Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

From 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 shows up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far away from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost heirloom for him. The search-and the stranger-will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared..."


My Thoughts:


I'm not a huge YA reader but books like this make me want to read more. This was a fun, fast read that was completely an enjoyable experience. Nothing amazing but a good read nonetheless. Tamsin is a character that I could easily relate to and I'm sure that others (especially teens) can relate to her as well. The mystery was well thought out and kept me interested especially with the time travel elements. My only complaint was with the ending as it fell a bit flat for me. But as their is a sequel (I'm assuming due to the ending), I'm still agree to read more about Tamsin and her family. And may I just say that I really enjoy books with witches in them. All in all, a good read and I'll be waiting for more by this author!



Disclosure: Checked out from the li..li...library!
*I read this book for the following challenges:
YA Challenge
New Author Challenge
Support Your Library Challenge
100+ Reading Challenge
Speculative Fiction Challenge

Another Challenge Post

I know I'm a bit crazy when it comes to joining challenges but I just can't seem to help myself. If you haven't figured it out by now...I'm pretty low key when it comes to participating in them :) I love to try to finish them and feel that the challenges help to expand my reading. But it doesn't bother me if I don't finish. So with that said let's look at the new challenges that I plan on joining!

First off, I'm joining the lovely Trish's Classics Challenge. I'm horrible with reading classics. It is sad but true. And it pains me to admit this but I've never read Jane Austen. Ever. So this is the challenge for me as I'm going to give her a try this year :) I'm joining in at the "snack" level which is requiring me to read 4 classics. Should be interesting!

I'm also joining in The Nonfiction 5 challenge which is also hosted by Trish. This is the perfect challenge for me as I'm trying to read more nonfiction this year. The only rules are that you have to read one book that is in a different category of nonfiction than the other 4 that you read.

The next challenge that I decided to join was the Cozy Mystery Challenge. I love a good cozy mystery so this is another great challenge for me! And it only requires me to read 6 cozy mysteries...should be fun ;)

The World Party Reading Challenge is another one that I can't resist. 12 books from 12 different countries. And a party at that...how could I possibly resist?? I'm always trying to expand my reading so it only makes sense to join this one.

And finally I'm joining the It's the End of the World III Challenge. I've got a ton of dystopian fiction that I want to read so this one should be easy. And it only requires reading 4 books.

So that is the end of my insanity...for now. I can't promise that I won't join more if I see another challenge that catches my eye. We'll have to see if I manage to finish any challenges this year :)

Truly, Madly by Heather Webber

Truly, Madly stars Lucy Valentine whose family's business is matchmaking. Unfortunately, Lucy doesn't have the same skills as her parents but instead is able to find objects that have been lost which isn't a very helpful psychic ability in her opinion. That is until she gets drawn down into the family business and finds herself searching for a murderer. With the help of a private investigator named Sean Donahue, Lucy is going to need all the psychic help that she can get.

I love a good cozy mystery and this definitely fit the bill. It was purely a fun, light read that I was able to breeze through in a couple of days. The strengths of this book were the characters more than anything. Lucy is fun and instantly likeable which made for a great main character. Sean isn't your typical "perfect" male love interest/mystery solver which made the book more unique. Plus, Lucy has a couple of close friends that were fun to read about as well. The storyline was a bit out there which didn't detract so much as I just had to let go and enjoy the story that the author was trying to tell. The ending was great as I thought I had it figured out but I most definitely didn't. All in all, a fun read and I will be reading the next book in this series when it comes out!

Disclosure: I received this book from a giveaway on Goodreads. This review is my honest opinion :)

*I read this book for the following challenges:

1st in a Series Challenge

100+ Reading Challenge

New Author Challenge

"W" Author for the A-Z Challenge (personal)

Once Upon a Time IV Challenge

How exciting to see that Carl is once again hosting this fabulous challenge! I participated last year in the Once Upon a Time challenge and had a blast so of course I was eagerly anticipating joining in on the fun again this year. And I have a ton of books on my TBR list that fit so I'm joining in on the first quest which requires me to read 5 books relating to fantasy, fairy tales, and other fun stuff. I put together a pool of books that I might choose from but I'll probably end up improvising as I see what everyone else is reading :) Yay for Carl and his wonderful challenges!

1. Un Lun Dun

2. Wondrous Strange

3. Rampant

4. Poison Study

5. The Colour of Magic

6. A Madness of Angels

7. The Book of Lost Things

8. Lips Touch Three Times

9. Lament

10. Ink Exchange

11. Fables: Volume 3

12. Death Masks

13. Ice

14. Book of a Thousand Days

15. Ash

16. The Wood Wife

These are just some of the options that I have to choose from. If you are looking for recommendations may I suggest The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. It was my favorite book that I read for this challenge last year! Here is to some fun-filled months of reading fantasy :)

Library Loot

Library Loot asks us to share what we found at the library each week. This week Eva has the linky so go visit her and share what you found at your library.

