Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Bloodstone

by: Barbra Annino

Available at Amazon

Synopsis:
Book Two of the Stacy Justice Series has more magic, more mystery and more twists and turns than your average amusement park.

A long-lost sister.
A missing mother.
And murder.


Stacy Justice finds herself caught in a web of deceit, betrayal and family secrets that run deeper than the Mississippi in this follow up to Annino's debut novel, OPAL FIRE.

Not only must the reluctant witch determine if the teenager on her doorstep is her sister--she's forced to confront her mother's disappearance--again. Add to that a dead guy in the kitchen and Stacy's at her witch's end. She's pretty sure the Blessed Book of her family's ancestry holds the key. Except she can't find it. And if the killer does--it may be over Stacy's dead body.

Is Ivy really her sister? Where is Stacy's mother? And what does the dead guy have to do with it all? Find out in Bloodstone.


You all know I love these covers. I wonder if the authors are creating them or paying for a service. Well either way it's eye catching and you can recognize Stacy Justice from the Opal Fire. And yes, please read Opal Fire first, this is the 2nd book in the series.

The story is so fast paced that you barely catch your breath before the next thing happens. But it's not a very long book, so it works for a fast read. Just a couple minor errors, so it's well edited.

What I really, really, really love though is the humor. Stacy makes me laugh, so much so that my husband started asking me what I was reading. And sometimes I just piped up and read it to him.

This book really has it all. Little bit of romance, a big mystery, witches, and humor. Again, make sure you read Opal Fire and then this. I think teens can handle this as well. I didn't feel it ever got so gory, violent or sexy that a teenager couldn't handle it.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Witch Hunt

by: Devin O'Branagan

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Leigh has been married to a Hawthorne for a decade, but never knew the family secret: the Hawthornes are witches. When the dynamic Preacher Cody instigates a new, world-wide witch hunt, Leigh must choose sides. Will she stand with her husband and children, or will she run? This isn't the first witch hunt the Hawthornes have faced, but it could be their last. Will anyone survive?

A classic novel, updated for the 21st Century!


I've been dying to read this book since I read Magaly's posts - even a guest post by Devin O'branagan. Apparently since last June. Feels longer...

Anyway, Ms. Branagan graciously sent me an e-copy of Witch Hunt. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. And it really terrified me. I was finishing it yesterday at my in-laws' house and I had to go sit by my husband, I was shivering. And it's never gory, but Devin so perfectly captures the evil in people. It's chilling how easy it was to sway people to violence with a little fear. But it's not the first time it's happened and the witches aren't the only ones to suffer from it.

I think I was profoundly affected by having been so recently reminded of the holocaust. The other thing that set me shivering was how it so closely matched up with the current rise in the fundamentalist christian movement. These people are seriously scary, without an ounce of the love that Jesus was supposed to teach them. That's what's scary, how can you reason with someone who can't even figure out they aren't following their own religion?

The story is about the Hawthorne family, centering on the modern day but going back and giving us the family history starting at the Salem Witch Hunt. This was my favorite part of the book too. I cried as I read the story Devin wove about these women and the few men who were tortured and murdered.

Great book, something that I found terrifying, and so well written I couldn't put it down no matter how upset I was (you have to love a book that is passionate). Fully worth the $4.99 price.


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