"Witches inhabit our world, organized in covens and hiding behind a shroud of secrecy—the Veil.
Skye’s London coven sends her to Seattle’s Greenwood High to find the Singularity, an unusually gifted witch who may break the Veil and trigger a dangerous new era of witch-hunting. Things get complicated when Skye meets a charming new classmate, Drake. Skye’s job becomes even trickier when she clashes with Jane, an intimidating rival witch.
Drake falls for the mysterious Skye, but odd accidents, potion mix-ups, and the occasional brush with death kind of get in the way of romance. Once he discovers Skye is a witch, he goes to war for her, even though his only weapons are a nice set of abs and a sharp sense of humor.
Fighting off wicked Jane and the other dark forces hell-bent on seizing the Singularity's immense power, Skye and Drake will risk everything to save the covens.
Going on a date has never been harder."
***
Wicked Sense was an interesting read--the plot felt fresh, and while it wasn't super twisty, it was enjoyable intense. The gentle characters and wry humor added a charming facet to the story that kept me turning the pages. Well worth the time invested.
Gentle Reader Alert: There was some swearing and a little innuendo--nothing above a PG level.
"Drew Farthering loves a good mystery, although he generally expects to find it in the pages of a novel, not on the grounds of his country estate. When a weekend party at Farthering Place is ruined by murder and the police seem flummoxed, Drew decides to look into the crime himself. With the help of his best friend, Nick Dennison, an avid mystery reader, and Madeline Parker, a beautiful and whip-smart American debutante staying as a guest, the three try to solve the mystery as a lark, using the methods from their favorite novels.
Soon, financial irregularities at Drew’s stepfather’s company come to light and it’s clear that all who remain at Farthering Place could be in danger. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer–and trying harder to impress Madeline–Drew must decide how far to take this game."
***
Ah, this was an excellent little mystery, perfect for a lazy afternoon. Drew and Nick and Madeline were engaging characters. The plot was tight and well-developed and the mystery almost surprised me at the end. Also, this is a *Christian* mystery, but the Christian element was expertly woven in and felt like a believable part of the characters. I really appreciated it. Truly, this was a very enjoyable novel.
Gentle Reader Alert: I found nothing of concern. Well, there are murders, but they were NOT described in loving detail, so they didn't concern me.
Well. This was different. Regency meets fantasy? I *had* to try it.
From Goodreads:
"Tilby, Lincolnshire, 1811. Miss Sophia Landon is the daughter of an impoverished clergyman. Her father’s health is failing fast, but who wants to marry a woman without birth, beauty or wealth? Her prospects are limited indeed - until her friendship with the town’s fae denizens earns her passage to the otherworldly realm of Aylfenhame. Could her fate truly lie beyond the shores of England?
There she meets Aubranael, a young man with a warm heart and a ruined face. In Sophy he sees the answer to his loneliness, but how can a disfigured Ayliri hope to win her heart? When a mysterious witch offers him the temporary gift of beauty, he eagerly accepts: and so begins an adventure that could change his life, and Sophy’s, forever."
***
This was an unexpected combination of Regency and fantasy that felt fresh and delightful! Anytime I can describe something as an "interesting Regency paranormal romance", I get a little giddy, because how often do those words get combined like that?
Miss Landon and Aubranael is sweet and clean, in grand Regency tradition, and is a play on Beauty and the Beast, except that Beauty...isn't...and the Beast isn't terrifying. But a bit of madcap Alice in Wonderland/Grimm fairy tale whimsy gives the story depth and balance that would otherwise be lacking. And the delightful troll guarding the bridge is one of my favorite incarnations of the wise old man stereotype. My only complaint is that the structure of the ending robbed it of its potential emotional impact.
If you like Regency novels and fantasy novels, you should not miss out on this experience.
"Caroline is not looking forward to this year's Season in London. Her mother already has schemes for her marriage prospects--and none of them include love, it seems. But when a dashing young duke begins to pursue her, Caroline has second thoughts. Caught between ambition and desire, Caroline may gamble her heart away without even realizing it . . ."
