Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 160
November 11, 2016
Cajun Cooking with Maurice
INTO THE LIGHT comes out 32 DAYS from now! It's time to kick off the four-part blog series for Into the Light! Part one brings you a guest post by everyone's favorite ghost chef from OUT OF DARKNESS, Maurice!
Cajun Cooking With Maurice
Bonjour! To introduce myself I am Maurice, the world famous ghost chef at Maurice's - New Orleans. I arrived in New Orleans in 1865 a young man of twenty-three and took a job at a restaurant in the Quarter. My delicious food and charismatic charm skyrocketed my reputation and in 1871 I opened my restaurant.
For the next twenty years, Maurice's was the place to be. People came from far and wide to enjoy my blend of french and cajun cooking. Then, in 1892 tragedy struck. I and my entire kitchen crew were brutally murdered by my ambitious sous chef who wanted Maurice's as his own. I won't dwell on that traitor, but I hear that he was executed by public hanging for his crimes.
Alas, his plan to overthrow me backfired. This is New Orleans after all and my crew and I lived on as ghosts. But nobody knew about us and for decades Maurice's lay empty, until one day a woman bought the building to use as a front for her Voodoo shop. This woman was the grandmother of our current owner, Claudette Barbeau. Being a Voodoo priestess she could easily pick up on us wasting our days away in the kitchen and she decided to monopolize on the idea. A restaurant entirely run by a ghostly kitchen crew? She was sitting on a gold mine! I, myself, was skeptical at first but soon people were once again flocking from all over the world to eat my cooking! We've hosted tourists, locals, paranormal investigators, and skeptics that soon become believers after seeing the "empty" kitchen putting out plate after plate of authentique French and Cajun delights.
But enough about me, I'm sure you want to hear about her - Miss Lizette Weatherly. Oh, what a delightful girl! The moment I saw her I knew she was a kindred spirit as Maman would say. And when she shared with me her love of the most scrumptious of all New Orleans desserts, the beignet? Bless my biscuits, this ghost felt as if he had died again and gone to heaven! I knew of course, that I had to teach her everything I knew of French and Cajun cooking. For so long I'd been waiting for a worthy pupil to impart my knowledge upon.
The magic of the restaurant has dimmed slightly since her visit, but I am pleased to hear she and her friends have made it through their struggle against the dark one. Miss Claudette says that if we hold out hope perhaps Miss Lizette will return to us. I will wait on baited breath until I see her again.
Until then I will share with you one of my new concoctions from my tutelage with Lizette...
***
Cajun Pasta Salad This recipe started out as Lizette's famous Italian Pasta Salad, but after a little tinkering with the recipe together we created this Cajun Pasta Salad. Serve this pasta salad alongside Cajun burgers, po'boys, finger-licking fried chicken, and just about everything else.
INGREDIENTS: 1-2 lbs. Tri-Color Rotini Pasta, cooked and rinsed1 can jumbo black olives, drained1 red or green bell pepper, diced1 medium red onion, finely chopped or sliced1 package mozzarella string cheese, cubed2 Andouille sausages, sliced into coin size bites1 bottle zesty Italian dressingCajun spice, to tasteGrape tomatoes; left whole
DIRECTIONS: Boil pasta according to the box’s directions. Meanwhile, chop veggies and sausage, cube the cheese, and drain the olives.
Once pasta is cooked, drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Next in a large bowl combine the olives, bell pepper, tomatoes, onions, cubed cheese, and andouille sausage.
Pour in half the bottle of the zesty Italian dressing, then add the pasta and stir.
Pour in the rest of the bottle of the zesty Italian dressing and season with Cajun spice to taste and stir to combine making sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is well incorporated.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate at least two hours. Stir once more before serving.
VARIATION: For an added kick substitute pepper jack string cheese in place of mozzarella string cheese.
PRINT RECIPE
***
PREORDER INTO THE LIGHT (Eternals Trilogy #2) Today!
Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Add on Goodreads
Into the Light arrives December 13, 2016!
Cajun Cooking With Maurice
Bonjour! To introduce myself I am Maurice, the world famous ghost chef at Maurice's - New Orleans. I arrived in New Orleans in 1865 a young man of twenty-three and took a job at a restaurant in the Quarter. My delicious food and charismatic charm skyrocketed my reputation and in 1871 I opened my restaurant.
For the next twenty years, Maurice's was the place to be. People came from far and wide to enjoy my blend of french and cajun cooking. Then, in 1892 tragedy struck. I and my entire kitchen crew were brutally murdered by my ambitious sous chef who wanted Maurice's as his own. I won't dwell on that traitor, but I hear that he was executed by public hanging for his crimes.
Alas, his plan to overthrow me backfired. This is New Orleans after all and my crew and I lived on as ghosts. But nobody knew about us and for decades Maurice's lay empty, until one day a woman bought the building to use as a front for her Voodoo shop. This woman was the grandmother of our current owner, Claudette Barbeau. Being a Voodoo priestess she could easily pick up on us wasting our days away in the kitchen and she decided to monopolize on the idea. A restaurant entirely run by a ghostly kitchen crew? She was sitting on a gold mine! I, myself, was skeptical at first but soon people were once again flocking from all over the world to eat my cooking! We've hosted tourists, locals, paranormal investigators, and skeptics that soon become believers after seeing the "empty" kitchen putting out plate after plate of authentique French and Cajun delights.
But enough about me, I'm sure you want to hear about her - Miss Lizette Weatherly. Oh, what a delightful girl! The moment I saw her I knew she was a kindred spirit as Maman would say. And when she shared with me her love of the most scrumptious of all New Orleans desserts, the beignet? Bless my biscuits, this ghost felt as if he had died again and gone to heaven! I knew of course, that I had to teach her everything I knew of French and Cajun cooking. For so long I'd been waiting for a worthy pupil to impart my knowledge upon.
The magic of the restaurant has dimmed slightly since her visit, but I am pleased to hear she and her friends have made it through their struggle against the dark one. Miss Claudette says that if we hold out hope perhaps Miss Lizette will return to us. I will wait on baited breath until I see her again.
Until then I will share with you one of my new concoctions from my tutelage with Lizette...
***
Cajun Pasta Salad This recipe started out as Lizette's famous Italian Pasta Salad, but after a little tinkering with the recipe together we created this Cajun Pasta Salad. Serve this pasta salad alongside Cajun burgers, po'boys, finger-licking fried chicken, and just about everything else.
INGREDIENTS: 1-2 lbs. Tri-Color Rotini Pasta, cooked and rinsed1 can jumbo black olives, drained1 red or green bell pepper, diced1 medium red onion, finely chopped or sliced1 package mozzarella string cheese, cubed2 Andouille sausages, sliced into coin size bites1 bottle zesty Italian dressingCajun spice, to tasteGrape tomatoes; left whole
DIRECTIONS: Boil pasta according to the box’s directions. Meanwhile, chop veggies and sausage, cube the cheese, and drain the olives.
Once pasta is cooked, drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Next in a large bowl combine the olives, bell pepper, tomatoes, onions, cubed cheese, and andouille sausage.
Pour in half the bottle of the zesty Italian dressing, then add the pasta and stir.
