From a Poison Pen by B.P. Smythe

August 26, 2016 By 1 Comment

PEN
From a Poison Pen by B.P. Smythe
Publisher: Bloodhound Books
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Historical
Length: Full Length (265 pages)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Stargazer

From the extraordinary mind of B.P.Smythe comes a collection of ten short stories.

What happens when a member of the Hitler youth ends up in a concentration camp?… How does a beach side cocktail get in the way the way of one woman’s scheming?… What leads a teenage girl to reign down fire and brimstone?… Can a killer find a victim’s diary that incriminates him?…

This collection of dark, humorous and macabre tales explores the disturbing side of human nature.

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From a Poison Pen is a book full of ten very different stories covering lives of very different individuals. The short stories cover everything from wartime to peacetime; severe insanity and unbalanced personality disorder to the unhappy marriage.

B.P. Smythe does an excellent job developing characters that resonate with the reader, yet are always just a touch outside of reality. While events might be plausible, the author finds an interesting way to place a humorous spin on the various situations. Utilizing dark humor and heaping amounts of irony, the author creates a fascinating dark world in which anything is possible.

One of my favorite stories was the very first, Constricted Love. The whole situation at one point was so far-fetched and then reined back in by the author that by the end of the story my head was spinning with the plausibility but still confused on what just happened.

The story, Girls of the BDM, was a story that dripped historical events and made the reader wonder throughout the whole story whether they were rooting for a character that was ultimately evil. Again, by the end of this story I was quite amazed at how the author had tied the loose ends up.

Some of the stories might be a little strong for some readers. The author descriptively explains the acts of torture and the homicide of some characters. Crime scenes descriptions as well as the thoughts and feelings that the characters’ experience right before death may be unsettling for some.

I found that the stories in the book, From a Poison Pen, were well researched, strongly written and a great experience! I am glad that I was able to experience the mind of B.P. Smythe first hand. I will definitely be looking for his other work in the future!

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Fueled By Lust: Sotarios by Celeste Prater

August 26, 2016 By 1 Comment

SORTARIOS
Fueled By Lust: Sotarios by Celeste Prater
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (331 pgs)
Other: M/F, Anal Play
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Verbena

With an ex from hell haunting his dreams, Sotarios Numida can’t catch a break. Thinking a trip to Earth to seek offspring of the Unfortunate One Hundred might clear his head—he thought wrong. Instead, destiny leads him right to the one woman that forces him to face his past and a secret he’s horrified to admit.

Raine Holter is tough, focused, and dealing with a secret of her own. The last thing she expected to find during her usual daily grind was her soulmate. Especially one that can’t seem to make his mind up on whether to grip her close or shove her away. Undaunted, this little spitfire plans to thaw Sotarios’s frozen heart even if hers has to take a few beatings before he sees the truth.

Book 8 in the Fueled By Lust Series yanks you right back into the lives of the sinfully sexy Insedi. One fast paced, jaw dropping, breath stealing, hell of a ride.

Damaged beyond all repair….
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If you were to ask the characters in Book 8 of Celeste Prater’s series, Fueled by Lust, how they would describe themselves, I would imagine the above would be Sotarios’ response of himself. His previous mate, Maratinia, had been crazy jealous, homicidal, and abusive. Though their relationship only lasted a few brief months, it felt like he’d endured an eternity of hell. Even beyond the grave, she continued to torture his mind, heart, and soul. Believing he’s damaged beyond all repair, the last thing Sotarios wants is to find another mate. Little does he know, Maratinia isn’t done torturing him just yet.

Raine, on the other hand, would probably describe herself as being up crap creek with a tiny paddle. While her circumstances weren’t due to an abusive ex, she’d unfortunately become the responsible party for her father’s poor choices. After a tragic accident claimed her parent’s lives, the weight of paying off her father’s debts fell on her shoulders. However, Raine wasn’t one to cry over spilled milk. She was resourceful and used skills her father had taught her to tackle this big load as gracefully as she could. While she also wasn’t particularly looking for a new beau, she wouldn’t deny wishing she could find someone and have the relationship her parents did. Despite his poor judgement on business matters, her father had been a good man.

