I tend to read fiction that is tied to the season I am in. Christmas, Halloween, Autumn, summer, you name it. Helps me enjoy the season. This started many years ago when I would buy a Christmas book and read it in December. It has morphed into every season. Do you do the same thing?

This year I had the intention to read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, but decided to read a Grady Hendrix book. I am a fan of Grady Hendrix after reading the Exorcism of my Best Friend. Amazon Prime has the movie, which I don’t recommend. The book is much better.

Here is a synopsis of the book.

Patricia Campbell’s life has never felt smaller. Her husband is a workaholic, her teenage kids have their own lives, her senile mother-in-law needs constant care, and she’s always a step behind on her endless to-do list. The only thing keeping her sane is her book club, a close-knit group of Charleston women united by their love of true crime. At these meetings they’re as likely to talk about the Manson family as they are about their own families.

One evening after book club, Patricia is viciously attacked by an elderly neighbor, bringing the neighbor’s handsome nephew, James Harris, into her life. James is well traveled and well read, and he makes Patricia feel things she hasn’t felt in years. But when children on the other side of town go missing, their deaths written off by local police, Patricia has reason to believe James Harris is more of a Bundy than a Brad Pitt. The real problem? James is a monster of a different kind—and Patricia has already invited him in. 

Little by little, James will insinuate himself into Patricia’s life and try to take everything she took for granted—including the book club—but she won’t surrender without a fight in this blood-soaked tale of neighborly kindness gone wrong.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I love the Southern Women’s choice on how to rid their problem. Makes me wonder what if. A good read, you should check it out.

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Every year I like to read some of the Amazon Original Stories that has a spooky theme. In case you did not know, Amazon has a collection of these themed short stories written by well known authors that are free for Prime Members. One of the many perks of being a Prime member. If you have an Audible account, it also loads the audio book into your account. So if you like to listen instead of reading, this is a great service. Although free, you are only borrowing the book and it will be returned when you select another free read. I believe the cap is 5 books you can have in your borrowing account.

This year’s collection is called THE SHIVERS.

Synopsis: Ruined by scandal, Dennis Lange is hoping for a comeback. Selling the story of a cursed tree could make his future—if it doesn’t kill him—in this monstrous short story from New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill.

Dennis awakens something evil when he removes a decades-old jackknife from the trunk of a gnarled old sycamore. Once pinned in place—now thoughtlessly freed—the tree returns to its roots. An act of vigilante justice took place under its boughs long ago. But its taste for blood has only grown stronger…

My Opinion: I enjoyed this book, the way this man destroyed his life and was consumed by the tree was intriguing. I wasn’t sure if the tree was really moving or if the man was losing it. You will have to read it to get the answer.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Synopsis: A helping hand, a fateful cost. In this ominous short story from New York Times bestselling author Owen King, the cost of living keeps rising—and it collects payment from the soul.

Sensing his mother’s failing health, a struggling teenager pours out his worries in a letter and drops it through the mail slot of an abandoned show house. He’s surprised when a response arrives, promising good fortune for the price of just one name: someone he hates. He’d give anything for his mother. But the true cost may be more than he’s willing to pay.

My Opinion: The Slot was not exactly I thought it would be. Oh that Slot. It has a dark side.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis: Don’t lose your head over office politics…The horrors of the modern workplace meet actual horror in a fiendishly entertaining short story from New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones.

When the lights go out and the slideshow begins, middle manager Jennifer has a disturbing vision: a headless colleague right across the boardroom table. Is it a trick of the light, or a vision of the future? She tries to brush it off and salvage the afternoon—but when her ex unexpectedly drops off her son at the office after school, suddenly her whole world takes an alarming turn.

My Opinion: I have to admit I was a bit lost in this book. Not sure what really happened but it was a bit intense and a bit grotesque.

My Rating: 2 out of 5

Synopsis: Residents have an unspoken pact with the island’s unnatural inhabitants: ignore them, live happily. But in New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix’s thrilling short story, one boy can’t look away—and pays the price.

Jeckle Island offers Rachel’s children the chance to spend summers roaming wild and free, as long as they follow the rules. But when her son comes face to face with a terror they dare not speak of, she must prepare for their perfect world to change. Forever.

My Opinion: I am a fan of Grady Hendrix and enjoy his writing. This had a bit of suspense and a bit of shock. Everyone was so traumatized in this book and so was I.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis: In the gloom of her hotel, a mother readies to rejoin her past. Feverish nightmares meet the chilling light of day in this haunting short story from USA Today bestselling author Catriona Ward.

