Author Archives: karenjvjohnson

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Nullified Magic

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I would give this 4.5 stars actually. This is a great story and one I have not read before.

Scarlett Bernard is a null, this means that magic of any kind is nullified within a certain range of her. Vampires become human again, werewolves are unable to change, and spells have no effect and the practitioner is unable to cast. In her line of work that is a very good thing, because Scarlett cleans up crime scenes for supernatural beings.

When a murder is committed and she becomes the prime suspect Scarlett has no choice but to try and find out who is responsible. The master Vampire of the Los Angeles has told her that if she cannot do it, she dies as the guilty party.

I loved the characters and of course the setting of this tale. Murder, suspense, betrayal, you have a bit of everything with the hint of a love triangle. This is a great read for fans of urban fantasy.

Dead Spots (Scarlett Bernard, #1)Dead Spots by Melissa F. Olson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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The Thirst Within

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When I started this I was not sure what to expect. I am so happy I read this! I love vampires and though these are a little low-key at the moment I have no doubt things are going to heat up both with blood and romance.

The basics: Tori is a seventeen year old orphan who has been shipped off to New Orleans to live with an uncle she does not know and his family. She meets a man, Thierry, who says he wants to be her friend and starts a relationship with him. While at his place she meets his brother, Corben, who seems to take an instant dislike to her, or so she thinks, and asks that she leave. But things are not the way they seem to Tori and she wants to know what secrets are being hidden from her. When she finds out things get very interesting.

Meet the cast: Tori is like most teenagers, her self-esteem is not the greatest because she has had a rough time. She is smart, funny, pretty, interesting and does not realize it. We would have been the best of friends.
Thierry is a gorgeous man who initially says he is 21 years old and captivates Tori by always being around to help her. He has not been completely honest with Tori about so many things, but very honest about others. He has an agenda.
Corben is said to be Thierry’s brother and is more introverted though as handsome or more so than Thierry. He has very deep and personal reasons for the way he acts toward Tori.

There is a love triangle emerging and it is going to be so much fun to see how it is resolved. Did I forget to mention that both Corben and Thierry are vampires? Well they are and that always means excitement when a woman is involved.

I loved this first entry and cannot wait for the next. I always have hated “to be continued” because it means I can’t just stay immersed in the world I have entered. I would say if you like romance and vampires, this is a book for you. I couldn’t put it down once I started.

The Thirst WithinThe Thirst Within by Johi Jenkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Killer Plants

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The Day of the TriffidsThe Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Triffids are actually a side concern in this book. While they are a threat to those involved, they are also just a nuisance. The story is about people and how they react and or cope with a disaster that could not be anticipated.

The Triffids have spread around the world and nobody knows where they came from. The best thing about them is they secret and oil that is profitable, the worst is that they are able to use their roots to actually walk and use a stinger to release a poison when they strike someone.

We then have the earth pass through a comet tail which creates a meteor shower that is viewed by people around the world. The next day those who saw it are blind.

The story follows those who are sighted and what they endure trying to survive in a world that is fast falling into chaos. Roaming gangs of the sighted, blind people being used as slaves, and the triffids taking advantage of the situation.

There are no major scares or high emotion, just good story telling.

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Swan Song

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Swan SongSwan Song by Robert R. McCammon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book takes you on an epic journey as we follow Swan, a child who has an extraordinary power within her and her guardian Josh (black Frankenstein)as they travel the country after a nuclear war. Along the way they run into people both dangerous and helpful who make their lives more enriched. In each state their are survivors and they are moving toward something they can’t understand. In New York we meet a homeless woman who is called Sister Creep she survives the blast and finds a wondrous piece of glass in the burned out hulk of a jewelry store on 5th Ave which gives her hope for the future. Under a mountain in Idaho a young boy survives and becomes twisted by his association with a military leader after the lights go out and things fall apart, starting a quest to destroy and conquer.

This is a story of good and evil in the aftermath of a world changing event. The big difference is that you can spot both after a transformation that none expected.

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