A Soul To Steal

Title: A Soul To Steal
Author: Rob Blackwell
Published: August 29th 2011
Synopsis from Amazon

You Are What You Fear

Something is stalking the citizens of Loudoun County, Va.

Is it the return of the notorious serial killer known as Lord Halloween? Or is it something worse—a figure that can cloak itself as your worst nightmare?

Kate and Quinn, two community journalists, rush to uncover the truth before a promised bloodbath on Halloween night.

The debut novel from award-winning journalist Rob Blackwell, A Soul to Steal balances mystery, suspense, romance, action and the paranormal, building to a gripping and unforgettable conclusion. For readers who enjoy Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Stephanie Meyer and Jim Butcher, A Soul to Steal is the perfect autumn novel.

ZOIKS!!

Scooby-Doo!! Where are you?!!

No, really... Fire up the Mystery Machine, Gang. There's a villain on the loose and his name is Lord Halloween.

Lord Halloween?

Jinkeys!!

That sounds uber spooky.....

Yeah... for a kid.

And this is why I think this book should have been a kid's book.

The Break-down
Quinn is a mild mannered news reporter (that is not Superman) who works for 'Loundon Chronicle' in Virginia. A weekly paper that is getting stomped on by the Washington Post. One that covers local stuff like "Biggest Pumpkin" and you know... Too much Dog Poo in the park. Stuff like that.

He's been having dreams of people dying and horse clippity clops but he can't figure out why. Must just be nightmares.

One day he's in a STARBUCKS to get some mocha Joe stuff and he spots this hot chick. Her name is Kate and she is like "angel music" to his eyes. Ahhhhh!! (not the screamy kind... the baby fat angel kind.)

Kate just moved to town from Ohio. I don't blame her. Who would want to stay in Ohio? Remember that car commercial where this couple has a globe and they spin it to see where to drive to and it lands on Ohio and they say "Quick! Spin it again!". HAHAS! That's probably what she was thinking... or was she? Cryptic *muhahaha!

So, Quinn gives Kate some goo goo eyes which totally freaks her out so she makes like a tree and leaves but they meet up again because da da da DAAAA!! she's the new reporter at the 'LOUNDON CHRONICLE".

Oh yeah... Kate has weird dreams too... Aren't they just made for each other?

Now, Loundon is a sleep town... or at least it has been. Twelve years ago the town was really shook up by a bunch of MURDERS. Gruesome, awesome, icky, stick MURDERS!! All done by this dude who dubs himself, LORD HALLOWEEN.

And guess what?

The murders are back in town!!

Is it Lord Halloween? Or just a copy cat?

Quinn and Kate find them selves sucked into the story and just like Daffnie and Fred, they are on the case.

Greta's Thoughts
Now kids... Really... This was kinda a cornball story if you ask me. It's a good plot but I'm not sure it was ADULT enough. Sure, there were Cuss words and some R rated stuff but ahhs.... Really? This would have been so much cooler if it was done for kids.

Think about it.... Quinn could work at the school paper and Kate is the new kid and town and signs up for it. Then maybe Quinn's dad is a reporter for the big paper and they start getting involved in the story that Dad is working on.

I think it would have worked so much better if that approach was taken. I mean... kids LOVE cornball!! This could have been a most awesome GOOSEBUMPS story but instead the author made it a little too blah with F-bombs and I love yous. Oh yeah... and a dude named LORD HALLOWEEN.

Sure, it's cool... but it would have been cooler for 11 year olds.

So, I give it a B for effort but I would have given it an A+ if a different approach was taken.

Bunheads by Sopihe Flack: Review

Bunheads
By Sophie Flack
Published October 10th 2011 by Poppy
Pick up your copy at B&N, Amazon, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet.


But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?

Darkfallen's thoughts:

While this book was so good, for me, that I finished it in one day; I fear that it may not be as good for others. Here's what I mean...

