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23 Aug 2012

Under The Cover Of Wicca

Under the Cover of Wicca is written by Darke Conteur and is published through Smashwords. The novel is 7 chapters in length and 157 pages including excerpt from book 3.

Darke Conteur is a stay at home mum who is at the mercy of her muse writing anything from the paranormal to science fiction. Darke lives with her husband, son, two cats, one kitten and a ghost dog. She runs her own blog where she aids other writers to be heard posting interviews and news from the writing world, as well as updates on her own work and hobbies. Darke’s passion for writing began in her mid-teens. At 16 she completed her first novel but the manuscript was lost, she hopes to one day re-write the story with a “more scifi feel”. Book 3 Covens and Packs is due out Summer 2012.

Janet Weiss is a student and one determined on seeing the spirit of her dead mother even if it means summoning her herself alone in the cemetery at night. But when her spell doesn’t work she finds herself witnessing a human sacrifice. It has been some time since the Brosnie attack and Martin Cunningham is enjoying his flexi- hours however it only takes one call from the office to get him hot on his heels heading in. With a case of human sacrifice Martin and the others are about to discover not everything was completely sorted out back at The Embassay like they thought it was. With more bodies popping up there isnt just the balance of good and evil to be concerned about but whether the secret of their world is revealed. With a young girls freedom, innocence and life on the line it seems they are about to discover yet another coven.  Who or what are The Spire? Does Jezryall answer to someone higher? Is Janet a sensitive? And are sensitives lives in danger? Is Martin willing to give up his independence for a life of danger? Or is a life of independence danger enough? Can Terin Global maintain the balance between good and evil and keep their world hidden at the same time?

Under the Cover of Wicca is a very quick read flowing from page to page. I am still fascinated as to where this story will go in the future as it is suggested there are many other creatures. The ending gives a sneak idea as to where the story will be heading next and as dark as things became in the first book, things can only get darker. One thing I have come to notice and enjoy about this series of books is that it shows everyone’s experience with magic is different, how you come across it and how you interpret it differs from person to person. Another thing is that nothing is ever entirely good or evil there can be grey areas. With evil growing with every death I am keen to see what happens next for Terin Global now that they have a cop to worry about. I like the fact this book is more fleshed out than the first but I do still feel as if something that I haven’t yet been able to identify is missing. If you’re after a book where the dark and sinister are just another day at the office, then this is the book for you.

Darke Conteur has done a marvellous job continuing the story of Terin Global’s fight against evil, I look forward to reading the third book and learning something new about their world and the creatures who inhabit it. Again as with the first book I still feel a little like this novella should be longer however I would recommend this book and give it 4 out of 5 stars. 

By R.N. Hadley

9 Aug 2012

Redemption

Redemption is written by Troy Lambert and published by Rhetorical Press. The novel is 62,870 words in length and 24 chapters split into three sections.

Troy Lambert grew up in Southern Idaho and began writing at a young age penning the as yet unpublished George and the Giant Castle at age six. After a stint in the US Army Troy returned to Northern Idaho where he currently resides. By night Troy is a freelance writer and researcher, and by day he is the Museum Operations Specialist and Head of Research at the Wallace District Mining museum. Troy lives with his wife, two dogs and two of five children. He has also penned a collect of short stories titled Broken Bones.

When Sam is born in Bethlehem his mother considers him to be the next messiah. Doing her best to raise him a good Christian son even twenty odd years later she still believes his path in life is to help others. Even on her death bed and her son in jail she still believes this to be fact.
Having spent 12 years locked up for a murder he did not commit Sam is about to find God and graduate law school and become his own attorney but, what is a newly released man to do for work?

Socially stunted by his mothers religious beliefs Arthur even after his parents death still lives by their rules. When he is invited into the home of his school yard crush and her husband he is sure she is giving him the come-on. His mother now existing only in his mind still raises him to be a religious man without sin whilst his father tries to at least allow him some freedom especially from her. But when his own thoughts add to the mix love and lust is rekindled but with religious thoughts plaguing him the only way to have the object of his desire appears to be spoken in the words of God but does God really want him to kill? Is this the only way?
With his marriage on the rocks should Randy let Arthur into his families life when he knows that his wife had a thing for him? Can Sam clear his own name? And will it open up a whole new career for him as a criminal attorney? And finally what is more powerful, religion or love?

Redemption is a novel about sin, and forgiveness both through religion and the self. Told in three sections but with two stories in one. Redemption is full of multiple twists and turns, this is a novel sure to keep even the unsure reader intrigued when the story really begins to unfold in the final third.

Though not a religious person myself I was happy to see that the religious side of the story was not overdone or forced onto the reader. However, there were moments two for definite that I can say that I did see coming once the story seemed to be heading that way but the ending (the final third) I am happy to say went entirely against my thoughts.
A quick read, with so much to offer I would recommend Redemption to anyone interested in adult crime novels based from the perspective of the suspects. I give Troy Lambert’s novel Redemption 4 out of 5 stars.

By R.N. Hadley