The White Aura

The White Aura (White Aura #1)

by Felicia Tatum
Kindle Edition, 211 pages
Published November 29th 2012

How do you live with the gut-clenching truth that the one you love will die if you meet them? Twenty year old sorcerer Scott Tabors is learning how. After seeing seventeen year old Olivia Whitehead outside of a coffee shop, his heart will never be the same. He longs for her, he wants her, and he knows she will be his. They are heart mates. …but due to a curse on his family, he can’t meet her. Not yet. So for now, he visits her in her dreams. Her dreams where he can tell her everything but his name. 

Olivia Whitehead is a typical junior in high school. She and her best friend are having the time of their lives, but she can’t help but notice the changes happening to her. Especially the changes in her heart after she begins dreaming about a mysterious dark haired young man. But what will happen when the school heartthrob decides he wants Olivia? Will she realize the dream man is real or will she move on?

I learned about this book from twitter via @lyndajdickson’s. Then I went to her blog and read her wonderful review of Felicia Tatum’s dream-inspired fantasy novel, The White Aura. I got curious so I went to amazon and read all the other reviews. Soon I found myself buying the book and loving it. (By the way, thank you Miss Lynda Dickson for that intriguing tweet!)

Olivia is not your typical teen who grows up with doting parents. In fact, they are  distant from her. But at least she’s got Juniper, her BFF and the man of her dreams, literally. In her dreams, she has been seeing a sexy gorgeous man, who always showers her with kisses and caress. Little did she know that Scott aka Mr. Sexy is so real, is just a few miles away from her and was in fact, a sorcerer.

But the so-called Mr. Sexy can’t simply approach her. Because of an ancient course that prevents them from being together, Scott is unable to personally introduce himself as her heart-mate, until she reaches her rightful age. At first, he’s content in seeing Olivia in dreamland, but when a new guy was demanding for Livvie’s attention, Scott employs his sister’s help to know more about his competition.

Aiden Cavalier, the teenage playboy who suddenly showed interest in Olivia,  has a hidden agenda. In ancient times, he was known as Crimson Calamitous, and he intends to get Olivia, by hook or by crook. Soon, the war between sorcerers was ignited and our lady in distress suddenly has white aura surrounding her. To top it off, Olivia seems to have the power of seeing one’s death with just a simple touch.

Mystery certainly surrounds the life and dreams of our two main characters, Scott and Olivia. I loved how they alternately told their story in the book. Sorcery is not a new topic to me in the books that I've read, but in The White Aura, it was somewhat lacking. I was waiting for spells or incantations to be uttered by any of the Tabors family, but I wasn't able to find it. However, I liked the story a lot so I told myself: “to hell with the spells! Scott and Livvie is what matters the most!”

The fact that I was able to read the book in 2 days mean a major thing to me. With my busy schedule at home and now with my kids’ school, I usually finish a book in 3-5 days, max. But with Felicia  Tatum’s light and breezy storytelling gift, I finished the book at a shorter time. I liked how she kept the other characters still shrouded with mystery,(what’s up with Sebastian? he seems like the evil twin.. and what’s the real deal with Livvie’s parents? what awaits Juniper’s newly changed future?) and so on..

The story of Scott & Olivia was unique. I loved how the author played with their personalities and thoughts while both are on dreamland. And I love how she left me reeling and asking for more. The ending was a definite cliffhanger, one that would totally make the reader buy the next installment. And I will not e an exception. I would definitely read the next book, so I can find out more about the Red Calamari..i mean, crimson calamitous!

For more books and info about Felicia Tatum, just go to - http://www.feliciatatum.com 

Other Contact info: 

via Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FeliciaTatumWriter 

via Twitter - https://twitter.com/sassybrunette55 

via Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6592100.Felicia_Tatum 

via Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Felicia-Tatum/e/B00AGI1IVQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Thursday Thrills - Double Cover Reveal

Here's an exciting treat for everyone! I chanced upon a double cover reveal for two mini-novellas written by the talented author, Melissa Pearl.