Room 17 was the last stop on her husband and son’s journey. Eight years after their deaths, Stella books the same room, hoping to commune with their memories. But as she tries to sleep, disturbing and urgent visions blur the lines between reality and the supernatural, and the other side sends a terrifying message.

My Opinion: To be honest I cannot remember what happens at the end of this book. Maybe the ghosts wiped it from my memory. LOL

My Rating: 2 out of 5

I also read another short story that was a freebie from the Amazon First Reads selection. First Reads is a free book each month for Amazon Prime members. Sometimes you can get 2 books or a free short story.

Synopsis: Erin tends bar at the last dive left in gentrified Red Hook, Brooklyn, where old-timers spin tales of the bar’s legacy and the waterfront’s crime-ridden past. Her boss, Jimmy, a real estate magnate responsible for much of the neighborhood’s shiny transformation, also has a story to share. Back when he was a struggling beat cop, two neglected boys introduced him to an ancient creature that made Jimmy’s dreams come true. Nightmares too. Erin doesn’t believe a word. The bar is her life. But this bar at the end of the world is also home to a deadly stowaway. And it’s looking for a new host.

My Opinion: This was a good read and I was not sure what was causing the events until almost the end of the book. It was suspenseful and the story kept me reading.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

I highly recommend that everyone check out these stories. There are many collections to choose with different genres. Something for everyone.

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I really wish I could read faster. I tend to read a chapter a day, so it takes me forever to finish. But I did have two books read plus the Amazon short stories.

This cute little young adult book was filled with autumn and pumpkin spice. I had to suffer thru teenage angst but otherwise a cute little book.

MY BEST FRIEND’S EXORCISM

I have never read anything from this author before. I picked it up after seeing someone mentioning it on their Vlog. This book did remind me of my youth and they were spot on with the feeling about teenage girls. But unlike the other book, this one was well written from an adult perspective in a teenagers body. If that makes sense. It was deeper and discussed darker topics and family dynamics very well. Where the other book was just fluff.

Enjoyed both.

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For Amazon Prime Members they provide a series of short stories to read for free. Last year I read the Creature Feature series which was a different story in each book.

This year I read Guillermo Del Toro /Chuck Hogan The Boy in the Iron Box. It was a continuing series of one story line broken out in 6 books.

Flying dark, a plane carrying a team of mercenaries crash-lands on a remote snowy summit. When they come across a mazelike stone fortress, it’s no refuge from the wolves and the freezing wind. It’s more like a trap. What they discover can stop the heart—or worse. As terror takes a new shape, the real battle for survival begins in this unrelenting serialized novel from Academy Award–winning filmmaker and writer Guillermo del Toro.

This was a good story but I prefer last year’s series better. I must admit I like these books and they come out with new collections all the time. Many of the books are written by popular authors that I have read. Each has a different theme. Some romance, some horror, others adventure. There is a collection of stories for anyone. I think the next series I will read is Busybodies or The Spy Who Vanished.

Keep in mind that each book counts towards your book annual challenge numbers. It kinda feels like cheating but it still counts LOL.

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Just on the heels of the summer bucket list (summer be gone) I am rolling out the Autumn/Halloween bucket list. Autumn time is my favorite season. Chilly night, leaves falling, a nice windy breeze, pumpkins on porches, scary shows on Netflix, hot soup and warm tea at night. Ohhhhh my favorite time of the year.

I keep seeing all these cute pictures on Pinterest.

Amen.

But onto the bucket list.

There are a few new items on the list and a few favorites. More crafts this year and less cooking. But that is fine. Gotta mix it up. I will joyfully celebrate the season. I may do things not on the list. Let’s see where this takes us.

Let the leaves fall and the winds kick up and start the bucket list.

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I can usually find seasonal coffees at Aldi’s and this summer had their Summer Blend. A medium coffee with a fruity kick. I was able to get the ground coffee as well as the k-cups. I made some the other day and it was a nice mellow coffee. Not sure I can taste any fruit, but it had a nice smooth taste. It did not disappoint.

I actually tried a cold brew drink from Starbucks which I normally do not branch out and tend to stick to my favorites. I like a tried and true classic. It was worth the try.

Besides my coffee I was able to start a new book. This book was one of my Book of the Month selection by Abby Jimenez called Just for the Summer.

I am only 100 pages in and so far I am enjoying it. I like the characters and the premise.

Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.  

Emma hadn’t planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they’re suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

Not a bad start for the summer.

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.

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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. 🍁🍂

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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.

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