Review: Summoned (Summoned #1)

Summoned (Summoned #1) by Rainy Kaye
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: March 28, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

Twenty-three year old Dimitri has to do what he is told—literally. Controlled by a paranormal bond, he is forced to use his wits to fulfill unlimited deadly wishes made by multimillionaire Karl Walker Dimitri has no idea how his family line became trapped in the genie bond. 

He just knows resisting has never ended well. When he meets Syd assertive, sexy, intelligent Syd—he becomes determined to make her his own. Except Karl has ensured Dimitri can’t tell anyone about the bond, and Syd isn’t the type to tolerate secrets. 

Then Karl starts sending him away on back-to-back wishes. Unable to balance love and lies, Dimitri sets out to uncover Karl’s ultimate plan and put it to an end. But doing so forces him to confront the one wish he never saw coming—the wish that will destroy him. A dark twist on the genie folklore, SUMMONED follows a reluctant criminal as he unravels the mystery of the paranormal bond controlling him.

♥ ♥ ♥

"Summoned" by Rainy Kaye is a new twist on the old genie tale. When I say “genie”, I don't want you to start conjuring images of the big blue guy from Disney's "Aladdin.” No, our genie tale is quite different. Instead of living in a lamp and giving a master three wishes, our genie and master bond is actually a blood bond that is passed down from father to son.

Our main character and genie for this story is Dimitri, and he's forced to do the bidding of Karl Walker. The Walker family has had the master bond for as long as anyone could remember, and as a result of getting unlimited wishes, they're very well off. However, to maintain the affluent lifestyle and gain further riches, the wishes Karl sends Dimitri on aren't always the most moral or easy.

The beginning of "Summoned" instantly hooks the reader as it starts off with Dim on one of his missions. He's driving to the Walker estate, and has a kidnapped girl in his backseat. Our first glance of our genie shows that he's a reluctant one. Although he has to cater to all of Karl's whims as it's ingrained in his blood, that doesn't mean he is ok with the kidnapping and murder he's forced to do.

Review: A Gate of Night (A Shade of Vampire #6)

A Gate of Night (A Shade of Vampire #6) by Bella Forrest
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: March 7, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:


Welcome back to The Shade...

Derek and Sofia are finally enjoying a well-deserved break. 

Staying at a resort with good food, sun and sea, Sofia is thrilled to witness Derek’s re-introduction to the human world.

They would almost be mistaken for a normal young couple, if it were not for the red-eyed monster lurking in the shadows and watching their every move, waiting for his signal to pounce…




♥ ♥ ♥

I’ve got so many feelings right now that it’s incredibly hard to process everything that I just read, in practically one sitting no less, I’m overwhelmed and jeez…this book doesn’t play around.

A Gate of Night by Bella Forrest is the sixth book in the Shade series and if you thought Forrest was running out of ways to surprise her readers you’d be incredibly wrong. There were so many parts of this book that had my jaw dropping. As always the plot was strong and well-written. There are dozens of things I liked about this book, but there were also some things that I didn’t really love.

Movie Review: Divergent

Divergent
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action/Adventure
Release Date: March 21, 2014
Buy Links:

Fandango

Book Description:

In a world where the population is divided into factions by personality types, Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is classified as Divergent. 

When she uncovers a conspiracy to eliminate all Divergents, she teams with the mysterious Four (Theo James) to find out what makes the powers-that-be so frightened of them. 

Kate Winslet also stars in this action thriller adapted from the novel by Veronica Roth, and directed by Neil Burger.


                                   

♥ ♥ ♥                                                                               Going in to see the "Divergent" movie, I had a lot of conflicting emotions. On one hand, I loved the book when I read it. Like 5 out of 5 hearts loved it, and I could see how it could be adapted to make a good movie. However, on the other hand, was Shailene Woodley. Have you guys ever just watched something and one of the actors or actresses bothered you so much that any time you see his or her face you kind of just wish you didn't? Well, after watching "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" on ABC Family, Woodley was one of those actresses for me.

