Official Review: Red Teddy Bear Candles by Margot Pickard
Posted: 29 Apr 2020, 10:33
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Red Teddy Bear Candles" by Margot Pickard.]
Enduring the devastating effects of sexual and emotional abuse, Megan McCallum was robbed of any semblance of a normal childhood. Her mother was a vile individual who put men and drugs before the needs of her impressionable young daughter. After a series of traumatic experiences and the death of her mother, she goes to live with her aunt until her eighteenth birthday. Despite her past, Megan appears eerily unscathed, and that’s when things begin to unravel. From the darkest depths of Megan’s mind, a new woman emerges—Jessica. Jessica, who will love her and protect her, and never, ever, let her suffer the way she did when she was a child.
Dr. Fitzgerald wants to help Jessica; he believes with extensive therapy, the young woman will thrive. Jessica obliges, but not because she needs Dr. Fitzgerald’s professional help. She has something far more sinister in mind, and the doctor could be the perfect accessory to execute her plan.
Revenge is a funny thing.
When I first began reading Red Teddy Bear Candles by Margot Pickard, I was torn between whether I would be able to soldier through the book due to the disturbing scenes of child abuse. The book describes Megan’s tumultuous childhood with vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was in a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from. I’m glad I persevered as the book quickly transitions into Megan’s adult life with the emergence of alter-ego, Jessica.
The majority of the book reads like a psychological thriller and is told in the third-person perspective following Jessica McCallum. Readers are transported into the troubled woman’s psyche, who has an aversion to authority and has a hunger for retribution. Despite her harrowing past, she is surprisingly motivated to lead a productive life. That is what she wants others to believe, but within the deep corners of her mind lies darkness and the sinister chatter of voices that she cannot quiet.
When perusing the list of books to review, it was the unique cover that caught my eye. The title and the ominous-looking picture of the teddy bear candle piqued my curiosity. The luminosity of the red on top of the black held my attention. It wasn’t until I finished reading the chilling novel that the connections between the cover and story became blindingly clear. I now have an aversion to anything that resembles a red teddy tear.
One of the things that really stood out to me while reading Red Teddy Bear Candles, was the author’s ability to create a believable scene. The descriptions often sent chills down my spine and simultaneously had me looking over my shoulder. Between the blueprint of the creepy mansion that Jessica resided in and the vacant look in her eyes, I felt my heartbeat race on numerous occasions. A particular description jumped out at me while immersed in my reading. Let me set the scene. There is an angry thunderstorm brewing, and Jessica is beginning to lose her grip on reality. The author wrote, “She quickly descended the stairs. Her ethereal nightgown making it appear as though she simply floated the entire way.” It had horror-vibe written all over it!
I was impressed by the quality of editing and the absence of errors in the text. With that being said, I am delighted to give the book four out of four stars. The author accomplished what she set out to do; to terrorize and disturb readers.
I want to warn sensitive readers not to read this book if graphic scenes of abuse trigger you. The imagery in the book paints a nefarious picture of Jessica’s horrifying childhood and is not suitable for young readers. The book contains offensive language, scenes of sexuality, and violence, which can make getting through certain pages an arduous task.
I would recommend Red Teddy Bear Candles to readers who are fans of psychological thrillers, especially ones that tackle illnesses such as PTSD. If you are looking for writing that will frighten you, look no further. Margot Pickard has penned a story that will keep you awake at night, pondering the noises that you hear and envisioning those creepy teddy bears.
******
Red Teddy Bear Candles
View: on Bookshelves
Enduring the devastating effects of sexual and emotional abuse, Megan McCallum was robbed of any semblance of a normal childhood. Her mother was a vile individual who put men and drugs before the needs of her impressionable young daughter. After a series of traumatic experiences and the death of her mother, she goes to live with her aunt until her eighteenth birthday. Despite her past, Megan appears eerily unscathed, and that’s when things begin to unravel. From the darkest depths of Megan’s mind, a new woman emerges—Jessica. Jessica, who will love her and protect her, and never, ever, let her suffer the way she did when she was a child.
Dr. Fitzgerald wants to help Jessica; he believes with extensive therapy, the young woman will thrive. Jessica obliges, but not because she needs Dr. Fitzgerald’s professional help. She has something far more sinister in mind, and the doctor could be the perfect accessory to execute her plan.
Revenge is a funny thing.
When I first began reading Red Teddy Bear Candles by Margot Pickard, I was torn between whether I would be able to soldier through the book due to the disturbing scenes of child abuse. The book describes Megan’s tumultuous childhood with vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was in a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from. I’m glad I persevered as the book quickly transitions into Megan’s adult life with the emergence of alter-ego, Jessica.
The majority of the book reads like a psychological thriller and is told in the third-person perspective following Jessica McCallum. Readers are transported into the troubled woman’s psyche, who has an aversion to authority and has a hunger for retribution. Despite her harrowing past, she is surprisingly motivated to lead a productive life. That is what she wants others to believe, but within the deep corners of her mind lies darkness and the sinister chatter of voices that she cannot quiet.
When perusing the list of books to review, it was the unique cover that caught my eye. The title and the ominous-looking picture of the teddy bear candle piqued my curiosity. The luminosity of the red on top of the black held my attention. It wasn’t until I finished reading the chilling novel that the connections between the cover and story became blindingly clear. I now have an aversion to anything that resembles a red teddy tear.
One of the things that really stood out to me while reading Red Teddy Bear Candles, was the author’s ability to create a believable scene. The descriptions often sent chills down my spine and simultaneously had me looking over my shoulder. Between the blueprint of the creepy mansion that Jessica resided in and the vacant look in her eyes, I felt my heartbeat race on numerous occasions. A particular description jumped out at me while immersed in my reading. Let me set the scene. There is an angry thunderstorm brewing, and Jessica is beginning to lose her grip on reality. The author wrote, “She quickly descended the stairs. Her ethereal nightgown making it appear as though she simply floated the entire way.” It had horror-vibe written all over it!
I was impressed by the quality of editing and the absence of errors in the text. With that being said, I am delighted to give the book four out of four stars. The author accomplished what she set out to do; to terrorize and disturb readers.
I want to warn sensitive readers not to read this book if graphic scenes of abuse trigger you. The imagery in the book paints a nefarious picture of Jessica’s horrifying childhood and is not suitable for young readers. The book contains offensive language, scenes of sexuality, and violence, which can make getting through certain pages an arduous task.
I would recommend Red Teddy Bear Candles to readers who are fans of psychological thrillers, especially ones that tackle illnesses such as PTSD. If you are looking for writing that will frighten you, look no further. Margot Pickard has penned a story that will keep you awake at night, pondering the noises that you hear and envisioning those creepy teddy bears.
******
Red Teddy Bear Candles
View: on Bookshelves
