The conviction that I was living in the world created by slavery propelled the writing of Scenes of Subjection, my first book. I could feel the force and disfigurement of slavery in the present. The life of the captive and the commodity certainly wasn’t my past, but rather the threshold of my entry into the […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2022/10/24/the-hold-of-slavery-hartman/
I have enjoyed all of Simone St. James’ creepy mystery thrillers and was excited to try her novella, Ghost 19 narrated by Brittany Pressley. This is the perfect listen at just under three hours to get your spook on.
Ghost 19
by Simone St. James
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Length: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Genres: Horror
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.3x
A woman moves to a town where she becomes obsessed with watching the lives of her neighbors while stuck in a house that refuses to let her leave in this first ever short story from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Cold Cases.
Is there something wrong with Ginette Cox? It’s what everyone seems to think. When a doctor suggests that what she might need is less excitement, she packs up and moves from New York City to a house in suburban NY: 19 Howard Ave.
The town offers Ginette little in the way of entertainment in 1959, but at least she has interesting neighbors. Whether it’s the little girl with her doll or the couple and their mother-in-law, Ginette watches them from her window and makes up names and stories for them.
But it’s not all peaceful in suburbia. Ginette finds it hard to sleep in her new house. There are strange and scary noises coming from the basement, and she is trapped, either by a ghost or her own madness.
But when Ginette starts to think a murder has taken place and a mysterious man starts making terrifying appearances outside her window, it’s clear she must deal with whatever isn’t allowing her to escape this house…
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Ginette Cox has been advised by the doctor’s that she needs a little less excitement. After a hospital stay, she leaves the glamorous, hectic life of New York City and rents a house in suburban NY: 19 Howard Ave.
Since she is banned from watching TV, she occupies her time by watching the neighbors. She invents names for them and stories. At night, though, things go terribly wrong. Something is in the basement and wants out. A man dressed oddly is staring into her windows and she witnesses a murder.
Ginette’s fear felt real and her mannerisms and behavior only added to this atmospheric tale. Fans of Alfrick Hitchcock will love the vibe and build up.
The tale that unfolds has all the chills and thrills of a perfect ghost story and Brittany Pressley does a stellar job with our unreliable narrator. This was my favorite listen for the Fraterfest Readathon and it gave me chills. Lots of twists and very atmospheric. St. James has pushed her way to the top of my must read/listen list and I was impressed by this novella.
Grab your flashlight, your partner, and listen to this creeptastic tale. Maybe leave the bathroom light on. No gore, just creepy, spooky events that will raise the hair on the back of your neck.
Amazon | Audible
At just under 3 hours Ghost 19 by Simone St. James narrated by Brittany Pressley is the PERFECT Spooky Fall listen #audiobook @TantorAudio #Thriller #Ghosts
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Simone St. James is the award-winning author of The Haunting of Maddy Clare, which won two RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. She wrote her first ghost story, about a haunted library, when she was in high school, and spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. She lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and a spoiled cat.
Audiobook Narrator of over 450 titles. Voice Over for brands including Stouffer’s, Tic Tac, Ulta Beauty, Whirlpool and more. Series regular on the Netflix animated shows Robocar Poli and Winx Club.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/10/ghost-19-by-simone-st-james.html
Jasce’s sister is missing, and the very people who can help most do not see her return as a priority. The kingdom has seemingly more important things with which to contend, and Jasce is expected to do his part, forcing him to make a choice between family and the Kingdom. Jasce, as it turns out, possesses a power highly desired by those who know him. As infamous as he is, however, he is unable to overturn the command he has been given to stand down and stop his frantic search for his sister, Jaida.
Embracing the Darkness, by Cassie Sanchez, is a rousing fantasy tale centered around siblings Jasce and Jaida, both of whom possess powers that set them apart in more ways than one. Jaida is considered a fugitive, and Jasce’s number one concern, despite the orders he has been assigned by the Queen, is finding his sister and gaining her forgiveness. Jasce’s inner turmoil and fiery temper make him a standout character in Sanchez’s beautifully detailed novel.
