About the Book

Title: Gristle & Bone

Author: Duncan Ralston

Genre: Horror, Short Story Collection

Short and novella-length dark fiction from the twisted imagination of Duncan Ralston.


BABY TEETH

After doctors tell her she can’t be pregnant, Candace learns that not every child is a gift.


BEWARE OF DOG

Disgraced soldier Dean Vogel returns to his hometown and confronts the bullies, and a horrifying event, from his past.


VIRAL

A reporter uncovers what really happened to the latest internet sensation, a troubled girl who disappeared on camera.


ARTIFACT (#37)

Gonzo pornographers learn a brutal lesson following a tragedy they inadvertently caused when life imitated “art.”


//END USER

Anti-social conspiracy theorist Mason Adler’s life is turned upside-down when he begins receiving eerily personal and prophetic spam that could be heralding the Apocalypse.


FAT OF THE LAND

A couple discovers the secret of a tourist town’s prosperity may lie in its sinfully delicious cuisine.


SCAVENGERS

When successful restaurant owners Jim and Leanne Taymor confess to a grisly series of small town murders, their neighbor learns the gruesome truth that led them to kill. In Knee High, Nebraska, someone–or something–has been stalking household pets in the dead of night… but would they rather be hunting us?

Review: 
With seven short horror stories, Gristle and Bone offers a little something for everyone; creatures, shifters, disappearances, ghosts, the Apocalypse, cannibals and frugaltarians round out this collections.  For every story in here, I really enjoyed Duncan’s build of suspense, pacing and characters.  I was very impressed with all of the different types of horror included from subtle to downright terrifying and gory.  I also loved some of the twists that I never saw coming. 

My absolute favorite story of the bunch was the last one, Scavengers, which is novella-length.  So, you’re probably thinking ‘what’s so scary about frugaltarians?’ Well, they are not what they seem at all.  This story had me from the beginning, when a neighbor is recounting restaurant owner’s Jim and Leann’s dealings with scavengers from their dumpster and why it turned into murder.  There was a lot of suspense building, characters that I got a good feel for and more weirdness that I could imagine with the frugaltarians; and not to mention a twist at the very end. 

Another favorite for me was Beware of Dog.  Veteran, Dean returns to his home town and under the care of a psychologist, he is told to come to terms and apologize for an event with a classmate from his past.  This story didn’t have the typical horror feel, but there was plenty of suspense and violence.  Most of the story deals with the typical and mundane overcoming of the past and confronting a bully.  However, Dean’s issue with dogs doesn’t become clear until he finally takes the advice of his doctor and confronts his past tormentor.  This one was unsuspected and atypical, but I loved it.

Overall, a great short story collection for someone who wants to check out a new author.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

 

About the Author: 
Duncan Ralston was born in Toronto, and spent his teens in a small town. As a “grown-up,” Duncan lives with his girlfriend and their dog in Toronto, where he writes about the things that frighten and disturb him. In addition to his twisted short stories found in GRISTLE & BONE and THE BLACK ROOM MANUSCRIPTS, his debut novel, SALVAGE, will haunt various booksellers in the fall, 2015.

Links

Website: http://duncanralston.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/userbits

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gristleandbone

About the Book: 
 Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harper (July 28, 2015)

Paper Moon meets the Blitz in this original black comedy set in World War II England, chronicling an unlikely alliance between a small-time con artist and a young orphan evacuee.

When Noel Bostock—aged ten, no family—is evacuated from London to escape the Nazi bombardment, he lands in a suburb northwest of the city with Vera Sedge—a thirty-six-year-old widow drowning in debts and dependents. Always desperate for money, she’s unscrupulous about how she gets it.

Noel’s mourning his godmother, Mattie, a former suffragette. Wise beyond his years and raised with a disdain for authority and an eclectic attitude toward education, he has little in common with other children, and even less with the impulsive Vee, who hurtles from one self-made crisis to the next. The war’s provided unprecedented opportunities for making money, but what Vee needs—and what she’s never had—is a cool head and the ability to make a plan. On her own, she’s a disaster. With Noel, she’s a team.

