As I enter the third book in the series, Legend of the Chupacabra by Michael Hebler, I have been reading them one after another, I become more fond of Jessie and her tenacity. She had a sordid upbringing, is self reliant, untrusting. Life is not what she would have chosen, but she would make the best of it. If she ever became your friend, it would be for life.

I couldn’t understand her felling of dread and being stalked. After all, the chupacabra was dead…isn’t it? What do you think?

Hate and revenge are strong motivators, leaving some open to being duped and unleashing a horror never known before upon the white man. In this western world, we learn about man’s ability to be good and bad. Are they born that way or do circumstances dictate their actions? I love a book that makes me ponder deep questions.

Suspense, twists and turns, pain and sorrow, but love and hope blossom from the most evil depredations. Sometimes subsequent books in the series don’t hold up, but, no worries. Each book has held more depth, more terror and more suspense than the last. I cannot stop reading, the suspense and sense of urgency driving me to the end…but wait…there’s one more book. YAY!

OMG…NO…Michael, you are sheer evil. I had a feeling something had to happen, but, damn it! I sure didn’t see the ending coming and it was a fabulous surprise.

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com ( )

In this third book in the Chupacabra series, you once again follow Suzanne and Jessie . It’s been six years since they killed the chupacabra and broke the curse. Or did they?

Suzanne seems to be settling down in Portland, believing things will be better now. Jessie, on the other hand, is her own worst enemy. She’s as sassy and quick to fly off the handle as ever. Even though she works in a rough and tumble saloon, she’s still expected to cater to the customers and is often mistaken for something other than a server, and she makes the poor sap pay for that mistake, often painfully.

The owner would like her to be more than a server, the bartender creeps her out with his puppy dog drooling, and a handsome young stranger sets her nerves on edge. He seems to enjoy it when she fights of the groping hands and off-color comments of the patrons. Just who is he?

It isn’t noticeable at first, the men disappearing, because they’re strangers. But then some local men disappear too and this sets off Jessie’s radar. Could it be the chupacabra? Did they kill it? Is it another one? Or is it something else?

The author excels at putting his characters in new and stranger situations. There are some new nasty characters to despise, which I always like, as they can be used as fodder for the chupacabra. But the chup isn’t selective, and likes his blood from good or evil people.

Maturing his characters, having their personalities change after each new encounter with the chupacabra, is another area Michael excels at. Especially with Jessie, as she’s gone from a young girl to a young woman. He did leave her as feisty and fearless as before, allowing me to savor her victories, worry when she lands in tight spots, and hope she’ll finally let someone get close to her.

Even the chupacabra is different, like it’s evolved, become even more evil and cunning. It likes to play with its food, and it’s always hungry. Which gives you some excellent scenes of bloody mayhem.

I was attracted to this series because of the chupacabra. Curious about the legend, and of course, its bloody path through the book.. Then I became attached to the characters and, with each new book, I looked forward to seeing what new mystery the author put them in. What, besides the chupacabra, they had to deal with.

It’s never dull, no stumbling through slow parts, as there aren’t any, and Legend of the Chupacabra leaves you hungry for more. Just like the chupacabra. ( )