EDGE OF COLLAPSE by Kyla Stone has an excellent premise and provides plenty of page-turning tension.
MY TEASE…
Fate has been viciously cruel to Hannah EDGE OF COLLAPSE by Kyla Stone has an excellent premise and provides plenty of page-turning tension.
MY TEASE…
Fate has been viciously cruel to Hannah Sheridan.
For the last five years, a sadistic psychopath has held Hannah captive in a basement. Every weekend, he drives to his secluded cabin located deep within Michigan’s Manistee National Forest to see the woman he kidnapped.
In a twist of fate, the electronic bolt retracts on her basement door during an apocalyptic event that shuts down the grid. Hannah has a chance to escape, to run from her captor who isn’t at the cabin. A chance to run toward her former life.
But Hannah isn’t out of the woods. Not by a long shot. It’s a frigid winter. She’s in the middle of nowhere, her pregnancy is nearly full term, and a ferocious dog guards the cabin. Add to that, her captor is a skilled tracker who, no doubt, is determined to reach his property, his possession, in order to keep things exactly how he likes them…under his complete control.
Will Hannah have a turn of fate? Or has her destiny already been frozen in time?
THOUGHTS…
I really enjoyed the premise and tension of this book! A survival adventure story is right down my alley!
One factor in particular kept this from being a 5-star read.
EDGE OF COLLAPSE is the first of seven books, so I knew going into it that not all the story threads would be resolved. However, Book 1 ended with most threads left hanging. I get that this technique is meant to springboard me to the next book, but I prefer that each book I read, whether part of a series or not, has a 3-act structure with a satisfying dramatic arc. In other words, when I’m finished a book, I want to feel satisfied but wanting more (think THE HUNGER GAMES, the LINSENBIGLER series, or the ETHAN CHASE THRILLER series).
So, I was disappointed after finishing EDGE OF COLLAPSE.
However, the premise and tension kept me turning the pages, so I rated it with 3.5 stars and rounded up. If you’re looking for a series to stick with, I think this one has a really good, intriguing start!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 3 (Only because it was incomplete) Main character’s likability: 4 Development of supporting character(s): 3.5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4.5 Believability (in the context of the story): 3.5 Satisfying ending: 2.5 Tension of the story: 4.5 Stirs the heart (friendship): 3 (Involving characters other than the captor) Cover: EXCELLENT
OVERALL…
EDGE OF COLLAPSE strongly kicks off the series with an engaging, tension-filled read. Keep in mind, if you want answers to story threads in Book 1, you’ll have to move on to the next installment!...more
PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir is an amazing blast of character development and voice!
MY TEASE…
The sun is fading. Projections are dire. In 19 years, PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir is an amazing blast of character development and voice!
MY TEASE…
The sun is fading. Projections are dire. In 19 years, Earth will be iced over.
The best minds are being selected for a last-ditch effort: an international taskforce assembled to save the planet. A Hail Mary.
No way does Ryland Grace think he should be included in the chosen elite. He’s a junior high school science teacher whose academic clout is less than stellar. Significantly less. As in, his doctoral thesis was widely rejected. Laughable, in fact.
But Ryland can’t remember any of that when he wakes up. He can’t even remember his name or those of the two corpses near him.
Unsettling as his new reality is, three things are easily discernable: Ryland is alone, on a spacecraft, and somewhere beyond Earth’s solar system.
Will he remember what led to his circumstances? And is he capable of saving himself, let alone Earth which is light-years away?
THOUGHTS…
Wow, wow, wow! I love reading books that thoroughly engage me as a reader while modeling exceptional writing, inspiring me as an author. This book delivers big time—rockets blazing!
PROJECT HAIL MARY is a masterpiece on “voice.” The voices of the characters are so authentic, so captivating and endearing, that I didn’t care how many science principles were thrown at me. I was going to stick with these characters no matter what. That’s the sign of a talented author from whom I can learn!
This book has landed on my “favorites” shelf. For my tastes, it fires on all cylinders when it comes to engaging me in a survival story packed with originality and believability; one that’s expertly written and deeply connects me with the characters.
