Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Featured App: The Goddess Tarot



If you are looking for a new app, consider the beautifully illustrated Goddess Tarot App by Kris Waldherr. There is a free lite version with a one card oracle, or a multi card version as shown above. Both are available from the Apple App Store. Both versions are lovely. Each card is full of the gorgeous artwork featured in Kris's deck and in The Book of Goddesses, posted in an earlier review here On the Broomstick.





For more information, check out Kris Waldherr's website:









On My Nightstand: Witches of East End


From the author of the highly addictive and bestselling Blue Bloods series, with almost 3 million copies sold, comes a new novel, Melissa de la Cruz's first for adults, featuring a family of formidable and beguiling witches.

The three Beauchamp women--Joanna and her daughters Freya and Ingrid--live in North Hampton, out on the tip of Long Island. Their beautiful, mist-shrouded town seems almost stuck in time, and all three women lead seemingly quiet, uneventful existences. But they are harboring a mighty secret--they are powerful witches banned from using their magic. Joanna can resurrect people from the dead and heal the most serious of injuries. Ingrid, her bookish daughter, has the ability to predict the future and weave knots that can solve anything from infertility to infidelity. And finally, there's Freya, the wild child, who has a charm or a potion that can cure most any heartache.

For centuries, all three women have been forced to suppress their abilities. But then Freya, who is about to get married to the wealthy and mysterious Bran Gardiner, finds that her increasingly complicated romantic life makes it more difficult than ever to hide her secret. Soon Ingrid and Joanna confront similar dilemmas, and the Beauchamp women realize they can no longer conceal their true selves. They unearth their wands from the attic, dust off their broomsticks, and begin casting spells on the townspeople. It all seems like a bit of good-natured, innocent magic, but then mysterious, violent attacks begin to plague the town. When a young girl disappears over the Fourth of July weekend, they realize it's time to uncover who and what dark forces are working against them.

(Goodreads)



This book was sent to me by the publisher and I can't wait to start reading!

Thursday, June 30, 2011

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

Book Blogger Hop

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!


Saturday, June 25, 2011

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!


Friday, June 17, 2011

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:








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...

Thursday, June 9, 2011

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:











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:




 




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







Monday, June 6, 2011

By These Ten Bones Review

By These Ten Bones

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

Thursday, June 2, 2011

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?





Thursday, May 26, 2011

Loreena McKennit



I wanted to share with you one of my favorite artists. Loreena McKennit is a signer who ranges from Celtic to Folk and all kinds of sound in between. If you haven't heard her work, you should check out other videos on YouTube. Her sound is inspiring.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Moon Goddess Journal Winner!


We have a winner!

Jen H.

Congrats!


The Near Witch



The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.
(Goodreads)

My thoughts:

This book grabbed me from the first page. Due to be released in August of 2011, I was lucky enough to find it on Netgalley, the blogger's best friend. If any of you are blogging, and don't know what Netgalley is, leave me a comment and I will explain. Finding it after being told about it by an author was one of the happiest days of my little blogger life!


I gave this book 5/5 because of the way it drew me in and kept me reading until the very last page. Lexi's strength and Cole's haunting hunkiness make it an awesome read Thumbs up! So put it on your Goodreads list. You will love it!

Friday, May 6, 2011

Happy Follow Friday!



Happy Follow Friday!



This week's FF question of the week is:

Circle time! Time to share. What character in a book would you most like to be, what character in a book would you most like to date?

Oh....That is a tough one. I guess my first inclination is to be Anita Blake. Not for the endless sex partners either. I think her talents as a police collaborator and monster hunter are amazing and she gets to hang out with Jean Claude, who is one of my favorite book hotties of all time.


Thanks to any new guests. I hope you will enter the current contest and become a follower. Don't forget to "Like" the Facebook fan page while you are here. Please leave comments. I love them! Welcome back to any returning friends. Love to see you dropping in for a spin on the broomstick. Until later, have an excellent weekend!