When a chance meeting in the most unlikely places brings Sotarios and Raine together, Sotarios can’t deny the lure of her essence and the attraction of their energies. Telling himself he’s merely concerned for her well being, he elicits the help of one of his warrior brothers, Geleon, and proceeds to follow her after work. Just to make sure she’s okay, of course. After all, she’s an attractive woman who shouldn’t be out after dark on her own. Telling himself he’ll just make sure she makes it home safe and will then move on with his life, he suddenly finds himself getting far too involved when her trip home takes an unexpected detour.

Raine can scarcely catch her breath when Sotarios breezes through the doors to the shop, along with his equally eye-appealing sidekick. Knowing she’s in no position to start a relationship, she tells herself to enjoy the short few minutes of time with the big behemoth that she can, and then get back to reality. After all, what would a hunk like that see in someone like her? He probably had dozens of women throwing themselves at his feet. What she doesn’t expect is that his attention to detail and concern for her wellbeing would not only make her feel all warm and fuzzy, but would also spark a desire deep within to spend as much time with him as she could before he waltzed right back out of her life. She expected that would be the end result, once he learned about her other extracurricular activities.

As always, Ms. Prater has penned an enthralling book of love, desire, and determination, with no small measure of lust added in, for good measure. Oh yes, Ms. Prater does not disappoint in the lust department; there was plenty of that coming from not only the characters, but me as well. Who wouldn’t lust over one of her Insedi warriors? This golden Greek Adonis could surely melt the heart of any female. Yet, beneath that stunning exterior, you’d find the heart of a gentleman, the devotion of a saint, and a love to last forever. Yep, these guys are the perfect men, all rolled into a comely package.

Once I start one of Ms. Prater’s stories, I can hardly put it down. Her characters draw me in from page one and don’t let go until the end. Moreover, once the wonderful tale is over, I always find myself hoping for another. I did note a few editing errors, which really surprised me as I’m usually so engrossed I don’t see anything beyond the characters and the world unfolding around them. It was nothing to detract from the story, and if I weren’t so eager to keep reading, I may have made note to pass along to the author. As it was, they seemed trivial and unimportant in my quest to see what happened next.

Would I recommend this to anyone who loves otherworldly romance? Absolutely, without hesitance. Every one of the Fueled by Lust editions has been wonderful and I will likely read them all again. Several times, in fact. I just wonder; were I ever to meet one of Ms. Prater’s warriors, would he smell smoke or something a whole lot sweeter emanating from me? And if I’ve created a question in your mind on whatever I could possibly mean by that, well then you’ll just have to read Fueled by Lust: Sotarios for yourself to find out. *wink*

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

In Irina’s Cards by Christine Hart

August 25, 2016 By 22 Comments

MediaKit_BookCover_TheVariantConspiracy_Bk1_InIrinasCards
In Irina’s Cards by Christine Hart
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (209 PAGES)
Rating: 4 stars
Review by: Rose

Irina Proffer leaves mundane small-town life behind when she experiences visions inspired by a strange deck of tarot cards. To get answers, she travels from her northern British Columbia home to the province’s coastal capital. She quickly discovers a world of fringe genetic science and supernatural mystery.

But viagra in france it can revive any time in delivering the medicines to their customers. Relationship troubles The problem is cialis pills online http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/mouse-in-bread/ more likely to have due to psychological problems and can affect a relationship badly. Key ingredients in Kamdeepak capsules, which offer one of the best natural cute-n-tiny.com buy generic levitra ways to restore lost desire, are Semal Musli, Godaipurna, Keethdhna, Vishdhni, Picha, Swetmula, Mochras, Bheema, Snadika, Pichila, Tulini, Shimulair, Punarnwa, Raktpushpa, Khathen, Gauri Beej, Sanvari, and Gandhak Sudh. Additionally, cialis 5mg discount antioxidants presents in brinjal keep arteries strong and prevents heart attack. Working for Innoviro Industries, Irina is drawn in by a powerful first love and compelling, yet dangerous questions about the nature of the company’s business. Meeting other ‘variants’ brings Irina closer and closer to the dark truth about her origins. She finds herself at the heart of two overlapping love triangles as she scrambles to escape her employer’s grip. Before she leaves the city, Irina realizes she has merely scratched the surface of a frightening conspiracy on a global scale.

