Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Review: Shattered Memories by V.C. Andrews

*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Pocket Books; 422 pages; $7.99; Amazon
Now available from Pocket Books is Shattered Memories, the final installment of The Mirror Sisters Series, by V.C. Andrews.

Well, technically, the real author is Andrew Neiderman , aka the ghost writer who started writing under the name V.C. Andrews after the real V.C. Andrews died in 1986. Mr Neiderman finished writing "Garden of Shadows" and "Fallen Hearts." The rest of the V.C. Andrews novels after "Fallen Hearts" were either inspired or attributed to V.C. Andrews.

The Mirror Sisters Series are by-the-book (no pun intended) young adult stories. Book One, The Mirror Sisters, centered on identical twins Haylee and Kaylee Fitzergald, who both struggled to have an actual life due to their control freak mother. The novel ended with Haylee planning on meeting an older man she had chatted with online. After she gets sick, she convinces Kaylee to take her place, which results in Kaylee being kidnapped. Book Two, Broken Glass, picks up the storyline exactly where it left off with a twist towards the ending (Spoiler Alert!) - Haylee set her sister up, so Kaylee would be kidnapped, because she wanted to be an only child!

The third and final entry (well, I think it's the final the book), centers on Kaylee being sent to a private high school after her mother had a nervous breakdown. Where's Haylee? Well, she's locked away, well, sort of, as she does return in the latter half to once again try to ruin her sister's life.


Final Thoughts

Bushwick Blu-ray Review

RLJ Entertainment; Not Rated; 94 minutes; Amazon

Now available on Blu-ray and DVD from from RLJ Entertainment is the action thriller Bushwick. Directed by Cary Murnion & Jonathan Milott, the film stars Dave Bautista (Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy) and Brittany Snow (Pitch Perfect).

Bushwick is set in a world where Texas have decided to secede from the United States, which brings the country to the brink of a second civil war.

The film centers on a college student named Lucy (played by Brittany Snow) traveling home with her boyfriend. Almost as soon as they step off of the subway train in Bushwick, New York, they enter into a world full of chaos. Her boyfriend is murdered right in front of her, but she doesn't have time to mourn, as she must out run a group of Texas mercenaries.

In order to survive, and possibly find her family, Lucy must rely on a war veteran, Stupe (played by Dave Bautista), who's trying to way out of the city, so he can travel to Hoboken, New Jersey to find his son. Unfortunately, getting pass the local residents and the militia is going to be a major problem for them.

Special Features include:
The Making of Bushwick
Photo Galleries
Poser Gallery




Final Thoughts

Monday, October 30, 2017

Review: Flesh by Laura Bickle

*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.


Now available on Amazon, Pronoun, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, and Google Play is the young adult supernatural novel Flesh by Laura Bickle.

There's no better way to get yourself in the mood for Halloween than reading a spooky novel; which is exactly what I did early this morning when I read the eBook Flesh.

Since I'm short of time today (and the rest of the week), I'm going to copy & paste the official blurb of the novel instead of writing my own synopsis.

Charlie Sulliven thinks she knows all the secrets of the dead. Raised in a funeral home, she’s the reluctant “Ghoul Girl,” her reputation tied to a disastrous Halloween party. But navigating her life as a high school sophomore is an anxiety-inducing puzzle to her. She haunts the funeral home with her parents, emo older brother, Garth, their pistol-packing Gramma, and the glass-eyeball-devouring dachshund, Lothar.

Chewed human bodies are appearing in her parents’ morgue…and disappearing in the middle of the night. The bodies seem tied to a local legend, Catfish Bob, who has resurfaced in the muddy Milburn river near Charlie’s small town. When one of Charlie’s classmates, Amanda, awakens in the cooler as a flesh-eating ghoul, Charlie must protect her newfound friend and step up to unravel the mystery…and try to avoid becoming lunch meat for the dead.


Final Thoughts

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Digital HD Review - Cars 3

Disney/Pixar; 102 minutes
Now available Digital HD and 4K Ultra HD is Disney/Pixar's Car 3. The film will be arriving on Blu-ray 4K Ultra and Blu-ray on November 7th!

Directed by Brian Fee, the computer-animated film features the talented voice-cast of Owen Wilson, Cristela Alonzo, Chris Cooper, Armie Hammer, Larry the Cable Guy, Bonnie Hunt, Nathan Fillion, Lea DeLaria, and Kerry Washington.

Cars 3 centers on an aging Lightning McQueen being beaten on the race track by a rookie named Jackson Storm. After several months of resting in Radiator Springs, McQueen plans on making his big return to the world racing in Florida, but first he must be retrained.

With a new sponsor, Sterling, and a young new trainer, Cruz Ramirez, McQueen tries his best to use the latest technology to help improve his speed. However, he slow learns that the only way to win the race is to rely on the help of Doc Hudson's old crew.

Digital Special Features are:
  • Miss Fritter’s Racing Skoool (Exclusive new mini-movie) – Enjoy blindsided testimonials from the Crazy 8’s, touting the transformative impact Miss Fritter’s Racing School has had in reshaping the direction of their lives Theatrical Short: “Lou” – When a toy-stealing bully ruins recess for a playground full of kids, only one thing stands in his way: the “Lost and Found” box.
  • Let’s. Get. Crazy.Get schooled in the world of demolition derby, the “rules” of figure 8 racing, and how Pixar puts the crazy in the Thunder Hollow Crazy 8 race. This piece is hosted by Lea DeLaria.
  • Legendary a close, historical look at the racing legends Wendell Scott and Louise Smith, whose tenacity and perseverance got them into the race even when they weren’t invited.
  • Ready for the Race Disney Channel’s Olivia Rodrigo and NASCAR Racer William Byron check out the Hendrick Motorsports campus to showcase how real-world race training influenced the filmmakers.
  • World’s Fastest BillboardBlink and you will miss all of the graphics and “car-ified” advertisements created by Pixar’s Art team to make the ”Cars 3” world as believable as possible.
  • Cruz Ramirez: The Yellow Car That Could Join Cristela Alonzo and the filmmakers on their journey to create a race-car trainer turned champion racer.
  • Generations: The Story of “Cars 3”For the story team, creating Lightning McQueen’s next chapter didn’t involve just a tune-up, but a complete overhaul.
  • My First CarA collection of illustrated first-car stories as narrated by members of the “Cars 3” cast and crew. “A Green Car on the Red Carpet with Kerry Washington,” “Old Blue,” and “Still in the Family.”
  • 5 Deleted Scenes Each deleted scene is set up with an introduction as to why it was removed from the film. Deleted scenes include “The Boogie Woogie,” “The Jars of Dirt,” “Lugnut,” “The Bolt,” and “More Than New Paint.”
  • Cars To Die(cast) ForTake a look at the phenomenon of die-cast toy collecting and the more than 1,000 unique designs that exist in the Cars universe.
  • CommentaryBrian Fee (Director), Kevin Reher (Producer), Andrea Warren (Co-Producer) and Jay Ward (Creative Director)
  • And more…



Final Thoughts

Friday, October 27, 2017

Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition!: Oct. 28th - Nov. 2nd




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML



Welcome Ghouls and Goblins
to the
Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition!
  
If you want schedule next week's thrilling question, click here to find the next prompt fright-fest. 
To submit a question, fill out this form.

How to participate in this week's creepy meme:


1. Post on your blog answering this haunt:

  Candy Corn, a chocolate bar, or Popcorn. Which of these snacks are your favorite to eat while reading?


(This week's question is submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer.

2. Enter the link to your terrifying tale in the haunting list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in a curse).

 

3. Visit other haunters in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new creeper.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
 

Billy's Answer!

Candy Corn!






Linky List:

Thursday, October 26, 2017

4 Rules For Online Dating

(c) Can Stock Photo / stokkete

Being single with the holidays just around the corner can be depressing. Nobody wants to spend the holidays without a loved one. Right?

Luckily, there's plenty of time to find someone thanks to online dating websites. Whether you're looking for a short or long term relationship, there's a dating site for almost every niche.


Rule #1
Know Your Budget

No, I'm not talking about how much you're going to spend on your first date. Instead, I'm referring to your budget for online dating. While there are plenty of free dating sites (Plenty of Fish, OkCupid, etc.), those might not be your best options.

Yes, the free-to-join sites might have a big variety of members to choose from, but it's not a guarantee that they're looking for a relationship. They could be looking for a friend, a fling, or nothing at all. With paid dating sites, you know the members are looking for real relationships.

However, no matter what your budget actually is, make sure to find the best dating sites that fits your needs.


Rule #2
Know Who You're Looking For

You need to know what type of relationship you're wanting. Are you looking for a girlfriend/boyfriend? Are you looking for a spouse? Are you looking for friends with benefits (aka - adult dating)? 

Knowing exactly what type of relationship you want will save you time and money.


Rule #3
Don't Join the Wrong Dating Site

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Interview with Ed Lin, author of Snakes Can't Run




Now available from HarperCollins Publishers is the riveting sequel to This Is a Bust, titled Snakes Can't Run by Ed Lin.

Purchase Link
The author has taken a few minutes of his busy schedule for a Q&A about his newest novel.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

I’ve wanted to write pretty much as long as I’ve known how to write, but the real storytelling aspect I think came from a grade-school librarian. She would voice the dialog and put the characters and story in my head, it was incredible.

What was your first book/story published?

My first book was called Waylaid, it’s a bit of a coming-of-age story.

What inspired you to write Snakes Can’t Run?

Issues of immigration and documentation have been on my mind. I wanted to have the discussion within a mystery as a way to make readers think about it, as well.

What character in Snakes Can’t Run is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

I am probably most like John Vandyne, the partner of the book’s narrator, NYPD detective Robert Chow. Chow leads with his fists while Vandyne contemplates what he does and says, like me. I’m a thinker!

What is your favorite part of the book?

Review Catch Up Marathon: Murder Comes by Mail


Revell; 352 pages; $13.99; Amazon

Some of you might remember me reviewing Murder is No Accident by A.H. Gabhart. (Read my review here!) earlier this year. For some odd reason, I reviewed the third book in the "A Hidden Springs Mystery" series before I had written the review for the second book, Murder Comes by Mail; though I had already read it. Now, here I am finally reviewing the book.

Murder Comes by Mail centers on Sheriff Michael Keane, who becomes a known as a hero after saving a suicidal man from jumping off the Eagle River bridge. A few of the witnesses took videos with their phones, which lead to the media getting a hold of the story.

Out of nowhere, pictures of a dead girl arrives in the mail, and for some reason Michael believes the man he saved on the bridge is the killer. Michael must unravel the mystery before someone else gets hurt.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Fall Reads: The Beautiful Word For Christmas


Zondervan; 210 pages; $14.99; Buy Link: Amazon

Yes, I'm well aware that it isn't even Halloween yet, but here I am writing a review for a Christmas-themed book.

Recently released from Zondervan is the 31-day devotional, titled The Beautiful Word For Christmas. The book includes 23 Bible passages that are all illustrated in full color, 31 timely devotions written especially for the Christmas season, and a few activities to bring the heart of the season into your home.

The interior hand-lettering and illustrations were done by Kristi Smith of Juicebox Design (she also did the artwork on the cover) and Kerri Charlton.



Final Thoughts

Review: Witch's Enternal by Bri Clark

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine.

Pre-Order: Amazon
Being released from Belle Consulting on October 31st (aka Halloween) is the paranormal romance, Witch's Eternal by Bri Clark.

It's been awhile since I've read anything paranormal related, and since Halloween is only a week away, I thought I would read the Witch's Eternal. Originally, I had planned on having this book read and reviewed weeks ahead of schedule, but a few things came up. So I had to read the book early this morning, which explains why my review is being posted late in the day.

Instead of writing up my own version of the book's synopsis, I'm just going to share the official blurb below:


Aisleen is the last of a rare race of witches. Her essence hangs in the balance as the magical and temporal poisoning of the Blue Death ravages her body.

Lucien Lemoine, the feared and revered leader of the eternals, searches for a cure. Something primal and instinctive drives him to save the little witch even when his people’s future hangs is threatened.

But when the Goddess finally breaks her decades long silence Lucien learns Aisleen is more than the one who will fulfill the prophesy of his fate and heal his heart. She can save them all.

But after his tragic betrayal, will she?


Final Thoughts

CARS 3 on Digital HD & 4K Ultra HD Today!



Available today on Digital HD & 4K Ultra DVD is Disney and Pixar's CARS 3!

CARS 3 features a fast-paced new tale of Lightning McQueen, his classic CARS friends, and a new spirited trainer Cruz Ramirez! Lighting finds himself pushed out of racing by a new generation of faster and younger cars and goes on a journey to discover where he belongs in this new type of high-octane competition. 

CARS 3 will be arriving on Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD™ and Blu-ray™ on Nov. 7.


Special/Bonus Features are:

Monday, October 23, 2017

Interview & Giveaway with Amy Snyder, author of Unfinished


Now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes from Fiery Seas Publishing is the novel Unfinished by Amy Snyder.


What's the book about?

Mirabelle is a writer who just can't finish any of the stories she starts. When her twins leave home for college, they take with them Mirabelle’s sense of identity. As she strives to adjust to her empty nest she is visited by someone unexpected: a character from the very first novel she ever attempted to write.

Characters from all of her unfinished works begin to materialize in her home, in her car, at her job. They talk, yell, and some even throw things at her. Mirabelle can see them, smell them, touch them and though she knows they’re not real, she can’t help but engage them. She created them, after all. They become part of her daily life and she finds herself alternating between hiding them from and sharing them with her almost-always-doting husband, Alex.

Some of Mirabelle’s characters are like good friends, encouraging her to finish something she’s started. Others manipulate her for their own needs and story lines. Good and bad, these characters are part of her and Mirabelle discovers she needs to both fix and finish them before they destroy her life, her sanity, and her marriage.


The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her new novel.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

I was in eighth grade. I wrote a story about a Boat Captain that my teacher loved and I realized how much I loved writing it. That was when I decided to be a writer.

What was your first book/story published?

This one! Unfinished is the first thing I’ve ever published. It has been an extremely long road.

What inspired you to write Unfinished?

This story grew out of fear and frustration with myself for not finishing my stories. I had been querying another work for over a year and getting nowhere. I felt like I was sitting on top of a big pile of unfinished, incomplete, unpublished work.

What character in Unfinished is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Mirabelle, the main character, is very much like me. She is a writer who doesn’t finish the stories she starts which is exactly how I was until this book.

What is your favorite part in Unfinished?


I love Mirabelle’s relationship with Cody and the changes they go through together.

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Review - Seven Stones To Stand Or Fall by Diana Gabaldon

*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Delacorte Press; 530 pages; $30.00; Amazon
Tonight marks the return of Outlander: Season Three on STARZ after having a brief one-week break, in which we'll finally see the reunion between the characters Jamie (played by Sam Heughan) and Claire (played by Caitriona Balfe) after being apart for nearly twenty years. To get everyone ready for tonight's episodes, I thought it would be the perfect time for me to post my review for the recently released Seven Stones To Stand Or Fall by Diana Gabaldon.

No, this isn't the sequel to Written In My Own Heart's Blood, but instead it's  "A Collection of Outlander Fiction," featuring seven short stories/novellas that are all set in the Outlander universe. Five of the stories have appeared in other anthologies over the years, while the other two are appearing for the very first-time in print. Many of the stories centers on Lord John Grey, a character that debuted in Outlander: Season Three; however, Jamie Fraser does get his very own story called "Virgins."

Friday, October 20, 2017

Review Catch Up Marathon: Murder on the Moor by Julianna Deering


Bethany House; 336 pages; $15.99; Amazon
If you like reading Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie mysteries, then I would recommend the Drew Fathering Mystery series by Julianna Deering.

Released earlier this year from Bethany House Publishing is the fifth installment in the series, titled Murder on the Moor. Once again the main character is the dashing Drew Farthering, who, along with his American wife Madeline, heads to Bloodworth Park Lodge in the town of Bunting's Nest at the request of an old friend. Several strange occurrences have occurred in the area, such as fires, property destruction, and sheep and cattle scattered. Then a dead body is found on the steps of the church.

Being a mystery buff, Drew takes it upon himself to unravel the murder, which isn't easy, as there are no suspects. Well, except for one person - his friend's new bride.





Final Thoughts

Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition! - Oct. 20th - 26th




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML



Welcome Ghouls and Goblins
to the
Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition!
  
If you want schedule next week's thrilling question, click here to find the next prompt fright-fest. 
To submit a question, fill out this form.

How to participate in this week's creepy meme:


1. Post on your blog answering this haunt:

  Off the book topic - What is your favorite scary movie?


(This week's question is submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer.

2. Enter the link to your terrifying tale in the haunting list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in a curse).

 

3. Visit other haunters in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new creeper.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
 

Billy's Answer!

John Carpenter's Halloween (1978)





Linky List:

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Review - One Christmas Bear by Anne Vittur Kennedy

Tommy Nelson; 20 pages; $8.99; Amazon
Now available from Tommy Nelson (a division of Thomas Nelson Publishers) is heartwarming picture book Once Christmas Bear written and illustrated by Anne Vittur Kennedy.

This is a counting picture book, where every two pages focuses on a number between 1-10. The artwork on every two pages represents one illustrated scene and each pages has one sentence.

The story is pretty simple; it involves a young Christmas bear who ventures outside to play in the snow and makes several new friends, including a puppy, two tiny mice, funny foxes, squirrels, rabbits, eagles, caribous, and owls. The kids play all day in the snow, until their parents call them home near night, when the Christmas stars are twinkling bright in the sky.





Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Interview with Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, author of Of the Divine



Now available from Harper Voyager Impluse is the novel Of the Divine, the second book in the Mancer Trilogy,  by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes.

Buy Link: Amazon
Henna is one of the most powerful sorcerers in the Order of Napthol, and her runes ’s runes tell her that the future of Kavet is balanced on the edge of the knife. The treaties between Kavet and the dragon-like race known as the Osei have become intolerable. The time has come for the royal house to magically challenge Osei dominion. Prince Verte, Henna' lover, is to serve as the nexus for the powerful but dangerous spell, with Naples--an untested young sorcerer from the Order of Napthol--a volatile but critical support to its creation.

Amid these plans, Dahlia Indathrone’s arrival in the city shouldn’t matter. She has no magic and no royal lineage, and yet, Henna immediately knows Dahlia is important. She just can’t see why.

As their lives intertwine, the four will learn that they are pawns in a larger game, one played by the forces of the Abyss and of the Numen—the infernal and the divine.

A game no mortal can ever hope to win.

The author has taken time out of her busy schedule for a quick Q&A about her newest book.


When did you become interested in storytelling?

I have always been a storyteller, from the time of my earliest memories (and before). When I was five, I ran through a glass door and cut myself pretty badly. When we got me to the hospital, they separated me from my parents to ask what had happened. My mother describes waiting in terror, worried that THIS was when my storytelling would come out...

As I grew up, I learned more about how to tell a story well, and it was in seventh grade that I first decided I would try to publish a novel, but the desire to tell stories has always been there.

What was your first book/story published?

The first novel I published was titled In the Forests of the Night. It was a young adult urban fantasy about a vampire named Risika who needs to face an old enemy in order to finally come to terms with her own identity. Forests, which became the first of my Den of Shadows series (nine books in total), was released in May, 1999, when I was a freshman in high school.

What inspired you to write Of the Divine?

My most recent novel, Of the Divine, is the second book in the Mancer Trilogy. It was inspired by a vast collection of things, ranging from writing block and anxiety to political advocacy.

In 2006, I was under contract for the fourth book in the Kiesha’ra Series, and was struggling to put it together. It was the first book I had ever signed a contract for without having a completed rough draft. It was also the first book I had ever published with an explicitly gay protagonist, and it explored some very personal issues to me— which meant I was terrified of getting it wrong.

I needed to get away from the young adult realm of Nyeusigrube, so I decided to participate for the first time in National Novel Writing Month, and I started Mancer. The book was supposed to be a silly throw-away, but as I often joke, I got “distracted” by silly things like plot and characterization. Because it wasn’t under contract, I felt more free to explore the topics that had me so intimidated in Wolfcry, such as sexuality and the pressures to conform to societal expectations despite one’s own true needs and desires.

In the end, instead of a 50k throw-away experiment, I had a 300,000 word trilogy with a complex world, interesting characters, and a conflict I wanted to further explore— and share.

What character in Of the Divine is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

There’s a little of me in many of these characters, but there’s no one of them that I look at and say, “That’s me, right there.”

Naples includes a lot of my teenage angst and the poor relationship luck (due mostly to my own poor decisions) I had at his age. Terre Verte has some of my arrogance (yes, I know I can be at times) but also my desire to try to help people when I can. Henna has my other-ness; I spend a lot of time being the only queer and the only Jew in a room. Maddy is the mother and teacher in me, though strangely, her 2-year-old son was written eight years before my daughter (who was 2.5 when the book came out) was born. Hello has my tendency to jump ahead in a conversation.

So, they are all a little me, but none othem are me.

What is your favorite part in Of the Divine?

Monday, October 16, 2017

Bookends #9: Goosebumps, Christmas Titles, and YouTube Channel!


Well, it's been awhile since my last Bookends post, which was back in July. The summer months were very busy for me, especially when I had to kick myself in the butt and started exercising again. Since August I have loss a total of 21.5 pounds (as of today), which mostly occurred after I changed my eating habits. Tomorrow, I begin week 7 of Beachbody's Insanity workout program. I have loss 12.5 of those 21.5 pounds since I started the program.

If you've been reading this blog for the last few weeks, then you would know I have fallen behind in reviewing books. Actually, I have about 20 already read books that are piled up waiting to be reviewed. This why I had recently began a new series of posts called "Review Catch Up Marathon." Hopefully, I can try to get these books reviewed by November 1st. 

 
What am I currently reading?


I'm currently reading Goosebumps Slappyworld: I'm Slappy's Evil Twin. Hopefully, if everything goes as planned, I should have the book read and reviewed by late tonight.


What am I reading next?


Next, I'm reading Cars, Coffee, and a Badass Ninja Toilet by K.C. Hilton. I'll probably start reading it tomorrow. After that book, I'm planning on reading Haunted by James Patterson and James O. Born.

Halloween Review: Goosebumps SlappyWorld: I Am Slappy's Evil Twin

*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Scholastic; 152 pages; $6.99; Amazon

For anyone who follows this blog, you probably already know I'm a big R.L. Stine fan. I've been collecting his books ever since the first Goosebumps title was published in the early 1990s, so of course, I couldn't go a Halloween without reviewing at least one of his books.

Now available from Scholastic is the third installment of the Goosebumps SlappyWorld series, titled "I Am Slappy's Evil Twin."

Inspired by The Adventures of Pinocchio, Slappy is an evil ventriloquist's doll, who likes to terrorize his owners. Since the character first debuted in 1992's Night of the Living Dummy, Slappy has become a fan favorite villain. The character is now the star of own spinoff series, SlappyWorld, where he's the narrator and occasionally appears in the story.

"I Am Slappy's Evil Twin" kicks off with a three-chapter prologue that's set in 1920 and shows the origins of two evil puppets, which happens to be Slappy and his twin Snappy. The book then fast forwards to the present day, where us readers are introduced to the main characters, twelve-year-old Luke Harrison, his younger sister Kelly, and his best friend Jamal.

Luke's father is the owner of Horror House Films, where he produces horror movies, which explains why there are so many horror memorabilia throughout their home. Things start to get weird after Mr. Harrison brings home two identical puppets, which he's using in one of his latest horror films. As soon as Mr. Harrison turns his back, the puppets come to life and begin stalking Luke, Kelly, and Jamal!

Slappy and Snappy plan on making their very own horror flick and Luke, Kelly, and Jamal are the stars of it!

Final Thoughts

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Trick or Treat Spooktacular Collection: 13 Haunting Tales DVD Review

*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Mill Creek Ent., 150 minutes; $9.98; Amazon

Now available on DVD from Mill Creek Entertainment is Trick or Treat Spooktacular Collection: 13 Haunting Tales. As an added bonus, the DVD comes with a digital code that can be redeemed at www.millcreekent.com/redeem.

Yep! It's that time of year when you'll be finding many different Halloween themed DVD titles in the stores, and many of these will most likely be in the $5 bins!

Trick or Treat Spooktacular Collection: 13 Haunting Tales features four Casper shorts (1945-1954) and 13 other cartoons, which three of them were produced by Fleischer Studios in the 1930s, and the others are part of the Storybook Series. The shorts running time spans between 9 to 15 minutes.


The shorts on the single disc are:


Casper
  • The Friendly Ghost
  • There's a Good Boo Tonight
  • Boo Moon
  • A Haunting We Will Go

Other Cartoons
  • The Cobwell Hotel
  • The Fresh Vegetable Mystery
  • Magic Mummy
  • Sleepy Hollow
  • Ghost in the Shed
  • Noises in the Night
  • Misunderstood Monsters
  • Three Golden Hairs
  • The Boy Who Couldn't Shiver

Final Thoughts

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Review: Vamprinia

*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Disney; 92 minutes; Amazon

Being released on DVD from Disney Home Entertainment on October 17th is the newest computer-animated Disney Junior series Vampirina, featuring eight 11-minute episodes. There are no special features or bonus extras on the single-disc.

Based on the Vampirina Ballerina children books by Anne Marie Pace, and executive produced by Chris Nee (creator of Doc McStuffin), Vampirina centers on a young vampire named Vampirina "Vee" Hauntley, who has moved with parents from Transylvania to Pennsylvania.

Life in Pennsylvania is completely different than Transylvania, mainly because there are humans everywhere, but Vampirina "Vee" adjusts to her new surroundings and befriends several humans.

The series features the talented voice-cast of Isabella Cramp, Lauren Graham, James van der Beek, Mitchell Whitfield
Wanda Sykes, and Dee Bradley Baker.

Episodes on the DVD includes:

  • Going Batty - Vee gets a case of the batties when she meets her human neighbors.
  • Scare B&B - Vee's mother, Oxana, opens up a B&B, and two vampires checks in as guests at the exact same time the neighbors are invited to stay.
  • The Sleepover - Vee invites Bridget and Poppy for a sleepover.
  • Portrait Of a Vampire - Vee's first day at a human school goes bad.
  • Vee's Surprise Party  - Vee's classmates throw her a surprise birthday party.
  • Vee Goes Viral - Edgar makes a web video of Vee and Poppy doing the "Spine-Chiller" dance and it goes viral.
  • The Plant Predicament - Vee and Poppy must undo a curse that has put on Edna's garden.
  • Mummy Mayhem - Vee, Bridget, and Poppy try to convince the mummy, King Peppy, that the visitors at the museum are still interested in him.


Final Thoughts

Friday, October 13, 2017

Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition! - October 13th - 19th




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML



Welcome Ghouls and Goblins
to the
Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition!
  
If you want schedule next week's thrilling question, click here to find the next prompt fright-fest. 
To submit a question, fill out this form.

How to participate in this week's creepy meme:


1. Post on your blog answering this haunt:

  Who is your favorite horror/suspense author and why?


(This week's question is submitted by Kitty @ Vicarious Bookworm.)

2. Enter the link to your terrifying tale in the haunting list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in a curse).

 

3. Visit other haunters in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new creeper.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
 

Billy's Answer!

Probably either Stephen King or John Saul. Mr. King has written some of the scariest books every published, but I have a soft spot for John Saul's novels.



Linky List:

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Interview with Mark Tufo, Author of Lycan Fallout: Rise of the Werewolf


Now available on Amazon from Devil Dog Press is the horror novel Lycan Fallout: Rise of the Werewolf (A Michael Tablot Adventure) by Mark Tufo.


I would like to thank the author for taking the time out of his busy schedule to do a Q&A about his novel.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

I wrote a bit in College. I’ve been interested in it ever since.

What was your first book/story published?
The first book I put up on Amazon Kindle was Indian Hill. The first book that sold more than one copy was Zombie Fallout. 😀

What inspired you to write Lycan Fallout?

Lycan Fallout came about after a conversation I had with my wife on a coffee excursion to town.

What character in Lycan Fallout is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Probably Michael Talbot. Im always getting myself into some sort of trouble.

What is your favorite part in Lycan Fallout?

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Review - Mattie's Pledge by Jan Drexler


Revell; 384 pages; $14.99; Amazon
After dealing with a 48-hour flu bug, I'm back with another "Review Catch Up Marathon!" post, which is my attempt to get caught up with all the backed up books that are piled up collecting dust. All of these books have been read, I just need to write the reviews for them.

A few months ago, you might of recall my review for the novel Naomi's Hope, which was book three in the Journey To Pleasant Prairie series by author Jan Drexler. Well, today's review is for the second books in the series, titled Mattie's Pledge.

Set in the 1940's, Mattie's Pledge centers on a young Amish woman named Mattie Schrock, who has to leave her entire life behind when her father decides to move the family west from Somerset County, Pennsylvania to an Amish community in Indiana. Traveling by wagon is going to be tough, but Mattie is looking forward to reconnecting with her old friends that are joining them from another Amish community. She's especially looking forward to seeing Jacob Yonder, as she has feelings for him.

Jacob has changed a lot since the last time he had seen Mattie. His goals and dreams have changed. He's ready to settle down, get married, and start a family.

As for Mattie, she's keeping her future wide open, especially after she meets an Englisher, who wants her to leave her Amish lifestyle and travel out west with him.


Final Thoughts

Monday, October 9, 2017

Put a Little Bit of the Halloween Spirit in Your Yard!


Each and every year, I decorate the front yard with decorations for Halloween Night, which includes an inflatable Frankenstein, Dracula, and a witch. I also put up a creepy cemetery, full of tombstones, skeletons and a few zombie groundbreakers! Last year, I added a fog machine, which went over well with the trick-or-treaters.

What new decorations am I adding to my yard this year?

Well, I'm adding a new groundbreaker called Pumpkin Man and a 5' Collapsible Coffin, which I received from Oriental Trading.

Pumpkin Man still in the packaging.

The box the Collapsible Coffin came in.

Oriental Trading is largest party supply store in the nation. Besides from party supplies, they also sell arts and crafts, school supplies, toys and novelties. They have a huge section on their website called the "Halloween Headquarters," which contains over 5,000 costumes, craft items, party supplies, candy, and decorations.

The Pumpkin Man!
The Pumpkin Man Groundbreaker retails for $29.99, but it's currently on sale for $23.98. It measures 14" x 21 1/2". The body and head are from foam. The arms are made from wire, so it can be moved to whatever position you prefer. The wire has foam wrapped around it. The skeleton hands are made from heavy plastic. There is a switch on the backside of the head that turns on the lights for the eyes. Batteries were included with the groundbreakers, as well as a plastic stake.

The coffin lid.

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Scary & Fun Ideas For A Halloween Party


Believe it or not, it's only 22 days till Halloween! And there's no time like the present to start planning a Halloween party for your kids. Whether you're a room parent preparing a party for an elementary classroom or if you're throwing the party for your kids at home, getting the perfect party supplies can be a challenge, especially if you're on a budget.

This year I'm teaming up with Oriental Trading to share with you a few Halloween party ideas that won't break your wallet.

All the Halloween Goodies I received.


Color Your Own Halloween Bags


All kids like to color. Right? 

Well, a fun little activity kids can do at Halloween party is to color their very own Halloween trick-or-treat bag.  

Oriental Trading has several different kinds of Color Your Own Halloween Bags, but the ones I'm featuring on this post are made out paper. Each bag is 7 1/2" x 9" with 4" nylon handles. Each set comes with a total of 12 bags and retails for $6.49, but it's currently on sale for $3.28.

There are three different double-sided designs: Jack-O-Lanterns, Dracula, and a Cat dressed as a witch. "Trick-or-Treat!" is printed on each side of every bag.


Make-A-Pumpkin Stickers


Another budget-friendly activity for a Halloween party are the Make-A Pumpkin Stickers. There are 18 stickers per sheet (1/2" - 4 1/2), with 12 sheets per unit. The retail price is only $2.99. Each sheet features a pumpkin sticker, where a child can decorate it with the other stickers to make their very own Jack-O-Lantern sticker.


Assorted Color Spider Rings


One of the most popular item to give away in treat bags are spider rings. One bag  of the Assorted Color Spider Rings only costs $4.99 and contains 144 rings, which comes in neon orange, purple, and green/yellow. Kids will have a blast with these rings.


Coffin Chest Toy Assortment

Review - The Proving by Beverly Lewis


Bethany House; 350 pages; $15.99; Amazon
Yes, I'm well aware that "The Proving" by Beverly Lewis only came out last month but I'm still going to feature as a "Review Catch Up Marathon!" post.

I'm not for sure what year it was, but the very first book I read by Beverly Lewis was The Covenant (Abram's Daughters, Book One). I received it through a book club. I remember I had to pick out one more book to buy in the introduction package before joining, and I just randomly picked The Covenant.

Anyhow, "The Proving" is a standalone novel that centers on Amanda "Mandy" Dienner, a young woman who had left her Amish lifestyle to live her life as an Englisher. Well, that's until she learns her mother has passed away and has left her an Amish bed-and-breakfast in Lancaster County.

Of course things aren't always as simple as they look, as there is a catch to her inheritance - Mandy has to successfully run the bed-and-breakfast for one year!

After some thought, Mandy goes back home to the face the family she'd left behind and to take over her mother's business, but there's one other catch - the bed-and-breakfast's guests expects their host to be Amish!

Final Thoughts