WHO IS AUDREY WICKERSHAM by Sara Shrieves_Review

Who is Audrey Wickersham? by Sara Shrieves

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A truly enjoyable and original perspective on the paranormal with an utterly empathetic heroine, a delightful sense of humour, and a cast of characters-both mundane and magical-that will keep the reader racing through those pages, “Who is Audrey Wickersham?” is a lively novel for YA and older readers. Free of explicit sensuality and only one instance of profanity, the only reason for the rating of 18+ would be-well, violence-lots of it.

Audrey is fifteen and has a devoted Dad nicknamed “Hulk,” a neighbor-former babysitter Bruce who is an R.N. and joyfully Gay, and a best guy friend Kirk who is two years older. She is also a prude and sensually an innocent. Life turns very funky when on a repeated visit to Magic Edge witchcraft supply store she discovers an annex to the regular store, and while waiting for a custom spell to be crafted, inadvertently knocks over a jar-and begins the process of turning zombie.

As the days pass all too quickly, Audrey discovers a propensity for blood-and body parts-learns her friend Kirk’s real secret, and is hunted by the magical Council. She wants desperately to preserve her Dad and friend Bruce, but doesn’t know if she can overcome her hunger-until Kirk steps in, and either makes things worse-or better.

I received this review via Goodreads Lovers of Paranormal Group in exchange for a fair and honest review.



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ANGEL OF DEATH by K. W. McCabe_Review

Angel of Death by K.W. McCabe

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I reviewed this copy received from the author in exchange for my fair and honest review.

How I loved this short story! It’s touching, heartwarming, worrisome, and ultimately a combination of terrifying and awesome! Although a short story, so much of “eternity,” ethics, philosophy, and what I consider an accurate view of contemporary culture is packed in, along with abiding love, filial love, and purity of Soul. I truly hope there will be a sequel so we can discover more about the paths of Thomas Lord Death and of Sarah, of Stevie and the promised little girl. These characters are adorable and awe-inspiring, and I really hope to spend more time in their “presence.”



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THE YARD DOG (HOOK RUNYON #1) by Sheldon Russell_Review

The Yard Dog by Sheldon Russell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Review of The Yard Dog by Sheldon Russell
Hook Runyon #1

I loved this book every bit as much as I loved Robert Jackson Bennett’s “Mr. Shivers,” which is not to take away from either novel-just the opposite. “Mr. Shivers” takes place, in large part, in the hobo jungle of the railroads during the Great Depression in the U.S., in the 1930’s. “The Yard Dog” is the first of the Hook Runyon series, and begins during World War II, in Oklahoma. Hook is a one-armed “yard dog,” or “railroad bull,” a detective employed by the Santa Fe Railroad, in Oklahoma. He keeps an eye out for bums, pickpockets, and thievery of railroad property. His home is a caboose, which is neatly available for moving from one location to another via switch engine, and in his solitude and loneliness Hook is not only an avid reader but a collector of rare editions.

At the commencement of the novel Hook is dismayed and distraught to discover that Spark Durgan, a rather low-intellect man who lived in a shack under a railroad trestle and made his minor living picking up coal fallen from freight cars, has died-ostensibly by falling asleep under a line of refrigerated boxcars and subsequently being run over. But Hook won’t believe it, and he perseveres in discovering the true cause, despite various attempts-including both his railroad employers and colleagues, and the U.S. Army Major who is Commanding Officer of the nearby P.O.W. camp-to halt the investigation and label it an accident while under intoxication.

Literate, clever, with deeply delineated characters and a delightfully twisty plot, “The Yard Dog” captured my attention immediately and by the end I had determined to continue with the series, enjoying Hook’s character and his loyalty and determination (not to mention his fascinating reading tastes).

My review is based on a Library edition.



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LOVING THE RAIN by Jeff LaFerny_Review

Loving the Rain by Jeff LaFerney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


“Loving the Rain” engrossed me as much as did author Jeff LaFerny’s more recent novels (“Skeleton Key” and “Bulletproof”) for several reasons. Despite my disinterest in sports, I found myself immediately involved in “Loving the Rain” (yes, that title has a major pivot in the book) because the author leads two of his main characters-father and son duo Clay and Tanner Thomas-through some serious moral and philosophical obstacles. Here are two individuals, both of whom are cursed, or gifted, with mental abilities that are extraordinary and not usually available to others, in both cases quite possibly due to birth trauma. Each is confronted with a fork in his path, in the sense that he must decide how to use these abilities, or indeed, whether or not to use them at all. Should Clay, or should Tanner, influence others? If so, whom? Spouse? Children? Parent? Grandparents? Maybe teachers, coaches, professors, teammates? Best friends or girlfriends? When one considers that these two individuals can quite literally change anyone’s mind, this quickly becomes not a moot point at all, but a very serious question.

Another reason this novel so intrigued me is that it is the beginning of the Thomas family saga, and events occur here which will literally change the lives of both father Clay and son Thomas, explaining situations that are present in the latter two books. Additionally, the writing is so smooth-flowing that the reader will be at the end almost without realizing it, caught up in the attitudes, the events, and as well, the villainy which will face off against the Tanners and attempt to ruin both their lives.

The author provided me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my fair and honest review of “Loving the Rain.”





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TUNNEL/THE LOST DIARY by Steven Nedelton_Review

TUNNEL / The Lost Diary by Steven Nedelton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



“Tunnel/The Lost Diary” is a complicated novel with a generous number of plot threads and what seems like a huge cast of characters. Basically, the premise involves the closing days of World War II and the Russian Army in the time of Stalin. A superior Russian officer orders two suitcases of gold to be well-concealed in an abandoned mining tunnel in Latvia, which at that time suffered under Russian occupation. The subordinate officer who transports the suitcases knows they contain gold, and later returns to the mine tunnel to retrieve them, where he is spotted by a fourteen-year-old boy, Bendis. As Bendis’ father is a veterinarian, the officer, Andris, turns to him for help, setting a scheme in motion that carries on to 1962, with murder, theft, and the involvement of two governments, Soviet and U.S.

The suitcases are valued for more than just the supposed millions in gold, and it is the extra component that propels the plot and causes murders, threats of scandal, and other violence. The ending leaves the reader with the question whether this is intended to be a cliffhanger, with a sequel to follow, or just an open conclusion.

Acquired from author July 23 in return for a fair and honest review, via The Nexus Gr0up



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Interview with Kitty Bullard of Great Minds Think Aloud Publishing_Interview by Debbie Brown of Amethyst Eyes

InterviewInterview with Kitty Bullard

HOTBLOOD (HOUSE OF SLIDE #1) by Juliann Whicker_Review

Hotblood by Juliann Whicker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is one of the most complicated, yet engrossing, novels I’ve read (and I’ve read thousands over the course of my six decades). There is such a tremendous quantity and quality of backstory to this series, that I visualize the author as having an entire bookshelf of vinyl notebooks stuffed to overflowing with character, plot, genetic, and hierarchical data. Make no mistake: an incredible amount of effort and energy went into this novel (and I’m sure, into the series) and I totally loved it and anticipate the next series entry.

Author Juliann Whicker postulates a “reality,” so similar, yet so divergent, to our own; in which ordinary humans live side by side with humans who are-other. No, not vamps, werewolves, other shifters-not even elves and Fae. These are: Wilds, Hotbloods, Cools, formerly Hollows, and now Hybrids. The protagonist, Dariana, is a Hybrid, as was the brother who stole her soul when she was only six. When the novel commences, brother Devlin is being interred, the victim of a bloodworker. Enter Lewis, seemingly a Hotblood, who espies Dari at the funeral and realizes she is without a soul; then determines to help her.

This is just a glimpse at the astronomically convoluted plot complications-you simply must read this novel, and the series. I think this one should go on the Top 100 YA Paranormal list!




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ONCE UPON A CASTLE by Alan S. Dean_Review

Once Upon a Castle by Alan S. Blood

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Review held until Release Date, August 1, 2012


A stirring tale for young readers (and us oldsters) of the beginning of World War II in England, “Once Upon A Castle” serves up nostalgia-and predicted fear-for today’s readers, whether we lived through the events of this War or just have studied our history.

Young twins, Tom and Mary, are returned home from their respective rural boarding schools to London, where they discover their father, a Navy captain, has already shipped out; and their mother, a qualified nurse, is returning to work to aid in the War effort. The two children must go to an aunt and uncle in Northumbria, a locale which in their poi "nt of view is both far distant and fabled (after their neighbor “Uncle Toby” regales them with stories of Northumbrian lore and traditions).

