Book Review: The Calling by Cate Tiernan (Book 7 of the Sweep Series)

A Little About the Book: Morgan and Hunter travel to New York City, Morgan to seek out information about her birth parents and Hunter to continue his quest to end the deadly Woodbane conspiracy. But in their search for answers, they find themselves in terrible danger.

*** Book description found at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Calling-Sweep-No-7/dp/0142410225/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325371671&sr=8-1 ***

My Review: After waking from a nightmare that was so vivid and felt so real that even when she was awake, Morgan still felt shaken from what she saw in her dreams, she knew that it wasn't just a dream.  Neither does Hunter or the council.  It was a vision and they all wanted to figure out what it meant, especially they wanted to discover who was the poor, wolf pup that appeared to be a sacrifice of some sort.

Trying to discover the truth of the dream, Morgan and Hunter, along with some of their friends and coven members, travel to New York City where a coven of dark and powerful Woodbane members are known to reside. 

As Morgan struggles with using her magick for only good, she also struggles to hold onto her friendships that have become strained since her discovery of being a blood witch.  She also struggles with trying to find the truth about her birth parents and what being a witch really means.  It doesn't help that she feels guilty over the death of Cal and Selene, while also pining after Hunter who seems too busy with council business to really spent time with her. Everything going on in her life seems to be draining her, especially after reaching to city and being plagued with the nightmare that pops up when she least expects it.  Add in the fact that the leader of the dark coven is also the man who murdered her mother, it's a wonder that Morgan doesn't just break under the stress.

As Morgan continues her search of the truth and to save whoever the wolf pup is, Morgan finds herself in the heart of the danger.  A danger that might just prove to be fatal not only to her, but also those she cares for.

The Calling is an amazing addition to the Sweep series.  Though it is short, it is an intriguing novel.  The magick, insecurities, jealousy, danger, and love that fill the pages are intoxicating.  Once again, Cate Tiernan has me turning page after page until I finish the novel and leaves me begging for more.  The hardships of Morgan Rowlands life will have you eager to read more to find out how everything will play out.  5/5 STARS

Book Review: Spellboud by Cate Tiernan (Book 6 of the Sweep Series)

A Little About the Book: Morgan knows that a great battle is to come. More immediately, she senses that someone is out to harm Hunter. Is it a human or a witch?

*** Book description found at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Spellbound-Sweep-No-Cate-Tiernan/dp/0142410217/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324350055&sr=8-1 ***

My Review:  Morgan is just as confused as ever, maybe even more so now than before.  She feels drawn to Hunter, even if they still clash together.  There's just something about him that entices Morgan.  But she still feels for Cal, her ex-boyfriend and would be killer.  

When it appears as if someone is out to get Hunter, Morgan can't help thinking it's Cal or Selene, even if it's mundane accidents without the help of magic. The need to be able to protect herself as well as others becomes obvious.  With the little help of magic, Morgan would be able to gain knowledge from an older, more knowledgeable witch in a sort amount of time- a terrifying and enticing thought.

What Morgan wanted and didn't want more than anything was a confrontation with Cal, but she knew that it was inevitable.  She no longer trusts Cal and with that knowledge, she is able to break free from the heartache that thinking of him caused and move on to a new love- Hunter.

What Morgan hadn't been counting on was Selene returning so soon, and for her to kidnap Morgan's little sister, Mary K.  There was no way that Morgan could just sit back, she had to save her sister from Selene.  With her birthmother's tools and Hunter at her side, Morgan set out to find Selene and save Mary K- even if in the end it would kill her.  

Spellbound is a promising novel in the sweep series.  It's a intriguing addition to the world of Morgan Rowlands.  New love blossoms slowly and clumsily, just as old, bitter love reappears.  Choices and sacrifices are made, even if some are small and tedious.  Morgan can no longer sit on the sidelines in the world of magic- her magic is just too powerful.  The hardships that go on through the novel are tantalizing as they are sad.  As the characters plow through life with magic, they must tread forward carefully, or they just might prick their finger on the thorn of the rose.  I find it almost impossible to put down the book- too eager to read more and discover what will happen next.  5/5 STARS

Book Review: Awakening by Cate Tiernan (Book 5 of the Sweep Series)

A Little About the Book: For now, Morgan is safe from the dark wave that has been attacking witches. Betrayed by her first love, she is trying to come to grips with her Woodbane heritage and with Wicca—its thorn and its rose.

