{Review} Veiled by Karina Halle

Veiled by Karina Halle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

GENRE: Paranormal
THEME: New Adult, Romance, Horror
RECEIVED: Bought

BLURB:

Death.
It's something that Ada Palomino has always known so well, having grown up in a house of horrors, surrounded by a family plagued by ghosts and demons and things that go bump in the night.
But after the sudden and tragic death of her mother two years ago, death has never felt so personal.
Or so close.
Now eighteen, Ada is trying to move on with her life and the last month of summer holds nothing but sunshine and promises with her first year at a Portland design school just around the bend.
That is until her increasingly violent and realistic dreams, dreams of other worlds, of portals and veils where her mother is tortured and souls bleed for mercy, start to blend into reality. Ada has to lean on her older sister, Perry, to try and make sense of it all but even then, she's never felt more alone.
Then there's Jay. Tall, handsome and deeply mysterious, Jay would be just another stranger, a familiar face on the bus, if it wasn't for the fact that Ada has met him before.
Every night.
In every single dream.
And the more that Ada is drawn to him in both worlds, the more she's in danger of losing everything.
Including her heart.
And her very soul.

REVIEW:

When Karina Halle finished the EIT series I was sad to loose the world and characters she created. But thankfully she didn’t want to completely leave that world, bringing back my favorite duo Dex and Perry but focusing now on Perry’s sister Ada. I loved the idea of the two sisters having to deal with the similarities in their ability to deal with the horror of monsters and ghosts. I loved Ada was fully introduced into what her sister had gone through, but that she had to deal with a different connection to the dead and evil.

Veiled follows Ada Palomino, whom has never really gotten over the death of her mother. She has tried to feel normal and get ready for her new start in design school. But her dreams are getting worse; she’s starting to feel as if someone is there in her room watching her. She also has been hearing her mothers voice; the voice is anything but pleasant. Ada confides in her sister, who has dealt with the evil that seems to be coming after Ada now. But Perry doesn’t want to step back into the horrors that she and her husband went through. Luckily Ada has a dream man who seems to be guiding her and protecting her. He also happens to be living next door. Together they have to stop the evil that never left and possible step into the Veil to find her mother.


Ada is just as awesome as she was in the EIT series, still very close with her sister and always bickering with Dex. But her dreams and connection to her dead mother are starting to affect her social life. Ada is very different from Perry, her love for her mom as well as guilt triggered a connection to the Veil, and they wanted Ada and are using her mother to get her there. I was absolutely creeped out with the fact that Ada was staying in her sister’s room, after everything that happened there. I’m not sure if that was her being brave, stubborn, or foolish, but I would not have stayed in that room. What I also enjoyed was that halle incorporated the father a little more. He began experiencing dreams, though his daughters protected him from the real truth. Then there is Ada’s new relationship with the mysterious Jay, her neighbor and dream man. He has a similar “job” as Maximus from the EIT series, but he and Ada become something more together.

Jay is trying to be Ada’s guide, teach her the limitations and protect her from the very things she’s actually trying to find. She wants t save her mother and he wants her to let it go. Ada is very head strong and eventually pushes Jay to a point where he can resist her in more ways than one. I loved their dynamic and the fact that they form an understanding of right and wrong when it comes to saving her mother.

Overall I loved everything about this continuation into the Veil and the EIT world I totally missed reading about. The romance, the super creepy ghost aka demons, the introduction to new characters and bringing the old gain back, was just what I wanted. Halle always knows how to make her fans happy and ask for more. I’m hoping we get more of Ada and Jay but I was also pleased with the ending, that if we don’t get more, I wont be freaking out with a cliffhanger.

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{Blog Tour: Review + Excerpt} of Touched by A.J. Aalto

Touched by A.J. Aalto
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

GENRE: Paranormal
THEME: Horror, Romance, Vampires
RECEIVED: Netgalley

BLURB:

The media has a nickname for Marnie Baranuik, though she’d rather they didn’t; they call her the Great White Shark, a rare dual-talented forensic psychic. Twice-Touched by the Blue Sense--which gives her the ability to feel the emotions of others, and read impressions left behind on objects--Marnie also has a doctorate in preternatural biology and a working knowledge of the dark arts. She is considered without peer in the psychic community.

Then her first big FBI case ended with a bullet in one shoulder and a chip on the other, a queasy heart and a serial killer in the wind, leaving her a public flop and a private wreck. When the FBI’s preternatural crimes unit tracks her down at a remote mountain lodge for her insight on a local case, her quiet retirement is promptly besieged by a stab-happy starlet, a rampaging ghoul, and a vampire-hunting jackass in tight Wranglers. Marnie figures the only real mystery is which one will kill her first.

Too mean to die young, backed up by friends in cold places, and running with a mouth as demure as a cannon’s blast, Marnie Baranuik is about to discover that there’s no such thing as quitting time when you’re Touched.

REVIEW:

Touched is a wonderful paranormal package of awesomeness, with some kick butt characters, horror aspects, vampires both humorous and scary, along with hints of romance. Be prepared for a fast pace plot and a female heroine with a snarky but vulnerable persona that I easily connected too.

I loved every bit of this story but my favorite had to be Marnie the female lead. She is the most developed and it’s so intruding to see how she starts with not wanting to help the FBI to being trust back into it with force. I loved the originality of what she is, being a Daysitter aka powerful psychic who inherited a Revenant (vampire) named Henry. Their dynamic is so much fun and Harry is described as Fred Astaire type of man (who I adored!). Marnie in the beginning just wants to be left alone but being pulled back only because the case hits close to home for her.

