Review~The Restorer~Amanda Stevens~5 Stars

*****5 Stars*****

The first line of the book, "I was nine when I saw my first ghost," set off the alarm bells in my mind. I cannot begin to explain the primal and visceral reaction I had to this one. There were times when I literally had to set the book down to shudder and smooth away the goose bumps. It was as if she called all my family and friends and asked them what my phobias were, to a tee. From ghosts to snakes, to spiders, to claustrophobia, to looking out the window at night! But I can 100%, without a doubt tell you that I absolutely loved this book, every moment of it.

The freaky paranormal aspect of this book wasn't the only thing that drew me in, it is rich with Southern traditions, well researched history, and interesting settings. The intriguingly sinister ghosts, that were not your run of the mill misunderstood specters that will go to their rest if you find Grandma's doily for them. Her writing flows so well. I loved that she made use of seldom used words and phrasing, lots of southern colloquialisms and didn't feel the need to over explain the `big' words, because contextually they were unmistakable. She even used phonetic Gullah in some conversations, which added to the vibrancy of the novel.

Amelia is someone I would like to call my friend. She is a cemetery restorer and also has a blog named, "Digging Graves," that were it real, I would totally be stalking. She is a bit odd, reclusive maybe and standoffish with most people, but heck y'all if I were seeing ghosts, you might have already committed me! Because of her, let's call it `talent', she doesn't do relationships well, and when the hot John Devlin shows up, sparks fly, and collide. He is a man with a past, and still hung up on his late wife and child....and they on him. So while there is a romance element to the book , and a pretty smoking smutty scene, it is more of a hum in the background because she knows that she can't be with him. I will leave it for you to discover why.

The murder mystery which Amelia gets drawn into was well done, with lots of twists and turns and you totally don't see the complete picture until the very end and what an ending! While on campus of Emerson University for the restoration of Oak Grove Cemetery, she becomes the target of the murderer, for what the murderer thinks she knows. The murderer taunts her using her blog and using grave stone art and poems found throughout the cemetery as well as the symbolism of Emerson's elite secret society, knowing that she is the only one who will be able to "read" the symbolism in the clues.

I eagerly am looking forward to the next novel, The Kingdom (The Graveyard Queen #2), as I am dying to know more about Amelia and her family, as there were a lot of questions left unanswered about her family, especially her parents. I for one cannot wait to see what kind of mystery Amelia gets dragged into next and what role the cemetery art and symbolism will play.

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THE RESTORER

Review~The Blood Gospel~James Rollins & Rebecca Cantrell~5 Stars

*****5 Stars*****

Just when you thought, there couldn't be yet another Vampire series out there, along comes Blood Gospel-The Order of the Sanguines #1.

History, adventure, vampires, creatures, budding romance, intrigue, and a awesome cliffhanger! I love James Rollins! As with any James Rollins book, when you open it and read that 1st word, you are whisked away into a well researched and superbly plotted adventure. This book is co-authored with Rebecca Cantrell, add in Ms Cantrell's gothic style and suddenly it becomes a novel to cross genres. (I am looking forward to reading her novels as well!) I highly recommend this one, but be prepared, as it is not one you will want to put down until the final page. Looking forward to the second installment of this book, due out next year! Happy reading!

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THE BLOOD GOSPEL

Review~The Scent of Rain and Lightning~Nancy Pickard~4 Stars

****4 Stars****

The Scent of Rain and Lightning. Nancy Pickard wrote a solid one here. I usually can figure out who-dun-it very quickly, though I love reading through to see how the author gets there, and to make sure I am right of course. I can honestly say, I thought just about every character in this book "dun-it"! The plot was well played out. The characters were likable/lovable and hated/pitied. The story compelling. The twist at the end, now that I did not see coming. Well done Ms. Pickard, well done! I encourage you to read this one!

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THE SCENT OF RAIN & LIGHTNING

Review~Anything But Civil~Anna Loan-Wilsey~4 Stars

****4 Stars****

As a huge fan of historical mysteries, I was excited to receive this ARC for review. I thought the description of the story was intriguing. I can honestly tell you that I was not disappointed! From the start I noticed 2 things; the first being well developed characters. There was no apathy toward any of them really, you despised the jerks and you loved the heroine, I never felt like they lacked anything. The second was the author’s research into the time period. This novel is set post-Civil War, in Kansas, during the Victorian period. The author did a fantastic job of illustrating the class divide, structure and customs of the time period.

