Book Review Cusp of Night by Mae Clair

The truth hides in dark places . . .

Recently settled in Hode’s Hill, Pennsylvania, Maya Sinclair is enthralled by the town’s folklore, especially the legend about a centuries-old monster. A devil-like creature with uncanny abilities responsible for several horrific murders, the Fiend has evolved into the stuff of urban myth. But the past lives again when Maya witnesses an assault during the annual “Fiend Fest.” The victim is developer Leland Hode, patriarch of the town’s most powerful family, and he was attacked by someone dressed like the Fiend.

Compelled to discover who is behind the attack and why, Maya uncovers a shortlist of enemies of the Hode clan. The mystery deepens when she finds the journal of a late nineteenth-century spiritualist who once lived in Maya’s house—a woman whose ghost may still linger. Known as the Blue Lady of Hode’s Hill due to a genetic condition, Lucinda Glass vanished without a trace and was believed to be one of the Fiend’s tragic victims. The disappearance of a young couple, combined with more sightings of the monster, trigger Maya to join forces with Leland’s son Collin. But the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she comes to a hidden world of twisted secrets, insanity, and evil that refuses to die . . .

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My Review

Erie, suspenseful, sometimes sad, Cusp of Night held my interest up to the last page and remained  with me long after I  finished it.

            The spine-tingling essence of the plot is  thoroughly enjoyable. From the very beginning, the author, Mae Clair, sets the scene for a fascinating, intriguing  story.

Maya Sinclair’s arrival in Hode’s  Hill, a small  community, triggers a chain of events that both frightens and bewilders her. You never know what secrets people in a small town try to hide.

The Hodes are rich and content. But, as the saying goes, “Money does not always bring happiness.” Lies and ugly secrets are well guarded behind the façade of a happy family.

 I am a believer of psychic ability so this book was for me. Nothing happens without a reason. It is as if Lucinda has called Maya to come to Hode’s Hill to help her. The day Maya comes, people in Hode’s Hill celebrate  the Fiend, a legendary creature, a kind of monster that took many lives.

Will Collin discover who is the liar in his family? Can Maya manage to master her fright and continue living in a house that is undoubtedly spooked? Is there any connection between Lady Glass and someone in Hode’s Hill?  Who is responsible for the horrendous crimes and attacks that frightens the community? Is the Fiend real? Only reading the novel you can find the answer to all these questions.

The author's writing was so good I felt as if I were right in the story--I could visualize everything as it happened. There are no grammar errors or any other errors. Well written and  structurally sound, Cusp of Night moves with really quick action. Amazing. I couldn't wait to continue reading, after having struggled to put the book away to deal with everyday life for a while.

There was no foul language or explicit sex scenes in this story, which is so refreshing. Shows you that good stories can be told and hold your interests without sex and profanity.

The characters are well developed, they show a strong sense of battling with a conscience, making them markedly human in the process.

 I enjoyed the intrigue and the plot kept me guessing.  A good thriller for anyone who likes to try to figure things out.

All in all a great read!  Tell everyone you know and who enjoys drama, intrigue and paranormal thrillers to read Mae Clair’s books.

Book Review - A Desolate Hour by Mae Clair

Sins of the past could destroy all of their futures . . .
For generations, Quentin Marsh’s family has seen its share of tragedy, though he remains skeptical that their misfortunes are tied to a centuries-old curse. But to placate his pregnant sister, Quentin makes the pilgrimage to Point Pleasant, West Virginia, hoping to learn more about the brutal murder of a Shawnee chief in the 1700s. Did one of the Marsh ancestors have a hand in killing the chief —the man who cursed the town with his dying breath?

While historian Sarah Sherman doesn’t believe in curses either, she’s compelled to use her knowledge of Point Pleasant to uncover the long-buried truth. The river town has had its own share of catastrophes, many tied to the legendary Mothman, the winged creature said to haunt the woods. But Quentin’s arrival soon reveals that she may have more of a stake than she realized. It seems that she and Quentin possess eerily similar family heirlooms. And the deeper the two of them dig into the past, the more their search enrages the ancient mystical forces surrounding Point Pleasant. As chaos and destruction start to befall residents, can they beat the clock to break the curse before the Mothman takes his ultimate revenge? . . .

"

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My Review

“Run from the thunder,

Run from the rain,

Lightning can’t hurt you,

The wind is in vain, ”    Sarah keeps saying in A Desolate Hour.
    .
Mae Clair is one of the best writers I've read. I've read a lot, indie and traditional.  She's one of the best overall. Her writing style and also the characters she creates are amazing, yet, characters any of us can easily  relate to. Once I started reading I couldn’t put the book down until I had read every word. I loved the characters, especially  Caden and Eve. But more characters are added to the story here in A Desolate Hour, like Sarah and the mysterious QM from book 2. Each with her or his secret and karmic burden.I want to make a special mention of Shawn, a perfect portrayal of an evil character, no matter his justification.

By the way, the title is a perfect fit for the story. The author couldn’t have found a better one.

For someone who is reading Book 3 it would be helpful to read the previous stories to fully tie all the threads together. But the book can be read as a standalone and there are reminders along the first chapters smoothly weaved in the plot that help the reader understand who’s who.

