Tag Archives: Jules C

Trinkets, Treasures and Other Bloody Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge-Review, Guest Post and Giveaway

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Trinkets, Treasures and Other Bloody Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge-Review, Guest Post and Giveaway

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Trinkets, Treasures and Other Bloody Magic
The Dowser Series #2
by Meghan Ciana Doidge
Release Date: December 27, 2013

Trinkets, Treasures and Other

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date: December 27, 2013

Three months ago, I lost my foster sister, Sienna, to the darkness. As in blood magic and chaos and general mayhem. No one saw it until it was too late, but I should have. Now, I have a wounded heart and soul that I can’t even reveal to anyone around me, because I’m supposed to hate Sienna with the fiery passion of the justified. And I do. I just wish I didn’t feel so lost without her, so unsure of the path I thought I had carved for myself, and so outclassed by the powerful Adepts constantly by my side these days. I’m not even sure if they’re with me for my own protection or because my shiny new powers are rare and valuable. Assuming I ever figure out who or what I am, and how my magic actually works.

Even chocolate can’t save the day every time … just most of the time. At least I’ve got that going for me.

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Brava, YAY and Woot!!! Those were my first reactions when I read TRINKETS, TREASURES, AND OTHER BLOODY MAGIC by Meghan Ciana Doidge. Let’s just call it Trinkets for short! You remember that I loved Cupcakes (Book One) in the Dowser series and this addition was another great read. I think that I have a girl crush on author Meghan. She has developed such great characters! Let’s review some of them.

First, there is Desmond aka “McGrowly”, shape shifter and Alpha of the Northwestern Pack. Did I mention that he is uber-sexy too? Second is Kett, the Ancient Vampire that most of our gang doesn’t trust, but I found his sardonic wit and presence highly entertaining. Then there is Kandy, our fierce green haired, werewolf bodyguard for our main heroine! Last but not least, Jade our “half-witch” dowser who is such a fun gal. Baking cupcakes, eating chocolate and yoga help her deal with her new found powers and the death of her evil foster sister. Getting inside that character’s head must have been interesting. She is so quirky and adorable! Plus, there are descriptions of some yummy cupcake flavors! Fruit enhanced flavors are the theme for this book! There are some great new characters too, including a “fledgling” Necromancer, and we learn more about Scarlett, Jade’s mother. We still don’t know what magical being sired Jade and the gang wants to figure it out!

The story starts with Kett and Kandy testing Jade’s abilities in the wilderness near Whistler Mountain. The readers are introduced to “Skinwalkers” which are Native Americans who can take the shape of their token animals. It’s an exciting beginning, but we don’t get to see them again. I have a feeling that they will show up in the next book! YAY!!

The main storyline involves a powerful sorcerer who wants to meet Jade. His name is Mot Blackwell, what a great name! He is known for his treasures and Kett thinks that a trip to Portland Oregon to meet him would be a good idea. Why is Mot trying to lure Jade to Oregon? I have to keep this spoiler free, but this part is action packed and a sinister character is back and wants revenge. There is more story building in this novel, a great action packed adventure and a possible hot and heavy “make out” session. You will have to figure out who kisses whom! I’m not telling, but they are scorching!

This book ends with an amazing cliffhanger and an answer to one question, but all I can say is: WHY? WHY? Meghan how can you leave me like this….??? I hope that you readers enjoy this latest addition to this fun series!

Reviewed by Jules

Copy supplied by author

Guest Post=Black and Red

Banana Chocolate Chip Cupcake Recipe

Cup Cakes

banana_chocolatechip_cupcake_cake

darkchocolate_buttercream_icing_RECIPE

About The Author Black and Red

Meghan Doidge

Follow Meghan: Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Twitter

Meghan Ciana Doidge is an award-winning writer based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She has a penchant for bloody love stories, superheroes, and the supernatural. She also has a thing for chocolate, potatoes, and sock yarn.

 

 

 

Giveaway-redandblack_zps8ff4dc4b

Meghan is offering one lucky winner a chance to win an ecopy of either CUPCAKES, TRINKETS and OTHER DEADLY MAGIC (book 1)  OR an ecopy of TRINKETS, TREASURES and OTHER BLOODY MAGIC (book 2).

1. If you have not registered, please register using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. The giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY

4. The giveaway runs from December 27 to December 31, 2013

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The Christmas Cottage by Samantha Chase-a review

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The Christmas Cottage by Samantha Chase-a review

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The Christmas Cottage
by Samantha Chase
Genre: contemporary, romance
Release Date: November 2012

the christmas cottage

ebook .99cents : Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 2012

Any couple who spends the night in the Christmas cottage shall have love everlasting… Lacey Quinn did not believe in happily ever after or the legend of the Christmas cottage. As maid of honor for her best friend Ava, her duties included decorating the cottage for the newlyweds. It was a simple enough task, but she hadn’t counted on sexy Ean Callahan, the bride-to-be’s brother, to be assisting her. Spending the evening ensconced in the overly romantic setting while a blizzard howls outside has Lacey wondering if fairy tales really do come true…

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I am grinning from ear to ear after reading THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE by Samantha Chase. It starts with the legend of the Christmas cottage. When a couple spends their wedding night at this cottage, they shall have everlasting love. Well, bridesmaid Lacey doesn’t buy it, but bride Ava has a binder full of jobs that Lacey must do to get the cottage ready for her wedding. Did I mention that Ava is a Bridezilla or that I wanted to punch her in the throat from time to time? Lacey humors her lifelong best friend and drives up to the cottage to make plans. Unknown to her, her childhood crush and Ava’s brother, Ean is there and they get snowed in for the night. No spoilers here, but I think that Ean and Lacey get reacquainted really fast!

Can there be love everlasting for our two main characters? This is a beautiful love story, a romance between two people who have known each other all of the lives. There are some beautiful quotes concerning their love.

Ean has this swoon worthy thought: “Lacey Quinn owned a part of his heart that he was just now realizing had always belonged to her and he had no idea what to do about it”.

The question is, does flighty Ava end up getting married on Christmas Eve or does she have other plans? This is a love story that you need to read in one sitting, I hope that you smile along as Ean and Lacey navigate their own happy ever after!

Reviewed by Jules

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The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4) by Richelle Mead-a review

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The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4) by Richelle Mead-a review

The Fiery Heart

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 19, 2013

In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her. . . .

But the struggle isn’t over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there’s still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure—and re-education—looms larger than ever.

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Where do I begin?? THE FIERY HEART by Richelle Mead is an awesome addition to the Bloodlines series. This novel is packed with humor, action, suspense and most of all………LOVE!! This is one of my favorite reads of the year! Adrian, our self- described, “eye candy with great hair” and Sydney, our smart and serious Alchemist are finally a couple! If you enjoy a great love story that slowly builds and shows a couple’s vulnerabilities and hurdles that must be overcome, you will love this book! Plus, we have alternating points of view from both Adrian and Sydney. I love her, but Adrian’s chapters leave you laughing out loud. He is so funny, but vulnerable and that makes him very swoon-worthy in my opinion.

Some highlights of this book are when Sydney joins a Coven and embraces that part of her life, magic! Zoe, her little sister, has moved into the dorms. She is the thorn in Sydney’s side because she becomes suspicious of Sydney’s activities. Sydney is still trying to analyze what ingredients are in their Alchemist tattoos, so that she can create an ink that allows them to break away and not be re-educated. Adrian is using his “Spirit” gift to try to discover what can make someone immune from turning Strigoli, or the undead!

Adrian gets to use some of that self- defense that he learned in a previous book and practices “treejitsu” on some men threatening Sydney. That is swinging a tree branch to protect his ladylove! There are many humorous parts, but like I said, the budding romance is the best. They are both committed to each other, even though the odds are against them. I loved all of Adrian’s escape plans: Move to Sweden and open a pancake shop, join a nudist colony in Fuji! You get the idea, they were all funny!

Adrian quotes a Yeats poem to describe their relationship: “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold….”, but he then tells her, “The center will hold, because we are the center.” Sydney doesn’t quite get it, but when things do start to fall apart at the shocking climatic end of the novel, she reassures him by saying in Latin, “The Center will hold”.

WOW!! I can’t wait until the next book!

Jules

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