WOW. I read Bound By Blood by Shawn David Brink at a breakneck pace. I was engrossed from the opening pages and could not stop reading. I love good vs evil and angels and demons. Brother was pitted against brother.
Seth had found salvation, but his twin, Jason had chosen to join the Kinship. The Kinship is a cult and they are vying for the human souls of the church, but they need the brothers to fulfill a prophecy.
Shawn does an excellent job describing the battles fought. I couldn’t ‘look’ away.
I do love how he wraps the ending up in a tidy package.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A demonic cult and a Christian church battle for territory. Combat lines are drawn. Angels and demons square off as brother goes against brother. The spoils of war are human souls. Who will rise victorious, and at what cost?
Genres: Horror 296 pages, Kindle Edition Published August 15, 2024by Wise Words Publishing
The Bond Once Broken is the sequel to The Girl Once Known by R M Demeester, so it’s best to read it first.
These dysfunctional characters, Sherry and Sierra, pass their legacy on to their children. Secrets and lies have followed them from childhood to adulthood. Sherry has worked hard to pull herself together, but Sierra cannot let the past go.
The Bond Once Broken is a complex psychological thriller that will have your head spinning, so brace yourself. You won’t want to stop reading once you start.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Reading The Girl Once Known is strongly recommended before reading The Bond Once Broken.
In the aftermath of Mira’s hit-and-run accident, The Girl Once Known takes this dysfunctional family for another spin in its emotional, suspenseful sequel, The Bond Once Broken.
Sherry and Sierra, connected by a troubled childhood, have children who live out their mothers’ legacy.
While one of Sherry’s daughters seems to break free from the cycle of dysfunction, Sherry herself strives to leave behind a past she’d rather forget. Meanwhile, Sierra remains chained to the past, driven by a desperate need to right a deep-seated wrong from her childhood, which leads to a life of emptiness.
The tension between Sherry and Sierra reaches a boiling point when a reunion escalates their animosity. As long-hidden secrets from their shared history erupt, they face a crucial choice: either restore their bond or settle their scores, regardless of the consequences.
Genre: Fiction, Psycological, Suspense, Thriller
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 7, 2024
Series: The Girl Once Known #2
ABOUT R M DEMEESTER
R.M. Demeester, from Saskatchewan, loves being a mom, reading books, and writing. She’s been writing since she was very young. Today, she’s known for her stories in women’s fiction, romantic suspense, and thrillers. She also has a rescue dog named Gainer, a chocolate lab who passed away recently, but is still very much loved and missed. Her newest book, “The Girl Once Known”, comes out in February 2024.
With Christmas Eve fast approaching, Nick must convince Clara to trust in the magic they share before the magic fades forever—and with it, the spirit of Christmas itself.
Title: Jingles
Author: D.F. Jones
Publication Date: November 1, 2024
Pages: 96
Genre: Women’s Short Stories/Women’s Fiction
Jingles by USA Today bestselling author D.F. Jones is a heartwarming tale set in the picturesque town of HollyHaven, where Christmas magic is more real than anyone could imagine. At the heart of this magic is Jingles, a beloved Christmas shop that has always been the town’s festive centerpiece. But this year, something is different—the magic is fading, and the very spirit of Christmas hangs in the balance.
Enter Nick, the reluctant heir to the Claus legacy, who’s been tasked with saving Christmas before it’s too late. While Nick knows the pressure is on, he isn’t expecting the key to saving the holiday to come in the form of Clara, a talented baker who runs the town’s cozy café, The Cinnamon Stick. Clara, still healing from past heartbreaks, has wrapped herself in the warmth of her bakery, keeping her heart and belief in magic safely guarded.
As Nick and Clara’s paths cross, sparks fly, and magical happenings begin to unfold around them. Nick sees something special in Clara—something that might just be the answer to restoring the holiday magic. But more than that, he feels a growing connection he can’t explain.
