Silver Bells by Jacquie Biggar: *** Three Stars Joel Carpenter has moved from Scotland to Victoria, Canada to become a recluse. Since his rise to literSilver Bells by Jacquie Biggar: *** Three Stars Joel Carpenter has moved from Scotland to Victoria, Canada to become a recluse. Since his rise to literary stardom, he has become paranoid after many unscrupulous business and personal relationships. Right now he is dealing with writer’s block, his characters are refusing to follow his direction, and his tenant is having trouble coming up with rent on time.
Christy Taylor is an artist who has set up a small art shop, The Wandering Mind Studio, in the front of her rental property. She is a divorcee with a four-year-old daughter who suffers Type-One Diabetes. She refuses to bow to the adversity of this disease and works hard to raise a happy, well-adjusted child. Jill is a vivacious, cheerful, and active child. Christy has hired an elderly neighbor to sit with Jill while she is working or running errands.
I had a hard time connecting with or liking Joel; he is angry, arrogant, and overbearing to a fault. He lashes out at Christy at inappropriate times repeatedly. It angered me when he kissed her after yelling at her. Here is a quote as he muses about their relationship after he decides he might just like Christy. It sums him up pretty well:
“Living with Christy wouldn’t be easy, she would keep him on his toes each and every day—he pictured her rosy red lips and delectable body pressed close to his—but it would be worth the battle.”
Not very romantic if you ask me. Unfortunately, Christy is smitten with his good looks and I’m afraid her lust is coloring her good senses. Perhaps if the transformation in Joel had been accomplished through dialogue and not narration, I would feel differently? Or perhaps I wasn’t the right reader for this story? Unfortunately, that happens at times.
I came across one word that may be considered borderline offensive to some. Honestly, it made me giggle. The editing was excellent in this novella, nothing at all jumped out at me. Nice job, Ms. Biggars. **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** November 14, 2016
Merged review:
Silver Bells by Jacquie Biggar: *** Three Stars Joel Carpenter has moved from Scotland to Victoria, Canada to become a recluse. Since his rise to literary stardom, he has become paranoid after many unscrupulous business and personal relationships. Right now he is dealing with writer’s block, his characters are refusing to follow his direction, and his tenant is having trouble coming up with rent on time.
Christy Taylor is an artist who has set up a small art shop, The Wandering Mind Studio, in the front of her rental property. She is a divorcee with a four-year-old daughter who suffers Type-One Diabetes. She refuses to bow to the adversity of this disease and works hard to raise a happy, well-adjusted child. Jill is a vivacious, cheerful, and active child. Christy has hired an elderly neighbor to sit with Jill while she is working or running errands.
I had a hard time connecting with or liking Joel; he is angry, arrogant, and overbearing to a fault. He lashes out at Christy at inappropriate times repeatedly. It angered me when he kissed her after yelling at her. Here is a quote as he muses about their relationship after he decides he might just like Christy. It sums him up pretty well:
“Living with Christy wouldn’t be easy, she would keep him on his toes each and every day—he pictured her rosy red lips and delectable body pressed close to his—but it would be worth the battle.”
Not very romantic if you ask me. Unfortunately, Christy is smitten with his good looks and I’m afraid her lust is coloring her good senses. Perhaps if the transformation in Joel had been accomplished through dialogue and not narration, I would feel differently? Or perhaps I wasn’t the right reader for this story? Unfortunately, that happens at times.
I came across one word that may be considered borderline offensive to some. Honestly, it made me giggle. The editing was excellent in this novella, nothing at all jumped out at me. Nice job, Ms. Biggars. **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** November 14, 2016...more
I previously read and reviewed both of these books individually for BigAl’s Books and Pals. I have condensed mFalling for a Single Mom by Donna Fasano
I previously read and reviewed both of these books individually for BigAl’s Books and Pals. I have condensed my reviews for brevity and you are welcome to read my original reviews on the review blog site.
Ms. Fasano has a wonderful way of bringing her characters to life. I swear she uses magic to weave her stories together, and the journeys she takes her characters on are always enlightening and heartfelt. Ms. Fasano writes endearing stories that are perfect to enjoy during a summer vacation or curl up with on a cold winter’s night.
HER FAKE ROMANCE: 5 Stars Her Fake Romance was HOT, and the sexual tension starts at the very beginning and never lets up. Ms. Fasano offers the perfect balance of narrative, description, and dialogue in this character driven story. I love the way she allows us into Julia's and Ryan's thoughts, both trying to protect their hearts for different reasons.
Cherry, the gold digger, and Kelly, Julia's fourteen-year-old daughter, provide the perfect amount of conflict that brings Ryan and Julia together. The fully fleshed out characters are realistic, intelligent, and their story is heartwarming. Ms. Fasano added just the right amount of heat to keep me reading, and the mother/daughter scenes were very touching. The emotional journey for both Julia and Ryan is exceptional. I applaud this author's insight into human nature and sensibilities.
