Review: Bad Moon Rising

 

Rock and roll relationships are complicated. They’re even worse when one of you is a werewolf.

Stevie Vane, nightclub manager of Dusk, prefers London’s nightlife to life in the pack — fewer claws, fewer challengers, far less bloodshed.

But when tragedy strikes, Stevie is forced back into a world where dominance of the pack is won by strength… and every weakness is punished. Some new members begin a brutal contest for control, and they soon discover his greatest weakness is Kat Matthews.

Kat’s band has just landed the best gig of their career at Dusk. And the instant chemistry between her and the charismatic manager is undeniable — but so are the secrets he’s keeping. Secrets that come with sharp teeth.

As the rival wolves close in and old grudges resurface, Stevie realises it isn’t just his pack at risk. It’s the woman he loves.

Witty, romantic, and gripping, Bad Moon Rising is the third book in The Immortals of London series– where feelings run wild and loyalty can cost you everything.

Review

This rock-and-roll werewolf romance was quite the ride. I have been dabbling in romantasy over the past six months. Most are high on paranormal and light on romance. This one was the opposite. It was fun that the paranormal aspects were almost mundane. The romance got to stand central. I enjoyed the lighter tone than I've found in most romantasy books. It was very easy to read and I didn't get lost in the world-building. This was an easy, quick read that would be great as an introduction to the genre.

This is the 3rd book in a series so new readers should go and find the first book so that they understand the world adequately to enjoy the romantic payoff. 

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-Moon-Rising-thrilling-Immortals-ebook/dp/B0GQCBNSNK

https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Moon-Rising-thrilling-Immortals-ebook/dp/B0GQCBNSNK

 

Author Bio –

Berni Stevens lives in an ancient cottage in Hertfordshire, which sounds like it's in the depths of the countryside, but really isn't (because the green bits keep getting built on!)

Berni spent four years at art college in Sussex before starting her first job in publishing as a book cover and promotions designer and then solely as a book cover designer for many of the big London publishers. She's now freelance, and designs for both publishers and many self-published authors. Although she still makes sure to leave time for her writing, and various hobbies. Berni was a finalist for the RNA Cover Designer of the Year Award both in 2021 and 2023.

Berni's first full-length novel was a paranormal romance, called Fledgling, which was first published in the US in 2011, and retitled Dance Until Dawn, made its UK debut three years later, followed by the sequel, Revenge is Sweet and so beginning the Immortals of London series.

Veering away from the paranormal for a while, Berni's first festive RomCom, One Magical Christmas, took some people by surprise - including herself. So much so, that she wrote three more!

With the re-appearance of the Romantasy genre ... a new paranormal romance has finally broken free – Bad Moon Rising – the third book in the Immortals of London series.

Berni can be found on Facebook, X, Linkedin, Instagram and Threads ... come and say hello!

 

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/BerniStevens1620Author/

https://x.com/Berni_Stevens1

https://www.instagram.com/berni.stevens.5/

https://www.threads.com/@berni.stevens.5

https://www.linkedin.com/in/berni-stevens-palmer-75242a14/

Cedar Ridge review: Over the Edge

 Book Blurb (from Amazon)

SIX MONTHS AGO, ACCUSATIONS of murder threw Rayna Kirkpatrick’s life into turmoil, and her fight to prove her innocence nearly got her killed. Now, she seeks healing and refuge, but as a Trespasser—a person with lethal paranormal abilities—she can’t escape the attention of the covert government organization monitoring her. They want her on their team, but Rayna wants to maintain her quiet life in Willet Beach, living next door to her sister and running a small pottery studio.

SPECIAL AGENT DAMON HALE has been assigned to keep an eye on Rayna. The abilities that would make her a valuable member of the Trespasser team would also make her a powerful weapon in the hands of an enemy; it’s Damon’s job to keep her safe and ensure that information about her Trespasser status remains classified. He’s posing as her boyfriend to provide an excuse for the time they spend together, but, privately, each of them is struggling with that cover story; their feelings for each other are becoming all too real.

RAYNA’S ATTEMPT AT A peaceful life shatters when she rescues a woman from a fire, an act that drags her into a whirlpool of rumors and deadly secrets. As Damon works to protect her, he’s torn by the knowledge that managing this crisis might require decisions that will devastate Rayna and that the line between ally and enemy may be more blurred than either of them imagined.

Review

Cedar Ridge is often home to hidden gems. Over the Edge continues that tradition by blending paranormal into a traditional romantic thriller. The writing is tight, fast-paced and immersive. 

The book begins with high suspense - Rayna is in hiding after suspicion that she has caused several deaths. Her paranormal abilities are attracting all the wrong attention. She is dependent on Special Agent Damon Hale, though she has doubts about trusting him. 

I enjoyed the moral stakes in this book. Rayna feels she needs to use her skills to help others, but the stakes are so high every time she does. Her abilities are obviously risky to the public at large, but does that justify limiting her freedom or forcing her allegiance?

