First Lines Friday #12, September 30

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. We encourage all of our fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

-Grab your current read(s)
-Share the first line(s)
-Include the title and author so that other FLF participants can add the book to their TBR Lists!

 "Today I'm telling Scott Abrams that I'm in love with him. Sometimes I think that if he knew, he would admit he feels the feels the same way. Other times I think he would laugh in my face so hard I would never get over it. But." -So Much Closer by Susane Colasamti

"I was so lost when Kristen left. When she died. Then Caspian found me. I got to know him. Fell in love with him. He helped me deal with the fact that my best friend was never coming back. And when I found out that she'd been keeping so much hidden from me, he helped me to try and understand. But he had a secret too." -The Haunted by Jessica Verday

Well, those are pretty great openings! What about you guys? Happy reading!

The Reward Challenge Round 3

The Reward Challenge is almost hte complete opposite to a book buying ban as you'll end up buying lots of new books throughout the challenge but only after you've completed a certain amount of reading. It's hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly, so thanks to her!

Ok, so for Round 3, I read Dead Until Dark, which was a Will the Time book, The Betrayal of Maggie Blair, which was a Netgalley review book, and I read Once We Were Kings, which was a tour review book. For my reward, I requested Firelight by Sophie Jordan. Yep.

Book Blogger Hop #8, September 30th

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy for Books. Want to participate? Go sign up!

The Question of the week is: In honor of Banned Books Week, what is your favorite “banned or frequently challenged book”?

My Answer: Like Jen, my favourite banned book pf 2011 is The Hunger Games (I know I haven't reviewed them here, but I've read all 3) just because it was excellent. I might have to reread this one!

A-Z Reading Challenge Update 13

Thanks to Book Junky for hosting this!

So... here's how its gonna work... Read 26 books this year (easy right) One for each letter of the alphabet.

Here's how to enter:

Make a post with your list of 26 books and fill out the entry form.

If you don't have a blog don't worry.. you can post your list on Facebook, Goodreads or where ever you can find... just add your link to where ever you posted your list! 

And I still have 16 of 41 books read, I don't know. I just know that I want to read, and these books are not getting read. And then I go taking out a bunch of library books. I'm pretty insane!

Link to Start Up Post 

Follow that Blurb Reading Challenge Update 14

I actually don't have any updates. But I expect to have The Blessing Way read and reviewed by next week, and I have The Body Finder on request. Yep.

Here's the start up post. This is a meme hosted by Reading With Tequila.

My YA Reading Journey:
1. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa review here

Blurb: "The Iron King is a must read!" -Gena Showalter

2. Intertwined, Unraveled or Twisted by Gena Showalter review here and here

Blurb: "I couldn't put it down!" - P. C. Cast

3. Awakened by P. C. and Kristin Cast review here

Blurb: NA

4. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand review here

Blurb: "A gripping tale of destiny, family, and first love, UNEARTHLY stole my heart and my heart" -Kimberly Derting

5. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

My Mystery Reading Journey:
1. The Devil Colony by James Rollins. Review here

Blurb: "Nobody-and I mean nobody-does this stuff better than Rollins" -Lee Child

2. Killing Floor by Lee Child. Review here

Blurb: "This is a kick-ass first novel by the very talented Lee Child. Hero Jack Reacher has presence and dimension-a man you definitely want on your side. Child has a sure touch and a strong voice. Definitely a talent to watch" -Lynn S. Hightower

3. Flashpoint by Lynn Hightower. Review here

Blurb: "A truly original plot...Lena Padget is a very welcome addition to the ranks of fictional private eyes. She is witty, tough, and always a woman" -Stuart Kaminsky

Blurb: "Never a dull moment...a plot that moves" -Tony Hillerman

4. A Whisper to the Living by Stuart M. Kaminsky. Review here

Blurb: NA

5. The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman

Blurb: NA

6. White Heat by Brenda Novak

Promise: Review and Giveaway

From Goodreads:

Alexis Ames decides to learn who she really is, with or without the help of her mother, who guards their secrets closely. After meeting Tristan Knight and discovering that he s not normal either, the secrets begin to unravel. Their union brings promise to the future of mankind. But it also incites a dangerous pursuit by the enemy. Because they are a match made in Heaven and in Hell.

