2016 Horror Reading Challenge Wrap-Up

The 2016 Horror Challenge has finally come to an end. I’ve got the details for the Rafflecopter entry below, but first here’s how my personal challenge went.

I was aiming for the Horror Hound badge, which was 16+ books.

I read:109

That’s too many to even think about listing with their covers and or linking them up, but I’ll just do a quick test list of them.

The horror books that I read this year (from first to latest, and including short stories):

Ghost Camera by Darcy Coates, The Little Death by Dawn Buckner, Little Cuts by HMC, The Soul Collector by Glenn J. Soucy, Badwater by Mitch Sebourn, Z-Minus 1 by Perrin Briar, The History Major by Phillip Michael Cash, Night Terrors III by Theresa Dillon, The Moon in Your Eyes by Adrian Lilly, Straitjacket by Terry King, The Thing That Knocks by Duke Thompson, Awaken: A Vampire Horror Story by Zach Bohannon, Experiment 26 by David Gallie, Confessions of a Monster Hunter by Eric Guindon, Hell Holes: What Lurks Below by Donald G. Firesmith, The Screaming by David Graham, You Have Been Murdered and Other Stories by Andrew Kozma, Life after the Undead by Pembroke Sinclair, World War Moo by Michael Logan, Ellie Jordan: Ghost Trapper by J.L. Bryan, Hell House by Richard Matheson, The Turtle Boy by Kealan Patrick Burke, Anywhere but Here by Jason D. Morrow, The Thirteenth Child by David Dean, Nyctophobia by Christopher Fowler, The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone, Blackout by Tim Curran, Thirteen Chairs by Dave Shelton, Rushed by Brian Harmon, Nightmare Man by Alan Ryker, Shutter by Courtney Alameda, Carter & Lovecraft by Jonathan L. Howard, Dr. OZ of Z-Industries by Jay Wilson, The Binding by Nicholas Wolff, Floor Four by A. Lopez, Jr, The American Dream by Jonathan David Jackson, Night Show by Richard Laymon, Sick by Christa Wojo, In the After by Demitria Lunetta, The Zyne Project by Sara Brooke, Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake, Takers by Ann Swann, Reviver by Seth Patrick, Mercy by T. Fox Dunham, Suffer the Children by Craig DiLouie, H20 by Virginia Bergin, Sea Sick by Iain Rob Wright, Welcome to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz, The Ghost Files by Apryl Baker, Pure Evil by Jesse Bastide, The Spirit Chaser by Kat Mayor, A Walk on the Darkside by Corinna Underwood, Mother by Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross, Dwelling by Thomas S. Flowers, The Express by R.K. Howard, Mother’s Boys by Daniel I. Russell, The Mark of the Shadow Grove by Ross Smeltzer, The Demonists by Thomas E. Siegoski, As the Blade Cuts by Eric Kapitan, Child of the Dead by Sara Brooke, Fallow Ground by Michael James McFarland, 3 Gates of the Dead by Jonathan Ryan, One Who Saw by A.M. Burrage, Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey, Dead of Night by Jonathan Maberry, Zombie Park by Mark Cusco Ailes, The Dark Man by Desmond Doane, The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco, The White Night by Desmond Doane, Casualties by Dev Jarrett, The Haunting of Pitmon House by Michael Richan, Fury by Joan De La Haye, By Summer’s Last Twilight by Robert J. Stava, And Darkness Waits by C.K. Post, Chiral Mad 3 by Michael Bailey, Moving In by Ron Ripley, Guns, Gods & Robots by Brady Koch, Bloodwalker by L.X. Cain, Medicine for the Dead by Ambrose Ibsen, Mirror Image by Michael Scott, Below the Ice by Eric S. Brown, The Fireman by Joe Hill, Raven’s Peak by Lincoln Cole, Sage Courage by Heather McLoud, Children to the Slaughter by A.I. Nasser, Land of the Hoosier Dawn by Nick Younker, Monstrum by Ann Christopher, Ancestor by Scott Sigler, Seed Me by Konn Lavery, Veterans’ Affairs by Joseph Hirsch, Chills by Mary SanGiovanni, Through the Woods by Emily Carroll, The Mist by Stephen King, The Containment Epiphany by Vincent B. Moneymaker, The Belly of the Beast by Desmond Doane, Deadlight Jack by Mark Onspaugh, Cocktails at Seven, Apocalypse at Eight by Don Bassingthwaite, Infected by Gregg Luke, Shadow’s Embrace by A.I. Nasser, Blackwater Val by William Gorman, Malus Domestica by S.A. Hunt, The Feast of All Souls by Simon Bestwick, Sunfall: Season One by Tim Meyer, Skitter by Ezekiel Boone, Floating Staircase by Ronald Malfi, Sandman by William W. Johnstone, Sawfish by Rick Chesler, Sarah by Teri Polen, and finally First Contact by Kat Green.

