Review: Paranormia by Paul Regnier

About the Book

A nerdy nobody is heaven's newest hero. It's too bad that the devil fights dirty…

Chris Loury is penniless and painfully geeky. So when the struggling illustrator makes a wish that grants him supernatural visions, the lines start to blur between his comics and reality. After he crosses paths with a protector who calls himself an angel, Chris must decide if being a hero is worth the danger.

When his newfound confidence helps him connect with the girl-next-door, he hopes he can balance a relationship and a superhuman secret. But after a devilishly gorgeous woman with money and an ulterior motive tempts him with career success and fame, he puts his crush, his town, and his life in jeopardy.

Will Chris fulfill his destiny and save the city from destruction?

Paranormia is an enthralling urban fantasy adventure. If you like underdog heroes, supernatural battles, and a dash of humor, then you’ll love Paul Regnier’s action-packed novel.

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

Paranormia is about the ongoing, eternal battle between good and evil. Spiritual warfare. You might expect that a novel dealing with such a serious subject would be just as serious as it sounds. But not necessarily. Paranormia tackles the issue with a ton of humor and a bit of lightheartedness that worked out perfectly and ended up being an extremely engaging read. 

Aspiring graphic novelist Chris Loury is an average geeky guy who's awkwardness tends to shine most in the moments when he's trying to be cool. He's tired of his boring, mundane life and wishes for greatness. Well...he gets it, alright, but it's not at all what he was expecting.

I won't lie, there were times when Chris wasn't the most likable guy, but there was a relatable and endearing quality to him that had me rooting for him. The first meeting between Chris and Finchelus the angel was memorable and hilarious. Come to think of it, pretty much every time Finch showed up it was like that.

Paranormia is a stellar Christian urban fantasy. It wrapped up nicely, but I'm definitely hoping for a sequel!

5 Stars

Can't Wait Wednesday: Echoes among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Echoes among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright releasing December 3.

About the Book

After Aggie Dunkirk's career is unceremoniously ended by her own mistakes, she finds herself traveling to Wisconsin, where her grandmother, Mumsie, lives alone in her rambling old home. She didn't plan for how eccentric Mumsie has become, obsessing over an old, unsolved crime scene--even going so far as to re-create it in the attic.

Mystery seems to follow her when she finds work as a secretary helping to restore the flooded historical part of the cemetery. Forced to work with the puzzling, yet attractive museum curator to contact living family members of those in the disturbed graves, Aggie stumbles upon the unsolved murder of a young woman--the details of which match Mumsie's case. As Aggie exhumes the past's secrets, she uncovers a crime that some will go to any length to keep quiet--even if it means silencing Aggie.

In 1946, Imogene Flannigan works in a local factory and has eyes on owning her own beauty salon. But coming home to discover her younger sister's body in the attic changes everything. Unfamiliar with the newly burgeoning world of criminal forensics and not particularly welcomed as a woman, Imogene is nonetheless determined to stay involved. As her sister's case grows cold, Imogene vows to find justice . . . even if it costs her everything. 

Why I Need It

I've never come across a dual timeline novel quite as good as Jaime Jo Wright's. (Seriously, go pick up a copy of The Curse of Misty Wayfair. That book is spectacular!) This upcoming release sounds like it'll be a fantastic read too. I always enjoy an eccentric grandmother and the mystery already has me intrigued.

What upcoming release are you excited about?

Review: A Single Light by Tosca Lee

About the Book

In this gripping sequel to The Line Between, which New York Times bestselling author Alex Kava calls “everything you want in a thriller,” cult escapee Wynter Roth and ex-soldier Chase Miller emerge from their bunker to find a country ravaged by disease, and Wynter is the only one who can save it.

Six months after vanishing into an underground silo with sixty others, Wynter and Chase emerge to find the area abandoned. There is no sign of Noah and the rest of the group that was supposed to greet them when they emerged—the same people Wynter was counting on to help her locate the IV antibiotics her gravely ill friend, Julie, needs in order to live.

As the clock ticks down on Julie’s life, Wynter and Chase embark on a desperate search for medicine and answers. But what they find is not a nation on the cusp of recovery thanks to the promising new vaccine Wynter herself had a hand in creating, but one decimated by disease. What happened while they were underground?

