Tag Archives: mythology

Prophetess ( Talisman 2.5) by Tam DeRudder Jackson-a review

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PROPHETESS ( Talisman 2.5) by Tam DeRudder Jackson-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 20, 2020

Happily ever after is for other people.

Though she traveled extensively in warrior circles throughout the community, both at home in America and abroad in Scotland, Shanley Conlan never discovered her warrior. When the war goddesses killed her sister and brother-in-law, she assumed guardianship of her orphaned niece and walked away from her dreams of life with her fated warrior. In private, she grieved the man who no doubt lost his life when he didn’t find her, a victim of the goddess’s curse.

Resigned to her destiny…

Called back to Scotland to participate in the Samhain rituals sealing the Conlan heir to their ancestral home, Shanley is shocked to find the family harboring a rogue warrior. How else can a man nearing forty still be alive without being mated to his talisman? Worse, she can’t seem to help the lightning-fast attraction she feels for Alaisdair Graham.

Can detours lead to second chances?

Alaisdair is desperate. Gone into hiding thirteen years earlier when he didn’t find his talisman in time, he knows the reprieve from the goddess’s curse is short. If he doesn’t find his mate in the next two weeks, he won’t live long enough to celebrate another Samhain. Thinking he was spared to marry the much-younger Conlan heir, his hopes are dashed when her true warrior arrives. Yet into his life walks Shanley, and he thinks the cosmos have taken his side at last. All he has to do is convince her–before the goddess strikes and takes them all.

••••••••

REVIEW: PROPHETESS is instalment 2.5 and novella in Tam DeRudder’s contemporary, adult TALISMAN paranormal/fantasy Celtic mythology series. This is forty-two year old, Celtic warrior Alaisdair Graham, and prophetess Shanley Conlan’s storyline. PROPHETESS runs parallel to and crosses over with the events of book two Warrior. We are first introduced to Shanley and Alaisdair in Warrior.

NOTE: For a complete history of the events leading up to Shanley and Alaisdair’s meeting and relationship, I recommend reading the series in order especially book two Warrior.

SOME BACKGROUND: Centuries earlier, the Morrigan cursed the descendants of the Sheridan family, a curse that has the potential to be broken with the mating of a warrior and his fated mate. Desperate to prevent the breaking of the curse, Morgan sets into motion a series of battles that will pull the Sheridan family into a war where family and friendships will be tested. Morrigan is part of Celtic mythology representing the cycle of birth and death, but is also the patron of magic and revenge, prophecy and night.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Shanley and Alaisdair) PROPHETESS follows the quick building romance and relationship between forty-two year old, Celtic warrior Alaisdair Graham, and prophetess Shanley Conlan. By the age of twenty-eight, Alaisdair Graham had never found his fated mate; his Talisman; the woman that called to his heart. Fast forward fourteen years, following an eternity on the fringes of warrior society, Alaisdair would come face to face with Shanley Conlan, his fated Talisman, and the woman with whom Alaisdair will fall in love. As the Samhaim approaches, and the war with the Morrigan on the rise, Alaisdair must prepare for battle, as his new-found mate discovers she has the ability to prophesize about the future.

PROPHETESS is a quick read; a fast paced story that overlaps with the events of book two Warrior but focuses on the relationship between two people who thought love and fate had left them behind. The premise is entertaining but I was hoping for a little bit more; the romance is passionate; the characters are colorful and charismatic.

Reading order and Previous Reviews
Talisman
Warrior

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Warrior (Talisman 2) by Tam Derudder Jackson-a review

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Warrior (Talisman) by Tam Derudder Jackson-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK:Release Date February 20, 2020

Only she can save her home …

Upon turning twenty-five, Ceri Ross inherits an estate in Scotland. To avoid losing the druidic enchantments that have kept her alive since her parents’ deaths, she must spend a year at Conlan Manor. When she arrives, she discovers the old druid caretaker isn’t the only one sharing the mansion with her–an uninvited guest is lurking. She calls the security company run by her best friend’s husband and anticipates he’ll set up a system to catch her midnight visitor. Business keeps Rowan Sheridan in the States, but his brother Rio is free–Rio Sheridan, the one man she can’t stop thinking about even though he can never be hers.

