Bitter Night – Spotlight & Review
Bitter Night by Diana Pharaoh Frances
Book Description:“SOMETIMES YOU CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES. AND SOMETIMES, THEY CHOOSE YOU…
Once, Max dreamed of a career, a home, a loving family. Now all she wants is freedom…and revenge. A witch named Giselle transformed Max into a warrior with extraordinary strength, speed, and endurance. Bound by spellcraft, Max has no choice but to fight as Giselle’s personal magic weapon — a Shadowblade — and she’s lethally good at it. But her skills are about to be put to the test as they never have before….
The ancient Guardians of the earth are preparing to unleash widespread destruction on the mortal world, and they want the witches to help them. If the witches refuse, their covens will be destroyed, including Horngate, the place Max has grudgingly come to think of as home. Max thinks she can find a way to help Horngate stand against the Guardians, but doing so will mean forging dangerous alliances — including one with a rival witch’s Shadowblade, who is as drawn to Max as she is to him — and standing with the witch she despises. Max will have to choose between the old life she still dreams of and the warrior she has become, and take her place on the side of right — if she survives long enough to figure out which side that is….”
My Thoughts:
I was pretty much blown away by this book. I loved it! Max is a kick-a$$ character with “baditude” and I was hooked from the get go. I really enjoyed Pharaoh-Frances’ world building and am really hoping to see more books in this world she’s created. A unique and action filled urban fantasy with interesting characters, fast pacing, violence, romance, tension, conflicts, and just pure talent in the telling of the story.
Diana Pharaoh Frances is an accomplished Fantasy author and I believe this is her first foray into contemporary or Urban Fantasy, I could be wrong, but she’s nailed it! I don’t know what else to say except that this book will be on my keeper shelf to be re-read again, was well worth buying and I can’t wait for another Horngate Witches book. 😀
Buy Bitter Night at:
Kimberly Frost – Spotlight On…
Would Be Witch by Kimberly Frost
Book Description:
“The family magic seems to have skipped over Tammy Jo Trask. All she gets are a few untimely visits from long-dead, smart-mouthed family ghost Edie. But when her locket—an heirloom that happens to hold Edie’s soul—is stolen in the midst of a town-wide crime spree, it’s time for Tammy to find her inner witch.
After a few experiences with her dysfunctional magic, Tammy turns to the only person in small-town Duval, Texas, who can help: the very rich and highly magical Bryn Lyons. He might have all the answers—and a 007 savoir faire to boot—but the locket isn’t the only heirloom passed down in Tammy’s family. She also inherited a warning: stay away from Lyons.”
Barely Bewitched by Kimberly Frost
Book Description:
“Welcome to Duvall, Texas, where new witch Tammy Jo Trask has just unleashed an accidental Armageddon…Oops.
Tammy Jo’s misfiring magic has attracted the unwanted attention of WAM, the World Association of Magic. Now, a wand-wielding wizard and a menacing fire warlock have come to Duvall to train her for a dangerous mandatory challenge. But is there more to their arrival than they claim?
When a curse leads to a toxic spill of pixie dust, the town comes unglued and the doors between the human and faery worlds begin to open. To rescue the town and to face the impossible magical test, Tammy needs the help of incredibly handsome Bryn Lyons, but WAM has declared him totally off-limits. To avoid deadly consequences, Tammy probably ought to follow the rules this time.
On the other hand, rebellion is an old Texas tradition.”
My Thoughts:
I can not stress enough how much I LOVED these two books! Hilarious! The only thing I don’t like is that it took me so long to pick them up and read them, (I’m kicking myself in the butt over that now). Kimberly Frost has created a wonderfully kooky series filled with magic, mayhem, sexy men and enough hijinks to keep you flipping the pages long into the night.
Tammy Jo Trask is a breath of fresh air. I laughed so hard at some parts of the book that my stomach hurt! She’s got that “southern sass” down to a “T” and I can’t wait for the next book in the series, Halfway Hexed, which I hear Ms. Frost is currently hard at work on. If you like witches, wizards, vampires and fae mixed in with romance, mystery, comedy and flair, then do not miss out on these awesome books! I highly, highly recommend them.
I give both books 5/5 Fangs
Buy Would Be Witch at:
Buy Barely Bewitched at:
Find out more about Kimberly Frost at her website
The Phoenix Charm – Spotlight & Review
The Phoenix Charm by Helen Scott Taylor
Book Description:
“HE’S PURE TEMPTATION.
Cordelia has sworn she’ll abstain from looking into Michael’s future—particularly when the image in the gilded smoke of her divination mirror shows him half-naked. Yet she can’t resist watching the sexy rascal slowly running his hand down his ribs, over his abdomen, flicking open the button on his jeans with a little flourish like a magician performing a trick.
SHE’S TRYING TO RESIST.
Respectable wise woman Cordelia restrains her secret water nymph sensuality with the Celtic symbols painted on her skin. But Michael’s powerful fairy glamour leaves her breathless, off-balance, struggling for control. When Gwyn ap Nudd, the Welsh King of the Underworld, steals away Michael’s infant nephew, Cordelia must work with him to save the child. But how can she trust her instincts with Michael tempting her to explore the hidden elemental depths of her nature and insisting that she believe in the power of…The Phoenix Charm.”
My Thoughts:
A grand story on all fronts! Magic, danger, mayhem, power, family loyalty and romance all mixed in with both a modern and historical feel. There are several characters to fall in love with. Cordelia, Micheal and Nightshade all go through trials and battle both their inner fears as well as several dangerous foes.
I’m really impressed with the intricate weaving of both the modern-day feel and the historical, mythical feel of the story. Wonderfully diverse characters made for a rich reading experience. The romance between Cordelia and Micheal was nicely done. The sub-plot of Nightshade made me want to read more about him and to see what happens in the future, with all of the characters actually!
As someone who has always been fascinated by the Fae, Sidhe, Tuatha De Danaan, etc., I loved the diversity of all the magical, mythical characters. Definitely a great read and I am looking forward to more books in Helen Scott Taylor’s Magic Knot Fairy World series!
Pre-Order The Phoenix Charm at:
Find out more about the author at her website: Helen Scott Taylor
See the book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8JvYC2ljzE
Bone Magic – Spotlight & Review
Bone Magic by Yasmine Galenorn
Book Description
“We’re the D’Artigo sisters: savvy–and sexy–operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But being half-human, half-Fae short-circuits our talents at all the wrong times. My sister Delilah is a two-faced Were who turns into a golden tabby when she’s stressed. And Menolly’s a vampire who’s still trying to get the hang of being undead. As for me? I’m Camille D’Artigo, a wicked-good witch who’s learning death magic with my youkai-kitsune husband. Until now, the Moon Mother’s pretty much ignored me, but she’s about to take me on the Hunt of my life…
Another equinox is here, and life’s getting more dangerous for all of us. The past is catching up to our friends, Iris and Chase. Smoky–the dragon of my dreams–is forced to choose between his family and me. To top it off, there’s a new demon general in town and we can’t locate her. And when the Moon Mother and the Black Beast summon me to Otherworld. I think I’m just going to reunite with my long-lost soulmate. But once there, I’m forced to undergo a drastic ritual that will forever change my life, and the lives of those around me.”
My Thoughts:
Bone Magic was quite simply, A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I guess you all want to know why I think it’s so awesome huh? That’s going to be hard to do without giving away spoilers, which I do not do here on SVR. I’ve followed this series since book one, Witchling, and with each successive novel in the series, Yasmine manages to ramp up the stakes, the world-building, the tension, the relationships and the danger. I am totally wrapped up in these characters and their world!
Bone Magic is told from Camille’s perspective and some major, and I mean MAJOR stuff happens in this book. I could not put it down. I was seriously considering getting the toothpicks out to force my eyelids to stay open so I could keep reading when it got too late, lol. One snippet is that Camille is finally reunited with Trillion, woo hoo! Some more of Smokeys’ and Iris’ back story is told for those of you itching to know more about them, and Camille, as it says in the blurb, goes through a “drastic ritual” that forever changes her life. This book, this series and this writer get two enthusiastic thumbs up from me. I can not wait for the next book in the series, Harvest Hunting which will be out October 2010, though there will be an Otherworld novella in the up-coming Inked anthology, out on January 5th, 2010.
Pre-Order Bone Magic at: Chapters Amazon
Pre-Order Inked at: Chapters Amazon
Find out more about Yasmine Galenorn and her books at her WEBSITE
My New Tattoo
Yes boys and girls, I went and got myself a new tattoo a few weeks ago and I love it! 🙂 I’ve been a fan of Jasmine Becket-Griffith for years and when I recieved a flyer in the mail advertising her new figurine line through The Bradford Exchange, the picture of this figurine, Ruby, just kept sticking in my mind. Here’s a pic of the figurine:
Sweet right? So as fate would have it, after I’d stewed over the idea for awhile, I friended a tattoo artist on facebook through a mutual friend. I decided to ask for a quote, and as they say, the rest is history! Here’s my tatt: (It’s on the side of my right calf in case anyone wants to know).
And here’s the picture the artist took for his portfolio on the day we did the 6 hours of carving my leg tatt! 😀 The artist is Tex Nobles from OM Studio. He did an awesome job. She’s beautiful no?
For some reason, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s character Simi comes to mind when I look at it, but I just flat out fell in love with the picture and had to have it! So what do you all think?
About Me
I read Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Light Fantasy, Young Adult and Graphic Novels in said genres. I’ve also been known to read the odd historical romance if they involve uber-sexy highlanders, vikings or knights & if they involve some time travel and a lot of humor. Heh! 😀 If any Authors, Publicists or Publishers would like their books reviewed or would like to schedule a Guest Blog or Giveaway please contact me at sidhevicious@gmail.com
Please see the BIOS page for more info on our reviewing style and for other info.
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