Monday Mini Review – Angel Fall by Susan Ee @Susan_Ee

Posted on January 29, 2018 by fundinmental

Angelfall by Susan Ee is one heavenly story I won from Toi Thomas.

MY REVIEW

I am so glad I won this book because I loved it and I probably never would have found it on my own. The angels brought death, destruction and the apocalypse. Sixteen year old Penryn will team up with Raffe, an angel warrior caught up in angel politics. They will save each other again and again, as they struggle to find a way through the new world they live in. Forbidden love, complex characters and world building full of desperation and danger make me want to now who will be left standing. I was immediately drawn into this dark and desperate world of angel against angel, angel against human, human against angel and human against human, as Penryn and Raffe try to change what’s left of the world they live in.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

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Crimson Dahlia by Abigail Owen @AOwenBooks

Posted on January 24, 2018 by fundinmental

Crimson Dahlia is Book III of the Svatura Series by Abigail Owen.

Filled with magic and supernatural beings in a world fraught with danger.

The covers of the series are done by Debbie Taylor. Fabulous job, Debbie.

Goodreads / Amazon

MY REVIEW

The battle continues from Hyacinth into Crimson Dahlia, Book III of the Svatura Series by Abigail Owen. This is Lila and Ramsey’s story, and I am eager to hear it.

Lila is locked up, half dressed, being kept in a cold dark pit, yet her snark shines through her chattering teeth. Now that is some great writing, Abigail. Lila’s personality is big and bold and I love it.

How long can she survive? Why is she not able to use her magic to escape…or at least send a telepathic message for help.

Ramsey is a firestarter and he has a special connection to her. He will stop at nothing to find her. She just has to hang on until he can get there.

The characters are not immortal, but can live for thousands of years. The one hundred year old kids go to school, playing at normal. I wonder…do they ever get bored?

All hell breaks loose…people are going missing and cannot be found. They know who is at fault, they just don’t know why. And can they destroy him, before he destroys them?

If sheer stubbornness were a successful strategy, no one would ever mess with this family. Especially the women.

I loved the battles, filled with magics of every type you can imagine. I can hardly wait to see the conclusion.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Crimson Dahlia by Abigail Owen.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Book #3 of the Svatura Series

When Lila Jenner leaves her family and friends to start a new life for herself, Ramsey Pierce lets her go. Determined that the fire raging inside him will never harm her, he denies the magical bond that could be theirs alone.

When an old enemy resurfaces and Lila suddenly disappears, Ramsey realizes that he’ll do anything to win her back and keep her safe beside him. But Maddox, driven by a centuries-old quest for revenge, is stronger than they ever imagined. And Lila could be the key to his ultimate power.

Friends and enemies must band together against this shared threat if any of them are to survive. Even then, they may all discover too late that one dragon is not always enough…

ABOUT ABIGAIL OWEN

Award-winning paranormal and contemporary romance author, Abigail Owen was born in Greeley, Colorado, and raised in Austin, Texas. She now resides in Northern California with her husband and two adorable children who are the center of her universe.

Abigail grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. A fourth generation graduate of Texas A&M University, she attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.

MY REVIEWS FOR ABIGAIL OWEN

The Shadowcat Nation

The Svatura Series

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Monday Mini – The Gift by Tegon Maus @TegonMaus

Posted on January 22, 2018 by fundinmental

Goodreads / Amazon

MY REVIEW

I have seen Tegon Maus’ books around and heard such good things that I had to find out for myself. I was not disappointed.

The story is about Enon, a Jonda and mind reader, and Elisabeth, kidnapped royalty.

Enon would either be a hero or a dead man. The fighting is fierce, but he makes a good showing, even managing to hook up with a woman who has his number. Their verbal banter is more often funny than hurtful.

Would betrayal take the king’s life? Isn’t there always someone hiding in the shadows wanting the kingdom?

The world created is fraught with danger and enemies at every turn. Will the frightened little man become an unwilling hero? Well, all I can say is the journey is long and arduous, and not all will return.

Tegon Maus can sure spin a tale, drawing me in, making me crave more.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Gift by Tegon Maus.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Transformed by a primitive magic beyond a civilized man’s understanding, I was given a horrible gift that no man should possess… It held me, twisted me, turning me at its bidding. I was enslaved by its power, compelled to devour the souls of the dead until I became the monster of my fears. I have seen things I wish never to see again. I have done things of which I wish never to speak. Yet I must if I am to find the answers to fulfill my hope. I have walked upon blue ribbons of molten stone to peer into the depth of a man’s soul. I watched as a promise made at birth brought my friend Enon to sacrifice everything to become whole again – all in an effort to save the life of his child. I have cried without shame for the loss of all I hold dear and for fear that the future will hold more than I can bear. I am Tucker Littlefield. Know all that I say now is true-spoken.