With food and water in limited supply and their own survival in question, Chase and Wynter must venture further and further from the silo. Aided by an enigmatic mute named Otto, they come face-to-face with a society radically changed by global pandemic, where communities scrabble to survive under rogue leaders and cities are war zones. As hope fades by the hour and Wynter learns the terrible truth of the last six months, she is called upon once again to help save the nation she no longer recognizes—a place so dark she’s no longer sure it can even survive.

Fast-paced and taut, A Single Light is a breathless thriller of nonstop suspense about the risks of living in a world outside the safe confines of our closely-held beliefs and the relationships and lives that inspire us.

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

I loved The Line Between, the first book in this series, and have been so anxious for the sequel. Something like what happens in this series could feasibly happen in real life. It's not out of the realm of possibilities. It's not far fetched, at all. So, at times, it made for a scary read, but it was, also, utterly compelling. An action packed, never ending thrill ride that I could not put down.

There were so many twists and turns and stunning revelations that I didn't see coming. Some that left me gasping for breath and having to set my Kindle down for a minute to recover. Seriously, parts of this book gave me a near panic attack. Imagining that this could actually happen. Wondering what I would do in the same situation. How would I react? It was terrifying to think about, but absolutely entertaining to read.

A Single Light could probably be read and enjoyed without having read The Line Between first, but I'd still recommend going in order. There's a lot of backstory I wouldn't want you to miss out on. Not to mention all the excitement.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

Five Stars

Review: The Tomb of the Sea Witch (Beaumont and Beasley #2) by Kyle Robert Shultz

About the Book

She doesn’t want to be part of your world.

She wants to end it.

My name is Nick Beasley, and I used to not believe in magic. I also used to be human.

Now I’m a monster with fur and claws, trying to find a way to get back to normal. The Warrengate Academy of Advanced Magic might hold the answer.

Unfortunately, it’s got a homicidally grumpy dragon as a headmaster. Not to mention a lot of dark history. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that history never stays in the past...especially when magic is involved.

Let’s just say that the tale of The Little Mermaid didn’t play out exactly how you were told. There’s a dangerous secret behind it; one which could spell doom for me and everyone I care about.

An infamous villain is returning...and she’s not who you think she is.

What do you get when you mix Disney with Harry Potter? The second installment of the series which urban fantasy readers are finding addictive. Read it today!

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

I loved the first book in this series, The Beast of Talesend. It was such a blast to read, but there was no way the sequel could live up to it, right? Wrong! The Tomb of the Sea Witch was just as good, quite possibly even better.

Nick, Cordelia, and Crispin are still trying to find a way to turn Nick from the beastly monster back human again. Cordelia has a plan, but it's a dangerous one fraught with many potential pitfalls and deadly consequences.

There was a 'Little Mermaid' twist and we got to learn the 'real' story behind the tale. And I've gotta say, it was such a clever twist! Loved it!

This book was an all-around good time. I laughed so much. Sure, there's drama, suspense, heartfelt and serious moments, but at it's core, it's a ridiculously fun and wacky tale that will leave a big smile on your face. 

Favorite Quotes:

“I don’t like anyone. Disliking people is one of my favorite pastimes. Goodbye.”

“It’s often the way with romances between enchanters. Boy meets girl, boy angers girl, girl turns boy into…insert unpleasant creature here. Tale as old as time.”

“We need a plan B. Or are we on C or D by now? I can’t remember.”

4.5 Stars

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Paranormia by Paul Regnier

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two.

This week I'm featuring a book I recently finished, Paranormia by Paul Regnier. It's a really fun urban fantasy that deals with the ultimate, ongoing battle between good and evil.

About the Book

A nerdy nobody is heaven's newest hero. It's too bad that the devil fights dirty…

Chris Loury is penniless and painfully geeky. So when the struggling illustrator makes a wish that grants him supernatural visions, the lines start to blur between his comics and reality. After he crosses paths with a protector who calls himself an angel, Chris must decide if being a hero is worth the danger.

When his newfound confidence helps him connect with the girl-next-door, he hopes he can balance a relationship and a superhuman secret. But after a devilishly gorgeous woman with money and an ulterior motive tempts him with career success and fame, he puts his crush, his town, and his life in jeopardy.

