"There's a man who walks beside me It is who I used to be And I wonder if she sees him And confuses him with me" ~Jason Isbell, "Live Oak"
Billy Summers is"There's a man who walks beside me It is who I used to be And I wonder if she sees him And confuses him with me" ~Jason Isbell, "Live Oak"
Billy Summers is an ex-Marine sniper-turned-hitman. He is one of the best at making the shot and getting away clean. Houdini, they call him; he has been at it for years, and it’s time to get out while the gettin’ is good. It seems a simple plot, one most of us have read before, but this story is so much more. It is about life, choices and friendships, and how sometimes the Fates hand out bouquets and sometimes they hand out horror. Our reaction to each determines where we end up.
A word of caution — the beginning is as slow as molasses in January. But while I was wondering if I should continue, King was expertly planting seeds. It all came together about a quarter of the way in, and I knew he had me.
I have been a fan since Carrie scared the bejesus out of me as a kid. I read him religiously for years, and then we drifted apart. Billy Summers has renewed my love for this author. The tension was perfect, I laughed quite often and even shed a tear or two. I adored Billy and his motley crew, and am ever so glad to have met them.
If you are, or have been, a fan of Stephen King, there is an excellent chance you’ll love this one. In my opinion, it is one of his best recent works.
“And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche
Thriller writer Douglas Preston moved his family t“And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche
Thriller writer Douglas Preston moved his family to the rolling hills of Tuscany in August of 2000 to fulfill a lifelong dream of living in Italy while researching his latest novel. But when he found that the farmhouse they’d rented had been the scene of a grizzly double homicide, his tale took an unanticipated turn. Intrigued, he met with Italian investigative journalist, Mario Spezi.
In 1981, Spezi received a call about a murder. The rest, as they say, is history. The newspaperman dove into the investigation and became the foremost expert on the "Monster" serial killings. Fourteen young people were slaughtered between 1974 and 1985 by the "Monster of Florence" — the name the journalist had given the predator in one of his early articles. Spezi believed that a homicide back in 1968 had started it all - though the police hotly disagreed with his theory.
The first half of this book reads like a fiction novel, a gruesome one, but compelling nonetheless. The history, massacres, investigation fiascos, and endless arrests of innocent people had me glued to the pages. Unfortunately, the book's second half was often like eating crackers in the desert with no water in sight—a bit dry. I finished it, though, because I needed to know what happened - and plenty happened.
As the pair finished writing this book, they were arrested: Preston for obstruction, and Spezi accused of complicity in the monster killings. They had evidently stirred a hornet’s nest with their in-depth research.
The book is well written and includes a plethora of information about Florence and Tuscany. It’s worth a read, and for true-crime fans, The Monster of Florence is bound to be a winner....more
"It wouldn't make for sanity would it, living with the devil." ― Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca
From the moment I began this enigmatic story, I felt as "It wouldn't make for sanity would it, living with the devil." ― Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca
From the moment I began this enigmatic story, I felt as if I were a naughty houseguest who had slipped into a closed room to peek at someone’s diary. It was wicked and forbidden, so of course, I couldn’t pull myself away. Glancing over my shoulder to make sure I hadn’t been found out, I wrapped myself up in the beautiful prose and fell in love with the widower Maxim de Winter and his young miss, the narrator of this sinfully delicious tale.
"I am glad it cannot happen twice, the fever of first love. For it is a fever, and a burden, too, whatever the poets may say."
They met in Monte Carlo, the brooding Mr. de Winter master of Manderley, an English estate, and the young lady, a hired companion to Mrs. Van Hopper. A most unlikely pairing with him in his forties and her having just reached the tender age of twenty-one; but when Maxim de Winter showed interest, our narrator fell for him hook, line and sinker. In the space of three weeks, it was all done and dusted.
"Either you go to America with Mrs. Van Hopper or you come home to Manderley with me."
"Do you mean you want a secretary or something?"
"No, I'm asking you to marry me, you little fool."
Admittedly not the proposal of her dreams, but it did what it set out to do, and they were married immediately. The stage was set for a long and happy union. What starry-eyed nonsense, you say. I was promised a thrill! Well, don’t hurry off too quickly, my fellow bibliophiles, for within this fairytale lurks an evil that will eat away at the de Winter’s peace with big slurping bites, and her name is Rebecca.
