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Hallelujah
Can you hear it?
Whispering in the dark.
Secrets only the dark knows.
Joseph Moore, choir director for the First Baptist Church of Lenora, Nebraska, has secrets of his own. Terrible, lonely secrets. One that involves natural human desire. One that calls forth powers he cannot begin to understand. Both with the potential to destroy him and those he loves.
Now the world is changing. The darkness, the shadows, the ghosts, are closing in—and Joseph and his lover, Kevin, are being stalked by a merciless demon, hell-bent on possession.
Can you hear it now?
There in the dark.
It's whispering your name.
Whispering in the dark.
Secrets only the dark knows.
Joseph Moore, choir director for the First Baptist Church of Lenora, Nebraska, has secrets of his own. Terrible, lonely secrets. One that involves natural human desire. One that calls forth powers he cannot begin to understand. Both with the potential to destroy him and those he loves.
Now the world is changing. The darkness, the shadows, the ghosts, are closing in—and Joseph and his lover, Kevin, are being stalked by a merciless demon, hell-bent on possession.
Can you hear it now?
There in the dark.
It's whispering your name.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2020
About the author
Kim Fielding
184 books1,312 followersKim Fielding lives in Oregon and travels as often as she can manage. A professor by day, at night she rushes into a phone booth to change into her author costume (which involves comfy clothes instead of Spandex and is, sadly, lacking a cape). Her superpowers include the ability to write nearly anywhere, often while simultaneously doling out assistance to her family. Her favorite word to describe herself is "eclectic" and she finally got that eighth tattoo.
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January 21, 2020This was such a fun project!
Fred Feeley and I teamed up to write a horror novel! If you've read my Motel. Pool. or his Objects in a Rearview Mirror, you'll encounter a couple of familiar things. But don't worry if you haven't read those books--this is a whole new story with new characters. From a small town in Nebraska to the desert of Arizona, Joseph Moore is about to encounter true evil.
Fair warning: This is not a romance novel, although there are romantic elements.
Fred Feeley and I teamed up to write a horror novel! If you've read my Motel. Pool. or his Objects in a Rearview Mirror, you'll encounter a couple of familiar things. But don't worry if you haven't read those books--this is a whole new story with new characters. From a small town in Nebraska to the desert of Arizona, Joseph Moore is about to encounter true evil.
Fair warning: This is not a romance novel, although there are romantic elements.
June 14, 2020
I posted my review under the e-book edition, but it belongs here too - the audio version is wonderful! - Audible US
When Kim Fielding and F.E. Feeley Jr. bring their unique styles together the result is the complex, emotional, soul-searching tour-de-force Hallelujah. An extraordinary adventure, this is the story of one man’s journey as he strives toward his goal of peace and self-acceptance. His reward is a life filled with love, a revitalized commitment to his faith, and a deeper understanding of mankind.
If I thought Hallelujah was a moving, thought provoking book when I read it, following it up by listening to the audio version was a tremendous experience. I’m sure it’s a combination of knowing what’s coming and Alan H. Staples’ smooth and smokey delivery, but several scenes had chills running up my spine!
Returning home after college to help on the family farm, Joseph is also the choir director for the local Baptist church. A deeply spiritual man, and raised with those hellfire and brimstone values, Joseph is at an impasse. Convinced that God will keep him safe from the spirits he sees, he struggles with several fundamental aspects of his Church’s teachings and is questioning his relationship with God.
A tragic event has Joseph turning away from his faith, and it broke my heart to see the state Joseph’s in when the second part of the book starts off. Responsibilities to his family keep him stuck in his hometown for the next thirty years, and he’s closed himself off to all the things that brought him joy.
But changes are a-coming! With the entrance of his distant cousin, Francine, Joseph’s journey takes off full force and authors Fielding and Feeley pull out all the stops. The events which force Joseph to face his fears, find the courage to stand up for injustice, and create a future for himself are heartfelt and touching and incredibly exciting.
The writers warn us that Hallelujah is not a romance, though I found Joseph’s romantic relationships very moving. The love Joseph shares with Kevin is steamy-sweet, and filled with all the wonder and yearning of a new romance. Then, a mature Joseph finds a very different connection with Stormy. Pure and honest, with no way to conceal his thoughts from Stormy, Joseph truly opens up. The foundation these experiences provide give Joseph the strength he needs to proceed.
I want to reassure anyone on the fence about this one due to the “horror” tag. There is some violence, and the references to human injustices that truly are horrific, but the uplifting messages of hope, positive activism, and good-will far outweigh everything else.
New to me narrator, Alan H. Staples delivers a wonderful performance. With his subtle accents, strong emotion, and lovely singing voice, Mr. Staples has won himself a new fan. I was unfamiliar with much of the music in the novel, and the decision to have Mr. Staples sing the hymns adds so much to the overall effect.
The authors lay some very intriguing groundwork in Hallelujah, and I sincerely hope this is the beginning of a new series. I love Joseph and Stormy together, and watching as they ride off in a muscle car with the word “Prophet” on the vanity plate, opens up so many possibilities of the kinds of demon-hunting adventures they might have. I can hardly wait!
When Kim Fielding and F.E. Feeley Jr. bring their unique styles together the result is the complex, emotional, soul-searching tour-de-force Hallelujah. An extraordinary adventure, this is the story of one man’s journey as he strives toward his goal of peace and self-acceptance. His reward is a life filled with love, a revitalized commitment to his faith, and a deeper understanding of mankind.
If I thought Hallelujah was a moving, thought provoking book when I read it, following it up by listening to the audio version was a tremendous experience. I’m sure it’s a combination of knowing what’s coming and Alan H. Staples’ smooth and smokey delivery, but several scenes had chills running up my spine!
Returning home after college to help on the family farm, Joseph is also the choir director for the local Baptist church. A deeply spiritual man, and raised with those hellfire and brimstone values, Joseph is at an impasse. Convinced that God will keep him safe from the spirits he sees, he struggles with several fundamental aspects of his Church’s teachings and is questioning his relationship with God.
A tragic event has Joseph turning away from his faith, and it broke my heart to see the state Joseph’s in when the second part of the book starts off. Responsibilities to his family keep him stuck in his hometown for the next thirty years, and he’s closed himself off to all the things that brought him joy.
But changes are a-coming! With the entrance of his distant cousin, Francine, Joseph’s journey takes off full force and authors Fielding and Feeley pull out all the stops. The events which force Joseph to face his fears, find the courage to stand up for injustice, and create a future for himself are heartfelt and touching and incredibly exciting.
The writers warn us that Hallelujah is not a romance, though I found Joseph’s romantic relationships very moving. The love Joseph shares with Kevin is steamy-sweet, and filled with all the wonder and yearning of a new romance. Then, a mature Joseph finds a very different connection with Stormy. Pure and honest, with no way to conceal his thoughts from Stormy, Joseph truly opens up. The foundation these experiences provide give Joseph the strength he needs to proceed.
I want to reassure anyone on the fence about this one due to the “horror” tag. There is some violence, and the references to human injustices that truly are horrific, but the uplifting messages of hope, positive activism, and good-will far outweigh everything else.
New to me narrator, Alan H. Staples delivers a wonderful performance. With his subtle accents, strong emotion, and lovely singing voice, Mr. Staples has won himself a new fan. I was unfamiliar with much of the music in the novel, and the decision to have Mr. Staples sing the hymns adds so much to the overall effect.
The authors lay some very intriguing groundwork in Hallelujah, and I sincerely hope this is the beginning of a new series. I love Joseph and Stormy together, and watching as they ride off in a muscle car with the word “Prophet” on the vanity plate, opens up so many possibilities of the kinds of demon-hunting adventures they might have. I can hardly wait!
June 14, 2020
When Kim Fielding and F.E. Feeley Jr. bring their unique styles together the result is the complex, emotional, soul-searching tour-de-force Hallelujah. An extraordinary adventure, this is the story of one man’s journey as he strives toward his goal of peace and self-acceptance. His reward is a life filled with love, a revitalized commitment to his faith, and a deeper understanding of mankind.
If I thought Hallelujah was a moving, thought provoking book when I read it, following it up by listening to the audio version was a tremendous experience. I’m sure it’s a combination of knowing what’s coming and Alan H. Staples’ smooth and smokey delivery, but several scenes had chills running up my spine!
Returning home after college to help on the family farm, Joseph is also the choir director for the local Baptist church. A deeply spiritual man, and raised with those hellfire and brimstone values, Joseph is at an impasse. Convinced that God will keep him safe from the spirits he sees, he struggles with several fundamental aspects of his Church’s teachings and is questioning his relationship with God.
