The title and cover lured me into A Devil In The Wilderness by Warren Rainer. I have been reading more Christian suspense and as long as it blends into the story, I’m fine with it. With Megan feeling insecure about her choices in life, she can use a boost to her self confidence.
All too often, the monsters that enter our lives walk on two feet, and Megan has two of them in her life. That’s why, when her life is in danger in the wilderness, I bounced between the two men in her life that wish her harm. Will I figure it out before the author tells me?
I can usually let an author take me where they will, but I had some issues with A Devil In The Wilderness. I thought Megan was too quick to go on a backpacking trip with someone she hardly knows. Of course, book time is different from real time, so maybe they knew each other better than I thought.
I couldn’t get invested with the characters., though once the danger rose and the action increased, I did get more involved in the story. I think A Devil In The Wilderness may be a good fit for others, but me, I want more depth, I want to be sitting on the edge of my seat, I want the characters screaming at me to save them. 🙂
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A YOUNG WOMAN’S FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL FROM THE WILD AND HER PAST.
In a bold leap toward self-discovery and adventure, Megan Burgan embraces Tyler Russell’s invitation for a wilderness backpacking trip, igniting a spark of hope and possibility within her. However, what begins as an exhilarating journey through nature’s breathtaking landscapes quickly transforms into a harrowing struggle for survival.
Alone and besieged by the haunting shadows of her past, Megan must summon every ounce of her strength, resilience, and ingenuity to fight for survival in an unforgiving and treacherous wilderness while confronting the demon that threatens her very life. This is not just a fight against the elements but a profound quest for redemption and empowerment as Megan discovers the indomitable spirit that lies within her, capable of overcoming even the darkest of challenges.
Genre: Suspense, Thriller
324 pages, Paperback
Published May 15, 2025 by Luminare Press
ABOUT WARREN RAINER
Warren C. Rainer grew up in small town in Eastern Washington State with experiences ranging from agriculture to mining and also working with his dad building homes. Always intrigued by writing and story telling he started an in house family newspaper when he was in grade school. As an adult he continued to write fiction for his two daughters and his wife. As a professional sales executive he wrote multiple business plans, marketing analysis, product strategies and other sales and marketing documents. He continues to write and enjoy other pursuits such as reading, backpacking, woodworking, spending time with his grandchildren and traveling with his wife.
My Roommate From Hell by Cale Dietrich is exactly what I thought it would be. A fun romp through Owen’s first semester of college with the Prince Of Hell as his roommate. I love the colorful cover, which is what made me pause and consider reading the book.
I love the whole exchange program between Hell and Earth. Definitely a different take on the Prince of Hell. That and he’s also gay.
It’s not bad enough that he rooms with Zarmenus, who he thinks is sizzling hot, but dream up a plan to fake a romance to help Zarmenus to clean up his devilish acts and Owen to get his dream internship.
I enjoyed my visit to Point College and Zamenus and Owen. We had some laughs, some teenage angst and some coming of age moments. By taking a chance, Owen has some life changing experiences. Isn’t that what college is for? To expand your horizons?
I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to share my thoughts on My Roommate From Hell by Cale Dietrich.
3 Star
GOODREADS BLURB
“A hilarious and charming descent into love, fake dating, and actual Hell. I couldn’t stop grinning.” – Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys
A swoon-worthy YA rom com about an ambitious college student whose plans get derailed when he discovers his roommate is the prince of hell.
Owen is not going to college to have fun. Nothing is going to stop him from achieving his study hard, get a good job, and set himself up for the rest of his life. The last thing he needs is to have a loud, obnoxious, and infuriatingly hot roommate. Especially since said roommate just so happens to be the prince of hell.
