Book Review: Thunder Game (A GhostWalker Novel Book 20) by Christine Feehan

Thunder Game (A GhostWalker Novel Book 20)
by Christine Feehan
May 6, 2025
Book 20 of 20: GhostWalker
Two broken souls find a love worth fighting for in this captivating GhostWalker novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.

Diego Campos has come home to die. The GhostWalker is tired of walking a dark path shaped by countless losses. There has never been a moment of good in his life that wasn’t followed by something bad. But as he makes his way to his family’s homestead in the Appalachian Mountains, his plans are interrupted by a violent ambush that sets his life on a new course.

In between fighting off a small army of assailants, Diego is struck by a beautiful, brutal warrior woman unlike anyone he’s encountered before. Compelled to rescue her, Diego uses his psychic gifts to make Leila’s broken body whole again and save her from certain death. With each new breath she regains her strength, showcasing her humor, intelligence and courage as she reveals the truths of her past and inspires feelings Diego never thought his heart could experience.

After a lifetime alone, in the middle of firefight, Diego has finally found a light to guide him through the darkness—and one brief touch is enough to set them both aflame.

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Diego has come home to die. He's had enough of life and goes to the one place he knows his brother will find him and carry out his last wishes. Diego is a Ghostwalker--an enhanced and experimented-on soldier who thinks he's not as good as his brother. Ghostwalkers are men who volunteered to be enhanced psychically so they would be of more use to their country.

 However, Dr. Peter Whitney also performed experimental gene coding on them without their consent or knowledge. Because of his connections and the government, which wanted his enhanced soldiers, he was pretty much untouchable and continued to experiment with people.

Diego and his teammates are more like family to each other and will help each other out. Before Diego can get to his cabin, a bunch of soldiers comes for his elderly neighbor who is an ex Ghostwalker. But he's not alone. His two nieces are with him and one gets kidnapped while the other gets hurt. Diego has to trust Leila and show her some of his psychic gifts that no one else knows about in order to save her life.

Leila is a surprise because he's never had such a reaction to a woman before and he feels a pull towards her. Once they have both rested and she is healing and feeling better, they want to go after her sister but more soldiers show up. Diego and Leila work together to take them out and keep each other safe. But when Diego's brother finds out what's going on and finds out some secrets that Diego has been keeping, the rest of the Ghostwalker team make their way to them to help out.

Diego and Leila's romance was a slow burn because neither of them had ever felt anything like the instant attraction they felt for each other. They let themselves get to know each other as they grew closer and tried to find a way to rescue her loved ones from Whitney before he could experiment with them more. There was so much action in this book, so much fighting so we get to see Leila and Diego in action.

I really liked that the rest of the Ghostwalker team showed up, and we got to see how his teammates, the characters from past books, and their families were doing. I really loved that. It's nice to see how characters from previous books that you really liked are doing. This is the 20th book in Christine Feehan's Ghostwalker series and I can completely recommend this book as well as this series. But I would read the books in order to understand what has been happening and how it all started. 

This was a great addition to the series, and I look forward to reading more about it.
 

I give this book 5 sheep!

Mary Kirkland

Dark Thoughts Blog

About the Author:
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I write every day and have done so since I was old enough to pick up a pen. (I spent a lot of time getting in trouble at school for writing instead of doing the things I was supposed to do.) Once I create my characters, I try very hard to have them react to situations as they really would. Sometimes I have preconceived ideas of what I would like them to do, but they don’t mind me, because it would be out of character for them. They take on a life of their own. Sometimes when I throw difficult situations at them in the hopes I’ll get a certain reaction and they don’t do what I want, I complain bitterly to my husband and he laughs at me. Still, it is important to me to have them be real, not perfect people, so they make mistakes we lesser mortals might make.

Ghosts of Sleepy Hollow: Haunts of the Headless Horseman (Haunted America) bySam Baltrusis + giveaway

SALEM VS. SLEEPY HOLLOW
By Sam Baltrusis

It’s a tale of two extremely different, yet oddly similar, Halloween destinations: Salem vs. Sleepy Hollow. Will the witches overthrow the Headless Horseman —or will heads roll— in the ultimate Samhain showdown?

According to J.W. Ocker, author of The New England Grimpendium & The New York Grimpendium, both locations have their “woes” and cons during spooky season.

“I love this topic because depending on how you twist the narrative, you can say these two towns are nothing alike or you can say they are so similar that it’s scary,” Ocker told me during an in-person interview at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel.

“The number one similarity is that they are both extremely popular Halloween destinations,” he said. “You get those click-bait articles every year. Both Salem and Sleepy Hollow are always at the top of every list.”

Because they are known for their October attractions, both locations rely heavily on tourism to feed their local economy. “While Salem is changing and becoming more of a suburb of Boston, the bottom line is if they lose their tourism, they will lose their existence.”

The author of A Season with the Witch added that both cities successfully brand themselves. “No other town can be Salem even though there are tons of other locations that had witch trials especially in the Northeast. But no one can say they’re the Witch City,” Ocker said, “only Salem, Massachusetts can do that.”

In comparison, Sleepy Hollow is known for the Headless Horseman. “There are other towns in the country that call themselves Sleepy Hollow, but this area is the only place that can theme themselves around Irving because he actually lived here and was inspired by the region when he wrote the story. It’s basically Washington Irving land.”

According to Ocker, both Salem and Sleepy Hollow are successful at embracing their respective themes. “There’s something about these two Halloween destinations that’s authentically spooky,” he said. “They’re also great fall destinations. The Hudson Valley and New England are top-tier places known for their foliage.“

Other similarities include their proximity to major metropolitan areas. “Salem is close to Boston and Sleepy Hollow is a short drive from New York City,” he said. “They have this small-town, big-city atmosphere to them. They also have traffic. Who would live in Salem or Sleepy Hollow unless they’re spooky, right?”

