Wolf Hunt 2 by Jeff Strand

George and Lou are clearly happily married, to each other!

But I’m glad to see that they both survived Ivan, even if missing a few parts!

However even in their secret hideaway with endless cruddy TV and cocktails they are soon found by a certain gangster intent on kidnapping another werewolf only this one is a 14yr old girl who has no idea she has wolfie lineage.

She also has a rather miffed off father that has anger issues and a weirdo friend and girlfriend.

Shane is a rather revolting specimen all by himself, but no plot spoilers here.

As always with JS novels the humour and gore is right up there making you wonder whether to cringe or giggle, usually both followed by gagging.

A great follow up to book one which you really need to read first, but it’s a riveting read, with a fabulous ending, book no.3 maybe??

Wolf Hunt 2

Wolf Hunt 1 by Jeff Strand

George and Lou are just trying to do their jobs, if that means breaking bones, then so be it, but they are decent guys really, honest!

These lovely, gone to seed, muscle hounds are given the simple job of driving a captured werewolf up state (insert laugh here as we all know werewolves don’t exist, right).

They are given a set of rules by their employer, Mr Bateman, a bit like the mogwai rules only these involve no food, no water and never open the cage.

The instant they set off Ivan (the werewolf) does not shut up, mostly with derisive comments set to infuriate our two good henchmen.

Then the dog incident at the petrol station occurs and suddenly they have blood everywhere and a witness on Georges lap. Ivan continues his wind up.

Eventually of course the primary rule is broken and soon they are all on a wolf hunt!

Murder, mayhem and general nastiness take place as all members of the chase have their own agendas. There is plenty of gore as the werewolf delights in his killing spree.

One of the funniest parts (for me) was in the middle of Ivan kicking ten buckets of blood out of George, Lou decides that running past shouting “ferret, ferret, ferret” is the best way to distract him from ripping Georges throat out; for some reason I could not stop giggling!

Eventually after a mass murder at the Cotton Mouse Tavern the “professionals” are called in, which goes as well as you think it might, let’s just say body parts where thrown around and leave it at that.

The climactic final battle was intense and I was on the edge of my seat as to who would win and how, sorry no spoilers here!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to get my teeth, normal human ones, into Wolf Hunt 2, the explosion of gore and comedy just had me gagging and giggling for the last three hours, I could not bear to put this book down.

Wolf Hunt 1

Draculas by JA Konrath, Paul F. Wilson, Blake Crouch & Jeff Strand

I totally loved the dedication; it was so sweet, yet funny.

This is told in little chunks of story, each one from a different point of view from each individual involved. You can tell the differing author styles through the characters and really lends a great “voice” and out look on each person.

The basic premise is that a Dracula type skull is found, surrounded by legend it is then bought and delivered to a dying millionaire, who (of course!) allows it to bite him….. and so begins the horror in a little backwoods hospital when he is rushed their by his palliative Nurse and researcher/treasure finder.

The varying characters via their different authors approach the monsters in different ways, the humour is as huge as the teeth.

The gore is free flowing, abundant with plenty of blood and bits.  Amongst it all are two very touching love stories; however, they both have issues!

When Benny the Clown starts to make flamingos from intestines I could not stop giggling and trying to explain this to Hubby was not a good moment in my marriage, I think he seriously started to question my sanity. However the various drawings throughout the book helped him see why I found it quite so funny!

This was a fantastic, engaging and grotesque read, some parts made me gag, some cry and some laugh so hard I needed to actually put my kindle down and calm myself.

We, the reader, are then treated to a giant flowing interview between all four authors and how they managed to pull this off.

Then we are given about 50% of bonus materials which is simply staggering each author gives us a full blown novella as follow on.

Finally we are promised many more sequels so I will be on the look out for these.  All of these authors are fantastic to read and I can’t wait to get my mitts on more of their work.

DRACULAS

WHC 2014 - Fifth/Sixth Days in Portland, Oregon.

This wonderful place has some brilliant and beautiful extremes!

We spent yesterday at the beach, with our amazing friends Todd & Denise.

However on the way we stopped at a little place called Voodoo doughnuts and we were treated to a huge box!

There was a bloody (jammy) massacre in the back of the car on the way!

Decimation of the Doughnut

Ivor was then treated to an American football game! and I got to go Walmart shopping, now I must burn out my own eyes  (hehehe!)

And here comes the extreme, approximately an hours drive in the opposite direction to the beach is Mt Hood, a dormant volcano that is well known for its wonderful ski resort Timberline, which just happens to be the "Over Look Lodge" from The Shinning.

The inside was not used in the film as it really is just a quaint little ski lodge,  but its still impressive to drive up that winding road with "Here's Johnny" running through your mind :)

Tomorrow is our last day in Portland, Oregon and we are cream crackered from all the excitement. So it will be a day of packing all our goodies away and preparing to fly back to Blighty and our much missed fur babies.