Pour in the rest of the bottle of the zesty Italian dressing and season with Cajun spice to taste and stir to combine making sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is well incorporated.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate at least two hours. Stir once more before serving.
VARIATION: For an added kick substitute pepper jack string cheese in place of mozzarella string cheese.
PRINT RECIPE
***
PREORDER INTO THE LIGHT (Eternals Trilogy #2) Today!
Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Add on Goodreads
Into the Light arrives December 13, 2016!
November 10, 2016
Book Review: Rebirth by Skye Malone
Rebirth (Awakened Fate Series #6) by Skye Malone
Series: the Awakened Fate Series, Book 6Genre: YA Paranormal RomancePublisher: Wildflower IsleCover Artist: Karri Klawiter
Blurb:
One summer later…
Ari Moreau knows all about dehaians, but they’ve never heard of people like her. Hidden in plain sight, the wizards of the ancient world still thrive, rich and privileged and far from the ocean magic that could kill them all.
But when an evening party turns into a bloody dehaian ambush, Ari’s hidden world is shattered. Assassins from the underwater kingdom of Yvaria have come to kill her people and only the last-minute intervention of a gorgeous boy with inexplicable powers saves her life.
Two worlds are about to collide…
But the guy who rescued her shouldn’t exist. He’s impossible in every sense of the word. And the truth of his identity means that nothing in Ari’s life will ever be the same again.
My Review: Hidden from the rest of the world live the wizards that the dehaians and landwalkers thought had died long ago. The Ruanir live the lavish life, fancy cars, mansions, and loads of money. Among them is seventeen-year-old Ariabella "Ari" Moreau. Ari hates the social climbing lifestyle her mother has dragged her into as she attempts to climb the Ruanir ladder by finding a powerful husband. Ari and her older brother Jace would much rather still be living with their late father.
Forced to attend a party with her mother at one of the Judges' (leaders of the Ruanir people) houses and being shoved toward Logan, the slick playboy that tried to assault Ari once before, all she wants is to go back to the hotel and hang out with Jace, their cousin Maia, and Maia's fiancee Dhanya. Then all hell breaks loose. The party is invaded by Dehaians and people are being attacked. Then a mysterious boy comes along and saves her. In the blink of an eye, they're in Massachusetts. But who or what is this mysterious boy?
It's been a year since Noah Delaney became The Beast. It's been a long journey of isolation and learning how to become "normal" again. When he sees a girl standing outside a party being attacked by dehaians wearing the Yvarian armband he swoops in and saves her. Noah doesn't want to get close to anyone, but there's just something about this girl that has him following her back to her hotel just to make sure she's alright. But why were the Yvarians attacking people? Would Zeke really aim to start a war so soon after what's just gone down with Chloe and the Sylphaen? Noah has to find out.
Neither Zeke or Chloe know anything about the attack and Chloe insists Noah stay at the palace for a little while. Just as he's settling in he feels a sharp jab of pain. Chloe's alright, Baylie is alright... and then it dawns on him - Ari, the girl from the party. He races for the east coast knowing full well it's most likely a trap but when he gets there he's shocked and enraged to find out the leaders of the Ruanir have performed some kind bonding experiment that connects him to Ari.
Noah knows of only one person who might be able to help him and Ari sever the connection so they start west with Jace, Maia, and Dhanya. But the Ruanir Judiciary are just as conniving as the Sylphaen ever were and they're not going to let Ari and Noah go that easily. It will be a crazy trip west trying to outrun the Ruanir and learning to trust each other in the process. Will they be able to escape the Ruanir Judiciary? Or will they try to use Ari as a secret weapon to start a war against the Yvarians? What will happen when Ari and Noah begin to feel something for one another?
OMG - is it possible that I can love Rebirth even more than the first five books in the Awakened Fate series? Because I think I might! It was great seeing Noah in this role, because in the triangle with Chloe and Zeke I kind of just wanted him to disappear so Chloe and Zeke could be together but now that that storyline has been tied up it is easier to love Noah. Ari's Ruanir world was an awesome addition to the series. It's kind of like she's lived in a cult since her father died and meeting Noah changes everything for her. I loved watching their relationship grow from mistrust and dislike into something that will hopefully blossom into something romantic.
I also loved the blend of new characters and old favorites popping up throughout the story. Seeing glimpses of where Chloe, Zeke, Baylie, and Ellie were one year later felt like catching up with an old friend.
I started this book thinking I couldn't love any characters in this series more than Chloe and Zeke and here came Rebirth with Noah and Ari to completely blow me away. I was engrossed in the story from the first chapter and I didn't want to stop reading. And best of all I completely didn't see the ending coming! It was shocking, and I can't wait to see what's going to happen to Ari, Noah, and the others in the next book. This may be my favorite Skye Malone book yet!
I received an ARC of Rebirth in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:5 of 5 Stars
Rebirth is available TODAY! Grab your copy:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Add to Goodreads
Series: the Awakened Fate Series, Book 6Genre: YA Paranormal RomancePublisher: Wildflower IsleCover Artist: Karri Klawiter
Blurb:
One summer later…Ari Moreau knows all about dehaians, but they’ve never heard of people like her. Hidden in plain sight, the wizards of the ancient world still thrive, rich and privileged and far from the ocean magic that could kill them all.
But when an evening party turns into a bloody dehaian ambush, Ari’s hidden world is shattered. Assassins from the underwater kingdom of Yvaria have come to kill her people and only the last-minute intervention of a gorgeous boy with inexplicable powers saves her life.
Two worlds are about to collide…
But the guy who rescued her shouldn’t exist. He’s impossible in every sense of the word. And the truth of his identity means that nothing in Ari’s life will ever be the same again.
My Review: Hidden from the rest of the world live the wizards that the dehaians and landwalkers thought had died long ago. The Ruanir live the lavish life, fancy cars, mansions, and loads of money. Among them is seventeen-year-old Ariabella "Ari" Moreau. Ari hates the social climbing lifestyle her mother has dragged her into as she attempts to climb the Ruanir ladder by finding a powerful husband. Ari and her older brother Jace would much rather still be living with their late father.
Forced to attend a party with her mother at one of the Judges' (leaders of the Ruanir people) houses and being shoved toward Logan, the slick playboy that tried to assault Ari once before, all she wants is to go back to the hotel and hang out with Jace, their cousin Maia, and Maia's fiancee Dhanya. Then all hell breaks loose. The party is invaded by Dehaians and people are being attacked. Then a mysterious boy comes along and saves her. In the blink of an eye, they're in Massachusetts. But who or what is this mysterious boy?
It's been a year since Noah Delaney became The Beast. It's been a long journey of isolation and learning how to become "normal" again. When he sees a girl standing outside a party being attacked by dehaians wearing the Yvarian armband he swoops in and saves her. Noah doesn't want to get close to anyone, but there's just something about this girl that has him following her back to her hotel just to make sure she's alright. But why were the Yvarians attacking people? Would Zeke really aim to start a war so soon after what's just gone down with Chloe and the Sylphaen? Noah has to find out.
