Book Review: Black Hellebore by Nicole Zoltack

Title: Black Hellebore
Series: Heroes of Falledge #1
Author: Nicole Zoltack
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing (October 21, 2013)
Genre: Superhero Romance

Format Read: PDF ARC
Length: Novel
Source: Author

Once a year for the past decade, Nicholas Adams returns to Falledge and leaves a black hellebore on his girlfriend's grave. While departing Falledge, he chases after a man sneaking into the laboratory and dies for his trouble. A witch brings him back to life, but Nicholas soon realizes he's not the same man. Turns out, magic combined with a black hellebore in his pocket changed him into a kind of a super man.

His girlfriend's twin, Julianna Paige, is Falledge's deputy, struggling to solve several murders. Nicholas, and his alter ego the Black Hellebore, helps her, even as she helps him move on and even start to love again.

Unfortunately, Nicholas wasn't the only one changed in the laboratory explosion, and now there's a supervillain bent on destroying Falledge, and killing the Black Hellebore. But falling in love might prove more dangerous than any supervillain.

Teasers: The woman was batty. Julianna smirked. A batty witch. [pg. 111 of 231 of PDF ARC. This made me smirk too.]

“Why do I have a feeling that deals made with witches are no better than deals made with the devil?” [pg. 156 of 231 of PDF ARC. Love this line!]

Review: Nicholas Adams must face his demons as he returns to Falledge in Nicole Zoltack’s Black Hellebore.

Zoltack has created a classic superhero and villain for her novel. Nicholas Adams has the typical tragic and troubled past and a strong moral code as he morphs from man to super-man. The villain also transforms from a disgruntled employee to a creepy and vicious villain who has his eyes set on good ol’ revenge.

Although the basis of the superhero/villain story is familiar, Zoltack has introduced wonderful paranormal and romantic twists to the storyline. My favorite character is Gavina, the witch. She’s a touch batty, but she adds a delightful sense of comedic relief. Julianna Paige is a strong heroine, although her wishy-washy attitude toward Nicholas got a little old toward the end. I would’ve liked to have seen a little more development in Julianna and Nicholas’s relationship and how it grew through the course of the novel.

The novel started out fast-pace and ended the same with a slight slowdown in the middle. Zoltack kept me guessing on how the Black Hellebore would ever defeat the villain, and I thought how he did was ingenious. And that ending gave a hint of what more is to come for the Black Hellebore and Falledge.

Black Hellebore by Nicole Zoltack spins a refreshing superhero tale with its fantastic paranormal elements! I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Four Bookworms = I really liked it!

Z is for . . . #atozchallenge

For the A to Z Challenge, I will be featuring up to three authors per letter (via their last name). Some of the authors responded to my request for authors to promote. Others, I found. Please check them out and their books. Thank you!

Our "Z" Authors

Zoltack, Nicole

Nicole Zoltack writes fantasy/paranormal, romances, horror, historical, for adults, YA, MG, and PB, novels, short stories, and flash pieces. She's also an editor for MuseItUp Publishing and eTreasures Publishing, and a freelance editor for Passionate Writer Publishing.

When she isn't writing about girls wanting to be knights, talking unicorns, and zombies, she spends time with her loving family. She loves to ride horses (pretending they're unicorns, of course!) and going to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, dressed in period garb.

Links: Website  Blog  Twitter @NicoleZoltack  Facebook fan page  Goodreads Her books on Amazon

Now, if you like fantasy flash fiction, please visit my other blog participating in the challenge: Cherie Reich - Author. To find the other participants, click here.

A SIGHT FOR SORE FANGS by Nicole Zoltack

Title: A Sight for Sore Fangs

Series: What You See Is What You Get #4

Author: Nicole Zoltack

Publisher: Echelon Press (July 11, 2011)

Format: eBook

Source: Purchased on Amazon Kindle

To Purchase: Amazon  

Description: Ana and Eric managed to survive an attack from two vampires, but the encounter was not been without danger, and Frank, Ana's friend, has paid the price. A vampire bit him, and now Frank is in a coma. He might never wake up… or up might, as a vampire.

Newly self-declared vampire hunter, Ana will not allow that to happen. She would never stake her friend!

Luckily, there is a recipe to save someone from vampire venom. A tear from a pegasus or a unicorn's horn. And a fang from the deadly basilisk that kills those who catch its gaze.

Vampires aren't the only evil creatures in the world. And to save her friend, Ana is going to need to make new ones, ones who can see what she can't.

Time is running out for Frank. Will Ana be able to save him?

Review: Nicole Zoltack's A Sight for Sore Fangs, the fourth installment in the What You See Is What You Get series, is an emotional rollercoaster where choices can dangerous consequences.

After Ana's friend Frank was bitten by a vampire, she and Eric have to find the magical ingredients to save his life before it is too late. There is a problem, though. Neither she or Eric can see the Pegasus, unicorn, or basilisk. They have to persuade the seers who can before it's too late and Frank either dies or becomes a vampire.

A Sight for Sore Fangs picks up from where Or Not to See left off. Zoltack's writing tugs at the emotions as Ana feels the guilt from her recklessness. A slight rift forms between her and Eric as they find a basilisk and unicorn seer. The characters learn how their actions have consequences, which lends to the realism in the characters in this fantastical world Zoltack has created. The best part of this world revolves around these magical creatures, and we get our first glimpses of more than just vampires. The ending is surprising and leaves the reader what will happen next.

I look forward to the next installment of this series. I recommend it to lovers of fantasy and the paranormal and all ages. A Sight for Sore Fangs is well-worth the read!

OR NOT TO SEE by Nicole Zoltack

Title: Or Not to See

Series: What You See Is What You Get (#3)

Author: Nicole Zoltack

Publisher: Echelon Press (June 11, 2011)

Format: eBook

Source: Purchased on Amazon

To Purchase: Amazon  

Book Description: With night fallen, Ana and Eric find themselves in a dark and dangerous place. Vampires have found them. Victor had been one of the oldest vampires, one of only a few that could dare to walk around in shadows while the sun beat down on the earth. These vampires were his followers, and now they want revenge and to taste Ana’s blood until she is drained dry.

If Ana wants to live to see autumn, she needs to stay strong and smart. No one said being a vampire hunter was going to be easy, and Ana is about to learn that first hand…

But sometimes the scariest things that go bump in the night aren’t what you can see…

Review: In the third installment of the What You See Is What You Get series, Or Not to See by Nicole Zoltack swirls in action and mystery of what might come next for Ana and her friends.

Ana and Eric have discovered that the vampire Victor is rather completely dead, but he left behind some family members who want to drain Ana dry. As night approaches, Ana and Eric along with Ana’s friends have to find a way to escape the forest or become dinner, but what else is in the woods besides the vampires is the real unanswered question.

After the climatic end in To See (#2 in the series), Or Not to See fell a little short to deliver in the beginning but picked up at the end. The start was a little slow to catch people up that hadn’t read the first two with a few minor mistakes that wouldn’t be evident unless you read the other two (for example, Ana’s parents were werewolf seers in the first two but mentioned as vampire seers in this one). Despite the rocky start, the action thrust the two seers and their friends right into two hungry vampires who weren’t taking “no” for an answer with more creatures of the night on their way. I enjoyed how the vampires were liken to sharks in their sense of smell. I do love how the end still clings to a mystery of what else might be amongst them as Ana learns more and more about the world of seeing.

Overall, I love the mythology and mystery of Or Not to See and do look forward to Ana’s next adventure within the What You See Is What You Get series.

TO SEE by Nicole Zoltack

Title: To See

Series: What You See is What You Get, #2

Author: Nicole Zoltack

Publisher: Echelon Press LLC

Format: Ebook

To Purchase: Amazon 

Book Description: Now that Ana can see, her summer has taken on a new direction. Instead of shopping and going to the beach with friends, she has to register with the Seer’s Council. There, Ana meets Eric, a hot guy who happens to also be a vampire seer. Eric is impressed that Ana took on a vampire all by herself but wonders if Victor truly is dead.

So Ana and Eric return to the scene of the crime and make a dangerous discovery, one that could put their lives in danger. Snooping around during the daytime seems safe enough, until they lose track of time and night quickly descends. Vampires must hide in shadows, but the moon offers all kinds of opportunities.

Are Ana and Eric the hunters…or the prey?

Review: Nicole Zoltack’s To See leaps into the story that Seeing for the First Time left off.

Ana attempts to understand what it means to be a seer of vampires. When she registers with the Seer’s Council, she starts to understand a little more about this extraordinary world and what might be lurking in the shadows.

Ms. Zoltack yanks the reader further into this mysterious world of the seers. The pacing is quick and the characters believable. I flew through this short story during my lunch break. Then the cliffhanger ending. The heart-pounding anticipation of what is going to come next...only to have to wait until the next installment. Maddening yet wonderful.

I’ll be first in line to get the next one.

SEEING FOR THE FIRST TIME by Nicole Zoltack

Title: Seeing for the First Time

Series: What You See Is What You Get

Author: Nicole Zoltack

Publisher: Echelon Press

To Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Seeing-First-Time-What-ebook/dp/B004R1Q4XA/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=books&qid=1300122083&sr=1-6

Book Description: For the last ten years, Ana has spent summers with her Gram. With nothing to do, the closest beach two hours away, and Gram, who Ana is convinced is crazy, always in her garden talking to things that aren't there, Ana is bored out of her mind.

One day, Ana sees strange colors floating around Gram as she works in her garden. Gram says they're fairies. She can "See" them, and there are others who can see things. Ana's a Seer, too.

When Gram gives Ana a book that explains about the many different creatures, like selkies, unicorns, vampires, and others, Ana gets curious. She is shocked when she comes across the entry about famous werewolf hunting parents.

Determined to learn where she fits in, Ana's summer gets a lot more exciting as she sets off to find out what she can "see." Only problem is, she's not sure what to do when she finally discovers the truth. And she's not sure she'll live to tell anyone.

Review: Nicole Zoltack’s Seeing for the First Time gives a taste of myths, legends, and the people who see them. Ana believes her Gram to be crazy, but she soon discovers her family’s secret: they are seers of magical creatures. Ana can’t wait to find out what she sees. Ms. Zoltack hints at an entire fantastical world within our own, and she makes this world and characters come to life in such a short story. I look forward to what will come next in the What You See Is What You Get series.

KNIGHT OF GLORY by Nicole Zoltack

Title: Knight of Glory, Book Two of the Kingdom of Arnhem series

Author: Nicole Zoltack

Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. (March 2010)

To Purchase: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-69/%3Ci%3EKingdom-of-Arnhem-Book/Detail.bok

Book Blurb: Sir Geoffrey, along with some companions, has been sent away from Arnhem, entrusted by Queen Aislinn for a special mission, and has to leave behind the mysterious lady Celestia. On his journey, he uncovers seeds of a sinister plot, learns a horrible secret, and makes a new friend in exile Jenanna.

Their mission completed, Geoffrey and his companions rush to two different kingdoms to ask for aid. Danger and betrayal lurks around every corner, and even allies have secrets that could prove deadly. Geoffrey's feelings for Celestia grow and wane. After learning some of Celestia's secrets, he begins to have second thoughts about his love for her and is even drawn to Jenanna

Rumors abound that the Speicans have enlisted a mage of their own, to work unspeakable, forbidden magic. The war between Speica and Arnhem has just begun. Will Geoffrey survive the battle to live another day and discover which woman he truly loves?

Review: Nicole Zoltack's Knight of Glory follows Sir Geoffrey's quest for love and honor. With the growing threat of Speica and a dangerous Villaimage, the Kingdom of Arnhem may have met its match. Whereas in Woman of Honor, we see the historical aspects of knighthood, in Knight of Glory, Ms. Zoltack builds upon her fantastical world. We learn of new kingdoms, including the dwarven kingdom in the south and the troll kingdom in the north. New mythological creatures come into play, and we get our first real doses of magic. Despite battle brewing, love conquers all bounds. Filled with bitter foes, magical displays, a quest for true love in many cases, and a dash of enigma, Knight of Glory is a true delight. By the end, we understand that a brewing war of good and evil is afoot, but unfortunately, we must wait until May 2011 for the third book of the Kingdom of Arnhem series, Champion of Valor. I look forward to this third book and more from Ms. Zoltack.

WOMAN OF HONOR by Nicole Zoltack

Title: Woman of Honor, Book One of Kingdom of Arnhem series

Author: Nicole Zoltack

Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. (April 2009)

To Purchase:  http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-58/%3Ci%3EKingdom-of-Arnhem-Book/Detail.bok

Book Blurb: Aislinn of Bairdhe dreams of becoming a lady knight to honor the death of her fallen brother. To her mother's horror, King Patrick grants Aislinn's wish and she begins her long years of training.

Despite the mockery of the other pages, and the disdain of Prince Caelan who also trains to be a knight, Aislinn commits herself to her dreams and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and bravery. Through the years, Aislinn and Caelan grow from sparing classmates to good friends. They both know that someday Caelan will marry for the sake of the kingdom, but even that cannot keep them from falling in love.

The threat of war with the Speicans is a constant threat, and one that grows more frightening as she and Caelan train toward their eventual knighthood. Aislinn has committed herself to serving Arnhem, and has promised herself as King's Champion when Caelan claims the throne. She is willing to give up everything... her childhood, her life, even her heart for Arnhem. No matter the pain it brings.

Review: Nicole Zoltack's Woman of Honor weaves the tale of the first lady knight of Arnhem. Sprinkled with historical facts, bullies, and a good dose of love and honor, Woman of Honor is a coming of age novel set in the fantastical medieval world of Arnhem Kingdom. Aislinn is brave and truly grows to be a woman of honor. The characters are likeable and realistic. We feel Aislinn's pains while she tries to prove herself. She overcomes tradition and the growing threat of Speica. This novel has history, knights, and mythological creatures and is filled with intrigue, mystery, horror, and, most important of all, love. In this first book of the Kingdom of Arnhem series, I feel like we touch upon their lives and a conflict looming in their future. By the end, I craved more from this fantastical world, and I'm glad Ms. Zoltack supplied it in her next book.