Book #Review ~ I Spy a Demon by Keta Diablo ~ #Paranormal #Romance #PNR ~ @ketadiablo

Book Details:

Print Length: 119 pages

Publication Date: November 12, 2019

ASIN: B07ZFC5WT7

Book Genre: Paranormal Romance

Amazon: https://amzn.to/375kwHs

About I Spy a Demon:

When twins Cecily and Calder Sizemore’s parents are killed in a car accident, they’re adopted by the Frost family—Gus, Mae and their sons, Marcel and Elliott. Over the years, Cecily’s love for Marcel evolves into anything but sisterly.

Cecily always knew something was amiss in the Frost household. Little things belied the calm, peaceful ambiance Mae did her best to portray. Calder tried to warn her things were not as they appeared, but she didn’t want to believe him. When Calder begs her to leave Des Moines, start a new life away from the secrets, away from the Frosts and away from Marcel, she takes his advice and her shattered heart and moves to Minnesota.

Now she’s been called home for her beloved brother's funeral. There's more to the story than meets the eye. Discrepancies in how her twin died lead her back to Des Moines, and back to Marcel―the boy who stole her heart, the man whose very presence turns her blood to liquid fire. Marcel has always kept dangerous secrets, but this time, Cecily is determined to uncover the truth about the Frosts… and the truth about how Calder really died.

She’ll find out what really happened to her brother, even if it’s her last act in life.

Visit the Author:

Blog: http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ketadiablo

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2620426.Keta_Diablo

My Review:

Cecily’s story was one of sadness and deceit. She and her twin brother, Calder, lost their parents when they were young and moved in with the Frost family. A bit unconventional, but it works for the story. Growing up in the Frost household involved many hushed phone calls, secret meetings, and locked doors that the twins were not allowed to be involved. Cecily and one of the Frost sons, Marcel, become involved only to have Cecily’s brother Calder tell her to get as far away from the Frost’s as possible. One fateful day, Cecily receives a phone call that Calder was killed in an automobile accident and she’s suddenly trust back into the world Calder told her to escape. Only now, Cecily is older and refuses to be placated. She knows something is wrong with the stories surrounding Calder’s death and she will stay, and she will figure out what really happened.

The writing of this novel is smooth, conversational, and I found myself being easily immersed in the story. The chemistry between Cecily and Marcel is powerful and undeniable and loved how there was a magnetic pull that couldn’t keep them apart. The discovery of the truth behind Calder’s death was emotional, unbelievable, and shock-inducing to Cecily and the author captured her very well. There is a twist near the end that I did not really see coming and it made the journey to the end of the book very satisfying. I enjoyed I Spy a Demon and look forward to reading more stories by Keta Diablo.

I was provided a copy of the book to read and review.

My Rating:

#Book #Review ~ House of Ash & Brimstone (Gatewalkers, Book 1) by Megan Starks ~ #Paranormal #Romance #PNR @fictivate

Book Details:

Print Length: 390 pages

Publisher: City Owl Press

Publication Date: October 22, 2019

ASIN: B07XZMQ2KQ

Amazon

About the Book:

Hell has come to collect…

…but Gisele Walker has no plans to pay the debt.

As a half-demon paranormal bounty hunter, Gisele is used to flirting with death, but stealing a curio and opening a portal to Hell’s demon court is more than your average day job.

Now, she’s partnered with an infuriatingly handsome demon, Shade, who has more levels of grey than she can count.

Who can she trust to help save the city as Baltimore burns to the ground and ghouls roam the streets?

With a white-hot attraction burning between them and secrets blocking their path, Gisele must face her past and venture into the twisted heart of the demon royal court.

But with no memory of her past…

…will she be able to save their future?

My Review:

House of Ash & Brimstone is the first book in a new paranormal romance series by Megan Starks. The main character. Gisele, is a half-blood demon and human who lives in the mundane world as a bounty hunter; avoiding Hell as much as possible and only with a large police escort. She also doesn't have any memories prior to the age of 11. She only remembers from the time she was placed in a convent for protection; although, protection is not at all what we learn she received. Shade is he new partner. He is dark, handsome and full of secrets. Shortly after being paired with Shade, Gisele begins to have very life-like dreams that appear to be from prior to the age of 11. She doesn't understand them and for the longest time brushes them aside. As the story moves forward she learns a lot about her past life and how is intersects with Shade.

