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Cursed be the Wicked
Cooper Shaw lives his life under a pen name and enjoys the anonymity it provides during his journeys across the globe as a seasoned writer for a travel magazine. When his job lands him in his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts to cover the famous Festival of the Dead, he soon realizes that he can’t stay invisible forever as he faces ghosts from a past he’s been trying to forget ever since he left.
The city holds nothing but bad memories for Coop until he meets a quirky young woman with an old soul and curious insights by the name of Finnley Pierce. While she acts as his tour guide through a town he thought he knew, Finn helps him unearth the truth of his childhood and might even begin to open up his heart.
By unraveling the mystery of his father’s murder, Coop may finally accept who he is, where he came from, and perhaps even realize what he wants for his future.
The city holds nothing but bad memories for Coop until he meets a quirky young woman with an old soul and curious insights by the name of Finnley Pierce. While she acts as his tour guide through a town he thought he knew, Finn helps him unearth the truth of his childhood and might even begin to open up his heart.
By unraveling the mystery of his father’s murder, Coop may finally accept who he is, where he came from, and perhaps even realize what he wants for his future.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2014
20 people are currently reading
476 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Richardson
12 books412 followersA USA Today Best Selling Author.
-> FanAddict
-> Superhero geek
-> Mystery aficionado
-> Twisted sense of humor
-> Paranormally fascinated
-> Broken in oh, so many ways
-> Graduate of the world renowned Sarcasm Academy
-> Believer that love is perfectly imperfect
Life is messy. I like to write about the mess and make something good come out of it. That includes any, and / or all of the above + everything else that happens along the way.
1/2 of the Winters/Richardson writing team.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/JoWritesStor...
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/marieandjowrite
BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jo-ri...
——————————
Also writes as Jo Richardson.
-> FanAddict
-> Superhero geek
-> Mystery aficionado
-> Twisted sense of humor
-> Paranormally fascinated
-> Broken in oh, so many ways
-> Graduate of the world renowned Sarcasm Academy
-> Believer that love is perfectly imperfect
Life is messy. I like to write about the mess and make something good come out of it. That includes any, and / or all of the above + everything else that happens along the way.
1/2 of the Winters/Richardson writing team.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/JoWritesStor...
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/marieandjowrite
BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jo-ri...
——————————
Also writes as Jo Richardson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
February 6, 2017
4.5 "Listen to your heart" stars
A wonderful story of forgivness and finding love in the midst of re-surfacing images of the traumatic events from the past when Cooper Shaw/Cole Stone reluctantly comes to Salem, his birth town, after 10 years of absence, while on a task of covering the story of a Festivity of the Dead for the magazine The Monthly Traveler. He's closed off, bitter, sometimes even crude due to the scars he carries deep inside.
I don't believe in much these days, so I can't be let down. I don't let people in, so I can't get hurt.
What started as an unwilling chore for Cooper, turned out to be way more than he could have ever signed up for. He's pulled into a twirl of happenings filled with a little bit of a mystical atmosphere, where truths will be tested, belief will be streched out to the outer limits, with boundaries broken, while he sets on a journey through the past once again, re-living it, experiencing it through different stages of known truths, hidden lies, covered up ploys only to uncover the complicated love and relationships that destroyed and shattered so many lives, including his own and yet it also freed him to find love a new with the only woman, Finnley/Finn Pierce that dares to cross the same path, showing him, in her insightful way, how to listen with his heart, how to believe, trust and live again.
I think you know more than most about what love is. You just don't realize it yet.
I absolutely loved this story.
It's multi-layered, it's slower in pace and rhythm but while you read even being slow it uncovers the beauty in the most unexpected ways and all you can do is *sigh* or *gasp* in amazement and astonishment of a writen story. It's simply beautiful, it's not for everyone though, there's no wild passion, like you might wish for, yet there's a slow burn sensation of loving which works perfectly for this story and these characters. Cause the center piece is actually the journey of self-discovery, self-reflection, forgivness and pondering of everything known and learned, it's insightful and it gives you a slight moment of bliss in a given chance of a notion that there could be more out there that's been taken for granted.
And that things might appear in one way yet be percieved in another. It's about the extent of being able to grasp the limits, own them, bend them and stay true to yourself.
I ponder...about history and truths, about how to listen and how to want to listen. I think about the subconscious and how much it can mess with your perception of events...deciphering between what are real memories and what I might simply be wishing were real.
J.R. / Jo, you won my heart with Jackson Stiles and now I am only sunken deeper into your written world of magic.
For more info and reviews visit
March 12, 2014
Ostensibly a paranormal romance, Cursed is the story of Cooper Shaw, a travel writer who floats from assignment to assignment. He seems to live an easy, yet solitary life, but all isn't as it seems. In the first part of the story we learn that Coop escaped from his childhood home in Salem, Massachusetts under a dark cloud of suspicion. Let down by both his parents, he walked away and never looked back, severing any ties he might have had. When circumstances compel him to return to Salem, his plan is to stay for as short a time as possible, finishing up his article and cleaning up a personal issue at the same time.
But then he meets Finn. A quirky receptionist in the B&B he is staying in, she soon turns out to be more than she appears, and before he knows it, Coop has a companion to help him through his painful days in his childhood town. What follows is a journey into his past, where he has to reconcile his memories with the truth he's now being told.
To classify this book as a simple love story would be doing it a disservice. In fact, it's a tale of personal growth, of confronting demons, both perceived and real. It is a story of redemption and love. The characters are so beautifully drawn that by the end of the book I not only felt like I knew them, but wanted to stay with them, even as the story drew to an end. In addition to this, the story line was well plotted and gripping enough to keep me reading on my sofa on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Needless to say, I finished the book in less than a day. And loved every minute of it.
But then he meets Finn. A quirky receptionist in the B&B he is staying in, she soon turns out to be more than she appears, and before he knows it, Coop has a companion to help him through his painful days in his childhood town. What follows is a journey into his past, where he has to reconcile his memories with the truth he's now being told.
To classify this book as a simple love story would be doing it a disservice. In fact, it's a tale of personal growth, of confronting demons, both perceived and real. It is a story of redemption and love. The characters are so beautifully drawn that by the end of the book I not only felt like I knew them, but wanted to stay with them, even as the story drew to an end. In addition to this, the story line was well plotted and gripping enough to keep me reading on my sofa on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Needless to say, I finished the book in less than a day. And loved every minute of it.
February 27, 2014
CURSED BE THE WICKED is everything I could want in a romantic mystery. First, there's Finn. She's a little bit psychic, a little bit quirky, and a whole lot of sassy. I love a good heroine, but this story really belongs to the hero - Cooper. Cooper Shaw is the son of Crazy Maggie Shaw, the witch who went to jail for killing her husband. He's spent his entire adult life hiding behind a pen name so no one knows who he really is. But his job leads him back to his hometown and the secrets he never knew he needed to uncover. With the help of Finn, Coop finds out everything isn't exactly the way he remembers it. As he unlocks the secrets of the past, he falls in love with the girl who thinks she met him in a dream. J.R. Richardson does an amazing job of slowly unraveling this mystery, not giving too much away at the wrong time. I have to say, I am one of those people who usually figures out how a book is going to end about halfway through, but not this one. J.R. managed to add some wonderful twists and turns in there that kept me guessing until the end. Besides the mystery, there's the romance. Finn and Coop have great chemistry and adorable banter. I love when she gives him a hard time and love it even more when she shows him how to open his heart. He's been so closed off for so long. In the beginning of the book, you can feel how desperate he is to stay hidden. How afraid he is to open himself up for fear people will just let him down. Finn changes all that. She challenges him to rethink everything he thinks he knows. And draws him out of hiding. Into the light, into her light. This is a story about forgiveness, sacrifice, and love. It's fantastic and I can't wait to read what this author writes next!!
February 27, 2014
Cursed be the Wicked by JR Richardson kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing at what actually happened years ago in Salem, while simultaneously making me fall in love with her complex, intriguing characters. I really enjoyed how she threaded the mystery through the story – giving us just enough to glimpse at the possibilities of what happened and come up with theories, but not enough to actually get an answer until the actual moment everything becomes clear. I read a lot of mysteries and it’s rare that I’m kept guessing until the very end. This was one of those books and it made me love it even more.
