I received a copy from Netgalley.

An enjoyable mystery with a paranormal twist. Takes place in a “then and now” form.  Sisters Loo and Bee live with their mom and dad and siblings in a rambling farm in the 1970s. Their parents are considered “outsiders” in their small communities. The kids are home schooled, the dad’s an artist. The mom wanted an easier life, and while it seems ideal on the front, it’s doesn’t sound as easy as it looked in the idea stage.

During one summer strange things start happening in the house and before long a slew of paranormal experts and professors, reporter and a medium are on the property interviewing the family, trying to get to the bottom of the mystery.

In the present day, the mom, Cathy, is now in a care home and Loo has been called home to come and see to Cathy’s care and needs. At the same time a modern day team of university students are conducting a paranormal research investigation Loo and Cathy’s former house which has been empty for many years now.

The chapters flip back and forth between what happened back then and what’s happening present day. It’s been a while since I read it so I can’t remember too much of the intricacies of the plot. Lots of characters, can’t remember anything that particularly stood out. It was a well written mystery that kept the pages turning.

Intriguing more in the past stages for me than the present. The present day sounded like a thousand other ghost hunter books/tv shows/movies but it was interesting in comparing the temperament of adult Loo to the child Loo in the past along with how she dealt with things back then and what she’s thinking/feeling now as the recent events unfold.

There were a few twists at various points which I had already guessed, however, that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the novel.  The twists were believable and the errors involved human and understandable, given the circumstances.  Some good family and relationship dynamics added into the mix.

All in all a very enjoyable read and definitely an author I would read again.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for approving my request to view the title.

Third read of this wonderful book. This time I'm listening to it in audio then marking the pages in my paperback. (Reading and listening) and it may be one I've the best audio books I've ever heard. It's really atmospheric and the narration is amazing. The Southern accents are awesome.

I received a copy from Netgalley.

Since The Hollows is one of my favourite urban fantasy series, and probably one the series that got me hooked on urban fantasy in the first place, a prequel to the Hollows was a must have. I put in a Netgalley request as soon as I saw it. (Even though I’m only up to book 7 in the series).

Though after reading it, I can’t honestly say I liked it all that much. It was okay, somewhere between a two and a three star read for me. The first half of the book was full of science stuff that I found incredibly boring and a slog to get through. I’ve never DNFed a Kim Harrison book before, so series and author love made me determined to finish it.

 I found it quite confusing, it didn’t help also that I could have sworn there was a Trent Kalamak in the Rachel Morgan series. It was only when I was reading reviews on Goodreads and saw the questions about this book section that someone else had asked the same thing that was puzzling me. Not the same character, two different characters (though there was a ding! moment towards the end of the book that made me go aaaah, that’s why).

One or two familiar characters also popped up, demon Algaliarept (who’s name I can’t pronounce to save my life) was his usual delightfully obnoxious (and somewhat amusing in a snarky way) self and Quen.  One of the vampires makes an appearance towards the end as well.

This is all about two dark elf scientists who are fighting it out for funding, Trent and Trisk, both of whom hate each other, Trisk’s created a genetically engineered tomato that will supposedly end third world hunger. Forced to work together each have their own separate agendas. As I said, the first half was all very technical and the two of them playing off each other to get to their own goals. (I had to keep reminding myself this was set in the 60s as well). Favourite classic songs are on the radio as new music.

But of course, jealousy rears its ugly head and one thing leads to another, something goes hideously wrong. This resulting in a wide spread disease that nearly wipes out the human race, bringing out the fear and repercussions of a bunch of vampires, witches and other species trying their best to get head of it and survive as well.  While at the same time Trisk and a companion, the Dr who created the virus in the first place, there’s links to her genetic tomato, and Trent trying to keep on top of things.

The second half was much more exciting as things went from bad to worse and Trisk and her friends try to fix the problem. There’s something – satisfying is not the word I’d use – but there’s definitely a so that’s how it all happened feeling about now knowing how The Hollows all started, but it’s certainly not a favourite novel. Though I am glad I read it, and would certainly recommend to Hollows fans.