The characters and character development are excellent. Gisele has a hard time accepting that her dreams are actually memories resurfacing. Shade is secretive and when asked any questions he either avoids the question, changes the subject, or deflects, causing Gisele to find him untrustworthy and just plain annoying. The natural progression of the story allows for circumstances that Shade is able to prove his trustworthiness, however; Gisele is jaded and either doesn't believe him or misconstrues what happens and why. The only issue I have is Gisele's stubbornness when it comes to Shade, who he is, why he's there, and what he means to her. Plus, she's pretty hot and cold for awhile. Her mood swings and beliefs gave me a serious case of whiplash as I tried to keep up with her.

The world building in this novel is so creative and vivid the story pops right off the pages. I was able to envision the story the author was telling and I felt like I was there. House of Ash & Brimstone is full of heart-pounding action and heart-stopping decisions. There are multitudes of twists, turns, and suspense. I couldn't breathe during certain scenes, as I waited in anticipation for things to be revealed. The story is romantic, dark, and full of betrayal. I was on the edge of my seat throughout most of the book.

I was provided a copy of this book to review but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

My Rating:

#Book Review ~ Pictures of Dorianna by Catherine Stine ~ Urban Fantasy, YA Paranormal Romance ~ @crossoverwriter #BewitchingBookTours #RoxanneRhoads

Genre: Urban Fantasy, YA Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Konjur Road Press

Date of Publication: October 23, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-7333901-0-1
eBook: 978-1-7333901-1-8
ASIN: B07WGB5HQ6

Number of pages: 327
Word Count: 90k

Cover Artist: Najla Qamber 

Amazon

About the Book:

Internet followers, beauty, power. It all sounded good. 

Until it transformed into a terrifying reality she couldn’t stop. 

When her father is jailed, her mother ships lonely, plain Dorianna to her aunt’s in Brooklyn, NY. There, Dorianna yearns to build a new identity, but the popular Lacey bullies her—mostly for getting attention from her ex, Ander.

Ander takes Dorianna to Coney Island where Wilson, a videographer, creates a stunning compilation of her. She dreams of being an online sensation, as she’s never even had a birthday party, and vows she’d give anything to go viral. Wilson claims he’s the Prince of Darkness and offers her the beauty and fame, even love she’s dreamed of—warning her that a pledge has its downsides. Dorianna has no idea of how dire those consequences might be.

She’s thrust into the spotlight, and an incomprehensible nightmare. Not only is she prettier, she’s gaining harmful powers of manipulation. When her dark forces grow beyond anything she can control, she’s desperate but clueless as to how to stop them.

My Review:

As if high school isn’t hard enough for those who’ve spent their entire lives in the same school district, coming in a someone new is down right treacherous. When Dorianna is sent to the east coast to live with her incarcerated father’s sister, Dorianna longs to start again with the new people in her school. She lacks confidence, doesn’t have the most popular clothes, nor comes from an affluent family. She’s okay with all of that as long as no one learns about her past. She garners the attention of Ander, a former athlete, which is a surprise. Unfortunately, he also brings baggage in the form of Lacey, his ex-girlfriend. After hanging out with Ander for some time, he takes her to Coney Island and introduces her to Wilson. Wilson is dark, gothic, and creepy yet when he offers her a deal to make her popular, loved, and world-renowned – but of course, with that fame comes a price to be paid.

Pictures of Dorianna is a reimagining of a much older book but Catherine Stine has created her own original young adult horror novel. When you make a deal with the devil there are always consequences to your bargain. Dorianna learns that the hard way as she navigates her new popularity and viral presence. Videos taken and posted by Wilson continue to evolve even after uploading to a popular video service. As Dorianna’s character becomes darker, her videos also take a turn toward the dark side. Her quick rise to fame quickly becomes wrought with controversy as each event she hosts for her new “followers” becomes enveloped in sadness, pain, and one-upmanship from her leading rival. As the book progresses, the beast inside Dorianna continues to grow and elicit more control over her.

