I love books based on true events and animals, so when I got a chance to get my hands on Finding Fionn by M J Evans, I had to have it. Finding Fionn is a mystery based on the kidnapping of Shergar, an Irish thoroughbred who had an amazing winning record.
Before I even cracked open the book, I was surfing for information on Shergar, the horse the book was based on. My biggest takeaway was how thought provoking the story was. Could there be some truth to the fiction?
M J Evans explains the IRA position in a simple to understand manner for such a complex situation. I have read other books where the IRA made an appearance and it was always hard for me to understand…why the conflict? Also, once their first kidnapping, to finance their war, was successful, why would they quit there? But a horse?
Fionn MacCool was a very successful racer and quickly put to stud. Patrick McCallin was the lucky, young jockey who got him there. It had been Patrick’s dream to be a jockey and when Fionn was taken, he was not going to stand by and watch as they closed the case.
It’s fun when a group of young people come together to solve a mystery. We have danger, betrayal and greed…the things people will do for money, never satisfied with what they have.
Finding Fionn is a wonderful story of a boy’s love for horses and his desire to be a jockey. I love the thought provoking conclusion and I think I will make my own conjecture on what really happened to the horse, Shergar, that the story was based on. I love that we have a happy ever after for Fionn MacCool, not so for Shergar.
4 Stars
A fast-paced story that will have mystery fans and horse lovers thoroughly captivated. – Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Reader’s favorite
Book Description:
The excitement felt in the Winner’s Circle vanishes when the jockey’s beloved horse disappears from his stall in the dark of night. Patrick McCallin is a young Irish lad growing up in the 1980’s when all of Ireland is groaning under the weight of The Troubles. Born to ride, he pays little mind to the political unrest going on around him. He dreams only of becoming a jockey. Patrick’s dream comes true when he is selected to ride an up-and-coming Thoroughbred, named Fionn MacCool, in the biggest races in England and Ireland. Race after race ends with Fionn and Patrick in the Winner’s Circle. The pair captures the heart of all Ireland. But the dream becomes a nightmare when Patrick’s beloved horse is kidnapped and held for ransom. When the horse’s owner refuses to pay and the Irish Garda closes the case, Patrick and his best friends, Ronan and Maddie, have no choice but to find Fionn themselves.
M.J. Evans is the author of more than twenty award-winning books for middle-graders, young adults, adults, and even a few picture books. Most of her titles are about horses or horse fantasy creatures. Ms. Evans is a graduate of Oregon State University and a former teacher of middle school and high school students. She is the mother of five and the grandmother of twelve. She and her husband live in Colorado.
I have read J K Franco’s Eye For An Eye Trilogy and loved it, so it was a no brainer to grab Killing Johnny Miracle. I love books that smack of betrayal and revenge and Killing Johnny Miracle gave me more than I expected.
The first sentence: Mary Miracle would always recall with clarity the moment she decided to kill her husband.
After Mary decided Johnny had to die, she spent the rest of the week working out the best way to do it, the ‘best’ way meaning how to kill him in the manner that was least likely to end with her in prison or – as they lived in Texas – on death row.
With these quotes being on the first page, I anticipate many pages of wicked goodness, 409 to be precise, plus the author supplies us with an interview telling us how he came to write the book.
Johnny Miracle is quite the opposite of his name. He is more like a curse, and it is Mary’s misfortune to be the his target. He has his eyes on the prize, and it’s not his wife. I do love a great villain, and J K Franko supplied us with one in Johnny Miracle.
Mary’s grandmother dies and…well, here is where Mary begins to wake up to the awful possibilites in front on her.
Johnny Miracle is a scumbag, a cheater, but he is not alone when it comes to people who will betray Mary. Secrets, so many secrets and betrayals..
Things are bad for Mary early in the story, but in Chapter 43, J K Franko steps it up a notch.
Rubi Yi…who is she? I learn about her, but it takes me a while to see how she fits into the story….and I love it! Us ladies have to stick together, don’t we? When everything comes together, secrets are shared and messes are cleaned up. I was smiling.
What a fabulous story of betrayal and us women making things right in the end.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, no man, no matter how smart or strong, can compete with a motivated woman.”
As I read the Afterword, J K Frank had me smiling again. I love that all his ideas wouldn’t fit in Killing Johnny Miracle. That means more books for us to read. But, he covered the gist of it.
A story about how a strong young woman finds her moral compass and life path while the universe is throwing buckets of shit at her.
The book had my mind spinning and I love it. A tangled web, for sure, and a snake in the grass that kept me turning the pages.
4 Stars
Synopsis:
Johnny Miracle thinks he’s got it all… and he’s in love, just not with his wife, Mary. He wants a divorce and he’s got leverage. Johnny knows her deepest, darkest secret. He’s going to use that to take everything: her vineyard, her money, and her priceless family heirloom. He’ll do whatever it takes to get it all.
But, as Grandma Nellie used to say, “No man, no matter how smart or strong, can compete with a motivated woman.” Mary is a motivated woman, she’s got her own agenda, and it doesn’t include losing. She’s going to kill Johnny. To get away with it, she needs a plan and an alibi. And she thinks she has both.
Book Details:
Genre: Crime Thriller Published by: Rum House Publishing Publication Date: May 2023 Number of Pages: 350 Book Links:Amazon | Goodreads
Read an excerpt:
Nobody ever said it was going to be anything better
than a round of poker on the raft of Medusa. It’s not who wins the game that counts.
Nobody wins. It’s who gets out least lost. From Memo, by Todd Hearon
PART ONE
MARY’S WORLD FALLS APART
CHAPTER ONE
Mary Miracle would always recall with clarity the moment she decided to kill her husband. It wasn’t a decision she’d come to suddenly. She had loved him at one point, with all her heart. But over the course of their marriage, there’d been an accumulation of things he’d done that—little by little, like a blowtorch burning paint off steel—scorched away chunks of her love.
Usually, once love is gone, only indifference remains. In which case, the logical thing for Mary to do would have been to get a divorce, not kill him. But in Mary’s case, there was one final thing Johnny did to her that obliterated not just the love, but even indifference. And from the charred remains of everything she had once felt for him grew a revulsion so deep that she refused to live in a world where he existed.
After Mary decided that Johnny had to die, she spent the rest of the week working out the best way to do it, the ‘best’ way meaning how to kill him in the manner that was least likely to end with her in prison or—as they lived in Texas—on death row.
As his wife, I’ll be the prime suspect. The fact that we’re in the middle of a divorce makes that even worse. Lord knows, I’ve got plenty of motives.
It needs to look like an accident. Poison? A hit and run? Maybe a burglary gone wrong?
And I’m gonna need an iron-clad alibi.
It took Mary a few days to figure out the accident part. The more difficult piece was the alibi. She came up with lots of ideas. But in the end, she concluded that to pull off a foolproof alibi she needed help: an accomplice. There was only one person in the world she could trust with something like this. Abby Winehouse. They’d grown up together, shared secrets. They knew each other like sisters.
Abby also had the skills to help Mary put the finishing touches on her plan. The only downside was that she’d probably try to talk her out of killing him; Mary was almost sure of that.
She arranged to meet Abby at her place that Friday for some wine and cheese. The house was just west of downtown Austin and had been in Abby’s family since the late 1800s. The two friends sat, as usual, on the wooden back deck in lawn chairs overlooking the small yard. Its perimeter was marked by a hurricane fence. The lawn was thick Saint Augustine grass. There was a small rock garden in one corner, in the center of which sat a broken bird bath; the bath part was dry and dusty. A couple of beat-up cornhole boards leaned against the fence by the gate to the alley. It was just past seven. A cool fall evening.
Abby was sharing some of the highlights of her week. She was on a bit of a rant. “And so, I told him, ‘Don’t be mansplainin’ to me about what a rollin’ stop is. You may have a badge, but I was runnin’ stop signs while you were still on training wheels!’”
Mary nodded and smiled as her friend spoke, but she wasn’t listening. She was rhythmically clinking her fingertip against the stem of her wineglass to disguise the slight tremor in her hands. Nerves. She had rehearsed what she wanted to say. And how to say it. Still, her neck felt tight. Could Abby tell that she was distracted? Abby was never one to pry. She had always been the type to chat, entertain, all while waiting for Mary to open up.
“So fiiiiinally,” Abby dragged out the word, “he agreed to let me off with a warnin’.” She shook her head. “But I had’ta get all pissed off and tell him I’m a lawyer to get ‘im to back down.” She scoffed. “Imagine how they treat regular folk . . . ” She stopped to pour herself some more rosé.
Mary decided to capitalize on the lull. The sound of cars rushing down Mopac highway nearby provided white noise that she felt protected their conversation from prying ears. But she reached out and turned the music on the Bluetooth speaker up a bit, just to be safe. A song by The Dixie Chicks was playing, the one about Earl. It was a song she knew well, but she was so focused on what she wanted to say that the irony was lost on her.
“I need to tell you something, Abby,” she said. “Ask a favor, really . . .”
Abby finished refilling her glass. She turned to look at her friend, and her face fell. “Oh, shit! What’s wrong? No. Don’t you cry, girl,” she reacted instinctively, then backtracked. “Or go on and let it all out if ya need to . . .”
Mary hadn’t realized her eyes were watering. Tears were not on her agenda. She inhaled, seeking to extract confidence from the air around her. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
“What is it, Mare?”
“I’m gonna need your help with something,” Mary said. The tension in her neck eased slightly as she spoke.
Abby cocked an eyebrow, and Mary watched her eyes dart back and forth as if scanning through a spectrum of possibilities. Despite all her rehearsing, Mary couldn’t help beating around the bush just a little. “It’s a big one,” she added, her eyes turning hard and her chin tilting up slightly.
The air around the two women suddenly felt almost electric. Mary saw that her friend felt it too; the hair on Abby’s arms stood on end.
She leaned towards Mary, placing a hand on her knee. “You know you can count on me, hon.” She unconsciously lowered her voice to a whisper. “What can I do?”
“I . . . It’s about . . . him.”
Abby inhaled deeply and sat up straighter. Her lips pursed, then she took a swallow from her wineglass. “Well, what’s he gone and done now?” Abby’s head tilted; her mouth set in a hard line. “It’s high time you divorced that sumbitch. I know it’s been a mess. But of course, you can count on me—”
“Oh, no. It’s not about the divorce.” She sat back, more confident now that she had gotten the topic on the table. “I mean, thank God, I found out because of the divorce. But . . .”
Mary had read somewhere that when the police deliver news of a family member’s death, they use simple, direct language to avoid confusion. In the shock of the moment, brutal clarity works best. Mary had decided to follow that approach. That’s what she had rehearsed.
She took a sip of wine, her gaze locked on Abby’s. She breathed in, then exhaled slowly and, for the first time, said out loud what she’d been thinking, planning, what she knew she had to do.
“I’m going to kill Johnny.”
Her tone made it clear that this was not a figure of speech.
Abby sat for a good while studying her friend. She was searching, hoping for some indication that she was misreading the moment—that Mary wasn’t actually declaring her intent to commit murder.
When it became clear that Mary had nothing further to add, Abby started to speak several times. Mary watched as her mouth would form the tip of a word, before aborting the effort as new scenarios percolated out of her keen mind. Finally, Mary saw that look in her friend’s eyes; her best friend was still there, but the lawyer in her was sharing control. Abby clasped her hands together, resting them softly on her knee, then spoke the best open-ended reply of them all.
“Why?”
***
Excerpt from Killing Johnny Miracle by JK Franko. Copyright 2023 by JK Franko. Reproduced with permission from JK Franko. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
J.K. Franko was born in Texas and spent his childhood in Corpus Christi where he attended St. Patrick’s Elementary and Incarnate Word Academy. He was educated by Irish nuns who thought his conduct poor and academic effort lacking. Franko admittedly spent too much time at the video arcade, playing hacky sack, and later hanging out with friends drinking beer and listening to eighties music (this was in the eighties) at Swantner Park.
