Week in Review #58

The Week in Review is where I combine Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post and It's Monday! What are you reading?  If you have never joined in on these meme's you can check them out by clicking on the meme and it will take you to the host blog.

It's cold and I am not happy!!! This is not fall weather this is winter weather and it's not suppose to happen yet!! We have a day next week were the low is 17. :( It's raining and cold and I can all ready feel the winter blues coming. :( I am done, is it spring yet.

Trying to think of anything newsworthy but don't really have anything. I have been watching the X-files because the dreary days seem fitting...lol.

Have a great week and happy reading!

What you might have missed on my blog

Review of Beastly Bones

Books I have added

• Of Hoaxes and Homicide - I really liked the first book in this series so can't wait to get to this new one!
• Juniper's Christmas - Looks like a cute middle grade Christmas book.

Books read last week

• Stalking Around the Christmas Tree - Love this cozy series! In this latest one the victim was named after one of my booktube friends she was so excited...lol.
• The September House - I wanted to like this more but it was just kind of meh, the ending was pretty cool, but I guessed two of the twisty parts pretty early on.
• The Improbable Tale of Baskerville Hall - A mystery involving a young Arthur Doyle, it was quirky and a little fantastical but fun. The author got permission from the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's estate to use him in a book which is cool.
• The International House of Dereliction - Slightly quirky, but cute not real spooky ghost story.
• The Clackity - An interesting spooky story and start of a series.
• The Bellwoods Game - A fun spooky story.

Currently reading

• IT - I have made it to 80% but to be honest I don't really care...lol. I am determined to make it through it though.
• The Curious Vanishing of Beatrice Willoughby - 48% into this one, it's quirky and a bit of a fantasy mystery. So far it's okay.
• Finch House - I am only 13% into it but so far I am liking it.

What might be up next

 Not sure.

How was your week? What did you get?

Two Bloggers One Series ~ Beastly Bones

 

I am so glad that Barb and I are reading this series, it's been a lot of fun. So after you see what I thought pop on over to Booker T's Farm and see what Barb thought. :)

I've found very little about private detective R. F. Jackaby to be standard in the time I've known him. Working as his assistant tends to call for a somewhat flexible relationship with reality . . .

In 1892, New Fiddleham, New England, things are never quite what they seem, especially when Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, R. F. Jackaby, are called upon to investigate the supernatural. First, members of a particularly vicious species of shape-shifters disguise themselves as a litter of kittens. A day later, their owner is found murdered, with a single mysterious puncture wound to her neck. Then, in nearby Gad's Valley, dinosaur bones from a recent dig go missing, and an unidentifiable beast attacks animals and people, leaving their mangled bodies behind. Policeman Charlie Cane, exiled from New Fiddleham to the valley, calls on Abigail for help, and soon Abigail and Jackaby are on the hunt for a thief, a monster, and a murderer.

The Jackaby series is so much fun! Rook is still getting use to the unusual things that she is a part of on a daily basis with her eccentric employer Jackaby. 

First they get called in because of a shapeshifter that isn't like the normal ones you hear about this one turns into what ever it eats. Right now they are cute cuddly kittens but later on things with one of these cute kittens turn into something a lot different...lol.

Later they end up were some unidentified beast attacks were happening and running into one of Jackaby's acquaintances who likes odd and unusual animals. They meet a guy who found some unusual dinosaurs bones which end up taking a very strange turn of events.

I really think saying to much more would spoil the fun so I am not saying anything more. I really like the Rook and Jackaby. Jackaby cracks me up because he just doesn't do things the conventional way and says things without thinking. It was cute him trying to give Rook advice on Charlie, he was trying to be helpful in his own way...lol. 

If you like urban fantasy and eccentric characters you should give this a try!

4.5 stars

Week in Review #57

The Week in Review is where I combine Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post and It's Monday! What are you reading?  If you have never joined in on these meme's you can check them out by clicking on the meme and it will take you to the host blog.

