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The Madwoman of Preacher's Cove
THE MADWOMAN OF PREACHER'S COVE tells the story of Lucy Addams, a woman who was horribly disfigured in a fire that claimed the lives of her husband and children. After the tragic loss of her beauty, her voice, and her family, Lucy became an artistic genius, sculpting lifelike dolls—replicas of the children of Preacher’s Cove. Lucy, and her workshop, are hidden in the back of the local resort—a hotel and restaurant complex owned and operated by her sister, Libby.
Following a series of deaths by lightning strike in Preacher’s Cove, a handsome investigative reporter arrives to solve the mystery of the coincidental accidents. Lucy and Libby find themselves facing yet another enemy. As keepers of an ancient treasure—a secret that binds them—they alone know why the deaths have occurred, and more importantly, how to stop them. With the eventual help of Libby and Lucy, the reporter finds a sacred place in the woods called The Hallows—where Druids once roamed, and where his answers are deeply buried. After months of investigating, the death toll rising, a bit of romance, and otherworldly harbingers of Lucy’s dolls, the mystery of Preacher’s Cove begins to unravel.
Following a series of deaths by lightning strike in Preacher’s Cove, a handsome investigative reporter arrives to solve the mystery of the coincidental accidents. Lucy and Libby find themselves facing yet another enemy. As keepers of an ancient treasure—a secret that binds them—they alone know why the deaths have occurred, and more importantly, how to stop them. With the eventual help of Libby and Lucy, the reporter finds a sacred place in the woods called The Hallows—where Druids once roamed, and where his answers are deeply buried. After months of investigating, the death toll rising, a bit of romance, and otherworldly harbingers of Lucy’s dolls, the mystery of Preacher’s Cove begins to unravel.
Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 1, 2020
The Madwoman of Preachers Cove made such a splash, pre-release, by winning the Grand Prize in Paranormal Fiction at The Chanticleer Reviews Conference in Bellingham, Washington that I begged author Joy Ross Davis for an advance review copy! I read the book raptly, marveling at it's unusual setting in a fictitious town named Preacher's Cove in the mountain foothills of Alabama. This book has everything: a journalist with hidden ties to Preacher's Cove comes to town on assignment to cover paranormal activity and oddly, incrementally, characters come to the fore and jog his memory! I knew I was in for something big when I met doll-maker, Lucy, who has method to her creative madness. Unsettling atmospheric activity, the lure of attraction, town secrets, quirky characters, and hidden connections comprise this page-turner that will top the list of favorites for paranormal readers!
August 31, 2020
In Preacher's Cove the madwoman may not be so mad after all. In her silence, the madwoman, Lucie Addams, uses art as her form or communication. She crafts life-like dolls resembling many of the children in Preacher's Cove.
What is the significance of these beautifully sculpted dolls? Are they inspired by childhood memories? How could there be any connection with the lightning strike incidents?
Are the mysterious deaths connected to Lucie and her sister, Libby? Are these deaths which seem to be caused by lightning truly accidental? Or are they subtle, paranormal murder, connected to long-hidden, dark secrets?
The Addams sisters' dark secrets have a significant connection with the investigative reporting team operating in Preacher's Cover. They are in town to get the low down on those deadly lightning strikes. But, does anyone on the team have long forgotten ties to Preacher's Cove.
What I like about this book: (Well, parts of what I like!) I always like this author’s lyrical writing. First off, the book is a pleasure to read. She manages to tell a very good story with no profanity, vulgarity or bodice-ripping erotica.
What is the significance of these beautifully sculpted dolls? Are they inspired by childhood memories? How could there be any connection with the lightning strike incidents?
Are the mysterious deaths connected to Lucie and her sister, Libby? Are these deaths which seem to be caused by lightning truly accidental? Or are they subtle, paranormal murder, connected to long-hidden, dark secrets?
The Addams sisters' dark secrets have a significant connection with the investigative reporting team operating in Preacher's Cover. They are in town to get the low down on those deadly lightning strikes. But, does anyone on the team have long forgotten ties to Preacher's Cove.
What I like about this book: (Well, parts of what I like!) I always like this author’s lyrical writing. First off, the book is a pleasure to read. She manages to tell a very good story with no profanity, vulgarity or bodice-ripping erotica.
October 5, 2020
From the soul-grabbing opening, Joy Ross Davis’ trademark infusion of ancient Celtic legend into contemporary storytelling hums along at a (literally) crackling, shiver-inducing apex, heightened by fascinating meteorological science, and some scary herpetology. As a small Southern resort town endures repeated deadly intersections of the scientific and the seemingly supernatural, genuine real-life bad guys are at work, setting up a standoff of Biblical implication that redefines who exactly is “mad.” The beautiful artistic overlay of the supposed madwoman creating unnervingly lifelike dolls builds alongside the suspense, and perhaps the most unusual “you picked the wrong mom to mess with” denouement I’ve ever read. Great fireside read and winner of the Chanticleer International Book Awards Grand Prize for Paranormal Fiction.
November 27, 2020
‘The Madwoman of Preacher’s Cove’ by author Joy Ross Davis is an interesting blend of fantasy, mystery, action/suspense, and romance. In short, it’s a novel with a unique footprint. The plot, like the dancing, dangerous, colorful sky it portrays as being unique to the Preacher’s Cove area, shifts shapes and keeps the reader guessing throughout. The plot is steeped in ancient Druid stories and magic, and grounded by human greed, hunger for love, and fallibility. It plays well off themes of family and community, and the characters are enjoyable. A fun time!
April 27, 2022
Angels, love, Druids and more
Do you like old folklore about Druids and women who are so angelic with curling red hair and porcelain skin? Rare beauty each? Dashing men coming to the rescue, healing venomous bites with green energy summoned from within? Thunder and lightning? Snakes? Well, I don't care for snakes at all but this is a book anyone who loves old folklore and romance mixed in should read. Five stars!
Do you like old folklore about Druids and women who are so angelic with curling red hair and porcelain skin? Rare beauty each? Dashing men coming to the rescue, healing venomous bites with green energy summoned from within? Thunder and lightning? Snakes? Well, I don't care for snakes at all but this is a book anyone who loves old folklore and romance mixed in should read. Five stars!
April 11, 2022
Don’t miss this dark twisty tale of a small Southern town caught in the grips of ancient secrets, forces not of this world and a line of powerful women who hold the key to it all. Davis ties together a cast of wonderfully realistic characters with historic and scientific details creating a story which kept me on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait to read more books by this gifted storyteller.
February 24, 2021
Ancient rituals hold town in its grip!
The development of the title character is the reason I am giving this novel five stars. The madwoman of Preacher’s Cove is a woman who people call a monster because of a disfigurement she suffers. Lucy is gifted with unusual sculpting talent while enduring isolation from the community due to her physical deformity. One side of her face is scarred and mangled. She has lost the power of speech but has an ability to create dolls with her hands. The dolls are so lifelike that they have become famous and sought after.
Libby is her twin sister with whom Lucy shares spiritual powers of both creativity and healing. Both have porcelain skin, red hair that hangs in ringlets, and marks in their hands that make them feared and misunderstood in the community. Libby protects Lucy while she manages a hotel and restaurant.
A strange phenomena of nature during extreme storm conditions has brought a tv reporter into Preacher’s Cove to get the story of not only the gifted artist but also to examine a natural phenomena of lightning strikes that have caused many deaths.
Hap aka Michael is a handsome blonde investigative reporter who is using the story of the Madwoman as a cover story to uncover the truth of an errant preacher who is extremely wealthy, an impeccable dresser, and a control freak.
But Hap is the real main character in this romantic tale. He has his own history of nearly being killed by one of the lightning strikes in Preacher’s Cove. In fact, he has a connection to the madwoman that he had long forgotten. He is attracted to her angel children that she has created, finding one that depicts himself when a child.
The setting takes place in Northern Alabama in a small town built upon an ancient volcano. For some reason, this small town of only a few thousand people has had violent storms that have killed many of the townspeople.
Hap was sent by his boss to find a news story that would give his network ratings and awards. After discovering Libby and Lucy, he undergoes a series of events that make him want to get his story and out of Preacher’s Cove as soon as he and his crew can. But he falls in love with Libby, meets Lucy’s son, gets involved with a buried treasure, and learns that his own daughter is right under his nose. He is a victim of a cold blooded killer, but is saved by his own former babysitter.
As I said, I gave this story five stars because of the character development of Lucy, who is a loving mother caught in a personal tragedy that the only happy ending for her is finally realized. Because this is considered a paranormal genre, Lucy’s gifts are connected to a white angel who is seen hovering around her.
This book will satisfy readers who like romantic stories, murder mysteries, and paranormal stories. I liked the book for its history of the druids which have some importance in understanding both the strange lightning strikes and the genealogy of the family.
The murderous plots expose the real monster or mad person!
Prize winning author Joy Ross Davis is an Alabama native as well as an Irish redhead herself!
The development of the title character is the reason I am giving this novel five stars. The madwoman of Preacher’s Cove is a woman who people call a monster because of a disfigurement she suffers. Lucy is gifted with unusual sculpting talent while enduring isolation from the community due to her physical deformity. One side of her face is scarred and mangled. She has lost the power of speech but has an ability to create dolls with her hands. The dolls are so lifelike that they have become famous and sought after.
Libby is her twin sister with whom Lucy shares spiritual powers of both creativity and healing. Both have porcelain skin, red hair that hangs in ringlets, and marks in their hands that make them feared and misunderstood in the community. Libby protects Lucy while she manages a hotel and restaurant.
A strange phenomena of nature during extreme storm conditions has brought a tv reporter into Preacher’s Cove to get the story of not only the gifted artist but also to examine a natural phenomena of lightning strikes that have caused many deaths.
Hap aka Michael is a handsome blonde investigative reporter who is using the story of the Madwoman as a cover story to uncover the truth of an errant preacher who is extremely wealthy, an impeccable dresser, and a control freak.
But Hap is the real main character in this romantic tale. He has his own history of nearly being killed by one of the lightning strikes in Preacher’s Cove. In fact, he has a connection to the madwoman that he had long forgotten. He is attracted to her angel children that she has created, finding one that depicts himself when a child.
The setting takes place in Northern Alabama in a small town built upon an ancient volcano. For some reason, this small town of only a few thousand people has had violent storms that have killed many of the townspeople.
Hap was sent by his boss to find a news story that would give his network ratings and awards. After discovering Libby and Lucy, he undergoes a series of events that make him want to get his story and out of Preacher’s Cove as soon as he and his crew can. But he falls in love with Libby, meets Lucy’s son, gets involved with a buried treasure, and learns that his own daughter is right under his nose. He is a victim of a cold blooded killer, but is saved by his own former babysitter.
As I said, I gave this story five stars because of the character development of Lucy, who is a loving mother caught in a personal tragedy that the only happy ending for her is finally realized. Because this is considered a paranormal genre, Lucy’s gifts are connected to a white angel who is seen hovering around her.
This book will satisfy readers who like romantic stories, murder mysteries, and paranormal stories. I liked the book for its history of the druids which have some importance in understanding both the strange lightning strikes and the genealogy of the family.
The murderous plots expose the real monster or mad person!
Prize winning author Joy Ross Davis is an Alabama native as well as an Irish redhead herself!
June 11, 2021
Whoop!
Once you start reading about the Cove, it’s impossible to stop. If you enjoy a good mystery, good verses evil, and a wild, stormy ride to the end, you’re going to love The Madwoman of Preacher’s Cove.
Once you start reading about the Cove, it’s impossible to stop. If you enjoy a good mystery, good verses evil, and a wild, stormy ride to the end, you’re going to love The Madwoman of Preacher’s Cove.
September 7, 2020
BOOK REVIEW: The Madwoman of Preacher's Cove by author, Joy Ross Davis
The story of Lucy Addams~ A paranormal lovers delight full of twists, turns, and surprises!
Strange and mysterious things are happening in small-town Alabama, and that's not all... This is a spellbinding journey that left me captivated and amazed as to the depths of intrigue the author has created in this genre-bending marvel~ a story you don't want to miss!
With its elements of fantasy, crime, romance and the paranormal, The Madwoman of Preacher's Cove delivers on history and mystery as twin sisters Lucy and Libby hold tightly to the secret that binds them...
Mysterious deaths are occurring in this spooky southern world of Preacher's Cove, and being the keepers of an ancient treasure, hauntingly beautiful sculpted dolls known as Firelight Angels that hold messages of ancient rituals, and the sister's knowledge of sacred ground known as The Hallows, they find themselves facing a threat to all they keep hidden~ an investigative reporter known as Hap, a man with his own dark secrets. As the story unfolds with its mysterious events, there is a distinct connection between these characters that plays out as only one element of this story that kept me turning the pages long into the night.
The Madwoman of Preacher's Cove sparked my curiosity immediately with Ms. Davis' ability to weave a story line that is nothing short of fascinating and gripping. I can't wait to see what's next from this talented, award-winning author.
I thank author, Joy Ross Davis for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this amazing story~ one I highly recommend.
5 Stars
#TheMadWomanofPreachersCove
#JoyRossDavis
#WyattMacKenziePublishing
Wild Sage Book Blog
The story of Lucy Addams~ A paranormal lovers delight full of twists, turns, and surprises!
Strange and mysterious things are happening in small-town Alabama, and that's not all... This is a spellbinding journey that left me captivated and amazed as to the depths of intrigue the author has created in this genre-bending marvel~ a story you don't want to miss!
With its elements of fantasy, crime, romance and the paranormal, The Madwoman of Preacher's Cove delivers on history and mystery as twin sisters Lucy and Libby hold tightly to the secret that binds them...
Mysterious deaths are occurring in this spooky southern world of Preacher's Cove, and being the keepers of an ancient treasure, hauntingly beautiful sculpted dolls known as Firelight Angels that hold messages of ancient rituals, and the sister's knowledge of sacred ground known as The Hallows, they find themselves facing a threat to all they keep hidden~ an investigative reporter known as Hap, a man with his own dark secrets. As the story unfolds with its mysterious events, there is a distinct connection between these characters that plays out as only one element of this story that kept me turning the pages long into the night.
The Madwoman of Preacher's Cove sparked my curiosity immediately with Ms. Davis' ability to weave a story line that is nothing short of fascinating and gripping. I can't wait to see what's next from this talented, award-winning author.
I thank author, Joy Ross Davis for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this amazing story~ one I highly recommend.
5 Stars
#TheMadWomanofPreachersCove
#JoyRossDavis
#WyattMacKenziePublishing
Wild Sage Book Blog
August 27, 2020
THE MADWOMAN OF PREACHER’S COVE by Joy Ross Davis is an atmospheric and intriguing story of deeply held secrets and an ancient mystery set in Preachers’ Cove, Alabama where Druids once worshipped. Lucy Addams lost everything when a tragic fire killed her husband and children and left her terribly disfigured and unable to speak. She lives as a recluse with her sister, Libby who runs a local resort in Preacher’s Cove. Lucy spends her days in a secluded workroom crafting beautiful and haunting dolls called the Firelight Angels that are detailed replicas of the children of Preacher’s Cove. When a seemingly coincidental series of deadly lightning strikes hits Preacher’s Cove, investigative reporter, Hap returns to Preacher’s Cove to look into the mysterious deaths. As Hap delves deeper into the unusual occurrences, long-buried secrets come to light and the mystery of The Hallows is gradually revealed. Filled with history, suspense and even a little romance, this enchanting book held me captive from beginning to end. I always enjoy Joy Ross Davis’ stories and this one was no exception. I highly recommend it! Thank you to the author for providing me with an early copy to review.
