The Spooky Book Tag!

I don't remember where I first saw this tag, but I do know that it was created by The Book Pusher! It looks like a lot of fun, so I'm excited to give it a shot!

Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper

Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #1

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Genre: YA, mystery, historical

Publication date: September 2016

Published by: jimmy patterson

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
This book, oh man. I cannot tell you how excited I was to read this book! I mean, it’s right up my alley! Hunting down a notorious serial killer? Ummm, yes please! Unfortunately, it was kind of a let down 😩 I'm disappointed and it's almost at myself for not loving it? Which I know is insane. But I was so looking forward to it and it was just not what I expected at all.

Review: The Last Scream (Fear Park #3) by R.L. Stine

Title: The Last Scream

Series: Fear Park #3

Previous books in this series: The First Scream (#1) | The Loudest Scream (#2)

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: September 1996

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis:

Robin Fear has waited decades for this moment. His evil plan is in place. Dierdre Bradley, her father, and Fear Par will be destroyed.

Nothing can stop Robin now.

Except one person. Who's been watching—finding out Robin's secrets—and waiting for revenge.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

It’s closing time... for Dierdre.

I think I started my review of the last book in this series by saying:

“Robin Fear is still trying to stop Fear Park from opening. And Dierdre’s dad is still an idiot for not closing down the park even though people keep dying!”

This book was literally just more of that. All these “accidents” keep happening and that idiot still wont shut down the park! It’s insane! We get a reason as to why Dierdre’s dad wont close the park down, but still!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #174: Witches and Ghosts and Mysteries, Oh My!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #218: Progress!

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Down the TBR Hole #36: I Just Love Mysteries, Okay?

Most of you probably know this feeling, your Goodreads TBR pile keeps growing and growing and it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. You keep adding, but you add more than you actually read. And then when you’re scrolling through your list, you realize that you have no idea what half the books are about and why you added them. Well that’s going to change!

And thank the gods for that because I desperately need it! Lol. And thanks to Lost in a Story, as well, for creating this amazing meme!

Review: The Third Horror (99 Fear Street: The House of Evil #3) by R.L. Stine

Title: The Third Horror

Series: 99 Fear Street: The House of Evil #3

Previous books in this series: The First Horror | The Second Horror

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: October 1994

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis:

Lights... camera... murder...

Kody Frasier always swore she’d come back to 99 Fear Street. She knows the spirit of her dead sister, Cally, is trapped there, waiting to be set free. Now Kody is starring in a movie about the evil that murdered Cally, set in the very house that destroyed their family. If she can just find Cally, can help her…

But Cally doesn’t want to be saved. She’s been waiting all this time for revenge. And once the movie camera is rolling, Cally is going to give Kody the surprise ending of a lifetime!

My rating: ★★★☆☆
This is the final book in the trilogy! At the end of the first book, Kody promised she would come back for her sister, and she did.... Along with a whole film crew. Yup. they’re filming Cally and Kody’s story where it actually happened. And Kody is the lead actress playing her sister. This was very weird. Why not just play herself?

Review: Runaway (Fear Street #41) by R.L. Stine

Title: Runaway

Series: Fear Street #41

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: January 1997

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis:

She can't run away from her past.

Shadyside. It sounded like such a nice town, the perfect place for a runaway like Felicia. Nobody here would know about her dark powers. Nobody would know what she had done. For once, she could be a normal girl. She could be safe.

But someone in Shadyside discovered Felicia's secret. Someone found out about the awful things her powers made her do. Felicia doesn't want to run away again. But if she stays, she might lose control. And then people would start to die.

My rating: ★★★★★

There’s nowhere to hide.

I loved this book! When it comes to Fear Street books, they can be hit or miss. But I thought this one was awesome! I mean, we have this character with some cool supernatural abilities, which I am always down for! And Felicia was smart and snarky and I really liked that. Plus the mystery surrounding Felicia’s past was very intriguing!

Review: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Title: I Hunt Killers

Series: I Hunt Killers #1

Novellas in this series: Down Time (#0.1) | Lucky Day (#0.2) | Career Day (#0.3) | Neutral Mask (#0.4) | Blood Boy (#0.5)

Author: Barry Lyga

Genre: YA, mystery thriller

Publication date: April 2012

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Source: Purchased paperback

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Book Outlet | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad?

Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could—from the criminal's point of view.

And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.

