DDBook Reviews

  After the events in Groups Welcome, Sage has lost her Spiritual Medium abilities, and Emily’s has grown at an unprecedented pace. With Scott’s ghost now safely within the magical boundary that keeps evil spirits out, Emily cannot wait to talk to him. But it seems that the dark entity also came through the boundary, and it is only when a new group of guests check in at Eternal Rest that Scott has an opening to speak to Emily. Once again, Emily finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation as one of her guests dies in Sage’s office. But all is not as it seems, and people are not what they pretend to be. All the while, Emily is focused on helping Scott, but is she prepared for what will happen once Scott is free of the dark entity? Will Sage regain her abilities and will Emily ,have at least one quiet night? As always, Patricia Shade has done a wonderful job voicing Oakhill's inhabitants. The soft, calm tone with which she narrates is easy on the ear and allows one to relax

  Emily Buchanan has had an eventful year, and all she wants is some rest, but when a coven of witches books a stay at Eternal Bed and Breakfast, she has no idea what is install. For one, she did not expect her mother-in-law to be a witch or another guest to meet an untimely death. While dealing with another murder mystery, Emily must navigate her relationship with the town Sheriff and Trevor. She is in a race against time to help Scott’s spirit cross over the psychic barrier before he becomes trapped by an evil entity. As always, the visit to Eternal Rest is like a coming home of sorts where old friends meet you, and you slip into the adventure as if you belong and are part of the gang. I can never switch off the audible version as I want to know what will happen next. If you do not yet know Emily and her tendency to get into trouble, you are 6 books behind, So start listening or reading this wonderful series.

  After the events in Ghost of a Whisper, Maxwell feels that he placed Betty in danger, and the two reluctantly break up. In Ghost of a Memory, Betty goes off to a haunted resort and comes head to head with life-threatening circumstances. What makes it worse is she imagines Maxwell, and that just makes the longing harder to bear. When it becomes clear that one of Betty's close friends has betrayed her and placed her in danger, Maxwell does come back believing Betty to be in danger with or without him. In Ghost of a Hope, Betty and Maxwell are back together and working on a Halloween "haunted house," which seems to be actually haunted. Meanwhile, the demon hunters are making things hard for the two love birds as they are chased from their home,  and some of their spirit allies are exorcised. When Maxwell does something unthinkable to a demon, an unexpected but truly wonderful result catches Betty and Maxwell unawares. Ghost of a Hope ends the series on a wonderfully positi

  Wild Waterslide Race is the fifth book in the colourful series by Dave W. Ball. The Hiccups have a watersliding championship. They have been training hard as the race takes much stamina, precision, and, most importantly, fun. Derf has won the last three years, but Anne and Enna have their eyes set on the finish line this year. When an unforeseen hiccup occurs, and Anne and Enna must make an important decision, will it cost them the race? What will you do if faced with the same opportunity?   Wild Waterslide Race by Dave W. Ball is a vibrantly coloured children’s book that teaches children the importance of preparing and practising for competitions. It also teaches children about good sportsmanship and that competition need not come between friends. Derf, Anne, and Enna are friends who respect each other and also train and have fun together. Through their story, children are taught that winning is not the most important aspect of competition. Fellow competitors must be respected w

  Forced to flee after her new husband murdered her father and her loyal court followers, Princess Sanja flees to the Fairylands, where she hopes she will find refuge. However, she loses her provisions to a golden-eyed fairy who helps her to the city of Aceleau. Believing she would find somewhere safe in the city, she is caught unawares as she is forcefully led to the house of the Master Mage. There she is faced with a choice, stay and learn from the two Human mages in the Fairy city or take her chances in the streets where her life would not be guaranteed. Sanja soon catches the attention of the Fairy King, who is known for his cruelty towards humans, exceeded only by that of his son. A plot stretching over two kingdoms comes to play as Sanja has to fight for her life and those of the people she loves. Facing the cruel King and finding aid from a very unlikely source, can she save herself and those who depend on her? The Quarter Mage by Angelina J. Steffort is an enchanting and riveti

