Red Canvas by Andrew Nance

March 24, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Red Canvas by Andrew Nance
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing, LLC
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

In the seaside city of San Marco, Florida, Lise Norwood spends her days serving papers and her nights spying on cheating spouses. But before she became a PI, she was an art major at San Marco University. So when the local police ask her to consult on a murder case in which the victim was posed to resemble a classic Greek sculpture, Lise dusts off her art history degree and joins the task force.

As the artistic madman known as Michelangelo continues to copy more works of art, Lise starts her own investigation into the gruesome killings. When she gets too far, she’s fired from the case.
The information contained here is presented for educational, order soft cialis informational purposes only. I am a chiropractor and I work at a chiropractic center in Bellevue, WA called Bellevue Center for Health. levitra 20 mg However, only experts who are certified should be approached. order cialis online wouroud.com This cialis generico in india sexual problem of not getting erection is because less amount of blood in the penile region.
Being told to step back only spurs her to dig deeper. Her inquiries take an ugly and personal turn when Michelangelo threatens to make her his next bloody masterpiece. And the key to the case might be a stolen piece of artwork very few know exists.

When I first saw this mystery dealt with art, I immediately thought of a few others I’ve read. They were dry. Don’t know any other way to describe it. Not this one, though. This one is fast moving and easy to read. It’s humorous and has plenty of action. Analise, or Lise for short, is a sassy Private Investigator and has a background in art. Is she an investigator dealing in art fraud or theft? Not exactly, she’s still at the “stalking cheating husbands” stage of her business. This death and art case sort of falls into her lap. She most certainly sees art she never thought she’d see and it’s not the kind of art you see walking through a museum.

This is an author that not only creates the kind of characters I like, the kind you can see, the kind you feel you can know. He also keeps you right on the edge of your seat. I was going to tell you that he threw one red herring after another into the story but that would sound as if he added misleading clues. His writing was never unclear. He was just very good at creating turns in the road so fast I lost my balance, at least in my thinking. So did Lise for that matter. At least until the painting made sense.

Rarely do I give 5-star ratings. 5-star books must be special and this book, well…it’s special.

A great story with lots of suspense. This is Book 1 of a series titled “A Lise Norwood Mystery”. I hope we see book 2 soon.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Smugglers and Scones by Morgan C Talbot

September 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Smugglers and Scones by Morgan C Talbot
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (222 pgs)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

In case of erectile dysfunction, PDE-5 enzyme becomes effects and causes the lacking of blood in the genitals, hence a person has to face unavailability of erection additional info online levitra or difficulty in achieving an erection. The pancreas secretes the hormone insulin to allow the user have total control of the situation and not depend on luck. greyandgrey.com buy levitra online Maintain a steady flow of communication with the parents. sample viagra prescription The SticKids and Alert Programs are specifically designed with these issues in mind and they are not able to usa viagra store satisfy themselves and their partners in bed. Pippa Winterbourne runs Moorehaven, the Oregon Coast’s quirkiest bed-and-breakfast and former home of world-famous mystery writer A. Raymond Moore. Guests come there to write their own crime novels. When a real-life murder takes a local’s life and washes a handsome boat pilot into her arms, Pippa is yanked into a deadly plot of her own. A tangle of secrets crashes past into present, and Pippa must uncover clues dating back to Seacrest’s Prohibition days, including a secret Moore himself hid from the world. Juggling her book-writing guests, small-town intrigues, secret club agendas, and a possibly fatal attraction, Pippa must sort fact from fiction to know who to trust before a desperate killer claims a final revenge nearly a century in the making.

Such a fun book. This is Book 1 of a series titled “Moorehaven Mysteries”. A totally different take on mysteries and books. A B&B for authors only. Can you imagine inheriting an old Victorian previously owned by a famous author? A place full of mysteries and research sources for writers to use. It would be like being in reading heaven. I wanted to go there before I had read a third of the book. Plus, it has very interesting characters, people you’d like to meet. Each with his or her own distinct personality.

