This was one of the better short story collections I have read in quite a while. Very nice variety in the flavor of story and well written by all of the authors. All,of the stories were short enough to read in one sitting and held my attention throughout. Highly recommended!

Another excellent work by Steve Hudgins. His writing style makes for quick reading without bogging the reader down with overly verbose dialogue and just enough description of the scene to allow your do a little of the work rather than being told every minute detail. It’s this concept that makes for more interesting reading as the reader has a little leeway in envisioning the surroundings. As for the story itself......what happens when a popular ghost hunting team go looking for real ghosts and actually find them? You’ll have to read for yourself to find out, but be prepared, it’s a wild ride with enough twists and turns to make you feel like a roller coaster ride at your favorite funpark. Highly recommended, particularly if you are looking for quick reads with some good scare elements!

I quite enjoyed almost every one of the stories in this collection. It definitely started off strong with the first several and then there were a couple in the late middle that were a bit flat but finished strong with the final 2. While most of these centered on vampires, there was enough variation in the material for it not to become stale. Stories were short enough to read in one sitting without tiring out the reader. Nice collection here.

This turned out to be quite a good collection of stories although a couple in the middle got a little bogged down with unrealistic portrayals of some shootouts and lack of plot. The first 5 or 6 stories along with the final one were my favorites but all in all, a good collection of old west and new combined with a few familiar names and places. Recommended!

A collection of jokes and tales sent to the author via email, many quite humorous but definitely not for anyone who is the least bit sensitive. Some are tame and tasteful, while others are quite crude and sophomoric. If you don’t easily get your feelings hurt and like a chuckle or two, I would suggest you give this one a try. Even though you might have heard a few of these previously, they will still probably bring a smile every now and again.

As a recovering alcoholic myself, this was a vivid reminder of drunken nights I don’t recall and all the associated pain and self loathing that came with it. I thank the author for her courage in putting her story front and center and honest. Highly recommended, particularly those who know the struggle.

I received this book in exchange for a review but I would give this a true 5 star review regardless. This guy might be one of my new favorite authors. The stories in this collection are concise but astoundingly written. Very descriptive scenes draw you in and the stories themselves take on a life of their own to pull you into each setting further. Dark characters and situations leave you oddly unsettled as they unfold and a couple of them had me doing double takes in the dark. Excellent work! Highly recommended!

I received an ARC in return for a review. The subject matter contained in this book was fascinating and held a lot of promise but the style and presentation left a bit to be desired for me. I understand the style and writing are to appeal to all levels and types of readers but if you want more in depth and fleshing out of each story, this will leave you wanting for more. As an introductory or summary for each of these cases though, this one should work for you.

Outstanding collection. I enjoyed every story from beginning to end. Will DEFINITELY read more of his work.

This story started off well for me but fell flat about 1/3 of the way through. I'm not exactly sure what didn't appeal to me but it just didn't hit the right notes for me. I read the audiobook version and part of it might have been the narrator as I found the narration a bit difficult to understand at certain points. It was a rather short book so the time investment was not extraordinary.

One of the better books I've read in quite a while. Any story of wrongs being righted and justice truly being served are always winners to me and this one is no exception. The choice of narrator in the audiobook brought a whole new level to it as his voice definitely put you right into the south. Another great work by Mr. Grisham. Highly recommended.

This was recommended as one that will stick with you and it certainly will. Reading this book puts you into the place of so many troubled kids who, because of their struggles, are abused and mistreated and then fall into the system. From there, the journey into a normal life seems almost impossible and often times becomes almost impossible as things continue to pile on and pile on while also not being treated for the initial problem that got them into the situation. This is one of those stories, and it becomes increasingly unclear if the accused is actually guilty, yet increasingly clear that her situation isn't going to be improving greatly in the long run. A very well written story that captures the sadness of a tale that is far too often a reality in this world.

