Sker House
by C.M. Saunders
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
This last project is pretty important to everyone involved, Dale, Lucy and Mr. Machen. Dale's been doing pretty well in his classes so this finally article could be what lands him a good job, that is why he picked Sker House, that and to spend some time away with Lucy, but she's acting a little funny. Lucy has been slacking lately and she knows and her teachers know it, so her work on this project had better be brilliant or she risks failing this class, shes already been told. Business isn't booming at Sker House, in fact Dale and Lucy are the only guests and Machen is worried, he's sank all his savings into buying and working on this place. Come to find, the place in just a bit haunted, well more than a bit and with the help of Dale and Lucy, Old Rolly and the cook and barmaid they may just have a chance of saving the hotel. Author C.M.Saunders has done a wonderful job of making you feel like you can see the Welsh countryside where Sker House is, the cliffs and the sea, and the old house and the despair and need to make things right.
As you are reading through Sker House you are pulled into a story that feels like this collect of people are here are for a purpose, that things wouldn't work with any other collection of people, it had to be this certain set, these people were the special ones to fix the errors of the past and save Sker House. Author C.M. Saunders has woven a tell of magic, greed, misdeeds and the payment for those deeds. The spirits left behind, to help and the more evil demons left behind to prevent anyone from interfering until this group. This is a great books for readers of all ages, there is no sex, no violence, and if there is language is was in Welsh and I didn't realize it., so we're good.
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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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