Ambitious.  That was the first word that came to mind after it became clear where the story was going.  I love the setting, and the characters, and Holmes deserved her Agatha nomination for the first in this series, but as much as I admire her willingness to tackle such an intricate murder mystery, it didn't quite achieve success.  

 

The plot was a familiar one, but the method, while very clever, was too convoluted to feel as fresh as it should have.  I really like the angle she took with the murder method but by the end of book, I felt the same way I do after I've read an article on quantum physics: like I have the general idea down, but don't as me to explain it or it will all fall apart.  

 

I enjoyed a lot of the book, and I love reading about watch/clock making, so I'll read the next one, if there's a fourth, but reading murder mysteries should not feel like reading quantum physics.

In 1922 and in 1988 a deadly, possessive entity imprints on members of the same family, ancient as Genesis and determined to remain free. Savannah Caleman is the latest object of obsession in this chilling, historical tale of haunted legacy and terror. 

Savannah Caleman’s family has been coming apart since the early 1920’s. After a horrific suicide by their great aunt, the Calemans sell off the family ranch, hoping to leave the stigma of insanity behind and gain a fresh start at a property known by locals as “The Witcher Place.” Days after the move, Savannah’s father isn’t himself and her mother grows increasingly distant. Her little brother, Chaz, is forced out of a second story window by a being that makes Savannah question her sanity for the first time. Her mother takes Chaz and flees the state. Savannah and her younger sister, Molly, are chased home by a mountain lion but when Savannah turns to look back, the cat has transformed into a man. Their father’s behavior takes a more serious twist as horror abounds and Savannah turns to distant relatives for answers, fearing the insanity is real and has spread. Her father is no longer in control. Armed with a shotgun, Savannah is forced to protect herself and her sister. 

The evil plaguing her family dons a suit and tie and introduces himself, giving Savannah an ultimatum. She must decide between her sister’s safety and aiding a monster that can’t be identified as either an angel or a demon. Either way, Savannah is torn, and takes to single-handedly running the family affairs with precision as she takes care of her sister. The Witcher Place is transformed to her liking using family money. Distractions are only that. Releasing a monster to roam at will isn’t a stellar option, no matter the promises it makes. The stain of murder and torment cannot be erased. He has fallen, been shackled, and now has plans to rise once more using Savannah as the key to regain grace.

 

@AmityGreenBooks, @debbiereadsbook, #Adult, #Supernatural, #Horror, #Thriller, 3 out of 5 (good)

 

 

Wind Chime Wedding - Sophie Moss Wind Chime Wedding is the next chapter of Wind Chime Cafe By Sophie Moss. This is the 2nd book of the Wind Chime Series. You could read it as a stand alone but I wouldn't recommend it. You kind of need to read Wind Chime Cafe in order to really meet the characters and get a true idea of some of the things being talked about in this book.
The story takes place on Heron Island where Becca Hadaway is a 2nd grade teacher who is quitting to get married to her high school sweetheart Tom.
Colin Foley is a former Navy Seal who lost his leg in Afghanistan, and also the son of Maryland's Governor. Here's a part you need book 1 for, He is busy working on turning his friend Will's Grandparents house into a Rehab center for wounded Veterans. He finally has a reason and a purpose in his life. Now all he needs is someone to share this new leash on life with.
Colin sets his eyes on Becca. Now to convince her, he is the man she should be marrying.
As with Wind Chime Cafe Sophie Moss has done a wonderful job of dragging you into the story and keeping you there from the fist word to the last, and she leaves you wanting more. She takes you through the gambit of emotions, you are Happy when things are going good, Sad when they are not. You feel like you are intimate friends with the characters in her stories. I can't wait to see what her next book will bring.

The Seven Realms series continues in this third installment, however this has to be my least favourite so far. A major plot point was revealed in the blurb and it really took away from the reading experience and the moment it happened. It is true that you could see it was going to happen anyway, but I still would have preferred to go in blind. I recommend that you avoid reading the blurb when going into this one. All you need to know is that the story picks up right where The Exiled Queen left off. Raisa is on the run, Han is searching for her, and there are enemies everywhere.

 

The dual point of view is still in effect here, but this book focuses more on Raisa than Han, an aspect I thought I would enjoy as I greatly prefer her character. But it turned out Han’s struggles were much more interesting than Raisa’s so I was left unsatisfied. The Gray Wolf Throne is very character driven, even more so than The Exiled Queen.

 

It was sad to see the end of Oden’s Ford, as I really enjoyed the setting, and there wasn’t really any firm setting here. They moved around a lot and unlike in The Demon King, it didn’t work.

 

The first half of the novel was the best. It was pretty intense, with both Han and Raisa on the same path, yet separated. It was action packed, and I felt it had a good balance with the slower scenes. The plot was engaging and constantly moving forward (although pretty slowly it seemed) yet it didn’t have any strong build up or climax. This definitely was more of a bridge book to set up for the sequel. While I enjoyed the read, it was disappointing. There are still some fantastic moments, and if you have liked the first two books then you should definitely pick this one up. I’m hoping that this is all build up to an explosive finale! And if you haven’t tried this series yet, go ahead and give The Demon King a chance. It’s an excellent, refreshing young adult fantasy!