5 Sheep Book Review: Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart and Other Stories By GennaRose Nethercott

Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart and Other Stories
By GennaRose Nethercott
Publisher: Vintage
Release Date: February 6, 2024
ASIN: B0C4JC1JZ5 ISBN: 9780593314180
The stories in Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart are about the abomination that resides within us all. That churning, clawing, ravenous yearning: the hunger to be held, and seen, and known. And the terror, too: to be loved too well, or not enough, or for long enough. To be laid bare before your sweetheart, to their horror. To be recognized as the monstrous thing you are.

Two teenage girls working at a sinister roadside attraction called the Eternal Staircase explore its secrets—and their own doomed summer love. A zombie rooster plays detective in a missing persons case. A woman moves into a new house with her acclaimed artist boyfriend—and finds her body slowly shifting into something specially constructed to accommodate his needs and whims. A pack of middle schoolers turn to the occult to rid themselves of a hated new classmate. And a pair of outcasts, a vampire and a goat woman, find solace in each other, even as the world's lack of understanding might bring about its own end.

In these lush, strange, beautifully written stories, GennaRose Nethercott explores human longing in all its diamond-dark facets to create a collection that will redefine what you see as a beast, and make you beg to have your heart broken.

Amazon

Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart and Other Stories is a collection of dark fantasy tales like strange and unsettling urban legends and folklore for modern times. Two favorites of mine were the story about the Eternal Staircase--like one of those roadside attractions one might have found while driving on Route 66, and the story of preteens using the occult to get rid of a hated classmate. 

If you are looking for something dark and unsettling, a mix of the weird and fantastical, Nethercott has brought a collection of prose that might just be the fairy tales that reflect our modern times.

I gave Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart and Other Stories 5 sheep.

 

 

 

Reviewed by Pamela K. Kinney

About the Author:
Website
GennaRose Nethercott’s book THE LUMBERJACK'S DOVE (Ecco/HarperCollins) was selected by Louise Glück as a winner of the National Poetry Series for 2017. She is also the lyricist behind the narrative song collection MODERN BALLADS, and is a Mass Cultural Council Artist Fellow. Her work has appeared widely in journals and anthologies including BOMB, The Massachusetts Review, The Offing, and PANK, and she has been writer-in-residence at the Shakespeare & Company bookstore, Art Farm Nebraska, and The Vermont Studio Center, among others. A born Vermonter, she tours nationally and internationally composing poems-to-order for strangers on a 1952 Hermes Rocket typewriter.

Book Review: Dane's Mark (A Novel of the Breeds Book 33) By Lora Leigh

Releasing tomorrow!

Dane's Mark (A Novel of the Breeds Book 33)
By Lora Leigh
Feb 6, 2024
Genre: paranormal romance
Publisher: Berkley
A new kind of Breed is faced with what happens when destiny and desire collide in the latest novel in the highly charged series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh.

A decade ago Katy Chavos was a proud misfit who had her heart broken, crushed by a man who drew her close with one breath and pulled away the next. He left a mark she’s done everything in her power to erase. But when Katy’s job brings her back to the hometown she couldn’t wait to escape, seeing Dane again awakens something inside her that won’t be tamed....

Dane Vanderale isn’t like other Breeds. As a hybrid he’s stronger, more primal, and more determined to hide it. He’s also certain that Katy is not his mate—not that that stops him from wanting her with every part of his soul. He knows he hurt her deeply and he intends to make things right, but she is dead set on keeping him at arm’s length.

Despite their painful history, Katy can’t deny the intense attraction she still feels for Dane. And before long, it will be impossible for either to deny the truth that has been in front of them all along....

Amazon

I may have started this read a little behind the 8 ball. With 32 books already in this series it may have made sense for me to read the first installment but I can see why Lora Leigh has become a hit with this series!

It took me a minute to acclimate to the world of “Breeds” but the story did keep me interested even while I gained my footing. The romantic buildup was immediately intriguing even as I told myself there must be a little history I was not privy to.

Leigh did an excellent job of building my interest and playing on my emotions and curiosity even during the times I was getting frustrated by the pull and push between the characters. Loved Katy’s character, frustrated with Dane’s thought patterns and developed heart strings for supporting characters.

I enjoyed this as a stand alone read but now my discovery of Leigh’s writing and her world of “Breeds” have me wanting to pick up book one of the series! If you are already a fan…don’t miss this one.

JeanieG

 

 

 

Getting 4.5 angsty sheep

 Lora Leigh Breeds Series on amazon

About the Author:
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Lora Leigh lives in the rolling hills of Kentucky, often found absorbing the ambience of this peaceful setting. She dreams in bright, vivid images of the characters intent on taking over her writing life, and fights a constant battle to put them on the hard drive of her computer before they can disappear as fast as they appeared. Lora’s family, and her writing life co-exist, if not in harmony, in relative peace with each other. Surrounded by a menagerie of pets, friends, and a teenage son who keeps her quick wit engaged, Lora’s life is filled with joys, aided by her fans whose hearts remind her daily why she writes.

 

New Release: Awoke: A New Adult Paranormal Fantasy (The Unseen War Book 1)

We're celebrating the release of Awoke this week with a book tour! Read on for more details!

Awoke (The Unseen War Book 1)
by K. T. Conte
February 1, 2024
Genre: NA Paranormal Fantasy
🖤Grim Reaper Forbidden Romance
🖤Black Bad-A%$ FMC
🖤Black, Scottish MMC
🖤Dystopian World Building
🖤Malcontent Spirits
🖤Anime Vibes

When the Veil between the Living and the Dead Shifts...

Turning eighteen is more than just a rite of passage for Katya Stevens; it's a chilling awakening. Suddenly thrust into a world she'd believed was a mere figment of childhood nightmares, she finds herself where the dead refuse to rest, and the balance of life teeters perilously.

Her once-hidden ability to see the departed reveals not only the world's deadly mysteries but also the depths of her soul. Gregor, an enigmatic Grim Reaper, isn't just a harbinger of death but a symbol of the battling forces at play—especially The Want, spirits distorted by their defiance against the natural transition to the beyond.

But Katya's destiny is larger than she ever imagined. A beacon in legends, she stands between hope and havoc. As she delves deeper into the ethereal realm of Ager, she confronts not just the malevolent Wanters but the shadows of her own heart and the complexities of early adulthood.

If the spiritual battles of 'Bleach' and the transformative journeys of 'Sailor Moon' captivated you, and if you've been enthralled by novels like 'City of Bones', 'Daughter of Smoke and Bone', and the dark supernatural realms of 'Angelfall', then 'Awoke' is your next adventure. Explore a universe where Grim Reapers serve as the staunch defenders against malevolent spirits, and where a profound forbidden romance unfolds between a mortal with unparalleled power and a Reaper. 'Awoke' weaves a tale inspired by the depth and drama of beloved fantasy tales and the intricate story lines of notable anime series, promising a world where every decision echoes with universe-altering consequences.

 Amazon

Reviews

"Awoke: The Unseen War" masterfully combines fantasy, mystery, and self-discovery. K.T. Conte's imaginative world of Ager, where the supernatural intersects with the journey of protagonist Katya Stevens, showcases vivid imagery and deep character development. Katya's evolution from an ordinary teen to a legend amidst a beautifully haunting realm highlights the novel's unique blend of the ethereal and the emotionally complex. A standout in fantasy literature, this novel is a must-read for its enchanting narrative and profound exploration of growth and adventure. ~ Readers' Favorite

K.T. Cote's Awoke grabs the reader's attention, delivering a tale that is as suspenseful as it is emotionally layered. ~ Feathered Quill

About the Author
K.T. Conte
K.T. Conte, a devotee of the written word and all things wild and fascinating, first discovered her passion for books at the tender age of two. Even then, as an avid reader, her journey to becoming an author was already on the horizon. An African-American author with a flair for breathing life into stories, K.T. holds a B.A. in English from Boston College and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School. While she is a licensed and practicing attorney, K.T.’s first love has always remained books. The enchanting dance of words across a page and the powerful narratives they weave continues to captivate and inspire her every day. Over the years, she has shared her Massachusetts home with a delightful blend of characters – the enchanting specters in the closet, her loving husband Everett, a couple of mischievous building fairies, and her beloved daughter, Ella.

Book Tour Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

Groundhog Day: Did Baaart see his shadow?

Groundhog Day: Did Baaart see his shadow?
 

***We interupt this website with breaking news...***

Baaart did not see his shadow this morning...spring is right abound the corner!
 

***We now return you to regularly scheduled post...***

Excerpt: Shadows of the Past (The Unfinished Business of Eliot Ness) Pamela McCord + giveaway

Shadows of the Past (The Unfinished Business of Eliot Ness)
Pamela McCord
December 14th 2023
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
A copycat serial killer and the ghost of Eliot Ness. Can two amateur sleuths, with the help of the famous ghost, stop the murderer before he kills again.

A ghostly figure surprises India Bennett in her study. That’s unnerving enough, but said ghost leaves a book open to a page showing a mutilated body, a body which looks just like the body in a case Indy’s homicide detective boyfriend, Danny, is currently investigating. Standing next to the body in the picture in the mysterious book is a man Indy recognizes as the ghost she saw in her study. Danny points out to her that it would be impossible for her to have seen the man in the picture, the legendary lawman Eliot Ness.

Despite Danny’s insistence, Indy knows what she saw, and she and her best friend Cara become friends with Eliot’s spirit. With ghostly assistance, the amateur sleuths begin their own investigation. After their discovery of what appears to be a journal describing the original victims from the 1930s, and with two murders already committed by the current serial killer, Indy and Cara rush to find the copycat murderer before he kills again.

In “Shadows of the Past,” a thrilling fusion of historical crime and supernatural suspense, the spirit of Eliot Ness becomes an unexpected ally, guiding Indy and Cara through a treacherous maze of secrets and hidden motives. With their lives on the line and the body count rising, they must navigate the shadows of the past and confront the malevolent force that seeks to perpetuate the sins of history.

The past and present collide in this captivating novel, unleashing a bone-chilling tale of danger, redemption, and the enduring power of justice. Prepare to be captivated by this gripping page-turner.

Goodreads-Amazon

EXCERPT:
The man bent over, hands on knees, breathing in deep, ragged breaths until his heart rate slowed to a more normal level. He wasn’t as young as he used to be. Standing, he wiped his hands on his pants, brushed off the dirt and weeds clinging to the denim overalls, then gazed down at the body laid out in the field near the railroad tracks.

He took a moment to look at, and admire, his handiwork, but only a moment, as he couldn’t afford to be spotted. Then he reluctantly slipped quietly through the night to his waiting car, parked not a dozen yards from where he’d dumped the mutilated corpse. There would be time later to savor his memories of the enjoyment the person’s last hours had provided.

The dim whistle of a train sounded in the still evening air as he pulled open the driver’s-side door. The whistle sound was replaced by the crunching of dry weeds as he drove out of the field.

About the Author:
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Born in Arkansas and raised in Southern California, Pamela McCord started writing later in life when she was challenged by a friend to create a book out of his story idea. Since then, she's become an internationally published author. Pam has spent over 40 years working as a legal secretary at a law firm in Orange County, California. Aside from writing, she follows the stock market, buying, selling and trading stocks and options. In contrast to that, she loves trips to Las Vegas where she can spend many happy hours at the Pai Gow tables. She shares a condo with her very own My Cat From Hell TV star, Allie, who manages to exude just enough affection to make her scary feral ways tolerable.

GIVEAWAY
Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
$25 Amazon gift card
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