Author Archives: karenjvjohnson

Unknown's avatar

A Witches Mortal Desire

by

This is a new author for me, and while I encountered a few issues, I still enjoyed the story overall. It took me a while to get through it, mainly because there were moments when the pacing slowed down, prompting me to set the book aside temporarily. However, I always returned to it, believing it was worth the effort.

I liked all the characters except for Sadie’s mother, who lacked any redeeming qualities in my view. While the characters were generally well-developed, I felt they could use a bit more depth, which can likely be addressed in future books. I also noticed a few typos, such as “titled” instead of “tilted.” Additionally, the world they inhabit could have been better fleshed out, especially since it is supposed to parallel our own.

Sadie Willamena Holt is the middle child in a family of witches but lacks magic and the respect of her mother and older sister. They treat her poorly, making her feel like a bad and evil person because of who she is.

Sadie has come to terms with being an outsider, as it is a role she has always occupied. Nevertheless, she has good friends who make her feel valued and a life that is worth living. Her life may be unconventional, but it is still uniquely hers.

There are some steamy elements to be aware of, as this story includes ménage pairings of various genders. I would recommend it.

My rating: ✪✪✪✪

Unknown's avatar

Boobarella and The Space Penises

by

This story was decent, but nothing exceptional. It reminded me of the 1960s movie “Barbarella” starring Jane Fonda. While there may not have been any space penises—an interesting touch in this narrative—men were still involved. The cast is entirely female, which brings its own implications.

The story is fairly average, and the characters are only somewhat developed. Since this is a serial, it requires a commitment, and I’m not sure I’m willing to make that commitment. I doubt the plot will maintain my interest beyond one or two episodes unless significant improvements are made to the storyline and it shifts away from the 1960s vibe I associate with it.

My rating: 🌠🌠

Unknown's avatar

Genome

by

**Not as Good as the First Book**

Although I found some enjoyment in this book, I struggled to stay engaged with the story. There were moments when the plot felt overly dramatic, and the overall length made it a bit of a slog to get through. The characters, however, were still thoughtfully crafted and relatable, making them easy to root for despite the pacing issues. Unfortunately, there were times when I set the book aside for several days simply because it failed to capture my interest. I may be a little too generous in giving it 3 stars, but I acknowledge that the underlying story has merit, even if it wasn’t entirely captivating.

My rating: 💫💫💫

Unknown's avatar

Winter Promises

by

This was a strange place to start but I wanted a Christmas-themed story. That was given in the slimmest of ways. I also had not read anything by this author before this either but did like what I have read so far. The characters seem a little thin to me, but that could be because I have not read the previous book where they were set up originally. I do like the story itself though.

Holly Ellis has never liThis was an unusual place to start, but I wanted a Christmas-themed story. My request was fulfilled in the slimmest of ways. I hadn’t read anything by this author before, but I liked what I have read so far. The characters seem a bit underdeveloped to me, but that could be because I haven’t read the previous book where they were originally introduced. However, I do enjoy the story itself.

Holly Ellis has never liked Christmas, and after being shuttled between foster care homes for so long, who could blame her? Now, at 22 years old, her feelings about the holiday remain unchanged. But this year, things might be different as Arie concocts an exceptional scavenger hunt for her.

I appreciated the story’s presentation; it wasn’t overly explicit but still enjoyable. The BDSM elements are quite light and well-executed. This is intended as a standalone novella and seems to work that way, as it doesn’t reveal anything about the novel itself. Overall, it’s a decent short story. ked Christmas, but after being shuttled between foster care homes for so long who could blame her? And at 22 years old that has not changed one bit. But things may change this year as Arie concocts a very special scavenger hunt for her.

I did like the way the thing was done and it was not super hot but still good. The BDSM is pretty light and well-played. This is intended as a standalone novella and seems to work that way since it does not give anything away about the novel itself. Decent short story.

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟

Unknown's avatar

Antique Bed

by

This was my first encounter with this author’s work, and I found this short story exceptionally well-crafted. It has piqued my interest in reading more of his works. The narrative is engaging, with several intense moments that are effectively executed. The characters are surprisingly developed for the story’s brevity.

The local children have always whispered that the old hardware store was haunted. But do ghosts really exist?
After being left by her boyfriend, Sandy needs to find affordable housing and stumbles upon an apartment above the newly renovated hardware store. Disbelieving in ghosts, she’s thrilled to find such a bargain. However, as odd occurrences unfold, she begins to question her disbelief.

Try reading this story and form your own opinion.

My rating: ⚝⚝⚝⚝

Unknown's avatar

The Ghost of Normandy Road

by

It simply didn’t resonate with me. Despite its high ratings and popularity, it failed to capture my interest. Perhaps I’ll reconsider it in the future if the opportunity arises. However, the inability to connect with any of the characters was a significant drawback for me, even though I persisted well beyond the usual stopping point.

My rating: 🌟

Unknown's avatar

Mom, I’m Scared

by

The narrative took a while to resonate with me, which diminished my enjoyment. Initially, I felt disconnected from the protagonists due to their lackluster backstories. As a short story, the failure to captivate from the start is a critical flaw, given the brief window to engage the reader. Although the pace improved towards the end, the story struggled to reach a satisfying conclusion. The lack of explanations for the events left the resolution feeling incomplete.

Allison Bright, a single mother, sought a new beginning. She and her teenage daughter relocated to a dilapidated farmhouse on Maryland’s eastern shore. Soon, they began to realize the reasons behind its affordability.

Moreover, the story lacked any element of horror.

My rating: ⚝⚝

Unknown's avatar

The Long Sunset

by

I’ve been captivated by this series and the character Priscilla Hutchins from the very first book, and my fascination has only grown. Watching Hutch evolve as an individual, a mother, and a pilot has been a delight. The best part is knowing that whenever there’s an incident in the depths of space, Hutch’s extensive experience makes her the likely candidate to be called upon.

During a class, Dr. Derek Blanchard receives a transmission featuring a waterfall and a musical score through the telescope they’re observing. His initial instinct is to investigate whether it originated from an extraterrestrial civilization. It’s been 7000 years, and the majority of Earth’s population is reluctant to engage with potentially hostile, advanced aliens.
Nevertheless, Dr. Blanchard is eager to seek out these beings to verify if the signal indeed came from an alien planet, rather than a terrestrial interference. To this end, Derek recruits Priscilla to navigate a ship seven hundred light-years away in search of answers. However, they encounter far more than they anticipated.

The story doesn’t revolve around action, which is perfectly acceptable as it allows for a deeper understanding of the characters through their interactions. The science is sound, and the aliens, while imaginative, bear a resemblance to terrestrial fauna. I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates science fiction that focuses more on exploration than combat.

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Unknown's avatar

Orbs IV

by

I had been eagerly awaiting a continuation of this story, as the last novel’s cliffhanger led me to believe it would be a trilogy. Initially, the story seemed slow but quickly gained momentum and captivated me. The characters have been consistently excellent since the series began and have only improved. Even the newer characters evoke empathy and connection. The narrative doesn’t resolve just one plotline but three, detailing the survival struggles of those fighting from the outset.

Although Operation Redemption was unsuccessful, the Sunspot was launched and is en route to Mars to join the colony there. The team from Cheyenne Mountain, along with a few others, has embarked on the lengthy journey with hope in their hearts. Meanwhile, survivors continue their fight for life; Captain Nobel is captured but alive aboard an Organics ship, and Alexia is working to evacuate everyone from the planet if possible.

The story is replete with action, adventure, and intense emotion. For those seeking a journey that stirs the full range of feelings, this story is an excellent choice. I highly recommend it!

My rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