Prince Zarmenus has come to Point University for the first-ever Earth/hell exchange program, and he’s determined to make the most of it. Which may or may not include wild parties, bringing in random boys to his and Owen’s room, and accidentally setting Owen’s furniture on fire. Sparks fly (literally) as Owen and Zar clash, but Zar’s actions threaten to not only ruin Owen’s peaceful college life, but demon-human relations as well. To clean up his image, he asks Owen to be his fake boyfriend and teach him how to be a better human in exchange for an internship that will secure Owen’s future. That, and Zar will consider being a better roommate.
A deal is struck, and the two start pretending to be in a relationship where they each have agendas of their own. Only Owen has a secret—dating his mortal enemy, even if it’s fake, is the most fun he’s ever had.
Charming and fun, My Roommate from Hell is a rom com with a magical twist. Think just one bed, but that bed is in hell, surrounded by fire and brimstone.
Genre: Demons, Fiction, Queer, LGBQ+, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 11, 2025 by Wednesday Books
ABOUT CALE DIETRICH
Cale Dietrich is a YA devotee, lifelong gamer, and tragic pop punk enthusiast. He was born in Perth, grew up on the Gold Coast, and now lives in Brisbane, Australia. His debut novel, The Love Interest, was named a 2018 Rainbow List Selection. He can be found on Twitter.
Powerful bloodlines tied by Fate, who can’t be free even in death…
Title: One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches
Author: Kayleigh Kavanagh
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 400
Genre: Historical/Paranormal/Fantasy
Format: Kindle
MY REVIEW
Labeling One Foot In The Ether by Kayleigh Kavanagh as a historical paranormal fantasy hits the nail on the head. It is definitely heavy on the historical. Shows the woman’s place in the 1800s, but these characters are headstrong, knowing how to accomplish their goals with finesse and cunning.
There are a lot of details about midwifery and the care of pregnant women during the 1800s.
A small group of women and men will be called upon to save those in Pendle from an angry god. A sacrifice will be made.
From reading the blurb, I expected something else. I was a little disappointed, because I wanted to love One Foot In The Ether. It was worth the read, but I was missing a lot of the action I expected. The characters were interesting and I did have my favorites. I love that there was an Epilogue. It wrapped up the story and left me feeling good about the book.
3 Stars
ABOUT THE BOOK
Demdike and Chattox, famed witches of
Pendle Forest, might be dead, but they’re not gone. Bound to their
bloodline, they’ve spent the past two and a half centuries watching over
their descendants, waiting for when they’ll be needed.
When 14 year old Yana comes into her
psychic abilities and inherits the ‘eyes of the Chattox family’, she can
see the long-dead witches, as well as an encroaching evil. But even
with this foreknowledge, she’s trapped by marriage interviews and being
unable to see her own future, and more importantly, whoever her future
husband will be.
Demdike’s healing gifts are alive and
working in Claire, a mid-30s midwife well renowned for her skills and
holding her tongue. The Secrets of Pendle are safe with her and her
midwives. However, when surgeons looking to make standardisation the
norm encroach on her territory, she soon realises how, even a respected
woman is vulnerable in a patriarchal system.
The two descendants must come together
to protect the ones they love from an ancient evil, all whilst
balancing their lives and the cruelties of being a woman in a man’s
world. Set in late 1800s NW England, this book has all the elements of
the area: strong, hardy people, atmospheric horror and days as
unpredictable as the weather.
One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches is available at Amazon.
Book Excerpt
She hadn’t known what to expect from death. No one did. Still, none of
her previous thoughts could have come close. This, and she was
definitely having an atypical experience. For most souls, death was a
release from the mortal coil. Complete separation from the life they’d
once lived. She hadn’t been so lucky.
Some parts of the system had been the same. Her soul had been scooped up. Taken somewhere. She vaguely recalled going over her life and having events explained. Gaining an understanding of the why; to the point she was no longer angry about things which had once made her furious. However, the entire encounter was now a blur.
The powers that be had done this on purpose, but the awareness lingered instinctively. Either way, she knew she’d died, gone to the other place, and then thrown back. Before they could send her along to wherever she should have gone next. There’d been an issue. A snag. One which stopped her from moving along to the happy, bliss-filled world of the nether realm. Said snag bore one name: Chattox. Even in death, her frenemy was still causing her bloody issues.
