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Midlife Monster Hunter #1
Banshees & Baby Showers
Meet Diana Delaney, a nondescript, middle aged, talentless housewife and school office administrator. Diana’s got a new one she didn’t apply for.
Monster Hunter. Now she’s got to save New Orleans, one beast at a time.
Jim and I were high school sweethearts. Or, rather, I thought we were. The events of the last week have given me pause to reconsider.
We dated in high school but had a birth-control fail, resulting in a shotgun wedding. Jim stuck by me, the woman he accidentally impregnated, for all of nineteen years.
Then our daughter, our only child and in her last year at high school, decided she wanted to go north for college the following year. During the fall we went on a road trip to look at colleges because Jim was busy with work as a car salesman. This was to be our last big mother-daughter experience. I loved every bit of it, and so that I wouldn’t worry too much about how Jim was faring in my absence, Lola promised to take good care of him while I was gone.
Clearly, I didn’t think this through. I was naive and saw the best in people which is why I saw no problem with leaving my best friend to take care of my best guy. After I returned home, I was filled with all kinds of enthusiasm for this new phase of my life. I’d spent nearly two decades being a housewife and part-time school office administrator. I wanted more for the next twenty years of my life. Since I’d had no luck convincing Jim to have more children, I was going to convince him to fund my new event planning. That’s the one thing I’d ever been good at. I threw the best birthday parties. I organized the best bridal showers. And when I saw Lola’s bulging belly under her ugly Christmas sweater, I begged her to let me throw her the best baby shower ever.
I felt sorry for her. Her husband had recently left her. She was about to shoulder the burden of single motherhood on her own while pushing forty. I planned the shower for the weekend before Valentine’s Day. I had already arranged a romantic weekend getaway with Jim, our first time away alone...ever. Nothing was going to ruin it.
Except I arrived early to decorate and overheard Lola on the phone. And that’s how I found out that Jim was her baby’s daddy.
I forced myself to make it through the shower. Then I confronted Jim. He didn’t deny it. In fact, he felt compelled to stand by her side as he had for me. He wanted a divorce.
“And I want alimony,” I snarled as I watched him pack a suitcase and leave.
I knew enough about divorces to know that if I wanted to keep the house, I couldn’t leave it, but by Valentine’s Day weekend when we were supposed to go away together, I needed a break from our house, which was wholly haunted with the ghosts of memories past. I couldn’t keep torturing myself like this.
So, I took a chance and left on my first solo adventure. I was proud of myself for following through as I settled in at the most perfect lakeside retreat I could imagine. Then, that night, the screaming started. And after I called the property manager, it was clear I was the only one who heard it.
“Loud wailing. Like a banshee!” I said by way of explanation.
“Haven’t had one of those in some time,” the old crone replied. “Those demons foretell a death in the family for the one who hears it. They feed off pain and extinguish that life unless a monster hunter kills it first.”
Well, that explained it. I was now poised to die. I had to accept it or fight it. Luckily, I found something worth fighting my daughter.
Monster Hunter. Now she’s got to save New Orleans, one beast at a time.
Jim and I were high school sweethearts. Or, rather, I thought we were. The events of the last week have given me pause to reconsider.
We dated in high school but had a birth-control fail, resulting in a shotgun wedding. Jim stuck by me, the woman he accidentally impregnated, for all of nineteen years.
Then our daughter, our only child and in her last year at high school, decided she wanted to go north for college the following year. During the fall we went on a road trip to look at colleges because Jim was busy with work as a car salesman. This was to be our last big mother-daughter experience. I loved every bit of it, and so that I wouldn’t worry too much about how Jim was faring in my absence, Lola promised to take good care of him while I was gone.
Clearly, I didn’t think this through. I was naive and saw the best in people which is why I saw no problem with leaving my best friend to take care of my best guy. After I returned home, I was filled with all kinds of enthusiasm for this new phase of my life. I’d spent nearly two decades being a housewife and part-time school office administrator. I wanted more for the next twenty years of my life. Since I’d had no luck convincing Jim to have more children, I was going to convince him to fund my new event planning. That’s the one thing I’d ever been good at. I threw the best birthday parties. I organized the best bridal showers. And when I saw Lola’s bulging belly under her ugly Christmas sweater, I begged her to let me throw her the best baby shower ever.
