Review: Mind Games by Kiersten White

Mind Games (Mind Games, Book #1)
by Kiersten White
Release Date: February 19th, 2013
2013 HarperTeen
Ebook Edition; 256 Pages
ISBN: 978-0062135315
ASIN: B0089LOFD0
Genre: Fiction / Young Adult / Paranormal
Source: Review copy from publisher

3 / 5 Stars

Summary
Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

My Thoughts
Mind Games is one of those novels that I finished just for the sake of finishing, simply because it was easy to read and it was short.  If it had been 400+ pages however, I probably would not have finished it.  Jumping back and forth between the POV of the sisters Fia and Annie was fine as I don't typically mind this, but it also jumped back and forth in time.  While the premise and concept was good, there were quite a lot of things happening and I don't feel like any of the themes or concepts were fully explored or developed.

One of the reasons I decided to read this one is because I enjoyed the Paranormalcy Trilogy quite a bit, and figured that Mind Games would have the same type of writing and style.  Unfortunately, this was not the case as I found Mind Games to be disjointed and confusing, even for me.  It was quite a while before I even had an idea as to what was happening other than Fia had to do what she was told or her sister Annie was going to be killed.  Why, precisely, was never really mentioned until the very end and then it seemed kind of flimsy, with little understanding of what was REALLY happening. I do have some idea, but not much to go on, other than they were recruited for a special school that teaches students to assassinate others.   As I am writing this, I am wondering how I possibly even finished the book as I usually give up after 50 pages or so.  I think it was sure curiosity, and possibly because of the author's previous books.  Even Paranormalcy had its issues with the writing style as it could sometimes be too light and feel like it was written by someone who had not yet developed mature writing skills, although it did seem to fit the tone of the novel.  In this one, it missed its mark completely.  Mind Games is dark in nature and tone, but the writing style is the same, making it feel disjointed and wrong.  I can't explain it better than that, other than I felt the whole tone of the novel was...OFF.  

Fia and Annie were interesting characters, or they could have been, but their interactions did not allow the reader to explore their relationship very well, and I didn't feel that close connection that sisters should feel.  If either them had been killed off, it wouldn't have upset the story too much for me, and that is not how I should have felt.  I felt distant from their problems and their issues, probably because I didn't fully understand the true nature of the plot.  Most of the time the author TELLS us what to feel and TELLS us what to think, rather than letting us FEEL it through the actions of the characters and this doesn't make a reader very empathetic towards the characters.  

Verdict
Mind Games has very good intentions and definitely has a lot of potential.  Unfortunately, the story line was scattered and unclear, and to be honest, I couldn't get a sense of what special talents Fia has that makes her so special.  It didn't bother me that Mind Games was darker in nature than her previous novels as I like it when an author branches out and tries new things, but it just didn't work for me with this one.  Other readers may enjoy this novel very much, but for me, I'm not sure if I will even read the next one in this series.  

Review: Arise by Tara Hudson

Arise (Hereafter #2)
by Tara Hudson
Release Date: June 5th, 2012
2012 Harper Teen
Softcover Edition; 404 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-06-202679-8
ASIN: B006IY9IUA
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Review copy from publisher

3.5 / 5 Stars

Summary
New Orleans
Saint Louis
Number One Cemetery
A night there can change a life . . . or a death.

Increasingly worried that dark spirits will carry out their threats and hurt the people she cares for most, Amelia is ready to try anything to protect them. And for his own very different reasons, Joshua has come to this cemetery at midnight to join her in a powerful ritual.

Both know that once Amelia steps inside the Voodoo circle and the beautiful girl from the Conjure CafE begins the cere-mony, everything will change.

Tara Hudson's enthralling sequel to "Hereafter" escalates the danger and excitement, bringing a new dimension to her already mesmerizing story of a haunted love.

