I wanted to love Secrets That Gnaw At The Flesh by C J Weiss. The fantastic title drew me in and I love the eerie cover, but…
The story drew me in, a haunted house novel with a twist. We do have ghosts AND demons and that is different from the norm. We have plenty of characters, human, demon and ghostly. At times I found myself confused, trying to figure out who was who.
I was curious why Garrett would have to put his life on hold for a few months every so many years, if he chose to be a part of her life permanently. He’s going to Harvard and I don’t know how that would work. Would he give up his career?
Wheeling and dealing with a demon caught my attention. Would the demon hold up his end of the bargain, or was he luring them in, only to betray them?
Secrets That Gnaw At The Flesh by C J Weiss did have its Oh No moments, but, at times the pace was too slow to keep my attention and I found my mind wandering. It did pick up once the Breach approaches.
Of course, by the title, secrets will be exposed and I always enjoy that. 🙂 Possession. Ghosts. Demons. Lured me in and I couldn’t stop until I knew the end, but it didn’t work for me and I find it hard to recommend. But, don’t let that stop you from checking it out for yourself. Just because it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.
2 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A haunted house novel with a twist. The main characters are supernatural experts who know the ghosts going in, but more powerful forces than ghosts prowl the haunted house, and they’ve been biding their time.
Garrett Mueller proposes to his girlfriend, Marie Renault. She rejects him, distressing him until he learns why. Her family watches over a haunted house, where every several years a Breach opens to the world of the dead. Everyone related by blood or oath must return, or the Breach widens, endangering the family and world at large.
To marry Marie, he must also bind himself to that house.
The Renaults estimate a week until the Breach opens, offering Garrett a short trial period. Despite the risks, he will try it for the woman he loves. The Renaults are professionals when it comes to the supernatural, and they’ve always prevailed.
Only, as the week progresses, the family discovers this Breach is shaping up to be one of historically dangerous proportions. Risks mount higher as secrets leak out, threatening to divide the family. And even if Garrett changes his mind, it might be too late to leave.
Secrets Gnaw at the Flesh differs from other haunted house novels in three key ways:
1. The characters are supernatural experts who are equipped to “fight” the ghosts, but the house has its own tricks. 2. Strong personalities and backstories add a dimension interpersonal drama that will leave the reader unclear on who to trust. 3. Worldbuilding is closer to something you’d find in fantasy or sci-fi.
This novel is the second in the Virulent Nightmare Origins series and can be read as a standalone or as part of the series in any order.
Virulent Nightmare Origins A Broken Clock Never Boils (2022) Secrets Gnaw at the Flesh (2023) TBD (2025) TBD (2026)
C.J. Weiss loves hiking, board/video games, traveling, and obviously reading (particularly speculative fiction and some history). Walking around the neighborhood with a podcast or audiobook playing is a daily occurrence. He enjoys exploring new ventures and the unknown, leading to a healthy respect for storytellers able to craft believable worlds.
That respect led to his diving into writing and publishing his debut novel, A Broken Clock Never Boils, in 2022. Feeling excited over where this journey might lead is an understatement. He’s thrilled to interact with his supporting readers along the way.
Finally, he’s as big a fan of peanut butter as it gets. Only the natural stuff – oil separation is normal!
I have been following Andrea Pearson for some time now. I love her sense of humor, which comes out in her writing style. Her books deal with danger in a light hearted manner. That is not to say that her characters don’t take the danger seriously, because they do.
Here’s an example:
She whacked me once as if chastising me for not obeying sooner, then scrambled off as I stretched.
Lizzie is talking about her cat and I couldn’t help but smile, letting a picture run through my head.
Lizzie is an Arete, a fourth born child with special powers, a Fire Impeder. She is able to micro manage fire, right down to individual molecules, preventing the sparks from igniting
Humans are aware of supernaturals, because they have been here before.
“…demons from other planets have come out of sheer curiosity. I’m worried they’ll like it enough to stay.”
They are back, because a Prophecy given many years ago said she would be born and would be a danger to all the demons. From the hellhounds to the fire vampires. I mean, aren’t regular vampires bad enough? Now, Andrea Pearson has to crank them up. 🙂
She must go the Alaska to learn of The Prophecy, found in the Akashic records. The Shade Amulet will help protect her.
Wowzers – he smelled good.
There is a triangle, of sorts, between Abel, Cole and Lizzie. When she lets Cole know there is another man she has feelings for:
“Good. Don’t underestimate the need a man has to conquer.”
I feel this is very much for teen and young adults and was a spin off of another series, though the description does not say that. The characters keep referring back to previous events and I feel like I’m missing out on something. That won’t stop me from continuing on to the next story in the Koven Chronicles, The Black Masquerade.
