Author Archives: karenjvjohnson

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Old Blood

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old blood

Old Blood (Experiment in Terror #5.5)

This is not a stand alone novella, if you have not read books 1-5 do not start here.

The story of Creepy Clown Lady, Pippa, is not a completely happy one. She starts her tale when she was a little girl right up to her death and beyond. You find out why she approached Perry the way that she did and why. What her relationship was with Dex and how she knew about him. You also get an insight into Ingrid, Perry’s mother, who watches her daughter with worry and fear.

I felt so much for her while at the same time wondering how she could make some of the decisions that she did. This short tale allows us to see how the previous novels come together. Pippa has been a prominent character throughout and we find out why she has made it her mission to bring Dex and Perry together, maybe to find the happiness she never did.

A good fast read that will make you feel for this lonely woman who only wanted to be loved.

 

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

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Red Tide

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red tide

Red Tide

I love a good mystery and this is a very good one. I started reading and was unable to put it down because I was so caught up in who could be doing the killing and how it was going to effect everyone around them. This was able to keep me guessing even after I thought I knew who it was. The characters were very real and got me involved in their lives, they are very lively and full of life. The dialogue is easy to follow but does not talk down to you at all and even the technical terms are defined. The story maintains the tension throughout and draws you in as the time ticks away and things become more complicated.

Aspen Falls is a small town in Colorado which has the distinction of having had a serial killer bury his victims within its boundaries. When FBI agent Nicholas Grant finally finds the location of the dumping ground of a the serial he has been tracking for the past ten years,  he thinks that he will finally be able to bring closure to the families of his thirteen victims, what he actually finds is more bodies. Jamie Taylor is brought in with her dog to help pinpoint the graves, she is one of the best in the field, and she found them and a lot more.

What they uncover means that there is another serial killer operating in their small town and using the same area to dump bodies. Now they have to find the culprit before any more people go missing to a killer who leaves no marks on the body and no evidence that will lead back to him.

I think this was a great book and I enjoyed it a great deal. I would recommend it highly to any fan of the mystery/suspense genre.

 

 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

Grief is a place, even in the most lush surroundings, that is solitary. There is nothing but the loss.
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Alive In A Dead World/Till Death Do Us Part

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alive in a dead world

Alive In A Dead World (Zombie Fallout #5)

I love these books. I find my self liking the characters and hating to see anything bad happen to them. The lose of Paul, though a side character was traumatic. BT is a great guy and I hope to see more of him. Looking forward to seeing Mike again and getting back at Eliza for being such a monumental *B—ch.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
til death do us part

‘Till Death Do Us Part (Zombie Fallout #6)

I loved this! You get more background on everyone and get to see them all grow and learn to survive in such hostile circumstances. The Talbots may be a bit crazy, but they are what family is all about.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
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Renegade

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renegade

Renegade (The Captive #2)

This was a roller coaster ride for me because my emotions were riding along with the characters from the opening lines. Have you ever felt so much a part of the lives of the characters that you sometimes had to set the book aside to calm yourself down? I had to do that multiple times because I would get so upset when something happened that I needed to step away. I love these characters and want things to go a certain way and when things bad happen I need to stop and breathe. That is a testament to the reality of those characters and the world they live in.

Aria and Max have escaped from the Palace with the help of Jack, Braith’s little brother. Jack informed Aria that Braith is to be married and therefore there is no reason for her to stay for him, in the process breaking her heart. Max has been so traumatized and believes that Aria was treated just as badly as he had been. Though she has told everyone she was not mistreated they do not believe her. But Max also wants more from her than she wants to give.

Braith feels just as betrayed as Aria when he discovers that she has left the Palace without saying anything to him. He feels she lied about her feelings and was only biding her time until she could escape. This makes the normally kind Prince a vampire who starts to indulge in all the vices he had hated in the past, and all to forget a human he had come to care for.

This was a really great sequel to that first book and just makes me that much more anxious to continue the series. There is more explanation and a little less action but it balances out well. I would really like everyone to give this series a read. There is enough heat and sweet for everyone.

 

 

 

My rating: 5of 5 stars

 

“He’s not going to leave here without her,” Jack’s gaze was steady, yet sad as he stared at the two of them. “He won’t be separated from her again, and he’ll kill you if you try to stop him”
― Erica Stevens, Renegade

 

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Bonded

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bonded

Bonded (Law of the Lycans #1)

It was really hard trying to figure out what order to read the books in this series. I have read the first 4 out of order with this being the last one I read, but it still has not lessened my enjoyment of the story. I just convinced myself this was the way and they are just giving me background they didn’t have time for before, yeah I am good at self delusion, it’s why I read in the first place. This was maybe a little longer than I thought it had to be, it made things a little boring at times. But the overall feel was one that kept me interested and wanting to hear more from the characters.

Brandi is in her last year at the Academy and has a crush on the legendary Reno Smith,an operative for Lycan Link, and she gets a chance to meet him in person. Reno is teaching a class on self-defense in human form at the Academy as part of his duties and when his assistant fails to show up Brandi gets her chance to impress him. This encounter starts a on-off relationship that is bizarre in how it progresses.

While that is going on the Purists are pushing their agenda and causing a lot of harm across the country. Reno and his enforcers are in the middle and being targeted for their efforts to rid the shifter community of these bigots. The purists are going to cause trouble for everyone but especially for those not having the pure heritage they claim is important.

The story is two pronged here focusing on Reno and Brandi as well as the Purist movement. You also get introduced to characters that you are going to see in later books like Kane, Ryne and Damien who play key parts in other areas. This story has complications, devotion, loyalty, love, betrayal, and a cornucopia of emotions both good and bad. I cried for them and cheered and yelled at their stupidity. I loved it in other words, give me something that reaches into the mind and makes it a part of your reality and that is heaven for me. Definitely recommend!

 

 

 

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

 

“Lycan society is dominated by pack life. A pack is more than a large family. Each member is highly dependent on the others for nurturing and support. When one member falters, the whole pack suffers. For this reason, pack members are highly protective of each other, instinctively recognizing that the common good supersedes personal wants and desires.”
― Nicky Charles, Bonded

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The Dex Files

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the dex files

The Dex-Files (Experiment in Terror #5.7)

To finally get some more background on Dex is fantastic!

What’s offered up are different scenes from each book in the series up to this point as well as new insights from Dex’s past. While the language may be to much for some, Dex does have a flair for the profane, it is no worse than you would hear on a cable show. While I was given to understand that the sexual content was high and a bit raunchy, have to say that I found it fairly tame.

Dex is a complicated character who has a number of problems when it comes to relating to people. Here we get to find out why he is the way he is when it comes to relationships. We also get to see that he was not the heartless SOB that he appeared to be when he first met Perry. Getting to see his point of view gives a voice that was missing as to how things were progressing.

I think it will be enjoyed by fans of the series whether you love or hate Dex. But who wouldn’t love the adorable scoundrel. 🙂

 

 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

“I was head over heels in love with her. No, that didn’t describe it. I was tear my fucking heart out and throw it at her, beg her to take it into hers. I was falling from the greatest heights with no safety net below. I was giving everything of my own life for hers, giving up every inch of my soul so she could wear it proudly. I was a former king on my knees in front of the queen. A jester begging for a chance. I was powerless, helpless and at her mercy.”
― Karina Halle, The Dex-Files

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The Benson

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the benson

The Benson (Experiment in Terror #2.5)

A nice interlude to whet the appetite for another rousing adventure. Perry’s abilities are growing as she actively works the ghost hunting angle. She wanted to be able to help the people or ghosts and she has.

What else can I say. If you have never read any other of the Experiment in Terror novels this can give you an idea of what is in store. Then go back to the first and really enjoy it. This is a fantastic series!

 My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Nothing like a hot woman to make two chubby girls feel like they’re having a bonding moment.”
― Karina Halle, The Benson
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Lying Season

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lying season

Lying Season (Experiment in Terror #4)

I was emotional the whole time I was reading this. One minute up the next minute down, Dex and Perry are both so stubborn. Jenn is the biggest liar of the whole thing, I knew she was he one doing dirt. Well, pride goeth before the fall and I guess we can see what it brings. This was a gripping episode because it changes everything for everyone involved.

While I would love to say more, I think reading it will be more enjoyable. There is lust, deception, angst, horror, and mystery. What more could you ask for.

 

 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

“You’re the light in all this madness. You’re my light. I should have been with you…” The thought hit him as his face crumpled in amazement. “Oh God, why am I not with you?”
“Because you’re an idiot,” I said.”
― Karina Halle, Lying Season

 

 

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The Prophet

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the prophet

The Prophet (Graveyard Queen #3)

OK, I loved this book. Amelia and Devlin could not be kept apart not even by his witch of a ghost wife. The story moved along swiftly and gave that perfect blend of mystery, romance, and other world eeriness. Amelia has grown from book to book and is finding her way in a world she has lived in all her life but never really participated in.

I cannot wait to see if we will be graced with another entry in this fascinating series. It has me wanting to see what is so interesting about cemeteries and their histories.

 

 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

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Cry Sanctuary

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cry sanctuary

Cry Sanctuary (Shifter Town Enforcement #2)

This is a story that has an erotic feel but still has that police procedural element. You wouldn’t think they would work together well, but they really do here. The characters are interesting for more than the fact that they are shifters and not just ordinary shifters for the law enforcement, most of them are some type of canine shifter, meaning a dog. The characters have real personalities that can raw you to them or repel you depending on what you like. I was pulled in and so absorbed that I read this book in less than a day. I just did not want to stop until I had found out what was going to be happening.

The language was perfect for the characters and the region that they occupied. I could see them speaking exactly the way that did. The killer is actually revealed fairly early which I was worried about at first, but it actually added another layer to the story by my knowing who it was when they did not. The changing point of view was nice because it allowed me to get a feel for the full picture by giving a voice to everyone. It also gave me a look at my favorite characters from the first book on the side, and I always love that. There are a few word glitches, but they are minor and easily overlooked.

Holly Lawrence did her final research paper on a cold case that involved a serial killer who was never caught. By a stroke of luck she actually finds him, and is captured and becomes a potential victim. Holly does escape, the only person to ever do so, and becomes a target for an insane killer who does not like to lose. Caine Morgan is the Alpha of the Sanctuary Falls wolf pack and has had one of his wolves go missing, the M.O. fits that of the serial killer and Holly becomes involved in tracking him before any more women are killed. Wolfhounds and Wolves do not work together but Holly and Caine are about to change that. They will hunt this killer to protect his pack as the killer hunts Holly to finally bring her down.

There was a very real feel of tension and dread about what this guy was doing and how he was doing it. The feelings that Caine and Holly have for each other start a bit quickly but are not consummated right away which was good since they were being stalked. This should definitely be given a try!

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It wasn’t terror yet, not the blind, all-consuming fear that he would slowly train her to feel. No, she still had too much control yet for that. But they’d get there.