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Hey guys!
Wow, I can not believe it has been so long since I've posted--6 months! And I didn't even warn anyone I'd be gone. Things have been so hectic lately I just needed a break. Blogging had turned into somewhat of a chore and the pressure to read quickly and always have up new reviews was putting way to much pressure on me. I mean, I joined the bloggersphere because I love books! And I want to find out about new books and I want to share with people how I liked (or did not like) the books that I read.
Bottom line: It's supposed to be fun.
So, I took a break.
But the good news? I'm back! And I'm so excited because I just read some really awesome books and I have officially decorated for fall! So hopefully I'll be getting those reviews up soon and slowly I'll be back more regularly:)

-Katie
Happy Fall!

Misfits and Heroes: West from Africa

Misfits and Heroes: West from Africa by Kathleen Rollins

Naaba begins it when he releases Asha from her bonds and they head off to the river, together, two misfits with a dark past and an uncertain future. But many others will become part of it before the journey is through: strangers and friends joining forces as they face their enemies, without and within, and the perils of the journey that will test them all, so that their actions, even their failures, will shape their new identity in a very different world, as friends, as lovers and as individuals.


Ramblings: When I started this book, I honestly thought, "This doesn't seem like something I am really going to enjoy.. and it's really long!" But I soon found that it IS something I am really going to enjoy and that the length disappeared as I was wrapped up in the story.


Characters: My heart soared with each of these characters. They face so many struggles--inside and out--and I just really connected with all of them. Characters were inventively brought into and out of the story and I could never be sure if someone would turn up again. I was definitely kept on my toes!


Plot: Set in 12,000 BC, this book has a very interesting plot! I loved being sucked into this world. It was such a believable world, I'm sure that Rollins had her work cut out for her when she was researching this era! And, this era was eerily similar to ours and I never thought it would be. I figured they were all cave men with no feelings to put it blatantly! Rollins did a wonderful job opening my mind up to this era.


Overall: I'm so excited that I picked this book up, and so upset that it took me so long to! Thank you Ms Rollins for letting me review your book! :)


Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Fever

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Pages: 341
Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind. 
Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness. 
The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary. 
In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.


Ramblings: I loved Wither (Book 1 in the Chemical Garden Trilogy) but I found it somewhat slow-paced. This book had the same feel to it and I'm not sure why. It had more action and adventure in that than Wither did, but something about it kept me from tearing through it. 


Characters: I love the characters in this novel! Gabriel and Rhine's romance flourishes while the villains become even more sinister! The characters are what saved the book for me, especially Maddie. She was my favorite character in this book I think despite her lacking words. I really hope to see more of her in the next book! Who I don't want to see more of? Vaughn. Yet, at the same time I know the next book is going to be an epic battle involving him. It's probably going to be my favorite in the whole series.

Plot: Alas, the plot dragged a little and I don't understand why I wasn't interested in it, there was so much going on! I loved the constant obstacles that never seemed to cease even at the end. And speaking of the end?? Oh my goodness! Okay, I finished this book right after I finished Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (within about two hours of each other!) and I almost flipped my lid. They ended in almost the exact same way. I can't say anymore for those of you who haven't finished the book.. but yeah. Insanity!


Overall: I don't really know where I stand with this book, but I do know that I am really interested in what's going to happen next! I hope the great finale doesn't disappoint! 

Overall Rating: 3 Stars

Letters in Cardboard Boxes Giveaway!

The Fabulous Miss Slovin has been generous enough to offer up two Ebook copies of her book, Letters in Cardboard  Boxes! 


Here is a synopsis about the book:

Experience what advanced reviews are proclaiming, "An absolute must read...this is a novel you will want to keep with you for the rest of your life" and "A poignant and moving story...a true work of art." 

Letters In Cardboard Boxes tells the story of an eccentric grandmother and her granddaughter alongside a series of fantastical letters they once exchanged. Their letters once traversed the East River to help Parker escape the loneliness of a childhood without her globe-trekking parents and communicate during her turbulent teenage years. Now, nearly a decade later, Parker begins to rediscover the evidence of this letter writing tradition, as well as the family’s untold stories and, unexpectedly, letters from her grandmother’s own youth that paint a very different portrait of the woman who raised her. 
Letters carries us through the universally-shared experience of loss and the process of coping with life’s unexpected twists and turns. Through unusual and bold characters, the story moves through some of its heavier themes with honesty and humor. 


And, if you would like to read my review, go ahead!
Good Luck, and "May the odds be ever in your favor!" (Sorry I couldn't resist!)

Pandemonium

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pages: 375
I'M PUSHING ASIDE
  the memory of my
            NIGHTMARE,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana
              and my old school,
PUSH,
  PUSH,
      PUSH,
      like Raven taught
          me to do.
The old LIFE is dead.
             But the old Lena 
          is dead too.
I BURIED her,
           I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of 
              SMOKE and FLAME.
Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, DELIRIUM. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.

