Hoping to have a good change and good ending to go with it, Emily, a 16- year-old girl from Ohio, has moved to sunny California. Moving to a new town can be scary, especially a new school. So when Sam, the most popular kid there, looks her way, she can't believe this is happening to her. Everything seems to be working out fine. That is, until her mother buys an enchanted mirror by mistake. Suddenly, Emily finds herself in a whole new world, full of talking animals, magic and more change than she was hoping for. With the help of her new crush, Sam, and her annoyingly goofy 12-year-old brother James, Emily sets out to save their world and ours.
Expected Release Date: March 29, 2013 Genre: YA Paranormal/Fantasy Romance Format: eBook Only Cover Designed by: Regina Wamba at Mae I Design
Where I came from everything is perfect. Everything is beautiful and predictable. Life isn’t measured by days, but by infinite joy that never ends.
But it did.
When I fell in love with a man who was perfectly imperfect.
The price for forbidden affection was steep and my beautiful white wings withered and died around me.
I was fallen. I am fallen.
Years have passed, and I’ve learned the true meaning of time. I’ve learned to build a wall around myself and exist alone. Yet, when he looks at me… the heart beneath my armor trembles.
But I must remember.
I must remember that I might not have anything left to lose, but he certainly does. And risking him is something I won’t do. So I lock my feelings where they belong.
Beneath.
Cambria Hebert is the author of the young adult paranormal Heven and Hell series and the Death Escorts series. She loves a
caramel latte, hates math and is afraid of chickens (yes, chickens). She went
to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major and ended up with a
degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good
hair. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and children (both
human and furry) where she is plotting her next book. You can find out more
about Cambria and her work by visiting http://www.cambriahebert.com Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Goodreads
Bewitched Heven & Hell Series, #2.5 by Cambria Hebert
Published October 5, 2012
Format Reviewed: eBook ARC from author
Synopsis: For years, I accepted that Heven was more popular than me. I never liked it but I lived with it. I walked in her shadow, I stood by her when no one else would. When I finally thought her spotlight was mine things began to change. She began to change. Now she hardly ever calls me back, she spends all her time with her hot new boyfriend and everyone at school thinks she’s back on top. She had it all. But apparently she wants more. She wants Cole – my boyfriend. What’s worse is that it looks like she got him. I’ve had enough and she’s going to be sorry. Why?
I am now of the opinion that every author should write novella in between each full length novel. This is a great way to get to know all of the characters, main and secondary. I love that Bewitched is about Kimber. This novella/short story takes you back to Charade and tells Kimber's story. I already liked Kimber, but this just sealed the deal. Plus, Kimber's voice and personality are larger than life and make for a very entertaining story.
Yes, she is a spoiled brat and is an emotional whirlwind, but in Bewitched we get to see why. I really am able to connect to each of Cambria's characters. She has a way of getting into their heads and making them relatable despite certain flaws. Kimber has been jolted and feels like her world is closing in on her. Nothing is ending up like she planned and Heven is the perfect scapegoat. I know what it is like to play second fiddle to a friend and it made me crazy - and if I had powers I couldn't say I wouldn't have used them too. Also, I love anything witchy and Kimber is the perfect teen witch. Even though her actions have some major consequences, the journey - both emotional and literal is enlightening.
Now I can't wait for Tirade even more than before! The Heven and Hell Series is fantastic and I can't recommend it enough. Cambria has created a world that opens up more every time a new book comes out. I am excited to see what else she has brought to life.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
FTC Advisory: I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review. No backroom deals or whispered promises were made.
If I am not mistaken, Riley was one of Sam's roomates in Masquerade. It will be very interesting to see how he fits into all of this. I am not a fan of love triangles so I am hoping that this isn't where the storyline is going. Heven loves Sam and should stay away from people who are "dangerously beautiful."
Riley:
Riley is Heven and Hell’s resident bad boy. Sam ran him out of town because he is dangerous and selfish. But Riley is back and is stirring things up. He’s dark, sarcastic and stubborn. Riley knows all about hell and he doesn’t mind unleashing the hell that lives in him.
Riley’s STATS:
Eye color: very dark
Hair color: almost black
Favorite color: Red
Will eat: Anything
Temperament: sarcastic at best
Interesting facts about Riley:
Fire proof
Water proof Angry
Has some secrets
How Heven sees Riley:
Under the light of the nearby lamp I could see much more of his face and when he looked up at me I was taken aback by how beautiful he was. His skin was olive toned and flawless, his lips were full and dark and those eyes. Those dark, dark eyes were accentuated by a slash of thick dark brows that knew no order. But there was something about him that wasn’t beautiful… he was… dangerous.
Mary
by Ann Haines
Publication Date: July 6, 2012
Formats Available: eBook ~155 pages
Synopsis:
When Mary leaves her home in London she does it in silence. Moving to Bell House seems like the perfect fresh start for the Pendleton family, even if Mary isn't quite on board. But when things start to fall in to place, she finds that life in the village of Eires Green is better than she'd hoped. Her new friends are a breath of fresh air and Zach is the most gorgeous and charming boy she has ever met.
When she finds old photographs in her attic she is captivated by the age and history of Bell House and a strange feeling of familiarity sets in. She feels the same way about her kooky friend Peggy who seems drawn to Mary's Grandmother and far from happy about her feelings for Zach. But soon Mary is faced with the fact that Bell House has an even more dark and tragic past than her own.
Now Mary Pendleton is about to find out that running from your past is not an easy thing. Even if the past you're running from doesn't belong to you. -from Goodreads
My Thoughts:
After getting into trouble in London, Mary and her family move to the small town of Eires Green for a fresh start. Mary is not happy about the move but once she moves into the Bell House, she finds she is oddly comfortable. Straight away she makes friends and might have a new love interest; life seems to be looking up since “the Incident”. That is until she starts to discover that the Bell House holds a secret, one that might just kill her. A tragedy, a mirror and a name repeated three times…
I have to say I was really glad I read this novella during the day. I have not read a book that truly scared me in a long time. This isn’t a typical ghost story, it isn’t one you would tell around a campfire or at a slumber party; Mary is spooky and complex. Based off the Bloody Mary urban legend, Mary is a story that explores the bonds of family and the measures one will take to exact revenge. Ann Haines’ writing takes the reader right into the eerie setting of the English countryside. Small pieces of the puzzle are revealed throughout the story alluding to the full picture, creating a slow stream of suspense that bursts at the end.
I did figure out part of the mystery on my own, but the twists kept on coming. I liked the fact that this was a novella, though the relationships could have been more natural. However, there are so many layers that it would be impossible for a short story to explain every detail and as a full length novel I think the rush I felt when reading wouldn’t have been as exciting. I enjoyed reading Mary and would recommend to anyone who likes to feel goose bumps run up and down their spine.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
FTC Advisory: I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review. No backroom deals or whispered promises were made. Part of a Goodreads ARR.
