magic
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
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”
The Fading Dusk by Melissa Giorgio Book Review + #Giveaway
The Fading Dusk
Smoke & Mirrors
Book # 1
Melissa Giorgio
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date: July 19, 2015
ISBN: 978-1515150589
ASIN: B0125KV45W
E-book Pages: 257
Paperback Pages: 408
Goodreads Rating: 3.88
My Rating: 4.5
Book Description:
In the gritty city of Dusk, seventeen-year-old Irina makes her living as the street magician Bantheir’s assistant. The job isn’t glamorous, but she loves the crowds, the shows, and most of all, the illusion of magic. But Irina’s world is shattered the night she is arrested and charged as Bantheir’s accomplice to murder—murder by magic.
Real magic, the kind that’s been forbidden since the old wars.
Irina finds the idea of flashy showman Bantheir using actual magic to kill someone laughable, but she’s the only one who sees how ridiculous the claim is. But how can she convince everyone Bantheir is innocent when they’ve already made up their minds? Desperate, Irina must decide who she can trust to help her win her freedom. Is the surly, handsome Captain Leonid telling the truth when he says he believes Irina is innocent, or is he just using her to get to Bantheir? What about Aden, the sweet soldier and longtime fan of Irina’s who claims he’s on her side?
Irina said she wanted to know the truth, but when she stumbles across a dark secret that changes everything, will she be strong enough to survive?
My Take:
Wow, just wow.
When I first started reading this book I was interested but not hundred percent invested. But it didn’t take long for me to follow love with this story and the characters or to be sucked in by the mystery or the setting. Once I reached chapter 4 I was I was not able to put the book down.
I really love it when I’m able to imagine everything in a book, the world the characters are living in. But what I find even more special is when the author has the ability to make you care about characters and have you fully invested well-being and what is going to happen to them. This book has all that and more. You got a strong heroine who is so kindhearted and good that it occasionally becomes irksome… But I promise that’s a good thing. Irina is a great and loyal character with a neck of a lot of spunk and perfectly matched with the characters surrounding her.
The whole premise of this book focuses on murder and forbidden magic with some romances thrown in to spice things up a little bit more. And I loved every gosh darn second of it!
Forewarning, there IS a bit of a love triangle but it’s over so quickly, I was able to get passed it without feeling frustrated or annoyed. So, if I can get through it, and you all know how much I bitch and moan about love triangles and predictability, then you can rest assured that it does not dominate or mar the pages of this amazingly written book.
Speaking of romance, Irina’s love interest is perfectly suited for her and has clawed his way to the top of my book boyfriend list with his swoon worthy description and heroic actions.
4.5 Quills
I’m really looking forward to reading the next installment and learning more about this world and what consequences our heroes will face!
Amazon | B&N
About The Author 
Melissa Giorgio is a native New Yorker who graduated from Queens College with a degree in English. She’s always dreamed of being a writer and has been creating stories (mostly in her head) since she was a little girl. Also an avid reader, Melissa loves to devour thick YA novels. When not reading or writing, she enjoys watching animated films, listening to music by her favorite Japanese boy band, or exploring Manhattan. She is also the author of the Silver Moon Saga.
Author links:
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter
Enter The Giveaway Here
One (1) signed paperback of THE FADING DUSK and one signed paperback of THE SIGHT SEER
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”
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.
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

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.
Enter The Giveaway Here
Thanks for stopping by,
Super Freak by Vanessa Barger Review + #Giveaway
Vanessa Barger
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Publisher: Tantrum Books
ISBN: 978-1942664536
ASIN: B014C57RIG
Pages: 285
Goodreads Rating: 4.5
My Rating: 5.0
Book Description:
Thirteen-year-old Caroline is a freak. Her parents have uprooted her to a town full of Supernaturals. You’d think she’d be thrilled. But, with someone without a magical bone in her body, this daughter of tree sprites feels like even more of an outcast than she has ever before.
To make matters worse, her new home is cursed. But when Caroline takes to investigating the mysterious and strange happenings of Harridan House, her BFF goes missing. Seems someone doesn’t want Caroline sticking her non-magical nose where it most certainly does not belong. Determined to prove herself, Caroline uncovers a plot to destroy her new hometown.
Undeterred, Caroline can’t give up. But what’s a human without magical powers to do? Caroline better figure it out fast, before she loses everything she has ever loved and the whispers she’s heard all her life prove true: Caroline is a useless superfreak.
My Take:
5 Quills
About The Author
Wicked Series by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie Spotlight + #Giveaway! #TipsySpooktacular
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…

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.


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.

Black Moon Review + #Giveaway
Black Moon
The Black Moon Saga
Book 1
Becca C. Smith & F.M. Sherrill
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Red Frog Publishing
Release Date: July 7, 2014
ISBN: 9780985027698
ASIN: B00LMH9TRU
Number of pages: 283
Word Count: 68,000
Goodreads Rating: 3.67
My Rating: 4.5
Book Description:
Shea Harper is forced to stay in boring, hot and dry Phoenix, Arizona for college. But once she meets the enigmatic yet positively egocentric Lucian, Shea’s life changes forever.