Only he can save her…

Ceri Ross is a flirt and a talisman with obligations to the warrior community. She must bond with her fated mate and not spend time with random unattached warriors, yet it seems to Rio that she didn’t get the memo. None of which helps him: the woman calls to him like a siren.

A clan is counting on them.

Hamish Buchanan has taken care of Conlan Manor for years. The energy swirling around the Conlan heir and the big American warrior she’s hired to protect the most secure stronghold in the Highlands gives him hope. If Ceri’s warrior discovers his mate within the confines of the manor, the clan will enjoy enhanced protections from the violent war goddesses for ten generations. If only Ceri and Rio would stop sparring long enough to figure out they belong to each other..

•••••••••

REVIEW: WARRIOR is the second instalment in Tam Derudder Jackson’s contemporary, adult TALISMAN paranormal, fantasy, Celtic mythology series. This is twenty-five year old, event planner Ceri Ross, and twenty-eight year old, security specialist Riordan Sheridan’s story line. WARRIOR can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading book one TALISMAN for back ground and history.

SOME BACKGROUND: Centuries earlier, the Morrigan cursed the descendants of the Sheridan family, a curse that has the potential to be broken with the mating of a warrior and his fated mate. Desperate to prevent the breaking of the curse, Morgan sets into motion a series of battles that will pull the Sheridan family into a war where family and friendships will be tested. Morrigan is part of Celtic mythology representing the cycle of birth and death, but is also the patron of magic and revenge, prophecy and night.

Told from several third person perspectives including Ceri and Rio, WARRIOR focuses on the relationship between twenty-five year old, event planner Ceri Ross, and twenty-eight year old, security specialist Riordan Sheridan. On her twenty-fifth birthday Ceri Ross inherited her family estate in Scotland. To ensure the druidic magic continues to protect our story line heroine, Ceri must spend one year at Conlan Manor leaving her friends and family behind but Ceri discovers there are secrets and magic surrounding Conlan Manor, and heightened security is needed to protect those within. Enter Ceri’s nemesis and current target of aggression Riordan ‘Rio’ Sheridan, and the man with whom Ceri will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Ceri and Rio, and the potential fall-out as Maeve sets her sights on our leading couple.

Riordan ‘Rio’ Sheridan is descended from a long line of Celtic warriors, who before midnight on their twenty-eight birthday must find the woman, their talisman, their fated mate who will fight, in tandem, against the Morrigan(sisters Morgan, Macha and Maeve) or fear fighting beside the goddesses for all eternity. But Rio’s brother Rowan’s mating with Alyssa, broke part of the curse, allowing the warriors to live past their twenty-eighth year.

Rio and Ceri’s attraction to one another is fraught with angry energy and cutting words that barely hide the palpable sexual intensity between a warrior and his talisman but Rio refuses to ‘test’ the theory that Ceri is his mate, preferring to watch from a distance as his anger unfolds. Ceri Ross has known from childhood that she is a talisman, and has trained for the day where she will be asked to stand by his side but with each mating, the talisman will come into her full power, with an ability that is meant to help her mate in an upcoming battle. Immediately upon discovering Rio is her mate, our heroine’s attitude did an abrupt one-eighty knowing they would have to face the Morrigan together. With the approach of Samhain, reinforcements are needed as the Sheridan, Conlans and Ross Clans prepare for a celebration, bringing together Rio’s brothers and their mates , his parents, and Ceri’s aunt in an effort to prepare for the upcoming battle.

