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Simply Crafty #1
Stalked by Shadows
an alternate cover edition can be found here
A missing girl, ritual murders, and a shadow stalking every footstep.
Alexis Caine survived an attack in the deserts of Afghanistan. An attack the government denied and discharged him for, leaving him broken and in a mental institution. What Alex saw that day in the desert continues to haunts him.
When a new job working as a bodyguard for a New Orleans ghost tour guide, Micah Richards, opens Alex’s eyes to a world of paranormal possibilities, he’s not sure he can believe his eyes. What if he’s not crazy after all? When a ritual murder in which two fellow tour guides die and a tourist vanishes, Alex wonders if he brought a curse down upon them all.
A shadow from the desert rears its nightmarish head offering Alex something he wants more than anything, but at what cost?
A missing girl, ritual murders, and a shadow stalking every footstep.
Alexis Caine survived an attack in the deserts of Afghanistan. An attack the government denied and discharged him for, leaving him broken and in a mental institution. What Alex saw that day in the desert continues to haunts him.
When a new job working as a bodyguard for a New Orleans ghost tour guide, Micah Richards, opens Alex’s eyes to a world of paranormal possibilities, he’s not sure he can believe his eyes. What if he’s not crazy after all? When a ritual murder in which two fellow tour guides die and a tourist vanishes, Alex wonders if he brought a curse down upon them all.
A shadow from the desert rears its nightmarish head offering Alex something he wants more than anything, but at what cost?
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2019
About the author
Lissa Kasey
68 books645 followersLissa Kasey is Ace/Aro and ENBY. Lissa's storytelling specializes in in-depth characters, detailed world building, sweet and spicy romance, and twisting plots to keep you clinging to the page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
June 18, 2021
This book was being in the head of someone who is really fucked up, and I get enough of that in my own head. I read for a break from that, dammit! I mean, I'm not trying to thought-life-shame anyone, but... geez, I need a drink after dealing with this guy's shit.
Our main guy is Alex and he is a vet with severe PTSD. He lives with his twin brother after being released from the Army, going completely crazy and living on the streets for a year, and then ending up in a mental hospital. This guy is more broken than a McDonald's ice cream machine.
Alex gets a job working with an occult shop and ghost tour group in New Orleans because what could be better for a crazy person who thinks evil ghosts are chasing him than doing ghost tours? I guess he's qualified, but is this really the best way to treat his PTSD? I feel like there are better ideas out there.
Not all ideas are good.
The guy he ends up working for, Micah, is also fucked up - so they have a lot in common. Micah has some paranormal PTSD of his own, so the two of them end up helping each other. Kinda.
I guess the whole thing is a hurt/comfort trope, but it just isn't my thing.
The other problem I had with the story is that we never really found out what the "big bad" was. As a matter of fact nothing was resolved and questions were never answered. You have to read the next book for answers, I guess. But honestly? I will see you in hell before that happens. And, this book will be required reading there.
Our main guy is Alex and he is a vet with severe PTSD. He lives with his twin brother after being released from the Army, going completely crazy and living on the streets for a year, and then ending up in a mental hospital. This guy is more broken than a McDonald's ice cream machine.
Alex gets a job working with an occult shop and ghost tour group in New Orleans because what could be better for a crazy person who thinks evil ghosts are chasing him than doing ghost tours? I guess he's qualified, but is this really the best way to treat his PTSD? I feel like there are better ideas out there.
Not all ideas are good.
The guy he ends up working for, Micah, is also fucked up - so they have a lot in common. Micah has some paranormal PTSD of his own, so the two of them end up helping each other. Kinda.
I guess the whole thing is a hurt/comfort trope, but it just isn't my thing.
The other problem I had with the story is that we never really found out what the "big bad" was. As a matter of fact nothing was resolved and questions were never answered. You have to read the next book for answers, I guess. But honestly? I will see you in hell before that happens. And, this book will be required reading there.
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 18, 2022This got off to a promising start, with a nicely creepy paranormal scene and an intriguing 1st-person MC. But then I learned the non-POV love interest was a former porn star who "wore little school girl outfits and cosplay bright-colored wigs when getting fucked by some guy with a big dick," and I noped out so fast I almost broke something.
DNF @ only 4%, but hey, when you know, you know.
DNF @ only 4%, but hey, when you know, you know.
August 24, 2021
2.5 stars
What I loved:
- The first few chapters. Dragged me into the story and made me want to know more about the characters and where the plot is going.
- The physical setting. New Orleans is one of the only cities in the USA I honestly have a desire to visit.
What I liked:
- The kind of off-beat dialogue. I was happy to go with it even if it left me confused more than once.
- The shop! I wonder if there are really shops like Simply Crafty there.
What irritated me:
- After I was more chapters in, the dialogue. It started feeling more and more disjointed - like the characters couldn't decide what they think so they'll say contradicting things in one sentence, making an illogical mess of the story. Tbh, I'm not even sure anymore if that was weird (to me) writing or simply bad characterization, like the writer herself couldn't decide what her characters actually think.
- It's awesome that Micah's into crafts, but ffs there must be more to his personality than that. We have pages upon pages of descriptions of his crafting challenges, and descriptions of how much Alex loves watching him work and how it clears up Micah's mind to sew/knit/crochet.
- Not being a morning person or being a coffee addict are not personality traits, mentioning it every time they wake up will not make it so.