My Thoughts
Arise is the second novel in the Hereafter Series and although I enjoyed the first novel, I wasn't as crazy about this installment in the series. And while this one tended to focus much more on the paranormal aspect of Amelia's world rather than on Joshua and Amelia's relationship, I felt like there was something missing in the story, something that just didn't draw me in enough to really care wholeheartedly about the story or the characters.

As always though, any time a story is set in New Orleans, I take an immediate interest as I just love the atmosphere of that city.  There is just something fascinating and intriguing about the history of New Orleans and when the author can weave that magic into the book, it can definitely elevate it to another level of reading.  And while there were some elements of intrigue and interest in Arise, I don't feel like the author really captured the atmosphere of New Orleans like I have seen it done in other novels, like those written by Anne Rice, Barbara Hambly or James Lee Burke.  I felt like the elements just jumped from scene to scene, and never really got a chance to fully develop to their potential.

While I was glad to have the setting moved to New Orleans, I wasn't overly crazy about the plot.  I will admit however, that I was glad to see the emphasis shift from Amelia and Joshua's relationship issues to the darker elements that surrounded them, as it made it more interesting.  As Amelia began having nightmares and began fearing for the safety of Joshua and his family, she spent a lot of time agonizing over whether to stay with him or leave him.  While I understand how difficult this ghost-human relationship thing can be, the whining was somewhat annoying and I wanted to just get on with the story.  What was the darkness?  Who was doing the nightmares? And why do they want her so badly? I don't really feel like any of those questions were really answered in this novel however, so perhaps more answers will be forthcoming in the next installment.  It was interesting though, to see what Amelia was becoming through her various voodoo practices, if you want to call it that, and I am curious as to what the author will do with Amelia now that she is no longer what she was.  Is that obscure enough without giving away too much relevant information?

I did like the introduction of the various new characters although I don't feel like I got to know any of them at all.  Joshua's sister got on my nerves the most as I couldn't fully understand her behaviour.  I can understand how she might be miffed at her brother's ghostly relationship, but that same ghost saved her life and she could at least show some gratitude once in a while.  And for a family full of witches/seers not to figure out that another witch/seer may be under a spell, well...not very good witches/seers are they?  I did like to see Joshua and Amelia explore their difficulties and differences a bit more as the complications of their relationship must cause Joshua problems in his real world.   He would have been heard speaking to himself on a number of occasions and I'm sure, as parents, they would be wondering what was wrong with their son.  I did really like the ending though, as it was somewhat heart-wrenching and not what I expected at all.  Amelia certainly understands the realities of the relationship, but I don't think Joshua does, and he is way too understanding and compassionate.  Does he ever get angry?  

Verdict
Arise is an interesting follow-up in the Hereafter Series, and while I didn't quite enjoy it as much as the first novel, there are still quite a few elements I found intriguing.  Amelia's situation is still precarious and the changes that have happened to her lead to a potentially very interesting third novel in this series and I am looking forward to seeing how these changes will impact the relationship between herself and Joshua as well as with the rest of the family.  Arise doesn't have the feel of the middle book of a trilogy though, as the emphasis in this one was quite different than in Hereafter and I liked that very much. The pacing was also rather quite good, and the author manged to keep up the tension and suspense very well throughout. While I don't quite feel like a lot of things were fully explained in this novel, and many interesting developments were sort of glossed over, and the characters were not developed as fully as they could have been, I will probably still read the third novel, Elegy, if only to find out what will happen to Amelia.    

Review: Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Unraveling

by Elizabeth Norris
Release Date: April 24, 2012
2012 Balzer & Bray (Sold by HarperCollins)
Ebook Edition; 464 Pages
ISBN: 978-0062103734
ASIN: B00655KLXU
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Urban Fantasy
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.
  
My Thoughts
Unraveling is one of those books that was more plot-driven rather than character-driven.  And I can honestly say that this is one those rare moments when reading a novel that character development and character analysis really did not matter one whit to me as I was completely absorbed by the plot, trying to figure it all out.  

