It's Movie Time - Part 2

 

So, I wanted to do a second installment featuring some of my spooky watch.  So many great things seemed to come out this month and the good news is I still have things I want to watch to carry me over through some of November.  

Goosebumps - Hulu and Disney +

We've only watched the first episode so far and to be honest, I probably need to rewatch it because it was Zeke's second night here and I was a bit preoccupied with his transition.  It was very promising though and I love Justin Long so I'm excited to see where this one heads.  It does seem a bit darker than the other TV series.

 

 Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (Parmount +)

This was a great sequel to a movie I didn't know needed one.  However, I guess technically it's a prequel.  David Duchovny was a treat in this one and I did find it rather scary in places.  Mr. Barb really liked it as well and he sometimes finds King movies hit or miss.  Then again, I'm pretty sure King didn't have much to do with this one.  Maybe that's why the ending worked - if you know, you know.

 

The Exorcist: Believer

We watched this outside Friday night.  It was fairly warm and we had a bonfire going and I have to say, it was the perfect atmosphere.  This one held up to my expectations and the ending added a nice ode to the original which was definitely needed and well deserved.  I recommend this to any horror fan and am amazed at how much one of the young ladied, when possessed, actually looked a bit like Linda Blair (aka Reagan).

 

 Totally Killer (Amazon Prime)

This is pretty much a horror comedy with lots of nods to the 80s and I found it really enjoyable. Mr. Barb skipped it because he doesn't like comedy mixed with horror but because of the 80s nostalgia and Kiernan Shipka, which I think thrives with these types of scripts, I knew I had to work it in.  I highly recommend this one. 

So, if you are looking for more spooky things to watch, I would recommend all of these. Let me know if there's anything else you think I should check out!

Farm News - October 29 , 2023

 

I can't believe that October is almost over.  Seems like it just started yesterday.  It's been a wonderful and eventful month, but I don't quite know that I am ready for Christmas yet.  Although I have already been doing some shopping.  One of my coworkers, who has quickly become a good friend, came into town over the weekend.  We had a movie night out back Friday evening and then when she stopped by Saturday, we did a bit of shopping and then watched the American Horror Stories which just dropped on Hulu this week.  

So, the big news is we added to our family.  It was a rather quick decision, but I do feel it was the right one.  Apollo has been happier the past week than he has in a long time and even though we knew he was lonely and missing Cassius; we had no idea how much.  Having a 10-week-old pup is a lot of extra work and while working at home is great for his adjustment, it does wear me out because I'm constantly "on" and have little to no down-time.  He full name is Ezekiel Kwon but we've been calling him Zeke and Zekey.

I've been doing some reading but will be honest, this week has been kind of a slow down with everything going on.  I need to focus on It today through Tuesday and hope I can get it finished.  If not, it might roll over to the beginning of November.  I am also trying to cram in "Sheets," a graphic novel, to check off another prompt from my October challenges.

I have received a few digital ARCs the past few weeks which I am really stoked for.  I featured "Indian Burial Ground" just this week and if you remember, I just featured it on a Feed Your TBR post this past week so that was exciting.  I also couldn't believe I was actually approved for "The Invocations" since I'm sure it will be quite popular and I don't always have the best luck with the publisher, Penguin.  Angry Robot's "Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock" is also one I've been seeing around, and I can't wait to get to it.

Also, Kindle has been having some "Stuff Your Kindle" days lately.  On the 25th it was cozy mysteries, on the 28th it was witchy books and thrillers and coming up on the 31st is horror.  I've managed to grab quite a few freebies.  

I hope everyone is having a great weekend.  Look for another review or two this week, and another movie/TV show feature since Spooky month is ending and we are still watching quite a bit of content.  Until then, thanks for stopping by Booker T's Farm!

This Was a Painful

 

TITLE: There's No Way I'd Die First

AUTHOR: Lisa Springer

PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press

PUBLISHING DATE: September 5, 2023

PAGES: 304   

SOURCE: Own Library

FROM GOODREADS: Debut author Lisa Springer delivers a spine-tingling contemporary horror that follows a scary-movie buff as she hosts an elaborate Halloween bash on her family's estate but soon finds the festivities upended when she and her guests are forced to test their survival skills in a deadly party game. 

