Seeing the Dead (A Relatively Dead Book)

Happy Halloween!  Children are out trick or treating tonight and will be sick from all the candy in just a few hours!  Where I grew up in Columbus, Ohio, we always went out on October 30 which is called Beggars Night!  It is stilled called Beggars Night, but they have now moved it back to October 31.  

Seeing the Dead by Sheila Connolly is the second book in the Relatively Dead series.  Abby Kimball is adjusting to her new life, new town, new job, and her new abilities at seeing “ghosts” (mostly scenes from the past and apparitions).  However, she only sees ghosts that are a part of her lineage.  Abby is enjoying working in the museum with the children and spending time with her new boyfriend, Ned Newhall.  Abby is also trying to find out more about her abilities and trace her lineage (she meets someone very interesting while researching her lineage).  The town is getting ready for the Patriot’s Day celebration.  It is Abby’s first year experiencing this holiday.  While exploring the area with Ned and learning more about Patriot’s Day and the Revolutionary War, Abby sees an apparition of a Revolutionary War Soldier.  Ned cannot see the solider (the soldier is not a part of Ned’s lineage) which makes Abby determined to find out who he is and how she is related to this him.

 

Abby also discovers that her boss’ daughter, Ellie, has special abilities as well (and is shocked to find out who is Ellie’s biological father).  Ellie is very mature for her age and handles her abilities much better than Abby and Ned.  Abby and Ned have to find a way to tell Ellie’s mother about her daughter’s abilities and then deal with the fallout.  Abby also discovers that her abilities are amplified when connected to Ned (same with Ellie).  This book is full of history (sometimes there is a little too much detail), romance, laughter, and active ghosts. 

This is a very good book and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the Relatively Dead series.  I am a fan of Shelia Connelly’s work.  I have read all of her books in the County Cork series and the Orchard mystery series.  Happy Reading!

Kris

Please note that I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the book.

The Glass Magician

I just finished The Glass Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg.  The Glass Magician picks up three months after The Paper Magician ended.  Magician Emery Thane is healed from his attack by the Excisioner and back to teaching Ceony how to become a Folder.  Emery and Ceony are also growing closer as they learn more about each other. 

Then a magician comes after Ceony.  He believes that Ceony knows a secret about magic.  This secret that will change everything for magicians.  This magician (he is bonded to glass) will do whatever it takes to find out what Ceony knows.  Ceony must find a way to keep the people she cares about safe while getting rid of the rogue glass magician and his Excisioner partners. 

This is a very enjoyable book.  I like books that have no foul language and no graphic sex.  This book could easily be read by a young adult.  I love this author’s different take on magic.   I look forward to the next book by Charlie N. Holmberg The Master Magician.

I hope you enjoy reading The Glass Magician as much as I enjoyed reading it.  I am currently reading The Look of Love by Sarah Jio.  

I enjoy her books and have been looking forward to this book.  Have a very Happy Halloween!

Kris

Please note that I received a free copy of The Glass Magician from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the book.

The Paper Magician

The Paper Magician by is a delightful story.  Ceony Twill has gone to the Tagis Praff School to learn magic.  In this world people only do magic with man-made products (plastic, metal, glass, mirrors, and paper).  Ceony graduates at the top of her class and looks forward to picking the field she wishes to specialize in.  However, she is thrown a twist.  Since there are so few folders (paper magicians) left, Ceony has been assigned to become a folder. She will apprentice with Folder Magician Emery Thane.   Ceony is very disappointed and her attitude when she meets Magician Emery Thane reflects it.  Ceony knows that once she bonds to paper, she is bonded to it forever (and she is dreading it). 

