Ya Paranormal Fantasy
Blackheath Review + #Giveaway
Blackheath
Gabriella Lepore
Genre: Young Adults Paranormal
Release Date: December 21, 2015
Publisher: Of Tomes Publishing
ISBN: 978-1522836254
ASIN: B019PQPVGW
Pages: 284
Goodreads Rating: 4.24
My Rating: 5.0
About The Author
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“I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher for my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”
Mystique Review + #Giveaway
Only Bauer Grant can pull off gorgeous while dead. But staying dead is another thing entirely. When he wakes up at his own funeral, the town of Mystique calls it a miracle, until it happens again. Something is bringing the residents of Mystique back to life, but what? Presley Caine finds herself caught up in the mystery when Bauer asks her to visit him. Presley can’t figure out why the most popular guy in school is so drawn to her.
And when Bauer is kidnapped soon after, she looks to Bauer’s brooding best friend Sam, whose dad works for the powerful Mystique military base, for answers. In her quest to discover the truth, Presley’s relationship with Sam deepens, her feelings for Bauer are tested, and it becomes clear that her own mysterious past is somehow connected to these strange events.
But is she strong enough to handle the truth when it is finally revealed?
Wow. Just wow.
to be invested in Presley or to become way too curious. There were a lot of moments where the characters annoyed me, but it was to be expected. What they had to go through, is not something someone deals with on a day to day basis so their reactions were warranted; I just happened to be a very impatient woman.
spot on. It was very realistic and none of this instantaneous I love you nonsense, that while I occasionally adore in a book with a supernatural quality, I was happy to find that the author took note that this was not that kind of story.
About The Author
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One (1) Winner will get $10 Amazon Gift Card and a signed copy of Mystique | SHIPS IN US ONLY | MUST BE 13+ TO ENTER
Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver Review + #Giveaway
Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver
Michele Brouder
Genre: Young Adults Paranormal Romance
Release Date: September 20, 2015
ISBN: 978-1515080503
ASIN: B015NCLL02
Pages: 204
Goodreads Rating: 3.71
My Rating: 4.5
Book Description:
When seventeen-year-old librarian wannabe Claire Daly is dragged kicking, screaming and cursing from everything she loves—her mam, her cozy Irish village and the dreamy boy next door—to take up arms in the battle of good versus evil, she learns the hard way that sometimes you don’t get to choose your own destiny, destiny chooses you.
Claire’s life plan is simple: head off to university to get her degree in library studies, summon up the courage to tell her best friend Chas that she loves him and live happily ever after. She never once entertained the idea that she might possess divine powers, that she might be predestined to battle Hell’s demons, or, to complicate matters further, that another love of many lives past might turn up on her doorstep. But life doesn’t always go as planned, and when a co-worker is viciously attacked by a demon and her own family threatened, Claire must face the truth: she is called to a higher purpose and has no choice but to answer. Claire sets aside her dreams and begins learning how to deal with the Unholy once and for all. Armed with only a crash course in soul saving and her wits, she gears up for the ultimate show down in Hell. But will it be enough?
My Take:
That was amazing!
I had high hopes for this book, and to be quite frank I wasn’t sure it was going to pan out when I first started reading this book. It wasn’t that it was bad or the writing was hard to follow but more that Claire seemed to annoy me more than anything. I really wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about a book with a lead I couldn’t stand. Luckily for all involved, Clare kind of grew on me. I’m still not her biggest fan but I do enjoy the story, the history, and the premise. It also doesn’t hurt that I enjoyed the other characters.
The storyline is really original and captivating. So while Claire wasn’t my favorite character at first, the story itself was more than enough to keep me hooked. Now if you are wondering why Claire was not my favorite heroine… simple, she was overly childish most times. She also can off as selfish and a wee bit naive.
4.5 Quills
So Claire wasn’t the most likeable, but the storyline was and the author is extremely talented if she can manage to keep me 100% invested even when the lead drives me bat shit crazy. It was that great writing that ultimately made me a ‘reluctant’ (see what I did there) fan of Claire. Because, even with all her faults, Claire does have moxie!