“Hey, Demdike, how’s non-life treating you?”
Demdike didn’t answer, suddenly filled with the desire to bludgeon the other woman. However, she knew from experience it would be pointless. They weren’t physical beings any longer—even if they were still tied to the physical world. Unless she was willing to destroy the other’s soul, the spirit could reform. A tempting idea some days; this non-life was enough to make even the most patient saint a little homicidal. However, even in her worse moments, she wasn’t willing to land the final blow.
“The same way it’s been treating me for the past two and a half hundred years,” she eventually returned. Still not looking at the other, less she finally indulged her violent impulses.
“They’re having a bake sale soon, at the local church. Gods, I miss cake.”
Demdike sighed. The sad part was she couldn’t even get rid of the other. Without Chattox, she would be entirely alone in this exhausting existence.
“Their cake isn’t anything like the one we used to have. They have more access to sugar, for starters.”
Demdike wasn’t even going to comment on the reasons why. King James I’s and his ilk had done more than destroy her life. Stretching his greedy grip across the world. From the supposed lands of gold to the continent of darkness, James I’s influence had impacted many. She couldn’t help but feel for the poor souls stolen from these other countries. Their plights differed from the witch trials, but suffering was a universal language.
She would’ve liked to aid them, but she couldn’t even help herself. There was no one to hear her, anyway. Well, other than Chattox, but as she was in the exact same situation. It was no different than voicing her words to the void. Except the void didn’t reply.
“Aye, I know, but it doesn’t mean I don’t miss the little pleasures. Few and far between, though they were.”
Demdike hummed. This was a conversation they’d had many times. When their new existence was mostly just the two of them, they often spoke of their past. Their past life, to be specific. A lot of it seemed funny now. Maybe it was their time in the decompression zone post life—or maybe it was simply the effect of being so removed from what they’d once been—but matters of life and death were suddenly much less dramatic and far funnier when you were already dead. Fighting over coin, linens, and food were memories they could now look back on and find humour in.
Though she also missed cake, death was a lot simpler. Mostly. There was no fighting for survival when you simply just were. No hunger to push you forward or pain to keep you still. As much as she’d once lived with one foot in the ether, having both on death’s side was much simpler. If you ignored the limited company. Or how she feared her own mind and sense of self were slowly eroding over time. As though, without a physical body, she was slowly dispersing into nothingness; it was just taking a little longer.
– Excerpted from One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches by Kayleigh Kavanagh, Kayleigh Kavanagh, 2025. Reprinted with permission.
About the Author
Kayleigh Kavanagh
is a disabled writer from the North-West of England. Growing up in the
area, she learnt a lot about the Pendle Witches and launched her debut
novel around their life story. Her main writing genres are fantasy and
romance, but she loves stories in all formats and genres. Kayleigh hopes
to one day be able to share the many ideas dancing around in her head
with the world.
Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it…and who knows the repercussions that come along with it. With the holiday season approaching, people awoke with a million pounds in cash under them, where they lay sleeping. I love how Kit Power shows how the threads are woven, connecting so many characters together. AND, Kit sure isn’t shy about killing off his characters. He did manage to piss me off a time or two, but other times, I was happy with the result.
Millionaires Day by Kit Power is a quick read. I found the concept intriguing and I wasn’t disappointed. As the bodies fell, I wondered how Kit would wrap up the ending. I feel good about it.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
On Sunday, 22nd December, 2019, everyone in the United Kingdom woke up with one million pounds in cash under their beds.
The miracle – or catastrophe – was never adequately explained. In the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic the event was largely forgotten or treated as an urban legend.
Until now.