Neither Zeke or Chloe know anything about the attack and Chloe insists Noah stay at the palace for a little while. Just as he's settling in he feels a sharp jab of pain. Chloe's alright, Baylie is alright... and then it dawns on him - Ari, the girl from the party. He races for the east coast knowing full well it's most likely a trap but when he gets there he's shocked and enraged to find out the leaders of the Ruanir have performed some kind bonding experiment that connects him to Ari.
Noah knows of only one person who might be able to help him and Ari sever the connection so they start west with Jace, Maia, and Dhanya. But the Ruanir Judiciary are just as conniving as the Sylphaen ever were and they're not going to let Ari and Noah go that easily. It will be a crazy trip west trying to outrun the Ruanir and learning to trust each other in the process. Will they be able to escape the Ruanir Judiciary? Or will they try to use Ari as a secret weapon to start a war against the Yvarians? What will happen when Ari and Noah begin to feel something for one another?
OMG - is it possible that I can love Rebirth even more than the first five books in the Awakened Fate series? Because I think I might! It was great seeing Noah in this role, because in the triangle with Chloe and Zeke I kind of just wanted him to disappear so Chloe and Zeke could be together but now that that storyline has been tied up it is easier to love Noah. Ari's Ruanir world was an awesome addition to the series. It's kind of like she's lived in a cult since her father died and meeting Noah changes everything for her. I loved watching their relationship grow from mistrust and dislike into something that will hopefully blossom into something romantic.
I also loved the blend of new characters and old favorites popping up throughout the story. Seeing glimpses of where Chloe, Zeke, Baylie, and Ellie were one year later felt like catching up with an old friend.
I started this book thinking I couldn't love any characters in this series more than Chloe and Zeke and here came Rebirth with Noah and Ari to completely blow me away. I was engrossed in the story from the first chapter and I didn't want to stop reading. And best of all I completely didn't see the ending coming! It was shocking, and I can't wait to see what's going to happen to Ari, Noah, and the others in the next book. This may be my favorite Skye Malone book yet!
I received an ARC of Rebirth in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:5 of 5 Stars
Rebirth is available TODAY! Grab your copy:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Add to Goodreads
November 9, 2016
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #48
After finishing The Thousandth Floor (a great book you definitely should read! Check out my review here) and finally receiving my book order from Books of Wonder, this "WIR"-Wednesday I'm reading...
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
Blurb:
In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.
But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose...it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.
The last queen standing gets the crown.
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far: Three Dark Crowns was part of my fall reads blog, and the blurb really appealed to me. When I saw I could preorder a signed copy from Books of Wonder I jumped at the chance. Since there was such a delay from them waiting for the preorder swag that came with the other book I ordered, Nemesis, the anticipation to read this book has been brewing for about six weeks. That being said, Three Dark Crowns isn't quite what I was expecting it to be. I'm not saying I don't like it, I was just expecting it to be different I guess. I've never read anything by Kendare Blake before so I didn't know what to expect. Three Dark Crowns keeps me interested in seeing what is going to happen next, but I don't have as much enthusiasm for it as I have for other books I've read lately.
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
Blurb:
In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose...it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.
The last queen standing gets the crown.
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far: Three Dark Crowns was part of my fall reads blog, and the blurb really appealed to me. When I saw I could preorder a signed copy from Books of Wonder I jumped at the chance. Since there was such a delay from them waiting for the preorder swag that came with the other book I ordered, Nemesis, the anticipation to read this book has been brewing for about six weeks. That being said, Three Dark Crowns isn't quite what I was expecting it to be. I'm not saying I don't like it, I was just expecting it to be different I guess. I've never read anything by Kendare Blake before so I didn't know what to expect. Three Dark Crowns keeps me interested in seeing what is going to happen next, but I don't have as much enthusiasm for it as I have for other books I've read lately.
November 7, 2016
Book Review: The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee
The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee
Blurb:
New York City as you’ve never seen it before. A thousand-story tower stretching into the sky. A glittering vision of the future, where anything is possible—if you want it enough.
Welcome to Manhattan, 2118.
A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and dreams. But people never change: everyone here wants something…and everyone has something to lose.
Leda Cole’s flawless exterior belies a secret addiction—to a drug she never should have tried and a boy she never should have touched.
Eris Dodd-Radson’s beautiful, carefree life falls to pieces when a heartbreaking betrayal tears her family apart.
Rylin Myers’s job on one of the highest floors sweeps her into a world—and a romance—she never imagined…but will her new life cost Rylin her old one?
Watt Bakradi is a tech genius with a secret: he knows everything about everyone. But when he’s hired to spy by an upper-floor girl, he finds himself caught up in a complicated web of lies.
And living above everyone else on the thousandth floor is Avery Fuller, the girl genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have it all—yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.
Debut author Katharine McGee has created a breathtakingly original series filled with high-tech luxury and futuristic glamour, where the impossible feels just within reach. But in this world, the higher you go, the farther there is to fall….
My Review: Fast-forward 102 years in the future to the Tower, stretching 1000 stories above New York City, shadowing and dwarfing everything below.
The Tower is really a city unto itself, holding everything a person could need or want - schools, hospitals, stores, churches, restaurants, clubs, and of course apartments. New York City has essentially become obsolete thanks to the Tower.
Step into the tower and there are social classes just like everywhere else. People on the lowest floors are poor, and the highest floors reserved for the rich and glamorous. In this 2118 world there are a lot of amazing technological advances, but only for those who can pay the price, yet another way the rich distinguish themselves from the poor.
But no matter what floor you live on, everyone has something to hide. Insert the teens from the Tower -
Living on the thousandth floor is Avery, who by all accounts is perfect on the outside, but the taboo secret she holds close to her heart, her feelings for the one person in her life she definitely shouldn't love, make her more twisted than anyone knows.
Down on the 224th or was it 244th? floor is tech geek Watt with the illegal supercomputer in his brain. What's going to happen when spying for a client places him in the path of the most beautiful out-of-his-league girl he's ever met?
On the 32nd floor, Rylin is doing everything she can to keep her younger sister from entering the foster care system after the death of their mother even if it means stealing pills from her sexy new boss, who might be the guy of her dreams. Will Cinderella get her prince? Or will reality and social classes get in the way?
Eris had it all until a heavily guarded family secret comes to light and ruins her perfect little world. Can she learn that there are more important things than money and status?
And then there is Leda, possibly the most insane, vindictive character in the whole book. Everyone is about to learn that you do not get in between Leda and what she wants.
The Thousandth Floor is OMG AMAZING! I've been holding off on reading this book for a while because I was afraid I wouldn't like it, but now I wish I had started it the day I got it. I loved this book. The technology was seriously cool, and the new modern world was fantastic.
This book really does remind me of a futuristic Gossip Girl (although the structure itself reminded me of the doomed tower in the movie The Towering Inferno for some reason. I kept waiting for it to burn to the ground at the end), where the secrets are more scandalous and the stakes are higher. When you start the book you know that one of the characters is going to take a dive off the thousandth floor, but which one? Is it suicide or murder?
