What Did I Receive? [March Edition]

Rather than doing a weekly post of "What Did I Receive?", I am now going to do a monthly one. This will include any books I won, bought, or was sent to review.

Please note that any "FREE" e-books I bought may not be free now! I bought some of these books very early in the month, and as we know they change often! Some of them may still be free, some may not. Some may also be free on other e-book retailer websites, some may not. If you are interested in buying any of said "FREE" books, please check the current price on that website first!

Here's what I received during the month of March:

Received RAKs:

• Bloodfever ~ Aanchal (Book Flame)
• The Chief ~ Lethea B.
• Into the Darkness ~ From Michelle (Michelle's Book Blog)
• Dare to Surrender ~ Michelle
• Strange Attractions ~ Michelle
• The Doctor and the Diva ~ Michelle
• Selfish is the Heart ~ Michelle
• No Greater Pleasure ~ Michelle
• A Cold Creek Secret ~  Michelle
• The Best Laid Plan ~ Michelle
• Smokin' Six-Shooter ~ Michelle
• Dakota Child ~ Michelle
• The Billionaire's Unexpected Heir ~ Michelle
• His Country Girl ~ Michelle
• Backstage Pass ~ Heather (Book Savvy Babe)
• The Darkest Secret ~ Amber (AwesomeSauce Book Club)

See my RAK Wrap Up: March post for more details on the above books!

Gift:

• Delirium (B-Day gift from my friend)

Won:

• The Wild Marquis + Tons of Swag (Sent from the author, Won on Stitch-Read-Cook)
• Dear Cupid (Won from Elise Rome's March Madness, courtesy of author~ebook)
• Unquiet (Won from Feb. Writerspace Contest)
• Courting Darkness (Won from Feb. Writerspace Contest)
• Spells and Stitches (Won from Feb. Writerspace Contest)
• Long Hard Ride (Won from Guilty Pleasures' weekly contest)
• Bound in Sin (Won from Elise Rome's March Madness, courtesy of author~ebook)
• Last Chance Beauty Queen (Won from Ramblings From This Chick)
• With This Kiss (Won from Ramblings From This Chick)
• Between the Duke and the Deep Blue Sea (Won from Amy V, Unwrapping Romance
• Turn it Up (Won from Seductive Musings a few months ago)

• $30 BN Gift Card (Won from Guilty Pleasures--Thanks again, I've used most of this, both for sending RAKs and getting a little something for myself!)

Bought:

• Dyad Dreams (Free NOOK book)
• All In (Free NOOK book)
• Divorced, Desperate and Delicious (Free NOOK book)
• Pleasure and Purpose (Bargain Book + Coupon from BN: Total, $3.80)
• Be My Vampire Tonight (Free NOOK Book)
• Flaunt It (Free NOOK Book)
• Bound, Branded and Brazen (Bargain Book from BN: Total, $4.48)
• All Hallows Heartbreaker (Free NOOK Book)
• Hook, Wine and Tinker (Free NOOK Book)
• The Heart's Haven (Free Kindle Book---wish Kindle books were NOOK compatable, I'll have to read this one on my computer...stupid Amazon!)
• Never Been Bit (NOOK Book--Sale, $1.99, 2.11 w/ tax)
• Red's Hot Cowboy (NOOK Book--Sale, $1.99, 2.11 w/ tax)
• No Proper Lady (NOOK Book--Sale, $1.99, 2.11 w/ tax)
• Eagle's Run (Free NOOK Book)
• Talons (Free NOOK Book)

For Review:

• The Proposal (ARC, "Won" from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers Program)
• Black Dawn (ARC, Review for NOR)
• Too Tempting to Resist (ARC, Review for NOR)
• Fated (ARC, From publisher)
• About Last Night (ARC e-book, From publisher)

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As you can see, I went a bit crazy this month on buying, even though, true, 90 percent of my books were freebies from BN.

Still, with a TBR mountain like mine (last I "updated" it, which was a few months ago, it was above 300!), buying this many books is a bit crazy. Okay, I'll admit--I'm crazy and proud of it! LOL.

I'd like to thank everyone who sent me books--whether they were RAKs, gifts, books to be review, or books I won from various giveaways. THANK YOU!

