SPELLS, SALT & STEEL by Gail Z. Martin & Larry N. Martin

A New Templars Novella, Book 1

Falstaff Books

October 3^rd, 2017

AIS#: B075YFPYZN

Fantasy, Horror, Comedy, Dark Humor, Action/Adventure

E-book

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Self-Purchase

3.5 Hearts

 

Mark Wojcik has battled those that go bump in the dark, the monsters under the bed or in this case in a river with the ass end of a carp as a weapon. Mark like beer, poker and all the simple things in life. What he doesn’t care for is monster hunting in the dark of night with a carp as a weapon to kill it but hey, whatever works is his motto, well if he had a motto that is. The Templars are the first line of defense against the forces of darkness. They may be rednecks and geeks, neighbors and family but when the monsters come out to play., the Templars will be there to send them back to where ever they came from.

I absolutely loved SPELLS, SALT & STEEL. It was a fun book that had me giggling and rooting for Mark to save the day. The husband & wife author team of Gail Z. Martin and Larry N. Martin work like magic in this short introduction into a new e-book series that is filled with intriguing mysteries, monsters and a main character named Mark that is so much fun. I absolutely enjoyed this short novella that was filled with three different monsters Mark is dispatched to destroy. First, we see Mark go toe to toe with a Ningen (Japanese Manlike Water Monster). Then he must deal with a rampaging Nazi ghost and finally a were-squonk…. yeah that right there had me scratching my head in confusion but if you pick up SPELLS, SALT & STEEL, you can find the answer to what that final monster is.

SPELLS, SALT & STEEL is a fun, fast paced story that will draw you in and keep you turning the pages quickly to see what happens next. I enjoyed meeting Mark and all the other secondary characters that pop up periodically here. The authors do a great job keeping the reader glued to the pages and when the last page is read, longing for more. I love Ms. Martin’s book and can’t wait to see where these two go in book two of the series, Open Season.

If you enjoy a fast-paced monster tale filled with unique monsters, unusual weapons of choice and characters that fairly brim with life to step off the pages of your e-reader, then grab SPELLS, SALT & STEEL and get ready to go monster hunting with the new templars. Just remember that carps make great weapons against a Ningen!

This is an objective review and not an endorsement


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Josh of the Damned Triple Feature #2: The Final Check-Out by Andrea Speed

Riptide Publishing
April 27^th, 2013
978-1-62649-006-2
M/M Paranormal, Comedy
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Publisher
5 Hearts

 

Josh Caplan thought he discouraged the Quik-Mart’ corporation’s expansion into hell but sometimes company CEO’s need a good swift kick in the butt to show them that they are not wanted there. Josh just never anticipates being told he is now a guardian for Hell and that Medusa’s work for him is never done. Take a ride with Josh as he navigates being a guardian as well as stopping the Quik-Mart from trying to kill him once and for all. Can Josh be able to use his new found guardian powers to stop the one thing that stands before him and death- a money hungry CEO?

Let me say that I absolutely adore this series by author Andrea Speed. The stories are a comedy of fun that has left me laughing until I cry as I cheer on Josh at his night job at the Quik-Mart. In the final three stories in this series, readers are taken on the ride of their life as Josh battles a nasty CEO, keep Quik-Mart’s expansion out of the Hell universe called Dev and keep his job all at the same time. Add in some intriguing characters, a fun storyline and you got the makings of one book that will take the reader for the ride of their life, all the while laughing hysterically and rooting for the main characters to survive.

Meet Josh Caplan. Night time Quik-Mart clerk, monster magnet and has a vampire boyfriend. I got to admit. Josh made me laugh at times with his one liners as well as his acceptance of life with an ease that astounded me when I read his adventures in the Josh of the Damned series. Josh grows within each book of the series and in the end, he turns out to be one heck of a guardian…even if he has no idea what the heck he is doing at times, which made me think that was what the author wanted to convey within this final triple feature in the series. Add in some spectacular secondary characters such as Mr. Kwon, Josh’s necromancer boss, Medusa, leader of the hell world Dev, Colin the vampire boyfriend and more leave the reader eager to see what happens next with each page and I, for one, love the adventures Josh has with these characters at one time or another in the series. Add in a love-sick Yeti stalker, Medusa’s insane sisters and you got some plot twists that leave you giggling like crazy. Andrea Speed’s world building is just flat out amazing. Her characters shine in a world where monsters come to the Earth through portals and grab snacks at Quik-Mart, meet humans and just shuffle on back to Dev with the world none the wiser. Not too many details keep the story from being bogged down when we switch over to Dev. It was just enough of a glimpse to make me want to know more about that world and the monsters that call it home.

The final three stories keep the reader spellbound and as you find out what happens when Josh takes on the CEO of Quik-Mart Corporation, Medusa’s sisters and trying to stay alive while doing all this is a fun romp in the paranormal world Ms. Speed as created. The reader will laugh, snicker, root for Josh and all his friends and then laugh some more as the final three stories show the reader how Josh can save his life, his job and find a happy ever after that makes it to the next day. I can’t say more about the final three stories in this amazing series without giving too much away. Just be warned, you should read the series in order as each story to make sense to and to meet the characters that all make an appearance in these final three stories.

If you enjoy a good laugh while reading a paranormal book, then try the Josh of the Damned series and settle in for one hell raisi8ng adventure from start to finish. I look forward to seeing where this author will go in the future for her readers to enjoy.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

 

CURSED BY DESTINY by Cecy Robson

A Weird Girl’s Novel, Book Three
Signet
January 7^th, 2014
978-0451416759
Paranormal Romance, Humor
Electronic ARC
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Publisher via Netgalley
4 Hearts

Celia Weird and her sisters are different from the other girls around them. They are blessed-or cursed if you go that way- with a curse that gives them, well, unique powers. Now Celia is in trouble, deep trouble as she is bound to Aric, a purebred who has to deny Celia in order to keep his species from being extinct. Her love life is just another one huge complication she has going on at the moment. Another is she is now tasked to bring down demon terrorists who are bent at overthrowing the paranormal world. Yeah, life is just a tad complicated for Celia and ad din a surprise prediction from an oracle; well let’s just say Celia wishes she stayed in bed with the covers over her head.

I didn’t read the first books in the series but after finishing CURSED BY DESTINY, I am so going to get those. The author had me giggling-a lot- and left me flipping the pages like mad to see what happens next for Celia. I really loved the world this author created for the Weird Girl’s Series. Full of twists, turns, ‘oh my god what?’ moments that had my jaw dropped to the floor at times and I just lapped it up. Ms. Robson is a wicked good storyteller who knows how to keep her readers entertained until the very last page. The story moves at a nice, even pace, delivers a few twists I so did not see coming and the characters grow on you. There were a lot of nail biting moments as I tried to see what would happen next, suspense and lots of romance. The perfect mix to a story, if done right, that entertains you for hours on end.

Meet Celia and her sisters. They are normal twenty-something’s with just one little issue- they are cursed so they have some unique powers that make them, well weird. I really loved the dynamics between Celia and her sisters. You can feel the love they have for one another and the issues they deal in this book will change some forever. The characters are well written, enjoyable and some had me very curious on how they will play out in the series in the future. The secondary characters keep the story moving smoothly and had me entertained at times.

CURSED BY DESTINY is a perfect story to enjoy over along lazy weekend. Full of characters you just can not help but fall in love with, a storyline that pushes all the right buttons to enjoy and some laugh out loud moments that had my honey looking at me funny at times. Ms. Robson delivers a strong story that will leave you breathless and eager for more. Now all I can say is bring on book one and two and more adventures for Celia and her sisters.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

Josh of the Damned Triple Feature #2 by Andrea Speed

Publisher: Riptide Publishing

Date published: April, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-62649-006-2
Horror, Comedy

Reviewed by Gabrielle (meingee@yahoo.com)

Weblink: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/josh-damned-triple-feature-2-final-checkout
Obtained via publisher

Rating: 4 Hearts

This book gives us the latest adventures of our favorite Quik-Mart night clerk. We get to follow Josh on three new adventures. From zombies to Medusa’s sisters Josh has his hands full. If you are following this series you will not be disappointed. This book is full of laughs and action. First the corporate office sends zombies after Josh than he must deal with Medusa’s sister and if that is not enough the corporate office has finally had enough and comes after him themselves. Can Josh and his friends save the day or are we doomed?

I truly enjoyed this visit to Josh’s world. Full of laughs and different takes on the monsters of our childhood this book keeps you entertained all the way through to the end. There are many familiar faces in this book. As always Colin is by Josh’s side and now Doug is playing a more active role in the stories. This is a fun and fast paced read. I keep waiting to see what the next outrageous monster will be and just how Josh will get out of each jam. Never overdone or too silly this book brings out the youth in us all. I enjoyed the new take on Medusa and her sisters and every new monster that Josh must face. This author does a great job of bringing this world and its inhabitants to life without over doing it. I had fun reading this and cannot wait to see what kind of trouble that Josh will run into next.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.