Author Archives: karenjvjohnson

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Petty Pewter Gods

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10058981

Petty Pewter Gods: A Garrett (Garrett Files #8)

I have liked Garrett from the first adventure I took with him but this one did not seem very exciting or interesting. The story was alright I guess since it did at least have an awake Dead Man for once, he has been asleep for awhile. The new characters introduced did not seem very lively or appealing but kind of dull and lackluster. This was one that I had a hard time getting into and even when I did I just kept going because I like Garrett and his bits of sarcasm enough to overlook a weak plot line.

Garrett finds himself in the middle of a contest between two groups of gods in Tunefaire. The refugees from the Cantard have brought their own pantheon of gods to the Street of Dreams and now one of the existing pantheons is going to have to move out. Lucky Garrett, he gets to figure who is going to get the last location at the bottom of the street. He gets snatched by the Godoroth first and even though he does not commit he gets waylaid by the Shayir, the other pantheon and told he cannot leave until he helps them. What can he do but escape and go into hiding. He has never been very big on gods in the past and now he can see that they are not anything more than a bunch of thugs who just want to be worshiped.

This was not the best so far and I have a ways to go but if you want the continuity you have to read it. Just know that there are some truly slow spots. But it is still Garrett even if he is not handling a good mystery this time.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
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The Andromeda Strain

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27426010

The Andromeda Strain

I have found a book I liked less than the movie adaptation. The book was good but I found it to be bogged down with things that did not seem important to the story really, though the added detail was good. This was a purely male story with women present in support roles like nurse or secretary. It was definitely written during a time when women and people of color would not have been represented as being intelligent and able to contribute. The characters were well defined for the most part, though they could have been fleshed out a bit more. I saw both movie versions, but I preferred the 70’s version better without all the fancy special effects. The fact that they made one of the scientist a woman and the nurse was a black woman, it made it more in keeping with the times really. This book worked better visually than it does on the page for me.

A space probe falls back to earth and lands near a small town. The inhabitants find it and instead of calling the government decide it is a good idea to open it up. What they get for their lack of intelligence is death for them all, all except two souls who are far apart in age and lifestyle survive. Four scientist have been assigned to Wildfire to track and find a cure for something that has never been seen on this planet. It kills fast and silently in most cases not giving them time to even say goodbye.

I did like the book and think that it should be read because it does give you some more background if you have seen the movies.  

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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A Nomadic Witch

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21567836

A Nomadic Witch (A Modern Witch #4)

These are quirky stories about a group of witches who keep expanding because of the internet and I really love it. The characters are all strange in one way or another or they have some type quirk you can identify with. The characters are all down to earth types who just happen to have the ability to manipulate the elements.

Marcus lost his brother to the mists over 40 years ago, he was a traveler and never returned to his body, he got lost. Marcus has never forgiven himself for not being able to save him and has become a bitter old man who pushes everyone away. In recent months, since the birth of new babies, and pushing by Moira, he has started to interact with others more. But something happens that could push him back into his shell.

A baby is left on Marcus’s porch and he is not sure why. When he finds out that it was sent to him by his brother, and that the baby is also a traveler, he is ready to give it up. But how can he turn his back on a baby who needs him when she was sent by the brother he still misses and loves?

This is fun, light, and total escapism. I can listen or read this and enjoy myself because I really care about these characters and what is going on in their lives. They always put a smile on my face even as I cry for the sad things that befall them. You cannot help but be charmed by these witches and the love that surrounds them. Give this series a try!

 

My rating: 5 of 5 magical stars

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Tempted

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12069712

Tempted (Eternal Guardians #3)

This was another great book in this series. I always like the guardians and the fact that you get a look into the mythology that it is based on. The characters are all very tortured in one way or another whether they deserve to be or not, this just makes them seem more human. The story moves along at the perfect pace allowing for changes in venue and character as they fill us in on what is happening. The language never fails to entertain with words that seem to be pulled out of the past. I was pulled in and not allowed to stop except for those emotional moments I could not help it.

Isadora is a princess who always finds herself in trouble. She has been kidnapped and is about to be sent to the enemy, Atalanta, for what she is not sure. The witches, one of whom is her handmaiden, have given her a potion so she can be taken a man she does not want. Their plans are thwarted when the guardians, including Demetrius, arrive to rescue her and are met with serious resistance. When Demetrius takes her and Gryphon through a portal they end up in the last place they should and find themselves taken captive by Atalanta.

Demetrius has been hateful to Isadora all of her life but the person he truly hates is himself. Demetrius has been hard on himself for something that he could not change anymore than anyone could their origin.

I am so into these stories because I feel so deeply about the characters. These stories have intrigue, romance, hatred, myth, warriors, damsels in distress, and heroes galore. Definitely give it a try.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Maybe,” she said softly, hoping to bridge it herself, just a touch, “maybe one day I can return the favor.” “You can’t save me,” he whispered. “Why not?” “Because some things aren’t worth the effort.” Her heart went out to him right then and there. As firelight flickered over his chiseled features, she saw secrets brewing in his eyes. Secrets that fed something dark in his past that kept him closed off from the world. For years she’d thought he didn’t have a soul, but as she stared into his eyes now, she knew she’d been wrong. He hurt, just as she did. And he longed, the same as she. While she’d curled into herself over the years, letting her father and everyone else make her decisions for her, he’d gone the other way, pushing every single person away until they all thought he was nothing but a cold, evil shell. How wrong she’d been. How utterly hateful and horrid she’d been to him. As they stared at each other, she didn’t see him as an Argonaut. Didn’t see him as a fighter or even a hero, really. She saw him as a man. With the same humanity the gods both hated and envied. With the same frailties and faults she possessed. She moved into him fast, burying her cheek against his chest and wrapping one arm around his waist while the other held the blanket closed at her front. He sucked in a surprised breath, but she didn’t let go. Against her skin he was alive and warm, and her body jumped to life everywhere they touched.”
― Elisabeth Naughton, Tempted   Elisabeth Naughton
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Me and My Ghoulfriends

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11459628Me and My Ghoulfriends (Larue Donavan #1)

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The Mall

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14759820

The Mall

There is a lot going on in this novel and it made for a hard read because of it. Its like everything was being thrown in to make it more interesting but what it did was keep me confused. There is science fiction with an automated Mall with robots and a central intelligence running things. Then we have a revisionist history which has figures alive and kicking who died in the original timeline, a paranormal leaning with psychic individuals and ghosts running around. With all of this I was still actually kind of bored while reading it. I never really felt anything much for any of the characters, though I did want them to survive if only because they were children. The mother was kind of unsympathetic and annoying for the most part. It felt like it was to long and could have been concluded sooner.

Lara is the mother of two children, Cora and Owen, the widow of Ben and not a great planner at all. She has been evicted from her home and finds herself homeless with her children and no backup plan. Lara is going to the one person she hoped not to have to ask for help, her mother-in-law who blames her for the death of her son. She lives in the residential section of the Mall, Lara hopes that she will allow the children to stay with her until she can make arrangements for a new place to live. But she wants to take the children and to brand Lara an unfit mother, so she leaves and decides to stay in the Mall.

Owen is ten years old and blames his mother for everything and anything. When she falls asleep in the movie he decides to sneak off and do something he wants, even though he is leaving his sister as well. Not surprisingly there is a power outage and he is cut off from his family, a killer is roaming the Mall, the robots are all offline, and Lara is panicking. There is an evil presence in the Mall and reuniting is more difficult than anyone could have expected.

When I read the blurb I was really excited about reading this book because it sounded good. I am not quite so enthusiastic about it now. It took me 8 days to read a book that should have only taken me three at the outside. This did not work for me but maybe it will for someone else. Just to much going on and not enough action or scares to keep me engaged. I finished it because I do not like to quit and find that I missed something.

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
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Infestation

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21195425

Infestation: Suffer the Children 1 (Suffer the Children #1)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a real slow burn as far as the story taking off considering the fact that it is a short story. While I enjoyed the story for the most part I was a bit lost as to what was going on. The characters are lackluster and do not really make me either like or dislike them so far, though I do feel they have hope of getting more interesting. I understand the plot, since it is a story about a haunting but the source is so strange that I am not understand what it is. I hope this will be clarified in future installments. The language is fine and seems fitting the characters.

Jim Miller is a truck driver with a wife and two young daughters, and like anyone he wants to give them a good life. The type of home he wants cannot be found for a price they can afford, but he finds some land that is reasonable and gives them room to grow on. They build the perfect house and have a house warming party to celebrate their good fortune. That is the last time they are truly happy and fear free in their new home. Something is making itself known to the children and adults by causing disturbances they cannot explain. Now they are faced with the prospect of leaving the home they love for reasons they cannot even explain.

This is a three part serial which I hope gets more involved and maybe lets us in on the secret soon of what is haunting a new house. Why did no one ever buy the land they built on? I will be reading the final installments because I want to know what is going on. I do like a mystery.

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The Ghost Files

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18296529

The Ghost Files (The Ghost Files #1)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I did not really know what to expect from this when I got started but was very pleasantly surprised with where it went. The story is very nicely executed with the characters becoming more pronounced with each chapter. The language is perfect for the ages of the characters and makes you pay closer attention to them. This is not really so much scary as it is disturbing, but it does not make it any less effective. This is touted as being horror but I see more of a mystery with a paranormal theme involved. It is also more young adult than adult, though maybe that changes a bit in later books.

Mattie Hathaway has been in the foster care system for a good portion of her life, she entered it at the age of five and now at the age of sixteen she is a veteran of the system who knows how to survive. There is one thing Mattie has kept to herself all those years, and that is the fact that she can see ghosts. While in her latest and best foster home she encounters the ghost of a little girl who she ignores as has become her custom. The only thing that goads her into communicating with the ghosts she sees is when she sees her foster sister as a ghost after having just left her alive at home.

While in the hospital after a mishap Mattie meets Officer Dan who will become very important to her and what she finds out about what is happening. A serial killer has been operating in the town and preying on children who in most cases will either not be missed or assumed as a run-away. Mattie brings attention to herself and the killer takes notice. The children who have been killed have gathered around her and she does not know if they mean her harm or are simply drawn to her. Whatever else may happen Mattie may have to survive more than just a bad few days.

Once I got into it I really did enjoy the story. Mattie was a bit much to take because of her teen angst and self reliant posturing throughout the book, with reminding us she does not cry or does not need anyone constantly. Her back story was heart breaking but could have been deeper still. The end was a bit of a shocker and made me more than eager to read the next book in this series. If you can get around the bravado and whining of our 16 year old heroine you will enjoy this. Ghosts, serial killers, revenge, what more can you ask for.

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Cherry Pop

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24284198

Cherry Pop (Vampire Cherry 0.5)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I read a short story in an anthology which was good enough to make me want to read more about this character because it sounded like it would be fun. Well, it is still basically good but I think I am going to need to read more to see if it gets better. This was an introduction that was a bit slow and did not really give much of a background on any of the characters that were introduced. The language is fine and is descriptive enough to keep your interest for the most part. This is a novella length book but could have contained so much more.

Cherry is found by a woman who brings her to Los Angeles and places her in porn movies under the name Cherry Stem. She has been a bit player in a few movies but has now been offered a starring role and is very excited about her big break. In order to get her face out there she is sent to a party full of up and coming stars where she meets someone she cannot resist. Cherry wakes up the next morning not exactly herself and finds her life completely altered with no way back.

This is a different kind of vampire story with some old and new myth’s about how vampires interact with the human population as well as how they interact with each other. Cherry is a likable character who could be really fun if she is fleshed out more and given more of a personality. This is a nice diversion when you are in between reads.

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Dresden Files: Downtown

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26843031

Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files: Down Town Collection (The Dresden Files Graphic Novels #5)

by Jim Butcher (Goodreads Author), Mark Powers, Carlos Gómez (Illustrator)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I totally have a thing for Harry Dresden and I am happy to read about him in any medium I can find him. This is a really nice new story that gives you a chance to become better acquainted with Molly Carpenter and what she is doing with Dresden as his apprentice. We also get to see the character of Marcone who does not appear a lot though he is mentioned quite often in any number of novels.

Something is killing innocent people and the police, Karrin Murphy, calls in Dresden because it is obvious that whatever it is its not human. While Harry has never seen anything like it before he is ready to stop it no matter what it takes.

This does not have a lot of plot, it is simple and straight forward, which is perfect for a graphic novel. Good story told in minimal space with decent characters, no need for major development, some fun facts.