No Rest for The Wicca

Article first published as Book Review: No Rest for the Wicca by Toni LoTempio on Blogcritics.

Having been responsible for her partner’s death during a homicide investigation, Morgan Hawkes has sworn off that particular department. Holding herself to blame for the death of her partner and best friend drives a wedge in her psyche. Now working the paranormal investigations department, she has decided it is her lot in life. Born part Wiccan she has the ability to communicate with spirits. She finds she is often working on Daemons and while the work is challenging she finds she is no longer fascinated with her job. When she receives an offer from her boss to work undercover on a murder investigation, she is ready. The job comes with danger, just what she likes, but when she finds out that each of those killed was Wiccan, she realizes that she is perfect for the job. She herself has a personal stake in the outcome. Besides, the job is not in homicide, so that is a plus.
As Morgan reports to the Special Forces unit, she is introduced to a new partner, which unnerves her. She was quite unaware she would be saddled with another partner after her prior one had died. She decides to decline the job, but not before she meets the man assigned to her, Cole St. John. Not just a man however, but a vampire — and not just any vampire either. He is one of the Inheritor breed, those most human, able to live as any other human but with a few slight variations. He is intense and extremely attractive, but Morgan convinces herself she is immune.

When her roommate and cousin is almost murdered by the same serial killer that has already killed three others, she decides to take the job after all. It is not only that Xia is her only family; she is now hearing the spirits of those dead young Wiccans asking for her help. Can she work with Cole and will they be able to find the pieces of the puzzle before it is too late?

In No Rest for the Wicca, Toni LoTempio has put together a wickedly funny and yet deadly tale of Voodoo and domination. She has created a story and filled it with characters full of charm and stubborn strength. The suspense and mystery surrounding the deaths is well written and told with an eye to confusing both the characters as well as the audience. The protagonists are both quite charismatic and yet have flaws that make them human.

Morgan is a heroine and yet she feels the responsibility of her partner’s death to her very bones. Unable to come to terms with her part in the death, she allows herself to wallow a bit in her pity, and yet she is still a kick ass character. She is sarcastic and has a sharp and biting wit. In a world where such things are a rarity, she is still a virgin. Never finding the one or even believing a true love even exists she is nevertheless quite attracted to Cole. She does a great job of deflecting that however with her temper and wit. It is entertaining and at times irritating.

Cole is a strong and handsome foil to Morgan’s strength. He is quite attentive and finds himself quite attracted to her in spite of herself. He is smart and perceptive in the ways of the Special Forces team, and he too has a temper. Morgan however brings out the best in him. He finds her to be the perfect person to round out his life. He will not let her push him away. He too has his human side and it brings out a characteristic in him that he was not aware he possessed. Tenderness. They are perfect together.

And together is what they need to be to find the answers to the murders. Each young woman is found butchered and is missing a part of their anatomy. Can Cole and Morgan find the answers before the next murder? Is Voodoo at the bottom of it all?

This is a fun and fast-paced book. I would recommend it for the reader that enjoys the paranormal element. The prose is precise and the dialogue is delightful. It is funny and yet intense, with an exciting love interest as well. It has all the pieces that make a mystery and suspense as well, something for everyone. This would be a great addition to your library.

Rating 4/5
No Rest for the Wicca

This book was received as a free copy from the Author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Favorite by Karen McQuestion

Article first published as Book Review: Favorite by Karen McQuestion on Blogcritics.

Angie Favorite is kidnapped as she stops by the dry cleaner to pick up the laundry. The man is someone she knew from around town by the name of Scott Bittner. He kept dragging her even as she pleaded to be let go. “No, you need to see something” was the only reply each time. As she swung her arm at him and screamed, he seemed startled and let her go. As she took off running, he finally reached up to her in a wooded area on the outskirts of the area where she had left her car. Tripping over a tree root and smashing her head, the last thing she recalled was the giant coming to where she lay and lifting a cradling her head. Then she knew no more until she woke up in the hospital.

Her grandmother whom she lived with was concerned and they had not been able to reach her father. Her mother had disappeared five years previous. She had headed to work and never been heard from again. Because her father was a struggling musician, she stayed with her grandmother while he was on the road. Scott Bittner, the man who had kidnapped and hurt her was captured. He committed suicide before he could give an explanation.

Now the man’s mother Mrs. Bittner wanted to meet and beg forgiveness for her son’s actions. When Angie agrees to meet her trying to find answers, she is almost overcome with fear as she reaches the massive estate. Mrs. Bittner wants Angie and her brother to stop by for dinner to talk about how she can help take care of them monetarily.

