It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

  

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Happy Halloween!!! May all of you who celebrate have a great night!

I am kind of sad to say goodbye to October, my favorite month. It was a good October though, so I won't complain too much. Onward to November, the month of Thanksgiving and of my birth! 

Little man caught a cold last week~ it was the first one we really had to deal with, and it wasn't fun for any of us, most of all him! He is still recovering from it, but is getting better. We stayed in all weekend allowing him time to rest and do what he needed to do to get better. Hopefully tomorrow (Halloween) he will be well enough to venture out for a block or two and to hang out with his cousin! They are both going to look so cute! W. is going to be a viking, and his cousin L. is going to be a dragon!

I did some reading and movie watching, but didn't get a chance to finish up all my R.I.P. posts. Ah well, there is always next year!

Read last Week:

 

Witch at Odds by Juliette Harper: I am enjoying this series I found through Amazon Kindle. Mini-review here.

Sisters' Fate by Jessica Spotswood: I started this series a few years ago and remembered I never finished it! 

Reading This Week:

My mailbox was busy this week! I was lucky enough to receive three books, yay! I am starting one this week - so far, so good!

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris: From St. Martins Press. I am not too far in, but so far I am liking it!

Watching:

Supernatural, Van Helsing, Gilmore Girls (rewatch -so excited for the new stuff!!), How to Get Away with Murder, and TWD, although I couldn't actually watch last week's episode, too brutal for me. :(

We also watched 10 Cloverfield Lane over the weekend - I am unsure how I felt about it, honestly. It felt like two different movies to me. 

A Cold Damp Day and Some R.I.P. Mini Reviews

It is a cold and dreary autumn day today. Wyatt has the right idea and is napping all snug in his bed right now; my version is more curl up with my coffee cup, in my snugly new crazy pants and a giant sweatshirt. Have you guys heard of these Lularoe leggings? I won a Halloween pair, and they are perfect for days like today, lazy rainy days. They seem kind of rockabilly, vintage horror to me. 

I've been busy doing some school reading and making Wyatt's costume, and I missed my regular Monday post! My classes this semester are fascinating but very work intensive, actually more than I expected! We have read some really interesting articles and books, and if you are at all interested, I am going to do a quick post soon about what we've been reading, I think they are that good, I have to share. Other than school, I have gotten stuck on the Jinx Hamilton series by Juliette Harper. Which brings me to my mini-reviews!

R.I.P. is hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings every Halloween....Read at your own peril!

 

Witch at Heart and Witch at Odds by Juliette Harper: 

Book 1 begins the journey of Jinx Hamilton into her new reality - that of a witch. She has inherited her Aunt Fiona's crazy store, and with it, has discovered her very own witchy witch powers. With the help of her good friend Tori, and that of the supernatural, Jinx solves the mystery of a string of missing women and finds their killer. I thought that the reason behind the murders was very original - it was not one I had ever read anywhere else, and I love originality when it works, and it definitely worked here. In Book 2, Jinx is still finding her way through this new life of hers. She is starting to branch out, try new things, experiment with her powers, and accidentally sets off a chain of events that requires some heavy duty fixing. We get to know her, Tori, and a few other characters better in this book, and I think every reader will enjoy the character of Beau! Her writing style and pace and just in general, these books have a feel about them that reminds me of Charlaine Harris. I am enjoying these witchy reads this time of year, and the best part is, they are not super scary! 

The Cottage on Pumpkin and Vine by Kate Angell/Jennifer Dawson and Sharla Lovelace: This book is really three short stories, all taking place in the small town of Moonbright, Maine, which is an awesome name for a town, and center around the big annual town party at the local B&B. The party is said to be magical for those who stay overnight at the B&B, and three partygoers find out just what that means. We get stories from before, during, and after the party, which was kind of a fun way to do it. The first story, Charmed by You, was my least favorite of the three. Cade, the main guy in the story, hated Halloween and had the stupidest reason ever for hating it. He got in trouble once for a Halloween prank as a kid and therefore, hates Halloween. Whatever. Beyond that, it was just the weakest story of the three. The next story, Mesmerized by you, was super cute. It was fun, as was the third story, which was my favorite - Enchanted by You. Overall, this quick romantic Halloween read is perfect for the person who wants to read something seasonal but likes their Halloween minus the scary element.

