About the Book The Good Shadows

Book: The Good Shadows

Author: Carol Alwood

Genre: Young adult romance with a supernatural twist

Release Date: January 10, 2020

She believed him when he told her some Shadows were good.

When sixteen-year-old Violet Blackstone seeks to belong outside of her Christian community, she opens doors to a dark world she doesn’t understand.

Her parents’ secret separation and conflict at church fuel her desire to find something more. She sneaks out to a party at Chuckanut House and meets Dakota Selby, the mysterious new guy at Bellingham High School who reads her tarot cards and tells her she doesn’t belong. When she discovers his family owns Chuckanut House, she plans to hold her parents’ twenty-fifth-wedding-anniversary party there to reunite them in the beautiful mansion surrounded by forest and ocean—and to spend more time with Dakota to prove she fits into his world.

Violet works her way into Dakota’s life and must face the secrets and Shadows buried deep within Chuckanut House and her own family’s past. Entrenched in darkness, Violet searches for light and love as she battles Shadows threatening to capture her soul.

When her life falls apart, where will she turn?

Winner of the 2016 Orange County Christian Writer’s book proposal contest.

Click here for your copy!

My thoughts on The Good Shadows:

I think the premise behind this book is novel and a good one.  Magic is something that can enter your heart and soul by reading about it so we need to make sure we’re not reading things that are going to plant seeds that draw us away from God.  And yet, this book talks about the darkness of magic and includes it.  So should we read a book about magic to draw us away from reading about magic?

In our house, we are pretty strict about magic though we do allow some of the Christian fantasy books to be read.  Before the kids can read them though one of the adults has to read and approve it. 

So, I read this book.  All in all, I did enjoy the book.  The characters were fun and appealing.  I think the author did a good job of showing how magic can infiltrate us when we give it a small toe hold even if we think our faith is strong.  This book isn’t a fantasy book in that it is set in another world, but rather a book about magic set in a real city in our real country.  I think this makes it even more real and brings home what is going on. 

We are in a spiritual battle every day of our lives and we should remember this.  Just thinking about and maybe messing with some tarot cards opens the door to Satan in our lives.  Most kids don’t think of that when they say they were just curious.  

I did feel that the parents in the book of Violet could have been better.  For a pastor, he’s not what I think of when I think of upstanding and good parent.  Yes, I know they’re not all and I get the need for Violet to have a less than stellar faith so she can be tempted.  But I would have liked to see the father in a more positive light and fewer secrets, maybe more explanations. 

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

About the Author of The Good Shadows

Author Carol Alwood grew up in the green haven of Bellingham, Washington, the setting of The Good Shadows series. Now living in Southern California, she misses the raindrops on maple leaves, so when she isn’t home for a visit she writes stories that take place in her hometown. Carol adores fiction and is the author of the novelette, Ghost of a Girl. She also wrote Focused Backstory: The Key to Writing Deep Character Journeys, a newly released writing-craft book.

More from Carol

Magic isn’t a new topic for Christian fiction.

Many readers of this genre often enjoy spell-filled stories that take place in faraway lands because they know the narrative involves make-believe creatures and battles. But what if by becoming used to magic in stories we have allowed a gentle pathway for magical ideas to trickle into our lives? What if in one sudden moment (in the same way other things have become acceptable overnight) magic, a.k.a. magick, touched our fingertips in the real world, and we felt compelled to wield its power? Could it be that magic is already here? All one has to do is check online for tarot card readings, potion recipes, and steps for casting spells. What if while we scoffed at the thought of magic as something more than the stuff of fantasy our children stumbled upon it? From this logic, The Good Shadows was born.

The Good Shadows

Violet Blackstone is a sixteen-year-old pastor’s daughter who struggles to feel whole. Her parents hide their secret separation, she feels like she doesn’t fit in at church, and she meets a Wiccan priestess’s son who shows her another way of thinking. Nestled in the shadowy forests of the Pacific Northwest, Violet sets out on a new pathway that leads toward love and magick. Meanwhile, she uncovers disturbing information about her own family’s past. Her friend Owen tries to stop her from heading down this dark path, but she’s drawn in by a boy with forest green eyes and the desire to exercise control over her crumbling life.

What will it take for Violet to realize she has opened doors to a dark world and there are shadows are after her soul?

This award-winning book is available on Amazon in paperback and as an ebook (Kindle Unlimited). The Bible study at the end is ideal for small groups or individuals to enjoy an in-depth study on magick and sorcery. Don’t miss Ghost of a Girl, a novelette in The Good Shadows series, and The Dark Shadows (book two coming out June of 2020).

Carol Alwood is also the author of Focused Backstory: The Key to Writing Deep Character Journeys and the book’s corresponding workbook. Both are available on Amazon. While Carol lives with her husband and two daughters in Southern California, she loves visiting her hometown of Bellingham, Washington, where The Good Shadows takes place. The road to Chuckanut is a real place with stunning views and inviting forests. Check out her website for a virtual hometown tour and to read chapter one of The Good Shadows.

Blog Stops for The Good Shadows

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 8

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 9

Just the Write Escape, May 10

Texas Book-aholic, May 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 12

Blogging With Carol, May 13

For the Love of Literature, May 14

Genesis 5020, May 14

Emily Yager, May 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 17

Inklings and notions, May 18

For Him and My Family, May 19

deb’s Book Review, May 20

Pause for Tales, May 21

Giveaway for The Good Shadows

To celebrate her tour, Carol is giving away the grand prize package of a signed paperback copy of The Good Shadows & $10 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/fa65/the-good-shadows-celebration-tour-giveaway