My reading challenge next year is to actually read less books than I read this year.

2016 Horror Reading Challenge

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BADGES

Grab the badge that correlates to the final number of books you

read for the challenge this year. (Just save and upload to your blog.)

Running Scared badge: 1-5 books
Brave Reader badge: 6-10 books
Fearless badge: 11-15 books
Horror Hound badge: 16+ books
 

Book Spotlight! Europa: Awakenings by P.R. Garcia

Book Spotlight Banner for Europa by P.R. Garcia

Coolthulhu Presents A New Book Spotlight On:

Europa

Europa by PR Garcia for Book Spotlight

Synopsis: Europa is a nineteen year old human female who has never heard of the Oonocks. And although she’s heard of the legend of Atlantis, she’s never giving the story much thought.


Europa: Awakenings begins with Queen Medaron’s departure to the world above, to the land of air and land. She is with child and no Oonock child has survived past the age of ten for almost a thousand years. So King Enok and Queen Medaron make the difficult decision that their daughter, Europa, will be born on land as a human, never to know the truth of who she is. In utter despair and sorrow, King Enok watches his only love leave, for a life without him. Because of a war-wound he received from JeffRa at the battle of the Third City, he can no longer live in an air-environment ad must remain below, far from his family.


Twenty years have passed since Queen Medaron came above, and Europa is fast approaching her twentieth birthday. Her life has been fairly normal, as normal as any royal child’s can be. The secret of who she really is has been kept from her, but she does know that she is of royal birth, the next leader of her people, that her great-great-great grandparents had to flee their country which no longer exists and that their enemy’s descendants may still be hunting them. Therefore, she follows a strict set of security rules. Safe and happy, she lives on an isolated estate along the coast line in northern California. But her safety is an illusion, for their enemy has returned and is stalking the future queen, waiting for his chance to end her life.


The day after her birthday, Europa’s perfect word is destroyed when JeffRa assassinates her mother, thinking she was Europa. As she struggles to deal with her mother’s death, Europa’s world is turned upside down when she discovers a secret attic above her mother’s bedroom. There, she finds the picture of her parents hundreds of years old, a land deed which states it was her parents, not her great-grandparents, who bought and settled the land four hundred years before and other strange items. But most terrifying of all is her mother’s diary. Inside, Queen Medaron wrote that Europa would be born human and never know who she really was.


Europa desperately searches for the answers as to who she is, while her protector, Jeanip, tries to keep alive. It is a journey of many danger as JeffRa chases her, determined to personally end her life. Along the way, Europa will lose almost everyone and everything she loves. In this time of turmoil and danger, she must also find the queen inside her and a way to accept the deaths of so many Oonocks who willingly sacrifice their own lives so that she may live. She must learn and accept the true story of Atlantis and the Oonock race if she is to survive.

ASIN: B00GA96SNI

Publication Date: 2016-2-27

Pages: 488

Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy

Where to Buy: Amazon

Current Goodreads Rating: 4.86

Series Trailer: 

 

 


P.R. Garcia author of Europa Awakenings

P.R. Garcia is an independently published writer with 6 distinct works under her belt.

Her overall rating on Goodreads is: 4.58

Her Amazon page is here.

Her website is here.

 

 

Top Reviews from this book include:
” Europa Awakenings contains so much action and adventure, the suspense and pacing so intense, the book is unputdownable.”

” Extremely intense, has non-stop suspense, mystery, action, sci-fi, romance, and there’s twists at every turn. I was brought into it so deep; it was a struggle to stop reading and sleep.”

Freebie from Tor.Com

Click on the picture to be taken to the details for this freebie from Tor.com.

*I’m not affiliated with this giveaway in anyways. Just passing it on!!

 

Some of the Best from Tor.com: 2015: A Tor.Com Original

Giveaway: Adult Coloring Book Prize Pack

TipsonLifeandLove.com is having a rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win a prize pack of adult coloring books.

TOLL_Color_Pencils

Click here to be directed to the entry form.

 

As usual, I don’t gain anything from this. Just passing on giveaways that I’ve found and/or entered myself.

Ends 2/3/16 I believe, so I’d enter asap if you’re interested.

Book Review: Not Your Mother’s Goose by Topher Goggin (and Giveaway!)

(Giveaway Deets at the bottom!)

What’s it about?

A re-telling of the classic fairy-tale stories in ways adults can definitely appreciate. Just not kids. Do NOT read to kids.

What did I think of it?

A mixed bag of adult spins on classic fairy-tales, Not Your Mother’s Goose had me snorting just reading the introduction, so I had high hopes when I started reading it.

The stories ranged from mildly amusing to “Whatcha laughin’ about, mummy?” from the Snuglet as I cackled on the couch. My favorite has to be the short little article on Rapunzel’s first bikini wax, but Mr. Goggin has a couple winners in his re-tellings of Snow White and Bambi, as well as the short little “taken from the headlines” type brief bits scattered throughout the book. My favorite of those is the one about The Headless Horseman seeking a..uhm, well, I can’t reprint that.

There are potshots that are mostly hilarious at everyone from Gyneth Paltrow to the Oakland Raiders.

I won’t lie and say that every re-telling in the book was hilarious, or even funny (there were a couple stinkers), but I found myself at least smiling in amusement once or twice per page at a particular line if not at the overall story.

I’m only going to give two warnings about this book:

  1. Do not read it to your children. This is not a children’s book. Make sure your six year old doesn’t get her sneaky little hands on it either!
  2. Don’t read if you’re an easily offended feminist.

Side note: This book came at the perfect time for me today. Really needed a giggle, and Not Your Mother’s Goose definitely delivered.

Favorite Quotes (that are (mostly) safe for work!):

“I ended up having to go next door to borrow a weed-wacker.”  -Wax Specialist, Lonny Martin

“..spends his days annoying his fellow citizens, lying, and taking money out of other people’s pockets. Basically, he’s a U.S. Senator in a fez.”

PETA to Protest “Popping” of Weasels.

So, look like this might be just the type of thing you need for office-reading when you’re bored senseless?? A book to lighten up the lunchroom? Or just to read at home when you need a laugh??

NYMGgiveaway

The Winner is Karen Stewart !

An email has been sent.

Click here to find Not Your Mother’s Goose now on Amazon.com

Title: Not Your Mother’s Goose | Author: Topher Goggin (site) | Publisher: CRD Press | Publication Date: 2015-6-29 | Pages: 67 | ISBN: 099096440X | Genre: Humor | Language: English | Triggers: The destruction of your childhood fairy-tales | Rating: 4 out of 5 | Date Read: 2015-11-2 | Source: Received a copy free from author in exchange for an honest review.

Penguin Random House Giveaway: Passing it On

Saw this on my facebook, and thought I’d pass it along to all you lovelies. Just click the pic to be taken to the sweepstakes page.

prh-940x220-v2

Just in time for the holidays enter for a chance to win five Hardcover Classics beautifully illustrated by Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co. by November 30, 2015!

Anna Bond is best known as the creative director and artistic inspiration behind the worldwide stationery and gift brand Rifle Paper Co. Anna brings these classics to life for a whole new generation of readers through her colorful, whimsical artwork.

Three runner-up winners will receive the brand new illustrated edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, in celebration of its 150th anniversary. In addition, one Grand Prize winner will receive Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland plus The Puffin in Bloom Collection which includes Anne of Green GablesHeidiLittle Women, and A Little Princess!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 11:00 AM EST October 6, 2015 and 11:59PM EST November 30, 2015. Limit one entry per email address. Open to legal US residents who are 18 or older at time of entry. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. See Official Rules below for full details.

Not my giveaway. I’m in no way associated with it. I’m just passing it on to my fellow bookworms.

Reblogged: Banned Books Week Giveaway

Lookit what I found! Another Giveaway. This time for a banned book.

She’s a great blogger, and its a chance to get a free book, so click on the pic to go check it out!!

Source: Banned Books Week Giveaway

Lets Start October Off Right!

I have been looking forward to October since I started this blog. As someone who reviews science fiction and horrorthat’s only natural, right?

So, what do I have for you lovelies to start October off right?

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A GIVEAWAY!

PS Winn, an Indie author with over 30 books, including one I recently reviewed called Lies in Shadows (Great read!) has graciously agreed to give a copy of one of three of her ‘spooky’ stories away to the winner of the giveaway.

So, what stories are up for grabs?


               

(Just click the covers for more information!)

Click the Jackolantern to go to the RaffleCopter Entry!

Contest runs through Midnight October 4

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

A chance for free books is always a good thing. The rules are simple. Head on over to Sarah’s Bookshelf and enter, yourself! (Click the pic to go there automatically.)

Reblogged on WordPress.com

Source: BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Giveaway: 50 Best Books for your 5/6 year old(s)

ReadBrightly.com is having a giveaway until October 21st. It is their Best 50 Books for 5 and 6 year olds. Its absolutely free to enter (just takes your email address!) Go sign up, and pass on the message to anyone you know with young kids. Heck, pass it on to anyone you know in general! The books could be donated to classrooms/libraries if nothing else!

Click HERE  (or click the picture above) to be directed to the website to enter the raffle.