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One Sentence Review – Angels & Demons – The Devil’s Daughter by Jill Cooper @jillybug

Posted on January 20, 2018 by fundinmental

I won a copy of The Devil’s Daughter by Jill Cooper from Toi Thomas, a love story filled with Angels & Demons.

Way to go Jill. I loved it.

Goodreads / Amazon

MY REVIEW

I won a copy of The Devil’s Daughter by Jill Cooper and I am so glad I did, because I would have missed this fabulous story filled with characters to die for, romance, demon, angels, and the great battle that was waged to save her soul and give her the freedom from Lucifer that she so desired.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The beauty of an Angel. The Heart of the Devil. A war is about to be waged for her soul. Can love prove to be the one saving grace that Lucifer cannot master?

Reckless. Impetuous and arrogant. Amara is Lucifer’s daughter in every way. In the high court of hell, no one has captured more angels than she has. But she has never felt anything for them. Not until him.

The high counsel of Heaven sent their mightiest warrior, Cathal, to kill Amara and snuff out the danger she presents. But her beauty causes him pause. He senses the tremble. A flicker of goodness buried deep inside of her.

If Cathal can kindle the spark and allow that goodness to grow, he can save her from herself and from inheriting the flame of hell.

As the gladiator games for her hand in marriage heat up, can Amara find the strength to come out of the dark and stand in the light?

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Alien Alligators are in the Aquifer by Gary A Barnes #GaryABarnes

Posted on January 19, 2018 by fundinmental

I love the cover for Aquifer by Gary A Barnes. That alone would have had me grabbing this, but add alien alligators…I love a good creature feature and we have one here.

Goodreads / Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA

MY REVIEW

I was looking for a Q for my reading challenge and this popped up. An alien alligator? Oh yeah.

In the Ozark Mountains, in the 1950s, in the hillbilly town of Ellington, Doc was enjoying the slow pace, after life in the busy city. Life is just what you would think, live off the land, uneducated people, no money, but they lived their life to the fullest.

Dr. Thomas Clayton came from there and was back as a herpetologist to do an ecological study. What are the ramifications of pollution on the frog population?

Amidst the croaks of the frogs and the song of the cicadas, a blinding flash, a sonic boom, and…we’re off.

Tina’s home life is comfy cozy, with all the characters sharing, eating, playing. I remember catching fireflies and putting them in a jar with holes punched in the top. Do you? It’s always fun to read a book that brings back pleasant memories. Makes the book seem real…sorta. If you believe in aliens and mutant creatures.

I love how two collegiate city slickers meet the Ozark hillbillies and learn they have more in common that they could have possibly believed.

I was freaking when tina and Larry were sitting n the rock at the lagoon.

The slow building suspense allowed me to get to know and love the characters. To get the feel of the terror that is coming, feel IT coming now…NOW? I do wonder how many of them will survive.

Of course, we gotta have one lizard lover. Don’t hurt ’em. Let’s coexist. Well, maybe they don’t want to. Maybe we are their breakfast, lunch and dinner. MMM…hungry.

I love these B type creature features.

Plenty of time was spent in world building and character development. It was great to watch them grow and change, as they spend more time together, learning from each other.

I knew the ending and loved it anyway. If you are looking for a great alien, creature feature, look no further. We have all the requirements here. All the gory, grisly deaths, mixed with loss, love and romance.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Dr. Thomas Clayton was born to an unwed teenage daughter of an Ozark share-cropper. He was adopted at birth without ever knowing the identity of his biological mother or of his backwoods roots. He now unwittingly arrives in the Ozark community of Eminence as part of an environmental research team studying the pollution affects of the logging industry. Clayton has nothing but contempt for the hillbillies of the area, while they in turn suspect that he is part of a Federal conspiracy to take over their land.

Shot down by the military, an alien spaceship crashes into the Ozark Mountains. The alien crew is killed, but the destruction of the spacecraft allows an aggressive alligator-sized amphibian to escape into the continental aquifer which extends from Canada to Mexico. The amphibians quickly multiply and begin devouring the livestock and ultimately the citizens of Eminence. A military unit from Ft. Leonard Wood attempts to eradicate the aliens only to be destroyed themselves by the aggressive creatures.