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5+ Main character’s likability: 5+ Development of supporting character(s): 5+ Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4.5 Believability (in the context of the story): 5 Satisfying ending: 4.5 Tension of the story: 4.5 Stirs the heart (friendship): 5+
OVERALL…
PROJECT HAIL MARY soars to my favorites shelf! Packed with originality, this book shines brightly when it comes to character development and voice. I highly recommend it!...more
I bought this book for my grandchildren who will be learning how to swim.
Although going to the pool seems like it would be fun, fUN, FUN, it can be oI bought this book for my grandchildren who will be learning how to swim.
Although going to the pool seems like it would be fun, fUN, FUN, it can be overwhelming for little people. I love how this book takes a child through a chronological check list of how to prepare and what to expect...all the way up to having the confidence to jump into the pool.
The message is so encouraging: Even the tiniest have a chance against all odds when they use "smarts" instead of size toI LOVED this children's book!
The message is so encouraging: Even the tiniest have a chance against all odds when they use "smarts" instead of size to evolve into a hero. Also, what seems like a limitation (being awake at night while most are sleeping) can turn out to be a gift in disguise!!!
LINSENBIGLER & The Sentients by Brian M. Wiprud earns 5 electrifying stars!
MY TEASE…
To his relief, Boone Linsenbigler might finally be retiring off ofLINSENBIGLER & The Sentients by Brian M. Wiprud earns 5 electrifying stars!
MY TEASE…
To his relief, Boone Linsenbigler might finally be retiring off of the international most-wanted list.
Everything is converging toward that end, given his contract with Conglomerated—the multifaceted beverage company which relentlessly thrusts him into unsavory predicaments to sustain his branding as a hero, will expire within a year.
At last, Boone will have more time to indulge in his wife, cocktailing, and fishing. And just as important, he’ll have less people trying to kill him!
But while Boone’s career may be winding down, the need for Gina’s expertise in artificial intelligence is ramping up. In fact, when he and his wife are fishing in Alaska, she’s commandeered to observe a highly classified, unidentified object.
When Boone gets clearance to tag along, the unthinkable happens. And no doubt, it will thrust him back into the global spotlight that’s buzzing with danger.
THOUGHTS…
I loved this book! It includes all the exciting hallmarks of this series…adventurous treks across the globe; a world problem that needs to be solved (or else); danger around every corner; references to real-world issues; some familiar characters from previous books; and, of course, a charismatic protagonist who is a reluctant hero, now coupled with his brilliant and endearing wife.
What I also love is that each book introduces fans like me to a fresh concept. The seventh installment in the series has a sci-fi flair involving artificial intelligence and a portal into an electromagnetic dimension. Very cool!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5 Main character’s likability: 5 Development of supporting character(s): 5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 3.5 Believability (in the context of the story): 5 Satisfying ending: 5 Tension of the story: 4 Stirs the heart (romantic or emotional elements): 5
OVERALL…
LINSENBIGLER & The Sentients includes all the hallmarks of this engaging series while adding a sci-fi flair. I highly recommend the seventh installment, as well as the entire series!...more
THE SEPTEMBER HOUSE by Carissa Orlando is a tension-filled crossover, combining ghost horror and psychological suspense, that will keep readers guessiTHE SEPTEMBER HOUSE by Carissa Orlando is a tension-filled crossover, combining ghost horror and psychological suspense, that will keep readers guessing where the story is heading!
MY TEASE…
Margaret had developed a personal philosophy to deescalate domestic contentions: Follow the rules and “everything is survivable.” For the most part, her philosophy has worked.
But when Margaret and her husband, Hal, moved into a beautiful Victorian mansion on Hawthorn Street, little did she know that her philosophy would be tested like never before—certainly the “survivable” part. Turns out, the ghostly inhabitants of their new residence, built in 1882, have their own set of rules, especially in the month of September when their paranormal activity is off the charts.
Hal, who had always been the rule setter, wasn’t accustomed to following the rules of others, let alone rules imposed by a horde of disfigured, temperamental ghosts. He fled, leaving Margaret to fend for herself as September closed in on the house.
Being the quintessential rule follower, Margaret would’ve been fine. Except, her daughter Katherine wouldn’t be denied a first-time visit to the house any longer. After all, her father hasn’t been seen or heard from since he left, and Katherine is determined to find out why.
Will Hal be found? And will Margaret and Katherine survive the perfect storm that is about to engulf the mansion?