The author provides great backstories in the book’s introduction. Readers are given a full breakdown of the trauma and abuse that dominated the siblings’ childhoods. The gripping introduction and the interactions with their loving and fiercely protective mother set the stage for the intensity of emotion later in their lives when Jasce becomes the one with his sights set on mending fences and recovering his sister.
Cassie Sanchez is a master at balancing a complicated and multi-faceted plot with detailed imagery and incredible visuals for readers. Jasce and Jaida’s story is fast-paced, and the variety of settings and relatable dialogue all combine to make Sanchez’s story a must-read in the fantasy series.
When an author manages to make a plot come full-circle, I am always impressed and satisfied as a reader. I absolutely loved the idea that the stories Jasce’s mother told him as a child came to light in adulthood and served him as he fights to obey the Queen and recover his sister. Sanchez pulls this technique together and gives readers a specific type of closure to their reading–a truly masterful technique.
I am giving Embracing the Darkness, by Cassie Sanchez, a solid 5 out of 5 stars. With strong main characters, tastefully done romantic scenes, and an engaging plot, Sanchez’s fantasy delivers it all from cover to cover. I highly recommend Sanchez’s novel to any fantasy fan looking for a fabulous new cast of characters to cherish.
Pages: 151 | ASIN : B0B33RFRP8
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/24/embracing-the-darkness/
Set in the fictional town of Fryebury Falls, this story revolves around police chief Mike’s family and a diverse community of people suffering from various mental or psychological issues brought together by the hand of fate. Like in a typical small town in Fryebury, everybody knows everybody, and their lives are deeply interconnected. But when Jack Cleary joins Mike’s department as his deputy, the fine state of balance between reality and fantasy, right and wrong, sane and insane, becomes suddenly upset.
Little Town Blues by David Gonthier Jr. starts as a police procedural and eventually develops into a mystery novel with a hint of paranormal in it. One might find it interesting how the narrative builds towards a particular ending but surprises us with a completely different resolution. Although it is unclear as to why the author chooses to conclude his novel in this fashion, it is not one that the readers can quite anticipate. However, it is worth noting how each character has been given the opportunity to flourish within the story.
The novel is replete with literary and movie references, allowing us to identify characters with specific traits or preferences that were previously established in the original works and giving the readers an impression of the vast knowledge base of the author himself. However, some references make us question their significance to the plot. One must admit that stories loaded with references can be a distinctive style of writing, but keeping the targeted audience in mind can be equally challenging. Despite the unconventional mode of writing, as a thriller and mystery novel, this book captivates readers with its innovative delivery and a healthy dose of melodrama.
Little Town Blues is a thrilling genre-crossing novel with mystery and suspense. From the police procedural side of the story to the paranormal elements, this story will intrigue readers that are looking for excitement, unpredictability, and memorable characters.
Pages: 368 | ISBN: 1639885153
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/24/little-town-blues/
Uncover the deep, dark secrets of Kappa Zeta, and maybe you’ll discover the events that led to a young sorority pledge’s death. When Lydia was found dead, it made national headlines for being the college’s scandal of the year, and the disbelieving news rocked the college community. Unaware of the tragic accident that plagued campus society, new pledge, and South Carolina native Tinsley joins Kappa Zeta with the hopes of leaving a mysterious, haunting past behind her. With her fair share of secrets to hide, Tinsley hoped to keep the closet door closed on her skeletons, but keeping secrets wasn’t part of being the perfect sister. Would her experience as part of this infamous sorority be the epic high she was seeking or the crushing downfall that led to her demise?
Zachary Ryan’s The Perfect Sister is written in a style similar to Gossip Girl. This book leaves readers on the edges of their seats with the subtle hints the narrator drops throughout the story. A creepy, sinister tone concludes each chapter, and the cliff-hanging clues keep your eyes glued to the page. The writing is simple, but this works in favor of the plot at times. There are great, simple physical descriptions of characters, painting a clear image of the character in your reader’s mind. However, sometimes simple writing is not enough in some areas of this book. I felt that the novel could have made use of more literary devices to strengthen reader engagement.
The Perfect Sister is a suspenseful psychological thriller novel that will keep readers on edge from one chapter to the next. Everyone has secrets to hide, but hiding them from your sorority sisters isn’t an option in this story. The drama and mystery will keep readers returning to find out who they can trust if anyone.
Pages: 326 | ASIN : B0B89G9F77
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/24/the-perfect-sister-2/
Astar, an 18-year-old boy, has been at the receiving end of strange powers and dreams for quite some time. He vividly remembers every time both manifests but cannot understand what all of these mean in his life. One day, his best friend, Micah, shows him a startling discovery —a huge gaping hole on the ground, which looked eerily familiar to Astar. The events that transpired after this finally give him answers to all the confusion, and he slowly realizes that he is part of a larger world he was only imagining before. As it calls him to use his abilities, Astar must understand what his choices mean and where they could lead not just himself but the entire world as he knows it.
Temple of Valor: Astar’s Blade, by Joe Lyon, is a well-executed book that perfectly closes a trilogy that fans have anticipated for so long. It packs enough references from the past, all while emphasizing the new characters’ roles in the story. The novel, with its two predecessors, guarantees a whole new world that readers can get to explore, all while enjoying common tropes in the genre to help them connect the dots and accommodate their initial idea of fantasy.
If you did not read the previous books, it is still easy to understand the events due to the author’s careful world-building, which is something integral in a fantasy novel. This was noticeable at the beginning, where every detail of the three Devourers was explained, from the first body part that each pulled out from the hole up until they were flying up. With so many unusual elements throughout the novel, the attention to detail was a generous help in trying to grasp how the characters and the setting look like and what they are doing on that exact page. Furthermore, the sequence of the story was well-written, particularly in the action scenes where not many lines were needed. It leaves you hooked and asking for more, making the five hundred pages seem short.
Temple of Valor: Astar’s Blade is the riveting conclusion to the epic fantasy series Astar’s Blade. With so much that this book has to offer, readers will surely be left satisfied as they close the book in finality, all while imagining what the next possible approaches, another book or trilogy or adaptation, can offer.
Pages: 526 | ASIN : B0B8TQ7XZ4
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/24/temple-of-valor/
In Motion: The Art of Moving Forward by Creating Change, author Aileen Sideris shares ideas for a better life and tips that can help readers elevate their situations. In this motivating book, the author takes the reader through different steps that can help one achieve their goals as she explains why each step is crucial. Aileen Sideris introduces the reader to the book by giving definitions of fundamental terms that will be used throughout the book. The author starts by discussing motion and explaining in detail what motion is and how it can help you attain your goals. This style of writing is replicated throughout the book as the author brings in more new topics.
Every new topic has an easy-to-digest breakdown as the author shares her knowledge in both bullet point form and in prose. By doing this, the reader easily follows the discussion and even highlights key parts of the text. Aileen Sideris also shares how she pursues her goals and the paths she has taken. The personal experience feels intimate and gets the reader to further connect with her words. One of the primary things I like about Sideris is how assertive she is. Even when discussing challenges, the author uses affirming words that get the reader to be motivated. Her soft tone while discussing important topics and the inclusion of day-to-day events make the text more relevant.
This well-written book will be your ladder to success. More importantly, the author will help you find the right path in life and get you to make constructive life-changing decisions. I like that the author uses real-life examples of renowned and celebrated icons worldwide to get her message. The author writes about successful individuals like Barack Obama, Stephen King, Oprah Winfrey, and Kate Winslet and how they made a name for themselves despite coming from humble backgrounds.
Motion: The Art of Moving Forward by Creating Change is a motivational and inspirational self-help book. The author’s humility in her writing and precision when discussing the various subjects make this book unique from others. No matter what stage of life readers are in, there is something in this book to help them improve their quality of life and achieve personal growth.
Pages: 404 | ASIN : B0B7X6GRQ2
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/24/motion/