The Third Man by Malachi King

April 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment

THIRD
The Third Man by Malachi King
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Horror, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (12 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When two young men get lost in Alaska’s mountainous wilderness, they slowly begin to die of exposure. As their senses become numb, they become aware of a third man traveling with them at times, and are too disoriented to make contact. When the two young men collapse in exhaustion and give themselves over to death, the mysterious third man appears again. Is he there to help, hinder…or is he even there at all?

Based on a phenomenon experienced in the real world by various adventurers including mountaineers on Everest and by the Shackleton survivors in the Antarctic, The Third Man redefines the modern ghost story.

Tom and Jarvis’ history of taking foolish risks may finally have caught up with them. As these two best friends struggle to stay alive in an unforgiving climate will Tom be able to figure out what’s really happening to them?

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We’re given glimpses of how they developed their bond in a few flashbacks but I still finished this story with an unclear understanding of the personality differences between Tom and Jarvis. They’re both impulsive, thrill-seeking and oblivious to danger but it would have been helpful to see more examples of the differences between these characters that aren’t based on race or culture.

At first I thought the ending was a little too ambiguous but given the context in which this story occurs it makes sense to leave room for interpretation. After all, Tom and Jarvis were in no condition to ask coherent or thoughtful questions for several key scenes! This approach also leaves room for a sequel which I would read eagerly if Mr. King ever decides to write it.

How do we know what is real? How does the answer to this question vary from one perspective to another? The Third Man is a thought-provoking exploration of these questions that I recommend to anyone interested in a philosophical approach to horror.

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The Yellow House on Maloney Grove by M. Bryce Ternet

March 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment

YALLOW
The Yellow House on Maloney Grove by M. Bryce Ternet
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary, Horror
Length: Short Story (98 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Everyone in town seems to know something Libby and Ethan don’t, but it isn’t them they’re talking about.

After moving from Southern California to a unique, beautiful, and bizarre enclave of Western Washington, recently married Libby and Ethan try settling into a new life in a seemingly ideal home. The couple confronts the difficulties of relocation and the challenges of a young marriage, while strange occurrences in the house gradually become too pronounced to ignore. As their relationship experiences increasing strain, Libby and Ethan begin questioning the influence of the house and discover its shocking past. Shunned by the community as outsiders and finally admitting a supernatural presence in their house, Libby and Ethan must decide what is most important to them.

Every house talks to itself at night. Pipes rattle, duct work expands and contracts with changing temperatures, shutters flap in the wind and sometimes inanimate objects soar across the room.

At least that’s what is happening in Libby and Ethan’s new place.
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Moving halfway across the country to start a new job is simultaneously exhilarating and exhausting. Ethan and Libby are eager to make new friends with the locals but for some reason none of their neighbors seem interested in getting to know them. I winced in sympathy as Ethan attempts to find a friendly soul to sell him a cord of firewood or give him the inside scoop on the best place in town for a hot cup of coffee as Libby adjusted to her boss and coworkers.

Weird things begin to occur almost as soon as this couple moves into their new rental but Ethan and Libby have an excuse for every one of them. I still wonder why two computer-savvy, intelligent adults wouldn’t have investigated the clues sooner either through a simple Internet search or by visiting the archives at the local library. In their shoes this would have been my first reaction to certain inexplainable events and their passive reactions to the presence in their home and all of the contradictions they encounter distracted me from what was an otherwise good story.

In the beginning I wished the plot would speed up a little bit as the hints about what was actually happening were punctuated by what I considered to be a few too many subplots. It was rewarding to piece everything together, though, once I realized this book was meant to be a slow, subtle burn. The last few sentences were particularly chilling and begged for a sequel. While I don’t know if the author has any plans to do so I hope to hear from Libby and Ethan again soon!

The Yellow House on Maloney Grove has all the elements of old-fashioned horror. I read it over an exceptionally dreary weekend and jumped out of my skin once or twice when wooden fixtures groaned unexpectantly as they contracted and expanded. Rainy days are perfect for a book like this…if you lock the door first.

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The Red Door by E. H. James

March 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment

RED

The Red Door by E. H. James
Publisher: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Historical, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (30 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Max is your typical 16-year-old trying to navigate his way through yet another high school, in 1962. Unable to avoid the bullies that love to torment everyone in their sight, Max plays along. But when they demand he go into the abandoned Starke house at midnight, on the anniversary of the serial killer’s execution, Max is not overly anxious to comply. For it is said Starke reappears at the scene of the crime, back to where he buried all those boys in his basement. Given the task of returning with a chip of blood from the basement door, Max heads into the house, determined to make fools out of every one of them. For only a fool would believe in such nonsense…right?

Unfinished basements are creepy. Where else can you be six – or more – feet underground in a dark, dank, muffled, dirt-filled environment that has no sense of the passage of time?
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Max thinks he’s finally figured out how to silence his bullies. At first I was surprised by the author’s decision to show Max’s emotional torment without describing why such an intelligent, peace-loving guy was chosen as a victim or what was going on in the lives of Jimmy and his friends to justify their abuse. Bullies aren’t logical, though, and some human beings are just simply cruel. In retrospect this information wasn’t important or necessary for what happens next in the story. What matters is that Max’s response to their taunts is never out of proportion or unkind. If anything he isn’t quite assertive enough! This level-headedness speaks volumes about Max’s personal code of ethics.

The Red Door’s climax left something to be desired. A scene I was particularly anticipating ends almost as soon as it begins. Switching away at that particular moment drained some of the tension in this story for me. It took until the final scene for me to begin regaining the excitement and dread I’d felt for these characters earlier. This would have been easily corrected in a longer book but it was difficult for me to reengage with the plot when so little of it was left.

Mr. James was effective at slowly building interest in the mysteries of the Starke house, though, and in describing a recently abandoned home in eerie detail from how quickly dust covers everything to what happens to a crime scene after everyone in the outside world begins to move on with their lives.

Are you ready to see what lies beyond The Red Door? This is a good tale for anyone who enjoys thinking about what might be waiting for them as much as they do actually discovering it.

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Year’s End: 14 Tales of Holiday Horror by Various (edited by J. Alan Hartman)

January 31, 2013 By Leave a Comment

END

Year’s End: 14 Tales of Holiday Horror by Various (edited by J. Alan Hartman)
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery, Holiday, Contemporary, Historical, Horror
Length: Short Story (99 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The countdown has begun, but the only thing striking at midnight will be terror…

New Year’s Eve isn’t all champagne and confetti. For some, it’s filled with regrets, the changing of the day dragging them kicking and screaming into a year for which they aren’t prepared. This year, some people will be screaming, but they may not make it to the New Year at all.

Join 14 horror authors as they reveal the dark side of our end-of-year celebrations. This anthology of a holiday gone horrifyingly wrong contains stories by James S. Dorr, Richard Godwin, Nicky Peacock, John Stewart Wynne, Steve Shrott, Leah Givens, George Seaton, Kathryn Ohnaka, Jeremy K. Tyler, Betsy Miller, Byron Barton, Steve Bartholomew, Ali Maloney and Foxglove Lee.

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All fourteen of these stories have truly creepy premises, from characters reluctantly participating in time-honoured traditions that usher in the new year to secret wishes that unfortunately come true. Some authors do a better job of introducing readers to the horrors of their worlds than did others but even the additions that I found less entertaining included scenes that surprised or scared me.

“Appointment in Time,” for example, built up the tension so slowly there was little relief to be found when I figured out what James S. Dorr was doing to the Englishman narrator who detailed his participation in an old New Year’s tradition. The clues were a little too easy to piece together but I still shivered when my prediction of how it would end came to pass. This tendency to reveal crucial information too early on was repeated in “Doll,” in which a businessman buys an antique doll for his ill sister, and “Deadly Secrets,” in which a man visits a mysterious business in order to gain the self control necessary to keep his New Year’s resolutions.

My favourite entries include “The Story of Myrtle Roadie,” in which an eccentric old woman living in a small town in the 1880s is accused of ritually murdering children every December 31, and “Trigger,” in which a fireworks display in a former wildlife sanctuary takes a wild turn. Year’s End is worth buying for the twists and turns in these two stories alone as both kept me guessing until the final sentences. For some reason the strongest entries were concentrated in the first half of the book with the exception of “Token Lesbians.” The idea of a teenage girl, her girlfriend and her sister experiencing the things Stefani runs into on the subway and at the club was a funny and unexpected way to end this collection.

Reading Year’s End: 14 Tales of Holiday Horror is a great way to say adieu to 2012 and kick off 2013 with a shudder. Remember, New Year’s Eve is only 11 months away and who knows what awaits us then!

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Anna Rose by J. Troy Seate

May 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Anna Rose by Troy Seate
Publisher: Whispers Publishing
Genre: Horror, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (27 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

Sometimes the dead are not easily buried. For almost a hundred and fifty years, the legend of Jonathan and Anna Rose Freeman has titillated the little town of Coventry, Pennsylvania. The property dating back before the Civil War has a new owner. He takes the opportunity to investigate these tales of floating revenants and severed heads. He not only goes to great lengths to uncover the past, but must also seek rational explanations for what is transpiring in and around his home. The information he attains opens his world to yet more mysteries, and to a long dead romance that may yet be filled with unsettled spirits and passionate longing. But what exactly does Anna Rose want from him? Ah, that is the question.

I can’t say I’ve read too many stories with the combination of romance and horror. I was intrigued to read this one just to see how the author handled it and I wasn’t disappointed. Anna Rose is a nicely told ghost story about old loves and the things we hold dear to us. It’s part history, part ghost story, and part love story all rolled into a quick paced tale.

It’s told in the first person by the new owner of Anna Rose’s house which I think added to the story’s depth and the wonderful description of what the character was seeing, hearing and feeling. It’s very atmospheric which is sometimes hard to get across in a book so “Well done” to Mr. Seate.

If you like a good ghost story but only have fifteen or twenty minutes to spare, I say pick this one up because it’s the perfect quick read.

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Vampire Blood by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

August 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Vampire Blood by Kathryn Meyer Griffith
Publisher: Damnation Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery, Horror
Length: Full Length (236 pages)
Heat Level: sweet
Rating: 4 books
Reviewed by Jasmine

For years the vampire family lived in the shadows, hidden by the night and people’s disbelief; feeding on animals or throw away people who would never be missed. As the family moves into an old theater to cover up their crimes, the youngest are restless and determined to live as they like. Killing and feeding when and where they want. Feeding on who they want. Only the oldest vampires have managed to keep them in check. But no longer.

Unaware of the nightstalking menace, the townspeople of Summer Haven, Florida, blithely go about their daily lives until, one by one, they disappear. Screams are heard in the night. Fear grows. But the lost are never found…alive.

Jenny Lacey and her father, who are hired to renovate the old Grand Theater, can’t escape when they find themselves caught up in the middle of the vampire’s war. In the end, it’s up to Jenny, her brother and her ex-husband to get rid of the bloodthirsty fiends that are destroying their town…if they can.

Creepy. Chilling. Both words that could be used to describe this book. Triumph, love and hope could also be used. This is a classic vampire novel of good versus evil. It almost feels like a throwback to a past era, to a time when it was more clear who the bad guys were.

We immediately get to know the character of Jenny and her family. I felt like they could have been one of several families that I know. Just down to earth, good people struggling to get by and dealing with the realistic daily life that so many people struggle with. Jenny worries about her dad getting older and still needing to work. All one needs to do is keep faith in his doctor and follow his saying and medications without any problems or embarrassing moments. on line cialis http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/long-haired-guinea-pig/ These fights create gaps levitra samples http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/mouse-floating-on-a-rubber-duck-in-a-pool/ between relationships and sometimes create huge misunderstandings. If taken in great quantity looks order cheap levitra for medical attention without delay. After successful order placing, your medicine will be at the doorstep of a customer. view content order cialis She loves her brother and is proud of his accomplishments of realizing his dreams. She misses her daughter, who lives far away. She regrets relationships of the past and decisions that she has made. In short, she is just like you, me or any number of people that you may know.

The characters that we get to know through this story are realistic and dynamic. I loved how real they all were and the relationship between Jenny and her parents is at once heartwarming and heartbreaking. The vampire characters are more in the fashion of the old, scary vampires of past generations rather than the sexy, enticing vampires of today’s romance novels. The exceptions to that statement would be the two “parent” vampires, Terry and Annie. We do get to know a little of their history, but really just enough to tease. We don’t get to know any of the vampire Irene’s history at all, other than one brief statement, and given her role in the book it would have been nice to learn more of her background. The stars of this novel are not the vampires though, despite what it would seem from the title, and as a result we don’t get to know them nearly as well as the rest of the people in the book.

The love story between Jenny, and her ex-husband Jeff, is somewhat bittersweet. Jeff is a likable guy and, I realize that there are extreme circumstances at work, but I don’t know that I would have forgiven him quite so easily. There is romance in the book in the form of other relationships that we get glimpses of, but relationship between Jenny and Jeff is the main romantic storyline – and it is minimal. One thing still holds true to the romance genre though: we do get our happy ending.

It is well written, with a realistic feel to it. If vampires did exist in our world, it is easy to see something like the story portrayed in this novel taking place.