He would not change any of that (if he could).
Franko got his act together in college, during what he calls his Tour of Texas: Del Mar College, Baylor University, University of Dallas, University of the Incarnate Word (BA Philosophy, cum laude), St. Mary’s Law School (Juris Doctor, summa cum laude), and UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business (MBA, Kozmetsky Scholar).
He worked for ten years as a trial lawyer in Texas, then went on to work as an executive in the Fortune 100 in Europe and Asia.
Franko has written a number of non-fiction books and articles. But storytelling has always been his passion.
Publication of Franko’s first three novels—the Eye for Eye trilogy—was complete in 2020, with international publication in translation beginning in 2021.
He will be publishing two books in 2023: Killing Johnny Miracle and The Black Book.
There was a glitch….so the book won’t be free until tomorrow? But, you can purchase it now for .99 if you can’t wait.
I want to send out a huge welcome to P D Alleva. I love covers and I may even be considered a cover whore. A cover can be the reason a pass over a book, or I pause to check it out further. I love talking to authors about how they create their covers. How much input they have. I love to have them share their designers information so others may acquire such fabulous cover too.
Soooo, let’s get to it.
Cover Creating Process
Here’s the biggest part in the cover creating process: choose a designer that knows what they’re doing. Unless you’re a graphic designer you need a damn good cover artist, that’s for sure. If you’re looking for one, my designer hits it out of the park every time. I highly recommend reaching out to Cherie. Her website is below.
Choosing the right cover artist is the first step, but that’s not where the work stops, it’s only where it begins. I’m confident when I say that every author has a predetermined design floating in the back of their mind at some point during the writing process and you need to communicate those ideas effectively to the cover artist. They’re not mind readers and know nothing about your book so the more information and detail you can provide the better the final result will be.
One of the first processes is reviewing book covers in your genre. Look at the most popular books and study the design. Every genre is different and your cover needs to fall in line with what reader’s are used to. Which also means that if the outstanding and awesome cover design you’ve been thinking about over the last six months doesn’t fall in line with what’s on the market, have the wherewithal to scrap your idea. If you want to actually sell books than you need a design that conforms to what readers want and are accustomed to seeing in the genre. If not you risk the chance a potential reader will keep scrolling past your book.
Now that you’ve got your cover examples, you want to bring in the most vital aspects of your story that will not only connect with a potential reader but is also a glimpse into the story that unfolds within the pages and the title of your book. Is there a tagline you want to include, or a popular review quote? Keep in mind that sometimes we add the quote before official publication so leave room for a quote if you plan on having a few to choose from. This is also a good time to ask yourself a basic question: How can my cover stand out from other covers that are currently on the market? You want to be similar in style but uniquely connected to your story. And don’t create a cover that once someone reads your book they’ll wonder what the cover has to do with the story. In other words, don’t create an awesome cover that doesn’t relate to your story. It rubs readers the wrong way and the next thing you know you’re rushing around to get a new cover done. It’s a shitty situation to be in. Trust me, I’ve been there.
Once you’ve got all your examples and ideas ready, your designer will have you complete a cover questionnaire that will ask for all the information above. You want to be as precise as possible when answering, but it’s also good to lean on the designer here, possibly offering a few different perspectives and ideas. If you choose the right designer they’ll have experience with your genre and should also come with a few of their own ideas and expertise. Their experience is paramount and if they decide to scrap one of your ideas as a result of previous experience it is best to heed the advice. I’ve always said that great projects are a collaboration, so remember, you’re working with your designer not barking orders. Good designers are hard to come by and when you’ve got one its best to create a professional relationship if for no other reason than for the sake of consistency.
People who love your covers will expect the same with every novel you produce and working with the same designer, one who learns your style, taste, likes and dislikes allow future processes to go smoothly and without much fuss or redesigns. Which brings us to the next step in the cover creating process: the waiting.
After you provide your cover examples and submit your questionnaire, it’s time for the designer to take the baton and get to work. Tom Petty definitely said it right that the waiting is the hardest part. It takes time to create a cover design and you also have to remember that you’re not the only writer the artist is working with. If you have a strict deadline you need to communicate the deadline to the designer who may or may not be able to deliver on your deadline. I say this as a side note because you shouldn’t expect the magic to happen in a day and proper planning prevents piss poor performance and if you need something on a rush you haven’t done your due diligence. Cover design should begin sooner rather than later in the publishing process. The earlier the better.
But back to Tom Petty. Sit and wait. Sit and wait. Wait and sit. Shit let me check my email again. Nothing yet, but maybe she’s working on it today. Maybe I’ll have something by the end of the week. Well, put those thoughts out of your head and focus on your next book or editing your current one. At the very least go for a walk and cool your heels because that email just came through and you’re licking your lips in anticipation of being dazzled and enthralled.
Then you open the file and disappointment washes over you like acid rain. Thoughts like, “That’s not what I wanted,” or “Is she smoking crack,” may pop into your brain. But you’ve got to understand, this is a creative process, and just like your book it takes a lot of edits and rewrites to create a masterpiece. Every one of my covers has gone through a metamorphosis, beginning with something truly lame and then evolving into having my mind blown. Keep this in mind when you receive that first email. In fact, you should expect the first cover to be nothing like what you wanted because it’ll help curb the disappointment. In order to help understand this concept a bit better, I’ve included the first and final covers for my novel, Jigglyspot and the Zero Intellect. Kind of an evolution of Jigglyspot.
As you can see, the first draft was god awful, but we were on to something and by working together we were able to figure it out and hit the ball out of the park. With every draft we learn more about what should and should not be included on the cover. Knowing what we don’t want or don’t like leads us to what we love and desire. The same holds true for creating a book cover.
