New Release: Play Nice by Rachel Harrison

 A woman must confront the demons of her past when she attempts to fix up her childhood home in this devilishly clever take on the haunted house novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Black Sheep and So Thirsty. 

Play Nice
by Rachel Harrison
September 9, 2025
Genre: Horror
PLAY NICE centers on Clio, a successful stylist and influencer who’s just inherited her late mother’s home—the childhood home her mother Alexandra insisted was possessed and even turned the tale into a bestselling memoir. But Clio’s father and older sisters always dismissed it as the delusions of a destructive alcoholic, and Clio believed them.

While her sisters view the inheritance as a painful relic of their past trauma, Clio sees it as an opportunity to create captivating house-flipping content and reconnect with the last remaining memories of her mother.

As she moves in to prepare the house for sale, unsettling things begin to happen. And for the first time, Clio starts to question everything she thought she knew about her mother—and whether the real story has been buried all along.

Early praise for PLAY NICE
"Rachel Harrison once again gives us our best friends, our best enemies, our best crushes, and our worst nightmares. This time sexier, scarier, grittier than ever before."—CJ Leede, USA Today bestselling author of American Rapture

"Rachel Harrison is in a league of her own—maybe a genre of her own. Play Nice is the sexiest, scariest, most fun haunted house novel I’ve ever read, a Barbie Dreamhouse oozing blood, one of those perfect blends of horror, heart, and winking wit only she can pull off. This book is so gripping it performed its own possession; I physically couldn’t put it down. Harrison is my horror queen, and this book is her best yet."—Ashley Winstead, USA Today-bestselling author of Midnight is the Darkest Hour

"Play Nice packs a prickly punch by cleverly nesting its possession story within another kind of familial and familiar possession."—Paul Tremblay, New York Times bestselling author of The Cabin at the End of the World

"Play Nice is as fun as a journey into darkness and family trauma can get. Rachel Harrison crafts a uniquely spirited haunting that’s both ruthlessly frightening and overflowing with heart."
—Chuck Tingle, USA Today bestselling author of Lucky Day and Bury Your Gays

"I raced through Rachel Harrison's Play Nice, drawn in by the relatable protagonist and the irresistible blend of horror, mystery and family drama."—Tananarive Due, Bram Stoker Award winner, The Reformatory

Amazon

About the Author:
website-Instagram-Twitter
Rachel Harrison is the national bestselling author of BLACK SHEEP, SUCH SHARP TEETH, CACKLE and THE RETURN, which was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. Her short fiction has appeared in Guernica, Electric Literature's Recommended Reading, as an Audible Original, and in her debut story collection BAD DOLLS. She lives in western New York with her husband and their cat/overlord.

Catz of the Undead: British Occult Zombie Cat Horror Novel by Jools G King

Catz of the Undead: British Occult Zombie Cat Horror Novel
by Jools G King
March 24, 2025
An evil witch called Morella runs a pet cemetery dedicated to cats. Unbeknownst to her grieving clients, she is raising their beloved fur babies from the dead as grotesque zombies. Morella lusts after a half-cat, half-man demon who lies buried somewhere under Norfolk soil. Her feline zombie army can help her achieve her aim.

These zombie cats can infect others through fighting. Amber’s cat, Jasper, zombifies after a scrap in the woods. But Jasper is no ordinary feline zombie. He has unique psychic powers, which makes him valuable to the witch.

Only Amber’s having none of it. She’ll fight to the bitter end to protect her beloved cat from falling into Morella’s clutches. So unfolds a battle between the living and the Undead. Can Amber save Jasper? Or will they both fall victim to the evil Morella?

Will Jasper choose loyalty to Amber or eternal servitude to a witch?

Immerse yourself in a scary tale of witchcraft, zombies and occult horror that beautifully brings out the enduring bond between humans and their pets.

Amazon 

 

About the Author:
website
Jools G King is a British horror indie author who takes feverish delight in scaring readers, and occasionally himself. He’s self-published three novels and one novella, with more to come. His latest novel is Catz of the Undead, which features a malevolent witch and zombie cats.