In a note from the author she states that every time someone leaves a review, Lizzie punches a hound in the face. See these hellhounds are a series problem, I’m all for that.
3 stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Who’s more dangerous—the brooding, attractive man she’s partnered with or the things they’re hunting?
Lizzie Ashton thought being a professional Fire Impeder was dangerous, but using her magic to stop bombs, guns, and fires before they start is nothing compared to what happens when Abel, an intense man she’s worked with previously, storms back into her life.
Abel needs assistance with a dangerous task that only Lizzie can do. She hesitates to accept his job offer, as what little she knows of his dark past unnerves her, despite their moments of attraction. But when the local police department calls her in on a disturbing murder investigation, Lizzie must put aside her misgivings and partner up with Abel.
Luckily, she has the Shade Amulet to help her. But as more people are murdered—and closer to Lizzie’s home—the case quickly becomes personal. Is this job worth her life?
If you enjoy edge-of-your-seat fantasy action, slightly snarky humor, and a hint of romance, you’ll love the first book in the pulse-pounding Koven Chronicles. The Shade Amulet will thrill you to the core. It will keep you up late into the night, devouring its pages. Grab it now.
We pick up where we left off in The Shadow Amulet.
I am tired just reading about all Lizzie’s activities. How she finds time to juggle several men on to of all her work calls and searches for answers to her personal dilemmas, amazes me.
We have hellhounds and fire vampires and Lizzie puts pressure on herself to save the whole town. Of course, she has some helpers, Abel, Alex and Cole, but Justin? I feel he is too perfect. Am I jaded from reading books about so much betrayal, or are my spidey sense spot on? We shall see.
I was suspicious about the ball. That night was magically deadly and the action was frantic. I have been waiting for the excitement and Andrea Pearson delivered at the end of The Black Masquerade. It was better than the first book, but I still wavered between a 3 and a 4. I am looking forward to reading more of the series and loved the action at the end, so 4 it is.
Andrea state that Lizzie will punch The Shade Amulet for not working properly for every review written. So, here is my review.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
There’s nothing like a ghost visiting you while you’re waiting in line at the grocery store. Unfortunately for Lizzie, that isn’t the only supernatural visit she’ll receive… When an angry ghost named Angelo threatens Lizzie and sets her house on fire, she knows the time has come for her to step fully into her role as destroyer of evil supernatural creatures. But things turn out to be much trickier than the amulet doesn’t function as she thought it would and fire vampires with unknown motives have set up camp in a nearby canyon. Not only that, but the effigy that is distracting hounds from devouring her is still on the loose, and its shade owners want it back. They hand her an return the effigy, or they’ll command it to destroy her. And yes, it’s something they can do. Will Lizzie keep the ghosts happy while performing her sanctioned duties or will the hounds catch up to her before she’s safe? Find out now by downloading this edge-of-your-seat urban fantasy by bestselling author Andrea Pearson now!
Andrea Pearson is an avid reader and outdoor enthusiast who plays several instruments, not including the banjo, and loves putting together musical arrangements. Her favorite sports are basketball and football, though several knee surgeries and incurably awful coordination prevent her from playing them. Andrea Pearson graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor of science degree in Communications Disorders. She acted as the executive director for Indie Author Hub for a year and a half and frequently gets invited to teach marketing and promoting at writers conferences. Andrea is the author of many full-length novels (the Kilenya Chronicles, Mosaic Chronicles, and Koven Chronicles), and several novellas. Writing is the chocolate of her life – it is, in fact, the only thing she ever craves. Being with her husband and kids, family, and close friends is where she’s happiest, and she loves thunderstorms, the ocean, hiking, public speaking, painting, and traveling.
Receive several free books when you join Andrea’s Readers Group. For more information, click here.
Andrea also writes nonfiction books for authors. To learn more about those, and her marketing courses, please visit selfpublishstrong.com
Angels, demons, ghosts,the walking dead…I am so all over the Veil of Shadows series. So many elements that I love. Combine some Walking Dead, some Lucifer, some Supernatural, some Charmed and I am in Heaven…Hell…and everywhere between. I didn’t realize I had Sparrow Man sitting on my ereader until I went to write a review for the first book of the Veil of Shadows Omnibus by M R Pritchard. It has been patiently waiting to be read since 4.7.16 and after reading it, I was sorry I had waited so long. The good thing about waiting, is now I have the entire series. No waiting to find out the final solution and you will need the entire series to get it.
Sparrow Man
“I was alone. Waiting for my fiance to get home -” “His name is Jim?”
