Author Archives: karenjvjohnson

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Gabriel’s Hope

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Gabriel's Hope by Lizzy Ford    Gabriel’s Hope (Rhyn Eternal, #1)
by Lizzy Ford

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Though it did not make me immediately interested it did catch me after the first 3 chapters. The plot is interesting when you realize that what you are dealing with are immortals, and not just any immortals but those who have been a part of our mythology for generations. Death, Fate, Demons, and the Devil are all here and vying for our attention.

Gabriel has just been appointed as Death and he has no idea how to handle his elevated status. He has been a hired hand for countless years and now he is expected to take the reins and make sure that all souls are collected as they should be. When he is sent out by Fate to collect a soul he runs into someone who may change his life in unexpected ways, Deidre, she has been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor and has only months to live. While Gabriel tries to fix the problems in the underworld he finds that his heart is being effected by a human who he does not want to lose.

This story was entertaining but could have been so much more. While I liked Deidre, she was so conflicted at times that all I wanted to do was hit her. She started as a strong woman and then became this frail little then went back to being strong. I get that she needed a range of emotions but sometimes less is more.

There is a cliff hanger ending and if nothing else that makes me want to read the next entry because now I want to know what happens next.

 

 

 

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Growl

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Growl

Growl (Lacey Hannigan Trilogy #1)

 

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
I liked it but it was not that grab you and entrance you type read. Don’t get me wrong though, there is plenty to like here and make you want to continue. The story has a slow build but then goes straight to action, which is refreshing since most of the time you have to wait several chapters before anything of note happens. I did want to find out more as I read and was not tempted to just skim, which is a good thing because sometimes things can get bogged down in the details. So it flowed well enough for me to keep track of what was important to the story.

Lacey Hannigan has a power, she can move things with her, not great for a seventeen year old who just wants to be normal. Her father left when was 4 unable to deal with a child so different, her mother was afraid of her, and her step-father wanted to her. So, Lacey runs away to the big city and lands in a situation she could not have anticipated. Her first night in town she becomes the target of a hunting pack and only her ability saves her, but it also peaks the interest of the Alpha and he wants her at any costs.

This is almost a coming of age story just with telekinesis and wolves. Lacey is a lost little girl who has been hurt by the people who should have loved and protected her. And while she thinks that she is able to take care of herself, she still needs the comfort of a family and friends. I liked Lacey most of the time but she was so much like most female characters, wishy-washy when it came to her love interest. The whole which one will it be thing.

The characters are believable but could have been fleshed out more, particularly those that are central to the story. The dialogue is appropriate but a little stiff in places, mostly when Lacey and Jesse are interacting. But as I have said, an enjoyable story which does make you want to continue the series in the end. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a wolf shifter with a little twist. This has violence, a little romance,and family dysfunction.

 

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Claimed

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Claimed (Brides of the Kindred, #1)

Claimed (Brides of the Kindred #1)

 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh!My!Goodness! I loved this! I have not really read much sci-fi romance/erotica but if this is what I can expect then I will definitely be reading more. It got my attention from the first chapter and would not let me go. Everything flows so well that I was able to follow half asleep (I really wanted to keep going)and I was enjoying Baird and Olivia sparring.

Baird is a Kindred, an alien who came to Earth along with his race to help when the planet was attacked. They are genetic traders and only asked for the right to choose brides from the female population for their help. They were defending the planet from a menace called the Scourge who rape and destroy every planet they come upon. Baird finds his bride, Olivia, through dream sharing while he is a captive of the Allfather aboard a Scourge ship and once he escapes wants to claim her immediately. Olivia has just finished nursing school and looking forward to life with her twin sister and friends, the thought of being claimed is not something she is happy with. She has to spend thirty days on the kindred ship while her intended is allowed to attempt to seduce her into staying, she is determined that it will not happen.

There are three kinds of Kindred; Ragers (Beast), Tranque (Vampire), and Twins (two inseparable brothers). There are no women and these warriors need them to continue their race. Baird is a beast kindred and much bigger than normal Earth men, in a yummy sort of way. Just one more little thing, each week is broken up into specific actions: during week 1 is holding, week 2 is bathing (together), week 3 is tasting, and week 4 is full on press. And they have to sleep in the same bed every night.

I’m not sure if I liked this because of the characters, who I loved, the bad guys, who I hated (in a good way) or just the story itself. It all came together in a way that made for a compelling story with danger, love, sex, and family.

Evangeline Anderson has given me a series that I am ready to follow to the end. It has all the things I love. Romance, sex, aliens, interstellar war, and family ties.

“Just tell him to keep his hands to himself and his python in his pants.”
― Evangeline Anderson, Claimed

 

 

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The Nightlife New York

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The Nightlife: New York (The Nightlife, #1)

The Nightlife: New York (The Nightlife #1)

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
When I started reading this I was not sure what to expect. All I knew for sure was that it was going to involve Vampires and I love Vampires. Well, after reading it through I can say without a doubt that I really, really liked this. It didn’t snatch me into the story but drew me in slowly as I started to get an idea about the characters and what they were like. I like this this new style vampire who are part of the world and not at the same time. This was a getting to know you kind of thing for me and the story was just what I would have wanted to get me in the right place.

Aaron Pilan is a nineteen year old who seems to be drifting through life, working as a waiter and hanging out with his friends. Then one night he happens upon a beautiful woman being hassled by the police and tries to step in to help, not a good idea. The lady can take care of herself and he gets a hole in his chest for his trouble. Michelle is beautiful, french, and a vampire, she is also alone. When she sees the boy shot she takes him with her and tries to help, but the only thing she can do is make him like her. What ensues is a story of two people, one already in love and another who does not believe it is possible for her to love.

I liked Michelle even though she seemed a bit psychotic at first, the reasons were justified for all the actions she took. Aaron has his own issues but is like any boy of his age you might meet, an attractive woman can make things seem just fine.I think I would have liked to see him more anguished or even angry about becoming a vampire but that was just a small thing. Overall I enjoyed the story so much that one thing could not detract from the rest. It didn’t hurt that they had some great chemistry as well. 🙂

I will definitely be reading the next installment because I think there is a lot more to both of them and I want to see it unfold. This offers hot romance, corrupt police, and a flawed vampire. This is well worth the read and once you start I think you will not put it down until the final page has been turned.

 

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Rise of the Fallen

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Rise of the Fallen by Donya Lynne   Rise of the Fallen (AKM, #1)
by Donya Lynne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to say that as soon as I started reading I was pulled directly into the world of Micah Black. Though I did not know who he was at first I knew that this was going to be someone I could like based on how dark and tortured he appeared because you know that he feels deep. The plot of this book is very straight forward and keeps moving at a good pace which allows you to follow the action without getting bogged down. There are no slow spots of weird changes to deal with, no shifts in time or tense to keep track of, you know what is going on every step of the way.

When you consider that most of the main characters are vampires, you can still relate to them and what they are dealing with as people. I could imagine knowing someone like Trace, a nice guy who is quiet and keeps to himself but is looking to make a friend of the guy everyone else avoids. I know sometimes the dialogue in these books can seem kind of stilted or forced, but that is not the case here. The dialogue seems to be very true to who each of the characters are, keeping in mind that some of them are quite old. 😉

Our main character is Micah Black who works at AKM (All the Kings Men) as an enforcer, he keeps the peace between the drecks (lower vampires) and upper level vampires. Micah has fallen into a dark place because of the lose of his mate and is looking for a way to continue living as he is or to die. Samantha Garrett is working as a stripper after leaving her abusive husband and simply wants to make enough money to get a new identity so she can feel free. They have nothing in common but when they cross paths it is salvation them both.

My favorite quote from Micah, “If they made a move on Sam, he’d fuck up their world so righteously the galaxy would shift from the gravitational pull of his wrath.”

Micah is not a man you want to get in the way of, he is fierce, passionate, and loyal. Who wouldn’t want a man to feel like that about them. You see these traits in all the characters, they are a group I cannot wait to find out more about! In this first of the series we get to meet Micah but in subsequent novels we will get more on the other enforcers at AKM. Each should be just as exciting and hot as this one. I will be reading them as fast as I can get them.

There is some talk of BDSM but it is fairly mild though some of the scenes are good and hot even without it. Also if M/M action makes you squeamish you may want to skip.