The walls are already bleeding and that’s only the start…
THOUGHTS…
THE SEPTEMBER HOUSE was an awesome read! It wasn’t bite-your-nails scary; instead, it was a tension filled walk on thin, cracking ice. I give a thumbs up to the author for making sure I was never on sure-footing! I knew the cracks were coming, I just wasn’t sure from which direction. This made for a very engaging story!
There’s quite a bit of narrative in this novel, but this didn’t lessen my enjoyment at all. Margaret has a dry sense of humor which was subtle perfection! Like this example:
“I barely got the door settled back against the doorframe before it screamed open, shoving me aside with a strength one rarely sees in doors.”
I also appreciated how the author infused difficult topics such as… (view spoiler)[domestic abuse. Margaret’s journey from enabling to “enough” felt authentic. Abusers can be anywhere: in real life and in the afterlife. The author also thoughtfully incorporated Katherine’s concerns that her mother might be in the throes of dementia. (hide spoiler)]
When it came to the paranormal, the author asked a lot of me in the area of suspension of belief. However, there was so much to enjoy in this book that the story won me over anyway. This was Orlando’s debut, and I can’t wait to read what she does next!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5+ Main character’s likability: 4.5 Development of supporting character(s): 4.5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5+ Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 5 Believability (in the context of the story): 3- Satisfying ending: 4.5 Tension of the story: 5+ Stirs the heart (romantic elements): N/A Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? There were some twists that I suspected and others that totally surprised me!
OVERALL…
THE SEPTEMBER HOUSE is an addictive read that will expertly keep you off balance and guessing! This book has earned a spot on my favorites shelf and I highly recommend it!...more
THE WINTER PEOPLE is an expertly crafted, supernatural mystery that will leave a frosty chill deep within your bones.
MY TEASE…
Death was present when STHE WINTER PEOPLE is an expertly crafted, supernatural mystery that will leave a frosty chill deep within your bones.
MY TEASE…
Death was present when Sara Harrison Shea entered the world at a farmhouse in rural West Hall, Vermont. Her mother died during childbirth. From then on, death rarely left Sara’s side. It clung to her like an infant for all the days of her life.
Ordinary people might’ve been driven mad by death’s relentless proximity, but Sara was far from ordinary. In fact, a sorceress had even taught her how to raise the dead and she had penned the incantation into her diary.
More than a century later, the Washburnes live in the same farmhouse and death’s icy grip has threatened to take hold of its residents once again. Ruthie’s mother has gone missing. In search of clues, 19-year-old Ruthie finds Sara’s 1908 diary, hidden in her mother’s bedroom, minus several key pages.
With time running out, can Ruthie find the missing pages, rescue her mother, and satiate death before more lives are lost? And will Ruthie finally realize that her connection to the past is far from ordinary?
THOUGHTS…
THE WINTER PEOPLE is my favorite book thus far in 2023. I love books where the answers to a present day, supernatural mystery can be solved by finding hidden archives from the past. McMahon is an expert in this style of storytelling and THE WINTER PEOPLE is a perfect example.
Consistent with other works I’ve read by this author, McMahon’s writing is impressive! Here are too examples:
“She lay on her back, looked up at the dark sky, the swirling snow that fell down on her like a million falling stars.
And…
“The trees were bent and twisted, the branches weighted down with snow. She felt the trees were watching her, a terrible army that stood in rows and reached for her with gnarled fingers.”
Nice, right? And here are more accolades…
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5+ Main character’s likability: 5 Development of supporting character(s): 5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5+ Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4.5 Believability (in the context of the story): 4 Satisfying ending: 4.5 Tension of the story: 5 Stirs the heart (romantic elements): 4 (The story didn’t have romantic elements, but it did include a love story.) Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? No!
OVERALL…
I highly recommend THE WINTER PEOPLE. It’s an exceptionally crafted story that will make you shiver with each page turned!...more
MANDATE OF HEAVEN by Peter Martuneac is a fun, action-packed 5-star adventure that combines the vibes of Indiana Jones, Mission Impossible, and the AmMANDATE OF HEAVEN by Peter Martuneac is a fun, action-packed 5-star adventure that combines the vibes of Indiana Jones, Mission Impossible, and the Amazing Race.
