on the spin-off Will Trent series in January 2023. Read on to see how this installment holds up, I think so far books #1, #2, and #3 have all gotten 5 paw reviews from my but book #4 fell to 4 paws.  Then hop over to Storm Reads to see Stormi's thoughts.

TITLE: Faithless (Grant Co. #4)

AUTHOR: Karin Slaughter

PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press 

PUBLISHING DATE: August 30, 2005

PAGES: 576

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: The victim was buried alive in the Georgia woods—then killed in a horrifying fashion. When Sara Linton and Jeffrey Tolliver stumble upon the body, both become consumed with finding out who killed the pretty, impeccably dressed young woman. And for Sara and Jeffrey, a harrowing journey begins, one that will test their own turbulent relationship and draw dozens of lives into the case.

Lena Adams is one of them. A Grant County detective for years, she has her own reasons for being drawn to this case and a fierce drive to see justice done. For these three people, who have each seen the darkest side of human nature, the body of the murdered girl is but the first in a series of shocking and sordid revelations.

Now, as Jeffrey and Sara narrow the field of suspects, they must confront their own doubts and indiscretions, while Lena Adams sees herself reflected in the frightened eyes of a battered woman who may be the key figure in the case. As Faithless builds to a stunning and unforgettable climax, Karin Slaughter masterfully brings together strands of interlocking lives, family secrets, and hidden passions with one astounding truth: the identity of a killer who is more evil and dangerous than anyone could have guessed.

MY THOUGHTS: I really love all the elements of Slaughter's mysteries in each installment so far.  They are almost always dark and twisty with all kinds of evil and morally grey characters.  I rarely guess the outcomes or see the twists and since I read this book, which is close to 600 pages, in only a little over a 24-hour timespan, you can say it definitely had me hooked.  Jeffrey and Sara are taking an afternoon stroll in the woods when they stumble upon a breathing tube sticking out of the dirt.  After some digging, they uncover a deceased young lady.  This leads them to an odd religious with more secrets than even I could keep up with for a while.

Now to discuss what is really getting old with this series.  I am tired of obstacle after obstacle being thrown in the way of Sara and Jeffrey's relationship.  Their romance is only a small side plot of the series but every book seems to be one thing after another with these two. The second main issue is with Lena, one of Jeffrey's deputies.  Lena is a hot mess and only gets worse and worse.  She has a definitely character arc but so far, it's all been downhill.  I don't know how she can ever be redeemed at this point but I am curious to see what hot mess she lands in next.

I am really glad to see this series wrapping up and am excited for what comes next.  This series read was a recommendation from Stormi and I'm thrilled she encouraged me to pick it up.

RATING: 4 PAWS

Hallowtween Read-a-thon!

So my bestie Stormi is hosting a month-long Hallowtween read-a-thon over on her YouTube channel which runs the entire month of October and focuses on Middle Grade reads.  Of course, I'm using this as a great excuse to read some Goosebumps books.  I missed out on them as a kid and feel like they are something younger me would have loved so I want to pick up a few in October.  I am linking Stormi's announcement post HERE.

Below you will find the board and the prompts along with what I plan on reading to obtain my Bingo!

 

• I ain’t ‘fraid of no ghost - Book featuring a ghost.

• Read a book with red on the cover - Doesn’t matter how much red.

• Monster mash/Halloween - A book featuring any kind of monster or set at halloween.

• What’s that coming out of the sky - Book with Alien.

• Book with black on the Cover - Doesn’t matter how much black.

• Scooby Doo where are you? - A friend group.

• Spooky cover - You determine the level of spooky.

• Book with orange on the cover - Doesn’t matter how much orange.

• Haunted house or object - Choose between a haunted house or maybe a haunted object or both! 

So I'm going with Spooky Cover, Black on the Cover and Monster Mash.