So what wins out in the end: My love for this book or my hatred toward the movie's lead actress? Obviously, books > everything, so I went to see "Divergent" its opening weekend. And guys, I didn't hate it. Even with the pregnant teenager's face staring at me through most of it, I actually did enjoy the movie. Was I worried that they wouldn't do the book justice? Naturally, as that always happens when a favorite makes it to the big screen. But besides a few tweaks here and there, the movie did a decent job of following the book.

Review: Raising Chaos (Earthbound Angels, #2)

Raising Chaos (Earthbound Angels #2) by Elizabeth Corrigan
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Barnes and Noble

Book Description:

When good fails, chaos rises to the challenge. The daily life of a chaos demon is delightfully sinful—overindulging in Sri Lankan delicacies, trespassing on private beaches in Hawaii, and getting soused at the best angel bar on the planet. 

But when Bedlam learns that the archdemon Azrael has escaped from the Abyss in order to wreak vengeance against the person who sent her there—Bedlam’s best friend, Khet—he can’t sit idly by. Only one relic possesses the power to kill Khet, who suffers immortality at Lucifer’s request: the mythical Spear of Destiny, which pierced Christ’s side at His crucifixion. 

Neither angel nor demon has seen the Spear in two thousand years, but Azrael claims to know its location. Bedlam has no choice but to interpret woefully outdated clues and race her to its ancient resting place. 

 His quest is made nearly impossible by the interference of a persnickety archivist, Keziel—his angelic ex—and a dedicated cult intent on keeping the Spear out of the wrong hands. But to Bedlam, “wrong” is just an arbitrary word, and there’s no way he’s letting Khet die without a fight

♥ ♥ ♥

When I was asked to review "Raising Chaos" by Elizabeth Corrigan, I was excited. I had already read her first book in the "Earthbound Angels" series, "Oracle of Philadelphia" and loved it, and was excited for more. The first book had me hooked with all of its mythos and biblical tie-ins, and "Raising Chaos" did a great job of keeping me interested. The second book in this series definitely did not let me down, and I couldn't be happier for it.

The one big change that happened in "Raising Chaos" is that, unlike its predecessor, it is told from multiple perspectives. We are given the story from Caela (who we knew as Carrie, the main protagonist in "Oracle of Philadelphia"), Bedlam the chaos demon, and the angel, Siren. While we know Caela and Bedlam from the first book, Siren is a new addition and we get a lot of the angels' back story through some flashbacks in her chapters.

Review: Goldilocks

Goldilocks by Patria L. Dunn
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: January 27, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Barnes and Noble

Book Description:

Hannah Adler had wished for more attention from her father, but not at the cost of leaving everything she loved behind. The mountains of Hinsdale, Colorado was not where she’d imagined spending her senior year, but with her father accepting the inspector position at the Golden Wonder gold mine, she had no choice but to make the best of it. 

It’s not as if the friends, she didn’t have, would miss her. Life had been lonely sincelosing her mother almost five years ago, and now was her chance to start letting her heart heal once and for all.Jake Bear had his nickname for a reason, but it wasn’t one that Hannah would have ever suspected. 

There was a secret buried in those sable colored eyes, and withsomething lurking in the woods behind her new home, Hannah was almost sure he knew more than he let on.He only wanted to protect her, but from what…?

♥ ♥ ♥

"Goldilocks" by Patria L. Dunn was a lot of fun for me. I love authors that make their own story out of classic folklore and fairy tales that we all know and love in order to create something completely new. Dunn has done that with this book.

While this story still revolves around a blonde leading lady, contains three bears, and that certain blonde at one point accidently stumbles into their house, Dunn has breathed a new story into "Goldilocks.” Our blonde is named Hannah, a high school senior who has recently moved to small town with her father after only living in the big city. Living in the woods is completely foreign to her, and she must learn to adapt and find a routine that is "just right" in order to make herself happy.

Hannah certainly starts to enjoy herself a little more in her new surroundings after meeting her mysterious classmate, Jake Bear. Jake keeps to himself for the most part, but as soon as he and Hannah meet, they seem to form a connection that neither one of them can ignore. Hannah slowly puts together what is different about Jake, and has to learn how to deal with all of the knowledge that comes with knowing his secret.

Review: Before They Find Us

Before They Find Us by Michelle A. Hansen
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Thriller
Release Date: November 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Barnes and Noble

Book Description:

I’m going to make you wish you were dead. Just a text. Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Hales tries not to worry. Probably a wrong number. 

Not really meant for her, and definitely not related to the crime she witnessed six years ago. Right? Then two states away, a bomb goes off in her best friend's locker. Soon Ryan is labeled a terrorist and runs to the safest place he knows—Rebecca’s house in small-town Wyoming. 

It doesn’t take long for the FBI to show up asking questions. Rebecca lies, of course, and says she hasn’t seen him. Now she's neck-deep in it with him, whatever "it" is. The only way out is to return to Vegas, where Ryan is a wanted man. The city of lies and illusion tests Rebecca’s wits as she struggles to find the person who framed Ryan and why. 

Is Rebecca’s text linked to the bombing? And what does it have to do with a six year old murder? Rebecca needs to find out before she loses Ryan—and her own life.

♥ ♥ ♥
"Before They Find Us" by Michelle A. Hansen was one of those books that I literally could not put down. It was such a page turner that I was up until two in the morning because I was determined to finish it and see the end of Rebecca and Ryan's journey before I went to bed.

The book starts off with a Prologue that seems out of place, until you realize who the characters were and what they were planning. Starting the book this way shows the reader that there is an elaborate plan about to go down, and our main characters are going to be at the heart of it. We are clued in right away to the fact that this is going to be a book with some twists and turns that will leave us at the edge of our seat.

I really enjoyed the main character, Rebecca. The main story was told in her point of view, and Hansen did a great job of making a well rounded character out of her. She has suffered from nightmares since she witnessed something traumatic when she was younger (and is still living with some of the repercussions), but that doesn't turn her into a complete basket case.

Review: The Edge of Falling

The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Release Date: March 18, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

Growing up in privileged, Manhattan social circles, Caggie’s life should be perfect, and it almost was until the day that her younger sister drowned when Caggie was supposed to be watching her. Stricken by grief, Caggie pulls away from her friends and family, only to have everyone misinterpret a crucial moment when she supposedly saves a fellow classmate from suicide.

Now she’s famous for something she didn’t do and everyone lauds her as a hero. But inside she still blames herself for the death of her sister and continues to pull away from everything in her life, best friend and perfect boyfriend included. Then Caggie meets Astor, the new boy at school, about whom rumours are swirling and known facts are few. In Astor she finds someone who just might understand her pain, because he has an inner pain of his own.

But the more Caggie pulls away from her former life to be with Astor, the more she realises that his pain might be darker, and deeper, than anything she’s ever felt. His pain might be enough to end his life…and Caggie’s as well.

♥ ♥ ♥ Guest Reviewer: Mandy Teccia

“Most great works of literature have a hero at their core, but this story is an exception.”

There’s nothing better than a book that starts with a quotable opening line and this one from The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle definitely fits that bill. This is our introduction to Mcalister Caulfield, better known as Caggie, a privileged teenager who lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Between her literary name and her Gossip Girl upbringing, Caggie’s existence seems pretty perfect from the outside. She’s got the kind of life those of us who spend our spare time basking in the teen worlds portrayed on The CW have always dreamed of, filled with money, gorgeous clothes, high society parties and free reign of Manhattan, but as the first line suggests, Caggie is not exactly basking in her good fortune.

Serle begins to peel back the curtain on Caggie’s ‘perfect’ life from the start of the story. Her family is broken and they haven’t recovered from the tragic death of her younger sister. Caggie is lost without her and doesn’t know how to go on being the person she was before, and that means isolating herself from the people closest to her and finding someone new to spend time with – enter the troubled Astor.

Review: Desecration (Wizard Queen at Sixteen)

Desecration (Wizard Queen at Sixteen Series) by Hadley Holt
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: March 12, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

In a hidden world of wizards where only men hold the power of magic, one girl arises with the power to change everything, if she isn’t killed first…

Adriana Victoriana Evangelista (Addie), daughter to the High Chancellor of the Wizard’s Council, has always been the perfect wizard girl. She never questions why men possess magical powers and women have no power at all, magical or otherwise. Male wizards blend into the modern human world, leading huge corporations while wizard women are sequestered away.

On her sixteenth birthday, Addie discovers she possesses magic. Under wizard law, she is a desecration. An ancient prophecy surrounds the emergence of a girl magic-wielder, the wizard queen, who is destined to bring about the downfall of the wizard-kin.

Addie has long had a forbidden crush on a human boy who lives in the wizard stronghold, Rory Devlin. As she delves deeper into the dangerous mysteries surrounding her own destiny, she suspects Rory might be more than just human.

Addie’s fate sends her straight into the path of a powerful and evil sorcerer, but the worst danger of all may come from right inside her own home.

♥ ♥ ♥

"Desecration" by Hadley Holt had me hooked pretty early on. Right away you could tell that this was going to be a book about an interesting female in a world where females don't get a lot of say in what goes on, and that she might be out to change that.

This is a book about wizards and a secret world that coexists with our non-magical one. In "Desecration,” the magic users live in secret from the "norms,” and have their own way of running things. Women are not allowed to practice magic and it's a society that relies heavily on the men's power and protection. These men even rise to top positions in the "norm" world.

They have all of this influence whereas, for the most part, women are just meant to be party planners and wizard breeders. Women even have to go as far as wearing cloaks over their clothes while out in public so that they're bodies don't "distract" the all important male wizards (gag me).

Review: Shadow Soul (A Dance of Dragons #1)

 

Shadow Soul (A Dance of Dragons #1) by Kaitlyn Davis
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: February 20, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Barnes and Noble

Book Description:

GAME OF THRONES meets GRACELING in a new fantasy series by bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis. Jinji has been haunted by the death of her twin brother for ten years. 

Now, on the dawn of her joining, the nightmare that claimed him has returned for her. Prince Whylrhen is determined to prevent the past from repeating itself. His kingdom is expecting a new heir, and he will stop at nothing to keep the child safe. 

 Though they've never met, the two share a deep secret—magic. Jinji can weave the elements to create master illusions and Whylrhen can pull burning flames into his flesh. But neither of them knows what they are truly capable of until a chance encounter brings them together. 

For their story has played out before, in a long forgotten time—an age of myth that is about to be reborn…

♥ ♥ ♥
I'm glad to say that I was pleasantly surprised when I read "The Shadow Soul" by Kaitlyn Davis. I found myself getting more into the book than I thought I would, and definitely enjoyed the first book in "A Dance of Dragons" series.

The information about the book related it to "Game of Thrones", which I can see. "The Shadow Soul" is also set in a kingdom where there's more brewing under the surface than it might first appear, and backstabbing and spies are the norm. However, there are some (better) differences between "The Shadow Soul" and "A Song of Ice and Fire," (which is the proper name for the "Game of Thrones" book series).

Since I have read both series, I can say with certainty that Davis' book is much more of an easy read. It's not as dense as "A Song of Ice and Fire" and I was able to finish "The Shadow Soul" in only a few days. It was also easier to follow all of the action in "The Shadow Soul" and that helped move the story along.

Review: Love Like the Movies

Love Like the Movies by Victoria Van Tiem
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Romance
Release Date: February 24, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Barnes and Noble

Book Description:

In this irresistible romantic romp, movie fanatic Kensington Shaw is thrown into love—Hollywood-style—when her gorgeous ex presents a series of big screen challenges to win back her heart.

What girl wouldn’t want to experience the Pretty Woman shopping scene? It’s number two on the list. Or, try the lift from Dirty Dancing? It’s number five. One list, ten romantic movie moments, and a handful of shenanigans later, Kenzi has to wonder . . . should she marry the man her family loves, or risk everything for a love like the movies?

♥ ♥ ♥

Now, I don't normally review a lot of romantic comedy books, or even that many that aren't young adult, but "Love Like the Movies" by Victoria Van Tiem seemed too good to pass up. I may not read a lot of rom com, but I do watch them at theatres, and this book is the best of both worlds.

Kensington Shaw has an obsession with romantic comedy movies, so much in fact that she could quote all the major ones from memory. She's always wanted a love like the ones she sees on the big screen, complete with the "meet cutes", romantic gestures, and overall feeling of love and happiness that the women in those movies always seem to experience with their leading man.

I loved Kensington. She was a character that a lot of women could relate to. She was nearing 30, freaking out about her future, and still working hard to find herself. Kensington was fun, a good friend, and would do almost anything to gain her family's approval. What woman reader couldn't relate to some part of that personality? Kensington is extremely likable as our main character, and you can't help but root for her to find the happiness she's been searching so hard for.

Review: The Deep End of the Sea

The Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Mythology
Release Date: February 13, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Book Depository

Book Description:

What if all the legends you’ve learned were wrong?

Brutally attacked by one god and unfairly cursed by another she faithfully served, Medusa has spent the last two thousand years living out her punishment on an enchanted isle in the Aegean Sea. 

A far cry from the monster legends depict, she’s spent her time educating herself, gardening, and desperately trying to frighten away adventure seekers who occasionally end up, much to her dismay, as statues when they manage to catch her off guard. As time marches on without her, Medusa wishes for nothing more than to be given a second chance at a life stolen away at far too young an age.

But then comes a day when Hermes, one of the few friends she still has and the only deity she trusts, petitions the rest of the gods and goddesses to reverse the curse. Thus begins a journey toward healing and redemption, of reclaiming a life after tragedy, and of just how powerful friendship and love can be—because sometimes, you have to sink in the deep end of the sea before you can rise back up again.

♥ ♥ ♥
I am a huge fan of mythology always have been and retellings or different take on mythology are one of my favorite things to read. I haven’t found many over the years that are good, but The Deep End of The Sea by Heather Lyons was absolutely amazing!

This was such a well-developed and poignant story. I really enjoyed Lyons take of Medusa and her entire backstory. The Deep End of The Sea shows how a young girl names Medusa was a priestess in Athena’s temple. She was raped by Poseidon and then cursed by Athena for defiling her temple. Her curse was being turned into the hideous “monster” Medusa. But in truth Dusa wasn’t a monster at all.

Review: Atlas

Atlas by Becca C. Smith
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: November 16, 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Barnes and Noble

Book Description:

Kala Hicks is part of a covert elite military team that answers directly to the President of the United States. But during an emergency mission aboard Air Force One, Kala is shocked to discover that the real threat is none other than the President himself. Defying her commanding officer, Jack Norbin, Kala takes the shot, and her life changes forever.

The moment the President is killed, a supernatural force speaks to Kala, telling her that she has to commit one act of atrocity every four days… or the world will end. Thrown into a reality she never could have imagined, Kala faces off with creatures of legend; from demons determined to make her fail and plunge the Earth into chaos, to angels who don’t trust her to do the job and are willing to kill her to claim it for themselves.

Pitted against the forces of good and evil, Kala must choose whether to save the world by doing the unthinkable, or sit back and let it burn. And four days later, she’ll have to do it again.


♥ ♥ ♥

What drew me to "Atlas" by Becca C. Smith was the fact that it was an urban fantasy book that dealt with Greek Mythology. We've all heard about the Greek Titan Atlas, who was punished by the Olympian gods and forced to hold the world up on his shoulders (or hold up the columns that separate heaven and Earth, depending on which mythos you're listening to), but Smith takes the god and gives him a new twist. Instead of literally holding up the world, he is instead charged with keeping the balance between good and evil, otherwise there will be catastrophic consequences.

Enter Kala, our female protagonist. In Smith's story, much like the myth where Atlas tricked Hercules to do his job for him, Atlas has been tricking humans to keep the balance for him for centuries while he relaxes from afar. Through a series of events that weren't in her control, Kala accidentally becomes the "new Atlas" (or the human who has to do his dirty work for him).

Review: Starstruck (Starstruck #1)

 Starstruck (Starstruck #1) by Brenda Hiatt
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: August 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Barnes & Noble

Book Description:

Nerdy astronomy geek Marsha, M to her few friends, has never been anybody special. Orphaned as an infant and reluctantly raised by an overly-strict “aunt,” she’s not even sure who she is. 

M’s dream of someday escaping tiny Jewel, Indiana and making her mark in the world seems impossibly distant until hot new quarterback Rigel inexplicably befriends her. 

As Rigel turns his back on fawning cheerleaders to spend time with M, strange things start to happen: her acne clears up, her eyesight improves to the point she can ditch her thick glasses, and when they touch, sparks fly—literally! 

When M digs for a reason, she discovers deep secrets that will change her formerly humdrum life forever . . . and expose her to perils she never dreamed of. Yes, the middle of nowhere just got a lot more interesting!

♥ ♥ ♥

The reason why I had picked "Starstruck" by Brenda Hiatt to read was mostly because I agreed to do a review for the second book in her series, "Starcrosssed" (check back to the site tomorrow to see my review of "Starcrossed"). Even though I only picked up this series for review purposes, I'm glad I did. I flew through both books in a matter of days, and I already miss the characters and the small town of Jewel, Indiana where the story takes place.

This book is a Young Adult Paranormal (which is usually my favorite type, and the "Starstruck" series is living up to my expectations), but since the paranormal factor isn't touched upon until midway through, I won't spoil it for you. I will say that it isn't the humdrum vampires and werewolves that we're used to. Instead, it's a completely different aspect of the paranormal world, and I'm impressed with the way that Hiatt handled it.

Review: The Cuckoos of Batch Magna

The Cuckoos of Batch Magna by Peter Maughan
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Humor, Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: March 1, 2004
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

When Sir Humphrey Miles Pinkerton Strange, huntin' shootin' and fishin' Squire of Batch Magna, goes to his reward (doubtless to find God as true-blue British as his more recent but equally worthy ancestors), his rambling but rotting estate passes to distant relative Humph, a hapless dollar doodler in New York.

With $$ in his eyes, Humph decides to make a killing by transforming the sleepy backwater of Batch Magna into a theme park image of rural England - a vacation paradise for free-spending US millionaires.But while the village's threadbare businessmen see the plan as a windfall, the tenants of the estate's dilapidated houseboats are above any consideration of filthy lucre and stand their ground for tradition's sake.

And because they consider eviction notices not to be cricket.Each disgruntled faction sees the other as the unwelcome cuckoo chick in the family nest!So, lead by randy pulp-crime writer Phineas Cook and Lt-Commander James Cunningham DSO, DSC and Bar, RN (ret) - a man with a glass eye to suit every occasion (and all painted with naval battle scenes where the Union Jack flies triumphant) - the motley crew takes on Wall Street . broadside to broadside.

♥ ♥ ♥
I loved this book and can’t wait to read the next one in the series!

When you enter the world of Batch Magna, you don’t want to leave. It’s like spending a warm summer day with good friends. You don’t want your time together to end and when it does, you’re ready to plan you next adventure with them.

Review: Beneath Manhattan Skies

Beneath Manhattan Skies by Emma Meade
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: November 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Smashwords

Book Description:

November in New York is cold but full of possibility for college freshman Erin Harris. When her twin brother, Nick, shows up on her doorstep for a surprise visit, Erin is delighted. 

Unfortunately, Nick’s arrival coincides with the discovery of a body outside her apartment building, a body drained of blood. Right away, Nick assumes vampires are involved. He’s not exactly their biggest fan since Erin dated one in high school.

Juggling nosy roommates, a first date with a gorgeous guy from college and a brother on a Van Helsing kick is enough to keep any nineteen year old girl busy - And then Erin’s old flame walks back into her life.

Is Erin destined to be caught up in supernatural shenanigans, or will she choose a different path?

(A 45,000 word Novella)

♥ ♥ ♥

When I first started reading the novella, "Beneath Manhattan Skies" by Emma Meade, I had no idea that it was actually the sequel to her previous book, "Under the Desert Moon.” The only reason why I actually found out that it was a Part 2 was because I got curious about the in depth back story tidbits that were scattered throughout the first chapters. It seemed like our main character, Erin, had definitely lived a life before this story, and once I researched further, I found out that it was actually a sequel.

The fact that I did have to do research once I was already a few chapters in goes to show that this novella could stand alone. Even though I had inkling there was more to Erin's story, I was still able to enjoy "Beneath Manhattan Skies" like it was a book all on its own. Those quick tidbits that explained details from the first book were enough that I was able to understand what had gone on in Erin's hometown when she first met the vampire James.

It may help that this novella takes place at a new point in Erin's life than the previous one. In "Under the Desert Moon," she still lives in her hometown and is a high school student when she is first introduced to the world of vampires. However, "Beneath the Manhattan Skies" takes place once Erin has moved to New York for college and now has new friends to go along with the new location. Since we are able to see her starting a new life, it's easier to jump into the story, even if we are coming a bit late to the party.

Review: Accidental Witch

Accidental Witch by Jessica Penot
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

Phaedra Michaels is a small town psychologist who is beginning to lose hope. Two of her patients at the local hospital in Dismal, Alabama have just killed themselves, she’s still reeling from her divorce and what turned out to be a disastrous marriage, and her father has died, leaving her without any notion of who her real mother is.

Just as Phaedra decides to commit herself to a serious drinking problem and an eating disorder, or two, a mysterious spell book arrives in the mail. Feeling desperate, Phaedra uses it to cast spells to save her fading patients. Suddenly, good things start happening. Phaedra’s patients begin to get better and she even starts dating the sexy doctor from the hospital.

Phaedra is so happy she doesn't notice the small things that start to go wrong in Dismal, or the dark creatures slithering out of the shadows near her house. When Phaedra finally realizes her spells have attracted every card-carrying demon from hell, she has no choice but to accept help from a slightly nerdy, 500 year-old warlock with a penchant for wearing super hero T-shirts and a knack for getting under Phaedra’s skin. Now, if only she could get the hang of this witch thing, she might be able to save her town.

♥ ♥ ♥

I was excited to read "Accidental Witch" by Jessica Penot because I always like a good witch story. The main character in this story's name is Phaedra, and she's a divorcée living in her small hometown, Dismal, Alabama.

Phaedra came off as a very likable narrator to me. Her main mission in life was to help people, and that impulse only increased after she stumbled into witchcraft. But she's not some prissy Miss Do-Gooder. She lives off animal crackers and Coke, drinks heavy amounts of alcohol, and deals heavily in sarcasm. However, all that her faults did was make her more of a well-rounded character, and I greatly enjoyed her snark.

This story also has a lot of personal growth for Phaedra. She goes from a depressed woman, who had just split from her husband and lost her job in Chicago (making her move back to small town Alabama), to a super powerful witch, who's confident in herself inside and out. Through the events in this book, Phaedra is finally at a place where she can take charge of her own life and move on from her past failures and heartbreak. Yes, she still has things to figure out toward the end of the book, but does anyone ever have themselves completely figured out at any point of their lives?

Review: Regrets Only (The Marriage Pact #2)

Regrets Only (The Marriage Pact #2) by M.J. Pullen
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 27, 2012
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

At thirty-three, Suzanne Hamilton has it all. A successful party-planning business with an elite client list. A swank condo in a hot Atlanta neighborhood and a close group of friends – especially her longtime best friend Marci. A list of men a mile long who have tried to win her heart and failed. Plus, she’s just landed the event that will take her career and social status to the next level. What could she possibly have to regret?

Then a freak accident changes everything, and Suzanne discovers that her near-perfect life is just a few steps away from total disaster. She is humiliated and at risk of losing it all… except the surprising support of her newest celebrity client. With nothing else to go on, Suzanne follows him into an unexpected job and unfamiliar territory. Soon she will question everything – her career, her past, her friendships, and even her own dating rules.

But when her catalog of past relationships turns into a list of criminal suspects, she is faced with the horrifying possibility that she may not live to regret any of it…

♥ ♥ ♥

Regrets Only by M.J. Pullen is the second book in The Marriage Pact series and while I didn’t love the first book, I absolutely adored Regrets Only! I won’t lie; in the beginning Suzanne sort of put me off with her inner thoughts and attitude about certain things. She seemed judgmental and a bit petty at times, but she grows on you. Throughout the story we get to see a lot of different sides of Suzanne and the more I got to know her, the more I liked her.

Chad was awesome, funny and a great contrast to Suzanne. Their characters sort of balanced each other out. One thing I really liked about Suzanne was the fact that she was such a strong character. She owned her own business, supported herself, was successful and she didn’t settle for just anyone. Suzanne was different from a lot of main female characters and I loved that about her.

I loved that emotions and being committed to someone was hard for her. Typically in stories like these the women are falling all over handsome rich men and that’s just not the case here, which makes Regrets Only all the more interesting.

Review: Witch Song (Witch Song #1)

Witch Song (Witch Song #1) by Amber Argyle
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: September 1, 2011
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

The Witch Hunters have come for Brusenna, for she is the last. All the others have been captured by the Dark Witch. And without their magical songs to control nature, the world is dying.

Though young and untrained, Brusenna must succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the Dark Witch. Fight her. Defeat her. 

If Brusenna fails, there will be nothing left to save—for the Witches, for mankind, or for the young Guardian who has committed his life to protecting hers.

♥ ♥ ♥

Witch Song by Amber Argyle is the first in a series following witchling Brusenna as she travels through lands near and far in search of the knowledge to defeat the Dark Witch and save the Keepers, the witches who keep balance in the world.

I’ve always loved witches and the great thing about Witch Song is these were different than any witches I’ve previously read about. I thought the plot for this story was pretty awesome. Argyle did a great job of describing this world she created, showing the reader the ins-and-outs of how magic works and what the witches do for the earth.

I thought Brusenna was a great main character. The change in bother her demeanor and attitude and the amount of growth she went through during the duration of the story was pretty great. Argyle did such a nice job of showing us how a lot of Brusenna’s innocence and nativity was lost along her journey, but her strength of heart never once wavered.

Review: Waking Up Pregnant

Waking Up Pregnant by Mira Lyn Kelly
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 18, 2014
Buy Links:

*Free copy provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

Book Description:

The night that changed everything!

Waitress Darcy Penn is the smart, sensible type—flirting with the extremely cute guy in the bar just isn't her usual style. As for ending up in his hotel room? 

Definitely not! Sneaking out while he's in the bathroom to avoid the post-sex awkwardness? Much more like it….

If Darcy had stuck around, Jeff Norton could have told her about their "epic latex fail." So he shouldn't be quite so shocked when months later, Darcy turns up at his classy L.A. office and throws up in his wastepaper basket. 

She's got a bad case of morning sickness, and she's here to find out what he's going to do about it!

♥ ♥ ♥

Mira Lyn Kelly is seriously working her way into my heart with these adorable quick reads. I just recently finished Waking Up Married and adored it! So, when I saw Waking Up Pregnant I knew I needed to read it. And I wasn’t wrong. Waking Up Pregnant was such a sweet story and I loved that it was about Conner’s best friend Jeff. It was nice to learn more about the guy who knocked some sense into Conner.

I really enjoyed seeing the parallels between the two books and realizing that Jeff’s encounter with Darcy happened the very same night Conner met Megan. Darcy, a waitress in Vegas caught Jeff’s attention while he was waiting on Conner and after a night of fun and passion Darcy takes off never knowing that their one night would turn into anything more.

Review: Waking Up Married

Waking Up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 1, 2012
Buy Links:

FREE on Amazon

Book Description:

Her first thought: "Who are you?" It's the morning after her cousin's bachelorette party in Vegas and Megan Scott wakes up with the mother of all hangovers. 

Even worse, she's in a stranger's penthouse having woken up with something else as well - a funny, arrogant, sexy...husband!

Up until now, finding even a boyfriend had seemed impossible - been there, got the broken heart, sworn off men for good. Then a few martinis with Carter...no, Connor Reed and she's gone from first meet to marriage in one night!

Megan wants a lawyer. But Connor's shocking bombshell?

"I don't want a divorce."

♥ ♥ ♥

I adore a good romantic comedy, both in movies and books and Waking Up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly was exactly what I was looking for on this super snowy day. Conservative Megan is in Vegas for her cousin’s wedding attempting to mind her own business and keep her head down, but thanks to the interference of her cousin’s bridesmaid’s things get a little wilder than she intended.

Conner is fresh out of a relationship of convenience and determined to get lost in his alcohol and have a good time with his best friend, until he runs into Megan or more accurately she runs into him. I really liked how they met. In so many stories you have the guy initially being the aggressor, but when Megan introduced herself to him only to shut up the other girls she was with I was glad Conner didn’t let her go without spending some time getting to know each other.