Craft Your Own Cosy Scandi Christmas by Becci Coombes

 There is so much to do in this book, it would make a wonderful edition to anyone's holiday craft section on your bookshelf. 

In chapter one, it's devoted to decorating for Christmas. There is a great assortment of projects in this chapter. From making white clay ornaments to upcycled sock nisser, which is another word for gnomes. 

The second chapter is filled with recipes for edible gifts. I want to make all of these recipes. All the pictures make them look very yummy. Homemade marzipan, honeycomb, or fudge brownies in a jar. Or if you want to get real fancy, try making some Brunkager, which are brown cookies! YUM.

The third chapter is all about quick and easy crafts. The crafts rely on using some materials already around the house, such as an old sweater. The Christmas tree body scrub intrigues me quite a bit.

In the fourth chapter, another section devoted to Christmas comfort food! What I like about this chapter is the traditional name of these dishes is used. But in parenthesis, a more common name is used. Such as Frikadeller, is meatballs. Or Glogg, which is mulled wine. 

The fifth and final chapter is called Family Fun. There are three games for the family to learn and enjoy over the holiday season.

At the end of the book, there is a section that gives you templates when necessary for the activities and crafts.

I highly recommend this charming book! 

Thank you #NetGalley and #Pen&Sword for letting me read and review #CraftYourOwnCosyScandiChristmas ebook. 

Frenzy Island by Richard E. Rock

 I really did enjoy this fast paced, never ending adrenalin, and spectacular story. Richard E. Rock is a great writer that can fill you with hope and dread by the magic of his words. 

This story is about two sisters, Esperance and Godriva, stranded on an island that once held science experiments with detrimental consequences. Both sisters try to survive this harsh environment and find a way off the island. With the help from Cynthia, an employee of the company who owns this island, they are assisted in trying to leave the island before disaster strikes the island again.

The last 50% of this story was so fast paced and exhilarating. I found myself invested in finding out how this could all end. Boy was I impressed and now I must now what comes next. I need to know what happens!!

The Hollows by David Church

 In the little village of Barsal, a community must overcome an evil that will terrorize the village. It starts with the frozen body of a man. Then, two families are attacked. 

Ellie Cheetham, the village’s constable, is in charge of investigating these attacks. As the day carries on, new clues are revealed, Cheetham realizes there is something evil attacking her village. She, along with other members of the village, work together to save who they can and their village. 

While this story was phenomenal, it is at times repetitive. Daniel Church is great at describing the fear and the creatures, but we are told the same descriptions a few too many times. I think if a lot of the repetitive descriptions were deleted, this could have been a 5 star book. 

Thank you #NetGalley and Angry Robot for sending me #TheHollows by Daniel Church.

Hanging Corpses by Jay Bower

Jay Bower can tell a story! This collection of 15 short stories is filled with human monsters, creatures of the night and day, and of horrors that could truly happen in our lifetime. The twists and turns you endure while reading this will leave you thinking about the choices you make in life. Just to be forewarned, you will be hooked on Jay’s writing and will be looking for more of his books!

Hanging Corpses is a story that not all monsters are creatures, they are our friends, neighbors, or family members. We all have a monster near us.

Tiny Piece of Soul is a gory, pain filled eye opener. I cringed the whole time!

In Remnants of the War, after you read this one, you will consider what lengths you would go to for love. 

Flesh Hook is a horror historical fiction that is bloody and gory!  

Damian. I had a friend in highschool whose name is Damian…this is NOT that guy.

The Awful Gift is hilarious! Be careful of where you buy your gifts for loved ones!! 

New World Hunger, I love a good zombie story, but if you throw in a vampire finding sustenance during an apocalypse..what more could you ask for?

From the Depths, Risen is a fantastic story about a sinkhole opening up in a church. A group of scientists decide to lower a camera down to the bottom to see what it looks like. They should not have done that.

Unstoppable Heart is about a lonely ghost who still loves his one love in death. He haunts his home and watches over her. Mr. Bower figured out a twist you couldn’t possibly predict with this story. 

Colony of the Damned is a cosmic horror story that happens on the planet Jupiter. Frighteningly fun!!

Roosevelt is for Lovers is the oddest short story in this set. A marriage is on the rocks and

the husband will do anything to help his marriage. So will the wife. 

Dorado (Roosevelt is for Lovers, Part 2) is a short story of one of the characters in the previous story, Roosevelt is for Lovers. I like this additional story, it gives a new feel for the first part. Definitely a nice little bonus. 

Autumnal Thrill is a howl of a good time! I liked the ending of this one, it isn’t your typical ending.

Accepting is a story of a man who finally accepts an invitation to a party. The hosts are extremely excited that he has finally decided to join them for a party and dinner. *Chef’s Kiss*

In the short story The Voice of America, is an alternative reality of what could happen in America’s future. It is thought provoking and downright surreal. It could happen, I just hope it doesn’t. 

At the end of the book, there is a section where Bower tells you where his ideas came for each story. Apparently, the story New World Hunger is the basis of his Dead Blood series. I am definitely intrigued to read some more.

The Anime Chef Cookbook by Nadine Estero

 This is an adorable and exceptional cookbook giving us recipes from popular anime shows and movies. There are recipes for the classic shows and movies as well as the current anime. 

The pictures to go with the recipes are charming. They are drawn in anime style! Also, some random quotes from the shows are throughout the book.

There are some recipes that will require special tools to make the recipe. However, there are some tools that have substitutions if you can't find the tool you need. For example, the Karaage To-Go recipes calls for "wooden tooth picks". You could just use forks if you wanted. 

Reconstructing a Relationship by Micah Castle

 Even though this story is only 68 pages long, it packs one hell of a punch! Before I get into my review, I want to let all of you know, if you read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and liked it, I highly suggest you grab Reconstructing a Relationship to sit right next to Frankenstein on your bookshelf.

Drew and Terry meet in a local bar and it is instant love at first sight for Terry. She has those bright stars in her eyes and is sighing in content as she listens to Drew talk to her. 

For Terry, it is a no-brainer, Drew needs to come home with her. So Drew does, only to forget all about the night previously. But that’s okay, Terry forgives him! Then one evening, it is a date night for the two love-birds! And everything just goes down-hill from there.

This ends up being a twisted, disgusting, and love-sick story. Micah Castle can put a lot of emotion and horror in such a short amount of time. This is a great story to read on your next day off if you have a couple of hours free to read.

The Butcher by Laura Kat Young

 The Butcher by Laura Kat Young is one of the most heart wrenching, dark, and phenomenal books I have read in such a long time. 

At the beginning of the book, Lady Mae is awaiting the day when she will inherit her mother’s job as the town Butcher. Her mother, Winona, goes against the law and chooses not to butcher a young boy. The Deputies, who uphold the law and lead the town, come to Winona and Lady Mae’s home, to confront Winona and ask why she chose to disobey the law. A struggle ensues and Winona is killed in front of Lady Mae.

Years pass by, Lady Mae is now the town's Butcher. A childhood friend has returned to their town and back into Lady Mae’s life. The long ago feelings for one another never left. The rest of the story follows along the choices the two make. In the end, a heartbreaking decision is made that will alter every person in the town's life. Nothing will ever be the same for Lady Mae and everyone in the town. 

This is truly a magnificent piece of work. I can feel the love and time spent in forming these words to make a special story come to life. 

Thank you so much to #NetGalley and #TitanBooks for sending me this ARC to read and review. 

#TheButcher