Tag Archives: E.E. Knight

Home Improvement: Undead Edition edited by Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner

Overview
Image result for home improvement undead edition book cover

Title: Home Improvement: Undead Edition
Author: Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner, Victor Gischler, Patricia Briggs, Rochelle Krich, Heather Graham, James Grady, Melissa Marr, E. E. Knight, Seanan McGuire, S. J. Rozan, Stacia Kane, Suzanne McLeod & Simon R. Green
In: Home Improvement (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Short story collections, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 7th June – 24th October 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Two weeks after their first post they met in the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on Larchmont.

Synopsis

There’s nothing like home renovation for finding skeletons in the closet or otherworldly portals in the parlour… And when you add in a hefty dose of the supernatural, the normal, everyday challenges of home D-I-Y become even more hazardous!

International number 1 bestseller Charlaine Harris has joined forces once again with award-winning mystery writer Toni L.P. Kelner to construct a brilliant anthology of fourteen forays into the frightening world of home improvement.

Thoughts

This is a great and fun collection. It’s amusing and light. Filled with lots of gorgeous paranormal stories and just seriously fun. What I love most about it though is that each and everyone of these stories features the process of home renovations in some way, shape or form. And, as a home owner myself… I can attest to the fact that sometimes home improvements are literally hell…

I love that this collection brings the supernatural and paranormal into our everyday experiences. Everyone has a home and, in the case of these somewhat more magical lives… after all, even vampires and witches and the fae still need a home… but their complications are a lot worse than the ones that I have had to face…

This collection had some authors and series that I’m familiar with. And some that are new to me. As with many of the good anthologies that I read, my wish list has grown yet again. Which is really what I want when I read a good anthology.

<- In Brightest DayIf I Had a Hammer ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Woolsley’s Kitchen Nightmare by E.E. Knight

Overview
Image result for home improvement undead edition book cover

Title: Woolsley’s Kitchen Nightmare
Author: E.E. Knight
In: Home Improvement (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Food, Humour, Paranormal fantasy
Dates read: 23rd August 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Unless his accountant was as cluelessly skeevy as his decorator, a few customers were still braving the fugly to eat here every week.

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Synopsis

The paranormal version of Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares. But so much better – less swearing and more blood.

Thoughts

This is such a GREAT take on Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares. A fantastic, funny and just all round humorous paranormal version that had me laughing all the way throughout. I love how it took all of the elements of a kitchen renovation show and turned them on their head. Including putting humans on the menu and having zombies as employees… it was a bit gory. But seriously fun and funny.

This story is a great reminder that you really shouldn’t try to be fancy when you’re just not fancy. It’s trying waaaaayyyy too hard. And in this case, trying to be paranormal when you’re just not… it makes you end up kind of dead. Which I loved. But you know… I’m kind of bloodthirsty anyway. So that made me fairly happy.

Throughout all of this story, I did giggle and laugh a fair bit. It was light and funny. And, honestly, in spite of the whole eating humans thing – quite cute. Definitely a short story that I would read again.

<- The Strength InsideThrough This House ->

Image source: Hachette Australia