Feed Your TBR

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

FROM GOODREADS: Rory Morris isn't thrilled to be moving back to her hometown, even if it is temporary. There are bad memories there. But her twin sister, Scarlett, is pregnant, estranged from the baby's father, and needs support, so Rory returns to the place she thought she'd put in her rearview. After a night out at a bar where she runs into an old almost-flame, she hits a large animal with her car. And when she gets out to investigate, she's attacked.

Rory survives, miraculously, but life begins to look and feel different. She's unnaturally strong, with an aversion to silver--and suddenly the moon has her in its thrall. She's changing into someone else--something else, maybe even a monster. But does that mean she's putting those close to her in danger? Or is embracing the wildness inside of her the key to acceptance?

This darkly comedic love story is a brilliantly layered portrait of trauma, rage, and vulnerability.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:: I read Cackle last year and really enjoyed it and can't wait to see what the author does with werewolves.  I really feel like I am reentering my paranormal phase and am anxious to read all things vampire and werewolf related.  Plus, I'm not gonna lie - look at that cover!

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU WAITING FOR???

Farm News - 09-12-22

 

WHAT I'M DOING: 

Basically just working and playing peacemaker.  All and all it was a good week.  I still haven't felt 100% since having Covid but I don't feel badly enough to say I'm actually still sick.  I know that probably makes no sense right?  

Yesterday my Mom and I went to the local Sternwheel Festival.  Noting like festival food right?  It was nice to walk along the river and look at all the sternwheelers but I won't lie, I'm not much of a crowd person anymore.  At least it was all outside.

WHAT I'M READING:

I finished two books and a graphic novel this past week.  I hope you saw my raving review of The Dead Romantics which is shaping up to be my favorite read of the month.  I really need to get busy on The Witching Hour so it will probably be my focus once I finish my current read.  I'm over half way through The Weight of Blood, which is looking to be either a 2 paw read or a 5 paw read.  That's how confused I am on my enjoyment level.  I also need to get to The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches before it's due back on Overdrive.

WHAT I'M WATCHING:

Football - lots and lots of football.  And my Alma Mater beat #8 ranked Notre Dame yesterday.  It was a complete upset and I'm loving it.  I always hate it when powerhouse schools put smaller institutions on their schedule as pretty much "gimme games."  Smaller schools take the games because they rely on the big payoff for doing it.  And I have to say, I can't really blame them.  But yesterday, Notre Dame paid 1.25 million dollars to have Marshall come into their house and hand it to them. 

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

My bestie Stormi had to move her blog this past week and since we get a lot of the same visitors, I told her I would make sure and share her new location.  Make sure you stop by and visit her at Storm Reads.

The Dead Romantics

 

TITLE: The Dead ROmantics

AUTHOR: Ashley Poston

PUBLISHER: Berkley

PUBLISHING DATE: June 28, 2022

PAGES: 368

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead.

When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father.

For ten years, she’s run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it.

Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is. 

Romance is most certainly dead... but so is her new editor, and his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories.

MY THOUGHTS: I feel like I can't gush enough about this book. Honestly, it completely have me Addams Family set in Stars Hollow vibes.  Florence is a ghost writer for a famous romance novelist.  She is about to miss a deadline because she can't finish the last book of her contract because thanks to a bad relationship, she doesn't believe in love or happy endings anymore.  She is suddenly called back home when her father dies and not only does she has to deal with ghosts from her past, but she also has to deal with a new one - her editor, who was very much alive the last time she saw him.

This book was such a wonderful read.  I really adored Florence, who has the ability to communicate with ghosts when they seek her out, and the rest of her quirky family.  While some might think this book could be a tad depressing due to key plot elements, I would say it's more a celebration of life and an testament that it truly takes all kinds of people to make the world go around.  And did I mention, the Mayor is a DOG!!!!!  I wish my Mayor was a dog - the city would be in much better shape probably.

I would love to go on and on about this book but don't want to ruin it.  If you enjoy romance novels, but are looking for something a little odd then The Dead Romantics is definitely for you.   It was the feel-good novel I needed when I wasn't aware I needed one.  

