Digital Debuts: Enchantment by Charlotte Abel

Enchantment
Author: Charlotte Abel
Purchased from Amazon.com

Enchantment is an absolutely delightful and original book. It could be described as paranormal romance, but it is a far cry from the girl-meets-werewolf/vampire stories that abound. It combines magic, treachery, humor and thrills, as well as a rampant simmering sexuality that might seem out of place if you had not dealt with a teenage girl recently.

Channie Belks lives a hardscrabble life with her parents and siblings, crammed together in a small shack in the Ozark Mountains, but everything is about to get a lot worse. Her father's gambling leads to a nasty run-in with a powerful mage family, and the family has no choice but to leave in a hurry. Unsafe among any of the magic folks, they hide in a town of Magically Disabled people (like you and me). Channie, who has never been to a regular school, is suddenly faced with a very unfriendly student body, and prevented from using the one power she has that might have allowed her to make friends.

On the other hand, she meets Josh, a hot BMX racer with a killer smile, so perhaps you could call it even. Except for the curse.

That is what Enchantment is like, though I could never do it justice. Every corner hides a pitfall, but Channie faces them all. Not happily, or even nicely, but she faces them. We get carried along for the ride, and it is a wild one. I absolutely love the wonderful Ozark language and mentality, funny and different while never getting in the way. The book is flat out fun to read.

Younger readers, or squeamish parents, may have a little trouble with the obsession with sex. It is barely ever acted on or visible, and most girls over the age of 13 will have read stronger stuff, but I thought I should point that out. As for the magic, the folklore and the snappy plot, I can see those appealing to all ages.

Highly recommended. Five Stars!

Pick up a copy of Enchantment on Amazon.com or on BarnesAndNoble.com

Digital Debuts: Wren Emerson's I Wish...

I Wish... (The Witches of Desire) published by Lakehouse Press May 2011
Author: Wren Emerson

This is my second review in a series called Digital Debuts in which I review debut books for young adults (or younger) by authors who have chosen to publish in eBook format only, at least to start. Usually, these will be self-published, or as good as self-published, and thus usually under $5. They are also great books that will entertain and provoke, but not disappoint.

Product description:

Thistle Nettlebottom knows her life isn't exactly normal. She travels the country with her secretive mother and bestselling author grandmother in a pink RV going from book signings to crazy research trips. She's never been to public school or had a boyfriend, but she can pick a lock and hotwire a car. One day the phone rings and they set a course to a tiny town that's not on any maps. Suddenly, Thistle finds her whole life changing.

From this rather odd beginning, we launch quickly into an almost dystopian world where Thistle, whose real name turns out to be something else, must cope with the Witches of Desire. That is to say, witches in the town of Desire, and a more competitive, nasty lot you will have trouble finding anywhere.

Desire is a matriarchal society, and Thistle faces a constant struggle to stay safe, and even alive, due to powers she never knew she had. If only her powers would let her know who was truly a friend and who was not. Or let her know whether to pursue the enticing-but-verboten Ben or the handsome-but-too-compliant Evan.

In her debut novel, Wren Emerson weaves an exciting and different world, and you will quickly find yourself lost in the intrigue and danger. Meant for older teens and young adults, this is only the first in a planned series, and I am sure that readers will be lining up to buy the sequel when it comes out.

In fact, my biggest objection to the novel was the somewhat abrupt ending, a common objection with YA books in series these days. If this were a traditionally published print book and we had to wait six months to a year for the sequel, I would hold that against the author, but since this is published as an ebook, I may let it slide... if she will hurry up and get the sequel out.

I Wish... is $2.99, and well worth the price. Give it a try, and let me know what you think. I believe this is a series, and an author, you will want to follow.

Four stars out of five.

Buy 'I Wish...' on Amazon.com
Buy on Amazon.co.uk
Buy on Amazon.de

Digital Debuts: Leanne Beattie's Cage of Bone

Cage of Bone, Amazon Digital Services in May 2011
Author: Leanne Beattie

This is my first review in a series called Digital Debuts in which I review debut books for young adults (or younger) by authors who have chosen to publish in eBook format only, at least to start. Usually, these will be self-published, or as good as self-published, and thus usually under $5. They are also great books that will entertain and provoke, but not disappoint.

Veronica Campbell, known as Ronnie to the few friends she has, finds her life crashing around her after her popular older sister, Katherine, commits suicide. Ronnie's mother is a mess, her father who had left them a year before has a new girlfriend, and Ronnie has trouble dealing with the kids in school. Not that she wants to deal with them. She doesn't want anything but to get her sister back, or at least to understand why Katherine would kill herself.

That might sound depressing, but through all the pain and anger, Ronnie shows signs of the strength and intelligence that will help her survive. She finds a cool guy at the record store, and though all the girls drool over him, there are signs that perhaps he has noticed her, past the combat boots and spiked hair and leave-me-alone attitutde.

This is a book for older teens and young adults. There's some drinking, some drug references and sexual activity that would not be right for younger teens. For those old enough and mature enough to handle it, the story is compelling and important, dealing with both the loss of loved ones and the loss of innocence. It is also a story of hope, although not a campy, easy hope. My only complaint might be that the story wound up quickly, but that is only a complaint because I wanted to know more about Ronnie, more about Griffin, more about how they all turn out.

Mostly, it is a book you should read. This is Leanne Beattie's first novel, but she has a deft and knowing touch when it comes to teenagers. I certainly hope to see more from Ms. Beattie, which is where you come in. Cage of Bone is $2.99, and worth much more. Buy her book. Share it with your friends. They'll thank you.

Five stars!

Buy from Amazon for $2.99