Hold Tight (Embrace #2) Review - I didn't hate the fairies!

If you have read any of my other posts, you know me and fairies do not always get along...correction, we RARELY get along.  And the sad thing is, I am always intrigued by fairy books and end up picking them up anyway.  I am proud to say this one breaks that streak - thank you Cherie Colyer.

TITLE: Hold Tight (Embrace #2)
AUTHOR: Cherie Colyer
PUBLISHER: Omnific Publishing
PUBLISHING DATE: August 20, 2013

FROM GOODREADS: What’s one little spell?

When you’re new to magic, one spell can be the difference between getting what you want...and ruining the lives of everyone you love.

Sixteen-year-old Madison has just embraced her magical powers. The trick now is learning how to control them. She and her boyfriend -and fellow witch- can’t even enjoy a simple kiss without getting shocked when their powers collide. Instead of mastering her new skills, though, Madison is stuck watching her kid brother and doing chores.

But being a witch does have its benefits. With a simple spell, Madison instantly conjures the help she needs around the house. Or so she thinks. Her idea of “help” invites trouble of its own as a pair of dangerous yet enticing beings enter her life. When a classmate disappears soon afterwards, Madison discovers she's the next victim of a threat she's powerless to resist...and there’s nothing it won’t kill to make her surrender.

Caught in the crossfire between two dashing but deadly creatures, Madison must figure out which one to trust and how to rid her world of the other—before one of them destroys her and everyone she cares about.

MY THOUGHTS: 
The author provided me this book in exchange for an honest review. I recently read Embrace and enjoyed it enough to follow up with this one. Most of the time I find second books in a series a tad disappointing but that is not the case with Hold Tight. In fact, I found this one to be better than the first.

The old gang is back but this time with several new characters. A lot of the books is spent figuring out just who some of these individuals are, and I found the journey quite enjoyable. I really enjoyed Caden, and without giving too much away, thought his bad-boy character broke up the boredom I sometimes feel with Isaac. I also think Madison's characters is growing and developing over time and she is less like Twilight's Bella each page (a good thing in my book).

There is little I didn't enjoy about this book. Anyone who has read Embrace and might be hesitant to continue on, don't be. I don't know if there is another installment planned, but if so, I will definitely be picking it up.

This book also is one of the few books with fae in it that didn't drive me insane. These is just something with me and fairies which usually doesn't get along.

RATING: 4 PAWS

 

Stacking the Shelves (8)

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  The original meme was started over at Tynga's Reviews. This week I am showing you a few books I checked out from the library, a few galleys I received, and some books added to my Kindle (purchased and found for free).

I am not bothering to take a picture of these but first up are the three books I obtained from my local library this week:


Sex Criminals (Vol. 1): Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky - Already read this graphic novel.  My review is on Goodreads.  Didn't like it and not even worth highlighting as a review on my blog.
Horrorstor: Grady Hendrix- Checked this out once and never got to it.  Hopefully will have better luck this time around.
The Kennedy Chronicles: Kennedy - What can I say?  I grew up on MTV (when they actually showed music videos).

Next are the books I received from netgalley:


The Well: Catherine Chanter
The Legend of the Light Keeper: Kelly Hall
Conversations with Saint Bernard: Jim Kraus - Look at that dog!  I love him.  Told you guys I am a sucker for anything with a cute dog on the front.

I picked these up from Amazon:


Quozl: Alan Dean Foster- The world is being taken over by alien rabbits - awesome.  This was a daily deal I couldn't resist.  And I must add, the other cover Goodreads has is so much better.  Check it out!

Night Terrors (Shadow Watch #1): Tim Waggoner - Another daily deal that has been on my radar so I grabbed it before I could regret passing it up.  I hate that cover though.
The Collector's Society: Heather Lyons - Last daily deal snatch.  Sounded decent enough.
Cage the Dead: Gary F. Vanucci, Queen Mab: Kate Danley and The Last Orphans: N. W. Harris were all grabbed as Kindle freebies.

And finally I managed to get to galleys to some pretty coveted Penguin releases:


Day Shift(Midnight, Texas #2): Charlaine Harris -  I really enjoyed the first installment of this series, which is saying a lot because toward the end, Sookie Stackhouse wore me out!
Saint Anything: Sarah Dessen - This will be my first book by her and it isn't my ordinary read, but I have heard great things about her writing and decided to read "out of the box."

