Book Review: A Psychic Subterfuge by JP Alters

Today we’re excited to be on the blog tour for a novel with an intriguing premise, A Psychic Subterfuge by JP Alters. Thank you Random Things Tours for the swift arrival of a copy to the Enchanted Emporium so we could give our honest and unbiased review.

The blurb hooked the witches in so scroll down to see if the novel did the same.

Psychic Subterfuge by JP Alters

Title: Psychic Subterfuge

Author: JP Alters

Publisher: Indie

Genre: Paranormal thriller

Release date: 8th December 2022

Purchase link: Amazon

Blurb

Mary Obosa Jameson, a diagnosed schizophrenic, attempts to take her own life and is admitted to a state-of-the-art psychiatric hospital.
Mary, hears voices and has friends that nobody else can see… but what she does not know, is that she is actually a powerful medium and that everything, has a plan.
Whilst admitted to the hospital, Mary makes friends who uncover a fiendish conspiracy. Mary’s life, and the lives of her friends are in great danger and only she can save them, but does she believe?
They are her friends. However, when you are diagnosed with schizophrenia, how do you know what is real, and what is not?
A Psychic Subterfuge is the first book in a series of paranormal thrillers featuring protagonist Mary Jameson, by debut author: JP Alters.

Thoughts from the Emporium

There have been discussions previously in the Emporium about mental illness and what would happen if you were psychic too. This novel explores this in a captivating way with intriguing characters and twists leading you to think one thing and then another. 

Mary is a complex character who has constant friends that no one else sees. They are loyal, supportive and keep her safe but when her mental health spirals this isn’t enough. From the beginning, it was clear this novel would delve into dark places such as suicide and abuse so it isn’t for the faint hearted. These topics are always difficult to read and write but the author tackles them with realism, and sensitivity. When friendships are formed with other patients, there are warmer and heartfelt moments making the witches care about all of the group, adding to the tension as they read to the unexpected conclusion. 

The private clinic Mary finds herself in is perfect compared to other places people find themselves in when having a mental health crisis, but the stigma and darker undertones remain. If the paranormal element wasn’t mentioned in the blurb, it wouldn’t have crossed the witches’ mind that this is where the plot would go but it works well and encouraged them to keep turning the page to discover when and how Mary would discover the truth.

A Psychic Subterfuge is a highly readable, thrilling novel which blends dystopia and the paranormal set in a contemporary environment. Those at the Emporium look forward to seeing where Mary’s life leads her next and this copy is a worthy addition to the enchanted bookshelf.

Author Biography

JP Alters

A debut, indie author, J.P. loves writing, and in December 2022, self-published the first in her series of paranormal thrillers: A Psychic Subterfuge.

J.P. Alters writes under a pen name. A people person, J.P. has enjoyed many jobs throughout the years, working in either social care or mental health. Currently, she has two jobs, sharing her time between being a mum to three children, her role as a mentor, and working for a homeless charity.

J.P. hopes to write books that are accessible and appealing to many. Most of all, she plans to continue to enjoy the writing ride, and hopes her readers will too!

Subscribe to www.jpaltersauthor.com to stay updated

Instagram: @jp_altersauthor

Facebook: JP Alters Author

TikTok: @jpaltersauthor

Other blogs on the tour

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Book Review: Accidental Magic by Iris Beaglehole

Willow stumbled on this book by accident on social media but was drawn to the promise of a midlife protagonist, humour, tea and of course witchcraft. Within seconds, it was downloaded on to her Kindle.

Scroll down to see if it lived up to her expectations

Accidental Magic by Iris Beaglehole

Title: Accidental Magic Book 1 of Myrtlewood Mysteries

Author: Iris Beaglehole

Publisher: Te Rā Aroha Press

Release date: 28th February 2022

Genre: Paranormal women’s fiction

Blurb

Welcome to Myrtlewood, a quirky town, steeped in magic, tea and mystery…

Life’s a struggle for Rosemary Thorn and her teen daughter, Athena. But their regular troubles are turned upside down after Granny Thorn’s mysterious death.

Despite her cousin’s sinister manoeuvrings, Rosemary returns to Myrtlewood and the sprawling, dilapidated Thorn Manor. But there’s more to the old house than meets the eye, as Rosemary and Athena soon find out — in a whirlwind of magic, adventure, mystical creatures and endless cups of tea.

Life in Myrtlewood would be bliss if Rosemary could only clear her name in a certain murder investigation, solve the mystery and stay out of mortal peril – for at least a little while!

A small town with endless secrets, strange activities, and a house with a mind of its own.

If you love mystery, witches, paranormal women’s fiction with a midlife main character and a big dose of humour, you’re going to love Myrtlewood Mysteries Book 1.

Thoughts From the Emporium

This book delivered on its tagline and gave Willow and then the others (they soon downloaded a copy* after she raved about it) some much needed light-hearted, witchy escapism with self discovery of the magical kind and a murder investigation at its core.

Single mum, Rosemary, and teenage, Athena move into the Grandmother’s home and discover the village, Myrtlewood, is nothing like they expected. With ampful mentions of tea to match Willow’s own addiction, quirky and unusual characters mulling around the pub and locality, there was plenty to latch on to and explore in future books.

Amber enjoyed having a fellow teenage witch to relate to despite Athena’s seemingly lack of powers while Rosa and Willow were drawn to Rosemary herself trying to do her best in bad situations and family disputes.

Like many witchy novels, the setting especially the house are characters in their own right and Thorn House is no exception. For many, witch or not. the idea of a self cleaning home is perfection but it is more than that, it’s quirky, shows the author’s imaginative side and is a foundation for the ongoing magical mysteries.