TAKE ME, I’M YOURS: 4 Stars Take Me, I’m Yours hits the ground running with a kidnapping attempt on the beach of a four year-old girl who has gotten away from her grandfather. Lainey Adams is able to rescue four year old Abbie Mitchell from her would-be abductor and return the child safely to her frantic grandfather, Alfred Mitchell. Alfred offers Lainey a substantial reward for finding his grand-daughter and returning her unharmed.
Abbie's father, sexy single-dad Derek Mitchell, has learned the hard way to never trust a beautiful woman, and resents Alfred offering Lainey the reward and takes it away from her. But Alfred has the last laugh when he writes Lainey into his will, throwing Lainey right in Derek’s path. Lainey is a smart woman and stays true to her character no matter what it costs. Regardless of what happens, she keeps her integrity throughout. Derek is taken with Lainey, but because of his pride he has lots issues to work through. He has a hard edge because of his history with Abbie's mother, and the tension was almost unbearable for me. He is a smart man with a big heart, but I was afraid the odds were too big to get past all of his issues. I was on an emotional roller coaster.
One of the delights in this story are the kids, Lainey's son, Brian, and Derek's daughter, Abbie, were perfectly written. I love the way they interacted with the adults in this story. How the author conveys the interactions of her characters through their actions and dialogue is plain magic. Donna Fasano has yet to disappoint me with the way she captures authentic scenarios for her characters to grow in a totally believable way.
Merged review:
Falling for a Single Mom by Donna Fasano
I previously read and reviewed both of these books individually for BigAl’s Books and Pals. I have condensed my reviews for brevity and you are welcome to read my original reviews on the review blog site.
Ms. Fasano has a wonderful way of bringing her characters to life. I swear she uses magic to weave her stories together, and the journeys she takes her characters on are always enlightening and heartfelt. Ms. Fasano writes endearing stories that are perfect to enjoy during a summer vacation or curl up with on a cold winter’s night.
HER FAKE ROMANCE: 5 Stars Her Fake Romance was HOT, and the sexual tension starts at the very beginning and never lets up. Ms. Fasano offers the perfect balance of narrative, description, and dialogue in this character driven story. I love the way she allows us into Julia's and Ryan's thoughts, both trying to protect their hearts for different reasons.
Cherry, the gold digger, and Kelly, Julia's fourteen-year-old daughter, provide the perfect amount of conflict that brings Ryan and Julia together. The fully fleshed out characters are realistic, intelligent, and their story is heartwarming. Ms. Fasano added just the right amount of heat to keep me reading, and the mother/daughter scenes were very touching. The emotional journey for both Julia and Ryan is exceptional. I applaud this author's insight into human nature and sensibilities.
TAKE ME, I’M YOURS: 4 Stars Take Me, I’m Yours hits the ground running with a kidnapping attempt on the beach of a four year-old girl who has gotten away from her grandfather. Lainey Adams is able to rescue four year old Abbie Mitchell from her would-be abductor and return the child safely to her frantic grandfather, Alfred Mitchell. Alfred offers Lainey a substantial reward for finding his grand-daughter and returning her unharmed.
Abbie's father, sexy single-dad Derek Mitchell, has learned the hard way to never trust a beautiful woman, and resents Alfred offering Lainey the reward and takes it away from her. But Alfred has the last laugh when he writes Lainey into his will, throwing Lainey right in Derek’s path. Lainey is a smart woman and stays true to her character no matter what it costs. Regardless of what happens, she keeps her integrity throughout. Derek is taken with Lainey, but because of his pride he has lots issues to work through. He has a hard edge because of his history with Abbie's mother, and the tension was almost unbearable for me. He is a smart man with a big heart, but I was afraid the odds were too big to get past all of his issues. I was on an emotional roller coaster.
One of the delights in this story are the kids, Lainey's son, Brian, and Derek's daughter, Abbie, were perfectly written. I love the way they interacted with the adults in this story. How the author conveys the interactions of her characters through their actions and dialogue is plain magic. Donna Fasano has yet to disappoint me with the way she captures authentic scenarios for her characters to grow in a totally believable way....more
Wow! What an interesting concept. This is truly an intriguing and original story line, and the author is not willing to tell us too much too soon. I hWow! What an interesting concept. This is truly an intriguing and original story line, and the author is not willing to tell us too much too soon. I have been drawn into the characters lives and want to know more. An old nemesis returns at the end of the book that we know very little about. I can't wait for the story to continue. Henning has a very promising career as an author.
Merged review:
Wow! What an interesting concept. This is truly an intriguing and original story line, and the author is not willing to tell us too much too soon. I have been drawn into the characters lives and want to know more. An old nemesis returns at the end of the book that we know very little about. I can't wait for the story to continue. Henning has a very promising career as an author....more
I enjoyed this story about an insecure demon and a fledgling vampire who isn’t sure how to be a vampire. Erin Driscol was raised with an overbearing aI enjoyed this story about an insecure demon and a fledgling vampire who isn’t sure how to be a vampire. Erin Driscol was raised with an overbearing and abusive mother. She has found a new family with the Putzkammers and her job is an excellent fit for the type of demon she is. Erin is known a Phage demon, who feed off people’s sorrows, she is always careful not to take all of their sorrow away. Usually just enough to help those who have lost a loved one to be able to cope and move forward. Erin fears she may one day become like her mother and drain people until they are an empty shell, and this haunts her.
