April Wrap-Up

Books I Read This Month

Dream Magic by Joshua Khan

Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh

Bad Blood by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Noteworthy by Riley Redgate*

Waiting for Callback by Perdita and Honor Cargill

Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts*

The Battlemage by Taran Matharu*

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

All links lead to Goodreads. Reviews to come for starred books! I had a better reading month in April, I managed to read eight books, with a mix of genres! Noteworthy was my favourite book of the month, I absolutely loved it. My review will be coming soon - honestly, if you like contemps and have any kind of interest in music or musical theatre, I would highly recommend this one. And Waiting for Callback was a freebie from Amazon (it's back to full price now sadly).

Blog Posts

Blog Tour: Review of Dream Magic by Joshua Khan

Review: The Best Kind of Magic by Crystal Cestari

Waiting on Wednesday #80

TV Shows I Watched/Started:

Supergirl season 2 (currently airing on Sky1)

The Flash season 3 (currently airing Sky1)

Legends of Tomorrow season 2 (Sky1)

Scorpion season 3 (currently airing on ITV2)

Emerald City (5STAR)

The Magicians season 2 (currently airing on 5STAR)

Marvel's Agents of SHIELD season 4 (currently airing E4)

Riverdale (weekly on Netflix)

The Middle (currently airing on Comedy Central)

12 Monkeys season 2 (Netflix)

Designated Survivor (weekly on Netflix)

The 100 season 4 (currently airing on E4)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer top 20 episodes (Syfy Buffy anniversary weekend)

Attach on Titan season 2 (weekly on Crunchyroll)

Anonymous Noise (weekly on Crunchyroll)

The 100 is finally here in the UK! Liking it so far buut I have some reservations about where they're going with this storyline. I'll have to wait and see. It was also super fun to rewatch my favourite Buffy episodes! It was something Syfy did for the 20 year anniversary, and all my favourites were on there (Once More, with Feeling was obviously number 1).

12 Monkeys season 2 was also added to Netflix, and I really enjoyed it. Very excited to start on season 3, which I believe is starting in May!

Films I Watched

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

The Addams Family

Addams Family Values

So...I wasn't a fan of Beauty and the Beast. I was really unimpressed by the new songs, the singing in general was blah and I just thought everything was a bit lacklustre. Also, when the Beast transformed into a Prince and there was that dancing scene at the end, I swear to you the only thing I could concentrate on was his shoes. Did you see his shoes?! Those blue monstrosities! I mean I KNOW it was the era and everyone wore shoes like that but I couldn't look away...

Music I Listened to

Once More, with Feeling soundtrack

Dear Evan Hansen 

I'm sure there was more, but I've forgotten because Dear Evan Hansen took over this month. THIS MUSICAL. I can't explain it, but please look it up because it's fantastic. My favourite song so far is Waving Through a Window.

Notable Events

I may or may not have gone on a shopping spree...I really needed some smarter clothes but I think I bought more than I needed. And now I'm broke hahaha...ha. Apart from that, I haven't done too much this month! The only other thing really is that my dad and I have been clearing out the smallest bedroom in our house (which is currently full of crap like old clothes, boxes, broken appliances etc.) because we're planning to build loads of shelves so I FINALLY have a place for all my books. It's a tiny tiny little box room with just enough space for a bed and a wardrobe (and it was my bedroom for 21 years...I don't miss it), so I'm not having delusions of grandeur or anything, but I am excited to have a sort of mini library for all my books.

And that is my month in a nutshell! I'm hoping to keep up the reading in May, and there are reviews to come, so hopefully you'll be seeing a few more blog posts next month as well.

What are your bookish (and non-bookish) goals for next month?

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Intro to diffusers

It is obvious why any reasonable person would appreciate the benefits of essential oil diffusers. They are absolutely indispensable (pun intended) in places like offices and spas. Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to have one or several in your home as well, your car or, in fact, anywhere if natural ventilation is not always possible or feasible. Read this intro to diffusers to find out more!

Key points to consider

When buying an essential oil diffuser, look for a relatively deep tank, i.e. over 100 ml, so you won’t need to refill it too often. It would help to have a clearly marked fill line. The LED lights, runtime, and shape of the diffuser are also important to consider. For instance, creatively shaped diffusers like the Deneve Riverock are challenging to use if they are not resting on a hard and flat surface. If the tank is too shallow, it might spill if you want to move the diffuser.

You don’t have to turn on the light to activate this dispenser - all you need to do is press on the blunt end to select the desired setting. This, however, could also be a disadvantage – you could turn it on or off accidentally.

Size, design, and sound

When it comes to the sound a dispenser can make, the PureSpa Deluxe is a case in point. It makes an electric humming sound when it is on, which is relatively loud. It also emits a loud beep when the on/off switch is pressed, which is an advantage if you happen to press it accidentally but can get on your nerves as well. It has a color-changing LED design, which means you can’t select a specific color. If the color is important to you, it may be better to look into other models or brands.

It is important to look for a sturdy design with a solid base. The bottom of the dispenser should be heavier than the top, so it doesn’t tip over (I know this seems obvious, but not all dispensers are designed bottom-heavy).

The Young Living Aria essential oil diffuser automatically turns itself off. Its LED indicator light, which comes in a variety of colors, can be turned off if you find the glow distracting. Unlike the PureSpa Deluxe, the Young Living essential oil diffuser is virtually silent. It can also cover an area of three hundred square feet – almost twice as much as most competing diffusers. On the downside, its runtime is barely four hours. If it isn’t run continuously, this can be extended to 8 hours.

Conclusion

I hope this intro to diffusers has been helpful. A diffuser should provide a nice, relaxing experience at the very least, and in the best possible case – put you on your way to successful aromatherapy treatment. It should be easy and quick to refill with the essential oil of your choice. It should also serve as an air purifier and humidifier. Be sure to check if the diffuser of your choice can be used with citrus oils.

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Waiting on Wednesday #80

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

Never Say Die (Alex Rider #11) by Anthony Horowitz

1st June 2017

Find it on Goodreads

Following the events of Scorpia Rising, Alex relocates to San Francisco as he slowly recovers from the tragic death of his best friend and caregiver, Jack Starbright, at the hands of terrorists working for SCORPIA. With Jack gone, Alex feels lost and alone, but then, out of the blue, he receives a cryptic email--just three words long, but enough to make Alex believe that Jack may be alive. Armed with this shred of hope, Alex boards a flight bound for Egypt and embarks on a dubious quest to track Jack down.

Yet SCORPIA knows Alex's weakness. And the question of whether Jack is alive soon takes a backseat to a chilling new terrorist plot-one that will determine the lives of many.
From Egypt to France to Wales, from luxury yachts to abandoned coal mines, Alex traverses a minefield of dangers and cryptic clues as he fights to discover the truth. The #1 New York Times bestselling series, perfect for fans of James Bond, Jason Steed and Jason Bourne, is back with a vengeance! (from Goodreads)

I am RIDICULOUSLY excited for this book. I was the biggest Alex Rider fan when I was younger, and I am so happy there's going to be another book in the series! The way the last book ended was kind of sad and I always felt everything wasn't fully resolved, so I'm really glad we get to see Alex again and find out what he's been up to. Plus, Jack might be alive?! I hope she is, because I was devastated when she died in Scorpia Rising. In any case, I need this book. I'm looking forward to seeing how Alex is faring in San Francisco (and living with Sabina?! I always thought that was a bit weird). I'm also curious as to what Mrs Jones's role in this will be, because it's going to be so awkward when (I'm assuming when) she gets in touch with Alex again... I must admit, while I am immensely excited for this book, I am also a bit worried it will ruin the series. Will just have to keep hoping it will be as good as all the others - not long to wait now!

What are you waiting on this week?

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Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Happily Ever After (Cinder & Ella #2) by Kelly Oram

Hello, everyone! 

Welcome to a book spotlight for HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Kelly Oram! Recently released as of April 11th, the sequel to Cinder & Ella now is available on Amazon! Below you can read all about the book, enjoy a fun excerpt, as well as a few book teaser images. There is also a giveaway going on for a signed copy of the book! Enter soon because the giveaway ends April 30th! 

Title: Happily Ever After

Series: Cinder & Ella #2

Author: Kelly Oram

Publisher: Bluefields Publishing

Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Release Date: April 11, 2017

The end of one story is often the beginning of another. Hollywood heartthrob Brian Oliver and his Cinderella princess Ellamara Rodriguez have finally found love outside the digital world. But leaving their anonymity behind creates a whole new set of obstacles for the nation's new favorite sweethearts. With the stress of Brian's fame and the pressures of a new relationship weighing down on them, the It Couple quickly begins to wonder if they can hold on to their newfound joy, or if maybe happily ever after is only a fairy tale after all.

Purchase at: 

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

(Amazon exclusive and in Kindle Unlimited)

 

Scott closed his laptop, which was a sign that he was really serious now. “Like it or not, Brian, she is in this. Up to her eyeballs in it, in fact. She won’t be able to avoid it forever, and when it catches up to her, she’s going to have some real choices to make. If you don’t bring her in with you, then your management team—along with everyone else in town—will bypass you and go straight to her. Do you really want her to meet with people and make decisions without you?”

My jaw clenched. Hollywood people could be nice enough, but they were all sharks in sheep’s clothing. Ella was a strong, smart woman, but she wasn’t used to playing their game. No way did I want her having to navigate this business on her own.

“You’re absolutely right that your team will try to use her as much as possible. That’s why you should be there when they do. At least if you’re together, you can tell her when they’re trying to work her over.”

Damn him again. Why did he always have to be right? Letting out a breath of defeat, I scrubbed my hands over my face and then raked them through my hair. “All right, all right, fine. Let’s schedule a meeting with Ella. But not yet. After the holidays. After New Year’s.”

Scott’s posture eased up a little, and he gave me an apologetic smile. “I don’t think they want to wait that long. You guys are in the headlines now. You’re the biggest story of the year. With the movie releasing in two days, they want to take advantage of all this free publicity.”

I huffed in exasperation. “The Druid Prince is the biggest release of the holiday. The studio has put millions of dollars into advertising. How much more publicity does it need?”

“Not the film, Brian; you.”

“I don’t care about the publicity. I don’t want the attention.”

I shot to my feet with a groan and headed for my coffee again. It wasn’t as hot now, so I chugged it as if it held the answers to all my problems.

“You do want it this time. And so does Ella.”

I was still frowning, but I leaned against the counter again and gave him my full attention. He jumped on the window of opportunity but spoke cautiously, as if he was afraid I might explode if I didn’t like what he said. “How you and Ella deal with this attention will affect your future, and you know it. The world loves you guys right now. You’re a real-life fairy tale. People are dying to see the two of you living out the happily-ever-after you promised them.”

“Forget the world. I want that. But if the freaking media doesn’t leave us alone, no one will get that happily-ever-after, because Ella will dump my famous ass.”

Scott’s snort of disbelief was only mildly reassuring.

“She’s not like everyone else, Scott. She doesn’t care about the money, and my fame is a problem in her eyes, not a fun perk. She’s fragile. If this gets too crazy, she’ll throw in the towel. She’ll have to. And I’ll have to let her.”

“If you would just make a couple of appearances together, do an interview or two and a photo shoot, that would satiate the public, and things would die down.”

“Tell that to Kim and Kanye.”

Again, Scott spoke right over my cynical mutterings. “It would help you both in other ways, too.  Ella is exactly what you need for your career. This relationship will completely erase your last year or so of debauchery.”

I cocked an eyebrow at Scott, trying my hardest not to smile. It wasn’t easy. “Debauchery?”

His cheeks turned a little pink, but he stood his ground. “Do you have a better word for all the partying and womanizing?”

I held his gaze a moment longer but then cracked. “Fine. Debauchery.”

“Right. And after a few appearances with Ella, as in love as you guys are, not even Kyle Hamilton will remember your previous reputation as an arrogant, immature playboy.”

My eyebrow went up again, and this time it was Scott who relented. “Okay, Kyle might. But no one else will; I guarantee it. You’ll be the mature down-to-earth A-list actor who chose to be with a physically-disabled woman when he could have anyone. You’ll be admired by all of Hollywood. And a man like that might just win himself an Oscar, whether he earned it onscreen or not—that’s simple Academy politics. Not that you haven’t earned it, but no one in the Academy would hesitate to vote for you. And no director will hesitate to consider you for a role in the future. Play your cards correctly right now, and you’ll be earning thirty million a picture for the Cinder Chronicles sequels and turning down roles you’d beg for right now.”

A year ago, that would have been a persuasive argument. “It’s not me I’m worried about. I’ll earn my A-list status eventually; I don’t need to use Ella to get there.”

“She might want to use this opportunity, though. You should at least explain to her what is going on and what it means for her. From what you’ve told me, she’s an extremely independent woman and isn’t going to want to live off of her father’s money forever, or yours. This could be a very lucrative time for her. It could help her with her future and even give her something to focus on. It could give her positive reasons for living with the fame and maybe help her make sense of how much her life has just changed.”

I shot Scott a glare, hating that last accusation, and got his Super-Assistant-Stare-Down again. “Like it or not, Brian, the moment you gave that Cinderella interview on The Kenneth Long Show, you changed her life. There’s no going back for her, so help her move forward. Help her make the best of a hard situation. Ease this transition for her by being straight with her. You know no one else will.”

I rubbed my head. All this thinking about the future first thing in the morning was giving me a headache.

“Sorry, boss, I know it’s not what you want to do, but it is what you need to do. I’d let you keep ignoring them and turn off my phone over the holiday if it wasn’t.”

My hands dropped to my sides as all the fight left me, and I met Scott’s gaze again, frowning. “Do you ever get tired of being right?”

The corners of Scott’s mouth twitched. “Not really, no.”

Kelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen—a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which her family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and likes to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, four children, and her cat, Mr. Darcy.

Don't miss the latest news from Kelly Oram! Sign up for her newsletter to receive e-mail notifications for all of her new releases, events, sales, & giveaways. This is a monthly newsletter often with exclusive giveaways and freebies from some of her favorite authors.

Connect with Kelly on social media:

Website: http://www.kellyoram.com

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkellyoram 

Twitter: @kellyoram

Instagram: @kellyoramwrites

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Oram/e/B003UPV4RA/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1442336891&sr=8-2-ent 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3203095.Kelly_Oram 

FB fan group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/694733464004201/ 

GR fan group: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/169601-kelly-oram-geek-league 

To win a signed copy of Cinder & Ella enter the giveaway form below. 

Giveaway ends: April 30th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Blog Tour: Alone in Paris by Ashley Earley || Guest Post: A DAY IN PARIS + Giveaway!

Welcome everyone to the BLOG TOUR for 

Alone in Paris by Ashley Earle!

Today I have for your a really fun and unique guest post from the author where I asked her what she would do if she had a day alone is Paris. I myself often think of the things I would do since I am pretty much obsessed with going there one day. My whole house is PARIS themed, in fact. ;)

Also there is a giveaway to win a copy of Ashley's book you can enter to win!

Enjoy!

Alone in Paris
by Ashley Earley
Publisher: CreatSpace
Release Date: April 1, 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Breathe, Taylor. 

 Taylor Clay's family isn't exactly perfect. They may look the part with the nice, big house and her dad's fancy job, but that's what's tearing them apart. That, and her dad's sudden recurring drinking problem. Though her family is close to falling apart, she never wished for something like this to happen. She never wished for her father to drive off a bridge. Especially not while they were on vacation; especially not when her and her mom were in the car with him at the time.

Breathe. 

 She's devastated after the fact. And it isn't helping that the papers are gossiping about how the pristine lawyer could have driven off the bridgeon purpose. And just when she thinks nothing could possibly make things worse, she realizes she's left alone with no relatives to care for her. So she's alone. Her parents are dead. And she's stuck in the country her family was visiting for their vacation. She's alone in Paris.

Just breathe. 

Then Nathan walks into the picture. Funny, snarky, persistent, and sometimes, just flat out rude, he annoys Taylor tono end. He won't leave her alone, but Taylor doesn't know whether or not she should push him away.

 MORNING!

 The first thing I would do as soon as I got to Paris is I would walk around and look for the cutest café I can find to eat breakfast at. I would order a croissant to feel like the main character from Alone in Paris, 

Taylor.While I was searching for this adorable cafe, I would wander into shops that I thought looked interesting. However, I wouldn't buy anything in these shops because I'm looking for something in particular—something that I imagine can only be found in a gift shop near the Eiffel Tower. It's a very touristy thing to want, but I can't help that I desire a snow globe with a mini Eiffel Tower inside. I have never been to Paris, let alone seen the Eiffel Tower before, but I already know that I'll want to take a bit of it home with me as a reminder.

I stop going in shops and decide to focus on finding a café. My first mission is breakfast and then I'll move on to seeing the Eiffel Tower and searching for my snow globe.

I imagine myself walking down several streets before stopping in front of a café that I imagined as I wrote Alone in Paris.

I take a seat outside, order a croissant and maybe some type of coffee that contains chocolate. I sit back in my chair after ordering, reach into my bag and pull out a book. I always carry a book with me, wherever I go. I open it up, deciding that I will take my time and enjoy my stay. The snow globe can wait for a few chapters.It isn't long before my order is brought to me. Unfazed, I continue to read and eat and sip my coffee until there is nothing left. 

NOON!

Once the afternoon rolls around, I decide that it's finally time for me to visit one of the things that I'd always wanted to see with my own eyes: the Eiffel Tower. I would take several pictures of the Eiffel Tower alone, and then several of me in front of it. Then, I would travel to the top to see as much of the city as I could. I would take several more pictures at the top, just to make sure I never forget the experience.

After I was done admiring the Eiffel Tower, I would find my snow globe and buy it immediately.

My next stop after that: the Lock Bridge. I've always been fascinated by this bridge. I loved the concept of leaving a lock and throwing the key far into the river below. It looks beautiful and seems like it would be an amazing place to visit. I would probably spend hours there, like Taylor. Though, instead of sketching the scenery, I would take dozens of pictures instead. I would probably imagine the interactions my characters from Alone in Paris exchanged. Especially before they parted. I would clearly see it play out before me.

NIGHT!

That night, I would eat dinner at a restaurant under the Eiffel Tower, or at a restaurant that has a beautiful view of the tower. I want to be able to see it lit up. I would wear one of my nicest dresses to go out for dinner, even if I wasn’t going somewhere nice. Dressing up in such a beautiful place would seem fitting. 

After, I would walk around some more. Wander down a few streets and go inside every museum and shop that is open at such an hour. Once I felt like I had explored enough, I would go back to my hotel room and sleep so I could relive everything. 

A day in Paris would not be enough.

     

Ashley Earley is a 20-year-old author that is working toward her B.A. in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. When she’s not writing, she’s posting on her blog, reading, obsessing over a book character, or spending time with friends. Her obsession with books started at the age of twelve, before developing into a love for writing at the age of fourteen, when she wrote her first novel.

Her Thriller/Suspense short story, Chasing Hair of Gold, won first place in the 2016 Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards.

You can visit her at www.ashleyearley.com.

• 1 SIGNED COPY OF ALONE IN PARIS
• RUNS THROUGH APRIL 20TH
• US ONLY

To enter the giveaway click this LINK to go to the author's instagram page!

Thank you for stopping by!

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Review: The Best Kind of Magic by Crystal Cestari

The Best Kind of Magic (Windy City Magic #1) by Crystal Cestari

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Released: 16th May 2017

My Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Find it on Goodreads

Amber Sand is not a witch. The Sand family Wicca gene somehow leapfrogged over her. But she did get one highly specific magical talent: she can see true love. As a matchmaker, Amber's pretty far down the sorcery food chain (even birthday party magicians rank higher), but after five seconds of eye contact, she can envision anyone's soul mate.

Amber works at her mother's magic shop--Windy City Magic--in downtown Chicago, and she's confident she's seen every kind of happy ending there is: except for one--her own. (The Fates are tricky jerks that way.) So when Charlie Blitzman, the mayor's son and most-desired boy in school, comes to her for help finding his father's missing girlfriend, she's distressed to find herself falling for him. Because while she can't see her own match, she can see his--and it's not Amber. How can she, an honest peddler of true love, pursue a boy she knows full well isn't her match? (from Goodreads)

This book was so cute, I really loved it. It had a little bit of a shaky start, but after a few chapters, I was fully engrossed, and I’m very much looking forward to the sequel.

Amber was a fab main character. Apart from being really funny, she was very relatable. As a matchmaker, she was often looked down upon for not being a “proper” witch. It wasn’t that she wasn’t powerful and good at what she did, but rather that what she did was very specific, and didn’t have many other applications. The other witches viewed her as not really one of them, and Amber often felt left out because she wasn’t allowed to attend coven meetings or really know what was going on in the witchy world. Sometimes she thought her own mother wished she could be different and carry on the family tradition, and I could really sympathise with her. That being said, she was a top notch matchmaker, and seemed to know a lot about the supernatural world. Amber could be a little judgmental at times, but she had a tough time at school and I could understand why she acted that way. I also found myself deeply relating to her on a person level when she was talking about group projects – they really are the worst.

Amani was another great character! She was Amber’s best friend and I really believed their relationship. Amani was very funny too, and she knew that Amber often felt like she wasn’t good enough because she was “only” a matchmaker, and did her best to be there for her. She was often a bit on edge when it came to her precognition though, and I would definitely love to see more of that in the next book, and get to explore her power a bit. It was interesting, and the way she never wanted to reveal anything about Amber’s future had me curious. And her reaction to Vincent! I am very intrigued to see what happens there (is there hope yet?).

Charlie was really lovely, and I very much enjoyed seeing his relationship with Amber develop. He originally approached her for help finding his missing stepmother, but as he became more acquainted with the supernatural world, he and Amber got a lot closer, and it was so cute! I do wish we had found out a little bit more about him (maybe in the next book) but overall, I liked him. He was sweet and had a lot of great lines that made me smile and laugh. I could completely understand Amber’s struggle in regard to her feelings for him – he wasn’t her match, and her whole business was finding people their matches. She kept thinking that surely she would be a fraud, a terrible person for being with Charlie when she knew some other girl was really the one for him? It was a difficult situation to be in!

Plot-wise, this book started off a little slow, and the writing was kind of cheesy to begin with, but as I said, a few chapters in and I was really engaged. I loved exploring Amber’s supernatural world and seeing how she used her matchmaking power. I actually wish this had been explored a little more, because I wasn’t a 100% sure how Amber’s powers worked (but then, neither did she!) and it was strange that she was still putting so much stock in who was and wasn’t a match when she was in such a tangled situation herself. However, I know this is a series (and I am very glad), so hopefully we’ll get some more answers in book two (especially after Kim joined the mix! Kim! And what did the Fate guy mean?! So many questions!). I am personally hoping the next book will be from Amber’s POV again, just because I really enjoyed her narrative, but I’ll still be reading it even if it’s not!

Overall this was a very fun, very adorable read, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something fairly light-hearted with a bit of magic. Now to wait for book two!

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Blog Tour: Review of Dream Magic by Joshua Khan

Hi everyone! Welcome to my stop on the Dream Magic blog tour. Dream Magic is the sequel to Joshua Khan's middle grade fantasy, Shadow Magic, and contains zombies, ghosts, a gigantic flying bat and lots of magic. If that doesn't appeal to you, I don't know what will! Please see my review of Dream Magic below.

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Dream Magic (Shadow Magic #2) by Joshua Khan
Publisher: Scholastic
Released: 6th April 2017
My Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5
Find it on Goodreads

In a world ruled by six ancient Houses of Magic, a girl and a boy begin an epic and dangerous journey of discovery...

Lilith Shadow, princess of darkness, is struggling with her growing powers. Castle Gloom is filling with ghosts, zombies roam the country and people throughout Gehenna are disappearing. Then Lily is attacked in her own castle by a mysterious sorcerer known as Dreamweaver and his army of jewel-spiders whose bites send victims to sleep. Thorn, and his giant bat Hades, must save Lily from the realm of sleep and help her overcome the evil Dreamweaver in order for her to reclaim her kingdom. (from Goodreads)

After enjoying Shadow Magic, I was excited to start reading Dream Magic, and wasn’t disappointed! It was a fun and action-packed read that will appeal to fantasy fans of all ages.

In Dream Magic, the dead just weren’t staying dead, and Gehenna was overrun by zombies and ghosts and vampires while living people were disappering. Necromancy was the magic of the Shadows – but as Lily was a girl, she wasn’t supposed to have magic. The fact that she did – and that she was a powerful witch at that – initially terrified people, and Lily didn’t really know what to do. She didn’t enjoy ruling, it wasn’t supposed to be her job, but after the death of her parents and her brother, she was the only Shadow left. She had enough problems without some strange dream magic infecting her people; she was only thirteen and she was dealing with so much! All while keeping her great sense of humour too. I liked Lily because she wasn’t your typical ruler – she was nothing like Gabriel (who returned in this book – with no improvement to his personality) and was more concerned with doing what she thought was right than keeping up her appearances. She was also a strong witch and quite clever, and while she might not have liked ruling, I think she was actually well-suited to it.

Thorn was continuing his work as a squire, though he wasn’t seeing much of Tyburn or Lily these days. His only constant companion was his pet bat Hades (whom I adored). Of course, things never stayed calm in Gehenna, and Thorn managed to get involved in trying to solve the dream magic mystery with Lily. Lily and Thorn got closer in this book, which was nice to see, and I liked that Thorn was becoming more confident in himself within Gehenna. It wasn’t a place he was used to, and he knew that as a squire, no matter how many heroic deeds he did, he’d never truly be recognised for them. But even so, he didn’t care, and continued to do what he could to help people. He was also a lot cleverer than people thought, and I liked that he was always proving those who underestimated him wrong. I did miss Tyburn in this book, and would have liked to have seen his relationship with Thorn develop a bit more, but I’m sure that will be explored more in book three.

Plot-wise, there were a lot of twists and turns in this book and I really enjoyed reading about dream magic and the Dreamweaver. The illustrations were a nice touch and I felt they really added to the story. The jewel spiders made me shudder – I hate spiders of all kinds, jewelled or not – and was creeped out every time they popped up! I also liked how the book touched on morality, and whether something bad can be justified if it’s for the good of everyone else. Things weren’t always clear-cut, and while this book didn’t go into detail on the topic, it was interesting to see it discussed. I’m really intrigued by how Lily’s relationship with her father’s ghost will change after the revelations of this book, and look forward to book three!

Overall, Dream Magic was a really enjoyable sequel to Shadow Magic, and I’ll be continuing this series to find out what happens next.

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Joshua Khan was born in Britain. From very early on he filled himself with the stories of heroes, kings and queens until there was hardly any room for anything else. He can tell you where King Arthur was born* but not what he himself had for breakfast. So, with a head stuffed with tales of legendary knights, wizards and great and terrible monsters it was inevitable Joshua would want to create some of his own. Hence SHADOW MAGIC. Josh lives in London with his family, but he’d rather live in a castle. It wouldn’t have to be very big, just as long as it had battlements.

*Tintagel, in case you were wondering. (from Scholastic)

Website: http://www.joshuakhan.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/writerjoshkhan

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9831940.Joshua_Khan

Many thanks to Faye and Scholastic for letting me take part in this blog tour! Don't forget to visit the next stop tomorrow at Bart's Bookshelf.

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Book Blitz: At First Blush by Beth Ellyn Summer

Welcome to the BOOK BLITZ for

At First Blush by Beth Ellyn Summer!

At First Blush
by Beth Ellyn Summer
Genre: YA Contemporary
Release Date: April 4th 2017
Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark

Who would have thought that a teenager could have a successful career creating makeup tutorial videos on YouTube? For Lacey Robbins, this dream has been her reality. An up-and-coming YouTuber, she has thousands of fans and can't wait for the day when her subscriber count reaches the one million mark. And when she is offered a high school internship at On Trend Magazine, she figures that this could be the make it or break it moment.

But sometimes your dream job isn't all that it seems. Her editor is only interested in promoting junk products, and her boss in the Hair and Makeup department introduces her to the larger world of makeup artistry, making her wonder if making tutorials online is all she is meant to do. To top it all off, when the magazine's feature subject, musician Tyler Lance, turns his broodingly handsome smile her way, falling for him could mean losing her fans, forcing her to make a decision: her YouTube life or her real life?

Fans of Zoella's GIRL ONLINE will fall right into the world of this YA DEVIL WEARS PRADA and stay hooked from the first blush to the last glossy kiss.

Buy Links: 
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple 
 Kobo | Google Play | Bloomsbury  

     

Beth Ellyn Summer writes contemporary young adult fiction that somehow always includes the following elements: fame, makeup, and television. She graduated from Long Island University with a degree in Print and Electronic Journalism. Interning for Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon was the highlight of her college years. When she's not writing, Beth can be found swatching eyeshadows, solving Wheel of Fortune puzzles, and playing with her adorable cat, Penny Belle. Beth lives on Long Island in a cookie cutter town that, in an ironic twist of fate, doesn't have a single decent bakery.

Book Blitz Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

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