Author Archives: karenjvjohnson

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Shadows of Bourbon Street

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I continue to enjoy these books because I like the characters and the setting. They are not deep and sometimes you can figure out what’s going on very quickly but they are nonetheless entertaining and that is all I want. I have found that listening and reading are both great fun with this series. The narrator, Traci Odem, is fantastic as she gives depth to the characters through her vocalizations of them. You cannot be bored when you know the backdrop is New Orleans, though I would be happy with more about mardi gras if it going to be used as a device. This was a quick read that held my interest and kept me wanting to continue to the next book.

Jade and Kane are about to say ‘I do’ when the High Angel interrupts the nuptials to give them their first assignment as Shadow Walkers. A witch is in trouble and only Jade and Kane can save her. But of course, there is more going on than meets the eye and this couple falls into it.

With three plots running it could become hard to figure out what is going on but that is not the case. Each crisis has a start, a middle, and an ending that is satisfying. One gripe is that every book has someone in Jade’s circle gaining some type of power or gift. That can get a bit monotonous. But the books are fun and fast reads so it is worth it.

My rating: ✭✭✭✭ of 5

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Hers to Choose

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Hers to Choose by Patricia A. Knight

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I remember reading the first book in this series and feeling great satisfaction when I finished it. I have that same good and satisfied feeling now after finishing this one. I really like these characters and I cannot really say why other than they feel very real to me. Granted the situations are a bit stretched but that is the way of anything even remotely mired in science fiction, and though these may be love stories they are still science fiction. I am completely taken with the world they inhabit, especially since the planet they live on is sentient and is involved in the lives of those who live on her. This is a good escapist fare that lets you sink into the story and just enjoy it as it takes you to places you might not have ever dreamed about.

Lady Sophillia Glorianna DeLorion spent years as a slave aboard a Haarb ship. The experience left her feeling unfit for a normal relationship. When she returned and had a hard time adjusting her brother sent her to live with the desert people hoping the isolation would help to bring back the sister he remembered.

Eric DeStroia is the Commander of the Queen’s Royal Guard and is being sent to bring Sophi home. He has also been chosen to become her husband by her brother Doral, who is a part of the Tetriarch which rules their planet. Eric has seen how arranged marriages can kill the soul and was not looking to be paired, but the thought of taking care of some broken dove appeals to him. But what he gets is a Falcon who has found her voice and power.

The story is told from various points of view to better move things along. The only real problem I had is that Eric’s eyes are established as one color then abruptly said to be another then back again. But as a whole, I would recommend this to everyone.

Isolated, far from the interstellar trade lanes, hundreds of light years from any civilized planet, Verdantia marooned the Earth colonists on her surface—then she spoke to them.



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Hers to Cherish

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Hers to Cherish by Patricia A. Knight

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I enjoy this series for the fact that it is science fiction and erotic and a little kick-ass. I love the characters for not being boring but having some larger-than-life personalities with just the right amount of neurosis to make them very human and likable. The worlds that they inhabit are just as varied as the people that live on them. This is the story of Steffania Rickard and Ramsey DeKieran’s, the Captain of the Blue Daggers and a disgraced Lord who was found guilty of murder.

Captain Rickard is sent to bring Ramsey to meet with Ari and Doral to discuss a mission they wish him to undertake that could mean a full pardon for him if he returns. Ramsey has been a part of her fantasies since they fought side by side in the Haarb wars, but she would never give into them. Ramsey finds the Captain attractive but knows a woman like her could never give in to the types of hunger he has. Both are very wrong.

The pair are sent to bring back a Verdantian who is very important to the survival of the planet, Lady Alessa DeAlbero has been sold to Veacon Narr, a man who takes pleasure in bringing women to their knees. Everyone else who has attempted a rescue has not returned and he is considered to be expendable even if Steffania isn’t. But together they find a way to do the impossible.

Though the story revolves around their rescue effort it is really about two people who have had the worst happen to them but are finding someone to complete them. Highly recommend.





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“Dominance and submission is an intimate binding. Those who submit must trust that those who dominate will never take more than they can give.”

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Skin Game

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Skin Game by Jim Butcher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is Dresden and I have loved him since the first time I opened a book and found this wizard who is flawed but tries to do the right thing no matter the consequences. I expect a great story with characters that are believable and more than meets the eye, and that is just what I got. The story is pure Dresden and true to who the characters have come to be as this tale has continued. The few new characters who were introduced fit very well with those we know so well. Everyone is evolving and becoming more than they originally were whether for better or worse, and everyone is surprising in how they react to Dresden.

