Little Secrets by Megan Hart

Description
"With a baby on the way and a brand new house, it seems Ginny and her husband, Sean, are on their way to a fresh start. But strange occurrences and financial strain seem determined to keep Ginny and Sean stuck in the past. Ginny begins to believe the house may be haunted...or that her husband might be trying to trick her into thinking so. As Ginny researches the house's former owner and the tragedy that happened there, it becomes clearer than ever that something is in the house with them. The question is, who...or what...is it?"
Expected publication: February 2nd 2016 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd


I went into this expecting it to be just another haunted house story, which was actually ok with me since I do love a good haunting. However it was much more than I expected. Ginny and Sean are making a new start, after having gone through some rocky times in their marriage when Ginny lost their first baby. Pregnant again, and hormones all over the place Ginny often feels like she is not alone in the house. There are scratching noises in the walls that a visit from the exterminator doesn't get rid of. There are strange hot and cold areas even though they have a brand new heating system. The power goes out frequently and food either disappears or gets rearranged in the fridge, unless maybe it is her husband Sean trying to drive her crazy. Sometimes in the dark Ginny is almost sure she sees someone, or something. As Ginny becomes more frustrated with Sean's lack of help in setting up their things even though he is constantly nagging at her not to do it by herself, she comes across some strange items left in the house by the previous inhabitants and wonders if her house is haunted. But it is so much more than that.
This was a very suspenseful and spooky read and I often found myself more spooked about the goings on than Ginny seemed to be. I would give it 5 out of 5 stars.

I received an advance copy for review

The Sound Of Time By Jeremy Essex

Description
"Is time just an illusion?"

Charles never believed the ghost stories about the old factory. As a psychology student, he understood the spooky tales told by the midnight workers were just the products of overtired minds. But when his company is hired to clear out the derelict old building, a small group of night workers become stranded in the isolated, mist-shrouded complex. Charles decides to conduct a psychological experiment to see if he can re-create the ghostly effects people have seen and heard over the years. But the experiment goes horribly wrong and something inexplicable happens. Now Charles is starting to believe as he finds himself fighting for his sanity and his life."

This was a short horror story that takes place one creepy night in an old factory, There are rumors about people having heard strange noises at night and a disembodied voice that asks "are you real?"
Charles feels that one's perception of time can be manipulated and that would leave them open to see or hear things others would not. Something goes wrong when he tries to test this theory. I did enjoy the start of this story and the creepy atmosphere. The middle became a little too repetitive for my tastes. However the ending was quite good.

I received an advance copy for review.

Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf

Publication date Feb 2 2016       

available for pre-order at Amazon        

Description

A woman uncovers earth-shattering secrets about her husband's family in this chilling page-turner from New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf

"Sarah Quinlan's husband, Jack, has been haunted for decades by the untimely death of his mother when he was just a teenager, her body found in the cellar of their family farm, the circumstances a mystery. The case rocked the small farm town of Penny Gate, Iowa, where Jack was raised, and for years Jack avoided returning home. But when his beloved aunt Julia is in an accident, hospitalized in a coma, Jack and Sarah are forced to confront the past that they have long evaded.

Upon arriving in Penny Gate, Sarah and Jack are welcomed by the family Jack left behind all those years ago—barely a trace of the wounds that had once devastated them all. But as facts about Julia's accident begin to surface, Sarah realizes that nothing about the Quinlans is what it seems. Caught in a flurry of unanswered questions, Sarah dives deep into the puzzling rabbit hole of Jack's past. But the farther in she climbs, the harder it is for her to get out. And soon she is faced with a deadly truth she may not be prepared for"
 

Sarah and Jack have been happily married for 20 years. They have built a life together and  raised 2 daughters, but Jack has been keeping secrets and just maybe some of them have been deadly. Sarah has always thought Jack's parents had died in an accident. Until they return to his home town where his aunt has been hospitalized, Sarah really never gave it much thought or pressed him for details. Almost immediately upon arrival Sarah is bombarded with one uncomfortable and unpleasant surprise after another. There are so many things her husband has not told her, including his real name, or why his sister Amy refers to their former home as The House of Horrors. The more she finds out the less she feels able to trust him, The tension builds as Sarah investigates the past and the possibility that Aunt Julia's accident was not an accident after all. She begins to question whether she ever really knew her husband at all.
This was a highly suspenseful story I would rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

I received an advance copy for review.

The Girl from the Train by Irma Joubert

Description
"A sweeping international love story that celebrates the triumph of the human spirit over the inhumanities of war and prejudice.
Six-year-old Gretl and her sister jump from a train bound for Auschwitz, her mother and grandmother unable to squeeze between the bars covering the windows. The daughter of a German soldier, Gretl understands very little about how her grandmother's Jewishness brought her first to the ghetto, then to the train, and now, to the Polish countryside where she wanders, searching for food and water for her dying sister.
Soon, Gretl finds refuge with Jakob, a Polish freedom fighter, and his family, where she is sheltered until the end of the war. Gretl is then sent away to a new life, a new name, and a new faith in Apartheid-era South Africa. As she comes of age in this strange place, she confronts its prejudices as she hides the truth of her past from her new family.
When Jakob makes his way to South Africa many years later, Gretl and Jakob are reunited in a love story that transcends time and distance and survives the ravages of hatred and war."

This story spans 15 tragic and heartbreaking years during and after World War 2.
6 year old Gretl and her older sister Elza are made to jump from a train bound for Aushwitz by their grandmother who hopes to save them from the horrors of the concentration camp. Just after they get off, the train is ripped to pieces by bombs. Gretl and Zelda are now utterly alone in the world. Orphaned, thirsty, starving, and alone. They are discovered by Jakob who takes them home, but there is very little room for them and Zelda is terribly sick.
As a fan of historical fiction I will say that this is a must read for any other fan. The sheer bravery and strength of character that Gretl shows in the face of suffering such tragic loss in such brutal times had me cheering her on every step of the way.

I received a complimentary copy for review

About the Author
International bestselling author Irma Joubert was a history teacher for 35 years before she began writing. Her stories are known for their deep insight into personal relationships and rich historical detail. She's the author of eight novels and a regular fixture on bestseller lists in The Netherlands and in her native South Africa. She is the winner of the 2010 ATKV Prize for Romance Novels. Facebook: irmajoubertpage