Two Bloggers One Book - Fury of the Orcas

Both Stormi and I were lucky enough to have one of our newest favorite authors send us his newest title earlier this month.  So of course, we had to feature it on on "Two Bloggers One Book" feature. In fact, I think we've reviewed at least three of Shea's books on our feature in 2017 so let's go out with a bang.  Once you read my thoughts, make sure you hop over to Stormi's @ Books, Movies, Reviews Oh My!

TITLE: Fury of the Orcas
AUTHOR: Hunter Shea
PUBLISHER: Severed Press
PUBLISHING DATE: December 6, 2017

FROM GOODREADS: They call them the wolves of the sea. 

From marine parks to the deepest oceans, the world’s killer whale population has turned against man and beast alike. Orca show trainers are ripped to pieces before stunned audiences. Ships are capsized. Oil rigs are bashed without mercy. What has driven the apex predators stark raving mad?

Chet Clarke has dedicated his life to preserving the health and dignity of orcas in captivity. Along with orca trainer Rosario Benitez, he embarks on a whirlwind journey across the globe to witness unconscionable carnage and uncover the mystery for the sudden outbreak of mania. Is this the start of a catastrophic pandemic? Or do the clues lead to an enigmatic experiment in the wilds of Alaska and shadow operations in a Russian ghost town? Time is running out faster than the lives of those in the path of the orcas. 

MY THOUGHTS:  Anyone who follows my blog knows that Shea is has quickly become a favorite of mine.  I love his horror but I think this is better categorized as a action-adventure/thriller.  Suddenly and without warning, orcas across the world have started turning on those who take care of them at marine facilities as well as in the open seas.  Basically lots of people AND orcas are dying and Chet, who has worked with them for years, and his assistant/lover, Rosario, travel all over the world while they try to figure out what is going on.  

This books is brutal.  When I was young, I wanted to be a marine biologist which is a pretty lofty goal for someone who has lived her entire life in a landlocked stated.  Sure, it could have been done, but I was persuade to turn my attentions elsewhere.  So needless to say, I have a soft spot for dolphins, killer whales and even sharks.  Thus, it was hard to see some of the orcas massacred in this book and I often found myself cheering them on as they killed various humans because I also do not believe they should be kept in captivity.  Once again, Shea isn't afraid to kill off characters in this latest book and there is quite a bit of action.  However, unlike some of his other books, there is also a lot of sex.  Now far be it from me to shun a book because of it because it doesn't bother me in the least, however, in this setting, it really wasn't needed.  For example, during the middle of an orca attack do we really need to know how beautiful Chet thinks Rosario is without her makeup.  

While my rating is not as strong as what I've given some of Shea's other books, he is still an author I will automatically read.  I can't wait to see what his imagination has in store for his readers in the future.  Many people will enjoy "Fury of the Orcas" and any Shea fan will be glad to add this to their shelves.  It just wasn't one of my favorites. 

RATING: 3 PAWS

Can't Wait Wednesday (138)

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: A chilling, lavishly illustrated who's-who of the most despicable people ever to walk the earth, featuring both rare and best-loved stories from the hit podcast Lore, soon to be an online streaming series.

Here are the incredible true stories of some of the mortals who achieved notoriety in history and folklore through horrible means. Monsters of this sort - serial killers, desperate criminals, and socially mobile people with a much darker double-life - are, in fact, quite real . . . including H. H. Holmes, the infamous Chicago serial killer; William Brodie, the Edinburgh criminal mastermind who inspired The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; and Bela Kiss, a Hungarian tinsmith with a most disturbing hobby: collecting women in gasoline drums.

As Aaron Mahnke reminds us, sometimes the truth is even scarier than the lore. 

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I have a beautiful hardback of the first in this series which was a complete impulse buy but I've read enough of it to know I'm going to love it. I was thrilled when I saw there was another coming out!  

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

TTT- Top 2018 Anticipated Releases

This top 10 weekly meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and can be found HERE.  Each week they focus on lists which cover various topics related to books and reading. 

I sort of had a short hiatus for a few days with the holiday but I will be coming back full strength now and will be replying to comments and visiting blogs - basically getting caught up - in the next few days.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is books I'm looking forward to in 2018.  I'm sure there are a ton and I will end up forgetting some major ones, but here's some of the ones I can't wait to read!

A Treacherous Curse (Veronica Speedwell #3) - Deanna Raybourn

This is the next buddy read with Stormi and I can't wait to get back into the world of Veronica and Stoker.

The Belles (Belles #1) - Dhonelle Clayton

I'll admit that I wrote this book off based on the cover (and the fact that I thought it, along with the title, screamed YA contemporary).  However, it is more sci-fi/fantasy and it is located in New Orleans so I do want to give it a try.

Black Wings Beating (Skybound #1) - Alex London

This one doesn't come out until October (unless it releases overseas sooner so I'll have to keep an eye on Book Depository).  It might be a long wait.

The Mermaid - Christina Henry

I loved Lost Boy, which was one of my favorite reads in 2017, so I am excited to read more Henry.

Taste of Wrath (Sin du Jour #7) - Matt Wallace

I can't wait to see how one of my favorite series ends - although it will be bittersweet.

The Forest Queen - Betsy Cornwell

A female Robin Hood retelling.

That Old Black Magic (Cathi Unsworth)

Witches...investigations...Essex location - sign me up!

The Merry Spinster - Mallort Ortberg

A collection of dark fairy tale retellings with mischievous characters.

The Truth Lies Here - Lindsey Klingele

A stand-alone YA described as Stranger Things meets Men in Black.

The Friend - Sigrid Nunez

I can seriously see me pre-ordering this one - SOON!

