Readers' Favorite

Showing posts with label Claire Rees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Claire Rees. Show all posts

June 23, 2016

Review: Giovanni Goes to Med School by Kathy Bryson

by Claire Rees

Giovanni Goes to Med School
Giovanni is a typical medical student. He is doing well in his position at the hospital but with his debt growing out of control he decides he needs to get a job; any job he can get, and at this moment in time it's in the hospital morgue. The night shift. Away from the weird morgue manager, who seems to be eager to get away from the place.

The job should be easy right? All of the patients are dead, and do not really require any attention.

At first all is going great, everything is quiet until one of his dead patients becomes the undead, she is sitting up, walking around and talking to him, making sure her dog is ok. But is also starting to decompose and is causing all sorts of problems.

He doesn't tell anyone because who would believe him? that is until after a few macabre meetings and a run in with another med student who he can share his concerns too and introduce to his horrifying visitor.

An enjoyable read and far from any other zombie story I've ever read.

I would recommend this to all zombie lovers to get a feel of a different type of zombie tale.

Buy Giovanni Goes to Med School at Amazon


Claire Rees, reviewer. Claire lives in a small village in the South Wales Valleys, UK with her husband, two kids and five snakes. She will hopefully be starting an English literature course this September. She has always loved reading books. Her favorite genres are horror, mystery and fantasy, although if the story line is good she'll read anything. Connect with Claire on Facebook.


Book info:
available formats: ebook (70 pages)
published: March 2016
genres: fantasy, humor






Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

June 15, 2016

Secrets Abound in This Boring Town ~ Town Secrets by Scott Gelowitz

by Claire Rees

Town Secrets
Imagine growing up in a boring town, nothing to do and nowhere go. Then the news reports start that whole towns have been turned into ghost towns overnight. Reports of a strange mist and then suddenly house doors are ripped apart and windows smashed, the residents of the towns have not been found.

This is the life of Adam, and his three friends, Mark, Jimmy and Kevin.

One morning whilst Mark is waiting for his friends in his garage he discovers some photographs and a pin that once belonged to his deceased father. Desperate to know more about his father, the boys go to town hall to look at old records and start to uncover the best kept secret in their town.

Now the ramblings of the local looney don't seem so looney after all.

They discover secret doors and tunnels under their town.Adam loves the adventure and feels it is bringing him closer to his father. That is until the mist arrives at their town also.

Now it is up to Adam and the boys to try to save the town on their own as they can no longer trust their adults.

Town Secrets kept me glued to the pages the whole way through. I loved the secret doorways and tunnels, the keys and the secret society.

Scott Gelowitz is very imaginative and I really enjoyed the trials Adam went out through at the end. The writing was descriptive and I could almost feel the excitement or disappointment that the characters felt. The ending was good and I already have book two on my To Be Read list.

I recommend Town Secrets to all who love secret tunnels and caves and magic linked to elements, mysterious symbols and secret leagues.

Buy Town Secrets at Amazon
(the ebook is FREE at Amazon and Barnes & Noble)


Claire Rees, reviewer. Claire lives in a small village in the South Wales Valleys, UK with her husband, two kids and five snakes. She will hopefully be starting an English literature course this September. She has always loved reading books. Her favorite genres are horror, mystery and fantasy, although if the story line is good she'll read anything. Connect with Claire on Facebook.



Book info:
available formats: ebook and print (334 pages)
published: September 2014
ISBN13: 978-1502381316
target audience: middle grades/young adult
genre: science fiction



Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

June 6, 2016

Review: Gateway to Magic by Annabelle Franklin #MondayBlogs

by Claire Rees

Gateway to Magic
Main characters – Steven the human,  Nigel the shapeshifter, The fairy Queen and Mr Fildew the Queens Dungeon master.

Places – Earth and Fairyland

What story is about – Steven get mad tricked into pushing back the button that will send him to fairyland by his cousin Tracy.

After spending some time there and getting tricked by nasty goblins and a mischievous shape shifter, Steven just wants to go home but can't find anyone to help him. After Steven steals cakes from the fairy market he ends up in the Forrest of pointy fingers to be punished.

He eventually gets out of it and becomes the fairy queens consultant hoping that she will send him home.

My Review – Even though Gateway to Magic is a children's book I did enjoy reading it to my daughter.

Annabelle Franklin has a really good imagination and I think a younger person would have been totally engrossed in the magical world of fairies and goblins.

My daughter loved the Sock Worms and Fairy Queen.

The characters and places are fun and certainly magical and even though Steven faces real danger he manages to get out of it.

It gives the advice through way of punishment that if you do something wrong you should work out why it is wrong, learn from it and change yourself so you don't do it again.