  Beginning of Arrogance, Book 1 of a Paladin's Journey by Bryan Cole, is a Sword and Sorcery style fantasy. Krell is a survivor, possibly this is why ReckNor, the god of the sea and sky, likes him so much, or maybe ReckNor is just lonely. Whatever the reason, he speaks directly to Krell quite often. It is not the norm for ReckNor to call a Paladin, but after surviving two shipwrecks Krell was found by Olgar, the resident priest of ReckNor in Watford. Olgar has trained him, and when the time comes that the town is looking for able fighters to look into a beast of some sort at the nearby Darf mine, Krell is but too eager to apply. Together with Orca and Kraven, two Orcs, Tristan, a sorcerer, and Gerrard, a Halfling, he sets out to help the Dwarfs. In true Sword and Sorcery fashion, they fight numerous battles, sometimes surviving and sometimes not, uncovering a smuggling ring and thwarting a deadly invasion.   Beginning of Arrogance, Book 1 of a Paladin's Journey by Bryan Co

When a routine surveillance mission goes wrong and the mark is brought back to her world, Black Spade, Charlie Saxe’s life is thrown into turmoil. She has always had to prove herself to the council and her adoptive Father the leader of the royal security guard in Counterpart and now she has not only her life on the line. As circumstances around her become tense and those whom she can trust become few, she has to balance her duty to Umbra against her loyalty to the royal household and her childhood friend. Kav has been pulled out of his cushy high school life and thrown into the political drama of another dimension. Things are different but at least now he can come to know the girl he has had a crush on for the last couple of months. Plus, he is having the adventure of a lifetime. Ace, the King of the Underworld grew up with Charlie, or as he calls her Little Lie. When she comes to him seeking safety he cannot help pulling her into his life again. He promises to help her, but accepting

Things from myth and legend must have originated from something that resembled them. When an empire is faced with a vicious rebellion and the Emperor is killed, the Sorothian Magical Order offers their help in a mission that could change the tide of the war. Amendal Aramien has just returned from his adventure in the Melar forest to prove his prowess as a conjurer and requires relaxation and food. He receives a mandated trip to the Abodine wasteland to aid Vaem a Mindolarnian, on her quest to retrieve a precious tevisral hidden in a Crystal city. And so starts a rollercoaster of a ride. On the journey to Tardalim, a place so forsaken that it is called after the realm of eternal suffering, the ship is attacked by beasts from the deep sea. This sets the tone for the rest of the adventure. What makes the journey somewhat bearable is Amendal's pursuit of Faelinia. As Amendal and the few friends who are also part of the expedition fight for their lives, they face magic, betrayal, and ne

  Emily Buchannan just wants some normal time, without murders and the drama that comes along with them. Unfortunately for her, she seems to attract trouble. While attending a funeral a body is discovered in an open grave. She tries very hard to stay out of the investigation but when her friend is implicated in the murder she does what comes naturally and starts asking questions. Meanwhile, she has a house full of ghost hunters, and lucky for them it seems that Oakhill’s ghosts have either woken up and started acting out or there are new ghosts moving in. When it seems that Emily is being set up for the murder, her friends rally around her to protect her. But Emily is stubborn and once again innocently ends up in dangerous situations. What will happen to Emily this time and more importantly, will she learn her lesson? Beth Dolgner once again outdid herself. Emily is such a lovely character brought to life by Patricia Shade that you feel you are also one of her friends who wish she wo

A secret buried. Twice. Three friends, outliers in their town. A town that has never known violence or even crime. When Roger, the town's spiritual guru, sees something disturbing on the town's horizon, he knows something terrible is going to happen. Naomi, the town's art teacher, discovers a disturbing piece of art painted by one of her not-so-promising students. Jeremy, the night watchman at the town's biggest employer, has a disturbing dream. A mysterious yet hilarious adventure ensues in which the three friends try to save their small peaceful town by burning down the art gallery, breaking from prison, and battling with a painting that grows roots and refuses to be moved. In their quest, they must dodge angry mobs and rebellious cows. They also cannot do all of the saving alone and enlist the help of the town coroner, the librarian, and an old shop owner with a vendetta. Will the three friends succeed in their quest, or will they succumb to the madness unleashed on