With her Grandmother off on a cruise, her father is there to stay with them. When he is called away unexpectedly for an interview, they decide stop by and follow up on the offer. Life has just changed and yet Angie is not yet aware of just how wrong things can be. Soon –very soon– she will find the answers. Will she be able to save those she cares about?

Angie and her brother have gone though some rough patches. They are still young and yet have had to grow up rather quickly. Losing their mother and with no answer forthcoming to the mystery, they have lived with the uneasy wonder of it all. Their father is absent frequently and their Grandmother is their primary care giver. She has never cared for their father so it is an uneasy alliance. They feel twisted between the two, but handle it well. Angie has never given up on the idea that somehow–someway–her mother will be found. She will never lose hope.

Mrs. Bittner is a lonely woman whose daughter died quite young. Her son, while not quite normal is by all accounts a rather nice man. She cannot understand what went wrong and why he tried to hurt Angie. However, she has secrets she does not want anyone to know. She lost her own family and now wants to give Angie and her brother a start in life, and yet she seems a bit needy, maybe even just a little creepy.

In Favorite, Karen McQuestion has put together a story of sadness and despair. We find the lengths that people will go to in an effort to hold on to what they may have lost. The story is strangely compelling and twists into some strange and chilling venues. Angie is a complicated character, and her father is physically detached although whenever there, very emotionally available. It is a strange combination and gives the ending a bit of a surreal quality.
This is a very interesting young adult novel. I would recommend it for the parents that are trying to get their child more interested in reading, but need something that is just a little more distorted with a slightly dark side. Something, that while it does have a bit of a dark side is instilled with suspense and mystery. It is an unexpected story set with great characters. An enjoyable read.

Rating 4/5
Favorite

This book was recieved from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Author Interview and givaway with Karen McQuestion

I have read several of Karens novels and find them to be thoughtful and well written. She has a strong following and I wanted to let her tell you a little about herself. Along with this interview, please leave a comment and you will be entered into a drawing for her two newest books, Life on Hold and Favorite.
I have reviewed the first which you can find on the link, and will have the second review by the end of the week.
Hi Karen and Thank you for your time in answering these questions.

Please supply your writing name as it appears on your book or e-book
and the name of your most recent published story.


Karen McQuestion--the author of two young adult novels, Favorite and Life On Hold. Both books have a release date of April 1, 2011.

Please introduce yourself to our readers. (Name, where are
you from, married, kids, go to school....things that your readers may find interesting.

I’m a writer who lives in Hartland, Wisconsin. I’m married to Greg, a great guy (also my tech support). We have three kids--all of whom make me laugh on a regular basis.

Tell us about your book.

I’ve written books for adults and I’m excited to have the opportunity to write for young adults as well.

Favorite is a hard book to categorize. It’s part mystery, part thriller, part coming-of-age. The main character, sixteen-year-old Angie Favorite, has never gotten over the loss of her mom, who’d vanished without a trace five years earlier. When Angie is attacked by a stranger, she discovers it wasn’t a random event—her attacker’s family is somehow connected to her mother’s disappearance.

Life On Hold is the story of Rae Maddox, a teenager who wants to set down roots, even as her free-spirited mother thrives on cross-country moves. The two finally settle in Wisconsin where Rae finds friends and love. All seems fine until she meets a new girl at school who has secrets of her own. I loved writing the book and I hope readers enjoy it.

What inspired you to be a writer or have you always had a passion for writing?

Like most writers, I was a big reader as a kid. I remember reading books and thinking that someday I wanted to be the one to create fictitious worlds for other people. At first I was long on ideas, but short on writing skills. I improved over time, with help from teachers and writer friends.

If you could give advice to aspiring authors, what would you say?

Write the book you’d love to read. Perseverance counts for a lot, so stay at it, even when you feel like giving up. Books are written one page at a time, and first drafts are never perfect. Keep the faith.

When you completed your work what was your most difficult roadblock to being published?

Over the course of nearly ten years, I wrote numerous books and submitted widely, but was rejected everywhere. When I finally found an agent, my books got compliments from editors, but no offers of publication. It wasn’t until I self-published on Kindle that I succeeded in getting my novels in front of readers. Based on my books’ incredible sales and great reviews, I landed a book contract with Amazon’s new publishing company, AmazonEncore. So I got my happy ending after all. 

Where can people go to get more information about you and your book?


You can find me online at: http://www.karenmcquestion.com/ and http://www.mcquestionablemusings.blogspot.com/

The drawing for these books will be April 6th. I will need an email addy so that I can forward it to Karen and she will forward the books to you. These two books would be an awsome addition to your library. Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.