Although I tried to keep track, I think I also forgot a few. :) I've received a few e-books to review for various blog tours that I will be participating in, and for whatever reason I didn't write them down for this list. Maybe because I knew the tours weren't for a month or more? *Shrugs*

I'll do better next month! :)

What did you receive this month? Tell me, I'd like to know (or link up to your own post in the comment section)!

Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

RAK Wrap Up: March

March was my second time participating in BookSoulmate's RAK event, and it was great! I highly suggest you join, as well.

It was also my birthday month, so I received a B-Day RAK as well--thanks! :)

The point of RAK is to share books with others, whether it's a book you already own and wish to send to another reader, or a new one you have shipped to them from Amazon.

But I think I'd be lying if I didn't mention that, of course, receiving RAKs is as much fun as giving them! :)


Here is what I sent to other readers this month:

Sent to Melissa C @ Must Read Faster

Sent to Michelle @ Michelle's Book Blog

Sent to Heather @ Book Savvy Babe

Sent to Heather @ Book Savvy Babe

Sent to Grace F. 

Sent to Angie @ Eastern Sunset Reads 

Sent to Amber @ Awesomesauce Bookclub 

Sent to Jenn G.

And here is what I received from fellow readers--a big thanks to each and every one of you, I loved my gifts and I can't wait to read them!

Bloodfever ~ From Aanchal (Book Flame)

The Chief ~ From Lethea B. [A B-Day RAK]

Backstage Pass ~ Heather (Book Savvy Babe)

The Darkest Secret ~ Amber (AwesomeSauce Book Club)

From Michelle (Michelle's Book Blog):

Into the Darkness

Dare to Surrender

Strange Attractions

The Doctor and the Diva

Selfish is the Heart

No Greater Pleasure

A Cold Creek Secret

The Best Laid Plans

Smokin' Six-Shooter

Dakota Child

The Billionaire's Unexpected Heir

His Country Girl

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What about you--Have you participated in RAK before? If so, what are your thoughts on it? If not, are you interested in joining? Stop by BookSoulmates later this week when they post the signups for April's RAK!

Enjoy,

Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

Blog Tour: Guest Post w/ Camilla Chafer + Giveaway!

Hi, I'm Camilla and I'm the author of the Stella Mayweather Series, an urban fantasy/mystery. The series starts with Illicit Magic and a lonely young woman, Stella, who has been caught up in a terrifying witch hunt and is whisked thousands of miles away to what she thinks is safety to learn her craft. The series is a blend of magic, mystery and romance with a splash of humour - and while the girls really do go all out to save themselves, there's always a hunky guy or two on hand to help them out. The series continues with Unruly Magic and Devious Magic, both out now.

I live in London, England, but I try to travel as often as I can – I’ve been all over the US and Europe. In my day job I'm a journalist and editor so I write for magazines, newspapers and websites throughout the world (my favourite assignment was spending a week riding rollercoasters - if you listen carefully you can probably still hear me screaming) but writing fiction has always been my first love.

 

Camilla's Current Releases:

Where to Find Camilla:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Character Introduction: Meet Evan Hunter

On this tour, I haven’t written about any of the characters yet, so today I’d like to introduce you to Evan Hunter.

I wanted Evan to be something of an enigma. He’s not a witch, but it’s clear he’s something else, something powerful that makes the witches uncomfortable even though they hold him in high regard or, at least, with respect. He’s telekinetic and can dematerialize along with other powers. He’s honorable, mysterious, a little stand-offish, and very attracted to Stella. We get hints of a tragic past, one he’s buried and, like Stella, he doesn’t have a family, leaving him somewhat of a loner too.

Of course he’s handsome with very short, almost black hair and dark eyes. He’s tall at 6ft2, strong and athletic… a formidable being whatever he may be.

Loyalty means a lot to Evan but it’s not just the favor called in by a friend that ensures he helps Stella. The mutual attraction helps a whole lot too, even though it momentarily threw him into indecision, leading her to believe he doesn’t like her.

At first he’s frustrated at teaching a witch who ‘leaks’ magic but is curious about her, often looking at her when she thinks she isn’t looking, and as their attraction grows he is more able to approach her. He’s often annoyed at the time she spends with Marc, but very much determined to not push her, realizing that for once Stella needs to set her own rules and decide what she wants. Evan is very thoughtful towards Stella. They have a shared love of books and music and he enjoys doing nice things for her, helping her feel more comfortable in her new life.