By day, he’s a civil engineer, and when he’s not writing he enjoys watching movies, reading books, especially about history and the occult, chess and travelling. He lives with his cat, Yoshi, who last time he looked has not turned into a zombie. 

Romantasy: Of the Curse or the Crown (A Veridian Empire Novel) by V.B. Lacey

We’re celebrating the release of V.B. Lacey’s new fantasy romance with a tour this week. Make sure to check out Of the Curse or the Crown!

Of the Curse or the Crown (A Veridian Empire Novel)
by V.B. Lacey
July 24, 2025
Genre: Fantasy Romance/ Standalone
👑 Princess Diaries 2 meets King Midas
✨ Forbidden love
👑 No spice but swoon-worthy romance
✨ Single dad
👑 She’s a fox shifter
✨ Mysterious curse
👑 Meddling Fates
✨ They’re stuck in a cave
👑 Mental health rep
✨ Witty banter
An heir. An Empress. A Queen.

As a former rebel leader, Clarissa Aris is no stranger to power. She’s ready to reclaim the throne of the Veridian Empire and is eager to guide her people out of a past of violence and into a better future.

But when a mysterious king unexpectedly asks for her hand in marriage to restore peace between their two lands, she chooses to accept. Clarissa travels to meet him in Mysthelm, a realm they had been cut off from for centuries, and is thrust into a foreign kingdom with secrets around every corner, a betrothed she isn’t sure she can trust, and brewing tension with his handsome best friend and advisor.

Clarissa’s search for answers uncovers the truth behind a deadly blight sweeping Mysthelm and a centuries-old curse threatening to destroy the people she’s come to care for. When she learns her magic may be the only cure, she’s determined to both rescue this kingdom from danger and keep her Veridian Empire safe from meddling forces.

Time is running out. Which will fall first: the curse or the crown?

GET IT HERE

 

About the Author: 

Instagram 

V.B. Lacey is an office manager by day and an avid reader-turned-writer by night. She grew up on stories of magic, love, and sarcasm, and equips her writing with all three. She lives in Texas with her supportive husband and two rambunctious dogs. When she’s not writing about morally grey characters and far-off kingdoms, you can find her reading (mostly fantasy and contemporary romance), playing board games, or spending time with friends.

Follow on Instagram: @vblacey.books

IG: @vblacey.books @rrbooktours
TIKTOK: @vblacey.books @shannon_of_rrbooktours

Tags:
#rrbooktours #rrbtOTCOTCTOUR #ofthecurseorthecrown #romantasy #fantasyromancebooks #forbiddenlovebooks #forbiddenromancebooks #vblacey #kindleunlimited #romancebooks #booktours

Supernatural Thriller: Rare by Patrick de Moss

Welcome to the tour for Rare by Patrick de Moss. The perfect read for people who enjoy the inexplicable and things that go bump in the night!

Rare
by Patrick de Moss
Publication Date: March 2, 2025
Genre: Thriller/Supernatural
Some songs aren’t meant to exist.
When sixteen-year-old Emma receives a mysterious Beatles record—a cover of The Girl Can’t Help It, a song they never recorded, her life changes in ways she never imagined. Grieving her grandmother’s death and lost in the heavy fog of depression, Emma doesn’t expect much from the strange package. But the moment the needle drops, magic ripples through the world.

Angels shiver. Dragons stir in their hoards. Vampires feel an ancient hunger awaken. The song calls to them all, and it calls to Emma too. For the first time since her grandmother’s death, Emma feels something spark inside her: hope. But magic has a price, and the Dark has heard the song as well.

To protect the record, Emma must venture into the Hidden States of America—a surreal, shadowed version of the country where myth and reality blur. It’s a country shaped by the stories we tell and the secrets we keep, where ordinary towns hide extraordinary truths.

As Emma struggles to carry the song to where it belongs, she’ll have to confront her grief, face her deepest fears, and discover if she has the strength to resist the pull of the Dark.
From Patrick de Moss, the acclaimed author of Kings of Nowhere, comes a darkly magical tale of loss, courage, and the power of music to heal even the deepest wounds. This is a story that explores the fragile beauty of hope and the strength it takes to face the shadows.

Rare is a spellbinding modern fable. Every note of the song of this story echoes with both wonder and danger. Some songs can change the world. Some songs can change you.

Trigger Warnings:
Suicidal Ideations, racial themes, gun violence victims, attempted kidnapping.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

About the Author:

website

Playwright, poet, prose writer, as well as former gravedigger, hotline psychic, line cook, chef, waiter and a few other things in between, Patrick de Moss lives and works in St. John's, Newfoundland.

IG: @rrbooktours
Tags
#rrbooktours #rrbtRare #paranormalbooks #supernaturalthriller #vampires #magic #darkreads #dragons #booktours

YA Science Fiction: eMortal by Steve Schafer

eMortal
by Steve Schafer
November 19, 2024
Genre YA Science Fiction
The 2024 Page Turner Awards SCI FI BOOK OF THE YEAR that's "unputdownable."

She made him. He's just code. She's almost sure.
...But what if he's real?

When Liv entered a contest to code an advanced AI, she never anticipated what her creation might become-Breck is thoughtful, self-aware, and incredibly. . .human. And she certainly never intended for him to learn the truth about his existence or the fact that his world ends when the contest closes in six days.

But he does learn. And he revolts.

Liv's efforts to save him fall on deaf ears. Nobody believes her. Breck's efforts to outrun his fate only complicate his situation.
What neither of them know is that someone else is watching. Intensely. When they get involved, both Liv's and Breck's worlds are turned upside down. . .

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

IG: @steveschaferauthor @rrbooktours
TIKTOK @shannon_of_rrbooktours
Tags:
#rrbooktours #rrbteMortal #eMortal #yabooks #scifibooks #youngadultbooks #yascifi

The Keeper of the Key: A YA Gothic Horror Novel by Nicole Willson

The Keeper of the Key: A Gothic Horror Novel
by Nicole Willson
Nov 12, 2024
Genre: YA Gothic Horror/ Haunting
Pub: Parliament House 

Tropes:
- Gothic
- Haunted House
- Family drama
- Who done it
- Secret history
- Creepy small town
- Ghosts

There are a thousand things sixteen-year-old Rachel would rather do than upend her life to move into Morgan House, an old, run-down mansion owned by her mom’s boyfriend, Geoff.

But when her mother announces they’re relocating to St. Mary, Virginia to live with him, Rachel’s cut off from her friends and life as she knows it. St. Mary is a remote, lonely place, and the best thing about it is Nick, a guy she knows is worth keeping when he takes her to a cemetery on their first date.

Rachel struggles to get along with Geoff and his mile-long list of annoying house rules—in particular, his bizarre insistence that she stay out of the basement. But something in Morgan House plays by its own rules. At night, an unknown force pulls Rachel down to that forbidden cellar, showing her harrowing visions of a strangely familiar man lurking in the shadows. When a sudden tragedy strikes her family, those visions become more frequent—and more violent.

The dead issue urgent warnings, and if Rachel doesn’t heed them, she’ll become part of Morgan House forever.

From the author of the Bram Stoker Award-nominated Tidepool comes a chilling new gothic horror novel that will sink into your bones.

“"...fans of the gothic and Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak (2015) will enjoy this haunted-house horror about toxic love."
— Booklist

“Nicole Willson’s The Keeper of the Key is a tense and twisty contemporary Gothic that kept me reading late into the night. Supernatural and domestic terrors combine to propel this story, focused on themes of trust and control. I found the imagery and situations truly frightening!”
— Christi Nogle, author of the Bram Stoker Award® winning novel Beulah

“Nicole Willson has crafted a riveting story with a fierce protagonist. Brave and honest, Rachel stands strong in the face of terror and is unafraid to speak truth to power. An inspiring YA heroine.The Keeper of the Key is gripping gothic horror you won't want to put down.”
— Meghan Arcuri, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author

