May's Month In Review
PRFL is starting a new segment! On the last Saturday of each month we will re-post our 4-5 Star reviews given during the month, plus reviews not yet seen.
Enjoy!!
Enjoy!!
Five Fang Reviews
This story picks up with
sibling #2, Dr. Daniel Woodruff, only months after the close of MtM. We find
ourselves in Italy, which is never a bad thing, but terrifying visions are
unrelenting, and Daniel must risk his reputation, and perhaps his life, in
order to ensure the safety of those around him.
Mel Noblett is an
environmental reporter who senses there is more to Daniel’s bizarre behavior
than a personality quirk, and together they must find out why he is having
these visions, and what, if anything, they can do to alter their outcome.
Once again, the story
captivates with lyric beauty, humor, tension, mystery and love – of family, of
friendship, of life, and of the environment. And may I say ~ Long Live the
Bees! Very well done.
With the opening chapter for Nick, we are introduced to a
man who seems nice, affable, and certainly has friends who care about his
well-being, but this intro is equally mysterious. What is he all about, what is
he being sent to find out, and what is the underlying health issue alluded to?
When Grace and Nick finally meet, way back in a Southern
mountain holler, the story unwinds with charismatic characters, fun writing,
and rich scene-setting. However, this is not a RomCom – far from it. There is
something dark, perhaps even evil going on, and Grace and Nick, along with beautifully
precocious child, Jamie, must work together to uncover what that is, in order
to ‘cure’ the mountain of its disease.
The writing is captivating, and one sign of a true
storyteller is when I find myself so ‘inside’ the story I come out surprised I
don’t actually know any of the characters personally, or have never visited the
region portrayed. More than Magic is
one of those, and I applaud Donna June Cooper on her first book. I look forward
to many more. Very well done.
Four Fang Reviews
The writing, per usual, is clear, descriptive, and pulls the
reader in from the first moments. Unlike the first book, however, Dark
Redemption slows in the middle, so that we may enjoy a special moment with the
happy couple. This slowing takes up too much time in my view, especially since
we know the whole world is hunting the pair. Regardless, there is plenty going
on before and after, with twists that will raise the eyebrows of even the most
stalwart of readers.
This
sequel is not to be missed, and once again, I find myself impatiently its sequel,
the final book in The
Chronicles of Darkness series.
Well done.
Leopold's Wicked Embrace: Very hot vampires and werewolves
are tearing it up in New Orleans! Leopold is one hot, ancient, and powerful and
perennially angry vampire, but he’s no match for the quiet, beautiful and enigmatic
Laryssa. In a town at ease with its somewhat less than human population,
Laryssa has a secret to hide, a secret Leopold very much wants to uncover. As
do many others.
This story is well
written, fast-paced and hot! And it’s
nice to know the vamps and the weres can get along when they have to.
Well
done.
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Beyond the Veil: Muse is treated like a
freak by her family, and a child by the very dangerous man who protects her.
While she thinks she has found a niche in which she can lead a life of her own
choosing, circumstances are about to blow that false sense of security all to…Hell.
I enjoyed this tale.
Fast-paced and full of surprises, it will keep you turning the pages with
heart-pounding tension/angst/drama/delight. The characters and situations are
well drawn, and the story itself imaginative and unpredictable.
Well
done.
His Haven: Snatched from poverty by
a wealthy man who claims he’s taken her for her own good, Haven does not care
for, nor does she fully understand the life he offers. She’d rather be at her
poor, sickly father’s side, than dripping in gems and drinking champagne.
Harper Brooks weaves an
interesting tale that reveals the glamorous ennui of the vampire elite of
England. While slowly peeling back the layers of this secret society, she
brings to light both evil and goodness in unlooked-for corners. It is well
written, and truly captures the imagination, and oh, fasten your seatbelts for
the grand finale! It’ll leave your head spinning…with delight.
Well
done.
The Darkness of Glengowyn: Different. Intriguing.
Imaginative. A world of Elves, war, powerful magic, love that spans the ages
and will not be denied. The writing is as rich and strong as the scene setting.
Beautiful and romantic by turns, it also has moments of terror, suspense, and
dread. I enjoyed this story and look forward to the series continuing.
Well
done.
Penelope's Ghost: This story is
delightful…and mysterious…and a wonderful Australian vacation in book form. I
learned so many Aussy-isms! When Lisa loses her husband to another man, she is
forced to regroup, reassess, and rebuild her life. Money is short and good jobs
seem to be non-existent, so she takes a temporary job as a live-in nanny. She
finds herself in the middle of a sad and dysfunctional family, and, being
sensitive to ghosts, she can’t help but wonder who is haunting handsome Mr.
Prescott’s ancient manor home. Well, wouldn’t you wonder, too? Lives are
changed, both past and present, and in the end, the changes are all good, very
good.
Well
done.
