Meeting the remarkable Evernight family and those who are drawn into their sphere has provided some great reads. Ms
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First I want to say how sorry I am that "Forevermore" is the last book in the Darkest London series.  Meeting the remarkable Evernight family and those who are drawn into their sphere has provided some great reads.  Ms. Callihan has created a supremely imaginative and fascinating paranormal world and characters, all set in Victorian times.  Frankly, I am in awe of her talent. Perhaps her greatest achievement is that you believe it all. I know that if I were an author that's what I would strive for because I think that's what makes a good novel.
I don't like to describe what happens in a book because I think that takes some of the pleasure away from reading it. There should be a law against spoilers! I will tell you that "Forevermore" is mainly Sin and Layla's story and it is a sweet and romantic one although fraught with angst, which I think is a staple of romances of any kind, but there is a great deal more going on.  Lots of backstory is filled in, loose ends are tied up, and some of the most incredibly creative things happen to characters.  Of course no character in this series is "normal", although that may depend on your definition of normal. If they do start out human they aren't totally human by the end. Ms. Callihan really makes you work to picture her marvelous creations.
As I think you can gather from my remarks above, if you haven't read the earlier books in this series I highly recommend that you do so. Start with "Firelight", the terrific first book, before you read this one or you won't have the background knowledge that will enhance your reading pleasure.  Virtually every character from those books appears in this one.  Believe me, it will be well worth your while as you will be well entertained before getting to "Forevermore". To sum up, what wonderful world building, what marvelous characters, what a great writer.  Don't miss it!
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Amazing stories and a great cause to help it was an honor to be published with such talented authors
2757144
This anthology is more than a group of short stories with a common theme. In a world where it seems everyone is focused on 'me' or 'mine' Grand Adventures is a breath of fresh air... and a lot more. This 'grand adventure' was a 'grand gesture' - it put the focus on helping, loving and supporting a pair of fellow authors.

If you haven't been following the story of Eric Arvin and T.J. Klune, this is a perfect way to get up to speed. There is an entire community rallying around these two amazing and talented young men and it doesn't only include their fellow authors at Dreamspinner Press. It encompasses readers, bloggers, indie authors, authors from other publishing houses and many more. Eric and T.J. have touched the lives of so many people with their story of love, humor, heartbreak, loss and most of all HOPE.

I could give a mini-review on each and every one of the short stories that are included in this anthology, but I decided not to do that this time. Some of the authors I was familiar with and some of them I wasn't. Some of the stories made me laugh, some made me tear up just a little and some just made me smile. Some were really short and some were a bit longer. Most were contemporary but some were paranormal. Some involved characters that readers were already familiar with and some were stories featuring brand new characters. I enjoyed each and every one of them and have added several of the authors to my TBR pile. Even though I enjoyed the stories and couldn't stop reading them once I started, what I enjoyed even more were the dedications that each author took the time to write. Just like the individual stories, some were just a few words and some were a few paragraphs. Some of the authors knew T.J. and Eric and some of them knew their story but had never met them. Each and everyone of them touched me in a different way and made their gesture even more personal.

All the authors dedicated their time and talent to this work and ALL the proceeds will benefit Eric and T.J. as they continue with the next chapter of their lives together. The list of authors and their stories is included in the description and on my blog I've included a link to the individual authors' GoodReads pages if they had one available. Check out their books, find their pages, stalk them and give them a virtual pat on the back or better yet a virtual hug. While you're at it, make sure to track down Eric and T.J. and show them some love too. <3

Let's Go! Let's Go! Let's Go!
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I found Gifts from the Dark to be a high quality, entertaining, read from a host of very talented writers. Night Bus by Russell Cruse, and The Killer 10 by Bradley Darewood, were the highlights for me in this anthology; both gave me chills. And the fact that all proceeds go to charity is a bonus. Recommended.
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The books I like to read,are the stories about family life. We need to see more of respect and helping one and other.