I'm not sure what I was thinking...I already had plenty of books checked out from the library. But I got the itch and couldn't help but scratch it by putting more books on hold. And of course the holds all came in together which is always exciting at the time except now I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to read all of them. They look so pretty though that I can't help but want to read each and every one of them RIGHT now! I have issues...especially since I saw that Carl is once again hosting the Once Upon a Time challenge. That is going to require me to request even more. LOL! Okay, maybe require is a strong word but really how can I resist? I'll need to put some more fantasy on hold just to make me happy. Anyways, here is what I picked up from the library recently:

1. Jamaica Inn by Daphne DuMaurier

2. Because Your Vampire Said So by Michelle Bardsley

3. Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler

4. Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

5. Break Neck by Erica Spindler

6. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

7. Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

I'm so excited about all of these..it isn't even funny! I'm currently reading Waiting for Columbus by Thomas Trofimuk which is an interesting read. I had to take Wolf Hall back to the library as I couldn't renew it (someone else wanted to read it apparently ;0) so I'll have to request it again at some point. I wasn't very far into it though so it didn't bother me that much. That's about it. Let me know if you've read any of these and your thoughts if you have!

P.S.- I've had a busy couple of weeks but I'm hoping to get a few reviews posted soon. Plus, I need to create another challenge post as there are a few more challenges out there that I feel compelled to join. I'm crazy...I admit it :)

The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu

From Goodreads:

"Demon hunter Maxine Kiss wears her armor as tattoos, which unwind from her body to take on forms of their own at night. They stand between her and her enemies, just as Maxine stands between humanity and the demons breaking out from behind the prison veils. It is a life lacking in love, reveling in death, until one moment-and one man-changes everything."

My Thoughts:

The Iron Hunt was an interesting beginning to this urban fantasy series and different from a lot of the other books that are out there. Maxine is the only person fighting against the demons that are starting to break out from the prison that they have been trapped in for years. And her help comes from the tattoos on her body...tattoos that are actual demons that come off of her at nighttime. This made such an interesting premise for the story that I was hooked from the beginning. Maxine was a very different main character: at times she was very strong and seemed capable of handling anything, and at others she was filled with self doubt and seemed weak. It made her seem very realistic as all of these changes in personality are coming at a time when everything she knows is being turned upside down. The rules that she was taught as a child seem to be changing and it seems as if her dead mother didn't tell her everything that she would need to know. All of the questions and suspense made for a really good read. But. My only problem was that you could really tell that this was the beginning of the series. It seemed like there was a lot of setup for what was to come and not enough development within this book. And I wanted more answers for Maxine and just didn't get them. So it looks like I really need to pick up the next book and fast ;)

All in all, a good beginning to this urban fantasy series and another author that I will be following closely. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the storyline develops in the next book!

Disclosure: I got this one from the library. Woohoo!

*I read this for the following challenges:

Speculative Fiction Challenge

New Author Challenge

1st in a Series Challenge

100+ Reading Challenge

Support Your Library Challenge

"I" Title for A-Z Challenge (personal)

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

Summary from Goodreads:

"U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels has come to Shutter Island, home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Along with his partner, Chuck Aule, he sets out to find an escaped patient, a murderess named Rachel Solando, as a hurricane bears down upon them.
But nothing at Ashecliffe Hospital is what it seems.
And neither is Teddy Daniels."

My Thoughts:


I absolutely loved this book! This is the best type of suspense/thriller that is out there in my opinion. Shutter Island has a creepy atmosphere that drew me into the story from the very beginning. I would be planning on just reading a few more pages and then would find myself still reading an hour later. I literally could not put this book down. Teddy Daniels was a great main character. He was very likeable but from the beginning there are questions as he seems to have his own motives. There were tons of twists and turns within the story and the ending...wow! I mean WOW! But that is all I can tell you without giving anything away. So I'm going to stop there.

Really this is a book that I will definitely be recommending to everyone that I come across. And I know that makes for a really short review but honestly I think that it is better going into this book knowing as little as possible. If you enjoy suspense and thrillers at all then you really need to pick this book up.



P.S.- I am now dying to see the movie!!! Plus, it has Leonardo DiCaprio in it...what could be better?



Disclaimer: I checked this one out from the library too...as usual.
*I read this for the following challenges:
New Author Challenge
Suspense/Thriller Challenge
Support Your Library Challenge
100+ Reading Challenge
"L" Author for the A-Z Challenge (personal)

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event that asks us to share what we picked up from the library. Visit Eva and Marg to share what you got!

I love my library! Love, love, love. As usual, I put a bunch of books on hold at the library and they all ended up coming in at once. I'm not complaining though as looking at all of them and their beautiful covers makes me happy. LOL! I'm a nut. I cannot wait to read all of these...that's for sure. This week I picked up:

1. Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

2. Soulless by Gail Carriger

3. Kitty's House of Horrors by Carrie Vaughn (I'm itching to pick this one up right now!)

4. All the Pretty Girls by J.T. Ellison

5. Escape by Carolyn Jessop (This is my nonfiction pick for this month...I didn't end up reading my choice for last month though)

6. Deadtown by Nancy Holzner

7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (rereading the series)

8. Atlas of Unknowns by Tania James

So there you have it. These should last me for the next couple of weeks especially since I still have a few books left over from previous library visits. I need to get to reading! Let me know if you've read any of these and what you thought.

The Sunday Salon- February Wrap-Up

Good afternoon everyone! The end of February is already here and it is time to do another end of the month post. Crazy how fast time goes, isn't it? This month was a much better month of reading for me as I was able to finish six books. A far cry from January when I only finished two books :) I'm starting to get my reading rhythm back which has been nice. First, let's start with what I am currently reading.

I'm currently reading Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. This book is huge and hard to hold so I decided to pick another book to read along with it. Now I'm not very far into Wolf Hall yet so it is hard to tell my feelings about it but so far it has been okay. I'll share more of my thoughts when I actually get farther into the book.

I'm also reading Truly, Madly by Heather Webber which has been really good so far. This was the perfect choice for me as it is a light cozy mystery that is easy to hold (key for when I'm reading and nursing), and I'm really enjoying it. I'm liking it so much that I haven't picked up either of my other reads yet today. I'm assuming I'll finish this one up in the next couple of days as it is going quite fast.

Finally, I'm reading The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. Still. I have the bad habit of putting this one day and then not reading it for awhile (awhile meaning weeks). But I've been reading it a lot recently as I've gotten to a good part and am anxious to see what happens. I'm a little over half way done with the book so hopefully I will finish it sometime in March. As I've said before I really do like this book but I just seem to find it too easy to set aside for something else. Probably because I own it and it doesn't have a due date looming over my head :)

So that's what I'm currently reading. It is highly unusual for me to be reading 3 books at a time but it is working for me right now. Now let's get to what I read in February which was:

1. Spindle's End by Robin McKinley
2. Tainted by Julie Kenner
3. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (one of my favorites this month!)
4. Street Magic by Caitlin Kittredge
5. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (another of my favorites...and now I'm dying to see the movie!)
6. The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu

It was definitely a good month of reading for me as I enjoyed all of these books. My goal for March is to continue reading and to TRY and get some of my 2009 books reviewed that I haven't gotten to yet. I know I should probably just let it go but I can't. I picked up some new books from the library so be on the lookout for a library loot post this week. And in baby news, D.P. is still doing awesome! Took him to the doctor for a check-up and he is already 12 lbs. He is gonna be a chunker :) He is already one month old...how crazy is that!?! I'll be going back to work at the end of March which means life will get a bit more hectic. Thank God for reading as it keeps me sane! Enough out of me..hope everyone has a great month of reading in March!!

Street Magic by Caitlin Kittredge

From the back of the book:

"Her name is Pete Caldecott. She was just sixteen when she met Jack Winter, a gorgeous, larger-than-life mage who thrilled her with his witchcraft. Then a spirit Jack summoned killed him before Pete's eyes--or so she thought. Now a detective, Pete is investigating the kidnapping of a young girl from the streets of London...a case that brings her face to face with Jack."

My Thoughts:

Street Magic was an interesting beginning to a new (to me anyways) urban fantasy series. When Pete comes across Jack during her investigation, he is a heroin junkie that seems to hate her for no apparent reason. But he has information that leads to the discovery of the missing child and when another girl comes up missing Pete goes straight to Jack for help. The main characters in this book were interesting and different. Jack should be an unlikeable character. I mean, come on, he is a heroin addict and the way he acts toward Pete makes him far from endearing. But by the end of the story I was beginning to like him even though I was never quite sure of his motives throughout the story. Pete was a really strong female character whose actions left me flabbergasted at times. And yet even with all of their faults I couldn't get enough of these two. There was a ton of action throughout the book which helped to make the book a fast read. Plus, Kittredge has created an interesting world where the story is set in London but there is also the Black which is a place that only some can see. The book was darker than some urban fantasy but I still really enjoyed the book. I couldn't stop turning the pages to see what would happen to Pete and Jack next. And although the mystery wasn't the greatest, it was enough that I wanted to see what would happen in the end. Definitely an interesting read!

I did have a few problems with the book with the main problem being some of the language. Specifically, the use of a certain 4 lettered c-word throughout the story. I don't mind swearing in books but I find this word particularly offensive so it bugged me that the characters kept using it so casually. It was a personal problem that took away from the reading experience for me but I'm guessing it won't bother others as much.

All in all, I liked this book and plan to continue on with the series. Although I had a few qualms with it I would still recommend this book to urban fantasy lovers with the warning about the language.

Disclosure: This is getting kinda old...I checked it out from the library as usual.

*I read this for the following challenges:

1st in a Series Challenge

New Author Challenge

100+ Reading Challenge

Speculative Fiction Challenge

Support Your Library Challenge