The Water Witch (Fairwick Chronicles #2) by Juliet Dark (Carol Goodman)

Perfect for fans of Deborah Harkness and Elizabeth Kostova,The Water Watch is a breathtakingly sexy and atmospheric new novel of ancient folklore, passionate love, and thrilling magic.

After casting out a dark spirit, Callie McFay, a professor of gothic literature, has at last restored a semblance of calm to her rambling Victorian house. But in the nearby thicket of the Honeysuckle Forest, and in the currents of the rushing Undine River, more trouble is stirring. . . .

The enchanted town of Fairwick’s dazzling mix of mythical creatures has come under siege from the Grove: a sinister group of witches determined to banish the fey back to their ancestral land. With factions turning on one another, all are cruelly forced to take sides. Callie’s grandmother, a prominent Grove member, demands her granddaughter’s compliance, but half-witch/half-fey Callie can hardly betray her friends and colleagues at the college. 

To stave off disaster, Callie enlists Duncan Laird, an alluring seductive academic who cultivates her vast magical potential, but to what end? Deeply conflicted, Callie struggles to save her beloved Fairwick, dangerously pushing her extraordinary powers to the limit—risking all, even the needs of her own passionate heart.

4 Stars

I won this ARC from NetGalley and boy am I glad they chose me to win!! Juliet Dark (Carol Goodman) does it again. In a world where all paranormal creatures are attempting to coexist peacefully, once again power hungry tyrants and biased old witches want to ruin it for everyone. The love story between Liam and Callie continues, but unlike the first novel, it is not the main focus of the story. Don't get it twisted though. There are some steamy scenes that made me blush just like book 1. This time we learn more about Callie's past and the witch/fairy she is meant to be. We get a sneak peak into how powerful she will become and how warped her grandmother truly is. It is no wonder her parents took the steps necessary to protect Callie for all these years. We also get to learn more about the other endearing characters from the first novel. Goodman continues her to enhance her writing style with bold imagery and intellectually driven dialogue. I would highly recommend this novel/series to anyone who enjoys the genre.

~Kat

Notes from Ghost Town by Kate Ellison

They say first love never dies...

From critically acclaimed author Kate Ellison comes a heartbreaking mystery of mental illness, unspoken love, and murder. When sixteen-year-old artist Olivia Tithe is visited by the ghost of her first love, Lucas Stern, it’s only through scattered images and notes left behind that she can unravel the mystery of his death.

There’s a catch: Olivia has gone colorblind, and there’s a good chance she’s losing her mind completely—just like her mother did. How else to explain seeing (and falling in love all over again with) someone who isn’t really there?

With the murder trial looming just nine days away, Olivia must follow her heart to the truth, no matter how painful. It’s the only way she can save herself.

4 stars
I recieved a copy of Notes from Ghost Town courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.

Olivia is a 16 yr old artist from Florida, but attending school in Michigan. Her best friend, Stern, is a piano prodigy, as well as one of her mothers students. Right before returning back to school at the end of summer, Olivia and Stern share a kiss that causes her to go colorblind, and not long afterward, her whole life is tossed upside down, and changed forever.

I don't even know what to say about this YA book! I absolutely loved it! There was something so sweet about this murder/mystery, and the characters, I couldn't help but shed a few tears while reading. My heart ached for Olivia, not only losing her best friend and one she loved, but her mom AND her ability to see color. She was so passionate about painting and became clorblind! That would be like taking the legs off a dancer, a tongue from a chef, or the eyes from a reader. On top of it all, her dad is getting remarried, she has to drop out of school, and move from the house she grew up in and loved. Not to mention she starts wondering if her mothers schizophrenia is now rubbing off on her, since she is seeing Sterns ghost. Aside from not being able to be with Stern, the end of the story is a happy one, and I would recommend this one to anyone that is looking for a YA book that stands out.

~Mandy

Such Wicked Intent (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #2) by Kenneth Oppel

Devotion turns deadly in this second Gothic thriller from Kenneth Oppel.When does obsession become madness? Tragedy has forced sixteen-year-old Victor Frankenstein to swear off alchemy forever. He burns the Dark Library. He vows he will never dabble in the dark sciences again—just as he vows he will no longer covet Elizabeth, his brother’s betrothed.

     If only these things were not so tempting.

     When he and Elizabeth discover a portal into the spirit world, they cannot resist. Together with Victor’s twin, Konrad, and their friend Henry, the four venture into a place of infinite possibilities where power and passion reign. But as they search for the knowledge to raise the dead, they unknowingly unlock a darkness from which they may never return.

4 Stars

In Such Wicked Intent, we go deeper into the psyche of the young Victor Frankenstein. Kenneth Oppel does an amazing job of pulling the reader into Victor's mind. In the first book, we got to see only a glimpse of the desire for power, but in this sequel, we really get to see how far Victor will go to become omnipotent. There is action, suspense, and romance all sprinkled with a desperation to be reunited with a lost brother, friend, and lover. The story begins with the family grieving the loss of Konrad. As the story continues, Victor becomes intrigued by the possibility of bringing Konrad back from the dead through the use of occult rituals. Needless to say, things don't go exactly as planned, and a monster is born. I definitely recommend diving into this story. It will be hard to come up for air.

~Kat

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may also change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

4 stars
I absolutely adored Hourglass and can't wait to read Timepiece! I love the concept of the rips, and after seeing Back to the Future, who isn't intrigued with time travel? Granted, Hourglass wasn't about romping around the past/future the same way Marty McFly did, but it also added extra elements, such as people having extra abilities! Like the X-Men! I thought the 'forbidden fruit' relationship between Emerson and Michael was a tad hokey at times, and she sure did find him a bit hotter than was necessary, but nonetheless, it was swoon worthy. I'm eager to find out what happens with all the characters in Timepiece, and am going to be adding Myra McEntire to my list of awesome authors!

~Mandy

The Secret of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorensen

Ella and Micha have been best friends since they were kids. But one tragic night shatters their friendship and their lives forever.

Ella used to be a rule-breaker with fiery attitude who wore her heart on her sleeve. But she left everything behind when she went to college and transformed into someone that follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. But now it's summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home.

Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. If Micha tries to tempt the old her back, she knows that it will be hard to resist.

Micha is sexy, smart, confident, and can get under Ella’s skin like no one else can. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. And he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves back, no matter what it takes.

(New Adult Contemporary)
*Mature Content** Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.

4 stars
I received a copy of The Secret of Ella and Micha courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.

Wow! Talk about two screwed up individuals! How could I not pity Ella and Micha while reading this book? The two of them were neighbors from childhood, became best friends, and eventually fell in love, but not without some serious bumps in the road! The shit hole town they grew up in is bad enough, but parental abandonment takes the cake. I fell in love with the characters and couldn't stop reading their story, hoping they would get a happy ending and overcome their situations. Jessica Sorensen has written some amazing books, and definitely one to keep an eye on!

~Mandy

Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures--if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father--and every other witch there--fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.

From Melissa Marr, bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series and Graveminder, comes a brand-new tale of lush secrets, dark love, and the struggle to forge one's own destiny.

4 Stars

Melissa Marr strikes again! This first in the new series is awesome. Thank you Five Finger Death Punch for inspiring this amazing book. The world Marr creates is intriguing, dangerous, provocative, and spellbinding. This book has a character for each type of character lover. Mallory is the innocent/sheltered girl. Aya is the tough women's lib chic. Kaleb is the hero/total badass. Belias is the conflicted one. Adam is the overprotective father. Evelyn is the evil witch. And that doesn't even scratch the surface of the many characters in this book that have a strong presence. I really can't wait to see how this story unfolds.

~Kat

A Perfect Proposal by Katie Fforde

Sophie Apperly's family has never taken her seriously. Fiercely academic, they see her more practical skills as frivolous whilst constantly taking advantage of her. So when her best friend Milly invites her over to New York, she jumps at the chance. It'll do her ungrateful family good to do without her for a while. What s more, she's on a quest America holds the key to solving her family's financial woes, even if they don't deserve her help.

From the moment Sophie hits the bright lights of Manhattan she's determined to enjoy every minute of her big adventure. So when an evening at an art gallery throws her into the path of Matilda, a spirited old lady who invites her to Connecticut for Thanksgiving, Sophie willingly accepts, much to the dismay of Matilda's grandson Luke. Undeniably attractive but infuriatingly arrogant, he is very protective of his grandmother and seems to doubt Sophie's motives for befriending her. No match for the formidable Matilda, he eventually admits defeat, but first he has a proposal to make. He'll help Sophie in her quest to save her family from financial ruin if she repays the favour. But just what does she have to do in return...?

4 stars
I received a copy of A Perfect Proposal courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.

Sophie is completely taken advantage of by her family in England. They don't appreciate her for being frugal and helping out whenever they need her to, and since they're 'academics' they don't feel like she measures up to them. Silly Sophie, for being their door mat! Luckily for her, she has a best friend in New York that convinces Sophie to come visit and work as a nanny for a month. So Sophie heads across the pond, only to have her plans changed once she gets to America. Along comes Matilda and Luke, and now Sophie has a different set of plans...

I thought A Perfect Proposal was the greatest in chick lit! I absolutely LOVE British novels, and this one was no exception. I want to be friends with Sophie, and have her make me fabulous shabby chic clothes! I'm not sure how realistic Matilda taking Sophie under her wing was, but it worked out, since Sophie was an honest gal. It doesn't hurt that with Matilda comes her protective watch dog grandson Luke. I was expecting the outcome with Sophie and Luke (chick lit read, after all) but I felt like the end was a little rushed. I'm glad I was able to read this one tho, it was just what I needed for a winter pick me up.

~Mandy