Northwoods by Bill Schweigart

Description

"Some borders should never be crossed. From the author of The Beast of Barcroft comes a waking nightmare of a horror novel that's sure to thrill readers of Stephen King and Bentley Little.

Ex–Delta Force Davis Holland, now an agent for the Customs and Border Protection, has seen it all. But nothing in his experience has prepared him for what he and the local sheriff find one freezing night in the Minnesota woods.

Investigating reports of an illegal border crossing, the two men stumble across a blood-drenched scene of mass murder, barely escaping with their lives . . . and a single clue to the mayhem: a small wooden chest placed at the heart of the massacre. Something deadly has entered Holland's territory, crossing the border from nightmare into reality.

When news of the atrocity reaches wealthy cryptozoologist Richard Severance, he sends a three-person team north to investigate. Not long ago, the members of that team—Ben McKelvie, Lindsay Clark, and Alex Standingcloud—were nearly killed by a vengeful shapeshifter. Now they are walking wounded, haunted by gruesome memories that make normal life impossible. But there is nothing normal about the horror that awaits in the Northwoods."

 

This sequel to The Beast of Barcroft is a creepy, creature packed tale.  This is the further adventures of Ben and Lindsay doing what they do best, getting on each others nerves with snarky but humorous affection, and hunting down deadly supernatural beings.
It will give you shivers, and not just from the icy Minnesota  setting. If you liked the first book you’ll love the second, and if you haven’t read the first book you really should.

 

I received an advance copy for review.

The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee by Talya Tate Boerner

Description
"Ten-year-old Gracie Lee knows a few things. She knows which trees are best for climbing. She knows how to walk through the hallway without making a sound on the hardwood floor. She knows if Daddy's crop gets one more drop of rain, the whole family will pay the price. There are plenty of things Gracie doesn't know. These things keep her awake at night. Gracie longs for something bigger and grander and truer, and feels certain there is more to life beyond school and dull church sermons. She worries about the soldiers in Vietnam and wonders what it must be like to have been born Lisa Marie Presley from Tennessee instead of Gracie Lee Abbott from Arkansas. Mostly, she wishes her Daddy wasn't so mean. Gracie's unchecked imagination leads to adventure, and adventure leads to trouble. She confides in unexpected characters and seeks solace in a mysterious gray house beyond the cotton field. When Gracie faces a difficult family situation, she must make a life-altering decision, one that will test the very essence of her character."

Gracie Lee lives on a farm with her mother, father, little sister and their dog Lucky. She is a nervous worried child, always anxious over everything from whether she will drown during her baptism to how many beers her father has consumed, to what has become of the man from the "pretty gray house." Gracie's mom plays piano at their church. Gracie decides one day during the invitational hymn to go up and speak to Brother Brown about praying for her heavy drinking father with the nasty disposition. From that point on Brother Brown becomes somewhat of a confidante for Gracie as she struggles through a difficult home life. 
As a fan of historical fiction I enjoyed this story, set in the 70s, with references to Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Nixon. I did feel it started off a bit slowly but it was definitely worth sticking with to the end.
I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

I received an advance copy for review

Behind Closed Doors by A.L. Smith

Description
"For Sierra, Alex and Latrice, the innocence of childhood was lost at an early age. Choosing significantly different paths, they struggle to deal with the psychological effects of abuse. The three are eventually driven apart and they transition into womanhood carrying a secret that would influence their lives and threaten to destroy their family. Through a series of unlikely circumstances, the three are reunited. The meeting would ultimately set the stage for atonement."


Behind Closed Doors is a thought provoking, heart wrenching look at the long term effects of abuse.
Three cousins Sierra, Alex, and Latrice, come from a family with a history of sexual abuse that spanned generations. All three women suffered sexual abuse as children by the same family member. Years after the abuse Sierra tried to tell her mother what had been done to her, but was met with nothing but blame as her own mother asked "How could you let him do that to you" As if Sierra at 4 years old should have been able to prevent any of this. Latrice turns to drugs, Sierra to prostitution. Alex becomes a successful attorney, but is never able to form lasting relationships with any man. All of them carry their grief and shame and the pain of what has been done to them in their own private way, choosing not to speak of it, until at long last they are brought together by a single event that forces them to speak out to protect another family member.  This was a very emotional read. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

I was given a complimentary copy for review.

Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke

Description
"At first glance, Phil Pendelton and his son Adam are just an ordinary father and son, no different from any other. They take walks in the park together, visit county fairs, museums, and zoos, and eat together overlooking the lake. Some might say the father is a little too accommodating given the lack of discipline when the child loses his temper in public. Some might say he spoils his son by allowing him to eat candy whenever he wants and set his own bedtimes. Some might say that such leniency is starting to take its toll on the father, given how his health has declined.

What no one knows is that Phil is a prisoner, and that up until a few weeks ago and a chance encounter at a grocery store, he had never seen the child before in his life.

A new novella from the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of THE TURTLE BOY and KIN"


This was a quick and creepy read that will make you think twice about that quick trip to the WAL-MART or those shrieking kids in the aisles. Phil Pendelton was having a pretty good day up until he went to the store. He was planning nothing more than a day off spent with his girlfriend and couldn't wait to get back to her. That all changed in the candy aisle. All poor Phil wanted was to indulge his girlfriend's need for chocolate but that is not at all what he came home with. I personally wouldn't take candy from strangers but after reading this I may run away screaming if anyone offers me sour candy. However this is one delicious story. I would rate it 5 out of 5 stars.