Recent Updates and Currently Reading | August 13

This post is going to cover the last two weeks of reading because I've been very bad at blogging the last couple of weeks.

Posted Last Week

August 2017 New Horror Releases | Horror Spotlight

Read Last Week

Artemis by Andy Weir - I couldn't help myself. I didn't want to wait any longer.

I Travel By Night by Robert McCammon - This was a mood reread. I enjoyed it even more the second time around.

Saga, Vol. 2 (Saga #2) by Brian K. Vaughan - Yay, I didn't have to wait too long on Vol 2. Hopefully the couple of folks that are in front of me for Vol 3 will be kind and return it early.

Current Distractions

• Orphan Black! The series finale was last night. I'm very, very thankful that they gave it a good ending. I'm so sad it's over!
• I CAUGHT UP TO SEASON 7 OF GAME OF THRONES! I may get caught up completely by tonight if all goes well today! I'm going to have the biggest hangover after binging that many seasons of GoT!
• My kids go back to school this week. (It's too damn early if you ask me!) All of my blogging time has been going into getting them (and the house..) ready for back to school. I'm sorry for commenting in bursts so often lately. Hopefully things will settle back into a routine soon!

So what about you? Let me know what you're reading (or watching) this week or leave me some links!

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This post is being shared as part of Book Date's It's Monday! What Are You Reading and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

August 2017 New Horror Releases | Horror Spotlight

It's time to spotlight all of the horror releasing in August! There is no doubt about it - horror is on the rise again, and I could not be a happier reader.

Benjamin Percy and Ania Ahlborn have new releases this month. I'm dying to know more about Zhou HaoHui's Valley of Terror. I'm also super curious about The Grip of It. I always gravitate toward haunted house stories. Let me know if you've had a look at any of these!

I'm looking forward to reading the new Kristi DeMeester this month, as well.

Classic Campfire Stories: Forty Spooky Tales by William W Forgey
Expected publication: August 1st 2017 by Falcon Guides

Ghosts on a Plane by M.L. Bullock
Expected publication: August 1st 2017

Dark Light: Dawn by Jon Land
Expected publication: August 1st 2017 by Forge Books



The Grip of It by Jac Jemc
Expected publication: August 1st 2017 by FSG Originals

The Dark Net by Benjamin Percy
Expected publication: August 1st 2017 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The Law of Retaliation by Jon Athan
Expected publication: August 3rd 2017



The Last Victim of Jarvis Roon by James Shipway
Expected publication: August 7th 2017

Video Nasties by Duncan Ralston
Expected publication: August 7th 2017 by Shadow Work Publishing

I Call Upon Thee by by Ania Ahlborn
Expected publication: August 7th 2017 by Pocket Star



The Aberration: Torment of Tantalus by Bard Constantine
Expected publication: August 7th 2017 by BWB Pubishing

Gravel Switch (Gravel Switch Chronicles, #1) by Aleister Davidson
Expected publication: August 2017 by Black Mantis Press LLC

The Mailman by Jeremy Bates
Expected publication: August 11th 2017 by Ghillinnein Books



Mass Hysteria by Michael Patrick Hicks
Expected publication: August 15th 2017 by High Fever Books

Looming Low Volume I edited by Justin Steele and Sam Cowan
Expected publication: August 18th 2017 by Dim Shores

Risen by Eric Trant
Expected publication: August 29th 2017 by WiDo Publishing



Dracula's America: Shadows of the West by Jonathan Haythornthwaite
Expected publication: August 24th 2017 by Osprey Games

Valley of Terror by Zhou HaoHui, Bonnie Huie (Translation)
Expected publication: August 29th 2017 by AmazonCrossing

A Song for Quiet (Persons Non Grata #2) by Cassandra Khaw
Expected publication: August 29th 2017 by Tor.com



Everything That's Underneath: A Collection of Weird and Horror Tales by Kristi DeMeester
Expected publication: August 29th 2017 by Apex Book Company

Fearful Fathoms: Collected Tales of Aquatic Terror (Vol. I - Seas & Oceans) edited by Mark Parker
Expected publication: August 29th 2017 by Scarlet Galleon Publications, LLC

The Last Town: A Novel of the Zombie Apocalypse by Stephen Knight
Expected publication: August 31st 2017



Cannibal Creek by Jon Athan
Expected publication: August 31st 2017

Hungry Ghosts (Hungry Ghosts #1) by Ron Ripley
Expected publication: August 31st 2017 by ScareStreet.com

Blanky by Kealan Patrick Burke
Expected publication: August 2017

As always, be sure to let me know if there are any horror books releasing in August that didn't make it onto my list! I'd love to hear which horror books you are excited about this month.

Recent Updates and Currently Reading | July 30

I had a fantastic reading week this past week. I was able to mood read all week, and I enjoyed everything I picked up.

Posted Last Week

Book Review | Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine

Read Last Week

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine: Goodreads | My review

I finally picked up the first volume of Saga. I think the graphic novels Barb has been reading lately is what put me in the mood. Now I want to read them all, but my library only had the first one. This is going to test my patience.