Buy Gateway to Magic at Amazon


Claire Rees, reviewer. Claire lives in a small village in the South Wales Valleys, UK with her husband, two kids and five snakes. She will hopefully be starting an English literature course this September. She has always loved reading books. Her favorite genres are horror, mystery and fantasy, although if the story line is good she'll read anything. Connect with Claire on Facebook.


Book info:
available  formats: ebooks and print (314 pages)
published: January 2013 by Pearlswood Publishing
ISBN13: 978-1530767083
genres: fantasy
target audience: children
source: free ebook provided by author




Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. A free ebook was provided by the author for this review. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

May 30, 2016

Review: The Passion of Jazz and Other Short Stories by Nicholas Bridgman #MondayBlogs

by Claire Rees


The Passion of Jazz and Other Short Stories
What a wonderful collection of short stories. Each of them different from the last.

In "The Passion of Jazz", two students meet at music school and like each other but don't act on it. Only to meet years later when they are both married and it is too late for them. They still share their passion for Jazz.

"No One There to Listen" is about a family going camping. The parents are arguing all the time and the children feel that their father never pays attention to them or listens to them. He, of course, doesn't realize that this is true until it is too late to start paying attention.

In "Grandfather’s Gift" we are in the future where the deceased can carry on giving guests to their loved ones long after they have died. But what if the loved ones don't see it as a gift but rather as a constant reminder that their loved one is no longer with them. That's what happens to this family and it ends up in tragedy.

In "Lost in the Woods", a couple of students who don't really get along get lost in the woods whilst returning from a group holiday. They manage to return home safely but has their relationship changed?

In "Sleep", the last of the stories, the character is plagued by Demons that he believes are after him and burns down a church. The story tells of his court case and his stay at jail and a hospital, where they try to determine his guilt.

Each of the short stories were extremely well written and I enjoyed each one as much as the one before.

I think because of the difference in the stories that anyone could find at least one story that they love.

Buy The Passion of Jazz and Other Short Stories at Amazon

Claire Rees, reviewer. Claire lives in a small village in the South Wales Valleys, UK with her husband, two kids and five snakes. She has always loved reading books. Her favorite genres are horror, mystery and fantasy, although if the story line is good she'll read anything. Connect with Claire on Facebook.


Book info:
available formats: ebook (43 pages)
published: February 2016
genres: short stories, anthology
source: author




Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. A free ebook was provided by the author for this review. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

May 22, 2016

A Thrilling Collection of Horror Short Stories

by Claire Rees

Dark Illuminations
Dark Illuminations by A.A Colvin, Jr. is a collection of five short thrilling horrors. I'll tell you about a few of them, below:

The first story starts with a man and his wife in a horrific car accident. He awakens to find that she has passed away. Heartbroken and needing to get out of his stuffy hospital room, he goes for a walk but finds he is thrown into a loop, where his wife is very much alive and they are spending some lovely time together. The places and situations are always different but the outcome is the same, Lisa dies in a terrible way.  However, he feels selfish for wanting more time with her and finally starts to let her go, unable to make her die another death.

The ending of this story was completely unexpected and gave me chills.

In another story a group of three friends decide to explore the woods behind their houses only to find that the shadows are hiding untold horrors and it falls to one of the boys to save them all.

In the last story of the collection, a man’s mind falls apart as he struggles to cope with the fact that his one decision ended the world as we know it, that his one single sentence wiped out the rest of humanity leaving only him alone on the earth seeing horrible crimes against humans. But once again all is not as it seems and the ending surprised me.

This collection of five stories is highly entertaining and perfect if you have a spare five minutes perhaps in your break time or traveling to work.

Each are their own little pieces of thrilling horrific tales and I loved each of them.

Buy Dark Illuninations at Amazon


Claire Rees, reviewer. Claire lives in a small village in the South Wales Valleys, UK with her husband, two kids and five snakes. She will hopefully be starting an English literature course this September. She has always loved reading books. Her favorite genres are horror, mystery and fantasy, although if the story line is good she'll read anything. Connect with Claire on Facebook.


Book info
available formats: ebook and print (146 pages)
published: February 2016
ISBN13: 978-0692609842
genres: thriller, horror, paranormal
source: author




Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. A free ebook was provided for this review. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.


May 7, 2016

Review: Felix Jones Adventures Books 1 & 2

review by Claire Rees



Felix Jones and the Book of Words by Julian Roderick

Felix Jones and the Book of Words
Dive into an epic adventure with Felix and his best friend Tom as they meet one of history's famous person, Hitler.

For Felix and Tom it's just a normal day in school, but when an explosion rocks their school they notice their teacher acting strangely and decide to follow him where they see him with a book.
This decision changes the boys’ lives forever because now the Book of words has chosen Felix as his Keeper.