Teaching isn’t Evan’s regular job. His real role is actually reflected in his name ‘Hunter’ as he’s self-employed, working with the supernatural community to rein in paranormals, quite literally hunting them down if needs be.

He comes to believe that the reason why he has been asked to help Stella, rather than leaving her tutorship entirely to her fellow witches, is down to his specific skill set, skills that will help Stella keep safe, as well as to be her protector. He has no problem coming to her defense. As their affection blossoms into something more, Stella’s magic grows under his careful, sometimes playful, tutorship.

Thanks for hosting me today!

~*~*~*~

Illicit Magic by Camilla Chafer

Publisher: Audacious (May 1, 2011)

Series: Stella Mayweather, 1

Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance

 More than three hundred years after the most terrifying witch hunts the world has ever known, it's happening again.

Racing from attack by the ruthless Brotherhood in London to the powerful witch council in New York, twenty-four-year-old novice witch Stella has to put her faith in strangers just to stay alive but she might not be any safer in their midst than from the danger she is running from.

Sent to an extraordinary safe house by the sea to learn her craft, Stella finds there is more than one dark secret in her new family: Étoile’s sister is spoken of in fear and sadness; Marc is supposed to be a powerful witch but is missing his magic; where does the owner of their safe house vanish to every day and why does Evan have the eyes of someone not quite human? There is only one secret that someone will do anything to keep quiet, but whose secret is it and will Stella have to pay the price for silence?

 



Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | AllRomance

More Info:

Author's Site | Book Site | Excerpt

Read My Review for Illicit Magic!

Illicit Magic by Camilla Chafer

Excerpt from Chap. 5

The man filling the doorway was at least six foot two with broad shoulders that tapered to a neat waist and long, jeaned legs. Toned arms extended from under a grey t-shirt and his hands didn’t look like strangers to work. As my eyes travelled up from his chest, I noted a tanned, square jaw that hadn’t seen a razor in a day or two, a slim nose and brown eyes so dark I could barely distinguish iris from pupil. His hair was cut short and so dark it could almost have been black. He wasn’t beautiful in the traditional sense but he was captivating, the type of man people automatically turn their heads to have another look at. I couldn’t drag my eyes away and my heart did a little flip.


A fleeting image of being wrapped up in his arms, his lips crushing mine, overtook my mind. He caught my eye and held my gaze. I was glad he couldn’t see inside my mind, but I blushed furiously. His face looked thunderous. And now, come to think of it, Marc didn’t exactly look happy either.


“This is her?” he asked no one in particular, his eyes still fixed on me, his expression fading from thunder to completely impassive.


“Stella,”I spluttered, my cheeks still red as the image in my head seemed to topple over and send us sprawling, limbs entwined. Was I supposed to shake his hand now? Good God. “Hi.”


Étoile looked from me to Evan and coughed lightly, her hand covering a smile and I just had enough time to wonder what she had seen before she said, “Evan will be teaching you.”


“I will not,’ announced Evan, his mouth set in a firm line. “She leaks. Find someone else.”


“David could teach her,” snapped Marc, scowling at Evan. The muscles in his arm had tensed though he was still sitting and I could see the veins bulge. What was with him?


“David is teaching Christy, Clara and Jared,” said Aunt Meg placidly. “Evan will be teaching her. That’s why he’s here.”


The ensuing silence was deafening. Marc scowled at Evan, Evan looked spitefully at me and I gripped my glass as if it were a life rope in a storm. Étoile finished up her second scone and looked around gleefully as if we were the height of entertainment. Meanwhile, my mind was getting increasingly lurid and I could hardly look Evan in the eye for fear that he would know that I’d just had a very exciting mental picture of us doing something that really should not have popped into my head while I was having a scone with civilised company.


“If you don’t want to teach me, fine,” I gasped, daring to look at Evan from under my lashes. Marc had leant back in his seat, arms crossed; Meg and Étoile were still looking at the man expectantly. Étoile coughed, but not before I heard her snicker again.


His jaw shifted and he breathed out. “I’ll teach you,” he said at last, making it sound like the least pleasant chore he could be assigned.


