Bloodstone

Stacy Justice #3

by Barbra Annino

All Stacy Justice wants to do is recover from the bizarre couple of weeks she’s had—a whirlwind kicked off by the arson attack on her cousin’s bar, the Black Opal. But just when life should be settling down, a fourteen-year-old girl named Ivy appears on Stacy’s doorstep, claiming to be her sister. Ivy says their mother’s life is in danger and insists that the family’s magic is crucial to saving her. Sure, Ivy has Stacy’s fiery red hair and green eyes—but is she really her sister? And can the secretive teen be trusted with magic?

Then a man is found dead at Stacy’s grandmother’s bed-and-breakfast, and she has no choice but to see where Ivy’s story leads. Strange warnings appear at every turn, including the disappearance of the family’s Blessed Book, and it seems someone is out to kill Stacy—again.

Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Cozy Mystery, Magic, Witches

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 5, 2011

About the author

Barbra Annino writes about strong women with a flair for humor and a penchant for trouble. Her bestselling Stacy Justice Mysteries books have hit the top ten in the Amazon charts multiple times, with Opal Fire claiming the #1 slot in the entire store. Check out her Everafter series if you like grown up fairy tales, and Fury Rising for a steamy urban fantasy. Sign up for freebies, exclusive content, release dates, and fun stuff at www.authorbarbraannino.com

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the astounding news that the young fourteen year old girl standing in front of her may be her sister, Stacy Justice tried to see a family resemblance in Ivy. Stacy knew of her family’s witch tendencies – in fact her grandmother, Birdie was one of the best. But Stacy was reluctant to accept that she also had magic at her fingertips. And now with another family member (not confirmed) also showing signs of the magical talent, Stacy didn’t know which way to turn.

When her arrival at Birdie’s B&B turned up a deceased man at the kitchen table; her grandmother and her aunts acting strangely and the Blessed Book missing, Stacy knew there was trouble on the horizon. Of course the visions of doom didn’t help either…

Stacy’s search for her mother continued, but she had no success. And then one of her own went missing; she knew the danger was close, but what was she to do? Would she have help from the best – or was she on her own?

Bloodstone by Barbra Annino is the second in the Stacy Justice Mystery series and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Fast paced and full of magical action, it was fun and a highly entertaining read. I recommend the first is read before Bloodstone for continuity of the story (Opal Fire) and it looks like I’ll be off to pick up #3 in the series. Highly recommended.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars... I had so much fun with this read; Stacy Justice is pulled deeper into her family’s well of secrets directing her on an ancient quest to protect a sacred treasure and placing her in the path of a deadly adversary... With her crazy gang of misfits and an added eager warrior in training, Stacy stumbles through another hilarious rip roaring adventure attempting to find hidden answers to the past that may lead to more mysteries in her future... Another great read in this bewitching series:)

[CL · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the first book so well I started the series. It is light easy going story that is a fast read.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Stacy Justice series. I like the characters and the story but there was one thing that really annoyed me. Stacy is supposed to be around 28 years old in 2011 but there are numerous references to her having lived as an adult and dated in the 1980's. Impossible, as she would have been born in 1983. This is not the first book I have read where this kind of thing happens. I don't know if authors aren't good at math or possibly they have access to wormholes in space, but that kind of thing really bugs me when I read a book.

I had forgiven that flaw and was thinking this was a 4 star book but it spun out of control the last 10% or so. Noah's Ark? Stacy running around in three-inch heels and looking like a dominatrix? All the bad guys conveniently dying or going crazy(?) in the last chapter? Did I mention Noah's Ark?

I still enjoyed the book enough to want to read the next one, but I hope the story can stay tight all the way through to the end.

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Star rating: 3 stars

This novel was a jumbled mess. What started off as a decent plot line, quickly unraveled at eighty percent of the way through. The author seemed to decide everything she had written was now going to be completely backwards, so she pulled a 180 degree turn when the book was almost finished. Uuuhhhhhh... Whaaat? Lets just leave my readers in the dust, scratching their heads like idiots shall we? Part of me doesn't want to give this novel 3 stars, but in the end that first 75% of the book was well written. If it hadn't been well written I never would have read the whole novel at all, so I'll stick with my 3 stars for a story slightly well done.

[Wolf (Alpha) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all the mystery in this book! I love how Ivy comes out of nowhere claiming to be her sister and saying their mother is in danger. I hated that it appeared as though there was someone killed at Birdies inn. I love how she went on the mission and finally accepted all her witch talents and worked hard to find the guardian. I loved the ending how Ivy and Stacy kicked ass together and I love Ivy’s childish ways. The entering was a shock and I can already see how the next book is going to be.

