Books about witches generally draw me to them like bees to honey, and
THE KING OF BONES AND ASHES,
the first book in J.D. Horn's Witches of New Orleans series, proved no
exception. I read and enjoyed Read more...
If I had to pick, epic fantasy is my favorite genre, so I
started DAUGHTERS OF THE STORM with excitement. The synopsis
of the first book in author Kim Wilkins' Blood and
Gold series hinted at intrigue, magic, conflict and Read more...
Faith Hunter fans will devour FLAME IN THE DARK, the third
installment in the Soulwood series with glee.
Hunter's prose crackles with life and the story speeds
along, making it nearly impossible to stop reading Read more...
Jonathan Moore captivates readers with his new thriller,
THE NIGHT MARKET, a tale that takes place in a near-future
San Francisco. Although near-future in this case could come
as early as next year, if you're a cynic. People scramble to
buy products whose popularity rises as quickly Read more...
Not a lot of cozy mysteries top my must-read list, but the
Magical
Bakery series by Bailey Cates, makes the grade. POTIONS
AND PASTRIES, number seven in the series, hasn't changed my
mind. Katie Lightfoot, witch, and owner Read more...
Few series maintain the brilliant consistency with which
they started. Seanan McGuire's October
Daye is the only one that comes to mind where there
isn't a less-than-amazing book in the bunch. THE BRIGHTEST
FELL, the 11th Read more...
Eric Rickstad brings to life the northern woods of Vermont
in winter as much as any of his characters in his thrillers.
His stories star Sonja Test, a Canaan police detective and
Frank Rath, formerly of the Vermont state police as they
solve gory crimes that may or may not Read more...
After something happened from her past, Edie has felt
disconnected from the world which makes her an
excellent "body" for the Elysian Society in THE
POSSESSIONS, the literary debut by Sara Flannery Murphy. .
Through this organization, people can visit with their
friends and loved ones. In essence, the bodies swallow Read more...
Alyssa Maxwell continues her strong post-World War I cozy
mystery series with a terrific second installment in PINCH
OF POISON. Lady Phoebe Renshaw organized a luncheon to
benefit and collect donations for wounded war veterans. She
enlists the help of girls at the Haverleigh School for
Young Ladies, the Read more...
Lucy Kerr's mystery debut stars Francesca "Frankie"
Stapleton, an emergency room nurse who fled her small
hometown of Stillwater for the big city. At the beginning
of TIME OF DEATH, family circumstances in the form of her
pregnant sister Charlie's case of pre-eclampsia, a
condition that threatens Read more...
Robert Hewitt Wolfe's THE GOBLIN CROWN, the first in his
series called Billy Smith and the Goblins, rises to the top
of the list of young adult novels I've read this year. A
number of things set this adventure tale apart from others
including a diverse cast and Read more...
If you're one who sets expectations after reading a
synopsis, then you may need to reset yours for PHDEATH by
James P. Carse. The back cover calls it a thriller, yet
after reading it, it has more the feel of a mystery. The
premise sounds fascinating: the murderer sends Read more...
Stephanie Burgis's latest novel, CONGRESS OF SECRETS,
combines intrigue, alchemy and love during the 1814
Congress in Vienna to divide up Europe after Napoleon's
downfall. Lady Caroline Wyndham traveled to Vienna for the
festivities, but she had little interest in the pageantry
and balls however. She wanted to Read more...
Cat Winters' latest novel, YESTERNIGHT, explores the
concept of reincarnation as part of a story that involves a
young girl and her relationship with a child psychologist.
In 1925, child psychologist Alice Lind arrives in the
small, coastal town of Gordon Bay, Oregon to administer IQ
tests to the town Read more...
Abbie Roads' RACE THE DARKNESS is her debut novel and the
first in a duology called Fatal
Dreams. She combines
elements of paranormal romance and horror and some
intriguing magical abilities. The story starts off with a
bang Read more...
Andín dal Rovi, the girl of Susan Jane Bigelow's THE DEMON
GIRL'S SONG, wants to get out of her small town and attend
university in the big city. But her father has declared he
can't afford to send both his children, so her
brother gets to Read more...
I have to admit that this review will be a completely
biased affair. I have repeatedly said this is one of my
favorite urban fantasy series ever, and everyone to whom
I've recommended it heartily agrees with
me. Seanan McGuire could probably have filled ONCE BROKEN
FAITH with Toby Read more...
Unfortunately, THE HAWKWEED PROPHECY is another case of the
synopsis sounding fabulous and the execution not living up
to expectations. I loved the prologue: Beautifully written
with an ominous sense of foreboding. It didn\'t last, though.
THE HAWKWEED PROPHECY tells the story of two babies, born
at the same Read more...
The synopsis of BREATH OF EARTH by Beth Cato calls it a
stand-alone novel, but after reading it, I would say it's
the first of a new series. In this alternate history in
1906, America and Japan have partnered to become the
Unified Pacific. Their current enemy is Read more...
ROOTS OF MURDER by R. Jean Reid brought to mind a couple of
books: THE QUIET GAME by Greg Iles and A TIME TO
KILL by John Grisham. All
three novels deal with race issues and violence in small
Mississippi Read more...
Katherine Petersen
I've loved to read ever since I was
young. I took books with me whereever
I went and still do whether it's to
read on a commute train, waiting for a
doctor's appointment or in a long line
at the bank. I love many genres
including mysteries and thrillers,
fantasy and science fiction, romance,
historical fiction and mainstream
titles. I have a journalism and public
relations background and currently
live in northern California with my six-
year-old yellow lab, Oreo.
At the risk of sounding like everyone else, I do treat myself to quite a few books, much easier now that I've found a job, and sometimes it's just a nice long run with my yellow lab.
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