The Lords of Salem by Rob Zombie & B.K. Evenson

Title: The Lords of Salem
Author: Rob Zombie and B.K. Evenson
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: March 12, 2013
Source: Purchased

From the singular mind of horror maestro Rob Zombie comes a chilling plunge into a nightmare world where evil runs in the blood...
THE LORDS OF SALEM
Heidi Hawthorne is a thirty-seven-year-old FM radio DJ and a recovering drug addict. Struggling with her newfound sobriety and creeping depression, Heidi suddenly receives an anonymous gift at the station-a mysteriously shaped wooden box branded with a strange symbol. Inside the box is a promotional record for a band that identifies themselves only as The Lords. There is no other information.
She decides to play it on the radio show as a joke, and the moment she does, horrible things begin to happen. The strange music awakens something evil in the town. Soon enough, terrifying murders begin to happen all around Heidi. Who are The Lords? What do they want?
As old bloodlines are awakened and the bodies start to pile up, only one thing seems certain: all hell is about to break loose.

GoodReads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon

Holy *#&+! Rob Zombie has done it again. And this time it's in the form of a book! I have been a long time Zombie fan, so when I heard about his book coming out, of course, I had to read it!

The Lords of Salem will mess with your head. It's ultimately about the devil. It focuses around a group of witches who call upon the dark for their power. After being captured and burned alive for their witchcraft, they vow revenge on the descendants of those who killed them.

Being from a christian family and background, reading about devil worship freaks me out. But that's also the point of a horror story. And The Lords of Salem did not disappoint.

The Lords of Salem follows the story of Heidi Hawthorne. Her ancestor, John Hawthorne, was the priest during the witch trials. The craziness all begins when a mysterious antique box is delivered to Heidi at her job. It's a record from a band called The Lords. After playing the record on air, all sorts of crazy stuff starts happening all over town.

This is a book about evil. There is no good to fight it with. These witches are set on destruction and they don't stop until they have avenged their deaths. Rob Zombie is all about the heavy. The Lords of Salem is heavy. Heavy on the violence, heavy on the gore, heavy on the horror.

There is no sparkle and sunshine (not even the black kind!). No love triangles or morals to a story. There is only darkness and demons.

This book disturbed me. But in that good, scary kind of way. I was excited to see the movie already. But now, I don't think I can handle the excitement. If the movie creeps me out half as much as the book, I will be one happy little living dead girl. (JOKES! to many zombie puns!)

Rob Zombie & B.K. Evenson make a terrific pair. Nothing would make my life better than to see more books!!

Read More

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Title: Masque of the Red Death
Author: Bethany Griffin
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: April 2012
Source: Purchased

Everything is in ruins.
A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them.
So what does Araby Worth have to live for?
Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.
But in the depths of the club--in the depths of her own despair--Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.
And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for--no matter what it costs her.

GoodReads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon

Masque of the Read Death is doom and gloom. It's a quick, easy read that is beautifully written. I believe this is my first "steam punk" book and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

We become acquainted to a rather large group of characters, with Araby being our main girl. In our Read-a-long, we discussed Araby being a tragic story. She lost her twin brother at a young age. Her mother left them for 2 years. Her father kept Araby and her brother locked away to protect them from the plague. She was contemplating suicide when she met her best friend, April. A best friend that introduces her to the Debauchery Club. A place they go to escape reality. Drugs, alcohol and random men. Now if that's not tragic, then I'm not sure what is!

I'm not sure that I really loved any of the characters involved in this story. Araby was ok, but I sometimes found myself being like, "O.M.G. you are so dramatic." April seems a bit shallow and only concerned with herself. But she does redeem herself a bit before the end of the book. Araby also finds herself in a sort of love triangle with Elliot (April's brother) and Will (a bouncer of sorts at the Club). I have to say that I despise Elliot. He's controlling, violent and untrustworthy. In one instance, he's telling Araby that he loves her and then the next he's threatening her life. Will, on the other hand, seems perfect. Seems. He still has his own demons to deal with and some of them are shocking, but understandable. I feel as tho I could grow to love his character.

I would highly recommend Masque of the Red Death to anyone! This is a gorgeous story that is surrounded by death and despair. A tale of tragedy. One that I hope in the next book, Dance of the Red Death, will maybe get some happiness and sunshine. I am not familiar with Edgar Allen Poe's original version, so I'm not quite sure how it compares. But I do know that I will be reading it as well!

