Winter's Light by M.J. Hearle: Review

Winter's Light (Winter Saga #2)
By M.J. Hearle
Published April 24th 2012 by Pan Macmillan Austrailia
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Blake is gone.

He sacrificed himself to save Winter, leaving her alone, unprotected... hunted.

An ancient enemy is rising, but Winter is no longer the innocent girl who was fated to die at Pilgrim's Lament. She will not wait to be saved. She will do what she must to survive, even accept an unsavoury alliance with those who destroyed her love.

In the gathering darkness, the enemy of an enemy is not always a friend, and Winter must find the strength to stand alone and fight for the one she loves. For she is the key to unlocking the secrets beyond the veil of shadows.

And she is Blake's only hope.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

Winter has nightmares of the night she lost Blake. Nothing seems much worth it anymore without him. Even graduating from high school seems unimportant now. But all that starts to change with a flicker of hope after a vision she gets while at a graduation party. Hope that maybe, just maybe, Blake isn't completely gone, but trapped in the Dead Lands somewhere. But then what happens after Winter leaves the party turns everything dark. Again Winter finds herself on a ride for her life trying to outrun the Demouri that are hunting her again, and being rescued by the most unlikely person.

Will Winter be able to find Blake? More importantly is Blake really alive somewhere? And if he is, will Winter be able to live long enough to find him?

I have to honestly say that I missed Blake so much it hurt during this book. I'm currently not sure who wanted him back more, me or Winter? Still this book is packed with action and bone chilling moments that will leave you gasping for air. And then the twist at the end? OMG take about evil! It will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat begging for the next book. This was a great and dark addition to this series and I can't wait to learn more about these strange and scary new supernaturals.

Oh and I really need Blake...lol *winks*

Lymi...



Dead & Beyond by Jayde Scott: Review/Blog Tour

Welcome to the Dead & Beyond Blog Tour!

Look at that cover...isn't it gorgeous?!!

Today on our tour stop one lucky winner will get their hands on their own eBook copy of this amazing book! But first let me introduce you to the author behind the pages and characters within them...

Author Bio:
Jayde Scott is a psychology graduate and writer most notable for creating the Ancient Legends series.

She lives in London with her family and is a huge fan of baking chocolate cake and listening to indie music.

You can keep up with Jayde Scott on her Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

About the book/review...

Dead & Beyond (Ancient Ledgends #4)
By Jayde Scott
Published February 25th 2012 by Create Space
Pick up your own copy at Amazon or B&N today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Amber Reed is a dead girl walking.

Having just been turned by her gorgeous vampire boyfriend, eighteen-year-old Amber Reed is bestowed with the ability to see ghosts. Between trying to figure out how to control her bloodlust and solving the mysterious disappearance of a friend, Amber realizes someone wants to step into her shoes so badly, they’ll do anything to take her place.
When one secret after another pops up, the only person who believes her is her enemy, Devon. Amber can’t figure out if he’s here to help or save his own immortal race from losing the ancient war against the vampires. What she does know, however, is that she can’t resist his good looks just as much as she can’t help becoming someone else…

In a world of dark magic and ancient enemies, three powerful courts fight for supremacy, and Amber might just be the pawn in winning this war forever. But how’s a girl to survive when everyone wants her dead?

Darkfallen's thoughts:

This book was soooo good that it took me by surprise! It was a perfect mix of comedy, drama, action, teenage angst, and paranormal that I couldn't get enough of. Not to mention the fact that Jayde Scott always leaves you with a suspense filled cliffhanger at the end of every chapter leaving you not being able to put the book down!

To be honest I really didn't know what to expect when I picked this book up. First of all this is the 4th book in the series and I haven't read the previous books. Secondly I hadn't heard about this series or this author until I was asked to sign up for the blog tour and I am sooooo glad that I did! It was awesome in a light yet intense kind of way. Yes I know that's an oxymoron...just roll with it. *winks*

Amber is 18, she's also a vampire, and a necromancer. Not by choice though. She was happy to be your normal average human, that is, until her boyfriend Aiden's friend kills her and then her Aidens' brother turns her into a vampire...Yea not exactly the way you want to start your summer vacation huh? This book picks up as Amber is trying to stumble through her new life as a vampire necromancer. As if bloodlust isn't enough she also has these darn ghosts scarring the crap out of her, and it's not like she can turn to Aiden for help in that department because he isn't a necromancer and can't see the things that go bump in the night. He also doesn't suffer from the bloodlust anymore because of a spell.

One thing leads to another and the lies just keep piling up while Amber tries to help find Angel, a friend that was kidnapped. Will Amber be able to help find her friend or will the whole she has been digging herself into eventually swallow her up?

This was such a fun read. It had me laughing over and over again, while sitting on the edge of my seat at the same time. I love Amber and Aidens relationship. It wasn't all smooth and perfect. It had bumps in the road mostly because the town kept making it worse on each other like all teenagers do. I also loved how in the end they both learn the valuable lesson that not matter what lying to each other is the wrong thing to do. It was just so sweet.

Overall this is a book to revile Carrie Harris's Bad Taste In Boys and I enjoyed every minute of it!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of
this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading
Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was
no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not
necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure
is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of
Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Now on to the giveaway...

One lucky winner will get their own eBook copy of Dead & Beyond! All you have to do is leave a comment answering the question below and fill out the Rafflecopter form.

If your boyfriends brother turned you into a vampire what would be the worst thing about your new vamperism?

Good Luck!

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young: Review

A Need So Beautiful
By Suzanne Young
Published June 21st by Balzer & Bray
Pick up your copy today at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie!

Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

This book is truly a different spin on the supernatural. I almost wanna say it's a different spin on angels...but to be honest I'm not sure it is.

In fact I think it is something else entirely...The Forgotten.

What would you do if you found out that you were....quite literally...no one?

Charlotte's character is great. I love her voice. I loved the fact that like any teenager these days, she is completely head over heals in love with her boyfriend, and they express it in the most physical of ways. NO there is not graphic details. This is YA after all. But Ms. Young doesn't play the naive writer. Writing about high school kids that don't have sex, because face it people MOST high school ARE. And Ms. Young isn't expecting her readers to be naive and buy into the whole we have been together for 2 years and still haven't had sex

Another great thing is that this doesn't follow the normal YA pattern of boy meets girl, girl meets boy, boy & girl fall in love at first sight, then pull away, only to end up together in the end. Nope it was refreshing to come into Charlotte & Harlin's relationship after it was already established. But I felt so sorry for these two.

I have to admit in the beginning, while the writing was good, I wasn't seeing what all the hype was about. And then, next thing I know, there are tears rolling down my face and I'm like "Hey when did I start caring this much? How are you making me cry?" And that is what I think makes this a great book. It's the sneak attack. One minute you are just kinda idling by and then BAM! It's got you.

The whole concept of the Forgotten. Their sole purpose to bring light into peoples lives. Saving them...mostly from themselves. Saving their souls....at the price of yours? Knowing with each person you save the more you fade away, until you are completely forgotten, until you are nothing. It's heart breaking...truly.

Leaves you wondering if you were ever really anything to begin with. This story takes "self-sacrifice" to a new level.

So I'll ask you again...what is you found out that you were nothing?

Would you give up and accept it?

Or would you fight?        

Lymi...





Always A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough: Review/GIVEAWAY!!

Always A Witch
By Carolyn MacCullough
Expected release date August 1st 2011
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pre-order you copy today at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie!

Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

The adventures of Tam and Gabriel continue with more time travel, Talents, spy work, and of course, the evil Knights.

Since the gripping conclusion of Once A Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother's prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

Once A Witch was a fun, light, easy peezy, great read. The characters were well built, stable, and I found myself eager to dive into the next book. Always A Witch not only held up to my expectations but exceided them!

Tamsin Greene is left to fight for her family's survival. To do this she has to travel back to 1887 and help her ancestors put an end to the Knight family once and for all. She will be faced with a terrible decision. A sacrafice so big that only she is strong enough to make the right choice. Thing is she doesn't really know what that is yet.

I loved the time travel in this book. The imagery of New York City in the 1800's was great. The streets, the smells, the sounds, the clothes, MacCullough doesn't let you miss any of it! I do have to say that I was a little mad at Tamsin for going without Gabriel. I know she only had his best interest in mind but that left me missing, or should I say pining, for him for the first half of the book. I found myself constantly "looking" around the corner hoping that he would show up, and then he did. *squeee* I couldn't have been more happy to see that she doesn't actually go it alone entirely. I also enjoyed the fact that even when I thought I knew what was going to happen, MacCullough proved me wrong. I love it when that happens lolz!

While Once a Witch is pretty light and fun, Always a Witch is much darker and gripping. I found myself flying through the pages with lighting speed, holding my breath, and even fighting back tears on more than one occasion. Maybe it's just me but it seems that is what really draws me in. While the first book made me laugh out loud and it was fun, this book took my heart on a rollercoaster ride and I loved it. I guess what I'm saying is that if a book can bring my to tears and leave me gasping for air then I have found a winner. This lady's and gentleman is that book and therefore it has earned this.....

Buy it, borrow it, rent it, steal it if you have too, but you have got to READ this book;) 

Now for the GIVEAWAY!!!

Thanks to the lovely and amazing Carolyn MacCullough we have a SIGNED Arc up for grabs!

Thats right one lucky winner will win an Arc of Always A Witch signed by Carolyn MacCullough herself!

So what do you have to do to get yous chance at this piece of awesomeness?

1.) This contest is open to US, Canada, & the UK.

2.) Also you must be a follower through GFC.

3.) Tweet or post this to Facebook for extra points!
please provide the link!

4.) To enter fill out the form HERE!!!

        

Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough: Review

Once A Witch
By Carolyn MacCullough
Published September 6th 2010
by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pick up your copy at Amazon, B&N, or you local indie today!

Synopsis borrowed form Goodreads:

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

Tamsin Greene has spent her whole life feeling like she don't belong. You see she comes from a long line of witch's but for some strange reason she never developed a Talent. Now at the age of seventeen Tamsin spends most of her time at a boarding school in New York. Spending as little time as possible with her family she tries to pretend that she is just "normal". Everything changes however when a mysterious man enters her familys book store. He mistakes Tamsin for her uber Talented older sister, Rowena, and Tamsin lets him believe what he wants.

One things leads to another and as the lie builds and finally unravels, so does a family secret. Will Tamsin be able to forgive her family? If so, will she be able to save them?

Once the thread is pulled it can be impossible to stop. Tamsin's once tight knit family may be left with nothing more than a ball of yarn. Unless Tamsin can stop the Knight....

This book was a fun and fast read. There is a great deal of fun magic strewn throughout, mixed with a little drama of course. I loved how "upfront" Gabriel was from the beginiing. You know exactly what he is thinking and feeling. It was refreshing to hear him actually talking like the teenage boy that he is. Tamsin was easy to connect with and I heart her snarky side. She will make you laugh one minute and then hate the next. Especially when it comes to her sister Ro.

If you are looking for a fast, fun, light read then you are in the right place. I am soooo ready to jump right into the next in this series, Always A Witch.

Lymi...