Flight or Fright:17 Turbulent Tales

Flight or Fright: 17 Turbulent Tales by Stephen King
My rating: 3 of 5 stars




#1 New York Times bestselling author and master of horror Stephen King teams up with Bev Vincent of Cemetery Dance to present a terrifying collection of sixteen short stories (and one poem) that tap into one of King’s greatest fears—air travel—featuring brand-new stories by King and Joe Hill, “an expertly compiled collection of tales that entertain and scare” (Booklist).

Stephen King hates to fly, and he and co-editor Bev Vincent would like to share their fear of flying with you.

Welcome to Flight or Fright, an anthology about all the things that can go horribly wrong when you’re suspended six miles in the air, hurtling through space at more than 500 mph, and sealed up in a metal tube (like—gulp!—a coffin) with hundreds of strangers. Here are all the ways your trip into the friendly skies can turn into a nightmare, including some we’ll bet you’ve never thought of before... but now you will the next time you walk down the jetway and place your fate in the hands of a total stranger.

Featuring brand-new “standouts” (Publishers Weekly) by Joe Hill and Stephen King, as well as fourteen classic tales and one poem from the likes of Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury, Roald Dahl, Dan Simmons, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and many others, Flight or Fright is, as King says, “ideal airplane reading, especially on stormy descents…Even if you are safe on the ground, you might want to buckle up nice and tight.”

Each story is introduced by Stephen King and all will have you thinking twice about how you want to reach your final destination.


Remember that Stephen King didn't write this whole book, he wrote one story, the introduction to the book and a short introduction to each 'chapter'.

All in all, a good book of short stories. Some are better than other's, but that is to be expected. Mr. King did an excellent job of introducing each author, which gave me the ability to understand some of these better.

This is really not a horror book per se, although some of them do hit that 'horror' mark.

I have to admit I was much impressed with Mr. King's story. I once had a problem when nobody told me that taking off from Denver had issues with turbulence. I was sobbing, my husband was trying to comfort me, and the stewardesses just stared at me...



1) "Cargo" by E. Michael Lewis - Interesting but not heart pounding.

2) "The Horror of the Heights" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle -Meh.

3) "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" by Richard Matheson I think I liked the Twilight Zone version ever so much more.

4) "The Flying Machine" by Ambrose Bierce - Truly a boring story that had no fright value.

5) "Lucifer!" by E.C. Tubb - I liked the premise but the ending, while frightening, just didn't do it for me.

6) "The Fifth Category" by Tom Bissell - So very political. More politics than anything to do with flying. This tale had a scary ending if you believe in Karma!

7) "Two Minutes Forty-Five Seconds" by Dan Simmons - Why oh why did so many of these stories have to be so technical. I'm not an aviator, and I don't know anything about planes. I started losing interest in this story as soon as I couldn't understand what they were talking about. However, it did end up being another good Karma story

8) "Diablitos" by Cody Goodfellow - This was the freakiest story so far in this collection. Again another Karma tale, but done with enough grossness to make me a happy camper.

9) "Air Raid" by John Varley - An enjoyable Sci-Fi that would make an excellent long novel.

10) "You Are Released" by Joe Hill - A scary 21st-century story in that this may someday very soon may all come true. Again, I must say that this was a bit more politically incline than I feel comfortable with.

11) "Warbirds" by David J. Schow -This was about WWII and was most uninteresting until the very end. It took a little too long to get to the point, but the point was quite clear.

12) "The Flying Machine" by Ray Bradbury I believe this was an allegory. Simple but thought-provoking.

13) "Zombies on a Plane" by Bev Vincent -I'm not a particular fan of zombies, which is so popular nowadays. But though short, this was an interesting story that would have made a great full-length book.

14) "They Shall Not Grow Old" by Roald Dahl -The idea of this story was quite clear and an interesting one, but the execution of the story was a little too long in my opinion. I ended getting a tad bored before it ended.

15) "Murder in the Air" by Peter Tremayne -Since I am reviewing these as I read each story, I must say that this one is my favorites so far. I do so love a good 'locked door' mystery!

16) "The Turbulence Expert" by Stephen King -Okay I demand a book based on this story!!! Well, I suppose I really can't do that can I? Maybe a novella? NO? Oh well, this was by far the most heart-pounding story in this anthology for me.

17) "Falling" by James Dickey - Generally, poetry does not interest me, and neither did this.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.


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Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrew comes an enthralling new trilogy set in the Hidden Legacy world, where magic means power, and family bloodlines are the new currency of society…

In a world where magic is the key to power and wealth, Catalina Baylor is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, and the Head of her House. Catalina has always been afraid to use her unique powers, but when her friend’s mother and sister are murdered, Catalina risks her reputation and safety to unravel the mystery.