I thoroughly enjoyed In Irina’s Cards, the first book in the Variant Conspiracy series, in which we are introduced to Irina and find out, along with her, that her life may not be exactly as she thinks it is. She begins having strange visions after purchasing a deck of old Tarot cards and – out of character for her (she’s not exactly the adventuresome type)—packs up her backpack and sets off to discover the meaning of them.

The story is told from Irina’s POV so the reader can take the journey along with her and discover as well the mystery behind Innoviro. We bond with other variants on the journey and enjoy the feeling of being part of a larger group.

I really like the character of Irina—once she gets out and gets on her own (even if the way is paved for her by Innoviro) she really begins to come into her own. We get to see her grow up a bit.

The story is well-written (there was one minor issue at the beginning that took me out of the story a little where a key became a key card, but that was the only bobble I can remember). I was sucked into the story and stayed up way too late reading it because I had to know what happened next.

Because this is the first in the series, do not expect a clear cut ending—there is a bit of a cliffhanger that leads you into book two—which I will be starting this weekend! The third book in the series is being released soon and I want to make sure I’m caught up!

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Opening Gates by Nancy King

August 24, 2016 By Leave a Comment

GATES
Opening Gates by Nancy King
Publisher: Plainview Press Publishing
Genre: New Adult, Women’s Fiction, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (270 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Quince

Summer, 1956. With her parents away and her boyfriend abroad, Rennie is on her own. To make money for college, she takes a job as a recreational therapist in a large mental hospital in New York City, despite her reluctance to sign a loyalty oath in the charged times of McCarthyism. She has no relevant experience, but she’s good at sports. How hard can it be? Very hard, she discovers.

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Too stubborn to quit, Rennie finds meaningful ways to connect with her patients and creates previously unimagined opportunities for them. She also discovers a new, stronger part of herself. By summer’s end, no longer dependent on other’s opinions, she can listen to her heart and conscience and make crucial changes in her own life.

Opening Gates is story from which I got more than I bargained for. It is coming of age story that covers some pretty serious issues like gender equality, mental illness and life in USA in late 1950s.

The main character, and also the narrator, is 19 year-old Rennie Weinstein. Rennie is college student who decides to apply for a summer job in a mental hospital in New York as a recreational therapist, because it pays well. She thought that her job would be relatively easy one, but as soon as she enters the hospital she realizes that it a whole unknown world lies there, a world that has rules of its own which are almost impossible to change. But slowly, with hard determination, and a strong will, Rennie starts to change some rules. Also her different and human approach to patients starts to change the life of women in the mental hospital.

Opening Gates is not an easy read, not just because it deals with mental illness, but because there is so much injustice in this story. The treatment of women in the hospital is often very tenacious and inflexible. The patients are perceived as things or as trouble makers and people who want to help them or make their life a bit better are restricted by so many written and unwritten rules. There are few scenes that are harsh, but I believe that they also picture realistic treatments of the patients in the mental institution at that time. The author does not go into a private stories of the women in the hospital, because her focus is on the main character and the changes Rennie goes through during her summer work, but on the other hand she is describing the atmosphere, sights, and smells so well.

This is a story worth reading because it provides a genuine insight into a mental institution in 1950s. The message of the story: “the little things go a long way”, resonated to me for a long time after I finished the book.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Blackbird Summer by EM Shotwell

August 24, 2016 By Leave a Comment

SUMMER
Blackbird Summer by EM Shotwell
Publisher: City Owl Press
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (343 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Daisy

When people fear the unknown, being Gifted is a curse.

In the cornerstone of the rural south, Brooklyn, Mississippi, no one dares make eye contact with the strange Caibre family. Until the rewards are worth the cost. The townsfolk come, cash in hand, always at night, to pay for services only a Gifted can provide.