This is a very strong entry in the paranormal x thriller genre. Fans of X-men will likely find a lot to love in this well-written story by Stephanie Black. 

Purchase Link (amazon): https://a.co/d/bbpUKX1 

Review: Abracadabra

 

In the spirit of Practical Magic and First Frost, a modern-day magic folk tale weaves a fantasy of love, secrets, spellbooks, and family bonds into evocative prose ....

 

It's common knowledge in Duran Hill that some women in the Kinley family have certain gifts ... and certain curses ... running through their bloodlines. But for three sisters in all but name — Rachel, Juliette, and their cousin Sylvia — the ties that bind them close as ivy throughout their childhood are pulled apart in adolescence when both the gift and curse of that power is revealed between them.

 

Since that fateful incident, sensible Juliette has tailored a perfect and perfectly-ordinary life which unravels after she marries — and loses — the love of her life. Sylvia, drawn to the dark side, sets up a shop that caters to all the mystical powers the latter generations of the Kinley family shunned. And Rachel, the wild child, in whom its magic seems to create a charmed life, is a carefree wanderer who finds herself suddenly drawn home again.

 

Her arrival will stir old rivalries and test forgotten bonds in the brief span of a few weeks. But when an old friend in desperate trouble seeks her out, she will impulsively unleash the dangerous secret behind their power:  one which has lain forgotten in the Kinley house for two generations.

 

From the Siren's song of a dead man's violin to a jar full of harmless-looking buttons, nothing under the shadow of the family's roof is what it seems — nothing in their bloodline is safe from the dangerous past.

 

For Juliette, it brings a test of whether love that has withered can bloom again. For Sylvia, a question of whether a dangerous mistake can only be endured until it destroys you. And for Rachel, the choice is the price between the future of the souls she loves most in life and a powerful force that both makes her the enigma she is — and makes to destroy her like embers caught in a firewind.

 

Against the backdrop of Southern charm, Scottish superstitions, and bewitching romance, ABRACADABRA casts a spell which cannot be undone, from the ache of lost love to the familial links between souls which go as deep as blood and bone.

 

Youtube Links for Abracadabra trailers:

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKmNSqCOAKk 

Short Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/edJevuMyWqk

 

Review

This romp through Scottish mysticism used such symbols as shapeshifting animals, death omens, natural magic of trees and plants, and holiday traditions. The Scottish traditions create a cozy story of family dealing with age-old curses and modern inconveniences. I will never look at a jar of buttons the same way. 

Fans of Practical Magic will enjoy stepping inside this family as they deal with dark secrets and experiences out of step with modern life. The author has good control of suspense as she creates a world that is both inviting and unsettling. 

Purchase Links

Amazon (Universal link): https://books2read.com/u/31ABBv

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/abracadabra-48?sId=3c2b0be2-df21-4aa1-82f7-3c38d91d5b38

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/abracadabra/id6748605399

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/abracadabra-evanne-hardin-gray/1147826940?ean=2940181835467

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1809968

Author Bio – Evanne Hardin Gray has spent most of her adulthood (and part of her childhood) writing novels, short stories, and screenplays. She has family roots in both New England and the South, which is where she currently writes (sometimes as a 'ghost'), gardens, and collects books and ideas for them.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: Evanne Hardin Gray (@Abracadabrabook) / X

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578220836676

 

Review: The Death & Life of Lucy Westenra

 

What desperate steps will Lucy Westenra take to save her own life?
Hillingham in Hampstead, once the home of the well-to-do Westenra family, is now divided into apartments. When teacher Kate Balcombe sets about renovating her flat in the attic, she finds an unsent letter written 130 years before by Lucy, the nineteen-year-old daughter of the house.

You may know Lucy from Bram Stoker’s Dracula... a pretty, flirtatious girl with three ardent suitors, she is Mina Harker’s best friend. When Lucy falls mysteriously ill and dies, Van Helsing identifies her as a victim of the vampire.

But what if the monsters who hunt Lucy are much closer to home?

As Kate begins to investigate Lucy’s story, she meets James Harker, Mina’s great-great grandson, and together they uncover a long-hidden story of deception and murder. 

Review

I am a sucker for a vampire story.  I read Dracula during high school and fell in love with the lore of the undead. From Vlad the Impaler to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I've delved into each interpretation of the myth. So, I was very happy to be asked to review Lucy's story. 

In this novel, we look at vampire lore through a very human lens. Lucy's descendants discover her writings and decide to explore the reasons behind her death. Lucy comes to life in as both victim and conqueror of misdirected beliefs. The fresh perspective creates suspense and drama that keep the pages turning, even if you're familiar with the basic plot of Lucy's story. 

The author deftly guides the reader through Lucy's transformation, giving everyone a fresh look at a very old tale. In the end, we are all aware that the truth may be hard to find. Kate Balcombe summarizes the journey well from her perspective. "The truth is often buried beneath layers of lies, and sometimes, the deadliest monsters are those we trust the most."