December 30, 2020
So many hooks
There are so many hooks to this story - so many reasons to read until the end! Who is the disfigured artist and what is she trying to say through her realistic doll creations? Why is the newsman with the near fatal accident in his past overcome with visions now? What or who is causing the town’s deadly lightning strikes? This multifaceted story draws on current and ancient symbols of good and evil including snakes, angels and a powerful, wealthy preacher. I’m happy I found The Madwoman of Preacher’s Cove and I look forward to more from an author who clearly has a lot of stories to tell!
There are so many hooks to this story - so many reasons to read until the end! Who is the disfigured artist and what is she trying to say through her realistic doll creations? Why is the newsman with the near fatal accident in his past overcome with visions now? What or who is causing the town’s deadly lightning strikes? This multifaceted story draws on current and ancient symbols of good and evil including snakes, angels and a powerful, wealthy preacher. I’m happy I found The Madwoman of Preacher’s Cove and I look forward to more from an author who clearly has a lot of stories to tell!
August 31, 2021
An electrifying read!
What an absolutely beautiful read. Having previously read “The Witch of Blacklion” by this amazing author, I knew I would be in for a treat. It was much more than that! This paranormal suspense is a read for all ages, and those wishing to read outside of their standard genre. Here, you will see what a literary feast this book is.
Hap Murray, a local reporter, is sent to Preacher’s Cove, to cover a story of “death, destruction, and bizarre phenomenon.”
Hap has some memories, and nightmares of his childhood there.
What he finds, are many answers to all the questions he has. He also discovers love, and a daughter he had given up all hope of ever seeing again.
The twin sisters,Libby and Lucy, are much, much more than they appear to be. They are hiding secrets from centuries past, and hold the magical power of the ancient Druids.
Not only is this a magnificent read, each chapter ends with you not wanting to stop reading. You just have to find out what happens next. It is indeed the epitome of a page-turner.
Throw in more death, treachery, a maniacal search for the ultimate power, and a truly electrifying read, and you have an exquisite five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star book.
What an absolutely beautiful read. Having previously read “The Witch of Blacklion” by this amazing author, I knew I would be in for a treat. It was much more than that! This paranormal suspense is a read for all ages, and those wishing to read outside of their standard genre. Here, you will see what a literary feast this book is.
Hap Murray, a local reporter, is sent to Preacher’s Cove, to cover a story of “death, destruction, and bizarre phenomenon.”
Hap has some memories, and nightmares of his childhood there.
What he finds, are many answers to all the questions he has. He also discovers love, and a daughter he had given up all hope of ever seeing again.
The twin sisters,Libby and Lucy, are much, much more than they appear to be. They are hiding secrets from centuries past, and hold the magical power of the ancient Druids.
Not only is this a magnificent read, each chapter ends with you not wanting to stop reading. You just have to find out what happens next. It is indeed the epitome of a page-turner.
Throw in more death, treachery, a maniacal search for the ultimate power, and a truly electrifying read, and you have an exquisite five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star book.
July 18, 2021
Loved it!
Wow is about all I have to say about The Madwoman of Preachers's Cove! Not the kind of book I normally read but I loved it from beginning to end. Gave me the creeps many times but kept me guessing right up to the ending! This is the first book I have read by Joy Ross Davis. Now I want to read her other three. Thanks for writing this book!
Wow is about all I have to say about The Madwoman of Preachers's Cove! Not the kind of book I normally read but I loved it from beginning to end. Gave me the creeps many times but kept me guessing right up to the ending! This is the first book I have read by Joy Ross Davis. Now I want to read her other three. Thanks for writing this book!
April 8, 2022
An absolutely beautiful read!! Captivating. Mysterious. Page turning. Bigger than life characters! Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews