- GAME ON (Stephanie Plum #28)
- WHEN DARKNESS LOVES US (Paperbacks from Hell)
- YOU LOVE ME (You #3)
- GWENDY'S MAGIC FEATHER (The Button Box #2)
- SAGA, Issue #55
- SAGA, Issue #56
- SAGA, Issue #57
- SAGA, Issue #58
- GWENDY'S FINAL TASK (The Button Box #3)
- SAGA, Issue #59
- SAGA, Issue #60
- REVENGE OF THE LIVING DUMMY (Goosebumps Horrorland #1)
- CREEP FROM THE DEEP (Goosebumps Horrorland #2)
- THE SCREAM OF THE HAUNTED MASK (Goosebumps Horrorland #4)
- DR. MANIAC VS. ROBBY SCHWARTZ (Goosebumps Horrorland #5)
- WHO'S YOUR MUMMY? (Goosebumps Horrorland #6
- MY FRIENDS CALL ME MONSTER (Goosebumps Horrorland #7)
- SAY CHEESE—AND DIE SCREAMING (Goosebumps Horrorland #8)
- HELP! WE HAVE STRANGE POWERS (Goosebumps Horrorland #10)
- ESCAPE FROM HORRORLAND (Goosebumps Horrorland #11)
- WHEN THE GHOST DOG HOWLS (Goosebumps Horrorland #13)
- DEMON IN THE WOOD (Grishaverse #0)
- THE WIZARD OF OOZE (Goosebumps Horrorland #17)
- A NIGHTMARE ON CLOWN STREET (Goosebumps Most Wanted #7)
- GAME ON: RISE AND SHINE TWENTY-NINE (Stephanie Plum #29)
- LOST SOULS (Cainsville #3.6)
Friday, 30 December 2022
Books Read in 2022
Thursday, 29 December 2022
2022 Goals
- Go for two daily walks: THIS IS SOMETHING WE DID THE WHOLE YEAR BECAUSE HUBBY CURRENTLY WORKS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE. I REALLY ENJOY THE TWO-DAILY-WALKS ROUTINE & ONE-DAILY-LONG-SUBURBAN WALK ON THE WEEKEND.
- Keep doing yoga workouts two/three times a week: WE CONTINUED DOING YOGA WORKOUTS DURING THE YEAR BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, DIDN'T MAINTAIN THE THREE-WORKOUTS/WEEK ROUTINE WE WANTED. STILL, SOME YOGA IS BETTER THAN NO YOGA.
- Write between 100-200k words: ENDED UP WRITING 159,020 words & EDITING A WHOPPING 3,843 pages. 👀
- Read 100 books: READ 117 BOOKS. (5 DNFs.)
- Revise/finalise the rest of the (5) novel first drafts sitting on my hard drive: I ACTUALLY FINISHED DOING THIS IN SEPTEMBER & COMPLETED 5 REVISION PROJECTS (Cosmic, Madness, Summer, Neon, Stuck), 1 FULL EDIT (Possess) + ABANDONED 1 YA WIP AFTER FINISHING THE SECOND DRAFT (Urban). I ALSO CUT A TOTAL OF 104,423 words!
- Write a novel: I WROTE ONE NOVEL DURING NANO (87,682w).
- Write a novella: I BRAINSTORMED, RESEARCHED & STARTED WRITING THREE NOVELLAS BUT DIDN'T FINISH ANY OF THEM. 😬
- Keep writing short stories & sub: I WROTE 7 SHORT STORIES AND HAD ONE OF THESE STORIES ACCEPTED INTO AN ANTHOLOGY THAT WAS PUBLISHED EARLIER THIS YEAR.
- Take part in NaNoWriMo: I TOOK PART & GOT MY 16th WIN! (This time I wrote another horror story about a family with too many secrets, a place with too many ghosts & an old mystery that resurfaces.)
- Clear book clutter/piles: WHILE I DID CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH MY SECONDHAND/REVIEW BOOK STACKS, THE NEW BOOK PILES ARE STILL OUT OF CONTROL. 🫤
- Continue playing Animal Crossing: I'VE NOW BEEN PLAYING ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS (ON MY SWITCH LITE) EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR OVER A YEAR.
Wednesday, 28 December 2022
THE CABIN AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Paul Tremblay
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Well, this turned out to be a big disappointment. 🫤
I was really looking forward to reading this book because the premise sounded very intriguing. An end-of-the-world scenario that puts a family in the middle of a terrible situation. And I actually enjoyed the first half of this book. A lot. But the second half became such a slog.
Everything keeps going round in circles. It's all conversation after conversation that leads nowhere. The small amount of action wasn't enough to keep my attention. And even when the tragic incident happened, the emotional impact was zero.
Not to mention that ending. I think that a story teasing such a severe apocalyptic situation needs a definite answer at the end. Not the vague mess presented here.
