MOTH by Sean T. Poindexter

Amazon

4 out of 5 stars

This novel was a pleasant surprise for me. I love anything having to do with vampires, be they about the evil dead types made famous with Dracula, or the romanticized types, such as the popular Anita Blake series by Laurell K Hamilton. This story is something a little different and falls somewhere in between the two.

Max Hollingsworth is a social worker who specializes with abused children. Not the most pleasant of subjects, but Sean Poindexter handles it well. We all know it happens, but not many authors are brave enough to approach the subject in a novel like this one. Those who’ve tried haven’t always come across as well as this author did. He was able to make me feel for the lost children without completely disgusting me, taking a risk I might toss the book. Being a mother, and grandmother, I couldn’t imagine my own being placed in the hands of a pedophile.

Max not only has to deal with human monsters, some of them the children’s own parents, he also has to deal with a gang of neo-nazi vampires running a child slavery ring. Somehow these vampires are able to make parents completely forget they even have a child. It can be difficult to prosecute if no one remembers the child even exists.

I loved the story and what Max was willing to put himself through to try to help these kids. The only reason I’m not giving it five stars is because of the side stories. They could be a little difficult to follow as far as time was concerned. It was necessary information for the most part, but I still found it hard to realign my thoughts at times.

 

Bottom line, if you like detective type stories with a little paranormal edge, then I can pretty much guarantee you’ll enjoy this one. I can’t wait for the next novel in this series to be released.

 

 

SORROW’S POINT by Danielle DeVore

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Not All Exorcists are Equal….One is Marked.
When defrocked ex-priest, Jimmy Holiday, agrees to help an old friend with his sick daughter, he doesn’t expect the horrors that await him. Blackmoor, his friend’s new residence, rests upon the outskirts of the town of Sorrow’s Point. The mansion’s history of magic, mayhem, and death makes it almost a living thing – a haunted mansion straight out of a Stephen King novel. Jimmy must decide if the young girl, Lucy, is only ill, or if the haunting of the house and her apparent possession are real.

After the house appears to affect him as well with colors of magic dancing before his eyes, rooms warded by a witch, and a ring of power in his voice, Jimmy is met by a transient who tells him he has “the Mark”. Whatever being “marked” means, Jimmy doesn’t care. All he wants to do is help Lucy. But, helping Lucy means performing an exorcism.

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Danielle DeVore

About author:

Named one of the Examiner’s 2014 Women in Horror: 93 Horror Authors you Need to Read Right Now, Danielle DeVor has been spinning the spider webs, or rather, the keyboard for more frights and oddities. She spent her early years fantasizing about vampires and watching “Salem’s Lot” way too many times. When not writing and reading about weird things, you will find her hanging out at the nearest coffee shop, enjoying a mocha frappuccino. Visit her at Website     Twitter       Imstagram       Blog

My Review: 

Five our of five stars

A priest falls in love with a real witch and ends up making a change of plans as far as career moves go with the Catholic Church. Jimmy Holiday had never turned his back on his vows of celibacy, but when a few busybodies at his church step into the picture and accuse him of it, he knew he might as well have. It costs him everything. To make matters worse, after he left the church, things didn’t work out well for Jimmy and Tabby and they split up a few years later. Nothing seems to ever work out quite like Jimmy envisions.

A few years later, in steps a childhood friend asking Jimmy if he still believes in God. What kind of question is that? A strange one … or maybe not so much. As it turns out, Will’s six-year-old daughter Lucy is possessed. Or so Will claims, and he wants Jimmy to perform an exorcism. Jimmy agrees to go with Will to Sorrow Point and meet the little girl, even though he suspects she might have a mental condition verses a possession problem.  There turns out to be a whole lot more going wrong in Sorrow’s Point and the Black house than one little girl’s possession problem, however Jimmy isn’t sure he’s up for the task being asked of him.

Have you ever walked into a house or room and been struck with that odd feeling that said, “You need to get the hell out of here!” (while the hair on the back of your neck stands up to wave at one another)? I have, so I began to squirm a bit when I started to read about the Black house, built in the town of Sorrow’s Point during the early 1950’s. (Chapters are mingled in with the present time about Lucy’s possession.) The house Will, his wife, and Lucy live in now. An evil man built the enormous mansion, a cannibalistic monster who got off on torturing his wife until someone very powerful stepped in and trapped him in a mirror.  We learn what happened during that terrible time in the past that might have led to the current possession of Lucy.

And this is where Tabby, the witch, steps into the picture. This is not your typical priest against demon exorcism scenario, so pull the blanket up to your chin and leave on the lights as you read. I know I did. I first read Sorrow’s Point a couple of years ago and I have to admit I wasn’t pleased with the main character of Jimmy Holiday in that first edition. For an ex priest, he seemed to fly off the handle about just about anything, and usually over what I considered minor details. I couldn’t make a connection with him and since he’s one of the main characters, I couldn’t make a real connection to the story. (Not that I feel one always needs to like everyone you read about, but….)

For those of you who might be reading reviews written about the first edition, I urge you to ignore the negative reaction some of those readers might have had against Jimmy. It appears the author listened to the complaints of her readers and rewrote Sorrow’s Point, giving a much deeper peek inside Jimmy than we had before. The same goes for Lucy’s parents. And I’m happy to say I can finally see what Tabby might have liked about Jimmy.

Even though I read the entire story once before, and I knew where the plot would ultimately take me, it felt like a whole new story here and I couldn’t put it down once I started. I’ve never been so happy that I put off writing my first review of Sorrow’s Point because this version is excellent. The tension starts right at the beginning of chapter one and never lets off to the end. And what does happen at the end just might surprise you. I know it did me.  I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.

 

 

 

 

 

JANUARY BLACK by Wendy S. Russo

January Black PicJanuary Black available for pre-order on Amazon 11/28/2014

Sixteen-year-old genius Matty Ducayn is the son of The Hill’s commandant. As such, he’s expected to conform to a strict, unspoken code of conduct. Small acts of defiance over years—such as walking on the grass—have earned him a reputation for being unruly. When sarcastic test answers finally get Matty expelled from school, King Hadrian offers him a diploma if he can answer a deceptively simple question, and then dismisses the only answer. To prove his worth to society, Matty wrestles with the king’s word games, the kingdom’s historical record, and laws that don’t make sense. He meets Iris Locke, a street smart gardener,  along the way. After enchanting him at a glance, Iris helps his research, keeps him out of trouble, and finally breaks his heart. Alone again, Matty finds himself on collision course with a deadly law, one he will have to break to answer the king’s   question. Was Hadrian challenging him, or teaching him a lesson? Without Iris, it won’t matter, because Matty won’t stand down for anyone else. January Black is the 2013 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal winner for YA-Coming of Age.

 

 

authorphotowendysrussoAbout the author:

Wendy S. Russo got her start writing in the sixth grade. That story involved a talisman with crystals that had to be found and assembled before bad things happened, and dialog that read like classroom roll call. Since then, she’s majored in journalism (for one semester), published poetry, taken a course on short novels, and watched most everything ever filmed by Quentin Tarantino. A Wyoming native transplanted in Baton Rouge, Wendy works for Louisiana State University as an IT analyst. She’s a wife, a mom, a Tiger, a Who Dat, and she falls asleep on her couch at 8:30 on weeknights.

 

da_by_princess_of_shadows-d7vswjlAbout the illustrator:

Liliana Sanches started studying Visual Arts at the age of 16 and soon felt attracted to the Romantic artwork from the 19th century. The Pre-Raphaelites and Friedrich were her biggest inspirations at the time, and she felt compelled to explore this graphic language of desolated landscapes that were the reflection of the painter’s emotions. After graduating college, specializing Graphic Design, she created her own business under the name of “Princess of Shadows.” Her style had now evolved and had technical knowledge to support it. Intricate concepts with a much better grasp of image composition and visual balance, and also used color and shape psychology to imprint her work on the viewer. Along the years she has been working with musicians, authors and even other designers who have allowed her to express her creativity, develop visual communication skills and explore different graphic styles to better suit each project. Nowadays, here personal work has been exploring the human psyche, imbuing it with a dark surreal feeling. Her biggest inspirations are J-Horror movies, dreams/nightmares and mental health pathologies.

http://princess-of-shadows.deviantart.com

 

 

WARRIOR KING LEGACY by Anthony Hogger

Product Details

Five out of five stars

Let me start off by first saying that my reading interests tend to fall more toward historical romance rather than fiction so I wasn’t entirely sure how I would react to a novel about war. I’m pleased to say this novel turned out to be much more than that, a real page turner from start to finish, one I pretty much read through in one sitting. Perhaps part of the reason is because Warrior King Legacy is much more than a play by play list of what is known from history about the Gaul king Vercingetorix.

This talented author was able to take what was known about the real Vercingetorix and use his imagination to weave a story this reader could not put down. Yes, there is a lot of blood, guts and violence involved. It was a savage era where only the strongest could survive. But there was also a softer side, the romance I craved, where Vercingetorix is shown with his wife, family and close friends. It shows the close bond developed when warriors must rely on each other on the battle field. All together it brought across a close connection I need with a character to become truly engaged with a story.

History tells us some of what happened when Vercingetorix worked to pull the tribes together in his quest to go up against Rome’s Julius Caesar, but it doesn’t give us a view into the pain, betrayal and heartache the king and his people faced on a daily basis. I cringed more than a few times while reading, the vivid description given easily setting off my own imagination. If you enjoy history, or just love a fast-paced war type, I think Warrior King Legacy will be right up your alley. I know I’m looking forward to reading more by Anthony Hogger.

APPARITION LAKE BY Doug and Daniel Lamoreux

Product Details

Five out of five stars

In the year 1878, Silverbear, a holy man for a Shoshone band of Indians, prepares for an ancient Bear Dance. They are tired of white settlers defiling their land and slaughtering animals. Poachers desecrate all that is holy with Mother Earth, killing animals for their hide and leaving the meat behind to rot. The Shoshone call on the Great Spirit Bear to stop these appalling acts.

Move forward to 1996 in Yellowstone National Park and Chief Ranger Glen Merrill is still plagued by poachers who kill bears for their gallbladder, a supposed aphrodisiac, and elk for their antlers, the bodies left behind to rot. But he must also deal with recent unexplained deaths of tourists and park rangers. Witnesses claim it was a massive grizzly that attacked, but when film is developed of the supposed kill, nothing can be seen.

This fascinating story combines old legends, curses and revenge, with the new. We learn of a holy man whose spirit is trapped on a land he loves, attacking those who refuse to show Mother Earth the respect she deserves. We learn about Native American legends and how they feel today about what’s been done to the land and people, the balance that needs to be restored if nature and man are ever to live in harmony. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys nature and learning about Native American heritage. The characters are well-drawn and interesting as the plot escalates toward an exciting end. Add a bit of the supernatural and you have a fast-paced novel that shows the consequences of man’s negligence and what one Park Ranger is willing to do to help bring back balance.

Born and raised in the rugged mountains of Oregon, I’ve always had a love and healthy respect for the land and animals. Though I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting Yellowstone, the description given in this novel of its power and majestic beauty makes me long to see it firsthand.

Wednesday’s Featured Author is H.M. Jones Author of Monochrome

aoifesheri's avatarAuthor Aoife Marie Sheridan


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Blurb:

A young mother battles postpartum depression, marital troubles and addiction. Her weary mind plagued with horrible thoughts not her own, she decides to end it all. Suddenly, her mind and heart begin to race, her vision blurs and goes black. She awakes in a strange, dull, monochromatic blue world.

Here, she comes face-to-face with the most beautiful and ugliest moments of her life, choosing those that she will lose forever, and those that are too precious to let go.

In a world where many choose a living death, and no one is above suspicion, will her handsome Guide help her fight her way back to the beautiful life she left behind, or will she succumb to her ugliest urges and let her sweetest memories disappear into the blue?

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About the Author:

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H.M. Jones lives in the beautiful PNW. She spends most of her time making sure her children are…

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Wednesday’s Featured Author is Kyra Halland Author of Sarya’s Song

aoifesheri's avatarAuthor Aoife Marie Sheridan


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Blurb:

In a world where music is magic, composers and singers weave powerful spells with melodies, harmonies, and voices. Sarya dyr-Rusac has risen from her destitute childhood to become a talented, respected Arranger of musical magic rituals. Then a wedding ritual she wrote goes horribly wrong.

While in self-imposed exile for her failure, amidst a growing number of disasters which the musical Service has been unable to control, Sarya hears music on the wind – music that no one else can hear, music that suggests that there are forces at work in the world unaffected by the practice of musical magic. In search of answers, she returns to the Service, where she has to face the mistakes she made in the past and her complicated relationship with the gloriously talented (and obnoxiously perfect – or is it perfectly obnoxious?) Adan Muari.

Then a nameless man begins to appear in her…

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NIGHT OF THE CHUPACABRA by Michael Hebler

Product Details

4 out of 5 stars

I have to say I really enjoyed this story.  It’s been a years since I’ve read a western (I’m a long time Louis L’Amour fan) and I couldn’t resist a new western with a twist of horror added to it. The beginning is a little rough and I struggled to figure out what was going on with the main character Drake and his family. It opens at night, the men sitting around the campfire with kids in the wagon, supposedly sleeping. They are attacked by the chupacabra. It is a life changer of the worst kind for our main character Drake. He is horribly burned during the attack and his daughter ends up missing.

Once Drake is healed enough to travel he begins the search for his missing daughter. I struggled some after the initial attack by the chupacabra to figure out what Drake was doing. There is a big gap of time missing that I think needed to be added back in. I actually came very close to putting the book down though I’m glad I struggled through because the rest of the story was awesome. Nonstop action and a couple of places that even managed to take this reader by surprise. The second I finished this first novel by Michael Hebler I immediately went out and bought the second. I can’t give a writer better praise than that. I’ll hope the second one has a smoother beginning, but other than that I’m hooked. I really wanted to give this story five stars but I had to drop it down because of the confusing first quarter. For those who may feel the same way I did, I encourage you to read through. It’ll be worth it.

WIN FREE SIGNED COPY OF SOUL OF A WARRIOR

“There’s never a dull moment in this novel, which features violence, treachery, interplanetary travel and steamy love scenes.”–KIRKUS REVIEWS

WIN A FREE SIGNED COPY OF SOUL OF A WARRIOR!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ERIN GARNEAU FROM ALBERTA CANADA AND CHRISTINE DEL CAMPO FROM SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA  I HOPE YOU BOTH ENJOY THE STORY.

Ends February 15, 2014

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Soul of a Warrior

An act of vengeance leaves three friends and their tabby cat abandoned on a hostile alien world.

Kimi Wicker learns the hard way what it means to have the rug jerked out from under her.  It takes on a whole new meaning when the rug being jerked is Earth and she’s no longer standing on it.

Soul of a Warrior is a science fiction romance that sends Kimi, her two closest friends and a beloved cat on an incredible journey to the planet of Lavina.  Kidnapped by a stranger, they must endure the agony of having their bodies stripped down to pure energy, attached to a beam of light and whisked across the cosmos. Abandoned on this beautiful but treacherous world with no weapons and little information, they face the daunting task of trying to find a way back home again.

“Denna Holm’s ‘Soul of a Warrior’ offers a rich adventure for both the veteran and the newbie to the genre. A choice catch of fantasy icons strut their freaky stuff within a fascinating sci-fi landscape….”  Full Review by D.T. at Goodreads

“Set between two worlds, this fast paced fantasy romance keeps the reader interested and eager for more….” Full Review by author Lynne North at Goodreads

“Came across this wonderful read which is not my usual. Really, really enjoyed it! For a first time author, I am very impressed by Ms. Holm’s characters. Some scenes can be pretty hot too. Something tells me Soul of a Warrior is the first of many more books to come. So, when’s the movie coming out.”  Full Review by Diane C. Block at Amazon

SAVOR by Kate Evangilista

SAVOR_300x4005 out of 5 stars

First off, if you haven’t already read it, you might want to pick up a copy of Taste by Kate Evangilista. It’s probably not mandatory, the storyline moving in a completely different direction, but with many of the same cast of characters you might find you enjoy it more. Though I don’t tend to be attracted to many YA stories, I found Taste a super-fast, enjoyable read. But whether you have or have not read Taste, Savor is NOT a young adult read. It’s sexy and fun and exactly what I go out searching for when trying to choose a new paranormal novel to purchase.

Photography might not appear to be the best career choice for someone whose depth perception is skewered by an old eye injury, but feisty Dakota Collins doesn’t see it that way. As talented as she is driven, she decides to pursue a career as a photographer, eye patch an all. Imagine the thrill when she lands a job with Vicious, a super popular band with members about her age.  And here enters the characters first introduced in Taste: Demitri, Phoenix, Dray and Luka. Dakota is amazed that Luka Visraya, the hottest bass player on the planet, would even give her the time of day, let alone invite her to spend a month at his house. On condition of a non-disclosure agreement, she will have total access to the entire band and the people who work with them. She needs ten shots for her portfolio and Yana, the band manager wants shots to use for promotion of the band. It doesn’t take Dakota long to learn there’s much more to this band than first appears, especially where the extremely hot Luka is concerned.

The paranormal side we found in Taste is much more subtle in Savor, maybe just a touch less than what I normally crave, but the romance side is fantastic, and then we get to that killer ending…. Well, I’m a true fan now! The characters are well-drawn three-dimensional people who I would love to be able to meet in real life. Evangilista not only satisfied, but left me wanting more, not something every writer can pull off in a new series. I’ll be one of the first to stand in line when the next story becomes available.

Kate Evangilista

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