Category Archives: Reviews

Library Love – What Lurks Beneath by Ryan Lockwood #ryanlockwood #whatlurksbeneath

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MY REVIEW

I am loving Ryan Lockwood’s books, Below and now, What Lurks Beneath. They are a couple of fabulous creature features that gripped me and never let me go. I was on pins and needles, the suspense and anticipation off the charts. Action and adventure were on every page.

It’s not all creature, but I love that it was always on my mind. Even when Valerie was trying to figure out her love life with Will. He has fallen off the wagon and she’s not having it. I hope Will gets his shit together because I think they will make a great couple and I do like happy ever afters. I hope that means that you are hard at work writing more novels, Ryan.

If you are a fan of creature features, I can’t recommend Ryan Lockwood enough. His books are filled with danger and intrigue, dysfunctional characters and a hint of the paranormal. The writing is easy to read and flows smoothly. I think you have to walk outside the line to live the life Ryan’s characters do. So, come on. Let’s walk on the wild side together.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

From the acclaimed author of Below comes a new breed of terror that rises from the depths of the ocean. To hunt. To devour. To kill.

The first attack occurrs in the underwater caverns of the Bahamas. Two professional divers exploring the unknown. A monstrous flesh-ripping predator they never see coming.

Now the attacks are coming closer and closer to shore. A sun-soaked playground for sea-loving tourists. A human feasting ground for whatever lurks beneath.

Now, in a desperate race against time, Eric Watson, an expert on remote control underwater vehicles, and marine biologist Valerie Martell, must identify a savage new species of killer—and piece together one of nature’s most horrific mysteries. But the most terrifying discovery of all waits for Val and her team at the bottom of the sea. A discovery too shocking, to comprehend.

Because up till now, this creature existed only in mankind’s darkest nightmares. Not anymore.

Genre: Action and Advenure, Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller

Format: 385 pages, Kindle Edition

Published: May 26, 2015 by Pinnacle Books

ABOUT RYAN LOCKWOOD

Ryan Lockwood experienced many interesting outdoor jobs before writing his first novel, requiring him to assist with mountain lion capture, scrape barnacles off submerged boat hulls, fight Western wildfires, and measure storm runoff in the middle of the night. He holds degrees in technical journalism and environmental science, and has been employed as a biological research assistant, professional editor and public relations coordinator. When not writing, Lockwood scuba dives, climbs mountains, hunts to fill the freezer, and strives to become a better sailor. He currently lives in Colorado with his family and assorted four-legged friends.

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MY RYAN LOCKWOOD REVIEWS

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Magic Is Alive in A Ho HO HO Beau Christmas by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff @MimiJeanRomance #2024HoHoHoRAT

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MY REVIEW

A Ho Ho Ho Beau Christmas may be predictable, but it was delightful.

Meri Winters is going through some life changes during her favorite season of the year, Christmas. She feels like she was doing her holiday traditions for all the wrong reasons, so no Christmas party this year.

Things changed as soon as she met Beau, a hobo living in a tent by the garbage. She’s drawn to him, but he does everything he can to discourage her. He’s in a bad place and doesn’t have room in his life for a relationship.

I figured out the story pretty quick, but Mimi Jean Pamfiloff writes some wonderful novels and I am always happy to spend time with her characters. We have laughs, we have problems, we have arguments, we have friendships, we have everything that life entails, and, also, a happy ending. I do like those, especially during the holidays season.

So, if you are looking for a fun and magical story to brighten your holiday season, why not give A HO HO HO Beau Christmas a shot?

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

From New York Times bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes a Christmas Rom-Com with a sweet magical surprise.

As the snow begins to fall and the city streets sparkle with festive lights, Meri Winters feels anything but merry. Juggling a demanding job and a strained relationship with her best friend, she’s more focused on surviving the holiday season than enjoying it.

That is, until she meets Beau Starling, a ruggedly handsome hobo who’s been living in the alley behind her building. Despite his disheveled appearance, there’s something mysterious about him—an inexplicable pull she can’t ignore.

As Meri opens her heart to this unlikely stranger, she discovers that Beau isn’t just a wanderer passing through. He has secrets—ones that could change both their lives forever.

In a season known for miracles, Meri will have to decide whether to take a leap of faith and trust in the magic of the holidays, or risk losing the one gift she never expected.

  • Genre: Christmas, Fiction, Holiday, Humor, Romance
  • Format: 222 pages, ebook
  • Published: November 7, 2024 by Paper & Silver, Inc.