  Thank you
957216
This wonderful book was recommended to me by someone who is appreciative of good literature, and she was right to recommend it to me.  The book weaves the stories of a family of sisters through a time of tumult in their country, including a despotic dictator and the efforts to bring freedom back to their country. Their stories are worth reading; they have a lot to say.
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Some really great stories and I found some interest in authors that I was not familiar with, which was my intent for reading short stories, I am now reading a T. Jefferson Parker book. While I knew of him, this restored my interest in his work. A couple of other writers got my interest also.
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If you really like reading, and think others aren't ready near enough, then you will find this a spirited journey.  As a biography, it pictures a remarkable family, that few other families emulate.
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When you get together with your siblings and replay moments from your shared history, you discover that even though you "shared" those times, you certainly didn't internalize them the same way.  Each of us takes away something different (sometimes QUITE different) from major family events, and although we may try to deny it, each event has put its stamp on us in some indelible Way.  This novel of three generations of the O'Shea family demonstrates that quite ably -- whether it is the sledding accident, the death of their father, interactions with their intrepid mother or anything else -- and no two family members have come out the same.  Most of the moments rang true (a few "coincidences" aside!) and I enjoyed this novel as a good read.
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I found that a few of the stories early on in the book were a little awkward, simplistic or predictable. They were definitely still enjoyable, and I'd say that overall the book has a higher success rate than many anthologies. Later, however, the stories are consistently excellent and I could hardly put the book down. Sarah Zettel's "A Family Thing" is a gorgeous examination of witches past and present and where their power really comes from. Debra Dixon's "Coyote Run" is a slightly dark and definitely fascinating tale of gaining a familiar. Esther Friesner's "You Got Served"--about a harried cafeteria worker in a high school full of witches--is silly, but in a gorgeous way that transcends the jokes it could have been reduced to. Bill McCay's "Remedial Magic", about a girl who cares about nothing more than helping her sick mother, made me cry buckets (I still tear up just thinking about it). Pauline Alama's "Homecoming Crone" is both pure unabashed wish-fulfillment fun, and an elegant tale of the nature of magic and friendship.

Overall, this is a wonderful read for teens or adults--fun, touching, and delightful. I did, however, notice some minor inconsistencies that tended to pull me out of the stories a little. In theory these stories all took place at the same location, but some of the school administrators were different (despite references to one or another of them having been there forever), the level of the world's awareness of magic seemed to change, and some other details were different too (one story mentioned that every witch eventually gets a familiar, but you really don't see familiars in the other stories). If you aren't a detail-freak, however, this probably won't bother you much.
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This was a captivating series of three books that really caught my attention, especially since I knew that the stories were autobiographical.  Princess Sultana (named changed) is a feisty Saudi Arabian princess who gives us a glimpse into what it is like to be female in the male dominated society in which she lives.  One one hand she is wealthy beyond imagination and yet powerless to affect change except through these stories that she retells the author, who is a journalist living in Saudi Arabia at the time.  The second and third books feature her married life and how she yearns to make change for her daughters' sake.  These stories are her attempt to call attention to what is happening, hopefully with a brighter future for Saudi Arabian women.  You will be spellbound by some of these stories.
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I've taken to reading anthologies right before bedtime, one essay at a time. What a great way to enjoy the variety of stories I found in Everbloom!! These ladies were honest and grounded in their journeys of faith. From tales about parenting, illness, death, mission work and self image, these writers explore it all. I highly recommend!
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There are few things more universal to the human condition than looking to the night sky and wondering what lies beyond. The reality is that only a select few in our lifetimes will ever know the thrill of traveling into space. For the rest of us, the authors in this anthology have done an outstanding job of bringing the dark beyond the stars into the comfort of our earthbound homes. From first contact to future war and everything in between, each of these authors brings a unique, distinctive voice to their stories. As with any anthology, some stories made more of a lasting impression than others, but I truly enjoyed this phenomenal sampling as a whole and wouldnt hesitate to recommend it to anyone in the market for some seriously out-of-this-world science fiction.
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The people you will meet in these accounts are lovely people. People you'd want to have over for dinner, or ask to recommend a book to you. People you might have sit your dog or borrow a cup of sugar from. And they have some very scary things to say. You may or may not believe in ghosts when you begin this book, but after finishing it, you'll have to wonder. Not recommended for bedtime reading!
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Hooray for Charlaine Harris!  She has once again created a community where the bazaar and supernatural become family. I certainly pray there will many more to follow. I have got to get to know these people better.
1960659
This had an amazing group of Horror, Sci Fi, Fantasy and other GENRES  it was fun browsing and reading things you may not have ordinary taken the time to have sought out.
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I have had the pleasure of meeting this family and hearing of some of these events first hand.  I admire this family and the great gifts they are affering us through the sharing of their lives.
Easy read with reality that makes you appreciate the comfort and safety of your own home.