Available for 99¢ on Amazon UK
About The Author 
I was born in western New York, the oldest of 5. I’ve loved reading since I was very little. From the age of 9, I’ve wanted to be a writer. In high school, I wrote a lot of angst-ridden civil war dramas ala Gone With The Wind, knowing more about the Battle of the Bull Run than a normal teenager should know. I dabbled in writing after that but didn’t get serious about it until 2006, when I decided that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
I’ve had many interesting jobs but my passion has always been writing.
I lived in Ireland from 2006-2013 with my husband and 2 boys. We moved back to the US and settled in Florida briefly (2 years) before returning back to Ireland in August 2015.
Connect with the Author:
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- One (1) will received a $25 Amazon Gift Card, a copy of Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver, a book mark, a coffee mug, and some other stuff for ‘readers’ from the author (INT)
- Three (3) winners will receive a copy of Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver by Michele Brouder (INT)
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2Emerge (The Awakening #1) Book Review
Emerge
The Awakening Series
Book #1
Melissa A. Craven
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy
Release Date: April 1, 2015
Publisher: Midnight Hour Studio
ISBN: 978-0990981992
ASIN: B00VID65W0
E-book Pages: 440
Paperback Pages: 424
Goodreads Rating: 4.09
My Rating: 5.0
Book Description:
Allie Carmichael has always believed life is simple.
You’re born.
You live.
You die.
She has no cause to believe that equation works differently for her, but there has to be a reason the world treats her like a pariah.
When an unexpected move to Kelleys Island brings Aidan McBrien crashing into her life, Allie is thrown by his reaction. He doesn’t shrink from her touch. He doesn’t stutter or make a quick exit. He smiles and welcomes her into his circle of friends, who aren’t exactly comfortable with Allie, but they seem to get her in a way most people don’t.
Finally, Allie has a real shot at normal and rides that high right up to her sixteenth birthday when she wakes in agony—an experience Aidan insists they have all faced. She struggles in ignorance, uncertain of what is real and what isn’t. When she emerges, Allie is different. She has always been different, but even among her extraordinary friends, she and Aidan are special.
As Allie struggles to maintain her tenuous grasp on the power that threatens to overwhelm her, she worries she will lose herself in this strange new world. A dangerous world where she will have to fight tooth and nail to defend the power and freedom that is her birthright.
…only Allie hates to fight.
My Take:
I am at a loss for words and in complete awe of this book. I was hooked from the first page an unwilling to put this book down. Its an innovative and unique story with loveable characters.
Allie is such a strong female lead and I loved that she didn’t need a man to define her or her abilities, as a matter of fact romance was not even really a factor in this story which is really really refreshing. Sure, there are love interests but that does not make pr break the story. I really can not find enoug words to describe how utterly awesome this story was!
The Great (Pros):
- Allie. Like I said, Allie is a super strong and feisty character. I loved her tenacity.
- Aiden. He’s adorably jaded and such an amazing character.
- Sasha. I loved Sasha. She wasn’t a character that was mentioned a lot but I really loved when she interacted with the other leads!
- Other Supporting Characters. I really enjoyed the interactions between the other supporting characters just like I enjoyed Sasha’s character. It was really fun to learn about these characters and what made them tick.
- Bonds. I loved all the bonds formed between characters, superficial or otherwise. The inclusion of these ‘supernatural’ bonds that are formed between individuals was also another major selling point for me.
- Storyline. This story line is in a league of its own. Never once did I feel like I was reading a world I had already visited. I loved all the intricacies that make up this story and all the character story lines.
- History. The history of these characters is astounding. I’ve always been a bit of a history junkie so I got a massive kick at the inclusion of these great figure heads in history being included in the history of this book. I also really like how these characters shared their history with others.