Broken Wings by Sandra Edwards

This Review Posted First on The Romance Reviews

In a twist of fate and a love for the ages, Sandra Edwards has built a romance that warms the heart. She has taken actual events from history and the lore of the gold rush days, and spun a story of love and heartache, a love so pure it seems like a dream. The characters are sensual and just a glimpse of our hero in a painting is enough to send the heart into overdrive, with a heat that leaves you shaken.

Rio Laraquette is a feisty but beautiful woman; on her own, she runs numerous cons. When she meets up with Turner Adkins, he has a job for her. He is a gangster of the worst sort and he has a game in mind to find himself some money. And not just any money either. He is looking for the buried treasure stolen by the Fuller sisters during a bank robbery back in the 1800's . What makes this con perfect is that Rio is the spitting image of Maggie Fuller.

Molly Fuller was killed during the robbery, Mary Fuller got away and home to California, but Maggie headed for the hills and there found a home with the Washoe Indian tribe. It was here that she met and fell in love with Tajan, the love of her life. But love and life was not to be for such star crossed lovers. When the posse caught up with her, Tajan tried to help her get away. She refused to head towards California and lead the posse to her only living sister, so they went the other direction and here found themselves at a dead end. With the posse in sight and knowing they would die, they chose to be together in death, leaping from the cliff and sealing themselves in their love for eternity.

As Rio poses as a relative of the Tajan's, her image is so much like Maggie's that any doubt melts away. There is a map, or at least half a map in the possession of the Tajan family, and Rio has the other half, given to her by Turner Adkins. She is to get them to lead her to the treasure, whereby he will then take control.

Sandra Edwards has built a strong yet fragile character in Rio. She finds herself in love with the Tajan of the story. She is drawn to him, or at least his likeness. She is so enamored she dreams of him, but the dreams are real. It is as if she is there. In love with the thought of him, the heat level is intense. What is happening to her? She feels as though she is someone else, and that Tajan somehow belongs to her. But he is dead, isn't he?

The Tajan of the story is a bold and noble warrior. Very much in love with Maggie, he is devastated when he thinks he will lose her. He is willing to give his life for their love, and understands there will never be another love like that he feels for her.

As the story comes together and the danger threatens to tear them apart, Ms Edwards has found the most beautiful solution and ending. In a brilliant and bold stroke of her pen, she has set the stage to bring Tajan and Maggie's love back to life. There is magic in this kind of love, creating the emergence of souls that resonate and return time after time, secure in a love that is everlasting.

Rating 5/5
Broken Wings

Shard Mountain by Joseph Mitchell

Article first published as Book Review:Shard Mountain by Joseph Mitchell on Blogcritics.

On his way to prison for a crime as simple as excess parking tickets created a nightmare for Charles Rogers. A computer geek to his bones he still does not understand the process that put him in this place at this time. Along with a few other prisoners and guards his life is about to take a turn into the ‘Twilight Zone.’

The accident came out of nowhere, as the prison van moved to pass a military convoy, a tanker lost control veering into the bus. The last thing Charles remembered was the jarring feeling and a sudden burst of some form of silver liquid covering everything. Hitting his head, he did not remember anything else, never dreaming he slept, unaware of time passing.

Charles first burst of conscious thought came with a painful light. Blinking against the sudden pain, he felt uncomfortable. Hearing a voice, but not understanding the message, he hears that he would be very stiff from the amount of time that passed. Finding a voice that sounds familiar, he finally opens his eyes, only to realize that he is in a nightmare. Some sort of giant pink humanoid creature was looking at him. As he backed up against the bed quickly, a human reminded him to take it easy. Moosh was a friend and had helped to rescue him and his friends. But who or what is Moosh?

The surroundings were unreal, all metal pieces and parts domed off, with wires and technology everywhere. Although is all seemed surreal, he could see the damage to the equipment and lab, which is what they appeared to be in. As he began to get a grip, he saw there were two others with him from the prison van. A young man named Jake and one of the prison guards, Parker Boll. The human rescuer said his name was Brother Kevin and reminded them they must get away. Apparently, Moosh had found this bunker and killed the two mutants that were intent on killing them.

Hurriedly pulling themselves together, this ragtag group of humans with their mutant rescuer prepares to leave the area. Not prepared for the devastation he finds outside the dome, Charles is horrified. The world is not as he remembered it. It is barren and hostile, with one definitive wonder that stood above it all, a mountain of glass. Known as Shard Mountain, it contained secrets sill not known after hundreds of years. Looking again in surprise at Brother Kevin, he finds out that he and his friends have been sleeping for 500 years. The world as they knew it is not the same, it is a dangerous world and they will have to make their place in it.

