Reprise Review: Eulalie and Washerwoman by Malcolm R. Campbell

 Genre: Magical Realism/Fantasy/Folk Tales

Description:

“Torreya, a small 1950s Florida Panhandle town, is losing its men. They disappear on nights with no moon and no witnesses. Foreclosure signs appear in their yards the following day while thugs associated with the Klan take everything of value from inside treasured homes that will soon be torn down. The police won't investigate, and the church keeps its distance from all social and political discord.

Conjure woman Eulalie Jenkins, her shamanistic cat, Lena, and neighbor Willie Tate discover that the new 'whites only' policy at the once friendly mercantile and the creation of a plantation-style subdivision are linked to corrupt city fathers, the disappearing men, rigged numbers gambling, and a powerful hoodoo man named Washerwoman. After he refuses to carry Eulalie's herbs and eggs and Willie's corn, mercantile owner Lane Walker is drawn into the web of lies before he, too, disappears.

Washerwoman knows how to cover his tracks with the magic he learned from Florida's most famous root doctor, Uncle Monday, so he is more elusive than hen's teeth, more dangerous that the Klan, and threatens to brutally remove any obstacle in the way of his profits. In this follow up to Conjure Woman's Cat, Eulalie and Lena face their greatest challenge with scarce support from townspeople who are scared of their own shadows. Even though Eulalie is older than dirt, her faith in the good Lord and her endless supply of spells guarantee she will give Washerwoman a run for his ill-gotten money in this swamps and piney woods story.”

Author:

Malcolm R. Campbell lives in north Georgia and has worked as a corporate communications director, technical writer, and college journalism instructor. He now works as a grant writer for museums and other nonprofit organizations.

“Campbell's fantasy novels were inspired by his work in Glacier National Park, an aircraft carrier cruise, and time spent in Florida's swamps. His paranormal ghost stories were inspired (of course) by his experiences with things that go bump in the night.”

To learn more check out Mr. Campbell’s website, blog, or follow him on Facebook.

Appraisal:

I love Lena’s irreverent narration throughout this story. She is able to give us a unique perspective of an era from the past most of us haven’t experienced. Since Lena is a cat she can’t be bothered by human emotions, unless you are scratching her behind her ears. This tale, while being fiction, rings true on many facts. The addition of magical realism brings us an eccentric, enthralling, and entertaining history of days gone by.

It wasn’t all white mistreatment and abuse on the black population, there was black on black abuse as well. Greed is the common agent that knows no color. Thank goodness Eulalie is around to try to set some misdeeds right. Pitted against a powerful hoodoo man, who practices black magic, it’s questionable whether Eulalie can outwit and best Washerwoman to return a more even balance of powers in her corner of the world. The struggles are realistic of the time.

I love that Eulalie’s and Willie Tate’s relationship is more fully explained and I am glad Adelaide, Eulalie’s daughter, is back in town. Old family secrets are exposed and this made my heart smile. Please be aware that the language in this story is not always politically correct, however it is true to the era. I found this a thoroughly enjoyable tale and while the main story arc was brought to a satisfactory end for the time being, things are still open. Also, Eulalie takes off on a whole new adventure that is sure to be entertaining on an emotional level.

I can’t wait!

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Eulalie and Washerwoman is book two in Malcolm R. Campbell’s, Florida Folk Magic Stories. I believe this can be read as a standalone, however the characters are unique and some depth could be lost. Also, please be aware that the language is not always politically correct, however it is true to the era.

Original review posted January 23, 2017.

Format/Typo Issues:

I came across a small number of proofing issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 40-45,000 words

Reprise Review: Touching Charlotte by Lyn Horner

 Genre: Contemporary/Romantic Suspense/World Mythology/Magical Realism

Description:

“Tristan is a former NYPD cop turned celebrity pastry chef and author. Bereft by the death of his fiancée two years earlier, he has no desire for a new romance, until a gorgeous redhead catches his eye at a stuffy Park Avenue Christmas party…Charlotte is a Guardian of Danu charged with protecting one of seven valuable scrolls handed down through time by her ancestors. She works as a nurse-companion for a disabled girl, living in a lonely mansion on Long Island’s Gold Coast…

Like all of the Guardians, Char possesses a unique psychic gift, in her case the empathic ability to absorb other people’s emotions, especially through touch…So begins a romance complicated by Char’s responsibility for her young charge and her sworn duty as a Guardian. Surprise guests and evil enemies threaten to destroy their one chance for happiness. Will Tristan overcome such obstacles to win his lady? Can she trust him with terrible secrets?”

