Realm of Shadows by Shannon Drake

It just so happened that I decided to go through my shelves and realistically evaluate whether I would REALLY ever read each book again, or the few that I've had for years and never read the first time. I managed to weed out over 60 books... I know, I can be a pack rat, but the good news... I found 3 Shannon Drakes in there!!!! One of them actually is a feeder story to The Prophecy. YAY!!

Realm of Shadows

Every Nightmare Has Its Beginning

In an ancient churchyard just outside Paris. archeologists uncover an ancient tomb certain they have stumbled onto the find of the century. But something goes very wrong as the tomb is opened. Something too frightening to imagine...and too terrible to utter.
For American visitor Tara Mason, the romantic city of her dreams has suddenly turned sinister. For she has
heard the blood-curdling screams in the churchyard and knows that she must run away--from the powerful stranger chasing after her...and from a nightmare she can't be sure is real or imagined.
At the country estate where she has sought refuge, the shadowy man reappears. He calls himself a guardian, sworn to protect the innocent from an evil most never see. And Tara will have to trust him, because that evil has seen her...and won't stop until it claims her. body and soul.

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 This was a very good book. In trying to figure out which of these feeder book I'd read I came across some reviews of the books. Unfortunately there were many complaints that the first three were the best and thereafter became formulated and predictable. I will not let this stop me! Realm of Shadows is book 4 in the series, and I loved it. I really, really like that these are vampire stories, without being vampire stories. You'd have to read to understand.

Happy reading!!!

Dust to Dust by Heather Graham

Dust to Dust
The Prophecy: Book 1

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Not long ago, Scott Bryant would have described himself as an ordinary guy. But one act of heroism has changed his life forever—or at least until the apocalypse occurs. Because the end of the world is on its way.

Suddenly and inexplicably possessed of superhuman strength, Scott finds himself allied with the enigmatic and alluring Melanie Regan in a quest to find the mysterious Oracle in hopes of averting the absolute destruction that threatens.

Melanie herself has been falling into trances, sketching terrifying visions of future events—and she wants answers. She knows better than Scott where to look for help, but even she cannot fathom the powers that have thrust them together in an epic battle of good against evil.

The earth itself will soon turn against its inhabitants, and now mortal and immortal must join forces if any are to survive.

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I'm a little embarrassed to say that, prior to this book, I didn't know that Heather Graham and Shannon Drake were the same person. I think it's very cool that she started out this book with a cast of characters that will appear in this series that have been gleaned from prior books released under both names. After researching a little, I found that I have actually read two of the books that feed into this story, never realizing they were part of a whole. Though I will say, I think I had a brief bit of recognition in the reading.

I'm not a huge vampire fan, and to be honest I really didn't realize it was a vampire story until nearly halfway through. But is it a vampire story... no. Their are vampires, but that's not what the story is about. This is a tale of "special people" coming together to save humanity from evil that would destroy it.

The next book in The Prophecy is due out this summer and, in the meantime, I will be tracking down the other books that fed into The Prophecy series so I can be all prepped and ready to go.
Very good story.

Happy Reading!!

Unhallowed Ground By Heather Graham

Unhallowed Ground back cover synopsis.

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When Sarah McKinley is finally able to buy and restore the historic Florida mansion that she has always loved, she dismisses the horror stories of past residents vanishing and a long-dead housekeeper who practiced black magic. Then, in the midst of renovations, she makes a grim discovery. Hidden within the walls of Sarah's dream house are the remains of dozens of bodies—some dating back over a century.

The door to the past is blown wide open when Caleb Anderson, a private investigator, shows up at the mansion. He believes several current missing-persons cases are linked to the house and its dark past. Working together to find the connection and stop a contemporary killer, Sarah and Caleb are compelled to research the history of the haunted house, growing closer to each other even as the solution to the murders eludes them.

But there is one who knows the truth…a spirit who follows every move they make. Soon Caleb begins to fear that if he can't stay a step ahead, he could lose Sarah to a killer with an ability to transcend time in a quest for blood and sacrifice.

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I know, I know.... I need to read something NOT Graham or Lyon.... but I loves them soooooooo. I think tomorrow I'll be making a trip to GoodWill to go book crazy... I really want all the Grahams I haven't read though.... *sigh* This book was super good. Loved it. Nothing tickles me more than when I'm CERTAIN I have it figured out, then BAM! someone else done it! Which I know is the point, but not all authors pull it off.... or it's just a pathetic fake and switch at the end. Not so here.