I expected more out of this, I’m afraid. Not that it wasn’t good or enjoyable, but I just believe I expected........something more. The twists were a bit too predictable and even the main bad guy seemed out of place. Not the most likely of scenarios and I had a hard time accepting the bad guy as THE one. I was expecting a lot more thrills and unexpected twists but they just didn’t quite arrive for me. Still, if you like the genre, this is a good effort but keep the expectations tempered.

This was one of the more emotional and moving books I have read. Reliving the tragedies that occurred on 9/11, and listening to it from the mouths of those who had first-hand experience, brought all the feeling of fear, loss and overwhelming sadness roaring back. At the same time, hearing from so many of those who survived was a tremendous uplifting experience, even when they were describing their fear and terror going through those moments. A wonderful retelling of the day our world changed.

This was one of the most enjoyable and fun books I have read in quite some time. Listening to it as an audiobook added an extra level of pleasure with the accents used by Mr. Heller in his narration. At several points in this book, I was literally laughing out loud and found myself replaying certain portions in my mind as I grasped at the visions in my mind's eye. It's hard to classify this one but I would have to say it's a little mystery, a little Dick Tracy, a little sci-fi all wrapped up and presented with a ton of humor. Several of the interactions in the story (in particular, the visit to Lone Jones' mother) had me in absolute stitches. All I can say about this one is MORE, MORE!

This book was quite a lot of fun. From the opening scene until the end, it was a wild ride of “what would you do?” I couldn’t help but think of how would I feel in that situation but also the improbability of the actual “chain” of events. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes a good edge-of-your-seat thriller.

The story of 2 brothers setting out to navigate the Oregon Trail in a covered wagon was such a great premise but it fell far flat for me as instead of being tale of history and descriptions of the beauty and the difficulties of the journey itself, the story became more about the mules and the wagon (and the incessant talk of the "trail pup"). Additionally, as I read this as an audiobook, the author would have done himself a lot of favors by allowing someone else narrate the book. His jerky, stilted reading style actually distracted me from large portions of the story. Also, the conversations between he and his brother seemed far too hokey and served as a distraction also. The most enjoyable part of the entire audiobook was actually at the end when the 2 brothers sat down and had a recorded conversation about their recollections together. If the entire book had been more like that, it would have been far preferable to the actual book.

Another masterful work of art from one of my favorite authors working today. Joe Hill channels his father, Richard Bachman, Ray Bradbury and many other legends of the craft in this stupendous collection of stories delving from the scary real world to the supernatural. Even with a small lull in the middle, the first few stories and the last few kept me reading and yearning for more. The audiobook had a delightful menagerie of narrators that enhanced the tales and a few of the stories had me literally creeped out as I listened. I can’t wait for more of Mr. Hill’s work.

I’ve been a fan of Jerry Clower my entire life and this collection of his “stories told funny” are some of his essential tales that still bring back extremely fond memories of time spent with my grandfather listening to Jerry Clower records on Sunday afternoons. I can still hear his voice ring. There will never be another humorist like Jerry Clower and this book is a must have for anyone who is even slightly a Jerry Clower fan.

This whole story from the get-go reminded me way too much of the Benghazi story and I almost quit on it then, not desiring to rehash that whole political junk. I decided to continue, but still, it was too similar to the Benghazi story and all the politicization that still seems to seep out from that situation. Regardless, it was a reinforcement of how political our whole government has become and how so much is really not about finding the truth of matters but just making "the other side" look bad. A good time waster but probably not anything I would read again or recommend as I have no desire to read any of the others in the series. Even as political thrillers go, I wouldn't put this one in that category. The writing seemed to lose me at times, perhaps it was disinterestedness, but none of the characters seemed to engage me, and the only storyline that seemed to have any interest was only talked about in the very beginning and then not to be mentioned again until the very end of the book. Only recommended if you are just a political, and political conspiracy, junkie.

I have to say, I wasn't sure what to expect with this collection but this one still surprised me. This collection is definitely not for the faint of heart nor the timid and must be read with an open mind, otherwise you definitely will not finish this. Not that the stories are overly grotesque but there are situations in which a closed mind or overly conservative viewpoint would quickly turn one away. There was only one story which I struggled to get through but only because I didn't appreciate the story itself, not that I was turned off by it. It just failed to interest me but aside from that one, this was quite a good collection. I was provided a copy of this in exchange for a review and I'm thoroughly glad I read this one. I will definitely be on the lookout for more by Mr. McKay.

