Visit http://www.marianl.com and leave a comment to become eligible
to win a copy of Bewitched, Book 5 of the Woodcutter’s Grim Series
WOODCUTTER’S GRIM
SERIES—
Classic Tales of Horror
Retold, Volume II
by Karen
Wiesner
Romantic
Paranormal Novella Collection
978-1-61160-275-3
(electronic)
For
the ten generations since the evil first came to Woodcutter's Grim, the
Guardians have sworn an oath to protect the town from the childhood horrors
that lurk in the black woods. Without them, the town would be
defenseless…and the terrors would escape to the world at large.
Award-winning
author Karen Wiesner is the founder of Jewels of the Quill, an award-winning
group of authors in all genres banded together to promote their books. The
group also does anthologies together. WOODCUTTER'S GRIM SERIES, Volume II
contains the first novella in the series that Karen contributed to a Jewels of
the Quill anthology, plus three bonus stories!
A
four-book miniseries within the Woodcutter’s Grim Series, dealing with the
curse on the Shaussegeny family. Includes “Moonlight Becomes You” (Book 4),
“Bewitched” (Book 5), “One Night of Eternity” (Book 6), and “Beauty is
the Beast” (Book 7).
5 Stars and Top Pick! “WOODCUTTER’S GRIM SERIES is collection
of short stories about the inhabitants of Woodcutter’s Grim who are anything
but ordinary. These hauntingly romantic tales will give you the chills and have
you swooning within the same sentence. In Volume II, the author focuses on the
Shaussegeny family, who has a terrible curse placed upon them. Moonlight
Becomes You, Book 4 is about Heather Rowe discovers she’s pregnant with Lance
Shaussegeny’s child—who displays some curious symptoms. Her son is sick, and
Lance may be the only one who knows how to cure him. Many relive past wrongs
over in their mind, but nothing could be worse than reliving them in the flesh.
Bewitched, Book 5, is not your ordinary fairytale. This story is an amazingly
dark fairy tale laced with some romance, making for a very intriguing story.
The descriptive imagery helped me to imagine just what this world must be like
for these characters and grow to love them for it. The characters are very well
written, easily luring readers into this fantastic new world full of secrets,
curses, and love. Glynnis is part of a family that is plagued with a curse and
because of this, she has to go through plenty of problems in order to make
things right. Aric was a mysterious character who I enjoyed figuring out along
with Glynnis. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good dark
fairytale. One Night of Eternity, Book 6, was by far one of the most
emotion-packed stories in this series yet. Much of it is bittersweet and the
mixed emotions and fears of the characters practically ooze off the page. It
was very easy to become engrossed in Gavin and Marnie's story, and I couldn't
help but feel empathy and even joy at times. Marnie and Gavin both have scars
because of their actions, but throughout the book they get a chance to finally
accept them and possibly have a happy ending of their own. The scenery and
descriptive language in the story helps set the mood for this haunting tale.
The imagery used was beautiful and creative. I enjoyed every minute of this
story and couldn't put it down. I recommend this story to those who love a
romance with some relatable characters and tons of emotion-packed scenes.
Beauty is the Beast comes with a new twist. I love fairy tales and I am
always happy to check out new retellings. This one is definitely one of the
best. I love the dark romance and the twists and turns that are added into this
story. Ransom brings some real depth to the beast character which I love
because not all retellings of this story have very much depth to the beast's
character. This story is so much more than a retelling, though as it brings in
a magic of its own and drew me in, keeping me glued to the pages for hours. I
highly recommend Beauty is the Beast not only to fans of fairytales, but
anyone who loves a good paranormal romance.” ~The Romance Reviews http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=5933
“Moonlight
Becomes You: Enthralling. Bewitched: Exciting. One Night of Eternity: Creative
and poignant. Beauty is the Beast: Heartwarming. The second Woodcutter’s Grim
anthology contains four excellent paranormal romances in which members of the
cursed Shaussegeny family meet their beloved mates. Each tale is loosely based
on a fairy tale as Karen Wiesner provides fresh, adult renditions in a fabulous
collection.” ~Harriet Klausner for Alternative Worlds http://www.alternative-worlds.com/2012/08/11/woodcutters-grim-series-volume-ii-karen-wiesner/
“Moonlight
Becomes You”:
Very
loosely based on The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. When her child becomes
deathly ill and none of the doctors and specialists can help him, Heather Rowe
rushes to Woodcutter's Grim, hoping the boy's father can explain what's
happening. But Lance Shaussegeny both intrigues and terrifies Heather as much
as what he's told her of his hometown does. She soon learns that nothing in
Woodcutter's Grim--including Lance--is what it seems.
5 Stars!
“This first story takes place thirty years after the curse was cast. For those
with a soft heart, rest assured that the infant, Gavin, never comes to harm. So
there is no need to fear or avoid this awesome tale. I could not stop reading
until the very end and am about to submerge myself into the next Shaussegeny story.”
~Huntress Reviews http://www.huntressreviews.com
4
Stars! “I admire Heather so much. Not only is she a woman
struggling to understand the changes that came over her after making love to
Lance, but she's also a new mother with a very sick child. My heart ached as
she held her son and tried to understand what was wrong with him. She's
terrified of going to Woodcutter’s Grim, but Heather is willing to face her own
fears if it means saving her son. I became so wrapped up in Heather and her
son’s struggle that I turned each page hoping they would find some peace. I do
have to say that I found Lance and his family a little creepy… I know they
meant well, but…I kept hoping Lance or someone in his family would sit down
with Heather and have an open, honest discussion with her. On the other hand, I
have to wonder if Heather, who's very stubborn, would have listened to what
they had to say. It's clear the love Lance and his family show Heather and her
son is genuine and unconditional. I enjoyed reading Moonlight Becomes You.
Woodcutter’s Grim is certainly scary, but also is an intriguing place filled
with interesting characters. I recommend it to anyone looking for a frightening
fairytale.” ~Long and Short Reviews http://www.longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2012/04/moonlight-becomes-you-by-karen-wiesner.html
4
½ Stars! “As a story, this forms a part of
her long-running Woodcutter’s Grim Series of novels appearing in a compilation
of stories. Since the evil had laid its grip on Woodcutter’s Grim the Defenders
have had to make sure their children can grow up in a safer place that it would
have been, or the horrors that lurked around there could have picked them off
one by one. This story, like her other novels is loosely based on the fairy
tale of the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. Heather Rowe is at a loss as to
what is happening to her child, and when she can’t get any answers from the
doctors who look at the child, she has to return to Woodcutters Grim, where her
man, Lance lives to find out what is going on. From the first three pages Karen
has the reader find out more about the characters than if she had waited. She
wants the reader to know of the characters first before she sets the action off
in this story. Heather wants to know what is going on with the child, and only
he has the answers, but she has only heard a little about Woodcutters Grim and
the rumours of the curse, and nothing more. Heather can’t understand why he
knows so much about her and her him, but when he answers all her questions, she
finally comes to terms with what she has to do to save herself and her child.”
~Love Romance Passion http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-tales-from-the-treasure-trove-vol-vii/
“Bewitched”:
Very
loosely based on The Little Mermaid. Glynnis Shaussegeny becomes bewitched by
the mystery man who appears out of nowhere on the abandoned property across the
lake from her family’s estate. But does Aric Sayer have even more dark secrets
than she does?
4 ½ Stars!
“Has Glynnis betrayed her chosen mate before she’s even met him? Glynnis is a
werewolf who has made a huge mistake. She was sure that she’d already met the
man destined for her. When that man walks away from her, she is devastated.
Even worse, this means that she has been unfaithful to her true mate. I could
practically feel her pain and loneliness as she howled her anguish at the moon.
