Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Teaser Tuesday

Sorry we missed the Teaser Tuesday...so caught up in report cards and parent teacher conferences that we didn't get to post. 

So...the big teaser is...wait for it....WE FINISHED IRON KNIGHT & IT WAS AWESOME!!

I know that isn't much of a teaser, but having to wait a couple days for the review is a little.
Promise to double up with a big "double teaser" of All Things Enchanted next week.

Happy Reading
~Kiki

Thursday, October 20, 2011

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Kiki & Jules Ratings:   5+ Stars
 
  A Discovery of Witches was released to Kindle on February 8th and we jumped right on board purchasing our copies February 12th. So, needless to say this review is long overdue. It has been difficult for us to come up with the right words to do this book justice. This book is intellectually and beautifully written.  It is rich with culture, science, and history, wrapped in passion, love, and of course...magic!  The imagery set forth by Deborah Harkness is so vivid it will awaken all of your senses, and you won't have to be a Clairmont to feel it. From cover to cover, we laughed, cried, gasped, and loved every minute. Very few books have us burning our cell phones up with texts and calls as this one did.  We have read, re-read, and will absolutely re-read this book again, and again. How many books can you do this with, may I ask??


  Diana Bishop is an intellectual scholar teaching alchemy at prestigious Oxford, but more so she is writing a paper on the alchemical marriage.  One day while doing research at the famous Bodleian Library Diana requests a manuscript, Ashmole 782.  She senses instantly that this is no normal alchemy manuscript, but filled with magic.  See, Diana is a witch from a long line of witches dating back to Salem.  The only problem is that Diana does not want to be known as a witch nor does she even want to practice magic.  So when Ashmole 782 oozes magic Diana wants nothing to do with it and returns it to the stacks.  What Diana soon finds out is that Ashmole 782, until she called it from the stacks, was missing.  And every creature, from witches to demons to vampires would kill to get their hands on it.  The only problem is that even if they could call forth the manuscript they wouldn't get past the spell on it, but Diana could do both.  Now this witch, who doesn't even want to do magic, is the most popular being at Bodleian.

  One of the first people's attention she catches is that of geneticist professor, and vampire, Matthew Clairmont.  As Matthew sets forth to convince Diana to give him the manuscript he discovers something more in her.  Even though she claims to have nothing to do with magic, she glows with the power of it.  But it appears to Matthew that she has no real control of this power, and when pushed it makes her ill.  So he soon finds himself using his primal instincts and protecting her.  As every creature comes through the Bodleian walls the welfare of Diana Bishop is at risk.  Every minute Matthew spends protecting her, the less he thinks about the manuscript and the more he thinks about loving her.

This book takes you from the campus of Oxford, to Matthew's home in France, and back to Diana's home in upstate New York. You discover many of the secrets of Ashmole 782, then you discover some more.  All along the way you watch the relationship of Matthew and Diana grow.  You get lost in their rich pasts and get wrapped up in all the possibilities of their future.  And at the end you will be begging for more.  Five stars is never enough for this first installment in the All Souls trilogy. While Deborah Harkness travels the globe introducing all to ADOW, we impatiently wait for Shadow of Night, the second installment in the series, which is due out in the summer of 2012.  Oh well, I'm sure somewhere in the mean time, we will find ourselves getting lost in this story all over again!!

Happy Reading
~Kiki & Jules

The Willing by C.S. Splitter

Extra, Extra...

Come this Nov. 10th we will be reading "The Willing" the 2nd installment in the Crayder Chronicles by C.S. Splitter.  We are very privileged to be one of the pre-release reviewers.  As you can see on the blog I loved the first book "The Reluctant" and can't wait to see what trouble is in the skies for Tom Crayder this time around.
 
Look for the review soon!!!
Happy Reading!!
~Kiki

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare :: Extras

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare :: Extras

We Are Now On Facebook

Check us out now on Facebook.  Get even quicker updates and all things Kiki & Jules.  just click on the title and it will take you straight there.

While you are there drop us a message, and don't forget to "Like" us!!

Happy Reading!!
~Kiki & Jules

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Upcoming Releases

Books we are biting our nails to read are finally coming out !!!!


Oct 25, 2011
The Iron Knight ( The Iron Fey Series, book 4)
by Julie Kagawa


Oct 31, 2011
Great Hexpectations (Dulice O'Neil Series, book 3)
by H.P. Mallory


Dec 6, 2011
The Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices, book 2)
by Cassandra Clare


We can't wait !!!
Reviews to follow !!!


Happy Reading

~Jules

Blood Warrior (The Alexa Montgomery Saga) by H.D. Gordon

Kiki's Rating: 4.5 stars

When I first started this book I was utterly lost. I knew from the synopsis that somewhere vampires, wolves, and other paranormal creatures would get involved, but at first glance the story appeared to be all about teen drama surviving an abusive home. I didn't think I could survive reading another story about child abuse, so I almost put this book down. That would have been a HUGE mistake. I am so glad I read on!!

