I will start this post with Marc Layton’s short story/novella of The Galston House. By joining his list at https://BookHip.com/VAXMBXC you can download this exclusive FREE story!
Clarence Lamb is the Sheriff of Moreton and has cuffed his share of human evil, but there was something chilling, otherworldly about The Galston House and he vowed to never visit after dark.
Clive and Adrian Done felt like they stole The Galston House, that the price was too good to be true. Was it?
The Sheriff felt he should warn them about the history of the house, but they already knew it and were not worried about it. Would they live to regret it?
A quick read and suitably creepy haunted house story.
Josef didn’t want to believe that it was true. That the inmates were running the asylum. He and his men were waiting to be scooped up as POW’s as the Reich fell, but that was not to be. They were being sent to the most important place in Germany and Josef felt the oddness as they approached their destination. They were at Site One in search for The Spear of Destiny.
Creepy, brutal and savage, with more to come. Quite different from The Galston House and I got caught up in the evil. I was surprised at how much was packed into such a quick read, filled with action
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Dark Offerings by Marc Layton.
4 Stars
ABOUT MARC LAYTON
Join Marc Layton’s VIP Readers Group and receive his exclusive & FREE novella. Copy and paste the following link into your browser and start reading:
International Bestselling Author. Marc Layton’s passion for writing spine-chilling stories full of intrigue and suspense was born out of his travels around the globe. He felt inspired by the places he visited and the people he connected with and was motivated to pursue writing, so he could share these stories with the world. A voracious reader of thriller and horror stories himself, it was only natural that he would dive into this genre. Marc Layton is currently living in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Witch Weigh, Protecting The Dream and Mine are novella/short stories that were Amazon freebies.
How could I possible resist the cover for Witch Weigh by Caroline Mickelson.
MY REVIEW
“You want me to work with a FAIRY?”
That’s what happens when a witch feels entitled and acts like the spoiled brat she is. The fun character names fits the fun story inside. Easy reading, light hearted humor, laughs, love and some life lessons for an edgy witch.
3 Stars
MY REVIEW
She couldn’t say no to James, when he said they were going ghost hunting at the mental hospital and I am sure no good will come of it. I remember the monster under the bed, the dark basement, the chilling nighttime outdoors with no lights, no moon…and she has it so much worse…it’s following her…truly frightening, wickedly creepy.
3 Stars
I don’t think the cover does Protecting the Dream by Michelle Sharp justice.
How about this one? Which do you like better?
MY REVIEW
The old farm, the weather vane…it spoke to her. She’s a Ghost Whisperer and a cop and I am loving her right out of the gate. Ty doesn’t know much, but as she opens up to him the story grows, as do the characters and I want more. She had been aloof, disconnected since the death of her family. Ty’s breaking down all the barriers. The story is not so much about her role as a cop as it is about their developing relationship and her role as a medium.
A lot packed into this novella and I love, love, love it.
I was scrolling through my reading list and came across the cover for Sara by Tony Hayden and I wondered why it has sat on my reading list since 8.10.14. Does the cover draw you in, make you wonder what evils are inside the cover?
Sara unfolds like a Criminal Minds episode…a young college girl, a small town, a flat tire, a corrupt and dangerous police chief, a dad looking…
I was drawn in so quickly, with shivers running up and down my spine, rapidly turning pages…
At 20% my fears ramped up, the tension and pacing was off the charts and I couldn’t read fast enough. I could see this really happening, the events and characters could be real, the writing made the story come to life.
I found myself checking how much of the book was left because I had a really bad feeling…
I love this quote: “…we concentrate on finding the bad guys after the fact to ensure the cycle is broken.”
As the pieces came together, I knew my spidey senses hadn’t failed me, but I didn’t realize how bad these monsters were…and how many there were in one small town.
Tony Hayden took a twist I didn’t see coming and I love when an author can spin a twist to a story that I have read over and over…missing girl…in the woods…and make me unable to put the book down until I found all the answers.