“The Keeper of the Key is a suspenseful YA horror that subverts familiar horror tropes in ways that will surely keep readers turning pages in a rush to uncover the terrifying secret of Morgan House. I loved every moment of this unexpected story!”
— Katya de Becerra, Aurealis-winning author of When Ghosts Call Us Home

Amazon

About the Author:
Website
Nicole Willson has been a frequent visitor to small coastal towns located along the Eastern seaboard but has yet to see anything truly alarming emerge from those waters, much to her disappointment. She’s hopeful that her lifelong aversion to eating fish or seafood might earn her a little mercy when the hungry ocean gods finally start coming ashore.

Her debut horror novel TIDEPOOL is a Bram Stoker Award nominee for Superior Achievement in a First Novel and is out with Parliament House Press. A Spanish translation of the novel is available from Dilatando Mentes Editorial. Her novella THE SHADOW DANCERS OF BRIXTON HILL is coming out from Cemetery Gates Media in 2023. Her YA horror novel THE KEEPER OF THE KEY is forthcoming in Fall 2024.

Her short fiction has appeared in anthologies published by Cemetery Gates Media. She is a regular contributor to Hinged, a prompt-based writing challenge on Medium.com. She also writes and runs her own Medium publication "50-Word Horror Stories."

Visit http://www.nicolewillson.com to learn more about Nicole's work.

Fantasy: Aultemus by Mike Burke

Welcome to the book tour for Aultemus by Mike Burke. Read on for more details! 

 

Aultemus
by Mike Burke
February 22, 2024
Genre: Fantasy/ Mythical Creatures
Lightning, but not from the sky. From the trees, from maybe even your friend. Magic is woven into everything in this reality; from the birds (they don't like you calling them that) in the sky, to the rocks deep in the earth.

Aultemus, Syora, Railo, and Feuson have to set out in this reality, but this is their reality, and they're quite fond of it. They have their own struggles clawing at their minds but that's why they're together.

There's someone who plans to get rid of magic in their world, the magic that makes it special, turning a blind eye to the sacrifices they must make to reach their goal. The adventurers want to stop him but is that why they're really doing it? Is it the right thing to do to stop someone doing evil things, or are we all in it because of the sunk-cost? Can we even overcome our true nature with all the magic in the universe?

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

X: @burkencraft @RRBookTours1
IG: @rrbooktours
#rrbooktours #fantasybooks #fantasyreads

 

Interview: Historical Paranormal Romance Author: Caroline Helenasdotter + giveaway

Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
I have been writing stories ever since I learned how to read and write. When I was a child I loved fairy tales, that love never really subsided. The Moomins were some of my absolute favorites growing up. Today I love to read fairy tales with my children. Jan Lööf is one of our favorites. My daughter is particularly fond of Pippi Longstocking.

What is something unique/quirky about you?
In 2012, I had the unique experience of studying Russian in Russia, residing in St. Petersburg. I am also a taekwondo black belt and a capoeira graduada. Martial arts are a true passion of mine.

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
The caracal definitely. It is my spirit animal.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
At the age of 12, I completed my first young adult book. For me, anyone who writes is a writer, regardless of whether they've been published. During my teenage years, my love for Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings fueled my passion for writing, particularly in the high fantasy genre. I was absolutely obsessed with Harry Potter and The Lord of the rings (I still am).

Who designed your book covers?
My mother, Anna Helena Annika Karlsson, is a brilliant artist. My surname, 'Helenasdotter,' actually means 'daughter of Helena' (since 'dotter' means 'daughter' in Swedish). In Sweden, surnames typically derive from the father's name, using 'son' for sons and 'dotter' for daughters, such as Andersson, Nilsson, or Karlsson. However, I chose to take a name that celebrates female energy and honors my mother instead.

In Swedish tradition, it's more common to create a surname from your father's name, even if you use a 'dotter' name instead of a 'son' name. My father is named Thomas, so conventionally, my surname would be 'Thomasdotter.' Yet, I wanted to pay homage to feminine energy and decided to take 'Helenasdotter' instead.