It’s not just about the mystery, however. It’s watching Coop slowly open his mind and his heart to possibilities he never considered. It’s pondering what the delightful and mysterious Finn knows and how she does. And it’s the wonderful journey of watching them banter and the push and pull between them as they warily get to know each other. Cooper is a confused, somewhat lost soul and Finn is just the person to help him find solid ground by forcing him to question everything he thought he knew. At times his revelations made my heart hurt for everything he missed out on, but in the end, his journey was worth it and was wonderful, as a reader, to witness.
I can’t recommend this book enough – just a really fantastic, suspenseful read. I couldn't put it down.
It’s not just about the mystery, however. It’s watching Coop slowly open his mind and his heart to possibilities he never considered. It’s pondering what the delightful and mysterious Finn knows and how she does. And it’s the wonderful journey of watching them banter and the push and pull between them as they warily get to know each other. Cooper is a confused, somewhat lost soul and Finn is just the person to help him find solid ground by forcing him to question everything he thought he knew. At times his revelations made my heart hurt for everything he missed out on, but in the end, his journey was worth it and was wonderful, as a reader, to witness.
I can’t recommend this book enough – just a really fantastic, suspenseful read. I couldn't put it down.
March 1, 2014
Cooper is on his way back home, against his will, to his old home town. Being a travel reporter, his boss has ordered him to visit Salem to cover the Festival of the Dead, not knowing his personal ties to the happenings.
Returning to Salem brings back memories, of his childhood, his father and his mother, and the disaster that it all became.
His father disappering and his mother being convicted of his murder. It´s no happy memories for Coop.
Being back in Salem, he finds himself meeting the same woman, through chance, over and over, and soon they spend more time together, with Finn as his guide to Salem´s historical spots. But why is the past haunting him so? Is it because the funeral of his mother is coming up, or is it all guilt he´s feeling?
A great read, mystery, magic and love in a great combo that won´t let you put it down until you´re at the last page. Loved it!
Returning to Salem brings back memories, of his childhood, his father and his mother, and the disaster that it all became.
His father disappering and his mother being convicted of his murder. It´s no happy memories for Coop.
Being back in Salem, he finds himself meeting the same woman, through chance, over and over, and soon they spend more time together, with Finn as his guide to Salem´s historical spots. But why is the past haunting him so? Is it because the funeral of his mother is coming up, or is it all guilt he´s feeling?
A great read, mystery, magic and love in a great combo that won´t let you put it down until you´re at the last page. Loved it!
March 21, 2014
Five Freaking Stars All The Way!
So, this book y'all. I have been waiting for so long to read it and it was every bit as wonderful as I knew it'd be.
Being a fan of Jo and her work before hand did nothing to prepare me for how amazing this story was. I was sucked in by page one, and it had me guessing and wondering and loving the entire time.
Our Hero, Coop, has a past he just wants to forget. He's moved on and lives a quiet life as a journalist, and for the most part, he's been able to make a new life for himself.
Until the past catches up and drags him right back to the one place he wanted to leave behind.
Salem, Mass. His hometown.
Before he's given the assignment, he gets word that his mother has passed away. He's not real sure how to process it, as they've been estranged since he was a boy, since a tragedy tore him away from her.
He's there on assignment, to write about the Festival of the Dead, but what starts out as simply a job, becomes something altogether different.
His first night in town, he decides to stop off at a B&B and meets a quirky gal. There's something about her--she knows stuff, but she proves to be a challenge, one he enjoys.
Finn believes in all the things Coop blows off as being ridiculous. The things he attributes to all the bad things that happened to him and his family. There's something about the girl, though, and she forces him to open his eyes, and most importantly, his heart. From there, that's where the magic really happens.
Just, trust me on this. Finn... you're going to love this girl. She's got a snap to her, but she's sweet and smart and lovely. She's just something else, and her character won my heart immediately.
As we journey with Coop while he relearns a town he thought he knew everything about, secrets are revealed, and realizations are made. Finn forces him to open up to things he thinks are ridiculous, and he finally finds the answers he is looking for, or not looking for.
My favorite part of this book was the awakening of Coop. As he finds out who his mother really was, he learns to forgive and it changes him in so many ways. He rediscovers his family for what it really was, lets go of the things holding him back and eventually, falls in love. It's beautiful in every way.
There were so many twists and turns. Jo really brought you into this world of secrets and spells and mysteries. The journals of Coop's mother, Crazy Maggie Shaw, are fucking epic. As I read, my brow creased alongside Coop, wondering WTF was this broad talking about?! I was as frustrated and curious as he was, and couldn't wait for them to crack another one open to discover what was inside.
I was a little heartbroken for Coop in a few places, but the tight pretty red bow that tied this wonderful story up brings it all full circle, and isn't that what we want? Jo did this and more. By the end of the story, I was worrying my lip and wishing it would never end. I wanted Finn to take him on more little mini adventures. I wanted her to throw him more jabs and make him smile. I wanted to watch the ice around his heart melt again and again.
True fucking beauty.
This is J.R. Richardson's debut novel, and folks... hold your pantaloons. We're in for a lot more amazing from this woman, and I can't wait to get my grubby hands on every single page of it.
Thank you Jo for writing such an interesting, heartwarming and lovable story!
So, this book y'all. I have been waiting for so long to read it and it was every bit as wonderful as I knew it'd be.
Being a fan of Jo and her work before hand did nothing to prepare me for how amazing this story was. I was sucked in by page one, and it had me guessing and wondering and loving the entire time.
Our Hero, Coop, has a past he just wants to forget. He's moved on and lives a quiet life as a journalist, and for the most part, he's been able to make a new life for himself.
Until the past catches up and drags him right back to the one place he wanted to leave behind.
Salem, Mass. His hometown.
Before he's given the assignment, he gets word that his mother has passed away. He's not real sure how to process it, as they've been estranged since he was a boy, since a tragedy tore him away from her.
He's there on assignment, to write about the Festival of the Dead, but what starts out as simply a job, becomes something altogether different.
His first night in town, he decides to stop off at a B&B and meets a quirky gal. There's something about her--she knows stuff, but she proves to be a challenge, one he enjoys.
Finn believes in all the things Coop blows off as being ridiculous. The things he attributes to all the bad things that happened to him and his family. There's something about the girl, though, and she forces him to open his eyes, and most importantly, his heart. From there, that's where the magic really happens.
Just, trust me on this. Finn... you're going to love this girl. She's got a snap to her, but she's sweet and smart and lovely. She's just something else, and her character won my heart immediately.
As we journey with Coop while he relearns a town he thought he knew everything about, secrets are revealed, and realizations are made. Finn forces him to open up to things he thinks are ridiculous, and he finally finds the answers he is looking for, or not looking for.
My favorite part of this book was the awakening of Coop. As he finds out who his mother really was, he learns to forgive and it changes him in so many ways. He rediscovers his family for what it really was, lets go of the things holding him back and eventually, falls in love. It's beautiful in every way.
There were so many twists and turns. Jo really brought you into this world of secrets and spells and mysteries. The journals of Coop's mother, Crazy Maggie Shaw, are fucking epic. As I read, my brow creased alongside Coop, wondering WTF was this broad talking about?! I was as frustrated and curious as he was, and couldn't wait for them to crack another one open to discover what was inside.
I was a little heartbroken for Coop in a few places, but the tight pretty red bow that tied this wonderful story up brings it all full circle, and isn't that what we want? Jo did this and more. By the end of the story, I was worrying my lip and wishing it would never end. I wanted Finn to take him on more little mini adventures. I wanted her to throw him more jabs and make him smile. I wanted to watch the ice around his heart melt again and again.
True fucking beauty.
This is J.R. Richardson's debut novel, and folks... hold your pantaloons. We're in for a lot more amazing from this woman, and I can't wait to get my grubby hands on every single page of it.
Thank you Jo for writing such an interesting, heartwarming and lovable story!
March 17, 2014
Cooper Shaw lives his life under a pen name and enjoys the anonymity it provides during his journeys across the globe as a seasoned writer for a travel magazine. When his job lands him in his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts to cover the famous Festival of the Dead, he soon realizes that he can’t stay invisible forever as he faces ghosts from a past he’s been trying to forget ever since he left.
I can’t lie and say that this book was an easy sell for me. Especially in the beginning. I had a hard time getting into it at first, but the strangest (and best) thing happened as I continued turning pages… I became invested.
Cursed Be the Wicked can’t be described as one particular genre or another. Is it paranormal? Yes. There are definitely elements of the supernatural. Is it a love story? Yes. The romance definitely helps drive the story. But what it really is – and where J.R. Richardson really pulls me in – is the suspense. She crafted a story that is completely thoughtful and absolutely engaging.
Part of me wants to just recap this story in my review. But where would the fun be for you in that? Reading the story is the best part. What I will say: I really loved Cooper Shaw, our hero. I loved his story, and I loved peeling away every layer the author gave me as I read. And I also loved Finn, our heroine.
I read this as Cooper’s story. But the truth is that this story belongs to them both. Yes, it might be the hero’s journey, but they definitely take this trip together. I loved the way Cooper was forced to face his demons, but I also appreciated the reconciliation between who he was as a child and the man he is now.
Once I got into the book, it was a great read. And the story evolved in such an effortless way, I found I spent an entire evening reading without putting the book down. Kudos to the author for that.
Readers who enjoy suspenseful romance will love this book. Usually, I can guess what will happen before it does, but I didn’t have that with this book at all. And the pacing (after the very beginning) was great. This is a wonderful debut from a new author, and I look forward to reading whatever she decides to publish next.
I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.
4 stars.
(Thanks to Soul Mate Publishing for providing the ARC)
I can’t lie and say that this book was an easy sell for me. Especially in the beginning. I had a hard time getting into it at first, but the strangest (and best) thing happened as I continued turning pages… I became invested.
Cursed Be the Wicked can’t be described as one particular genre or another. Is it paranormal? Yes. There are definitely elements of the supernatural. Is it a love story? Yes. The romance definitely helps drive the story. But what it really is – and where J.R. Richardson really pulls me in – is the suspense. She crafted a story that is completely thoughtful and absolutely engaging.
Part of me wants to just recap this story in my review. But where would the fun be for you in that? Reading the story is the best part. What I will say: I really loved Cooper Shaw, our hero. I loved his story, and I loved peeling away every layer the author gave me as I read. And I also loved Finn, our heroine.
I read this as Cooper’s story. But the truth is that this story belongs to them both. Yes, it might be the hero’s journey, but they definitely take this trip together. I loved the way Cooper was forced to face his demons, but I also appreciated the reconciliation between who he was as a child and the man he is now.
Once I got into the book, it was a great read. And the story evolved in such an effortless way, I found I spent an entire evening reading without putting the book down. Kudos to the author for that.
Readers who enjoy suspenseful romance will love this book. Usually, I can guess what will happen before it does, but I didn’t have that with this book at all. And the pacing (after the very beginning) was great. This is a wonderful debut from a new author, and I look forward to reading whatever she decides to publish next.
I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.
4 stars.
(Thanks to Soul Mate Publishing for providing the ARC)
October 27, 2021
I received an ARC of Cursed Be the Wicked in exchange for an honest review.
Generally, when reviewing a book, I don't summarize it. I won't do that here either. Wanna know what it's about? Buy it. Read it.
There aren't many things I love more than a well-written romance novel. And Jo knows how to deliver that...and then some. I've been a fan of Jo for years now, when I fell in love with her fanfiction writing. The woman is meant to be a writer of all things good, yummy and citrus-y. It doesn't hurt that she KNOWS how to write some damn amazing dialogue too. She's the queen of witty banter.
Her main characters, Coop and Finn, are extremely well thought out. There aren't unexplainable holes in their stories. There aren't things you're left wandering. Her female lead, Finn, is strong, smart and independent. And Coop is multi-layered and a bit gruff, yet endearing. Even her supporting characters are well-rounded and only add to the story. It makes for a fantastic read.
The story is complex without being hard to follow. Everything just has a way of flowing.
Overall, I'd recommend this book to just about anyone that enjoys a well-written, supernatural/romance/mystery.
Generally, when reviewing a book, I don't summarize it. I won't do that here either. Wanna know what it's about? Buy it. Read it.
There aren't many things I love more than a well-written romance novel. And Jo knows how to deliver that...and then some. I've been a fan of Jo for years now, when I fell in love with her fanfiction writing. The woman is meant to be a writer of all things good, yummy and citrus-y. It doesn't hurt that she KNOWS how to write some damn amazing dialogue too. She's the queen of witty banter.
Her main characters, Coop and Finn, are extremely well thought out. There aren't unexplainable holes in their stories. There aren't things you're left wandering. Her female lead, Finn, is strong, smart and independent. And Coop is multi-layered and a bit gruff, yet endearing. Even her supporting characters are well-rounded and only add to the story. It makes for a fantastic read.
The story is complex without being hard to follow. Everything just has a way of flowing.
Overall, I'd recommend this book to just about anyone that enjoys a well-written, supernatural/romance/mystery.
March 12, 2014
This book captured my attention from the first couple of pages! That is so important to me. I need the action to start quickly in a story and the author did not disappoint. Coop and Finn have amazing chemistry...she's feisty, quirky and mysterious. I really loved the way she calmed him with just a touch or the way she stood her ground when she thought he was being close minded and stubborn. The budding romance that was woven through the story was amazing, but the bulk of the story is this mystery with a lot of twists and turns. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I was given another tidbit that made me stop and ponder. The eerie factor gave me the heebies!! The supporting characters were intriguing in their own right. All parts combined, this book turned out to be a great read from start to finish!! I would recommend this to all of my friends.
March 9, 2014
From the second I started this book to the last word, I was enthralled, I could not stop reading. I literally read it in one sitting with a few food and drink breaks. It's that good. I loved the paranormal aspect of the story, I love the relationship between Coop and Finn, I loved Geneva and I loved the backdrop of Salem as a character too. Quite a talented author J.R gives us a first book that makes us look forward to more from her. Bravo.
March 4, 2014
This is my favorite kind of book- one that fits into multiple genres. It is fueled by mystery and intrigue while embracing its setting and the history enough to add that historical feel. But there's more. An unlikely attraction is sparked between Cooper Shaw and his honorary (and seemingly unnecessary) tour guide. It is a compelling story that kept me thoroughly entertained and provided nuggets of universal truths. I loved it.
February 25, 2014
Cursed be the Wicked is the fabulous new Paranormal Romance Novel by Jo Richardson. It tells the story of Cooper Shaw, a travel writer with the pen name of Cole Stone, who is assigned to write an article about Salem Massachusetts. Unfortunately, this is the last place in the world he wants to go as it holds many unpleasant memories. He is forced to face the demons of his past, the murder of his father, his crazy mother, and his life in Salem. The plan is to go in do the article and get out. Well this book is all about life is what happens while you are busy making other plans. Cooper arrives in Salem and meets Finnerly Pierce a spunky, smart young woman with sadness in her past and the ability to see things. She acts as Cooper’s tour guide during his time in Salem and helps him reevaluate all that he believes about his past.
Cursed be the Wicked is the story of the journey of Cooper Shaw. It examines the path of his self-discovery as he tries try to integrate his childhood perception of events, the facts he has been told by those around him, and the information he discovers during his stay. My favorite quote of the book is “Don’t pass an opportunity because you’re afraid. Love is always the right decision. Courage is by your side.” This quote serves as a major theme of the book.
Cooper’s mother Maggie’s favorite book was Wizard of Oz. He mentions how she read aloud to him all the time even well past the age he needed to be read to. Coop’s quest for truth is much like the one in OZ. Along with Finn his trusted tour guide he follows the yellow brick road through Salem and finds answers to many of his questions. Coop is an intelligent man that gains great courage to deal with his past and earns the greatest gift at the end which is inner peace and the ability to love. For much of the story Finn acts as his courage-showing up at all the right times, giving him advice as to when he is ready to hear certain parts of his story and helping him keep his cool. Courage is at his side. Along the way there are many characters that are real today but are so different than the way he saw them as a child. Finn’s Aunt Geneva who is the kindest of woman is so different than Coop’s boyhood memory. He tells the story of on Halloween being afraid to go to her house because of the evil witch that lived there which could not be further from the truth! Coop’s Aunt Liz, although not warm and caring, was his guardian after his father’s death and his mother incarceration. As Coop asks questions her real story is revealed and she indeed is the wicked witch of the west. Like the characters in the Wizard of Oz Coop and Finn use their brains and courage, to find their hearts. And like Dorothy they also discover there is no place like home.