So this was a busy week! My 80 year old friend took me to Silver Dollar City as it's the last year for the rollercoaster called Fire in the Hole, sort of sad as it's been there since the 1970s but it's not as cool as the new ones they have, though it is in the dark! I don't like rollercoasters but she talked me into riding it once, she road it twice. I am half the age of this lady but a lot bigger than her but goodness she wore me out! I couldn't hardly walk the next day!

If you want to see some footage from Silver Dollar City, on my weekly reading vlog that is up on my Youtube channel I do have a section on it with lots of clips. :) Just check out:

https://youtu.be/gBHeIzbfrwQ?si=cDMa1Rb0VdGfsrVy There were pumpkins everywhere! :)

Have a great week and happy reading!

What you might have missed on my blog

Waiting on Wednesday - Two different books

Books I have added

Might have went a little overboard...lol.

• The Holy Terrors - New paranormal mystery series and I really like this author so I am curious.
• Rumor of Evil - Girl accused of witchcraft, then she is killed. Detectives investigate. Sounds good.
• Crime and Parchment - New series about a rare books librarian. :)
• That's Not My Name - YA thriller about a girl with no memory and a guy who picks her saying he is her father, but is he?
• Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Graphic Novel - I love this series and now I can read it as a graphic novel!

Books read last week

• The Dollhouse Murders - I enjoyed this ghost story! This was my first time trying this author.
• Slime Doesn't Pay! - This was a dud, I wasn't impressed. It was a longer book but should have been condensed into Goosebump size and might have been better.
• Deadly Deep - Catches me up on the Dread Wood series and it was fun.
• Crandall's Castle - A decent ghost story.
• Christina's Ghost - The shortest one from this author I tried and the best. This had some nice spooky ghost moments. :)
• Extra Normal - This was a cute one with a normal girl whose siblings are are all paranormal.

Currently reading

• IT - I will admit I think my steam is running out on this one, I don't think it's that great and I am bored but I am 75% into it so I keep going!
• The September House - This is kind of boring too. I think I am coming to terms with the fact that I don't like most horror anymore. I like some slashers and then killer animals or creature books and that is about it. That is okay, taste change. :)
• The Curious Vanishing of Beatrice Willoughby - I am 15% into this one and it's kind of strange but I am liking it so far.
• Stalking Around the Christmas Tree - I love this series! The audiobooks are really good!
• The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall - I have just started it so no thoughts.

What might be up next

 Not a clue but I have a lot of books on libby I need to try and get too. :)

How was your week? What did you get?

Waiting on Wednesday ~ Two different books

 

Waiting on Wednesday has been around for a while and I know that it was taken over by Wishful Endings and called Can't wait Wednesday so will link to her.

Middle Grade

Yash is the best athlete at Robinette Middle School. So good, in fact, that's he's already been playing on the high school’s JV sports teams. Imagine his shock when he learns that his JV practices have kept him from earning a state-mandated credit for eighth-grade PE. To graduate, he has to take Physical Education Equivalency—PEE—which is also known as "Slugfest," in summer school.

At Slugfest, Yash meets the other students. Kaden is an academic superstar who's physically hopeless. Twins Sarah and Stuart are too busy trying to kill each other to actually pay attention in class. Jesse is a notorious prankster. Arabella protests just about everything—including mandatory PE. And Cleo is a natural athlete who has sworn off sports. Then there’s their “coach,” Mrs. Tamara Finnerty, a retired teacher whose idea of physical education seems to have frozen in preschool. But Yash doesn't care—as long as he gets the credit. Too bad one of his fellow “slugs” is determined to blow the lid off a scandal that could make all their time in summer school a waste. And if that weren't bad enough, Yash is in danger of losing his star spot on the JV football team.

So Yash recruits his fellow PE rejects to train with him. Spending the summer with the most hapless crew in school can really surprise a person. And their teacher might be hiding the biggest surprise yet…

Not read this author but heard good things about him and this one sounds fun. Comes out on January 9th from Blazer and Bray.

Adult

Holly and Trixie meet a strange new dog in Wagtail that leads them right into murder. . . .

Holly Miller is looking forward to finally taking a few days to relax. Enjoying an early morning on her terrace, she spots an unfamiliar reddish-gold pooch across the lake. She’s intrigued, but never expects to find the very same dog smiling at her in bed when she wakes up the next morning! Trixie and Twinkletoes appear to accept this cute stranger, but Holly doesn’t know to whom he belongs.

