The nitty-gritty: A stylish and atmospheric tale, part ghost story, part psychological thriller, that sneaks up on you slowly. The creepy mirror was full-size and seemed unnaturally enormous hanging on the wall that way and reflecting only darkness. Framed in antique scrollwork, the glass within was pitch-black, and there was no image beyond the impression […]
The nitty-gritty: As twisty and complex as Shakespeare, this story surprised me in every way possible. This is definitely one of 2017’s “must reads!” When Curtis Craddock asked me if I’d like a copy of his debut to read and review, I didn’t know much about it at the time. But I’m ecstatic that I […]
The nitty-gritty: Heart-pounding horror meets a touching story about friendship and family bonds. It’s an odd thing that I start 2017 off by reading three very similar books in a row (and those reviews will all be up in the next week or so). It wasn’t planned, it just shook out that way. If you’ve […]
The nitty-gritty: A unique tale with glimmers of magic and wonder, but with some writing inconsistencies that distracted from the story. The city was a huge place of death with very little life. He could not sense the ghosts of the dead, but they had to be out there. And what about the ghosts of […]
The nitty-gritty: Despite the author’s fluid writing style and evocative imagery, this story lacked a solid plot and sympathetic characters, and with its over-the-top violence, it just wasn’t for me. Every once in a while I try a new small publisher, and I’ve found some great ones by taking chances and stepping out of my […]
The nitty-gritty: A suspenseful young adult tale with awesome female friendships and an intriguing supernatural element. A couple of years ago I read and loved the dark and violent Merciless, written under Rollins’ pen name Danielle Vega. And so when the author offered me a copy of her latest, I was looking forward to more […]
The nitty-gritty: A disturbing and violent glimpse into a notorious historical figure, a dash of the supernatural, and a compelling story. For fans of shock horror, this is a must read. I’m always cautious when someone asks me to read a book from a small publisher I’ve never heard of, but when Lesley Conner asked […]
The nitty-gritty: A gritty follow-up that delivers on action and chills, with plenty of awesome characters. Sunrise came slow, preceded by an uptick in the distant sound of traffic, honking horns, and sirens. Anna wondered if there was anywhere you could go in L.A. and not hear it. The city’s circulatory system, as clogged and […]