We have had an absolute blast and I have been fan-girled out by all the amazing authors I have finally been able to meet, hug and squeee over.  

We do hope to be able to return the favour of their amazing hospitality to any of them that wish to fly over the pond. 

WHC 2014 - Third day in Portland Oregon

Today was all about panels, snagging signed books and generally schmoozing!

I have been lucky enough to meet several new (to me) authors and as you can see by the HUGE pile of books I got signed today I have a lot more to read, and review, in the coming weeks! That is if I can prise them from Hubby's hands of course as he has suddenly become very zombie orientated!

John O'Brien writes the A New World series and Shawn Chesser has the equally impressive Surviving the Apocalypse set.

It was also super cool to meet Jeff Strand who has written a huge amount of books and he was kind enough to sign his very awesome Wolf Hunt for me. This was one of the first books I ever left a review for on Amazon and its woefully inadequate in its praise - so I hope to reread and give a new improved review within the next few weeks. 

Tomorrow I have been promised the whole DEAD and That Ghoul Ava series by TW Brown!!  I will definitely need excess luggage on my flights home.

I also did a few "panels" and talks today too, another feature of the WHC. Listening to some of the couples that both write and how their creativity really affects their relationships was interesting and funny. 

Another amazing moment was the talk given by Victoria Price in which she honours her father, the wonderful Vincent Price, with her beautiful chat and montage to him, it was a real pleasure and highlight of the day.

However I think the pinnacle of the day was voodoo doughnuts. The menu is extensive and the taste is wholly amazing!  but seeing grown ups get SO excited and start actually sprinting for the van that was outside was hysterical!

More pictures of the doughnuts when I do a proper shop run on Sunday prior to being taken to the "beach"!!

Another brilliant day over here, more panels, chats and adventures await me tomorrow.

Pressure by Jeff Strand

A very harrowing start to the book, but wow was I gripped.

It is written as a narrative which works very well later in the book when things are merely eluded too, really builds the tension.

Split into three very distinctive parts of Alex's life, with a finale and, my favourite, an epilogue (tying up those loose, niggley end).

The story of a basically happy man Jeff Strands takes you through those angst ridden, who will like me/my parents hate me/what's wrong or right teenage years, to college life and then on into adulthood.

However, on his tail is Darren, who is just a little bit weird.

The first part is set in a boarding school which brings its own horrors as to the treatment of children and then expecting them to grow up to be nice, productive, socially acceptable people!  The issues with Darren come to an alarming conclusion as Alex and his two friends discover their own version of the Law.

As Alex looks forward to the mayhem of college and a chance to be his own man, his life turns into a type of hell with a cat and mouse game of terror.

Life it seems, becomes perfect later on, all trauma is forgotten, but the hatchet vs cactus, the pit and Gallery of Horrors soon come into play; the lovely Alex is soon considering his kangeroo court again.

Whilst I really enjoyed how this was written and the basic story was great, I was irritated by the lead character Alex for mostly being a wimp, but I suppose that IS reality, how would we all react to strange, non socially conforming behaviour?

Having previously only read Wolf Hunt I was also surprised by the lack of humour, other than HeeHee, HawHaw and HoHo   which did make me giggle a bit; that said this deals with some seriously disgusting stuff so comedy would probably have been out of place.

Really looking forward to reading all the other novels by Jeff Strand.

Pressure

Holiday Fun

So it has finally arrived, my BIG holiday of the year!

Basically that means I have three wonderful weeks off work where I don't have to put my uniform on or even put shoes on! and even better NOT get up early. 

Horah for me.

Now comes the "what shall I do with all this free time"?

Many moons ago it was suggested to me that I concentrate on one author for a WHOLE month, hmmmm I thought and started looking for an author that would keep me occupied for three weeks sat on my butt.

With SO many too choose from I was soon overwhelmed so I have decided to challenge myself and read 18 books in that time!

So here goes on the list (in no special order):

Progeny by Patrick C. Greene

Splatterpunk - charity anthology

Group 742, The Shadows & Redeem Code Here by Christine Sutton

Finding Poe by Leigh M. Lane

Interrupt by Jeff Carlson

Vampire of Plum Run by James Glass

DEAD: Reborn by TW Brown

Whisper by Michael Bray

Animal Kingdom (revamp) by Iain Rob Wright

Darlings Of Decay - anthology

Pressure by Jeff Strand

Horror Stories: Shorts Collection by Jack Kilborn/ JA Konrath

Under the Scotch Broom, A Concealed Hand & George's Tonic by Allison M. Dickson (short stories)

Zombie Fallout by Mark Tufo - now technically I have already read this but its my "LotR or IT", my comfort zone and I was so new at reviewing books when I started (still learning) that I really didn't do it justice.


so, there it is!

Watch this space..... any comments would be welcome (as always)