THE HERETIC (Templar Chronicles #1) by @Jnassise #Paranormal #Thriller #fridayreads

The Heretic by Joseph Nassise
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Heretic is book #1 of The Templar Chronicles, a paranormal urban fantasy series.

The Knights Templar have long been documented throughout history and many stories woven about their survival in the modern world.

In this book, a Templar stronghold in Connecticut is mysteriously attacked. There are no visible signs of; entry, skirmish or attack, but all the Knights are killed.

Cade Williams and his elite team are called in; a Templar Knight known as the “Heretic”, Cade has the power of sight which he has used on many occasions during military operations. To his trusted team he adds Sean Duncan.

More Templar strongholds are attacked. Cade can read spiritually from recent people or places, but his team find few clues until Cade visits the “beyond”, a place where spirits dwell. He asks the shade of a Knight for help.

Duncan’s eyes are opened to a whole new form of combat—this new enemy employs paranormal entities as soldiers. Cade has been fighting these beings for some time; his wife was taken from him during a violent attack by a supernatural being. Cade was left with deep permanent scars, his psychic powers woken and revenge driving him forward.

Cade’s team discover that a secret group of Knights are protectors of precious relics owned by the Vatican. The Necromancer leading these attacks is after a spear renowned for the power it gives to its master. With the target known, an exciting battle unfolds for the reader.

I’m always interested in stories involving the Knights Templar; throw in a good paranormal mix of ghosts, demons and psychometry to the thriller storyline and it works for me. The military battle scenes were of less interest to me, but I can see their use in opening the book to a wider audience. There are plenty of loose ends for the series to continue, and I shall look forward to more visits to the “beyond” and more adventures against The Adversary.

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Book Description

Boston SWAT officer Cade Williams didn’t believe in the supernatural until a chance meeting with a fallen angel left his wife dead and him hanging on to life by the thinnest of margins. When he was discharged from the hospital he discovered that not only was he scarred, body and soul, but that the encounter had left him with a few otherworldly talents of his own.

Now, several years later, Knight Commander Cade Williams runs the elite Templar combat unit known as the Echo Team, which puts him in the perfect position to search for the creature that so viciously attacked him and his family that night. His efforts yield little success, however, until a cabal of necromancers attempts to seize an ancient Templar artifact for their own nefarious purposes and gives him the first real lead he’s had in ages. Cade sets out to find the necromancers and, through them, the Adversary, only to encounter something much worse…

About the author

Joseph Nassise is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than a twenty-five novels, including the Templar Chronicles series, the Jeremiah Hunt trilogy, and the Great Undead War series. He has also written several books in the Rogue Angel action/adventure series from Gold Eagle. He is a former president of the Horror Writers Association, the world’s largest organization of professional horror writers, and a multiple Bram Stoker Award and International Horror Guild Award nominee. 

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Rosie’s #BookReview Team #RBRT THE EDGE OF THE CEMETERY by @MMillmore #TuesdayBookBlog

Today’s second team review is from Babus, she blogs at http://ajoobacatsblog.wordpress.com

Babus has been reading The Edge Of The Cemetery by Margaret Millmore

This second book in the series can be read as a stand alone, but to get the full effect and understanding of the story I do recommend reading the books in the correct order.

Having dealt with Vokkel in the last book, our team of ghost killers are confronted by a new and devious enemy in the shape of a seventeenth century muskateer and a teenage boy. As they unravel what they can about this dangerous duo they become aware an old enemy is lurking in the wings for revenge, which he hopes to gain by unleashing a huge amount of evil as per an ancient prophecy.

The narrative in this second volume is crisper and more concise giving this thriller a brisker pace than the first. We learn more about Billy’s mother and the truth about her father too.

The book starts in the midst of a big show down and ends with one. I found the unravelling of clues in this thriller fascinating and could not put this book down. I look forward to reading the next one in this series of supernatural thrillers. This book is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Rosie’s #BookReview Team #RBRT THE EDGE OF THE CEMETERY by @MMillmore #Thriller #Ghosts

Today’s team review is from Teri, she blogs at http://teripolen.com/

Teri has been reading The Edge Of The Cemetery by Margaret Millmore

Let me start by saying I didn’t read the first book in this series, but the author includes some background information in this novel, so I wasn’t completely lost, and feel it could also be read as a standalone.

The whole concept of an international covert organization of ghost killers intrigued me from the start – then you throw in secret vaults, old diaries, and mysterious prophecies?  Yes, please.  I liked how there are both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ ghosts and the way a person can be haunted for a lifetime – that definitely gives the ghost killers job security.  The way the story develops is also intriguing, as George discovers connections between various hauntings and people.  George is likable, but flat, and I didn’t feel as if I had as good a grasp on his character as Billy or some other supporting characters.  The author did a wonderful job with Calvin’s character – he was equally disturbing and creepy.

The story begins and ends with exciting action sequences, but the middle is predominantly information gathering and sharing, making the pacing a little uneven for my taste.  I was also overwhelmed with the sheer number of characters (there were many mentioned, even though some didn’t appear in the book) and had to backtrack several times to remind myself who they were.  At the beginning of the book, there are some grammar and tense errors, but the last 80% or so seemed better edited.

I’d classify The Edge of the Cemetery as more of a supernatural thriller – and if you’re a fan, this is a book you’d enjoy – but with the mention of ghost killers, ghosts, and demons, I was hoping it would be heavier on the horror.  But I’m probably in the minority on that preference.

I received a copy of this book through Rosie’s Book Review Team in exchange for an honest review.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Rosie’s #BookReview Team #RBRT WHAT HAUNTS ME by Margaret Millmore @MMillmore #Thriller

Today’s Team review is from Shelley, she blogs at http://shelleywilsonauthor.com/

Shelley has been reading What Haunts Me by Margaret Millmore

Author: Margaret Millmore

Category: Paranormal

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Review:

George recovers from the flu but finds that he is now able to see the ghosts that haunt people and make them ill. He discovers that he has a skill for killing these creatures and healing the sick person that was being haunted. He is aptly called the ghost killer. As the book progresses, we unearth that this skill has been present since George was a child but he had repressed the memories – until now.

I love the hook in the opening paragraph of this book – ‘Have you ever had one of those dreams that haunted you in your waking hours? Those surreal movies of the subconscious, playing out in your head while you sleep, so detailed and vivid that when you woke, you couldn’t be sure if it was just a dream or a long lost memory…’

The idea of a ghost killer who can harm (and be harmed) by ghostly apparitions is promising, unfortunately, for me, What Haunts Me fell a bit flat after that opening page. I couldn’t connect to George at all and was only able to see him as dull and boring. I did like Billy as her character was fun and feisty.

The story is told from George’s point of view and reads like a diary at times which made it difficult for me to bond with the character. I felt there were far too many sentences starting with ‘I’ -I told him/I couldn’t tell/I rounded/I had six weeks.

For the first eight chapters, there were only four lines of dialogue and this huge bulk of prose caused me to struggle when reading. I kept putting it down and turning to something else. It would benefit the novel greatly, and help move the story forward if the characters spoke. There are numerous situations where dialogue would have built a clearer picture of George, but a lengthy paragraph was used instead, for example; ‘That’s why I wasn’t surprised when my boss called me into his office. He went straight to the point…what was wrong with me? Knowing that the real answer wasn’t appropriate, I told him I had personal issues…’

Great idea for a story as I love paranormal books but What Haunts Me wasn’t the engaging read I had hoped it would be. Far too much telling rather showing.

I received a copy of this book as part of Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team in exchange for an honest review.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

THE GHOST FILES #2 by @AprylBaker #YA #Horror #Bookreview

The Ghost Files 2 by Apryl Baker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Ghost Files #2 is book two in this #YA #Horror series. I enjoyed #1 and downloaded this immediately to continue following the life of Mattie Hathaway, a reaper of souls. Mattie has been in the foster care system most of her life. She is just recovering from a violent attack. She is surrounded by friends; Officer Dan Richards, Dr Olivet, Mary, Meg and Eric a ghost.

Mattie can speak to ghosts, in fact she has abilities to help them cross over and she is a beacon to them, but it has its downsides as darker creatures also want her powers. Officer Dan is helping Mattie find out about her mother, he arrives to take her to her birthday party, but they are confronted by a demon. They only just escape in time and the party meal gets abandoned when it shows up again.

Dan and Mattie hole-up in Dan’s flat, but even here Mattie is drawn to dangerous ghostly beings, but its a revelation from reliable Dan which breaks Mattie’s heart and has her running away. She takes off to New Orleans to help Dr Olivet with a haunted house, but the City of the Dead is so full of ghosts who want help that Mattie is overwhelmed and passes out for three days.

Dr Olivet is working with the Malone family and they help Mattie to keep some of the ghosts at bay, but the house they are investigating holds some very strong evil characters who will stop at nothing to get to Mattie and her powers.

This series has a very compelling storyline, I really enjoy Mattie’s sharp witty narration and there were some unexpected twists and turns which I enjoyed. I did want to learn more about some of the twists and storylines introduced and a couple of times I felt lost. For instance friends set up a party for you and you just leave and no one complains for follows it up? Mattie fears flying, yet next day she’s flying to New Orleans? Throw in a handful of typos and this book was good, but not quite good enough. I’m sure more of the storylines I’m interested in will be explored in the next books in the series.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

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Wake-Robin Ridge by @MarciaMeara #bookreview #Ghosts #Romance

Wake-Robin Ridge by Marcia Meara
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wake-Robin Ridge is a romance with a ghost story. Wake-Robin’s are a species of flower native to North America. This book is set primarily in the Mountains of North Carolina with a time-slip format between the 1960’s and 2011.

We meet Lloyd Carter a child who suffered from vicious whippings by his father which moulded the man he grew to be. He became an angry controller and bully who made wife Ruthie’s life a misery. After one too many beatings she ran away, but Lloyd vowed to find her and get his revenge.

In 2011 Sarah Gray upped sticks and went to live in a log cabin in the Mountains. She wants to write a book and live away from busy cites. Her only neighbour is Mackenzie Cole, a quiet man who keeps himself private. But it’s a small place and they meet often and begin a slow friendship. One you know will simmer gently into something more.

