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showell's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mellhay's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars as a very good start to a Paranormal Novella Series.
Returning from her Mexico trip and catching up with her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Sauders, Rachel receives a phone call from a young man for help. Thinking he needs a ride home, as she offers to do to all young adults if drinking, but learns the boy of a local Deacon who doesn't much like Rachel has a party in his basement that he didn't throw. Vikings drinking, who are ghosts...in the flesh.
We start with Rachel returning home to Newfoundland after her getaway trip to Mexico, getting away from an unavailable boy she has feelings for, and meet her witty elder neighbor Mrs. Saunders. In the beginning of eleven pages we meet Rachel and Mrs. Saunders and learn much about them and the small town they live in.
The quiet town of Wisemen's Cove has quite a history and people who believe the lore and history. This little town seems to have ghosts every where with the history of this land. We have flesh ghosts making an appearance, and the people seeing these flesh ghosts react as normal and pitch in to fight then mention the ghost they once saw. All going back to the history of the land you learn about, it's old and has been through a lot.
Rachel is talented in that she senses and sees the dead. She escaped to this small town in Newfoundland to, in hopes, escape from the dead she sees, only to find herself even deeper in paranormal than she expected. She just wants to be accepted and normal. Rachel doesn't think she's found that here, since she gets lots of hate mail in the religious front. She is "sensitive in the paranormal" and people think her a witch or devil worshiper and such. But, just maybe, Rachel will find a home and friends when she least expects it.
I do like Rachel's old woman neighbor, Mrs. Saunders. She is strong, bold, and gutsy. A fun character. Jeremy...oh brother. I like him. He sounds cute and like such a nice man. Unfortunately for Rachel (who really has a thing for him) he has a kind girlfriend. He's unaware of Rachel's feelings, and a very good friend of hers.
I enjoyed this quick read and it's a very good start to a paranormal series of short stories. I look forward to reading the next story, and more to come with Rachel.
Returning from her Mexico trip and catching up with her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Sauders, Rachel receives a phone call from a young man for help. Thinking he needs a ride home, as she offers to do to all young adults if drinking, but learns the boy of a local Deacon who doesn't much like Rachel has a party in his basement that he didn't throw. Vikings drinking, who are ghosts...in the flesh.
We start with Rachel returning home to Newfoundland after her getaway trip to Mexico, getting away from an unavailable boy she has feelings for, and meet her witty elder neighbor Mrs. Saunders. In the beginning of eleven pages we meet Rachel and Mrs. Saunders and learn much about them and the small town they live in.
The quiet town of Wisemen's Cove has quite a history and people who believe the lore and history. This little town seems to have ghosts every where with the history of this land. We have flesh ghosts making an appearance, and the people seeing these flesh ghosts react as normal and pitch in to fight then mention the ghost they once saw. All going back to the history of the land you learn about, it's old and has been through a lot.
Rachel is talented in that she senses and sees the dead. She escaped to this small town in Newfoundland to, in hopes, escape from the dead she sees, only to find herself even deeper in paranormal than she expected. She just wants to be accepted and normal. Rachel doesn't think she's found that here, since she gets lots of hate mail in the religious front. She is "sensitive in the paranormal" and people think her a witch or devil worshiper and such. But, just maybe, Rachel will find a home and friends when she least expects it.
I do like Rachel's old woman neighbor, Mrs. Saunders. She is strong, bold, and gutsy. A fun character. Jeremy...oh brother. I like him. He sounds cute and like such a nice man. Unfortunately for Rachel (who really has a thing for him) he has a kind girlfriend. He's unaware of Rachel's feelings, and a very good friend of hers.
I enjoyed this quick read and it's a very good start to a paranormal series of short stories. I look forward to reading the next story, and more to come with Rachel.
amy_always_reads's review against another edition
1.0
This was just not it for me at all. I thought the writing was clunky and the plot just didn’t hook me. At least it was short.
bookish_slagathor's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This novella is one of Krista D. Ball’s early works and it very much shows. It feels a bit janky and rough around the edges. The author herself even put a disclaimer at the beginning of it all, letting you know to expect that. Still, I commend her for not re-writing it after so many years. Even if it read like a work of a fledgeling author, I had loads of fun reading it.
The story itself stands on solid legs, where the problems arise is the MC who is all over the place and just way too focused on her unrequited crush. And by the end I felt like all of it was too short and we just rushed through everything like our life depended on it. I mean, the MC’s kinda did, I guess. 😅
Still, if anyone is looking for a quick urban fantasy read with a self-deprecating female lead and the best super-granny side character ever, this might be a good pick.
rebeccazh's review against another edition
This was a pretty easy read. Mrs Saunders is awesome. I love Rachel's relationship with her. (Didn't like that the Christian characters were stereotypes: incredibly close-minded. But the author subverted that a little, so I guess that's alright.)
smartflutist661's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.75
Was definitely expecting this to be longer, but after accepting the novella length, I found this to be a nice take on a standard "urban fantasy", partially because this is in no way urban. Was good to see a bunch of neighbors who might not like each other much still banding together to solve a supernatural issue.
booklovinmamas's review against another edition
3.0
Full Review posted at Book Lovin' Mamas
I loved how the story all came together in the end though. You could also tell, Krista D. Ball did her research on Spirits and the Vikings.
I look forward to seeing what the next book is all about. I enjoyed getting away from Vampires and Werewolves for a little bit. Thanks again, Krista D. Ball for contacting me.
I look forward to reading more books from you…especially from this series.
I loved how the story all came together in the end though. You could also tell, Krista D. Ball did her research on Spirits and the Vikings.
I look forward to seeing what the next book is all about. I enjoyed getting away from Vampires and Werewolves for a little bit. Thanks again, Krista D. Ball for contacting me.
I look forward to reading more books from you…especially from this series.
sdramsey's review
4.0
I really enjoyed the Newfoundland setting in this supernatural novella; it's obvious the author has spent time there or done her research well. The story is brisk and well-paced and the characters interesting, especially the narrator/main character, who has a lot of personal life things going on. I liked her and want to know more about her, so I expect I'll be following this series. I also liked the way the author did NOT play to expected tropes in many supernatural stories these days, but put an original twist on things. I read the ebook version and found it nicely formatted on my Kobo (which is soooo important for ereaders!).
chyina's review
2.0
This rather short novella is about a young Canadian woman in a small town who can sense the supernatural. The premise was excellent yet there was very little payoff. We do not get to know why she sees and senses the supernatural or why she never went on a date with her cute friend and neighbor. There is only one real conflict and at the end we are left feeling dissatisfied.