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Pulling Together by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Pulling TogetherPulling Together by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Lila’s Grandma starts knitting a poncho with three head holes Lila thinks that Grandma has surely made a mistake. When Lila asks her Grandma about she says, “We all pull together” and then sends her out to play wearing the poncho. Lila makes her way to her friends house that is two doors down. On the way she encounters two others, one of which is the neighborhood bully. Lila hurries on her way and once she gets to her friends house she discovers what her Grandma meant by her words.

This was a beautiful little story packed full of lessons and exquisite illustrations that really bring the story to life. Grandma had a lesson to teach Lila by knitting a poncho with three head holes but it was up to Lila to learn it through her own actions. Although intended for younger children it conveys important messages for all ages about peer pressure, bullying, sharing, kindness, gratitude, playing and working together. Another amazing book by this author!

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Fallen Soul (War of Destiny Book 4) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Fallen Soul (War of Destiny # 4)Fallen Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fallen Soul is Book 4 in the War of Destiny Series. If you have not yet read the first books, I highly recommend reading them or you may feel a bit lost without all of the details of Lane or the others. Decades after being turned into a vampire Lane is still on the run after being condemned for feeding off his own kind. After escaping Valentino, King of the Vampires, Lane has a target on his back. Rumors have been circulated about him being crazy so it has forced Lane to be a loner. Valentino has ordered for Lane to be killed on sight but somehow, he manages to elude or kill anyone that tries to murder him. Lane attempts to flee to Ireland but gets discovered in Rome.

As Lane attempts to flee to a safer place he stumbles onto a group of vampires who are not the same as any other vampire he has ever encountered. These vampires do not flee from him, nor do they try to kill him. Not only that, but these vampires live with humans. Lane must decide if these vampires are allies or if they are more cunning than other vampires and intend to deter him from reaching his destination. Will Lane continue his journey solo or has he found friends in this group?

I have read this series from the first book and became invested in the characters and the story. The author does an amazing job with writing vivid scene descriptions that make the reader feel as though you are there with the characters. The characters are wonderful, and it was interesting to read how they developed through the story from book to book. Lane was a loner right from the beginning as he was shunned after being turned into a vampire. He was on the run, constantly looking over his shoulder and unable to trust anyone. It was interesting to see what Lane would decide to do when he meets a group of vampires unlike any that he has ever met. It forces him to make some difficult decisions about his future. A great vampire paranormal series.

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Insomnia: (A Short Stories Collection) by Kelly Covic – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Insomnia (A Short Stories Collection)Insomnia by Kelly Covic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Insomnia is a collection of short stories written by Kelly Moran’s alter ego, Kelly Covic. Most of the stories are about dark and sinister things that go bump in the night. These stories will leave you with goosebumps and questioning what lurks in the dark. They will leave you feeling like eyes are watching you from the shadows. They will leave you looking over your shoulder as you question what that sound was that you just heard and what else is out there that you cannot see with the naked eye.

These stories will have you questioning everything you thought that you knew about life and death. From the haunted old mansion in Silent Sighs where eyes watch from the shadows to clothes that transport you to another time and place in The Attic. To Idle Thursday that will give you a whole other outlook on life after death and what really happens when we die. Be sure to read these stories with a light on, cuddled under a blanket for safety or you will begin to question every sound and what might be lurking in every shadow. These stories will terrify the pants off you and leave you with chills.

View all my reviews@tarab