A Sad Day

I’m a bit sad. One of my daily routines ends today: my daily dose of getting to know the full Scotty. As many of you know, today marks the end of Scott Nicholson’s 90-day Blog Tour. This tour has become as much a part of my daily routine as having my morning coffee. So I’m a little sad to see it come to an end. But, alas, there is that saying, “All good things must come to an end.”

Was Scott’s blog tour a success? I think so. At least it was for me. I got the chance to visit and connect with many blogs and bloggers that I probably never would have otherwise. I was able to find out all kinds of cool and interesting things about one of my favorite authors. And probably the thing I am most excited about, I was introduced to a number of talented indie writers and some awesome books. My TBR pile grew by leaps and bounds.

My most memorable moment from the tour happened pretty early on, when I found out that Scott actually gave away some of his teeth as a promotional stunt for one of his books. I remember thinking, My god, what kind of person does that! That’s probably one of the wildest things I’ve heard someone do to try and attract (repel?) readers.

So in honor of Scott’s successful completion of 90 days of blogging craziness, I’m going to give away two of Scott’s real (paper :P) books, The Red Church (autographed) and Thank You for the Flowers, to one lucky winner. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post stating your favorite Scott moment from the tour. If you didn’t follow the tour, feel free to enter anyway. Just leave some sort of comment, like your favorite food, favorite color, sleeping habits, etc. I’d love for you to have the chance to experience Scott’s work. You have until 11:59 P.M. Friday, December 3rd to enter. At that time, I’ll randomly pick a winner. I'll announce the winner on my blog, but make sure you leave some way for me to contact you. Unfortunately for my international visitors, I can only ship books to U.S. locations. But please feel free to leave a comment.

THE PACK: WINTER KILL by Mike Oliveri

I’d wanted to get a copy of Mike Oliveri’s The Pack: Winter Kill since last year. At first, it was released in paperback and for one reason or another I didn’t get around to purchasing it. Then it came out for the Kindle, but it was priced at $9.99 and I decided to hold off on getting it. However, when Evileye Books marked it down to $4.99 for the holiday season, I snatched a copy for my Kindle. I had high expectations for this book based on the buzz I had read about it, and I was not disappointed.

Set in the remote wilderness of Minnesota, The Pack: Winter Kill starts out with a weapons deal gone wrong. After things go south, Rod and his crew are stuck in the middle of nowhere and are forced to blend in with the locals. They stumble upon a lodge caught up with Bigfoot fever and decide to stay until they can get things back in order. However, when the FBI arrives, things get tenuous. Determined to finish the deal, Rod pushes forward despite the heat from the authorities—and other things.

The Pack: Winter Kill grabbed me from the beginning and I literally could not put this one down. Oliveri’s writing is tight and fast-paced, hurling the reader along to the climatic ending. He masterfully blends crime and suspense with the supernatural. This is the first book in an on-going series, and I’m eagerly anticipating the next one. There are a few typos throughout the Kindle edition, but they are minor and don’t distract from the story.

Priced at an affordable $4.99 for the holiday season, this one is a must-read for anyone wanting a story full of action and suspense told at break-neck speed.

5 out of 5 stars.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just want to wish everyone a happy Turkey Day. Remember to cherish the moments you have with the ones you love.

Please stop by here over the next week or two, as I have some new posts coming and maybe a giveaway or two planned.

FUNGUS OF THE HEART by Jeremy C. Shipp

A number of months ago Jeremy C. Shipp requested reviewers for his new short story collection, Fungus of the Heart. I had looked at a number of Shipp’s books before but had not had the opportunity to read one. So naturally I jumped at the chance to read this collection.

Fungus of the Heart is an intriguing collection of stories. It’s hard to classify the collection with one category. It has elements of fantasy, the bizarre, horror, crime, and drama. Some of the stories reminded me of fairy tales. There is a wide array of characters throughout: zombie bears, gnomes, clowns, boys in boxes, vampires, and ghosts, to name a few. It’s clear that some of the stories speak to current issues, such as the “moral machine” that exists.