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for approving my request to view the title.

I found this title on offer on Penguin's First To Read site. Since in the current batch of titles there were no YA books on offer and I do like haunted house mysteries this title caught my attention. However, I didn't relive this was book five in an on going series. Sometimes that doesn't bother me (I came in on book seven of a long series once and just about picked up on the gist of the plot).

The idea is certainly an interesting one, the heroine has the ability to see ghosts and spirits and (I assume) helps them find rest or whatever they need. It's just that my problem with this book is I cannot stand the heroine. Even in the few pages I read I find her annoying, snobby, bossy and controlling. She's leaving her new husband detailed lists and schedules of how to feed dress and care for their baby twins. You married the man, had twin babies with him and can't trust his judgement to look after them? This is where I don't know the background relationship of how the couple got together or the history so I'm not sure on their trust and responsibilities issues. But it seems a bit over the top scheduling every last minute of the day. The woman has fired a number of nannies already for refusing to stick to her OTT schedules. Seems a bit too much, at least for me anyway. There are other things that bug me about woman as wel and its a lot in such a small amount of pages to dislike the main character to the point of where thinking I need to read more makes my eyes roll.

I just don't see myself really paying much more attention to this one, it's a DNF from me.

EVIL HAS A FACE

Someone is taking the children of New Orleans. For the last eight months on the night of the full moon there has been an abduction. No bodies have been found. No ransom demands made. Poor or Rich. Black or White. Boy or Girl. The kidnapper does not play favorites.

PRAY

In this prequel to Spirits Among Us, nineteen year-old Jon-Luc Boudreaux is trying to manage his gift. He’s a psychic medium, in other words he sees the dead. They appear to him like living breathing people. At times it’s hard to know the difference. One night he is visited by the ghost of a young girl named Charlotte. Her message is simple; Save the children.

THAT EVIL

Jon-Luc has no idea how to do that. He’s not a cop. He knows nothing about finding missing kids. He tries to ignore her, but Charlotte won’t leave him alone until he promises to help. Since her visits started, he’s had some very disturbing visions. When the signs begin to point toward Voodoo, he has no choice but to find an expert.

DOES NOT

Celestine Glapion is a Voodoo Priestess and a descendant of the great Marie Luveau. The minute Jon-Luc walks into her family’s shop she remembers him, but he has no memory of her. So when Mama Arelia tells her she must help with this crisis, she’s reluctant to work side-by-side with Jon-Luc. But she’ll do anything for the sake of those innocent lives.

FIND YOU

Their journey takes them to the underbelly of New Orleans where dark magic lives. Jon-Luc escapes death not once, but twice and still he pushes on. Knowing time is running out, the kidnapper speeds up the schedule. Now the children’s lives hang in the balance and only Jon-Luc holds the key to their survival. Can he rescue them in time?

What did I think
5 stars
First off I would love to think the author for giving me a chance at reading and review Spirits of the Bayou (The Spirits Trilogy, #3) in a change for my honest opinion, which this is 100%,what that said lets get going; Even though this is book 3 and the first time I ever picked anything up by Morgan Hannah MacDonald , I'm so glad that I did, there's some thing about her writing style that just reaches out and grabs you and pulls you in to the story and won't let go at all, its captivated from the beginning to end,has a way of bringing the characters to life before your eyes, it's also chilling and terrifying, because it gives you a inside view and describes what Louisiana Voodoo, also known as New Orleans Voodoo is, plus its gives you the background of Jon-Luc as his learning about his gift and how to use it, and did I mention that it has Lots of unexpected, moments that gives you a creeping sensation on your skin that cause the hair on your arms to raise, and when you think that that your at a non creepy part of the book , she laughs at you and say I'm not do with you get, so just set back and hold on to your chair and enjoy the ride, because that's when she throws more surprises at you ,so if you love to be on the edge of your set, and are not afraid of the unexpected, or that creepy sensation then this is the book and series for you