Charmed Tour: Review + Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the official blog tour for Charmed by Michelle Krys! Today I'll be sharing my review of the book - and don't forget to enter the awesome giveaway! To follow the rest of the tour, click on the banner above.

Charmed (Witch Hunter #2)

Author: Michelle Krys

Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal

Release Date: May 26, 2015

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Description:

Indie has spent the last few weeks frantically searching for Paige. She's tried every spell imaginable, but witchcraft has gotten her nowhere, and she's going crazy with guilt. Despite what her warlock boyfriend, Bishop, tells her, Indie knows it's her fault her best friend was kidnapped by the Priory. And with the Priory destroyed, finding Paige feels more hopeless than ever-especially when Indie discovers that Paige isn't even on Earth. She's trapped in Los Demonios, an alternate dimension of Los Angeles filled with evil paranormals. No one who has gone there has ever come out.

Fueled by terror and loyalty, Indie is desperate to find a way into the underworld prison. She'll worry about getting out later. But facing the dark world's most dangerous witches and warlocks on her own means keeping her plan hush-hush-and forging alliances with some sketchy people, including a seriously sexy sorcerer.

Sometimes a witch must keep secrets from the people she cares about most. And sometimes she isn't the only one with secrets…  

Charmed is the second book in a thrilling young adult paranormal series. The story picks up where the first left off - with our main character, Indie, having barely escaped a series of brutal attacks with her life. Her best friend, Paige, was taken by the crazy (and now dead) Leo - and Indie is still doing everything in her power to find her and bring her home safely. Indie feels that it's her fault Paige was kidnapped, and is determined to do whatever it takes to fix it - even when she finds out that Paige is actually in an evil alternate dimension of Los Angeles. It's a horrible place filled with the worst and most dangerous witches, warlocks, and sorcerers. Indie's determined to find a way into Los Demonios - which is basically a prison located in the underworld. In order to save her friend, Indie will have to team up with some dangerous people - not to mention a hot sorcerer. Will she be able to get into Los Demonios and find Paige before it's too late?

I'm a seriously huge fan of any book dealing with witches and witchcraft, so this book (and series) immediately grabbed my attention. I'm glad that they did, because this series is very well written with a perfect blend of multiple genres, which will definitely appeal to fans of all types of fiction. Indie is a fantastic main character for the book (and series). She's intelligent, strong, caring, devoted, loving, and full of determination. The first book showed a lot of character growth for Indie, and I enjoyed watching her mature throughout the story. In this installment, she continues to grow as a person - as both a regular person and as a witch. There are more tough situations that she has to deal with throughout the story, like going to Los Demonios to rescue Paige, that bring her character close to breaking - only to have her come back stronger than ever. I liked watching Indie continue to grow and to be more confident in who she is as a whole - both normal teen and witch. I was able to immediately fall right back into Indie's world within the first couple paragraphs of the book - and it felt like I had never left. Everything was written in detail with great attention to detail and vivid imagery - to the point where I could easily close my eyes and imagine myself going through the story with Indie. Another huge aspect for me was the author's use of first person point of view. I talk about the importance of point of view in almost every review, because I truly believe that it plays a major role in how the reader experiences the story. First person POV is by far my favorite because the reader gets to really know the narrator - who is usually the main character as well - on a deeply personal level that can't be achieved in any other way. We get a look inside their minds - how they are experiencing everything that's happening during the story, along with their fears, hopes, dreams, inner thoughts, memories, and so much more. The bond that the reader is able to create with the narrator with this writing style is incredibly intimate. It also gives the story a conversational tone, which I think makes it flow more naturally and helps the reader to immerse themselves fully into the book. 

Everything about this book was fantastic - it surpassed any expectations and hopes I had for it after reading the first one. The characters - including the major and even some minor ones - were all unique with their own personalities and traits. The setting was basically just like our world - except for the whole witch/warlock aspect. But in this book we get to experience the underworld for a while in Los Demonios. The author did a wonderful job transporting the reader into this magical and terrifying place, just as she did with the rest of the book. The story had a quick yet natural pace, except for when things were getting really suspenseful and full of action, and it made it even faster. I found myself devouring each page to see what was going to happen next and ended up reading the whole book in one sitting. It's definitely a page-turner that's full of everything you could ask for - action, adventure, excitement, paranormal aspects, witches, fantasy, and even romance. Because of this great blend of genres, the book will appeal to fans of all types of fiction. There's a bit of something for everyone inside. Overall, I definitely recommend this book (and series) to all readers - especially those who love stories about witches, along with paranormal and fantasy fiction. The only thing I hate about series is having to wait for what feels like forever for the next installment to come out, which is what I have to do now - but I'll deal with it because I can't wait to see what's going to happen in the next book!

Hi there! I’m the author of the YA novel HEXED, out now from Delacorte Press/Random House Children’s Books, as well as the sequel, CHARMED, and a separate, standalone novel called DEAD GIRLS SOCIETY. I live in Northwestern Ontario with my husband and son and work part-time as a NICU nurse. I’m repped by Adriann Ranta of Wolf Literary. 

Author Links:
http://michellekrys.com/ 
http://www.twitter.com/MichelleKrys 
http://www.facebook.com/MichelleKrys 

Buy Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Indiebound / Kobo

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Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: Charmed by Cambria Hebert

Charmed (Death Escorts #2)
Author: Cambria Hebert
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Release Date: July 22, 2013

Buy Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

Description:

***This is a New Adult book. Due to sexual content and some graphic language this book is recommended for young adults. Mature readers only. 18+ recommended.***

Life or Death? Not many people would choose death. But what if death chooses you? What if death doesn’t mean the end of your life, but the beginning?

For a Death Escort, death is life. Death is your paycheck. Death is your job.

And Charming is the best Escort the Grim Reaper has ever had.

But when you piss off the Reaper, being the best doesn’t matter. So Charming is assigned a Target who is practically impossible to kill. He knows the Reaper hopes he fails—that he’s counting on it. So Charming vows to prove him wrong. He vows to make the kill.

But someone else vows to get in his way. Someone with a big mouth, a sugar habit, and blond hair. Someone who makes his heart start beating again.

And so Charming is left holding more than one person’s fate in the palm of his hand. He thought the choice would be easy, that there really wasn’t a question at all.

He was wrong.

Life or Death? 

*NOTE: you do NOT have to read Recalled to understand Charmed. You can just read Charmed. Reading Recalled will give you a little more background info though.  

Frankie 

Sugar. I needed more of it if I was going to make it through this day. The chocolate croissant and caramel latte I had this morning wasn’t near enough to combat the massive lines, the noise, and disgruntled people that filled the DMV. Whatever in hell made me think that working at the Department of Motor Vehicles, here in Alaska, was a good idea?
Maybe it was the good pay. Maybe it was because I got weekends off.
Or maybe it was because I had a moment of temporary insanity that unfortunately coincided with me saying, “I accept,” when I got offered this job.
Besides the fact that the lines were permanently out the door, the computer systems were temperamental at best, and my boss was a complete broom rider, my stash of chocolate and Sour Patch Kids was empty.
That meant someone was going to die today.
I glanced back up at the ninety-year-old woman whose head barely cleared the insanely high counters we stood behind and tried to hold on to my patience. “Mrs. Eldridge,” I said extremely loudly. “Like I told you last week, you have to go and get new glasses before I can renew your driver’s license.”
“I have new glasses,” she insisted.
Lord, save me now.
“You got those ten years ago. You need some from this year.” Or decade I finished silently.
She shuffled out of the line like a turtle and I took her slowness as a chance to really search beneath my station and chair for a long-lost piece of sugar. Anything. Even a stray jellybean would likely find its way into my blood stream at this point. Of course there was nothing. I briefly considered hiding beneath my desk until five o’clock. My car. I had an emergency stash in my car. I glanced at my watch. I had another hour until I was able to take a fifteen-minute break.
A pair of black pumps appeared before me and I inwardly groaned. Just what I needed—a run-in with the witch. But instead of being greeted by her condescending, screechy tone, an icy-cold red can appeared before me.
Hallelujah, praise the Lord, it was caffeine and sugar!
I snatched the Coke out of her hand and popped the top, taking a large, satisfying chug. The bubbles crowded down my throat, slightly burning, and I took another swallow.
“I love you,” I murmured to Lela, the girl who worked right beside me.
She laughed. “I know that look when I see it.” Then she straightened and whispered. “Witch alert.”
I shot up, my head bumping into the counter on the way. I wanted to shout out in pain, but I clamped my mouth shut, not wanting to draw the attention of my boss, Satan’s assistant.
I turned back to my line, my eyes colliding with a broad chest. I looked up, and the can slid out of my hand, hitting the floor with a thud while fizzy liquid poured over my favorite boots.
I didn’t even notice.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I growled as I looked around for something sharp I could stab him with.
A thick brow arched. “So is this where you spend your days? As if the DMV isn’t a horrible enough place to visit without the poor people of Alaska having to tolerate you.”
There wasn’t enough sugar on this planet that would save him. I reached out and picked up the black phone. If I couldn’t bludgeon him to death here at my place of employment, then I could at least call the cops. I began dialing, but he reached over and cut the connection.
I slammed the phone down on his hand, which was still pressed on the hang-up button. Breath hissed between his teeth and his green eyes shot to mine. “Careful, George, you’re pissing off the wrong man.”
“My name isn’t George.”
He shrugged, pulling his hand away from the phone. “When you have a man’s name, does it really matter?”

Cambria Hebert is the author of the young adult paranormal Heven and Hell series, the new adult Death Escorts series, and the new adult Take it Off series. She loves a caramel latte, hates math and is afraid of chickens (yes, chickens). She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and children (both human and furry) where she is plotting her next book. You can find out more about Cambria and her work by visiting http://www.cambriahebert.com

Author Links:
“Like” her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cambria-Hebert/128278117253138
Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cambriahebert
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/cambriahebert/pins/
Cambria website: http://www.cambriahebert.com
Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/CambriaHebert?feature=mhee

 Grand Prize Giveaway: 

A signed PB copy of Charmed
A Death Escorts Swag pack featuring a wrist band
A Charmed dog tag necklace

(US Only)

  

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Cover Reveal: Charmed by Cambria Hebert

 

   

Charmed (Death Escorts #2)

Author: Cambria Hebert

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Release Date: July 22, 2013

Cover Designer: Regina Wamba

Format: Available in Print and Ebook

 Description:

 Life or Death? Not many people would choose death. But what if death chooses you? What if death doesn’t mean the end of your life, but the beginning? For a Death Escort, death is life. Death is your paycheck. Death is your job. And Charming is the best Escort the Grim Reaper has ever had. But when you piss off the Reaper, being the best doesn’t matter. So Charming is assigned a Target who is practically impossible to kill. He knows the Reaper hopes he fails—that he’s counting on it. So Charming vows to prove him wrong. He vows to make the kill. But someone else vows to get in his way. Someone with a big mouth, a sugar habit, and blond hair. Someone who makes his heart start beating again. And so Charming is left holding more than one person’s fate in the palm of his hand. He thought the choice would be easy, that there really wasn’t a question at all. He was wrong. Life or Death?

This book is recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual content and language.

Note: You DO NOT have to read Recalled (Death Escorts #1) to understand Charmed 

 

 Watch the Trailer:

Cambria Hebert is the author of the young adult paranormal Heven and Hell series and the Death Escorts series. She loves a caramel latte, hates math and is afraid of chickens (yes, chickens). She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and children (both human and furry) where she is plotting her next book. You can find out more about Cambria and her work by visiting http://www.cambriahebert.com 

Author Links:

“Like” her on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cambria-Hebert/128278117253138
Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cambriahebert
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/cambriahebert/pins/
Cambria Website: http://www.cambriahebert.com
Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/CambriaHebert?feature=mhee

What do you think of the cover? Leave a comment!