Osric's Wand: The Wand-Maker​'s Debate by Jack D. Albrecht and Ashley Delay

Reviewed by: Stephanie

Three Stars

Summary from Goodreads:(there wasn't one I saw on Amazon)

While the world leaders of Archana gather for an unprecedented peace treaty signing, tragedy strikes, and rumors spread of war. Osric; a young, untested leader, is thrust into the chaos and must journey far with his unlikely companions to stop the inevitable world war. Circumstance brought them together, but prophecy has entwined their fates.

Now, the young Vigile Contege, the world’s greatest Wand-Maker, and a beautiful Maiden of the Unicorn must put aside their differences and work together, or watch as their homes are destroyed. Their understanding of magic will be challenged as they discover new methods and uses for their powers, and each day will only uncover more unanswerable questions to torment Osric’s mind.

Why was the signing attacked? What do the unicorns want with him? How do you read a book with no words? What is so special about his wand?

This is a promising start of a new fantasy series. I wish I had connected with it more.

Osric is a leader of the troops at a village called Stanton. The opening of the book has Osric and his men preparing for a big gathering at the palace which includes ambassadors from the different races in this world called Archana. Security is of great importance, and as most people in this world possess magic, magical means are also employed to secure the meeting. Osric is using his Portentist gift (he can discern when something dangerous or momentous is coming) and knows that something isn't right. Unfortunatley he's too late to do anything because a huge explosion happens that destroys most of the palace and traps many of the attendees.

After being rescued, Osric's first desire is to discover the culprit behind the bombing. Time is of the essence because the different attendees are accusing one another of planning the bombing and the escalating tensions will quickly lead to an all out war.

Osric also needs to know why his wand is acting strangely. He was able to do some pretty heavy duty magic while trapped in the bombed out palace and he's really confused as to the reason why. After crossing paths with Gus, a master wand maker, he's still no closer to answers but Gus ends up joining the group that is going to travel across Archana in hopes of catching the palace bomber.

The story is mainly about the trip that Osric and his group takes. Unfortunately a series of events sidetracks them from their goal. Instead they uncover more about Osric's strange magical ablilities and also a huge conspiracy regarding the dragons that the citizens of Archana use for transportation.

I liked Osric's character. He is a good leader and geuninely cares about his troops, his friends and his country. He is kind and wants to help anyone he meets. He's a good friend and a brave champion of worthwhile causes.

I wasn't wild about many of the other characters, however. Some were too abrasive (like Gus) and some quite annoying (like Pebbles) and others weren't developed enough for my liking (Bridget).  Additionally, the plot was a bit confusing to me. I wanted to get sucked into this fantasy world from page one. But the "world-building" was seriously lacking. I didn't know too much about the inhabitants of Archana and I kept thinking that the main plot was to find the palace bomber. That was never really solved and instead the focus seemed to be on Osric's wand and magical abilities. I wanted to get caught up in that, but things seemed to jump around too much and I struggled to keep up.

I would be interested to read book 2 as I do like Osric and would like to see how things turn out with him, especially now that he's fully sure of his new abilities. Again, I wish that I had connected more with the story overall but it was good read.

Spotlighted Author Tawdra Kandle talks about the reality of characters

Fearless by Tawdra Kandle

Tasmyn Vaughn didn't expect much when her dad’s job moved them to a small town in Florida; it was just another new school. But there is more to King than meets the eye, and soon Tasmyn’s ability to hear other’s thoughts is the least of her worries. Entangled in a web of first love, quirky and secretive townsfolk, magic and blood rituals, she discovers the town’s secrets aren’t just bizarre, they’re deadly.

Amazon Paperback link:  http://amzn.to/xemL7B   

Amazon ebook link: http://amzn.to/xp4X1n  

From Tawdra:

I love my characters, and for the time that I am writing their stories, I am so immersed in their world that these people are more than real.  I have to remind myself not to mention them in non-book conversations, as that kind of talk garners me odd looks.

