Category: Paranormal

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Kimberly reviews Beneath Her Skin by Gregg Olsen

TITLE: Beneath Her Skin
SERIES #: Empty Coffin #1
CHARACTERS: Hayley & Taylor
AUTHOR: Gregg Olsen
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/02/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The girl was slumped over the edge of the old clawfoot tub, her eyes tiny shards of broken glass, her expression void of anything. Her long, wet hair dripped onto the floor. She was dead.

When the body of troubled teen Katelyn Berkley is found dead in her bathtub, the close-knit community of Port Gamble, Washington is shaken to its core. All signs point to a suicide but what makes her death even more tragic is that Katelyn survived a horrific bus crash ten years ago, which took the lives of several young girls and has scarred the town ever since.

Hayley and Taylor Ryan are identical twins who grew up with Katelyn and have spent the last 10 years getting over the crash. Ever since that fateful night the twins have shared a secret: they can hear the dead. And it soon becomes clear that Katelyn is communicating with them. Whilst the town believes it was a tragic accident, something much darker lies behind Katelyn’s death.

And all the time, someone is watching Port Gamble, someone who doesn’t want old secrets to surface…

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a compulsive thriller about two girls’ search to uncover the truth behind their friend’s death, with a touch of supernatural help. Perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Robert Dugoni and James Patterson.

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts This is a new series by Gregg Olsen but I am so sad to say that I am not sure I will bother with the next one.

So the story is about twins who seem to have a psychic ability and they are investigating the death of an old friend. But there is just so much wrong with this book.

There is a bit of a paranormal feel with the “abilities” the twins have and honestly there doesn’t seem to be much in the suspense side of it either. And there is no horror. There are so many unanswered questions. I can think that some questions about the twins may be answered as the series goes on but there are still questions about the murder.

Just not what I hoped based on the cover and synopsis.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kimberly reviews Into The Woods by David Mark

TITLE: Into The Woods
CHARACTERS: Rowan Blake
AUTHOR: David Mark
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/21/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING RICHARD & JUDY PICK AND KINDLE CHART-TOPPING SENSATION.

Thirty years ago, three school-friends took a walk in the woods. Only two came back – their memories a jumble of hallucinations and twisted visions.

There is a chilling reason why nobody looked for the missing girl.

Now, disgraced investigator ROWAN BLAKE will discover that in the remote and desolate Wasdale Valley, nothing stays buried forever.

Murder and suspense are entwined with supernatural overtones and blistering social commentary in this fast-paced whodunit set in the rugged surroundings of England’s Lake District

This is the first instalment in a Lakeland trilogy by internationally bestselling crime writer DAVID MARK, whose “outstanding”, critically-acclaimed McAvoy series is being developed for TV.

REVIEW:
Boy, I just couldn’t get into this book. I had the worst time not finding every little mistake which had to have gone into the triple digits. It really took me out of the story which each obvious mistake. I hope this is corrected before the book is released.

Now, the story was way too out there (and I watched Supernatural!!!). The suspense was fine but the paranormal part of the story was just too phony.

I picked this up from NetGalley because the synopsis says that the author, David Mark, is having a series made for TV but I am glad it is not this series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kimberly reviews There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done by Lynn S Zubernis

TITLE: There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done
CHARACTERS: Supernatural The CW Characters
AUTHOR: Lynn S Zubernis
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/05/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Fifteen years. Two brothers. Angels and demons. A story like no other. And one of the most passionate fan bases of all time.

That’s Supernatural.

There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done: Actors and Fans Celebrate the Legacy of Supernatural is an emotional look back at the beloved television show Supernatural as it wraps up its final season after fifteen unprecedented years on air.

With heartfelt chapters written by both the series’ actors and its fans—plus full-color photos and fan illustrations—There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done traces Supernatural’s evolution, the memorable characters created by its writers and brought to life by its talented actors, and the many ways in which the show has inspired and changed the lives of both its viewers and cast.

Both a celebration of Supernatural and a way of remembering what made it so special, this book is a permanent reminder of the legacy the show leaves behind and a reminder to the SPN Family to, like the series’ unofficial theme song says, “carry on.”

Including contributions from:

Jared Padalecki (“Sam Winchester”)
Jensen Ackles (“Dean Winchester”)
Richard Speight, Jr. (“Gabriel”)
Andrea Drepaul (“Melanie”)
Carrie Genzel (“Linda Bloome”/”Linda Berman”)
Julie McNiven (“Anna Milton”)
Tahmoh Penikett (“Gadreel”)
Shoshannah Stern (“Eileen Leahy”)
Brendan Taylor (“Doug Stover”)
Lauren Tom (“Linda Tran”)
And many more, including a special message from Mischa Collins (“Castiel”)
Edited by Lynn S. Zubernis, a clinical psychologist, professor, and passionate Supernatural fangirl, There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done is the ultimate send-off for this iconic show that has touched and changed the lives of so many fans across all walks of life.

REVIEW:
As a fan of Supernatural I really enjoyed this book which is coming out at a great time. The show was due to end last tv season but with the pandemic the show is being aired this fall…. Lucky fans!

This book is really a great read for any fan of the show. Of course, if you are not a fan this is not the book for you. But as a fan you will enjoy every word. The stories the author shared were emotional knowing these times were coming to an end. But as any fan laughing is part of the show and part of this book.

I loved the pictures and revisiting favorite characters.

Great for any fan!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Asylum by Theresa Dale

TITLE: Asylum
CHARACTERS: Bailey O’Connor
AUTHOR: Theresa Dale
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/29/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the creator of the Rose’s Ghost series comes another thrilling tale: Asylum proves to be a ghost story that stands on its own.
We follow Bailey O’Connor on an exciting urban exploration trip across the border to discover the secrets of a long-abandoned institution for mentally and physically handicapped children. But there’s more than just mystery darkening the crumbling buildings they discover, and Bailey finds herself lost within them with the help of those who linger.
The search for her is mounted during the day while her own search takes place in the dark. Are the rumors true? The whisperings of experiments performed on the innocent and vulnerable? What secrets lurk within the few impenetrable buildings on the site? Most importantly, can the truth be uncovered before the property is leveled and its secrets are buried forever?
Told in Dale’s unique voice, readers both familiar and new will appreciate an engaging cast of characters and a compelling story that is hard to put down.

REVIEW:
This book had so much potential to be a good scary ghost story but that is not what it ended up being. Some friends go into an asylum to check it out (like any normal person would) when Bailey is bombarded by ghosts who want her to get their stories out.

That should have been good and scary, right? Well some of the ghost stories are interesting but most I just didn’t care about. Nothing was scary. It wasn’t the “leave the light on while you read this” story, unfortunately.

I actually thought this was a first time author so I was willing to give it a bit of a slide since it was such a generic story, but I see this author has written other stories.

I think it still has a lot of potential but didn’t stand up to the potential it had.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kimberly reviews All The Colors Of Night by Jayne Ann Krentz

TITLE: All The Colors Of Night
SERIES #: Fogg Lake #2
CHARACTERS: Sierra & North
AUTHOR: Jayne Ann Krentz
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/05/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Two psychics plunge into a dark world of deadly secrets in this second installment of the Fogg Lake trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz.

North Chastain possesses a paranormal talent that gives him the ability to track down the most dangerous psychic criminals. When his father suddenly falls into a coma, North is convinced it was caused by a deadly artifact traced back to the days of a secret government laboratory known only as the Bluestone Project. North knows his only hope of saving his father is to find the artifact. He is good when it comes to tracking down killers but to locate the relic, he’s going to need help from a psychic who knows the shadowy world of obsessive collectors, deceptive dealers, and ruthless raiders…

With her reputation in ruins after a false accusation, antique expert Sierra Raines is looking for a fresh start. She turns to the murky backwaters of the paranormal artifacts trade, finding and transporting valuable objects with a psychic provenance. When North Chastain approaches her for help, Sierra takes him on as a client, though not without reservations. North represents the mysterious Foundation, the secretive organization established to police the underworld populated by psychic criminals and those, like Sierra, who make a living in the shadows of that world.

North and Sierra soon find themselves at the scene of The Incident that occurred decades ago in Fogg Lake. The town and its residents were forever changed by the disaster in the nearby Bluestone Project labs. The pair unearth shocking truths about what happened that fateful night, but they are playing with fire—someone in town knows what they’ve discovered and will do anything to make sure the secrets stay buried.

REVIEW:
4.75 Hearts As with all of JAK’s books I loved this book. I somehow managed to miss the first in the series but while I will be catching up and reading book one this can be a stand alone.

This book has a bit of paranormal and a good amount of romance. North’s father is dying. Sierra’s job is to find psychic relics and North needs Sierra to find the relic that may save his father.

I loved the main characters. Sierra and North are really interesting characters alone but put them together and they are terrific. As JAK normally does she writes Sierra as a strong independent woman who isn’t looking for a man but when North falls in her lap she is smart enough to know the connection means something. I love how JAK writes women!

North is a good guy too. Not that there isn’t conflict and it is all peaches and cream because it isn’t but the couple works perfectly.

I really enjoyed the story. It was one that I wanted to rush through to read every word but also didn’t want to read too fast because the story would end.

JAK is one of the best and this book is just proof.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kimberly reviews The Haunting Of Brynn Wilder by Wendy Webb

TITLE: The Haunting Of Brynn Wilder
CHARACTERS: Brynn Wilder
AUTHOR: Wendy Webb
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/01/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
After a devastating loss, Brynn Wilder escapes to Wharton, a tourist town on Lake Superior, to reset. Checking into a quaint boardinghouse for the summer, she hopes to put her life into perspective. In her fellow lodgers, she finds a friendly company of strangers: the frail Alice, cared for by a married couple with a heartbreaking story of their own; LuAnn, the eccentric and lovable owner of the inn; and Dominic, an unsettlingly handsome man inked from head to toe in mesmerizing tattoos.

But in this inviting refuge, where a century of souls has passed, a mystery begins to swirl. Alice knows things about Brynn, about all of them, that she shouldn’t. Bad dreams and night whispers lure Brynn to a shuttered room at the end of the hall, a room still heavy with a recent death. And now she’s become irresistibly drawn to Dominic—even in the shadow of rumors that wherever he goes, suspicious death follows.

In this chilling season of love, transformation, and fear, something is calling for Brynn. To settle her past, she may have no choice but to answer.

REVIEW:
I am going straight down the middle for this review. I think this book had a lot of potential. The book has a bit of everything, romance, paranormal, suspense, and more but the writing is what didn’t have the umph that the book could have had.

The story was pretty easy to figure out but then a twist would be put into it with an understanding of why. A couple of the twists have me wondering what it was even about. Seems we got more questions than answers in this book but the biggest question was “Why add that at all?”.

The characters are an interesting bunch of people and again had so much potential.

I wish the author had taken a little more time and hadn’t felt like she needed to throw everything including the kitchen sink into one book.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kelly reviews Jingle All The Slay by Dakota Cassidy

TITLE: Jingle All the Slay
SERIES: Marshmallow Hollow Mystery #1
CHARACTERS: Halliday Valentine
AUTHORS: Dakota Cassidy
PUBLICATION DATE: October 12, 2020
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Welcome to Marshmallow Hollow, Maine, a holiday mystery, where it’s all Christmas all the time and murder is hung by the chimney with care…
I’m Halliday Valentine (yep; funny name is funny), a psychic witch who’s recently moved from New York City back to my very human hometown of Marshmallow Hollow, where I run the family factory that caters to all things Christmas. I inherited the factory from Mom, who inherited from Nana Karen, but now it’s just me (kinda…long story), my curmudgeonly British familiar hummingbird, Atticus; one ungrateful rescue cat; my talking reindeer, Karen; and my BFF Stiles (the only human aware of my witchy side).
Oh, and Digby Dainty (known as Hobbs), the tall drink of water who rents my guest cottage. And who I wouldn’t mind getting to know better. We have a lot in common, including a love of true crime. So as macabre as it sounds, when a shady real estate tycoon shows up dead in the middle of the annual ice festival, I’m thrilled to spend time with Hobbs, flexing our amateur sleuthing skills.
Well…not thrilled. I mean, a guy’s dead after all. But he did try to con some businesses right out from under the hard-working locals. In fact, the only thing more surprising than a murder in our charming Christmas town is how many of my friendly, beloved neighbors seemed to want the man dead…

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Welcome to Marshmallow Hollow where everything’s coming up tinsel! Where the hot chocolate is the best, the candy canes are sweet and the murders are….. Who murders someone in Christmas town? But never fear Halliday ‘Hal’ Valentine, her familiar Atticus, her feisty Reindeer Karen and her hunky cottage guest (*dreamy eyes*) are on the case!
This was a great start of a new series for Dakota Cassidy. If you are a fan of her Witchless in Seattle series then you might remember meeting Halliday Valentine. Hal is Stevie’s long lost sister. Jingle All the Slay is a great quick read filled with lots of humor, suspense, and of course Christmas. I loved every minute of this book and am already looking forward to what is next for Hal, Hobbs and the rest of the crew.
If you are a fan of Dakota Cassidy you will love this new gem. If you are new to Dakota this is a great place to start, then you can go back and meet Stevie and her gang.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Dakota Cassidy in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Black Willows by Jill Hand

TITLE: Black Willows
SERIES #: Trapnell Thriller #2
CHARACTERS: Trapnell Siblings
AUTHOR: Jill Hand
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/22/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A mysterious cowboy is stalking the eccentric Trapnell siblings. Is he a supernatural entity or a hired killer? To complicate things, the will making them heirs to their billionaire father’s estate is missing and a relative has returned from a watery grave.
Last time, the Trapnells saved the world from destruction. This time they may not be able to save themselves. Black Willows is a darkly funny Southern-fried adventure, complete with Voodoo, arson, and alligators.

REVIEW:
I am on the fence about this book. Not because it wasn’t well written but it seemed so soap opera like. And also had every stereotypical southern trait ever mentioned.

I found myself skipping a lot of the story and skipping just to the dialogue so I knew what was going on.

Not my cup of tea leaves.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kelly reviews Harrow The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

TITLE: Harrow the Ninth
SERIES #: The Locked Tomb #2
CHARACTERS: Harrowhawk Nonagesimus
AUTHOR: Tamsyn Muir
NARRATOR: Moira Quirk
RUN TIME: 19 Hours & 51 Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: August 4, 2020
ORDER LINKS: Audible | Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Harrow the Ninth, the sequel to the sensational, USA Today best-selling novel Gideon the Ninth, turns a galaxy inside out as one necromancer struggles to survive the wreckage of herself aboard the Emperor’s haunted space station.
She answered the Emperor’s call.
She arrived with her arts, her wits, and her only friend.
In victory, her world has turned to ash.
After rocking the cosmos with her deathly debut, Tamsyn Muir continues the story of the penumbral Ninth House in Harrow the Ninth, a mind-twisting puzzle box of mystery, murder, magic, and mayhem. Nothing is as it seems in the halls of the Emperor, and the fate of the galaxy rests on one woman’s shoulders.
Harrowhark Nonagesimus, last necromancer of the Ninth House, has been drafted by her Emperor to fight an unwinnable war. Side-by-side with a detested rival, Harrow must perfect her skills and become an angel of undeath — but her health is failing, her sword makes her nauseous, and even her mind is threatening to betray her.
Sealed in the gothic gloom of the Emperor’s Mithraeum with three unfriendly teachers, hunted by the mad ghost of a murdered planet, Harrow must confront two unwelcome questions: is somebody trying to kill her? And if they succeeded, would the universe be better off?

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts
#1 These book covers are EPIC!! I need to find a good way to display them on my bookshelves!!!!!
#2 This book is all over the place! You need to make sure that you are paying attention to what is happening or you may find yourself lost.
#3 OMG!! Did…. Is that…… WOW!!! Okay this is good.
#4 What the heck?
So those were my thoughts as I read/listened to Harrow the Ninth! Tamsyn Muir is an excellent storyteller even when I am super confused and have no clue what is happening. There is always a method behind her madness and chaos.
I thoroughly enjoyed Harrow the Ninth. But I must tell you that you do need to read Gideon the Ninth first.
Moira Quirk does another amazing job bringing all these crazy complexed characters to life! I really enjoyed having her read this story to me.
I am super excited for the final installment in this trilogy. I have a feeling the Alecto the Ninth is going to be beyond epic!!!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Edelweiss & Tor Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts

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Kelly reviews The Haunting Of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

TITLE: The Haunting of Hill House
AUTHORS: Shirley Jackson
NARRATOR: Laura Miller
RUN TIME: 7 Hours & 27 Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: Originally Published in 1959
ORDER LINKS: Audible | Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a “haunting”; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Hill House has sat empty for many years and many have said that it should be burned to the ground.
Let me start by saying the book is WAY different then the tv series. Some of the characters are the same and a few events are the same but other than that way, way different. So if you are planning to read this based on the TV series you have been warned.
The book dives into the past more and some events that lead to Hill House being haunted. But even with that the story is a little slow to start. It takes a bit for the story to really pick up steam and get to the good parts. But I can see why this has been a fan favorite for so many years. I am glad that I picked up the original version to see what inspired the TV series (which I loved).
Disclaimer:
I purchased this audiobook from Audible.com and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.


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Kimberly reviews Wolf Untamed by Paige Tyler

TITLE: Wolf Untamed
SERIES #: SWAT #11
CHARACTERS: Diego & Bree
AUTHOR: Paige Tyler
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/24/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Paige Tyler brings you the latest in her sexy, pulse-pounding SWAT series

SWAT werewolf Diego Martinez has always had a protective side, so when he meets a newly turned teenage werewolf, and the kid’s intriguing mother, he readily offers to help Brandon learn what it means to be a werewolf. He also readily falls for for Brandon’s mother, Bree, and the attraction is mutual.

But as SWAT’s biggest case starts to converge with Bree’s family, Diego and Bree find themselves in danger they could never have imagined. It’ll take everything they’ve got to discover the truth and keep each other safe.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts The story is fine but it is so similar to the others in the series that I think I might just need to take a break from this series. This is #11 in the series and I feel that the author can only do so much with the same type of storyline eleven times (more so if you count the other series’).

There is a lot happening to Diego and Bree in this story. There were times I wished I had a commercial break so the characters could take a breath. The romance is just as jam-packed. Yes, we know they are meant to be together for they are soulmates and I liked that the relationship never seemed to falter in the belief they were meant to be together and they could accomplish anything as long as they are together.

If you are a first time reader of this series then it would probably be very enjoyable but for a reader who has read most if not all of the series it needs to be changed up.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews Joy To The Wolves by Terry Spear

TITLE: Joy To The Wolves
SERIES #: Red Wolf #1
CHARACTERS: Brooke & Josh
AUTHOR: Terry Spear
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/29/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Meet the shifters of the Red Wolf pack…

Close quarters make for a cozy Christmas…

As Christmas approaches, red wolf shifter Brooke Cerise unexpectedly inherits an antique shop in Portland, Oregon. But when a missing reindeer calf turns up on her property, she becomes embroiled in a kidnapping case and the primary suspect of far-too-intriguing shifter Detective Josh Wilding.

Josh doesn’t intend to fall for the mysterious new woman in town, but Brooke gets under his skin from the moment they meet, and he can’t help his instinct to protect her. These red wolves are both on the hunt for love, but there’s a mystery to solve before they can enjoy their holiday happy-ever-after.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts So the good first. This story is cute. Plain and simple. Brooke is a red wolf that comes to town because her aunt left her an antique store. She seems a young reindeer in front of her store and brings it in. The town can’t wait to see it and Brooke gets to know the wolves of the area in a light hearted way.

Josh comes off as a bit of an ass but finally I warmed up to him. But I will say it took a while. And I never really understood why he was being an ass to Brooke.

And the treasure hunt is worth the read in and of itself. BUT…

Now the bad… After all the books Terry Spear has written this seemed stiff. A lot of it just didn’t flow and the conversations were unrealistic, that may seem weird about a paranormal.

Still a good read and a nice add to the Holiday Paranormal Romance genre.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.