Review and Giveaway: Legacies of Talimura: War of the Witch

Synopsis provided by Goodreads



Debonair, a witch from the Unspoken Lands, has meddled in the forbidden practice of magic and created an army of nightmarish proportions. When sixteen-year-old Astanyx and his two best friends return from a hunting trip to find their small town of Polca reduced to smoke and ash, they find themselves thrust into a battle for which they haven't been trained.

With the help of his comrades, including an esteemed warrior, one of the last great wizards and a princess they've sworn to protect, Astanyx must fight to unite the kingdoms of the humans, dwarves and elves. He must ask forbidden questions that no one wants to answer, questions about Talimura's dark history. As Debonair's brutal warriors lay siege to the kingdoms, Astanyx is driven to pursue a fateful quest for a blade powerful enough to defeat the malevolent witch before she destroys the three kingdoms and unleashes an unspeakable ancient evil.


My Thoughts:


Ok, I have to say right off the top, I can't go into a lot of detail with this book as I would divulge way to much of this incredible book, and if there is one thing I hate is spoilers.  It ruins it for the next person and leaves nothing to the imagination, and for this fantastic book you need your imagination.   

Angels attention to detail is incredible, by far some of the most detailed writing I love to read, her descriptions of the ongoing battle made me feel like I was right there, feeling the fear, defeat, unspeakable ancient evil and the victories as they are won.  I could almost imagine the creatures she has created from the Orc's, hallfangs, gnomes, dwarves and the Dragons, love the Dragons, and the one woman that is creating all this havoc a Witch, Debonair, who has created an army of not only the Orc's, and many others but has also raised the dead to help build her army and make it indestructible.....nasty eh!!


Astanyx and his two best friends have had their whole village and family destroyed by Debonair and her army of monsters, as his fathers last dying wish, they set out to Windhan to warn King Azores, there he pledges to stay and fight for him, there he meets the Princess Luccia, now the Princess is not your average Princess, nope she can fight with the best of soldiers, against her fathers wishes, and she will not go down without a fight and fight she will. 


I love the characters Angel has created, some of whom have their own story to tell, Crypt's story is nothing short of amazing, and Barrett who has my heart, Soaren, Ramza, Kapella, Elric, Locke to name a few more of the characters, so in saying this I will finish as I really don't want to ruin the story for anyone, it is a great story told and you really have to read it and experience it for yourself.  


I want to thank Angel for once again allowing me to read her wonderful book, I recommend this book to all, it is a great book and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.  


Angel has given me a ebook copy of Legacies of Talimura:  War of the Witch to giveaway to one lucky person, so please leave me a comment and you must be a follower of my blog to enter, also leave me your email address so I can contact you when you win.  Thank you everyone for entering!!!!

Review: Bloodletter by Angel Haze

Thou shalt not kill.A contradictory message written in blood at the scene of a young woman's murder. Within days, another body surfaces with a similar calling card and, to Detective Ramon Faust and Criminalist Kelly Garret, it's clear a deadly game is underfoot.

As the rash of horrific crimes continue, a phone call unearths a shocking revelation: Nakeita isn't the first city the elusive killer has left his mark. The Bloodletter, as dubbed by the media, has played his deadly game before.

Delving deep into the most terrifying case of Kelly's career, threatening phone calls and flashbacks of a forgotten near-death experience challenge her sanity and the lives of everyone she loves.


My Thoughts: 

Well first off I have to say if you ever wanted to know the Ten Commandments, when you are done this book you absolutely will. Now weither or not you believe in them or not is your choice, but after reading Bloodletter I think you will find yourself wanting to follow them more if you don't already. Espicially if you believe even just a little bit in the Grim Reaper.