I've also hear that there is an e-novella called Glitter and Doom that is told from Aprils perspective. I'm thinking I may have to check this one out as well. And of course, the second book, Dance of the Red Death, is coming soon! I, for one, can't wait!!

Read More

Teaser Tuesday {#1}

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. She invites you to share 1 or 2 sentences from your current read. Just be careful not to reveal any spoilers!

Today, my read is The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I scored this book while thrifting for only 25cents. A few days ago, I saw the previews on television for the movie! It looked rather interesting, so I decided to go ahead and give it a read.

Here is the summary of The Host (taken from GoodReads):

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. Earth has been invaded by a species that takes over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves - Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.Featuring what may be the first love triangle involving only two bodies, The Host is a riveting and unforgettable novel that will bring a vast new readership to one of the most compelling writers of our time.

And here are 2 teasers from the book:

• "That's just great," someone said under his breath. "We've got a bloody queen mother alien living with us. She could blow into a million new buggers at any moment."

• After all the planets and all the hosts you've left behind, you've finally found a place and the body you'd die for. I think you've found your home, Wanderer.

What are you currently reading?!

Read More

REVIEW {Pantomime by Laura Lam)

Title: Pantomime
Author: Laura Lam
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Publication Date: February 5, 2013
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Source: via NetGalley for review

R. H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass—remnants of a mysterious civilization long gone—are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimaera is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide. Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star. But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada.

                                               GoodReads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon 

A secret wrapped in a mystery, wrapped in a love story, wrapped in circus magic. Now wrap all of that up into a beautifully written story and you have Pantomime.

I admit, I was blown away by this book. I absolutely loved it. All of it. The summary does exactly what it is supposed to do, describe the story. And it does that well. But when you begin reading Pantomime, you are pleasantly shocked with a pretty big secret that you would never guess from reading that summary. I honestly don't know to write up a good review without giving anything away!

The world slightly confuses me. It never actually gives you a date for when all of this takes place. It seems to be a mixture of historical (think nobles, big dresses & Lords and Ladies) and the future. There is magic and tales of ancient people who vanished. An odd combination, but it works! The descriptions of the world painted a lovely picture inside my mind.

This was my first "circus" book. I've never read about anything that had to do with circus acts. I loved it. You could picture the acts in your head like you were really there watching them. I can't wait to dive into more circus themes now!

I'm not sure if there is plans for a second, but I hope and pray there will be. Pantomime leaves you wanting more. It ends with a cliffhanger! I can't wait to find out what happens next. The anticipation just may be to much to handle..

If you love the circus, magic and unfolding mysteries, then this is the book for you! I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone!

Read More

BOOK REVIEW {Jenny Pox by J.L. Bryan}

Title: Jenny Pox (The Paranormals #1)
Author: J.L. Bryan
Publication Date: July 22, 2010
Genre: Paranormal, Fiction
Source: purchased e-copy from Kobo

Eighteen-year-old Jenny Morton has a horrific secret: her touch spreads a deadly supernatural plague, the "Jenny pox." She lives by a single rule: Never touch anyone. A lifetime of avoiding any physical contact with others has made her isolated and painfully lonely in her small rural town. Then she meets the one boy she can touch. Jenny feels herself falling for Seth...but if she's going to be with him, Jenny must learn to use the deadly pox inside her to confront his ruthless and manipulative girlfriend Ashleigh, who secretly wields the most dangerous power of all.

GoodReads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon

This book is about a girl named Jenny. She was born with a supernatural power that she can't control. Through her skin, she infects anything she touches with disease. Blisters, boils, puss... it's not pretty. The longer the touch, the deadlier. The story follows her through senior year at Fallen Oak High. She is an outcast, covering her body as much as possible, even wearing gloves. This makes her the target for lots of jokes and bullying. 

Of course there's the bad girl. That cheerleader, rules the school, everyone follows her around like a puppy dog type. And then there's a jock. The not as bad as everyone thinks he is type. This book takes many twists and turns. Just when you think you have it figured out, you don't. Jenny Pox grabbed my attention from the beginning and it didn't let go.

I'm not sure how much more to say without giving anything away. I also don't really know how to classify this into a genre. I've seen it listed as YA & Adult. Obviously it's paranormal, fiction, etc. But there are a few scenes (one in particular) that lead me from a YA book. I don't think I would recommend this to anyone under 17 at least. 

