Library of a Book Witch

11 October 2015

Trust Me, I'm Trouble by Mary Elizabeth Summer #BookReview #Playlist #Giveaway

Trust Me, I'm Trouble (Trust Me #2)
by Mary Elizabeth Summer
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: October 13th 2015

The sequel to TRUST ME, I’M LYING

Staying out of trouble isn’t possible for Julep Dupree. She has managed not to get kicked out of her private school, even though everyone knows she’s responsible for taking down a human-trafficking mob boss—and getting St. Agatha’s golden-boy Tyler killed in the process. Running cons holds her guilty conscience at bay, but unfortunately, someone wants Julep to pay for her mistakes . . . with her life.

Against her better judgment, Julep takes a shady case that requires her to infiltrate a secretive organization that her long-gone mother and the enigmatic blue fairy may be connected to. Her best friend, Sam, isn’t around to stop her, and Dani, her one true confidante, happens to be a nineteen-year-old mob enforcer whose moral compass is as questionable as Julep’s. But there’s not much time to worry about right and wrong—or to save your falling heart—when there’s a contract on your head.

Murders, heists, secrets and lies, hit men and hidden identities . . . If Julep doesn’t watch her back, it’s her funeral. No lie.

Trust Me, I’m Trouble keeps that fast paced mystery that we loved from Trust Me, I’m Lying. Along with Julep keeping her sassy pants intact.

So we are back with Julep. It’s hard not to like Julep she has this unflappableness about her. Oddly one of her major weaknesses as a grifter is also one of her major strengths as a human being. Julep cares deeply about the people around her and is constantly concerned about not letting them get involved in her troubles. Which actually more often than not puts them right in the path of danger. She might have lived a thousand lives already but she is still a sixteen year old girl and therefore can not do everything on her own. Even though she thinks she can. Julep’s sassiness might be toned down but she is still tough as nails, which I loved in the first book. She has also grown.

One thing I really loved is the way Tyler still has a role in this book. He’s not just something that happened in Trust Me, I’m Lying, he still hold a place in Julep’s heart. It made me really miss him as well. I like that she would have memories of the things he said and part of what happened to him drove some of the plot

Side characters are still great. Dani, Murphy, Bryn, Angela, Mike and Sam. Even a couple newbie’s.

Wow the romance. I wasn’t expecting it at all but I loved the way it came about. Julep’s view on love had me smiling, the way she just looks at it like. A person is a person. Also how accepting everyone else was. It was great to see. Romance is not the reason I read these books, I’m okay with and without it but it was definitely good to see.

The plot is face paced just like the first. We have a mystery to figure out that is often throwing curve balls. I did figure out a couple things before Julep but that’s okay. It didn’t make me think argh Julep. I mean I had the advantage of no one trying to kill me. Wow that ending too, seriously now I have to know what happens come on. Really though although the ending is a bit of cliffhanger it still felt good. I don’t need to beat anyone up or anything.

As far as second books go, if you liked Trust Me, I’m Lying you are going to be happy with Trust Me, I’m Trouble. It did not suffer from second book syndrome. It’s just as fast paced and interesting as the first and of course Julep is still awesome.

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Mary Elizabeth Summer is an instructional designer, a mom, a champion of the serial comma, and a pie junkie. Oh, and she sometimes writes books about teenage delinquents saving the day. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her daughter, her partner, and her evil overlor–er, cat. TRUST ME, I'M LYING, a YA mystery, will be released by Delacorte in Fall 2014.

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10 October 2015

It's a Wonderful Death by Sarah J. Schmitt #BookReview #Playlist #Giveaway

It's a Wonderful Death
by Sarah J. Schmitt
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Release Date: October 6th, 2015

Seventeen-year-old RJ always gets what she wants. So when her soul is accidentally collected by a distracted Grim Reaper, somebody in the afterlife better figure out a way to send her back from the dead or heads will roll. But in her quest for mortality, she becomes a pawn in a power struggle between an overzealous archangel and Death Himself. The tribunal presents her with two options: she can remain in the lobby, where souls wait to be processed, until her original lifeline expires, or she can replay three moments in her life in an effort to make choices that will result in a future deemed worthy of being saved. It sounds like a no-brainer. She’ll take a walk down memory lane. How hard can changing her future be?

But with each changing moment, RJ’s life begins to unravel, until this self-proclaimed queen bee is a social pariah. She begins to wonder if walking among the living is worth it if she has to spend the next sixty years as an outcast. Too quickly, RJ finds herself back in limbo, her time on Earth once again up for debate.