 

 

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Kade’s Dark Embrace

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Kade's Dark Embrace by Kym Grosso   Kade’s Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, #1)
by Kym Grosso

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

This book was just WOW! I am totally and completely in love with Kade Isaccson. The start of this book is so laid back at first you have no idea where it might take you, then Kade spots a woman he is drawn to and you know that their paths are going to cross before long. I knew I was going to enjoy this at that point. If I am intrigued within the first few pages I have to be ready for an all night read.

Kade has been called to Philly from his home in New Orleans by his friend Tristan (an Alpha) who says that a rogue vampire is rumored to be in the city. When a body is found on washed up on the dock apparently drained of blood and with the looks of a ritualistic killing Kade is sure he is right. Detective Sydney Willows is assigned to the case and does not like working with supernaturals but she does not have any choice if the case turns out to be a vampire kill. An attraction between these two could cause more problems for their investigation than either is ready to deal with.

This is a sexy, romantic story with a killer who uses magic, voodoo, and vampire powers to wreak havoc on a city as well as those looking them. This story flows seamlessly from start to finish and pulls you in as it builds to the final showdown with an evil that has no limits.

Sydney and Kade are hot together and would make me blush if I weren’t enjoying it so much. This is a great read for anyone.

 

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Rocky

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Rocky by Bianca D'Arc   Rocky (Tales of The Were, #4)
by Bianca D’Arc

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

A solid 4.5 stars for being a good fast read that made me like the characters within the first 20 pages and giving me a grizzly bear shifter. I have found another author and series of books that I really want to read. The writing is tight and concise, the characters are well fleshed out, and they seem real in how they react with each other.

Rocky Garibaldi, Maggie , and Antonio Fernandez grew up together and in the end only one could get the girl. Tony and Maggie were married and Rocky moved away because though he was happy for them he could never have the girl he loved. Years later Maggie shows up Rocky’s doorstep in labor with twin male cubs and the news that Tony has been killed by a mage and she has been running from him for the past eight months. Rocky is shocked at the news since his best friend and clan brother was also a powerful Shaman and whoever killed him would have to be as powerful or more. He is happy still to have Maggie come to him and vows to keep her and her children safe. Will she let him be more than a protector however?

There was not a lot of action here but you do have a few hot scenes, cute baby grizzlies, sweet love story, and a great vanquish. This may not be for everyone, but I’m a sucker for a long lost love story. Plus it has a guy shifting into a big bear!

 

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Black Sea Gods

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Black Sea Gods by Brian Braden   Black Sea Gods (Chronicle of Fu Xi)
by Brian Braden

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was not what I expected when I started reading. I was expecting a tale of gods and goddesses only. But this was definitely more than that.

This story builds on the mythology of the Black Sea. It starts out slowly but once you get past the first few chapters it gets very

interesting. I found myself liking the characters and wanting them all to survive, but that does not always happen.

The best way to give a look at this is through the blurb:

“The fish have disappeared from the sea. The animals have vanished from the land. All humanity, and even the gods, tremble under the specter of a pending cataclysm. The demigod Fu Xi races home from the edge of the world bringing news of a looming god war, but finds his land under attack by monsters he once called his children. He discovers a terrible curse has been cast, one intended to destroy the gods and all life. To his shock, Fu Xi learns mankind’s hope rest solely on him, a simple fisherman and a banished slave girl.

Beset on all sides, Fu Xi knows he must act quickly and races west to rescue the saviors. Unaware of the real doom that awaits, Aizarg the fisherman and his party begin a perilous journey across a dangerous steppe. They seek the last of the Narim, the legendary Black Sea Gods, who hold the key to their salvation. Leading them is the rescued slave girl Sarah, the only one among them who knows the path to the land of the god-men.

Over seven days the defining struggle of gods and humans begins under the onslaught of a powerful force whose true objective and origin remain a mystery. Fu Xi knows the secret to victory resides in a fisherman and a slave girl, whose lives he must protect, even if it means the rest of the world must perish.”

If you want something that will make you think and not just entertain I think this would be a good read. It took myths I had known all my life and gave them a spin I would never had considered. I really enjoyed it!