My Review:

What a great book! Loved the romance!! And the story line? Just amazing! I just really enjoyed it a lot! It was really great, and I enjoyed it a lot! It all came together, and it was just so enjoyable to read!

I loved the thought that there could be beings who'd transcended being human, and were pure. But that they have their own fights with those that are the opposite of them, so that they're never be bored or anything.

I loved how they were together, the fights that they had, the insecurities an doubts that haunted them both, this was just a really good book! Hope to read the next ones, and I hope you guys get a chance to read this book in the giveaway below!

Author: Kristie Cook
Series: Soul Savers #1
Read: September 4th, 2011 

Source: Romancing Your Dark Side Tour Review Book

Publisher: Ang'dora Productions, LLC
Published: August 7th 2011

5/5 Hearts

4.5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Giveaway:

I hosting a giveaway of this book, Promise. It'll be a ebook copy, and so it'll be International. I'll pick a winner via random.org on October 21st so you have a week for you guys to enter.

To Enter:

In the comments, tell me something that you think you'd like about this book and your email.

For Bonus Entries, 1 each, (and if you've already done them for a previous giveaway, say that)

-follow this blog by GFC
-follow this blog by email
-follow Krisite on twitter
-follow me on twitter
-add this book on Goodreads

Bio:
Kristie Cook is a lifelong writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at www.KristieCook.com.

Contact and Buy AKA Links:

Website/Blog
Series Site

Facebook

Twitter
Tumblr
Google

Kindle

Nook

Smashwords

Stops on the Tour:

August 5 - Kick Off Party & Giveaway at The Virtual Book Tour Cafe  

August 7 - 1 of 3 authors Spotlighted and Giveaway at Immortality and Beyond  

August 10 - Guest Blogging &Giveaway at My Home Away From Home  

August 14 - Interviewed by A. Jacob Sweeny at Authors By Authors  

August 18 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Lori's Reading Corner  

August 20 - Interviewed by BK Walker at Authors By Authors  

August 22 - Multiple Author Interview at Brenda Woody and Steve Tindle Author Interviews

August 24 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at J. A. Beard's Unnecessary Musings

August 28 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Words I Write Crazy  

August 30 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Immortyl Revolution  

September 1 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Ashley's Bookshelf

September 6 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at http://dawn-hagen.blogspot.com/  

September 7 – Promise Review & Giveaway at Taking Time For Mommy
September 10 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Live to Read

September 11 - Interview at Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews

September 13 – Promise Review & Giveaway at The Phantom Paragrapher

September 14 - Interview & Giveaway at Bibrary Bookslut

September 15 – Promise Review & Giveaway at Whispered Thoughts

September 16 - Interview/Review/Giveaway at Carrie Ann Ryan's Blog

September 19 – Promise Review & Giveaway at My Kingdom For A Book

September 21 - Interview at Cate Masters

September 23 - Interview/Review/Giveaway at Moonlight Beauty Books
September 25 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at All Things Books

September 26 – Promise Review & Giveaway at From The TBR Pile

September 28 – Promise Review & Giveaway at The Wolfs Library

September 30 – Promise Review & Giveaway at Words I Write Crazy

October 4 - Interview BK Media & Entertainment Radio

October 4 – Promise Review & Giveaway at Giveaway Blogdom

October 5 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Margaret West's Paranormal Romance

October 6 – Promise Review & Giveaway at Louisa Bacio

October 13 – Promise Review & Giveaway at My Home Away From Home

October 15 - Live Book Signing Virtual Barrista

October 17 – Promise Review & Giveaway at Page Flipperz

October 18 - Author Live Chat BK Media & Entertainment Radio

October 19 - Guest Blogging/Review/Giveaway at Mama Knows Books

October 24 - Interview/Review/Giveaway at Taking It One Book At A Time

October 26 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at AZ Publishing Services

October 28 – Promise Review & Giveaway at Reviewers Helping Authors

October 31 - Promise Review & Giveaway at Ashley Suzanne

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Will The Time Come #18, September 29th

The Time Will Come -

Every Thursday l am going to list a book which I really want to read/keep meaning to get to. These are mostly books which have been on my shelf for awhile now but don't have to be, maybe you got it two weeks ago and really want to read it! Thanks to Jodie from Books for Company for this meme!

Want to join in?

- Pick a book you have been meaning to read

- Do a post telling us about the book

- Link the post up in the linky

- Visit the other blogs

From Goodreads: 

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his "Great Sadness," Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.

Why the time hasn't come yet....
Bookmooch book, just recently got it, so I really want to read it! I saw it everwhere when ti came out, and now I finally have a chance to read it!

Third Sentence Thursday #8, September 29th

Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme which likes to watch fireworks especially while eating a cookie!

1) Take the book you are reading now and post the third sentence
2) Review this sentence anyway you want (funny and silly reviews encouraged)
3) Post a link to your sentence at Sniffy Kitty's Mostly Books!

"Crack!" Virals by Kathy Reichs

Ohh, what's cracking, and at what, and why?

WWW Wednesday #25 September 28th

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Thanks to MizB of Should Be Writing for starting and hosting this meme!

I'm currently reading The Betrayal of Maggie Blair, and it's pretty good!

I just finished reading The Hollow, can't wait to read the rest of the books!

I can't wait to read Wicked Lovely! Looks really good!

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #21, September 28th

 "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Expected Publication: January 3rd 2012
From Goodreads:
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever. 

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists. 

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. 

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Isn't the cover pretty? And the summary looks amazing, too! Hope that it goes up on Netgalley!!!!

Teaser Tuesday #25, September 27th

Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Today's teaser comes from The Hollow by Jessica Verday, page 1.

"Yet it never failed-someone would ask, as if one day my reply would suddenly be different. I didn't know,  but I should have...and I've been haunted ever since."

Wondering what this is about I just started, so yeah, I need more!

And from my own book, Peaceful Death page 2,

"Suddenly, I hit a wall, and was instantly home. Why was I summoned?"

What about you guys? Happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #16, September 26th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #15
Teaser Tuesday #24
WWW Wednesday #24
WOW #21
Will the Time Come #17
Third Sentence Thursday #7
First Lines Friday #10
A-Z Reading Challenge Update #12
Follow that Blurb Reading Challenge Update #11
The Reward Challenge Start Up
Book Blogger Hop #7
In My Mailbox #16
I Have an Update #14
Week 38 Reviews:
The Van Alen Legacy
Misguided Angel
Keys to the Repository
Bloody Valentine
I Loved You First
Awakened
The Boy Next Door
Unearthly
Everlasting
The Eternal Ones
No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells

Tours:
I Loved You First: Review

Pretty good week, got 22 posts in 7 days, which is pretty good. Must get more random posts!

Ok, so this week, I want to read Black and Orange, Dead Until Dark, The Hollow, The Betrayal of Maggie Blair, Wicked Lovely, Virals, and So Much Closer. Plus my PDF's, and review books, and nano books!

Currently Listening To: Dangerous to Know by Hilary Duff
Currently Reading: The Hollow
Currently Watching: CSI: NY

Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She' s quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. Its just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability". She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome --- and Sookie can't hear a word he's thinking. He's exactly the type of guy skids been waiting for all her life ... 

But Bill has a disability of his own: His a vampire with a bad reputation. He hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, all suspected of --- big surprise --- murder. And when one of Sookie's coworkers is killed, she fears she's next ...

I watched out and touched the casket lid. It was cold. So cold that I immediately snatched my hand away. It almost felt like it had burned me.