A tragic event has Joseph turning away from his faith, and it broke my heart to see the state Joseph’s in when the second part of the book starts off. Responsibilities to his family keep him stuck in his hometown for the next thirty years, and he’s closed himself off to all the things that brought him joy.
But changes are a-coming! With the entrance of his distant cousin, Francine, Joseph’s journey takes off full force and authors Fielding and Feeley pull out all the stops. The events which force Joseph to face his fears, find the courage to stand up for injustice, and create a future for himself are heartfelt and touching and incredibly exciting.
The writers warn us that Hallelujah is not a romance, though I found Joseph’s romantic relationships very moving. The love Joseph shares with Kevin is steamy-sweet, and filled with all the wonder and yearning of a new romance. Then, a mature Joseph finds a very different connection with Stormy. Pure and honest, with no way to conceal his thoughts from Stormy, Joseph truly opens up. The foundation these experiences provide give Joseph the strength he needs to proceed.
I want to reassure anyone on the fence about this one due to the “horror” tag. There is some violence, and the references to human injustices that truly are horrific, but the uplifting messages of hope, positive activism, and good-will far outweigh everything else.
New to me narrator, Alan H. Staples delivers a wonderful performance. With his subtle accents, strong emotion, and lovely singing voice, Mr. Staples has won himself a new fan. I was unfamiliar with much of the music in the novel, and the decision to have Mr. Staples sing the hymns adds so much to the overall effect.
The authors lay some very intriguing groundwork in Hallelujah, and I sincerely hope this is the beginning of a new series. I love Joseph and Stormy together, and watching as they ride off in a muscle car with the word “Prophet” on the vanity plate, opens up so many possibilities of the kinds of demon-hunting adventures they might have. I can hardly wait!
If I thought Hallelujah was a moving, thought provoking book when I read it, following it up by listening to the audio version was a tremendous experience. I’m sure it’s a combination of knowing what’s coming and Alan H. Staples’ smooth and smokey delivery, but several scenes had chills running up my spine!
Returning home after college to help on the family farm, Joseph is also the choir director for the local Baptist church. A deeply spiritual man, and raised with those hellfire and brimstone values, Joseph is at an impasse. Convinced that God will keep him safe from the spirits he sees, he struggles with several fundamental aspects of his Church’s teachings and is questioning his relationship with God.
A tragic event has Joseph turning away from his faith, and it broke my heart to see the state Joseph’s in when the second part of the book starts off. Responsibilities to his family keep him stuck in his hometown for the next thirty years, and he’s closed himself off to all the things that brought him joy.
But changes are a-coming! With the entrance of his distant cousin, Francine, Joseph’s journey takes off full force and authors Fielding and Feeley pull out all the stops. The events which force Joseph to face his fears, find the courage to stand up for injustice, and create a future for himself are heartfelt and touching and incredibly exciting.
The writers warn us that Hallelujah is not a romance, though I found Joseph’s romantic relationships very moving. The love Joseph shares with Kevin is steamy-sweet, and filled with all the wonder and yearning of a new romance. Then, a mature Joseph finds a very different connection with Stormy. Pure and honest, with no way to conceal his thoughts from Stormy, Joseph truly opens up. The foundation these experiences provide give Joseph the strength he needs to proceed.
I want to reassure anyone on the fence about this one due to the “horror” tag. There is some violence, and the references to human injustices that truly are horrific, but the uplifting messages of hope, positive activism, and good-will far outweigh everything else.
New to me narrator, Alan H. Staples delivers a wonderful performance. With his subtle accents, strong emotion, and lovely singing voice, Mr. Staples has won himself a new fan. I was unfamiliar with much of the music in the novel, and the decision to have Mr. Staples sing the hymns adds so much to the overall effect.
The authors lay some very intriguing groundwork in Hallelujah, and I sincerely hope this is the beginning of a new series. I love Joseph and Stormy together, and watching as they ride off in a muscle car with the word “Prophet” on the vanity plate, opens up so many possibilities of the kinds of demon-hunting adventures they might have. I can hardly wait!
March 30, 2020
Rating: five stars
Title: Hallelujah
Author: Kim Fielding and F.E. Feeley, Jr.
Publisher: the authors
Paranormal
M/M
Publication date: 2020
Wow. This is a remarkable, moving, epic story about ghosts, demons, America’s heartland, and the power of faith and love to (maybe) save the world.
The first third of F.E. Feeley’s collaboration with Kim Fielding is set in 1991, and the second two-thirds takes place in 2019, as the United States is increasingly polarized by a president who appears determined to stir up everything dark and ugly lurking below the surface of the American psyche.
I was startled to realize that I know little about Kim Fielding’s writing; although I dug into my vast e-book order history and discovered that I’d purchased – and loved – two of her books back in 2013, Brute being the one I really engaged with. Fielding’s skill with character, and her ability to bring people to life on the page in all their nuanced complexity is evident in this collaboration.
F.E. Feeley’s work I know very well, and I also know something of the author’s background. Thus, it was easy to see Feeley’s presence in the emotionally intense story, embodied in the struggles of Joseph Moore to reconcile the fundamentalist religious training of his youth with his shifting ideas of faith, personal integrity, and even the existence of God.
Francine Basil, Creole fortune-teller and holder of a PhD in theology, is also a character out of Feeley’s earlier novels, but she has never had the kind of central presence she holds here. Feeley’s other novels are referenced in Hallelujah, as are some of his characters, as if this book is a kind of culmination (or, possibly, a new beginning) for his previous work.
Joseph, dutiful farmer’s son, has returned to Lenora, Nebraska, rather than pursue his career in music. He has the gift of music, which he embraces in a limited way by taking over the choir in the local Baptist church. Of course, this sets up barriers to Joseph’s happiness, because it means he must shutter his gay self – explored in college – in order to conform to the expectations of his family and community. There’s another gift from which Joseph runs – his lifelong ability to see ghosts. Rather than see this as a gift for which there might be some purpose (divine or otherwise), Joseph again shutters himself away from it. In this case, however, the end result is a tragedy that changes his life forever and sets Joseph up for what happens to him in the second part of the book.
Feeley and Fielding have created a cinematic story, with strong visuals that give the reader a sense of physical and psychological place. There is a road trip (a journey of discovery) that offers a vivid panorama of the American heartland. There are also several cataclysmic confrontations of horror-movie intensity that would be terrifying on the screen. However, it isn’t the shocking visuals created by the authors that shine brightest to a reader such as I; it is the quiet, personal moments that brought tears to my eyes and filled my heart with hope. For all its action, this is a deeply spiritual story.
Ultimately, Hallelujah is a tale of humanity grappling with its own evil as God and Satan look on. There is a very tricky anti-religious theology at work here, and I was amazed to find myself responding to it in unexpected ways. I need only note that the title is inspired not by the refrain of a Christian hymn, but by Leonard Cohen’s song of the same name. (I listened to it several times as I read the story.) This is a book for the anxious, angry times in which we live, and its message of redemption is both a promise and a warning.
Title: Hallelujah
Author: Kim Fielding and F.E. Feeley, Jr.
Publisher: the authors
Paranormal
M/M
Publication date: 2020
Wow. This is a remarkable, moving, epic story about ghosts, demons, America’s heartland, and the power of faith and love to (maybe) save the world.
The first third of F.E. Feeley’s collaboration with Kim Fielding is set in 1991, and the second two-thirds takes place in 2019, as the United States is increasingly polarized by a president who appears determined to stir up everything dark and ugly lurking below the surface of the American psyche.
I was startled to realize that I know little about Kim Fielding’s writing; although I dug into my vast e-book order history and discovered that I’d purchased – and loved – two of her books back in 2013, Brute being the one I really engaged with. Fielding’s skill with character, and her ability to bring people to life on the page in all their nuanced complexity is evident in this collaboration.
F.E. Feeley’s work I know very well, and I also know something of the author’s background. Thus, it was easy to see Feeley’s presence in the emotionally intense story, embodied in the struggles of Joseph Moore to reconcile the fundamentalist religious training of his youth with his shifting ideas of faith, personal integrity, and even the existence of God.
Francine Basil, Creole fortune-teller and holder of a PhD in theology, is also a character out of Feeley’s earlier novels, but she has never had the kind of central presence she holds here. Feeley’s other novels are referenced in Hallelujah, as are some of his characters, as if this book is a kind of culmination (or, possibly, a new beginning) for his previous work.
Joseph, dutiful farmer’s son, has returned to Lenora, Nebraska, rather than pursue his career in music. He has the gift of music, which he embraces in a limited way by taking over the choir in the local Baptist church. Of course, this sets up barriers to Joseph’s happiness, because it means he must shutter his gay self – explored in college – in order to conform to the expectations of his family and community. There’s another gift from which Joseph runs – his lifelong ability to see ghosts. Rather than see this as a gift for which there might be some purpose (divine or otherwise), Joseph again shutters himself away from it. In this case, however, the end result is a tragedy that changes his life forever and sets Joseph up for what happens to him in the second part of the book.
Feeley and Fielding have created a cinematic story, with strong visuals that give the reader a sense of physical and psychological place. There is a road trip (a journey of discovery) that offers a vivid panorama of the American heartland. There are also several cataclysmic confrontations of horror-movie intensity that would be terrifying on the screen. However, it isn’t the shocking visuals created by the authors that shine brightest to a reader such as I; it is the quiet, personal moments that brought tears to my eyes and filled my heart with hope. For all its action, this is a deeply spiritual story.
Ultimately, Hallelujah is a tale of humanity grappling with its own evil as God and Satan look on. There is a very tricky anti-religious theology at work here, and I was amazed to find myself responding to it in unexpected ways. I need only note that the title is inspired not by the refrain of a Christian hymn, but by Leonard Cohen’s song of the same name. (I listened to it several times as I read the story.) This is a book for the anxious, angry times in which we live, and its message of redemption is both a promise and a warning.
September 10, 2020
Every book I’ve read by Kim Fielding and F.E. Feeley, Jr. separately have been memorable, these two authors together brought my reading journey to another level. Hallelujah reminded me why I love to read, the all encompassing experience was overwhelming in the best possible way. I told the family they were on their own because I had book rapture happening and I would be unavailable for 374 pages, plus reflection time.
Hallelujah is quite a ride. There is a lot going on, a lot of themes, a lot of action, a lot of realizations, a lot. The authors balanced and tied everything together so perfectly the story never felt too busy or at loose ends. Every sentence and action had a purpose for Joseph and his journey.
There are many religious undertones (and overtones, if I’m honest) to Hallelujah. Religion is an integral component to the story and while the specific faith is personal to Joseph, the overarching theme is much more broad, encompassing the basics of good vs. evil and redemption and forgiveness.
Growing up in an agnostic household, I was able to understand everything in theory, but I’m sure I was missing some of the visceral reactions someone who grew up in a religious upbringing might feel. I googled and learned a lot, something I always appreciate from a book, and I can’t decide which background would be more beneficial when reading Hallelujah. I bought a copy for a friend (he’s no longer actively practicing any formal religion, but he did grow up in a faithfully religious household) and we’re going to mini bookclub this one.
There is so much more though too. If organized religion is not your jam, don’t let that keep you from Hallelujah. It’s part of who Joseph is in his core, and that part of him is clear and accessible to the reader. It explains a lot about the decisions he makes and the loyalties he keeps.
I could go on and on and on about specifics and characters, but you get the gist from the blurb and part of the beauty of this book is meeting each of the characters for the first time. Reading the evolution of the relationships and interactions is the meat of this book. Sure, the horror is most definitely real, and most definitely horrifying, but we know evil because we know good and the characters here are so humanly good. Not perfect, perfect is boring and a falsehood. But inherent goodness is real and a real part of this book.
Joseph. He’s so fully fleshed out, that I’ll remember him for a long time to come and he’ll make me reread this book. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to him when the story was done, even though the story was done with all the bits wrapped up in a bittersweet package. After everything the group had been through I wasn’t sure how Hallelujah would wrap, or if it even could, but damn, the authors did an amazing job of ending the story and being true to each of the characters.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
Hallelujah is quite a ride. There is a lot going on, a lot of themes, a lot of action, a lot of realizations, a lot. The authors balanced and tied everything together so perfectly the story never felt too busy or at loose ends. Every sentence and action had a purpose for Joseph and his journey.
There are many religious undertones (and overtones, if I’m honest) to Hallelujah. Religion is an integral component to the story and while the specific faith is personal to Joseph, the overarching theme is much more broad, encompassing the basics of good vs. evil and redemption and forgiveness.
Growing up in an agnostic household, I was able to understand everything in theory, but I’m sure I was missing some of the visceral reactions someone who grew up in a religious upbringing might feel. I googled and learned a lot, something I always appreciate from a book, and I can’t decide which background would be more beneficial when reading Hallelujah. I bought a copy for a friend (he’s no longer actively practicing any formal religion, but he did grow up in a faithfully religious household) and we’re going to mini bookclub this one.
There is so much more though too. If organized religion is not your jam, don’t let that keep you from Hallelujah. It’s part of who Joseph is in his core, and that part of him is clear and accessible to the reader. It explains a lot about the decisions he makes and the loyalties he keeps.
I could go on and on and on about specifics and characters, but you get the gist from the blurb and part of the beauty of this book is meeting each of the characters for the first time. Reading the evolution of the relationships and interactions is the meat of this book. Sure, the horror is most definitely real, and most definitely horrifying, but we know evil because we know good and the characters here are so humanly good. Not perfect, perfect is boring and a falsehood. But inherent goodness is real and a real part of this book.
Joseph. He’s so fully fleshed out, that I’ll remember him for a long time to come and he’ll make me reread this book. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to him when the story was done, even though the story was done with all the bits wrapped up in a bittersweet package. After everything the group had been through I wasn’t sure how Hallelujah would wrap, or if it even could, but damn, the authors did an amazing job of ending the story and being true to each of the characters.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
March 24, 2020
This book was so reminiscent of Stephen King, and I think that is saying something as he is the King of horror. This book scared the crap out of me. Joseph has seen ghosts since he was a child and has rejected that side of himself. He is also scared to death of coming out to his father and town. He is the choir leader at his Baptist Church and their preaching’s are that loving a man is evil. He is hopelessly drawn to his neighbor Kevin and it turns out that Kevin is drawn to him. But as the blurb states, this is not a romance book, so it does not center around their relationship. There is true evil stalking Joseph because it is drawn to the goodness in him and his sight. Through a vision, Joseph is then introduced to Celine and she tries to warn him about the evil that is coming for him, but he doesn’t want to listen/believe her and turns his back on her. Joseph comes face to face with this evil when tragedy strikes and takes his beloved Kevin from him. He is then introduced to Francine who turns out to be kin on his mother's side and has powers of her own. He also meets Stormy who has some really cool powers and who also heals Joseph’s heart. When they are pitted against the evil demon, it doesn't look like anyone is going to survive & I was really scared that we were going to lose everyone. We also get into the mind of the demon and his absolute joy in killing everyone in his path and corrupting those that he takes over. It was a very scary place to be. If you are a fan of a good/great horror read, then you really need to pick this one up, you won’t be disappointed.
ARC provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2020
Hallelujah!
First and foremost I waited until I was in the mood for this kind of story. A story full of
Loneliness
Spiritually
Love
Fear
Passion
Loss
Anger
Cowardice
Bravery
Growth
Strength
Not an easy read but so worth it.
First and foremost I waited until I was in the mood for this kind of story. A story full of
Loneliness
Spiritually
Love
Fear
Passion
Loss
Anger
Cowardice
Bravery
Growth
Strength
Not an easy read but so worth it.
May 28, 2020
This was an amazing story - historical fiction with a paranormal twist. The angst and emotion throughout was so beautiful, the love, loyalty and vulnerability of characters who represented such different journeys in middle America. A collection of souls with a core purpose - to defeat a demon hell bent on destruction. I was absolutely hooked.
Read
May 9, 2020Now available in Audio with Alan Staples
https://www.audible.com/pd/Hallelujah...
https://www.audible.com/pd/Hallelujah...
March 25, 2020
A bona-fide horror story, reminiscent of Stephen King. It was so well written and compelling, I couldn't put it down. Both Ms Fielding and Mr Feeley are such good story tellers, and this was reflected in the story.
I do like something that's a bit different from the norm, and this comes up in Aces. The story telling has real depth, as have the characters. I could tell that both author's had a good time writing this, it shone through in their words.
These two are proving to be master storytellers and their power to influence and challenge is awesome. This is a gripping and horribly scary tale. Chilling, and thought provoking, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I do like something that's a bit different from the norm, and this comes up in Aces. The story telling has real depth, as have the characters. I could tell that both author's had a good time writing this, it shone through in their words.
These two are proving to be master storytellers and their power to influence and challenge is awesome. This is a gripping and horribly scary tale. Chilling, and thought provoking, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 26, 2020
MMy Thoughts and Review:
"You’ve been chosen because you’re an artist, Joseph. You bring people together with song. Artists see what others cannot.”
Hallelujah!
That was one twisted ride, and in many ways, a ride down memory lane. In quite a few ways Hallelujah took me back in time to my senior year in high school when I read a series of horror books by a Christian author, that take place in a small town, much like the one in this story. Even now, some thirty years later I will come across these books and they are always stashed in the horror section, waiting like a rebellious old friend. I have a feeling I will look on Hallelujah in much the same way over time…
The battle of good and evil, saints and sinners, god and devils has gone on in one form or other since the dawn of time. To some, it’s a religious pursuit, to others a battle of wills. All claim they, “fight on the side of right,” or “have god on their side,” while slaughtering innocents in their pursuits. Did “the devil make them do it” or was it an act of free will? Was it god who called them to action, something more sinister like a demon or devil or perhaps the games of men in general?
For a young man, Joseph, recently returned home from college, where he studied music, life has not turn out the way he thought it would, but that doesn’t make it a terrible life…except for all the ghosts…the secret…the tragedy he keeps buried in his soul for almost 30 years…and the demon hell-bent on making him his own.
It has been a really long time since I have read a hero’s journey I have enjoyed so much. There were a couple of times I got lost for a second and had to pause my TTS and open the book to follow along, but that had more to do with the print layout than the story. Just FYI, for other audio readers.
I absolutely loved Francine and would love to spend time with her in real life. She is someone who has seen and done much in her time on earth making her edges hard, but she has a heart of gold. An amazing and stalwart warrior in her own right.
My heart was filled with nostalgia every time Joseph or one of the other characters sang the lyrics to a hymn from my childhood. When the young ghost mentioned an old Neil Diamond song, well you coulda just forked me, ’cause I was done. That particular song has been an earwig for days now. No matter how I change up my playlist, the song still finds a way in, so thanks for that dear authors…haha hahaha.
You can tell a lot of love, pain from the past (maybe even a few ghosts), hard work, and collab time went into making this story great. The authors succeeded magnificently! There is something for every appetite here, it’s like a buffet at a family reunion. So, if you enjoy horror stories with a demonic/ supernatural theme, that plays out very much like the hero’s journeys of old, then you are in luck, Fielding and Feeley are Fabulous together! Don’t miss this one!
4.50 song-sung-blue-stars🌟🌟🌟🌟•🌟
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Other Worlds Ink 🍀
"You’ve been chosen because you’re an artist, Joseph. You bring people together with song. Artists see what others cannot.”
Hallelujah!
That was one twisted ride, and in many ways, a ride down memory lane. In quite a few ways Hallelujah took me back in time to my senior year in high school when I read a series of horror books by a Christian author, that take place in a small town, much like the one in this story. Even now, some thirty years later I will come across these books and they are always stashed in the horror section, waiting like a rebellious old friend. I have a feeling I will look on Hallelujah in much the same way over time…
The battle of good and evil, saints and sinners, god and devils has gone on in one form or other since the dawn of time. To some, it’s a religious pursuit, to others a battle of wills. All claim they, “fight on the side of right,” or “have god on their side,” while slaughtering innocents in their pursuits. Did “the devil make them do it” or was it an act of free will? Was it god who called them to action, something more sinister like a demon or devil or perhaps the games of men in general?
For a young man, Joseph, recently returned home from college, where he studied music, life has not turn out the way he thought it would, but that doesn’t make it a terrible life…except for all the ghosts…the secret…the tragedy he keeps buried in his soul for almost 30 years…and the demon hell-bent on making him his own.
It has been a really long time since I have read a hero’s journey I have enjoyed so much. There were a couple of times I got lost for a second and had to pause my TTS and open the book to follow along, but that had more to do with the print layout than the story. Just FYI, for other audio readers.
I absolutely loved Francine and would love to spend time with her in real life. She is someone who has seen and done much in her time on earth making her edges hard, but she has a heart of gold. An amazing and stalwart warrior in her own right.
My heart was filled with nostalgia every time Joseph or one of the other characters sang the lyrics to a hymn from my childhood. When the young ghost mentioned an old Neil Diamond song, well you coulda just forked me, ’cause I was done. That particular song has been an earwig for days now. No matter how I change up my playlist, the song still finds a way in, so thanks for that dear authors…haha hahaha.
You can tell a lot of love, pain from the past (maybe even a few ghosts), hard work, and collab time went into making this story great. The authors succeeded magnificently! There is something for every appetite here, it’s like a buffet at a family reunion. So, if you enjoy horror stories with a demonic/ supernatural theme, that plays out very much like the hero’s journeys of old, then you are in luck, Fielding and Feeley are Fabulous together! Don’t miss this one!
4.50 song-sung-blue-stars🌟🌟🌟🌟•🌟
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Other Worlds Ink 🍀
April 6, 2020
3.5 Stars
This two part novel spanned two time period: 1991 and 2019. I was into a few early chapters of this book before it dawn on me that 1991 was a whooping 29 years ago - which made this a somewhat historical slash alternate world paranormal story. Frankly, I was a bit timid and undecided when it’s said HALLELUJAH is a horror story. It was not THAT scary though. I mean, if this scaredy reader could finish (reading) without having any nightmare, anyone can! 😆
HALLELUJAH centered on the life of Joseph Moore, a closeted choir director for his hometown church in Nebraska. After a few years away from Lenora, the small-town’s life and expectation, not to mention his ability to see ghosts, weighed on Joseph. It didn’t help when he got attracted to the older brother of one of his choir member. But Kevin Shoenberner turned out to be Joseph’s light in his currently bleak life and his only ally when a merciless dark force threatened them. It took a while for help to come for them and even then, Joseph might have to make difficult choices to come up trumps!
Kudos to Kim Fielding and FE Feeley Jr for co-writing this book. I have read Fielding’s books before but a newbie to Feeley’s writing, so I could’t say who wrote which in this sinister and too real world Joseph and his gang lived in. Through multiple POVs (Jacob’s and a few supporting characters) the war of good VS bad illustrated with a twist and turn - some of them had me gobsmacked when a particular incident delivered unexpected results (I wasn’t prepared by how Part I ended!). The little sexy times Joseph had acted as distractions to the overall gloom and doom atmosphere throughout the pages. Neither authors pulled any punches in what fate befell our hero and honestly I wasn’t that thrilled over some of the decisions our protagonists made. Yet, in the grand scheme of things, the overall vibes was acceptable - there were casualties in war no matter how hard the good side wished otherwise. Reading this in a difficult situation we’re currently in (what’s with the global corona pandemic and its effects) might not be the best of time. Just bear in mind, at least in this book, the good guys would win in the end.
Copy of this book is kindly given by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This two part novel spanned two time period: 1991 and 2019. I was into a few early chapters of this book before it dawn on me that 1991 was a whooping 29 years ago - which made this a somewhat historical slash alternate world paranormal story. Frankly, I was a bit timid and undecided when it’s said HALLELUJAH is a horror story. It was not THAT scary though. I mean, if this scaredy reader could finish (reading) without having any nightmare, anyone can! 😆
HALLELUJAH centered on the life of Joseph Moore, a closeted choir director for his hometown church in Nebraska. After a few years away from Lenora, the small-town’s life and expectation, not to mention his ability to see ghosts, weighed on Joseph. It didn’t help when he got attracted to the older brother of one of his choir member. But Kevin Shoenberner turned out to be Joseph’s light in his currently bleak life and his only ally when a merciless dark force threatened them. It took a while for help to come for them and even then, Joseph might have to make difficult choices to come up trumps!
Kudos to Kim Fielding and FE Feeley Jr for co-writing this book. I have read Fielding’s books before but a newbie to Feeley’s writing, so I could’t say who wrote which in this sinister and too real world Joseph and his gang lived in. Through multiple POVs (Jacob’s and a few supporting characters) the war of good VS bad illustrated with a twist and turn - some of them had me gobsmacked when a particular incident delivered unexpected results (I wasn’t prepared by how Part I ended!). The little sexy times Joseph had acted as distractions to the overall gloom and doom atmosphere throughout the pages. Neither authors pulled any punches in what fate befell our hero and honestly I wasn’t that thrilled over some of the decisions our protagonists made. Yet, in the grand scheme of things, the overall vibes was acceptable - there were casualties in war no matter how hard the good side wished otherwise. Reading this in a difficult situation we’re currently in (what’s with the global corona pandemic and its effects) might not be the best of time. Just bear in mind, at least in this book, the good guys would win in the end.
Copy of this book is kindly given by the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2022
RECENSIONE A CURA DI ASTRID
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April 15, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
The novel Hallelujah pairs up two marvelous authors, Kim Fielding and F.E. Feeley Jr.. Dipping into the paranormal world with chilling success, this story is one that I actually had to read during the daylight hours as it got a bit too real for me at night. There are parts of this novel that just make the hair on your arms rise up and a cold sweat trickle down your spine. The pair of authors did a fantastic job creating a malevolent evil that stalked Joseph and later two other people who team up with him to try and defeat it. The times when Joseph sees spirits is so well crafted—suspenseful and eerie– and no matter how benign they may turn out to be, the terror that Joseph feels just in seeing them is so real that it made me jump as well.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
The novel Hallelujah pairs up two marvelous authors, Kim Fielding and F.E. Feeley Jr.. Dipping into the paranormal world with chilling success, this story is one that I actually had to read during the daylight hours as it got a bit too real for me at night. There are parts of this novel that just make the hair on your arms rise up and a cold sweat trickle down your spine. The pair of authors did a fantastic job creating a malevolent evil that stalked Joseph and later two other people who team up with him to try and defeat it. The times when Joseph sees spirits is so well crafted—suspenseful and eerie– and no matter how benign they may turn out to be, the terror that Joseph feels just in seeing them is so real that it made me jump as well.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
May 16, 2020
If I’m totally honest, I was avoiding this book at first. The cover was tempting. Show me a tornado and it’s usually a must-read, but I wasn’t sure of the premise. Demons, a religious backstory; in these times, I can’t cope with anything too weighty and dystopian. Real life is a bit too much like a disaster movie at the moment, and we can’t predict what the ending will be.
And yes, there are serious issues in this book, the state of the world today, war between states and countries, climate change, man’s inhumanity to man. There’s bleakness and horror which cannot be denied BUT:
Then I remembered When Heaven Strikes, another book with a tornado, written by F E Feeley Jr, and I remembered how I loved it, so I took the plunge. From the first moment, I felt for choir master, Joseph, who in the first part of the book (1991) had turned his back on his musical dreams to support his father on the family farm. He was torn about how he would ever be accepted in his hometown if he came out, and his relationship with his father is prickly. His church seem determined to see him paired off with the sister of the man Joseph secretly longs for. Oh, and Joseph also sees dead people. Some of them are quite persistent, but he is in denial about his talent, and hasn’t found a way to deal with it affectively.
So far, so earnest, but after some demonic activity, the story veers off in an unexpected direction, with hot and tender scenes which were a welcome respite from the encroaching menace. Then tragedy strikes, and the scene closes on 1991.
Skip forward to the present day, and Joseph is still working the farm. He’s given up on being a choir director and is literally treading water, unable to move on with his life.
I’m not going to spoil it for you, but Joseph is compelled to head off into the desert with a mysterious Creole woman, Francine, who says she is his distant cousin. Francine has a message from the past, warning Joseph he is being hunted by the demon who has haunted him for most of his life. As they search for answers, Joseph also has to deal with questioning his faith, and the constant company of a familiar ghost who he isn’t ready to let go of.
Okay, so that doesn’t sound a barrel of laughs, but trust me, this is an expertly woven tale, with likeable characters and a good dose of humour to balance the darker scenes and themes. Joseph is supported by equally compelling secondary characters who enrich the story and give it a colourful energy. I read the book over three nights and was totally hooked.
Can I address the Stephen King thing? To invite comparison is also to invite criticism. Forget King; this is something else. Something unique to these authors. I’m not saying it’s better than King, or worse. It’s totally different. Comparisons are impossible and pretty unfair, if I’m honest.
There’s a road trip, magic that is written in a way that you totally believe it, a respect for religion that I wasn’t expecting, a running theme based around Leonard Cohen’s masterful rendition of Hallelujah, and a powerful, satisfying denouement. The writing was excellent, the plotting off the scale. It was an imaginative, hugely enjoyable journey and I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to read it.
And yes, there are serious issues in this book, the state of the world today, war between states and countries, climate change, man’s inhumanity to man. There’s bleakness and horror which cannot be denied BUT:
Then I remembered When Heaven Strikes, another book with a tornado, written by F E Feeley Jr, and I remembered how I loved it, so I took the plunge. From the first moment, I felt for choir master, Joseph, who in the first part of the book (1991) had turned his back on his musical dreams to support his father on the family farm. He was torn about how he would ever be accepted in his hometown if he came out, and his relationship with his father is prickly. His church seem determined to see him paired off with the sister of the man Joseph secretly longs for. Oh, and Joseph also sees dead people. Some of them are quite persistent, but he is in denial about his talent, and hasn’t found a way to deal with it affectively.
So far, so earnest, but after some demonic activity, the story veers off in an unexpected direction, with hot and tender scenes which were a welcome respite from the encroaching menace. Then tragedy strikes, and the scene closes on 1991.
Skip forward to the present day, and Joseph is still working the farm. He’s given up on being a choir director and is literally treading water, unable to move on with his life.
I’m not going to spoil it for you, but Joseph is compelled to head off into the desert with a mysterious Creole woman, Francine, who says she is his distant cousin. Francine has a message from the past, warning Joseph he is being hunted by the demon who has haunted him for most of his life. As they search for answers, Joseph also has to deal with questioning his faith, and the constant company of a familiar ghost who he isn’t ready to let go of.
Okay, so that doesn’t sound a barrel of laughs, but trust me, this is an expertly woven tale, with likeable characters and a good dose of humour to balance the darker scenes and themes. Joseph is supported by equally compelling secondary characters who enrich the story and give it a colourful energy. I read the book over three nights and was totally hooked.
Can I address the Stephen King thing? To invite comparison is also to invite criticism. Forget King; this is something else. Something unique to these authors. I’m not saying it’s better than King, or worse. It’s totally different. Comparisons are impossible and pretty unfair, if I’m honest.
There’s a road trip, magic that is written in a way that you totally believe it, a respect for religion that I wasn’t expecting, a running theme based around Leonard Cohen’s masterful rendition of Hallelujah, and a powerful, satisfying denouement. The writing was excellent, the plotting off the scale. It was an imaginative, hugely enjoyable journey and I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to read it.
April 6, 2022
La recensione completa è sul blog @allcoloursofromance.
Leggere un libro scritto da due delle mie penne preferite è stato emozionante. Se inizialmente ero un po' spaventata dalle mie aspettative elevatissime poi, man mano che mi immergevo nelle pagine, sono stata travolta da questa storia dura, bruciante, sofferta, carica della malinconia avvolgente e toccante tipica di Kim Fielding e della dirompente e agghiacciante vena paranormale e horror tipica di F. E. Feeley Jr. I loro due stili si sono fusi in modo perfetto, dando vita ad un racconto denso di contenuti, in cui il bianco e il nero, il bene e il male si stagliano netti e contrapposti l'uno di fronte all'altro, ma in cui - allo stesso tempo - le loro origini sfumano e si compenetrano divenendo indistinguibili, affondando nel cuore stesso dell'essere umano.
(...)
Quella evidenziata da* due scrittor* è una visione del mondo che pone al centro di tutto l'uomo con le sue scelte, in una interpretazione dell'eterna lotta tra bene e male, a suo modo, molto più slegata dal divino di quanto mi sarei aspettata e che ho apprezzato molto.
Protagonista indiscusso è Joseph, di cui ho vissuto intensamente tutte le emozioni. Un'anima provata, dilaniata fra il suo essere e ciò che è moralmente accettabile nella sua comunità, fra il suo dono e la maledizione che esso rappresenta. Un ragazzo che mi entrato sotto pelle, con il suo dolore, con la sua passione, con la sua fragilità e con il suo potere.
(...)
Al suo fianco ci sono Kevin e Stormy, entrambi poco delineati (soprattutto il secondo) ma meravigliosamente raccontati attraverso le emozioni che suscitano in Joseph. Ecco, se ho un rammarico, è proprio nella persona di Stormy che avrei voluto conoscere di più.
La figura di Francine è stata una vera sorpresa, poiché è l'anello di congiunzione di questo romanzo con la serie Memoria delle ombre di F. E. Feeley Jr. (...)
Questa è una storia che segue un filo temporale ben preciso, che improvvisamente e drammaticamente si spezza, per riprendere a quasi trent'annitrenta anni di distanza, in una vita che sembra essersi come congelata, per poi evolversi drasticamente. Lo fa con un ritmo intenso, mai adrenalinico, ma sempre teso.
Il finale lo giudico perfetto: dolceamaro, come sempre lo sono le prese di coscienza e di responsabilità, carico di speranza e annuvolato di incertezza, aperto e chiuso allo stesso tempo.
Bello, di più… bellissimo.
4 stelle e mezzo
Hugs&kisses
Leggere un libro scritto da due delle mie penne preferite è stato emozionante. Se inizialmente ero un po' spaventata dalle mie aspettative elevatissime poi, man mano che mi immergevo nelle pagine, sono stata travolta da questa storia dura, bruciante, sofferta, carica della malinconia avvolgente e toccante tipica di Kim Fielding e della dirompente e agghiacciante vena paranormale e horror tipica di F. E. Feeley Jr. I loro due stili si sono fusi in modo perfetto, dando vita ad un racconto denso di contenuti, in cui il bianco e il nero, il bene e il male si stagliano netti e contrapposti l'uno di fronte all'altro, ma in cui - allo stesso tempo - le loro origini sfumano e si compenetrano divenendo indistinguibili, affondando nel cuore stesso dell'essere umano.
(...)
Quella evidenziata da* due scrittor* è una visione del mondo che pone al centro di tutto l'uomo con le sue scelte, in una interpretazione dell'eterna lotta tra bene e male, a suo modo, molto più slegata dal divino di quanto mi sarei aspettata e che ho apprezzato molto.
Protagonista indiscusso è Joseph, di cui ho vissuto intensamente tutte le emozioni. Un'anima provata, dilaniata fra il suo essere e ciò che è moralmente accettabile nella sua comunità, fra il suo dono e la maledizione che esso rappresenta. Un ragazzo che mi entrato sotto pelle, con il suo dolore, con la sua passione, con la sua fragilità e con il suo potere.
(...)
Al suo fianco ci sono Kevin e Stormy, entrambi poco delineati (soprattutto il secondo) ma meravigliosamente raccontati attraverso le emozioni che suscitano in Joseph. Ecco, se ho un rammarico, è proprio nella persona di Stormy che avrei voluto conoscere di più.
La figura di Francine è stata una vera sorpresa, poiché è l'anello di congiunzione di questo romanzo con la serie Memoria delle ombre di F. E. Feeley Jr. (...)
Questa è una storia che segue un filo temporale ben preciso, che improvvisamente e drammaticamente si spezza, per riprendere a quasi trent'annitrenta anni di distanza, in una vita che sembra essersi come congelata, per poi evolversi drasticamente. Lo fa con un ritmo intenso, mai adrenalinico, ma sempre teso.
Il finale lo giudico perfetto: dolceamaro, come sempre lo sono le prese di coscienza e di responsabilità, carico di speranza e annuvolato di incertezza, aperto e chiuso allo stesso tempo.
Bello, di più… bellissimo.
4 stelle e mezzo
Hugs&kisses
May 17, 2020
This book was so much more emotional than I would have guessed from the blurb. I'd probably put this in the top 5 or 10 books so far as its ability to make me cry. Sure, there are some creepy, scary, suspenseful aspects to the story, but this is a book heavy with sorrow, bereavement, guilt, regret, fear, and the struggle to find enough love, passion, faith, and hope to move on. Oh, and music - lots and lots of music. The characters dealt with all of these things as part of their battle with a dark force intent on destroying everything good in their world and in the world in general.
Thank goodness that in the midst of all of that, there were moments of lightness and some surprising laugh out loud humor, (along with some real nostalgia for me, at least, since a chunk of the story takes place in 1991). Joseph had help navigating these supernatural dark forces from the awesome characters of his boyfriend, Kevin, his long lost (and very badass) cousin, Francine, and then Stormy, a man they met along the way.
There is an emphasis on a God, as Joseph loses and then finds faith. Some might find this a turnoff; however, it felt to me that this was what Joseph in particular needed to resolve. Since this is a paranormal, fictional story, I found that this worked without being preachy.
(The only slight negative for me was that wasn't entirely overwhelmed with the climax of the story. I can't imagine what might have been the right way for it to have gone though. There's not much I can say about that without spoilers - and others might find it absolutely perfect.)
I listened to the audio book and LOVED the narrator. He did a great job of differentiating voices, pacing and expressing emotion. Also, Joseph started out the story as a church choir director, loving music, all kinds of music. There is a LOT of music in this book, with many people singing. I give the narrator kudos for all the singing he had to do, poor guy. I hope he does more books in the m/m genre.
I'm fairly certain that the authors don't intend a sequel, but I can just imagine Joseph's demon hunting future. I'd totally read that.
Thank goodness that in the midst of all of that, there were moments of lightness and some surprising laugh out loud humor, (along with some real nostalgia for me, at least, since a chunk of the story takes place in 1991). Joseph had help navigating these supernatural dark forces from the awesome characters of his boyfriend, Kevin, his long lost (and very badass) cousin, Francine, and then Stormy, a man they met along the way.
There is an emphasis on a God, as Joseph loses and then finds faith. Some might find this a turnoff; however, it felt to me that this was what Joseph in particular needed to resolve. Since this is a paranormal, fictional story, I found that this worked without being preachy.
(The only slight negative for me was that wasn't entirely overwhelmed with the climax of the story. I can't imagine what might have been the right way for it to have gone though. There's not much I can say about that without spoilers - and others might find it absolutely perfect.)
I listened to the audio book and LOVED the narrator. He did a great job of differentiating voices, pacing and expressing emotion. Also, Joseph started out the story as a church choir director, loving music, all kinds of music. There is a LOT of music in this book, with many people singing. I give the narrator kudos for all the singing he had to do, poor guy. I hope he does more books in the m/m genre.
I'm fairly certain that the authors don't intend a sequel, but I can just imagine Joseph's demon hunting future. I'd totally read that.
November 29, 2020
In full disclosure I did receive a copy of this from the author with the caveat, I am as slow AF when it comes to reading ebooks (I did not lie). I love horror and I know this is probably one of the hardest sell in the LGBT genre. The authors did a fantastic job in depicting the horror elements without being overly gory or leaning to hard on the shock value crutch.
Our point of view character through most of this is Joseph Moore, choir director for the First Baptist Church of Lenora, Nebraska has his share of problems. Being a gay Baptist choir director in a small midwest town is just one of them. Joseph can see ghosts, something that terrifies him. Just as he is starting to get his life on track with a new love, something has come looking for him, something with dark and ugly powers that will change Joseph's world.
Years later, Joseph finds himself in his comfortable, or not so comfortable, rut, taking care of his aged father but bottled up inside himself. The demon has returned and this time Joseph along with some surprising allies have to stop it.
Joseph's fears and loves are very believable and he is a compelling character as are his allies and lovers. There is a real midwest feel to this and the horror is done well without being over the top. Shout outs to past novels by the authors are peppered through like fun little Easter eggs and I really enjoyed that.
I'd love to see more from them along this line.
Our point of view character through most of this is Joseph Moore, choir director for the First Baptist Church of Lenora, Nebraska has his share of problems. Being a gay Baptist choir director in a small midwest town is just one of them. Joseph can see ghosts, something that terrifies him. Just as he is starting to get his life on track with a new love, something has come looking for him, something with dark and ugly powers that will change Joseph's world.
Years later, Joseph finds himself in his comfortable, or not so comfortable, rut, taking care of his aged father but bottled up inside himself. The demon has returned and this time Joseph along with some surprising allies have to stop it.
Joseph's fears and loves are very believable and he is a compelling character as are his allies and lovers. There is a real midwest feel to this and the horror is done well without being over the top. Shout outs to past novels by the authors are peppered through like fun little Easter eggs and I really enjoyed that.
I'd love to see more from them along this line.
May 31, 2020
Move over Frank Peretti. Back up Steven King. This spiritual battle/love story takes all the aces and will leave you shaken and shaking.
Joseph Moore is a farmer, the choir director for the local church and the owner of secrets he dares not admit to another soul. That works until the souls start coming to him and so the drama begins.
My favorite author for books that involve beating back the forces of darkness has always been Frank Peretti. That is until now. Only Freddie Feeley could add the elements of romance to such a battle and hold me spell bound from beginning to end. I was so desperate to keep up with the story that I purchased the audio copy to listen to on my drive to and from work. That way I could in effect read non-stop
The build up as Joseph found his way through the darkness to victory kept me on the edge of my proverbial seat. The supporting characters made the story move forth with a rhythm that made you hear music inside your soul. Joseph’s growth as a man, a gay man and a spiritual warrior make you shout at the book as he rolls through the battle to protect his soul and those of the ones he loves and learns to love.
I can’t say more without spoilers so I will say this: Read Halleluiah. It will move you in places you didn’t know existed.
Joseph Moore is a farmer, the choir director for the local church and the owner of secrets he dares not admit to another soul. That works until the souls start coming to him and so the drama begins.
