Reading Project | Nancy Drew

January 2, 2021January 2, 2021 DeAnneLeave a comment

Hey everyone! You may not know this about me, but for the last couple years I have been working on completing my Nancy Drew collection. Nancy Drew is one of my nostalgic childhood series which I will never tire of reading not just because I enjoy the mysteries and characters, but because of the stage of my life at which I originally read them.

A note – Nancy Drew is definitely a product of its time and if examined closely definitely has problematic elements when compared to today’s standards. A number of the stories have actually been modified from their original versions to remove some content that was inappropriate (I can’t give specific instances as I don’t have that information handy, but I know the info is out there). It’s still a series that holds a place in my heart and I’m ok with that, I can still read them and love them while acknowledging that fact.

Ok, now that we’ve got that out of the way, I’m going to give you a very quick glimpse of my Nancy Drew shelves. They are messy and out of order, so no judgement please, part of going through them will be actually putting them in some semblance of order (and removing all those stickers).

Those books are triple stacked. To be fair I need an entire bookcase devoted to Nancy Drew, but space is limited where I am, so we work with it. There are almost 300 Nancy Drew books there, with 175 original and extended mysteries, plus over 100 Nancy Drew files books (separate series). I have slowly been collecting them through second hand sellers (shoutout to Thriftbooks.com) and have finally collected everything I wanted to. I have everything in the original line, and most of the Files (I stopped a bit past 100 because I didn’t like how much they were changing the characters etc at that point).

Story time – I originally read these books at a stage in my life where I had read everything considered suitable for my age, but was still too young to be allowed to read more adult books (it’s a long story that I don’t need to go into, but it was a frustrating time for me because I was reading and reaching for books outside of my age group, but then being told I couldn’t). My mom, seeing my frustration, suggested I check out the Nancy Drew books. She probably figured they would keep me busy for a long time, but I devoured the original 56 books in the matter of a few months – which my library thankfully had all of. From there I read as many of the ‘extended originals’ and Files that my library had. Occasionally my parents were able to buy me one here and there to add to my small collection – I was fully hooked. There was something about the mysteries, about Nancy and about the overall adventures that just always proved an enjoyable read. I’ve been collecting them here and there for years and I can’t tell you how happy it made me when I completed what I wanted to collect.

Now on to the challenge – there are definitely some of them that I never got to read, whether because my library didn’t have them or because we could afford or find them. Now that I have them all I definitely feel a reread/read is in order. Don’t get worried, I’m not expecting to get through all of them in 2021 – but I’d like to at least read a couple a month. If it doesn’t happen that’s ok, but I think it would be nice to slowly make my way through the series. I will mention which ones I read in monthly wrap ups if I do them, but I’m probably not going to actually do full on reviews.

I did start a reread not too long ago, so I’m starting where I left off with that – which is #12 The Message in the Hollow Oak. Right now I’m just going to concentrate on the original line of mysteries and not really read from the Files (that will be later haha).

Wish me luck and happy reading!

Review | The Last Final Girl by Stephen Graham Jones

January 1, 2021January 1, 2021 DeAnne2 Comments

Life in a slasher film is easy. You just have to know when to die.

Aerial View: A suburban town in Texas. Everyone’s got an automatic garage door opener. All the kids jump off a perilous cliff into a shallow river as a rite of passage. The sheriff is a local celebrity. You know this town. You’re from this town.

Zoom In: Homecoming princess, Lindsay. She’s just barely escaped death at the hands of a brutal, sadistic murderer in a Michael Jackson mask. Up on the cliff, she was rescued by a horse and bravely defeated the killer, alone, bra-less. Her story is already a legend. She’s this town’s heroic final girl, their virgin angel.

Monster Vision: Halloween masks floating down that same river the kids jump into. But just as one slaughter is not enough for Billie Jean, our masked killer, one victory is not enough for Lindsay. Her high school is full of final girls, and she’s not the only one who knows the rules of the game.

When Lindsay chooses a host of virgins, misfits, and former final girls to replace the slaughtered members of her original homecoming court, it’s not just a fight for survival-it’s a fight to become The Last Final Girl.

After reading a couple of Stephen Graham Jones’ books and short stories in the past, I have been wanting to pick up more of his backlist. The premise of this one really intrigued me so I thought it would give it a shot. The story and plot itself was interesting and I certainly wasn’t expecting some of the plot twists – but the way it’s formatted really hampered my reading experience. I understand the intent behind it, it’s written like a script in a way where you are constantly changing perspective and scene and they blend into each other – but it made the book harder to read for me. It’s a really cool concept but the lack of chapters and constant shifts did bring down my enjoyment a bit.

Happy reading!