So what books are you looking forward into 2018?  I can see my wishlist growing by leaps and bounds today!

Weekly Reads (12/22/17) - I Guess Christmas is Coming - Ready or Not!

Man what a hectic week.  I've spent the last 2 nights making cookies and I'd say I never want to see them again but I've already lied  because I just ate one for breakfast!  I have to wrap presents tonight and I'm gonna be so worn out once Christmas hits.  I'm really looking forward to 5:00pm Christmas Day - everything will be done, dinner will be over, guests will be on their way home (just Mom and Grandpa so no big deal) so I can just veg, read, eat snacks and have a refreshment or two.  THEN I can enjoy the holidays!

We did squeeze in time to watch "IT" Tuesday night and I loved it!  I thought the casting was great and Pennywise was terrifying.  The old one still holds a special place in my heart but this was a great remake.  Can't wait for the second part.  We plan on watching the new Will Smith Netflix movie which comes out today sometime this weekend between holiday activities and football.  Speaking of.....GO HERD!!!!

Marshall beat Colorado State Rams last Saturday!  They had a huge lead and almost blew it but they didn't and I was thrilled.  See, there are lots of colleges and universities in my state but Marshall and West Virginia University and the two major ones.  WVU sports is in a different conferences but a lot of the fans are buttheads and act like there is not other team in the state.  So thus, I'm always happy when Marshall wins a bowl game.  See WVU tends to choke in bowl games.  And despite the fact that Marshall currently has the longest winning streak in bowls of ALL teams, we still don't get the credit we deserve.  I'm not aiming to offend WVU fans but on the whole, they really irk me (none in particular...well maybe one or two, but just in general).  I mean come on, the university is known for burning couches when they win games.  

So I haven't read much this week so the books on my stack are still the same.  I am ALMOST done with "Two Girls Down" and it's an awesome thriller.  I find thrillers hit or miss and this one is definitely a hit.  

Hope everyone is having a safe holiday so far!  

Some of My Favorite Christmas Decorations

Even though I sometimes seem like a Grinch, overall I enjoy the holidays (I love buying the perfect gift for people and spending time with family and loved ones and pups, most of all the pups). So today I thought I'd share some of my favorite decorations.

 I do like Star Wars although I'm not as a devout fan as most.  I mostly like the little furry critters on it such as wookies and ewoks!  I added this ornament last year.

 We bring this Santa out each year as he is dressed in my Alma Mater's football gear - Marshall.  He usually brings good luck during Bowl Season (more about that tomorrow!)

 We have several mantels and this is one of those electrical fireplaces our TV sits on.  All 5 of these ornaments belong to our beloved pups - past and present.

 A woman who used to work with my husband gave him this antique boxer statue when she moved from the area.  Her family had owned it for years.  He stays out year-round but at Christmas he gets the festive treatment.

 This was our very first boxer, Cicero and his picture with Santa.  He was such a special dog and we love to honor him at Christmas with this fun photo.

 As you can see, Cass has a special ornament on the tree (all 5 of pups do).  This is Cass in his favorite mode - GO!

 My husband's favorite superhero is Captain America so I got this for him last year.  We added a more realistic one this year.

Not to be outdone by Cass, here is Booker's ornament.  He truly is spoiled and in fact, Dad never blames him for anything he did as a pup so he was dubbed "The Golden Child."

We have tons of Steeler ornaments on this tree but I had to add this Hello Kitty one.  It is NOT one of Mr. Barb's favorites.

So I hoped you've enjoyed this tour.

Can't Wait Wednesday (137)

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:  Siblings Bert, Willet, and Pansy know better than to go swimming at the old rock quarry. According to their father, it's the devil's place, a place that's been cursed and forgotten. But Mississippi Delta summer days are scorching hot and they can't resist cooling off in the dark, bottomless water. Until the day six-year-old Pansy disappears. Not drowned, not lost . . . simply gone.

After years with no sign, no hope of ever finding Pansy alive, Bert and Willet have tried to move on. But as surely as their mother died of a broken heart, they can't let go. So when clues surface drawing them to the remote tip of Florida, they drop everything and drive south. Deep in the murky depths of the Florida Everglades they may find the answer to Pansy's mysterious disappearance . . . but truth, like the past, is sometimes better left where it lies.

Perfect for fans of Flannery O'Connor and Dorothy Allison, The Past Is Never is an atmospheric, haunting story of myths, legends, and the good and evil we carry in our hearts.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I love Gothic tales and I'm curious about the myths and legends woven into this one.  Sounds like a potential winner to me!

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

There Be Demons...or Maybe Not

TITLE: There Be Demons
AUTHOR: M.K. Theodoratus
PUBLISHER: Wooden Pants Publishing
PUBLISHING DATE: September 26, 2017

FROM GOODREADS: When demons overrun the city, Gillen, the leader of the Gargoyle Guardians, requests reinforcements. His commanders send four untrained teens from the projects. Not only does Britt Kelly discover she must cope with a new high school but demons truly exist.


MY THOUGHTS:  I tried, I really tried.  I made it about 50 pages in and I just couldn't finish this book.  I feel badly because I think it's a case of "it's not you it's me."  I loved that one of the main characters, Gillen, is a gargoyle.  And I love the concept of Gargoyle Guardians.  However, neither the gargoyles or the book ever really took off for me.  

I read some of the reviews of "There Be Demons" and it seems to be a pretty well-loved book.  I think if the synopsis interests you, you shouldn't hesitate to pick it up just because I DNF'ed it.  In fact, I haven't even totally written the book off as I hope to give it another chance one day.

Many thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

MY RATING: DFN