The Solstice Heat Review

Book Synopsis:

Kasey is a woman that exudes energy and brightness; she is as equally passionate when angry as she is when she’s happy. The energy she carries from life comes through in all her magical workings with spells and stones, giving them great magical strength. She is a dreamer and often wishes she could re-write her own story so that she was charming and sophisticated enough to be with a certain wealthy male lawyer she wants more than anything else.

Chris is a force of strength and experience that is carefully hidden behind the easy mannerism he has adapted so carefully.  There is nothing he cannot do where magic is concerned and he has tried all manner of things, whether right or wrong.  His fortune has left him wanting for nothing else in life, except the one thing money can’t buy him, the woman he feels too unclean to approach.

Separated by two different life styles yet their passion and magic ignite sparks hotter than the Solstice heat.

Can they work out a way to be together as they try to stop a killer from striking again?

Jacqueline Paige (2012-04-14T07:07:56+00:00). The Solstice Heat. Whiskey Creek Press

About the Author:

Jacqueline Paige

I am a world class multi-tasker, a mother to five adventurous and unpredictable children, a cafe manager and I have a colossal imagination that allows me to step outside of reality into a world of paranormal romance with just a touch of suspense. Writer of all things paranormal, mythical and magical. Reader of anything!! http://jacqpaige.webs.com/

Book Review:

I have come to love all books by Jacqueline Paige.  She is definitely a new favorite author.  Her books are charming, intriguing, spicy (in all the right ways), and good reads.  When I started reading “The Solstice Heat” I hadn’t really paid attention to the fact that it was the second book in a series.  I’m due to review the first book on April 21, 2012, but probably should have reversed the order.  (It should be noted that these books were received from the publisher for review at no cost to the author… however, I would pay to read books by Jacqueline and I don’t say that about many writers… love free kindle books, but I digress).

This book stands alone, but will probably be even better if read within the series.  I was immediately drawn into the story.  How can you not want to read more when the first paragraph is:

Kasey checked her bag for the fourth time. What time were they supposed to be picking her up? She was tired from staying up all night working a spell. Nervous and scared about going to Solstice, where a killer was going to be, she glanced at the clock again and tried to exhale slowly.

I was hooked.  The book really drew me into the lives of these 8 friends who love and take care of each other.  The writing used such skill that it was easy to picture myself there in the story living beside these friends.  I continue to be impressed with Ms. Paige’s skill and weaving the characters and story together to paint such a wonderful picture. Come back next Saturday to hear about book 1 in this series.

I definitely give this story 5 out of 5 clouds.

Book Review of TWICE CURSED

Book Review of TWICE CURSED by Jacqueline Paige

Book Synopsis:

Maddy is the oldest witchling to ever attend the Hidden Cove Academy, having been cursed as a teen; she’s forced to have a solitary life outside of her own magical community.  With her magic so dangerously unpredictable, she rarely takes the chance on mixing with the general public.

From one harmless trip to a museum she finds herself spellbound yet again by an invisible boundary, caused by a three hundred year old curse, dictating that Maddy must stay close to the stunningly sexy Colin.

 Being stuck with a tall, dark, incredibly lick-able stranger can’t be all that bad, right? Until they discover if they get too close the spirits bound with the curse will take over their bodies ... at the same time if they’re too far from one another the curse will kill them both.

Will the curse's secrets be unraveled in time or does certain death await them both? 

Author Information:

Jacqueline Paige is a world class multi-tasker. She is a mother to five adventurous children, a cafe manager, and has a colossal imagination that allows her to step outside of reality into an unpredictable world of paranormal romance. The first story in her Magic Seasons series—Beltane Magic was pub-lished in August 2009 and since then she has published the second, Solstice Heat, a Halloween romance—Behind the Mask and a two part Christmas/Valentines‟ Day story—In Our Dream and From A Dream. Jacqueline has more books coming out in 2010 and 2011.

Step into a world of Magic and passions....

You are invited to visit her website at: www.jacqpaige.webs.com

Book Review:

Jacqueline has created a unique world of witches that has aspects that are unlike most stories about witches.  This is a rare talent in a book universe populated by witches that generally fall into one of several categories.  I could easily picture this world and the people in it.  Her descriptions were vivid and glorious in detail.  More details were added as the story went along which helped further the connection between the character, plot, and setting.

I loved the main characters.  Maddy is the odd man out.  First she never gets to move on to a “normal” witch life because she is cursed as a child.  They she meets a gorgeous man, who thinks she is hot, and he comes with a curse.  Actually their meeting triggers a curse set by one of his ancestors.

Colin has his whole world turned topsy turvey just because he decided to go to a museum in a vain attempt to learn to relax, doctor’s orders.  The best thing he sees is this gorgeous redhead that he tries in vain to meet until they meet by accident by an ancient artifact.  Turns out he’s related to the owner of the artifact.  Colin is not a witch; in fact, he doesn’t even know witches exist until he is drawn into Maddy’s world.  He comes to quickly accept it as he is given very painful evidence that it exists.

I liked Maddy.  She was tall (like me), insecure (like me), has a temper and speaks her mind (like me), and learns that she is more than woman (and witch) enough to overcome any obstacle in her path.  Colin is a driven work-a-holic (like my husband), strong and protective (like my husband), and total confused most of the time.  They clicked and they were likeable.  You didn’t know if you wanted to rout for the curse to be lifted or not.  There were some good side effects to the curse.

Well written with crisp clever dialogue and descriptions, I give this book 5 clouds out of 5.

Book Excerpt:

         Sighing, she pulled her long hair from what was left of her ponytail.  Everyone knew she was way beyond the age of a witchling.  Maybe that was the real reason Maddy avoided large magical functions.  To be labeled a witchling at her age was beyond embarrassing.

            She sighed again and flipped the red hair behind her.  Red hair.  When someone says the colour red you think red car, red apple – but red hair doesn’t mean red.  It usually means something between carrot and rust.  So why is it called red hair?

            Never mind Maddy.  I suppose red is better than any alternative description.  Her hair wasn’t straight or wavy or naturally curly or even full body or any of those – it was straight with odd kinky sections, like it wanted to be wavy but didn’t have the energy.  The end result, it always looked messy.

            Oh, you’re feeling quite down on yourself today aren’t you Ramada Darcy?  Glancing up she noticed the sunlight was no longer raining through the leaves. 

            “Fine.  I can’t hide in my backyard forever.”  She stood up and brushed off her jeans.  Turning to face the aged bark on the tree she grimaced at it. 

“I’m ready tree.”  She placed her palm against the bark and felt the familiar movement under it.  “To Hidden Cove please.”  Without hesitation Maddy stepped towards the tree and by the next step was in the hallway near the side entrance at Hidden Cove Academy.  She glanced at her watch and hissed. “I’m late again.”  Knowing she had to reach the other end of the large building, she spun around the corner and jogged in the direction of the classrooms.  Going a little too fast around the last corner she slid to a stop and bounced right into the one person she’d hoped to avoid this visit.

Familiar Ties Review

Book Synopsis:

Initially I thought this story was just a “typical” romance.  The story plot is that two friends both have little girls very close in age.  Max lost his wife when his daughter was born.  Anna, the deceased wife, was the best friend of Amy, Max’s neighbor and friend.  They are godparents to each other’s children and the kids spend every day together.  The father of Amy’s child is an actor who is always working and is gone for months or years at a time.  Max and Amy are falling for each other, and from there you get your “typical” romance.  However, in Familiar Ties the author takes the story one step further.  Neither wants to admit to being in love, Amy moves in with the father of her daughter in a different town, and many other twists and turns.  However, true love always wins in the end.

Book Review:

In Familiar Ties you have a story that is more complex than expected.  The characters are fully developed, not just the main characters but the side characters as well.  You really come to feel as though you are part of this group of people and can feel their struggles over everyday and more momentous events.  I was drawn to the characters in this book for their flaws, as well as their strengths.  I loved the relationship the little girls have with each other and with Amy and Max.  The supporting players brought a lot of extra information and often humor.  I was impressed with how much I genuinely liked these people and wanted things to work out for them, and how much I wanted to slap Jack (but you’ll have to find that out for yourself).  

 

I give this 4 out of 5 clouds.  An excellent read for the beach, pool, or anytime you need a good read.

Goats Eat Cans review

Book Synopsis:

Paperback: 344 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (February 19, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1469969475
ISBN-13: 978-1469969473

Remember the weird kid with the greasy hair and the odd smell you went to school with? You knoThe odw, the one who never talked to anyone? That creepy little jerk who sat alone at lunch? dball who never took a shower in gym class? The one you imagined might one day go on a shooting spree?

Believe it or not, that kid grew up.

He grew up, he got married, he never shot a single person, he wrote a book, and he even started taking showers after his workouts – most of the time.
Goats Eat Cans is his story.

Follow along as Steven Novak recounts the sometimes hilarious, sometimes hilariously painful, and sometimes painfully hilarious moments that have made his life so wonderfully frustrating. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you might even vomit. No matter what, you won't be able to stop reading.

Goats Eat Cans features 55 stories, 55 illustrations, 99 luftballons and enough nonsense to keep you chuckling and giggling for days on end – or hours – or at the very least a few minutes.

Author Information:

Born in Chicago Illinois, Steven Novak has spent the whole of his life creating. After attending The Columbus College of Art and Design for four years he moved to California where he married his wife. The pair have been together for nearly a decade. He likes pizza. He’s sort of a nerd. He has terrible luck and worse personal hygiene. He also hates having to write bios about himself. He thinks bios are stupid. His work can be found online at www.novakillustration.com

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Review:

This is one of those books you can pick up and read a bit for a pick me up or cheer up anytime you are feeling like life is a bit too much.  While it is is full of potty, poop, fart, and crude jokes and definitely written by a man and appeals more to men, it very funny… if totally disgusting.  Strangely it is both at the same time, which made it a weird read for me, but the men in my life thought it was a total hoot.

As a reader we get to experience many of his adventures, or I should say mis-adventures, dealing with everything a person normally experiences throughout their life.  For an entertaining read I’d recommend it.  It is strictly for adults though.  There is a lot of strong language, some potty humor, and adult situations.  For that I’d say older teens and adults would be the primary audience.

I would call this an All Boys Book.  The first half is full of potty, poop, fart, and crude jokes.  At first reading this I would be offended, however funny, I then listened to some of my husband’s stories during his younger years and I realize girls are just different.  I found myself laughing so hard and being totally disgusted all at the same time.  My husband thinks it is just hilarious.

I would give this book to a hard to shop for man.  The whole potty humor is not my thing, but my father and brother-in-laws who love juvenile humor would love it.  I would also buy it for the bathroom, a place a large majority of my family love to keep books and magazines.  I think it would be quite popular.

While I would say that this story was probably not my favorite, not being a fan of this genre of humor, I do see a market for this type of book.  I would have to give it three of five clouds for the good writing and nitch market fit.

Giveaway:

Follow Steven's tour for a chance to win a signed Chapter Art Illustration, and a signed paperback of Goats Eat Cans. Two lucky winners will be drawn randomly at the end of the tour - follow Steven's tour HERE

Now go buy his book and don't forget to leave a comment here today for a chance to win some awesome prizes at the end of his tour...oh yeah and follow him some more for extra chances to win!