Posted in Book Reviews

The Broken Darkness

By Theresa Braun

4 Stars

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is a compilation of short horror/paranormal stories. It is not my typical go to. I do like a good short story though, even collections of them, because sometimes they are just what you need in between heavy reads. These were easy reads, though I did find some of them harder to get through then others. I don’t think it is a negative to the book or the author, and more just not my preference. I did read one of the stories already listed in the book several years ago, and I enjoyed that one very much (Dead Over Heels).

Of the new to me stories in the collections, two of them stand out as my favorites. I really enjoyed The Celestial Assignment and Dying for An Invitation. I liked The Celestial Assignment because it gave a dark, harrowed look at how we humans are a lesson for new guardian angels. That the angels themselves might have been horrible people but then when they die, they are given people to guard that is supposed to teach them something. I liked how this story really came full circle with some of the characters in it. I still think about it. I liked Dying for An Invitation because it took a new take on lore we already typically know regarding Transylvania and Vampires, and follows the craziness of family and learning maybe they really weren’t so crazy when it is too late to change your fate.

The stories are too short to really give a description over each one. If you enjoy quick reads and horror at that, this is a good book to pick up. If you are okay with stories not having a happy ending, this is also a good book for you, because I don’t remember any LOL.

Posted in Book Reviews

Meeting God or Something Like It

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Rating: 3 stars

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. This is my honest review. 

It has taken me a little while to get through this book, and now I find it hard to decide what to rate and how to rate it.

Overall, the stories were well written with beautiful imagery. Some stories really left me with a feeling of shock and awe. I like that in a story. However, I find it hard to really write a review.  The Lamb left me with a Holy. Shit. feeling when I was finished reading. I think The Conversation was entertaining. God in this story had a very humorous sense of humor. Podcasting Mercy  was probably one of my favorite stories in the book. It was a very intense conversation between a young man just out of prison and a clergyman. The young man had abducted the clergyman, blindfolded him, tied him up and over a bluetooth device, podcasted an entire history of abuse this clergyman inflicted upon numerous little boys.

Whether or not you are religious, you may or may not like this set of stories. I couldn’t really tell if if Ruvinsky is poking fun at religion, or pointing out how religion pops up randomly in people’s lives when they least expect it. Decide for yourselves if you give this book a go.

Posted in Book Reviews

Santa’s Claws…and other short stories

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So. This was interesting….Free book for amazon kindle. Would I pay for this collection of short stories? No. My rating? 2.5 stars? I didn’t even read the last story…

There are 4 short stories in this book, though the last story was included “preview” in the title so I just said eff it, I am done…

First story: Santa’s Claws: Horrible bad boy, Ryan, always in trouble. Every year he gets coal from Santa. This year, is going to be different…he will devise a plan to trick Santa into giving him presents! One problem…the girl down the road, wrote Santa that Ryan has a plan up his sleeve and she believes he should watch his back. Outcome? Santa knew about Ryan’s trick and tricked him instead…Ryan was turned into a doll and given to the girl down the road for her collection….

The second story was about a boy who made fun of the lunch lady…the lunch lady put rat poison in his food the next day.

The third story is about a family who puts a baby monitor in the baby’s room that can hook up to the tv. The older sister saw her death play out on it…she discovered it was her death when she rushed into the baby’s room to same whomever was in there, and she died.

The fourth story is about zombies. But I didn’t get to it…maybe you will enjoy it…I don’t know.

Piddly read. I wouldn’t suggest it, but if you are curious about it…it is free. So you won’t have to feel ashamed of yourself for spending money on it when it wasn’t worth it!