What colossally pissed me off:
- The ending. It ends in a major cliffhanger, and none of the mysteries were solved. I feel cheated because the last 5% of the book felt like they went on forever and I was persistent despite my wish to just skip to the end and we didn't get any conclusions, just a "to be continued".
Overall I mostly enjoyed the potential the story had. But, because of the major letdown at the end combined with how simultaneously irritated & bored I became with the writing, I don't think I will be continuing with the series - it seems like too much effort for a questionable payoff. And I don't think this writer is for me, but I might give her another chance later on (with a book not in this series).
What I loved:
- The first few chapters. Dragged me into the story and made me want to know more about the characters and where the plot is going.
- The physical setting. New Orleans is one of the only cities in the USA I honestly have a desire to visit.
What I liked:
- The kind of off-beat dialogue. I was happy to go with it even if it left me confused more than once.
- The shop! I wonder if there are really shops like Simply Crafty there.
What irritated me:
- After I was more chapters in, the dialogue. It started feeling more and more disjointed - like the characters couldn't decide what they think so they'll say contradicting things in one sentence, making an illogical mess of the story. Tbh, I'm not even sure anymore if that was weird (to me) writing or simply bad characterization, like the writer herself couldn't decide what her characters actually think.
- It's awesome that Micah's into crafts, but ffs there must be more to his personality than that. We have pages upon pages of descriptions of his crafting challenges, and descriptions of how much Alex loves watching him work and how it clears up Micah's mind to sew/knit/crochet.
- Not being a morning person or being a coffee addict are not personality traits, mentioning it every time they wake up will not make it so.
What colossally pissed me off:
- The ending. It ends in a major cliffhanger, and none of the mysteries were solved. I feel cheated because the last 5% of the book felt like they went on forever and I was persistent despite my wish to just skip to the end and we didn't get any conclusions, just a "to be continued".
Overall I mostly enjoyed the potential the story had. But, because of the major letdown at the end combined with how simultaneously irritated & bored I became with the writing, I don't think I will be continuing with the series - it seems like too much effort for a questionable payoff. And I don't think this writer is for me, but I might give her another chance later on (with a book not in this series).
May 28, 2024
Positive - I absolutely love the idea, I was enjoying very much the beginning of the story, the MCs meeting each other, the representation, the diversity, Lukas, Skylar, Tim, Brad, Jared and Sarah, I was engaged, the plot was very interesting, the mystery. Love the atmosphere, the shop, the city, New Orleans! I love the chemistry between Alex and Micah, love their interaction!
Negative - The book has a lot o dragging around, lot of repetitions and meaningless explanations...
The big issue for me was that, I would say, 95% of the story was unsolved , I know that some writes want to sell more books so they stretch the story as much as they can... most of the time it doesn't work, in this book, leaving everything unexplained was not a good idea, and the end was atrocious, it was a obvious cliffhanger that wasn't delivered correctly.
I finished thinking: "Why I bought a book with no real substance, with crumbs of a story?"
I also have this book on Audible, Tyler Kent has a beautiful voice, very fresh, and not the cliche kind of voice, I do think some of the voices weren't consistent, my major issue, is that he puts a question mark in almost every sentence, I dare to say, EVERY sentence... I had to come back to the physical book to check, that's he's main problem for every book that he narrates.
For exemple, when some character answer "Maybe.", Tyler says "Maybe?", I think that jeopardise the story, giving a different intention of the situation and/or conversation.
Just a detail, I enjoyed very much his interpretation of emotions through the book! Very good performance on the sex scenes! Well done!
Negative - The book has a lot o dragging around, lot of repetitions and meaningless explanations...
The big issue for me was that, I would say, 95% of the story was unsolved , I know that some writes want to sell more books so they stretch the story as much as they can... most of the time it doesn't work, in this book, leaving everything unexplained was not a good idea, and the end was atrocious, it was a obvious cliffhanger that wasn't delivered correctly.
I finished thinking: "Why I bought a book with no real substance, with crumbs of a story?"
I also have this book on Audible, Tyler Kent has a beautiful voice, very fresh, and not the cliche kind of voice, I do think some of the voices weren't consistent, my major issue, is that he puts a question mark in almost every sentence, I dare to say, EVERY sentence... I had to come back to the physical book to check, that's he's main problem for every book that he narrates.
For exemple, when some character answer "Maybe.", Tyler says "Maybe?", I think that jeopardise the story, giving a different intention of the situation and/or conversation.
Just a detail, I enjoyed very much his interpretation of emotions through the book! Very good performance on the sex scenes! Well done!
January 2, 2020
An interesting beginning to a new series.
Alex is brought to New Orleans by his twin brother more than a year after a tour in Afghanistan went terribly wrong, leaving Alex dealing with the trauma, as a shell of his former self, and stalked by the shadows he cannot escape.
Lukas helps Alex find a job, and possible romance, with his brother's friend, Micah who operates a fantastic eclectic shop and is one of four licensed ghost tour guides. Stalked by Shadows focuses on the world building, paranormal experiences, and the romance between Micah and Alex.
I really liked both Micah and Alex, as well as the side characters, especially Lukas and Sky. Stalked by Shadows is told entirely from Alex's POV, and I'm not going to lie, I would have *loved* to also know what was happening in Micah's head.