RATING: 5 PAWS

Feed Your TBR

 

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

FROM GOODREADS: Heavy metal, ripped jeans, Stephen King novels, and the occasional beer at the White Horse have defined urban Indian Kari James’s life so far. But when her cousin Debby finds an old family bracelet that once belonged to Kari’s mother, it inadvertently calls up both her mother’s ghost and a monstrous entity, and her willful ignorance about her past is no longer sustainable…

Haunted by visions of her mother and hunted by this mysterious creature, Kari must search for what happened to her mother all those years ago. Her father, permanently disabled from a car crash, can’t help her. Her Auntie Squeaker seems to know something but isn’t eager to give it all up at once. Debby’s anxious to help, but her controlling husband keeps getting in the way. Kari’s journey toward a truth long denied by both her family and law enforcement forces her to confront her dysfunctional relationships, thoughts about a friend she lost in childhood, and her desire for the one thing she’s always wanted but could never have.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I was pretty much sold from the first sentence in the synopsis.  However, I also love the idea of Indigenous horror.

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU WAITING FOR THIS WEEK???

Vicious Creatures - Ashton Noone

 

TITLE: Vicious Creatures

AUTHOR: Ashton Noone

PUBLISHER: Scarlet

PUBLISHING DATE: August 2, 2022

PAGES: 312

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Ava Montgomery never wanted to return home. She fled Reachwood fourteen years ago after the discovery of Adam Albright’s body in the forest shattered her young life. But when a violent divorce sends her running back to her parents’ house with her troubled daughter Marjorie in tow, Ava discovers that not much has changed in the small Oregon town where she grew up.

It doesn’t take long for Ava to fall back in with her old crowd, most of whom stayed in town after high school. Each one of her childhood friends found fame and fortune after they graduated, including Victoria Gallagher—Ava’s high school best friend and ex-lover, now unhappily married to a wealthy husband from one of the founding families of Reachwood.

Meanwhile, Ava’s daughter becomes intrigued by the forest, fascinated by an urban legend about its secret power—and her curious questions bring Ava’s long-repressed memories of the traumatic events surrounding Adam’s death back to the fore. And then, when the body of a missing child is found in those same woods, that dark past begins to repeat itself.

After a knife is left on Ava’s doorstep and a threatening message appears on her front door, she wonders if her friends have something to do with the newest crime. They never told anyone how much they really know about what happened to Adam on the night he died; does one of them want to drive her out of Reachwood to keep that secret? As Marjorie becomes obsessed with the infamous murder, and old friendships and feuds reignite, Ava is drawn back into the forest to confront her own role in its violent history—before her daughter becomes its next prey. 

MY THOUGHTS:  I was really looking forward to this book and I have to admit,  it was probably 99% because of the cover.  I still love it and think it sets the tone for this Southern Gothic tale pretty good.  And while I did enjoy this book and am looking forward to more from this author, it was kind of a miss in some areas.

First of all, I found all of the characters pretty unlikable. I don't always have to like the characters I am reading about, and sometimes I admit the more despicable the better, but there were numerous times I wanted to smack Ava and Marjorie.  And don't even get me started on Ava's mother.  It's no wonder Ava is seriously lacking some basic living skills and support systems.  Ava is running from her past which is her normal go-to coping mechanism.  And her hometown, where she ends up landing, truly holds lots of secrets which were probably better left alone. I feel the above synopsis gives you more than enough additional information about what happens in the novel so I'll skip the details.

In the end, the mystery did kind of keep me guessing, but wasn't really that shocking.  I felt the conclusion was satisfying but rushed.  I did think Noone did a wonderful job creating a creepy atmosphere and an spooky urban legend surrounding Reachwood and its most prominent families.  However, I was left wanting more supernatural and less spoiled kid drama.

