Tag Archives: paranormal

August 4, 2025 · 7:00 am

Red Shadows at Saugatuck: The Haunted Shores Mysteries Series (Book 4) by Randy Overbeck (Book Spotlight)

Darrell Henshaw hoped he was past it all. After all, no ghosts had visited him for years. Instead, he learns his five-year-old-son, Leo, has inherited his “gift.”

Now, they both can see ghosts.

Upon his parents’ insistence, Darrell drives his young family 800 miles to celebrate his aunt Gertrude’s 80th birthday. But, once they arrive in the resort town of Saugatuck, Michigan, their participation gets derailed by the spirit of a Native teen who went missing weeks earlier. When he and Leo inquire about the girl, the locals dismiss their concerns—”Those girls run away all the time.” Still, as questions pile up and threats grow, Darrell senses they may have stumbled onto something far worse and even more evil than one missing teen.

Can Darrell continue to pursue justice for the girl if it places his wife and son in danger?

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Check out these raving reviews! 

“Red Shadows at Saugatuck is one of the finest books ever written, a paranormal mystery that stole my soul and took my breath away.” ★★★★★++ stars—N N Light Bookheaven
“Red Shadow at Saugatuck by Randy Overbeck was complex and captivating. I was mesmerized from the very first page right up to the last one.”— ReadersFavorite.com
“Red Shadows at Saugatuck is thoughtful, deeply human, and low-key terrifying in a quiet way.” ★★★★★ The Gold Award–Literary Titan
“Red Shadows at Saugatuck kept me turning pages well into the night…a gripping tale about finding justice for a Native American teen.”—John DeDakis, author of Fake and former senior editor for CNN “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer”
 
 
 
 
Check out the entire series!!  

Amazon Series Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker. As an educator, he served children in roles captured in his novels, from teacher and coach to principal and superintendent. His novels have earned national awards including the Gold Award from Literary Titan, Thriller of the Year from Readers Favorite, Silver Award for Mystery of the Year from ReaderViews and Crown of Excellence from Ind’tale Magazine. Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences. His newest literary project is his new podcast, Great Stories about Great Storytellers, with the weird and unusual backstories of great storytellers like authors, directors and poets.  

 
 
 

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February 7, 2025 · 7:00 am

Monsters and Magic in the Blue Ridge Mountains by Stacie Green (Book Review)

Kindle is OUT NOW!
Hardcover Releases March 5th!

Monsters and Magic in the Blue Ridge Mountains is a journey into the heart of Appalachian folklore and childhood wonder. In this beautifully illustrated memoir, Stacie Green shares the stories passed down by her grandparents, filled with signs from nature, superstitions, and folklore of creatures that roam the woods. Perfect for young readers ages 7-12 and educators exploring regional culture. This book invites readers to discover the magic hidden in the everyday traditions of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

 Kindle is Out NOW – Hardcover Releases March 5, 2025

 

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Monsters and Magic in the Blue Ridge Mountains is an educational story divided into sections, offering insight into the Appalachian people, food, weather predictions, omens and superstitions, deaths and traditions, paranormal encounters, language, and influences/heritage. The writer also included an index and vocabulary section, resource lists, and festivals. But, before they dived into the mountain’s rich history, we learn what or, better yet, who inspired this book’s creation.

The author wrote Monsters and Magic in the Blue Ridge Mountains as a tribute to their grandparent and to preserve the Appalachian history for future generations. In the introduction, readers will discover how far the Appalachian Mountains stretch, its highest point, and which river measures the same length as the mountain range. The author graciously provides a map of thirteen states and details about this wondrous Blue Ridge Mountains. They also share a bit about their maternal grandparents, Howard and Lucy, and parental grandparents, Treva and Raymond. They taught Stacie Green (the writer) about the rich history of the mountains, how to be self-sufficient, and the importance of appreciating the beauty and abundance of nature. You can feel the author’s love for her family and gratitude for their teachings. Love and respect continue to be felt on every page of Monsters and Magic in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

In Monsters and Magic in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you’ll discover the magic hidden in the everyday traditions of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Uncover the full spectrum of information, starting with what cultures and animals call the mountains home and how people survive on the land. We learn how observing animals and insects signals rain is imminent, expect an early winter, snow is coming, or alerting us about upcoming bad weather. Read and store this section’s helpful info because it can be useful!

