In Games 1, Sara won Donny’s twisted game. In Games 2, she became his apprentice (collecting cash from debtors of Sanger Entertainment, an adult arena of illegal events). In Games 3, we got to know Donny just a little bit better. Sara found out she was pregnant and agreed to keep the baby (under the condition he helped her make a pain maze). She does not want the baby, and has plans to get an abortion that he doesn’t know about. This is where the story begins…..
After two long months of preparations, Sara finally has her maze, and she is anxious to get started. The 12 prisoners are in place, and ready to be Sara’s tortured little mice. One of the maze participants, Bas, just might have what it takes to survive, and possibly even work with Sara and Donny.
Little do they know that Bas is a different kind of criminal, and he is dangerous. Will they figure it out before getting him too deeply involved with their work? Before everything is compromised?
I actually shouted out loud towards the end. Something that I wanted to happen – happened, and now I don’t know how I feel about it!
The only thing I do know for sure is that Games 5 is going to be intense!
Games 4 – Maze will be released July 10th, 2020. You can preorder your copy on Amazon now.
The dark mind of Sea Caummisar brings us a story that the director of ‘Boxing Helana‘ would call FUCKED UP!
Release Date June 12, 2020 – Available for pre-order!
Acrotomophilia:The deriving of sexual gratification from fantasies or acts involving an amputee.
After Willard’s wife was disfigured in a car accident, he found himself to be even more attracted to her. Then his obsession grew more everyday.
WARNING DISTURBING SCENES OF EXTREME VIOLENCE.
“Sometimes in life, people have a knack for things. Some people have a knack for art, or playing a musical instrument. It’s almost as if they were born with some sort of talent. Willard’s knack just happened to be abducting women and keeping them tied up.”
After an accident that causes his wife of 40 years to lose her leg, Willard sits in the hospital at her bedside and tries to sort through the various feelings he’s having.
And which one of those feelings – exactly, is causing the tent to form at the front of his pants?
Burial:
Allen has made some mistakes in his life, and they’re coming back to haunt him! Unfortunately…he keeps making them while trying to keep the old one buried!
This had me on the edge of my seat, and yelling – out loud – at Allen.
Smart:
At first I didn’t understand why Adderall wasn’t the drug of choice for this story – it’s exactly what Andy needs.
Now I understand why the author chose the nootropics with the blood root.
Gambler:
Charlie found a sure fire way to cure his gambling addiction. I don’t believe Don will ever place another bet in his life now, either.
Delivery:
Zach works delivering food for an app similar to ‘Door Dash’. He picks up your order from one of the multiple participating restaurants, and brings it right to your door.
A minor fender bender on his way to a delivery starts a chain of events that put more that his job in jeopardy.
This is a great, and very original short story!
Side note: I wish there was a similar app for getting cigarettes, beer, and whatever else my lazy ass doesn’t want to leave the house for!
Cure: “Life is not worth living without a little bit of risk.”
Could it be considered Stockholm Syndrome if it’s a doctor holding your psyche hostage, instead of a kidnapper holding your body hostage?
Ooo… how about Munchausen By-Proxy By Psychotic Physician?! “Now…how does that make you feel?”
This is the first book I’ve read by J.T. Withelder, and I am looking forward to reading more.
His work is fresh, and fast-paced!
I’m soo happy that I was approved for a pre-publication copy of THE ROANOKE GIRLS from NetGalley and Crown Publishing! (I think I HAVE to say that I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review, but I really hate seeing that as the first line of other reviews. I requested a copy, and was approved -(yay!)- they didn’t seek me out to give me free stuff.)
Synopsis:
After her mother’s suicide, fifteen year-old Lane Roanoke came to live with her grandparents and fireball cousin, Allegra, on their vast estate in rural Kansas. Lane knew little of her mother’s mysterious family, but she quickly embraced life as one of the rich and beautiful Roanoke girls. But when she discovered the dark truth at the heart of the family, she ran – fast and far away.
Eleven years later, Lane is adrift in Los Angeles when her grandfather calls to tell her Allegra has gone missing. Did she run too? Or something worse? Unable to resist his pleas, Lane returns to help search, and to ease her guilt at having left Allegra behind. Her homecoming may mean a second chance with the boyfriend whose heart she broke that long ago summer. But it also means facing the devastating secret that made her flee, one she may not be strong enough to run from again.
As it weaves between Lane’s first Roanoke summer and her return, The Roanoke Girls shocks and tantalizes, twisting its way through revelation after mesmerizing revelation, exploring the secrets families keep and the fierce and terrible love that both binds them together and rips them apart.
I couldn’t put this book down!
I had a hard time at work because it was on my mind, and I needed to know what happened!
No, it’s not exactly the type of book that you normally see reviewed here – (full of blood, depravity, and ‘oh so wrong’ humor), but let that fact help convince you that this is an outstanding story. It’s listed as Mystery / Thriller / Suspense, and I think Psychological Thriller fits nicely.
I always say “I hate comparing books to other works…” blah blah blah, but then I usually go on to do it anyway. Since the author made this comparison herself to another reader I feel better about doing it now 🙂 Amy Engel said it’s a “dark novel along the lines of Gillian Flynn’s books” – (and I fell in love with those!).
Let me give you a slight nudge of a warning… this story goes to some pretty dark places, and might be uncomfortable for some readers. Those readers don’t usually follow The Bloody Book Blogger ::winks:: but… you know… just in case.
Even though I am mainly referring to ‘the devastating secret’ that is lurking there in those dark places – it’s not just the secret that may bug some readers. When Lane comes to grips with that secret, she has a distressing realization about herself as well. A lot of authors wouldn’t tread into this territory for fear of offending readers, but (IMO) it helps us truly understand the characters inner turmoil, and the story is better for it. So – applause to Amy Engel for taking us there, and not trying to be (for lack of a better term :p) ‘PC’ just for sales sake.
I enjoy a lot of the YA titles that I pick up once in a while, so I definitely think I am going to pick up THE BOOK OF IVY series.
AmyEngel is the author of the young adult series The Book of Ivy. A former criminal defense attorney, she lives in Missouri with her family. The Roanoke Girls is her first novel for adults.
Find out more about the author here.
Amy’s first book, The Book of Ivy, has been nominated for the 2016-2017 Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers and the 2016-2017 Missouri Association of School Librarians Gateway Award.
No gerbils were harmed during the writing of this book.
The Greatest Zombie Movie Ever is so bad, it could wake the dead…
What happens when three buddies decide to make an epic zombie movie with no money, no script, and a one month shooting deadline? Possibly THE WORST ZOMBIE MOVIE EVER!
Imagine the Farrelly brothers while they were growing up, and making YouTube movies. That’s how I picture Justin and his friends – brainstorming, conflicting ideas, bickering, casting, cheese fries, and the kind of teasing you can only do with your best friends.
Struggling with location issues, actor demands, and sleep deprivation, everyone’s tempers shorten, and things escalate quickly. If the movie ever does get made, it might be at the cost of their friendship!
As usual, Jeff Strand had me audibly laughing from the beginning! No, not the beginning of the story… the beginning of the book. The preface. The ‘before you read this book WARNING’. Parts of the story reminded me of IF CHINS COULD KILL: CONFESSIONS OF A B MOVIE ACTOR by Bruce Campbell. A fond remembering of the grueling schedule, agonizing FX, and Murphy’s Laws of film making – but when you’re passionate, and with your friends… it’s worth every minute!
THE GREATEST ZOMBIE MOVIE EVER will be released by Sourcebooks Fire on March 1’st, 2016. I read an advanced copy through NetGalley. Like I’ve said to you many times before – don’t let the Teens & YA classification scare you off!
One of the maze participants, Bas, just might have what it takes to survive, and possibly even work with Sara and Donny.
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