Dorianna is complex character and wants what all teenagers want – to fit in. Being a teenager is difficult. Being loathed at her previous school, having a father in prison, and mother who couldn’t handle things, forcing Dorianna to live with her aunt, causes certain emotions and attitudes to develop. She wants to belong, to have friends, be popular so moving to a new school increases her hopes of belonging. Her decision-making skills find her in a predicament that she both loves to be part of but also loathes who she’s becoming. She was written well. Some of the dialogue is weak but the story and characters are strong. I adored the ending and am satisfied with where the author left Dorianna. Great YA story appropriate for teenagers 14 and over.

I was provided a copy of this book to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My Rating:

Book Review ~ Spellbound (Pagan Light Series, Book 2) by JoAnne Keltner ~ #YA #Paranormal ~ @JoAnneKeltner

About Spellbound, Book 2:

After battling a demon from her great-grandmother’s past, Jackie Turov, a psychic and healer, accepts that all things are possible—even a romantic relationship with the young seminarian, David. But after an elderly church member, an immigrant from Russia, accuses Jackie and her great-grandmother, Babu, of being witches, Jackie questions if Babu was once an evil witch or just someone blessed with healing light. As Jackie sets out to find the truth about Babu’s troubling past, and ultimately about herself, her future with David hangs in the balance.

Print book page count: 376

Purchase Your Copy:

Amazon

Spellbound is a long-anticipated second book in JoAnne Keltner’s Pagan Light series. Previously branded as the Goth Girl, Virgin Queen series, the author rebranded a few months ago. I’ve been waiting for the sequel to Goth Girl, Virgin Queen, now titled Possessed, for so long. I’m so happy that the book is here!

Spellbound continues the journey of Jackie, a teenage psychic. After everything that happened in book one, Jackie is back in church with her great-grand mother, Babu. Her interest in priest-in-training, David, increases daily. They’ve been seeing each other on the sly, in hopes to make things official prior to his entry into the priesthood. When one of the church members accuses Jackie and Babu of witchcraft, Jackie must figure out the truth. 

The author does a wonderful job describing the conflict between religious beliefs and magical ones. Jackie's religious upbringing doesn't allow for the belief in psychic abilities. In fact, many religions, a member cannot believe in both so there lies the war going on inside Jackie. Discovering the truth may jeopardize her chance at a happy life with David. Jackie must then decide if learning the truth is worth everything she may lose. 

After waiting so long for the second book, I’m happy to report that book 2 is just as remarkable as book 1. JoAnne Keltner brings Jackie, her family, and her friends to life in the book. The entire novel is written conversationally, continues character development, and provides exciting and visually appealing world building. I was shocked at the turn the book made but ultimately, after my review about the ending of Possessed, everything fell into place. The book was enjoyable, engaging, and interesting. I was captivated from the start. If you like YA paranormal books that involve the occult and border on horror, I highly recommend Spellbound.

I was given a copy of this book to review.

My Rating:

#Book #Review ~ NuLife: Gangland (Book 2) by H.P. Mallory ~ #LitRPG @HPMallory

Book Details:

Print Length: 270 pages

Publication Date: October 15, 2019

ASIN: B07Z63483F

Amazon

About the Book:

New York Times Bestselling Author, HP Mallory, brings you the NuLife Virtual Reality Romance Series which will appeal to fans of West World!

Alaskan detective, Claire Darrow, found herself thrown into a case that defied explanation…

When widow, Florence Tautenbaum, approached Claire with suspicions regarding her husband’s death, Claire never imagined where this case would take her—into the virtual reality gaming world sponsored by the NuLife Corporation.

Now that Claire’s companion from her first trip into the VR world of Valhalla has been found dead, Claire is doubly intent on figuring out whodunit. Not to mention her sexy boss and captain isn’t exactly the patient type.

But the clues remain ever hidden and those Claire does come across are puzzling, to say the least. Searching for answers to numerous questions, Claire finds herself drawn into the gaming world yet again.

This time, Claire enters the virtual world of Gangland where she’ll be served up a reality of flappers, model Ts, lavish parties and crime bosses.

And there just might be a familiar face that sets Claire’s heart aflutter even as she tries to force her feelings into submission, reminding herself that nothing in the virtual world is real…

Or is it?

My Review:

Gangland, book 2 in HP Mallory’s LitRPG series NuLife, begins where book 1, Valhalla ends. Claire Darrow is still looking into the deaths of some of NuLife’s elite clientele. She’s been in the virtual reality (VR) game once and learned very little, except someone has a sense of humor making the main character and potential love interest resemble her boss, Grant.

Unfortunately, Gangland begins with the death of Claire’s companion, Marion from her first trip to the VR world. She is certain that there is something going on either at NuLife or their parent company. Claire is getting nowhere fast with this case, but she soon learns she’s earned enough points for another trip inside the VR game. She takes NuLife, and Seth Channing, up on the offer if for no other reason than to see if she can find out more about the case. This time, it’s requested by a stranger that she enter the VR world of Gangland, a 1920’s Chicagoland.

Things really heat up in Gangland as Claire accepts quests, does some discreet detective work, and meets new people. Although this is a sole trip, Claire finds herself pairing up with Bea, another player in the game. When things go awry in Gangland and NPCs (non-playable characters) do decidedly human and non-programmed things, Claire is confused as ever. When she finally leaves Gangland and resurfaces in the land of the living, she also discovers that someone may be trying to set her up.

Gangland drew me in and kept me engaged from the very beginning. I enjoyed Claire and Grant’s characters. I love their slow-burning relationship. Yes, they work side-by-side and Grant is Claire’s boss, but they are great together. The new VR world Claire enters is one wrought with danger around every turn – some in the form of other players and others as NPCs. It was funny to watch her get frustrated with the quest to do a quest to do a quest scenario. She couldn’t complete her first quest without taking on and completing another quest and so forth. As a gamer girl myself, it is frustrating.

I really liked Gangland and look forward to book 3.

My Rating:

#Book #Review ~ Valhalla (NuLife, Book #1) by H.P. Mallory ~ #LitRPG @HPMallory

Book Details:

Print Length: 479 pages

Page Numbers Source ISBN: 172961597X

Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited

Publication Date: October 8, 2018

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

Language: English

ASIN: B07J9PHFYS

Amazon

About the Book:

“I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation!” I shouted. “You’re not even real!”

Thorsten was quiet for a moment, thoughtful almost. When he replied, his voice was low and soft, “I am as real as you.”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Ok,” I said flippantly.

“I don’t understand why you say these things,” Thorsten continued, looking down at me in a way that was too human for comfort. “Do I not feel as you feel? Hurt as you hurt? I crave and I hope and I want just as you do. I feel a knife to the skin just as you would...”

As the top detective in her small Alaskan town, Claire Darrow has seen her fair share of cases. But when a distraught widow comes to Claire with the suspicious details of her husband’s death, Claire is forced into new territory—virtual reality gaming territory.

Following the trail set for her by billionaire playboy, Seth Channing (the owner of NuLife, an exclusive VR gaming company), Claire goes on the adventure of a lifetime into the Viking world of Valhalla.

Caught in a web of secrets, lies, and skeletons from her own closet, Claire heads into a world she never knew existed. Braving treacherous quests and dangerous computer-generated characters is only half the battle as she sets out to collect the details of the case to decipher whether NuLife is behind not one, but three murders.

The line between what's real and what's simulated starts to blur once Claire meets the Viking King, Thorsten, a man so real she has to remind herself he's nothing more than programmed code. And yet Thorsten's emotional compass is so vast, she can't deny her attraction to him. Pretty soon, Claire starts to wonder if she’s playing the game… or if she’s the one being played.

My Review:

NuLife is an up-and-coming virtual reality (VR) company on an island in Alaska. After one of their prestigious clients, Philip Tatenbaum, dies shortly after his latest trip to the isolated and secretive island, his widow turns up at the police station crying foul play. Detective Claire Darrow is wary at first about NuLife being responsible for her husband’s death. To appease Mrs. Tatenbaum, Claire takes a crack at investigating the company. She soon learns that there have been several deaths of NuLife’s customers.

One of her investigative methods takes her to the island where NuLife is headquarter only to learn nothing. Stonewalled at every turn, Claire is all but sure something funny is going on and is determined to figure it out. In trying to learn more about NuLife, and its illusive owner, Seth Channing, Claire realizes that both the company and Seth are not on anyone’s radar. There aren’t articles, news stories, interviews, or a social media. Somehow, Seth discovers Claire is searching for him, contacts her, and offers her a tour of the facility. That is how Claire eventually ends up at NuLife, a willing but hesitant participant in a VR trip to the Viking town of Valhalla.

NuLife: Valhalla is my first experience with a LitRPG book. I have a few on my TBR list but I’ve only read Valhalla so far – and loved the book. The concept and ideas brought forth by the author into Valhalla kept me engaged and interested. Claire her boss, Grant’s characters are fantastic. They have comfortable banter between them and a delicious, low-key tension that culminates into a powerful kiss only, both continue to pretend it didn’t happen.

The book ends without satisfying the main storyline, or any storyline yet, but not on such a cliffhanger that frustrates the reader. I’m anxious to read Gangland, book 2 and see what progress Claire makes in the case and whether the author brings Claire and Grant together.

My Rating:

#Book #Review ~ A Night's Tail (Magical Cats Mystery, Book #11) by Sofie Kelly ~ #CozyMystery @berkleymystery

Book Details:

Series: Magical Cats (Book 11)
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: September 3, 2019
ISBN-10: 0440001137
ISBN-13: 978-0440001133

eBook:
Print Length: 285 pages
ASIN: B07L7SSYYZ

Purchase Link: Amazon

About the Book:

In the charming town of Mayville Heights, librarian Kathleen Paulson and her two cats pounce on clues to catch a killer, in the eleventh installment of this New York Times bestselling series.

Spring is coming to Mayville Heights, and Kathleen’s brother, Ethan, has arrived in town with his band, The Flaming Gerbils. But not everything goes as scheduled when one of Ethan’s bandmates gets into a fight with a man interested in investing in the town. When the businessman’s body is later found, Ethan’s friend is implicated in the crime.

Kathleen wants to help her brother by solving the case, but she has no shortage of suspects from which to choose. Prior to his death, the investor was fighting like cats and dogs with lots of people. If this librarian wants more than a whisker’s chance of solving the case, she will need to rely on her trusty feline sidekicks, Owen and Hercules.

My Review:

A Night's Tail by Sofie Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Night’s Tail is the eleventh book in Sofie Kelly's Magical Cats Mystery series and, just like the first ten, is wonderful. The author keeps her stories fresh and original, the characters likable and well-developed, and the scenes and imagery vivid.

A Night’s Tail takes place while Kathleen is organizing a quilt festival inside the library. During the festivities, Kathleen is also hosting her brother Ethan’s band, The Flaming Gerbils. During an evening at The Brick, emotions are heightened when a local man gets into a confrontation with a man about his service dog. This scene in the book just tore at my heart. I don’t tolerate abuse or mistreatment of animals well and reading about the actions of one man toward a dog was upsetting. When Derek, a temporary band member comes to the aid of the man and dog, he ends up in an altercation with the abuser. Later, the abusive man is found dead and Derek is a prime suspect.

I really enjoyed A Night’s Tail. The pacing is steady, and the entire novel is easy to read and understand. Multiple suspects keep the reader guessing and keep Kathleen and Marcus on their toes. The continued world building and character development of Kathleen, her magical kitties, and Marcus, along with the secondary characters, is fresh and original with each installment.

The Magical Cats Mystery series is one of my favorites. I enjoy the lowkey nature of these cozy mysteries. The series keeps me entertained with the human and feline characters, plots, and mysteries. I recommend the series to all cozy mystery lovers. The books are descriptive without going overboard. I feel like I'm in every scene of the story. The books also have the right amount of suspense to keep the reader engaged all the way to the end. The romance included isn't over the top and doesn't overshadow the mystery solving. It's a nice addition to give the story and characters realism.

I voluntarily reviewed a hardcover version of this book.

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