Though I enjoyed the list and explanations surrounding omens and superstitions, especially those focused on “death,” my favorite sections dealt with the paranormal world—the “otherworldly” creatures that also call the mountain home. The Wampus Cat, half human and half feline, was most fascinating. I had no idea of its theorized origin. The same goes for the Bell Witch Legend. While I wouldn’t like to cross paths with a Wendigo, Mothman, or Dogman, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Brown Mountain lights in North Carolina.

After we unravel the Appalachian language, the author steps back in time and gives us a history lesson on the native people. These factoids would make great conversation starters! For instance, did you know that the making of moonshine can be traced back to the 17th century? This is merely the tip of the iceberg of all the fascinating information you’ll learn and want to share with your family, friends, or students!

The text presentation hit a snag on a few occasions. The (sometimes) extra spacing between letters made a single world appear as two. Occasionally, it looked as if there was an attempt to erase a handwritten letter, but it didn’t entirely erase, leaving behind a wisp of lines. Those minor glitches aside, I highly recommend you read Monsters and Magic in the Blue Ridge Mountains. You’ll walk away from the story with a new appreciation for Appalachian culture, particularly the Blue Ridge Mountains, which the writer’s family and many others call home.

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

 Kindle is Out NOW – Hardcover Releases March 5, 2025

Reedsy’s Review Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Stacie Green is an author-illustrator based in North Carolina. She has written and illustrated several books featuring monsters including Monsters Need Breaks Too! and Monster Problems A to Z. Her illustrative style is richly colored, full of patterns, and brings nature and folklore together.

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

Website Link

 

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May 15, 2023 · 7:00 am

A Wretched Little Book of Poems: Remastered by Allen Isom (Book Review)

This Wretched Little Book is a must-read for fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Where the Sidewalk Ends. It promises to leave you both delighted and frightened. Embark on a spine-tingling journey through the pages of this book, featuring 10 brand new poems and eerie illustrations crafted by artificial intelligence in this remastering of the original.

Explore the bone-chilling tales of the Man in the Mask, Squid Face Girl, and The Depths, as you immerse yourself in the haunting and poetic stories of this collection. With a perfect blend of macabre terror and spooky fun, these poems are bound to stay with you long after you finish reading.

So, beware of the Little Beasties and other malevolent entities that may be Waiting in the Woods. And, above all, never look Behind You! Each page is filled with dread and suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Get ready to uncover the horrors that lie within your closets and under your bed, and experience the thrill of this illustrated horror poetry.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

We’ve all heard the familiar statement, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” I judged A Wretched Little Book of Poems: Remastered by its, and my assessment proved accurate. Every image would please horror, supernatural, paranormal, or occult fans. His poetry contained the right blend of suspense and horror, making me thirsty for more. 

My favorite selections revolved around the living dead. “The Deadwoods” was one of my favorite poems. I also enjoyed the horde of the “walking dead” image that followed “Zombie Town.” Each made me itch to watch a zombie flick. 

“Squid Face Girl” was hauntingly sad. Kali, the girl with tentacles on the lower half of her face, never felt love. She’s never been kissed. Kids were horrific towards her. Poor Kali was alone and only wanted someone to look past the squid face and see the beauty within. “Squid Face Girl” illustrates how the real monsters are the ones who look normal to the naked eye. 

“Dream Come True” was phenomenal. It gave readers a horrific twist on the power of a genie and how one should take great thought into stating a wish. The mother/monster image also scared the holy heck out of me! 

“Something Ate Me” gave me goosebumps, especially the line, “At least it cannot eat me twice.”

