Early Reader Bedtime Story: The Bookstore Ghost by Barbara Maitland and Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott

Read for Children's Books/ Bedtime Story/ Borrowed Books

Synopsis: "Mr. Brown sells ghost books in his bookstore. But mice are scaring away the customers! Mr. Brown tells his cat to catch the mice, but she has other plans. After all, a ghost bookstore should be scary. Of course, it will be even more scary when it has its own ghost . . ."

My Review: This is a cute little book, perfect for Halloween but not too spooky for young readers. It is a simple story with lots of repetition and easy words for those young readers just starting to read on their own. I like the way the characters all find a way to work together so everyone is happy. It was fun, it was silly and it was a great book for October reading.

My Rating: This was a great book, not too scary but just a touch of spooky for the season.  I give it a rating of Three Paws!

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

 

Review of Blood Countess by Lana Popović

 

Read for: Borrowed Books/ Audio Book/ Anticipated Release

Synopsis: "A historical YA horror novel based on the infamous real-life inspiration for Countess Dracula

In 16th century Hungary, Anna Darvulia has just begun working as a scullery maid for the young and glamorous Countess Elizabeth Báthory. When Elizabeth takes a liking to Anna, she’s vaulted to the dream role of chambermaid, a far cry from the filthy servants’ quarters below. She receives wages generous enough to provide for her family, and the Countess begins to groom Anna as her friend and confidante. It’s not long before Anna falls completely under the Countess’s spell—and the Countess takes full advantage. Isolated from her former friends, family, and fiancé, Anna realizes she’s not a friend but a prisoner of the increasingly cruel Elizabeth. Then come the murders, and Anna knows it’s only a matter of time before the Blood Countess turns on her, too."

My Review: This book instantly caught my attention when it came out earlier this year, but it was definitely a book that needed to be read in October. I listened to the audio book from the library and did enjoy the narration. It has been years since I last read Dracula but I was expecting something a little more closely related but this isn't really a retelling, more of inspired by Dracula. With that said, I really enjoyed the path this book took, it started off fine enough but you get this little warning bell going off in the background. Things progressively darker and more twisted. For how gruesome and dark this book got, I was a little disappointed in the conclusion, it felt like the final punch was pulled. I am curious as to what the series will hold though and will probably pick up the next book from the library once it comes out.

My Rating: This was definitely the dark and twisted book I was looking for in October.  I did feel a little cheated with the conclusion but since I believe it is based on a real person, maybe it was done for historical reasons.  I am not 100% sure on that but it didn't quite go all the way  for me.  I still really enjoyed it and give it a rating of Four Paws!

Blog Tour: Review of A Golden Fury by Samantha Cohoe

Read for: Requested Review/ Netgalley/ Anticipated Release/ Tour

Synopsis: "Thea Hope longs to be an alchemist out of the shadow of her famous mother. The two of them are close to creating the legendary Philosopher’s Stone—whose properties include immortality and can turn any metal into gold—but just when the promise of the Stone’s riches is in their grasp, Thea’s mother destroys the Stone in a sudden fit of violent madness.

While combing through her mother’s notes, Thea learns that there’s a curse on the Stone that causes anyone who tries to make it to lose their sanity. With the threat of the French Revolution looming, Thea is sent to Oxford for her safety, to live with the father who doesn’t know she exists.

But in Oxford, there are alchemists after the Stone who don’t believe Thea’s warning about the curse—instead, they’ll stop at nothing to steal Thea’s knowledge of how to create the Stone. But Thea can only run for so long, and soon she will have to choose: create the Stone and sacrifice her sanity, or let the people she loves die."

My Review: I kept seeing this book everywhere and it kept pulling me in with the synopsis. I have tried books with alchemy in them in the past and most have not gone well but I was really intrigued with this one, so I gave it a shot. At first it seemed like it was going to be your average Fantasy-Historical Fiction YA with a lot of the same tropes you always see, and I almost gave up on it. I hung in there and it was so worth it. About half way through the story really made a turn for the dark and creepy and I was so hooked! It gave deliciously dark and gothic vibes as the book progressed. It had some really great twists and just when you start to think you know what is going to happen, something changes. It was quite the right and I am glad I stuck it out.

