The Tags of Halloween (Part 2) - The Monster Mash

 

Welcome to part two of my Halloween tag project.  This should finish up next Friday, but I hope you enjoy this installment. This tag was created originally by The Restricted Section over on Booktube.  Doesn't look like they've posted anything in the past three years, but I did enjoy watching them when they were around.

“I was working in the lab late one night” – What’s a book that kept you up at night?

I just reviewed this one yesterday and I was up because I had so much anxiety worrying about poor Einstein - even though I knew he lived!

“My eyes beheld an eerie sight.” – What’s the weirdest or creepiest shit you’ve ever read in a book?

I still haven't gotten the "Pink Devil" out of my mind even though I read this in 2019.  You can find my original review HERE.

“Get a jolt from my electrodes.” – Name a book that completely shocked or surprised you.

I am amazed at how much I enjoyed this one.  I still see it getting some buzz from time to time as well.

“The guests included Wolfman, Dracula, and his son.” – Name your favorite monster or villain from a book.

Let's go with Dracula and ignore the fact that I've never actually read the book.

“Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?” – Name a book that was super hyped when it came out, but no one talks about anymore.

Yes, I read this series when it came out. I didn't really care for it that much but fell into the hype.  Now when I hear it talked about it's mainly negatively, which I completely get. Edward STILL gives me the creeps. Unpopular opinion but TEAM JACOB!

“They did the mash.” – Name your favorite book that is a mash up of two or more genres.

This book has monsters, family drama, mystery, and humor. I highly recommend it and its sequel.

“It was a graveyard smash.” – What is your favorite horror novel?

I have way too many to name, but this is one of my favorites that I've read more than once which I rarely do.  That's a sign I really like it.

“The scene was rockin’, all were digging the sounds.” – What’s your favorite song based on a book?

In the name of all things spooky, I'm altering this a bit and sharing a book title that is also a favorite song. Otherwise, you were going to get Winnie-the-Pooh and "The House on Pooh Corner."

“Tell them Boris sent you.” – What’s your go-to book recommendation?

I recommend this one to anyone who loves horror and is looking for nasty, gritty vampires!

“For you, the living, this mash was meant too.” – Who do you tag?

No one - if you want to participate, feel free to do so!

Bonus Question: What’s your favorite thing about Halloween?

All the scary movies!!!!

2 Bloggers 1 Book - Watchers

 

Stormi reached out to me at the end of September and asked if I would be interested in doing a buddy read with her in October of Watchers by Dean Koontz.  I used to read a lot of Koontz but haven't in years so of course I said yes. I was also pretty sure I had read Watchers when I was a teen but now that I have finished it, I don't think I ever did.  Maybe I was afraid the dog died and I had to confirm he didn't before I picked it up this time around.  So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's for hers. 

 

TITLE: Watchers

AUTHOR: Dean Loontz

PUBLISHER: Berkley

PUBLISHING DATE: January 1, 1987

PAGES: 401   

SOURCE: Own library

FROM GOODREADS: A twisted, tangled story about workplace love-affairs, and plants with a taste for human flesh.  

On his thirty-sixth birthday, Travis Cornell hikes into the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. But his path is soon blocked by a bedraggled Golden Retriever who will let him go no further into the dark woods. That morning, Travis had been desperate to find some happiness in his lonely, seemingly cursed life. What he finds is a dog of alarming intelligence that soon leads him into a relentless storm of mankind’s darkest creation...

MY THOUGHTS: I have to admit I believe this book started out a bit slow but perhaps because there was so much going on with different characters who had yet to meet and I was getting to know what all was really going on.  However, once it picked up, I adored it and couldn't get enough.  And I will also admit that while I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this book, there is no way Einstein would EVER get less that a 5-paw review from me.

Travis is hiking in the woods reminiscing about his early years and all the tragedy he has experienced when he runs into a Golden Retriever.  This dog is terrified of something and seems to be trying to keep Travis safe as well.  Travis and the dog escape the unknown creature in the woods and Travis takes him home with him.  It doesn't take him long to discover the dog isn't your average pooch.  He initially names the dog Einstein and the adventure begins. 