R.I.P. Movie Review: Crimson Peak

I used to LOVE scary horror movies- but I have found now that I am older I don't have the capacity to watch them as much anymore. We used to even have Horrible Horror Movie nights at our house every Monday for years and years, but now I wouldn't be able to face it. Lol. 

However, it is Halloween, so I bucked up and watched one. I plan to watch at least two more before Halloween but we will see.

This is also I think my very first movie review!

I have wanted to see this movie for a long time - like a year. I love Tom Hiddleston (Hiddles!) and also Jessica Chastain and Mia Wasikowska. And this poster - amazing, right? Creepy and super visual. 

I ended up loving this movie, and in terms of scary, I put it high on my list! Mia Wasikowska plays American Edith Cushing, an aspiring writer and avid bookworm. She's not interested in romance, just her books, or so she thinks, as that all changes when she meets Tom Hiddleston, who plays Thomas Sharpe. Thomas and his sister Lucille are English, titled, and penniless. Edith can't resist Thomas and the two marry, and the threesome heads back to the Sharpe home, Allerdale Hall, set in the wilds of Cumberland, England. 

Of course, this is where the movie gets really good. Lucille is creepy. There is something weird about the brother and sister, and the Hall is in serious disrepair.  Huge, black, imposing, it sits ominously on a sea of red earth. Edith begins to start seeing things. Scary things. And here is where I missed a bunch of the movie due to creep outs! 

There were some scary ghosts crawling around this place and I just couldn't look! About halfway through I was able to finally not look away, and I have to say, although this movie was scary, it was beautiful. The hall was gorgeous in its ruin, the cinematography was brilliant, the colors vivid and striking all the right moods and ambiance. The costumes, Edith and Lucille's hair - all of it was masterfully done. I couldn't look away, it was stunning, yet horrific all at the same time. 

Edith learns some disturbing truths about her new life and the end becomes a life or death struggle, in the cold and fog and bleeding ground. The ending had a few small twists, and felt in a way, a little sad. Overall though, I thought it was well done and for me, creepy. 

R.I.P. Review: And The Trees Crept In

R.I.P. is hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings every Halloween....Read at your own peril!

Goodreads Summary:

Stay away from the woods…

When Silla and Nori arrive at their aunt’s home, it’s immediately clear that the manor is cursed. The endless creaking of the house at night and the eerie stillness of the woods surrounding them would be enough of a sign, but there are secrets too—questions that Silla can’t ignore: Why does it seem that, ever since they arrived, the trees have been creeping closer? Who is the beautiful boy who’s appeared from the woods? And who is the tall man with no eyes who Nori plays with in the basement at nigh…a man no one else can see? 

My Thoughts:

It is very rare that I say this, but I didn't like this book. The cover is awesome, and it had an interesting premise, but..I didn't like it. I thought it was a little boring, and I didn't care for the all the different stylized fonts. It felt gimmicky. I wish this story had been tweaked just a little more, and then I think I would have liked it. It was almost, almost there. I don't really have much to say about it, other than I think there was a lot going on, yet nothing going on, all at the same time.

   

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

  

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

It was a beautiful week, even the rainy days. We had a great time at the orchard and cider mill on Saturday and then had a day of getting stuff done around the house on Sunday. Not quite as fun, but it's nice to check off some boxes. Plus, Billy made homemade apple butter which is delicious!

I love Halloween, and I have so many plans, thanks to Pinterest. I think this week we are going to finally try to get to decorating outside. We are aiming for not too scary, just a giant spider farm...

Read Last Week:

The Perfect Girl by Gilly MacMillan: The first 50 pages or so I was a little meh, then I started to really get into it and had to know the truth and how it ended. Review soon!

Reading This Week:

It's a witchy week ahead!

  

Witch at Heart: I am enjoying this small town witchly mystery! Enough that I am going to read the second in the series, for sure, and I haven't even finished this one yet!

