TLC Book Tours Book Review: OMG ... Am I A Witch

Author: Talia Aikens-Nunez
Title: OMG... Am I A Witch?!
Publisher: Pinwheel Books
Publish Date: Oct 31, 2013
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: TLC Book Tours & the publisher
Book Blurb: 
April Appleton is so annoyed at her older brother that she searches the Internet for a spell to turn him into a dog. When the spell works, April realizes she has more powers than she ever dreamed of! Now she has to figure out how to turn him back to normal before her parents find out. She has little time, but with help from her friends Grace and Eve she finds a book of magic that will hopefully reverse the spell. Will it work, and will April’s newfound magic save the day?

Review: OMG... Am I A Witch is absolutely the cutest book for your grade schooler. Actually, it is a pretty cute book for a burned out adult that needed something fun to read, so that my head wouldn't explode.

Talia Aikens-Nunez really captures children's personalities. I could hear April and Grace's voices loud and clear in my head as I read.

And a story about a little girl that turns her brother into a dog! Priceless.

Personally, I've always wanted to turn my siblings into animals, but cute fluffy puppies probably weren't what I had in mind.

April and Grace with the help of a new friend, Eve work to bring Austin back to normal. (While April discovers she's got real witch powers)

Highly recommended for the little girls in your life!

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Bellman And Black

Author: Diane Setterfield
Title: Bellman & Black
Publisher: Atria Books
Publish Date: Nov 5, 2013
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb: 

Bellman & Black is a heart-thumpingly perfect ghost story, beautifully and irresistibly written, its ratcheting tension exquisitely calibrated line by line. Its hero is William Bellman, who, as a boy of 11, killed a shiny black rook with a catapult, and who grew up to be someone, his neighbours think, who "could go to the good or the bad." And indeed, although William Bellman's life at first seems blessed—he has a happy marriage to a beautiful woman, becomes father to a brood of bright, strong children, and thrives in business—one by one, people around him die. And at each funeral, he is startled to see a strange man in black, smiling at him. At first, the dead are distant relatives, but eventually his own children die, and then his wife, leaving behind only one child, his favourite, Dora. Unhinged by grief, William gets drunk and stumbles to his wife's fresh grave—and who should be there waiting, but the smiling stranger in black. The stranger has a proposition for William—a mysterious business called "Bellman & Black"

Review: It says in the blurb that this is a ghost story, but I see no signs of anything that is really ghostly. I see a story that's a bit macabre, but nope, no ghosts here.

Did that bug me?

Yes it did.

I wanted something creepy and what I got was a story of a man who really overcame odds and built many successful business ventures, but who also has had bad things happen to him that change his life.  And it all started with a rock thrown at a rook. (That's a crow...in case you were thinking he got pissed off while playing chess)

This book is neither good nor bad, but unfortunately it isn't what most readers are expecting when they start turning the pages, and that is a big turn off.

The story is well written and engaging and the little tidbits about rooks are very interesting.

I liked William Bellman, even as his losses started to really affect his mind. (He really can't deal with the death of anyone close to him...but in a way, he is obsessed with death...hence the business he creates)

But the most interesting character is Black, because you don't really know what he is until the end of the book

So, it was a good read, just not what I was expecting, which made it disappointing, but the closet goth girl in me can't help but be amused by a guy that builds and empire on items for mourning.

Rating: 3 flowers

Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours Book Review: A Harlot's Tale

Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Minotaur Books
Hardcover; 320p1250010780
ISBN-10: 1250010780

It is August, 1645, one year since York fell into Puritan hands. As the city suffers through a brutal summer heat, Bridget Hodgson and Martha Hawkins are drawn into a murder investigation more frightening than their last. In order to appease God’s wrath—and end the heat-wave—the city’s overlords have launched a brutal campaign to whip the city’s sinners into godliness. But for someone in York, whipping is not enough. First a prostitute and her client are found stabbed to death, then a pair of adulterers are beaten and strangled. York’s sinners have been targeted for execution.