Not a bad haul for spending less than $5.00.  I love my local library and am always glad for the selection they have.

What did you get this week?  Have you read any of these?

Winter has gone! (or at least we hope)

It's me, Booker T, and I thought I would do a quick post to update you on me and my crazy brother Cass.  All is fine here at the farm but about 2 weeks ago, we had the craziest snowstorm and ended up with about 13 inches.  The electric went out and everyone was snowbound for 2 days.  Mom kept saying "At least we are not in Boston"....whatever that means.

Cassius and I went out and played some.  It was our first real snow play of the year - most of the others came with COLD COLD temperatures and the parents said it was too cold for us.  Being the OLDER brother, I am smart and I agreed with them, but that pup just doesn't know better and would have been out in it if he could have escaped.

Enjoy the photos - they aren't too good as mom never has the good camera charged when I need it!

This was our backyard and I am surprised more branches didn't fall.  All Cass needs is a good thump to the head.

Cass running and romping.  He was soaked when he finished.  I observed from the porch - see the "I am smarter" comment from above.

See, I wait until Dad shovels and THEN I venture our further.  It was kind of fun, but don't tell.

Here's hoping we have seen the last of the snow stuff!!!!!

Top 5 Wednesday - Bookish Habits

Top 5 Wednesday was created by Gingereadslainey on booktube and can also be found on goodreads.  The link is located HERE.  This week we are looking at our top 5 Bookish habits.  As usual, these are in no particular order.

I will basically pick up a fictional book to read if it has mention of anything New Orleans, or even Louisiana in general.  This can include cemeteries, gothic mansions, Bourbon Street or plantations.  The spookier, the better.

I keep on buying physical books despite the fact that the bookshelves are full, and actually, there are few locations in the home where they can be successfully added.  I have a Kindle, and while this has helped somewhat, I still buy books.

If there is a dog on the cover, whether it be a puppy, and adult, big, little or anywhere in between, chances are I will buy it or check it out.  This goes for fiction and non-fiction books.  In fact, even if there are pawprints on the cover, which even hint that there might be a dog in the book, it is usually mine.

I have a bad habit of checking out more books from the library than I know I can finish during the allotted time.  I can't help it.  If it is there, and I think I might want to read it, I usually take it home.  It does help that my library allows for 2 renewal periods which end up to 9 weeks check out time but still, it is a problem.

I basically can only read one book at a time.  If my currently reading shelf on Goodreads has more than one book on it, it usually means that I have moved on, but haven't quite given up on the last book yet and may read it eventually.





So do you share any of these habits?  Leave a comment and link so I can check out yours.

Top 10 books on my Spring TBR

The Top 10 weekly meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.   Each week they focus on lists which cover various topics related to books and reading.  This week is the top 10 books on my Spring TBR.  These are in no particular order and the link should take you to the Goodreads description.

Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1) - Gail Carriger.  This has been on my radar for some time and I finally want to start the series.

Mort(e) - Robert Repino.  Saw this one last month and it sounded just odd enough to catch my attention.

The Animals - Christian Kiefer.  This one sounds good enough to give it a try.

The Ice Twins - S. K. Tremayne.  I have heard great things about this one.

Karen Memory - Elizabeth Bear.  This one has gotten great reviews as well.

Cat out of Hell - Lynne Truss.  Another "weird" book on my radar which was just released.

The Hanged Man (Her Majesty's Psychic Services #1) - P.N. Elrod.
 

No One Like You - Kate Angell.  A review book I need to get read.

The Awesome - Eva Darrows.  Wanted to read this since I knew it was coming out and it is an ARC so I have no excuse not to get it done.

Undertow - Michael Buckley.  Pretty cover huh?

Honorable Mention -Christine - Stephen King.  I need to get busy on my Hail to the King challenge.








Have you read any of these?  What is on your Spring TBR?  Leave me a link so I can check out your list!

No, this isn't Stars Hollow - Housewitch Review

TITLE: Housewitch: A Novel
AUTHOR: Katie Schickel
PUBLISHER: Forge Books
PUBLISHING DATE: February 17, 2015

FROM GOODREADS: Allison Darling, former foster child, now a stay-at-home mom of three, desperately wants to fit in with the organic latte drinking, hundred-dollar-yoga-pants-wearing moms who run Monrovia, her charming seaside village. Constantly feeling like an outsider, Allison dreams of more for her children. When the Glamour Girls, a soap-selling company run by the most charismatic and powerful women in town, recruits Allison, she jumps at the invitation. The Glamour Girls have a hand in everything in Monrovia, from bake sales to business deals. This is what Allison’s wanted her whole life—to be liked. To be popular. To belong. After Allison’s estranged mother passes away, she learns her family’s heartbreaking legacy and the secret Allison’s been fighting to suppress all her life emerges: she’s a witch. What’s more, she’s not the only one in town. There’s more to the Glamour Girls than it seems… and once you’re a Glamour Girl, there’s no going back. Allison must use her rediscovered magic to defend Monrovia, protect her marriage and her children, and reclaim her legacy. Fighting tooth and nail for her family is easy, but what about for herself? Is it too late to confront her own demons and become the woman she dreams of being?

MY THOUGHTS: A few days after I finished this book, I changed my rating...and that feeling of uncertainty about sums up my experience with Housewitch. I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book, well, that isn't true, I actually anticipated a cozy mystery...which it was not. I suppose it is closer to fantasy, which is how my library characterized it.

Allison grew up in foster care, but was born the daughter of a powerful witch. She ends up living with her husband and two children in Monrovia, a town which seems a tad bit too Stepford Wife-ish for me. She finds out a coven of witches, known as the Glamour Gals, basically owns and runs the town, and the head witch, has some nefarious plans for everyone in it. (I should note I am a HUGE Gilmore Girls fan and the fact that every time I saw "Glamour Gals" my mind raced to Stars Hollow did negatively effect my reading flow initially).

This book was at times funny, sad, interesting and slow. Once I realized what the book was more about, the pace did speed up and it was an enjoyable read. This is Schickel's first novel and she definitely has talent and I look forward to reading future works.

The main thing I didn't like about this book is Allison's extreme need to belong in Monrovia. I know she felt abandoned as a child, and this played greatly into her actions, but I kept wanting to shake her and say "You're a witch for heaven's sake, make something happen and stop being a doorstop!" However, Allison does redeem herself and becomes more likable.

The best thing about this book was Jonathan and Jinathan - the dwarfs. Ms. Schickel, if you are reading this review, please, they need their own story.

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

 

Release Day Review - Spirits, Stilettos and and a Silver Bustier

TITLE: Spirits, Stilettos and a Silver Bustier (Pyper Rayne #1)
AUTHOR: Deanna Chase
PUBLISHER: Bayou Moon Press, LLC
PUBLISHING DATE: March 16, 2015

FROM GOODREADS: From New York Times bestselling author Deanna Chase a spin off of the Jade Calhoun Series.

Coffee shop owner Pyper Rayne now sees dead people. After she purchases the perfect vintage dress, a sexy ghost from Pyper’s recent past is suddenly everywhere—at her café, crashing parties, and even lounging in her bedroom. But he’s not just any ghost. He’s a witch and able to appear in solid form…sometimes. If only he'd stop disappearing on her.

And he has a job for her. In between stolen kisses, Pyper will need to help him solve a ninety-year old murder if she wants to free him from an ancient curse…and maybe finally get that date he keeps promising her.

MY THOUGHTS: 
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have never read anything by Deanna Chase before, but when I saw this offered, and realized it was about witches, I immediately applied for consideration and was excited to get it. This is cute cozy mystery which revolves around witchcraft and the supernatural. It is a spinoff of Chase's previous series, and although I never read it, I was never completely lost. There is enough back story provided that the reader is never lost or confused. And, this book did a great job of making me want to go back and pick up previous books.

I enjoyed meeting Pyper and her friends and they have a closeness which is comforting. The mystery takes place in New Orleans, which is one of my favorite settings, and adds to the ambiance of the book. Pyper is a headstrong, independent and sometimes snarky individual - all things I love in a female lead. The romance in the book is not overwhelming, and has enough of a twist that I did not find it annoying.

Overall, I look forward to learning more about Pyper and her world and recommend this for anyone who likes supernatural or cozy mysteries.

MY RATING: 4 PAWS