9) A Ghoul's Guide to Love and Murder by Victoria Laurie

The Blurb :

M.J., her boyfriend Heath, best friend Gilley, and the rest of the Ghoul Getters crew are back home in Boston. Their new film’s a monster hit, and a museum is getting in on the action with a special exhibit of supernatural artifacts. Unfortunately, Gilley—whose mind is engaged with wedding plans—donated the dagger which keeps the demon Oruç locked in the lower realm. Before M.J. can recover the bewitched blade, there’s a murder and a heist at the museum, and the dagger is stolen.

Now Oruç, having already killed once, is coming for M.J. and Heath, and the demon is bringing with him some fiendish friends from M.J.’s haunted past. She and the other Ghoul Getters are in for a devil of a time. M.J. may even need to recruit a certain psychic friend from Texas to help stop the paranormal party crashers from turning Gilley’s wedding bells to funeral knells...

My Thoughts :

Let's start this review with the bad news.  This is the last in the series.  When I heard the news I was quite upset at the prospect of the series ending but here is the good news.  The series ends nicely.  The fans will be happy and Victoria Laurie did good by her characters.  So despite the sadness I feel to see this great series come to an end I am happy because the ending is one the fans can accept and maybe even enjoy.

I don't want to give much away about the plot but it is a fast paced and scary one.  There are an insane amount of spooks and there is murder and mayhem all the way.  Everyone gets hurt at some point and there are some twists and turns that make things even harder on the Ghost Hunter team.

Some characters from the earlier books in the series make an appearance and there is even a new one who made me wish there would be more books, just to see more of her.  There is a notable lack of the 'team' outside of M.J, Gil and Heath but I guess they had already done their bit in the previous books and didn't need to come back for the last hurrah!  However there is some Cooper appearances in this one.  Anyone who is a fan of Laurie's Psychic Eye Series will appreciate the crossover.

A great read, as alway, and a well thought out plot.  I did like the ending but would have liked a little epilogue with a little look into the future.  Just to make sure everyone is as happy as I assume they will be.  It is a little hard to let go of these characters but I think this is going to be a series that I revisit sometime in the future.  It was a great one and I hope the author will be brining out something new to replace this series asap!

121) Sense of Deception by Victoria Laurie

The Blurb :

A ticked-off judge has tossed Abby in the slammer for contempt of court, and during her brief but unpleasant stay she learns the story of a condemned woman who is facing a far more serious sentence. Skylar Miller has been found guilty of murder and faces the death penalty. Everyone believes she’s guilty, including her own family and her ex-husband—everyone, that is, except Abby, whose finely honed intuition tells her this woman doesn’t belong behind bars.

With the help of her husband Dutch and her friend Candice, Abby launches into her own investigation to clear Skylar and find the real killer. But after a final appeal is denied and Skylar’s attorney scrambles for a stay of execution, time is running short—and the list of suspects keeps growing. There’s no margin for error as the life of an innocent woman hangs in the balance…

My Thoughts :

The Psychic Eye Mystery series has been a little off over the last couple of books.  They were still worth reading but they weren't as good as the earlier installments.  Sense of Deception gets things back on track and shows the 'old' Abby with less FBI involvement and some real good old crime solving skills using her psychic skills.

Of course things will never be the same as they were back at the beginning.  Abby has grown and her life has changed in many ways.  These changes means she uses her psychic skills less and seems to be more cocky in her actions.   After all she has the FBI behind her so she has some big time back-up but she relies too much on her network and the author does too.

Sense of Deception started with Abby ending up in jail which was exactly a lesson she needed to learn.  It made me happy to see her getting to spend the whole night there because she couldn't be rescued by her network of friends in high places.  It brought her back down a little and also showed her a new side of the system that was scary and unfair.

I really enjoyed the plot this time around.  The injustice question, the time limit they were up again and the fact that it was a very cold case all made things very interesting and compelling.  I knew who was the killer from the get go.  I just didn't understand why it was that person.  The reason at the end seems rushed and quite stupid but I guess there is never a logical reason why anyone does something like that.

The little side plots were a nice addition to the story and stopped the pressure and stress of the main case from taking over.  I hope we see more of Oscar and keep Dutch more in the background where cases are concerned.  As I mentioned before, Abby relies on her network too much and I also don't think it is a good idea to have her husband too have such a involvement in her cases all the time.

Despite the forced and quick ending, this thirteenth book made me feel like the books did back in the good old days.  After the last couple of installments making me feel so meh this was a great boost and I hope the series continues to keep on with this style and feeling.  However what I don't hope is that they keep the price...the new release costs the same as three paperbacks.  A harsh price for us long standing fans and a huge reason why I don't pre-order this series anymore.

