Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Saturday, February 1, 2025

[Review] — BECOMING THE BOOGEYMAN: A Compelling Yet Unnecessary Companion Sequel!


I’m back! Well, sort of—I am attempting to reignite my habit of writing reviews for this blog. Admittedly, I've been a bit of a recluse lately, but everything is all right—at least as good as it can be under the circumstances. For those who remember, last year I reviewed Richard Chizmar's gripping fictional true-crime thriller, Chasing the Boogeyman. I found it thoroughly engaging and ended up giving it a five-out-of-five-star rating. Since then, I dove into its sequel, BECOMING THE BOOGEYMAN, and I'd like to share my thoughts on it.

Thursday, January 23, 2025

[Review] — DAWN TO DUSK is an Exciting Sequel


I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the DAWN TO DUSK by Ellis K. Popa Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

Sunday, January 19, 2025

{Sunday Post} — There's Something About Secondhand Books


What Am I Reading? 


My cold is finally gone, but my reading mojo hasn't returned yet. I had to put aside Forty Time A Killer! and speed-read another book for an upcoming book tour; I have now returned to the Western and hope to finish it in the next day or two before moving on to my long-delayed read of Defense Protocol.

Sunday, January 5, 2025

[Review] — MY BEST FRIEND IS AN ELDRITCH HORROR: Vol. 1 is an Exhilarating Ride


I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the MY BEST FRIEND IS AN ELDRITCH HORROR (Light Novel) by ACTUS Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

[Review] — WE KEPT HER IN THE CELLAR Gives a Horrifying New Twist on the Classic Cinderella Story


Retellings of classic fairy tales have long captivated readers, but the horror adaptations have carved out a particularly intriguing niche, gaining popularity over the years. New titles in this genre continue to emerge, one of which is the chilling reinterpretation of Cinderella titled WE KEPT HER IN THE CELLAR, penned by W.R. Gorman and published by Crooked Lane Books.

Monday, December 30, 2024

[Review] — THE PRIMAL HUNTER: VOL. 1 is a Flawed But Entertaining Bloody Fantasy Adventure


I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE PRIMAL HUNTER (Light Novel) by Zogarth Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

Thursday, December 26, 2024

[Review] — Clive Cussler's DESOLATION CODE is Impossible to Set Down


A stunning cover art for a book is essential in capturing my attention. I find myself deliberating over the artwork for DESOLATION CODE, the latest thriller in the Clive Cussler legacy, ghostwritten this time by Graham Brown. While the term ghostwriter often implies anonymity, in this case, readers can see Brown's name prominently featured on the bottom of the cover, signifying his contribution to this thrilling tale.

Monday, December 23, 2024

[Review] — CHRISTMAS IN BETHEL is Missing the Holiday Cheer


Having a Christmas or holiday theme in a modern fictional title often feels like a calculated cash grab, with authors and publishers eagerly trying to capture the hearts of the Hallmark-Xmas audience. While I hold a deep affection for the holiday, it was hard to overlook that many of these books tend to be campy, clichéd, and occasionally poorly crafted. However, there's one author who stands out from the crowd—Richard Paul Evans, an author I’ve admired ever since I read The Christmas Box trilogy years ago.

Thursday, December 12, 2024

[Review] — CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN is a Heart-Pounding Page-Turner


When did true crime become such a pervasive phenomenon? It seems to be everywhere these days—flooding our screens and bookshelves with Netflix documentaries, podcasts, YouTube channels, and chilling films. I find myself caught in a curious middle ground: fascinated, yet somewhat detached from it all. However, one of my latest literary adventures took me to CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN, written by Richard Chizmar and released in paperback through Pocket Books. What I initially thought was a straightforward crime thriller turned out to be a cleverly fictionalized true crime narrative, which took me by surprise as I delved into its pages.

Monday, December 9, 2024

[Review] — RUIN ROAD is a Dark, Fast-Paced Read


I picked up RUIN ROAD, written by Lamar Giles and published by Scholastic, predominantly due to its unique cover art—which evoked a nostalgic sense of '80s horror reminiscent of The Twilight Zone. When I learned of the plot, I was intrigued by how it seamlessly weaving elements of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps while echoing the psychological twist that characterized The Twilight Zone.

