A Blue Moon

by Vanessa A. Ryan

A tale of murder and mayhem.

Genres: Fantasy

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 18, 2013

About the author

Vanessa A. Ryan is an actress in Southern California. She was born in California and graduated from UCLA. When not writing or acting, she enjoys painting and nature walks. Her paintings and sculptures are collected worldwide. At one point, she performed stand-up comedy, so her writing often reflects her love of humor, even for serious subjects. She lives with her cats Dezi, Teger, Riley, and a feral cat, Divena, whom she rescued. Follow Vanessa at: https://twitter.com/vanessa_a_rya and https://www.facebook.com/vanessa.a.ry....

Reviews

[Taj · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's so much to say about this book. We have Lorrie, who has had it hard as an artist. Her boyfriend is a drug addict, she works as a substitute art teacher and she inherits a crappy cabin. Her character was quite unique as one running into bad luck constantly, and just when she thought things were gonna change with an evil medallion she gets from a phony psychic, it only gets worse from just small misfortunes to out and out grisly deaths of people she comes into contact with. I guess the message in this book is that luck is what you make of it.

Morally, I disagree with Madam Grace's actions but I can feel sorry for her.

But one thing I couldn't understand at first was why the medallion aroused Lorrie and hurt her too, but I guess that's just a part of the balance of good and evil. I would recommend this book.

[Jenna Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to read a lot of non-fiction and philosophy. Occasionally, I pick up a thriller. I was in the mood for something different this time, and I decided to explore a genre that I wasn't at all familiar with: Urban Fantasy.

I chose A BLUE MOON because the cover caught me. (By the way, you need to buy the paperback, because this is one terrific-looking book to leave on the nightstand.) The synopsis looked intriguing, so I checked the "Look Inside" feature to get a feel for the author's voice. It was obvious that Vanessa A. Ryan can write - to say the least - so I bought the book.

Have you ever indulged yourself with a box of expensive chocolates, or a spontaneous shopping spree, or had just one extra glass of champagne? You tell yourself that you really shouldn't, but... It's just so GOOD. That's how I felt as I read this novel. It's simply a delicious read, one that kept pulling me back in, to the point where I was leaving work undone. And it wasn't what I expected, on several fronts - not the least of which is, I'm usually not impressed with fiction that's written in the First Person narrative; yet, I was completely immersed in this story, because Ms. Ryan is a master storyteller. She writes with a boldness and a rhythm that causes you to sink into your seat and let her take the wheel, no problem.

At times, I burst into surprised laughter at a sudden twist - like the (horrifyingly) hilarious fate of Davy's car keys, and The Case of the Resurgent Nose (my term there). I found myself talking back to George, and advising Suzie to grow a set. Admonishing Lorrie to just DO IT.(Not explaining that one.) And I had that "Oh no, not yet" feeling as I approached the end. You know what I mean - that regret, that it's time to get back to the real world before you're ready to do so.

That's the hallmark of a great read. I had a terrific time. What a ride.

I'd give A BLUE MOON an R rating - but the sexuality isn't explicit, and there's no vulgarity. Works for me, because I don't appreciate maneuvering around those elements in a novel. There's violence, and some of it is graphic; however, those episodes are necessary to the story. And that's the point: There's a real story here, one that you can savor like the indulgence that it is - and it doesn't rely on shock factors or gratuitous distractions to hold your interest.

After I finished reading, I was thinking I could become a fan of Urban Fantasy. I looked around a little, but I haven't yet found another that seems to live up to A BLUE MOON. I guess I'll have to wait for Vanessa A. Ryan's next novel.

[Jean Schindhelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of A Blue Moon by Vanessa A Ryan and really liked the book. I found myself reading it at very free moment I had. It really made you think to be careful for what you wish for,that wish may come true. I would recommend reading this book.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading A Blue Moon. Its heroine Lorrie and her friend Suzie are like a literary version of Thelma and Louise, getting caught in a situation that spirals out of control. Told with humor and irony, A Blue Moon is a paranormal read extraordinaire. I highly recommend it.

[Desert Rose Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok, although certainly not my favorite, and not one I plan on reading again. The danger surrounding the mysterious medallion Lorrie acquires is interesting, but somewhat lacking in substance. I don't completely regret reading this book, but I am glad it's over, and I somewhat feel like I've wasted my time.

The characters are unique and interesting, in their own ways. What I didn't care for, however, was the way they were written to interact with each other. The quick presumptions they each made, and the ridiculous reactions to psychotic behavior wasn't believable at all. I don't think most people would come across the kind of behavior Lorrie dealt with and say “hu, that was odd, he must just be a little off today.” It was difficult to keep reading this book, because of the unrealistic aspect of the characters and the situations that kept unfolding as the story progressed.

The main things I didn't care for much, were:

1) The repetitive conversations about real estate. In my opinion, reading about someone's rental agreement and real estate issues isn't very entertaining, when you're reading fiction. I think the attempt was to bring in a sense of reality and normalcy. In the end, at least for me, I found myself wanting to skip ahead several pages, and just get on with the story.

2: No where in the summary, did it mention being a horror book, with gore and excessive violence. That wasn't a surprise I appreciated. I think that should be noted somewhere in the synopsis, so readers are prepared for what genre they'll actually be reading.

The writing itself wasn't bad, although it's not something I'd rave about. The plot seemed thin, the end has me pretty confused, and seemed thrown together quickly and slightly sloppily. With the tedious, boring conversation as filler to cheap gore, the end result was a mundane book.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book, but I wouldn't say “don't read this” either. If it looks interesting to you, it may be worth a read, and you may like it better than I did.

*I was given a complimentary eCopy of this book, from the author, to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book thru lop read and review and I loved it. This is a funny read with Paranormal twists and turns. A story with a great plot with fun lovable characters that will have you wanting to know what happens next. I don't want to spoil this book for others but it is a great read! Thank you again for letting me read and review this story for you. Also I love the cover!

[Lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read both editions of this book, and while small corrections and details were made the plot remained the same. Unfortunately, I didn’t like protagonist which automatically made it harder to connect to the book. Let me just preface my lower rating of this book strictly because I didn't like the protagonist and wasn't drawn into the book. Ryan did a good job of editing and proofreading, so it just came down to personal taste. That being said, many others may adore this book, I just didn't. It had nothing to do with Ryan's ability as an author, it was simply a matter of personal preference.

The premise of the book involves Lorrie receiving a medallion that wreaks havoc on her life & had me hooked. I was curious about what would happen, however Lorrie was a selfish, self-centered, narcissist. Okay, just saying narcissist should be enough, but she really came across as a brat which is not attractive in a grown woman. I’ve read other books where the protagonist is dislikeable, but as the story progresses the MC grows and at the end of the book you find yourself happy and liking the way everything worked out. This is not that type of book. Lorrie is just as selfish at the beginning of the book as she is on the last page. She has a justifiable reason for everything she does. She may feel horrible about what happened to her boyfriends, but then justifies it in her mind, or simply puts it out of her mind. She's more worried about the consequences she may face than the tragedy that befalls others. SPOILER ALEERT****** I would say she gets what she deserves from the medallion, except the medallion is killing people through her thoughts and wishes. Also, the fact that she takes the medallion back at the end of the book, because, "why should John have all the luck?" She then leaves Suzie in the back of the police car to take the rap while she escapes That sealed the deal for me. I truly thought she would have reformed after she gets the medallion off and tries to keep John from keeping it (for his own protection). ********END SPOILER

This is not to say the story isn’t well written, it is. Ryan has a good idea with the medallion and the curse that accompanies it, and she certainly did a good job making Lorrie a despicable person. There was even one scene (about a page) that reminded me of Lucy and Ethel and had me chuckling. However, all of the other characters were flat in my opinion. Even Lorrie doesn’t jump off the page, it was only her actions and some of her thoughts that made me actively dislike her. Looking at others through Lorrie's eyes I’m not sure if Ryan was showing how quick to judge others that we all can be, or if that was just coincidence.

However, don’t take my opinion as the final say so. While I didn’t like Lorrie, and didn’t find myself connected to the book, many may find this an intriguing and interesting read and actually relate to Lorrie.

Pros: Few grammatical errors, so the story flows smoothly. Interesting premise, and Ryan does a good job keeping the reader wondering how Lorrie will get out of her predicament.