From a personal standpoint, I was disappointed with this collection. It didn’t have much to do with Shipp’s writing ability; it is clear that Shipp is a very talented writer and has a knack for using words sparingly to efficiently tell stories. I was disappointed more with the content. The biggest issue was I simply didn’t care much for the types of stories in the collection. I’m not a huge fan of fantasy and fairy tales. And while I do enjoy some bizzaro writing, the bizarre in this collection is of a different breed than what I like. Also, at times when I was reading a story I would have a feeling of déjà vu, like I had already read it earlier in the collection. The only story that really stuck with me was the first one in the collection, “The Sun Never Rises in the Big City.”

I’m having a hard time separating my personal preferences from the quality of the work itself with this one. Clearly, Shipp is a talented writer. And I’m pretty sure I’ll read more of his work in the future. So if you’re interested in the fantastic and strange, I would recommend you check this one out. If you’re not, you may want to pass on it.

3 out of 5 stars.

Bear With Me

Hello, everyone! Just wanted to stop by and let you know that I haven't forgotten about my blog here. I've got a few topics I want to cover and some reviews to post over the next couple of weeks, but first I need to focus on a proofing project that is grossly overdue. And unfortunately, my work hours have increased, along with the number of family functions (mainly birthdays). I assume I'll probably be pretty erratic here throughout the holidays with increased work and travel. But please bear with me. :)

Thanks!

DEAD EARTH: THE GREEN DAWN by Mark Justice and David T. Wilbanks

Zombies. I’m not going to lie; I have a soft spot in my heart for these munchers of the flesh. Ever since I read Joe McKinney’s Dead City a year and a half ago, I’ve had an ongoing love affair with the walking dead. However, in recent months, I haven’t read any books about zombies. In reality, recently I’ve read very little that is pure horror, which is my first love. So when I picked up Dead Earth: The Green Dawn by Mark Justice and David T. Wilbanks, I was a little bit excited because it sounded like something that would be right up my alley. And boy, I was not disappointed in the least.

When I started reading The Green Dawn, it felt like I was slipping into familiar surroundings where I knew I’d be at home. The story focuses on one individual, Deputy Jubal Slate. He’s responsible, alone, for the safety of the small town of Serenity, New Mexico, after many folks have taken ill with a strange virus. Those affected include his mother, the sheriff, and his fellow deputies. But Jubal is not overly concerned, as Serenity is normally a quiet little town that can pretty much take care of itself. However, as the day moves along, Jubal becomes more and more concerned because rumors of tragedy in Nevada begin to spread.

When a mysterious car blazes into town and drops off an extremely ill stranger, things move from the realm of uncertainty to the realm of dire circumstances. To put it kindly, all hell breaks loose in the town of Serenity. And Jubal Slate, the lone remaining vestige of law and order, has to fight for the survival of the town and those he loves.

Normally, I’m a little hesitant when it comes to collaborations. I worry that styles will clash or the story will be disjointed. But there was no such thing in The Green Dawn. The writing flows wonderfully and the story moves at breakneck speed. There is a nice little twist as to the cause of the chaos, and the book leaves you wanting more.

I honestly haven't had this much fun reading a book in a good while. If you want a fast, exciting read then The Green Dawn is for you. This book is the first in a larger series, so don’t expect to get all the answers at the end of it. And beware if you’re squeamish; there is violence, blood, and guts in this book.

5 out of 5 stars.

HUDSON HOUSE by J.T. Warren

Hudson House by J.T. Warren has the distinction of being the first book I bought when my new Kindle arrived. Based on other reviews, I looked forward to reading this book, hoping for a creepy, interesting story. I was pleased to find that I wasn’t disappointed.

Three young friends enter a forbidden—some would say forsaken—house that has long stood watching over an otherwise quiet neighborhood. This seemingly benign act sets into motion events that will affect the rest of these boys’ lives. Death and tragedy follow and one of the young men, Eric, struggles to find answers and to ultimately put a stop to Hudson House’s reign of terror in his life. However, the deeper Eric digs for the answers he seeks, the more he discovers about his own past. And he doesn’t like what he finds. Can he find the determination and strength to stand up to Hudson House and whatever dwells inside its walls?

Warren is a talented writer and can weave an interesting story. There are some creepy situations throughout this book, and one in particular will probably stick with me for a long time (I won’t give it away, but let’s just say I won’t be carrying around a plastic baggie in my pocket). The story flowed fairly well, with a bit of a lull in the middle of the book. But the last 25% of the book made up for it, as I couldn’t put it down because I wanted to find out what happened. I’ll definitely read other works by Warren as I come across them.

4 out of 5 stars.