ABOUT MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF

MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF is a New York Times bestselling author who’s sold over one million books around the world. Although she obtained her MBA and worked for more than fifteen years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance closet and follow your dreams.

Mimi lives with her Latin lover hubby, two pirates-in-training (their boys), and their three spunky dragons (really, just very tiny dogs with big attitudes) Snowy, Mini, and Mack, in the vampire-unfriendly state of Arizona.

She hopes to make you laugh when you need it most and continues to pray daily that leather pants will make a big comeback for men.

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MY M O MACK REVIEWS

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Review – Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni #netgalley @robertdugoni

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MY REVIEW

I’ve seen and heard about Robert Dugoni but hadn’t read any of his work. When I saw Beyond A Reasonable Doubt on NetGalley, I grabbed it. Now I know what I’ve been missing.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt is a mishmash of genres: mystery, police procedural, courtroom drama, legal, suspense and thriller. It sure kept my attention, from beginning to end.

I saw where it was the second book in the series, but I never felt lost. Robert Dugoni filled me in on what I missed and what I needed to keep my head in the game. A head that Robert kept spinning as I tried to figure out all the details. We do have multiple suspects with motives for killing their fellow workers.

We have characters with their personal struggles and a sociopath that could be responsible for two deaths. Is she too obvious a suspect? I bounced back and forth between the suspects, just as I did for the rating for Beyond Reasonable Doubt. As you can see, I rate up when bounce around. I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A master manipulator accused of murder. An attorney sworn to defend her. Keera Duggan returns in a riveting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

When Jenna Bernstein, disgraced wunderkind CEO of a controversial biotech company, is accused of murdering her former partner and lover, she turns to Seattle attorney Keera Duggan to defend her. Keera is more than a master chess player who brings her intuitive moves into court—she’s Jenna’s childhood friend. But considering their history, Keera knows that where Jenna goes, trouble follows.

Three years earlier, Keera’s father successfully defended Jenna when she was tried for the killing of her company’s chief medical scientist who threatened to go public with allegations of corporate fraud. Keera knows Jenna too well. When she was a kid, Keera saw Jenna for what she a manipulative and frighteningly controlling sociopath. Now, with only circumstantial evidence against Jenna, Keera is willing to bury any trepidation she might have to defend a woman she believes, this time, to be innocent.

As the investigation gets underway and disturbing questions arise, Keera puts her trust in a client who swears nothing but the truth. If this is all just another devious game, Keera might be working to set a murderer free.

  • Genre: Fiction, Legal, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
  • Format: 365 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published: October 22, 2024 by Thomas & Mercer
  • Series: Keera Duggan
  • Setting: Seattle, Washington

ABOUT ROBERT DUGONI

Robert DugoniRobert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series set in Seattle, which has sold more than 8 million books worldwide. He is also the author of The Charles Jenkins espionage series, the David Sloane legal thriller series, and several stand-alone novels including The 7th Canon, Damage Control, and the literary novels, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell – Suspense Magazine’s 2018 Book of the Year, for which Dugoni’s narration won an AudioFile Earphones Award and the critically acclaimed, The World Played Chess; as well as the nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, a Washington Post Best Book of the Year. Several of his novels have been optioned for movies and television series. Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and a three-time winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. He has also been a finalist for many other awards including the International Thriller Award, the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, the Silver Falchion Award for mystery, and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award.

Robert Dugoni’s books are sold in more than twenty-five countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages.

Visit his website at www.robertdugoni.com, and follow him on twitter @robertdugoni and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorRobertDugoni

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Review – Election Retrograde by P D Alleva @PdallevaAuthor #Horror

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MY REVIEW

When I saw Election Day, I thought of current events. How could it be worse than what is going on now? Well, all I can say is, IT IS! Does that make you curious? What can possibly be going on?

I will say P D Alleva takes no prisoners and the ending left me with my jaw hanging open.

P D Alleva writes some off the wall novels and I have loved each and every one that I have read. If you are looking for something different, something to get your brain jump started, look no further. P D Alleva is your guy.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In the shadowy recesses of Cara’s mind, an ancient power has always lurked—a telepathic ability that both blessed and cursed her existence. For years, she shunned the whispers that echoed through the corridors of human consciousness. But when her twin brother Craig, a cog in the vast government machine, stumbles upon a plot so insidious it threatens to unravel the very fabric of reality, Cara is forced to confront the true nature of her gift.

As the twins descend into the labyrinthine depths beneath the Pentagon, they discover a truth far more terrifying than any earthly conspiracy. Here, in the suffocating darkness, writhe entities beyond human comprehension—monstrosities that defy the laws of nature and sanity.

With each step deeper into this realm of cosmic horror, Cara and Craig realize they’ve become pawns in a game played by forces older than time itself. The creatures that dwell below are not mere monsters, but the architects of a reality-bending scheme that makes the government’s plot seem like child’s play.

As Election Day looms, the boundary between our world and the realms beyond grows thinner. Cara and Craig must navigate a nightmarish landscape where flesh warps, minds fracture, and the very concept of humanity becomes fluid. Their desperate attempt to thwart both earthly and otherworldly machinations will lead them to the brink of madness—and beyond.

Prepare to question your sanity in this mind-bending fusion of cosmic terror, grotesque body horror, and dark humor. “Election Retrograde” plunges readers into an abyss where the lines between reality and nightmare blur, and where the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. Election Day is coming, and with it, a reckoning that will shatter the foundations of existence itself.

Genre: Conspiracy, Fiction, Horror, Pulp Fiction, Suspense, Thriller

133 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2024 by Chamber Door Publishing, LLC

ABOUT P D ALLEVA

P.D. Alleva

I write books, that’s what I do. Horror, scifi, thrillers, fantasy, and sometimes a literary gem. Good ones, crazy ones, fun books, entertaining books, terrifying books that are absolutely insane, books with depth and thrills, and stories that rip out the heart of humanity and tosses it on a slab to be feasted on. Yeah, that’s what I do, I write books. Any questions?

My current projects include: the Pulp Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy series, The Dark Veil: The Rose Vol. III; the horror thriller novella series, Girl on a Mission; the supernatural thriller series, The Hypnotist; and a follow up to Jigglyspot and the Zero Intellect, tentatively titled The Sleepy Hollow Incident.

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Library Love – Below by Ryan Lockwood #ryanlockwood #below

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MY REVIEW

I love anything to do with seas, oceans, and lakes…add to that a creature feature and I am all in. Below will take us to the depth of the oceans, facing a creature that compares to Jaws. Once they figure we are a good meal, there is no stopping them…or is there? There will be a trail of blood and guts and I love a gory adventure filled with danger and death. What I don’t like is being trapped under water…

Below is Ryan Lockwood’s debut novel and I want to congratulate him on a job well done. I look forward to what comes next.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In all his years as a professional diver, Will Sturman has never encountered a killing machine more ferocious than the great white shark or as deadly as the piranha. Now, off the coast of California, something is rising from the deep–and multiplying. Voracious, unstoppable, and migrating north, an ungodly life form trailed by a gruesome wake of corpses. With the help of the brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Valerie Martell, Will finds himself in a race against time to stop the slaughter–by a predator capable of devastating the world’s oceans.

  • Genre: Action and Adventure, Creature Feature, Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • 417 pages, Kindle Edition
  • First published January 1, 2013 by Pinnacle Books

ABOUT RYAN LOCKWOOD

Ryan Lockwood experienced many interesting outdoor jobs before writing his first novel, requiring him to assist with mountain lion capture, scrape barnacles off submerged boat hulls, fight Western wildfires, and measure storm runoff in the middle of the night. He holds degrees in technical journalism and environmental science, and has been employed as a biological research assistant, professional editor and public relations coordinator. When not writing, Lockwood scuba dives, climbs mountains, hunts to fill the freezer, and strives to become a better sailor. He currently lives in Colorado with his family and assorted four-legged friends.

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Fan – Frickin’ – Tastic – Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros @RebeccaYarros

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MY REVIEW

“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson

And that about sums it up. How many lives will be lost? Will I lose one of my favorite characters? Can the Fourth Wing stay whole?

Violet Sorrengail will be put to the test again and again, personally and professionally.

Once I started I didn’t want to stop reading. Unputdownable does not even begin to describe Iron Flame. It is riveting, engrossing, mind blowing, overwhelming…and looooooong, so be sure and put aside a lot of time. Lock the doors and hunker down in your favorite reading spot with your favorite beverage.

There is so much I want to say, but this is one of those times when I think less is more.

The cliffhanger ending is not unexpected. The problem is, waiting for my turn at the library.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

  • Genre: Dragons, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural
  • Format: 895 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published: November 7, 2023 by Entangled: Red Tower Books

ABOUT REBECCA YARROS

Screenshot

Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and coffee addict. She is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including Fourth Wing, The Last Letter and The Things We Leave Unfinished. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years. A mother of six, she is currently surviving the teenage years with all four of her hockey-playing sons.

Want to know about Rebecca’s next release? Check her out online at www.rebeccayarros.com.

MY REBECCA YARROS REVIEWS

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Review – Thirteen Days Gone by Amanda Siegrist @amanda_siegrist

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MY REVIEW

The beginning of the ARC, Thirteen Days Gone (A Haunting Novel, Book II) was a bit slow for me, but with a little spit and polish I think it will shine. We are back with familiar characters and some left over magic that is creating havoc with the gang. Just goes to show, sometimes a little knowledge is dangerous. Thirteen Days Gone is Charly and Breck’s time to shine. I have a feeling that Breck has his hands full, getting close to Charly, seeing flesh to flesh allows Charly to glimpse a person’s past.

Insta love, not really. Insta attraction, yes. How long can they hold out and who will make the first move. When Charly goes to Breck and tells him she had a vision that showed her death, he decides the clock is ticking and he doesn’t want to waste one more minute to hold her in his arms. He has nothing to hide from her.

A serial killer has Charly in his sights. Of course, we have one of those moments when I’m saying…DON’T GO OUT THERE, but Amanda handles the inevitable in a good way.

Like I said, it was slow coming out of the gate, but it didn’t take long for the story to pick up the pace, making me unable to look away. I know there will be a happy ending, but I don’t know how that ending will come about.

Want a book to cozy up to on a cold winter’s night, look no further than the Haunting series.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

From USA Today bestselling author Amanda Siegrist comes an intense paranormal series that is hauntingly, suspenseful fun!

A ticking clock. A vision of her own demise.

Psychic Charly Yarrow’s curse is about to turn deadly. Ever since she was young, her visions of past and future have haunted her—but never has she foreseen her last day on earth. In thirteen days, the killer will come for her.

Charly’s only lifeline is stern Detective Breck Holstrom, though at first he doubts her unique abilities…until the evidence proves uncanny. Determined, he vows to unravel the cryptic clues in her vision to stop her fate.

Drawn together in a race against time with a serial killer’s twisted game, Breck battles his skepticism while fighting an undeniable attraction. Charly wants to trust him to help her cheat death and solve the mystery shrouding her murder. But she knows better—her visions always come true. As the encroaching deadline creeps closer, Charly must risk trusting Breck with her life…and her heart.

Don’t miss this nail-biting paranormal romantic suspense guaranteed to keep you guessing until the final chapter.

The entire Haunting Love (Each book can be read as a standalone.)
Third Time’s the Charm (Book 1): Kade & Bailey
Thirteen Days Gone (Book 2): Breck & Charly

  • Genre: Fiction, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller
  • 260 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published October 15, 2024 by Amanda Siegrist

ABOUT AMANDA SIEGRIST

Amanda Siegrist

Love! Gimme some love and heaps of romance. I have a sappy heart that just loves two people meeting, going through the cycles of a relationship, and ultimately, falling in love. Give me a good book like that and I’m a happy camper:)

I write contemporary and romantic suspense, but I am partial to suspense. I just love a good mystery.

Besides writing, I love baking, crafts, and baseball…oh, and meeting new people. *smiles*

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Review – The Shadows Rule All by Abigail Owen @AOwenBooks #netgalley #theshadowsruleall

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The Shadows Rule All
The Shadows Rule All The Shadows Rule All
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MY REVIEW

Well, we start off with a gorgeous cover (by Elizabeth Turner Stokes) for the finale of the Dominions series, with the final chapter being told in The Shadows Rule All by Abigail Owen and it was a doozy. Abigail included anything and everything you could possibly want for a fantasy romance. We have a struggle for leadership, some magical machinations, battles, death and romance. I was lost in the , but because it is such a long book, I couldn’t finish it in one sitting.

The Shadows Rule All is the third book in the series, so I’m not going to give you the lowdown. I definitely recommend beginning at the beginning, if this sounds like a winner to you. I do love when a series is complete, don’t you?

I will tell you that their worlds are crumbling with the loss of the goddesses. To set things right, they would have to release the goddesses from the amulets they are trapped in. For them to be released, they are sent on a quest to recover Allusion’s heart.