I’ll never look at my daughter’s rock collection after reading “Pet Rock.” NEVER! 

While many, MANY drawings sent shivers down my spine, one will definitely haunt my dreams tonight and many nights in the future. The severed head that accompanied “Old Severed Head” had a realness quality to it. It didn’t look like a creature straight from hell. It looked like an everyday man whose path crossed with the worst evil imaginable. Wait until you see the drawing…seriously, SHIVERS! Further into the book, the writer drew an axe-wielding man who reminded me of Jason from Friday the 13th. Again, images that show plausible monsters are the scariest (in my opinion). 

“What’s for Dinner” made me think of tall tales centering around “witches” capturing children to cook and eat them. The writer’s picture of the person sitting in the pot of boiling water made me shift nervously in my seat. His eyes seemed to stare at me, and I almost expected him to jump out of the book and grab me, bringing me into the bubbling cauldron with him. 

If you loathe bugs, you’ll want to avoid “Timmy’s Tummy,” “Creepy Crawlies,” and “Infestation.” The images are cringe-worthy! 

Allen Isom’s spine-tingling poetry book needs to be transformed into several 30-minute episodes. His creative mind designed drawings that any special effects artist (make-up and digital) would jump at the chance to bring to life. 

Poem after poem, drawing after drawing, each page is more haunting than the last. Evil lurks everywhere, even in space.  

Grab a copy of A Wretched Little Book of Poems: Remastered and step into the world of the strange, the frightening…YOUR worst nightmare!

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

When Allen Isom isn’t conjuring up spine-tingling tales of terror, he can be found lurking in the shadows, cackling maniacally and muttering to himself. Born in a haunted house, Allen Isom has always had a fascination with the darker side of life. His writing is a twisted mix of horror and humor.

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

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February 24, 2023 · 7:00 am

The Broken Darkness by Theresa A Braun (Book Review)


In her debut collection, Theresa Braun explores the inner workings of the human heart and what it is we most desire-forgiveness, acceptance, love, fame, or merely to escape who we really are. Whether we are battling ghosts, demons, mythical monsters, the past, or other dimensions, we are really facing the deepest parts of ourselves. These thirteen tales of horror and dark fantasy may appear to be a matter of good versus evil, but they are all a reflection of the hidden corners of the soul that are often shades of broken darkness. The characters in these stories must face their inner and outer terrors, or else suffer the consequences.

Contents:
“Dead over Heels”
“Collecting Empties”
“The Celestial Assignment”
“Guilty As Cell”
“Lost Time”
“Heathen”
“Stillborn”
“Legend Trippers”
“Dying for an Invitation”
“Homecoming”
“Stay Tuned”
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps
“Heirloom”

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

Before I began the horror anthology, I noticed that I’d read and reviewed about half of them in the past. I will briefly summarize a few before pushing forward with the new reads. 

“Dead over Heels” – As a fan of science fiction/paranormal shows, I love storylines that tap into the unknown. In “Dead over Heels,” we watch as the past meets the present in the forms of spirits reliving traumatic moments, aka their deaths by the same murderer.

As you can imagine, the living playing unwilling bystanders to this horrific scene is one thing — the victims being someone near and dear to their heart is another matter entirely. It amplifies the experience 1000%. 

For fans of the ghosts/spirits, I assure you this ending was perfection. It wasn’t your typical ending to a ghostly tale, and I like my plot twists.

“Stillborn” combined science fiction, mystery, suspense, gore, and shock. I didn’t want the story to end! 

“Legend Trippers” had gore, blood, and moments where I was happy I wasn’t reading this short story after sundown.

 

There were six short stories in the horror collection that I hadn’t read in the past: “Collecting Empties,” “Guilty As Cell,” “Lost Time,” “Heathen,” “Stay Tunes,” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Half of those scored five stars because they each possessed unique qualities that had me cringing, contained a fascinating turn of events, or possessed a plot that stood out from other stories in the horror genre.

