Review & Giveaway: Suburban Terrors — Pauline Montagna

Another collection of short stories! I am really getting into this type of book. It feels pretty refreshing after reading numerous books which follow one major plot line. Perhaps we need to have more subplots in our books, with lesser characters having some action?

Synopsis 

Do we really know what secrets lurk behind the tall fences and locked doors of our city’s suburbs? 

Here are twelve stories that delve into that mysterious realm. You’ll find a few thrills, a touch of horror, a ghost or two… and much more. 

‘ …these stories are all entertaining, compelling, and enjoyable, making this the perfect book for bedtime or public transport reading. It’s a great book to have in your bag, ready for the next break in the day. Georgina Laidlaw, Australian Reader

Review

I think there is something for everyone in this book. There's a touch of horror, mystery and crime. Some bits are odd and unlikely, others seem a lot more plausible. A few stories explore punishment or consequences of crime, while others are more detached from that topic. The variety of stories really helped make each one seem fresh and different.

I found some of the stories to be pretty down to earth despite a horror vibe and there were a few twists which are always necessary in a collection like this. While I could pick out a handful of stories which I really liked, I found the one about the struggling writer to be the most amusing. While such an ending might not be everyone's idea of a bad ending, for a writer I'm sure it's terrifying! 

Pauline Montagna

Pauline Montagna was born into an Italian family in Melbourne, Australia. After obtaining a BA in French, Italian and History, she indulged her artistic interests through amateur theatre, while developing her accounting skills through a wide variety of workplaces culminating in the Australian film industry. In her mid-thirties, Pauline returned to university and qualified as a teacher of English as Second Language, a profession she pursued while completing a Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing. She has now retired from teaching to concentrate on her writing. She has published two books, The Slave, an historical romance set in Medieval Italy and Suburban Terrors, a short story collection.

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You can purchase this book as an eBook at the author's website or on Smash Words. You can also purchase a paperback version from Lulu.

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Trailer Tuesday: 17/06/2014

This week I tried to move away, just a little, from dark trailers. No horror book trailers this time. Instead I present a young adult romance novel, a suspense novel and and humorous non fiction book.

If you would like to see your trailer featured here, or would like to share one you found and loved, please send me a link to it via Twitter, Facebook or my contact form on my blog!

Now and Forever by Susane Colasanti



The trailer looks pretty cute. I would expect a cliched young adult romance book about relationships, change and the resulting conflicts and resolution. The reviews on GoodReads make it seem like this book is pretty hit or miss with readers.

Synopsis

What if your boyfriend was the world's biggest rockstar?

Sterling is crazy in love with Ethan. Not only is he the sweetest boy she's ever met, but he's an incredibly talented guitarist, singer, and songwriter. And since forever, he's believed he has what it takes to be a star.

When Ethan becomes an overnight sensation, he's thrown head-first into the glam world of celebrity-and so is Sterling. Before she knows it, she's attending red-carpet premieres, getting free designer clothes, and flying around the country to attend Ethan's monumental sold-out concerts.

It's a dream come true...but whose dream is Sterling living? And what do you do when "forever" comes to an end?

    

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica



This well polished trailer successfully creates a very creepy feeling, perfect for a suspense novel! I found the photograph flicking to be a little boring after thirty seconds, but I was grateful things did change a few seconds after that.

Synopsis

"I've been following her for the past few days. I know where she buys her groceries, where she has her dry cleaning done, where she works. I don't know the color of her eyes or what they look like when she's scared. But I will."

Born to a prominent Chicago judge and his stifled socialite wife, Mia Dennett moves against the grain as a young inner-city art teacher. One night, Mia enters a bar to meet her on-again, off-again boyfriend. But when he doesn't show, she unwisely leaves with an enigmatic stranger. With his smooth moves and modest wit, at first Colin Thatcher seems like a safe one-night stand. But following Colin home will turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia's life.

Colin's job was to abduct Mia as part of a wild extortion plot and deliver her to his employers. But the plan takes an unexpected turn when Colin suddenly decides to hide Mia in a secluded cabin in rural Minnesota, evading the police and his deadly superiors. Mia's mother, Eve, and detective Gabe Hoffman will stop at nothing to find them, but no one could have predicted the emotional entanglements that eventually cause this family's world to shatter.

An addictively suspenseful and tautly written thriller, The Good Girl is a compulsive debut that reveals how even in the perfect family, nothing is as it seems….

    

This is Ridiculous This is Amazing by Jason Good



After all the romantic and dark trailers, this book trailer was like a breathe of fresh air. It feels casual and brought a smile to my face. Parenthood lists aren't exactly relevant to me currently, but this trailer still made me want to take a peak at the book.

Synopsis

Blogging sensation and family man Jason Good delivers a laugh-out-loud reminder that everything is easier and more fun when approached with a sense of humor—especially parenting. Each list captures a perfect (or perfectly terrible) aspect of parenthood while wholeheartedly embracing every moment: "You Deserve a Break" offers ideas for downtime, such as giving blood and untangling cords, while "Self-Help from a Three-Year-Old" collects such wisdom as "If you fall down, stay down. Someone will pick you up eventually." Sweet, sincere, and oh-so-true, this is the ideal gift for parents who could use a laugh. And isn't that every single one of them?

    

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