Book Review: Spellbinding by Maya Gold

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Release Date: April 1st 2013

Salem is the bewitching backdrop to this lush, fast-paced tale of one girl discovering the source of her powers.

It is during a routine school project that Abby Silva–sixteen and nearly friendless–makes a startling discovery: She is descended from women who were accused of witchcraft back in 1600s Salem. And when Abby visits nearby Salem, strange, inexplicable events start to unfold. Objects move when she wills them to. Candles burst into sudden flame. And an ancient spellbook somehow winds up in her possession.

Trying to harness her newfound power, Abby concocts a love potion to win over her longtime crush–and exact revenge upon his cruel, bullying girlfriend. But old magic is not to be trifled with. Soon, Abby is thrust headlong into a world of hexes, secrets, and danger. And then there’s Rem Anders, the beautiful, mysterious Salem boy who seems to know more about Abby than he first lets on.

A reckoning is coming, and Abby will have to make sense of her history–and her heart–before she can face the powerful truth.

Having read a lot of the other reviews of this book just before I started it I was a little bit worried, but I liked the sound of the book when I asked for it on Net Gallery and so I was going to read it and form my own opinion about it. So my first thought is that it is a fast read and it is most certainly a young adult book like it states. There is plenty of teenage angst and plenty of silly teenage drama wrapped into the paranormal side of it. So keeping that in mind it was an alright book.

The characters had some depth although really over all they seem like your typical teenagers. There are your usual mean girls that you would expect and the main character Abby must overcome a lot of issues with the mean girls, and other torments in order to come out on the other side. I could guess most of the plot twists well before they happened and a lot of the witch stuff was your typical run of the mill, witches for dummies kind of stuff. However it was still a fun book with some nice descriptions and if I was younger I would probably have really loved it so it is good for the target audience. I would feel alright recommending this one to friends with a firm warning that it is a young adult book, you might not like it and a lot of the turns are very predictable but it is still a pretty decent story.

My Gemstone Rating:

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Book Review: Working with Bitches by Meredith Fuller

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Release Date: March 26th 2013

What do you do when the queen bee demands to know why you haven’t written the report she never asked for? Or when the colleague who you thought was your friend takes sole credit for the project you worked on together?

It’s hard to speak out about catty behavior, especially when it’s insidious or goes on behind your back. But you can usually sense when something’s “off”—particularly if you’re completely stressed out and hate the job you used to love. Let’s face it, ladies: there are plenty of nasty, manipulative, and destructive women in the workplace who fly under the radar while ruthless alpha males get all the bad press.

In Working with Bitches, psychologist Meredith Fuller offers practical advice on how to recognize and manage difficult women at work. She combines actual cases with tips that women can use right away to diffuse even the worst situations. Readers will learn how to deal with the eight types of “mean girls” they might face in the office and find powerful reassurance that they are not alone.

I have worked with plenty of bitches in my time and it is nice to have a book that points out the different kinds. I have a better understanding of these women and why they act like they do thanks to this book. While for the most part it won’t help me much in my current working situation it does help me not feel so hurt by those I have worked with in the past. I also think in the end it will help me be able to deal with any more bitches that I run across in the future in a better manner. It really is a problem that they have, not me. That is one thing you have to be able to tell yourself when working with women like this book points out, It really is not you.

My Gemstone Rating:

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Book Review: A Secret Love by Stephanie Laurens (Bar Cynster)

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All of Regency London knows that no Cynster male would ever walk away from a lady in distress…but their protection can come at a tantalizingly high price. And now, Stephanie Laurens has created her boldest Cynster yet–Gabriel–a man who has known the pleasure of many women, but who has given his heart to no one.

She was desperate for his help…When a mysterious lady, her face hidden by a black veil, begs Gabriel Cynster for his help, he cannot refuse her plea. For despite her disguise, Gabriel finds the woman alluring and he is powerless to deny her. But he exacts payment as only a Cynster would demand: with each piece of information he uncovers, she must pay him–in the form of a kiss.

He was powerless to resist…

Lady Alathea Morwellan knows Gabriel is intrigued, but despite the sparks that fly between them, they have never passed a civil moment together. Yet as the stakes get higher, so does Gabriel’s desire for payment. And with each overpowering kiss, each passionate embrace, Alathea knows that she will not be able to resist his ultimate seduction…but what will happen when she reveals the truth

Time to dive back into the realm of the Ton and the Bar Cynster. Gabriel is next in line who is running from destiny, he is determined (like those before him) not to marry. Of course he happens to be in town for the season and even though he chooses the events he goes to carefully he can not escape what happens next. A mysterious Countess approaches him and is in deep need of help, like any good Cynster male he can not say no to a woman in distress and so he accepts her deal of helping her and not knowing who she is. Will it stay that way however?

Well it is a Cynster book so of course he ends up finding out who the Countess is and it happens to be a woman he has known for his whole life his friend Thea. I really did enjoy this book a fair amount. While there were a couple of times I wanted to smack Thea and tell her just to admit how she felt, or admit to Gabriel who she was it was just because I wanted to see him turn on his full Cynster stubbornness. If your a historical Romance reader and a Stephanie Lauren’s reader there really are no surprises in the turns that take place, however that does not take away from the story. The characters are enjoyable the plot is good and over all it is a fun historical romance read, dive on in and give it a chance.

My Gemstone Rating:

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and he

WWW Wens 3/6/13

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To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What are you reading next?

I just finished reading Another Cynster Novel A Secret Love, I will be posting my review soon. I love Gabriel Cynster for sure.

I am right now reading Working with Bitches. Good advice so far ha ha.

I am not 100% sure what I am going to read next but I am thinking it will either be The Family that couldn’t sleep or Alice Harley’s Happiness.

Posted in WWW

Teaser Tuesday 3/5/13

- Ambrosia 2 Comments

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

“His derisive reply came immediately. “Poppycock! All of it. It’s nothing like that upon my word.”
“You’ve been there?” ~ pg. 309 A Secret Love by Stephanie Laurens

Book Blast: Death and Kisses by Clover Autrey

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Death and Kisses

“My only thought was for Aden. I ran to him, kicking up water and called out his name. He turned and my heart skidded, crumbled and dropped to my feet. Not Aden, but Brad. Then where was . . .?

I looked down to where Brad’s gaze had been focused, down, down, in the murky water towards the center of the pond. No. Noooo! I shouldn’t be able to see him through the stirred-up sediment, but I did. Pascual was drowning Aden just as he had drowned Brad.”

One night changed Kasey’s life forever. The star football player drowned and everyone at school blames her. And oh, yeah, since that night, she can see ghosts. Not that she’s afraid of them. Much. She’s more concerned with staying under the radar as the school’s once-popular, now outcast loner freak. Until the boy she supposedly killed shows up wanting revenge.

Regardless of Kasey’s outcast status, the hot new guy in school, Aden, wants to help her figure out how to get the angry ghost to leave her alone. So what if he also wants to contact his dead brother? And why are all the ghosts suddenly following Aden around?

 

Purchase

 

Author Clover Autrey 

Clover Autrey’s books have been referred to as “Romance in the Safety Zone.” The pages are chock full of adventure, attraction, fantasy and love, safe enough to read with your daughter or your grandmother, yet not so sweet it will put you in a sugar coma.

Inspired by her love of Louis L’Amour heroes, Clover (yeah, that’s her real name), packed up and moved to Texas where she found a real live Texan of her own. She’s been there ever since where she and Pat (who else would a Clover marry but a Patrick?), and their three boys, listen to the coyotes howl at the trains each evening.

 

Links



Praise for Clover Autrey

~Great Expectations Finalist 2012~

Ms. Autrey is a dynamic storyteller. I was enthralled from the very first page. ~~ Dark Angel ReviewsYou will find yourself rooting that these two brave characters are able to find a way through every obstacle thrown in their way. ~~ TwoLips Reviews

…has excitement and danger, intrigue and adventure. The love that grows is but one facet of this story… ~~ The Romance Studio

It really left me speechless, it was so wonderful. Not only is it unlike anything you’ll ever read, but it really pulls you through so many emotions as you read it. ~~Rogues and Romance

BookBlast $100 Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 3/17/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Musing Monday 3/4/13

- Ambrosia 6 Comments

Musing Monday is hosted over at Should Be Reading.

 

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

My bookish thought today is more of an annoyance really. Why does it seem so many people today do not realize that so many movies are made from books. I mean seriously LOTS of them are. My sister seems to to think most of them aren’t including some pretty epic ones that I thought everyone knew about like LOTR. So yeah there is my bookish huff today.

Book Review: The Pleasure Project by Cassie Ryan, Jenna McCormick

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Release Date: March 26th 2013

Be transported into a future brimming with sensuality—where those who dare are free to explore every forbidden desire…

The Science Of Pleasure by JAX

Dr. Jenesis Bruehl had high hopes for her research—until a ruthless colleague stole it to experiment on innocent people, creating a new species of super human. Little did Jenesis imagine that years later she’d be working with one of them. And when Kincaid “Kin” Gregory persuades her to use him as her own personal test subject, neither can deny their insatiable attraction.

Project Seduction by Jenna McCormick

Professional pleasure companion Jace Donovan is on the brink of a major promotion. He just has to spend one week aboard the interstellar cruise ship Trist for a bachelorette party. But when he reunites with the one woman he could never forget, he risks his career for a chance to rekindle the wild passion they once shared.

A Pirate’s Pleasure by Cassie Ryan

Space pilot Captain Dare McFadyen never expected to be space jacked by the notorious pirate Red Death, aka Dani McGovern. And Dani never expected he’d knock her out of her boots. Now the sexy intergalactic bandit is pulling Dare into a battle between warring worlds as she kinks up his plans—and his bed…

This was not a bad set of stories although I have to say they were not my favorite set either. The Science of Pleasure was the best novella of the batch that were in this book. The plot flowed well and the characters were well developed. There was a good amount of erotic content without being over the top. The second of the novella’s project seduction I was just confused by and did not like it at all. Maybe someone else would like it better, but totally not me at all. A Pirate’s pleasure had a talking vibrator in it..yes a talking vibrator do I really need to say more?

My Gemstone Rating:

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Book Review: Written on Silk by Linda Lee Chaikin

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A royal wedding masks the unfolding of Catherine de Medici’s murderous plot against the Huguenots. Will any of the Huguenot princes survive? Life and death rest with two people …Rachelle Dushane-Macquinet, couturiere from a celebrated silk-making family, has come back to the Louvre Palais to create the royal wedding gown. Recruited into the evil Queen Mother’s ring of women spies, she must use her wits to preserve her honor—and the lives of her fellow Huguenots.Marquis Fabien de Vendome has also returned from a buccaneering venture against Spain. The Queen Mother plans to implicate him in an assassination. But Fabien has designs of his own.A man and a woman caught up in history’s deadly swirl and love’s uncertainties seek to escape the venom of Madame le Serpent. Faith in Christ must uphold them, and all who stand alone, in a city gone diabolically mad.

Written on Silk for me turned out to be not as good as Daughter of Silk. I will probably eventually read the third in the series to have read it, but overall the book was a bit dragging to me. There were parts of it that stood out like the poor massacre of the Huguenots but over all it just seemed to be sluggish and drag. There were a lot of mentions of scripture of course, but this was to be expected given the subject material however I felt it might have been a little bit over done and rather than add to the story it started to sound a bit like you were being preached at.

It is not a bad book just slow moving and I would have liked to see a bit more historical information put into than what was.

My Gemstone Rating:

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Feb Challenge Update

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Another month has zipped on by us and I think I did a pretty good job on my challenges again.

For the over all challenge of reading 60 books this year I have so far read 19 so I would say I am well ahead of the ball and I like that.

For my historical challenge I have read 9 of 25

1. The Forgotten Queen by D.L Bogdan
2. A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith
3. Mistress for the Crown by Isolde Martyn
4. The Season by Sarah MacLean
5. The Notorious Lady Anne by Sharon Cullen
6. The Icecutter’s Daughter by Tracie Peterson
7. The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
8. Blood Sisters by Sarah Gristwood
9. Daughter of York by Anne Easter Smith

My immortal challenge saw an update to it I added the Fae and Magic category so am now up to reading 11 books and am currently at 4 of 11.

1.Burned by P.C & Kristin Cast

Category 2: Angels and Demons I have selected to read at least 3 Angel & Demon books in 2013
1.Covet by J.R. Ward
2.Blood Flows Deep in the Empire by N. Isabelle Blanco

Category 3: Fae and Magic At Least 3 of these as well
1.Witches of East End by Melissa De la Cruz

Half way done with the Animal challenge 3 of 6 done.

1.Noor by Milton C. Toby
2.The Icecutter’s Daughter by Tracie Peterson
3. Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen

My Ebook challenge is complete 😀 I am going to keep on going and see how many I read for the year by tracking them and see just how much use the old Kindle gets.

1. The Forgotten Queen by D.L Bogdan
2. Front page Fatality by Lyndee Walker
3.Mistress for the Crown by Isolde Martyn
4.The Notorious Lady Anne by Sharon Cullen
5.Blood Flows Deep in the Empire by N. Isabelle Blanco
6.Buyer Beware by Diane Vallere
7.The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson
8.The Icecutter’s Daughter by Tracie Peterson
9.Spin the Plate by Donna Anastasi
10.Blood Sisters by Sarah Gristwood

I am at 5 of 20 for the TBR Challenge I set for myself I would like to get a bit more work done on that one this coming month, but I do have a lot of ARC books to handle first so we will see.

1. Covet by J.R. Ward
2. The Season by Sarah MacLean
3. Burned by P.C & Kristin Cast
4. Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen
5. Witches of East End by Melissa De la Cruz

Not a bad month over all if you ask me.

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