Meg sets out to find him…alone. Every step is dangerous and she is ill equipped to handle it on her own. It’s a good thing she comes across Sparrow. Is it be chance or fate? She thinks he’s crazy. Obsessive about collecting feathers. About Jim, I didn’t see that coming at all. About Meg, I knew something was up with her. After all, she is the star of the show, so she has to special in some way. About Sparrow, his identity slowly came to me, but I didn’t grasp the full story. As Meg finds out her history and lineage, the full betrayal brings her to her knees. I am super pissed off for her and I would love to be there and help her kick some demon ass. The familiarity with The Walking Dead, Supernatural and Lucifer made reading Sparrow Man wicked good and easy to visualize the action. Sparrow Man laid the foundation for the entire series, which needs to be read in order. It did end in a good place with no cliffhanger. I will be devouring Nightingale Girl, Book II, ASAP.
Nightingale Girl
It didn’t take long for me to become enamored with Nightingale Girl. She is outgoing, vivacious, gets around on roller skates, and is locked in the dungeon by her father. She is a bit off, as is Sparrow, her brother. They are under a curse and the only way to lift it is for one of them to serve their time as a Hellion. Their father was a coward and refused to go, so it falls to Sparrow. I feel Nightingale and Meg will be good friends and Nightingale begs her to bring her to Hell with her and Sparrow while he serves his time. It’s so bright in Heaven that Meg goes around with sunglasses. She carries a machete that Lucifer gave her, created in the bowels of Hell and will only cut for her. It made me think of Michonne in The Walking Dead and Mazekeen in Lucifer. She is half dark and half light, trying to figure out where she really belongs. I think the car situation is funny. Hell gets jeeps and Heaven gets Cadillacs. Meg and Sparrow’s relationship in Hell makes me think of Phoebe and Cole in Charmed with some vampiric moments thrown in. Oh, and Noah…I love the ghostie guy. Danger is all around and when it’s time for Meg and Nightingale to leave, Sparrow must stay behind. We end with:
“Monsters aren’t so bad.” Good ol’ Nightingale is here, haunting my dreams…”He’s your monster now, Meg.”
Scarecrow
Scarecrow picks up where Nightingale Girl left off, so the series needs to be read in order. Meg is being hunted. Not just by demons and angels, but she is on the America’s Most Wanted list. Enter her lawyer, Reuben. She doesn’t know it yet, but she gets more than she bargained for with Reuben. She travels from Heaven to Hell to the Earthly plane and back again. Sparrow wants her to return to Hell to be with him, but I don’t blame her for being hesitant. Sooner or later, she will have to choose between the dark and the light, good and evil. The zombies are rising, choices will be made…AND, WOW, that ending. I sure didn’t see it coming….and I LOVE IT.
Raven King
Meg reminds me so much of Michonne (The Walking Dead) and Mazekeen (Lucifer) as she swings her machete, lopping off heads of the walking dead and demons, battling good and evil, inside and out. She must find Sparrow to restore the balance across the planes, as the dead run rampant through Heaven and Hell. The Hellions and Angels body count rises. I am saddened at the loss of some wonderful characters, but sometimes they gotta go for the good of the story. Isn’t that right M? I love how Meg orbs around the planes in a ‘Charmed’ fashion. Meg had been alone for so long, her heartache is a new feeling for her. Vibrun is a brutal, savage ruler. Power mad, greedy. If you stand by his side, be very careful. He is like a rabid dog, liable to bite the hand that feeds him. Where is God, as all this is going on? The ending…OMG!!!!!!
Nightjar
We pick up where we left off. Meg poofed and brought blood and the smell of death back to Hell with her. Skeele had been at her side when she was broken and bloody before, and he’d be by her side again. Hell needed her. She brought light to Hell’s darkness. Thrush, Noah & Nightingale’s baby, are the the heart of Nightjar. We have some lighthearted, laughable moments, and I love when an author gives us those feel good moments when a story is so heavy. Teari’s sorrow is deep and I love that, though she is an angel, she is Meg’s friend and Meg has not given up on healing her wounded body. Everyone knows that Hellions lie, but Angels are just as proficient at lies and deceit. Gabriel, her father, will make a choice…and we have another jaw dropping ending…AND I LOVE IT!
Night Owl
Skeele has been by Meg’s side, sticking like glue. He may be a bit grumpy, but whatever she needs, he is there. She doesn’t know how he feels, but his insecurity makes him feel unworthy. He doesn’t know the secret she harbors. He makes himself weak, loosing weight because he feels she needs the blood and he starves himself so she can have what she needs.
I have pledged my life to her, he thought, why does she despise me? I make her physically ill. She can’t even look at me.