I felt sorry for her. Her husband had recently left her. She was about to shoulder the burden of single motherhood on her own while pushing forty. I planned the shower for the weekend before Valentine’s Day. I had already arranged a romantic weekend getaway with Jim, our first time away alone...ever. Nothing was going to ruin it.
Except I arrived early to decorate and overheard Lola on the phone. And that’s how I found out that Jim was her baby’s daddy.
I forced myself to make it through the shower. Then I confronted Jim. He didn’t deny it. In fact, he felt compelled to stand by her side as he had for me. He wanted a divorce.
“And I want alimony,” I snarled as I watched him pack a suitcase and leave.
I knew enough about divorces to know that if I wanted to keep the house, I couldn’t leave it, but by Valentine’s Day weekend when we were supposed to go away together, I needed a break from our house, which was wholly haunted with the ghosts of memories past. I couldn’t keep torturing myself like this.
So, I took a chance and left on my first solo adventure. I was proud of myself for following through as I settled in at the most perfect lakeside retreat I could imagine. Then, that night, the screaming started. And after I called the property manager, it was clear I was the only one who heard it.
“Loud wailing. Like a banshee!” I said by way of explanation.
“Haven’t had one of those in some time,” the old crone replied. “Those demons foretell a death in the family for the one who hears it. They feed off pain and extinguish that life unless a monster hunter kills it first.”
Well, that explained it. I was now poised to die. I had to accept it or fight it. Luckily, I found something worth fighting my daughter.
- GenresFantasy
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2022
34 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 4, 2025
DNF at about 41%- I just couldn't handle it any more.
Another freebie from Stuff Your Kindle Day. I get my hopes up every time, and get so disappointed. I should know by now that the gems are rare and the mediocre is common.
This wasn't bad, per se, it just wasn't enough to catch my interest. The FMC is inconsistent- thinks she is good at parties, says she is good at nothing. Sometimes in the same paragraph. The book doesn't know what it wants to be. Is it a monster hunter adventure? There should have been some hint of paranormal activity somewhere before the 40% mark. Is this a dive into coping with divorce and cheating? Make me care about the cheater before he is revealed as a cheat. Make me care about the woman he cheated with, the supposed best friend. Heck, make me care about the FMC. The whole beginning of this book read like the author was going through some things and was coping by writing them out. I understand this motivation, but the book didn't do what it needed to.
Another freebie from Stuff Your Kindle Day. I get my hopes up every time, and get so disappointed. I should know by now that the gems are rare and the mediocre is common.
This wasn't bad, per se, it just wasn't enough to catch my interest. The FMC is inconsistent- thinks she is good at parties, says she is good at nothing. Sometimes in the same paragraph. The book doesn't know what it wants to be. Is it a monster hunter adventure? There should have been some hint of paranormal activity somewhere before the 40% mark. Is this a dive into coping with divorce and cheating? Make me care about the cheater before he is revealed as a cheat. Make me care about the woman he cheated with, the supposed best friend. Heck, make me care about the FMC. The whole beginning of this book read like the author was going through some things and was coping by writing them out. I understand this motivation, but the book didn't do what it needed to.
January 13, 2023
Midlife Monster Hunter Series (Diana’s books):
Banshees & Baby Showers, #1 - Well done, Di! I had a lot of fun reading this new series by an author that I have read for years. Diana, Attie and Kenna are loveable and my type of female, kick bum and take names. Kenna made me proud when she faced her cheating dad. Atta girl! D and A have a fun and respectful relationship and I look forward to reading more about this fun threesome and their futures. Monsters beware, there's a can of whoopbum with your names on them! 5*
Monsters & Minivans, #2 - This book is just as entertaining as the first. Fun. Drama. Monsters. Husband. It all made for a good read. The characters are growing in personality. In one spot, I knew D would come out on top but how? The solution had me laughing myself silly. This series may be paranormal but the reader cannot help but enjoy the contents of the pages. Sadly, I have no more to read of this series and have to wait for the third book. 5*
Poltergeists & PTA Meetings, #3 - Sad for the poltergeist and his family but good as an addition to this series. Diana's woes are increased by her mopey husband and two or three unwanted members to the hunt. Mixing in IT, voodoo and lots of bumps in the nights, this well written, funny with sad bits story was hard to put down. Attie has some great lines, especially with D's ex. Start with the first story and read them all for good entertainment. 5*
Midlife Monster Hunter Series end.