*** Book description found at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Sweep-No-Cate-Tiernan/dp/0142410209/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324330634&sr=8-1 ***

My Review:  After almost being burned to death by her boyfriend, Cal, Morgan feels betrayed and heart broken.  Cal had used her and then tried to murder her, and all because she had the potential to be a very powerful witch.  Even after Cal and his mother, Selene, fled before Hunter could bring them to justice, Morgan still has strong feelings for Cal.  She loved him- even after what he had done. 

Her life was in a constant whirlwind of chaos and turmoil.  Hunter is now leading the Cirrus and Morgan isn't sure how she feels about that, even though the rest of the coven really enjoy having Hunter as the coven leader.  Morgan's biggest problem with Hunter is that even though he annoys her, she can't help feeling drawn to him- she can't help imagining what it would be like to be wrapped up in his arms and to feel his lips pressed against hers passionately.  She was so confused about it all.

After feeling dark magic at work, Morgan can't help thinking that it's either Cal or Selene.  Hunter believes otherwise and is constantly trying to convince Morgan that the culprit is really someone she knew and trusted, but she doesn't want to believe it- even if she knows deep down that Hunter might be right.

To top it off, Morgan's aunt and her girlfriend are harassed by boys of their neighborhood and Morgan can feel the temptation to use magic to teach them a lesson.  She went as far as zapping one of them with witch fire.  But how far is she willing to go to ensure that they boys leave her aunt and Paula alone?

Awakening is full of magic, betrayal, passion, and strength.  When life is thrown into to turmoil for Morgan Rowlands, she has to find a way to cope with all that's happening- good and bad.  Relationships are tested and friendships are on the mend.  Another great novel of the sweeps series.  5/5 STARS

Book Review: Dark Magick by Cate Tiernan (Book 4 of the Sweep Series)

A Little About the Book: Evil forces are after Morgan, forces connected with a dark wave of magick. And she knows something is wrong with the way Cal is acting, although she can’t put her finger on it. Cal is definitely hiding something, but is he out to hurt her, as Hunter says?

*** Book description found at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Magick-Sweep-No-4/dp/0142409898/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324314848&sr=1-1 ***

My Review: Morgan had stumbled through the forest, supporting Cal, trying to find his house.  She couldn't believe what had happened.  When she threw the athame, she didn't want to kill Hunter.  She just wanted to stop him from hurting Cal.  She didn't mean for him to fall over the cliff's edge and down to the rushing water that awaited at the bottom.  It was an accident!  But she couldn't think about it.  The guilt was gnawing at her.  What a thing to happen on her birthday.

Morgan starts to get a weird vibe from Selene and Cal, especially when Selene starts asking about Mauve's tools.  Morgan couldn't miss the tension Cal felt when Selene talked about the tools, and Morgan was happy that she followed Alyce advice and bound her mother's tools to her- now the tools were connected to Morgan.

When Cal shows Morgan his private room, she feels overwhelmed.  The room emanated dark power, and it felt suffocating to be there.  For the first time, Morgan wasn't sure if she should trust Cal.  What had he been doing in that room to make it feel so wrong?

When Morgan find out that Hunter is alive, she couldn't be happier- even if he still annoyed her.  She was surprised by her reaction to him, she felt truly happy that he was a live and well.  She shrugged it off as just being relieved that she hadn't been responsible for his death.  

After scrying with Sky, Morgan discovers a hard truth that leaves her hurt and betrayed.  When she leaves to confront Cal, she never expected the fatality that that choice might possess.  Not until it was too late.

Dark Magick is an intriguing and tantalizing novel.  The chaos and struggles in Morgan's life as she copes with being a blood witch and trying to sort out the truths of her life are captivating.  Cate Tiernan has created another magical novel that is enticing with the dangerous, powerful, and enchanting world of Morgan Rowlands.  5/5 STARS

Book Review: Blood Witch by Cate Tiernan (Book 3 of the Sweep Series)

A Little About the Book: Morgan has found her mother’s Wiccan tools, and her relationship with Cal is strong. Everything seems perfect. Except that Cal’s half brother, Hunter, is stalking them. Hunter claims to be a Seeker who is investigating Cal for the misuse of magick. Whom can she trust?

*** Book description found at Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Witch-Sweep-No-3/dp/014240988X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324312739&sr=8-1 ***

My Review: Morgan is caught in Selene's private study by Selene and Cal, a study that no one besides Selene herself could enter because of the enchantments and spells, but Morgan had found her way in- even if it was by accident.  When Morgan confronts Selene about Mauve's Book of Shadows, Morgan's birth mother, she knows that the book was meant for her.  As Mauve's daughter, it was rightfully Morgan's, and no one can disagree.  Morgan was giddy with her discovery.  She was actually going to get to read her birth mother's BOS!  Finally, she could find out about the woman who had conceived her and who was murdered before Morgan was even one years old.  

Two unexpected visitors put Morgan on edge, Hunter and Sky.  From the second she met them, she disliked them, and she could feel Cal's anger at Hunter- even if she didn't understand why he hated him.  Morgan felt a strong reaction to Hunter, stronger than what she felt with Sky, but she didn't know what it was.  There was just something about him that rubbed her the wrong way.  Sky was the coven leader of Bree, Morgan's ex-best friend, and Raven's new coven.  Morgan wishes that she knew what Sky was teaching them, she felt that it was dark and dangerous, but what could she do?  Her distrust of the two only grows deeper when she find them enchanting her own house one night. 

Morgan tries scrying with fire and it lead her to discovering her mother's tools at their old home.  Morgan can not believe that she found the wonderful treasures that used to belong to her mother, her grandmother, and so on... Passed down generation after generation.  

On the eve of Morgan's birthday, she felt happy as can be.  She was with the love of her life and everything was perfect.  Until, Hunter is found lurking outside of Cal's home.  A fight breaks out and is carried into the forest and to the cliff edge.  Hunter is about to harm Cal, so what choice did Morgan have?  She did what impulse told her to do.  She never meant for it to happen and the guilt gnaws at her.  What a way to spend the first hour of her birthday.

Blood Witch is intoxicating and intriguing.  The power, passion, danger, and sizzle of this novel are enchanting.  Cate Tiernan has once again created a novel that has me eager to continue.  The magic in this series is tantalizing as the secrets unfold, begging you to continue.  5/5 STARS

Book Review: The Coven by Cate Tiernan (Book 2 of the Sweep Series)

A Little About the Book: Cal, now Morgan’s boyfriend, helps her accept the truth: Wicca is in Morgan’s blood. As Morgan learns more about Wicca, she realizes that she needs to find out more about her parentage. The answers are there, but she doesn’t know how to find them.

***Book description found at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Coven-Sweep-No-2/dp/0142409871/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324257083&sr=8-1***

My Review:  Morgan has just discovered that she's a blood witch, a descendant from one of the seven clans. If she's a blood witch, then that must mean her parents and little sister are witches too, but why would they have lied to her about it?  She find that answer as soon as she confronts her parents about it after her ex-best friend, Bree, conveniently drops off Morgan's Wicca books that she had been hiding at Bree's house.  Morgan was adopted!  The news is such a betrayal to Morgan from her parents- at least the people she believed to be her parents, that she has trouble not feeling furious with them.  With the new truth, comes the impulse to find out who she really is, who her real parents were, but she didn't expect what she would find.  The only good thing in her life is magick and her new boyfriend, Cal, who also happens to be a blood witch.  

The Coven is just as promising as Book of Shadows.  Cate Tiernan does a wonderful job with writing novels that deal with magic and witches.  Even though the novel is short, it is quite intriguing.  The book just pulls me in and refuses to let go until I have completed the story.  It's filled with danger, magick, passion, and secrets that enchants the reader.  I'm eager to read the next book to this captivating series.  4/5 STARS (Only 4, because of how short the novels seem to be.)

Book Review: Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan (Book 1 of the Sweep Series)

A Little About the Book: Morgan and her best friend, Bree, are introduced to Wicca when a gorgeous senior named Cal invites them to join his new coven. Morgan falls for Cal immediately— and discovers that she has strong,inexplicable powers.

***Book description found at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Shadows-Sweep-No-1/dp/0142409863/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1324091489&sr=8-5***

My Review: Morgan is just an ordinary girl in high school.  She's part of the 'nerds', but her best friend, Bree, is one of the A-list popular girls, and somehow they don't let that come between their friendship.  When a new boy, Cal Blaire, comes to school, Morgan couldn't have predicted the effect he would have on hers.  He's the boy that every girl dreams of being with, but he's different than most expected- he's a witch.  Cal goes out of his way to get to know people to find those who would be interested in practicing Wicca and being in a coven.  That's when life for Morgan begins to change- during the first circle casting. The magic effects her in a way that has her yearning for more, even when her parents forbid her to keep studying Wicca, but that doesn't stop Morgan.  When Morgan starts to crush on Cal, it's only to be disappointed because Bree is also falling for Cal and Morgan believes that she's out of his league.  She doesn't believe Cal could like a girl like her, but that doesn't stop Bree of getting jealous over how intensely Cal looks at Morgan or the fact that he talks about her a lot, straining their friendship.

Book of Shadows is an intriguing novel.  Even though it's what I call a beginner (a book that just introduces the series, one that doesn't really give much, but draws the attention of the reader nonetheless), I found it quite good.  It takes an ordinary girl with an ordinary life that takes a turn and she becomes something she never thought she would be, she becomes special in a way that she has never felt.  It's easy to connect with the characters, what with the ordinary life aspects- high school, crushes, parental issues, family life, etc... but with a paranormal twist by adding Wicca/witchcraft into the mix.  It is a promising beginning to a great series.  4/5 STARS

Movie Review: Nanny Diaries

A Little Bit About the Movies: A college graduate goes to work as a nanny for a rich New York family. Ensconced in their home, she has to juggle their dysfunction, a new romance, and the spoiled brat in her charge.

***Movies description found at IMDb.com:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489237/***

My Review: Imagine that your in the park and run into a little boy when his mother finally finds him. When you say your name is 'Annie' but the mother thinks you say that you're a nanny and offers you a job. Next thing you know; you lie to your mom, you strain your relationship with your best friend, your employer's husband hits on you, and you become a slave to the mother. You run all the errands and when told you aren't allowed to date, the cute guy from the same building as you is relentless into going out with you. Even though you want to tear your hair out you fall in love with... the little boy you are taking care of and can't help feel the pull he has on you as you watch him suffer with a shaky household. What are you going to do when it comes time to let go of that life to embrace a new one?

Nanny Diaries is a heart-warming comedy.  It will have you laughing and will touch your heart.  It really is a great movie and the characters did an outstanding job.  5/5 STARS

Book Review: Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick (Book 3 in the Hush, Hush Series)

A Little About the Book: The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

***Book description found at Amazon.com:
 http://www.amazon.com/Silence-Hush-Saga-Becca-Fitzpatrick/dp/1442426640/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324071720&sr=8-1***

My Review:  Once again, Becca Fitzpatrick has created another outstanding novel.  Silence is an amazing read that had me entrapped in it's pages from beginning to end.  Nora's struggle to remember the last five months of her life that had just magically been erased after someone escaping from her mysterious kidnapper is riveting.  I can not imagine what it would feel like to all of a sudden be somewhere without knowing how I got there, let alone to find out that five months of my life had passed without even knowing it.  The empty gap that Nora must have felt would be unbearable, not to mention the fact that trouble keeps popping up whenever she tries to find out the truth.  Some things just can't be erased though- like love.  Even though Nora can't remember Patch, who changed his name to Jev, she still feels that alluring draw to him, even if he would like nothing better then to have her forget him completely- it's the only way he can truly keep her safe.  But all rules are thrown out the window when Hank doesn't keep his end of the bargain.  Hank who will do anything to free himself and the rest of the nephilim from the fallen angels. 

Silence is filled with passion, danger, friendship, and adventure.  5/5 STARS

Book Review: Cresendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (Book 2 to the Hush, Hush Series)

A Little About the Book:  Despite starting a relationship with Patch, her guardian angel (whose title is the only angelic thing about him), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking good for Nora Grey. Aside from fearing her boyfriend is interested in her nemesis, Nora is haunted by images of her father and becomes obsessed with understanding his disappearance. As Nora delves into the mystery of her father’s death, she begins to wonder whether her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it. And since Patch isn’t answering her questions, Nora has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch—or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

*** Book description was found at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Crescendo-Hush-Saga-Becca-Fitzpatrick/dp/1416989447/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323989684&sr=8-1***

My Review:  The second book to the Hush, Hush Series, Cresendo is just as great as the first to the series.  I love the world that Becca Fitzpatrick has created in her novels.  Cresendo is endearing, as well as captivating. The difficult romance between Patch and Nora when put on edge is just heart-breaking.  The sacrifices each of them go through in order to keep the other from harm, even if it breaks them apart inside, just drew me in.  I felt myself sympathize with the characters, even though they are just characters!  Becca Fitzpatrick was able to make them seem so real and alive to me.  I wasn't able to put the book down until I finished and then I went straight to reading the next in the series.  I just couldn't stop!  The only negative thing (not really negative, just something that always drives me crazy, but in a good way) I would have to say about the book is how it left off- such a cliffhanger!  I was so happy to say that I had book three on hand :)  This is definitely a series I would recommend to anyone.  The romance, friendships, and struggles that go on in this book will have you begging for more.  5/5 STARS