Chanticleer Book Reviews

Author: d-j-adamson

  • SPOTLIGHT on PARANORMAL: Paranormal Book Awards 2020 CIBA for All Things Spooky, Haunted, Unreal, Superstitious and Strange

    SPOTLIGHT on PARANORMAL: Paranormal Book Awards 2020 CIBA for All Things Spooky, Haunted, Unreal, Superstitious and Strange

    For Stories that are Out of this World!

    Just in time for Halloween, Eve of All Saints Day, Samhain, and Guy Fawkes Day 

    Kiffer’s Note:  Did you know that in Sweden Halloween is celebrated from October 31 until November 6th? That is a great idea! Det är en bra idé.

    OCTOBER isn’t just for OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction or GLOBAL THRILLERS for Pulse-Racing Suspense novels, or even our newest division, SHORT Stories…

    October helps us understand why campfires are a good idea, why it’s never safe to go down into the cellar alone on certain nights of the year, and, among other things, why it’s prudent to know the history of a house before you buy it.

    In October, strange things happen when these bits of wisdom are ignored. 

    Paranormal Fiction Awards

     

    I’ve said it before, and I am going to reaffirm it now, October is my favorite time of year. I love the goblins, ghosts, monsters of the dark as much as the next person (okay, maybe more) and so it’s no surprise that I love October because October means Halloween! I can even put it into a mathematical formula:

    And this year’s a little different. In a very real sense, we all are living in a global nightmare because of a horrible virus that supposedly came from (wait for it!) BATS.

    We know what it’s like to be afraid, to be brave, to yearn for companionship, and not be able to hug our loved ones. We know what it’s like to run out of hand sanitizer and toilet paper. And we wonder when things will get better.

    Still, I am a BIG fan of horror. Why? Because fiction helps us here. Especially horror. Between the pages of the scariest novel, we see our own humanity, our own hopes, and our own fears. Our defeats – and also our victories.  It is cathartic to dip into an imaginary world where things are falling apart and monsters are real. It gives us a sense of control. A sense that even though things are bad, they will get better (and then worse…). Yes, we’re in a major pandemic here. People are sick and things are confusing, but the vampires haven’t risen from the grave yet, and Frankenstein’s Monster is not coming to dinner. Ghost stories are simply that. Stories.

    Ghostbusters

    So gather around (while you’re social distancing) the campfire and tell us your favorite spooky stories. Because, I don’t know about you, but I could sure use some fictional horror in my life… Are you ready?

    Welcome to the PARANORMAL Book Awards!

    Send us your stories of dark places, alien abductions, magic and magical beings, the supernatural, vampires & werewolves, angels & demons, fairies & mythological beings, weird otherworldly tales… and gothic horror stories. We will put them to the test and discover the best among them for the 2018 Paranormal Book Awards, a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards – the CIBAs.

    But don’t wait too long. The deadline for the Paranormal Awards is October 31, 2020. Enter here, and don’t say we didn’t warn you.

     

     

    Travel with me through the Paranormal Awards Hall of Fame…

    The 2019 PARANORMAL Book Awards Grand Prize for Supernatural Fiction is:

     

    Susan Lynn Solomon took home the GRAND PRIZE for Abagail’s Window 

    “Wow! … she is original and develops her characters into an intense plot of life and love. Great job!” – Chanticleer Reviews

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2019 Paranormal Book Awards First Place Winners for Supernatural Fiction Novels:

     

    • Ryan J. Lyons Drums and Dragons
    • Linda Watkins The Tao of the Viper
    • Kaylin McFarren High Flying
    • Palmer Pickering Moon Deeds
    • Jack Cullen Runes of Steel
    • Joy Ross Davis The Witch of Blacklion
    • D. J. Adamson At The Edge of No Return

     

     

     

    The 2018 PARANORMAL Book Awards Grand Prize for Supernatural Fiction is:

    Joy Ross Davis, Paranormal Grand Prize Book Award Winner

     

    The Madwoman of Preacher’s Cove “One man searches for the truth in the quiet hamlet of his childhood, only to uncover the terrifying reality. Thrilling and spinetingling! Joy Ross Davis knows how to keep you up at night! Highly recommended.” 

     

     

     

    2018 Paranormal Book Awards First Place Winners for Supernatural Fiction Novels:

     

     

     

     

    The 2017 PARANORMAL Book Awards Grand Prize for Supernatural Fiction is:

    Van Ops – The Lost Power is a story in which “Alexander the Great’s obscure Egyptian weapon has been lost for eons. Can Maddy Marshall and covert agent Bear Thorenson find the ancient weapon in time to stop fragile post-Cold War peace from being forever shattered?”

    Avanti Centrae is the author of the international award-winning VanOps thriller series. Her work has been compared to that of James Rollins, Steve Berry, Dan Brown, and Preston/Child’s Pendergast series.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2017 Paranormal Book Awards First Place Winners for Supernatural Fiction Novels:

    • Willow’s Discovery by Joanne Jaytanie
    • Virtuous Souls by Pamela LePage
    • Rea by Lydia Staggs
    • A Pocketful of Lodestones, Time Traveler Professor Book 2 by Elizabeth Crowens
    • Dark Water by Chynna Laird

     

     

     

    The 2016 PARANORMAL Book Awards Grand Prize:

    Almost Mortal “Blending the high-octane thrust of a contemporary legal thriller with the magical realism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, “Almost Mortal” cleaves a new, inventive niche in the legal thriller genre. This fast-paced legal thriller will leave the reader hungering for more. A terrific read!”

    Christopher Leibig is a novelist and a criminal defense attorney. He thinks about Fiction like this…”Fiction, while by its definition invented, need not tell that lie. In fiction, the devil is everywhere. And everyone has their story.”

     

     

     

    2016 Paranormal Book Awards First Place Winners for Supernatural Fiction Novels :

     

     

     

     

    The 2015 PARANORMAL Book Awards Grand Prize:

    The Aurora Affair (retitled as Mobius) “… is a story about a skeptical heroine who discovers that her love affairs are the key to harnessing her own power to influence the world—for better if she does it right, or for worse if she fails.”

    Carolyn Haley “… is a freelance writer and editor who lives in rural Vermont. I write a mix of commercial copy, articles for regional and national publications.” She writes award-winning novels in her spare time.

     

     

     

    2015 Paranormal Book Awards First Place Winners for Supernatural Fiction Novels :

    The 2014 PARANORMAL Book Awards Grand Prize:

     An Ex to Grind in Deadwood is a wickedly funny paranormal mystery romance series that takes place in its namesake city in South Dakota.

     

    Ann Charles, USA Bestselling Author

    Ann Charles “…lives in the beautiful Northern Arizona mountains with her clever husband, charming kids, and an incredibly sassy cat. After many years and several colleges, she managed to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree in English with an emphasis on creative writing from the University of Washington.”

     

     

    2014 Paranormal Book Awards First Place Winners for Supernatural Fiction Novels:

    The 2013 PARANORMAL Book Awards Grand Prize:

    The Watcher is a story where “…ancient history is only the beginning.”

     

     

    Lisa Voisin “… spent her childhood daydreaming and making up stories, but it was my love of reading and writing in her teens that drew her to Young Adult fiction.” 

     

     

     

     

    2013 Paranormal Book Awards First Place Winners for Supernatural Fiction Novels:

    • Spirit Legacy by E.E. Holmes
    • Poe, Nevermore by Rachel M. Martens
    • The Immortal American by L. B. Joramo
    • The Dream Jumper’s Promise by Kim Hornsby
    • Montana Mustangs by Danica Winters
    • The Third Option by Ben A. Sharpton
    • Witch’s Malice by David Hutchison
    • Dancing on the Dark Side by Mairin Fisher-Fleming

     

    2012 1st Place Winner in the Paranormal Awards:

    Sacred Fires is a well written and crafted romantic paranormal novel with elements of intrigue and suspense along with a story set in a lush locale with mystic Aztec undercurrents. Greenfeder has succeeded in writing a fast-paced romantic suspense novel that is refreshingly different.

     

    Catherine Greenfeder “… continues to pursue her dream of getting her work published. To date, she has had five novels including a western historical, two adult paranormal novels, and two young adult paranormal novels published. She anticipates a few short stories and another young adult novel published in the near future.”

    Our 2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs) feature more than $30,000.00 worth of cash and prizes each year! 

    • The 2020 PARANORMAL Grand Prize Winner is named Chanticleer Reviews Best Supernatural Fiction Book of the Year and goes on to compete for the Chanticleer Overall Grand Prize Best Book of the Year
    • The Overall Grand Prize Winner is named Chanticleer Reviews Best Book of the Year and awarded the $1000 prize
    • All winners receive a Chanticleer Prize Package which includes a digital badge, a ribbon, and a whole assortment of goodies detailed below (winners outside the US pay a shipping & handling fee)

    That’s more than $30,000.00 worth of cash and prizes! The Fine Print.

    ~$1000 for one lucky Overall Grand Prize Winner
    ~$30,000+ in reviews, prizes, and promotional opportunities awarded to Category Winners

    Currently accepting entries. Deadline: Oct. 31st, 2020.

    What are you waiting for? Enter today!Who will win the PARANORMAL Book Awards Blue Ribbons for 2020?

    Submit your works today!

    The last day for submissions into the 2020 Paranormal Book Awards is October 31, 2020.

    Click here for more information and submission form! 

    Don’t Delay! Enter Today! 