Blood Warrior is the first part in the series about Alexa Montgomery and her sister Nelly. They live in a small town in the middle of nowhere. Alexa is considered an outcast by her peers, and she does nothing to change their minds. Her primary concern is for the safety of her sister. This protectiveness has been pounded, literally, into her head over and over by their mother. This special treatment was enough to make Alexa jealous of her sister, but any anger she felt towards her was short lived because deep down inside Alexa knew it to be true. Any boy, oh, boy was she right.

There were, in my mind, four critical parts to this first book that make the story, and also make me wanting more. The first part is when Alexa finds out that she is special as she kicks this boy's butt at school without even missing a beat. This is mega important because once that kind of information gets out everyone will be coming out from the wall to get you. This is when Alexa finds out that all those fairytale creatures like vampires and wolves really do exist and her sister, best friend, and herself are among them. See, Alexa is a Sun Warrior and the last of her kind. She is a very powerful protector and could quite be the savior of all creatures. No pressure or anything. But living seventeen years of your life without this information leaves a little bit of an identity crisis. That is where part two comes in. I felt the second critical part is when something attacks her at her home sending her, Nelly, and her best friend/boyfriend into hiding. They end up at a compound for paranormal creatures. This compound reminded me of Ancient Rome and the gladiators. It was beautiful there, but very dangerous. It was at this compound that Alexa discovers what a Sun Warrior really is and what she was meant to do with all that power, or so she thinks she should do. It is also where she discovers more about her sister and her abilities and how truly she needed protecting. Also, while at the compound the third part comes into play, Alexa meets Kayden. If only we could all have two or three hot guys chasing after us they way Alexa does. But of all of them I want Kayden. He is the ying to Alexa's yang. Alexa finds out that even though he stays in the Braken vampire house, Kayden is actually much like her. He is everything and came shape himself into what is needed at the time. He is a Libra, the opposite of what makes a Sun Warrior whole. She is torn with this information having already found her first love in Jackson, the wolf and her best friend, but she can't help but be drawn to Kayden. It is with the help of Kayden that Alexa truly starts to find herself and what she needs to do for all creatures within the compound's walls. That brings us to the fourth part, which is the final twist in the plot at the end. That part I am not going to give away.

This book is very unique from cover to cover. Any assumptions you had about vampires or any other creatures you might as well leave them at the door. This book changes all those ideas around and creates a world that I have never read before. I can't wait to read the next book!!

Happy Reading!!
~Kiki

Teaser Tuesday...All Things Enchanted

Teaser Tuesday...

What better way to start Teaser Tuesday than with some of our own news...Jules and I have started our first series.  It will be called All Things Enchanted.   I am elated I was able to break Jules down and convince her we can do this.  We are doing this mainly for the pure joy in it and for our overall love of paranormal books.  We know we are no experts in the field of writing, but hope what we put down will be enjoyed.  It has been an enteresting journey thus far.  A lot more research than I could have ever imangined!!  I feel that my favorite part is watching our characters develop personalities, some dare we say too close to our own. It's been a hoot having our spouses hear half converstaions as we create scenes over the phone.  So with that being said, I thought we could drop you some pieces here and there letting you see inside our creation.  Please understand what we give is raw, and very unedited.  Heck, it may not even make the book.  We are ladies and do tend to change our minds.  We have no idea when we will complete the 1st book, but know we will be having a blast all along the way!!

So for this first Teaser I give you Flora:

.....She paused for a moment gauging the air to try and catch any resemblance of who or what caused the change, but nothing came.  Actually, she felt nothing at all.  Fear instantly struck her as she turned back to the counter that now had her tarot cards splayed across it, not paying attention to the tea soaking through them or even the prediction that they lay out before her.  Instead she picked up the spilt tea cup and turned it up toward her.
          “Ila,” she cried as she let the tea cup fall from her fingers and crash to the floor.

Happy Reading!!
~Kiki

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Ghouls NIght Out by Rose Pressey

Jules Rating: 5 stars


Ghouls Night Out is a great follow up in the Larue Donovan series. I don't think I have laughed out loud this much in a long time, plus having the creeps with shadowy things in the woods. Larue always has a group of ghost following her, this time Mae West is in the line up,along with Callahan's grandfather, and it is a hoot!!

Demons and bad witches are the name of the game in this book. A mysterious cousin Copper shows up to take over Brianna the black witches clothing store. Is he like the evil Brianna?? Mindy and Callahan seem to be under a spell again. The coven leader Karyn is in a spell binding coma. Oh yeah, plus Karyn wants Larue to take over the coven....Whats a girl to do ????

I'm not saying anything else, you'll have to get the book and read it !! Its a very fast, witty, spunky read, and I'm so looking forward to book 3.
Rose Pressey is turning into one of my favorite authors, love all her series, and always re-read her books before a new one comes out , and enjoy them as much the second time, as I did the first time. Looking forward to How To Date A Vampire.
Happy reading !!
~Jules