So after schooling myself to avoid piping up about Tasmyn learning to drive stick shift or Michael getting into his first choice college, it’s quite jarring that once the book is published, others speak to me as though my characters are living, breathing people. It has taken me a little time to adjust and enjoy it. But I absolutely love it when, in the middle of conversation, someone begins talking about Michael as though he’s a mutual acquaintance or asks me questions about Nell, as if I had just come from visiting her.

I’m not sure if all of this is merely gratifying to me as a writer or enabling my own insanity. Either way, it works for me.  Hearing how each character has impacted readers helps me to develop nuances in their personalities and their stories. And. . yes, it does give me a little writers’ high! 

‘Fifty Shades Trilogy’ by E.L. James @e_l_james

Reviewer: Jesi

4 Stars

When unworldly student Ana Steele first encountered the driven, damaged young entrepreneur Christian Grey, it sparked a sensual affair that changed both their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and ultimately repelled by Christian's singular sexual tastes, Ana demanded a deeper commitment; determined to keep her, Christian agreed. Now, together, they have more-love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of infinite possibilities. But Ana always knew that loving her Fifty Shades would not be easy and being together poses challenges neither of them ever anticipated. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian's opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own integrity, identity, or independence; Christian must somehow overcome his compulsion to control and lay to rest the horrors that blighted his past and haunt his present. Just when it seems that together their love can conquer any obstacle, tragedy, malice and fate combine to make Ana's worst nightmares come true.

(Amazon Product Description)

Okay, so if you are living under a rock and unfamiliar with this trilogy, I’ll give you a little background.  Fifty Shades of Grey started out as Twilight fan fiction--very naughty Twilight fan fiction.  As the author developed and revised, the characters became much more than Edward and Bella, and the story became something completely different.  The result is that even though there are no vampires and a heck of a lot more “adult” behavior, the adult fans of Twilight are getting their knickers in a twist over these books.

Okay, history lesson over. The truth is, when I heard that an indie published, BDSM erotic romance series scored a $5 million movie deal, I had to see what the fuss was about.

You can see the echo of Edward and Bella in Christian and Ana, but C and A were much more developed and (for the most part) realistic.  Christian was the more interesting of the two by far.  His psychological issues were fascinating.  He could be ruthless and controlling one minute and completely vulnerable the next, but it was done is such a realistic and believable way.  Watching him grow and evolve throughout the three books was a joy.

Ana was stronger and more likable than Bella, but I had a few issues with her character.  First, she starts off as a 21 year old virgin who is completely innocent and within a very short time, she is begging to be trussed up and spanked.  It was too radical of a shift, too quickly.  Secondly, Ana kept talking about her “inner goddess” and her “subconscious self” like separate personalities inside her.  Not only was it incredibly annoying, but each time the author mentioned these, it pulled me out of the story.

Another thing that was a little off was the dialogue.  The author is British, so there was a tendency for some of the characters to use words or terms that didn’t fit people born and raised in the U.S.  The result was that I kept reading them with British accents in my head.

But even these couple of issues didn’t ruin the story for me.  I really did enjoy reading these books.  There is action, danger, suspense, lots and lots of sex and a total escape into a fantasy world that we will never live in.  And in the end, isn’t that what reading is all about?

Overall, I give the Fifty Shades Trilogy...

Plot - 3 1/2 bookmarks

Character development - 4 1/2 bookmarks (Absolutely loved Christian.  There is a scene in book two where he just slayed me!)

Love story - 4 bookmarks

Sex scenes - 4 bookmarks (For the most part, they added to the story)

Dream cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) - I don’t think it’s possible to read these books without picturing Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart as Christian and Ana.  I just saw the Cosmopolis movie trailer with Rob and his character is totally Christian.  I’d die a happy woman if they could cast him in the Fifty Shades movies.  Actually, all the characters were sort of echoes of who they were in Twilight, just older and more mature.  Anna Kendrick (Kate), Kellan Lutz (Elliot), Ashley Green (Mia), etc.

Author Spotlight: Tawdra Kandle!

Hello all, Alicia Rasley here, and I wanted to take a moment to welcome our newest Author to the Spotlight. Tawdra Kandle!


We are very excited to have Tawdra spending some time with us. Please make sure to stop by the Author Spotlight page (you can find it at the top of the page, or just click Tawdra's picture to the right) to find information about her and her book. In the meantime, check out her book (cover below) and leave a comment saying hi and letting us know you stopped by!

'Matched' & 'Crossed' by @AllyCondie

Reviewer: Jesi

   Rating: 4 stars

                                                                                          

 

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

I have to review both of these books together since I read them back-to-back and I have a hard time separating them out in my head.  I have read several dystopian YA series, but what makes Matched different is that the action is slower paced (at least in the first book it was) and Cassia as a character is not some girl who is a natural fighter.  In fact, she starts off the novel very much a good little member of The Society, wanting all of the beautiful things in life that they promise her.  She knows that if she follows the rules, she will be healthy and (reasonably) happy until she is 80 years old.  The Society never makes a mistake, so she has complete trust in them.  That is, until the glitch.

This electronic malfunction, which shows Ky’s face on her data card, only lasts seconds, but it is the catalyst that very slowly turns her world upside-down.  When I say slowly, I don’t mean to say that the book is in any way boring.  It’s not.  In fact, I liked that it took Cassia almost the entire first book to have such a significant perspective and character shift.  It made the story realistic.  I would say though that this is a more character driven story than action oriented.  Crossed is a bit more plot driven of the two.  I have a feeling that the third book Reached, which is releasing in November, will be a huge action-packed story. 

There is a love triangle in this book, which I generally like.  Xander is Cassia’s best friend, and they have known each other since they were kids.  It does not surprise her at all to learn that he is her match, and that pleases her.  But it is Ky who makes her heart race.  It feels fairly obvious to me how this is going to turn out, but I’m hoping Reached will surprise me, or at least make the contest between the two boys more even to give it some interest.  Ky is great though.  The first book is told entirely in Cassia’s point of view, but book two alternates between them.  It’s wonderful to see his perspective and learn about the past that haunts him.  Maybe it is because of this that I don’t feel as interested in or connected with Xander. 

A big thing that might jar some readers is that the two books are so different; that might bother some people.  Matched is a little sweeter, a little safer.  Cassia ends the book on an epiphany of sorts that you know is going to change her as a person.  Crossed is much darker.  Both characters are now living outside The Society (tiny spoiler, sorry) and are learning just how dysfunctional their world is.  In some ways, it feels like Cassia is a different character in the second book, but since I read them one after the other, it made sense to me why her character would grow in the direction that it did.  I can see though if someone had a significant time lapse between them, they might find her change jarring. 

Another wonderful literary device that the author uses is to frame much of the story around two poems, Dylan Thomas’s “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Dark Night” and Lord Tennyson’s “Crossing the Bar”.  I’m not a big lover of poetry, but Thomas is one of my favorites.  I love the way the author used these poems to both inspire the characters and as code to drive the plot.  Such a brilliant move! I hope that these books will encourage teens to read more by these poets and maybe see poetry in a different light.  If you are a parent whose kid is reading these books, I encourage you to print copies of these poems and hang them on their wall by their bed where they can read and think about them.  Just a suggestion.  Like I said, I’m not a poetry person, but I had a poem hanging in my bedroom through my teen years, and it meant a lot to me. 

Well, enough about me!  Overall I give Matched and Crossed...

Plot - 3 bookmarks for Matched and 3 1/2 bookmarks for Crossed. 

Character Development - 4 bookmarks.  Cassia & Ky are very well developed.  We need more of Xander and Indie in the next book.

Love Story - 3 bookmarks. Hasn’t really reeled my in all of the way yet.  My fingers are crossed for book three.

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) - Ayla Kell (Cassia), Evan Williams (Ky), Nick Roux (Xander), Karen Gillan (Indie)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Idol Hands' by Cynthia Hill

Reviewed by Lindsey

Tara can pinpoint the moment when everything in her life changed: it was when she fell in love with Aidan Forrest - who just happened to be a part of the biggest boy band in the world, Idol Hands. She spent two years as his "secret girlfriend," hiding from the media to protect his career, until he broke up with her, breaking her heart, and leaving behind a secret that Tara has never shared.

Fourteen years after their breakup, she's in a bad marriage, and a dead-end job. When she sees a television documentary in which Aidan confesses that he still loves her, she makes a life-changing decision: she leaves her husband to go and find Aidan. With no real plan of attack it's not going to be easy, but Tara knows that she can't give up. (Amazon description) 

 

Idol Hands...what can you say? At first it looks like a silly Bridget Jones story:  some adult woman had a fling as  a kid with a New Kid on the Block type.  She is stuck in a boring marriage..blah..blah.

 

One night,  she is watching some documentary on the boy band. She hears her old boyfriend say he had always loved her. Off she goes, four hundred bucks in hand, ditching her husband and heading across country to find what she assumes is love of her life.

 

The woman is a compete narcissist .The book is written in journal form. I completely made the assumpton that she was a goofy, immature, Tigerbeat-magazine-loving nitwit. I rolled my eyes so many times I'm amazed I could close them to sleep.

 

I had to hang in there to see what happened.

 

Somewhere in the middle, this book takes such a extreme turn, it is jaw dropping. I can't say much more as it would give all away, but I am begging, pleading for someone to read this book and discuss. I finished this a couple weeks ago, and I am still thinking about it. Dare I admit, I even emailed the author with a "Holy $$%&! What was that?"

 

This book was amazing. It will stay with you for a while.  Read it. . .now.

 

I'm waiting...

A Blog Post by Michelle Grogan, our Author Spotlight

(To see more about this author and book, click on the Author Spotlight picture to the right!)

        Writing Forbidden Love began more than 10 years ago while I was sitting in a doctor’s office. All throughout that day I had been thinking about this story, playing with it in my head – luckily I always carry paper and pen on me and I was able to sketch out a basic outline for the entire story before the doc even came into the room!! Forbidden Love has gone through many rewrites – including name changes until I found the right names that fit the people wanting to tell this story. It took me a while to even share the first version of this with anyone but myself, but once I did, I found that people liked my writing and that alone spurred me on!

            After Forbidden Love was finished, I put it aside and began on its sequel – as Jessica and Jake’s story was not done yet . . . and that then turned into one more story – rounding out an unplanned trilogy. When I began to seriously think about taking Forbidden Love to publication I began the long process of rewriting. Five rewrites later I felt I had something that other people would want to read. When the traditional route of publishing did not work for me, my fiancé encouraged me to try self-publishing and am I ever glad that he did!!

            Forbidden Love wouldn’t be what it is today without the support of my family, my fiancé and my beta readers who were with me every step of the way! And to top it all off, I have to give credit to my cover designer. I went looking for a designer with no clue what I actually wanted! But as soon as I saw some of his work, I knew he had to be the one to design the cover and he did an amazing job!!! My jaw dropped when I saw his sketch and I knew it was exactly what I wanted!! With a few tweaks to colors and clothing (I was floored when he asked me what I wanted Jake and Jessica to be wearing!!) I had the cover that I knew deep down I wanted – something that would draw people in before they even read what the book was about.

            Now that Forbidden Love has been available on Amazon for six months and the reviews are starting to come in, I find myself checking my product page frequently to see what people who have either bought my book, downloaded a free copy on my free promo days through KDP Select, or have received a free copy directly from me for the purpose of providing a review, have thought about it. I have to say that I have been very happy with all of my reviews as they have all provided some great insight as well as constructive feedback for me. I do worry about spoilers, but that can’t always be helped (as someone who also reviews the books she reads, I find myself having to be careful not to give too much away in my reviews). One review, written by Darian Welks had me floored because she hit on all the major points I was hoping that readers would get when reading Forbidden Love – such as this one line that is a favorite: “She has done well at showing us characters true to real life; from the detectives trying to bring them to justice, to Jessica's love - a man we come to root for, yet never forgetting that at the end of the day, this man is a killer for the mob.” I also like this one from KissablySweetOne : “A Romeo and Juliet of the organized crime world best describe this book.” These two women nailed what I was trying to get across with this story.

            As I continue my writing journey and prepare the next installment of this trilogy (Is Love Enough?) I find that the community of Indie Authors has been a huge factor in the success of my debut novel and it just makes me want to keep going!!

IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MICHELLE AND FORBIDDEN LOVE:
Amazon.com Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005PGNLQO

   Blog: www.michelleagrogan.com

FB Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Forbidden-Love/119023281535277

   Twitter handle: mishmash878

   Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5232793.Michelle_Grogan

MODERN WOMEN (20th Century Series, Book #4)- Ruth Harris

Reviewer by Lindsey



LOVE! ROMANCE! DRAMA!

If you enjoy involving, can't-put-it-down fiction, you will love Ruth Harris’s million-copy New York Times bestseller, MODERN WOMEN (20th Century Series, Book #4).

Beginning with the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas on 11/22/63, MODERN WOMEN is about three women—and the men—who live and love during these dramatic and exciting times.

Lincky Desmond: She marries Mr. Right—only to risk it all for Mr. Wrong.

Elly McGrath: She is loyal and idealistic but when faced with the ultimate betrayal, will she be able to stand up for herself?

Jane Gresh: Bawdy, talented and determined not to be ignored, she manages to shock the entire country.

Owen Casals: Handsome, successful, magnetic. He marries one, betrays another and makes one of them very, very rich. (Amazon Description)

I started this book not knowing what I was getting into. Honestly, I thought it was a ”Sex in the City” from the 60’s to 80’s. What surprised me most? This was a smart story that has it all. Each woman represents a type from that era. There is the girl who goes to college to find a husband, the loud liberal feminist, the girl who wants to be the boss in a man’s world, only to go about it in a negative manner.

Then there is Owen. I imagine Owen as a schmucky George Clooney .  He is a complete womanizer,  yet he is an integral part in this story.

There is quite a bit of history in this story. Each chapter begins with a timetable of events that occurred in the year of these women’s lives.

 The love scenes definitely descriptive, but they don’t overwhelm the story.

I enjoyed this book so much that I turned around and bought #1,2,3 and 5 of the series.

There is no reason to read them in order as each book represents a different era in history.



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Review: 'Anew: The Archers of Avalon' by Chelsea Fine

Reviewer: Jesi                                                               

Two years ago, Scarlet awoke in the forest alone, afraid, and unable to remember anything. Lost and confused, her life was a mystery...until she met a boy with a familiar voice.

Gabriel Archer has a voice from her past, and Scarlet is determined to remember why. She immerses herself in his life only to discover he has a brother he's kept hidden from her: Tristan Archer.

Upon meeting Tristan, Scarlet's world becomes even more muddled. While she's instinctively drawn to Gabriel, she's impossibly drawn to Tristan--and confused out of her mind. But as she tries to piece together her history, Scarlet realizes her past...might just be the death of her.

Wow, it is so hard to talk about this book without giving anything away.  Anew starts as a blank slate for Scarlet.  She wakes to find herself alone in a forest with almost total amnesia.  All she knows about herself is her name and that she is fifteen years old.  From there, it is almost best to let the reader discover the mysteries of her past as she learns them, so I won’t say much more about other than it has something to do with an American legend.  Can you guess what it is?  No?  Then read this book! 