RATING: 3 paws

Farm News - 09-05-22 (I'm Back)

 

WHAT I'M DOING:

So basically, I'm back.  Or at least I'm hoping to be back.  I never meant to be away this long and you can thing my good friend Stormi for encouraging me to start back.  You might notice we still have been doing our buddy reads but that's about the only time I've touched the blog at all.  I have missed you guys though.

I'm still working the job I started right before I left.  I really love it and you can't beat working from home 95% of the time.  Howevher, most of the day is spent in front of the computer either typing, researching or reading so you can only imagine how hard it can be at the end of the day to open another computer back up.  I still read a lot though and lots of different genres so I figured I better start sharing some of my faves again.  I am hoping to post 2-3 times a week but we'll see how that goes.

WHAT I'M READING:

Speaking of reading.  I have been reading everything from horror, thrillers, cozy mysteries, some memoirs and even a book I affectionately call "Disney Smut" recently.  It's been kind of nice to read whatever I want with very little pressure,.  I also tend to read more than one book at a time now, or at least plan out my current reads in 3's so each week I would like to share what's on the upcoming reading agenda.

My hold on Dead Romantics came in this past week and I am anxious to see if it's something I enjoy.  Romance mixed with ghosts sounds right up my alley.  Stormi and I are doing a 2-month read of The Witching Hour for the spooky season. I read it years and years ago when I was in high school so we'll see if it still stands up.  Plus I'm really excited about the TV series coming out soon. And finally, I hope to pick up Home Sick Pilots Vol. 1.  Gotta love a horror graphic novel from time to time.

WHAT I'M WATCHING:

Sadly to say both Mr. Barb and I recently came down with Covid a week apart from each other.  I spent a lot of that time catching up on Season 6 of Riverdale.  If Covid didn't kill some brain cells, the latest season of Riverdale definitely did.  It's so far out there now and they all have superpowers and I was mega-confused for at least the first 6 episodes.  But seriously, I couldn't stop watching and can't wait for the next season.

We also watched Nope, which was good but not what I expected.  It was more sci-fi than horror and I wasn't really in the mood for sci-fi when we watched it.

And finally, it's football season again which means lots of college and pro watching and cheering on our favorite teams.

PUPDATE:

And last but not least, the pups are doing well.  Apollo is almost 3 and Cassius will be 9 in November.  It's hasn't been easy the past 9 months though.  Cass started exhibiting some aggressive behaviors which probably coincided with Apollo reaching the age of maturity (around 24-36 months) and exhibiting some dominating behaviors.  Cass would fly off without a moment's notice and sad to say, I've been bit in the left hand (all the way through) and on the cheek.  Mr. Barb was also had his left hand shredded pretty good a few weeks ago.  Needless to say, Apollo was recently neutered, we've made some modifications at home (baby gates and supervised visits only) and we are hopeful this will help.  But other than that, they are still spoiled rotten and the loves of our lives. 

If you made it this far, thanks for stopping by.  I'm so excited to be back in the blogging world and can't wait to start chatting with you again.  

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Promise Canyon (Virgin River #11)

 

So Stormi and I are still going strong with the Virgin River series.  I'm actually kind of shocked we are still enjoying it as much as we did.  However, I'm also glad that we are continuing on as I love the setting and the characters and the books have quickly become a comfort read.  So read on to see what I think about the latest installment and then hop over to Stormi's at  Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! to see what she thought as well.

TITLE: Promise Canyon (Virgin River #11)

AUTHOR: Robyn Carr

PUBLISHER: Mira

PUBLISHING DATE: December 21, 2010

PAGES: 342

SOURCE: Hoopla

FROM GOODREADS: After years spent on ranches around Los Angeles, Clay Tahoma is delighted to be Virgin River's new veterinary assistant. The secluded community's wild beauty tugs at his Navajo roots, and he's been welcomed with open arms by everyone in town—everyone except Lilly Yazhi.

