Friday, October 30, 2015

Something Wicked Guest Post and Giveaway with Megan Haskell



Can you believe it is almost Halloween and with it the sad end to Something Wicked? I'm not ready for any of it to be over yet! Which is why I have another fun guest post and giveaway scheduled for you today with author Megan Haskell and her fun series, The Last Descendant.

She also has a fabulous giveaway so don't forget to enter it at the bottom of the post! 

But first let's talk about Megan's book, Sanyare. As some of you may remember I recently read and reviewed this and loved it. I really hope you take the time to check it out and most importantly, read it as well. It really was well written and just a lot of fun!

To see my full review of this book, please click HERE.




Title: Sanyare
Author: Megan Haskell
Series: Book One in the Last Descendant Series
Published By: Trabuco Ridge Press (February 16, 2015)
Source: Copy Provided by the Author (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: Fantasy


Book Description:

When friends become enemies and enemies become friends, who’s left to trust? 


Trained as an elite fighter and educated in the ways of the elves, Nuriel “Rie” Lhethannien has worked decades to be accepted into the High Court messenger service. It’s a simple enough occupation, but in a realm where humans are treated as little better than slaves, it’s a position she’ll do anything to protect. 



On a routine delivery in the Human Realm, Rie is attacked by assassins from the enemy Shadow Realm and framed as a traitor. Facing execution at the hand of an unmerciful king, she evades capture and crosses the portal into enemy lands to prove her innocence. 



Surprising allies arise from the shadows, assisting her search and uncovering secrets she didn’t know she kept. With the risk of discovery lurking at every turn, Rie must use every weapon in her arsenal — and some she didn’t know she possessed — to uncover the truth behind the attack. Along the way, she discovers she might not be as human as she was led to believe, and her heritage could be more dangerous than she ever imagined.








About the Author:





Legend has it, I was born with a book in my hands. When I was a kid, my mom would ground me from reading in order to get me to do my chores. To this day, I can readily ignore the real world in favor of the imaginary one lurking between the pages of my current addiction. My dad — also an avid reader — introduced me to Tolkien in my late elementary years, and I never looked back. I love escaping to worlds where magic and monsters are real, especially stories with kick-butt heroines and dangerously attractive heroes. 

Despite my voracious book appetite, I didn’t start creative writing until I was working as a number cruncher in a big accounting firm. With an hour plus commute by train every day, and a demanding left-brain occupation, I needed a mobile creative outlet. A pen and paper are about as mobile as it gets! As the pages began to fill, I quickly moved onto a tiny laptop, and a writer was born. Now I get to create my own fantasies!


I currently live in Southern California with my wonderfully supportive husband, two daughters, and a ridiculously energetic dog. 

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Tinker Bell? I think not! 
These are the pixies in Sanyare: The Last Descendant

First off, I’d like to thank Ali for inviting me to guest blog on My Guilty Obsession today. I’m thrilled to be here! Because Ali “adored the pixies” in Sanyare: The Last Descendant, I’ve decided to give you all a little peek behind the curtain and a deeper look at who they are and where they come from.
The pixies in Sanyare are not your average Tinker Bell fairies. They don’t wear their hair in cute little buns, dress in sexy outfits made out of leaves, or put pompoms on their shoes. They don’t sprinkle pixie dust everywhere they go, or make things fly. My pixies have evolved to do two things really well: hunt and hide.
Did you ever see the movie Galaxy Quest with Tim Allen? Remember the cute little aliens on the barren desert planet that suddenly turn into vicious cannibals? 




Yeah. That.





Now imagine that they’re two to three inches tall, can camouflage themselves like a chameleon, and fly faster than the human eye can follow and you have a pretty good idea of what the pixies in Sanyare are like. 

The greater fae in Sanyare (the near-immortal elves and sidhe who hold the power in the nine realms) believe that, like sharks, carnivorous pixies will enter into a feeding frenzy when they smell blood and will mindlessly feed until satiated or dead. This is both true and false. Pixies are certainly attracted to blood, and a starving pixie will risk injury to get a bite, but they are not mindless predators. They are generally careful and observant of their surroundings, preferring the safe target over the tastier (but deadlier) greater fae. But, if they think they can get away with it, they will gleefully attack an elf or sidhe and eat until they’re so stuffed full of blood and meat they can barely move. 