No matter the Gifts prevalent in her family, at twenty-one, Tallulah is expected to follow the path laid out for her: marriage, babies, and helping her mama teach the family home school program. She’s resigned to live the quiet life and stay out of trouble…until she meets Logan.
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An outsider and all around rebel, Logan doesn’t care about her family’s reputation. Yet after a tragic loss wreaks havoc on the crumbling relationship between the Caibres and the townsfolk, Tallulah must decide if love and freedom are worth risking everything.

New Adult and Young Adult genres mix in this late coming of age story. The protagonist, Tallulah, has a path laid out for her by her magical family, living in semi-secrecy in the rural south, but she, and the non-magical community, are set to buck the trend. This storyline would be typical for a young coming of age story, apart from the fact Tallulah is much older than most looking to fight against their family values and find love where she wants it.

Her romantic interest is likeable, attractive and not the obvious choice for the area she lives in. Being new to dating and in her early twenties, their relationship is unusual for this age group. She’s new to everything, curious and excited to get to know him better. Their kisses and care for each other felt genuine. However, the insistence on cutting away from the sex scenes often left me wondering if a sex scene took place, or not. It was a little too ambiguous in some scenes. Were they making out, interrupted by the next plot point before they could get any further in love making, or did they go the whole way? I still have little clue.

The main plot takes a group of these young magical people, including the protagonist, and pits their wits against a local danger, a person who has been attacking their magical community and inciting hatred in the non-magical nearby town. Their fight back is believable for a group of young adults, but I found myself asking questions: ‘why do they not talk to their parents’ and ‘what are the parents doing about all this?’ Very often it seemed the parents were happy to provoke the nearby town and ignore the issue of who was the perpetrator, upping the stakes and tension level without much logical reasoning. I felt to be more realistic, the parents needed to show a more active fight back, logically looking into who could have caused the attacks against them as well as hitting out at anyone that doesn’t like their community. In many places, it felt like the older generation were more than happy to accept their fate, or incite it.

That said, the mystery of the attacker was fairly well-kept. I guessed who they were about half way through the story and was proved correct, which is better than some murder mysteries. I felt a few more red herrings could have been used to truly disguise the attacker, but it wasn’t badly done, and I was gripped by the storyline until the very end, staying up late to finish the book.

I enjoyed the creative magical community which was created out in the sticks, and the new approach to magical ‘gifts’, with some I’d not heard of before. This rural community was well-built and had a real charm to it. I also found the climatic final scene within this community to be satisfying and enjoyable. There was more worry and pain than joy, but it was a realistic ending to the polarised feelings of those who could use magic and those who couldn’t.

In essence, this is a dark fantasy, coming of age tale. We see and hear of bombs, rape, murder, prejudice and violence against women. It’s all shown in context, but it’s the kind of dark human behaviour which we don’t usually see in a fantasy romance. It gives the story some extra punch, but it does mean I came away from the story feeling a little darker about the human race as a whole. If shades of grey are what you enjoy in your fiction, this book is for you. I, for one, look forward to a sequel, hopefully one with slightly less prejudice.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Jigsaw by Stella Barcelona

August 23, 2016 By 11 Comments

MediaKit_BookCover_Jigsaw
Jigsaw by Stella Barcelona
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (406 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Poppy

Foraging the cyber-world for puzzle pieces…

Zeus Hernandez, a Black Raven partner, is pulled away from a top-secret project to be the personal bodyguard to lawyer Samantha Fairfax. Terrorists have rendered the future frightening and uncertain, but Zeus and Samantha’s past makes two things crystal clear: she’ll be furious to see him and he can’t refuse the job.

Sorting pieces as stakes rise…

Danger surrounds the International Terrorism Tribunal, a court convened to combat terrorism. Samantha is thrust into the limelight when her mentor dies as the trial convenes in Paris, France. Her role requires steadfast focus and nerves of steel. She’s determined to do her job and move her life ahead, according to plan…without Zeus. He’s determined she’ll reconsider.

Completing the puzzle as their worlds collide…

As personal drama escalates behind closed doors, terrorists take aim at an Achilles’ heel that is capable of crippling Zeus, Samantha, and Black Raven. While forcing puzzle pieces to click into place, a personal reckoning looms for these two strong-willed people. There’s no denying they might be better off apart…but they fit together so well.