Lilly has encountered her share of strong, silent, traditional men within her own aboriginal community, and she's not interested in coming back for more. In her eyes, Clay's earthy, sexy appeal is just an act used to charm wealthy women like his ex-wife. She can't deny his gift for gentling horses, but she's not about to let him control her. There's just one small problem—she can't control her attraction to Clay.

But in Virgin River, faith in new beginnings and the power of love has doors opening everywhere....

MY THOUGHTS:  I really enjoyed the new characters introduced in this installment.  Clay Tahoma moves to Virgin River to assist his friend with his veterinary practice and the fact that he is escaping his ex-wife is just an added bonus.  Clay has a way with horses which is definitely what is needed in the expanding practice. Clay quickly meets Lilly and sparks start flying but she is hesitant because her experience with men in the past.

I loved the cultural aspects of this one and it was interesting seeing the difference in Clay's Navajo traditions versus Lilly's Hopi ones.  I also loved the bonds they created with the horses and how their experiences mirrored some of their.  There is a side story in Promise Canyon which made me pretty sad and it definitely left Jack in a predicament which was a great way to incorporate some of the more seasoned characters such as Jack, Mel, Preacher and Paige.  

I can't wait to see where this series takes us and as I've heard there's a new installment coming out in October, I think Stormi and I will be reading this for some time to come.

RATING: 5 PAWS

2 Bloggers 1 Book - A New Hunter Shea!

 

If you've been around for any period of time, you know how much Stormi and I LOVE Hunter Shea, especially his creature-centered books.  So when we saw he had a new one coming out, PLUS that it was on Kindle Unlimited, it gave us both an excuse to pick it up. So read on to see what I think about it and then hop over to Stormi's at  Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! to see what she thought as well.

TITLE: To the Devil, A Cryptid

AUTHOR: Hunter Shea

PUBLISHER: Severed Press

PUBLISHING DATE: May 13, 2022

PAGES: 161

SOURCE: Kindle Unlimited

FROM GOODREADS: Down in Texas, even the legends are bigger.

Some say the Goat Man is just an old folk tale, meant to scare people from wandering too far into the woods. For a group of Satanists, crossing the infamous Goat Man's Bridge is the first step to appeasing their Dark Lord. When their sacrifice goes wrong, hell is birthed on Earth. What rises from the ashes under a lightning-slashed sky will crave only two things: to bring about chaos, and bathe in the blood of the dead.

An ex-con, pastry chef, paranormal podcaster and terrified teen fight to stay one step ahead of their destruction as the town around them is crushed under the horns of the horrifying cryptid now possessed by demons from hell. The Goat Man has arrived, and it won't leave until there is nothing left alive.

MY THOUGHTS: This book was such a quick, fun read that I would recommend it to anyone who loves creature-centered horror.  Everyone loves to tempt folklore and for years, people have went to Goat Man's Bridge trying to conjure evil spirits or perhaps get a glimpse of Goat Man himself.  When the book opens, you have a group of Satanist, trying to connect with the Dark Lord when things go horribly wrong - which I would guess seems to happen whenever the Dark Lord is involved.  However, one of the townies, who wants nothing more than to rescue cats who are coming up missing, gets caught in the crosshairs and suddenly, all Hell breaks lose.

What happens next is a blood and gore fest in a small Texas town, teens and young adults trying to stay alive and a perverted priest who may be their last chance (Who FYI isn't really perverted).  I loved all the action and the Goat Man himself is pretty scary.  As I mentioned, the book flies by and I couldn't wait to see who would die next.  The ending was a tad sad which I didn't really expect coming from a Shea creature book but it was a perfect way to tie this up without a pretty package and red ribbon.  My only complaint is how the main characters in the book kept splitting up and then running into each other again.  I mean, how much would this really happen in an end-of-the-town scenario.

That being said, I still loved this book and Shea continues to cement himself as one of my favorite horror authors.  The man can't write fast enough for me and seriously, if you love horror and haven't tried him yet, this is a great place to dip your toes.  Just don't do it off the side of Goat Man Bridge.

RATING: 4 PAWS