Accidental Magic is an entertaining read, and full of life. With characters ranging from witches, vampires and shapeshifters, this is the strong start to a cosy paranormal series and more than worthy of being the Enchanted Emporium’s bookshelf when they get a physical copy.

*At the time of posting this the first three books are available as a boxset for a bargain of 99p – here

Author Biography

Iris Beaglehole is many peculiar things, a writer, researcher, analyst, druid, witch, parent, and would-be astrologer. She loves tea, cats, herbs, and writing quirky characters

Social Media

Website https://www.irisbeaglehole.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IrisBeaglehole/

Twitter https://twitter.com/IrisBeaglehole

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/irisbeaglehole

Book Review: Liar by Nicola Lowe

The striking cover of Liar by Nicola Lowe attracted the attention of many visitors to the Enchanted Emporium so the staff needed to determine whether it reflected the writing inside. Thank you Rachel’s Random Resources for providing a copy to review so they could give an unbiased opinion.

Scroll down to read their thoughts

Liar by Nicola Lowe

Title: Liar

Author: Nicola Lowe

Genre: fantasy, paranormal romance

Release Date: 7th June 2022

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B3JGMRH5

US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3JGMRH5

Blurb

Winner of a 5 Star Readers Favorite Seal and a 4 Star Literary Titans Book Award

Amber Carmichael splits her time between her nursing career and community spirited acts of kindness. This life fulfils her; she has no interest in nightclubs or the men her friends tirelessly chase. The spark of attraction has never lit within her and of this, Amber is glad.

Until one day her dreams begin to shift; something deep in her subconscious begs to awaken.

This stirring within her attracts the attention of an enemy. An enemy she doesn’t know exists; a threat she can’t possibly hide from.

Because how do you hide from the one soul in the world who truly sees you?

A heart has to fall before it can soar.

The latest release from Nicola Lowe – forbidden love and enemies to lovers collide to form a perfect storm of paranormal romance that will leave you begging for the sequel.

Thoughts from the Emporium

This is a clever and imaginative read that soared once the foundation surrounding Amber’s life had been set. With the romantic dreams and blossoming relationships, Rosa was hooked from the start, and the others weren’t far behind when more unusual occurrences came into play and danger crept closer.

Entwined in the discovery of self and the building tension as the threat to Amber increased is the sizzling chemistry between the main characters, when Amber’s desire is awakened for unexpected reasons. The more she discovered about herself, the more her character depth grew, making her more relatable and the staff became invested in her safety, adding to the thrill as a battle across different realms commenced.

With twists and a satisfying ending, everyone agreed this is a paranormal romance series to follow, as they need to know what happens next.

Author Biography

Nicola Lowe is a pure romantic and has been that way for all of her forty years. She is happiest when curled up with a glass of white wine and a very romantic book. Liar is her first paranormal romance, following the success of her Contemporary Romance books.

Other blogs on the tour

Book Review: The Lighthouse Witches by C.J Cooke

As far as those at the Enchanted Emporium is concerned, September is really a precursor to Halloween so it’s the ideal time to share reviews for witchy books old and new. The Lighthouse Witches by C.J Cooke was released last year but deserves to be shouted about again now it’s spooky season.

With a hauntingly beautiful cover, it oozed darkness and menacing which meant Amber couldn’t wait to read it. Scroll down to see if it met her expectations.

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J Cooke

Title: The Lighthouse Witches

Author: C.J Cooke

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: witchlit, paranormal, Gothic

Release Date: 30th September 2021

Blurb

The brand-new chilling gothic thriller from the bestselling author . . .

Upon the cliffs of a remote Scottish island, Lòn Haven, stands a lighthouse. A lighthouse that has weathered more than storms. Mysterious and terrible events have happened on this island. It started with a witch hunt. Now, centuries later, islanders are vanishing without explanation.

Coincidence? Or curse? Liv Stay flees to the island with her three daughters, in search of a home. She doesn’t believe in witches, or dark omens, or hauntings. But within months, her daughter Luna will be the only one of them left. Twenty years later, Luna is drawn back to the place her family vanished. As the last sister left, it’s up to her to find out the truth . . .

But what really happened at the lighthouse all those years ago?

Thoughts from The Emporium

Based on an isolated Scottish island, The Lighthouse Witches is a deliciously dark tale full of gothic atmosphere. The descriptions of the lighthouse’s interior provided the location for an unnerving, fear based reading experience. Told by several narrators, including an ancient grimoire, it followed Luna as she returns to the island to discover the truth about her mother and sisters disappearance in 1998. The hostile welcome from the close-knit community added to the mystery and tension. With links to the 17^th century Scottish witch trials, both witches were hooked until the end. Even then their thoughts were drawn back to it. Thankfully, they had each other to discuss things with.

There were moments when Amber wondered how dark the story would go and began reading behind a cushion, Dr Who style. It may not be graphic but it forced both witches to use their imagination which may have made things worse. With increased tension, it hurtled towards an unexpected but satisfying conclusion.

If you want a chilling witchy pageturner with strong female characters, this is one to pull from a bookshelf. A perfect Halloween read.

Have you read it? The witches would love to know you thoughts.

Author Biography

Author C.J Cooke

C.J. Cooke is an acclaimed, award-winning poet, novelist and academic with numerous other publications written under the name of Carolyn Jess-Cooke. Her work has been published in twentythree languages to date. Born in Belfast, C.J. has a PhD in Literature from Queen’s University, Belfast, and is currently Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, where she researches creative writing interventions for mental health. C.J. Cooke lives in Glasgow with her husband and four children. She also founded the Stay-At-Home Festival.