Feast your eyes with Before (novella 0.5) 

and Beyond novella (1.5) from  the BETWIXT trilogy.

 

Expected Publication - Sept 2013

First, let's start with Before's description: 

Dale Finnigan is a teenage rebel; he lives for parties, girls and joy riding in stolen cars. In spite of his uptight parents' constant warnings and lectures, he continues to run wild. His crazy lifestyle is the only way he can live and feel free…until his reckless behavior takes him down a path where there is no going back.

In this prequel to BETWIXT, find out who Dale Finnigan was before he became known as "scar-face" - the unassuming hero everyone underestimates.

Expected Publication - October 2013

For the Beyond novella, here's something to think about:

Have you ever been so in love with someone, but not had the courage to tell them?

Nicole Tepper is that girl. She loves her boyfriend Dale, but fearing rejection, keeps her feelings buried deep. She can’t even let on how heartbroken she is when Dale begins applying for colleges thousands of miles away from her; never even whispering a word about how much she wishes he would stay close.

But, when Dale is rejected from Columbia University in NYC, due to a police report that follows him wherever he goes, Nicole soon discovers that love can drive her to do things she never thought possible.

There’s more than one way to say, I love you and Nicole Tepper is about to prove to Dale that she loves him

beyond all common sense.

 Cover Designs By: Eden Crane Design 

  I love the cover - especially BEYOND. It's very romantic and sexy!  

Author: Melissa Pearl (http://www.melissapearlauthor.com)

Author BIO:

Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan... not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. "Best. Year. Ever!!" She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has produced four more books and has a YA fantasy trilogy coming out this year. Unknown and Unseen (The Elements Trilogy) out now!

 "I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love." 

The following links were taken from the authors blog site http://melissapearl.blogspot.com/

AUTHOR SOCIAL LINKS:

Blogs: http://melissapearl.blogspot.com/ 

and http://yalicious.blogspot.com/

Facebook Author Page

Twitter

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads Author Page

Smashwords Author Page

Newsletter subscription

Website

Pinterest

www aug 28

Time flies so fast! It's the middle of the week, the last Wednesday of the month!  Here's my WWW  for this week.  WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

  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?
 Anyway, here are my answers for this week:

CURRENTLY READING:

Hades (Halo Book 2) by Alex Adornetto I've read Book 1 HALO a year ago, so I need to catch up with Bethany and her "angelic" siblings before all Hell breaks loose.  The story that Alexandra Adornetto built in her New York Times - bestselling debut, Halo, comes alive in action-packed and unexpected ways, as angels battle demons, and the power of love is put to the test. Here's a teaser from the book:

Heaven Help Her. Bethany Church is an angel sent to Earth to keep dark forces at bay. Falling in love was never part of her mission, but the bond between Beth and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier Woods, is undeniably strong. But even Xavier’s love, and the care of her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can’t keep Beth from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, the demon Jake Thorn bargains for Beth’s release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly, her loved ones, as well.

RECENTLY FINISHED: I've done a great job with my shelf last week. Yipee! *pats the back* Here were my recently finished reads:

Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

Northern Bites: An Aurora Sky Vampire Hunter Novel

by Nikki Jefford

The White Aura by Felicia Tatum

Stained by Ella James

WILL BE READING NEXT:

Hush, Hush  -  or - Fallen

Still cannot choose which one to read first.

But then again, these are definitely the last Angel books I am going to read for the month of August. Yay!

 

Northern Bites: An Aurora Sky vampire novel

Title: Northern Bites: Aurora Sky
Author: Nikki Jefford
Kindle edition
Published July 2013

Love bites. Probation sucks. Thanks to Dante’s recklessness, Aurora is now partners with Valerie: the redheaded, backstabbing vixen. Dante is in full flirt mode. Fane’s tactics are more ruthless. Something carnal has awakened in Aurora and neither boy is helping tame her cravings. When a member of the unit’s team is found dead, Aurora and Valerie are sent after a vampire in Sitka, but Aurora suspects the killer’s much closer to home.