Noelle Layne knows horror. Every trope, every warning sign, every survival tactic. She even leads a successful movie club dedicated to the genre. Thus, who better to throw the ultimate, most exclusive Halloween party on all of Long Island? And with the guest list including the coolest kids in her senior class, her popularity is bound to spike. Hopefully, enough to warrant an expansion into podcasting. Plus, the fact that attractive, singer-songwriter Archer Mitchell is coming is honestly the candy corn on top. Nothing is going to kill her party vibes. 

Except...maybe the low-budget It clown she hires to lead a classic round of tag. He's supposed to be terrifying, though in a comforting, nostalgic way. Instead, the guy is giving major creeps. But maybe Noelle's just that good at hosting? Her confidence is immediately rocked when the night's entertainment axes one of her guests. And he's not done yet. If an evil, murderous clown thinks life is a game, then Noelle is ready to play. She's been waiting a long time to prove that she's a Final Girl.

MY THOUGHTS: I read this as part of a Facebook Book Club, and it also fulfilled one of my challenge prompts for my readathons.  It sounded so good, and I was so excited, so it was a big disappointment that I didn't enjoy it more.

Noelle wants to throw an unforgettable Halloween bash for two reasons: she wants to capitalize on her "friends" social media contacts, and she wants to parlay her horror movie club into a podcast. She has hired a clown to play a game, but the stakes are much higher and one-by-one, the kids are picked off.

There was so much about this that didn't work for me, but I want to say that I had no issues with the writing and will definitely read future endeavors.  The book contained a great slasher premise, but I believe this book tried to be too many things at once. All the kids were so privileged and spoiled that I felt nothing when they died.  Then you have Noelle who is having philosophical conversations WITH the killer during all the escapades and then who uses trying to save her life to forge a relationship with a boy she's liked for years. I enjoy pop culture references in books, especially when it comes to the horror community, but this book was packed with them and toward the end, even that became too much.

If you like slasher books, I feel there are others you might want to check out first.  This book's cover does tend to draw people in, but don't let it fool you, the contents might be "scary" for all the wrong reasons.  

MY RATING: 2 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - Malica

 

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. 

May 7, 2024

FROM GOODREADS: Four friends, three days, two lovers, and one very haunted theme park.

On a stormy Halloween weekend, Ray enlists his best friends Joaquin, Sofia, and Isabella to help him make a documentary of Malicia, the abandoned theme park off the coast of the Dominican Republic where his mother and brother died in a mass killing thirteen years ago.

But what should be an easy weekend trip quickly turns into something darker because all four friends have come to Malicia for their own

Ray has come to Malicia to find out the truth of the massacre that destroyed his family. Isabella has come to make art out of Ray’s tragedy for her own personal gain. Sofia has come to support her friends in one last adventure before she goes to med school. Joaquin already knows the truth of the Malicia Massacre and he has come to betray his crush Ray to the evil that made the park possible.

With an impending hurricane and horrors around every corner, they all struggle to face the deadly storm and their own inner demons. But the deadliest evil of all is the ancient malignant presence on the island.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT: You know I love my spooky book so when I stumbled across it earlier this week, I couldn't wait to feature this one.  Given that the book takes place around Halloween, it's too bad we have to wait until 2024.

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK????

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Beastly Bones (Jackaby #2)

 

Stormi and I enjoyed the first Jackaby book last month that we decided to jump right in and read the second in the series.  So, read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's at Storm Reads to see hers! 

TITLE: Beastly Bones (Jackaby #2)

AUTHOR: William Ritter

PUBLISHER: Algonquin Young Readers

PUBLISHING DATE: September 22, 2015

PAGES: 296   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: In 1892, New Fiddleham, New England, things are never quite what they seem, especially when Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, R. F. Jackaby, are called upon to investigate the supernatural. First, members of a particularly vicious species of shape-shifters disguise themselves as a litter of kittens. A day later, their owner is found murdered, with a single mysterious puncture wound to her neck. Then, in nearby Gad's Valley, dinosaur bones from a recent dig go missing, and an unidentifiable beast attacks animals and people, leaving their mangled bodies behind. Policeman Charlie Cane, exiled from New Fiddleham to the valley, calls on Abigail for help, and soon Abigail and Jackaby are on the hunt for a thief, a monster, and a murderer.