You move backward two months and meet all the characters, moving steadily forward toward the moment when everything clicks into place. At first, I couldn't tell which character I liked the most. Avery was a sweetheart, even though her secret was the most scandalous of all, so I liked her instantly. I loved and disliked Eris throughout the novel, but once she got past the rich snob phase she became one of my favorites. Ultimately the characters I fell the hardest for were Rylin and Cord. Watching them interact was enjoyable and I felt all the feels for them.
That only leaves Watt and Leda. Watt was your typical computer nerd who only wanted to make other people happy. But someone should tell him, the nice guy never gets the girl. And Leda. *sighs* Leda was truly a masterful villain and watching her descent into madness was truly interesting. The fact that I hated that character so much shows how great the writing is in this novel.
Overall, I was addicted to this story from the first page and I enjoyed every minute of reading The Thousandth Floor. I found myself picking it up whenever possible and trying so hard not to read ahead to see what would happen next. I can't wait to see what comes next in book two, and what repercussions will come from the epic scene atop the Tower.
My Rating:6 of 5 Stars
Blurb:
New York City as you’ve never seen it before. A thousand-story tower stretching into the sky. A glittering vision of the future, where anything is possible—if you want it enough.Welcome to Manhattan, 2118.
A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and dreams. But people never change: everyone here wants something…and everyone has something to lose.
Leda Cole’s flawless exterior belies a secret addiction—to a drug she never should have tried and a boy she never should have touched.
Eris Dodd-Radson’s beautiful, carefree life falls to pieces when a heartbreaking betrayal tears her family apart.
Rylin Myers’s job on one of the highest floors sweeps her into a world—and a romance—she never imagined…but will her new life cost Rylin her old one?
Watt Bakradi is a tech genius with a secret: he knows everything about everyone. But when he’s hired to spy by an upper-floor girl, he finds himself caught up in a complicated web of lies.
And living above everyone else on the thousandth floor is Avery Fuller, the girl genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have it all—yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.
Debut author Katharine McGee has created a breathtakingly original series filled with high-tech luxury and futuristic glamour, where the impossible feels just within reach. But in this world, the higher you go, the farther there is to fall….
My Review: Fast-forward 102 years in the future to the Tower, stretching 1000 stories above New York City, shadowing and dwarfing everything below.
The Tower is really a city unto itself, holding everything a person could need or want - schools, hospitals, stores, churches, restaurants, clubs, and of course apartments. New York City has essentially become obsolete thanks to the Tower.
Step into the tower and there are social classes just like everywhere else. People on the lowest floors are poor, and the highest floors reserved for the rich and glamorous. In this 2118 world there are a lot of amazing technological advances, but only for those who can pay the price, yet another way the rich distinguish themselves from the poor.
But no matter what floor you live on, everyone has something to hide. Insert the teens from the Tower -
Living on the thousandth floor is Avery, who by all accounts is perfect on the outside, but the taboo secret she holds close to her heart, her feelings for the one person in her life she definitely shouldn't love, make her more twisted than anyone knows.
Down on the 224th or was it 244th? floor is tech geek Watt with the illegal supercomputer in his brain. What's going to happen when spying for a client places him in the path of the most beautiful out-of-his-league girl he's ever met?
On the 32nd floor, Rylin is doing everything she can to keep her younger sister from entering the foster care system after the death of their mother even if it means stealing pills from her sexy new boss, who might be the guy of her dreams. Will Cinderella get her prince? Or will reality and social classes get in the way?
Eris had it all until a heavily guarded family secret comes to light and ruins her perfect little world. Can she learn that there are more important things than money and status?
And then there is Leda, possibly the most insane, vindictive character in the whole book. Everyone is about to learn that you do not get in between Leda and what she wants.
The Thousandth Floor is OMG AMAZING! I've been holding off on reading this book for a while because I was afraid I wouldn't like it, but now I wish I had started it the day I got it. I loved this book. The technology was seriously cool, and the new modern world was fantastic.
This book really does remind me of a futuristic Gossip Girl (although the structure itself reminded me of the doomed tower in the movie The Towering Inferno for some reason. I kept waiting for it to burn to the ground at the end), where the secrets are more scandalous and the stakes are higher. When you start the book you know that one of the characters is going to take a dive off the thousandth floor, but which one? Is it suicide or murder?
You move backward two months and meet all the characters, moving steadily forward toward the moment when everything clicks into place. At first, I couldn't tell which character I liked the most. Avery was a sweetheart, even though her secret was the most scandalous of all, so I liked her instantly. I loved and disliked Eris throughout the novel, but once she got past the rich snob phase she became one of my favorites. Ultimately the characters I fell the hardest for were Rylin and Cord. Watching them interact was enjoyable and I felt all the feels for them.
That only leaves Watt and Leda. Watt was your typical computer nerd who only wanted to make other people happy. But someone should tell him, the nice guy never gets the girl. And Leda. *sighs* Leda was truly a masterful villain and watching her descent into madness was truly interesting. The fact that I hated that character so much shows how great the writing is in this novel.
Overall, I was addicted to this story from the first page and I enjoyed every minute of reading The Thousandth Floor. I found myself picking it up whenever possible and trying so hard not to read ahead to see what would happen next. I can't wait to see what comes next in book two, and what repercussions will come from the epic scene atop the Tower.
My Rating:6 of 5 Stars
November 4, 2016
UPCOMING EVENT: ONLINE HOLIDAY BOOK SALE
Have you been waiting for the chance to get a signed paperback copy of The Haunting Love or Finding Elizabeth?
From Black Friday through Cyber Monday I'll be holding a MASSIVE Book Inventory Clearance / HOLIDAY BOOK SALE here on my blog.
Both The Haunting Love and Finding Elizabeth will be marked down to $5.00 each! This is a one-time event, so don't miss out!
Books can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. or picked up in person if you're local to the Shawano, Wisconsin area! (Sorry, no international shipping)
Here's what you need to know:
HOLIDAY BOOK SALE EVENT WHAT: Holiday Book SaleWHEN: Friday, November 25 through Monday, November 28, 2016 WHERE: My Blog (You Are Here)BOOKS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE: The Haunting Love (Paperback) and Finding Elizabeth (Paperback)
The Haunting Love
List Price: $16.99
Holiday Sale Price: $5.00!
71% off
Finding Elizabeth
List Price: $13.99
Holiday Sale Price: $5.00!
64% off!
FAQ:
Question: Will Out of Darkness be part of the Holiday Book Sale? Answer: No. The purpose of this Holiday Book Sale is for me to clear out my inventory of books. At this time I only have The Haunting Love and Finding Elizabeth in stock.
Question: Could I Order A Copy of Out of Darkness or Preorder A Copy of Into the Light?Answer: Technically, yes. But since neither Out of Darkness nor Into the Light are part of the sale you'll be paying the full list price; $14.99 for Out of Darkness and $18.99 for Into the Light. I also cannot guarantee that you will receive Out of Darkness or Into the Light before the beginning of the new year because of the "printing/shipping to me/shipping to you" timeline.
Question: What Are My Shipping Options?
Answer: You have two options:
Option A: If you live within a reasonable radius of Shawano, Wisconsin (where I live) and you would like to meet somewhere to pick up your book arrangements can be made for you to pick up your book in person, therefore eliminating shipping altogether.
