Review: A Modern Witch (A Modern Witch #1) by Debora Geary

Can you live 28 years without discovering you're a witch? — Lauren is downtown Chicago's youngest elite realtor. She's also a witch. She must be - the fetching spell for Witches' Chat isn't supposed to make mistakes. So says the woman who coded the spell, at least. — The tall, dark, and handsome guy sent to assess her is a witch too (and no, that doesn't end the way you might think). What he finds in Lauren will change lives, mess with a perfectly good career, and require lots of ice cream therapy.

My Opinion:


It's a refreshing and fun read.

There is nothing logical about the book...its just a fun fantasy. 

My general idea when I read the book blurb was:
Female protagonist finds out she's a witch...falls in love with that tall,dark and handsome guy sent to assess her..and finally ..they both win over some evil force...!!
But that wasn't how it all turned out..and..it turned out really well..!

It you stick to the logic several things might bug you:

Witches (You might say:really?...BUT..yes! Witches :) )
Male Witches? Again yes!
Female Protagonist a powerful witch..?? yes!
An extremely powerful 4-year old Witch...?? Yes..! (This really makes you question my sanity..doesn't it..?? Most of you are already thinking..How can she like THIS kind of a book..??...Well,believe me..I can..and so can you..if you read it..!!)
Visions of future..?? Yes..!!
Earth Burping..?? Umm..yess..!

So..I have kinda listed all kinds of things that might make you NOT want to read it..but..if you want to go for a fun ride..well what are you waiting for..??

The book is written really well. Quite a part of the book is written like a chat transcript...but it was well written too. I have read some books where the writers have written in a similar fashion..and in most cases..the end result was confusing and boring...HOWEVER..that's not the case here.

So..I guess I will leave you all to decide for yourself weather you want to read it or not !

My Rating:

Blog Stop: Getting Roosevelt By Yvonne Mikell

Roosevelt, an old Victorian nestled on the border of upscale Chestnut Hill and middle-class
Mt. Airy, is the obsession of two people, Elizabeth Samms and Gordon Roosevelt. Gordon is a
realtor who likes to flip properties. Handy man Donovan Smith helps his employer eliminate
prospective buyers who do not live up to his standards. Protagonist Elizabeth Samms and her
autistic son love the house and are willing to fight for it. But a stranger appears with claims to
the house, will Gordon relinquish control?

 Excerpt:


“Hold it, you can pull over alongside of that house,” she said, pointing at the house on the
corner.
He did as requested and shut the meter off, “That’ll be $55.”
She handed him a hundred dollar bill.
“I don’t have any change,” he said.
“Well you can keep it, you get a $45 tip for being so courteous,” she said.
“Thank you,” he said.
He got out and walked around the car. He opened the door and helped her get out.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” he said.
“That’s quite alright I can make it by myself. Wait a minute, this is not my house!” she
snapped.
The cab driver sucked his teeth, “Of course it isn’t! I’ve been trying to tell you this is not
the 7400 block of Germantown Avenue. You belong in Cathedral Village don’t you?”
“No I don’t!” she snapped, “Who told you I belonged there?”
“Why else would an 80 year old lady be out this time of the night? I don’t blame you.
When I get your age and my family stick me in one of those places, I’d probably run
away too. If this is not your home where do you want me to take you?”
“No where! Be gone!” she snapped.
“I can’t, I can’t leave you here all by yourself,” he said.
“If you don’t leave, I’ll scream Simon Lucas, and when the cops get here I’ll tell them
you robbed me,” she said.
“Of all the…good riddance!”

Review: Always a Witch (Witch #2) by Carolyn MacCullough

The adventures of Tam and Gabriel continue with more time travel, Talents, spy work, and of course, the evil Knights.

Since the gripping conclusion of Once A Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother's prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.




MY OPINION:



This is the  second book  in the series and it doesn't match up to the first one. Time travel and role play seemed a little boring somewhere in the middle...

Just when the choice made by Tasmin and the her feelings after making the choice- very easy to relate to (very real), brought a high, the book ended rather abruptly.
Tasmin never truly realised her own self worth and the family does little to help her there or show their appreciation for her choice..like I said earlier, the book ended rather abruptly for my liking.

Frankly, I didn't care much about this book. I had 'better' expectations from it..but it ended up being a dud !

My Rating:

Review: Enchanted by Judith Leger

She knows how to unravel secrets, but getting to the bottom of this one might just kill her. Magic is for fools, television news reporter Caitlyn believes. And she's no fool. She's determined to prove master illusionist Shay a fake. Somehow though, with Shay the lines between magic and reality blur. Perhaps it's his charisma, or being in Ireland with him, but now she's dreaming of a magical place. One that seems oddly familiar... Shay hides a terrible secret. He's to blame for Caitlyn's separation from her family and the world she doesn't remember. She must go home to the Sidhe, and to recover his honor, he must be the one to bring her. He'll willingly lose everything he is to help her break the curse binding her. But time is of the essence--the old evil has surfaced. He must make Caitlyn believe in magic, and his love, before she becomes its prey.

MY OPINION :


Why did I initially picked up this book? 
The answer would be - pretty cover and interesting blurb. (Yeah..yeah..I have finally learnt the lesson...Do NOT judge a book by its cover or blurb..!)

What I felt about the book after having read it?

Its a very predictable and superficial book.
There were several instances when I felt that there was a lack of adequate information, like:

There is no information about how she really did end up with the alcoholics whom she considers her real/biological  parents. Gwyneth abducted her and poof ! She's in human world with alcoholic parents..??
There is no real mention of Caitlyn's childhood ...random information about Caitlyn's childhood are found here and there scattered all over in the book..making it very confusing.

How did her friendship with Marcy come about?

What was all that about making her believe and not getting her anxious..?? No reason stated. Its often mentioned that she won't survive otherwise..but why won't she? . Actually, it was kind of irritating, ridiculous and hilarious, all at the same time that everyone kept on making her go to sleep the moment she got anxious, even in the least !


The plot seemed to be entirely too predictable at times. Marcy role was predictable. The solution to the riddle was entirely too predictable !

The writing was pretty bland...no emotional descriptions...nothing!  

When Rhys(Caitlyn's father) meets Caitlyn for the first time after her abduction, he displayed no emotion in that regard whatsoever towards her...no watching her tenderly..no heaviness in voice...etc...actually, there is no emotion mentioned at all..!!

also,

How do mothers react when they hear that their long lost daughters have been found..??
They don't even try and visit...even by making an excuse??

So, my friends, here goes my another failed attempt at grabbing a decent book..!

My Rating:

Cover Reveal:REAPING ME SOFTLY by Kate Evangelista

                 

                            This cover was sent to me by http://atomrbookblogtours.com/

                                                

Ever since a near-death-experience on the operating table, seventeen-year-old Arianne Wilson can see dead people. Just as she’s learned to accept her new-found talents, she discovers that the boy she’s had a crush on since freshman year, Niko Clark, is a Reaper.

At last they have something in common, but that doesn’t mean life is getting any easier. All while facing merciless bullying from the most powerful girl in school, Arianne’s world is turned upside down after Niko accidentally reaps the soul of someone she loves. This sends them both into a spiral that threatens to end Arianne’s life. But will Niko break his own Reaper’s code to save her? And what would the consequences be if he did?

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15988916-reaping-me-softly

The cover is gorgeous...Don't you think so...?? The blurb seems interesting too..!!

Review: Unlikely Allies by Tiffany King

Eighteen-year-old Kimberly gets the shock of her life when she learns the father she thought was dead is not only very much alive, but never even knew she existed. Angry with her mother for lying all these years, Kimberly flies to Colorado to meet the father she knows nothing about before heading off to college in the fall.

Her father’s world turns out to be nothing like she expected. Rather than the typical nine to five lifestyle, Kimberly’s father runs a summer foster camp that teaches young children skills to build their confidence and self-esteem. The Colorado Rocky Mountains are a different world than the sunny shores of California, taking Kimberly completely out of her element, and causing her to second-guess her spur of the moment decision.

Never being one to quit anything, Kimberly is determined to show her father that a surfer girl can fit into this rugged mountain wilderness. That is if she can deal with Mason, an arrogant nineteen-year-old guy who has made it his mission to point out every mistake she has made since her arrival. While she would love nothing more than to rub it in his know-it-all face, Kimberly can’t deny the feelings he stirs up inside her, or the chemistry between them, even during their verbal assaults.

When a tragic accident leaves them stranded in the mountains, Kimberly must use her shaky skills to save Mason and survive the elements. Suddenly, fighting is the last thing on their minds as they must rely on each other if they want to live. In their struggle for survival, they realize what they thought they knew about each other isn’t true after all.

MY OPINION:


First 35% of the book was good enough. Later than that..it was arrgghh..!!(I felt like pulling my hair out!)

Here are a few instances that did not agree with me at all:

1)There is talk of giving a 12 year old space to come to terms with a shocking and unwelcome news she's just received .Well,in my opinion, twelve year olds in such a situation need a lot of hugs and someone to hold them as they cry!

2)When the land below them gives away, as they go trekking, Kimberly takes quite a fall (literally !) and still suffers from a few bruises and a fractured finger only, while Mason fractures his leg.(Umm..really? Even if she falls onto a tree,the acceleration caused by the gravity would have led her to fall with enough force that she suffered some serious injuries.)

3)While taking a fall,Mason looses the walkie-talkie too.Well, aren't the walkie -alkies secured to your waist band? All I know is that it is not so easy to loose a 'well secured walkie-talkie', which you would expect given all the training and experience Masons had.

4)Also,while fixing Kimberley's finger Mason informs her that the nearest hospital is an hour and forty-five minutes away, in the foothills, so they had to learn more medical training than usual.(Well,then won't it be normal for them to carry the appropriate anti-biotic injections to prevent infection in an open fractures in their first-aid supplies?
If you are going trekking on a mountain,fracture from a fall is the most obvious kind of emergency you would expect ! )

5)Well lets move on further with the story,Kimberley waits outside as Mason undergoes his first physiotherapy session.It's natural to expect that he will try to push her away. All he says is 
: "I don't need you."  and next thing Kimberley is saying is:
"I'm going home.". Once she's home she tells her best friend that she left him in a hope that he will come after her! (She's soo.. intelligent! He's there, dealing with a heavy blow of loosing his leg and instead of making him believe that she is going to be there for him she leaves him and expects him to come after her..!! This is soooo.. ridiculous !)

Here's the actual quote:

"You little minx. You think he'll come after you."
"I hope he does," I said honestly.

Well, I can go on and on about how crap this book was but I really don't want to burden you all with my rant any further. 
So here goes:

My Rating:

Review: Spark (Elemental #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

The fuse is lit…


MY OPINION:

Well, no book is entirely without flaws but this book is a nice read. This book is written from Gabriel point of view. The characters in the book are so well written that I found myself  actually being able  relate and sympathise with them several time while reading the book.  Gabriel's  character portrayed several emotions : love, self-doubt, betrayal, anger, frustration, need to be loved and understood.

There is a little mix up regarding Simon's hearing and speaking ability and it isn't well conveyed, but that's a minor thing.

What I like about this series is that each book in this series is written from a different brothers point of view and tells his story . This is a new and refreshing concept in young adult books and is more often found in romance and action series like those written by Maya Banks , Lori Foster. etc.

While I wanted a little more action towards the end...you know..like a final show down ..BUT now that I think about it...it would have lead to the revelation of Gabriel power to Layne in a drop of the bomb manner. Nick being with her first and  Gabriel finding them later and no physical confrontation with 
Calla..helped to make Layne's acceptance of Gabriel's power more believable. 
Another thing I liked about the book was that Lynne's father turned out to be a decent man rather than the enemy (that would definitely have been predictable..!)

Summing up,this book is worth a read !

My favourite quote:

    She paused. “Look, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea ” 
   “Don’t worry, I already have.”

My Rating: