The Gathering Dusk

Review:

Well done novella. Suspenseful. Induces Samantha, a FBI profiler. Cliff hanger ending. From reading synopsis of book 1, I am 100% certain who the killer is. Should be interesting.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1801085/the-gathering-dusk

Halloween Bingo Update the Third

First Bingo!  On the diagonal.

2nd Bingo!  4 Corners and free space.

 

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

Ghost Stories:  The Kingdom by Amanda Stevens 9/29 

Murder Most Foul: Lowcountry Boil by Susan Boyer  10/1

Free Space:  Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk 10/4

Supernatural: Possessing the Witch by Elle James 10/3

13: She Hulk by Marta Acosta 10/7

Terrifying Women: A Girl in Disguise by Greer MacAllister 10/12

Creepy Carnivals: Wicked Weaves by Joyce and Jim Lavene 10/13

 

Read, not called:

Spellbound:  Midnight's Master by Donna Grant (square not called) 10/15

Currently reading:

Darkest London: Firelight by Kristin Callihan

 

Called and not read:

Genre: Suspense: After the Dark by Cynthia Eden

Cryptozoologist: Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh

Shifters: Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

Doomsday:  Married With Zombies by Jesse Peterson

Terror in a Small Town: Buried Truth by Janine Gallant

Genre: Horror: Dreadful Skin by Cherie Priest

 

List:

 

Baker Street Irregulars: The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle

Dead Lands: Once Bitten, Twice Burned by Cynthia Eden

Fear the Drowning Deep: Tsunami Blue by Gayle Ann Williams

Country House Mystery: Ghost of a Chance by Katie MacAllister

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1798807/halloween-bingo-update-the-third

Midnight's Master

Review:

So this picks right up where the last book (of the previous series; "Dark Sword") left off. While I think someone could read this one without reading the previous series, it would be more enjoyable if the 6 books in the "Dark Sword" series were read first. Just my opinion. This has been a nice, easy to read series that I've enjoyed thus far.
While I liked Gwynn, what was up with the high heels? Impractical! Gwynn has magic. She suppressed it because her mother thought it was weird/didn't like it (not much said about it), so she forgot about it/hide it. He dad goes missing, so she goes to Scotland to try to find him. For not being around magic, or believing in it, she gets a handle on it quickly. There really wasn't much of a learning curve. Considering this book takes place over 1 week, okay, fine, I'll buy it. 
Logan is from the past and time-traveled 400 years to the present when Deirdre went missing. Logan's got this big Secret (he wanted to know if he had god and willingly went to Deirdre to find out). I thought he spent too much of his time regretting this. Mistakes are made (with varying degrees), you learn, and move on!
I enjoyed seeing the other couples from the previous 6 books; Cara and Lucan, Lavena and Fallon, Marcail and Quinn, Isla and Hayden, Reaghan and Galen, and Sonya and Broc. Marcail and Quinn's son, Aidan makes an appearance. Likewise Ramsay, Camdyn, Arran, and Ian (wow all time-traveled too). Ian is the only one missing, but is in present day. And his story is next! In additon to Deirdre, there is a new badie, Declan. While Deirdre is an evil bitch, that I hated from the first series (just die already!), I think Declan might be a bigger threat. Deirdre's world-view is small and she has only a few focuses and many blind spots, Declan does not. Should be interesting.
I did like the time-travel element, bringing these old-fashioned Highlanders to the modern era. I also liked the little twist with Gwynn's father. Will see if Saffron, a Druid that Declan held prisoner gets her story. Malcolm too. He could still be redeemed. It's a maybe.

 

Booklikes Bingo:  Spellbound square.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1800485/midnight-s-master

Halloween Bingo Update the Third

First Bingo!  On the diagonal.

2nd Bingo!  4 Corners and free space.

 

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

Ghost Stories:  The Kingdom by Amanda Stevens 9/29 

Murder Most Foul: Lowcountry Boil by Susan Boyer  10/1

Free Space:  Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk 10/4

Supernatural: Possessing the Witch by Elle James 10/3

13: She Hulk by Marta Acosta 10/7

Terrifying Women: A Girl in Disguise by Greer MacAllister 10/12

Creepy Carnivals: Wicked Weaves by Joyce and Jim Lavene 10/13

 

Read, not called:

 

Currently reading:

Spellbound:  Midnight's Master by Donna Grant (square not called)

Darkest London: Firelight by Kristin Callihan

 

Called and not read:

Genre: Suspense: After the Dark by Cynthia Eden

Cryptozoologist: Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh

Shifters: Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

Doomsday:  Married With Zombies by Jesse Peterson

Terror in a Small Town: Buried Truth by Janine Gallant

 

List:

Genre: Horror: Dreadful Skin by Cherie Priest

Baker Street Irregulars: The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle

Dead Lands: Once Bitten, Twice Burned by Cynthia Eden

Fear the Drowning Deep: Tsunami Blue by Gayle Ann Williams

Country House Mystery: Ghost of a Chance by Katie MacAllister

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1798807/halloween-bingo-update-the-third

Wicked Weaves

Review:

Being set at a renaissance fair, this set itself apart from a lot of the other mysteries. Jessie being the name of the main character and I was all set! (Jessie is my youngest sister's name). 
This ended up being disappointing. I really didn't like Jessie and found her to be judgmental and immature. She was "thirty-something" (if my memory is right, she is 32) and an assistant professor, but acted much younger. I couldn't imagine her teaching! The first part of the book was the worst; what came out of her mouth wasn't very thought out or empathetic. It did get better (or I got used to it) as the book went on. This quote sums it up nicely: "I was taking some serious grief over this whole thing, and I wasn't sure why. I'd done all I could to help Mary. It seemed to me she could be a little grateful."
The main male character had an eye-rolling name. Chase Manhattan. "My parents were into banking. You know how it is." Yeah, actually I don't and don't want to. The romance in this was just okay. Again, for people in their thirties I expected more assertiveness. 
I doubt I will read this rest.

Halloween Bingo:  Creepy Carnivals square 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1799966/wicked-weaves

Girl in Disguise

Review:

I picked this up because it interested me. A book about the first female Pinkerton detective? A woman that not much is known? (Although much more would have been known had the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 not happened).
I loved this book. Yes, it's based on a real life person. And yes, it's a work of fiction. But, I think the author did the real Kate Warne justice. It showed what a woman had to go through to be able to prove herself, support herself. I found this book uplifting, interesting, and fascinating. What kept this from getting a full-on 5, but I thought too much was packed in the pages. Maybe this would have worked out better had it been 2 or 3 books? I found myself wanting more!
And I will say this- this is what I needed in this day and age of Trump, Kavanaugh, and all that bullshit. A book about a strong, intelligent, and unconventional woman. I'm hoping to enjoy my next read as much as I enjoyed this one. Cheers!

Booklikes Bingo: Terrifying Women

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1799821/girl-in-disguise

Halloween Bingo Update the Second

 

First Bingo!  On the diagonal.

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

Ghost Stories:  The Kingdom by Amanda Stevens 9/29 

Murder Most Foul: Lowcountry Boil by Susan Boyer  10/1

Free Space:  Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk 10/4

Supernatural: Possessing the Witch by Elle James 10/3

13: She Hulk by Marta Acosta 10/7

 

Read, not called:

 

 

Currently reading (called):

Terrifying Women: A Girl in Disguise by Greer MacAllister

 

 

Called and not read:

 

Creepy Carnivals: Wicked Weaves by Joyce and Jim Lavene

Genre: Suspense: 

Cryptozoologist: Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh

Shifters: Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

Doomsday:  Married With Zombies by Jesse Peterson

 

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

Terror in a Small Town: 

Dead Lands: Once Bitten, Twice Burned by Cynthia Eden

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

 

 

 

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