In this explosive volume, investigative journalist/historian Kit Power finally blows the lid off that surreal, impossible morning. Focussing on a few residents of Milton Keynes, a uniquely diverse city northwest of London, Power lays
– the wonder of waking up to a found fortune through the eyes of a neglected child
– the madness and panic of an unprepared public from the perspective of an overworked police officer
– the graphic terror inflicted by a band of reprobate gangsters for whom too much is never enough
– the strangeness of it all through the outlook of man’s best friend
for legal purposes, this book is marketed as fiction. But no one who lived through it could deny the profound impact of…
Genre: Fiction, Horror
247 pages, Paperback
Published September 23, 2024
ABOUT KIT POWER
Kit Power is an author of horror and dark crime fiction novels, novellas, and short stories; also a reviewer, essayist, and podcaster. The Finite, A Song For The End (BFA finalist, 2021), and Millionaire’s Day (BFA Finalist, 2025) are his most recent fiction works; three novellas with interconnected elements that bring the apocalypse to his home town of Milton Keynes in three very different ways. He encourages you not to read too much into that.
When he’s not gleefully visiting (fictional) destruction on his hometown, Kit writes non-fiction, much of which is collected in My Life In Horror Volumes I and II (BFA Finalist, 2023), reviews, blogs, and podcasts on subjects as diverse as Sherlock Holmes, Bruce Springsteen, and short horror fiction (as one half of The Ultimate Horror Anthology with Jasper Bark). Check out his Patreon for the free newsletter.
The Bugged cover caught my eye, but when I read the novella, it wasn’t what I was expecting. Once I finished reading it, I had second thoughts. Bugs do crawl out from under rocks, and in our current climate, I think that is where you may find many of the people who could represent the characters in Alan Barysh’s novella. The vomit spewed on the pages sickened me, but it happens every day in real life. In fact, I think it represents our current climate. I grew up in the Vietnam era, and what Alan shares with us is truly frightening…and some of it really happened. I don’t understand people that are so bigoted, racist, and down right hateful.
I won a copy of Bugged a long time ago (probably in 2016, when it was published). Sorry it took me so long to get to it Alan. 🙂
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Bugged is the first part of a trilogy called A Book of Struggles (In the Form of Fables and Parables for Modern Times). In Bugged, we meet William Tell, a radical/revolutionary book publisher, and his nemesis Vincent Seita. Mr. Seita confronts Mr. Tell with an extortion threat and the reader is left wondering what William Tell would do. The rest of this book deals with Vincent Seita and his early childhood up to when he returns from the Vietnam War. Throughout this book, many sub-plots weave in and out that make this book a stream of conscious story in the style of the television series Lost. Although it was written before Lost made its debut.
Book Title: ONE FOOT IN THE ETHER: Whispers of the Pendle Witches by Kayleigh Kavanagh Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 400 pages Genre: Historical paranormal fantasy Publisher: Oriana Neoma Publication Date: September 29, 2025. Content Rating: PG-13 +M: Things are alluded to, not directly shown. one of the fmc is a midwife so these themes come up
MY REVIEW
Labeling One Foot In The Ether by Kayleigh Kavanagh as a historical paranormal fantasy hits the nail on the head. It is definitely heavy on the historical. Shows the woman’s place in the 1800s, but these characters are headstrong, knowing how to accomplish their goals with finesse and cunning.
There are a lot of details about midwifery and the care of pregnant women during the 1800s.
A small group of women and men will be called upon to save those in Pendle from an angry god. A sacrifice will be made.
From reading the blurb, I expected something else. I was a little disappointed, because I wanted to love One Foot In The Ether. It was worth the read, but I was missing a lot of the action I expected. The characters were interesting and I did have my favorites. I love that there was an Epilogue. It wrapped up the story and left me feeling good about the book.
3 Stars
Book Description:
Death wasn’t the end.
More than two hundred and fifty years after the infamous Pendle Witch Trials, the spirits of rival witches Demdike and Chattox remain tethered to their bloodlines—watching, waiting, and bound by unfinished business.