Mark Batten is Marnie’s opposite; there is extreme tension and past lust between the two right off the back. They have history but their love hate relationship is very clear. I didn’t know how to react to Batten, of course he was sexy and bad boyish, but with Marnie’s interesting thoughts from her POV about him, I didn’t know if I should hate him or love him. Overall my heart leans more toward Henry than Mark for her, but both these boys have such an interesting dynamic with Marnie.

Overall this was a seriously captivating and intense paranormal thriller, every moment I was engrossed in the case along with the characters. I never knew what to expect and even with some of the eerie moments that will give people Goosebumps. The writing was spot on; I never had a moment where I was bored or confused. I can’t wait to see what happens next with Marnie and learn more about this intruding world that Aalto has created.

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EXERPT:

Harry was smiling, showing lots of white teeth, no fang. Batten averted his eyes like he always did; I think he was afraid that if he saw fangs he’d have no choice but to face that, no matter how many revenants he’d dusted, he was intimidated by this one. I’m not sure he could live with that. Or maybe he sensed Harry might try to mindfuck him with his unearthly gaze; Batten should know I wouldn’t allow that. Not in public, anyway.
As though egged-on by Batten’s discomfort, Harry’s aura did a cold boil, a visible phenomenon. More than just his otherworldly presence filled the room: as always I could smell menthol cigarettes under his light, clean-smelling 4711 cologne. As he approached the bed with impossible refinement, I knew he was showing off. Harry didn’t have to move like that. It was a conscious choice and he was making a point: here comes power infernal and immortal. How could any human compare?
Harry was dressed like he’d been back on his Kawasaki so I guessed it wasn’t impounded. Big motorcycle boots, this time the leather as shiny and clean as the buckles. I wondered how long he’d been in the lobby shining the street salt off of them. His mid-length over coat flapped open to reveal black Levis hugging lean powerful legs. Black leather biking gloves looked so startlingly like part of a murderer’s kill kit on his death-pale hands that I could all but feel them squeezing my throat. A grey cashmere scarf snaked several times around his neck reflected the battleship grey of his eyes. I wondered where his helmet was. Undead or not, you crack your skull open and sandpaper the road with brain tissue, story-time’s over.
“Agent Batten. Bon nuit, trou du cul,” Harry greeted, mock-tipping an invisible hat. I couldn’t be sure, as my French is not good, but I thought Harry called Batten an asshole. He turned and performed a low, sweeping bow at the bed. “How does my lady?”
“I does spiffy, and you?”
“Apart from being heartily distressed by your atrocious grammar, I do very well indeed. As visiting hours have long flown, I cannot stay long. It is pure luck the nurse let me in at all.”
Luck, my ass. It was more likely terror; it wasn’t like Harry was putting any effort into blending in. The poor nurse was probably twisting security’s arms to come flush him back out. I wondered if there had ever been a revenant in this hospital before. Or any hospital in Colorado for that matter; revenant emergencies don’t require human doctors.
Harry handed me the thermos, and palmed two round white vitamins into my hand. “Doppio espresso macchiato, dash of cinnamon.”
“And suddenly, life is fabulous.”
“Because of me, or because of the caffeine?” He knew exactly how relieved I was to see that he was intact and healthy.
I humored him anyway, downing my pills then beaming up at him. Having his answer, he put his hand inside his coat and pulled out a jubilant bouquet of tulips in a rainbow of petal pink, spring yellow, and the vivid orange of tangerine peels.
“Tulips in January?” I exclaimed.
He laid them beside the bed. “For my beloved pet, most anything is possible. Surely fetching her favorite flower is no great task. Am I …interrupting?” Harry aimed the bristly indictment in Batten’s direction.
“Whether you’re here or not makes no difference to me, vamp.” Batten propped his elbows on the chair’s arms and steepled his fingers in front of his mouth.
“After some examination of the evidence, I should think you’ll discover how little I care about your existence as well, lad.”
“Funny,” Batten said with a calm smile. “Got the impression you’re threatened by me.”
Harry threw back his head and laughed with gusto. The sound of it raised goose bumps and then rubbed them with velvet. Despite the smiling and laughing, the moment was anything but friendly.

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{Review} Dust to Dust by Karina Halle

Dust to Dust by Karina Halle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

GENRE: Horror
THEME: Mature, Romance, Ghost
RECEIVED: Tour

BLURB:

Perry Palomino and Dex Foray.

On their own, they’re uniquely brilliant. Together, they’re an unstoppable team.

Until now.

Because after everything the duo has encountered, they haven’t come across an evil quite like this. An evil that has been years in the making, an evil that will stop at nothing until they, and everyone they care for, are destroyed.

Dex and Perry’s love has survived a multitude of sins.

But can it survive the end?

REVIEW:

This is a really hard review for me to write, I’ve been reading this series since the beginning and never really wanted it to end. But no it is the end and I have to say good-bye to two of my favorite characters. As a huge X-Files fan this series brought back memories and it was like reading new episodes of Mulder and Scully, but with much more sass and chemistry. Oh and if you haven’t read this series, you must read them all before this one. Alright…so now on to my review!