Author:

“Lyn Horner is a baby boomer born in San Francisco, California, raised in Minnesota and now residing in Texas with her husband and an ever-changing band of cantankerous, beloved cats. Trained in the visual arts, Lyn first worked as a fashion illustrator in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and later as an art instructor for Art Instruction Schools… After quitting work to raise her children, she took up writing to save her sanity. This hobby quickly morphed into an obsession with historical research and plot building.”

Learn more about Ms. Horner by visiting her website or follow her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Charlotte Dixon has an empathetic gift which has caused her to seclude herself from most of society after she completed her education. She is now working as a live-in caretaker for the mentally - and physically - challenged daughter of a politician who cares more about her career than for her own child. Not surprisingly, Charlotte has become a surrogate mother to thirteen-year-old Marilee, who has the mental capacity of a three-year-old.

Tristen Jameson, a former police officer and now pastry chef, is able to nurture Charlotte while offering her protection. If only she would lower her walls long enough for him to touch her. Trust is one of the most important themes woven into each of the guardians’ stories. Tristen’s sexual desire for Charlotte leads him to follow her, more or less by blind faith. Charlotte’s crumbling protective walls are heart-warming as her feelings for Tristen grow.

I am loving the way Danu, mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann, is pairing her guardians up with mates who complement and support them. I am finding this added element for each character enthralling.

Touching Charlotte moves at a nice, steady pace, the characters are all well-developed, and the banter is also realistically engaging. The twists in the plot are unexpected as certain elements are exposed. Tension for the impending war is rising as the evil that seeks the scrolls for their own gain is becoming more evident. I am excited to meet the remaining guardians. I hope I don’t have to wait too long.??

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Touching Charlotte is book four in Lyn Horner’s Romancing the Guardians series. Each book builds on the previous stories, so I would recommend reading them in order. There are explicit adult sexual scenes, but no inappropriate language.

Original review posted on September 14, 2016.

Format/Typo Issues:

There were a small number of proofing issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 45-50,000 words

Review: Beasts of Sonara by Shawn C. Butler

 

Genre: Humorous science fiction, magical realism

Description:

“Tourist Raymond Molina finds the body of a young biologist in a Costa Rican bay—apparent victim of a shark attack—but no one knows how she got there. As Ray searches for what really happened to her, he stumbles onto the best kept secret in the natural world.”

Author:

Shawn C. Butler is the author of Run Lab Rat Run, the first book in the Modified series about genetic engineering, human modification, and our often violent search for immortality. He lives in Southern California. You can visit him online at his website or on Twitter. You might even find him out running the trails of San Jacinto when he’s not injured like the natural he is.

Appraisal:

The Beasts of Sonara is, for a large part, a stylishly written novel that starts with a heart-racing battle of a surfer against a giant wave and the discovery of a severed head. It is liberally splashed with fine prose: “You could sit by her infinity pool and watch the ocean distort space and time until the sun swelled into a fat red eye at the edge of the world.” “The ocean was an intimate whisper of tiny waves on warm, golden sand.”

The initial rush, however, soon turns languid, and the woman’s head becomes the object of an emotionless search for what happened to the victim. There is a secret to the head that might have had global consequences, except that it didn’t, and the threat had ended before the victim died.

The story presents no tension except in the sense of a soap opera. Maybe something will happen in the next episode or the next chapter. Thousands of words are spent on describing relationships that don’t really lead to anything. The protagonist’s lover is at times distant and at times warm. There is no hint, until the end, of her true feelings, which are inexplicable. The writing devolves into: “Damn it,” I said. “How did you know? Wait…” I thought I had it. “Izzy told Harry, Harry told you, you told Karla, and now everyone knows.”