The relationship between Ceri and Rio begins acrimoniously as Rio is perturbed to discover that Ceri is a talisman who flirts and flaunts with every available male but his family history will prove there is a backstory to his anger and turmoil. Upon the discovery that Ceri is his talisman, our couple are quick to forget about their jealousy and anger, anger that was growing with every interaction. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Rowan and Alyssa (Talisman #1), Riley and Lynette, their parents Sian and Owen Sheridan, guardian Finn Daly; Ceri’s aunt Shanley; druids Hamish Buchanan and Davy Sutherland; and warrior Alaisdair Graham ; weather god Taranis; goddesses Scathach (warrior woman and martial arts teacher), Maeve and Morgan. Alaisdair and Shanley’s story line is next in Prophetess.

WARRIOR is a detailed story line that closely follows Celtic mythology and lore with druids and warriors; gods and goddesses, magic, family, destiny and love. The complex premise is enchanting, inventive and clever ; the characters are animated and edgy; the romance is seductive and energetic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one TALISMAN

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Ruined Goddess (The Persephone Trilogy #1) by Carly Fall-a review

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Ruined Goddess (The Persephone Trilogy #1) by Carly Fall-a review

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About the book: Release Date March 12, 2020

When the goddess of the Underworld meets a mythical monster, all hell breaks loose.

Persephone used to be a goddess and a queen until she tried to take revenge on Hades for abducting her all those eons ago. Stripped of her magic, she’s just a lonely human, living in the small town of Saint’s Grove, trusting no one, and hiding her true identity. But at least she’s able to live on her own terms.

Jack, Ian and Grizzy make up the band Rowdy South. They’ve spent centuries in their human forms traveling the world and playing their soulful music. However, Jack is certain no one could ever love a monster like him.

In one night, the goddess and the monster ignite a passion that could burn forever… or take them both down in flames when they discover each other’s deception. As danger closes in around the band and Hades returns for unknown reasons, Jack realizes their love could be the stuff of legends… If only he can convince Persephone to trust again and leave the past behind her.

•••••••

REVIEW: RUINED GODDESS is the first instalment in Carly Falls’ adult THE PERSEPHONE erotic, romance, fantasy/paranormal, reverse harem trilogy focusing on goddess and Queen of the Underworld Persephone, and musicians Jack, Ian and Grizzy, three immortal men whose history has crossed paths with the gods of Olympus. THE PERSEPHONE TRILOGY is a spin-off from the author’s More Than Men Trilogy where we were first introduced to our story line heroine. For backstory and history, I recommend reading the More Than Men trilogy. The More Than Men trilogy is set in the multi-authored Saint’s Grove world where an eclipse and an alignment of the planets opened a portal to the Underworld and other worlds.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Persephone and Jack) RUINED GODDESS follows in the aftermath of Hades stripping Persephone of her goddess powers, imprisoning her in a life bound to the earth. In the previous series, Persephone had tried to kill the human woman with whom Hades, Poseidon and Dionysus had fallen in love. Punishment for her sins finds our heroine without her goddess powers struggling to survive in a world she knows little about. Meeting musicians Jack, Ian and Grizzy finds Persephone happy for the first time in hundreds of years but a happiness the will be short lived when she discovers the trio are more than men. Believing she has been lied to, Persephone will push Jack, Ian and Grizzy out of her life, but Jack is determined to prove she is worthy of love, even if he has some help for her famous ex. What ensues is the building relationship between Jack and Persephone, and the potential fall-out as Persephone continues to spiral out of control.

RUINED GODDESS is a story based in Greek mythology; the gods and goddesses of Olympus; and the creatures who now live and work in modern day America. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the romance is erotic and passionate; the characters are energetic, colorful and charismatic. If you are a fan of Greek Mythology you will certainly enjoy Carly Fall’s take on their modern romances.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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TALISMAN (Talisman #1) by Tam Derudder Jackson-a review

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TALISMAN (Talisman #1) by Tam Derudder Jackson-a review

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 20, 2019.