Ramblings: I waited so long for this book to come out! Delirium was one of my favorite books from last year and I was so excited to continue the series! I don't feel like that gives a good explanation of the book though, and I really went into this novel with no idea what to expect. Here is an excerpt from the back of the book:
  "SO WHAT was your name before?"
I say, and she freezes, her back to me.
"Before you came to the WILDS, I mean."
For a moment she stands there.
                        Then she turns around.
           "You might as well get used to it now,"
                  She says with quiet
INTENSITY.
                     "Everything you were,
         The life you had,
the people you knew . . . DUST."
She shakes her head
       and says, a little more firmly,
"There is no before. There is only NOW,
   and what comes
                    NEXT."

Really cool right? So from this I got a little bit more, I know that it's in the Wilds and there is someone name Raven involved.

Characters: So, yes, there is a character named Raven. She is this really awesome, strong and fierce leader of this group of Invalids that take Lena in. She shows Lena what to do and makes her stronger. I really admired Raven, even in the end, because of her toughness and will to survive. Besides this tough exterior shell she has surrounding her, throughout the story it slowly breaks down until one scene, it shatters. It was amazing to see this other side of her, and my heart broke right along with hers.
As for Lena, she is super weak at the beginning of the book! It was weird to see her so vulnerable, and I kind of liked it. She grew stronger though and got back to herself, and then tougher.
There is one other character, Julian, who I surprisingly liked, but I can't say any more about without spoilers!

Plot: Alright.. I'm not sure yet as to how I'm going to try and explain this plot. It's really about Lena struggling to survive, but then Invalids are looking for a cure, and Scavengers get involved, and there's the whole team who is pro cure. I hope I kept them straight while reading the book! At times it got difficult.
What I didn't like about this book though, was the way it was written. It starts off with the first chapter saying "now" and the second chapter "then", and it alternates throughout the book. It's an interesting way to write the story, but only if it's done right and I don't feel like it was this time. It would have been fine for maybe half the book, but I expected the "then" section to meet up with the beginning of the "now" section at least half way through the book, but it didn't. I felt like I was reading two books at once and it made reading the story a little less enjoyable. Does that make sense?

Overall: I love the series, the characters, and all of the amazing plot twists! I'm going to continue reading the series, especially after the way that this book ended! I wanted to scream and I couldn't sit still! I had to get up and move around. The only thing I didn't like was the way the book was written. Hopefully the third book will be written better.

Overall Rating: 4 stars 

Letters in Cardboard Boxes

Letters in Cardboard Boxes by Abby Slovin

Ebook

Experience what advanced reviews are proclaiming, "An absolute must read...this is a novel you will want to keep with you for the rest of your life" and "A poignant and moving story...a true work of art." 

Letters In Cardboard Boxes tells the story of an eccentric grandmother and her granddaughter alongside a series of fantastical letters they once exchanged. Their letters once traversed the East River to help Parker escape the loneliness of a childhood without her globe-trekking parents and communicate during her turbulent teenage years. Now, nearly a decade later, Parker begins to rediscover the evidence of this letter writing tradition, as well as the family’s untold stories and, unexpectedly, letters from her grandmother’s own youth that paint a very different portrait of the woman who raised her. 
Letters carries us through the universally-shared experience of loss and the process of coping with life’s unexpected twists and turns. Through unusual and bold characters, the story moves through some of its heavier themes with honesty and humor. 


Ramblings: I loved this book from the very first chapter! This is one of the best ways to start out a story that I've ever read. At first I was really sad, but then I was laughing! It was just such a spectacular twist at the very beginning! I haven't read a good first chapter like this in a while.


Characters: Parker is a great main characters. She is quiet and somewhat shy, and she really doesn't like change. At points in the story I became frustrated with her though, just because of her lack of decision making skills, but I was so happy to watch her evolve and grow stronger and more confident. Parker's grandmother also played a big role in the story--the emotional role. As her grandmother slipped further away my heart just melted for her! She tugged on my heart strings numerous times and I really loved her character.


Plot: This was certainly an interesting book! Slovin's writing style just flowed and I found that I couldn't put it down! The story is one that could just make you cry and cry, but Slovin does a terrific job of balancing the good and the bad, creating a lighter emotional book. I don't really know how to word this right, I hope you are understanding!


Overall: This is such a spectacular read, I don't know of anyone who wouldn't enjoy this. It has so many beautiful qualities to it, and for such an emotional plot, she keeps the book very uplifting! A fantastic read, don't pass this one up. I don't know why I waited so long to read it!


Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Technical Difficulties...

Hello folks!
Unfortunately I am having some technical difficulties with my back ground and layouts and what not.. ): So, I'm going to be taking the next couple of days off to try and solve this problem and get Magic is in Words back to normal!
Don't forget to vote in the poll for what book you'd like to discuss though!

Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Pages: 221
BEFORE. Miles "Pudge" Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (Francois Rabelais, poet) even more. He heads off to the sometimes crazy, possible unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Greta Perhaps, and steals his heart.
AFTER. Nothing is ever the same.

Ramblings: John Green has yet amazed me. Filled with joy, laughter, amazing pranks, sorrow, deep pasts, and heart crushing twists, Looking for Alaska has affected me like no other.

Characters: There are quite a few main characters, but my favorite being Alaska. She brings such life to this story, and I fell in love with her personality and vibrant love for life from the moment she entered the scene. I also love that she has a huge library! She has so much that she looks forward to in life, it was so inspirational. As for Pudge, I loved watching his transformation from this lanky, nervous, self-conscious boy to this (still lanky) fun-loving, confident boy. Moving to the boarding school was the best thing for him and I was rooting for him every step of the way.

Plot: There is this huge question throughout the book: how to get out of this labyrinth that we are all supposedly stuck in, and there are a few different ways that we look at it through the book. It was so eye opening, and that's one of the reasons that I love John Green's books. They always have this deep, life lesson that is brought up at the beginning of the story and resolved as the story progresses. It was super interesting and days later, I'm still thinking about it!

Overall: Looking for Alaska certainly surpassed by expectations (which were set very high from his other book I read, The Fault in Our Stars) and that just amazes me. I guess I'm going to have to read Paper Towns pretty soon also! I seriously wouldn't pass up this book, read it in one sitting this past Saturday. It is a magnificent read that will capture every readers heart.

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Musing Monday, March 12

Musing Monday is hosted by Should Be Reading.
This week's Musing asks...
What book do you wish you were reading right now? Where would you take it to, if you could go anywhere to read for a while?

My Answer: I would be reading The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. This is a book I recently finished (and read within 23 hours!) and I know that this is going to be a book that I read over and over for the rest of my life. And, I would be in Greece, sitting outside a little restaurant in a quaint little village enjoying the sunshine!

What book do you wish you were reading, and where??
Have a great Monday everyone! :)

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in our Stars by John Green



Pages: 313
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Caner Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.
Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is an award-winning-author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

Upon finishing this book I was literally balling--for numerous reasons such as 1. I was sad 2. I didn't want this book to ever end and 3. my heart was pulled, dragged, filled with hope, squished, crushed, brought alive again, and about to burst. I've been contemplating as to how I am going to write this review and I honestly don't know how to proceed. I know that no matter what I write will give this book justice. I can talk about the characters: Hazel Grace's strong will power and Augustus's dashing good looks, charming humor, and his amazing battle to win over Hazel's heart, but no matter what I say, it won't be right. I know that this plot will touch the lives of many people and that it has affected me personally also, but I am just in awe. Being the first book I've ever read by John Green, I must say that I am in shock and I know that nothing I read after this will ever live up to my expectations.

So, instead of writing a review, I'm just going to tell you this: I have never been more moved by a book in my entire life.

Nothing that I write here matters except for that sentence, and honestly, I don't know how to rate this book because it surpasses everything that I've ever read. A spectacular read, and worthy of everyone willing to learn a little bit about life, love, and what comes next.

Rae of Hope Swag Giveaway

Hello, Hola, Aloha, Howdy everybody, long time no see! I know, I know, I've been away from the blog for WAAAY to long, but good news is: I'm back! :)

So to celebrate, I have a really cool giveaway!
The author of Rae of Hope, this really fabulous lady named W.J. May, was so sweet she sent me a boatload of REALLY COOL STUFF that I want to share with you! Look at all of it!

Really Awesome right?? So I broke it up into a bunch of giveaways so a lot of you can win some fun Rae Swag! 

THE GRAND PRIZE:

2nd PLACE WINNER:

3rd PLACE WINNER:

4TH & 4.5TH PLACE WINNERS:

5th PLACE WINNER:

Are you totally as excited as I am?? Have a wonderful day everyone! :)

Thanks again Miss May, you are just fantastic! :)

The Darkening Dream

The Darkening Dream by Andy Gavin

Pages: 379
1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand. 
With the help of Alex, an attractive Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah’s continuing visions reveal? 
No less than Gabriel’s Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.

Ramblings: Super excited about this one because of Alex: he is Greek. Now, unfortunately, I am not Greek and I rarely talk about my obsession with Greece on this blog because there has never been a reason to. But, when Gavin requested my to review this book and I saw that Alex was cute and Greek?? I happy danced. I said, sign me up!

Characters: I'm just going to jump right into it: Alex was by far my favorite character. Dark curly hair, big eyes, sexy. Oh yes, I fell in love the moment I read about him. Then, to learn that he is this super cool dude who slays vampires? He's is the full package (;
I would have liked to see more from Sam. At first I thought maybe he had a thing for Sarah (the main girl) so I would have liked to see a little more resentment towards Alex.