There are few things in life I love more than a good Regency romance. I blame Jane Austen for setting a high bar...and for getting me sucked into the genre in the first place. Georgette Heyer's madcap plots continued my addiction, and since discovering her works a few years ago, I've read SO MANY Regency romances! And they run the gamut from well-written and well-researched to a poor excuse for smut in stays.
Happily, The Second Season falls firmly in the well-written and well-researched category. Ms. Chapman has done a phenomenal job of making Regency-era habits feel normal as her characters move through their lives. The plot is excellent...but atypical for its genre. Caroline and Thomas and Lord Searly are well-drawn, and the subplot involving Caroline's parents adds great depth to the story. The ending was extremely satisfying. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.
Gentle Reader Alert: I found absolutely nothing of concern.
You can find The Second Season on Amazon and the book trailer below:
And on to the interview with Heather Chapman!
1. What sets your writing routine apart from other routines? Do you have any lucky socks you have to wear, certain music you have to listen to, an inspiring picture to look at?
My writing routine… I guess the thing that sets my writing routine apart from other routines is how irregular it is. I have four kids that are each fighting for my attention, which makes it hard to get things like laundry, lunch, and showering done, let alone even being able to think well enough to write. In general, I wait until the kids are in bed (yes, I’ve become that super strict bedtime mom), hop into some comfy yoga pants, and start to write. I find that I am most creative with a bag of Aussie Licorice and Dove chocolates (or at least that’s the excuse I give).
2. What’s the most important life lesson you’ve learned so far?
It has to be about kindness. Over and over, again and again, I keep learning that the world is such a better place when everyone can be less critical, less judgmental, and more kind.
3. If you were stuck on a luxury island and told you had three days to do anything you wanted, what would you do?
Easy. I would want to rock climb the coastal cliffs, swim along the beach, and eat all sorts of delicious food.
4. Who has had the most influence on your writing?
Linda Bartlett, my seventh grade English teacher. Though I can vividly remember her colorful outfits, poofy blonde hair, and long fake nails that drummed across the overhead projector, it was Mrs. Bartlett’s ability to make writing fun that has stuck with me the most. She taught me more about writing than anyone else (though I’d like to think I have also been influenced by my favorite authors). The funny part is, I don’t think Linda Bartlett would even remember me—I was pretty quiet in class!
5. Tell us about the view from your favorite window.
My favorite view is from my dining room window.
During the summer and fall months, tall, golden sunflowers reach the bottom of the window. Beneath lies green grass and my favorite willow tree. Beyond our yard lies the snake river highlands. The small mountain range turns all different colors during the fall, and the Bear River that winds below it offers patches of brightly colored shrubs. If it weren’t for the telephone pole and lines in my backyard, I’d say the view is absolutely perfect. However, it’s become my favorite scene, so much so that I don’t even notice the telephone lines anymore (unless I am asked to describe it).
Thanks for the delightful book AND interview, Heather!
This book showed up in my Bookbub feed (LOVE this service. Recommend it for all the voracious readers out there!) and I saw the blurb from Janette Rallison on the cover. At 99 cents, well, it was worth the risk, right?
My heart thrusts with a force that takes me by surprise. Telling me something I don’t understand. A splitting pain, a longing to slip back under. They tell me I was in a hit-and-run, but I can’t remember what happened that night. All I know is that I woke up with pictures in my pocket, a card from one of those photo booths in the mall. And I’m in the pictures. Cody Rush. Me and…
Julianna.
Her brother was there that night, and my dad, the FBI agent, was the one who put her mom behind bars. What’s the connection? And why won’t Julianna talk to me now? Somehow, she holds the key to it all, and getting close–real close—to her for the answers I need will be no hardship at all…"
This is an excellent book--suspenseful and real and tugs at the heartstrings and makes me want to cheer and cover my eyes at the same time. Cody and Julianna are well-drawn and individual and I ended up admiring them both for finding their way. I really liked how their weaknesses became their strengths by the end of the story--great character growth, especially on Julianna's part.
The plot is tight and intense--no plot holes anywhere--and I had such a hard time putting down the book because I had to see what was going to happen next. I also love the way Johnston wrote the setting. I've spent 10 years living in Arizona, and she evoked memories of my time there in a subtle but realistic way. (ARGH--INCLUDING THE HEAT.) The story was well done and I really enjoyed the ending. I would have loved a sneak peek at their futures, but I'm content with how things stand. Great, great book.