Oma thinks the dog looks familiar, and it turns out the wayward pooch belongs to Holly’s cousin Josh. Holly knew her cousin well as a child, but she hasn’t seen him in over a decade. He’s camping with his girlfriend across the lake. Holly returns the cute dog to Josh’s campsite twice, but the second time, Josh and his girlfriend are nowhere to be found. Instead, a guest of the Sugar Maple Inn is dead in their tent. Now it's up to Holly and Trixie to suss out a sneaky killer.

This is the next book in one of my favorite cozy mystery series and can't wait to read it! Comes out January 2nd from Berkley.

Week in Review #56

The Week in Review is where I combine Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post and It's Monday! What are you reading?  If you have never joined in on these meme's you can check them out by clicking on the meme and it will take you to the host blog.

The week was pretty decent and not a lot happened. The weather was lovely, but it has took a turn and the weekend has been cold. I think it's still to early in Fall to have lows in the 30s!

Since I listened the short story The Birds last weekend I watched the movie version which was interesting, it had been a while since I had seen it so I had forgotten a lot of it. Then Freevee got CHiPs and I loved that tv show (I will not recognize the movie they made as I haven't watched it nor will I) Nothing beats the actual show! So have been watching it a lot. :)

What you might have missed on my blog

Review of Scritch Scratch

Review of It Found Us

Books I have added

 Nothing!! :)

Books read last week

• All Hallows - This was okay. It has some things I don't care to read about in it and I don't think it really gave me any of the lore around what was happening. Like I know the woods were haunted by why and when the Cunning Man and those creepy kids were running around...well why?
• There's No Way I'd Die First - I think Teens would like this but I was not impressed. It was okay but a lot of things didn't make sense and some of the soapbox type things were annoying.
• Beastly Bones - This was a lot of fun! Jackaby cracks me up!
• Glassheart - I good end to a trilogy! Look at me starting and finishing a series in the same year! Woot woot! :)
• The Zombie Chasers - This was a dud, I didn't like the girl in this story she was rude and annoying. It was the first book in a series but I will not continue.
• The Spaces in Between - The second book in the Exit 13 series and catches me up on it and I really enjoyed it.
• Bite Risk - Start of a new series and a fun werewolf book.

Currently reading

• IT - I am happy to report that I am on page 805 of 1138, so 70% into it. I can't say that I am loving it but it's okay.
• Slime Doesn't Pay! - Not as good as I was hoping. I mean for a book about sliming a kid I am 54% into it and no slime yet!!! Just a super annoying kid. This could have been reduced down to a normal goosebumps type book instead of the longer novel that it is.
• Deadly Deep - Fourth and the latest book out in the Dread Wood series and I am really enjoying it. I just recently started this series and already caught up to the latest so that should let you know I like it. :)
• Witches Get Stuff Done - I haven't been reading on this one and I need too. I am liking it fine, just liking my middle grade spookies more and it's ebook not audio...lol.

What might be up next

• Not the Witch You Wed - I would like to get to one other witchy romance before the month is over so maybe I can get started on this one next week.
• The Dollhouse Murder - I have been wanting to try this author and this sounds fun.

How was your week? What did you get?

Two Bloggers One Book ~ Scritch Scratch

 

I love Lindsay Currie as might be able to tell since the last book I posted about on here was her newest one. On my Youtube channel I am hosting a Hallowtween readathon where you read all kinds of spooky kids books. I picked this book for the group read and so Barb and I read this one too. It's reread for me and my favorite, go check out what Barb thought at Booker T's Farm.

A ghost story about a malevolent spirit, an unlucky girl, and a haunting mystery that will tie the two together.

Claire has absolutely no interest in the paranormal. She’s a scientist, which is why she can’t think of anything worse than having to help out her dad on one of his ghost-themed Chicago bus tours. She thinks she’s made it through when she sees a boy with a sad face and dark eyes at the back of the bus. There’s something off about his presence, especially because when she checks at the end of the tour…he’s gone.

