Camp Red Moon

Stars 5/5

Camp Red Moon by R.L. Stine

(This is available only from Audible in audio book format)

What an awesomely creepy campfire stories collection. I really enjoyed this one! It is R.L. Stine at his finest. The book features four short stories that are spooky for kids and adults. The stories are all focused around Camp Red Moon and I can't recommend this enough especially around the Autumn/Halloween season.

The Haunting Of Beacon Hill (The Beckoning Dead #1)

Stars 5/5

The Haunting Of Beacon Hill (The Beckoning Dead #1) by Ambrose Ibsen

This is the first book in The Beckoning Dead series and I can't wait for the next. I really enjoyed this unique and creepy ghost story. I am so very fond of this author's books that I want to read them all. This story follows Sadie, a young woman that has always had the gift of seeing ghosts after her near death experience. Sadie learns of an old neighborhood friend who is in psychiatric hospital after going into the haunted house on Beacon Hill. After visiting her, Sadie needs to learn all she can about the ghost "Mother Maggot" because it is after her. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it.

The Woman In The Window

Stars 5/5

The Woman In The Window by A. J. Finn

I have to be honest, this book took me awhile to start because I suffer from agoraphobia and I didn't know how I would feel reading about it but I am so glad I did because I really loved this story! The book follows Anna Fox, a woman stricken with agoraphobia, that loves to compulsively watch her neighbors and keep track of their everyday lives until one day she witnesses a murder and calls the police to report it. Anna has more than agoraphobia, she also suffers from many other social anxieties that she is taking medications for but she exacerbates her problems with alcohol. Did she really witness a murder or was it the drugs? I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend this for everyone who loves a "who done it".

The Widow Of Pale Harbor

Stars 5/5

The Widow Of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox

WoW! I just loved this mystery set in Pale Harbor, Maine. This is one of "who done it" that you never know until the very end. The story follows Gideon Stone, a widower that has came to Pale Harbor to start a church in memory of his deceased wife. Residents from the town tell him the rumors of a witch that killed her husband and lives in the decaying mansion at the edge of town. Gideon makes it a point to introduce himself to everyone in town including Sophronia Carver, the witch. The book has everything a reader could want.. danger, poison, murder, spells, love, romance and even Edgar Allan Poe. I highly recommend this book!

The Mother-In-Law

Stars 5/5

The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth

What a twisty mystery! I really enjoyed this one. You never know what is happening til the very end. The book follows Lucy and Diana. Lucy falls in love with Diana's son, Oliver, and is eventually married. Diana is a woman that is very giving in the charity she started but finds it hard to get close to people. Lucy believes that Diana doesn't like her. One day, Diana is found dead and her death was listed as a homicide. This is the "who done it" mystery. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I definitely recommend it to all mystery lovers.

Since You've Been Gone

Stars 4/5

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

What a fun story! I really enjoyed this book and the author's writing style. This is the first book I have read from this author and I do plan on reading more. The book follows Emily, a young girl that one day wakes up to find her best friend, Sloane, is gone. No where to be found. Her family is also gone. Emily is left alone with no friends. One day, she gets a letter in the mail from Sloane giving her a list of things she wants her to do. Things that will bring her out of her shell of shyness and will give her a way to meet new friends and that is how she meets Frank. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it.

The Sittaford Mystery

Stars 5/5

The Sittaford Mystery by Agatha Christie

A wonderful mystery set in winter that I really enjoyed. I just loved this story as well as most books from Agatha Christie. The story is of course investigating a murder with all it's twists and turns. The book follows Emily, a woman on a mission to get her love out of jail and to find the real killer. This book was before Poirot and Marple but I have to say it was still brilliant. I highly recommend this book as well as all of Agatha Christie's work.