Option B: If you live anywhere else in Wisconsin or the United States your book will be shipped to you media mail. Shipping cost will be added to your total on your PayPal invoice.
Question: Do I have to have a PayPal account to order a book?
Answer: Yes, unless you choose to pick up your book in person. Otherwise, a PayPal invoice will be sent to you and your book will be sent out within a few days after I receive payment.
Question: How will ordering work?
Answer: I'm working out those details right now but most likely it will work through a Google Form and once I receive your order you will either get an email from me (for in-person pickups) or a PayPal invoice (for long distance orders).
Question: Will the Books Be Signed?
Answer: Absolutely! There will even be a space for you to fill in any personalization you wish for me to sign your book to. (Ex. "sign books personalized to Becca" or "sign The Haunting Love to Becca and Finding Elizabeth to Lauren")
If anyone has any additional questions please let me know!
From Black Friday through Cyber Monday I'll be holding a MASSIVE Book Inventory Clearance / HOLIDAY BOOK SALE here on my blog.
Both The Haunting Love and Finding Elizabeth will be marked down to $5.00 each! This is a one-time event, so don't miss out!
Books can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. or picked up in person if you're local to the Shawano, Wisconsin area! (Sorry, no international shipping)
Here's what you need to know:
HOLIDAY BOOK SALE EVENT WHAT: Holiday Book SaleWHEN: Friday, November 25 through Monday, November 28, 2016 WHERE: My Blog (You Are Here)BOOKS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE: The Haunting Love (Paperback) and Finding Elizabeth (Paperback)
The Haunting LoveList Price: $16.99
Holiday Sale Price: $5.00!
71% off
Finding ElizabethList Price: $13.99
Holiday Sale Price: $5.00!
64% off!
FAQ:
Question: Will Out of Darkness be part of the Holiday Book Sale? Answer: No. The purpose of this Holiday Book Sale is for me to clear out my inventory of books. At this time I only have The Haunting Love and Finding Elizabeth in stock.
Question: Could I Order A Copy of Out of Darkness or Preorder A Copy of Into the Light?Answer: Technically, yes. But since neither Out of Darkness nor Into the Light are part of the sale you'll be paying the full list price; $14.99 for Out of Darkness and $18.99 for Into the Light. I also cannot guarantee that you will receive Out of Darkness or Into the Light before the beginning of the new year because of the "printing/shipping to me/shipping to you" timeline.
Question: What Are My Shipping Options?
Answer: You have two options:
Option A: If you live within a reasonable radius of Shawano, Wisconsin (where I live) and you would like to meet somewhere to pick up your book arrangements can be made for you to pick up your book in person, therefore eliminating shipping altogether.
Option B: If you live anywhere else in Wisconsin or the United States your book will be shipped to you media mail. Shipping cost will be added to your total on your PayPal invoice.
Question: Do I have to have a PayPal account to order a book?
Answer: Yes, unless you choose to pick up your book in person. Otherwise, a PayPal invoice will be sent to you and your book will be sent out within a few days after I receive payment.
Question: How will ordering work?
Answer: I'm working out those details right now but most likely it will work through a Google Form and once I receive your order you will either get an email from me (for in-person pickups) or a PayPal invoice (for long distance orders).
Question: Will the Books Be Signed?
Answer: Absolutely! There will even be a space for you to fill in any personalization you wish for me to sign your book to. (Ex. "sign books personalized to Becca" or "sign The Haunting Love to Becca and Finding Elizabeth to Lauren")
If anyone has any additional questions please let me know!
November 3, 2016
Book Review & Release Blitz: Just An Illusion - Side A by D. Kelly
Just An Illusion - Side A by D. Kelly
Series: Just An Illusion, Book 1
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Dee Kelly
Cover Artist: Regina Wamba at
Mae I Design and Photography Blurb One night changed her life…
Bestselling author Amelia Greyson has grown up in the music industry and isn’t the slightest bit fazed by fame or celebrities. However, when she attends a Bastards and Dangerous concert with her best friend Belle, her world shifts on its axis.
Double trouble…
Sawyer and Noah Weston are the front men of BAD. They’re fraternal twins and sexy as sin. When they hear the author of The O Factor is in their green room, they’re intrigued. She’s just the person they need to write their farewell story. The brothers offer Amelia the opportunity of a lifetime, which she reluctantly accepts.
Three hearts…
Noah is sweet and considerate, working hard to make Amelia feel at home on the road. Unfortunately, the closer they get, the more obnoxious Sawyer becomes. Sawyer is arrogant and distant and he wants Amelia, even though she’s not his for the taking. Only during stolen moments does Sawyer show her who he really is.Can Amelia maintain a safe distance from Sawyer and keep her heart intact? Or will she shatter Noah’s heart by giving hers to his brother instead?
My Review: When 28-year-old best-selling author Amelia "Mel" Greyson tags along to the BAD (Bastards and Dangerous) concert with her best friend Belle who is doing an interview with them for her magazine she is not a fan.
When she meets the band and immediately wins over the band by putting the sexy lead singer, Sawyer Weston, in his place Mel and Belle are offered an amazing opportunity - Belle will do once monthly features about BAD's upcoming farewell tour in her magazine and they want Mel to travel with the band on their one year tour and write the official book on the band. In exchange, the publisher of the book will also contract her bestselling self-published novel and coordinate a book tour for her to coincide with the band's tour.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Mel but in agreeing to go along for the ride she'll have to put her troubled childhood as the daughter of two rock legends - whose relationship had as many highs and lows as Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love - behind her once and for all.
Mel has instant chemistry with Sawyer but she pushes him away, chalking it up to his playboy rockstar ways, for the sake of professionalism but as she gets to know the band and spends time on the tour both Sawyer and his brother Noah begin to develop feelings for her. But which one will she choose? Sawyer, the sexy bad boy with demons of his own? Or Noah, the nice, do-gooder type that always says and does the right thing? At the same time Belle and BAD's drummer, Darren grow close but what will happen when a surprise changes everything for both of them?
As Mel makes her choice between the Weston brothers and allows herself to fall in love, a crazy ex of Mel's new guy reenters the picture and turns all of their lives upside down. The ex's instability soon shows that she's not willing to let Mel have him... even if she has to go to deadly means to tear them apart.
Let me start out by saying I LOVE rockstar romances. What woman hasn't fantasized about being with a rockstar at some point in their life?
Just An Illusion - Side A grabbed me right away and I devoured half the book in one sitting eager to see if maybe, just maybe Mel would end up with the brother I think is perfect for her. I was rooting for Sawyer from the moment I first read the blurb for Just An Illusion. What can I say? I've always gone for the damaged ones. Even though Noah really doesn't do it for me I could see that he loved her so much, and he was easy to like so I could see why Mel was drawn to him.
I loved this story and I enjoyed reading about all these amazing characters. Just An Illusion is sexy, addictive, and emotionally satisfying. By the end, you'll be dying to read the next book and see how everything turns out.
I thought the writing was excellent and right up there with Kylie Scott's Stage Dive series, Jamie Shaw's Mayhem series, and Emily Snow's Devoured books, so if you love a good rockstar romance, Just An Illusion is a definite Must Read!
