Piper Perish

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.  :)  Let me start off by saying that I tend to love journal style prose.  I find the casual honesty refreshing and I enjoy getting inside the character's head and "hearing" their most true thoughts and feelings.  That being said, sometimes I wanted to choke Piper and call her all sorts of childish names, lol.

Piper's personality was a weeeeeeeeeee bit grating on my nerves.  Sometimes I really liked her and could understand her perspective.  Other times, she annoyed the crap out of me and I felt like she was being a pretentious little brat.  She evolved over time into a much more tolerable human.   I must say, I HATED the obsession and seemingly constant references to her idol, Andy Warhol.  I do not admire Andy's work; it just isn't my cup of tea.  Piper trying to emulate his look, attitude and life goals were a bit over the top.  That being said, she seemed to grow up quite a bit over the course of the book and actually began to find an identity of her own!  Hallelujah!

Piper's friends:  spoiled with definite 1st World problems.  There is the stereotypical gay ex-boyfriend who needs to come to terms with himself and then come out to his parents.  There is the rich and spoiled best friend with workaholic absent parents.  The kooky art teacher with all the answers and a heart of gold who believes in Piper and inspires her to push herself harder.  The generic friends, Sammy and Jen, who don't get much in the way of character development.  The ex-boyfriend's new man who Piper hates out of principle at first but then ends up bonding with.  

Piper's family:  Sister Marli is crazy, no two ways about it!!  I mean, why is everyone scared of upsetting her and tiptoeing around her like a really bad abusive relationship gone way wrong?  So many eggshells being walked on!  She is clearly unstable, aggressive, manipulative, sneaky, disrespectful, ungrateful and a total narcissist!!!!  Ugh.... absolutely could not tolerate her!  The parents put up with WAY TOO MUCH, and let Marli get away with everything.  For that reason, I think they were extra lenient with Piper.  She was drinking, hooking up, partying late and coming home at 2AM while still in high school - my parents would never be down with that!!  Piper's Mom was proud of her hickey... ewwww.  

I read the book pretty quickly and overall I did enjoy it.  I either liked the characters a lot or I loved to hate them.  Either way, Piper reminded me of a young Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City when she was leaving her small town for the big city.  Totally unique premise?  No.  Fun read?  You bet.... but be prepared to want to reach into the book and pull a few characters out for a stern talking to and an attitude adjustment!!!!  :)

I was drawn in by the fact that I've loved other books by this author.  She has a way of making you feel as though you're a part of Victorian London.  Her descriptions of people, places and even mundane things are a true lyrical gift.  However, the middle of this book dragged on for me.  It was as though we were living through Maud & Sue's dreary days with them.  I get that some of that is necessary to create suspense, but after a while, it seemed overkill and it got stale.  

The beginning and the end were fabulous, and even parts of the middle sucked me in.  There were a lot of twists that got me and some that didn't.  No doubt, however, that there is no clear "good" or "bad" characters in this novel, only varying shades of gray- and I loved that!!  

Don't get too attached to characters in this book, phew!!  I must say, I loved the setting, the dialogue, the gothic vibe and the unreliable narrator.  I also really enjoyed some of the characters and their metamorphosis throughout the story, especially the two cousins and Aunt Penelope.  I'm sure glad I didn't grow up in that house!  Appearances can be deceiving.....

I would have given this book a 5-star review, except for the fact that the full story never came forth.  I never got a clear understanding of why the land was sacred, what exactly was wrong with "Mother" that she needed to feed on teenage girls and be immortal.  Why???  What purpose did she have, what ultimate plan did the club members have and how did they fool their husbands into thinking they were in charge?  I'm not saying the ending needed to be tied in a neat and predictable bow, but just a bit more would have been great!

Haunted: The Arnaud Legacy Book 1

Hmmmmm..... What to say about this book?!  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it.  However, I had it figured out way too early to be fun (probably because I watch horror movies like it's my job and this kind is my favorite).  Despite having guessed the end, I felt like the writing was crisp and descriptive without being annoying.  I enjoyed the setting and the moodiness, but I wanted more spook!  More scare!!  More creepy!!  Phoebe and the gang defeated Madam Arnaud far too easily, in my opinion.  The plot and execution of said plot was only a couple of pages of the book.... Easy peasy.  No buildup or sense of desperation or dread.  Boom... Done.  I know I've watched too much Michael Myers, but come on!!  It's never that simple!  There is a book 2 & 3 however, so maybe the story of Madam Arnaud isn't over just yet!!  Or maybe I'm desensitized, lol

In The Graveyard Antemortem

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  Here goes....

This book blew me away! It's so wonderful to have a fresh take on a classic genre.  I adore ghost stories, love a good mystery and have a never ending affection for big creepy houses and anything paranormal.  This book included all of these things (sort of), but did it in such a vibrant new way, I was hooked!!!  I think I have a new favorite author to add to my list.  Thank you!! 

Conversion

I absolutely loved this story!!  Both the retelling of the witch trials and the incidents in 2012.  Very thought provoking and extremely gripping!!  A+++++++

The Secret of Goldenrod by Jane O'Reilly

I was given a free advanced copy of this book by Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I adored this book! What a breath of fresh air! This is not a run of the mill haunted house story. Nor does it set out to scare you. This book is whimsical, sensitive and appeals to every desire I remember having as a child. I wanted so badly to live in a big creaking mammoth of a house and have a talking doll, adventures galore & the comfort of a close knit community. Fantastic!