Having grown up watching Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, the opportunity to go back into my childhood and learn more about this fascinating man was one I couldn’t pass up. From his wealthy beginnings, to the humble way he led his life, to the graciousness, patience and care he showed to every child he met, along with the ones he never personally met, Fred Rogers was an example of how to live a life dedicated to educating children. Listening to LeVar Burton’s narration added an additional element to Mr. Rogers story that enriched the story even further, as he was also an instrumental character in my childhood due to his work on Reading Rainbow. Definitely a recommended read for anyone who remembers Fred Rogers’ work.

An enjoyable read for those who don’t mind knowing who did it early on and can figure out the plot twist long before it occurs. The “bad guy” in this one reminded quite a lot of Matthew McConaughey’s character in Frailty and also the character Dexter. A killer with not so much a conscience but perhaps a code of conduct. I would recommend this book quite well.

On my reread, this picks up an additional star from me. I didn’t fully appreciate the world building and particularly, the political story within, in my younger years but now as an adult I more thoroughly appreciate this book. It does get a bit tedious at times but the elaborate characters and interactions of the politics among the Houses and the Emperor and the various cultures bring out a rich and vibrant world. Lots of religious undertones that ring clearer today with so much going on in the Middle East that are easier to recognize today than in my youth as well. This is one I’m glad I read again at a more mature age.

This was a great look at the tensions that still exist in our society today and how the view of the exact same situation looks entirely different from the perspective of 2 different people within that same society. I greatly enjoyed the shifting perspective of the scene between the 2 girls and how they viewed the same events differently. Listening to the audiobook, I do have a bone to pick with the way the dialogue was read as it came off feeling, and sounding, very unnatural. The voice in my head was hearing things much differently than was recorded. The story was a good take on mob mentality and how things can get out of hand rapidly and how innocents can get caught in the middle but still having to deal with all around them. Unfortunately, real situations don't always get to end so clean as this one but I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

This entire story was a descent into madness. From the opening scene to the climactic (in multiple ways) ending, the characters in this story start out unlikable and steadily worsen. Mental illnesses reign and those are the bright spots. This author seems to find ways in each of his stories I’ve read to continue to churn out characters worse than his previous ones, and impressively, that’s quite a challenge. Sadly, though, the realism of these characters helps to put into perspective the truth that the author writes about as far too often, these scenes play out all around the world each day

When I started this collection, I was initially drawn in by the first several stories and was highly enthusiastic about this great new collection but at about the halfway point, the steam faded and the last half was actually a chore to get through. Not that the stories weren’t good or well written, they just didn’t appeal to me. A few of these I was just totally lost on the direction or even what was transpiring at times. Perhaps it was just me being too dense, or loss of focus, but I struggled through the end of it but I did owe the author a review. If you like a mix of horror, sci-fi, and some just plain weird, I would recommend you try this collection even though about half of it it didn’t particularly appeal to my tastes.

This book was quite difficult to read through. Not only for the subject matter but because absolutely zero of the characters in it were even semi-likable. Honestly, none of them had any redeeming qualities. It was entertaining but nothing groundbreaking. And the only real eye opening thing about the entire story was the vast number of different ways to describe men that the author came up with. Amazing!

An outstanding treatise on how President Lincoln surrounded himself with the strongest members of his party and put them in prominent places in his cabinet, even when they didn’t entirely agree. Strong evidence that the sum is greater than the parts. A fabulous historical read and fascinating insight for anyone who wants to know how to properly build a team to accomplish the most difficult tasks.

Suspenseful writing and the narration of the audiobook made it come alive even more. Enough twists to keep the story entertaining even though some implausibility crept in. Was a bit of a letdown with what could have been the main protagonist but I won’t say anymore for fear of giving away some of the plot. Enjoyable read though.