Another similarity shared by the Witch City and the Hudson Valley seems to be their eerily picturesque cemeteries. “There’s the Old Burying Point on Charter Street that almost serves as the hub of Salem in many ways,” he told me. “It’s even more true in Sleepy Hollow. The cemetery is extremely important. The Old Dutch Church is on the hill and Washington Irving is buried in the cemetery. The location fits right into Irving’s story and you can almost map out Ichabod Crane’s journey.”

Speaking of the famous chase from Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” Ocker uses the tale as a metaphor to describe the differences between the two tourism-driven destinations. “In my mind, Salem is Ichabod Crane and Sleepy Hollow is the Headless Horseman,” he explained. “Salem is so far ahead in regards to marketing themselves, but I feel like the Headless Horseman is slowly creeping up from behind. In most people’s minds, Sleepy Hollow is a less evolved version of Salem, but one day it will catch up.”

Ocker pointed out that Salem had a huge head start. “The very first Haunted Happenings was in 1982,” he explained. “North Tarrytown didn’t even become Sleepy Hollow until 1996, so they’re almost fifteen years behind Salem.”

There’s also the obvious geographical hurdles holding back the village. “Sleepy Hollow isn’t set up to be a Salem because it simply isn’t walkable,” he told me. ”In Sleepy Hollow, you definitely need a car. In the past, they tried turning the area near the chase statue into a plaza, but the problem is that the street is the same Broadway that’s in Manhattan. It’s a busy road and it’s potentially dangerous to put outside seating or a cafe near the statue. The infrastructure isn’t there yet.”

For Ocker, Sleepy Hollow’s greatest weakness is also what makes it so special. The OTIS: Odd Things I’ve Seen blogger said he prefers celebrating spooky season with his all-time favorite monster, the Headless Horseman. Why? After spending an October in Salem while writing his book, A Season with the Witch, the New Hampshire-based writer prefers the smaller crowds and the old-school charm of the Hudson Valley.

“In Salem, there’s the witch-trials tragedy of 1692,” he said. “The inciting incident in Sleepy Hollow is just American letters. It’s art. So there’s no underlying guilt, which is nice. But without that guilt you don’t have the friction, the narrative, and the interesting public relations angles. The appeal of Salem is a tragedy and in Sleepy Hollow it’s just a story.”

The lack of an underlying cautionary tale, Ocker told me, also complicates things when it comes to creating paranormal-themed tourism. “Now that Sleepy Hollow is a spooky town, they’re trying their best to pull as much haunted content as they can to make it more interesting,” he said. “It’s really hard to find great ghost stories in Sleepy Hollow, but it was like that in Salem too.”

Thanks to all of the lantern tours in the Witch City, one can’t walk down Essex Street without hitting an allegedly haunted location. In Sleepy Hollow, however, the haunts are definitely spread out.

“There’s a passage in ‘Legend’ where he talks about this Hudson Valley being so haunted,” Ocker said. “There are tons of stories and the Headless Horseman is just one example out of all of those tales. In the story, he sets the area up as an interesting place with a lot of legend and lore.”

Ocker’s recommendations for tourists visiting Sleepy Hollow? “Follow the chase route,” he said. “Start at the John André monument and walk to the cemetery. Of course, it’s not a very pleasant walk because there are cars whizzing by you. But in October, there’s a lot more to do in Sleepy Hollow. It’s not every day like it is in Salem, but they have something going on every weekend.”

Another telltale sign that Salem is currently in the lead as a Halloween destination? Ocker pointed out that the Witch City’s annual Haunted Happenings parade happens at the beginning of October while Sleepy Hollow holds its celebration during the last weekend of the month. “It’s very telling who is better at promoting the holiday,” he said.

Ocker insisted, however, that New Yorkers are slowly learning to capitalize on the power of the Headless Horseman. “In Sleepy Hollow, you’re starting to see recycling bins that are branded. Their fire engines and police cars now have themed logos,” he said. “Even the fire plugs are black and orange. If you look around Sleepy Hollow, the Headless Horseman is everywhere.”

Ghosts of Sleepy Hollow: Haunts of the Headless Horseman (Haunted America)
bySam Baltrusis
September 23, 2024
Genre: Ghosts & Hauntings
Publisher: History Press
ISBN: 978-146715802
Number of pages: 144
Word Count: 32,500
Chilling tales of the Hudson Valley

Nestled on the banks of the Hudson River, Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown are steeped in history and ghost lore. Famous for Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the storied Westchester region also has a dark history of witches, spies, and pirates.

Rumors of Headless Horseman sightings surge during spooky season while visitors flock to the Valley’s haunted hot spots like the Old Dutch Church and the famed writer’s Sunnyside home.

Join author and journalist Sam Baltrusis on a bone-chilling journey through the streets of Sleepy Hollow as he breathes new life into the legendary village’s long-departed souls.

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Excerpt:
Sleepy Hollow, New York is brimming with ghostly legends that have somehow taken on a life of their own.

Nestled on the banks of the Hudson River, the fabled region —which includes the adjoining Tarrytown— has become the go-to place during spooky season thanks to the popularity of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

Late-night lantern tours in search of a decapitated soldier's galloping ghost? Yes, please.

If one spends enough time walking through the labyrinthine paths of the village's historic cemeteries, however, there's something sinister oozing beneath Sleepy Hollow's rustic, story-book facade.

It's as if the entire hamlet is under some sort of enchantment. Or, as Irving penned in 1820, it oddly feels like the locals are somehow bewitched and "are subject to trances and visions."

The revered writer referred to the area as the "spell-bound region," and rightfully so. According to several first-hand accounts, creepy music and disembodied voices emerge out of thin air

Based on Irving's mythical take on his later-in-life hometown, it should be no surprise that the Headless Horseman isn't the Valley’s only fearsome phantom seeking postmortem revenge.

The entire region seems to be teeming with paranormal activity. Several publications sensationally claim that both Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown together make the "most haunted places in the world."

But, is it?