Together they cook up a scheme. Crisscrossing the bombed suburbs of London, Vee starts to turn a profit and Noel begins to regain his interest in life. But there are plenty of other people making money off the war—and some of them are dangerous. Noel may have been moved to safety, but he isn’t actually safe at all.



Purchase Links

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Review: 
Two lost souls find each other in England during World War II.  Ten year old Noel Bostock was raised by his godmother, Mattie, an eclectic soul and a suffragette.  Mattie raised Noel her way, Noel does not fear authority and has a way of thinking to challenge most adults.  When Mattie’s dementia worsens, Noel is left alone and is eventually sent to the countryside as an evacuee.  Noel is taken in a Mrs. Vera Sledge, a widow who has one problem after another, especially with money.  Vera takes up schemes to profit from the war, but she does even better when Noel offers up a thought out plan. 

This was a very surprising read for me.  At first, the setting captured me; London during war-time was a desperate place, rationing, air-raids, and bombings.  All of these characters captured me right from the start, each is incredibly unique and very realistic; even the characters that may not be extremely likeable are still interesting and have their place.  Noel is incredibly charming for a 10 year old boy; I love his way of thinking and his interactions with adults.  The very unusual attribute of Mattie and Mrs. Gifford both being suffragists and both falling to the same disease and Noel’s relationship with them was touching.  At first, Vera is not a woman that many would like, but as her relationship with Noel strengthens, her inner strength grows.  For two people trying to survive in a difficult world and with difficult people, all Vera and Noel and need is each other. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

 

About the Author: 
Lissa Evans, a former radio and television producer, is the author of three previous novels, including Their Finest Hour and a Half, which was longlisted for the Orange Prize. Crooked Heart was also longlisted for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction (formerly known as the Orange Prize); it is her first novel to be published in the US. Evans lives in London with her family.

Find out more about Evans at her website, and follow her on Twitter.

About the Book: 
Title: Masters of Time, A Sci-Fi and Fantasy Time Travel Anthology
Authors: Alesha Escobar (Featured author), Samantha Lafantasie, Timothy C. Ward, H.M. Jones, Devorah Fox, and Alice Marks
Publication Date: July 13, 2015
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Time Travel

Synopsis
A clone who usurps his own destiny--and with it, the power of Time. A time travel romance that would defy death, and an alluring agent from the future hunting her prey...

Imaginative and heart-pounding stories are woven into the fabric of this time travel short story collection. From adventure to loss, hope and sacrifice, each tale touches upon the precious value given to Time, and what we'd do with it, if we were its masters.

The Masters of Time sci-fi/fantasy time travel anthology is presented to you by USA Today bestselling author Samantha LaFantasie, Alesha Escobar and Devorah Fox, Hugo Award nominee Timothy C. Ward, B.R.A.G Medallion honoree H.M. Jones, and Alice Marks.




Review: 
A collection of six science fiction and fantasy stories focusing around the theme of time travel. Through each story, it was really interesting to see the different emotions that went into each characters ability or decision to time travel, from love to grief, hope to adventure, every traveler had unique reasons for their journeys in time.  Another aspect that I enjoyed through each story were the different methods of time travel that each story used.  As with any anthology there were stories that I liked more than others.  My absolute favorite was End of the Road where a rambunctious 5-year old girl named Maddie travels through a painting at her grandmother's house.  Maddie gets a taste of life on a Southern plantation once she walks through the painting and finds that she likes her life much better.  I loved the painting as a medium for travel, the point of view from a child and Maddie's go-with-the-flow reaction to everything that was happening to her.  The other story in the collection that drew me in was The Light Storm of 2015.  College friends Gina and Ben take the chance to change one event in their past through a once in a lifetime light storm.  For a short story, I felt like I got to know Gina and Ben really well, I loved the light storm as a method of travel, and I'm a sucker for a happy ending.  Overall, a great collection of time travel stories with a little something for everyone.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

Alesha Escobar writes fantasy to support her chocolate habit. She enjoys everything from Tolkien and Dante to the Dresden Files and Hellblazer comics.

She resides in California with her partner-in-crime, Luis Escobar, a 20-year art veteran on The Simpsons television show. Alesha is the authorof The Gray Tower Trilogy, an action-packed supernatural spy thriller set in an alternate 1940's. The trilogy books have hit the Amazon bestsellers lists for Historical Fantasy and Mashups.