My favorite author for books that involve beating back the forces of darkness has always been Frank Peretti. That is until now. Only Freddie Feeley could add the elements of romance to such a battle and hold me spell bound from beginning to end. I was so desperate to keep up with the story that I purchased the audio copy to listen to on my drive to and from work. That way I could in effect read non-stop
The build up as Joseph found his way through the darkness to victory kept me on the edge of my proverbial seat. The supporting characters made the story move forth with a rhythm that made you hear music inside your soul. Joseph’s growth as a man, a gay man and a spiritual warrior make you shout at the book as he rolls through the battle to protect his soul and those of the ones he loves and learns to love.
I can’t say more without spoilers so I will say this: Read Halleluiah. It will move you in places you didn’t know existed.
March 13, 2020
Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. Joseph is special but he doesn't realize how that is until a vision /dream where he meets Celine. Seeing spirits is one thing Joseph has to live with but a demon hounding him for the lost souls is another story. After saving people in town the choirs director became a hero, but he is torn is he to blame or was he just in the right place at the right time. How to tell someone you can see and communicate with the dead? Will anyone believe him..for that matter will Kevin?
tragic is one word of how part one ends part two pain is a constant reminder every time Joseph sees Kevin. When a unsuspecting guests arrives with warning. Meeting someone new was just may bring more danger to Joseph's life that he was never going to out run.
Reading this combined creation between these two Authors gives you this amazing read. A dark and thrilling story of a young man that has a paranormal journey ahead of him will he have help light his way to come out the other side or loss everything trying..
tragic is one word of how part one ends part two pain is a constant reminder every time Joseph sees Kevin. When a unsuspecting guests arrives with warning. Meeting someone new was just may bring more danger to Joseph's life that he was never going to out run.
Reading this combined creation between these two Authors gives you this amazing read. A dark and thrilling story of a young man that has a paranormal journey ahead of him will he have help light his way to come out the other side or loss everything trying..
March 30, 2020
As other have said, this book has a King-esque feel to it - and I mean that as the highest compliment.
I never know what I will get with a Kim Fielding book, only that it will be something I don't want to put down.
This is once again true with Hallelujah.
You cant pigeon hole this as a romance, because even though the main characters DO fall in love, the romance is almost a subplot - which in this book, was exactly the right track to take.
I dont want to spoil this for anyone, so I'll just say that if you love horror, supernatural elements, and romantic threads skillfully woven throughout the story, this book is definitely for you.
I received an ARC from the author for a fair and unbiased review.
I never know what I will get with a Kim Fielding book, only that it will be something I don't want to put down.
This is once again true with Hallelujah.
You cant pigeon hole this as a romance, because even though the main characters DO fall in love, the romance is almost a subplot - which in this book, was exactly the right track to take.
I dont want to spoil this for anyone, so I'll just say that if you love horror, supernatural elements, and romantic threads skillfully woven throughout the story, this book is definitely for you.
I received an ARC from the author for a fair and unbiased review.
May 11, 2020
Young Baptist choirmaster, Joseph, sees and chats with ghosts in a small rural Nebraskan town. A powerful demon wants to possess him and it will take the support of loved ones to fight it! I loved this supernatural story, it was gripping and unusual, it reminded me of Charlaine Harris’s wonderful books. The book centres on Joseph, timid, fighting his sexual orientation, and we watch him grow. It is not a straightforward romance, there is great love and great loss, but not despair. 🎧 Alan H Staples puts in a great performance, even singing the hymns that permeate the book!
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I received a free copy of this audiobook from the authors in exchange for an honest review.
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I received a free copy of this audiobook from the authors in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2020
Very well done. I highly recommend this one. I really liked the soul-searching Joseph goes through for his faith. he philosophy he adopts is beautiful. It also helps that "Hallelujah" is one of my favorite songs (especially as sung by The Canadian Tenors).
I want to hang out with Francine for about a month. She's cool.
I want to hang out with Francine for about a month. She's cool.
September 11, 2022
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April 16, 2020
Intense
Wow! This is one of those books that I had to take a couple of days to read. Why, because for me, it was intense. The characters were beautifully constructed and came to life beautifully on the page. The good versus evil storyline had a load of twists and kept me constantly anticipating disaster. Highly Recommended!
Wow! This is one of those books that I had to take a couple of days to read. Why, because for me, it was intense. The characters were beautifully constructed and came to life beautifully on the page. The good versus evil storyline had a load of twists and kept me constantly anticipating disaster. Highly Recommended!
May 19, 2020
“Everyone has talent. What's rare is the courage to follow it to the dark places where it leads.” ~ Erica Jong
With high hopes of leaving his dull life in Lenora, Nebraska, behind, Joseph Moore, of ‘Hallelujah’ by F.E. Feely, Jr. and Kim Fielding, left for college, but when his brother moved away, Joseph was forced to return to help his father with their farm. Once returned, Joseph became choir director at the local Baptist church. Besides having to give up his dreams, Joseph is also hiding two secrets that he never intends to share with anyone. The first is that he can see ghosts. The second, he is gay. Joseph’s life takes a turn for the better when Kevin, the young man Joseph has a huge crush on, turns out to be gay as well; Joseph can hardly believe his luck. Maybe life won’t be as bad in Lenora as he imagined it would be. As for the ghosts, that’s a different matter.
There’s a saying that if something seems to be too good to be true, then it probably is. Unfortunately, that’s the case with Kevin and Joseph’s relationship. They have an idyllic time together, exploring each other’s bodies and falling in love, then tragedy strikes. Joseph, almost a recluse to begin with, buries his grief so deep inside himself that he becomes a shell of a man. His faith and music have always been very important in his life, but they seem meaningless now. Joseph throws himself into farm work, quits his job as choir director, stops going to church, and, in essence, gives up on life. His faith, something that has always kept him going, fades away, leaving him without a purpose.
Joseph goes on for years, barely existing until a stranger appears at their door, a tall, black woman who informs Joseph that she is his cousin. She also tells him that she is the granddaughter of Celine, a ghost whom Joseph has encountered in the past who told her about his gifts and tried to explain to him how to use them. After talking with Joseph for a while, his newfound cousin convinces him that the demon that disrupted his life so many years ago is back and is after him again. She convinces Joseph that he has supernatural powers with which he can destroy the demon and save the world. Other than being able to see ghosts, Joseph has little idea what powers he possesses and is skeptical, but the demon’s role in the devastating events of the past stirs up hatred and a need for revenge that make Joseph decide to join the quest.
I felt as if this story needs to have a warning with it that says: Caution! This story will have you checking under your bed before you go to sleep!’ I’m not a fan of horror stories, but because Fred and Kim are the authors and are favorites of mine, I felt compelled to read it. In many ways, it’s brilliant; it is also deep, dark, and just plain frightening. Demonic possession is an idea that has always terrified me. With this subject being one of the main themes, I was duly terrified! But that said, I am certain that those of you who love Stephen King type stories, will be satisfyingly scared out of your wits, joining Joseph in contemplating the mysteries of the meaning of life, the struggle between good and evil, why God does or does not answer prayers, as well as other various and sundry subjects. Thanks, Fred and Kim, for sharing your “way with words” with me.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
With high hopes of leaving his dull life in Lenora, Nebraska, behind, Joseph Moore, of ‘Hallelujah’ by F.E. Feely, Jr. and Kim Fielding, left for college, but when his brother moved away, Joseph was forced to return to help his father with their farm. Once returned, Joseph became choir director at the local Baptist church. Besides having to give up his dreams, Joseph is also hiding two secrets that he never intends to share with anyone. The first is that he can see ghosts. The second, he is gay. Joseph’s life takes a turn for the better when Kevin, the young man Joseph has a huge crush on, turns out to be gay as well; Joseph can hardly believe his luck. Maybe life won’t be as bad in Lenora as he imagined it would be. As for the ghosts, that’s a different matter.
There’s a saying that if something seems to be too good to be true, then it probably is. Unfortunately, that’s the case with Kevin and Joseph’s relationship. They have an idyllic time together, exploring each other’s bodies and falling in love, then tragedy strikes. Joseph, almost a recluse to begin with, buries his grief so deep inside himself that he becomes a shell of a man. His faith and music have always been very important in his life, but they seem meaningless now. Joseph throws himself into farm work, quits his job as choir director, stops going to church, and, in essence, gives up on life. His faith, something that has always kept him going, fades away, leaving him without a purpose.