As Felix tries to understand what is happening they are attacked by hideous creatures that are half monk and half Skeleton.

Their teacher tells Felix to keep the Book safe and then makes the boys run away.
They dodge the monks only to be thrown through time back into the 1940s.

The time is dangerous and the monks follow them. Felix uses the book which guides him to a guardian. They now need to find ‘The keeper’ of the book from this era to find out how they travel back home using the book.

Lives are lost along the way and all to protect the keeper and the magic book.

The boys meet some amazing, kind brave, people and also some horrible, evil people who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the book.

I loved this story, Felix and Tom are very likeable characters and I really enjoyed accompanying them on their time travel adventure.

Despite the losses of lives they remained brave and managed to protect the book and meet some new guardians closer to home.

I liked the way the author uses real past events and people as part of the storyline too.
I'm looking forward to book two to see what adventures they get up to next and what the book had in store for Felix and Tom. But also to see how Felix’s character develops as he uncovers more of the books secrets and learns how to use it.

I recommend Felix Jones and the Book of Words to Tweens, Young adults and adults alike who enjoy magical adventures across time with dangers around each corner.

Buy Felix Jones and the Book of Words at Amazon


Felix Jones and the Honour of the Keeper by Julian Roderick

Felix and the Honour of the Keeper
I was so happy to receive book two in this series that I started to read it the first day.

Once again we find Felix and his best friend, Tom, getting up to all sorts or trouble. Even taking Felix's sister's hamster, Fluffy, in their time travels.

This was to see if they could take another person along with them in their travels as they meet poppy who is very eager to become a guardian to the keeper.

Felix and Tom are trying to figure out where the magic of the book comes from in orders to stop it, to stop all of the pointless deaths of the guardians.

This time around they meet many amazing people from the past. But the book focuses on Merlin and King Arthur.

Felix, Tom and Poppy get to fight by King Arthur's side against the Bretheren.

I enjoyed the boys’ relationship develop with Poppy and I'm glad they now have a girl in the team.

The lighthearted humor had me chuckling out loud and even faced with the worst of situations the boys’ bravery and smarts shine through. I recommend Felix Jones and the Honour of the Keeper to Tweens who love w good adventure with a little danger thrown in and for young adults, and adults who are young at heart.

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series. I can't wait for Tom, Felix and Poppy's  next great adventure.

Buy Felix Jones and the Honour of the Keeper at Amazon


Claire Rees, reviewer. Claire lives in a small village in the South Wales Valleys, UK with her husband, two kids and five snakes. She has always loved reading books. Her favorite genres are horror, mystery and fantasy, although if the story line is good she'll read anything. Connect with Claire on Facebook.


Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Free books were provided for this review. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

April 30, 2016

Z is for Zombies #AtoZChallenge

by Claire Rees



I have always had a love of horror and zombies horrify me. But for some reason I still love to read about them. The books I have reviewed today are new to me. But I enjoyed them a lot and think I have found some new authors to stalk, ah i mean follow.



Killshot
Killshot by Aria Michaels

Killshot follows a group of teenagers who all meet on top of the school’s gym roof to watch ‘Icarus’ a solar flare due to happen that night. But something goes terribly wrong and they find themselves having to lock themselves inside the school’s basement to stop them from being burned alive.

After a full day of hiding they decide to wait until nightfall when it's cooler to venture outside. But when they do, they find themselves in a ghost town. Those they do find have been burned alive.

They set out together to visit their homes and find each one touched by chaos. They find some ‘infected’ zombie like creatures that they call ‘leeches’. It also seems that two of their group, Zander and Liv have been infected by this virus but instead of destroying them it seems to have given them special powers.

Soon they discover that all is not what it seems and that the US government played a part in this virus and have secret underground places for the Powers That Be to retreat to in times of emergencies just like this.

Now Liv has to get to her little brother but has to dodge the leeches, and also the military who are rounding up all survivors to check them for infection.

From the first chapter I was hooked, I liked the group of survivors, each with their own personalities and quirks. I followed along their story like I was one of the survivors.

The writing is fast and descriptive and kept me turning page after page, hoping to uncover the secrets the military are trying to keep hidden, hoping that Liv and her crew got to where they needed to go safely.

It had me both excited and terrified to see what horrors and troubles they would run into next.
Liv’s relationship with Zander blossoms throughout and is the sweet to the sour of the problems they face.

I recommend Kill Shot to those that love dooms day, apocalypse stories where pain and love go hand in hand. Where government secrets and underground labs are common.

Buy Killshot at Amazon


Killing the Dead
Killing the Dead by Richard Murray

Who better to have by your side in the middle of a zombie apocalypse than an experienced killer?

This is exactly what happens to Lily, when she knocks on the nearest door begging for help whilst running from zombies. She meets Ryan and even though she is horrified by him being a serial killer, in this new apocalyptic world numbers mean safety so she decides to stay with him for a little while trusting him when he promises he won't hurt her.

Ryan starts to feel something whilst with Lily, something he cannot explain and soon finds himself needing Lily to like him, promising not to kill innocent people ever again and meaning it.
On the road to safety they meet different people and see lots of horror. Even getting separated, they manage to find each other again at a local military safety area and find their group growing in numbers.

But once again the zombies come and overwhelm the guards, breaking into the compound. Ryan's quick thinking gets them out of the area quickly and they even manage to save another group of people.

I enjoyed this adventure with Lily and Ryan. I'm hoping that as the series progresses that Ryan gives up his murdering ways and becomes somebody that the group can depend on.

It’s quite a unique story, I don't think I have ever read a zombie story written from the point of view of a serial killer.

I also enjoyed the fact that the story is based in the UK where we don't really have guns, and so the characters were forced to find other weapons, knives, crow bars, baseball bats etc.

Buy Killing the Dead at Amazon


Days with the Undead
Days with the Undead by Julianne Snow

The story is written as a diary of a small group of survivors during the days following day one of the zombie apocalypse.

They don't seem like they belong together at first but once you hear their stories of how they are connected and how well they work together, each bringing some vital skill to the group you will see how well organized this group really is.

She tells of their life on the road, the difficulties they face, the undead, the police from other states who have not been properly informed of the outbreak, the bad humans killing and maiming other survivors just because they can or to steal their stuff.

She also tells each of their back stories, and what they were doing on the day ‘patient zero’ was admitted into the hospital only to die and come back to life.

Days with the Undead is packed from start to finish with action, blood and gore and kept me glued to it. I couldn't get enough of each of their stories as well as their combined effort to survive and couldn't wait to see how it would end.

As for the ending- wow. I didn't see it coming; I was really shocked but it was a fitting end.
It was very well written and I would really like to read more books from this author.

If you like zombie apocalypse books from a survivor’s point of view then you will really enjoy this one. I couldn't get enough of it.

Buy Days with the Undead at Amazon


Claire Rees, reviewer. Claire lives in a small village in the South Wales Valleys, UK with her husband, two kids and five snakes. She will hopefully be starting an English literature course this September. She has always loved reading books. Her favorite genres are horror, mystery and fantasy, although if the story line is good she'll read anything. Connect with Claire on Facebook.




Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

April 28, 2016

X is for X-Files #AtoZChallenge

review by Claire Rees




Starstruck by Brenda Hiatt, a romantic YA story, starts off normal enough; nerdy girl, Marsha, falls for the new boy in school, Rigel, who is also the star quarterback, Drop dead gorgeous and way out of her league. Knowing that she has no chance with him doesn't stop her from fantasizing about being with him.

Starstruck
Then Rigel starts to pay a lot of attention to Marsha and when they touch, sparks fly – literally.
Not able to ignore this intense connection that they have Marsha starts to ask questions and eventually forces Rigel to tell her what he has been hiding.

He takes her to meet his parents so they can help to tell her their secret, that they are really from Mars, and that they emigrated to Earth 75 years before.

Suddenly Marsha finds herself in the middle of a Martian political war, with missing alien royalty and the threat of dangerous Martians coming to her small town looking for the missing royal heir.

Even though this book was written for a younger audience I found myself lost in its pages. Enjoying the developing relationship between the two main characters, Rigel and Marsha. Rooting for the nerdy girl to get the hot, popular guy.

Then throw in the alien race threatening to take over Earth I really enjoyed this book, and have placed the following three books on my TBR list.

The author writes the mystery and secrecy well in the book, and leaves you dying to know what's going to happen next.

The characters and story line are very well written and it's easy to get addicted to the lives of these teenagers whose high school issues are the least of their problems.

If you enjoy YA romance added together with alien races then you will love this book.

Buy Starstruck at Amazon


Claire Rees, reviewer. Claire lives in a small village in the South Wales Valleys, UK with her husband, two kids and five snakes. She will hopefully be starting an English literature course this September. She has always loved reading books. Her favorite genres are horror, mystery and fantasy, although if the story line is good she'll read anything. Connect with Claire on Facebook.


Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

March 29, 2016

Review: Off Campus by Jeff Westwood and Charles Murphy

review by Claire Rees


Off Campus

The latest attack started without warning in the middle of October, just after eleven. This time, he hit Bellarmine College just outside of Boston.













My Thoughts

Although for me the story started off a little slow and confusing, I soon got into the story and started to enjoy it.

It ultimately follows three girls, Rosa, Lizzie and Helen. They have been kidnapped by a dark wizard and their close friends and boyfriends have been chosen as their ‘champions’ to face a multiple of horrific trials in order to save the girls they love and care for.

They are thrown into another dimension where they battle for their lives. Their savior, a man named Cale, seems to want to help them, but something seems wrong about his methods and actions.

The girls and their personal saviors are tortured in the worst ways and some lose their lives. What they don't know is that the dark wizard is looking for another body to inhabit as the one he is in is old and rotting.

They face nightmare after nightmare as they slowly lose their minds, but they do start to fight back towards the end.

The characters were good in the story and there were more than a few surprises throughout.

I would recommend Off Campus to those who enjoy a dark adventure, with all types of ghosts and ghouls, zombies and lost souls.

Buy Off Campus at Amazon

Start reading...






Book info:
available formats: ebook (301 ppages)
published: September 2015
genres: horror, dark fantasy
source: author





Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.



March 17, 2016

Thrilling Stories ~ All Things #Zombie: Chronology of the Apocalypse

review by Claire Rees

All Things Zombie

Love all things zombie? Then you will love these little bite sized stories from various authors bright to you by ATZ publishing. From diary entries to third person to first person stories they will keep you on the edge of your seat as each of the characters battle to stay alive, during the zombie apocalypse. Some of the characters are normal civilians like you and me, going about their day to day jobs and attending college, others are trained military personnel with special weapons at their disposal but each faces a very dangerous journey.

Most are sad and horrific as the characters have lost at least person that they loved, others are almost funny.

I have to say that I loved each and every story in this book, as each one had its own unique spin on the zombie apocalypse, I honesty cannot choose a favorite, they all kept me glued to the book, unable to put it down for more than a few moments at a time.

I would recommend this to all of you who live and love zombies and even if  you feel you are too busy to read a full book, this book with its multiple short stories would be perfect for you. So many thrilling stories by so many talented authors, looking forward to the next collection.

Buy All Things Zombie: Chronology of the Apocalypse at Amazon



Book info:
available formats:ebook (573 pages)
published: February 2016 by ATZ Publications
genres: horror






Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

March 8, 2016

Review: Dying for a Living by Kory M. Shrum #TuesdayBookBlog

review by Claire Rees


Dying for a Living

“Good morning, Mr. Reynolds.” I used my best sing-song voice. “Are you ready to die today?” “I don’t think we should stand so close to him,” Ally said, pulling me away from the bed. “And don’t talk with your mouth full.” Mr. Reynolds still didn’t respond when I turned on the bedside lamp, illuminating his bedroom in a butter-yellow glow. I nudged him. “Good morning.” His eyes flew open as he jolted upright and pressed his back against the wooden headboard.








Meet Jesse Sullivan, the person paid to die so that another may live. She is one of a very few necronites (zombies), that exist in the world. Contracted by the government for their new death replacement initiative, it's her job to die in the place of her clients, and eventually after a day or two she comes back to life, her client already saved and happily getting on with their lives.

But things start to go wrong when somebody tries to kill Jesse during one of these replacements by trying to decapitate her, which would mean that when she does she would stay dead.

Then her handler goes missing and suddenly the police are very interested in her.

Not knowing if her handler wants her dead and if this angel she has started seeing is an hallucination or if he is real, the only people she can trust are her pa, boyfriend and best friends.

When Jesse’s mother dies and she goes to the funeral, a little of her terrifying past comes to light and we discover how she died the very first time before finding out that she could come back to life.

I found this story very interesting and couldn't wait to finish reading it to see what happened but at the same time I didn’t want it to end because I was enjoying it so much.

The ending was particularly emotional and really well written.

I was very pleased to find out that there are more books in the Jesse Sullivan series and have added them to my TBR (To Be Read) list.

Buy Dying for a Living at Amazon


Book info:
available formats: audio, ebook, print (400 pages)
published: March2014 by Timberlane Press
ISBN13: 9780991215805
genres: fantasy




Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.




February 26, 2016

I Haven't Read a Horror this Good in Ages

review by Claire Rees

Sketches of the Wigwam

Sketches of the Wigwam by Mack Moyer is written as if it is a letter by William, Billy, to his friends.

It tells of Billy and his girlfriend Mates journey up into the mountains to a small village of Weatherly to his cousin's house. A place where Billy spent a lot of his early childhood, not a happy place for Billy. His uncle was cruel to him and his cousin tortured him by leaving him alone in the woods and telling him stories about the old Indians coming for city boys like Billy because he didn't belong in the woods.

Returning now as an adult, Billy doesn't feel any less scared of the wigwam, in fact he can almost sense it watching him. He realizes too late that the wigwam is real and he is after the one child that got away from him all of those years ago - Billy - and nobody will stand in his way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story; it had me on the edge of my seat all of the way through it. It chilled
me to the bone and terrified me with its creepy paranormal stalker, who is seemingly invincible.

The characters were well thought out and it was easy to like them and feel for them. I recommend Sketches of the Wigwam to those who love a good thrilling, horror story.

Buy Sketches of the Wigwam at Amazon


Book info:
available formats: ebook (215 pages)
published: June 2015 by Permuted Press
genres: horror





Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. A free ebook was provided for this review. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

February 17, 2016

Review: Fifty Percent Vampire by D.K. Janotta

review by Claire Rees


Fifty Percent Vampire

Living with your mother and stepfather can be difficult at the best of times, but it's even worse when they are full vampires and you are a half vampire. Add to that an evil, sadistic stepbrother and your life can be downright miserable. This is the life of seventeen year old Astrid Sonnschein, until she convinces her mother and stepfather, George, to let her stay with her mother's human sister and go to school in the human world.

Life in the human world is ten times better, despite the bullies and the boys that get too hands on.

Astrid soon finds a group of close friends and is attracted to the town's young police officer, Michael Hanson.

Life in the human world doesn't seem so bad after all until the other boys she has shown an interest in and even her enemy get murdered and the police see her as a possible suspect.

Half of the town agree, even with no evidence to back it up. But Officer Mike is not so easily convinced and seems to like Astrid as much as she likes him.

More threats come from the vampire world with the ultimatum, get turned or die, but Astrid is determined to stand up and fight for the human life she so dearly craves.

The story line was good and the characters, believable and likeable, well some of them, others were horrid and easy to hate.

The ending was a little surprising but good and I think that I would enjoy reading a book two.

I recommend Fifty Percent Vampire to young adults and adults alike who love coming of age, supernatural stories.

Buy Fifty Percent Vampire at Amazon



Book info:
available formats: ebook (281 pages)
published: September 2015 by Blue Tom Publications
genres: paranormal romance
target audience: young adult
source: author


Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. A free ebook was provided for this review. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

February 2, 2016

Addictive Storyline ~ Abandoned Soul by Doug Simpson

review by Claire Rees

Abandoned Souls

Dacque awoke with the standard jolt at the conclusion of his short dream. The clock read 4: 45. “Right on schedule, but that one was certainly an unusual dream,” he said out loud to himself as he tapped on the light on the nightstand. Picking up his trusty notepad and pen, he wrote down his most recent message from the Heavenly Powers. Before you go to bed this evening, make sure you leave one of the back doors of your automobile unlocked. Someone needs your protection.






Dacque is at it again, and this time round is just as interesting and fun as the last time.

In Abandoned Soul, Dacque gets his messages from up above via his dreams. They tell him to leave his car door open the following night and that he will find a young girl inside who is going to need his protection and guidance.

He of course follows the instructions and after him explaining to and persuading the runaway girl to follow him to his apartment he tries to prove to her about the messages and that  he was sent to help her. She is suspicious at first but soon realizes that he is genuine and an amazing person.

Dacque introduces her to all of the important people in his life, Dani, Jane and of course Rosie and her family who help to clothe Mary.

They soon become aware that Mary may be a part of their past lives and is very curious and open to the idea and so they set her on her journey to discovering her past lives to see if she is linked to any of them. What she finds out is shocking.

I have loved all of Doug Simpson's past books and this one was no different. I simply cannot get enough of Dacque and his life both past and present. I find the idea of this past life and reincarnation very interesting and love the way that the souls keep finding each other in all their lives although sometimes in very different ways. Dacque is by far one of my favorite fictional characters.

I recommend Abandoned Soul to all those who love a feel good book with a very addictive storyline.
I'm looking forward to reading book six.


Buy Abandoned Soul at Amazon


Book info:
available formats: ebook and print (176 pages)
published: January 2016 by 5 Prince Publishing and Books
ISBN13: 9781631121401
genre: fantasy




Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.




January 25, 2016

Quirky fun ~ Dear Clementina by Colin Burke #MondayBlogs

review by Claire Rees


cover Dear Clementina

Dear Clementina by Colin Burke is uniquely written from the point of view  of a border terrier, Stanley, writing to another dog, Clementina.

We follow Stanley for the first year of his life, from the time he is a pup, meeting his new owners, learning the rules of his new  house, to being left with strangers while his owners go on holidays.

The story follows him as he grows older and meets other dogs, and has fantastic experiences.

