REVIEW: OPEN HOUSE BY ERIC HOBBS

OPEN HOUSE

NIGHTCRAWLER TALES

ERIC HOBBS

GENRE: HORROR

A lonely widower looks to sell his house after losing his family to a horrific tragedy inside. While there's immediate interest in the gorgeous home, its owner slowly comes to realize the house will go to great lengths to ensure it gets the new owner it wants and reject those it doesn't.

(Be warned: this story contains brief moments of terror and mild violence.)

Exclusive to Amazon's Kindle, Nightcrawler Tales is a brand new series from fan-favorite children's author Eric Hobbs. Inspired by old television series like Twilight Zone and Outer Limits, each Tale contains a chilling story that can be easily consumed in thirty minutes or less, perfect for that magic hour between sunset and bedtime, when the nightcrawler reveals himself and begins planting nightmarish ideas in our minds.

And the horror doesn't stop there! Each story comes with a writing prompt to get kids started on their own Nightcrawler Tales! When finished, kids can send their story in and get a personal response from writer Eric Hobbs. Then, the best of these kid-written stories will be published online when the Nightcrawler website debuts this spring, offering aspiring authors a chance to see their own stories become a part of the Nightcrawler universe!

MY RATING: 4 STARS

The next time I attend an open house, I'm sure this short story will be in the back of my mind. Unique and entertaining, this story is sure to give you the “creep factor” that horror fans look for. Open House reminds me of a story you'd see on “Tales From the Crypt”.

I will definitely be seeking out more Nightcrawler Tales in the future.


*This story was provided in exchange for an honest review via LibraryThing.

Amazon

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FRIDAY KINDLE FREEBIES

Out of Time

by Deborah Truscott

(189 Reviews)

Genres

>> Romance => Time Travel

Book Description (preview book)

Kathleen Findlay is married to a cad, her mother is driving her crazy and her life is falling apart. Then her uncle dies, leaving her the family’s Revolutionary-era home and, she believes, an escape from her chaotic marriage. But one afternoon, while searching for a rake, she discovers a man in her garden shed — and a free fall through the centuries.

As her life spins wildly out of control, Kathleen finds her heart and in the process, her own place in time.

Chivalry is Undead (Just Another Zombie Love Story)

by M. A. Rogers

(25 Reviews)

Genres

>> Fantasy => Paranormal

>> Fiction => Horror

Book Description (preview book)

As a child, Stephen worked out his plans for the "inevitable" zombie apocalypse with his friend Jake. Now he is all grown up with a real job and real responsibilities. His spare time is now taken up online - surfing, blogging and facebooking.

Then the mysterious sickness hits San Antonio and people start dying by the thousands. He stops by his neighborhood bar after a tragically brief day at the office. A little flirting with the hot bartender, then home alone to blog.

As he begins to realize from the news and Internet traffic that the dead are rising, his childhood preparations come rushing to the forefront of his mind. And the number one rule was always, "Chivalry will get you killed!"

His conviction to this rule is immediately tested when he gets a call for help from the bartender. Chivalry - and hormones - wins out as he sets out to rescue the object of his desires. Before the electric grid goes down, he receives an internet plea for help from his childhood friend Jake in Houston. He again decides that his duty is most important in this situation.

He sets off on the 200 mile journey where the zombies may not be the worst he has to contend with. His preparation didn't include dealing with human monsters.

Daughter of the Red Dawn (The Lost Kingdom of Fallada)

by Alicia Michaels (Anchor Group Publishing)

(21 Reviews)

Genres

>> Fantasy => Paranormal

Book Description (preview book)

These are dark times in the land of Fallada, and I fear that they will only continue to grow darker. Only the return of those we’ve lost will even the score.
It will begin with first line of the prophecy, which foretells of a red sun over the desert sky…
--Adrah, Queen of the Fae

On the outside, seventeen year-old Selena McKinley is like any other teenage girl. Yet Selena has always felt as if she doesn’t belong and is counting the days to graduation and her freedom from the small town that makes her feel so out of place, when the arrival of a stranger turns her world upside down. Selena will learn just how different she is and the truth of where she comes from.
A lost princess, they call her, the catalyst for a war involving a world that Selena was taken from as a child. An evil queen obsessed with her own beauty with a plan to enslave the human race.…the notion seems so silly, yet Selena knows in her heart that it is true. Then there is Titus, the shape shifter whose blue eyes and claims of destiny hold her heart captive. Can Selena find the strength to do what she must while following her heart?