Coraline

Stars 5/5

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

This is definitely not the first time I have read this book plus I have even saw the film but I wanted to revisit this world because I just love it. I must say I wish this book would of been a bit longer because I really enjoyed it. The book follows a young girl named Coraline that has just moved into a new apartment with her family. She finds a mysterious doorway that goes to nowhere or at least that what she believes. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it. I also love the audio book of this story. You can't go wrong listening to Neil Gaiman's awesome voice.

Walden

Stars 4/5

Walden by Henry David Thoreau

This was not the first time that I read Walden. I read this many years ago and wanted to revisit this world and I am so very glad I did. I really enjoyed this narrative of how the author spent time at Walden Pond as well as the struggles and isolation. I definitely recommend this book for those who enjoy the accounts of solitude like I do.

Goblin Market

Stars 5/5

Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti

Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

This is not the first time I have read this poem and I am sure it won't be the last. The poem follows two sisters that know the tale of the goblin men and their goods but one can not restrain herself when it comes to their fruits. After she consumes the most wondrous fruit, she rapidly ages and her sister must find a way to reverse the curse. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Illustrations are beautiful!

Anya's Ghost

Stars 5/5

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

OMG! I just loved this graphic novel. I have been wanting to read this for awhile now and I finally got a copy and really enjoyed it. The story follows Anya, a high school girl that tries very hard to hide her Russian heritage and where she is from. She doesn't want to go to church or be friends with a young boy that also immigrated to the USA from Russia. One day while out walking, Anya falls into a deep hole and it is there that finds not only the skeletal remains but the ghost of Emily. I do not want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it. I just love ghosts and ghost stories!

Do Not Bring Your Dragon To The Library

Stars 5/5

Do Not Bring Your Dragon To The Library by Julie Gassman

Illustrated by Andy Elkerton

Such a bright and colorful book! I just loved it. The book follows a little boy that wants to bring his dragon to the library and all the reasons he shouldn't. A fun read for kids and gets even the little ones into fantasy early. I highly recommend it.

O Christmas Tree

Stars 5/5

O Christmas Tree by Jacqueline Farmer

Illustrated by Joanne Friar

I really enjoyed this book and the illustrations are bright and cheerful. The story tells the history of the Christmas Tree and how it came to be. I loved the descriptions of all the different pine trees. I am always a fan of the Scotch Pine. It is the fattest tree! I highly recommend this book to kids of all ages.

Legacy (Keeper Of The Lost Cities #8)

Stars 5/5

Legacy (Keeper Of The Lost Cities #8) by Shannon Messenger

I just love this series and can not wait for the next book! The story continues to follow Sophie and her friends as a few are summoned by the council with the offer to become regents and form a team to help against The Neverseen for the council as well as the Dark Swan. After her results from the match, Sophie is more determined than ever to find her biological parents even recruiting her friends to help. I don't want to go into the book more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend this book as well as the series. I love this world and can't wait for the next book!

The Magical Christmas Horse

Stars 5/5

The Magical Christmas Horse by Mary Higgins Clark

Paintings by Wendell Minor

This is such a wonderful holiday story with beautiful paintings. I really loved it. The story follows a young boy that has very fond memories of his grandparents and holidays spent at their farm. He especially remembers the wooden white horse made by his grandfather that he loved to ride around the house and this is what he wants to give to his younger brother so he will have the memories as well. I highly recommend this book to kids of all ages.

Watership Down

Stars 5/5

Watership Down by Richard Adams

I remember the first time I read this book in school and then we watched the film. Of course I understand it more as an adult, that is why I wanted to reread this book and revisit this beautiful world of adventures, survival and the fight for peaceful life. I can not recommend this book more. I loved the characters and the roles they play. This is a book for kids of all ages.

Tuck Everlasting

Stars 5/5

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

This is definitely not my first time reading this book but I wanted to revisit this world. So it fit perfectly for the FantasyAThon. The story follows the Tuck family. A very special family that are immortal and they continue to move around so society does not figure out their secret. Young Winnie Foster stumbles across the Tucks one day in the woods and the family took care of her. Winnie finds out their secret and is torn between humanity and immortality. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it for all ages.

