Vacation!!

Vacation, all I ever wanted! Vacation, have to get away! Vacation, wish it would never end :) Bloggers, avid readers, publishers, and authors this post is just to let you all know that for the next week or so I will be gone on vacation! I will be in the Grand Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico so my blog will be out of commission until I return after Memorial Day! Thank you all for your support over the past year, and do not fret I return in one short week and a few days!

Book Review: School Spirits

Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Series: School Spirits # 1

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance!

Killing vampires is actually a lot easier that you’d think.

 

A shiver went through, and I was pretty sure it had nothing to do with any ghost.

 

She sounded so excited, and it was all I could do not to wince. Humans getting involved with all the supernatural was bad enough, but exorcisms were way more than a bunch of teenagers could handle.

 

“Forever condemned to high school,” Dex said with a little shudder. “That would make me homicidal, too.”

I must admit before going on with this review that I have not read the Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins. However, the first book in this new series, School Spirits, makes me want to go back and read the first series from which this book is a spin off. Rachel weaves a very supernatural world in this book bringing in the cousin of heroine, Sophie, from the Hex Hall series. The heroine in this new series is introduced as Isolde “Izzy” Brannick and her back story follows her introduction. She and her mother are the last two Brannick women, and they are very powerful when it comes to destroying Prodigium, supernatural beings that get out of control. Learning to conquer small missions on her own is Izzy’s latest task and her mother and she are whisked off to a small town called Ideal, pun intended. Here Izzy is given the task of getting rid of the local ghost, but finds that this might not be the only problem as far as the town hauntings are concerned.

 

Rachel Hawkins writes in a very easy, carefree manner. It is almost like the descriptions and the supernatural happenings just come easy to her. Her writing style is easy to follow and I was finished with this book before I knew it. The chapters were relatively short and most all of them left off with a minuscule cliffhanger. There were so many instance of humor embedded within the pages. I especially loved Izzy’s friend Dex who often had something clever and witty to say. Izzy makes some remarkable friends whilst she is attending Mary Evans High School, and I happy to say that I loved every one of them! They are all colorful and somewhat odd even, but that is what makes them spectacular.

 

Lastly, I loved the supernatural element in this book! I loved that we were dealing with about three mysteries at one time: Izzy’s missing sister, Finley, whether or not Dex was really Prodigium, and the ghost of Mary Evans who was trying to kill off members of the high school one by one. The story was fast-paced and drew readers straight to the point. I am looking forward to the next book in this series, and it was no surprise that I was left with questions concerning the characters and what will happen next. My biggest concern is with Torin, the man in the mirror, I think something is up with his character and I am dying to know what!

 

***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Disney-Hyperion in exchange for my honest review***

Book Review: When Love Calls

Author: Lorna Seilstad
Publication Date: May 1, 2013
Publisher: Revell
Series: The Gregory Sisters # 1

Hannah Gregory is good at many things, but that list doesn’t include following rules. So when she is forced to apply for a job as a telephone switchboard operator to support her two sisters, she knows it won’t be easy. “Hello Girls” must conduct themselves according to strict-and often bewildering-rules. No talking to the other girls. No chatting with callers. No blowing your nose without first raising your hand. And absolutely no consorting with gentlemen while in training.

Meanwhile, young lawyer Lincoln Cole finds himself in the unfortunate position of having to enforce the bank’s eviction of the three Gregory girls from their parents’ home. He tries to soften the blow by supporting them in small ways as they settle into another home. But fiery Hannah refuses his overtures and insists on paying back every cent of his charity.

When one of Hannah’s friends finds himself on the wrong side of a jail cell, Hannah is forced to look to Lincoln for help. Will it be her chance to return to her dreams of studying law? And could she be falling in love?

Hannah relaxed and grinned as a thought came to her. “Women are making all kinds of contributions all over the world. Remember what Daddy always said: ‘If Annie Edison Taylor could go over Niagara Falls in barrel, then you can do anything you set your mind to.’”

 

“I don’t think any of us should feel we have to marry in order to survive. We have each other and the dreams God gave us.”

 

Hannah smiled. It was a perfect fit. She was certainly intelligent, and when Charlotte cut her finger last week, she’d kept a cool head and hadn’t fainted at the sight of blood.

 

She coughed. Obedient nature? So much for that perfect fit.

 

“A couple, but you have to admit it’s a rare course of study for a lady. I believe there are less than a thousand women practicing law today.”

