Haunting of the Blackthorne House by Bruce Knapp ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

Could the curse of a rural town warp Joseph Blackthorne enough to make him commit murder?

When Joseph Blackthorne gets the opportunity of a lifetime, he jumps at it. But he does not believe in the supernatural and thinks it's the result of folklore or the fallible human psyche.

However, he disregards the warning from a local and relocates his house to a forbidden hill, which begins a series of events that will shake this town to its core.

As the dark history of Blackwater unravels, Joseph conceals his problems with alcohol, but history like his drinking keeps repeating itself. Is it too late to save his family, business, town, or hell even himself?

The town of Blackwater is fraught with evil, which consumes us all, one way or another.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Bruce Knapp grew up in the Jacksonville, FL area. Now he lives in Tampa and after years as a software developer now pursues his passion for writing. Join him on this journey into the unknown. 

Author's Goodreads.

Review: 
A short horror story that can be read in a sitting. It took me a little longer than I thought to get through this one. I am going to blame reading when I was tired and not feeling great. It is a twisted paranormal/horror story, cult like set in the 1950's. Gruesome in parts, slow in others. Evil lurks in the Blackthorne house which was built on a hill by an old cemetery and water well that had a witch hung from it.

I found the author's writing style did fit the theme of the story and I did enjoy it. I would recommend it to readers of short stories. I think that it could have been developed a bit more and had some more interaction in it with the characters.

I give this a 3 out of 5 stars. 
 

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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Alone by Cyn Balog ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

When her mom inherits an old, crumbling mansion, Seda’s almost excited to spend the summer there. The grounds are beautiful and it’s fun to explore the sprawling house with its creepy rooms and secret passages. Except now her mom wants to renovate, rather than sell the estate—which means they're not going back to the city…or Seda's friends and school. 

As the days grow shorter, Seda is filled with dread. They’re about to be cut off from the outside world, and she’s not sure she can handle the solitude or the darkness it brings out in her.

Then a group of teens get stranded near the mansion during a blizzard. Seda has no choice but to offer them shelter, even though she knows danger lurks in the dilapidated mansion—and in herself. And as the snow continues to fall, what Seda fears most is about to become her reality…

Purchase a copy on Amazon.

About the Author: 

Cyn Balog is a normal, everyday Jersey Girl who always believed magical things can happen to us when we least expect them. She is author of young adult paranormals FAIRY TALE (2009), SLEEPLESS(2010), STARSTRUCK (2011), TOUCHED (2012), and her most recent release: DEAD RIVER (2013).e. She lives outside Allentown, Pennsylvania with her husband and daughters.

She also writes under the pen name Nichola Reilly. Nichola Reilly is Cyn Balog's post-apocalyptic fantasy-writing alter-ego. The first book in her series, DROWNED, will be releasing from Harlequin TEEN sometime in 2014, followed by a sequel, BURIED, in 2015.

Connect: Website | Twitter | Goodreads | 

Review: 

OMG this book was good. I was hooked right from the beginning as the author jumps right into the story giving us a little background into the main characters family. Seda is one of five children, two sets of twins and Seda. Seda was told she was a twin but consumed her twin while in the womb. Seda feels that she has a connection with her brother, Sawyer, who doesn't play nicely. The whole story takes place in a huge mansion that was turned into a murder-mystery B&B in the middle of nowhere. A snowstorm hits and a group of teens have an accident on their way to the ski lodge. They are invited to stay until the storm passes. This is where the fun really starts. All the while the author has us feeling that there is something up with Seda. The teens are put through a murder-mystery to solve for Seda's sweet sixteen birthday.

If you are not into horror or murder type novels you will not like this book. I am still unsure of the ending. I would have given this book a 5 out of 5 stars but I found the ending weird. Other than that I loved this book and can't wait to read more from Cyn Balog. I find Balog's writing well established, hooking the reading in and feeding them the right amount of suspense to keep them reading to the very end. This is a quick book and I am sure I could have read the whole thing in one sitting if I had the time.

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

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Bled by Eddie Slain ~ Book Review

Book Description:

Cassie is caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, where the only rules are kill, or be killed…

Charleston, Illinois -
Cassie and Frank’s animalistic rutting climaxes with rage, pain, and disappointment, when he disappears, trailing burnt and bloody remains in his wake.

Rome, Italy -
A gorgeous stranger sweeps Cassie off her feet, lighting her soul with every touch, his deep, brown eyes harbouring a dark secret.

Perugia, Italy -
Cassie’s lover disappears, leaving a blood-soaked message, and the image of a familiar ghost on her phone.

…exhausted, frozen, alone, Cassie must now hunt down the killer before it's too late.

Purchase a copy on Amazon

About the Author:

Eddie Slain has been dreaming in bright red and hot pink for most of his life, fighting the urge to write what he sees whenever he closes his eyes.

Now everyone can indulge in Eddie's dark side.

Dip inside, enjoy the rush.

Connect: Smashwords | Twitter | Goodreads |

Review:

I enjoy reading horror, psychological and erotica books but usually they are not all rolled into one like Bled. This book is raw, raw, raw. It gets its teeth into you from the first couple pages and hooks you along until you come to the end. This book is not my typical read but I was very interested in seeing how the novel would unfold. I knew from the beginning that it isn't your average horror or erotica novel, it does contain explicit sexual scenes. That in mind I jump in with both feet and an open mind.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. Why? Because I found it hooked my attention right away, kept me picking back up the book until I was finished. I love the writing style of Slain and was fascinated with the story he was able to tell. Never would I have thought Geocaching would be so dangerous.

Cassie is  a tough girl, she won't take any crap from anyone especially not her boyfriend, who really needs emotional help and some anger management. She even has some great kicka#$ moves that will get her out of trouble. This book does have abuse emotionally and physically, so there were times that I couldn't wait to get through a certain part. All in all I think Slain did a great job on his debut novel and I can't wait to read more by him.


~*Disclaimer: I received the above book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.*~

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The Laws of Nature: A Collection of Short Stories of Horror, Anxiety, Tragedy and Loss by Ashley Franz Holzmann, Narrated by Mr. Creepy Pasta ~ Audiobook Review

Book Description: 

There is a dark side to human nature that neither can be wished away nor completely mitigated. Ashley Holzmann details just several of these "Laws of Nature" before taking his readers on a journey through the bizarre, the terrifying, and, ultimately, the disturbingly real truths that underlie much of modern American life.

Ashley makes his debut into the horror genre with "The Stump," a story about an afternoon trot through the woods that quickly becomes a blood bath--and, much as it does for that story's creature, the scent of fear will only lure veteran horror readers further through the forest. A teenager's vanity will likely cause his town to be consumed by a roaming swarm of insects that burst forth from his acne-riddled skin in "White Heads;" entire populations vanish into the void of the Alaskan tundra in "Glass Houses;" and superiority takes the form of a murdering, sadistic woman in "Lady Macbeth."

But Ashley's best retellings focus less on gore and adrenaline and instead take human psychology as their medium, as demonstrated in "Plastic Glasses," where readers are brought into a world of disturbing personality and mental disorders. Ashley's work abounds with stories in this vein, stories which grab a hold of a common failing--such as marital friction in "Hush," or American male frustration in "Orpheus's Lot"--and take it to an extreme that is nevertheless not inconceivable for most people.

Coming from the mind of a man who has experienced more than his fair share of humanity, "The Laws of Nature" is, at its finest, a description of universal emotions of loss, nostalgia, anxiety, and soul-penetrating terror. Ashley's stories elicit empathy from his readers and draw them into worlds where they both acknowledge and cuddle with their fears and which leave them, ultimately, more human.
 
Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Ashley Franz Holzmann was born in Okinawa, Japan and raised in a variety of countries while his parents served in the Air Force. He considered attending art school, but is instead a graduate of West Point, where he enjoyed intramural grappling and studying systems engineering and military history. He majored in sociology and is currently a captain in the Army. Ashley speaks Korean, enjoys backpacking, and is the cook in his family. He currently lives in North Carolina with his wife, two sons, and their two dogs.

Connect: Website | Goodreads | Twitter  | Facebook |
 
Narrator: Mr. Creepy Pasta  YouTube | Website |


Review: This review was originally posted on Audiobookreviewer.com

This is a novel of short stories of horror, mental illness, trauma and more. A few of these stories are very unbelievable - The Stump especially but it is more of a horror story. The rest of them are more believable and very creepy. One story that really got to me was Clarissa, the story is set out as an "writer" recording his story about meeting a killer named Clarissa and how she went about killing her victims. The narrator does a great job pulling the listening into this story, making you fell like he is speaking to you. At the end of it the "writer" ask how is your writing going Jennifer and a few other questions. Because I am a Jennifer and was totally engrossed into this story I was totally thrown off and freaked out. It was likely my favourite story. I also enjoyed the one about a truck driver explaining about how he drives truck and the safety that he has to deal with all the time, the other drivers out on the road and accidents. Another story is about a man who talks about losing his son to SIDs and hearing the baby still crying at night on the baby monitor, as the reader I felt he was just going through his grieving but in the end it isn't what you would expect.  If you enjoy creepy stories this is a great compilation that you should check out.

The narrator, Mr. Creepy Pasta, is amazing, he engages the readers and makes you feel like he is just talking to you. He really gets into the stories and "acts" them out verses reading them. There is music playing in the background for most of it but it really adds to the stories and makes things seem creepier. Mr. Creepy Pasta is an amazing voice for horror stories. I really enjoyed his narration so much that I looked him up on YouTube and have listened to more horror stories on his channel.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. I will look for more from this author and the narrator.

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Tales from Valleyview Cemetery by John Brhel & Joseph Sullivan ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

Welcome to Valleyview, where bodies lie buried but an ancient curse never sleeps. A father hears strange voices on his daughter's baby monitor. A trio of gravediggers faces a swarm of supernatural creatures. A group of teenagers puts a mausoleum legend to the test. A husband and wife take a stroll through a corn maze that they'll never forget.

Tales From Valleyview Cemetery contains seventeen interconnected tales of terror -- legends of a town and cemetery entrenched in occult practice, macabre history, and a demon elemental waiting for his people's return. It is a short story collection, in the vein of Alvin Schwartz and Richard Matheson. Appropriate for teen and adult readers.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Authors: 

John Brhel is a horror writer and co-founder of Cemetery Gates Media. His work has appeared in “The Vault of Ghastly Tales.” When he’s not writing, he works as a communications manager at Binghamton University, writes music and reads fiction. He lives in Vestal, NY, with his wife and daughter. Follow him on Twitter at @johnbrhel.

J. Sullivan is the author of the verse novella “Jillian Loman,” and co-founder of Cemetery Gates Media. His long-term writing goal is to combine his love of poetry, the American novel and upstate New York into one cohesive work of fiction. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and songwriting. He is currently co-writing a novel about a group of urban legend explorers tentatively titled “Route 12: The Legend Trip.” He lives in Binghamton, N.Y., with his wife and three children.

Connect: Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr |

Review: 

I love a good ghost story! I have always loved those short ghost stories from my childhood, those scary stories to tell in the dark or by the campfire. This book delivers just that, a selection of scary stories about ghosts, demons and occult. They are all tied to this one cemetery, Valleyview. Some have other tie ins but mainly it is the cemetery itself that is the big connector. It is fun to read one story and later read another that has one of the same characters or dinner etc in it also. 

Full of suspense, unpredictable plots and the thrill of wondering what will happen next, I loved this book. You can easily read one or two stories quickly and then put it down and come back to it whenever you have the chance. This is great for people who only have a few minutes here and there to read. It is really hard to say which stories where my favourites but I would have to say the one with the teen that would hang out in the grave yard with his "dead" friends and also the last one about a medium.  

I would really like to read more from John and Joseph and also more Tales from Valleyview. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars! Some great spooky tales for teens and adults.
 

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received a copy of the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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The Moors: Some secrets are better left buried by Jody Medland ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

The call was disturbing, but as far as investigatory journalist Amanda Connors was concerned, it had to be fate. Inadvertently, it was the years of abuse during her childhood that led her into journalism and to now receive an anonymous tip-off claiming negligence within a children’s care home offered the chance to finally put the past behind her. It was the winter of 1972 when she journeyed from London to Devon to pursue the lead, though she would only learn one thing: some secrets are better left buried.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Jody Medland is an award-winning writer who has worked successfully across the advertising, education, film, gaming, literary and television industries.

His debut feature film, The Adored, was released in the States in 2013 and has since enjoyed worldwide distribution, including territories such as the UK, Germany, Poland and Uganda. It won Best Film at the Durban Film Festival in South Africa and earned three official selections in Wales, Germany and the US.

Jody is deeply passionate about his literary work and from 2011-2012 he produced and published ten short story books, titled The Emerging Light Series – a project that encouraged new writers to create and submit short stories.

It is the ability to wield strong, original concepts that Jody is renowned for among his peers and he is a great fan of dramas, thrillers and mystical stories, which are his genres of choice when writing.

Connect: Goodreads | Twitter |

Review:

I knew I was going to enjoy this book as I love books set back in the '70/80's. I also find it interesting to read story about mental illness or disabilities. This book delivered. I started reading it late one night, giving myself 30 minutes to read but almost an hour later I was about half way through the book. I only put it down because I couldn't keep my eyes open longer. The next day I finished it. I can't wait for the next book.

The characters are all well developed. The author gives us enough about the characters to build interest and wonder really who they are. Who is the mean one and who really cares for the children in the house. What is happening at this house and who is doing it. The story moves at a steady pace and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I really enjoy Amanda and found the beginning helped a lot to get to know her better. I was surprised at the end of this story. It doesn't have a happy ever ending and keeps you wondering what will happen in book two. It is one creepy creepy read.

I give this book a 5 stars.



~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received the above book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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The Lost Girl by R.L. Stine ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

Generations of children and teens have grown up on R.L. Stine's bestselling and hugely popular horror series, Fear Street and Goosebumps. Now, the Fear Street series is back with a chilling new installment, packed with pure nightmare fodder that will scare Stine's avid fan base of teen readers and adults.

New student Lizzy Palmer is the talk of Shadyside High. Michael and his girlfriend Pepper befriend her, but the closer they get to her, the stranger she seems… and the more attractive she is to Michael. He invites her to join him on a snowmobile race that ends in a tragic accident. Soon, Michael's friends start being murdered, and Pepper becomes convinced that Lizzy is behind the killings. But to her total shock, she and Michael are drawn into a tragic story of an unthinkable betrayal committed over 60 years ago. Frightening and tense in the way that only this master of horror can deliver, The Lost Girl is another terrifying Fear Street novel by the king of juvenile horror.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Robert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.

R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.

Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.

Connect: Website | Twitter | Goodreads |

Review: 

This is the first Fear Street novel I have read since the mid nineties. I used to read all the Fear Street and RL Stine books when they came out for about 6 or 7 years. I loved them! I was super excited to read this new one to see how they are now that I am an adult and have read some terrifying novels. I still love RL Stine books. The authors writing doesn't really feel like it has changed from what I remember except its moved along with the times of cell phones and such. 

This novel starts off in 1950 and then flashes forward to present day. It feels like you are reading two different stories until you start to put two and two together. The books are still scary (not as much now that I am not a preteen but I still really enjoyed it). There are some gruesome sections that had me cringing at the thought and they are really well described so you can really picture the events happening.  The author does a great job with developing his characters and describing the scenes that are taking place. I really like Michael and found him to be a pretty smart teenager for a boy but really wanted to smack him upside the head when they wanted to brush aside an incident that really needed to be reported. That's a horror story for you. 

The ending was a little off from what I was thinking it was going to end like but I did enjoy how the author wrapped the 1950's story and the present one together. 


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Camp Carnage (Night Terrors) by Elliot Arthur Cross & Joshua Winning ~ Book Review

Book Synopsis:

In the summer of 1986, Billy Collins is sent to his own personal Hell - summer camp. The remote Camp Genesis offers desperate parents a place to "straighten" out their gay teenagers with the help of the puritanical Katherine Creevey.

Besides the typical horsing around, campfire tales and summer games, the Genesis program forces gay and questioning teens into humiliating gender-based lessons. While Billy wants nothing more than to escape Camp Genesis, he can't help worrying that something even more sinister is hiding just out of sight.

Unknown to Billy, two campers were murdered three years ago. Just days after Billy and the new campers arrive, people start to go missing, and it's up to Billy and his new friend Jem to find out what's really going on. Is a maniac on the loose? Is history repeating itself? One thing's for sure - at Camp Genesis, you have to fight to survive...

Purchase a copy on Amazon or Smashwords

About the Authors:

Elliot Arthur Cross: Hailing from New England, Elliot has always been a horror fan, be it film, books, or campfire tales. Some favorites include Scream, Sleepaway Camp and any cheesy horror anthology (why is it that some of the most fun stories are the shortest?). When he’s not writing horror (or watching Netflix), Elliot works in other genres like mystery, adult, and the supernatural.

Joshua Winning: Based in London, UK, Joshua spent his teenage years watching films he probably shouldn’t have and reading things his parents would deeply disapprove of. He often stayed up watching scare flicks on late-night TV and was transfixed by some of the best horror films of the 1980s (The Howling, Night Of The Creeps) as well as some of the worst (Howling II… What was that all about?). Joshua’s debut novel, dark fantasy Sentinel, was published by Peridot Press in 2014.


Connect: Night Terrors Website | Elliot's Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Joshua's Website | Goodreads | Twitter |

Review: 

This was a great read! It was actually too quick that it left me wanting more or at least the next book in the series. This is the first book I have read by Elliot Arthur Cross and Joshua Winning but it wont be the last that is for sure! This book jumps right into the action in the first chapter. It reminded me of an 80's/early 90's horror flick, like Jason. It was a little different with the kids going to a "gay" camp to be "cured". One by one campers start to disappear and then they are found dead. It was scary, not too gruesome but definitely had me on the edge of my seat. Makes me wonder why I steered away from reading horror books lately. It was well written and the character development was great. I found you started to get to know a character or like them and than bam they are gone. I really never would have guessed the ending.

I give this a book a 5 out of 5 stars for being a edge of the seat, 80's horror film type read! 


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Author Spotlight Saturday ~ Meet Michael W. Garza

Please welcome Michael W. Garza to Author Spotlight this week! Michael is the author of a  creepy zombie book about a parents love for their child called The Hand That Feeds. Welcome to Genuine Jenn!

Tell us a little bit about your book(s) and yourself. 

I’m a part time writer who’s had a few good breaks and I’m a full time husband and father of three from Orange County California. I write Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction and have had the good fortune to have my first book, That Hand That Feeds published by Severed Press. I’ve recently signed a four book contract with Permuted Press to publish my first YA Fantasy series and a standalone Science Fiction novel.

When was your first book published?

The Hand That Feeds was published by Severed Press in August of 2013

Are you currently working on anything?

I recently signed a three book deal with Permuted Press for The Last Shadow Gate series. The first book is done and turned in and I’m neck deep in writing the second book in the series. This is my first YA series and it’s been a great experience. I really think I’m getting my best work down on paper.

Why did you decide to become an Author?

It’s really just a hobby for me. I’ve written stories since I was a teenager but only recently considered trying to publish. I enjoy sharing my work, but if it all ended tomorrow, I’d be fine with that too.

Who and what inspired you to write?

My love of reading. I assume that’s why most authors get the bug. I’ve been a reader since I was old enough to pick up books and I’ve always drifted towards fantasy and science fiction. I added horror a little later in life.

When you are writing to you like to listen to music? What is on your playlist?

I have a wide range but it never strays far from, Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and the Beatles.

Who is your favorite character in your books?

Angela from The Hand That Feeds. She’s two shades of crazy and the principle driver of the story. I’ve never written a character quite like her. There’s something about taking an emotion like a mother’s love for a child and pushing far beyond the limits of acceptable behavior. There’s times when I read her dialog and I actually squirm because it makes me feel uncomfortable. To me, that’s a good character.

Do you ever take characteristics or nuances from close friends or family when working on character development and if so has that friend or family member noticed and what was their response to it?

I used my oldest son and daughter as the primary inspiration for my upcoming YA Fantasy series, The Last Shadow Gate. My daughter gets the biggest kick out of it. She’s a big reader and the book is right in her wheel house. When I told her it got picked up to be published she was so excited. My son took it in stride. He’s more interested in football.

What is your favorite book of all time?

The Lord of the Rings, although it’s close between that and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Tell us in one sentence why we should read your books.

Uniquely written with characters you’ll love or love to hate.

List your books that are available

The Hand That Feeds
The Elder Unearthed

Where can people connect with you?

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Website | 

Thanks for taking your time to answer some questions for my readers at Genuine Jenn. 


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Camp Carnage ~ First Book in New Horror Series Night Terrors!

Night Terrors is a series of horror books for young adults. It was launched in July 2014 by Elliot Arthur Cross and Joshua Winning, two genre authors who decided to join forces and take over the world. Sort of. There's more about them  at elliotarthurcross.com and joshuawinning.com

Camp Carnage is the first book in the Night Terrors catalogue and is released in paperback and eBook formats on 1 August 2014. Further Night Terrors novels will be released throughout the year.

Joshua Winning: “Camp Carnage is very much inspired by the slasher films we watched growing up. The idea came to me after I watched a documentary about gay summer camps. I thought it would be really funny to combine the story of a gay camp with a Friday The 13th-esque slasher.”

Elliot Arthur Cross: “We wanted to tackle the very real issue of gay camps in a tongue-in-cheek way. Those camps really do exist and they seemed like the perfect setting for a horror story. The scares pretty much wrote themselves!”

Camp Carnage Synopsis

In the summer of 1984, Billy Collins is sent to his own personal Hell – summer camp. The remote Camp Genesis offers desperate parents a place to “straighten” out their gay teenagers with the help of the puritanical Katherine Creevey.

Besides the typical horsing around, campfire tales and summer games, the Genesis program forces gay and questioning teens into humiliating gender-based lessons. While Billy wants nothing more than to escape Camp Genesis, he can’t help worrying that something even more sinister is hiding just out of sight.

Unknown to Billy, two campers were murdered three years ago. Just days after Billy and the new campers arrive, people start to go missing, and it’s up to Billy and his new friend Jem to find out what’s really going on. Is a maniac on the loose? Is history repeating itself? One thing’s for sure — at Camp Genesis, you have to fight to survive…

 

Grab your copy on Smashwords tomorrow for .99! (This is a first week promotion sale) 

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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