I just stood there. I couldn't bring myself to say anything... not out loud, at least. But a thousand thoughts raged inside my head, while a thousand feelings raged inside my heart.

The weather mimicked my emotions. A fierce wind rattled by, howling in outrage. The edges of the plastic awning flapped angrily against the aluminum poles holding it up and made a horrible ringing sound. Even the rain pounded harder, lashing out its bitterness.

And that was when I felt someone watching me.

In seventeenth-century Scotland, saying the wrong thing can lead to banishment—or worse. Accused of being a witch, sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair is sentenced to be hanged. She escapes, but instead of finding shelter with her principled, patriotic uncle, she brings disaster to his door.

Betrayed by one of her own accusers, Maggie must try to save her uncle and his family from the king’s men, even if she has to risk her own life in the process.

Originally published in the UK, this book has a powerful blend of heart-stopping action and thought-provoking themes.

All teenagers have problems, but few of them can match those of Aislinn, who has the power to see faeries. Quite understandably, she wishes that she could share her friends' obliviousness and tries hard to avoid these invisible intruders. But one faery in particular refuses to leave her alone. Keenan the Summer King is convinced beyond all reasoning that Aislinn is the queen he has been seeking for nine centuries. What's a 21st-century girl to do when she's stalked by a suitor nobody else can see? 

Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever. 

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent. 

Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Virals.

When Brooke's crush, Scott, moves from their suburban town to New York City, she decides to follow him there. Living with her formerly estranged dad and adapting to a new school are challenging, and things go from bad to worse when Brooke learns that Scott already has a girlfriend. But as she builds her new life, Brooke begins to discover a side of herself she never knew existed. And as she finds out, in the city that never sleeps, love can appear around any corner...

Black & Orange: Review

From Goodreads:
Forget everything you know about Halloween. The stories are distortions. They were created to keep the Church of Midnight hidden from the world. Every October 31st a gateway opens to a hostile land of sacrificial magic and chaos. Since the beginning of civilization the Church of Midnight has attempted to open the gateway and unite with its other half, the Church of Morning. Each year they've come closer, waiting for the ideal sacrifice to open the gateway permanently. 

This year that sacrifice has come. And only two can protect it. Martin and Teresa are the nomads, battle-hardened people who lack identity and are forever road-bound on an endless mission to guard the sacrifice. Their only direction is from notes left from a mysterious person called the Messenger. Endowed with a strange telekinetic power, the nomads will use everything at their disposal to make it through the night alive. But matters have become even more complicated this year. Teresa has quickly lost ground battling cancer, while Martin has spiraled into a panic over being left alone. His mind may no longer be on the fight when it matters most... because ever on their heels is the insidious physical representation of a united church: Chaplain Cloth. 

My Review:
Scary can cover this book. So can funny. And sad. So many things happen, some good, some bad, some really bad, but it has a happy, if bittersweet ending, which left me wanted for more book, because waiting, well, just isn't my thing. And that the characters will have to? I really feel for them.

I was a bit confused a first with the churches and such, and who was who and who was higher and what was happening, but it made sense very quickly after a scene in the desert with a gun and a deal.

The plot was really interesting, a lot like some Halloween movies about a town called Halloweentown, I believe, and it was just was really good!

I wish there was more on the Messenger, what parts he/she (we don't find out which) had, were guiding influences, but more behind the scenes then a main part. So I wish we found out more about "him" but maybe there'll be another book, and we can learn more about "him."

This was a really good book, I hope you guys check it out!

Author: Benjamin Kane Ethridge 
Read: October 11th, 2011
Source: Review copy for Tour
Publisher: Bad Moon Books
Published: September 17th 2011

5/5 Hearts

4/5 Books

4/5 Stars

Bio:
Benjamin Kane Ethridge is the Bram Stoker Award winning author of the occult fantasy novel BLACK & ORANGE. Beyond that he's written several collaborations with Michael Louis Calvillo, one of which is a novella called UGLY SPIRIT, available in 2011. He also wrote a master's thesis entitled, "CAUSES OF UNEASE: The Rhetoric of Horror Fiction and Film." Available in an ivory tower near you. Ben lives in Southern California with his wife and daughter, both lovely and both worthy of better. When he isn't writing, reading, videogaming, he's defending California's waterways and sewers from pollution.