Such a shame but, sadly, this book didn't work for me.
View all my reviews
Wednesday, 21 December 2022
THE HOUSE IN THE PINES by Ana Reyes
Friday, 16 December 2022
LOST SOULS by Kelley Armstrong
Lost Souls by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love the Cainsville series, so I always look forward to checking out short stories/novellas set in this world.
The disappearing hitchhiker is an urban legend that's been around for years, but when Patrick brings the case to Gabriel, it takes an unexpected faerie twist...
I really enjoyed the mystery at the core of this awesome installment. Not just because urban legends never fail to intrigue me, but also because this provides a unique twist to a familiar tale. Adding Gabriel and Olivia to the mix made everything even better. Gabriel is so awkward he borders on cringe. And Olivia might be upset with him, but she still manages to make everything better.
Love these characters. Don't think I'll ever get sick of this fantastic series! 😍
View all my reviews
Tuesday, 13 December 2022
THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET by Catriona Ward
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've had this book on my TBR pile for a while, and I certainly shouldn't have waited so long to get to it because it turned out to be amazing.
The last house on Needless Street holds as many secrets as the woods behind it. But nothing is really as it seems...
Wow. What an outstanding story this turned out to be.
This book is many things: creepy, intriguing, shocking, interesting, surprising, riveting, clever, and so sad. But mostly, it's an intricate tale with many moving parts that ultimately fit together in the most messed up way possible.
It also features several POVs, and all of them kept me glued to the page because the mystery at the core of this story is definitely something worth unravelling.
I loved this book for many reasons, but mainly because it's such an amazing example of how to spin a very unique twist on several familiar concepts.
I'm glad I went in not knowing much else but what the description stated. It's the best way to approach this book.
Thursday, 8 December 2022
WRITING POETRY IN THE DARK by Stephanie M. Wytovich
CITY OF NIGHTMARES by Rebecca Schaeffer
Tuesday, 6 December 2022
HOUSE OF HOLLOW by Krystal Sutherland
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've wanted to read this book for a while, but for one reason or another, it kept slipping away from me. So, I decided to get stuck into it first thing Monday morning. And fell into it instantly.
Iris and her two older sisters disappeared when they were kids and returned a month later. After that, the family fell apart, the girls developed an insatiable hunger, their hair and eyes changed colour, and they became inseparable. Until the other two left Iris behind to chase their dreams of stardom. But now, Grey has gone missing and they're all about to find out the terrible truth...
Wow. This is such a fantastic book!
Like I said above, I was captivated by this story as soon as I started reading. It's a contemporary fairy tale of the darkest kind. Everything about these sisters is mysterious, absolutely enthralling. I couldn't put the book down for long because I wanted to know what was waiting around the corner.
The imagery is beautiful, in a very macabre way. Every detail is described so vividly, I could smell all the sharp scents Iris experienced. Not to mention that the mystery about where these three sisters went, what power they hold, and why they came back, was enough to keep me turning the pages.
It's packed with characters that are interesting, have individual personalities, and share a lot of awesome interactions together. And Iris is such an intriguing narrator.
I absolutely LOVED everything about this fairy tale, and when the truth is revealed... yikes. This also features some freaky body horror.
I'm not surprised that I enjoyed this so very much, because I adored the previous two books this author released. She writes lyrical, addictive tales with darkness creeping in around the edges.
Saturday, 3 December 2022
WILD PLACE by Christian White
Wild Place by Christian White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Yesterday I decided to go through some of the books I've found in local Street Libraries, to see what did and didn't grab my attention. By the time I got to this one, I stopped because I couldn't put it down.
It's December 1989 and in the small town of Camp Hill, a teenage girl has gone missing. As the weeks go by, her parents suspect everyone. Did she run away? Was she taken? Maybe there's something more sinister stirring in the shadows...
Well, I was pretty much hooked as soon as I read the Prologue. I found the story to be interesting and once everyone on the street is slowly introduced, I was intrigued by the inquisitive nature of humans. And how quick they are to form judgement without really knowing/understanding what's going on.
I think the way the Satanic Panic was captured, in the middle of an Australian town just before 1990 kicked in, is so well done that I couldn't turn away. The easy way adults on this street convince themselves they know who took this young girl and why—just because someone is a little different, likes heavy metal and knows what a pentagram is—was truly atrocious. Also confirms how quickly the wave of condemnation can spread if left unchecked.
This book features several POVs. One of these is Tom. A married, middle-aged high school English teacher who finds himself drawn into the mystery of who took Tracie. He wants to help, goes out of his way to find clues, and inadvertently fans the flames of suspicion against someone who is different without any evidence. He's a good man with good intentions (well, that's the image he tries to sell to others), but because of him, everything gets turned upside down and once the target is placed, it's hard to contain the mob. Or a parent suffering the worst kind of loss.
I really enjoyed this book. The story is intricate and told through several different angles. Not just in POVs, but also in the bad deeds, secrets and lies that are slowly revealed about these seemingly average characters. And the worst most awful, also frustrating reveal, is the twists that lead to the truth about what happened to Tracie Reed.
Great book. Very intriguing thriller with a captivating mystery that'll keep you guessing until the end. And then, will definitely upset and frustrate you when you know everything. In a good way.
Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Final NaNoWriMo 2022 Thoughts
Anyone who's been reading my blog the last few years knows that I spent most of 2021/22 working on revising the backlog of first drafts I'd written, and kinda forgot about, from 2017-2020. These revisions—and in some cases, total rewrites—were time-consuming, but mostly it was very rewarding. And if you've been reading my blog even longer, then you know I love participating in NaNo every year. It's something I always look forward to, but during these last two years, getting the chance to write something new and fresh gave me a break from the tedious slog I put myself through.
A slog of my own doing, by the way. A task I'm very happy I got stuck into and completed.
So, when I was doing NaNoPrep this year, I was surprised to find myself connecting the novel I wrote last year, STUCK, with the one I wrote this year, TUESDAY. This year's story takes place five years earlier, but it answered some of the lingering (behind the scenes) questions I had about several characters in STUCK. While introducing a whole new cast and a completely different location.
It was fun.
I'm also very excited about the first draft ending up in the 87k-mark. It's been a while since I've written anything longer than 65k. In many ways, telling this story confirmed how ready my writer brain was/is to embark on new adventures. While maybe throwing in a past character or two into the future mix. 😁
Now that it's done, I'm putting this draft aside until next year. I'm not going to leave WIPs on my hard drive for years at a time anymore. Nope. I reckon two months is enough distance. So, February sounds like a good time to tackle the second draft.
Now, I'm going to spend the rest of the year thinking/plotting new stories. My head is full of ideas that need attention and I intend to give every single one a chance. While squeezing in plenty of reading.
Well, that's it. These are my final NaNoWriMo thoughts for another year.
Have a great week!
FAMILY BUSINESS by Jonathan Sims
Sunday, 27 November 2022
THE EROTIC MODERN LIFE OF MALINALLI THE VAMPIRE by V. Castro
The Erotic Modern Life of Malinalli The Vampire by V. Castro
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've spent this weekend reading some really cool novellas, and this one is another to add to the list.
Malinalli is in Dublin for business, but when she stops into a pub along the way, she spots a man who captivates her. A man she must have, no matter what...
Well, this is a sexy and super sizzling story featuring such an interesting main character. Malinalli carries a lot of history in her veins and is a confident woman who knows what she wants, but also has an edge of vulnerability that is endearing. Her passion for Colin is instant and scorching, and when it becomes clear that it's mutual... Yikes! 🔥
I enjoyed how well the initial lust quickly evolves into so much more. The erotic and romantic is perfectly mixed up with her vampiric side. I also really liked Colin. He's a cool guy with an excellent bookstore. Plus, he's a horror writer. 😊
This is a such a fun story!
VENUS FALLING by Sarah Jane Huntington
Venus Falling by Sarah Jane Huntington
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I enjoy reading Sarah's stories because they always feature memorable characters, interesting settings, and creepy situations. And this one was another hit.
When The Venus stumbles on a strange colourful swirling close to Titan, the small crew don't let it stop their mission. The ship needs repairs and Captain Lydia Ramirez dreams of a better, safer life but after landing, things get a bit complicated...
What a trippy, turbulent ride this turned out to be. I enjoyed the dialogue and camaraderie between Lydia, Jonesy (pilot) and Melody (engineer). Fluffy was cute, because every spaceship needs a cat. And HIVE, the AI has quite the attitude.
Take all of the above, add a bizarre twist featuring time and space, plus a dose of creepy, and this becomes such an intriguing tale. The SF element and worldbuilding was interesting. Plus there are definitely Event Horizon vibes, and I loved that movie!
Really enjoyed this! The cover's eye catching, too. 🚀✨🐈
Friday, 25 November 2022
GOING ROGUE by Janet Evanovich
Tuesday, 22 November 2022
NaNoWriMo: Week Four
- Sunday: 83,869w (added 3,799w)
- Sunday: 85,707w (added 1,838w)
- Monday: 86,681w (added 974w)
- Monday: 87,173w / 232pgs (added 492w)
Friday, 18 November 2022
NaNoWriMo: Week Three
- Monday: 55,376w (added 4,185w)
- Tuesday: 62,469w (added 7,093w)
- Wednesday: 66,198w (added 3,729w)
- Thursday: 74,354w (added 8,156w)
- Friday: 80,070w (added 5,716w)
Saturday, 12 November 2022
DRACULA DAILY by Bram Stoker
Dracula Daily by Bram Stoker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Well, I finished reading this today and enjoyed it as much as the first time. This is a great vampire story, but it's also a terrific story about friendship, loyalty, and how far someone who cares/loves you is willing to go.
I also love the bravery of every character. The creepiness and dread that Dracula adds to this story. And the epistolary format works really well at revealing the overall story via different POVs.
I'm going to miss getting these emails because it was definitely a fun and different way of reading a novel.
View all my reviews
Friday, 11 November 2022
NaNoWriMo: Week Two
Hey! How are ya?
The world is such a weird place at the moment. A new wave of Covid has hit Oz, but everyone's still pretending it's over. Ugh. And there's another useless rich asshole trying to ruin something that didn't need his meddling bullshit. Yes, I'm talking about what's happening on Twitter.
I've been there since 2009 and it's the only social media I have. I'd fucking hate it if this prick ruined it because he doesn't understand the concept of Twitter. Seriously, that's what the main problem is. He just doesn't get it. 😐
I hope Twitter survives this crap because I fucking despise FB. And IG is owned by FB. Mastodon sounds like it's too rigid to deal with. I'm not interested in TikTok. So, yeah, that doesn't leave much.
But THIS BLOG!
My website and blog will still continue to exist. Glad I kept this going. LOL.
Anyway, let's change the subject to something much better.
The second week of NaNoWriMo is now over. And I'm really happy with the progress. Not just because of the total word count, but also because the story's turning out to be a lot darker—and a little different—than I imagined.
That's a great thing, btw!
Oh, and guess what? During today's writing session, I passed the 50k-word target. And that means that I've completed my 16th NaNoWriMo. Yay!! 😃🎉
That doesn't mean the story is done, though. Nope. I've got quite a few more words to write.
Here's how the word count turned out:
- Monday: 28,107w (added 5757w)
- Tuesday: 33,575w (added 5468w)
- Wednesday: 39,187w (added 5612w)
- Thursday: 45,327w (added 6140w)
- Friday: 51,191w (added 5864w)
Friday, 4 November 2022
NaNoWriMo: Week One
- Tuesday: 6,482w
- Wednesday: 12,195w (added 5713w)
- Thursday: 17,948w (added 5753w)
- Friday: 22,350w (added (4402w)
Friday, 28 October 2022
THE BOOK OF THE MOST PRECIOUS SUBSTANCE by Sara Gran
The Book of the Most Precious Substance by Sara Gran
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've had my eye on this book for a while and couldn't wait to check it out.
Once upon a time, Lily published a successful and well received book. But after her husband got sick, she lost the spark. To live and to write. Now, she's a book dealer and has become part of a seller's circle that leads her to an unexpected adventure to hunt down a very dangerous, magical book...
Fantastic, addictive and intriguing. I seriously couldn't put this down. I started yesterday and finished today because I was enthralled by this dark and mystical book.
There's a LOT of great stuff packed into the pages of this book: so many rare books, amazing locations, delicious food, enticing characters, the endless lure of sex. And I enjoyed every exciting and unpredictable moment.
Lily displays plenty of morally corrupt qualities, and we're never really sure if they're her own desires or those of the wicked book. Either way, she's a real, flawed, and interesting character. She's also very sympathetic. No matter what she did, I felt sorry for her misfortune and admired her tenacity to continue on even at the bleakest of times.
I also liked Lucas, who was seemingly the complete opposite of Lily, yet is so similar to her. And Awe really stood out to me. He didn't take up much narrative space, but still made a huge impact on the overall story. If not for this saintly carer, Lily wouldn't have been able to follow the clues all around the world with the charming Lucas.
The actual search for this rare book of dark magic was exciting and seductive. An erotic ride filled with so many unexpected circumstances. I like how it pushed Lily's boundaries to so many new experiences that awakened her physically and mentally.
Lastly, I love Sara Gran's writing style. And that ending is so bittersweet.
View all my reviews
Thursday, 27 October 2022
NaNoWriMo is almost here...
- 2006: UF (Angie)
- 2007: SFR (Shade of Grey)
- 2008: SFR (Shade of Blue)
- 2009: Horror (Sinful)
- 2010: Futuristic (Embracing Sunlight)
- 2011: N/A
- 2012: UF (Torn from the Shadows)
- 2013: SFR (Dash)
- 2014: UF (Willow)
- 2015: YA Historical (MixedTape)
- 2016: YA Horror (Haunted)
- 2017: YA SF Thriller (Cosmic Girl)
- 2018: YA Horror (Madness)
- 2019: SF Historical Horror (Neon)
- 2020: Horror UF (Destiny)
- 2021: Horror (Stuck)
Wednesday, 19 October 2022
THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU by Silvia Moreno-Garcia