Shereen Vedam

A heartwarming family-friendly paranormal mystery with a large dose of family feels (both found and born), a dash of Hindu mythology, a generous helping of cheese, and a happy ending to tie it all up. Overall, Death Takes a Detour is a fun, uplifting, and diverting way to while away a lazy afternoon.

It’s not the most realistic of tales, but it’s unrealistic in the kind of way that’s necessary for the kind of simple, feel-good, family-friendly, cheesy, the-good-guys-always-win, guaranteed-happily-ever-after-ending escapism that’s perfect for a rainy afternoon. The kind that leaves you feeling just a bit uplifted, warm-and-fuzzy, and optimistic even though you know what you just read was way too corny, cheesy, fairytale-esk, and full of deliberately positive life-lessons to even remotely resemble real life. This story leaves you with a heartwarming message about helping and healing yourself by helping others. It’s hard not to be charmed.

It’s a quick, fast-paced read that’ll keep your attention from cover to cover. It can feel a bit rushed, unrealistic, or corny (in an after-school-special kind of way) at times. As long as you’re not looking for anything too deep or complex, this book is a good ol’ fashioned starts-out-dark-but-ends-so-happy-its-cheesy, fun tale.

Brave, resourceful, and still healing from a terrible recent tragedy, EMT Abby Grimshaw returns to her hometown only to stumble upon a ghost, a murder, two not-so-normal newly-orphaned kids, and her family’s big supernatural secret. She commits to protecting and raising these kids as she would her own, which is no easy feat with the creature that killed the kids’ mother on their tail. Along the way, she acquires the help and friendship of a ghost determined to follow her around, a few witchy cop friends, and a siamese cat that may or may not be just a cat. With a new shared purpose to help each other and others in need, these protagonists heal each other and find a way to feel less alone in life.

The plot has plenty of twists and turns: some quite predictable and some not. A few twists are not quite believable, but forgivable because they’re fun and help set up the happy ending. This could be read as a standalone. The ending clearly sets up for sequels where the protagonists take on new paranormal mysteries and monster-of-the-week mythological baddies as a close-knit team.

I received a free e-copy via NetGalley. I am writing this review both honestly and voluntarily.… (más)

Rose Devlin is the best friend with a good heart a person could have. Sage Tanton is her best friend who is also psychic. Rose has protected Sage, as well as and her own family since childhood and nothing and no one is allowed to get in the way. Rose feels that she can handle any situation, even murder, without Sage's supernatural intervention. But when she runs into a police detective, and a little girl, Rose's reactions to the unexpected meetings triggers Sage's visions.

Nathan is a new police investigator and the man who ran into her while he was chasing a thief. Not long after Sage’s vision shows that the little girl Rose saw after being knocked down by Nathan is in danger. It is up to Rose and Sage to find the girl and save her before it's too late. Unfortunately, Rose needs to get the police involved without telling them about Sage’s abilities. Rose does what she always does, jumps in feet first and lands in Nathan’s arms.
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Series: A Psychic Mystery Romance
Author: Shereen Vedam
Genre: Paranormal/Romance Cozy
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC

Detective Nathan Bryant is a great character is Sage it Out. He knows that Rose is lying to him and he wonders if she isn’t a bit crazy. Despite his concern, Nathan finds himself completely over the moon for her and unable to stay away. He is instinctively protective of her and wants to help, but the past keeps coming back to haunt him. Trust is something he has a hard time giving, and this is an issue he and Rose share.

This is a sweet story, but it needs work. It is a nice paranormal romance with hints of danger. There is action but mainly towards the end. The characters are likable but unfortunately, not very believable. The situations Rose and Sage find themselves in are simply not possible. In real life, if people acted the way these two characters act with the police, they would have been arrested and sent to jail.

The love interest for both women is equally unrealistic. Police officers do not treat possible suspects, or those they think may be involved in illegal activities in the manner these male characters treat the two women. Even after the women continually lie to them about a case. People may well fall in love at first sight. However, police investigating a possible crime usually do not allow personal feelings to stand in the way of their job. They don’t take evidence in a crime investigation out of evidence and give it back to the “owner” even if that owner is a five-year-old girl.

The ending is the best part of this book over all. The writing is smooth, but the book needs editing and proper formatting. Unfortunately, the very last page of the book makes everything else pale in comparison to all the other unbelievable events. The ending had the potential to be great but was too abrupt with no back story to help the reader envision the scene.

All of this being said, the book does have moments that make the reader smile and even wish the events happened in real life. It isn’t a terrible book, but it is need of more depth, better-developed characters, and more believable scenarios.


… (más)

Coven at Callington by Shereen Vedam is a delightful and unique Fantasy Romance set in the Regency world of 1815 with some very unique plot ideas. Book 1 in "The Cauldron Effect."

An exciting and complicated story that blends religion, magic, witches, warlocks, faes, intrigue and more. Thomas Drake Saint-Clair, Earl of Braden, and a Guard of the Green Cross, is "tasked by the archbishop to rescue a missing boy and return him to his warlock father", what he finds is, an unholy war between witches and warlocks. Merryn Pendraven, is a newly confirmed Coven Protectress, who rushes headlong to the rescue of a witch's son. Totally convinced the same evil warlock who was responsible for her younger brother's death is behind this boy's kidnapping, as well.

This story blends a magical world with the religious world seemlessly with great world building. However, at first it was a bit disconcerting, the dialogue between all the creatures was a bit hard to understand but once you get into the story it all comes together with clearer understanding. It was easy to fall in love with Merryn and Braden, the otherworldly characters and their worlds and stay glued to the pages. A very intriguing mixture of magic, witchcraft, religion and finding love between two different worlds with a few surprises and twists and turns. Definitely a rip-roaring Regency ride with a delightful witchy tale. If you enjoy tales of magic, witches, faes, mystery, warlocks, a bit of suspense and the excitement of finding a balance between love and the diversity of love between different worlds, you will definitely enjoy the COVEN AT CALLINGTON. The author did an exceptionally good job of blending a well written and well crafted story with the WOW factor. Brilliantly written! This was my first time reading this author's writing style and I was delighted with the premise of this new series. I look forward to reading more of Shereen Vedam's stories.

"I voluntarily received a complimentary copy, however, these are my honest opinions. I was in no way required nor compensated to write a review."

Rating: 4
Reviewer: AprilR… (más)

A pleasant short story that has the reader discovering even witches deserve love. Charmaine, an honest witch finds herself in a precarious situation when a spell has gone wrong and the man who it was intended for demands satisfaction. She then discloses a mystery and love in her heart that can't be denied. Not a sappy love story but an interesting journey of the discovery of love. A refreshing look at a woman who happens to be a witch but a nice one instead of an evil plotting wicked version. The story leans more so on fantasy than the paranormal and although short fulfilling. Worth a read!… (más)