Tuesday, October 22, 2019

13 Reads of Horror! - Psycho II by Robert Bloch

book review , Halloween
13 Reads of Horror! - Psycho II by Robert Bloch

One of the greatest horror sequels happens to be 1983's Psycho II starring Anthony Perkins. What many people probably don't know is that there's another Psycho II! Yep, Robert Bloch (the author of the original Psycho novel) wrote a sequel that was released in 1982. He had finished writing the book before Universal Studios had finished the screenplay for their sequel film. The sequels have two completely different plots. Robert Bloch's sequel is more of a satire about Hollywood gory horror films. The 1983 film involved Norman Bates being released from a mental institution and reenters society. Universals Studios didn't like Robert Bloch's sequel and desperately attempted to stop him from publishing it. They feared it would hurt their movie. Bloch went ahead with his novel and Universal Studios refused to invite him to any Psycho II screenings.

Robert Bloch's Psycho II is set 20 years after the original novel and during this time Norman Bates has been in a mental hospital receiving treatment for his multiple personalities, which seems to have finally been cured. However, after two visiting nuns arrive at the hospital, Norman snaps. He kills one of the nuns, puts on her hammock, and escapes in a van. The authorities finds the charred remains of the van along with two bodies - one female and one male, which the latter being believed to be Norman Bates.

Later, somebody goes on a killing spree, starting with Sam and Lilia Loomis in Fairvale. Then the killer heads to Hollywood, where a movie studio is making a movie about Norman Bates.

Has "Mother" returned to protect Norman again?

Final Thoughts

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Monday, October 21, 2019

13 Reads of Horror! - Psycho by Robert Bloch

book review , Halloween
13 Reads of Horror! - Psycho by Robert Bloch


I believe I was eight or nine-years-old when I first saw the classic Albert Hitchcock's Psycho. It aired on a local channel so it was edited a bit. Nevertheless, I became a huge fan of the Psycho movie series at an early age.

For those of you who aren't already aware of this, Psycho was based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch, who would later go on to write two sequel novels, Psycho II and Psycho House. And, no, sequel books' plots were never used for the sequel films.

Psycho centers around an overweight 40-year-old Norman Bates who runs his mother's motel. On a late stormy night, a young beautiful woman, Mary Crane, arrives at the motel looking for a room for the night. Let's just say things to go to well for Mary as she's brutally murdered by what look likes Norman's mother, Norma.

Unknown to Norman, Mary had stolen $40,000 from her boss and now many people are searching for her, including her boyfriend - Sam Loomis, her little sister - Lila, and a private investigator - Milton Arbogast. All the evidences points Mary's whereabouts to Bates Motel!

Final Thoughts

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Sunday, October 20, 2019

13 Reads of Horror! - The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker

book review , Halloween
13 Reads of Horror! - The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker

For the life of me, I cannot remember when I first read The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker, which is the novella that inspired the classic horror film Hellraiser (and its many sequels). I'm going to take a wild guess that I'd purchased the book at Barnes & Noble during my teenage years (a.k.a. the mid-'90s). This was probably right after I first saw the edited versions of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II on cable.

The Hellbound Heart is a dark twisted fairy tale with lots gore. It begins with Frank Cotton, a pleasure seeker searching for the Lemarchand Configuration, which is a puzzle box that's supposed to open up a gate to another realm full of carnal pleasures. However, pleasure is the last thing Frank receives after solving the box. The Cenobites, former humans turned into disfigured creatures, are released from the box. A price must be paid for anyone who calls upon them and for Frank, that price is his soul.

Sometime later, Rory Cotton (Frank's brother) and his wife Julia move into his later mother's home (and the last place Frank was seen alive). Prior to the their marriage, Julia had an intense affair with Frank. She has no romantic feelings for Rory and only stays with him for his money.

After Rory cuts his thumb, a few drops of his blood drips on the attic floor where Frank was tortured and taken by the Cenobites. The blood mixes in with Frank's dead sperm that was left on the floor from his torment. This causes Frank to be reborn as a fleshly creature. With Julia's help, she lures unsuspecting men from bars to the attic so she can murder them and let Frank feed on their blood. The more Frank feeds, the faster his body heals.

The only person standing in their way is Kristy - a dear friend of Rory's who finds the Lemarchand Configuration and makes a deal with the Cenobite leader.

Final Thoughts

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Sunday Post: 10/20/19

Sunday Post ,
Sunday Post: 10/20/19
Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer!

Good Morning, Everyone!


What Am I Currently Reading?


It's going to be a really busy week full of reading for me. My plans for last week was to stay a few days ahead of my reviews but, sadly, that didn't happen. So, my plan for this week is to a read a horror book in the early morning hours and post a review for it in the afternoon (if not sooner) per day for my 13 Reads of Horror event that started yesterday with Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin.

The horror titles I will be reading/ reviewing are: The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker; Psycho by Robert Bloch; Psycho II by Robert Bloch; Psycho House by Robert Bloch; The Other by Thomas Tryon; Ravensridge by Jennifer Hale; and The Place by T.M. Wright.

