MATEGUAS TALK!

 

In The Master's Plan, Ms. Tullis takes the reader through an enjoyable, and sometimes hilarious, romp through the local and church politics of Smoothville, Georgia. It is the story of Selena Jones, second wife of revered Pastor Woody Jones.

 

Wanting to aid her husband, Selena (SB to her friends) naively has put together a plan - a master plan - to help him spread the good word. Throw in to the mix, Commissioner Reginald, who has plans of his own, his advisor Shawn, who is becoming disillusioned, Woody's daughter by his first wife who is hell-bent to see Selena gone, and a host of other marvelously drawn deacons and church-goers, the result is an outstanding read.

 

Ms. Tullis keeps the reader in suspense throughout, wondering just what Selena's plan actually is and what in the heck is going on with Woody?

 

Anyone who enjoys vivid characterizations and southern literature will be delighted by Ms. Tullis' work.

 

I highly recommend it.

 

Following up on her bestselling psychological thriller, Conduit, Angie Martin has now given us a exciting, suspenseful, mystery in The Boys Club. To say this is a page-turner is an understatement. Fast-paced and full of tension and suspense, Martin hooks the reader in the opening prologue and does not let go until the final "The End".

 

Martin's writing style is crisp and clean and her characters are fully fleshed and complex. There is no let-up in this book and, throughout, Martin keeps us fully invested in Logan and Sara's fates.

 

This is a superlative mystery and I can recommend it to you with the utmost enthusiasm!

 

For fans of A Spellbound Consortium, this is a real Christmas present - a trio of amazing short stories involving wondrous magic and paranormal beings.

 

The first story, An Unforgettable Christmas, involves Noah and Liv and is sure to steam up your glasses and get your blood flowing! It is a romantic and sensual tale that is wonderfully erotic and beautifully written.

 

The second, and my favorite, is The Christmas Puppy. This story, which features amazing paranormal beings and fantastic magical elements, is sure to bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye as it embodies the true meaning of Christmas.

 

The third and final tale, A Night to Remember, is also a romantic story about two star-crossed lovers trying to find a way toward each other across dangerous and deadly ground.

 

Authors Payne and Taylor's writing is truly lyrical as they weave their stories into a tapestry of wonder and magic. This is an exceptional adult read for Christmas and is highly recommended.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed Gran-sdur: The Games by Jan Raymond, the 2nd full-length novel in the Pha-yul Trilogy. I read Raymond's first book (Circle of Five) a while ago and, despite the time in between reads, had no trouble at all re-immersing myself into her wonderful world.

 

The trilogy is an exciting YA fantasy about five teenagers who suddenly discover they have superpowers and are inducted into a secret society, hidden high in the Himalayas: Pha-yul.

 

In the sequel, the kids have gained some maturity, bonded together and are being coached by their mentor, Mr. Harris, to compete in a series of games that will be played at Pha-yul. These games, however, are not just sporting competitions, but rather may decide the actual fate of the world.

 

Raymond's writing is crisp and clean, and her characters evolve and grow during the course of the novel. The games themselves are exciting and I had a hard time putting this book down. I warn you there is a cliff-hanger ending and, like me, you will be chomping at the bit to read the final novel in the trilogy when it is published.

While the target audience for Raymond's trilogy is young adults, this is a read (like Harry Potter) that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Gran-sdur: The Games is a wonderful read and I recommend it to you with great enthusiasm!

 

Lita Burke’s “Tredan’s Bane” transports the reader to a seductive world of magic, sensuality and danger. Spells, ghosts, Maji’kers, evil enforcers, Enchanters, and Church Magicians abound as this lyrical story unfolds, taking the reader to an enthralling world of wonder-making.

 

The story unfolds slowly, investing the reader in Lanith’s fate as she searches for her missing husband (Tredan), navigating her way through an amazing world of magic and magicians. She is accompanied on her quest by her sweet little dragonette, Arnl’jhott – another delightful creature created by Burke.

 

I particularly loved the sensory imagery in this novel used to describe each character’s particular magic or essence. For example, Enchanter Nyle is “chocolate-cinnamon-peppery magic” and Lanith’s kisses are “blueberry.” How wonderful is that!

 

Burke’s writing is ‘magical’ and “Tredan’s Bane” is a real page-turner. I can’t wait for the next in this series, “Ghost Orchid”, to appear so I can gobble it down, too!

In summary, this novel is highly recommended for those who want to leave this mundane world and, for a short time, live in a truly magical realm.

 

On a remote island off the coast of Maine, a troubled family is trying to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and start over. But unbeknownst to them, the property they have inherited is steeped in ancient magic – magic that could seek to consume and destroy them.

An arcane locked box, a strange and foreboding trail into the woods, a seductive young woman, and tales of a malevolent Native American spirit, are just some of the perils Karen Andersen must face in order to find a way to save her family.

GOLD MEDAL WINNER, 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Competition, Category - Fiction, Supernatural!
Winner of "Honorable Mention" in General Fiction, 2014 Halloween Book Festival!

PRAISE FOR MATEGUAS ISLAND:

"In Watkins' slow-building haunted house novel, the new home that's supposed to save a disintegrating family turns out to hold horrors from the past...The human drama and supernatural dread intertwine, and Watkins keeps the reader invested in Bill and Karen's fates." ~ PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY

"Native American folklore blends with a tale of suspense and horror in the multifaceted Mateguas Island….Mateguas Island employs a device other authors (most notably Stephen King in his classic novel The Shining) have successfully used in placing danger both outside and within the family structure.... Surprising twists and turns and a powerful old box filled with magic: these are the elements of a fine horror story that slowly builds its plot with believable protagonists and engrossing color...Any who like horror stories and gothic fiction will find Mateguas Island an exceptional read."
~D. Donovan, Senior Ebook Reviewer, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

"...a fast-paced and unpredictable story that is both spooky and entertaining. Mateguas Island is an absorbing horror tale and is highly recommended."
~READERS' FAVORITE

Ms. Peterson has written a delightful memoir of her life with a variety of pets. From hedgehogs to ferrets and beyond, she paints a beautiful tale of caring for and loving these diverse creatures all the while enduring her husband's wish for 'just one more'. I think the story of the rescued duck, Bumpkin, touched me the most.

Animal lovers and animal rescuers will enjoy her gentle humor and identify with the sorrow she expressed at the loss of a beloved family member. Of note, Ms. Peterson donates a portion of her profits from the sale of each book to animal rescue.

I had waited with some anticipation for Diane Setterfield’s new novel, BELLMAN & BLACK. Unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed. The novel, set in Victorian England, is the story of William Bellman who we first meet as a young boy when he carelessly kills a common blackbird – a rook. This event is pivotal and foreshadows the rest of the novel including the final, fairly predictable, ending.

The book follows Bellman through life. A likeable and ambitious young man, he is employed by his uncle at the family mill. At this juncture, I hit my first wall. Description ad infinitum of the workings of the mill bogs the story down in boring detail. The tale picks up a little when Bellman marries and has children, but it doesn’t last. His character is so one dimensional that even the multiple tragedies he endures could not move me. This lack of emotional response derives, in part, from the fact that Ms. Setterfield tells the story mainly in narrative style and this really does not allow one to identify with or know what motivates the character. As a result, while the prose is beautiful, it comes off as flat and, unfortunately, to this reader, dull. The novel became so tedious that I put it down for a week or so and finally had to force myself to finish it.

Therefore, in conclusion, while I loved Ms. Setterfield’s previous novel, THE THIRTEENTH TALE, I feel she falls far short of the mark with BELLMAN & BLACK and I cannot recommend it.

What a fun read this was! Two eleven-year-old boys, living in rural Appalachia in the 1980's, forge a friendship revolving around G.I. Joes, comic books and, most importantly, Fangoria Magazine. But things turn dark in the summer of 1986, when the two embark on a hunt for the legendary Boone Creek Banshee.

Saylor captures perfectly the speech patterns and pre-occupations of pre-adolescent boys living in this rural community. In addition, the tale is woven with humor as well as horror and Saylor intersperses pertinent social commentary throughout.

I understand from the book's description that this was just the first taste of a greater novel, ADVENTURES IN TERROR WITH JASPER BOHANON (one of the two boys) due out later this year and, I, for one, look forward to that novel with great anticipation. Highly Recommended.

A Sense of Duty is a story of love - the love between a man and a woman and the love of country. Ms. Armstrong's protagonists are both damaged people - Lara, from a brutal rape when she was just a girl, and Ben, a retired Navy SEAL, from war and loss. Both are guarded people with a strong need to control even the most minute aspects of their lives.

The story of their love begins even before they meet as Ben, hearing about her from his uncle, does an in-depth background check which is very akin to stalking. Deciding Lara may be the person who can make his life whole again, he sets out to meet and woo her. But does the course of true love run smoothly? No, of course not - there are obstacles - the greatest of which is the fact that Ben is already married and has a son. Also, throw into the mix two other suitors for Lara - one, her wealthy, debonair employer and the other, a handsome playboy type who sees her as the ultimate challenge, and you have plenty of cause for tension and conflict.

Ms. Armstrong writes this work from the alternating viewpoints of her two main characters, giving the reader insight into both of their motivations. The writing is crisp and clean and provides for a compelling read. I, for one, was up to the wee small hours, unable to put it down. I'll say no more here about the plot, but will mention how much I enjoyed the detail Armstrong provided about southern Maine. I lived in Maine for seven years and it was fun journeying back to places I frequented then.

Overall, I found A Sense of Duty to be a wonderful love story and I look forward to more from Ms. Armstrong in the future.

Karen Black's "Long Stories Short" is a marvelous collection of tales. The stories, each infused with a subtle paranormal or supernatural element, lead in one direction and then, with a sharp, unexpected twist, end up in a different place altogether. The writing is crisp and clean and Ms. Black certainly has an eye for detail.

My favorites from the collection were "The Hunted", "Magic or Miracles", and "Forever". This is a very enjoyable collection and, if you are a fan of the shorts, then you can't go wrong with this book.

From the first pages, anyone who has ever volunteered or worked at an animal shelter (and I have done both) will find their heartstrings touched and will recognize the fact that this is a very special book. After the heart-wrenching Forward, Ms. Perlin simply tells us, in brief vignettes, of how Alex and the other dogs she encounters became interwoven into of the fabric of her life.

But this is not just a sweet memoir. No, the author has an important message to convey about the importance of animal rescue and adoption and she does not do so by preaching or citing statistics. No, instead, she simply describes how shelter dogs have changed and enhanced her life.

As the 'mother' of three shelter/rescue dogs who are now approaching their twilight years, I found Ms. Perlin's writing profoundly moving. In addition, the book is punctuated by beautiful illustrations that capture the inner quality of all these wonderful animals.

I highly recommend this read to anyone who loves animals or who is considering adopting a dog and I look forward to reading more from Ms. Perlin in the future.

Luca Rossi's first full-length novel transports us to another place and time - an island called Turios. The story begins at a wedding, attended by all of the island's inhabitants. All is serene until the unthinkable happens - out of nowhere, deadly rock shards fall from the sky. Two of the attendees escape and seek sanctuary in the temple where they find the one person who was not present at the nuptials, the mysterious priestess, Miril.

Thus, starts a magical journey that takes us back and forth through time with an unforgettable cast of characters. These include a sex-obsessed and insane ruler, bound on the destruction of Turios; a couple of bizarre wizards, one ancient and bitter, and the other a man who takes it upon himself to alter the very nature of time; and the former's innocent apprentice who may end up being the greatest sorcerer of them all.

The Branches of Time moves swiftly and effortlessly, enthralling the reader with its tightly woven plot and fantastic imagery. To say Luca Rossi leaves the door ajar at the end is an understatement and I, for one, eagerly await the next installment in this series. Highly recommended adult reading! You won't go wrong with this one!