Tad Bit Biased - But Still an Awesome Read

TITLE: The Soul Collector
AUTHOR: Laura Daleo
PUBLISHER: Story Bound Publishing
PUBLISHING DATE: August 28, 2019

FROM GOODREADS: 
As I lay trapped inside this quiet realm,
My soul adrift, my body earthbound
A magical book guards my flight, 
Will it keep me safe till morning's light? 

It begins with darkness. Are they dead, or trapped inside a horrible dream? No one can hear them, see them. Has the world forgotten them? Are they invisible? Not to the Soul Collector. They have stepped into her Kingdom, and she is waiting for them. 

MY THOUGHTS: So first let's get the review out of the way and then I'll share the backstory.  When The Soul Collector starts, the reader is thrown smack-dab into the middle of a boxing match.  However, it quickly turns South when Bayfield is knocked unconscious and taken to a local hospital when he gets emergency surgery.  There's only one little hitch - he doesn't understand why he is outside his body and watching all that is happening.  Bayfield soon learns that his soul has left his body when he is approached by a Mad-Hatter sort of guy and asked to sign a magical book which will allow him to live in a mansion with others and encourage his loved one to keep praying for his survival and not give up on him. Along the way Bayfield runs into Arielle who is also trapped in this limbo and they work together to figure out what is really going on.

This book really does have a magical/supernatural element to it that is done fantastically.  The mansion the "souls" enter is decked out and kind of put me in mind of a modern day Wonderland.  But while the supernatural element really appealed to me, what Daleo does even better is the relationships in the book.  Bayfield lost his parents as a young child and was raised by his Godfather/boxing coach.  This man is totally devoted to his Godson and what he goes through trying to pull Bayfield through the injury is such a testament to the bond they have.  On the other hand, Arielle doesn't have the best relationship with her father and that itself plays out on how she manages to pull though the situation.

And finally we have the "big baddie."  Drara is the "evil" entity that is behind the soul collection and the magical book.  However, she is not the black and white villain readers usually encounter.  Her character is pretty much morally grey.  I could tell you more but will say you just need to read the book.  But I will tell you I hated Drara, or as Bayfield and Arielle call her - Catwoman, when I started the book and actually liked her toward the end.

At under 200 pages, this is an ideal book to pick up for a quick read.  There isn't really insta-love as much as there is a relationship connection and bond so don't let how things play out between Bayfield and Arielle put you off.  This was a unique read and I think Laura is working on a horror novel now.  Personally I can't wait!

RATING: 4 PAWS

AND NOW FOR THE PART WHERE I CRIED......

So I've read a few of Laura's books before and enjoyed them.  She's always been great about contacting me when she has a new release.  A few months back she emailed me and told me The Soul Collector was coming out and asked if I'd be interested.  She also asked about Booker T and Cass.  So I sadly informed her about how tragically we lost Booker T but that we were still blogging in his memory.  She said when the book was done she would send me a copy in memory of Booker T.

Laura has sent me signed books in the past so when it arrived and didn't have a signature, I thought nothing of it.  Heck, we all get busy and things get past us.  I was just thrilled that people were still asking me about my poor dear boy.  So imagine my surprise when I sat down to read this book, opened it up, and saw this...

"In memory of Booker T.  Always loved, never forgotten, and forever in our hearts."

Words can't express how much this meant to Mr. Mike and myself and Laura, thank you for such a cherished gift.

ALL THE PAWS IN THE WORLD!!!