ARC Review: The Poor and the Haunted

The Poor and the Haunted

by: Dustin Mckissen

From Goodreads

As a child Jimmy Lansford and his sister Kelly suffered crushing poverty, their father’s unexplained and frightening suicide, and their mother’s constant abuse and cruelty. Having grown to be a successful adult, Jimmy must contend with the sudden re-emergence of memories from his childhood in Oklahoma and unexplainable events occurring inside his own home. Is it more than memories that haunt Jimmy? Did his parents suffer from mental illness and addiction, or were they possessed by something even worse—and has that presence arrived to take Jimmy?

My Review

I received this book as an ARC from the Publisher Netgalley and the Author Dustin Mckissen for an honest review.

Expected publication: October 31st 2019 by Black Rose Writing.

I would not really say this novel is a horror story but it will pull at your heartstrings.  Jimmy and Kelly was raised in an abusive home with both parents being alcoholics and drug addicts and being very poor.  When the children's father committed suicide when Kelly was just 12 yrs old their life did not get better.  Jimmy and Kelly formed a great bond that got them through their every day life with a mother that did not care about them at all.  Jimmy grew up and got married and when his daughter turned 12 yrs old Jimmy started to experience strange things happening to him.  That just made Jimmy start to question if evil was in his father and if that evil is now with him.  Jimmy started to see things and feel stuff that was not natural.  Jimmy is convinced that the devil took over his parents bodies and is questioning if the devil is trying to take over his.  

The Author Dustin Mckissen did a wonderful job with this debut novel.  I look forward to seeing what other novels he will write in the future.

The Truth About Books by Theresa!

ARC Review: Midnight in the Graveyard

Midnight in the Graveyard

From Goodreads

Midnight. Some call it the witching hour. Others call it the devil’s hour. Here in the graveyard, midnight is a very special time. It is a time when ghostly spirits are at their strongest, when the veil between our world and theirs is at its thinnest. Legend has it, that while most of the world is asleep, the lack of prayers allow the spirits to communicate under the cover of darkness, among the headstones, their whispers rustling in the leaves of the old oak trees. But if you’re here in the graveyard, you can tell yourself it’s just the wind, that the moonlight is playing tricks on your eyes, that it's only the swirling mist you see. But when you hear the graveyard gate clang shut, the dead have something to say. Here are their stories…

My Review

 

I received a copy of the book as an ARC for an honest review from Netgalley.

This book has 25 short horror stories. I found most of them well written and I enjoyed the book. The stories I did not enjoy is because it was one of those moments when you are in ahh and have not figured out what you just read. If you enjoy short horror stories this book would be for you. In the introduction Johnathan Janz wrote that this book would be as good as a Stephen King book and that is not the case. I could not compare this book at all to Stephen Kings writings.

The Truth About Books by Theresa!

ARC Review: Quiet Neighbors

Quiet Neighbors by Catriona McPherson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received this book from the Publisher: Midnight Ink As an ARC for an honest review.
Expected publication: April 6th 2016

I don't even know what to say about this book. The first few pages grabbed my attention but after that it all seemed to go down hill. Its not what I expected at all. I guess you can say its a dark read.

The Truth About Books by Theresa!

Review: No One Knows

No One Knows

by J.T Ellison

From Goodreads

The day Aubrey Hamilton’s husband is declared dead by the state of Tennessee should bring closure so she can move on with her life. But Aubrey doesn’t want to move on; she wants Josh back. It’s been five years since he disappeared, since their blissfully happy marriage—they were happy, weren’t they?—screeched to a halt and Aubrey became the prime suspect in his disappearance. Five years of emptiness, solitude, loneliness, questions. Why didn’t Josh show up at his friend’s bachelor party? Was he murdered? Did he run away? And now, all this time later, who is the mysterious yet strangely familiar figure suddenly haunting her new life?

My Review

I received a copy of this book as an ARC from the Publisher Gallery Books and the Author J.T. Ellison for an honest review.  
Expected publication: March 22nd 2016

I thought the book started out a little slow but about a 1/3 of the way into it the story picked up.  I really admire Aubrey, I would never have been able to go through what she does.

Aubrey Hamilton’s husband just disappears.  It looks like he was murdered but no body was ever found.  After 5 long years the State of Tennessee declares him dead.  Aubrey lived a long 5 years with out Josh.  Sometime she thought she would see him in some strangers face.  On the 5 year anniversary she goes out for drinks with a friend.  Earlier in the day she met a stranger that she would of sworn was Josh, it turns out it was not.  She ended up drunk and took this man home with her (Chase).  She started seeing Chase on  regular visits. He lived in Chicago.   Chase had his own plan when he met Aubrey, on his part it was no accident.  He was a journalist just chasing a story, but what they did not plan on doing is falling in love.


After 5 long years someone starts to torment Aubrey.  She starts to connect the dots to Josh disappearance.

The Truth About Books by Theresa!

Please leave comments.

ARC Review the Girl In The Ice

This Girl In The Ice

by Robert Bryndza

From Goodreads

Her eyes are wide open. Her lips parted as if to speak. Her dead body frozen in the ice…She is not the only one. 

When a young boy discovers the body of a woman beneath a thick sheet of ice in a South London park, Detective Erika Foster is called in to lead the murder investigation. 

The victim, a beautiful young socialite, appeared to have the perfect life. Yet when Erika begins to dig deeper, she starts to connect the dots between the murder and the killings of three prostitutes, all found strangled, hands bound and dumped in water around London. 

What dark secrets is the girl in the ice hiding? 

As Erika inches closer to uncovering the truth, the killer is closing in on Erika. 

The last investigation Erika led went badly wrong… resulting in the death of her husband. With her career hanging by a thread, Erika must now battle her own personal demons as well as a killer more deadly than any she’s faced before. But will she get to him before he strikes again?

My Review

I received this ARC book from the Publisher: Bookouture for an honest review.

Expected publication: February 12th

I started this book last night and I just finished it.  Took me less the 12 hours to read it.  

This is a debut mystery/thriller novel staring DCI Erika Foster.  DCI Erika Foster is such a strong character.  Gets the job done type of women.

The victim is a rich, beautiful girl.  She is found dead in the ice.  As DCI Erika is solving this murder of this girl in the ice she starts to connect the dots to three other death who happen to be prostitutes.  As she is closing in on the Killer DCI Erika has to start to worry about herself.

Erika has her own struggles as the last investigation that Erika led went badly with her husband ending up dead.

This is such a good book.  Very fast pace and well written.

The Author Robert Bryndza has all ready disclosed that he is in the middle of writing a second book to this new series.

The Truth About Books by Theresa!

 Please leave comments, I love reading each and every one of them.

Baggage ARC Review

Baggage by S.G.Redling

 From Goodreads

A year later and a thousand miles away, Anna tries to find solace in the fresh start of a new job in a new place. She takes comfort in her outspoken cousin Jeannie, the confidant and best friend who’s there whenever she needs help. On the eve of the dreaded anniversary, Anna and Jeannie hit the town, planning to ease the pain with an alcohol-induced stupor and then sleep…

But when Anna awakes on the darkest day of her year, she has no idea that fate is about to intervene in the form of a pair of gruesome murders with eerie similarities to her violent past. This time, however, she won’t be an abandoned daughter or a grieving widow. This time, she’ll be a suspect.

My Review

I received this book as an ARC for an honest review from the Publisher Thomas & Mercer.

Expected publication: February 9th 2016

I really did like this book.  The only reason I gave it a 3 star rating is because of the ending.  There really was no closure.

BE AWARE COULD CONTAIN SPOILERS:

When Anna was a child her mother killed her father on February 17th.  She did it because she was protecting Anna from him.  Anna has never been able to speak of this terrible thing that happened to her.  She moved in with her Aunt and Uncle and her cousin Jennie.  Jennie took to her little cousin and over the years became Anna's support system.

When Anna was an adult she got married.  She married a man that had some mental issues.  On February 17th he killed himself.  He did it in a place that Anna kept her most private secretes hidden away.

Now it has been a year since Anna has lost her husband.  She has moved a thousand miles away to start a new life.  She still hates when February 17th comes, but this year she does not have to face it alone.  Jennie her cousin comes to town to be with her.  They go out for an evening of food and drinks, they both end up drunk and don't remember what happened.  Now Anna is faced again on February 17th with a pair of gruesome murders with eerie similarities to her violent past.  This time is a different, now Anna finds herself as a suspect to the murders.

My favorite person in the book is Jennie, she is very out spoken where Anna is more quiet and shy.  Not that is a bad thing.  Anna just don't want everyone knowing about her past.  She just to keep it hidden away.

The book does end with a cliff hanger so I do so much hope for a second book to come.

The Truth About Books by Theresa!

Comment away I love reading each and every one of them.

Arc Review

After The Woods by Kim Savage

From Goodreads

Would you risk your life to save your best friend? 

Julia did. When a paroled predator attacked Liv in the woods, Julia fought back and got caught. Liv ran, leaving Julia in the woods for a terrifying 48 hours that she remembers only in flashbacks. One year later, Liv seems bent on self-destruction, starving herself, doing drugs, and hooking up with a violent new boyfriend. A dead girl turns up in those same woods, and Julia’s memories resurface alongside clues unearthed by an ambitious reporter that link the girl to Julia’s abductor. As the devastating truth becomes clear, Julia realizes that after the woods was just the beginning.

My Review

I received this book as an ARC from the Publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux for an honest review.

Expected publication: February 23rd 2016

I have to admit when I first started reading After the Woods I was ready to give up at about 15% of the way into the book. Well I decided to give the book another a chapter or two and glad I stuck with it. As it turned out to be well worth it.

Would you give your life to save your best friend? Hmm that is a good question. Well Julia did, she saved her best friend from being abducted when they were out jogging. Liv was trying to fight off the abductor and Julia jumped in and started fighting him. Liv managed to get away and Julia was caught. Julia ended up spending 48 hours before she managed to escape.

Now one year later Julia is starting to remember what happened to her in the woods, and Liv is out for self destruction. 

My favorite character in the book is Julia in one part of the book she is described as being sarcastic, funny, dark and dry. All in all she was tough, not just physical but in her mind. I have to agree with that. Julia really does everything she can to figure out what happened to her and Liv and why were they the targets of this abductor.

The Truth About Books by Theresa!

ARC Review

Almana by Julayn Adams

From Goodreads

In the aftermath of World War III, the world has become a dangerous place. The ruthless dictator, Equis, and his army, Armageddon, are quickly taking over major metropolitan areas on the west coast of the United States. The end of humanity is eminent. Their one hope lies in the hands of a seventeen year old girl, Alexa. When Almana volunteers to leave Heaven to guide Alexa, she never thought that her own destiny would include falling in love with a human. Now, cursed to remain on Earth forever, Almana finds that her task is much more than she bargained for.

My Review

I received this book as an ARC from the Publisher  Angel Press Publications for an honest review.

Expected publication: February 2016

I was not really sure what I was getting into when I accepted this book.  I can tell you I'm sure glad I read it.  The book gripped me from the very first page.

I love Almana, Cam and Alexa.  All 3 of them are very strong characters.

Almana is an Angel, she volunteers to leave heaven to come and help Alexa.  Alexa does discover that Almana is an Angel she does not really know why she is here.  Almana knows that once she leaves heaven and her mission is over she will never beable to return back to heaven.  She will have to stay on earth forever.  Knowing this she still comes to earth, she can not die and she will never age.  What Almana finds she was not expecting.  I don't really want to say much don't want to give anything away.  I can tell you that this book has a sad ending and there will be a book 2.

I have never read anything from this Author before and I think Julayn Adams did a wonderful job creating the novel, I also love this cover.

The Truth About Books by Theresa!

Arc Review

SANCTUARY BAY

BY

lAURA J. BURNS

&

MELINDA METZ

From Goodreads

In this genre-bending YA thriller, will Sarah Merson's shiny new prep school change her life forever or bring it to a dark and sinister end?

When Sarah Merson receives the opportunity of a lifetime to attend the most elite prep school in the country-Sanctuary Bay Academy-it seems almost too good to be true. But, after years of bouncing from foster home to foster home, escaping to its tranquil setting, nestled deep in Swans Island, couldn't sound more appealing. Swiftly thrown into a world of privilege and secrets, Sarah quickly realizes finding herself noticed by class charmer, Nate, as well as her roommate's dangerously attentive boyfriend, Ethan, are the least of her worries. When her roommate suddenly goes missing, she finds herself in a race against time, not only to find her, but to save herself and discover the dark truth behind Sanctuary Bay's glossy reputation. 

In this genre-bending YA thriller, Sanctuary Bay by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz, Sarah's new school may seem like an idyllic temple of learning, but as she unearths years of terrifying history and manipulation, she discovers this "school" is something much more sinister.

My Review

I gave this book a 4 Star Rating

Sanctuary Bay

Author: Laura J Burns

Publisher: St. Martin's

Expected Publication: 01/19/16

I was lucky enough to get to be chosen by Netgalley and the Publisher St. Martins and received an ARC of Sanctuary Bay for an honest review on the book.

I really enjoyed the book but the ending left me hanging.  Please tell me there is going to be a second book?  

SPOILER ALERT!

The book starts of as Sarah being a little girl and she see's her mom and dad getting shot.  Now with both her parents dead Sarah ends up in the foster care system.  Sarah is tossed from one foster home after another.  She is very bright and does well in school.  So all of sudden her social worker shows up and tells her that she is going to get to go to this very elite prep school in the country.  Sanctuary Bay which is located on and isolated island, once you are on the island you are there until you graduate high school.  

Sarah has discovered the school is not what you would think it is. When her roommate goes missing, she finds herself looking for her, but what she really finds is the dark and mysterious truth that lies behind Sanctuary Bay's reputation.