While I found at least 2 of the characters practically reprehensible, there were several more that I completely enjoyed, however, I can’t help but have fallen in love with Hattie. She is a remarkably written woman. I particularly like that the author wrote her to be a strong, independent, self-sufficient woman in a time period that authors commonly write women to be weak and needy, and often uneducated in worldly matters. Hattie handles herself with class and dignity, gives the illusion that she knows her place, and as it happens, this illusion puts her in a better position to get the information that she needs to solve the murder, especially after her employer is arrested for murder!

All in all, I will say that Anything But Civil should be high on your TBR shelves. It was a roller coaster of twists and turns, where there are tons of suspects and little in the way of clues. It will keep you guessing until the very end! I will definitely be checking out the author’s first novel, A Lack of Temperance, and eagerly anticipate the third in the series.

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ANYTHING BUT CIVIL

REview~The Curse of Malenfer Manor~Iain McChesney~5 Stars

*****5 Stars*****

This is a book about a curse, cast by a vindictive witch, on the Malenfer family generations ago. Far be it from me to say that she didn't have her reasons, for she certainly did; however, this book isn't one dimensional in that it doesn't focus on just the curse. This book is also a war story, a ghost story, and a love story. Completing this book is a complement of elements: a threatening mystery, the witch, an ancestral curse, a creepy graveyard, hidden rooms, an angry mob, murders, greed, revenge, regret, but above all, a story of redemption and renewal, with a wicked twist. This, to me, is a true Gothic novel, complex in plot, with quite a few subplots branching out that leave you guessing until the very end..."WHODUNNIT?"

The descriptions of the people and places are very vivid, yet subtle. The author didn't get carried away. His characters are superbly written to fit into this story. There isn't one that is extraneous; everyone has a purpose to fulfill. Not one of them feels "innocent" throughout the book. They all feel like they are slightly off, some downright nefarious, and therein lies the twist. The two main actors in this tale have such dimension, without a lot of fluff. Dermot is haunted by what he did and saw during WWII and is especially distraught over the death of his friend. Arthur, who happens to be a ghost, is haunted by the loss of his family to the curse and enlists Dermot to try and make sure it doesn't happen again. What you don't get at first is that Dermot is actually haunted by not only the war, but with the guilt he feels about how Arthur died. Imagine his surprise when he is in a café drinking away his pain, and Arthur walks by. And thus it begins...

There is so much I want to say about this one. I hesitate because I don't want to write a spoiler. So much happens in this book that it is also difficult to focus on one aspect of the story. Contrary to what you would think with this many side stories, it is not a jumbled mess. I love the way each component fits into the other. It just feels complete to me. All the story lines are wrapped up at the end, leaving you feeling satisfied. I saw a description in a review recently that this was sort of a ghostly French Downton Abbey. I would go a little further and say a French Downton Abbey that meets the creepiness of The Woman in Black.

If you are looking for an engaging, seat of your pants, gothic ghostly creeper of a story for Halloween, this is it!

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THE CURSE OF MALENFER MANOR

Review~Death Notice~Alicia Dean~4 Stars

****4 Stars****

Now this is my kind of read, twists and turns, beautiful character development, plot that unfolds like a freshly laundered sheet...The ending literally took me by surprise, I thought I had figured out! There were characters you loved, characters you hated, all strongly written. The book flowed very well. As you can see, I am not giving anything away on this one!! You will have to read this one for yourself to understand why I can't wait to follow Monroe Donovan into her next adventure.

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Death Notice

Review~The Pillars of the Earth~Ken Follett~5 Stars

*****5 Stars*****

12th century medieval England, Royals, peasants, a singing jongleur, accused witch, Frenchmen, Englishmen, castles, cathedrals, monastic orders, murder, mayhem, love, sex, betrayal, rivalry, intrigue, treachery, deception... (No Emma, no vamps!)...I could go on for days! This book has. it. all!