The Not So Great (Cons):
- Vince. I really was not a fan of his character. He just felt so unnecessary. Granted, he seems less annoying now that I’ve read the novella that follows this book and serves as a prequel. It makes a lot of this going ons in this book make so much sense, so I really recommend reading them both! But anyways, Vince wasn’t a ‘bad’ guy per say, at least not in this book or yet, but he just irks me and felt like a useless character although in retrospect he probably is a tad more important than I give him credit for now that I’ve read book 1.5
- Some minor inconsistencies. Nothing to get all in a huff about but there were like maybe 3 or 4 moments that didn’t really match up, but I’m just overly observant. Once again, if you read 1.5, its cleared up for you but since this is a review of book 1, it has to be mentioned.
- Use of har har. I know it seems like such a random con but it was just really annoying and broke up the flow of the dialogue. I got really peeved after about the 10th time I read it so yea lol.
5 Quills
I’m really happy I had the opportunity to read and review this book and I am anxiously awaiting book 2 in the series. Unfortunately, I could find no info on the release of that novel or even a working title so sadly I in the dark completely BUT based off of the 2 I have read, I have high hope for the sequel. If you are looking for a great read with strong and loyal character that you will most probably fall in love with, then look no further! Emerge: The Awakening is an action packed, emotionally driven story that is sure to draw you in.
Read The Prequel Novella
Emerge: The Edge
About The Author 
Melissa A. Craven (the “A” stands for Ann—in case you were wondering) was born near Atlanta, Georgia, but moved to Cleveland, Ohio at the age of seventeen. She still thinks of Cleveland as home, so it was only natural for Emerge to take place there.
Today, she is back in Atlanta—for some reason she can’t seem to stay away from the ungodly heat that makes her long for things like “lake effect snow” and wind that will knock you flat.
Melissa decided a long time ago that the “life checklist” everyone else was clutching so tightly in their fists, just wasn’t for her. She does everything backwards because she is weird like that, but then, she is an artist and artists are notoriously “unique” and “quirky.”
She is an avid student of art and design, and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of West Georgia in 2009. She worked as an interior designer for several years, but she’s always thought she might like to be a writer when she grows up.
In her spare time, if she has any, she enjoys shopping for derelict furniture she refinishes to exercise the interior design part of her brain.
Connect with Melissa:
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“I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher for my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”
Revealers & Uninvited by Amanda Marrone Book Spotlight + #Giveaway #TipsySpooktacular Stop 5
Ahem.
Ohai there!
Today I have a treat for you all. It’s another book spotlight BUT there are 2 and they are NOT part of a series :O I know that seems odd from someone like me who absolutely LOVES to read book series, serieses… Ehh I know, not very English major or author-y of me but whatever, I think the first one is correct.
So back on topic, this is more of an Author Spotlight. I don’t exactly remember when I bought these books just that I love them and I really hope you all take a chance on them. I know the goodreads rating isn’t all that great for one of them but I think the books rock.
The books in question are ‘Uninvited’ and ‘Revealers’ by Amanda Marrone. Uninvited is an out of the box vampire read. Abso-freaking-lutely like nothing I have ever read when it comes to vampires. Sure I got a Dangerous Girls by R.L. Stine vibe from it BUT it was a novel all on its own. The similarity starts and ends with the age of the main character, the vampire thing and how dark it is. Literally that is it. This book, and other vampire books sit at 2 vastly different ends of the spectrum. There is no romantizing the vampires. And personally, I liked that this was not really marketed as a vampire book. Aside for my knowledge of vampire invitations, the night time visits and the eerie but beautiful cover, there was no giveaway to the vampire tidbit. Now, before you go all crazy reader on me, this is not a spoiler. The author has mentioned that it is a vampire story and this in no way gives away the plot of the series of events that follow. I literally love this book. It is dark and can seem a bit slow to start with but it’s worth the wait.