Plot: This is a very interesting plot and I liked that it took place almost a hundred years ago. I always like books set in the past because I love history. As for the vampire hunting goes, I felt a little overwhelmed with so many POV's in the novel. We switched around to probably every single character's POV at least once. I also felt overwhelmed by all of the different prayers and spells and whatnot going on. I felt there was too much chaotic spells going on and unnecessary time changes... if that makes sense. For once I think a books needs a tad bit less action! I've never said that before!

Overall: I do want to warn everyone who reads this book because even though it's categorized as YA (and I can see why) there is some very adult-ish material (I won't get into it all, but even at 16 I felt a little uncomfortable at times. I wouldn't recommend to anyone under 16). One scene with a girl named Emily bothered me so much I almost put the book down and didn't pick it back up. I just don't understand the need for this kind of scene. She easily could have rubbed her ankles instead and I didn't need to know how it made Alex feel. I don't know how to explain it any better than this: there was just a lot of random sexual content that I felt could have been left out and still made a really great story.
I do not want to end on a sour note though! I was so shocked with the last two chapters, I freaked out! I'm pretty interested in what is going to happen next if there is a sequel. I loved this book!

Overall Rating: 3 Stars

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Pages: 236
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting her row.
A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?
Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you are least expecting it.

Ramblings: I've been waiting for an amazing, romance story and I've found one! This one portrays true love and chance happenings at its finest.

Characters: Hadley is so great. The way that she feels about her father's second wedding is totally normal and I feel like she is pretty unsure of how she is going to handle things when she finally gets there. I love her quick back-and-forth banter with Oliver from the minute they meet until the very last line. She and Oliver make such a cute couple! And his British accent is very attractive :) Every time he would talk, the little voice in my head would switch over to a British accent. It makes for quite the entertaining read!

Plot: I love a good romance and I feel like this is one of the best ones I've ever read. It's a pretty short read and so I flew through it, but I loved every second. From meeting in an airport, where there are thousands of people, the probability of meeting Oliver, sitting by him on the plane, and falling in love with him could seem like way to unbelievable, but somehow it works. Everything seems so normal and fits perfectly into place.

Overall: You couldn't ask for a better romance novel. If you have been searching for a light, fun read with a cute boy and an unbelievable tale, then this is the book for you. Seriously, don't pass this one up. You will be running to an airport as soon as you finish (;

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

The Priest and the Peaches

The Priest and the Peaches by Larry Peterson

Ebook

Historical fiction novel set in the Bronx in the mid-1960s

Take a seven day journey with the five, newly orphaned Peach kids, as they begin their struggle to remain a family while planning their dad's funeral.

They find an ally in the local parish priest, Father Tim Sullivan, who tries his best to guide them through the strange, uncharted and turbulent waters of "grown-up world." A story that is sad, funny, and inspiring as it shows how the power of family love and faith can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Ramblings: I was pretty excited to receive this book for review and to participate in the hop! I have to say this is a great read once I really got into the story. Catholicism plays a big role in this book which is new to me but it was pretty interesting.

Characters: These kids are so strong! Trying to stick together after their dad dies and plan his funeral, all while sorting debts and trying to stay a family? I really felt Teddy and it's not that I could relate to him, but I felt such sympathy for him! He had me laughing and then crying in about a 10 minute time frame! Those have real courage and they couldn't have done it without the priest, their neighbors, and God.

Plot: This book is all about hope which is something I'm really big on, (just like my participation in my youth group's 30 Hour Famine. The world's hunger is not hopeless. sorry to get off topic!) and so I loved that aspect of the novel. One of my favorite parts of the novel is such a simple concept: LYN: Love Your Neighbor. Loving your neighbor is a concept that in today's society seems so hard to grasp and if everyone would just look around and realize it isn't such a hard thing, our world would be a lot different.

Overall: This is a great read and although YA, I would definitely recommend to adults also. Seriously, don't pass this one up!

Overall Rating: 3 Stars


Now that you know a little more about the book, Larry was nice enough for an interview!

When did you first get the idea for The Priest and the Peaches?

My brothers and sister and I did lose our parents when we were quite young but I never considered writing about that or something based on that. Then, about four years ago our brother, Bobby, suddenly passed away. After the funeral we were at a pub up in Monroe, NY, and were were sitting around reminiscing. Well, more and more memories began to come forth from all of us and, before you knew it, we were laughing our heads off and having a grand old time. It was awesome. That is when the idea began to germinate. The book is a fictionalized account of those days and many of the characters and incidents can be attributed to "poetic license."

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

I guess so. But it took me most of my life to actually get there. The cliche, "You gotta do what you gotta do," would fit me well. I was where I was when I was needed and always tried my best to do  what I had to do no matter the circumstances. This relegated writing to the lower echelons of what "needed" to be done. Today I am blessed to be enjoying what I like to call my "permanent senior moment" which is that of being a writer.

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

I really have no desire to go anywhere in particular but if I actually had to choose it probably would be the Vatican. The history and treasure trove of artifacts there would be something to see. 

What is one item on your bucket list?

There is something and it just popped up last week. My son and I began coaching a Lttle League team of six and seven year olds. One of the boys has a form of autism. He does not pay attention , cannot throw a ball or catch one. If we can get him to actually learn how to throw and catch by April that would be quite an accomplishment. That is the one thing on my previously empty bucket list. We'll see how it goes.

Describe The Priest and the Peaches in just five words!

Loving your neighbor means forgiveness.

 

Chocolate or vanilla?

Vanilla (today is Valentine's Day so today it is chocolate---I am flexible)

Target or Walmart?

Walmart is two miles from where I live. So, Walmart equals convenience.

Ice cream or frozen yogurt?

Ice cream

 

Movies or books?

Books, although I do not read nearly as much as I would like to.

Thank you to Tribute Books for sending me The Priest and the Peaches and for allowing me to participate in this blog hop! And to Mr. Peterson, you are a wonderful writer and I'm looking forward to reading more from you! Have a wonderful day!

Until Next Time Blog Tour!

Until Next Time Blog Tour

Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, Book 1 Summary



eBook
Pages: 295
Release: February 1, 2012

How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?


Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.
When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.
From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart.


Wanna buy this awesome book? Check it out!



Kindle buy link
Nook buy link
Smashwords buy link
PDF buy link

Now let's meet the Author!


Amy Lignor's Bio:
Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.
Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.
She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.
Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.

The author, Amy, is going to guest post today! :D

The Magic of Words

I have to say the name of this blog is definitely something I believe in.  And I understand our host, Katie, because I came from a small town where - I promise you - the only thing to do was watch the cars rust.  Not to mention, at least six months out of the year we were buried in snow.  So…I read.  Anything I could get my hands on, actually.  My Mom was a librarian so my sister and I were able to get all the new releases the second they came out - which was seriously cool.

There are a lot of people who love small towns, and I understand that it’s more peaceful and calm - less violence and crime, etc. - but the boredom factor is a forty on a scale of 1-10.  Without books I would’ve seriously thrown myself into a snow bank.  I loved everything - from YA’s to classics like Jane Austen - and the subject of angels was really big for me.  I can’t tell you how much I love the fact that the ‘winged ones’ have come back so strong lately.

The characters in Until Next Time - Emily and Matt - are a huge extension of that small town life in their own way.  They come from a world where there isn’t a whole lot to do either.  There are certainly more people, but they spend a lot of their time in school, training and waiting around - desperate to enjoy that taste of freedom that they’re about to experience full-force.  Of course, with freedom comes some seriously hard lessons.  The human emotions they run into are strong and brand new to them, which causes a whole lot of problems.  From love to fear to hate to heartache, they’re the innocents that are trying to keep their faith in one another in a world that’s filled with things that are trying to rip them apart.

I love the magic of books.  The fact that, as a reader, I can sit in a room and be taken on an adventure with the Matt’s and Emily’s of the world is amazing.  I can stand by the side of characters as they head back into history to see something truly monumental that we can only read about now; or, head into the future and find worlds that amaze and excite.  I can also fall in love through someone else’s eyes with the new ‘Romeo and Juliet’s’ of this world (or, you may call them the ‘Edward and Bella’s).  I can cheer for the hero and heroine, or despise the villain with everything I’ve got.  Boredom never comes from these creations, so being able to escape and become someone else for a while is a real ‘gift.’

Your whole life, even when you have the gray hair (yuck), and your own teenager in their bedroom complaining about how boring it all is, the characters of Lord Voldemort, Patch, Katniss Everdeen, Lisbeth Salander - even Mr. Darcy - will still be there for entertainment.  Not to mention a slew of new ones that are just waiting to be taken into the fold.  No matter what happens in time, or how bad things get, books are eternal.

To me, that’s the real ‘magic.’  No dragon or wand necessary - just an imagination!

Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy.

*-*-*

Thank you so much Amy for that wonderful post! You really brightened my day when I read that :) Thanks for stopping by Magic is in Words and I hope you have an amazing day! 
I'd also like to thank Tribute Books for thinking of me. You guys are great and I hope I can continue to participate in more amazing hops!


Check out The Angel Chronicles, Amy, and Tribute Books!



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Rae of Hope

Rae of Hope by W.J. May

Pages: 225
How hard do you have to shake a family tree to find out the truth of the past? 
Fifteen-year-old Rae Kerrigan has never questioned her family’s history. That is until she accepted a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School in England. Guilder is a very unique, gifted school. 
Rae has no idea what she is getting herself into or that her family’s past is going to come back and taunt her. She learns she is part of an unparalleled group of individuals who become marked with a unique tattoo (tatù) on their sixteenth birthday. The tatù enables them to have supernatural powers particular to the shape of their marking. 
Both her parents were marked though Rae never knew, as they passed away when she was young and never told her. Learning about her family’s past, her evil father and sacrificial mother, Rae needs to decide if there is a ray of hope for her own life.


Ramblings: A+, 5 Stars, Bravo! Oh my I loved this book! At first I was a little hesitant to read (although I have no idea this book is right up my alley!) but once I was about ten words into this book, I flew through it! I read it in one sitting.


Characters: At first I was a little overwhelmed by the characters in this book. Not because there were too many, but because I felt like I met them all at once--just like Rae! Once I got into the swing of things though it wasn't too complicated to remember each character and their tatu. I loved Rae: from her quiet/shyness to the spunky girl who stands up for what she believes in. Along Lia in the book Frozen I just reviewed, Rae felt very real to me. Her feelings and characteristics were super relate able and I loved getting to know her! I got such a kick out of how all the boys on campus followed her around all the time! She just didn't know how to handle it and while I felt bad for those boys, I was happy to see that Rae didn't lower any of her standards or start in a relationship that wasn't what her heart wanted.  As for Devon, Molly, Maria and the rest of the gang? I can't wait to get to know them more in the next book!

Plot: Okay, who wouldn't want a super cool/sexy tattoo that would also give them some kind of amazing, supernatural power? Sign me up! There were plenty of twists to the plot that kept me turning the pages and I'm so interested in the mystery behind Rae's parents and I have this sneaky suspicion about her dad... I think there is more to that fire than anyone knows and I can't wait to dig even deeper with Rae and Devon in the next book.

Overall: Rae of Hope is such a cool book and although there wasn't too much action, being with Rae as she uncovered her past and discovered her tatu was amazing. I was drawn so far into the story that I couldn't stop reading it! Pick this one up and make sure you don't have any plans because you won't be able to put this one down!

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Frozen

Frozen by Robin Wasserman
(previously published as Skinned)

Pages: 345
WHAT IF YOU COULD LIVE FOREVER?
The Download was supposed to change the world. It was supposed to mean the end of aging, the end of death, the birth of a new humanity. But it wasn't supposed to happen to someone like Lia Kahn. And it wasn't supposed to ruin her life.
Lia knows she should be grateful that she didn't die in the accident. The Download saved, but it also changed her, forever. She can deal with being a freak. She can deal with the fear in her parents' eyes and the way her boyfriend flinches at her touch. But she can't deal with what she knows, deep down, every time she forces herself to look in the mirror: She's not the same person she used to be.
Maybe she's not even a person at all.

Ramblings: Wow! At first it took me quite a while to get into this book, but once I did I really got into it! I have to say though, this summary doesn't do it justice. I didn't understand the summary even once I started reading the book. (I bought it because of the 3 covers! haha) So, I don't normally do this (because I destroy books when I try to describe them) but here goes!

So, Lia Kahn is a teenage girl with a weird little sister, great friends, and a really cute boyfriend! But, when she dies in a car crash the only option the hospital and her parents have are to "Download" her: scan her brain and make a replica and put it into a surrogate body. And this body is indestructible. Once the body wears out, Lia can just go get a new one. And live Forever! But these surrogates are really looked down upon in the day's society, so Lia is out-casted first by her boyfriend, then her friends, and then by her own family. The only person who treats her civilly is the weird boy at school: Auden. With his help can she overcome this trap of a body and finally figure out who she is?

Ramblings Part 2: So now that you have (hopefully) a better description of what this book is about, you can start to follow along with my review!

Characters: I'm just gonna say it: I hate her little sister, Zo! She is a brat and mean and cruel and vicious and I just can't get over it. I just wanted to rip up the book sometimes because I couldn't stand how she was acting. As for the other characters, I love Lia. She seems real even in a book that could never be real. All of the emotions she shows and the way she portrays everything seemed so realistic and genuine. Loved her! And as for Auden, I'm still trying to figure him out. I'm disappointed in him right now but I have high hopes for him in the next book.

Plot: I don't even know what to talk about here. It is such a cool idea: being able to live forever and never get hurt, but at the same time... would I want to give up most of my feelings? And watch as the rest of my family ages and I stay 17 forever? I couldn't imagine being in Lia's situation so I'm really pumped for the next book. But I didn't feel that Wasserman really explained the society they lived in and other things. I just didn't feel that amazing feeling of being trapped inside of a book and surrounded in everything that happens. Maybe with the next book I'll understand more.

Overall: I can't say this book lived up to my expectations, but it also sort of did because I didn't really have many since I was confused. But I am definitely reading the next two books in the series! Give this book a shot, it's pretty interesting!

Overall Rating: 3 Stars


p.s. look at how cool these covers are! they make a person!

30 Hour Famine Giveaway

Hey guys! This April I'm participating in a 30 Hour Famine with my youth group and I'm raising money for children in Africa! We raise money from now all the way up until the famine, then we go 30 hours without eating so we know how those children feel EVERYDAY. It's a super amazing experience and I have an amazing time! World Vision is a great charity and for every thirty dollars I raise, a child is fed for a month! That means 360$ is a whole year! Every dollar counts and no donation is too small :)

So if you'd like to donate, click here on my page! Thank you so much for supporting me as I go without, so others can eat!

This is a little video that reminds me of why I do this famine. Even though it's called Teen Affluenza, I'm sure that on most of the cases, adults can relate!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ym-cbu_H-U&feature=related

Now, because I think you guys are so awesome, if you donate, you can enter in my giveaway! Yep, I'm going to giveaway a book of YOUR choice! (20$ US cap) Because you are choosing to help out a little kid in Africa, I'm choosing to help you out!

So here is how this giveaway is going to work: if you donate 5$, you may enter one time. 10$ is two times, 20$ is three and so on and so forth. Please leave your name so I can verify that you donated on my famine page. Here's the giveaway!

Bloggiversary Giveaway Update

Hey guys! You know how much I love you and I hope that right now you are reading ome amazing books! In just a few weeks it will be my One Year Bloggiversary and I just wanted to remind you all about my giveaway! I have 30 books to chose from and two winners! I hope you all get a chance to enter. I love you guys so mic. Thanks for always supporting me!

Here is the link to my giveaway page!
Comment :) what is the best book you've read so far in 2012?

On the Bright Side

On the Bright Side by S.R. Johannes





Ebook
On the Bright Side is a hilarious road to guardian angeldom paved with so much drama and due-paying that it makes middle school look painless.
As if the devil’s food cake at her wake and the white fat pants she’s stuck wearing for eternity weren’t bad enough, fourteen year-old Gabby is quick to discover that Cirrus, the main rung of Heaven, is a far cry from the Pearly Gates. Here, Skyphones and InnerNets are all the rage. Until Gabby finds out she has to protect Angela, her school nemesis, in order to move up through the training levels of heaven. Problem is, Angela is now hitting on Gabby's should-have-been boyfriend. (awkward!)
Instead of protecting Angela, Gabby pranks her (like tripping is a sin?) at the hopes of cooling off the new couple. At first, they seem harmless until the school dance sabotage gets completely out of control. Then, her Celestial Sky Agent, who happens to have anger management issues of his own, puts Gabby on probation, threatening her eternal future.
Determined to right her wrongs, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to Earth for just one day. Without knowing, she kicks off a series of events and learns what can happen when you hate someone to death.



Ramblings: aww! This was such an adorable middle grade read. I have read Untraceable (YA) and loved that too so I was really excited to read this book. I was not disappointed!

Characters: I fell in love with Gabby, and the rest of the gang, from the moment I met them! I love Gabby's giggly, middle-school personality, and I could totally relate to her anger towards Angela. Who would want to be the guardian angel of their arch nemesis!? I so understand where Gabby was coming from with the pranks, even if the first one was a mistake! I loved watching her grow as a person... Er BIT! And seeing her really develop and reach her full potential. I know she's going to keep growing and I can't wait to see where her adventure leads next!

Plot: Okay, I think it's safe to say that the idea of SKYpones and that amazing closet are FABULOUS and I soo wish I had all of the really cool SKYgagets. I love the struggles Gabby conquered in this book because it is so relatable- friends fighting over a guy and it's a huge problem with girls in middle school in high school, probably even college! Girls can be nasty and I think this is a great book for all girls to read because it is a huge eye openers to what can happen if a boy gets in the way of a friendship.

Overall: S.R. Johannes is one of my favorite authors and I can't wait for book 2 in this series and the Untraceble series! Seriously, don't pass this one up!

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Fun New book releases today!

On the Bright Side by S.R. Johannes releases today and I'm so excited! I'm almost finished reading it and my review will be up shortly, but I wanted to share this with you today anyway! First of all, this cover? It's amazing! I fell in love with it when I first looked at it :)




Before we learn about her new book, let's learn about her!

Author Bio:

S.R. Johannes is the author of Untraceable (a teen wilderness thriller) and On The Bright Side ( a tween paranormal).

She started out writing for her local school paper, winning a state Nutrition essay contest for “Be a Smart Cookie”, and singing in a local Jazz band. Somewhere along the way, she earned an MBA in Marketing and embarked on an 18-year marketing career in Corporate America working as a marketing and communications consultant.

In 2000, S.R. traded in her expensive suits, way-too high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She started her own marketing & communications business, www.bilaninc.com, and continues creating materials for a variety of large profit and nonprofit clients, including Spanx, Goody Hair Products, Chick Filet, Delta, CARE, and the Boys & Girls Club of America.

S.R.’s dream is to publish children’s books and magically imprint the imaginations of kids. In addition to juggling nap schedules while attending client meetings, Shelli focuses on her writing. She is a frequent marketing speaker at SCBWI conferences across the U.S and runs a popular marketing blog, Market My Words (www.faeriality.blogspot.com) where she provides marketing advice for authors in the hopes of helping them better market their words.

