When Valerius was told by his brother, Marcus, that he was to take over their Clan upon Marcus’ marriage to a human, Valerius threw a bit of a temper tantrum. Since procreating with humans – and thus, out of their species – was against their Law, Marcus could no longer be head of Clan Andriescu and deems that his brother step up, marry a nice female vampire and start having children to continue the bloodline.

The brothers and Clan alike call New Orleans home now, and have for the past few hundred years. Before that, they were centered in the Carpathian Mountains until exile to the family came down from the Crown Prince. It’s hinted that the exile was due to the Crown Prince’s jealousy of Marcus’s ability to woo away women from him. When Valerius – Val – hears of his brother’s news, he quickly figures the time difference and transports himself to his old home in the Carpathians.

Intending to sulk about the impending forced nuptials and explore his beloved home, he never expects to find a young girl exploring his old castle. Val quickly makes up a story about an exploring University student from the States that the girl, Aneke, effortlessly accepts. They spend several nights together, talking and exploring the castle. Aneke being sent home by Val at the first hintings of morning and Val transporting himself back to New Orleans.

Suddenly, things become serious for Val … how can that be? He’s only 300 years old and has been described as quite a playboy. What is it about this girl that is different? But, alas, she’s human and nothing can come of their continued relationship …. Right? I’d be a bad reviewer if I gave away the surprising twist of an ending – so you’ll have to read this one for yourself.

For such a quick read, the plot and characters were surprisingly developed and there was a complexity to the story that would lend itself to a full novel. I, for one, would enjoy a follow up to this novella that explored Val and Aneke and the lives of the Clan Andriescu.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Wild Rose Press
• Language: English
• ISBN: n/a

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(No Ratings Yet)

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Pita Sedgwick lives in the northern Rockies of Montana on 8 acres of land. Growing up she has always felt comfortable near or in the forest. After a chance meeting with an older woman who is a seer in a grocery store, she finds out that her adoptive parents had kept a great deal from her.

Sasha, Pita’s best friend since they were children talks her into searching her past through old pictures that Pita found in her parents belongings. Between Sasha and her parents, they figure it is Romania by the background and people in the photos. Sasha talks Pita into a trip to Romania so she may locate her birth parents.

Nikolae Ionesciu is sitting next to Pita on the plane. He says hello with a boyish lopsided grin, she is speechless and struck stupid. When they shake hands it feels like electricity runs between them. He is very attracted to her and talks her into letting him show her around Munich during a layover. After a few hours they say their goodbyes and each board a different plane.

Pita Sedgwick meets an old woman in a grocery store who tells her that she must speak with her. The older woman tells her to be careful of whom she trusts. After meeting with her Pita’s past seems to be one big lie. She flies to Romania to find out about her birth parents. The more she digs for information the more questions come up. Soon she is threatened but she does not know who to trust to help her because everyone seems to lie to her.

This was an awesome book. I hate to use that word but it is the only one I can think of to describe it. The story line was well thought out and ran smoothly through the entire book. During the book you are trying to figure out who is lying to her just like she is. I have to admit that I was wrong on a few of them. Niko or Nikolae had the right amount of heart and strength to become one of those memorable heroes. I cannot wait for book two!

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Wild Rose Press
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1-60154-353-0

To purchase a print copy of Curse of the Marhime click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Alex Manning is “The One”, well actually Alex Manning is a nice guy, with anxiety attacks who has visions. He dosent know he is “The One” until he gets wrapped up in the investigation of the Jamiesonn house. Then he is drawn neck deep into betrayal, battling demons, freaky scary ghosts, and falling in love again tossed in for good measure.

The Chosen is a well written, extremely enjoyable horror novel by C.A. Milson. The character development and story flow are well thought out and full of great details. As you read you can easily visualize the events that are taking place. This is one of those books that you can read over and over again and still get something new out of it each time. In fact I have read it twice already and cought some great parts I had forgotten about the first time.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Amira Press
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-934475-81-2

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Michael was a coward during the last moments of his life and ironically that cowardice caused his death, but that incident drives him to make different choices as a ghost. Dinner for the Dead starts out lightly but will grab your interest with the first few sentences, and you will gobble it up in one sitting. Mr. Morrow has Michael tell his own story, which makes it personal, as if Michael is right there talking to you. He cuts himself no slack as he vividly depicts events he is sharing with you.

Transitions between past and present really work. The closing line is a real smile-jerker, tying the end back to the beginning. Not just entertaining, this well-written story offers one explanation for the dreadful, heartless murders that you hear about in the news and the possibility of having an after-life opportunity to redeem yourself.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-60168-128-7

To purchase an electronic copy of Dinner for the Dead click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.

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Amethyst is a 16year-old witch living in Avalonia on the west coast of Wales. Life there is a lot like it was when her Romanian coven started about 500 years ago. Living such a sheltered life, she is curious about The Beyond – what her coven calls the world outside. As the new High Priestess of the West, Amethyst is nervous about her role in the upcoming Samhain ceremony honoring the dead.