MY TEASE…
Although proven to be a fierce soldier, former Army Ranger Ethan Chase likes to think for himself—not a quality revered and rewarded by the U.S. military. In fact, the renegade corporal is serving hard time in Leavenworth penitentiary for his actions in Afghanistan.
No one is more surprised than Ethan when he receives a get-out-of-jail free card to apply his other skill set, treasure hunting, on behalf of a clandestine agency of the U.S. government.
Well, almost free. That's because his assigned mission will most likely require a hefty cost.
Ethan and a small team are to retrieve an ancient Chinese artifact that has been missing for one thousand years: the Heirloom Seal. Legend suggests that whoever possesses the mystical token is bestowed with the Mandate of Heaven and is granted a supreme god-like power to rule as an immortal.
China is on the verge of finding the Seal and wielding its unfathomable power. No wonder the United States is hell-bent on finding the Seal first.
But the closer Ethan gets to the endgame, the more he worries that there may be no winners in this covert mission. Supreme power, after all, can corrupt. Can destroy. No matter who possesses it.
If Ethan should find the artifact, he suspects he’ll face his age-old dilemma. Should he follow orders or think for himself?
Only this time, the stakes wouldn't be prison; rather, the future of humanity itself.
THOUGHTS…
What a fun and exciting read! I love being whisked to foreign lands with a book’s characters, especially when there’s the added tension of needing to outsmart dangerous competitors who are in pursuit of the same goal. And weaved into the fictional mix are authentic legends such as the Heirloom Seal, Mandate of Heaven, and Mount Penglai. Which means, I’m having fun learning while being immersed in an adventure!
Ethan’s treasure hunting team consists of three additional characters and the author did a great job differentiating their voices. I liked them all and enjoyed their banter.
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5 Main character’s likability: 4.5 Development of supporting character(s): 4.5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 5 Believability (in the context of the story): 4.5 Satisfying ending: 5 Tension of the story: 4
OVERALL…
MANDATE OF HEAVEN is an excellently paced, treasure hunting adventure that will keep readers running alongside Ethan Chase!...more
THE HAUNTING OF BRYNN WILDER by Wendy Webb is an enjoyable genre mash-up in tempo with the lazy days of summer. I gave it 3.5 stars!
MY TEASE…
After loTHE HAUNTING OF BRYNN WILDER by Wendy Webb is an enjoyable genre mash-up in tempo with the lazy days of summer. I gave it 3.5 stars!
MY TEASE…
After losing her mother to cancer, Brynn Wilder embarks on a summer getaway to Wharton, a lakeside town on Lake Superior. She hopes to recharge ahead of returning to teaching in the fall after a leave of absence.
Renting a room at a century-old establishment which was a former boardinghouse, Brynn joins an eclectic group of renters. The mysterious and tattooed heartthrob, Dominic, is among them and their chemistry instantly sizzles.
Her stay at the inn will accelerate her heart in more than one way.
Turns out, Brynn Wilder is an unintended spiritualist. She hears and sees things most don’t. And in her dreams, she can even slip into an “in-between” time of a generations past.
Her unsettling adventures start with a knock on her door in the middle of the night. Someone wants her to let them in. And then there’s room five: It’s supposed to be locked up tight because someone died in there over the winter. But one night, the door is open and Brynn sees a woman in the room, sitting by the fire. Add Dominic’s tattoos to those mysteries; they seem to move and shift.
A story is unfolding at the inn, and if Brynn can put the clues together, she might be able to figure it out.
THOUGHTS…
My first book by Wendy Webb was DAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE, and I loved it. The story and her writing style were exceptional.
THE HAUNTING OF BRYNN WILDER is slower paced yet excels at character development. The cast was fun and loving!
Also, I thoroughly enjoyed that the author included characters from DAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE in this book. That was great!
Unlike DAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE, however, this novel has a bit of an identity crisis. It just doesn’t know what it wants to be. Is the novel women’s fiction, highlighting the challenges of caregiving for people with terminally ill diseases (one of the renters has Alzheimer’s and Brynn was the caregiver of her mother who had cancer)? Is it romance about finding summer love? Or how about time travel via dreams and visions? Or maybe the genre is paranormal because spirits pass through the inn?
I absolutely love crossovers, but I crave to have each genre thread firing on all cylinders. In THE HAUNTING OF BRYNN WILDER, they seem to stay in the lower gears.
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 3 Main character’s likability: 5 Development of supporting character(s): 5 Settings/Atmosphere: 4.5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 3 Believability (in the context of the story): 3 Satisfying ending: 3 Tension of the story: 3 Stirs the heart (romantic elements): 3.5 Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? There were two twists at the end and I had figured out one of them!
OVERALL…
THE HAUNTING OF BRYNN WILDER has a well developed main character and cast and I enjoyed reading about their summer respite....more
THE UNQUIET GRAVE by Joshua D. Maley is a suspenseful, quick paced novella that can be easily devoured in one sitting.
MY TEASE…
Lily should be dead.
ATHE UNQUIET GRAVE by Joshua D. Maley is a suspenseful, quick paced novella that can be easily devoured in one sitting.
MY TEASE…
Lily should be dead.
At least, most people buried beneath the ground are. But Lily is no corpse.
When she claws her way out of a shallow grave, even more problems are unearthed. The worst is Lily’s memory. Her mind is void of everything prior to her unnatural interment. Not to mention the strange voice in her head and the ringing in her ears.
Thankfully, Lily finds a clue in the satchel buried with her: a note from someone named Rose asking Lily to meet in Covenant on All Hallows’ Eve.
In search of answers, Lily follows road signs to the town. There, she sees countless posters of a missing girl. One, who looks vaguely familiar—as if she and the girl share some sort of connection.
With all the mental fog, one thing is crystal clear: Lily had better solve the mystery quickly because the person who buried her is undoubtedly still on the loose…
THOUGHTS…
THE UNQUIET GRAVE packs a lot of punch for a 55-page read! The story launches immediately and raises so many compelling questions right from the start. The plot also includes two interesting twists!
Descriptions in the book paint a complete picture which activated my senses. Here’s a sample:
“Outside, the wind raged and howled against the crumbling lighthouse. Its fury slipped through cracks in the wall and the shattered window frame, where it turned into an awful, ghostly cry.”
At the end of the novella, not all is resolved. In fact, it ends with a cliffhanger which I’m generally not a fan of. In this case, the author does include a preview to the next installment, THE UNQUIET GIFT, which assures me that a full understanding of who Lily is will be fully developed as the saga continues.
About the cover: It perfectly matches the story and its tone!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5 Main character’s likability: 5 Development of supporting character(s): 3.5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 5 Believability (in the context of the story): 4 Satisfying ending: 3 Tension of the story: 5
OVERALL…
I was so impressed that all the elements of a novel were packed tightly into this brief read! THE UNQUIET GRAVE has it all!...more
DAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE by Wendy Webb is a wonderfully crafted, 5-star read which I'm shelving in my favorites collection.
MY TEASE…
Kate Granger is droDAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE by Wendy Webb is a wonderfully crafted, 5-star read which I'm shelving in my favorites collection.
MY TEASE…
Kate Granger is drowning in her troubles.
Humiliated and betrayed, Kate leaves her job and her husband (a fellow co-worker) when she learns he is cheating on her with someone at the office.
Not even sleep brings her relief. Curiously, Kate keeps dreaming about a beautiful, mysterious woman—seeing through her eyes, feeling the love the woman shares with her husband.
As if that isn’t enough to deal with, the unthinkable happens.
While staying at her parents’ waterfront home, the woman Kate dreams about washes onto Lake Superior’s shore. She’s been murdered and a baby is tucked in the folds of her nightgown.
Kate can’t hold back her shock and despair when authorities arrive. Worse, except for the corpse’s name, Kate knows more about the woman than any innocent person should know about a deceased stranger.
Lonely, unemployed, confused, and now a person of interest in the case, Kate seeks refuge at her cousin’s bed and breakfast: Harrison’s House, a mansion which has been passed down through the family ever since Kate’s great-grandfather built it.
Will the house’s hidden secrets and Kate’s dreams help solve the mystery before she unravels?
THOUGHTS…
DAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE creatively brings together two generations of a family, separated by 100 years, through dreams, ghosts, legends, and artifacts, in order to correct history by bringing the truth to light.