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Jigsaw is everything I expect in romantic suspense. It has the perfect balance of sexy romance and edge-of-your-seat suspense. I was engrossed from the very start.

Sam is a bright, ambitious woman. She has some familial advantages that open doors for her, but she earns the spots she gets. Her latest job, though, comes when the previous person dies … and they aren’t sure if it was a natural death or murder.

Enter Zeus. Hand-picked by Sam’s grandfather to guard her, he and Sam have a past. A very hot, very emotional past. It’s hard for him to agree to taking care of her, but he doesn’t think anyone else will do as good a job (despite how much he trusts the other Black Raven people).

The book starts out quickly, with a member of Sam’s inner circle dying and Zeus and his people hit the ground running. There’s a running theme about privacy being a thing of the past. Jigsaw refers (mostly) to a program they use to find things out about, well, anyone. It sorts through every bit of data available online and reminds the reader just how much is out there.

The romance between Sam and Zeus was the only reason this wasn’t a solid five star book. Zeus is ready to give their relationship another try, but Sam is stubborn and resistant. While I understand her desire to not be hurt again, it’s clear to the reader that Zeus is sincere and that she’s crazy about him. Their physical relationship starts up again pretty quickly, but she’s not willing to commit emotionally. It doesn’t help that she has a boyfriend she’s intending to marry down the road.

Also, near the end, Zeus’ brother shares something with her that felt a little intrusive. I get he wanted to help his brother, but it kind of felt as if the author wasn’t sure how else for Sam to find out about this, and instead of just finally trusting Zeus and opting to give their love another try, she suddenly had everything wrapped up in a little bow about the past.

That said, I really did love the author’s voice. She’s a master of the written word. Everything flows, there’s nothing that felt stilted or that pulled me out of the story. The ease of the writing made the book like a movie in my mind. Clean. Clear. Interesting. So well done.

Also, this is book two in a series, and I didn’t feel at all lost. Yes, I could tell I was missing out on some things that might have made my experience even richer (for instance, the book opens at a wedding and was likely between the characters from book one). But the author does a bang-up job filling a new reader in. It stands alone very nicely.

All-in-all one of the best books I’ve read lately. Recommended.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Taken by Amy McKinley

August 22, 2016 By 42 Comments

MediaKit_BookCover_Taken
Taken by Amy McKinley
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Paranormal
Length: Full (240 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

Forged through a childhood trauma and cursed by the Fates, Layla vows never to be at another’s mercy. With determination and training she evolves into a deadly weapon and quiets her inner demons—until the prophecy activates, shattering her peace. The gods who want her dead converge and the hunt to end her life truly begins. The skills that Layla honed for protection become an unconscious tool for death and destruction, threatening not only the gods but her family.

Entrenched in clan turmoil, Thaull’s life hangs at a precipice. He’s faced with a condition known only to his kind, the soul-divide. If not dealt with, his soul will rip in half and he will turn into an unstoppable, ice-cold killing machine. As he hunts the traitor within his Phantom Warrior clan he worsens. A fragile thread of hope remains. The love of a female, freely given, can save him. Through a premonition of an alluring demigoddess, he gambles his very existence in the chance she will be his salvation. ‬‬‬‬

She will go dark from her curse. He will go numb from his. To survive, Layla must risk trusting another or become another.‬‬‬

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An interesting paranormal romance with a Greek mythology background.

I’m not sure what I expected when I picked up Taken, but it was nothing like what I found on the pages. Though technically, this takes place on modern day earth, except for saying that’s where Layla lives and has her workshop, we may as well be in a fully fantasy setting. The world-building in this book is pretty complex, and honestly I had some moments of being a little confused. That may be partly due to the fact this is the second book in the series, and it really throws you right in to the action with not a lot of background to begin with. I haven’t read book one, and I do recommend that you do — it’s a good story! Why not start at the start?

The author has a wonderful ability with words, though. The book is complex and detailed and very well constructed and edited. That makes it a joy to read.

Layla was a interesting heroine. I didn’t much like her at first, though. She’s independent to a fault (sometimes a little stupidly), brash, arrogant … but with her bloodline and background, that’s not completely unexpected. Thaull has the patience of Job to deal with her. But deal with her, he does, and quite effectively. I really liked him a lot and could see why he managed to wear down Layla’s protests.

I’m not a big fan of the “fated mates” trope, which does exist here … sort of. Thankfully, the author deals with it in an interesting manner and Thaull is a little subtle about that. He’s not subtle about much else, however, and Layla doesn’t love his bossy manner. At least not at first. She does, however, love his hot self and they definitely indulge in some sexy times. That said, the sex scenes are pretty subtle and occasionally even take place off the page.

So much happens in this book. As is typical with Greek mythology, everyone is getting into the game. it’s a massive chess board and a dozen people are moving the pieces. Sometimes the action happens so abruptly, though, I got a tad bit disoriented. There are lots of characters, lots of settings and lots of subplots that take a bit to sort through. Honestly, though, that just ultimately makes for a better story.

Taken is unique. In a world jam-packed with paranormal romance, this one stands alone.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Marvelry’s Curiosity Shop by John Brhel and J. Sullivan

August 22, 2016 By Leave a Comment

SHOP
Marvelry’s Curiosity Shop by John Brhel and J. Sullivan
Publisher: Cemetery Gates Media
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery, Horror, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (156 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Retired stage magician Dr. Marvelry prefers to stock his antique store with strange and occult items. He has always enjoyed meeting odd people and hearing their stories, the legends attached to mysterious objects. A phonograph that seemingly replays a tragedy. Fertility dolls that are more than decoration. A bedeviled mannequin. These are just some of the relics this eccentric shopkeeper has collected over the years.

No two customers will have the same experience in his curiosity shop — some walk away satisfied, others are never heard from again. But one thing is certain – when you purchase an item at this store, you often get more than what you paid for.
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Follow Marvelry and his hexed objects through twelve tales of suspense, magic, terror, and transformation. Meet his new assistant, fellow illusionists, and some irregular characters along the way. Whatever macabre artifact of the human psyche you’re seeking – you’ll find something special in Marvelry’s Curiosity Shop.

Every antique has a story to tell if you know how to listen to it.

Brent and Kevin Buckley’s experiences in “The Victor Talking Machine” was a wonderful introduction to this collection. Their happy relationship contrasted sharply with the strange phonograph they’d just brought home. I enjoyed seeing how they reacted to all of the weird things going on around them. It made me curious to find out what would happen next, especially once both characters agreed that something needed to be done about their situation.

There were a few tales that would have benefited from having a little more attention paid to their endings. “The Letterbox” was one of them. Josh, the main character in it, accidentally found an antique letterbox that used to belong to his grandparents while browsing Marvelry’s shop. Since Josh had just purchased his grandparents’ old home, he was thrilled to begin outfitting the house with some of its former possessions. I was completely fascinated by what happened after the letterbox was installed in the same spot where it used to hang when the main character’s grandparents lived there. With that being said, I was a bit thrown off by how quickly the storyline ended. There was so much tension being built up that never had a chance to be fully resolved. If not for these missed moments in some scenes, I would have given this book a five star rating as it was otherwise a thrill to read.

In “The Painter’s Premonition,” an artist named Justin got more than he bargained for when he brought home an old easel. The foreshadowing was fantastic in this one. While I did have a pretty good guess about what the twist ending might be ahead of time, it was still a lot of fun to see the main character slowly move closer and closer to the conclusion. I also appreciated how much effort the author put into describing the paintings that Justin was making. Those details made me eager to know what he would paint next and if my guess about the meaning of his work was correct.

Marvelry’s Curiosity Shop was delightfully eerie. Give it a try if you’re in the mood for something spooky.

Filed Under: Horror, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

A Stranger’s House by Clare Chase

August 19, 2016 By 1 Comment

HOUSE
A Stranger’s House by Clare Chase
Publisher: Choc Lit
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (233 Pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Sorrel

What if you were powerless to protect the person you cared about most?

