The Curse of Allie Mae: Cades Cove Series, Book 1

This is a super, paranormal, dark thriller with twists and turns to grip you. Cades Cove is in the dense woodland, a secluded ravine in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. As far back as the late 1800s it was a place where young lovers would visit, carving their names in the tree trunks. There are possibly 1,000 such carvings that end in the early 1940s. David Hobbs has lead his wife Miriam (they've been married for 15 years)on a tedious hike to visit this place as recommended by a fellow worker. Miriam is tired, hungry, and a little cranky. David wishes to restore the romance and tenderness to their relationship as his job consumes so much of his time. Below a large oak tree with a carving 'Allie &' (perhaps T), David spreads a blanket where they enjoy a picnic with wine, and a little love making, since it's a very remote, seldom visited area. Trying to get a perfect angle on a photo of Miriam, he climbs 15 feet up the old oak tree. Suddenly the limb breaks, he grabs at the trunk and slides down the rough bark causing several cuts and scrapes. He felt a force shoving on his back as he slid down the tree, minimizing his injuries. As they get ready to leave, David finds a very old leather pouch laying on the blanket. Did it fall out of the tree on its own? He and Miriam look around for more little treasures, only finding a tooth, broken, and encrusted in blood. David had planned to take the leather pouch and tooth to the Ranger Station to turn in, but instead he hides it away in his jacket pocket. That night, before departing the chalet where the were staying for the weekend, a ghost brings more mystery and suspense to David. Allie Mae's treasure pouch is carried home in Littleton, Colorado to the Hobb's home where their three children await their arrival. Allie Mae is now prepared to bring great fear to the whole family, especially to David. Why is it she has sought revenge on David? This is an extremely well written novel, by a very talented author who devotes much of his time studying supernatural phenomena on, ghosts, apparitions, hauntings, poltergeists, ghost hunting, and more. I highly recommend you read this book, but, please, leave a light on and try to ignore sounds and taps you may think you hear.

I really enjoyed reading this book, what was even better, I got this for free. I gave it 4 stars, because it could be a bit slow at times, and some parts just seemed too descriptive for me, or that particular scene just seemed to go on and on! However, I finished it in a day... so I couldn't put it down. And some parts gave me the creeps, however I must note; the Jason movies, exorcist, etc., give me the creeps and I've never fully watched any of those movies for that reason... so I may just be a complete wuss. EX: I was reading this book, home alone, early morning, T.V. off, all was silent, I was reading where Allie was just starting to haunt David in the beginning on their return home, I looked up into my T.V., and saw something reflected into it, which made my heart beat just a tad bit faster.. when I turned around it was just the coffee pot reflected into the T.V., :) needless to say I took a break until someone was home with me, lol!SPOILERThere was never a mention of what happened with the "open" Norm case and the outcome once David returned home. And I didn't quite get what role his murdered played in the book. Other than adding additional drama.I also would have liked for the author to have gone more into the history of "Billy Ray." Obviously by what took place between him and Allie made him an evil man, but I would have liked to see more of what the Aunt had to say about him. I did like how towards the end, the connection between the haunting with the family and their past was revealed. It helped explain the "why him." I look forward to reading the next in the series.

I am a G.R.I.T. (aka "girl raised in the South") and proudly so. I come from Greenville, SC but live in Oconee County off SC Hwy 11. I live and play in what once was Carolina territory, later split into North and South Carolina, respectively creating the last of the "original thirteen colonies". I love history and the paranormal. You have to if you're from here. You can't step without this permeating the very fiber of this area. There's history everywhere, but some hold more than others. The Southeastern parts of America are such. From the mountains to the sea, we have all kinds of paranormal stuff. I am a regular at our beautiful ocean, too. OBVIOUSLY, I travel and enjoy this stuff.Aiden James name wafted across my screen perusing Kindle Unlimited for a new spooky read August 2019. The title caught my eye because for ten years, twice a year, my husband and I go to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for just us. We stay in cabins and have visited many places there, including Cades Cove. We take in the Great Smokies and stop at many spots named by Mr James. We drive in through Cherokee, NC and the Cherokee reservation. I adore these places. To see and know that others, like Mr James, lovingly depict my neck of the world, the people and their traditions in positive ways makes me prouder than one can imagine. The Appalachian ways, Gullah ways, and such that create the South are to be respected. They, we, and our ways are nothing to be sneered about. And, the writer most definitely was responsible and respectful to us. I was taught as a child to NEVER pick up anything and bring it home with me from places that we visited. You may bring something back you'd rather not want.The characters are believable and so are their circumstances. I have heard of situations similar to the book happening. It is not a joke. The depiction of just how serious and real this can be was spot on. You do not have to believe in it, but that force is real and knows. It watches. It waits and will not easily be thwarted if it latches onto some poor, unfortunate person. Once evil knows you, you're marked and it doesn't forget. I believe in the supernatural. I am a Christian. There IS God, and there IS Lucifer. I have the ability to know when things are about and it is not fun. For those who stand against such forces and those who were it's victims, it constantly will seek ways to permeate through to reclaim what it wants. It NEVER will stop unless the advices are heeded by the victims. And, sometimes, evil is loosened again and returns as is foreshadowed in the end of book one. This is a factual fiction of sorts, but the reality of the supernatural is real and well done.The family and people connected to those in the story are forever changed because of someone removing something they ought not. They come out stronger as a family unit and learn true friendships are found in unexpected places and people. I love John Running Deer and Evelyn, his granddaughter.I am not one given to undue flattery as they are empty platitudes. It seems most people these days feel entitled to be given five stars because the mass populace are so terribly needy, unable to deal with honesty. Honesty builds integrity, which builds character. We thrive in our failures as they teach us where and how we should improve ourselves in whatever we do. I know because I play guitar and I rarely get it right, but stick with it because of my passion for music. I also write. I do not pretend to be better than I am nor do I want others telling me lies to boast my ego. Thank God my parents taught me differently than most others.

BoOk is like a nice horror movie a nice supernatural thriller . Would like to watch it as a t. Series

This is a very good book and it is easy to get lost in the story. Enjoyed the characters and a bit worried about what comes next for everyone

This book is a great read. It was the first book in a long time that spooked me out!! I couldn't put the book down and jumped right into the second of the series. Just waiting on the third. Don't read with the lights off!!

Kept my interest

This is a story and set of characters that has grown on me while reading. I wasn't so enthused at the beginning but after a while I realised that I couldn't put the book down as I wanted to read what was happening next. Very well written, I now crave for more stories. Ideal for ghosts lovers.