I also read Witching Hour Theatre by Jonathan Janz. It was just the quick, fun read I needed.

Current Distractions

• I finished season 3 of Game of Thrones which means I've officially experienced the Red Wedding. OH. MY. GOD!
• I finally saw M. Night Shyamalan's Split. I really, really wish I hadn't put that off. It wasn't at all what I thought it would be, and the ending threw me for such a loop! My husband tells me there are going to be more movies set in that world, too. I've missed that side of M. Night.
• I'm super excited about the upcoming IT movie. (I'm still rereading it. Slowly...) Did you see the trailer this week? It looks absolutely terrifying! I really hope it's a HUGE smash at the box office so we can get some more (including non-Stephen King) horror adaptations.

So what about you? Let me know what you're reading (or watching) this week or leave me some links!

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This post is being shared as part of Book Date's It's Monday! What Are You Reading and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Book Review | Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine

Stillhouse Lake is a mystery/thriller from Rachel Caine.

Gina Royal is the definition of average—a shy Midwestern housewife with a happy marriage and two adorable children. But when a car accident reveals her husband’s secret life as a serial killer, she must remake herself as Gwen Proctor—the ultimate warrior mom.

With her ex now in prison, Gwen has finally found refuge in a new home on remote Stillhouse Lake. Though still the target of stalkers and Internet trolls who think she had something to do with her husband’s crimes, Gwen dares to think her kids can finally grow up in peace.

But just when she’s starting to feel at ease in her new identity, a body turns up in the lake—and threatening letters start arriving from an all-too-familiar address. Gwen Proctor must keep friends close and enemies at bay to avoid being exposed—or watch her kids fall victim to a killer who takes pleasure in tormenting her. One thing is certain: she’s learned how to fight evil. And she’ll never stop.

I've mentioned my fascination before of women who are unknowingly married to monstrous men. Much to my delight, Stillhouse Lake was about a woman who was married to a serial killer. It wasn't until a stranger accidentally crashed into her (off limits) garage that she found out the truth about her husband and their life together.

What I loved most about this book, though, had little to do with the plot.

I had such an emotional connection to the characters from the very beginning of Stillhouse Lake. Part of this was being able to identify with the main character as a mother, but there was also a lot of subtext going on about what it's like to be a woman in general. I wish I had some badass analytical skills to break it down for you, but that's not really how I roll.

I will say I didn't want to put this book down - even when the suspense was lacking. Rachel Caine is a phenomenal writer.

I was lucky enough to attend a Rachel Caine book signing/reading, and I chose Stillhouse Lake to be my first book by her because an adult thriller is a pretty safe bet with me. Now that I know how compelling her writing can be, genre won't matter. I will definitely seek out more books by her.

Stillhouse Lake is the first book in a series so I was a bit shocked by the ending. I wanted total resolution after going through hell with these characters. You can be certain I'll be reading book two.

If you are a fan of Rachel Caine, I would love to hear which one of her books I should pick up next.

7/10: Recommended Read

Recent Updates and Currently Reading | July 22

I've decided I'm no longer going to accept review copies or any requests for guest posts or giveaways. This may be a permanent change. I try hard to accept very few review books, and I think the time has come to say no to all of them. The frustrations that come along with blogging have been seeping into my reviews and my enjoyment of posting.

All I want to do here is recommend great books, get great recommendations, and get to know other readers. I'm looking forward to focusing all of my blogging time on that. 💗

Posted Last Week

Quick Reviews | Every Dead Thing and Gwendy's Button Box

Read Last Week

After hearing of George Romero's passing, I decided to spend a couple of days reading my copy of Dawn of the Dead. It had been a while since I'd experienced slow zombies. It was actually jarring to me which was a huge surprise because I have always had a love and a preference for the Romero zombies. I need to spend more time revisiting Romero's world.

I also read Entertaining Demons. I may do a quick review for that one soon. It turned out to be more about the demons and less about the paranormal activity.

Review Copies

This NetGalley request happened before my decision to go on a review copy hiatus. I told a couple of you last weekend I was trying to hold off on getting a copy of Artemis. Yeah, that lasted until Monday morning. 😂

Artemis by Andy Weir - I actually have no idea what this book is about! I'm not going to look either. All I can say about this book to you is that it is written by Andy Weir. That's pretty much all that's necessary if you ask me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Current Distractions

• The Exorcist is officially the scariest thing I have ever seen on TV. I'm only a handful of episodes into season 1, and it's terrifying.
• I have now finished season 2 of Game of Thrones so I'm still making my way through. Everyone I have ever known and loved is dead and burned. OK, not really, but folks are not lying about the death in this show.
• All of this TV watching does nothing for my reading progress, but it is great for crafting. I made a ton of progress on the blanket I'm crocheting for my mom. If I keep up this pace, I may have it done by her birthday in August even though I was planning it for Christmas.

So what about you? Let me know what you're reading (or watching) this week or leave me some links!

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This post is being shared as part of Book Date's It's Monday! What Are You Reading?, Tynga's Reviews' Stacking the Shelves, and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.