And this: “Alone. They said such strange things. We are all alone. The world is alone. The sea is alone. We are always alone, even when together. How can I not leave you where you are? But I stayed. The waves rose and fell and we with them, one and together and alone.” This is the musing of a sentient octopus, but still the writer could have given it a less awkward voice.

There are several attempts at aphorisms that fall short of folk wisdom. “Maybe love was time. If you didn’t know yourself, you couldn’t know past or future, only now. We are all alone, but love was the short time we were alone together. Love was sharing time.”

One character is revealed as gay, with no indication of why it matters to the story, because it doesn’t. There are references to Japanese aesthetics wabi, sabi, aware. The author quotes several poems including one by Hakuin Ekaku about a monkey that seems intended to reflect a giant howler in the novel. On reading Ekaku’s poem, I felt the novel was a massive choka, strong on aura, but without the form, the substance or the tension one would expect from Japanese poetry.

The story doesn’t so much come to a satisfying resolution as the author simply and mercifully stops writing.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

A few “F” bombs.

Format/Typo Issues:

Very few

Rating: *** Three Stars

Reviewed by: Sam Waite

Approximate word count: 115-120,000 words

Reprise Review: Capturing Gabriel by Lyn Horner

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense/World Mythology/Magical Realism

Description:

“What’s a handsome Colombian psychic with super-hero-power to do with a spirited Navajo beauty who invades his territory? Why, kidnap her of course.

Chopper pilot Josie Tseda served in Afghanistan, extracting soldiers from deadly situations. She knows how to take care of herself. But when she vows to find Gabriel Valdez, a Guardian of Danu, and deliver him to a gathering of the Council of Guardians, she may have bitten off more than she can chew.

Locating Gabriel in the mountains of Colombia is hard enough. Josie didn’t count on ending up his prisoner – or on falling for him.

Gabriel is battling Colombian drug traffickers and seeking revenge against the man who murdered his mother. He’s not looking for romance and doesn’t trust the feisty American female who wants to fly him off to the U.S. The message she conveys directing him to return with her, supposedly coming from the High Guardian, may be a lie to ensnare him and steal the precious scroll he guards.

Yet, he can’t help wanting her. Will he allow her to capture his heart or will the secret power he wields ultimately drive her away?”

Author:

“Lyn Horner is a baby boomer born in San Francisco, California, raised in Minnesota and now residing in Texas with her husband and an ever-changing band of cantankerous, beloved cats. Trained in the visual arts, Lyn first worked as a fashion illustrator in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and later as an art instructor for Art Instruction Schools… After quitting work to raise her children, she took up writing to save her sanity. This hobby quickly morphed into an obsession with historical research and plot building.”

Learn more about Ms. Horner by visiting her website or follow her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Josie Tseda is totally out of her element on this mission to collect Gabriel Valdez from the midst of the Colombian mountains. Gabriel is busy fighting his own war in hostile territory and has no reason to believe Josie’s far-fetched tale of murder and intrigue. The action and tension start early in this story. Josie must learn to change her tactics and go along with Gabriel for her own safety; in the process she is able to learn more about the man who holds her captive. As her trust grows, Gabriel lets his guard down a little at a time.

As their mutual respect increases so does the passion neither one of them can deny. Showing that vulnerability, though, is another story for both of them. They are both warriors, so getting them to fight for a kindred cause at the same time is the biggest problem. Being a guardian of an ancient scroll complicates Gabriel’s quest to avenge his mother’s death against the local drug cartel. He is an honorable man and believes in both causes.

This book has it all; adventure, violence, sexual tension, magic, and a heart-rending family history to hold it all together. I think Gabriel is my favorite character so far, and it makes my heart ache for him at the same time for the burden he has to carry. What more could a reader ask for?

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Capturing Gabriel is book three in Lyn Horner’s Romancing the Guardians series, following Rescuing Lara and Decoding Michaela. I would recommend reading this series in order. This book does contain sexual situations that may offend some.

Original review posted September 2, 2016

Format/Typo Issues:

I found no significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 100-105,000 words

Reprise Review: Sarabande by Malcolm R. Campbell

 

Genre: Magical Realism/Adventure/Literary/Fantasy

Description:

“When Sarabande’s sister Dryad haunts her for three years beyond the grave, Sarabande begins a dangerous journey into the past to either raise her cruel sister from the dead, ending the torment, or to take her place in the safe darkness of the earth. In spite of unsettling predictions about her trip, Sarabande leaves the mountains of Pyrrha and Montana on a black horse named Sikimí and heads for the cornfields of Illinois in search of Robert Adams, the once powerful Sun Singer, hoping he can help with her quest.”

Author:

“Malcolm R. Campbell is the author of satire and magical realism: Conjure Woman's Cat (2015), The Sun Singer (2004, 2010, 2015), Sarabande (2011 and 2015), Jock Stewart and the Missing Sea of Fire (2009). His Jock Talks...Politics collection of satire is a Pushcart Prize 2013 nominee. Jock Stewart Strikes Back is a collection of humorous stores that was released in 2014. An excerpt from Conjure Woman's Cat was nominated in 2015 for a Pushcart Prize.”

For more information about Mr. Campbell check out his blog or followhim on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Sarabande is an amazingly well told tale of redemption that starts off with Sarabande seeking Robert Adams help to settle Dryad’s haunting torment. Her quest starts off well through the dimensional divide and Mr. Campbell’s poetic prose is spellbinding as he paints a picture of Sarabande riding Sikimi through the night sky. Things then go terribly awry in a horrific set of events. Sarabande must draw on all of her inner strength to survive.

Sarabande finds an ally in Billy Looks Far, who is able to help her on many levels to put her back on the path to fulfill her quest. However, she must find her own way to recover from the emotional turmoil and to find her way back to her own power. The plot is full of twists that caught me off guard at times. She does find Robert who is fully Robert Adams, not the Osprey she was actually seeking. He has turned his back on being the Sun Singer to appease his parents. Finding no help from Osprey, Sarabande plans to head back home without help. The trickster coyote delays her trip which gives Robert time to change his mind about going back with her.

But hold on, the twists in the plot are ongoing and Sarabande teaches Robert about trusting your guide instead of your own logic. Magic and logic don’t often travel hand in hand. The plights they encounter are surprising on both sides of the dimensional divide. Events are disastrous and surprising once again. Mr. Campbell may have as well have torn my insides out with the way this story ended. However, it seems as though Sarabande is well on her way to healing her psyche. Which left me feeling good, however, the why and how of it still has me debating. I have to learn how to trust the author, right?

Buy now from:    Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Sarabande is book 2 in the Mountain Journeys series. I should include this book contains a rape scene and other scenes with graphic violence. So if you are sensitive about those subjects, BEWARE!

Original review posted January 5, 2016.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 75,000-80,000 words

Review: Fate’s Arrows by Malcolm Campbell

Editors Note: This is the second half of a doubleshot review. Today we'll see ?wazithinkin's thoughts on this book. In case you missed it, our prior review gave Judi Moore's views on the same book.

Genre: Magical Realism/Fantasy/Folk Tales

Description:

“In 1954, the small Florida Panhandle town of Torreya had more Klansmen per acre than fire ants. Sparrow, a bag lady; Pollyanna, an auditor; and Jack, the owner of Slade’s Diner, step on fire ants and Klansmen whenever they can while an unknown archer fires fate-changing arrows at the Klan’s leadership. They are not who they appear to be, and while they take risks, they must be discrete lest they end up in the Klan’s gunsights.

When Julia and Eldon, a married couple from Harlem, New York, run afoul of the Klan because of Eldon’s pro-union stance at the sawmill, they find themselves down at the ancient hanging tree where two policemen, hiding their identity beneath white robes and hoods, are the ones holding the noose.

Meanwhile, Sparrow seems to have disappeared. When the ne’er-do-well Shelton brothers beat up the Klavern’s exalted cyclops because they think he harmed Sparrow, they, too, find themselves the focus of a KKK manhunt.

Bolstered by support from a black cat and an older-than-dirt conjure woman, Pollyanna persists in her fight against the Klan, determined to restore law and order to a town overwhelmed by corruption.”

Author:

Malcolm R. Campbell, “previously worked as an insurance company's training materials designer, a police management school's course materials developer, a mental health department unit manager, a technical writer, a grant writer, a corporate communications director, and a railway museum’s volunteer collections manager.

His fantasy novels were inspired by Glacier Park Montana where he worked as a bellman and from a tour of duty aboard an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War.

He grew up in the Florida Panhandle, a wondrous place often called “the other Florida” and “the forgotten coast,” that was the perfect environment for growing up and learning about writing and magical realism.

Campbell lives on a north Georgia farm with his wife, Lesa, and their two cats.” He dreams that one day their menagerie will include two miniature burros, and a couple of fainting goats for his wife, Lesa.

To learn more check-out Mr. Campbell’s website, or follow him on Facebook.

Appraisal:

The blurb for Fate’s Arrows says it all. The plot moves at a nice pace and the twists and turns pack lots of surprise. Tension runs high as the Klan exerts their power over the town of Torreya. The archer is an unknown entity fighting the good fight but never killing. Pollyanna is a different story, she can be deadly when pushed to her limits.

Torreya is a tangled web of corruption and Klan members. However, Rudy Flowers, the chief of police, is a good man as well as some of the business owners around town. The problem is they are outnumbered by the Klan and it doesn’t take much to get your name on the short list.

I loved the talk Willie had with Eldon. Wise words were spoken, I’m just not sure the advice hit the mark as deeply as they needed to go. Old habits are hard to break.

Eulalie is feeling her age, but does what she can to bolster Pollyanna with her fight against the Klan. And Lena is ever present to keep Eulalie and Pollyanna apprised. Lena is the best secret agent ever.

The ending I did not see coming! You think you know somebody then BAM, right out of left field it knocks you for a loop! I found Fate’s Arrows well told with several threads woven together to make it an encompassing tale of the era. It’s raw and fraught with danger. The Klan may operate differently these days, but it is still alive and well.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Fate’s Arrows is book #4 in Malcolm Campbell’s, Florida Folk Magic Stories. Brace yourself, there are a few F-bombs dropped, and racist language.

Format/Typo Issues:

A few more proofing errors than I like to see in this length of book. Mostly missing letters that change a word, extra words, or wrong words.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 words

Review: Dreamland: A Ghost Story by Nick Clausen

Genre: Magical Realism/Ghosts/Young Adult

Description:

“In his dreams, Louie begins visiting an alternate reality where he meets his father, who died when Louie was still a baby. At first, it seems like a wonderful opportunity for Louie to finally get to know his dad. But things aren’t exactly what they seem, and great horrors loom very close by.

The place Louie enters in his sleep—called Dreamland—is only a small part of the dreamworld. All around it lies The Outskirts. That’s where nightmares come from. And the creatures who live there are constantly on the lookout for new prey. Someone they can lure in and catch. Someone they can keep as their prisoner for all eternity.

Will Louie lose himself forever in dreams? Or will he manage to wake up in time?”

Author:

“Nick Clausen writes chilling horror and apocalyptic tales so that he doesn't need to work a real job. He lives in a tiny country far, far away and he grew up on rye bread porridge and Stephen King books.

Published in four different languages, he has written several popular books, including They Come at Night and Human Flesh, and is right now working on ending the world one day at a time in his zombie series Dead Meat.”

To learn more about Mr. Clausen please visit his website.

Appraisal:

Louie is a twelve-year-boy who has started having dreams that take him to a realm of dreams he learns to call Dreamland. The colors are off, but it looks like a small town with a park, a railroad, and stores. However, the only person there is a man in a blue suit and Louie. The blue suit man stays at a distance until he feels like he can approach Louie without scaring him. Blue suit man aims to earn Louie’s trust above all else. Blue suit man shows him around Dreamland. It’s a small contained perfect world which is surrounded by the outskirts. The outskirts are gray and gloomy. It is where monsters and nightmares live. Blue suit man tells Louie he is his father who died when Louie was one year old. Stories his dad tells Louie turn out to be true when he fact checks with his mom. So Louie uses his time in Dreamland to get to know his father. Louie is totally enthralled with his dad, and he feels safe escaping to Dreamland.

Louie’s mom, Ellen, still mourns her husband’s death from cancer eleven years ago. She has a fear of commitment, which manifests in moving every few months, but not out of the town they live in. Louie locates the house they used to live in as a small family. It’s abandoned, run down, and is rumored to be haunted, which Louie dismisses. When Louie starts spending too much time in Dreamland things start to go sideways. Louie is losing control and tension goes into overdrive as the darkness starts to move around and claim Louie.  

The rich description of Louie and his mom’s world put you in the story. Dreamland is easily watched from afar, and the darkness is all consuming and unrelenting. So hold on to your wits, and your seat for this wild ride.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

Only a few proofing misses, nothing that threw me out of the story.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 words

Review: Widely Scattered Ghosts by Malcolm R. Campbell

Genre: Magical Realism/Ghosts/Short Stories

Description:

“A readers’ advisory for this collection of nine stories forecasts widely scattered ghosts with a chance of rain. Caution is urged at the following uncertain places: an abandoned mental hospital, the woods behind a pleasant subdivision, a small fishing village, a mountain lake, a long-closed theater undergoing restoration, a feared bridge over a swampy river, a historic district street at dusk, the bedroom of a girl who waited until the last minute to write her book report from an allegedly dead author, and the woods near a conjure woman’s house.

In effect from the words ‘light of the harvest moon was brilliant’ until the last phrase ‘forever rest in peace,’ this advisory includes—but may not be limited to—the Florida Panhandle, northwest Montana, central Illinois, and eastern Missouri.”

Author:

“Malcolm R. Campbell is the author of magical realism and fantasy…His work has appeared in The Lascaux Prize 2014 Anthology, Spirits of St. Louis: Missouri Ghost Stories Anthology, ‘Quail Bell Magazine,’ ‘A View inside Glacier National Park: 100 years, 100 Stories,’ ‘Future Earth Magazine,’ ‘The Smoking Poet Magazine,’ ‘Nonprofit World Magazine,’ ‘Nostalgia Magazine,’ and ‘Living Jackson Magazine.’

His fantasy novels were inspired by Glacier Park Montana where he worked as a bellman and from a tour of duty aboard an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War.

He grew up in the Florida Panhandle, a wondrous place often called ‘the other Florida’ and ‘the forgotten coast,’ that was the perfect environment for growing up and learning about writing and magical realism.”

You can learn more about Mr. Campbell”s books on his website, or follow him on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Widely Scattered Ghosts begins with Moonlight and Ghosts: A couple visits an old abandoned mental hospital and development center at night, to quell some troubling dreams. This story draws you in quickly and kept me on tenterhooks until the very end. It had the right amount of tension to be spooky and just enough heart to leave a smile on my face.

Map Maker: Emily is a seventh-grade girl who sees and communes with spirits. She enjoys exploring in the woods behind her family’s house and her territory has expanded to the abandoned ruins of an estate. Her father, Martin (a civil engineer) made her a personal, poster-sized street map of the area and she enjoys adding her own personal touches. The woods behind her house, which the abandoned estate sits on, she has named The Ancient and Sacred Forest on her map. Her father tells her that area is in danger of being bulldozed and sold off as lots for a new subdivision.

Sweetbay Magnolia: Emily is visiting her grandmother, who lives a few blocks away. Granny is missing her almost forever home down by the river. Later that day Emily accompanies her father to an out of town meeting. The conversation between father and daughter is engaging, entertaining, and humorous. Father leaves Emily with the truck and keys to enjoy the river and the dock as he goes to his meeting. It’s twilight and foggy which is ripe for ghosts and spirits who reveal some intimate family secrets about granny’s past. The story is compelling and engaging.

High County Painter: Emily’s family takes a vacation to a mountain resort with a lake and hiking trails. Emily communes with nature spirits and learns a little magic. It’s a little unclear if this is a dream or actually happened. It’s a fun story.

The Opera House Ghosts: This is a hoot of an adventure that includes its own ghost story. Emily’s father is helping with the restoration of an old opera house. So, while he is away with meetings, we finally get to spend some time with Emily’s mom, Sarah, as they explore the old unique theater with lots of history and colorful spirits. Emily is growing into her own, she is fourteen in this story and refuses to take guff from anyone, alive or dead.

Cora’s Crossing: A spirit is awakened on a haunted bridge to aid a young woman. This is a gripping tale with some unsuspecting friends who get lost in the heavy fog. John and Randy end up with quite a tale to tell if they dare.

The Lady of the Blue Hour: A spirit story of a different kind. The story starts out a little puzzling as we are brought up to speed of a spirit running amok. A heartwarming tale of one soul of a tragedy. Don’t tell anyone, but, Kenneth has a little crush on Melinda.

Patience, I Presume: Prudence Lowe is a college student living at home. She needs to read the book she has chosen and write a book report on it which is due the following day. When the blowing snow knocks out the electricity strange things start happening in her room. It just so happens that the author of the book she chose to read used to live down the street and around the corner when she was alive. There is a rumor that the author actually channeled a spirit for her stories. Prudence’s interest is piqued beyond being prudent. The characters are engaging, entertaining, and a little spooky.

Haints in the Woods: This story is told by Lena, mostly. Eulalie is fit to be tied. It shouldn’t take Willie all afternoon to get a quart of milk from the Mercantile. The haints are flying since the graveyard has been relocated. When Pollyanna shows up with a crate full of bridal shower gifts for Eulalie, since there was no bridal shower. While sitting on the back porch, Pollyanna and Eulalie get soused on Eulalie’s best moonshine. Since Eulalie needs a distraction from her anger the crate of gifts turns out to be the perfect solution. The crate and Pollyanna worked its magic, and Eulalie declared Pollyanna down right shameful.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

  

FYI:

Some of these short stories have been previously published, but are now out of print.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 40-45,000 words

Review: Tempting Adam by Lyn Horner

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense/World Mythology/Magical Realism

Description:

“He walked away from her once meaning to protect her and broke her heart.

Can she forgive him and overcome his stubborn resistance to love?

Guardian of Danu, Adam Dvorak has the power to make plants grow with a mere touch, but will he allow love to grow? An agronomist teaching better farming methods in a semi-desert region of northern Kenya, he has an accident and ends up in the local hospital where, to his shock, his former love Ellie Graham is a nurse. He’d never expected to see her again.

Ellie is equally shocked to see him. How could fate be so cruel, putting her in Adam’s path again? Her bruised heart tells her to avoid him, but circumstances dictate otherwise, and their mutual attraction soon flares to life. Will the temptation to accept Ellie as his mate conquer Adam’s fear for her? The High Guardian’s arrival and the pernicious Hellhounds may force him into a difficult decision as this saga builds toward a climax in the eighth and final book, A Might Chieftain.”

Author:

“Lyn Horner is a baby boomer born in San Francisco, California, raised in Minnesota and now residing in Texas with her husband and an ever-changing band of cantankerous, beloved cats. Trained in the visual arts, Lyn first worked as a fashion illustrator in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and later as an art instructor for Art Instruction Schools… After quitting work to raise her children, she took up writing to save her sanity. This hobby quickly morphed into an obsession with historical research and plot building.”

Learn more about Ms. Horner by visiting her website or follow her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Adam Dvorak is a Guardian of Danu who has the power to make plants grow with a mere touch. He also understands the danger that comes with being a protector of his family’s ancient scroll. He has devoted his life to help desert area inhabitants develop profitable farm lands with their limited water supply. He is in Kenya in a remote village teaching and helping form crop terraces on the side of a small hill to increase crop yields. While in Kenya Adam is injured and knocked unconscious when moving a large boulder. Ikeno, his assistant and translator, and the farmer, Jebril, rush him to the nearest hospital.

Ellie Graham is a nurse in the small hospital. Two years ago Adam broke her heart by leaving her when he felt like being in a relationship with him could cause her harm. His intent was to protect her, but he wouldn’t or couldn’t explain to her why. When she recognizes Adam her heart is torn open again. She treats him while he is unconscious, but as soon as he awakens she changes schedules with another nurse to avoid speaking to him. However, he is crafty and sly and manages to find where she lives. He wants to apologize for the way he left her two years ago. Then he complicates their relationship again when he gets drunk and finds her at a tribal celebration with a man he doesn’t like. Yeah Adam is a mess, but a likeable character with baggage.

The plot is an emotional roller coaster as it twists and turns in unexpected ways. Ellie refuses to let Adam leave her behind again. However, she is in for a rude awakening when they are chased by the Hellhounds after Conn and Lara come to bring Adam back to the states to be with the rest of the guardians. Tension is ratcheted up as they are chased across the desert with very few places to hide. Back in the states the Hellhounds are quickly on their tail again, and are zeroing in on the Guardians’ hidey-hole. More hints are dropped about who has organized the Hellhounds. I also foresee that Lara will have some difficult decisions to make. The showdown between the Guardians and the Hellhounds is imminent. Better get ready to hold on tight.   

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Tempting Adam is book 7 in Lyn Horner’s Romancing the Guardians Series. This book does contain sexual situations that may offend some.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 40-45,000 words

Review: Lena by Malcolm R. Campbell

Genre: Magical Realism/Fantasy/Folk Tales

Description:

“When Police Chief Alton Gravely and Officer Carothers escalate the feud between ‘Torreya’s finest’ and conjure woman Eulalie Jenkins by running her off the road into a north Florida swamp, the borrowed pickup truck is salvaged but Eulalie is missing and presumed dead. Her cat Lena survives. Lena could provide an accurate account of the crime, but the county sheriff is unlikely to interview a pet.

Lena doesn’t think Eulalie is dead, but the conjure woman’s family and friends don’t believe her. Eulalie’s daughter Adelaide wants to stir things up, and the church deacon wants everyone to stay out of sight. There’s talk of an eyewitness, but either Adelaide made that up to worry the police, or the witness is too scared to come forward.

When the feared Black Robes of the Klan attack the first responder who believes the wreck might have been staged, Lena is the only one who can help him try to fight them off. After that, all hope seems lost, because if Eulalie is alive and finds her way back to Torreya, there are plenty of people waiting to kill her and make sure she stays dead.”

Author:

Malcolm R. Campbell lives in north Georgia and has worked as a corporate communications director, technical writer, and college journalism instructor. He now works as a grant writer for museums and other nonprofit organizations.

“Campbell's fantasy novels were inspired by his work in Glacier National Park, an aircraft carrier cruise, and time spent in Florida's swamps. His paranormal ghost stories were inspired (of course) by his experiences with things that go bump in the night.”

To learn more check out Mr. Campbell’s website or follow him onFacebook.

Appraisal:

I have been looking forward to this book. At the end of Eulalie and Washerwoman Eulalie was leaving to fetch Willie back home. They’ve had a long-standing relationship and Eulalie was ready to take it to the next level. Being a romantic at heart I was ready for this relationship to move forward. So, what does Mr. Campbell do? He puts Eulalie in peril! Which in turn kept me reading late into the night.

Thank goodness Lena survived the wreck into the swamp, but Eulalie is missing and feared dead. Fortunately Eulalie’s daughter Adelaide has some of her mama’s conjure ability. However, she is a little too head-strong and undisciplined. Pollyanna, is a new character with a lot of spit-fire and potential. I really liked her and can’t wait to see more of her. And I really want to know who her father is.

The plot twists really shouldn’t surprise me. The town of Torreya is full of high-positioned men who secretly belong to the KKK. They are cruel, evil, and easy to hate. Towards the end of the book Joe Moore, the local raccoon, scared the bejeezus out of me with his prophesy to Lena about the coming day. After my heart started beating again, and the tense cluster... uhhh... a mess of a climax. I was completely satisfied and it left me with a smile on my face.

My favorite sentence in this story:

“Like a conjure woman, the good Lord does his work with the materials at hand,”

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Lena is the third book in Mr. Campbell’s Florida Folk Magic Stories. Following Conjure Woman’s Cat, and Eulalie and Washerwoman. Please be aware the language is not always politically correct, however it is true to the era.

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of proofing errors, nothing that threw me out of the story.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words