I loved the characters in this book. Cooper is a broken man who was never sure of his mother’s love so he shut himself off ( becoming cold as stone- Cole Stone) Through Finn’s help and reading Maggie’s journals he discovers he was very loved. Cooper learns that life is the result of decisions you make. Often we make decisions based on the fear. Maggie shows him through her journals why she made the choices she did and the regrets she had about them She encourages Coop to not be afraid. I loved Finn-even though she has her own life struggles she helped Finn along the way, kept him on the straight and narrow and focused where he needed to be. She is funny and strong and always in the right place at the right time providing encouragement, food and comic relief! I enjoyed the banter back and forth between them and the slow burn of their relationship and so happy they got their happily ever after.
Cursed be the Wicked has it all- mystery, intrigue, romance, humor and a touch of paranormal. Salem is a great back drop for this story. It makes the paranormal seem possible. The book is well written and great read. I could not put it down and I actually have read it for a second time already! I recommend this book very highly. Even those of you like me who don’t usually read paranormal will love this book! Congratulations to Jo Richardson on a great first novel. I look forward to more.
October 14, 2020
The moment Cooper Shaw graduated, he left his hometown of Salem, and he never looked back. Out in the world he could be whoever he wanted to be, travel the world while writing articles for a magazine, and pretend he wasn't the boy whose father was murdered, whose crazy witch mother wasn't a murderer, who wasn't falsely accused of the crime and still suspect in the eyes of many in the witch-centric town he came from. So when he's forced back home on assignment, his goal is to get in, get the story, and get out -- all under his pen name, of course.
Finnley Pierce is a strange one. She wears too little clothing in winter, mouths off to traveling writers, and wholeheartedly believes in witchcraft. But as much as Coop only believes in the proven and tangible, there's just something about Finn he can't tear himself away from. Maybe it's that she seems to know who he is before he tells her. Maybe it's that she doesn't think the sensational worst of his family. Or maybe it's just that she's beautiful and interesting and willing to help him figure out the mystery of his mother. And with the strange static phone calls, the sounds of breaking glass in a perfectly intact house, and bizarre glyphs he can't possibly understand, he's going to need all the help he can get.
If I didn't know the author from her previous work, I probably never would have picked up this book. I'm kind of a hard sell when it comes to anything supernatural, since so many stories in the genre border on ridiculous, and I'm even more critical when the plot touches upon a history with which I'm familiar. But passing up Cursed Be the Wicked would have been a huge mistake.
Coop is so easy to relate to. He's understandably bothered by his past, by the dramatic events that shaped his youth and stole his mother away, and he has no reason to believe in the stories of magic and witchcraft that surround his childhood home. He's almost derisive in his skepticism, but in some ways he's open-minded. He may not believe what he hears and instead seek reasonable, logical explanations for the strange happenings around him, but he doesn't blindly deny that something odd is in the air. And that's what made him so easy for me to follow. Granted, I would have probably run screaming from the first odd noise, which would probably turn out to be nothing more than a cat, but if I weren't a giant chicken, I think I would react with the same curiosity versus disbelief if faced with unexplainable & odd happenings.
And Finn? She's so easy to like. A bit of an oddball, she's quick to stand up for herself and those she cares about, but she's not entirely abrasive. She seems to understand Coop in a way that he doesn't even understand himself, and while the main focus of the story is the solving the mystery of Coop's seemingly insane mother, all the while there's a romance weaving through its way through the scenes until it just seems to belong. Without a big build up or fallout, it kind of sneaks its way in, and while just knowing the genre told me it was coming, I couldn't help but love the way the feelings simply become an integral part of things without resorting to trite drama.
As for the supernatural and witchcraft aspect of things... I've studied the court transcripts from the Salem trials, pored over the ergot theories, and with some help from the seminary, picked apart the faulty Bible translations from old languages that eventually supported the whole witch hunt idea (apparently, I was a curious kid). I am by no means an expert in any of it, but it was wonderful to read a story that touched on the true history without leaning on it too heavily or attempting to rewrite it. It could have gone horribly wrong, but instead it simply added a layer of authenticity and new interest to the whole mystery. And that mystery? I'd love to go into it, since it was my favorite part of the book, from the way it built up to the way it all played out, but that would spoil your fun when you step over to Amazon and grab a copy.
Like right now.
Seriously.
Go.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Finnley Pierce is a strange one. She wears too little clothing in winter, mouths off to traveling writers, and wholeheartedly believes in witchcraft. But as much as Coop only believes in the proven and tangible, there's just something about Finn he can't tear himself away from. Maybe it's that she seems to know who he is before he tells her. Maybe it's that she doesn't think the sensational worst of his family. Or maybe it's just that she's beautiful and interesting and willing to help him figure out the mystery of his mother. And with the strange static phone calls, the sounds of breaking glass in a perfectly intact house, and bizarre glyphs he can't possibly understand, he's going to need all the help he can get.
If I didn't know the author from her previous work, I probably never would have picked up this book. I'm kind of a hard sell when it comes to anything supernatural, since so many stories in the genre border on ridiculous, and I'm even more critical when the plot touches upon a history with which I'm familiar. But passing up Cursed Be the Wicked would have been a huge mistake.
Coop is so easy to relate to. He's understandably bothered by his past, by the dramatic events that shaped his youth and stole his mother away, and he has no reason to believe in the stories of magic and witchcraft that surround his childhood home. He's almost derisive in his skepticism, but in some ways he's open-minded. He may not believe what he hears and instead seek reasonable, logical explanations for the strange happenings around him, but he doesn't blindly deny that something odd is in the air. And that's what made him so easy for me to follow. Granted, I would have probably run screaming from the first odd noise, which would probably turn out to be nothing more than a cat, but if I weren't a giant chicken, I think I would react with the same curiosity versus disbelief if faced with unexplainable & odd happenings.
And Finn? She's so easy to like. A bit of an oddball, she's quick to stand up for herself and those she cares about, but she's not entirely abrasive. She seems to understand Coop in a way that he doesn't even understand himself, and while the main focus of the story is the solving the mystery of Coop's seemingly insane mother, all the while there's a romance weaving through its way through the scenes until it just seems to belong. Without a big build up or fallout, it kind of sneaks its way in, and while just knowing the genre told me it was coming, I couldn't help but love the way the feelings simply become an integral part of things without resorting to trite drama.
As for the supernatural and witchcraft aspect of things... I've studied the court transcripts from the Salem trials, pored over the ergot theories, and with some help from the seminary, picked apart the faulty Bible translations from old languages that eventually supported the whole witch hunt idea (apparently, I was a curious kid). I am by no means an expert in any of it, but it was wonderful to read a story that touched on the true history without leaning on it too heavily or attempting to rewrite it. It could have gone horribly wrong, but instead it simply added a layer of authenticity and new interest to the whole mystery. And that mystery? I'd love to go into it, since it was my favorite part of the book, from the way it built up to the way it all played out, but that would spoil your fun when you step over to Amazon and grab a copy.
Like right now.
Seriously.
Go.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2014
Cursed be the Wicked was one intriguing story, and I must say that it was different than I'd expected. First of all, I did not read the synopsis so I had no idea it was in the POV of a man, and secondly, I was expecting it to be engrossed in a whole lot of paranormal and focused entirely on that. Only it didn't, among the mystery surrounding the main character's past, is a blossoming romance that I enjoyed reading from start to finish.
Aside from how interesting a story it was, the book was well-written. Descriptions had me seeing what the characters were seeing and doing. Salem, Mass is an invigorating place full of history, and I liked how the author managed to capture that haunting vibe very well. It wasn't that fast-paced, I really took my time consuming the pages, but it was worth it because I felt like I got to know Cooper Shaw. I liked his voice and how witty and humorous he was, amid his past troubles. His emotions were relatable as well, being that he had no clue whatsoever about his mother's life and the secrets she kept from him, which ended up making his wanting to find out what really happened the majority of the story. In regards to the real culprit behind the crime that separated him from his mother, I had my suspicion from start, but I had no idea the character's actions went to that extreme. I liked the ghostly way in which she came to an end too. Thank you for that, J.R, because I simply could not stand her.
As for other characters, I liked Finnley and what she represented in the story. She was a fiery breath of fresh air for Coop and really got him to open up. I liked the intensity between the two and how their romance was slow-building. That little trick she pulled in the end was so smart. She had him running back to her. Loved it.
There's not much else I can say about Cursed be the Wicked without giving anything away, except for that it was a very enthralling story that had me earnestly reading to find out the truth. While I would've loved for it to have been more paranormal than it offered, the great writing, unraveling the truth, and the romance aspect made up for that. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for adult mystery, romance, and a little spookiness to dabble in.
