Bea Reviews A Reason to Believe by Diana Copland

Publisher: Carina Press 
Format Read: eGalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: October 22, 2012
Buying Links: Amazon* | Kobo* | ARe* | Barnes & Noble | 
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Detective Matthew Bennett doesn't believe in ghosts. So when the spirit of a murdered child leads him to her body, he's shaken to the core--and taken off the case. Unable to explain his vision, or to let go of the investigation, Matthew turns to renowned medium Kiernan Fitzpatrick. Though he has doubts about Kiernan's claims to communicate with the dead, Matt is nevertheless drawn to the handsome psychic, who awakens feelings he thought were long-buried.

Haunted by the lingering spirit of the little girl, Kiernan is compelled to aid in the search for her killer. The chance to get closer to the enigmatic Matt is an unexpected bonus. Although Kiernan's been betrayed by people who turned out to be more interested in his fame than in himself, with Matt he's willing to risk his heart. As the two men grow closer, Kiernan helps Matt rediscover that life offers no guarantees--but love offers a reason to believe...

81,000 words

Steph Reviews AMERICA'S MOST HAUNTED: The Secrets of Paranormal Places by Theresa Argie & Eric Olsen

Publisher: Berkley Trade
Format Read: Ebook
Source: From the publisher for an honest review
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | OmniLit* | Barnes & Noble | 
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Throughout the United States, there are places haunted by souls both malevolent and benign. Places where paranormal activity runs rampant. Places where we can glimpse the other side…

In America’s Most Haunted, “Haunted Housewife” investigator Theresa Argie and journalist Eric Olsen team up to take you on a first-person tour of some of America’s most active paranormal hotspots.

Experience the crawl through the death tunnel where visitors have reported sightings of an inhuman creature that creeps along the walls and ceilings. Walk the decks of the Queen Mary with the hundreds of souls that met their ends in watery graves. And get to know the spirits that wait in jails, mansions, lunatic asylums, and even a stately old hotel.

Combining spine-tingling stories, documented evidence, and interviews with some of the top names in paranormal investigation—including the stars of TV’s “Ghost Hunters,” “Ghost Adventures,” and more—America’s Most Haunted gives you a terrifying chance to tour our nation’s most famous haunted places.Are you brave enough to take a look?.

Bea Reviews Jackaby by William Ritter

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers 
Series: Jackaby #1
Format Read: I downloaded an eGalley from the pub but never got it to work so I got the hardcover from the library.
Source: publisher and local library
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | OmniLit* | Barnes & Noble |
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

“Miss Rook, I am not an occultist,” Jackaby said. “I have a gift that allows me to see truth where others see the illusion--and there are many illusions. All the world’s a stage, as they say, and I seem to have the only seat in the house with a view behind the curtain.”

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it’s a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--deny.

Doctor Who meets Sherlock in William Ritter’s debut novel, which features a detective of the paranormal as seen through the eyes of his adventurous and intelligent assistant in a tale brimming with cheeky humor and a dose of the macabre.

The Friday 56 #43 Jackaby by William Ritter

This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice. If you'd like to join in the fun go to The Friday 56.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here.

I'm reading a young adult historical paranormal mystery, "Jackaby", by William Ritter. The quote is from page 56  in the hardcover.

Mona's stance faltered. She looked briefly to Charlie and me, finding only equal bewilderment, and then back at the detective. He smiled at her again with charming, innocent curiosity. The left side of his face was red, and the outline of four dainty fingers were slowly gaining definition. He was behaving in precisely the manner in which a man who had just been walloped across the face should not behave.

The Friday 56 #41 Deadly Gift by Heather Graham

This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice. If you'd like to join in the fun go to The Friday 56.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here.

I'm reading an romantic mystery with a hint of paranormal, "Deadly Gift", by Heather Graham. The quote is from page 56  in the paperback.

"So where's Amanda?"
"At the hotel. She was feeling all wrung out from the stress of worrying about me, taking care of me...you know. Anyway, I told her to take some time today. Get herself a massage. She'll be around later tonight. She's anxious to see you." 

Steph Reviews Free Agent By J.C. Nelson

Publisher: Ace
Series: Grimm Agency #1
Format Read: Paperback
Source: From the publisher for an honest review
Release Date: July 29, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | ARe*/OmniLit | Barnes & Noble | 
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

When it comes to crafting happily-ever-afters, the Agency is the best in the land of Kingdom. The Fairy Godfather Grimm can solve any problem—from eliminating imps to finding prince charming—as long as you can pay the price…

Working for Grimm isn’t Marissa Locks’s dream job. But when your parents trade you to a Fairy Godfather for a miracle, you don’t have many career options. To pay off her parents’ debt and earn her freedom, Marissa must do whatever Grimm asks, no matter what fairy-tale fiasco she’s called on to deal with.