Joseph goes on for years, barely existing until a stranger appears at their door, a tall, black woman who informs Joseph that she is his cousin. She also tells him that she is the granddaughter of Celine, a ghost whom Joseph has encountered in the past who told her about his gifts and tried to explain to him how to use them. After talking with Joseph for a while, his newfound cousin convinces him that the demon that disrupted his life so many years ago is back and is after him again. She convinces Joseph that he has supernatural powers with which he can destroy the demon and save the world. Other than being able to see ghosts, Joseph has little idea what powers he possesses and is skeptical, but the demon’s role in the devastating events of the past stirs up hatred and a need for revenge that make Joseph decide to join the quest.
I felt as if this story needs to have a warning with it that says: Caution! This story will have you checking under your bed before you go to sleep!’ I’m not a fan of horror stories, but because Fred and Kim are the authors and are favorites of mine, I felt compelled to read it. In many ways, it’s brilliant; it is also deep, dark, and just plain frightening. Demonic possession is an idea that has always terrified me. With this subject being one of the main themes, I was duly terrified! But that said, I am certain that those of you who love Stephen King type stories, will be satisfyingly scared out of your wits, joining Joseph in contemplating the mysteries of the meaning of life, the struggle between good and evil, why God does or does not answer prayers, as well as other various and sundry subjects. Thanks, Fred and Kim, for sharing your “way with words” with me.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
March 22, 2020
Evil lies everywhere, but it is in the hidden wishes of human where it really blooms....
Joseph Moore is a good man. He helps his father in their farm, giving up his dream of pursuing a career, and leads the church choir. He also struggles to fight his wishes, because his Church has taught him that there is evil in wanting another man. But he will soon learn about the real nature of evil, and it has nothing to do with what he feels towards his lover Kevin. Evil is much darker, and much more dangerous....
Okay. Where to start. This is not an easy book to read. Or it is. On the surface, it is the story of Joseph, a man with the ability of seeing ghosts. That supernatural power will attract to him a dangerous evil who wants to use him to take over the world. It will also attract to him powerful and generous allies who are willing to put their lives in line to protect him. It will steal his first love away from him, but it will also bring a new love. It will put an end to his life as he knew it, and bring a new beginning. So it is a love story, and a self discovery story. But there is more in this book. All the story is intertwined with references to other books by authors, and even references to the authors themselves (professor Phyllis). I've read the Memoirs of the Human Wraiths, and I must recognise that I've enjoyed the references. But I also reckon that so many characters and stories may be a bit overwhelming, and there is a chance of a reader getting lost in them...
My personal opinion is that this is a tricky story, a risky bet on the authors. I really enjoyed the narration, the supernatural element, the intertwined stories... and really loved the romance between Kevin and Joseph; but I am not a religious person, and the religious element on the story was a bit to heavy for me. And yet, I enjoyed the story a lot.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review...
Joseph Moore is a good man. He helps his father in their farm, giving up his dream of pursuing a career, and leads the church choir. He also struggles to fight his wishes, because his Church has taught him that there is evil in wanting another man. But he will soon learn about the real nature of evil, and it has nothing to do with what he feels towards his lover Kevin. Evil is much darker, and much more dangerous....
Okay. Where to start. This is not an easy book to read. Or it is. On the surface, it is the story of Joseph, a man with the ability of seeing ghosts. That supernatural power will attract to him a dangerous evil who wants to use him to take over the world. It will also attract to him powerful and generous allies who are willing to put their lives in line to protect him. It will steal his first love away from him, but it will also bring a new love. It will put an end to his life as he knew it, and bring a new beginning. So it is a love story, and a self discovery story. But there is more in this book. All the story is intertwined with references to other books by authors, and even references to the authors themselves (professor Phyllis). I've read the Memoirs of the Human Wraiths, and I must recognise that I've enjoyed the references. But I also reckon that so many characters and stories may be a bit overwhelming, and there is a chance of a reader getting lost in them...
My personal opinion is that this is a tricky story, a risky bet on the authors. I really enjoyed the narration, the supernatural element, the intertwined stories... and really loved the romance between Kevin and Joseph; but I am not a religious person, and the religious element on the story was a bit to heavy for me. And yet, I enjoyed the story a lot.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2020
THINK STEPHEN KING ,MEETS SUPERNATURAL, MEETS LOVE STORY. THIS BOOK IS RAW GRITTY AND UNFORGETTABLE!
Hallelujah by Kim Fielding and FE. Feeley Jr. is one of the best books I have read so far in 2020. Hallelujah is the story of a young choir director named Joseph Moore . Joseph lives in a small Nebraska town.
There is so much more to Joseph then what meets the eye . There is something deep down in Joseph's soul that he has been very conflicted about and has been trying to come to terms with his whole entire life. Joseph is also keeping a secret ability that he has hidden from everyone in town. He must come to terms with this secret ability really fast if he wants to ever live a normal peaceful life ever again in his small town. If you want to find out what happens next you are going to have to pick up your copy of Hallelujah today.
[ ] Hallelujah by Kim Fielding and Fe. Feeley Jr. is a page turner from the very first page to the very last page. I could not put it down. This book has everything in it from love, action adventure, acceptance, forgiveness, and everything in between. I loved all the twist and turns of this book Think of this book as Stephen King meets Supernatural, meets Love Story.
FE. Feeley Jr. And Kim Fielding our truly masters of their craft. They pull their reader's in and hook them until you are close the back cover of the book. So what are you waiting for pick up your copy of Hallelujah today!
Hallelujah by Kim Fielding and FE. Feeley Jr. is one of the best books I have read so far in 2020. Hallelujah is the story of a young choir director named Joseph Moore . Joseph lives in a small Nebraska town.
There is so much more to Joseph then what meets the eye . There is something deep down in Joseph's soul that he has been very conflicted about and has been trying to come to terms with his whole entire life. Joseph is also keeping a secret ability that he has hidden from everyone in town. He must come to terms with this secret ability really fast if he wants to ever live a normal peaceful life ever again in his small town. If you want to find out what happens next you are going to have to pick up your copy of Hallelujah today.
[ ] Hallelujah by Kim Fielding and Fe. Feeley Jr. is a page turner from the very first page to the very last page. I could not put it down. This book has everything in it from love, action adventure, acceptance, forgiveness, and everything in between. I loved all the twist and turns of this book Think of this book as Stephen King meets Supernatural, meets Love Story.
FE. Feeley Jr. And Kim Fielding our truly masters of their craft. They pull their reader's in and hook them until you are close the back cover of the book. So what are you waiting for pick up your copy of Hallelujah today!
March 23, 2020
This was beautifully written with great characters and an engaging story line that kept my interest till the very end. It's difficult to assign it to a genre though. The authors have stated that it is horror with romance elements. If pressed, I'd say it's a contemporary political supernatural and liberal horror romance. That doesn't sound like it could work but it does. There are even some religious undertones which, given that the horror aspect is based on the existence of demons, is not that surprising. I especially enjoyed Joseph's development throughout the story.
What I did not like is that, despite what the authors claim, there were too many references to events and characters for this to be truly considered a stand-alone. As a completionist I would have liked to know this in advance, so I could have read the books that this one refers to. Yes, it can be read by itself but those vague references to characters that I knew nothing about but seemed important anyway bugged the hell out of me. but as I said, I'm a completionist, other people may not notice this aspect or could not care less.
What I did not like is that, despite what the authors claim, there were too many references to events and characters for this to be truly considered a stand-alone. As a completionist I would have liked to know this in advance, so I could have read the books that this one refers to. Yes, it can be read by itself but those vague references to characters that I knew nothing about but seemed important anyway bugged the hell out of me. but as I said, I'm a completionist, other people may not notice this aspect or could not care less.
March 30, 2020
Joseph works his fathers farm and is the choir leader at his church. He plods through life, trying to ignore the ghosts he sees. He has attracted a demon who wants to possess him. When Joseph is finally happy with the man he loves the demon strikes out and ruins Joseph’s life. I’m reminded of the movies when the bad guy does evil and the good says big mistake. The demon here made a mistake, he just doesn’t know it yet.
I like these authors separately. So I assumed together their talents would create a interesting story and I was right. Their words about Joseph’s struggle to be the man he needed to be were layered with pain, and longing. The characters had a lot of depth. Being familiar with some of the side characters (from the authors books) was helpful to the backstory but not absolutely necessary.
This book was eerie, sad, at times heartbreaking, but ultimately uplifting. Nice story.
I received an arc of this book.
I like these authors separately. So I assumed together their talents would create a interesting story and I was right. Their words about Joseph’s struggle to be the man he needed to be were layered with pain, and longing. The characters had a lot of depth. Being familiar with some of the side characters (from the authors books) was helpful to the backstory but not absolutely necessary.
This book was eerie, sad, at times heartbreaking, but ultimately uplifting. Nice story.
I received an arc of this book.
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