  • PARANORMAL Book Awards for Supernatural Fiction – 2019 CIBA Winners

    PARANORMAL Book Awards for Supernatural Fiction – 2019 CIBA Winners

    Paranormal Fiction AwardsCongratulations to the First Place Category Winners and the Grand Prize Winner of the PARANORMAL Book Awards for SUPERNATURAL Fiction, a division of the 2019 CIBAs

    The Search for the Best Supernatural Fiction

    Chanticleer International Book Awards celebrates the best books featuring magic, the supernatural , weird otherworldly stories, super humans , magical beings & supernatural entities, vampires & werewolves, angels & demons, fairies & mythological beings, magical systems and elements. We love them all.

    The 2019 PARANORMAL  BOOK Awards First Place Category Winners and the PARANORMAL Grand Prize winner were announced at the Virtual Chanticleer Authors Conference that was broadcast via ZOOM webinar the week of Sept 8 -13, 2020 from the Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, Wash.

    Chris Leibig, author of ALMOST MORTAL, (a Paranormal Grand Prize Winner), announced the PARANORMAL Award Winners.

    This is the OFFICIAL 2019 LIST of the PARANORMAL BOOK AWARDS First Place Category Winners and the PARANORMAL Grand Prize Winner.

    Congratulations to all!

    • Ryan J. Lyons – Drums and Dragons
    • Linda Watkins – The Tao of the Viper
    • Kaylin McFarren – High Flying
    • Susan Lynn Solomon – Abigail’s Window   
    • Palmer Pickering – Moon Deeds
    • Jack Cullen – Runes of Steel
    • Joy Ross Davis – The Witch of Blacklion
    • D. J. Adamson – At The Edge of No Return

    The Paranormal Book Awards 2019 Grand Prize Winner is:

    Abigail’s Window by Susan Lynn Solomon

    This is the badge for the Grand Prize Winner of the 2018 Paranormal Book Awards, The Madwoman of Preacher’s Cove by Joy Ross Davis

    We are accepting submissions into the 2020 PARANORMAL Book Awards until October 31, 2020.

    The 2020 Paranormal  Book Awards winners will be announced at CAC 21 on April 17, 2021.

    Don’t delay! Enter today! 

    A Note to ALL the WINNERS: The coveted CIBA Blue Ribbons will be mailed out starting in October. We will contact you with an email to verify your mailing address and other items. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

    If you have any questions, please email info@ChantiReviews.com == we will try our best to reply in 3 or 4 business days.

  • SPOTLIGHT on M&Ms – Mystery & Mayhem AWARDS CIBAs – Cozy Mysteries, Amateur Sleuths, and more!

    SPOTLIGHT on M&Ms – Mystery & Mayhem AWARDS CIBAs – Cozy Mysteries, Amateur Sleuths, and more!

    Welcome to our SPOTLIGHT on the CHANTICLEER INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS (the CIBAs): the MYSTERY & MAYHEM Awards Deadline is upon us!

    We are seeking the best novels featuring “mystery and mayhem,” amateur sleuthing, romantic suspense, light suspense, travel mystery, classic mystery, British cozy, hobby sleuths, senior sleuths, or historical mystery. We will put them to the test and discover the best among them. (For thrillers, action suspense, detective, crime fiction see our Clue Awards)

    The APRIL 30th deadline for the Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem Awards (aka M&Ms) has been extended until May 31, 2020 due to many requests for an extension due to these unprecedented times of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    In just a few short days, we go to work to uncover the hidden secrets, the lost key, the answer to the question, Whodunit?

    The 2019 Mystery and Mayhem FINALISTS were posted on April 30, 2020.

    Congratulations to these authors whose works have advanced to this new achievement level of the  Chanticleer International Book Awards in the Mystery and Mayhem Book Awards division.

     

    Michelle Cox won the 2018 GRAND PRIZE for Murder and Mystery for A Promise Given (A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Series, Book 3)

     

    The First in Category, First Place Winners for 2018 are:


     

     

    Carl & Jane Bock are the M&M Grand Prize winners in 2017 for Coronado’s Trail: An Arizona Borderlands Mystery

    The First in Category, First Place Winners for 2017 are:

     

    Alice K. Boatwright is the MYSTERY & MAYHEM Grand Prize winner in 2016 for Under an English Heaven!

    The First in Category, First Place Winners for 2016 are:

     

     

    Wendy Delaney is the  2015’s M&M Grand Prize Winner for There’s Something About Marty

    The First in Category, First Place Winners for 2015 are:

     

     

     

     

    Bernadette Pajer of the Professor Bradshaw Series — Fatal Induction took home the 2013 M&M Grand Prize

     

     

    Pamela Beason won GRAND PRIZE in 2012 for The Only Witness 

     

     

     

    Is your amateur sleuth suspicious of the little old lady who lives next door? Is there something wrong in Mayberry and your hero is going to find out what it is – no matter the cost? Are the stakes so high for your heroine, she succumbs to the hot, sexy delivery man who happens to be the guy with forty bodies buried in his basement? Is your character’s cat helping him solve the latest crime?

    If so, have we got the contest for you!

    Mystery & Mayhem

    Your book could earn a place in our M&M hall of fame for 2020!

    All you have to do is enter.

    And due to these unprecedented times, we have extended the deadline from April 30, 2020 to May 31, 2020.

    Unpublished Manuscripts and recently Published (Indie, Traditional, Hybrid) Novels (after Jan. 1, 2018) are accepted.

    Our Mystery & Mayhem Awards are the Chanticleer International Book Awards search for today’s best cozy mystery fiction books!

    Cozy Mystery Fiction Award

    Do not hesitate – or stop to solve a crime –

    the M&M Awards extended deadline is MAY, 31, 2020!

    Click here to enter – and good luck!

     

     

     

  • SUPPOSE: A Lillian Dove Mystery by D. J. Adamson – Mystery, Amateur Sleuth, Female Lead

    SUPPOSE: A Lillian Dove Mystery by D. J. Adamson – Mystery, Amateur Sleuth, Female Lead

    M&M Blue and Gold 1st Place Badge ImageIn this enticing second installment of D. J. Adamson’s Lillian Dove Mystery series, big city problems wind up in a small town in the Midwest threatening not only the safety and integrity of the community, but bringing imminent danger to the life of one woman who is just trying to move beyond her rocky past and navigate toward a more positive future.

    Trying to get your life back on track may be a little tricky when you’re a recovering alcoholic five years sober, and you’ve just inherited a house and the local AAA Discount Liquor Store. Here in Frytown, Iowa, Lillian Dove is clearly aware that “life has its ironies,” but she’s determined to make the best of recent circumstances. With her cat Bacardi, she’s been residing at her mother Dahlia’s condo in Lake’s Edge Senior Residential Complex, while the feisty woman is in a nearby convalescent home hell-bent on getting out.

    Lillian’s also been involved with the local Frytown Police Chief, a man she felt offered love and security, though unfortunately he also happens to be married. While sobriety and the unexpected new business acquisition have boosted her spirits, Lillian is haunted by the suicide of her best friend Cressie, a former addict who forced Lillian to face her own issues.

    Suddenly, Cressie’s onetime ne’er do well boyfriend is threatening to blackmail Lillian, claiming to have video proof that she was responsible for Cressie’s death. Lillian knows his demands are bogus, but when his dead body is discovered at the condo, she’s determined to uncover the truth and clear her own name.

    Within this well-crafted storyline, the murder investigation is linked to a border-crossing drug operation that stems from a multi-million-dollar Chicago firm, and a CEO involved in illegal money laundering. As Federal Agents and the local Police Department unite to catch the criminals, Lillian finds herself in harm’s way when she’s unwittingly dragged into the high-risk probe. From murder and a suspicious flash drive to vandalism, kidnapping, and surprise revelations, Lillian embarks on a winding, roller-coaster ride.

    For those unfamiliar with Adamson’s evolving mystery series, a passing mention of Lillian’s having been a prior witness to an arson case that resulted in near dire consequences for both Lillian and her mother, helps bring readers up to speed and also confirms Lillian’s seemingly magnetic draw to trouble.

    While chapter/segment titles indicate this story plays out over a short span of a few days, Adamson broadens the platform with a full range of characters and action. From the local mayor being accused of bigamy and a dispatch operator who equates to “Town Gossipedia”, to the ghost of Lillian’s benefactor assuring her that “everything will be fine” and the pirate-costumed nurse just trying to keep the ornery senior patients in line, all add engaging humor and lightness to the narrative in contrast with the greater tension and drama.

    Like all good mysteries, Adamson creates a tale riddled with questions. Intertwined with bantering dialogue and heated conversations, Lillian’s self-imposed ponderings about recent events help draw us into the heart and mind of the central character. As a soul-searching individual coming to grips with the past, Lillian’s dream states offer a glimpse of her lost childhood and her fractured life. Adamson clearly has an eye for detail. Whether exposed in the sharp visuals of a crime scene, or revealed in the aromatic constants of a nursing home environment perfumed by the fragrance of “urine, unwashed bodies, and the Wednesday night meatloaf special,” the writing paints a colorful, and vivid picture.

    Through the character of Lillian Dove, readers are introduced to a flawed, but tenacious female heroine who is genuinely likable. Suppose is a mystery filled with small-town heart, yet big city edge, unexpected excitement, and a touch of humor. Together they prove a smart, and winning combination.

    Suppose won First Place in the  2017 CIBA M&M Awards!