I received an ARC of Just An Illusion - Side A in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:4.5 of 5 Stars
Just An Illusion - Side A is available TODAY so make sure to grab your copy now!
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Add to Goodreads
***
One night changed her life… Bestselling author Amelia Greyson has grown up in the music industry and isn’t the slightest bit fazed by fame or celebrities. However, when she attends a Bastards and Dangerous concert with her best friend Belle, her world shifts on its axis. Double trouble…Sawyer and Noah Weston are the front men of BAD. They’re fraternal twins and sexy as sin. When they hear the author of The O Factor is in their green room, they’re intrigued. She’s just the person they need to write their farewell story. The brothers offer Amelia the opportunity of a lifetime, which she reluctantly accepts. Three hearts…Noah is sweet and considerate, working hard to make Amelia feel at home on the road. Unfortunately, the closer they get, the more obnoxious Sawyer becomes. Sawyer is arrogant and distant and he wants Amelia, even though she’s not his for the taking. Only during stolen moments does Sawyer show her who he really is. Can Amelia maintain a safe distance from Sawyer and keep her heart intact? Or will she shatter Noah’s heart by giving hers to his brother instead? Just an Illusion – Side A is the first book in The Illusion Series[image error]
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The Authors is hosting a Release day giveaway on her page,
head over to her Facebook page today!
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[image error]I'm a wife, a mom and a dog lover. I'm also a taxi, problem fixer, extreme multi-tasker and my kids’ biggest fan in anything that they do. I’m married to my high school sweetheart... how cool is that? Margaritas and sarcasm make me happy. Chocolate makes that happiness grow exponentially. People who make me laugh are my favorite kind of people. I believe Karma is real and mean people suck. I'm California born and raised, I love the beach but hate the sand. And of course I believe Starbucks makes any day better. I’m the author of The Acceptance Series and Chasing Cassidy with more books soon to come.
Series: Just An Illusion, Book 1Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Dee Kelly
Cover Artist: Regina Wamba at
Mae I Design and Photography Blurb One night changed her life…
Bestselling author Amelia Greyson has grown up in the music industry and isn’t the slightest bit fazed by fame or celebrities. However, when she attends a Bastards and Dangerous concert with her best friend Belle, her world shifts on its axis.
Double trouble…
Sawyer and Noah Weston are the front men of BAD. They’re fraternal twins and sexy as sin. When they hear the author of The O Factor is in their green room, they’re intrigued. She’s just the person they need to write their farewell story. The brothers offer Amelia the opportunity of a lifetime, which she reluctantly accepts.
Three hearts…
Noah is sweet and considerate, working hard to make Amelia feel at home on the road. Unfortunately, the closer they get, the more obnoxious Sawyer becomes. Sawyer is arrogant and distant and he wants Amelia, even though she’s not his for the taking. Only during stolen moments does Sawyer show her who he really is.Can Amelia maintain a safe distance from Sawyer and keep her heart intact? Or will she shatter Noah’s heart by giving hers to his brother instead?
My Review: When 28-year-old best-selling author Amelia "Mel" Greyson tags along to the BAD (Bastards and Dangerous) concert with her best friend Belle who is doing an interview with them for her magazine she is not a fan.
When she meets the band and immediately wins over the band by putting the sexy lead singer, Sawyer Weston, in his place Mel and Belle are offered an amazing opportunity - Belle will do once monthly features about BAD's upcoming farewell tour in her magazine and they want Mel to travel with the band on their one year tour and write the official book on the band. In exchange, the publisher of the book will also contract her bestselling self-published novel and coordinate a book tour for her to coincide with the band's tour.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Mel but in agreeing to go along for the ride she'll have to put her troubled childhood as the daughter of two rock legends - whose relationship had as many highs and lows as Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love - behind her once and for all.
Mel has instant chemistry with Sawyer but she pushes him away, chalking it up to his playboy rockstar ways, for the sake of professionalism but as she gets to know the band and spends time on the tour both Sawyer and his brother Noah begin to develop feelings for her. But which one will she choose? Sawyer, the sexy bad boy with demons of his own? Or Noah, the nice, do-gooder type that always says and does the right thing? At the same time Belle and BAD's drummer, Darren grow close but what will happen when a surprise changes everything for both of them?
As Mel makes her choice between the Weston brothers and allows herself to fall in love, a crazy ex of Mel's new guy reenters the picture and turns all of their lives upside down. The ex's instability soon shows that she's not willing to let Mel have him... even if she has to go to deadly means to tear them apart.
Let me start out by saying I LOVE rockstar romances. What woman hasn't fantasized about being with a rockstar at some point in their life?
Just An Illusion - Side A grabbed me right away and I devoured half the book in one sitting eager to see if maybe, just maybe Mel would end up with the brother I think is perfect for her. I was rooting for Sawyer from the moment I first read the blurb for Just An Illusion. What can I say? I've always gone for the damaged ones. Even though Noah really doesn't do it for me I could see that he loved her so much, and he was easy to like so I could see why Mel was drawn to him.
I loved this story and I enjoyed reading about all these amazing characters. Just An Illusion is sexy, addictive, and emotionally satisfying. By the end, you'll be dying to read the next book and see how everything turns out.
I thought the writing was excellent and right up there with Kylie Scott's Stage Dive series, Jamie Shaw's Mayhem series, and Emily Snow's Devoured books, so if you love a good rockstar romance, Just An Illusion is a definite Must Read!
I received an ARC of Just An Illusion - Side A in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:4.5 of 5 Stars
Just An Illusion - Side A is available TODAY so make sure to grab your copy now!
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Add to Goodreads
***
One night changed her life… Bestselling author Amelia Greyson has grown up in the music industry and isn’t the slightest bit fazed by fame or celebrities. However, when she attends a Bastards and Dangerous concert with her best friend Belle, her world shifts on its axis. Double trouble…Sawyer and Noah Weston are the front men of BAD. They’re fraternal twins and sexy as sin. When they hear the author of The O Factor is in their green room, they’re intrigued. She’s just the person they need to write their farewell story. The brothers offer Amelia the opportunity of a lifetime, which she reluctantly accepts. Three hearts…Noah is sweet and considerate, working hard to make Amelia feel at home on the road. Unfortunately, the closer they get, the more obnoxious Sawyer becomes. Sawyer is arrogant and distant and he wants Amelia, even though she’s not his for the taking. Only during stolen moments does Sawyer show her who he really is. Can Amelia maintain a safe distance from Sawyer and keep her heart intact? Or will she shatter Noah’s heart by giving hers to his brother instead? Just an Illusion – Side A is the first book in The Illusion Series[image error]
[image error][image error]
[image error][image error]
The Authors is hosting a Release day giveaway on her page,
head over to her Facebook page today!
[image error] [image error]I'm a wife, a mom and a dog lover. I'm also a taxi, problem fixer, extreme multi-tasker and my kids’ biggest fan in anything that they do. I’m married to my high school sweetheart... how cool is that? Margaritas and sarcasm make me happy. Chocolate makes that happiness grow exponentially. People who make me laugh are my favorite kind of people. I believe Karma is real and mean people suck. I'm California born and raised, I love the beach but hate the sand. And of course I believe Starbucks makes any day better. I’m the author of The Acceptance Series and Chasing Cassidy with more books soon to come.
