Book Review: The Haunting of Sunshine Girl

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl

by Paige McKenzie and Alyssa B. Sheinmel
My rating: 4 of 5 hearts

Review:

I received this book through the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. At first, I was somewhat skeptical about this one. I wasn’t sure that a book based on a YouTube series was going to be any good. However, after viewing reviews from some of my favorite authors (Wes Craven and R.L. Stein) I decided to give it a go. I’ve got to say that I’m so happy that I decided to read this book. It was great! The plot was well developed and there were virtually no grammatical or spelling errors. While I don’t agree with the reviews that this book was scary, it was definitely filled with thrills and suspense. The use of more descriptive language would have evoked more raw fear. Still, it was most definitely creepy. As each scene unfolded the general feeling of creepiness grew. The character development was perfect.

Book Review: Shadow Shadow

Shadow Shadow

by V.B. Marlowe
My rating: 4 of 5 hearts

Synopsis:

Harley receives a mysterious gift on her sixteenth birthday--a shadow box. The box gives her the power to trade someone to the shadows, meaning they will disappear and cease to exist. Harley can't imagine doing such a horrible thing and is warned that using the box comes at a price. Unfortunately, not using the box can be even more costly. Harley must make this life-altering decision as she discovers frightening revelations about the town she calls home

Review:

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I thought this book was awesome. I literally devoured it. The cover art is beautifully sinister. It evoked a sense of impending dread and darkness. Beyond that, both the plot and writing style were great!

I was hooked from the first bit of prose. The situations that occurred were captivating. Can you imagine getting such a heavy gift/burden at such a young age? Being able to make anyone who crossed you disappear into oblivion? As a teenaged misfit, I would have probably disappeared half the town. There were a few moments that were mildly predictable, but for the most part I was left guessing. The story is told from the perspective of two very different female characters. The author handled the switch been the characters’ voices very well.

Book Review: The Clockwork Heart

The Clockwork Heart

by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 2 of 5 hearts

Synopsis:

Haunted by a past lover and left with scars so deep Libby gave up her life as an explorer, she spends her days trying to avoid bad memories by training ruthlessly with Helen, the woman she hired to teach her self-defense. Helen is beautiful, appealing, and could be what Libby needs to climb out of her past once and for all.

Until the past returns and threatens to destroy Libby, and all that she holds dear, once and for all...

Review:

I received this book through the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was immediately drawn to the cover of this book both for its subject matter and its simplicity. Sadly, the book cover was all I liked.

I hate it when I finish a book and can’t express how I feel about it. This is one of those books. I didn’t hate this book, but I didn’t like it either. It wasn’t so much the story content as the author’s writing style. The sentences were short and the felt clipped. It also could use some more editing love. My displeasure doesn’t stop there though. The book as a whole is a bit boring. Although the story was about an adventurer and was packed with combat training and a horrific sadistic kidnapping it was still dry. The genre was not clearly defined, I never got “Steampunk” from any of the text until a car chase near the end of the book.

Childhood Innocence

Adults are obsolete children...
- Dr. Seuss

As a mom of 3 I love taking pictures of my little ones … but what mom doesn’t. Children have a way of interacting with the world in a carefree fashion that we, as adults, have long lost. Nothing can match the excitement and wonder of viewing something for the first time. Capturing my children allows me to experience those feelings again. The following are some of my favorites.

My Littles

Who I Am

Window Watching

Happiness