Banshees & Baby Showers, #1 - Well done, Di! I had a lot of fun reading this new series by an author that I have read for years. Diana, Attie and Kenna are loveable and my type of female, kick bum and take names. Kenna made me proud when she faced her cheating dad. Atta girl! D and A have a fun and respectful relationship and I look forward to reading more about this fun threesome and their futures. Monsters beware, there's a can of whoopbum with your names on them! 5*
Monsters & Minivans, #2 - This book is just as entertaining as the first. Fun. Drama. Monsters. Husband. It all made for a good read. The characters are growing in personality. In one spot, I knew D would come out on top but how? The solution had me laughing myself silly. This series may be paranormal but the reader cannot help but enjoy the contents of the pages. Sadly, I have no more to read of this series and have to wait for the third book. 5*
Poltergeists & PTA Meetings, #3 - Sad for the poltergeist and his family but good as an addition to this series. Diana's woes are increased by her mopey husband and two or three unwanted members to the hunt. Mixing in IT, voodoo and lots of bumps in the nights, this well written, funny with sad bits story was hard to put down. Attie has some great lines, especially with D's ex. Start with the first story and read them all for good entertainment. 5*
Midlife Monster Hunter Series end.
March 9, 2023
This book is begins with Diana’s early pregnancy at 16 and quick marriage to Jim, the young father. Fast forward 18 years to her best friend’s baby shower, hosted by Diana blowing up when she discovers her Jim is the baby’s father and he walks out on her and her daughter’s lives. She takes off on a getaway, originally planned to include her husband, and mysterious, disturbing things begin happening. There are loud screams and eerie visions in the night, which turn out to be targeting Diana, according to Attie, the property manager of the cabin she is renting. Attie explains that there are Banshees in the woods and this one has Diana in its sights. There is no escaping the evil spirit, so Attie works to train Diana for the coming fight-to-the-death.
Diana starts off slowly, believing in happy endings only to realize the evil that is all around her. Diana’s character is very naive and she gets little to no help from her family and some support from her few friends. She is a quick learner when reality sets in, but her future is tenuous with very dangerous evil spirits pursuing her.
I received a free advanced copy of this book for my honest voluntary review.
Diana starts off slowly, believing in happy endings only to realize the evil that is all around her. Diana’s character is very naive and she gets little to no help from her family and some support from her few friends. She is a quick learner when reality sets in, but her future is tenuous with very dangerous evil spirits pursuing her.
I received a free advanced copy of this book for my honest voluntary review.
January 12, 2023
Diane fell in love with her then jock beau, later husband and father of their daughter, when they were both teens.
a charming and popular guy hooked up with a naive girl
Diane never had to face living single and a normal teen or adult dating life
her husband betraying her and their family is the beginning of her wake up calls to the monsters in the world- and Diane is about to discover some monsters are the stuff of dreams and nightmares, while others might wear the faces of those you thought of as friends, colleagues or family
this is an intense and empowering series of adventures in the face of a woman and her daughter coping with the loss of all they once knew as home, family and safety.
a charming and popular guy hooked up with a naive girl
Diane never had to face living single and a normal teen or adult dating life
her husband betraying her and their family is the beginning of her wake up calls to the monsters in the world- and Diane is about to discover some monsters are the stuff of dreams and nightmares, while others might wear the faces of those you thought of as friends, colleagues or family
this is an intense and empowering series of adventures in the face of a woman and her daughter coping with the loss of all they once knew as home, family and safety.
June 1, 2024
Was a good story. Can't wait to find out how the story goes along in the rest of the series. New to me author, but enjoying her books. Loving the characters and they work well together. off to read book #2 to see what happens.
September 5, 2023
A fun read! Can't wait to see where the series leads.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews