A Halloween Tale by Stephanie Burke

February 20, 2023 By Leave a Comment


A Halloween Tale by Stephanie Burke
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Erotic Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Crawling across a wasteland, clutching her only salvation to her chest, she is battered, torn, and in need of tender loving care. She’s almost ready to give in to the darkness when an angel of mercy with a body made for sin comes to her aid.

But things aren’t always what they appear, and by the end of this Halloween tale, there’ll be hell to pay — even if she does get her way.

Determination will take her anywhere.

What can I say? I was thrilled with Ms. Burke’s creativity here and how quickly it answered all of the questions I had that I worried might be left as plot holes. There are so many things I wish I could say about the plot twist, but it’s one of those things that works best if new readers have no idea what to expect. She couldn’t have done a better job of tying up all of her loose ends, and she did so in less than 20 pages which makes it even more admirable.

I will admit to being a little skeptical of how quickly the two characters decided to add a sexual element to their relationship. It felt way too fast even for a short story, and I wondered why the author made that decision when the opening scene was such a bleak one. If you have the same reaction, hold onto that emotion but keep reading. This reaction is normal, and there are reasons why it was written this way.

The last paragraph surprisingly turned out to be my favorite one of them all. Not only did it match the themes of the tale nicely in general, but it also made me wonder if there might be a sequel in the works. I’d happily read one if it is ever published, and in the meantime, I will think about how well that final scene reinforced what was happening when I first met the main character.

A Halloween Tale was perfect.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

In for a Penny: a Partially Paranormal Romance by Shelley White

February 13, 2023 By 4 Comments


In for a Penny: a Partially Paranormal Romance by Shelley White
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Tripp promised Penny one more book. He didn’t know it came with an unintended plot twist. In order to realign the plot toward their ultimate goal they invite their friends to come along for the ride. Tripp’s sister and Penny’s friends play supernatural roles in paranormal romance, Chase the Night.

But gypsy magic is a stubborn foe and a plot, once published, is not easily turned. Will the right hero win the girl in the end? When Penny discovers Tripp’s secrets, will she still want him? She’s in for a penny, but is she in for a pound?

Vampires, hunters, and werewolves, oh my! What’s a girl to do?

Love is full of surprises.

Some of the most memorable scenes were the ones that showed how Penny and her friends have hit their stride now that they know what to expect when reading new books. It was rewarding to see not only how she has matured as a result of her experiences but how the people closest to her have reacted to their adventures as well. Some of the signs were subtle which made them even more meaningful once I figured them out. I am enjoying this series and can’t wait to see where it goes next.

This is my first time giving one of Penny’s tales a full five-star rating, and a big part of that has to do with how much fun it was to see the characters visit a paranormal romance. I love what Ms. White did with her lighthearted plot. It struck the perfect balance between gently making fun of some common tropes in romances between vampires and humans while also giving the characters plenty of opportunities to stretch their abilities and see what they were capable of as various magical beings. It was pure escapism, and I adored it.

I continued to be impressed by the plot twists Ms. White comes up with for Penny and her friends. For example, this time Penny was so unsatisfied with certain portions of the book she was magically transported into that she decided to try to change them. It’s rare for me to read about characters who have enough self-awareness to do that, and it made me curious to see what she’d come up with next. This is one of those things that other readers should explore for themselves in depth as I don’t want to give away the best moments in my review.

It’s a good idea to read this series in order to enjoy the character development that has happened in all three instalments so far.

In for a Penny: a Partially Paranormal Romance was everything I could have asked for and then some.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Ghostly Howls by Stephanie Hansen

February 7, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Ghostly Howls by Stephanie Hansen
Publisher: Hypothesis Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, LGBTQ, Paranormal, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A heartbroken half banshee, a cockle selling soul possessor, and a town haunted by mysteries…if they don’t find the killer, Orla and Molly might die before finding their soulmates.

Orla and Dave’s love has been unrequited for as long as they can remember. Cormac and Molly are used to drawing outside the lines. None of them are prepared for the new ghostly neighbors.

In a town that’s always ostracized them, can Molly and Orla finally use their powers openly in order to save the citizens?

Don’t mess with spiritual matters unless you understand how they work.

Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that explored the practical benefits and drawbacks of Orla and Molly’s powers. For example, Orla couldn’t even accept a simple handshake or hug from someone without activating her powers. The social isolation that came from not even being able to platonically touch other people affected her from a very early age, and this was only one of several examples of how careful these two characters needed to be when deciding where to live and how to interact with other folks. There were perks to their powers, too, and I appreciated the level of detail the author included in these passages. They gave me a lot of sympathy for Molly and Orla!

I would have liked to see more attention paid to the mystery elements of the storyline. They were not developed as well as the other themes even though the blurb made it sound like the mystery was going to be the main focus of the plot. I enjoyed the scenes that explored the romance and fantasy subplots, but I went into this tale expecting something quite different than what I ended up reading. If the mystery had been given more space to grow, I would have felt comfortable choosing a full five-star rating.

This novella included two different romantic relationships. I have to tip my cap to Ms. Hansen for pulling that off, especially given how many other things she had going on with the characters and storyline while she simultaneously developed these relationships. Both of the couples were well suited for each other and made me hope they’d end up living happily ever after. She couldn’t have done a better job showing the audience why these characters were good matches and why we should root for them. I’d say more, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers about who I’m talking about or why they were so perfect for each other.

Ghostly Howls kept me guessing until the end.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Mind Games by AJ Graham

February 3, 2023 By 1 Comment


Mind Games by AJ Graham
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Rafael has been called many things throughout time — demon, fairy, monster — but even he has no idea what he truly is. The only thing he knows for sure is that he’s not human… and that he can influence the minds of those around him without even trying.

He hides in plain sight, making a living as a magician and stage hypnotist, allowing his audiences to assume that his feats of mind-reading are mere illusion. Most humans succumb easily to his powers of persuasion, but when his very presence robs people of free will, it’s hard to truly get close to anyone.

When he meets Carrie, a strong-willed and wounded woman uniquely resistant to his abilities, Rafael is intrigued. But Carrie fears his powers. She won’t easily open up to him, but he’s determined to get into her head.

A hardheaded woman and a mystery man…

I’ve read other books by AJ Graham and liked them, so when I saw this one, I had to pick it up. I’m glad I did. Carrie and Rafael are great together. I liked that she didn’t just give in to him. He had to work for her. It was relatable and fun.

This is a short story, so it got wrapped up a bit fast, but it was perfect for an afternoon read. I liked the heat, too. Rafael and Carrie really scorch the page. I liked that he had to work for her affection and that she wasn’t really interested in him right away.

If you’re looking for something hot and short, then this might be the book for you. I recommend it.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Bloodstone by Rebecca Henry

January 10, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Bloodstone by Rebecca Henry
Publisher: Finch Books
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Paranormal, LGBTQ, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

There’s something wicked in the wind on Ambrosia Hill and strength is held within a stone.

Zinnia knows nothing is as it seems in the witching world, and she realizes the aunts calling her back to the Fern House was not without consequences. Zinnia must embrace her witch abilities and undergo her biggest test yet. Can she learn to rely on her personal magic, the strength in others, and trust that what she sees isn’ t always reality? There’ s something wicked in the wind this Halloween on Ambrosia Hill and Zinnia must fight for those she loves most.

What might you find if you peeled back the stereotypes and looked at who someone really was?

The romantic subplot made me smile. I’ve enjoyed seeing it gradually develop from a friendship into a heartwarming romance since first meeting these characters in Amethyst. Not only was the slow burn approach perfect for them, it also gave me plenty of time to notice all sorts of similarities between them that make me think they’d be a great match. I can only hope that any sequels in the works will include more of this storyline as it’s such a nice contrast to the sometimes-scary work a witch must do.

Once again, I would have liked to see more character development. Yes, it is happening slowly, but I found myself wishing that Zinnia especially would be given more opportunities to show the audience how she’s changed as a result of coming out of the closet as a member of the LGBTQ community as well as accepting her identity as a witch. This was the only thing holding me back from choosing a five-star rating.

I know I’ve mentioned the beautiful world building in both of my previous reviews of the first two books in this series, but it continued to impress me this time around. Ms. Henry has been doing a wonderful job so far of feeding the audience exactly enough information about witchcraft and witch culture in this universe to keep my interest levels high. Just when I think I have it all more or less figured out, she adds yet another layer to it that deepens my previous understanding of how it all worked and makes me eager to see what might happen next. As far as this reader is concerned, there’s still a ton of ground to cover for these characters, and I hope for many more updates to come in the future.

While the plot itself could technically function as a standalone work, this is the third instalment of a series that should be read in order to best understand the complex and memorable world the author is building here.

Bloodstone made me yearn for more.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Lady of the Mirrored Lake by Jennifer Ivy Walker

December 22, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Lady of the Mirrored Lake by Jennifer Ivy Walker
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Hunted by the Black Widow Queen, Issylte–a healer with the verdant magic of the forest–must flee Avalon with the two finest knights in the Celtic realm, both wrongly accused of treason. The trio travels to Bretagne, where Issylte heals a critically injured wolf and obtains fiercely loyal, shapeshifting allies.

In mystical Brocéliande, Issylte becomes a warrior priestess of the Tribe of Dana and otherworldly mate of the Blue Knight of Cornwall, discovering with Tristan a passion that transcends all bounds. When she becomes the Lady of the Mirrored Lake, sworn to defend the sacred waters of the Goddess, Issylte must undertake a perilous quest to discover what priceless object lies hidden in its murky depths.

As a nascent evil emerges in a fetid cave, Issylte and Tristan must face a diabolical trio that threatens their lives, their love, and their kingdoms.

Enchanted. Enflamed. Entwined. Can their passion and power prevail?

A breath-taking adventure set in a world of chivalry.

The Lady of the Mirrored Lake continues where book one left off and I absolutely recommend you read this as a series rather than a set of standalones. There is a big character list and if you don’t start at the beginning, there is a chance you will get lost.

The story moves on brilliantly, taking the reader along on a breath-taking adventure when chivalry was still a code to live by. Issylte gains more strength every time something is thrown at her. Tristan also has his own trials to contend with, but they always return to each other. I am loving the way the story is taking me to places unknown and yet still recognizable from old tales.

However, I do have to mention a couple of things. Firstly, it can get repetitive in places with repeated words and phrases. The second thing is random words are italicized, which is fine when it’s a French word, but not so good when it’s a regular word and for no apparent reason.

Anyway, if you ignore those couple of things – which really don’t have that much of an impact on the overall story – this is a great addition to the series. I can’t wait for the story to continue and have no hesitation in recommending it.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The ’86 Fix: A 1980s Time Travel Novel by Keith A. Pearson

December 20, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The ’86 Fix: A 1980s Time Travel Novel by Keith A. Pearson
Publisher: Inchgate Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical, Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Imagine if you could travel back in time and relive one weekend as your teenage self — would you change anything?

On the way home from school in 1986, Craig Pelling decided to buy a can of Coke. He wasn’t to know a seemingly innocuous visit to the local newsagent would dramatically change the course of his life.

Fast forward to his forties, Craig finds himself trapped in a loveless marriage, earning a living in a dead-end job as the manager of an electrical store. He could have been so much more, achieved so much more.

However, fate hasn’t finished with Craig Pelling yet.

A school reunion proves to be the catalyst for chaos, and decades on from his visit to that newsagent, Craig’s mundane life is turned upside down as his past comes back to haunt him.

As he plummets towards rock-bottom, all seems lost for Craig until he’s thrown a lifeline — the miraculous lifeline of a brief trip back in time to 1986.

Will he be able to fix his life? Is it as simple as just reverting one decision he made over thirty years ago?

Craig is about to find out.

Imagine making an important decision in your teens that left your life a wreck by the time you were in your forties. Now imagine that you could go back to that particular day in your youth and reverse what you did. Craig Pelling did that in this sci-fi time-travel novel.

Craig returns to his present, and things are different. There are some positive changes, but some things went really wrong. Craig searches for a way to set things back to his original difficult life. Why would he do this, and if he succeeds, but then?

This is an interesting take on the genre and somewhat unpredictable. The protagonist is well-developed, and the secondary characters enough to fill out the storyline. Parts of it are funny, and parts make a reader think about humans and their situations.

The story comes in two installments, where the second book picks up where the first one ends. For an entertaining vintage eighties sci-fi, time-travel story, why not give this one a try?

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Dark Surrender by Morgan Welsh

December 19, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Dark Surrender by Morgan Welsh
Book 1 in the Vampire’s Call Series
Publisher: Totally Entwined
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Olivia Hargreaves had often fantasized about the man of her dreams. Little did she know he actually existed—and that he was a vampire.

Following a bad break-up and the need for a fresh start in her life, Olivia Hargreaves has moved from London to the US East Coast to be with her best friend. Now she has finally met the man of her dreams—literally.

Gabriel Langston, a vampire with the ability to get into the minds of humans has been entering her head and showing her the time of her life. When he turns up at the local bar she frequents, she is sure she must be losing it. Wealthy, powerful, commanding and impossibly handsome, Gabriel is different to any man she has ever known and there is no way she can resist the attraction.

And there is no way he will let her.

Dark, full of desire and wonderful.

I like a story I can, er…sink my teeth into. This is one of those stories. It’s long enough that it’s well developed, but short enough for a chilly night. The writing zipped along well, and I couldn’t get enough.

I liked Olivia because she’s every woman. She’s been through a rough time and wants things to level off. Then there are her dreams. Wooo doggie. Hot stuff. I loved when she’d see him that way. It made her relatable, in an odd way, because who hasn’t had dreams about a hot guy?

Gabriel is interesting because he’s a vampire and he’s devoted to her, but he’s also the dark, desirable package that’s rather standard in romance. It works and I like how the author used him.

If you’re looking for a hot read for a chilly night, then I suggest this one.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven by Jennifer Ivy Walker

December 16, 2022 By 1 Comment


The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven by Jennifer Ivy Walker
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Paranormal, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

In this dark fairy tale adaptation of a medieval French legend, Issylte must flee the wicked queen, finding shelter with a fairy witch who teaches her the verdant magic of the forest. Fate leads her to the otherworldly realm of the Lady of the Lake and the Elves of Avalon, where she must choose between her life as a healer or fight to save her ravaged kingdom.

Tristan of Lyonesse is a Knight of the Round Table who must overcome the horrors of his past and defend his king or lose everything. When he becomes a warrior of the Tribe of Dana, a gift of Druidic magic might hold the key he seeks.
Haunted and hunted. Entwined by fate. Can their passion and power prevail?

Tristan and Iseult/Issylte has always been a favourite of mine.

When I read the blurb for this book, I knew I had to give it a go. What I got was so much more than I expected! It is a mixture of a well-known Arthurian story with Snow White, sprinkled with some Marian Zimmer Bradley feelings.

You definitely get both sides of the story with Tristan and Issylte having their own chapters. What I loved is that they have their own lives before they meet each other. In fact, part of Issylte’s life may impact the future stories, so I can’t wait to see if it does. It isn’t all sweetness and light either. The author describes the hardship of war, of those who pay the cost even if they’ve never lifted a sword. I loved the fantasy aspect with the Tribe and Avalon.

You have so much information given to you in this story and yet I was definitely left wanting more when I had finished. An excellent start to the series and I look forward to reading more. Absolutely recommended by me.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Faces in a Window by Oliver C. Seneca

December 14, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Faces in a Window by Oliver C. Seneca
Publisher: Sunbury Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Paranormal, Romance, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Every school has a secret.

After two beloved teachers pass away at St. Stephen’s Middle School, it’s up to Ian Evans & Michelle Thompson to fill their shoes.

But their eager anticipation soon turns to terror.

They are plagued with unexplainable nightmares and horrific visions: Students who aren’t really there; the school catching fire; scenes of their own deaths playing out before them.

Uncovering what it all means could cost them their jobs, or their lives. With each other’s determination to find the truth of the school’s past, and with the help of an old janitor, Ian and Michelle must risk it all to save more than just their souls.

Resting in peace isn’t always an option.

It took a while for the horror elements of the storyline to fully make their presence known, but it was well worth the wait. There’s definitely something to be said for giving readers tantalizing hints of what’s really going on without sharing everything right away, especially when the characters have excellent reasons for holding back some information from the newcomers.

The plot development was slow and uneven. There was plenty of thrilling material to work with here, but so much time passed between exciting moments that I struggled to remain interested in the storyline. This is something I’m confessing as a reader who was originally thrilled to pick this up and loves paranormal horror in general. The setting itself was delightfully scary. I simply needed more frightening moments and revelations about what was going on at this spooky school to justify giving it a higher rating.

I enjoyed the world building, especially when it came to how long it took the main character to discover anything substantial about the tragedy at St. Stephen’s Middle School that later generations had worked so hard to cover up. The hints about it were enough to keep my interest piqued, and it made a lot of sense to me that the surrounding community would have been so reluctant to share certain painful details about that day with newcomers.

Faces in a Window made me shudder.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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