Now, in the late eighteen hundreds, a pragmatic midwife and a troubled young psychic—descendants of the two witches—are drawn into a haunting legacy. An ancient being is stirring—an angry god of the old world, hungry for vengeance and ready to consume the future.
To stop it, the living and the dead must unite, recovering the lost knowledge of their craft. Whilst facing age-old problems and new foes. Some spirits don’t rest easy, and in Pendle, they’re clawing their way back from the past.
Kayleigh Kavanagh is a disabled writer from the North-West of England. Growing up in the area, she learnt a lot about the Pendle Witches and launched her debut novel around their life story. Her main writing genres are fantasy and romance, but she loves stories in all formats. Kayleigh hopes to one day be able to share the many ideas dancing around in her head with the world.
After Gia, Book III in the After Dusk series, by R M Demeester is a quick read with lots of action. Gia is a high end escort. She falls for the bodyguard of her sugar daddy and all hell breaks loose. They are on the run. I liked Gia, even though I would have no desire to live her lifestyle, I love her spunk. Her desire to play by her own rules. But, Alex, he comes across as weak. I didn’t care for him at all. With their lives in danger, can they have a happy ever after?
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Life as an escort for high-end clients and endless nights of partying was everything Gia Harris ever wanted. No rules, no money worries, and all the men she could ever want. She never wanted to settle down until she met Alex, a bodyguard for one of her clients. Who is this rough around the edge bad boy? Gia can’t wait to find out who he really is.It’s Alexander Robert’s worst his daughter’s illness is terminal, and he’ll do anything to pay for her treatments. That is, until tragedy strikes. Now he is ready to leave his criminal past behind, and bodyguarding was the only thing he was ever really good at.Gia and Alex are ready to start over – but with Gia’s promiscuous past and Alexander’s unfinished business with an unexpected villain, will their newfound love be in jeopardy? Can Gia escape danger so she and Alexander can live their happily ever after?
R.M. Demeester, from Saskatchewan, loves being a mom, reading books, and writing. She’s been writing since she was very young. Today, she’s known for her stories in women’s fiction, romantic suspense, and thrillers. She also has a rescue dog named Gainer, a chocolate lab who passed away recently, but is still very much loved and missed. Her newest book, “The Girl Once Known”, comes out in February 2024.
Catch The Lie by Parker Vale is a fast paced, quick read, that packs a punch. Don’t we all know that secrets and lies refuse to stay buried? All too often, they come to light, as time passes. But if someone lied once, how can you trust them, especially when they were quick to silence the person who may have had all the answers? You may be left with more questions than answers when the last word is read.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Some lies are buried. Others bury you.
Detective Ethan Calloway never talks about the night his best friend vanished.
But when the past appears with a chilling message—You left something behind—he’s forced to investigate the case that’s haunted him for a decade.
Meanwhile, true crime podcaster Isabel Cruz arrives in town chasing the same mystery… Only she’s not who she says she is.
As Ethan and Isabel dig into Michael Lane’s disappearance, the town begins to close in.
With every clue they uncover, the past tightens its grip, revealing a network of corruption, buried bodies, and a truth more dangerous than either expected.
But someone is watching. Someone who knows exactly what they did.
And when a final photo proves Isabel was there that night—the question isn’t who killed Michael.
It’s why she lied about it.
She came back for justice. Or revenge. Or something worse.
Grizzly blew up, literally; Rogue’s world blew up, figuratively, and Hellfire went to prison.
Now she’s out and whoever wanted Grizzly dead finishes the job, knowing she will be the prime suspect. She is determined to prove it wasn’t her that blew up Grizzly the first time and it sure the hell wasn’t her that finished the job.
Hellfire’s family wants nothing to do with her, so we can put them on the list, along with some of the guys from the Alchemists motorcycle club. There are plenty of suspects and I bounced from one to the other.