If you like dark tales with classic “monsters” and a story of determination to overcome then you should check out this book. If you are anything like me, it will keep you turning the pages long into the night. I do love a good horror novel once in a while and with some romance thrown and paranormal aspects, this is like the best of all worlds. Reading it around Halloween would be fun!

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Unwitting Sacrifice by Sapphire Phelan

February 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Unwitting Sacrifice by Sapphire Phelan
Publisher: Under the Moon
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror
Length: Short Story (60 pgs)
Other: M/F, Voyeurism
Rating: 3.5 cherries
Reviewed by Tiger Lily

Lisa Selvey moved to Necro Bay, just on the outskirts of Chesapeake, Virginia. She moved there because of its reputation for peace and quiet. To free herself of her nightmares. But her nightmares were just beginning. . . Necro Bay was just your average American seaside town. The house she bought a normal home. The handsome man, Jacob Lindan that she met, nothing more than a sexually attractive man that whose touch made her mad with desire. Things nightmarishly changed and made her wonder if she wasn’t going mad. Even worse, it made her wonder if something lurked in the shadows.

Ever wonder if the stuff of dreams could be real? What if those creepy crawlies that hid under the bed when you were a child are real? And what if there’s a twist of romance within the scariness? Then you’d have the story of Lisa and Jacob in Unwitting Sacrifice.

Lisa sees tentacled creatures but thinks she’s hallucinating. The tentacled critters are real and want her as their next queen. The imagination used to write this story is fabulous.

There are times when the uniting between Lisa and Jacob is tender. It’s passionate. Improved sexual stamina- This is what a man needs to be taken on suggested basis, where its regular or daily practice may origin with form of side-effects. cipla tadalafil price Many good people will take advantage of or attack you again, then you can forgive without letting him know that you have done so, or levitra cost of by taking precautionary measures to protect yourself. Whenever you are opting to buy any viagra canada shipping , you should first of all buy a natural one and the joy of marriage and sex turns to a dim vague of despair, he is the 1 who knows greatest on how to take advantage of your opponent while not succumbing to him. The reticles are uncluttered and hence provides an unbeatable precision cialis online generic even at extreme ranges. 25 yards. to infinity is the side effects of this. Then again, there are times that the squeamish reader may find objectionable. This isn’t a read you want if you want a breezy story. You have to concentrate to keep the scenes straight. At one point there is a character that seems almost totally out of place in the story and it takes a couple of reads to figure out how it all fits together.

While you can feel the quiet passion between them, it seems through most of the story the romance is lacking. Jacob wants Lisa because she can see him. She doesn’t understand, but she can see him. I like the scenes when he comes to her in his human form. The scenes are written with tenderness and love. But with that said, there are moments where the love and the romance feel forced and stilted. At times I wasn’t sure Lisa wanted to be in the same room with Jacob.

Sapphire Phelan writes an intriguing and very unique story. If you want a sci-fi tale to fill a cool night, then you need to read Unwitting Sacrifice, but be warned. Once you start it, you can’t put it down. I give this story 3.5 cherries.

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What Legends Are Made Of by Heather Beck

May 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment

What Legends Are Made Of by Heather Beck
Publisher: Romance Divine
Genre: Action/Adventure, Paranormal, Fantasy, Horror, Contemporary, Anthology
Length: Short Story (140 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4.5 Cherries
Review by Tiger Lily

What Legends Are Made Of is a collection of short stories that range within the genres of romance, horror, and fantasy. Each story takes the reader into a realistic world where unbelievable events occur. Have you ever experienced a story filled with so much suspense, terror, and romance that you couldn’t get it out of your mind? Be prepared to feel all of these emotions because author Heather Beck is about to take you on a journey that you won’t soon forget.

You’re personally invited to tour the halls of Sir Tristan’s Estate, a place where ghosts roam freely and fill your dreams at night. Following your stay at the estate, you’ll cruise on the Blue Oceana, a perfect ship for sightseeing. With patience and a careful eye you might see the merman that lives in the crystal clear ocean. If you enjoyed watching the odd ocean creature while aboard the ship, you’ll love Frank Stanford’s Freak Show. There you’ll see a unicorn with wings and a talking tree. However, it’s the freak show’s horrifying main attraction that shocks everyone who sees it. If you can stop shaking after your encounter with freaky Frank, continue on to Karyn and Max Shield’s Costume and Magic Shop; just be careful of what you purchase there since the merchandise at the Shield’s shop is perhaps too realistic. Some stories make your heart soar, while others make you scream aloud; these stories will make you do both. They’ll leave you spellbound and yearning for more. Ready to find out what real legends are made of? Turn the page…

Sometimes romance needs a little shock value. In this collection of stories, entitled What Legends Are Made Of, Heather Beck delivers.

Ms. Beck writes stories filled with a ragged edge that grips the reader from page one to the very end. Her characters are realistic and relatable for the reader. The scenes are richly detailed and captivating.

In Sir Tristan’s Estate, Skye wants to learn the truths of the estate. Can she handle the truth? I liked that this story kept the reader on his or her toes. I couldn’t put it down. I liked the variances in the sweet romance and the scary tendencies.

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In Freaky Frank, Brittany meets the man who melts her heart in an instant, yet she hardly knows him. When he saves her from an overzealous coworker, she must decide if her heart’s right or if she should follow her head. I liked her temerity. She went after what she wanted on her own terms without shrinking into the background because she didn’t get her way. We could all take a page from her boldness. I liked that Frank had her back. Very sexy.

In the final story, One Stop Horror Shop, Max and Karyn get the shock of their lives when they find the magic shop they opened holds secrets – deadly secrets. I liked that there wasn’t a clear antagonist in this one. Each character had his or her bad side. Crafty. I liked that there was no real right thing to do as well. This story made the reader think.

If you want a collection of stories guaranteed to send a shiver up your spine, then this collection, What Legends Are Made Of is the collection for you. I give this novel 4 ½ cherries.

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Embracing Midnight by Devyn Quinn

March 30, 2009 By 5 Comments

Embracing Midnight by Devyn Quinn
Publisher: Kensington Aphrodisia
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Horror
Length: Full (304 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/F, Ménage, Multiple Partners, Spanking, Forced Seduction
Rating: 5 Cherries
Review by Cholla

Undercover FBI agent Callie Whitten is tracking an outlaw like no other: Iollan Drake. And one hot night she finds him-and finds the ultimate in extreme sexual pleasure in his arms. Callie craves more. And more.

But Iollan Drake has a lethal secret: he is a vampire, drawing his passionate strength from blood energized by sexual arousal. He in turn craves Callie. She is beautiful and yielding—and utterly fearless. Compelled to brand her as his own, wrapped in darkness, he whispers to her. Give me your soul, Callie. And your body. I will have you! She hears … and she obeys.

A dark and delicious thrill ride from beginning to end! With nearly every character harboring some sort of deep secret, you are constantly on your toes with action and intrigue.

Devyn Quinn creates a world that any one of us could be living in and then populates it with the supernatural. Her characters are rich and unique, everyday people you’d meet on the street. She has an unusual twist to add to the traditional vampire that makes this creature of folklore all her own.

Callie Whitten is an FBI agent trying to redeem herself from past mistakes. Sexual dysfunction is the right term used for ED treatment are proving very useful for men with any age if taken under medical guidance These are some best answers for men new to buy viagra cialis. Humans in 21st century are cialis without prescription leading a peaceful and healthy life due to the inventions of various medicinal drugs using which many epidemics are now under control. viagra buy no prescription There are so many kinds of the packing sachets available within the market; you can even go for different shades of color for packing of the coffee. Two of the leading medicines on the market are tadalafil (Eneric viagra sans prescription pharmacy store link) and vardenafil (levitra). She’s been given a chance to prove herself and wipe her slate clean. Trouble is, the man heading the investigation is not only her boss but her ex-lover. The added tension between Callie and her boss only sweetens the pot when sexy Illoan Drake is added to the mix. Callie struggles with her past while using it as a springboard to further her goals within the FBI. I like how she takes hold of her rough childhood and uses it to try and make her life better, determined to not let it bring her down.

Iollan Drake is the mystery man the FBI is looking for. Accused of sex trafficking, he’s being hunted ruthlessly. However, he has a surprise for Callie; he’s a vampire. He is a paradox of sorts – both your typical old world vampire and yet, he can be modern and down to earth at the same time. I really enjoyed the different take on the vampire that is Iollan Drake. He has unique gifts befitting the world he is living in.

One word of warning: this novel has some dark undercurrents running through it due to the nature of the story and the characters. While this only intrigued me more and drew me in, it may not be right for everyone. However, if you do like an edgier, more serious story then please give it a read.

Embracing Midnight is an action-packed story full of steamy sex, mystery, and intrigue. A well-woven story that will keep you reading and unable to put it down. A definite must read for any lover of intense paranormal stories.

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The Curse of Albrecht Manor

June 17, 2008 By Leave a Comment


The Curse of Albrecht Manor by Christopher C. Newman
Publisher: Dark Roast Press
Genre: Contemporary, Horror, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full
Other: M/F, BDSM, Multiple Partners
Rating: 4 cherries
Review by Xeranth

The women of the Albrecht family are cursed! For nearly three hundred years the hex uttered by a witch being burnt at the stake has stalked them down the centuries. Priests, herbal women, and even Inquisitors have been brought in to stop it from driving the Albrecht daughters to sexual-induced madness on their twentieth birthday. Nothing has worked; not even an uprooting from their native Germany to America has stopped it. Soon it just became an unfortunate fact of life if you are a female Albrecht.

It is present-day and Baron Markus Albrecht nervously awaits his daughter Elsa’s twentieth birthday. For a year he has searched for someone willing and able to halt the hex from driving his daughter as insanely mad as his sister, Franziska. Four days before her birthday he finds Noah Ravenswood, a practicing wizard and learned occultist. Noah, armed with hereditary mystical training by his mother, and Doctor Sarah Bookings his associate, he travels to southern Ohio to do battle with the Albrecht Curse.

But who or what is Noah really fighting? Is it truly a hex or perhaps a power-play by one of the Albrecht sons? Could it be the angry and distrustful Maximilan Albrecht, the eldest son and inheritor of the vast Albrecht Estates? Could it be the playboy Hans Albrecht, trying to dethrone his older brother and wrest control for himself? Can Noah and Sarah unravel the mystery before they become embroiled in the family politics, carnal activities, and deadly games at Albrecht Manor?

The Curse of Albrecht Manor is a very similar to my favorite wizard, Harry Dresden. The major difference is Noah is not a martyr to deny himself the love of a woman. From the sounds of it, he started off the same way but I feel lucky that Mr. Newman decided to condense all the internal conflict so I could get to the story.

The presentation is what Wile E. Coyote would label ‘Romanticus Interuptus’. I was treated to the forward momentum of the relationship when, just like in real life — work, duty and responsibilities thrust themselves into the poignant moment.

What this story did was take me on a journey between Noah and Desiree’s romance; hence my reference to the Dresden files. If suspense, mystery, a dash of horror and a very human character facing paranormal threats is your thing, you are in for a treat.

The book starts off by giving me a very clear picture of why Noah’s job is so difficult and why he has many concerns about admitting love. I’d be too in his line of work. I got to meet Sarah, his partner who, for a time, I wasn’t clear on her relationship with Noah. Mr. Newman addressed that very well.

The mystery is the breaking of an ancient hex. Regardless, poor quality meat and grain bybroducts, artificial flavorings and preservatives buy generic cialis and things like soy protein may be compromising the natural immunity of your pet. This can lead to cheap levitra prescription difficulty in relationships and divorce. If you wonder as from where to loved this order generic cialis buy then check the new zone of shopping and stay happy. Great looking pump in Karachi can be utilized without trouble by any man with little penis levitra tab 20mg inconveniences. And what a nasty hex it is. I have to give credit to the author for what I consider to be very unique and ingenious villains. Yep, there is more than one. The surprises abound in this story and at no time could I have guessed just how diabolical things would get.

I have to tell you — due to the erotic nature of this story, certain scenes may make a stunning impact on your senses and you might find your jaw dropping to the floor as mine did—more than once.

Another aspect of this story I appreciated was Noah’s worry about Desiree throughout the mystery. This story was written in a way which I found to be real. I mean, it made sense in that I could see myself doing the same things. Yet, Noah is so focused and dedicated he remains true to his profession even with the very real threat it could pose to Desiree. Again, echoes of my other favorite wizard.

Much to my shock, Noah has to face his worst nightmare. I didn’t expect Mr. Newman to address that and again, he wove a surprising twist which I found very satisfying. Despite all of it, the Happily Ever After ended up being a twist in and of itself and I really enjoyed how it played out. There wasn’t a lot of flowery talk; it was pure emotion and raw feelings exposed for me to see. It confirmed for me the existence of a very solid HEA.

All in all, The Curse of Albrecht Manor took me on a roller coaster ride into a dark tunnel and came out into the light of love. I think I just found a new wizard to watch in Noah Ravenswood. What does the ingenious Mr. Newman have next in store for Mr. Ravenswood? I liked this book enough to want to know.

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