REVIEW: THE VAMPIRE SHRINK BY LYNDA HILBURN

THE VAMPIRE SHRINK

KISMET KNIGHT, PH.D., VAMPIRE PSYCHOLOGIST 1

LYNDA HILBURN

GENRE: UF/ PARANORMAL ROMANCE

The Kindle version of The Vampire Shrink is the British edition, published by Quercus/Jo Fletcher Books, UK. It contains British spelling, punctuation, etc.

Kismet Knight is a young psychologist with a growing clinical practice, and she's always looking for something to give her the edge in her chosen career. When her new client turns out to be a Goth teenager who desperately wants to become a vampire, Kismet is inspired to become the vampire shrink, offering her services to people who believe they are undead. Kismet herself, as a scientist, knows it's hokum, but she's looking at it in a purely psychoanalytic light, already imagining the papers she's going to write on this strange subculture.

That's until she meets the leader of a vampire coven, a sexy, mysterious man who claims to be a powerful 800-year-old vampire, and she is pulled into a whirlwind of inexplicable events that start her questioning everything she once believed about the paranormal.

MY RATING: 3.5 STARS

After finishing The Vampire Shrink, I'm left with mixed emotions about this book. I like the whole concept because it's a bit different. However, I felt the main characters (especially the character of Devereux) didn't evolve through the story enough.

The second book is available, but I haven't read it yet. It's possible that Dev is more hashed out in the second book. I hope that's the case, because I couldn't really connect with him in this book. I felt more connected to the hunky FBI agent, Alan.

Kismet is somewhat confusing. She stayed in denial way too long about the existence of vampires even when it was staring her right in the face...literally (Bryce lol). I liked her well enough though. She has three potential love interests in this book—Tom (her ex), Alan (FBI agent), and Dev (800 year old vamp). Yeah, I was rooting for Alan because I felt more connected to him than Dev. I shouldn't even really count Tom because he's an egotistical ass. 

  

Overall, I did like the story and will read the next book, Blood Therapy. I think this story was well deserving of 3.5 stars, but I'd give the cover art 2 stars. I just didn't care for it.

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REVIEW: HAUNTED HOUSE FOR SALE BY JANE MONSON

HAUNTED HOUSE FOR SALE (PARANORMAL MYSTERY)

JANE MONSON

GENRE: PARANORMAL MYSTERY

SYNOPSIS

Catherine, a realtor, doesn't know she can see ghosts. She doesn't even believe in ghosts—until the day she shows a haunted house. Worse, she shows it to her friend Lori, who doesn't sense any ghost. What she senses is a deal, and now she wants to buy the house.

Catherine does everything she can to discourage her. But even when Catherine finds out the house was the scene of a murder not long ago, Lori doesn't care, unless that means she can get an even better price.

Every time Catherine goes to the house, the ghost begs her help, till she's drawn into investigating its murder. Catherine doesn't see how ghosts can do anything other than scare you but in case they can be dangerous, she wants the ghost gone before Lori moves in.

MY TAKE

3 1/2 STARS

Haunted House for Sale is a short novella (roughly 49 pages). This little e-book was a quick entertaining read. The author wrote Catherine's character in a not-so-serious, humorous, slightly sarcastic voice which reminds me a bit of J.R. Rain or P.J. Jones. The cover art for the book is cute and quirky and fits the tone of this novella.

I thought I had the whole “mystery” in this book figured out well before the ending, which was leaving me with a bit of a disappointed feeling—until the mystery unraveled and I realized I didn't have it quite so figured out. This was a plus and a nice surprise.

There was a few errors in grammar which aren't really worth mentioning. One thing that I found to be somewhat bothersome was the overuse of commas. It seemed to disturb the flow of the commentary and dialog at times.

Overall, I liked the story and think it would fit the bill if you are looking for a quick and entertaining read.

*I acquired this book through LibraryThing's member giveaway program.

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REVIEW: EVERY DEAD THING BY JOHN CONNOLLY

EVERY DEAD THING

CHARLIE PARKER #1

JOHN CONNOLLY

GENRE: MYSTERY/THRILLER

SYNOPSIS

When former New York City detective Charlie Parker is pulled into the search for a missing woman, he finds insight into the murderer responsible for the slayings of his own wife and daughter -- a monster/artist/serial killer who uses the human body as his canvas and takes faces as his prize. Aided by a beautiful young psychologist and two career killers, Parker becomes the bait in a trap set in the Louisiana bayous and faces a brutal confrontation with the killer known only as the Traveling Man.

MY TAKE

3 ½ STARS

Every Dead Thing is a dark mystery/thriller. This book really pulled me in at the start. I felt Charlie Parker's (Bird) character was very well developed and my heart broke for the guy over and over during this book. The story itself is complex and engrossing. Connolly did his research while writing this book and it shows.

There were many details that needed to be included to tell this story, and the author made this happen. The problem that I had with this book was not in the detail that needed to be included to tell the story, but the excess of detail that was included that wasn't needed to tell the story. At some points is almost seemed long-winded to me. There is also a lot going on in this book and if you aren't careful, you may just get lost.

Even with that said, please don't let it turn you off to this book. The story is really worth reading and I enjoyed it very much. This was my first Connolly book and I will be continuing with the Charlie Parker series soon. 

 

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