Winter Book Preview: December 2016

Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these! Many apologies!

Following are the December titles I’m looking forward to! It’s a really quiet month in publishing so this is quite the short list! This is a good thing; I feel December (and the holidays in general) give us all a chance to catch up on our reading!

 

9780425283387_e82bcSpouse on Haunted Hill  by E.J. Copperman (Dec. 6):

Where Alison Kerby’s ex-husband goes, trouble follows. Unfortunately this time he’s brought that trouble right to her doorstep. On the run from a business deal gone bad, Steven, aka “the Swine,” owes some scary people a staggering sum of money.

Before Alison has a chance to read Steven the riot act, he disappears—after a mysterious man trailing him ends up full of bullet holes. Now the police are next to darken her doorway. Soon with the help of ghosts Maxie and Paul, Alison sets out to find her ex and clear him of the murder. But if the bad guys get to him first, he may not have a ghost of a chance…

 

This is the sixth book in the Haunted Guesthouse cozy mystery series.  I’m a huge fan, devouring each one as soon as it releases. This one comes out in perfect time for my Cozy Mystery Week, too!

 

 

9781455554119_269afHow Will I Know You by Jessica Treadway (Dec. 6):

On a cold December day in northern upstate New York, the body of high school senior Joy Enright is discovered in the woods at the edge of a pond. She had been presumed drowned, but an autopsy shows that she was, in fact, strangled. As the investigation unfolds, four characters tell the story from widely divergent perspectives: Susanne, Joy’s mother and a professor at the local art college; Martin, a black graduate student suspected of the murder; Harper, Joy’s best friend and a potential eyewitness; and Tom, a rescue diver and son-in-law of the town’s police chief. As a web of small-town secrets comes to light, a dramatic conclusion reveals the truth about Joy’s death.

There’s something about curling up with a thriller on a cold winter afternoon! Treadway is the author of Lacy Eye, I’m interested to see where she’ll take us with this most recent endeavor!

 

9780316354219_9dd5aKill the Next One by Federico Axat (Dec. 13):

Ted McKay had it all: a beautiful wife, two daughters, a high-paying job. But after being diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor he finds himself with a gun to his temple, ready to pull the trigger. Then the doorbell rings.
A stranger makes him a proposition: why not kill two deserving men before dying? The first target is a criminal, and the second is a man with terminal cancer who, like Ted, wants to die. After executing these kills, Ted will become someone else’s next target, like a kind of suicidal daisy chain. Ted understands the stranger’s logic: it’s easier for a victim’s family to deal with a murder than with a suicide.

However, as Ted commits the murders, the crime scenes strike him as odd. The targets know him by name and possess familiar mementos. Even more bizarrely, Ted recognizes locations and men he shouldn’t know. As Ted’s mind begins to crack, dark secrets from his past seep through the fissures.

This one sounds twisty. My kind of read!
Which December titles are you looking forward to most!
Posted in Bookish Chatter | 1 Comment

Review: The Magnolia Story by Chip & Joanna Gaines

Review: The Magnolia Story by Chip & Joanna GainesThe Magnolia Story by Chip Gaines, Joanna Gaines
Published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing on October 18th 2016
Genres: Biography & Autobiography, Entertainment & Performing Arts, General
Pages: 208
Format: Hardcover
Source: personal copy
Chip and Jo Gaines are one of the most renowned couples in the home improvement television business. Their famous line "Are you ready to see your fixer upper" sends chills of excitement down the spines of viewers around the world. From Chip's quirky personality and Jo's phenomenal design taste, they have quickly won the hearts of their fans.

This book shares their journey from struggling newlyweds just trying to keep their heads above water to a couple who has warmed the hearts of fans.

I don’t know about you, but events as of late have had me in a reading funk. I was scrambling for a book to keep my attention when I saw this one sitting next to my reading chair, beckoning me.

Within just a few moments I forgot what was going on in the world around me and instead was wrapped up in the heartwarming, challenging, quirky, but most of all, hopeful and loving, world of Chip and Jo Gaines.

Most of us know them from their highly successful television series, but not about their lives as they lead up to it.  I found myself giggle as Jo retold the story of their meeting, their first date, and their wedding.  It’s told largely from her perspective, with Chip jumping in every now and then telling his side of a story or adding additional information.