The pacing is good, the story has great suspense, and from the very beginning Kasey keeps the tension high as Alex navigates a new town and possible relationship, while still dealing with his own demons...in some cases quite literally. There's good balance between the paranormal and the romance, and it ends with a (tentative) happy for now ending.
So much happens, and we're left with a lot of questions, and not a lot of answers, and since this ends with a cliffhanger it'll be some time before we get any more answers.
Admittedly I'd be rating this higher if it weren't for that, but if that sort of thing doesn't drive you as nuts as it does me? I'd definitely recommend checking Stalked by Shadows out. I know I'll definitely be grabbing book two whenever it comes out with both greedy, grabby hands.
Alex is brought to New Orleans by his twin brother more than a year after a tour in Afghanistan went terribly wrong, leaving Alex dealing with the trauma, as a shell of his former self, and stalked by the shadows he cannot escape.
Lukas helps Alex find a job, and possible romance, with his brother's friend, Micah who operates a fantastic eclectic shop and is one of four licensed ghost tour guides. Stalked by Shadows focuses on the world building, paranormal experiences, and the romance between Micah and Alex.
I really liked both Micah and Alex, as well as the side characters, especially Lukas and Sky. Stalked by Shadows is told entirely from Alex's POV, and I'm not going to lie, I would have *loved* to also know what was happening in Micah's head.
The pacing is good, the story has great suspense, and from the very beginning Kasey keeps the tension high as Alex navigates a new town and possible relationship, while still dealing with his own demons...in some cases quite literally. There's good balance between the paranormal and the romance, and it ends with a (tentative) happy for now ending.
So much happens, and we're left with a lot of questions, and not a lot of answers, and since this ends with a cliffhanger it'll be some time before we get any more answers.
Admittedly I'd be rating this higher if it weren't for that, but if that sort of thing doesn't drive you as nuts as it does me? I'd definitely recommend checking Stalked by Shadows out. I know I'll definitely be grabbing book two whenever it comes out with both greedy, grabby hands.
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 6, 2020DNF at 40%
I'm not in the right mood for this.
The story is interesting, but I kept thinking I wanted to read faster so I could start a new book.
I think that's mostly because of Micah, I never got a good feel for him. He was just so cold and distant. A bit emotionless.
I'm not in the right mood for this.
The story is interesting, but I kept thinking I wanted to read faster so I could start a new book.
I think that's mostly because of Micah, I never got a good feel for him. He was just so cold and distant. A bit emotionless.
July 2, 2020
Though it wasn't a terribly frequent occurrence, when I was growing up, I was prone to having hypnopompic & hypnagogic hallucinations. Parts of this story felt very much like those episodes. They were vivid and terrifying and they felt so real.
Stalked by Shadows was an interesting story, for sure, though I'm left with far more questions, than answers. The ending felt "off" and a little unsatisfying and I can't really explain why without spoilers, so I won't go into it. It was also a bit more cliffy than I was hoping for. I'll have to keep my eyes open for the next book because I need those answers.
Stalked by Shadows was an interesting story, for sure, though I'm left with far more questions, than answers. The ending felt "off" and a little unsatisfying and I can't really explain why without spoilers, so I won't go into it. It was also a bit more cliffy than I was hoping for. I'll have to keep my eyes open for the next book because I need those answers.
December 7, 2023
Did you ever read and enjoy Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas but thought "i wish this was more gay and less sad"?
Well, this is the book for you.
I loved it. This was free to me through "stuff your earbuds day".
This is the kind of paranormal where things aren't explicitly magical and no one knows what's going on. It's a little eery and dark, but with a huge line of hope cause this is a romance and we know it's going to work out. At least, it better.
The mystery isn't resolved in this book but the characters are firmly on the road to their HEA. And I will be very upset if that changes for the worse in this series. I am sold on the two romances in this book.
The main guy's brother has a little side romance that I'm hoping work out. I love the brother and how caring he is to our main guy. He's so supportive and present. They're twins and very affectionate towards each other. Positive sibling relationships make me happy.
The main character Alex is great. I love him. There's some dark experiences in his past that he's working through. His brother matched him with Micah, another guy with a similarly dark past. Together, they are awesome.
There is a LOT of sex positive talk. If you're not comfortable with promiscuity (at least in terms of past partners and experiences), this isn't for you.
Micah has been a porn star and he uses sex pretty lightly. I appreciated Alex as he wants more than just sex and he stops them in the middle of intimacy because he can tell Micah is just going along without being present. It felt like great consent.
I am very intrigued and look forward to reading more.
Well, this is the book for you.
I loved it. This was free to me through "stuff your earbuds day".
This is the kind of paranormal where things aren't explicitly magical and no one knows what's going on. It's a little eery and dark, but with a huge line of hope cause this is a romance and we know it's going to work out. At least, it better.
The mystery isn't resolved in this book but the characters are firmly on the road to their HEA. And I will be very upset if that changes for the worse in this series. I am sold on the two romances in this book.
The main guy's brother has a little side romance that I'm hoping work out. I love the brother and how caring he is to our main guy. He's so supportive and present. They're twins and very affectionate towards each other. Positive sibling relationships make me happy.
The main character Alex is great. I love him. There's some dark experiences in his past that he's working through. His brother matched him with Micah, another guy with a similarly dark past. Together, they are awesome.