Claire tries to brush it off, she must be imagining things, letting her dad’s ghost stories get the best of her. But then the scratching starts. Voices whisper to her in the dark. The number 396 appears everywhere she turns. And the boy with the dark eyes starts following her.

Claire is being haunted. The boy from the bus wants something...and Claire needs to find out what before it’s too late.

This is my favorite book by Lindsay Currie, though It Found Us is a very close second. 

Claire is a science minded girl and doesn't believe in ghost and is embarrassed by the fact that her father runs a ghost tour bus. When her father needs help on a tour night because one of his workers is sick, she ends up having to help him. 

She had never really thought much about the places that are supposed to be haunted or the sad history behind them until she goes on this tour. Then she sees a young boy on the bus and things get strange as he doesn't act like everyone else and she gets spooked. 

Then some strange noises start happening at home and the next morning there is water in her dresser drawer. Claire is spooked. Especially when more frightening things start to happen. She would like to talk to her best friend, but she has a new friend and Claire is feeling left out. She automatically doesn't like the new friend without giving her a real chance because she feels like she is being replaced. So she tells her brother about what is going on and he decides to help her.

Soon though the ghost follows her to school where she is confronted by her friend for the way she has been acting and her friend gets a little taste of the ghost and wants to help Claire as well, along with the new friend. 

They try and figure out who the boy is and what he wants with Claire and if you like a good ghost story that gives you some sad but interesting history then you will enjoy this book. 

I really liked Claire and the relationship with her brother and how things workout with her friend. 

This is a great book for this time of year!

5 stars

Review of It Found Us by Lindsay Currie

 

Twelve-year-old Hazel Woods has always had an unusual knack for sleuthing. Some may call it snooping, but all she really wants is to solve mysteries around town. So, when she not-so-accidentally overhears her brother Den planning to sneak into the cemetery at night for an epic game of hide-and-seek, she decides to secretly tag along. This seems like the perfect opportunity to investigate the claims that the cemetery is haunted.

But the moment the game ends, Hazel realizes something is very, very wrong. From her hiding spot in the bushes, she overhears that her brother’s best friend, Everett, is missing. Everyone else was found by the seeker but there’s no sign of Everett anywhere. It’s as if he just . . . vanished

Hazel and Den are determined to find Everett before it’s too late. But as they begin to unravel the terrifying clues that started appearing since that night in the graveyard–eerie whispers that sound like someone counting, the intermittent smell of smoke, and the cold, lost presence that follows them everywhere, she’s not sure what they are dealing with. But Everett needs more than search parties and scent-tracking dogs to find him, especially if his disappearance is tied to the history of the cemetery, and the lost, century-old spirits that might still be trapped there.

I am a huge fan of Lindsay Currie so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one! I was saving it for spooky season but I really wanted to dive in earlier. 

Hazel loves being what she thinks is a detective but what others might call a snoop and when she listens in on her brothers phone call with his friend and learns he is going to sneak out she follows. 

They end up at the graveyard where Den and his friends are going to play hide and seek except something happens while they are there a freak storm, some eerie yowling, a scream and Den's friend Everett is gone. 

Hazel and Den don't want to leave looking for Everett up to the adults so they decide to do some investigating, even though they are told to stay home. They sneak back to the graveyard were another spooky storm happens and they see a very spooky looking kid with no eyes and it's mouth sewn shut, they hightail it home but the ghost will not be deterred and follows them home. 

Now things are getting really scary and Hazel's friend Maggie gets in on things and they start trying to figure out who the ghost is and what he wants and why it took Everett. 

This was a great ghost story with lots of spooky elements. I love how the author uses a tragic part of history and weaves a ghostly tale around it so that I learned about a part of history that I didn't know about. I was so curious about the elephants in the graveyard and love that the authors tells you about things at the end in the authors note. I even found a non-fiction book about what happened in that town and I am curious to give it a try. 

I think my only negative thing about this book is the cover. I just think it's to spooky for a middle grade book. It will creep out most adults! Other than that it's another great book by the author! Still not my favorite but probably my second favorite. :) 

5 stars