Cons: I didn’t like Lorrie & her attitude so I had a hard time connecting to the book (but again others might not have that same experience). The characters seemed more one-dimensional than I like in my books. A prime example of this is Suzie, Lorrie’s best friend. She is barely described with the exception that Lorrie wanted her help getting out of trouble and her money; that seemed true of all of the other characters as well.

If I was rating this story strictly on my enjoyment level I would give it 1 to 2 stars. However, Ryan came up with an original premise and worked hard at ensuring the grammatical mistakes were eliminated so the story could flow smoothly. For those reasons I give it 3 stars, and others may give it an even higher rating if they are drawn into the story.

I will keep Ryan on my radar for future books as she truly seems to have a talent for writing, even if I didn't connect with this particular book.

[P.J. LaRue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend recommended that I buy this book, and I’m glad I did. A Blue Moon, by Vanessa Ryan, is a fun read, with skillful prose which brought moments where I really did laugh out loud.

The heroine, Lorrie, tells the story in first person. She is substitute teaching while trying to land her big break into the art world. On an impulse, she visits a fortune teller who gives her a pendant that is supposed to bring Lorrie good luck. This good luck is supposed to begin when Lorrie wears the pendant the next night, which is a “blue moon,” or the second full moon of the month.

Lorrie’s new pendant has a will of its own though, and doesn’t play nicely around others. Lorrie soon discovers that the pendant makes all of her wishes come true. But one should be careful of what one wishes for, as the saying goes. This book has hilarious mishaps, sometimes even deadly mishaps, leaving Lorrie on the run and looking for a way to dispose of the pendant.

I’d recommend this book for adults, because it does have some sexual content. But it is a hilarious read that presents a tongue-in-cheek parody of paranormal novels, fun storyline and many humorous moments.

[Jackie Weger · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Premise, September 8, 2013
By Jackie Weger (Texas, U)

This review is from: A Blue Moon (Kindle Edition)

I like New Age and small bits of paranormal in romance novels. I loved the cover of this book. I own the book. I read all of the other reviews before I decided how to rate Blue Moon simply to learn if what I thought was out of step. It is really difficult for an author to rate another author's work. So, here's what I have to say. Vanessa Ryan has a huge amount of raw talent. She made some missteps in Blue Moon in character development, but the premise and the plot worked for me. Once I decided to read Blue Moon for talent, instead of utter pleasure, I saw where Ryan was headed. You will want to keep an eye on this author. She is only going to get better.

Jackie Weger, Author
The House on Persimmon Road

[Samaris Creech · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book definitely puts a new perspective on be careful what you wish for. Lorrie is a struggling artist who works as a substitute teacher. She is envious of everyone and is constantly asking herself why their lives are so much easier than hers. One day she decided to get her fortune told and comes out of that reading with way more than she bargained for. She was gifted a medallion and once she put this thing on strange and horrible things started to happen. People start dropping like flies around her from just a simple thought. Lorrie tries to find ways to stop these things from occurring but she can’t seem to control it. No one can help her and she is losing her best friend. What’s a girl to do when you are looking at multiple counts of murder and have nowhere to go? Read the book and find out.

[SB Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading A Blue Moon, but I do know I wasn't expecting this. It was funny and sexy, and such an interesting story line. Lorrie doesn't seem to pick the best men to have relationships with and her career is stalled at the moment. She goes to a gypsy for a reading and is given a necklace. That necklace, wow. Lorrie and her friend Suzy were a laugh riot. They reminded me of Lucy and Ethel. Getting into some crazy situations. The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat and I had to know what was going to happen next. I'm hoping there is going to be a second book, because Lorrie and that little cat, I can only image what kind of mischief they are going to get into next

[Jasmin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review (Lovers of Paranormal).

Actually "It was ok" ( meaning 2 stars ) is everything I can say about this book.

The story was totally ridiculous. Why would someone take an old medallion from a weird fortune teller? And how can the main protagonist stay so calm when everyone around her dies?

Even the end wasn't satisfying, because it didn't make sense and nothing was solved. For all I know the main protagonist could even die shortly after the story ends.. Tricked by some weird magical medallion.