Month: May 2020

Blog Tour; Until Summer Comes Around- Glenn Rolfe

Love, loss, betrayal and the undead.

Publication date May 2020/ Publisher Flame Tree Press

GoodReads link

FINAL Until Summer comes BT Poster

Synopsis

When fifteen year old Rocky Zukas meets a mysterious dark-haired girl named November, his world is forever changed. The young couple falls under the spell of summer love, but not everyone approves. November’s brother, Gabriel, is the keeper of the family’s secret, and big brother is always watching, growing more sinister as his bloodlust gets the best of him. Directing his attention to Rocky’s family, Gabriel aims to make sure little sister knows who is in charge.
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Review

If you’ve been around my blog before you’ll know I read a ton of Flame Tree Press novels. This was my first by Glenn Rolfe, though I do have The Window lined up.
Usually Flame Tree Press is heavy on the horror, violence and gore, though they do have a chunk of Scifi/SFF I haven’t gotten into just yet.
Because of this I entered into Until Summer Comes Around with some preconceptions but this particular novel is a complete change of pace from what I’ve come to expect.

Set in the 80s, before I was born (88) but probably the time period I love to read most, Until Summer Comes Around tells the story of young teen Rocky and his first love, November the vampire. Side note- I adored that character name!

I described it on twitter as an adult version of Twilight in the 80s and I have to admit at first I struggled. This novel is tame compared to others published by FTP. Yes there is violence and a little gore but mostly its a really sweet story.
I rolled my eyes at the romance to start with and honestly thought I’d have to force my way through, but Rocky and his family were so endearing I actually found myself falling a little in love too.

I would have liked a little more of Gabriel the antagonist, his backstory felt lacking and as the only fear factor, whilst he was powerful, he could have been more.

As always I enjoyed the small town America setting and the nostalgic vibes of a time before overbearing technology. Overall the novel was a cute coming of age. Not what I expected but definitely a pleasant surprise.

Roxanne’s Reactions:

Many thanks to Anne Cater for hosting me on another Random Things Blog Tour

Mini Book Review; Little Creeping Things- Chelsea Ichaso

I’m so glad we’re in this together..

Page Count 352

 Publication date June 2020/ Publisher Sourcebooks

GoodReads link

 

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Synopsis

When she was a child, Cassidy Pratt accidentally started a fire that killed her neighbor. She’s pretty sure she didn’t mean to do it, and she’d give anything to forget that awful day. But her town’s bullies, particularly the cruel and beautiful Melody Davenport, have never let her live it down. In Melody’s eyes, Cassidy is a murderer and always will be.

Then Melody goes missing, and Cassidy thinks she may have information about what happened. She knows she should go to the cops, but she recently joked about how much she’d like to get rid of Melody. She even planned the perfect way to do it. And then she gets a chilling text from an unknown number: I’m so glad we’re in this together.

Now it’s up to Cassidy to figure out what’s really going on before the truth behind Melody’s disappearance sets the whole town ablaze.

********** Continue reading “Mini Book Review; Little Creeping Things- Chelsea Ichaso”

Book Review; The 10,000 Doors Of January- Alix E Harrow

EVERY STORY OPENS A DOOR

Page Count 385

 Publication date 2019/ Publisher Orbit

GoodReads link

 

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Synopsis

In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.

Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.

********** Continue reading “Book Review; The 10,000 Doors Of January- Alix E Harrow”

TWR Blog Tour Review; Harrow Lake – Kat Ellis

Welcome to Harrow Lake.

Someone’s expecting you.

Page Count 320

Publication date July 2020/ Publisher Penguin

GoodReads link

Synopsis

Lola Nox is the daughter of a celebrated horror filmmaker – she thinks nothing can scare her.
But when her father is brutally attacked in their New York apartment, she’s swiftly packed off to live with a grandmother she’s never met in Harrow Lake, the eerie town where her father’s most iconic horror movie was shot. The locals are weirdly obsessed with the film that put their town on the map – and then there are strange disappearances, which the police seem determined to explain away.
And there’s someone – or something – stalking her every move.
The more Lola discovers about the town, the more terrifying it becomes. Because Lola’s got secrets of her own. And if she can’t find a way out of Harrow Lake, they might just be the death of her . . .
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Continue reading “TWR Blog Tour Review; Harrow Lake – Kat Ellis”

Book Review; Secrets Of Strangers- Charity Norman

Five commuters, one cafe and the moment that changed everything…

 Publication date May 2020/ Publisher Allen & Unwin

GoodReads link

 

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Synopsis

A regular weekday morning veers drastically off-course for five strangers whose paths cross in a London café – their lives never to be the same again when an apparently crazed gunman holds them hostage. But there is more to the situation than first meets the eye and as the captives grapple with their own inner demons, the line between right and wrong starts to blur. Will the secrets they keep stop them from escaping with their lives?

********** Continue reading “Book Review; Secrets Of Strangers- Charity Norman”

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