After all is said and done then you need to think about the text you want on the back cover. You can include the book description or a list of reviews or a little bit of both. Again, look at what other books in your genre are doing and keep everything consistent because once that cover is beaming bright on your website, amazon page, and across social media you want something you can be proud of and a cover that reflects a fantastic product. Just like your story.
Stephen King step aside. There is a new clown in town…and his name is Jigglyspot. We have carnivals, cannibals and clowns that are sure to supply a ride you will never forget.
“People love clowns, but that wasn’t the problem, was it? Nope, no at all. Jiggly’s problem was with humanity, a species he despised more than he could fathom. Why? Because they have half a brain.”
Zero intellect.
Jigglyspot’s greatest asset is his ability to blend in, to be underestimated.
SAC John Mills has dealt with death but his biggest mystery is the mop bucket arsons. He knew there was more…twenty years of mop bucket arsons more. And Reilly’s mop bucket begins our descent into Hell.
On page sixty eight (of 560) pages, when Jigglyspot took a drink from the fridge…my stomach lurched. Cringe worthy. Savagery beyond my wildest…nightmares.
Where does P D Alleva come up with these ideas? He takes horror to a whole new level for me. So many trigger moments, but I do love dwelling in the darkness. So wickedly, deliciously evil. Will humans become slaves, mere vessels for THEIR pleasures? Who will stop them? Will anyone BE ABLE to stop them?
The story is told from multiple points of view. I would say the main characters are Jigglyspot and Tyler, but we have other characters that are important to the story. Characters like Kera, Lilly, John Mills, Helmsley, Sharon, Cassandra, Mr West, MysterE,and more.
“It’s the laws of the universe, Tyler. When energy shifts too much to one side, an equal and opposite reaction must occur on the other and the universe will have the proper balance through chaos and destruction.”
There was no way I could sit down and read the book in one day, not even two days, but I did not want to stop. My hands were cramping, my vision blurring, and still, I read on, until I had to stop and sleep. So, I will warn you. Set aside some time, because I don’t think you will want to stop either. You may even want to keep the lights on. Maybe even have someone with you, if you think you can trust them with your life.
There is graphic violence that has many triggers, so Jigglyspot is not for the feint of heart. After going over my review, I took some things out. I did not want to give anything away, yet I want to say more. I was so engrossed in the story I ignored everything around me. I think, if you love horror, you will love Jigglyspot.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Carnivals, Cannibals, and Clowns. Oh My!
Wanna go for a ride?
Meet Jigglyspot, a five-foot tall half human half warlock carnival clown who spends his free time moonlighting as a drug dealing pimp and lackey for demonic entities who prey on the weak and vulnerable, casting their dark shadow across humanity through manipulation, and fear.
Jigglyspot was selected to serve as the event coordinator for 2019’s Summer Solstice Celebration at the prestigious Cannibal Café. A celebration that brings together both demon and human alike. But with less than two weeks before the celebration, Jigglyspot’s got so much to do and little time to do it. And the feds are hot on his tail. Between securing new recruits for demonic possession, choosing fresh bodies to slice and dice for dinner, and the fact that his girlfriend, Kera, is eating up most of his time, Jiggly’s at his wit’s end.
Hopefully, those demons appreciate all his sacrifices. Hopefully, but unlikely. Those demons can be hell to deal with. Jigglyspot knows; he’s been dealing with them for decades.
Will he rise above, or will tragedy and mayhem lead to dire discoveries poisoned with manipulation and betrayal that will ultimately destroy all Jigglyspot holds dear?
Discover Jigglyspot and his cast of clowns, killers, demons, and wretched fiends, in a novel like you’ve never experienced. Horror, mayhem, thrills, chills, fantasy, and spoils are waiting for your reading eyes with an escape into the underworld of mind control and human slavery.
Warning: This book contains scenes with profound psychological suffering, and graphically violent acts, behaviors, thoughts, deeds, and ridicule. No one has been spared, and no label is safe. Although we are proud to report, no animals were harmed during the writing of this novel, so that’s a good thing. Everyone else is fair game. After all, if you were a demon, what would you think of humanity?
Fans of Grady Hendrix, Catriona Ward, Clive Barker, and Stephen King will be captivated by this edge of your seat, eye-popping, wtf horror novel that is certain to be your next addictive read. As they say, you don’t just read Jigglyspot… You DEVOUR Jigglyspot!
Genre: Fiction, Horror
570 pages, ebook
Expected publication October 31, 2023 by Chamber Door Publishing, LLC
ABOUT 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.
Your free book is waiting. Join the PD Newsletter at https://pdalleva.com and score a free book.
I came across this anthology because of Jamie Kort, the author of the short story A Puppet Scorned. Planet Bizarro picked up this short story to include in their anthology, so when Jamie told me I could grab a copy, I had to have it. I mean, look at that fabulous cover! Doesn’t it make you curious as to what is inside?
Of course, A Puppet Scorned was my favorite of the shorts. Who doesn’t remember sock puppets? BUT, I never had any like these.
It started out a bit flat for me, but anthologies can be like that. I may not care that much for all of them, but most of the time I can find a few that stand out. Another that stood out was the Special Tree. I felt what was coming, but it was a novel take on keeping up with the Jonses’.
It you are looking to be taken outside your comfort zone, you may find that special gem inside Planet Bizarro. To be sure, it kept me reading and I like that I could pick it up and put it down without losing my place. If you are a horror lover, I recommend giving these twelve shorts a try.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
IN A WORLD WHERE BODY AUGMENTATION IS THE NORM, A MAN IN NEED OF A NEW PAIR OF LIPS ENDS UP WITH MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR.
A CLASSIC TALE OF LOVE, FAMILY, AND BETRAYAL. PERFORMED BY SOCK PUPPETS.
A JEALOUS WOMAN VISITS A SPECIAL TREE TO GET A BABY. THE BABY IS NOTHING LIKE HER NEIGHBOURS’.
A WIFE RETURNS HOME TO FIND HER HUSBAND CUT IN HALF VERTICALLY. HE’S COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF IT.