With the destruction of the military and the impending destruction of the citizenry, Clayton and the town folk join together to obliterate the creatures using only the resources available to a backwoods farming community. Failure would doom the entire nation as the amphibians could travel through the aquifer to wreck havoc throughout the country.

With the annihilation of humanity in the balance, Clayton discovers the key to destroying the aliens. But using it would require him to intentionally spread the pollution he has sworn to prevent. In an explosive pyrotechnic battle with the creatures, Clayton wrestles with the morality of blatantly destroying a new species or somehow capturing it for preservation before it destroys mankind. Does he prevent the spread of pollution or proliferate its spread to save the world? In the process, Clayton makes a stunning discovery that brings him full-circle to his Ozark roots and the family he never knew.

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Homicide Hunter Tells All in I Will Find You by Joe Kenda #JoeKenda

Posted on January 17, 2018 by fundinmental

I have been watching Joe Kenda on Homicide Hunter, a TV show that appears on ID. I binge watch him for hours and hours. I fell in love with the guy, so when I saw he just came out with a new novel, I HAD TO HAVE IT. I find him very hypnotic and I have only seen him laugh a few times. He is a bulldog and determined to get his man…just like the title states. I buy very few books any more, but I am very excited to read I Will Find You and had to have a copy of my very own.

My favorite Joe Kenda quote:

“I don’t understand people, but they interest me.” Joe Kenda

To some, my fascination with murder, murderers, homicide and serial killers may be morbid. Mr Wonderful humors my binge watching and reruns of many of the TV shows, such as ID TV, Forensic Files, Criminal Minds, CSI, NCIS, etc. To say I am fascinated is to put it mildly. I, too, will never understand the people that commit these crimes, but cannot help but want to know more about them.

Goodreads / Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA

MY REVIEW

I don’t buy many books any more, but I Will Find You by Joe Kenda is one of those that I just had to have on my bookshelf.

If you think dealing with the scum of the earth can lead you down a dark road, just ask Joe Kenda. He looks all cool, calm and collected, but beware, he is a badass.

I love the first chapter, where he doles out a little justice to a guy trying to kill a fellow police officer. What a way to start a career. His fellow officers called him a shit magnet and kept their distance. It seemed he was always getting attacked or shot at.

Back in the seventies, police officers were not as sophisticated and trained as they are now. We have come a long way, but I feel it takes a special kind of person to be able to put all the puzzle pieces together and find the killer. He has solved 93% of his 387 homicides.

I love when he talks about the right to lifers…will you take care of all the children who need someone to love and care for them? Where are you when they need a loving home instead of raising themselves and growing up on the street, with a gang as their family? Where are you when the mother doesn’t want them or is at the end of her rope?

I also think a lot of lives could be saved if getting DNA results didn’t take so long. Law enforcement needs more money and all the latest greatest equipment and technology to aid them in doing their job.

Some people complained about a couple of shows ID TV ran. Give me a break. This is real life…it’s murder and it’s messy, as Joe says. If you think the TV show is bad, his glimpses of murder in the book is so much more grotesque, horrifying and heartbreaking.

When do you know enough is enough? How many sleepless nights and hauntings from the dead are enough? Each individual must pick their moment when it is time to pass the torch to the next generation of police officers.

Joe Kenda’s personality shines through in this fabulous glimpse into his life as the Angel of Death. I think it is a very appropriate title for a man that is determined to take the despicable off the street and, sometimes, help them leave this world.

My. My. My. I give this non fiction book a solid four stars and the show…five stars. I look forward to Wednesday’s, when I can binge watch Joe Kenda, and God forbid anyone who gets in my way. LOL

You did a great job Joe!!!!

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Detective Lt. Joe Kenda, star of Homicide Hunter, shares his deepest, darkest, and never before revealed case files from his 19 years as a homicide detective. Are you horrified yet fascinated by abhorrent murders? Do you crave to know the gory details of these crimes, and do you seek comfort in the solving of the most gruesome? In I WILL FIND YOU, the star of Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda shares his deepest, darkest, and never-before-revealed case files from his two decades as a homicide detective and reminds us that crimes like these are very real and can happen even in our own backyards. Gruesome, macabre, and complex cases. Joe Kenda investigated 387 murder cases during his 23 years with the Colorado Springs Police Department and solved almost all of them. And he is ready to detail the cases that are too gruesome to air on television, cases that still haunt him, and the few cases where the killer got away. These cases are horrifyingly real, and the detail is so mesmerizing you won’t be able to look away. The tales in I WILL FIND YOU will shock you like the best horror stories-divulging insights into the actions, motivations, and proclivities of nature’s most dangerous species. Don’t mind the blood.

