Book #68 - Born Wicked (Cahill Witch Chronicles #1)

Born Wicked, Jessica Spotswood
330 pages
urban fantasy, paranormal romance
Started 6/18/12
Finished 6/20/12
4 STARS

I got Born Wicked and four other books from the library at the same time. I was undecided as to which one to read first, so I asked my 6-year-old daughter to pick for me. She picked this book (because the girl on the cover was really pretty). It would seem my girl is sucked in by beautiful covers, just like her mom. But, in this case, it really would be ok to judge a book by its cover. Born Wicked was a nice surprise. I thought it was a modern witch tale. I  was wrong.

Cate and her three sisters are without their mother, and their father works all the time. They are three young witches that live in a society in which being a witch will get you killed. So, they practice in secret when they can and put on a facade for everyone else. Cate is nearly of age where she will be required to either choose a husband or join the Sisterhood (sort of like a nunnery, but not as strict or religious). She thinks she knows what she wants to do, but then events are put into motion that challenge their entire way of life.

I was a bit confused in the beginning as to what time period we were in. Eventually, it was mentioned that it was sometime in 1899. Although the story takes place in Maine, there are other elements that are not based in fact. It was a wonderful thing, combining the real with the fantasy. And, Spotswood does it in such a way that the lines are really blurred.

I loved the character of Cate. She's a headstrong girl of 16 desperately trying to keep her family together and safe in the face of some very real danger. Most of the time, she's the modicum of propriety, even when she's seething and screaming inside. There are times when she loses her cool, but most of the time she sucks it up and deals with her precocious littlest sister and her moody middle sister just like a woman much older than her would've.

I can't wait for the continuation of Cate's story.

Book #67 - My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers #2)

My Soul to Save, Rachel Vincent
279 pages
urban fantasy, paranormal romance
Started 6/11/12
Finished 6/18/12
3 STARS

I wanted to turn my attention back to the Soul Screamers series after a bit of a break from it. I really enjoyed the first book in the series - it was something a little different from what I was used to. Unfortunately, I felt that the second installment fell a little short.

Kaylee and Nash witness a singer drop dead on stage, but Kaylee's urge to scream isn't engaged. This tells them that something nefarious is afoot. Turns out, the singer, and scores of others, have sold their souls to the devil, in a manner of speaking. And, Kaylee, Nash and Tod try to help get them back, at great personal risk.

In a word, I was bored. Sad, right? Hard to believe after I enjoyed the first book so much. I think the problem was, there was no shock value anymore. No secrets to unravel. Everything was learned in the first book. We found out exactly what Kaylee, Nash and Tod were, what they could do and what happens when they do it. So, there's nothing exciting to be revealed any longer. I felt that the conflict introduced was not a big deal, either. I want to see our heroes lives hanging in the balance. I want to see them fight for love and life and limb. No get attacked by an overgrown weed and grounded by an overprotective parent.

I hear the series gets better as it goes. I trust my biliophile buds when it comes to their literary recommendations, so I will pick up the third in the series eventually. But, there are a lot of other really fantastic books to read first. Stay tuned!

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine to give we read-a-holic bloggers some real estate to devote to books we're pining away for.
If I could have a bookish boyfriend, Patch would definitely be at the top of my list. This is one angel that I have fallen in love with over the course of the first three books in the Hush Hush series - Hush Hush, Crescendo, and Silence. And, Nora ranks up there with my other favorite strong female characters like Rose (Vampire Academy) and Meghan (Iron Fey). And, Patch and Nora's story is about to come to a close.

Finale (Hush Hush #4)
By:  Becca Fitzgerald
Due Out:  October 23, 2012

Patch and Nora have been through a lot together. They've given up so much to be together, and the crap still keeps flying in their direction. It's frustrating! But, I can't believe that all their drama and roadblocks and sacrifices are for naught. I have complete faith in Ms. Fitzgerald that she will write a "Finale" to Patch and Nora's story that will see them together and happy. I need my happily ever after! And, I only have to wait four more months to get it.