The Rivals of Dracula: Stories from the Golden Age of Gothic Horror by Nick Rennison (Editor)

Bram Stoker’s Dracula, still the most famous of all vampire stories, was first published in 1897. But the bloodsucking Count was not the only member of the undead to bare his fangs in the literature of the period. Late Victorian and Edwardian fiction is full of vampires and this anthology of scary stories introduces modern readers to 15 of them. A travel writer in Sweden unleashes something awful from an ancient mausoleum. A psychic detective battles a vampire that has taken refuge in an Egyptian mummy. A nightmare becomes reality in the tower room of a gloomy country house. Including works by both well known writers of the supernatural such as M. R. James and E. F. Benson and less familiar authors like the Australian Hume Nisbet and the American F. Marion Crawford, The Rivals of Dracula is a collection of classic tales to chill the blood and tingle the spine.


15 short stories, some of which stand the test of time, others of which I can't really say that I cared for.
If you are a fan of horror from a more innocent time, if you recall with fondness watching the old Boris Karloff movies on late night TV these stories may be for you.
I did enjoy "The Sumach" about a mysterious illness and a creepy old tree. "The Vampire of Croglin Grange was also pretty good.

I received a complimentary copy for review.

Forest Of Blood by Sheri Williams

Description
A beast lurks in the forest.......

While Emmaline Gillies tries to gain independence and Lord Benjamin Whitmore tries to find a companion for his lonely daughter, the beast hunts. It has no care for the people of the manor in the center of its chosen hunting grounds. Can the unlikely duo save the people, and themselves from the beast? Or will tangled feelings get in the way?  



This was a quick read, longer than a short story but shorter than a novel
It had a great old fashioned kind of innocent vibe to it.
It started off a bit slow but then  picked up after Emmaline was warned away from walking in the woods and told of the curse some of the local people believe in.
There was a little bit of romance and a lot of spooky atmosphere.
I received a complimentary copy for review.

How to Ditch Dead Guys (The Witch`s Handbook #2) by Ann M. Noser

Description
"After everyone EMMA ROBERTS raises from the dead sinks back into the river, she longs for a purpose. A schedule. Something to accomplish.
Then OFFICER WALKER leaves a message on her voice mail: "There's been another murder, and I need your help."

With a bag of witchcraft supplies slung over her shoulder, Emma performs a séance for Walker at the site of the murder. But nothing happens until Emma gets back home.
Black smoke swirls inside the bathroom. An invisible force slams her head onto the tiled floor. A golden snake slithers across her legs, then impales her wrist with its icy teeth.

As the smoke clears and the images fade, the truth becomes clear.
This time around, Emma won't just watch what happened. She'll live it.

As Emma helps Officer Walker solve murder cases, she relives the horror of each victim's last moments of life. From the edge of the river to the underground lair of the gang who murdered Steve, she endures it all.
As Emma weakens, both the victims and the murderers who killed them fight for control of her body and mind.
She's possessed, and the voices inside her head won't let her ask for help.
Even the Book of Shadows can't save her now"

In this captivating sequel to How To Date Dead Guys (The Witch's Handbook #1) we find Emma pretty much where we left her at the end of the first book. Though she is now a bit wiser and a lot stronger, which is a good thing because she is facing some much bigger challenges than she did in the first book. I don't want to spoil it for you if you have not yet read book 1 (which you really should.)  I will just say that this is the further adventures of Emma and her friends, though this book is much darker than the first. Emma is dealing with some seriously evil entities this time but her sarcastic wit still makes it a fun read.

I received a complimentary copy for review.

Sister Dear by Laura McNeill

Description
All Allie Marshall wants is a fresh start. But first she has to deal with the past.

Convicted of a crime she didn't commit, Allie watched a decade of her life vanish. Now, out on parole, Allie is determined to clear her name and reconnect with the daughter she barely knows.

But Allie s return to Brunswick, Georgia, sends earthquakes through the small, coastal community. Even her daughter Caroline, now a teenager, challenges Allie s claims of innocence. Refusing defeat, a stronger, smarter Allie launches a campaign for the truth, digging deep into the past. Her investigation threatens her parole status, her own safety, and the already-fragile bond with her family. What Allie uncovers is far worse than she imagined. Her own sister has been hiding a dark secret one that holds the key to Allie s freedom.

10 years ago Allie Marshall had it all. A beautiful little girl, a plan to become a surgeon, and the love of her life by her side. Until one night when it all came crashing down and she lost everything in an instant. Allie had reason to suspect some illegal activity and ends up in prison for a murder that she did not commit. Meanwhile the real killer is still loose. The book begins when she is finally released from jail, and we are filled in on the back story through a series of flashbacks to the days before Allie was convicted.
 She is warned to let the past stay buried. Her friends want nothing to do with her, and even her own daughter who has been manipulated by her sister is upset that she is home. Allie sets out to prove her innocence and uncovers shocking secrets. This was a highly suspenseful, and thrilling read.

I received an advance copy for review