It is usually hard for me to find a book that has an Autumn theme. I want the feel of crisp leaves, pumpkins, chilled autumn mornings when I read the story. Sadly most books tend to be set in Autumn but rarely mention it except maybe a Halloween party or wearing a wool sweater
This book followed the norm. It was a cute little romance book, the beautiful girl crushed by a prior love, a small town, hot, sexy man who usually had a few brothers that just as tall and strong as the man character. Thrown together they fell in love. You could have slapped a Hallmark seal of approval on it.
A coffee shop owner, a professor and the upcoming Boo Bash event are the formula for this book. Cute, predictable but a nice quick read.
🎃🎃🎃 three out of five pumpkins rating for this little book.
For Halloween I have read a couple of scary books. The first was The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I was not sure what I was going to experience when I read this book; horror, suspense, mystery etc. but it was not what I thought. It had a sense of scariness but it was also alluring. Almost like the siren song of a mermaid. You have no idea it is dangerous until it was too late. Although there was scary parts it was not like a terrorizing, relentless haunting. It would come and go. Seemed it was more interested in mind games. I am familiar with Shirley Jackson story The Lottery which I watched the short film in school and was impacted by the story line. I often think of that short film and how Shirley depicted human behavior.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it as a good read in October.
The next group of stories I read was from Amazon Original Stories collection called Creature Feature.
I mentioned The Pram in a previous post. The rest of the collection is as follows.
Ankle Snatcher
Marcus grew up believing his father killed his mother—then blamed it on the boogeyman under the bed. Always leave the lights on, his father warned, or the boogeyman will get you. Marcus still heeds the superstition, especially when he invites his new girlfriend over. Is Marcus haunted by a creature or has he just inherited his father’s murderous delusions? The night will tell.
This story was a good tale, sorry it ended the way it did. I rate it a 3 out of 5
It Waits in the Woods
The dense Michigan forest. Haunting wails. The clip-clop of demon hooves on a bridge to nowhere. It’s more than a tall tale to Brenda Jennings, whose sister disappeared in those woods one fateful night. Three years later, on a solo stakeout in the dark, Brenda goes in after her. She’s desperate for answers, and terrified to find what lies waiting on the other side of that bridge.
I really enjoyed the story and it kept me interested. I just wish they wrapped up the ending better. I rate this a 5 out of 5
In Bloom
Journalist Heidi Cohen is in Cape Cod investigating the sources of recurring toxic algae blooms along the coast. A local named Jimmy has his own theory for her. Every year the fetid growth gets worse—but it’s been going on longer than anyone knows. Decades ago, something happened to Jimmy that he’s never forgotten. Is Heidi ready for the real story?
I was following along with the story and was really engrossed, but then it changed dramatically. Not my favorite from the series. I give it 3 out of 5
Best of Luck
For best friends with vastly different fortunes, what’s left to hash out other than a forced confession at gunpoint? All that the destitute, sickly, and grieving Will demands is that monstrously successful Barry admit to draining all the luck right out of him. Like blood. As the standoff escalates, the truth is not the only thing ready to come out.
This was a good read and I was sucked into the story. Not the ending I anticipated. I give it 4 out of 5.
Big Bad
The Strauss family is on knife’s edge. Sam is a resentful stay-at-home dad. Rachel feels the restlessness in her blood returning. Their children are getting out of hand. And a recent mudslide has forced the wolves out of the woods to look for food. As dusk falls and tensions rise, the family must come together to survive the night—from the threats outside and those within.
This was a good finish to the series. I figured out the family issue about half way in but not the ending. I give it a 4.5 out of 5.
Amazon Original Stories have a ton of series if you want a quick read. Most stories are 25-60 minutes long. If you have an audible account, they also give you the audio version. You borrow the books and return when you are done. It sure helps a lot with those darn reading challenges or waiting at appointments. It always helps to have a book on your phone when you are in those type of situations. On to my Autumn book. 🍁🍂
I will admit I am a slow reader. My Mom could sit down with a book and read it cover to cover. I am one of those people who only read one chapter and then take a break. So I decided to read short novellas that will not only be quick, but check off those Good Reads Reading Challenge goals. Hee hee
Amazon did not disappoint by bringing a set of scary novellas in October to read with my Kindle. There six books by different authors called the The Creature Feature.
This is Book One written by Joe Hill called The Pram. The synopsis of this book is as follows:
A husband’s obsessive desire for a child leads to an unexpected manifestation of his yearning in a nightmarish short story about fatherhood dreams by New York Timesbestselling author Joe Hill.
Willy and Marianne’s farmhouse in Maine has acres of meadow and fresh air, and a lonesome bridle path in the forest along which Willy daydreams and ambles. When he’s loaned a decrepit old baby stroller to cart his groceries home, the rickety squeak of the wheels comforts him. So do the sweet coos of a baby Willy knows can’t be real. Can it? In this twisted thicket, wishes come true—with a price.
I hope to enjoy this read as I check off “read a scary book” on my Halloween Bucket List.
