KJK Reads

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Short Story, Horror Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is an impressive short horror installment that kept me on edge throughout and left me cautious of the late night noises my house was making as I was reading. It was interesting to see the power of a mothers love theme throughout from Tommy’s mothers sacrifice to Melanie protecting her baby too. I liked how the book ended, leaving it open for us to think about our own houses and the noises they make and also leaving the opportunity for the author to return to it if desired. Favourite Quote: “You don't name a thing out loud in a house like this. You don't speak what the dark might want to hear”

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Cozy Mystery, Short Stories  Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. It’s great to see more of Sam and Jordan, especially in sunnier and more carefree environments, even if it didn’t last long. I didn’t manage to solve the murder until the dots started to be connected for me and even then Winter had a trick left up her sleeve. I did wonder at one point how much cash these people took on holiday with them but with Sam getting her money back I know they could afford it so it didn’t take me out of the story, aside from a quick thought about it being nice to have that much to take away with you. This is another great short mystery from Carly Winter and she hasn’t disappointed me yet.  Favourite Quote: “Women my age went practically unseen amongst the general public, but I was okay with it on most days. It allowed me to go through life unnoticed. But this outfit would make it more so. It was that boring...

  Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Short Story, Horror Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This was an interesting short story, it’s my first book by this author and I think I’ll be checking out some more as her style intrigued me. There is tension throughout this book with only a few easing points where we think somethings achieved only to be drawn right back into the tension when Corinne realises things didn’t go to plan. I think this makes porcelain dolls even creepier and I may be a bit more cautious around them at my grandparents in the future.  Favourite Quote: “The Thatcher line is built not on blood, but on remembrance. Each generation storing what the last could no longer carry. We are not mothers. We are vessels.”

  Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Romance, Workplace Romance  Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I really enjoyed this sweet romance book. Having it take place in a fairground was a new and exciting setting for me and it was definitely interesting although I got some Disney vibes with the glass castle. I really appreciated the overall story about workers welfare and it was a well thought out and detailed story alongside the romantic elements. I liked how much Vanessa truly cared for her workers despite not being there for long, showing just how kind hearted she was and was definitely glad the Derk the Jerk wasn’t the MMC but I did like how he became more realised and a better human towards the end of the story. 

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Horror, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Fiction Thoughts: I had such mixed feelings coming away from this book. I did love Holly as a character in the other books so I loved seeing more of her personality and the way she worked in depth this time, especially since the last bit I read was only the short story (If It Bleeds). I also thought this book had an even worse monster for Holly to stop since they’re human so it shows the extent of suffering humans can inflict on each other. It was so surreal reading all the elements of COVID after having lived through it as this is the first book I’ve read set in that period. However, there were too many references made to smoking to me as it added nothing to the plot and only padded out the pages, especially since Holly was supposed to have given up already so it’s not like we’d notice it missing. There was also no need for the use of derogatory terms since the monsters were already horrible enough without needing them to be ...

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Short Story, Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Workplace Romance Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I devoured this book in record time, even for a short one. Eva and River definitely come across like real enemies at first, despite Eva’s friend sensing a little something else there. River is also a complex character with a backstory fleshed out enough to make his actions make sense despite the short nature of the work. Overall, it's a sweet short story and a lovely little tale.  Favourite Quote: “After my family's accident, I didn't think I'd be able to feel again, much less love. But, yeah... I'm man enough to admit it - for me, this is love.”