“Okay.”


“Fine.”Evan stepped back out of the doorway and strode back the way he came.


“Whew!”said Étoile. “That was weird. Like he was ever not going to teach you.”


“He’s an ass,” muttered Marc, swallowing the last of his iced tea and banging the glass back down on the table. “I’m sorry you’re stuck with him.”


“Evan Hunter is a very good teacher,” Aunt Meg chided as she gathered up the plates and swatted Étoile’s hand from the cake stand with a napkin before she could reach for another scone. I noticed Aunt Meg hadn’t eaten or drunk anything and hoped she didn’t think I was greedy for gobbling mine as fast as I could.


“What did he mean – I leaked?” I asked, thinking that sounded, well, gross.


“Your magic,” said Étoile. “He can feel it. So can I. You aren’t containing it, so it leaks. Not your fault.”

~*~*~*~

GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER--THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!



Interested in starting this new series? Great, now is your chance! As part of Camilla's tour stop, I have one e-copy of Illicit Magic to give away. Read the full rules below, follow the "How to Enter" instructions and fill out the Rafflecopter! Good Luck

Giveaway open March 30th till April 20th!

No entries will be counted after April 20th. Winner will be picked the next day.

How to Enter:

Mandatory: You must leave a comment (answering my question) on this post, with a valid email address^! No email address, no entry!

Mandatory: You must fill out the Rafflecopter below.

^A note on email addresses: Your email address must be visible to be entered into this contest. Why? This makes it easy for me to contact the winner and therefore get the prize out! Visible means: a) Email is left in your comment (ninja style is perfectly fine); b) Email is visible on your Blogger profile (or other such website--Twitter, Facebook, Blog, etc); or c) Email is used to log-in and fill out the Rafflecopter.

My Discussion Question:

So what do you think of Evan? Does he sound like the type of hero you love to read about--why or why not?

[NetGalley Review]: "White Shadows"

White Shadows by Susan Edwards
Publisher: Carina Press (November 21, 2011) [reprint]
Series: The White Series, 3
Genre: Historical Romance (Native American/Western)

Summary (Amazon.com):

Missouri Territory, 1838

Night Shadow is driven by the need for vengeance, to find and punish the man who murdered his family and kidnapped his sister. And what better way to exact that revenge than by stealing his enemy's intended bride on their wedding day: a woman for a woman. He will release his captive if and when his sister is returned to him.

The daughter of a great chief and no meek maiden, Winona fights her captor every step of the way. But she cannot deny that the warrior's touch arouses something in her that her betrothed never has. She sees through the anger in Night Shadow's eyes to the despair within, and knows in her heart it is her destiny to help him learn to live again.

Night Shadow is mesmerized by Winona's beauty and spirit, and soon realizes he must face his past and end the hatred in order to offer her a future.

Book 3 of 12.

Previously published.

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | AllRomance

You can also try finding the out-of-print copies (different cover) via used bookstores (online or in your area). :)

More Info:

Author's Site | Book Site | Excerpt | Series Page

Other Books in the Series:

My Review:

Susan Edwards delivers yet again! Her bestselling White Series, now being re-released in digital format, allows readers (both new and old) to journey into the wilds of America, when Native Americans still lived on the land—with the land. Each book helps to strengthen the bond between the characters, one big family (if not always by blood), and highlights a new couple for the readers to fall in love with. With White Shadows, Edwards brings us the story of Winona and Night Shadow (aka, Clay, aka Sun Walker—it's a long story...). Once again, I was drawn into the story and fell head over heels for the characters, the writing, and the tale being so artfully told!

Winona is a heroine that I could really appreciate. She was strong, knew what she wanted and was determined to get it. This alone helped to provide a solid foundation for the book; after all, good characters often mean a good book!

Clay (or Sun Walker, depending on what part of the book we are referring to), was a close call. For the first part of the book, I almost couldn't stand him. After all, he was the “bad guy” (or so we thought), capturing Winona to help accomplish his plan for revenge against the man he once called brother (who goes by another name now, and was to be Winona's husband). Much of what he did and said made it hard for me to like him. But the more that his story—especially his painful past—was revealed, the more I started to like him. By the end of the book, I was almost as crazy for him as Winona. Don't worry girl, you can have him—he needs you, after all, and I've seen how determined you are, I would hate to fight you for your man! :)

Clay and Winona's story was very enjoyable, if a bit slow at first (mainly, I think, due to Clay's iffy character). But once the story picked up, the characters came through, and they began to fall for one another, I couldn't put the book down! I was reminded yet again of Ms. Edwards talents at writing a wonderful romance, one full of adventure and passion, love and family. I have yet to be disappointed by any of her novels, and I highly doubt that such a day will ever come.

^Favorite Quote:

“What am I going to do with you?” He hadn't meant to speak aloud. He couldn't believe he'd actually voiced his frustration.

Winona didn't laugh. She didn't smile or act smug at her obvious victory. Instead her eyes filled with tears and her hands crept up to caress the sides of his face. “You are going to live. With me. For me.”

With that bold declaration, Winona kissed him hard. As soon as his mouth opened under the demanding insistence of hers, she slid down and walked off, leaving Night Shadow staring after her with an ache in his loins, eyes filled with wonder and fear, and a slowly thawing heart.

This was around the time that I, too, began to fall for dear Clay. Winona knew what (or should I say who) she wanted, and she wasn't going to stop until she had him!

4 STARS! Another great novel in the White Series, White Shadows has a bit of everything in it, from sweeping romance to steamy love scenes so hot you will need a cold shower (or two—or three) to help put out the flames! Winona and Clay are both great characters, and their story shows that they belong together. Who else but Winona could handle Clay's stubborn warrior attitude? And who but Clay could support and infuriate her all at the same time? Their love is strong and true, and it comes through the pages to the reader. I'm glad that these books are finally being reprinted (if only digitally right now). Otherwise, I may never have had the chance to finish this great series---I managed to find most of her books in a used bookstore, but not all of them .Now I can finally catch up on all my favorite characters! If you have yet to try Susan Edwards, I highly suggest you put these books on your list! And if you are already a fan, like me, well, I guess I don't have to say anything more, do I? For a lushly written Native American romance, one that is both sweet and spicy, Susan Edwards is, in my mind at least, the reigning queen of the genre!

^Quote belongs solely to the author. I do not claim it in anyway.

~*~*~*~

I received this e-book from NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

~*~*~*~

Enjoy!





Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

[NetGalley + ARC Review]: "Shadows on the Moon"

Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott
Publisher: Candlewick (April 24, 2012)
Genre: Teen Fantasy

Summary (Amazon.com):
A powerful tale of magic, love, and revenge set in fairy-tale Japan.

Trained in the magical art of shadow-weaving, sixteen-year-old Suzume is able to re-create herself in any form - a fabulous gift for a girl desperate to escape her past. But who is she really? Is she a girl of noble birth living under the tyranny of her mother's new husband, Lord Terayama? Or a lowly drudge scraping a living in the ashes of Terayama's kitchens? Or is she Yue, the most beautiful courtesan in the Moonlit Lands? Whatever her true identity, Suzume is destined to use her skills to steal the heart of a prince in a revenge plot to destroy Terayama. And nothing will stop her, not even the one true aspect of her life- her love for a fellow shadow-weaver.

Where to Buy*:

Amazon | BN.com

More Info:

Author's Site | Book Site | Excerpt

My Review:

Anyone familiar with my review style knows that I often begin a review with a shortened summary of the book. However, upon finishing Shadows on the Moon, I pulled out my notebook...and found myself still staring at the blank paper ten minutes later. As much as I enjoyed Zoe Marriott's newest novel, I simply could not write a summary on it. It's impossible. The storyline is not simple; it cannot be summed up in a few brief sentences—at least not my sentences! If I tried to do so, not only would I ruin the beauty of this novel, but I'd probably confuse you while trying accurately explain it.

So I will limit my “summary” attempt to this brief sentence: Shadows on the Moon is a beautiful story of revenge—and how holding it in can turn hideous.

See? I told you I do not possess the words, nor the skill, to describe this tale. Now you are no doubt wondering what is so special about this book? Well, let me see if I can at least answer that question.

As I've explained before (see my other reviews on Marriott's work, here and here), Zoe Marriott has the rare ability to weave wonderful, relatable stories with a lush, fantasy setting. Though they may be completely make-believe, mere figments of Marriott's imagination, the story seems so real, so vivid, that you would think you were watching an actual scene unfold in front of your eyes. Marriott proves this yet again in Shadows on the Moon, putting enough rich details and flowing descriptions onto the pages to make them come alive in your hands.
However, while I was able to clearly picture the world, characters, and settings in her previous novels, I had a harder time doing so with Shadows on the Moon. It wasn't from lack of talent on Marriott's part (far from it!) but rather from the added complexity that this fantasy world had in it. I didn't have a clue what many of the outfits described in this book actually looked like—it was simply beyond any items I've seen and therefore could connect to the descriptions provided. For other readers, this may not be nearly as big of a problem.
Suzume's character was one that I had a slightly harder time connecting to as well. She was very strong, surviving through everything life threw at her. And yet I couldn't get a solid fell for her true character. She was so obsessed with her plans for revenge, and while I could understand the reason behind it (her father and cousin's murder) I couldn't connect with it. By the end of the book, I was relieved that she finally made it past her all-consuming drive for revenge; it was quickly becoming an annoyance, at least for me. Much longer and I might have put the book aside...

Some of the themes in this book are not common, at least in most novels; nor are they ones to cast aside without much thought. Suzume enjoys causing herself pain, be it from cutting herself (with pins and other sharp objects she has nearby) or burning herself. I couldn't relate to it because, luckily, I have never had these thoughts before. But I know that such problems are far more common that many of us wish to believe, and I applaud Zoe for what she has done in this story. It's not an easy topic, and writing about it can probably be as emotionally draining as actually dealing with the problem. Zoe, you have done a truly wonderful job at explaining this to us, showing us what Suzume is feeling and the troubles she is dealing with. It was hard for me to read it at times, so I can only imagine how hard it was for you to create it.


As much as I enjoyed reading about all the customs that make up this fantasy world, I was more interested in the magic that Suzume and Otieno were suppose to have (shadow-weaving). Yet it was this aspect of the story that was pushed aside for the most part, and only the basics were explained. I wanted more, and I kept hoping for it, but I was left wanting by the time I reached the last page. I was also hoping for more of the romance between Suzume and Otieno, but again, I was left unfulfilled. Although I will say that what was there, for both the magic and the romance, was well done.


4 STARS! Another wonderful fantasy by a truly talented author, one whose writing seems to flow like beautiful music from the pages. While Shadows on the Moon is not my favorite book by Zoe Marriott, it was still a very good, solid read, and one that I will return to in the future. For anyone that loves a good fantasy novel, this one is the perfect choice. Well-written, entertaining, and complete with a touch of romance, Shadows on the Moon is one of those rare novels that will transport you into the very pages of the story!



~*~*~
I received this e-book ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
~*~*~



Enjoy!

 


Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

[Review]: "Illicit Magic"

Illicit Magic by Camilla Chafer
Publisher: Audacious (May 1, 2011)
Series: Stella Mayweather, 1
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance

Summary (Amazon.com):
More than three hundred years after the most terrifying witch hunts the world has ever known, it's happening again.

Racing from attack by the ruthless Brotherhood in London to the powerful witch council in New York, twenty-four-year-old novice witch Stella has to put her faith in strangers just to stay alive but she might not be any safer in their midst than from the danger she is running from.

Sent to an extraordinary safe house by the sea to learn her craft, Stella finds there is more than one dark secret in her new family: Étoile’s sister is spoken of in fear and sadness; Marc is supposed to be a powerful witch but is missing his magic; where does the owner of their safe house vanish to every day and why does Evan have the eyes of someone not quite human? There is only one secret that someone will do anything to keep quiet, but whose secret is it and will Stella have to pay the price for silence?

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | AllRomance

More Info:

Author's Site | Book Site | Excerpt

Other Books in the Series:

Click on the covers to buy from BN.com; the title links to the book's page on the author's website.

Book 2: Unruly Magic

Book 3: Devious Magic

My Review:

Illicit Magic begins the story of Stella Mayweather, who has just found out that she's a witch. As she slowly starts to learn the craft, as well as how to perfect her gifts, she finds herself running from the Brotherhood, a group that is scouring the world, burning witches alive. As if that wasn't enough, while staying at a safe home with other magic weavers, someone close to the group comes after her, ransacking her room and attacking the entire household, all in the hopes of getting hold of Stella. Can Stella learn to control her powers, help solve her parents' murders, protect her new friends, AND figure out what her relationship is with her sexy “teacher”, Evan, before it's too late?