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It’s a Fishy Business – Secrets of a Dangerous Woman by P M Terrell @pmterrell

Posted on January 16, 2018 by fundinmental

Goodreads / Amazon

MY REVIEW

I am happy to be back with Vicki and Dylan in another exciting and dangerous adventure. I look forward to playing with the fishes and dodging bullets.

Due to Laurel’s death, the house and fish business…and the cover up…have become Vicki’s responsibility, but first, she needs to get through the wake.

The fish business is her cover. She’s really a remote viewer working for the CIA. Her job in this adventure, locate Brenda Carnegie, who is involved in an oil scam and some members of Congress are too. As she runs, they chase.

My question right now…where is Dylan? He broke Vicki’s heart. Will he return? Oh, come on, we all know he’s on his way back right now. LOL I am not going to tell you why he is absent, you will need to read the story to find out for yourself.

Since he’s been gone, she has asked her boss and pseudo father, Sam, to help her locate her lost siblings. I can see this coming together and I foresee many issues that will have to be explained.

It does make me wonder if we have a rogue element in the CIA and if there is more danger than I initially thought. I feel the clock is ticking and Vicki isn’t the only one running out of time. And romance…it is hot and heavy, but I have a feeling there will be a bump in the road that might turn into a crater she will fall into.

The plot is becoming more and more complicated, the pace is picking up as my need to know how this will end reaches an almost frantic level, gotta know, reading faster and faster, and I do so want a happy ever after ending…but how can that happen?

Lies, betrayal, corruption and greed. Action ratcheting up to a nail biting level as they fight for their lives. And then…

Assignment over…On to the next one.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Secrets of a Dangerous Woman by P M Terrell.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Dylan Maguire is back in his first assignment with the CIA: to interrogate recently captured Brenda Carnegie. When she escapes again, it’s obvious she had help from within the CIA’s own ranks. With Vicki Boyd’s help, she’s back in his custody and now he’s on a mission to find out why some in the highest levels of government want her killed while others will risk everything to help her. And when he finds out her true identity, his mission has just become very personal.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

p.m.terrell is the pen name for Patricia McClelland Terrell, the award-winning, internationally acclaimed author of more than 21 books in four genres: contemporary suspense, historical adventure/suspense, computer how-to and non-fiction.

Prior to writing full-time, she founded two computer companies in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. Among her clients were the Central Intelligence Agency, United States Secret Service, U.S. Information Agency, and Department of Defense. Her specialties were in white collar computer crimes and computer intelligence, themes that have carried forward to her contemporary suspense.

She has been a full-time author since 2002. Vicki’s Key was a top five finalist in the 2012 International Book Awards and 2012 USA Book Awards nominee, and The Pendulum Files was a national finalist for the Best Cover of the Year in 2014. The Tempest Murders was one of four finalists in the 2013 International Book Awards, cross-genre category.

Her historical suspense, River Passage, was a 2010 Best Fiction and Drama Winner. It was determined to be so historically accurate that a copy of the book resides at the Nashville Government Metropolitan Archives in Nashville, Tennessee.

She is also the co-founder of The Book ‘Em Foundation, an organization committed to raising public awareness of the correlation between high crime rates and high illiteracy rates. She is the organizer and chairperson of Book ‘Em North Carolina, an annual event held in Lumberton, North Carolina, to raise funds to increase literacy and reduce crime. For more information on this event and the literacy campaigns funded by it, visit www.bookemnc.org. She is also the founder of The Novel Business, mentoring authors in the business end and selling of books.

She sits on the board of the Friends of the Robeson County Public Library. She has also served on the boards of Robeson County Arts Council, Crime Stoppers and Crime Solvers and became the first female president of the Chesterfield County-Colonial Heights Crime Solvers in Virginia.

MY REVIEWS FOR P M TERRELL

The following books are lined up in order, first to last. I will be reviewing them all.

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Myths and Magic: An Epic Fantasy and Speculative Fiction Boxed Set @_TerriBruce

Posted on January 12, 2018 by fundinmental

Myths and Magic has16 Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels by 16 New York Times, USA Today, and Award-winning and Break Out Authors!

With there being 16 stories by 16 authors, it will take me some time to work my way through them all, so I wanted to give you a taste of what is in store for you.