After digging beneath the surface, it's difficult to pinpoint what's actually paranormal activity versus a made-up ghost story that has been collectively conjured over a 200-year period.

Alex Matsuo, a Maryland-based author and paranormal investigator who has written about the area’s alleged paranormal activity in her Spooky Stuff blog, believes that the line between fact and fiction is somehow blurred in Sleepy Hollow.

“After Washington Irving's infamous tale plunged the area into fame, I would hypothesize that perhaps some of the paranormal activity could be attributed to thought-forms,” Matsuo told me. “There's also the case of self-fulfilling prophecies that people can accomplish without realizing it.”

Matsuo cited the replica of the bridge in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery as a potential hotspot for ghostly encounters that are freakishly fueled by the expectations of thrill-seeking visitors.

“Just by knowing the tale and the true story behind it, they would already get a case of the creeps,” she explained. “Then, with tensions rising, they hear a branch break or footsteps, and they get really spooked. They go home and tell their friends and family about the creepy experience, unknowing that there was an animal nearby causing the ruckus.”

Also, there are what paranormal researchers call thought-forms or an outward manifestation of the heightened emotions of those who visit Sleepy Hollow during spooky season. Matsuo believes that based on this concept, extreme fear can somehow take a physical form within the spirit world.

“When you have a massive amount of people invested in a story, even a fictional story based on real people, that energy has to go somewhere,” she said. “In the case of Sleepy Hollow, it may have manifested into paranormal occurrences. I would guess that most of that energy is more organized, but I wouldn't be surprised if some of that energy was displaced, which could explain some of the random paranormal events that have happened over the years.”

About the Author:
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Sam Baltrusis, author of Ghosts of Salem: Haunts of the Witch City and featured in The Curse of Lizzie Borden shock doc, has penned eighteen paranormal-themed books including Haunted Boston Harbor and Ghosts of the American Revolution. He has been featured on several national TV shows including the Travel Channel's A Haunting, Most Terrifying Places, Haunted Towns, and Fright Club (1 & 2). He also made a cameo in the documentary The House in Between 2 and on several additional television programs including The UnBelievable with Dan Aykroyd, History’s Most Haunted, Paranormal Nightshift, and Forbidden History. Baltrusis is a sought-after lecturer who speaks at libraries and paranormal-related events across the country. Visit SamBaltrusis.com for more information.

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Interview: Paranormal Urban Fantasy Author Martin J. Best + giveaway

Where do you live?
I was born, and have mostly lived, in the English Riviera town of Torquay, in the county of Devon, England. It’s an interesting place: the oldest human skull in North West Europe, dating from forty-four thousand years ago, was found in our local limestone cave system, Kents Caverns; author Agatha Christie was born here in eighteen ninety; occultist Aleister Crowley founded his second Abbey of Thelema here in nineteen forty; and in twenty twenty-one it was named the most likely place in the UK to see a ghost!

In keeping with this reputation, I grew up in an actively haunted house, where apparitions were seen, things inexplicably moved, and disembodied voices heard. The former owner, a Victorian era widow, practiced Spiritualism, and regularly conducted séances. In a similarly macabre vein, not far from where I live now, stands Gallows Gate. It marks the boundary of four Parishes, and served as a place of execution for over a thousand years. I suppose it’s no wonder that I like it here!

Tell me about you, and why you write.
I was born in Torquay, England, in nineteen sixty-five, and, for those of you to whom it matters, I’m a Sagittarius. I’ve always had an (over) active imagination, which wasn’t encouraged by my parents. I am a voracious reader, and as a child worked my way through all the Doctor Who books and Alan Garner’s novels, amongst others, quickly graduating to adult science fiction, fantasy, and horror. A significant moment was reading Clark Ashton Smith’s Lost Worlds, and he has remained a firm favourite of mine.

Feeling compelled to translate my thoughts into something more palpable, I quickly discovered that I wasn’t an artist, so set about using words to bring my stories to life. Over the years, I’ve written on and off as time and circumstances permitted, and have piles of handwritten A4 paper to prove it. It’s only relatively recently, when I gave up work to care for first my elderly mother, then my mother-in-law, that I found time to devote solely to writing. I published short stories The Moth Trap - which had been kicking around for over twenty years - The Novice Ghost Hunter, and A Step Aside. My daughter told me that The Novice Ghost Hunter deserved a sequel, and the six novel Ghost Hunter series was conceived, followed by the Carolyn Hunter Stories. I take so much pleasure from writing that it’s difficult to describe it as work. That said, it can be incredibly frustrating when the right words won’t come, it’s remarkably time consuming, and difficult to make a living from.

Do you have a favourite movie?
It’s difficult to choose just one, but the two thousand and two film Dog Soldiers, starring Sean Pertwee, is definitely up there. A grimly humorous, blood drenched, werewolf epic!

Who is your hero and why?
Ian Fraser Kilminster, better known as Lemmy, the bass player and vocalist of Motörhead. I’ve seen Motörhead play quite a few times, always a great show; consummate professionals. Lemmy lived his life, and played his music, without compromise; I admire that.

What are you passionate about?
Apart from writing, and the paranormal, I have always been passionate about music, and enjoy a wide variety of genres; I ran my own mobile DJ business for many years. In the last few years I have become captivated by throat singing, particularly Mongolian folk rock bands such as The Hu, Nine Treasures, Tengger Cavalry, and Suld, the Siberian shamanic duo Nytt Land, and Pagan folk band Heilung.

A complex and engaging blend of paranormal urban fantasy and occult horror!

A Matter of Faith (Ghost Hunter I )
by Martin J. Best
Genre: Paranormal Urban Fantasy
Fledgling Ghost Hunter Malachi Hunter is back with a vengeance in the first full-length novel of the macabre Ghost Hunter series!