The writing is eloquent. (And may I add, Wendy Webb knows how to do fog!) The toggles between the past and present are flawless. And I’m typically not a fan of an omniscient point of view, but I immediately found the all-knowing narrator endearing. Here’s a sample of the narrator’s voice:
“Kate’s wail finally found its voice and pierced the morning calm with a sound so fierce that all the animals within earshot fell silent to listen. There, nestled in the folds of the dead woman’s gown, was a baby. The tiny body was serene and still, as though it were sleeping, cradled in its mother’s arms.”
Every now and then, the book shared more information than I needed so I found myself skimming over those paragraphs. I also felt that the last 10% of the book had lost the narrator’s voice; however, the plot was still strong which is why this didn’t affect the book’s high marks!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5+ Main character’s likability: 5 Development of supporting character(s): 5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5+ Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4 Believability (in the context of the story): 4 Satisfying ending: 5 Tension of the story: 4 Stirs the heart (romantic elements): 3.5 Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? There’s a unique twist that keeps me from answering!
OVERALL…
DAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE is an engaging story with exceptional character development and outstanding atmosphere. I highly recommend it!...more
THE HAUNTING OF ASHBURN HOUSE by Darcy Coates is a 4-star mix of brilliance and implausibility.
MY TEASE…
At 22 years old, Adrienne is one heartbeat frTHE HAUNTING OF ASHBURN HOUSE by Darcy Coates is a 4-star mix of brilliance and implausibility.
MY TEASE…
At 22 years old, Adrienne is one heartbeat from destitute. She has no money. No car. No cellphone. No surviving relatives. No longstanding friends. And sporadic freelance employment.
Her possessions are meager. Just three changes of clothing, a dying laptop, and her beloved tabby cat, Wolfgang.
Turns out, all is not hopeless. A deceased great aunt, whom Adrienne never knew existed, bequeaths Ashburn House to her: a dilapidated mansion sitting on top of a steep hill overlooking the tiny, rural town of Ipson.
After Adrienne moves in, she quickly learns that Ashburn House isn’t the refuge she had hoped for. Strange carvings on the furniture and walls hint that the mansion harbors a horrifying past. One that wasn’t put to rest with Great Aunt Edith’s passing.
Quite the opposite, in fact. Without the proper rituals, the past is reawakening. And Adrienne is now its quarry.
THOUGHTS…
Hauntingly Brilliant…
There is a scene in this book when Adrienne is being chased through the woods by a terrifying entity. I kid you not: I actually screamed out loud! My heart was racing along with the main character’s. I was running beside her, stumbling, fighting to survive, and completely immersed in the action as if I was the one being chased.
I’ve been known to scream at the movie theatre…lol. Yeah, I’m that person! But I can’t remember ever screaming out loud when reading a book! I think Darcy Coates deserves a lot of kudos for bringing me into the story like that. WOW!
Hauntingly Implausible…
If only this book hadn’t veered into unbelievable territory. Granted, my preferences aren’t just to be shocked and scared. I want/need a story to be credible within its context. (That might just be me.)
Let me give you an example of the implausibility that I found frustrating.
One of the former house rituals was to light a candle in the attic every Friday (I have no clue why this wasn’t required every night). Consequently, there are boxes and boxes of candles and matches in the attic. Turns out, the light from one lit wick can keep the evil entity at bay.
Adrienne becomes trapped in the house with one oil lamp, a flashlight with weak batteries, and a diminishing supply of firewood for the fireplace. Darkness is the entity’s friend. You get the picture.
I kept urging Adrienne (lol) to bring down all those candles from the attic to the first floor. To light those suckers and be safe at night! Duh, right?
Not to mention… (view spoiler)[if the entity can be kept at bay by a smidgen of light from one candle, why oh why can the entity survive the daylight on the roof? (The sun is nothing more than a round wick engulfed with burning flames!) That was a head-scratcher for me. (hide spoiler)]
Nevertheless, there were bright spots in this book, and I never considered putting it down. In fact, overall, I gave it 4 stars. My screaming in that near perfect scene had to significantly count!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 4 Main character’s likability: 4 Development of supporting character(s): 3 Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4 Believability (in the context of the story): 2.0 - 2.5 Satisfying ending: 4 Tension of the story: 4.5 Stirs the heart (romantic elements): N/A Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? Yes, but I didn’t find that disappointing.