(FYI: I'm writing this post on Saturday night. I'll be reading The Hellbound Heart on Sunday morning, so there's a good chance I've already read the book by the time everyone is reading this post.)

Additionally, I'll be reading/reviewing A Cross To Kill by Andrew Huff sometime this week for a blog tour.


Recent Reviews

by Ira Levin
(13 Reads of Horror!)

by Barbara Cameron
(Fall Reads)

(Midnight Horror Review)

by Beverly Lewis
(Fall Reads)


What's In The Mail?


I received two new Blu-rays last week to review - 3 From Hell and The Lion King. 3 From Hell is the third installment in Rob Zombie's "Firefly" series. The Lion King is the CGI live-action remake of the classic animated movie. I haven't had time to watch the latter yet but I will be doing so sometime today as I need to have my review posted by Tuesday. 


What New on the Bookshelf?


In last week's Sunday Post, I had complained about my local Walmart not stocking books. Well, guess what? The book department was actually stocked this week with newer books, including Dog Diaries: Happy Howlidays! by James Patterson and Steven Butler. This is one Patterson title that slipped right by my radar as I had no clue it was being released until I accidentally came across it. I had went in the store on Tuesday night to quickly get a few things and I just happened to push the shopping cart by the end of the book section. Then I came to a complete stop because eyes got a glimpse of what looked like a "James Patterson" title. I backed up and Voilà, I was right! Since it's a Christmas-themed book, I'll either read it in November or December.


I stopped by the local thrift store today (Saturday) with little expectations of actually finding anything worth wild but lo and behold, I actually found several books. The first two paperbacks I grabbed were Carson of Venus and Escape of Venus by Edgar Rice Burroughs (author Tarzan of the Apes and John Carter of Mars), which are 3 & 4 of The Venus Series. Then I moved over to the other side of the book area where there were three bookshelves full of titles. It was there I found the hardcover The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, which is a 2011 YA dark mystery. I'm not familiar with the author but the cover art caught my attention. Next, I found two paperbacks: Planet Of Judgement by Joe Haldeman and The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein. Planet Of Judgment is a 1977 Star Trek novel. The Puppet Masters was first published in 1951 and was adapted into a movie in 1994 starring Donald Sutherland. Before I left the store, I ended up browsing the bookshelf where I found the Venus books and I found book 2, Lost On Venus. 

Now I've never read the Venus books but I'm aware they're science fiction pulp novels that were written in the 1930s. I'm very interested in reading the books this winter, which lead me to buy the eBooks of Pirates of Venus (book 1) and The Wizard of Venus (book 5) for $.99 each. 

Speaking of eBooks, I recently received "Short Horror Stories: Vol. 1" from Team Scare Street, which I'm hoping to review as soon as I can. Maybe not this week but soon! Also, I just purchased two $1.99 titles on my Kindle - Raylan Goes To Detroit by Peter Leonard and The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty.

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Saturday, October 19, 2019

13 Reads of Horror! - Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin

book review , Halloween
13 Reads of Horror! - Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin


I'm taking a wild guess that almost every horror fan has heard or seen the 1968 classic Rosemary's Baby starring Mia Farrow, which is one of the scariest films ever made. The movie is an adaptation of the 1967 novel of the same name by Ira Levin.

I had stumbled up on Rosemary's Baby while searching for a novel to read for a book report for an English class during my freshman year of high school in the mid-1990s. Originally, the book belonged to my grandmother, who had moved away after the death of my grandfather, and most of her books were being stored at my parent's house. It was a first-print hardback edition minus the original cover jacket. I still have this book as well as "The Stephen King Horror Library" edition.

Shortly after reading the book, the movie adaptation aired on TNT late at night. I recorded it on a VHS (Remember those?) and I later watched it. It's one of the best book-to-film adaptations ever produced as it goes exactly by Ira Levin's original story.

Rosemary's Baby is a psychological horror tale centered around Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse, a newly married Manhattan couple who move into a new apartment building, the Bramford, which has a deadly past involving witchcraft and murder. Usually, this would be a turn off for just about anybody else but Guy and Rosemary don't believe in superstitious. Shortly after moving into the apartment, they meet their odd elderly neighbors - Roman and Minnie Castevet.

While not planned, Rosemary becomes pregnant after having a bizarre nightmare involving a satanic ritual. Being young and naive, she takes advice from the Castevets and uses their doctor - Dr. Abraham Sapirstein, who insists she should drink homemade "health" drinks made by Minnie instead of taking prenatal vitamins. Let's just say the next few months aren't very good experiences for Rosemary. Instead of gaining pounds like all expecting mother's do, she quickly loses weight near to the point that she almost resembles a skeleton. Plus, she has a horrible pain coming from her womb. Over time, the pain magically disappears and she puts on baby weight.

With her due date just around the corner, Rosemary learns her neighbors are not who they say they are and that her unborn child is in danger.

Final Thoughts

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Friday, October 18, 2019

Book Blogger Hop: October 18th - 24th

book blogger hop , Halloween 2019
Book Blogger Hop: October 18th - 24th

Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop! 


If you want to schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

The Book Blogger Hop now has its own Facebook Group! Please join the group to get all the newest Book Blogger Hop updates. Also, you can communicate with your fellow book bloggers in the group.

What To Do

1. Post on your blog answering this question:
This week's question is submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer.

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below. Please enter your Name/Nickname @ Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Here's an example: Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer

3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading a few posts and possible become a new follower. 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.
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Fall Reads: Summer's Promise

Fall Reads ,
Fall Reads: Summer's Promise

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

AMAZON
Typically in the autumn months, I tend to read only horror or Halloween themed novels but here I am writing a review for the Amish romance "Summer's Promise" by Barbara Cameron, which was just released last month from Gilead Publishing. I've read a few other books by the author so I naturally wanted to read this one as well.

The novel centers around Summer Carson (Yep! That's a name!), a young woman who's trying to get her degree in agricultural science so she can follow in her late father's footsteps to help work with the local farmers. When Summer's not taking care of her mother, she's working part-time at the county agricultural office, a place where she occasionally has to socialize with Amish farmers. Her knowledge of Pennsylvania Deitsch is very limited.

 This is a romance novel, so of course there is a suitor for Summer - Abram Yoder, a young Amish man who catches Summer's eye fairly quickly upon meeting. Despite being worlds apart, her being Englisch and him being Amish, sparks fly between the two but Summer's love for her Englisch lifestyle could be a bit of problem for them.

Final Thoughts

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Thursday, October 17, 2019

Holiday Gift Guide 2019 Signup

Holiday Gift Guide 2019 ,
Holiday Gift Guide 2019 Signup



Yes, I know I'm probably late in the game to be planning a Holiday Gift Guide for 2019. As many of you know, it's been stressful year for me, so stressful that I almost decided not to do a gift guide this year. However, I do enjoy putting together the gift guide posts/reviews each and every year, and at the last minute, I decided to do a Holiday Gift Guide (Nov. 29th to Dec. 23rd) for 2019.

Now I can't put together a gift guide by myself as I will need a bit of help from sponsors. As always my Holiday Gift Guide will showcase different brands, products and services.

Before emailing me, please read over the details on how to participate in the Holiday Gift Guide.


Holiday Gift Guide Details



Review Only: 
  • Reviews are free.
  • Each review will contain a picture of the product.
  • Each review will contain a purchase link.
  • Each review link will be posted on my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
  • A link will be featured on the Holiday Gift Guide 2019 landing page.
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Midnight Horror Review - 3 From Hell

midnight horror , movies
Midnight Horror Review - 3 From Hell

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

Walmart; Target
The Rob Zombie directed horror film 3 From Hell (R; 115 minutes) was released to Blu-ray (+ DVD + Digital) this week by Lionsgate Home Entertainment & Saban Films, featuring both the rated & unrated versions. It's also available to own on 4K Ultra Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital.

3 From Hell is the follow-up to Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses (2003) and The Devil's Rejects (2005). In the opening minutes, we learn the serial killers Baby Firefly (played by Sheri Moon Zombie), her adopted brother Otis Driftwood (played by Bill Moseley, and Captain Spaulding (played by the late Sid Haig) miraculously survived being shot 20 times each by the police. They were tried and convicted for their crimes.

Spoiler Warning: Captain Spaulding is executed by lethal injection, while Otis and Baby are sentenced to life in prison. Well, that is until Otis' half-brother Winslow Foxworth "Foxy" Coltrane (played by Richard Brake) helps Otis escape. Then they come up with a plan to break Baby out of the slammer. The trio go on a killing spree as they head off to Mexico to escape the authorities.


Special Features
  • To Hell and Back: The Making of 3 From Hell
    • (Blu-ray Only - 4-Part Documentary)
  • Audio Commentary with Writer-Director Rob Zombie


Final Thoughts

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Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Fall Reads: The Road Home by Beverly Lewis

Fall Reads ,
Fall Reads: The Road Home by Beverly Lewis

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

AMAZON
I wasn't even aware there was such as thing as "Amish romances" or an "Amish genre" until I read The Covenant by Beverly Lewis (a.k.a. the first book in the Abram's Daughters series) in either 2002 or 2003. Since then, I've read many Amish stories by many authors but my favorite happens to be Beverly Lewis. That being said, I've fallen a bit behind with the author's recent releases. However, I was able to do a bit of  reading catch up in September, which is when I finally got around to reading the author's 2018 novel The Road Home (320 pages; Bethany House).

Set in 1977, the novel centers around Lena Rose Schwartz, a young Amish woman from Michigan who's forced to move to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to live with a new family after the death of her parents. Lena wanted to take care of her nine siblings but the bishop disagreed and sent all of them to different families. Adjusting to a new settlement has been a huge challenge, especially since she has been separated from her siblings and left behind her beau, Hans Bontrager.

Final Thoughts

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