Aside from how interesting a story it was, the book was well-written. Descriptions had me seeing what the characters were seeing and doing. Salem, Mass is an invigorating place full of history, and I liked how the author managed to capture that haunting vibe very well. It wasn't that fast-paced, I really took my time consuming the pages, but it was worth it because I felt like I got to know Cooper Shaw. I liked his voice and how witty and humorous he was, amid his past troubles. His emotions were relatable as well, being that he had no clue whatsoever about his mother's life and the secrets she kept from him, which ended up making his wanting to find out what really happened the majority of the story. In regards to the real culprit behind the crime that separated him from his mother, I had my suspicion from start, but I had no idea the character's actions went to that extreme. I liked the ghostly way in which she came to an end too. Thank you for that, J.R, because I simply could not stand her.
As for other characters, I liked Finnley and what she represented in the story. She was a fiery breath of fresh air for Coop and really got him to open up. I liked the intensity between the two and how their romance was slow-building. That little trick she pulled in the end was so smart. She had him running back to her. Loved it.
There's not much else I can say about Cursed be the Wicked without giving anything away, except for that it was a very enthralling story that had me earnestly reading to find out the truth. While I would've loved for it to have been more paranormal than it offered, the great writing, unraveling the truth, and the romance aspect made up for that. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for adult mystery, romance, and a little spookiness to dabble in.
September 6, 2016
This paranormal mystery is journey of self-discovery and realizing that childhood memories change over time. A story full of twists and turns that kept me trying to figure out what would happen next. Author J.R. Richardson did a fantastic job at keeping her readers guessing. I had to know what made Cooper Shaw run and never want to go back to Salem, Massachusetts.
From the moment Cooper Shaw’s boss told him his next piece for the Monthly Traveler will be in Salem, Massachusetts to visit the Day of the Dead Festival. Cooper starts babbling all the reasons he could not go. No one knows about Cooper’s past. He had made certain of that. What could be so bad you don’t want to visit your home town? For Cooper there is plenty.
The moment Cooper is back in his home town strange things start to happen to him. He refuses to pay attention to the signs and swears he is being harassed. He meets a mysterious girl named Finnley Peirce “Finn.” When she decides to be his tour guide she slowly eases him into the world he thought he knew. With her help Cooper learns about the town he wrote off years before.
I was laughing out loud when Finn would put Coop in his place. This girl is quick-witted and full of life. The way Cooper described her outfits would make me tilt my head. Finn was such an old sole with a twist. Finn sets out to show Coop his home town and the history around it isn’t such a bad place after all.
I loved the romance aspect Author J.R. Richardson gave us. It wasn’t your typical boy meets girl and bam! They are in love. It was fun and exciting and Coop had to realize he what he wanted.
Both characters grow so much throughout this story. I do not want to give away the fantastic revelations the author has in store for you. Please give this story a read. You will not be disappointed.
From the moment Cooper Shaw’s boss told him his next piece for the Monthly Traveler will be in Salem, Massachusetts to visit the Day of the Dead Festival. Cooper starts babbling all the reasons he could not go. No one knows about Cooper’s past. He had made certain of that. What could be so bad you don’t want to visit your home town? For Cooper there is plenty.
The moment Cooper is back in his home town strange things start to happen to him. He refuses to pay attention to the signs and swears he is being harassed. He meets a mysterious girl named Finnley Peirce “Finn.” When she decides to be his tour guide she slowly eases him into the world he thought he knew. With her help Cooper learns about the town he wrote off years before.
I was laughing out loud when Finn would put Coop in his place. This girl is quick-witted and full of life. The way Cooper described her outfits would make me tilt my head. Finn was such an old sole with a twist. Finn sets out to show Coop his home town and the history around it isn’t such a bad place after all.
I loved the romance aspect Author J.R. Richardson gave us. It wasn’t your typical boy meets girl and bam! They are in love. It was fun and exciting and Coop had to realize he what he wanted.
Both characters grow so much throughout this story. I do not want to give away the fantastic revelations the author has in store for you. Please give this story a read. You will not be disappointed.
April 5, 2016
I was given this book as an ARC for my honest review. I will say that, when I read about the summary and watched the book trailer, I did not think that this book will be something that I would enjoy. I was very pleasantly surprised.
The book is written from a male prospective. I was a little worried about how it will work out. The protagonist, Cooper Shaw, is lost. During his journey in writing an article for a travel magazine in his hometown which he left as soon as he graduated from high school, he learns about himself and his family.
I fell in love with Finn. She is quirky and lives life how she wants to and don't care what anyone thinks or cares. I would love to be in her head for a few of the scenes but I don't know if I would want to read the book from her prospective.
I enjoyed the book. It is has a steady flow to the climax. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because there were times that, I as the reader, was left confused as to the thinking of the characters. I did like how the back story was stretched out through out the story right up to the climax but I felt that at times the conflicting views of the back story left me confused. Ultimately I would recommend this story to anyone who loves a good mystery with paranormal being involved but not in the forefront. The romance builds through-out the story and makes it feel real. Enjoy the book.
The book is written from a male prospective. I was a little worried about how it will work out. The protagonist, Cooper Shaw, is lost. During his journey in writing an article for a travel magazine in his hometown which he left as soon as he graduated from high school, he learns about himself and his family.
I fell in love with Finn. She is quirky and lives life how she wants to and don't care what anyone thinks or cares. I would love to be in her head for a few of the scenes but I don't know if I would want to read the book from her prospective.
I enjoyed the book. It is has a steady flow to the climax. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because there were times that, I as the reader, was left confused as to the thinking of the characters. I did like how the back story was stretched out through out the story right up to the climax but I felt that at times the conflicting views of the back story left me confused. Ultimately I would recommend this story to anyone who loves a good mystery with paranormal being involved but not in the forefront. The romance builds through-out the story and makes it feel real. Enjoy the book.
May 10, 2016
I have to admit, I’ve been a fan of J.R. Richardson’s words for a long time, and I was excited to get my hands on this book. I wasn’t disappointed. It had me from the start.
The main characters, Coop and Finn, are as loveable as they are entertaining. When Coop regrettably returns to his hometown of Salem for a job assignment, he has to deal with the ghosts—both literal and figurative—of his past. Luckily, he has the smart, sassy, no-nonsense Finn to be a friend and guide as he wades through things he never wanted to delve into in the first place. The rapport between these two characters is sexy, smart, and believable, even when they mired in situations which would make good material for scary campfire stories.
J.R. Richardson seamlessly weaves romance, mystery, and the supernatural together in a way that keeps you asking for more. Considering this is her debut novel, I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us.
The main characters, Coop and Finn, are as loveable as they are entertaining. When Coop regrettably returns to his hometown of Salem for a job assignment, he has to deal with the ghosts—both literal and figurative—of his past. Luckily, he has the smart, sassy, no-nonsense Finn to be a friend and guide as he wades through things he never wanted to delve into in the first place. The rapport between these two characters is sexy, smart, and believable, even when they mired in situations which would make good material for scary campfire stories.
J.R. Richardson seamlessly weaves romance, mystery, and the supernatural together in a way that keeps you asking for more. Considering this is her debut novel, I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us.
March 4, 2014
I was so excited and eager to read this, and I wasn't disappointed. I love Jo's writing, she can make you laugh and cry and guess and feel along with her characters as if you were right there with them. I don't want to give anything away, seeing as the book is a mystery one, but I can say that I loved Finn, the girl the main character, Cooper, meets in Salem. She's quirky and fun, and independent, and just perfect. Cooper never had a chance :) The book kept me guessing what really happened there throughout the story. Several times I thought I figured it out, only to go "No way!" a couple of chapters later. In my opinion, that's what makes a book a good one. Add the chemistry between Coop and Finn, and you have a winner!
June 26, 2014
This is a beautifully written story about a man whose childhood was cut short by tragedy. He leaves his home at a young age changing his identity trying to escape his tormented memories only to have his comfortable job bring him back to his nightmare. Upon returning to the outskirts of his hometown he meets an intriguing woman who helps him face his demons. J.R. gets the job done here. I couldn't put the book down. It was fast paced, real to life, and an overall fabulous read. I love her descriptions and the way you are transported to Salem. I highly recommend it.
August 12, 2014
This is a beautifully crafted story with a plethora of plot twists!
Read full review in the 2014 August issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2014 August issue of InD’tale Magazine.
April 6, 2021
WOW!
What a great read! It's definitely a page turner. This is a story of mystery and intrigue about a man finding who his real family is and in the process learns who he really is. It's got some witchery and love and a little bit of a tear jerker. You must read it for yourself.