Review | I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo

December 31, 2020December 31, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

Desi Lee believes anything is possible if you have a plan. That’s how she became student body president. Varsity soccer star. And it’s how she’ll get into Stanford. But—she’s never had a boyfriend. In fact, she’s a disaster in romance, a clumsy, stammering humiliation magnet whose botched attempts at flirting have become legendary with her friends. So when the hottest human specimen to have ever lived walks into her life one day, Desi decides to tackle her flirting failures with the same zest she’s applied to everything else in her life. She finds guidance in the Korean dramas her father has been obsessively watching for years—where the hapless heroine always seems to end up in the arms of her true love by episode ten. It’s a simple formula, and Desi is a quick study. Armed with her “K Drama Steps to True Love,” Desi goes after the moody, elusive artist Luca Drakos—and boat rescues, love triangles, and staged car crashes ensue. But when the fun and games turn to true feels, Desi finds out that real love is about way more than just drama.

I have been wanting to pick this one up for a long time, so it’s another instance of kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. I really enjoyed one of Maurene Goo’s other books, so am glad I finally got to this one since it was just a wonderful read. Sure there were parts of it where it was a tad predictable but I absolutely loved all the K-drama references and the nods to Korean culture. I can’t say the route Desi took was appropriate and it was pretty out there – but it made the read fun and hilarious. This was great for a light and fun read and I’m so happy I finally got to it.

Happy reading!

Blog Tour | Wrong Alibi by Christina Dodd | Review

December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd delivers an all-new thriller, featuring a bold and brash female protagonist.

WRONG JOB
Eighteen-year-old Evelyn Jones lands a job in small-town Alaska, working for a man in his isolated mountain home. But her bright hopes for the future are shattered when Donald White disappears, leaving her to face charges of theft, embezzlement—and a brutal double murder. Her protestations of innocence count for nothing. Convicted, she faces life in prison…until fate sends her on the run.

WRONG NAME
Evie’s escape leaves her scarred and in hiding, isolated from her family, working under an alias at a wilderness camp. Bent on justice, intent on recovering her life, she searches for the killer who slaughters without remorse.

WRONG ALIBI
At last, the day comes. Donald White has returned. Evie emerges from hiding; the fugitive becomes the hunter. But in her mind, she hears the whisper of other forces at work. Now Evelyn must untangle the threads of evidence before she’s once again found with blood on her hands: the blood of her own family?

I did not expect this book to fly by as fast as it did and was surprised by how fast it seemed to go. This is my first experience with Dodd’s writing but I was pulled in by the writing and the way it flew by. I did feel like it could have been honed a bit as sometimes it did seem that some things weren’t necessary, or were affecting the other aspects of the story in ways they didn’t need to, but overall it was a really enjoyable read with vibrant characters. I look forward to picking up some of Dodd’s other books in the future when looking for a good mystery.

New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd writes “edge-of-the-seat suspense” (Iris Johansen) with “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (ALA Booklist). Her fifty-eight books have been called “scary, sexy, and smartly written” by Booklist and, much to her mother’s delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list at www.christinadodd.com.

Happy reading!

Review | The Mystery of the Moon Tower (The Pathfinders Society)

December 29, 2020December 29, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

Viking has bought The Young Pathfinders, a middle-grade graphic novel series by Francesco Sedita and Prescott Seraydarian. The book will be illustrated by Steve Hamaker. The Young Pathfinders is an adventure story featuring a diverse group of kids thrown together in a summer camp project. Researching their town’s history leads to a mysterious, abandoned castle that was once home to an eccentric inventor, and may still be home to great treasure.

I had to pick this one up when I read the premise and thought it would be a fun read – I wasn’t wrong. I will definitely be picking up other volumes as this was just a joy to read. A fun, puzzle solving mystery with a group of new friends. The art style is fun and vibrant, and the story flows super fast. I can’t wait to see what else they find on their adventures.

Happy reading!

Review | Misfit City Vol 2 by Kirsten Smith

December 28, 2020December 28, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

Wilder and her friends continue their adventures, exploring the secrets of their sleepy hometown.

Wilder, Macy, Dot, Karma and Ed continue their hunt for notorious pirate Black Mary’s secret treasure, and uncover their sleepy town’s hidden secrets. With tensions running high, and the smell of the sea (and unclaimed treasure) fresh on the breeze, the girls will have to work together to keep clear of the Denbys and Horace Shipp, not to mention Wilder’s increasingly suspicious sheriff mom, to get out of this without walking the plank!

I’ve been wanting to pick up the second volume of Misfit City for a while now and finally was able to – then made sure to devour it in one setting. Being a great lover of The Goonies I instantly give points to anything that references it and this one for sure does that. Sure, it plays on a lot of the same themes and tropes, but it was just a fun time. I loved the dive into Black Mary’s story that happened in this one and how the story wrapped up especially. There were some instances where I felt like some of the characters were hard to tell apart, so it might have been nice to have a slightly smaller group, or have more unique traits to them, but that didn’t decrease my enjoyment in the story as they had their adventure and discovered the truth.