In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret—could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

My rating: ★★★★☆
The premise of this book is what immediately grabbed my attention. I read a couple of the novellas beforehand and I was all in! And overall, I really enjoyed this book!

Review: The Loudest Scream (Fear Park #2) by R.L. Stine

Title: The Loudest Scream

Series: Fear Park #2

Previous book in this series: The First Scream

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: September 1996

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

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Buy it: Amazon | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Something is very wrong at Fear Park. People keep getting hurt—or killed.

Dierdre Bradley knows this is the worst time to fall in love. But she can't help herself. Robin Fear is so intense and mysterious. He always acts as if he has a big secret.

He does. Robin wants to destroy Fear Park. And he has a plan—a plan that will cost Dierdre her life!

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Buy a ticket to terror.

Robin Fear is still trying to stop Fear Park from opening. And Dierdre’s dad is still an idiot for not closing down the park even though people keep dying! Wtf, bro! Shut it down! He’s gonna get so many lawsuits. Lol.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #173: I'm Not Okay (I Promise)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #217: I'm Not Anti-Social, I'd Just Rather Hang Out With Fictional People

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Down the TBR Hole #35: Uh Oh...

Most of you probably know this feeling, your Goodreads TBR pile keeps growing and growing and it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. You keep adding, but you add more than you actually read. And then when you’re scrolling through your list, you realize that you have no idea what half the books are about and why you added them. Well that’s going to change!

And thank the gods for that because I desperately need it! Lol. And thanks to Lost in a Story, as well, for creating this amazing meme!

Review: The Second Horror (99 Fear Street: The House of Evil #2) by R.L. Stine

Title: The Second Horror

Series: 99 Fear Street: The House of Evil #2

Previous book in this series: The First Horror

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: September 1994

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

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Buy it: Amazon | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

There's no place like this home...

At first, Brandt McCloy think moving to Shadyside is great. He has attracted the attention of three beautiful girls—Meg, Jinny and Abbie. But Brandt hasn't heard the terrifying stories about his new home—99 Fear Street. He doesn't know about the headless bodies, the bleeding walls. He doesn't know that Cally Frasier still haunts the house and plans gruesome deaths for him and everyone close to him. Poor Brandt—what he doesn't know will hurt him.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
Cally is very excited to have some new blood move into her house for her to torment. I actually really liked that we got some evil Cally POV as she haunted Brandt and his family. It was pretty cool. But I still don't understand why she’s evil. Why?! But evil Cally is not even that evil, tbh. What she does is more like pranks. She is not very good at this killing thing. Lol.

Halloween Creatures 2.0 Book Tag!

I saw this fun tag over at Elley the Book Otter and it was created by Anthony @ Keep Reading Forward!

Review: Hey Diddle Diddle The Zombie In The Middle (Mellow Summers #14) by Janet McNulty

Title: Hey Diddle Diddle The Zombie In The Middle

Series: Mellow Summers #14

Previous books in this series: Sugar And Spice And Not So Nice (#1) | Frogs, Snails, And A Lot Of Wails (#2) | An Apple A Day Keeps Murder Away (#3) | Three Little Ghosts (#4) | Oh Holy Ghost (#5) | Where Trouble Roams (#6) | Two Ghosts Haunt A Grove (#7) | Trick Or Treat Or Murder? (#8) | Roses Are Red; He's Dead (#9) | Double, Double, Nothing But Trouble (#10) | Ring Around The Rosy, Not Another Ghosty (#11) | Hickory Dickory Dock The Ghost In The Clock (#12) | Violets Are Blue More Trouble Brews (#13)

Author: Janet McNulty

Genre: Adult, cozy mystery

Publication date: May 2018

Published by: Janet McNulty

Source: Purchased ebook

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Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Mel and Greg are trying to have a romantic evening together when Rachel shows up and informs them that their neighbor is dead. Never one to turn down a mystery, Mel rushes to her neighbor’s apartment only to discover that the dead man is not her neighbor at all, but a stranger dressed up like a zombie.

Following a trail of clues, Mel finds herself surrounded by the undead to answer two questions:

Who is this man in her neighbor’s apartment?

And, where is her neighbor?

My rating: ★★★★☆
In this installment of Mellow Summers, Mel, of course, solves a murder. But this time she finds a body in a neighbor's apartment dressed as a zombie. And guess who's back? Rachel! She hasn't been around for a while so I was glad to see her again. I love that she just pops in whenever she wants. Though it can be inconvenient for Mel and her friends...

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!

Happy Spooky Season! 🎃 I have a couple of spooky books to give away today!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #172: Finally Finishing The Mortal Instruments?!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #216: An Exciting Bookish Accessory!

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Down the TBR Hole #34: A Little Bit of Everything

Most of you probably know this feeling, your Goodreads TBR pile keeps growing and growing and it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. You keep adding, but you add more than you actually read. And then when you’re scrolling through your list, you realize that you have no idea what half the books are about and why you added them. Well that’s going to change!

And thank the gods for that because I desperately need it! Lol. And thanks to Lost in a Story, as well, for creating this amazing meme!

Review: The First Horror (99 Fear Street: The House of Evil #1) by R.L. Stine

Title: The First Horror

Series: 99 Fear Street: The House of Evil #1

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: August 1994

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis:

The Scariest Address of All.

Twin sisters Cally and Kody Frasier aren’t thrilled that their family has moved to Fear Street. They’ve heard the strange stories. They know about the centuries of nightmarish terror. But what they don't know is that they’ve moved into the one house that even their neighbors on Fear Street are afraid to enter. The house that has stood mysteriously empty for the past thirty years. They moved to 99 Fear Street.

Now they must learn the secret of 99 Fear Street or they will become the next victims of the house of evil.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
This is one of the books I read back in the day when I was in middle school. Actually, I think I only read 1st and 3rd book in this series, which after having read the entire series now, it’s totally fine. Lol.

Finish the Series #2: Off To A Great Start!

In the past I've done these Random Reads posts where I would randomly choose a series to finish, but that hasn't worked out that well for me, me being a mood reader and all, so I decided that I would just pick a couple of series I'm in the mood for every so often and then post about it to really cement in that commitment 😅

Review: The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

Title: The Last Time I Lied

Author: Riley Sager

Genre: Adult, mystery thriller

Publication date: July 2018

Published by: Dutton Books

Source: eARC for review

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Synopsis:

Two Truths and a Lie. The girls played it all the time in their tiny cabin at Camp Nightingale. Vivian, Natalie, Allison, and first-time camper Emma Davis, the youngest of the group. The games ended when Emma sleepily watched the others sneak out of the cabin in the dead of night. The last she—or anyone—saw of them was Vivian closing the cabin door behind her, hushing Emma with a finger pressed to her lips.

Now a rising star in the New York art scene, Emma turns her past into paintings—massive canvases filled with dark leaves and gnarled branches that cover ghostly shapes in white dresses. The paintings catch the attention of Francesca Harris-White, the socialite and wealthy owner of Camp Nightingale. When Francesca implores her to return to the newly reopened camp as a painting instructor, Emma sees an opportunity to try to find out what really happened to her friends.

Yet it's immediately clear that all is not right at Camp Nightingale. Already haunted by memories from fifteen years ago, Emma discovers a security camera pointed directly at her cabin, mounting mistrust from Francesca and, most disturbing of all, cryptic clues Vivian left behind about the camp's twisted origins. As she digs deeper, Emma finds herself sorting through lies from the past while facing threats from both man and nature in the present.

And the closer she gets to the truth about Camp Nightingale, the more she realizes it may come at a deadly price.

My rating: ★★★★☆
I read Riley Sager’s first book, Final Girls, back in January of last year, and I just fell in love with! I loved the writing and the twists and turns, so you bet I was excited to read this one! And I really ended up enjoying it!

Review: The First Scream (Fear Park #1) by R.L. Stine

Title: The First Scream

Series: Fear Park #1

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: August 1996

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Would you open an amusement park on Fear Street? Would you take a risk and go against the ancient curse of the Fear Family?

Dierdre Bradley's father would. He is opening Fear Park in a few days. But he doesn't know someone--or something--will do anything to stop him.

Soon the screams of joy will turn to screams of terror. And Dierdre will be caught in a nightmare right that never ends.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Are we having fun yet?

The First Scream takes place in two different timelines, I guess? We start off in 1935 then move to the present aka 1996. Well, the synopsis makes it seem like most of our time will be spent in the present but noooo! Most of it takes place in the past. Don’t get me wrong, I would’ve enjoyed it more had I not been lied to and anticipating the switch early on in the book! But the present is literally only the last 40 pages of this book! That was a little frustrating. But anyway, this book...