One night Sarah has a frightening ghostly experience and later finds evidence which leads to the trail of a hidden murder.

This is a slow gentle read, the characters are ordinary people and we are taken on a journey which covers much of their everyday habits. There are a couple of wonderful pets and I did enjoy the ghostly element which will surface again in book 2.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

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The Cheesemaker’s House by Jane Cable

The Cheesemaker’s House by Jane Cable

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Cheesemaker’s House is a mystery. Alice Hart has moved to Great Fencote, a village in Yorkshire, after breaking up with her husband. She plans a new start in a house she wants to renovate along with a barn she’d like to turn into a holiday let.

In the small village, she makes friends and finds she’s intrigued by Owen Maltby, but there’s something mysterious about Owen and the way he acts at times. Alice employs Richard Wainwright to help with the renovations but he’d like to be more than friends.

At night Alice can often hear someone crying and what was Owen doing sat under a tree when he should have been somewhere else? When the builders discover a skull in the barn the mystery builds up, Alice has several visions and then Owen disappears and is seen jumping off a bridge into the river. It’s time to discover more about the history of Alice’s house which once belonged to a Cheesemaker and lay some ghosts to rest.

This is an interesting read set in the lovely Yorkshire countryside which includes the life of a village charmer and healer.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

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Yesterday’s News by Sam Cheever

Yesterday’s News by Sam Cheever

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yesterday’s News is a fun cosy mystery with a couple of great ghosts. Anna Yesterday owns an antique shop in small town Crocker Indiana. Two resident ghosts are linked with the shop and their dialogue is superb. Language from yester-year with a full glossary of words at the beginning make their colloquialisms amply fit their characters. For instance;

“The boy’s a grafter. He’ll hornswoggle ya faster’n I can spit tobacco into that pan over there”

The storyline follows the discovery of an old newspaper story, which has been covered up by the townsfolk and when Anna begins some sleuthing to find out the truth she upsets more than one local. It’s not just the ghosts that appealed to me, there is Pierce, an autistic young man and I was rather taken by Mrs Baker’s fierce family loyalty and hard working beliefs.

With the help of ex-cop Pratt Davies, Anna digs deep into Crocker’s past and exposes a dirty tale that many would rather forget. A well written story which left me smiling, sign me up for more.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

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Craving By Sofia Grey

Craving by Sofia Grey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Craving is book 2 in the Talisman Series and I can honestly say that it wasn’t until I was about half way through that I found anything that made me wonder what I’d missed in book 1. This was such an enjoyable read.

Dante is a psychic biker, a young man with tattoos and piercings who is short of cash. We meet him holding a séance in an old RAF aerodrome in Cornwall for students who want to record any activities.

Katherine is one of the circle and Dante labels her as “posh” but is surprised when she returns and offers him a bed for the night. She intrigues him and takes him to her God parents farm near Camelford.

The second night in the aerodrome is much scarier and from it Katherine asks Dante to help her contact her mother. They both return to Manchester, Katherine to her Father’s house and Dante to earn money to pay for his Grandmother’s care home.

In Manchester both Katherine and Dante meet up with Josh and Suki people they’ve known and met before. Suki is haunted by her ex-husband and Josh has met Dante before. Together they find themselves pulled nearer to the darkness and evil of man known as Alistair. Can a new spirit called Eve help Dante out of the mess and the debts he must pay?

I’m a fan of mediums and the psychic world having experienced it’s wonders first hand, so this book appealed to me. It crosses several sub-genres, I would say mild thriller/horror, some hot romance, new adult, ghosts and the after-life. I read the book in a day because I was hooked on the storyline and the strong characters. Definitely worth a read if you like a good ghost mystery.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

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Drowned Murmurs by Honor A Dawson

Drowned Murmurs by Honor Amelia Dawson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Drowned Murmurs is based around a cottage in Cornwall that Michaela has inherited from an Uncle she knew nothing about. Ignoring her Mother’s pleas to sell it and forget about it Michaela and her husband Sam decide they will move in and renovate.

There are sinister tales about the cottage which come from family, neighbours and village gossip and when Michaela starts having visions about a woman named Catherine she believes she is not only dreaming but re-living some of Catherine’s experiences. No one has a good word to say about Catherine and her abilities to be good Mother, but Michaela feels empathy for her and wants to prove her innocence.

I really enjoyed the parts of the book that involved the visions of Catherine and her life there was a lot of emotion and historical detail which drew me in to her circumstances, the parts of the book which were set in Michaela’s life were also full of much emotion, but so much of it was aggressive anger and coldness that I didn’t connect with her as much as I should. She was surrounded by cold angry characters, her Mother and Grace fuelled her anger and I was desperate for some warmth and love so that I could like Michaela. There was a kitten for Michaela to show love to but it’s part didn’t work for me.

Michaela’s determination to find out Catherine’s story is rewarded by the end, sadly too late to save Catherine and her own belief that she caused the deaths of her children, a very sad and quite dark tale.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

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