I'd also like to say that she writes crowds well. This isn't the first time that I've been exposed to one of her characters surrounded by a mob of crazy (hahaha) friends. And I have to say, she nails it. A lot of other stories try this, but the people aren't real... or at least, not in my life... These people getting together at the bar, goofing off. These could be my friends.

I will say, I've never met a man, been suspicious of him, then fallen in love and started shacking up with him in less than a week, but I suppose we're working with a certain amount of pages and need to fit it all in. Really analyzing it, the only part of that I have issue with is the fact that they're in love so quick, and the proof is in the shower. You can bump uglies, you can shack up, but it takes a certain amount of familiarity to climb into someone's shower..... or maybe I'm just weird....... I don't climb into peoples showers... as I have an aversion to jail time.

Good Book!
Happy Reading!!

The Death Dealer by Heather Graham

The Death Dealer synopsis from the back of the book.

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The Poe Killings...

A string of homicides is mirroring the author's macabre stories.

And Genevieve O'Brien's mother is next.

Genevieve knows all about nightmares. She herself survived two months as a psychopath's prisoner. And now this new menace stalks the city. Spooked by the bizarre slayings, she turns to P.I. Joe Connolly, her past rescuer, friend and...hopefully something more, if he would just quit avoiding her.

At first Joe isn't even sure there is a case. But the body count rises, and it's clear that a twisted killer is on the loose. Even more unsettling is the guidance he starts receiving from beyond the grave. People he knows to be dead are appearing, offering him clues and leads, and warning of some terrible danger ahead.

But can even the spirits stay the hand of a madman bent on murder?

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This was a really, really good book. Apparently the sequal to The Dead Room, which I haven't read, but Graham does a good job at giving insightful reference to the history of the characters. A typical who-done-it, with an odd Poe twist to it. The characters are well written and enjoyable and even a few pop-up from other Graham books I've read. I think the most unique and interesting part of this story is that there is occasional dialogue with the reader via the narrator who just happens to be a ghost. That put an odd little turn to the story that I really liked. Great book, now I need to find the first one!!!
 
Happy Reading!!

Soul Magic by Jennifer Lyon

Ok, I know... I wasn't supposed to be reading this book, but I went home for Christmas and there it was. I tucked it in my bag and tried to force myself to finish the other book first... I COULDN'T!!

Soul Magic takes place approximately two months after Blood Magic ends and picks up the story of two of the sidekicks from the first book. In Blood Magic, Darcy and Axel make the discovery of possible salvation through soul mirrors. Basically, if a good guy finds the witch that is his soul mate, then the curse is reversed for them and their powers are magnified. In this book, Sutton and Carla have the advantage of knowing about soul mirrors, but there is a twist. Carla had a twin sister whose soul is trapped and can't reach Summerland. There mission is to find the object that contains her soul and free her, but in the background there is always the question of whether Sutton loves Carla or is in love with Keri through Carla and their twin bond thingy....

To be honest, I can't tell you what exactly it is about this series that I like. Character-wise, I liked Darcy better than Carla, but Sutton more than Axel. Jennifer writes really great leading men! The sex is better than Harlequin, but still not "real", and the Wing Slayer god is ..... I think he's gay. But the story! The story is fast paced and always has you looking forward to the next page. I read this book in two sittings, approximately 10 hours total.

I mentioned in the review of Blood Magic that fantasy is a bit hard for me to swallow. When I read a book, I'm in it and any time something comes off as over the top or a character starts God-modding, it sucks me right out of the story and in to the "Yeah, right!" frame of mind. With fantasy, the sky's the limit. Anything is possible, so I think that it's probably really easy for an author to up the ante and bend the perimeters of the world they create, and often let it spiral away from them.

Jennifer does a great job staying within the boundaries of her world. Yes, she creates new ideas and invents new possibilities but nothing that ever struck me as outlandish. Everything flowed beautifully.

It's driving me nuts trying to figure out who the next book will be about..... Of the WSH there is still Ram, Key, Phoenix, and Linc who still haven't found their soul mirrors. Key is the one we know the most about at this point.... but there's no witch to pair him with, except Silver and no one likes her. Maybe a new character will be created... Hmmmmmmmmm Hurry up Jen, I can't hardly wait!

Happy Reading!!