The Cardinalis Code by Avery Sterling

The Cardinalis Code by Avery Sterling

Published by Hot Tree Publishing

Published on March 21, 2020

Genre(s): Paranormal, Vampires, Romance, Fantasy

Page Count: 308

Source: Enticing Journey Book Promotions

Format:eBook

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Description: What if vampires were a superior species and nearly undetectable? As successful, influential individuals, vampires live under a strict set of rules created by their government, The Cardinalis Order. Are you ready to understand what it means to break The Cardinalis Code?

When successful business entrepreneur Michael Chamberlain arrives in The Hamptons to take over his father’s nightclub, he’s in search of a new donateur, a contracted blood source. Troubled and distant, Michael discovers he’s still very much alive when enticed by a beautiful woman, offering a kiss and a question. Can you be mine for five minutes?

Student Paislee Sullivan serves at the prestigious nightclub to pay her tuition. When she meets the mysterious Michael Chamberlain, who she believes to be just a gorgeous bartender with an attitude, she soon discovers her world is ruled by a species not of her own.

Wealth and glamour shroud a dark side that threatens her life when she signs Michael’s contract. In this steamy romance, two lovers wield a charming relationship that will be destroyed by the Order if she breaks just one rule.

Hello Readers.

I was sent this recently and I read it just in time to review it for the release day. Original concept. A wonderful approach. Solid characters. Full of intrigue and drama. Plenty of steam. Not to be read around other people if you blush easily.

I am rating this book Four Red Books because it was a really good read. I would definitely read it again and will be looking into the author's other work. Recommend. 

InkedBookDragon

Curses and Crowns (Vampires of Crescent Cape Book 1) by L. Danvers

Curses and Crowns (Vampires of Crescent Cape Book 1) by L. Danvers

Published by Independently published

Published on February 12, 2019

Genre(s): Fantasy, Paranormal

Page Count: 210

Source: Purchased

Format: eBook

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Book Description:
A cut-throat competition.

A romance to die for.

Danielle Parker’s life was a dream. Until it became a living nightmare.

Ripped of her memories of how she was kidnapped from her family, Danielle is whisked away to the mystical Crescent Cape—a kingdom ruled by vampires, where she is to live out her human life as a blood slave.

She’s not going down without a fight.

But her plans are thwarted when she’s selected to compete for the prince’s heart.

The winner will be turned into a vampire and taken as his bride. And the losers’ blood will be fed to the princess-to-be to complete her transition.

As much as she’s disgusted by the idea of the competition, and as dangerous as Prince Aiden is, she can’t deny her attraction to him—or to his troubled brother, Julian.

Will she be able to resist the brothers’ charms? Or will she find herself pulled into the dangerous world of the vampires of Crescent Cape?

A romantic and thrilling new series that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for fans of The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and The Selection.


Hello Readers.

I read books all across the genre gamut but a part of me always freaks out a little over fantasy, especially paranormal books. Vampires. Werewolves. Magic. Ghosts. Zombies.Witches. Give me! I am all over them. I cannot get enough. Yes please!

When I read the blurb for this one, I had to read it. It felt like something that I could really sink my teeth into. (Pun intended). I had gotten the opportunity to read the prequel short story (Blood Heirs)* last year and I found myself needing to know what happened. My mind would wander into this world at the most random times. I was hooked and needed to continue on this adventure.

Not so patiently, I waited. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. Finally the announcement came and I was delighted.

Publication day! Yes! I dove into the book. I took my time with this one, not wanting to miss a single detail. I escaped back into the world of Crescent Cape and I welcomed it. Rich descriptions. Intriguing concept. Relatable characters. Complex storyline. I finished it and just sat back for a few minutes. An afterglow of sorts.

I am rating this book Five Blue Books because it was such an enjoyable read. As I write this, I cannot help but think about how I cannot wait to read what happens next. L. Danvers definitely has my attention and I look forward to reading more. Highly recommend.

InkedBookDragon


* You can find Blood Heirs here.

School for Psychics by K.C. Archer

School for Psychics: Book One by K.C. Archer

Published by Simon & Schuster

Published on April 3, 2018

Genres: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Supernatural, Paranormal

Page Count: 368

Source: Publisher

Format: ebook

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Description: An entrancing new series starring a funny, impulsive, and sometimes self-congratulatory young woman who discovers she has psychic abilities—and then must decide whether she will use her skills for good or…not.