I chuckle here, chuckle there. I’m loving Jed and Shay. I love that they want a dog. I love that they sit around the table eating dinner in Hell, like a Lifetime Christmas movie.
Why is she running? No, no, no. But, this adventure ended up being so much fun…for me.
He should stay so I don’t wind up fucking a log in the backyard.
Meg had me cracking up. There is so much I want to share, but I don’t want to spoil anything. I am reveling in Meg’s story. She is finally accepting her role.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Veil of Shadows!!!!!!!! The world she created is filled with adventure, romance, danger, love, Heaven meets Hell, the walking dead roam above and below, and fate and destiny are woven into a spellbinding fantasy. Does god have a plan?
I am awed by M R Pritchard’s writing and she is definitely at the top of my must read list! This is the second mind blowing series of hers that I have read! The Phoenix Project was the first.
5 Stars
AMAZON SYNOPSIS
Some people are cursed. Or in Meg’s case, damned. She’s on the run, harboring a deadly secret. Sparrow, an unexpected travel companion, knows she’s hiding something more profound. Unimpressed by tales of her sinful past, he hungers for the truth, especially about the day she killed those seven men.
Meg finds, the Seven Kingdoms of Heaven are far from wonderful. Meg’s promise to never leave is tested as Sparrow’s behavior grows strange, yet again. As the daughter of an Archangel and the Devil’s own spawn, Meg knows paradise comes with complications. Love, however, has the power to change even a world-weary country girl, even if it means losing her mind.
There is no rest for the wicked. Meg’s determination to forge her own path leads her to the Earthen plane, where she battles personal demons and seeks a new life. But the absence of Sparrow is a heavy burden, and Nightingale haunts her dreams. To make matters worse, an unknown hand keeps unleashing zombies nearby, forcing Meg to confront her heritage.
The relentless monsters of her world show no mercy. Without wings and Sparrow by her side, Meg struggles to find her place in her realm. She hatches a plan to rescue Sparrow, but it spirals into disaster.
Haunted by Sparrow’s shocking betrayal, Meg faces a breaking point. Caring for an amputee Angel and two refugees from the Earthen plane adds to her mounting pressure. With King Gabriel imprisoned and a kidnapped baby Thrush in her care, time is running out to prevent Thrush from sharing the Nightjar’s fate.
Revenge and redemption collide, forcing Meg to confront her inner demons and desires. Will her quest for vengeance consume her, or can she find the strength to protect those she holds dear? In a race against time and her own turbulent emotions, Meg’s choices will determine the fate of those she loves.
As Meg grapples with the heartbeat in her womb and the constant threat to her friends, she decides it’s best to disappear. Fleeing to the Earthen plane to hide and plan her next move, she encounters mysterious assistance amid thunderstorms and insatiable hungers. Will Meg destroy the one man who would follow her through hell and high water?
Discover a world where love battles darkness, destinies entwine, and wickedness knows no rest in this thrilling dark fantasy romance omnibus.
ABOUT M R PRITCHARD (from Amazon)
M. R. Pritchard is a two-time Kindle Scout winning author, her short story “Glitch” has been featured in the 2017 winter edition of THE FIRST LINE literary journal, and her short story “Moon Lord” has been featured in Chronicle Worlds: Half Way Home (Part of the Future Chronicles). M. R. Pritchard holds degrees in Biochemistry and Nursing. She is a northern New Yorker transplanted to the Gulf Coast of Florida who enjoys coffee, mint chocolate, cloudy days, and reading on the lanai.
Visit her website MRPritchard.com and sign up for her newsletter. You’ll get a monthly newsletter with updates, day to day shenanigans, and book deals.
The Wolf I Want For Christmas by Abigail Owen was part of the Christmas After Dark anthology that is no longer available. I never got to read the anthology, but I was able to get my hands on Abigail Owen’s novella. I do want to cite the other author’s stories:
I love Abigail Owen’s writing, so I was super excited to see she had a Christmas novella I had not read. I have read most of her books and I loved them. Her writing style is a perfect fit for me, and I was not disappointed with The Wolf I Want For Christmas.
Shyla has not seen Cade since he left town ten years ago…and now he’s knocking on her door. They’ve both changed a lot, grown up into a couple of pretty impressive packages. I thought it was hilarious that she is allergic to dogs…because he’s a werewolf. LOL
He knows she’s his mate, but she doesn’t…
The Wolf I Want For Christmas by Abigail Owen may be short and sweet, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some issues to overcome, especially the fight for becoming the alpha of the pack…oh, and taking her as his mate.