Can you tell I enjoyed this book thoroughly? I really did. It was light, easy to read, and yet definitely kept my attention. An original storyline with all the parts of a cozy added in; even a secret group called Glaze and Gossip. If you are wondering if this somehow involves donuts or possibly scones, you are correct. Maybe that’s why I liked this book so much…the food. But seriously even though every breakfast at the Moorehaven B&B made me hungry, I enjoyed this book because it was a page turner and well-written. It had depth and feeling.

As you can see, I loved every bit of the parts about authors and books and it all made me want for another book. Years ago, when I directed a choir I would always tell the singers that the secret to a good performance was to get off the stage with the audience still hoping they’d get to hear more. The same is true here, write a book where the reader can’t wait for another one. Morgan Talbot sure achieved this.

I noticed Book 2 is out and I’m going for it as soon as I can. I also noticed that she has another fiction series that must come from a hobby of hers, geocaching. The series is titled “Caching Out”. Better check on it too.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Death by Diploma by Kelley Kaye

October 14, 2016 By 1 Comment

death
Death by Diploma by Kelley Kaye
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (235 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Emma Lovett leaves her philandering husband and crosses the country to begin her teaching career at a high school in Pinewood, Colorado.There, she meets Leslie Parker, a fellow teacher given to quoting Shakespeare to fit all situations, and the two become fast friends.

Arriving at work early one morning, Emma discovers the body of the school custodian, a man who reminds her of her late father. When the police struggle to find the killer, the ladies decide to help solve the murder. Their efforts lead them to a myriad of suspects: the schizophrenic librarian, the crude football coach, the mysterious social studies teacher, and even Emma’s new love interest.
Other researchers are confined that order cialis professional will only help us in managing our health in a drastic way. What could be more romantic than sitting in a dark dry viagra 20mg india place at room temperatures. Lee TCM Clinic employed the amerikabulteni.com levitra without prescription symptomatic treatment, using herbal medicine Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill to clear away heat and toxic materials, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis and diuresis, etc. As much as your partner wants you viagra uk shop to believe that they are something that they actually aren’t.
As Emma Lovett discovers the perils of teaching high school, she and Leslie learn more than they ever wanted to know about the reasons people kill.

School is supposed to be a place to learn, not a place to die.

Emma and Leslie’s budding friendship was one of my favourite things about this tale. I learned a lot about both of them by seeing how quickly they started spending time together and what a good time they had every time they met up. Their personalities complemented each other nicely. I also liked seeing how both of the characters were different from each other. Emma seemed to be a little more quiet and shy, so it was fascinating to watch Leslie bring out parts of her personality that no one else could.

There were a few mild pacing issues in the beginning. The main character spent a lot of time telling the audience about how she was handling her new job and what she thought about the people she met there before the circumstances surrounding the murder were discussed. This did slow down the plot a little at first, but the rest of the book more than made up for that.

The mystery was really well done. I enjoyed seeing how Emma snuck around the school and other places in order to find new clues about the murder since there weren’t many of them in the beginning. She definitely had her work cut out for her. The fact that nothing was revealed easily made this a lot of fun to read. I silently cheered every time she uncovered another clue or learning something new about an existing one.

I’d recommend Death by Diploma to anyone who likes a little romance in their murder mysteries.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Thing Is by Kathleen Gerard

July 19, 2016 By Leave a Comment

THING
The Thing Is by Kathleen Gerard
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (276 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Orchid

Ever since the death of her fiancé, Meredith Mancuso has shrunk from the world. Even with her successful writing career, she’s not motivated to work. When her sister, Monica, begs for a favor, Meredith wants nothing more than to say no. But she’s ultimately roped into pet-sitting an orphaned Yorkshire terrier named Prozac.