Season of the Witch: This is a reread. This book was given to me by Jonathan Rand, of American Chillers/Michigan Chillers fame, who is also Christopher Knight, a Michigan author. All the stories in the book are set in Michigan too, so it's a Michigan read too!

Goals this week:

To catch up on my R.I.P. reviews!

Watching:

Van Helsing (SyFy), How to Get Away With Murder, The Good Place, The Goldbergs, The Middle - we are all about the situational comedy this month!! Lol. We also watched the movie Crimson Peak, which was awesome, and It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. We might watch it again before Halloween hits though. You can never have enough of the Great Pumpkin! In fact, we might have The Great Pumpkin leave a small gift for Wyatt on Halloween night to be found in the morning. We are big time Halloween fans over here!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

  

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Oh my goodness, last week was a whirl of stuff to do. By contrast though, this week is pretty lightly scheduled - yay! I don't even have much homework, which is unbelievable - but I am not complaining!

Wyatt, my stepmom, and I went on a hayride last week. It was one of those gorgeous fall days, and we enjoyed the sun and breezes.

Read Last Week:

 

The Cottage on Pumpkin and Vine: Three short stories revolving around the big Halloween party held at the cottage every year. It was a fun read.

And the Trees Crept In: I finished this book, but I didn't like it. :( It was just kind of boring. Or at least to me it was. It had an ok premise but overall just didn't do it for me.

Reading This Week:

The Perfect Girl: This came in for me from my library holds list - I haven't started it yet but it sounds good!

Posted Last Week:

Book Review: Menagerie by Rachel Vincent

Watching:

American Horror Story, Scream Queens (love this show!), while I wait impatiently for The Walking Dead.

Book Review: Menagerie by Rachel Vincent

R.I.P. is hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings every Halloween....Read at your own peril!

Goodreads Summary:

When Delilah Marlow visits a famous traveling carnival, Metzger's Menagerie, she is an ordinary woman in a not-quite-ordinary world. But under the macabre circus black-top, she discovers a fierce, sharp-clawed creature lurking just beneath her human veneer. Captured and put on exhibition, Delilah in her black swan burlesque costume is stripped of her worldly possessions, including her own name, as she's forced to "perform" in town after town. 

But there is breathtaking beauty behind the seamy and grotesque reality of the carnival. Gallagher, her handler, is as kind as he is cryptic and strong. The other "attractions"—mermaids, minotaurs, gryphons and kelpies—are strange, yes, but they share a bond forged by the brutal realities of captivity. And as Delilah struggles for her freedom, and for her fellow menagerie, she'll discover a strength and a purpose she never knew existed. 

Renowned author Rachel Vincent weaves an intoxicating blend of carnival magic and startling humanity in this intricately woven and powerful tale.

My Thoughts:

I loved this book! It was one of those have-to-keep reading types of books, that are hard to put down. I am not the biggest fan of Rachel Vincent usually, but this one, this one I really loved.

First off, let me say that it is pretty brutal. Like almost hard to read sometimes brutal, if you are at all sensitive to violence towards women. Once you get first the few chapters, it chills out, but those first ones are a doozy. It was nothing too overboard, but it walked kind of a knife edge, in my opinion.

Vincent's Menagerie conjured thoughts of HBO's Carnivale, Mommy Fortuna's traveling carnival from The Last Unicorn (I love this movie!!), and Detroit's own Theatre Bizarre (which I also love). The world is not the world we know - this world has undergone a transformation, and those imaginary monsters under the bed have turned out to be real. But the real question this story proposes, is just who are the real monsters?