Goodreads / Amazon

MY REVIEW FOR IRENE BY TERRI BRUCE

Irene and the Witch – Afterlife Book 3.5

Irene is dead, stuck in Purgatory, trying to return to Earth as a guardian angel.

Her traveling companion, Andras, is a 12th century Spanish knight, dead since 1911. Most of the time he is invisible. It takes tremendous effort for him to appear in ghostly form. Makes me think of when Bobby was a ghost in the Supernatural TV show.

They have a psychic link.

Are there things worse than death? You betcha.

Ya want to know what it’s like being in a crystal ball? Ask Irene. Even dead, her impatient recklessness has her in trouble.

Can a ghost burn, feel pain, be tortured, die again?

Irene worked through her fear, knowing they would all die if she didn’t persevere, push through, overcome.

I have been loving this series ever since I read Hereafter. I knew it would be a different kind of ghost story and Terri Bruce’s imagination and creativity have taken me into a world both wondrous and frightening, and I am so happy I am only here as a visitor.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Irene, which is included in the Myths and Magic: An Epic Fantasy and Speculative Fiction Boxed Set. I will be reviewing more of the books, so keep in touch and we’ll talk more.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

16 Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels by 16 New York Times, USA Today, and Award-winning and Break Out Authors!

There is adventure out there … if you’re brave enough to risk it.

Explore worlds of darkness, danger, and magic in sixteen exclusive fantasy and science fiction novels, available for a limited time. There are tough choices to be made and dastardly villains to outwit in this breath-taking collection that will have you at the edge of your seat.

Plucky heroes and devastating anti-heroes face off against demons, spirits, shifters, witches, and more in this limited-edition arrangement that features a satisfying combination of epic fantasy, science fiction, romance, urban fantasy, sword and sorcery, and more!

This killer deal won’t last forever, so grab your copy today!

ABOUT TERRI BRUCE

Terri Bruce has been making up adventure stories for as long as she can remember and won her first writing award when she was twelve. Like Anne Shirley, she prefers to make people cry rather than laugh, but is happy if she can do either. She produces fantasy and adventure stories from a haunted house in New England where she lives with her husband and three cats. Her second novel, Thereafter (Afterlife #2), will be released May 1, 2014.

Website/Blog / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

MY REVIEWS FOR TERRI BRUCE

Hereafter

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I Am Happily Surprised with Daughters of the Bride by Susan Mallery @susanmallery

Posted on January 10, 2018 by fundinmental

Daughters of the Bride by Susan Mallery is one of those books that makes me glad I cross all genres when reading. I never know where that hidden gem will come from.

And this was definitely a gem.

Goodreads / Amazon

MY REVIEW

I am always amazed when I love a “romance” so much, but great writing is great writing, no matter the subject or the genre.

Three sisters, each with their own distinct personality, each harboring their own secret.

The writing is fabulous and their world was so easy to visualize. I loved so much of the verbal banter between Courtney and Quinn. I laughed out loud when Rachel was ‘cramping’ in the kitchen. Come on Sienna. Listen to your instincts. They are speaking loud and clear.

Even with a predictable story, Susan Mallery can weave a story with some heat and bite, that had me laughing, smiling, oohing and aahing.

She wasn’t sure what was more eye catching – the convertible with the top down, the handsome man driving it, or the blonde poodle sitting next to him in the passenger seat.

Basically, he was catnip and she just wanted to purr and rub all over him.

I had seen Daughter of the Bridge by Susan Mallery on another blog and mentioned that I don’t think I had read any of her work before. Then, surprise, surprise, I get the beautiful signed hardcover with a gorgeous bookmark arriving at my door. No review asked for, but I try to review all the physical books I receive, so no request necessary.

At the end of the book are discussion questions, perfect for your book club, and some “sweet” recipes in honor of the Drunken Red Nosed Honeybee.

This is one of those books I feel could be on everyone’s reading list

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

With Joy, Love and a Little Trepidation, Courtney, Sienna and Rachel Invite You to the Most Emotional Wedding of the Year… Their Mother’s

Courtney

~ The Misfit ~

As the awkward one, Courtney Watson may not be as together as her sisters, but she excels at one thing—keeping secrets, including her white-hot affair with a sexy music producer. Planning Mom’s wedding exposes her startling hidden life, changing her family’s view of her—and how she views herself—forever.

Sienna

~ The Free Spirit ~

When Sienna’s boyfriend proposes—in front of her mom and sisters, for crying out loud—he takes her by surprise. She already has two broken engagements under her belt. Should she say “I do” even if she’s not sure she does?

Rachel

~ The Cynic ~

Rachel thought love would last forever…right up until her divorce. As Mom’s wedding day draws near and her ex begs for a second chance, she’s forced to acknowledge some uncomfortable truths about why her marriage failed, and decide if she’ll let pride stand in the way of her own happily-ever-after.

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sus

Magical Realism – Blood and Ashes by Marilyn Peake @marilynpeake

Posted on January 9, 2018 by fundinmental

Marilyn Peake’s latest release, Blood and Ashes, is a fabulous paranormal/supernatural, fantasy novel with a touch of realism, except for the magical part…

I love the colorful color and the red makes it pop off the pages. Very pretty and spills some of the secrets inside.

Cover by Phatpuppy.com

Goodreads / Amazon

MY REVIEW

Miracles and magic are happening from the opening pages, and Kaelin’s acting like it’s an every day occurrence in these desperate times.

The financial situation the characters find themselves in, makes me think of current events, with businesses closing, people being deported, people losing everything, and those with hope struggling to survive.

When Kaelin found the baby, I really woke up, became hooked and knew I would have trouble putting the book down, even long enough for a bathroom break.

Her mother has a heart so big, so open and giving, I wish more for her. No one deserves a break more than she does. Some characters…and people…amaze me with their ability to give, and the depths of love that is freely given.

First an abandoned baby, then a kitty with itty bitty legs, Kaelin takes them home and makes them her own.

And Devin, the new guy across the hall. What’s up with him? Why doesn’t she question his sudden appearances? Almost as if he knows something. I know he’s going to be special.

Kaelin has friends, people looking out for her and her family, like Mrs Santiago, who owns the grocery store and Gwendolyn Griffin, a healer who offers to work with her to develop her healing abilities. If you ever want candy, be sure and visit Mrs Santiago’s store.

Kaelin is very resourceful, and even though she dumpster dives for additional food for the family, you would never know it by her attitude. She knows where to find apples and blueberries, ripe for the picking. She has a green thumb, and her touch can be like Miracle Gro.

She does everything she can to make it to college, wanting a better life for them all. But, even though she is accepted, due to cutbacks of the governmental kind, there is no money available to help her. She chooses an alternative, Gwendolyn Griffin’s traditional healing of the witchy kind.

I can see the kids with bags of Halloween costumes, as they are tossed willy nilly, while they each choose the perfect costume. Kaelin goes to the thrift store and creates a mish mash costume that makes her beauty bloom.

The book is divided into three parts.

Part I is Kaelin’s story that takes place in the human world.

Part II is Liliana’s Story that takes place in the fairie world. Liliana is a fairy that crosses into the human world. A romance goes wrong. But the world is not what it appears to be.

Part III brings them all together, exposing secrets and Kaelin’s true calling.

Human, Seelie, Unseelie, good fairies, bad fairies…Magic, danger, romance, love and loss.

Blood and Ashes is written for the young at heart, with easy reading and a quick pace. I love the imaginative world and characters Marilyn Peake has created. Such a great story. I found myself smiling at the simplest things. Her ability to spin a tale keeps her high on my reading list…no matter what genre she writes in.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

With blood and magic, civilization rises from the ash.

Worlds are falling apart in two realms: human and faerie. After the factories close and her father dies of alcoholism, Kaelin helps her family survive by foraging for food. Her world is thrown into chaos as she comes to realize she has incredible power as both blood and hedge witch. When a handsome stranger enters her life, it’s clear that he’s not from her neck of the woods. Although he and his family appear perfect in so many ways, they desperately need her help.

Blood and Ashes is a Paranormal Romance novel with some adult content.

ABOUT MARILYN PEAKE

From Goodreads:

Marilyn Peake is the author of both novels and short stories. Her publications have received excellent reviews. Marilyn’s one of the contributing authors in BOOK: THE SEQUEL, published by The Perseus Books Group, with one of her entries included in serialization at THE DAILY BEAST. In addition, Marilyn has served as Editor of a number of anthologies. Her short stories have been published in seven anthologies and on the literary blog, GLASS CASES.

Awards: Silver Award, two Honorable Mentions and eight Finalist placements in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards, two Winner and two Finalist placements in the EPPIE Awards, Winner of the Dream Realm Awards, and eight Top Ten Finisher Awards in the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll.

Stalk Marilyn Peake: Website / Twitter / Facebook

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