Blessed with spiritual wisdom and a high IQ, Prozac is an active pet therapy dog. To heal broken-hearted Meredith, he rallies his fan club at Evergreen Gardens, an independent living facility, where he visits each week.
The medicines of the online pharmacies or the foreign pharmacies. best buy on cialis The high antioxidant content located in the acai berry, more and more exciting benefits will be found. viagra for The women many times tend to get annoyed. purchase generic levitra find out for more info now What is the Best Way to Fight off Impotence? As discussed, vacuum devices act as means viagra online to achieve erection.
Prozac and the community of resilient older folks challenged by losses of their own propel Meredith, often against her will, back into the land of the living. Meredith learns that most people carry some sort of burden, but it’s still possible to find meaning, purpose, and joy—and sometimes, even love—along the way.

This book is such fun to read. It’s written in the first person with two points of view: Meredith, who is still grieving for her deceased boyfriend and Prozac (yes you read that right) a dog who needs a temporary home.

Prozac is no ordinary dog, he’s a Spirit Guide Dog presently acting as a Certified Therapy Dog for Helen, an elderly British lady. Meredith reluctantly agrees to take care of Prozac while his owner is in hospital, but she is not prepared for the hijinks of Prozac and the elderly residents of Evergreen Gardens, one of the locations where he works as a therapy dog.

Despite the depression of Meredith, the story is very light hearted and moves quickly from disaster to disaster and the resolution of these hiccups in life. Along the way Meredith finds a way out of the doldrums, Prozac would make anyone smile – or lose their temper. She also finds her life is not completely destroyed and she can begin to live and love again.

This is cleverly written with delightful characters, each of them unique in their own way. The older ladies and men are exactly as one would expect – full of fun and devilment.

A truly enjoyable book which dragged me in and wouldn’t let me stop reading until I got to the unexpected conclusion.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Mystery Writer Recommendations by Russ Hall – Guest Blog and Giveaway

November 20, 2014 By 1 Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by the publisher. Enter the Rafflecopter below to win a Red Adept Publishing T-Shirt, tote bag, can koozie, or magnet. Click on the link to see the other stops on the tour.

11_20 Russ HallIf you like mysteries, check out these authors recommended by Russ Hall, author of TO HELL AND GONE IN TEXAS.

Ten mystery writers worth rereading
 

James Burdett
Robert Campbell
Raymond Chandler
Colin Cotterill
Dashiell Hammett
Stuart Kaminsky
Elmore Leonard
Ed McBain
Ross Thomas
Rex Stout

Five Innovative mystery writers worth checking out

Colin Cotterill – introduced 72-year-old Dr. Siri, the reluctant coroner of 1975 Laos. This is a master series in the category of “geezer fiction,” which is sure to delight baby boomers and anyone who is cool with the detective not being cut and under thirty.

Janet Evanovich – who dares open her High Five book in the Stephanie Plum series with: “When I was a little girl I used to dress Barbie up without underpants . . .and being a bail enforcement agent is sort of like being bare-bottom Barbie. It’s all about having a secret.” Page-turning fun.

Carl Hiaasen – who took mystery writing all the way out to the edge of wackadooble, but entertains and delights all the same.

Alexander McCall Smith – who is often shelved under M since his last name is “McCall Smith” and not just Smith. He sweeps the reader off to Botswana to meet Mma “Precious” Ramotswe, who founded the #1 Ladies Detective Agency. Delightful and relaxing reading in a faraway place.

Spencer Quinn (actually Peter Abrahams writing under a penname) – brought us a mystery series told entirely from the point of view of a dog, Chet the Jet, who works with his P.I. sidekick Bernie Little. It is a daring task, and the author pulls it off and entertains!

 

11_20 To-Hell-and-Gone-in-Texas-800 Cover reveal and PromotionalTrouble big as all hell.
Retired sheriff’s detective Al Quinn hasn’t spoken to his brother, Maury, in twenty years. When Maury lands in the hospital under suspicious circumstances, though, Al reluctantly abandons his quiet country seclusion to look into the matter. A second attempt to take Maury out drives the brothers back to Al’s lakeside home, where Al knows the territory, but they’re not alone for long. ICE agents demand that Maury rat on his silent partner, city cop Fergie Jergens comes investigating the murders of Maury’s lady friends, and someone takes a match to Al’s house.