9) No Ghouls Allowed by Victoria Laurie

The Blurb :

M.J. has had a distant relationship with her father since her mother died more than two decades ago. But when M.J., her boyfriend, Heath, and BFF, Gilley, take a break from their show, Ghoul Getters, and visit her family home in Valdosta, Georgia, they find Montgomery Holliday a changed man. The source of his happiness seems to be his new fiancée, the charming Christine Bigelow.

But despite the blush of new love, Montgomery and Christine are dealing with a big problem in the form of the antebellum mansion she is having renovated. After a series of strange accidents, the work crew is convinced the place is cursed, and the contractor has walked off the job. At Christine’s request, M.J. and her pals agree to find out if they’re really dealing with some spirited saboteurs and a possessed plantation home.

My Thoughts :

I have been enjoying this series ever since it started and it amazing to see how far things have come.  What started out as little bumps in the night have grown into night terrors of the scariest degree.  Ghost Hunter or not, M.J. is really getting the big kills!  She is coming up against things that nightmares are made of and this time it is personal.

This ninth installment sees M.J. going home for a visit and getting involved in the most spookiest and craziest ghost problem yet.  Over the course of the book it becomes apparent that her mother was involved in the events causing the hauntings but M.J has to figure out how.  Her mother is on the other side and isn't ready to tell her daughter anything.

As the story unfolds there are some extremely scary happenings and just reading about them will give you goosebumps.  Don't let the cute cozy cover deceive you!  This may be a cozy mystery but it is very haunting!  There are some very shocking revelations in No Ghouls Allowed and I have to wonder if the author took things a little too far this time around.  I could see some readers being put off by the actions of the characters, ghosts, possessed or other wise.

The Ghost Hunters are a favourite cozy of mine and I have to admit that the spooky, dark and over the top hauntings are actually very enjoyable.  The plots are always interesting and there are some amazing characters involved.  If you aren't a horror movie type of person then you may want to stay away from this series but if you don't scare too easily you will enjoy this no holds barred ghost hunting adventure.

Start at the beginning of the series to get the full effect.  This series keeps getting darker, scarier and fantastic.  The mysteries are well thought out and keep you guessing plus the sleuthing and ghost hunting combination makes for a great story all round.

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4) When by Victoria Laurie

The Blurb :


Maddie Fynn is a shy high school junior, cursed with an eerie intuitive ability: she sees a series of unique digits hovering above the foreheads of each person she encounters. Her earliest memories are marked by these numbers, but it takes her father’s premature death for Maddie and her family to realize that these mysterious digits are actually death dates, and just like birthdays, everyone has one.

Forced by her alcoholic mother to use her ability to make extra money, Maddie identifies the quickly approaching death date of one client's young son, but because her ability only allows her to see the when and not the how, she’s unable to offer any more insight. When the boy goes missing on that exact date, law enforcement turns to Maddie.

Soon, Maddie is entangled in a homicide investigation, and more young people disappear and are later found murdered. A suspect for the investigation, a target for the murderer, and attracting the attentions of a mysterious young admirer who may be connected to it all, Maddie's whole existence is about to be turned upside down. Can she right things before it's too late?

My Thoughts :

Sometimes there are books that make you just go WOW!  When by Victoria Laurie is one of those books.  From the beginning I had a feeling that this one was going to be good but by the end I can only say that this one is great.  Of all the books I have read and thoroughly enjoyed by this author, this new release is the best.  Better than anything else she has done and may even be the best she ever writes.

Powerful, emotional and thrilling.  When does not have an unique concept.  I distinctly remember reading something with a similar idea called Numbers by Rachel Ward.  However even if Victoria's story is different and maybe even more simple than that book I read oh so long ago, it is definitely more amazing and spectacular on so many levels.I doubt any review I write will do this book justice and I am sure there are people out there who will hate this book.  I loved it and it touched me.

The paranormal isn't a new theme in Laurie's books and I love her cozy mysteries which are both on my must read and pre-order lists.  A Young Adult book wasn't what I was expecting from her but I know she has written some books for younger readers.  This idea of seeing the date that someone will die is spooky and offers so many questions.  Would you want to know?  How would you cope if you met someone with a death date that is coming up soon.  These questions and so many more are answered in this special story about a girl with this curse/gift.

As plots go, this one rocks.  Reading When and watching everything unfold was exciting.  I couldn't put the book down I was so engrossed in the story.  Maddie's problems and joys are overwhelming but she takes things in her stride and doesn't come across as a whiny teenager.  Her family are a mess and her friendship with her best friend gets tested to the extremes but she soldiers on and does her best to save everyone.