To me, this book had it all. The supernatural, romance, death & gore. My kind of book! I've seen that there are more books in this series and I can't wait to get my hands on them. If you are into horror books, then you will probably enjoy Jenny Pox. Even tho I wouldn't consider this horror, I'm thinking more along the blood & gore parts. 

Excellent book, Excellent story. I was very pleased with Jenny Pox.

NOTE: This book is FREE for your Kindle, Nook & Kobo!! Plus, as a little "extra", here is a picture that I instagrammed while I was reading. It gives you a little taste of the good goriness. 

Read More

BOOK REVIEW {Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1)}

Title: Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1)
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publication Date: February 7, 2012
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Historical Fiction
Source: purchased my own ecopy

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.
Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.
If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

GoodReads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon

You had me at witches. I have always been drawn to anything witchy and Born Wicked satisfies. Then when you add in a hot, nerdy boy, some catty girlfriends with a historical setting, you get awesome.

Cate Cahill is the oldest of 3 sisters. She seems a bit uptight. There were parts of this book where I literally said out loud, "Really? Just chill out!" But if I had a deadly secret hanging over my head, I might be a little uptight too. Her sole responsibility is to look after her sisters and keep them safe. She does everything in her power to protect them but nothing works out the way it's supposed to. Cate finds herself falling in love with the one person she shouldn't fall for. Oh, Finn. I do have a soft spot for nerdy boys and Finn fits this category. I so badly want Cate & Finn to end up together!

The first several chapters seem to drag a bit for me. I was so excited to read this and then I was like... come on! But the more I read, the more I realized I couldn't put it down. My husband left one afternoon to run some errands and I swear it seemed like 10 minutes later he was walking through the door again. I hadn't even changed positions! It's that good!

I was SO frustrated with the ending. I even pouted a little. I complete understand the reasons for the outcome but it doesn't mean I have to like it. I'm just thankful there are more books coming. This means there are plenty of chances to turn things around!

Definitely read Born Wicked if you love witches. Definitely read Born Wicked if you don't love witches. Just Read It! Like, yesterday.

And can I just point out how gorgeous that cover is?! Love.

Read More

BOOK REVIEW {Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake}

Title: Anna Dressed in Blood

Author: Kendare Blake

Publisher: Tor Teen

Publication Date: August 30, 2011

Genre: YA, Horror, Paranormal

Source: purchased my own ecopy

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story... Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay. When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home. And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

GoodReads - Barnes & Noble - Amazon

 I got caught up in reading all the hype for Anna Dressed in Blood, so I guess you could say my expectations were through the roof! I'm way behind with reading this one and because of that I've been hearing nothing but raves about Anna. Well, I finally had the chance to dive into this popular book! I enjoyed this book but I wasn't blown away.

I loved Cas. His character seemed like someone I could be best friends with. He was a loner and sarcastic .. just like me! HA. He also was very caring and sweet, which isn't normal in guys these days. I did like how he made friends through out the book with an array of characters that you wouldn't have expected, like a cheerleader, a nerd and an old man! Now for Anna... Anna wasn't what I was expecting. I did like her but I was wanting more gore. I guess that would knock this book into an adult genre if that were the case. But I love a good murdering ghost story and there just wasn't enough of that for me. She seemed to give in to easily to Cas. Maybe that's just me but I was disappointed at the lack of "bitch" she had in her.

The ending caught me off guard. The ghost they all banded together to kill wasn't the ghost you would expect it to be. Although, it was nice to be surprised like that. There's a lot of books out there that you just know how it's going to end before you get half way done with it. Not this one.

If you enjoy ghosts and (slight) horror, then I would definitely recommend Anna Dressed in Blood. I enjoyed it enough that I need to read Girl of Nightmares so I can find out what happened!

Read More

Happy New Year!!

I hope that all of you had a great New Years Eve (and day!)! I spent mine in bed. I'm so old.. :)

I don't have a whole lot to share today. I uploaded my new layout. Some links may still be a little wonky. I'm working on them.. I have 2 reviews to share later this week and also a home project that I've been working on. Possibly even a book haul. I did purchase some books in the last couple of weeks that I could share.

I'm currently working on a blogging schedule. So I won't make any promises as to how often my posts will be right at first. I'm working my way up to at least 4 posts a week. But with working over the holidays and then the holidays themselves, I just didn't get as much pre-planned as I wanted to.

Things will probably be kinda chill for the next month or so but hopefully it wont take me that long to get everything smoothed out. If any of you are visiting, let me know! I'd love to hear from you! Comments, suggestions and ideas are always welcome!

Happy New Years!

Read More