Review – Dreamland: A Ghost Story by NIck Clausen @NickClausen9

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love the cover and it is perfect for the story. I have read a lot of NIck Clausen’s books and he never ceases to amaze me with his ability to add a fresh twist to a familiar tale. Translating his books to English has not been an issue for him. They read seamlessly. The characters wormed their way into my heart, especially Louis. He gets lost in his nightmares and it is through his own ingenuity that he finds his way out. Do you believe in ghosts? Do nightmares haunt your sleep? Maybe Louie can give you some hope.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dreamland by Nick Clausen.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Dreams can come true. So can nightmares.

In his sleep, Louie starts visiting a magical world where he meets his father, who died when Louie was still a baby. But nothing turns out to be what it seems, and great horrors loom very close by …Welcome to Dreamland
 

A mysterious teen ghost story about fear and loss and losing yourself in dreams, Dreamland was originally published in Danish to great reviews, and is now available in English.

ABOUT NICK CLAUSEN

Born 1988 in North Jutland, where I still live with my wife, who also happened to be my earliest childhood girlfriend. From 2017 I have lived as a full-time writer. Up until then, I had different jobs beside the writing. I have been studying as a carpenter for three years, and have also read two years of psychology at Aalborg University. It turned out that the writing had a much more powerful pull on me.

Nick Clausen

I decided early on that I would be an author when I grew up. In fact, the decision came to me already when I read my first book, Snevampyren by Dennis Jürgensen. My first “real” stories I wrote at 14-15 years of age. They were rejected by the publisher, but still got praise. There were some years when I was busy with being a teenager and trying to get an education before I suddenly remembered that I should be an author.

That day I made a promise to write 1,000 words a day until I got a book published. I sat down and started writing. I continued to write every single day for a year and a half. I sent the finished manuscripts to different publishers, and the rejections piled up. Twelve of them by the end. But each time I could feel it was a little bit better. The criticism became more positive. The thirteenth story was called Tidevandet, and it was adopted by the publisher and came out a year later.

I have always enjoyed writing, although in the beginning I put a lot of pressure on myself. My approach to the process has become much more free over the years. For example, I no longer plan my stories. That way, I feel that I’m experiencing the story while writing it and the characters feel like real people. I do not know where the ideas come from, but I’ve never had trouble finding them.

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Review – A Puppet Scorned by Jamie Kort #JamieKort

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

A Puppet Scorned is one of the wildest horror stories I have ever read. I don’t even know where to start. Sock puppets having sex? It had me laughing out loud and wondering what would happen next. It may be a quick read, but it was chock full of wickedness.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Enter a world where needles are sexy and knitting is deadly…

Camille and Brad are sock-puppets trapped in a dusty old attic. One day they find needles, and Brad teaches Camille how to knit sensuous and arousing patterns… but what begins as a journey of sexual awakening leads to the unravelling of Camille’s perfect world in a strangely twisted nightmare of obsession and betrayal.

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Horror Stories From Denmark by Willow Rose @MadamWillowRose

Amazon / Goodreads

I have read a couple of the stories earlier and saw the bundle so I thought I would finish it off for some October horror reads, of the two legged kind. It is available on Kindle Unlimited or a Kindle price of $4.99.

Rock A Bye Baby by Willow Rose will tug at your heartstrings. It took me a moment to catch what was really happening, and I felt for her. Things are not what they seem…or are they. A lot is packed in this novella and Willow Rose did not let me down. 4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Lisa Rasmussen just had a baby and everything in her life seems perfect at this point. Only she wishes that everyone else around her would be as flawless as she is and stop getting in her way. And if they won’t listen, then she’ll make them.

Amazon / Goodreads

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You can see my review for Nibble Nibble Crunch HERE. I didn’t review Eenie Meenie but rated it a four, the same as Nibble Nibble Crunch.

Another success story for Willow Rose. Humpty Dumpty may be short, may not be sweet, but it sure had my blood pumping. Graphic and brutal, Karma comes to those who did wrong. 4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

They thought it would be easy. Four boys from a nearby boarding school planned on attacking and killing a family – just for the fun of it. But they hadn’t prepared themselves for the terror of what they would meet inside of the house in shape of a little girl with a very special gift.

Amazon / Goodreads

4 Stars

MY REVIEWS FOR WILLOW ROSE

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Review – Blood Seance by John Kaden #johnkaden

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love the gothic cover.It does tell of what’s inside, a 1940s actress and her haunted house. But this haunted house in on steroids.

Past: What happened to Evelyn Leighton? She had starred in B level horror movies and had just hit her stride. Robert and Evelyn were having marriage problems. He is embarassed with her ‘stardom’. Now, Evelyn lives her own kind of hell and it is not in the movies.

Present: The Kellerman family moves into Evelyn’s mansion. It doesn’t take long before it starts ‘falling down’ around them. But there is something or someone that wants their daughter. They will fight tooth and nail to not let them happen. Mom and dad are heroes. They place their lives in danger, more than once, to fight for Ginny. Glen had no idea what it would take to save her, but he goes down the rabbit hole. Thank goodness, there is someone there to help him.

Blood Seance turned out to be so much more than I expected. The past and present converge and it will take all the players to put this demon to rest. Be prepared. Blood Seance may have you checking your house to see if you missed something when you purchase it.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO EVELYN LEIGHTON?

When the Kellerman family moves into a gorgeous old Spanish mansion in the Pacific Palisades, they have no idea that they’ve just bought a piece of forgotten Hollywood folklore, once owned by a forties-era B-movie actress.

But when the walls start cracking and strange voices whisper in the night, they begin a white-knuckle journey to save themselves from the dark forces in the house, and to confront face-to-face the horrible fate that befell a beautiful young starlet named Evelyn Leighton.

BLOOD SEANCE is a fast paced haunted house thriller with a riveting 1940s backstory.

ABOUT JOHN KADEN

ohn Kaden is the author of Blood Seance and Alexandria, with more stories on the way. He is a die-hard fan of horror, thrillers, and apocalyptic fiction. He lives in Southern California.

You can follow his work at johnkaden.blogspot.com. He’d love to hear from you.

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New Release Review – Only Child by Casey Kelleher #Onlychild #NetGalley @caseykelleher

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I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review Only Child by Casey Kelleher.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

When I saw the cover, then read the blurb, I had to read Only Child by Casey Kelleher. The story twisted and turned, just like my mind. Great job, Casey.

I have been reading more books with diverse characters and I am so happy that I have found new authors to keep an eye on. Casey Kelleher is one of them.

Some may say that Sherrie is a helicopter mom, but she does what she always does, makes things all better for her daughter, Kayla.

The resilience of youth is alive and well in Kayle. Things don’t keep her down for long.

I knew the villain early on, but I didn’t know what made him the villain. I know the victim, now it’s a matter of getting the details.

Panic attacks. Blackouts. PTSD.

The mins is an amazing organ that does its best to protect us when our lives becomes so overwhelming we can no longer cope. I love psychological thrillers and delving into the minds of the characters. Why they do what they do. We have some great ones here.

Well…I though I knew what was coming, but I was so wrong. I love when an author can surprise me and there were plenty of surprises to keep me glued to the pages.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Only Child by Casey Kelleher.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The police are here. The feeling of pure dread swirls in my stomach as a million scenarios start playing out in my head. My whole life I’ve expected something bad to happen to my daughter. It is as if part of me has been expecting it. As if I deserve it.

Fifteen-year-old Kayla is the apple of her parents’ eyes, their beautiful only daughter. They tried for so long to have her that she was even more precious when she arrived. But deep down, her mother Sherrie has always been terrified that their worst fear would come true: that Kayla would be taken from them.

Then one day – just as Sherrie had dreaded – Kayla fails to return home after a sleepover. In desperation, Sherrie and her husband Richard call Kayla’s friends. They scour the streets, their search becoming more and more frantic. Until the police arrive and deliver the shocking news, when their worst nightmare comes true: someone has their daughter.

As Sherrie and Richard grill friends, family, and even each other, Sherrie starts to wonder, has the secret they’ve been hiding all these years finally caught up with them?

Because Sherrie and Richard are living a lie. A lie so huge, so shocking, that it could destroy the one thing they hold most dear – their daughter.

And if the truth comes out, their family will never be the same. But if it doesn’t, they will never see their precious girl again…

ABOUT CASEY KELLEHER (from Amazon)

I was born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, and i grew up as an avid reader.

Whilst working as a beauty therapist and bringing up our three children together with my husband, I penned my debut novel Rotten to the Core. Its success meant that I could give up my day job and concentrate on writing full time. I have since written fourteen books. (all listed below)

I love connecting with my readers, and there are plenty of ways you can get in touch.

  • Website: www.caseykelleher.co.uk
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Review – Inexora: The Killing Plan by Tobias Hall #TobiasHall

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Opifex is an organization committed to Inexora, a ritual that, when completed, will begin a new era. What does that mean?

Running, searching, faced with the ultimate task, Thomas, Rex, Malachi and Karel meet in a face off. Will darkness be unleashed? Is the end of world nigh?

I felt I was in a Supernatural TV episode. I had a hard time deciding who was good and who was bad. Many lives will be sacrificed and I can’t imagine the terror as they met their end.

The story flowed smoothly. The major players stood out, but I knew who I was rooting for. I had no idea how the story would end…and I was eager to find out. Soooo, buckle your seat belt, because this is a wild ride.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Inexora: The Killing Plan by Tobias Hall.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“Something is at the door, pushing against the frame.
The handle rattles and thousands of voices whisper through the keyhole.
The Opifex removed the locks that kept everybody safe.

A god is awakening in the darkness, with a hunger invoked by a thousand years of sleep. It spreads fear, corrupts and destroys, leaving this world hollow.

Time is running out and as the world tumbles into chaos, Thomas must unearth the past of the Archontix to save himself and change the fate of humanity. “

ABOUT TOBIAS HALL

I write about the things which push people into the darker side of life. I’m fascinated by resilience, strength, and human resourcefulness.

Skipped school for the first time at age nine because I had to finish Tolkien’s “Return of the King”.

I love music, especially metal and old punk and hip-hop.

I’m passionate about philosophy, psychology and studied archaeology at Gothenburg university.

I grew up in Sweden, Italy and now live in Chelmsford, UK with my family.

I like to write late in the evening, then reluctantly try to sleep while having too many things on my mind.

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Early Review – The Nightmare Man by J H Markert #TheNightmareMan #NetGalley @jamesmarkert

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Awesome cover! I usually wait until it is closer to release day, which is 1.10.23, but I thought this might peak your interest for October. I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review The Nightmare Man by J H Markert.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The cover caught my eye and when I read the blurb, I thought of Stephen King. How can I go wrong? Blackwood Mansion. The Atrium. Oswald Asylum. A family, murdered, hung by the barn rafters in a cocoon. A book that comes to life.

I want to share so much, that I quit taking notes. I was afraid of spoiling the horror for YOU.

This is my first novel by J H Markert/James Markert and I thoroughly enjoyed the grim story. I love books that deal with the depravity of humanity. It also brings about the best in people. All I KNOW is that you won’t find me wandering around in the cornfield. You never know what might be out there.

I didn’t find any mind blowing moments, but I did find myself wondering what was coming next, at times rapidly flipping the pages because I had to know.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Nightmare Man by J H Markert.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

T. Kingfisher meets Cassandra Khaw in a chilling horror novel that illustrates the fine line between humanity and monstrosity.

Blackwood mansion looms, surrounded by nightmare pines, atop the hill over the small town of New Haven. Ben Bookman, bestselling novelist and heir to the Blackwood estate, spent a weekend at the ancestral home to finish writing his latest horror novel, The Scarecrow. Now, on the eve of the book’s release, the terrible story within begins to unfold in real life.

Detective Mills arrives at the scene of a gruesome murder: a family butchered and bundled inside cocoons stitched from corn husks, and hung from the rafters of a barn, eerily mirroring the opening of Bookman’s latest novel. When another family is killed in a similar manner, Mills, along with his daughter, rookie detective Samantha Blue, is determined to find the link to the book—and the killer—before the story reaches its chilling climax.

As the series of “Scarecrow crimes” continues to mirror the book, Ben quickly becomes the prime suspect. He can’t remember much from the night he finished writing the novel, but he knows he wrote it in The Atrium, his grandfather’s forbidden room full of numbered books. Thousands of books. Books without words.

As Ben digs deep into Blackwood’s history he learns he may have triggered a release of something trapped long ago—and it won’t stop with the horrors buried within the pages of his book.

ABOUT J H MARKERT/JAMES MARKERT

J. H. Markert is the pen name for writer James Markert, an award-winning novelist, producer screenwriter, husband, and father of two from Louisville, Kentucky, where he was also a tennis pro for 25 years, before hanging up the racquets for good in 2020. He graduated with a degree in History from the University of Louisville in 1997 and has been writing ever since. 

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Review – The Deep by Michaelbrent Collings @mbcollings

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

  • #1 The author
  • #2 The cover
  • #3 The story

I have read numerous books by Michaelbrent Collings and will grab anything I see by him. I love, love, love creature features that read like B movies and The Deep definitely fits that bill. We have good characters, bad characters, and a down right evil one. Treasure? Desires? The ocean is a vast mystery and when you seek, you will find. Just what you will find is the question.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Deep by Michaelbrent Collings.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

There are places we were never meant to go…

A woman searching for a sister lost at sea. A man bent on finding lost treasure. A mother who has lost all hope. A maniac who believes all life exists for his pleasure. The man who would keep them all safe.

Together, they will all seek below the waves for treasures long buried, and riches beyond belief. But those treasures hide something. Something ancient, something dark. A creature that exists only to feed on those that would enter into its realm. A creature… of The Deep.

ABOUT MICHAELBRENT COLLINGS

Michaelbrent Collings

Michaelbrent Collings is an internationally-bestselling novelist, multiple Bram Stoker Award nominee, produced screenwriter, and one of the top indie horror writers in the United States.

He hopes someday to develop superpowers, or, if that is out of the question, then at least to get a cool robot arm.

Michaelbrent has a wife and several kids, all of whom are much better looking than he is (though he admits that’s a low bar to set), and also cooler than he is.

Michaelbrent also has a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MichaelbrentC… and can be followed on Twitter through his username @mbcollings. Follow him for cool news, updates, and advance notice of sales. You will also be kept safe when the Glorious Revolution begins!

STALK MICHAELBRENT: Website / Twitter

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Early Review – Last Seen Alive by Carolyn Arnold @Carolyn_Arnold @HibbertStiles

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Anyone that has been hanging around fundinmental knows that I am a huge fan of Carolyn Arnold and her police procedurals. She always has great covers to go with the wonderful stories inside.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Hibbert & Stiles Publishing for the advance copy.

You can preorder Last Seen Alive by Carolyn Arnold, which will be released 10.6.22

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I am always excited to read another Carolyn Arnold novel. She manages to hook me early and keep me flipping pages. I am just along for the ride, eager to go wherever the story takes me.

Amanda came home with more than fun after a night’s out. Too bad the romantic night she had anticipated is brought up short when a dead body is found on the bed they planned to use. Guess that would bring anyone up short. 🙂

Amanda is a detective , working homicide for the Prince William Sound County Police Department. Her first call is to dispatch, the second to her partner, Trent Stenson. Poor Trent. I feel the both have feelings for each other, but because they are partners, they fight the attraction.

Even though Logan is a suspect and Amanda is too close to be working the case, I know that won’t stop her.

The crime scene is too neat, too simple, all the clues lined up for them to see. They know crime is messy, complex.

Amanda is like a bulldog. She doesn’t give up until the case is closed. She may WANT to find the killer, but Trent NEEDS to solve the mystery. He has to find the answers, solve the puzzle.

Last Seen Alive is another success story for Carolyn Arnold.

I voluntarily reviewed and ARC of Last Seen Alive by Carolyn Arnold.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The woman lies so still as her blood soaks into the soft bedcovers beneath her. A tear runs down her face as she looks at the wedding band on her finger. She had loved her husband so much…

When Detective Amanda Steele unexpectedly reconnects with an old boyfriend, the last thing she expects to see lying on his bed is the dead body of his wife, Claire, who walked out on him four years ago.

Logan begs Amanda to believe he’s innocent. But she doesn’t miss the gun on a nearby table, and she’s torn when forensics reveal that not only was this the murder weapon, but Logan’s fingerprints are all over it… Could he have been framed? Or is he using his connection to Amanda to get away with murder?

Determined to uncover the truth, Amanda retraces Claire’s last steps and finds that she visited her best friend the day before her death. But Amanda is devastated to discover that the friend died in a car accident just hours after meeting with Claire. What deadly secret connected them, and could more women be in danger?

But the killer is closer than Amanda realises, and when her beloved daughter, Zoe, is threatened, she’s suddenly in a race to find the final clue before the person she loves most pays the price…

ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

Carolyn Arnold

Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives north of London, Ontario, with her husband and two beagles and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:  Website / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at http://carolynarnold.net/newsletters.

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The Iron Will by F C Yee & The Secret Keepers by Jean Nicole Rivers @yeebookauthor

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I won both the books and was so excited to read them, though The Secret Keepers has been patiently waiting for a long time, unfortunate that it got buried in the stack of books I want to read.

The Iron Will of Genie Lo (The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, #2)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

A fun and dangerous journey with Genie Lo and her friends and enemies and loves, in a young adult novel. A battle between magical creatures and demons. I enjoyed it and don’t feel I was lost by not reading the first book, though I do feel I may have gotten more involved in the characters and the outcome if I had.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars
The Secret Keepers (Black Water Tales #1)

Amazon / Goodreads

I loved this horror thriller filled with shock moments that had me wondering…is it in her mind…as the secrets are slowly exposed, leaving it hard to figure out who is good, who is bad and why.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

MY JEAN NICOLE REVIEWS

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