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REVIEW: OVERRUN BY BRIAN CLOPPER

OVERRUN

TURNCOATS #1

BRIAN CLOPPER

GENRE: HORROR/YA

For high-schooler Nathan Bristol, finding out his sister's best friend, Trina Bivens, has come back as a zombie is the least of his problems. While she may not have a hankering for his flesh, her visions predict the world will soon be overrun by zombies who do. Further, she reveals Nathan will play a huge part in saving the world. The boy can't even make it through third period Chemistry without making a mess of things, much less stop a zombie apocalypse. What follows is a harrowing race to rescue his mother, deliver his family from teeth-chomping danger and maybe, just maybe, save the world. BOOK ONE: OVERRUN deals with Trina and Nathan's tenuous relationship with each other and the rest of the world. Branded as turncoats by zombies and humans alike, the two must forge a bond that will help them save Nathan's family and put them on the road together to save the world from the evil entity that has released the undead.
Due to this being a Young Adult Horror series, it's suitable for ages 13 and up. It contains violence and loads of zombie mayhem. Trust me, it might leave the youngsters feeling a bit queasy and unsettled at bedtime.

MY RATING: 4 STARS

Overrun is a pretty solid story from start to finish by Brian Clopper. This story is geared toward YA/Horror audience and won't leave them disappointed.

I really liked the characters Clopper created. Nathan and Trina are a great zombie-fighting duo. Lots of action and lots of zombies! However, you won't find an ending to the zombie break-out in this book. You will have to wait for the second book, which I don't believe is out yet.

I did run into a few typos in the Kindle edition, but it wasn't enough to detract from the story.

Overall, this is a fun read and highly recommended!

Amazon

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AUTHORS AND NEGATIVE REVIEWS

Urg...just urg! Okay, so I recently (very recently) read a self published story that I really found a lot of problems with. I rated the book two stars and wrote a negative review. I pointed out what I felt to be really off with the story, and yes, I was sarcastic in my review because I was just dumbfounded by the story. You can read my review here.

Of course every author thinks they have a five star book, otherwise what would be the point of publishing it? Some authors take criticism better than others. This particular author felt the need to defend her writing. She felt my review was "mean spirited" and an "unfair assessment" of her writing. She went on to imply I either had a "bad day" or an "agenda". Really? Here is the initial email sent to me by the author:

"Hi, Cynthia!  I just saw your review.  Thanks for reading it  and doing a review.  Appreciate your taking the time to do it.  Sorry you did not enjoy it.   The review was brutal and, in part, I feel  it was a pretty unfair assessment of my writing.   I can accept that you did not like it, although I wish you had expressed your opinion in a less mean-spirited and hurtful way.   But that aside,  I'm hoping that you did not intend to spoil the story for others (it is a suspense after all) by putting in all the spoilers you did in your review and giving away various plot twists.   As I said, I don't think you meant to do that and I don't believe you have/had any other agenda/intention other than to do a review.    Sorry if the tone of this email seems negative, but when someone stomps on you and your work, it's pretty upsetting.   Can't say that I understand where you're coming from.  Bad day today perhaps?  I can understand that.  We all have them.

I ask that you reconsider removing all the spoilers at least.

Thank you."

So, I decide to reply to this as best I can, after all, this is the first author ever to email me about a negative review. Here is my reply:

"Ms. Pacelli,

 

I'm sorry you were upset by my review of your book. I know it's hard to be an author and put your work "out there" for others to basically judge. Not every reader is going to have the same experience with an author's book. I pride myself on being very honest with my reviews and experiences whether I loved, just liked, or didn't like a particular book at all. My reviews have never and will never be motivated to hurt an author, or any means of having an "agenda" to do so. Had I loved your book, I would have absolutely raved about it and encouraged others to buy, but unfortunately with this particular book I could not. With every book comes positive and negative reviews whether you are a "big name" author or a self-published author--no one is immune. 

 

I have added a spoiler alert warning to the top of the review on all sites it was submitted to. With that said, I do stand behind all reviews that I write. I wish you luck with your future works.

 

 

Thank you,

Cynthia"

I thought I handled that pretty well with my reply. Apparently that wasn't enough to appease this author. She replies back:

"There's a difference between offering a thoughtful, honest opinion in a way that does no harm  and writing in a no holds barred manner.    Spoiler alerts don' t do anything to prevent to the story from being spoiled  They're just a means the system created to justify the spoiling and  people feel even more compelled to read them.   Perhaps you can do me the courtesy of removing the review altogether then.  I guess it certainly serves me right asking for assistance in my email that if you enjoyed the book, if could you help me out by letting others know about it.  Figured if you did not like it and couldn't in good conscience offer any assistance, you'd just do nothing or decline privately.   ** hits self in head **  Thanks."

So, she only wanted positive reviews?? That certainly sounds like what she's asking for and just using the spoiler issue to press me to remove my review. Not everyone is going to enjoy your book. If you can't handle criticism, maybe you should second guess your profession. Like I've said before, I've never had an author to email me and basically freak out over a review. My review was honest and that is the bottom line. And yes, I did reply to the above email:

"You really need to adapt a better attitude toward criticism. Use it to better your writing, not take it as a PERSONAL attack. If you prefer not to have honest reviews maybe you should state BEFORE giving your book away *Please write only positive reviews*. Reviews ARE personal opinions and my review was my HONEST opinion."

At this point, I could feel my ears start to steam. I sent the above reply this morning. Hopefully the author will choose not to contact me again and use this as a learning experience about negative reviews. You have to take the good with the bad and move on. I can only assume this author has not had much experience with negative reviews being a fairly new author. I can not express enough how critical it is for authors to NOT reply to negative reviews. It doesn't make you look good at all. 

Has anyone else had this happen before with an author? How did you handle it?   

 

 

  

 

 

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REVIEW: INTO THE ARMS OF MADNESS BY REGINA PACELLI

INTO THE ARMS OF MADNESS

REGINA PACELLI

GENRE: THRILLER

Young newlyweds Todd and Bridget met at a two-hour seminar and took an immediate liking to each other. Smart, caring, and quick-thinking individuals, they’ve been devoted to each other and like two peas in a pod ever since. But, when on their honeymoon, Bridget learns bizarre and alarming things about Todd, things that he’s kept secret until now, their idyllic romance begins careening out of control.

Todd has high hopes and wants nothing more than for Bridget to understand and be part of his world. As Bridget struggles to understand the man she married and used to think she knew all about, and the situation escalates, the events that unfold will end up putting their love and sanity to the ultimate test.

MY RATING: 2 STARS   WARNING: SPOILER ALERT

Well, Into the Arms of Madness, was my first let down of the year, which saddens me quite a bit. I wish I had better news for you guys. The writing was flat, and so were the characters. I felt as though the first few chapters of the story just rambled, and it didn't get much better from there unfortunately.

Bre and Todd are newlyweds. The first time she meets his family is at their wedding. They are all a bit “weird” so-to-speak and standoffish. Todd doesn't talk much about his past or his first wife. With that said, what makes Bre think that marrying Todd is a good idea? Well, it didn't make much sense to me either. She doesn't even press him about it. Odd to say the least.

Oh, did I mention Bre is a vegan? No, I don't think I did. She isn't against killing animals for food, but because of all the additives and chemicals pumped into our meat before consumption is her reason. I believe she has only been a vegan for two weeks at this point.