OVERALL:
THE HAUNTING OF ASHBURN HOUSE was a nicely paced read that included some brilliant moments, as well as some unbelievable ones....more
THE WIDOW’S HOUSE by Carol Goodman is a solid combination of mystery and ghost fiction.
MY TEASE…
Riven House, or the Widow’s House, has a troubling hiTHE WIDOW’S HOUSE by Carol Goodman is a solid combination of mystery and ghost fiction.
MY TEASE…
Riven House, or the Widow’s House, has a troubling history oozing from its crumbling bones. The men who have owned it have coveted their passions, no matter the cost. And the women who have loved them and followed them have unraveled because of the price they’ve had to pay.
The sordid past still haunts the mansion and its grounds.
Unfortunately for Clare Martin, she has always been a follower.
When her husband, Jess, wanted to advance his writing career, Clare gave hers up and became his literary cheerleader. And now, when he decides that a change of scenery will fix his writer’s block, Clare agrees to move.
Jess takes a caretaker position at Riven House, the neglected home of his and Clare’s former writing professor, now retired. And as promised, Clare follows him there.
If only the house’s past wasn’t determined to repeat itself.
THOUGHTS…
THE WIDOW’S HOUSE was a solid read, excelling in the areas that contribute to great storytelling: excellent writing, a layered plot, solid pacing, and atmospheric tension.
A sample of the writing:
“I crossed the room and opened the closet door, but I didn’t see a dumbwaiter, only a bulge in the plaster, like a tumor growing from the inner organs of the house.”
Nice, right? In a perfectly creepy way!
At times, I found aspects unbelievable (in the context of the story), but this didn’t stop me from enjoying the book!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5 Main character’s likability: 4 Development of supporting character(s): 4 Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4 Believability (in the context of the story): 3- Satisfying ending: 5 Tension of the story: 4 Stirs the heart (romantic elements): N/A Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? Pretty much, but I didn’t find that disappointing.
OVERALL...
THE WIDOW’S HOUSE was a solid 4-star read, written by an expert author!...more
For those of you who follow my reviews, you know I tend to rate the books I read with either 4 or 5 stars. That’s because I spend time DNF, no rating.
For those of you who follow my reviews, you know I tend to rate the books I read with either 4 or 5 stars. That’s because I spend time researching the books I select to help ensure they’re a good match for my tastes. For one reason, it’s economically prudent. Who wants to spend money and time on a book that’s not enjoyable? And secondly, I prefer supporting authors since I’m one. I know the sting of having a reader share that your novel didn’t meet their expectations (even though it’s helpful and part of the learning curve to hear and consider all points of view).
Thankfully, most of the time, I’m loving the books I choose to read.
Unfortunately, THE HAUNTING OF BLACKWATER COTTAGE was a miss for me. I thought I had done my homework. This novel has 1,088 reviews on Amazon! WOW! And the overall rating is 4.5/5.0—also impressive. And the concept was intriguing: recent widow moves to rural Massachusetts and finds a diary in the wall of her haunted cottage with a disturbing history.
Fifty pages in, I had to stop.
Here’s a sample of the dialogue told from main character Ally's POV:
“Actually, I was just hoping to get two coffees to go and maybe a couple of sandwiches.” (Says Ally)
“Sure,” she says, setting the pot back on the warmer and pulling out the little pad and pen from the pocket of her bright yellow apron. “Cream and sugar?”
“Yeah.”
“And the sandwiches?”
“Umm…maybe ham and cheese and the other roast beef, if you have it.”
“Of course. You want mayo on those?”
“Do you have any of those little packets?”
“Sure.”
“Can you toss a couple of them in?”
There’s plenty more where that came from!
“I finish off the rest of my sandwich and use the other bag as a trash receptacle. I pick up my coffee and take a sip. Let’s do this.”
This dialogue strategy is a habit I don’t want to adopt in my writing…to include mundane information that doesn’t move the plot forward, so I had to stop! (Maybe if I was hungry, I’d think differently!)
I realize I’m going against the over ONE THOUSAND reviewers whose experiences with this novel were way more positive than my experience.
Reviewing can be tough sometimes. I won’t post low stars, but I will share that I couldn’t finish this one....more
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