Sneezy The Snowman

Stars 5/5

Sneezy The Snowman by Maureen Wright

Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin

OMG! I just loved this book! The story is cute and the graphics are brilliant. I love Sneezy the Snowman. The story follows Sneezy and his human friends as they try to figure out how to keep a Snowman warm without melting him. I highly recommend this book for kids of all ages.

The Legend Of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

Stars 5/5

The Legend Of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

adapted by Joe Troiano

I grew up loving these holiday tv shows by Rankin Bass and so I really enjoyed this short book with pictures from that show. The book features all the loved characters and I can't recommend it enough.

Unraveling

Stars 3/5

Unraveling by Karen Lord

I was drawn in with the summary of this book and sadly found that this really was not the book for me. The writing style is great and I would definitely recommend it to people would love this kind of fantasy. The story follows Dr. Miranda Ecouvo, a forensic therapist that has recently put away a serial killer but after suffering an accident she is thrown into another reality to contemplate her decisions in the case and recommendations. There she meets Chance and Trickster, brothers that will help her through the labyrinth and mazes in her memory.  

The Great Spruce

Stars 5/5

The Great Spruce by John Duvall

Illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon

This is such a wonderful book. I wish more people would read and understand that cutting down trees for a holiday is wrong. Many years ago, people would dig up trees to use as town Christmas trees but now they found it is easier and less costly to just cut one down. Killing off trees is so very wrong and this book addresses this issue. I highly recommend it to kids of all ages. Beautiful illustrations and a heart warming story.

Ghostland: An American History In Haunted Places

Stars 5/5

Ghostland: An American History In Haunted Places by Colin Dickey

I really enjoyed this story. The book briefly features many hauntings throughout America which only made me want to look into each case more. So many I have never heard of so I really learned a lot. I loved how it went into the history of the word "ghost" and "hauntings" used to describe spirits. The stories were very well written and the book reads so fast. I never wanted to put it down. I highly recommend it.

I've Loved You Since Forever

Stars 5/5

I've Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb

Illustrations by Suzie Mason

This is such a sweet book with beautiful illustrations. I loved all the animals featured. I highly recommend this book to kids of all ages. Perfect book to read as a bedtime story night after night.

Strange Grace

Stars 3/5

Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton

This book had me hooked from the beginning. I loved the three main characters but I have to say after about half way through the book it changed and I felt a bit let down. So many name drops that I just couldn't keep track of them all. I do believe that this is an amazing fantasy book but it really just wasn't for me. I would recommend it to fantasy lovers.

Bear Snores On

Stars 5/5

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson

Illustrated by Jane Chapman

Such a cute book with a fun story and beautiful illustrations. I just loved it. The story is about a bear in hibernation and other animals come into his cave to get out of the story and get warm. I highly recommend this to kids of all ages.

Rule For Vanishing

Stars 4/5

Rules For Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall

This book was a roller coaster of creepy legends. I really enjoyed the ride but I have to say I needed more at the ending. The book follows Sara and her friends as they set out to find Becca, Sara's sister that has been missing for a year. The legend says that a long time ago a young girl went missing named Lucy and they never found her. Once a year a road will appear where she was last seen and Lucy Gallows will beckon people into her creepy world and that is where Becca went missing. Sara needs to find her so she enters the world and her mind is never the same. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it.

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood: The Poetry Of Mister Rogers

Stars 5/5

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood: The Poetry Of Mister Rogers by Fred Rogers

Illustrations by Luke Flowers

I just loved this book and so glad it won the GoodReads Choice Award 2019. I grew up watching Mister Rogers tv show and loved it. This book features poems and songs he used to sing on the show. I can't recommend it enough. This is great for kids of all ages.

Winterwood

Stars 5/5

Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw
(note... This book made it to my 2019 Favorites List)

I really loved this story so unique and creative! The book follows Nora Walker, a young girl that comes from a long line of witches. One day while walking through the woods, she finds a boy. Oliver, a young guy from the boys camp has been missing for weeks. Nora helps him back to her house and nurses him back to health. One boy from the camp is missing and One boy is dead. Is Oliver a murderer? I don't want to go into this story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it.

A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas

Stars 5/5

A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas by Ralph Covert & G. Riley Mills

Illustrated by Wilson Swain

This book was a modern day retelling of the Nutcracker and I feel that it is very relatable to younger kids. The story follows Fritz, as he had his game taken away for breaking his sister's nutcracker toy. Fritz is not allowed to go with the family to see the Nutcracker and must stay with his elderly neighbor. Fritz sneaks the key to open the chest to retrieve his game and he releases the Rat King into the world. I do not want to go into the story more as it is a very short read but I highly recommend it especially around the holiday. Bright colorful illustrations that are wonderful artwork. 

The Queen Of Nothing (The Folk Of The Air #3)

Stars 5/5

The Queen Of Nothing (The Folk Of The Air #3) by Holly Black
(note... This book made it to my 2019 Favorites List)

First, I just want to say that I am really sad this trilogy came to an end. I just love this brilliant world created by the author and I will miss all the characters that I loved and loved to hate. This is the third and final book of The Folk of The Air series and it continues to follow Jude and how she is dealing with her exile from the Fae lands until her twin sister, Taryn, shows up needing her help. Taryn needs Jude to pose as her for an inquest because Jude can not be glamoured to tell the truth. Jude agrees to go. Not only does she miss the world but needs to see Cardan again. I don't want to go into this book more as to not spoil it but I can't recommend this series more. I believe this is a "Must Read" for all who love fantasy.

The Runaway Princess

Stars 5/5

The Runaway Princess by Johan Troianowski

I won an ARC of this book and I just loved it. The illustrations are bright, colorful and brilliant. The stories follow Princess Robin and her adventures. Meeting new kids, dark woods, a girl who lives in a pumpkin, flying boats and so much more. I highly recommend this book as it has a place on my forever shelf.

A Very Fiona Christmas

Stars 5/5

A Very Fiona Christmas by Richard Cowdrey

I love Fiona and I just loved this book. Fiona's First Christmas and how the other animals in the Cincinnati Zoo show her exactly what Christmas really is. I love all the bright and cheerful holiday illustrations. I highly recommend this book to kids of all ages.

25 Days 'Til Christmas

Stars 5/5

25 Days 'Til Christmas by Poppy Alexander

I really enjoyed this holiday story. Very unique and creative. The book follows Kate, a woman that is struggling after her husband died in the war, to make Christmas special for her son. You know how one thing goes wrong then everything starts to go wrong, this is what Kate is going through. Her job is not stable. She continues to get sexually harassed by the boss. Her son's school is kicking him out due to him having issues which I believe he was autistic. She can't sell her jewelry because her "so called" friend canceled. She has no money and her mother in law is getting ready to lose all her funding for her nursing home. But then she meets Daniel. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend this holiday book.

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #2)

Stars 5/5

Wundersmith: The Calling Of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #2)

by Jessica Townsend

This is the second book in the Nevermoor series and I can't wait for the next book to be released. I am really loving this series. The book continues to follow Morrigan as she is struggling with her talent. Trying hard to make her place in the Wunderous Society. She wonders if no one wants her to learn about her talent as Jupiter is always busy and someone is setting her up to fail. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it.

Joyland

Stars 4/5

Joyland by Stephen King

I have to say that this book was not as creepy as I hoped it would be but I did enjoy it. I just love books about carnivals. This book follows Devin, a college aged guy that got a job at Joyland for the summer. The amusement park was the scene of a throat slashing murder and it is said that the Horror House is haunted. Devin decides to take a year off college and continue working at the park and it is then he meets a young boy that is dying of an incurable disease and his mother, which he has a crush on. This is definitely a coming of age story done the hard way. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I do recommend it.

The Snow Child

Stars 5/5

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Such a wonderful folktale style story. I just loved it. The book follows an older couple that relocated to Alaska to start fresh and new after the loss of son during delivery. They worked together to overcome struggles dealing with the hard work and the loneliness of being in seclusion. One night as the first snow falls, Jack and Mabel go out into the snow and build a little snow girl. The next day, they thought they saw a little blonde girl running through the trees wearing the scarf and mittens from the snow girl. I do not want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it. 

Winter Garden

Stars 5/5

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

I really loved this story. I definitely didn't see the ending coming. The book follows two sisters, Meredith, the oldest who grows up to be organized and somewhat of a workaholic working on her family's orchard, and Nina, the youngest and a free spirited photographer that travels the world but can not make commitments. Both grew up with a father they loved dearly and a mother they felt hated them but she used to tell them Russian fairy tales that would one day be more than they could ever believe. I don't want to go into this story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it.

Snowed In

Stars 5/5

Snowed In by Rachel Hawthorne

This is such a cute winter read! I really enjoyed it. The story follows Ashleigh as her and her mother move to a northern island in Lake Michigan all the way from Texas. Ashleigh learns very fast what "cold" really means. Ashleigh lives by the code that she will date all the boys but will never have a boyfriend that is until she sees Josh Wynter. This is a really short and quick read so I don't want to spoil it but I highly recommend it. The book has all the elements of a sweet winter meet cute.

In The Bleak Midwinter

Stars 5/5

In The Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer - Fleming

I was worried that I wouldn't like this book due to the main protagonist being a Reverend and that the story would revolve around religion but I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read on in the series. The story follows Reverend Clare, the new Priest in the small town of Miller's Kill, New York. Clare is more than just a Priest overseeing the church, she was also a retired Army helicopter pilot. One night as she was leaving the parish for a run, Clare finds a baby at her door that is when she meets Sheriff Russ. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it and can't wait to see what happens next in this series.

The Christmas Train

Stars 5/5

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

OMG I really loved this story and it was a perfect holiday read for me since I just love trains. This book was so creative and unique. The story follows Tom, a man that must reach L.A. before Christmas to be with his long distance on and off girlfriend. On the train, Tom runs into Eleanor, the love of his life. The woman that got away. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I must say that this book is heart warming and I just loved all the characters. This is the first book I have read of this author and I can't wait to read more. I highly recommend this book to everyone especially during the holiday season.

Let The Right One In

Stars 4/5

Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

I really enjoyed this story and I must confess that after I started reading the book I did remember seeing the film. The story follows Oskar, a young boy that gets bullying at school all the time. One night he meets Eli, a young girl who lived a reclusive life with a man, who everyone assumed was her father. Oskar soon finds out that Eli is really a vampire like creature and the man who he thought was her father was really a man that was the serial killer everyone hunted for. He would string his victims up and drain them of their blood while they were still alive to feed Eli. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I do recommend it if you love vampires like I do.

10 Blind Dates

Stars 5/5

10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

What a cute and unique story. I really enjoyed it. The book follows Sophie, a high school girl that talked her parents into letting her stay with family over the Christmas holiday so she could spend time with her boyfriend, Griffin. She was so happy as she reached the party only to overhear Griffin talking about how he wished she would of been gone over the holiday to give them time apart. Upset, she flees to her grandmother's house and her family wants to cheer her up and that is how they came up with 10 blind dates. I highly recommend this book. It cracked me up and had me snorting with laughter.

Just Mercy: A Story Of Justice And Redemption

Stars 5/5

Just Mercy: A Story Of Justice And Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

I read this book for the Common Read event and I loved it. This nonfic book is heartwarming to see that there are people who care about false imprisonment and innocent people being executed. The  story, in his own voice, tells how he founded the Equal Justice Initiative helping people on death row and in prison for crimes they didn't do. It talks about how the author dug deep into the cases bringing out not only his client's innocence but corruption. I am so glad I read this book and highly recommend it to everyone.