Visions ( Cainsville #2) by Kelley Armstrong ~ Review

Title: Visions (Cainsville #2)
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Mystery
Length: 448 pages
Publisher: Dutton
Release Date: August 19, 2014
Rating: 4
Heat Rating: 1
Reviewed by: Cerridwen

Omens, the first installment in Kelley Armstrong’s exciting new series, introduced Olivia Taylor-Jones, daughter of notorious serial killers, and Gabriel Walsh, the self-serving, morally ambiguous lawyer who became her unlikely ally. Together, they chased down a devious killer and partially cleared her parents of their horrifying crimes.

Their success, however, is short-lived. While Olivia takes refuge in the old, secluded town of Cainsville, Gabriel’s past mistakes have come to light, creating a rift between the pair just when she needs his help the most.

Olivia finds a dead woman in her car, dressed to look like her, but the body vanishes before anyone else sees it. Olivia’s convinced it’s another omen, a sign of impending danger. But then she learns that a troubled young woman went missing just days ago—the same woman Olivia found dead in her car. Someone has gone to great lengths to kill and leave this young woman as a warning. But why? And what role has her new home played in this disturbing murder?

Olivia’s effort to uncover the truth places her in the crosshairs of old and powerful forces, forces that have their own agenda, and closely guarded secrets they don’t want revealed.

Continuing the Cainsville series was a treat! Another " I don't wanna go to work, I just wanna finish this book." kind of book.

In Visions you get to learn a lot more about the mystery that surrounds Olivia and her parents. The town is still not quite clear to the reader if it's a helpful place or if going back there will bite her in the end. Things are getting more dangerous and more questions are popping up.

Can't wait to get my hands on the next one!

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Cainesville

Omens

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware ~ Review

Title: In a Dark, Dark Wood

Author: Ruth Ware
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Harvill Secker
Release Date: July 30, 2015
Rating: 3
Heat Rating: 2
Reviewed by: Cerridwen

Nora hasn’t seen Clare for ten years. Not since Nora walked out of school one day and never went back.

In a dark, dark wood there was a dark, dark house

Until, out of the blue, an invitation to Clare’s bachelorette party arrives. Is this a chance for Nora to finally put her past behind her?

And in the dark, dark house there was a dark, dark room

But something goes wrong. Very wrong.

And in the dark, dark room…

Some things can’t stay secret forever.

I was slightly disappointed because, to me, it was rather predictable. You are still drawn into the story and  compelled to keep reading. It was hard to rate because of this. You want to know why Clare has been invited back into her friends' lives after all these years especially for such an intimate party.  The story has a lot of flashbacks but the end does not disappoint with a "AHHHHH No it makes sense!"  feeling of closure.

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The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon ~ Review

Title: Winter People
Author: Jennifer McMahon
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller
Length: 317 pages
Publisher: Doubleday
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Rating: 5
Heat Rating: 2
Reviewed by: Cerridwen

West Hall, Vermont, has always been a town of strange disappearances and old legends. The most mysterious is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter, Gertie. Now, in present day, nineteen-year-old Ruthie lives in Sara's farmhouse with her mother, Alice, and her younger sister, Fawn. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that suddenly proves perilous when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished without a trace. Searching for clues, she is startled to find a copy of Sara Harrison Shea's diary hidden beneath the floorboards of her mother's bedroom. As Ruthie gets sucked deeper into the mystery of Sara's fate, she discovers that she's not the only person who's desperately looking for someone that they've lost. But she may be the only one who can stop history from repeating itself.

This was the first of Jennifer McMahon I have ever read. It came highly recommended from a co-worker.

It took me all of 1 night, with the lights on, to finish this book! If you like spooky tales with A LOT of great twists you've got to try this! The family ties that bind this family to the land and to the tale are creative and well thought out. You really wonder are there legends and folk tales about this stuff. 

This will not be the last of Jennifer McMahon's books I pick up. I'm eager to try another!

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Review Shadow Cursed by Naomi Clark

Title: Shadow Cursed

Author: Naomi Clark

Source: Request

Genre: Mystery/Paranormal Romance

Length: Novella

Publisher Evernight Publishing

Released from Ottevar Asylum after eight hard years, Lady Emmeline returns to Nachtholm Manor to reclaim her birthright. But she has a battle on her hands—Rainart Eckhard refuses to give up his position as lord of manor, and whilst his cold attitude enrages Emmeline, his smouldering kisses leave her weak at the knees.

Who is this dangerous, enticing stranger, and what secrets does he hide? Caught in a web of desire, curses, and self-doubt, Emmeline is not only fighting Rainart for Nachtholm Manor, but for her own heart as well.

Review Truly, Madly by Heather Webber

Truly, Madly; book one in Lucy Valentine series
Author: Heather Webber
genre mystery
mass paperback 305 pgs
Authors website

Meet Lucy Valentine; sassy, fabulously original…and psychic.

Lucy hails from a long line of matchmakers known as Valentine INC. According to family legend, the Valentines have been blessed by Cupid with the ability to help couples find true love. Trouble is Lucy’s powers were zapped away by an electrical surge and now all she can find are lost objects.

But what good is that in the matchmaking world?

Lucy is about to find out when she tries to solve a murder and winds up falling into a romance of her own

My review

Sexual- Zero in this one

Captivating and full of humor!!! This was a wonderful read. I have always loved humor, and this page turner hit my humor spot. I would recommend this book for those that loves a good mystery, adventure, humor and a wonderful cast of characters. This book also holds some paranormal aspects, but this is not a romance novel, so there is no HEA or sex.

This is a fun book about Lucy running her family match-making service for a couple of weeks. The thing is Lucy has a touch of physic in her. After she takes over for the first day she has a client that she really wants to help and when she touches him she sees a missing ring, the thing is its on a dead body. From here Lucy gets in deep and between running the match-making service, trying to solve the mystery of the ring and help the client, she also goes out to help a little boy. But wait that’s not all she also has sparks that starts up with a certain PI named Sean. Needless to say she has her hands full.

My favorite passage

Sean as he is putting the shovel back in the car he asks “What now ? Should we rob a bank or something to make our day complete?”
Lucy “No need to be sarcastic”
Sean “Forgive me, but I don’t dig up dead people everyday”