I went teary eyed more than once as character after character fell. By killing off some of my favorite characters, Abigail makes the story seem real (for a fantasy), because in battle not all will survive. Even the peripheral characters have a pivotal role to play, adding their magic to the story.

We have Meren, the main character, looking for her soulmate. Reven. He is lost in the Shadows. Is she going to have her happy ever after? Will she ever be rid of the Shadows who threaten her and Reven? Can they release the goddesses and save their Dominions?

For a finale, I think Abigail hit the nail on the head. She left me with a heavy heart, but a feeling of satisfaction. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Darkness ascends the throne in this electrifying conclusion to the Domionions trilogy, all wrapped up in a gorgeous cover package! Preorder coming soon!

The hidden princess, must find a way to stop the ageless king—and the Shadowraith she’s fallen for—in the upcoming final installment of Abigail Owen’s sprawling, sexy upper YA fantasy.

The Dominions series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 The Liar’s Crown
Book #2 The Stolen Throne
Book #3 The Shadows Rule All

  • Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Magic, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Supernatural
  • 512 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication November 12, 2024
  • Series: Dominions, #3

ABOUT ABIGAIL OWEN

Multi–award-winning paranormal romance author, Abigail Owen, loves plots that move hot and fast, feisty heroines with sass, alpha heroes with heart, a dash of snark, and oodles of sexy shifters! Other titles include wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex-competitive skydiver, spreadsheet lover, eMBA, organizational guru, Texan, Aggie, and chocoholic. Abigail grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. She attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it. Abigail currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own personal hero (who she totally married!) and their two children, who are growing up way too fast.  

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MY REVIEWS FOR ABIGAIL OWEN

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5 Stars for Originality – Golden Blood: A Vampire Story by Tim Vee @_Tim_Vee_

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MY REVIEW

The gorgeous, eye catching cover is only the beginning of the deliciousness of Golden Blood: A Vampire Story by Tim Vee. I grab any vampire books that come my way and Golden Blood is a fresh take of a familiar tale. It’s pretty hard to come up with a new slant, seeing there are thousands of books out there. Good job ,Tim.

Balthazar Jiménez de Quesada’s greed has him transformed into a vampire, one of the most grotesque I have ever come across. He’s definitely not sparkly. He turns the wrong person when he slaughtered Yvette’s family and left her for dead. She plots her revenge.

She devotes her vampiric life to finding Golden Blood, the rarest type of blood. It can break the vampire curse, turning her back into a human. There are some bloods that can give a vampire the human feeling for a short period of time, but she wants Golden Blood. So does Balthazar, after he gets his first taste. He wants to kill her and take over her ‘company’.

I love what Tim Vee has done with Golden Blood. I would not change anything. These are not your Twilight vampires. Tim has some of the most vivid descriptions and I can see the flies buzzing, skin sloughing off…

We have a bit of a history lesson with our horror and I was all in. The more I read, the more engrossed I was in the story. I would have read it in one sitting, if I could have, but I did read until the wee hours of the morning.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In 1540, conquistador Balthazar Jiménez de Quesada embarks on a quest for gold but encounters an ancient evil in the jungles of Colombia, La Pastola, transforming him into an immortal vampire. Centuries later, as Napoleon’s army clashes with the British in 1815, a brutal massacre near Walloon births a new vampire desperate to break her curse. In present-day Los Angeles, a man with the rarest blood type—Golden Blood—enters a dangerous world where the line between predator and prey blurs, as a secret society of vampires hunts for the key to their salvation…or their destruction.
Golden Blood is a gripping tale of horror, history, and the eternal struggle for redemption, spanning from the New World’s blood-soaked jungles to the underbelly of modern L.A.

Golden Blood is the story about one vampire’s search for Golden Blood that can reverse the vampiric curse and her need for revenge against the vampire that slaughtered her family and turned her into a vampire centuries before. Set in the jungles of Colombia in the 1500s, the Caribbean in the 1700s, Europe in the 1800s and 1900s, and present-day Los Angeles, Golden Blood is a dark, bleak, and gothic story.

  • Genre: Fiction, Horror, Paranormal, Supernatural, Vampires
  • 231 pages, ebook
  • Expected publication October 31, 2024

ABOUT TIM VEE

My books are always free over at Smash Words. Download and have a read – and don’t forget to leave a review! https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi…

Tim works in digital marketing in Toronto and is well-traveled, having visited over 80 countries. When he is not working or writing he likes to spend time with his family and German Shepherd – and to go cycling.