My Rating: I like how this book threw me off a bit, it started out so standard and like so many other YA books, beautiful & intelligent girl who thinks she is average, two boys vying for attention, inattentive parents, etc.  but we ended up getting so much more from it.  I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag!

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley from the publisher. The above is my honest review and opinion.

Samantha Cohoe writes historically-inspired young adult fantasy. She was raised in San Luis Obispo, California, where she enjoyed an idyllic childhood of beach trips, omnivorous reading, and writing stories brimming with adverbs. She currently lives in Denver with her family and divides her time among teaching Latin, mothering, writing, reading, and deleting adverbs. A Golden Fury is her debut novel.

You can find out more on Samantha's Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads Page and Website

And check out Wednesday Books Twitter and Instagram for News and New Releases

A Golden Fury is being released on October 13th but you can pre-order your own copy now in print or digital format from any of the places listed HERE or you can request it at your local library or bookstore.

 

Monday Reading List

  It is Monday again, and it is time to update with what I read last week, what I am currently reading and what to look forward to next week.

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

I Needed a Viking by Alpha Holden

 Books Finished Last Week:

Reviews will be posted at a later date

Tooth & Claw

The Bookstore Ghost

A Golden Fury

Gnomes

Blood Countess

Comfort Food

On Borrowed Time

Drac & Frank A Happy Little Story

Currently Reading:

You Can't F*ck Up Your Kids by Lindsay Powers - Print - on page 98 of 320

Pages Read/ Time Listened
761:56 Hours Listened (27:12 listened this week)
23,675 Pages Read (706 This week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently: TBR
The Eyes of Tamburah (gift)
The Wolf in the Whale
~~~~~~~~~~March Birthday Waiver Books ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Rain Dragon Rescue
The Order of the Unicorn
All the Wandering Light
Life on the Leash
Phoenix Unbound
You Can't F*ck Up Your Kids  (gift)
Mary Shelley Monster Hunter Vol. 1
The Caged Queen
The Mum Who'd Had Enough
The Voyage to Magical North
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End Birthday Waiver~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Scavenge the Stars
Beefcakes
Hades & Persephone
Dark Skies
No Country for Old Gnomes (gift)
About That Kiss
The Girl and the Stars
A Choir of Lies
Loving Cara
Girl of Fire & Thorns (gift)
Murder Past Due
Fury of a Phoenix
Homicide in Hardcover (gift)
Unravel the Dusk
Ruthless Gods

A Touch of Stone and Snow (gift)

Tooth and Claw - READ

Ember and the Ice Dragons

Serpent & Dove

Midnight Sun

Desdemona and the Deep

Blood & Honey

Rhett's Make Believe Marriage

On the Hunt

Scrooged

Tis the Season

Every Dog Has His Day

An Almost Perfect Christmas

The Christmas Quilt

Gnomes - READ

Captive Heart

Sweet Little Lies

Sword of the Six

Comfort Food - READ

Sacrificed to the Dragon

Guenevere Queen of the Summer Country

Knight of the Sacred Lake

The Unicorn War

Lady of Light and Shadows

Anxious People

Piranesi

When it's Right

Her Lucky Cowboy

On Borrowed Time - READ

Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen

Holiday Murder

The Forgotten Kingdom

The Rules of Enchantment (gift)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This last week was a great reading week for me.  I have really been enjoying my slightly darker more gothic and mystery based reading selection.  I have been breaking up the dark stuff with a bit of romance and some holiday books which has been a good break so things don't get so dark.  

I am also super proud of myself for only picking up 4 new books this week. One I have already read! I had managed to walk into Barnes & Noble and walked out with only 1 book for myself! This is a huge accomplishment for me! 

Now I am supposed to be on vacation this week but of course I am stuck in the office off and on all week. But in between work I plan on reading a ton! My goal is to read at least 6 books and have 3 of those be requested reviews and the other 3 be books off my recently added list.