Life in Northumberland is exciting and intriguing, until the twins learn they have to be schooled by a private tutor. But the rebellious little souls run away to explore Bamburgh Castle, and in the process experience a German destroyer, a Viking longship, and an ancient Castle long since collapsed.




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UNHOLY GHOSTS (DOWNSIDE GHOSTS #1) by Stacia Kane_Review

Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Review of Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane Downside Ghosts #1

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I literally could not stop reading, and I’m determined to read the rest of the series (which I think is currently up to 6, plus 2 in-betweens). Despite the rampant violence, threats of violence, deaths, cursing, I still loved the book. “Unholy Ghosts” is so fast-paced, it’s incredible. Author Stacia Kane juggles a tremendous number of plot lines and makes it work. There are at least three-count ‘em, three-romances or potential romances going on-both “upscale” and “slumming”-and Ms. Kane makes all that work well and smoothly. It’s trite to call a female protagonist a “Kick-*** heroine,” but you know, the term could have been invented for Chess. Hardly ever seen a protagonist to compare, except possibly Jennifer Estep’s sociopathic assassin Gin Blanco (“The Spider”) in the Elemental series.

I would have joyed in this book just because it deals with ghosts, and has elements of Spiritualism (of course, not considered that in the context of the story), dystopianism, fascism, and much much more-yet author Kane makes it so real, so vivid, so plausible, that I probably remained breathless throughout the book.




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IN THE FORESTS OF THE NIGHT (GOBLIN WARS 2) by Kersten Hamilton_Review

In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another incredible urban fantasy plus Celtic mythology and legend, set in contemporary Chicago, “In the Forests of the Night” is every bit as absorbing as its predecessor in the series, “Tyger, Tyger.” Young Teagan, still reeling from the loss of her mother, the near-loss of her father, and his inability to recover the memories of her mother’s death that had been wiped from his mind during his involuntary stay in Mag Mell (the alter-dimension of goblins, fae, sidhe, and others), must cope with the magnetism of Finn Mac Cumhaill-are they in love, or is it lust, or just the survival instinct common in times of danger), and with the Highborn’s insistence on acquiring her “exceptional” younger brother Aiden, whose singing, quite literally, is magic. Adding to this are the Sidhe Roisin and Thomas, brought back from Mag Mell; Mamieo, Finn’s ailing but very feisty Irish grandma; the cat-sidhe Grendel; the sprite Lucy, who loves Aiden’s hair; and of course, Teagan’s long-time best friend, Abby, whose relatives make up their own Mob.

This series is excellent and deserves space on the Keeper Shelf. I highly recommend it!




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TRANSITION (THE CHIMERA HUNTERS SERIES) by Megan S. Johnston_Review

Transition by Megan S. Johnston

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


“Transition” has quite an intriguing premise: Chimeras, a mythical race of beings composed of three animals in combination (in Greek myth; lion, goat, and snake), actually do exist and have for millennia. Divided into opposing segments by the deities, who thought the Chimeras’ abilities too dangerous, the species has hunted ever since to find its “other half,” its “sodalist” or lifetime mate. Shelby, a homeschooled farm girl who now attends Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, has recently had a series of dreams both disturbing and enticing, of a sexy male who communicates with her by seeming telepathy, and who is tattooed broadly with a Siberian white tiger. Friends try to tell her to forget her dream fantasy and date what’s real; but sometimes friends don’t know best, and neither do family. Shelby will have to make her own considered decision.

The friendship with tension between Shelby and Jen are mirrored by similar between the Chimeras Develon and Stephen. All the characters are well-rounded and understandable. The explanations of the seemingly mythical premise of the Chimeras are handled in a way that allows immediate suspension of reality; there is no “huh? That’s not possible” involved because the locale is so detailed and the Chimeras just seem so natural and so plausible that the reader is immediately drawn in.

This novel is not just well-written and enjoyable; it’s addictive. I found myself thinking about the plot, the setting, and the characters, even while reading other books and while trying to sleep. “Transition” is very highly recommended; I can only hope it will be but the first in a very attractive and enjoyable series.




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