Halloween Bingo Update the First

 

Called AND Read:

Relics and Curiosities:  Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews 9/10

Cozy Mystery: Truly Madly by Heather Webber 9/16

New Release: I Am Justice by Diana Munoz Stewart 9/18

Diverse Voices: Black Lace by Beverly Jenkins 9/26

Southern Gothic: Dark Cries of Gray Oaks by Lee Karr 9/15

Modern Masters of Horror: Dead Spots by Rhiannon Frater 9/22

 

Read, not called:

 

Ghost Stories:  The Kingdom by Amanda Stevens 9/29

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currently reading (called):

Murder Most Foul: Lowcountry Boil by Susan Boyer 

 

Called and not read:

Free Space:  Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk

Creepy Carnivals: Wicked Weaves by Joyce and Jim Lavene

Genre: Suspense: Barefoot With a Bodyguard by Roxanne St Clair

Cryptozoologist: Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh

Supernatural: Possessing the Witch by Elle James

 

Terrifying Women: A Girl in Disguise by Greer MacAllister

 

 

List:

Genre: Horror: Dreadful Skin by Cherie Priest

Spellbound:  A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses by Molly Harper

Baker Street Irregulars: The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle

13: She Hulk by Marta Acosta

 

Terror in a Small Town: 

Dead Lands: Once Bitten, Twice Burned by Cynthia Eden

Doomsday:  Married With Zombies by Jesse Peterson

Fear the Drowning Deep: Tsunami Blue by Gayle Ann Williams

Country House Mystery: Ghost of a Chance by Katie MacAllister

 

Darkest London: Firelight by Kristin Callihan

Shifters: Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1796100/halloween-bingo-update-the-first

The Kingdom

Review:

Wow! So, this book answer the of the questions from The Restorer. Amelia's parentage is answered. This focuses much less on cemetery restoration and more on this creepy, small town. No one likes to talk. There is also a secondary story-line with Ivy. I'm not sure if I would have nixed that or given her more depth. I did like this one a bit better then the first book. 
I did find it annoying Amelia's brooding over Devlin. While he wasn't on the page, he was still very present. I thought Thane could have been a new love interest, but I can't say more other than you get a definitive answer in that possibility!
I can make assumptions about the "Evil." Thus far, no concrete answers were given in regards to let. Like what makes the area vulnerable? What is it exactly? I liked Amelia's new side kick Angus. And on that note, Thane found (I assume) the dog fighting ring. But shortly after, Amelia noted Hugh's face was beat up too. So, did Hugh help Thane? Or was Hugh behind the dog fighting? No answer (that I remember) was given. 
I also wound't label this romance; it's categorized as paranormal romance. I consider this series to be more in line with urban fantasy. The romance takes a back seat. It's more about Amelia, her world, her job, her abilities, and (yes) finding herself and what she is capable off.
Booklikes Bingo: Ghost Stories square.

Major spoilers behind page break

Amelia's parents were Freya and Edward. Her grandmother Tilly, her grandfather (Caleb) was her adoptive father. Both her grandparents and mother had paranormal abilities (Tilly- premonitions, Caleb-ghosts, Freya-ghosts (and I think she had premonitions too if memory is right). Freya was murdered by Luna. But, Hugh, Catrice, Bryn were all complacent in her death. Pell Asher helped cover her death up. He also had a hand in Thane's fiance (or did she?) and Edward's wife deaths. Hugh, Catrice, Bryn, and Pell all perish (I assume) at the end when Pell's mansion slides down the hill after severe rainstorms flood the area.

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1796089/the-kingdom

Black Lace

Review:

Lacy recently moved to Detroit from Atlanta. She is an activist and is focused on cleaning up the environment. She's been married and divorced. 
Drake is a doctor and now mayor of Detroit. Drake is also very attractive. Both are intelligent, driven people with the goal of making things better for the average person.
While I liked both main characters, I hated the "Big Bad" and his henchman, just as I was supposed to. They were awful people. 
I was disappointed with the suspense, I don't think this was suspenseful at all. Suspense-wise, the last quarter was where all the suspense was. A positive- Lacy was not kidnapped nor did she need to be rescued! 