I had two problems, which I won’t detail, one with the dad and one with Sara, but it kept the story going to the place Tony Hayden wanted it to be. That happens to me a lot in suspense novels, and I totally understand why it has to go that way. And, who knows how people will react until they are put in that position. Still, it kept nagging me, so a solid four stars it is.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
On a lonely two-lane highway through the foothills of Northern Colorado, Sara Jean Haller has disappeared. Her father, a rural county deputy, battles his own demons and a despotic sheriff in a desperate search to find his only child. Mike Haller must untangle a web of lies and secrets woven into the fabric of this small mountain town to discover the road that leads to his missing daughter. Tony Hayden has laced together a story of struggle, hope and the untethered brutality of men without boundary that forces the reader up a dark mountain path to the edge of a shallow grave that hides no secrets.
ABOUT TONY HAYDEN
Tony Hayden is a graduate of the
University of Northern Colorado. A former history teacher and fourteen
year veteran of the Army and Army National Guard, he now lives in
Portland, Oregon, with his wife and son.
My first book by Cailyn Lloyd was Shepherd’s Warning and I loved it. I am excited to share my thoughts about The Mill. I love the blend of a serial killer and ghosts, Cailyn Lloyd did it very well.
Chase Riddell has OCD. When something is out of place, no matter how small a change, he will notice. He has secrets and will kill to keep them.
Lili knew spirits hung at the Mill and she wanted to speak to them. She is a psychic and owner of Revelations, a metaphysical store. She doesn’t have to physically visit a place. She can astral travel.
Emma, a spirit who resides at The Mill found out Chase Riddell’s secrets, and she felt she had to do something about it. She loves to read and really gets ‘into’ it. I thought the way she did it was so cool. She loves TV and movies. She is a great character, and they more I read, the more interesting she became.
Martin is the police detective on the case.
We know the villain and what is happening, but it doesn’t lessen the suspense. A serial killer who revels in his ‘job’, but there is so much more going on than the serial killer’s story. I am only halfway through and I cannot put it down.
I wonder about Chase, I wonder about Eamon and Frank and Emma, the ghosts.
The Mill is a riveting novel, filled with suspense, and the pacing makes me read word after word, page after page, chapter after chapter, never wanting to stop. The original concept for the ghosts had me smiling and cringing and I never would have guessed how it would be wrapped up.
I loved it so much, I hope there will be another book. We could have Martin, Lily and Emma functioning as a crime solving team. Do you have an idea lingering in the back of your mind, Cailyn? Are the characters still talking to you?
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Mill by Cailyn Lloyd.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
These rooms have killer views…
As a psychic, seeing ghosts is routine for Lili. She isn’t surprised to discover spirits lurking in the renovated paper mill where she just bought an apartment. What she doesn’t expect is the dark, sinister presence under the floor and the serial killer who is prowling about the mill. When a woman is found murdered and another goes missing, Lili tries to work with one of the spirits—a young girl long dead—to expose the psychopath. But not everyone can be trusted and soon, Lili fears the killer will flee, never to be found and free to strike again.
From the bestselling author of Shepherd’s Warning and The Elders Series comes a terrifying and compelling story that will keep you reading long into the night.
ABOUT CAILYN LLOYD
A lifelong writer, Cailyn Lloyd, spent three years living in a truly
haunted house and experienced first hand the nuances of strange and
eerie places. Shepherd’s Warning is her first book.
In addition
to writing, Cailyn is an accomplished weather photographer and her work
has appeared in several publications including Life Magazine and Time
Magazine. She is also a composer and musician with three album releases
to her credit. Cailyn lives near the Kettle Moraine State Forest in
Wisconsin and when she’s not writing spooky stories, loves hiking with
her children and dogs.
Have you ever been ticked off by someone taking to long in the grocery store line? Has someone made you wait while they decided which cafe latte they wanted? And…to put the shoe on the other foot, have you ever got in a fast food line and hemmed and hawed about what you wanted to order? Have you ever fumbled around at the ATM for your debit card? At the pharmacy? This book will make you think twice…maybe.
Time Killer by Todd M Thiede is one of those books that is hard for me to rate. It had so many things I love in a suspense/thriller…an unhinged killed, lots of bodies falling, danger and tension making me have to know what happens.