While I liked the story that Illicit Magic told, as well as some of the characters, I felt like there was something missing from the book. I can't put my finger on it, exactly, but whatever it was took a book that could have been a “wow” for me and turned it into only a “meh”. And although “meh” isn't a bad rating, it's obviously not the kind of review that anyone wants to write—and surely not one that an author wants to read! But I have to be honest in my reviews, and, for me at least, this story fell short.

I was a bit annoyed by how some things were repeated over and over again in the book—perhaps not word for word, but still repetitive all the same. I was also a bit put off by the fact that I knew what was happening in the story before even Stella—either she was slow or blind, I'm not sure which, and since this was told from a 1^st person POV, that's saying a lot when the reader connects the dots before the heroine!

Yet there were plenty of things I liked about this book. Evan was great, and though I wanted to know more about him (I guess I'll just have to wait for the next two books), he was a pretty good hero. I was happy to see him and Stella get together, though it did take some time (and they have yet to reach a HEA by any means). I really enjoyed how he distracted Stella while he was helping her to practice with her powers. I think that scene was my favorite, both for it's subtle sexiness and slight humor.

3 STARS! A good, quick read, Illicit Magic begins the Stella Mayweather series with a kick! I'm curious to see what happens next (as this one ended with a cliff hanger big enough that I was tempted to throw the book against the wall), although I won't be picking up the sequels right away. While I enjoyed parts of the book, there were still enough flaws and rough patches in the story to take my overall rating of the book down a few notches. Still, this book turned out to be pretty good, and I don't regret reading it one bit. If you're looking for a new series to get behind, one filled with magic and action and even a good dose of romance, then Chafer's books may just be what you need!

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I received this e-book from Bewitching Book Tours, in addition to joining the blog tour for this author. In exchange, I agreed to give my honest opinion on the novel.

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Don't forget that Camilla Chafer will be back on March 30th with a guest post!

Enjoy!




Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

Review Tour: "Bright Arrow Burning" by Isabo Kelly + Giveaway!

Brightarrow Burning by Isabo Kelly
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (October 4, 2011)
Genre: Erotica Fantasy (Novella)

Summary (Amazon.com):
War tore them apart. Betrayal could bring them together…

Layla Brightarrow’s world fell apart the day the Sorcerers invaded her city, intent on using her fellow humans’ pain to augment their spells. Worse, the neighboring elven kingdom declared neutrality, effectively abandoning her people to struggle for survival.

Then some of the elves break neutrality to trade with the Sorcerers, and Layla is ordered to assassinate Althir, brother of the elf lord she has secretly loved all her life.

When Ulric of Glengowyn uncovers his brother’s plot—and that Layla is one of the assassins sent to stop him—his first instinct is to protect her from all possible harm. He’ll even use seduction, if necessary, to get her into a position to talk some sense into her.

Years of pent-up desire is too much for Layla to resist…and one touch unleashes an unquenchable fire that changes everything. Leaving Layla caught between duty and a love that could be her destruction. Or her salvation.

Warning: This book contains evil sorcerers, a scarred heroine, a sexy elf hero, naughty language, and an intoxicating and addicting pheromone that leads to wildly hot sex. Plus traitors, deadly magic, bespelled baddies, and a really, really rotten brother.

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK

More Info:

Author's Site | Book Site | Excerpt

My Review:

In a fantasy world, not everything is as it seems...Knowing this, can two lovers learn to trust each other, or will their relationship tear them apart—and possibly contribute to the destruction of an entire race?

Layla is a human, fighting for her people, trying to defeat the Sorcerers set on enslaving and killing her entire race. The elves have decided not to take sides, leaving the humans to fight for themselves. But when the Sorcerers manage to bring traitor elves to their side, the scale tips even more—and it is likely that the winner of this war won't be the humans...

Ulric is an elf, one that has known Layla for years—and secretly wanted her the entire time. When she is almost killed, twice, while trying to get rid of traitor elves (including his own brother) he finally realizes that he can't live without her. But Layla doesn't seem to feel the same way—or does she?