Revealers is an interesting and fun magical read. I was initially drawn in by the cover because well come on who wouldn’t be, it’s gorgeous! I love the blue smoke and the simplicity in the design. So I did what most do when a book cover jumps out and snags their attention I flipped it over and got to reading the synopsis. I was all for it! I got to reading and I couldn’t put it down. I even remember where I was sitting for the couple of hours it took for me to finish it. It’s full of plot twists and interesting magic and witches. Its spooky to an extent
but really keeps you on your toes. This too stands on its own as a paranormal novel and book featuring a witchy cast. When all was said and done, I was super sad to see this story was over. They are not spooky in your typical sense but I do feel like these are great books to get you into the Halloween/Samhain mood. See what I did there 😉
Also, funny story guys, I penned a character who was a witch years ago when I was 14, before having read any of these books but she was nameless… I just kept using ‘insert name’ then I read Revealers years later, I loved the characters, all of them. But one name just kept haunting me. Fast forward 1 year and I actually met a woman with this name while shopping for incense. She was a pagan woman like my sister, but her personality was so similar to this witch I had written and it felt like it was meant to be. So in a weird chance of fate, this woman and the book ‘Revealers’ helped me name one of my main characters in The Birth Curse Series, I give you, Zahara Frost ladies and gentlemen.
Revealers
Amanda Marrone
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy, Supernatural Fiction
Release Date: September 30, 2008
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 978-1416958741
ASIN: B004KKXN3W
Goodreads Rating: 3.58
Witchin’ ain’t easy.
Jules has a rebellious streak, a massive crush on Connor, and the abilities of a Revealer witch. By day, she and her coven friends seem like typical high school seniors. By night, they have the power to make werewolves, vampires, and ghosts reveal themselves, so they can destroy them. It’s not exactly cheerleading, but at least the girls know they’re doing the world some good.
One by one, Jules’s friends turn eighteen and are initiated into the coven’s inner circle. And one by one, they are getting completely freaked out. Jules is the youngest, and though her friends are too scared tell her what’s going on, something’s clearly not right. As her birthday approaches, Jules realizes she’s got to find out what’s behind the shadows of her coven before it’s too late to save her friends…and herself. But what she discovers may be too powerful for even the toughest witches to defeat.
Uninvited
Amanda Marrone
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy, Supernatural Fiction
Release Date: October 23, 2007
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 978-1416939788
ASIN: B003YFJ1DK
Pages: 224
Goodreads Rating: 2.95
Jordan’s life sucks. Her boyfriend, Michael, dumped her, slept his way through half the student body, and then killed himself. But now, somehow, he appears at her window every night, begging her to let him in.
Jordan can’t understand why he wants her, but she feels her resistance wearing down. After all, her life — once a broken record of boring parties, meaningless hookups, and friends she couldn’t relate to — now consists of her drinking alone in her room as she waits for the sun to go down.
Michael needs to be invited in before he can enter. All Jordan has to do is say
the words….
About The Author
Amanda Marrone grew up on Long Island where she spent her time reading, drawing, watching insects, and suffering from an over-active imagination. It didn’t help that her father told bloodcurdling stories, and would take Amanda and her siblings for moon lit walks in the graveyard—the highlight of which involved having them march up to mausoleums and knock on the doors—alone. On more than one occasion, Amanda turned around to find they’d ditched her for laughs. (No, she didn’t find that particularly funny.) Not surprisingly, she was extremely scared of the dark—living in fear of cats meowing at the door at night (she was sure they were really monsters pretending to be her cats), and things lurking in basements, attics, dark rooms, and closets.Amanda successfully avoided monster attacks by leaving all the lights on in her house, and convincing other family members to let the cats in—eventually earning a B.A. in Education at SUNY Cortland. She taught fifth and sixth grade in New Hampshire, where she was known for putting on mini-musicals, and dissecting eyeballs and owl pellets with her students.
After taking a very early retirement to raise a family and write novels—some of which have vampires and other creepy creatures, Amanda now lives in Connecticut with her husband, Joe, two kids, two cats, a crayfish, hissing cockroaches, and
their newest addition is Griffin, a havanese dog who can say “Hello” and “I love you”. Check the links page to see Griffin’s YouTube videos where you can see him in action.
Amanda loves reading, going to Broadway shows, creepy crawly things, hiking, annoying her husband with show tunes, and is thinking about getting another tattoo. She is still scared of the dark.
Amanda’s first two books for teens, Uninvited and Revealers are available now, and her next book Devoured will be out in September of 2009. Her middle grade series The Magic Repair Shop Chronicles: The Multiplying Menace, Kobold Blues
and The Shape Shifter’s Curse will be available starting in the summer of 2010.
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Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs Review + #Giveaway #TipsySpooktacular Stop 4
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children
Book #1
Ransom Riggs
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy, Fiction
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Publisher: Quirk Books
ISBN: 978-1594744761
ASIN: B004FGMDOQ
Pages: 352
Goodreads Rating: 3.81
My Rating: 4.5
Book Description:
A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of curious photographs.
A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.
A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.
My Take
This book is 1 of 3 novels currently released with a movie coming out sometime in 2016. It’s a book was really excited to read as it was recommended to me by my sister, who may or not be a pain in the ass but most definitely knows my style when it comes to books.
I really enjoyed it! At first I was enthralled with the back story, the way Jacob describes his grandfather and even the portion of the tragic event that befalls his family and then it just seemed to make a screeching halt. It slowed down and you are given a lot of information that is not exactly necessary but enlightening. When the story picks up again, it’s difficult to put the book down.
It’s not the hide under your covers kind of book but it has got a serious creep factor associated with it. This comes off as a mostly haunting tale, with secretive and wary characters with a dodgy past that I couldn’t wait to read more about. As each clue was revealed I became more and more enthralled. Like I said, it’s not your typical scary story but the creep factor is definitely there especially with the use of these old eccentric photographs, all pictured in black and white. If anything… I felt like the photographs were the real star of the show, that’s not to say that the story wasn’t great or unique because it was and that’s not to say that Mr. Riggs is not an excellent story teller because he is, but there is just something about the photos that accompanied certain parts of this story that takes all the attention and occasionally caused a chill to run down my spine.
4.5 Quills
I found that I liked every character, good and bad. They were all likable and realistic in a sense and intriguing. Also, there’s a bit of a romance in this book but it’s not a huge one and it doesn’t take over the book it’s kind of a minor back burner which I found helped relieve some of the ick factor that was associated with it in my opinion. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and seeing where Jacob’s story goes!
Check Out The Rest of The Series
About The Author 
Ransom Riggs grew up in Florida, where he spent his formative years making silly movies with his friends in their various backyards, snorkeling, and complaining about the heat. He studied English at Kenyon College and film at the University of Southern California. He lives in Los Angeles. He makes films you can watch on his YouTube. He enjoys traveling to exotic lands and complaining about the heat. He would like to thank you for reading this short biography.
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“I purchased this book with the intent to review. I was in no way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”
The Morganville Vampires Series by Rachel Caine Spotlight #TipsySpooktacular Stop 3
Hello again my little ghouls and goblins! Next up on the #TipsySpooktacular month long giveaway is another one of my favorite series ‘The Morganville Vampires’.
I came across this gem shortly after the 3rd was published. I was searching for a completely non-romantic vampire book and this seemed perfect. I read the book in all of one afternoon, handed it to my sister to read and when we were both well and hooked rushed to buy the next 2 the series. I got to book 6 and then life kind of took over and the series fell to the back burner. I discovered a really cool site not too long ago (review of that site coming soon) and may have gone a little book buying crazy so on my free time I’m happily finishing this series and loving every second of it.
The cool thing about this series is the super short web series online hosted on ‘Geeks & Sundry‘ youtube page thanks to the producers Rachel Caine/Pen Ultimate Productions, Sheri Bryant/Geek & Sundry and the ever wonderful Felicia Day/Geek & Sundry (nerd/geek queen extraordinaire). There is currently only 1 season, with six 9ish minute long episodes. The acting isn’t superb so don’t go hoping for a blockbuster hit but its fun. Plus as a bonus you get Amber Benson (Tara from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) playing The Founder!
So with out further ado, I’m introducing you to the first 3 and linking the rest down below on the banner. If you’d like to check out the web series I highly suggest taking a weekend and reading at least the first 2 books! There are multiple covers and omnibus versions so the choice is yours but I personally am a fan of the images I used on this post cause that’s how I was introduced to this series!