[Marianne K. Benvenuti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sassy Stacy does it again.

I love reading good books about magic. Add a heroine with moxie and a sassy attitude and you have a book worth reading. I must admit that I liked the first book a little better, but this was still very good. I've already ordered the next one.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Stacy Justice series is spellbinding fun! Bloodstone bewitched me from the beginning and I did not want to put it down.

Bloodstone takes place not long after Opal Fire. Ivy, (The maybe sister of Stacy) has convinced Stacey that her grandma Birdie can not know about her yet. So the lot of them go and stay with Chance, Stacy’s high school sweet heart. I was all about this move! I loved Chance from book one, he is a great friend to Stacy and supports her in all her witchy ways.

Stacy does her best to stay out of trouble. In truth she doesn’t want to have anything to do with her destiny. Stacy just wants a normal life, but that’s what I love about her character, that no mater what she wants she will do what is right for others. Yes, it will be with threats, and a heaping amount of sarcasm, but she still puts others before herself.

Which brings me to the person Stacy was having to pick up, feed, or rescue the most (other than herself) this book: Ivy. Ivy brought this foreboding attitude into the end of Opal Fire so I didn’t know what to expect of her character. But, I think if it is possible, Ivy brought in even more humor, and I think that Bloodstone read a little faster than Opal fire, too. I absolutely loved the scenes with her in Monique’s bar driving everyone crazy.

Bloodstone, just as Opal Fire, did take place (for the most part) in the lovely small town of Amethyst. I do enjoy that small town feel in books, when you can go out a door and walk almost anywhere in town. You know everyone in town, but there is obviously a lot to learn about the…these are mysteries after all.

I will admit there is a big family/witch secret reveal that had my forehead crinkle in that *what* kind of way. As a whole Bloodstone is a fun mystery. Stacy’s phone call at the end has me wanting the next in this series very soon. Barbra Annino you drive me crazy with those endings!

Happy Reading,
Rebecca
www.bendingthespine.blogspot.com

[Angela Holtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Lilac Wolf and Stuff

You all know I love these covers. I wonder if the authors are creating them or paying for a service. Well either way it's eye catching and you can recognize Stacy Justice from the Opal Fire. And yes, please read Opal Fire first, this is the 2nd book in the series.

The story is so fast paced that you barely catch your breath before the next thing happens. But it's not a very long book, so it works for a fast read. Just a couple minor errors, so it's well edited.

What I really, really, really love though is the humor. Stacy makes me laugh, so much so that my husband started asking me what I was reading. And sometimes I just piped up and read it to him.

This book really has it all. Little bit of romance, a big mystery, witches, and humor. Again, make sure you read Opal Fire and then this. I think teens can handle this as well. I didn't feel it ever got so gory, violent or sexy that a teenager couldn't handle it.

[Nancy Steinle gummel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anastasia (Stacy) Justice is a witch. Ivy approaches Stacy telling her she's her sister, the warrior. Ivy has red hair and green eyes like Stacy. Stacy's grandmother, Bridie, hides the book and all Stacy's things because she rented out the cottage for the murder mystery involving several of the motels and bed and breakfasts. They find a body of a man stabbed in the back hunkered over the kitchen table. Stacy's friend Leo is a cop. Leo call the medical examiner. The body is on the gurney when they turn around the body is missing. Stacy id torn between Chance and Leo. She crashes Chance's truck. The photographer at the newspaper she works at wants in on the story. He tells her about voodoo dust that turns someone into a zombie. To prevent it you need bat droppings. Ivy gets kidnapped. The kidnappers want the book to find the greatest archeology find in centuries.

[Elli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alles so, wie man es vom ersten Teil her kennt, aber noch ein bisschen besser!

Ohne große Umschweife beginnt das neue Mysterium und Stacy Justice ist wieder mitten drin. Und da vom letzten Buch noch einige Fragen offen geblieben sind, ist man auch hier von Anfang dabei und gespannt.

Der Erzählstil ist rasant und witzig, die Geschichte abwechslungsreich, motiviert zum Miträtseln und ist teilweise spannend. Leider sind manche Handlungsverläufe bzw. Auflösungen doch sehr abstrus, deshalb gibt es keine 5 Sterne.

Positiv hervorzuheben sind die toll beschriebenen Charaktere, die man einfach alle auf ihre Art lieben muss. Die Tagebucheinträge von Ivy als Zwischensequenzen sind dabei eine weitere wunderbare Ergänzung.

Alles in allem ein unterhaltsames Buch.
Ich freue mich schon auf den nächsten Teil der Serie!

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this story more than the first book. Stacy ends up with her life in more turmoil as a sister she didn't know she had turns up. She then has to try and work out the truth while dealing with a body that is found with a knife in its back. Then with a kidnapping, her office trashed and someone shooting at her it all starts to become more complicated. I really enjoyed this and can't wait to continue in the series. Xx

[Kristin Whitehouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I love this series. It's got some great characters. It was funny, had a good mystery, and two hot love interests. I really wish I didn't keep discovering new authors and having to wait for the next book in the series though. Like Veruka (sp?) Salt, I WANT IT NOW!

[CL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick easy read.

[☀Rachael☀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Stacey and her ever growing crazy family!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ran in to the first Stacy Justice Mystery as a freebie for Kindle. I enjoyed the cozy mystery of it so much that I hit up PaperbackSwap to get the second book in the series via dead tree book because that's just the most convenient copy I could come across. And then I left it in my car. A lot. For a long time. And it got quite damaged. But finally, I brought it with me camping to the beach and dropped it off in a Little Free Library on the home from Cape Point Campground on Hatteras (there is only one highway out there and the Little Free Library is right next to the highway, cannot miss it). So if you want a very damaged copy of this book ... see if it is still in the Little Free Library.

This was a light cozy. I wouldn't even call it a mystery. It is just one of those books that you let happen around you and follow along. Lots of things happen, most of them implausible. Lots of fake blood. Lots of people seemingly aware of The Blessed Book, and the exact same prophecy. And all of them in Amethyst at the same time. Plus for whatever reason, Stacey's aunts just decide to quickly renovate and then rent out her cottage for reasons. Which struck me as the deepest betrayal of all.

The novel is a jumbled mess. Read it as a palette cleanser. Don't think. Just let it happen and be present in the moment. That's when you'll enjoy it.

[Stacy Sabala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review- Bloodstone by Barbara Annino

This story occurs where the first left off. Stacy is still getting over her injuries and off work. The author introduces this mysterious teenage girl. She shows up saying she is Stacy’s sister and their mom has been kidnapped. Stacy has no idea if this is real or not. The author has her going back and forth with suspicions. The teenager adds some comical situations in Stacy’s life along with some surprising problems.
The mystery that occurs ends up not what you first expect. The author keeps throwing twists at the reader and keeps everyone guessing. I’m surprised Stacy doesn’t strangle her grandmother and her aunts. They tend to make her life harder and I felt for her the whole book. They don’t tell her anything unless they absolutely have to which would tick me off if I were her.
The family dynamics are really front and center for Stacy’s problems. The ending was interesting and I wonder what direction the author will take from here. I give it a 4 out of 5.

[JoLene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stacy Justice is a reporter with a very kooky family. In this second book of the series, a young girl named Ivy shows up at her door claiming to be her long lost sister. Stacy is very skeptical and then when one of the guests at her aunts B&B shows up dead, Stacy is distracted with trying to find out what is going on with the murder mystery weekend that goes awry.

This was a quick listen and enjoyable enough. I think that the writing has improved slightly from the first book in terms of not being as annoying. On this installment, I felt like there were a lot of secondary characters and many coincidences which made the story a bit hard to follow in some places. However, it is a cozy paranormal so I suppose some suspension of disbelief is expected. In the end, Thor (the great dane) is still my favorite character but Stacy's aunts and grandmother are also endearing.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than its predecessor

So there were still some points of annoyance and distraction by said annoyances like badly placed sentences/confusing sentence structure but all in all, this story definitely moved a good bit more smoothly than The Black Pearl. I'd say it clipped along fairly well but again, I did also note that occasionally it felt like certain areas of the story were being glossed over out of maybe laziness, lack of creativity depth or maybe even simply an attempt to control word count. Either way, it was not a flattering effect on the book, more enjoyable than the first or not. I do at least hold out a flicker of hope now that Book 3 will be an even better improvement on its delivery.

[James Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Stacey Justice story. Ivy claims to be Stacey's sister and says Birdie doesn't know anything about her. Various chapters are from the viewpoint of Ivy's diary which is a really interesting approach, especially to read what she is writing.

Stacey's habit of finding pennies in odd places continues and she's trying to figure out what the dates on them indicate. The place is running a murder-mystery which seems to have resulted in an actual murder.

Or did it?

The Blessed Book has gone missing, there's black magic being used, there's a major secret that could shake the world and there's a couple of nutso scientists thrown into the mix.

I really like this book and the entire series so far.