There is a LOT of sex positive talk. If you're not comfortable with promiscuity (at least in terms of past partners and experiences), this isn't for you.
Micah has been a porn star and he uses sex pretty lightly. I appreciated Alex as he wants more than just sex and he stops them in the middle of intimacy because he can tell Micah is just going along without being present. It felt like great consent.
I am very intrigued and look forward to reading more.
June 28, 2020
4.5 awesome stars!
How have I never heard of Lissa Kasey before??? Because this was definitely awesome!! I mean, there are a lot of unanswered questions right now. But I feel like the story is definitely building up to its crescendo. Fingers crossed it doesn’t bomb during the delivery.
This ends somewhat in a cliffhanger although not really. It does leave you clamouring for more though.
What I love about this story is, there isn’t any expert of paranormal here. Each have their experiences, some more than others. There aren’t any answers (yet?) and nothing is really explained but like any good mystery, there are HEAPS of clues. The story just hasn’t progressed enough to start solving the mystery yet which I love about it! It’s giving us clues for us to plug in to our own mental map. And hopefully we’ll have more before it all unravels for us.
I can’t believe I’ve never heard of Lissa Kasey and never read any of her(?) books before. I’ve been missing out! Need to rectify that right now. Also, note to self, find out when the next book is coming!! 🤩
How have I never heard of Lissa Kasey before??? Because this was definitely awesome!! I mean, there are a lot of unanswered questions right now. But I feel like the story is definitely building up to its crescendo. Fingers crossed it doesn’t bomb during the delivery.
This ends somewhat in a cliffhanger although not really. It does leave you clamouring for more though.
What I love about this story is, there isn’t any expert of paranormal here. Each have their experiences, some more than others. There aren’t any answers (yet?) and nothing is really explained but like any good mystery, there are HEAPS of clues. The story just hasn’t progressed enough to start solving the mystery yet which I love about it! It’s giving us clues for us to plug in to our own mental map. And hopefully we’ll have more before it all unravels for us.
I can’t believe I’ve never heard of Lissa Kasey and never read any of her(?) books before. I’ve been missing out! Need to rectify that right now. Also, note to self, find out when the next book is coming!! 🤩
June 26, 2020
This started out pretty promising. The prologue was really interesting, but then I felt like after the first one or two chapters, it was kind of like the story was just spinning it's tires for a good 3/4 of the book and by the time the story got out of its rut, I was kind of fatigued and over it.
I figured a series titled A Simply Crafty Paranormal Mystery would have paranormal elements and some witchcraft. It wasn't witchcraft so much as plain old crafts. There is more sewing and crocheting than anything else in this book. It's like the topics in order of frequency are crafting, cosplay, sex/porn, food, paranormal. Like, there are literally paragraphs discussing the appearance and texture of a bolt of fabric.
There is a lot of repetitive conversations in this book, the most annoying of all being about the existence of the paranormal. You have Lukas, who doesn't believe in the paranormal, but believes his brother saw what he saw and isn't crazy. And then you have Micah and Alex, who both had up close and personal experiences with the paranormal, but both are like "*gasp* you don't believe in ghosts?!?!", back and forth pretty much the entire book. And I kind of get Alex being a bit unsure if what he experienced was real or a figment of his imagination, considering the military tried to convince him he imagine it and he ended up in a psyche ward because of it. Alex, on the other hand, had a paranormal experience which prompted him to open a Wiccan shop and give ghost tours... but isn't sure he believes in paranormal entities.
I don't get how Alex is broke. It does say that the little he got from his military discharge would go to Lukas, since he pays for everything... but Alex did three tours in the military. Now, I'm not crazy familiar with military pay grades, but I know it doesn't pay horribly and that typically you get a housing allowance. And if you spend 12 years in the military, I would think you should have something in your bank account to show for it.
I wish Micah was a little older... not because of the age gap, but because he went missing 2 years ago and then opened his shop. And has "done these tours for years". While two years technically is multiple years, I would think it would just make more sense if he was older... since he was apparently an 18 or 19 year old porn star, was majoring in history, but apparently also did massage school, went missing at around 20 years old for three months, came back and opened a shop and started giving tours (which he has done for years) and is one of four licensed tour guides in the city.
The spelling of 'Mark' changes to 'Marc' from Chapter 18 onward.
Absolutely every character has the tendency to drop the first word from their sentences.
Everyone is overly dramatic, though at least Alex owns up to that.
I thought it as odd that Alex, who was sent to a psyche ward after his paranormal experience would have the initial thought that Jordan, who was freaking out because of a paranormal experience, needed handlers and maybe a mental evaluation. It felt a bit apathetic.
Oh, and cliffhanger ending.
I figured a series titled A Simply Crafty Paranormal Mystery would have paranormal elements and some witchcraft. It wasn't witchcraft so much as plain old crafts. There is more sewing and crocheting than anything else in this book. It's like the topics in order of frequency are crafting, cosplay, sex/porn, food, paranormal. Like, there are literally paragraphs discussing the appearance and texture of a bolt of fabric.
There is a lot of repetitive conversations in this book, the most annoying of all being about the existence of the paranormal. You have Lukas, who doesn't believe in the paranormal, but believes his brother saw what he saw and isn't crazy. And then you have Micah and Alex, who both had up close and personal experiences with the paranormal, but both are like "*gasp* you don't believe in ghosts?!?!", back and forth pretty much the entire book. And I kind of get Alex being a bit unsure if what he experienced was real or a figment of his imagination, considering the military tried to convince him he imagine it and he ended up in a psyche ward because of it. Alex, on the other hand, had a paranormal experience which prompted him to open a Wiccan shop and give ghost tours... but isn't sure he believes in paranormal entities.
