The Cruel Prince

I’m a few years late on The Cruel Prince train, but it’s better late than never when it comes to The Folk of the Air series by Holly black.

• Genre: YA Fantasy
• Heat Level: ❤️
• Overall Rating: 6/6 Glass Slippers

Jude and her sisters lived a normal human life until a man broke into their home one day, killing their parents and taking them away to a land across the water that they’ve only dreamed of. The man, Madoc, is a fairy, and her oldest sister Vivienne’s real father. He raises Jude and her twin sister as his own, but there’s no place for humans in the beautiful, dangerous world of Elfhame.

As Jude fights to earn her place as one of the royal knights, she also fights the young Prince Cardan and his friends, who delight in torturing mortals. But as much as her mortality is a curse, it’s also a benefit when the elder prince Dain, next in line to the throne, welcomes her into his underground network of spies. After all, humans can lie, making her mortality a very useful thing to have.

Jude longs to fit in and finally find where she belongs, but even her own family seems to work against her. As she unravels court secrets and tries to keep herself alive, it seems she might belong in the fairly world after all.

---

I wasn’t sure how I would like this book. I’ve heard mixed reviews and didn’t know how the book being YA would affect my score. But I was pleasant surprised by how much I enjoyed it, even without the dramatic romance I was promised. That is literally the only thing I felt was missing, but it is a YA book, so I didn’t expect Jude and Prince Cardan to get freaky in fairy land right off the bat.

The world building was amazing. I grew up on books like The Hobbit, Abhorsen series, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, so I appreciate the level of care and creativity Black put into this book. But it’s clear she also did her research into real fairly lore to build her characters and the rules by which they live by. She showed the fae as beautiful but dangerous, tricky and deadly. Perfection.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and have already begun book two. I recommend it to all fantasy fans who love strong female characters, lovely world building, and court intrigue.

The Main Dish

We don’t have a lot of young adult books on our page, but it’s time to shake things up a little. Introducing The Main Dish by Victoria Kimble. It releases in July, but the paperbacks are available for preorder now!

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Overall Rating: 4/6 Glass Slippers

Scarlet Williams is so close to living her dream–to be the youngest violinist at the Summerset Festival. She’s worked her fingers to the bone and put in the long hours to make sure she earned her spot… and the admiration of a boy she has her eye on. But when her sister Sadie is cast in a cooking show in LA, her plans go off the rails.

A summer in LA with her family while Sadie works to be the top chef on the show means a summer away from her music, and her shot at being in the festival. As much as she wants to stay, she doesn’t have any choice, and soon she’s packing up her violin and putting her dream on hold while Sadie chases hers. Though she’s not content with being invisible, and soon she makes a decision that could change everything.

Overall, The Main Dish was exactly what was promised–a YA story with sisters at odds and their individual dreams. The writing was clean and simple, penned in the way I imagined a teenage girl would write in her diary. Everything’s an explosion of failure in one moment and nothing the next, a glimpse into what it means to be a high school girl.

I normally don’t read YA, but I found The Main Dish to be a light read with a good message of sacrifice and honesty. The idea of the Young Gourmet show could be a book on its own! And Scarlet makes a few mistakes that hurt the ones she loves, but learns from it and becomes a better person. Although my daughter’s only five, this book will sit on my shelves until she’s old enough to read it.

Overall, I thought it was a good story with some totally teen moments with simple writing that conveys several very important messages. I would recommend this book to YA fans that enjoy light reading, particularly those in middle school.

The Enchantress

After my last dabble in fantasy, I needed a pallet cleanser with a new witch-like woman to bring some magic into my bookshelf. Enter The Enchantress by James Maxwell, The Evermen Saga Book 1.

Heat Level:❤️❤️

Genre: New Adult Fantasy/Adventure

Overall Rating: 4/6 Glass Slippers

Ella and Miro are orphaned siblings, raised in a world governed by runes, a substance that has the power to both kill and create, an an emperor. While Ella goes to school to become an Enchantress and learn how to create the simplest of spells and cast the ones which might win the ever-present war, Miro trains to be a Blade Singer, the protectors of the realm. As they work on their craft, they begin to wonder the truth about their parents and where they came from.

Each country has a lexicon, a book of spells and runes that govern each country, which are almost constantly at war. Some live by fire and rock, others use theirs to create skyscrapers and walls. When the one in Ella’s is stolen, the newly made Enchantress needs to find the book and renew the magic within before the spells in her country fade and her people fall at the mercy of the emperor’s troops. Meanwhile, Miro roses through the ranks as his superiors either fall in battle or are taken over to the dark side.

They separately travel their world, gaining her skills, new allies, and learning more about the runes within the lexicons, and their own pasts…while trying to stay alive. This book was like Game of Thrones Jr. it had the same world building effect, but no dragons as of yet, and had a new kind of rune magic I honestly had never seen in a book before. The magic wasn’t all encompassing, it had time limits and blind spots that made it so no one was an all-powerful Enchanter or Enchantress. Their world was a delicate one that constantly needed to have its magic renewed and the ones on the edge of society that lived entirely without runes were seen as weak, although sometimes they were the strongest of all.

The only flaws I found with this book were that the twists were pretty predictable and both siblings were instant masters of their craft. Like a college student fresh outta class is going to be the president of Apple? Well, that’s what happened to Ella. And is a simple private in the Army gonna be made a General in a matter of months? Miro was. That’s the thing with some YA and NA books. The stars are usually the chosen one, the only person who can save the human race, the hero of the Hunger Games. Still, it was nice to see a male and female duo that weren’t romantically involved in saving the word and got matching word counts from both POVs.

Second Snowfall- New Release by Sarah Fischer

Hi everyone! I’m happy to announce that the second book in my college romantic suspense series is out and ready for you all! If you like hot firefighters or the secretly delicious computer nerd, then this is the book for you. 

It stars Annabelle. She is the best friend of the star of book 1, Violet. It does have a new romance so feel free to give it a try if you haven’t read book 1. However, First Semester is on sale for .99 cents so this is the perfect time to pick it up. 

Amazon- https://www.amazon.com/Second-Snowfall-Elton-Hall-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0733MKZ45

Amazon UK- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Second-Snowfall-Elton-Hall-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0733MKZ45

Amazon CA- https://www.amazon.ca/Second-Snowfall-Sarah-Fischer/dp/1640341382

I hope you enjoy this series and I hope it either takes you back to a time where you were able to let loose and really enjoy yourself or it gives you the opportunity to live through the characters who do

Do You Know the Stars of PLL?

My love affair with Pretty Little Liars began well before the TV show came out. I discovered the books and quickly devoured them, waiting on baited breath for the next one to come out. However, when the TV show started, I got excited for a whole other reason. Holly Marie Combs was in it! She was in Charmed which is, to this day, my favorite TV show. But upon watching the show, I began to realize that there are other amazing actors gracing us with their presence. So, let’s see how well you know the actors. 

Troian Bellisario

                    1. What age did Troian make her film debut?

                          A. 7

                          B. 20

                         C. 14

                         D. 4

                    2.  Troian wanted Spencer to die, why?

    A. She and Lucy didn’t get along

    B. The hours were negatively affecting her relationship with Patrick 

     C. She felt the show would be more interesting if one of the main four died since A seemed to put them in danger and then save them 

     D. She was unhappy with the way her story line was going and was offered a role in a different TV show

     3. Troian has always been an activist and has recently teamed up with who? (Hint: #SelflessSelfies)

     A. Shutterfly

    B. Burt’s Bees 

    C. Apple 

    D. Revlon 

Ashley Benson 

    4. Ashley is a big fangirl. Which fandom did she dress up to see the movie?

     A. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 1

     B. Breaking Dawn Part 2 

     C. Mockingjay Part 2 

     D. Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

                    5. What was her first acting job?

                          A. Lil Romeo music video

                          B. Domino’s Commercial 

                          C. Day’s of Our Lives 

                          D. Community Theater with Vanessa Hudgens 

                   6. What did Ashley consider her “dream job”?

                          A. A guest role on The OC

                         B. A guest role on How I Met Your Mother

                         C. A guest role in Supernatural

                         D. A guest role on Zoey 101

Lucy Hale

                   7. Lucy has an obsession with something on the darker side… What is it?

                        A. Horror Movies 

                        B. Unsolved Murders 

                        C. The paranormal 

                        D. BDSM books like 50 Shades

                  8. Which PLL character did Lucy initially audition for?

                       A. Spencer

                       B. Emily

                       C. Mona

                       D. Hannah  

                 9. Who was her first celebrity crush?

                      A. Zac Hansen

                      B. Nick Carter

                      C. Justin Timberlake

                      D. Zac Efron   

Shay Mitchell 

              10. What is her food obsession?

                    A. Tacos

                    B. Chocolate 

                    C. Pizza 

                    D. Sandwiches

            11. She co-wrote a book. What’s it called?

                   A. Bliss  

                   B. Blame 

                   C. Blind 

                   D. Black

           12. What age did she begin modeling? 

                    A. 11

                    B. 15

                    C. 9

                    D. 20

Ian Harding

          13. Everyone has a fear, what’s Ian’s?

                  A. The Ocean 

                  B. Heights

                  C. Spiders 

                  D. Snakes 

         14. Ian has a reputation for something around the set, what is it? 

                  A. Sleeping 

                 B. Flirting 

                 C. Pranking 

                 D. Eating       

        15.  Ian and one of his female costars are super close. Which one is it? 

                A. Shay

                B. Sasha 

                C. Ashely

                D.  Lucy

Sasha Pieterse

         16. Performing seems to be hereditary. What do her parents do?

               A. Singers

               B. Dancers 

               C. Actors 

               D. Write screen plays 

       17. She is a creative person. Sasha has her own jewelry line called what? 

            A. Rigid Accessories 

            B. Righteous Accessories 

            C. Rigid Creations 

            D. Righteous Creations  

     18. She, like Cady Haring from Mean Girls, lived in Africa and was homeschooled. But she graduated early. What age did Sasha finish school?

           A. 14

           B. 16

           C. 17

           D. 13 

Keegan Allen 

   19. Keegan write poetry, acts, and is super into photography. But his real talent is dancing.

         A. True 

          B. False  

 20. He did not have his first kiss on camera. How old was he when it happened? 

        A. 10

        B. 15

        C. 18

        D. 12

21. Keegan has a close connection to a certain family member…who is it?

        A. His mom

        B. His dad

        C. His brother

        D. His dog 

Janel Parrish 

22. She also sings! Janel was on the soundtrack for one of the TV Shows or Movies she acted in. Which was it? 

        A. Pretty Little Liars 

        B. Bratz 

        C. Zoey 101 with Jamie Lynn Spears 

        D. High School Possession 

23. Janel is also a broadway baby. What show was she in?

        A. Annie 

        B. Matilda 

        C. Les Miserable 

        D. Mary Poppins 

24. Janel likes her ink but do you know how many tattoos she has?

       A. 3

       B. 6

       C. 11

      D. 17

Bonus Question 

How did Holly Marie Combs get the scar above her eye?

     A. She walked into a marble table as a child

     B. She got hit with a tennis racket 

     C. Horseback riding accident 

     D. Car crash

Correct Answers

1. D                11. A                        21. A
2. C                12. B                         22. B
3. B                13. A                         23. C
4. A                14. C                         24. C
5. B                15. D                         25. A
6. A                16. B
7. C                17. C
8. D                18. A
9. A                19. B
10. C                20. D

In case you’re looking on your phone and this is annoying, the questions with the correct answers in red are at the bottom of this post 

 

So, How Did You Do?

1-9 Correct: Do you even stalk?

10-19: Correct- I’m becoming impressed

20- 25: You probably already know who AD is, don’t you

About Me

My name is Sarah Fischer and I am a romance novelist. My books feature girls in college dealing with relationships, friendships, and of course…danger

First Semester can be seen on Amazon HERE

Troian Bellisario

 1. What age did Troian make her film debut?

               A. 7

               B. 20

               C. 14

               D. 4

2.  Troian wanted Spencer to die, why?

    A. She and Lucy didn’t get along

    B. The hours were negatively affecting her relationship with Patrick

     C. She felt the show would be more interesting if one of the main four died since A seemed to put them in danger and then save them 

