Incubus by Carol Goodman

'This is where all stories start, on the edge of a dark wood...'

Callie McFay is considering moving to the town of Fairwick to take up a teaching position at the local college, but ever since arriving, she’s been having vivid, erotic dreams about a man not entirely human. The longer she stays in Fairwick, the harder it is to think about leaving. Should she just stay, or wait and think about moving in with her long distance boyfriend in the future?

Her mind is made up for her when she is drawn to an old Victorian cottage set at the edge of a supposedly haunted wood. There is an energy in the house Callie just can’t walk away from. She buys the house and decides to stay after all. It isn’t until she moves in that her colleagues tell her a local ledged about an incubus demon with a human past who was enchanted by a fairy queen…

It may be worth noting for some reader that Incubus was also published under “The Demon Lover” by Juliet Dark, so make sure you don’t buy it twice by accident!

Incubus is the first novel in this new fantasy series that will please many readers. There is something for everyone; mysterious houses that are more than they initially seem, dark woods with secrets at every turn, interesting characters and a lead female heroine who has yet to discover her true nature.

The novel is set is Fairwick, a magical town unlike any other. There is a paranormal feel throughout the book and an eerie atmosphere at times, and the gothic elements in Incubus will delight fans of Charlaine Harris’ True Blood series (such as myself!).

Carol Goodman, an already highly acclaimed young Adult author, does a great job of setting up the series in Incubus. There is a good balance of magic, romance and mystery as well as likable characters and an intriguing plot. Goodman’s writing, perhaps familiar as she has penned bestsellers such as “Black swan Rising” as Lee Carroll, succeeded in keeping me gripped to the pages from start to finish, even though the events became slightly predictable towards the end.

The ending most definitely sets itself up for an impressive sequel, which I eagerly look forward to reading, this new paranormal romance is one not to be missed…

You can purchase Incubus HERE.

The Secret of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorensen

‘The girl he thinks he loves needs to disappear. I don’t want tonight to be irreversible, so I pull away, breathing him in one last time.’

They were best friends throughout their childhood, until one tragic night when it all changed and rather than facing up to her demons, Ella decides to run away to college, leaving behind her old life – and Micha.

Eight months later, its summer break, and Ella has no where else to go but home, which means returning to face the very problems she ran away from, and with Micha living right next door, Ella fears everything she has worked so hard to bury deep inside will come back to the surface. When leaving for college, Ella took the opportunity to mould herself into a polite, quiet and scholarly girl, instead of the feisty teenage she once was. It’s not long before Micha notices the change and decides he’ll do whatever it takes to get back the Ella that ran away.

They have many similarities; both had a difficult upbringing and family problems meaning they had to grow up fast. Micha grew up without a dad and Ella with an unstable, bipolar mother and drunken father.

This is Jessica Sorensen first YA novel and it is doing very well over in the states. For a young adult novel, The Secret of Ella and Micha is better than most books out on the market today. For a start, it deals with real life problems that many, if not all teenagers face, and features characters the reader can easily relate to - unlike many of the unrealistic stories currently sold to young adults. The backstory of this book is interesting; initially self-published in October 2012, The Secret of Ella and Micha became a bestselling e-book, reaching number two on the New York Times e-book bestseller list. It is well written and easy to read, but despite this, there are a few things I wanted to uncharacteristically moan about.

The first thing I want to draw your attention to is the uselessness of the front cover. Within the first three chapters we learn that Ella has long auburn hair and Micha blonde, whereas the couple on the cover have the very opposite. This won't bother many people, but it just shows that more effort could have gone into marketing and packaging the book. It does let it down a little for me.

Secondly, between them, Ella and Micha have more than just the one secret the title suggests. But is there one secret bigger than the rest? No. In fact, having only just finished the book, I have no idea what the secret in the title could be...

But the main problem that irritated me from page one was the presence of secondary character, and Ella's roommate, Lila. I feel like her absence from the entire book could only be an improvement. She seemed like a pointless addition to the plot, with no charisma or spark in dialogue or actions.

Dispite having a few cons to it, the secret of Ella and Micha was a good read and I would wholeheartedly recommend it as a holiday/beach read. It is quick to get through and the storyline has some heart to it, but perhaps it won't be everyone's perfect book.

Maria and The Devil by Graham Thomas

Maria and The Devil by Graham Thomas

'There is nothing so dangerous as lovers.' This is a phrase repeated throughout the book, and each time is holds more significance than the last.

Montana's most feared outlaw, known only as The Devil, has left his secret lover, Maria, alone in their secluded house deep in the wilderness. What he doesn't realise is that she's pregnant. Maria time is consumed by waiting and watching out for her lover. He has left her before, and has always returned just as she begins to give up hope.

This time is different. It's been nine months, and still she waits. Time is running out and soon she will have to give birth, alone and unaided.

Across Montana, a group of men dedicate their entire existence to hunting The Devil; to get revenge for the violence and deaths he inflicted on their families.

First and foremost I must address what an amazing book this truly is. From the very first page, the solitary Western setting is established. The first chapter sets up the plot of the book, although the full significance of the actions that take place in this first chapter will not be realised until far later into the novel, so be sure to remember it well. A lone house in the middle of nowhere. A couple with a young child. And enter The Devil, who will alter the future of this small family forever.

Although it seems from the outset, and the title of the book, that Maria and The Devil will be the main characters, this does infant evolve and change when a new group of men are introduced. They are hellbent on getting revenge, and bringing justice to The Devil for all he has done.

Graham Thomas has done an excellent job with Maria and The Devil. The book is cleverly constructed, and the main character, The Devil, whom the entire plot revolves around in one way or another, does not actually make a big appearance in the book. This is all I can say without spoiling the plot, but his presence is felt in every scene. He is more a character built out of his reputation, but it is incredibly well-done.

The writing style overall flows smoothly and describes each scene beautifully, with just the right amount of information to help the reader imagine the harsh, lonely Montana setting with its troubled characters.

There is an undercurrent of the supernatural running beneath the bigger themes of violence and revenge; and make no mistake, there is a lot of gruesome violence, but this is a Western after all. It would be lacking without.

The only frustration I can find on reflection is that no clear reasoning is given for The Devil's actions, but do outlaws need reason to kill, rob or seriously harm a person?

Gradually, you see each character slowly start to loose their grip on reality. But it makes one wonder whether they ever had a firm grip on it in the beginning. Maria especially seems to only live for her time with The Devil, and any time spent apart from him she passes by waiting, but not fully living.

There is an amazing, totally unexpected twist as the book reaches its climax, so when you think the story starts to slow, don't give up. There is still a lot more to come, and the action lasts up until the ever last page.

To judge Maria and The Devil as an example of Graham Thomas' writing, I can not express my admiration of him enough and I eagerly look forward to anything he publishes in the future.

Maria and The Devil is an essential read for fans of Westerns, or just anybody looking for an engrossing read. I have never particularly been a fan of Westerns, but that might have to change now. As they say, don't judge a book by its cover. Is one is certainly not to be missed.

I would also like to thank Graham Thomas for signing the copy I reviewed!

Handy links:

View Maria and The Devil website: http://www.mariaandthedevil.com/
Buy the book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maria-The-Devil-Graham-Thomas/dp/0956742211/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364300517&sr=8-1

Make-Up Review: Dainty Doll

Nicola Roberts Dainty Doll make-up reviewed

Dainty Doll is a brand of make-up designed by Nicola Roberts, of Girls Aloud fame, for those of us who have particularly pale skin - like me.

I purchased the liquid foundation in the shade ‘Very Light 001’ which as you can imagine, is very pale. The foundation is dispensed through a pump bottle; this handy packaging is ideal for reducing mess and prevents you from using too much at once.

The foundation also provides SPF 15 sun protection, an added essential to help keep delicate skin protected at all times. (If you don’t have an SPF in your foundation, keep an eye out for it in facial moisturisers such as day cream or eye cream. It is vital to your skin routine!)

The liquid is smooth and not too thick, yet the coverage is ideal. You may find that you want to add a little more in places, to hide to odd freckle or two.

I also purchased the Dainty Doll concealer in the shade ‘001 Abracadabra’. This is packaged in a compact with a mirror, handy to keep in your handbag and take with you on the go. I smooth the creamy concealer over dark circles or imperfections by dabbing on lightly with my fingertip. I use this after moisturising and before applying the Dainty Doll foundation.

Using both together gives good coverage overall, and can be dressed down for a simple day look, or add some blusher and sparking eye shadow to give yourself more colour for a night out.

Overall rating: 7/10

Book Review - Helga's Diary

It has been sixty-eight years since the end of the Second World War, and in that time, many book and memoirs have been released regarding the events of the Holocaust. Among the most notable is without a doubt Anne Frank’s diary, which shows the war through the eyes of a young Jewish girl. There has not been any other similar book, dealing with these hard-hitting issues, until now.

Helga’s Diary takes readers one step further than Anne Frank’s account did; through the gates of the concentration camp. Helga’s account begins in Prague, 1939, when she is only eight years old. Alongside her mother, father and the 45,000 Jews who lived in Prague, she must adjust and adapt her life to live peacefully under the tough Nazi regime: she and her friends are denied schooling, her father is refused work, Helga cannot even play in a children’s playground without coming into contact with signs saying, ‘No Jews Allowed’. Then deportations begin, and Helga must stand-by, helpless, as all around her friends and family members start to disappear.

This inevitable deportation comes for Helga and her family in 1941, when they are sent to the concentration camp of Terezin, where they will be held for three years. Terezin is rife with disease and suffering, and Helga makes note of the harsh living conditions in her trusty diary. In 1944 things take a turn for the worst as they are sent to Auschwitz. Luckily, Helga leaves her diary with her Uncle, just before transportation, who bricks it into a wall for safe keeping during the war.

Helga’s Diary is an accurate, heart-breaking and truthful account of life in the death camps thought a child’s eyes, reconstructed by Helga herself from her original notebooks. Written in first person, as if it’s happening now, it is hard to distance yourself from the horror as you read. With an all-too knowing hand, Helga describes the fate of the Jewish under Hitler’s power. The further you read, the more you as a reader become aware of Helga’s almost acceptance of the situation as she notes each disappearing friend, or a neighbour dying from disease as if it is an everyday occurrence for humans to be treating fellow human in this way. In young Helga’s reality death does, of course, become an everyday occurrence.

The diary features illustrations and paintings Helga made during her time at Terezin, and an interview with her. The only redeeming feature that makes this harrowing tale a barable read is the fact that Helga and her mother both escape the atrocities of the war, and Helga still lives to this day in the flat where she was born. A truly astonishing tale.