Time’s running out…

Rowan Sheridan is a warrior, a powerful being capable of bending time and space to take on the rogues and zombies the triple goddess unleashes on civilians. For centuries, his family has taken on the Morrigan, their successes against her legendary. But if he doesn’t find his talisman by midnight of his twenty-eighth birthday, he faces death–or something worse.

To convince her she belongs to him…

Wallflower Alyssa Macaulay has no clue a community of supernatural Celtic warriors lives alongside her. Nor does she know she’s a talisman, a member of that community. Orphaned at age four, she was raised by her grandmother, a druid of uncommon skill who deliberately kept Alyssa ignorant of her true self. A chance meeting in a bar on a cold winter’s night upends the bookish grad student’s life when Rowan introduces her to their world.

Their love can end a centuries-old curse.

Trying his sign on Alyssa and discovering she’s his talisman, his fated mate, should be cause for their celebration. Too bad Alyssa thinks Rowan’s only looking for a good time and she has no idea who and what they are. The goddess’s imminent arrival doesn’t give Rowan time to show her either. Somehow, he needs to compress the lifetime of training she should have had into a week–and convince her the one amazing night they shared is only the beginning of a lifetime of love. If they can live long enough.

••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: TALISMAN is the first instalment in Tam Derudder Jackson’s adult TALISMAN paranormal/fantasy series based in Celtic mythology. This is twenty-seven year old, Celtic warrior Rowan Sheridan, and twenty-four year old, Celtic researcher/teacher Alyssa Macaulay’s story line.

Told from several third person perspectives including Rowan and Alyssa TALISMAN follows the building relationship between twenty-seven year old, Celtic warrior Rowan Sheridan, and twenty-four year old, Celtic researcher/teacher Alyssa Macaulay. Rowan Sheridan is descended from a long line of Celtic warriors, who before midnight on their twenty-eight birthday must find the woman, their talisman, their fated mate who will fight,in tandem, against Morgan and Maeve but Alyssa Macaulay has no idea about her powerful heritage, a heritage that has been hidden and protected for most of her life. For months Alyssa has been dreaming about a man who battles the monsters of her nightmares but her dreams have turned into reality as Alyssa will come face to face with Rowan Sheridan. A night on the town with her best friend Cheri, finds Alyssa meeting the man from her dream, the man with whom Alyssa will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Rowan and Alyssa, and the potential fall-out as Rowan and Alyssa are targeted by Morgan, in an effort to protect a centuries old curse.

Centuries earlier, the Morrigan cursed the descendants of the Sheridan family, a curse that has the potential to be broken with the mating of a warrior and his fated mate. Desperate to prevent the breaking of the curse, Morgan sets into motion a series of battles that will pull the Sheridan family into a war where family and friendships will be tested including our heroine’s self esteem, and her love for a man she believes is only looking for a good time.

The relationship between Alyssa and Rowan is one of immediate attraction. Rowan suspects Alyssa is his talisman, his fated mate but our heroine is completely unaware of the history between warriors and talismans, and the war between Morgan and the Celtic warriors. As Rowan descends head first into Alyssa’s life, Alyssa struggles with the unreality that has become her life, and the instant attraction and lust between herself and Rowan. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Rowan’s brothers Riordan and Riley (Lynette), their parents Sian and Owen Sheridan; Rowan’s best friend Seamus; Alyssa’s best friend Ceri; her neighbor Finn Daly; as well as the war goddess the Morrigan (Morgan) and her sister Maeve.

The world building focuses on Celtic lore: druids and warriors; goddesses and magic; family, friendships, destiny and love. The premise is entertaining and captivating; the characters are energetic and charismatic; the romance is fated, tender and passionate. If your are a fan of Celtic lore, TALISMAN is a wonderful take on a classic tale.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Girl in Red by Christina Henry – Review & Giveaway

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The Girl in Red by Christina Henry – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
It’s not safe for anyone alone in the woods. There are predators that come out at night: critters and coyotes, snakes and wolves. But the woman in the red jacket has no choice. Not since the Crisis came, decimated the population, and sent those who survived fleeing into quarantine camps that serve as breeding grounds for death, destruction, and disease. She is just a woman trying not to get killed in a world that doesn’t look anything like the one she grew up in, the one that was perfectly sane and normal and boring until three months ago.