When Nicolas awakens in the morgue one evening while Erin was working late all she really wants to do is get him out of the morgue. Once he is out of the morgue she starts feeling guilty about unleashing another vampire into the world. But Nicolas is not like other vampires, and when Erin sees this she does her best to protect him. Hessa, Nicolas’ sire, wants her new boy toy back. She is as evil as she is beautiful and has a plan that will devastate the demon community and leave the vampires in control.
Ms. Rains has done an excellent job building her fantasy community into our own world. Which is kind of creepy when you start thinking about the possibilities. Her characters are well defined and original. The plot moves quickly with several twists and turns I didn’t expect. It was hard to put the book down during confrontations and showdowns. If you like urban fantasies with original interesting characters who grow into their strengths, you will likely enjoy this story. I know I did.
FYI: Adult language, there are several F-bombs dropped.
Format/Typo Issues: No significant issues were noted. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** April 11, 2015
Merged review:
I enjoyed this story about an insecure demon and a fledgling vampire who isn’t sure how to be a vampire. Erin Driscol was raised with an overbearing and abusive mother. She has found a new family with the Putzkammers and her job is an excellent fit for the type of demon she is. Erin is known a Phage demon, who feed off people’s sorrows, she is always careful not to take all of their sorrow away. Usually just enough to help those who have lost a loved one to be able to cope and move forward. Erin fears she may one day become like her mother and drain people until they are an empty shell, and this haunts her.
When Nicolas awakens in the morgue one evening while Erin was working late all she really wants to do is get him out of the morgue. Once he is out of the morgue she starts feeling guilty about unleashing another vampire into the world. But Nicolas is not like other vampires, and when Erin sees this she does her best to protect him. Hessa, Nicolas’ sire, wants her new boy toy back. She is as evil as she is beautiful and has a plan that will devastate the demon community and leave the vampires in control.
Ms. Rains has done an excellent job building her fantasy community into our own world. Which is kind of creepy when you start thinking about the possibilities. Her characters are well defined and original. The plot moves quickly with several twists and turns I didn’t expect. It was hard to put the book down during confrontations and showdowns. If you like urban fantasies with original interesting characters who grow into their strengths, you will likely enjoy this story. I know I did.
FYI: Adult language, there are several F-bombs dropped.
Format/Typo Issues: No significant issues were noted. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** April 11, 2015...more
If you thought the Bogeyman was scary before, wait till you read Mr. Womack’s interpretation! I’ll begin The Legend of the Bogeyman by James R. Womack
If you thought the Bogeyman was scary before, wait till you read Mr. Womack’s interpretation! I’ll begin my review with what Mr. Womack states in his afterword:
It’s not intended to advocate any religious body’s point of view. Certainly it contains a lot of my own biased perceptions but isn’t meant to advocate any doctrine. It’s a story, a work of fiction. Anyone is free to enjoy, dislike, even mock or discard it.
Needless to say, Mr. Womack has gone back to the beginning of time and rewritten from Lucifer’s — ‘Morning Star’ or ‘Light Bearer’ — own point-of-view in a convincing fashion. Can you imagine the weight, with names like that, Lucifer carried on his shoulders? Being one of God’s favorites, a lot of responsibilities were directed towards Lucifer. At times I had to agree with the twisted logic that Lucifer began to believe in this tale.
Each chapter begins with a portion of a cited passage from the Bible, which lends a little bit of the credibility towards the author’s vision. Since this is a work of fiction I didn’t check out the quotes. They were there to solely move the tale along and worked to weave the story together. I will tell you Mr. Womack’s vision gave me the creeps because this could be how the ‘Morning Star’ lost his way…
FYI: May or may not offend some readers' religious sensibilities. **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** June 22, 2016
Format/Typo Issues: Too few to mention.
Merged review:
The Legend of the Bogeyman by James R. Womack
If you thought the Bogeyman was scary before, wait till you read Mr. Womack’s interpretation! I’ll begin my review with what Mr. Womack states in his afterword:
It’s not intended to advocate any religious body’s point of view. Certainly it contains a lot of my own biased perceptions but isn’t meant to advocate any doctrine. It’s a story, a work of fiction. Anyone is free to enjoy, dislike, even mock or discard it.
Needless to say, Mr. Womack has gone back to the beginning of time and rewritten from Lucifer’s — ‘Morning Star’ or ‘Light Bearer’ — own point-of-view in a convincing fashion. Can you imagine the weight, with names like that, Lucifer carried on his shoulders? Being one of God’s favorites, a lot of responsibilities were directed towards Lucifer. At times I had to agree with the twisted logic that Lucifer began to believe in this tale.
Each chapter begins with a portion of a cited passage from the Bible, which lends a little bit of the credibility towards the author’s vision. Since this is a work of fiction I didn’t check out the quotes. They were there to solely move the tale along and worked to weave the story together. I will tell you Mr. Womack’s vision gave me the creeps because this could be how the ‘Morning Star’ lost his way…
FYI: May or may not offend some readers' religious sensibilities. **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** June 22, 2016
“What is sincerity, what is freedom, what is true love?”