MY THOUGHTS: I will admit I think this might be a hard review to write because so much of it might contain spoilers, but I'll do the best I can.  In book two, Jackaby and Rook travel to Gad's Valley because there has been a peculiar death, and everyone suspects something supernatural might be at play. In the same location, there has also been a recent discovery of what is believed to be dinosaur bones and given Rook's family history, she is anxious to put her paleontology knowledge to some good use. 

Once again, the interaction between Jackaby and Rook, as well as the supernatural elements the author weaves into his tales, stand out in this installment of the series. The mystery is as compelling as always and the book starts out with a bang when it introduces a cat that has turned into a fish which has given birth to a litter of kittens with gills and fins. If that doesn't catch your attention, I don't know what will.  

This book also has some seriously slow-burn romance, and I don't want to give anything away, but let me just say, I'm there for it.  If you like historical mysteries with some supernatural elements and a bit if sarcasm and snark, this series might be one for you.  In addition, I find it somewhat similar in vibes to the Veronica Speedwell books and I know what a big hit those are.

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

Well, That Was Kind of Sudden! (Puppy News)

So, I basically meant to do a Farm News post yesterday, but it became a rather eventful day and before I knew it, our family had grown.  We have been discussing Apollo needing a friend/brother or sister and Sunday we happened to stumble across a family in our town who had 4 puppies needing forever home. After a few hours of going back and forth, we decided we knew we'd add one eventually so why put it off any longer.

So, allow me to introduce Ezekiel (aka: Zeke or Baby Z)

He's 9 weeks old and fearless!  Wish us luck.  However, Apollo seems to be in love so it's gonna be worth it, I'm sure.

October Readathon Update

 

So, since October is almost over, I wanted to track how I am doing on my challenges/readathons.  So far, I'm having fun and still in the mood for horror so it's all good! For all the boards/prompts, you can check out my original post HERE.

HALLOTWEEN 2023

I have completed two of three reads.  I ended up switching out one of my choices, but I've read The Cursed Moon and Scritch Scratch, and you can click on the titles to see my reviews in case you missed them.

WITCHES NEED LOVE TOO!

So, I have completely finished this challenge.  I read Hex Education and Not the Witch You Wed and really loved them both.  Once again, reviews are linked if they have been completed.

TBR & BEYOND TRICK-OR-TREAT BOOK BASH

TEAM LITTLE MONSTERS

I think I figured out there are a total of 53 points that can be contributed to the team from each participant.  So far, I earned 37 and think I can get another 11 before October ends that that will bring me to 48 which I will be pretty proud of.  Reviews I have linked, which have not already been listed, are Horror Hotel, There's No Way I'd Die First, and Beastly Bones (Jackaby #2).

So there you have it.  So far so good!

Don't Mess with a Blood Moon!

 

TITLE: The Cursed Moon

AUTHOR: Angela Cervantes

PUBLISHER: Scholastic Press

PUBLISHING DATE: September 5, 2023

PAGES: 224   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Celebrated author Angela Cervantes' brand new novel combines a chilling ghost story with her award-winning, heartfelt storytelling style. 

One two, the Caretaker’s coming for you. Three-four, you’ll breathe no more. Five-six, you’ll float like sticks. Seven, eight, you’ll meet your fate. 

Rafael Fuentes isn’t easily scared. He loves writing ghost stories, reading scary books, and entertaining his friends with terrifying tales he creates on the spot. Rafa has come up against enough real-life scary situations that fictional hauntings seem like no big deal. 

Rafa’s incarcerated mom is being released from jail soon, and will be coming to live with him, his sister, and their grandparents. For the first time in a while, Rafa feels a pit of fear growing in his stomach. To take his mind off his mom’s return, Rafa spends an evening crafting the scariest ghost story he’s ever told. 