The best thing to do is just read this one.  I can only highly recommend it, give it the five stars it deserves and keep telling people to try it.  Any fans of Laurie's work should get a copy as soon as possible and enjoy what else the author has on offer.  If you don't like Young Adult books then make an exception just this once!  Read the blurb and think about it.  I took the chance and I don't regret it one bit!

I hope there will be more stories about Maddie but this seems to be a stand alone.  Although there was a nice twist at the end I had guessed earlier all about that particular thread.  That development and so much more makes me want this one to have a sequel. I would happily read more about her and what happens next.  Maybe there would even be a few more books about cases she works on or even with her a little older.  After all we know when she is going to die.

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78) Fatal Fortune by Victoria Laurie

The Blurb :

When police show Abby surveillance video of her best friend and business partner, Candice Fusco, shooting a man in cold blood, she can’t believe her eyes. And when the cops tell her they think the victim has ties to the Mob—and perhaps Candice does too—she can’t believe her ears. Surely there is a logical explanation. But Candice is nowhere to be found.

Abby decides the only way to find out the truth is to go to Vegas herself—which may be the biggest gamble of her life. Once in town she begins to uncover a rigged game of dirty double-dealing where the stakes are no less than life and death. And if she’s not careful, Abby can forget about ever leaving Las Vegas...alive.

My Thoughts :

The Psychic Eye mysteries were one of the first, if not the first, cozy mystery series I started reading with a paranormal twist.  The twist isn't a huge one and there are no things that go bump in the night but a psychic who is the real deal and keeps getting mixed up in all sorts of trouble.  Fatal Fortune is the twelfth book in the series and things have developed a lot of the years.  So much has happened and Abby has gone through some strange and unusual events over the span of the series and things don't ever get boring.

Fatal Fortune is the newest installment and I of course had it on pre-order.  However this is another series that is horribly expensive of late.  With the price being nearly twenty dollars when most other new releases only cost five to six dollars.  So I did have a little battle with myself before pressing the pre-order button over on Amazon.  I was ready to pass this one over and wait for it to get cheaper but I have been following this series/author for so long and I can't resist.  Maybe that is what the people who set the prices are hoping for...

Things start off fast and furious in this new book.  A call in the night has Abby rushing off to do a favour for her best friend.  This leads her to being in possession of not only message from a murder suspect but also a folder of information that obviously has something to do with the murder but Abby can't make heads nor tails of.  Abby has to keep quiet about a lot of things as the story progresses and she finds herself lying to the people she loves and also the FBI.

This is another great mystery filled with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing to the end.  You think you have it figured out and then something comes along and makes you doubt everything.  The psychic angle has always been interesting and I really like the concept even after all this time.  The series has me hooked and it will be staying on my pre-order list despite the cost.  I look forward to reading more in the series and am really excited to see where the author takes Abby and the rest of the characters as the series keeps progressing.  Well worth reading!

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5) The Ghoul Next Door by Victoria Laurie

The Blurb :


On a well-deserved hiatus from the ghoulish grind of their TV show, Ghoul Getters, psychic medium M. J. Holliday, her boyfriend, Heath, and her best friend, Gilley, are back home in Boston. But there’s no rest for the weary ghost busters. M. J.’s ex comes to her for help—his fiancée’s brother Luke seems haunted by a sinister spirit.

The crew sets up surveillance cameras to watch for the possessive poltergeist while Luke is sleeping. But when he goes outside in the middle of the night and returns hours later covered in blood, they are all very concerned—especially when the news reports the murder of a young woman in the neighborhood.

Now M. J., Heath, and Gilley must remain self-possessed as they try to stop a wicked ghost whose behavior is anything but neighborly.

My Thoughts :

It has been slow going lately as far as reading is concerned and it isn't because I haven't got anything worth reading.  This latest episode in the Ghost Hunter Mysteries was a pre-order and I couldn't wait to read it.  However being away and then jet-lag/work getting in the way I just haven't had much time or energy to read.  So it was good to finally finish this.  To find out how, what and why.

This series is one of my favourites.  I love the ghost hunting aspect and the psychic medium business is pretty near too.  This series has been getting really scary and this new installment is no exception.  Within a few chapters I realised this wasn't one I would be reading before going to sleep.  Don't let the cute looking cover fool you, this could cause nightmares and may keep you awake.

If you like things that go bump in the night then you really need to try this series.  There is always a great mystery attached and there are also some great characters.  The on-going story of M.J's life makes for interesting reading and it is hard not to like her and be her friend.  She is someone you can rely on and she isn't scared to take risks.  The stories are spooky and this eighth book is no exception.