David Nighthart, age twenty-four, is a passionate, soft-spoken photDaisy Fields by Maki Matsui
“What is sincerity, what is freedom, what is true love?”
David Nighthart, age twenty-four, is a passionate, soft-spoken photographer who is looking for a housemate. What he gets is a cute, quirky, emotionally damaged female hauling all of her possessions in two large plastic bags and a suitcase knocking at his door that evening. Her name is Kalifornia Mooney, and she claims to write fiction under the name Ambrosius Mooney. Now David is trying to learn how to tell the difference between Kalifornia’s fiction and her truths. Kalifornia guards her secrets profoundly.
After about three months David feels like he’s making headway into Kalifornia’s mysterious ways. Meanwhile, Kalifornia feels her protective walls crumbling. Her fallback is to pack all her stuff and run away. David’s world falls apart. His insecurity about love and relationships takes a wallop deep in his soul. The raw emotion comes off the page as David does a lot of soul searching, trying to figure out how he could have done things differently.
“Daisy Fields” is a sweet but emotional rollercoaster ride. The secondary characters are realistic and human with faults of their own. This would be a nice story to read on a quiet weekend.
FYI: Cozy romance that explores love from many angles. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** July 14, 2021 Format/Typo Issues: No significant proofing errors....more
Steve Montross, the actor who plays a hero named Kradak in a series of B-movies, knows his career is taking a slow nKradak the Champion by Shawn Inmon
Steve Montross, the actor who plays a hero named Kradak in a series of B-movies, knows his career is taking a slow nosedive. After the premiere of his latest movie in a multiplex on the outskirts on Los Angeles, he meets a couple female fans. One a petite buxom blonde named Grint. The other was tall, athletic, elegant, and named Rista. Steve feels lucky and invites them to his condo for drinks. The women stealthily add a knockout powder to Steve’s drink and haul him off to the portal to take Kradak back to their home planet, Arkana, because they need a hero to stop the darkness from devouring their planet. They actually believe Steve is the real hero Kradak, they don’t understand that Kradak is a role Steve plays on screen. All the heroic feats and adventures are make-believe. When Steve awakens he insists this is all a huge practical joke being pulled on him, until the adventure turns deadly.
Rista decides they will have to turn Kradak into the hero they need him to be to save Arkana from the encroaching darkness. The characters which inhabit Arkana are diverse, some are human like with differing talents, and some without. Then there is Grint, he is the shapeshifting goblin who was the buxom blonde who urged Steve to invite them back to his condo back home on earth.
Their trek is slow since they are traveling by foot, and there are twists that send the small group in a different direction, often for a good cause. Other times their path led them into mortifying situations. At long last they are finally in the town to meet the guide who will take them up to the monastery that keeps Lumina, the magic sword Kradak needs to battle the darkness. A huge wrench is thrown in the mix. Steve is angry and confused, and now he is wondering if he is even on the right side of this fight or not.
“Kradak the Champion” is the first book in this series and the foundation has been set up for the real quest to begin. To find and stop Mikol who created this vast darkness. I felt like this book came to a satisfying conclusion.
FYI: “Kradak the Champion” is book 1 in Shawn Inmon’s, An Arkana Sword and Sorcery Adventure. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** June 30, 2021 Format/Typo Issues: No significant issues. ...more
“Twilight Walk” hits the ground running, not necessarily with the murder mystery. This emergency is more personal anTwilight Walk by Melissa Bowersock
“Twilight Walk” hits the ground running, not necessarily with the murder mystery. This emergency is more personal and it’s not often we see Sam undone. I love the way Ms. Bowersock always has at least two storylines in each book. There is a family storyline that generally includes Sam’s kids on the weekends and how well Sam, Daniel, and Kenzie have melded into a perfect family unit with Lacey. Then there is usually a paranormal mystery where Sam Firecloud is the Navajo medium who can read the spirit’s emotions and Lacey is the former LAPD detective extraordinaire who dives into research each case to learn why a spirit is bound to the earthly plane. Together they make a crack investigative team.
Believe it or not the reader will find little paranormal mystery in these murder cases that have the LAPD stymied. What they will find is an unnerving, twisted, psychopath, who may be a serial killer. The path to find this killer is a dark and tangled web. Sam must submerge himself in the bloodlust culture hidden in the underbelly of LA alone. “Twilight Walk” rattled me to my core and kept me glued to the edge of my chair waiting for the other shoe to drop. Give me ghosts any day over this kind of realistic horror. Nice job, Ms. Bowersock.
FYI: “Twilight Walk” is book 31 in Melissa Bowersock’s, A Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** June 14, 2021. Format/Typo Issues: I was a beta reader for this novella so I can’t comment on the final book. ...more
Katherine Colebrook is one of the best Tracker agents in the FBI’s unit that handles parasapien cases. She’s trained iA Tracker’s Tale by Karen Avizur
Katherine Colebrook is one of the best Tracker agents in the FBI’s unit that handles parasapien cases. She’s trained in all the defensive arts and has psychic abilities. Katherine is a single mother of a sixteen-year-old daughter, Alexandra, who is also psychic and trained in defensive arts and weapons.