In Shard Mountain, Joseph Mitchell has fabricated an apocalyptic world. It is full of danger and surprise. Both human and mutants inhabit the earth, but there is more––much more. Charles, Jake and Parker must find a place in this world; most of the cryotes (the awakened) are not so adaptable. Waking in the year 2581 has both its advantages and disadvantages, weapons are few, drugs are easily accessible, transportation is with stagles, and a mind speak exists that only a few are capable of. Having been asleep for all these years our heroes find their minds have been experimented with, but have no idea how.

This is a story of challenges and changes, of finding your place and your courage in a world different from anything you have ever known. It is full of savage predators, mutants, living machines and just about everything you can imagine from an ‘Alfred Hitchcock’ nightmare. The characters are much as you would expect and yet they grow and expand to fit the rising needs. Love is in store as well, and we will follow this group of individuals on their journey to find their place.

This is a novel of extremes, but has a story line quite in keeping with the expectations of those that predict these very things happening. Sometimes fiction is stranger the truth and Mitchell has brought us a world of the future. Come and visit a world that is bold and crazy, but be prepared for a long journey. This book is not for the faint of heart, but is full of incredible experience.

I would recommend this book to the science fiction aficionada. Be prepared as this is a book so filled with story and challenges it is quite long. At over 400 pages, be prepared to bury yourself in time, to dig into the volume of material. It is fun and has vivid depiction; the words transport you to the very time. Mitchell has done a great job of fictional prose, with such remarkable detail as to make you find yourself in this future. Hang on for the ride.

Rating 4/5

Shard Mountain


This book was received as a free e-book from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Life on Hold by Karen McQuestion

Article first published as Book Review: Life on Hold by Karen McQuestion on Blogcritics.

Life if sometimes really messed up when you are a teenager. Your parents don’t understand what you are going through. You can’t argue and win because they have all the answers. What Rae Maddox had a problem with, was moving. Every time she would just get settled in a new school, it was time to move on. Her mom was pretty cool but it was definitely something that created an issue for her. Because she handled it all with aplomb, her mom never really understood. At her current school, she has a couple of people that she hangs out with. She does not call them friends because then she will be moving and lose more people that are close to her. The pain is too much, and she will just have to start again.

Kylie and Mason are the group she hangs with, but Blake and his friends are the, “cool Kids.” She is just not a part of that crowd. So when she is singled out by her principle to help a new student adjust she does not understand. She is still feeling her own way to belonging, but as usual, she goes with the flow. The new student Allison is quiet and standoffish. Rae struggles with finding a common ground. When she finds out that Allison’s parents just recently died in a fire, she tries very hard to understand. Allison is Blake’s cousin, but he goes out of his way to treat her rudely and taunt her. When Allison meets Rae’s mother, Rae is unsure how she feels about the bonding that occurs.
What Rae does not realize is that Allison is hiding her wounds; she is not mentally capable of dealing with her parent’s death. The unkindness of her cousin Blake and her difficulty fitting in, just pile more stones upon an already fragile ego. When Allison disappears, no one understands what has happened. Searching her heart, Rae believes she understands where Allison may have gone. Will she find her before it is too late?

In Life on Hold, Karen McQuestion has taken the horrifying events that occasionally happen in life and used it to build a lesson of understanding. The characters are very much like teenagers everywhere. Life happens all around them, but they only plug into what shows on the surface. There are often deep waters lurking in the shadows of their minds that are unplumbed. As with most kids, making fun and scoring off someone else often gets you laughs, but those laughs are often painful to the person on the other end.

Rae is a young woman with a heart, growing up without her father, but with a mother’s undivided attention has given her a different view of life. Trying to put herself in Allison’s place, she tries to be kinder to her. However, Allison herself makes it difficult. Can Rae reach deep within herself to find the solution to Allison’s disappearance. Will she be too late to save her?

I would recommend this book for the young adult reader. It is a harrowing look at what can happen when a teenager’s pain goes unnoticed. It is an eye opening look at challenges, which sometimes seem insurmountable. I believe it would be a great book to open dialog and create discussion. McQuestion puts together a realistic and fast-paced look at life.

Rating 4/5

Life on Hold

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off me reading and understanding of the material.

Book Blogger Hop: 3/25-3/28

 This week's question comes from Mina who blogs at Mina Burrows:



"If you could physically put yourself into a book or series…which one would it be and why?"

Kay Hooper and her Noah Bishop series. I love the idea of paranormal investigation, all of her characters exhibit flaws, yet they are extremely charasmatic and full of tenacity. I could clearly find myself in the stories in my imagination, I want to be that investigator, the one I am reading about and emulating at the same time. LOL. Love the series.