A Human Element [NOOK Book]

It's got all the elements! Donna Galanti found just the right mi

It's got all the elements! Donna Galanti found just the right mix of the supernatural and humanity to make these characters alive. I fell right into Laura and Ben's world and rooted for them, both individually and as a couple, until the end. A well-rounded page-turner. It's an epic story that sticks with you long after the last word. Lucky for us, there's more to come...A HUMAN ELEMENT isn't the last of its kind. Looking forward to her reviving them in the sequel she's writing now, A HIDDEN ELEMENT.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is a fast-paced, great read from a debut author. The story

This is a fast-paced, great read from a debut author. The story of Laura and Ben took off from the first page with an explosive beginning. Galanti keeps the cliffhangers coming. This book has a great mix of the paranormal, sci-fi, love, loss, redemption, and horror to ramp up the excitement. A good comparison would be early Dean Koontz with a bit more romance. Galanti is skilled at creating characters to root for as well as pity and fear. As the story reached the final lap I wanted to keep turning the pages – yet not wanting it to end. With an end open for more, I certainly hope there is a sequel in sight – and soon!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Here's a page-turner filled with fascinating twists and turns!

Here's a page-turner filled with fascinating twists and turns!

Galanti’s debut novel features Laura Armstrong, an endearing heroine with a mysterious past, a big heart and a future filled with dread and peril. The last third of the novel is a race to the finish, and I was glued to the pages, hoping the characters I’d grown to love would finally find the peace they deserved.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Galanti’s debut is a thrilling ride full of believable characters, a terrifying villain, an epic battle for survival, and a love worth killing for. Highly recommended!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is absolutely amazing!! The story line was fresh and n

This book is absolutely amazing!! The story line was fresh and new, the writers style allowed the book to flow effortlessly. I'd recommend this book!! The story has everything in it, romance, thriller, adventure, and the main characters coming to understand their true selves. A definite must read for anyone looking for a new author and an awesome book.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A Human Element is great novel with everything you want from a g

A Human Element is great novel with everything you want from a good read - a likable leading lady, a slightly broken, but intriguing handsome leading man, a really scary bad guy, mystery and even a touch of the supernatural. This is definitely a book I couldn't put down. Right from the start you can relate to Ben, and know that despite his bad luck he is going to turn out to be the kind of guy you can count on later. The characters make this book so enjoyable. Laura is broken in her own ways, but sweet and good with special powers that suit her personality. The man in black who shows up every where and makes you wonder what he is getting out of this whole thing and how is he involved. The sweet-hearted old neighbor who protects Laura when everyone else around her is meeting with horrific deaths. When Ben and Laura get together you just hope that they will defeat whatever "dark cloud" is following them. Add all this to a bit of the supernatural and a terrifying, unexplainable evil - and you've got a story that you hope has a sequel.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Suspenseful debut

A Human Element is the story of Laura Armstrong, a female heroine who entered the world as a surprise and destined to save the world from pure evil. We follow Laura as she grows up, discovering that she has special abilities that include saving lives and moving objects around her, as well as watch her deep sorrow as she drastically loses each of her loved ones to horrific deaths. When fate brings Ben Fielding into Laura's world, they start to unravel the truth behind who has killed Laura's friends and family and that the evil that has caused all the sorrow is after Laura as the ultimate kill.

This book has it all, as the story develops the reader is brought along a journey full of suspense, horror, violence, romance and friendship that twists at every turn. I really liked how it is not based on one point of view, different characters have their own thoughts and life changing moments that draw them together to the one place where it all began. This is a great debut from Ms Galanti, she has kept the momentum flowing throughout this book and as it reaches the final third the pace picks up making it a real page turner.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Recommended read

Donna Galant captured my attention from the first page. I highly recommend A HUMAN ELEMENT to anyone who enjoys a refreshing new story with a perfect combination of paranormal, Sci-Fi, and suspense. Well written with strong characters it's a page turner for sure and so unpredictable I could hardly wait to see what would happen next.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Absolutely one of my favorite books  in a long while. Parananorm

Absolutely one of my favorite books  in a long while. Parananormal suspense- what a genre! This book has it all, and Galanti is a master story teller. The story begins with a young Ben experiencing what appears to me a meteorite hit a small lakeside community, forever changing his life. Nine months after that fateful night, Laura is born. Laura's life is one of loss; it seems every time she gets close to someone, they wind up dead, beginning with her mother. Years later, we follow Ben, as he retraces his steps back to that same small town, trying to get answers about his parents' deaths. Ben's life intersects with Laura, who is also back in that same small town trying to get answers herself about herself, her mother, and ultimately, why she is the way she is- and why everyone she gets close to dies. 




Galanti weaves a fantastic story of suspense and real characters. Being normal and 'human' is something we all struggle with on various levels; for Laura it's more than just an expression. For her nemesis it's merely a dream and drives his anger.  At the end, when it is all coming out in the open- I love that Laura still has a profound sense of hope for her nemesis and doesn't give up. Laura is a strong female lead in this story and I love it! She is nurturing and caring to her elderly friend at the lake, as well as sensitive and able to love, even after years of strife. One of my favorites aspects of this book is hope. Galanti gives us hope in Laura, that things will all work out okay; hope for Ben, that he can wrestle his inner demons, and hope for the 'evil' that there is a glimmer of a human side to him that might allow Laura to rescue him from himself.




Galanti does a great job at not only telling a fantastic story, but really drawing us into the various plot lines and feeling for the characters as they each battle their own demons. The pace is perfect and natural as breathing. It kept me coming back to see what happened next. I'm a sucker for a tragic character and the evil antagonist is perfectly tragic.  Definitely going on my Goodreads 'Favorites' Shelf!

This talented, lovely author, Donna Galanti, completely blew me

This talented, lovely author, Donna Galanti, completely blew me away with her paranormal story, A Human Element.

Her main characters circulate around a weird birth and the terrible experiences of a little boy. Two children are destined to meet as adults and do so amidst supernatural circumstances they've yet to understand or even believe. The characterization and plot is also fresh, fast paced, and a maze of imaginative ideas that only come from a gifted story teller.

Ms. Galanti's story actually boggled my mind, making me sad the sequel wasn't available just yet. One must be patient and wait for the good things in life, though, correct? The story line and premise was clean, presented with class, and I'm still tapping my foot waiting for book 2.

I am not biased. I am a very discriminating reader, who picks and chooses wisely. I don't have time to waste and A Human Element kept me from other books. That's a darn big compliment. Since I don't believe in spoiler alerts, simply read the blurb up there^^ to learn more about Laura and Ben as they finally meet and compare supernaturnal notes, so to speak...

My money's on A Human Element to be one of the finest paranormal tales of 2012. I haven't gotten into the nitty-gritty, because, again, I don't want my review to consist of spoilers or hints, but please take my word for it: If you like Dean Koonze or Stephen King, there's certainly room on your shelves for A Human Element.

You can come back to haunt me if you don't enjoy it, I promise.

Imagine the worst disaster you can think of happening so suddenl

Imagine the worst disaster you can think of happening so suddenly~there is no warning. We follow this tale thru the eyes of Ben Fieldstone and Laura Armstrong. Neither of them is a stranger to tragedy which makes Ben feel unworthy and Laura always knowing love. Ben is haunted by his parent's death at age 9 and continually moved from one foster home to the next. Escapes the life his foster dad had planned for him until he could join the Navy. Laura continues to grow and discovers that she can do things that no else can like moving objects and simple healing. Laura befriends Jim Barrens whom she affectionately calls Mr. B which has a lasting impact on her life. Meanwhile far away a man is caged and kept secret from everyone. He has an unreasoning hate towards Laura. He loves to torment Laura with what he's done. A ghost-like man keeps appearing to Laura and Ben usually when something terrible happens. Who is ghost-like man? What does ghost-like man really want? Can Laura trust Mr.B's friendship? What is haunting Ben? What is Ben hiding from? What can the caged man really do? Your answers await you in A Human Element.

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