You can find Alesha at her weekly blog, Fantasy, Mashups, & Mayhem, where she discusses fantasy and science fiction TV shows, movies and books, and celebrity gossip.

She's just kidding about the celebrity gossip.
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About The Book: 

Publication Date: July 6, 2015
Publisher: Carina Press
eBook; ASIN: B00XCYM8XS
Series: Goddess Born, Book Three
Genre: Historical/Fantasy/Romance



As a goddess-born healer, Selah Kilbrid wants nothing to do with the goddess of death and disease, nor any of her human progeny. But when the two people she loves most disappear—her dearest friend Nora Goodwin and her betrothed Lord Henry Fitzalan—Selah has no choice but to leave London in pursuit of Death’s most powerful daughter.

Accompanied by a ragtag group of travelers, Selah follows a treacherous path across the Irish Sea to the long-forgotten prison of a witch who once nearly destroyed Ireland. Selah would face any danger to protect those she loves, but what if it means unleashing a greater evil on the human world? Could she risk the lives of many to save a few, or are some sacrifices too great?



An Immortal Descent Available at
Amazon 
Barnes & Noble 
iTunes

Review:
Selah Kilbrid is on the run, following her betrothed, Henry overseas.  Henry is trying to find Selah’s friend, Nora who was kidnapped by a witch.  Though dangerous, Selah makes the trip across the Irish Sea.  On her journey she comes across many adversaries and a plot to unleash an ancient evil.  Selah, her family and other Goddess Born must find a way to outwit Carmen’s children in battle for power of the Gods and Goddesses over their descendants. 

After reading the first two books of Goddess Born, I had to know what Selah and Henry would do next.  An Immortal Descent is filled with fast-paced adventure, suspense, danger and romance.  In this book Selah is forced to go through a lot of growth.  At first she is frantic, wanting to save her best friend; Selah ends up placing her trust in the wrong people and not always listening to her intuition.  One of the most interesting things in this installment was learning about all of the different types of Goddess Born and their gifts.  I really like Ailish’s character, her spirit and her unique gifts; though Selah thinks they are mortal enemies at first, both women find it within themselves to work together and combine their gifts for an even greater power.  I was intrigued by Ailish’s gift, and I think the author did a great job of explaining why forces of death, disease and destruction would be gifts and forces that the world needs.  Also, a wonderful ending, beautify and romantic, with everything that I could ever want for Selah and Henry.

This book was provided for free in return for an honest review. 

 

About the Author
Kari Edgren is the author of the Goddess Born series. In 2010 and 2011 she was a semifinalist for the Amazon Break Through Novel Award. In 2013, she was a RWA Golden Heart finalist. Ms. Edgren enjoys writing both historical and contemporary fiction, so long as there’s a paranormal twist. She resides on a mountain top in the Pacific Northwest where she spends a great deal of time dreaming about the sun and torturing her husband and children with strange food and random historical facts.

For more information please visit Kari Edgren’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

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Read An Excerpt: 
In an instant, the ground fell away, and my stomach flew up as we dropped into thin air. My startled scream turned to a grunt a second later when my feet hit the ground. The lantern fell from my grasp to the sound of breaking glass, and I stumbled sideways, only to be caught by Henry’s firm grip.

He pulled me to him. “I’ve got you,” he whispered.

A rush of cool air hissed over me, the musty scent making my nerves cringe. It lasted only a moment before fading to deadly stillness. I blinked several times, trying to get my bearings, but there was nothing to see. Blackness surrounded us. Muffled voices seemed to echo from every direction, male and female.

Henry strengthened his hold on my hand. “We need to move.”

Brigid’s fire ran to my fingertips. Nothing changed with the first step or even the second. On the third, a faint light penetrated the darkness, and I realized we were in a stone tunnel of sorts, as though someone had burrowed straight into the hillside. The voices grew more distinct, and shapes appeared, two lone figures ahead of us.

