{13 Days of Halloween} D8: Interview with Teri Bailey Black

Hey guys! Its already past the half-way point of the 13 days leading up till Halloween!

It's time to pull out the big guns.

I know you're tired of the lists.

How about we pull out this awesome interview with Teri Bailey Black?

How does that sound!?

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Teri Bailey Black is the author of:

Goodreads/Amazon

Release Date: August 7, 2018

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The Interview

The book world had a fad of dystopias for a while and now there seems to be lots more contemporary and fantasy, absent of "horror" and suspense novels. What made you want to write about a murder mystery?I’ve always loved reading mysteries—I have two shelves dedicated to them—but I’m also a big fantasy reader, so my first two practice novels were actually YA fantasy. As I was contemplating which story idea to write next, there were already so many amazing fantasy and dystopian books on the market, I made a conscious choice to write something else.

At first, I thought GIRL AT THE GRAVE would be straight historical fiction—the story of a girl who has to overcome the shame of a mother who was hanged for murder. Then, a few chapters into it, I realized—hey, this is a murder mystery! My brain caught fire thinking up who would get killed and why and by whom. I tossed in a few family secrets and some romance. (Must have romance.) At the time, I wasn’t aware of any mysteries in the YA market, but recently it’s been a big trend—which makes me happy because I love reading them.

I love reading mysteries myself. I even love the tv shows and movies dedicated to them documentaries especially! Is there a mentality you had to keep throughout your writing process to keep the book's eerie feel?Atmosphere is actually the fun, easy part of writing for me. I love art and design, and usually have a vivid image in my mind that I enjoy turning into words. A decrepit mansion. A creepy graveyard. The dramatic tension also comes rather easily—too easily in fact; I usually have to go back and tone it down. I’m happy to say that my real life is filled with more cookie baking and lunch with friends than dramatic atmosphere, but for some reason my imagination tends to go to a dark and stormy place.

My major in school is currently Fine Arts. I'm a lover of the arts and design myself. I love your use of that as a comparison with writing. Sometimes you forget not only is the author a creator of words but a home designer, decorator and more! You have to be good at them and love your skill in it! How did you draw the line between a suspenseful, gothic novel and utter horror?That was a natural line I didn’t think about. I love atmosphere and tension, but I’m not drawn to stories that are overly dark or horrifying. Occasionally everyone raves about a dark book or TV show, so I give it a try, but it usually ends up creeping me out and I stop partway. I want a protagonist who’s a good person stuck in a bad situation, willing to go to a dark place for a noble reason (hello Frodo). But if the protagonist is overly dark and troubled and creepy, I’m usually out.

Haha I love it! I can completely understand the natural draw to stay away from horror. Personally, I've always found myself creeped out a lot more from the horror books so perhaps this is why I have yet to read many. Lol. The book doesn't take place in today's time, instead you chose to tie in a historical time line. What interested you in taking on an older time?I knew before I wrote a single word that the story would be historical, but that still left me with lots of options in time and place. The mother was hanged quickly—just three days after the murder—so that ruled out anything in the last hundred years, when the investigation and court case would probably have taken longer. So I zeroed in on the early 1800’s. I decided on a New England setting because it had the atmosphere I wanted, with creepy old graves and a stifling social structure (unlike my own California which was still very wild west at that time). I first wrote the book in the 1820’s, then switched it to 1849 in revisions when I incorporated the start of the women’s rights movement (which was super exciting for me – so grateful for those early women who forged the way).

I love all the thought and research that went into the time era. I love history as well and always appreciate the attention to the details, work, sweat and tears going into the research to pull it off. Many props and appreciation. What is the key to keep a reader guessing within a murder mystery?It’s a super tricky, fun puzzle. A mystery needs plenty of false clues that lead the reader to suspect the wrong person (multiple times), plus enough real clues so it all makes sense at the end. It needs a few shocking reveals along the way, twisting the story in surprising directions (that’s the fun part). And, for me, even more important than the mystery, the characters have to be fully developed, with personal conflicts that force them to stretch and grow as the mystery unfolds. Oh—and the romance element needs careful handling as well, of course, with plenty of tension . . . and then hope . . . and then more tension—all with a killer on the loose. So, yeah, plotting a mystery isn’t quick and easy, but it’s a fun challenge. I’m currently replotting my next book for the THIRD time!!! I just changed the murder victim.

This reminds me of the board game, Clue I used to play growing up. It was one of my favorites. This sounds so fun! Fun, but again super impressed with your attention to research and utmost attention to detail. It really shows.Oooo yay!! Another mystery novel from you! So excited to find that out!! Creepy gothic mansions, creepy graveyards, hangings, murder...Did you have to do research to create your setting/what inspired the visuals?I’m super happy when I hit a place in my writing where I have to stop and jump into a research rabbit hole. I love it. Sometimes I look at images. (What was written on tombstones in the 1700’s? What did people wear in 1849?) Sometimes it’s reading articles on a fascinating topic—like the women’s rights movement in the mid-1800’s. For my current WIP, I’ve been researching astrophysics, which has me feeling all sorts of smart right now.

This has been such a great interview. I absolutely loved hearing all the work you put into this wonderful book. Also can appreciate the leak of more mysteries from you soon! 

Speed round:·       pumpkin pie or pecan pie? Pumpkin, but I’m not going to turn down pecan.
·       creepy grave yard or haunted mansion? Oh, haunted mansion for sure. I love creepy old houses with hidden staircases and whispers in the attic.
·       ghosts or mummies? Ghosts are so much better—people with spooky voices and fascinating stories. Mummies are just faceless and moaning.
·       spells or potions? Spells. I love words. I don’t love drinking things that taste nasty.
·       haunting or summoning? Haunting. I will not be summoning anything.
·       Freddy or Jason? Impossible question. The answer is no and definitely no.

Haha! These Halloween speed round questions are so much fun! Your answers are great xD

About Teri Bailey Black:

Teri Bailey Black grew up near the beach in southern California in a large, quirky family with no television or junk food, but an abundance of books and art supplies. She’s happiest when she’s creating things, whether it’s with words, fabric, or digging in the garden. She makes an amazing chocolate cherry cake—frequently. She and her husband have four children and live in Orange County, California.

Website/Twitter

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How great was this interview!?

Thank you again to the amazing Teri Bailey Black for participating.

This book has perfect Halloween read written all over it!

Have you read it yet?

Let me know what you thought of the interview!

Answer the speed round questions yourself down in the comments!

Boo!

{13 Days of Halloween} D7- Best Halloween-Worthy Books I've Read to Date

It's Day 8.

Halloween is creeping closer and closer you guys!

I'm stoked.

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Today's a little bit of nostalgia.

I have for you today a list comprised of all the books I have deemed

as the best creepy/thrilling/halloween-worthy books I've read to date.

Ready?

(the books are not ordered in any specific order)

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1. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

This book. This book is everything. I think I've already mentioned it twice this month...its that good. It's that creepy. I remember being so confused as to what was going on and just having these chills constantly throughout the entirety of the book. Mara is creepy guys. Shes great. But she's creepy. Noah Shaw might have been another reason as to why I had chills the entire book, and its not cause he was creepy if you know what I'm saying ;)

2. Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

This book takes possession to an entirely new different level guys. I have already mentioned this book this month too. I took out a quote on an accurate representation of what this book is capable of here if you are interested. This book is good. And that cover? Gah!

3. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

So this book, look at that cover...is it not creepy? It did get a makeover so the newer covers don't reflect the same way. This book deals with vampires and I mean its Julie Kagawa so you know its good. She has such an effortless writing style that is so cinematic. This cinematic quality of her writing is what gives it its creepy tone. These aren't the vampires of Twilight be very aware of that. These are the type that will haunt you in your dreams and it is so dang good!

4. The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

So, this one isn't necessarily creepy but the title? The synopsis? It's all about nightmares you guys and the hunt to discover a murder before it happens. This mystery and pace of the book keep you hooked. I never continued on with the series but I think this another I'm going to have to touch back on. Its great. If you haven't yet...do so!

5. Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

I remember this book being 1. Creepy af and 2. one of my favorite reads. This book took me by surprise in so many ways. I was not expecting it to have the amount of creepy factor it had. I did not see that ending coming. I did not see the paranormal element it had going for it. These surprises won my heart. I still can't put into words how much I enjoyed this book. If you haven't read this yet. DO! Like now. It's only 6.15 on Kindle right now...just so you know *shrugs casually*. I seriously can't believe Yelena Black has yet to write anything else. I'd pick up her next book ASAP if she came out with one. 

6. Broken by A. E. Rought

I'd still have to agree with 6 years ago me, the synopsis gives way too much away. I think this was my first re-telling of Frankenstein and I loved it. "It chilled me more than I thought it would. I knew it was going to be semi-creepy because of the whole Frankenstein thing but I didn't think it would have this creepy fog hovering over it the entire book. It was like having those gloomy thunderstorm clouds with the lightening cackling every now and then. It gave me goosebumps I will admit. It also had my heart squeezing and flipping."--from my review 6 years ago. If that doesn't tell you...I don't know what will.

I know, these books are all quite a throwback.

But!! Throwbacks can be healthy! Sometimes its good to look back!

Have you guys read any of these?

See any that you want to read now?

What are some of your creepiest reads?

Let me know below!

Dont forget! The Trick or Treat Tour is going strong!

Find Days 1/D2/D3/D4/D5/D6/D7/D8!

Lots of amazing posts!

Lots of giveaways!

Check it out!

Don't miss out!

<3

{13 Days of Halloween} D6- Halloween Worthy Quotes

And its Day 6! So far....

I've shown you some of the most ghostly reads

the most suspenseful reads

 and the most witchy reads from the last year till now.

Titles are pretty

Covers are enticing

A premise is inviting.

But

Am I the only one who sometimes needs to open the book and you know..

read the first page or even sometimes a random page to make up your mind?

To get you hooked and excited to start?

I can't be.

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So!

Here are some Halloween fitting quotes to get you a little more excited!

(keep in mind I'm still behind catching up on all the books from 2012

to now. That being said, some of these quotes are a little out dated.)

But!! Throwbacks are cool too!

(each book is linked to its Goodreads page)

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The Ghostly:

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“So . . . this means we’re buried in the same cemetery?”

He nodded, and then the tiniest smile crept over his features. When he spoke again, his tone had lost some of its bitter edge. “More proof that we’re fated to be together, don’t you think?” 
“If that were the case, Eli, I’d have a whole graveyard full of choices, wouldn’t I?”

-Tara Hudson, Hereafter

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"Blood. Terrified, I stared at my crimson fingers.
'Surrender to me.'
'Never!" I yelled.
The thing's laughter rang over the pounding pulse in my ears. I realized in horror that I hadn't told my mom good-bye. I was going to die, and I hadn't even said good-bye....Just like Dad.
'I will have you. You are mine. Surrender'
A sharp pain shot up my abdomen. I watched as drops of blood seeped through my shirt. Run! I yanked off the high-heeled shoes. I could hear it laughing as I bounded down the patio stairs two at a time into the parking lot. Run! I had to get away. Another slash across my stomach.
'Never!' I screamed as I ran between the cars toward the Ferris wheel. A horrible ripping sensation filled my body--like Velcro ripping out my insides. Alden was right. These weren't just voices. Somehow this voice was making me bleed. It had entered my body. And now I was housing its soul."

-Mary Lindsey, Shattered Souls

The Suspenseful:

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-Yelena Black, Dance of Shadows

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"Then I heard a scream.
When I whipped around, the dog cowerede so low she hugged the ground. Her owner held the heavy chain.  He must have jerked it.
The sick bastard smiled at me.
I swelled with loathing, brimmed with it. I'd never hated anyone as much as I hated him in that moment; my fingers itched with the violence they wanted to do but couldn't. So I turned and ran, to give my trembling limbs some relief from the fury that boiled up from a dark place I didn't know existed. My feet pounded the pavement, wishing they could trample the smile on that piece of filfth's face. and as the thought spiked through my brain, I saw it. The redneck's skull caved in, leaving a gaping, pulpy hole in the side of his head. A thick cloud of flies clogging his mouth. Blood staining the sandy dirt by the lumber pile in a wide, darkening pool around his body.
He deserved to die" 

-Michelle Hodkin, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

The Witchy:

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“It's called Sunday school, but we are required to attend twice weekly: on Sunday before regular service and again on Wednesday evenings. There are two separate classes: one for children under ten, held in the classroom down the hall, to teach them basic prayers and the tenets of the Brotherhood's beliefs, and one for girls aged eleven to seventeen, to teach us about how wicked we are.” 

-Jessica Spotswood, Born Wicked

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“I heard the man and woman cry a warning as I frantically racked my brain for some sort of throat-repairing spell, which I was clearly about to need. Of course the only words that I actually managed to yell at the werewolf as he ran at me were, 'BAD DOG!'

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flash of blue light on my left. Suddenly, the werewolf seemed to smack into an invisible wall just inches in front of me....

"You know," someone said off to my left, "I usually find a blocking spell to be a lot more effective than yelling 'Bad dog,' but maybe that's just me.” 

-Rachel Hawkins, Hex Hall

.

What'd you think?

Yeah, they're kind of old...

Read any of these before?

Recognize them?

Let me know below!

<3

Don't forget to check out the ongoing "Trick or Treat" Tour!

Day 1/Day 2/Day 3/Day 4/Day 5/Day 6/Day 7

Lots of fun and on going giveaways

hiding throughout the tour!

Check it out!

{13 Days of Halloween} D4: 6 Horror Filled Books

Annnnd its Day 4 on the 13 Days of Halloween Holiday Special!

What's in store today?

Another 6!

Six Horrifying Reads for the season.

Okay, not all horror...

This is a mix of creepy, horror, and intense reads

absent of the paranormal which in my opinion is always a bit more terrifying

Without further ado!

The Cheerleaders

Author: Kara Thomas

Release Date: July 31, 2018

There are no more cheerleaders in the town of Sunnybrook.

First there was the car accident—two girls gone after hitting a tree on a rainy night. Not long after, the murders happened. Those two girls were killed by the man next door. The police shot him, so no one will ever know why he did it. Monica’s sister was the last cheerleader to die. After her suicide, Sunnybrook High disbanded the cheer squad. No one wanted to be reminded of the girls they lost.

That was five years ago. Now the faculty and students at Sunnybrook High want to remember the lost cheerleaders. But for Monica, it’s not that easy. She just wants to forget. Only, Monica’s world is starting to unravel. There are the letters in her stepdad’s desk, an unearthed, years-old cell phone, a strange new friend at school. . . . Whatever happened five years ago isn’t over. Some people in town know more than they’re saying. And somehow Monica is at the center of it all.

There are no more cheerleaders in Sunnybrook, but that doesn’t mean anyone else is safe. {Goodreads}

Girl at the Grave

Author: Teri Bailey Black

Release Date: August 7, 2018

Valentine has spent years trying to outrun her mother's legacy. But small towns have long memories, and when a new string of murders occurs, all signs point to the daughter of a murderer.

Only one person believes Valentine is innocent—Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man her mother killed all those years ago. Valentine vows to find the real killer, but when she finally uncovers the horrifying truth, she must choose to face her own dark secrets, even if it means losing Rowan in the end.  {Goodreads}

 The Echo Room

Author: Parker Peevyhouse

Release Date: September 11, 2018

Rett wakes on the floor of a cold, dark room. He doesn’t know how he got there, only that he’s locked in. He’s not alone—a girl named Bryn is trapped in the room with him. When she finds a mysterious bloodstain and decides she doesn’t trust Rett, he tries to escape on his own—

Rett wakes on the floor of the same cold, dark room. He doesn’t trust Bryn, but he’ll have to work with her if he ever hopes to escape. They try to break out of the room—

Rett and Bryn hide in a cold, dark room. Safe from what’s outside.