What a great read! It's definitely a page turner. This is a story of mystery and intrigue about a man finding who his real family is and in the process learns who he really is. It's got some witchery and love and a little bit of a tear jerker. You must read it for yourself.
March 4, 2014
**
Meet Cooper Shaw:
I don't believe in much these days, so I can't be let down. I don't let people in, so I can't get hurt.
I've even created a new name for myself, so no one knows who I am or where I'm from and can't judge me based on that information. I live a simple, ordinary, anonymous life, and I like it that way. In fact, I rarely even think about my childhood anymore.
Or at least I didn't, until I received a certain letter, from a certain office housed in a certain city, named Salem, Massachusetts.
My old hometown.
It taunts me, this letter. And forces me to reflect on a moment that defined me throughout the remainder of my life in Salem. An experience I thought I'd put behind me.
The moment before and after I was accused of murdering my father.
.
.
.
If you've read any of Jo's stories, you know all too well that she can make the male POV her bitch. She conquers this feat once again in her debut novel, Cursed Be The Wicked.
In Cursed, we meet one Cooper Shaw, which we call Coop for short. Coop has grown up trying to reinvent himself, burying his memories and his old life in the past. He's found a great job allowing him to remain low-key under a new name, while earning a decent salary, as a travel columnist for a magazine called The Monthly Traveler.
Everything is going smooth until Coop gets a call from his boss:
"I can't," I tell him, flat out, then begin rattling off incredibly lame reasons why I can't make the trip. "I just got back two seconds ago and-".
"You are going to Salem, Coop. I just got off an hour long conference-call with our New York office about this," he says. "Lots of hoopla going on about some famous chick they swear was the last actual witch in Salem. She keeled over dead this week. Was in the loony bin for over. . ."
"Fifteen years," we say together.
"What's that?" he asks as I lower my eyes but I force them back up again and shake my head.
"Nothing," I mumble.
I contemplate telling him my situation. About how The Last Actual With in Salem had once upon a time been willing to let her own son go to jail for a crime she'd committed. That there's no way they want me of all people to make this trip because I was that son and I won't be able to tell an unbiased story in a million years. But I can't tell the magazine who I am. If certain V.P.s who aren't exactly fond of me were to find out, this would most definitely turn into one serious sideshow of a job for them.
I've worked too long and too hard for the halfway decent rep I have at this company to let anyone poke fun at me for what I consider an unfortunate situation.
.
.
.
This unfortunate situation sees Coop back to his hometown, the same town that he's tried to bury in his past. When he arrives his past comes back to life and he's forced to face what's always been there.
When Coop arrives, in Salem, he checks into an old B&B where he meets a feisty young Finn. She's perceptive, smart and knows Salem and its history as well as Cooper Shaw, though he tries to pass himself off as Cole. Coop is instantly intrigued by Finn and after a rocky start, they eventually get to know each other. While Coop struggles to gather together an article that will suffice for his magazine he is forced to face his demons, memories, past and a life that he thought he'd left behind. What he least expects is to find someone that will help him through it all, much less, one that would shed some light on a past he'd only seen in the dark, until now... until her. Finn is the light to all of Coop's darkness helping him see what had been kept in the dark corners of his subconscious for so long. Coop and Finn's stories weave themselves together at the most perfect pace as they get to know each other, learn from each other, and finally open themselves up to each other... to love.
The way Jo slowly unravels this mystery, piece by piece, without giving away all of it until a perfectly timed crescendo, kept me gripping the pages and heartily entertained while making me want to travel to Salem to capture that spooky adventurous feeling in real time. Once again, Jo has nailed it by writing an action packed story that's so much more than your typical romance. This one has mystery, adventure, friendship, action, humor, hurt, comfort and paranormal aspects as well as all of those feel-good swoons we love Jo for.
** I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Meet Cooper Shaw:
I don't believe in much these days, so I can't be let down. I don't let people in, so I can't get hurt.
I've even created a new name for myself, so no one knows who I am or where I'm from and can't judge me based on that information. I live a simple, ordinary, anonymous life, and I like it that way. In fact, I rarely even think about my childhood anymore.
Or at least I didn't, until I received a certain letter, from a certain office housed in a certain city, named Salem, Massachusetts.
My old hometown.
It taunts me, this letter. And forces me to reflect on a moment that defined me throughout the remainder of my life in Salem. An experience I thought I'd put behind me.
The moment before and after I was accused of murdering my father.
.
.
.
If you've read any of Jo's stories, you know all too well that she can make the male POV her bitch. She conquers this feat once again in her debut novel, Cursed Be The Wicked.
In Cursed, we meet one Cooper Shaw, which we call Coop for short. Coop has grown up trying to reinvent himself, burying his memories and his old life in the past. He's found a great job allowing him to remain low-key under a new name, while earning a decent salary, as a travel columnist for a magazine called The Monthly Traveler.
Everything is going smooth until Coop gets a call from his boss:
"I can't," I tell him, flat out, then begin rattling off incredibly lame reasons why I can't make the trip. "I just got back two seconds ago and-".
"You are going to Salem, Coop. I just got off an hour long conference-call with our New York office about this," he says. "Lots of hoopla going on about some famous chick they swear was the last actual witch in Salem. She keeled over dead this week. Was in the loony bin for over. . ."
"Fifteen years," we say together.
"What's that?" he asks as I lower my eyes but I force them back up again and shake my head.
"Nothing," I mumble.
I contemplate telling him my situation. About how The Last Actual With in Salem had once upon a time been willing to let her own son go to jail for a crime she'd committed. That there's no way they want me of all people to make this trip because I was that son and I won't be able to tell an unbiased story in a million years. But I can't tell the magazine who I am. If certain V.P.s who aren't exactly fond of me were to find out, this would most definitely turn into one serious sideshow of a job for them.
I've worked too long and too hard for the halfway decent rep I have at this company to let anyone poke fun at me for what I consider an unfortunate situation.
.
.
.
This unfortunate situation sees Coop back to his hometown, the same town that he's tried to bury in his past. When he arrives his past comes back to life and he's forced to face what's always been there.
When Coop arrives, in Salem, he checks into an old B&B where he meets a feisty young Finn. She's perceptive, smart and knows Salem and its history as well as Cooper Shaw, though he tries to pass himself off as Cole. Coop is instantly intrigued by Finn and after a rocky start, they eventually get to know each other. While Coop struggles to gather together an article that will suffice for his magazine he is forced to face his demons, memories, past and a life that he thought he'd left behind. What he least expects is to find someone that will help him through it all, much less, one that would shed some light on a past he'd only seen in the dark, until now... until her. Finn is the light to all of Coop's darkness helping him see what had been kept in the dark corners of his subconscious for so long. Coop and Finn's stories weave themselves together at the most perfect pace as they get to know each other, learn from each other, and finally open themselves up to each other... to love.
The way Jo slowly unravels this mystery, piece by piece, without giving away all of it until a perfectly timed crescendo, kept me gripping the pages and heartily entertained while making me want to travel to Salem to capture that spooky adventurous feeling in real time. Once again, Jo has nailed it by writing an action packed story that's so much more than your typical romance. This one has mystery, adventure, friendship, action, humor, hurt, comfort and paranormal aspects as well as all of those feel-good swoons we love Jo for.
** I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2015
I was looking for a little change of pace from the types of books I'd been reading lately, and came across Cursed Be The Wicked. It was exactly what the doctor ordered. J.R. Richardson had me instantly hooked with a plot rife with angst and filled with twists and turns galore. I'm not easily fooled, but I found myself taken completely by surprise at more than one point, and I loved it.
I'm not sure if my enjoyment of the story was enhanced because it was set in, and around where I grew up, but it sure didn't hurt that Ms. Richardson captured the rich history and colorful feel of Salem so spot on. She did her research well, and it showed throughout the book. There was just enough by way of geographic and cultural details contained in the plot, that it quickly drew me in to Finn and Cooper’s world.
Finnley– Finn for short- was such a crazy, fun character. She definitely marched to the beat of her own drum, and while it could have easily been overdone, the author clearly went to great lengths to ensure that didn't happen. I think that’s what made it possible for Finn’s warmth and humor to really shine through. Yes, she was psychic, but I never felt that Coop, or myself for that matter, were being beaten over the head with it.She wasn't constantly trying to show anyone up with her “inside knowledge”. In fact, Finn usually stood back, and let Coop come to his own conclusions with very minimal prompting on her part.
Coop was a complete mess. He'd had a difficult childhood, with his mother being labeled“Crazy Maggie Shaw”you knew he had to have been teased and ostracized, making his absolute apoplectic aversion to going back to Salem, MA understandable. Who the heck would want to literally go back to the scene of the crime? Not me, that's for sure. Still, he took the assignment, and under an assumed name, went back to his hometown at the height of the media hoopla surrounding his mother’s recent death. It was amazing to watch him come out of his shell. He not only came to terms with who he was, he seemed to gain a measure of pride at being Cooper Shaw. Where his young child’s mind couldn't process what was going on around him at the time, following him as he directed those same events with an older, more mature perception, was so intriguing.
What I especially enjoyed though, was the slow burn between Coop and Finn. You could see the two of them forming a connection, blissfully unaware as it flourished. I got a kick out of it being such a big secret that only the two of them weren't in on. The tension wasn't so much sexual, as it was passionate and compassionate. They truly liked one another long before any stronger emotion emerged, and it was refreshing. Where he was in denial, she was gently patient. Where she was self-sufficient, he was there as her protector should she need it.
It was impossible for me to choose one thing about this book that made it a win for me. There was so much in this story that I enjoyed, I couldn't do it (and believe me, I tried). I'll be eagerly following this author to see what exciting places she takes her readers in the future.
Five Shooting Stars
I'm not sure if my enjoyment of the story was enhanced because it was set in, and around where I grew up, but it sure didn't hurt that Ms. Richardson captured the rich history and colorful feel of Salem so spot on. She did her research well, and it showed throughout the book. There was just enough by way of geographic and cultural details contained in the plot, that it quickly drew me in to Finn and Cooper’s world.
Finnley– Finn for short- was such a crazy, fun character. She definitely marched to the beat of her own drum, and while it could have easily been overdone, the author clearly went to great lengths to ensure that didn't happen. I think that’s what made it possible for Finn’s warmth and humor to really shine through. Yes, she was psychic, but I never felt that Coop, or myself for that matter, were being beaten over the head with it.She wasn't constantly trying to show anyone up with her “inside knowledge”. In fact, Finn usually stood back, and let Coop come to his own conclusions with very minimal prompting on her part.
Coop was a complete mess. He'd had a difficult childhood, with his mother being labeled“Crazy Maggie Shaw”you knew he had to have been teased and ostracized, making his absolute apoplectic aversion to going back to Salem, MA understandable. Who the heck would want to literally go back to the scene of the crime? Not me, that's for sure. Still, he took the assignment, and under an assumed name, went back to his hometown at the height of the media hoopla surrounding his mother’s recent death. It was amazing to watch him come out of his shell. He not only came to terms with who he was, he seemed to gain a measure of pride at being Cooper Shaw. Where his young child’s mind couldn't process what was going on around him at the time, following him as he directed those same events with an older, more mature perception, was so intriguing.
What I especially enjoyed though, was the slow burn between Coop and Finn. You could see the two of them forming a connection, blissfully unaware as it flourished. I got a kick out of it being such a big secret that only the two of them weren't in on. The tension wasn't so much sexual, as it was passionate and compassionate. They truly liked one another long before any stronger emotion emerged, and it was refreshing. Where he was in denial, she was gently patient. Where she was self-sufficient, he was there as her protector should she need it.
It was impossible for me to choose one thing about this book that made it a win for me. There was so much in this story that I enjoyed, I couldn't do it (and believe me, I tried). I'll be eagerly following this author to see what exciting places she takes her readers in the future.
Five Shooting Stars
September 12, 2016
Cooper Shaw is hiding, lost. He's a writer for a travel magazine and goes by the name Cole Stone. You know that old saying, "You can always go home"? Coop doesn't ever want to go home. He had successfully evaded ever going back until his boss calls and tells him to go cover the festival going on and to find out more about "Crazy Maggie Shaw". He's hesitant and tries to get Bill to let someone else go, but no Coop has to go to Salem. He just hopes he can get in, do what he needs to do and get right back out fast, and without being recognized.
When he gets to Salem, he meets Betsy. Something about Betsy calls to him, sounds hokey but she's special and he can tell. He tries to find her the next morning but the woman that comes to the front desk of the B&B is not the Betsy from last night. Wondering if he'll ever see her again he trudges on in search of things for his article. He goes to a seminar type meeting, a woman is talking about witch craft an he finds all of it ridiculous. While making snide comments about what she's speaking about the woman next to him tells him to be quiet, and low and behold its ' Betsy'. Actually her name is Finnley an the woman speaking is her grandmother, Geneva. Something about both of them make him feel like he has to tell them who he really is.
When he starting this journey he was certain he didn't want anything to do with his mother's past or even try an find out what went on. He was there to do his job and that was it, until he was there that is. Someone keeps calling his phone and his room at the B&B, things just seem off and he needs to find out what. Maybe he'll learn the true story of his fathers death and why his mother went crazy.
The author has a way of weaving a tale that keeps you invested and entertained. Grabbing the edge of our seat wanting to know what is going to happen next and making you laugh to ease the tense moments. I've read other works by Jo and this didn't disappoint. She hit another one out of the park with this one! Check out this story and leave her some love in the form of a review!
When he gets to Salem, he meets Betsy. Something about Betsy calls to him, sounds hokey but she's special and he can tell. He tries to find her the next morning but the woman that comes to the front desk of the B&B is not the Betsy from last night. Wondering if he'll ever see her again he trudges on in search of things for his article. He goes to a seminar type meeting, a woman is talking about witch craft an he finds all of it ridiculous. While making snide comments about what she's speaking about the woman next to him tells him to be quiet, and low and behold its ' Betsy'. Actually her name is Finnley an the woman speaking is her grandmother, Geneva. Something about both of them make him feel like he has to tell them who he really is.
When he starting this journey he was certain he didn't want anything to do with his mother's past or even try an find out what went on. He was there to do his job and that was it, until he was there that is. Someone keeps calling his phone and his room at the B&B, things just seem off and he needs to find out what. Maybe he'll learn the true story of his fathers death and why his mother went crazy.
The author has a way of weaving a tale that keeps you invested and entertained. Grabbing the edge of our seat wanting to know what is going to happen next and making you laugh to ease the tense moments. I've read other works by Jo and this didn't disappoint. She hit another one out of the park with this one! Check out this story and leave her some love in the form of a review!
December 30, 2014
4.5 – 5.0 Stars
You know that feeling you get when you're so into a story that you don't want it all to end? That happened to me while reading Cursed be the Wicked. I got to the last chapter, which is essentially an epilogue, and I hesitated for a moment before delving into the final pages.
Coop is reluctant to be back in Salem. The place dredges up so many bad memories that he's spent so much time trying to forget. He has one goal...do his research for the article he's been assigned to write and then hightail it out of town. Once he's there he meets Finn, who takes it upon herself to be his personal guide. Along the way it becomes inevitable that past and present must collide. This leads to Coop seeking the answers he never knew he wanted, but is he really ready to learn the whole truth and finally believe?
Oh my! Ms. Richardson has written quite a debut novel! It's got a little paranormal, a splash of romance, and a whole lot of mystery. The story is entirely in Coop's POV. My only teeny, tiny gripe is that I would have loved a bit of Finn's POV as well, since I found her to be so fascinating. I appreciated her warm personality and sharp intuition, but I also understood that this is mainly Coop's story to tell. Coop and Finn fall into a comfortable and friendly relationship as they searched for answers. I loved that the setting is in Salem, MA, which makes the story feel a little real. With a plot that leads to wicked twists, cryptic messages, and endearing life lessons, Cursed be the Wicked will stay in my heart and mind for a long while.
Favorite Finn quote:
“Apologies are a dime a dozen. I don't need an apology. What I need is sincerity.”
Favorite Coop quote:
“This isn't exactly how I planned our second kiss, but I'm willing to go with it if you are.”
You know that feeling you get when you're so into a story that you don't want it all to end? That happened to me while reading Cursed be the Wicked. I got to the last chapter, which is essentially an epilogue, and I hesitated for a moment before delving into the final pages.
Coop is reluctant to be back in Salem. The place dredges up so many bad memories that he's spent so much time trying to forget. He has one goal...do his research for the article he's been assigned to write and then hightail it out of town. Once he's there he meets Finn, who takes it upon herself to be his personal guide. Along the way it becomes inevitable that past and present must collide. This leads to Coop seeking the answers he never knew he wanted, but is he really ready to learn the whole truth and finally believe?
Oh my! Ms. Richardson has written quite a debut novel! It's got a little paranormal, a splash of romance, and a whole lot of mystery. The story is entirely in Coop's POV. My only teeny, tiny gripe is that I would have loved a bit of Finn's POV as well, since I found her to be so fascinating. I appreciated her warm personality and sharp intuition, but I also understood that this is mainly Coop's story to tell. Coop and Finn fall into a comfortable and friendly relationship as they searched for answers. I loved that the setting is in Salem, MA, which makes the story feel a little real. With a plot that leads to wicked twists, cryptic messages, and endearing life lessons, Cursed be the Wicked will stay in my heart and mind for a long while.
Favorite Finn quote:
“Apologies are a dime a dozen. I don't need an apology. What I need is sincerity.”
Favorite Coop quote:
“This isn't exactly how I planned our second kiss, but I'm willing to go with it if you are.”
March 9, 2014
Full disclosure up front, I was given a free copy to review. Also, there is the fact that as a reader I personally don’t like first person books and this is first person. I find their plots non complex and the constant introspection of the main character distracting from the story line. For me these stories are not action oriented nor are there multiple plot lines to keep things moving along and the reader guessing.
Now that is out of the way, the story by J.R. Richardson, as seen through the eyes and mind of Cooper Shaw, a travel writer assigned to write an article about Salem, Massachusetts, takes you on a journey of introspection into his past and the realization of the impact of past actions on the present time. He is the son of Crazy Maggie Shaw, the witch of Salem, who went to jail for killing her husband. Hiding behind a pen name, Coop must now face his memories of a difficult childhood, insanity, and the mystery behind his father’s murder.
Upon arrival in Salem there is instant chemistry between Coop and Finn, the clerk at the B&B. She helps with his growth as he slowly recognizes what his mind has kept hidden and his heart never thought possible. Their relationship builds naturally through the book with Coop constantly concerned with not taking things too far until he gets the okay from Finn. This is a romance from a man’s point of view, not your normal romantic POV.
The skillful writing makes this story of mystery, magic, and romance a story worth reading, for which I give it 4 stars.
Now that is out of the way, the story by J.R. Richardson, as seen through the eyes and mind of Cooper Shaw, a travel writer assigned to write an article about Salem, Massachusetts, takes you on a journey of introspection into his past and the realization of the impact of past actions on the present time. He is the son of Crazy Maggie Shaw, the witch of Salem, who went to jail for killing her husband. Hiding behind a pen name, Coop must now face his memories of a difficult childhood, insanity, and the mystery behind his father’s murder.
Upon arrival in Salem there is instant chemistry between Coop and Finn, the clerk at the B&B. She helps with his growth as he slowly recognizes what his mind has kept hidden and his heart never thought possible. Their relationship builds naturally through the book with Coop constantly concerned with not taking things too far until he gets the okay from Finn. This is a romance from a man’s point of view, not your normal romantic POV.
The skillful writing makes this story of mystery, magic, and romance a story worth reading, for which I give it 4 stars.
January 3, 2015
I really, really enjoyed reading this. I have to admit, I didn't think I would like it as much as I did at first. I was expecting more 'paranormal' and when nothing much happened initially (while the background was being laid) it felt a little slow to me.
But as I read on, without my even noticing, the story hooked me right in.
I'm not going to go through the plot, the blurb can do that. I will say how impressed I was that the author was able to wrap me up so tight in Cooper's story while he tries to come to terms with his past, and what he always thought he knew.
There's a supernatural element to the story, there's romance, there's humor. But what I loved best was the mystery of his mother's past that Cooper was trying to sift through, along with Finn, the girl he meets when he comes back home to Salem. I got so caught up in both Cooper & Finn's lives that I was legitimately invested in both of them, and what happened for them.
Not gonna lie, I shed a tear or two when Coop finally got his all his answers. But I was really happy with the ending and the way things were wrapped up. Believe me, I know how very vague this is. I find myself honestly unable to tell specifics without telling it all, which is what I really want to do. But it's worth the time for you to read it yourself.
But as I read on, without my even noticing, the story hooked me right in.
I'm not going to go through the plot, the blurb can do that. I will say how impressed I was that the author was able to wrap me up so tight in Cooper's story while he tries to come to terms with his past, and what he always thought he knew.
There's a supernatural element to the story, there's romance, there's humor. But what I loved best was the mystery of his mother's past that Cooper was trying to sift through, along with Finn, the girl he meets when he comes back home to Salem. I got so caught up in both Cooper & Finn's lives that I was legitimately invested in both of them, and what happened for them.
Not gonna lie, I shed a tear or two when Coop finally got his all his answers. But I was really happy with the ending and the way things were wrapped up. Believe me, I know how very vague this is. I find myself honestly unable to tell specifics without telling it all, which is what I really want to do. But it's worth the time for you to read it yourself.
May 2, 2015
Not a fan of first-person romance, with everything being in one person's perspective, but this book is an exception. It is more of a mystery that needs solving before romance can occur. It was also neat that the first-person perspective is that of the male and not the female lead.
It was well written, but a bit difficult to enjoy completely due to the inability to truly understand how the female interest thought or felt and only ever hearing his side of things, but as I said, the first-person perspective makes sense in this case.
The story revolves around Cooper (Coop) and his having to return to Salem, MA, where he grew up with a seemingly distant or unloving mother who is presumed to be the last witch left standing in the old, haunted town. Cooper is asked to write articles for a travel magazine that emphasize the annual Festival of the Dead. What he ends up uncovering are facts about his past that a child had not yet pieced together but which the man is capable of understanding and solving. He meets a woman named Finn, and she helps him to unravel that past while also managing to snare his heart.
I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with some old-style magic and witchcraft as a backdrop.
It was well written, but a bit difficult to enjoy completely due to the inability to truly understand how the female interest thought or felt and only ever hearing his side of things, but as I said, the first-person perspective makes sense in this case.
The story revolves around Cooper (Coop) and his having to return to Salem, MA, where he grew up with a seemingly distant or unloving mother who is presumed to be the last witch left standing in the old, haunted town. Cooper is asked to write articles for a travel magazine that emphasize the annual Festival of the Dead. What he ends up uncovering are facts about his past that a child had not yet pieced together but which the man is capable of understanding and solving. He meets a woman named Finn, and she helps him to unravel that past while also managing to snare his heart.
I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with some old-style magic and witchcraft as a backdrop.
December 16, 2014
One word: Amazing! JR Richardson knocks this one out of the park. This book is full of mystery, intrigue, and some major spine tingling moments. Cooper Shaw ran away from his past long ago, but as we all know, our past tends to catch up with us. As fate would have it, Cooper is sent home on an assignment to write an article on the town of Salem after the death of one of its most famous witches. What is unknown to everyone outside of Salem is that witch just happens to be Cooper's mother. Determined to write the article and get the hell out of town as fast as possible, Cooper is drawn in by the secrets his mother kept from him while he was growing up. Magic leads Cooper through his family history, revealing the truths of what really happened to his family on that fateful night.
I personally loved this book. Ms. Richardson does an amazing job keeping us guessing until the last minute. Written in her unique style, she weaves a world that is vivid and mysterious while making us fall in love with even the minorest of characters. If you want a great romance filled with a paranormal twist, I would strongly recommend this book.
I personally loved this book. Ms. Richardson does an amazing job keeping us guessing until the last minute. Written in her unique style, she weaves a world that is vivid and mysterious while making us fall in love with even the minorest of characters. If you want a great romance filled with a paranormal twist, I would strongly recommend this book.
March 13, 2014
I highly recommend this for any avid romance readers who like a realistic and organic romance. But this book has much more than a blooming romance between characters. There is mystery and intrigue surrounding and engulfing you as you turn each page to know who what and why. It rotates around the supernatural and unknown that even a nonbeliever may just start believing. It is not just about finding love or finding yourself but doing both when you didn't realize they were lost. It has the muchness in a book you crave. Cooper 'Coop' Shaw spent most of a decade trying to forget his terrible past and creating a whole new persona to make sure no one remembered him. One unwanted job related trip to his hometown, a coincidental death, and unexpected but expected meeting of the all knowing and quirky Finnley 'Finn' Pierce has Coop remembering a whole new truth of his past. He is not only getting answers that unravel hidden truths about his childhood and death of his father, but also wanting more than a life of anonymity and solitude.
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