[Robert Piersol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stacy Justice Mystery Series

I just finished the 3rd book of Barbara Annino's Stacy Justice Series. The books have been full of twist and turns. The Aunts are full of surprises and antics. Stacy's familiar, a Great Dane named Thor is a goofy funny dog and her protector that readers will love. As an adult I've really enjoyed the three books I've read and plan on reading all of this series. Teenagers, especially females, I believe would as well, although there's violence at times and a few swear words I would let my teens read this series.
I highly recommend this series. I've had a hard time putting these books down at times and have read later into the night and lost sleep I should've gotten.
Enjoy!

[Laura Henson · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It is highly recommended that this series is read in order." I concur, in the hope that some of the lacks in this volume are remedied in the rest of the series. The story moved forward at an unrelenting pace, but the character work was thin. The author built the mystery on a solid framework, however, in some places the reveal was more like a bolt from the blue. Kudos to the author for research on the historical aspects, and I would love to see Ivy with her own series based on her exuberant journal entries. While I would pick up another in the series if it came under my hand, I do not plan to seek them out.

[Ebeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if I can really say that I enjoyed this book. I thought I was getting a fun, quirky, little paranormal mystery... and it is, *but* geez-o-pete, was it a frustrating read. I liked most of the characters and the overall premise AND it did a great job of holding my interest... but it is for exactly that reason that I found it annoying. There were so many left turns and zigzags in the storytelling that didn't seem to further the plot enough to make the trip worth it. I just wanted to know what was going to happen next and instead of taking me to the place where I could potentially find that out, the author dragged me off in a different direction. Like, I get that you want to build tension and amp up the anticipation levels, but going on 37 detours to get there seems unnecessarily excessive. I really like what this book could have been, but for me, it just wasn't.

[virgil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific Series is Pure Fun👏👏

This is not one of my usual genres, and I'm sure I don't fit the target reader. I honestly don't remember why I decided to try Book 1, but I am certainly pleased that I did. The writing is good, the pace crisp and the cast of characters is awesome. The storylines have been both interesting and intriguing, but most of all, FUN! The sisters are an absolute hoot, Stacy is an excellent main character, and the support characters all add significantly to the story. Plus, the occasional guffaw: ie, the incident with Madeline, Thor and the vomit had me laughing out loud. My recommendation is buy, read, a and enjoy! 🤗

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot get enough!

I am already determined to own hard copies of this series. Between the witty banter, the fast pace of the writing, and the bright vibrant characters, I cannot get enough of this series.

Barbra Annino, if thou art reading this, give me the forwarding address to your muse because I want to meet her.

A fun light romp, with magic, mayhem, mystery, this book is just another in a long line of fantastically written and artfully crafted works. Eat your heart out, other mystery authors, Annino is where it's at.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has a habit of ending a chapter with a sentence that hints of dire happenings to come. She didn't do it all the time, just enough to be annoying.

This story seemed to lack focus. Maybe it was just because the primary character had no idea what was going on and the story is written in first-person singular. Not sure, but I do know it took me a while to get into it. On the positive side there were a couple of new characters that I liked as well as hints of interesting future stories.

[Cathy G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, Stacy, Birdie, Lolly, Fiona all witches in Amythest a small town that loves halloween and Pagan holidays, (well some townsfolk do). Stacy is coming to terms with being the Seeker of Justice. Birdie , her grandmother thinks it is about time. Stacy is learning new skills, in the ways of witches, and the ways of trust and love... Two men in her life, Chance her best friend from forever, and 1st boyfriend, in comes Leo, the new Police Chief... let the fun begin.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birth Marks

Awesome story! Stacy is busy again with a new mystery related to her being Justice and needing the the Warrior and Guardian. Thor is awesome and Midnight has a part but they make the story interesting. Ivy and John are important characters and their marks are interesting. Try not to laugh too much because Ivy is a teenager who has interesting habits and has fun. In the romance triangle I am rooting for Leo but Chance is different. Enjoy!

[Donna Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one wasn’t as good as the first book. The introduction of the character, Ivy, was fine as first, but was mostly an irritation that by the end I wonder what the purpose was beside being a filler. It story became disjointed after 60%. A few family answers were reveled, BUT a map (although, a fake) to the location of the Ark is thrown into the story. WHAT!?? I’m still shaking my head. Good grief, Charlie Brown.

[Cassandra Myer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is #2 of a series. Read the first one which I thought was fun and a bit charming. All the charm was gone by end of this book, which is the second in the series. I developed a dislike for the heroine, and a strong dislike for the lazy author. Plot are super-stupid; lots of people get killed or injured in a very casual way; heroine is selfish and so much happens that is just written off as magical without any structure or meaning to the magical world. Wink-wink--I'm a super important witch so everything works out in the end. shaZAM kablooey--I'm so cute.

So I'm done with this. second one was a waste of time.