As an eerie blood moon hangs in the sky, Rafa tells a group of friends about The Caretaker. The Caretaker is an evil ghost who lures unsuspecting kids into the neighborhood pond. . . and they don’t ever come out. Rafa is really proud of his latest creation, until strange things start to happen around him. With a sinking feeling, Rafa realizes the Caretaker is real. Rafa has brought the ghost to life―and only he can stop him.

MY THOUGHTS: I picked this up for a MG readathon because it was short and fit one of the prompts. I'm really glad I did because it turned out to be a pretty enjoyable read.

Rafa and his sister Brianna are living with their abuelos because their mother is incarcerated, although she is being released soon. Since the story is told from Rafa's POV, the reader really gets a younger perspective on having a parent incarcerated, feeling he cannot trust them, and taking the role of his sister's primary caretaker and protector.  I felt really bad for Rafa because at times, he really needed to just worry about being a kid and not have to deal with so many adult topics.

Rafa loves to write and tell scary stories and despite warnings, on the night of the blood moon, Rafa tells the story of the Caretaker, a man who abducts kids and disappears in a city pond which only appears on certain nights. Soon Rafa's story starts to come alive, and he realizes he isn't the only kid who has written about the Caretaker.

Rafa also gets some help from the neighborhood cat who turns into a jaguar to protect the family.  If that isn't reason alone to read this book, I don't know what is.  The Cursed Moon does a great job at blending MG horror and Hispanic representation.  Any parent whose child is starting to get interested in horror should definitely grab this one for their shelves.

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

It's Movie Time!

 

Part of what I love about Spooky Season is watching scary movies.  With the weather growing colder and the nights getting darker much earlier, it's the perfect time of year.  Since we've watched quite a few lately, I thought this warranted its own post.  

Daryl Dixon - AMC

I'll be the first to admit the last few seasons of The Walking Dead had me supporting the end of the series because I think they kind of fell flat.  I was unsure about this spin-off but let me be honest, this spin-off renewed my love affair with Daryl and the season ending episode - CLASSIC!  Can't wait to see what Season 2 brings but please, can they give this character a bath?  This promo shot is the cleanest he looks all season. All 6 episodes are now streaming.

 

Dark Harvest (2023) 

I have never read this book because I've heard it can be kind of slow but I did really enjoy the movie. Sawtooth Jack is pretty creepy and I liked the historical feel of it.  I figured out the twist pretty quickly but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the movie.

HERD (2023)

This movie was a completed dud for me.  It was marketed as a film with tons of zombies (I mean, come on, it's called HERD) but it ended up being a love story with a side of zombies and a healthy dose of bigotry,  I'm not opposed to any of these (well, I am VERY opposed to bigotry so I hope you know what I'm trying to say) but it was NOT what I was expecting.  It may work for some people though so if you are interested, give it a try.

Creepshow Season 4 (2023)

I know that if you only get AMC, these are coming out week by week.  But on the AMC+ app, you can at least watch the first six episodes now.  We are about 3 episodes in and I am already enjoying this season more than the last one.  Each episode contains two tales and I will say the first episode is probably my all-time favorite ever.  "Twenty Minutes with Cassandra" is a must-watch and I never knew I could love a wine-drinking, philosophical killer rat so much in my life!

So there you have it.  I hope to do one more post like this before the month is out so let me know if it's something you enjoyed.

Happy Watching!

Feed Your TBR - Somewhere Beyond the Sea

 

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. 

September 10, 2024

FROM GOODREADS: A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.

Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one.

He’s the master of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six dangerous and magical children who live there.

Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. He is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department In Charge of Magical Youth. And there’s the island’s sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite, and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children.

But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve.

And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home—one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name that Arthur worked so hard to protect his children from—Arthur knows they’re at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart.

Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur’s story.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  This one has such a long wait and it's killing me.  I feel in love with The House in the Cerulean Sea more than I ever thought possible and can't wait to spend more time with the characters.  I'm hoping we get more Luci because he has always been my fave.

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

Werewolves Anyone???

 

TITLE: Not the Witch You Wed(Supernatural Singles #1)

AUTHOR: April Asher

PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Griffin

PUBLISHING DATE: February 8, 2022

PAGES: 341   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Magic-less witch Violet Maxwell wants nothing to do with alpha wolf shifter Lincoln Thorne―the man who broke her fragile, teenage heart. But when the two of them are forced by arcane Supernatural Laws to find mates, Violet and Lincoln agree to fake-date their way to a fake-mating in order to conjure themselves some time. 

The joke’s on them. When old feelings make a reappearance―along with Violet’s magic―they both realize there’s nothing fake about their feelings. But there are old secrets and looming threats that could snatch away their happily ever after, again. One thing’s for magic doesn’t make dating and love any easier. 

In Not the Witch You Wed, April Asher brings all the hilarity and sweet, sexy moments you love in a romantic-comedy―plus a fun dose of magic―to this spell-binding new series about being sexy, single, and supernatural in New York City.

MY THOUGHTS: I do love me a paranormal rom-com type book.  Throw in a great friend group, a second-chance romance with enemies-to-lovers elements, and there was practically no way this book would have been a bomb to me.  You know you love a book when you already have the next two in the series lined up on your Kindle and that's just what I did when I finished.

Violet, or Vi, is the oldest triplet of a witchy triad who are destined for big things.  Vi's grandmother is the supernatural Prima and Vi's mother is busy trying to find the perfect match for Vi's sister.  There's only one problem in the equation - Vi's magic is a dud and because of this her sister has to step into the role meant for Vi.  

While at a witch bond celebration for her sister at a fancy ski resort, Vi runs into her high school boyfriend, Lincoln.  He just happens to be a werewolf and pack leader, and he also stood up Vi the night they were supposed to run away together.  Sparks start flying and soon Vi's magic awakens.  Does it have something to do with Lincoln and what kind of problems will it create for Vi and her family.

This book has a lot of supernatural politics to read through which at times can be a bit overwhelming, but I feel it is counterbalanced by a great found family group as well as witty banter and a few hot scenes here and there.  I adore Vi's sisters, her two best friends, a succubus ana a guardian angel, and Linc's best friend.  Vi's mother is rather annoying, but her grandmother is not only a huge support to Vi, but also very opinionated which the reader will see comes in handy when trying to help Vi navigate her new-found magic.

If you love rom-coms and snarky banter, this is probably a book you would enjoy.  I believe the other two books focus on Vi's two sisters and I can't wait to see what the author has in store for them!

RATING: 5 PAWS

Farm News - October 15, 2023

 

So, I didn't manage to get many posts up this week but that's okay.  I managed to survive my work retreat and other than a long drive home Wednesday which seemed to get longer the further I traveled, it went pretty well.  We visited a local salt cave which was very relaxing and then of course, participated in the obligatory team building exercises.  At least it's over for a while.

Apollo had his vet appointment Friday.  What we thought was a bug bite on his front forearm (do dogs have forearms?) keeps coming back.  It's weird because sometimes it's about the size of a dime, others it's the size of a nickel.  Sometimes you don't see it at all.  The vet agrees it needs to come off but he wants it at its largest so he can make sure to get it all since boxers are so prone to cancer.  The vet is confident it's early enough that it shouldn't be an issue, but we have to wait until it is prominent one day, call, and then his techs will work him into the schedule the next day.  Of course, we have to hope it's still there the next day.  So right now it's a game of "where's the bump."  I just want it removed so we can move on. Apollo is doing fine though and is enjoyng the cooler, more snuggling-conducive weather.

I also managed to finish 2 books so far this weekend and hope to get a third mostly completed this afternoon.  I made a quick trip to the library Saturday and grabbed a few holds.  Let Him In is a debut horror novel I've been seeing around, and that cover is so eerie.  I'm very curious about A Haunting on the Hill and Midnight Showing is the sequel to Malice House, which I absolutely loved when I picked it up earlier this year. 