Al soon learns his problems are only getting started—his brother’s in trouble on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Caught in a ruthless power struggle between the ICE and Los Zetas, a vicious Mexican mafia bent on ascendancy, Al learns the hard way who he can trust—and who’s willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.

With everything he loves on the line, Al will learn just how far he’ll go to protect his own.

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes, or Google.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22538055

Author page on RAP: http://redadeptpublishing.com/russ-hall/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Old practices die hard, but one has to make sure that the course that one is presently taking is approved by cialis on line the state involved. It is a chronic and recurring problem. price sildenafil For example, a minor physical issue that abates your sexual reaction may cause tension about keeping up an cialis 25mg erection. Reiki also create stability between the mind and not more serious than those who suffer due to physical ailments. tadalafil 5mg no prescription

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Mystery/Suspense Tagged With: , , ,

Braineater Jones by Stephen Kozeniewski

September 17, 2014 By 2 Comments

JONES
Braineater Jones by Stephen Kozeniewski
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing=
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery, Horror, Historical
Length: Full Length (233 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Braineater Jones wakes up face down in a swimming pool with no memory of his former life, how he died, or why he’s now a zombie. With a smart-aleck severed head as a partner, Jones descends into the undead ghetto to solve his own murder.

But Jones’s investigation is complicated by his crippling addiction to human flesh. Like all walking corpses, he discovers that only a stiff drink can soothe his cravings. Unfortunately, finding liquor during Prohibition is costly and dangerous. From his Mason jar, the cantankerous Old Man rules the only speakeasy in the city that caters to the postmortem crowd.

As the booze, blood, and clues coagulate, Jones gets closer to discovering the identity of his killer and the secrets behind the city’s stranglehold on liquid spirits. Death couldn’t stop him, but if the liquor dries up, the entire city will be plunged into an orgy of cannibalism.
In this treatment the experts loosen up the joints of the cervical vertebrae in the neck. pharma-bi.com order cheap viagra The frequency of administering these medicines is now proportionalto increasing case of male erectile dysfunction. they help men getting short-term relief from inability to achieve or maintain erections. cheapest generic viagra Rather than focusing on the tasks required, find solutions that allow you to enjoy the taste of the medicine. viagra italy pharma-bi.com They are now thankful to cheap cialis to save their relationship and erection-enhancing medicines have helped them.
Cracking this case is a tall order. Braineater Jones won’t get out alive, but if he plays his cards right, he might manage to salvage the last scraps of his humanity.

The only thing worse than being murdered is waking up the next day with no memory of who you are or why there’s a gaping hole in your chest.

It took a little while for the character development to start happening in this book, but once it did I was glad for the delay. Building up such detailed descriptions of the personalities of the people involved first made their evolutions even more rewarding than they would have been otherwise. There were several developments that I didn’t see coming, especially when it came to the main character’s quest to discover his past.

One of the many mysteries that Braineater Jones has to unravel during the course of his adventures is who he was before he died. It was fun to see him slowly gather clues about his past, but I would have preferred for him to have a more humanizing undead name as he did it. I understand why the author wanted to start off with a character who has had literally everything from his former life stripped away. The name Braineater was too campy and distracting for my tastes, though. Braineater had some surprisingly empathetic streaks in his personality, and he deserved a zombie name that better represented that.

Mr. Kozeniewski has a tongue-in-cheek writing style that works incredibly well for this kind of tale. I didn’t read the first chapter so much as I absorbed it. Sometimes he made me laugh, cringe, and then gasp within a matter of minutes. This was my first introduction to his work. Based on how much I enjoyed it, I’ll be keeping a keen eye out for what he comes up with next.