Gentle Reader Alert: I don't recall anything of concern.
Just as a heads' up: Second Twin is the *fourth* book in the Legend of Rhyme series. I reviewed the first three books here.
From Goodreads:
"Grimblerod has led twins Asher and Ariana Caine back to ancient Rhyme, a time when Calla and Elora were the same age the twins are now. Though the Kingdom of Falmoor is rich with magic, the twins are unable to use their powers. They don’t know whom to trust, where to turn, or how to avoid doing something in the past that may alter the future forever.
Meanwhile, young Teagan Rogers must decide if she is ready to leave behind everything and everyone she knows to follow her mysterious destiny beneath the waves.
Will Teagan choose to become a mermaid?
Will Asher and Ariana get home before changing the course of history forever?
And can enemies truly become friends?"
Second Twin suffers from sequel-itis. It is a bridge between the beginning of the story and the end, which can make it hard to enjoy on its own. In fact, I would very much like to go back and read the entire series when it's complete to get a better sense of the story. As it was, the plot deepens and the characters grow more complex as the narrative moves on. It's setting up for a rather explosive ending. I'm looking forward to the finished product.
"Rylee has an unusual gift. It brings good luck to those who are kind to her and misfortune to those who are not-at least, that's what the crazy woman in the woods tells her. But Rylee doesn't believe it until strange coincidences start happening to her classmates and friends. Her gift may not be a matter of luck but of life and death."
The Echoing perfectly captures the tone of an imaginative teenager who can't quite grasp the cosmic significance of the burden she just took on. Rylee treats her encounter with the hag in the woods as incidental, not giving any thought to the consequences or listening to the hag's explanations. Typical teenager. It was frustrating, but true to life. I found the plot to be quite compelling as Rylee figured out how to use her new powers and how to defeat the villain that comes with them. As she simultaneously dealt with her mother's health issues and the unexpected turn in her relationship with her childhood buddy, Rylee didn't descend into insipid woe-is-me moments, but used her smarts and her native confidence to get her through. I really do love a confident teenage character. The romance here was sweet and slow-burning and the ending had a twist that I didn't quite see coming, but that worked out beautifully. This was a great debut novel!
Gentle Reader Alert: I found nothing of concern.
I was fortunate enough to get an interview with author Jessica Blackburn. Enjoy!
1. When you hit a block in writing your book, what did you do to get yourself unstuck?
There were some funny ways I would get inspired… Taking hot showers with the lights off, surrounding myself in nature, the rain, or going to the beach would always help. Pretty much anything involving water. I genuinely believe water has some sort of energy that helps us unlock our creativity.
2. What's the silliest/most embarrassing thing you've ever written?
I remember in 3rd grade writing a “goosebumps” kind of story about some kids who believed their dad was secretly a giant rat. And I think there was an important detail involving the father insisting on being called Papa Squeeker? … Creepy? Yes.
3. What inspired you to write this book?
Ha! Oh boy! I probably shouldn’t share this story.
When I was younger I worked at a sandwich shop and I remember one customer coming in who was just… Grumpy McGrumperson! He was extra rude and belittling and all I could do was stand there with a smile on my face as a customer service representative. As I handed him his sandwich I remember thinking, “Oh, what I would do if I could control your karma at this very moment.”
In my book, you may notice my character experiencing a similar situation. Her reaction was my daydream from that moment in the sandwich shop years ago.
4. You're stuck on a fabulous luxury tropical island with electricity but no internet. How do you keep yourself entertained?
Probably just make out with my husband all day. I guess I’m picturing an island similar to the honeymoon from the last Twilight book. Can that be my island? I want that island please.
5. What's the best piece of advice--on life, on writing, on being a human being--that you've received so far?
As far as writing goes, if you have dreamed of publishing a book, DON’T GIVE UP! Be ready for the rejections and people who tear you down! Your day will come! Persevere!
Best advice I’ve received on life was actually marriage advice where I was told, “Whenever you’re frustrated and your needs aren’t being met, stop pouting and get up and serve the other person.” I think that can apply to anything in life. Whenever you’re down, get lost in service and you will always feel better by helping someone around you.