It looks like this is the second book of Todd M Thiede’s writing career and his first Max Larkin Detective Series novel, so I can forgive some of the things that bothered me. The writing seemed to be loose, at times too quick to pass over what is happening. I would have loved to have more details about a couple of events, more details on the characters feelings about what transpired. But, all in all, well done, Todd. I would definitely read more of your work.
I flipped flopped between 3 and 4 stars, and when that happens I up it, so…………
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Witness a gripping thriller that will surely hook you from start to finish in Time Killer…
Have you ever stood in a line at a grocery store while a person in front of you argued every price and then at the very end they pulled out a book of coupons? Have you ever waited in a drive thru as the person in front of you took forever to order his food? There is a person in Rockton Illinois that has had this happen to him and he is doing something about it. He is getting rid of the Time Wasters in Rockton.
Detective Max Larkin has a pretty simple life in Rockton. He wakes up every morning and goes to the police station to solve small town crimes. However, today is going to be different. Not only is he getting a new partner, Jesse Fairlane, that he doesn’t want, but he is getting assigned to a murder case where the murderer writes TIME WASTER on the wall in the victim’s blood.
Follow them as they attempt to solve the murder mystery case and find out if their tandem would work in Time Killer.
ABOUT TODD M THIEDE (from his website)
When you think of an Amazon bestselling author you probably won’t think of Todd M. Thiede.
He’s been a finance manager at a car dealership in Illinois for over 15
years. He’s a father of 4 and now a grandfather of 3. When he’s not
working or spending time with his family, he’s writing books. His Max
Larkin Detective series has been on Amazon’s Bestsellers list for
multiple books in the series. He’s also written Political Thrillers
under the pseudonym T.T. Michael, and those books have won multiple
awards from Readers’ Favorite and Book Excellence Awards.
Todd M. Thiede is now diving into the Sci-Fi world with his new book “A New Planet”.
Beyond The Creek by Nico Bell is one of those books where the rating bounces between a three and a four, so I always round up. What drew me in was the cover, then the title gave me that icky feeling that I look for in a horror novel, and the blurb finished me off.
We are in Madison, Virginia, where Alex Foster hopes for a new start, a second chance for her and her baby. Things are looking up for her. She just had to watch out for Harry, the tarantula, and don’t cross the creek. Would you? Sometimes being told not to do something makes me want to do it. You know that saying, curiosity killed the cat.
Alex didn’t care that her new home was not the Taj Mahal. There’s no Robert here.
The story sounded familiar to me…bit it didn’t take long for me to see it wasn’t what I was thinking. Nico Bell took it to a place that surprised me and I love when an author can do that.
I also love a characters that steps away from the norm. Alex is not a sleek, trim, model type. She’s giving and pregnant.
Danger arises, lives are at risk, monsters come a calling and I wonder, who will live and who will die.
Vivid, frightening descriptions of the monsters. Creepy good. So much better than I thought because it sounded so familiar to me, predictable, but by the time I got to the end, I had to hold my breath during the battle and smiled when she opened to door to….because I thought I knew what was coming. I loved the ending!
I vountarily reviewed a free copy of Beyond The Creek by Nico Bell.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
When Alex Foster accepted the caregiver position with the eccentric Nox family, she was issued a single rule. Don’t wander past the creek. Alex isn’t interested in exploring the Nox’s vast wooded property. After escaping an abusive past, her sole focus is building a safe future for herself and her unborn baby. Except, a series of chilling events threatens her happily-ever-after. Now, she must fight to survive an ancient evil before all hope is lost. There’s something beyond the creek, and it’s hungry.
ABOUT NICO BELL (from Amazon)
Nico Bell is a horror writer from America who dabbles in both the dark and humorous. She’s had several short stories published, and her debut novel Food Fright is available March 26, 2020.
Warning: This is not for the faint of heart. The characters have issues, the sex is raw, graphic, including rape, bondage…
Desecrated Essence has another beautiful cover for the Desecrated Duet series by C A Rene, though the story inside is dark and tormented, as are the characters.
Desecrated Essence is the second book in the Desecrated Duet series. For me, Desecrated Essence takes erotica to a whole new level.
We are three months later than the end of Desecrated Flesh, the first book in the series.
I started reading Desecrated Essence as soon as I finished Desecrated Flesh. The characters fascinate, disgust, and frighten me. Psychopaths and sociopaths walk around us, never showing their true colors. Here, you will see them. Understand them? Probably not.