A swarm of six pixies can strip a small mammal of meat in minutes, leaving nothing but bone and sinew. If they stuff themselves too full, they get blood drunk and slow, often needing to sleep off the meal. That’s when they’re most vulnerable. If they can’t manage to hide in a safe place before passing out, they become an easy target for bigger predators or the greater fae who want to be rid of the threat to their livestock.

Most of the greater fae treat the pixies like pests. They can’t understand the pixie’s language, and assume that the tiny winged fae are basically insects who can and will decimate herds and endanger the weak or young. As a result, they generally exterminate these lesser fae on sight or drive away the swarms before they have a chance to build a nest near easy prey. 
In Pixie Tamer, the free short story prequel to Sanyare, Rie learns that the pixies are not the creatures she’s been led to believe. She avoids killing them, instead taking a moment to listen and empathize with their predicament. It’s how she earns the loyalty of a small swarm of five pixies: Niinka, Hiinto, Tiik, Possn, and Gikl.

Niinka is the presumed leader of the swarm. She is outspoken and tough, often taking the initiative and developing the swarm’s hunting (or troublemaking) plans.
Hiinto is Niinka’s brother, and a bit slow on the uptake. Though they all love to make mischief, he’s the only one who ever gets caught.

Tiik is the swarm historian and knows everything there is to know about his species. He doesn’t often get involved in the banter between the other pixies, but once you get him talking about one of his areas of expertise, it’s hard to get him to shut up.

Possn is a meek little thing who rarely talks at all. She likes to follow the other pixies around, but remains on the outskirts of the swarm. She’s the last to join in the hunt and is typically happy taking the leftovers from the others.

Gikl is the warrior. Silent and deadly, he can appear out of nowhere, take his pound of flesh (literally), and be gone before the victim even has time to react.

As a species, the pixies are treasure hoarders, and the greatest treasure of all is information. They are gossips and natural spies, easily infiltrating secure locations and eavesdropping on conversations. Fortunately for the greater fae, they are also selfish creatures and have little interest in court politics, except as it relates to their own interests. 

Though the swarm increases and decreases in size over time, these five pixies have been with Rie for decades. Without giving anything away, they know more about Rie at the start of Sanyare than she knows about herself, and because they’ve come to love and respect her, they feel obligated to assist and protect her however they can. (Besides, staying with Rie provides more opportunity for treasure and adventure than living with a persecuted swarm elsewhere in the nine realms.) 

All five pixies don’t travel with Rie all the time, but at least one of them is with her on every delivery she makes as a messenger. This annoys Rie on occasion — she’s not a particularly social person and enjoys time alone — but they’ve proven helpful more than once, even saving her life, and she can’t really control where they go or what they do, so she puts up with their mayhem.

If you’d like to learn more about how the swarm met Rie, please read Pixie Tamer, a short story prequel to Sanyare. It’s free everywhere but Nook (where it’s $0.99 due to restrictions on their direct uploading platform) or you can contact me directly for a free digital copy.
I hope you enjoyed this quick look into the lives of the pixies. 







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Thursday, October 29, 2015

Review: Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray

Title: Ten Thousand Skies Above You
Author: Claudia Gray
Series: Book Two in the Firebird Series
Published By: Harper Teen (November 3, 2015)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Fantasy/Time Travel
My Rating: 4 Stars!


Book Description:
Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents' invention, to cross into alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse—even hurting the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked and his consciousness scattered across multiple dimensions. 

Marguerite has no choice but to search for each splinter of Paul’s soul. The hunt sends her racing through a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each world brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with each trial she faces, she begins to question the destiny she thought they shared. 

The second book in the Firebird trilogy, Ten Thousand Skies Above You features Claudia Gray’s lush, romantic language and smart, exciting action, and will have readers clamoring for the next book.




Like a moth to the flame so goes me with books about time traveling, or in this case, dimension hoping. I am inexplicably drawn to them but unlike the moth, I seldom get burned from them. 

And after loving A Thousand Pieces Of You I jumped right into Ten Thousand Skies without hesitation and once again was completely caught up in the world that Gray created. 

With a slightly unique take on time travel, this once again, was a fun filled ride wrought with danger and surprises around every corner and new world. 

I really enjoyed this second installment and with the cliffhanger ending, I'm eagerly awaiting book three. 




*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

WoW Pick of the Week!



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It is a chance to share those new releases were are super anxious to get our hands on and read.






This weeks read looks perfect for this time of year and even though it doesn't come out until next year, I can't wait to read it and I just know I will be starting it sooner rather than later.





Book Description:
For fans of Holly Black and Nova Ren Suma, a gripping, hauntingly atmospheric novel about murder, revenge, and a world where monsters—human and otherwise—lurk at the fringes.

When seventeen-year-old Breezy Lin wakes up in a shallow grave one year after her death, she doesn’t remember who killed her or why. All she knows is that she’s somehow conscious—and not only that, she’s able to sense who around her is hiding a murderous past. In life, Breezy was always drawn to the elegance of the universe and the mystery of the stars. Now she must set out to find answers and discover what is to become of her in the gritty, dangerous world to which she now belongs—where killers hide in plain sight and a sinister cult is hunting for strange creatures like her. What she finds is at once empowering, redemptive, and dangerous.


Tense, complex, and wholly engaging, Shallow Graves is a stunning first novel from Kali Wallace. 




What do you think, does this look like something you might like as well?


Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Something Wicked Guest Post and Giveaway With Ann Noser



It is another fun day with the Something Wicked Tour and today I have author Ann Noser with us for a special guest post all about fear! There will also be a wonderful giveaway for How To Date Dead Guys, a wonderful series that is all about the ghosts so be sure to take a minute and enter it as well!



Published By; Curiosity Quills (July 15, 2014)

Series: Book One in the Blood Moon Series

Book Description:
College sophomore Emma Roberts remembers her mother’s sage advice: “don’t sleep around, don’t burp in public, and don’t tell anyone you see ghosts”. But when cute Mike Carlson drowns in the campus river under her watch, Emma’s sheltered life shatters.

Blamed for Mike’s death and haunted by nightmares, Emma turns to witchcraft and a mysterious Book of Shadows to bring him back. Under a Blood Moon, she lights candles, draws a pentacle on the campus bridge, and casts a spell. The invoked river rages up against her, but she escapes its fury. As she stumbles back to the dorm, a stranger drags himself from the water and follows her home. And he isn’t the only one…

Instead of raising Mike, Emma assists the others she stole back from the dead—a pre-med student who jumped off the bridge, a young man determined to solve his own murder, and a frat boy Emma can’t stand…at first. More comfortable with the dead than the living, Emma delves deeper into the seductive Book of Shadows. Her powers grow, but witchcraft may not be enough to protect her against the vengeful river and the killers that feed it their victims.

Inspired by the controversial Smiley Face Murders, HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS will appeal to the secret powers hidden deep within each of us.

***Note: classified as New Adult due to the college-aged main character, but material is appropriate for those in 10th grade and up.***





About the Author:



Growing up an only child, I learned to entertain myself. During summer vacations, my greatest form of exercise consisted of turning the pages of a book. Now I’m all grown up, and full of stories half-written in my head. I have to write them down so I can find out what happens next.

HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS is my first novel.

When I'm not living in my own created fantasy world, I'm a small animal veterinarian and a mother. My writing career began via monthly Pet Vet columns for the local Post Bulletin newspaper. Next I published non-fiction articles in RunMinnesota, the DVM360 journal, and The Wagazine. 

Book ideas bubble up from the most unexpected places: a sign post, a newspaper article, a radio show. I've got more stories in my head than down on paper.

Just give me time... 





What Are You Afraid Of, Little Girl?

Everybody's afraid of something, whether they care to admit it or not.

What's your biggest fear?

Spiders? Big, hairy, wiggly-legged spiders?

Werewolves? Oh, wait, that's right—werewolves are sexy now. I forgot. Vampires, too, of course. Shucks.

That kind of ruins Halloween, doesn't it? Never mind. There's plenty of other things to be scared of, trust me.

My biggest fear is disease. I'm even more scared of disease than of death, because of the suffering that goes along with it. I've watched so many fight dementia or cancer. I'm terrified I'll "inherit" my family's predisposition to developing Alzheimer's disease. I wonder at the nursing home's tendency to keep people alive for much longer than they are comfortable.

As a veterinarian, I'm told that euthanasia should be the hardest part of my job. Part of me agrees, but I also might argue that perhaps it should be the easiest. I can offer my patients an "out" from their suffering. Human doctors can't. For me, it would be much harder to be the human doctor helpless to do anything to ease the suffering of a child dying of cancer when pain meds no longer relieve the pain. I'm not making an argument for human euthanasia, I'm simply pointing out that physical pain and agony can often be so much worse than death.

That is why suffering from disease is what I fear most, but we all must face it at some point in our lives (or deaths). 

