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The Bookish Snob

Biography

I'm completely addicted to reading with an obsession for all things romance and the paranormal. When I'm not reading, you can find me blogging and I have to say I love my life !!

Where to find The Bookish Snob online

Twitter: @thebookishsnob
Blog: http://thebookishsnob.blogspot.com

Smashwords book reviews by The Bookish Snob

The Mind Readers, Book 1 on Jan. 04, 2011

How many of us at some time in our lives wished that we could read minds and know what other people were thinking? I know I was one and I’ve often wondered how much easier my teen years would have been knowing whether the boy I was crushing on liked me or how to avoid annoying the school bullies. I remember thinking how perfect my life would have been so when I was asked to read THE MIND READERS, I couldn’t help but smile. Here was my chance to see how my life “could’ve been” like with such a gift and as I settled down to read, it didn’t take long for me to realize how naïve I was. Having such an ability may seem like a gift but for those that have it, it also has some pretty difficult consequences. Just ask Cam Winters. Every day she is bombarded with the thoughts of others, thoughts she wishes she didn’t have to hear because not everyone has good and pure intentions. Once again, she is placed in a difficult situation – she overhears something where people could get hurt but after years of having caution drilled into her by her controlling grandmother, Cam has no other choice but to walk away. She longs for the time when she can be free to make her own decisions but continues to go through the motions of life until something happens that changes everything. With her BFF, Cam finds a dead body lying on a beach and as much as that freaks her out, it pales in comparison to hearing the voice of the killer in her mind – “I killed her”. Frantically looking around a dark stranger catches her eye but he disappears only to surface again as Lewis, the new boy in school with a secret agenda. He knows all about her and has come to take her to be with those just like her. To a place where she can be free and not worry about constantly making a mistake and revealing her secret. Excited about all the possibilities, Cam leaves with him but soon realizes that not everything is as it seems and that she may just have to take the biggest risk of her life. With her new found freedom will she do what she knows is right or will she do what she’s always done and ignore it? Some may say it’s an easy decision but having fallen in love with Lewis, Cam’s heart is also on the line and her decision will have lasting consequences. THE MINDREADERS doesn’t just tell the story of a newly found love painfully tested but it also holds the reader in suspense until the very end because you never quite know what’s going to happen. Nothing is what it seems, things always change and some risks need to be taken. Straight away I made a connection with Cam. My heart really hurt for her because there seemed to be this resigned feeling surrounding her. The opening scene shows her having to deal with lewd thoughts from a pervert and the whispering of a gunman. Guilt and her were constant friends because once again she wasn’t able to do anything. Just one word and her secret would be exposed and her life in real danger. Her grandmother is controlling, her BFF is a self centered brat and poor Cam realizes that her life isn’t her own. The beautiful thing about Cam though was that there did come a point where enough was enough and I loved watching her take a stand, of seeing her refuse to put up with the garbage people did around her. I could empathize how difficult it was for her to always feel like she didn’t truly fit in so when Lewis showed up and offers her understanding and acceptance, I cheered when she took the risk and followed him. What I loved most about Cam was the change I saw in her through the book – she went from someone who hides to a strong girl who stood up for what she knew was right. She ran the risk of losing everything and I loved the bravery she showed because she refused to be manipulated. Lewis was the boy I wanted desperately to kiss and forcefully smack at the same time which made him a lot of fun to read. I can only imagine how amazing he looked to Cam when he turned up at her school and he definitely had a strong protective vibe to him that I absolutely LOVED. He instantly took her under his wing, wanting only the best for her and had a very anchoring influence over her so it was a shock when he seemed to bounce back and forth when she started to question her surroundings. One moment I was swooning over him and next I was screaming at him but as frustrated as I was, I couldn’t help but love Lewis and feel deeply for him. He really was caught in a hard place and making the choice between loyalty and love is difficult, especially when you add his parents death into the equation. I could almost hear his struggle through the pages as he battled with what to do, feeling that either way he would be disloyal to someone he loved. Each scene with him was filled with different emotions and again I didn’t know what to do, swoon or scream, cheer or cry. There was so much going on under the surface with him and I can’t wait to see what happens next because he has so much potential, so much growth, and so much emotion. I loved the sighs and turmoil! This was an amazing book from beginning to end. I really appreciated the way the author opened the story by showing just how complicated and difficult being a mind reader was. It gave the real sense of how it must be every day for Cam and just how miserable life must have been. I loved the flow of the book and just how invested I became in the story because I could feel my body reacting at certain moments and when I was finished the very first thing I thought was “OMGSH there has to be more.” That’s something I’m beginning to see as a trend with Lori Brighton’s books – I never want them to end because reading each one is an emotional rush. THE MINDREADERS has a lot to offer its readers and I suggest everyone go out and get themselves a copy because it’s not an experience you’re going to want to miss out on. Happy reading!!
The Demon Kiss on April 05, 2011

This book left me begging for more and frantically searching the computer looking for the release date of the 3rd book. I think that Lacey Weatherford is a genius. She has followed up her first book (The Trouble With Spells) with a second phenomonal story. The Demon Kiss continues the journey in Portia and Vance's discovery of each other and their magic, with events that seem impossibly difficult and relentless in trying to pull them apart. Having overcome the danger of a near demon conversion, Portia and Vance embark on the journey of facing Vance's father, with the hopes of finally laying to rest the threat that hangs over Vance's fate. As I read each page, I found myself pulled deeper into the story and my emotions became tied to theirs. I loved the dynamics the author developed further with Vance and Portia and I have to say that they are rapidly becoming one of my favorite couples. Portia is more committed to doing all she can to support Vance and Vance is more determined to protect Portia at all costs. Both fall deeper into each other and for all lovers of romance, both of them sizzle on the page. One of my favorite scenes occur when Portia and Vance come face to face with the evilness that is Vance's father, Damien Cummings and as a villan, Damien definitely delivers the goods. Even through the pages he made my skin crawl and that's what I loved so much about reading this book. Not only did the author have my skin crawling, she also had me blushing through the kissing, sighing through the tenderness, laughing at the humor and cheering in those moments where Vance and Portia need it most. She has written the book in a way that engages both the mind and heart of the reader, taking them on a ride that they won't easily forget. I enjoyed every moment of reading this book and I definitely look forward to reading the next book in the series. I absolutely loved this book. Thank you Lacey for writing it
Ravena & The Resurrected on April 05, 2011

Oh.My.Gosh . This book was a delight and such a wonderful surprise. The cover scared me a little at first but from the moment I met Ravena and her quirky sense of humor, I was hooked. How many of us wish for something? Dream it up in our heads, romanticizing it in every way? That’s how it was for Ravena. She wanted desperately to become a vampire, taking to chatting online with other “wannabes” while she waited for destiny to take a bite out of her. Unfortunately, fantasy doesn’t always match reality when she’s finally turned. No sexy hunk of a man to lead her into immortality. She gets a strange looking creature who flees after attacking and the only contact she gets, is his voice in her head. Alone, dealing with the changes in her body, poor Ravena finds herself reevaluating her life. After beheading her latest feed, inebriated from alcohol laced blood, she stumbles into the very delicious Peri, who steals her heart and he tenderly takes her home. Life definitely isn’t all fun and games. There are assassins and Ravena is in serious trouble. After losing her roommate to a horrible death and living underground, she finally finds protection under the clan leader Queluh. It’s been a while since she’s seen Peri and her new friendship with Ross helps her deal with all the chaos in the her life. Ravena has a shot at being happy but when the Assassins start to close in, everything explodes in her life again. Will her brave, sassy attitude be enough to keep her focused? Is Peri who he says he is? And can friends ever be more… be lovers? Ravena definitely lives a full life and she was a real joy to read. I really loved Ravena in this story and thought she was an incredible character. She came across so quirky at times and the thing that struck me the most was she had such a “real” quality to her. It wasn’t hard to identify with her and to understand why she did things a certain way. I totally understood her fascination with vampires and her longing to be turned by a sexy creature of the night. I felt her heart ache when it didn’t go according to plans and I wanted to jump into the book and help her through her loneliness. It seemed as though she never quite fit in wherever she was which was strange because I thought she was remarkable. She had such an off the wall sense of humor that made the book addicting and once I started, I didn’t want to stop. Being the romantic fool I am, I wanted the perfect hero for her - I wanted Ravena to be swept off her feet and cherished, ravished and adored. There were definitely a few guys with potential throughout the story but I will say.. I love who she ended up giving her heart to. He made me sigh and sigh and SIGH! For a book that wasn’t strictly romance, it definitely had its swoon moments. I would definitely recommend this book to those who love the paranormal, who have the secret longing for immortality as a vampire and love stories focused on characters with heart. RAVENA AND THE RESURRECTED will touch you and make you giggle, making it a fun reading experience. Happy reading!
The Trouble with Spells on April 06, 2011

What a way to begin a new series. Lacey Weatherford has created an addicting new world where young love and magic go hand in hand. Her characters Vance and Portia show all the joys of new love and the heartbreak that comes when that love is so cruelly tested. From the moment each character is introduced, you fall in love with them and you become intimately involved in the adventure they are taking. Portia is the sweet girl who is told on her 16th birthday that she is a witch with powers that seem to go beyond what those around her expected. You watch her take those first steps of wonder as the world of magic is opened up before her eyes. At that same moment, Portia's eyes are also opened up to a different kind of magic in the form resident bad boy , Vance Mangum. He is the epitome of all that was good about going to highschool. In Vance, Portia finds budding romance and the passion that sparks between them astounds them both. It was a pleasure to read about them and I'm extremely interested in seeing how they're love and commitment to each other develops. Lacey Weatherford writes a well written story and the ideas introduced will appeal to both the young and not so young reader. The book grabs hold of you from the very beginning and leaves you breathless by the final word. Of Witches and Warlocks - The Trouble With Spells is an amazing read and an essential additional to your library and the paranormal genre
Blood of the White Witch on April 06, 2011

Reading this book was an incredible experience for me. I’d read the first two books The Trouble With Spells and The Demon Kiss and absolutely adored them. By the time I began reading Blood Of The White Witch I was already head over heels for the resident bad boy, Vance Mangum and was absolutely SOLD on the series. In my naivete I felt that the books couldn’t possibly get any better because in my mind it was already perfect. I was undeniably WRONG. This book is hands down the best I’ve read of all three. Being the emotional reader that I am, my hope is always that a book causes me to feel something, anything whether it’s the rush of excitement that comes when a twist reveals itself in the story or the dip in the stomach when the lead guy moves in and claims the girl he loves. I knew that reading this book would be an emotional one but nothing prepared me for how intense it would be or how incredible the pull would be as it completely SUCKED me into the story. I’ve said before in my reviews of the first two books how they had reached in and held my heart hostage … well those books pale in comparison to the way this book moved me. There were so many twists to the story, so many possibilities. At any given time I was experiencing complete happiness and giddiness for Portia and Vance, shock and horror at some of the situations they found themselves in and complete devastation when the love they had for each other was once again tested almost to its breaking point. All I can do now is sit back and sigh, totally satisfied from being entertained so completely I loved the way Vance and Portia move together, the way they naturally gravitate towards each other. The more you read through the series, the more you realize how perfect they are for each other and it’s really difficult to not think of one without thinking of the other. They are both fiercely protective of each other which is a direct result of the challenges they’ve faced. They have been through so much and the beginning of the book starts off with a celebration that reminds you have wonderful it is to be in love and I LOVED watching how they were with each other. I loved the message that regardless of whether the sky is falling and the world is on the verge of destruction, there is always time for passion, for tenderness, for devotion. They're definitely one of my top book couples. Portia is really growing into the role of an amazing lead female. She shows a great strength in character now that she is more confident in her magical abilities and her relationship with Vance. She knows what she wants and what she needs to do to get it. She has complete faith in her love for Vance and does everything she can to protect him. She truly is Vance’s equal in this book and it was AMAZING to watch. You need to know that my heart went out to her in this book because I knew that inevitably there’s only so much a person can take and only so much they can give before they break. Her limits were constantly being challenged and I appreciated the emotions I felt through her as I was able to get a much better look at the world through her eyes. Vance Mangum. That really does say it all right? Just the sound of his name should give you an indication of what kind of character he is but if not let me share it with you. He is by far the best bad boy I’ve found in all of the YA genre. I know that may hurt Dimitri’s feelings (resident bad boy from the Vampire Academy series) but I have to call it as I see it. You can’t not read Vance and not have your knees weaken even just a little. I love the passion he feels for Portia and his total lack of fear in letting the entire world know how much he adores her. He leaves her with no doubt whatsoever that he is hers and that he would go to the end of the world for her. There were so many scenes in this book that had me totally in love with him and I have to say, as the lover of the evil bad boy – Vance has ALL the potential of driving me completely over the edge into bad boy Heaven. He fights his demon tendencies but still he struggles. The moment his eyes flash that sexy red, I’m swooning and I am DESPERATE to know what happens with him in the next book. There were so many Vance moments I loved in the book but the two that I can safely share without ruining anything is one from the opening chapters where Vance can’t take it one moment longer and pulls Portia into an empty room and RAVISHES her up against the wall. Oh yeah incredibly HOT. The other is when they are staying in Scotland and Vance finds himself with a very traditional piece of clothing. Let me whet your appetite a little and say Vance as a Highlander is an unbelievably SEXY image to have. I dare anyone to read the series, especially this book and NOT fall hopelessly in love with him. When you read this book prepare yourself for the roller coaster. This is Lacey Weatherford at her finest and I’m chomping at the bit to see what she has in store for Portia and Vance. It couldn’t possibly get any better could it? If reading this book is anyway to guess, I think book 4 is going to blow me over and seal my fate as one of the greatest fan of the Of Witches & Warlock series. It’s a definite drop everything your doing, sell a kidney if you have to, it’s that important that you read it book. Enjoy!