Will Chris fulfill his destiny and save the city from destruction?

Paranormia is an enthralling urban fantasy adventure. If you like underdog heroes, supernatural battles, and a dash of humor, then you’ll love Paul Regnier’s action-packed novel.

Book Beginning

Greatness eluded me. It wasn't for lack of effort or potential, as far as I could tell. I just couldn't shake the feeling I'd taken a wrong turn somewhere and couldn't find my way back.

Friday 56

The Ferrari wove through the Long Beach traffic like a speed bike in a land of scooters. I felt free and alive. Steve seemed annoyed.

Have you ever read a library book you loved so much, you just HAD to own it, so you bought a copy for yourself after returning the library book you had already finished?

Not that I can recall. Maybe when I was in elementary school, but not anytime recently.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Web of Deceit by Susan Sleeman

About the Book

Will he help find her sister’s killer . . . or lead the killer to her door?

When FBI Agent Kaitlyn Knight discovers her brother-in-law is Vyper—the notorious cyber-criminal and murderer wanted by the FBI—Kait doesn’t question her duty to arrest him. But when he murders her sister in front of her, leaving her infant niece motherless, Kait vows to hunt him down and bring him to justice while raising the baby.

Three years later, and not even a whisper of a lead in her search, Kait is about to give up hope of ever finding Vyper. All of that changes when he goes on a murderous spree taunting Kait with clues that she and homicide detective Sam Murdock must solve before her devious brother-in-law takes another life.

As the body count rises, Sam discovers the killing spree is really about striking back at Kait. He must put everything on the line—including the relationship he’s developed with Kait—to ensure her safety. The killer is waiting, watching her every move—and he won’t stop until he’s exacted his revenge and reclaims his rights to raise his daughter.

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

Web of Deceit has been on my TBR list for an embarrassingly long time. Why haven't I read it before now? I have no idea. I'm shaking my head for letting it sit there for so long, but I'm so glad I finally picked it up.

From the first line, I knew I was in for a wild, suspense-filled ride. There's so much action and intrigue. It hardly let up until the heart-pounding conclusion.

Fenton was a truly chilling villain. His madness, his rage, the lengths he went to seek his revenge were absolutely sickening. Kait was steadfast in her pursuit of capturing her brother-in-law. He had to be brought to justice for all the evil he'd done. She made a promise to catch him that she intended to keep it, no matter the cost. Sam was a great guy. He was the perfect counterpart to Kait and they had an instant chemistry that was smoking hot.

This was a true romantic suspense. It had the perfect combination of both genres. I'll definitely be looking forward to reading more books from this author.

Four Stars

Can't Wait Wednesday: Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock releasing November 5.

About the Book

One father was murdered, and another convicted of his death. All because their children fell in love.

Nate Beckett has spent his life fighting wildfires instead of the lies and rumors that drove him from his Colorado home town. His mother begs him to come to Carlisle now that his father has been released from prison, but it isn’t until he’s sidelined by an injury that he’s forced to return and face his past. But that means facing Brenna too.

Fourteen years ago, Nate was in love with the preacher's daughter. When Pastor Strickland discovered Brenna had defied him to sneak out with Nate, the fight between Strickland and Nate's drunken dad was loud—and very public. Strickland was found murdered later that night, and everyone accused Roy Beckett. When the church burned down, people assumed it was Nate getting even for his father’s conviction. He let the rumors fly and left Carlisle without looking back.

Now, Brenna is stunned to learn that the man convicted of murdering her father has been pardoned. The events of that night set her life on a bad course, and she’s dealing with a brutal custody battle with her ex and his new wife where he’s using lies and his family’s money to sway the judge. She’s barely hanging on, and she’s turned to alcohol to cope. Shame and fear consume her.

As they deal with the present—including new information about that fateful night and a wildfire that’s threatening their town—their past keeps igniting. Nate is the steady force Brenna has so desperately needed. But she’ll have to learn to trust him again first. 

Why I Need It
"One father was murdered, and another convicted of his death. All because their children fell in love."  When I read that line, I was hooked and knew I had to read this novel. Plus, it's by Terri Blackstock and I always enjoy her books, so I'm really excited for this one.

What upcoming release are you excited about?