Charles W Jones

Handprints has a strangeness about it that can only be felt if you read it and I loved every aspect of it. In this world, husbands who are tired of their wives can ship them off to a mental institution so they can move on with their lives. That alone is a chilling idea. Then there are the quirky characters who opened their hearts to me and I was happy to have met them for just a brief moment. Handprints is a tale of sadness and joy mixed together nicely, and I recommend you get a copy. I gave it 4 out of 5 Stars. About Handprints After their husbands commit them to a state mental institution in Massachusetts, two women become friends. Were they--and the other women who filled the place--even mentally ill? Anne was eccentric, to be sure, and her Boston fireman husband decided it was more than he could bear. Edna loved to read and write poetry; her husband said she wasn't "a good wife," so he called the constable and had her taken away to the state mental hospital. She crav

Having read Susanne Leist’s The Dead Game series, I was hoping the first in the Blue Harbor Series, Meet Me In Maine, would have the same feel as her other works. To say I wasn’t disappointed is an understatement. This book has the same clever approach to the worlds she creates, with cute characters that make me laugh and feel for them. The crazy paranormal aspects of this book left me wanting more. At times, I didn’t know what was going on, but that’s part of the fun Susanne injects into every scene. This fast-paced story kept me on my toes and wanting more with every page I immersed myself in. If you are looking for a fun, quirky adventure with a layer of paranormal activity, this is the one for you. I gave Meet Me in Maine 5 out of 5 Stars. About Meet Me in Maine Elizabeth Reading and Scarlett Harding travel to Blue Harbor, Maine, hoping to find a bed-and-breakfast to buy and a peaceful town. What they discover instead is much more sinister… When they visit the local ice cream parlo

Wow! When I finished reading 1689, that’s what I said. This is not my first time reading Amy Cross’s work, and each time I pick one up, I know I’m in for quite the ride. The story ends the way it started with tragedy and in between was one disturbing and even a little perverse scene after another. The imagery was phenomenal as I walked the halls of Hadlow House with Richard and the other characters, who taunted me with their world and still haunt me to some point today. While I know haunted house stories are a dime a dozen, 1689 took me on an unexpected journey into the macabre.  I gave 1689 4 out of 5 Stars. About 1689 All Richard Hadlow wants is a happy family and a peaceful home. Having built the perfect house deep in the Kent countryside, he now needs a wife. However, he's about to discover that even the most perfectly-laid plans can go horribly and tragically wrong. The year is 1689, and England is in the grip of turmoil. A pretender is trying to take the throne, but Richard h

 I’ve read other Karen Black stories and found the visualizations amazing. Deadly Repercussions isn’t any different. I was drawn into the world she created, following Juan and his family. However, this one wasn’t perfect. Some of the details, especially the locations, were confusing. I thought certain events happened in Texas, but I later learned they were in Wyoming. (This could’ve been me missing something.) At least, that is all I can say in the negative because the story kept me interested and wanting to know what would happen next. And I was surprised to learn who was behind everything. This is an excellent thriller with exciting twists. I gave Deadly Repercussions 4 out of 5 Stars. About Deadly Repercussions From the streets of Mexico to the mountains of Wyoming, Juan Velasquez does what is needed to survive and prosper. His belief in the rule of law is trumped by his belief in the pursuit of justice, a trait that is passed down to his daughter, Elizabeth, and his granddaughter,

The Devil's Pocketbook is a riveting read about the loss of a child. While I empathized with the theme, it got boring after a while. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it. The Siren/mermaid myth brought to life kept me intrigued. While most of the town wants what’s happening to Erik and Lara to continue so they can get on with their lives with prosperous fishing, a small group wants to stop the horror from the sea. The Devil’s Pocketbook the couple finds isn’t what they expect, and their world is turned upside down afterward. If you’re looking for horror that includes grief intermingled with fantasy, this is the book for you. I gave The Devil’s Pocketbook 4 out of 5 Stars. Get your copy at Amazon !

  Janie B. is a haunting tale about a young woman who is abducted by a necrophiliac and saved by a stranger. I enjoyed the nuances of terror turned to love, which left a chill running down my spine. If you’re looking for something short to read with a touch of horror and romance, get a copy today! I gave Janie B. 4 out of 5 Stars. Get your copy at Amazon !

The Dying Game is like many teen horror movies, with a group of friends traveling to have an exciting adventure, and that’s precisely what they got, though it wasn’t what they wanted. Two things bothered me about this book and why I only gave it 3 Stars. The prologue felt like a poorly written synopsis of the story I was about to read, making it worse with the use of first-person, leading me to the next thing. The use of first-person can hinder a story, making it feel clunky, as it did with this book. I’ve read many first-person tales, and they felt natural, but this one wasn’t one of them. I gave The Dying Game 3 out of 5 Stars. Get your copy at Amazon !  

When I started reading The House on Harlan, I had no idea this was a series. It wasn’t until I read The Valley that I noticed the “A Linkville Horror Series” subtitle. Since only location connects them, I wasn’t confused about who was who. The House on Harlan has a strange door in the cellar, and what emerges from it isn’t pleasant. The happy family that moves in soon learns that things aren’t what they seem, and Alex fights to save them from the evil that lurks on the other side. The story is unique and dark. When the author showed me what was happening, I was impressed. I gave The House on Harlan 4 out of 5 Stars. Get your copy at Amazon ! The Valley When a group of friends go to the mountains for a vacation, their hopes for a fun-filled adventure soon turn horrifying. Of the stories I’ve read from Mike Salt, this is my favorite, and I couldn’t get enough of it. From opening to close, I was excited to find out what going to happen next. I gave The Valley 5 Stars. Get your copy at Ama

I felt like I was missing something when reading The Disembodied and I still do. There was really no explanation (that I remember) of the hows and whys behind the dead reincarnating. At least, the creepiness was great. I gave the Disembodied 4 out of 5 Stars. Get your copy at Amazon !

  Heaven’s Peak is about Kevin Miller, who’s recently moved to a new town with his father and sister after his mom died; they’re hoping for a fresh start. Unfortunately, the freshness doesn’t last long as his father falls back into his old routine of drinking and not remembering he and his sister exist.  The darkness that overlays this story is harsh and not friendly and one of the many reasons I enjoyed this book. The agony the main characters feel is translated very well and I was pleased to have found this book. I gave Heaven’s Peak 5 Stars. Get your copy on Amazon !

  I didn’t pay attention to the fact that this is Book 2 in The Monsters & Mayhem Collection and didn’t notice anything that connects the first book to this one (maybe, I’ll read it to find out). That being said, I don’t think it matters because I didn’t feel like I walked into something pre-existing.  Avernus Island is creepy and dark and unsettling. It kept me interested and I had a hard putting it down. The strangeness of what happens was amazing as was the back story, showing what caused the darkness to come to this island. I gave Avernus Island 5 Stars. Get your copy at Amazon !