Author Archives: karenjvjohnson

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On Demon Wings

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On Demon Wings (Experiment in Terror, #5)On Demon Wings by Karina Halle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The intensity keeps going up right along with the terror. Each entry takes you a little deeper into the mystery, a little deeper into the horror, and a little deeper into a tangled romance.

Who will we get to see here: Ada Palomino is Perry’s younger sister and would do anything to help her mend her broken heart. She knows that Perry is not crazy and actually does see ghosts. She may be a fashionista but she is a smart girl with a quick mind.

Mom & Dad Palomino, they love their daughters but have decided that Perry is crazy and that they know what is best for her. The problem is that everything they do shows they may want to help but it pushes Perry further away because their love seems to be conditioned on her being a more perfect child.

Maximus was last seen in “Red Fox“, he was Dex’s best friend in college but there is no love lost between them. He shows up on Perry’s doorstep as if he cares about her, but his motives are much more shady. He may be a handsome man but the things he is willing to do for revenge make him less than desirable.

This installment revolves around Perry and what happens to her in the aftermath of her broken relationship with Dex. As someone who can see spirits Perry needs to protect herself, but in her weakened mental and physical state she leaves herself open to the spirits who would take advantage of her. Perry is faced with fighting for life and sanity and the only person who truly has her back is Ada, a fifteen year old who understands more than she is given credit for.

Though I have loved all the previous books, this one really gave me something to think about. We get some big reveals which make some of the earlier encounters make more sense. And we do get some Dex. 😉

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Into The Hollow

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Into the Hollow (Experiment in Terror, #6)Into the Hollow by Karina Halle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this author, I love these books, and I just want more!!

My favorite non-couple are back together again, sort of. Dex has rescued Perry once again and now is taking her away from the crazies she lives with. Perry has no idea whether she want to be there or not but is determined to try.

When she finds out that she is wanted back on the Experiments with Terror show and with Dex, she accepts what seems to be a simple assignment. Go to British Columbia and film evidence of a Sasquatch in the area. Simple right, they don’t really exist so it should be a easy thing to do with no real danger. But this is Dex and Perry and no matter how simple the assignment it always turns out to have some element of danger. If there is a monster you can be sure that they will run into it.

Once again the action is ramped up as Dex makes an attempt to win Perry back and to protect her from any dangers, human or otherwise. The human story is just as exciting as that which surrounds the supernatural/preternatural events that they are involved in.

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Judas Unchained

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Judas Unchained (Commonwealth Saga, #2)Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I would actually give this 5 1/2 stars. When you think of epic adventure, this is one of two books which come to mind. The worlds that Hamilton has created are varied and so alive you could imagine that they exist somewhere out there. His characters have a life and depth so strong you will either cheer for them or wish for their swift demise. I have enjoyed a flight through the universe, alien encounters which fascinate the mind, and technology that I can only hope to exist one day.

The fight for the right of the human race to continue is something which a lot of people think about. If aliens were out there wold they be friendly or bent on or destruction? Are we really going to take our petty, money hungry, power trips into the future with us? It’s all here and immortality or something very close to it is thrown in.

This is not a fast read but it is a thrilling one.

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Dead Sky Morning

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Dead Sky Morning (Experiment in Terror, #3)Dead Sky Morning by Karina Halle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What can I say that has not been said before. Dex and Perry have a chemistry that leaps off the pages and makes you root for them whatever situation they find themselves in.

This time they are heading to D’Arcy Island, a former leper colony where the occupants were sent to fend for themselves. The history of the Island is sparse since no one was left to tell the true story of what happened there. And in true Dex and Perry style they stir up the locals (ghosts) and find themselves trapped and turning on each other. What they think they are feeling has nothing to do with them and everything to do with the residents of the Island who are making themselves known to the only people who can truly feel their presence.

I have truly fallen in love with this series and am playing catch up as fast as I can. It is scary, romantic, frenzied, and just downright mesmerizing.

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The Missing

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The Missing (The FBI Psychics, #1)The Missing by Shiloh Walker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Taige Branch is a psychic who free lances for the FBI, her specialty is finding lost or kidnapped children. When Taige was young she lost her parents and was sent to live with an Uncle who hated her and called her a demon every day she was in his presence. The summer she was 16 she finally met someone who she could connect with, Cullen Morgan, a rich boy who came for a vacation. They were inseparable that summer and every summer for the next 4 years, then Cullen experienced a tragedy that he blamed Taige for not stopping. He kicked her out of his life and she was changed by his actions. For twelve years they were apart and then tragedy strikes Cullen again and he seeks out Taige’s help, but also wants her back in his life.

The story is about finding what has been lost and what can be gained from love. There is a feeling of heartache here but behind all that is a mystery which holds murder, insanity, trauma, and kidnapping.

The other players here are Jillian Morgan, Cullen’s 9-year-old daughter and also very special. There is Taylor Jones, head of the special branch of the FBI which employs psychics of all types and varied talents. Taige’s Uncle, Leon Carson, is a preacher and very evil man who is charming on the outside but has no love for the niece who lost her whole family in one night.