I smiled and laughed my way through The Wolf I Want For Christmas, ending with a warm, fuzzy feeling and a happy ever after.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Cade Campbell has spent ten years in hiding, preparing to return to his small town, the pack his uncle stole from him…and the mate who doesn’t know she’s been waiting for him. When he shows up on Shyla’s doorstep a few days before Christmas he discovers the sweet, quiet girl he grew up with is all woman. The problem is she’s become a loner, is obsessively neat, and allergic to dogs. Bad news for this wolf. Still, Cade’s not giving up on her or on taking his rightful place as alpha. Maybe this year Santa could finally get things right.
Multi–award-winning paranormal romance author, Abigail Owen, loves plots that move hot and fast, feisty heroines with sass, alpha heroes with heart, a dash of snark, and oodles of sexy shifters! Other titles include wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex-competitive skydiver, spreadsheet lover, eMBA, organizational guru, Texan, Aggie, and chocoholic. Abigail grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. 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. Abigail currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own personal hero (who she totally married!) and their two children, who are growing up way too fast.
Terror. Pain. Then darkness. This is how it starts.
This, my dear readers, is what we call The Birth.
My name is Sonia. I am vampire.
There are some vampires who have not adapted as the years go by. You know, keep up with fashion, technology, politics…Sonia is not one of them. Even though she intermingles with humans, she does not date them. She knows about death and loss.
Some in government, the FBI and the CIA know about them. Humans pose a danger to vampires, so it is best to be low key. But…someone is out there slaughtering young vampires.
Sonia meets a human, Alex. She doesn’t know why, but she ends up spending time with him. She has a roommate, Sunny, who is a hunkalicious vampire with a wonderful sense of humor. I quickly grew to love him. He donates half his money to charity and snuggles babies in the NICU. I’ve never heard of a vampire, let alone a male vampire, doing such a thing.
I am loving the story, but at times, the author buried me with too many details. But, I did like when Sonia was talking about having interests in mines in Australia. I have watched TV shows about mining for opals in Cooby Pedy. It’s fun when I am familiar with a location.
I was about 40% into the story before it really got going for me. Have you ever heard of a zombie vampire? Well, we have one here. I smell more than the dead. I smell a rat. Sonia will get to the bottom of it or die, again, trying. But, what about Alex?
The details interrupted the pace at times, but sticking with the story paid off with some fabulous battles. A little vampire, human, vampire triangle was intriguing. I am sure Sunny would have loved to part of a menage a trois with Sonia and Alex. LOL
I believe Moon Flower: Vampires Of Los Angeles by is Heather Ewen Foster’s debut novel. Well done. I look forward to reading more of your work and I have my eye on you now.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Sonia, a 250-year-old Australian vampire, thought she had found peace in the quiet neighborhood of Whitley Heights, Hollywood. But when a mysterious creature starts slaughtering young vampires, Sonia is thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse.With her friend Sunny targeted by an ancient monster, Sonia must uncover the truth behind these brutal attacks. Desperate to save her friend and end the bloodshed, Sonia navigates the treacherous politics of the vampire world. Along the way, she finds herself torn between her irresistible attraction to Alex, the enigmatic human journalist helping in her investigation, and her deep bond with sexy and charismatic Sunny, Alpha Vampire extraordinaire.As the sinister plot unravels, Sonia’s race against time becomes a pulse-pounding battle against an impossibly powerful foe. Will she uncover the truth before more lives are lost? And what sacrifices will she have to make to protect those she loves?Moon Flower is a spellbinding urban fantasy that will leave you breathless. Heather Ewen-Foster’s suspenseful tale immerses you in a world of danger, romance, and mythical creatures. Get ready for an electrifying adventure that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.
In Sir Henry’s Heart, we pick up where we left off in The Girl From The Basement, Book 3, of the Idle Hands series by Michael Chikondi. It’s all about Miriam and Sir Henry. Sir Henry had become fixated on Miriam and those he sets his sights on never survive his obsession. Will Miriam be the first? I have hope. After all, the entire series has taken place with Sinjen and Miriam side by side.Can Miriam find a way to save herself, seeing no one is allowed to intervene?
It’s funny how fascinated the vampires are with Miriam’s diary. Gave me some chuckles and that is always good when we are dealing with blood thirsty vampires.
Sinjen works with vampire hunters, cleaning up messes not of his own making. I love it. Vampire and vampire hunter, working together. Sinjen is one of the few vampires able to do so. His faith in humanity has been depleted.
The Idle Hands series has been a wild ride, filled with ups and downs, and could it possibly end with love and romance? I must admit, Richard and Miriam deserve a happy ending after all they have been through…and managing to stay human amongst the vampires is quite the feat.