Henry must have seen them as well, for he quickened his pace and another half dozen steps brought us behind Cate and Tom. Somehow Cate had managed to keep hold of her lantern, which she now held aloft. Tom stood at her side, his broadsword at a slightly higher angle. We edged closer, and the sides of the tunnel curved outward at what looked to be the beginning of a cavern.

“Where are we?” I whispered.

Cate tilted her head up, though only darkness could be seen beyond the small circle of lantern light. “Between our two worlds.” Her hushed voice skimmed the stone that surrounded us on all sides.

Henry placed a protective hand on my shoulder. “It would appear that no one is home.”

Creases formed around Cate’s narrowed eyes. “I’m not so sure about that.” She continued to study the darkness but said no more.

Silent as a ghost, Ailish drew alongside me. She didn’t speak a word, just inhaled a slow, deep breath through her nose. Releasing it, she repeated the action, this time holding it for several seconds.

“What is it, Miss O’Bearra,” Cate asked.

Ailish exhaled, and her cold breath brushed my cheek. “I smell death, milady.”

About the Book: 
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (August 4, 2015)

A stunning debut novel of historical fiction set in the forgotten world of New York City's Jewish orphanages

In 1919, four-year-old Rachel Rabinowitz is placed in the Hebrew Infant Home where Dr. Mildred Solomon is conducting medical research on the children. Dr. Solomon subjects Rachel to an experimental course of X-ray treatments that establish the doctor's reputation while risking the little girl's health. Now it's 1954, and Rachel is a nurse in the hospice wing of the Old Hebrews Home when elderly Dr. Solomon becomes her patient. Realizing the power she holds over the helpless doctor, Rachel embarks on a dangerous experiment of her own design. Before the night shift ends, Rachel will be forced to choose between forgiveness and revenge.

Inspired by true events, Orphan #8 is a powerful novel about the human capacity to harm—and to love.



Purchase Links

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble


Review: 
At the age of four Rachel Rabinowitz was placed into the Hebrew Infant Home, an orphanage for Jewish youth.  In the Home it is decided that Rachel will be used for medical experiments; orphans make perfect test subjects where everything in their life can be controlled.  Headstrong and unyielding, Dr. Mildred Solomon appears at the Home, breaking through a male barrier to the placement that she wanted.  Dr. Solomon decides Rachel will be the best subject for her X-Ray experiments.  A year after being relentlessly X-rayed, poked and prodded, a now bald and stunted Rachel is sent to the Orphaned Hebrews Home for older children.  At the Home, she is ridiculed for her baldness, but finds friends and eventually comes to find her place as a nursing assistant.  Thirty-five years later, a grown Rachel works in the Old Hebrews Home, taking care of hospice patients.  Her memory is stirred one day when a new patient arrives with a name from her past, Mildred Solomon.  Forced to remember the lost details of her cruel past, Rachel decides that it is time for Dr. Solomon to answer for her actions of the past and for setting Rachel’s life on the path the she now must take.

This is an emotionally packed journey that ended up being so much more than just historical fiction.  I was intrigued by the Jewish Orphanages, and was surprised about how much the author took straight from history including some of the characters stories and the medical testing done on children.  The descriptions of the home were vivid and brought the castle-like structure to life.  Told through Rachel’s point of view as a child growing up in the Children’s Home and Rachel as an adult working at the Old Hebrew’s Home, there is a unique experience of seeing Rachel’s past confront her present and seeing the affect that her childhood has had on the actions that she is taking.  Most of all though, I was entranced by Rachel and Dr. Solomon’s intertwined stories.   These are both fiercely strong women who faced amazing adversity in their lives to get to where they are.  At first I thought that this would be a story of revenge and redemption as the tables were turned on the two women; but it is really a story of growth, acceptance and love.  In addition to Rachel facing Dr. Solomon, there were many other facets to the story that made it rich in history.  Rachel’s sexuality and seeing how lesbians were treated in the 1950’s and her brother Sam’s involvement in the War and liberating a concentration camp added historical context.    Overall, Orphan #8 is an intense emotional journey that blends historical fiction, coming of age and suspense. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

About the Author: 
Kim van Alkemade was born in New York. Her creative nonfiction has appeared in literary journals including Alaska Quarterly Review, So to Speak, and CutBank. She teaches writing at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

Find out more about Kim at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.