When Ruby finds out that her partner has done the unforgivable, she has no option but to move out of their home. With nowhere else to go, a job house-sitting in Cambridge seems like the perfect solution.

But it’s soon clear the absent owner hurts everyone he gets close to, and Ruby’s faced with the fallout. As violent repercussions unfold, her instinct is to investigate: it’s a matter of self-preservation. And besides, she’s curious…
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But Ruby’s new boss, Nate Bastable, has his eye on her and seems determined to put a stop to her sleuthing. Is he simply worried for the welfare of a member of staff, or is there something altogether more complicated – and potentially dangerous – at play?

Ruby is a writer, but when her long term relationship ends she takes a job house sitting with the help of her best friend. However, this job becomes life threatening when people start dying.

It took several pages for me to really get into the plot and grasp what was going on because it was a little confusing, but then it got good. Really good!

The owner of a house contacts a company that deals with the house sitting. The owner, whom Nate and Ruby never meet face to face, becomes a very important part of the story. Though they never meet the elusive man, they discover a lot about the kind of man he is and what it means for Ruby because she is house sitting. Ruby comes to work for Nate, who owns the house sitting company, through a mutual connection. What starts as a convenient working relationship evolves into so much more when Ruby begins to uncover the secrets of the house.

As a writer, Ruby is naturally curious and there’s plenty to discover on this assignment. First and foremost is the absentee owner who likes to play with women. And then there are the mysterious deaths.

The characters were for me what made this book special. Nate and Ruby had an instant attraction from the beginning. Though this book is more mystery than romance, I was able to watch their relationship develop and witness them learning to trust each other through the incidents and deaths that occur in the book. Through everything they learn a lot about each other.

The mystery and attraction turned romance is a perfect beach read. The mystery took some time to develop but that time was insightful towards knowing more about Nate and Ruby and their relationship. The climax was the highlight because all of the clues and bits and pieces that Ruby unraveled. It all came together for a realistic and satisfying conclusion.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Haunted Souls by Kathryn Knight

August 19, 2016 By 1 Comment

HAUNTED
Haunted Souls by Kathryn Knight
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (336 Pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Sorrel

Four years ago, Emily Shea and Staff Sergeant Brett Leeds agreed to part with no strings attached. Sparks flew during their brief affair, but fate intervened, sending Brett overseas. When an unexpected pregnancy derailed Emily’s own plans, her attempts to locate Brett were soon overwhelmed by the challenges of single motherhood. Now, Brett has returned home, and Emily is forced to share her secret.

Despite feeling betrayed, Brett is determined to forge a relationship with their son, Tyler. As the former lovers battle both their inner demons and their mutual desire, another presence enters their lives—Tyler’s imaginary friend. Soon, however, the chilling evidence points to a different conclusion: a ghost has formed a dangerous connection with their son. Emily’s attempts to help both a lost soul and a friend in need spiral toward a deadly confrontation, and Brett must race to save Emily before he loses her again—forever.

Haunted souls indeed.
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The book is about haunted souls, both the paranormal ghost variety and live souls/people with pasts that haunt them day and night.

The book is multi-layered with intricate plots, including a ghost and a secondary story dealing with the main characters and how their relationship will turn out. This is initially the main plot until Tyler’s friend makes their presence known. That ghost wasn’t going to be ignored for sure. In a neat twist, that doesn’t give the story away, the ghost is a catalyst to bringing Emily and Brett together.

Emily and Brett have a past. The chemistry, attraction and beginnings of love were there but the timing couldn’t have been worse. Without the paranormal element, this book would be counted among the “secret baby” tropes. When Brett learns that Emily hid his son from him, he’s understandably livid. Emily realizes that she can’t hide from him anymore and he deserves to know his son more.

The story starts from there and the author, held back some… meaning not all was revealed in the beginning and that was a good thing. It kept me on my toes wanting to know more and more and curious as to how and when the author would include the paranormal element. She didn’t disappoint.

The romance and the attraction was there regardless of Brett still being angry with her. The book is a great romance with a hint of mystery regarding the ghost.

With every chapter I read I got to know the characters more and saw their relationship develop as chemistry and passion collided. Perfect combo and an enjoyable read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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