Tim has written ten books; The Secret Policemen and The Secret Service – both dystopian dark comedies; as well as seven science fiction novels – Extinction, Annabelle, Fission, The Children of the Third Reich, The Child of Mars, and The Children of Andaalwaald.

Tim has also written Magpie – a dark and intense journey into the world of international espionage and terrorism.

Tim mostly enjoys writing transgressive fiction – mainly about aliens and psychopaths.

Comments and feedback are always welcome.

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Review – Candyland: The Battle Of Naughty And Nice by Tony Bertauski

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December is a time of giving and Tony Bertauski pays it forward. By purchasing a copy of Candyland, you are donating to a worth cause, Novak’s House. 10% of the profits from Candyland is donated to Novak’s House: a recovery residence that was founded in 2020 by Brandon Novak and George Evagelou to help those struggling with addiction find a safe, sober place to call home.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I have been visiting the Claus Universe since Santa came to town. I have missed a book or two, so it’s a good thing each book can stand alone. Are you ready for an adventure?

Let’s follow Arthur to Candyland, where the battle between naughty and nice reigns. Arthur’s imagination has brought him to Candyland where every day is Christmas. We have magical characters and a king that wants to turn Candyland all naughty. He needs Arthur and his talent, to help him make it happen.

Arthur doesn’t know what his talent is, what the king is looking for, and he has no idea how he will ever get home again.

I love getting lost in the fantasy Tony Bertauski has created. I have met many a character that I would never have found anywhere else, but in one of Tony’s books. His world building knows no boundaries, He has the ability to set my imagination on fire. So, if you are looking for some holiday reading for you or someone else, I highly recommend taking a look at the Claus Universe.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The 12th standalone novel in the Claus Universe. The Christmas adventures you’ve been waiting for…

Arthur woke up in a realm where fairy tales are born and Christmas never ends.

Naturally, he thought he was dreaming. Who wouldn’t? This wasn’t his world. He had no idea how he got there, and even the natives were clueless about how or why a crosser came to Candyland. But there was a reason—there was always a reason.

Arthur is quickly caught up in the eternal battle between naughty and nice. King Chocolate ruled the Naughty Side, and with Christmas fast approaching, he’s determined to finally win at any cost. When he hears rumors of Arthur’s arrival, the king springs into action. The last thing he wants is a talented crosser helping the Nice Side win the war.

Arthur has no idea what talent the king is after. He barely remembers who he is. He crossed over with only the clothes on his back and a pocket full of drawings. Soon, however, he finds himself trapped between naughty and nice. When he discovers the secrets inside himself, Candyland is transformed. And in the process, he will remember who he is and understand why he’s there.

When his true talent is unleashed, nothing will be the same.

  • Genre: Action and Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Teen, Young Adult
  • 390 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published November 1, 2024
  • Series: Claus Universe, Stand Alone

ABOUT TONY BERTAUSKI

Tony Bertauski

Get my books FREE. Tell me where to send them at http://bertauski.com

He grew up in the Midwest where the land is flat and the corn is tall. The winters are bleak and cold. He hated winters.

He always wanted to write. But writing was hard. And he wasn’t very disciplined. The cold had nothing to do with that, but it didn’t help. That changed in grad school.

After several attempts at a proposal, his major advisor was losing money on red ink and advised him to figure it out. Somehow, he did.

After grad school, he and his wife and two very little children moved to the South in Charleston, South Carolina where the winters are spring and the summers are a sauna (cliche but dead on accurate). That’s when he started teaching and writing articles for trade magazines. He eventually published two textbooks on landscape design. He then transitioned to writing a column for the Post and Courier. They were all great gigs, but they weren’t fiction.

That was a few years later.

His daughter started reading before she could read, pretending she knew the words in books she propped on her lap. His son was a different story. In an attempt to change that, he began writing a story with him. They made up a character, gave him a name, and something to do. As with much of parenting, it did not go as planned. But the character got stuck in his head.

He wanted out.

A few years later, Socket Greeny was born. It was a science fiction trilogy that was gritty and thoughtful. That was 2005.

He has been practicing Zen since he was 23 years old. A daily meditator, he wants to instill something meaningful in his stories that appeals to a young adult crowd as well as adult. Think Hunger Games. He hadn’t planned to write fiction, didn’t even know if he had anymore stories in him after Socket Greeny.

Turns out he did.

MY TONY BERTAUSKI REVIEWS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!