Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish. With no set theme for this week, I've gone with some horror novels that are still sitting on my TBR. Though it's not a genre I usually would go for, there's so much to choose from and I'm always up for a good read!

1. The Shining by Stephen King

I've only read Carrie by the renowned Stephen King so far - and this one has had some shining reviews of its own...very promising. 

2. A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

This one has come to my attention as a recommendation, and with the support of Stephen King it must be good! The psychological element and even a reality TV show being involved in the plot makes this sound like a thrill.

3. The Late Breakfasters and Other Strange Stories by Robert Aickman

This collection of short stories appears to take suburban America in the 1960's with a dark twist. 

4. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

I'm currently reading The Bird's Nest by Shirley Jackson and have previously read her short story The Lottery, so I can definitely see how Jackson has such a large fan base for her work. This Gothic novel seems like one not to be missed.

5. Experimental Film by Gemma Files 

I couldn't help but be reminded of Night Film by Marisha Pessl when I saw this title, but from the blurb I think this book will be memorable in its own way. It won the Shirley Jackson award in 2015 so I'm even more eager to read it for myself.  

6. The Troop by Nick Cutter

This book is meant to be so scary it can disturb even the most experienced of horror fans...so should I give it a go? Curiosity may just get the better of me.

7. Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett

A YA 'romantic horror' definitely sounds like something different - perhaps not as dark as some of the others on this list, but somewhere to start. 

8. Universal Harvester by John Darnielle 

Aside from that brilliant cover, the story itself has all the hallmarks of a fascinating one. Exploring the nostalgia related to video stores and movies corrupting themselves...I'm intrigued. 

9. Geek Love by Katherine Dunn 

If not all horror has to be completely terrifying, then Geek Love makes this list. Memorable characters and a unique take on the family unit makes this a book I'm keen to give a chance. 

10. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

I've only had a flick-through this one so far since just recently buying it - and while it may appear disjointed in so many ways, I'm excited to see how a story unfolds among the chaos. 

Have you read any of the books on this list? What horror novels would you recommend? 

{Blog Tour} Country Roads by Nicole Hurley-Moore - Guest Post

Country Roads by Nicole Hurley-Moore

Released: 25th January 2017

Published by: Allen and Unwin

Genre: Romance 

RRP: $29.99 

Pages: 312

Amazon | Booktopia | iBooks

A compelling tale of betrayal, tragedy, healing and love that proves first impressions aren’t always right.

Rebecca Duprey is working day and night to keep the family sheep station, Bluestone Ridge, afloat. But Bec's father, who's been in a wheelchair since a farming mishap, keeps second-guessing her decisions. Now, to add Bec's woes, her unfaithful ex-boyfriend has started lurking around, and the adjoining farm she'd hoped to buy has been snapped up by a guy from the city called Matt Harvey.

 After leaving his job in advertising, Matt became a bestselling novelist. But since the death of his fiancée in a car accident, he's had severe writer's block and is desperately hoping his move to the country will help him deal with his grief and allow him to focus on completing his next book. Problem is, he seems to have started off on the wrong foot with his new neighbour, Bec Duprey.

Bec isn't quite sure when she started feeling attracted to Matt, but she's determined not to succumb to his charms. And Matt isn't sure when his feelings changed about Bec; all he knows is he can't get her out of his mind. Can Bec and Matt overcome their fear of loss to find love and happiness with each other...?

Guest Post by Nicole Hurley-Moore:

If I had to live inside a book…

At first I thought this was an easy question, with only one possible answer; Pride and Prejudice wins hands down. I mean who doesn’t want to be the clever Elizabeth Bennet facing off against the broodingly dashing Mr. Darcy? Jane Austen’s world is full of wit, manners, underlying passion, sprigged muslin and cravats. And as I said, who doesn’t want to immerse themselves in carriage rides, balls and trying to untie those aforementioned cravats. It’s a pretty romantic world which is staid and relatively safe especially for those in the upper echelons of society. I like it here and there is little else to do than to take tea and arrange a marriage or two.  Yes, it will do very well indeed.