I don't get how Alex is broke. It does say that the little he got from his military discharge would go to Lukas, since he pays for everything... but Alex did three tours in the military. Now, I'm not crazy familiar with military pay grades, but I know it doesn't pay horribly and that typically you get a housing allowance. And if you spend 12 years in the military, I would think you should have something in your bank account to show for it.
I wish Micah was a little older... not because of the age gap, but because he went missing 2 years ago and then opened his shop. And has "done these tours for years". While two years technically is multiple years, I would think it would just make more sense if he was older... since he was apparently an 18 or 19 year old porn star, was majoring in history, but apparently also did massage school, went missing at around 20 years old for three months, came back and opened a shop and started giving tours (which he has done for years) and is one of four licensed tour guides in the city.
The spelling of 'Mark' changes to 'Marc' from Chapter 18 onward.
Absolutely every character has the tendency to drop the first word from their sentences.
"Am hoping to bring some home too." - Jaredinstead of "I'm hoping..."
"Lots of great artists in Jackson Square" - Micahinstead of "There's lots..."
Everyone is overly dramatic, though at least Alex owns up to that.
I thought it as odd that Alex, who was sent to a psyche ward after his paranormal experience would have the initial thought that Jordan, who was freaking out because of a paranormal experience, needed handlers and maybe a mental evaluation. It felt a bit apathetic.
Oh, and cliffhanger ending.
August 29, 2021
2021 Re-Read:
I tried the ebook this time instead (there's a new audio, but I was pressed for time) and I did like it better, although I'm still frustrated by all the threads that were left hanging. I guess I'll have to read the next book and see if it works out.
Original 2020 Review:
The story itself had inconsistent characterization and a plot that ping-ponged here, there, and everywhere while still not giving a real resolution. The audio narration was . . . well, not the worst I've ever heard, but the narrator's voice was low and kind of breathy, which frequently made it hard to hear what he was saying. His "voice" for Micah made it sound like everything he said ended in a question mark, and, for some unexplained reason, twin brothers who grew up in the same household had different accents. I was tempted to give the book two stars, but decided that I didn't really dislike the story itself that much, that it was mostly the narration making me so disgruntled.
On the brighter side, the setting was really well done; New Orleans almost felt like another character in the story. There's also a nice, wide, rainbow range of ethnicities and sexual orientations. Loads of representations to go around.
I tried the ebook this time instead (there's a new audio, but I was pressed for time) and I did like it better, although I'm still frustrated by all the threads that were left hanging. I guess I'll have to read the next book and see if it works out.
Original 2020 Review:
The story itself had inconsistent characterization and a plot that ping-ponged here, there, and everywhere while still not giving a real resolution. The audio narration was . . . well, not the worst I've ever heard, but the narrator's voice was low and kind of breathy, which frequently made it hard to hear what he was saying. His "voice" for Micah made it sound like everything he said ended in a question mark, and, for some unexplained reason, twin brothers who grew up in the same household had different accents. I was tempted to give the book two stars, but decided that I didn't really dislike the story itself that much, that it was mostly the narration making me so disgruntled.
On the brighter side, the setting was really well done; New Orleans almost felt like another character in the story. There's also a nice, wide, rainbow range of ethnicities and sexual orientations. Loads of representations to go around.
January 12, 2021
I'm so glad we got a new narrator for this series, because the new narrator Tyler Kent done a much better work narrating this series compared to Zachary Zaba. Second time while I listened to Stalked by Shadows I loved it!
2020/June/11 - 4-star rating
Have to say, listening to Stalked by Shadows, which was narrated by Zachary Zaba, was a huge difference in understanding and liking this story. The Second time around, I loved the story. Mystery behind shadows was pulling and well written. I liked it. Ending was party weird, but also acceptable.
2019/November/20 - 4 s3 star rating
Weirdly interesting, but still strange plotted story. I couldn't really connect with both MC's past. We really didn't get to know what truly happened both of them, because they didn't talk about it.
The romance between Alexis Caine and Micah Richards wasn't really pulling, but interesting enough for only starting.
2020/June/11 - 4-star rating
Have to say, listening to Stalked by Shadows, which was narrated by Zachary Zaba, was a huge difference in understanding and liking this story. The Second time around, I loved the story. Mystery behind shadows was pulling and well written. I liked it. Ending was party weird, but also acceptable.
2019/November/20 - 4 s3 star rating
Weirdly interesting, but still strange plotted story. I couldn't really connect with both MC's past. We really didn't get to know what truly happened both of them, because they didn't talk about it.
The romance between Alexis Caine and Micah Richards wasn't really pulling, but interesting enough for only starting.
September 13, 2021
Had to do a reread for a challenge. And you know what lmao I still don't like it.
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That was not good at all. I liked a few ideas but man. Nothing was ever delved into. The entire story was just "shit is happening but I'm not going to explain it." Literally. The characters even said that. Repeatedly. I was relieved when it was over.
