*REVIEW & GUEST POST* Royally BeSwitch by Molly Snow

Hexed from a small suburb in the U.S. back to 1700's France, a magical black cat, Surla, and her human crush, Jax Morreau, have no idea what troubles await.

When Jax’s distant relatives, a lowly maidservant and a prince, miss their chance at love, evil gains a stronghold in the Morreau Kingdom. It’s up to the duo from the future to reset the course of love before it’s too late. Surla, the cat, will do anything, including switch bodies with the maidservant, to clean up the royal mess.

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  I can honestly tell you guys that every BeSwitched novel that Molly Snow writes is better than the last one!!  The books are fun and written in such a way that you really feel like you know the characters.  They progress at an easy and practical pace, that kind of makes your attachment to them grow.

  Jax and Surla are kind of thrown back in time.  Very back in time being the 1700's.  Being unaware of the time and where they are well things happen.  You know that ripple effect, change one thing in the past and you change many things in the future.  Well they have done that and are doing all that they can to fix it.  The BeSwitching this time is by choice and kind of amusing in its own way.  Surla actually seems to be taking the switches much easier now but it's the switching back that seems harder to do.  However this one doesn't seem to work as well as the others and I have a couple theory's as to why but to avoid spoilers will keep it to myself for now.  

  The relationship between Surla and Jax in this book is running a little thin.   Not that they don't like each other but knowing that Surla is a cat kind of raises some problems.  That doesn't stop either one of them from having the feeling though.  It is so clear to me between the thoughts you get to hear and the way they are around each other that they want to find a way to be together but as Jax puts it "he's not that freaky" and it makes you feel for them.  

  The last few chapters are really intense.  I mean super intense.  They are packed with this, that and everything in between.  Things that you seen coming happen and things that you never imagined possible happen as well.  The best part (meaning my favorite) is that you get to find out where Surla came from.  i mean you know that Idis got her when she was 13 but where did she come from before that?  Well you find out and let me tell you the way you get there will have you holding your breath and maybe holding back some tears.  When it happens though it is truly golden and I almost had some tears of happiness going on!

  Forget the witches and look to the black cat.  Molly Snow has turned regular witchy fun into something new and exciting.  I have enjoyed every book in this series so far and as I said before they get better and better.  This one had a bit of a leap for me at the end but I still loved it.  Can't wait to see what happens to everyone next!  Once you read this book I am sure that you will also be wanting to know what happens next! 

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Now I am SUPER lucky and have an awesome guest post from the awesome Molly snow!!

First a little info on the Author herself!

Bio:

Molly Snow, Founder of BreezyReads.com, wrote BeSwitched when she was just sixteen. As a bestselling author’s personal assistant at age twenty, she decided to do what her boss did and self publish. At age twenty-three, BeSwitched made its debut. Snow is married to her high school crush, has a set of silly twin boys and a bob-tailed cat named Meow-Meow.

Now to the awesome post on Jax!

All about Jax Morreau (Teen Heart-Throb of BeSwitched Witch and Royally BeSwitched):

• His black hair isn’t too long and isn’t too short and he looks perfect rubbing his hands through it.
• He’s a bit goth. Just enough to look hot, not creepy.
• He is strong but doesn’t flaunt it.
• He was skilled in swordfighting ever before going back to the 1700s.
• When he wears tight pants, he can actually pull off the look. So can his handsome predecessor, Prince Nicolas.
• (Spoiler Alert) Shape-shifting into a raven is one of his gifts.
• He has other special secrets as well ;)
• Sassy black cat Surla knows how to get his attention any time she switches with a girl.
• Integrity is pretty important to him.

Who do I as the author imagine him to look like?

Maybe a cross between a teenage Johnny Depp and the guy who starred as the bad boy in the Disney Movie, Prom.*Sigh* The picture of Raum on the sidebar of your blog, Tiffany, also remind me of him.

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  I have to say if Jax looked anything like Raum Molly I would be fighting Surla for him :)  Thank you all for stopping by my blog tour stop and THANK YOU Molly for letting me be a part of this!! 

*REVIEW* Oppression by Jessica Therrien

Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal. For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability. Or so she thinks. Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her for a long time. Among so many of her kind, she should not be very remarkable--except for the prophecy. Some believe she will put an end to traditions, safeguarded by violence, which have oppressed her people for centuries. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning--and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.

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   Being a lover of books that twist Greek Mythology and the Gods I was really excited to start this book. I mean not understanding what she really is and having to move around and hide all of the time can't be easy.  Doing it on your own just makes it harder and the fact that she can't get close to anyone ever is hard.  Getting into the book I found out that this was all I expected and some of what I didn't.  


  Elyse was interesting to read about.  Growing up and having to keep a secret has made for a lonely life and the people that she is close to she has to watch grow old and die.  Throughout this book I found that Elyse was a very strong protagonist.  There isn't much complaining and carrying on about what no one told her and why no one helped her.  She does get angry but hey who wouldn't.  There is a great many rules to learn but Elyse seems to be made to break and bend them.


  William and the others you will meet are awesome as well.  Everyone is from a different line so you get quite a mix of interesting friends.  By different line I mean they came from a different descendant and inherited something in particular from that God/Goddess.  I guess this is part of why I enjoyed this book. The fact that everyone isn't someone reincarnated but someone all their own, someone new carrying on from the original.


  The other fun thing is the bad guys.  The bad guys are kinda supposed to be the good guys.  Like they genuinely believe that they aren't the bad ones.  At some points I wanted to believe it too but then they do something (not going to say what) and I shake myself out of my little bubble and smarten up!   There is actually a lot of interesting things that I have to say about these people but I will let you come to your own decision about them.


  There is a good and steady plot that keeps you interested throughout the book.  I found that there was a couple spots that were a bit repetitive to me but it was only upon reflection that I noticed this because I was so involved that I didn't notice while reading!  Overall this is a fun and steady read.  Also forgot to mention that this is Jessica Therrien's awesome start to what seems like a great series!

Waiting on Wednesday: Undeadly by Michele Vail

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spineand spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This Week I am Waiting on:

Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper—and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath. 

Within days, she’s shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath. Who seems to hate her guts.

Rath will be watching closely to be sure she completes her first assignment-reaping Rick, the boy who should have died. The boy she still wants to be with.

To make matters worse, students at the academy start turning up catatonic, and accusations fly—against Molly. The only way out of this mess? To go through hell. Literally.


Expected Release:  November 20, 2012
Published by:  Harlequin Teen
Paperback: 304 pages

Why am I waiting on this book:

1.  LOOK at the cover.  Tell me that it isn't attractive, seriously LOVE.


2.  Anubis... Did you see that?!  How often do people use the Egyptian Gods? Once again LOVE IT!


3.  The fact that Molly is going to have to be a strong MC.  I mean you have to be to go through hell
       right?!

Well that's what I am waiting on this week.  What are you waiting on?! Please leave me a link

to yours!! I love adding to my want/need list!

*REVIEW* Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

With Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), in town, it’s the worst possible time for a body to show up in Eric Northman’s front yard—especially the body of a woman whose blood he just drank.
Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.

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  I seriously love this series.  Every year when the new book releases I am all but breaking down the book store doors to get my copy and read it.  This year the excitement was still there, not quite as intense but still there.  I just found that even though I love the books, I feel that Charlaine Harris has let True Blood effect her characters and standards.  I did enjoy the book but not like I used to.

  Sookie just isn't who she used to be for me.  She doesn't really seem to worry about much more than her relationship with Eric and what she is going to about what happened with Eric.  This is sad for me because there is so much going on in this book that if she had put her mind to it, she could have figured it out.  Basically she was blinded to everyone and everything that wasn't Sookie/Eric based.  Not that I didn't want her to figure it out because I did.  I am such a big fan/supporter of their relationship and wanted things to work out.  I did find that she was herself when it came to her family and friends though and still found myself smiling with her stubborn ways.


  Eric *sigh* is a little preoccupied in this book.  With the king in town his mind is not on Sookie and if I am honest with you there really isn't much of him in this book at all.  Actually there isn't much of Eric, Bill or Pam in this book.  Which was disappointing to say the least.  These three people have become such a large part of the story and the book felt empty at times.  I would have to say I missed Pam the most with her soft spot for Sookie and hard facade.  Eric is changing/changed and I found my heart breaking over this but it must be for a reason.


  I would like to now point out the awesome job that Charlaine Harris is doing an awesome job tying up all of the loose ends.  I mean she is even making everything neat for all of the secondary characters.  I mean Kennedy and Danny are.. I don't want to give it away but it's super awesome that Charlaine Harris has let her amazing writing ability shine with all of these characters.  To me it shows how much love she has for all of her characters and wants to make sure they all get their own "Ever After".  I am not saying that everyone will get a happily ever after but they are getting something.  


  I am sad to see this series coming to an end.  Even with the ending provided (yet another cliffhanger) I just felt sad knowing that there is only one more instalment.  Maybe that is why this book almost had an urgency in it to me.  Everything is being tied up but I think I had hoped it would happen differently.  This could be a part of my problem, the fact that I know it is all coming to an end but it's not going how I thought it would.  In one way I am eagerly awaiting the next book like I always do because of my love of this series (you don't read a series 1-2 times a year because you don't love it) but I am also dreading the next book.  Charlaine Harris showed both her wonderful strength and writing style in this book but also fell short on what I feel the books have been.  

WINNERS

We have some winners!!!  I have gotten to and confirmed the Pulse winner!! For the 

Swag Giveaway I have everyone written down and will be emailing you all soon!!  Life has

been a little nuts but I hope to have all of the prizes out by the end of this week!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

CONGRATS everyone and I will email you by tomorrow.  For the swag giveaway it might take a 

little longer as I will let the 1st person pick so many pieces and so on and so on.  I will as I said 

hope to be able to mail you all your prizes by the end of the week!!

*REVIEW* Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne

Girl, Interrupted meets Beautiful Creatures in this fast-paced thriller

When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn't expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she's going crazy. Fast.

But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she's come home. She's even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.

Faye knows she's the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can't trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her - and the rest of the world too.

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  Look at this cover!! Being honest with you all, I bought this book for the pretty cover.  I had heard so many mixed reviews I wasn't sure how the book was going to go for me but I knew I needed this gorgeous piece of literature on my shelf.  Upon its arrival I couldn't stop looking at it and feeling it (has a unique texture).  Finally I decided I was just going to dive in and really even through some moments of confusion, I seriously had a hard time putting it down.  Even when the end comes and gets all intense and I am completely thrown here and there I just can't let it go!! 

  Although it isn't focused right on it this is a dystopian book and has a very likely outline of a future.  Faye lives in a world where food, fresh water and petrol are distributed and bartered for.  Life is hard and people expect you to be what they want you to be, meaning be normal or be gone.  So Faye is an outsider even in her Cooperative.  Her visions and  nightmares that feel so much more real than anyone understands  make her different and that's why she ends up at Holbrook.  They claim that they can help her so that she can be normal and go back to her cooperative.

"Fear is an illusion.  I'm in control of my own reality." - Faye

  Faye is unique and as a character I really enjoyed reading about her.  She is dealing with a lot and comes off extremely believable.  When she gets to Holbrook she expects to be a loner and for it to be no different than when she was at home where people avoided on her or picked on her but it isn't like that.  She is put with a group of other kids that have all been put there for reasons unknown to her but they are to be her new family.  When things start happening and she feels she knows what is going on instead of sharing it with everyone she keeps it to herself.  This is where I felt the strongest towards her.  She wanted to share but was afraid that everyone would think she was crazy, so she just keeps on trying to figure it out and help her new friends.

"The answers teased at me.  Dangerous and exhilarating.  Even though I

was scared, I needed to understand." - Faye

  Upon some reflection I find that despite me draw to Kel and all the mystery that surrounded him I really  liked Damion.  You don't get much background on him to start but I love his silence and determination.  I found it a bit irritating that he did it even when he didn't believe in it but you do find out why later on.  Basically all of the people in the group "family" all have their own little background but they all brought something fun and unique to the table in this story.  Kel however was at the center of it like Faye.  He always seems to be where she is and seems to be hiding something from her, which totally makes me suspicious of him. 

"I followed you. All I wanted was to catch up with you so I could talk

to you again." - Kel

  There were moments that I felt lost as I read this book but not because of how it was written but more like I thought I had it all figured out only to be thrown another way.  Although I found it frustrating at times it really makes you want to keep reading.  It's like the cliffhanger at the end of a book that has you needing the next book but only it has you needing to know how it all ends.  The last 100 pages will literally have you attached and it will take a serious amount of will power to put it down!

  Sarah Wilson Etienne has  created a unique and absolutely gripping story.  I was really impressed with how everything ended and it was not even close to how I thought it would all go down.  I found that the entire book which is based in a weeks time has a good pace even if it does go a little fast in the end.  I am happy with my choice to pick up this book and am only sad that there is not more to wait for.  Being a standalone, even with a good ending this book will have you craving more or Sara's writing.  If she releases anything else I would not hesitate to pick it up!!!

*Review* BeSwitched Witch by Molly Snow

When the sassy black cat, Surla, ends up crossing paths with her ex-witch, the outrageous and hot-tempered Idis, it triggers again the curse of being BeSwitched.

Idis was supposed to be dead in a drawer at the morgue, and Surla was supposed to be having some bonding time with her new human best friend, Cathy. Instead, these two enemies are forced to get along or stay switched forever while in search for the last spell book... If only the curious and handsome new guy in school, Jax Morreau, would stop distracting Surla from their plan.

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  This is such a fun series!  Book one was a bit difficult for me to start but this one was great right from the get go.  There was a lot of development with characters and an all around great and easy to read story line.

  This book kind of leaves Cathy behind.  Not that she isn't a part of it but it's more Surla and her witch Idis.  If you read the first book you know that the relationship between the witch and familiar is nothing short of shaky.  So switching the two up was kind of like shaking a champaign bottle.  You know it's going to pop but it's a matter of when.

  There is also a new cute guy in this book.  Well, really with Surla being in a human body was there any question?    Jax is kind of an out cast and not the popular guy though which is a nice turn of events.  It's not like he even tries or Surla tries to change him.  The two of them hit it off (as friends of course) despite everyone telling Surla what a bad influence he is.  Their friendship/relationship is actually easy to believe and follow.

  Being a MG/Young teen book there is actually some real life kind of situations thrown in there too.  Bullying and also the entire for every action the is a reaction kind of deal.    Not that I am making light of it but more that I am glad it is done like that.  I love when books, especially paranormal books kind of highlight things like that.

  With all the fun and mayhem this book is really a great read for anyone.  It's fast, easy and lite so it is perfect for a quick change or just a break from the normal.  There's no love triangles or catty best friends, just a cat and her witch and the things they learn on the way to becoming themselves once again.  I am very excited to have the next book on my reader so that I can find out what Surla is up to now!!