Bridget and Martha—assisted once again by Will, Bridget’s good-hearted nephew—race to find the killer even as he adds more bodies to his tally. The list of suspects is long: Hezekiah Ward, a fire and brimstone preacher new to York; Ward’s son, Praise-God, whose intensity mirrors his father’s; John Stubb, one of Ward’s fanatic followers, whose taste for blood may not have been sated by his time in Parliament’s armies. Or could the killer be closer to home? Will’s brother Joseph is no stranger to death, and he shares the Wards’ dreams of driving sin from the city.

To find the killer, Bridget, Martha, and Will must uncover the city’s most secret sins, and hope against hope that the killer does not turn his attention in their direction.

Review:  The Harlot's Tale is probably my most anticipated book of the new year. It is a shame it had to come out in January. I read The Midwife's Tale last January and it was one of the best books I read in 2013.

Sam Thomas again creates a book that is both frightening in its subject matter and historically accurate. That's not surprising, considering the author's PhD in history with a concentration on Restoration England. That doesn't make the book bogged down with facts though. What it does is paint a picture of England in the time of Puritanical rule, which is not so pretty.

The Harlot's Tale is the second full book in the Midwife Mystery Series and fans of historical mysteries will love it just as much as the first. Bridget and Martha are strong characters. I find both smarted and more likable than any in more contemporary mysteries. There's also a novella you'll want to check out The Maidservant and the Murderer that falls between the two books.

The good thing about this book, though it is a part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone and you will enjoy it just as much.

I am so happy to be part of this tour and I can't wait for the next book in this series

Rating: 5 flowers

Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours Book Review: Isabella

Publication Date: September 3, 2013
Cool Gus Publishing
Paperback; 218p
ISBN-10: 1621250911

She was taught to obey. Now she has learned to rebel.

Isabella is just twelve years old when she marries Edward II of England. For the young princess it is love at first sight – but Edward has a terrible secret that threatens to tear their marriage – and England apart.

Who is Piers Gaveston – and why is his presence in the king’s court about to plunge England into civil war?

The young queen believes in the love songs of the troubadours and her own exalted destiny – but she finds reality very different. As she grows to a woman in the deadly maelstrom of Edward’s court, she must decide between her husband, her children, even her life – and one breath-taking gamble that will change the course of history.

Does she submit to a lifetime of solitude and a spiritual death – or seize her destiny and take the throne of England for herself?

This is the story of Isabella, the only woman ever to invade England – and win.

Review: I've read about Isabella's later years in a book by N. Gemini Sasson.  Reading about her marriage to Edward II was truly enlightening.

Most of the time when queens are worried about their lack of attention from their husband it is because of a mistress. In Isabella's case, her problem is the king's best friend, who happens to be a little more than his best friend.

Ah the problems of royalty.

The even bigger problem Isabella faces is that she seems much smarter than her husband even as a girl in her teenage years.

It is impossible not to feel sorry for her. She was raised to be queen, and she had certain expectations, but Edward wasn't the King she thought she would be married to.

Even worse, it had to be difficult to be married to a man who didn't really want to be king in the first place and when his lover was killed, he took his anguish out on the nation, and it really fell on Isabella to save England.

It is no wonder she had to do what she did to save the throne.

This was a very fast paced novel, at times maybe a little too fast paced, but a very enjoyable read.

Rating: 4 flowers

Book Review: The Christmas Quilt

Author: Jennifer Chiaverini
Title: The Christmas Quilt
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publish Date: Nov 8, 2005
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: 

When Christmas Eve comes to Elm Creek Manor, the tenor of the holiday is far from certain. Sylvia Bergstrom Compson, the Master Quilter, has her own reasons for preferring a quiet, even subdued, Christmas. Her young friend Sarah McClure, however, takes the opposite view and decides to deck the halls brightly. As she explores the trunks packed with Bergstrom family decorations that haven't been touched in more than fifty years, Sarah discovers a curious Christmas quilt. Begun in seasonal fabrics and patterns, the quilt remains unfinished.

Sylvia reveals that the handiwork spans several generations and a quartet of Bergstrom quilters -- her great aunt, her mother, her sister, and herself. As she examines the array of quilt blocks each family member contributed but never completed, memories of Christmases past emerge.

