On McPig's Wish List - My Heart Is a Chainsaw

 

My Heart Is a Chainsaw

by Stephen Graham Jones

In her quickly gentrifying rural lake town Jade sees recent events only her encyclopedic knowledge of horror films could have prepared her for

Jade Daniels is an angry, half-Indian outcast with an abusive father, an absent mother, and an entire town that wants nothing to do with her. She lives in her own world, a world in which protection comes from an unusual source: horror movies…especially the ones where a masked killer seeks revenge on a world that wronged them. And Jade narrates the quirky history of Proofrock as if it is one of those movies. But when blood actually starts to spill into the waters of Indian Lake, she pulls us into her dizzying, encyclopedic mind of blood and masked murderers, and predicts exactly how the plot will unfold.

Yet, even as Jade drags us into her dark fever dream, a surprising and intimate portrait emerges… a portrait of the scared and traumatized little girl beneath the Jason Voorhees mask: angry, yes, but also a girl who easily cries, fiercely loves, and desperately wants a home. A girl whose feelings are too big for her body.

My Heart Is a Chainsaw is her story, her homage to horror and revenge and triumph.

Rogue's Paradise - Book Review by Voodoo Bride (repost and reread)

 

Rogue's Paradise (Covenant of Thorns #3)

by Jeffe Kennedy

What is it about:

Faerie, the land of blood, magic, and betrayal…

At last, the fae lord, Rogue, has won everything. He has me in his home, his bed, and I’m desperately in love with him despite my best efforts and better judgment.

Did I mention I’m pregnant?

As our child grows inside me, the one I’m pledged to give to him, I still have no idea what will happen after the birth. Though Rogue is attentive in every way a woman could wish for, bringing me delirious pleasure and gifts beyond price, he still won’t—or can’t—tell me what game he’s playing. Or what the viciously sadistic Queen Titania has to do with our many bargains.

I’m most afraid that, if he betrays us, I’ll never be able to forgive him. Even though I can’t stop loving him.

As war threatens everything we’ve built, as my body swells with the enchanted pregnancy, I become more certain with every day that the true enemy lurks within our castle walls. And that the man I’ve vowed eternal commitment to, may be the last person I can trust…

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

This is an awesome conclusion to a beautiful series.

The Covenant of Thorns series is not your normal Fantasy Romance: it's dark, gritty and with dangers lurking everywhere. Even now that Gwynn finally has accepted Rogue as her lover and they are together, Gwynn's problems are far from over. Is Rogue to be trusted? Will he stand by her side in her battle against Titania, or will he betray her, whether he wants to or not?

I have probably said this before, but the world building in this series is amazing! I love how 'other' Jeffe made the fae. They don't think like humans, and have their own twisted logic, making them strange and even creepy.

With Rogue and Gwynn together there were a lot of tender, romantic scenes, and some scorching hot ones as well. I very much enjoyed seeing the two of them getting closer, although they still have their disagreements and fights as well. Their relationship felt real and I loved them as a couple.

The dangers they're facing cast a shadow over their relationship and kept me on the edge of my seat. I wanted them to have a happy ending, but at times it felt like an impossibility. The story is full of darkness and duality. I kept believing in Jeffe's storytelling though, hanging on to every bit of hope, and trusted that she would give me an ending that I could find satisfying.

And Jeffe once more delivered. The ending had me sniffling happy tears I can tell you.

I felt both happy and sad to have come to this beautiful ending of a dark and delicious story. I will most certainly reread this trilogy, and hope Jeffe decides to revisit this world to give me even more to love about it.

Notes on rereading:

As with the other books: even knowing how things would go I was once again getting anxious on Gwynn's behalf. This story is just so gripping and deliciously dark. You bet I'll get my greedy hands on the new versions once they release.

Why should you read it:

It's a beautiful and dark Fantasy Romance

buy links

Teaser Tuesdays - Improbably Yours

"Brave Blybee," he says, with mock seriousness. "Rest now. Tomorrow you shall pursue this new quest."

(page 39, Improbably Yours (ARC) by Kerry Anne King)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

On McPig's Wish List - We Shall Sing a Song Into the Deep

 

We Shall Sing a Song Into the Deep 

by Andrew Kelly Stewart

Remy is a Chorister, one of the chosen few rescued from the surface world and raised to sing the Hours in a choir of young boys. Remy lives with a devoted order of monks who control the Leviathan, an aging nuclear submarine that survives in the ocean’s depths. Their secret mission: to trigger the Second Coming when the time is right, ready to unleash its final, terrible weapon.

But Remy has a secret too— she’s the only girl onboard. It is because of this secret that the sub’s dying caplain gifts her with the missile’s launch key, saying that it is her duty to keep it safe. Safety, however, is not the sub’s priority, especially when the new caplain has his own ideas about the Leviathan’s mission. Remy’s own perspective is about to shift drastically when a surface-dweller is captured during a raid, and she learns the truth about the world.

At once lyrical and page-turning, We Shall Sing a Song Into the Deep is a captivating debut from newcomer author Andrew Kelly Stewart.

Rogue's Possession - Book Review by Voodoo Bride (reread)

 

Rogue's Possession (Covenant of Thorns #2)

by Jeffe Kennedy

What is it about:

One does not break an oath to the fae…

But I am getting much better at finding and exploiting the loopholes. I may have promised the ruthlessly sensual fae lord, Rogue, that he can sire my firstborn child—but I never said when. And I’m not giving into his will-eroding attempts to seduce me until he tells me what will happen to my child.

Which he refuses to do.

So, I’m holding out against his allure, no matter how he tantalizes me, because the one way to protect my child is to make sure they’re never born. Unfortunately, Rogue is as wily as he is persistent, and soon I find myself in more bargains—I must give him a kiss every day and sleep by his side at night. Even as I travel through Faerie, perfecting my sorceress skills and seeking the answers to the questions Rogue won’t—or can’t—answer, he is constantly by my side, working his way through my defenses.

He refuses to let me go. Most terrifying of all, I’m finding I don’t want him to…

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

When looking for my previous review I discovered I hadn't written one apart from "So good!".

I must say this sentiment is still accurate!

I love the characters in this series, from the important ones like Rogue and Gwynn to the minor ones, like Gwynn's servants, and even some of the bad guys. (The bad guys I don't love are still wonderful in how they're written, btw.)

I knew the story and what would happen, still I couldn't help myself getting slightly anxious and rooting for Gwynn that things would go her way. She is learning more and more about the world of the fae and a lot of it isn't nice. She gets better at seeing the dangers though, and manages to gather allies around her, who I all loved and started rooting for as well.

All in all I was just as engrossed in this book as I was when I first read it. There is a satisfying ending that makes you're not too anxious for the next book, but with enough foreshadowing of things yet to come that you want it!

Why should you read it:

It's an amazing Dark Fantasy Romance

buy links

Covenant of Thorns Covers - They're Awesome!!!

 

The new covers for the Covenant of Thorns trilogy by Jeffe Kennedy have been revealed! And they are so beautiful! Guess who is totally going to get them once they release!

Find buy links to pre-order on Jeffe Kennedy's website

Rogue's Pawn

Be careful what you wish for…

When I walked out on my awful boyfriend, wishing to be somewhere—anywhere—else, I never expected to wake up in Faerie. And, as a scientist, I find it even harder to believe that I now seem to be a sorceress.

A pretty crappy sorceress, it turns out, because every thought that crosses my mind becomes suddenly and frighteningly real—including the black dog that has long haunted my nightmares.

Now I’m a captive, a pawn for the fae lord, Rogue, and the feral and treacherous Faerie court, all vying to control me and the vast powers I don’t understand. Worse, Rogue, the closest thing I have to a friend in this place, is intent on seducing me. He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, enthralling, tempting, and lethally dangerous. He’s as devastatingly clever as he is alluring, and he tricks me into promising him my firstborn child, which he intends to sire…

I don’t dare give into him. I may not have the willpower to resist him. He’s my only protection against those who would destroy me

Unless I can learn to use my magic.