A member of Aurora's Anti-Vampire unit was found dead beside the corpse of a high school student.  Clearly, a mysterious killer is on the loose. Soon, Aurora found herself paired with the Vixen, Valerie, who used to be Fane's lip-locking, tongue-twisting partner. Together they were called Ginger and Raven. They were sent on a mission which ended up with more questions.

Where was Dante, Noel and Fane in the picture? In places you'll never imagine. That's all I could tease about this wonderful book.

The minute I was done reading Northern Bites, I jumped out from my bed, narrowed my eyes and screamed, "what? That's it? What happened to Valerie? What happened to Noel? Where's Book 3?"

Seriously, I was begging for more. I can't believe Nikki Jefford left me hanging! Trust me, you have to read the book to know what I am talking about.

What I liked most in the story:

The new shady character “Just Jared” was someone to watch out for. He was ambiguous, obnoxious, pretentious and oh so mysterious. He’s got a questionable history and really intimidating personality that would make you ask, “is he for real?”

I also liked how Valerie and Aurora somehow made a connection during one of their missions. Valerie can be overbearing sometimes, but she’s got a heart, even though she was becoming one of the undead. I long to see them again together in the next book.

The textcapade or should I say sexting involving the Mouse, the Ginger and the Raven was really hilarious and sexy. It was one of the scenes that you need to look forward to.

And the dream sequence, the fight scenes, the anomalous mission and the cliffhanging ending all made the story gut-clenching and exciting!

Cheers to another heart-pounding, mind-blowing and lip-biting novel from one of my favorite authors, Nikki Jefford. As usual, Nikki Jefford amazed me with her writing prowess. She never fails to entertain and hold my attention whenever one of her books is in my hands. I believe that when you crave for more after reading a novel, it means that the author is an effective storyteller. And that’s true for Nikki Jefford!

You can never go wrong when you read something out of her bookshelf, that’s for sure! So this vampire slayer lit deserves a 5***** rating.

Jumper

Title: Jumper
Author: Rebecca Scarberry

Join in the fun as Jumper tells about his adventures. He’s a red beach ball trying to escape from a toy store so that he can find a swimming pool and Carnival Castle. Children love beach balls and they’ll love them even more after reading about Jumper.

I most definitely agree with Jumper when he first introduced himself. “Hi, I’m Jumper! I am a red beach ball, the funnest and bounciest beach ball you’ll have the pleasure of owning!” My kids couldn’t agree more.

I read Jumper’s story to my kids before going to bed. They really love it when I read them bedtime stories. Their faces lit up and their eyes dance with joy. When I read to them this red beach ball’s adventures, they seem to bounce off their feet, excited everytime Mr. Wind helps Jumper go far far away.

Jumper is a red beach ball who had one simple wish: to go to Carnival Castle and be able to try all the rides there. Only problem was, he was inside a toy store, along with other balls. One day, he was able to go out of the store, with the help of a windy friend. Soon his adventures outside the store began. Little did he know that there were a lot of obstacles that would prevent him from fulfilling his dream.

This short story about a red beach ball is a fun book to read. The illustrations were fantastic, my kids enjoyed seeing the pictures and they’re clamoring for more. The dialog was simple enough for kids to understand. There was never a dull moment, and my boys have actually requested for this story over and over again. I highly recommend Jumper to everyone who have kids and to those “young at heart”.

Thursday Thrills - Immagica

For our Thursday Thrills - we have the fantastic book cover reveal of IMMAGICA by K. A. Last.


Allow me to shout from the top of my lungs! This cover is so awesome! I loved it!!

I actually learned about this awesome book a week ago from one of my favorite authors - Nikki Jefford when she tweeted about Immagica. I learned about its cover reveal via goodreads.com and I waited for it. Well, all I can say is: It Was Definitely Worth The Wait!

Title: Immagica Author: K. A. Last
Genre: YA Fantasy/Adventure
Expected Date of Publication: November 2013
 
Word Count: approximately 66,000
Cover Illustration: LawrenceMann.co.uk
Cover Designer: KILA Designs

Book Blurb:

  Immagica…

Where anything is possible, but not always controllable. Enter at your own risk.

For more information about this upcoming book marvel, go to K. A. Last's website via http://www.kalastbooks.com.au

Irish Girls About Town

Title: Irish Girls About Town
Author: Various Female Irish Authors (Maeve Binchy, Cathy Kelly, Marian Keyes, et al..)
Paperback; 337 pages
Published February 2004

From Goodreads:

New York Times bestselling authors Maeve Binchy and Marian Keyes top an impressive roster of the Emerald Isle's most popular women writers and prove that when it comes to spinning a good yarn, the Irish are the best in the business. Showcasing dazzling wit and remarkable insight in short stories that run the gamut from provocative to poignant, these Irish women will tug at your heartstrings and have you crying with laughter in no time.

In Maeve Binchy's "Carissima," a longtime ex-pat and free spirit returns to Ireland from Sicily and shakes things up for her family, who finds her life utterly scandalous. In "Soulmates," by Marian Keyes, one woman's relationship is so bleedin' perfect in every way that it's driving her friends up the wall. In Cathy Kelly's "Thelma, Louise and the Lurve Gods," two women on a madcap, Stateside road trip have completely opposite reactions to a pair of insanely good-looking men. In these stories, and throughout this fabulous collection, Ireland's finest women authors celebrate the joys and perils of love, the adventure and constancy of female friendships, and their own irresistible brand of Irish charm.

This anthology of sorts is written by female Irish authors. It is a perfect read while getting sun-kissed on the beach or for a lazy afternoon nap. So far, I found most of the stories simple, cute and a little entertaining.

Well, there are some stories I liked quite a bit like De-Stress, The Twenty-Eighth Day, Thelma, Louise and the Lurve Gods, Carissima, and Girls' Weekend. The rest were either so-so or the main characters were hard to root for.

I really enjoy reading short stories as much as I do a novel with 250 pages or more. Eventhough I don't have enough time to really connect with the characters, I think the boundary being set on the story is enough to yearn for more. That way, I'll get interested with the authors' other pieces of work :)

So far, I'd rate this book - 4 bookmarks for entertainment purposes :)

Musing Monday - Aug 19

Welcome to another edition of Musing Mondays! This weekly meme hosted by MizB from Should be Reading.

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.

• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).

• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!

• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.

• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!

• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

Hmmm. This week, my muse is actually more of a ramble or question: Do you remember the very first book that you have ever read or purchased? Think about it.


I don't have to scan my brain to search for my earliest childhood memory because I clearly remember it, as bright as the day. The first ever book I have read was Cinderella by the Brothers Grimm.

Looking back, when I was in first grade, I remember going to our school library during vacant periods. Then I would immediately go to the Fairytales section and get the large Brothers Grimm edition and read all the magical stories.

But it was Cinderella’s story that captured my attention. Everyday, I imagined about Ella of the Cinders and her Prince Charming. I never get tired of her and her evil stepmothers and stepsisters, even until today. I guess that is the reason I have always preferred Fairytale retellings because of the giddy feeling or good vibes that it gives me.

How about you? Care to share the very first book you have ever read?

FridayFinds Aug. 16

TGIF!!! Thank Goodness, It's Friday ...Weekend, here I come.. Welcome to another edition of Friday Finds sponsored by MizB from Should Be Reading. FRIDAY FINDS showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

 Here are my Friday Finds for this week:

    

The Angel Stone by Juliet Dark

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Down To You by M. Leighton

Earthbound by Aprilynne Pike

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Ann Fowler

    

and lastly, this one is my current friday fave: Cookie Indulgence: 150 Easy Cookie Recipes - because I am into baking lately.. Yes, I am trying my hands on baking. I really need this! My kids love cookies and I want them to taste the ones I'll prepare for them. Yipee! How about you? What books did you find this weekend? Please share it with us. :)

Thursday Reveals - Shannon Mayer's Ninety Eight

Welcome to Thursday Reveals!

This is my first time doing or hosting my very own meme. I'd like to call it Thursday Reveals - where I will post the new covers of books soon to be released by talented authors.


 And on my first foray of reveals, here's the newest book cover of one of my favorite authors, Shannon Mayer, Ninety-Eight - a contemporary romance, which will soon be released in October.

Author: Shannon Mayer 

Genre: Contemporary New Adult Romance 

Expected Release Date: October 17th, 2013 

Publisher: HiJinks Ink Publishing 

Cover Designed by Damon Za

Lovely isn't it? I liked the simplicity of the concept - a girl cuddling or hugging herself with closed eyes, might be thinking of someone or something that make her smile like Mona Lisa, mysterious! Hands off to Damon Za for this sexy cover :)

 Check out more about this exciting new book at Shannon Mayers website via http://www.shannonmayer.com/

 More cover reveals soon! By the way, if you think of a better title of this meme, more catchy than Thursday Reveals, please do so by dropping a note or comment here on my blog.

Thanks a million, friends! ^_~

TT: City of Bones

It's Tuesday! Hooray for another day!

Teaser 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 and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser for today.

It was Alec who spoke first. "What's this?" he demanded, looking from Clary to his companions, as if they might know what she was doing there. 

"It's a girl," Jace said, recovering his composure. "Surely you've seen girls before, Alec. Your sister Isabelle is one."

- page 14 via Microsoft E-Reader
- taken from City of Bones -  the first book in the New York Times bestselling The Mortal Instruments series, a young adult urban fantasy series set in New York City written by Cassandra Clare.


Yes, I am re-reading City of Bones in anticipation of its upcoming movie release (on August 21). I am just so excited to see the movie!

So tell me, what's your teaser for today? :)

Monday Musing 08/12/2013

Welcome to another Musing Mondays. This is a weekly meme hosted by MizB from Should be Reading.

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

 • Describe one of your reading habits.
 • Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us! Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!


Here's my musing this week: There's this one book I have been desperate and been wanting to get my hands on. It's the third book of the Divergent series - Allegiant - by Veronica Roth.

 

I learned that the book is expected to be released on November, and that's three more months of waiting! Yay! I would really like to know what happens to Tris and Four and how would the factions survive... I am equally intrigued by the following teaser questions:

What if your whole world was a lie? What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything? What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

Anyway, this book trilogy is already being made into a movie and will soon be shown early next year. Okay, that's more than 5 months to go.. Hmm.. So, I'd rather wait for the third book, at least until November! Yippee!!
How about you? What's your musing this Monday?

Where Angels Go

Title: Where Angels Go

Author: Debbie Macomber
Hardbound, 296 pages
Published: December 2007

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are back! These three irresistible angels love their assignments on Earth. They especially love helping people who send prayer requests to Heaven (even though the Archangel Gabriel, their boss, knows they’re going to break his rules)!

This Christmas, Mercy is assigned to bring peace of mind to an elderly man…who discovers an unexpected answer to his prayer.

Goodness is sent to oversee the love life of a young woman afraid to risk commitment a second time.

And Shirley has the task of granting a little boy’s fondest Christmas wish.

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy go wherever they’re needed. These three charming angels often find themselves in trouble, but somehow things always work out for the best - especially at Christmas.

This was a heartwarming Debbie Macomber trademark book and I was impressed. When I read this book, it is only then that I learned about Shirley, Goodness & Mercy who were already featured in her previous books Now I wanna read them!

Definitely one  of the best angel stories I've ever read. Yes, it's Christmas in August! I love the positive vibes that the three naughty angels have brought to each of those who needed them.

Three prayer requests, three different benefactors - a young boy prays for a pet dog; an elderly man prays for the welfare of his wife when he dies; and a Mother's prayers for her daughter to find true love.

It's a perfect story about Angels, Families and Relationship with God. After reading, three heartfelt lessons were learned - the act of giving, forgiving & loving. Truly, Debbie captured my heart with her "angelic" moments and I can't help but sigh after reading this. Wait, actually, I  cried buckets of tears with this one and I'm not shy to admit it. I really love this book. 

TT: Angelology

It's Tuesday! Hooray for another day!

Teaser 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!

Okay, here's mine:

"All eyes turned to me, sitting quietly behind Dr. Raphael. The Council members agreed. My vote would decide the matter. I considered the choice before me, knowing that my decision put me at last among the angelologists. The council waited for me to make my choice.." 

- page 210 / Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

Monday Musings - August

Just another Manic Monday!

 Welcome to the first edition of Musing Mondays for August. Wow, where have all those months gone? Time flies so fast when you are enjoying, isn't it?

Anyway, here's our Musing Monday. This is a weekly meme hosted by MizB from Should be Reading.

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits. 

• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s). 

• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it! 

• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it. 

• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us! Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

My Musing for today is about my reading habit.

As you all know, I have a habit of reading books with a theme for every month. Last month, July, is the second part or second half of the year, so I read Sequels or the second books of a trilogy.. This week, or should I say, this month of August is all about Angels and Demons!

Yes, I have already arranged my shelves to make sure that I am gonna read books that have angels and demons on them. I am all about Angels, their origins, their kinds, their love lives. Next, I'd love to know more about their counterparts, too. The Demons. The Black angels. The Evil monsters. Here are my upcoming Books-To-Read this month:

 Angelology by Danielle Trussoni
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Death Whispers by Tamara Rose Blodgett
Demon Girl by Penelope Fletcher
Demon Hunter and Baby by Anna Elliott

Fallen by Lauren Kate
Hades by Alexandra Adornetto
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Sandman by Neil Gaiman
Mark of a Demon by Diana Rowland
Undeadly by Michelle Vail

   

Valley of Silence

Title: The Valley of Silence
Author: Nora Roberts
Hardcover, Large Print, 506 pages
Published November 1st 2006

Having traveled through the Dance of the Gods to the land of Geall, the circle finds themselves convincing then training the people of Geall to defeat Lilith’s vampire army. The Valley of Silence is a forbidding place for the battle of all battles, but the circle continues to prepare through magic and a few early stakeouts that test their strength individually and as a team. 

Moira finds herself playing the roles of warrior and royal, as she follows the tradition of her people and prepares to take the crown before leading them into battle. And if that isn’t enough, she finds her thoughts turning to Cian more often than not. 

So what’s a chaste and intelligent young woman to do when given less than a month with the man she loves, who’s not a man, but a vampire? And how will the people of Geall fare against an army of blood-thirsty vampires who have had centuries to prepare?

Cian, the undead twin brother of Hoyt, must learn how to trust the circle and not let love get in the way, even if he had to work hand-in-hand and face-to-face with the one who made his heart beat after a millennium. The fact that Cian is a vampire and his lover is a fighter of life, complicates matters more. What’s worse is, his kind was the very same beings who have killed the parents of the one he love, Queen Moira.

Since vampires are known to be evil & do not have place in this world, Cian set himself apart from the others. He was the only one of his kind who drank pig’s blood and treated people as friends instead of killing them. He vowed to kill his creator Lilith and perish all her minions and live again for a thousand years, but he had to turn his back on Moira and forget her, even if it broke her heart.

Will there be an end to their suffering? Will Cian ever find love? Will Moira ever move on from her heartbreak?
This is my favorite among the three books. I learned more about Cian and how he came to be, and how his life was changed when he met Moira. The war war that took place in the Valley of Silence was crisp and detailed. I even forgot about the old man who was story-telling in the end.

The twist about Cian is a must read, too!

And yes, I was more than satisfied with the ending – the way a Nora Roberts’ book should be. and honestly, among the three pairs, i liked Cian & Moira’s story the most! so I’m rating this last book with 5 Bookmarks!

Dance of the Gods

Title: Dance of the Gods (Circle Trilogy 2)
Author: Nora Roberts
Paperback, 321 pages
Published October 3rd 2006

Second part of the Circle Trilogy – Dance of the Gods – features the relationship between Blair, the vampire slayer of the 20th century New York and Larkin, the shape-shifter, who belonged to the 16th century Geall.

As the circle of six prepare for their final clash with the dark army of the vampire Lilith, the battleground shifts. In Ireland, a stone circle serves as the portal to another land and an ancient time. 

It is in Geall that all will meet their fates—the sorcerer, the witch, the warrior, the scholar, the one of many forms and the one who was lost. And as their courage is tested, hearts will bond as never before.

Set in the luscious green fields of Ireland, home of the undead Cian & sorcerer Hoyt, and training grounds of the Circle of Six, the warriors met Lora, the cunning French beauty brought up & sired by the evil tyrant, Lilith. When Blair failed to vaporize her on their first meeting, Lora swore to kill her in the end after numerous tries of luring the girl to join the coven. Larkin, the shifter of shapes, flew side by side with dragons in the air to keep Blair away from their nemesis. Two equally strong but hard-headed warriors strove to keep the circle together but can’t keep their hands off of each other, even when faced against the greatest evil of all. Will their love continue to flourish beyond the transcends of time? Who will sacrifice to join the other in the Old World? Who will decide to face the new world in the future?

After a week-long marathon, Nora Roberts never failed to amaze me. This second book is much better than the first one, complete with details of chivalry, tall-tale adventures and passionate encounters of two unlikely beings. I liked the way the author set my mind to a whole new perspective about dragons and sorcery. Ohhh.. Dragons! My weakness!

Blair as a warrior and once-a-hopeful bride, shows prowess and class in the midst of a fight. Larkin, on the other hand, was open & accepting, even to the new & modern things that seemed impossible in his homeland, Geall. PLease forgive when I say that I want to read the next book, Valley of Silence because of Cian, the vampire! I’d love to see more of him and his cunning personality.

Of course, I recommend this book to all who wish to be fascinated with fairy tales, romance & war.. Onto my review of the third book… soon!

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Official Theatrical Trailer (2013) HD

can't wait for this movie! Yay!

I just love the way Katniss turned around, then her dress went from white to fiery red then to black with wings! Superb! Better than I had imagined.

Morrigan's Cross

Title: Morrigan’s Cross
Author: Nora Roberts
Mass Market Paperback, 326 pages
Published August 29th 2006

In the last days of high summer, with lightning striking blue in a black sky, the sorcerer stood on a high cliff overlooking the raging sea…
Belting out his grief into the storm, Hoyt Mac Cionaoith rails against the evil that has torn his twin brother from their family’s embrace. Her name is Lilith. Existing for over a thousand years, she has lured countless men to an immortal doom with her soul-stealing kiss. But now, this woman known as vampire will stop at nothing until she rules this world—and those beyond it…
Hoyt is no match for the dark siren. But his powers come from the goddess Morrigan, and it is through her that he will get his chance at vengeance. At Morrigan’s charge, he must gather five others to form a ring of power strong enough to overcome Lilith. A circle of six: himself, the witch, the warrior, the scholar, the one of many forms and the one he’s lost. And it is in this circle, hundreds of years in the future, where Hoyt will learn how strong his spirit—and his heart—have become.

Morrigan’s Cross – the first on the Circle Trilogy - the story of Hoyt & Glenna - the sorcerer & the witch

the Goddess Morrigan tells Hoyt he has a mission that must be completed by him and 5 others:

"There is a battle to be fought, the greatest ever waged. Good against
evil. You must gather the forces."

"You must leave this place and go to another, and another still. Some will
come to you, and some you will seek. The witch, the warrior, the scholar, the
one of many forms, and the one you've lost."