  Cynthia just wanted to have summer on her own in Berlin. After many arguments, a compromise was made, and she is staying with a host family of Shifters. Though Cynthia thinks she is more likely to melt from the heat than to come across a Witch or a Vampire, both species are conspicuously absent, and she has not seen any yet, which is just as well. She is looking for her father, and no supernaturals mean she can search freely. She did not count on the loner she met at the Kreuzberg Memorial to become a friend; neither did she imagine that she would become part of a search for information about the missing Shifters. As she burns bridges faster than she can build new ones, she must trust Monica and Nathan to have her back when she is kidnapped, twice, to be a sacrifice for a spell that would cure the Vampires but have a devastating effect on her new friend Leon. Will she survive the tumultuous undercurrents of the Supernatural Community in Berlin, or will she become an unwilling sacrifi

Hierdie werk wat agt preke uit die boek Rut bevat, kan met groot vrymoedigheid aanbeveel word.  Die preke is eksegeties baie korrek, maar bied die feite verstommend verrassend aan. Dis prikkelend om  die stryd waarder die drie vroue, Naomi, Rut en Orpa saam met hulle te belewe en deur te werk. Baie vrae wat in mense se gemoed lê, word aangespreek en opgelos. hierdie stel preke gryp ook in ons moderne mense se lewens waardes en lewens keuses in en gee veral  leiding oor watter konsekwensies dit inhou as jy werklik ‘n aanbidder van die Drie-Enige God wil wees (of is!). Die preekbundel bied werklik opwindende leesstof vir iemand wat sy geloof wil verdiep en wat ook sy kennis van die gebruike en leefstyl (argeologie) van  die Jode en volke wil verbreed en verdiep. Baie geluk met hierdie werk   Dr. MJ du Plessis Mei 2022

  Dancing With Ghosts by Rita H. Rowe tells the story of Alex, who has fled to Chernut, a small town in Australia, where she has accepted the gardener position at Lovelet Manor. She finds herself in a household where sorrow and defeat pull the small family living there under. Having her own demons and loss that haunt her every day, she is swept up in caring for the expansive garden, coaxing the dire-looking plants back to life. One night, she meets a man in the garden who wordlessly transports her back to a time when dancing came so easy and without guilt. As she becomes obsessed with Edward, she is shocked when she discovers who he is. Although Alex is not the most social person, she finds that the small family in the manor are hurting and alone, reminding her of her hurt and loneliness. She becomes friends with them, and when tragedy visits the house, Alex realises what she has to do to save herself and the family she fell in love with, but will everything work out as she hoped? Ri

  Do you love Fantasy with dragons, magic, and a good old-fashioned love story in between sword fights and Rum drinking Pirates? Then The Sea of Zemira is a book that you must read. D.L. Blade has written an old-fashioned high fantasy adventure that covers it all, from an Evil King, conspiracies, and lost heirs, to a lost treasure that could change the world. Nola flees from her homeland Zemira to find the Elves and other magical creatures who were banished to the Eastland Forest across the Portland Sea. Her mission is to convince the Elves and Fae to fight with the people of Zemira to free themselves from King Matthias. When she is forced to make a quick decision, she chooses a path that will forever change her life. She hides on a Pirate ship, hoping they will not harm her but take her to the Elves. When she meets the ship's Captain, she realizes she is in deep trouble, even more so when he declares she will be his captive for the journey and share his cabin. En route to the East

Since Betty Boorman, or as she is known to her friends Betty Boo, has started dating Maxwell Damon, her life seems lovely. However, not all her friends are happy with her dating a demon and Lou, her tech guy with the Savanna Seekers, has made this clear. Maxwell has told her about demon hunters and how they might try to banish him to hell. When Maxwell is attacked, and it seems that he has been banished, Betty is heartbroken. She and the other Seekers continue to investigate paranormal cases, but when they have a case where the messages seem personal, they are at a loss for an explanation. Meanwhile, Betty has to decide whether she should sell her soul to save Maxwell from hell. This is a an excellent second instalment in the Betty Boo series and will keep you awake to find out what will happen to Betty, Maxwell and her friends. Ms. Dolgner has a way with tricky subjects and themes. She treats them with good taste, and the narrators she chooses for her audiobooks are spot-on; though

I magine being born with a superhero gene and never developing that dormant power. Imagine being enrolled in a monastery to develop your supposed gift, and you end up the school bully’s target. This is precisely what happens to Ulka. For years she meditated and had enhancement drugs administered for her gift to manifest. When a  giant magnetic meteor called a  Magnetar threatens Earth,  and the two most promising Superheroes are lost, her powers appear when her Guru, Saum, is in danger. As she discovers what she is capable of, others plot the downfall of all superheroes and their Guru. Even the King cannot be trusted. Can Ulka’s powers manifest so that she can save her planet, and what will the consequences of her actions be? Varun Sayal writes a story full of science and magic where humans have genes that promise the development of superpowers. He delves into the two emotions that have forever fueled wars and discontent, jealousy and love. Some will take their jealousy to such lengths

Scenic Views is the fourth book by Beth Dolgner in the Eternal Bed and Breakfast series. Emily Buchannan once again has her hands full with a house filled with eager ghost hunters. The only problem is that she sent her resident ghosts on an errand, and now it seems that she has a brand new spirit. Emily did buy some antique items to spruce up the house after all the excitement during the art festival, and the new ghost must be haunting one of those items. As Emily and her guests try to find out more about the history of the various items she bought, Emily and her friends receive threats of harm should they continue their investigation. When the truth starts to unravel, even the Oakhill police give more than their usual support as they realise they will have to help Emily to keep her and her friends safe. Finding a killer based on the reversed ramblings of a ghost can be difficult, as everyone connected to Eternal Rest comes to realise. Listening to an Eternal Rest Audiobook is like c

  In a short time, Sophie has lost her father and her brother; the only things helping her through the difficult time is her job as a police detective and her brother's ghost. Yes, she has powers, some that she does not even know about. In The Black Rose, the sequel to The Sword of Reckoning by Lea Schizas, we meet a new heroine who does not take anything from anyone. She is a strong woman while remaining feminine. She is pulled into the A.L.P through her new position as detective and partner to Brian. Brian has had a tough childhood and has been part of the A.L.P task force for a while, working with Sophie's father up until his death. Sophie has no idea of how paranormal her world will become when she is brought face to face with vampires. To top it all off, her dream lover turns out to be a real person! And a demigod at that! Written in the same playful tone as The Sword of Reckoning, we are again taken on a joyride of a paranormal experience, looking for an escaped Vampire L

Jimmy Chartron has his heart set on becoming an electrician and has worked hard to be accepted at the elite Naval Academy of Eagleton. When he starts his year, he discovers a secret compartment on the statue of Tessa Marlise, a hero from the Great War, now a century past. As he fiddles with a gap he finds, something happens, and when he wakes from a blackout realizes that he has another person in his body. A ghost – and the ghost of a sassy girl to boot! The last thing Tessa remembers is protecting the Keystone with her life, and now it is a century later, and she is stuck in the mind of a sixteen-year-old boy. Tessa quickly takes the lead, and soon she and Jimmy is spying on the Headmaster and Headmistress. They are caught up in a conspiracy to cover up the actual cause of the great war and a race to prevent another war. J.T Michaels wrote a great fantasy starter, and it promises to be a series that will become loved by YA readers. Jimmy Chartron by J.T. Micheals is a YA fantasy adven

When Betty Boorman, or Betty Boo as she is known to her friends, responds to a call about a haunting with her ghost hunting team, she realizes she is up against something much worse. She deduced this when said entity scorched her hair. Stumped about what to do, she is surprised when a very handsome man tells her that he can help. She reluctantly calls Maxwell for help, and from that moment on, her life seems to gather chaos. Carter Lansford, a rival ghost hunter in Savanna, asks Betty to help him with a ghost problem at a local law firm, the haunting and their part in solving the mystery is made very public. After two break-ins at her apartment, Betty realizes she is in trouble. Add to this a mysterious man stalking her and her new love interest, who is a demon, and soon Betty has a life full of actions and things that go bump in the night. Beth Dolgner is the author of the Eternal Rest Bed and Breakfast books, and the Betty Boo series consists of four books. This is the first and al

  click on the image to go to amazon A Man Walks into a Bank by Lucky Stevens is the story of one professional bank robber, a nervous young hostage and their love story, including many broken dishes and Darth Vader moments. Ellis Coldwater is very laid back and is also known as Number three. Wendy Larkin is the very nervous wife of the bank manager/owner that Ellis's gang is robbing. George is just trying to get rid of his wife. Wendy teams up with an even more nervous friend and takes Ellis on the most interesting adventure. Robbing a bank will never be the same. Lucky Stevens makes many promises in the blurb of A Man Walks into a Bank, and he surely delivers. The book could easily have been named Two robberies and a Medical degree. Ellis and Wendy make the most interesting characters, supported by the wit and snappy dialogue. You never know where the story is headed, but you get to the final destination with surprise and a tummy ache from all the laughing. In A Man Walks into

Revenants is the second book in the Tales of the Five Realms series by Rachel V Knox. We meet Hagar and Jude as they return for their second year at Vanar University in Candesa. School starts with some surprising relationships and friendships that would have seemed unthinkable a year before. However, students see each other differently after fighting shade together and nearly dying when a mirage is set free the previous year. This year starts with many of the professors, Lightbearers, leaving Vanar to help in other parts of the country as a mysterious fog slowly creeps in over Candesa and ultimately Vanar. Professor Hinks is the new healing arts lecturer and has a very calm demeanour. The students quickly come to trust him. As the fog becomes more intense, Requiem is ordered to patrol the University grounds. Hagar and her friends notice as students start to become different people, and a post-graduate student seems to have had a nervous breakdown. What is the mysterious fog that seems

  Click on the image to go to the audiobook or  here  to go to the  kindle book What can give old the Regency Gothic Romance some new life? Well, let’s see, maybe add some shifter elements? That has been done, so what’s next? Nancy Allen knew, and she created an England not only with shifters and other paranormal characters but also in a steampunk world. Clockwork engines and gadgets abound in this creative new world where automatons are everywhere and can be used for nefarious reasons. She also created a great team of characters that promise to delight in the following books. We meet Lucy and Miles in the first as they try and save Lucy’s cousin, whose health is failing fast. Lucy is a hard-headed woman and senses something horrible is hiding in plain sight.  What follows is the usual push and pull, shocking discoveries and a lonely man who, in the end, is loved by a headstrong, independent woman. This was a wonderful respite from fantasy as it was enough regency love story with t

                                                                            Click on image to go amazon James Crowley is a Black Badge working for the White Throne; many years before he died doing the one decent thing he ever did, saved a mother and young daughter from the hands of his then leader. Ace Ryker. Now he is on his way to Lonely Hill, a small town in the wild West, no longer a Scuttler or outlaw but a Badge to keep the Supernatural outlaws in check, how the decks have turned. Outlaws are running amok, robbing small-town banks and blazing a frozen trail to Revelation Springs, where the owner of said banks is preparing for the Founders Fair. Ever veering off his path Jack helps some hapless humans along the way escape from werewolves and demons, collecting stray humans as well as supernatural artefacts and infuriating his handler. Once in Revelation Springs, a crime so old and revolting comes to light and shadows from Jack’s past come back to haunt him. In the end, Jack does w

Click to image to go to amazon Run is the second book in the Hunted series by Montana Jones. It is a police procedural that follows Special Agent Jack Carter as he has to locate and save women taken by a serial killer. He is partnered with officer Sam McKellar who has just broken up with her abusive boyfriend. Jack and Samantha have a chemistry that jumps off the pages, and they have to fight their own demons before a relationship can be possible. As first, Jack and then Samantha fight for their lives in the attempt to rescue the missing women, feelings grow, and relationships are forged. I loved Jack Carter; he is tall, dark and handsome with loyalty towards his friends, willing to give his life for them. There are some sexual situations, but the only thing that I did not like was that the Lord’s name was used a lot in the first half of the book. Run is an emotionally loaded book with the abuse of women as the central theme. Though it is a romance, the message is that an abuser can

Click on the image to go to amazon Leonidas has waited centuries for Savannah to remember her past and claim her place as his wife. He has watched over her for centuries with an ache in his heart. When it becomes clear that she and those close to her are in grave danger, Leonidas shows himself, hoping she will remember him. In her latest incarnation, Savannah is a detective and partnered with Noah, her best friend. He always has her back, and she trusts him with her life. When an investigation brings back many traumatic memories for Savannah, she struggles to make sense of what is happening. Then everything turns upside down. Nothing will ever be the same as the Sword of Reckoning has to be claimed, traitors are revealed, and humanity needs to be saved. This is a fun book to read. In The Sword of Reckoning, Lea Schiza has put together a police procedural and a heavy-duty fantasy in one. The tone and feeling in the story are relaxed and laid back, supported by the casual dialogue and sn

Offered in Oklahoma is the 15th instalment in the Capital City murders. It is a story that flows easily and is a pleasure to listen to.  I like the concept of the freelance photographer travelling through the country and each city contained in one book. The books are just long enough for a bit of crime time if you are in a hurry.

click on the image to go to amazon Abandoned at birth and left as an orphan twice after that, Jane Walker has made it through the Foster Care system with her best friend, Sadie. Promising themselves never to look back but always look to the future, they have made a life for themselves. However, Jane has hidden a unique pattern of blood-red birthmarks that snake around her body. Always hiding them and wishing them away. When they suddenly start disappearing and her nightmares become clearer, she realizes that they may have more to do with her safety than she previously thought. Connecting with a professor at the university, Jane discovers that her birthmark may be much more than she thought. Sadie has her own battles to fight as she is caught in the seedy world of a high-end call girl. Neither of the girls could have imagined the lengths a Narcissistic doctor would go to protect his lies and deceit. When Jane disappears, Sadie has to join forces with Janes friends to find her before tim

  A Garden Home for Normy the Gnome - Cindy L Shirley   A garden home for Normy, the Gnome by Cindy L. Shirley, tells the story of Miss Margaret Taylor and her lovely garden full of bright flowers and green shrubs and beautiful Roses. Miss Margaret loved working in her garden, and her trusty dog Daisy was always by her side. When they go to the store, they come across an old garden gnome that has been thrown in the trash. Miss Margaret and Daisy decide to take him home with them, and Daisy seems quite attached to the gnome. Soon strange things happen around the home that Miss Margaret can’t explain. Nevertheless, she gives the gnome a fresh coat of paint, and a smile then puts him in her garden after naming him Normy. That night Daisy stays outside with Normy, and when she checks on the two, Miss Margaret is treated to a magical sight. A garden home for Normy the Gnome by Cindy L. Shirley is a story that teaches about love and caring for one’s environment, taking care of our gardens an

Die Britte het agent 007 en M, maar hier in Suid-Afrika het ‘n nuwe soort held homself onder ons uitgepop. Agent Snoet is ‘n geheime agent Agent Oë is sy baas en en Juffrou Niemand is die lieflike sekretaresse wat dol verlief is op Snoet. In die Botterdiamant, die eerste van vyf grafiese moet Snoet en sy kat Felino (wat eintlik die verstand het om sake op te los) die gesogte diamant opspoor nadat dit gesteel is. Agent Snoet en die Botterdiamant is gevul met intrige en verleidelike katte? Saam moet Snoet en Felino die meester brein agter die diefstal opspoor en arresteer. Die twee het ‘n heerlike avontuur en kom soms net-net weg uit doods gevaarlike situasies. Maar gewapen met Professor Pipet se nuutste tegnologie is geen saak te moeilik vir Snoet en Felino nie. Agent Snoet en die Botterdiamant is Francois Bloemhof se eerste Grafiese Roman en is voortreflik  ge ïl lustreer  deur Alistair Ackerman. Dit is ‘n heerlike avontuur met interessante karakters en oorspronklike storielyn. Die i

  The Miriam Webster Dictionary defines a child as a young person, especially between infancy and puberty and a young adult as: of, relating to, or being a category of fiction that is primarily intended for adolescent readers . In this article, when referring to children and Young Adults, these are the intended meanings  (Dictionary, 2022) . As a mother, avid reader, English language teacher and most importantly, a Reformed Protestant Christian, I have always held the conviction that it is vital to a child and young adult’s development, both intellectually, emotionally and socially, to read and interact with as much variety in their reading diet as possible. I especially think that exposure to good quality fantasy and fairytales is essential (yes even Disney). This I feel is true for children in general but especially for Christian children. I have found when teaching that if a child has no fantasy/fairytale in their life, it is difficult for them to imagine the images described