Showing posts with label Rawk: Summer Beach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rawk: Summer Beach. Show all posts

Thursday, August 20, 2015

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

Elizabeth has a new job at an unusual library - a lending library of objects, not books. In a secret room in the basement lies the Grimm Collection. That's where the librarians lock away powerful items straight out of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales; seven-league boots, a table that produces a feast at the blink of an eye, Snow White's stepmother's sinister mirror that talks in riddles.
When the magical objects start to disappear, Elizabeth embarks on a dangerous quest to catch the thief before she can be accused of the crime or captured by the thief.
Polly Shulman has created a contemporary fantasy with a fascinating setting and premise, starring an ordinary girl whose after-school job is far from ordinary and leads to a world of excitement, romance and magical intrigue.
From Goodreads.






This was a fun read, for a younger audience but still good. There is a lot of interesting stuff that can be borrowed from the library but some of the more special ones are the stuff from the Grimm collection. It is full of magic and yes the princess can only be "woken up" by her true love. 

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages: Reading Under The Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

The Mad Ship by Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb returns to the sea with Mad Ship, the second book in a projected trilogy set in the same world as her famed Farseer series. Many unresolved questions from Ship of Magic are answered in this tale of sea serpents and dragons; living ships made of wizardwood; the Bingtown Trader families who sail the ships; and their disfigured cousins, the Rain Wild Traders, who build them.
The Vestritt family's liveship, Vivacia, has been taken by Kennit, an ambitious pirate. Captain Haven is a prisoner; his son Wintrow, who bears the Vestritt blood, finds himself competing with Kennit for Vivacia's love as she becomes a pirate ship. Althea Vestritt, in training to become Vivacia's captain, arrives home to discover her beloved ship lost. Brashen Trell, her old friend and shipmate, proposes that they sail to Vivacia's rescue in the liveship Paragon, who has lost two previous crews and is believed mad. Malta, Althea's niece, seeks help from her suitor, the Rain Wild Trader Reyn, whose family is the Vestritt's major creditor. Meanwhile, the sea serpents who follow sailing ships struggle to remember their history and return to their place of transformation. From Goodreads.

I read the first book in this series over 2 years ago but it was fairly easy to get back into and I remembered most of the characters without a problem even though there are quite a few. The book being called the Mad Ship I would maybe have liked there to be a bit more about it but there was a lot of different story lines we had to follow so I guess there was no room for more.
One of the things I really like is the change in Malta in the end of this book, I am looking forward to see what that leads to in the next one.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Pack Your Picnic Basket
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
Rawk-A-Tiers: Big Books Bonus Club
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages: Campfire Cookout
A Million More Pages: Reading Under The Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Crazy Challenge Connection: Monopoly

Sunday, August 16, 2015

The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

The Mistborn trilogy has become a firm favourite with fantasy fans the world over. The imagination that Sanderson brought to the series and his skill at marshalling epic storylines and dramatic action, his ability to create vivid characters made him a natural choice to complete Robert Jordan's epic wheel of time sequence. But with Mistborn, his standalone fantasies and his new series, The Stormlight Archive, Sanderson has shown his bountiful talents in his own fiction. Now he returns to the series that made his name with a new story set years after the events of Hero of Ages.
In a world recovering only slowly from evil, a world where allomancers wield immense power through their ability to unleash the magic bound up in common metals someone who can burn metals that no-one has burned before can tip the balance...
Sanderson has the knack of giving the epic fantasy reader exactly what they want. This ability has thrown him to the forefront of the genre and the dramatic story within The Alloy of Law shows off this skill to its very best.
From Goodreads.


As I have only just finished the Mistborn trilogy, it was a bit weird to be back with new characters. It took me a bit to get used to Wax who is the main allomancer of the story. He left his noble background in the city to go and work as a mistborn lawkeeper in the wasteland. He now has to return to the city to be head of house after his uncle's death.
I liked his friend Wayne that turned up better than Wax but I am looking forward to see how they will develop in the next book. One part of the story does end with this book but at the same time the whole mystery of what has happened opens up and promises an interesting continuation of the story.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Pack Your Picnic Basket
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages: Campfire Cookout
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...
Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.
From Goodreads.


This was okay but no more than that. There is both a bit of Harry Potter and Star Wars in it. None of the characters are really strong but they are okay. As I subscribe to Kindle Unlimited and the books are available there I will probably continue the series.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Pack Your Picnic Basket
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick Your Fate Adventure Challenge
A Million More Pages: Campfire Cookout
A Million More Pages: Reading Under The Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick One For Me
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

Saturday, August 1, 2015

The Return of Gabe McLeod by Joanne Hill

Veterinarian Tessa Callaghan is on a mission to save her home town. The bay has just been voted one of the dullest small towns in the country and she’s determined to do her bit to make it great again. She just hasn’t counted on brother-in-law Gabe McLeod coming back on to the scene – nor her growing feelings for the man who abandoned her when she needed him most.
An SOS call from the small town's mayor has brought Gabe back home for the shortest time possible but it also brings him face-to-face with the secret he’s kept all these years. That he is in love with Tessa - and that she is the one woman he can never have. But when life in the Bay takes some unexpected turns, it becomes clear that he’s not going anywhere… and neither are his feelings for Tessa.
Set in a small New Zealand town, The Return of Gabe McLeod is a cosy romance that will make you laugh - and warm your heart.
From Goodreads.




I enjoyed this one. A nice romance of second chances. I also liked the serious story about Gabe's father and (step)mother and what sorrow can do to a person. It is of course all settled in the end.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Yahtzee Challenge
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Pack Your Picnic Basket
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages: Reading Under The Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Scavenger Hunt
Crazy Challenge Connection: Scrabble, anyone?

Thursday, July 30, 2015

The Christmas Tea Shop & Bakery by De-ann Black

Erith leaves behind her old life, and her ex-boyfriend, to start afresh. She moves to a lovely Scottish seaside town and opens up a vintage tea shop and bakery selling cakes, bread, scones and tea.
It's Christmas time, and although Erith wants a quiet life, baking during the day and sewing her quilts in the evenings in her house above the shop, the local shopkeepers soon involve her in their festive plans.
Stuart, who owns the shop that sells everything, flirts with her. Handsome interior designer, Muir, takes an interest in her, but is she interested in him? And what about Zack, the gorgeous bad boy?
In this Christmassy romance, Erith bakes everything from chocolate bread to traditional Victoria sponge cakes. She blends her special selection of teas. She becomes friends with the local sewing bee women, Doreen, Millie and Belle. She also realises that when it comes to love, she has to trust her instincts rather than listen to local gossip.
Set in a Scottish seaside town in a snowy December, there's baking, sewing, snogging and sexy men in this light-hearted romance novella. It's 22,000 words of Christmas cheer.
Amid the chaos of Christmas, will Erith find time for love? Will there be a festive proposal? Who will be Santa and switch on the town's Christmas tree lights? In the busy little town there's only one thing for sure - no one wants to dress up as the reindeer's bum.
From Goodreads.

Another short cosy romance by De-ann Black (I think I say the same each time). As usual there is an abundance of fine men flirting with the main female character and she has to chose the right one and of course she does. And it is fine to read a Christmassy short story in the middle of summer.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: The Shorts Stack

Friday, July 24, 2015

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them—and they're stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake.
The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it "might" be able to stop a war between the two camps.
The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.
From Goodreads.


Yes, this was a great ending to the Heroes of Olympus series. The book is written in a lot of different POVs, and I found that interesting. I didn't mind Percy didn't have a chapter told from his POV. All the other characters are so strong and have to endure a lot all the way through. It is a bit open-ended but that was fine.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Clue#2
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Scavenger Hunt

Monday, July 20, 2015

The Pack in Illinois by Zoey Glasgow

Blue Rivers defines a typical teenager of the 21st century. Her parents are split, she suffers from severe anxiety and is known as a loner after breaking up with her obsessive ex-boyfriend. When one of the few people she trusts dies of cancer, she finds herself leaning towards an old friend who betrayed her awhile ago. As the relationship revives, she finds herself introduced to a whole new kind of world that is both intoxicating and deadly. The only thing keeping her from running is Rider Hayde, the alpha of the Illinois wolf pack. From Goodreads.





I started off thinking this was okay, apart from the fact that Blue living alone with her dad was being kind of Twilight. I also liked that some chapters were from other people's point of view. My problem with this book was the editing or the lack of it. I am normally not sensitive about this but it was bad in this book. Lots of missing words, changes of names and wrong words.
Another huge problem was that I did not anywhere see this was part of a series but it ends on a cliffhanger, or if it is just this book it has a really bad ending.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: The Great American Road Trip
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Fifteen-year-old Eragon believes that he is merely a poor farm boy—until his destiny as a Dragon Rider is revealed. Gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power. Now his choices could save—or destroy—the Empire. From Goodreads






This was better than expected as I was unsure what to expect with the reviews for this book being all over the place. I enjoyed it and thought it was a good fantasy book. It is a coming of age book with a dragon, elves, dwarves and of course an evil ruler and his equally bad henchmen. I will continue this series.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick One For Me
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

Friday, July 17, 2015

Fearless by Cornelia Funke

After saving his brother, Jacob Reckless faces death from the fairy's curse burning in his heart. In search of a cure he returns to the Mirrorworld, where he is reunited with Fox, a beautiful shape-shifting girl. He has one more chance: a golden crossbow, with the power to both save and destroy life, buried in a dead king's tomb beneath an invisible palace. Jacob must cross continents, face monsters and men - including a dangerous rival - and learn what it means to stay alive. From Goodreads.





Interesting to be back in mirrorworld with Jacob and Fox. This time Jacob is searching for something to save his life from the Red Fairy's curse. I am looking forward to the next book.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: The Great American Road Trip
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

Thursday, July 16, 2015

The Adventures of Augustus Fuller by James Rickon

The Adventures of Augustus Fuller, classic action adventure fiction from the pen of James Rickon, contains the three stories:
Casus Belli:
The arrival of a misdirected cryptic letter plunges Augustus Fuller, gentleman, into the dangerous intrigues of the anarchist underworld of Edwardian London. With Scotland Yard baffled and reliant on him for information, will Fuller be able to unmask the identity of the anarchist mastermind and discover their plans? Or will his high stakes game end in nothing less than Fuller’s demise in the cruellest of manner?
The Aldbury Devil:
Fear stalks the snow laden landscape of East Kent as the tormented mind of an old man haunts the residents of Aldbury Hall. Can Fuller uncover what lies behind a spate of disturbing killings on the estate? Or will the nightmare stepping out of the cold winter’s night claim his life too?
The Terror Weapons:
With tensions across Europe rising in the hot summer heat of 1905, the British public is held in rapture by newspaper headlines of mysterious explosions lighting up the night skies above cities across the country. Are these nothing more than natural phenomena or does the recovery of a burnt corpse at Portsmouth point to a more insidious and calculating menace at work?
From Goodreads.


Three different adventures set in 1905. Augustus Fuller seems to be a gentleman who works under cover both for the police and the Foreign Office. He is nearly killed in all three adventures but of course just manages to get away and ends up kind of solving the cases. Not completely solving as the main bad guys always get away. Not for me.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: The Great American Road Trip
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Rhyme Time

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

The Cornish Affair by Laura Lockington

Fin thinks she's finished with love.
A dedicated food lover, she potters around her country kitchen with Nelson the bad tempered parrot, Baxter the dog and her delightfully vague Aunt, Nancy.
Her days are spent creating ambitious recipes and gazing out onto the Cornish coast from her cliff top home - The House of Dolphins.
But this summer something is about to change.
At the annual Port Charles beach party the glamorous TV chef Oliver Dean is making an appearance
Rich, worldly, and successful he couldn't be more different from Fin.
And yet sometimes opposites attract.
And suddenly Fin realises that romance is on the menu.
But does she still know the ingredients for a a 'Cornish Affair'?
Or is this a recipe for heartbreak?
From Goodreads.




On the cover it says it is a laugh out loud foodie romance. I didn't think it was quite that funny but it was still an okay romance.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: The Great American Road Trip
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Rhyme Time
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Deep in My Heart by Patricia W. Fischer

Dr. Jocelyn Promise had no long-term plans to stay in Tuscany, Texas, but she saved the daughter of Caleb Davis, her high school crush, and became a hero. Will she allow herself to fall for him again?
Widower and Air Force Veteran, Caleb Davis, never wanted to fall in love again... until he saw Jocelyn. Now someone from his past has arrived to even a score.
Can he protect his family, Jocelyn, and his heart?
Things are about to get interesting in Tuscany, Texas.
From Goodreads.






A suspense romance. I like Jocelyn who seems to have turned from an insecure teenager into a strong caring adult. Luke lost his wife and is now a single parent with four kids, 3 year old Riley is of course extremely cute.
It is a romance and therefore has a happy ending. A little too happy as even the woman who is the mean bitch of the story and has been since high school turns into a nice person in the end.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: The Great American Road Trip
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Rhyme Time
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery

Monday, July 13, 2015

The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

Tricked into releasing the evil spirit Ruin while attempting to close the Well of Ascension, new emperor Elend Venture and his wife, the assassin Vin, are now hard-pressed to save the world.
This adventure brings the Mistborn epic fantasy trilogy to a dramatic and surprising climax as Sanderson's saga offers complex characters and a compelling plot, asking hard questions about loyalty, faith and responsibility.
From Goodreads.





Another book it took me a few chapters to get back into, as it is so long since I read the second book. It was a brilliant end to the Mistborn trilogy. Vin and Eland are the main characters but so are the rest of the group as they nearly all have major parts to play.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Rhyme Time
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
Rawk-A-Tiers: Big Books Bonus Club
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Scavenger Hunt
Crazy Challenge Connection: Monopoly

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Witch Me Luck by Amanda M. Lee

Hemlock Cove is celebrating a magical birthday, and familiar faces from different places are descending on the town to participate in the party.
Everyone is looking forward to the festivities except Bay Winchester, who would rather be hiding from her high school nemesis than chatting her up in the town square.
Lila Stevens hasn’t changed since graduation, and Bay remains her favorite target. Bay would like to ignore her, but Lila isn’t making it easy – especially when she sets her sights on FBI Agent Landon Michaels.
Unfortunately for Bay, she can’t focus on that predicament when the Hemlock Cove Savings & Loan is held up and a local teller is shot. When suspicion falls upon Sam Cornell, the Winchesters have to gather together to prove his innocence (or guilt).
Clove is despondent, Thistle is on a revenge mission and Aunt Tillie is … well … Aunt Tillie. As usual, the Winchester witches are in an uproar.
As the clues start to fit together, Bay realizes she has to wade through a pack of lies to find the truth. With Landon by her side, and Lila nipping at her heels, Bay is going to have to find a way to survive and keep her family together.
From Goodreads.

This was fun. These books have a lot of cheeky sexual innuendo. Bay, Thistle and Clove fight constantly but always support each other against outsiders. But not against Aunt Tillie, who is my favourite character. Against her it is just a question about staying off her list to avoid being cursed.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Crazy Challenge Connection: Monopoly

Into the Deep End by Leesa Freeman

Before doesn't exist—not for Luke Stevenson—not anymore.
He once dreamt of winning Olympic gold and escaping his crappy little New Mexico town, but that dream shattered the night a drunk driver took his twin sister and confined him to a wheelchair. Mourning Bethany and struggling to cope with his new paraplegic life, Luke is blind with rage at everyone and everything.
Adriana Toomey, the only other survivor of the crash, can barely crawl out of bed after burying her fiancé, Luke’s best friend. But what haunts her most, she has no memory of that fatal night.
An old friend who manages a camp for special needs kids, strong-arms the broken pair to act as counselors for three weeks. Seeing each other again is painful. Luke reminds Adriana too much of the man she was going to marry. Luke, who secretly loves his best friend's girl, has no idea how to be the kind of man any woman would want. Disabled and destroyed, what could he possibly have to offer now?
Maybe nothing. Maybe everything.
From Goodreads


This was a very emotional book, dealing with the loss of loved ones and the loss of possibilities. Both Luke and Adriana are having a difficult time getting through the time after the accident where they lost his sister and her boyfriend. But this book is about dealing with it and moving on, not forgetting but moving on and accepting a new kind of life.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: The Great American Road Trip
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder 7/11-15

The army of the dead are coming…
Avry of Kazan, the last Healer of the mystical Fifteen Realms, has a power that can’t be matched. But in the minds of her friends and foe alike, Avry no longer exists. Now, as the psychotic King Tohon builds an army mightier than any that has been seen before—a league of undead soldiers—Avry must face her toughest, most terrifying battle alone. Fighting to be reunited with her family and her lover Kerrick, Avry must infiltrate Tohon’s troops. But does she have the power, the rare magic; to do what legend says is impossible?
From Goodreads.






I enjoyed this and though it took me a few chapters to sort people out, as it is a long time since I read the first book in the series, it wasn't to difficult to get back into. Avry is a brilliant heroine who will give her life for others and is deeply hurt by the loss of her friends and the betrayal by others. This book finishes on a cliffhanger and I won't wait so long before I read the third book.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Rhyme Time
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick One For Me
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

Wicked Brew: A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short by Amanda M. Lee


Thistle Winchester is at her witchy wit’s end.
Great-Aunt Tillie is selling wine at the curb of The Overlook – like it’s a lemonade stand – and her mother and aunts are about to burn someone at the stake. Unfortunately, it’s up to her and cousin Bay to put out the fire.
When the two cousins take a stand, they’re interrupted by the arrival of an injured and dazed little girl. She won’t speak, and she appears to have undergone some sort of trauma.
Thistle steps up to the plate – mostly because the child seems to have latched herself onto the grumpy witch – and the Winchesters launch an all-out investigation into who she is, and where she came from.
As things start to unfold, Thistle’s heart is at risk. This newest guest at The Overlook has a troubled past, and she’s especially vulnerable, which makes Thistle especially vulnerable.
It doesn’t help that that Aunt Tillie has taken a special interest in the child she deems “Basil,” or that Landon wants to arrest Aunt Tillie for her secondary wine business.
Can the Winchesters save the day? Thistle is determined to do just that. She just might need a little help from her family.
  From Goodreads.



In this short story it is Thistle who is the main character. It was better than the last short but still not as good as the actual books.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: The Shorts Stack

First Year by J. P. Howards

Lauren Gillan is starting medical school. The last thing she needs in her life is a distraction. When an opportunity arises to learn the identity of her sperm donor father, Lauren gets more than she bargained for. Led by a series of puzzles, she embarks on a journey to discover the truth of her birth and the story behind the professor who is guiding her.
Written by medical school anatomy professor, J. P. Howards, First Year captures the first few weeks of medical school through Lauren’s eyes, and the eyes of her professor, in a humorous and touching way.
 
From Goodreads.





This was interesting, it was about Loren's first year of medical school. As it is a short book it is not detailed. At the same time it is about her search for her father, the man who was the sperm donor for her mother. It is about friends and family.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Yahtzee Challenge
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: The Great American Road Trip
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

Friday, July 10, 2015

Careful What You Witch For: A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short by Amanda M. Lee

Being the meekest Winchester witch is … tough.
For Clove Winchester, that has never more apparent than now. Sure, she’s got a new romance brewing with Sam Cornell – but her cousins Bay and Thistle are fighting her every step of the way on that front.
When her father approaches her with an opportunity to serve as an in-house psychic for the opening of his new inn, Clove jumps at the chance. It will be an opportunity for her and Sam to spend some much-needed time alone – and have some fun in the process.
Of course, since she’s a Winchester witch, nothing goes as planned.
When Thistle and Bay – and their respective boyfriends – show up for the weekend festivities, and the opening activities are interrupted by an avenging ghost, the new inn is in a precarious position.
That’s on top of Aunt Tillie’s efforts to undermine the soft launch – and she’s feeling particularly vindictive.
Can Clove and her cousins save the Dragonfly Inn? Or is Clove in for a mountain of misery? 
From Goodreads.



This one has Clove as main character. I didn't like it as much as the other stories in the series but then it was just a short story.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: The Shorts Stack