Nova Ford’s traumatic brain injury erased the tragedy of her parent’s death, but it also took every memory she had, including how she came to live with her relatives. So, when Nova finds herself standing outside her small town’s museum, learning of an urban legend about a tragic wedding a hundred years ago, she doesn’t know how she got there, or why she came, but she knows she’ll never be able to forget the captivating tale. The legend claims the mysterious man is the century-old groom, who still toasts the gown of his bride, hoping to summon his true love. Nova can’t stop thinking about it. She sneaks into the museum to see the exhibit before it officially opens, and quickly discovers there are far more mysteries surrounding the gown than she expected. A dangerous enchantment draws her closer to discovering the truths within the legend, but while she may recall forgotten memories, she risks forgetting herself completely.
Misty Provencher offers readers a shelf full of stories to enjoy.
Writing under Misty Provencher, her young adult genres include stories dealing in fantasy, including magic, sci-fi, vampires, shifters, and dark fantasy.
Writing under Misty Paquette, adult readers will enjoy contemporary beach-read romances, based-on-true event stories, a romantic 80s mystery, and even a sci-fantasy.
While Provencher can ride a motorcycle, knows how to Karate chop, and has learned enough French, Spanish, and Sign Language to get herself slapped, Misty's life is dedicated to connecting with, and understanding, the people who cross her path. She is totally enchanted with the world and spends her days trying to translate her everyday muses into words.
Misty Provencher lives in the Mitten. Knock on her internet blog door at www.mistyprovencherauthor.com and wherever great coffee is sold.
I promise the praise I'm giving this book is unbiased as I can possibly be. Not only is Out Cold set in my home town, but I've met author Misty Provencher and think she's just the sweetest lady. So, New Baltimore is a small church town where every building is some historic landmark and rich in history, and Misty really plays upon that for this fun vampiric novel. Nova has TBI so doesn't attend school but kinda follows around her cousin and the dopey boyfriend. Nova sees an ad for the newest exhibit at the Grand Pacific House Museum about a haunted wedding dress and intricate urban legend. Nova is strangely drawn to the photograph of the man with the haunted eyes...Isaac. Not able to help herself, Nova convinces Meg and Murray to sneak into the museum after hours to get another glimpse of the dress...and so begins her supernatural adventure. I loved seeing real businesses being mentioned and interacted with in this book, it was fun! And damn, Misty has created some truly terrifying lore for her vampire bunch. They were handsome on the surface, sure...but damn did some of those scenes chill me! The lore comes fast and I will say I was rather confused on how the thrall was working or if it was just Nova being stupid...but everything I was unsure of was later revealed as a plot point and done purposefully. It kept me askew, questioning everything and ultimately kept me reading to the very fast paced and intriguing ending. Eagerly waiting for book 2!! :)
Provencher’s newest world, Vampires of New Baltimore, has changed the vampire genre for me. There is such a difference in the world of these vampires than anything I’ve seen before, it steps out of the typical trope to awaken readers to a new and exciting possibility. Nova starts off like another YA teen, lost and powerless. Her character arc is far from typical and she could be the best main character I’ve read to date. There are unexpected twists and a uniqueness that had me fully engaged and reading as fast as I could but dreading being finished. I eagerly await more.
When I first started this, I figured, based on the writing, that this was probably a young author's debut novel - but come to find that it's not. The idea behind this is good, it really is, the execution is just so poor. Nova is one of the most unlikable characters I've read for a long time, and though I read this book in just over 24 hours, I still can't tell you what her motivations are or even, really, who she is. I get that Nova is supposed to have a "traumatic brain injury", but the author just seems to use this as an excuse to not develop her character at all. A LOT happen in the 300-something pages of this book, and a lot of it doesn't really make sense. It's a lot of back and forth to a few places, and then we forget the people who were relevant in the first few chapters, but oh, somewhere along the end they're needed for the plot to be driven forwards, so all of a sudden they're meaningful to the character again. All in all, this isn't a bad book to catch a break from any book that requires you to think, since there's no way to predict anything - as this just takes completely unrealistic (yes, I know it's fantasy, but that doesn't mean there aren't limits within the world itself) twists and turns that mostly just feel like cop-outs.