I have read a lot of young adult fiction over the years and while I enjoyed Unraveling tremendously, it also had a formulaic and calculated feel to its plot, almost as if it was created solely with the intention of deluging the reader with so many circumstances he/she will overlook some of the character weaknesses that exist.  And it almost worked.  But when you throw too many elements at the reader, it gets overwhelming and exhausting and I did wish at some point that Ms. Norris had kept the plot somewhat simpler.  I felt like the author couldn't decide between writing a young adult novel or a science-fiction novel, and while I realize you can do both, it just felt like there was a wavering between the two throughout the story.  Don't get me wrong though.  I enjoyed many elements in Unraveling and as a HUGE science-fiction fan, those were the elements that drew me in the most.  Like ghosts and witches, end-of-the-world stories can also draw me in like a 'moth to a flame'.  And really enjoyed the ending, hoping that there will be a sequel.  What I did really enjoy was the fact that some of the events caught me off guard and I like a novel that has twists and turns that are fun and surprising.


As anyone who has read my blog will know, I have never been a fan of the insta-love romances and the spark between Janelle and Ben quickly developed into one of those.  Because I was more interested in the plot itself rather than the characters, I could actually overlook it here as it wasn't central to the story.  (Thank goodness!!)  And I really liked the characters, even the so-called antagonists, who actually turned out to be something quite different.  I have to admire Janelle as she was responsible for much in her life; her brother, her mentally ill mom, her workaholic dad, and she even took care of other federal agents who spent time there.  There were times when it grew too much and she reacted as a normal teenager would, but it was refreshing to see that aspect of her personality.  She was headstrong, determined, and definitely did not take anything from anybody.  One of my favourite scenes is when she got mad at something that happened in the past and told off that person at a party, with help from a beer bottle. That seems like a lame comment but I don't want to spoil the scene if you haven't yet read the book.  I don't really feel like I got to know Ben as well as I wanted to, but I am really hoping there is a sequel and that will be remedied in the future.

Verdict
Unraveling was a fun-filled novel that is full of twists and turns, and while somewhat formulaic and predictable at times, still manages to deliver a punch.  I enjoyed the variety of characters and while I didn't feel like I got to know all of them nor did I feel like there was a lot of character development, they were still fun and intriguing.  Fans who enjoy science-fiction, mystery, suspense, romance, and action will certainly enjoy this novel.  I have to admit the action begins right from the beginning and really does not let up until the final page and regardless of how the pieces fit together and the fact that some events feel thrown in, it is still one heck of a ride.  And PLEASE let there be a sequel!!

Review & Giveaway: Initiation by Imogen Rose

Initiation (Bonfire Academy, Book #1)

by Imogen Rose
Release Date: December 25th, 2011
2011 by Imogen Rose
Ebook Edition; 411 Pages
ASIN: B006DI7HX6
ISBN: 978-0-982-80028-7
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Author through Bewitching Book Tours

4.5 / 5 Stars

Summary
Welcome to Bonfire Academy. Set in the foothills of the alpine mountains in St.Moritz, this exclusive private school caters to a special kind of student. Enter at your own risk... but if you are human, you may not want to enter at all. 

My Thoughts
Initiation is the first novel in the Bonfire Academy Series and I really had a hard time putting this one down.  The intrigue begins right from the beginning when Cordelia is summoned to meet the Student Council President, something that shocks and disturbs her as the identity of this person is usually a closely guarded secret.  We also learn that the academy had just recently re-opened due to a serious fire three months previously under mysterious circumstances and the students had been sent home during reconstruction.   When Cordelia learns that she is the new mentor for a thirteen-year-old demon princess who has no idea how to control her own powers, things definitely move swiftly from this moment as the two are soon attacked and almost killed while walking through the halfway to another part of the school.  And the action just kept going, from scene to revelation, pretty much like this for the entire novel.  It was hard to keep up with all of the information.  But I was so hooked!


