Time and Blood: Evening Bower, Book 1
by Sherry Rentschler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
Rhea is the last of her kind, a phoenix from Atlantis and before, she has lived over and over through the ages, but lately she is suffering from nightmares and a call for her to come somewhere unknown, but why and where. Who or what is calling her, and is it good or evil that awaits her?Viseral, the angel of Death, has watched over Rhea from a distant this whole time, but now he finds himself needing to stay away, to allow the prophecy to finish. Along with a cast of characters that readers meet in the prequel, The Gypsy Thorn, the fulfillment of the ages old prophecy begins in Time and Blood. Author Sherry Rentschler tells the happenings from the view of the main players in the story. Rhea, Jean-Louis and Franklin each have their own chapters to tell the events from their view, also side players such as Nathan, Rasand, Echo, and even Drayohmira have parts t o tell. This is the coming of a prophecy, but what does that prophecy really mean? Good or evil? Can anything be that straight-forward and cut and dried, or is there good in everything depending on your view?
Time and Blood is labeled as the first book in the Evening Bower series, although The Gypsy Thorn is the prequel to this book. For myself as a reader, I have to read books in order, so I went out of my way to find and read the prequel before reading this story, but I have to say that you don't need to read it first. As the reader, you meet most of the characters from the prequel, but you just aren't sure why they are on the sides that they have chosen in Time and Blood. The prequel gives you some of the answers as to why certain characters choose the sides they did, but at the same time, not knowing is almost more fun. The reader meets all the characters in The Gypsy Thorn but you don't need to really know them going into this story. Time and Blood is really about Rhea, her long dead mate, and the prophecy. It is her story of the prophecy, and it is her life that you are reading, not her whole history, but this one brief period in time when she has the chance to succeed, where the meaning of the prophecy is actually understood and everything changes. The prequel gave you information about each character, and maybe reading it after reading the first book in the series would serve the reader better, as knowing the characters doesn't effect this story, but after this point it might help. At the same time,this book is only the first, and so the story stops, but doesn't end, there are still so many questions that the reader is left begging for the next book.
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Callie (The Bayou Hauntings, Volume 1)
by Bill Thompson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
All her life Callie has felt like a failure, not worthy of the affection of her grandmother or anyone else for that matter, part of that came from the fact that her father took off the minute he found out her mother was pregnant, and part was the way the extended family treated her. Her misguided attempt to "grown up" and make something of herself found her estranged from her grandmother for the last decade. Now her grandmother was dead and Callie still found herself feeling like a failure. When her Uncle Willard calls to tell her that she must be in Louisiana for the reading of her grandmothers will, she found herself at his mercy as he had to wire her the money to get there. There is no love lost between Callie and her Uncle Willard, and once the will is read and what she inherits is discovered, it becomes clear that Uncle Willard wants what she got, and will do anything to get it. Callie, The Bayou Hauntings is the story of Callie's discovery of her family history and in turn of herself. Author Bill Thompson delivers a southern story high on suspense and family.
Callie is titled as the first Volume in The Bayou Hauntings, which gives the impress of a series, but not necessary following just the one character. Author Bill Thompson gives the reader a book high in suspense and supernatural or paranormal in the form of a friendly visitor that seems real but just might be a ghost. The key to the story is the discover of the family history, how everything that happened in the past actually came to be, and that history unlocks the secrets of the plantation mansion that Callie inherited and also allows Callie to come into her own. This book is clean in that there is no sex, although there are the mention on illegitimate children and there is only a few curse words spread throughout the story, they are appropriate when they come into play. Therefore I have no problem recommending this book to readers of all ages.
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The House on Serpent Lake
by Brenda Hill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
Lindsay and Eric met and married later in life, it was a second marriage for the both of them, each having a child from the previous relationship, but they were good together and very happy, well at least they had been but recently Eric had seemed to be pulling away. Lindsay hoped that it was just work and the passing of his aunt, but now that they were in Crosby to look at the house on the lake that Eric inherited, Lindsay felt strange. It started with the knowledge of how the house had looked in the past, of where things were even though she had never been here before or even seen pictures of the house. Then there was the strange smell of Bay Rum aftershave, only she seemed to be able to smell. Was she going crazy or was it something else? The House on Serpent Lake is the story of two couples in love, a past live and regrets. Author Brenda Hill has created a compelling story that felt natural.