I also had some Kindle Rewards credits to I used them to snag a few anticipated reads this week. It was basically a reward for surviving the week.  Frost Bite is a horror set in the 1990s, has a snowy North Dakota setting and features an army of infected prairie dogs.  I had to get it!  Less Than Human was a special Cemetary Dance was running one day.  I love that published and for $0.99, I couldn't resist.  And finally, I've been seeing The Pumpkin Spice Cafe everywhere, so I had to jump on the bandwagon.  Did you know the writer actually used the pen name Gilmore so the book might appeal more to Gilmore Girls fans?  Interesting huh?

That leads us to the currently reading stack.  I am still working on It and got a big chunk of it read Monday while I was off for a holiday.  I am now reading Beastly Bones which is the second in the Jackaby series as well as There's No Way I'd Die First which is for an on-line book club discussion next Sunday.

So I hope all of you are enjoying your weekend.  Look for a couple of reviews this week as well as an exciting book coming up Wednesday on Feed Your TBR (Waiting on Wednesday).  

I Always Heard Stay Away from Chicago

 

Stormi and I just had to add some spooky books to our buddy reads this month.  She has wanted me to read this book for ages and I'm glad I finally did!  So read on to see why and then make sure to visit Stormi at Storm Reads.

TITLE: Scritch Scratch

AUTHOR: Lindsay Currie

PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Young Readers

PUBLISHING DATE: September 1, 2020

PAGES: 291   

SOURCE: Own Library

FROM GOODREADS: Claire has absolutely no interest in the paranormal. She’s a scientist, which is why she can’t think of anything worse than having to help out her dad on one of his ghost-themed Chicago bus tours. She thinks she’s made it through when she sees a boy with a sad face and dark eyes at the back of the bus. There’s something off about his presence, especially because when she checks at the end of the tour…he’s gone. 

Claire tries to brush it off, she must be imagining things, letting her dad’s ghost stories get the best of her. But then the scratching starts. Voices whisper to her in the dark. The number 396 appears everywhere she turns. And the boy with the dark eyes starts following her. 

Claire is being haunted. The boy from the bus wants something...and Claire needs to find out what before it’s too late.

MY THOUGHTS: I read this a buddy read with my friend Stormi who had already read the book once before.  She assured me I would love it and she was right on the mark!

For a MG book, Scritch Scratch has a pretty intense scary factor. Claire despises anything ghostly or supernatural which is not good considering her father's profession centers around just that.  She gets forced to assist him with his ghost tour one night and ends up bringing a little ghost boy back with her.  He does some pretty eerie things to get her attention and for a while, she really thinks he wants to kill her.  Does he or is he just looking for help?

I also liked Claire's dynamic with her best friend, the new girl in town and her brother.  Her brother teams up to help her become "unhaunted" and she initially fears she is losing her best friend to the new kid at school.  Currie really hits the MG angst right on the head and I loved seeing how this side component of the book played out.

If you are looking for a great spooky tale for your younger kiddos or even if you enjoy MG yourself, this is the perfect read for Halloween season.  I have already passed my copy on to a friend who is going to read it with her children each night.

RATING: 5 PAWS

Farm News - October 8, 2023

 

So, I think Fall has definitely arrived. The past two mornings we've woken up to temps in the 30s and 40s.  I know we are due another brief warmup at the end of the week, and really the temps are bad, but it is a sudden shift from earlier this week when it made it into the 80s.  

I've been reading and watching all things spooky and all things football.  My Thundering Herd lost their first game yesterday, but it happens, and it was close at 41-48.  Our other two teams, Florida State and Georgia had impressive wins so it's all good.  I'm getting ready to leave Tuesday morning form my work retreat.  I'll be back late Wednesday evening so it's not too bad, but I just am not a fan of staying away from home.  Mr. Barb is on vacation all week, so he has Apollo duty and then Apollo has a vet appointment on Friday.

I managed to finish two books already this weekend and will be reading on It today and tomorrow.  Mr. Barb and I both have three-day weekends since our state is celebrating Columbus Day.  I think I'll be starting Beastly Bones and Slime Doesn't Pay! next.