I have loved being along with each adventure taken in the Idle Hands series by Michael Chikondi. I am eager to see where we will go next.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Sinjen and Miriam find themselves at a crossroads. As it becomes apparent that Sir. Henry will not be dissuaded from pursuing her, she has no choice but to return to him. Sinjen’s hands are tied, by order of the House of Nightfall and by his Mistress. When Sinjen receives a black envelope from Lord Mica, the most powerful vampire prophet, he is devastated. These letters mean that death is certain, and Sinjen must face a more immediate danger.
Michael B. Chikondi is not to be trusted, but the creature agrees to a meeting in its burrow. We enter with trepidation, given that the thing has no doorbell. As we crawl through the narrow tunnel, gored out by its own teeth, by the texture, we hear what can only be described as a hacking cough.
“Can we approach?” we call.
“No soliciting.” the voice returns.
“You sent for us; you told us to ask you questions. You know, for promotional reasons.”
“Ask.” the dread voice responds.
“Alright, who are you?” we try.
“A creature of mist and shadow, half-mad, I used to go out, I did, and know those…humans. Not now, not since…the pen.”
“You found a pen? That’s why you became a writer?” we ask, now terrified, trying to gauge how fast we can leave the burrow. The photographer has already left us, chewing off his own watch, caught on a tree root.
“Yes, but now…I hunger…”
We are not proud; we turn tail and flee, before it can leave its den. We aren’t paid enough to get a full bio. We can only pray someone buys its books, so that the thing never comes out on its own.
Ed. What the hell is this? This isn’t what we requested. Just some nonsense and an artist’s rendition of what one of my people saw before he contracted rabies? Eh, whatever. Plenty more writers in the sea.
Beginning tomorrow, November 28th the ebook will only cost 99₵. Be sure to share this great deal … and grab yourself a copy before it ends on December 8th!
The Immortal Detective by D B Woodling is the total package. At first it was the title that drew be into Celeste’s vampiric world, then I saw the amazing cover, then I read the blurb, and I loved every minute I spent there.
Celeste never would have chosen her undead life. Her mother, father, and brother, as well as her lover, Tristan were all vampires…and she hated them all. Because she is a decorated detective, her family petitioned the powers that be to imbue her with many of their gifts. With all the calamity in the world, she could fulfill a purpose. She would also be tasked with bringing those deserving into the fold, increasing their numbers. Their actions can, and will, change the world.
I love how they can morph into fantastical creatives, teleport, time travel, fly, read minds, implant suggestions, and so much more. It takes Celeste some time to get a handle on her powers, but the Elders will be there to assist her when necessary.
Celeste has an adopted daughter, Raina, and a flamboyant, gay vampire nanny, Fane, who live with her in her beloved Victorian home. Even baby vampires are children, frightened by nightmares…or premonitions. I became enamored with these characters and want more of them.
I love the dialogue between Raina and Fane…fun, fun, fun. He knows how to distract her from the bad, put a smile on her face, and entertain her while her mommy is fighting crime. I love that Celeste and Raina sleep together in the same coffer. Talk about cuddle time.
Celeste is a detective with the Kansas City Police. She will put her powers to the test as she endeavors to eliminate a sex trafficking ring. Lots of action. A choice will be made and I love it. The choice can definitely lead to another book in the series.
I missed reading the first book in the series, The Immortal Twin, and I feel I would have connected to the characters better if I knew their back story. Sometimes I forget to check and see if a book is part of a series and I wish I would have read the the books in order, but I can still recommend The Immortal Detective. I just recommend reading The Immortal Twin first.
4 Stars
ABOUT THE IMMORTAL DETECTIVE
Sometimes being immortal makes you wish you were dead.
Celeste Crenshaw has survived her parents’ grisly murders, grueling and gender-biased police training, a battle with rogue vampires, and even her own death. While immortality might seem a dream come true, can she accept the strings attached?
Celeste spends the start of her immortal life being mentored by the Elders of the Hollow Earth. They release her once they feel certain Celeste has honed her supernatural powers. But little do they know, Celeste isn’t wholly committed to granting eternal life to those deserving. Upon a return home to her immortal lover, and the Kansas City Detective Squad, she battles mortal foes, not so unlike the demonic undead. And when a fellow detective falls victim to a murderous gang member, Celeste faces a gut-wrenching decision and the possible wrath of the Elders.
