Tag: Book Reviews

Gothic Horror Fans: I Got You!

trE

A Book Review

The Keeper of the Key by Nicole Willson. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

This book review feels rather special to me. Why? The author is a writer I grew with as we both wrote fiction for a publication on Medium called Hinged.press, formerly, The Weekly Knob. I always envied her delivery and the way she weaved tales of horror and thriller stories. She is a beast with the pen and has this uncanny way of shoving years of hauntings and mysteriousness into compact vignettes that anyone can enjoy.

We were both featured in the publication’s “Author’s Gold” segment and you can find our features here and here. What I love about Nicole’s writing is she creates believable characters any of us can be or may have been in the past. She pulls you into their lives and then tragically scares the living shit out of you just as you’re learning to love who they are. Every time I read one of her books, it’s a wild ride, which is icing on the cake of writing.

Below is the review I did for her most recent novel, The Keeper of the Key:

“I Felt Connected To Rachel & Her Family

And I know it is because the author, Nicole Willson, made them so believable and relatable.

The Keeper of the Key is a page-turner with wrath, vengeance, horror, gore, love, and resilience blended into every page.

I found myself yelling with Rachel and siding with her regarding her insouciant stepfather, Geoff. I cheered Gram on when she set her daughter, Tara straight about marrying Geoff too soon.

Morgan House is a terror and Nick is the reason. I knew from the beginning he would be trouble, and Nicole doesn’t disappoint. That house needed to wither away in ash form, and I was happy it did.

Towards the end of the book, I wanted to rip Nick’s eyes out and throw them away. I was rooting for Rachel and the many ways she manipulated him and maneuvered herself away from him in the end.

She, her mother, and grandmother survived turmoil and their ultimate demise.

If you’re looking for a thriller with a touch of gothic horror mixed in, I highly recommend The Keeper of the Key.

You will be jolted and thrashed into a world of mysteriousness and of a haunting good time.

Be forewarned!“

Tidepool and The Shadow Dancers of Brixton Hill are two other books authored by Nicole. I’ve read and reviewed them both. I vouch for this writer. She is in a class all by herself. And when you read her work, you’ll definitely understand why.

Her Substack.

Childhood Trauma: You’re Beating It

trE

A Book Review

What Happened To You? Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

Some medically charged books help and there are some that harm. I can attest that this one has helped me.

Authored by the incomparable Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce D. Perry, What Happened To You? Conversations On Trauma, Resilience, and Healing is a page-turner. I highlighted passages, made notes in the margins, and became one with illustrations, diagrams, and charts. There is a plethora of useful information as it pertains to childhood trauma and how we advance in life from it as we age.

Below is the review I shared on Amazon and Goodreads:

“I Now Know Why I’m Resilient

And if you are a survivor of childhood trauma, maybe this book can help you understand why you can “bounce back,” and “endure” things even when you begin to believe there’s no way you can.

Reading What Happened To You? by Dr. Bruce D. Perry and the phenomenal Oprah Winfrey opened up a few windows to my heart and tapped into some areas that needed care and tenderness. I survived a whole heap of mess that could have been so much worse than it was, and I am glad it wasn’t.

Learning who we are and why we act the way we do starts with assessing what happened to us. What caused us to grow up with hardened hearts, lack of trust, unwillingness to love, fear of the unfamiliar, etc.?

This book dives into the many functions of the brain post-traumatic experiences and various methods geared toward healing and growth.

I love how both Dr. Perry and Oprah tag-team each scenario and offer their view of them and a way to move past the incidents and become somewhat whole again by learning how to regulate ourselves and gravitate toward safe spaces and environments.

If ever you feel as though you want to know more about why you continually hold on when you want to let go, reading this book is a great way to glean additional information about how you’re wired and why.

It is worth one’s time and attention, and you will certainly learn more about living through childhood trauma and how to maintain a positive outlook and a sustainable adulthood.”

Sometimes, we need a bit of guidance and a path we have not yet taken to show us who we are and why. This was “my yellow brick road.” Maybe you can benefit from it, too.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

Séduire Fans Photo Collage #3

trE
The Lovely Ones who purchased their copy of Séduire, Part III. Photo Collage Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt. Individual photos provided by the beautiful ones holding up their copy.

I won’t bore you with what I have to say about Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction. I’ll let these few reviews detail exactly what you can expect from this creative work of art of mine . . .

E-Book Reviews screengrab:

E-Book Reviews screengrab. Click on the image to make it bigger.

Paperback Reviews screengrab:

Paperback Reviews screengrab. Click on the image to make it bigger.

Again, I am overjoyed by the success of this book so far. I am appreciative and grateful for those of you who have decided to plunge into my restless mind. I do not take it for granted. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, truly . . . thank you!

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

Liar, Liar . . . Pants On Fire

trE

A Book Review

The Little Liar by Mitch Albom. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

The most recent book I’ve read is by the great words-worker himself, Mitch Albom, The Little Liar. This is the seventh book I’ve read by the author, so I am sure there’s no need to say how much I love his work.

But The Little Liar will stay with me for decades, just like Tuesdays with Morrie.

Below is the review I shared for it via Amazon:

“This Is Such A Poignant Work of Art!

I had no doubt that I would relish every word in this book, for I am a hardcore fan of Mitch Albom’s writing. To say that I flitted through so many emotions while reading The Little Liar is an understatement.

I laughed. I cried. I got angry. I sighed.

Every part in this book feels like truth being carried to the forefront; put on display for all to see. For this to be a work of fiction is almost unbelievable. It feels real. It seems real. I thought it was real. I had to remember several times throughout my reading, it is not.

However, it isn’t far from the truth. The Holocaust and the horrible tragedies many families endured in the 1940s can be found in these pages; only embellished or Houdini’d in a way that is digestible on a smaller level.

I became attached to Nico and Fannie. I rooted for Gisella to live a longer life, and I was sad when this did not occur. I prayed for Sebastian to find it in his heart to forgive his brother.

Every event happened in a way to shift the story full circle and allowed it to come back to what was most important, “The Truth.”

If you’re looking for the next fiction book you should read, look no further. It’s right here!”

If you do not have anything of interest on your reading list as of right now, add this book to it. You will not regret it.

It’s All About Fantastic Mr. Fox

trE

A Book Review

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

Being that I love the animated film, directed by Wes Anderson and released in 2009 so much, I thought it would be fun to read the book by Roald Dahl, with illustrations by Quentin Blake. I wanted to see how close the film measured up to the source from which it was adapted.

And, the book does NOT disappoint! In fact, I actually love it just a bit more. It’s a children’s tale with staying power, and I am happy to have it as part of my collection.

Here is the review I shared via Amazon about it:

“I Was In My ‘Happy Place’ For Two Days

And I loved every moment of it! A children’s tale such as this one will never get old.

As an avid fan of the movie, this was my first time reading the book, and I have to say, I love it just a bit more than the film. I found delight as I turned each page, I smiled incredibly wide and laughed out loud at some of the descriptive scenes.

I wanted so badly to have Kristofferson (Mrs. Fox’s nephew) as a part of this book, but he’s a movie-only character. That’s the thing with movies adapted from books, you gain some extras and you lose some bits that are rather intriguing.

This is very well-written, has a sensational plot, and every scene is vivid and captivating. I felt as though I was ten years old again. And that is a very good place in time to be.

I am glad I decided to purchase the book. I was not disappointed; not in the least!”

If you have seen the movie, and you enjoy it as much as I do/did, you’ll want to do yourself a favor and read the book. That is, if you have not done so already. I highly recommend it! It prompted me to cart “Matilda” and “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory”, too!

Brooklyn: Not Just a City In New York

trE

A Book Review

Brooklyn by Tracy Brown. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

Recently, I read what is and will be Tracy Brown‘s final gift to this world. Brooklyn is not just a tale of a struggling child turned teenager turned adult, it is the tale of what childhood trauma can do to a person who never receives the help they need.

There are things in life we simply cannot “pray away” without using the knowledge God gave us to seek someone professional to help us when our mental health fails us.

This book is a whirlwind of pain, destruction, and the ultimate death of a soul who just could not find peace.

The review posted on Amazon is as follows:

“I Didn’t Think It Would End the Way It Did

And I am honestly unsure how I feel about the cliffhanger. Knowing that the author is dead and a second part to this gruesome tale is nowhere in sight, leaves me feeling a bit angry. I also feel as though there was no other way it could end.

I am somewhat conflicted.

The book is insane! There were so many plot twists, I almost couldn’t keep count. Brooklyn was selfish–as a matter of fact, that is an understatement. She was downright ruthless and was forever crying wolf and “victim.”

She destroyed countless lives even right down to her best friend, Angel, and still thought the world owed her something. I have never known anyone like her, and I pray that I never meet anyone like her.

Her sister, Hope, had hope in her but Brooklyn was a lost cause. There was nobody or nothing that could save her. With each chapter I read, the more I disliked her and wanted her to grow up and recognize that the real world oftentimes takes a few struggles for you to survive it. And in that truth, it’s not the end of the world when those struggles take place.

I think the author did a magnificent job introducing a layered character to her readers who not only moved through various changes in her life but came back to the one place she never wanted to return to–home.

Ironically enough, it is the very place where she would breathe her last breath. I intend to give this book another read maybe a year or two from now.

I am certain I will find many things I missed this time and I look forward to it.

The author, if her spirit can feel these vibes, I hope she knows she nailed it with this book! God rest her soul.”

This book is the last of the three books I received as birthday gifts for my 44th birthday this past April. The author, Tracy Brown, will never get the opportunity to share her words with her readers again; she died in May 2023, at the age of 48.