At Elm Creek Manor, Christmas began as a celebration of simple virtues -- joy and hope buoyed by the spirit of giving. As each successive generation of Bergstroms lived through its unique trials -- the antebellum era, the Great Depression, World War II -- tradition offered sustenance even during the most difficult times. For Sylvia, who is coping with the modern problem of family dispersed, estranged, or even forgotten, reconciliation with her personal history may prove as elusive as piecing the Christmas Quilt.

Elm Creek Manor is full of secrets, from a Christmas tree with unusual properties to the sublime Bergstrom strudel recipe. Sylvia's tales at first seem to inform her family legacy but ultimately illuminate far more, from the importance of women's art to its place in commemorating our shared experience, at Christmastime and in every season.

Review: I've read a few of Jennifer Chiaverini's books, but I don't think I've loved one as much as I have this one.

The story is told in the present and in flashbacks and by the time the last page is turned there will be a tear or two in your eyes. (In my case, I was crying like a baby.)

I love emotional family stories, and this was absolutely perfect. It blends tradition, with trials, love and forgiveness, as well as dealing with regrets.

I absolutely loved Sylvia. My heart ached for her many times through the course of her life. Her sister, Claudia, I wanted to pop in the nose. She was a snot nosed brat, who seemed to grow up into a snot nosed adult.

The sibling rivalry between the two is priceless and heartbreaking. As events in the present bring back memories from Sylvia's past, it is easy to see why she might not be as into Christmas as her friend Sarah. Though as the story unfolds, it is easy to see why she wants Sarah to reconcile with her mother.

Sylvia truly had a life that was full of sadness, though their were good times as well. It is just a shame that she had to reconcile with memories rather than people.

A beautifully written holiday story that anyone can appreciate.

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Promise Me

Author: Richard Paul Evans
Title: Promise Me
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publish Date: Oct 5, 2010
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: 
Beth Cardall has a secret. For eighteen years, she has had no choice but to keep it to herself, but on Christmas Eve 2008, all that is about to change.

For Beth, 1989 was a year marked by tragedy. Her life was falling apart: her six-year-old daughter, Charlotte, was suffering from an unidentifiable illness; her marriage transformed from a seemingly happy and loving relationship to one full of betrayal and pain; her job at the dry cleaners was increasingly at risk; and she had lost any ability to trust, to hope, or to believe in herself. Then, on Christmas Day, as she rushed through a blizzard to the nearest 7-Eleven, Beth encountered Matthew, a strikingly handsome, mysterious stranger, who would single-handedly change the course of her life.

Who is this man, and how does he seem to know so much about her? He pursues her relentlessly, and only after she’s fallen deeply in love with him does she learn his incredible secret, changing the world as she knows it, as well as her own destiny.

Review: The holidays wouldn't be the same if there wasn't a heartwarming book by Richard Paul Evans to read.

I love his earlier holiday novels. This one is more than that though. Its a bit strange and yet sweet.

Now don't get me wrong, I loved the story and stayed up until wee hours of the morning to finish it, but when we learned who Mr. Matthew was...erm Matthew...I have to admit I started to wonder what kind of crack the author had been smoking to come up with this plot twist.

However, I'll give Mr. Evans props. In this story Beth Cardell goes through a really crappy year. Her husband's cheated on her, then gets sick and dies of cancer and all the while her daughter, Charlotte is getting sick from an unusual illness that is leaving the doctors baffled.

Yeah, that's a crappy year.

Then she meets Matthew, who is just a little bit different. He knows things he shouldn't know. That's when all the weird stuff happens. Then it gets all wibbly wobbly timey whimey in a way that left shaking my head.

There's a strange connection between Matthew and Charlotte that just blew my mind in a not so good way. When the story moved along in a normal manner it was fabulous, but when the Time and Space Continuum got messed with...well it went all Doctor Who, in a less than entertaining way.

Still, I couldn't stop reading, because Richard Paul Evans is my holiday crack. I enjoyed the book, even though it was a bit far fetched and  not as good as some of his previous novels.

Rating: 4 flowers

Book Review: Catherine Bybee - Single By Saturday

SINGLE BY SATURDAY

The Weekday Bride Series, Book Four

Montlake Romance, Contemporary

January 07, 2014, First Edition

Paperback & Kindle

KAREN JONES:

The petite blonde married a Hollywood star, yet she’s the one who spends every day playing a part: The part of a happy wife. A year ago, she agreed to wed a famous actor to diffuse rumors about his personal life. Now, her divorce sits just around the corner, along with a five million dollar payout. However, as she prepares to exit her fake marriage gracefully, her drop-dead-gorgeous brother-in-law walks through the door… and into her heart.

ZACH GARDNER:

Dark-haired, blue-eyed hunk, Zach, crashes Michael and Karen’s fancy one-year anniversary party, determined to meet the wife his brother hid from their family. But sparks fly the moment he and Karen see each other. When the famous couple decides to visit the whole Gardner clan, Karen must keep Michael’s secret under wraps in front of his questioning relative… including Zach, the man who could be the real love of her life.

PRAISE FOR SINGLE BY SATURDAY

“The fourth outing in the Weekday Brides series captures readers’ hearts and keeps them glued to the pages until the fascinating finish. Romance lovers will feel the spark fly … almost instantaneously.”

 –RT BOOK REVIEWS, TOP PICK!, 4 ½ STARS

BUY LINKS:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Single-Saturday-Weekday-Bride-Series/dp/1477849262/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/single-by-saturday-catherine-bybee/1116252512?ean=9781477849262

BAM:  http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Single-Saturday/Catherine-Bybee/9781477849262?id=5626188019237

BOOK DEPOSITORY:  http://www.bookdepository.com/Single-by-Saturday-Catherine-Bybee/9781477849262

EXCERPT

This man was gorgeous, and if she were one to believe in instant attraction, her body responded to him with a fierceness she didn’t think possible. Maybe this was what the women gazing at Michael experienced that she did not. This wild thrill of discovery that led to possibilities only the big screen could fulfill.

Instead of letting her imagination get the best of her, Karen flattened a hand over her stomach and attempted to act unaffected. “Do I know you?”

The sex personified blue-eyed man stepped toward her. It took effort for her to hold her ground.

Sensing her unease, he held still, looked around the both of them as if noticing the caterers running about and guests arriving behind him, and said simply, “Zach Gardner.”

The smile on her face stayed. The name tickled at the edges of her consciousness. Memories flashed behind the veil of her mind until she narrowed her focus. “Michael’s brother?” she whispered.

Zach gave a small nod and swept his eyes down her frame. When his eyes met hers again, he masked whatever he’d been thinking, then he smiled and said, “And you’re the wife none of us have met.”

Not a lot shook Karen. She’d managed the role of Michael’s wife under the ever-present scrutiny of paparazzi, producers, actors, and fans . . . but the man standing in front of her did what no one else could. He made her question her decision to marry. 

Review: They say you should never judge a book by its cover, but that's hard to do when it's a Catherine Bybee novel. Single By Saturday has to be one of the most beautiful covers I've seen in ages.

I've been anxious for Karen's story since Fiance By Friday. You don't have to read that book first, but it does help to understand Karen's rather unconventional marriage and how it isn't bad at all that she's hooking up with her husband's brother.

Trust me on that!

In this book her marriage to Michael is coming to an end. Not to worry, this was a marriage of convenience, and the divorce was planned when they wed. However, she didn't plan on falling for her husband's brother. 

Sparks fly and things get complicated and that really makes for a great read!

Catherine once again delivers a romance that lives up to our fantasies with a touch of heat for good measure.

Rating:  5 flowers

CATHERINE BYBEE

BIO:

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating high school, she moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned novels Wife by Wednesday, Married by Monday, and Not Quite Dating. Bybee lives with her husband and two teenage sons in Southern California.  

CONTACT LINKS:

www.catherinebybe.com

catherinebybee@yahoo.com

catherinebybee.blogspot.com

twitter.com/catherinebybee

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