ARC REVIEW Never Let Me Fall by Abbie Roads

Fatal Dreams #3, Each of the Fatal Dreams books can be read as a standalone. While this one didn't quite have the same umph as Roads last three books it was still a fantastic read. Very deep in the internal conflict of recognizing who they are together and what they are becoming. A dark fairy tale/folklore at the root of it all tells a tale of never ending love and the power it holds and the reincarnated souls that carry on that power.

Thomas Brown lost the ability to see color when his step father tried to kick his face in, the resulting damage caused serious problems to the optic nerve. He also has the ability to see a person's "death shadow" which tells him basically how evil a person really is and after a person dies it can show him the person's life up until their death. Helena Greyse was tried and convicted for a murder she never committed and spent the last ten years fighting for her life. Helen survived many attacks while in prison some that should have killed her, even her last night there she barely made it out with her life. When they meet for the first time, the day Helen was released, they both knew their lives have unequivocally changed. Helen has brought color to Thomas' life and for the first time in ten years Helen felt safe with Thomas. Thomas and Helen's lives are tied together in so many ways but there is still one giant obstacle for them to overcome. Can their love overcome this common enemy who has been a source of pain for them both?   

Overall, this book was outstanding it's an emotional read, it's dark, it's paranormal, it's suspenseful, it's heavy on the internal conflict without the characters sounding whiny and useless. They are each other's strength, they are the balm for their souls it's a beautiful insta-love romance. The external conflict wasn't as traumatizing for me as the other two, it was still bad but it almost feels like it was glossed over and leaves you with just assuming how bad the events were; but it was still good and I loved the conclusion.  

Halloween Reading Recommendations

All this week I will posting books for to help you get into the Halloween spirit, or just help you find book that will creep you out and keep you up.

Normally I don't do recommendations often, but I figure for Halloween it's okay.

One book in particular I love, it's a great Halloween read. The Gingerbread Man by Maggie Shayne. A hair raising thriller that kept me wanting for more, I didn't want to put this book down. Although I did guess one element at about half way through, other than that I loved this book. The characters have troubled pasts in one way or another, an internal struggle they must deal with at the same time fight the attraction toward each other and finding the serial kidnapper/pedophile/rapist before he strikes again. And it all takes place during Halloween.






Books that are scary but not Halloween




I've always been partial to Clive Barker. Cabal and the Hellbound Heart are two of my favorites but also The Books of Blood series. There are six book in the series and each book contains a collection of the macabre that only Clive Barker could do. Yes those are my books and yes I'm missing the sixth book.






Next up on my list is William Todd Rose's Realms of the Dead, it's two connected novellas.
For me everyday day is a good day for a damn good horror novel. I had no idea what to expect from William Todd Rose, I have never read him before. I love horror but I'm picky about who I read, but the synopsis intrigued me. This book was creepy in all the right ways. It kept me engulfed in the story and the characters. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. I liked the science fiction/ metaphysical aspect and it blended in nicely with the gruesome games of a tormented mind. The synopsis likened William Todd Rose to King and Koontz, but I would be more willing to group him with Clive Barker. I really enjoyed this. Crossfades is more the sci-fi horror while Bleedovers is more paranormal. I liked how this was two separate novellas, even though it could have worked as a full length novel, it cut down on unnecessary filler

I newly discovered Abbie Roads. She has three books out right now and each othe them are a dark romantic suspense. Her books are dark and twisted and sexy as hell, it really satisfies my horror and romance needs. The Fatal Dreams duo also has a dark fairytale/folklore feel to it. 










For kids, always the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series the illustrations alone can give you nightmares. For beginner readers one of my favorites growing up was one called Four on the Shore by Edward Marshall. It is a fun little book about four friends telling scary stories to each other.

ARC REVIEW Hunt the Dawn by Abbie Roads

So fantastic, Abbie Roads has nailed the dark, disturbing, and sexy. What's nice is that you don't have to read the first book of the series, Race the Darkness, in order to read this one; it helps but it's not required. This book was everything I hoped for and more when I thought about Lathan story. Evanee I really love her, she did what she had to do to survive and even when at her lowest it didn't stop her.

Lathan is unbelievable with his overactive olfactory being able to see memories and feelings from a person's smell. He works with the FBI as a special consultant he helps track down killers and he's one the path of one who is constantly changing his MO but the nose knows and Lathan knows all these victims were killed by the same person. Lathan because of his talent doesn't get close to people for the exception of one, his childhood friend and FBI contact. Evanee is working at a truck stop diner surviving on tips trying to avoid the pervert who has been harassing her. Evanee's car stops working she pulls off into a rest stop and who should show up but her step brother the pervert. Lathan happen to be riding by and he smelled Evanee's fear he pulls over to help. Everything about about Evanee calls to Lathan, he instinctually trusts her and knows he must protect her at all costs. Evanee is in shock by the time the stranger rescues her she allows him to take her to his home until she feels better. Evanee, like Lathan, trusts him she knows that she should know better but it's an instinctual need to be with him. Lathan can drop his guard around her and not get bombarded with scent memories. Evanee, on the other hand, her dreams start getting worse, she's connecting with the murdered victims in Lathan's case and leads to evidence. The serial killer figures out who but not how, but at all costs he must stop Lathan from exposing him so he focus on the person closest to Lathan; Evanee.

Overall, this truly exceeded my expectations for the book.