Dust to Dust follows Perry and Dex in their final Experiment in Terror. Leaving off from the end of Ashes to Ashes, Perry has come face to face with Michael, Dexs’ brother who is actually the evil that has been waiting for the moment to finally get what he wants. Dex has to take on his past, while also protecting Perry and her family. Perry is trying her best to protect Dex and will go to great length of crossing through the Thin Veil to stop this malevolent evil. But Michael isn’t the kind of evil they have faced before and it might just be their last.

Perry has always been the tougher one of the duo, the one who has her eyes open the most and run head on into danger for her loved ones. In Dust to Dust she is faced with the challenge of holding on to Dex, but also bonding with her sister and mother with the fact that their bloodline is something special. What I loved most about Perry in this book is how much she has grown with her family, the struggles they have had, and the arguments and betrayals have all led up to this. Both daughters and mother have to confront and fight the very fear that can destroy them all. Then there is Perry with Dex, these two are so freaking awesome together I can’t even describe it. From the minute they meet at the Lighthouse to this end where they walk into Dexs’ childhood home, they are together and are meant to be together.

Dex has to confront everything he didn’t want to remember from his childhood, his brother is not his brother anymore but something that wants to use him. Most of this book Dex was confused and well… other things that I don’t want to give away. But most importantly he needed and only cared about Perry. She was his one constant and always the one person whom he felt could grounded him. Oh and I cant forget, the readers will love Dexs’ POV!!

In the end, the whole gang is back, Ada, Perry’s sister gets a lot of page time and helps her sister deal with the thin veil. Their mother surprised me the most and seriously made me cry like a damn baby because well so much happens and she seriously changed my mind about her. Then there is the ginger, Maximus, who may have frustrated a lot of people through out the series but hell… he does a massive kicker in this one that I know fans will be talking about for a while. Pretty much every character was important, seriously a huge piece of the big puzzle that was the evil surrounding Dex and Perry. Lots of things from Dexs’ past are brought out and WOW, do they have to be ready for a head on attack.

Overall this was the best of the best in the series and that’s saying something, because I loved every one of these books. Halle wrote two characters that are not only unforgettable, but can easily connect to because they are just that awesome. This series is scary and will have you not wanting the lights to go out, but its also about two people that would go through hell and back for each other and that just rocks. I will never forget Dex, Perry, Max, and Ada as well as fat rabbit. The series started with a bang and ended with one. I applaud Halle for one hell of a series. Thank you!

RECOMMENDATION:

This is a mature adult novel, with sexual content and very scary moments. I highly recommend this to fans of Stephen King, who like some really great twists with mystery and intensely shocking moments.

View all my reviews

{Release Day:Giveaway} Dust to Dust by Karina Halle

Dust to Dust by Karina Halle is the last installment to one of my all time favorite series. Halle's writing and fantastic character development are what have kept me hooked. Stay tuned for my review tomorrow where I say good-bye to these wonderful characters and their terrifying experiences. 

The dramatic conclusion to the Experiment in Terror Series.

Perry Palomino and Dex Foray.

On their own, they’re uniquely brilliant. Together, they’re an unstoppable team.

Until now.

Because after everything the duo has encountered, they haven’t come across an evil quite like this. An evil that has been years in the making, an evil that will stop at nothing until they, and everyone they care for, are destroyed.

Dex and Perry’s love has survived a multitude of sins.

But can it survive the end?

PURCHASE

B&N

iTunes
AMAZON

Experiment in Terror Series

DARKHOUSE- AMAZON 

RED FOX - AMAZON      B&N

DEAD SKY MORNING- AMAZON    B&N

LYING SEASON - AMAZON     B&N

ON DEMON WINGS - AMAZON        B&N

INTO THE HALLOW - AMAZON     B&N

COME ALIVE - AMAZON      B&N

With her USA Today Bestselling The Artists Trilogy published by Grand Central Publishing, numerous foreign publication deals, and self-publishing success with her Experiment in Terror series, Vancouver-born Karina Halle is a true example of the term "Hybrid Author." Though her books showcase her love of all things dark, sexy and edgy, she's a closet romantic at heart and strives to give her characters a HEA...whenever possible.

Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she’s preparing for the zombie apocalypse with her fiance and rescue pup.

{Review} of Donners of the Dead by Karina Halle

Donners of the Dead by Karina Halle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

GENRE: Horror
THEME: Zombies, Romance and Historical
RECEIVED: Review for tour

BLURB:

A note about this book: Donners of the Dead is set in 1851 – couples were often thrust into marriage together with short courtships, racism was widespread and not overly frowned upon, and women had little to no rights. What wouldn't fly in today's day and age was unfortunately the norm back then - it is worth keeping that in mind when reading this book.

Jake McGraw was unlike anyone I’d ever known. He was brash, rude, unapologetic and arrogant; chauvinistic, close-minded, and terribly stubborn. He was built like a tree, tall with a hard chest and wide shoulders and hands that looked like they could wrestle a bear. He was a cigar-chomping, scruffy-faced, beast of a man. I was pretty sure I hated him. And I know he hated me. But among the flesh-eating monsters in these snow-capped mountains, he was the only thing keeping me alive

The year is 1851 and pioneers in search of California gold are still afraid to travel on the same route as the tragic Donner party did years before. When the last wagon train to go into the Sierra Nevada mountains fails to arrive at their destination, Eve Smith, an 18-year old half-native girl with immense tracking skills is brought along with the search party, headed by an enigmatic former Texas Ranger, Jake McGraw.

What they find deep in the dangerous snow-covered terrain is a terrifying consequence of cannibalism, giving new meaning to the term “monster.” While the search party is slowly picked off, one by one, Eve must learn to trust Jake, who harbors more than a few secrets of his own, in order to survive and prevent the monstrosities from reaching civilization.

REVIEW:

Halle always knows how to deliver a horror story that is not only creepy as hell but adds a little romance to spice it up a bit. As a fan of her Experiment in Terror series I couldn’t wait to read a horror story based in the 1800s pioneer days. Even though my history is a little stale when it comes to the story of the Donner party, I really enjoyed stepping back in time and experience the twist of eerie an horror story.

Donners of the Dead follows Eve Smith a young woman who is thrown into a horrific trek through the mountains to track a missing wagon party. With being half native she has a knack for tracking and joins a group of men searching for the missing travelers, including an intense former Texas Ranger. But the group isn’t prepared for what’s in the mountains when monsters viscously attack them. Eve must up her courage and trust a man who seems to have a grudge against her, but they need to survive before the monsters make them their next meal.

Eve is not like any other girl her age, she is a tough and has dealt with the fact she is half native. Her skills make her an assets to the travelers she is forced to work with. It was interesting to go back in history and read about the cultures, livelihoods and folklore of that time. Eve’s character is innocent and adventurous, someone who will be easy for anyone to connect too and hope she can survive the monsters. I loved her connection with Jake the Texas Ranger; I knew there was something different about him.

Jake McGraw is a tough as nails man, who is skilled with a gun and seems to have another agenda on this search. But the readers will enjoy his softer sides and learn a little about his past that has made him a little rough around the edges. I enjoyed his interactions with Eve and that his persona was spot on for what I imagine a Texas Ranger would be like.

Overall this was a quick read that will give you chills and seriously made me not want to take any hikes to the woods anytime soon. Halle always knows how to create spooky settings and shocking moments that I didn’t see coming. As this is stand alone there is an ending, which I felt satisfied but almost a little too rushed. In the end Halle never disappoints, her stories are ones to discuss over a campfire and seriously will have you wanting to keep the lights on.

RECOMMENDATION:

This is an adult novel with creepy scenes that create this fantastic horror short story. Fans of Kendare Blakes Girl of Nightmares and Gretchen McNeils Possess will enjoyed Donners of the Dead by Karina Halle.

View all my reviews

{Cover Loving} of Ashes to Ashes by Karina Halle

Ashes to Ashes (EIT series #8)
Release Date: December 2013

BLURB:

It’s been two months since Perry Palomino and Dex Foray’s relationship reached a new turning point, two months since Perry started a new life in Seattle, and two months since their Experiment in Terror show took on a new partner, ex-Wine Babe Rebecca Sims, and found a new level of success. But whenever there is light in their lives, the madness still has a way of coming back in.

When the team is sent back to the stormy Oregon coast to investigate a haunted school, Perry wants to use the opportunity to reconnect with her family and reintroduce Dex into their lives. Only Perry’s not the only one who’s reaching out – her grandmother Pippa has started appearing to her with disturbing warnings and Perry’s presence at the school has ignited a chilling new wave of supernatural phenomenon. Once used a century ago as a sanatorium to house children dying of tuberculosis, the school’s past residents are slowly coming back to life and with one thing on their mind. They want someone to play with, someone to join them. Forever.

Even when dead, some children get whatever they want.

And they want Perry.

MY THOUGHTS: 

I can't wait for Ashes to Ashes this is the second to last book in the series and I never want it to end. I've been a fan since the beginning and can't wait for more Dex, Perry and their ghost adventures. This is a must read series for paranormal lovers, but this also has lots of romance, with mature content for 18 and over. This cover has to be my favorite because it carries so much of the eerie EIT vibe but shows just how much has changed with Dex and Perry. Plus I can;t wait to read more about Pippa!

{Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway} of Come Alive by Karina Halle

Seeing Night Reviews is the next stop ing the Come Alive tour book #7 in the EIT series by Karina Halle. Hosted by Book Asylum and Reading books like a boss.

Come Alive by Karina Halle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

GENRE: Horror
THEME: Supernatural, Romance, and Mature
RECEIVED: Bought
BLOG: Karina Halles' Site

BLURB:

It’s one thing to bring the woman you love back into your life. It’s another to try and keep her there. For Dex Foray, con­vinc­ing Perry Palomino to open her­self to their bur­geon­ing rela­tion­ship has been more chal­leng­ing than hunt­ing ghosts, bat­tling demons and stalk­ing Sasquatch com­bined. Add in the fact that the only way they can keep their Exper­i­ment in Ter­ror show run­ning is to take on a third part­ner in the form of the mys­te­ri­ous Max­imus Jacobs — all while inves­ti­gat­ing a sin­is­ter voodoo sect in New Orleans — and you’ve got the per­fect South­ern storm and a recipe for dis­as­ter. Luck­ily, Dex has never been one to back down, even when his life –and heart — are on the line.

Come Alive is told from Dex’s POV.

REVIEW:

I can’t believe were already at book seven in the series, this is one of those stories that either has me jumping for joy, scaring the bejesus out of me, or making me strangle my book. As I’ve probably said time and time again, I just can’t get enough of Dex and Perry! They are characters that are permanently embedded into my head; I’m always wondering what craziness is going to happen to them next. Karina Halle I thank you again for writing a series that keeps on ticking and holds nothing back.

Come Alive follows the ghost-hunting duo Dex and Perry on their next adventure. Now with their relationship heading in a better direction, everything seems to be right on track. Well kind of… When they find out their show is hanging on by a thread they are forced to work with the one person neither of them wanted to see again. Maximus joins the team, which is heading for New Orleans to check out a hunted house. But what is waiting for them is something far beyond what they expected, with voodoo involved they are about to get one heck of a wake up call.

Dex, oh for the love of Dexy. I love this man, even if he has a one-track mind that’s mostly focused on Perry’s behind and other parts. Come Alive is all from Dex’s Point of View, making this one potty-mouthed bundle of entertainment. I love how he loves Perry, that’s what made reading his POV a little bit more special; the readers felt his emotions and dug deep in his fears. The readers will also love that wonderful banter between Dex and Max pretty much through the entire story, Dex knows how to hit Max’s buttons. There were points that had me a little worried (and yes I did strangle my kindle just a bit) but Halle saved me from buying a new one. I’m also so curious about his family now, his mother is one creepy woman but his brother is one big question mark.

Perry is more of a side character in this one, which didn’t bother me one bit. I liked seeing a different side to her. She was so strong from Dex’s eyes, she held her own and emotionally was hanging on by a thread. I’m glad these two understand their craziness and have each other’s backs.

Maximus actually surprised me, I was glad to get a bit of a background and meet someone from his past. I’m still a bit angry with what he did, but all I’ll say is that he ain’t so bad.

Overall I loved the resolve of this story, I knew that having a setting like New Orleans meant bringing out the big guns aka the true creepy supernatural’s. Let’s just say what Dex’s see’s is some scary stuff and Halle makes sure to detail every eerie moment to make you read with the light on. There are lots of ups and downs for these characters but that’s what makes me love them, they can make mistakes and I always hope that they can make it through. The bonus of this entire story was reading with Dex Foray, that boy really knows how to make me laugh, cry, scream, and want to hug him. I don’t want to point out anything else because there is so much that happens and I want everyone to read it! I look forward to Dex and Perry’s next journey, with the awesome ending.

RECOMMADATION:

This is a mature adult novel, with sexual content and very scary moments. I highly recommend this to fans of Stephen King, who like some really great twist with mystery and intensely shocking moments.

View all my reviews

Author links: Site | Blog | EIT Facebook | Author FB | Twitter | Goodreads

Reading Books Like a Boss & The Book Asylum are giving away signed books. US ONLY! This is NOT an international giveaway.

(1) And With Madness Comes the Light – 1 winner 1) Into the Hollow – 1 winner (2) Darkhouse – 2 winners - The entire Experiment in Terror series in e-book format

{Spotlight of the Week} The Experiment in Terror series by Karina Halle

This weeks spotlight of the week is the EIT Series by Karina Halle. A mix of paranormal, horror, romance and character that just keep getting better and better!

If you haven't read a book by Karina Hall your missing out...badly. She is a fantastic character writer and she gets down to the nitty gritty of things. her Experiment in Terror series is my absolute favorite horror/romance/paranormal, I cant get enough of Dex and Perry. Come Alive which releases in June is book 7 and I cant wait to see what ghostly troubles Dex and Perry get into next.

Quoted on Goodreads:
In a large, flaky nut­shell, the Exper­i­ment in Ter­ror Series is an eight-part sci-fi/fantasy/horror series that revolves around a pair of ghost hunters. Well, aspir­ing ghost hunters, any­way. After film­ing a creepy expe­ri­ence in her uncle’s dilap­i­dated light­house, 22-year old Perry Palomino becomes a YouTube and inter­net star overnight. She attracts the atten­tion of Dex Foray, a pro­ducer and cam­era­man for a site that spe­cial­izes in var­i­ous webisodes, who con­vinces her to be a host for a low-budget ghost hunt­ing series. The only prob­lem is, nei­ther Perry or Dex are entirely “with it” — I mean, they see ghosts, after all. And when the duo isn’t wrestling with their very notion of real­ity, they’re grap­pling with a work­ing rela­tion­ship that’s deep-cut with sex­ual ten­sion. As the series moves on, lead­ing Perry and Dex to new locales and super­nat­ural sit­u­a­tions, their lives become more and more inter­twined, where they dis­cover that ghosts aren’t the only things that can haunt them.

Come Alive: EIT #7 (June)
BLURB: 
It’s one thing to bring the woman you love back into your life. It’s another to try and keep her there. For Dex Foray, con­vinc­ing Perry Palomino to open her­self to their bur­geon­ing rela­tion­ship has been more chal­leng­ing than hunt­ing ghosts, bat­tling demons and stalk­ing Sasquatch com­bined. Add in the fact that the only way they can keep their Exper­i­ment in Ter­ror show run­ning is to take on a third part­ner in the form of the mys­te­ri­ous Max­imus Jacobs — all while inves­ti­gat­ing a sin­is­ter voodoo sect in New Orleans — and you’ve got the per­fect South­ern storm and a recipe for dis­as­ter. Luck­ily, Dex has never been one to back down, even when his life –and heart — are on the line.

Come Alive is told from Dex’s POV.

Karina Halles Site

{Review} of Immortal Eclipse by Sherry Soule

Immortal Eclipse by Sherry Soule
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

GENRE: Paranormal
THEME: Romance, Immortal, Witches
RECEIVED: Author
AUTHORS BLOG: Sherry Soules' Site

BLURB:

A devoted fashionata and practical New Yorker, Skylar Blackwell doesn’t believe in the supernatural—until she inherits Summerwind Mansion. . . .

When her uncle is brutally murdered, and the cops seem uninterested in following up the case, Skylar journeys to California to seek answers. Her search for clues is soon overshadowed by haunting nightmares of a young woman also murdered in the house.

Now the inhabitants of Summerwind are mysteriously dying, leaving no evidence as to how or why, and Skylar finds herself in a deadly race against time to expose the killer—before they strike again.

The problem is . . . whoever it is may not be human.

Armed with only wit and Pradas, Skylar begins questioning the servants, but the growing list of suspects includes the sexy and brooding caretaker, Dorian, a man desperately trying to forget his tragic past. And a major distraction for Skylar.

Determined to play detective—instead of the fashion police—and unravel the dark history of the mansion, Skylar is plunged into an otherworldly mystery that not even she can explain away. As the boundaries between reality and dreams blur, Skylar’s greatest challenge is to stay alive long enough to learn the truth.

REVIEW: 
After finishing this book I felt it reminded me so much of one my old favorite shows my dad and I use to watch called Dark Shadows (And I don’t mean that horrible remake). The twisted plot lines, the creepy mysterious characters, the confusing secrets and the romance. Soule created a unique storyline that was not only spooky but also had me trying to figure out which characters were innocent in all the unusual deaths that occur. I would say this novel felt like going back in time to the classic mystery horror stories that give you the chills.

Immortal Eclipse follows Skylar a young fashion photographer that seems to have hit a snag when it comes to her career. She decides to head to California after the loss of her favorite uncle who left her his estate. But with his mysterious death comes more questionable occurrences once she arrives. The staff is unusual and she doesn’t feel welcomed. She will stop at nothing to find out what happened to her uncle, but at what cost?

Skylar is an interesting character; she is portrayed as a fashionista type girl, who loves Photography. I really felt bad for this girl in the beginning with the many losses in her life; Soule created this lonely sad character that needed a little happiness. I liked her determination to unfold the mystery behind her uncle’s death, as the story moves forward I try to put the pieces together along with her. I did find it a bit hard to connect to her, the answers were in front of her constantly and she just ignored them. Plus the whole fashion obsession was a little too over detailed in the story, it could have been left out. Even though that part frustrated me, I still liked the mystery of what the real reason for her being there was. Which once you read it you’ll find out. Her family has an interesting history as well as the family that once lived at the estate.

Dorian is the tall dark and handsome guy with lots of charm, secrets and mood swings. He of course was my favorite; I figured out his character pretty quickly and enjoyed watching him frustrate the heck out of Skylar. I however wished he would of opened up a little more because I feel that the plot would of moved a little quicker. Ever scene with Skylar and him were great, I loved the chemistry and the banter.

Overall I feel the best part of this story was the creepy vibes of the estate. The details Soule illustrated with the spooky noises, unusual staff and overall just how mysterious everything was is what made me enjoy the plot. The side characters and villains will definitely creep up on the readers, each have an importance to the plot and I loved how it unfolded. The whole back-story was well done and everything came together in the end nicely.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is an adult paranormal novel that you may need to leave the lights on when reading, as there are many scary bits that will sneak up on you. Fans of Dark Companion by Marta Acosta and Silence by Michele Sagara will enjoy Immortal Eclipse by Sherry Soule.

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{Review} of The Devil's Metal by Karina Halle

The Devil's Metal by Karina Halle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

GENRE: New Adult
THEME: Demon/Paranormal Romance
RECEIVED: Author
AUTHORS BLOG: Karina Halle's Site

BLURB:

It’s the summer of 1974 and 21-year old Dawn Emerson has only three things she wants to do: compete one last time in the Ellensburg Rodeo, win back her ex-boyfriend Ryan, and become the best damn music journalist at Central Washington University. But all her plans are left in the dust when she’s contacted by Creem magazine to go on the road with one of her favorite groups, the up-and-coming metal band, Hybrid.

At first the assignment reads like a dream come true. Not only will Dawn land some much-needed credibility as a female music journalist, but she’ll finally get to experience life from the other side of the stage, and maybe crack the drunken, enigmatic code that is guitarist Sage Knightly. Instead, Dawn finds herself on an aging tour bus filled with ego-maniacs, band politics and a whole lot of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. When monsters start showing up in dressing rooms and some of Sage’s groupies become increasingly strange and dangerous, Dawn discovers the band is not only going places – they’re going straight to Hell.

And Dawn has a backstage pass.

REVIEW:
Karina Halle is an author that I have at the top of my list every time a new title is released. I’ve been inching to read her latest in a new adult series The Devil’s Metal and finally had the chance to dig in. I knew this was going to be way different from the EIT series, I loved that the characters still had that damaged vibe and the female lead was one tough cookie.

The Devil’s Metal follows Dawn Emerson in 1974; she has a passion for writing and will do anything to become a music journalist. When she randomly gets the phone call of her dreams, to tour with one of her favorite bands, she jumps at the chance. Little does she know the band Hybrid has some interesting secrets, not only is their the normal sex, drugs, and crazy groupies but an evil starts showing up and it has its eyes set on the band and Dawn.

Dawn was so much different than Karina’s other strong lead Perry from EIT. That’s what I was hoping for, she’s very close with her family who are not perfect, and she’s educated and has a goal set for her life. I liked how she took a chance, even with this opportunity that was brought to her in a very “iffy” way. I also loved how she would really get into the music, she’d just close her eyes and listen, it made me as the reader feel like I was at the concert with Dawn. She also is a pretty innocent character; the band opens up her eyes in some very bold ways to the life of rock and roll.

Sage is a character that the readers will fall for immediately. With a wild group of people in the band, Sage is the Zen and straight thinker out of all of them. Plus he’s a huge mystery to Dawn and she can’t wait to interview him. He definitely makes it tough for her when she first comes on the tour, but the readers get to see everyone friendships change and grow, along with Sage and Dawns.

Overall I loved how original and different this story was from anything that I’ve read. I’m not a big music person, but I knew most of the bands and musicians mentioned, that where huge in the 70s and still popular now. I’m also not a fan of this era, but I liked the behind the scene feel of following a band and seeing what really happens, it’s like really being there. Then there are the groupies, they are their own characters that are super important to the plot, but let me just say they are super creepy! My only issue was the how the relationship developed for Sage and Dawn, I was hoping for something different and was a little surprised at how it came together. All in all the dark horror side of the story really creeps into the plot and starts making Dawns dream become a nightmare.

This is a must read for anyone who loves rock and roll, romance, paranormal goodness and some really well developed characters that I absolutely fell for. After the ending, I know that The Devil’s Metal is only the beginning of one crazy ride and I for one can’t wait for the next book.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a new adult novel with sexual content that’s for mature readers. Karina Halle is a one of a kind author that got me hooked into the horror/romance genre. I highly recommend this to fans of horror and paranormal enthusiast looking for something different.

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{Review} of Into the Hollow by Karina Halle

Into the Hollow by Karina Halle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

GENRE: Horror
THEME: Paranormal/Romance
RECEIVED: Author
AUTHORS BLOG: Karina Halle's Site

BLURB:

Perry Palomino has fought her demons – and won – but the battle is far from over. She’s now left broken and on her own, leaving behind her life and family in Portland to focus on giving Dex Foray – and the Experiment in Terror show – a second chance. But their past mistakes continue to tease and test their relationship, as does the wild and desolate terrain of the Canadian Rockies. The snow-covered peaks and ravenous forests hide an urban legend too unbelievably frightening to be true and the only way the duo has a chance of surviving is if Perry can let in the very man who sent her to hell and back.

REVIEW:
Karina Halle does it again, I swear Halle is reading my mind when it comes to this series; she nailed it in Into the Hollow with the plot and emotional romance. Perry and Dex are such a complex duo and really have a lot to learn and guide each other through some major flaws. I think that’s what I love most about this series is that both leads are not perfect and have so many flaws that the reader can relate and connect to them.

Into the Hollow follows Perry as she is just trying to put herself together after being saved by Dex from a possession. As well as being carted off a hospital by her parents because they think she’s loosing it. But thankfully Perry has finally had it with her unsupportive parents and decided to take a risk, move to Seattle with the man that broke her heart. All the while Dex and Perry set off to the Canadian Rockies looking for a mysterious and dangerous creature where they fight for their lives and try to heal their hearts.

Perry rocked my socks this time around; FINALLY she told off her mother and expressed how she really felt. She loves her mother but seriously her parents just don’t have a clue or want to believe that Perry is just different. I was cheering for Perry when she moved out, even though she was taking a big risk moving in with Dex. I loved how she was trying to keep her pride while spending more time with him; I don’t blame the girl after what happened. Overall I felt that she grew up more and really is started to find her own path.

Dex, I love this messed up guy. He has so many issues but no ones perfect and he just stole my heart in this book. He along with Perry has changed a lot since they separated last. He is pretty much trying to make up for what he did to Perry and letting her know that he wants to fight for her trust again. As always he’s super protective of Perry but takes a step up in his maturity as well, well kind of he has his guy moments.

The scary side of Into the Hollow chilled me to the bones; Halle creates such an eerie setting and a creature that you never want to come face to face with. Dex and Perry get stuck in the middle of a cold forest and are running for their lives half the time. I enjoyed watching them work together again and their chemistry was off the charts in every scene. Some of the situations they got themselves in had me holding my breath, especially the chilling introduction.

Overall Into the Hollow was one hell of a book, the heart pumping and scary plot, with romance and humor that kept me reading in one sitting. I can’t get enough of Dex and Perry and I felt Halle did a fantastic job with how these two developed after everything that happened. I look forward to their next scary adventure. I wish I could give this whole series ten millions stars because its just that good, if you haven’t started this series your missing out!

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a mature young adult / adult story with very scary situations and fantastic mystery. I highly recommend this to fans of horror and paranormal enthusiast.

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{Review} of Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

GENRE: Horror
THEME: Ghost/Romance
RECEIVED: Review for Tor
AUTHORS BLOG: Kendare Blake's Blog

BLURB:

t's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on. 

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

REVIEW:
Once again Kendare Blake reels me into her horror series and I couldn’t of asked for a better sequel to Anna Dressed in Blood. Girl of Nightmares brings a lot of drama to the lead characters Cas, Thomas and Carmel, it really test their friendship and sanity after what happened with Anna. I was thrilled to step back into this work, the characters were memorable as always and really challenged.