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That was not good at all. I liked a few ideas but man. Nothing was ever delved into. The entire story was just "shit is happening but I'm not going to explain it." Literally. The characters even said that. Repeatedly. I was relieved when it was over.
April 8, 2020
Overly long and wordy to the point of distraction. I'm a fan of mystery and paranormal but this one left me unsatisfied. The wtf ending did not help at all.
October 25, 2020
I have had a difficult time trying to figure out what to say about this book there's a lot that I liked and some I didn't. Although the paranormal aspect was supposed to be a huge part of the MCs lives they did what I think most people would do if they experienced it and time had passed and that is doubt what they saw or what happened to them or what they see and feel now. I can certainly understand their skepticism especially when there's very little evidence and most people won't believe you anyway. I think they knew it was there and tried to push it aside so it would stop affecting their lives which obviously didn't work out so well. My only true complaint was when Alex came back at the end, he was very blasé and was like, oh well, let's move on, when it was traumatic for everyone around him.
I still liked Alex a lot. I enjoyed that he was down to earth and very open and honest. He was also very respectful and I appreciated that because he did have a hero complex but he seemed to see Micah as a strong and independent person who just needed support not rescuing (except for the actual rescue.) I also loved that he tried to help Micah see how talented he was and help him build his confidence.
I liked that even though Micah was closed off, he was still very kind and loving. He was loyal to a fault but hated feeling like a burden. I actually appreciated that even though he started opening up in the end it wasn't some major change of character and he was still reserved but sweet.
I liked the crafting aspect of the story and I believe that is something the author is very involved in (if I am thinking of the correct person) so I can certainly understand why she wanted it in a story. It was interesting but only relevant for the fact that Micah used to clear or organize his mind plus it helped with extra merchandise at the store. It is fine to read about but sort of felt like a separate story than the paranormal mystery. It was fine. I mean Crafting is in the series name so it's obviously going to be a part of it.
I will definitely give the next book a try.
I still liked Alex a lot. I enjoyed that he was down to earth and very open and honest. He was also very respectful and I appreciated that because he did have a hero complex but he seemed to see Micah as a strong and independent person who just needed support not rescuing (except for the actual rescue.) I also loved that he tried to help Micah see how talented he was and help him build his confidence.
I liked that even though Micah was closed off, he was still very kind and loving. He was loyal to a fault but hated feeling like a burden. I actually appreciated that even though he started opening up in the end it wasn't some major change of character and he was still reserved but sweet.
I liked the crafting aspect of the story and I believe that is something the author is very involved in (if I am thinking of the correct person) so I can certainly understand why she wanted it in a story. It was interesting but only relevant for the fact that Micah used to clear or organize his mind plus it helped with extra merchandise at the store. It is fine to read about but sort of felt like a separate story than the paranormal mystery. It was fine. I mean Crafting is in the series name so it's obviously going to be a part of it.
I will definitely give the next book a try.
August 17, 2024
CW: racist descriptions and incredibly cringy references to a trans person
My review policy is normally five stars or no rating at all, because authors work hard and deserve support. But I have no tolerance for racist/ableist/phobic writing.
Examples I saw in this book before DNF'ing:
A character is described as looking
We're introduced to a trans woman, and it's the most "it's cool that she's trans and not weird at all. Let me point out how not-weird it is" I've ever seen.
My review policy is normally five stars or no rating at all, because authors work hard and deserve support. But I have no tolerance for racist/ableist/phobic writing.
Examples I saw in this book before DNF'ing:
A character is described as looking
We're introduced to a trans woman, and it's the most "it's cool that she's trans and not weird at all. Let me point out how not-weird it is" I've ever seen.
December 4, 2021
3.5 stars
June 20, 2021
I came, I saw…I wish I hadn’t.
What in the actual fuck did I just read? Sewing 101? The adventures of cosplay creations? 101 cliches of homosexuality? This book was complete and utter shit.
Nothing actually happens.
Now I went into this because it was supposed to be a shade of psychologically fucked up that I do so love to dip in to. But this? Dear god was this boring. I feel asleep at least 3 times. The entire plot (if you can call it that.) from start to finish could have been summed up in 3 or 4 chapters. The rest? Mindless filler. Not even decent inner monologue. Oh no..But we’re treated to endless prattle about fabric patterns. And what was with garden gnomes? Really? That’s the best you can do in the middle of New Orleans? Just why?
Even the sex was bad. No really it was cringe worthy. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m all from some MM action from time to time. But if it gonna be done. For fucks sake please do it right. This was just no. The whole thing. Nope.
The one saving grace is that it gives writers hope. So writers when you doubt yourself or your ability to publish, just pick this gem up and if you’re book is even marginally better go for it! It sure as fuck couldn’t be any worse.
What in the actual fuck did I just read? Sewing 101? The adventures of cosplay creations? 101 cliches of homosexuality? This book was complete and utter shit.
Nothing actually happens.
Now I went into this because it was supposed to be a shade of psychologically fucked up that I do so love to dip in to. But this? Dear god was this boring. I feel asleep at least 3 times. The entire plot (if you can call it that.) from start to finish could have been summed up in 3 or 4 chapters. The rest? Mindless filler. Not even decent inner monologue. Oh no..But we’re treated to endless prattle about fabric patterns. And what was with garden gnomes? Really? That’s the best you can do in the middle of New Orleans? Just why?
Even the sex was bad. No really it was cringe worthy. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m all from some MM action from time to time. But if it gonna be done. For fucks sake please do it right. This was just no. The whole thing. Nope.
The one saving grace is that it gives writers hope. So writers when you doubt yourself or your ability to publish, just pick this gem up and if you’re book is even marginally better go for it! It sure as fuck couldn’t be any worse.
March 9, 2020
Premise sounded promising, the kind of thing I’d usually like. But not well executed. I got through 28% of it before I had enough. At various times I felt annoyed, insulted, bored, creeped out by the start of the romance, which all distracted me from the actual story. Lukas creeped me out too, ordering his brother around and trying to arrange his sex life with no concern about the other guy’s thought on the matter. The writing felt juvenile and, on a couple of occasions, borderline racist. Lots of good reviews here, obviously lots of folks enjoyed it, but it’s really not for me.
August 12, 2021
Reread Augus 2021: I would definitely suggest doing this one on audio. Tyler Kent narrated it perfectly and the issues I had the first time around were definitely not as prevalent. Will be more likely to read the rest of the series quicker!
Original review I definitely liked this one, but for some reason I was able to completely put it aside for the day even though I never do that, so I just can’t rate it higher. It’s definitely an interesting concept but I still have SO many questions. Will definitely continue the series though
Original review I definitely liked this one, but for some reason I was able to completely put it aside for the day even though I never do that, so I just can’t rate it higher. It’s definitely an interesting concept but I still have SO many questions. Will definitely continue the series though
August 12, 2021
Wow! This was mind blowing good. A whole new twist on the paranormal creepy, spooky mysteries. Loved it! Micha and Alex both have quirky minds and humor, such a perfect fit. Both have past history of different spooky events to overcome. And together they are stronger. Yet this story doesn’t end here, so warning to all, there is a lead in to the next book and an ongoing story arc.
May 7, 2022
Emphasis on Crafty. If you expect paranormal mystery-suspense all the way, you won't be satisfied. However, if you are into crafts and quilts and shopping, this books is for you.
1.5 stars.
Great start for the new series:
- murderous shadows in the desert. They leave no trace - nothing, but dead bodies torn to pieces.
- awesome location of New Orleans,
- loved the narrator.
Not so great (like, AT ALL!):
- empty dialogues, interior descriptions,
- 50% of the book is "Arts and Crafts" with a full chapter devoted just to shopping,
- reliving the "shadows and death in the desert" episode over and over and over again, ...and OVER again,
- unsatisfying paranormal murder mystery and suspense; too disjointed and constantly interrupted by this craft or that craft or shopping or what had happened in the desert,
- Jared, a random guy who signed up for the cemetery tour with his g-friend. When she went missing under very mysterious circumstances, he came to the only two people who should be able to understand him - Micah and Alex. But, NO. You are just upset, drink more water, they say. Nightmares? You should take a nap, they say. You thought an old woman stole something from an open grave and your Sarah is talking to you from beyond the veil? Let's call the cops, they say. WTF? 🤬
This book needs to lose about half the page count to be enjoyable.
1.5 stars.
Great start for the new series:
- murderous shadows in the desert. They leave no trace - nothing, but dead bodies torn to pieces.
- awesome location of New Orleans,
- loved the narrator.
Not so great (like, AT ALL!):
- empty dialogues, interior descriptions,
- 50% of the book is "Arts and Crafts" with a full chapter devoted just to shopping,
- reliving the "shadows and death in the desert" episode over and over and over again, ...and OVER again,
- unsatisfying paranormal murder mystery and suspense; too disjointed and constantly interrupted by this craft or that craft or shopping or what had happened in the desert,
- Jared, a random guy who signed up for the cemetery tour with his g-friend. When she went missing under very mysterious circumstances, he came to the only two people who should be able to understand him - Micah and Alex. But, NO. You are just upset, drink more water, they say. Nightmares? You should take a nap, they say. You thought an old woman stole something from an open grave and your Sarah is talking to you from beyond the veil? Let's call the cops, they say. WTF? 🤬
This book needs to lose about half the page count to be enjoyable.
April 29, 2021
April 2021
what struck me every time is the different view on ghosts and paranormal stuff. I like the different views we get to see.
Michah and Alex are great on their own and as a couple ... love the training scenario ;) ... but now I am really curious about Lucas. I really hope he will get his own book. the second book is also really good. waiting for the third book
Sept 2020
second read and I still loved it. Micah and Alex are great together and I can't wait to get to read the second book
January 2020
4,5 stars for a great book in a new series .
The characters were interesting and I really enjoyed them.
The timing was different to other books, but worked perfectly for this.
Can't wait to read the next one - which will hopefully have again Micah and Alex as MCs
what struck me every time is the different view on ghosts and paranormal stuff. I like the different views we get to see.
Michah and Alex are great on their own and as a couple ... love the training scenario ;) ... but now I am really curious about Lucas. I really hope he will get his own book. the second book is also really good. waiting for the third book
Sept 2020
second read and I still loved it. Micah and Alex are great together and I can't wait to get to read the second book
January 2020
4,5 stars for a great book in a new series .
The characters were interesting and I really enjoyed them.
The timing was different to other books, but worked perfectly for this.
Can't wait to read the next one - which will hopefully have again Micah and Alex as MCs
November 8, 2019
I received this book by the author and this is my honest opinion.