There are worse threats in the woods than the things that stalk their prey at night. Sometimes, there are men. Men with dark desires, weak wills, and evil intents. Men in uniform with classified information, deadly secrets, and unforgiving orders. And sometimes, just sometimes, there’s something worse than all of the horrible people and vicious beasts combined.

Red doesn’t like to think of herself as a killer, but she isn’t about to let herself get eaten up just because she is a woman alone in the woods…

 

 

Review:

The Girl in Red by Christina Henry is a Sci-Fi/Horror story that is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood in a Dystopian world.  Henry has written a number of novels of dark retellings of various fairy tales

Three months ago life was normal for Cordelia (Red), and her family, until a terrible Plague has decimated the world’s population.  When her mother starts getting sick, Red’s parents tell her to take her brother Adam and leave for a long trek to her grandmother’s house.  The storyline is in two POV’s; Before and After.  Red has a prosthetic leg (she lost her leg at 8 years old when hit by a car), which makes the walking slow; but she is tough and a survivor, not to mention she carries an ax with her.  She also has to put up with her brother’s constant nagging that they should not be walking so far, instead to go to the quarantine camps, which Red refuses, since more than likely they would die there.

 What follows in a dark and intense story, where we follow Red during her adventure to reach her grandmother’s cabin.  Along the way there are many evils that might represent wolves, but in this world even darker; such as the cough which is the start of the plague and death; the evil men who look for woman and children; and the unknown horror (creature?) that is out there threatening the lives of others.  For Red its all about survival, and she has no qualms to use her ax or whatever to save herself.

The Before covers the beginning before she left, with her mother, father, as well as her trek with Adam.   The After is when she no longer has Adam, and takes upon the responsibility to help two very young children to come with her to her grandmother’s cabin. The daily gruesome trek is filled with horrible dangers, besides the normal dangers of the woods, such as snakes, coyotes, wolves, etc.

Christina Henry wrote an interesting and dark story that was intense, but well written.  I did not really like the open ended way the story left off.  Is there a 2nd book, I do not know, but I suspect there will not be, therefore leaving us a bit open.  If you like Dystopian Sci-Fi Horror retellings of fairy tales, you should be reading The Girl In Red.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Pirate’s Passion by Lisa Kessler – a Review

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Pirate’s Passion by Lisa Kessler – a Review

 

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Description:
Samuel Keegan used to man the wheel of the Sea Dog over 200 years ago, but these days he’s the front man of a southern rock band. Rum and women are plentiful, but his world is changing rapidly now that his crew is back together searching for the Holy Grail to break their curse. But the quest leads him to a historian with raven hair and a wicked smile. She holds all the answers, but she could also spell death for them all.

Dr. Charlotte Sinclair works for the Maritime Museum in Savannah, an expert on ancient pirate wrecks. When a government agent requests her help in a top-secret investigation, she discovers not only is the Holy Grail real, but the lead singer of her favorite band is actually the immortal pilot of the Sea Dog crew.

The search for the Grail opens some dark secrets better left hidden, and Charlotte’s life might depend on one Pirate’s Passion…

 

 

Review:

Pirate’s Passion by Lisa Kessler is the 2nd book in her Sentinels of Savannah series.  I did not read the first book in this series, but it was not an issue, as this book read very well as a standalone. However, I will have to go back to read the first book, and I really enjoyed Pirate’s Passion.

We meet Dr. Charlotte Sinclair, our heroine, at the start.  Char works at the Maritime Museum in Savannah as a historian, specializing in ancient pirate wrecks and lore.  She is a workaholic, and her friend pushes her to go out and have fun…say yes to everything.   She goes to a bar, where a rock band is playing, and meets Keegan, the lead singer.