Setting up a second-rate princess with a first-class prince is just another day at the office. But when the matchmaking goes wrong, Marissa and Grimm find themselves in a bigger magical muddle than ever before. Not only has the prince gone missing, but the Fae are gearing up to attack Kingdom, and a new Fairy Godmother is sniffing around Grimm’s turf, threatening Marissa with the one thing she can’t resist: her heart’s wishes.

Now Marissa will have to take on Fairies, Fae, dragons, and princesses to save the realm—or give up any hope of ever getting her happy ending…

Group Review of Visions By Kelley Armstrong

Publisher: Dutton
Series: Cainsville #2
Format Read: Hardcover
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: August 19, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

As #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong’s new Cainsville series continues, Olivia’s power to read omens leads to the discovery of a gruesome crime with troubling connections to her new hometown.

Omens, the first installment in Kelley Armstrong’s exciting new series, introduced Olivia Taylor-Jones, daughter of notorious serial killers, and Gabriel Walsh, the self-serving, morally ambiguous lawyer who became her unlikely ally. Together, they chased down a devious killer and partially cleared her parents of their horrifying crimes.

Their success, however, is short-lived. While Olivia takes refuge in the old, secluded town of Cainsville, Gabriel’s past mistakes have come to light, creating a rift between the pair just when she needs his help the most.

Olivia finds a dead woman in her car, dressed to look like her, but the body vanishes before anyone else sees it. Olivia’s convinced it’s another omen, a sign of impending danger. But then she learns that a troubled young woman went missing just days ago—the same woman Olivia found dead in her car. Someone has gone to great lengths to kill and leave this young woman as a warning. But why? And what role has her new home played in this disturbing murder?

Olivia’s effort to uncover the truth places her in the crosshairs of old and powerful forces, forces that have their own agenda, and closely guarded secrets they don’t want revealed.

Researching The Unholy by Paul DeBlassie III, A Guest Post

Welcome to my stop on the tour for the religious thriller, "The Unholy" by Paul DeBlassie III. Grab a drink and get comfy! Paul DeBlassie III, PhD, is a psychologist and writer living in his native New Mexico. A member of the Depth Psychology Alliance, the Transpersonal Psychology Association, and the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, he has for over thirty years treated survivors of the dark side of religion. His latest book is the psychological/paranormal thriller, The Unholy.

Find the Author Online:

website
blog
Twitter
facebook

Blog Tour Review of Bewitching Boots by Joyce and Jim Lavene And A Giveaway

Publisher: J. Lavene
Series: Renaissance Faire Mystery #7 (Amazon has it incorrectly marked as book 8)
Format Read: Kindle book
Source: the authors in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: 
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble 
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Jessie is thrilled when she finds Bill Warren, an old fashioned shoemaker, and he agrees to come back to Renaissance Village with her. She’s not so thrilled when claims to have elf magic, and he falls for Princess Isabelle. The dancing slippers Bill makes for Isabelle make him a suspect when the princess takes a leap from the castle terrace. Now, Jessie must find the lady or lord who helped the princess with her last dance before she loses her star attraction.

The Friday 56 #36 Visions by Kelley Armstrong

This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice. If you'd like to join in the fun go to The Friday 56.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here.

I'm reading a paranormal mystery,  "Visions" by Kelley Armstrong. The quote is from page 56 in the hardcover.

I hated letting Gabriel's betrayal bother me so much. I wanted to slough it off and bounce back. I had the last time. But now I hadn't just lost my lawyer. I'd lost a job I'd wanted. I'd lost a person I could confide in. And yes, damn it, I'd lost a friend, which was only made worse by knowing that he hadn't been a friend at all, only a paid companion.

Related articles

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Bea Reviews Better Homes And Hauntings by Molly Harper

Publisher: Pocket Books 
Format Read: eGalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: June 24, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | ARe*/OmniLit | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords*
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Author of the beloved Half Moon Hollow series of vampire romances (Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs), Molly Harper has created a standalone paranormal romance in which a dilapidated haunted house could bring star-crossed lovers together—if it doesn’t kill them first!