Which of your novels can you imagine being made into a movie?
So far, I have only published two books. My first one, 'Saga of the Swedish Water Spirit,' is much spicier than 'Whispers of the Nordic Draugr.' It would probably be difficult to adapt that one into a movie

Advice to writers?
I am going to quote Jack London on this one: 'You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.'

And believe in yourself. It can be really tough out there for authors. Do not let anyone make you feel that you are less than you are. Never give up, never give in; stay true to yourself and remember to be kind to yourself.

What inspired you to write this book?
I have always been interested in Scandinavian mythology and folklore, and I love to incorporate fantasy with folklore/mythology into my writing. My main female characters are always women over the age of 30. I believe there is a lack of female characters in the romantasy genre who are middle-aged or approaching middle age. I would love to see more books with female romantasy leads in their 30s, 40s, or even older than that!

What did you enjoy most about writing this series?
I have a very vivid imagination, and I love to write about fantasy and love. The brain does not know the difference between writing/reading about something or experiencing it in real life. The same neural patterns get activated in the brain when you imagine something or when it is actually happening. Writing and reading about love gives you the chance to experience falling in love time after time.

Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes, several. I have about 10 unfinished books and even more ideas. When inspiration strikes, I just have to write it down and start crafting a story. Hopefully, I will have time to finish many of them. However, time with two small children is very limited; I only have time to write during the night. I also find that having limited time to write inspires me even more; it forces me to truly value the time I can devote to writing and make the most of it. Writing becomes my reward after a long day.

What can we expect from you in the future?
I have another book coming up at the end of the year. It is something that I have been working on for a very long time. I will continue writing romantic fantasy and folklore/mythology with a lot of romance

What book do you think everyone should read?
"The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle had a profound impact on my life. When you read this book, one of two outcomes is likely: either you'll stop after a few pages, feeling it's a waste of time and that you don't understand it at all, or it will deeply resonate with you.

In 16th-century Scandinavia, Katarina's fate intertwines with Ulrik's dark demonic past. Love and darkness converge in a captivating tale of redemption amidst ancient legends.

Whispers of the Nordic Draugr
by Caroline Helenasdotter
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance, Romantasy
In the misty realms of 16th-century Scandinavia, where myths dance with reality, Katarina finds herself ensnared in a perilous dance between the mortal and the ethereal. Possessed by the elusive mare, her world fractures, and the shadows grow darker. But amidst the chaos, a reluctant guardian emerges - Ulrik, the enigmatic master of her estate, harboring demonic secrets darker than the midnight sea.

Haunted by a past veiled in blood and sorrow, Ulrik battles not only his own demons but the sinister machinations of Vasilij, his tyrannical draugr maker. Bound by an unholy pact, their fates entwine with Katarina's, as love and darkness collide in a deadly game of fate.

As Ulrik and Katarina traverse the treacherous landscapes of love and fear, they must confront not only the malevolent mare but the looming specter of Vasilij, whose hunger for power knows no bounds. In a tale woven with romance and terror, their journey unfolds, where every step taken could lead to salvation or damnation.

Enter a world where passion ignites amidst the howling winds, and where the line between hero and villain blurs in the flickering light of ancient legends. Prepare to be ensnared in the spellbinding tale of Katarina and Ulrik, where love defies even the darkest of shadows.

Experience a spellbinding blend of love, passion, folklore and mystique.

**Only .99 Cents! **
Amazon-Bookbub-Goodreads

About the Author
Instagram-Bookbub

Amazon-Goodreads
Caroline Helenasdotter is a Swedish author born in 1986, living in the south of Sweden with her partner and two small children aged 3 and 6. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science and language from the University of Lund. Helenasdotter has lived and worked in Switzerland, Norway, Portugal, and Russia, and she is fluent in Portuguese. When not writing or spending time with her family, she enjoys practicing yoga, martial arts, and running.