Tonight, I think we will watch the new Pet Sematary:Bloodlines and I'm hoping to cram in Totally Killer on Amazon Prime before heading out to training.  Thanks to everyone who are keeping Apollo on your thoughts and prayers.  He is doing fine so far and having a blast with Dad home for 10 days straight.  Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend as well as Spooky Season!

More Creature Features!

 

Today I'm continuing on my review series of the new Amazon short story collection which came out on September 26th called Creature Features.  I have two more to add to my favorites list which has me a little scared for the last two.  As I mentioned before, these are fairly short so my reviews will not be intensive, but I do want to share them with everyone and encourage people to give them a try.

 

TITLE: Big Bad

AUTHOR: Chandler Baker

PUBLISHER: Amazon Original Stories

PUBLISHING DATE: September 26, 2023

PAGES: 59   

SOURCE: Kindle Unlimited

FROM GOODREADS: For a family trying to make an isolated farmhouse into a home, fear and rage are getting harder to control in a primal short story by the New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Network and Cutting Teeth. The Strauss family is on knife’s edge. Sam is a resentful stay-at-home dad. Rachel feels the restlessness in her blood returning. Their children are getting out of hand. And a recent mudslide has forced the wolves out of the woods to look for food. As dusk falls and tensions rise, the family must come together to survive the night—from the threats outside and those within.

MY THOUGHTS: I am glad this story was one of the longer ones in the collection because I really appreciated how the author took time to really flesh things out, so I had a good grasp on what was really happening.  I love a good werewolf tale and this one had a few fresher nuances to it which really worked well for me.  I've not read from this author before but immediately went and looked up some of her books and added them to my wishlist.  Don't skip this one if you are interested in checking out this series.

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

 

TITLE: Best of Luck

AUTHOR: Jason Mott

PUBLISHER: Amazon Original Stories

PUBLISHING DATE: September 26, 2023

PAGES: 29   

SOURCE: Kindle Unlimited

FROM GOODREADS: Did you ever hear the one about the man with a string of bad luck? The worst is still to come in a chilling short story of an insatiable friendship by the New York Times bestselling author of Hell of a Book. For best friends with vastly different fortunes, what’s left to hash out other than a forced confession at gunpoint? All that the destitute, sickly, and grieving Will demands is that monstrously successful Barry admit to draining all the luck right out of him. Like blood. As the standoff escalates, the truth is not the only thing ready to come out.

MY THOUGHTS: This one took some time to really hook me which is sad because being it was one of the shorter installments, once I was hooked, it was almost over.  I did love the ending, but I do think this one might have benefited from being a tad longer.  The "creature" in this one is one unlike anything I've ever encountered before which was so much fun.  Another author I apparently need to check out in the future.  

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - Indian Burial Ground

 

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. 

APRIL 16, 2024

FROM GOODREADS: A man lunges in front of a car. An elderly woman silently drowns herself. A corpse sits up in its coffin and speaks . On this reservation, not all is what it seems, in this new spine-chilling mythological horror from the author of Sisters of the Lost Nation .

All Noemi Broussard wanted was a fresh start. With a new boyfriend who actually treats her right and a plan to move from the reservation she grew up on—just like her beloved Uncle Louie before her—things are finally looking up for Noemi. Until the news of her boyfriend’s apparent suicide brings her world crumbling down.

But the facts about Roddy’s death just don’t add up, and Noemi isn’t the only one who suspects that something menacing might be lurking within their tribal lands.

After over a decade away, Uncle Louie has returned to the reservation, bringing with him a past full of secrets, horror, and what might be the key to determining Roddy’s true cause of death. Together, Noemi and Louie set out to find answers...but as they get closer to the truth, Noemi begins to question whether it might be best for some secrets to remain.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I love the presence of the reservation on this one and I think the plot sound mysterious and eerie.  I keep meaning to read the author's most recent work, Sisters of the Lost Nation, and hopefully I can work it in before this one comes out in April.

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU WAITING FOR THIS WEEK????