When I first read this book description I was excited at the potential of a thrilling intrigue. Paranormal, murder mystery and characters with issues to resolve. I love these kinds of books and fortunately I've read quite a few good books with these troupes in it so the bar was set high for this one. The prologue was really great and had that creepy factor, where I tucked my feet up and I thought wow, this book is going to be good. Unfortunately after that it was a bit hit and miss for me and became a bit mundane and not as exciting as the prologue suggested the book would follow. I couldn't comprehend that after discovering a murder, each character just went about their business as usual without much remark. Now I know this is going to be a series but I didn't actually glean much detail of substance, what are the creatures, where did Alex go, where did Micah go and what was the shadows? These were some of the questions that I wanted answered but was left hanging shrouded in brushoffs from the characters. I know being a series following the same couple you learn and expose secrets as you go but I literally got no closure on any of these issues and it annoyed me instead of whetting my appetite. Alex and Micah were fine as characters and I enjoyed lukas and Skys appearances. It was an ok book, and I would like to find out the answers to my questions but I don't know, I just didn't connect with this book how I thought I would what with it being right up my alley 🤔
When I first read this book description I was excited at the potential of a thrilling intrigue. Paranormal, murder mystery and characters with issues to resolve. I love these kinds of books and fortunately I've read quite a few good books with these troupes in it so the bar was set high for this one. The prologue was really great and had that creepy factor, where I tucked my feet up and I thought wow, this book is going to be good. Unfortunately after that it was a bit hit and miss for me and became a bit mundane and not as exciting as the prologue suggested the book would follow. I couldn't comprehend that after discovering a murder, each character just went about their business as usual without much remark. Now I know this is going to be a series but I didn't actually glean much detail of substance, what are the creatures, where did Alex go, where did Micah go and what was the shadows? These were some of the questions that I wanted answered but was left hanging shrouded in brushoffs from the characters. I know being a series following the same couple you learn and expose secrets as you go but I literally got no closure on any of these issues and it annoyed me instead of whetting my appetite. Alex and Micah were fine as characters and I enjoyed lukas and Skys appearances. It was an ok book, and I would like to find out the answers to my questions but I don't know, I just didn't connect with this book how I thought I would what with it being right up my alley 🤔
November 17, 2019
Couldn't finish
While I love the world of paranormal , shifters and mostly only read MM books, I couldn't make myself read pass the third chapter. The author used every name for sexuality quite often, too, too many times, trying for empathy maybe but coming across as condesending. Also a major hate-on for whites, Christanity, law enforcement. And condemning a city and a whole face of people for racism smacks of her being the one with a problem. The three stars are for the little I could stomach, were well written, no major issues with editing, just hate. Sounds like a Democrat politicians. No thanks, there's enough of that in real life.
While I love the world of paranormal , shifters and mostly only read MM books, I couldn't make myself read pass the third chapter. The author used every name for sexuality quite often, too, too many times, trying for empathy maybe but coming across as condesending. Also a major hate-on for whites, Christanity, law enforcement. And condemning a city and a whole face of people for racism smacks of her being the one with a problem. The three stars are for the little I could stomach, were well written, no major issues with editing, just hate. Sounds like a Democrat politicians. No thanks, there's enough of that in real life.
June 17, 2020
I liked this when I read it. Listening to it however was a bit of a yawn-fest. Mostly because the narrator read in a monotone, with no distinct character voices and no enthusiasm. I also noticed quite a few inconsistencies in the story that could have been caught with better editing. Such as the MC saying they had to be open and honest with each other to get to the bottom of the mystery and a few lines later saying there was no way he was telling the other MC what really happened to him. It all got rather confusing.
June 20, 2020
One from the TBR list read for a challenge. I liked it but I wasn’t really in the mood for it. Very little light hearted parts. Ghosts, shadows and things that go bump in the night. One military guy with PTSD and one guy with a blank memory in his past.
I’m with the cat, didn’t like Tim. I liked the characters. I think I preferred Sky and Lucas to Alex and Micah. I liked that crocheting was such a big part. Supernatural with voodoo. One I probably shouldn’t have stayed up late to read, given the foxes making out in the garden. I’ll get around to reading the next one.
I’m with the cat, didn’t like Tim. I liked the characters. I think I preferred Sky and Lucas to Alex and Micah. I liked that crocheting was such a big part. Supernatural with voodoo. One I probably shouldn’t have stayed up late to read, given the foxes making out in the garden. I’ll get around to reading the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2020
Sept 2020
second read and I still loved it. Micah and Alex are great together and I can't wait to get to read the second book
January 2020
4,5 stars for a great book in a new series .
The characters were interesting and I really enjoyed them.
The timing was different to other books, but worked perfectly for this.
Can't wait to read the next one - which will hopefully have again Micah and Alex as MCs
second read and I still loved it. Micah and Alex are great together and I can't wait to get to read the second book
January 2020
4,5 stars for a great book in a new series .
The characters were interesting and I really enjoyed them.
The timing was different to other books, but worked perfectly for this.
Can't wait to read the next one - which will hopefully have again Micah and Alex as MCs
Shelved as 'dnf'
July 5, 2020rating: dnf
I really love Lissa Kasey but I just wasn't feeling it.
I really love Lissa Kasey but I just wasn't feeling it.
February 3, 2020
It took me a long time to read this one. I just couldn’t get into it.
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