Glass Houses
The Morganville Vampires
Book #1
Rachel Caine
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Release Date: October 3. 2006
ISBN: 978-0451219947
ASIN: B000O76NAK
Pages: 239
Goodreads Rating: 3.93
Book Description:
From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.
College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don’t show many signs of life, but they’ll have Claire’s back when the town’s deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood. Will she be able to face the town’s terror or will she drown like everyone else?
The Dead Girls’ Dance
The Morganville Vampires
Book #2
Rachel Caine
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Release Date: April 3, 2007
ISBN: 978-0451220899
ASIN: B000Q3628U
Pages: 256
Goodreads Rating: 4.07
Book Description:
Claire Danvers has her share of challenges—like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains, dealing with the homicidal girls in her dorm, and above all, finding out that her college town is overrun with vampires. On the up side, she has a great roommate (who tends to disappear at sunup) and a new boyfriend named Shane, whose vampire-hunting dad has called in backup: cycle punks who like the idea of killing just about anything.
Now a fraternity is throwing its annual Dead Girls’ Dance and—surprise!—Claire and her equally outcast best friend, Eve, have been invited. When they find out why, all hell is going to break loose. Because this time both the living and the dead are coming out—and everybody’s hungry for blood.
Midnight Alley
The Morganville Vampires
Book #3
Rachel Caine
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Release Date: October 2, 2007
ISBN: 978-0451222381
ASIN: B000UZJR9K
Pages: 245
Goodreads Rating: 4.12
Book Description:
Claire Danvers’s college town may be run by vampires but a truce between the living and the dead made things relatively safe.
For a while.
Now people are turning up dead, a psycho is stalking her, and an ancient bloodsucker has proposed private mentoring. To what end, Claire will find out. And it’s giving night school a whole new meaning.
Honestly, this series brought me back to a time when vamps were NOT your friends… Not to mention my love for the characters! There are 15 official books with a lot of short stories floating around to help you get a better understanding of certain past events and why our beloved characters are the way they are! This series is also the one that inspired me to pick up a pen and create Sienna from The Birth Curse Series!
Check out the Rest of the Series!
About The Author 
Rachel Caine is the NYT, USA Today and internationally bestselling author of the Morganville Vampires series – Glass Houses, The Dead Girls’ Dance, Midnight Alley, Feast of Fools, Lord of Misrule, Carpe Corpus, Fade Out, Kiss of Death, Ghost Town, Bite Club, Last Breath (Nov. 2011) and Black Dawn (May 2012). There are currently FIFTEEN books planned for the series, which has been released in more than 25 countries around the world, and is available in audiobook, ebook, and compilation editions.
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I’m giving away some paperback to US residents and a few ebooks.
Books will be from the ones you find on the #TipsySpooktacular Tour
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Wicked Series by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie Spotlight + #Giveaway! #TipsySpooktacular
Witch & Curse
Wicked Series
Books 1 and 2
Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0760783207
Pages: 672
Goodreads Rating: 3.59
Book Description:
Holly Cathers’s world shatters when her parents are killed in a terrible accident. Wrenched from her home in San Francisco, she is sent to Seattle to live with her relatives, Aunt Marie-Claire and her twin cousins, Amanda and Nicole.
In her new home, Holly’s sorrow and grief soon give way to bewilderment at the strange incidents going on around her. Such as how any wish she whispers to her cat seems to come true. Or the way a friend is injured after a freak attack from a vicious falcon. And there’s the undeniable, magnetic attraction to a boy Holly barely knows.
Holly, Amanda, and Nicole are about to be launched into a dark legacy of witches, secrets, and alliances, where ancient magics yield dangerous results. The girls will assume their roles in an intergenerational feud beyond their wildest imaginations…and in doing so, will attempt to fulfill their shared destiny.
Wicked Series
Books 3 and 4
Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 9780760789407
Pages: 655
Goodreads Rating: 3.87
Book Description:
Complete text of Legacy and Spellbound in a single volume.
