Asylum by Jeannette De Beauvoir (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Martine LeDuc is the director of PR for the mayor's office in Montreal. When four women are found brutally murdered and shockingly posed on park benches throughout the city over several months, Martine's boss fears a PR disaster for the still busy tourist season, and Martine is now also tasked with acting as liaison between the mayor and the police department. The women were of varying ages, backgrounds and bodytypes and seemed to have nothing in common. Yet the macabre presentation of their bodies hints at a connection. Martine is paired with a young detective, Julian Fletcher, and together they dig deep into the city's and the country's past, only to uncover a dark secret dating back to the 1950s, when orphanages in Montreal and elsewhere were converted to asylums in order to gain more funding. The children were subjected to horrific experiments such as lobotomies, electroshock therapy, and psychotropic medication, and many of them died in the process. The survivors were supposedly compensated for their trauma by the government and the cases seem to have been settled. So who is bearing a grudge now, and why did these four women have to die?

Not until Martine finds herself imprisoned in the terrifying steam tunnels underneath the old asylum does she put the pieces together. And it is almost too late for her..."

My Thoughts:

This book originally went on my radar went it was first released but then it sat on my shelves unread.  I'm so regretting this as I found this book to be absolutely fantastic!  There is a very good chance that this one will make my top reads list for 2017!  I loved the summary above which is why I originally wanted to read it.  What I didn't realize is that this author based some of the events of this book on a true and terrible event in Canada's history.  I don't want to say too much as it plays an important role in this mystery but I will say that it completely adds to this book even if it is horrifying to think about.  I found myself absolutely sucked into the story from almost the very beginning.  The book is set up in two parts.  One is focused on Martine LeDuc and her hunt to figure out who is behind the killings of these women in Montreal.  The other storyline focused on the story of one of the orphans and what happened to that individual so long ago.  These two storylines tied together so perfectly and I just won't say any more than that.  I was absolutely just blown away by how good this book was!

I also really enjoyed this book because it was set in Canada and the author managed to bring Montreal to life for me in this book.  This is the second book I've read set in Canada this year and I have just adored the chance to read about this country that I've never had the chance to visit for myself.  I loved the descriptions of Montreal that the author included and especially adored all of the French phrases that were included throughout.  It really made me feel like I was there with the characters.  I liked that Martine wasn't your usual detective - in fact she wasn't a detective at all but got involved with the hunt for this killer in a very realistic way.  I found myself unable to stop reading this book for long.  And the ending was so intense that I just gave up watching my son at football practice and lost myself completely in finishing this book.  The ending was so flipping good and I won't say any more than that.  I've tried to keep the spoilers to a minimum here but this is a book that I can't recommend enough!

Overall, I found myself so completely blown away by this book and I cannot even put into words how much I enjoyed it!  I feel like it's kinda awful to say when you think about the actual historical events that this book was based around but I still really, really enjoyed it!  I'm so excited that I have another book in this series to look forward to but I'm hoping the 3rd is on it's way.  This is an author to watch for as this is only her very first book!  Crazy!  I'm really excited that I finally pulled this one off of my shelves (thanks to my husband) because I was missing out.  I would recommend this one to both mystery and thriller fans alike!  Just be warned that there are some definite triggers here so sensitive readers be warned.  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  A mystery that will stick with me for a long time thanks to the events it was based around.  So good!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to a Goodread's giveaway and the publisher.

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Internationally acclaimed crime writer Jo Nesbø’s antihero police investigator, Harry Hole, is back: in a bone-chilling thriller that will take Hole to the brink of insanity.

Oslo in November. The first snow of the season has fallen. A boy named Jonas wakes in the night to find his mother gone. Out his window, in the cold moonlight, he sees the snowman that inexplicably appeared in the yard earlier in the day. Around its neck is his mother’s pink scarf.

Hole suspects a link between a menacing letter he’s received and the disappearance of Jonas’s mother—and of perhaps a dozen other women, all of whom went missing on the day of a first snowfall. As his investigation deepens, something else emerges: he is becoming a pawn in an increasingly terrifying game whose rules are devised—and constantly revised—by the killer.

Fiercely suspenseful, its characters brilliantly realized, its atmosphere permeated with evil, The Snowman is the electrifying work of one of the best crime writers of our time."

My Thoughts:

This is hands down one of the creepier thrillers that I've read so far this year!  I first heard about this book thanks to the Read or Dead podcast which is a new favorite of mine.  I've had Jo Nesbo's books on my radar but this podcast gave me the push to finally give this author a try.  It also helped that there is a movie coming out based off of this book (and you know that I need to read the book first).  I'm so glad that I finally gave this author a try because this book was intense!  It was the perfect way for me to begin my R.I.P. reading challenge.  This book was darker and way more chilling than I expected it to be.  It begins with this creepy, straight out of a horror movie feel type prologue that basically set the tone for the entire book.  I felt like it was non-stop tension from the very beginning page until the very last page of the book.  You've got to enjoy a great read like that!  

Harry Hole is a great main character to read about.  As this is the 1st book that I've read in this series, it means I started smack dab in the middle of it.  I found that it didn't matter in the slightest.  I love a flawed main character which describes Harry perfectly.  I liked the way that this author put out red herrings to keep the reader guessing until the very end.  I would think that I had the mystery all figured out, and then the book would take an unexpected turn which would have my re-thinking everything.  I never was able to figure out what was going on until the very end.  I don't think that this book is for everyone as it was very gruesome at times.  It was dark and brutal at times as well.  But it was also oh so good!  I'm so, so curious to see the movie now as you never know exactly what to expect when a book is turned into a movie.  I hope it is just as good as the book!

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and am eager to read more in this series.  I've already got the first book on my shelves so I will probably start at the beginning to see how it all began sometime soon.  This book was filled with suspense and tension which is exactly how I like my thrillers to be.  I found it hard to put down even when I was thoroughly creeped out by it.  I feel like this was the perfect way to start of my R.I.P. reading challenge as I couldn't have picked a darker thriller than this book.  I would recommend this book to other readers but with the warning that it can be graphic at times.  Fans of mysteries and thrillers should check this author out!  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A terrifying thriller that kept me up way too late reading!

Disclosure:  I checked this book out from my local library thanks to the Read or Dead podcast mentioning it.

The Sunday Post #32 (R.I.P Reading)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme"

Football Sundays are here!  This is the beginning of my favorite time of the year.  I love the cooler temps, watching football, and of course spookier reading.  The annual R.I.P. reading challenge is here and I'm super excited to begin reading for it.  I've already pulled off two stacks of books from my own shelves.  I'm itching to get to the library though and grab a few from there as well.  LOL!  So consider this my official sign up post!  I plan on reading as many as possible but I'm officially signing up for Peril the first which is just four books.  I've actually already finished reading one book that I'm counting towards this challenge so three more to go!

Other than spooky reading, we've just been busy with games, practices, and school.  I feel like I'm reading more than I have been but my reading numbers are just so far behind what they usually are that it doesn't seem to be making a difference.  37 books.  I'm going to need September to be an amazing month of reading to give me any hope of reaching my goal of 75 books for the year.  It may not happen, but it is fun to try!  Since my last reading update I've finished two books.  I finished the following books:

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo - This counts as my first official read for the RIP XII challenge.  I first heard about this one on the Read or Dead podcast as there is a movie coming out soon based off of this book.  I've got to say that I'm looking forward to the movie now!  This was dark and twisted - probably not for all readers but I really liked it.  This is my first time reading this series but it won't be my last (and I actually have a couple others in this series already on my shelves).

The Lost Girls by John Glatt - This was one of the most disturbing and difficult books that I've read in a long time.  Made even worse by the fact that everything was true as this is a nonfiction read.  What these three women went through was horrible!  I took long breaks while reading this one because it was just all so hard to read about.  I definitely won't be forgetting about this one any time soon!

I'm now currently reading the following:

I'm currently only reading one book as I haven't yet settled on a new print book to read.  I love having an open schedule and being able to choose whatever I like for my next read.  That being said this means that I'm also struggling on deciding what to read next.  #Readerproblems....LOL!  I'm enjoying this one so far even though I'm only about 20% in.  I'm hoping to spend some quality time with it this afternoon.

New Additions:

All are review copies thanks to NetGalley and the publishers.  Am I the only one that is struggling with the fact that some of these are 2018 releases already?!?  Crazy!  I'm really looking forward to reading all of these but especially the Jennifer Harlow book as I loved the first book in this series!  My kindle is overflowing with goodness!

Now I'm off to spend the afternoon watching football and probably eating too much food.  I've got laundry piles calling my name as well.  I'm also going to try and settle on what my next print read should be.  (If you are interested in some of the possibilities check me out on Litsy - Samantha.1020)  I'm also hoping to write up a few reviews and get some reading time in.  Sounds like a perfect Sunday to me!

Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!

Blogging Fun and Signing Up

It wouldn't be fall if I wasn't signed up to participate in R.I.P. (or Readers Imbibing Peril).  Even though I'm a bit later than usual in signing up, I have been reading for this challenge already.  There is no challenge out there like Carl's Annual R.I.P. event and I look forward to it every year.  As always to participate all you have to do is the following:

"There are only two expectations if you want to participate with us:

1. Have fun reading (and watching*).
2. Share that fun with others."

I always end up adding a ton of books to my TBR list thanks to this challenge.  Usually I would share a pool of possibilities but since I've been a bad blogger lately I'm going to skip that part for the first time in years.  I'm signing up for Peril the First which only requires me to read four books.  It almost feels like cheating when I've already read three books with this event in mind.  I'm counting them too because I can.  Ha!  Here is what I've read so far if you are interested (or looking for book suggestions for yourself:

If you want to sign up then go here.  Basically all of my reading till the end of October will fit in with this challenge because nothing makes me think of fall more than spooky reading.  And look at that beautiful artwork from Abigail Larson!  How could you not want to share that as well??

I'm also planning on participating in Blog Ahead.  This is a blogging event that focuses on schedule posts ahead of time.  This is something that I always want to do but very rarely happens.  I wouldn't have month long gaps in between my posts if I could schedule and plan ahead that far.  For the month of October I'm going to work really hard to creating posts ahead of time with the goal of getting at least a week ahead (if not more).  It is going to be hard but fun and I'm really looking forward to participating.  If you would like to participate yourself, sign up here.  

So I take off a month of blogging and jump back in feet first.  Sounds about right, doesn't it?  LOL!  Are you participating in either of these events?  If you are then let me know so we can cheer each other on!

R.I.P. X (And Other Fun Going Ons)

Okay folks this is officially my favorite time of the year.  While I enjoy all of the season, there is something about Fall that just holds a special place in my heart.  And R.I.P. is my absolute favorite challenge of all times!  Scary books and thrilling reads.....I am SO there!  I've already begun reading for this challenge even though I am a bit behind when it comes to signing up.  Really when am I ever not behind lately?  Actually don't answer that.  Ha!  I'm officially signing up for:

I've participated in this challenge for so many years now and each time I add a ton of books to my TBR list.  My favorite parts of the challenge are reading other readers' reviews and coming up with a ridiculous reading pool that I can choose from.  I'm signing up for Peril the First which is committing to reading four books that fit in for this challenge.  I'm basically hoping to read only books in the next two months that fit in this challenge but am committing to four for sure!

Here are just some of the possibilities that I am hoping to read in the upcoming months.  Sorry for the blurry quality but I was in a rush to get this post finished before the Bears opening season game begins (and yes that seems to be my finger in the corner. Sigh!). 

This isn't even counting all of the R.I.P. goodies that I have loaded on my kindle.  So much good reading ahead of me I can't even.  I am pumped!  Loving the banners as always which were created by Abigail Larson.  Here is to lots of spooky reading!!

This time of year also makes me think of read-a-thons so I couldn't resist signing up for the Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon which starts tomorrow and goes thru September 27th.  Sign up here if you are interested.

I'm not behind in my reading goals by any means but I could still really use some extra reading time.  I may or may not have signed up for too many blog tours and would really like to get ahead of the game.  Plus, you see the pile of books that I would like to read for R.I.P.  Extra reading time would be very good at this point.  Goals for this read-a-thon are to finish at least four books.  As this is an extra long read-a-thon I feel like this is achievable.  I'm currently reading Everything She Forgot which will be my first read for this read-a-thon.  After that not sure but most likely it will come from the above picture.

Since I have lots of great reading ahead of me I'm off to work on my laundry piles.  Then I can actually sit down with a book and read without feeling too guilty as my house is semi-clean.  I'm also hoping to go visit other participants of these two events just so I can add to my TBR a little bit more.  Ha!

Happy Sunday and Happy Spooky Reading!

Fall Fun and Reading Plans

Fall is officially here and all of the fun that goes along with it.  It has been a great weekend so far albeit quite busy as usual!  We spent the better part of yesterday at a fundraiser softball tournament for two different families that we are friends with in memory of a very special little boy.  It turned a bit rainy at the end but it was great to spend the day with friends in support of a very good cause.  Today is football Sunday as usual which means for me lots of laundry, some blogging, and most definitely a bit of cleaning.  Before I get started on my kitchen floor though, I thought I should get my butt in gear and post about a few upcoming blogging events that I'm planning on participating in.

First up is the FrightFall Read-a-Thon that officially starts up tomorrow (and for me unofficially begins later today hopefully).  I already shared with you my recent ENORMOUS book haul which gives me a perfect excuse to sign up for this and get some books read!  I'm still reading the same books that I was last week so these two are my reading goals for this challenge.  And as they could be considered spooky reads they will fit in perfectly with this challenge.  I'm planning on reading both of these:

Any other books that I can read will certainly be great but I really, really want to finish both of these up!  I'm also signing up for my 1st ever Pin It and Do It Challenge!

I've always wanted to try and participate in one of these challenges hosted by the lovely Trish but haven't yet!  I'm starting small and signing up for the Timid Pinner level but I have high hopes for getting lots of pins accomplished.  The cooler weather always makes me want to bake (I should say attempt to bake) so I'm hoping to try a few pins that involve baking.  This is going to be lots of fun!

Whew!  I'm going to be one busy girl in the upcoming weeks.  I'm off to get some of my laundry done but I hope that you all have a wonderful week filled with lots of good books.

Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!

R.I.P. VIII Challenge (It's Here!!!)

It is officially the best beginning to a week ever because Carl's R.I.P. VIII Challenge is here!!  I am SO, SO excited and feel like I have been planning for this for weeks.  Maybe because I have.  I've been adding potentials reads for this challenge to my TBR list on Goodreads for weeks now.  I have big plans for lots of scary reading in the next couple of months.  And I see a few library visits in my very near future!  Of course I will be culling some books off of my own shelves that will fit in with this challenge as well.  This is always my favorite time of the year when the weather begins to change and the urge to read those creepier books sets in.  I plan to embrace this and read to my heart's content all of the thrillers, mysteries, and horror reads that I can find!

I'm signing up for Peril the First which only requires you to read four books.  I'm hoping to read many, many more than that but it is a good start!  I've already signed up for the group read of The Historian (which I just need to dig off of my shelves) and I would love to get back to It by Stephen King which I started last year but didn't finish.  What other books am I considering you might ask??  Only all of these...

Because I'm sure these two will have a high creepy factor to them.

Two books from previous R.I.P. lists that STILL haven't been read (but that will change this year).

Thrillers from authors that I've loved previously.

Gothic mysteries?  Ummm...YES!!

More creepy possibilities...

Books that I plan on grabbing from the library...

And finally a few from my own shelves :)

I could obviously keep going but I'm going to show a little bit of restraint and stop here.  Don't worry because I also plan on sharing a library loot post with all R.I.P. inspired reads AND a wishlist/radar post with creepy reads!  I've got plans I tell you....creepy reading plans that is.  By the way, I'm starting early on this challenge because I can't wait any longer.  So....what creepy reads are you planning on reading?  C'mon you know you want to share (and add to my never-ending TBR list)!