The police found Rebecca alone in a diner, rocking to and fro afraid and mumbling. The doctor admitted her to the mental ward of a children’s hospital. The nurse on duty, a friend of Katherine’s, thinks Rebecca may be psychic, however, she is also a high functioning autistic teenager. Someone is trying to kidnap her. When Katherine learns her older brother was killed trying to protect her, Katherine askes for a quickie adoption from the FBI, so she can protect her.
It doesn’t take long before the fists and feet start flying, races against the clock ensue, and training a new partner begins. Of course, politics finds its way into the story of Werewolf society, Vampire hierarchy, and Mob bosses. Which all requires Katherine’s special touch. It’s all edge of your seat intensity with surprising twists and turns. It’s no holds barred when Katherine get fired up, her stamina wore me out reading about all the action. All of the story arcs are brought to a close except the mystery surrounding Rebecca’s past and her nightmares. Then in the last chapter two new characters are introduced who are connected to Rebecca. Luckily book 2 of this series is published.
FYI: There are a few F-bombs dropped. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** June 7, 2021. Format/Typo Issues: No significant proofing or formatting issues. ...more
I am sitting back in awe at the twists and turns “Shattered Souls” takes the reader on. Ava walks through the flameShattered Souls by Erica Lucke Dean
I am sitting back in awe at the twists and turns “Shattered Souls” takes the reader on. Ava walks through the flames of time to reset the timeline to save her little brother Josh’s life. However, she has to be careful not to fracture the timeline too much or she may lose Laith forever. This third book of the series will break your heart as the story unwinds. It’s like a cat playing with a ball of yarn batting it around the room who then gathers it all up into a hopeless knotted mess that will never be the same. Erica Lucke Dean manages to not drop a single thread with her cohesive prose enthralling the reader.
I enjoyed the secondary characters who surprisingly had roles in the past and present. They were able to shine light on the turbulent souls of brothers Maddox and Laith, like the lighthouse beacon warning ships of the rocky shore. The secondary characters from the past add an unexpected richness to the story. You can tell Ms. Lucke Dean poured her heart and soul into “Splintered Souls.” The ubiquitous emotional rollercoaster is turned up a couple of notches to an F-5 tornado’s ferociousness.
Don’t miss this climatic ending to the Flames of Time Trilogy. I recommend reading the entire series in order from “Splintered Souls,” book 1, to “Scattered Souls,” book 2, and then “Shattered Souls” for your full enjoyment. And now you can read the whole Trilogy without having to wait for the conclusion. I loved every book in this Trilogy, and I’m not too proud to admit Erica Lucke Dean made me cry at the end.
FYI: “Shattered Souls” is book 3 in Erica Lucke Deans, Flames of Time Trilogy. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** May 24, 2021. Format/Typo Issues: The copy reviewed was an ARC (advanced reader copy) and therefore I can't judge the production version.
“Can You Do What A Cat Can Do?,” is an engaging and interactive story where your child can show off some Can You Do What A Cat Can Do? By Jill Wright
“Can You Do What A Cat Can Do?,” is an engaging and interactive story where your child can show off some skills or shake their head ‘no’ to proclaim they would NEVER do THAT! The pictures are adorable enough to draw any child into the book. There is really no story, only situations, actions, and questions.
The only problem I have with this book are proofing misses. The first page introduction has a wrongly spelled two letter word. Check the ‘Look Inside’ feature on the Amazon product page. That is a really bad start, especially for a print version of the book. Kindle files can be corrected easily enough.
I tried to read this book on my Kindle Paperwhite first. Trust me when I say that is not the way to go. It can be done, but the gray tones don’t do the book justice. I ended up using the Kindle app on my computer.
FYI: I recommend using a full color screen for you and your child’s reading pleasure. There is also a Spanish version. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** April 28, 2021. Format/Typo Issues: As I mentioned in my review there are a few proofing misses.
Akila Levesque and her twelve-year-old brother, Cairo, move to Pyreshore, New Hampshire after the death of theirCurse of the Hunted by Christine Rains
Akila Levesque and her twelve-year-old brother, Cairo, move to Pyreshore, New Hampshire after the death of their mother to start a new life after having been invited by the High Council of the Supernatural to become a Keeper of Knowledge. Now Akila needs to learn how to adapt to a small-town life where everyone knows your business after living in a big city where one can live in anonymity. One of Akila’s talents is she can see ghosts. They are given a house to live in which has a ghost in the front yard to greet them. Akila calls him Captain and he is always there. It is clear Captain wants something of her but she can’t hear him, therefore she keeps putting Captain off because of the other chaos going on in her life.
One of the conditions Akila is given to become an apprentice keeper is to bring an undocumented artifact to donate to the council to be put into their archives. She does this, however her mentor, Seth, wants to see the small sarcophagus that contains an ushabti. An ushabti is a statuette carved in the likeness of a person who served a pharaoh, and this one is magic. Seth’s curiosity wins out so he opens the sarcophagus to see the six-inch ushabti. He is able to grab some photos of it before it disappears. So now the hunt begins and Akila and Cairo are plagued with strange potentially deadly events where the ushabti turns up.
It took me a while to warm up to Akila, she is rigid, unforgiving, and rude. Chaz is nothing but helpful to her and she can’t stand feeling like he is rescuing her from small inconveniences she could handle given time. It’s the small-town neighbors helping neighbors she can’t understand or accept. However, this handsome hunk of man also shows up just in time to literally save her life time and again. The storyline is original, unique, and enthralling. The characters are well rounded, intelligent, diverse, and captivating. The tension ebbed and flowed from terror to sexual tension. There were times I was sure I could see what was coming, but then the plot veered another direction. I had Captain pegged, but the way it all came about blew me away. I was pleased to see Akila finally settling into her role in the township of Pyreshore. I can easily see The Keepers of Knowledge turning into an epic series.
FYI: “Curse of the Hunted” by Christine Rains is book 8 in The Keepers of Knowledge Series, and can be read as a standalone. 10 books, 10 authors, 10 Keepers, 1 shared world. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** May 14, 2021. Format/Typo Issues: A few proofing misses, mainly missing words, but nothing that threw me out of the story. ...more
Sable, riddled with guilt from a dark secret in her past, decides the world would be a better place without herWho Let the Demon Out? by Naomi Bellina
Sable, riddled with guilt from a dark secret in her past, decides the world would be a better place without her. Jack, a tow-truck driver, sees a car running in an abandoned parking lot off the beaten path and pulls her out of her car. He is able to resuscitate her. As her life force returns to her body a demon catches a ride on Sable’s tailwind right back to earth, and he has an agenda.
When Indignus (Iggy), a dark angel, appears to Sable he tasks her to send the demon back to hell where he belongs. The trouble is demons and dark angels lie. I think Iggy just wanted to go back to the bar for a few more drinks, so he told Sable it was her responsibility to send the demon back. It also turns out that demons have a few tricks up their sleeves that are quite deadly. Since Sable figures she wouldn’t be in this mess if Jack hadn’t brought her back from the dead she recruits him to help her complete her mission. Jack is a good man and has some handy skills he is able to utilize in the demon hunting mission which I found a bit too convenient. Sable is smart, has a good heart, but is a little slow on the uptake.
After a wordy, bumpy start Ms. Bellina settles into a nice pace, aside from a few spots I would have liked more detailed information about, which would have added more depth to the story. Sable and Jack’s characters did show growth at the end, but I didn’t consider either of them badass. Perhaps the demons are the badasses, because the one in this book was. However, that is not the way I read the series title: Badass Demon Bounty Hunters.
If you are looking for a darkly humorous Urban Fantasy with a unique storyline and diverse characters you may enjoy “Who Let the Demon Out?.”
FYI: *** TRIGGER WARNING *** This book begins with a failed suicide attempt. Also be prepared for adult language and several F-bombs. “Who Let the Demon Out?” Is book 1 in Naomi Bellina’s, Badass Demon Bounty Hunters series. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** May 3, 2021. Format/Typo Issues: No significant issues. ...more
“The Payoff” begins by introducing Janis Fowler and Jan Marek reuniting as adults. Their pasts growing up together as studThe Payoff by Lynne Cantwell
“The Payoff” begins by introducing Janis Fowler and Jan Marek reuniting as adults. Their pasts growing up together as students at the Institute are told through flashbacks. They sought solace in each other while living under the claw of Dr. Denise Tandy. On the eve of his eighteenth birthday, Jan survives a failed suicide attempt, which gives Jan and Janis an escape route from Dr. Tandy’s clutches. However, she is able to escape justice for her abuses and other illegal activities by leaving for South America.
The intrigue and tension builds as Dr. Tandy resurfaces with another scam of epic proportions with a new victim, Antoine, to exploit. Jan has to hone his talent to identify this new player and his gift. Janis has to bite the bullet and dig into what Dr. Tandy has been up to these last forty years.
I found it entertaining to watch these two old friends interact, their dialogue was priceless. The sexual tension was strong and neither wanted to be the first to overstep the boundaries of friendship to test the waters. Both Jan and Janis were equally strong and respectful characters, one never out shined the other. There were two important secondary characters, aside from Dr. Tandy who cast her nasty shadow over everyone. Antoine reminds us of the power Dr. Tandy holds over her victims. She tears down his sense of worth with verbal, emotional, and physical abuse, however, he still feels indebted to her. Then there is Simone. She seems a little late to the party, she is Antoine’s secretary or Tandy’s office manager. She’s the only other employee and she fills both services. I really enjoyed her character, she seems impulsive and a no holds barred kind of young woman. I really liked her and so did Janis when she finally met her.
The ending is satisfying in a classy way. There were no tricks or sleight of hand, just truth. Finally, truth and justice is served. But, what of Janis and Jan? Only time will tell.
FYI: **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** May 19, 2021. Format/Typo Issues: Nothing to note. ...more
Armageddon Girls (The Juniper Wars Book 1) by Aaron Michael Ritchey
I generally don’t read dystopian stories, but the premise of this one grabbed my atArmageddon Girls (The Juniper Wars Book 1) by Aaron Michael Ritchey
I generally don’t read dystopian stories, but the premise of this one grabbed my attention. The characters are all well-developed, quite unique, and interesting. This is going to be an epic coming-of-age saga contrasting two disparate worlds existing side by side. Aaron Michael Ritchey has done an outstanding job setting up his world and has kept it as realistic as fantasy can get while still pushing the limits of reality with the elements he employed.
The story is told through Cavatica Weller’s eyes. She is the youngest of three living sisters who has been pulled out of school, The Sally Browne Burke Academy for the Moral and Literate in Cleveland, Ohio, to assist in a cattle drive to save the family ranch in the Juniper. Each sister has her own strengths. Cavatica is strong-willed, opinionated, naïve, and ruled by her emotions. A persevering theme throughout the story is the New Morality Movement. There were several times I wanted to slap the s**t out of Cavatica. Her views are so extremely colored by this New Morality that she can’t see straight. I found it frustrating and kept having to remind myself of her young age. I hope she will eventually find a balance that will serve her better in coming sequels. The mysterious young man they rescue from a raid adds a complicated element to the storyline, especially when the oldest and youngest sisters set their sights on him.
The character-driven plot is fast-moving with several surprising twists thrown into the mix, which continually causes adaptions to be made to the Weller sisters plans. I have found myself invested in this family’s quest to get their cattle to a fair market with their family, friends, and employees intact. The surprise at the end left my jaw on the floor. Mr. Ritchey has woven a tangled web and I am not sure what to expect next. I do know that I will be anxiously awaiting the next addition of this story.
FYI: Armageddon Girls is the first book in The Juniper Wars series. **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" Book Blog. May have received a free review copy.** April 8, 2016 Format/Typo Issues: I read and reviewed from an advanced readers copy, so can’t really comment on editing. ...more
“The Magnolia That Bloomed Unseen,” is a captivating story of romance, self-discovery, and strength of chThe Magnolia That Bloomed Unseen by Ray Smith
“The Magnolia That Bloomed Unseen,” is a captivating story of romance, self-discovery, and strength of character.
The prologue is RC recalling how he first met Molly Valle, an activist for the Civil Rights Movement. He was a high school student who interviewed her for a class report, for which she gave him a Cliff Notes version and he received an A. Thirty years pass and out of the blue RC gets a phone call from Molly. She’s 103 years-old and is ready to tell her and John’s story in more depth, She asks if RC would be interested in writing her story down. She had always had the faith in RC to become a novelist. At forty-four years old all he had written were short stories for literary magazines. He jumps at the chance and so the novel begins in earnest.
In 1961 Molly is a forty-eight-year-old high school English teacher who cares for and tutors her students in a small town in Mississippi. She’s divorced and lives a solitary life until she unwittingly ends up in the middle of a peaceful sit-in protest at a local diner. A young black couple enters and sit at the counter asking for a cup of coffee. Trouble ensues when John intervenes stopping a town bully from throwing a punch at Molly for standing up for the young black couple. The police arrive, arrests are made, and the incident causes Molly to lose her job.
John Pressman, at fifty years-old, was immediately attracted to Molly. His world shifted. He’d left his New York City job to join the Civil Rights Movement to make the world a better place. He’s a deep thinker and a charismatic speaker. Molly is mesmerized by him. Their journey is a romantic one on many levels. Mr. Smith is a wizard at painting the picture of an ugly time in US history against the beautiful backdrop of Mississippi. Molly and John’s story is fascinating, complex, and heart wrenching. The secondary characters are as fully-rounded and diverse as the main characters. At the end RC is left testing the boundary between what’s real, what’s imagined, and how to end his book.
I highly recommend “The Magnolia That Bloomed Unseen” if you enjoy human stories crafted with beautifully written prose and humility.
FYI: Race related violence, nothing overly graphic. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** April 19, 2021. Format/Typo Issues: Nothing worth noting. ...more
Wally Wallaby has had a bad knee since birth, and despite this handicap he works up the courage to implore his mobThe Wobbly Wallaby by Mike Skillicom
Wally Wallaby has had a bad knee since birth, and despite this handicap he works up the courage to implore his mob’s commander to search for food and water. However, the old commander has made up his mind to stay where they are and wait for the rain to come. The problem is once he has spoken his word is law, even at the sacrifice of the mob who are slowly starving to death. Wally decides then that he is breaking the “Wallaby Code” by leaving the mob the following morning to strike out on his own. When day breaks he is joined by his best friends, Jake and Peg. And so the perilous journey begins as they head east in the unforgiving drought of the Australian outback.
During their adventure they encounter several indigenous species some friendly, others not so much. There is a small unrelenting band of dingoes who are trailing and taunting the trio of wallaby’s. The comradery between Wally, Peg, and Jake is admirable and heartwarming. As the adventure continues there are several lessons that could be learned by a young reader. There is also enough tension to keep them turning the pages. “The Wobbly Wallaby” is an entertaining, and engaging story with some humor spread throughout. I liked the way the wildlife of the Australian outback introduces critters some young readers may not know about already. I would recommend The Wobbly Wallaby to chapter book readers and older kids.
FYI: The genre is listed as a children’s story, however, it is for young readers’. There are two other books in the series published at the time I wrote this review. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** March 10, 2021 Format/Typo Issues: None to mention. ...more
Kaia Dashul is the Dragon Heir, she alone has the power of fire. When an undead army attacks her homeland, she setsOdriel’s Heirs by Hayley Reese Chow
Kaia Dashul is the Dragon Heir, she alone has the power of fire. When an undead army attacks her homeland, she sets out to locate the sloppy necromancer who is creating the Lost Armies. She is joined by her beloved pet ragehound Gus, Klaus Thane the Shadow Heir who has the power of invisibility, and a snarky cursed cat.
And so the adventure begins. Kaia and Klaus search for clues and allies for the coming war. As discoveries are made plans have to adapt. Kaia and Klaus are also learning to work together as they are both on their own journey to self-discovery as well. Emotions and tension run high during skirmishes and losses take their toll on our young heroes. The descriptions of landscapes and native life is beautifully written. The battles are captivating as we are right in the middle of the action watching it play out through Kaia’s eyes.
I was left with one burning question after the ultimate battle though. Then the final scene I was taken back because I had completely forgotten about that slime ball. I also can’t believe that one dark sorcerer is so flippin’ hard to kill. The slippery rat bass-tid.
If you enjoy epic fantasy with sword and sorcery, battles between good and evil with snappy dialogue, you will enjoy this novel.
FYI: “Odriel's Heirs” is listed free on Amazon at the time I wrote this review. ‘Idriel's Children’ is book 2 in the Odriel’s Heirs series. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** March 22, 2021. Format/Typo Issues: I noted several small proofing misses.
Teen angst times two in “Suicide Walk.” Daniel, Sam’s sixteen-year-old son, calls a family meeting to make an unconveSuicide Walk by Melissa Bowersock
Teen angst times two in “Suicide Walk.” Daniel, Sam’s sixteen-year-old son, calls a family meeting to make an unconventional and unwelcome announcement which no one is happy about. As Sam and Lacey struggle to deal with this development, tension rises as they deal with this situation in different ways. At the same time Sam and Lacey are hired to release the spirit of a fifteen-year-old girl who chose to end what was a privileged but tragic life a year ago. They have to figure out why she is tethered to this earthly plane. When Sam tries to release her spirit, she reacts violently. Oops! Then the father fires them and plans on billing them for the damage incurred. Double oops!
Even though they have been fired from this job Lacey can’t let it go. She knows they have missed something vital from Tessa’s tragic life. “Suicide Walk” is a captivating and emotional story that will keep you turning the pages. The characters are well rounded and their dialogues are realistic. The plot moves at a nice pace, Ms. Bowersock doesn’t mince words to pad her word count. I also love the way Sam’s kids are worked into the story and we get to share their growing pains as well. It’s like having a magical window into the Firecloud’s daily life. I love that part of the series. Okay, back to the story at hand, you may want to have a box of Kleenex close by for the emotional climax.
FYI: “Suicide Walk” is book 30 in Melissa Bowersock’s, A Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** March 29, 2021. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** March 29, 2021. Format/Typo Issues: I was a beta reader for this novella so I can’t speak about the final edition. ...more
The Curious Touch of Cupid’s Son by Dave Diotalevi
Karl Sparks is a thirty-something man who is writing a book about love. He was raised in a Catholic The Curious Touch of Cupid’s Son by Dave Diotalevi
Karl Sparks is a thirty-something man who is writing a book about love. He was raised in a Catholic orphanage, has never had a girlfriend, or an erection. However, an accidental touch of any female sets her off into an uncontrollable orgasm. Which is why he wears long sleeves and surgical gloves. That is until he literally bumps into Aurora Sky when he is quickly exiting a crowded elevator trying to put distance between the puddle of a woman in the midst of an orgasm and himself. Bumping into Aurora (Rory) causes her to drop several files on the floor. When she orders Karl to pick them up for her. He doesn’t do as she mandates. Aurora is intrigued. All other men bend to her commands, but not Karl. Karl does however, get his first erection!
“The Curious Touch of Cupid’s Son” has more twists and turns than a roller-coaster. Several secondary characters are as well developed as the main characters. Lacy and Tommy, downstairs neighbors were an integral part of the story, they added dimension and humor to the tale. Rory’s boss is on a mission to locate the three pieces of the God Prism, an ancient artifact from Greek mythology. It’s evident that she is an unpleasant person, but gives no clue of the evil nemesis she really is. This is an engaging story I really enjoyed. There are several elements that are seamlessly woven together. The sex scenes are outshined by the storyline, thus becoming secondary. The parentage of Rory and Karl become intertwined with the God Prism and they are vital to reassembling the artifact. While there is a heartwarming scene toward the end, the ending is heart wrenching. In my mind I worked my heart around a more satisfying ending which could very well happen.
FYI: “Intended for Mature (?) & Fun-loving Consenting Adults (18+).” **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** February 22, 2021 Format/Typo Issues: A small number of proofing misses. ...more