Holly Cathers is not the same person she was almost a year and a half ago. After discovering her connection to an ancient legacy of witches, Holly has accepted her destiny as a descendant of the House of Cahors. She is determined to end an intergenerational feud that has plagued her family for centuries.
Holly will have to overcome unworldly obstacles as she battles to protect her loved ones — including Jer, a member of the rival House of Deveraux and her one true love. A war of magical proportions is being waged, and Holly is at the center of it all.
Lives will be lost, and sacrifices will have to be made…
Resurrection
Wicked Series
Book 5
Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Release Date: July 7, 2009
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 402
Goodreads Rating: 3.95
Book Description:
Who is Alex Carruthers? That is the question Wicked fans have been asking for nearly six years. Spellbound, the fourth and seemingly final book in the Wicked series, originally published in 2003, left readers on the edge of their seats with a classic cliffhanger ending. But now, as new fans of the bind-up editions of the series begin to ask the same question, the true and final conclusion to the Wicked series will emerge. And all their questions will be answered in this heart-stopping, magical adventure about witches, destiny, and the beyond.
throughout California and lived in Japan for three years. When she was sixteen, she dropped out of high school to become a ballet dancer in Cologne, Germany, and later relocated to Frankfurt Am Main.Eventually she returned to California and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at San Diego with a degree in Communications. Soon after, she began to write; her first sale was a young adult romance novel titled Teach Me to Love.
She and Debbie Viguié co-authored the New York Times bestselling series Wicked for Simon and Schuster. They have continued their collaboration with the Crusade series, also for Simon and Schuster, and the Wolf Springs Chronicles for Delacorte (2011.) She is also the author of the young adult horror series Possessions for Razorbill. She has sold many novels and book projects set in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Saving Grace, Hellboy, and Smallville universes.
Debbie Viguié is the New York Times Bestselling author of more than three dozen novels including the Wicked series co-authored with Nancy Holder. In addition to her epic dark fantasy work Debbie also writes thrillers including The Psalm 23 Mysteries, the Kiss trilogy, and the Witch Hunt trilogy. Debbie also plays a recurring character on the audio drama, Doctor Geek’s Laboratory. When Debbie isn’t busy writing or acting she enjoys spending time with her husband, Scott, visiting theme parks.
Of Breakable Things Review + #Giveaway
Of Breakable Things
A. Lynden Rolland
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books LLC
ISBN: 978-1939765154
ASIN: B00ILZ69IS
Pages: 300
Goodreads Rating: 4.62
My Rating: 5.0
Book Description:
A captivating debut about the fragility of life, love, and perspective.
When Chase dies tragically, Alex embraces her own mortality. What she didn’t expect was that she’d have to make a choice: forget the years of pain and suffering once and for all, or linger as a spirit and get another chance at life and love.
Alex doesn’t hesitate to choose; she’d follow Chase anywhere. But the spirit world is nothing like she expected, and Alex finds she’s forced to fight for her life once more. For even in a world where secrets are buried much deeper than six feet under, a legacy can continue to haunt you—and in a place this dangerous, no one is resting in peace.
My Take On The Book:
Hands down this is single best book I’ve read in 2014. There was really NOTHING that I disliked. I’ll admit to some hesitancy when opening the book, while the cover is hauntingly beautiful the synopsis that I originally read was not the one posted I posted above from Goodreads and Amazon so it was lacking a bit in the intrigue. The story sounded heart wrenching so as I opened up the book I geared myself up for a sob fest and even procrastinated… I didn’t wanna cry lol.
I was super tentative, like I said I didn’t wanna cry and I was expecting a sad, sad tale about a sick girl who lost the single most important person in her life. I put on my big girl panties and started reading, a page in a half in and I realized how wrong I was. This was a fantastical romantic tale of the after life. A unique take on ‘ghosts’ and moving on after death. But what really catches your attention besides the cool abilities is the epic love tale that transcends death. What kind of reviewer would I be if I didn’t talk about the romance and chemistry, swoon. I loved Chase but funny enough he didn’t make my book boyfriend list simply because I couldn’t imagine him with anyone other that Alex, They were the perfect book couple. ❤
The Great (Pros):
- Family. I loved the whole familial connection going on in this book. From legacies to the brothers, this book is just chalk full of families. Its sweet and while there is a lot of ‘good’ family stuff going on this very talented author doesn’t shy away from the darker side of families and the bad things that can and do go wrong within them.