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Books to Movies

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I was at work the other day and we got to talking about books we had read and loved,  I mentioned Stephen King’s “IT” and said that the mini-series they did based on it was a big disappointment. The only thing I had liked about it was Tim Curry as Penny wise the clown because they had cut it up so much they lost a lot of what made it so good, and I was kind of shocked to be told that it was one of the best and scariest movies they had ever seen. I wasn’t surprised to find out that they had never read the book before seeing it and had not taken the time to read it after seeing it.

I have always loved movies whether television or the big screen. I have always been fascinated by the creative process and how they created the various worlds that I was able to immerse myself into. Now, I know that writing a script and writing a book are very similar but there seem to be subtle differences in how you go about making things tangible for your audience.  My problem, and maybe a few people would agree with me, is when the two are merged.  Books are an easy source for movie makers and many writers dream of having their work optioned by a studio. It means that they have created something that can really get to the widest audience which can only increase interest in their work, or at least that’s the hope. What film makers do after they get the book option is what bothers me. I cannot claim to be an expert or anything, but I really hate seeing books that I love turned into mediocre pap.

I understand the the concept of ‘artistic license’ but why bother saying a movie is based on a book if you only take the basic idea and title. When an author gives permission to do their book it sometimes is better if they are also given the option to write the screenplay for that work. I understand it is not always possible but they at least understand the story and can give their fans a real look at the book. Screenwriters have usually not read the book, though some are fans of their material like Peter Jackson who did a fantastic job with the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Over the years I have seen what I thought were good adaptations such as ; The Exorcist,  Carrie, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and The Stand (mini series). I have also seen some less than great ones like ; IT (mini series), The Shining (Stanley Kubrick), Interview with the Vampire, and Queen of the Damned. The problems with the movies I did not like run the gambit from bad casting decisions to making changes to characters and the setting.  I used to be excited when I heard a book I was reading or had read was being made into a movie, now I can only think about what they are going to do to ruin it. Maybe I just take it all a little to personal but the fact that they can have the perfect template for a story and still mess it up amazes me.

Cover of "The Shining [Blu-ray]"

Cover of The Shining [Blu-ray]

Just a little rant because I read World War Z and though I have not seen the movie yet I can tell just from the trailers that they have changed a great deal to add a story of family. And now that they have cast Fifty Shades of Grey, and I of course do not agree with their choices, I have another adaptation to look forward to or dread.

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Fierce Reads

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The Fierce Reads Anthology by Anna Banks   The Fierce Reads Anthology
by Anna Banks , Leigh Bardugo, Jennifer Bosworth , Emmy Laybourne , Marissa Meyer

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

I was very pleasantly surprised when I started reading this. Not only do we have short stories but the added bonus of an excerpt of the book the short is based on. The stories vary in length as well as genre but all are from fairly new authors with a twist. While I enjoyed all the stories, I have to say that two were my favorites, though I will now be purchasing all the books the shorts were based on. Oh my straining budget!

I would love to lay out each story for you but that would be silly since you could simply purchase and read them for yourself. So instead I will give a brief synopsis of my two favorites.

Legacy Lost by Anna Banks is a story about mermaid people who reside under a thick ice cover. They have two kingdoms which in order to stay united pledge a child to marriage. In this case Grom, a prince of the Triton’s has been told he must marry Nalia, a princess of the Poseidon‘s. Since he knew he as a child and did not like her he is less than thrilled and she is not any happier since she does not like him either. This is a love story that holds the fate of an entire race in its hands.

In “Dress Your Marines in White” by Emmy Laybourne you have the equivalent of a mad scientist who is so intent on human testing of her killer substance that she sees nothing else. Her assistant is a family man who is so horrified by the results of their human testing (he is going to a hypnotist to forget) is asked to write a report. his report will be used to decide if they move forward or stop the research all together. This is like the beginning of any apocalyptic story, you have a vial of something deadly and the question is, will it get out.

 

Emmy Laybourne at Kevin Geeks Out About Genre ...

Emmy Laybourne at Kevin Geeks Out About Genre Busters (Photo credit: 92YTribeca)

In the past I have shied away from young adult fare but find that some of it is worth reading even for someone like me who is well past that particular phase.

 

 

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