4th of July Follow Friday

Greetings fellow broom riders! I hope this week found you well and this holiday weekend leaves you even better. Stay safe! We are on a firework ban here, so no fireworks for me. Just enjoying the pics and staying cool indoors with my wonderful airconditioner.

If you are new to the Broomstick, I hope you will like the Facebook fan page, and spend a few moments. It is always great to meet someone who loves witchy fiction as much as I do. So grab a broom and tell me what you are reading this weekend. Happy 4th!







Q. ACK! Your favorite book/movie character (example Hermione Granger played by the Emma chick) just walked into the room! Who is it and what would be your first reaction? You get extra points if you include visual stimulation.




One of my favorite books of all time has to be Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Jamie and Claire are so real, they practically breathe. If I ran into them, I would either:

*faint
*hug them obsessively
*cry

“What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?“

Answer:

The voice of the book has to grab me within the first few pages. The point of view, dialogue, and characters have to be there. The other thing that drives me crazy is when a book is marketed for a certain genre or age group and it doesn't fit within that category. Especially if a middle grade book is being marketed for a teen audience. That just does not work and that is the fastest way to find a book flying back onto the shelf.

Have a great holiday everyone!

Pottermore

Hmmm. Sounds pretty cool!

Dana's YA Bookpile: Texas Gothic Review

Check out my review:

Dana's YA Bookpile: Texas Gothic Review: "Amy Goodnight's family is far from normal. She comes from a line of witches, but tries her best to stay far outside the family business. He..."

Follow Friday and Blogger Hop

Greetings and welcome to another Follow Friday!

Q. In light of the Summer Solstice. Also known as Midsummer...let's talk about fairies. What is your favorite fairy tale or story that revolves around the fae?

A. My favorite fairy tale has always been Beauty and the Beast. It must be all those books and a fairy tale castle. The Beast was pretty hot too, once you got past all that hair. He was a gruff person, but underneath, a great guy to know.

Bookwise, I think the Melissa Marr Wicked Lovely series is one of my favorites. I am about to start reading the latest (Darkest Mercy) and I am looking forward to it.

“When did you realize reading was your passion and a truly important part of your life?”

When I was very small. My first book was a Dr. Seuss. I remember the house always being filled with books. There was this amazing book of illustrations and fantasy art that struck me at an early age. Books were my best friends. We moved a lot being a military family, and it was hard to make friends in the beginning. Books and writing were what held me together. Hmmm. Still do.

Thanks for dropping by on the is wonderful Follow Friday! Have a great weekend and don't forget to follow and like the Facebook fan page. Followers are the best!

Follow Friday and Blogger Hop

Happy Follow Friday and Blog Hop!

Question:

What is your favorite genre? What book made you love it?

Answer:

One of my favorite genres has always been witch themed books. I have just always loved them. Here are some favorites...

There are many more that I have loved, but these are some early fav's...

Question of the week:

How many books are in your TBR pile?

Hmmm.

Maybe a few hundred? Then again, this is only one of the piles. Books = awesomeness!

Thanks for jumping On the Broomstick this Follow Friday! It was great to see you. Sign up for my email list if you want to see new posts as they come out. Always reading something new! If you love music, be sure to check out my new music blog:

http://bookgirlsmusicmusings.blogspot.com/

Texas Gothic: What I Am Reading Now

Amy Goodnight's family is far from normal. She comes from a line of witches, but tries her best to stay far outside the family business. Her summer gig? Ranch-sitting for her aunt with her wacky but beautiful sister. Only the Goodnight Ranch is even less normal than it normally is. Bodies are being discovered, a ghost is on the prowl, and everywhere she turns, the hot neighbor cowboy is in her face.

From the Hardcover edition.

(Goodreads)

I just received this in the mail from the publisher yesterday and can't wait to get started. It sounds great! The book will be on the shelves by July 12, so get your orders in to your local bookstore...

Witch Craft

Open this wicked little volume for a spellbinding collection of dark arts and crafts! It's full of color photos and simple illustrated instructions for crafting everyday items into wonderfully witchy treats:

• A truly wicked charm bracelet made from a handful of old trinkets

• Spooky little skulls made out of marshmallows

• A bewitching midnight black tutu that can be stitched up in minutes

• A wicked poison apple fashioned from an everyday plushie

• Witches, monsters, spiders, and ghosts to top your cupcakes

• And much, much more!

Each step-by-step project is as easy as the wave of a wand—no previous crafting experience required!
(Goodreads)


I received this book from the amazing guys over at Quirk Books in exchange for a review. It rocks! So many cute projects that are perfect for Halloween or just being witchy.

Some of my favorite artists from the book can be found on their own websites:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61987687/frankenstein-monster-mary-jane-shoes?ref=pr_shop

http://www.etsy.com/listing/34804258/punk-star-hot-pink-and-black-tutu-xs

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61517969/rosie-stuffed-guinea-pig-plushie-medium

Okay, so in the book, Rosie the guinea pig is more like a bat. it has wings and is the cutest thing ever!

There is even a free witch pattern that is the cutest ever! You will have to check it out at the website:

http://kandjdolls.blogspot.com/2010/10/free-amigurumu-witch-crochet-pattern.html

 

Five out of five for creativity, instructions, source list and information on the artists. Great book!

By These Ten Bones Review

There's hidden places all over this land-old, old places. Places with a chain for them to chain up the wolf when it's time.

A bone-chilling tale of werewolves and love, set in medieval Scotland

A mysterious young man has come to a small Highland town. His talent for wood carving soon wins the admiration of the weaver's daughter, Maddie. Fascinated by the silent carver, she sets out to gain his trust, only to find herself drawn into a terrifying secret that threatens everything she loves.

There is an evil presence in the carver's life that cannot be controlled, and Maddie watches her town fall under a shadow. One by one, people begin to die. Caught in the middle, Maddie must decide what matters most to her-and what price she is willing to pay to keep it.

Goodreads

This book hooked me from the start. It reminded me of a fairy tale I read when I was much younger. The feel was not as modern as most of the teen werewolf books you see on the market today, but a slightly more refined story. Quite frankly, it was excellent.

As Maddie watches her town torn apart by death and supernatural happenings, she must figure out how to save the boy she has come to love. When the woman she serves in the castle is thrown in the hole and rumblings erupt as to whether she might be a witch, Maddie knows she has to try to save her. But how can she save the boy that she loves and Lady Mary? You will have to check out the book to find out. I was so glad to receive it from the publisher! What a great read.

I recommend this book for the storyline, plot and original handling of the werewolf dilemma. Dunkle does a great job of capturing an old world story feel. It is a keeper. If you like a good werewolf story with a witch hunt thrown in, you will really enjoy By These Ten Bones. I am anxious to read other books by this author.

5/5

To check out some great photos of Maddie's world, check out Clare Dunkle's website:

http://www.claredunkle.com/Design/tbphotocastle.htm






Lady Mary's Castle

Follow Friday

Happy Follow Friday!

Q. What are you doing to prepare for an upcoming zombie apocalypse and/or the return of Mel Gibson to the silver screen? (Both of which could be terrifying.)

A. I think a large baseball bat might have to be in order. That and a large supply of yellow zingers. My library so I can stay huddled in my house for years...Boards for the windows. Lots to think about here. Might have to get some more canned green beans too... What do you think?