Halloween Bingo (Booklikes) Diverse Voices

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1795518/black-lace

Excuse me?!

"What boy hasn't done this in high school?"

 

Very sad, pathetic, and it pisses me off.  Again.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1794014/excuse-me

Dead Spots

Review:

Dead Spots= places that are abandoned, but were inhabited, important, and/or loved back in their heyday. A Dead Spot can be manipulated.
Book opens with Mackenzie happily marries to Tanner and 8 months pregnant with their son, Joshua. She loses the baby. My heart broke for her as she grieves and no one really understood her grief. Tanner leaves her. She loses her job. She come to the realization that their friends were really Tanner's friends. Her best friend lives across the country.
Fast forward 6 months later and Mackenzie is freshly divorced and on her way to her mom's. Her mom happens to have OCD, but not not is spend on her mental disorder. What did come across, was her mother was a judgmental bitch. Mackenzie almost hits a deer and stops to explore an bandoned cafe and accidentally gets trapped in a Dead Spot. 
What follows is a nightmare world, fears are given free reign. Nothing and no one is as they seem or first appear. Maybe they are trustworthy.....or not.
Mackenzie was frustrating at first. She did, eventually, morph into someone who kicked ass and took names, but it took the whole book to get there. I did like that there really isn't any romance in this one- it was fitting for the character and setting. Lust yes. Love no. I did like this, I was invested.
I would have liked more at the end. It was a little too abrupt. A little more would have been nice. 

Halloween Bingo:  Modern Masters of Horror

Spoilers behind page break.

How did they explain their absence? How much time went by while they were in the alternate reality? Mackenzie was gone for 5(?) days, Luke- I don't know, and Johnny for decades. 
I liked the Grant story-line. When Luke appeared, I was worried about a love triangle (oh hell no!). 
People are definitely not what they seem. I didn't like the dream-rape sequence, but it fit in with what Grant was- an incubus wraith. 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1793755/dead-spots

Ante Up

Review:

For the length, this was well paced. I didn't feel like I was missing anything. I kinda remember the first book, Diesel and Sofia were secondary characters who got their story in this one. This was quick and entertaining. Ginger and Luke are next!

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1793267/ante-up

I Am Justice

Review:

I picked this for the cover. I liked it. Justice is an assassin. She is part of a family (all adopted children rescued from various situations) that is rich and has influence. Oh, and they take down human traffickers. Permanently. Sandesh is an ex soldier who runs a humanitarian group (all ex soldiers). Sandesh's group needs money and contracts with Parish Industries (Justice's family).
Based on the description, I shouldn't have been surprised at how dark this went. But I was. I also didn't like how fast Justice and Sandesh's relationship progressed. A slow burn would have worked better IMO because of Justice's background and dislike of most men. I could have done without Walid's (the bad guy) POV. I did like getting Justice's and Sandesh's.
While Justice is kick ass, I thought she had many stupid moments. Like being told to wait and not doing that. She didn't grow on me as the book progressed. I did like the end with Sandesh's question and what he gave her; it showed thoughtfulness and caring. On the other side, the end was a bit abrupt I thought.
When it's all said and done, this was okay and I doubt I will pick up the next one about Grace (which is supposed to be out and it isn't).

For Booklikes Halloween Bingo I read this for the New Release square (came out May 2018).

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1792680/i-am-justice

Truly, Madly

Review:

This was just what I wanted to read. A light, paranormal mystery with a side of romance thrown in! See, Lucy is a Valentine and the Valentines have this ability/gift to see auras and match people together. There is also a curse; Cupid's Curse, that follows them around that prevents a Valentine from having everlasting love. When Lucy was 14 she was shocked and lost her ability to see auras. She developed a brand new gift: the ability to find lost objects. However this made her question her identity, her worthiness, and threw her into a tailspin.
Lucy finally found herself in this book. Her parents, Oscar and Judith, have a very unconventional relationship that works for them. I really liked all the characters. This book was funny, fun, and serious. I really enjoyed the mix of paranormal, mystery, and romance. I thought the mystery was a really good one.
Lucy is a very likable character. The same for Sean and Lucy's family and group of friends. I liked that she gave up her trust fund and put herself through college. It was even better when she started to see her gift as something that was unique and beneficial. I look forward to seeing where she can go and who can be helped!
I do think the curse isn't a Curse so much as a self-fulfilling one.
For Booklikes Halloween Bingo 2018, this is my cozy mystery pick.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1792110/truly-madly

Dark Cries of Gray Oaks

Review:

I remember when I was a teen enjoying these Zebra Gothics. So when I found this one, I think it was at a thrift store, I bought it! Either I've changed, or this one was a dud (or it's both those things).
I didn't find this that suspenseful. Both Brianna and Gavin annoyed me. Brianna was too stubborn at times. Gavin was too bossy, authoritative. I had to scratch my head at their declaration of love. Huh? They really didn't talk or interact much. When they did, Gavin was condescending (IMO) towards Brianna. I really didn't learn much about either character. I could tell you Gavin was a doctor and Brianna a dedicated daughter to her father. But that's it. This was very superficial. I also didn't like that Gavin (supposedly) is engaged to Lynette and pursues Brianna.
This mentioned the different hotel dining rooms- 1 for guests, and 2 for the workers- 1 for white, 1 for colored. And that was it. Nothing else. 
Oh, and mental illness can be cured if someone cares enough for you.

And the title.  Gray Oaks is the sanitarium up north (Pennsylvania if memory serves) where Cassie was.  This book doesn't take place there at all.  It takes place in St Augustine, FL.  So, ????? 
I'm using this for the Southern Gothic square for Booklikes Halloween Bingo 2018.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1791909/dark-cries-of-gray-oaks

Magic Breaks

Review:

It took me awhile to pick this one up and it's been 2 years since I've been in KD's world (Magic Rises I read in 2016). I don't know why it took me so long to pick up #7. While I very much remember the events of book 6, I liked the refresher and character list in this one. But this one was, boom, pow, non-stop!
I liked learning more about Ghastek's background, it makes him a bit more likable (I did say a bit!). Major Things happen in this. Just wow!
On a side note: Hugh. I hate that fucking bastard. Knowing that he has his own book (or series?), I'm not sure I'm excited to read it. But at the same time, it's IA and will they make me hate him a little less? A lot less? 

Spoiler behind page break.

Relics and Curiosities square for Halloween Bingo

Kate decides to not challenge Roland, she wants to live her own life. She (accidentally) claims Atlanta. As a result of that, she (and Curran) leave the Pack. I loved that Curran followed her. Love it. Jennifer was the betrayer. Kate gets revenge for Aunt B.  Slayer is broken.  Kate gets a new sword, Sarrat, made from her Grandmother's bones.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1790982/magic-breaks

Wicked Days

Review:

This is one of those books I have to write the review out before settling on a * rating. So Ivy lives in a small town and happens to be a witch. She's around 28 (I think- didn't mention ages, but I know (or assume) it's been at least 10 years since she's been out of high school). Jack is around 30. Jack had Something Bad happen and he decided to move to Shadow Lake from Detroit. Re: the Something Bad- I know he got shot and there is a mention of a betrayal. What happened (I'm assuming) will be revealed in a future book.
Ivy finds a body in her yard on Jack's first day on the job. There is an instant connection between Ivy and Jack. But, very little romance in this one. There is a lot (A LOT) of back and forth with Ivy and Jack. They felt younger than the ages they are supposed to be. Jack sees Ivy with her brother and automatically assumes she lied to him about having a boyfriend. Ivy was rude to her aunt.
I thought this was weird too- Ivy's father confronting Jack on his interest in Ivy/Ivy's interest in him. Um, Micheal, you just met Jack. Jack and Ivy have known each other for a few weeks? Just weird. 
After all the "I'm not looking for a relationship," (from both) and the constant reminding of Ivy being a witch, I was just tired and irritated. At the least the mystery wasn't too bad. 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1789050/wicked-days