Einstein is the result of a DNA military experience.  A hired killer is methodically silencing everyone who was involved. However, it wasn't just Einstein that escaped.  So did The Other.  Einstein was the success story and The Other, a monstrous creation, was not.  He is not hunting Einstein because he resents him and he doesn't care who he has to kill in the process.

There is so much going on in the book, and I really can't go into it all.  All I can say is read it - go ahead, you know you are curious.  Travis and Einstein meet Nora, who needs rescuing of her own, and together Nora and Travis vow to keep Einstein safe. Luckily, they run into some sympathetic people along the way to help them.  

Finally, there is Einstein - the bestest boy ever!  Einstein is beyond smart and Travis and Nora develop a way to communicate with him.  Let me say, Einstein is smarted than most people in this book.  Einstein wants to remain with his family but knows the law and The Other are hunting him. Also, Einstein's journey is not always a safe one and this book REALLY gave me some anxiety about the last 1/3 of it.  The ending is happy, sad and every emotion in between.  I even found some sympathy for The Other, which I didn't expect.

I hope to go back and read some more Koontz sooner rather than later.  There was a time in my life where he was my second favorite author right behind King. Reading tastes change but reading Watchers reminded me how much I enjoyed Koontz. Now to figure out where to start.

MY RATING: 5 PAWS 

Feed Your TBR - The Blood Countess

 

Can't Wait Wednesday, which I have adapted to better suit my blog as "Feed Your TBR" 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.

February 17, 2026

FROM GOODREADS: There have long been whispers, coming from the castle; from the village square; from the dark woods. The great lady-a countess, from one of Europe's oldest families-is a vicious killer. Some even say she bathes in the blood of her victims. When the king's men force their way into her manor house, she has blood on her hands, caught in the act of murdering yet another of her maids. She is walled up in a tower and never seen again, except in the uppermost barred window, where she broods over the countryside, cursing all those who dared speak up against her.

Told and retold in many languages, the legend of the Blood Countess has consumed cultural imaginations around the world. But despite claims that Elizabeth Bathory tortured and killed as many as 650 girls, some have wondered if the Countess was herself a victim- of one of the most successful disinformation campaigns known to history. So, was Elizabeth Bathory a monster, a victim, or a bit of both? With the breathlessness of a whodunit, drawing upon new archival evidence and questioning old assumptions, Shelley Puhak traces the Countess's downfall, bringing to life an assertive woman leader in a world sliding into anti-scientific, reactionary darkness-a world where nothing is ever as it seems. In this exhilarating narrative, Puhak renders a vivid portrait of history's most dangerous woman and her tumultuous time, revealing just how far we will go to destroy a woman in power.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT: As long as I can remember, I've always been curious about Elizabeth Bathory. Probably has something to do with how many like to connect her to vampire lore in many fictional reads.  I don't read tons of non-fiction, but this one caught my attention and I'm looking forward to its release.

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

Apparently, I Love Books with Tentacles but Do Not Love Tentacle Love

 

TITLE: My Boyfriends Are All Monsters (Scared Sexy Collection #6)

AUTHOR: Kimberly Lemming

PUBLISHER: Amazon Original Stories

PUBLISHING DATE: September 23, 2025

PAGES: 52   

SOURCE: KU

FROM GOODREADS: Tossing a coin in a mysterious well seems like a harmless way to cope with being ditched on a mountain—until every impossibly hot man in town starts competing for one woman’s attention in this steamy short story by USA Today bestselling author Kimberly Lemming. 

Lucy Sawyer’s wish for true love lands her in an enchanted town where the men are supernatural, the chemistry is off the charts, and everyone wants to date her. But they say that things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon Lucy may need to decide if she’s willing to pay the cost of her happily ever after. 

Kimberly Lemming’s My Boyfriends Are All Monsters is part of Scared Sexy, a deliciously dark collection of Halloween romance where things that go bump in the night might just steal your heart. These seductive stand-alone stories blend chills and heat in the perfect Halloween treat—each designed to be devoured in one sitting.

MY THOUGHTS: When I saw this series of Amazon Originals were releasing in time for Halloween, I thought it would be cute to add them to my October reads.  I mean I know monster romance is a thing and have enjoyed a few here and there so might as well put my KU subscription to good use. Since I have read three previous books by this author, I figured this was a good place to start. Let me just say, this may have even been too weird for me.

Lucy is hiking with her boyfriend and a group of friends when she decides she has had enough of him and ditches him.  Unfortunately, that means she has to go back down the mountain alone.  Along the way she finds a mysterious well, tosses a coin, and makes a wish. Remember the old adage, be careful what you wish for?  Lucy may have wanted to put more thought into that wish.

This book is a quick fast-paced read with lots of monster sex and little else. And technically is should be title "MY Boyfriend is ALL the Monsters."  I pride myself on enjoying weird books and not being a prude, but this might have been too much for even me.  At least it was short and at times humorous which saved it some.  Pick this one up at your own risk.

MY RATING: 2 PAWS

The Tags of Halloween! (Part 1)

 

I wanted to do a few fun posts to celebrate the Halloween season so I went down a rabbit hole on the internet to see what I could find.  I actually came across three I really liked so let's see how many I get to before Spooky Season is over. This one is credited to The Book Pusher on YouTube.  I looked and it doesn't seem they have a channel anymore or I would link it, but I do want to give credit where credit is due.

Corn Maze - what book had you confused and lost from the beginning?

Not my typical genre read but I was so lost as to why someone would be so obsessed with an entitled young adult college athlete who allows his friends to seek revenge on the woman he loves.  And by revenge, I'm talking physical abuse, near rapes, kidnapping her mother and gaslighting Rika on her whereabouts, freezing all her financial accounts and burning down her house. 

Haunted House - what book has the creepiest setting?

Can't get much creepier than inside a whale for most of the book.

Ghost Boyfriend - who is your eternal book boyfriend?

I really don't do book boyfriends, but I love a good dog character.  One of my faves is Mouse, Harry Dresden's enormous and magical canine companion. The minute something happens to Mouse, I will completely give up on the series.  

Caramel Apple Suckers - best dang Halloween book ever

I believe this book has mixed reviews, but I really enjoyed it when I read it a few years ago.  It centers around Halloween and a haunted trail. It also has a lot of 80's nostalgia.

Vampires in Everything - what is your least favorite Halloween trope?

I would have to say zombies. They are Mr. Barb's favorite creature, but I have to admit I find them a bit boring and redundant.

Pumkin in Everything - what is your favorite Halloween trope?

I love anything and everything vampire-related.  However, werewolves do run an extremely closes second.

Evil Incarnate - the evilest villain

I don't know if Drake Morgan is the evilest character ever, but he is definitely one of the evilest I've read about this year.  I also think Randall Flagg from The Stand is pretty bad as well.

Ouija Board - a book that messes with things that you don't want to be involved in

You couldn't get me involved with any exorcism for any reason.  And I have to share this book because I still haven't forgiven Hendrix for what he did to good boy Max!

Full Moon - what character do you turn into on the full moon?

If I had a choice, I would probably turn into a witch during the full moon. I think I could wreck some havoc once night a month and not feel TOO badly about it 🤣

All Hallows Eve - the other world and this world have meshed for one night; what book world would you love to be swept up in?

I would love to spend the time with this found family - especially Lucy.

Voodoo Doll - what author would you love to take control of and make them write anything you want?

I loved this book and desperately need a sequel so I would have Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire finally write one.

Black Cat - what red flags do you look for when first starting out a book?

I don't get hung up on red flags or triggers. However, if the dog dies (or any pet), I riot, and the book automatically loses a rating point.

Witches Brew - a book that had a lot of different components thrown in but the result was magical.

This book contained a bit of everything - historical lore, witches, demons, mystery, intrigue and romance.  Highly recommend the first three in this series. 

I had a lot of fun with this tag.  If it looks like something you would like to do, feel free and put a link in the comments so I can check out your answers!

Look for a different tag next week!

Feed Your TBR - The Villa, Once Beloved

 

Can't Wait Wednesday, which I have adapted to better suit my blog as "Feed Your TBR" 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.