Michael, a High Priest and member of Amethyst’s family, is her teacher, favorite companion and staunch supporter, so he is helping her to prepare. The celebration ends in catastrophe and Amethyst is cast out, which devastates her but she intends to be restored to her coven. She quickly adapts to the strangeness of The Beyond but learns it is even more important that she uncovers the mysteries of her coven and its prophecy. By the end of the story, some mysteries are revealed but some will carry over into the next episode.

This first book in Ms. Kershaw’s The Beyond Series has many characters and lots of details that you need to keep track of in order to understand what is going on. I had a little trouble and had to backtrack a few times, particularly in the beginning, to clarify things, so this is not an easy read. In spite of that, I enjoyed it. I liked Amethyst, though her relationship with Michael was a bit strange, and enjoyed watching her grow wiser as a young lady and stronger as a witch. The characters in The Beyond were a great addition to the story. The paranormal researchers offered some explanations for the witchy happenings and the werewolves provided a lead-in for the second book in this series, Demon Lupus. Ms. Kershaw often dropped hints of what was to come but still maintained a level of suspense throughout the story on many fronts.

If you enjoy a tale with a British flavor, like witches and young adult fiction, and are looking for something with depth not fluff, you should give this a go. Be warned that there is one sex scene. I would not classify it as erotic, but it is explicit and may not be material you would want your under 16year-old to read.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing (September 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1425128084
• ISBN-13: 978-1425128081

To purchase a print copy of Didikai Witch click here.

Books in The Beyond series in the order they should be read:

Didikai Witch
Demon Lupus

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

(2 votes, average: 3 out of 5)

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Claire is a coyote shapeshifter whose human ex-boyfriend could not deal with her being stronger than he is. Her stop at a tough bar hooks her up with a stranger named Lars, who is a shapeshifter just like her. Fueled by a few swigs of moonshine and pressured by Lars, Clair sheds her facade and has the hot, pounding sex she has been denying she wants. But Lars wants to know if she can stand the heat without the moonshine and waits for her to make the next move. How long will it take for Claire to accept her true nature? Will she move on or will she return to Lars?

The answer awaits in this erotic short story that delivers lots of sex with no deep plot or characterizations, but enough to keep the story flowing. The Moira Rogers writing team has created a well-matched pair in Clair and Lars with some nice give-and-take plus several hot, hot scenes between the two.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Cobblestone Press
  
• Book Length: Novella
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-60088-272-2

To purchase an electronic copy of Moonshine click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Truly a new twist on old urban legends. This collection is everything I hoped it would be. Clever, spine-chilling stories that made me unable to stop reading. The characters are outstanding and unique. A great Halloween Anthology.

The Unvanished Hitchhiker by Margaret L. Carter (4.75 R.I.P.)

A new spin on an eerie urban legend. Not grisly but a cliffhanger making you eager to solve it. This is an addictive story. The ending made my heart leap.

When the Dead People Brought a Dish-to-Pass by Christine DeSemet (Dame Moonstone) (5.0 R.I.P.)

The story drew me in. Such unique characters. Halloween celebrating the lives of our loved ones who have passed on. This spooky parable is a real page turner.

Trick or Treat by Carrie S. Masek (Dame Topaz) (4.75 R.I.P.)

Enchanting story. Definitely for the whole family! The curls in story give new life to a seasoned tale. The characters were delectable, the writing is very vibrant. I watched the scenes in my head as the story unfolded.

White Elephants by C.J. Winters (Dame Tanzanite) (4.5 R.I.P.)

New spin about the abandoned house in town. Not the characters I expected, which was very refreshing for me. I was relentless until reaching the end. Having an unique ending left me very satisfied.

Papa by Karen Wiesner (Dame Amethyst) (5.0 R.I.P.)

The eerie tale of Hansel and Gretel has just gotten more chilling. Papa’s characters were unyielding individuals with strict beliefs. Just when I thought I had figured it out, the book turns and it throws all my first conclusions out the window. It kept me on my toes. This is a truly Halloween inspired revamp, to an old fairytale.

The Beast by Jane Toombs (Dame Turquoise) (4.5 R.I.P.)

The old Halloween Party. I was entertained. The characters were a perfect spin to the story. Even though this tale was brief it is well written. The ending is a cliffhanger, which is a delicious way to end this story.

Ghost of a Chance by Karen Woods (Dame Coral) ( 4.75 R.I.P.)

Romance is in the air even on a tragic Halloween.  The characters are so real  this could be your boss or even your best friend.   From the start the author lays out the teasing scenes.  It is packed with ghostly encounters, black cats and even a tragedy.  This is a Halloween Romance if there ever was one.

• Paperback: 302 pages
• Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593746857

To purchase a print copy of Shadows In The Heart click here.

To purchase an electronic copy of Shadows In The Heart click here.

To visit the submitting author’s website go here.

(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)

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This book consisted of four short stories. The first story was “Papa”. Randall Parker is worried about his wife, Amy. She has been depressed ever since his ex wife and two children were killed in a car accident. She feels that it is her fault because he had left his wife for her. Now she sees his children in nightmares begging for their father to save them. Unable to reach his wife through her depression, he takes her away to a hidden cabin in the woods of Wisconsin called Woodcutters Grim. Neither one imagines that her nightmares become reality and they have to rely on each other to survive. (4 tombstones)

The second story “Blood of Amethyst” starts where “Papa” left off. Amethyst Phillips has been taking care of her father since her mother died when she was young. He makes her feel guilty into staying with him even though she loves Gabriel Reece the local sheriff. The woods near her home are believed to be the home of something very evil. When her father does not return from gathering firewood, she gets worried and calls in Gabe. This is only the beginning of bizarre events taking place in the woods. (4 tombstones)

The third story “Dancing to the Grave” begins three years later. Diane Anders –Jones is a music teacher at the local school. Her husband Kurt is on the police department. Ever since Diane found him together with his ex girlfriend, Glynnis, she does not trust him and feels that he no longer wants her. Kurt is trying to make her see that he is still in love with his her so when something evil comes for her, he is willing to do anything for her. (3 tombstones)

The fourth and final story “The Amethyst Tower” starts over thirty years later. Prince has three days left to destroy the evil that lives in the woods. After those three days he will die and be reborn to try again. Rapunzel has been hidden in a high tower by an evil warlock lord. Soon he will make her his bride and the evil in the woods will become permanent. Her only hope is Prince but he has failed before, will he again? (3 tombstones)

All in all I enjoyed this book. I think that if I had read these stories separately it would have been better. The information and background was told over and over again in each story. It began to be repetitive after the second story making it hard to enjoy. Following the characters through the four stories was nice and seemed like a large epilogue. It is always nice to see what happens after the story ends.

Book Stats:

* E-book and Paperback
* Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 9781603132565

To purchase an electronic copy of Wood Cutters Grim Series: Classic Tales of Horror Retold click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.

(No Ratings Yet)

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Grania Burns has given girl power a new face to look up to. She is strong and independent, but her softer side shows through toward her family and her mate (Dylan).

I related most probably to Grania, like most adults we have to decide to live like our parents or by our own values, sometimes these moral values are in constant conflict and to do the right thing you have to go against family. Grania standing up against Draco (her father) and even most of her closest friends to save Earth, made me want to pass out Go Grania buttons.

The language was very British as expected. Most of the battles took place in Great Britain or in Dragonia, most of the characters were thousands of years old so I am glad Marly didn’t use American slang, it would have ruined it for me.

Dragons, witches, wizards, fairies and even a unicorn here and there, this story kept drawing me in, I would make a pact to myself just one more page then I have to stop, seven pages later I was re-compromising that pact again. The action is on going, the love scene dances in front of your eyes, and I adore how they find their mates for life, unfortunately not all unions turn out for the best. If there was to be a sequel I would definitely be the first in line.

Book Stats:

• Electronic format
  
• Publisher: New Concepts Publishing
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-60394-213-3

To purchase an electronic copy of Dragon’s Heart click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.

(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)

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Dr. Roger Sean Gallagher Darvell is a man of science and rational thought; that he is also an unacknowledged vampire tasks his belief system to the point of near insanity. Everyday temptations walk into his office, recline on his sofa, and accept his psychiatric expertise to cure their neurosis. But his patients’ vulnerability and overflowing emotions excite him and sometimes his own needs and hunger nearly explode. He hunts, he feeds, he feels guilt. When his business partner almost catches him lunching on a patient in the office, Roger decides to decamp and start anew. Unfortunately, he is followed to his new home by Sylvia, a young, attractive vampire who needs his help to escape from the psychotic serial-killer Roger has been profiling for the police. Said killer is also a vampire, but in his case, a rogue in search of company. Roger’s new business partner, Dr. Britt Loren, who is not only open minded but also curious about the paranormal, has less trouble accepting Roger’s nature than he does. While Britt may really, really enjoy Roger’s erotic process, is she ready and able to deal with the cold truth of vampirism?

Margaret L. Carter excels at character-driven fiction and proves again how she is able to shape, dissect, and humanize even the most unlikely of characters. With Roger she is able to explore how the rational mind deals with the impossible when rational explanations no longer serve. Sylvia and Neil introduce the reader to the problems faced by the dwindling and aging vampire community strung out across the world. Britt Loren allows the reader to indulge in rampant curiosity while providing a sympathetic character to identify with.

Dark Changeling is not just another vampire novel. It is a character study which delves into a human soul tormented by a nature at odds with its own definition of reality. Readers seeking a sweet love story, a zany love story, or even the traditional fanged lover, need to look elsewhere because Margaret L. Carter doesn’t deal in ‘the usual’. She gives her readers a voyage down a dark river where only dappled sunlight manages to filter through the heavy canopy of traditional expectations. Yet, if I could change anything about the story I would tackle Roger’s occasional tendency to allow his angst to dissolve into a whine. Whining is just so uncool in a vampire.

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Hard Shell Word Factory (December 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0759900965
• ISBN-13: 978-0759900967

To purchase a print copy of Dark Changeling click here.
To purchase a Kindle copy of Dark Changeling click here.

Books in the series in the order they should be read:
Dark Changeling
Child of Twilight

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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