Happy Halloween!

Here's hoping you do all of the fun things you like for Halloween...I will be enjoying the bite-sized candies and keeping them all to myself, lol.


I am not terribly fond of horror stories and lots of gore and I have never been terribly enamored of zombie stories but I have to admit that I enjoyed Rachel Caine's Terminated.  My review will be at the end of this post but first I wanted to mention some other titles for those of you who like your stories a bit creepy and bloody...

Elf Ahearn (no relation, lol) has a creepy gothic tale, Lord Monroe's Dark Tower.  My Goodreads review is at this link.


                                    



Bobbi Romans' Table for Three, Hold the Blood is an ADULT title (at least, judging by the cover).  She also has a couple of fun paranormal titles in her 'Swamp Magic' series, Swamp Magic and Under the Full Moon


                                            

I had the privilege of editing a couple of titles that gave me the chills (but I warn you that I am a wimp anyway)...please be advised that these are also ADULT titles.



W. Lynn Chantale's A Perfect Getaway

                                 
 
and



Randy D. Rubin's The Witch of Dreadmere Forest



I had the opportunity to read and review Rachel Caine's Terminated for Night Owl Reviews recently.  I am behind on her other series (I love the Morganville Vampires as well as the Weather Warden series although that one I am REALLY behind on)

                   


My review:
4.5 out of 5 stars

Terminated by Rachel Caine is the exciting conclusion to the ‘Revivalist’ series by Rachel Caine. Bryn Davis was the recipient of something called Returne which has given her life but recent horrific experiences have resulted in her getting an upgrade which her allies would not be particularly pleased to hear about, especially if she shares the disturbing side effects. Patrick McCallister, her lover, had his own relationship-shattering secrets that significantly altered the dynamics of the struggle being waged against those who are trying to create a race of super-beings. The odds seem insurmountable but nobody is ready to give up the fight left. The question becomes, who will survive long enough to be victorious?

This dark urban fantasy has chilling implications about the terrible results possible when the idealism of scientific progress becomes warped by the pragmatism of those whose only goal is to be a victor. I am not a big fan of zombie stories but I have to confess that this particular tale reminds me of why I am a fan of this author. I normally read a couple of her other series with enthusiasm and already know how deftly she creates personable characters caught in untenable situations that they always somehow cope with, albeit in unusual ways, but I confess that this series had not come to my notice. Despite the fact that I have not read the prior novels, enough backstory was provided to not only familiarize me with the chain of events that lead to this exciting conclusion but also to whet my appetite enough that I want to read the other novels in the series to get a more complete picture. I can’t say that I am looking forward to the blood and violence but I am intrigued by the almost super-hero flavor inherent in having characters who are extremely hard to destroy, despite very creative attempts. Be warned, this is not a story for the faint of heart but it definitely provides a roller-coaster adventure of a read.

Oh, and I wanted to mention a couple of things I have found in my wanderings:


I found another contest with a Kindle Fire giveaway
to promote Laurence O'Bryan's book, The Manhattan Puzzle



and Sabrina York has a giveaway on Goodreads for her ADULT title, Tristan's Temptation at this link.
                                       

 

Under the Full Moon (adult title)

Under the Full Moon           

(Adult title)
by Bobbi Romans is Book Two of the ‘Swamp Magic’ series and continues the saga begun in “Swamp Magic”.   Grace McKinney lost her fiance years prior but has found someone new to give her heart to but he is well-armored both literally and figuratively.  Despite their success at defeating the evil villain who ruined so many lives, Grace and Damien have plenty of obstacles to overcome, including the inimical Demetrius who has his own formidable powers and plans which threaten Grace and all who are important to her.


                                              



This imaginative paranormal novella has an intriguing cast of characters including an armadillo shifter.  There are several creative twists to the story which gives an entertaining glimpse of things that are unique to the swamp and add to its allure.  The story is a little erratic for me and I think the characters are a bit two-dimensional and would benefit from a bit more depth.  I am not sure whether part of the issue is my lack of familiarity with the story and that perhaps having read the first novella in the series, Swamp Magic, would have helped establish the framework better.  I was a bit irked by the indecisiveness of the relationship between Grace and Damien and hope that their relationship works out some of its weaknesses.  I enjoyed the fresh twist to the premise and confess to curiosity about the fates of some of the secondary characters and certainly hope that this series continues.   This was a fun light read.


A copy of this inventive title was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.


And...for those of you who like horror tales, the author also has a story out this month that may be of interest, Table for Three--Hold the Blood