November 2, 2016
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #47
This "WIR"-Wednesday I'm engrossed in a book I've been looking forward to reading since I picked it up at the bookstore in September. Ride on the elevator with me all the way up to...
The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee
Blurb:
New York City as you’ve never seen it before. A thousand-story tower stretching into the sky. A glittering vision of the future, where anything is possible—if you want it enough.
Welcome to Manhattan, 2118.
A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and dreams. But people never change: everyone here wants something…and everyone has something to lose.
Leda Cole’s flawless exterior belies a secret addiction—to a drug she never should have tried and a boy she never should have touched.
Eris Dodd-Radson’s beautiful, carefree life falls to pieces when a heartbreaking betrayal tears her family apart.
Rylin Myers’s job on one of the highest floors sweeps her into a world—and a romance—she never imagined…but will her new life cost Rylin her old one?
Watt Bakradi is a tech genius with a secret: he knows everything about everyone. But when he’s hired to spy by an upper-floor girl, he finds himself caught up in a complicated web of lies.
And living above everyone else on the thousandth floor is Avery Fuller, the girl genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have it all—yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.
Debut author Katharine McGee has created a breathtakingly original series filled with high-tech luxury and futuristic glamour, where the impossible feels just within reach. But in this world, the higher you go, the farther there is to fall….
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far: Back when this book was first coming out it was compared to a "futuristic" version of Gossip Girl. I admit, I was intrigued but also skeptical. I mean the blurb sounded fantastic but I was afraid it would be a little too sci-fi(ish) for my tastes. I am seriously hooked on The Thousandth Floor. Yes, it does bear a resemblance to Gossip Girl if you look at it in a certain light (mainly in the case of the characters. I can definitely see a little Serena Vander Woodsen and Blair Waldorf in Leda and Avery.) and I love all of the futuristic details. The only thing I've noticed - and has anyone else that's read The Thousandth Floor noticed this? - besides in the Tower itself, the outside world seems the nearly the same as it does in our present day even though its supposed to be 100 years in the future. Maybe we'll see more of the futuristic world outside the Tower as I get deeper into the book, but right now it seems like everything anyone needs is inside the Tower. So far I'm loving the book and I can't decide which of the characters I like best. I just know I don't like Watt very much, but he definitely fits in with the Tower and the rest of the characters.
The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee
Blurb:
New York City as you’ve never seen it before. A thousand-story tower stretching into the sky. A glittering vision of the future, where anything is possible—if you want it enough.Welcome to Manhattan, 2118.
A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and dreams. But people never change: everyone here wants something…and everyone has something to lose.
Leda Cole’s flawless exterior belies a secret addiction—to a drug she never should have tried and a boy she never should have touched.
Eris Dodd-Radson’s beautiful, carefree life falls to pieces when a heartbreaking betrayal tears her family apart.
Rylin Myers’s job on one of the highest floors sweeps her into a world—and a romance—she never imagined…but will her new life cost Rylin her old one?
Watt Bakradi is a tech genius with a secret: he knows everything about everyone. But when he’s hired to spy by an upper-floor girl, he finds himself caught up in a complicated web of lies.
And living above everyone else on the thousandth floor is Avery Fuller, the girl genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have it all—yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.
Debut author Katharine McGee has created a breathtakingly original series filled with high-tech luxury and futuristic glamour, where the impossible feels just within reach. But in this world, the higher you go, the farther there is to fall….
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far: Back when this book was first coming out it was compared to a "futuristic" version of Gossip Girl. I admit, I was intrigued but also skeptical. I mean the blurb sounded fantastic but I was afraid it would be a little too sci-fi(ish) for my tastes. I am seriously hooked on The Thousandth Floor. Yes, it does bear a resemblance to Gossip Girl if you look at it in a certain light (mainly in the case of the characters. I can definitely see a little Serena Vander Woodsen and Blair Waldorf in Leda and Avery.) and I love all of the futuristic details. The only thing I've noticed - and has anyone else that's read The Thousandth Floor noticed this? - besides in the Tower itself, the outside world seems the nearly the same as it does in our present day even though its supposed to be 100 years in the future. Maybe we'll see more of the futuristic world outside the Tower as I get deeper into the book, but right now it seems like everything anyone needs is inside the Tower. So far I'm loving the book and I can't decide which of the characters I like best. I just know I don't like Watt very much, but he definitely fits in with the Tower and the rest of the characters.
October 31, 2016
16 Novels That Remind Me of Halloween
Happy Halloween! To me, Halloween is the most magical of nights. Did you know that some believe that on Halloween the veil between this world and the afterlife is at its thinnest and spirits walk among us? Traditionally pumpkins were carved to ward off evil spirits that may come knocking. Personally, for me, Halloween traditions are filled with watching tons of horror movies, reading spooky novels, and maybe a tarot reading or two.
So in the spirit of my favorite holiday, here are some books that scream Halloween to me...
CLASSICS
1. Dracula by Bram Stoker
2. Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
3. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
4. The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
5. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
6. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
MODERN
7. The Hollow by Jessica Verday
8. Asylum by Madeleine Roux
9. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
10. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
11. Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett
12. The Revenant by Sonia Gensler
13. The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee
14. The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich
15. Lucky Break by Carly Phillips (not spooky, but I love reading this at Halloween)
16. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (again, not scary but classic)
With so many more horror stories out there, what would you add to the list? Whatever you're reading or whatever you're doing this Halloween, I hope you're having a fantastic day!
So in the spirit of my favorite holiday, here are some books that scream Halloween to me...
CLASSICS
1. Dracula by Bram Stoker
2. Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
3. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
4. The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
5. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
6. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
MODERN
7. The Hollow by Jessica Verday
8. Asylum by Madeleine Roux
9. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
10. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
11. Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett
12. The Revenant by Sonia Gensler
13. The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee
14. The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich
15. Lucky Break by Carly Phillips (not spooky, but I love reading this at Halloween)
16. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (again, not scary but classic)
With so many more horror stories out there, what would you add to the list? Whatever you're reading or whatever you're doing this Halloween, I hope you're having a fantastic day!
October 28, 2016
Why Are Horror Novels Scarier Than Movies?
With Halloween just days away I've been bingeing horror movies like they're going out of style. Old horror movies, 80s horror movies, newer horror movies - I've watched at least a few of them all. One thing remains the same no matter how many of them I've watched: no matter how gory, a horror movie is never as scary as a well-written horror novel.
I know what you're thinking, how can I say that? Well, it's true when you think about it. Old, old horror movies like the original House of Wax (Vincent Price, 1953), The Mummy (Boris Karloff, 1932), House on Haunted Hill (Vincent Price, 1959) aren't really scary by modern standards. They're awesome movies, no doubt, but do they really send a chill down your spine?