With Christmas Eve fast approaching, Nick must convince Clara to believe in the magic of the season and the love blossoming between them. Together, they must find a way to restore Christmas before it fades away forever.
Jingles is a feel-good, magical romance filled with the joy of the holiday season, perfect for anyone who loves a good dose of Christmas spirit, love, and second chances. It’s a gentle reminder that sometimes, the greatest magic of all is simply believing.
Jingles by D F Jones is a sweet Christmas novella. Novellas can be hard to rate because they are short and people want to feel they get their money’s worth, which I totally understand. I got Jingles through a tour because ’tis the season.
Jingles is the Christmas shop where more than trinkets are available. Everyone leaves with a little bit of magic added to their day. Nick runs the shop and is the Claus heir, but he has his doubts. Especially after his father, Santa Claus, tells him he must find his Mrs before he can take over the position.
Then, he spots Clara. He asks what she’s reading.
“A bit of fantasy, a dash of romance…Just the recipe for frosty days.”
As magic dwindles and the Christmas spirit fades, decisions will have to be made.
Looking for a quick, feel good story? Give Jingles a try.
3 Stars
Book Excerpt
Nick ran his fingers over the delicate, gilded edges of the ancient book, its weight heavy in his lap, both literally and figuratively. The Saint Nicholas Revelation. The magic of Christmas resting on his shoulders? He had always imagined he’d carry on the family traditions, but not like this—not with the ticking of an unseen celestial clock urging him forward.
His father, Nicholas Sr., stood across from him, eyes weathered by centuries yet still bright with the same magic that pulsed through the very fabric of their family. He had seen countless Christmases come and go, carrying the burden of wonder and joy on his back like a well-worn cloak. But now, the mantle would fall to Nick, and it felt impossibly heavy. Between them hung a silent bond of understanding. The older man had walked this path once before, and while his demeanor was as steadfast as the North Star, Nick could feel his father’s concern beneath the surface.
“What if I don’t want to fulfill the prophecy?” Nick’s voice wavered, betraying the doubt that had crept in under the cover of the predawn hours when uncertainty tends to dig deep.
Nicholas Sr.’s eyes softened, though his voice carried the weight of centuries. “It’s not about wanting, son. It’s about destiny. The magic isn’t just a job—it’s in our blood, the essence of who we are. There was a time when I asked myself the same question.” He paused, his gaze steady as he stepped closer. “But I won’t force you into anything. You’ve always had free will, just as I did. The choice is yours, but know this: without the magic, Christmas as the world knows it might just become another winter day. The joy and hope fade without someone to keep the spark alive.”
Nick swallowed, his throat dry as if the weight of his decision had sucked the moisture from the air. “But what if I fail? What if I’m not strong enough? You’ve had centuries to perfect it… I’m just—” He hesitated, unsure of how to put into words the inadequacy that gnawed at him. “I’m not you.”
A gentle and knowing smile tugged at the corner of his father’s mouth. “I never expected you to be. Each of us carries the magic in our way. I wasn’t my father either. But the magic… it grows with you, Nick. It shapes itself around your heart, your desires, your dreams. And yes, your fears, too.”
Nick’s hands gripped the book’s edges, feeling the ancient, worn leather under his palms. It was alive with an energy he didn’t fully understand yet. “What if the magic’s not enough?”
Nicholas Sr. went to him, placing a hand on Nick’s shoulder. “The magic is always enough. The question is, will you allow it to be? This world, this time we live in, needs more than ever what we have. It needs belief, Nick. Not just in the magic of Christmas but in something greater. In hope, in light, in the power of love to heal what’s broken.”
The room fell silent for a moment, save for the faint sound of the wind outside, gently brushing against the frosted windowpanes. Nick nodded, feeling the gravity of his potential choice settle over him like a cloak of invisible snow. He looked down at the book in his lap, which now seemed to pulse with ancient, expectant magic as though it were waiting for him to open it to begin the next chapter in their family’s story.
“The magic may be enough,” Nick said, finally meeting his father’s eyes. “But I’m not sure I am.” Nick turned his gaze to the large sash windows, where the snow-covered peaks of Reflection Ridge sparkled like a thousand diamonds under the afternoon sun. The sight was familiar, yet today, it felt distant. For a fleeting moment, he imagined life without the enchantment of the mountain, without the reindeer or the elves bustling about the workshops, and without the secret joy of slipping through time and space to bring wonder to children everywhere. Could he really bear the weight of that loss? “What about the store? What about Jingles? Items are selling like crazy, and the sales help create funds for those in need.”
Nicholas Sr. leaned back, his eyes reflecting the deep connection between their family’s magic and the store. “Jingles isn’t just a store, Nick. It’s an extension of you, of the magic that runs through your veins. Every ornament, every stocking, every trinket sold carries a touch of that magic. It’s why people feel a little more joy when they walk out of those doors, why they believe just a bit more. The magic within you breathes life into Jingles, and in turn, Jingles spreads that magic out into the world.”
Nick’s brows furrowed. “So, you’re saying if I don’t fulfill my destiny—if I step away—the magic in Jingles fades?”
His father nodded slowly. “That’s right. The store thrives because your belief and commitment to Christmas are embedded in every aspect of it. Without that, without you, Jingles becomes just another quaint holiday shop. The enchantment fades. It’s not just about selling ornaments; it’s about keeping the spirit alive. If your magic dims, so does the store’s. It’s all interconnected.”
Nick swallowed hard, the gravity of it all sinking in. But then a thought surfaced, one that gave him hope. “If I want to keep the store after the transition, is that possible?”
His father’s lips curved into a warm smile, the twinkle of Christmas magic in his eyes. “With Christmas magic, everything is possible, Nick. You can continue, Jingles—you can continue everything, but it must come from the heart. The Magic is about more than fulfilling a duty. It’s about love, belief, and a willingness to embrace the unknown. The store can thrive as long as you carry those things with you.”
Nick breathed out slowly, a tiny flicker of reassurance settling within him. He wasn’t just stepping into his father’s shoes—he could make this legacy his own. Nick took a deep breath and exhaled, the weight of the decision pressing in on him. “How does the transition take place, Father?”
Nicholas Sr. smiled, a gleam in his eye that Nick hadn’t seen in a while. “It starts with finding your soul mate. Without Mrs. Claus, the North Pole wouldn’t work how it needs to. Your mother and I have kept this going for centuries, but we’re ready to retire, to hand over the reins, so to speak, to you and a new generation.”
Nick blinked, feeling the ground beneath him shift. The enormity of it all—a legacy more significant than anyone—hit him anew. His father’s words echoed in his mind. A soul mate? It wasn’t just about magic, the North Pole, or Christmas. It was about partnership, about love. That, more than anything, had been the key all along.
“A soul mate? I don’t understand,” Nick muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, yet it carried the weight of his turmoil. “How does this even work? Am I supposed to conjure her with a spell? How do I find this woman—the one destined to be my partner of Christmas?”
Nicholas Sr. let out a chuckle, the sound tinged with nostalgia. “Love isn’t conjured, Nick. There’s no spell for it, no incantation. It’s not a trick or a treat. She’ll find her way to you, as your mother did to me, turning everything extraordinary in the most mundane moments.”
Nick frowned, the gears of logic turning in his mind. “But how will I even know? What if she’s just—” He waved his hand vaguely, “—some mortal passing through? What if she doesn’t believe in magic at all?”
“Ah,” his father said, his eyes twinkling with a secret knowledge. “That’s the tricky part. The magic only reveals itself to those who believe. She’ll see it if she’s the one, just like your mother did. But you can’t force it. You can’t rush the magic.”
Nick wasn’t convinced. “And what if she doesn’t come at all?” He asked the question again, frustration creeping into his voice like frost over the windowpane. “What if I’m not cut out for this? For love, for magic, for any of it?”
His father tilted his head slightly, his gaze never wavering. “Then we live as mortals, and the world turns,” he said. “We adapt. We let Christmas become just another day on the calendar.”
Nick felt a surge of indignation at the thought. Adapt? That wasn’t in their blood. Adapting was for people who settled, who gave up the extraordinary for the mundane. His jaw tightened, a flicker of resolve igniting deep within him.
“I won’t let that happen,” Nick muttered under his breath, though the conviction rang between them like the unmistakable chime of a sleigh bell.
Nicholas Sr. smiled knowingly, a twinkle in his eye suggesting he’d once stood in this spot, facing the same dilemma. But he didn’t press further, allowing the weight of Nick’s choice to settle around them like the snow falling outside.
The room seemed to hum with ancient magic as if waiting for Nick’s next move. One thing was sure: time wouldn’t wait for him forever.
– Excerpted from Jingles by D.F. Jones, D.F. Jones, 2024. Reprinted with permission.
About the Author
Ever wonder what it’s like to step into a world where angels, demons, witches, wizards, and time travel collide? That’s the magic D.F. Jones weaves into every story she tells—worlds where the supernatural and romance meet, pulling you in until reality and fantasy blur in the best way possible.
Before she became the USA Today bestselling author, D.F. Jones had a pretty different gig. She worked as a broadcast consultant at an ABC Affiliate in Nashville. But then, in 2015, she decided to downsize her ad agency to take care of her family and focus on something constantly tugging at her heart—writing fiction.
Writing, for her, is more than just putting words on a page. It’s her escape, a place where the stress of everyday life melts away, and anything is possible. And she wants to share that world with you. The stories she crafts aren’t just filled with magic—they’re packed with action, love, and characters you’ll be thinking about long after you turn the last page.
At home, D.F. Jones shares a love story of her own. She’s married to her best friend, a man who keeps her laughing every day. Together, they raised two incredible sons, who are the true lights of her life and the spark behind the heart and soul in her books.
When she’s not writing, you’ll probably find her in her flower garden. She loves the feeling of her hands in the soil, coaxing life from the earth just like she does with her characters on the page.
So, if you’re ready to escape into a world where love and the otherworldly go hand-in-hand, D.F. Jones is the perfect guide. Her books promise adventure, a bit of whimsy, and heart-pounding moments that’ll keep you hooked. Welcome to her world, where the impossible is just the beginning.
Well, now she’s gone and done it. Fell in love with a vampire…but, she doesn’t want to become one. The thought of living in the dark doesn’t appeal to her. How can she have it all? Is it true what ‘they’ say? If they kill his maker, he will become human? She is determined to find out, but it won’t be that easy. In fact, it is deadly.
I love the whole ‘Below Deck’ vibe of working on a yacht, especially considering the owner, Adrian Voper, is a vampire. Seems there is a whole colony of vampires owning yachts and they need the help to clean up the messes they make. I can only imagine what that entails, until I read about it.
I love the blood, guts and gore. There was one scene that blew me away. I know it was so wrong of me, but I found myself smiling as I read along. It has that B movie vibe going on.
Arie sure has come a long way, from a cowering young girl to a kickass woman and she will take names and she will not take any prisoners.
I want to thank D V Sulllivan for the opportunity to read Lair Rising.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Now that they’re together, Arie and Adrian must do everything they can to stay that way in the second book in the Lair series.
Working on yachts has not turned out as Aurora Strand expected. Despite her abusive past, she has managed to fall in love with a vampire—the mysterious and controlling billionaire, Adrian Voper—and in order to free him of his “abusiveness” she must now hunt down and destroy his maker.
But finding this fiend in this world of yachts-as-vampire lairs is easier said than done. There will be tests and horrors alike, and one surprise from the past that may just tear Aurora and Adrian apart . . .
D.V. Sullivan has been a deckhand in the Mediterranean, a bartender in New York and an English teacher in China. Now that he’s no longer hosing salt off yachts during high-wind gales, he writes from his lair in the Pacific Northwest.