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Life-Lucy-Westenra-ebook/dp/B0F3Q4GZK6/

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Life-Lucy-Westenra-ebook/dp/B0F3Q4GZK6/

Author Bio –

Rosie Fiore is the author of eight published novels, including Wonder Women, After Isabella and What She Left, as well as The After Wife, written as Cass Hunter. She is a teacher of creative writing and a Royal Literary Fund Fellow. She lives in North London with her family, and can frequently be found wandering on the Heath or haunting a churchyard.

 Social Media Links – 

https://x.com/rosiefiore

https://www.facebook.com/rosiefiorewriter

https://bsky.app/profile/rosiefiore.bsky.social

 

Surprises on the Scottish Isles

Will they get a second chance at first love?

When newly divorced Tara McTaigh spots an advert for a studio to let in Coorie Castle’s craft centre, she packs up her Edinburgh life and moves to the Isle of Skye, eager for a fresh start.

Little does she know that the castle’s estate manager, single dad Calan Fraser, is the man who broke her heart back at university. Thoroughly done with romance, Tara decides to ignore Cal and focus on building her business – creating dollhouses to commission. But Duncoorie is a small community, and the two keep bumping into each other… 

Just as she is starting to open her heart once more to Cal, a change in his life puts everything on the line. When a surprise storm threatens Tara's safety, will Cal realise in time that love is worth the risk?

An uplifting and feel-good crafty romance for fans of Holly Martin, Sue Moorcroft and Julie Shackman.

Review

Tara finds herself alone in love not once but twice in the first two chapters of this lovely later-in-life romance. She decides that a solitary, small-town life of independence is what she needs. She’s off to lonely Duncoorie without a thought of the loves who left her behind.

Fate, however, has other plans. As Tara tries to establish herself, she learns that small towns aren’t actually good places to be alone. They tend to come with loads of community, some nosier than necessary. She and Cal have little hope but to get entwined in so many delicious ways.

The book is quite a bit of fun for a breezy romance. The characters are complex enough that their foibles make sense. The author embraces romance tropes without being nonsensical. There is a fair amount of physical romance in this one, so I’d give it a strong PG-13. It’s much more Netflix than Hallmark with all the necessary feels of a solid romance. 

Purchase Link - https://geni.us/SOTSI

Author Bio – 

Lilac Mills lives on a Welsh hillside with her very patient husband and incredibly sweet dog, where she grows veggies (if the slugs don't get them), bakes (badly) and loves making things out of glitter and glue (a mess, usually).

She's been an avid reader ever since she got her hands on a copy of Noddy Goes to Toytown when she was five, and she once tried to read everything in her local library starting with A and working her way through the alphabet.

She loves long hot summer days in the garden, and cold winter ones snuggled in front of the fire, but whatever the weather she's usually writing, or thinking about writing, with heartwarming romance and happy-ever-afters always on her mind.

Social Media Links – 

Website: https://www.lilacmills.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilacMills

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilacmillsauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lilacmills

 

Book Revew: Shadow of the Witch

 

Shadow of the Witch

London, 1677. A house with a dark secret. A lawyer in pursuit of magick. A witch, dead for fifty years.

Israel Cutler, dealer in second-hand goods, discovers the journals of Doctor Winter. Detailing the doctor’s relationship with a hanged witch, he recognises an opportunity. Seeking out a lawyer he knows with an interest in the occult, Cutler tries to sell the journals, but soon finds himself involved in a terrifying ritual—one that could bring black witch Lizzie Pickin back from the dead. Again.

Forced into a dangerous partnership, the witch leads Cutler on a trail of murder and revenge.

In this horror series set in London, Shadow of the Witch is book #2 in the Black Witch Saga.

 

Review

This was an intriguing work of horror. It’s written in 3rd person present, common in this genre, which helped with the sense of urgency. The plot is fairly obvious but really well done. I didn’t find it too gory (as horror can be) and there were some really good moments that kept me on my toes. I read the stories out of order, so there were some details that I probably didn’t understand. However, I didn’t feel like it ruined my enjoyment of this story. 

Purchase Links

AMAZON https://geni.us/r4kqMtb

SMASHWORDS https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1480253

 

Author Bio – 

Colin Garrow grew up in a former mining town in Northumberland. He has worked in a plethora of professions including taxi driver, antiques dealer, drama facilitator, theatre director and fish processor, and has occasionally masqueraded as a pirate. 

His short stories have appeared in several literary mags, including SN Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, Word Bohemia, Every Day Fiction, The Grind, A3 Review, 1,000 Words, Inkapture and Scribble Magazine. He currently lives in a humble cottage in Northeast Scotland where he writes novels, stories, poems and the occasional song.

He also makes rather nice vegan cakes.

 

Social Media Links – 

Twitter https://twitter.com/colingarrow

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/colinngarrow/

Website https://colingarrow.co.uk/ 

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/colin-garrow

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/colingarrowthewriter

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@colingarrowauthor