When Harry became the Winter Knight he thought he would be able to deal with it and maybe find his way out as he has so many times in the past. What he didn’t expect were all the complications that kept him working for Mab even though he wishes he had made better choices. Because of the parasite growing in his head, he has been living Mab has kept him isolated and is wearing down his humanity.

Nicodemus Archleone, a Knight of the Blackened Denarius, is back and Mab has a debt to pay off to him. That is where Dresden comes in, Mab is loaning Harry to a man he hates and has defeated in the past, to help. Lucky for Harry he is given some say in how things will work and enlists the help of Karrin Murphy, ex-cop and good friend, to go on this particular adventure with him. The goal, to stay alive and thwart Nicodemus at all costs.

It may be just me but I have not found a Dresden novel that did not make me very happy to have read. As that is the case I will recommend this to any fans of Harry Dresden who have not already read it. If you want to start a really good series, then start with Storm Front and work your way up, they do need to be read in order as reference is made to early incidents.

** I listened to it for my second time around because I have fallen under the spell of James Marsters who I could listen to all day and be very happy. He is Harry and don’t let anyone tell you any different. I hope he will narrate all the books as they come out because I would not do audio without him. Enjoy this book both ways!

There’s power in the touch of another person’s hand. We acknowledge it in little ways, all the time. There’s a reason human beings shake hands, hold hands, slap hands, bump hands.





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Angels of Bourbon Street

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Angels of Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I enjoy these books and I like most of the characters because they have been able to grow as the series has moved forward, then there are some I could do without sometimes. Being set in New Orleans makes this work perfectly for the way things seem to go for everyone here. I have never been but every time I read one of these books I can imagine that I am visiting the French Quarter or the Garden District because of the vivid descriptions of the locales. I chose to listen and read because it does make it so much easier to keep the story going when I am on the go. I can listen in my office at work while still being productive and relaxed.

Jade has been left with only half her soul because of circumstances beyond her control, even though she was doing the right thing. But she decides that nothing is going to stop her from marrying the man of her dreams, Kane. Well, things never go smoothly for Jade no matter how much she wants it to.

Jade is possessed by the ghost residing in Kane’s family home while making arrangements for her wedding. Though they are able to save her once it becomes clear that in her weakened state she is easy prey. Now she will have to live with the person who has the other half of her soul in order to keep her safe, but that does not help her friends.

The narrator, Traci Odom, does a great job of bringing the characters to life, both male and female. If you have enjoyed the first three books in this series then you will enjoy the continued adventures of this new to her craft witch.


“Everyone in this room knows I’m going to say yes, but I’m not willing to let the realm have complete control over us. If we were to become slaves to you, our lives would hardly be worth living anyway. So my offer to you is this: the pair of us will accept your condition of becoming shadowwalkers, but we want to be compensated as a low-level angel would. We also want all the benefits and rights that they have under your laws. There will be no exceptions because we are humans.”
― Deanna Chase, Angels of Bourbon Street


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The Martian

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The Martian by Andy Weir

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I love anything to do with space and especially with Mars because I cannot wait for us to finally take the step. I usually read the book before seeing any movie made from it but this time I did the opposite and saw the movie. I really liked the movie and actually considered not reading the book because it worked for me. I decided to read and listen to it and was pulled right into the story from the very beginning. The narrator of the audio book, R.C. Bray brought the character to life and made me love the book even more than the movie. I love the way that it was set up with multiple points of view but still allowed most of the focus to be on the stranded astronaut.

Just days after their arrival on Mars a storm is heading toward their Habitat which could cause damage to their lift-off vehicle and the mission is aborted. While making their way to the orbital vehicle Mark Watney is struck by a piece of debris and lost in the storm, he is presumed dead and ultimately left behind. When he realizes what happened and with no way to communicate to Earth that he is still alive Mark sets out to make sure he is still alive when the next mission shows up on Mars.

The thing that kept me so interested was that the character was so upbeat and funny throughout his ordeal. He had a few bad moments but for the most part, he made you root for him just based on the fact that you wanted this great guy to survive because he deserved it. I laughed out loud at some of the dialogue and felt like crying any time something went wrong. I also like the science in these stories because space exploration is something I am totally interested in and have been since I was a kid. If I had been better at math and science as a kid I would have tried for the astronaut program myself.

This is a really good book with a movie that actually does it justice. I would recommend that you watch, listen and read The Martian because you will enjoy it in any form.



