CREEPY PRESENTS RICHARD CORBEN
Publisher: DARK HORSE COMICS
Pub Date: JULY 24, 2012
ISBN:  9781595829191
Contributors: Richard Corben, Al Hewetson, Bill DuBay, Bruce Jones, Budd Lewis, Donald F. McGregor; Doug Moench, Gerald Conway, Grerry Boudreau, Greg Potter, Jack Butterworth, Jim Stenstrum, Rich Margopoulos, Roger McKenzie; and Steve Skeates


    Dark Horse Comics has compiled together the best stories from comic book artist Richard Corben that appeared in the Creepy and Eerie series. I requested to review an Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley because Richard Corben is from my home state of Missouri, and I was aware of his fun and weird illustrations. Besides from the artwork, Richard also wrote some of the stories that he illustrated.

This edition includes the following stories:

EMERALD CITY DREAMER
Written by: LUNA LINDSEY
Published by: LUNA LINDSEY PUBLISHING
ASIN: B007L9CTEI
Pages: 379
Pub Date: March 15th, 2012

    I didn’t know what to except when I signed up to review Emerald City Dreamer, Book One in the Dreams by Streetlight series, courtesy of Bewitching Book Tours. With the cool cover of the woman carrying a sword and guitar, I obviously thought the book would be about a rocker/vampire hunter, but I was wrong. Here we get a gothic rocker Jina, who runs a support group with her friend Sandy. Is this a support group for alcoholics? Not even close. It’s a support group for anyone who has been traumatized by faeries. Yes, I said faeries. And let’s just say they get a wide varieties into the group, some that have experienced other supernatural events, and some are fakes or crazies. On a rare occasion they find someone that has either seen a faerie or has been victimized by one.

    The support group is just a cover as Jina and Sandy are really looking for recruits for their secret order, which involves tracking down and killing the faeries!

The Enchanted Bookstore Legends are about Lyra McCauley, a woman destined to become one of five strong women in her family who possess unique magical abilities and serve as Scribes in Dragonspeir. The Scribes span a long history, dating from 1200 to present day. Each Scribe is expected to journey through Dragonspeir, both the good and evil factions, then draft a written account. Each book contains magic with vast implications.

Lyra was first introduced to Dragonspeir as a young girl, when she met the high sorcerer, Cullen Drake, through a gift of one of those enchanted books. Using its magic, he escorted her into the parallel world of Dragonspeir. Years later, she lost that volume and forgot the world and Cullen. These legends begin where he finds her again—she is thirty-five, standing in his enchanted bookstore, and Dragonspeir needs her.

In my thirty-year career in human services, I often counseled people experiencing PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). These issues are explored in my writings. The Other Side of Darkness is more than a romantic suspense. It is the story of believers who struggle to overcome significant past pain interfering with a full and satisfying spiritual life in the present.

Samantha Knowles is a victim of child abuse. She has trouble sleeping and is an overachiever. She strives to find purpose in her pain through her career as a Special Victims Prosecutor. However, she fails to recognize how she uses her position to exact revenge rather than the positive change she desires. In order to move from darkness to light, Sam must confront her post traumatic stress. Only when she surrenders her past to God is she able, with His help, to move from darkness to Light.

HOPE SPRINGS
Written by: KIM CASH TATE
Published by: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978-1-59554-997-6
Pages: 328
Pub Date: June 12, 2012

Becca Anderson has the chance to boost her career when she is invited to be the newest speaker at the Christian Women’s Conference. Her father-in-law suddenly dies, leaving her future in jeopardy as her husband feels he needs to pastor his father’s church in the small town of Hope Springs, NC.

Widowed Janelle Evans has lost her faith and is somewhat dreading going back to Hope Springs for a family reunion as this is the first without her late husband. Soon after arriving, she is reintroduced to the Sanders clan and learns that her grandmother is sick, resulting in her deciding to stay longer than she had planned.

Janelle’s Cousin Stephanie Landon is married to a doctor in St. Louis, and comes to the family reunion too. She also decides to stay a bit longer and help Janelle care for their grandmother.

FIVE MILES SOUTH OF PECULIAR
Written by: ANGELA HUNT
Published by: HOWARD BOOKS
ISBN: 978-1-4391-8204-8
Pages: 374
Pub Date: 2012

 On the morning of July 3, 1968, Charles Caldwell died. His estate, known as Sycamores, would become the property of Jackson County, Florida on July 3, 2018. Charles was a smart man, sheltering his land from any taxes, and setting up for any Caldwell descendant living on the property to receive a monthly income.

    Now this takes us to the present day where the widow Darlene Caldwell Young has spent most of her life taking care of the Sycamores in the small town of Peculiar. Her kids are now adults living in other states, and now it is just her and her younger unmarried sister, Magnolia or as everyone calls her, Nolia. Darlene’s fiftieth birthday is coming up and her boyfriend Henry, who is also the town’s mayor and owner of the local Piggly Wiggly, is planning a huge celebration.

    Meanwhile in New York, Carlene Caldwell, whom recently had throat surgery, is dealing with the thought that she might never be able to sing on stage again. Her agent recommends her to start acting in movies, which means moving to California. That’s when she gets a letter from Henry informing her that Peculiar is celebrating her twin's birthday, the sister she has been estranged from. She decides maybe returning to Sycamore is what she needed.