Elf-fire, a pheromone that elves produce when deeply, truly, attracted to someone else, only adds to the passion that already burns between them. Can Layla learn to trust Ulric, who has put his heart and body on the line for her? Or will her trust in him lead to heartbreak—not to mention betrayal that could kill her....

Brightarrow Burning is a short novella, well under 100 pages. And yet, while reading it I almost forgot this fact. Usually, novellas feel rushed and incomplete, leaving the reader wanting more before the last page is ever turned. But Brightarrow Burning was nothing like this. I absolutely loved it, and while, obviously, I wouldn't say no to more from this book, it wasn't needed as Isabo Kelly did a wonderful job at telling a complete story in only a matter of pages.

I enjoyed watching Ulric and Layla fall for one another. The loving was spicy hot and so intense that I think I saw some smoke wafting from my NOOK. But, even more important, was the fact that their romance seemed genuine—it was not just lust burning out of control. They were connected, heart, body and soul. I'd love to have my own elf lover, as the elf-fire seems to turn an already hot scene into a real scorcher! Of course, we find out that it only burns that bright when true love is involved—on both of their parts. Without love, eventually the elf-fire sputters out to nothing and can leave the human ill for the rest of their life. So maybe I'll rephrase that: I would love to have my own true-love elf lover. :)

5 STARS! Lush, vivid storytelling filled with fantasy and romance, Brightarrow Burning is a must read! Quick paced and captivating beyond what most full length novels achieve, this novella tells a satisfying story, and one that I will be revisiting again and again. Passionate, intense, romantic—Isabo Kelly gives the reader all of these things and so much more. I will be placing Kelly on my list for future reading, and I highly suggest that you do the same!

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I received this e-book from Goddess Fish, in addition to joining the blog tour for this author. In exchange, I agreed to give my honest opinion on the novel.
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GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER--THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

Isabo will be giving away a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to one (1) randomly drawn commenter during the tour!

How to Enter:

Mandatory: You must leave a comment on this post, with a valid email address^! No email address, no entry!

^If you do not wish to leave you email addy in the comment section, then it must be visible on your Blogger profile (if you have one).

For more chances to win, be sure to follow the rest of the tour! :)

Enjoy!



Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

Lusting for Covers (65)

Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.

This meme is hosted by TBQ @ TBQ's Book Palace.

To view complete instructions on how to participate, as well as grab the HTML code for the graphic, see this page first!

Once you are ready to join the fun, please fill out Mister Linky below with your name/blog name and the direct link to your Lusting for Covers for this week!

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Here's my candidate for the week:

Chaos Burning by Lauren Dane
Publisher: Berkley (June 5, 2012)
Series: Bound by Magic, 2
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Summary (Amazon.com):

From the "always fabulous Lauren Dane"* comes her new novel of a treacherous family legacy, a temptation just as dangerous, and an evil so depraved it can only be spoken of in whispers...

The life of Lark Jaansen, hunter in Clan Gennessee, has been shaped by violence and unrest--and it defines her future. Well-trained and resilient, she's met her militaristic match in Simon Leviathan, a warrior not of this world. Locked in mutual admiration, and a desire so hot it burns, Lark and Simon have something else in common: they love the dark, and as a shadow is cast over their world, they're each coming into their own.

A mysterious war has been waged among the Others. As witches and humans turn against each other, as fae retreat in fear, and as vampires rise, Lark and Simon discover that an unseen force is behind it. A single, hungry entity older than recorded history has returned to gorge on the magick of his victims. He is the Magister, nothing less than the end of time. Finding him is Lark and Simon's first hope. Surviving him is their last.

Where to Buy*:

Amazon | Kindle | BN.com | NOOK

More Info:

Author's Site | Book Site | Excerpt

Why?
Why not?!

Seriously--just look at that tattoo. Tell me you don't want to tie him down and lick it from one end to the other?

Mmm-hmm....even without the blurb, which sounds interesting, I'd buy this one just for the cover.... Now if only I could get the real life model, tatts and all. :) Then I'd be a truly happy girl!

*Update*: I am lucky enough to be receiving an ARC of this book through NOR. Look for my review closer to the release date! :)