Contact and Buy AKA Links:

Website

Blog
Twitter

Facebook

Amazon

Barnes and Nobles

Smashwords

Trailer on Youtube

Stops on the Tour:
Monday, August 1
Interview at The Hot Author Report

Tuesday, August 2
Guest Post at The Hot Author Report

Wednesday, August 3
5 Things Guest Post at The Hot Author Report
Guest Post at The Book Connection

Thursday, August 4
Interview at Pump Up Your Book

Friday, August 5
Guest Post at The Story Behind the Book

Monday, August 8
Interview at The Examiner

Tuesday, August 9
Interview at The Writers Life

Wednesday, August 10
Guest Post at Pitching Pencils

Thursday, August 11
Guest Post at Fluidity of Time

Friday, August 12
Review at Fluidity of Time

Monday, August 15
Spotlight at The Plot

Tuesday, August 16
Character Interview at The Plot

Wednesday, August 17
Guest Post at Inkyblots

Thursday, August 18
Interview at BlogCritics

Friday, August 19
Book Panel at Literarily Speaking

Monday, August 22
Guest Post at Books, Products and More

Tuesday, August 23
Interview at Broowaha

Wednesday, August 24
Review at The Phantom Photographer

Thursday, August 25
Review at Bookish Ardour

Friday, August 26
Interview at Book Marketing Buzz
Video at If Books Could Talk

Monday, September 26

Review at Words I Write Crazy

Monday, December 5th

Review at Must Read Faster

Guest Post at Sweeping Me

Tuesday, December 6th

Review at Sweeping Me

Wednesday, December 7th

Interview at The Plot Thickens

Thursday, December 8th

Guest Post and Review at Family Reads

Friday, December 9th

Review at Jasmyne’s Reviews

Monday, December 12th

Interview at Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews

Review at Emeraldfire’s Bookmark

Tuesday, December 13th

Guest Post at Emeraldfire’s Bookmark

Wednesday, December 14th

Review at Working for the Mandroid

Thursday, December 15th

Interview at Beyond the Books

Friday, December 16th

Review at Booksie’s Blog

In My Mailbox #15, September 25th-September Week 4

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to talk about the books we got in the mailbox or inbox as the case may be!

So this week I got:

For Review:
Love at Absolute Zero

BookMooch:
All that Remains
If Tomorrow Comes
After the Fire
Predators
Heart of Honor
A Reckless Beauty
Dead Until Dark

Bought at Church Garage Sale:
61 Hours
Gone Tomorrow
Devil Bones
The Expected One
Last Stop Sunnyside
Night Secrets
Invincible
Black Notice
Shadow Dance
Devil's Kiss
Straight from the Hip
Kill Me Again
Kiss Me, Kill Me
Days of Gold
The Perfect Murder
Live to Tell
The Templar Legacy
The Firebrand
The Charm School
High Country Bride
Summer Brides
Twenty Wishes
Damage Control
Stealing  Home
The Sooner the Better
Pleading Guilty
Nobody's Angel
That Street Lawyer
Play Dirty
Big Girl
Night Sins
The Naked Face
Plot it Yourself
Blessing in Disguise
True Believer
Touch of Enchantment
Belleporte Summer
Promisegivers
Best of Friends
Moonlight Road
Divine Night
A Place of Stones
The Blue Nowhere
The Vanished Man
Sweet Vengeance
The Guest List
The Good Guy
The Bone Garden
The Secret Between Us
Dancing at the Harvest Moon
Boneman's Daughters
Blinded
Bound by Dreams
The Last Detective
What Lies in Shadow
The Loner
Rogue
Fatal Justice
The Hidden Years
Dashing Through the Snow
This Christmas
Dark of the Moon
The Darkness
O is for Outlaw
R is for Ricochet
Highland Thirst
Third Degree
Peice of My Heart
Sisterchicks do the Hula!
Sisterchicks in Sombreros
Sisterchicks on the Loose!