But behind the scenes powerful forces are at work, and one of them is Alessandro Sagredo, the Italian Prime who was once Catalina’s teenage crush. Dangerous and unpredictable, Alessandro’s true motives are unclear, but he’s drawn to Catalina like a moth to a flame.

To help her friend, Catalina must test the limits of her extraordinary powers, but doing so may cost her both her House–and her heart.

I'm going to be giving this book an immediate re-read. I'm afraid that I was so looking forward to this book that I gobbled it up in one huge bite and missed some nuances.

No, I am not going to tell you precisely what Catalina and company will be fighting nor am I going to hint at her relationship with the egotist Alessandro -but it's good...trust me!

I can tell you without giving anything away, is that Catalina and Alessandro are very much a younger version of Nevada and Mad Rogan, even the story-line was similar. Although, I have to admit that this was a bit more heart-pounding than most of Nevada's books!

This book is part a trilogy, and although you will be disappointed to be left on a bit of a cliff-hanger, it sounds as if the next two books will be exciting. I am assuming that the following two books will also be about Catalina and Alessandro and the horrors that they found in this book. I would find it unusual for the Andrews team to have taken out all the bad guys this easily!

I was happy to see some of the secondary characters from Nevadas story to find their way into this trilogy and I hope we get to see more of these people. Matilda and Zeus do make an appearance!

Although the characters were a little immature for my taste, I was able to get past it and enjoy the read. It will be interesting to see Catalina mature into her full potential. All in all, this was a great book and will be one that I put on my comfort/re-read shelf, and I sure will be recommending this to some of my reading buddies.

*ARC supplied by publisher.


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Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Layne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

From the author of the New York Times bestselling Stiletto and Oxford series, the first in a sizzling new series following the unlikely friendship of three Upper East Side women as they struggle to achieve their dreams and find true love and happiness in the city that never sleeps. 

For as long as she can remember, Bronx-born Naomi Powell has had one goal: to prove her worth among the Upper East Side elite—the same people for which her mom worked as a housekeeper. Now, as the strongminded, sassy CEO of one of the biggest jewelry empires in the country, Naomi finally has exactly what she wants—but it’s going to take more than just the right address to make Manhattan’s upper class stop treating her like an outsider.

The worst offender is her new neighbor, Oliver Cunningham—the grown son of the very family Naomi’s mother used to work for. Oliver used to torment Naomi when they were children, and as a ridiculously attractive adult, he’s tormenting her in entirely different ways. Now they find themselves engaged in a battle-of-wills that will either consume or destroy them…

Filled with charm and heart and plenty of sex and snark, this entertaining series will hook you from the very first page.



I'm looking forward to the next book in this trilogy since each book is about one of the women who got taken in by the same sleazeball man! One is the deceased's wife and the other two are his mistresses. These women make for the perfect trio of friends.

The writing is good, there is humor, the romance aspect is a little frustrating (when the deed finally gets done, it is with the perfect 'fade to dark' scene) and the story is a little repetitive, but one of the lessons a reader will learn is that pride goeth before a fall and this makes up for some of the flaws. There is also another serious aspect to this book and that is about Alzheimer's. This made for a surprise twist to the storyline of this book.

I ended up enjoying this book much more than I thought I would. It is way more than your typical chick-lit romance.


*ARC supplied by publisher.


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Waisted by Randy Susan Meyers

Waisted by Randy Susan Meyers
My rating: 1 of 5 stars


"In this provocative, wildly entertaining, and compelling novel, seven women enrolled in an extreme weight loss documentary discover self-love and sisterhood as they enact a daring revenge against the exploitative filmmakers.

Alice and Daphne, both successful and accomplished working mothers, harbor the same secret: obsession with their weight overshadows concerns about their children, husbands, work—and everything else of importance in their lives. Scales terrify them.

Daphne, plump in a family of model-thin women, learned only slimness earns admiration at her mother’s knee. Alice, break-up skinny when she met her husband, risks losing her marriage if she keeps gaining weight.

The two women meet at Waisted. Located in a remote Vermont mansion, the program promises fast, dramatic weight loss, and Alice, Daphne, and five other women are desperate enough to leave behind their families for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The catch? They must agree to always be on camera; afterward, the world will see Waisted: The Documentary.

The women soon discover that the filmmakers have trapped them in a cruel experiment. With each pound lost, they edge deeper into obsession and instability...until they decide to take matters into their own hands."




Well, I managed to finish this book without throwing my Kindle against the wall. I truly hate having to give an ARC a bad review, but they do ask for honesty so here goes:

I hated the characters... period! I hate how they viewed themselves, I hated their unrealistic thoughts, I hated their angst, I hated how Alice (half black/half white) and her mother (white/Jewish) were so bigoted/prejudiced, I hated that once I finished this book I couldn't even remember how it ended *scratches head* did they ever get satisfaction from posting their own video? And isn't it sad that this book left such a little imprint on me that I can't remember such an interesting part of the book...the ONLY interesting part I might add? I hated that this was such a verbose read.

I don't know what kind of 'fat' this author is or was or what kinds of research she did, but out of all the fat women I know (and I'm included -as a matter of fact I've been on both sides of the scale, obese and then nearly anorexic via an undiscovered thyroid issue and then years at an average weight) not one of them are as self-absorbed and obsessed as these two are.

I know that many of the early reviewers loved this book -so you may really want to try this book and give it a chance and not be colored with my little rant.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.


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Queen Bee by Dorothea Benton Frank

Queen Bee by Dorothea Benton Frank
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



New York Times-bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank returns to the American South in this latest novel about friendship and love that is full of heart, humor, and rich description.

A woman wounded by her past comes to Sullivan's Island, South Carolina to find new meaning in life and to find herself. As she takes up a new hobby of beekeeping, she begins to come into her own and rebuild her life. When a new friend comes in and she finally allows for something more than just "friendship", everyone will realize that life could use a little taste of sweetness.

In what is sure to be another classic, Dorothea Benton Frank weaves a fun tale of self-discovery, love, and friendship with her signature charming wit, indelible poignancy, and hallmark themes.







 Wow! What a blend of characters and tales.

I had a tiny bit of difficulty getting into this book, but once in it, I could not put it down. The author managed to blend three separate stories and lives into one complete book without me being annoyed or feeling as if the book was more of a series of novellas. This is something other authors have a lot of trouble with.

We have Holly who considers herself as a spinster at the age of thirty who is in love with her across the street neighbor. He is just soooo wrong for her, but as their story-line unfolds you will enjoy, be unhappy, be angry and then be relieved with how this all plays out.

We have Leslie whose life is becoming more and more bizarre and has just left her husband, but I can't tell you why because this was not discussed in the synopsis and I don't want to spoil it for you. Let's just say it all works out. And that this was one of the most unusual and intriguing parts of this book and teaches us great lessons in learning to live with those we may find a tad 'different'.

Then we have the Queen Bee also known as QB (which I kept mistaking for Quarter Back!) -this is Holly and Leslie's mom. She starts out as the typical Southern Diva, but her character grows tremendously and she becomes one of the funniest and wise characters in this book.

Then there are the bee's - the honey bee's to be specific -I learned a lot about them and I found the relationship between them and Holly (the beekeeper of these hives) to be a remarkable one.

I loved this book and even though I have read this via an ARC, I will be buying my own copy AND I will also be reading more by this author.

HEA's abound and that makes me a happy camper -not much angst, (a little bit at the start) not enough to make me want to stop reading; self-reflection...well Holly does a lot of that but she finally grows to accept herself for who and what she is.

Great summer read. Happy reading!

*ARC supplied by the publisher.

The Bride Test (The Kiss Quotient, #2) by Helen Hoang

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



"Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.

As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.

With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love."





I have never read this author's first book so I really had nothing to judge this book by. I see that a lot of other reviewers have read the first book and are making comparisons to it. And not all the reviews are favorable. So in a way, I have a bit of an edge by not having anything to compare this book to.

I will not waste your time by recapping the entire storyline -what I will say though, is that the synopsis does not really do this book justice. What the synopsis fails to point out is the extreme levels of lying that went into this book. Also, the fact that what the author wanted for the protagonists to do was illegal as far as my understanding of immigration laws goes.

Having said that this book did keep me entertained; it was a bit of a potato-chip read with a very serious subject tacked on. Khai Diep the male main character has what appears to be High Functioning Autism so that imparts a more serious not to this book. Esme Tran (not her real name) is the main female and compromises her morals and ethics (in my opinion) to try to get her family a better life. If I could quote out of this book (I can't because it's an ARC) I could let you see just why I say such a thing about Esme. I certainly hope that the editors took a second glance and took that particular part out before it went to publishing.


Most of the first quarter of this book dealt with Khai dealing with a dowsing rod-like penis and it was really annoying for me after I got over the initial giggle/chuckle. The joke went on just a little too long for me. There was a lot of sexual inner-dialoguing, angsting over sex and then some bad sex, then some good sex.


Not a horrible read but not one that I would recommend to any of my reading buddies.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.


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