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Title: Bad Juju
Author: Dina Rae
Genre: Dark, Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense, Thriller, Young-Adult, (R-Rated although teens would love it)
Publisher: Amazon
Ebook
Words: 93,000
Purchase:
Book Description:
Lucien Nazaire flees his Haitian homeland and meanders around the United States for decades. He settles in a Wisconsin trailer park filled with elderly tenants. He meets Jake, his teenage neighbor, and hires him for odd household jobs. As their relationship progresses, Lucien invites the boy into the world of Voodoo.
Jake LaRue lives in foster care with his abusive uncle. The Voodoo lessons give him a sense of power within an otherwise helpless situation. Although the boy is a loner, he feels an instant connection with his classmate, Henry, and introduces him to Lucien.
Henry Novak has Asperger’s Syndrome. He fixates on historical events, most recently the 2010 Haitian earthquake. Like Jake, he becomes passionate about the dark side of Voodoo. They learn how to cast spells on those they hate and lust, leading up to dire consequences.
Several months after the Haitian earthquake, Henry convinces his family to volunteer with their church in the island's reconstruction. Their mission turns into a nightmare when he mysteriously walks off of the campsite.
Bad Juju is a balance of horror, romance, and literary fiction intended for ages fifteen and up. Research about the Voodoo religion, shapeshifting, zombies, and possession and themes of redemption and loneliness emerge throughout the plot.
MY REVIEW
5 OF 5 BAD JUJU
First I have to say I have read several books from Dina and each one I love! She has a gift for writing and she knows how to bring a world together and keep you there riveted to your seat until the very end. Thank you Full Moon Bites Blog Tours for allowing me to be a part of this EPIC tour.
Bad Juju is a combination of suspense, history, and life lessons.In this story we meet Lucien who is a Haitian Bokor which is a voodoo sorcerer. He is fleeing his country Haiti and winds up in Wisconsin in a trailer park. Not the best or ideal place but a great place for someone who wants to hide. While there at the trailer park he meets a teen named Jake who is in foster care with his abusive uncle.
Jake really takes to Lucien and Lucien decides he is going to teach Jake Voodoo. Jake is an easy candidate for voodoo because he is angry and hurt which leaves his mind open to the arts. The only thing is Jake is using the arts to hurt people who have hurt him. He doesn't realize that voodoo if done wrong can bounce off that person and come back on you. At school Jake is a loner and while in in-house suspension Jake meets Henry who has Asperger's Syndrome. Together they use voodoo to punish the ones who have wronged them. Then Henry gets a chance to go to Haiti to help rebuild it after the earth quake.
Lucien sees his opportunity to reach out to his family but when Henry goes to Haiti he disappears. There are forces that are working against Lucien and they will stop at nothing to get revenge. What will happen to Henry in Haiti? What will happen to Lucien? Will Jake be punished as well. Because remember when you play with fire you get burnt! Voodoo is something that should be taken serious and not a s a game and the three of them will find out exactly what happens when you decide to mess with voodoo.
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GIVEAWAY: 10 eBook copies of Bad Juju in MOBI/PDF or one of 2 $15 Amazon Gift-Cards + a eBook copy of Bad Juju
Excerpt:
Jake rolled out of bed and army crawled to the doorway. Looking through the
opening that separated the door from the carpeting, he saw Leah’s head
bloodied. She lay limp on the floor. Pete stopped hitting her. His whole
demeanor changed. With a wolfish expression, he began to unbuckle his belt.
Rhianna’s screams got closer. She must have darted to the other side of the
living room, putting her smack-dab in front of Jake’s bedroom door. He could
now see her foot. It partially blocked his view. Shit! Can’t get involved!
If I open the door…
“Pete, what the hell is a matter with you? Stop it! She’s passed out. You
beat her into a coma, man! And now you’re gonna…Sober up and think of what
you’re doing! Right in front of your daughter!” T.J. yelled.
Is he suicidal? Jake knew his uncle would make T.J. regret his words. Like
Leah, T.J. was small. He was filled with faults, but violence was not one of
them. On perfect cue, Jake could hear his uncle’s bare fists hooking T.J. in
the jawbone. Rhianna’s screams turned into full-blown hysteria. The poor girl
was hyperventilating while desperately grasping Jake’s locked doorknob for
refuge. I don’t want to be involved! Go back to your closet and lay still!
“Jakey, Jakey, pwwweeeze!” Rhianna sobbed.
Jake couldn’t take her suffering any longer. Quickly unlocking the door, he
grabbed the little girl and pulled her inside his room and then relocked the
door.
The living room had grown eerily quiet. Jake had a difficult time hearing while
Rhianna wailed. “It’s okay now. Try to be quiet,” he whispered, straining to
hear. Nothing but silence was on the other side of his door. His heart rate
doubled. Always quiet before the storm. Was it over? Or was I next? He slid
on his gym shoes, took a can of Comet cleaner from his bathroom, and crept up to
the only window in the room. It was small, but Jake knew he could fit through.
Then came the sound he was waiting for. Click, click, click. Pete was
delicately trying to open the door. He now knew it was locked.
Dina Rae is a new author here to stay. As a former teacher, she brings an academic element to her work. Her three novels, Halo of the Damned, The Last Degree, and Bad Juju weave research and suspense throughout the plots. Her short story, Be Paranoid Be Prepared, is a prequel of sorts to The Last Degree, focusing on the James Martin character. Dina also freelances for various entertainment blogs.
Dina lives with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs outside of Chicago. She is a Christian, an avid tennis player, movie buff, and self-proclaimed expert on several conspiracy theories. She has been interviewed numerous times in e-zines, websites, blogs, newspapers, and radio programs. When she is not writing she is reading novels from her favorite authors Dan Brown, Anne Rice, Stephen King, Brad Thor, George R.R. Martin, and Preston & Childs.
FOLLOW THE BLOG TOUR FOR SOME GREAT REVIEWS AND PRIZES
Tee, thanks for the wonderful review and taking the time to read my new book! Dina Rae
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