[Review] Forsaken--J.D. Barker

I'm not typically a big fan of the 'book within a book' concept and usually try to avoid them, but this one works. The pacing is fast, the characters are well crafted and the story is good, although not totally original. What I am a fan of is Stephen King, and clearly so is J.D. Barker. This is a creepy roller coaster ride that Stephen King fans will love. Apparently this is book 1 in a planned series so I'm look forward to whatever the author has up his sleeve next. Thanks to Hampton Creek Press and Netgalley for pulling me out of my recent slump of not-so-great ARCs. This is a good one for sure.

[Review] Girl at Midnight--Melissa Grey

I was initially drawn in by the gorgeous cover of this book but wasn't so sure I would like a story about 'bird people.' Fortunately though, the world building here is top notch. It reminded me very much of "Daughter of Smoke and Bone," which I loved. Echo is somewhat of a difficult main character to connect with for the reader, at least in my opinion. However, the overall story about the Avicen race and their history and magic ultimately won me over.

[Review] The Witch of Napoli--Michael Schmicker

This was one of those books that drew me in slowly and would not let me go. The plot centers on Alessandra Povarelli, an Italian medium, and the people who believe in her, those who are out to expose her as a fraud and the young reporter Tomaso Labella who creates a sensation with a photograph he takes during one of her seances. But at its heart, this is a love story told by Tomaso about the woman he is first attracted to as a young man and ultimately comes to care for like a son would his mother. Alessandra's abilities are tested, she is broken, her skeletons are exposed, and the threat of her violent ex-husband is ever present.

Michael Schmicker is an excellent writer an this is much more than a story about seances and the supernatural. There is heart and beauty here amid the unknown. Ultimately it is the reader who decides what and who Alessandra was and that is the real gift.

Thank you Palladino and NetGalley for giving me my favorite book thus far of 2015. Magnifico!

[Review] Medium Dead--Paula Paul

Although this book is part of a series about a female doctor in the British countryside during the reign of Queen Victoria, I had no trouble jumping right in and following along. Alexandra Gladstone has inherited her small-town medical practice from her father and lives with her maid/nurse Nancy, and her loyal old dog Zack, who accompanies her on many of her housecalls. When a local woman who conducted seances is found dead in the cemetary, Alexandra and her love interest Sir Nicholas hunt for clues to the murder among the oddball residents of their community, including Sir Nicholas' own mother.

Although I figured out the identity of the killer fairly early on, there was enough suspense and weird stuff going on in the graveyard--not to mention suspicions surrounding Queen Victoria's not-so-secret presence in the town--to keep me happily reading to the end. Thanks to Random House Alibi and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

[Review] Things Half in Shadow by Alan Finn

I loved everything about this book from the post-Civil War America setting, to the characters, to the supernatural elements. Finn also includes some fun cameos by famous people of the day like PT Barnum and Matthew Brady. The chemistry between newspaperman Edward Clark and con artist Lucy Collins as they attempt to unmask the killer of a well-known Philadelphia medium adds warmth and humor that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages to see what sort of trouble they get themselves into next. 

Thanks to Simon & Schuster, Gallery, and NetGalley for providing me with another fabulous ARC. I look forward to more from Alan Finn in the future.

[Review] Suspicion--Alexandra Monir

[Originally published October 21, 2014 on Goodreads]


Monir starts off strong with a good story that pulled me in. I read it in two days, so that tells you something. Unfortunately, part two left me much less satisfied. 

At 197 pages, this book would have benefited from the author taking more time with the last half of the story and fleshing out many of the characters, including Imogen, who we first meet when she is 10 years old. I didn't connect with her as a child or an adult and found her overall to be a very flat character. The ending clearly leaves open room for a sequel though, and I would give it a chance since there were many good gothic parts of this novel that I enjoyed.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchanged for an honest review.

[Review] The Kingdom Lights--Steven VS

As an adult who likes YA, I give this book two thumbs up for world-building, good pacing and some cool steampunk elements. Fans of Harry Potter should really enjoy this. The concept of the floating cities is a nice twist and the story clearly left open potential for more adventures for Celes and friends.