Book Review: Diary from the Lunatic Asylum by Mary Pengilly
Diary from the Lunatic Asylum
Author: Mary Pengilly
Published: November 2, 2012
28 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
DECEMBER.—They will not allow me to go home, and I must write these things down for fear I forget. It will help to pass the time away. It is very hard to endure this prison life, and know that my sons think me insane when I am not.
Kim’s Review:
So this isn’t a horror story; it’s not even fiction. I’m not gonna lie, I was a little disappointed. However, once I figured out that this was an actual diary, written by a real woman who had been committed to a real asylum, I just went for it. It’s definitely not as good as Nellie Bly’s account, but it was interesting and informative. Mrs. Pengilly managed to write an account from a relatively neutral viewpoint, while still keeping a handle on all the problems. It’s a simple, easy to read report on her stay, the issues in the Aylin’s of her time, and a list of solutions. I looked up Mrs. Pengilly after I finished reading this book, and she went on to spearhead some cool movements to try to improve conditions for female patients.
It’s not a book I’d recommend to everyone, but it’s a good personal story that I enjoyed reading.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Author Spotlight: Jeff Menapace
Today I bring you an Author Spotlight for Jeff Menapace. He has written twelve novels with more coming and today three novels will be featured, starting with his newest: Caleb which is a spinoff from his Bad Games series. He considers himself a Dark Fiction Author who is disturbing readers and loving it.
A native of the Philadelphia area, Jeff has published multiple works both fiction and non-fiction. His horror short story titled SUGAR DADDY earned him the 2011 Red Adept Reviews Indie Award for Horror.
With twelve novels under his belt, Jeff’s debut novel BAD GAMES was a #1 bestseller that spawned four acclaimed sequels. CALEB, his latest release, is a spin-off from the BAD GAMES series and readers are already pushing for another installment. Other popular series include WILDLIFE and NUMB, both of which have further installments planned. Although Jeff enjoys creating disturbing thrillers and horror stories loaded with suspense, he has also written novels in the paranormal mystery, crime fiction/FBI procedural, post-apocalyptic/dystopian genres.
Free time for Jeff is spent watching horror movies, The Three Stooges, and mixed martial arts. He loves steak and more steak, thinks the original 1974 Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the greatest movie ever, wants to pet a lion one day, and hates spiders.
He currently lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, Kelly, and their three cats, Sammy, Bear, and Baby Girl.
CALEB
Published: March 21, 2021
230 Pages
Vengeance is therapy.
Caleb Lambert kills people for a living. The money is nice, but it comes a distant second to his primary reason for choosing such a vocation: Caleb often calls it “scratching an itch.”
Here’s the thing, though: Caleb won’t just accept any contract. He and his team thoroughly vet each and every prospective mark to make sure they deserve to be punished.
And why not? If anyone knows about true evil in this world, it’s Caleb Lambert. Along with his family, Caleb endured hell at the hands of multiple serial killers throughout his childhood, twisting his young mind into the mess it is today. Forever installed that need to “scratch an itch.”
And Caleb is frequently itchy, and business is good. But when a new job comes across his desk, Caleb’s entire world is turned upside down. The job appears to hold so many similarities to his past that he finds it all but impossible to turn down. An impulsive decision that could cost him dearly.
Author’s note: Caleb is a spin-off of the Bad Games series; however it is a stand-alone novel, and it is not necessary to have read/listened to the Bad Games series to enjoy.
**Available from Amazon in paperback, e-book, audiobook, and free with Kindle Unlimited subscription.**
BAD GAMES – A Dark Psychological Thriller
(Bad Games Series Book 1)
Published: February 18, 2013
312 Pages
The terrifying bestseller that started it all, now optioned for feature film.
The Lambert Family is heading to Crescent Lake for an idyllic weekend getaway. Some fishing, some barbecue, some games…
The Fannelli brothers are heading to Crescent Lake too. Some stalking, some kidnapping, some murder, definitely some games…though certainly not the type of games the Lamberts had in mind.
But it doesn’t matter. The Lamberts are playing whether they like it or not. A dark and intense psychological thriller, Bad Games will keep you up all night as it delves into the evil in man, along with the will and determination an innocent family must summon to fight back against horrific odds.
**Available from Amazon in paperback, e-book, audiobook, and free with Kindle Unlimited subscription.**
The BAD GAMES SERIES (Books 1 – 5 ) is also available as a set in Kindle edition.
WILDLIFE – A Dark Thriller
(Wildlife Series Book 1)
Published: April 7, 2015
206 Pages
In the Everglades, some sights aren’t meant to be seen…
Deep in the Florida Everglades, a horrific accident ignites a deadly feud between two families.
Meanwhile, a vacationing family takes a boat ride into the isolated wilds of the Everglades, only to become unwitting witnesses to a brutal crime.
Now, as night falls, forced to travel on foot, they must flee through the treacherous wilderness while avoiding the dangerous wildlife…and the far more lethal human predators that are hunting them.
From the award-winning author of the bestselling Bad Games series comes a heart-stopping new foray into terror like nothing you’ve ever read.
**Available from Amazon in paperback, e-book, audiobook, and free with Kindle Unlimited subscription.**
UPCOMING FROM JEFF:
BOOKISH MERCHANDISE
Stay tuned for news on adding bookish merchandise! If you have favorite items like bookmarks, t-shirts, mugs, etc. please send a message. Be sure you are following on social media and signed up for email alerts at the links provided.
NEXT RELEASE
Reviewers have been loud and clear concerning the demand for another installment for the CALEB series. I aim to please, so it looks like we may see more of Caleb’s version of therapy coming up next.
I’m also working on a horror collaboration with three other authors (Jeff Strand, Iain Rob Wright, and William Malmborg). It will be four different novellas with a “slasher movie” theme. The title is Slice and Dice and was just released on May 30th!
Contact Jeff:
Website (and sign up for his newsletter!)
Amazon
Twitter @JeffMenapace
Instagram @JeffMenapace
Goodreads
Linkedin
Bookbub
Blog Tour: Children’s Book Review: Barty Barton: The Bear That Was Loved Too Much
Today I am part of the blog tour for Sue Wickstead’s children’s picture book Barty Barton: The Bear That Was Loved Too Much. I really enjoyed this on and I am sharing my 5 star review. For those of you in the UK there is also a giveaway going on!
Book Description:
What happens when we outgrow our teddy bears?
Should we let them go?
Thomas loved his teddy bear, but over the years, Barty had become tatty and old.
However, Barty was no ordinary teddy bear, and he wasn’t about to give up on being loved.
Title: Barty Barton: The Bear That Was Loved Too Much
Author: Sue Wickstead
Illustrator: Jo Anne Davies
Published: October 27, 2020
38 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: June 10, 2021
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Jessica’s Review:
Barty Barton is just the cutest children’s book! We all had that most favorite toy when we were kids, but what happens to said toys when we grow up? This is the question that Barty Barton faces as his owner Thomas grows up and starts a family of his own. Is Barty to worn out from Thomas’ love as a child for the new and upcoming generation? The answer is no if Mum/grandma has anything to do with it!
I really enjoyed this short children’s book and thinking about some of my favorite toys growing up. I really enjoyed the illustrations that are well done. I liked how the illustrations show a toy pillow bus, which references Wickstead’s picture book series about various buses. Both children and adults will enjoy this picture book for different reasons and will leave a smile on your face.
There are pictures of the **real toys** that the toys in the book are based off of. We also get to see pictures with Mum (the author herself) her son ane his young child. I always enjoy seeing how Wickstead’s stories seem to come from actual people, toys, buses, and events.
Wickstead’s picture books are recommended!
Purchase Links:
Website (UK)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Waterstones
Barnes and Noble
About the Author:
Sue Wickstead is a teacher and an author and writes children’s picture books with a bus theme. She has also written a photographic history book about the real bus, which is where her story writing began.
Sue once worked with a playbus charity based in Crawley. This led her to write the photographic history book about the project. The ‘Bewbush Playbus’ book was published in 2012.
Sue then began to write a fictional tale about the bus. ‘Jay-Jay the Supersonic Bus’, his number plate JJK261 gave him his name and has now been followed by more picture books (ten to date) which all indeed have a bus connection as well as links to her teaching journey.
Gloria is the most recent bus book and is based on the summer play-schemes which operated during the school holidays providing a safe place to play and to meet other children. (published 2020)
‘Barty Barton; the bear that was loved too much’ was also published in 2020. Barty was written for both her son and grandson.
Some of Sue’s books have been entered and shortlisted in ‘The Wishing Shelf Book Awards’, her book ‘A Spooky Tale’ was a silver medal winner in 2019. It is a story written with her class in school and is aimed at the younger reader.
Contact Sue:
Website
Twitter @JayJayBus
Instagram @jayjaybusbooks
Facebook: Playbus Page
**UK Only Giveaway**
Win a Lego bear and some teddy bear colouring sheets, plus a few more goodies.
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box above. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
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