"A circle of six, as strong and true as the arm of a god. When that circle
is formed, others may be formed. But the six will be my army, the six will make
the ring. You will teach and you will learn, and you will be greater than the
sum of you. A month to gather, and one to learn, and one to know. The battle
comes on Samhain" ..

..and so the Goddess Morrigan created the Circle to protect the world from the wrath of the uncanny vampire – Lilith – creator of the undead. But before this happened, Morrigan first called upon Hoyt Mac Cionaoith – the sorcerer of the 14th century to gather up the circle and must time-travel to the present to persuade his twin brother into joining…

But how can this be possible, when the sorcerer’s brother was just like the creature that they are trying to defeat – a Vampire??
I love this book the instant I read about Hoyt strongly facing up against his enemy and sworn to protect his family and bring justice back to his “undead” brother..

Basically, the story started in Ireland over 900 years with the goddess Morrigan calling on a circle of six to stand against an immortal enemy. the tale continues as we are transported to present time and the characters found themselves a little bit pre-occupied with the modern world.

Hoyt struggled dealing with his undead brother and building a circle that would destroy Lilith once and for all. I really loved the spin on the brothers, especially how they were going to form the circle of six and hoped that the war would soon be over. Of course, the love story between Glenna & Hoyt was something that made it even more interesting to read. The first fight scenes went so well, I loved it!

I have read Morrigan’s Cross three years ago, and up to know, it has remained one of my favorite Nora Roberts creation. I actually wished she would write more like this. I enjoyed how she breathe life to her characters. Truly a remarkable talent.

My Paper Heart

Title: My Paper Heart 

Author: Magan Vernon

Kindle edition

Published August 2012

There are worse things in life than failing out of college- such as having your parents receive the letter that you’ve been kicked out.  

Now to appease her parents self-proclaimed sorority princess Libby Gentry is packing up her Prada bag and heading to work for her great aunt’s antique store in tiny Elsbury, Louisiana. She’s pretty sure she can tackle the swamp and deal with her great aunt and tom boy of a little cousin, but what she doesn't know is if she can handle the local town playboy, Blaine Crabtree. 

As Libby's feelings for Blaine grow, so does her need for acceptance and all of the insecurities she has kept inside are coming out. She may have survived the Louisiana swamp, but she may not survive Blaine's reluctance to say the 'L' word. When Blaine finally commits to the three words Libby’s been waiting for, she only hopes they haven’t come too late.

In this book, we encounter characters who have flaws, characters who may be well-off, but unfortunately do not have  perfect lives.

The story starts off with Libby Gentry being kicked out of college when her folks learned about her low grades at school. Her disappointed parents decided that it would be best to send her to Louisiana to stay with her grandmother and cousin.

Being with her extended family, Libby learned how it was to be simple and earn.  There she met Blaine Crabtree, a player, a lifesaver. He was the man who initially rejected her, but in the end, helped her become a better woman. But there was the possibility of going back home  that would derail their relationship. Will their love stand a chance? What about the loser ex-boyfriend who wanted to get Libby back? Will she go back to her old life as a spoiled brat / mean girl / dumb blonde / rich daughter?

I liked Magan Vernon's take on teenage life. Like it or not, we all had are fair share of crushes, first love; and like Libby, we were also once impulsive, aggressive, lovestruck.

Libby wanted more from her relationship with Blaine, but the guy wanted to reform his ways to be a better person for her.

In the long run, Libby found something she had never experienced in the city and that is the feeling of acceptance. That whatever had happened in her past, people can forget about it and see her for what she has become. And that money & popularity do not make the world go round.

I thought the author Ms. Magan Vernon did a good job with My Paper Heart. While I would have preferred that the issue of Libby's eating disorder should have been resolved, I have this wishful thinking of seeing her well and independent in the second book that Miss Vernon is writing. I'd really love to see Libby and Blaine mature and grow old together, soon.

About the author:

Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. When not writing she spends her time fighting over fake boyfriends via social media.

You can find her online at www.maganvernon.com