May we be graced with the courage and grace to endure what lies ahead.



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Don't forget to check out the other fun posts we have scheduled today as well!
And Braine @Talk Supe with Owl & The City of Angels by Kristi Charish (GP & Review)

Monday, October 26, 2015

Release Day Review: Dead Girl Running by Ann M. Noser

Title: Dead Girl Running
Author: Ann M. Noser
Series: Book One in The New Order Series
Published By: Curiosity Quills (October 26, 2015)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Author (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: NA Dystopian
My Rating: 4 Stars!


Book Description:
Eight years ago, SILVIA WOOD's father died in an industrial accident. After suffering through years of Psychotherapy Services and Mandated Medications for depression and multiple suicide attempts, she longs to work in Botanical Sciences. When the Occupation Exam determines she must work in Mortuary Sciences instead, she wonders if the New Order assigned her to the morgue to push her over the edge.

To appease her disappointed mother, Silvia enters the Race for Citizen Glory, in an attempt to stand out in the crowd of Equals. After she begins training with "golden boy" LIAM HARMAN, she discovers he also lost his father in the same accident that ruined her childhood. Then Silvia meets and falls for Liam's older cousin, whose paranoid intensity makes her question what really happened to her father. As the race nears, Silvia realizes that she's not only running for glory, she's running for her life.










Ann Noser wowed me with her debut novel and her very original take on the paranormal world. So when I heard that her new book was going to be a blend of some of my favorite genres, I knew I had to try it.

And I wasn't wrong in thinking that this would be another original take on something done before. 

It was imaginative, fun, fast paced and full of surprises. It once again showed that Noser does know how to write and because of it, she can make her characters jump off the pages and come to life, which is exactly what she did in Dead Girl Running.

I loved all the conspiracies and the mystery behind The New Order and of course the death of her father and 52 others. There was so much that was hidden and as it all slowly unraveled, I found that I had a hard time putting this down.

I won't lie, the ending was a killer and now I'm dying to get my hands on book two. 




*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*





Today's stops:

Heidi@ Rainy Day Ramblings: Bitterroot by Heather Hildenbrand and S.M. Reine: Guest Post and Giveaway

And My Love of Reading Keeps Growing with Author Hillary Monahan

Friday, October 23, 2015

Something Wicked Guest Post and Giveaway With Tyler H. Jolley



I'm so excited for today's post with Tyler H. Jolley. Not only is he an amazing writer with a series I absolutely adore but he is an amazing person too!  Truly one of the nicest people/author's I have ever had the privilege of getting to know. 

If you haven't checked out his series yet that he writes with fellow author Sherry D. Ficklin, definitely do. It is so.Much.Fun!
And not only do I have a wonderful guest post today from Tyler but also an amazing giveaway so don't forget to check that out as well you guys! So.Much>Fun!!



Published By: Spencer Hill Press (November 14, 2013)

Series: Book One in the Lost Imperials Series

Book Description:

Welcome to the war.

The Tesla Institute is a premier academy that trains young time travelers called Rifters. Created by Nicola Tesla, the Institute seeks special individuals who can help preserve the time stream against those who try to alter it.

The Hollows is a rogue band of Rifters who tear through time with little care for the consequences. Armed with their own group of lost teens--their only desire to find Tesla and put an end to his corruption of the time stream.

Torn between them are Lex and Ember, two Rifters with no memories of their life before joining the time war.

When Lex’s girlfriend dies during a mission, the only way he can save her is to retrieve the Dox, a piece of tech which allows Rifters to re-enter their own timeline without collapsing the time stream. But the Dox is hidden deep within the Telsa Institute, which means Lex must go into the enemy camp. It’s there he meets Ember, and the past that was stolen from them both comes flooding back.

Now armed with the truth of who they are, Lex and Ember must work together to save the future before the battle for time destroys them both…again.






Published By: Teen Clean Publishing (May 5, 2015)
Series: Book Two and Three in the Lost Imperials Series

(To check out my review of these amazing reads please click HERE!)


Book Description:

Welcome to the TIME WAR

STEIN has been with the Hollows for as long as she can remember. Taken as a child, she has no memories of her past—and that's always been fine by her. Until the day she stumbles across a hidden journal containing the devastating truth about her paternity. Now everything she thought she knew—and everyone she thought she could trust—has changed. The truth about who she is and where she came from is a secret so deep, it will rock the Hollows and the Tesla Institute alike.