At 1000 pages, even I must admit, I was a little hesitant to dive in. The story begins a little slowly, as do most epics of this magnitude, it spans 1123-1174 during the 12th century in England, civil war about to erupt, the time of King Stephen and the Anarchy. But just hold on, because it is an emotional ride! I could barely function in the couple of days it took me to devour this book. I remember standing at the stove, spoon in one hand, book in the other trying to make dinner for my family. (Unlike Tay, I still was able to cook for my family LOL) You will be writhing in your seat, holding your breath, livid with indignation, shouting for justice, swooning at the love stories, crying in sadness and joy. (I also read the follow up to Pillars, World Without End, and it is just as good).

Lets start with a short cast of characters shall we, as expected, there is a host of major, semi major and minor characters in a novel this epic. Ken Follett did an amazing job developing and bringing them to life. The story is really centered around 3 major characters and their families, friends and enemies. The central plot revolves around the building of a new cathedral in Kingsbridge after the old one tragically (and conveniently) burns. Prior Philip wants to glorify God, Tom Builder wants a job. You are swept through the turmoil, joys and daily lives differently with each character, which is quite surprising in its captivating detail. You get to experience the major events of the time with the characters, through each wildly differing perspective. This novel is like a complex wine. (can you tell this is one of my favorites yet?!) This is a novel where you actually come to care about the characters, whether cheering them on, praying for things to go their way, or those characters you just want to stab in the eyeball with an ice pick and hope get crushed under a cathedral stone in a sewer filled street. (OK, so I am a tad passionate!)

Tom Builder (Total Hottie) A man looking for for work to feed his starving family. He desperately wants to build his dream, the most beautiful and unique cathedral in all of England, but can't find work even as a basic stone mason.

Prior Philip A kind hearted & devout monk, sometimes too devoted to the Bible's teachings, who wants to reform and make grand again the Priory of Kingsbridge and build a cathedral.

Lady Aliena (Total Babe in every sense of the word....I am totally not biased!) The beautiful and strong daughter of a the powerful Earl Bartholomew who is imprisoned, stripped of his title and lands, and dies in his support of Maud over Stephen for the crown. She at one time is betrothed to William, subsequently rejects him, loses everything, gains it all back, with a little revenge thrown in for good measure.

Minor characters

Jack Jackson (Builder), Son of Ellen and the Jongleur. A gifted artist, somewhat mysterious at first. Falls in love with Aliena at first sight.

Ellen, daughter of a knight, love interest of Tom Builder, accused of being a witch for cursing a priest. Watches the love of her life swing in the gallows.

Richard, Aliena's younger extremely whiny brother. Wants to be a big boy, but always dependent on our lovely heroine.

Alfred Builder, Tom's son, husband of Aliena. A despicable creature.

Waleran Bigod, (Even typing this name gives me the willies.) Total villainous douche bag, he has other plans, he wants to build a bishops castle and gain power, feathering his own nest if you will, at the expense of Kingsbridge. He also has some very deep sins to hide.

Agnes, wife of Tom, mother to Alfred and Martha, dies in childbirth.

Lord Percy Hamleigh, This guy is totally in the same league as Bigod. Wants Bartholomew's Earldom and will go to any length to secure it.

Lady Regan Hamliegh, wife of Lord Percy, who thankfully gets her comeuppance. She is a nasty, haggard creature, scheming and deceiving to get the Earldom for her husband and son.

William Hamliegh, son of Lord and Lady Hamliegh, was betrothed to Aliena, unfortunately, due to the nature of my despisal of him, I don't believe has any redeeming qualities.

There are still a host of other minor characters, but this list should totally suffice to whet your whistle.

Ok, so now lets talk plot...The long and short of it....This is an intricately woven tale of plots, subplots , and counter plots that carefully and intricately come to fruition. Meaning that somehow, someway each character is linked with the other somewhere in the tale. In the interest of trying to do this novel justice, we decided to use the authors synopsis of the book because I, well, talk too much! Suffice it to say, Ken Follett hit it out of the park with this novel!

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The Pillars of the Earth