Last month, I read and reviewed Chelsea Fine’s book Sophie and Carter on my personal blog.  Fine’s ability to create strong, interesting characters truly impressed me.  Anew proves that the success of Sophie and Carter was not a fluke.  This author knows how to craft characters to a T.  Scarlet is a girl who could have gone all emo about her situation, but instead, has chosen to make the most out of her strange circumstance.  Her best friend Heather is hilarious, and provides an excellent contrast to Scarlet’s character.  It is easy to see why they are so close. 

And as for the boys....?  I think I may be in literary love again.  Unfortunately, I don’t know who I love more, Tristan or Gabriel.  Both brothers are smoking hot, but so is every guy in a YA novel.  I think what I liked best is the contrast between these brothers.  Gabriel is fun and loving and laid back.  Tristan is the brooder, but not without some serious reasons behind his angst.  There is a love triangle in the book, but it’s not your typical situation.  I think reader will find it a refreshing twist. 

Anew is a fabulous start to a fun new paranormal series.  Cliffhanger endings drive me insane, and this book is no different.  I’ll be hopping up and down with anticipation until the next book in the series, Awry, comes out. 

Overall, I give Anew...

Plot - 5 bookmarks

Character development - 5 bookmarks

Setting - 5 bookmarks (the Kissing Festival was a fun way to introduce the town of Avalon)

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) - Skyler Samuels (Scarlet), Jean-Luc Bilodeau (Gabriel/Tristin), Alexandria Deberry (Heather), Olivia Wilde (Lauren)

'On the Road' by Jack Kerouac

Reviewed by Jesi

 
 
On The Road is a novel that celebrates the Beat generation and provides a portrait of America in the late forties/early fifties.  The story revolves around the narrator, Sal Paradise, a twenty-something writer and ex-GI who travels the country by car, bus, train and hitchhiking.  Along the way, he meets interesting people and a revolving door of friends who are also embarking on journeys of their own.  The book pay homage to the freedom of the open road.

 While the book lacked a unified plot (it’s mostly strings of stories woven together which make up a patchwork quilt-type book), I honestly have to say that this book had some of the most beautiful writing I’ve ever read.  Kerouac’s description is amazing!  He was able to say in five words what would take lesser writers two paragraphs.  His use of metaphor could have won him a gold medal if writing was an Olympic sport.  I’m not a note taker…not even in school…but I found myself writing passages down to ponder over later.

 The characters in this book were slightly disturbing, especially Dean Moriarty.  Sal seems to worship Dean in a bizarre and unhealthy way.  Dean is a philandering, pedophilic criminal, yet Sal sees him as some sort of mystical god-like being.  I don’t get it.  The guy is a creep.  People have to lock up their daughters when he’s around.  He marries women, knocks them up and runs off with another over and over again.  At one point, he obtains a quickie Mexican divorce from his second wife, rushes back to marry his third wife, and that very night,  leaves wife #3 to go back to wife #2.  What a pig!  But Sal sees Dean as some sort of modern philosopher, always talking about and eluding to Dean’s deep thinking.  I just saw him as a dude high on pot going, “Whoa, man!” “Yes!” over and over.

On The Road wasn’t the most exciting book, nor had it the deepest characters, but it definitely has historic and literary value.

Overall, I give On The Road…

 Plot – 1 ½ bookmarksCharacter
Development –2 ½ bookmarks
Literary Value – 5 bookmarks
Historic Value – 4 ½ bookmarks
Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) – Penn Badgley (Sal Paradise), Chris Pine (Dean Moriarty), America Ferrera (Teresita), Anne Hathaway (Camile), Tom Hardy (Remy), Reese Witherspoon (Mary Lou), Viggo Mortensen (Old Bull Lee), Lukas Haas (Carlo Marx)

'Wanted: Dead or Undead' by Angela Scott

Reviewed by Lindsey

As you know, I have been mourning the end of my Walking Dead program. I have a love/hate feeling towards Zombie's. I love that they are scary. You must run or they will hurt you. I hate they are disgusting cannibals...yet...never boring. .

Trace Monroe doesn’t believe in luck. He never has. But when a fiery-headed cowgirl saunters through the saloon doors, wielding shotguns and a know-how for killing the living dead, he believes he just may be the luckiest man alive.
Trace wants to join Red’s posse, but she prefers to work alone—less messy that way. In order to become her travelling companion, Trace has to agree to her terms: no names, no questions, and if he gets bit, he can’t beg for mercy when she severs his brain stem.
He agrees, knowing only that Red is the sharpest shooter he’s ever encountered. The fact she’s stunning hasn’t escaped his attention either.
What he doesn’t know, is that Red has a very good reason to be on top of her game. She not only has the answer for how they can all outlive the plague taking over the wild, wild west, she IS the answer.
                                                                                                                                (Amazon description)

It's the Wild West meets Walking Dead. It's non-stop action. I had no clue a book could provide the same thrill as watching people run from these...creatures. I found myself yelling, "Run you stupid boy!!"..It is that exciting.

The ,"fiery-red cowgirl" is a Zombie killer so to speak. She has lost everything and unique abilities that keep her alive. The Cowboy teams up with her, not for the right reasons, and further characters join.

Serious excitement folks. I read well into the morn (look at me! Home on the range lingo!)..through breakfast, through dinner. Done. Done...to only find out there is not a number 2 out yet. FireDaddy breathes a sigh of relief.

For you Smoochy Swashbuckling Pirate peeps, there is romance, but not so much that your thanking Sweet Jesus you have a kindle.

Again, what is my  #1 commandment????
"I shall invest in decent cover shall I ever want anyone besides my Mom to read my book".

If you are fortunate to have a spouse who reads ( I am not- yet he cleans so whatever) this is a book all shall enjoy. Kids? Your discretion. I am the worst Mother in the world and frankly if the 10 yr old reads anything I am thrilled...so leave that hall light on, they'll need it.

'Dead Case in Deadwood' by Ann Charles

Reviewed by Lindsey

'Real estate agent, Violet "Spooky" Parker stumbles upon a body-part theft ring at the local funeral parlor and suspects her caustic coworker has a hand in it--or maybe a foot. Can Violet discover what's in the crates the crooks are sneaking out of the mortuary in the dark of night? Or will she end up in one of them herself ... in pieces?'   (Amazon description)

Notice the cover..C.S. Kunkle illustrated. Again, for those who have been living under a rock, the cover is everything. I actually bought Ann's first book in the series because of the fantastic cover. I loved it! I can't begin to tell you how many books I have turned down due to the hideous covers..spend the money if ,unlike Ann, you don't have a professional artist in your family. Who probably charged her- but let's hope she got a great deal..brothers, you never know.

This is #3 in the series. The same characters are back..vile Ray, and I mean VILE. Her best friend Natalie (ohhhh....I can't say anything...aaaak), the family and of course Doc...

This book was just as great as the last two. It doesn't feel like three separate stories, but a continuing story. I can't decide which of the three is my favorite. I'll just say, questions are answered.

Violet is involved in a whole new mess. I don't think the woman will ever attract a normal client; this one makes the last two from previous books look tame. Money is money, and it is hysterical to see how far she is willing to go in order to earn a commission. She and Doc are doing well, though she continues to drive everyone insane by keeping the relationship a secret from Natalie. Natalie is still on the hunt for Doc and is clueless about what is really going on. Maddening! I can say no more, except do begin with,' Nearly Departed in Deadwood', the first in the series; otherwise you'll be lost.

Now, hurry up and write #4, Ann!