Praise for The Immortal Detective:
“…impressive vampiric worldbuilding {with} a fascinating cast.” ~Publishers Weekly
“A new, original, fresh, fascinating and fun take on the Vampire genre. THE IMMORTAL DETECTIVE by D. B. Woodling is a “must read” pick for the legions of vampire fiction fans and an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Fantasy Fiction collections. Exceptionally well written…” ~Midwest Book Review
Book Details:
Genre: Paranormal, Detective Mystery, Fantasy Hybrid Published by: CamCat Books Publication Date: March 2023 Number of Pages: 336 ISBN: 9780744308013 (ISBN10: 0744308011) Series: The Immortal Detective, 1 Book Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | CamCat Books
ABOUT D B WOODLING
Acquiring an early appreciation of prose written by Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, and the audacious Stephen King, Woodling chose to follow in their intimidating footsteps, evidenced by The Immortal Twin (CamCat Books 2020) and The Immortal Detective, released by CamCat Books, March 2023. She recently completed a supernatural small-town murder mystery and has a Hollywood whodunit in the works, with Book Two of The Immortal Detective series vying for her attention. Woodling is a multi-genre author, and The Immortal Detective is her eighth novel.
I keep getting confused about all the Bloody Billionaire’s by Kay Widow, but I keep grabbing the books. They are quick reads, filled with vampires and romance. Right up my alley.
Quinn is the king and feels like he can do as he pleases, slaughtering humans left and right, leaving them for others to clean up. One of the problems, he eliminates their food supply and his inability to control his thirst could be his downfall.
In comes Tessa, his blood therapist, but she has an ulterior motive. She wants immortality for her and her sisters, and she must kill the king to get it. There is one problem….her attraction to the king.
The steamy sex scenes are smoking hot, even when its only in her head. The violence is graphic and gruesome.
Become a servant they said. It will be fun they said. And gods, they had no idea how fun it had become.
They fight their attraction for different reasons. Quinn because he cannot marry a commoner and Tessa because she must kill or be killed. I love the twist that Kay Widow throws into the mix and I wondered how she would do it. Do what, you ask? Well, if I told you, it would give too much away, so you’ll have t find out for yourself.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
“My blood has never burned like this before…”
Tessa knows her mission: Infiltrate the estate of vampire king Quinn Rodin and end his undead life.
This deal with the ruthless King Marr will grant her and her sisters immortality, but only if Tessa kills Quinn, Marr’s enemy.
As Quinn’s personal “bloodbag,” Tessa lives in the vampire’s mansion while spying on her target.
Yet when Quinn sinks his fangs into her flesh, Tessa discovers unexpected heat raging through her veins. His bite stirs a dangerous longing that clouds her judgment and threatens her task.
The vampire king’s allure captivates her, even as his unearthly powers put her life at risk. And Tessa struggles between restoring her focus and indulging the enemy’s temptation.
Each night Quinn’s bite unravels her and carnal hunger replaces duty. But at what cost?
Her sisters are counting on her, and King Marr does not tolerate failure.
With immortality on the line, Tessa must master her thirst for Quinn’s embrace and regain her wits before his wicked bite destroys her from within.
Bloody Billionaire is a supernatural romantic thriller that will keep you turning pages until the breathtaking end. For fans of dangerous trysts, forbidden passions, and lethal creatures of the night.
ABOUT KAY WIDOW
Kay Widow is a paranormal romance author. She writes page-turning romances that readers consume faster than she can produce. If you love spicy romances with protective and dominant alphas who fall for sassy curvy women, then you might just love Kay’s novels. Kay lives in Kansas with her husband, Irish twins, and all her book boyfriends.
“You will never have him,” she says. “Die a bride, and know he’ll come to me. He will come to me, or by your blood on my tongue, bride after bride will join you in death.”
And the curse begins. It will be up to Sonya MacTavish, a graphic designer who inherited the manor from her unknown uncle, Collin Poole, to solve the mystery and lift the curse.
Sonya had a bad breakup with a huge douche bag, and I love what her best friend, Cleo had to say:
“What do you want me to do?…Tell me what you want, and it’s done. Murder? Decapitation? Castration?”
I think we could all use a best friend like that. LOL
Sonya had been thinking about branching out on her own and now was the time. Would the ghosts of the manor be a help or a hindrance. Most of them are on her side, but there is always one, isn’t there? I would love to have some help around the house, and Sonya has her very own ghostly maid. She leaves her bedroom and comes back, the bed is made. She leaves the kitchen a mess, comes back and it is cleaned up. Forget to charge your phone, they have you covered. Even ghosts want a purpose.
Those around Sonya accept the ghosts, but Sonya hesitates.
The point of view flashes past to present and back again. We get all of their histories, ghosts and humans, and Sonya will need all the help she can get to break the curse. We have a combination of modern and gothic.
