I finally had the chance to read book two of Bedtime Tales of Horror.  I so enjoyed it!  I think it was a level up from the first.  It’s almost as if the first book was an intro to horror and then in book two we get a good solid dose of blood, death, gore and all the things we expect from a great tale of terror.  There were tons of spooks and scares, disgusting descriptions and gory goodies to keep you turning pages.
 
I loved each and every one of these stories.  
 
We have a vengeful band of birds who impose their own form of justice on a pair of misguided boys. A beautiful date with a sweet guy goes very sideways.  Then, there’s a scorned woman that develops a unique taste for revenge and murder.  We read of a brokenhearted woman who is charmed and seduced by a unique man with unique interests.  A group of friends go camping and have a refreshing experience involving an unusual spring in the woods.  Then there’s a suspicious group of tenants that take up residence in a house and cause the landlord problems.  A poor and hopeless couple turn to desperate measures when looking for a solution to a sleep issue.  While vacationing in a cabin, a group of friends deals with a surprise guest.  A caring co-worker attempts to help a friend with his ailments.  Like a lot of people, we read about a lonely woman that turns to a dating website in search for love.  A man attempts his own solutions to a pest problem and gets more than he bargained for. Finally, two female friends at odds over a guy put the past behind them while sharing their favorite beauty secrets.
 
I really feel like Poage stepped it up for this book.  The tales were more intense and more graphic.  The imagery was better.  I got through this one a lot faster.  It held my attention a lot easier which is saying something because the first book was a pretty easy read and held my attention well too.  But, I just breezed right through this one.  I can’t wait to get into book three.  I hope it’s just as good as what I’ve read so far.
 
RATINGS
5/5 Stars

Murder, Lies and Cover-Ups by David Gardner
 
I just finished reading a very interesting book about conspiracy theories and some of the most famous deaths in our country’s history.  This particular book focuses on the deaths of Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and (of the UK) Princess Diana.
 
For instance, there has long been talk about the Mob being behind Kennedy’s death whether it be for revenge for not easing up on his cracking down on them or because his father was not doing so well with the mob himself, rumors circulated that JFK’s father went to the mob to help buy the election in his son’s favor in return for getting Jack and Bobby to lay off investigating organized crime activity.  Some say when JFK took the Presidency and went gung ho after the mob that he was gunned down in retaliation for going back on the deal that was made.  
 
And Marilyn Monroe. So many don’t believe that she took her own life.  People closest to her knew of plans she was making for the future.  But she was embroiled in a number or torrid love affairs with some very dangerous people, whether it be physical or the power they held.
 
Then there’s the tragic deaths of two of the Kings in music history, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. So many rumors have stirred about both of them, their behavior, their drug use, addiction and depression, not to mention unsavory characters weaseling into their lives.
 
Finally, Princess Diana. A woman the world thought was the epitome of goodness, charity, generosity and love and kindness.  That beautiful smile and those innocent eyes his they tragic events of her day to day life, much in the way we all saw Jackie Kennedy pretend her President husband wasn’t sleeping with every girl that walked by. A broken marriage and the constant barrage of displeasure from the Royal Family made life very difficult for Di.
 
So, what really happened to these extraordinary people that, as it turns out, were just like anyone else? Was it the mob that killed JFK? What about Marilyn?  Did her death have something to do with her romantic involvement with John or Bobby Kennedy?  And what really DID kill Elvis?  Was it his heart?  Was it a drug overdose?  Was it a money hungry snake in his band of brothers he’d formed to protect him?
 
The theories detailed in this book are clean-cut, easy to follow and very plausible.  Of course, we’ll never REALLY know what happened but, out of all the theories I’ve heard, these sure do top the list as good possibilities.  If you like real life mysteries, conspiracy theories or if you have an open mind, you would really find this book interesting.  It was such a captivating read, I got through it pretty fast.  I also think true crime buff would like this book.  It reads like a true crime documentary show.  Very informative, seems well researched and it presents complete theories and sound ideas of what happened.  Not to mention that countless records and witness were scoured for evidence and the result, this book, is nothing short of mind blowing and fascinating.
 
RATINGS
5/5 Stars

Written by April A. Taylor
 
I can’t even begin to explain how much I enjoyed this novel.  But I’m going to try.
 
This was a gripping and chilling story about a guy, his broken heart, his twisting mind and a vacation of solitude in a cabin.
 
Here’s the blurb on it:
 
Welcome to Cabin Green, where the setting is familiar, but the story is completely unexpected. This original, terrifying psychological thriller is the debut horror novel from the author of the highly-rated Alexa Bentley Paranormal Mysteries Series. Socially conscious, inclusive, and raw modern Gothic horror that reflects the world around us and takes a close look at the destructive nature of grief. Current Goodreads average rating (as of August 11): 3.85 stars.

Going to Cabin Green alone after the death of his fiancée was Ben's first mistake. His second mistake was tempting fate by saying, "There's no such thing as an evil building." Now he's caught in a nightmare of his own making deep in the woods of Northern Michigan. Even worse, a family history of mental illness makes it impossible for him to know if the ghosts haunting the cabin are real or all in his head.

This modern Gothic horror story takes the reader directly into Ben's hellish experience. Is he crazy? Is a ghost haunting him? The only way to find out is to make it to the end of this deep, dark thrill ride that's filled with more twists than a roller coaster.

This book was inspired by a real-life, spooky green cabin in Northern Michigan that's so well-hidden it can't be found by GPS!

Within this novel, you'll be taken back and forth in time. The time frames are indicated by clear markers. These time jumps provide valuable background information about the main characters and allow you to get to know them more intimately. These jumps are also used as a device to weave a thread throughout the entire book that provides clues about the cabin's sinister secrets. Pay close attention: Can you guess the shocking ending?

Content Warning: This isn't a Saw-type torture story, but it does contain gore, sex, profanity, and deeply disturbing psychological themes. This isn't a fluffy horror story; it's emblematic of the destructive, devastating nature of depression/grief. Readers are taken directly into the main character's experience, which means that feelings of confusion are normal and intentional. Until Ben knows what's going on, readers won't know, either! For mature readers only. 
 
AWARDS
NOMINEE: The Kindle Book Review 2018 Reader's Choice Award for Best Horror/Suspense (winner to be named in October 2018). 
 
In my opinion, I thought this was a spectacular read.  While it kept my attention the whole time, the last fifty pages or so were absolutely gripping and wicked suspenseful.  I couldn’t force myself to put it down.  I had to find out what happened.  And I wasn’t disappointed with the ending.
 
I thought Taylor did an expert and meticulous job creating this story, forming imagery with her words, invoking real emotion on the part of the reader.  It’s so easy to get caught up in everything along with Ben. You really do become part of the story yourself, going through the same experiences with the same intensity as our main character.
 
Anyone who is a fan of horror novels, the suspenseful thriller kind, this is SO for you.
 
RATINGS
4.5/5 Stars