Cheryl Kaye Tardif

I was captured by the prologue of this book. I entered to win a copy and did not win, so I purchased it. From the moment you read the prologue where you find Sadie, an alcoholic determined to commit suicide to the moment she sees the faces of children out side her window as she places the gun to her head, you are caught. Why does she want to kill herself? What happened to her son? Who are the children outside the window and what do they want? These were the questions that popped into my head show more as I began the journey of reading a book that I KNOW I will re-read several more times.
We find out that Sadie is an author and is currently writing and illustrating a story about bats for her son. Her illustrative abilities will help and hurt her situation when the notorious “Fog” kidnaps her son in his own bedroom. She hears a noise and goes to check on him only to catch him in the act. No one has ever seen his face until Sadie. He gives her a choice, let him leave with her son and he lives or he will kill him right there in front of her. I kept thinking what I as a mother would do. One part of me kept thinking I’d rather he kill him so that I knew it would be quick and over because if he took him I had no idea what type of torture he would go through. The other side of me said, let him go because I would not want to witness my child’s murder. Sadie does just that, lets him go. She is warned she will never see her son again if any details about what he looks like gets out.
We go from this situation to her husband coming in late. Right away we know there is a big rift in their marriage. That helps ramp up the tension. When he finds a sketch she has made of the kidnapper, we know from his personality that things have gone from bad to worse. Throw in the legal troubles he is having and that would be enough for anyone to want to throw in the towel. Sadie decides to go off into the woods, rent a cabin, get her affairs in order and then take her life. However, she is getting nightly visits from children who keep telling her they need her help.
There were so many eloquently executed twists and turns in this story. I kept flying through the pages to find out what happened next. I was frustrated when my husband woke up and told me I had to put the book down because I only had two hours until I had to get ready to go to work. I solved that problem though. I assigned a silent reading day in class so I could finish the book. I guess I got pretty involved because I looked up and my students were watching me. I was making noises as I read the book. They figured it must be really good if I was “that into it”. I told them it was and that if I could find a middle grade/young adult book that was as suspenseful, I’d have several copies on my shelves. This is a definite must read for anyone who loves mysteries, suspense, a good thriller. This is definitely a great author, one whose works I will continue to read. I love it when I can find a new author. show less

What if you pushed the button on your TV remote control, and it transported you right into the scene you were watching on TV? Might the results be something out of your finest dreams or your worst nightmare? Remote Control is the dark, suspenseful, and somewhat comic look at a TV addict's dream come true, or his nightmare realized. Read this little novella and find out what happens...

Only two characters are fully developed, but that's all this story needs to hook you into turning the pages show more and reading on into the night. Cheryl Kay Tardif has done an excellent job on this well-written and quirky, yet addicting little story. Once I got started, I couldn't lay it aside; I just had to know what happens next, and I'm sure you will, too.

Recommended to readers who love a story that hooks you on the first sentence and keeps you hooked all the way to the end. This unsolicited and uncompensated review has been posted on Dragon Views, Amazon.com and LibraryThing as well as other sites deemed appropriate by the reviewer. show less

Divine Intervention by Cheryl Kaye Tardif begins with mysterious fires and murders that are obviously arson and Gemini lighters being left at the scenes of the crime. Initially these are all the information that Canadian Federal Bureau of Investigation agent Jasmine McLellan and her team have to begin their investigation. Well that is all they have until they arrive at the scene and use their psychic skills to gain additional knowledge.

Jasmine, or Jasi, is a pyro-psychic. She is capable of show more discerning information psychically about a fire, its origins and the arsonist. Her partners include a psychometric or touch empath, Benjamin Roberts, and Natassia Prushenko, a victim empath capable of receiving information from victims (living or deceased). All three work as Psychic Skills Investigators or PSI's in Divine Ops under the guidance of Matthew Divine. Their current case is potentially volatile and highly sensitive because it involves the father of the British Columbian Premier, Allan Baker.

As with most national investigatory agencies, these CFBI agents are stepping on toes with their investigation, especially those of Arson Investigations or AI Chief Brandon Walsh. Sparks fly (pun intended) between Jasi and Brandon, as they do between Natassia and Ben. As this quartet embarks upon their investigation, they begin to realize there is more going on than a potentially politically sensitive murder. The current murder reveals medical malpractice, a for-profit and highly illicit abortion clinic, a previous murder, attempted murder and child abuse within the foster care system and all were covered up. Unfortunately these are secrets that won't stay hidden.
The story seemed quite realistic and not at all farfetched given the psychic abilities of the main characters. However, Ben and Natassia seem to have limited secondary roles and are, at times, relegated to doing minor background investigatory work rather than working with Jasi as full partners. The prickly and somewhat off-putting behavior by Jasi takes a bit of getting used to but is accepted as a facade that keeps people away. If she doesn't have people close then she doesn't have to worry about them, or so she thinks. To say that Jasi is a bit of a control freak is a major understatement. The arsons, investigations, action and characters (major and minor) provide for a really good story. I would classify Divine Intervention as a mystery-suspense with a slight paranormal and romantic slant. show less

This book will stay with you for a long time. It preys on your fears and phobias while at the same time surprising you with quirky changes of direction. I really enjoyed it, even though I know nightmares will be coming. I feel itchy and crawly as though the storyline reached right out to embrace me. Yet, there is humor as well. The terror builds as the "infestation" escalates. But what I thought was a great touch was the reasoning behind the horror. This book is a quick read and hard to put show more down so easy to read in one go. This is nightmare brought to life, phobias awakened, the kind of story you love to fear, the kind of writing that Cheryl Kaye Tardif does so well. Definitely pick up this book/ebook if you want a vibrant, living, terrifying story. show less