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Dresden: Dog Men

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My rating: 🌠🌠🌠

The start of this story stopped me in my tracks for a minute before I realized what was going on. Probably at the same time Dresden figured it out. This is a tale fit for Dresden but set outside his hometown which always makes things tenser since he is working with people who may not believe in the paranormal. You get to see a character who has not made an appearance since around the fifth novel or so though he has been mentioned in passing.

Harry is feeling angry and anxious after his battle with Puck which makes him fear for his friends. But just as he is about to sink into it he gets a visit from someone totally unexpected. Harry is asked to help a family that has lost four members to something which may turn out to be supernatural. So he takes off for Mississippi and another chance to protect innocents, which he does best.

Slow start but it’s a Dresden story so things will likely pick up quickly. This is for the fans who always need more of Harry. But should be tried by anyone who likes urban fantasy or comics.

My rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠

No need for an in-depth breakdown of things. This is Harry Dresden and I love Harry Dresden. If he were to step off the pages he would be mine even if he protested. Things are gearing up to get a bit complicated for him, Listens, and Mouse as they try to keep people from dying.

Of course, I recommend this.

My rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠

My rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠

Harry is fighting more than one enemy this time around. He must figure out how to destroy the bad guys without taking himself as well as innocents out too.

This is classic Dresden and it just keeps getting better.

My rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠

I really enjoy these mini-stories that give us a look at cases Harry is working on before we get back to the main event. The action has ramped up and there will be a great payoff in the end. Though it is not a novel, it is a way to be able to keep his legacy alive. Even if it is totally detached from the world as it is in the novels.

My rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠

This was a decent end to the story but I would have been happy with a little more action. Still, Dresden, so I will be happy with at least getting something.

Still well worth the price of admission.

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Coming Home

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I do love the Alex Benedict stories because there is always excitement. I will say that this was a bit more subdued than usual though. The characters were still interesting and full of life. The science was good and made me want to see just how much was actually real, if any. The locations from Earth to the asteroid belt is described wonderfully. It is just an overall fun and suspenseful ride.

The Capella, an interstellar which has been lost for eleven years is about to surface again. On that ship is Alex’s Uncle Gabriel and 2600 other passengers who may not know what has happened to them. Everyone is hoping they can rescue them and keep the ship from going back into the time/space warp it has been trapped in. While Alex deals with this a friend comes to him with a communications devise from the dawn of space travel. People have been looking for lost artifacts from the moon as well as NASA that went missing 8000 years ago. Then this pops up and Alex promises to help track down whether any others are still in existence. As usual he is being targeted for his search, which could be placing him and Chase in a deadly situation.

I love science fiction, particularly good science above everything. These stories take you so far into the future that it is always good just to see that humanity could still exist, because some days I have my doubts. I would definitely recommend this as well as all the books in this series. Jack McDevitt is a great story teller who can take you to the edge and back.

My rating: ✯✯✯✯

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Crimson Death

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I still love the Anita Blake series because I have come to really like and appreciate the characters. Yes, I know how they will react in some situations, just I know how my own family will react to certain things. This just makes it more a part of me. If I did not feel this way then I would not have stayed with it this long because 25 books is a lot. There are the characters who are well known and and though they may not change in major ways they have subtle changes in the way they think and do things. Then there are always new characters both alive, dead, and shifter who sometimes are interesting and sometimes bland, but most will not be seen again.

Damian, Anita’s vampire servant is in a state that she nor anyone else has seen for hundreds of years. He is not dying as the sun comes up but falls into a sleep that results in his having nightmares and waking to blood sweats so bad he seems to have bled out. Then a call comes from Edward/Ted from Ireland about vampire attacks. The thing is there are supposedly no vampires in Ireland, or at least none have been seen.

There is not a lot Anita can do when she is not wanted in Ireland, but if she goes she is planning to take Damian back into the sphere of She Who Made Him. That could be the worst idea she has ever had.

I know there are people who have read the series in the past and are now extremely critical because they don’t like the direction it took. I would say to those people, Do Not Read It, and then you cannot be disappointed. For those who still enjoy the series as it has progressed I would say that you will likely enjoy this just as much. For me things continue to move in a way that works for me and seems right for the characters. That is all I want, plus it entertains and draws me away for a time. Not to mention that I would not hate being in Anita’s place one bit.

My rating: ✮✮✮✮✮ of 5

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Charmed I’m sure

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Alright introduction to John Charming

This was a decent introduction to the character though you do not get much of anything. The information to start is kind of vague but gives the impression that something of importance is being left out, which can make you want to read more books. This was like a small day in the life of to give you an idea of the world that he inhabits and the types of supernatural creatures he has to battle.

I would recommend to anyone who is into Knights and or fairy tales made real.

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟 of 5