In her spare time (yeah right!) and if the kids allow (yeah right!), Shelli obsesses over movies, reads children’s books (over and over), wishes she could squeeze in Bikram Yoga sessions, and dreams of sleeping in on the weekends.

She currently lives in Atlanta with her dog, British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess that someday will change the world.

TO RECEIVE AUTHOR NEWS

If you would like to get periodic author news on my upcoming special edition in Jan or on the release of my future books, please register your email address here. I do not expect to send more than one email a month.

Contact information:

Email: shelli@srjohannes.com

Social Media

Blog: http://faeriality.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/srjohannes

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SRJohannes/249888602550

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5235537.S_R_Johannes

Untracable Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12731861-untraceable

On The Bright Side Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13251805-on-the-bright-side

In His Eyes Anthology Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13331838-in-his-eyes-anthology

Now, onto the book! :)

Book Description:

On the Bright Side is a hilarious road to guardian angeldom paved with so much drama and due-paying that it makes middle school look painless.

As if the devil’s food cake at her wake and the white fat pants she’s stuck wearing for eternity weren’t bad enough, fourteen year-old Gabby is quick to discover that Cirrus, the main rung of Heaven, is a far cry from the Pearly Gates. Here, Skyphones and InnerNets are all the rage. Until Gabby finds out she has to protect Angela, her school nemesis, in order to move up through the training levels of heaven. Problem is, Angela is now hitting on Gabby's should-have-been boyfriend. (awkward!) 

Instead of protecting Angela, Gabby pranks her (like tripping is a sin?) at the hopes of cooling off the new couple. At first, they seem harmless until the school dance sabotage gets completely out of control. Then, her Celestial Sky Agent, who happens to have anger management issues of his own, puts Gabby on probation, threatening her eternal future. 

Determined to right her wrongs, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to Earth for just one day. Without knowing, she kicks off a series of events and learns what can happen when you hate someone to death. 

Really fabulous, am I right? Want to buy the book?

Here it is!
(The paperback version will be available in February.)

Her first book, Untraceable was amazing and you can read my review --> here!
Also, here are some more praises for these two spectacular books:

Praises for Untraceable

"Grace is a spunky, independent, nature girl who doesn't need a boy to save her. With wilderness survival, a juicy love triangle, and more twists and turns than a roller coaster, this fast-paced novel had me holding my breath until the very last page—and still begging for more!" -Kimberly Derting, author of the The Body Finder series (Harper Teen) and The Pledge series (S&S)

"This thrilling story is a dramatic entanglement of mystery, deception and teen romance. The action flows like a brisk mountain stream interspersed with rapids, holding suspense to last page." - Kirkus Reviews

2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Quarterfinalist (under the original title of Grace Under Fire) - Judges Reviews:

"This story starts out with a bang...it reads like the young woman were narrating it to a friend, and had the ring of a young person's style and intensity. Grace sees authority people, or at least those she knows, as a bit bumbling, which is true to age. Authentic representation of youth in action also. Original in premise and style, and good use of background...Good story!" - Sue Grafton, author of bestselling Kinsey Milhone series

"This murder mystery features a teenaged heroine, but she has the self assurance of a woman twice her age. The prose is very descriptive...and the dialogue is genuine. The setting of small town North Carolina and the surrounding woods is appealing. The story moves along at a brisk clip, and it feels as if we already have some important clues. We look forward to seeing what's in the case file and what Grace and her motorbike, Luci, will be up to next." - Sue Monk Kidd, author of Secret Life of Bees

Praises for On The Bright Side

"S.R. Johannes delivers a cute paranormal thrill ride for middle graders! Even in death there is a BRIGHT SIDE!" - Addison Moore, author of the bestselling Celestra series and soon to be TV show

Clever and charming, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is the story of a reluctant guardian angel, her still-breathing crush, and the frenemy she’s assigned to protect. A great read! -Suzanne Young, author of A Need So Beautiful, A Want So Wicket (6/12), and The Program (2013)

“ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is both hilarious and heart-warming – a tale that’ll have you hoping that there really *are* spunky and determined angels like Gabby who’ve got our backs.” - Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, author of Selling Hope & The 13th Sign (2013) (Feiwel & Friends)

"With a smart, snappy heroine and a heart-warming crush, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is a page-turning new take on guardian angels that left me begging for a sequel!" - Gretchen McNeil, author of Possess and Ten (9/12) (Balzar + Bray)

I really hope you enjoy these books as much as I did :)
Happy Reading!

Free Ebooks!

Dan O'brien, the fabulous author of quite a few books is having a special celebration and is putting up some of his Kindle ebooks for free!
Woohoo! :)

The books that are free are:
(All books lead to their Kindle Free Download!)

The End of the World Playlist (His BRAND NEW book!)

Bitten

Cerulean Dreams

The Journey

The Ocean and the Hourglass
And you can read my review of The Ocean and the Hourglass here!

Thanks so much Dan for this awesome deal! These books will be free from 1/29-2/2 so hurry up! :)