Girl of Nightmares follows Cas as he is determined to save the one girl he can’t forget. Anna, the ghost girl who sacrificed herself to save Cas, Thomas and Carmel, but she didn’t exactly get peace and Cas will do anything to get to her. Horrible and gruesome visions keep appearing to Cas of Anna, but Thomas and Carmel don’t see what he sees and their friendships are tested. But when Cas decides to get help from an old family friend where he comes face to face with people like him.

Cas, my goodness if there were only boys like him when I was in high school. He is such a devoted and determined guy, he’s love for Anna is deep and he really puts himself in a dangerous position. I will never forget this quote:

“She crossed over death to call me. I crossed through Hell to find her.

Even though this book focused more of Cas looking for answers and not having much to do with ghost, it was still fast passed and kept me on the edge of my seat. The readers also get more insight about Cas’ father and people that know who he is and what Cas can do and see.

Thomas is once again the coolest best friend ever to Cas, never doubting that Cas is seeing Anna. He wants to do whatever he can to help he’s friend who and the ghost girl who saved them all. He was tested in this book; Carmel is starting to act different and distant. I really enjoyed reading more about him, his family and how much his friendship and guidance means to Cas.

My favorite part of the book is when a secret council challenges Cas’, he discovers that they can help him get to hell and back. The readers really learn how strong Cas is and that he like his father have different ideas on how to deal with ghost then they do.

Overall I never wanted to stop reading this book, it was more of a serious tone and I missed the creepy tone from the first book. As I reached the end, I don’t think I was alone in this, I was saddened when I found out this was the end of the series. The ending does a great job wrapping up the characters stories, especially Anna’s and Cas’s, you could say it’s bittersweet. I will truly miss these characters and can’t wait to read more of Blake’s stories; she really knows how to pull the readers in with her wonderful writing.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel with creepy scenes that create this fantastic horror novel. Fans of Tara Hudson Hereafter series and Gretchen McNeils Ten novel will love Kendare Blakes Girl of Nightmares.

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Spotlight of the Week: Into the Hollow (EIT Series) by Karina Halle

Today on Seeing Night Reviews my Spotlight of the Week is Into the Hollow by Karina Halle. This is the sixth book in the Experiment in Terror series. Halle has written one of the most chilling, intense character driven and addicting horror series that I have ever read. If you haven't started this series yet, get your copy of Darkhouse for free in ebook and get addicted today!

Into the Hollow Blurb:

It is book #6 in the New Adult/Paranormal Experiment in Terror Series.

Perry Palomino has fought her demons – and won – but the battle is far from over. She’s now left broken and on her own, leaving behind her life and family in Portland to focus on giving Dex Foray – and the Experiment in Terror show – a second chance. But their past mistakes continue to tease and test their relationship, as does the wild and desolate terrain of the Canadian Rockies. The snow-covered peaks and ravenous forests hide an urban legend too unbelievably frightening to be true and the only way the duo has a chance of surviving is if Perry can let in the very man who sent her to hell and back.

Goodreads |  Darkhouse (EIT #1) is free on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, etc | novella The Benson (#2.5)| Cover Designer: Najila Qamber

{Review} Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

GENRE: YA Paranormal
THEME: Zombie/Voodoo
RECEIVED: Received from Harper Teen
AUTHORS BLOG: Susan Dennard's Site

BLURB:

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

REVIEW:
This book was definitely not what I expected and I must say it was one action packed and scary storyline that never slowed down. Zombie’s to me are really creepy and imagining them walking around and being controlled by someone powerful just gives me the chills. Susan Dennard created a wonderful setting based in 1876 Philadelphia where being rich and marrying rich is important, but zombies are becoming everyones new worry.

Something Strange and Deadly follows young Elenor dealing with something out of the ordinary and very frightening… the dead are walking. When one of the zombies leaves her a note from her missing brother, she sets off to find the only people she believes can help find him. The Spirit-Hunters are the only ones that can stop the zombies and oddly enough Elenor seems to be their only connection to the dead. Together the must stop a very powerful necromancer and try to stay alive.

Elenor is the type of girl I would probably be like in that era. Tough, un-lady like and not caring about how pretty her dress is. Even in the scariest of situation, surrounded by the walking dead, she doesn’t give up hope in finding her brother. The whole time she’s not only trying to solve the reason for the zombie uproar while looking for him but also dealing with her mother who wants her to marry rich and a.s.a.p. I found her independent character refreshing and she really grows up as the story moves on. My only main annoyance was Elenors mother, I have no idea how this girl could put up with a mother like her, but I can say she has a lot of patients.

Daniel, one of the Spirit-Hunters has quite an interesting background and connection to Elenor’s family. He and Elenor also have a lot of chemistry, but he puts distance between them before they can connect any further. I can’t wait to see what developes between these two later if and when it happens. He also works along side two other hunters Jei and Joseph who each have a special talent in fighting the zombies.

The plot has a lot of twist and turns especially with Elenors brother and the person controlling the zombies. There are bit of steampunk gadgets used but not highly focused on as some other steampunk genres might be. It has a bundle of black magic, splash of romance and definitely a lot of action and mystery. Let me just say the ending was intense and the way Dennard set up her characters is going to make for one interesting story in the next book.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel with minor creepy or gory scenes of the undead. Fans of Innocent Darkness by Suxanne Lazear and Marta Acostas Dark Companion will want to get ahold of Susan Dennards Something Strange and Deadly.

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