Teddy Cannon isn’t your typical twenty-something woman. She’s resourceful. She’s bright. She’s scrappy. She can also read people with uncanny precision. What she doesn’t realize: she’s actually psychic.

When a series of bad decisions leads Teddy to a run-in with the police, a mysterious stranger intervenes. He invites her to apply to the School for Psychics, a facility hidden off the coast of San Francisco where students are trained like Delta Force operatives: it’s competitive, cutthroat, and highly secretive. They’ll learn telepathy, telekinesis, investigative skills, and SWAT tactics. And if students survive their training, they go on to serve at the highest levels of government, using their skills to protect America, and the world.

In class, Teddy befriends Lucas, a rebel without a cause who can start and manipulate fire; Jillian, a hipster who can mediate communication between animals and humans; and Molly, a hacker who can apprehend the emotional state of another individual. But just as Teddy feels like she’s found where she might belong, strange things begin to happen: break-ins, missing students, and more. It leads Teddy to accept a dangerous mission that will ultimately cause her to question everything—her teachers, her friends, her family, and even herself.

Set in a world very much like our own, School for Psychics is the first book in a stay-up-all night series.

Hello Readers.

I was quite intrigued when I first saw this book. It looked like something that I could really enjoy so I jumped at the chance to read it. Being a lover of paranormal and supernatural books, I went into this hopeful. For the most part, I was not disappointed. 

Strong characters. Great premise. I found myself wanting to read constantly. I was drawn into a story where the characters were relatable even if they were "different" from the norm. I was in the school. I was working on my abilities. I was there. I love when a book does that. 

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was delighted to get the opportunity. I am rating it Four Red Books because I feel it is a pretty solid start to a series. I wish I could rate it higher but there were moments that were predictable and bordering on cliche. With that said, I greatly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see what follows in the rest of the series. I will definitely be recommending School for Psychics. 

InkedBookDragon

Series Spotlight: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

A little about the first book: STORM FRONT* 

In the first novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files series, Harry Dresden’s investigation of a grisly double murder pulls him into the darkest depths of magical Chicago…

As a professional wizard, Harry Dresden knows firsthand that the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most of them don’t play well with humans. And those that do enjoy playing with humans far too much. He also knows he’s the best at what he does. Technically, he’s the only at what he does. But even though Harry is the only game in town, business—to put it mildly, stinks. 

So when the Chicago P.D. bring him in to consult on a double homicide committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name...

Hello Readers.

The first series that I want to spotlight is The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. The reason that it is first is because I fell completely in love with it after reading the first one. Granted, it has gotten much better with each addition but it had me. I found myself completely enthralled and then deeply saddened when each book concluded. 

Harry Dresden will take you to places that you never dreamed. These books are full of humor, action, romance, revenge, and so much more. They are beyond fabulous. The writing is phenomenal. I cannot rave enough about this series. 

I don't want to spoil it for you so I won't go any deeper. All I can say is that if you like this kind of series, read it. Read it immediately. It is truly that good. 

InkedBookDragon

Books in Series:

• Storm Front               
• Fool Moon                 
• Grave Peril
• Summer Knight
• Death Masks
• Blood Rites
• Dead Beat
• Proven Guilty
• White Night
• Small Favor
• Turn Coat
• Changes
• Ghost Story
• Cold Days
• Skin Game
• Peace Talks - No release date as of yet.      

Additional:

Book - Side Jobs - Short Stories

TV show - The Dresden Files (Not the greatest representation)
Graphic novels:

• Welcome to the Jungle
• Storm Front, Volume 1: The Gathering Storm
• Storm Front, Volume 2: Maelstrom
• Fool Moon, Volume 1
• Fool Moon, Volume 2
• Ghoul, Goblin
• War Cry
• Down Town
• Wild Card
• Dog Men

Roleplaying game - The Dresden Files Roleplaying Game

Jim Butcher's Page

Amazon

*Blurb from Amazon
**Picture from White Night

The Breathless by Tara Goedjen

The Breathless by Tara Goedjen

Published by Delacorte Press

Published on October 10, 2017

Genres: Young Adult, Horror, Mystery, Fantasy, Paranormal, Gothic, Historical

Page Count: 368

Source: Publisher

Format: Hardback

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Description:No one knows what really happened on the beach where Roxanne Cole’s body was found, but her boyfriend, Cage, took off that night and hasn’t been seen since. Until now. One year—almost to the day—from Ro’s death, when he knocks on the door of Blue Gate Manor and asks where she is.

Cage has no memory of the past twelve months. According to him, Ro was alive only the day before. Ro’s sister Mae wouldn’t believe him, except that something’s not right. Nothing’s been right in the house since Ro died.

And then Mae finds the little green book. The one hidden in Ro’s room. It’s filled with secrets—dangerous secrets—about her family, and about Ro. And if what it says is true, then maybe, just maybe, Ro isn’t lost forever.

And maybe there are secrets better left to the dead.

Hello Readers.

This book completely slipped by me. I am usually pretty on top of book releases. I like to know what books are coming and when they come out. I missed this one and had no idea of its existence until I was sent a copy. I took one look at it and thought that it looked pretty interesting. The cover was eerily beautiful so I figured that I would give the book a try.

Wow! How can this be a debut novel? It definitely does not feel like one. The premise was excellent and the execution was near flawless. I was captivated within the first couple pages. The characters were so rich and multilayered. Nothing can put me off of a book quicker than characters that do not evolve at all. We tend to evolve and adapt to the world around us. It is refreshing when I read about characters that truly progress. Stagnant characterizations annoy me so much.

This novel was one of those that I had to fight with myself about sleeping because I did not want to stop reading. Creepy yet lovely. Complicated. Full of suspense. Sad yet fun. Romantic and heartbreaking. A truly enchanting read.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am rating this book Four Red Books because it did have occasional moments here and there that were predictable. With that being said, it was a true delight to read. I will be recommending it. 

InkedBookDragon

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments) by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare

Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Published on March 27, 2007

Genres: YA Fiction, Horror Fiction, Dark Fantasy Fiction, Paranormal

Page Count: 496

Source: Purchased

Format: Hardback

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Description: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.


Hello.

I realize that I am entering this world way later than most. I don't know how I managed to avoid this book for so long. A close friend of mine finally called me out on it and told me that I had to read it. I took her advice and bought a copy as soon as I could.

I could not read this book fast enough. It is full of these amazing characters and other worlds that most people would never believe existed. How would you respond if you saw something and you would swear that either your eyes were tricking you or you had just witnessed a heinous crime?  Worlds collide and you have no idea as to what may happen.

I cannot even begin to tell you how fantastic this book was. I found myself saddened when I closed that cover. Then I had that moment of bliss that one has when they read a book so good that they know they are going to live in that world for a while. Thankfully, I did not have to wait too long to read the next volume.

I am rating this book Five Blue Books because it was a wonderful way to start a series. It is proof that some people can know you so well that they can pick out the perfect book for you. I recommend it to anyone that will listen.


InkedBookDragon

Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn

Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn

Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

Published on April 21, 2008 (reissue edition)

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal, Horror
Page Count: 192

Source: Purchased

Format: Paperback

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Description: Twelve-year-old Molly and her ten-year-old brother, Michael, have never liked their seven-year-old stepsister, Heather. Ever since their parents got married, she's made Molly and Michael's life miserable. Now their parents have moved them all to the country to live in a house that used to be a church, with a cemetery in the backyard. If that's not bad enough, Heather starts talking to a ghost named Helen and warning Molly and Michael that Helen is coming for them. Molly feels certain Heather is in some kind of danger, but every time she tried to help, Heather twists things around to get her into trouble. It seems as if things can't get any worse.

But they do---when Helen comes.

Hello.

Tonight, I am reviewing Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn. It is written more towards children in grades 5-7. I stumbled upon this book and thought that I would give it a shot. It looked interesting. What did I have to lose?

I was pleasantly surprised with this one. It may have been written for the younger crowd but it doesn't always feel that way. It deals with very serious issues such as adapting to blended families, severe guilt, communication, fear of abandonment, and forgiveness. Add in the ghost of a child hellbent on finding a new playmate and you have a creepy read.

I find myself intrigued by this author. The style of this book was quite refreshing. I wonder if her other works leave the reader with the great sense of contentment that I experienced with this book. Yes, it read like a book written for children but it felt like more. It was full of moments that left me shuddering a little. Hahn definitely has this grasp on the human mind and fear.

I am giving this book the rating of Four Red Books because it did feel rushed. Hahn wanted to get as much story in there as possible which is tricky for a book of this length (192 pages). She is definitely a true master of the ghost story. Overall, very enjoyable read.

InkedBookDragon