Lonely paranormal investigator Mal yearns to find some direction and true happiness in his life. His world is rapidly changing- and not necessarily for the better. That is until he receives a fateful call which will once again put his eerie expertise into play. Fiercely independent single parent Teena Maunder is determined to handle anything which dares to cross her path. She is resolute and determined. However, when her home becomes the scene for a terrifying and baffling haunting, Teena appears to have met her match. Turning to Mal for help, the scene is set for a deadly paranormal onslaught. Mal quickly finds himself embroiled in a supernatural battle unlike any he has faced until this point. He could very well be out of his league this time. Be that as it may, the stakes could not be any higher as a blossoming romance has ignited between Mal and Teena. This could finally be his chance to claim the love and happiness he so desperately craves. All that stands in the way is a hideous entity which has entirely different plans!

Come join Mal as he continues his journey to become an elite paranormal investigator. When you have managed to regain your composure, be sure to check out the other chilling titles in the Ghost Hunter series!

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The sound of someone moving around downstairs focussed Teena’s attention. Carolyn’s best friend Emily was staying over, and the sounds likely meant that one, or both, of the teenagers were raiding the kitchen for an illicit snack. She glanced at the bedside clock; it was after two in the morning. Teena smiled in the darkness. Let them have their fun, there might even be an innocent explanation such as fetching a glass of water. She closed her eyes and relaxed. A moment later, she sat up in bed and switched on the light; footsteps were coming up the stairs. Concerned now, Teena waited for her bedroom door to open, prepared to diagnose and remedy an ailment. Instead, she heard the door to the spare bedroom open. Puzzled, she searched for an explanation. Perhaps Emily, unfamiliar with the house, was half-asleep and confused? Sleep-walking even? Teena quickly left the bed, put on her dressing gown, and hurried out onto the landing. The door to the spare bedroom was open, and she could just make out movement within. With a half-formed notion about not startling sleep-walkers, she crossed the landing and peered in through the doorway. The curtains were open, and there was sufficient ambient light that it was obvious the room was unoccupied. Uncertainly, Teena stepped back onto the landing. How could she have been mistaken? Before she could ponder any deeper, she heard footsteps in the kitchen. “Carolyn? Emily? Is that you?” There was no answer, but footsteps started up the stairs. Thoroughly disconcerted, Teena reached out and switched on the light. The footsteps stopped. The staircase was empty. An icy chill ran up her spine, and she stood petrified for several seconds, before racing back to her bedroom.

With the door shut, she switched the main light on, picked up her phone and dialled the police. Assured that they were on their way, she summoned the courage to go downstairs and check on the girls. The house was quiet as she made her way nervously downstairs. She turned on the front room light and looked inside before entering; it was untenanted. Teena entered and crossed to the door that led to Carolyn’s basement bedroom, opening it quietly. She walked down three steps of the steep wooden staircase and looked across the room. Enough light was coming from above that she could clearly see that Carolyn and Emily appeared to be sound asleep. Satisfied that they were alone, she retraced her steps, closed the door, and went to the window to await the arrival of the police.

As Teena waited, she attempted to rationalise what had happened. She was convinced that an intruder had been in the house, and that they had probably been scared off when she switched on the light. However, that didn’t explain the opening of the spare bedroom door. It occurred to her that she hadn’t checked the back door. Perplexed now rather than frightened, she saw the police patrol car pull up outside, and went to open the front door. The two male constables introduced themselves as PCs O’Brien and Stevens, listened to Teena’s account, and joined her on a tour of the house. Back in the front room, the two officers sat on the settee, Teena in an armchair. “As far as we can tell, Miss Maunder, your property is secure,” O’Brien said, “there’s no evidence of a forced entry, and the only keys are accounted for.” He leaned forward, hands clasped. “I don’t mean to doubt your story, but is it possible that you made a mistake?”

“I’m starting to believe that I must have, but I don’t understand how.”

“Perhaps the noises came from one of the adjoining properties,” Stevens suggested. “When everything’s quiet at night, sounds that you would normally hardly notice seem much louder; particularly if you’re half-asleep.”

“Perhaps you’re right.” Teena was sure that he wasn’t, but was starting to feel embarrassed. “I’m sorry for wasting your time.”

“You haven’t,” O’Brien said firmly, “far better to be safe than sorry.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that.”

The two men rose and made ready to leave; Teena showed them to the door. O’Brien paused, his hand on the latch. “Your surname sounds familiar, have we met before?”

“No, I don’t think so, but you may know my brother, Bradley Maunder, he’s a detective constable in Torquay.”

O’Brien nodded. “That’s it. I knew I recognised the name. Well, we’ll bid you good-night, Miss Maunder.”

“Good night, and thank you.”

Of Gods and Ghosts (Ghost Hunters II)

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Blood Ties (Ghost Hunter III)

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Remnants and Revenants (Ghost Hunter IV)

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Pariahs (Ghost Hunter V)

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Occultus (Ghost Hunter VI)

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Martin J. Best was born in Torquay, England, in 1965, where he lives with his wife, Kim, and their dogs, Shadow and Raven. Dubbed the Prince of Paranormal by antipodean author Mark Carnelley, Martin grew up in an actively haunted house, which probably accounts for his abiding interest in all things supernatural. He has had a varied work life, and spent many years running his own mobile disco business. He now writes full-time, and when not working, is a keen walker, music enthusiast, and ghost hunter.

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Excerpt: Shadows of the Past (The Unfinished Business of Eliot Ness) Pamela McCord + giveaway

Shadows of the Past (The Unfinished Business of Eliot Ness)
Pamela McCord
December 14th 2023
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
A copycat serial killer and the ghost of Eliot Ness. Can two amateur sleuths, with the help of the famous ghost, stop the murderer before he kills again.

A ghostly figure surprises India Bennett in her study. That’s unnerving enough, but said ghost leaves a book open to a page showing a mutilated body, a body which looks just like the body in a case Indy’s homicide detective boyfriend, Danny, is currently investigating. Standing next to the body in the picture in the mysterious book is a man Indy recognizes as the ghost she saw in her study. Danny points out to her that it would be impossible for her to have seen the man in the picture, the legendary lawman Eliot Ness.