Rereleasing July 5, 2022

Rogue's Possession

One does not break an oath to the fae…

But I am getting much better at finding and exploiting the loopholes. I may have promised the ruthlessly sensual fae lord, Rogue, that he can sire my firstborn child—but I never said when. And I’m not giving into his will-eroding attempts to seduce me until he tells me what will happen to my child.

Which he refuses to do.

So, I’m holding out against his allure, no matter how he tantalizes me, because the one way to protect my child is to make sure they’re never born. Unfortunately, Rogue is as wily as he is persistent, and soon I find myself in more bargains—I must give him a kiss every day and sleep by his side at night. Even as I travel through Faerie, perfecting my sorceress skills and seeking the answers to the questions Rogue won’t—or can’t—answer, he is constantly by my side, working his way through my defenses.

He refuses to let me go. Most terrifying of all, I’m finding I don’t want him to…

Rereleasing July 26, 2022

Rogue's Paradise

Faerie, the land of blood, magic, and betrayal…

At last, the fae lord, Rogue, has won everything. He has me in his home, his bed, and I’m desperately in love with him despite my best efforts and better judgment.

Did I mention I’m pregnant?

As our child grows inside me, the one I’m pledged to give to him, I still have no idea what will happen after the birth. Though Rogue is attentive in every way a woman could wish for, bringing me delirious pleasure and gifts beyond price, he still won’t—or can’t—tell me what game he’s playing. Or what the viciously sadistic Queen Titania has to do with our many bargains.

I’m most afraid that, if he betrays us, I’ll never be able to forgive him. Even though I can’t stop loving him.

As war threatens everything we’ve built, as my body swells with the enchanted pregnancy, I become more certain with every day that the true enemy lurks within our castle walls. And that the man I’ve vowed eternal commitment to, may be the last person I can trust…

 

Rereleasing August 16, 2022

Queen of the Tiles - Book Review

 

Queen of the Tiles

by Hanna Alkaf

What is it about:

CATALYST

13 points

noun: a person or thing that precipitates an event or change

When Najwa Bakri walks into her first Scrabble competition since her best friend’s death, it’s with the intention to heal and move on with her life. Perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to choose the very same competition where said best friend, Trina Low, died. It might be even though Najwa’s trying to change, she’s not ready to give up Trina just yet.

But the same can’t be said for all the other competitors. With Trina, the Scrabble Queen herself, gone, the throne is empty, and her friends are eager to be the next reigning champion. All’s fair in love and Scrabble, but all bets are off when Trina’s formerly inactive Instagram starts posting again, with cryptic messages suggesting that maybe Trina’s death wasn’t as straightforward as everyone thought. And maybe someone at the competition had something to do with it.

As secrets are revealed and the true colors of her friends are shown, it’s up to Najwa to find out who’s behind these mysterious posts—not just to save Trina’s memory, but to save herself.

What did I think of it:

This is a very enjoyable read.

I had expected this to be a bit more suspenseful. Instead it is as much about grieving as it is about solving what happened with Trina. Not that this is a bad thing, but it did throw me a bit at first. Once I let go of my expectations though, this was a really cool read.

I really liked Najwa. She had a difficult year after losing her best friend, but is now trying to bet back into things. I could understand her fears and insecurities. When she starts investigating what happened a year ago and what might be happening now I totally rooted for her to figure it all out and get her life back on track. 

I will say that from what is told about Trina, that I didn't much like her. Maybe that was intentional to make it more difficult to guess who might wish her harm, but it did also make me wonder why Najwa had been friends with her.

Overall this is a very enjoyable read with some suspense, a lot of emotion, and interesting characters. I also really enjoyed the setting and learning a bit more about the world of competitive scrabble. I might investigate what else Alkaf has written.

Why should you read it:

It's a very enjoyable YA read.

buy from amazon

On McPig's Radar - Just Like Home

 

Just Like Home

by Sarah Gailey

“Come home.” Vera’s mother called and Vera obeyed. In spite of their long estrangement, in spite of the memories -- she's come back to the home of a serial killer. Back to face the love she had for her father and the bodies he buried there.

Coming home is hard enough for Vera, and to make things worse, she and her mother aren’t alone. A parasitic artist has moved into the guest house out back, and is slowly stripping Vera’s childhood for spare parts. He insists that he isn’t the one leaving notes around the house in her father’s handwriting… but who else could it possibly be?

There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the notorious Crowder House. Vera must face them, and find out for herself just how deep the rot goes.

Expected publication July 19, 2022

Hide - Book Review

 

Hide

by Kiersten White

What is it about:

The challenge: spend a week hiding in an abandoned amusement park and don't get caught.

The prize: enough money to change everything.

Even though everyone is desperate to win--to seize their dream futures or escape their haunting pasts--Mack feels sure that she can beat her competitors. All she has to do is hide, and she's an expert at that.

It's the reason she's alive, and her family isn't.

But as the people around her begin disappearing one by one, Mack realizes this competition is more sinister than even she imagined, and that together might be the only way to survive.

Fourteen competitors. Seven days. Everywhere to hide, but nowhere to run.

Come out, come out, wherever you are.

What did I think of it:

Once again this is a book for the Horror Book Club that I'm reading way too early, but it sounded too cool to wait.

Mack is down on her luck, and out of options, so when she's offered the chance to enter a hide-and-seek competition where the winner gets $50k she enters the competition.

From the start it's clear something is up: the secrecy, the remote location, the last minute bonus task... But all 14 participants have their reasons to want to win this competition, and are too invested to notice the signs, or ignore them.

Although Mack is the main viewpoint character, the viewpoint switches to the others at times, so you get more information about them and about what's going on. I must say that events and what's behind the competition get telegraphed well before they're revealed, but I can't say I minded. I was having too much fun with the story to mind the predictability and it's clear political message, which I could mostly agree with.

I really liked Mack, I could understand why she doesn't want to get close to others, but loved seeing her slowly open up to my other favorite character, Ava. I was rooting for them to discover what was going on and to find a way to survive.

All in all a very cool read. It will end up on my keeper shelves for sure.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool and enjoyable thriller

buy from Amazon

Teaser Tuesdays - Queen of the Tiles

 

I sit back and let their chatter wash over me. The Tweedles have melted back into the crowd. The cement blockades around my heart lie in ruins, shattered, exposing the tender flesh beneath.

(page 36, Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Storm Princess and the Raven King - Release Day Book Review

 

The Storm Princess and the Raven King (Heirs of Magic #4)

byJeffe Kennedy

What is it about:

A Broken Heart

Princess Salena Nakoa KauPo thought she was over her broken heart. She’d put her first love and childhood sweetheart, Rhyian, firmly in the past where he belonged. His bitter betrayal of her was locked away deep inside, along with her foolishly innocent hopes and dreams. Now Lena has been thrust together with him, the prince of shadows, the one man she could never resist, on a mission to save the world from a terrible cataclysm. Worse, Rhyian refuses to believe her when she says there’s no hope for them.

An Irresistible Longing

Rhyian is rather accustomed to being a failure. Goddesses know, he’s not magical enough for his sorcerous mother and not alpha enough for his father, the King of Annfwn. It hasn’t helped that he’s spent the last seven years trying to drown his sorrows—and to forget the one woman he ever loved, whose heart he carelessly shattered in a moment of weakness. Rhy knows he has to change to win back Lena’s trust, but how?

A Love That Can’t Die

As Lena and Rhy struggle to overcome the wounds of the past, they and their friends approach the final confrontation with the strange intelligence intent on rending apart the very fabric of their world. And it looks like it will come down to the pair of them to strike the final blow.

But only if they can build a new trust on the bitter past.

What did I think of it:

Me and Voodoo Bride loved the other books in this series, and even though each book had a happy ending for each couple, the threat to the 13 Kingdoms is not gone yet. So you bet  we were eager to dive into this book.

And this is an awesome read!

Rhy has been a bit of an ass throughout the series. Hung up on Lena and anything else he can feel hung up about, we were very curious how he would turn from ass to hero. I can tell you that it was very cool to see his transformation in this book. There had been small moments of clarity in the earlier books that showed he could learn and change, but it's here that things finally stick and he decides to stop moping and start taking responsibility. He turned from an ass into someone who might be worth being called Raven King.

Lena was awesome as well. She grows into her powers even more and when things get hairy she will have to make scary and difficult choices, including deciding if she can trust Rhy with her heart. 

This being the concluding book, there's lots of action, fights, discoveries, and possible heartbreak. We were eager to see how the strange intelligence that's been causing the destruction and chaos that's threatening the 13 Kingdoms would be stopped. And the climax of this book and this series is epic! 

And the epilogues! They are so good! Voodoo Bride immediately wanted to reread the entire series after finishing those.

All in all a wonderful read and an awesome conclusion to this series.

Why should you read it:

It's awesome Epic Fantasy Romance

buy links

Rogue's Pawn - Book Review by Voodoo Bride (repost and reread)

The Covenant of Thorns trilogy will be polished and then rereleased after the rights were returned to Jeffe Kennedy. Time for a reread before the new shiny versions will be released later this year. (And yes: You bet I'll be posting about it when they're available.)

Rogue's Pawn (Covenant of Thorns #1)

by Jeffe Kennedy

What is it about:

This is no fairy tale…

Haunted by nightmares of a black dog, sick to death of my mind-numbing career and heart-numbing fiancé, I impulsively walked out of my life—and fell into Faerie. Terrified, fascinated, I discover I possess a power I can't control: my wishes come true. After an all-too-real attack by the animal from my dreams, I wake to find myself the captive of the seductive and ruthless fae lord Rogue. In return for my rescue, he demands an extravagant price—my firstborn child, which he intends to sire himself…

With no hope of escaping this world, I must learn to harness my magic and build a new life despite the perils—including my own inexplicable and debilitating desire for Rogue. I swear I will never submit to his demands, no matter what erotic torment he subjects me to…

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

I love this book!

Kennedy creates a wonderful, yet dark world where wishes come true, but also might destroy you.

Jennifer/Gwynne is a heroine I really could relate to. She's practical and rational and I loved seeing her adapt to a world full of magic. She doesn't give up even when things get really tough and keeps looking for possibilities to turn the tables on those who wrong her.

Rogue on the other hand is dark and mysterious with a ruthlessness to him that makes him both sexy and a bit scary. I could totally understand why Jennifer/Gwynne can't make up her mind about Rogue. The relationship that builds between them is intense and believable and I can't wait to see how things between them will develop in the next two books.

Kennedy also did a really good job at characterizing the minor characters in this book. I especially fell in love with Blackbird and her daughter Starling and hope they will be in the next book as well.

The story itself was very different from what I expected when I started the book. There was lots more action and intrigue than I thought there would be and this was a pleasant surprise. Most Paranormal/Fantasy Romances focus just on the romance and are a bit sloppy on the story around that romance, but Rogue's Pawn luckily didn't have this flaw and instead delivers on both romance and story.

All in all this is a delightful read and I'm already longing for the next book in this trilogy to see what's next for Jennifer/Gwynne and the people close to her.

Why should you read it:

It's a beautiful and dark Fantasy Romance

Thoughts on rereading:

Still as awesome as the first time I read this. I must confess there was one event that I remembered as being longer and darker than it came across on this reread. Still an impactful scene though. 

Dead Silence - Book Review

 

Dead Silence

by S.A. Barnes

What is it about:

Claire Kovalik is days away from being unemployed—made obsolete—when her beacon repair crew picks up a strange distress signal. With nothing to lose and no desire to return to Earth, Claire and her team decide to investigate.

What they find at the other end of the signal is a shock: the Aurora, a famous luxury space-liner that vanished on its maiden tour of the solar system more than twenty years ago. A salvage claim like this could set Claire and her crew up for life. But a quick trip through the Aurora reveals something isn’t right.

Whispers in the dark. Flickers of movement. Words scrawled in blood. Claire must fight to hold onto her sanity and find out what really happened on the Aurora, before she and her crew meet the same ghastly fate.

What did I think of it:

When I saw this book on the schedule of the Horror Book Club I'm in I hadn't heard about it before, so decided to investigate. And immediately bought it and read it way ahead of the book club schedule.

This book is so good!

I loved Claire and her crew, even the antagonistic Voller, so I was eager to find out what they would encounter on the Aurora. The story starts with Claire being asked to recount what happens on the Aurora, so you know she survived whatever they encountered, but from the context you also know her crew most likely didn't survive.

So I was on edge from the moment they entered the Aurora, I can tell you. Strange things seemed to have happened there and might still be happening. The mood is spooky and atmospheric. I could easily imagine this luxury space liner and the creepy things Claire and her crew encounter.

It's not often that a horror book spooks me, but this one came really close. I feared for the lives of my favorite crew members and as there wasn't an immediate body count I secretly hoped that maybe they would survive. The things they find on the Aurora seemed to mock my hopes though.

At a certain point in the story the mood changed and it became more action-packed than eerie, but I didn't mind at all. I loved where the story was taking me and couldn't put the book down at that point: I had to know how things would end.

All in al this is an amazing and haunting story that creeps you out as well as gives you cool action. You bet I'll reread this pearl. I'll also investigate what else Barnes has written.

Why should you read it:

It's a really cool atmospheric SF Horror Read 

buy from Amazon

On McPig's Wishlist - Queen of the Tiles

 

Queen of the Tiles

by Hanna Alkaf

They Wish They Were Us meets The Queen’s Gambit in the world of competitive Scrabble when a teen girl is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend a year after the fact when her Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts and messages.

CATALYST

13 points

noun: a person or thing that precipitates an event or change

When Najwa Bakri walks into her first Scrabble competition since her best friend’s death, it’s with the intention to heal and move on with her life. Perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to choose the very same competition where said best friend, Trina Low, died. It might be even though Najwa’s trying to change, she’s not ready to give up Trina just yet.

But the same can’t be said for all the other competitors. With Trina, the Scrabble Queen herself, gone, the throne is empty, and her friends are eager to be the next reigning champion. All’s fair in love and Scrabble, but all bets are off when Trina’s formerly inactive Instagram starts posting again, with cryptic messages suggesting that maybe Trina’s death wasn’t as straightforward as everyone thought. And maybe someone at the competition had something to do with it.

As secrets are revealed and the true colors of her friends are shown, it’s up to Najwa to find out who’s behind these mysterious posts—not just to save Trina’s memory, but to save herself.

Bitten & Smitten - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

 

Bitten & Smitten (Immortality Bites #1)

What is it about:

My name is Sarah Dearly, and I’m having a week from hell—literally. My blind date bit me and made me into a vampire, and now I’m being chased all over the city by vampire hunters who want to introduce me to their wooden stakes.

While fleeing for my life on four-inch stilettos, my path crossed with the most gorgeous man I’ve ever met. Thierry de Bennicoeur is a sexy, 600-year-old master vampire with a death wish. And here’s my plan: I’m going to convince him to guide me in my dangerous and unpredictable new vampire life, and in return, I’ll show him that life’s still worth living. To complicate matters, a vampire hunter named Quinn is after me, and he can’t seem to decide if he wants to kill me or kiss me.

Being a vampire sucks, but it sure isn’t boring!

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

This is a fun read.

I will confess that if I hadn't liked the writing style so much, I might have DNFed early on. Sarah is too stupid to live at times and slow to learn. The humor and the overall story do make up for her stupidity luckily enough, and once I accepted she isn't the brightest new vampire out there I had tons of fun with this book. Had Sarah been any smarter, this book wouldn't have been this long or entertaining.

There's a bit of a love triangle thing going on, but that's almost a given in this genre. It seemed like it was resolved by the end of the book, but I won't be surprised if it gets revived for the next one. For now I'm happy as my favorite guy gets the girls for once.

All in all a very entertaining book that you shouldn't take serious for even one moment. I'll pick up the next book soon.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun and enjoyable Paranormal read

buy from amazon