My takeaway? Sometimes we need to step away from the craziness of the world around us an immerse ourselves in what is most important: love, happiness, and family. The Gaines didn’t start out wealthy or successful in the least, but it was this lesson, this reminder to focus on family first, is what actually led to their success.

This simple reminder has lifted my spirits and has given me a new outlook on life and the current situations we face as a nation.  I implore you do to the same: step away from the news, the politics of the world, and surround yourself in the warmth of love and family.

Posted in Autobiography, Non-Fiction, Review | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

2016 Thankfully Reading Weekend!

ThankfullyReading

Egads! Where has the time gone!?

Thanksgiving is just right around the corner. With that comes the dreaded Black Friday (well, now lately, it’s Black Thursday, too!).

I’m pleased to announce that I will once again be hosting Thankfully Reading Weekend, November 23-27th! Want to avoid the crowds & shopping on Black Friday? Plan on spending a nice, quiet holiday at home? Join us!

Just what is this Thankfully Reading Weekend I speak of?  Here are the details:

There are no rules to the weekend, we’re simply hoping to devote a good amount of time to reading, and perhaps meeting some of our reading challenges and goals for the year. We thought it’d be fun if we cheered each other on a bit. If you think you can join in, grab the button  and add your sign up post to the link-up below. If you don’t have a blog, you can sign up the comments or sign up using a link to your Twitter account or Facebook page!

Want to host a challenge? Email me directly at jennsbookshelf@gmail.com.

We’ll also be checking in on Twitter using hashtag #thankfullyreading. Join in for the weekend or for only a single day. No rules, no pressure!

Stay tuned; more details to come!


Posted in Thankfully Reading Weekend | 32 Comments

Review: Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Everything We Keep by Kerry LonsdaleEverything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale
Published by Lake Union Publishing on August 1st 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Contemporary Women, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 296
Format: Paperback
Source: the publisher
Aimee Tierney's wedding day turns into a funeral service when her childhood sweetheart James Donato disappears during a boating trip.  Two months later his body is recovered and Aimee must prepare for a life without him instead of a future with him.  As if that isn't enough, a woman approaches her at the service, claiming that James isn't dead.

Forced to replan her future, Aimee plans to follow her dream and open a coffee house.  Still in the back of her mind, though, is the possibility that James is alive. As she digs through the clues, she uncovers secrets meant to keep her safe, ones that question the life they had together. Is this...closure she's attempting to gain worth all the pain she is uncovering?

Let’s start with what I loved about this book!  I loved Aimee’s character. I felt great sympathy for her ordeal. I can’t imagine the pain she must be feeling.  I appreciated that she attempted to move on with her life, opening the coffee shop she dreamed of. I understood her reluctance to accept her fiance’s death, especially given all the clues that presented themselves. The flashbacks to their childhood and the evolution from a friendship to romance felt genuine and completely heartwarming.

What I didn’t like about the book: the last quarter. What was revealed seemed rushed, not at all as fleshed out as the rest of the novel. While I was surprised at what transpired, it was quite disappointing to say the least.  Also, the sex scenes. There are only two, but they felt as though they were the same, only with different people.  The same descriptors were used, including the sound of the foil wrapper opening.

Overall, I wouldn’t say this was a wasted read, but it certainly had much more potential.  Apparently it is the first book in a series.  I won’t be rushing out to read the next book, but may give it a try.

Bottom line: This is certainly an escapist read, but lacking in substance.

 

Posted in General Fiction, Review | 1 Comment

2016 Murder, Monsters & Mayhem Wrap-up/Month in Review

2016mx3

It’s November 1, which means my month-long celebration of all things spooky and terrifying has drawn to an end.  I’m still not over my horror fix; you know I sneak in horror whenever I can.

That said, let’s take a look at the titles I reviewed this month:

17 titles in total reviewed. While there were a few misses, I’d say 98% of the titles I read this month were a hit!

 

How was your reading month?

Posted in Month in Review, Murders, Monsters, & Mayhem | Leave a comment

Audiobook Review: The Family Plot by Cherie Priest

Audiobook Review: The Family Plot by Cherie PriestThe Family Plot by Cherie Priest
Also by this author: Maplecroft
Published by Macmillan on September 20th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Gothic, Urban
Pages: 336
Format: Audiobook
Source: personal copy
Music City Salvage, owned by Chuck Dutton, thrives on stripping historic buildings and reselling what they've salvaged.  Business has been slow, so Chuck is thrilled when he gets a call from Augusta Withrow.  Her offer is risky but has the potential to be quite lucrative.  She's offering the entirety of her family estate, no questions asked, for a single price.  The price is hefty, but the potential for it to be a goldmine makes it worth the risk.

Chuck assigns his daughter, Dahlia, to oversee the project. Dahlia takes a small crew, a few trucks and some equipment and drives down to Chattanooga. Upon their arrival, they find the home, along with a barn and carriage house full of resellable fixtures and pieces.  It's in remarkably good shape, considering it's due to be demolished in a matter of days.

It's not long before they understand Augusta's desire to destroy the home.  Something very angry is in the home, something or someone tied to the family plot on the property.   An evil buried for decades, one that has one last chance to get revenge before the house is gone forever...

Already a fan of Priest’s work, I was thrilled to see that she was writing a haunted house novel.  The moment I had an opening in my audio book schedule, I squeezed this one in. Boy, was it worth it!

Priest already excels at writing the dark and creepy. Something about this one, however, sent chills down my spine.  Could it be the fact that I listened to it, showcased by the stunning narration of Kate Udall (a new-to-me narrator).  There isn’t a think about this novel I would change.

A fan of restoration shows on television, I had an instant connection before I even began to listen. It was much like my favorite salvage show, Salvage Dawgs. Having this familiarity made it easy for me to connect to the characters, to become engrossed in what transpired. Add to that Priest’s truly talented writing and this is truly a gem of a listen.  The fact that my audiobook kept pausing itself at particularly chilling scenes added to the atmosphere of the read.  I most definitely blame this on my quirky phone rather than something form the beyond…or do I?

In any case,  whether you are a fan of Priest’s writing or new to her work, I can’t recommend this title enough. Highly, highly recommended.

 

Posted in Audiobook, Murders, Monsters, & Mayhem | 2 Comments

Review: Graveyard: True Hauntings from an Old New England Cemetery

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Graveyard: True Hauntings from an Old New England CemeteryGraveyard by Ed Warren, Lorraine Warren, Robert David Chase
Published by Graymalkin Media on December 2nd 2014
Genres: Body, Mind & Spirit, Demonology & Satanism, General, Horror, Non-Fiction, Religion
Pages: 220
Format: Paperback
Source: the publisher
Graveyards carry with them a sense of foreboding.  Within their gates are individuals whose time on Earth has ended. Most move on, yet some remain....

In this text, Ed and Lorraine Warren share their history of investigating hauntings, starting with Union Cemetery in Monroe, Connecticut, right in their own backyard.

Yesterday, I shared my review of one of many books about/by Ed and Lorraine Warren. This is a much tamer book, devoid of any gore, filled to the brim with stories to be retold around a campfire, or curled up on a dark fall day.  Certainly not terrifying, but perfect for those looking for a light horror read.

Again, like with yesterday’s review, the language is quite simple, making it easy for readers of all ages to enjoy it.  I personally wouldn’t read it all in one sitting, for that sort of takes the chill away, instead perhaps focusing on each account individually.

Bottom line: if you are looking for a light scare for the Halloween season, this is the perfect title. Recommended!

 

 

Posted in Murders, Monsters, & Mayhem, Non-Fiction, Review | Leave a comment

Review: The Demonologist: The Extraordinary Career of Ed and Lorraine Warren by Gerald Brittle

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Demonologist: The Extraordinary Career of Ed and Lorraine Warren by Gerald BrittleThe Demonologist: The Extraordinary Career of Ed and Lorraine Warren by Gerald Brittle
Published by Graymalkin Media on July 18th 2013
Genres: Biography & Autobiography, Fiction, Occult & Supernatural, Religion, Religious, Spiritual Warfare
Pages: 238
Format: Paperback
Source: the publisher
Ed and Loraine Warren, for the last half-century, have been regarded as America's foremost experts on demonology and exorcism.  In this text, they divulge details of well-known hauntings, including the terrifying doll, Annabelle.

I knew I needed to throw in some non-fiction as part of this year’s Murder, Monsters & Mayhem. When I was approached to review this title, I knew it was the perfect fit.

So many of us know about the Warrens, if anything due to their involvement in the case that inspired The Conjuring. Admittedly, I was a bit wary when I started reading, certain I was going to get preached at with religious statements and beliefs (the Warrens are devout Catholics) or that the content was going to be…cheesy.  Instead, I was chilled to the bone. Truly. Everything was done in a factual tone, no bible-thumping or overt expressions of faith.  The Warrens are serious about their work and serious about making this often taboo subject known and relevant.

While the writing isn’t profound or dynamic, it does get the point across. If anything, it’s layman’s terms, written in a style easily understood by readers of all ages.  The pictures, the stories, the descriptions of the events that transpired? Truly terrifying. I was intentionally vague in the summary, for this is one of those titles you should definitely embrace on your own, without any preconceived expectations. Highly, highly recommended.

Posted in Murders, Monsters, & Mayhem, Review | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Review: How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: How to Hang a Witch by Adriana MatherHow to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather
Published by Random House Children's Books on July 26th 2016
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Horror, Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural, Social Themes, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 368
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Samantha (Sam) Mather and her stepmother are recent transplants to Salem, Massachusetts. The expense of caring for her father in New York City was just too much and the move was inevitable.  While Sam is new to Salem, her family name is not.  One of her ancestors was, you guessed it, Cotton Mather, one of the men responsible for the Salem witch trials.  Within days of her arrival in Salem she already has a group of enemies.  They are referred to as The Descendants, their ancestors were the witches at the heart of the trials.

Now living in the Mather family home, Sam finds it is full of family secrets, history...and a ghost.  At first, their relationship is rocky.  Soon, she's forced to rely upon him when she finds out she is part of a deadly curse, one that demands she works with those that hate her most, The Descendants.  Without their help, there is no way to put an end to the deaths that continued long after the last witch was hanged.

This review copy has been sitting in my book pile since the spring. When I saw it sitting there, all lonely and unread, I quickly added it to my pile of books to review for Murder, Monster & Mayhem.  Then last week, as I was preparing for the read-a-thon I added it to that pile. It was meant to be. Truly.

I know I’m not alone in my obsession with the Salem Witch Trials. It started long before I read The Crucible (which, by the way, my teen is reading now!).  A town so rich in a deep dark history, I find it completely fascinating.  This novel, and this author (yes, an actual descendant of Cotton Mather), is the absolutely perfect read for fans of this time in our nation’s history.   The author is paying homage to her family and the town’s rich and vibrant history.  She also modernizes it, adding the topic of modern-day bullying to the mix.

The characters are rich, well defined and developed.  I think she captures the angst and emotions of teen life in an exceptional way, not at all cliche or exaggerated. I couldn’t get enough of this book, I devoured it in a manner of hours.The best way to describe it is a combination of The Craft meets Mean Girls.  All in all, a highly engaging and engrossing read. Highly, highly recommended.

Posted in Horror, Murders, Monsters, & Mayhem, Review, YA | Tagged | Leave a comment

Review: Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

I received this book for free from personal copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Hex by Thomas Olde HeuveltHEX by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
Published by Macmillan on April 26th, 2016
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, General, Horror, Thrillers
Pages: 448
Format: Hardcover
Source: personal copy
From the outside, Black Spring looks like your typical quaint Hudson Valley town. In reality, however, it holds a deep dark secret.  It's haunted by the Black Rock Witch, a woman from the 17th century accused of being a witch, her eyes and mouth sewn shut. She walks the streets of Black Spring without abandon, entering homes at her will.

The elders of Black Spring have developed an elaborate surveillance system to keep the town curse secret from outsiders. As long as the Black Rock Witch is undisturbed during her routine travels throughout town, the citizens are Black Spring are safe.

Or so they think.

I purchased this title upon release after much acclaim by readers whose opinions I trust and value. There’s even a blurb from the king of horror himself on the cover!
All of the acclaim was so, so worth it. What a chilling and wholly unique premise!!  It reminded me a bit of Wayward Pines, in that the town has a deep dark secret it’s trying to keep hidden.

What makes this even more terrifying is that the citizens of the town were forbidden to leave.  Doing so made them physically (or mentally) ill, the town claimed them as its own the moment they move in.  The elaborate technology the elders used to keep track of the witch was downright ingenious, as was the methods they used to hide her if she came out when visitors came to town.

This was truly a phenomenal read; I have no issues or qualms with it! I cannot wait to read what’s next from this fresh new voice in horror fiction!

Posted in Horror, Murders, Monsters, & Mayhem, Review | 1 Comment