I might do a more in-depth spoiler review when it's not... 2.30 in the morning, but for now this is where I'll leave it. I might pick up the second book if I can find it for a low cost or at a local library.
This book is a lot of fun if you give it a chance. I am not as big of a fan of Vampire books. There is nothing wrong with them, but oftentimes, they have that distinct feeling of the early 2010s that I can't say I enjoy. This book, however, has been an exception to that rule. The main characters are not your stereotypical vampire and a teenage girl.
Nova is a beautiful Character. Managing to be complex despite the gap in her memory, which becomes a delightful little mystery for the reader to uncover as they read.
Issac (the main love interest in this book) acts as both the romantic lead and the main antagonist, making for an exciting story.
All that said, none of these characters are good people. Nova alone is an addict, murderer, and home wrecker at least once, if not twice. (not that she had much of a choice in any of that.) she is morally gray, to say the least. Issac is also a murderer but in a completely different way. He is, in my opinion, toxic, manipulative, and an all-around jerk. He is how I imagine a vampire would actually be. I don't find myself rooting for these two to get together. Issac was the kind of creepy that made me skin itch while waiting for the other shoe to drop. I, however, do not believe him to be the main love interest for the series, which is enough reason for me to keep reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Okay.. wow. This is actually surprisingly good. I was on edge the whole time reading this book. The mystery aspect of it is spectacular, and you can’t help but just get completely captured by every twist. It just leaves you wanting more and more. Finally a book that focuses on how weird and unsettling this kind of romance would be, and how weird the age gap feels. It’s such a great critique! And!!!! Nova dealing with the different aspects of manipulation and addiction is SO well done! I found myself mentally screaming at her to follow her instincts, and hang on to those memories and feelings. It is SO good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book started out truly awful. Horribly written, lots of typos (which continues for the rest of the book), and an over all vibe of “cringe.” The following 3/4ths got continually better & the ending has me reaching to read book two. If you like the Vampire Diaries, soapy-melodrama, or don’t mind cringey camp- this book is for you. Personally, this felt like the C cut crossover between ACTOAR and Twilight.
The storyline took a longtime to form or be revealed. Most of the book consists of an addicted woman’s spiralling thoughts to justify her immoral behaviour and obsessional emotions towards various men. Basically it’s a story about a woman being abused and liking it. The ending implies a repeated cycle that could continue with small variations indefinitely.
I was provided with a copy of Out Cold in preparation of the publishing of Stone Cold - Book 2 of The Vampires of New Baltimore being released on October 13 2023, and I would like to thank Hidden Hollow Book Tours as well as Misty Provencher for this opportunity to review. (Both books are available on Kindle Unlimited)
From the moment I opened this book, I couldn't put it down. I was intrigued by Nova and what she was going to do next. I'm curious to see what happens to Nova and her friends.
Misty has a way with words and keeps you guessing what's going to happen. I can't wait for book two because we are left with one heck of a cliff hanger.
This story took a while to get started and I almost gave up reading it. Once I was about half way through, the story got a little better. The story kept on twisting around and I did not know what was happening. Towards the end, it got exciting and this book ended on a cliffhanger.
Did I enjoy this? Overall, yes. The story was good - unlike anything I had read before. I really wanted to like it more but there were a few errors which were off putting and the story telling pace was so quick that I got lost in places. I think with some editing this could be a 5⭐️ read.
I’m worried if I don’t read the second one now it will be forever lost in my TBR.
Omg I love love love this book. I bought the paperbacks since I found it. Needed a change from what I've been reading and this did me in. The books and characters are just amazing. I love Nova and her story. Beautifully written.
Misty is amazing at world building, plot details, and quippy conversation. Out Cold is the well-rounded adventure that draws you in until the last page.