fuonlyknew

Welcome to My Monday Minis.

This is where I review very short stories and flash fiction.

For today I’ll be telling you about Halo of the Madonna

A short prequel to the Halo Series

by Dina Rae

Halo of the Madonna is a really short prequel to the Halo Series.

A world of fallen angels, demons, and Nephilim.

You learn what really happened to Lydia, Kim and Joanna’s mother.

You’ll see just how despicable Armaros is and why Lydia broke from the families church of Fallen

Now Armaros, calling himself Andel Talistokov, is back.

Lydia hears his voice and learns he’s set up shop in his headquarters at The Evil Empire, his advertising chain.

Perfect place to hide what he is, a fallen angel, and gather evil souls.

Lydia wonders if he knows where she is, knows what she stole from him?

She sets up safe guards, but who knows if he is coming after what is his, or when he’ll come.

Lydia can’t let him get the box and rushes to find a safe hiding place, while ensuring her daughters will be able to get to it.

Time is running out and she needs to come forward and tell her daughters everything, what they are, so they can prepare for what is sure to come.

I’ve been hoping to read about Lydia, to learn some of her story.

While this is really short and ends quite abruptly, it gives me answers to questions I had nagging me after I finished the first two books in this series.

Lydia was so brave, running away from the Fallen and trying to protect her children, while knowing she would be forever running and hiding.

She knew the day would come, the day when she would have to tell her children what they are and where they come from.

She just hopes she’s not too late.

Even though I knew what was going to happen, I still was so afraid for Lydia and was immersed from beginning to end.

4 stars

I’ve also read and reviewed the first two books in this series.

Halo of the Damned

A chain of advertising agencies, a new breed of humans, and a fallen angel to worship… Andel Talistokov is known for his slick advertising agencies across the globe. He is a fallen angel that uses advertising as a weapon for Satan‘s work. His growing power emboldens him to break several of Hell‘s Commandments. Furious with his arrogance, Satan commands him to return to Hell after finding his own replacement. Yezidism, an ancient angel worshiping religion, quietly expands throughout the West. Armaros appears as a guest of honor during their ceremonies. He mates with young women to produce nephilim, a mixed race of humans and angels. They are alone and unprepared for their supernatural power. Joanna Easterhouse, a recovering drug addict, steps out of prison shortly after her mother’s fatal accident. She and her sister, Kim, unravel their mother’s secretive past. Intrigued, they learn their bloodline is part of a celestial legacy. Both worlds collide. Halo of the Damned is a horrifying tale that weaves research together with suspenseful twists and turns.

My Review

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Book Two in the Halo Trinity

Can a fallen angel, his band of broken souls, and his nephilim children change the world?

Armaros the Cursed, Satan’s favorite of the Fallen, falls once again after breaking the rules.  Fearing an eternity of punishment, he desperately attempts to save himself by sending a bird to his island.  The SOS message is received by his beloved congregation.  They prepare the great Armaros’ kingdom for his return.  Can his loyal worshipers rescue him from the pit?
Halo of the Nephilim is the sequel to Halo of the Damned.

My Review

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I’ve also read Bad JuJu by Dina Rae.

A Haitian bokor mentors two teens in the dark arts. Their spells backfire.

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 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. Despite his loner status, he instantly connects with Henry, his only friend in high school. 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. Months after the Haitian earthquake, Henry convinces his family to volunteer for 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 adults and mature teens. The plot uses research involving the Voodoo religion.

My Review

Biography of Dina Rae

Dina Rae is a new author here to stay.  As a 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.  In the spring of 2013, her latest novel, Halo of the Nephilim, will be released.  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.

Links

http://dinarae.co

www.dinaraeswritestuff.blogspot.com

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dinaraebooks/

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DinaRaeBooks

@haloofthedamned

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