Welcome to my book reviews! These are books I read in October that are four stars or higher. I also added books I read but didn’t review, though I did rate them.
Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares: Midnight Anthology Series, #4
by Kaye Lynne Booth, Christian De Matteo, Abe Margel, Mark Milstead, Chris Barili, C.R. Johansson, DL Mullan, Paul Martz, Lindsey Martin-Bowen, Robb T. White, Rebecca M. Senese, Zack Ellafy, and Joseph Carrabis
“Midnight Madness” is a collection of well-written short stories that dips into readers’ fears, as the blurb promises. I won’t focus on any one story, because they were all so different and kept me engaged. What I liked best was that they were familiar authors, but also many new to me. My favorite themes are characters struggling with right and wrong and survival, and I saw that in many of the stories. A few stories left me thinking after I finished reading them. It’s a great collection for fans of horror, paranormal, and mystery, and I can easily recommend this anthology!
The Quiet Power of Blogging: Why Blogging Still Matters in a TikTok World
By Marsha Ingrao, Terri Schrandt
When I began blogging thirteen years ago, I jumped in without knowing what I was doing. “The Quiet Power of Blogging” would have been the perfect guide then, but it still inspires me as a blogger today. The conversational tone makes me feel like we were sitting down and chatting about this subject. I loved all the blogger quotes, the idea of giving the blogs our personality, and, most importantly, the community and friends we make along the way. I’ve been questioning whether to continue my blog, but this book made me realize how much I’d miss not only posting but visiting all my friends. The information and suggestions are well thought out and presented for creating and maintaining a blog. This is the perfect guide for anyone wanting to start a blog, and for those who already have one. I can highly recommend this book!
The Séance: A Gothic Paranormal Short Story
The Séance is a fantastic short read, and the cemetery setting feels like a character in its own right, with lush descriptions. Lila makes the trek to her husband’s grave each Halloween, his birthday, hoping to hear from him, as promised. I couldn’t help but sympathize with Lila and her determination to contact her husband from the beyond. I won’t give away how it ended, but I love that this was based on Harry Houdini and his promise to his wife. A well-written short story to curl up and read on a cool fall or winter night, and perfect for the Halloween season. I can highly recommend this!
By Jan Sikes
I was looking forward to a heartwarming Christmas story that reminded me of the good in people, and that’s exactly what this is. Artist Jacob has been running from his past, going from town to town to paint windows. He ended up at a Sutter Gap bar. I loved the relationship between sisters, Darcy and Beth, who inherited the bar from their grandfather. Jacob takes his first job in town, painting a Christmas scene on their window. The friendship that evolves between Jacob and the sisters felt real to me. Darcy and Beth were so realistic that they reminded me of sisters I know in real life. I’d like to live in the town, even without the amenities most towns have, but the story’s emotional depth is what really pulled me in. It was hard to put down because I wanted to know what happened to Jacob and the sisters. Jacob, Beth, and Darcy each have their own stories to tell, woven seamlessly into this well-written, quick read that reminds us of what’s important. A perfect holiday read, or for any time of year you want an inspiring second-chance story. I can highly recommend this!
Drawn into Malice (Paxton & Walsh Mysteries Book 3)
by Staci Troilo
I’m a huge fan of Detectives Paxton and Walsh and was excited for the third book. This was another fantastic cozy mystery and the best one so far. It starts with the death of a rich lawyer, Grant Noble. But this isn’t just about one case. Paxton and Walsh juggle multiple cases, making it a page-turner. My favorite part is the detectives’ relationship, which is more like brothers than just friends, and their banter. Some of the comebacks had me laughing out loud. The setting made me feel like I was there with them, but the best part was the food. Luckily, I read with a full stomach, but I still wished I could have what they were eating or talking about. A very layered story with many unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing and changing my mind until the reveal. You can read this as a standalone, but I recommend going back and reading the first two. I don’t want to say too much or give anything away, so I’ll end my review here, with my highest recommendation for this well-written whodunit!
A Peril in Unseen Frequencies: A Medium’s Peril Book 4
This novelette, set in the 1920s, opens with familiar characters. Clover meets with Phineas for sodas and tells him this story. Clover, an apprentice to a famous medium, becomes a temporary assistant to a rich widow, Etha, who has a heart condition. Etha needs to remain calm, and her devoted nephew, who is staying with her, suggests a crystal radio. Against Etha’s better judgment, they get it, along with a little elevator to get her up the stairs. When alone, she hears things other than what should come out of a radio. Etha is a fun character, and I like how kindly she treats everyone, including her staff. Clover gets messages from the beyond that warn her, but she doesn’t understand the message. Although I started to get suspicious of certain people’s motives, I couldn’t have predicted the outcome of this paranormal cozy mystery. A quick read with a detailed setting and fun period lingo that made it easy to become enmeshed in the story. This is part of a series, but it can be a standalone read. I can easily recommend “A Peril in Unseen.”
Halloween Treat: A Gothic Horror Short Story
Tommy passes by an old house and is curious. He asks his grandfather about it and learns a few new things. While trick-or-treating with his friend, he gets a surprise involving this house. Although this is a short story, the setting is lush and vivid, and I can easily imagine the old house. There are a few twists I didn’t see coming. It’s a perfect read for the Halloween season, or anytime you want something short and entertaining with a touch of horror and scares. I can easily recommend this!
Great Books Read that I rated
The Gatekeeper (Dez Limerick #1) by James Byrne (Thanks, Sandra!) five-stars
Embrace that inner child by reading a great story! Denise