Despite Danny’s insistence, Indy knows what she saw, and she and her best friend Cara become friends with Eliot’s spirit. With ghostly assistance, the amateur sleuths begin their own investigation. After their discovery of what appears to be a journal describing the original victims from the 1930s, and with two murders already committed by the current serial killer, Indy and Cara rush to find the copycat murderer before he kills again.

In “Shadows of the Past,” a thrilling fusion of historical crime and supernatural suspense, the spirit of Eliot Ness becomes an unexpected ally, guiding Indy and Cara through a treacherous maze of secrets and hidden motives. With their lives on the line and the body count rising, they must navigate the shadows of the past and confront the malevolent force that seeks to perpetuate the sins of history.

The past and present collide in this captivating novel, unleashing a bone-chilling tale of danger, redemption, and the enduring power of justice. Prepare to be captivated by this gripping page-turner.

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EXCERPT:
The man bent over, hands on knees, breathing in deep, ragged breaths until his heart rate slowed to a more normal level. He wasn’t as young as he used to be. Standing, he wiped his hands on his pants, brushed off the dirt and weeds clinging to the denim overalls, then gazed down at the body laid out in the field near the railroad tracks.

He took a moment to look at, and admire, his handiwork, but only a moment, as he couldn’t afford to be spotted. Then he reluctantly slipped quietly through the night to his waiting car, parked not a dozen yards from where he’d dumped the mutilated corpse. There would be time later to savor his memories of the enjoyment the person’s last hours had provided.

The dim whistle of a train sounded in the still evening air as he pulled open the driver’s-side door. The whistle sound was replaced by the crunching of dry weeds as he drove out of the field.

About the Author:
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Born in Arkansas and raised in Southern California, Pamela McCord started writing later in life when she was challenged by a friend to create a book out of his story idea. Since then, she's become an internationally published author. Pam has spent over 40 years working as a legal secretary at a law firm in Orange County, California. Aside from writing, she follows the stock market, buying, selling and trading stocks and options. In contrast to that, she loves trips to Las Vegas where she can spend many happy hours at the Pai Gow tables. She shares a condo with her very own My Cat From Hell TV star, Allie, who manages to exude just enough affection to make her scary feral ways tolerable.

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Character Confessions with a Matchmaking Ghost Grandmother by Beck Erixson + giveaway

Beck: Thank you so much for including “Just a Fika” on I Smell Sheep!

As usual, when contemplating what to share about Ingrid and her story, my dear Mormor made her presence known. This time, it led to an unexpected incident involving spilled hot tea all over my drafting table. Her unique ability to pop in and out of different realms without warning is a never-ending source of amusement for her. Today, I'm indulging her and letting her have her say before she attempts to rewrite the entire book. She's still a bit perturbed that I didn't include more chapters about her, but she adores her granddaughter and understands why Ingrid is the central character.

Mormor: You could improve your posture while typing; it would save me from constantly prodding your shoulder to sit up straight. Honestly, are you trying to develop a hunch? Tall women should carry themselves proudly. A true shield-maiden never lowers her chin as you do.

Beck: I'm not a shield-maiden, and this isn't exactly a confession. What did you want to discuss about the book or yourself?

Mormor: Very well. You may not know what you are, but I do. You'll discover it eventually. Back to the book—I should have been featured more prominently. Ingrid should have invited me out personally rather than me having to pop in and out. If she were more upfront instead of letting me guess where she was going, I’d have left her alone more.

Beck: You weren't exactly forthcoming about your own background either. Besides, I'm fairly certain a deceased grandmother showing up on a date would be a mood-killer.

Mormor: For the umpteenth time, I'm not deceased. I'm in-between—neither alive nor dead.

Beck: A zombie?

Mormor: You know very well I'm not a zombie.

Beck: Fine. What's one thing you'd like to clarify for the readers that may have been unclear in the story?

Mormor: Well, you blabbed about my library encounter with Loki in the book, but you omitted some details. That wasn't our only meeting when I was younger. AND it’s the same spot Ingrid's grandfather and I used to visit to gaze out at the water. I never saw that peculiar man after Poppop came home. Not until he showed his true self in the book. I know those eyes anywhere.

Beck: Are you upset because you and Loki didn't get more page time?

Mormor: Life is intricate. There's a reason Ingrid should avoid dating him and why he's so involved in her love life. I'm conflicted about how much you revealed in the book. You did an excellent job covering the other identities like Heimdal, Baldr, Freya, and Thor... but you dropped hints too. This isn't how you protect Aegir Haven from outsiders who might come to gawk at the gods and disrupt our quiet little seaside town.

Beck: You do realize the book is fiction, right? Norse gods won't be found strolling around, and Bifröst isn't accessible from the Jersey shore. Thor's ego would never fit in here, and the town would inevitably become a tourist trap.

Mormor: You're absolutely right. The entire story is a work of fiction, except for me, Ingrid, and the others. And let's not anger Aegir; he's already flooded the area enough times.

Beck: I can't do this right now. Fine. There's a massive gathering of Norse gods not using their powers, and you and Loki used to flirt. It's preposterous.

Mormor: Next time, you should start with my story. I'm telling you, a prequel.

Beck: I... um... have already begun writing another book in this world, one for Saga...

Mormor: Saga isn’t even in Just a Fika! This conversation is taking a turn for the worse. Why am I always last?

Beck: ...I didn't think...

Beck: Damn it. She's vanished again. We'll sort this out later. She might be a tad irked because her husband's short story is appearing in an anthology in 2024. She's a remarkable woman, fiercely spirited, and truly wonderful once you get to know her. As for the Loki part, well, I'd take that with a grain of salt. Some days she can be a bit dramatic.