 

Hannah Gregory is looking for a new start, including a new job and a new home for her and her sisters. She finds an ad calling for a new switchboard operator and feels that this could be her perfect calling, and a sure way to provide for her younger sisters. Once she lands the job she finds out just how hard it is to be one of the Hello Girls. There are so many rules to follow and remember and not to mention this Lincoln Cole that has come in unexpectedly and uprooted her life. As a lawyer working to evict her and her sisters from their childhood home, Lincoln quickly finds a place under Hannah’s skin. Will Hannah and her sisters prevail? Will they each meet their lifelong dreams? Come and find out as you let Hannah’s story unwind!

 

I loved both Hannah Gregory and Lincoln Cole, not to mention Hannah’s sisters as well. Hannah, who this story centers on, is strong and determined and not just for the sake of her sisters. As the oldest sibling she feels it is her moral obligation to be the leader and provider since the death of her parents. I liked the fact that in Hannah’s story we start to understand a little more about the younger sisters as well, Charlotte and Tessa. I think this series is going to be phenomenal just because of the wonderful heroines I can see unfolding. There are a few secondary characters as well, like Aunt Sam and George, that I hope to see reappearing in later books. Lorna can really write some characters. She gives Hannah enough flair and confidence to be the kind of character that you think about and take inspiration from long after closing the book!

 

I don’t know about other readers but sometimes I find the character’s jobs one of the most fascinating things when reading their stories. As I mentioned earlier, Hannah takes a position as a switchboard operator or the “Hello Girls.” I did a little research on this myself after reading, and found out that the Hello Girls went through some rigorous training. I was somewhat reminded of a flight attendant from the 50’s and 60’s. After watching Pan Am, I knew that they took their jobs very seriously and had many rules and regulations to follow. Hannah’s career was a lot like that and sounded absolutely fascinating! Just to give you an example, for the two weeks that the newbie’s were enduring their training, they were not allowed to make any contact with a male! Of course, Hannah hated rules and often broke them!

 

***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Revell in exchange for an honest review and is available at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group***

Book Review: Sweet Sanctuary

Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer

Publication Date: April 1, 2013

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Lydia Eldredge longs to provide a sanctuary for her son, Nicky. But a constant threat comes from Nicky's drug-addicted father, who wants the boy and seems willing to do whatever it takes to get him.

Dr. Micah Hatcher serves the immigrant population in Queens, but under cover of darkness he provides another service that must not be discovered lest his and his brother's lives be in danger.

When Lydia and Micah's paths cross, they are suddenly wrapped up in each other's callings. Through unforeseen twists and turns, they seek a refuge of safety--for Nicky, for themselves, and for the needy people God unexpectedly puts in their lives.

Lydia’s voice quivered with indignation, and anger swelled in Micah’s chest toward the unfeeling man. How could anyone see his own child as merchandise to be placed on a auction block?

“The moment I held him, I knew I would keep him and raise him as my own. With God’s help, and the support of my parents, I’ve been Nicky’s mama ever since.”

“You said Nicky’s father – this Nicolai Pankin – wants Nicky because he wants the money he can gain. The man isn’t interested in parenting Nicky, so his custody will be short-lived, no matter what. He’ll be handing Nicky off to someone. So why not arrange to have him handed off to you?”

The lights of the city made it difficult to see the stars, but Lydia knew they were there, even if she couldn’t see them. She knew God was there, too, even though He held no physical presence.

This is the story of a sweet, compassionate woman named Lydia Eldredge and her desire to love and care for the son of her deceased best friend. Lydia has treated Nicky as if he was her own and loves nothing more than providing and caring for the young boy. Complications soon arise in the form of Nicky’s biological father, who is addicted to drugs and only causes turmoil wherever he goes. Lydia meets a man named Dr. Micah Hatcher and together they set off on a journey trying to mend the lives of others and finding refuge for many lives including Nicky’s, while finding refuge in each other!

The bond between Lydia and Nicky was probably my favorite. Then Micah steps on the scene and Nicky, being the small child that he is, falls in love with him as well. Nicky is such a sweet and memorable character and some of my favorite moments were when he, Lydia, and Micah were together. Their relationship continues to flourish throughout the book and I really came to appreciate Lydia and Micah as characters simply for all they do for Nicky. Micah’s job and his desire to help other is another fabulous part of this book as well, and his character brought things to this book that I was not expecting, but in a good way!

I also loved the setting and the pace at which this story was written. The book takes place right in the middle of WWII and we see some mention of the Jews during Hitler’s reign. Lydia and Micah are around the New York area, but it is amazing to see how this war impacted the United States, even though the mass destruction and annihilation was going on overseas. The time period only played into the bigger theme: the love of God’s children and their drive and place in our hearts. This novel was set at a somewhat slower pace, but it is necessary for everything that happens in the story. This is a tender story that is sure to touch your heart, and is meant to be read at a somewhat slower speed.

***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Bethany House in exchange for my honest and unbiased review***