Metzger's Menagerie is renowned for its collection of oddities, monsters, the rare, the killer, the scary. When it rolls into Delilah Marlow's town, it is a once in a lifetime chance to see these rarities - and Delilah isn't that excited about the prospect, despite it being her birthday gift from her boyfriend. She should have followed her instincts, because in one night, she goes from bank teller to someone with less rights than a stray dog, as she finds herself on the other side of the cage bars. The mysterious Gallagher is her handler, and I loved his character. I could have kept reading this book just to find out more about him - he almost stole the show out from under Delilah, in my opinion. There was only one part that I think could have been handled better - it was like a throwaway decision, and the way it all unfolded and ended really bothered me. It was just careless writing. Other than this one little part, I really think that Vincent created an interesting new world. Filled with creatures you only read about in myths and legends, good vs. evil, and even what evil really can look like, I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

  

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

I love October! October through December is my favorite time of the year. I love fall, everything about it (except for maybe the crazy aggressive bees!). Like a squirrel, I am making plans and getting ready, and look forward to enjoying my favorite season before the winter sends us into hibernation.

Read Last Week:

Menagerie by Rachel Vincent: I have been wanting to read this for forever! I devoured it. I greedily hoarded all my available moments and to read it, even if it was just five minutes. It was so good! Review soon.

Reading This Week:

Crossing my fingers I have some time to read this week! It's midterm week, and Wyatt and I have some sort of appointment every single day this week, on top of it all. Actually, fingers crossed I make it through this week! Lol. 

And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich: I am looking forward to reading this, although I am already certain I will be freaked out! 

Watching:

The Great British Bake Off (yay!), The Paradise, The Good Place (this is hilarious!)

Posted Last Week:

R.I.P. Reading Challenge

Snowfall on Haven Point Review

What have you all been up to?

Book Review: Snowfall on Haven Point by RaeAnne Thayne

Title: Snowfall on Haven Point
Author: RaeAnne Thayne
Source: Publisher, in exchange for an honest review

Publisher Summary:

Andrea Montgomery is a widow and mother of two who has recently relocated to Haven Point in search of a fresh start. As she and her young children prepare for their first Christmas in town, Andie finds herself enlisted to help her neighbor, the intimidating sheriff Marshall Bailey, after his leg is broken in a mysterious hit-and-run accident. Although delivering soup to the most stubborn man in town isn’t Andie’s idea of holiday fun, she soon discovers that Marshall has a softer side and is surprised when her children form a strong attachment to the gruff sheriff. Now Andie, who vowed to steer clear of law enforcement officers after her husband’s death in the line of duty, finds it increasingly difficult to maintain her resolve—especially as Marshall’s good heart and quiet strength dare her to find the courage to love again.



My thoughts:

I am not usually a reader who reads out of season. It is difficult for me to read about summer in the middle of the winter, and vice versa. I made an exception for RaeAnne Thayne's newest book, and was happy that I did! The disparity didn't bother me at all, I was so involved in the story itself to even notice the humid and muggy temps; instead the idea of a winter wonderland, Christmas trees, and decorating Christmas trees had me thinking about well, Christmas! I am not ready for Christmas by a long shot, as Halloween is my favorite holiday of all, but it was enjoyable to read about such a happy season and time of the year. I always love visiting the town of Haven Point, which I think of as the little town that could.

Andie is a character who first surfaced in Thayne's book, Riverbend Road. A new member of the Haven Point community, Andie and her two children are finding their footing, living beyond the bad times they have lived through. When Winnie calls and asks Andie if she will check in on her gruff brother Marshall while Winnie is out of town, Andie is a bit reluctant. A relatively shy person, who doesn't know Marshall yet has heard stories of him, she in a little intimidated by the idea, but agrees to help Winnie out.

Sheriff Marshall Bailey is a man of action and few words. Known for his gruffness, he finds himself a little helpless after being struck down by a car while in the line of duty. His leg shattered, he is at the mercy of those who can help him - in this case, Andie, as his family is out of town. Marshall knows the accident was no accident either - there are a few cases he is working on, and he feels he knows his assailant. He does not want to be sidelined; he only wants to get back on the job.

Tossed together through circumstance, the two dance around each other, and their mutual attraction. Andie needs a family man for her children, and as a widow of a policeman, has vowed to never marry a man in uniform again. But Marshall's gruffness is just a facade for the kind, gentle, and loving man he really is. And as the snow flies, so do the sparks!

If you are a fan of romance, Christmas, and good solid storytelling, don't miss this new book by RaeAnne Thayne.