THE BEST OF BIZARRO FICTION: VOLUME 1 FEATURES TWELVE INSANELY MEMORABLE TALES. YOU’LL NEVER LOOK AT LIFE THE SAME WAY AGAIN.
FEATURING STORIES BY MIKE JAMES DAVIS, LEO X. ROBERTSON, MADELEINE SWANN, BILL PURNELL, LEON SAUL, JAMIE KORT, XAVIER GARCIA, MEGAN STOCKTON, JAMES L. STEELE, BEN FITTS, SHAWN WAYNE LANGHANS, AND KEVIN SHAMELI
Genre: Anthologies, Bizarro Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Short Stories
When I saw: Perfect for fans of sci-fi thrillers and horror, from Alien to Jurassic Park. I thought, how can I go wrong? I may have started out thinking, yeah, Hell Moon is what I expected and I was lured in by that beautiful cover, but it didn’t take long before I became intrigued.
We start with a distress call. The group find a human woman and 8 or 9 year old child, in a cryochamber. The woman doesn’t make it, but Maya becomes a part of their group and Janice takes on a mother/guardian role.
I started to connect with the characters and wondered…who will survive. After all, this is a horror story and someone has to get knocked off. We do have a couple of humans. I fell in love with Janice, a human, Gaby, an uplifted dog, and Cristobel, an uplifted cat. I’ll leave it to you to read the book and figure that one out. We also have Tyler, a human, and his uplifted dog, Jaimy. We have S’risssa and Ahn’ssi, 6 1/2 foot tall lizards. The are S’rellick aliens. The two aliens have a mission….
The ship is The Kanga, operated by Artificial Intelligence. We are underground, with ghosts and scarabs. One civilization built on top of another.
“You pretend the monsters don’t exist, and then maybe they won’t, right? Isn’t that why you lied?”
“…we lie and say we can make things better. But we don’t know if we can. And sometimes, no matter what we do, it turns out we can’t.”
Hell Moon by Mary E Lowd was a fabulous surprise. I thought, okay, it sounds interesting. It did take me a while to get involved, but after I met the unique and unusual characters I couldn’t stop reading. As the battle between the creatures and the group intensify, lives will be lost. An author that can take out one of my favorite characters could be on MY hit list, but that is not the case. Everything comes together in a way that left me satisfied, yet wanting more. So bring on the The Ancient Egg, Book II.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A search and rescue mission on a deserted moon goes wrong when Janice and her crew mates are attacked in the dark abandoned city beneath the surface. Infected by a strange blue energy, Janice doesn’t know how much time they have left, or what will happen when time runs out. The underground ruins crawl with mysterious, scarab-like figures, and even death isn’t a certain escape, when the dead rise as ghostly forms. The only logical choice is to flee, but the lizard-like aliens paying for the mission insist on forging on. Their secretive agenda and the sordid history of the sentient spaceship who brought them there divide the crew, when they can’t afford to be divided. Trapped on hell moon, Janice must fight to keep as much of her crew alive as possible while wrestling against impossible odds. The only one who has a clue about how all the pieces tie together is a little girl who survived the last hundred years asleep in her cryo-pod. On a world where the dead rise as ghosts and multiple civilizations have already been destroyed, solving the mystery of the scarabs might be the only way to survive and escape… HELL MOON. Don’t miss this dark, action-packed adventure through a hostile universe. Perfect for fans of sci-fi thrillers and horror, from Alien to Jurassic Park.
Genre: Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, Space Opera
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2023 by Deep Sky Anchor Press
Series: Xeno Spectre, Book I
ABOUT MARY E LOWD
Mary E. Lowd is a prolific science-fiction and furry writer in Oregon. She’s had more than 180 short stories and a half dozen novels published, always with more on the way. Her work has won numerous awards, and she’s been nominated for the Ursa Major Awards more than any other individual. She is also the founder and editor of Zooscape. She lives in a crashed spaceship, disguised as a house and hidden behind a rose garden, with a large collection of animals, both real and imaginary, who collectively serve as her muse.
I am so excited to get my hands on Operation S&D by Ashley Fontainne and Janelle Taylor. This is the second book n the series and I have high expectations, seeing the first book was amazing, Operation DFC.
I am writing this review, without the benefit of a blurb or synopsis. I have already met some of the characters and know some of what is going on, but I am not sure what to share and what to keep to myself. So, here goes….
The characters are damaged and carry a lot of baggage, much of it through no fault of their own. In 1944 soldiers were experimented on. Could it be passed on to their children? The young men had no idea what life had in store for them, but they man up and do what must be done.
“That’s some paranormal, genetically fucked up shit for sure. I mean, cue the Twilight Zone theme…”
After reading the first book, I knew they would be out for revenge and would make the cartel pay. Along the way Rafe inserts himself into a situation to save an innocent, pregnant woman. I wept WITH him on more than one occasion. The guilt he carries is a heavy load. I hope he learns to ask for help, but right now he is on his own. My heart broke for him. The voices in his head….
Eduardo has no clue the creature he created is on a lethal prowl.
Rabid Wolfe three; cartel zero. I’m on a roll.
S&D: Those we seek…we will destroy. Those who betray them will pay the ultimate price. The problem is, who is the betrayer? There’s always one in the bunch. I thought of one person and….well…I’m not telling, but I was right and it will cost someone their life.
The action began from the opening pages, but when they got to Central America it ramped up to a frenetic pace. My head was spinning, waiting, anticipating the bad to come. The mental and emotional turmoil the four team members go through brings forth many emotions. The richness and depth of the characters make them come to life on the pages. I feel empathy, sorrow, anger, rage, fear, and compassion. I want them to come out of the war they are fighting whole, with hope and a future in store for them.
The ending…awesome! Yeah, I may have been able to figure it all out, but I never even tried. I was so into what was happening in the moment, I let the authors lead me where they wanted me to go. I never paid attention to where I was in the book. A lot of the time I will check to see how much I’ve read, how much I have left, but this time, I was in the moment and stayed there.
I found moments where the authors could have ended the book, but they kept giving me more and it kept getting better and better, leaving me very happy. I love it. That is the excellence of this powerhouse team, Ashley Fontainne and Janelle Taylor.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Justice is blind. Vengeance sees only red. I did not learn of the cold-blooded assassination of several CIA agents, who were part of the team on our previous mission, Operation DFC , until it was too late. Spencer “RedDog” Watkins and I are still alive, but our loved ones paid the ultimate price for being a part of our lives, leaving us heartbroken and consumed by an unquenchable thirst for revenge. Black Viper and Raccoon survived the first round of murders orchestrated by the de Santos cartel and were assigned to join us on a total black op, which I nicknamed Operation S&D – Seek and Destroy. With new cover identities issued by the Agency, we slip into Central America under the guise of Lobos del Diablo – Devil Wolves Motorcycle gang. Our mission in Nicaragua, which is a tinderbox embroiled in the illicit drug trade and the internal battle between the Sandinista regime and the Contra rebels, is to report on other field operatives who are suspected of going rogue. The unofficial mission is to take down the de Santos drug cartel and leave no survivors. The men Spencer and I used to be died with the slaughter of our loved ones, leaving us nothing more than snarling beasts stalking prey, undetected, until it is too late for the cartel to plan a counterattack. We are deadly, cold-blooded killers with nothing to lose—alive only to kill those responsible for creating us—and the damage to my soul is so severe, I trust no one. If successful in destroying our enemies, do we dare hope their annihilation heals our traumatic pasts, or is there not enough humanity left to salvage?
Expected publication October 31, 2023 by Georgia Girl Press
Series: Operation S&D
In honor of the upcoming release, the first book, Operation DFC, will be FREE on Amazon October 30-November 3, 2023, so grab your free copy, stay up all night reading, and then dive right into Operation S&D!
The legendary Janelle Taylor was born on June 28, 1944 in Athens, GA. In 1965, she married Michael Taylor with whom she had two children, Angela Taylor-MacIntyre and Alisha Taylor Thurmond. Ms. Taylor attended the Medical College of Georgia from 1977 to 1979 and Augusta State University from 1980-1981. She withdrew from the latter after she sold her first two novels. Today, she is the author of thirty-nine novels, three novellas, and many contributions to other collections. There are thirty-nine million copies of her works in print worldwide and she has made The New York Times Bestseller List eight times. Ms. Taylor’s works have also been featured ten times on the “1 million +” bestseller’s list at Publisher’s Weekly.
Some of Ms. Taylor’s most recent books include By Candlelight, Someday Soon, Lakota Dawn, and Lakota Winds (due out in paperback in May 1999). She has also made contributions to other books including The Leukemia Society Cookbook, Christmas Rendezvous, and Summer Love. In addition, readers can see her as co-host of the QVC/TV Romance Book Club Show.
Ms. Taylor’s interests include collecting spoons, coins from around the world, ship models, dolls, and old books. She loves to fish, ride horses, play chess, target-shoot, travel (especially in her motorhome and out West), hunt for Indian relics, and take long walks with her husband. Reading, in particular books set before 1900 and current Biographies, Thrillers, Horror, or Fantasy novels, is also one of Ms. Taylor’s favorite activities. She is also extremely active with charity work and was even featured on the cover of Diabetes Forecast in February of 1998.
She lives in the country on seventy-nine acres of woods and pasture with a lake and a catfish pond. She writes her novels in a Spanish cottage which overlooks a five-acre lake, a working water mill, gazebo, and covered bridge.
Award-winning and International bestselling author Ashley Fontainne enjoys stories that immerse the reader deep into the human psyche and the monsters lurking within each of us. She writes in numerous genres including mystery, suspense, horror, sci-fi and sometimes poetry.
Ashley lives in Arkansas with her husband and is the proud mother of one son and grateful daughter of co-author, Lillian Hansen. To learn more about her books please visit https://ashleyfontainne.net/
Hey all, we’re having a beach party…AND you’re invited. HA HA HA HA HA
No one is safe when the lava spiders come rolling through town in Earth vs Lava Spiders by Candace Nola. This was a super quick read and unfurled like film on a B movie reel. We start with a beach party, and any horror lover knows how bad that can end up., whether in the water or out. Blood and guts fly right out of the gate. You can run, but you can’t hide…from these guys. One touch, poof, up in flames.
Like a B movie, there is no depth and detail, but I got what I expected…and that is never a bad thing. With a little more…the rating may have been different, but that won’t stop me from grabbing more like Earth vs Lava Spiders by Candace Nola.
I thought it was funny that all the chapter headings were 1950s song titles.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Tonight’s special features takes place on a quiet Friday night in the small coastal town of Pine Grove. Strange lights appear over Shasta Island and an explosion rocks the beachfront. Fireballs rain down from the sky as lava bubbles from the hidden volcano, unleashing a nightmare of hellfire and blood on the town.
Watch in horror as the Lava Spiders surge across the land, devouring every bit of hot human flesh in their midst! Who will survive the blood frenzy?!
Earth vs The Lava Spiders! One of three 1950’s B-movie style horror stories.
Be sure to check out Earth vs. The Nudist Camp Freaks by Judith Sonnet and Earth vs The Star Mummy by Lucas Mangum!
Genre: Fiction, Horror, Novella
Format: Kindle Edition
Published: November 23, 2022 by Uncomfortably Dark Horror
ABOUT CANDACE NOLA
I am Candace Nola, and I am an award-winning author, editor, and publisher. I write poetry, horror, dark fantasy, and extreme horror content. My books include Breach, Beyond the Breach, Hank Flynn, Bishop, Earth vs The Lava Spiders, The Unicorn Killer, Unmasked, The Vet, and Desperate Wishes.
I have short stories in The Baker’s Dozen anthology, Secondhand Creeps, American Cannibal, Just A Girl, The Horror Collection: Lost Edition, and Exactly the Wrong Things with many more coming throughout 2023.
Beyond the Breach, won the “Novel of the Year” and my Debut Novel, Breach, was nominated for “Debut Novel of the Year”, for the 2021 Horror Authors Guild awards. I am also the publisher and editor of the 2022 Splatterpunk Award Winning Anthology “Uncomfortably Dark Presents: The Baker’s Dozen.”
My best-seller to date is Bishop, currently available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other platforms. The second installment, Bishop: Man vs Monster, was released in April 2023, and is planned to be a five-part series.
I am the creator of Uncomfortably Dark, which focuses primarily on promoting indie horror authors and small presses with weekly book reviews, interviews, and special features. Uncomfortably Dark Horror stands behind its mission to “bring you the best in horror, one uncomfortably dark page at a time.”
Find me on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook and the website, UncomfortablyDark.com. Sign up for my Patreon for exclusive content, free stories, and more.
I love a good Prologue, don’t you? It sets the hook, and Carolyn Arnold did a great job with the Prologue for Her Last Words, but that doesn’t surprise me. I have read a lot of Carolyn Arnold’s books and she never disappoints me. Yeah, they may not all blow my mind, but they do supply hours of entertainment.
I love Detective Amanda Steele. She is a power to be reckoned with…and, even though she is on vacation, when someone she knows is murdered, she’s on the case. Could she have prevented her murder if she had returned Felicity’s call? See carries plenty of guilt already. Does she neglect her family for the job? Isn’t that a question many of us ask ourselves?
Felicity is a successful crime novelist and Amanda was on the case. Could her success have been the catalyst? Could it be her work in progress? She was known for her in depth, detailed research. Could she has found something someone wanted to left undiscovered?
Carolyn Arnold is good at keeping the mystery alive, giving us a plentiful supply of suspects and motives, throwing out red herrings, trying to lead us down the wrong path. In the end, she brings everything together, like pieces to a jigsaw puzzle. Step by step, clue by clue. We have some danger, but it’s not the dark and depraved kind that I love so much. It’s your normal, everyday murderer that could be your neighbor, your boss, your coworker, your friend…
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
The glow from the fireplace throws an eerie light over the woman’s carefully arranged body, her lifeless eyes reflecting the flames that slowly burn the evidence of who did this to her…
When Detective Amanda Steele is called to the brutal murder scene of successful local author Felicity Kelley , her blood runs cold. Because Amanda not only knew the victim, but was the last person Felicity called moments before she was murdered. Plagued with guilt that she never answered, Amanda is left wondering whether she could have prevented the murder, and vows to catch the killer, no matter what.
Desperately searching the crime scene for clues, Amanda is shocked when she discovers a Queen of Hearts playing card, suggesting the murder could be an imitation of a scene from Felicity’s bestselling crime novel. Terrified that she is dealing with a crazed fan who could strike again, Amanda’s worst fears are confirmed when another innocent woman is viciously murdered, with the same chilling calling card left behind.
But when Amanda connects the murders with a cold case from fifteen years ago, a case that Felicity appears to have been researching for her next novel, she is forced to question if the killer’s motive is even more sinister than she first suspected. But the closer Amanda gets to unearthing this motive, the closer she gets to becoming the next victim…
A completely pulse-pounding and unputdownable crime thriller, perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.
Genre: Fiction, Organized Crime, Serial Killers, Suspense, Thriller
Format: 341 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication: October 17, 2023 by Bookouture
Series: Amanda Steele, #9, can standalone
ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD
CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.
Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.
She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.
Sanctuary Motel by Alan Orloff caught my eye because of the colorful cover and the title. What kind of sanctuary? When I read the blurb, I loved the premise. He’s not rich and powerful, but what he does have, he is willing to share with those who are less fortunate and in need of a helping hand.
Many, like his parents and uncle, may think he really is a Mess, but Mess marches to the beat of a drummer they can’t understand. With the help of Cesar, who keeps the place running, and a few other unique friends, they are willing to put their life on the line when a woman and her teenage son come to stay. They never anticipated it would be as complicated as it became and the danger level rises with each turn.
The description of Sanctuary Motel by Alan Orloff being a noir crime novel fits to a T. It’s more than a cozy and less than a suspense/thriller.
Myself, I love staying in motels. Sure, they may not be the best accommodations, but I love that you can park your car right outside your door. No muss, no fuss getting to your room. They can have everything hotels have, just easier access to it. And….if they had an owner like Mess, it sure would make it interesting.
The story, for me, was Mess. A man that goes above and beyond. A man who gives more than he gets. Isn’t that outside the norm we hear about? Sure, it may seem like he lacks ambition, but I think he’s on hold until his true ‘mission’ in life appears. Could it be in the form of a woman? We shall see, since this is Book I in the Mess Hopkins series.
There is nothing wrong with Sanctuary Motel. It has all the elements for a good mystery. For me, it seems, well, not enough. I do enjoy a lighter story, a relaxing read, but I revel in white knuckled, life or death urgency that makes it impossible for me to put the book down. All that being said, I will have my eye on future Mess Hopkins novels.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Mess Hopkins, proprietor of the seen-better-days Fairfax Manor Inn, never met a person in need who couldn’t use a helping hand—his helping hand. So he’s thrown open the doors of the motel to the homeless, victims of abuse, or anyone else who could benefit from a comfy bed with clean sheets and a roof overhead. This rankles his parents and uncle, who technically still own the place and are more concerned with profits than philanthropy.
When a mother and her teenage boy seek refuge from an abusive husband, Mess takes them in until they can get back on their feet. Shortly after arriving, the mom goes missing and some very bad people come sniffing around, searching for money they claim belongs to them. Mess tries to pump the boy for helpful information, but he’s in full uncooperative teen mode—grunts, shrugs, and monosyllabic answers. From what he does learn, Mess can tell he’s not getting the straight scoop. It’s not long before the boy vanishes too. Abducted? Run away? Something worse? And who took the missing money? Mess, along with his friend Vell Jackson and local news reporter Lia Katsaros, take to the streets to locate the missing mother and son—and the elusive, abusive husband—before the kneecapping loansharks find them first.