If good characters, great story, and happy endings interest you then this should be given a chance.

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Red Fox

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Red Fox (Experiment in Terror, #2)Red Fox by Karina Halle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fairly obvious I loved this! Dex is a crazy I can handle and keeps me guessing at every turn. Perry is equally as crazy as he is and has a spirit she doesn’t even recognize. This pair can keep your interest no matter what is happening because you can’t help but like them and hope for the best.

This time they have walked into something neither has any idea of how to handle. They are hooked up with a college friend of Dex who has a long-standing grudge against him. He invites them to New Mexico to investigate what first appears to be simple poltergeist activity but turns out to be something much more sinister. They find themselves involved in a mystery which the Native Americans believe in but seems a bit far-fetched even for our ghost hunters. The danger is real however and they must fight for their lives in a place where they could easily be lost with no one to save them.

This is a great entry and I can’t wait to read the next.

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Minion

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Minion (Vampire Huntress Legend, #1)Minion by L.A. Banks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was in the bookstore and told the clerk I was looking for a good vampire novel, he suggested this one. I am very glad he did because I immediately got caught up into the story. This is about a Vampire Huntress (think Buffy with more attitude)who is also a spoken word entertainer. The themes are spiritual but with a real world feel. This is the first in a 12 book series which takes you around the world and rewrites the fight between good and evil in a way that makes it very entertaining. You will find a lot of characters from the bible and myth within the covers but it is not preachy.

Damali Richards is a girl who only wanted to make music but because of who she is her destiny is to fight Vampires and Demons. Her backup musicians are more than they that, they are a part of her Guardian team, all special people who are sworn to fight the darkness and bring in the light. Bodies are being found which do not have the neat holes most vampires leave behind but are being savagely mauled. Though she wishes she could turn away from it Damali finds herself pulled deeper into the darkness than she could ever imagine going.

I found it to be a great lead in novel and think it would be great for anyone who has a thing for vampires and those who slay them.

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Drowning Ophelia

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Drowning Ophelia (Drowning Ophelia, #1)Drowning Ophelia by Eva Natsumi
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

OK, I’m giving this 2.5 stars. Ophelia annoyed me but that was about all she did for me. I found this story to be a bit disjointed with no real character development or point of reference. Love the title but it should be “Drown Ophelia” because the chick is truly lost.

Ophelia claims to be a virgin then proceeds to have sex like a pro, literally. This is alright for a quick throw away read if you have nothing else handy but otherwise, not so great. I think I was expecting more because of the cover and the blurb sounded intriguing.

Give a read if you just want a few good sex scenes but don’t expect to get sucked in because the background is just not there.

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Mystic Wolves

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The Mystic Wolves (Mystic Wolves, #1)The Mystic Wolves by Belinda Boring

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This caught me off guard. I was not sure what to expect and found myself totally involved in the story. I liked Darcy from the moment I met her, she is a strong woman who has a strong sense of who she is and what she wants. Mason is the epitome of what an Alpha should be, strong, centered, capable, and devoted to the protection of his people. Devlin is the Vampire enforcer who is friends with them both as well as others in their pack.

They are being targeted by an outside force which wants to take over and destroy the alliance they have with the Vampire King. By attempting to break Mason through his loved ones, especially his future mate Darcy, this interloper has bit off more than he can chew. There are all manner of supernatural creatures involved in this world and they all have a stake in how things turn out in the end.

There are some transformations, murder, grief, and mild romantic scenes.

A very nice introduction to these characters which has made me anxious to read the next installment and find out what happens to everyone.

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Variant Effect

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The Variant Effect: GreenMourningThe Variant Effect: GreenMourning by G. Wells Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Variant Effect was first seen ‘back in the day.’ It was caused by a drug, Varion, which was put into circulation by Bezo Pharmaceutical. It was thought to be a wonder drug which helped with all types of mental disorders. The problem was that after years of use it built up in the fat tissue of users, this caused them to ‘present’ as feral, skin eating savages. They thought it had been eradicated, they were wrong.

Meet the Players:
Captain Joe Borland is an original member of the variant squads from the first outbreaks. With the resurgence of variant in the community he has been brought out of retirement as a consultant to the new 9 squad. He has lost a lot of friends as well as his own skin to Biters and he does not intend to lose anymore if he can stop it.
Captain Eric Hyde is another member of the original 9 squad and has never really stopped working. Hyde hates Borland because he feels that he is responsible for his condition, the loss of 85% of the skin on his body. His mind was not effected and he is brilliant even with his body ravaged by constant pain. He is now tracking a serial killer while variant runs through the streets and he has to stop him before the full effect takes hold.
Brass is a Bezo executive who is pulling the strings of everyone, particularly those of Borland. He is behind a massive coverup in regards to Varion and what was known about its potential for harm in the population. He is a shady character who has few redeeming qualities.

There is a lot more going here than usual, not only do they have to deal with the Biters but it appears that they are becoming more intelligent than previous encounters. They also have a serial killer taking choice parts off of young men in an attempt to build the perfect body or so they think.

It is a good story that gives you a lot to think about.