Entwined by Heather Dixon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A new look at the tale of the twelve princesses. Azalea the oldest takes the reader on an adventure filled with dances, balls, magic, suitors, mischief, and personal growth. Her kingdom filled with magical items, some hidden away, others sent away -- as secrets unfold, one becomes stronger, that of the mysterious Mr. Keeper who lives within enchantment within the hidden chambers of the palace. Sworn to watch after her sisters, trying to take care of the mysteries within, will Azalea be able to keep promises without them backfiring.. will there be a silver lining admist some disaster?
Wow! I was very impressed by this book. The way Ms. Dixon wrote out the characters, gave each a voice that even "secondary" characters stood out in dialogue and behavior. The descriptions flew off each page allowing me to wander into the kingdom and into enchantment. This was an amazing read.
View all my reviews
Monday, April 25, 2011
Review: Entwined by Heather Dixon
Posted by Avid Reader at 9:09 PM 0 comments
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Honoring the release of Illusions
In honor of the release of Illusions ending the trilogy of Wings and Spells by Aprilynne Pike
http://youtu.be/Jzd6iyNyPPs
Enjoy!!
Posted by Avid Reader at 1:31 PM 0 comments
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Review: The Duke & The Pirate Queen by Victoria Janssen
The Duke & the Pirate Queen by Victoria Janssen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A Hot Steamy Erotic tale - explicit sex scenes, not for faint of heart. Set within Duchys and the Sea, with espionage, pirate attacks, natives, and a King's court. There is a plot to kill Maxime (the Duke) leaving him in the capable hands of rescue of the woman he employs and loves Imena (the Pirate Queen). Amist the unravelling of the key players against him, pirate ships attacking, battles, can he get her to say yes to marriage before danger catches up to them. Being locked in close proximity certainly helps.
View all my reviews
Posted by Avid Reader at 6:51 PM 0 comments
Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book was really talked up and maybe my expectations were a lttle high, so I was somewhat disappointed. The story at times seemed to jump, feel forced, and jumbled a bit - I found myself re reading sections because it just didn't flow, and no I wasn't me. Yet, the storyline was good and seemed to promise someting in the line of a sequel.
The main character Evie works for a secret agency that "bags and tags" paranormals. At the same time that paranormals start dying at a drastic rate, Lend, a paranormal water element comes into her life. Dealing with an overaggressive faerie Reth, who holds secrets to Evie's other questions and leaves a certain abusive relationship pattern through the pages - another being "like" her shows up. The paths that we choose are our own, aren't they - unless we were made for that road... right?
View all my reviews
Posted by Avid Reader at 7:05 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Review: Cloaked by Alex Flinn
Cloaked by Alex Flinn
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Ms. Flinn has did it again - This time spinning tales of The Frog Prince, The Shoemaker, The Magic Cloak, and others into this tale set in modern times Florida.
John is a shoe repairer (secret dreams of designing and making his own shoes) in a hotel, Meg, his best friend is in the coffee shop, Ryan, the lifeguard, Victoriana, a princess in search of her brother that as been turned into a frog by an evil witch, Phillipe, her brother -- swans that talk, a rat that writes, espionage within the bodyguards, a test of chaacter by a fox, and a battle of giants. Whhooosshh
It did feel as though there were too many of these tales thrown in. A quick read but since there were so many thrown together you couldn't really appreciate each tale that was being retold - what you could appreciate was the relationship development between John and Meg.
View all my reviews
Posted by Avid Reader at 7:03 PM 0 comments
Review: The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A fantastic tale filled with magic, mystery, romance, and friendship. In a little town, Walls of Water, a body is unearthed, long friendships strengthen, unusual freindships begin, and secrets are peeled away.
Willa Jackson, the main character, has her family's past and her own to come to peace with. She thought she was until the house her family used to own the Blue Ridge Madam was restored and Colin Osgood came back to town.
Paxton Osgood, a secondary character (that stands wonderfully on her own), is in love with her best friend, Sebastian Rogers, and has an energy that wants her to shake off what everyone has wanted from her and she has obediently done and become herself - will she be able to do that after years of training.
Willa and Paxton's grandmothers Georgie and Agatha have their own secrets and a friendship that outlasts even the ghosts of the past.
Share this book with a friend, a sister, mother, and grandmother - well worth the bond it will create over some peach cobbler.
View all my reviews
Posted by Avid Reader at 6:48 PM 0 comments
Monday, April 11, 2011
Review: Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright
Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
An interesting take on the childrens classic tale of Red Riding Hood. This is more Juvenile/Adult Fiction and based upon the movie that has come out. Set in a medieval like town, with depressed town life and people, a ritual does not go undone every month of an animal... but when the blood moon comes and lasts for days, the wolf comes and hunts. With a few twists leaving the question of who is the wolf, Valerie is haunted by dreams, images, and the wolf itself - when the wolf demands her to save those she loves and the village, will she give herself freely?
There is a website to go with the book www.redridinghoodbook.com
This book was an indulgence that I thoroughly enjoyed. A quick read, that leaves you thinking about other tales that would fair well with an adult makeover.
View all my reviews
Posted by Avid Reader at 8:10 PM 0 comments
Review: Born At Midnight by C.C. Hunter
Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A coming of age tale about 17 year old Kylie Galen that has undiscovered powers. Before leaving for camp, Kylie has to deal with images of a dead person, a boyfriend dumping her, her best friend no longer having much in common with her, and her parents divorcing. This camp isn't an ordinary camp and Kylie finds herself attracted to Derek (half Fae) who looks like her ex and Lucas (a werewolf) who she has a past with, rooming with a vampire and a witch - this might be just the place that she does find herself and where she comes from *that's a hint, not a spoiler*
View all my reviews
Posted by Avid Reader at 7:40 PM 0 comments
Review: A Discovery Of Witches by Deborah Harkness
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Discovery Of Witches is a pageturner, a discovery into the world of witches, daemons, vampires. The story has twists and turns, beautiful written that the scenes jump out at you as if the words themselves were enchanted. Diana Bishop, a powerful witch a daughter of a Proctor and Bishop witch, has come across an ancient manuscript that a secret Congregation has been searching for and wanting to uncover for its information and power. Matthew Clairmont, a vampire who has his own secret and society, has his own battles to fight be it for the book, Diana, or the future of their kind.
I really loved this story, it felt like it ended a little abruptly but I hope that might be a sign of another book to come.
View all my reviews
Posted by Avid Reader at 7:29 PM 0 comments