Genre: Fiction, Noir Crime, Suspense, Thriller
Format; 301 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication: October 24, 2023 by Level Best Books
Language: English
ABOUT ALAN ORLOFF
Before Alan stepped off the corporate merry-go-round, he had an eclectic (some might say disjointed) career. As an engineer, he worked on nuclear submarines, supervised assembly workers in factories, facilitated technology transfer from the Star Wars program, and learned to stack washing machines three high in a warehouse with a forklift. He even started his own recycling and waste reduction newsletter business. Now he writes fiction.
His debut mystery, DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD, was a finalist for the Best First Novel Agatha Award. He writes the Last Laff Mystery Series: KILLER ROUTINE (#1) and DEADLY CAMPAIGN (#2), and has three e-book originals, THE TASTE (horror/thriller), FIRST TIME KILLER (thriller), and RIDE-ALONG (suspense).
He wrote the thrillers RUNNING FROM THE PAST and PRAY FOR THE INNOCENT (winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best E-Book Original).
His novel, I KNOW WHERE YOU SLEEP is a Shamus Award finalist for Best First P.I. Novel.
His YA thriller, I PLAY ONE ON TV, comes out July 19, 2021 from Down & Out Books.
His short fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including JEWISH NOIR, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, CHESAPEAKE CRIMES: STORM WARNING, Mystery Weekly, NOIR AT THE SALAD BAR, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, five consecutive issues of the BEST NEW ENGLAND CRIME STORIES, THE NIGHT OF THE FLOOD, MICKEY FINN, and MYSTERY MOST GEOGRAPHICAL.
His story, “Rule Number One” (SNOWBOUND, Level Best Books), was selected for the 2018 edition of THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES anthology, edited by Louise Penny.
His story, “Dying in Dokesville,” won a Derringer Award, and his story “Rent Due,” is an ITW Thriller Award finalist.
Alan recently moved to South Florida. He loves cake and arugula, but not together.
The cover lends an eerie touch to With A Blighted Touch by J Todd Kingrea, that definitely fits the evil goingons in the small town of Black Rock. Is the town cursed? Is Kit cursed? And seeing we are in a small town, we gotta have some secrets.
Kit McNeil is back in town because of the death of his mother. He will love and miss her, not so with is still living father. Kit had been abused, demoralized and beaten down by him. Even now, he reverts to the feelings he had as a child. His dad isn’t all wrong. His music career has been a bust, and it’s his own fault. Drinking and drugs do not make for a success.
We have a mix of characters, from Kit, to his best friend, to his new friend, to the Dunley’s and the children (?). Of course, we have to have the characters make some bone headed moves, but how else can we create the suspense and tension that their actions cause to happen.
“We’re going to get you. We’re going to get you.”
I could hear the creepy voice as if the character was speaking to me out loud.
When Kit describes his and Todd’s camp, it brought to mind our camp from my childhood. Hey, J Todd, do we share some childhood exploits. I love when an author hits the spot.
When Kit and Todd start discussing the events that have plagued the town of Black Rock, Todd shares his research, a hobby cataloging the horrific events that have taken place in their small town. Of their graduating class of 129, 54 are dead. Of the six kids that lived on the same block as Kit, he is the only one still living. Hmmm…
J Todd Kingrea’s descriptive writing brought the horror to life. The details brought vivid visions to mind. The children, an evil spirit, mutilated bodies, the dark cave…
Man oh man…Courtney in the cave…shivers ran up and down my spine as I stopped reading, letting J Todd Kingrea’s words create a movie clip running through my mind. And Kit, life does not pass before his eyes and I love how J Todd dealt with the moments that flowed through Kit’s mind. As I read his thoughts, a sense of calm and warmth and ease passed through my mind too. J Todd can paint a picture with his words and I loved that I was there for every brush stroke.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
In Scarburn County, Tennessee there is a small mountain community called Black Rock, known for its unusual and prevalent blight that affects all vegetation . . .
When an unexpected death forces Christopher “Kit” McNeil to return to his small hometown in the Tennessee mountains after eighteen years, he must confront his past and a secret he’s kept since he was twelve.
A talented guitarist with a history of bad choices and even worse luck, Kit soon reunites with an old friend and learns about recent disappearances and mysterious deaths in the area. They begin to wonder if it’s connected to what they witnessed in the woods when they were kids and if a creepy local family is involved. Stranger still, almost half of their high school graduating class has died.
When more shredded bodies begin appearing, Kit becomes a suspect. But what he discovers is even more frightening—evil has set its sights on him and his friends and it won’t stop until it gets what it needs.
Can Kit and his friends band together in time to stop this ancient evil? Or will a new reign of terror that the Cherokee once called Uyaga be unleashed to roam the earth once more?
Genres: Fiction, Horror
Kindle Edition 254 pages
Expected publication October 24, 2023 by BHC Press
ABOUT J TODD KINGREA (edited version from is website)
My earliest recollection of writing is from around 1974-1975. I was a fan of the “Tarzan” comics published by DC and Marvel during those years. I remember sitting in my tree house in the backyard and writing a story in which I was Tarzan. After that I don’t recall writing–or wanting to write–as a way of expressing myself. My dream was to be an artist (preferably drawing comics for Marvel and DC). I created my own “Avengers”-style comic with my friends and I as the heroes (naturally!) I knew I wanted to pursue some sort of career in the art field so my attentions were directed there.
Knowing that I could write non-fiction, I wondered if I could also write fiction? Toward the end of 2015, I began to research for my first novel. I bought and read books that would help me develop my fictional world, and I started jotting down anything that came to mind that might be factored into the story. Much of 2016 was taken up with research, character creation, world-building, and plot development. It took about a year to finally get to a third draft and a place where I was confident in shopping it around.