When Nina Linden is hired to landscape a private island off the New England coast, she sees it as her chance to rebuild her failing business after being cheated by her unscrupulous ex. She never expects that her new client, software mogul Deacon Whitney, would see more in her than just a talented gardener. Deacon has paid top dollar to the crews he’s hired to renovate the desolate Whitney estate—he had to, because the bumps, thumps, and unexplained sightings of ghostly figures in nineteenth-century dress are driving workers away faster than he can say “Boo.”

But Nina shows no signs of being scared away, even as she experiences some unnerving apparitions herself. And as the two of them work closely together to restore the mansion’s faded glory, Deacon realizes that he’s found someone who doesn’t seem to like his fortune more than himself—while Nina may have finally found the one man she can trust with her bruised and battered heart.

But something on the island doesn’t believe in true love…and if Nina and Deacon can’t figure out how to put these angry spirits to rest, their own love doesn’t stand a ghost of a chance.

Bea Reviews The Cursed by Heather Graham

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Series: Krewe of Hunters #12
Format Read: egalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: May 27, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | OmniLit* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Hannah O'Brien, who grew up in the house and now runs it as a B and B, has always had a special ability to see a pair of resident ghosts. But when a man is murdered in the alley behind her place, she's dismayed when his spirit appears, too, asking for help.

FBI agent Dallas Samson has a passionate interest in the murder, since the victim's a colleague whose death is connected to the smuggling ring known as Los Lobos—the wolves. Now Dallas is even more committed to chasing them down….

Unaware that Dallas has certain abilities of his own, Hannah calls her cousin Kelsey O'Brien, a member of the FBI's Krewe of Hunters, an elite unit of paranormal investigators. The present-day case is linked to a historical mystery involving salvagers, a curse and a sunken ship. Danger and desire bring Hannah and Dallas together, but to survive, they have to solve the mysteries of the past—and stay alive long enough to solve the crimes of the present!

Bea Reviews The Metaxy Project by Layton Green

Publisher: Sixth Street Press
Format Read: Kindle book
Source: the author in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: May 9, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

From the bestselling author of the Dominic Grey series comes a new novel that is part legal thriller, part paranormal mystery, and 100% dark and riveting suspense . . .

Rising above a hardscrabble childhood to become a star at one of Atlanta’s most prestigious law firms, Derek Miller is reliving The Great Gatsby in his own backyard. The spell is broken, however, when Derek’s investigation into the death of his mentor, a prominent psychologist, runs afoul of a mysterious government project involving research into psychic phenomena.

As Derek digs deeper, convinced his mentor was murdered, he is plunged into a rabbit hole of government experiments, clandestine figures, and supposed paranormal events. His investigation also puts him at odds with shadowy forces deep within the corridors of power -- including those on the top floor of his own law firm.

With his career in shambles, a warrant out for his arrest, and his life in jeopardy, Derek is running out of time to unravel the secrets surrounding his mentor’s research. And if he fails, it’s not just his own life that will be at risk, but the lives of those he holds most dear.

From a theoretical physicist to a clairvoyant housewife to the charismatic pastor of a mega-church, from lavish Southern mansions to desperate urban wasteland, Derek’s investigation turns into a race for survival that hinges on one thing alone: finding, and stopping, the most powerful psychic the world has ever seen.

The Friday 56 #22 Two for the Price of One

This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice. If you'd like to join on the fun go to The Friday 56.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here.

I missed last week as I was away visiting family. This week I'm reading two books so I have a 56 from each one. The first one I'm reading is a paranormal romantic suspense, "Turned" by Virna DePaul. The quote is from 56%  in the ebook.

Ana was as scared as she'd ever been. Considering the path her life had taken, that was saying something.

The second book is an urban fantasy, "Night Owls" by Lauren M. Roy. The quote is from page 56 in the paperback.

More people had trickled in, mostly shell-shocked students who stood in clusters, talking in hushed voices.

Related articles

• The Friday 56 #15 Sins of the Demon by Diana Rowland
• The Friday 56 #2
• The Friday 56 (March 30)
• The Friday 56 #5

Excerpt: Firefly Hollow by T.L. Haddix

  

The mysterious recluse…

Owen Campbell holds himself apart from other people. Badly scarred from emotional wounds that have never healed, he doesn’t expect to find true love or happiness. He remains isolated in a prison of his own making, determined to not let anyone close enough to hurt him again. But his willpower is shaken to the core when Sarah Browning enters his world.