He writes to Clementina often, telling her of the wonderful places he goes on holidays and the things he learns from other dogs. He tells her of his trips to the vets and about his lively owners.

Through Stanley we hear about the adventures of other dogs that he meets as they tell him stories about their lives.

The book ends around Stanley's first birthday and I enjoyed reading about the fuss they made of him.


I loved this quirky, fun little book, it made me smile and giggle all the way through. I recommend Dear Clementina to all who love a fun, light read and to all of the dog lovers out there.


Buy Dear Clementina at Amazon


Book info
available formats: ebook and print (88 pages)
published: October 2015 by Matador
ISBN13: 978-1784624231
genres: humor
source: publicist


A free ebook was provided for this review. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

January 14, 2016

My heart raced ~ Cut Too Deep by Marissa Farrar

by Claire Rees


cover Cut Too Deep

Cut To Deep is a romantic suspense novel by Marissa Farrar.

On the run from a very abusive ex boyfriend, Jenna, never stays in one place for too long; terrified that he will catch up to her. Until her car breaks down and she is forced to stay at a small out of the way town for longer than she is comfortable with.

The thing that makes it easier is Ryker, the owner of the garage fixing her car, who is very hot and sexy. Ryker seems to really like Jenna and she pushes him away as much as she can, knowing that she won't be able to stay in town for very long. She will not allow herself to get attached to anyone or anything.

Until her past catches up to her and she is forced to fight for not only her life but the ones she has come to care about.

Cut Too Deep kept me on the edge of my seat all of the way through. The relationship between the two main characters seems destined to fail, but somehow over the space of a few days they become very closely connected, so that nothing can tear them apart.

Then enters the crazy ex, I actually felt my heart start to race when he got her. The writing was so well done that I was scared for the character, and found myself rooting for her to get away and back to safety.

Recommended to all who love a book filled with love and romance but also with the darker side of obsession and stalking.


Buy Cut Too Deep at Amazon



Book info:
available formats: audio, ebook, print (206 pages)
published: March 2015 by Warwick House Press
ISBN13: 978-1511961035
genres: romance, suspense




Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

January 8, 2016

Review: The Lone Wolf's Heart by J. Jennings

by Claire Rees

cover The Lone Wolf's Heart

The Lone Wolf's Heart by J. Jennings follows an orphaned girl called Jenny, who through her job as a waitress meets the gorgeous, mysterious shifter called Mark.

Romantic relationships are strictly forbidden between humans and shifters and so they both try to keep their feelings for each other a secret. Until Jenny is attacked by another shifter and Mark infiltrates a rival clan to find out who hurt Jenny. Mark discovers jenny’s attackers and kills the female shifter to protect Jenny.

They fall in love and get married, by Jenny giving herself to him) and mark is forced out of his Clan for choosing Jenny over them as they refuse to accept a human as one of their own.

All is going well for the newly weds until a heavily pregnant Jenny is kidnapped by a rival clan and Mark is forced to go begging to his old clan for help.

The story line is good and interesting, the characters were likeable and believable. But I would have liked a little more information on the way of the shifters and a little more description on the day to day lives of the couple once Jenny was forced to live in the woods away from other humans.


I would very much like to read book two to see what happens next and if Jenny and Mark will finally get their happily ever after.

Buy The Lone Wolf's Heart at Amazon



Book info:
available formats: ebook (43 pages)
published: November 2015
genre: horror, romance
source: author
read: January 2016

Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

December 14, 2015

Claire's Fave Books of 2015 #MondayBlogs


Here is a list of some of my favourite books of 2015. I have read so many good ones that it's hard to choose!


cover White Mountain
Amongst our modern world lies another, an archaic and hidden world of tradition, sorcery and magic.

As dark demons awaken from our past, the last remaining wizards are being hunted and murdered by a changeling of terrifying strength.

Attacked and drained of most of his powers, a dying sorcerer must race against time to save himself, and the fate of all, from an enemy intent on cleansing the planet of humanity...
Darkness spreads as friendships, betrayals and horrifying truths await...

Buy White Mountain at Amazon



cover Zombie Fallout 9
In a world overrun by zombies, one family struggles against all odds to hold on. With three vampires closing in can the Talbot family withstand the coming onslaught? Or will they become a footnote in the history of the apocalypse.

Buy Zombie Fallout 9 at Amazon











cover Darkness of Man
Rage, hatred, an insatiable sexual appetite...these things come natural to our dark doppelgangers on the other side of the mirror. When Gabe, an average Joe, finds himself trapped on the other side, he realizes the only thing stopping him from getting home and saving the woman he loves is The Darkness of Man.

This is a love story laced with maniacs and monsters.

