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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

May 28, 2020  
"A highly interesting read that will leave you hooked on each and every word."

Stop by my blog, and read my review for the fascinating historical fiction novel STORMS OF MALHADO BY Maria Elena Sandovici​. Enter the GIVEAWAY to win a SIGNED copy of the book!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2020/05/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-storms-of.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
Galveston Island, Texas, September 2008

Katie doesn’t believe in ghosts. And she certainly doesn’t believe the rumors that her family’s home is haunted, despite its tragic history: two young women who lived there in different eras died in hurricanes—one during Hurricane Carla in 1961, one during the Great Storm of 1900, the greatest natural disaster to befall the United States. But that was the past, a fact Katie reminds herself of when she returns to Galveston to await Hurricane Ike with her parents and boyfriend in her family’s Broadway mansion, hoping to rekindle her flailing relationship.

While Katie is not afraid of the ghost stories she’s heard, she is afraid of the monster storm approaching. As even die-hard Islanders evacuate, her fears grow—fear of the looming hurricane, fear that she’s talentless as a painter, fear that her relationship with her boyfriend is already over. As Katie struggles against her fears, the past whispers to her of the women who died there and the haunting similarities they share with Katie’s own life.

Through three different timelines, Storms of Malhado weaves a story of Galveston’s past, underscoring its danger and isolation, as well as its remarkable resilience, and its capacity for both nostalgia and reinvention. Full of contradictions, at once insular and open to the world, Galveston Island is as much a character of the novel as Katie, Suzanne, Betty, their lovers, and their confidantes.
     
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Feb 22, 2023  
The spotlight's on a new book in the Christian science fiction dystopian mystery FALLOUT series by Lisa Harris! Learn about SHATTERED (the 5th book in the series) as well as SURVIVAL (the 1st book in the series) on my blog. There's also a great giveaway for a chance to win a spa basket, shower steamers, or facial masks!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2023/02/reviewapalooza-and-giveaway-survival.html

**ABOUT THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES**
In today’s world, law enforcement agencies across the country rely on forensic tools, DNA testing, and crime labs. But what if that technology was suddenly no longer available? No one in the small, west Texas town of Shadow Ridge knows what took down the power grid, or when it’s going to be back up, but everyone knows exactly where they were the moment it went down. And now, with no electricity, no internet, and no modern technology, the men and women responsible for keeping the town safe are going to have to learn how to fight crime all over again.

When one of the men in charge of storing food for the town of Shadow Ridge is found murdered execution style, it’s up to Jace McQuaid to find the killer. What he discovers is a group of organized raiders who are stealing supplies and selling them on the black market—and the survival of the town depends on stopping them.

Morgan Addison’s estranged brother, Ricky, shows up at her house demanding weapons and confirming her fears that he’s a part of the outlaws. Tensions are raised further when Ricky kidnaps her son to ensure his safe passage out of town. Jace must find a way to save Noah and ensure the survival of Shadow Ridge.
     
Taken (Blood Moon, Texas Shifters #7)
Taken (Blood Moon, Texas Shifters #7)
Kat Kinney | 2025 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
TAKEN is the seventh and final book in the Blood Moon, Texas Shifters series, and I absolutely recommend you read the others first. This is not a standalone, and you will likely be confused by the number of characters, as well as the overarching arc of the series.

Now, I read book 6 a while ago, so forgive me if I can't remember just how Fallon and Cal met. However, when we catch up with them, they are still at the 'nothing can happen between us' stage. Fallon is a strong character, caught between her job as a Tracer and her six-year-old son, Jonah. The worlds collide when Jonah is kidnapped by Rossi. At the same time, President Payne's daughter is also attacked, leaving Fallon once again torn as she tries to do everything.

Told from both Cal and Fallon's perspectives, you get a full picture of what's going on both between them and the bigger picture with Rossi. Some of it is hard reading, especially when talking about children being kidnapped and abused. I can't really say the ending surprised me, as I've been waiting for it for a few books now. Still, it was a gripping and exciting read.

An epilogue gives a nice finale, although I was confused with all the names of the children, as not all of whom have been met previously.

So long as you start at the beginning, I have no hesitation in recommending this book or the series.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 19, 2025