Review: Pretty Witches All in a Row by Lisa Olsen

eBook $3.99, Paperback $12.99

For anyone who has doubts about the quality of self-published books, I have a suggestion for you that can be summed up in two words: Lisa Olsen.

Lisa is one of the finest new authors to come along in recent years. I’ll be doing reviews for her other books in the weeks to come, but let’s start with Pretty Witches All in a Row. In this spectacular novel, she blends the police procedural novel with elements of the supernatural that makes me think of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series.

Someone is killing the members of a coven. Enter Detective Nick Gibson, a practical, down-to-earth cop/single father of a teenage daughter, a man who’s having a hard time buying into the idea of witches and covens and prophetic dreams. Will he fall under the spell of the beautiful Annaliese, a self-professed witch who’s a member of the targeted coven? Has she really had premonitions of the murders in herdreams, or could there be another reason for her knowledge of the murders? Is Nick a fool to trust her?

Ms. Olsen is a skilled writer whose expert pacing keeps the story moving.She weaves the elements of fantasy into her real-world setting with confidence and populates her fictional world with well-developed, believable characters. This is a book you’ll have a hard time putting down. And even though the ending is quite satisfying, you’ll undoubtedly be begging for more!

Still Got Those Gift Cards?

So, I’m sure you have yet to fill those shiny new Kindles and Nooks you all got for Christmas. I mentioned this book in an earlier post but I need to give it its own listing. Fellow WMD Author Norma Beishir has proven herself time and again. Having traditionally published 14 novels and made bestseller lists, she obviously knows how to write. Now that she has gone Indie, her incredible creativity comes out even more. With her upcoming book, Army of Angels, coming out in 2012, I figured I would call attention to the first book of the series, Chasing the Wind. If you haven’t gotten it yet, you’re missing out. For $2.99 in eBook format, you’d be crazy to pass this one up.

eBook is $2.99 and Print is $15.00

Mike’s Review

Get ready for an intense ride with Chasing the Wind. This book grabbed me from the beginning and never let go.

Dr. Lynne Raven is an archeologist on a dig in Egypt, looking for biblical artifacts from the time of the Exodus. The problem is, money is drying up and it looks like the dig is over until a saving grace comes along in the form of a man named Connor Mackenzie. He is a man shrouded in mystery and has an obvious interest in Lynne, but he also has access to what appears to be near limitless wealth. He offers to fund the dig for 5 years and provides resources they could never have dreamed of.

Lynne is approaching middle age. She is divorced and has no children, but always wanted them. Connor’s interest in her transformed when he did something that he never thought would happen: he fell in love with her. That’s when the flood gates opened.

Connor’s mysterious past comes alive. He and Lynne both discover that there is far more to his past, and their future, than either of them could have ever imagined. Pursued by a mysterious cult that seems to believe Connor is the way to jumpstart the Apocoalypse, they must fight for their very survival.

Aspects of this book are actually brought about by real research. The portions of the Exodus mentioned in this book (the timing of it, the parting of the Reed Sea instead of the Red Sea, etc) are actual debates taking place with biblical scholars.

The characters also come alive with some great dialogue. Some examples:

“This whole thing is so fishy you could serve it with fries and hushpuppies.”

“You know Darcy, there’s a saying that only the good die young. If that’s true, you’re going to live forever. God doesn’t want you and the devil won’t have you for fear of a power struggle.”

I highly recommend this book. I’m looking forward to the sequel, Army of Angels.

Book Review: “Nothing Without You” (Remember the Eyes, Part 2) by Beth Muscat

Available in eBook format for $3.09.

“Nothing Without You” is the continuation of the “Remember the Eyes” trilogy. Picking up shortly after the first book leaves off, Riley decides to surprise Michael for Christmas with a trip to London to see his family. They have a great time but when they return to school, Riley’s room has been ransacked. Of course, she wants to report it to security, but she never makes it there.

We see the return of Brenda, who is even more psychotic this time around than she was last time and is still obsessed with Michael. In league with Dr. Simpson, a sadistic man, she helps her “boy toy” Doug kidnap Riley for experimentation due to her psychic abilities. Michael vows to do what he must to find her. But how can he do it? By the discovery of something that was secret even from him.

This trilogy focuses on two soulmates who have been together through numerous lifetimes. Their intense love comes surging back from the time of their first meeting in the first book and grows stronger with each passing moment. This particular volume is quite intense. Unlike the first one, there are some disturbing themes and imagery.

Beth Muscat stays true to the characters. You’ll want to take a crowbar to Brenda and Dr. Simpson, who probably don’t even have souls. Your heart will ache for Riley and the trials she endures. You’ll feel for Michael as he is truly lost without her. Fans of paranormal romance will eat this up.

Review: “Remember the Eyes Book 1” by Beth Muscat

Remember the Eyes is available in eBook format for $1.19.

A paranormal romance that doesn’t involve vampires!? I thought that was a dying theme. Well, if it was, Beth Muscat has resurrected it with “Remember the Eyes”, the first book of a trilogy that does not star a vampire. I’m not putting down vampire romances, it’s just nice to see something different.

We are introduced to Riley. She’s a young woman getting ready to go to college. She doesn’t have a high opinion of her appearance but she has something few other people have: psychic ability. Not just some cheesy, vague future predictions either. She can read minds, astral walk, use telekinesis, and is even learning to astral travel.

We have Michael, a young man who lives in London and is looking to go to college somewhere out west. Actually, he is drawn to it. As you might have guessed, it’s the same school Riley is going to. He’s in a band with a group of his friends who are also going to the school.

So everyone manages to get to school. Michael and Riley literally run into each other. Their interest is sparked immediately. Actually, it’s so intense, at first you may say huh? Keep reading. Keep the title in mind. It makes sense.

Now, you can’t have a paranormal romance with out some pesky malcontent getting in the way of the intense love of the main characters. In this case, enter psycho chick Brenda. She’s about as mentally unbalanced as they get.

What is Brenda’s secret?

What is the mystery behind Michael and Riley’s intense connection?

What is the truth behind Riley’s dreams?

Fans of paranormal romance definitely need to check this one out. I am not a fan of paranormal romance and I still found this book to be cool so that should tell you something. At $1.19 on the Kindle, the price is definitely right.