Then came the 1970s-1980s and their slew of cheap horror movies with terrible acting. I mean sure, a lot of them are cult classics like Halloween and Friday the 13th, but they're gory, bloody, and even at times laughable... not scary. It's like that one Geico commercial - "If you're in a horror movie you make bad decisions, that's just what you do." Yes, because running upstairs instead of out the front door and to the nearest road/neighbor's house is so smart! Let's see how long you last...
I'll admit, the horror movies that leave me scratching my head the most are the ones made in the last 5+ years like Paranormal Activity or The Gallows that look more like a bad episode of Ghost Adventures. When watching a horror movie I still want a plot... not an idiot with a green screen, no name actors, and no apparent plot.
So it's no real wonder that horror novels are way scarier than horror movies. Even a well-made horror movie, one that can make you jump and have you sleeping with a nightlight at night is still just a movie. You know it's all fake and the actors didn't just get slaughtered on camera. But horror novels are different. Readers can get swept away into a good novel. I don't know about you but sometimes when I'm reading I forget that I'm reading. The world around me disappears and I'm in the book. The characters become real and the story becomes something you're living through right along with them. And when I read a well-written horror novel my mind paints a dark picture of a horrific situation I'm clawing to get out of right along with the characters.
Example: "At the same time a light unexpectedly sprang up, and I saw Carmilla, standing, near the foot of my bed, in her white nightdress, bathed, from her chin to her feet, in one great stain of blood.”—Sheridan Le Fanu, Carmilla
You can picture it can't you? Waking up in the middle of the night to someone standing at the foot of your bed drenched in blood? Perhaps you read this late at night and have nightmares of someone standing beside your bed, staring at you, studying you with a crazed look in their eye as blood dribbles down their chin staining their white clothing. I'm shivering right now.
While reading a horror novel I can picture it clearly as if it is occurring before my very eyes and though a movie is a moving picture playing on the screen in front of me it's not the same. It's not... realistic?
Example:
“Kaitie, are you alone?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Hang up."
"But why? What is it?"
"I can hear someone breathing on the line."
[Click]”
― Dawn Kurtagich, The Dead House
You can picture someone sneaking up behind you, you can feel someone breathing on your neck, you hastily turn around and nobody is there. But there could have been...
Sure, the same could be said about watching a horror movie in the dark but still... I think you get where I'm going with this.
photo via: theroadgoeseveron1812/instagram
What do YOU think? Do you find horror novels to be scarier than horror movies? Why do you think horror novels are scarier? What are some of your favorite spine-tingling, breath-stealing, scare-yourself-silly horror novels?
I know what you're thinking, how can I say that? Well, it's true when you think about it. Old, old horror movies like the original House of Wax (Vincent Price, 1953), The Mummy (Boris Karloff, 1932), House on Haunted Hill (Vincent Price, 1959) aren't really scary by modern standards. They're awesome movies, no doubt, but do they really send a chill down your spine?
Then came the 1970s-1980s and their slew of cheap horror movies with terrible acting. I mean sure, a lot of them are cult classics like Halloween and Friday the 13th, but they're gory, bloody, and even at times laughable... not scary. It's like that one Geico commercial - "If you're in a horror movie you make bad decisions, that's just what you do." Yes, because running upstairs instead of out the front door and to the nearest road/neighbor's house is so smart! Let's see how long you last...
I'll admit, the horror movies that leave me scratching my head the most are the ones made in the last 5+ years like Paranormal Activity or The Gallows that look more like a bad episode of Ghost Adventures. When watching a horror movie I still want a plot... not an idiot with a green screen, no name actors, and no apparent plot.
So it's no real wonder that horror novels are way scarier than horror movies. Even a well-made horror movie, one that can make you jump and have you sleeping with a nightlight at night is still just a movie. You know it's all fake and the actors didn't just get slaughtered on camera. But horror novels are different. Readers can get swept away into a good novel. I don't know about you but sometimes when I'm reading I forget that I'm reading. The world around me disappears and I'm in the book. The characters become real and the story becomes something you're living through right along with them. And when I read a well-written horror novel my mind paints a dark picture of a horrific situation I'm clawing to get out of right along with the characters.
Example: "At the same time a light unexpectedly sprang up, and I saw Carmilla, standing, near the foot of my bed, in her white nightdress, bathed, from her chin to her feet, in one great stain of blood.”—Sheridan Le Fanu, Carmilla
You can picture it can't you? Waking up in the middle of the night to someone standing at the foot of your bed drenched in blood? Perhaps you read this late at night and have nightmares of someone standing beside your bed, staring at you, studying you with a crazed look in their eye as blood dribbles down their chin staining their white clothing. I'm shivering right now.
While reading a horror novel I can picture it clearly as if it is occurring before my very eyes and though a movie is a moving picture playing on the screen in front of me it's not the same. It's not... realistic?
Example:
“Kaitie, are you alone?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Hang up."
"But why? What is it?"
"I can hear someone breathing on the line."
[Click]”
― Dawn Kurtagich, The Dead House
You can picture someone sneaking up behind you, you can feel someone breathing on your neck, you hastily turn around and nobody is there. But there could have been...
Sure, the same could be said about watching a horror movie in the dark but still... I think you get where I'm going with this.
photo via: theroadgoeseveron1812/instagramWhat do YOU think? Do you find horror novels to be scarier than horror movies? Why do you think horror novels are scarier? What are some of your favorite spine-tingling, breath-stealing, scare-yourself-silly horror novels?
October 26, 2016
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #46
Alright, lately it seems like I'm in a half-book slump. I pick up books that sound fantastic or are by authors I've read books by before and loved then end up sending those books to the DNF pile. Case in point, last week's WIR-Wednesday book, Splintered by A.G. Howard. It wasn't that I didn't like it per se, it just didn't keep me engrossed and since I have five other library books to get through by November 7, I'll set it aside for now. In the meantime, I've read two ARCs I loved but you'll have to wait to read about them for one-two more weeks ;) This "WIR"-Wednesday I'm reading...
Compulsion (Heirs of Watson Island #1) by Martina Boone
Blurb:
Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.
All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lived with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt's South Carolina plantation instead--a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.
Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn't what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead.
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far: I kept seeing this trilogy mentioned on Goodreads, so the last time I was at the library I spotted it and decided to give it a try. From what I've heard it's been billed up to be like Beautiful Creatures, which was a series I loved so I'm giving it a try. So far I'm finding it to be an easy read and I'm eager to find out what's going on on Watson Island. The character names are a bit out there... Pru and Barrie seem a bit antiquated and Seven and Eight are just plain unusual, but overall the storyline is easy to follow, I'm just hoping this book will be one to hold my attention until the end.
Compulsion (Heirs of Watson Island #1) by Martina Boone
Blurb:
Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lived with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt's South Carolina plantation instead--a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.
Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn't what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead.
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far: I kept seeing this trilogy mentioned on Goodreads, so the last time I was at the library I spotted it and decided to give it a try. From what I've heard it's been billed up to be like Beautiful Creatures, which was a series I loved so I'm giving it a try. So far I'm finding it to be an easy read and I'm eager to find out what's going on on Watson Island. The character names are a bit out there... Pru and Barrie seem a bit antiquated and Seven and Eight are just plain unusual, but overall the storyline is easy to follow, I'm just hoping this book will be one to hold my attention until the end.