NetGalley:
A Crack in Everything

Yeah, I was manning the book station, so I kinda went overboard. I also got the The Dark Knight on Blue Ray, even though we don't have that player, and some videos that need a VCR, and some CD's too. Yep.

I Have an Update! #14, September 25th

New Plots:

Open Windows: what’s something that open windows let in? Dreams, dreams and nightmares. That’s why there’s dream catchers. But sometimes, those don’t work. And you get the bad dreams. What’s the source, you might ask. Well, we’re not telling, because it’s hard enough keeping the truth from getting out. We’re not about to go an cause a mass panic, after all!

Monthly Word Count: 171 439 words. Pretty good. But I need more time!

Week 38 Review: No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells

From Goodreads:
Elly Blair welcomes the chance to escape her ex-fiance and job from hell when Grandma Imelda, ready to retire to sunny Florida, calls for her to take over her little southern cafe.

Elly has no idea her grandmother has baked up magic for the unsuspecting townsfolk for thirty years-and now Grandma Imelda insists that Elly use her own hitherto unsuspected magical powers to carry on the family tradition.

But Elly's new at this stuff. Her dishes don't turn out as full of smidgens of enchantment and dashes of wishes come true as she'd hoped. When handsome customer Rory Covington takes a bite of the wrong burger, he ends up capturing the attention of every woman in town. Elly doesn't know if her feelings for Rory are true or based on her magic gone awry.

Tom Owenton is an investigator the National Organization for Magic sent to look into the magical mishap. Unless Elly can reverse the spell, the cafe will be closed permanently. Tom is more than willing to help Elly out of this magical pickle, but she's not sure she should accept his offer.

Elly only has forty-eight hours to find a way to reverse the spell, or she'll lose the cafe and never discover if her feelings for Rory are real.

My Review:
What a funny book! I loved the accidents, and the love, and the just laugh out loud moments!

I loved the magic, and how it had to be used, it was really nice, quaint, and fun. If you could move that cafe, I would so have it in Cochrane! There's like, no good food places, and to have what I needed spelled into my food, that would be wicked sweet!

The relationships in this book, loved them! Elly and Rory are very cute together! And the evil hair puller, I wish that she got what was coming to her, but yeah, Elly did make the right decision.

This was an excellent book, so you guys will have to most definitely have to check it out!

Author: Roes Pressey
Series: Mystic Cafe #1
Read: September 21st-22nd, 2011
Source: Author rep for review
Reason Why: Sounded like a fantastic book!
Publisher: Rose Pressey
Published: June 1st 2011

5/5 Hearts

4/5 Books

4/5 Stars

Week 38 Review: The Eternal Ones

From Goodreads:
Haven Moore can't control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves, before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

My Review:
I really enjoyed this book! The concept is hand-shakes-and-forth, because it's not exactly new (past lives, just like Everlasting and the Immortals series) but that it's different, too, with the idea of a society that keeps track of what you give, and will keep the points in their next lives.

I loved the plot, and Haven was a pretty good character, the beginning, I didn't like her so much, because of the way that she was acting, but she had a genuine reason for that-she'd been thought to have been possessed by the devil all her live, and she was just trying to shield herself, so she wouldn't get hurt by others rejecting her anymore.

There were a lot of back and forths, yes, he's a bad guy, no, he's a good guy, and back and forth, very much like the roller coaster mentioned.

This was an excellent book, can't wait to read the sequel!

Author: Kirsten Miller
Series: The Eternal Ones #1
Read: September 20th, 2011
Source: Library
Reason Why: It's a FtBRC Book, and it sounded really great! I had to read it!
Publisher: Razorbill
Published: August 10th 2010

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars