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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So Shall I Reap (The Unseen Series, Book 1)
by Kathy-Lynn Cross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Balance is what the world is based on. In So Shall I Reap, we are introduced to the world of the Unseen, those on both sides as they work to keep the balance. Those on one side, the House of Dark, usually called grim reapers, take the souls as someone dies and return part of it to the River Styx to keep in flowing, the other part they give to the bridge crossers, part of the House of Light to be recopied again at a later time. It's all a cycle that bears no emotion, and happens time and time again each day. Until the day that a reaper named Tevin is sent to collect the soul of a six year old girl, Alexcia. The problem is that Alexcia is able to see him, this has never happened to him before, and after a fierce fight with Razor, the bridge crosser, Rae-Lynn, Alexcia's mother explains to Tevin that Alexcia is the Child of Balance and makes him promise to keep her safe. Author Kathy-Lynn Cross gives an amazingly complex story of a family, trying to protect their daughter, getting some things right and some things wrong. A grim reaper protecting the life of a child, which is against everything he is about, and the House of Light doing everything in its power to claim her.
Author Kathy-Lynn Cross has labeled So Shall I Reap as the first book in a series, which is good because this book ends on a huge cliff-hanger of an ending. You really only get to originally meet the characters when Alecxia was six and then we spend a couple weeks with them the month before her sixteenth birthday. As a reader, you get Alexcia's view of what is going on, and then you get Tevin's, and neither have all the answers. It seems that Rae-Lynn and Max have kept a number of secrets from them both, from Alexcia in efforts to protect her, and from Tevin, to allow him to discover it on his own and not to influence fate. There is no sex or real violence, but there is teenage drinking. It is a great read for all ages. Enjoy.
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Dusgadh Essence of Life Book One: The Awakening
by Margaret A. Daly
My rating: 4.3 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Dusgadh, such an odd word to title a story, but then when you subtitle it Essence of Life, maybe it makes more sense. Ember has never felt like she fit in. She loved her family, but they were taken from her in middle school and she was left with only her older sister. She has trouble making friends, and even worse, she sees ghosts. She is just fumbling along in life until one night, a party and a seance in the park brings up something more than Ember or anyone else was expecting. Author +Margaret A. Daly sets this fantasy, supernatural, paranormal story around a group of late teenagers. Throwing in past-lives and reincarnation along with some evil magic, power hungry kings and rebel forces bent on resistance. How it all comes together is the beginning of a series, and this story is the start, the Awakening, or the memories of the past returning to Ember, allowing her to continue on her mission.
Dùsgadh: Essence of Life, The Awakening is a wonderful first book in a series, in fact I really thought it was a complete book until the very end when I realized there was more to be told still. By using the concept of awakening, Ember recovers her memories of the past and her past lives in this book, and so her sister is there to explain things to her as well as her two guardians. Although author +Margaret A. Daly uses this book to set the background and introduce you to characters and the whole concept of the story, it still has plenty of action, adventure and death to keep you on the edge of your seat as you are reading. There are even some people that are barely mentioned in this book, that I have a sneaking feeling are going to show up in later books, only because I just can't see the author making the deal out of them in this book without them showing up again somewhere. This is a great read, and I am willing to say middle schoolers, teens, young adults and up would enjoy this story!
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The Birth of Death
by Joseph Macolino
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Forget all you know and read with me of a different world, created by the Druids and for them. Deep in nature, the Druids each created species to help them take care of their specific area. Time has passed and the Druids have all long gone and passed on, but the species each thrive and continue to take care of their own areas. The Birth of Death tells of a story that had been told of a great sin being committed but that nature had taken care of that sin, most people thought the story to just be a story and nothing more. As we learn the story is more, there are truths and that sin is more than just a sin, but death. How can the species defend themselves from this new threat? Is there a chance that they might be able to put aside their differences and work together, just this one time, for the good of Evorath? Author +Joseph P. Macolino has created another world to set his story of evil, the need for people to set aside differences and work together, and revolution.
The Birth of Death is a wonderful tale of a world that was created in all the splendor of nature to be the home of each of nine Druids. The Druids each then created a species of people to help them take care if that home. Each species was best suited to take care of the nature where they lived and had the specific powers of their Druid. Author +Joseph P. Macolino creates a fantasy story, that you can easily read and enjoy. If you take the time to really notice the story being told, you can see conflicts that minor our own in society. Granted we may not be facing death in the form of a person, but the world needs us to put aside different sides and work together towards a common goal. If you allow yourself to listen to the deeper meanings and think about it, this is a highly thought provoking book. There are a number of things that occur that should upset you. I recommend this book for most all readers, personally I feel that teens and young adults could handle it, but that would be a parental judgement call.
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The Fussy Librarian
Life Bank
by Magus Tor
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
**Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an HONEST review**
What if you were given a bank book, told your life was worth a little over $7 million dollars, and yet you didn't have to work for that money? Would you take it? What would it really cost you?
Daniel is a bit down on his luck after yet another bad job interview when he is approached by a man who offers him a bank book. It's his Life Bank. If he signs in blood, he can withdrawal money against the value of his life and when the balance hits zero he dies. Sounds interesting. Problem is, Daniel doesn't ask any questions, but then again if you are greedy enough to think about using a Life Book how much are you really going to question it.
What follows it the story of Daniel's life. The twists and turns, from what he thinks it could be, to what it really turns out to be. He calculates how long he thinks he will live on that $7 million, and yet doesn't take into consideration lifestyle, smoking, drinking, sex, etc when figuring his lifespan. So many other things come into play, life is not a simple math calculation, and yet he wants to live from a Life Book.
The story is well written, and as a reader you find yourself understanding the decisions that Daniel makes, agreeing with them at times, arguing with them at times, shaking your head at him at other times still. Everyone will be able to relate to different parts of Daniel and to relate to different parts of this book. It gives you pause to think, and reasses some of the things you hold in top spots in your life.
It is a quick read, but I recommend it for all readers. Thought provoking and discussion worthy!
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Moonshadows
by Claude Dancourt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Mira had her life all planned out until the night of a chance mugging turned it all upside down. The after effects of the so-called mugging left her a werecat, and one who did not want to be one, who ran out on her life, and was searching for a way to make it all go away. Erik was sure he had the perfect life until he returned home from a conference to find Mira gone, now after a year he has finally traced her down. He is determined to find some answers as to why she left. As Erik returns to her life, mira learns more about her werecat, finding out for the first time that she is only a cub, not a full-grown attack monster she thought she was. Knowing this her and Erik work together to uncover more information, the only problem a full grown werecat gone bad is hunting Mira. Moonshadows tells the werecat legend in the Native American tradition, and that is where Erik and Mira will need to look to find the information and help she needs. Claude Dancourt has written a story mixing a good vs evil theme, with the werecat and romance; a tricky balance to say the least.
Moonshadows is a bit of a different take on the werecat story, this time coming from the veiw of a person who was turned without their knowledge or constent and how they are fighting to find a way out of this. At the same time there is the story of the good and the evil, Mira never realizing that there could be a good to this, and the fight between them. Mixed in the middle of it all is the romance between Mira and Erik that was torn apart by the actions of one night that forever changed Mira's life and her belief that Erik could never accept it. Calude Dancourt does a good job of weaving this different threads into a cohesive story that makes since. If you are a fan of the paranormal genre this is another great book that will give you another look into the life.
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The Genealogist's Guests
by Ann Simpson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Liz is researching her family tree, she has even went so far as to hand paint a beautiful tree on her living room wall with all the ancestors, each on their own leaf, so far as she has found them. These is what she has immersed herself in since her husband died, well really since she killed him but nobody knows that. What Liz doesn't know is that her family tree has opened a portal to the other world and the ghosts of her ancestors are with her, some good and some not so good. The Genealogist's guests are coming, her first guests in four years. Her niece Abigail and her two children and Liz is so happy, but maybe now isn't the right time. Ann Simpson tells the story of generations upon generations repeating the mistakes of their ancestors and hiding it out of shame and fear. Only by revealing the truth will they ever truly be free from the ghosts of their past.
The Genealogist's Guest starts out like a ghost story with with ancestor's helping the current descendant, but very soon you realize there is something very dark about this story. Within the first few chapters there is a break in at Liz's house, and what we learn about the criminal will set the stage for the rest of the book. Margaret and George and the elderly next door neighbor couple, and Margaret is a medium so they are soon at Liz's house all the time helping out and protecting her. Ann Simpson uses the lightheard subject of genealogy to tackle a much deeper issue and to get across the point that fear and shame only makes the problem grown, it is only through telling the truth can the cycle be broken and you can be set free. I definitely recommend this for mature readers only.
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UNREAL
by Riley Moreno
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Just finished with college, best friends Julie and Kim decided to take one last fling before starting real life with jobs and futures. They have no real plans, they are just going to drive and enjoy their week with no rules before settling down. Seems so easy, so many kids have done the same thing over and over through the years, yet nothing is ever as it seems.
On their first stop for lunch, the girls take up with a pair of clean looking college guys, only to find their worst nightmares are waiting. Kim, so worldly and beautiful, surely she can be the strong one and get them out of this mess. Julie, the innocent and sheltered child, can she have the strenght to get out and get home?
Ethan has his own demons, and never thinks he will be involved in anything like what he got himself into. New client, and for some reason he felt the need to impress, now they are taking him into their secret world. A world he never knew existed but one he wants no part of. How to get out safe and keep the account is his main focus until he is left alone with Julie. Now she is his main focus.
You have two distinct storylines that start and later merge into one, which is wonderful storytelling on the part of Riley Moreno. Each person has their own scars already and then to deal with what is happening is ever tougher. Who will become the strong one? Who will be able to survive?
Although there is some sexual references in the novel, and given that the girls are kidnapped you would expect them. They are not overly graphic, in fact the author does a wonderful job of allowing you o understand what is going on but at the same time keeping the information and details to a minimum. Wonderfully skilled writer in the author to do such a good job with this terrible topic.
This is definitely an adult book, but the whole premise of the story will have you wanting to hug your daughters and remind them again just how dangerous it can be to go with someone you just met. I was truly moved by the story.
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The Irish Princess and the Pearls of Eetanam
by Jamie Scheid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
When Mathius takes over the kingdom from his father, who was not the sort of king you wanted to have, his only thoughts are how to make sure people know he is nothing like his father. His first challenge comes in the form of Vikings attacking villages, and once the Vikings are dispatched, King Mathius dies in his sleep. His widow and young daughter are left to change the kingdom, and he leave a heroic legacy. His death effects a fisherman, who is given a magic medallion, and he passes it on to the Queen. The time comes when the queen needs to find out if Cassidy, her daughter is ready to take the throne, and she tells her of the medallion and sets her on a mission. The future of the kingdom is borne on the mission and the leaders emerge. The Irish Princess and the Pearls of Eatanam follows Cassidy and her journey, along with the fate of the kingdom. Jamie Scheid writes a fairy tale of sorts with wisdom and character.
Cassidy is the perfect princess, caring more for people and her kingdom than herself. The Irish Princess and the Pearls of Eatanam follows Cassidy and teaches of her gentleness and kindness. A kingdom ruled by a widow Queen, but covered in the legacy of a heroic king gone before he had time to do anything. The daughter born to take over, and the children of the kingdom that will be her help and guidance forever. Jamie Scheid gives us a story part historical, part fairy tale, and part realistic. So much to learn from the characters and the way they respond to everything that life offers them.
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