But they’re not alone. {Goodreads}

 Nightingale

Author: Amy Lukavics

Release Date: October 1, 2018

At seventeen, June Hardie is everything a young woman in 1951 shouldn’t be—independent, rebellious, a dreamer. June longs to travel, to attend college and to write the dark science fiction stories that consume her waking hours. But her parents only care about making June a better young woman. Her mother grooms her to be a perfect little homemaker while her father pushes her to marry his business partner’s domineering son. When June resists, her whole world is shattered—suburbia isn’t the only prison for different women…

June’s parents commit her to Burrow Place Asylum, aka the Institution. With its sickening conditions, terrifying staff and brutal “medical treatments,” the Institution preys on June’s darkest secrets and deepest fears. And she’s not alone. The Institution terrorizes June’s fragile roommate, Eleanor, and the other women locked away within its crumbling walls. Those who dare speak up disappear…or worse. Trapped between a gruesome reality and increasingly sinister hallucinations, June isn’t sure where her nightmares end and real life begins. But she does know one thing: in order to survive, she must destroy the Institution before it finally claims them all. {Goodreads}

Pitch Dark

Author: Courtney Alameda

Release Date: February 20, 2018

Set against a future of marauding space scavengers and deadly aliens who kill with sound, here is a frightening, fast-paced YA adventure from the author of the acclaimed horror novel, Shutter.

Tuck has been in stasis on the USS John Muir, a ship that houses Earth’s most valued artifacts—its natural resources. Parks and mountains are preserved in space. 

Laura belongs to a shipraiding family, who are funded by a group used to getting what they want. And they want what’s on the Muir. 

Tuck and Laura didn’t bargain on working together, or battling mutant aliens who use sound to kill. But their plan is the only hope for their crews, their families, and themselves. 

In space, nobody can hear you scream . . . but on the John Muir, the screams are the last thing you'll hear. {Goodreads}

Campire 

Author: Shawn Sarles

Release Date: June 17, 2018

While camping in a remote location, Maddie Davenport gathers around the fire with her friends and family to tell scary stories. Caleb, the handsome young guide, shares the local legend of the ferocious Mountain Men who hunt unsuspecting campers and leave their mark by carving grisly antlers into their victims' foreheads.

The next day, the story comes true.

Now Maddie and her family are lost in the deep woods--with no way out--being stalked by their worst nightmares. Because there were other, more horrifying stories told that night--and Maddie's about to find out just how they end...{Goodreads} 

What'd you think?

Any you have read yet?

Any you plan on binging during the season?

Did one particular give you chills?

For me, I think Pitch Dark seemed the most intense...

Let me know what you think below!

Don't forget!

Pumpkin carving contest is going on! Get your entries in here.

The Trick or Treat Tour is on going as well!

Giveaways, interviews and more festive fun!

Day 1/Day 2/Day 3/Day 4

{13 Days of Halloween} D3-6 Ghostly Books Worth the Halloween Binge

What's a Halloween without a ghost or two?

Nearly Headless Nick, Casper, or the poltergeist...take your pick!

The Halloween Days are here and I couldn't deny ghosts and their ever presence during the holiday.

So, to continue the festivities...

Here are 6 very ghostly books to binge out on this Halloween!
(I'm starting with what I feel is more PG to more terrifying)

Invisible Ghosts
Author: Robyn Schneider
Release Date: June 5, 2018

Rose Asher believes in ghosts. She should, since she has one for a best friend: Logan, her annoying, Netflix-addicted brother, who is forever stuck at fifteen. But Rose is growing up, and when an old friend moves back to Laguna Canyon and appears in her drama class, things get complicated.

Jamie Aldridge is charming, confident, and a painful reminder of the life Rose has been missing out on since her brother's death. She watches as Jamie easily rejoins their former friends--a group of magnificently silly theater nerds--while avoiding her so intensely that it must be deliberate.

Yet when the two of them unexpectedly cross paths, Rose learns that Jamie has a secret of his own, one that changes everything. Rose finds herself drawn back into her old life--and to Jamie. But she quickly starts to suspect that he isn't telling her the whole truth.

All Rose knows is that it's becoming harder to choose between the boy who makes her feel alive and the brother she isn't ready to lose {Goodreads}

My Plain Jane

Author: Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton

Release Date: June 26, 2018

You may think you know the story. After a miserable childhood, penniless orphan Jane Eyre embarks on a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester. Despite their significant age gap (!) and his uneven temper (!!), they fall in love—and, Reader, she marries him. (!!!)

Or does she?

Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and one orphan Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Brontë, and supernatural investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights. {Goodreads}

City of Ghosts
Author: Victoria Schwab

Release Date: August 2018
*middle grade*

Cassidy Blake's parents are The Inspectres, a (somewhat inept) ghost-hunting team. But Cass herself can REALLY see ghosts. In fact, her best friend, Jacob, just happens to be one.

When The Inspectres head to ultra-haunted Edinburgh, Scotland, for their new TV show, Cass—and Jacob—come along. In Scotland, Cass is surrounded by ghosts, not all of them friendly. Then she meets Lara, a girl who can also see the dead. But Lara tells Cassidy that as an In-betweener, their job is to send ghosts permanently beyond the Veil. Cass isn't sure about her new mission, but she does know the sinister Red Raven haunting the city doesn't belong in her world. Cassidy's powers will draw her into an epic fight that stretches through the worlds of the living and the dead, in order to save herself. {Goodreads}

The Rattled Bones

Author: S. M. Parker

Release Date: August 22, 2017

Unearthing years of buried secrets, Rilla Brae is haunted by ghostly visions tied to the tainted history of a mysterious island in this haunting novel from the author of The Girl Who Fell.

Maine-bred, independent Rilla Brae is no stranger to the deep. She knows the rhythms of hard work and harder seas. But when she experiences the sudden death of her father, the veil between the living and the dead blurs and she begins to be haunted by a girl on a nearby, uninhabited island. The girl floats a song over the waves, and it is as beautiful as it is terrifying. Familiar and distant.

Then Rilla meets Sam, a University of Southern Maine archeology student tasked with excavating the very island where the ghostly girl has appeared. Sam sifts the earth looking for the cultural remains of an island people who were forcibly evicted by the state nearly a hundred years ago. Sam tells Rilla the island has a history no locals talk about—if they know about it at all—due to the shame the events brought to the working waterfront community. All Rilla knows for sure is that the island has always been there—an eerie presence anchored in the stormy sea. Now Sam’s work and the ghostly girl’s song lure Rilla to the island’s shores.

As Rilla helps Sam to unearth the island’s many secrets, Rilla’s visions grow—until the two discover a tragedy kept silent for years. And it’s a tragedy that has everything to do with Rilla’s past. {Goodreads/Amazon}

Psssst! This book is only 3.99 on Amazon Kindle!!

The Dark Beneath the Ice
Author: Amelinda Berube
Release Date:

Something is wrong with Marianne. 

It's not just that her parents have split up, or that life hasn't been the same since she quit dancing. Or even that her mother has checked herself into the hospital. 

She's losing time. Doing things she would never do. And objects around her seem to break whenever she comes close. 

Something is after her. But a first attempt at an exorcism calls down the full force of the thing's rage. It demands Marianne give back what she stole. And Marianne must uncover the truth that lies beneath it all before the nightmare can take what it think it's owed, leaving Marianne trapped in the darkness of the other side. {Goodreads}

The Darkness Within
Author: Alice J. Black
Release Date: April 2, 2018
*mature adult/adult

The dead speak to Peyton. All her adult life, she’s used alcohol to drown out their spectral voices, but enough is enough! Peyton decides to turn her life around and stop drinking with the help of her best friend, Olivia. But without alcohol...the voices are back and they're louder and more demanding than ever. But what do they want from her? Enlisting the help of local psychic, Sylvia, Peyton discovers that her weird ability…is actually a gift.

Just as she begins to settle in with the idea of accepting her ability, Peyton is thrust into a world of demons. The horror is paralyzing, and it soon becomes clear that it's not just the voices of the dead that are going to haunt her. Peyton realizes that there is only one way to deal with her fears: facing them head on. {Goodreads/Amazon}

Side Note!-This book is only 1.99 on Amazon Kindle! The Prequel is free!!!

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What'd you guys think?

Have you read any of these?

See one you're now interest in?

Let me know below!

Don't Forget!! Live giveaway going on currently!

Test your pumpkin carving skills!

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