Final Review of the Year — Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

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Have you ever feared a big family gathering or reunion—for whatever reason—because you feel like you’ve changed and certain members of your family haven’t? Or won’t? We've all experienced that kind of tension, I bet, and if you can relate, then Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison just might strike a nerve or two. 

It's not hard to have daddy issues when your daddy is…famous. Or when your mom is horror queen famous and from a staunchly religious background. Those last two things may seem contradictory, but they’re not in this clever tale about a young woman named Vesper who left her friends, family and community because of their oppressive beliefs and dedication to worship of the Lord. But then Vesper gets a wedding invitation for the ceremony between her childhood bestie and her ex boyfriend, and she is compelled to return. Literally. 

This story has a familiar premise, with its return home to confront childhood demons, until it literally flips the script by giving exactly what that premise suggests. It's clever and fun to read. The dad who abandoned Vesper and the family in her childhood is key here. Will he return for the wedding? And if he does, will he explain his abandonment? You get the gist. But you still might be surprised.

I enjoyed the read, and it’s  probably a good book to start with for getting a taste of Rachel Harrison's style. You can find Harrison's books here, or wherever you prefer getting your popular reads.

The October Music by A. C. Cross — A December review

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I picked up The October Music by A.C. Cross after the season to read it was over, but if you’re a horror fan year round, then the title's inferred reading season doesn’t really matter. Personally, I found this collection of flash fiction perfect for this holiday season, where getting in a little bit of reading on a daily basis can be difficult amidst the Thanksgiving through New Year hustle and bustle.

And because I’m writing this review in the midst of the same hectic hustle and bustle, here’s a recap of my review from GoodReads: 

I know, I know. I’m reviewing this one in December. It doesn’t make this any less of a great read. I enjoyed this collection of predominantly flash fiction pieces throughout the busy end of year holiday season because this is the time of year when you might not get the time to focus on a lengthy story but you still want time to get some reading in. Each short story is inspired by a song, or a song title. Hence, the title of the book. And while many of the songs may be familiar, the stories themselves are original in their own right. It’s clever. And entertaining. And it’s just right for a quick read at night before turning off the light—even if the work is horror themed.

I can’t stress this enough. If you know that reading is good for you, but your busy life doesn’t give you the time, pick up an anthology collection. It’s a reasonable commitment to reading, and this one is perfect for it.

*I will also admit, if A.C. Cross happens to peak in on his reviews, that I read that last story in the voice of Laslo Cravensworth, for some reason, and doing so gave it just the right gravitas… 😉

You can find A. C. Cross's book on Amazon, of course. Or you can check out this link here.