Samuel Keegan, our hero and lead singer for the band. What most people do not know is that Samuel Keegan was a pirate on the Sea Dog 200 years ago.  He and some of his crew sipped from the Holy Grail and received immortality. Now all these years later, they find their healing is getting slower, and they fear losing the immortality.  So they have asked for help to find the missing Holy Grail

Keegan finds himself attracted to the new girl watching his show.  When he makes an attempt for her to join him after the show, she says ‘yes’, but just when things were getting hot, Char gets a phone call and needs to leave.  Char meets with a government agent who wants her to help them find the Holy Grail, since she is the best person to do so.  The agent introduces her to the pirate from the ship, and to her surprise, she sees Keegan.  All of this is the beginning of this wonderful exciting and fun story.

What follows is an exciting adventure the brings Char together with Keegan and his crew in a desparate attempt to find the stolen Holy Grail, and fight off the enemies who want to destroy the Sea Dog crew, and keep the Grail for themselves.   The romance between Charlotte and Keegan was very hot, as their chemistry together was sizzling.  I loved how Char accepted that Keegan and his crew were indeed the members of the Sea Dog 300 years ago; she loved history and this was like a dream come true for her.  Charlotte was a great heroine, smart, savvy and independent; and she was great working with them to fight the enemy. There were a some dangerous situations that put her life in danger, keeping us in suspense.

I loved the theme of Pirate’s Passion, and seeing the surviving pirate crew, how they each handle their immortality.  Again, I loved Char and Keegan together, and the secondary characters were very good.  Pirate’s Passion was not only exciting, action packed, with a nice romance, but also an excellent mystery which kept us glued to the frantic climax.  I look forward to reading the next book in this series, as Lisa Kessler has many crew members to give us more stories. I wholly recommend you read this series, and I plan to go back and read the first book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Shadow Play by Jill Ramsower – a Review

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Shadow Play by Jill Ramsower – a Review

 

Amazon

 

Description:
They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger—if that’s the case, I better be badass by the time this is over. 

After two years at a dead-end job, Rebecca Peterson finally walks away from everything she knows to follow her dreams in Ireland. Instead of dreams, the dreary streets of Belfast rekindle her terrifying nightmares, and this time they aren’t confined to her imagination. Twisted and vicious, Faeries are being unleashed on Earth to prey upon humans, who are unaware of the vile creatures walking among them. Becca must stay alive long enough to learn why she can see what others can’t, and even more importantly, discover how to keep the Fae from destroying life on Earth. 

Delving into the underbelly of the city, Becca discovers that she is not entirely alone in her abilities; however, centuries of secrecy makes gathering information a challenge. When Becca crosses paths with two mysterious strangers, her life is only complicated further. The gorgeous but brooding Lochlan demands complete honesty but refuses to provide any answers of his own. On the other hand, Ronan is enigmatic and charming, and with his sights set on making Becca his, he offers more help than most. But Becca quickly learns that trusting others is difficult when you have secrets of your own. Sometimes, the enemy is within…. 

 

Review:

Reading the characters point of view isn’t always my favourite way to read.  So after I read the back cover of Shadow Play by Jill Ramsower,  I went in ……. And was pleasantly surprised. The scenes were very well written, and flowed nicely. The characters were very three dimensional, and believable. 

Rebecca is just a “normal” human, she has recurring nightmares, and now they seem to be coming true. She “sees” things other people don’t. And that includes the fae (not at all like tinker belle) ?‍♀️ and they want to take over this dimension (as I said, not like tinker belle) 

She just wants a fresh start, and believes it will be achieved in Ireland, wrong, her life isn’t really much better there. And when she finds others like her, she hopes she can survive long enough to rescue humanity.

It was great that Rebecca had several “girlfriends” she could rely on. Ashley was one of them, and to me she seemed the perfect friend. She was very supportive of Rebecca, and she believed Rebecca, even though half the stuff coming out of Rebecca’s mouth sounded crazy. 