The girl next door…

Sarah Jane Browning is three years into her college degree when a call from home changes everything. Back at the family homestead in the heart of Appalachia, she’s forced to reevaluate her hopes and dreams for the future.

Distraction from her heartache comes in the form of her parents’ neighbor. Whispers about “odd Owen Campbell” abound in their small community, and Sarah’s curiosity is aroused. When she breaks the rules and trespasses onto his land, what she finds is beyond her wildest imaginings.

As Sarah struggles to overcome tragedy and loss, her burgeoning relationship with Owen is sorely tested. Will love conquer all, or will the secrets from Owen’s past tear them apart forever?

Romance w/ Light Paranormal Elements
Date Published: 9/23/2012

Format: Kindle, paperback
Publisher: Streetlight Graphics Publishing
Purchase: Amazon*

Giveaway & Teaser from Turned by Virna DePaul

Thank you Bea for having me at Bea's Book Nook today! I am thrilled to share information about my upcoming novel, TURNED! It is the first book in my new paranormal romantic suspense series, The Belladonna Agency.

“Some Flowers Thrive Better in the Dark.” I love this tagline because, just like the beautiful but deadly Belladonna nightshade plant, this perfectly describes my heroines in this series, ordinary women with

dark pasts who are recruited to join Belladonna, a black ops organization that hunts vampire criminals.

Giveaway & Spotlight - Ashwood Falls Volume 1 by Lia Davis

Hello and welcome. Are you in the mood for some hot shifters? Need a little pick me up? Get your drink, coffee for me please, and settle in.

Lia Davis is a mother to two young adults and two very special kitties, a wife to her soul mate, a paranormal romance author, and co-owner to Fated Desires Publishing, LLC. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers. But it’s her home and she loves it!

An accounting major, Lia has always been a dreamer with a very active imagination. The wheels in her head never stop. She ventured into the world of writing and publishing in 2008 and loves it more than she imagined. Writing is stress reliever that allows her to go off in her corner of the house and enter into another world that she created, leaving real life where it belongs.

Quote-Tastic #38 Wait, it's unfair to leave a girl not quite dry!

Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed you for one reason or another. Everyone's welcome to join in - authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier! Just grab the button and put up your post :) Don't have a blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section.  Quote-tastic is hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup.

I read a light and fluffy paranormal romance, "A Witch's Handbook to Kisses and Curses", by Molly Harper. I loved her Naked Werewolf series and liked the sound of this so I got it from my library. It had lots of funny scenes and lines, picking one was hard. 

The Friday 56 #17 A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses by Molly Harper

This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice. If you'd like to join on the fun go to The Friday 56.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here.

I'm reading a paranormal romance, "A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses" by Molly Harper. The quote is from page 56 in the paperback.

I didn't know how to feel about this. I'd pictured Mr. Wainwright as this lonely little hermit, living above his shop. And somehow, that's what I wanted. He'd left my Nana Fee alone all those years. Some part of me was unsure that I wanted him to be this happy. I'd never understood why Nana Fee never married Jimmy O'Shea, a charming bachelor who lived down the lane. He had been courting Nana Fee since they were in school. But she'd refused him, so many times. His failed proposals were the stuff of legend in Kilcairy.

Blog Tour Review & GC Giveaway of Death Defying and Bittersweet Darkness by Nina Croft





Title: BITTERSWEET DARKNESS

Author: Nina Croft
Series: Book 3 of The Order
EBook: 251 pages
Publisher: Entangled
Release Date: February 24, 2014
Source: From publisher in exchange for an honest review
ISBN: 978-1622661138

Goodreads | Amazon* | Barnes and Noble

 * affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Book Blurb:

There are no monsters, only good guys and bad guys. That’s the creed by which Detective Inspector Faith Connolly has always lived.

When Faith discovers she has a time bomb counting down in her head, she has one goal: to solve the murder case she’s working on and gain closure. Her investigation brings her in contact with Ash Delacourt, who is definitely one of the bad guys, albeit a stunningly gorgeous one.

As payment for a debt, Asmodai, AKA Ash Delacourt, finds himself working with the Order of the Shadow Accords. He’s the demon representative on the newly formed committee for the integration of mankind and well…everything else. It’s a chance to be near his daughter, make a new start, and—once he’s met the delectable Detective Connolly—maybe have a little fun.

But as Faith’s investigation deepens, her beliefs are eroded and for the first time, she is falling in love—with one of the bad guys. How can she ever let Ash close when her time is running out…?