Shelf Candy Saturday (21): Supernatural Freak by Louisa Klein



Shelf Candy Saturday is hosted by A Night's Dream of Books.


Supernatural Freak by Louisa Klein


When paranormal expert Robyn Wise if offered an outrageous sum of money to cure a boy who is turning into a dead tree, she’s very skeptical. A politician ready to pay that much to make his son stop growing branches instead of hair? Come on! She’s more likely to be abducted by aliens. This is a trap. Or something much worse. And, of course, it’s much worse.

The child is turning into a dark portal, created by a powerful entity determined to absorb Fairyland’s power. This means that not only queen Titania and her court are in danger, but the very balance of the magic fluxes.

Robyn’d rather stick a pencil in her own eye but to learn how to destroy the portal, she has to sneak into the Wizardry Council, a place full of wizards who are hiding something – though it’s certainly not their dislike of her.

There, she discovers a terrible secret that could help overthrow Fairyland’s enemies for good, but puts her in the midst of an ancient and deadly war, and not as a bystander, but as the main target.



Surprisingly this book doesn't have any reviews on Goodreads. As I started looking for links I realized why, it's impossible to find. I checked Amazon, BN, Smashwords, and Book Depository. It's a mystery. This is a great cover though, I love how the gold touches tie everything together. And I'm not sure how the birds play into the plot (if at all) but it's a beautiful contrast against her pale skin. It also adds to the supernatural look of the model.


Banned Books Giveaway Hop



I'm going to keep this short and sweet since there are a lot of blogs to visit!

I'm giving away a copy of Scars by Cheryl Rainfield.


-Fill out the form below to enter
-Contest is open to any country that book depository ships to
-Entries must be received by 11:59pm (EST) on October 6th
-Winner will be chosen via Random.org

Good Luck!



Rising Star Chef series by Louisa Edwards

Too Hot to Touch (Rising Star Chef #1)


When it comes to competitive cooking, Max Lunden is no stranger to winning…though he’s never been great at working with a team. A master chef – and major hunk – he’s traveled the world, picking up new cooking techniques as well as beautiful women. But when the prodigal chef returns home to his family’s Greenwich Village restaurant, he discovers one too many cooks in the kitchen – and she’s every bit as passionate as he is…

Juliet Cavanaugh used to have a crush on Max when she was just a teenager, hanging out at Lunden & Sons Tavern, hoping to catch a glimpse of the owner’s oldest, and hottest, son. Now a chef herself – competing in the biggest culinary contest in the county – Juliet will be cooking side by side with the one man she’s always admired…and desired. But despite their simmering attraction, Juliet is determined to keep her cool – no matter how hot it gets.

  
  
Some Like it Hot (Rising Star Chef #2)


Sexy, single, and even sweeter than the treats he bakes, New York pastry chef Danny Lunden is trying to stay focused on food – not females. With the Rising Star Chef competition approaching, he doesn’t have time to get all steamed up over the gorgeous woman he encounters on the plane to Chicago. Even if she is Eva Jansen – the billionaire heiress in charge of the contest…

Danny assumes that “Eva the Diva” is a spoiled rich girl who doesn’t share his passion for food. But when the two meet up again in an elevator – along – they share more than just passion. They share a kiss hot enough to start a kitchen fire – and they’re hungry for more. To indulge their new secret craving, Eva and Danny have to break every rule in the cookbook. But – like chocolate and caramel – some ingredients are so sinfully good together, one scrumptious bite is never enough…
  


Hot Under Pressure (Rising Star Chef #3)


Henry Beck thought he’d already faced the toughest kitchen challenge of his life. After all, what could top sweating it out as a Navy cook on a submarine? But when he learns his competition for the title of Rising Star Chef is the sweet hippie girl he marries…and left…ten years ago, the heat is on.

Now Beck and Skye Gladwell are going head to head in the finals…and sparking up old flames every time they touch. But Skye wants more than a win over the man who abandoned her when she needed him the most – she wants a divorce! Then her sexy almost-ex makes a deliciously dangerous proposition. He’ll give in to her demands, but if his team wins the RSC, he has a demand of his own…one last taste of the only woman he ever loved.



My thoughts on the series:

I’m a big fan of what I call ‘foodie’ books which are books where food, restaurants, or chefs play a large role in the story. All three books in the Rising Star Chef series are in my top five favorite foodie books! Each book in the series has its own mixed platter (<= see what I did there *winks*) of drama, explosive tempers, sexual tension, romance, hot chef’s, and cooking competitions. Each of the books follows a different employee of Lunden & Sons Tavern while they compete in different levels of the Rising Star Chef competition. I really liked the books being set up like that because you’re then able to get to know characters while still being able to read about characters from the other books in the series.

Overall rating: 5 out of 5


Bewitching the Werewolf by Caroline Hanson


When witch for hire, Megan Stephens, is assigned to help the local werewolf pack leader find a mate, she thinks the job will be easy. Get in, get it up and get gone. But when she meets Zach Connor, she realizes her future might have a lot more dog jokes in it than she ever imagined.

My Review:

Bewitching the Werewolf is a short novella and one of my problems with it is that it felt short. It seemed rushed and somewhat incomplete. I would have liked to read more but it felt like the story was just lobbed off at the end. I did like the concept of Megan being hired to help Zach but I would have like to have seen it developed more…which goes back to the story feeling like it was rushed. I know it sounds like I didn’t like the book but I did; it’s a good and quick read. I am also curious how her full length novels will compare to this.

Overall Rating: 3.75 out of 5

Prince of Wolves (The Grey Wolves #1) by Quinn Loftis


Jacque Pierce was just an ordinary 17 year old girl getting ready to start her senior year in high school in Coldspring, Texas. When a mysterious foreign exchange student from Romania moves in across the street, Jacque and her two best friends, Sally and Jen, don’t realize the last two weeks of their summer was going to get a lot more interesting. From the moment Jacque sets eyes on Fane she feels an instant connection, a pull like a moth to a flame. Little does she know that the flame she is drawn to is actually a Canis lupis, werewolf, and she just happens to be his mate; the other half of his soul. The problem is Fane is not the only wolf in Coldspring, Texas. Just as Fane and Jacque are getting to know each other, another wolf steps out to try to claim Jacque as his mate. Fane will now have to fight for the right to complete the mating bond, something that is his right by birth but is being denied him by a crazed Alpha. Will the love Fane has for Jacque be enough to give him the strength to defeat his enemy, will Jacque accept that she is Fane’s mate and complete the bond between them?

My Review:

I’ve said it before, I’m saying it now, and I’ll say it again but I truly do love a good werewolf story. A quick thank you to my friend Anna for picking this book when I couldn’t decide what to read next!

I’ve seen some people ask which fictional characters you could see yourself being friends with. I would love to spend time with Jacque, Sally, and Jen…and of course the yummy Fane ;) I found myself chuckling at Jen’s unfiltered antics, cheering on Sally in her very strong moment, falling for Fane along with Jacque, and tearing up at a part that I obviously can’t spoil.

I recommend reading this book if you’re looking for an entertaining young adult book with good characters, a bit of drama, and a few laughs.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Preservation by Rachel Wade


Kate has no time for meaningless romantic charades, and definitely no time for hot college professors who are full of themselves and smitten with her. Constantly battling eviction notices, tuition she can’t afford, and a sick, dependent mother, the last thing she needs is to be distracted with someone else’s complicated baggage.

When she stumbles into Ryan Campbell’s creative writing class, he is only “Mr. Campbell” to her, until Ryan finds himself captivated by her writing and she is forced to face their mutual attraction. His cocky know-it-all syndrome is enough to send her running in the other direction, and his posse of female admirers and playboy reputation are enough to squander any odds in her favor.

But underneath Ryan’s abrasive façade is something to behold, and she can’t stay away for long. Ryan and Kate must decide who they’re willing to become and fight against their former selves if they want to make things work. That’s if academia, vicious vixens, old skeletons, and their own mastery at self-destruction don’t pummel their efforts first.

My Quick Review:

What is it with books about self-destructive people in relationships with other self-destructive people?! My goodness, these books are everywhere!

With that said, I did enjoy Preservation and the characters. I wouldn’t say that I loved it or that it’s fantastic but it’s a good read.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Winners - Special Sunday Swag Bag


Giveaway #1 - Winner is...
Pamela
-Signed copy of Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout
-Swag goodness
 
 
 
Giveaway #2 - Winner is...
Megan S.
-Signed copy of Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready
-Swag
 
 
 
Giveaway #3 - Winner is...
Emma
-ARC of One Shot Away by T. Glen Coughlin
-ARC of Under the Bridge by Michael Harmon
 
 
 
Giveaway #4 - Winner is...
Wendy H
-ARC of Dear Teen Me signed by Miranda Kenneally
 
 
 
Congrats to all of the winners!!
If I haven't already contacted you I will be emailing you this morning!

Shelf Candy Saturday (20) Porch Lights by Dorothea Benton Frank

 
Shelf Candy Saturday is hosted by A Night's Dream of Books.
 
 
 
Porch Lights by Dorothea Benton Frank
 
When Jimmy McMullen, a fireman with the NYFD, is killed in the line of duty, his wife, Jackie, and ten-year-old son, Charlie, are devastated. Charlie idolized his dad, and now the outgoing, curious boy has become quiet and reserved. Trusting in the healing power of family, Jackie decides to return to her childhood home on Sullivans Island.
 
Crossing the bridge from the mainland, Jackie and Charlie enter a world full of wonder and magic - lush green and chocolate grasslands and dazzling red, orange, and magenta evening skies; the heady pungency of Lowcountry Pluff mud and fresh seafood on the grill; bare toes snuggled in warm sand and palmetto fronds swaying in gentle ocean winds.
 
Awaiting them is Annie Britt, the family matriarch who has kept the porch lights on to welcome them home. Thrilled to have her family back again, Annie promises to make their visit perfect - even though relations between mother and daughter have never been what you'd call smooth. Over the years, Jackie and Annie, like all mothers and daughters, have been known to have frequent and notorious differences of opinion. But her estranged and wise husband, Buster, and her flamboyant and funny best friend Deb are sure to keep Annie in line. She's also got Steven Plofker, the flirtatious and devilishly tasty widowed physician next door, to keep her distracted as well.
 

I can't say that this sounds like a book I would normally read but I do love the cover. I just want to curl up on that hammock, watch the sunset, then read a book under the soft lighing of those beautiful lights. *dreamy sigh*
 

Winners - JLA Summer Blog Tour


The two winners are...
 
Emma and Koll!
 
Congrats to both of you!
 
 Emma, your name was drawn first so you get first choice
of either Half-Blood or Pure.  
Koll, I'll be contacting you after I hear from Emma.


Shelf Candy Saturday (19): Friday Harbor Series by Lisa Kleypas

Shelf Candy Saturday is hosted by A Night's Dream of Books.


Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor

(Friday Harbor #1)


ONE LITTLE GIRL NEEDS A FAMILY
One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother Victoria. And since that night, she has never again spoken a word.

ONE SINGLE MAN NEEDS A WIFE
The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl in his life. But he soon realizes that he will do everything he can to make her life whole again. His sister's will gives him the instructions: There's no other choice but you. Just start by loving her. The rest will follow.

SOMETIMES, IT TAKES A LITTLE MAGIC...
Maggie Collins doesn't dare believe in love again, after losing her husband of one year. But she does believe in the magic of imagination. As the owner of a toy shop, she lives what she loves. And when she meets Holly Nola, she sees a little girl in desparate need of a little magic.

...TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE
Three lonely people. Three lives at a crossroads. Three people who are about to discover that Christmas is the time of year when anything is possible, and when wishes have a way of finding the path home...


Rainshadow Road (Friday Harbor #2)

Dream Lake (Friday Harbor #3)

Crystal Cove (Friday Harbor #4)







These covers alone make me want to live in Friday Harbor! It looks like such a beautiful and serene place. I have read the first book, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, and it's a really cute story. The cover is gorgeous but it doesn't really fit with the other three. Books 2-4 have the same font styles and uses more pastels where the first book is darker, bolder colors. But looking past the continutity I really do love all of the covers!!

Special Sunday Swag Bag Giveaway (5)

It's time again for my Sunday Swag Bag giveaway!!

I have a lot of swag that I've been wanting to pass along. Some of it is duplicates from what's in my personal collection and some of it's from books or genre's that I don't think I'll read. So I've been trying to think of a way to give it to other swag lovers. That's where Sunday Swag Bag comes in.

I will post a contest on the first Sunday of every month until the swag bag is empty. Each contest will be open for a week. Then I will do a post on the second Sunday of every month where I announce the winner and I will blindly grab anywhere from 4-5 pieces out of my swag bag. It's luck of the draw for the winner but there's a lot of really awesome swag so don't miss out!

Sunday Swag Bag is going to work a little different this month. I'm giving away more than just swag and each 'package' will have a separate entry form so you can choose which you want to enter.
  • You can enter all of the giveaways but you can only win once. If you win the first drawing then your name will be remove from the other three, etc. 
  • Giveaways will be open internationally
  • Giveaways will be open for two weeks. You have until September 15th at 11:59pm (EST) to enter
Giveaway #1
-Signed copy of Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout
-Swag goodness
Giveaway #2
-Signed copy of Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready
-Swag
Giveaway #3
-ARC of One Shot Away by T. Glen Coughlin
-ARC of Under the Bridge by Michael Harmon
Giveaway #4
-ARC of Dear Teen Me signed by Miranda Kenneally
I did read this but I was very gentle with it :)
Good Luck Everyone!