A Silent Bookworm: December 2021

Friday, December 31, 2021

Review: Oak Avenue

Oak Avenue by Brandi Reeds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an excellent end to the series!

Amazon Originals - Dark Corners Collection Book 7

View all my reviews

The Remedy by Adam Haslett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The story itself did not pull me in, but at the end I was suddenly reminded of 1984.

Amazon Originals - Dark Corners Collection Book 6

View all my reviews

Review: The Tangled Woods

The Tangled Woods by Emily Raboteau
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The "horror" of this story consists of current events/movements. None of the characters are likeable.

Amazon Originals - Dark Corners Collection Book 5

View all my reviews

Review: Miao Dao

Miao Dao by Joyce Carol Oates
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

With the name of the collection being Dark Corners and the first story being along the lines of horror, I anticipated that this would a collection of horror stories.

This story was more of a long, drawn out narrative about a stepfather trying to sexually abuse his step daughter with the insert of feral cats every other page. While the people who have experienced this might say that it is horror, I am finding that this collection is more along the lines of the dark places we go in our lives and in our thoughts rather than the typical horror books. I guess I was almost expecting some Stephen King type of twist rather than the quick, easy twist we got.

Overall, this story was not for me (even though it had cats).

Amazon Originals - Dark Corners Collection Book 4

View all my reviews

Review: There's a Giant Trapdoor Spider Under Your Bed

There's a Giant Trapdoor Spider Under Your Bed by Edgar Cantero
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Funny and insanely nerdy. Loved it!

Amazon Originals - Dark Corners Collection Book 3

View all my reviews

Review: The Sleep Tight Motel

The Sleep Tight Motel by Lisa Unger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was confusing at times, but it was definitely suspenseful. Not sure why I am suddenly reading all the Halloween-y stories in December, but it was good anyway. I really enjoy the "mind-game" horror rather than the "blood, gut, gore" horror.

Amazon Originals - Dark Corners Collection Book 2

View all my reviews

Review: Hannah-Beast

Hannah-Beast by Jennifer McMahon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Trigger warnings: bullying, suicide, murder

This story keeps you on the edge of your seat, but it was a tough one. I was blown away (in a good way), but I have no words. Stunned.

Amazon Originals - Dark Corners Collection Book 1

View all my reviews

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Review: Love the Way You Lie

Love the Way You Lie by Lisa Unger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As I was reading the final "episode," it seemed to become a love child of the IT movies and Asylum (2008). It was still a great ending, though.

Amazon Originals - All My Darkest Impulses Collection Book 4

View all my reviews

Review: Circling the Drain

Circling the Drain by Lisa Unger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

And the plot thickens! Really loving this series so far. I hope book 4 does not disappoint.

Amazon Originals - All My Darkest Impulses Collection Book 3

View all my reviews

Review: Fog Descending

Fog Descending by Lisa Unger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Second book pulls you in further. I'm getting It vibes. Friends from the past coming back together to face an evil something.

Amazon Originals - All My Darkest Impulses Collection Book 2

View all my reviews

Review: All My Darkest Impulses

All My Darkest Impulses by Lisa Unger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Starting out like a great Halloween read. Wish I had read this collection in October.

On a side note, everyone in this story seems to have or had black hair (except one person so far). I really hope that's going to be woven into the story.

Amazon Originals - All My Darkest Impulses Collection Book 1

View all my reviews

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Review: Holiday Ever After: One Snowy Night/Holiday Wishes/Mistletoe in Paradise

Holiday Ever After: One Snowy Night/Holiday Wishes/Mistletoe in Paradise by Jill Shalvis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I originally picked up the paperback copy of this book while shopping at a grocery store a week before Christmas. I NEVER buy books that way, but I was really looking for a good Christmas read (2021 has not been a good year) and the cover caught my eye. This book consists of 3 novellas.

The first book, One Snowy Night, grabs you from page 1. I was pulled in so much by Chapter 3 (page 27), that I also bought the book on Kindle so I could keep reading with the lights off.

The stories are all fast reads. I am going to have to look at mores works from this author. This is my first time reading anything by her, and I thoroughly enjoyed them. Romance reads are rare for me, so this was a delightful surprise.

View all my reviews

Monday, December 27, 2021

Review: 24 + 1 Christmas Tales: Butterfly Adventures in Santa's Secret City

24 + 1 Christmas Tales: Butterfly Adventures in Santa's Secret City by Alexander Ruth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a Kindle edition of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.

This story was cute. The chapters correspond to the dates in December leading up to Christmas, so this would be great as a bed time story for young children each night leading up to Christmas.

As an adult reading this, I really had a hard time keeping up with it each night as I wasn't getting getting into the story. I had a bout with COVID in the second half of November 2021 and I was really looking for something to help me get into the Christmas spirit. I had been really struggling with that this year for various reasons. This book did not help with that. In fact, I finished this story after Christmas.

View all my reviews

Friday, December 17, 2021

Review: Holiday Mischief with Stitch

Holiday Mischief with Stitch by Disney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Day 24

Great end to the calendar. I really want to go to Hawaii.

ISBN 13 for Advent Calendar itself - 978-1-80108-725-4

View all my reviews

Review: Christmas in Never Land

Christmas in Never Land by Disney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Day 23

Never Land's first Christmas.

ISBN 13 for Advent Calendar itself - 978-1-80108-725-4

View all my reviews

Review: Tiana's Winter Blues

Tiana's Winter Blues by Disney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Day 22

Makes me long for Christmas cooking smells.

ISBN 13 for Advent Calendar itself - 978-1-80108-725-4

View all my reviews

Review: Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions by Disney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Day 21

Really sweet story.

ISBN 13 for Advent Calendar itself - 978-1-80108-725-4

View all my reviews

Review: A Present for the Queen

A Present for the Queen by Disney
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Day 20

Fun story! Off with their heads!

ISBN 13 for Advent Calendar itself - 978-1-80108-725-4

View all my reviews

Review: Flik's Christmas Invention

Flik's Christmas Invention by Disney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Day 19

Not sure how I feel about this one.

ISBN 13 for Advent Calendar itself - 978-1-80108-725-4

View all my reviews

Review: A Meowy Christmas

A Meowy Christmas by Disney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Day 18

This one makes me want to give extra hugs and tuna to my cat.

ISBN 13 for Advent Calendar itself - 978-1-80108-725-4

View all my reviews

Review: Mater Saves Christmas

Mater Saves Christmas by Disney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Day 17

Loving the Santa Car design!

ISBN 13 for Advent Calendar itself - 978-1-80108-725-4

View all my reviews

Review: Snow Puppies

Snow Puppies by Disney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Day 16

Lot of Dalmatian puppies...

ISBN 13 for Advent Calendar itself - 978-1-80108-725-4

View all my reviews

Review: Pooh's Jingle Bells

Pooh's Jingle Bells by Disney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Day 15

Finally! It's a Pooh story. Always my favorite as a child.

Loved this one! I can hear the voices from the show while reading this.

ISBN 13 for Advent Calendar itself - 978-1-80108-725-4

View all my reviews

Friday, December 3, 2021

Review: Ariel's Christmas Under the Sea

Ariel's Christmas Under the Sea by Disney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Day 2

Ariel learns about Christmas

View all my reviews

Review: An Aristocat-ic Christmas

An Aristocat-ic Christmas by Disney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Day 1

Kitties... enough said.

View all my reviews