Just a Fika: Coffee, Connection, and a Matchmaking Ghost Grandmothers
by Beck Erixson
October 3, 2023
Genre: Speculative Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction with Romance
Publisher: Aegir Haven, LLC
Date of Publication:
ISBN: 979-8-9875998-0-8 (paperback)
ISBN” 979-8-9875998-2-2 (ebook)
Number of pages: 308
Word Count: 83,000
Cover Artist: Melody Jeffries
Family. They’re always meddling in your love life… Even after they’re dead.

Brooklynite-and genealogist-Ingrid Ekstrom accepts a surprise request from her typically estranged family: to become the live-in caretaker of their shared historic house in the sleepy Jersey Shore town of Aegir Haven. A fun-loving cousin is quick to introduce Ingrid to the local handyman and bluegrass musician. As he fixes up the place, Ingrid digs into the house's past and learns about the family she barely knows.

And then Mormor-her long-dead grandmother-shows up, acting as though not being in the spirit realm is perfectly normal.

Ingrid's always yearned for stronger family connections, and it's nice having Mormor around. Mormor tries to set her up with a young real estate attorney who's closer to her more thunderous, god-like personal standards than the musician with keen senses Ingrid is falling for. As lore and legends mingle with real life, she's torn. Mormor's fantastical family sagas can't actually be true, right?

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Excerpt:
“Show yourself, you meddling woman,” I say, probably too stern for a granddaughter. She did this to herself.

“Oh, relax. You had fun, didn’t you?” Mormor’s voice projects from the living room.

“You had no business showing up tonight. My social life is mine.” I kick off my shoes in the entry and cut across to the warmth of the lit fireplace. She’s kept herself busy.

“Oh, sit down,” she scolds me from the purple wingback chair, like the child she believes I still am.

Hard to say no to your grandmother, even if you don’t really know her. For civility’s sake, I take my place in the leather chair on the other side of the fireplace, garnering an unobstructed view of her. The heat and flames of the fireplace illuminate the bridge etched into the back of the black stone, only visible when the temperature hits high enough. She’s been waiting.

“Did you have fun?” The chair creaks as she adjusts her legs. “You two were adorable together.”

“So you said at the restaurant. Directly to him.” The energy it takes to argue isn’t worth the effort right now. Opting for a tone of juvenile annoyance takes less energy. “Can you please stay out of my personal life? Can this be something we agree to?”

“Absolutely not. You’ll blow it. Look at your track record. You need me.” She waves off my request. “Besides, it was one date, and of course that boy ended up there too.”
Ah, so she didn’t send him. Sweet. “Thatboy?“ I ask.

“Yes, the one with the instrument and the curls in his hair. The one who’s been fixing things here.” Mormorisn’t holding back niceties.

“Kurt?” I grin. “What do you have against Kurt?” Reveling in this is wrong, but so right.

“You need someone with their feet on the ground. Someone like Yale.” She sits high like a queen in her court.

“What do you know about him?” I’m not arguing. Who knows how long she’s been popping in and out of my life?

“I know what I need to.” She lengthens her neck. “Why even bother with him?”

“Ah, so you know nothing.” Makes two of us, really. Other than being kind, talented, and someone to joke around with, he’s a mystery. A mystery who’s comfortable to be around, but sometimes makes butterflies flutter in my chest. Yale makes me awkward and nervous. Ugh,I’m overanalyzing again. Inside me there’s a constant nag when I’m around Yale that he’s not a good idea. Not that Kurt’s a good idea.

“Let’s clarify something. I’m not going back until I know you are okay.” Mormor stares off at the fire. A gentle breeze whistles through the windows and flutters the edges of her hair.

“Is this a promise or a threat?” Please stay, for at least a while longer. I like getting to know her when she’s not meddling. Half the reason I agreed to move out here was to learn more about my family.

I suppose I should thank her. Dinner ended when the menu she was holding too close to the wall sconce caught fire and we had to run outside. Serves her right for spying and not paying attention. There’s nothing quite like the smell of melting plastic to inflict headaches and end a date quickly.

He was kind enough to walk me home after I made the first turn in the wrong direction. I’d have made it eventually. His gentlemanly self was fantastic. It was the long periods of not talking and staring at the candle that made me want to bolt.

“You know I love you.” I open my arms for a hug.

She turns non-corporeal and laughs as my arms slice through her.

Mormor! “What are the rules here? When are you—you? And when are you a ghost?” I stamp my voice like a toddler mid-tantrum, adding extra emphasis at the beginning of each sentence.

“You were going to squeeze me too hard.” She’s right. “When I’m tired, I fade a bit. I don’t like where I go when I fade.”

A tiny over-the-top squeeze to make her feel as uncomfortable as I felt with Yale is deserved, tight enough so she knows I’m squeezing love and the want of a direct connection with her.

“Where you go?” Legitimate question.

“I have to go somewhere? What? You think I’m like a fading light?”

I shrug. “Sorry, I don’t have experience with—ghosts?”

“We’ve been over this.” She rolls her eyes. “The rules are murky.” She pulls at the low braid on the back of her head.

“Oh, is that all?” This woman is off her rocker.

“It’s complicated.” She crosses her arms and huffs. “Haven’t you bothered doing your research?”

“This isn’t something I can research.” Hello, librarian, I keep seeing my dead grandmother. Do you have any books on this?

My jaw drops—this was an intentional diversion. “You’re trying to get sympathy and distract me from the fact you interrupted in the most inappropriate way on a date.”

She wrinkles her nose. “Caught me. You still need to think about dating a proper choice. I’m holding my ground on this.”

“Proper?” Again, with that word. “I don’t need to date anyone. I’m here to watch the house.”

She comes over and envelopes me in a too-hard hug.

I wheeze. “Besides it wasn’t a date, it was two people going to dinner.”

The unsuccessful wiggle of my arms proves Mormor’s ghost form is stronger than she lets on.

“Dating doesn’t mean a relationship.” I peck her cheek. “Having dinner once or twice is getting to know someone.”

She releases her arms and slinks back in her chair. “Don’t end up alone, Ingrid.” A tremble crosses her tone.

“I’ve got you. How can I be alone?”

“You know very well what I mean. You’ve squandered your twenties, and now—”

“I got an education and lived life.” There it is. Clear disappointment I’ve caused her in my life choices. “I traveled and dated. Not everyone finds themselves in their early twenties.”

“Will you consider dating while you are here? He’s really a nice boy.”

“I’m here to maintain the house. Not to date.” I’m over dating.

“Being here doesn’t mean you can’t date.”

I shake my head. She’s relentless.

Mormor waves her hand in front of the fire, and the flames dance higher. “Yale is…” She wags her eyebrows. “Kurt is…” A hovered eye roll punctuates the end of her sentence.

“A friend.” Sort of—he’s working here because Svea paid him.

Mormor grumbles something inaudible from my seat. “I have a list of projects for you. Promise me you’ll stay till you finish some?” She pulls her arm back to the chair and rests her hands on her lap.

“I’m a fill-in. The only person available with no ties to kids or an office.” Story of my life. The living family members call when they remember my existence. Supposedly they love me, but…eh, baggage to think about another day, right? “Promise me you won’t mess up Kurt’s projects on the house?” He works hard regardless of her impression of him.

“As long as he sticks to the house as a project and not you.” She wags her finger and heaves a sigh.

A halfhearted nod is the only option to end this conversation. “Tea?”

I’m not a project.

About the Author:
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Beck Erixson writes about the beautifully awkward world of navigating the journey to true happiness through friendships, love, and family—be it blood, found, or chosen. Her stories enhance the importance of positive interconnection, even when we feel lonely. She lives on the Jersey Shore, and can often be found either writing by the river, or in it in some way. Her short stories have appeared in Many Nice Donkeys, and Full Mood Mag.

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Gaslamp Author Patrick LeClerc: Why Did I choose an Alternative Victorian Era for “The Beckoning Void?” + giveaway

Why Did I choose an Alternative Victorian Era for “The Beckoning Void?”
Mostly because it’s a mashup of all my favorite things. History and sword fighting and adventure stories and old Hollywood banter all rolled into one. With airships.

The Victorian Era is great story fodder. You have enormous technological and societal changes going on, and that's really where science fiction as we know it today was invented. Look at Mary Shelley's “Frankenstein” (which is probably technically Georgian, not Victorian, but on the cusp) and Edgar Allen Poe and Jules Verne and H G Wells. This is where authors started looking at technology and asking, “What if?” which is the basis of all science fiction.

Plus, you can still combine all that tech with swashbuckling swordfights.

In addition to the science fiction possibilities, I wanted a diverse, eclectic cast, and that fits the era better than people think.

Emelia was raised in poverty, but had a talent for immitation that allowed her to find success on the stage, reinventing herslef as an actress and then a spy. The colonialism of the age creates the perfect circumstances for a character like Alyah. Mixed race, Afghan-English, raised by a father who taught her swordplay and riding who doesn't really fit into either world, so she finds her own way. The realities of the Famine and the new mobility . Connolly and Count Roderick are both products of the Wild Geese, Irish exiles turned soldiers in foreign armies, albeit with varied success. Captain Little is a great character. Escaped slave turned airship captain.

I drew inspiration for all of these characters from historical examples. None are exact analogues, but they certainly all have precedents.

One thing they all have in common, regardless of which side they wind up on, is that they are all outsiders. Whether due to race or class or gender, each of them has to find their way in a world that doesn’t accept them. The social, political, and technological upheaval of the Nineteeth Century gave me a terrific canvas to work with.

Not to say this is a book primarily about social issues. At its heart, it’s an action adventure swashbuckler with a touch of horror. Think the plot of the 1999 version of “The Mummy” with the banter of “The Princess Bride” and a dash of social commentary. Plus, a bit of mad science and airships.

Can Emelia and her band of plucky outcasts save the world from a cult of fanatics intent on unleashing an ancient horror?

The Beckoning Void
by Patrick LeClerc
Genre: Gaslamp Adventure Horror
Emelia DuMond is an actress, her skill at adopting and changing her identity lifting her from her humble beginnings to success on the stage of Victorian London. And to the attention of the Ghost Society, a secret organization who work to defend the world from threats of the paranormal. After centuries of seeking, the sinister Disciples of the Void have obtained an arcane book of great power. A power that could tear the veil between dimensions and plunge the world into a dark, unspeakable future.

Now she has recruited an aging soldier of fortune burdened by a conscience, the sword wielding daughter of an Afghan brigand and an airship whose captain escaped slavery during the Civil War by stealing a Confederate vessel.

Can Emelia and her band of plucky outcasts save the world from a cult of fanatics intent on unleashing an ancient horror?

“The Beckoning Void” is a tale of cunning plots, flashing swords, skillful piloting, witty repartee and eldritch dread.

** Recently made it into the semi finals of the 2023 Book Blogger Novel of the Year Award! Details can be found at https://www.bbnya.com/ OR on Twitter at @BBNYA_Official **

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Excerpt
It did not take long for the two new bodyguards to gather their belongings and meet Emelia at the Phoenix. After they had seen the ship and been shown their berths, MacGregor invited them all for a drink at the big table in the wardroom. As they took their seats, he reverently opened a new bottle of whisky.

“Not hoarding the good stuff for yourself?” asked Connolly.

“Figured you deserved a dram since I won it betting on you.”

“Trading on inside information?” said Connolly, accepting the offered glass.

“Having knowledge and failing to use it goes against every principle of engineering. At that point, you may as well just be a scientist.”

“Where do you two know one another from?” Emelia asked. “I know you said you met in the army, but there must be a story there.”

“We met in India. On the Northwest Frontier. Near Afghanistan,” said MacGregor.

“Long time ago,” added Connolly. “Twenty years?”