They venture to a secluded cabin for their honeymoon. When they get to the cabin, Todd offers to cook which is out of the ordinary for him. Bre is shocked to realize that he has cooked her a small steak for dinner. He tells her the “beef” was organically fed, or something to that nature. She eats it and even compliments Todd on it. After dinner, his family shows up out of nowhere. Todd gives her some speech about his family's culture and way of life and how top-secret it is. Bre is a bit dumbfounded as to why he's just now telling her this stuff and why his family is present. Well, he pretty much just blurts out how she just ATE a human being! Wanna know what her reaction is? She smiles at him, and thinks how much she wants to just run away.

Would that be your first reaction to knowing your new husband just fed you a human being? Not to mention mingled the dead guys blood in with your wine...UH NO! Not even remotely close. I think I scene like that calls for a clear cut panic attack followed by projectile vomiting.

Now, here comes the twist to the story. You are just going to love this folks! So Todd's parents send him on a little errand so they can get some alone time with Bre. His parents tell her they aren't really cannibals and Todd is...well, crazy—a mental case. All of this is in his imagination and none of it is real. Bre wants to know why he isn't in a mental institution and his father explains they couldn't do that to him. That it would destroy him. Really? He thinks he's a freaking cannibal and is mentally unstable and his parents thinks it's okay to “feed” these delusions?

To be brutally honest, I felt this story was a mess from the very beginning. I could go on about the problems I have with this story, but I think you get the gist of it. Unfortunately, I can't recommend this story.

*This book was provided in exchange for an honest review via LibraryThing.

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MONDAY KINDLE FREEBIES

Demon Kissed (A Paranormal Romance-Book #1 in the Demon Kissed Series) (Demon Kissed #1)

by H.M. Ward (Laree Bailey Press)

(94 Reviews)

Genres

>> Teens => Romance

Book Description (preview book)

***FREE FOR THE 1st TIME ON KINDLE!***BOOK #1 IN THE BESTSELLING DEMON KISSED SERIES

The Valefar boy tricked Ivy Taylor into kissing him, but he took much more than a kiss - he stole her soul and left her within inches of death.
By surviving, Ivy is drawn into the conflict between the Martis and the Valefar. The war between these two immortal forces has raged for millennia without distraction. Until now. Ivy is an anomaly--she is the only person who has ever walked away from a demon kiss alive. Her survival gives her unique and deadly abilities. Too powerful to ignore, Ivy is a threat to both armies. These two ancient enemies will stop at nothing to kill the seventeen-year-old.
Surviving is nothing new for headstrong Ivy, but her survival has never depended on another person before. This time it does. And if she misplaces her trust, she's dead. To her horror, she starts falling in love at the worst possible time--with the enemy. He appears to be protecting her. But she can't be certain if he is trying to help her, or help himself to her power.
For Ivy, trusting the right person is the difference between love and survival, or a deadly demon kiss.

The Iron Butterfly (The Iron Butterfly Series)

by Chanda Hahn (Word Circus)

(54 Reviews)

Genres

>> Fantasy

>> Teens => Science Fiction & Fantasy => Fantasy

Book Description (preview book)

Imprisoned, starved and left with no memories, Thalia awakens to find herself at the mercy of an evil cult known as the Septori. Their leader has chosen Thalia as the test subject for a torture device of untold power, designed to change and twist her into something that is neither human nor Denai.

Escaping, Thalia finds an unwilling warrior to protect her and an unlikely Denai to befriend her. After finding a home at the Citadel as a servant, Thalia’s worst nightmare comes to life and she begins to show signs of power. Scared and unable to control her gifts, she tries to hide her past to fit in among the Denai. But the Septori want their latest test subject back and will stop at nothing to retrieve her, dead or alive.

ASBO: A Novel of Extreme Terror

by Iain Rob Wright

(25 Reviews)

Genres

>> Mystery & Thrillers => Thrillers => Suspense

Book Description (preview book)

*****SUPER-LOW PRICE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY*****
YOUR FEAR IS THEIR ENTERTAINMENT...
Andrew’s life is one of bored contentedness: a teenage daughter, a faithful wife, and a middle-class job. He even has a Mercedes. His life is without drama, and the comfort of middle-age is setting in.

That all changes when he refuses to buy a pack of cigarettes for the local gang of youths. Led by the emotionally unstable, and sadistic, Frankie, the gang target Andrew and his family in an escalating campaign of terror and violence that threatens their very lives. It isn’t long before Andrew starts to wish that he’d just brought those damn cigarettes.

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REVIEW: SLAMMED BY COLLEEN HOOVER

SLAMMED

SLAMMED #1

COLLEEN HOOVER

GENRE: YA

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.
Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.
Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.

MY RATING: 5 STARS

I first heard of Colleen Hoover through Facebook. One of my friends recommended her new book, Hopeless, to another friend. I looked up Hoover and seen she is the author of three YA books: Slammed, Point of Retreat, and Hopeless. I bought Hopeless for my Kindle and loved it (review for Hopeless coming soon) and decided to order paperbacks of Slammed and Point of Retreat (Slammed #2).

Slammed drew me in from the very beginning. The characters are so likeable and well-written, and the storyline is excellent. I don't want to talk about what happens in the story because it was that good. I don't want to ruin anything that happens in this book for potential readers. Please do yourself a favor and buy this book! You will also want to purchase the sequel, Point of Retreat. It was excellent also (review to come for Point of Retreat). It is also my understanding there will be a third book to wrap up the story of Will and Layken. I am really looking forward to the third book and according to Hoover's website will be released later on this year.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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REVIEW: A WINTER HAUNTING BY DAN SIMMONS

A WINTER HAUNTING

DAN SIMMONS

GENRE: HORROR

A once-respected college professor and novelist, Dale Stewart has sabotaged his career and his marriage -- and now darkness is closing in on him. In the last hours of Halloween he has returned to the dying town of Elm Haven, his boyhood home, where he hopes to find peace in isolation. But moving into a long-deserted farmhouse on the far outskirts of town -- the one-time residence of a strange and brilliant friend who lost his young life in a grisly "accident" back in the terrible summer of 1960 -- is only the latest in his long succession of recent mistakes. Because Dale is not alone here. He has been followed to this house of shadows by private demons who are now twisting his reality into horrifying new forms. And a thick, blanketing early snow is starting to fall ...

MY RATING: 4 STARS

Dan Simmons had me not only questioning Dale's sanity, but also my own while reading this novel. I was confused as to if what he was experiencing was real, or his imagination.

Let me clarify something first, if you are tempted to read this novel, for the love of all that is book worthy, PLEASE read Simmon's Summer of Night first! I did not read Summer of Night first because I didn't realize the two were connected. I am reading Summer of Night now, but well, it would have been helpful if I had known beforehand.

With that said, it was still a pretty good book :)

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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REVIEW: REVIAL HOUSE BY SS MICHAELS

REVIVAL HOUSE

S.S. MICHAELS

GENRE: HORROR

Ghoulish Savannah funeral parlor heir Caleb Exley lusts after the untouchable art student Scarlet, who dreams of blowing town and heading to Hollywood. Caleb and his best friend, Grainger Mercer IV, liven up the dying Exley & Sons funeral business with a touch of modern day memento mori. But Scarlet remains dead-set on leaving until Avery, Caleb’s old friend from a prestigious medical research center, comes to town and catches her eye. Avery barely notices her, he’s got bigger and more important plans. When Caleb’s passion escapes his control and causes a horrific accident, Avery steps in and resurrects the business of dying. 

 

MY RATING: 4 STARS

Okay, this was a really strange book. It was disturbing, morbid, weird, yet oddly intriguing. No, you didn't see my rating wrong—I did give it four stars. As strange as this book was, it kept me reading until the end. I don't think I've EVER read anything like it before. 

*This book was provided in exchange for an honest review via LibraryThing.

Amazon 

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BACK FROM HIATUS!

Oh, wow, I really have some serious catching up to do. I haven't updated Book Hollow since around Thanksgiving. I'm really behind and have quite a few reviews to write and post. I doubt any of the reviews will be any where near in-depth, just short and sweet.

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