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #171: So Sad, But So Good

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #215: ALL the Halloween Things!

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Down the TBR Hole #33: Serial Killers and Geeky Necromancy... I Guess?

Most of you probably know this feeling, your Goodreads TBR pile keeps growing and growing and it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. You keep adding, but you add more than you actually read. And then when you’re scrolling through your list, you realize that you have no idea what half the books are about and why you added them. Well that’s going to change!

And thank the gods for that because I desperately need it! Lol. And thanks to Lost in a Story, as well, for creating this amazing meme!

Review: Double Date (Fear Street #23) by R.L. Stine

Title: Double Date

Series: Fear Street #23

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: April 1994

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis:

No girl in her right mind would say no to a date with Bobby Newkirk. Not with those great looks, that easy charm, and the awesome way he plays the guitar. Of course, some people think he's just a bit conceited. But when it comes to breaking hearts, that hasn't slowed Bobby down one bit.

At least, not until the beautiful Wade twins move to Shadyside. And Bobby brags to his friends that they'll both fall for him.

And they do. Too bad for Bobby the twins never learned to share. One of them is jealous, murderously jealous. Is it quiet, shy Bree? Or bold, sexy Samantha? Bobby had better figure it out... or his double fun will turn to double terror.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Two’s company, but three can be murder.

Twins Samantha and Bree are fairly new in Shadyside. Bobby Newkirk has already made his way through the cheerleaders, so now he’s got his sights set on the twins. Things, however, don’t go too well for him when he decides to date them at the same time without one knowing of the other. Which is fine with me because I hated him! He was the absolute worst I hated him from page one!

Disney Channel Halloween Movies Book Tag!

It's finally spooky season! YAY!



I saw this fun tag over at a GREAT read and as soon as I laid eyes on it I knew I had to do it! I love all the old DCOM movies! Especially the Halloween ones! This awesome tag was created by Book Princess Reviews!

Review: Sharpest Sting (Elemental Assassin #18) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Sharpest Sting

Series: Elemental Assassin #18

Previous books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3) | Tangled Threads (#4) | Spider's Revenge (#5) | By A Thread (#6) | Widow's Web (#7) | Deadly Sting (#8) | Heart of Venom (#9) | The Spider (#10) | Poison Promise (#11) | Black Widow (#12) | Spider's Trap (#13) | Bitter Bite (#14) | Unraveled (#15) | Snared (#16) | Venom in the Veins (#17)

Short stories in this series: Poison (#0.1) | Web of Deceit (#0.2) | Spider's Bargain (#0.5) | Web of Death (#1.5) | Wasted (#2.7) | Tangled Dreams (#3.5) | Tangled Schemes (#3.7) | Spider’s Nemesis (#4.5) | Thread of Death (#5.5) | Carniepunk: Parlor Tricks (#8.1) | Kiss of Venom (#8.5) | Unwanted (#14.5) | Nice Guys Bite (#15.5) | Winter's Web (#17.5)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, urban fantasy

Publication date: October 8th 2019

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: eARC from author

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Apple Books | Google Play | Kobo | Smashwords

Synopsis:

The truth won’t set me free—but it will probably get me killed...

As Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, I’m used to having a target on my back. But ever since I started investigating the secret society known as the Circle, that target seems bigger than ever.

Still, I’m trying to relax and enjoy the events leading up to my friends’ wedding when I learn that an old enemy has returned to Ashland. And that’s the just beginning of my latest nightmare. Soon, I have Circle goons watching my every move, but I have no choice but to continue searching for a key piece of evidence against the evil group.

The deeper I dig, the more horrifying secrets I uncover, and the more dangerous things become for me and my friends. Just when I think I finally have a handle on things, a shocking revelation shatters my heart and leaves me with an ugly realization—that betrayal is the sharpest sting of all...

My rating: ★★★★★
It was about mid August when I was tweeting the author, Jennifer Estep, telling her how I had caught up on the Elemental Assassin series earlier in the year and I was now really starting to feel those withdrawals. Little did I know that two days later she was going to be sending out the ARCs for this book.


I was not expecting to get my Gin fix so fast, but hey, I am not complaining! Lol. This book was totally worth the wait! It was just amazing!

Monthly Wrap-Up: September 2019

Omg it's finally Spooky Season, YAY! 🎃👻🦇💀