November 25, 2025

FROM GOODREADS: Some legacies are best left buried…

Villa Sepulveda is a storied relic of the Philippines’ past: a Spanish colonial manor, its moldering stonework filled with centuries-old heirlooms, nestled in a remote coconut plantation. When their patriarch dies mysteriously, his far-flung family returns to their ancestral home. Filipino-American student Adrian Sepulveda invites his college girlfriend, Sophie, a transracial adoptee who knows little about her own Filipino heritage, to the funeral of a man who was entwined with the history of the country itself.

Sophie soon learns that there is more to the Sepulvedas than a grand tradition of political and entrepreneurial success. Adrian’s relatives clash viciously amid grief, confusion, and questions about the family curse that their matriarch refuses to answer. When a landslide traps them all in the villa, secrets begin to emerge, revealing sins both intimately personal and unthinkably public.

Sifting through fact, folklore, and fiction, Sophie finds herself at the center of a reckoning. Did a mythical demon really kill Adrian’s grandfather? How complicit are the Sepulvedas in the country’s oppressive history? As a series of ill omens befall the villa, Sophie must decide whom to trust—and whom to flee—before the family’s true legacy comes to take its revenge.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  This sounds like a really atmospheric read and I really need to know more about the mythical demon that is mentioned.  I don't think this is one I would purchase because it sounds too political in some ways, but it is one I will definitely grab from the library.

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

How Can a Book with Snow Be So Dry???

 

TITLE: Murder Most Haunted

AUTHOR: Emma Mason

PUBLISHER: William Morrow Paperbacks

PUBLISHING DATE: October 7, 2025

PAGES: 320   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: 

A grand country estate. 

On her last day as a Detective, Midge McGowan is given the retirement present from a ticket to take part in a haunted house tour. She’ll have to spend the weekend before Christmas ghost-hunting in an isolated mansion with a group of misfits, including a know-it-all paranormal investigator and a has-been pop star. 

An impossible crime. 

It isn’t long before the tour starts to spiral out of control. Midge and the guests see an unsettling figure walking the grounds late at night. Then the unthinkable happens – someone is murdered in a room that’s been locked from the inside.

A Christmas they might not survive. 

Heavy snow cuts them off from help, the house’s own dark secrets begin to surface, and Midge can’t shake the creeping sense that they are walking into a nightmare. Could a ghost really be responsible, or is the culprit one of the guests?

MY THOUGHTS: I'm not sure I was paying close attention when I slated this to read in October.  I didn't think it was a Christmas mystery and then when I started reading, I saw mention of snow and the holiday.  But maybe I should have trusted my gut because now that I've finished it, the most Christmas thing I remember about it is all the snow that is mentioned. If it wasn't for that, this book could have happened any time of the year.

Midge has just retired from being a detective.  However, she pretty much only ever worked in the evidence room where she silently faded into the background.  As a parting gift, she is given an expense-paid trip for a supernatural mystery weekend at a haunted estate on the Moors.  Midge's wife is going through cancer treatment and insists Midge goes to get away from things.  She, along with several other guests arrive at the odd estate and end up getting snowed in.  The morning after they arrive, the event owner is found dead in the bathtub. Is the Lady in White who is said to haunt the manor seeking revenge for something or is there another killer afoot?

I had a hard time getting into this book.  Midge is not a very likable character.  There is nothing really wrong with her except she has little to no self-esteem, allows herself to be run over by anyone and everyone, and is obsessed with embroidering handkerchiefs.  In fact, I would say Midge is probably a bit OCD even though it's never actually stated.  Some of the other characters are a recovering pop star addict, a young, annoying podcaster, a hoity doctor and his mentally ill wife, and the owner's assistant.  The only one I really liked is Rona, the pop star, and that could be because she immediately bonded with Midge and I could see Midge having more confidence when Rona is around her.

Together they all work to figure out what is going on.  The podcaster is determined to prove the manor is actually haunted and the doctor fights him on it every step of the way.  As the weekend progresses, the body count increases and everyone except Midge ends up fearing for their lives.

This book didn't wow me like I wanted.  There were some reveals I didn't see coming but even then, they weren't very shocking. I described the book as dry several times as I was reading it, and I still think that best sums it up for me.  I'm sure it will find an audience and I could see it becoming a series with the way it ended but I don't see me picking up the next one if one does materialize.  

MY RATING: 3 PAWS