     D. She was unhappy with the way her story line was going and was offered a role in a different TV show

3. Troian has always been an activist and has recently teamed up with who? (Hint: #SelflessSelfies)

     A. Shutterfly

    B. Burt’s Bees 

    C. Apple

    D. Revlon

Ashley Benson

4. Ashley is a big fangirl. Which fandom did she dress up to see the movie?

     A. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 1

     B. Breaking Dawn Part 2

     C. Mockingjay Part 2

     D. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

                    5. What was her first acting job?

                          A. Lil Romeo music video

                          B. Domino’s Commercial 

                          C. Day’s of Our Lives

                          D. Community Theater with Vanessa Hudgens

                   6. What did Ashley consider her “dream job”?

                          A. A guest role on The OC

                         B. A guest role on How I Met Your Mother

                         C. A guest role in Supernatural

                         D. A guest role on Zoey 101

Lucy Hale

                   7. Lucy has an obsession with something on the darker side… What is it?

                        A. Horror Movies

                        B. Unsolved Murders

                        C. The paranormal 

                        D. BDSM books like 50 Shades

                  8. Which PLL character did Lucy initially audition for?

                       A. Spencer

                       B. Emily

                       C. Mona

                       D. Hannah

                 9. Who was her first celebrity crush?

                      A. Zac Hansen

                      B. Nick Carter

                      C. Justin Timberlake

                      D. Zac Efron

Shay Mitchell

              10. What is her food obsession?

                    A. Tacos

                    B. Chocolate

                    C. Pizza

                    D. Sandwiches

            11. She co-wrote a book. What’s it called?

                   A. Bliss  

                   B. Blame

                   C. Blind

                   D. Black

           12. What age did she begin modeling?

                    A. 11

                    B. 15

                    C. 9

                    D. 20

Ian Harding

          13. Everyone has a fear, what’s Ian’s?

                  A. The Ocean 

                  B. Heights

                  C. Spiders

                  D. Snakes

         14. Ian has a reputation for something around the set, what is it?

                  A. Sleeping

                 B. Flirting

                 C. Pranking 

                 D. Eating

        15.  Ian and one of his female costars are super close. Which one is it?

                A. Shay

                B. Sasha

                C. Ashely

                D.  Lucy

Sasha Pieterse

         16. Performing seems to be hereditary. What do her parents do?

               A. Singers

               B. Dancers 

               C. Actors

               D. Write screen plays

       17. She is a creative person. Sasha has her own jewelry line called what?

            A. Rigid Accessories

            B. Righteous Accessories

            C. Rigid Creations 

            D. Righteous Creations

     18. She, like Cady Haring from Mean Girls, lived in Africa and was homeschooled. But she graduated early. What age did Sasha finish school?

           A. 14

           B. 16

           C. 17

           D. 13

Keegan Allen

   19. Keegan write poetry, acts, and is super into photography. But his real talent is dancing.

         A. True

          B. False 

 20. He did not have his first kiss on camera. How old was he when it happened?

        A. 10

        B. 15

        C. 18

        D. 12

21. Keegan has a close connection to a certain family member…who is it?

        A. His mom

        B. His dad

        C. His brother

        D. His dog

Janel Parrish

22. She also sings! Janel was on the soundtrack for one of the TV Shows or Movies she acted in. Which was it?

        A. Pretty Little Liars

        B. Bratz 

        C. Zoey 101 with Jamie Lynn Spears

        D. High School Possession

23. Janel is also a broadway baby. What show was she in?

        A. Annie

        B. Matilda

        C. Les Miserable 

        D. Mary Poppins

24. Janel likes her ink but do you know how many tattoos she has?

       A. 3

       B. 6

       C. 11

      D. 17

Bonus Question

How did Holly Marie Combs get the scar above her eye?

     A. She walked into a marble table as a child

     B. She got hit with a tennis racket

     C. Horseback riding accident

     D. Car crash

Above the Flames

There is a battle brewing and it is likely to take you off guard. However, there is a plus side…book 2 is out! Above the Flames is book 1 and book 2 is Surrounded by Flames. Both are by Cassandra Fear and Surrounded By Flames is out today, so get ready to get your binge on!

Jasmine Reynolds has this ability to conjure blue flames that she discovers on her 16th birthday. But who cares? She continues to live her life as normal until she turns 18, when all chaos breaks loose after an earthquake releases the demons. Yes, I said demons. As it turns out, that battle I mentioned earlier is between demons and angels. Well, she was not prepared for this and she is captured.

But don’t fear! There is someone out to save her. Well, okay, he isn’t necessarily out to save her. Amon wants to get back into God’s good graces, as he is a fallen angel. What better way than to rescue the beautiful girl with the power to make all the difference?

As you may have guessed, Amon is gorgeous and Jasmine noticed. Hell, everyone has noticed. But they can’t run off and make eyes at each other because they’re still in the middle of a war. So, do they have the power to take a stand, or will they succumb to, not only their emotions, but also to their circumstances? Sometimes, you’ve fallen too far to come back.

One of the things that I liked about this book was it seemed real. Okay, Sarah have you lost your mind? How can the book be real? Stay with me here. The characters had the angst and attitude of characters of their ages. Jasmine was 18. She was filled with frustration, and had a vulnerability about her that sometimes shifted to the confidence of a woman with the sexuality of a lady. I love this age group because  I think watching them come into their own is one of my favorite parts of these books. Well, that and Jasmine was feisty and hysterical. I loved reading her.

This is a great book, but fyi, there is a good amount of violence. This book is about a war, so the violence should be assumed, but I’m just putting that out there in case you missed it. It’s an older young adult novel, but I thought it was enjoyable anyway.

With book 2 coming out tomorrow, I am so excited. Don’t bother me! I will be in a reading nook with my kindle and a nervous tickle in my stomach because I can’t wait to see what happens!

Be sure to check out First Semester. It is my college Romance and it’s available now on Amazon. Click Here

Books and Booze Charity Basket

Sarah and Kelsey have donated a basket to the No You Cant’cer Foundation event in Atlantic City tonight. But they didn’t do it alone, not by a long shot. There are four lovely authors who have graciously given their books to be added to this wonderful prize, which will be raffled off tonight with all proceeds going to colorectal cancer and ostomy awareness and education.

So let’s take a look at these four authors, and their wonderful books!

Jeniffer Loring: Firebird

Jennifer Loring’s short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines, webzines, and anthologies, including Crystal Lake Publishing’s Tales from the Lake vol. 1. She has also published a novella, Conduits (DarkFuse, 2014), and a novel, Those of My Kind (Omnium Gatherum, 2015). Jennifer lives in Philadelphia, PA with her husband, their turtle, and two basset hounds.

Connect with her online at…

• Her website HERE
• Her Facebook HERE
• Her Twitter HERE
• Her Instagram HERE

Most importantly, get a copy of Firebird HERE!

JL Drake: Broken

Best selling author J. L. Drake was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, later moving to Southern California where she lives with her husband and two children.

When she’s not writing she loves to spend time with her family, travelling or just enjoying a night at home. One thing you might notice in her books is her love for the four seasons. Growing up on the east coast of Canada the change in the seasons is in her blood and is often mentioned in her writing.

An avid reader of James Patterson, J.L. Drake has often found herself inspired by his many stories of mystery and intrigue.

She hopes you will enjoy her stories as much as she has enjoyed writing them.

Connect with her online at…

• Her website HERE
• Her Facebook HERE
• Her Twitter HERE
• Her Instagram HERE

Most importantly, get a copy of Broken HERE!

Jennifer Allis Provost: Heir to the Sun

Jennifer Allis Provost writes books about faeries, orcs and elves. Zombies too. She grew up in the wilds of Western Massachusetts and had read every book in the local library by age twelve. (It was a small library). An early love of mythology and folklore led to her epic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Parthalan, and her day job as a cubicle monkey helped shape her urban fantasy, Copper Girl. When she’s not writing about things that go bump in the night (and sometimes during the day) she’s working on her MFA in Creative Nonfiction.

Connect with her online at…

• Her website HERE
• Her Facebook HERE
• Her Twitter HERE
• Her Instagram HERE

Most importantly, get a copy of Heir to the Sun HERE!

Christine Hartmann: Wild Within

Christine Hartmann grew up in Ohio and Delaware and loves traveling to exotic, romantic settings. After a college semester in Kathmandu, her first three “real” jobs were all in northern Japan, where she lived for almost 10 years. She currently splits her career between her daytime occupation (improving the quality of veterans’ nursing home care) and her nights/weekend avocation (writing both fiction and non-fiction books). Her husband Ron Strickland is a well-known long-distance hiker and trail guide writer and the founder of the 1,200-mile Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. Christine loves reading, pilates, bicycling, snorkeling, and health foods that taste like they’re bad for you. You will often find her at a keyboard, a German shepherd at her side, and Ron whispering sweet edits over her shoulder.

Connect with her online at…

• Her website HERE
• Her Facebook HERE
• Her Twitter HERE

Most importantly, get a copy of Wild Within HERE!

The Sorting Hat Goes to Scotland

Sarah and I aren’t just raving Sassenachs, we’re also “Potterheads”, as we grew up with Harry Potter and waited for our Hogwarts letters that never came. Sarah’s a Ravenclaw, as evident by her crazy work ethic and logical way of thought that she uses in her daily life. I mean, I’m an adult, but Sarah’s the adult I go to when I need an adult, if you catch my drift? Anyway, I’m a Slytherin because I look awesome in green and calculate my options before deciding what will best benefit myself and those I care about. So, we wondered what houses our favorite Outlander characters would belong in…

Geillis Duncan-Slythin

Is there anyone else who seems like more of a Slythin than Geillis? She loves potions, uses others for her own personal gain, and her eerie green eyes are certainly the Slytherin hue!

Bree Randall-Hufflepuff

“A Hufflepuff?” you may ask. “But Bree is so smart! Surely a Ravenclaw? Or A noble Gryffindor?” Nah, she’s a Hufflepuff. She’s loyal to those she loves, and will defend them fiercely…I mean look at how angry she was with her own mother when she found out her bio father wasn’t Frank. Also, if given a choice, she would probably pick whatever house Claire wasn’t in.

Roger Wakefield-Ravenclaw

Is there any doubt that Roger is a Ravenclaw? He’s intelligent, educated, and his musical prowess shows off his creative side. Also, couldn’t you see this mild mannered reverend’s son as a Prefect?

Master Raymond-Hufflepuff

Hufflepuffs don’t get enough love, but we think Master Raymond belongs with Hegla Hufflepuff. He’s kind, longs to help, and very loyal to those he cares about. And those herbology skills he has would certainly come in handy during his time at Hogwarts. But some think he might have a pinch of Slytherin in him, after all, his blood line is what keeps things going and he’s very sly, although it’s for a good cause. His pure motives put him in the Hufflepuff house!

Jamie Fraser-Gryffindor

Was this even a question? That bravery, that loyalty, that shock of red hair! He’s obviously a Gryffindor. Hell, is there anyone else who could give “The Boy Who Lived” a run for his wizard gold like “The Man Who Lived”? Jamie is an unstoppable force and old Voldemort would never stand a change.

Laoghaire Mackenzie

Hello, she tried to get a woman burned at the stake because she wanted Jamie Fraser all to herself! Although I think a lot of us wish we could be Jamie’s main squeeze, Laoghaire went overboard, showing her cunning and the way she will destroy anyone who opposes her. Also, she’d totally be made into a Prefect because she’s a kiss-ass to those in authority.

Claire Fraser-Ravenclaw

There’s no smarter woman in the 1700’s like Claire Fraser. She’s a plotter, a planner, and has the brains to potentially change history. Was there ever a question that she’s basically the new Rowena Ravenclaw?

Mary Hawkins-Hufflepuff

Darling Mary, the poor soul who only wanted happiness and love is just the kind of gentle soul who belongs in Hufflepuff. She’s shy and soft spoken, but when it comes to those she loves, Mary can bare a set of fangs that would make a Slytherin run for cover.

Black Jack Randall-Slytherin

You know this Grade A jerk would be the one who would open the Chamber of Secrets and don his Death Eater’s hood the moment he got the chance. I even bet he’d be the new Voldemort!

Dougal Mackenzie-Gryffindor

Yeah, old Dougal can be a bit of a jerk, but often it’s because he’s doing what’s right. He’s still a brave man who wants freedom for his country and the people he fights with. I mean, remember when he trotted out into Redcoat territory and Bonny Prince Charlie practically swooned at his bravery? That’s a Gryffindor for you.

Compt St. Germain-Slytherin

This slimy snake would sell out his own mother if it meant he could have a bit of power. You know he’d be in favor for the decimation of the muggle born wizards and probably mistreat his house elf. Total Slytherin.

Murtagh Fraser-Griffindor

Has there ever been a more loyal friend than Murtagh? He’s basically the Ron Weasley to Jamie Fraser’s Harry Potter. He’ll go to the ends of the earth for those he cares about and always keeps his promises. A true Griffindor that belongs on a Chocolate Frog card.

♥♥♥

What do you think? Were all these sortings spot on, or do you have other houses you’d think they’d be better sorted to?  And what house are you in?

Also, check out all our other Outlander posts HERE to help fill the droughtlander void!

And it’s not enough, Sarah and I both have books out now, so if you like our posts, you’ll probably love our books! First Semester is a thrilling college romance that you can get HERE. Queen of Emeralds is a historic romance set in the highlands that you can get HERE.

 

YA Superwomen Smack Down

With all the superhero movies out there, I’ve noticed a serious lack of woman power. Now, I love staring at Chris Hemsworth in a cape and Chris Evans in spandex as much as the next girl, however, I decided to go looking for a new super woman story, since I have to wait so long for “Wonder Woman” to come out. Along the way, I found Being Jamie Baker by Kelly Oram and SuperNova: Heroes of Arcania by Liz Long. So, let’s talk about both stories together.

Heat: ♥

Genre: Young Adult

Overall Rating: Wait Until The End

Let’s talk about the superheroes first, Jamie and Nova.

Jamie is new to San Francisco. Her family moved after there was a terrible accident involving Jamie and her boyfriend Derek. Her car was hit by a truck carrying, yes you guessed it, dangerous chemicals. Then a lamp post fell, and between the chemicals and the electricity, Jamie got her powers. But we’ll talk about the powers later. Derek was killed in the accident and Jamie hasn’t recovered. She’s known as the ice queen.

Not that one. But Ryan is determined to break  the icy exterior and learn more about the raven haired beauty. However, Jamie thinks it’s too dangerous to let him in because of her powers. They’re a secret. Her parents are afraid that if anyone finds out about them, they’ll take her away and do experiments on her…or worse. But there are only so many times that Jamie can turn down the blue eyed football star.

Now, how about Nova? She is also recovering from a loss. Her sister was killed by a super villain named Fortune. The worst part, Nova had her powers at the time, but she froze. Now, she blames herself. But, senior year is starting and she meets two people who start to bring her back to life. You see, Nova, unlike Jamie, was born with her powers. They’ve been growing as she ages, but until Cole and Penelope enter the scene, she hadn’t met anyone with powers. As she gets to know Cole, she begins to realize that it’s not just his powers that she’d interested in.

Alright, let’s get into the powers. Jamie has kind of unlimited powers. All of her senses have been heightened. She can run at super speed, like from San Francisco to the Grand Canyon in a matter of like thirty minutes. She can hear and see from about a mile away, and she has super strength. This all seems to be from the chemical waste. As for the electricity, it pretty much flows through Jamie. She can pull electricity around her, shut it off, and eventually, control it. Jamie is like Spider-Man, she woke up one day with powers and struggles to control them in high school. Her powers are directly related to her emotions and as most of us know, teenage girls CANNOT control their emotions. As a result, being around Ryan is dangerous, her very kiss shoots him with so much electric juice that he is up all night. Anything more could kill him.

And for the lovely SuperNova. She is what is called an Unbreakable. As you can guess, she is unbreakable. What this means is that her skin is unpenetrable and she can’t really feel pain. She’s never had a broken bone, she’s never skinned her knees, and she’d never felt a bee sting. But she has limits. The super strength isn’t indefinite. She is strong, but not like The Hulk. There’s also this one hitch. Cole tells Nova that powers are hereditary, but her parents and sister never showed signs of powers. So, like Jamie is Spider-Man, Nova is more like an X-Men. At least none that Nova knew about.  It’s great that Nova can share her secret with Cole but their feelings make them vulnerable and it infuriates Penelope. After all, her brother is all she has.

Now for the boys! Jamie is trying to get over the guilt she feels about Derek’s death and is terrified of what she could do to a new guy. Ryan pretty much laughs this off and pursues her with so much gumption the only options are a restraining order or a date. He is the quarterback for the football team, like Derek was, but he has a charm and charisma about him that makes him even more desirable. On top of that, he has a girl best friend. Yes, all of you ‘When Harry Met Sally’ fans, it is possible to have a girl best friend if you’re a guy. He loves her something fierce, and she hates Jamie something wicked. Naturally, this causes problems. But at the end of the day, you root so hard for Ryan, it’s that whole charisma thing again. He wins the reader over and you beg Jamie to give him a chance, even if it means risking his life. After all, isn’t that what high school is for? Feeling with so much abandon that you fear you might explode?

Cole. So the fun thing about Cole is that Nova’s book is actually in dual POV so we get to know exactly how he feels for Nova. It’s nice because all of the guesswork is gone, but at the same time, Nova is a complicated chick. Cole and his sister Penelope grew up in a very different kind of home than Nova. He was trained to use his powers and then trained in hand to hand combat so he’d never actually need to use them. In other words, picture a guy, muscles toned from working out in the gym of his basement, a heart of gold, and honey brown eyes. Anyone else swooning? Not yet? Well, have I mentioned he looks out for his sister, she’s a year younger, protects her, and actually spends time with her because he wants to? If you aren’t swooning, pretend he’s like twenty-six and you’ll be there.

Here’s the best part, well the best part in my opinion. Both books belong to a series. That’s right. When you’ve finished reading one, you can go back to amazon, buy the next one and continue to binge. I have only read book one of each, but I will be buying book 2 of both books.

As for my favorite…I hate it when things end in a tie, because I think that’s just someone being dishonest. I did enjoy Jamie’s book, but I liked the superhero filled world that Nova lived in. That being said, I am a superhero fan, so that may have been a part of it. Both stories were well written, kept me reading, and were error free. I’d recommend both books (I did love both of them) to anyone who enjoys YA, or someone who likes superheroes. Give it a look while you’re waiting for ‘Wonder Woman’ or read it before the movie to hype yourself up. Either way, I think you’ll have found a great new series, well two new series, to get excited over.

Being Jamie Baker can be found here and right now it’s FREEEEEEEE

SuperNova: Heroes of Arcania can be found here and it’s only $.99

To find out more about me and my upcoming books or for links to my author interviews click here

The Ultimate Outlander Book Quiz

We’ve done many quizzes, the last one being our Outlander Show Quiz, but now we’re going to cater to the book fans with some of the hardest questions we can muster! There are twenty questions, so put away your books, mark your answers carefully, and tally them up at the end to see if you’re a true Sassenach! Each correct answer is one point.

1. Who else sees the water horse at Loch Ness?
   1. Jamie
   2. Peter
   3. Geillis
   4. John
2. What gift did MacRannoch of Eldridge give to Claire?
   1. A pearl necklace
   2. A wolf skin
   3. A dragonfly in amber
   4. Passage to France
3. What did Jamie tell Claire was the “worst thing” that ever happened to him?
   1. The death of his older brother, William to sickness
   2. When he was beat on the bare ass, over Angus’s knee in front of a crowd
   3. The rape of his sister Jenny by Black Jack Randall
   4. When he thought Claire had been kidnapped by the English
4. What was Munro’s job before he was a beggar?
   1. A schoolmaster
   2. A trader of fine goods
   3. A smuggler
   4. A blacksmith
5. Who does Jamie’s pocket bible belong to?
   1. Black Jack Randall
   2. His sister Jenny
   3. Alexander MacGregor
   4. Fergus Fitzgibbons
6. What’s the name of the dangerous horse Hamish wants to ride?
   1. Donas
   2. Oillt
   3. Cunnart
   4. Fearachas
7. What natural plant is the best for soothing the cuts from a whip when chewed, then applied?
   1. Pine needles
   2. Dandelions
   3. Watercress
   4. Katniss
8. What animal-themed nickname does Jamie give Claire?
   1. Black bird
   2. Sleek cat
   3. Brown mare
   4. White dove
9. What malady does Claire think she suffers from?
   1. Breast cancer
   2. Wool allergy
   3. Infertility
   4. Gastroenteritis
10. Who gave Claire her rosary?
    1. Colum
    2. Jamie
    3. Murtagh
    4. Geillis
11. When did Geillis come through the stones?
    1. 1962
    2. 1965
    3. 1963
    4. 1968
12. What language does Gwyllyn the bard sing in?
    1. French
    2. Gaelic
    3. Welsh
    4. German
13. Fill in the blank: When Frank and Claire are finished watching the “witches”, before she goes back in time, they start to get frisky. When he finds she isn’t wearing any underwear, he calls her “the most terrifyingly                    person” he has ever known.
    1. Alluring
    2. Sensual
    3. Practical
    4. Intelligent
14. What ring does Jamie give Claire on their wedding day?
    1. A red ruby set in gold
    2. A stone of jet in gold
    3. A silver band decorated with thistles
    4. A Silver band decorated with knots
15. What’s the name of the ship that Jamie, Claire, and Murtagh take to France?
    1. Arabella
    2. Frigate
    3. Patagonia
    4. Christabel
16. What was the name of Castle Leoch’s healer before Claire?
    1. Ian Duncan
    2. Paddy Malcom
    3. Davie Beaton
    4. George Randall
17. Which man was deemed the best with a dirk and took charge of instructing Claire how to use it?
    1. Murtagh
    2. Rupert
    3. Angus
    4. Dougal
18. What is the date of Jamie’s execution?
    1. December 23
    2. January 8
    3. December 13
    4. January 22
19. What finally made Dougal believe Claire wasn’t a British spy?
    1. She drank from St. Ninian’s spring
    2. She saved Jamie from Black Jack Randall
    3. She had a chance to kill Colum in his sleep and didn’t
    4. She tended to a wounded Dougal when she could have let him die
20. How did Claire come to know that Geillis was from the future like her?
    1. She told her when they were waiting to be taken on trial as witches
    2. She had someone tell Claire the year she went through the stones
    3. She mentioned the radio in passing
    4. She had a smallpox vaccine scar

All Done! Now, are you ready to check your answers? Each right answer is worth 1 point. Scroll past the naked Scot to see how well you did!

2, 2, 2, 1, 3, 1, 3, 4, 3, 1, 4, 3, 3, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 4

0-5 Points – You call yourself a reader?

6-14 Points – You’ve read the books, but might want another look!

15-20 Points – You’re an Outlander expert!

How did you do? Let us know! And check back next week for an all new Outlander Saturday post!

Sarah and I both have books out now, so if you like our posts, you’ll probably love our books! First Semester is a thrilling college romance that you can get HERE. Queen of Emeralds is a historic romance set in the highlands that you can get HERE.