I trained in ballet for 15 years. I basically learned to walk, was potty trained, and then off the dance school I went at the age of 2. So when I was reading this book, it was more than that. I was seeing this book. I loved the way Sophie Flack walks you through the ballets Hannah is doing step by step. However she uses all of the proper French terms for each step, and nothing more. So I fear that for those out there that have never taken ballet this book may be a bit hard to connect with, or understand even. So while I am whisked away to the land of grand botones, jette's, arabesque's, pas de deux, & lifts in B plus, vividly picturing the ballets unfold in my mind as a read and absorb every word so much so that I find myself marking the steps while cooking dinner, and thinking it's the cutest thing ever that my three year old son is trying to mimic me. (all the while my husband suddenly feels the need to dicuss football with our son. lol) I think that that any person without extensive ballet knowledge might find this story a bit flat and boring.

Again I really, REALLY enjoyed this book, I just think maybe it could have been done slightly different to make it more approachable to a wider audience. I mean after all...a dancer that has time to read a book is a retired one;) I would have liked to see a little more done with the relationship between Hannah & Jacob. Maybe a little less on the actions of ballet, and a little more on the feeling of it and I would say this book would not only have a wider audience, but 5 stars across the board. I guess I was expecting something more like Gail Formans Where She Went where the music careers where the back drop, and the emotions took center stage. Still thanks to years of ballet, and bloody toes to prove this book was a great read for me.

Overall I say if your a dancer this is a must read. I wish I would have been able to read it back when I was consumed by the almost drug like quality that is life inside a ballet company. (Granted I was only at the St. Louis Ballet Company, which is nothing compared to the MBA.) But the message is a good one. There really is a life outside of dance, and sometimes you have to chose between life on stage...and everything else.    

Lymi...



     

Dead of Winter by Robert Duperre: Review

Dead of Winter
By Robert J. Duperre
Publish December 20th 2010
Pick up your copy at Amazon or B&N today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Winter arrives, and with it the Storm. Snow piles up, turning the landscape into a white prison. The survivors of Wrathchild's plague struggle to survive. With loneliness and doubt creeping in, they must choose: stay in isolation with their dwindling resources, or journey south, taking a chance in a realm where the undead walk.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

After reading book 1 in this series, The Fall, I simply had to pick this up. And here is what I found...

Here we are introduced to a few new characters allowing us get a broader picture of just how everyone in the world, what few are left, are dealing with life after Wraith Child has taken over. By far my favorite of all the new characters was Corky & the gang. I absolutely loved those rowdy guys. But still my all time favorite characters are Josh & Krya.

Everytime Josh & Kyras' story fluttered across the pages I found myself devouring every word, and mercilessly begging for more. The relation between not only Josh & Krya, but with a few others of their group are breathtaking. Which lets face it, is no easy feat when there are flesh eating zombies killing everyone and everything around you. I don't want to spoil anything but there is definitely a twist that happens with one of the members of this group that I never saw coming until it was too late. I found myself so upset over it that I literally threw my book at the wall. Which led to me trying to find my page for 15 minutes once I calmed down. lol I was so torn over what happened that I didn't know rather to cry or fight someone, but that's kind of the point I think. It needed to happen. Robert Duperre needed to do this to make you feel what his characters have been dealing with since this all began...and it worked. For that my hats off to you.

A similar thing happened with Corky & his gang shortly after, only this time I didn't get mad. I cried. I couldn't help it. In such a short time I found myself very attached to Corky & his band of vulgar men. At times even laughing out loud with them. Especially when they said things like "Shit fuckers. lol Oh yes I am totally going to start saying that.

*winks*

Now while I couldn't get enough of Josh & Kyra, or Corky & the boys, there are few stories I found myself not caring much about. It's probably not their fault I didn't like them as much. It's probably my own selfish need that just wanted more of the other two groups. If I had my way Josh's group would run into Corky's group and together they would overthrow all the zombies. One kick ass battle after the next with a side of love mixed in, but that's just me.

Speaking of love...can I just say YES Josh finally realizes that he loves Kyra!!!!

*happy dances like a pansy*

 It was a bumpy road to get there, and If I were Kyra I might have given up on him, but she didn't and I am so excited.

Overall in the Dead of Winter you will not only find yourself scared shit less and in some of the most bizarre places. You also find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat saying things like Come on, come on, COME ON!!! while grasping onto each and every glimmer of hope you can find. So while I was at times slightly confused, I can promise you that in the end you won't be disappointed.       

Lymi...