It’s always hard to write a review for a series, because less is more to keep from spoiling the story for you. Shift by Raine Thomas picks up where Defy left off and, even though it has been a little while since I read Defy, I was never lost. It surprises me, because I read a ton of books and that is kudos to Raine Thomas for writing such great stories that I remembered so much and my feelings picked up where they had left off.
There are ten different character classes, so if you need help deciphering who’s who, there is a glossary at the end of the book. I won’t go in depth trying to explain them, but I will tell you there are definite communication problems, though love finds a way.
The characters, especially Sophia and Tate are sure to grab your heart and break it all at the same time. Danger surrounds them at every turn, as they have something the villain wants..and he is one wicked devil, who will stop at nothing to get it.
I laughed and I cried along with the characters. They will draw you into their magical world and hold tight. I couldn’t stop reading. Raine Thomas has created a world that amazed me. I often wonder how an author comes up with such a wonderfully written fantasy.
That ending…
I’m glad that Raine Thomas made sure I had the next book handy.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Having the ability to shapeshift, Sophia is familiar with change. But even she feels the rising tension in her homeland.
A shadowy male and deadly beast reside in their midst. The births of the newest Kynzesti loom. Hostile Mercesti continue to hunt for the Elder Scroll, and a traumatized female is too afraid to use her abilities to stop them.
Topping off Sophia’s stress is Quincy, the male she’s convinced can’t stand her. She rues the loss of their friendship, but can’t figure out how to move past it. She’ll soon learn, however, that mending that rift bears more significance than she ever imagined.
The search for the Elder Scroll takes on unexpected urgency, and Sophia finds herself in a race across the mainland. To stop the Mercesti led by Eirik, she and her companions must get past their differences and unite against them. If they don’t, Eirik will acquire the immense power he seeks, and two of the beings Sophia loves most will die.
Raine Thomas is the award-winning author of more than 20 bestselling romances spanning contemporary romance, Sci-Fi romance, and YA fantasy romance. She’s a hopeless romantic with a background in the fields of mental health and wedding planning…two areas that intersect far more than one would think. She’s also a book fiend, grammar nerd, and editing Red Queen, depending on who you ask.
Be sure to follow Raine on BookBub (https://www.bookbub.com/profile/raine…) to be among the first to learn of any sales, and hop over to her website for your first free read!
MAN OH MAN! I don’t even know where to begin. I have been loving the Hell’s Angel series since I cracked open the first book, Afterworld. I was overwhelmed in Descension, the second book in the series. My emotions were all over the place as they fought for survival. You do need to begin at the beginning or you will be lost.
An apt description is one already given in the description: Supernatural meets The Walking Dead in this retelling of Lucifer’s Fall dark fantasy romance.
Because I continue to watch Supernatural, and The Walking Dead series, it is easy to visualize the battles fought between good and evil, and angels and demons. Samael has taken Kate’s family. She knows she will have to meet him, face to face, but that’s okay, because she will do ANYTHING to get them back.
Kate feels God has forsaken them and I wonder about that too. Is he operating from the background, feeling the characters need to figure it out for themselves? Is he on vacation, not caring if they live or die? I wondered if he would step in when they were at the lowest. I absolutely love the way Olivia Boothe handled the issue.
Every time I read a book that blows me away, I wonder how an author even dreams the story up. After all, they are making up a world and characters that make me laugh and smile, and cry and berate all that is holy for allowing something to happen, to scream at the heavens. At times I held my breath, rapidly reading the words that spanned the pages, breathless, eager to know what’s coming, but hating to come to the end.
I have loved this series soooo much that I feel five stars is not enough, though that is all I have. I hate to see it end, but I feel Olivia Boothe ended it in a spectacular fashion. I would not change a thing. If you are a paranormal lover, I can not recommend this enough!
Thanks Olivia, for the opportunity to read and review Reckoning: Rise Of The Guardians.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
SURVIVING THE APOCALYPSE CHANGES YOU. BUT LOSING YOUR FAMILY? THAT’S WHAT SHARPENS YOU INTO THE BLADE THAT WILL CUT STRAIGHT INTO YOUR ENEMY’S HEART.
After recovering the four Creation Stones and sending Beleth back to Hell, we managed to secure the Guardians’ Eastern Headquarters, but we’ve only succeeded at patching up the wounds. Our numbers are depleted and our wards are weakening. Nowhere is safe. Not until we can end this war, and Samael is determined to win it.
He’s not only taken my family, planning to use my son as his vessel and holding Jax captive as collateral, but he’s unleashed his deadliest army yet. But I’m not leaving this battlefield until that infernal beast is nothing but ashes. Even if that means I have to bring the fight straight to his cursed kingdom.
Kate and her crew return in the heart-stopping finale to Olivia Boothe’s Best Selling Hell’s Angel series. Intended for mature audiences. Reader discretion is advised. For a full list of content warnings please check the author’s website.
Genre: Angels and Demons, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural
Kindle Edition
Expected publication December 9, 2024 by Three Brothers Press
Series: Hell’s Angel #3
ABOUT OLIVIA BOOTHE
REAL LOVE AS IT IS. MESSY, COMPLICATED & SINFULLY ADDICTIVE.
Born in Colombia and raised in New Jersey since the age of eight, Olivia always dreamed of becoming a story teller.
If you enjoy deadly-hot romance novels with deep, layered plots, she’s your gal. Because it’s not just about the first kiss and the happily ever after, it’s about everything in between.
In addition to writing contemporary and paranormal romance, Olivia is currently working on an adult contemporary fantasy.
Fun Facts: When not locked away in her writing tower at the wee hours of the night, Olivia works a government 9-5 job and manages a house full of males (a husband, three sons, and a doggo named Hunter). On occasion, she summons her tribe for a night of wine and shenanigans. Dark chocolate is her kryptonite, she hates/loves to ugly cry during movies, and is a die-hard Bon Jovi fan.
Don’t forget to subscribe to her newsletter to receive exclusive news and updates such as book releases, giveaways, sales, events, sneak peeks and bonus material for upcoming projects.
First off, I want to thank June Summers for the opportunity to read and review What Happened To The Boy. It was the title that first caught my attention and I was sucked in by the cover that jumps out at me. I mean, who doesn’t want to know about a five year old boy after his mother and father are found shot to death in their burned down house.
I guess I would say What Happened To The Boy by June Summers is more mystery than suspense, but there is a sense of danger surrounding the boy and Thin Lizzy. She puts her life on the line to keep him safe.
I love when an author can surprise me and June Summers took me to a place I didn’t see coming. I love it and how she resolved all the issues. I do love a happy ending and she supplied one, so if you are looking for something to wake you up and slap you in the face, then lull you to your happy place, you can’t go wrong adding What Happened To The Boy to your reading list.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
An intense fire destroys the palatial home of a prominent attorney and his wife. After their bodies are removed from the burning house, Sam Nagy is pronounced dead immediately; his wife, Alyssa, succumbs on the way to the hospital. The causes of death are due to bullet wounds—not the fire. But what happened to their boy? Thin Lizzy, a dowdy homeless person, who secretly resides nightly at the public library, knows about the boy, but she’s not telling.
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Format: 267 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication: December 11, 2024 by The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
ABOUT JUNE SUMMERS (from Amazon)
Some say when you’re old, you should be content with what you accomplished in your past and sit back in your rocking chair awaiting your final fate. I, of course, disagree. At the age of seventy-six, I had my first novel, LET FREEDOM RING, published by The Wild Rose Press. Two years later, my second and third novels were released (BEFORE WE FADE AWAY-The Wild Rose Press and A CONFLICT OF TIME-Full Moon Publishing, LLC.) My fourth novel, WHATEVER IT TAKES, was published in F2020 by Moonshine Cove Publishing. My fifth novel, THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN was published by The Wild Rose Press in 2021, and my sixth novel, AT ROPE’S END, will be published on May 1, 2023 by The Wild Rose Press.
I have been writing for as long as I can remember. I started out writing poetry; some good; many not so good. In my stories, I like to write about ordinary people caught in extraordinary situations. I want the readers to put themselves into the place of the characters and feel what they are feeling and see what they are seeing. I want them to be part of situations beyond their imaginations and to experience things vicariously that are too dangerous or absurd to experience in reality. It would be like living your everyday life, then, BAM, something totally out of your control forces you to take action that you never thought you were capable of doing.
Suspense and mystery with unique circumstances are genres of most of my manuscripts. My first three novels took place in Nawinah, a mythical town near Orlando, Florida. My second two took place in Northeastern Ohio, where I am now spending my retirement years.
While writing, I actually feel myself taking part in the activities of my protagonist. I know what he or she is going to say because I would say the same thing. I know what he or she would do in a situation because I know what I would do. It’s a strange but exhilarating sensation.
Some writers make out extensive outlines and know exactly what each chapter will include. Not me. I wouldn’t be able to write that way. As I alluded, I actually live within my characters. So I don’t know how they would react to a situation until that situation takes place.
I had read Yours Truly by R M Demeester and loved it, so I have kept my eyes open for more of her books.
The Girl Once Known is a look into the lives of a highly dysfunctional family, of which Mira is the star. She is burdened with OCD and a need for everything having a place and being in it. She loves her surroundings clean and organized. She lives with her mother and sister who constantly berate her. The way they treat her is horrendous. When an opportunity comes for her to move out and live with her estranged father she doesn’t hesitate.
Her boyfriend helps ground her, but what happens when his actions pull her feet out from under her? In her confusion, she runs from the house. Someone hits her and runs. She is left bloody and broken. I knew the answer of who hit her couldn’t be as easy as the first person I suspected, or the second person I suspected. I love a twisty plot that takes its time unraveling, keeping me turning the pages, having to know the answer.
You won’t get all the answers from The Girl Once Known, so I am quickly going to dive into the next book in the series The Bond Once Broken.
I want to thank R M Demeester and Booksprout for the opportunity to read and review The Girl Once Known by R M Demeester.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
After a violent hit-and-run shatters Mira Harris’s life, she finds herself at a crossroads.
Before the accident, Mira, haunted by a childhood shaped by dysfunction and the recent return of her estranged father, has always sought order to cope. Her relationship with Joseph Oliver, a young man with a troubled past, provided a semblance of balance. But now, with her trust broken and her body battered, to find out who wanted to harm her, she must peel back layers of lies, confronting not just the driver’s identity but the very fabric of her childhood.
As the truth inches closer, Mira and those closest to her face a reality more daunting than her injuries. Is uncovering the truth worth the risk and the personal cost not only to Mira but also to those closest to her?
Genre: Fiction, Psychological, Suspense, Thriller
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2024
ABOUT R M DEMEESTER
R.M. Demeester, from Saskatchewan, loves being a mom, reading books, and writing. She’s been writing since she was very young. Today, she’s known for her stories in women’s fiction, romantic suspense, and thrillers. She also has a rescue dog named Gainer, a chocolate lab who passed away recently, but is still very much loved and missed. Her newest book, “The Girl Once Known”, comes out in February 2024.
Such a pretty cover and when I saw The Tasmanian Colony I wondered if there would be Tasmanian shifters. LOL Nope, but we have plenty of other magical creatures, like witches, vampires and dragons, along with a human. Of course, she will fall in love with one of them, and I was counting on that. I don’t mind some things being predictable, especially when an author creates a fantastical world with compelling characters.
Harriet never stood a chance, once she met HIM.
I love a good supernatural story. Maggie Tideswell lured me in with the blurb, but the story kept me hanging on, facing the same dangers that Harriet did. I thought, what an odd name for a fantasy character and it put a smile on my face as I tried to conjure an image of what she looked like. Not the older woman that I first had in mind, that’s for sure.
Her being the only human makes her a target. Will she allow herself to be turned? I am curious to see how it will play out, as she has fallen in love with a vampire.
I want to thank Maggie Tideswell for the opportunity to read His Brother’s Mate and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A witch, a vampire colony, a dragon shifter, and one little hotblood…
She doesn’t belong there. She is just an ordinary 26-year-old girl with no special talents or superpowers, except for an affinity for sick animals.
Yet, suddenly, because she liked a guy she knew nothing of and wanted to explore her options for a future with him, she finds herself in a vampire colony with no way of escape. Her friend abandons her, leaving her at the mercy of his brother, who just happens to be the most gorgeous man she has ever seen.
Bestselling international author of spooky paranormal romance, urban fantasy romance, and fantasy romance, Maggie Tideswell has a passion for romance. She combines things that can’t be explained with sweaty bodies and rumpled beds in a way that will make your toes curl and your hair stand on end.
Maggie lives in Johannesburg, South Africa with her husband Gareth and a cat called Auntie. She just can’t do without perfume, her tea and the internet. She is nearly as passionate about food as she is about creating alpha heroes every woman will fall in love with, just as she does, every time.
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Obsessed with learning the origins of the cosmos, the actual meaning of life, and the true purpose of civilization, a fine Scotsman named Fingal T. Smyth dedicates himself to the study of Plato’s most extraordinary ideas. Convinced of Plato’s belief that humankind possesses any and all innate knowledge deep within the collective unconscious mind, Fingal soon conducts a series of bold, pioneering occult-science experiments by which to resolve the riddle of the universe once and for all. However, Fingal forgets how violent and perilous the animal impulses that reside in the deepest recesses of the unconscious mind. And when Fingal unleashes a mysterious avatar of his innate knowledge, the entity appears as a burning man and immediately seeks to manipulate innocent and unsuspecting people everywhere into immolating themselves. Now, with little hope of returning the fiery figure into his being, Fingal must capture his nemesis before it destroys the world.
EXCERPT
Autumn, 1907: late one morning, some kind of torrid, invisible beast seemed to wrap itself all around Fingal T. Smyth’s body. Each one of his toes twitching fiercely, he exited the castle and scanned the distant, Scottish Highlands. Go back where you came from. As the entity wrapped itself tighter all about his person, Fingal blinked back his tears. I’m melting, I am. Aye, it’s the heat of fusion.
Gradually, the beast’s heartbeat became audible—each pulsation. At the same time, too, the illusory heat of transformation emitted an odor as of oven-roasted peppercorns dissolving in a cup of burnt coffee.
Over by the gatehouse, Fräulein Wunderwaffe appeared—the little German girl wearing a plain-sewn robe and square-crown bowler. In that moment, she no longer seemed to be a sickly child of seven years: her inscrutable expression resembled that of a wise, indifferent cat.
Perhaps even some kind of lioness. Fingal cringed, and he recalled a fragment of conversation from three weeks earlier.
“She suffers from a most unnatural pathology, an anguished, maniacal obsession with cats,” Doktor Hubertus Pflug had explained. “Ever since the poor girl was a baby, she has always regarded it her fate to one day metamorphose into a glorious panther, for she believes herself to be ein Gestaltwandler. Do you know this word? It means shapeshifter and refers to someone who possesses the power to take the form of anything in nature.”
The heat radiated up and down Fingal’s spine now, and his thoughts turned back to the present. Aye, it’s a change of phase. I’m melting into a chemical compound. Despite all, he greeted the girl and willed himself to flash a grin.
AUTHOR Bio and Links
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M. Laszlo is an aging recluse who lives in Bath, Ohio. Rumor holds that his pseudonym is a reference to Victor Laszlo, a character in the classic film Casablanca. On the Threshold is his first release with the acclaimed, Australian hybrid house AIA Publishing. Oddly, M. Laszlo insists that his latest work, On the Threshold, does in fact provide the correct answer to the riddle of the universe.