Lachlan is very secretive, but demands total honesty from Rebecca. He is hiding something, can Rebecca find out what ? Is he fae ? Is he like here ? And will he help in the up and coming bottle ?  And if she does, what will she do ? 

Ronan is the opposite. He is charming and very likeable, he wants Rebecca for his own. Will he succeed ? And does he have a hidden agenda of his own ? 

And what secrets does Rebecca hide ? 

I liked how the story of Merlin, Guinevere and Arthur fit in with the history of the Fae. 

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy supplied for review

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The Girl in the Green Silk Gown by Seanan McGuire – Review & Giveaway

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The Girl in the Green Silk Gown by Seanan McGuire – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Once and twice and thrice around,
Put your heart into the ground.
Four and five and six tears shed,
Give your love unto the dead.
Seven shadows on the wall,
Eight have come to watch your fall:
One’s for the gargoyle, one’s for the grave,
And the last is for the one you’ll never save.
 
For Rose Marshall, death has long since become the only life she really knows.  She’s been sweet sixteen for more than sixty years, hitchhiking her way along the highways and byways of America, sometimes seen as an avenging angel, sometimes seen as a killer in her own right, but always Rose, the Phantom Prom Date, the Girl in the Green Silk Gown.

The man who killed her is still out there, thanks to a crossroads bargain that won’t let him die, and he’s looking for the one who got away.  When Bobby Cross comes back into the picture, there’s going to be hell to pay—possibly literally.

Rose has worked for decades to make a place for herself in the twilight.  Can she defend it, when Bobby Cross comes to take her down?  Can she find a way to navigate the worlds of the living and the dead, and make it home before her hitchhiker’s luck runs out?
               
There’s only one way to know for sure.
 
Nine will let you count the cost:
All you had and all you lost.
Ten is more than time can tell,
Cut the cord and ring the bell.
Count eleven, twelve, and then,
Thirteen takes you home again.
One’s for the shadow, one’s for the tree,
And the last is for the blessing of Persephone

 

 

Review:

The Girl with the Green Silk Gown by Seanan McGuire is the 2nd book in her Ghost Roads series.  This is a fantasy novel revolving  around the twilight, mythology, ghosts, the dead, and gods. 

Rose Marshall is our heroine, and Rose has been dead for 60 years. When she was 16, she set out to go to her prom and meet her boyfriend, Gary, only to be killed by Bobby Cross, who wanted her soul.  Seems Bobby Cross made a deal to be immortal, and stay young, but he needs to steal lives of young girls to keep his car running with the souls he takes. The only one who got away was Rose, who though now dead, managed to escape Bobby, and live in the twilight as a hitchhiking ghost.  Rose has become an urban legend, as the Girl in the Green Silk Gown (still in her prom dress), also known and the Phantom Prom Date.   Rose is used to her life on the roads, walking across America, helping truckers and other travelers in danger or those passing on to the twilight. 

Bobby Cross is determined to find and get the one who got away, and despite Rose’s protection tattoo ( from a god) keeping her safe from Bobby, he finds a way to get to her.  When Rose is pulled into a Halloween ritual, she miraculously is now alive, and Bobby is on his way.  Rose is desperate to find a way to return to the only life she knows…return to the dead.   

We get to meet the friends that Rose has made all these years in the twilight, including powerful beings such as Queens of the roads, routes, lake, ghosts, etc to help her find her way to the gods to help return to where she belongs, before Bobby finds her.

The Girl with the Green Silk Gown was written very well by Seanan McGuire, and was an interesting and at times exciting story.  I did feel it had a lot of details that made some parts a bit slow, but the last third of the book was exciting.  If you like fantasy, with ghost legends and mythology, then I suggest you read The Girl With the Green Silk Gown.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Seanan McGuire’s publisher is offering a paper copy of THE GIRL IN THE GREEN SILK GOWN to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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