The mystery this time around was very dark and brutal.  The strength and determination the characters show is inspiring and the long twisting path they take to find the 'killer' does take its toll on them all.   Things are very emotional at times and even more so because M.J's ex plays a big part in this book.  Also there is some news about her father which is mostly pushed to the side but I think it will be the theme of the next book.

There isn't anything bad I can say about this series or this new release.  I only wish that this series would release more than one book a year.  It would be really nice to catch up with the crew on a more regular basis and I am pretty sure there are a lot more Ghost Hunter stories to tell.  Whenever the next book comes out I can guarantee I will have it on pre-order.  This is a series and author that is on my must read list and will be staying there as long as she keeps writing such great paranormal cozy mysteries.




 

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Monthly Giveway Results & Winner Announcement!

August is already coming to an end but the July Monthly Giveaway has just ended!  So a new monthly Giveaway will be coming along soon!  However right now we need to see who won the last one!

I had some good choices this month and I am pretty sure there was something for everyone!

So which book got the most votes?  Who has won a copy of the winning book?  Let's find out!

How does the Monthly Giveaway work? 

I pick five of my favourite reads from the last month (sorry no ARCs are included unless they have already been released!) then you guys go to the poll and vote for the book you want to win or the one you think deserves to win! Remember! You may not actually win the book you voted for.

Here are the results :

In last place is Deadly Forecast by Victoria Laurie with only 5.5% of the vote.  This is a good read if you have been following the series.  However against the other books on offer I was sure it wouldn't get many votes, and it didn't.


Fourth place with 11% of the votes goes to Tarnished and Torn (A Witchcraft Mystery #5) by Juliet Blackwell.  I am not sure but I think a cozy mystery, paranormal or otherwise, has never won the Monthly Giveaway.


I am surprised that White Trash Zombie Apocalypse by Diana Rowland only made it to third place!  I love this series and it is amazingly funny and thrilling.  However you guys only gave it 13% of the vote because the other books on offer looked better!


It was close but Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones came in at second place.  I was not expecting that at all!  But if you are all fans of the series I guess you have bought and read this one already.


So first place this month goes to Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep!  Well done!  Jennifer is one of my all time favourite authors and I love it when her books win the Monthly Giveaway!


The winner of the Monthly Giveaway and a copy of Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep, should now be showing in the Rafflecopter widget below.  If you see your name then contact me to claim your prize!  If you want a Kindle version then make sure you include the right email address and if you want a paper copy then make sure you send me your mailing address!

Didn't win this time?  The next Monthly Giveaway will be coming up soon!  Otherwise you can check the sidebar for other contests that are open.

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Newsletter subscribers! If you have not confirmed your email address then you will not be added to the draw!!!


The poll will stay open for votes until Saturday 24th of August 2013 4pm (all times are in Central European Time). The winner will be announced within days of the contest closing.

Enter your email address:  
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Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming!   Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)

  

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Monthly Giveaway!

July is over and so is my holiday!  It was extended by a day due to a late flight but that meant I got another book read!  So not all bad!

I have some good choices this month which is good considering the poor offerings in the last couple of months.  I hope you manage to find one to vote for and maybe, just maybe, you will win a copy!

So who wants to win a copy of one of my favourite reads in July? Keep reading and find out more!

Every month here on Amberkatze's Book Blog there is a Monthly Giveaway!

What is the Monthly Giveaway? 

You have the chance to vote for which book you want to win from my five favourite reads from last month!

I pick five of my favourite reads from the last month (sorry no ARCs are included unless they have already been released!) then you guys go to the poll and vote for the book you want to win or the one you think deserves to win! Remember! You may not actually win the book you voted for.

Here is a little info about each book on offer this month. Just click on the book title and author to see my review :




White Trash Zombie Apocalypse (White Trash Zombie #3) by Diana Rowland



Fifth Grave Past the Light (Charley Davidson #5) by Darynda Jones



Midnight Frost (Mythos Academy #5) by Jennifer Estep


Tarnished and Torn (A Witchcraft Mystery #5) by Juliet Blackwell 


Deadly Forecast (Psychic Eye Mystery #11) by Victoria Laurie 

How does the monthly giveaway work?

Well in the sidebar ---> there is this poll. You vote for the book you would most like to win. Then enter the Monthly Giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below. When the giveaway is over the winner gets book with the most votes. So you may not even win the book you voted for!



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Newsletter subscribers! If you have not confirmed your email address then you will not be added to the draw!!!


The poll will stay open for votes until Saturday 24th of August 2013 4pm (all times are in Central European Time). The winner will be announced within days of the contest closing.

Enter your email address:  
Delivered by FeedBurner

Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming!   Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)

  

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101) Deadly Forecast by Victoria Laurie

The Blurb :

As her wedding day approaches, Abby Cooper has a disturbing premonition of her fiancé’s murder. Her husband-to-be, FBI agent Dutch Rivers, has been assigned to a suicide bombing case, and Abby’s spirit guides warn her of imminent danger. Abby vows to do everything in her power to keep Dutch safe and get him to the altar. But on the morning of the ceremony, she finds herself in a dire situation with time running out...

My Thoughts :

Deadly Forecast is the 11th book in the Psychic Eye series and one of those ones you will never forget! I will actually say it was the best so far!  From the beginning to the very end there is a race against time where the bride to be, the groom and all their friends, rush to save a life and a wedding.  The is never a dull moment and this book is even more special because it features M.J and Gilly from Victoria's other Paranormal Cozy Mystery books, The Ghost Hunter Mysteries.

Where to start?  If you already know the series then you know the characters and what they have been through to get to the places they are today.  If you don't know the characters then you need to start at the beginning.  The series must be read from the first book and in order.  Otherwise you will ruin the surprises.  As it is the main characters are ready to marry and as the day grows closer the tension rises.  Not because of cold feet or doubts but due to a big case that already made itself know of in the previous book.

The story itself is fast and furious and slightly different to the previous installments.  Firstly this time around the chapters flash back and forward to the past (days before the wedding) and the present (the wedding day).  The author has managed to use this technique to make the story even more interesting and exciting.  Thrilling even.  I was on the edge of my seat (on an airplane...) while reading this and couldn't wait to see how the case got solved.  It stumped me to the last minute and despite so many clues being available to me as the past and present investigations opened up, I still felt as frustrated as the characters.

Secondly, this story mixes in with the Ghost Hunter Mysteries.  If you are a fan of this author then you have to know both of these amazing Paranormal mysteries.  M.J and Giley are invited to the wedding and end up helping save the case.  It was great to have some other well know Laurie characters in the book and even though they were only on 'loan' they fit in so well.  Actually they fit in so well that I wondered if I missed a cross over episode somewhere else?  I can't seem to remember all these characters from both series knowing each other but it seems they do!

This case was a little too close for comfort.  In previous books we have seen Abby and Dutch get themselves in and out of some very nasty situations and they have been hurt on more than one occasion.  However nothing can beat the emotional and physical torture the pair go through in this lastest edition.  Abby's instincts and abilities tried to warn her that something was happening but I don't think they was anyway they could have kept her out of this one.  Even her attempts to do something psychic about it all wasn't always helpful.

This was a wonderful installment and very addictive reading wise.  I would have happily stayed up all night to finish this one.  Now in retrospect I wonder if this was the last in the series.  The ending was nice and everything was tied up.  It could be time to say goodbye or maybe it is just the start of something new in the Psychic Eye life?  Whatever the case I am happy I was there for the ride and I welcome any more Paranormal delights this author offers up for her readers.  She writes a great mystery and I can't get enough of them.






  

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Monthly Giveaway Results/Winners

The January Monthly Giveaway is over! And the February one will be starting soon! 2013 is racing along!

Time to see which book won the Monthly Giveaway and who has won a copy of the winning book!

What is the Monthly Giveaway?

I picked five of my favourite reads from January month (sorry no ARCs are included unless they have already been released!) then you guys could vote for the book you would like to win or the one you think deserves to win!

Did you enter the Monthly Giveaway? Did you vote? Here are the results!


In last place with a miserable 3.64% of the vote was Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish by Andrew Buckley. You may not have wanted to vote for this book but make sure you read it at some point. It is hilarious!

Monthly Giveaway Reminder

Do you want to win one of my favourite reads from last month? Well all you have to do is enter the Monthly Giveaway!

What is the Monthly Giveaway?

I picked five of my favourite reads from last month (sorry no ARCs are included unless they have already been released!) and you guys get to vote for the book you want to win or the one you think deserves to win! Remember! You may not actually win the book you voted for.

Here is a little info about each book on offer this month. Just click on the book title and author to see my review -



What a Ghoul Wants by Victoria Laurie

Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish by Andrew Buckley


Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti by Bailey Cates


Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep


Touch of the Demon by Diana Rowland

How does the monthly giveaway work?

Well in the sidebar ---> there is this poll. You vote for the book you would most like to win. Then enter the Monthly Giveaway!

The poll will is open until Friday 1st of March 2013 4pm (all times are in Central European Time). So you only have till the end of the week to vote and enter!

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Newsletter subscribers! If you have not confirmed your email address then you will not be added to the draw!!!

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)

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