ETHAN is left with a serious problem after what should have been a routine mission. He's fractured—a break between mind and body that leaves him at the mercy of his Rifter abilities, which are quickly tearing him apart. He will have to trust the only person who might know how to fix him, a mysterious Rifter named Stewart Stills, who seems to have a special connection with the time stream. 





About Tyler:



Tyler was born in Vernal, UT. He's an author, orthodontist, periodonist, and farmer. His wife and four kids keep him very busy.








I’ve always loved Halloween.  Even after I was too old to trick-or-treat I still had a blast with the holiday. I decided to share my top five tricks or treats I’ve done over the years.


1. Growing up, I lived on a street that was about half a mile long and was lined with many houses. When I was 15 my buddy and I got the bright idea of putting multiple costumes at each other’s house because he lived at the top of the street and I lived at the bottom. We started at my house and trick-or-treated all the way up on both sides of the road, getting as much candy as we could. Our first costume was a camo army guy, then we changed into mad scientist costumes complete with crazy wigs and fake blood trickling down our faces. Then we trick or treated all the way down the street. We got back to my house and we changed into the final costume: Jedi’s from Star Wars. We worked the block again and had to stop because we had so much candy we didn’t know what to do with it all. I’m pretty sure I munched on it for 8 months. 

2. Kids in my neighborhood would steal your carved pumpkins right from your front porch on Halloween and smash them on the street right in front of your house. You’d wake up on November 1st to pumpkin guts all over your sidewalk and street. It was an act of vandalism.  This went on for a couple of years, so when I was 18 I decided I would fill our pumpkins with concrete. The thefts, of course, didn’t happen until the middle of the night.  But this year, when the kids tried to lift them they got as far as our front steps then tried to roll them off and just left them there. The pumpkins were still destroyed, but they didn’t get the satisfaction of smashing them like they had in previous years. I think this pumpkin smashing tradition continues to this day in my old neighborhood. 

3.  For the whole month of October, when I was 17, I dressed a scarecrow/dummy in a flannel shirt, Levis, shoes, gloves and a mask in a lawn chair on my front step. All month long anyone who came by would see this scarecrow by our front door. Then on Halloween, I took out all the stuffing, put on the clothes and mask and sat in the chair. I scared most of the unsuspecting kids. It was funny. A couple of times kid would come up and hesitate and say, “I think that guy is real!” Then I’d pop up at that very moment, scare them, and then chase them down the sidewalk. Of course I’d eventually take the mask off and tell them it was ok and give them some candy.

4.  I grew up in a small town and my dad was a dentist. He was well-known, I was too so I always had to behave but that’s another story. Everybody knew who Dr. Jolley. My parents would not only give out candy at Halloween but also a free toothbrush. That always drew a huge crowd and people would come by expecting a new toothbrush. It kept people excited and people would actually drive a long distance to get their free toothbrush and see Dr. Jolley. He still does it to this day.

5.  This happened in my house in Philadelphia in the early 2000’s. I lived I an old house from the 1920’s and there was an old rickety fence that lined the yard. It was sort of falling down, but still provided privacy. One October it rained almost every single day. One day we noticed by one of the back posts where the concrete and the fence met, this baby doll emerged from the mud. It was missing an eye and arm, and its mouth had been cut before the culprit buried it there who knows how long ago.  Each day after a rainstorm we’d go out and watch this baby doll unearth itself a little more until it was completely free of mud and debris. To this day my now 15-year-old is completely freaked by baby dolls. 



Open to US Residents Only





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Don't forget to stop by Talk Supe and check out her fun post for today's tour as well!

And Braine @Talk Supe with a guest post for Persuasion by Martina Boone. 

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Something Wicked Review and Giveaway With: Ignited by Liz Long



This is such a fun fantasy series that is all about the extraordinary and the monsters that lurk inside all of us! 



Released: September 20, 2015
Series: Book Four in the Donovan Circus Series
Genre: YA/NA Fantasy


Book Description:

"Maybe I had to accept that the Donovan Circus no longer felt like home." Lucy might've beaten Alex the Chameleon, but the cost of his defeat was too much to bear. After losing a beloved member, Sheffield Donovan temporarily disbands the show. Abandoned by the ringmaster and her friends, Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of their ruined circus - and defend it against those waiting for the opportunity to strike. During one of these attempts, Lucy learns of Augustus Rivers, the leader of his so-called gifted mafia. When Lucy is offered a chance to infiltrate the Rivers' household, she jumps at the opportunity to seek vengeance on the mastermind. Augustus instead surprises everyone by proposing that the powerful female Firestarter work for him. It's everything the Donovan Circus isn't, an offer Lucy finds more enticing than she ever expected. With the Donovan Circus in shambles and the gifted world on the cusp of war, can Lucy Sullivan figure out who she's meant to be? Or will her fire destroy everything they've built? 
I'm excited to have Liz here today with her new book Ignited, not only because is she a great writer but she has one of the funniest YA/NA fantasy series out there. If you are looking for something different and unique, then her Donovan Circus series. is the one of you!