The House on Serpent Lake is a bit supernatural in the ghost that inhabits the house, a bit paranormal in that Lindsay can interact in some ways with the ghost, and a bit romance or love story. There is the history of the house and the family that Lindsay needs to uncover to help her to understand what is going on, and then there is Eric's disbelief and his leaving her alone in the house. This was a well written book and an enjoyable read that I liked. It is reasonably clean and would be fine for most readers of any age. Although I couldn't help be feel like I had read this story or something like it before, and maybe I have in a past life, it wasn't enough to stop me from reading, in fact it made me want to read more to find out if I had read it before.
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Bitch Witch
by S.R. Karfelt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers favorite
Sarah Archer is trying everything in her power to be a good person and not to use witchcraft to benefit herself, which is what her mother and her aunt did all their lives. Unfortunately a late night run to Target in the middle of PMS and a rude woman honking at her in the parking lot was more than Sarah could take. When she allowed her inner bitch to come out the aftershock of the spell was way bigger than Sarah expected, and an innocent man is swept up into the mix. Bitch Witch is a tell of good vs evil, well really more like dark vs light instead of true evil. It is the story of Sarah trying to live her life but without following in the footsteps of her mother and her aunt. Author S.R. Karfelt creates a fun, easy and almost comedic at time story of life and love.
Bitch Witch is the story of a woman who doesn't want to be the same as her family before her, but has no real idea how to go about it. She works a clerk job to keep her mind occupied and keep herself from using the dark magic that courses through her veins. Author S.R. Karfelt has taken a modern story, a woman with a desire to be something different than her ancestors, but making clumsy attempts at it. When Paul is swept into the afterschock of her spell, he becomes a friend and confidenate that allows Sarah to find her way in the world. This is aqq reasonably clean book with no real sex or bad language, I defientely would recommend it to all readers. I found the idea of a woman breaking away from her past and trying to forge her own life away from what she has always saw her mother and aunt do as a refreashing plot line.
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Ramiel: Dark Warrior Alliance Book 15
by Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
In another life Ramiel was married to Elise before she became the Vampire Queen but now he is the Guardian Angel of her daughter Izzy for his final test as an Angel of Retribution. The biggest problem that Ramiel has is his temper, and then his anger over Elise being happy and moving on with her life after his earthly death. Now Izzy has been kidnapped by Lucifer and Ramiel is determined to rescue her on his own, problem is that he needs the help of a fallen to get into hell, and that requires a bond, which is not in his plans. Throughout this book there are also glimpses into life at Zerum and updates on all your favorite couples and characters from earlier books. Ramiel is the fifteenth book in the Dark Warrior Alliance series by authors Brenda Trim and Tami Julka.
The Dark Warrior Alliance is an amazing series, especially given the fact that Ramiel is book number fifteen. Authors Brenda Trim and Tami Julka still are able to weave a story as fresh and new as they did in book one. Personally I have read every book in this series, and I am always amazed at how the authors are able to weave the story without repeating plotlines and ideas. Each book is new and unique, and could, if needed stand alone, but the story makes more sense when read in order. Ramiel again is able to pull the reader in and have them feeling as if they are part of this unique and varied world. These are definitely adult books, as there is a good about of talk about fated mates and the intimate acts that go with that, yet at the same time the writing about those acts fit the story and are not overly graphic. There is also a good deal of violence between the Warriors and the Demons, but that is to be expected when you are talking about Lucifer wanting to take over the world and get rid of the human population.
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Faces of Betrayal: Symphonies of Sun & Moon Saga Book 1
by Daniele Cella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
In another world, in another place, in another time warriors and clans rule the world. Marriage is a contract to bond clans and ensure peace, but sometimes betrayal taints the contract. In Faces of Betrayal by authors Daniele Cella and Alessio Manneschi, we follow a number of different players in a complex tale of war, peace, marriage and betrayal, power and greed. There are a number of characters and each has a chapter(s) to tell what it going on from their view. Through all these different views we learn of greed, the want for power, and detailed plans to wrench power from those who have it instead of taking it through peaceful means. There are also some complete innocents in this story that are swept up in the aftermath of the betrayal, and even though they don't know the full extent of the betrayal, they have to forge a way in this new world on their own, without knowing who they can actually trust.