I have always enjoyed any novel that takes place in a boarding school and adding the paranormal twists make it that much more appealing.  This novel is slightly different however, as these paranormals have a slightly twisted take on their morality and all sort of crazy things could happen at any time.  The love-triangles happening in this novel could make you dizzy, and I found it kind of hypocritical for Cordelia to be so mad at Jagger all the time whenever he did something with the opposite sex just because she liked him when she was busy canoodling with her own boyfriend all of the time.  However, in keeping with that, many of these scenes were quite clean and it was through hints and suggestions and nuance that you knew what was happening, not outright descriptive scenes.  


One of the other things I really enjoyed was the concept that the author never let you forget that you were dealing with paranormals all of the time.  Just when you got comfortable with the characters, something would happen out of nowhere to remind you that you had to take into account the supernatural side of their personas, and those personas could be downright nasty, even Cordelia, who is a demon princess.  One of their mottos is Trust no one and as a reader, you need to keep that firmly in mind as you read through the story.  Many of the characters have good hearts, good consciences, and are nice and friendly, but when their supernatural sides come out, it is so much fun, and I have never read so many fight scenes in one boarding in the first half of a book before.  Hopefully Cordelia won't spend so much time in the infirmary in future novels as she does in this one.


Verdict
Initiation was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it tremendously.  The quirky and unique cast of characters made this novel so interesting, and I couldn't wait to discover what supernatural power each character had.  The writing style is beautiful and flowing and just draws you in until you can't put the book down. I enjoyed the fact that the characters were not quite trustworthy as it added an element of fun and suspense to what could have been a conventional novel.  I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

Character Interview

I have to be honest. I approached this interview with some hesitation, perhaps even a little trepidation. After all, even though I feel I know him a bit through Cordelia, I’ve never experienced Jagger directly. As he sits before me, I can empathize with Cordelia. He is impossibly magnetic, his aura both powerful and dangerous, the only release, a hint of humor gleaming in his silver-gray eyes.

IR: Jagger, thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Are you excited about starting a new year at the Academy?

JR: My pleasure. I am, though I’m not exactly sure what my role will be this year. I guess I’ll find out when I get there.

IR: So, you’re not heading back as the Student Council President?

JR: I wouldn’t think so. That position is usually only awarded for a year. Plus, my time at the academy is officially over.

IR: Why are you going back, then?

JR: Mainly to keep an eye on my brother, Ryker.

IR: And Cordelia?

JR: Yes, hmm. You said that you had some questions from my fans...

IR: I do! Here is one from Sean Sweeney. He wants to know what you got Cordelia for Valentine’s Day.

JR: Myself. However, like any girl, she obviously needed a “token” as well. I got her a little secret something from Harry Winston.

IR: Nice! The next question is about Cordelia as well. Al Kunz, the infamous celeb book blogger, aka The Snake, wants to know what really happened on the slopes. He wants details.

JR: He couldn’t handle the details.

IR: LOL! There you have it, Al! Moving on... Michelle Cable wants to know what you thought when you first saw Cordelia and what you thought of that electrifying kiss.

JR: That she’s stunning is apparent to all who are lucky enough to behold her. I was struck by her beauty as soon as I saw her, when she first arrived at the academy. It was my policy to stay away from demons, though. Every kiss with her is electrifying, but I’m guessing you mean our very first kiss. I was shocked, but immediately realized what had happened.

IR: Too bad that doesn’t happen to humans. Synching sounds unbelievably intimate...

JR: It is, but the realization that one is bound forever to this one being frightening, too. That’s unnatural in the supernatural world.

IR: I can see that. Faustine seems to bridge the gap between the human and the paranormal worlds. My daughter Lauren wants to know what you think of Faustine, and Vickie Boehnlein wants to know if you’re scared of Faustine.