BE ADVISED, THIS IS A DARK FANTASY BOOK WITH GRAPHIC SEX AND VIOLENCE. BUYER BEWARE.

Buy Darkness of Man at Amazon





cover In an Instant
Summers are supposed to be carefree; a time to relax in the sun and enjoy life. But what if all that changed? What if a normal summer day turned into a day no one would ever forget? We never think it will happen to us, but it can. For Kaden and everyone who loves him, including Emersyn Moore, it did. The day that altered their lives forever happened... and it happened in an instant.

Buy In An Instant at Amazon









cover Nerd
Two people from completely different worlds are about to be thrown together...

In more ways than one.

She wants to keep her scholarship. He wants to stay on the team. An awkward alliance doesn't even begin to cover Rimmel and Romeo's relationship.

But that's about to change.

It starts with a dare. An initiation. A challenge.

Quickly, it turns into more. But when you're a victim of your status, there is no room for anything real. The rules are clear and simple.

Stick to your circle.

And never fall in love with anyone on the outside.

Buy #Nerd at Amazon


cover Red Hunter
The hunt is not over!

The story of Samantha Green (the Immortal Blood series) continues in this fast-paced, utterly absorbing new series. Red Hunter, book one of the Blood Hunters series, takes up the story where the Immortal Blood series ended, yet is a complete stand-alone series that does not require prior knowledge of the Immortal Blood series.

For a second, Samantha, ‘Sam’, Green thought she could finally put her past behind her and concentrate on the future. She thought she was being given a second chance and that something exciting was looming ahead. But with a past like hers, she really couldn’t have a future until those wanting to kill her were dead, or even then…

Nothing in Sam’s new life is what it seems. She’s being tossed around with the evil twins Alexander and Benjamin, the drool-worthy fighters assigned to take her vampire instincts to a whole new level. Dane and Sam … their relationship can only be described as complicated. In an epic way. And Kieran, sweet, blue-eyed servant, friend, and something like a little brother to Sam, is drawn into the middle of a game that the lunatic master vampires are steering arbitrarily.

Can Sam survive or is she only a pawn in a delusional game that no one can win? Can she beat her enemies at their own game without losing herself on the way? And what happens when she is introduced to the Hunter society?

Buy Red Hunter at Amazon


cover Fallen Souls
**Not Recommended for readers who have not read books 1 and 2**

Fallen Souls is a The Darkness Trilogy Novella that takes place between books 2 and 3 of the The Darkness Trilogy.

Tragedy has struck Rayna Stone's small town in more ways the one. Not only is she healing from the death of a friend, but Liam is still stuck in a coma that she knows is The Shadow's doing. While she, Jayce, Logan and the other Gifted try to find a way to save him, The Shadow is working behind the scenes, gathering his own army for something that none of them expects. Secrets are revealed about Rayna's past that leave her with only more questions and she might find out who The Shadow is and what he wants from her. Rayna questions her ability to to save Liam and to defeat The Shadow when the unthinkable happens. Can she stop the darkness that has invaded her life before it consumes everything and everyone she loves?

Buy Fallen Souls at Amazon


cover The Beast in Me
Meg has vanished from Jay's life and not even Peter seems to knows what has happened to her, what White has done to her or - even worse - is currently doing to her.

Without having Meghan to keep him sane, Jay struggles to keep the upper hand and control over his body and mind, and to face not only his new everyday life, and guilt over all the things he couldn't help her, but also the scattered memories of his encounters with the woman who brought back his humanity to the surface.

Eventually, he knows that he has to face the Beast within, because this time it's his turn to save her.

Read the review of The Beast and Me (book1)
Buy The Beast In Me at Amazon



cover Freckled Venom Skeletons
More excitement then a passel of skunks nesting under your bed...Juliette Douglas and the folks of White River, Wyoming are back to entertain you once again with her third installment in the Freckled Venom series: Freckled Venom Skeletons.

Big Joe Kannon had a bone stuck in his craw and he was bound and determined to get even with that redheaded bounty hunter and her lawman husband. In cahoots with Del Rio, a human slave trafficker in Mexico, Kannon was on the hunt to deliver fresh new trinkets to Del Rio. Fourteen kids vanish from White River’s schoolhouse, including Hanah and Cotton Lovett.

And the chase is on...

Will a determined bunch of kids become more trouble then a pound of pennies for Kannon?

Will Rawley and Lacy find the kids in time? Or will they be lost forever?

Receiving high acclaim for her western novels, author Juliette Douglas invites you to pick up the others in the Freckled Venom Series: Freckled Venom Copperhead, and Freckled Venom Copperhead Strikes.

Saddle Up...Let’s Ride!

Buy Freckled Venom: Skeletons at Amazon



Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

Shareahollic