RJ is a snarky, unapologetic, almost unredeemable, very real girl. Her story is funny and moving, and teens will easily connect with her plight. Prepare to meet the Grim Reaper, who’s cuter than you’d expect; Hawaiian shirt–wearing Death Himself; Saint Peter (who likes to play Cornhole); and Al, the handler for the three-headed hound that guards the gates of Hell. This cast of characters accompanies RJ through her time in the afterlife and will do their best to gently shove her in the right direction.

It’s a Wonderful Death is not necessarily what I was expecting. I’m not sure why or what exactly I thought the book would be like but I can tell you that I ended up really enjoying it.

I wasn’t expecting that we would spend so much time with RJ in the afterlife. I guess I was thinking she would be sent back right away. I liked how fleshed out “heaven” was, I kept thinking of it as being like an airport. You take a tram to the lobby where you are then given a “this is your life” presentation and then sent off for judgement. I liked how much personality the angels and particular characters had.

One thing that is so great about this book is the fact that RJ is a mean girl. Even though she’s a redeemable mean girl, it does not let her get away with things. I’m someone who was bullied and I’ve had people facebook friend request me and I think in my head really. What I think It’s a Wonderful Death does a good job showing is that RJ is mean. She knows she is mean and the things she does are not right but I don’t think she completely realizes how much her actions impact a person's life. Which can change that person in the future. When she relives the three moments in her life she starts to see what impact she really had.

RJ is as I said, the redeemable mean girl. I really didn’t dislike her, I did dislike her actions. When she first gets to the Afterlife she acts like a spoiled brat. However, when the spoiled brat part finally falls away she is still very confrontation and opinionated. I liked that her basic personality stays the same even when she sees the error of some her ways.

I really liked the plot and I did not predict the ending. I didn’t even try because it really felt like anything could happen. Will the things RJ changes be enough and will she be happy with the changes? Can she maintain them? There are some questions that need to be answered. There is also a little bit of a side story with another character that RJ meets in the Afterlife. I liked it and gave the book a little romance because there is no romance involved with RJ. The story isn’t about that it’s about RJ finding what her true purpose is. Plus there is also plenty of humor to keep sometimes heavy topics light.

I really liked It’s a Wonderful Death. You’ve got a unique story with some great development for the main character. It’s humorous and has no romance.

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Sarah J. Schmitt is a K-8 school librarian and Youth Service Professional for Teens at a public library who, in addition to planning a variety of events, enjoys opening up the world of books to reluctant readers. She runs a teen writing program that combines Skype visits from well-known authors and screenwriters and critique group style feedback.

Prior to immersing herself in the world of the written word, Sarah earned her Masters of Science in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs from Indiana University where she worked with first year college students as they acclimated to college life. Sarah lives outside of Indianapolis with her husband, two kidlets and a cat who might actually be a secret agent. She is an active member of SCBWI, ALA and the Indiana Library Federation and is a regular participant at the Midwest Writer's Workshop. Her debut novel, IT'S A WONDERFUL DEATH, comes out Fall 2015 from Sky Pony Press.

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09 October 2015

Lord Fenton's Folly by Josi S. Kilpack #BookReview #Giveaway

Lord Fenton's Folly by Josi Kilpack

Lord Fenton is a gambler, a dandy, and a flirt-and he must marry or else he will be disinherited, stripped of his wealth and his position. He chooses Alice Stanbridge for two simple reasons: he once knew her as a young girl, and she is the least objectionable option available to him. However, Alice has harbored feelings for Fenton since their first meeting ten years ago, and she believes his proposal is real. When she discovers it is not, she is embarrassed and hurt. However, a match with the most-eligible bachelor in London would secure not only her future but that of her family as well. Determined to protect herself from making a fool of herself a second time, Alice matches Lord Fenton wit for wit and insult for insult as they move toward a marriage of convenience that is anything but a happy union. Only when faced with family secrets that have shaped Fenton's life does he let down his guard enough to find room in his heart for Alice.

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Excerpt

Fenton groaned and put his saucer back on the tray, making an instantaneous decision that eased his mind quite a lot. To look at every woman he met as a potential wife was irritating, and after only two weeks he was quite tired of it. Perhaps the solution was to orchestrate a match that would not lay all aspects of matrimony at his feet all at once. Perhaps treating it as a business arrangement would help it to be exactly that, thereby freeing him from all the discomfiting realities he was not yet prepared to face. "I leave for Fentonview on Tuesday and shan't be back for a week. Courting is such a boring prospect, and you yourself said that to become infatuated with anyone might become a complication." He paused, considered one last time what he was going to say next, and decided he felt as good about it as could be expected. "You like Alice Stanbridge and feel she would make a good wife for me?"

Lady Chariton looked confused and perhaps a bit concerned. "I do, but-"

"Then that is good enough for me," Fenton said, rising to his feet and smiling broadly at his mother, who stared back at him in surprise. "I do find her appealing and what's more she is not a silly little thing without a practical thought in her head."

His mother's eyes widened and her eyebrows rose upon her forehead. Fenton struck a pose of consternation, with his thumb and forefinger on his chin as he looked toward the window a moment, then nodded crisply and turned back to his mother who still looked shocked by his pronouncement.

"Yes, I think that Alice Stanbridge is exactly what I should like in a wife, and so I shall see to it before I leave for Hampshire-I see no reason to wait until Michaelmas and might as well get it over with." He leaned in and kissed his mother's hand. "Thank you for your help, Mama. I shall let you know how she responds to my proposal."

Lord Fenton’s Folly is a tale of a marriage born of convenience but ends up becoming so much more.

I loved Alice, she is such a great character. I love how she has spirit but is also kind and knows how to fit into her role in society. She manages to balance it all out perfectly. She is not afraid to speak her mind but knows how to choose her battles. The only sad thing for Alice is she floats in the middle range somewhere between two older sisters and two younger half brothers. She is almost the forgotten child. She is loved and knows it but she can’t seem to find her place.

Well Lord Fenton, Charles, is definitely interesting for sure. Alice notices that he is not quite how he was in their first encounter. I liked how they kept using the word Peacock to describe him because it was hard at times to pull his outfits together in my head. Like Alice says he prances around wearing a mask and he has his reasons but we don’t really get to see the real him until Alice forces it out of him.

The book seems to be broken up in three parts. At least that is how my mind divided it. The before, when Alice and Fenton have their first meeting when they are young and then get reintroduce when she comes out to society. The beginning of their marriage that spans their engagement and the first month or so of their actual marriage. Then the after when they leave London and are at Foxcraft.

It’s so easy to absorbed into the plot and the fact that the book goes three these cycles helps to keep it moving. I love when you have two characters that you want to just kiss so bad but they don’t so you keep reading to see if they do. Fenton and Alice have so much chemistry and tension but the story always stays sweet. It’s a great balance that is maintained. One of my favorite parts is their argument about stationary. They have some struggles as different things come to light and which both push them apart and bring them together. Plus Lord Fenton’s mother is a great bonus of the book. I loved her outlook on life and how well she knows her son.

This is a great clean romance that has a plot that keeps you interested. If you are looking a for a sweet read with character chemistry, this is definitely that book.

Josi S. Kilpack hated to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and credits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998 and never stopped. Sheep's Clothing won the Whitney award for Mystery/Suspense in 207 and Wedding Cake, book twelve in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series won in 2014. Josi was also the Best of State winner in Fiction for 2012. Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her husband, children and super-cute - but not very friendly - cat.

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$25 Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon eGift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 10/29/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com eGift Card 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 and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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06 October 2015

Illusion by Lea Nolan #BookReview #GuestPost #Giveaway @entangledteen

Title: Illusion
Author: Lea Nolan
Published: October 5th 2015
Publisher: Entangled Teen
BUY: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

New school. Cross-country move. Broken heart. If only these were Emma Guthrie’s worst problems. Instead, she must battle a trio of enemies—human and spectral—who may or may not have joined forces against her and everyone she loves. All while pretending to be over Cooper Beaumont, her ex-boyfriend and true love, to shield him from her arch-nemesis’s revenge.

Worse, when the fight escalates, Emma is tempted to use black magic, which will endanger her soul. As her enemies close in, join forces, and fight with new and dark magic she’s never seen before, Emma must harness the power within her to fulfill an ancient prophecy, defeat a centuries-old evil, save her family, and reclaim the only boy she’s ever loved.

START THE SERIES!

There are so many reasons that I like Illusion by Lea Nolan. Great characters, good plot, descriptive setting and interesting magic. Which is different than anything most magic related stories I’ve read because it’s Hoodoo, which yes is different than Voodoo but there is some of that in there as well.This has really been a great series.

The plot is always interesting and there are always things going on. There are different levels to each problem. We have Cooper and Emma’s feeling for eachother, which she is only battling because she’s trying to protect him. Emma’s brother Jack is doing all kinds of research using old ledgers from Cooper’s dad/boohag secret lair. We have the issues with Miss Delia and Claude set on making her pay for something that we are not hundred percent sure what that is. Of course Sabina is after Emma. Taneea is her own whirlwind problem. It sounds like all of this could be too much but it’s not because all interweaves together to make this blanket plot that is fast paced and action packed.

I love how descriptive the spells are. It’s not too much to overwhelm you but it’s enough to be really cool. The idea of using the different ingredients and cantations and it also explains what is happening when it’s cast. You get a little more depth with the magic.

I absolutely loved Zora. I liked how she was a good friend but you could tell she knew more then she was letting on. Which made me totally love her. I would have been too weak and shown my cards right away.

We get some more insight into Miss D’s past and the twins ancestry (the ledger research). Which is interesting to learn since even Emma get’s frustrated with all the riddles it feels like people talk in. Well you can always tell they are leaving things out.

The story has its casualties as much as it has it’s wins. I really liked how things came together at the end because everything in the series had been working toward it. One of my favorite magic related series and I think if you haven’t read it you should.

Thanks so much for having me here at Library of a Book Witch! I’m thrilled to introduce you to Illusion, the third and final book in my Hoodoo Apprentice trilogy, which is out now. I’ve also got a great blog tour giveaway for you, but first I’d like to share a few of my inspirations for the book.

My series takes place in the South Carolina Lowcountry which is just about one of the most beautiful places in the United States, and maybe even on earth. The setting is so important to this southern gothic trilogy it almost becomes a character of its own. You may be thinking, how does a location become a character? The answer is by describing the local area, drawing heavily on the details, and making them play an important role in the story. To do this, it helps to have first hand knowledge of the place you’re writing about. You can gain this by setting your story in your hometown or someplace you’ve lived before, or—my favorite—taking a road trip!

I did just that while I was writing these books and I took lots of pictures to help me remember the places I wanted to incorporate in the story. Here are a few that will help give you a sense of what the Lowcountry is like and why it’s such a magical place to set a book:

I write a lot about the Spanish moss that clings to trees all over the south. Imagine this stuff blocking your path as you race through a forest at night, or waving at you in the breeze. It’s pretty spooky stuff, especially when it’s draped over every branch of a giant, spooky live oak.

Speaking of which, here is a photo of one of those trees. Look at its long, spindly, scary limbs. It’s easy to think one could bend down and snatch you up.

The Lowcountry is also famous for its salt marshes. They’re gorgeous to look at but during low tide they can be a bit, um, well, stinky is the best I can offer. But that’s exactly the kind of detail you want to include when describing some place like this.

South Carolina has lots of old ruins from the colonial and pre-colonial period. In particular, these buildings were built with tabby, an old, unstable kind of concrete made of sand and shells. Unfortunately, time and weather have not treated these buildings kindly and they literally crumble at the touch. Chances are they won’t be around for much longer, but while they’re here, I love to include them whenever I can.

Here’s the ruin of a mid-17th century chapel that makes an appearance in Illusion. Notice all the Spanish moss on the oak tree? I’m telling you that stuff is everywhere! In the 1880s this chapel was destroyed by fire but the walls still stand today. It’s a beautiful, eerie relic. Here’s an image that shows the tabby up close with oyster shells embedded in the concrete.

Lastly, how can anyone write about the South Carolina Lowcountry without including one of the area’s gorgeous beaches?

Emma Guthrie and Cooper Beaumont visit the beach behind their plantation often, not only to sneak a few kisses beneath a silvery moon, but also because it’s the perfect place to slip away from their enemies—both human and supernatural—and the ancient curses that threaten their lives.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse of the world that surrounds Illusion and the other books in the Hoodoo Apprentice series!

Lea Nolan is a USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance and YA. Her books for young adults feature bright heroines, crazy-hot heroes, diabolical plot twists, plus a dose of magic, a draft of romance, and a sprinkle of history. She also pens smart, witty contemporary stories for adults filled with head-swooning, heart-throbbing, sweep-you-off your feet romance. Born and raised on Long Island, New York, she loves the water far too much to live inland. With her heroically supportive husband and three clever children, she resides in Maryland where she scarfs down crab cakes whenever she gets the chance. Learn more at her website, or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Goodreads

And now for the giveaway, a super awesome Illusion Blog Tour Prize pack. The Grand Prize includes a $25 Amazon gift card, a custom Hoodoo Apprentice tote, and six authentic hoodoo spells from the Lucky Mojo Curio Company. There’s also a second prize $15 Amazon gift card, and a third prize $10 Amazon gift card. So what are you waiting for? Enter below to win!