Review: Full Moon Kisses by Ellen Schreiber

Title: Full Moon Kisses
Series: Full Moon #3

Author: Ellen Schreiber

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction

Elements: Werewolves

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books, Harper Collins

Format: Hardcover, 215 Pages

ISBN: 9780061986536

Release Date: December 26, 2012

Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4/5

Purchase Here: Kindle // Hardcover

Tagline(s): Beware of the full moon. A werewolf wants to take you into his world. Forever.

Summary: Celeste and Brandon know that Nash in werewolf form is bad news. But a new prediction from psychic Dr. Meadows has Celeste wondering: Which of them wants to turn her into a werewolf?

Still on Celeste's and Brandon's minds is the "cure" from Brandon's father. Brandon must face one dilemma he hadn't anticipated—if his dad's serum really does work, is he willing to give up being a werewolf for good? Is Celeste willing to give up her heroic werewolf boyfriend? And when Nash finds out there's a cure, will he try to take it from Brandon as they continue to deal with their rivalry, their competing affections for Celeste, and their struggles with their werewolf identities?

Then things grow still more complicated when a gang of sketchy guys from a neigh-boring town comes to Legend's Run just before the big Werewolf Festival. What, or whom, are they looking for?

The third installment in the sumptuous series about werewolves and the popular girl who loves one is full of danger, mystery, and undeniably romantic full moon kisses.

Review:

In the previous book, Magic of the Moonlight, Nash was turned into a werewolf. Now Legend's Run has two werewolves in town. Nash is desperate for a cure--so desperate that he asks Celeste to go with him to see Dr. Meadows. While Nash receives the answer he was seeking, Celeste is given yet another warning: Beware of the full moon. A werewolf want to take you into his world. Forever.

Every ten years, Legend's run hosts a Werewolf Festival and while everyone is excitedly anticipating the Fest, Brandon, Celeste, and Nash have real werewolf problems to agonize over. Brandon is being pressured by his father to take the cure, but he's not 100% sure he wants to. Nash wants a cure so badly that he's becoming reckless in his search for it. And Celeste has Dr. Meadows's warning hanging over her head and fears she'll be turned against her will into a werewolf. To make matters worse, there seems to be a pack of werewolves from a neighboring town that has come to Legend's Run for more than visiting the Werewolf Festival.

Full Moon Kisses is the final book in the Full Moon series. I have really enjoyed reading this series, and I'm kind of disappointed to see it ending after only three books. There is so much more that could be added to the story. And by the end I felt that there were some loose ends that weren't tied up. While the beginning and middle of the book were great with all the romance, hope, fear and danger, the conclusion felt kind of anti-climatic. There have been many series finales that had blown me away, but the ending to the Full Moon series just had me thinking, "Well, okay then, that's it."

So I'd say that readers will either love or hate Full Moon Kisses. I'm not going to say that it will be loved, because there were parts that I loved and parts that I didn't. And while, in the end, I ended up loving Full Moon Kisses, readers may not. It's a love/hate relationship with this one. Full Moon Kisses, by itself, is a great book, but as a series finale, it was just okay.

About this Author:

Before I took pen to paper, I was an actress. I attended a local university majoring in theatre and spent a summer in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts where I learned about the “Old Bard” from amazingly talented teachers.

When I returned from London, I relocated to Chicago where I lived for five years. There, I graduated from the Second City Training Center and performed improv, Shakespeare, comedies and dramas--I even sang and danced on a cruise boat--without falling in Lake Michigan! A classmate of mine from Second City and I created and performed a two woman show for a year before I braved it alone doing stand-up comedy. It was during this time I began to write an adult novel about a rock star--I had always enjoyed writing...

Fast forward a couple of years along with a move home where I was performing “stand-up” at comedy clubs in the area. On a plane to LA to decide my fate-- “to move to LA or not to move to LA” that is the question, my big bro, Mark, coincidentally with the same last name as mine (author of PRINCES IN EXILE, DREAMS OF THE SOLO TRAPEZE and STARCROSSED) handed me a young adult book he found at the library he thought I’d like to read during the flight.

