Review: Blood Smoke and Mirrors by Robyn Bachar

Blood Smoke and Mirrors
Author:Robyn Bachar
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Samhain
ISBN:  1609280717
ISBN13: 9781609280710
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: E-copy from Author for Review

Even a bad witch deserves a second chance.

Wrongly accused of using her magic to harm, the closest Catherine Baker comes to helping others is serving their coffee. Life as an outcast is nothing new, thanks to her father’s reputation, but the injustice stings. Especially since the man she loved turned her in.

Now the man has the gall to show up and suggest she become the next Titania? She’d rather wipe that charming grin off his face with a pot of hot java to the groin.

Alexander Duquesne has never faltered in his duties as a guardian -- until now. The lingering guilt over Cat’s exile and the recent death of his best friend have shaken his dedication. With the murder of the old Titania, the faerie realm teeters on the brink of chaos. His new orders: keep Cat alive at all costs.

Hunted by a powerful stranger intent on drawing her into an evil web, Cat reluctantly accepts Lex’s protection and the resurrected desire that comes along with it. Lex faces the fight of his life to keep her safe...and win her back. If they both survive.

Warning: This book contains one tough and snarky witch, one gorgeous guardian, explicit blood drinking, magician sex, gratuitous violence against vampires and troublemaking Shakespearean faeries.

Robyn was on my blog for part of her tour for BLOOD SMOKE AND MIRRORS and I really wanted to read this after I got a look at the cover and synopsis so here I am. I love the cover, it definitely drew my eye and got me excited about the book. Cat is going about her business working and being her mousy self when all of a sudden Lex her super sexy ex that betrayed her walks back into her life and sets her on a path to trying to become the next Titania. Robyn's writing was well done and the world and story were very well laid out. The relationship between Lex and Cat is down right frustrating and slow moving just like all the good books make the lead relationship lol. They really are perfect for each other and following along as they make mistakes and grow closer was a pleasant journey. Cat is a smart ass after my own reading heart. Seriously she was well put together not afraid to say what she means and very down to earth. I think Cat's story is far from over so I hope Robyn is continuing the story as I still have a lot of unanswered questions and situations were left wide open. I enjoyed the story and would read it again. Pick up a copy if you have the chance.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

New Releases March 21-27

Tuesday March 22

The Dark and Hollow Places (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #3) by Carrie Ryan
Night Magic (Wing Slayer Hunters #3) by Jennifer Lyon

Invincible (Chronicles of Nick #2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Seduce me in Dreams (A Three Worlds #1) by Jacquelyn Frank
Wither (Chemical Garden #1) by Lauren DeStefano

 

Thursday March 24

The Neon Court: or, the Betrayal of Matthew Swift (Matthew Swift #3) by Kate Griffin

If you see a mistake or know of another release that is not listed let me know!! Happy Reading

Review: Embers by Laura Bickle

Embers
Author: Laura Bickle
Release Date: March 30, 2010
Publisher: Pocket
Anya Kalinczyk Book #1
ISBN:  1439167656
ISBN13: 9781439167656
Genre: Urban Fantasy


Truth burns.Unemployment, despair, anger—visible and invisible unrest feed the undercurrent of Detroit’s unease. A city increasingly invaded by phantoms now faces a malevolent force that further stokes fear and chaos throughout the city.Anya Kalinczyk spends her days as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department, and her nights pursuing malicious spirits with a team of eccentric ghost hunters. Anya—who is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern—suspects a supernatural arsonist is setting blazes to summon a fiery ancient entity that will leave the city in cinders. By Devil’s Night, the spell will be complete, unless Anya—with the help of her salamander familiar and the paranormal investigating team—can stop it.Anya’s accustomed to danger and believes herself inured to loneliness and loss. But this time she’s risking everything: her city, her soul, and a man who sees and accepts her for everything she is. Keeping all three safe will be the biggest challenge she’s ever faced.

This book had such mixed reviews it took me almost a year to finally read it. Ive read Laura's other series under the name of Alayna Williams and really enjoyed it, I also saw a review of this series from a reviewer I trust the opinion of and finally decided to give it a try. Laura has a wonderful way of bringing unique situations to her books, her writing style is also very engaging.  Anya was easy to like and easy to follow, she is very troubled but is also really strong and independent. Sparky Anya's familiar was awesome, his personality shines through the pages and I always looked forward to what he would do next.  I wasn't crazy about the love interests, I especially didn't understand the draw to Drake besides the fact that he was a lantern. EMBERS was a neat read with great supporting characters and situations you haven't likely read before so I would recommend you give it a try.

I gave it 4/5 Stars

Winner: Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop

325 Entries!!
Thank you to everyone that entered!!

PRIZE:

Your choice of ANY 1 book valued Up to $10USD from Book Depository.

*Open to anyone the Book Depository ships FREE to.*

*US residents- I reserve the right to order your book from a US book store*

The winner chosen by Random.org is…

Marlene @ Book Lover and Procrastinator

Congrats!! I have emailed winner who has 48 hours to respond with mailing address or I will pick another.

Week in Review 3/13-3/19

Books Ive Bought/received

Nothing for me :(



Books I read

Sparks by Laura Bickle
Glimmer by Vivi Anna
Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst
Surrender the Dark by L.A. Banks
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl

Reviews posted
Under Wraps by Hannah Jayne
Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire
Deception by Lee Nichols
Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
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Tonight I have been asked to participate on a panel in a Jane Yellowrock discussion. Faith Hunter will be stopping in as well. If you are interested check it out =)

3/20/2011 8pm EDT

Join Tricia, Stacy & Tori for some book talk about your favorite Urban Fantasy Books/Authors. wickedenchantment.com http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blogspot.com/ http://www.gigisconsignmentcloset.blog

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* New Releases for the week.

* Lee Nichols Author of the Haunting Emma series joined us this week for an Interview, I really enjoyed reading her books and will have my reviews up shortly.

* Im taking part in the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop Check it and enter to win. Ends 3/20

* Want to win a Kindle 3?? UFI Is participating in Moira Roger's Wilders Mate Kindle Contest stop on by the post to see how you can win. 

* This coming week Theresa Meyers will be joining us to talk about her new book The Truth About Vampires and will be offering up a giveaway.

Review: Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Falling Under
Author:Gwen Hayes
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: New American Library
Falling Under Book #1
ISBN:  0451232682
ISBN13: 9780451232687
Genre: Young Adult
Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

The cover caught my eye so I decided to read some reviews which had me picking up a copy from my library. From the beginning I was happy to have picked it up. The characters were easy to connect with and well developed, and the story was unique, full of dark suspense and well written. Theia from the start intrigued me, she started out super proper and passive and grew into someone to be reckoned with. Haden was mysterious and charming and together Theia and Haden had me wondering what would happen next and what else they would bring out in each other. I cant wait to read the next book, The cliffhanger at the end just about made me jump out of my seat and shout at the unfairness of having it end.


I gave it 4/5 stars

Review: Deception by Lee Nichols

Deception
Author: Lee Nichols
Release Date: June 8, 2010
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Haunting Emma Book #1
ISBN:   1599904217
ISBN13: 9781599904214
Genre: Young Adult


When Emma Vaile's parents leave on mysterious business trip, it gives her the perfect excuse to be a rebellious teen. Throw some parties, get a tattoo (or maybe just a piercing), and enjoy the first few weeks of her junior year. Then her best friend stops talking to her, the cops crash her party, and Emma finds herself in the hands of a new guardian—her college-age "knight in J.Crew armor," Bennett Stern—and on a plane to his museum-like mansion in New England.

After enrolling at Thatcher Academy, Emma settles in by making friends with the popular legacy crowd. But she can't shake the strange visions that are haunting her. She has memories of Thatcher she can't explain, as if she's returning home to a place she's never been. Emma doesn't trust anyone anymore—except maybe Bennett. But he's about to reveal a ghostly secret to Emma. One that will explain the visions . . . and make Emma fear for her life.

I wasn't positive I would enjoy this by looking at the cover and reading the description but I knew after the first few pages It would keep me interested.  Emma from the start is very self reliant and has to figure stuff out on her own. When a friend betrays her, Bennett a boy/guy she has crushed on since she first laid eyes on him shows up and says he is her guardian and she is swept away to New England and is enrolled in Thatcher Academy where more spooky things start happening to her. The mystery of who Emma actually is, why evil is hunting her and why she can see things and do things nobody else can drags you through a whole new supernatural world in which people can see, hear, and control ghost. Lee's writing is smooth and engaging and the story is full of mystery, and fast paced spookiness. I cant wait to get my hands on Betrayal so that I can get the answers to all the questions Lee left unanswered.

I gave it 4/5 stars