We have plenty of action from the opening pages, and it doesn’t let up until the story is told. Sandra Woffington did a great job of keeping the mystery alive. Every time I thought I could eliminate one of the suspects, she makes me second guess myself. I do love a mystery that has plenty of villains. Many times they are more interesting to me than the good guy.
My thanks go out to Sandra Woffington for the opportunity to read and review Muscat And Motorcycles: Wine Valley Mystery 14.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Motorcycles. Mayhem. Murder.
This heart-stopping mystery begins at the California Institute for Women, where Hellfire, mid-twenties, strolls out of prison. She slides onto the back seat of a Harley Davidson, wraps her arms around Rogue’s chest, and they head home to Wine Valley.
Hellfire is bent on clearing her name. She starts with Grizzly, the former president of the Alchemists motorcycle club—the man she supposedly maimed by setting off an explosion. But whoever wanted Grizzly dead, now wants Hellfire dead, too, and history repeats itself.
Detective Max King and Dr. Joy Burton arrive at what’s left of Grizzly’s house to find Rogue hovering over Hellfire’s inert body. It appears that Hellfire has done it again—and Rogue is her accomplice.
Can Max and Joy find the explosive truth and send the guilty party to prison? Or did Hellfire successfully enact revenge?
Sandra Woffington is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. Step into the wicked world of Wine Valley. Read Muscat and Motorcyclestoday.
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
170 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 27, 2025 by Red Summit Publishers
Series: Wine Valley Mystery Series: #14
ABOUT SANDRA WOFFINGTON
Hi, readers! I love to create stories with pithy dialogue, gritty action, mind-blowing plots and unique characters: flawed, passionate, and sometimes disturbed.
I’m a USA Today and Amazon #1 Bestselling author. I completed the Humanities Honors Program at U.C. Irvine and earned my MFA in Creative Writing and MA in English from Chapman University. I’ve spent 15+ years teaching multiple subjects to middle school students. I love to teach as much as I love to write. My students inspire me!
Wine Valley Mystery series is for adults—Noir Crime/Traditional Detective. The boxed set hit #1 Best Seller on Amazon upon release. The prequels of light and cheery Detective Max King, dark and disturbed Dr. Joy Burton, and tough-guy, Officer Reed Steele are FREE.
My debut novel, Unveiling, a stand-alone, takes place in the colorful deserts of Saudi Arabia as well as America. It won Honorable Mention from the Writer’s Digest SP book awards. Evil Speaks, first book in the Warriors and Watchers Saga Series, a middle grade fantasy, was Finalist (4th place) in the Reader’s Favorite 5-star awards (that’s out of all of the 5-star books in that category for the year).
I love to hear from readers! Please email me at sandra@sandrawoffington.com or visit my website at SandraWoffington.com. Join my FB Reading group Woffington’s Reading Warriors: Mystery, Murder, Magic & More for updates and freebies. Or follow me on Amazon. Thanks for spending time with me!
Kinda creepy, but plenty mysterious, Knot Of Souls by Christine Amsden starts out with Joy’s murder. Somehow she comes back to life, but she finds herself possessed by Shade, a Fae prince. They are forced to work together to solve multiple murders.
When I first started reading this, I thought of The Host by Stephanie Meyer. I was curious how two entities could occupy one body. Who has control? Will the dominant person override the other, eventually making them disappear?
Joy is used to be walked all over. It was fun to watch her grow and build confidence through her situation with Shade. Shade becomes a more accepting character, learning to work with Joy, instead of controlling all their actions and making her take a backseat to their lives.
Christine Amsden draws from her personal experiences to give the characters hope. I wondered how she would end the story and I am very satisfied with her choice.
I enjoyed my time with the characters and being there through their struggles. I did find it hard to connect with them, but I was curious about what would happen to them.
I want to thank Pump Up Your Book Tours and Christine Amsden for the opportunity to read and review Knot Of Souls.