“Stay Tuned” had vigilante justice served that would make the most vial and evil psychopath stand up, clap, and say, “Well done.” 

“Guilty As Cell” had me giving my cell the side-eye. It had a vengeful spirit, a possessed cell phone, and an ending that might be a trigger scene for some readers. Not the ghost, but, heck, maybe that too. Who am I to know who believes in the supernatural world and who might’ve seen a less-than-friendly spirit? 

I thought I knew the path “Heathen” was taking, and then Theresa wrote an enlightening scene that changed everything. I love Theresa’s plot twists!

 

Theresa’s works have always impressed me. She thinks outside the horror box and always leaves me wanting more. 

I recommend you pick up this collection! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score:  ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Theresa Braun was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and has carried some of that hardiness with her to South Florida where she currently resides with her two fur babies, who are her creative sidekicks. She enjoys delving into creative writing, painting, photography and even bouts of ghost hunting. Traveling is one of her passions—in fact, her latest adventure took her to Romania for a horror writers’ workshop where she followed in the steps of Vlad the Impaler. She writes horror fiction and the occasional romance. Oh, and she likes to guest blog about writing, television shows, movies, and books, mostly in the horror genre.

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October 14, 2022 · 7:00 am

The Pain Eater by LaShane Arnett (Book Review)

For most people, discovering the truth of who you are can be a harrowing journey, but when you’re 21-year-old Sadie Reed, discovering your truth can be downright deadly.

After her twenty-first birthday, Sadie has an undeniable vision and learns she’s psychic. She uses her gift to reconnect with her estranged father and spirals down an emotional rabbit hole…

When she has a vision of missing woman, Maxine Powell, being brutally murdered, she learns true evil does exist– and it’s killing gifted women just like her.

With the help of her best friend, Adrian, whom she is falling in love with, and Angel, an old dying Psychic, Sadie embarks on a journey to find the missing woman and quickly learns the path to her full potential lies within death.

Will it be hers, or someone she cares about?

The Pain Eater uniquely touches on the lasting pain associated with loss, the power within true love, and the strength of family.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from R&R Book Tours.
I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Sadie was born special, different than other babies. She could “read other babies.” As she grew, her “powers” grew with her. She didn’t quite understand them. At times, they got her in hot water at school. Sadie didn’t have a parent to speak to regarding her abilities. Her mom was stripped of her life (dead), and her father checked out immediately (mentally and often times physically). Sadie was not alone though – she had her best friend Adrian to lean on. A friend who eventually became more than a friend.

With Adrian by her side, she found a psychic (Angel) to help shield her mind and harness her powers. During their brief time together, she learned secrets about her family. These secrets would change her world forever. When Angel passed on, Sadie was thrust head-first into predicaments she wasn’t entirely prepared for. Anxiety, panic attacks, confusion, and fear were emotions constantly bombarding Sadie. I would be scared, too, if I suddenly saw menacing shadows, dead people, and glowing objects. 

We met the most interesting characters at Angel’s Celebration of Life shindig. Brianna, the three-boobed woman, gave me flashbacks to the Total Recall movies. There was also the bearded woman, hypnotist, sword swallower, contortionist, and so forth. I’ve never been to a “freak show” before, but I can imagine walking into a room with this group of individuals must’ve been quite an experience. 

Through Angel, we learn how Angel became powerful and where Sadie’s powers came from. No spoilers. 

The unsub’s identity of who took the numerous women was not divulged in this book; however, the final chapter made me think the sequel will center on him or her. Psychic versus Psychopath – I can’t wait!  

If you like paranormal thrillers or believe in psychics, pick up this book! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

About the Author

Author Pic

LaShane Arnett is an African American poet and author living in Southern California with her husband of thirty+ years. She is the creator of Arnett Publications and the author of The Sadie Reed Series. The first book in the series, The Pain Eater, is highly recommended for anyone who loves Paranormal Thrillers.

LaShane Arnett | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

 

 

 

 

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