It isn’t long before Glynnis becomes aware that she’s not alone. Aric Sayer has
been watching her. From the moment they meet, Glynnis and Aric are drawn to
each other, but Aric isn’t an ordinary man, and his past is a mystery, even to
himself. Is Aric her true mate, or is Glynnis making another mistake? I’m glad
I got to know a bit more about Glynnis. In the first story [in this
“miniseries” within the Woodcutter’s Grim Series, Moonlight Becomes You, she
seemed carefree and at peace with the family curse. However, this tale showed
Glynnis in a much different light. She is a woman with a broken heart who longs
for the peace she can only attain when she unites with her true mate. To make
matters worse, her brother Lance has recently connected with his mate and they
have a beautiful baby. While Glynnis is happy for her brother, she can’t help
but feel a bit jealous. I think her mixed emotions add a very human element to
this supernatural tale. Glynnis is also very honest and straightforward, traits
which made her even more endearing. When she and Aric meet, the connection
between them is powerful, but Glynnis holds back. I was very pleased that she
resisted rushing into a serious relationship until he knew about her curse as
well as her previous relationship. She is never cryptic with him, but she also
never bombards him with too much information. Her patience allows him to freely
choose whether to join her or not. I admire her courage at telling the truth
even though it might mean she loses Aric forever. Aric’s history is definitely
interesting. I can’t say much about his true nature without spoiling the story,
but I will say that he isn’t a werewolf. He’s a unique supernatural creature
that adds an interesting dimension to the magic surrounding Glynnis and her
family. Ms. Wiesner has packed a lot of information about Aric and his history
into this short story, but it all fit together well and never felt rushed or
overwhelming. I really enjoyed watching Glynnis and Aric discover the truth of
his origins. This buildup of information also led to a very exciting climax
that had me speeding through the pages. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read
Bewitched. Readers wanting to enjoy this great addition to the Woodcutter’s
Grim Series should definitely read the first four stories in the series in
order to better understand the Shaussegeny family. Once readers visit
Woodcutter’s Grim, I have no doubt they’ll want to come back. I will certainly
be reading the other stories in this series soon.” ~Long and Short Reviews http://www.longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2012/05/bewitched-by-karen-wiesner.html
4
Stars! “Not your ordinary fairytale. Loosely based on The
Little Mermaid, Bewitched is about Glynnis, who is instantly drawn to the
mysterious man that appears out of nowhere across the lake from her family's
home. She knows about curses all too well since her own family is plagued by
one, but she may find out that Aric has an even darker secret. This story is an
amazingly dark fairy tale laced with some romance, making for a very intriguing
story. The descriptive imagery helped me to imagine just what this world must
be like for these characters and grow to love them for it. The characters are
very well written, easily luring readers into this fantastic new world full of
secrets, curses, and love. Glynnis is part of a family that is plagued with a
curse and because of this, she has to go through plenty of problems in order to
make things right. Aric was a mysterious character I enjoyed figuring out along
with Glynnis. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good dark
fairytale.” ~The Romance Review http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=4900
4
Stars! “This is the second in a
four-book miniseries within the Woodcutter's Grim Series involving the curse of
the Shaussegeny family. The story is loosely based on the tale of "The
Little Mermaid". I have come to realize that this author, Karen Wiesner,
has a manipulative side. She takes an innocent fairy tale, rips apart all but
the main meat of it, and then inserts her own darker magic while captivating
the reader with her awesome storytelling skills. As with the previous novellas,
the main characters have well developed backgrounds and the curse causes the
Shaussegeny family a plethora of problems in which they must deal with in a
timely manner. It all adds up to give the reader one heck of a wild ride.”
~Huntress Reviews http://www.huntressreviews.com
4
Stars! “Readers will like what Karen
Wiesner has made Glynnis into, as it fits into the whole fantasy/fairy tale
story idea nicely. It is the story of two people who have been apart all their
lives but who need to be together, and Aric doesn’t know who that one woman is
until he meets her purely by chance one day. It is then he feels that she has
been the one who can fill his heart with love-she is the one part of him that
can make him whole again. So far he has been living alone and has felt so
empty.” ~Love Romance Passion http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-bewitched-woodcutters-grim-series-book-5-by-karen-wiesner/
“One
Night of Eternity”:
Loosely
based on The House That Jack Built. The curse pronounced on the Shaussegeny
clan for all time was very clear: "Because the Shaussegeny name has long
been synonymous with faithlessness, even unto your own chosen mates, only one
chosen mate will be allotted to each of your kin henceforth. These chosen mates
must also fall under the family curse, but these pairs will know true peace when
they become one. Herein lays your salvation—and your damnation. Only if each of
your clan remains faithful to their chosen mates in word and deed for all of
their days will they have blissful contentment. Apart, mates shall be restless
and forever unsettled, gripped by a sadness and despair unlike any other. A
terrible fate will come upon the one who breaks the mate covenant." Gavin
Shaussegeny has broken the covenant with his wife, Marnie, by cheating on her,
and the betrayal carries a harsh penalty and punishment. Although Gavin regrets
his faithlessness and loves his wife more than anyone or anything else, the
house that he's built for himself is rapidly beginning to tumble down around
him. There is only one chance for salvation for him now: Only his mate's
undeserved forgiveness will free him from his punishment to re-live his
betrayal over and over for all time.
4 Stars!
“This is the third in a four-book novella miniseries within the Woodcutter's
Grim series. Each story can stand alone, but by reading them in order you will
get the full gut-punch. In the first story, Lance returned to Woodcutter's Grim
because his father, Gav, had disappeared in the woods. In the second story,
Gav's disappearance is remarked on also. The family has figured out that Gav
must have cheated on Marnie again and that the covenant part of the curse is at
work, and they suspect (correctly) that Marnie knows exactly where Gav is and
what is happening to him, but Marnie will not speak about her husband. The
character of Marnie is very strong. Family means everything to her. I was
impressed by her character during the first two stories. After this tale, I
like her even more.” ~Huntress Reviews http://www.huntressreviews.com
4
Stars! “Can Marnie let go of her hate
before it kills her? Marnie thought she’d put Gavin’s unfaithfulness behind
her. After they were cursed into becoming werewolves, Marnie thought the new
mate bond would allow her to forget all about Gavin’s previous indiscretions.
She was dreadfully mistaken. Since Marnie and Gavin never truly dealt with the
pain his affairs caused, the injury festered and rotted their marriage from the
inside out. Each exchange between them was laced with bitterness and pulled me
further and further into the dark mood of the story. As Marnie and Gavin reach
the breaking point, they have to ask themselves one question. Is their marriage
worth saving? Marnie’s pain practically drips from each page. My heart ached as
she fought to control equal parts love and hate for Gavin. I couldn’t believe
she’d lived with the pain year after year rather than having an open honest
discussion with Gavin. Instead, in her stubbornness, she hurls insults at him.
Even though Gavin deserves every harsh word, the arguing only serves to make
the situation worse. I cringed each time Gavin and Marnie inflicted new and
deeper wounds on each other and I honestly began to doubt they were ever going
to reconcile. Gavin is a man who just doesn’t get it... I couldn’t tell if he
genuinely didn’t know that Marnie needed him to apologize for the past, or if
his misunderstanding was deliberate…when it was obvious she needed something
much more meaningful. I found Gavin’s punishment for infidelity to be truly
terrifying, and yet it seemed to be the only thing that was going to get
through to him. Not only did he relive the absolute worst moment of his life
over and over, but Marnie experienced the betrayal as well. Marnie and Gavin
are literally dying without each other. The tension mounted as the story
reached its climax. I held my breath and crossed my fingers hoping for a happy
ending. One Night of Eternity may be a short story, but the emotions contained
within its pages are powerful, and I couldn’t put the book down until I’d
finished reading it. Anyone looking for a tale filled with real and raw
emotions and an ultimately happy ending should consider reading One Night of
Eternity.” ~Poinsetta for Long and Short Reviews http://www.longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2012/05/one-night-of-eternity-by-karen-wiesner.html
“Karen Wiesner has been very busy of late with her
new and intriguing novels which are based on certain old fairy tales and
nursery rhymes. She has of course, rewritten them for a more modern audience.
Karen has the reader really getting into the minds of the characters, and finding
out what makes them tick, but also what can make them tolerant of others. She
normally likes putting tragic characters together where the both of them can
find peace of mind with each other and sort out their life problems, but in
this one in the series, it is less about self-harm or self-punishment, and more
of what others have done to them, for example, the curse on their family. It is
interesting to see how these two characters will work out their differences and
become one.” ~Love Romance Passion http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-one-night-of-eternity-woodcutter%e2%80%99s-grim-series-book-6-by-karen-wiesner/
“Beauty
is the Beast”:
Very loosely based on Beauty and
the Beast. The Shaussegeny family curse came with one final pronouncement: “And now there is but one manner in which this curse can be broken and
obliterated entirely: That beauty falls in love with the beast and vice versa,
that evil loves good and good loves evil. If this should happen, your family
shall be released from each aspect of my curse and your alliance with evil
shall be ended.”
When Ransom Shaussegeny attempts to cure
the family of the curse they live under, he becomes a werewolf trapped in
his beast form and isolates himself inside the family fortress. When he meets
Tess Moore, a beautiful enchantress, and falls under her spell, Ransom no
longer knows who or what is real—or whether the evil in Woodcutter’s Grim is about
to have the last laugh by dooming him, the woman he loves, and his family
for all time...
5
Stars! “I admit that Beauty and the Beast has always been
my favorite fairy tale and Wiesner's story is loosely based on it; however,
that is not why I am giving this story such a high rating. This story deserves
every star. Instead of accepting his fate and grieving, this hero is trying
hard to lift the curse or find a cure. As for the heroine, she is not perfect.
Her secret is worse than his. I find that fact to be a refreshing change. It is
a gentle twist to make the tale even more interesting. Karen Wiesner knows what
readers want in their stories and she delivers.” ~Huntress Reviews http://www.huntressreviews.com
About the Author:
Creating
realistic, unforgettable characters one story at a time…
Karen Wiesner is an accomplished author
with 90 books published in the past 14 years, which have been nominated for
and/or won 124 awards, and has 32 more titles under contract. Karen’s books
cover such genres as women’s fiction, romance, mystery/police procedural/cozy,
suspense, paranormal, futuristic, gothic, inspirational, thriller, horror,
chick-lit, and action/adventure. She also writes children’s books, poetry, and
writing reference titles such as her bestsellers, First Draft in 30 Days and From First Draft to Finished
Novel {A Writer’s Guide to Cohesive Story Building}, available from
Writer’s Digest Books. Look for Writing
the Series, her next offering from Writer’s Digest Books, in May 2013. Her
previous writing reference titles focused on non-subsidy, royalty-paying
electronic publishing, author promotion, and setting up a promotional group like her own, the award-winning Jewels of
the Quill, which she founded in 2003. Jewels of the Quill produced two
award-winning group anthologies per year published by Whiskey Creek Press from
2005-2011. All were edited by Karen and
others. Additionally, Karen is a member of Infinite Worlds of Fantasy
Authors and World Romance Writers. Along with her writing, Karen enjoys
designing Web sites, graphics, and cover art.
Woodcutter’s Grim Series Backlist and What’s Coming Up:
“Papa”, Book 1 in SHADOWS IN THE HEART, A
Jewels of the Quill Halloween Anthology
“Blood
of Amethyst”, Book 2 in TALES FROM THE TREASURE TROVE,
Volume IV, A Jewels of the Quill Anthology
WOODCUTTER’S GRIM SERIES, Volume I with Books 1-2 and bonus stories “Dancing to
the Grave”, Book 3 and “The Amethyst Tower”, The Final Chapter
“Moonlight Becomes You”, Book
4 in TALES FROM THE TREASURE TROVE, Volume VII, A Jewels of the Quill Anthology
“Bewitched”, Book 5
“One Night of Eternity”, Book 6
THE DEEP, Book 8, A Woodcutter’s Grim
Series Short Novel
Inspirational Romantic Paranormal Horror
Very loosely based on “Metamorphoses:
The Story of Pygmalion and the Statue”
by Ovid. Cheyenne Welsh can’t
forget her past and the disappearance of her younger sister. When she returns
to Woodcutter’s Grim to sell the family property she grew up on, she’s
confronted with all the nightmare-realities of her childhood, still alive and
well, still right where she left them—down in the darkness the Deep dwells
inside. Her home...
HUNTER’S BLUES, A Woodcutter's Grim Series Novel
Note: This story will fit into the
Woodcutter’s Grim Series after THE DEEP, Book 8, and before “The Amethyst
Tower”, the Final Chapter.
Very
loosely based on “The Evil Mother-in-Law” by the Brothers Grimm. The year is
2040. When the evil in Woodcutter’s Grim unleashed ten years earlier, humans
turned into spooks who avoided the sun and had a taste for human flesh…along
with the innate instinct to contaminate others with their evil. In no time at
all, the evil spread and wiped out half of the town’s population before the
Protectorate—the Guardians sworn to protect
Woodcutter’s Grim and those outside against the evil pervading it—came
up with a way to hold the threat at bay, not completely but enough to save
those left. In these years, everything has changed, from occupations to
entertainment. A curfew has been imposed, and few are stupid enough to break
it. Protectorate bounty hunters patrol the cities in the daylight. Humans live
in fortress-like homes that aren’t always capable of keeping the ghouls out. Guardian
bounty hunter and ex-Marine, Reece Pallaton, wonders what it’s all for and
whether he’ll lose everyone he cares about in this endless battle. Fellow
Guardian, Michell “Shell” Jones insists that they can find a cure, that life
will someday go back to normal. But Reece is beginning to believe that the
battle he’s waging can never be won…until he discovers the source of the evil
and his own, terrifying connection to it.
+book+profile+pic.jpg)
+copy.jpg)