4 Stars
BOOK BLURB
Two souls, one body …
When Joy wakes up in an alley, she knows three things: she was brutally murdered, she has somehow come back to life … and she is not alone. She’s been possessed by an inhuman presence, a being that has taken over her dying body. That being is powerful, in pain, and on the run from entities more dangerous than he is.
Shade, a Fae prince on the run, didn’t mean to share the body he jumped into. Desperate and afraid, accused of a murder he didn’t commit, he only sought a place to hide—but if he leaves Joy now, he faces discovery and a fate worse than death.
Forced to work together to solve multiple murders, including her own, Joy and Shade discover hidden strengths and an unlikely friendship. Yet as their souls become increasingly intertwined, they realize their true danger might come from each other … and if they don’t find a way to untangle the knot their souls have become, then even the truth won’t set them free.
Knot of Souls is a stand-alone buddy love fantasy that forces two very different beings to work together … and come out stronger on the other side.
The first thing I realized, after I died, was that my body could walk and talk and no longer needed my help for any of it. I was in there, able to look through my eyes and hear through my ears, but even the simple task of aiming my gaze had slipped outside my control. I was a passenger inside my own mind, an observer along for the ride.
Kristen had been right, I thought numbly as I struggled to make sense of my new reality. Had it only been lunchtime today when she’d told me I’d never get ahead if I didn’t learn to assert myself? “Take control of your life,” she’d said, “or others will take it for you.”
She couldn’t have been thinking of anything quite so literal. Whatever was happening to me, it wasn’t because I’d failed to advocate for a promotion at work or refused to ask out a coworker.
Right?
My body reached my car and slid behind the wheel. A rattled thought—not my own—cursed as it tried to understand how the contraption worked. How much can cars have changed in only a century? Visions accompanied the thoughts, memories—again not my own—of a classic car, gleaming black and elegant, its top down, my bobbed hair whipping around my face as I laughed with glee, a white-faced young man at my side gripping the door, begging me to slow down. I did not.
Which brings me to the second thing I realized, after I died: I was no longer alone inside my own mind.
Whoever was in there didn’t seem to have noticed me yet. Fine. I slid into the smallest corner of my brain I could find, ignoring the intruder as they struggled to figure out how to work an automatic transmission. Maybe they’d get frustrated and give up and go find someone else’s body to possess.
Holy shit! I’ve been possessed by the ghost of someone who died in like 1930.
But why?
I tried to remember what had happened, but the images danced just out of reach. I recalled that the night had been unseasonably cold for October, the chill biting through my inadequate jacket as I hurried to my car, parked in a garage two blocks away from the shelter where I’d been volunteering. Hugging my arms around my torso for warmth, I took a shortcut through an alley and …
There was a noise. I’d startled, my heart pounding in my throat, already on edge because of the argument.
Wait. Back up. There’d been an argument. That seemed significant, but my scattered thoughts couldn’t piece it together as yet, not when a bodily intruder fumbled at the gearshift of my two-month-old Hyundai Accent with only fifty-eight “low monthly payments” left to go.
Low is such a relative word.
– Excerpted from Knot of Souls by Christine Amsden, Christine Amsden, 2025. Reprinted with permission.
About the Author
Christine Amsden is the author of nine award-winning fantasy and science fiction novels, including the Cassie Scot Series.
Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but Christine believes great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. She writes primarily about people, and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.
In addition to writing, Christine is a freelance editor and political activist. Disability advocacy is of particular interest to her; she has a rare genetic eye condition called Stargardt Macular Degeneration and has been legally blind since the age of eighteen. In her free time, she enjoys role playing, board games, and a good cup of tea. She lives in the Kansas City area with her husband and two kids.
Christine Amsden is giving away 2 epub sets of the 4-book Cassie Scot series (gifted through BookFunnel! This includes Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective, Secrets and Lies, Mind Games and Stolen Dreams
Terms & Conditions:
By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
Two winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one set of the 4-book Cassie Scot series (four books total).
This giveaway starts July 1 and ends September 26.
Winner will be contacted via email on September 26.