"Rebecca, always Rebecca. Wherever I walked in Manderley, wherever I sat, even in my thoughts and in my dreams, I met Rebecca."
Written in the first person, we are only privy to the narrator’s narrow point of view. Each time the new Mrs. de Winter meets someone, we are offered only tiny snippets of the past, and these morsels of information spin a vile web in her mind that almost drove us both to the brink of insanity!
Rebecca is a haunting masterpiece replete with enchanting gloominess. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a tense Gothic thriller and scrumptious prose....more
"Our actions have consequences that last long after us, entwining the present with the future in ways we cannot begin to understand." —Greg Iles, "Our actions have consequences that last long after us, entwining the present with the future in ways we cannot begin to understand." —Greg Iles, The Quiet Game
Going into this book, I didn’t know what to expect. I read Cemetery Road last year and was nearly waterlogged by the time I'd finished. As far as I was concerned, this author had a mountain to climb, but Mr. Iles soon proved that it wasn’t even a hill for a high-stepper like him!
The main character, Penn Cage, is brilliantly fleshed out and I liked him from the outset. Surrounded by a great supporting cast, I was invested in the well-being of these people, with whom I got cozy as I settled into the fictional streets of Natchez, Mississippi.
"We are always spiraling around something, whether we see it or not, a secret center of gravity with the invisible power of a black hole."
Cage is the quintessential small-town-boy-done-well until tragedy strikes. He soon realizes he is metaphorically swimming against the current with one arm tied behind his back and is losing the fight. The young lawyer packs up his life in Houston and heads back home to Natchez to figure out his next steps. In this case, the saying ‘you can’t go home again’ should be changed to ‘going home again will kill you, boy!’ From the moment he steps onto a plane bound for Mississippi, fate throws a wrench into the works of every plan, changing the course of his life and those of everyone around him.
Filled with explosions, gunplay, and some southern heat, The Quiet Game is anything but quiet....more
This gritty edge-of-your-seat thriller was worth every chill bump it aroused. I connected with the introverted main character, author Lowen Ashleigh, This gritty edge-of-your-seat thriller was worth every chill bump it aroused. I connected with the introverted main character, author Lowen Ashleigh, from the outset; the struggling writer's mischievous sense of humor created a perfect bite of sweet and sour. At times, the dark subject matter leaned toward gruesome, but this was to be expected within this genre. The baddies are rotten to the bone, and the storyline packs some serious heat. There is a strong element of romance, but this is by no means a cotton candy tale all wrapped up with a pretty bow.
Was I highly entertained? Absolutely!! This book is the equivalent of a fast ride in a burning car hurtling down the side of a mountain.
Verity is my first read by author Colleen Hoover; it certainly won’t be my last. Her writing style is direct, with a cinematic quality that I appreciated. If wicked is what you are looking for, dive in, while the bodies are still warm!...more
"I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I wi"I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other." ― Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
I’ve watched the numerous movie versions of this classic horror tale, but nothing could have prepared me for how deeply touching the original story is when read.
My heart ached for creature and creator equally. After reading the book, I find it difficult to decide who the real monster is - a creator who abandoned his handiwork without giving it the coping mechanisms to navigate the world or the so-called beast who reacted with the rage a child might feel after being thrust into an unaccepting society.
Frankenstein is a tale of obsession, longing, desperation, and desolation. A toxic relationship between a father and his son who only find resolution in death.
I did, at times, find the length of the descriptive text a slog. But when I think about an eighteen-year-old lady taking up a challenge from the likes of Lord Byron and John Polidori to determine which of them could write the best horror story, I have to give credit where it's due. Mary Shelley came through with flying colors!
My thanks to Julie for her splendid review, which convinced me to take up this classic! Julie's review...more
"When Ross MacLeod pulled the trigger and brought down the pheasant, he had no way of knowing he’d killed himself. And billions of others."
Antici"When Ross MacLeod pulled the trigger and brought down the pheasant, he had no way of knowing he’d killed himself. And billions of others."
Anticipation crackles on crisp winter air as the world stands on the cusp of a new year. The MacLeod family plan to bring it in with panache, as they do every year at their ancestral farm in Dumfries, Scotland. However, the nightmarish promise that this new year holds blows in on dark whispers from a stone circle on the property.
“Often on dark nights, they’d crept out of the house to hike to the very field they walked now, to hold secret meetings and try to raise the spirits within the little stone circle the locals called sgiath de solas, shield of light.”
It is the beginning of the end for this tight-knit family and billions of others across the globe. Ross MacLeod, on his return to the United States, brings more than goodwill back from Scotland. He gifts everyone he encounters with a killer virus that is aptly named ‘Doom’. The opening of a magick portal sends a shockwave of death and awakening shuddering across the planet. Humans with latent magical powers suddenly find themselves dripping with ability, though not everyone immune to the Doom virus possess these newfound skills. A Mad Max foot-on-the-throttle world quickly emerges, pitting light against dark.
The concept was interesting, but I’m sorry to say that the plot was sadly predictable and I couldn’t connect with any of the leading players. A few moments had me crossing my fingers and toes that the story might finally take off. Unfortunately, the Year One series and I will part ways here.
Since I’m not a serious fan of ‘end of the world’ scenarios, unless the concept is extraordinary, please don’t let my rating scare you off. Go ahead and give this book a whirl if dystopian fiction with a side of magic appeals. Nora Roberts is a prolific author with a great many novels under her belt....more
“Sometimes what you think you'll find It ain't quite what real life has in store So be careful what you wish for.” Luke Combs, Be Careful What You Wish F“Sometimes what you think you'll find It ain't quite what real life has in store So be careful what you wish for.” Luke Combs, Be Careful What You Wish For
If handed a charm that could grant you three wishes with a warning that the outcome might not be the fairytale you'd dreamed of, would you dare?
Enter "the Whites", an ordinary family living a comfortable life who received such a talisman, and they began to wonder… Perhaps, if they weren’t too greedy, they might minimize any consequences. Or perhaps nothing at all would come of it. After all, who’d ever heard of a wish-granting monkey paw? What harm could a tiny wish do? With that, Mr. White hoped for the best and threw caution to the wind.
Within this bodeful tale, will his desires be dispensed, or will a cruel payment be exacted?
If you haven’t read this chilling short story, published in 1902, you are in for a treat! (Or perhaps even a trick.)...more
Cemetery Road is like a carnival ride … a carnival ride with plenty of drownings!
There was a moment where I swore that if one more person drowned I waCemetery Road is like a carnival ride … a carnival ride with plenty of drownings!
There was a moment where I swore that if one more person drowned I was going to scream! That being said, there are redeeming features within these pages. The writing is on point, and the author captured the essence of what a thriller should be with an edge-of-your-seat feeling throughout—despite the number of people who ended up in Davey Jones’ Locker. The main character, Marshall, is a bit of a douche; a likeable one, but a douche all the same. His character flaws made it difficult for me to fully engage with him. Thankfully, there was a plethora of supporting characters, most of whom I did love. And I have to give props to Greg Iles for the ending. He wrapped it up perfectly and, though there was no pretty bow, it felt real.
I didn’t see fireworks while reading this novel, but gave it a solid three and a half stars without reserve....more
The first, Rugged Defender, is a sweet, easy read. Set in Whitehorse, Montana, during the holidays, this is a tale of Two novellas, sold as one book.
The first, Rugged Defender, is a sweet, easy read. Set in Whitehorse, Montana, during the holidays, this is a tale of young love revisited, with a dash of murder investigation on the side. Chloe Clementine and Justin Calhoun shared a magical kiss at the New Year’s Eve masquerade ball five years ago and haven’t seen each other since. Back in town, Chloe, now an investigative reporter, has been digging into the death of Justin’s brother, which was suspiciously ruled an accident. Set against a backdrop of family drama, flying bullets, and the thrill of a murder plot involving almost the entire town, Justin and Chloe wonder if the magic is still there. The plot worked well, and the writing flowed evenly from beginning to end.
The second story, Big Sky Dynasty was more to my liking with a grittier storyline. Dalton Corbett, married to the most evil woman on earth, has been living with that mistake for nine long years. Dalton and his brothers are called home to Whitehorse to help their father work the family ranch. With this new beginning, he imagines his devil wife to be out of his life forever. He couldn’t be more wrong. Georgia Michaels, on the other hand, is sweet and trusting, and when Dalton bursts into her yarn store like a bull in a china cabinet, sparks fly between her and the hunky cowboy. However, they have deadly obstacles to hurdle and his trying to keep Georgia’s friends from being murdered takes center stage. This tale held, more than the other, my interest.
The writing is solid, and it’s a quick book to finish. Overall, I liked it, not loved it.
This is a difficult one to score. Both stories are well written but generally lacked the wow factor that I’ve found in recent reads. 3.5 rounded up to 4....more
"If you only knew in your own heart how many hardships you were fated to undergo before getting back to your country, you would stay here with me a"If you only knew in your own heart how many hardships you were fated to undergo before getting back to your country, you would stay here with me and be the lord of this household and be an immortal." —Homer
Five explosive stars! A must-read!
The Fish that Climbed a Tree is the third novel I’ve read by Kevin Ansbro. I emerged from the final lines utterly mesmerized, my mind coated in the delicious silky richness of his playful Dickens-esque writing style, finding the story had burned itself into my memory for all time.
This novel is a stroll through the darkest parts of humanity, and also a rocket ship ride to paradise. Not for the faint of heart, the narrative is gloriously spine-chilling and filled with an abundance of vivid characters: some I loved, some I hated, and others I feared. There were times when I was forced to read through the cracks between my fingers then, just when I thought my heart couldn’t take another second of trepidation, a laugh-out-loud moment would break the seal of evil, drawing me deeper into the lives of my new fictional friends.
Henry Drummond, the main character of this masterpiece is absolutely adorable. I wanted to put him in my pocket and take him home with me. The tale started explosively and never let off the gas. I found myself staring at the screen on many occasions with my mouth agape, mind blown and in awe of the pure writing talent of this author. Once you crack the cover, be prepared to put your life on hold and immerse yourself in its swirling magnificence. Turning the last page felt as if I was shutting the lid on a treasured magic box.
Awash with elegant prose and descriptive imagery, The Fish that Climbed a Tree is another grand slam home run for Kevin Ansbro. Don’t miss this thrilling work of genius. It’s brimming with hilarity, a little otherworldliness, and a whole lot of heart and soul.
And, as was the case in Kinnara, there is a twist that you surely won't see coming. This book is brilliant!
"... an orange-hued butterfly danced about her mirage, as if to steal her secrets."
"Florence fixed him with her Mona Lisa eyes and raised an eyebrow to let him know that he needed to give this matter some serious thought."
"Beneath a low, milky fog, a sparkle of winter frost veneered the lawns of St Jude’s. The oak trees had shed their leaves, revealing the inky thumbprints of crows’ nests in the crackle glaze of dark branches."
"It was already crow-dark; squiggles of neon light shimmered on the wet pavements…"
“It had snowed earlier but now only a faint mizzle hung in the air, spinning silvery cobwebs on the hair and shoulders of everyone in the queue.”...more
"I had never known the pleasure of reading, of exploring the recesses of the soul, of letting myself be carried away by imagination, beauty, and the m"I had never known the pleasure of reading, of exploring the recesses of the soul, of letting myself be carried away by imagination, beauty, and the mystery of fiction and language. For me, all those things were born with that novel."
Barcelona, 1945. Ten-year-old Daniel and his father inhabit a modest apartment situated above a bookshop specializing in rare collectors’ editions and secondhand books. In this shelved world of forgotten tomes, a unique kind of magic can be found.
"Come, Daniel, get dressed. I want to show you something," Father said.
"Now? At five o’clock in the morning?"
"Some things can only be seen in the shadows,"
Vendors in search of rare publications lost to time occasionally hit upon curious establishments. The Cemetery of Forgotten Books is one such place, and its labyrinthine location is a secret Daniel’s father has never revealed to anyone — until now. “Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and live and dreamed with it.” Daniel’s first visit to this dusty domain sets events into motion that will echo throughout the rest of his life. I hesitate to give away too much because joy lies in discovery, but I will say that this story made me ponder whether our destiny is driven by choice or fate. I think it may be a bit of both…
"… a book is a mirror that offers us only what we already carry inside us, that when we read, we do it with all our heart and mind…" It is not easy to pinpoint what makes one book rise high above the rest. I’ve read many novels overflowing with sentences that made my heart sing and traveled the world and beyond within their pages. But only a few epic tales have bewitched me as The Shadow of the Wind has. I’ve walked the streets of Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s Barcelona, and my world will never be the same. A Gothic mystery brimming with deception, love, and misfortune, I can’t recommend this book highly enough.
"Time has taught me not to lose hope, yet not to trust too much in hope either. Hope is cruel, and has no conscience."
Many thanks to my Goodreads friends Cheri and Kevin. Their fabulous reviews pointed the way....more
"I pass through the pores of the ocean and shores; I change, but I cannot die." -Percy Bysshe Shelley
Five bright shooting stars!
Ansbro fashions a "I pass through the pores of the ocean and shores; I change, but I cannot die." -Percy Bysshe Shelley
Five bright shooting stars!
Ansbro fashions a tale so delicious that choosing to stop reading to eat or sleep is no longer an option. There are indeed only a few great books that can transport a person directly into the story, while at the same time inspiring the reader. Kinnara achieves both magnificently!
From the beginning, this gripping novel wraps around the soul refusing to let go. The characters quickly become friends as you ride the wave of their lives along with them. I have never been to Thailand, but in my mind’s eye I have, thanks to the magical mind of Kevin Ansbro. The pages are bursting with murder, intrigue, humor, love, and yes, even a mystical sea monster.
Kinnara is one of those rare creations that I have gone back and read again because I missed being there. I devoured this work, each time finding deeper meaning in the brilliantly crafted passages. The writing is like ambrosia.
If you have been searching for the perfect book, your search ends with Kinnara. I would recommend this modern-day classic to everyone!...more
Grace and Jack Angel are the perfect couple with what seems to be a dreamI liked the book but didn’t love it.
3.5 rounded down to 3 for a weak ending.
Grace and Jack Angel are the perfect couple with what seems to be a dream life, but as the title suggests, what happens behind closed doors can be something of a nightmare. While Grace stays home to take care of their palatial mansion and throw elaborate dinner parties, Jack is a well-respected attorney defending women who have suffered from abuse. Behind closed doors though, Jack has dark needs that include secret plans for Grace’s Down syndrome sister. My curiosity to know what fresh hell this monster was cooking up in his demented mind kept the story on pace and the level of mental cruelty left me beyond disturbed. Several times I put the book down, only to find myself reading it again half an hour later. Something of a morbid fascination, my need to know what was going to happen kept me going back for more. In the end, it was darker and more chilling than I would usually choose to read.
If you are someone who likes psychological thrillers, this might be the book for you. ...more
Spouse Trap kept me on the edge of my seat from the first line to the last. It’s teeming with fantastic characters, and the thrilling storyline moves Spouse Trap kept me on the edge of my seat from the first line to the last. It’s teeming with fantastic characters, and the thrilling storyline moves along at the perfect pace.
Steven and Madeline Ridley are the power couple of Santa Barbara. Madeline has just spent a year planning the perfect charity ball. She has procured most gorgeous Valentino dress add to that a hunk of an investment banker husband to escort her, and it is sure to be a memorable night. Steven’s mood takes a turn the night of the ball, and his stunned wife must hold herself together. After all, she is the chairwoman, and the show must go on. The event is wildly successful despite her personal drama. The rub is, Madeline can’t remember a thing from the moment her husband stormed out until she wakes up in what feels like a compromised position in a strange hotel room the next morning.
Madeline’s life explodes with a ferocity that would take down even the strongest person, but this woman is not the delicate flower one might imagine. Cynthia Hamilton has written a sharp, heroine that I absolutely love! My heart broke as this poor woman is dealt some of the most vicious blows imaginable. I cheered as she worked through every one of the horrors with grace and resilience.
I highly recommend Spouse Trap. I have already downloaded the next in the series, A High Price to Pay, because I am HOOKED!...more
Loading...