About the Author:



Liz Long is a ridiculously proud graduate of Longwood University with a BA in English. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her fabulous day job as a social media editor includes writing for a publishing company in Roanoke, VA.

Her first book, Gifted, is the first book in the Donovan Circus series, where superpowers meets the circus. Burned is the second adventure. Her standalone book Witch Hearts, is a story about a serial killer hunting witches for their powers. Her newest book A Reaper Made is an NA Paranormal tale of a Reaper using magic to save her family from demons. All titles are available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback, Barnes & Noble for Nook, and iBooks.








With the crazy ride that was the third installment in this series, I was eager to jump back in and see where the gang from the Donovan Circus were. How they were dealing with their victories and their loses as well as the danger that I knew was still out there for this rag tag bunch of specials.

This was a fabulous addition to the series. It made me sad, it broke my heart in places, especially as they are all trying to grieve and be strong as well as it making me happy that for the most part, they are still a unit. Still strong, still together and still willing to do whatever it takes to help Lucy and get things done. 

But most of all, it made me remember all over again why this series is so unique and fun.

Lucy has grown so much in so many ways and has taken on not only the job of protecting those around her and keeping them safe, but all the people out there like her. In fact, she may have taken on a little too much. But thankfully, she has some pretty amazing friends to help her out along the way...when she lets them that is.


All in all, I loved this book and am so excited with all that I just know is to come. Long has impressed me with her writing and how each new book in the series, gets better and better and it makes me even more eager for book five.






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Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Review: Sweet Liar by Debra Doxer

Title: Sweet Liar
Author: Debra Doxer
Series: Book Two in the Candy Series
Published: October 2, 2015
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Author (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Mystery
My Rating: 4 Stars!


Book Description:
Sometimes lies are sweeter than the truth.

Beauty is alluring; it can disguise the ugliness beneath. But scarred beauty is even more potent to a girl who vowed never to let her heart be broken again. It was an easy vow for Candy to keep until she met Jonah, an arrogant boy with a face that would be too perfect if not for the scar that marred the skin beside his eye.

That imperfect boy earned her trust and won her heart, but the ties that bind people together are fragile, especially when lies are told. Trust is also fragile, and once broken, doesn’t heal like a heart. Trust has to be earned again, and Jonah desperately wants Candy’s trust back.

But Candy has more than Jonah to worry about. Her father is in trouble, and she intends to help him whether he likes it or not. People tell her he’s a bad man, and that may be true, but he’s not all bad. Deep down, she understands his brand of badness because she’s so much like him.

When Candy finally learns the truth, she’ll have to grow up fast, let go of old grievances, and realize that being vulnerable doesn’t make her weak. In fact, opening herself up may be the very thing that makes her whole again. 










Doxer has always amazed me with her writing ability and the wonderful, imaginative stories that she creates so it was no wonder that I found this second installment in the Candy series so fabulous.

If some of you recall that read my review for Like Candy, I had some reservations about the main character. I loved the story but at times Candy was childish and jumped to conclusions way too often and even though I really liked her by the end of the story, I still wasn't completely in love with her character.

I love it when an author can make me do a 360 and completely change my mind about someone. Not only did she change my mind about Candy, but she also made me rethink my opinion about every character since the ending of book one. 

Truly this was so much fun. It has so much more to it that I couldn't help by be sucked right back into the story for a second time, and this time, I loved everyone, well, not everyone, but most of them. 

Candy grew up a lot in so many ways that it was refreshing to see and not only did it make me like her more because of it, but I actually really started caring about her as well. 

This was a fabulous second installment and I'm really hoping there will be more books in the series because I think it would be so much fun to continue to watch Candy grow and evolve into the person she wants to be.





*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*








Don't Forget to check out Heidi's guest post today with author J.L. Bryan and his Ellie Jordan Ghost Trapper series. I adore this series and it is absolutely perfect for this time of year and this event!