Happy reading!

Review | When Sharks Attack with Kindness by Andrés J. Colmenares

December 25, 2020December 25, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

Cute, clever, and comically ingenious, Andrés Colmenares’ popular shark comics are a sweet, sincere tonic for these anxious, troubled times

This hardcover collection features the cute, uplifting and ingenious aquatic cartoons of Andrés Colmenares, the creator of Wawawiwa Comics, followed by millions of fans around the globe. While sharks are one of the ocean’s deadliest predators, these sharks can smell insecurity, doubt, and gloom, and are quick to strike — with kindness, cuteness, and positivity!

After reading a number of the short form comic books that have come out in the last year, I was really excited to pick this one up, especially after reading the synopsis and seeing the art style. This would be the perfect book to flip through if you’re needing a quick laugh, smile or pick me up. I loved all the scenarios in this book and the little snippets of friendships and life between the different creatures features (one of my favorites involved penguins, but there were so many good ones!). I especially loved the continuing thread of the main shark and his fish friend as they interacted with other characters and lived their lives. All in all it was fun and heartwarming, sure to put a smile on anyone’s face.

Happy reading!

Review | Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinkser

December 21, 2020December 21, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

Stella thought she’d made up a lie on the spot, asking her childhood friend if he remembered the strange public broadcast TV show with the unsettling host she and all the neighborhood kids appeared on years ago. But he does remember. And so does her mom. So why doesn’t Stella? The more she investigates the show and the grip it has on her hometown, the eerier the mystery grows.

Most of this story I spent not really knowing where it was going, but I did enjoy how the different pieces fell into place. I didn’t quite feel the ending suited it, but I think that was the result of what often happens with short stories – you end up wanting more. Whether it be more background, more foundation or just more plot to the story. I would have liked to delve more into who the Uncle Bob character was and find out the why of how things were, but I understand the author’s motivation in leaving such things out. At its core this is a psychological story and some of the elements are left open for the reader’s interpretation.

Happy reading!

Blog Tour | Mine to Keep by Rhenna Morgan | Review

December 15, 2020December 15, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

Bonnie Drummond is from the wrong side of the tracks, raised in a family of liars and criminals. No matter how hard she tries to stay on the straight and narrow, she always finds herself sucked back into the family drama, forced to sacrifice everything she’s earned to protect her family.

But this time they’ve gone too far—crossed the wrong people—and to save them she’ll have to put her life on the line.

Roman Kozlov, enforcer for a New Orleans mafiya family, is the poster child for the life Bonnie is struggling to escape. But he’s also as alluring as he is dangerous, and it doesn’t take long for their lives to begin to mesh.

With Roman, Bonnie finds the family she never had.

As their race for answers heats up, so too does the budding romance between them. And with danger nipping at her heels and love threatening her heart, Bonnie must come face-to-face with her past if she wants to have a future.

After reading Hers to Tame I was excited to get the chance to read more from Rhenna Morgan and I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. I really enjoyed this story as well as the relationship between Roman and Bonnie. Bonnie of course was hesitant to some things because of her history with her family and Roman was definitely an alpha personality, but the way things came together was wonderful.

Though this one is part of a series you can definitely read it without reading the previous books. Morgan’s writing style is quick to read and has a ton of not only character development, but the plot is paced really well and constantly keeps you going forward.

A native Oklahoman, Rhenna Morgan is a certified romance junkie. Whether it’s contemporary, paranormal, or fantasy you’re after, Rhenna’s stories pack romantic escape full of new, exciting worlds, and strong, intuitive men who fight to keep the women they want. For advance release news and exclusive content, sign up for her newsletter at http://RhennaMorgan.com. You’ll also find all of her social links there, along with her smoking hot inspiration boards.

Happy reading!

Review | Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis

December 13, 2020December 13, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

Things I know about Harrow Lake:
1.It’s where my father shot his most disturbing slasher film.
2.There’s something not right about this town.

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 quickly 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 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.

Harrow Lake is a book that will definitely have you doubting who is reliable and which way is up. There was a good chunk of the book where I was waffling between three or four stars, but the last 100 pages definitely pushed it up to four stars for me. Psychological horror is absolutely my favorite kind of horror and at first I wasn’t sure if this was where it was going. There are definitely some supernatural aspects as well.

I did really enjoy the story once it really got going. So many of the different characters seem either unreliable or like they are clearly holding information back. This sometimes is frustrating as I did find myself wanting more revealed about the town of Harrow Lake and the superstitions/legends that the townspeople had.

A also really enjoyed that as the story continued we found out that Lola herself might not be a reliable narrator as we followed her journey. There’s that constant question of whether or not she’s imagining everything or if there really is something supernatural, and that carried on through the book in its entirety.

If you like psychological horror that slowly unfolds throughout the story, definitely check out this one.

Happy reading!