Author Archives: karenjvjohnson

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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.

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First Days

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The First Days (As the World Dies, #1)The First Days by Rhiannon Frater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First things first, I’m giving this 4 1/2 stars for the narrator as well as content. The narration was fantastic and added to the feel of the action by giving a voice to the characters.

Going into this I had no idea what to expect but I have to say that it was a pleasant surprise. Instead of the usual male hero we have two women who are strong, capable, and do not require rescuing by a man. In fact they do a lot of the rescuing themselves of the male characters.

The action starts on what is expected to be a typical weekday morning. Katie is heading into work (she is a prosecuting attorney) when she is attacked and saved by a man who is himself killed. She returns home to find the worst has happened and speeds away and becomes lost. She spots Jenni (an abused housewife) running out of her home being chased by her young zombie son and takes her into the truck she is driving. They head off not knowing where they are going but determined to survive what is happening in their town and around the country.

The bond between these women is strong but it is tested when they reach a final safe haven by a man they both want. So there will also be a measure of romance/lust injected. It is not however distracting to the main plot, which is the zombie apocalypse.

If you want strong female leads who do not faint at the sight of blood and gore, this is the place to look.

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Convergence

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Between Their Worlds (Noble Dead Saga: Series 3, #1)Between Their Worlds by Barb Hendee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fairly nice beginning to the continued exploits of Magiere, Leesil, and Chap as they continue in their quest to thwart The Ancient Enemy. Because they have been separated from Wynn for more than a year this book acts as a bridge to bring them back together and combine their stories before they are separated once again.

Wynn is no longer the wide-eyed observer she was in the beginning and has grown into a woman of strength, which annoys her previous companions. She has allowed a Nobel Dead, Chane, to protect her and work alongside her. Particularly since Magiere had killed him and hates him as does Chap and Leesil they feel as if she has betrayed them.

The story centers around the Guild of Sage Craft and the fact that they have locked Wynn in her room and the grounds. Things have become complicated and scattered because you have multiple factions working for multiple goals throughout the book and sometimes it is hard to figure out what is going on from minute to minute. This is not a place to start this saga if you have not read the previous novels as the characters from many of those novels converge here.

Not a lot of action but the story does move us to the next step and allows us to become re-acquainted with friends who have been absent for so long. If you like this series then it is a must read.

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Abandon Hope

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AbandonAbandon by Blake Crouch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book but did not love it. I went in expecting something totally different, like a horror story, but found a tale of murder, madness, and greed.

Abandon is a ghost town with a secret which has remained buried for 116 years. Where did the inhabitants go that Christmas day in 1893? It is finally unearthed by a group who has gone there in order to photograph whatever ghosts remain. What they do not realize is that they are being used by the men who have brought them to this desolate location. Something was left behind by the inhabitants that which has been searched for many times over the years, and never found. For a father and daughter this trip can either heal old wounds or open them further.

While not what I expected the story is good and makes you want to read more to find out what happens to these people. While I never completely connected with the characters I felt invested in their plight.

I think many would enjoy this historical and riveting look into the past.

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Spooky Lighthouse Adventure

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Darkhouse (Experiment in Terror, #1)Darkhouse by Karina Halle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think it started a bit slowly but not badly. I have fallen in love with the characters. Perry Palomino and Dex Foray fit together better than either know yet. Perry has been so beaten down because she is not the perfect size or the perfect daughter but she has a big personality, even though she is unsure of herself. Dex is a bit of basket case, or so it seems, he has his own issues as it applies to mental health but he is enthusiastic about what he wants.You know that these two are destined to work and play together even if it may not seem so at first.

Dex and Perry meet quite by chance when she decides to go and investigate the ‘haunted’ lighthouse on her Uncles property. They have experiences while looking around and after they get out Dex decides that he would like to team with Perry on a web series which would feature haunted locations. While she is reluctant it does seem like something that could fill her otherwise boring life.

This outing was not particularly scary or suspenseful (to me) but it sets the tone and I feel that things will only get better for the characters as well as the plot lines. There is so much potential here and I think it will be mined.

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The Holidays

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Holidays Are Hell (The Hollows #5.5)Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This anthology features 4 short stories by some very talented women.

Two Ghosts For Sister Rachel gives us an eighteen year old Rachel before she joined the IS and moved out into the world. We also get to view her home life with her mother and her true start at earth magic.

Run,Run,Rudolph is a fun story with a great romance and tense pursuit scenes. Jill and Nick make a great couple and I want more of them. It was funny,sexy, and very interesting.

Six is set in China and is the name of our heroine. She finds herself up against vampires and partners with a necromancer against her will (at first). She is very strong and makes things interesting.

The Harvest is set in of all places Las Vegas and features a plot of good vs. Evil. Some Archer is an agent of the Light who has dropped out only to return when she needs help from the man she left behind. Their reunion is brief and she steps into danger to secure her legacy.

All of the stories are well written and well worth your time.

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Carwyn

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Building From Ashes (Elemental World, #1)Building From Ashes by Elizabeth Hunter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have loved this family of vampires from the first book I picked up and this one is no exception.

The basics: Carwyn, a 1000 yr old priest finds that he is no longer as satisfied in his life or vocation as he once was. We see the events of the previous books from his perspective as well as find out what was really happening to him during this time without interruption. Can a thousand-year old vampire find love after so long? Carwyn is the “father” of a large and close-knit clan in Ireland that he will do anything to protect.

What made this nice was that you still had cameos by characters you had come to love and miss. Gio and Beatrice had a voice, so it was not like you only had new characters to get to know. We even get to see a bit of what Ben was doing while Beatrice was getting her blood lust under control.

I loved this because it had all the romance, mystery, blood lust, family, vampire intrigue that I come to expect. If you have a love of vampires with the best powers and best personalities then you will want to read this. Never disappoints and leaves me wanting more!

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