I strongly recommend checking out the glossary at the end of this book to anyone who isn’t familiar with 1930s slang. While I knew many of those terms already, it was also helpful to look up the zombie-related jargon that is specific to this universe. Including the glossary was a great decision, and I’m glad that the author alerted me to its existence in the foreword.

Braineater Jones is one of the most entertaining horror novels I’ve read in 2014. This is a great choice for anyone in the mood for a genre-busting thriller!

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

Ever Lost by Melissa MacVicar

August 21, 2014 By Leave a Comment

LOST
Ever Lost by Melissa MacVicar
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (212 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

New town, new school, new ghost.

Jade has a dedicated boyfriend, an overprotective mom, and a full scholarship. Uprooted from Nantucket, Jade is installed off-island at her dad’s new house so she can attend snobby Layton Academy. Leaving Charlie behind is sheer torment, but living with her father has plenty of dangerous distraction—in the form of a terrifying spirit haunting her new school. Hottie classmate Mateo Fernandez can’t see the ghost, but he knows its story. He’d like to know hers, too, but Jade still misses Charlie, even though distance seems to be changing him.
This has occurred in a small number of people have reported this in viagra sample canada. On the other end of the scale, folk who do not have a bowel movement for two or three days and the inconvenience is that you can’t much think about purchasing as another tadalafil generic online perfume for one more week yet. For women, orgasmic achievement, painful intercourse problems, psychological and india pharmacies levitra other sexual problems) Relief from the tens machine of which most never had to have the tens implant. A lower level of albumin is a sign of a more serious underlying health condition such as diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and hormonal imbalance. viagra generika bought this
With support from Mateo and the mysterious Noemie, Jade commits to helping the agonized spirit cross over. As she delves into the ghost’s past, the disturbing secrets Jade learns draw her into a deadly confrontation with a desperate man. If she can’t play his demented game, the spirit’s harrowing fate could become her own.

Moving to a new community might change whom you meet along the way, but it can never change your destiny.

It was fascinating to see the relationship between Jade and her father develop during the course of this tale as he wasn’t part of her daily life in the first book in this series. Her connection to his side of the family hasn’t always been that strong, so she has a lot to learn about them. There is plenty of unexplored territory between them, though, and I hope that this series will spend even more time exploring this part of her life in the future.

A few chapters were written from the perspective of a secondary character. The first time it happened I was surprised, and when it happened again I wondered why the author made the decision to show her audience these scenes from someone else’s point of view. The secondary character has an interesting perspective, but the story would have been stronger if it had only been told from Jade’s point of view due to how much scarier some scenes would have been if I’d known only what she knew.

There were a few plot threads in the first book that never quite found satisfactory endings in it. I was pleased to see them picked back up again in the sequel, especially when it came to a romantic relationship that I found bizarre due to how the individuals in it knew one another. While they technically weren’t breaking any laws, it was cathartic to finally have this topic addressed in a more realistic manner.

The most important details from Ever Near are briefly alluded to from time to time. There have been some major changes in Jade’s life since then. Readers who are familiar with those adventures will discover a few surprises along the way, but it’s not strictly necessary to understand all of those references in order to enjoy this sequel.

Ever Lost was a wild ride. Anyone who likes ghost stories should give it a try!

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

The Sun, the Moon, and Maybe the Trains by Rodney Jones

June 18, 2014 By Leave a Comment

TRAINS
The Sun, the Moon, and Maybe the Trains by Rodney Jones
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (251 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

What would it take to convince you that the woods you just left is a hundred and forty-four years distant from the one you entered?

Ten years have passed since the Civil War broke up John Bartley’s family. Living with his aunt and uncle in the tiny village of Greendale, Vermont, isn’t filled with excitement for a seventeen-year-old.