I knew I had to prepare myself to say goodbye to this incredible cast of characters at the end of this book, especially to Drayandor. Sadly this  did nothing to lighten the blow. With every passing page I marveled over the genius of the words before me and fretted over the dwindling number of pages left ahead of me. Now a few words about the story. 
Amazing. Entertaining. Beautiful, [of course.] I don't know if I'd want to know a person who couldn't absolutely adore this entire series. As I  mourn my goodbyes to these characters I have come to know and love (and sometimes hate, see Obadiah's descendant) and attempt to pull myself together to face life again, I offer a most sincere plea to Ms.  Clair to be so kind as to spin another tale for us (and quickly). The world is truly a better place with her books in it for everyone to enjoy.

The suspense builds constantly making readers curious to see what comes next. And the expectations aren’t in vain. Almost each chapter, and even scenes, end in cliffhangers that urge you to postpone other chores and go on reading.

For example:

“Everything that happens around here gets blamed on Cornstalk’s curse.”or

“The tip of the scars he carried from the Mothman poked from beneath his sleeve. . . . the welts had never changed in appearance or texture. Until today. Normally vibrant red, they were now jet black." or
"It was time to leave, to get out before someone spied his Charger in the
driveway. He cleaned up the sink, wiped up his bloody prints, and looked
around for a piece of paper.
There was one more thing he had to do to make the scene complete."

Based on a real tragic event the three books combine, in a skillful way, folklore, paranormal and romantic suspense. If you love mysteries linked to the Men in Black, UFOs, the Mothman, Ouja boards, curses spanning the centuries and marking the main characters’ lives or   reincarnation this is a series you SHOULDN''T miss!

         To sum up - another superb story, packed full of action and emotion,  by the talented Mae Clair that will keep lovers of the paranormal/romantic suspense  genre well entertained!

Book Review (LXI) A Cold Tomorrow by Mae Clair

 A COLD TOMORROW

Where secrets make their home…

Stopping to help a motorist in trouble, Katie Lynch stumbles upon a mystery as elusive as the Mothman legend that haunts her hometown of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Could the coded message she finds herald an extraterrestrial visitor? According to locals, it wouldn’t be the first time. And what sense should she make of her young son’s sudden spate of bizarre drawings—and his claim of a late-night visitation? Determined to uncover the truth, Katie only breaks the surface when a new threat erupts. Suddenly her long-gone ex-boyfriend is back and it’s as if he’s under someone else’s control. Not only is he half-crazed, he’s intent on murder….

As a sergeant in the sheriff’s office of the famously uncanny Point Pleasant, Officer Ryan Flynn has learned to tolerate reports of puzzling paranormal events.   But single mom Katie Lynch appears to be in very real danger—and somehow Ryan’s own brother, Caden, is caught up in the madness, too. What the skeptical lawman discovers astounds him—and sends him into action. For stopping whatever evil forces are at play may just keep Katie and Caden alive….

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon.com 

Barnesandnoble 

Itunes 

Google 

Kobo 

Kensington books 

My Review

Another great book by this writer! Mae Clair has created a good plot and has developed her characters  far enough to make you care about what happens to them.  A Cold Tomorrow is a suspenseful story, filled with interesting if not quirky supporting characters.The small town ambience, Point Pleasant, appeals to me. The story is fast-paced and well thought out, and the author does a good job conveying the conflict in both Kate and Ryan , and bringing them together in a satisfying resolution. Or not?         A Cold Tomorrow definitely doesn't let you down when it comes to adventure , legend and unexplained phenomena with a dash of romance. You feel like you just can't get enough of the story and the people in it. The characters are compelling and memorable. The Mothman is one of the characters that moved me and strengthened my opinion that he isn’t what many of the Point Pleasent people think him to be. The title is, in  my opinion, symbolic. COLD has hidden meanings that are revealed to readers along the story.

         We meet characters from book `1, A Thousand Yesteryears. And it’s logical as the story  takes the action from where it ended in book 1. The author does a great job reminding us, here and there,  about main events in the previous book, thus making it easy for the reader to reconnect with the characters.

         The focus is this time on Katie Lynch.  Mother-daughter and mother-son relationships are highlighted with finesse. As well as the brother-brother one, I mean Caden and Ryan. 

 You can't help but love Katie’s strong but sensitive personality.  Caden’s deep, gentle  humaneness is inspiring. I enjoyed the closeness of the characters in the story. I wish real life could be as this story portrayed.

I won't bother with a synopsis as  I hate spoilers. But I will say I really enjoyed A Cold Tomorrow. It captured my attention from the opening pages and held my interest until the final sentence. The author struck an excellent balance of adrenaline rushed action and adventure with warm, sentimental moments. A very enjoyable read.

Mae Clair’s novels are must reads for me, so I was thrilled when I could read the new book, A Cold Tomorrow. To say more would give too much away. There is romance, but nothing that can remotely be called steamy. The ending was a stunner. Fans of  paranormal/supernatural/mystery/ Men in Black and UFOs  won't want to miss this exciting  story of old lore and modern day mayhem. 

 I received an ARC free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.