She finds out that she comes from a long line of descendants called Vessels. In her soul is the key to destroying an ancient prison protecting the world from darkness itself: Lucian’s father.
Up until now, Lucian has captured every descendant except Shea. With her powers awakening, all vampires want to drag her down to the pit. But Lucian is territorial. She’s the first female Vessel… and he’s convinced she belongs to him.
Saucy and tauntingly surprising, Black Moon captures the struggle between burning alive with desire and castrating the heart. This is a love story that will drain you dry.
Available on Amazon
My Take On The Book:
Well now, that was an interesting read. Where do I start with this review?
The book itself is not a very long read, roughly about 14 chapters not counting the prologue or epilogue. But in reading those chapters you do get a detailed account of the story being told.
The most important thing to be said about this story is the uniqueness of the tale and how thoroughly intriguing it is. It’s a different type of vampire story fused with history and an interesting take on biblical mythology (I say mythology because not everyone believes in the biblical stories so please no attacks.)
There is the typical romance in this story but luckily it is not one of those back and forth love triangle tales that frustrate the readers but the characters are well-rounded and full of backstories and history; not to mention the chemistry between them. While there is some predictability, it’s nothing to get in a snit about as it doesn’t deter the story in anyway or take away from the execution.
4.5 Quills
The authors, in my opinion did a stand up job creating this universe and the characters inhabiting it and I look forward to seeing where they take these characters and reading how the story unfolds. It’s a different kind of book so I can’t really pinpoint a title to compare it to but vampire readers this one is definitely for you. Also if you like a little history mixed in with your paranormal romance and a dash of magic then yep, it’s a book for you. 😀
About The Authors
Becca C. Smith:
Becca C. Smith received her Film degree from Full Sail University and has worked in the Film and Television industry for most of her adult life. In 2010 Becca published her first novel, Riser followed by the sequel, Reaper, in 2011, and the finale, Ripper in 2013. In 2012 Becca wrote the children’s novel Alexis Tappendorf and the Search for Beale’s Treasure. She is also the co-author of the teen graphic novel Ghost Whisperer: The Haunted. Most recently Becca released Atlas, the first book in a new urban fantasy series. She currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, Stephan and their two cats Jack and Duke.
Aren’t author’s bios boring? I always wanted to read one that went something like this:
F.M. Sherrill: recent citizen of earth. Plans on ruling the planet once she gets over the common cold. Or, F.M. Sherrill: time traveler. Decided to alter the space-time continuum by writing a novel, thus changing history slightly, which will eventually lead to the rise of a new human species.
But here it is. F.M. Sherrill is a novelist, A.K.A. an avid bullshitter; that’s why she lives in L.A.. She’s been writing for as long as her ancient mind can remember, devouring tales like an anemic vampire roaming the streets in hot pink heels, always thirsty for more. When she’s not writing, she’s making steampunk weapons, sewing giant plant-eater Mario plushes, making costumes for some film bloke or cosplayer, and sculpting/casting movie prop replicas while gardening in her urban apartment. Her favorite tools? A soldering iron, a blowtorch, a band saw, a sonic screwdriver, a replicator and an active imagination.
Blog: http://girlswritingcoffee.blogspot.com
Twitter: @therisersaga and @fmsherrill
Enter The Giveaway Here
5 Copies of Black Moon
Giveaway is open Intl.
Thank you 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”
Book Tour Organized By:
Open Flame by Lacy Danes Review & Giveaway!!!
Open Flame
Dragon’s Fate Book 2
Lacy Danes
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Date of Publication: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-61921-746-1
ASIN: B00CZ8MCHO
Number of pages: 118
Word Count: 32K
My Rating: 3.5 to 4
Samhain Publishing | Kindle | Kobo | Nook
Book Description:
Between hate and lust lies heaven, hell… and smoldering love.
Like his brothers, Madoc is a dragon born by blood magic. Unlike them, he has only once bitten a human in a near-hopeless quest to find his eternal mate. Watching that woman die nearly destroyed him.
Now he works to invent a watch that will rewind time. When he attends the Spectacle of Time in Paris, though, he finds a woman who shakes the foundation of his world and crumbles his ferocious control.
Ever since the black-haired man with the red crescent on his cheek ruined her family, Fina has hated him. When she runs into him in Paris, she is determined to show him just how much. Instead, overwhelmed by the desire to both kill him and bed him, her body betrays her and she melts in his arms.
Sparks fly, and—when his teeth sink into her skin—she ignites. But she can’t run far and fast enough to avoid the burning truth. She is now part of Madoc’s dangerous world, body, soul, and fire.
Warning: This novel contains explicit sex, time-shifting, distance-hopping, a super-hot dragon, and a woman who can take the heat.
Short Excerpt: http://www.lacydanes.com/books/open-flame/#read-an-excerpt
My take on the book:
Ok Ok, I have to admit I was conflicted about my review of this book.
On the one hand, I loved it. I loved the concept of Dragons, the fact that each dragon wields a particular magic of their own and the integration of vampires. But on the other hand, I was a tad disappointed with how the story unfolded. Book one of this series, Waterfall was permanently added to my fave book list not long ago when I read it, it was chalk full of steam and so much je ne sais quoi which I felt was missing a bit from Open Flame. It was a good read, a really good read. I loved the characters as much if not more than book one but and this is a really big but, I felt like this story and its characters might have done better if featured in a longer novella or full length novel. Now maybe I’m being partial due to my disappointment in the book’s ending (not the way it ended but well its ending read the pros and cons for a better explanation) but I’ll stand by my observation. I didn’t feel there was enough of a story, everything felt rushed this time around and that was my confliction while reading this story.
Once again Lacy Danes was a genius with words and imagery so that was a major plus in my opinion so the story wasn’t lacking there. The world was vivid, almost tangible. Ms. Danes has a unique way with setting a scene and I believe wholeheartedly that this book captured that. I’d probably make more sense if I broke it all down for you guys.
The Great (Pros):
- The Characters. I loved Madoc and I really liked Fina. She was just the right of spunk and woman. She made me mad and made me laugh at her utterly ridiculous monologue (this is of course meant it the best sense. Ms. Dane’s writing was superb so I’m not calling that ridiculous in the least.) She was strong which seemed like a great fit for Madoc. Madoc was just the perfect mesh of sexy dragon goodness and lost puppy.
- The Prologue. This part of the story was simply and to the point. A perfect intro to the story and a great way to allow readers the opportunity to jump into the series even without reading book one. It allows the book to stand on its own giving the reader the option of picking up the first book if they so choose. I recommend reading both though 😉
- Hudson. He deserves to stand on his own and not fall into the category of characters lol. He was so conflicted and his story tugs at your heart strings but his ability to put that behind him and still be such a great friend to Madoc makes you giddy and swoon. He truly is a great friend to Madoc and in turn Fina, not to mention he is pretty funny in his witty remarks.
- The Magic. The magic of this world, the creation of Lacy Dane’s brilliant mind, has to be one of my favorite aspects of this story. She crafted the world ‘magically’ and it shows in the way she penned it.
- Lacy Dane’s Writing Style. It makes you breathless. As I stated before the characters were well loved and amazingly constructed. The world, The Spectacle of Time, The distance hoping just leaves you yearning to read more.
- Carmen. She was just so well written. While she doesn’t appear in the book much, she kinda has a knack for stealing the spotlight when she entered on the page. I can’t delve to seep into this, for fear that I would give away some of the story.
- The Epilogue. It literally leaves you hungry for more. It has so many redeeming qualities. You have a slight moment of fear but mainly it ends the book on a relatively happy note and you with a smile on your face.
- Zir. I don’t know why but I just love that word. It’s different, weird even, but a perfect fit for a group of males who are indeed Dragons. Am I the only one wondering how she came up with that?
The not so great (Cons):
- The word elemental. I know this might sound silly but I have this pet peeve about repetition. The word in my opinion was used way too much in the first chapter. It was elemental this and elemental that and I couldn’t stop the sigh of frustration that escaped me while reading it. Then it completely disappeared and I calmed only for it to return again and frustrate me once more.
- Ilmir. He’s one of the brothers, his element air and I wanted to like him, I really did but I couldn’t. At least not till the epilogue. I couldn’t stomach his brash attitude or the way he was with Madoc. He was so cold and demeaning. It just irked me to no end.
- The length. As I stated before, I felt this story would have done more with a little more meat. I felt like it was rushed. Not enough action. There were two baddies for Fina/Madoc to deal with other than the obvious resistance from Fina described in the book summary and neither of them were to my liking. I felt like one was rushed through and the other was added as an afterthought and dealt with poorly by the characters. This was probably my biggest deciding factor for my rating
3.5/4 Stars/Quills
All in all, I would recommend this book for many readers especially those who like books set in the past, those who love romance and those who love supernatural books. If you read ‘Destiny Kills’ or ‘Mercy Burns’ by Keri Arthur and loved it then this is definitely the book for you.
About the Author:
Lacy Danes made a New Year’s resolution to write a hot, historical romance. A year and a half later, she achieved her goal. She lives in Portland OR, where besides writing she enjoys horseback riding, gardening and savoring a great martini while watching the world go by.
Visit Lacy online:
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1 Author’s Favorite Things pack: Fun cocktail accessories and recipes Makeup from Lacy’s favorite lines 60.00 Amazon gift card- open to US Shipping
“I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.”