This light and fun mystery is full of surprises and I loved each and every one. The characters quickly won me over, ghosts and human alike…even the dogs have a place of honor. Cold pizza, I love it too, even for breakfast. Little things that I can relate to on a personal level add that little bit extra that I love so much. I had plenty of smiles to go along with the creepy.
The mirror…made me think of Charmed and Grimm. TV shows make it easy for me to visualize the action as it is happening.
NO NO NO a cliffhanger. So wrong!!!!! But I couldn’t put it down and I HAVE TO HAVE the next one, and the next one. I knew it was a trilogy going in and the story would not be told in one book, but when I came to the end, I wasn’t expecting it. That is how involved I was in the story. I foresee good things for the next two books and I can hardly wait to visit the manor again.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Inheritance is the first in The Lost Bride Trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts―a tale of tragedies, loves found and lost, and a family haunted for generations.
1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to leave him…
Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about―and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in it for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off to find out why the boys were separated at birth―and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to light.
Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya’s unease―and acknowledges that yes, the place is haunted…but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle’s office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom the lawyer refers to as “the first lost bride.” It’s becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it…
Expected publication: November 21, 2023 by St. Martin’s Press
Series: The Lost Bride Trilogy, Book I
ABOUT NORA ROBERTS
Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 — The Becoming — the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
I love that quote from the book and Sara is spot on. She knows a jerk when she sees one, and she has seen plenty of them. Sara works for The Agency, or she did until a mission went wrong. Terribly wrong. It left her scarred, inside and out. Because of that, they had let her go, but does a shadow agency ever let anyone go?
Psychic groups collide when Sara meets Beckett, a stiff English professor, and it is discovered that she has immunity to being read. Beckett, well, when push comes to shove, his love and loyalty will shine…BUT it will be a rough road to get there.
Hollie Smurthwaite’s vivid descriptions bring the characters to life. I can see them through her words, feel their emotions, join in their fight for life and love.
I met Sara in The Color Of Betrayal, Jolene and Cass’s story. Sara is a diverse character, suffering from dyslexia. She is vivacious, has a snappy wit, and people are drawn to her beauty. She trusts no one, except, possibly, Jolene, Cass and Kiera, but they have not seen each other for years. She does not want to take her troubles to their door, so she tries to handle the situation on her own. As the danger rises and betrayals take her down, I fear for her. The tension and pacing pick up, making me flip the pages…rapidly.
I love when Sara brings Ren into the story. Ren has a level of innocence that makes me want to shelter her, protect her. I love when Sara brings a level of fun and companionship to the others in the group.
I have had my eye on one character in particular, waiting for him to show his ugly side. When he does…Hollie creates a twist that had me smiling. I love when an author throws something totally unexpected my way.
I wouldn’t change a thing about The Color Of Shame by Hollie Smurthwaite. My question is: Will Ren get her own story? The series could end here and I would be satisfied, but when a find a fascinating character, I want more. I want them to have their happy ever after.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
When her immunity to psychics is discovered, Sara is sucked back into spying for the criminal organization she was poised to escape.
The worst scars are hidden . . .
For years, Sara served the shadowy Agency, until a mission gone wrong left her physically and emotionally wounded. Haunted by these scars, Sara is counting down the days to her reconstructive surgery, the final step towards freedom from the Agency’s clutches.
Just as she’s close to escaping, Sara’s path crosses with Beckett, an uptight English professor with the uncanny ability to delve into people’s minds with a mere touch.
Anyone’s mind except Sara’s.
Unbeknownst to her, Beckett is a member of a clandestine society of memory magicians, and he sees in Sara the perfect instrument to catapult his career within their ranks.
Sara and Beckett clash fiercely, both determined to follow their own paths. But the Agency’s grip on Sara is tighter than she realized, and they give her one more assignment: work for Beckett and his program to help budding memory magicians. And report back all the details.
While forced to work side by side, Sara and Beckett soon discover that first impressions can be misleading, and animosity can transform into an intoxicating mix of frustration and fascination.
As the lines blur between loyalty and self-preservation, Sara finds herself torn between protecting Beckett and his students or safeguarding her own precarious freedom.
Will Sara’s immunity be her salvation or her downfall? Can she navigate the treacherous landscape of spies and memory magic while protecting her heart?
Hollie Smurthwaite is a paranormal romantic suspense author of The Color of Trauma and The Color of Betrayal. The Color of Trauma was the winner of the 2020 Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project in adult fiction. She lives in Chicago with her husband, son, and too few pets. In past lives, she’s been a checkout clerk, massage therapist, office manager, recruiter, magazine staff writer, pepper spray hawker, and belly dancer.