“Twenty-five.”

“Jesus.”

“I was in the Royal Engineers, doing aerial surveying and building bridges in that godforsaken country. Connolly here had a Company commission. Led a troop of irregular cavalry.”

“Like leading Ali Baba’s Forty Thieves,” Connolly smiled. “First class scouts, damn fine horsemen. Thieves to the bone. Steal the horse from under your saddle if you looked away. God, I miss ‘em.”

Alyah studied his face. “Khan Ali?” she said.

“What?” Connolly asked.

“You are Khan Ali?”

Connolly let out a laugh. “That’s what my men called me. Closest they could get to ‘Connolly.’ How’d you know that?”

“I think you met my father.”

“Age is a hell of a thing.” He shook his head. “Was he one of my cutthroats?”

“One of the cutthroats on the other side,” she said with a wide grin. “I think you have him to thank for that scar.”

“Really?” drawled MacGregor. “That’s a tale, now.”

“I did get that from some brigand with a tulwar,” said Connolly, rubbing a scar above his right eyebrow. “That bastard was your father?”

“He always bragged he struck down the great Khan Ali,” Alyah replied. “Now I know his boast has some substance.”

“He didn’t strike me down. We crossed swords, and he got the better of it. I killed two of his fellows that day before he and I fought.”

“He credited you with ten,” she said. “Before he defeated you.”

“It was only two. And he didn’t defeat me, he cut me. And escaped. I’d have caught him if it wasn’t for the blood running into my eyes.”

“It seems the young lady takes after her father,” said the engineer.

“If he’d been half as good as she is, I’d be dead,” said Connolly.

“So your father was an Afghan brigand?” asked Emelia, turning her curiosity on the other woman.

“Could be worse,” said MacGregor. “Could have been a Tory MP or a railroad baron.”

 

 

About the Author
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Patrick LeClerc makes good use of his history degree by working as a paramedic for an ever- changing parade of ambulance companies in the Northern suburbs of Boston. When not writing he enjoys cooking, fencing and making witty, insightful remarks with career-limiting candor.

In the lulls between runs on the ambulance --and sometimes the lulls between employment at various ambulance companies-- he writes fiction.

His work can be found at inkandbourbon.com, and quantummuse.com

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Book Review: Ghostly Game (A GhostWalker Novel Book 19) by Christine Feehan

Ghostly Game (A GhostWalker Novel Book 19)
by Christine Feehan
May 2, 2023
Book 19 of 19: Ghostwalker Novel
It’s fight or flight in this sultry, suspenseful GhostWalker novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.

Gideon “Eagle” Carpenter is used to rolling with the punches life has thrown at him. It’s the only thing that’s kept him alive. He and his team of GhostWalkers have seen and experienced it all. He does his best to live with all the sins written on his soul. Then he hears the laughter of a woman with the ability to erase—even for a few precious moments—the darkness of his past.

Laurel “Rory” Chappel has always been a nomad. She’s accustomed to taking care of herself, despite the physical challenges she lives with. She thinks she’s too weak to find real love, but that doesn’t stop her interest in Gideon from turning into a full-on addiction. He’s all rough edges and danger contrasted with a tenderness that makes her feel safe. Still, after a life spent in motion, she’s not sure she knows how to stay in one place.

Gideon hopes he can persuade Rory to take a chance on him with every electric touch. But soon, life conspires against him, forcing the GhostWalker to risk everything to protect the woman he loves....

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Rory and Gideon meet while she’s working as a bartender in a pub. She keeps to herself, doesn’t go out with anyone and has a few close friends she hangs out with. Gideon is a GhostWalker, these people have psychic abilities and have been enhanced with other abilities so they can go on special assignments, but he’s also a really nice guy. When they first meet, Gideon is still recovering from some gunshot wounds he got while on a mission, and Rory can tell he’s in pain but she figures he’s been in a car accident or something. These two start talking after Gideon comes to the pub she works at and he asks her out, and surprisingly she says yes.

Rory hasn’t been getting close to a lot of people and doesn’t lay down ties for too long. Once she gets bored in a place or feels the need to move on, she does. She’s been moving from place to place for years. But the place she’s in now almost feels like home to her. She likes her job, her friends and feels good where she’s at.

When Rory realizes that she feels safe with Gideon and they seem to like some of the same things, she agrees to go on another date, but Gideon’s teammates show up and let him know she might be in danger, which puts him on edge. Gideon is a GhostWalker, and so are his teammates. He had a rough childhood but now he and his team help people. Rory doesn’t seem like a GhostWalker but because he’s so instantly attracted to her and they seem to click together so fast, he’s wary that she either is a spy or doesn’t know she’s a GhostWalker.

When it looks like someone is after Rory, Gideon and his team investigate it and find out who is putting her in danger. Secrets start to unravel and come to light. I didn’t guess who the bad guys were until it was revealed, so it surprised me, which was great. I felt bad for Rory as things started to make more sense and the secrets were revealed. But Gideon and his team were right there with her to help, which was great. I’ve loved this series but I think this book is actually one of my favorites so far. Gideon and Rory’s romance was a slow burn. Even though they felt an instant attraction, they took things slowly because neither one trusted that the other was as good as they seemed. This was great fun.

I give this book 5 sheep!

Mary Kirkland

Dark Thoughts Blog

About the Author:
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I write every day and have done so since I was old enough to pick up a pen. (I spent a lot of time getting in trouble at school for writing instead of doing the things I was supposed to do.) Once I create my characters, I try very hard to have them react to situations as they really would. Sometimes I have preconceived ideas of what I would like them to do, but they don’t mind me, because it would be out of character for them. They take on a life of their own. Sometimes when I throw difficult situations at them in the hopes I’ll get a certain reaction and they don’t do what I want, I complain bitterly to my husband and he laughs at me. Still, it is important to me to have them be real, not perfect people, so they make mistakes we lesser mortals might make.