BotW: 10/18-10/24 - Malice by Griffin Hayes

This week's book of the week is one that is near and dear to my heart.  I am a huge horror fan as most of you know, and there are quite a few fantastic horror authors that are out there.  However, I've been a huge fan of this author and honestly own quite a few of (if not all) of his works on Kindle, and even was lucky enough to be gifted a copy of my favorite novel of his in paperback, signed.  

This author is absolutely wonderful, and I'm glad to share his work with you and feature this novel with you this week here at Confessions!  So, without further adieu, I give you this week's Book of the Week: 

Malice
Griffin Hayes

I highly recommend reading this book during daylight hours, or if you read it in the dark do not do so before you are going to bed.  I will not be blamed for your recklessness of reading this too close to bedtime! You have been warned! 

I have owned this book for several years now, and have my review posted here on the blog, you can click here to find it.  

Set in Millingham, Massachusetts, there are several unexplained suicides happening.  There is a common thread to all of these deaths.  The authorities have no idea how or why the victims are killing themselves, or more importantly - why they are gouging out their eyes.  

Lysander Shore, a seventeen-year-old, knows that the deaths aren't suicides.  He knows that there is a serial killer stalking Millingham.  The killer has a list, a list dating back 350 years, and as Lysander continues to dig - he soon realizes he is next.  

The writing in this book is phenomonal, and I've always been a sucker for a story that leaves my skin crawling and leaves me afraid to turn off the light for fear of what goes bump in the night.  

If you are looking for a fantastically dark and twisted story, I highly suggest Griffin Hayes' Malice! 

Review: Eighth Grade Bites

Title: Eighth Grade Bites

Author: Heather Brewer

Format: Paperback

Date Read: June 3, 2016

Rating: 3/5

Recommend: Yup!

Summary: Thirteen-year-old Vladimir Tod has to keep his vampire urges under control while dealing with the pressures of middle school, and he hates junior high. His mother was human, his father a vampire. Vlad has no idea what his powers are, however he has to struggle daily with blood cravings and enlarged fangs. A substitute teacher makes him think his cover might soon be blown, however Vlad has bigger problems – he's being hunted by a vampire killer.

Review:

Checked this book out on a whim from the local library. Quite glad I did. I will eventually be getting to the rest of the books in this series. However, let's focus on this one, Vlad's introduction into the world.

Being thirteen is hard enough, let alone being a thirteen-year-old boy. Compound the usual pressures of being a teenager with the fact that you are a vampire. While normal teenage boys are dealing with hormonal ridden urges, Vlad is trying to manage his blood cravings and the fact that his fangs keep getting bigger. Seriously, as if puberty wasn't bad enough!

Along with puberty comes the nightmare that is middle school. Middle school isn't easy on anyone. Eighth grade is by far one of the most difficult, simply because it is your last year there before you ultimately have to enter the even bigger nightmare that is high school. Vladimir is by far one of my favorite characters, and he is quite different than any other vampire I've read about before. I love that this story was free of excessive moodiness and angstiness, and it made Vlad and the story a bit more relate-able. Relate-able in the sense that I've been a thirteen year old and have suffered the hell that is eighth grade.

This is a good beginning to a series, and there is so much room for growth and I ultimately look forward to reading more of this series soon.

I apologize if this review seems rambling and repetitive, it's been a while and I'm still getting my feet back under me when it comes to my reviews.   

RELEASE DAY EVENT! Eighth Note (Fire Ballad #1) by Kimberly Stedronsky

Book: Eighth Note (Fire Ballad One)
Author: Kimberly Stedronsky
Genre: Paranormal Horror Romance
Release Date: October 31, 2013
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Eva Reed saved the world.

Actually, she saved two worlds, but who’s counting?

Finding herself in the middle of present day suburbia, married and a mom at only twenty years old, she’s beyond bored. Even with her popular music blog and her handsome husband Will catering to her every impulse, she longs to use the incredible powers that she possesses.

But Earth is no place for magic.

When Cole Mathison arrives, asking for Eva’s help in solving the death of a famous pop star, she cannot resist the overwhelming pull to use her abilities again.
Eva finds that there is more to the sinister murder than what the evidence shows.

People who listencontinue to die, and she must rely on her immortality to protect her from a frequency that is shattering minds and stopping hearts.

There are forces at work that she could never have imagined...

And evil will be heard.



Kimberly Stedronsky is an Ohio author who prefers an epic love story. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education, which she uses as an excuse to be as immature as possible on a daily basis.

She is married to a stand-up comedian Marine veteran, and their three children are appropriately sarcastic.



“I’ve spent the last thirty years proving to myself that I wasn’t crazy. I’ve… helped… people with paranormal activity.”

“You’re a ghost hunter?” I snorted, listening to the monitor crackle and Perry cry out softly. Will gave a deep, amused sigh, gesturing to the house.

“I am going to bed. Ten minutes, Eva.”

I automatically scowled at his order. “I’ll be up in a little while,” I countered, using all of my self control not to tell him off for treating me like a kid.