Kelly Garret is a criminalist and the daughter of a retired Chief of Police. I really liked Kelly's character, she is a stronger well put together lady, she is pretty, loves her job, has some great friends, and her gourgeous fiance just gave her a beautiful diamond ring. On a daily basis Kelly's job has her trying to get inside the minds of the criminals most wanted in her city.  Until she one case sets him/her apart from the rest of the worst criminals she has thought she has already seen.  This is by far anything more horrific and gruesome than she has seen so far in her career. Now it is up to Kelly and her team to try to figure out who or what is commiting these bloody and very brutal murders, and try to piece together the clues left behind by a rutheless killer.  Not only does Kelly have to try to figure out who/what is the killer, when the distrubing phone calls start, the killer tells her she is being watched and she needs to be careful.

I can't tell you anymore without giving spoilers and this is such a great book I don't want to do that. All will be revealed when you read it and yes this book is a total must read.  I have to say I don't usually go outside of my comfort zone when it comes to a good murder mystery, I usually like to read Dean Koontz or Stephen King and even a good John Saul at times, but lately I have been stepping outside and expanding my reading areas and I am sooooo glad I have or I wouldn't have had the chance to read Bloodletter.

If you like chills running down your spine, well lock your windows and doors before sitting down to read this one, because it's gonna scare the hell out of ya!!! Oh and turn on the lights too, I didn't and my black cat came around the corner and well I almost *#$@ my pants LOL. This book will give you the creeps like no other I have read for awhile. Just when you think you have it all figured out, no way you don't, Angel throws twists and turns at you at every turn of the corner, and if you thought you have the killer figured out...you really don't.

I would like to thank Angel for allowing me to read Bloodletter in exchange for my review, I cannot thank you enough Angel this is a book I will recommend to all. I hope you all will pick up your copy......if your brave enough Muahhhh.

Now Angel is allowing me to giveaway a copy of her book Bloodletter an ebook, so for one of you brave souls enter now for your chance to have the Bjesus scared out of you. Are you brave enough????????

Review and Giveaway: Paradox - The Angels Are Here by Patti Roberts

Review and Giveaway:  Paradox - The Angels Are Here by Patti Roberts

Synopsis provded by Goodreads:

War changes everything. 900 years ago, my world was a different place. Today, Grace's strange but idealised world is turned upside by a visitor - The Angel of Death. And as Grace struggles to survive with her loss, she is also forced to endure haunting visions of the brutal and untimely deaths of others. Juliette.

My Thoughts: 

The definition of Paradox:

A seemingly illogical or self-contradictory statement or suggestion, that may, in fact, be very true.

As the book opens we are introduced to Abaddon, a handsome man with yellowish eyes, and an extremelly cruel soul and blood that bleeds black, as do all the Grigorians in his family. Siena, his cousin and Theria, his sister. Now we have not yet met his brother Cerebrus who is High Ruler, but he is mentioned quite a bit as Abaddon loathes him and wants everything that is his brothers...even his sister-in-law. A war is in progress, this war is between the the fallen House of the Grigorians and the House of the Bulguardians, in the ancient city of Altair, in Aquila Constellation.

We then move onto Grace and the start of her story, Juliette, an angel who starts as the narrator of the story, and Grace, a human child with strange nightmares and angels constantly flocking to her, Hope is one of the first Angels that come to oversee the protection of Grace, and Grace, unaware just thinks Hope is an imaginary friend. Her father is aware of what's going on and is happy to see Hope as Grace has no real friends at school or at home and knows Hope will protect his daughter.

After the huge loss of Graces father, Hope is no longer able to help Grace, and along comes Graces second Angel to help her, Angela, and the Police Officer that broke the news about her fathers death to her Mother and to Grace.  Now I haven't quite figured out wheither or not if he is an Angel, or something else, Angela knows, but is not revealing yet, I am hoping book 2 will give me more of him as I really like his character.

The book flips back and forth from Grace, to the war, and the Grigorians and family, I don't feel it confused me, but you have to read very carefully, it is a read that makes you think outside the box and take a look at what you always thought, or believed in.  I love how we get to grow up with Grace, as it starts when she is little and ends off when she is eleven or so years old, and has come to have a great friend in Angela. I laughed out loud in parts at the interaction with Grace and Angela, as Angela is not your everyday average little girl, a little weird at times, but Grace never noticing. I teared up when Grace lost her father, as I also have lost my father, not at such a young age, just 4-years ago so I could relate to her pain and grief. The way Patti described both Grace's grief and Kate's (Grace's Mom) grief it was hard for me to read, it brought up a painful time in my life.

While having some questions, I also kept in mind knowing book 2 is on its way soon, and like all good books that have more than one book, all will be revealed in good time, and that is why I am so super excited to read the next book. I absolutely loved this one, I wish it was a bit longer, but knowing more is to come it only has made me anticipate the next book even more. It sets my imagination to wonder, what will be revealed next, will we find out more about the Police Officer, will Angela reveal who he is? Will we figure out why Grace keeps traveling in and out of her body to different times and people? And lets not forget that cliffhanger at the end OMG I closed the book and said to myself, "I have to have more right now" LOL. I love Patti's style of writing, it is a book you have to read slowly and carefully, but only so that you don't miss anything, Patti does such a phenomenal job at describing every detail, and I am dying to figure out how a war 900-years ago revolves around a little girl and her Angel friend.

The book is 115 pages, and is an introductory to much more to come, it was meant to give the reader a chance to get to know Grace a bit better, and what a wonderful job Patti did with that. I have to thank Patti for allowing me to read her novella and I would recommend this book to all. It is a superb book and I think you will all enjoy it as much as I did.

Now on to the Giveaway, Yay!!!!! I LOVE GIVEAWAYS LOL


Patti has gracelously offered me 3 ebooks and 1 paperback copy to give a way to my fantastic friends.  Also I would like to do a big happy dance as I have reached 100 followers, what a way to celebrate by reviewing an awesome book like Patti's and giving away 4 of her fantastic books. Now that a celebration. :)


So here are the rules to have a chance to win these books:


1. Be a GFC Follower here on my blog.
2. Be a follower on Patti's blog, here is her link, http://paradox-theangelsarehere.blogspot.com/
3. Leave a comment with your email address so we can contact you if you win. I will choose 4 winners on August 5th and announce the winners August 6th. The winner will have 48 hours to accept their prize or I will pick another winner. 


Thank you everyone get your comments in for your chance to win this amazing book. :) 

Revew: The Gifted Ones by Lisa Vaughn

Synopsis provided by Goodreads:

Lisa was conservatively raised in a Catholic family in no-where middle America, where excitement is scarce and dreams are for sleeping. Little did she know, at age thirteen, she would suddenly find herself on a totally different path. Through an unlikely chance meeting of a fellow classmate, she's surprisingly mesmerized, almost consumed, to befriend a girl who is obviously from the other side of the tracks...the cool side. Lisa does whatever she has to just to be accepted into this small club of coolness. Little did she realize, she was signing up for a lot more than social status. The two best friends find themselves innocently taking their relationship to a foreign level neither had experienced or saw coming. A rollercoaster ride littered with choices and challenges Lisa never fathomed facing, especially in no-where middle America. She will find out what she is made of as she faces the consequences and struggles that come along with going against the grain. Throughout their six year relationship, you will witness a touching story of human nature at it's best...and at it's worst. Showing just how far the human spirit can be challenged and pushed to a point where your “fight or flight” instincts naturally kick in. Struggling just to survive in a world where you are not like everyone else, but at the same time you really are. The daily struggles- both internal and external- are exhausting, yet necessary in their quest for one simple human need....love. Finally breaking through all constraints that hold them back, reaching levels of one-ness that few actually obtain in a lifetime with their partner...only to find once they've reached that special place, it's not quite the right fit...for one of them, at least. This contemporary story will lead the reader through highs and lows, giving insight to the every day challenges of the socially unaccepted, which will no doubt leave them rooting for the underdog. Appealing to a wide variety of audiences, both homosexual and heterosexual, as the true message is not sexually based. A true story of human resilience and the power of love...plain and simple.

My Thoughts: 

I haven' t had the opprutunity yet to read a memoirs, let alone review it, I wasn't really sure what to expect, and really how do you rate someones life experiences. So again I went outside my comfort zone and started to read this book. Again I was truly surprised, as this book captivated me from page one. Lisa being born the eldest child to a old fashion, strict, Catholic set of parents if that wasn't enough, lets add growing up in the 70's and 80's where lots of people kept certain topics hidden in the closet. Lisa a 13-year-old meets Selina, and starts to have feeling for her she didnt even understand at first.  Falling in love with Selina is not going to be an easy task to explain to her parents espicially with her Mother Peggy, who she does not get along with on a good day. 

For the next six or so years, the book follows Lisa and Selina on their journey together, as they develop their relationship, fight for the right to be together, and to be accepted by all.  After being accepted, Lisa and Selina finally get a home and a life of their own, something they have always dreamed of, but with any relationship comes anger, jealousy, understanding and forgiveness. My heart goes out to them both as they struggle with their releationship, trying to keep it the same but growing as people, and growing apart is never easy to accept.  Lisa's writing has made you feel every emotion she went through as if you were right there with them.  It is a very heart felt, heart warming story that I think everyone in some part of the book will be able to relate to. I know I did.

The story was very beautiful written, I encourage everyone to read this book, it is a nice quick easy read, its encouraging, inspiring, heart warming and I am glad I went outside of my comfort zone to read this.  I am happy Lisa has found happiness and I really enjoyed at the end where we get to hear how her life has turned out today, most times you don't get to hear the part of where they are today, so I am glad she included that part.  I would like to thank Lisa for giving me this chance to read her beautiful memoirs.  This is a MUST READ and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you Lisa.

The Trust

To attorney Noah Parks, the probate of a will should be a simple task. But the Last Will and Testament of Leonardo Xavier Cross is anything but simple. Though Parks has never heard of Cross, he learns that the will directs him to provide the legal representation for the estate and as part of his fee he will receive the contents of a safety deposit box - a safety deposit box no one knew existed. Intrigued, Parks undertakes the task. But after the body count begins to rise, the otherwise basic task of probating the will becomes more complicated as each day passes. Despite all of Parks' skills, the answers he seeks remain elusive and force him to delve deeper into the shocking and deceptive Cross' family history, which sets the stage for an explosive finale that Parks can only hope to survive. Set in Charleston, South Carolina, The Trust is the debut novel from Sean Keefer. Blending elements of traditional southern literary fiction, suspense and mystery; you won't be satisfied until the final page is turned.


My Thoughts:  
I was very unsure going into this novel how well I would take to it. Only because it is a type of book I normally shy away from most of the time, now don't get me wrong I love a good thriller/whodunit, John Grisham comes to mind right away, but also another of my favorite is Mary Higgins Clark, the only reason I tend to shy away from this type of novel is because it involves lawyer's, and most of the time I do not understand their lawyer language.   


Noah Parks, (my favorite character) has a small, respectable law firm with a nosy, spunky law student for his Assistant. Right away Noah grabs you and pulls you right into his world as he takes you along for the journey he is about to have.  One quiet morning when all seems to be going well, a gentlemen walks in to Noah's office, and proceeds to very slowly tell him that he is the legal counsel for a man Noah has never met before in his life, nor has he ever heard of this man who is now deceased.  This is the start of a fast action packed story.   


Very confused, and intrigued Noah agrees to be the legal counsel, thinking that this will be a simple case to handle, Noah learns very quickly this is not what he expected.  When people involved start turning up dead, Noah realizes this is not going to be so simple, and the body count keeps going up.  


This is one amazing novel, I love the fast paced, action packed plot, as each new character is introduced to the story, another twist and turn is also introduced, and just when you think you have the mystery all figured out, yet another twist or bit of information is given throwing you off the track.  I was finding myself getting attached to the characters and by the end of the novel I did not want it to end. I love how the story flowed, and I very much like Sean Keefers writing style, very centered more so around the plot than the characters.  


I really can't go into too much more detail without spoiling this wonderful book for you, so I will wrap up by saying Sean Keefers "The Trust" is an absolute must read. It totally took me by surprise in a very good way, I couldn't put it down, I was reading it everywhere, the bus, eating, I had to read and see what new twist  turned up.  I would love to see another book with Noah and Anna Beth's characters oh and Austin too (Noah's dog).    I hope you all take my advise and grab yourself a copy of this book, you will not be sorry!!


Please vote for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll for this tour. The blogger with the most votes wins a free promotional twitterview and a special winner’s badge. I want that to be me! You can vote in the poll by visiting The Trust’s official blog tour page and scrolling all the way to the bottom.

You can also enter to win a free paperback copy of this novel on The Trust’s official blog tour page. The winner of the give-away will be announced on Wednesday, August 10 – be sure to enter before then!

Book Trailer for The Trust:

Learn more about this author by visiting his website, blog, Facebook or GoodReads pages or by connecting with him on Twitter.

Review: In Leah's Wake by Terri Giuliano Long

Synopsis provided by Goodreads


 The Tyler family had the perfect life – until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn’t want to be perfect anymore. 

While Zoe and Will fight to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future, Leah’s younger sister, Justine, must cope with the damage her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake. 

Will this family survive? What happens when love just isn’t enough? 

Jodi Picoult fans will love this beautifully written and absorbing novel.


My Thoughts:


In Leah's Wake is Terri Giuliano Long Debut Novel.  A novel about the trials and tribulation's of raising two teenage daughters.  A family living in an upscale community with their straight A, well behaved daughters. 


Leah, a high school Soccer star, and Captain of her team,  with the coaching from her father, Will first then a demanding Coach, already being recruited by Harvard and with a full scholarship on the line, Leah has other plans in mind very different from what her father and Coach want for her. 


Justine, an aspiring Scientist, straight A student and all around good girl has her faith in God tested to the limit when her sister Leah, suddenly starts to rebel against her family, friends and team mates after she meets her new boyfriend.


Will and Zoe Tyler, hard working parents who try to give their girls the best of everything. Will a successful sales Executive and Zoe a Therapist with her own private practice, and motivational seminars she does on the weekends. 


Life for the Tyler's seems great until Leah meets her trouble-making boyfriend. Life as they knew it takes a terrible downward spiral very quickly and turns all of their lives upside down.  Leah doesn't know what she wants anymore, as she struggles for her independence, the once close family she had quickly falls apart.  Will and Zoe struggle with the decisions on how to handle their daughter's new attitude and the decisions she is making, which is having a terrible impact on their marriage, while Justine is left trying to hold the family together.  While trying to be the loyal sister and the good daughter, Justine suffers and test's the faith she has in God. 


I have read a lot of books in the past on raising teens who rebel against their parents for one reason or another, but I have never read a book so close to home before.  I love the way Terri tells the story from all side's of the family, not just the parents.  You get to see where Leah's anger and frustration's are coming from, and where Justine's emotions are all over the place and doesn't know what to do to hold her family together.  It's is also told from Will and Zoe's perspective's as well, as frustrated parents wondering if they are making the right choices on handling Leah's troubles she gets into. It takes the novel to a new level of understanding the whole picture. 


I have a personal bond and understanding with Terri's novel.  I have a son who has ADHD and ODD, he was a very hard child to raise.  Growing up he had the same pent up anger, never being allowed to do what the other kids did and rebelling to get his freedom and independence.  I also have a younger boy who was a really good kid, and like Justine he got put off to the side because I never had to worry about him, he was the good one.  I saw the similarities between Will and Zoe's marriage, in my own and how much strain and stress it puts on a marriage.  The fighting and not trusting each other and the children trying to put us against each other, and how easy it is for a marriage to end because of it all. 


In the end, thank goodness it all has a way of working out for most, this was a very profound book for me, as I would think and hope it would be for all who read it. Terri takes you on an emotional ride where you are praying for all to work out in the end, but also for anyone who has gone through raising a child who rebels makes you understand, you are not alone.  It is a hard time to watch and know that you can not control your kids anymore when they reach that age, and hope and pray that what you have taught them will help them make the right decisions.  


Terri's way of telling this story is superb, compelling, and leaves a huge impact on you.  I am very honored to have been given the chance to read "In Leah's Wake" and cannot wait to read what Terri writes next. This is a must read novel and recommend it to everyone, especially parents.  




Trailer for In Leah's Wake:

About this author:

Terri Giuliano Long grew up in the company of stories both of her own making and as written by others. Books offer her a zest for life’s highs and comfort in its lows. She’s all-too-happy to share this love with others as a novelist and as a lecturer at Boston College.

While her passion lies in the written word, Terri’s primary inspiration comes from her interest in existential philosophy and her observations of people and human nature. Her stories expand upon the subtle truths and what-ifs of everyday life. No matter where her stories journey, they always tie back to the family—the ways we love yet, in loving, too often hurt one another, the grief, the sorrow, the revelation, and the joy. Terri’s goal is to offer lasting hope and deep emotional connection in a compact and entertaining package.

Her life outside of books is devoted to her family. In her spare time, she enjoys walking, traveling to far-flung places, and meeting interesting people. True to her Italian-American heritage, she’s an enthusiastic cook and she loves fine wine and good food. In an alternate reality, she could have been very happy as an international food writer.

Terri loves connecting with people who share her passions. She can be reached on her website (www.tglong.com), blog (www.tglong.com/blog), Facebook page (www.facebook.com/tglongwrites) or on Twitter (www.twitter.com/tglong).


Stay tuned, July 25th I will be doing an interview with Terri, so come on back and visit us then. 

FANTASTIC BOOK REVIEW: Review: A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

FANTASTIC BOOK REVIEW: Review: A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young: "A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL by Suzanne Young Pub. Date: June 2011 Publisher: Balzer + Bray Format: Hardcover , 272pp Age Range: 12 and up Source..."

Interview and Giveaway with Annastaysia Savage

Any Witch Way

Annastaysia Savage

                                First off, Thank you so much for agreeing to do this interview.
                                I also would like to welcome you to Purple Jelly Bean Chair Reviews, and thank you 
                                Annastaysia for doing this interview and giveaway with Cambria and my blog as well. I
                                can't thank you enough. :)

Your book Any Witch Way is a delightful read that was published this year by JournalStone Publishing. This is your first full length novel to be published. Could you tell me what it was like when you first got your book in the mail and was able to hold it in your hands?

First, thank you so much for enjoying Any Witch Way.  It means a lot to me if someone enjoys what I’ve written.  As for what it was like when I held my first book in my own hands, I literally cried.  It was such an exciting and emotional experience for me, especially because getting published is such a tough thing to do.  I felt like all my hard work had finally paid off.  And though I can’t explain it fully, I felt like I had been holding my breath for so long and finally, I could breathe again.   I also felt like I had proven all the naysayers wrong, I felt gratification.  While in graduate school, I had a fellow classmate constantly ridicule the genre I write in, he was condescending and very rude in his critiques of my writing,  so much so to even tell me, “I’m sure there’s a place somewhere in the literary world for you.”  I don’t know if it’s like that for others who write within the fantasy genre but for me, it was so hard to keep going sometimes, knowing that some people mocked what I truly loved – fantasy.  I do know that we’re not going to please everyone all the time, and a thick skin is a good thing to have when so many out there are quick to have an opinion about your writing.  Having my first book to hold in my hands was like the world was saying to me, “Hey, what you write about is pretty okay.”   

Who is your favorite character in this story?

        I think it’s a tie between the duo of Whistle and Elgarbam, I love the banter between the two. I can        identify with Sadie, a lot, so she runs a close second to the gnomes. In all honesty, I love all the characters, but there are some I would rather “hang out with” than others.   

    When writing this book did all of your descriptions come from your mind or did you look some of it up on the internet?

     All of my descriptions came from my mind, my imagination.  And I’m sure that the descriptions incorporate a lot of my past reading experience within the fantasy genre.  I wanted to give all the characters my own spin on how I see them.  In the end, it’s all about what we bring to the table and I guess they truly are a mix of my own creation and the status quo already in play for those types of fantasy creatures. 

 

Is this book the first of a series? If yes, can you tell us a little about the future books? Will Sadie be older in the books and will there be a love interest for her?

I can’t say right now if this will lead to a series, though I constantly have different books/stories about Sadie going on in my head.  I’m getting a lot of positive feedback from readers that they would like to see Any Witch Way as a series, so the more “requests” I get I guess will be the determining factor.  And yes, should there be a series, Sadie will be older (eventually) and love does seem to play into our older years so....   But in the end, who really knows what will happen in Sadie’s world/life.  I guess in reality I’ll have to see how it writes itself, which I know isn’t the answer you want but nothing is truly set in stone.    

       Do you listen to music as you write? If yes, what do you listen to?

When I write, I need the windows to the outside open so that I can hear the sounds of nature; birds singing, geese honking, crickets chirping, the rain, or whatever else is going on outside my window.  I’ve tried to write to music and I find myself writing the lyrics of whatever song is playing at the time. (With some very funny results)  So no, I can’t write to music, just nature sounds.   Music distracts me; I’m an “in the moment” kinda girl so when I listen to music I am “in” the music. 

I’ll give you a word you say the first thing that comes to mind when you hear/see it.

    -books  Escape from reality, A constant in my life, Dependable

    -rain   Peace, Tranquility, Freshness, A Cleansing

    -the color blue  The Endless Sky and for some strange reason – Marshmallow Peeps

    -chocolate  my favorite food group and my worst (best?) addiction, lol

    -witches  Delightfully different, strong and independent people who have the power to do such wonderful                   deeds in life.

  

      What is your favorite book and why?

Oh my, that’s a tough one.  My favorite of anything changes on a weekly basis, depending on the mood I’m in. For instance, last week my favorite book was The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede, the week before was The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, this week; I’m stuck on Harry Potter – again.  And that’s just the fantasy genre.  I could list a book under every category and change it whenever the wind blows, lol.   

A big lesson in the book (to me) is that you must accept yourself before anyone else can. Sadie gets made fun of a lot in the book, from her classmates and even some of her foster parents. Did you ever deal with that as a kid? If yes, do you think that influenced you in writing Sadie’s character?

Yes, I definitely dealt with that as a child.  And even some as an adult unfortunately (and I mentioned earlier).  Sadie was definitely carrying parts of me with her as I wrote her.  I think she’s a reaction to what I’ve learned so far in life.  It’s as if I wish I knew then what Sadie figured out in a short period of time.    And she’s definitely a response to the “adult” teasing I used to get at school for not being “literary” enough because of the genre I love to write in.  I wanted to get the message across to young readers that you should love yourself and accept yourself for who you are.  There is a place that you fit in in life and you WILL find it one day.  Be strong and don’t give up and remember, people can only hurt you if you let them.   

Finally, do you have any last minute advice/encouragement to any aspiring authors out there?

If you just keep at it, just keep dreaming and trying, never give up – you will eventually get where you are supposed to be or need to be within the writing world. Everything and anything is possible if you just don’t quit.  Determination coupled with skill (whether learned or innate) will get you where you want and/or need to be.  And also, I think luck has a little bit to do with it.  We all have some luck come into play at points throughout our life.  And like I said before, we’re not going to please everyone all the time.  People are quick to give opinion.  But looking at it with the mindset of “I’m writing what I love and if a few people like it, great, if no one likes it, that’s okay too.” If you have that mindset you won’t be so quick to want to quit, like I was.  Be strong, have conviction in what you do and just keep doing it!  And always stash some chocolate in your writing area for a quick “feel better” when you’re having “one of those days”… Oh and most important probably: Don’t let rejection letters get you down.  I’ve found through my own experience that what one person hates another will love.  Just keep at it- whatever it is.


Thank you Cambria for your Review and Interview for Any Witch Way by Annastaysia Savage.  Now for some more fun, Cambria has been wonderful and enabled us here at the Purple Jelly Bean Chair Review to have a fantastic giveaway, I love giveaways, and this will be my very first giveaway. Yay!!!!

So here are the rules, you must be a follower of my blog and Cambria's blog, it's only fair as she and Annastaysia have provided us with the ebook Any Witch Way that is up for grabs, also leave a comment with your email address so I can contact the winner.  Here is the link to follow Cambria's blog  http://theunlockeddiary.blogspot.com/  and give Annastaysia Savage lot's of love as well. The contest will close this Sunday July 10th and I will announce the winner Monday July 11th. Good luck to all I hope you enjoy I know I did!!!!   

Any Witch Way Review by Cambria

Title: Any Witch Way

Author: Annastaysia Savage

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Publisher: JournalStone 2011

Format: E-book and paperback     

ISBN: 978-1-936564-05-7

Sadie’s life is tossed upside down when the police and the school principle call her out of class on day and tell her that her mother has died in a car accident. With no family, Sadie is left to live in foster care. Foster care isn’t the ideal place to begin with and when Sadie starts telling people that she thinks her mother is still alive, it becomes a place that is even harder to bear. Bounced from home to home and ostracized at school, Sadie only tries to get through the day. Her only escape is a small bookstore in town with a friendly old lady and a cat as her only friends.

As Sadie’s thirteenth birthday approaches things start to change around her. At first she doesn’t notice the way a tree’s leaves wilt when she’s sad or the way the lights overhead burn out when she’s upset. But then things begin to happen that she can’t help but notice…

On the day of her birthday (which is also Halloween) the glamour between the human world and the magikal one fades away, and Sadie finds that she has been sharing her little Pennsylvania town with the likes of which she never imagined.

To top it off…they all know her…

And some of them want her dead.

Thankfully, there are some Magikal Beings that are on her side and willing to help save her life.

The trouble is trying to figure out who exactly is on her side.

 Any Witch Way is filled to the brim with enchanting characters and lots of twists and turns. There is also a bit of mystery thrown in because the reader is always wondering who is betraying whom. I really liked the main character, Sadie. I thought she was a believable thirteen-year-old girl. I liked the way she handled all the major stuff thrown her way but still didn’t seem too old for her skin. She still acted like a young girl.

This book was very entertaining, and I would recommend it to anyone who wanted a light, fun read. I will say that I think this book would most especially appeal to the younger side of the young adult audience. As I was reading I kept thinking about the Disney Channel and how this book would be perfect for one of their TV movies. I could just see the way the Magikal Beings would come to life on screen. I really thought that this book held a good lesson for teenagers as well. To me, the lesson was all about self-acceptance and believing in yourself. Whenever you can accept yourself, life just seems to fall into place around you. I think that for young adults this can be the hardest lesson in life there is, and this book reinforces that it is possible to really ‘grow into yourself’.

The fantasy aspect of the book was probably my favorite thing about it. The characters were just so diverse, but yet they all fit into the same world with ease. I especially liked the Ogres and the Centaurs. Adding a bit of comedy to the book were Elgarbam and Whistle. Wherever they went these two little guys were hitting each over the head and threatening the other with bodily harm. There was just about everything you could imagine in this story, and it all seemed that much more enchanting because the reader was experiencing it with a thirteen-year-old girl.

The plot of this story was well thought out, and I liked the way it moved right along with the action. When you are done reading you are left with no question unanswered which, I feel, is important.

I do hope that Ms. Savage plans to write a sequel because I am certain that Sadie’s adventures in becoming a witch are only just getting started.

Now, if you’ll excuse me I need to go call the Disney Channel…..

This review is written by Cambria Hebert