Monday, December 2, 2024

[Review] — Leaphorn, Chee, & Manuelito Return in Anne Hillerman's LOST BIRDS


I am a latecomer to the world of Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee series, now known as the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series. My journey into this captivating universe began after I watched the first season of AMC's Dark Winds in 2022. Strangely enough, I stumbled upon several of Hillerman's novels at local thrift stores around the same time the show premiered. I can't help but wonder if I had encountered his books in the past but simply overlooked them. Given my strong memory, I find it hard to believe I wouldn’t have recalled seeing those distinctive covers.

Thursday, November 28, 2024

[Review] —THE HOUSE OF LAST RESORT is a Tumultuous Blend Cloaked in a Haunted House Yarn


In my possession for far too long is a copy of Christopher Golden's THE HOUSE OF LAST RESORT, which was published earlier this year by St. Martin's Press. The delay in getting this review out has nothing to do with forgetfulness; I devoured the book right after receiving an advanced reading copy (ARC). However, life threw me a curveball, and my procrastination spiraled out of control. So, I am penning this review on Thanksgiving night, hoping to articulate my thoughts on this intriguing novel.

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

[Review] — Brad Thor's SHADOW OF DOUBT is a Riveting Thriller


A while ago, fueled by my passion for military thrillers, a reader recommended the works of author Brad Thor. Although I was familiar with Thor's name—having seen his books displayed in various bookstores—I had never taken the plunge to read any of them. However, after that recommendation, a curious phenomenon began to occur; I started discovering Brad Thor's novels in thrift stores and even encountered several titles available for free at my local library. Naturally, I couldn't resist adding these finds to my ever-growing home library, which now boasts byzantine of his works. Nevertheless, despite having amassed a collection of his novels, I had yet to delve into them until I finally picked up his latest release, SHADOW OF DOUBT, which was published earlier this year by Emily Bestler Books / Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC.

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

[Review] — THE BOYFRIEND is an Underdeveloped Psychological Thriller


Take a close look at the recent releases in bookstores, and you'll notice an overwhelming abundance of psychological thrillers. Many of these books feature simplistic titles, paired with strikingly similar cover art designs. Among the new authors making waves is Freida McFadden, a talented physician specializing in brain injury. She made her literary debut by self-publishing her first novel in 2013, but it was her gripping thriller, The Housemaid, published in 2022, that propelled her to international stardom. Her latest offering, titled THE BOYFRIEND, hit the shelves on October 1st, released by Poisoned Pen Press.

Monday, November 25, 2024

[Review] — Tom Clancy's SHADOW STATE is Technical-Less Jack Ryan, Jr. Outing


What is it about the striking image of a military boat on a book cover that instantly sends a rush of adrenaline through me? There's something inherently thrilling about the connotations of power, strategy, and high-stakes conflict that draws me in.

Thursday, November 21, 2024

[Review] — The Gray Man is back in the Pulse-Pounding Thriller, THE CHAOS AGENT


Mark Greaney's highly anticipated 13th installment in the Gray Man series, titled THE CHAOS AGENT, is set to grace bookstore shelves in paperback on November 26th, courtesy of the Berkley Publishing Group. This announcement sparked a memory of the hardback sitting on a shelf; lingering there, waiting for a review. In the spirit of honesty, I must admit that I read the book several months back; however, to refresh my thoughts and dive deep into the narrative, I decided to reread it.

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

[Review] — James Patterson's LIES HE TOLD ME is an Intriguing, Mindless Fluff


James Patterson novels are plentiful—trust me, my visits to thrift stores have confirmed this. You can easily find at least one new title every month, and for dedicated fans, it is often a challenge to keep up with the latest releases. His most recent thriller, LIES HE TOLD ME, was co-authored with David Ellis and published by Little, Brown and Company.

Monday, November 18, 2024

[Review] — STAR TREK: STRANGE WORDS: ASYLUM is a Boring, Cluttered Space Adventure


Let's cut straight to the chase: I thought the latest Star Trek tie-in novel, STAR TREK: STRANGE WORDS: ASYLUM, released on November 5th by Gallery Books and penned by Una McCormack, to be deeply disappointing. McCormack, who has an impressive track record with eleven previous Star Trek novels—including titles like The Fall: The Crimson Shadow and Picard: The Last Best Hope—should have been well-equipped to craft a compelling story within the Strange New Worlds framework. However, the portrayal of the beloved characters, particularly Una Chin-Riley (more commonly known as Number One), falls drastically short. Instead of the strong, nuanced character fans have come to appreciate, she comes across as a watered-down, almost satirical version of herself. The rest of the Enterprise crew, including Captain Christopher Pike, feels similarly out of touch; his dialogue often strikes a tone that veers too far into modernity, pulling viewers away from the essence of Star Trek

Friday, November 8, 2024

[Review] — THE HERD is a Unique Take on the Vampire Genre


I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE HERD by Russell Bell Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway! 


Find "THE HERD" on Goodreads and Books2Read
Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited Membership

About the Book


Sixteen-year-old Susan kneels before the Temple steps whispering the sacred prayer…

We are the Herd, human servants to the immortal Akharu, Lords of the Night. The Akharu are our Kings. The Akharu are our Gods. We honor them with our hands. We worship them with our hearts. We nourish them with our blood.

She is preparing for the Branding, the sacred ceremony where the Akharu choose which humans will be allowed to stay in the Closure, and which will be taken away forever. As she enters the Temple, Susan is confident that she’ll receive her brand. She’s devoted her life to the Akharu.

But so did her older brother, Trevor. And he was taken.

Ryan, Susan’s fifteen-year-old brother, kneels behind her. He only mouths the prayers. The Akharu have already taken his older brother and now they may take his sister as well. He doesn't want his brand.

He wants revenge.

Will Susan receive her brand or will she find out what happens to the Unworthy?

As he seeks his revenge, Ryan discovers powers he doesn't understand. Will they help him against the Akharu? Or is he becoming one of them?

THE HERD is a fascinating new take on the vampire genre. It is an action-packed adventure that takes place in the feudal Kingdom of Larkspur, where horses and swords rule the day and the bloodthirsty Akharu reigns at night.

 

READ THE REVIEWS!


"A SPELLBINDING STORYTELLER WITH FULLY DEVELOPED CHARACTERS!"


"THE HERD DREW ME IN IMMEDIATELY WITH ITS WORLD-BUILDING AND CHARACTERS I WANTED TO ROOT FOR!"


"I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!"


"ADDICTIVE!"


Billy's Review 


THE HERD
is a fast-paced and cleverly written young adult vampire story that defies the typical vampire narrative. It combines elements of dystopian fiction, fantasy, non-gory horror, and drama, creating a blend that almost works if it wasn't for a few cliched moments that seasoned readers might notice, though they aren't particularly bothersome. 

The writing is quite decent for a debut author. The characters are interesting, the dialogue is lively, and the descriptions are well-suited for a young adult book. 

Overall, THE HERD offers a unique take on the vampire genre. Despite minor criticisms (or nitpicks), I enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it to others. ╌★★★★✰

 

About Russell Bell


Russell was an international drama teacher for many years, teaching in Mumbai India and in Dubai, UAE. Living in these different countries sparked in me a passion for religion and culture, eventually inspiring this dystopian world of the Akharu. And, of course, many years of teaching theater to young adults has taught him that nothing beats an exciting story. He now lives in San Jose, Costa Rica with his wife, two children, and two dogs.


Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE HERD.

US Only.

Ends November 12th, midnight EST.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

Week One:

10/28/2024

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

10/29/2024

TX Girl Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

10/30/2024

thefashoionistfiles

Excerpt/IG Post

10/31/2024

Deal sharing aunt

Interview/IG Post

11/1/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

11/4/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

11/5/2024

@alexandriavwilliams_

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/6/2024

The Real World According to Sam

Review/IG Post

11/7/2024

Books With a Chance

Review/IG Post

11/8/2024

Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Review/IG Post


Thursday, November 7, 2024

[Review] — WILLIAM is a Horrifying AI Tale


Thanks to recent technological advancements, the idea of artificial intelligence going awry is no longer a far-fetched concept. The new thriller WILLIAM—spelled W1LL1AM on the cover—by Mason Coile, a pseudonym for the award-winning author Andrew Pyper (known for The Demonologist and Lost Girls), adds his own horrifying twists to this theme.