But then I begin to realise that this question is more difficult that I first imagined because there’s a part of me which likes things dark, violent and medieval. So I leave the graceful walls of Pemberley and find myself happily ensconced at Winterfell in George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones – swinging a sword, fighting white walkers and trying to tame a direwolf. Winter is my favourite season but as characters appear to die off at an alarming rate perhaps I should think of another option… 

Nicole Hurley-Moore grew up in Melbourne and has travelled extensively, whilst living her life through the romance of books. Her first passion in life has always been her family, but since doing her BA Honours in Medieval Literature, she has devoted her time to writing romance. Nicole is a full-time writer who lives in the Central Highlands of Victoria with her family, where they live in the peaceful surrounds of a semi-rural town. She is the author of the immensely popular novels McKellan's Run and Hartley's Grange.

Check out the other stops on the tour!

Review: A Million Worlds With You (Firebird #3) by Claudia Gray

A Million Worlds With You by Claudia Gray

Released: 1st November 2016

Published by: HarperCollins 

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Source: Publisher

Pages: 419

My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Goodreads | QBD | Booktopia

The fate of the multiverse rests in Marguerite’s hands in the final installment of the Firebird trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray.

Ever since she used the Firebird, her parent’s invention, to cross through alternate dimensions, Marguerite has been at the center of a cross-dimensional feud. Now she has learned that the evil Triad Corporation plans to destroy hundreds of universes, using their ultimate weapon: another dimension’s Marguerite who is wicked, psychologically twisted, and always one step ahead.

Even though her boyfriend Paul has always been at Marguerite’s side, the Triad’s last attack has left him a changed man, and he may never be the same again. Marguerite alone must stop Triad and prevent the destruction of the multiverse. It’s a battle of the Marguerites . . . and only one can win.

In the epic conclusion to the sweeping series that kicked off with A Thousand Pieces of You, fate and family will be questioned, loves will be won and lost, and the multiverse will be forever changed.

Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

*This review may contain spoilers for the previous books in the series*

Each new quantum reality splits off when someone makes a decision. Every single world we've visited isn't just random - it's the result of countless choices, all of them combining to make a new reality. 

This highly anticipated conclusion to Claudia Gray's exhilarating Firebird series not only continues to explore the multiverse, but further inspect the characters themselves. With the stakes higher than ever as Wyatt Conley threatens to assert his dominance over multiple dimensions, and Wicked wreaking havoc wherever she travels, Marguerite is faced with more difficult decisions than ever before.

If our destiny is nothing more than a prediction of a collision, an intersection between two paths, then we don't have a destiny at all.

What first drew me to this series was the different settings, as with each new world Gray transported us to, there were new challenges for the characters to face. In A Million Worlds With You, each of the universes mentioned in the first two novels are once again acknowledged, along with a few new additions. What I did appreciate in this finale however, was the main focal point on Marguerite, Paul and Theo as they are confronted with their other selves on a deeper level. It's the dynamic trio against Triad, a mammoth task considering the cunning Conley and even more devious Wicked - one of the 'other' Marguerites, have other plans in store which could change their lives entirely. The Firebird devices themselves and the 'science' behind them were once again pivotal to the plot - especially when the situation demanded a decision which could mean the difference between life and death. The storyline was definitely taken up a notch in terms of suspense, with an epic showdown never far behind. It's a matter of good and evil, grappling with the moral question of whether it is acceptable to sacrifice a life when there is the possibility of saving many.

I've been so shaken by finding my one worst self that I never considered how much it might change our fates by finding someone else's best self. Travel through enough dimensions and maybe you'll find the hero and the villain in everyone. 

The complex romance between Paul and Marguerite is finally given some closure in this book, but what I really loved to see was Marguerite come into her own. All dimensions of her character were addressed, and her attempts to consolidate her different selves and understand who she wanted to be in her own world was a plot point skilfully executed. Gray has successfully built on all her characters in this novel, exposing their flaws and embracing their courage in the face of imminent danger. Even Marguerite's parents played an even greater role which pulled everything together as their own inventions threatened to become weapons of mass destruction. When worldbuilding and character development come together so successfully as they have in this case, it's no wonder that this series has been so popular.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A Million Worlds With You is a fitting end to a series I won't be forgetting anytime soon. This final instalment of a trilogy which I've been invested in from the first page has matched the ingenuity of its predecessors, defied science as we know it, and taken us on a whirlwind of a journey across the universe.

Review: The Estate (The Industry #2) by Rose Foster - A #LoveOzYA thriller not to be missed

The Estate by Rose Foster
Series: The Industry #2

Released: 22nd July 2016

Genre: YA Thriller

Source: Publisher

Pages: 414

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads | Booktopia | Bookworld

Kirra Hayward has many questions. What is the Estate? Will she be safe from Latham there? Will her code cracking skills be used for good or evil? Will she ever make it home? As she reluctantly joins the ranks of criminals, Kirra begins to realise the Estate isn't quite the place of refuge she hoped it would be.

There's a bully to avoid, rumours of a second code cracker on the run, and the feeling that someone at the Estate wants Kirra gone. For good.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

This review may contain spoilers for The Industry

Ever since I heard that Rose Foster's The Industry was sure to have a sequel, I just couldn't wait to read it. With anticipation high, so were my expectations for this novel - and it definitely did not disappoint. In The Estate Kirra Hayward is working within the Industry itself, having completely left her old life behind. As one of the only people who can crack the elusive Spencer coding, she's in a valuable, yet dangerous position. What this book does so well is execute the perfect combination of suspense, character development and action - what more could you ask for?

What I really appreciated about The Estate's storyline is the emphasis Foster places on developing all of her characters; broth primary and secondary. Each member of the Industry is given a unique personality and their own quirks, from the protective Desmond to the distant yet slightly maternal Aurelie who Kirra lives with. Flo, who Kirra is paired with as a 'Retreiver', is especially complex. Kirra's own conflicting emotions over whether she wanted to continue living this other life where secret documents are always circling, assassins are on the loose and people's lives are at risk, were also explored. Everything from the dialogue to the plot twists seemed fitting and flowed well, building greatly upon the foundations set in the first book of the series. 

Aside from the structure and characters, the action scenes are what really set this book apart and provided wow factor. There is an electric dynamic throughout the story, and being set in Vienna added an extra level of interest. It was good to see the camaraderie in Kirra's immediate peers, but also the thrill of characters' true colours being exposed. I really hope there will be a third book because I have to know what happens next!

FINAL THOUGHTS

WOW. This is a thriller that will keep you glued to its pages. Rose Foster has proven herself to be a masterful storyteller with great insight into her characters and how they will react in high-octane situations. With code-cracking, assassins, and plenty of action to spare, The Industry series is one you need to read. 

There's also this twitter giveaway ending 5th Feb for a chance to win both books - signed!

#YA #Giveaway! RT to win a signed copy of The Industry AND The Estate by Rose Foster. One AU winner only. Ends 5 Feb pic.twitter.com/qFLgttPtJO

— The Industry Series (@IndustryBooks) January 20, 2017

Cover Reveal: A Boy Like You by Ginger Scott

Ginger Scott's novels are always more than just a romance - there's usually a sport theme, but above all are the family and deeper issues at play. I've always loved her books, and this one looks like it's going to be another emotional read!

A BOY LIKE YOU

NA Contemporary Romance-Stand Alone

Amazon iBooks Barnes and Noble Kobo

They say everyone’s a superhero to someone. I’m not sure who I’m supposed to save, but I know who saved me. We were kids. His name was Christopher. And up until the day he pulled me from death’s grip, he was nothing more than a boy I felt sorry for. In a blink of an eye, he became the only person who made me feel safe. And then he disappeared.

Now I’m seventeen. I’m not a kid anymore. I haven’t been for years. While death didn’t take me that day, the things that happened left me with scars—the kind that robbed me of everything I once loved and drove me into darkness. But more than anything else, that day—and every day since—has taken away my desire to dream.

I wasn’t going to have hope. I wouldn’t let myself wish. Those things—they weren’t for girls like me. That’s what I believed…until the new boy.

He’s nothing like the old boy. He’s taller and older. His hair is longer, and his body is lean—strong and ready for anything. I don’t feel sorry for him. And sometimes, I hate him. He challenges me. From the moment I first saw him standing there on the baseball field, he pushed me—his eyes constantly questioning, doubting…daring. Still, something about him—it feels…familiar.

He says his name is Wes. But I can’t help but feel like he’s someone else. Someone from my past. Someone who’s come back to save me. This time, though, he’s too late. Josselyn Winters, the girl he once knew, is gone. I am the threat; I am my worst enemy. And he can’t save me from
myself.

Releasing 3rd March 2017

Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling and Goodreads Choice Award-nominated author of several young and new adult romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, Going Long, Blindness, How We Deal With Gravity, This Is Falling, You and Everything After, The Girl I Was Before, Wild Reckless, Wicked Restless, In Your Dreams, The Hard Count, and Hold My Breath.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot quarterback, catcher, pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than 15 years. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.

When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).

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