- Friendship. Just like the emphasis that’s put on family, I enjoyed the friendships that are forged in this book. Whether they be new or old each relationship is developed and thought out.
- Story. The story is a very original one. I love paranormal books but I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure of reading anything like this before but I’m glad that I read this one because it’s one that’s sticking with me. When a book keeps you on your toes and thinking about it long after you finished it, you know it’s a keeper.
- Romance. The romance in this book is subtle and it plays more on the friendships BUT it is there and its so perfect. You have these 2 lovely characters and a connection people only dream about having.
- Alex. Her character was so endearing. It ridiculous how much you can grow to love a character when the book mainly takes place in their POV. She’s the kinda character that you root for without even realizing your it. Alex had a difficult upbringing and the cards she was dealt were pretty horrible but she focuses more on the positive things like her friendship with Chase and his brothers and Olivia ‘Liv’ Frank.
- Chase. His character was special. He befriended and cared for a girl that most people wouldn’t. He didn’t see her as broken, he saw her as beautiful and special. He is the furthest thing from shallow. Honestly I think I liked the glimpses into his mind the most. ❤
- Liv. She wasn’t a super important character but I just really like her. The fact that people thought she was weird didn’t really bug her and she never cared much if people thought she was overweight. Bullies didn’t faze her. She knew she could see ghosts and she knew who she was. I liked her character and would like to think, she reminds me of some of my closest friends (not the whole ghost seeing biz) so I probably would have befriended her.
- POVs. The different POVs make the story come together seamlessly. It’s done in such a subtle way you don’t even notice the change at first. Sure, when there is a gender change it is kinda obvious but what I mean is that it’s a seamless transition, not at all choppy or abrupt.
- The ending. The ending leads me to believe that this is meant to be a part of a series and I can only hope that to be the truth but even so, I like the way the story ended. I can’t say too much because, well it’s the end and that defeats the whole purpose of YOU going out and reading the book. What I will say that not only was this story and its ending enjoyable but the questions that are answered and the ones you are left with are probably, in my opinion, the best part of the story. The quest for answers make up the story.
The Not So Great (Cons):
- Is it a Series? Unless you count the fact there is no word on if there will be a second book then there isn’t really a ‘con’.
The ending was awesome but it was pretty open-ended which leaves a ton of room for a second book.
- Personal Pet Peeve. I have this thing about the description of scratching. I pretty much hate it when someone says ‘I itched my…’ or ‘He/She/They itched their …’ Itching is a symptom not an action, scratching is the relief to the symptom so it should be ‘I scratched my hand’ or ‘they scratched their neck’. However, as I said earlier it is a personal pet peeve, something that my English professor stressed to us English majors along with ‘by accident’ being the proper usage.
5 Quills
If there is going to be a book 2, I need it and now would be most appreciated lol. I loved all aspects of this story…. Everything. I’m not really sure what to compare this book too, it a one of a kind type of read and one that is surely worth your while. Its beautiful and captivating and yes there might be some tear shedding but nothing to serious.
Purchase Links:
About The Author 
A. Lynden Rolland was born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland, a picturesque town obsessed with boats and blue crabs. She has always been intrigued by the dramatic and the broken, compiling her eccentric tales of tragic characters in a weathered notebook she began to carry in grade school. She is a sports fanatic, a coffee addict, and a lover of Sauvignon Blanc and thunderstorms. When she isn’t hunched behind a laptop at her local bookstore, she can be found chasing her two vivacious children. She now resides just outside Annapolis with her husband and young sons.
Connect with the Author:
Enter The Giveaway Here
Four (4) winners will receive an ebook copy of Of Breakable Things by A. Lynden Rolland (INT)
Thanks for stopping by,
“I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher for my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”
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