Author Archives: karenjvjohnson

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The Hybrid’s Mate

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16092178

The Hybrid’s Mate

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a very nice novella which would have been even better if it had been expanded on. At least that’s the way I felt about it because I was enjoying it and was really sad to see it end where it did. I wanted more of the story and to find out what happened to everyone. The characters are different but not to different from what you would expect when reading about vampires and werewolves. Though the story started a bit slowly it picked up quickly enough that I was wiling to forgive the drag of the introduction. Once things started it flowed and made perfect sense within the explanations for what had happened in the world. I don’t think that the characters are as well-developed as they could have been but they still manage to capture your imagination.

Shay is a hybrid, half vampire and half something else, she has been looking for her mate for years with no success. When she finally finds him it turns out that he is a vampire, much to her surprise. Draven is more than just some vampire, he is royalty and has been looking and waiting for her arrival so that he can really begin his life. Though the world is now ruled by the vampires and humans are nothing more than cattle and slaves, Shay hopes that it can change now that she has found her other half.

While they are trying to settle into their life together there is someone who is plotting against them. Just as their lives start to look up one of them is taken and the other must go and rescue them before it is too late.

 

 

 

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Fallen

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18196951

Fallen

 

I was actually stumped as to what to give this so I’m slitting the difference with 4.5 stars. Even after reading the blurb for this book I did not really know what to expect, but I’m glad I took the time. While I am not a big fan of angels, at least those in books, I am a fan of these angels. The writing is sharp and witty with sprinkles of pop culture you can’t help but smile about. The characters are sympathetic and real in how they act and react to their situation. There are religious overtones but that is to be expected and it is handled in a surprisingly interesting way.

Hell has come to Earth, God has gone missing, and the archangels have been decimated. That is they were all thought to be gone, but a baby archangel of four and a half million years old named Israfel still lives. She is one of two angels to have survived the rise of Lucifer to the face of the world. With demons roaming freely, Isra and Hale are the only thing standing between the total destruction of the human race and hope for the future.

I ending up loving this book and the characters so much. Isra was very cool for an archangel with her television and movie references. Who knew that angels go to the movies on their down time. 🙂 She had her flaws but they were earned through serious hardship and wanting to protect those she cared for. Hale was a bit more stoic but had his playful side as well, he also had a great deal of faith.

If you like stories about angels or apocalyptic stories or demons, then you have to give this a look. There is nothing better than finding something good between the pages.

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Ghost Betweens

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13644342

Ghost Betweens

My rating 4 of 5 stars
I usually like my horror a bit more bloody and dark but for this I will make an exception. While not bloody it did have a dark edge to it. It was an easy read that allowed you to get to know the characters in increments as the book progressed. Some were better represented than others but you still had an idea of who they were in relation to each other. The reasons behind the haunting was never made completely clear but the story was still good even without knowing every detail. It was able to keep my interest and keep me turning pages wanting to find out what would happen next. The term Ghost Betweens was a new one on me and I think I like it, it seems very apt for the teens here.

Citrus Valley is located somewhere between Los Angeles and Orange County in California. There is a farmhouse just outside the town which is said to be haunted and no one can say how long it has been empty. The local kids don’t party there and no one has even stayed for a night in the abandoned house, but it has a feeling that keeps people away. There is a sign out front which changes year to year or month to month and sometimes day by day, yet no one has ever been seen doing it.

Josh and Zach are high school boys who decide to go out and take pictures around the old farm and maybe capture some ghosts on film. They definitely get there wish and when the pictures are shown to one of their teachers he enlists them to continue their search for ghosts. They in turn bring into it Kendra, the girlfriend of Zach, and a new girl in school, Whisper who at first thinks she is joining a photography club. They wake up an evil that wishes to use them and they must race to master skills which will keep them alive and save more than their town from what could be released.

While light on scares it gives a nice story of young love blossoming in the face of horror. Finding the person who completes you before you are even complete yourself and learning to work together for the greater good. There was only one thing that bugged me and that was we never really got any answers about the teacher, like how he knew so much about ghosts, and spells, and evil entities, he was a history teacher after all. But that was a small thing and did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. This book is YA and so has no major heavy content.

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Story Time

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15708814

Story Time

 

3.5 stars for the story of how the world came to an end. It was a little bit of slow going to start but started to pick up by the time things started really going wrong. The narrative was a bit choppy because you had one individual supposed to be telling the story but what you get are multiple stories going at once, which could get a confusing sometimes. So the flow was a little off but you can still follow where they are going, particularly if you catch some of the hints they throw out. Some of the characters are more believable than others, Naomi and her idealisms are a little hard to swallow after everything that happens, but most I could see living down the street.

In the year 2045 people have come together to hear NaNa Nay tell the story of the survival of humankind after the destruction of Earth. In 2010 the planet started to tear itself apart with earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, everything the Earth can throw at us. Naomi was a 20-year-old college student who was just finishing up her teaching degree when her world fell apart. She is lucky enough to be in a relatively safe location with her brothers and does not suffer as so many others do as time goes by. It is six long years before they are able to start to rebuild. Humans can learn from their mistakes, even if it takes world annihilation to do it.

This is a story of hatred, love, redemption, loss, heroism, and the human spirit to survive. Along with the natural disasters you get some pretty bad aliens and some pretty good aliens. A lot for such a small package.

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French Quarter

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9627179

French Quarter (Hot in the City #1)

 
My rating : 5 of 5 stars
I was so surprised by this, in a pleasant way. The story moves very quickly, almost to quickly from introduction to action though I am not complaining. I liked that it was moving at break neck speed but still managing to give story with enough tension to keep you engaged. I liked the characters from the beginning was very happy to follow them on their journey of discovery about themselves. The characters each have distinctive personalities that you can relate to either negatively or positively which allows for being pulled into their plight. I love the setting of New Orleans, though I have never been there reading this made me want to visit even more. However, I am sure it is nothing like it was characterized here, as much fun as it would be if it were.

Liz Marsh is a recent transplant to New Orleans, she moved there with her fiancé from Maryland when he was transferred for his job. Liz was always an obedient child who grew into an obedient woman, always doing as she was told. After 6 months Todd, the fiancé starts to stay out late every night and Liz believes he is having an affair and decides to find out for certain what is going on.

Jack Wade is a private eye who works and lives in the French Quarter, he is Cajun and one good-looking man. When Liz walks into his office and asks him to find out what her fiancé is up to he initially turns her down because he no longer takes cases like that. But after a little persuasion and flirtation he takes on the case and finds out what she wants to know very quickly.

For Liz it is a moment of liberation and for Jack the start of something he could never have expected. What started as a job for one and a search for truth of the other turns into a sexual odyssey that neither could have expected when she walked through his door. But when that second door opens you need to make sure that the first one has been closed because otherwise things can go dark when you least expect it.

After reading this I cannot wait to read about the other Marsh sisters. If the decadence and hedonism are even half of what has been seen here, then sign me up for a move to the Big Easy!

 
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Tristan’s Lyceum Wolves

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Tristan's Lyceum Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans #3)

Tristan’s Lyceum Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans #3)

My rating 5 of 5 stars
Once again a story I could fall into and enjoy without any major distraction other than my own stops to absorb here and there. The characters are as vivid as ever and makes knowing them a pleasant prospect in every book. They have rich and varied lives that could fit in anywhere and with any other people. I can follow and know that where it takes me will always be vastly interesting even with the violence which comes in their world.

Tristan is like any other man wolf or not. He values his freedom and thinks that settling down with one woman will take that from him, he does not give any thought to the fact that a woman might feel the same way. That is what it means to be Alpha, to be adored and obeyed, but not to always look at all sides of things. He and his Beta, Logan, have shared everything for years like their attitudes about finding a mate and on many occasions women.

Tristan wants to find out who fire-bombed his club and is trying to start a territory war. There are a lot of possibilities but he will need to narrow them down and he has only one clue which might help him with that. After getting a new club up and running within a week he hopes that he can now concentrate on that. He is given a lead that does not seem to be going anywhere at first but leads him to more than just the arsonists, but to his true mate as well.

Violence, sex, revenge, abuse, jealousy, betrayal stand right along side loyalty, love, and forgiveness. This is a great installment and I am in love with Tristan and Logan both. If I had to have an Alpha I would take Tristan any day of the week, he is strong and powerful yet tender and sweet. As a second no one can compare to Logan who loves his Alpha and would do anything to protect him. These characters speak to me and make my days a little less dreary when I am immersed in their world.

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Pursued

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Pursued (Brides of the Kindred, #6)

Pursued (Brides of the Kindred #6)

My rating 5 of 5 stars
I love this series and will continue to read it as long as books keep coming out. This entry is no different from the previous ones in that it has multiple stories going on at the same time. The main story of Merrick and Elise, hints of what will happen with Lissa and Saber, and our newest bad guy Draven, not to mention what is happening on the ship. For me each story just gets better and better and the characters I have come to love keep doing the same. The stories are fast paced and keep you wondering so that you can’t help but keep reading. Once I started it was hard for me to put it down because who knew what I might have to wait to find out. The characters are well fleshed out and make you want to know more about them not only their present but their past The themes here might be a little hard for some to take, but they are handles in a way that is both sympathetic and understanding.

Merrick and Elise have formed a bad soul bond and must have it dissolved or they both will die. In order to do that they must go to Rageron, the Beast Kindred home-world and into the Deep Blue for a plant that will aid them. These are two wounded people who have found each other but cannot accept what has been given to them without fighting it tooth and nail, even while wanting nothing more than to submit. They leave the safety of the mothership not knowing that out in the black someone is looking for them, and his intentions are less than honorable.

This was one where I cried or at least misted up a great deal. Elise brought out a lot emotion because she was a strong woman, a survivor who knew she was not living a full life but was willing to give it up in order to remain sane. Merrick was also a survivor who had always felt like an outsider but found someone who he was willing to die for and it made him more noble. All that said, this was a little less hot than previous entries but still brought the heat. This was a fun, sad, heroic, disturbing bit of a read. I enjoyed every minute of it and will be moving on because this story and others are not over yet.

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Revealed

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Revealed (Brides of the Kindred, #5)

Revealed (Brides of the Kindred #5)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a nice entry because Nadiah is the first alien that we see get bonded.
I am so drawn to these books because of the great sex scenes but also because I like the characters and would want to be friends with them all.

Another great entry in the Brides of the Kindred series. As usual we start from a point not to far removed from the end of the previous book. We have multiple POV and multiple stories going on which are directly related to what is happening. The stories have a natural progression and always seem to bring just a little bit of something new each time. While we get to know new characters, we still have the pleasure of keeping up with those we have come to like from previous books. Each time you visit a new world you can see the differences that have been woven through it but also the similarities to our own. Things are starting to become even darker than they have before and that can bring a whole new element to the story.

Nadiah is from Tranq Prime, home world of the Blood Kindred, she came to the Mothership to attend the bonding ceremony of her cousin Sylvan and Sophie. But she came for more than that, she was also running from a bonding which her parents had arranged when she was only six years old. While on the ship she met a human male named Adam Rast and felt drawn to him thinking he was Kindred. Nadiah is being pulled back to Tranq Prime by her blood bond to Y’dex a cruel and abusive male who wants nothing more than to dominate and humiliate those around him. If she can find a champion to challenge the bond, then she can be free, otherwise she is doomed to a life of misery. And it seems that she has as Adam Rast steps up to do just that though he has no real chance of winning being human.

While we have met the usual types of Kindred- beast, blood, and twin there are more out there and we get to find out about some of the more exotic varieties. There is a hybrid by the name of Merrick who is part beast kindred and blood kindred and also a friend of Sylvan. Here is a bit of his story and what we can look forward to in the next installment.

These books are an interesting mix of science fiction, romance, erotica, mystery, and battles. I think everyone should give them a read. I have laughed, cried, hated, loved, and lusted through every book. There is nothing better than a hot man in a spaceship!

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The Trials

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The Trials

The Trials (The Elite #2)

I have fallen in love with this series and this is only the second book! From the start I was ready to follow this story anywhere it wanted to take me, it had me at the first sentence. The characters are so well defined they seem like friends who decided to drop by and relate a new adventure. The language is straight forward and appropriate for the place and type of people they are. There is nothing slow about anything which happens, we keep moving from action to action with time for reflection that does not even slow down the pace. This was a perfect blend of action and introspection that allowed you to know the character and get behind or against them through their thoughts and deeds.

Connor Moore has been changed forever, he now officially belongs within the world of the Elites, but must still prove himself to be the Judge of the prophesy who will save his race and humankind from a darkness coming to claim them. To do this he must endure The Trials, which have not been used in over a thousand years but is the only way to garner support for a half-blood. When he accepts to undertake them he finds that he is told that he must pass the three trials which will test him mind, body, and spirit. Being eighteen is hard enough but to take on the role of savior is more than any teenager should have to do. The question is if he can do it before the darkness overtakes them. And to add to his burden he has not one but two girls who want to know where they stand in his life. That may have to wait until they see if they survive.

This is a smart, witty, action packed series that has eye candy throughout (great imagination from great descriptions) that anyone would enjoy. I have found characters that I can relate to and cry for or laugh about or hate and that is what good writing does, it draws you in and makes you care one way or the other. That is what I have here. It may not be for everyone but I would think if given a try it would do the same for anyone. And I for one cannot wait for the next installment, cliff hangers always make me anxious and I want to know what happens!

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Magic Possessed

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Magic Possessed (The Hidden, #2)

Magic Possessed (The Hidden #2)

I received this book from Goodreads First Reads for free.

I totally loved this book and would give it 4.5 stars because it grabbed me and kept me engrossed until the end. I will definitely be reading the first book in the series and following up with the rest. The characters are so well written that I came to really care about them and what they were going through. Of course some were filled out better than others but the main ones and most of the side characters made this worth while. The world they inhabit is like ours but just different enough to make it interesting.

With a number of mythical characters, chief among them dragons, sorcerers, and caidos (descendants of fallen angels). These people came from a place called Luciferia, a place that no longer exists except as the Bermuda Triangle we know today. When their home is destroyed they head to Florida and make a home for themselves there among the back roads and small communities. While they do not always get along they have managed to create a place they can live and thrive until someone decides that things are going to well and starts to shake the hornet’s nest.

Violet Castanega and her family are Dragon shifters and a bit of a rowdy bunch, along with most of her neighbors. She was a brawler when she was younger but has grown into a responsible woman and then the murders start. I liked Violet because she was a strong woman who was not afraid to do whatever was needed to protect her family and those around her. She was also able to trust when she had no reason to.

Kade Kavanaugh is a Deuce (sorcerer) and he works for the Guard, they are a police force for the supernatural folks in the area. They do not have any love for the dragons who they see as completely uncivilized and therefore are unconcerned when dragon bodies start dropping. That is until Violet shows up and he is ordered to assassinate her with no explanation or proof of wrong doing. Kade is an honorable guy who would never do anything he felt was wrong, and you have to love him for it.

This was a fun and emotional ride with mystery, hot sex, conspiracies, murder, revenge, and above all Love. I laughed, cried, yelled, and thoroughly enjoyed myself! If you want something that will take you away and entertain you, then you have got to read this. You will be missing out if you don’t give it a look.

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