As I read the book, I thought, ‘I can do this!’

I returned from LA, and instead of moving there, I wrote my story about the rock star as a young adult novel and called it JOHNNY LIGHTNING.
Mark, my writing mentor, edited JL for me. He was kind enough to send the manuscript to his publisher in Belgium--Facet--and they published it! In Dutch!

I was now on a new life path!

In 2001 HarperCollins made me an offer I couldn’t refuse! Not only was HarperCollins going to publish TEENAGE MERMAID, but it was in a language I could read and book stores I could walk into! HarperCollins also bought VAMPIRE KISSES and COMEDY GIRL.

It was a dream come true!

Since beginning my new life path, VAMPIRE KISSES, TEENAGE MERMAID, and MY MOTHER, THE CLOWN have been published by Facet in Belgium and JOHNNY LIGHTNING has been published in Germany by Ravensburger.

Then my fabulous editor at HarperCollins asked me for a sequel to VAMPIRE KISSES!
HarperCollins published VAMPIRE KISSES 2--KISSING COFFINS and now the soon to be released VAMPIRE KISSES 3--VAMPIREVILLE. I am currently writing VAMPIRE KISSES 4!

When I'm not writing about the love affair between vampire obsessed, goth girl Raven and my favorite mysterious dark-eyed hottie, Alexander Sterling, I enjoy working on my other novels, shopping for Hello Kitty items, and attempting to gain control of the remote from my boyfriend.

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#RCCleanup: Review Copy Cleanup 3.0: My Pile

The Review Copy Cleanup Challenge is hosted by Vicky @ Books, Biscuits & Tea and Celine @ Nyx Book Reviews!

My Review Pile: 
I'll link all reviews to this page!

• Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong
• The Darkest Secret by Gena Showalter
• The Darkest Surrender by Gena Showalter
• Darkest Powers Bonus Pack #1 by Kelley Armstrong
• The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross
• Looking for Alaska by John Green
• One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
• Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
• The Boys of Summer by C.J. Duggan

• Koishi by Annie Nicholas
• Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff
• Farsighted by Emlyn Chand
• Fall For Me by K.A. Last
• When Silver Moons Rise by KaSonndra Leigh
• Cornerstone Deep by Charlene A. Wilson
• Heart by Jacqueline Paige
• Dehumanized by Michael Loring
• Frost Fire by Olivia Rivers
• Food for a Hungry Ghost by Becky M. Pourchot
• The Exemeus by Folami & Abeni Morris
  

#RCCleanup: Review Copy Cleanup 3.0 {Sign Up}

The Review Copy Cleanup Challenge is hosted by Vicky @ Books, Biscuits & Tea and Celine @ Nyx Book Reviews!

Guidelines:

Review Copy Cleanup 3.0 runs from 1 to 28 February

It starts and ends at midnight in your local timezone to avoid confusion

To sign up, just fill in the linky below. Link to your sign up post directly, please! The linky is the same for both our blogs, so you only have to sign up once.

The Linky will close on the 15th, so make you sign up before then.

When you post your sign up post on your blog, either include the challenge button with your post or link it back to this article so that people know where to sign up. Thanks! (: 

Every book you received for review counts towards the challenge, both e-books and hard copies (even audio books for review if you have those), including all genres and lengths.

Feel free to use the #RCCleanup hashtag on Twitter for your RCC related tweets or join the Twitter party at http://tweetchat.com/room/RCCleanup and meet lots of awesome bloggers (:

At the end of every week we will post our personal updates, and we’ll include a linky for you to add yours!

Sign up here:

www.booksbiscuitsandtea.co.uk/posts/review-copy-cleanup-3-0-sign-up/ 

OR

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Challenge Review: Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

 

Title: Bone Crossed
Series: Mercy Thompson #4
Author: Patricia Briggs
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Urban Fantasy Fiction
Elements: Werewolves, Fae, Shapeshifters, Ghosts, Vampires, Zombies
Publisher: Ace Books, Penguin Group
Format: Hardcover, 309 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-441-01676-1
Release Date: February 3, 2009 
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4.5/5

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: By day, Mercy is a car mechanic in the sprawling Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her preternatural side. As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, Mercy has often found herself having to maintain a tenuous harmony between the human and the not so human. This time she may get more than she bargained for.

Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen, has learned that Mercy crossed her by slaying a member of her clan--and she's out for blood. But since Mercy is protected from direct reprisal by the werewolf pack (and her close relationship with its sexy Alpha), it won't be Mercy's blood Marsilia is after.

It'll be her friends'.

Review:

In Bone Crossed, Mercy struggles to cope with the terrible sexual assault she suffered at the hands of a power-hungry murderer. She is plagued by terrifying panic attacks and flashbacks that leave her gasping for air. But life continues to move on and past actions have repercussions.

Marsilia, Mistress of the local vampire seethe, knows that Mercy killed her left hand man, Andre. And she's out for blood. But with Mercy's protection guaranteed from the local werewolf alpha and his pack, it's Mercy's friends who are the targets.

To give Adam a chance to negotiate with Marsilia and to take some time away for herself, Mercy goes to Spokane to help an old college acquaintance with a ghost haunting her house. But in escaping one vampire, Mercy lands right in the path of another, aptly nicknamed The Monster.

Mercy will have to fight mentally, emotionally, and physically to make it home in one piece.

Is it just me or does it seem like lately Mercy is the target of victimization? In the previous book, she is attacked and sexually assaulted, and now in Bone Crossed she has her shop vandalized with derogatory words and images, and she's attacked again in her sleep by The Monster! She leaves the memory of one attack behind in the Tri-Cities and walks right into another in Spokane. It's one thing after another and I'm wondering how much Mercy will be able to take before she breaks. She's tough, but there is only so much one person can take.

Adam and Mercy really start coming together in this book. After Adam comes to understand what Mercy was feeling after her attack, he tried to help Mercy work through it. Now that Mercy has accepted Adam's mate claim, he's been able to relax some and is more patient than before. Adam doesn't walk on eggshells around her, but he exudes a gentleness that let's Mercy know that he's there if she needs him, but he also knows she can take care of herself. I'd say that this is the real beginning for Adam and Mercy, and I can't wait to see how their relationship continues to grow.

There was a great quote said by Adam about who Mercy belongs to that further shows how much he understand her that I really liked:

"Like a coyote, Mercy is adaptable. She belongs to whom she decides. She belongs everywhere she wants to, for just as long as she wants to." (Page 212)

I love Bran! I mean, who doesn't? You can really tell how much he cares about Mercy when he visits her in this book. He may not voice it, but his actions speak louder than his words ever could. Mercy may not be Bran's biological daughter, but her definitely sees her as if she were. Bran is one of my favorite fictional fathers. I can't help but love him!

We get a look at the power struggle within the vampire seethe when both Estelle and Bernard approach Stefan to join them in their rebellion. Estelle basically just wants power, where Bernard really seems to have the seethe's well-being in mind. But Stefan shows unwavering loyalty to Marsilia when he refuses them both, even though she hurt him. He truly is a Soldier at heart, and like a good soldier, the good of the whole outweighs the good of one.

Though Mercy's trouble with the vampires is resolved, there is no hatred lost between her and Marsilia. The next book, Silver Borne, brings us back to the fae and someone really wants the book Mercy borrowed when trying to free Zee in Iron Kissed. The adventures continues and they are bound to be even more exciting that the last.

About this Author:

Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children and six horses and writes full-time, much to the delight of her fans.

PART OF....

Tour: Promises by Amber Garr (Review+Giveaway)

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Title: Promises
Series: Syrenka #1
Author: Amber Garr
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction
Elements: Mermaids, Shapeshifters   
Publisher: CreateSpace 
Format: PDF, 177 Pages
ISBN: 9781468006797  
Release Date: December 7, 2011
Source: Tour Host {Bookshelf Confessions}
Rating: 4/5

Tagline(s): Sometimes following your heart can end up destroying the ones you love.

Summary: When seventeen-year-old Eviana Dumahl is faced with the responsibility of an arranged marriage and clan leadership, she is forced to choose between the life required of a mermaid and one of a teenage girl simply infatuated with the wrong guy. Kain, her devoted fiancé would make a wonderful husband except that she’s been in love with Brendan, a shape-shifting selkie, ever since they were kids. Choosing to abandon her family, her clan, and her life with Kain will have dire consequences far beyond anything she could have imagined.

A war is brewing amongst the clans and Eviana unwittingly becomes a pawn in the intricate schemes of a twisted mastermind. With Brendan’s life on the line, she has no choice but to involve those who she once considered friends. Amidst encountering senseless tragedies and immense loss, Eviana discovers that she is more valuable as a clan leader than anyone ever suspected. Her survival is not only dependent upon the loyalty of her friends, but also on her acceptance of a life that she had so adamantly tried to escape.

Promises is the first book of The Syrenka Series trilogy following Eviana and her friends through the perils of growing up in a discrete world that inherently threatens human society.

Buy Links: 

Amazon       Smashwords   Barnes and Noble

Review:

For anyone in a young love relationship, nothing else matters and responsibility and duty fly out the window. It's no different for Eviana Dumahl, next in line as leader of the Dumahl Clan, one of the strongest merfolk clans in the world. Forced into an arranged marriage to Kain Matthew, next in line as leader of the Matthew Clan, another of the strongest merfolk clans, by her parents, Eviana plans to run away with Brendan, who is a shapeshifting selkie and her boyfriend.

Eviana knows that it's selfish to run away from her family, her clan, her fiance, and her duties. She knows that her choice will hurt some and anger a lot. But what she doesn't know is that her choice has more dire consequences than she ever thought possible. An all-out war is brewing between the merfolk clans--and Eviana is unwittingly caught in the middle. Eviana will need to find the strength to rise to her place as leader of her clan and fight back--for all their sakes.

Something I wanted to point out was how Eviana, once she was informed of the war and internal clan struggles, said that if she had known of everything from the beginning, she would have made a different choice. I personally don't think she would have. This statement was made by an Eviana who grew and matured from who she was when she chose to run away. Eviana knew how important her role and duties within the clan were, even without the finer details, and she still ignored it all and only thought of herself. That is not a good trait in a leader--a leader thinks of her people first and herself last. Though Eviana grew from her experiences, it was too little, too late to prevent the consequences of her choice.

If I had to choose between Kain and Brendan, I would choose Kain, hands down. I felt so bad for him in the beginning, I wanted to give him a giant hug. It must be painful to love the girl you're engaged to marry and know that she'll never love you back. You know how in fairytales the princes has to be pure of heart to wake the sleeping princess? I like to think of Kain as being pure of heart, only his princess refuses to wake up. He tries to show Eviana the benefits of marrying him and the good it would do both their clans, but Eviana refuses to see. Kain is sweet, loving, and has so much strength. He really cares about his people--a great leader in the making! Toward the end, I felt Kain was right in his anger against Eviana--she ditched him on their wedding day! And what really irritated me was that she felt she had the right to feel hurt by his behavior toward her. I wanted to slap some sense into her. Though we don't see much of Brendan in Promises, I still feel I would choose Kain in the end.

The war brewing is between a group of merfolk who feel it is their right to use the Legacy they were gifted with, and those who feel it is wrong to use it. What is the Legacy, you ask? It is a gift the merfolk have to basically control other sea creatures (selkies, water sprites, nixies, kelpies) and humans. Those who think it is right to use the Legacy view themselves above everyone and see themselves as gods. Now what does Eviana have to do with all this? Eviana discovers she has a very strong, if not the strongest, ability to use the Legacy. Now both sides want her on their side of the war. As Sutherland said, Eviana is the key to, not only the two strongest clans, but also to winning the war.

The first chapter preview to book two, Betrayal, left me wanting to read more right away. I can't wait to see what happens next for Eviana and her friends, and the fate of all merfolk and sea creatures alike.  

Book Trailer:

 

About this Author: 

Amber Garr spends her days conducting scientific experiments and wondering if her next door neighbor is secretly a vampire. Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Florida with her husband and their furry kids. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell. She writes both adult and young adult urban fantasies and when not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.

Social Contact Links:

Website: http://www.ambergarr.com
Blog: http://ambergarr.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amber-Garr/232359720165110
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5374297.Amber_Garr

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Challenge Review: Broken by Kelley Armstrong

CHALLENGE: MONTH SIX

BROKEN BY KELLEY ARMSTRONG

Title: Broken
Series: Women of the Otherworld #6
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Supernatural Fiction, Urban Fantasy Fiction
Elements: Werewolves, Demons, Necromancers, Zombies, Sorcerers, Witches, Vampires
Publisher: Bantam Books, Random House Inc.
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 444Pages
ISBN: 978-0-553-58818-7
Release Date: April 25, 2006
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 5/5

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Ever since she discovered she's pregnant, Elena Michaels has been on edge. After all, she's never heard of another living female werewolf, let alone one who's given birth. But, thankfully, her expertise is needed to retrieve a stolen letter allegedly written by Jack the Rippper. As a distraction, the job seems simple enough--only the letter contains a portal to Victorian London's underworld, which Elena inadvertently triggers--unleashing a vicious killer and a pair of zombie thugs.

Now Elena must find a way to seal the portal before the unwelcome visitors get what they're looking for--which, for some unknown reason, is Elena....

Review:

Who would have thought a mosquito could cause so much trouble?

Broken brings us back to my favorite narrator in the Women of the Otherworld series, werewolf Elena Michaels. She's pregnant and bored...never a good combination for a woman used to action. So when Xavier calls about the favor Elena owes him for getting her out of a sticky situation is Stolen, she couldn't be more excited.

But what seems like a simple B&E with a little theft quickly turns not-so-simple when a squished mosquito falls on the From Hell letter they stole and opens a portal to Victorian London. Now the famous killer, Jack the Ripper, is loose in Toronto with two zombie goons in tow. And for some reason they are targeting Elena.

What's a werewolf mama-to-be to do when she has to protect, not only her own life, but that of her unborn child? One thing is for sure: The portal needs to be closed, before it's too late.

Elena's fear of Changing while pregnant was very visceral. Any mother-to-be would fear doing anything that could cause their child harm, but it's more so for Elena. Changing is a very painful process, not to mention that her body is contorting to a new shape, so she fears and questions what that could do to the baby. And the fact that there has never been a pregnant werewolf before leaves the entire Pack cautious. But if you think about is in human terms, all new mothers and fathers stress over the new arrival, so for Elena and Clay I'd say their behavior is normal for new werewolf parents.

One of my favorite moments in Broken may not seem very significant, but for Elena and Clay's relationship it is. Nick notices Elena wearing both her engagement ring and her wedding band. The engagement ring isn't much of a surprise since she's been wearing it on and off for years and kept it on for the past five years as a sign to Clay that she's staying for good. But where Clay's wedding band has been on his finger for the past fifteen years, Elena's remained in it's original case, at least until she became pregnant. Nick can't believe that Elena is actually going to keep it on after the baby is born. I loved Elena's reply:

"What? You think I'm willing to have Clay's baby, but not wear his ring? We're even thinking of making it legal."

This small, seemingly insignificant moment really shows how much Elena has grown since Bitten. She's accepted herself as a werewolf, forgiven Clay for biting her, and finally committing herself to Clay completely.

And I say it's about time. Clay made one mistake (though it was a big, life-altering mistake) and suffered for it for fifteen years. It's about time he finally finds happiness, and I don't think anything could make him happier than his mate accepting him and bearing his child.

We reunite with previous characters and meet new additions in Broken. One new addition that really stood out for me was Zoe Takano. Zoe is a vampire and the original thief of the From Hell letter. She has a little crush on Elena that left Elena feeling awkward and me laughing. What is it with Elena and vampires anyway? One wants to be her BFF and the other wants to make out (or possibly more) with her.

I was all over the place while reading Broken. I was rooting one moment, then totally grossed out the next. And let's not forget completely terrified for different reasons, one of which included Clay's injury. And I thought that the birth was such a magical moment! It's one of my favorite moments in the entire series so far. I don't know much about Jack the Ripper, but Kelley Armstrong's use of the killer's story and knowledge of the time made for an interesting and compelling addition to this series. 

Book Trailer:

 

About this Author:

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

 Broken was read during the Summer Wrap-Up Read-A-Thon

Broken was read during the Review Copy Cleanup Challenge

Review was written during the Sit Down and Write Write-A-Thon

Review: Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Title: Magic Bites
Series: Kate Daniels #1
Author: Ilona Andrews
Genre: Supernatural Fiction, Urban Fantasy Fiction
Elements: Vampires, Necromancers, Shapeshifters, Mages, Psychic Abilities, Werewolves
Publisher: Ace Books, Penguin Group
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 260 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-441-01489-7
Release Date: March 27, 2007
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4/5

Tagline(s):  Atlanta would be a nice place to live if it weren't for the magic...

Summary: When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.

Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate's guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta's magic circles.

The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate's guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she's way out of her league—but she wouldn't have it any other way…

Review: 

A magical apocalypse has destroyed the technological world we all know so well in Magic Bites. Our once proud technological advancements have been laid waste by the resurgence of Old World magic that now runs wild once again. Skyscrapers are ruinous heaps that are home to magical outlaws, while guns fail to fire and vehicles fail to start. When magic hits, technology doesn't stand a chance.

After learning of her guardian's death, Kate Daniels travels to Atlanta in search of answers. But the questions lead to a building feud between the Pack and the People, and Kate is caught in the middle. Both factions have members mysteriously murdered and they are blaming each other. Pressured by both sides, Kate must figure out who (or what) is behind the killings and what they have to do with her guardian's murder, before war breaks out.

The world of Magic Bites is really intriguing and complex. I mean, there are so many factions and groups that it's hard to keep them straight sometimes. There is the Pack, the People, the Order, the Division, and the Guild just in this first book. I'm not even sure what all of their purposes are, especially the law enforcement factions. But the intricacies of the Pack and the People are really interesting. There is still so much to learn about this world and its people.

I loved the dynamic between Kate and Curran. They both push each others buttons, in good and bad ways. I loved the incident where Kate sent Curran a saucer of milk at a restaurant when she finds him basically spying in her. It was such a hilarious moment, I couldn't stop laughing. And you can definitely feel something simmering between them. We don't see much in Magic Bites, but you just know something is going to happen between them.

Magic Bites was a great introduction to the world and people in the Kate Daniels series. We meet key characters that will show up throughout the series, and I'm sure there's going to be even more about post-magical-apocalyptic Atlanta to learn in future books. This is an exciting start and I can't wait to read the next installment!

About this Author:

Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.

Magic Bites was read during the Summer Wrap-Up Read-A-Thon

Magic Bites was read during the Review Copy Cleanup 2.0 Challenge

Review was written during the Sit Down and Write Write-A-Thon

Tour: The Jelly Bean Crisis by Jolene Stockman (Review+Giveaway)

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Title: The Jelly Bean Crisis
Author: Jolene Stockman
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: CreateSpace
Format: ARC, 269 Pages
ISBN: 978-1477448953  
Release Date: August 1, 2012
Source: Author {Jolene Stockman}
Rating: 4/5

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: A total meltdown. The whole school watching. Now Poppy’s an ex-straight-A with no Plan B.

When Poppy Johnson throws away a full scholarship to Columbia, she can only blame the jelly beans. The yucky green ones? Midnight cram sessions and Saturday’s spent studying. The delicious red? The family legacy: Columbia, and a future in finance. Except now it’s starting to look like Poppy’s jelly bean theory is wrong. School has been her life until, but maybe it’s time to start living now.

Poppy has thirty days to try a new life. No school, no studying. Just jumping into every possible world. Thirty days to find her passion, her path, and maybe even love. The Jelly Bean Crisis is officially on.

Review: 

Poppy Johnson was on the fast track to a successful career in finance, but then the "splinters" began puncturing her perfectly laid out plan. Now she's not sure what she wants, and as she's at the podium accepting the Denton Scholarship, Poppy realizes that everything she has worked so hard to achieve hasn't really been for her. So Poppy is taking a one month period to experience a number of different career paths to find something that would make her happy in the long run.

"Jelly beans have reputations. The pink ones are better than the green ones, the purple ones are better than the yellow ones, and the red ones taste the best. So save the red ones for last. If you eat the best ones first, there's nothing but green ans yellow in your future."

Now, personally, the green jelly beans are my favorite, followed by read and orange. But I found Poppy's Jelly Bean Theory to be an interesting way to prioritize and make decisions, but maybe not the tough life decisions. But I definitely liked the basic premise of saving some of the best for last, instead of having it all now and nothing but yuck later.

The Jelly Bean Crisis is a great book for students coming to the end of their high school careers. It addresses the questions we all ask at some point. What do I wan to do with the rest of my life? What's going to make me happy? I struggled with those questions as a senior, and almost 7 years later, I'm just starting to figure it out. So I guess I'm still waiting for my red jelly beans (or in my case, my green jelly beans, since I think those are the best). But Poppy has a chance that I never had to try a number of different things to figure out what she really wants.

I did find her rejection of the full-ride Denton Scholarship a little unreasonable. She could still accept the scholarship and go to Columbia. Poppy's major is not set in stone. I would have killed (well, not really, but you get the point) to have a chance like that.

The romance was a  little lacking for my taste. If your going to add any romance in a book, it needs to have some substance, not little wisps. But the overall message of the story was strong. The Jelly Bean Crisis is well written with a relateable heroine and real life issues. This is definitely a must read for anyone struggling to choose a career path that will make them happy, now and in the future.

About this Author:

I'm a writer of books, an eater of wedges, and a lover of exclamation marks.

My first book, Total Blueprint for World Domination shows you how to design your dream world and make it happen!

I also love gravy, fizzy drinks and shiny things. My reviews will focus on what I love. Because every book has it’s own special something, right?

You can find me at www.jolenestockman.com

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The Jelly Bean Crisis was read during the Summer Wrap-Up Read-A-Thon

The Jelly Bean Crisis was read during the Review Copy Cleanup Challenge

 

#RCCleanup: Review Copy Cleanup 2.0: My Pile

The Review Copy Cleanup Challenge is hosted by Vicky @ Books, Biscuits & Tea and Celine @ Nyx Book Reviews!

My Review Pile: 

• Arson by Estevan Vega
• The Mayfair Moon by J.A. Redmerski
• Jelly Bean Crisis by Jolene Stockman
• The Rising Moon by Nilsa Rodriguez
• Bind Me by Stacey Kennedy
• Beg For It by Stacey Kennedy
• Safeword Davenport by Candace Blevins
• Safewords Davenport and Chiffon by Candace Blevins
• Promises by Amber Garr
• A Hunter's Angel by Cera Dubois
• Her Heart for the Asking by Lisa Mondello
• His Heart for the Trusting by Lisa Mondello
• The More I See by Lisa Mondello
• Frozen Heart by Annabelle Blume
• Nocturnal by Chelsea Cameron
• Nightmare by Chelsea Cameron
• Witch Way to Turn by Karen Y. Bynum
• Never Say Never by Kailin Gow
• Madly by M. Leighton
• Serafina and the Silent Vampire by Marie Treanor
• Seaweed by Elle Strauss
• For Ever by C.J. Valles
• Painted Blind by Michelle A. Hansen
• Broken by Kelley Armstrong
• Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
• The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
  

As you can see, I'm a little overwhelmed by my GINORMOUS August review list. It's a little daunting seeing it all listed out there... My Goal is to read as many as possible.