Authors Daniele Cella and Alessio Manneschi have created a unique world with its own history of war and peace that is slowly unraveled as you travel through the Faces of Betrayal. Each person that we meet in the story has a different view, a different knowledge of what is happening and a different connect to each of the other people. Everyone is intertwined together, yet it is not until the end of the book that you finally realize how they are intertwined together and what their roles were in the fate of the other people. This is a well written story that keeps you reading because you feel the need to fully understand what is going on, and you only get glimpses of the big picture until the very end, even then you are left reaching for the second book to figure out more. There is some sex and lots of violence as there is a war taking place, but it is all well written and definitely fit in the story. Given all that, I would recommend this to adult readers.
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Ghost of Bliss Bayou
by Jack Massa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
Life for seventeen-year-old Abby Renshaw has not been easy. Her father died when she was young, her mom moved her from Florida to New Jersey away from her Granma, and she started having vivid dreams and visions. Of course she was treated by a psychiatrist for those in New Jersey, but they have started to return only now Abby feels compelled to return to Florida to visit her Granma on Bliss Bayou. While there Abby has more visions, only this time she learns more about her family history and the history of Bliss Bayou as a magical place, and is introduced to Violet who practices magic and is able to help Abby understand the visions and not run from them. Ghosts of Bliss Bayou by author Jack Massa tells the story of the Renshaw family and the practice of practical magic that existed in the area. The truth of the family history has been buried in lies by those greedy for power, and it becomes Abby's job to uncover the truth and set things right.
Author Jack Massa has created a wonderful little world that is historic and steeped in tradition and magic, but not your wand waving kind of magic, the more practical magic of a naturalist, listening to the elements of the world and being in tune with them. Ghosts of Bliss Bayou falls into the paranormal genre for the appearance of a number of ghosts who help lead Abby to the truth, as well as the use of the practical magic. It is just as much a coming of age story as Abby finds her way in the world and what she wants to do and who she really is. This is a well written and engaging book that is great for young adults, teens and adults alike. Although at times the visions get a bit confusing, it you just press on reading, it all becomes clear. This is a very clean book, no language or sex, so I recommend it for any reader.
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Wolfhaven
by Jay Shaw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
In an isolated area of the country, far away from society in general live two groups, that long ago used to be one. Wolfhaven and Silver Ridge, over in Silver Ridge they detest their human side and avoid shifting into it, staying in wolf form at all times, living in caves and living a completely rigidly controlled life by a powerful alpha. In Wolfhaven, they embrace the human side as much as the wolf side, understanding that both sides are equally important. They have built a functioning society with a common house for meals and cabins for family sleeping, along with a structured hierarchy of rule. Wolfhaven focuses mostly on life in Wolfhaven, but not just general life it focuses on the Grandmother, who is the leader of the pack, and the two grandson's, the oldest that is expected to take over Trey, and the younger Connell. This is more than a simple romance, this is a love story against all odds, this is a family saga, this is life and death, this is democracy vs dictatorship. Author Jay Shaw has created a deep and multilayered story of relationships, give and take, ruling with heart and compassion and family life.
Wolfhaven is written in such a way that you feel that it is covering generations, when in reality it only covers maybe a year in reality, but so many things occur. Author Jay Shaw has created so many complex layers and stories within stories going on, that when you sit back and think about the scenarios he put forth, mates across pack boundaries, you can see society and marriages across racial and ethnical divides. Although this is listed as a paranormal romance, it is a family sage and a novel that if you take the time to read and think about what you have read, you can draw parallels and your own conclusions to society today. There is some violence, a dual for a mate, then an ambush along with some very sexist language from some parties, and consensual and nonconsensual sexual encounters, so I definitely recommend it for a more mature audience.
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Mated To The Werewolf King
by Alena Des
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
All her life, Belle has been raised as the daughter of a powerful alpha werewolf and his equally powerful wife. Just as her eighteenth birthday is nearing her world is shattered when her parents finally reveal that they are not her biological parents but that she was found on the edge of the pack boundary as and infant and they have raised her and loved her no matter what, but the Demon Lord is after her. Enter the Werewolf King, who claims he will protect her, but they immediately get off on a bad note, he doesn't believe she is a werewolf and she thinks he is joking. He thinks she is a witch, and she doesn't even think such things exist, oh the sheltered world you lived in Belle. Mated to the Werewolf King is the story of discovering who Belle really is and why the Demon Lord wants her, why he thinks she is his mate, and why his twin brother thinks she is his mate, but why she feels like the Werewolf King is who she wants, after she gets past his over macho attitude. Author Alena Des has created a paranormal fantasy world of werewolfs, vampires, demons, fae, witches and more all living in the same world while a single girl has the power to upset the balance of everything without knowing it.
Mated to the Werewolf King is a complex and mutilayered family saga. We are finally able to learn the turn story of Belle's parentage, but even then there is some difficulties as in her parents were being chased and he took Belle to safety because he was injured and thinking her mother was dead, only she wasn't quite, he died from his injuries. This story is not just your typical girl meets boy, falls for boy but has to prove its real for boy to accept, this is a whole girl meets boy, boy runs from girl, girl runs from boy, boy saves girl, girl saves boy, together they save the world and finally they can be together. Author Alena Des has created a story that is complex yet feels almost natural, you can understand each point of view and why certain characters did what they did, but at the same time, there is some much going on that this is one of those books that you could probably read two or three times and catch things each time that you missed the first time around. There is some violence, its an all out battle for the world, and some sexual scenes, but pretty average for todays standards.
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Waynesville, Indiana: Mother's Day, Murder and Mayhem
by Ray and Debi Stanton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
Author team of husband and wife, Ray and Debi Stanton, have taken great care in working with Daniel Burton, the lone survivor and witness to the Waynesville murders. They have also worked to cohobate as much of what he said as they were able. That all being said, please know up front that what Daniel Burton went through is a life changing ordeal and he was left without and support system to help him deal with what had happened. This is not a book to be read by anyone that might be triggered by his trauma. Waynesville, Indiana: Mother's Day, Murder & Mayhem is Daniels story of what happened that night in May. It is him memories, thoughts and reflections on the people who died and the effect that it had on him.
Waynesville, Indiana: Mother's Day, Murder & Mayhem is a non-fiction book as it is a true event that happened, in a very small little town, if you can even call it that just outside of Columbus. It is a true crime book in that it talks about the crime that was committed, but mostly this is Daniel's story. It was his mother and her long-time boyfriend that were murdered, he was the one to find them and call 911. He was left all alone, his father having died years earlier. Authors Ray and Debi Stanton explain how they worked with Daniel and give you a real insight into how this event has effected him and left him to this day. He was left completely alone, no support system, no help, nothing to deal with what had just happened to his family. It some ways Daniel was the fifth victim of that night. This is a good story, but it could easily trigger sensitive readers.
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First Friday: How Virginity Almost Killed Me
by Tory Hartmann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed For Readers Favorite
Agnes Anne has a plan, it's a five step plan, and it will take her over a year to accomplish it, but she is determined to break free of her nutty uber-Catholic Irish family. She is twenty-eight years old and still living at home with her parents, working for her father in the back office with no career aspirations and no boyfriend. Not to mention she has a tendency to stutter when she is nervous or put on the spot. First Friday follows Agnes Anne on her adventure to put her plan into action and the reactions her family has to some of the changes that she makes. Author Tory Hartmann has woven a complex story of family, faith and change together to create a believable yet humorous story of finding your own way in life, even at an age when the rest of your siblings are married and on their own.
First Friday really revolves around a large Irish immigrant family that is devoutly Catholic, in fact maybe a little too devoutly Catholic. As a reader, knowing nothing about being Catholic, some of the things I found hilarious and some I found to be truly scary in that they hammered Agnes' ability to have a normal relationship with a guy. Author Tory Hartmann has created an amazingly complex story with many layers in the family and a number of stories going on around Agnes. In parts I felt sorry for her in that her family seemed to dismiss her so easily and she felt she couldn't he honest with them about some of the things going on, and it other ways I found myself rooting for her to break free and become her own person. This was a very clean book, there was some language and brief mentions of intimate moments, but they were so much less than anything I've read lately. I think this would be a great book for young adults and teens as well as older readers.
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Just Temporary
by S.M. Pitra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
Casey is just your typical single, older woman. She's 43, never been married, no kids but two kitties, rents a tiny little house just a few blocks from her mother, that has the perfect space to use as a studio for her fiber art, she paints on fabric. To keep her kitties in litter and food, Casey has held a number of temporary jobs, even for temp jobs, hers never last all that long. When Casey finds a new temp agency and lands a primo job on her initial meeting, she is in heaven. This job is in a great spot, free parking and her boss is a dead ringer for James Bond. Problem is that her primo job, may not be all it seems to be. It starts with a strange interview candidate for a temp job, but that really doesn't raise any red flags for Casey, when a second strange temp worker stops by the office, she's confused but she is sure there is a reasonable explanation. Nothing prepares her for what is to come. Just Temporary is a realistic story, in that it could easily happen, so much is real life inspired and its a fun general life story that has many layers. There are backstories to all the players in the story that you get to read at different points and those stories influence and change your opinions of those people. Author S.M. Pitra has written a complex and realistic story with so many levels that you are kept interested from beginning to end.
Just Temporary by author S.M. Pitra is contemporary novel of real life, women's life, friendships and family. There are many levels of the story at play in this novel. You have Casey and her relationship with her parents, then there is the relationship with her elderly neighbor. There is also the friendship that Casey develops with Mindy, the office assistant down the hall. There is also the working relationship that Casey has with both of her bosses, which are completely different. This is a very clean book, no sex or cursing, so I have no problem recommending to all readers, but with the main character being a mid forties woman, most younger readers are probably not going to be interested.
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Damned: A Magnus Blackwell Novel, Book 1
by Alexandrea Weis with Lucas Astor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed For Readers Favorite
Altmover Manor has sat empty and crumbling for over sixty years, but as an architect, it is a dream come turn for Will to be able to restore it to its former glory, and Lexie is willing go to along with her fiancé, until she walks into the house and realizes that something isn't right. Of course being the practical man he is Will doesn't believe in her feelings or ghosts, but as Lexie starts learning about the house, she learns of the tragedies that occurred there. Lexie also meets the ghost of the former owner, Magnus Blackwell, and from there things get complicated. Damned is the story of Lexie, learning to deal with her gift and helping the ghosts of the house, and Magnus finding redemption for his previous sins during his lifetime. It is a complex story with lots of twists and turns and just when you think its over you find its only half way through. Author Alexandrea Weis with Lucas Astor has created a multilayered story that is complex and compelling. As a reader you find yourself drawn in and wanting to know more and keep reading, until before you know it the book is finished and you are begging for another installment in the story.
Damned, A Magnus Blackwell Novel is the first book in a series. Given the titles one would assume that the series revolves around Magnus Blackwell and his exploits, but as he is dead already in book one I am note exactly sure what book two would be unless it goes back and revisits his life before his death. This is a complex story with two very dynamic characters taking the lead in Magnus and Lexie, Will plays a supporting role. The whole story speaks of life and death, atoning for your actions, and the actions you take having consequences. Author Alexandra Weis with Lucas Astor is an amazing team in that they have created a multilayered story that is complex and compelling, that feels like real life and that draws you in and makes you want to keep reading. There are some adult themes in the story because it does talk about the death of Magus and a few other people, and there is some talk of sex, so I recommend it for adults, but in reality it is probably nothing more than most high school students have already heard, but I would leave that up to parents to decide.
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Second Sight (Haunts for Sale, Book 2)
by Kat Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
Sloane is a paranormal real estate agent, confirming that houses are haunted by gentle spirits for potential buyers, and business has been booming ever since Sloane solved the case of the missing women in a small town that turned out to be the work of a serial killer. Sloane will be the first to tell you she got in a little over her head on that one, but she is glad its over and she would prefer not to have anymore like that. When her best friend asks her to look into a house for an old friend, she agrees, but this ends up being way more than she bargained for. Second Sight is a well written, well developed story that will pull you in and have you reading until the last page. Author Kat Green, which is actually the collaboration of two authors, is twice as nice.
Second Sight is the second book in the Haunts for Sale series by the author team of Kat Green. This is part paranormal, ghost hunter book and part mystery and sleuth book. Either way you think of the series, you find yourself drawn into the book and wanting to find out what is going on. Enjoying the history you find and the past as well and the recent things going on to case the ghost activity. For the most part I would recommend it for adult readers but I would say that most older teens would be fine with the series as well, but that is up to the parents.
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First Contact (Haunts for Sale, Book 1)
by Kat Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite.
One day Sloane had it all, a job she loved, a great best friend and she was going to marry the man of her dreams, then, in the blink of an eye everything shattered. A car crash took her fiancé Michael from her and she didn't think she could go on. Now, as a paranormal real estate agent, she has been searching haunted houses for a year looking to make contact with Michael. She's in a small town in the middle of nowhere, the last place she would expect to find him, but find him she does, and not only him but a house full of ghosts. These ghosts are in pain, the last moments of their lives where horrific and they are forced to relive them over and over again in this house. Sloane is determined to set them free, only problem is she has no idea how to do that. First Contact is a well written and developed story of a young adult woman who has a sensitivity to the spirit world and can sense their presence. At the same time it is a mystery story of a serial killer who has escaped notice for years and Sloane's desire to bring him to justice. Author Kat Green has written a book that will keep you glued to the story until the last page.
First Contact is the first book in a new series by author Kat Green called Haunts for Sale. Sloane is a paranormal real estate agent, which means she is sensitive to the spirit world and can sense the presence of spirits in a house and whether they are kind or maleficent. Because you know there is a whole market for people wanting to buy haunted houses these days. Most of her work are with gentle spirits just hanging out where they have always been, but not this job. Sloane walks into something she has no clue about. This is a page turner, but there are some topics with the whole serial killer that might offend some readers, so I would recommend it only to adult readers, just to be on the safe side.
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Evil Stalks the Night
by Kathryn Meyer Griffith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorites
Sarah has a large family, seven kids in all, but live is only good or a short time before something evil appears in the woods near her home. Sarah has the ability to recognize but no one else does because she comes from a long line of women with a gift, or curse. She is able to receive visions which to her has been as much a curse as it has been a gift. The evil that moved into the woods seems to focus on Sarah's family, and she doesn't understand why, even the visions that she has showing her the past, she is unable to understand and connect to her family until the very end. She is sure that the evil wants her and that to get rid of it, she would have to sacrifice herself. Evil Stalks the Night is a complex tale of unleashing evil and it following a person through lives taking its revenge over and over again. Author Kathryn Meyer Griffith weaves a well developed and multilayered story that is complex and compelling.
While Evil Stalks the Night focus on the evil and Sarah, there is also her brother Jimmy, who she is very close to that plays a big part in the story. The more the story goes on, the more you realize that Jimmy has more and more to do with the evil. Even her younger brother Charlie, who had his own problems in life, turns out to be a help in death. The things you think about people aren't always what you think they are and they surprise you in the end. Author Kathryn Meyer Griffith has written a detailed, complex and well developed story. Although there is no sex in the book there are a number of deaths, and although they are not described in detail, they are inferred to be quite gory. Therefore I would probably recommend this to adult readers.
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Witches
by Kathryn Meyer Griffith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
Amanda is a white witch, meaning that she works night nature to help people, but there are others in the world that have trade their favors with evil and use dark magic for bad purposes. Always have been and always will be, power corrupts people. In the area there is a cult killing people and trying to gain power, and Amanda should be focusing on them, but grief over the death of her husband in a car accident has caught her unaware. Amanda is finally finding her feet and coming back to the land of the living and getting ready to move on, when the cult starts targeting her, leaving messages for her when they kill making the local people want to run her out of town. At the same time, the spirit of a witch put to death for practicing her craft is trying to get Amanda to help her find peace, and Amanda is sure there is something wrong with her request. Even though they haven't always been close, Amanda turns to her sister, who in turn ends up being her biggest help in figuring out the mysteries. Witches is a well thought out and complex story of righting past wrongs done to innocent people and making things right, while at the same time putting the evil-doers away. Author Kathryn Meyer Griffith has woven past and present together into a wonderful story that makes you believe in the good guy again, the power of love, family and good friends.
Witches tells the story of two completely different women whose lives end up being pulled together. Amanda, who is a white witch and is good, using nature to do no harm but to help everyone that she possibly can. Rachel, who is a black witch, and uses magic for her own purposes and for what it can get her no matter who it harms. Then there is the witch hunter of the seventeenth century, who took way too much pleasure in putting women to death for being witches. The differences in the two women are so completely opposite, but to many, all they see is the name witch, that is until they have need of Amanda's services. Luckily she is able to change a number of peoples minds about what a witch really is and what it means to be a witch. She is also able to change history and make sure that innocent people are not killed out of spite. Author Kathryn Meyer Griffith has written a wonderfully complex and powerful book.
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Woven (The Mystic Valley Series, Volume 1)
by L.C. Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
As of last week, for all she knew, Dylan was your typical teenager with loving, normal parents about to finish her senior year of high school. This week, she is now all alone in the world, her parents killed in a tragic car accident. She is floundering, not sure how she is going to get through this but she has her best friend Carly and her mom's best friend Tessa to lean on. When she goes back to school she finds that the lady that has taken over at the school to replace her dad is actually nice and seems concerned about her, maybe she will be able to handle this, expect that her son Jensen seems to be taking an interest in her, which is strange because guys are never interested in Dylan. That is not the only change that is about to rock Dylan's world on the eve of her eighteenth birthday. Woven (The Mystic Valley Series) (Volume 1) is a young adult fiction paranormal story of shape shifters and coming of age, making choices, romance and life and family. Author LC Taylor has developed a well rounded story that focuses on the teens in this book, but has the options to focus on the adults more in other volumes.
Woven (The Mystic Valley Series) (Volume 1) is a series about an area of the country that is home to a group, or pack, actually two packs of wolf shape shifters, these shifters don't experience their first shift until they turn eighteen, a slightly different concept than most shifter novels. This first volume I would label young adult as it is focused on the teens, Dylan and Jensen, Kai and Carly and as they are all just eighteen this could also kinda fall into that coming of age category. It has aspects of family and friends, building a life from a group of people that mean something to you, blood or not. Taking care of your own. It is a really good book, but there is some consensual sexual relations between mated pairs in the book, so I would advise adult or older teen readers.
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Crimson Moon (The Dark Woods, Book One)
by Sherri A. Wingler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
She might be young and she might be on her own, but she wasn't unable to take care of herself; not that Grey knew that exactly but he could tell there was something different about her. She wasn't fully human that was for sure, and why he felt the need to take care of her and keep her with him, he couldn't really say, of course his wolf wanted her but she was way to young, not even eighteen yet. Harlow was used to not trusting anyone, but there was something about Grey that had her wanting to trust him and then, once she had him and his wolf in her mind, she was even more inclined to trust him, although things got even more confusing. Crimson Moon by author Sherri Wingler is not your typical shifter novel, in fact even though Grey is part wolf, there is never any shape shifting, its more like a split personality issue.
Crimson Moon is a complex and twisted story that involves Grey and his past in a way, but mostly Harlow and the secrets about her life and her birth. Even when she finds out the truth, things are not going to be happily ever after, there is always going to be trouble when a wolf is involved. Author Sherri Wingler takes a completely different approach to the wolf-man hybrid and instead of having him shift his shape into the wolf, it is just a personality takeover, nothing in the body, physically changes, but as Harlow learns more about Grey she can hear the difference in their voices, the way they walk and talk, the way they hold themselves. This is not something I have encountered in a novel before and it made for interesting reading, although there was a real love-hate relationship between Grey and his wolf that I questioned. Since this is labeled as Book One, I would hope that Grey's past and some of the demons that created that love-hate relationship might be explored at some point in the future because at this point, I am confused by it still. There is violence and some intimate moments, so I would definitely recommend this for adult readers.
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Nailgun Messiah (Micah Reed, Book 1)
by Jim Heskett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
For most of his life Micah Reed has been a screw up, drinking his way through life, but the trouble he finds himself in this night has nothing to do with him, really, unfortunately the big bad drug dealer isn't willing to believe him. Micah is able to escape and finds himself needing to get out of town for awhile, and although visiting his sister is forbidden, that's exactly what he does, which turns out to be a good thing. His little sister has gotten herself into, what she thinks is a religious group, but is really just a front for other illegal activities. Micah knows he has to get his sister out, but she is not really inclined to trust him based on his past record of screwing up. Nailgun Messiah is complex and multilayered story of all the people living in the house and the complex relationships and controls extorted over them. Author Jim Heskett has developed so many levels that you don't know who is really a friend or a foe until the very end.
Nailgun Messiah is titled as the first book in the Micah Reed series, so it would seem that the author Jim Heskett is planning to follow the main character through a few more books, which could be exciting. This book was full of adventure and intrigue, trying to figure how who was on what side, who you could trust and who you couldn't. Even after all that, I still found a few questions that I never got fully answered, which is the mark of a good book, it leaves you still wondering about certain small parts and then there is the possibility that they show up again later in another book. This was a really good book, although there were themes of violence and mind control, in case any readers have issues with that. Definitely worth the read.
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