JR: I love Faustine. She’s like a little sister to me. I feel very protective of her, even though I know that she can take care of herself. And yes, I’m scared of her. I’d be stupid not to be. She’s one of the most powerful demons I’ve ever come across.

IR: Demons seem to like their food, meat in particular. Lynn O’Dell would like to know if you prefer filet mignon or T-bones?

JR: I’m not a demon, but I do prefer Filet Mignon.

IR: That doesn’t surprise me. I have a last question from my friend Allirea Brumley. She wants to know what’s going to happen to you next?

JR: I’m not a Wanderer, so a trip into the future to answer that is not possible. Say “hi” to her from me, though. I love her name... Allirea. Is she a faery?

IR: Ha, ha. No, I don’t think so.  Thank you so much, Jagger!

Giveaway Time

Giveaways
4 signed paperback copies of INITIATION
 
1 of each:
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Initiation Gym Bag

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Review: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Shattered Souls

by Mary Lindsey
Release Date: December 8th, 2011
2011 Philomel/Penguin
Softcover Edition; 336 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-399-25622-6
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

3.5 / 5 Stars

Summary
Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

My Thoughts
Shattered Souls is one of those books that I enjoyed immensely due to the unique twist on the 'getting rid of ghosts' scenario, but there were also elements, upon reflection, that I am still not quite sure fit smoothly and easily into the threads of this novel. 

One of the elements I really did enjoy was the interesting twist of soul sharing and partnership between the characters.  It added an element of fun and sometimes even creepiness, as the partnership didn't have a lot of privacy and and both people could feel and sense the other partner's thoughts and emotions.  The whole ghost element is always something that attracts me in a novel, even as a younger reader, and I was definitely hooked right from the beginning as Lenzi's issues with ghosts were apparent very early on; the author was very clear and descriptive about her issues, and takes the reader right to a cemetery in the early stages of the novel where some interesting things happen, but not necessarily good things.  I adore cemeteries and love it when they are used as settings, especially when creepy things happen.  Perhaps I am biased in this way?

I do not however, like Zak and was not too impressed with Lenzi's relationship with this guy.  I am not really sure how he fit into the novel other than to try and create a love-triangle relationship, but it fell flat in my point of view as Zak was not likeable at all, and I was not impressed with his behaviour at the cemetery.  To be honest, I wasn't overly impressed with Lenzi either in some parts of the novel as I found her hard to empathize with and thought some of her actions were quite immature and childish.  I know she was going through a rough time with her father's death, but something just rang false to me with this relationship, and then when she fell hard and fast for Alden, I really took a step back in disbelief and couldn't quite buy into the relationships and the storyline.  Don't get me wrong!  I adore Alden and his personality and think he is perfect for Lenzi.  I love the whole amnesia storyline, but I found it somewhat too convenient as Lenzi's amnesia wavered with regards to convenience; either she has amnesia or she doesn't, you know what I mean?  Or perhaps call it something else rather than amnesia?  That would fit the storyline better.  Now I am hoping to see a lot more of Race and Maddi in the sequel as I loved their characters and thought they were a lot of fun as well as being strong and forthright. 

Verdict
Shattered Souls is a fun, light read, and despite some of the issues I had with the main characters and the storyline, I really enjoyed the concept of the agency having control over the Speaker's and Protector's lives as it added an element of secrecy and danger that I hope is developed in future novels.   If you like the concept of ghosts as well as reincarnation, then I definitely recommend Shattered Souls if you are looking for a quick, entertaining read.  For me, I will absolutely be picking up the sequel when it is released.