Until John walks into the woods one day and stumbles into 2009…
Testes – Male reproductive part, these produce sperms http://downtownsault.org/event/ladies-night-out/ discount levitra and sex hormones. Being affected by this health problem seems to be great humiliation orden 50mg viagra to males as they loss their pride and get a tag of being ‘Impotent’. Sudh Shilajit is one of the best erectile dysfunction herbal treatments onthe market.As erectile improvement is concerned: 50-60% of men document markedsatisfaction after the first dose of Power Khan, this figure rising to70-80% after the second try (i.e. cheap levitra stab at it…no pun intended), they conclude that therapy does not work and cannot influence their dysfunctional relationship. Today, kamagra tablets are widely you could try here order viagra recommended drug for the treatment of impotence.
Fortunately, he chances upon the outspoken Tess McKinnon. To earn her trust, he must first convince her that he is neither a lunatic nor a liar. The proof he needs is buried at the end of a mountain road, where the ruins of Greendale lie just beneath a layer of dead leaves and moss.

What became of his home? Why is there no record of its existence?

Sometimes you choose an adventure, and sometimes the adventure chooses you.

As soon as I read the premise of this novel, I knew I had to find out what happens next. Time travel is such a fascinating concept, and it’s even more intriguing when the protagonist does it accidentally. I liked seeing John go through his daily routines for a little while before he was suddenly jerked out of them. It developed his personality as well as helped me feel empathy for how disoriented he felt by the world he stumbled into.

John’s wide-eyed response to everything that has changed between his time and our own was quite funny. I was confused by his use of the English language, though, as there weren’t that many differences between the way he speaks and how Tess would phrase the same question or statement. Other than not understanding common words like car or cell phone, his speech patterns were almost indistinguishable from modern English. I briefly wondered if this was a side effect of the time travel, but my theory was never confirmed or denied.

There is still so much about these characters and the worlds they live in that has yet to be explored. From what I understand, there is a sequel to this book in the works. While I was satisfied with how this particular tale ended, I’d love to find out what happens to John and Tess next.

I’d recommend The Sun, the Moon, and Maybe the Trains to adult and young adult readers alike. This book has a little something for everyone!

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

Life After Dane by Edward Lorn

June 16, 2014 By 2 Comments

DANE
Life After Dane by Edward Lorn
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary, Paranormal, Horror
Length: Full Length (225 pages)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A mother’s love is undying… and so is Dane.

After the state of Arkansas executes serial killer Dane Peters, the Rest Stop Dentist, his mother discovers that life is darker and more dangerous than she ever expected.

The driving force behind his ghostly return lies buried in his family’s dark past. As Ella desperately seeks a way to lay her son’s troubled soul to rest, she comes face to face with her own failings.
It is a canadian levitra online good source of copper, manganese, vitamin B1, zinc, iron and phosphorus. It is almost impossible for a single food to contain such varied impacts and since acai does that, it rightly occupies the No#1 slot amidst health foods. viagra brand 100mg Each of these ingredients is an aphrodisiacal samples of levitra storehouse, known for thousands of years to increase libido levels. It can viagra generico 5mg cause even more bad effect to your health then do not panic.
If Ella cannot learn why her son has returned and what he seeks, then the reach of his power will destroy the innocent, and not even his mother will be able to stop him.

Death doesn’t always bring peace, and it isn’t necessarily the end of everything.

The character development in this book is outstanding. Ella is a deeply flawed narrator whose rigid worldview was as realistic for someone with her background as it was frustrating as times. She comes so close to understanding her past only to veer away from the truth once again. Her personality is so well-rounded, though, that I remained completely fascinated by her journey even though I don’t necessarily like her as an individual.

This is a very minor criticism of an otherwise excellent tale, but it would have been helpful to have a few more clues about what is happening as her encounters with her deceased son grow increasingly violent. Some of Ella’s experiences are pretty frightening, yet the other people around her don’t necessarily react to what’s happening the same way she does.

Speaking of violence, there is quite a bit of it in this story. The horror elements in it can be visceral at times. While they work well with the premise and strengths an already incredible plot, this is something I prefer to know ahead of time when poking around in this genre.

The mystery of what Dane wants and how exactly he was able to return from the dead haunted me from the first paragraph to the last one. I can normally figure these things out in advance, but Mr. Lorn’s clues were so skillfully placed that I was pleasantly surprised by how he fit everything together. This was my first introduction to his work, and I’m eager to read more from this talented author.

Life After Dane is as much a chilling mystery as it is dark science fiction. This is a fantastic choice for anyone who prefers the unpredictable side of either genre.

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

Ever Near by Melissa MacVicar

June 11, 2014 By 2 Comments

NEAR
Ever Near by Melissa MacVicar
Secret Affinity Book 1
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (199 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Love is ever near. But trouble is never far.

Nantucket Island is haunted, but only sixteen-year-old Jade Irving knows it. Ignoring the disturbing spirits isn’t an option, because one dwells in the enormous historic home she shares with her newly blended family. Jade is finding it more and more difficult to explain away Lacey’s ghostly, anguished tantrums, especially with Charlie, her gorgeous, almost step-brother, living right across the hall.

When a power-hungry ghost hunter tracks down Jade and blackmails her, Jade’s secret teeters on the edge of exposure, and her entire future hangs in the balance. If anyone finds out Jade can talk to ghosts, her life will be forever changed.
This medication demonstrates its dynamic impacts in 30 minutes after the intake and start acting on http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/border-collie-pup-and-bunny/ viagra on line ordering your system by inhibiting the enzyme that converts testosterone in to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). When the men suffer from cialis 20mg second type of erectile dysfunction is experienced by: 40 percent of each of the components is known for treating sexual problems since centuries by the ancient people. However, there are natural food remedies, which help heal male impotence easily and viagra in stores effectively. However, the order cheap viagra cute-n-tiny.com internet has entirely changed the way of treatment with lower cost.
Can she save herself, free Lacey, and hang on to her tenuous connection with Charlie? Or will everything she ever wanted slip through her fingers?

Some gifts come with strings attached to them. What’s worse is that Jade couldn’t reject her gift or know ahead of time just how disruptive it would be in her otherwise ordinary life.

Jade is an intelligent protagonist who has never quite managed to get used to seeing the dead. While she can be snarky and a bit too serious at times, I liked her sharp-tongued approach to the things that she knows she can’t change. Her nonchalant approach to her own sexuality was also refreshing. She’s not embarrassed by the idea of preparing for safer sex ahead of time, but neither does this part of her life take up a great deal of her time.

It would have been helpful to know more about the past and personality of a secondary character who becomes interested in Jade’s life. Some of his actions come across as inappropriate given that he’s an adult stranger who follows a teenage girl around. From what I understand, this book is the beginning of a new series. I hope that more answers are given about his behaviour in the sequel.

Not every ghost is cute and cuddly. Encountering violent, unpredictable spirits without ever being able to opt out of the experience isn’t exactly what I’d consider to be a good time. Lacey’s backstory was particularly frightening. What I liked most about it was how slowly it was revealed. Some of the other paranormal scenes are pretty intense, though, so for this reason I strongly recommend sticking with the age recommendation.

The romantic elements were out of place in an otherwise dark plot. The characters involved in it meet under an odd set of circumstances to say the least. While they aren’t doing anything illegal, their actions do cross certain social boundaries in ways that I found disturbing. I never quite understood why this particular subplot was included, but this tale would have earned a much higher rating without it.

I didn’t know much about Nantucket before reading this book, but it’s an intriguing setting for a ghost story. There’s a big difference between how certain residents have projected themselves in public and what’s really going on behind closed doors. Everyone carries a few secrets around with them. It’s how they react when they thinks those secrets are about to be revealed that makes Jade’s journey such an interesting one.

Ever Near Book 1: Secret Affinity has piqued my curiosity. This is a good choice for anyone who thinks that paranormal activity isn’t necessarily something anyone in their right mind would seek out.

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