Pleasure and pain. Dark…I found these characters so deep, dark and primal, I cannot put into words what I felt as I read, yet I couldn’t stop reading. I am so disturbed that I have to know how their story ends.
I know I keep repeating myself, but I don’t even know what to say about Kailey…and the rest. Sex, sex, sex. I am worn out just reading about it. I am getting bored and kinda grossed out by all the sex, yet I am waiting to see what the Monster wants.
I know there is more to story about the guys, how dangerous they are. They do come from mob families.
I do love reading about dark, depraved characters, but these guys are so far gone, I don’t think any of them can be saved. To say they have mental issues is putting it way to mildly They are brutal, savage, murderous, yet, like all criminals, they do have a code of their own.
I had trouble writing the review for the first book, Desecrated Flesh, and I am having an equally hard time writing a review for Desecrated Essence.
If you like to wallow in the dangerous, brutal world of sexual degradation, come on in.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Desecrated Essence by C A Rene.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
What happens when your only source of warmth and light leaves you? The dismal shadows once kept at bay, begin to seep back in and coat everything the light once touched. All feeling becomes saturated in their inky grasp and escape becomes impossible. She left me here in the dark, alone and awaiting the impending destruction.
Who do you turn to when you feel all is lost? His presence isn’t welcomed, and his anger scorches my insides, but at least he never leaves. Now that I’m truly alone, his claws sink deep and trying to flee would be futile. We are one, him and I. There’s nothing I can do but watch the storm clouds roll in.
How do I warn them if the warning is me? I can’t control him once he has something in his sights, his determination knows no bounds, and his wrath is an addiction I know too well. There’s no stopping the lightning if you don’t hear the thunder.
ABOUT C A RENE (from her website)
First off… Call me Chrissy!
I’m
so glad you’re here, whether it’s because you found me from reading my
books or hit a link, I’m just ecstatic you decided to check me out.
In
my books you will find complete inclusivity and I refuse to be kept in
any specific box. I write across all genres and dabble in just about
everything.
To keep up with all new releases and teasers for all my upcoming books, you can follow me on any social media platform!
Lover
of all things dark. I love to read it, write it, own it, eat it,
whatever it. My addictions include Coffee, books, and WINE, in that
order.
I used to read a lot of true stories about organized crime, so when I saw the great cover for Unorganized Crime by Judy Serrano, I had to read it. This is one of those times where the cover sucked me in more than the story.
I do want to make you aware that I read an ARC, so it is not the final product. Things can change, be tightened and ramped up, made clearer.
I thought the plot was an interesting concept, but the story jumped all over the place, like Jazz. I couldn’t decide if I liked her or not, but she did have her moments. It is hard to know the time frame and I would have liked a more detailed, fleshed out story.
Though I was not on pins and needles, I enjoyed my time spent with Jazz, Gage and Achilles. The way everything came together in the end makes me wonder what comes next and I am intrigued. That’s a definite thumbs up for Judy Serrano.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Unorganized Crime by Judy Serrano.
As Jazz finds herself falling from a helicopter, Gage St. Claire
comes to her rescue. Organized crime is once again the culprit of her parents’
situation, and as usual, she is caught in the crossfire. Gage pulls her out of
the water and helps her escape to safety. The love between them is undiscovered
as he tries to leave her behind in an attempt to keep her safe and move forward
with his black ops pursuit. Jazz becomes an undercover cop with wiping out
organized crime forever as her goal. After Jazz exposes one of the largest
crime families in the country, quite by accident, she is hired to expose crime
syndicate leader Michael Giambetti Jr., otherwise known as Achilles. Achilles
earned his nickname because he has no weaknesses. He has no weaknesses, that is
until he meets Jazz. Achilles has been untouchable, and if she were to break
this case, she could finally prove herself as a serious undercover officer. Her
job is not an easy one, and people around her are not who they appear to be.
Will Gage come back for Jazz, or will he be lost to her forever? Will she crack
the case on her own? Read as this courageous upstart stumbles through another
adventure.
“When you think about it, I really only need one hostage,” he said as he put
his hand on the small of my back and gave me a gentle shove. The helicopter was
in the air, and I fell helplessly into the clouds. I grabbed hold of the
landing skid and dangled above the water. We were not quite high enough yet
that I would turn to dust if I were to drop. “Let go!” he shouted from below. I
saw Gage take off his boots and put his wallet next to them on the ground.
“Jasmine, jump!”
I saw him
dive into the water, and I let go. This was the most terrifying thing I had
ever done. As I hit the water, two strong arms reached for me and pulled me up
as I plunged powerlessly into the deep. I held my breath, but I didn’t have
much air left. He pulled me up so that I could breathe, and I grabbed hold of
his neck. “I’ve got you, Jazz. You’re okay.”
He turned
me so that I could hold onto his neck from behind, and he swam to the shore.
The helicopter, which was holding my dad tied up and gagged, was long gone.
When we got to the shore, Hector, Gage’s boss, was standing there. He pulled me
out of the water, and Gage followed. “Good job,” Hector said to me. “You’re
very brave.”
I watched
Gage grab his wallet, cigarettes, and shoes. “You need to quit,” I said.
“They’re no good for you.”
He pulled
out a smoke and lit the tip, taking a deep pull off his cigarette. “Someday,”
he answered. “Unfortunately, we often want what is no good for us.” I knew to
what he was referring, but I let it go. Although you might think that the smell
of the cigarette would fill the air, there was an engaging male scent radiating
off of Gage that made me almost forget my name.
Suddenly, I realized that Hector was gone. “Where did Hector go? Where’s my
mom?”
“They
went after the helicopter, Jazz. I don’t think she’s coming back this time.”
My mom
abandoned my dad and me years ago. They both worked for the FBI, and she never
seemed to be able to balance her job and her family. Hector was in charge of
all their destinies. As delightfully delicious as Hector was, I always resented
him for taking her away. It was my goal to be a cop someday and wipe out
organized crime just so people like the ones my parents fought daily would go
out of business for good. Of course, I realized how unrealistic that was.
“I
started my own team. You must remember me mentioning that to you,” he said.
“Yes,
Storm. That’s what you call it.”
We
stepped over to his jeep. He reached in and handed me a towel. I began to dry
my face and hair with it, as he did the same with his own. Gage was a storm all
by himself. He was tall, well-built, and had smoldering dark eyes. His hair
fell just below his ears, and I can remember how soft it was when I last ran my
fingers through it.
“I’m not
just working for the FBI this time. I have a job out of the country. I’m going
to find someone’s daughter who was taken by terrorists.”
My
stomach churned as he opened the door to the jeep, and I hopped inside. “Don’t
leave me, Gage,” I said, as my soaking wet body leaked all over his vinyl car
seats.
I reached
up for his face, but he grabbed my hand. “We’ve been through this. You’re too
young, Jasmine.”
“Gage, I
am 19 years old. I’m old enough.”
“I’m 27,
Jazz. You’re too young for me.”
That
stung. I was waiting for Gage to the be the one for me. I didn’t want anyone
else, and even though he may think of me as too young for him, I felt the ache
in his eyes. We heard a gunshot, and Gage pushed me down onto the floor of his
jeep. He jumped into the driver’s side and took off down the road. “What’s
happening?” I asked. “Who’s here?”
“Someone
realized you were still breathing, princess. Put your head down.”
I stayed
down on the floor of the jeep as a bullet hit the windshield shattering the
glass. I tried so hard to be brave, but I could barely hold it together. I
heard Gage give our location and situation out on a radio. It was only a few
moments before everything got quiet. “I lost them,” he said.
“This is all related to my parents, isn’t it.”
“You know
I can’t tell you that.”
“And the
terrorists. Who are they? Who’s the girl?”
He pulled
the jeep over to the side of the road and sighed before looking at me. “Jazz,”
he said, putting his hand on the side of my face. “Don’t wait for me. I won’t
be back. Do you understand what I’m saying? I’m no good for you. Forget me.”
He
grabbed his towel and brushed the glass off the passenger’s seat. Then he held
out his hand for me to take, and he pulled me up off of the floor. I sat
uncomfortably and refused to meet his eyes. He wanted me to discard him like a
pack of cigarettes. I knew he was no good for me, but I just couldn’t stop
thinking about him. I didn’t say anything. Clearly, my efforts were futile.
He put
his hand back on the steering wheel, put the jeep back in gear, and we drove
down the highway. “Don’t make me come back just to check on you,” he said.
“Behave yourself. Move forward. Forget about me.”
*****
I waited for him. I anticipated his return. I am now 24 years old, and he
didn’t come back in time … or did he? This is my story. Let the ride begin.
About the Author
Judy Serrano graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce with a master’s degree in English. She is the owner of Make Cents Editing Services, is an English teacher at a local high school, and an adjunct professor at a local junior college. Judy writes romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and Mafia romance novels. She is the author of The Easter’s Lilly Series, The Linked Series, Ivy Vines Visions, and Unorganized Crime. Although originally from New York, she lives in Texas with her husband and near her four boys. In her spare time, Judy plays guitar and sings at her church, and dotes on her fur babies.
Hardcore Kelli is my first foray into Wrath James White’s world and, even though it is a novella, it rocked my world and has stuck with me, leaving me wanting more. I love reading off the wall, twisted works and Wrath supplied me with a few hours of reading entertainment. I thought it would have a three rating, but seeing I can’t get it out of my head that seemed so wrong, so four it is.
Katy is a boxer, with a losing record. A garden variety type. She only did it for the money. Her world changed when she was introduced to Hardcore Kelli by her sister, Samantha. I love her. I couldn’t help but smile and laugh, until the story took an ugly turn, one I never saw coming.
If you love a quirky tale, with blood, guts, and gore, this could be for you.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Harcore Kelli by Wrath James White.
4 stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Bullets whizzed past Katy as she dashed through the grass and weeds, and the maze of broken recreational vehicles, farm equipment, and other slowly oxidizing junk. She gripped the gleaming battle axe in both hands as she waded through gunfire, determined to reach her archnemesis and end his reign of terror forever. Murder Man stood in the doorway of the rundown mobile home, firing at will. She had found his lair. Now it was time to bring him to justice.
Katy hurdled the rusting skeleton of an old ’77 Ford Thunderbird like an Olympic gymnast. She had once been a cheerleader, a good one. Once upon a time she could do flips, handsprings, and somersaults with ease. That was so long ago it felt more like an ancient story from some dusty old history book than something that had actually occurred in her lifetime.
How could I possible resist this fabulous cover? A raven on the cover always intrigues me. How about you? Do they give you a warm fuzzy feeling, or do you feel, like me, that there is trouble on the horizon?
The Night Road by Kevin Lucia was a quick read. I loved the illustrations and chapter headins.
For Grace, running was her saving grace. She would run, visit Lilly at the hospital, go home, run, visit Lilly at the hospital and go home. Day after day. Her despair drove her and when I found the reason why it all had to happen….
Great ending.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Night Road by Kevin Lucia.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
For most of her life, Grace Donaldson’s passion has been running. As a star in Cross Country and Track and Field, Grace ran to win, because losing wasn’t an option. For her, running was freedom, and she was only ever her true self when racing toward the finish line.
Her senior year, that all changed. Afterward, instead of running toward something, Grace started running away. From her pain, her anger, and her guilt. Now, as her younger sister lies on her deathbed from attempted suicide and Grace’s darkness threatens to consume her, she discovers The Night Road, and the chance to run toward something again, instead of away… if she’s willing to pay a terrible price.
ABOUT KEVIN LUCIA
Kevin Lucia’s short fiction has appeared in several anthologies, most recently with Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Bentley Little, Peter Straub and Robert McCammon.
His first short story collection, Things Slip Through was published November 2013, followed by Devourer of Souls in June 2014, Through A Mirror, Darkly, June 2015, and and his second short story collection, Things You Need, September 2018. His novella Mystery Road is forthcoming from Cemetery Dance Publications.
![Protecting the Dream (A Dream Seeker Novella Book 2) by [Michelle Sharp]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51BmjLPVGFL.jpg)
Nico Bell is a horror writer from America who dabbles in both the dark and humorous. She’s had several short stories published, and her debut novel Food Fright is available March 26, 2020.