Review: Bound by Kira Saito

Bound (Arelia LaRue, Book #1)
by Kira Saito
Release Date: October 28th, 2011
2011 by Kira Saito
Ebook Edition; 246 Pages
ASIN: B0060EHJX6
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Bewitching Book Tours


3.5 / 5 Stars

Summary

Sixteen year old Arelia LaRue lives in New Orleans where the music is loud, voodoo queens inhabit every street corner, and the ghosts are alive and well. Despite her surroundings, all she wants is to help her Grand-mere Bea pay the rent and save up for college. When her best friend Sabrina convinces her to take a well-paying summer job at the infamous Darkwood plantation, owned by the wealthy LaPlante family, Arelia agrees. However, at Darkwood strange things start to happen, and gorgeous Lucus LaPlante insists that he needs her help. Soon, the powers that Arelia has been denying all her life, come out to play and she discovers mysteries about herself that she could have never imagined.

My Thoughts

Bound, the first book in the Arelia LaRue novels, was an enjoyable read, partly because I am always entranced by anything to do with New Orleans, and partly because I am also easily induced into reading stories about witches and curses and voodoo queens.  Throw in a beautiful plantation house with a dark, deadly secret, and a family trying to protect that secret, and how could I refuse?

While I was quite taken with the descriptions of the plantation house, Darkwood Plantation, and really enjoyed the scene at the slave cabins, and thought the action in the story was nicely paced and very quick, I felt there was something missing in the story.  Though I can't quite put my finger on it, there seemed to be a lack of that suspense build-up that should be there in such a setting.  While I enjoyed the story, I can't really say that I was absorbed by it and found myself easily distracted by other things around me and I had to force myself to pay attention to what was happening in the book, sometimes re-reading passages that I had already read.  While I thought the novel was quite nicely written, and it had a nice, easy pace to it, there were some editing issues which really should be looked at more closely.

Arelia, the principal character in the novel, has seen spirits all her life, and discovers a bit more of her family history in this novel.  Fighting a constant battle all her life against being a voodoo queen as she has a fear of being seen as a 'freak', she doesn't accept her burgeoning talents very well in this novel and I thought she sometimes acted quite childlishly, to the point where it actually annoyed me.  While I liked her so-called 'fire and bramble', I thought her fixation on the rich and her stereotypes towards anyone who was rich were also very annoying.  Being poor, she seemed to have a chip on her shoulder for anyone who had money, and tended to look upon them as spoiled and selfish, and treated them very condescendingly.  I had very mixed feelings towards Arelia for most of the book.  As for her best friend Sabrina, for me she can't leave Darkwood Plantation fast enough as I didn't enjoy her character at all.  And I don't understand where the author is coming from either with this relationship; Sabrina stabs her best friend in the back and just thinks she can be forgiven for it as if nothing ever happened, and she is.  I'm like, What???  This was disappointing.  As for Grand-mere Bea and Mrs. Mae, I would dearly love to know their story, what they really fought over, and why Arelia was removed from Darkwood Plantation in the first place.  Seems to me like there is a good story there, but this novel didn't go there at all and I was somewhat disappointed by that. 

You can't have a story like this without a love connection, and that someone is the hunky Lucus.  A gentleman with exquisite manners, Lucus owns Darkwood Plantation, but he also comes with a secret all of his own.  I wasn't sure what to think about the relationship between Arelia and Lucus as I don't think it really felt genuine.  As the novel only deals with the first two weeks at the plantation, there is so little time for a relationship to really develop.  Besides, I'm not quite sure what to think about our dear Lucus as he spent a lot of that time kissing up to Sabrina. It takes a self-confident person to stand up for yourself and what you believe in, and I didn't understand his reactions to some of the things that happened, or why he just went along with things.  There were times when I just wanted to holler, Say no!!

Verdict
Bound was an enjoyable and quick read, and I definitely love reading anything about the lore and the history of the plantation.  I will admit that I was disappointed in the main characters, except perhaps for Henri and Mrs. Mae, as I felt they were somewhat immature and just seemed to overreact to even the smallest things.  And while I did enjoy the story, I felt that the plot wasn't as complex as it could have been, and then when things did get really interesting, the book just ended; it felt unfinished, as if there should be something more.  And while I realize there will be a sequel, it didn't have that kind of unfinished feeling, just the feeling that it ended at the end of a chapter, and there should be one more chapter.  That being said, there was enough in this novel that I did find interesting and I will definitely keep my eyes open for the sequel, Punished, when it is released.  For a light, quick read, this novel is worth looking at, particularly as it has a lot of potential as a series and shows a lot of promise.

Excerpt

It had to work. It just had to. After repeating the chant at least six times, it still didn’t work. “Fine you greedy spirits!” I yelled. It was clear that they wanted more blood. In a rage, I drew more blood, this time slashing my palm. I brought my dripping palm up to Ben’s neck and repeated the chant. After a few minutes, I felt a distinct energy. It was a force within me so incredibly strong that I was convinced that I was able to move a mountain if I wanted to or even get Sabrina to stop talking about boys.

“Arelia what are you doing?” Ben’s voice forced me to open my eyes.

 “You’re strangling me.”

 I realized my hands were gripped a bit too tightly around his neck. I unwrapped them to find that his wound had completely healed, and his fever was gone. “Ben, you’re okay!” I exclaimed. I gave him an enormous hug.

“Of course, I’m okay,” he said. “I’m just sleepy it was a long night. Tell the alligators and ghosts that I’ll see them tomorrow.” He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

In my excitement, I leapt up, and by sheer impulse gave formerly-shirtless guy a hug. As my body touched his, I could smell him and felt my skin tingle.

Delicious chills overtook my body. He wasn’t wearing any cologne, but he smelt lovely. Warm and familiar mingled with a dash of sadness and danger. I caught myself clinging to him and took a step back in embarrassment. My moment of conquest had quickly passed, and I realized that I was standing next to a swamp, in front of a stranger in a corset and petticoat which basically translated to a bra and underwear. I was horrified.

Formerly-shirtless guy looked at me like the existence of Santa Claus had just been proven before taking off his jacket and wrapping it around me. “You must be cold,” he observed. “Your hand is bleeding.” He ripped a sleeve off of his shirt and covered my palm.

In my state of absolute exhilaration, I had failed to acknowledge the fact that the night had gotten a bit chilly. My entire body was covered in goose bumps, and my hand was leaking blood everywhere. “Why did you follow me?” I wrapped his jacket around me realizing that I was standing in the middle of nowhere with someone who could be a psychopathic, serial killer.

His lips broke out in an amused smile. “Do you think I’m stalking you?” He asked hovering over me. It really sucked being short sometimes. Standing at a measly five foot three inches made me feel as if I lived in a world full of giants. At this moment, formerly-shirtless guy looked like a giant even though he wasn’t freakishly tall or anything, maybe slightly over six feet.

“Well, how else can you explain being here?” I stated what I thought was the obvious. I tried to stand on my toes, hoping to make myself appear taller.

Author Bio

Kira is a magic junkie and loves writing YA paranormal romances. Some of her heroes include: Jack the Pumpkin King, Willy Wonka, Larry David, Princess Tiana, the vampire Lestat, Andy and her Maltese Costanza.

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Review: Something Witchy This Way Comes by Veronica Blade

Something Witchy This Way Comes (Something Witchy, Book #1)
by Veronica Blade
Release Date: November 30th, 2011
2011 Crush Publishing
Softcover Edition; 394 Pages
ISBN: 978-0979886942
Genre: Young Adult / Paranormal
Source: Review Copy from Pump Up Your Book

4.5 / 5 Stars

Summary
Brainiac Tessa McClean’s newly discovered magical powers give her an escape from her self-absorbed parents. But the thrill of being a witch fades when she learns of a rival coven and begins to suspect her own coven’s motives. Evidence tells Tessa to trust one side, but instinct drives her toward the other. When the school’s scrumptious delinquent, Hayden Anders, offers Tessa self-defense lessons in exchange for tutoring, his timing couldn’t be better. Although hanging out with him is a necessary evil in Tessa’s fight to stay alive, resisting a bad-boy she secretly yearns for might be more than she can manage. Together, Tessa and Hayden work to unravel the mysteries behind the two covens to discover why they’ll stop at nothing to lure Tessa to their side. She must form an alliance with one of the covens before it’s too late. But the wrong decision could cost Tessa the lives of all who she holds dear — including Hayden.

My Thoughts
Something Witchy This Way Comes is a fascinating look at two young adults, who also happen to be inbedded full of supernatural talent, deal with mainstream issues such as neglect, abuse, peer pressure, relationship issues, future-plan issues, and bullying, as well as supernatural issues such as power, control, trust, abuse of power, and making right choices.  A novel that is fun and engaging, with a lot of romance thrown into the mixture for those with a romantic soul, Something Witchy This Way Comes has that wonderful blend of everything that makes a novel so intriguing to read.

The spark between Tessa and Hayden is evident almost from the beginning and I really enjoyed watching the fireworks play out between them as the contest of wills was fun to read about. Opposites in personality and every other way possible, Hayden is rich and gorgeous, and girls just throw themselves at him; known as a bully and often in trouble, he carries a huge weight on his shoulders, a weight he will never share with anyone.  Tess is the clean-cut quiet girl who has an enviable GPA, a beauty who is not quite invited to all of the glittering parties and doesn't quite fit in the with the 'in' crowd.  Having Hayden as her protector completely changed her life as she was introduced to a world completely different from her own quiet one, a world she prefers to the wild party life that Hayden lives.  And yet, watching the scenes develop and seeing that element of trust grow was interesting and I've often wondered why the element of opposites attracting always exists in these novels.  While there were some steamy scenes between them, I liked how Tessa held her ground and held to her morals and was very insistent that Hayden follow the ground rules that were laid out.  While not a fan of novels where characters are blindly in love right from the beginning, I'm glad the novel didn't exactly follow that route, and the principal characters had their difficulties and their problems or I wouldn't have bought into their relationship.  As the two worked through their problems however, family secrets that had long been hidden came to light and both Tessa and Hayden discovered things about themselves and their families that have been kept hidden.  I love secrets and finding out hidden things is something I enjoy reading; woven deftly throughout the novel, it grabbed my attention and didn't let go until the end.

One of the things I really enjoyed in this novel were the many themes interwoven among the plot.  Themes such as neglect and abuse flowed throughout the pages and I watched as Tessa had to struggle to make grown-ups decisions, decisions such as staying home rather than going away to college and checking on the babysitter to make sure she was doing her job, in order to give her little sister a semblance of a happy home as her parents didn't shower either of them with love or affection or pay attention to them.  While I was reading these scenes, all I wanted to do was go hug my own children and sit down with them and tell them how much I loved them; it was quite sad at times.  I found myself quite connected to both of the main characters, and the differing POV's certainly helped, as the author switched back and forth between Tessa and Hayden and I enjoyed reading about the two viewpoints.  It also showed the reader how complicated both of these main characters were and how easily things can be misconstrued in a situation if people are not completely honest with each other.   Some of the other themes dealt with in this novel included bullying, peer pressure, sexual relationships, future decisions, and responsibility.

Verdict
Something Witchy This Way Comes is a novel full of twists and turns, and blends the paranormal with suspense and high school angst in such a way that makes it a real page turner.  While some parts can be somewhat predictable, there is so much to enjoy in this novel that it really doesn't matter, and the secondary characters are as fun and interesting as the main characters.  And because I still have some unanswered questions, I am really hoping (please, Ms. Blade!!!) that a sequel is coming soon. 

Check out my giveaway for Something Witchy This Way Comes HERE.

I also apologize for this post not appearing yesterday when it was supposed to post.  I really don't know what went wrong, but my pre-scheduled posting did not work (yet again) and this post, which should have appeared yesterday, did not show up.  Again, my sincerest apologies to Dorothy and her team.