“Yes, love.” He bent to me, practically lifting me off the ground to catch me off guard with a possessive kiss. I could only hold on to his shoulders as his mouth moved over mine, and it took me five witless seconds to realize that the display was completely for Cole.

Men, marking their territory. Please.

“I won’t keep her long,” Cole promised, and Will responded with a quick nod before heading for the house. “All happily ever after here, I take it?”

I turned to him, tucking my hands under the sleeves of my hoodie. “Obviously. Now tell me what’s going on.”

He scratched his chin. “No, I’m not a ghost hunter. I just… lend a hand. When crazy, unexplainable shit happens.”

“I hate to tell you this, but people die. Every day. I’m sure the toxicology reports will come back with some fun party results.”

He stared at me, contemplating. I returned his look, waiting impatiently. Finally, he pulled his phone out of his pocket, handing it over to me.

“The security cameras caught her death. There’s no sound. Eva honey, are you sure you can handle this?”

I accepted his iPhone, shrugging. “Um, I set my father-in-law on fire from the inside out. I think I can handle watching someone die.”

His palm covered my hand, and his fingertip swept the screen open. His nails weren’t nearly as manicured as Will’s, and his calloused skin felt rough on mine. “No sound,” he repeated, and I nodded, trying not to appear as confused as I felt.

The street lamp flickered over our heads, and I waved my hand to turn the bulb completely off, leaving us in darkness.

The video began with an aerial view of Nina, black and white, in the studio. I could hear that the sound had been wiped from the video, and the continuous, looping whisper kept time with my heartbeat as my pulse began to pound in my ears.

Nina was tall and blonde, with adorable dimples that kept her looking years younger than her actual age. She had two fingers over her earpiece as she sang, and I watched her drag the back of her other hand over her brow in mid-verse.

She stopped singing, and the rushing sound intensified.

She was coughing; I watched her reach for something, and then tip her head back and take a long drink from a bottle of water.

Cole’s hand slid around my waist, and I almost screamed. I’d been so involved in the video, waiting, holding my breath, I’d almost forgotten he was next to me.

“Eva.” He warned. I ignored him, narrowing my eyes and focusing on the iPhone screen.

Nina stilled suddenly, and the water bottle slipped from her hand.

Long seconds passed as she stood there, frozen, still, and I started to lift my finger to touch the screen, checking to see if the video paused.

Her head jerked down violently, chin to chest. All of her hair surrounded her face.

When her head snapped upward to meet the camera face-on, my hand clamped over Cole’s arm.

Her mouth was a wide, dark O, no teeth, no sound… no pupils. Blackness seeped from the corners of her eyes, and she began to bend backward, further, further still, until her entire body was folded- backwards- at the waist.

Text copyright © 2013 Kimberly Stedronsky

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Review: Living in the Dark by Rebekah Campbell

Title: Living in the Dark

Author: Rebekah Campbell

Format: E-book (Kindle)

Read: December 26, 2012

Rating: 4/5

Recommend: Yes!

Summary: Experiences can make us or break us and it's no different for sixteen-year-old, Emily. 
Living under the roof of her abusive Uncle, Emily is brutally attacked by a gang and wakes up from a coma with no recollection of the accident.
As the amnesia starts to clear, Emily realises that her memory is not the only thing coming back to her from the accident. There's also a wild, angry power that she has to control before it destroys her and everyone else. 
So the question remains: Will Experience make her or break her?

Review: I was given a copy of this in e-book format in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Ms. Campbell for the chance to read your book.

This debut novel by Ms. Campbell is a fast read, a phenomenal read to be sure. Emily, sweet Emily's life has been turned into a nightmare. This page turning novel will keep you wondering exactly what's behind her strange and out-of-character bursts of violence. Emily is the target of bullies.

The ending will have you wondering what the hell, where is the rest? Why? Just why did she choose to end it this way?! Were is the rest?! God knows I had the same thoughts and had a conversation with myself in public, that this was how she chose to end it, that it is what it is. This is what Ms. Campbell created in her debut novel, and if it is going to give me a complex then so be it. I will just have to wait to see if she once more revisits Emily and her story, or if I'm going to be left hanging.

My only complaint is that it could be a little bit longer, but that's probably the only complaint I have (aside from the fact that it made me crazy for weeks!).

What's On My Kindle? Vampires, Werewolves & Coyotes! Oh My!

Welcome to the eighth installment of What's On My Kindle?

What exactly is What's On My Kindle?  This is my own little thing that I am going to be getting out every Sunday.  Within this post I'll list a few of the books that are currently on my TBR list on my Kindle.  Some are freebies (or were when I bought them), and others I paid for with gift cards, or had a few spare bucks to spend on a book.
All of them, I fully intend on getting to, at some point (and taking a massive chisel to my to-read list and hopefully hack it down to under 1000, again).

Vampires: Check.

Werewolves: Check.

Coyotes: Check.

Faeries: Check

Witches: Check.

Human trouble magnets: Double Check.

Barbie Doll: Check...?

Mystery Machine: Check!

Busted down old school VW Rabbit: Check.

Bad movie references: TRIPLE Check.

What do all these things on my list have in common? They are all parts and pieces that make up the world created by Patricia Briggs in the Mercedes Thompson and Alpha and Omega series.  What makes Patricia Briggs so special? Well, for one she is an author who actually listens to her fan base.

This story is true, and it is something that had happened with my roommate's husband and one of her books had come out, and was not text-to-speech enabled for Kindle.  An email was written to Patricia Briggs, and within twenty-four hours there was a response waiting in his inbox for him saying that the decision to not allow the book to be text-to-speech was her publisher's decision and ultimately she would be having words with her publisher for making one of her books not text-to-speech enabled.  Within two hours, there was an update to that particular book available from Amazon, and since then all of her books when purchased as e-book have been text-to-speech, which is a plus for him and those who like to read while doing multiple things (like cooking). Especially for him, as he's blind and uses the text-to-speech to read.

Patricia has other series, and we have I think one or two books.  But, she's also done several short stories that fall into the worlds she has created.

The books that make up the Mercedes Thompson Series are:
1. Moon Called
2. Blood Bound
3. Iron Kissed
4. Bone Crossed
5. Silver Borne
6. River Marked
7. Frost Burned

The books that make up the Alpha & Omega Series are:
1. Alpha & Omega (Novella)
2. Cry Wolf
3. Hunting Ground
4. Fair Game

I've read all eleven of these books, and I adore them.  She is definitely a very, very good paranormal fantasy writer and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a new paranormal/fantasy writer to get into.  You will get sucked in, and you will enjoy it!

What are some of your favorite paranormal fantasy authors?

Review: Dark Passage by Griffin Hayes

This is the second work I've read by Griffin Hayes and I fall in love with the twisted thrillers all the more.  This story, about a man named Tyson Barrett, who is tortured by nightmares of his traumatic childhood, receives a miracle cure for his insomnia.  However, as we've learned, if it sounds too good to be true it usually is.  That is the case with this so called "miracle cure" that Tyson hopes will not only solve his medical problems but his personal ones as well (considering he has become estranged from his wife and young son) and his business is on the verge of collapse.

However, this miracle cure is not without its dark side.  Tyson still dreams, however, when he wakes, something returns with him.  Something spawned from the deepest, darkest depths of his psyche, however there is something bigger, something more evil than what has already come through.  However, this evil isn't after Tyson - it wants his son.

This book is a fantastic lesson that not all dreams were meant to come true.  This book had me on the edge of my seat most of the time, and more often than not I would only read it during day light hours because I've read Stephen King before bed, and Griffin Hayes has managed to have a Stephen King like effect on me with his thrillers.  My dreams are not a safe place when I read his thrillers, so I highly recommend not reading this before a nap, before bed...broad daylight, outside, where you stand no chance of falling asleep is definitely good!

Vividly descriptive characters weave a web of horror and mystery that will keep you intrigued until the very end.  It will keep you on the edge of your seat and ultimately is one that I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of horror or if you occasionally like to indulge in the "darker" type of stories...read this one!  The pace is perfect and the story won't feel rushed at all.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an unbiased review.  Thank you Griffin Hayes for the opportunity to read yet another one of your fantastic thrillers. 

Review: Believe by E. Leighanne Grimm-Weever

 Title:  Reflection
Author:  E. Leighanne Grimm-Weever
Rating: 4/5

Summary:   Vampires don’t really exist right? That’s what Andrea Dayla always believed despite her Uncle’s stories and constantly painting Vampires and things in such a bad, evil light.  Heading off to college, leaving the only life she’s ever known Andrea meets Shane Brennen and his family, and falls in love.  However, it turns out Andera is only one in a long line of vampire hunters and her new boyfriend is a Vampire.  As if relationships aren’t already complicated enough lets throw that in the mix! Andrea just needs to believe.

Review:  I received a copy of this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Okay, aside from a few spelling errors, I absolutely LOVE this story.  Vampires are one of my favorite creatures to read about, and how the mythos have been changed through different series is something I either love or hate, this one I love.  I was sucked in at the beginning, and I want a Shane Brennen of my own, because damn, Edward Cullen has nothing on this sexy man.

The different relationships in this story had me hooked, and I’m looking forward to reading more of this story as it unfolds in future books.  The relationships flowed effortlessly Andrea and Shane, Jack, the entire Brennen family (who I wish is my family), her Uncle and Roger, her mother, and all of it simply worked perfectly.  I love that Andrea was able to get close to everyone and show them how to understand and be at ease with what they were and how each situation was different. 

It also helps that I am a sucker for a good love story, so Andrea and Shane were really my biggest driving force in finishing this book – and it’s a paranormal love story, brownie points there! That ending is something I am still hooked on, that’s all I gotta say about that.  Definitely a must read.

If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
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