Emery Thane, however, is not your usual magician or teacher.  Ceony is soon enjoying her studies and learns to love paper.  Ceony learns quickly and has a photographic memory (which is a big help since there are many different “folds” that she most learn and memorize).  Things are going well until one day an Excisioner (a practitioner of dark, blood magic) enter the house and takes Emery’s heart.  Ceony quickly calls for help and makes a paper heart to keep Emery alive.  Ceony then takes off after the Excisioner (who turns out to be Emery’s ex-wife) to get Emery’s heart back.  Ceony finds the Excisioner and gets trapped in Emery’s heart.  Ceony must go through all four chambers of heart to get out of the trap.  In Emery’s heart are good and bad memories.  Ceony travels through his heart, avoiding the Excisioner, watching Emery’s memories.  Ceony escapes from his heart with the Excisioner hot on her trail.  I do not want to give away the ending, but it is enjoyable and leads to more questions than answers (which leads us into the next book The Glass Magician). 

I was not sure that I would like this book or not, but ended up loving it.  I enjoyed this author’s different take on magic.  I am looking forward to reading The Glass Magician.  Happy Reading!

Kris

A Love Undone

A Love Undone by Cindy Woodsmall is an engaging book.  Once I started reading it, I could not put it down.   Jolene Keim was 19 years old and about to be married.  Jolene and her new husband were going to move to a more liberal Amish district that allowed its members to create art.   The week before her marriage her parents were killed in a buggy accident.  Jolene had to make a choice:  stay and raise her siblings or let the children all go to different homes.  Jolene chose to stay and raise her younger siblings.  Her fiancé decided he could not handle that much responsibility and broke it off with Jolene (the cad).   The ex-fiancé marries a year after her parent’s accident (to the day) to Jolene least favorite person in the community.  Ten years pass as Jolene raises her brothers and sisters.  Then Jolene meets Andy Fisher, a horse trainer.  Andy is known as a “grass widower”.  He is married but his wife left him.  In the Amish community there is no such thing as divorce.  Jolene and Andy have to work together to help some needy horses, get to know each, and fall in love.  Cindy Woodsmall has done it again with this lovely and heartwarming book.  If you love Christian and Amish Fiction, you will enjoy A Love Undone.

I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for taking the time to read my review.  I am currently reading The Path of the Crooked (A Hope Street Church Mystery) by Ellery Adams.  It is a cute, cozy mystery with romance and laughter.  Have a great evening and Happy Reading!

Kris

Beneath Beautiful

Beneath Beautiful by Allison Rushby is an intriguing book.  Cassandra (Cassie) Tavington is reading in a Paris cemetery when she is approached by a handsome stranger all in black.  They seem to have instant chemistry.  However, when she realizes who he is, she runs off.  The stranger is Cameron Callahan.  Cameron is a famous modern artist whose sculptures are provocative and controversial.  Cameron wants Cassie to pose for a sculpture for his new collection, but Cassie, who is the daughter of an MP (Member of Parliament), is unsure.  Cassie undertakes a journey of getting to know herself, what she wants to do with her life, and growing up.  This is an enjoyable book and easy to read in a couple of hours.  I look forward to reading more books by Allison Rushby.  I give this book 4.5 stars!  Please note that I did receive a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I hope you enjoy reading Beneath Beautiful as much as I enjoyed it.  Happy Reading!

Kris

Trading Secrets

Trading Secrets by Melody Carlson (YA story) is the story of Micah, an English girl, and Zach, her Amish pen pal.  In the fifth grade Micah's class sent letters along with their pictures to Zach's school in order for the children to become pen pals.  However, the Amish school teacher removed the pictures before allowing the Amish children to pick their pen pal.  Zach though Micah was a boy based on her name and the contents of her letter (Micah was a tomboy).  Micah never corrected Zach on his mistake and now they are seventeen.  Zach wants to come and see Micah on spring break.  Micah is nervous and not sure how to tell Zach the truth about her gender.  At the last minute Zach cannot come to see Micah because of spring planting.  So Micah decides to go see Zach and help with the planting on their farm.  She dresses in boyish clothes and baseball cap and heads to “Amishland” as Micah’s friend call it.  It is interesting to see what happens between Micah and Zach.  Micah provides Zach with new opportunities as well as insight into himself and his family.  It is a good story, but not as good as Melody Carlson’s Christmas stories (which I love and look forward to each year)! 

I was provided a free copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Happy Reading!  I am off to watch The Originals, Sleepy Hollow, and Castle (while reading during the commercials).  Have a great evening!

Kris