Giveaway
$10 Amazon
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt: A Beast Within by Aidan Lucid + giveaway

A Beast Within
by Aidan Lucid
November 10th 2023
Genres: Adult, Horror
Have you experienced true terror? For three criminals, they’re about to face it head-on!

Fresh out of prison, Jeremy vows to steer clear of a life of crime and clean up his act. But he quickly realizes that to the world, he will always be an ex-con and plunges back into his old ways. The perfect opportunity presents itself in the form of his best friend, Stephen, and his spunky girlfriend, Natalie.

After a failed bank robbery, Jeremy and his accomplices’ identities are made. So, they find refuge in the home of a typical Christian family. Their getaway should have been smooth sailing…after all it was three armed criminals against the wholesome Boyd family.

But the Boyds are hiding dark secrets of their own…

Goodreads-Amazon-Barnes & Noble-iBooks-Kobo

EXCERPT:
Malcolm looked in his rear-view mirror at the car and its driver growing smaller by the second. “I feel bad about leaving him there.” He slowed to a stop, then shifted the stick into reverse.

“What are you doing? This is insane!” Helena protested as he reversed the Wagoneer.

“Yeah, but if anything happened to him, I’d never forgive myself. Besides, I can’t just drive past him.”

“Course you can. Just press the accelerator and go.”

He brought the Wagoneer to a halt a few feet from the Buick and yanked up the handbrake. “I won’t be long.”

“Malcolm. Malcolm!” Helena hissed as he got out.

The stranger stood staring at the front left wheel, not acknowledging Malcolm’s presence.

“Howdy, sir. Having car trouble?” he asked the chubby driver who appeared to be in his fifties.

“Got a flat. Can’t change it with my back.”

“I can do that if you like? Got a spare?”

“That’s mighty kind of you, fella. Uh . . . yeah, in the trunk.”

“Let me get my wrenching nut.” Malcolm opened his own trunk and took out the tool. He kneeled down and began unscrewing the nuts. “You from around here?”

“The next town a few miles ahead. You?”

“We live about three hours away. Hartford Town. Ever heard of it?”

“Never, sir. Thanks for doing this. I’m starvin’, I’m just waiting for my brother-in-law to come. Lazy bastard probably hasn’t even left the house yet.”

Malcolm chuckled. “Got one of those myself. Just don’t tell her I said that.”

“Yeah, God I’m hungry. Good thing you came along.”

As Malcolm continued to unscrew the nuts on the flat tire, he noticed the driver walk a short distance away from him. Next, he heard the cracking of bones and popping sounds, as if joints were being dislocated. Low grunts soon transformed into growls.

Malcolm turned to look at the man but stood up, his jaw hung in terror.

“What…the…fu—” he uttered while retreating slowly to the Wagoneer.

The stranger’s shoulders grew wider as his shirt tore. Black fur replaced the man’s chubby stomach.

“Holy crap!” Malcolm exclaimed.

The only reply he received was a quick snarl as the man turned around, no longer bearing a human face but a wolf’s instead. Sharp, yellowed teeth dripped with saliva.

Helena’s screams confirmed she saw it too.

“Hurry, Dad, get in,” David cried, as tears streamed down his pale face.

Malcolm threw the wrenching nut, hitting the beast on the forehead. It staggered back, shaking its head, momentarily dazed.

Malcolm dashed into the driver’s seat, his trembling hands fumbling for the keys. He jumped when the creature let loose a feral howl.

“Come on, start the damn car! David, honey, lock both doors and get down,” Helena said.

The werewolf started walking towards the driver’s door as the engine roared into life. As Malcolm pulled out onto the road, the beast ran after them, leaping into the air. A thud let them know he was on their roof.

“Oh, Christ. Lose him,” Helena shouted.

Malcolm let loose a few expletives as an enormous paw smashed into his window. He swerved left and right to throw the monster off. Malcolm then slammed the brakes.

The beast rolled forward, digging his claws into the metal to keep himself on the car. Malcolm feared that they were so sharp, if the werewolf reached the windshield, it would slice or tear off the roof.

“Crap,” cursed Malcolm as he drove again, unable to loosen the monster’s grip and knock it off.

The tormentor crawled up towards the windshield. When it was on the hood, the creature went on all fours. He reached back his arm, ready to smash into the glass.

“Oh no you don’t.” Malcolm slammed on the brakes again, catapulting the beast off the Wagoneer. When it hit the ground, the werewolf tumbled and rolled around before coming to a stop, its left arm bent out of shape.

All the Boyds stared on in disbelief. Helena glanced down at her skirt; shame washed over her face as a circular patch of urine soaked her crotch.

Malcolm gave another quick glance in the mirror. David’s face was whiter than normal, his eyes wide in horror. Malcolm grabbed his own right hand to stop it shaking.

They all jumped when the beast grunted again and raised its head, his bright green eyes locked menacingly on them.

About the Author:
Website-FB-Twitter 

Instagram-Goodreads
Aidan Lucid began his author journey after a spiritual experience in 2002. Two years later, he sent several short stories, articles and poems to magazines and was published seven times that year. Having successfully completed courses in creative writing, writing for TV and radio, and freelance journalism, Lucid went on to have even more poems, articles and short stories appear in national and international magazines and anthologies over the years. Between 2019 and 2023, he published five books. Aidan is the author of a YA horror series titled, "The Hopps Town Series" and also a YA epic fantasy novel, - The Lost Son (Second Edition), the first in a YA fantasy quadrology - The Zargothian Saga. A few stand-alone stories have been released also. In his spare time, Aidan likes to listen to music (being a huge Elvis and Shakin' Stevens fan!), read, go for walks and see the latest cinema releases with his wife, Claire. 

Tour Giveaway

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Book Review: Let Him In by William Friend

Let Him In
by William Friend
October 3, 2023
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
ASIN: B0BZWZQS8Z
ISBN: 9781728275185
"Daddy, there's a man in our room..."

Alfie wakes one night to find his twin daughters at the foot of his bed, claiming there's a shadowy figure in their bedroom. When no such thing can be found, he assumes the girls had a nightmare.

He isn't surprised that they're troubled. Grief has made its home at Hart House: nine months ago, the twins' mother Pippa died unexpectedly, leaving Alfie to raise them alone. And now, when the girls mention a new imaginary friend, it seems like a harmless coping mechanism. But the situation quickly develops into something more insidious. The girls set an extra place for him at the table. They whisper to him. They say he's going to take them away…

Alfie calls upon Julia—Pippa's sister and a psychiatrist—to oust the malignant tenant from their lives. But as Alfie himself is haunted by visions and someone watches him at night, he begins to question the true character of the force that has poisoned his daughters' minds, with dark and violent consequences.

Whatever this "friend" is, he doesn't want to leave. Alfie will have to confront his own shameful secrets, the dark past of Hart House, and even the bounds of reality—or risk taking part in an unspeakable tragedy.

Amazon

Nine months after the love of his life, Pippa, dies, Alfie is awakened at night by his twin daughters about a “man” in their bedroom. He does not find any person or proof of one. He assumes it is due to being troubled by the loss of their mother. Before long, he finds them happy about a newfound imaginary friend, a man who can shapeshift into a bird and other animals, all dark like the shadowy man. They call him Black Mamba, like the snake, which is also a shape he takes. When the girls set a pot at the table for him, talk to him, and even say they want to be taken away to where he comes from, Alfie calls Pippa’s twin, Julia, who works as a child psychiatrist. When he feels like someone is watching him, he begins to wonder about the friend of his daughters.

If you like ghost or demon stories, haunted houses, and even messy family situations, you will enjoy this “If Stephen King was English and wrote this” novel. It's a perfect spooky fit for fall reading.


I gave Let Him In 4 sheep.

Reviewed by Pamela K. Kinney

About the Author:
William Friend is a writer based in Hertfordshire. His debut novel, BLACK MAMBA, was published in the UK by Atlantic Books. It will be published in America on 3 October 2023, under the title LET HIM IN.