Blog Tour: (Review + Excerpt) Bad Juju By Dina Rae

I would like to welcome Dina Rae to The Avid Reader today. Thanks for stopping by Dina Rae. Please be sure and check out Dina Rae's novel Bad Juju. Check out my review and excert of Bad Juju.

Book 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

Bad Juju

Amazon

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Bad Juju

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.

EXCERPT

Bad Juju

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.

MY REVIEW

Bad Juju

The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I received a copy of Bad Juju from the author via Full Moon Bites Book Tours for review.

Lucien Nazaire left his home and his family in Haiti and came to America to escape death. He practices the Voodoo religion and had gotten himself in danger with some of the things that he did with the religion. Lucien is an old man and has been cheating death. He knows his time is almost up and he needs someone that he can trust to leave all of his secrets too.

He meets Jake who is an orphan living with his uncle Pete and his uncle's wife Leah with their three year old daughter Rhianna. Jake and Leah are abused by his uncle Pete. So when he meets Lucien and he shows Jake what it is to have someone love you and be good to you they become good friends. Lucien trust Jake and teaches him all about Voodoo and his secrets.

Jake and Henry go to the same school and when Henry beats up the school bully and poplar guy in school. Henry and Jake become fast friends. The only friend that either one of them have. Henry has Asperger’s Syndrome and he fixates on historical events. After the Haitian earthquake in 2010, Henry remembers all about it and tells everyone.

Henry's church decides to go on a mission to Haiti to help the people there to rebuild their homeland. Henry and his family sign up to go with them. When Lucien and Henry meet and Lucien finds out that Henry is going to his homeland he gives Henry a journal to give to his family. The journal contains all of his Voodoo secrets that will make his family rich.

I wasn't sure that Bad Juju would be something that I would really want to read. But I actually really enjoyed reading it. It was a book that was really hard to put down. With all the twist and turns that it contained you just wanted to keep turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. I have read a couple of Dina Rae's books and they are very well written. Dina Rae is one author to keep an eye on.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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.

FIND THE AUTHOR

Website

Blog

Twitter

The Last Degree

Halo of the Damned

Be sure and check out all the other stops on the tour.

LINK TO FULL TOUR SCHEDULE

This tour was put together by FMB Blog Tours