Review: Bootleg Cove

Bootleg Cove by Devin Govaere
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of Bootleg Cove from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Willie Douglas is looking for a new start and moves with her son to Bootleg Cove. Not long after moving into the old remote building Willie finds herself welcoming some homeless teenagers into her home. Just as she feels herself feeling happy and content for the first time in a long time, things take a turn and she realises everything is not as it seems.

This was a great wee read but I must admit it took a little getting used to the main characters name. I kept having to remind myself that she was female because I'm so used to the name Willie being generally a male name.

The story revolves around an old building that sits in Bootleg Cove and the environment and scenes within the story were written in a way that I could picture it all so easily, it almost felt like I was there. The story had a few nice twists, some that I had kind of saw coming, some that I didn't and one in particular that hit me like a ton of bricks.

Bootleg Cove was a quick read for me, I really enjoyed the plot and the pace was perfect. Although it's listed as horror, it's not high on the horror factor scale, it's more light horror mixed with some paranormal.

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Review: Thief of Souls

Thief of Souls by J.G. Faherty
My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of Thief of Souls from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Thief of Souls didn't live up to my expectations, I was really looking forwards to this one after reading the blurb. The blurb promises a demon inhabited idol, scary goings on at night, nightmares and a demon terrorising and playing games with Perry.

I was expecting a creepy atmospheric and scary read, it didn't happen. What I got instead was a book where most of the story was spent accompanying Perry breaking into houses and visiting the pawn shop, rather than the scares and atmosphere I was hoping for. Nothing really happened that had Perry considering it was something more sinister till the very end. Right up until the very last moment he didn't even realise there was a demon and even then, those final scenes were a bit of a let down. Spaghetti sauce, really?

I feel like this one had potential but it just didn't get there.

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Review: Short Bus Hero

Short Bus Hero by Shannon Giglio

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




I received a free copy of Short Bus Hero from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I only grabbed this one because Shelby and Kelly rated it so highly, I don't think I would have picked this one up otherwise, the wrestling thing would have put me off.

I have to admit, it took me a while to get into the book. I actually put it down, read another book and then went back to it. I wasn't feeling it to start with and it was the wrestling stuff that was putting me off. I'm glad that I did pick it back up though, once I got a bit further into the story, it really picked up for me.

I enjoyed the way the story was narrated in the voice of Ally's guardian angel, he's not your cliché angel stereotype either, he has a sense of humour and curses like a sailor. The characters were well developed and their story really pulls you into the book. Their ups and downs will make you laugh, smile and tug on those heart strings.

I also liked how it covered the topic of Downs Syndrome without being negative, harsh, disrespectful or cliche. It portrays the struggles and worries of families who find themselves in the position of having a child with Downs Syndrome but at the same time it shows the joy, love and hope that can be found.

The Short Bus Hero is a touching story of strength and determination, heartbreak, compassion and forgiveness, with a very unique plot. They say money can't buy you happiness, you've just got to make sure that the money is in the right hands!

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Review: Suckers: A Horror Novel

Suckers: A Horror Novel by Z. Rider

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




I received a free copy of Suckers in return for an honest review.

Dan and Ray decide to get some fresh air after their gig and instead of catching their ride back to the hotel they decide to walk. Unbeknown to the two, the short cut they take down an ally will result in an event that will not only change their lives forever, but will put their lives and those of everyone they know in danger.

Suckers was a really different take on vampires, zombies and a alien parasite that could wipe out the entire human race. It sounds like a mash up of different things when put like that I know, but it all works perfectly and comes together in what is a very good story.

The plot wasn't anything I could ever have expected or guessed it would be, it was unique and gave a fresh perspective to several different topics. Topics that if I am honest I feel have been totally overdone/rehashed by most and are cringingly cliché, but there is none of that happening in this story.

The relationship between the two main characters Dan and Ray really stood out in this book, their characters are well fleshed out and I enjoyed the interaction and different aspects of the two characters. The other characters were also done well, I enjoyed them all as a whole and the friendships, with all their ups and downs, were portrayed excellently.

I did find the start a little slow and it took me a bit to get into the story, but before long I was totally hooked and turning those pages eager to see what happened next. I found myself sat on my own in the dark in the wee small hours, book still clutched in my hands as everyone slept, refusing to sleep till I had finished and finish I did, in one night!


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Review: The Three Sisters: A Whispers Story

The Three Sisters: A Whispers Story by Lisa Unger

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




I received a free copy of The Three Sisters from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I'm not sure how I feel about this one, part one was 5 star worthy for me and I really enjoyed it but part two although it was good, it wasn't as good as part one. As for part three, while I enjoyed reading more about Eloise and her grand daughter, it just wasn't what I was hoping it was going to be.

I feel like I am left with more questions than anything else and also that there was a huge missed opportunity when it comes to developing the story of the family history and the three sisters further. It was like the story just skimmed the surface and didn't really get down to all the grisly details of the whys and hows surrounding them like it should have and concentrated more on the drowned girl instead.

That being said, I did enjoy this series of novellas, I find the authors writing style really nice to read and the characters she creates are easy to feel for and connect to. I just didn't feel this final part in the same way that I did the first two instalments.

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Movie Review - The Atticus Institute

Click for trailer.

During the late 1970s, hundreds of cases of psi-related phenomena – E.S.P., clairvoyance, psychokinesis, etc. – were studied at The Atticus Institute, a small psychology lab founded by Dr. Henry West.

After publishing numerous journal articles highlighting the promising results of their work, Dr. West and his fellow researchers were introduced to an unusual middle-age woman named Judith Winstead, whose supernatural abilities tested far beyond any subject they had ever before witnessed. However, it soon became clear that Judith’s abilities were different in ways they could never have anticipated.

Upon learning of Judith, officials from the U.S. Department of Defense were dispatched to The Atticus Institute to observe her, wherein they determined, after strict scientific study, that her physical body was under the control of an unknown malevolent force, thus granting her enormous and nearly unlimited power. This was, and to this day remains, the only government-confirmed case of possession.

        " I don't care who you are,  how many weapons you have.
         All those things that went on... you don't get to play games with the Devil.
         And if you do, you damn sure don't get to make the rules.
         That type of evil... just thinking about it, talking about it.
         Even you people making this movie... and the people watching it... 
         you're inviting bad things into your life.."


This wasn't a bad movie, nothing really new or overly unique about it but there was plenty of creepiness and tension. There was a nice balance between what was shown and what wasn't shown, leaving you to kinda fill in the gaps with your imagination.

It's not your average possession movie, it's done in the style of a documentary, which was a nice change from the hugely overdone found footage. Rya Kihlstedt plays her part, that of the possessed Judith Winstead, very well. The character is all sorts of creepy. Poor Judith as if being possessed by evil isn't bad enough, she ends up at the mercy of the evil of mankind to boot.

The ending was kinda predictable but was good all the same and was worth the watch. Not one I would go out of my way to watch again, but there were times I found myself creeped out and cringing.

Review: Better Left Buried

Better Left Buried by Belinda Frisch

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




I received a free copy of Better Left Buried in return for an honest review.

A spirit board, a murder, and a cold case that refuses to stay hidden...

Better Left Buried was a quick and easy read. The pacing was just right and it held my attention throughout but I wouldn't class it as horror, it's more of a mystery/thriller. I was hoping for more of a supernatural/haunting aspect to the plot and was disappointed when it headed in another direction.

I did find it became rather predictable and I had worked out what was going on pretty early in the book. I can't say that I really cared about the characters much either, although I did enjoy their interactions and relationships with each other and how they developed/changed throughout the book.

The blurb makes it sound like a horror but it's not one I would recommend for horror fans.

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