Release Day Blast, Review & Giveaway: Bound by Spells by Stormy Smith

Crushed on by Sara Meadows, on March 19, 2015, in Giveaways, New Releases, Reviews / 1 Comment

Release Day Blast, Review & Giveaway:
Bound by Spells by Stormy Smith

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BookCrushin is happy to help celebrate the release of BOUND BY SPELLS by Stormy Smith! Check out the excerpt, review, teasers and be sure to enter the giveaway! Also please to join the Facebook Launch Party tonight March 19th!

 

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Bound By Spells (Bound #2) by Stormy Smith

Category: Mature Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
Publication: March 19th, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

Aidan Montgomery hadn’t been prepared for Amelia Bradbury to walk in and then out of his life. He also hadn’t expected to find the powerful magic hidden deep within him for the last nineteen years, but he’s embracing it — finding more control and more answers every day. Now, with the help of Amelia’s best friend, Bethany, Aidan is on a quest to understand his destiny and find Amelia.

Amelia decided to stand by her duty, which meant walking away from her first chance at love. Trapped in Cresthaven at the Queen’s mercy, she spends her days with Micah — an ally she still holds at arm’s length — struggling to manage her heartbreak while keeping her mind focused on the task at hand. As she continues to unlock the secrets of the Keeper power, Queen Julia’s true motives reveal themselves, forcing Amelia to decide, yet again, how much she’s willing to sacrifice.

Will Aidan get to Amelia before it’s too late, or will the very power that sustains them keep them apart?

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“Featuring a cast of mages and shapeshifters with unique magical abilities, one destiny-shaping prophecy, a genocidal megalomaniac, and a budding, heated romance (or two!), this book is paranormal gold! Read the first book in the series first, of course, but once you finish this one you’re sure to be salivating for the next release in this not-to-be-missed romantic paranormal series.” ~Serena Chase, USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog, author of The Ryn

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Excerpt:

As I stopped in front of him, I wasn’t sure what to do. I was suddenly nervous and unable to make eye contact anymore. I fidgeted and a shyness I hadn’t felt since his initial pursuit took over. As I waged an internal war over what to do, Aidan did what he did best and took control of the decision for me. He had always known what I needed before I did. He got up and circled me. He stopped when he was facing me and sat down. Even sitting, his head was close to chest level. His tail swished back and forth behind him and his eyes were full of patience. He let out a low yelp and it was all the encouragement I needed to drop to the ground and wrap my arms around him. My body was positioned between his front paws and he nuzzled into my hair as I struggled to maintain control of my raging emotions and held on to him as if he was my life raft in the sea of uncertainty and fear I lived in now. (Amelia)

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SEE STORMY AND HER FANS SHAKE IT OFF IN THIS FUN VIDEO!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naVJoEaE2_0

Review:

*Spoilers below for Bound by Duty, book 1 of the series – if you haven’t read it yet check out our 5-heart review!

[book rating=5.0/5.0]

 

The last memory I had was her stick-straight back and methodical paces toward the car as she whispered goodbye. She didn’t want to, but she left me anyway.

The waiting was agony. True, I just finished “Bound By Duty” about four weeks ago, but still; waiting to find out what happened to my Aidan – err, Aidan – was torturous. If you read “Bound By Duty,” you know how Stormy Smith killed us at the end: “Pick me. Choose me.” Cue the sounds of my heart shattering.

Well, readers, I am so happy to tell you that the wait for “Bound By Spells” was worth every.single.second. Sometimes second novels in a series fall prey to the “just need to advance the story somehow” syndrome and don’t really add anything new or substantial to the overarching story universe (think: the Harry Potter, Twilight, Divergent series); this is most certainly not the case with BBS. This is a fully realized sequel, one that expands our characters’ universes, introduces us to some new major players, and really brings Aidan to life as an AniMage.

The book alternates between Aidan’s and Amelia’s points of view and, normally I am cranky about POV switches. This technique is just difficult to master properly, especially when writing for the opposite sex. I often find myself thinking, “Umm, what guy actually things/says/does things like that?” That’s not a problem here! Ms. Smith perfectly captures Aidan as a hero concerned with helping his fellow AniMages and rescuing the woman he loves. I felt much more of a connection with Aidan in this novel; I loved watching him grow and realize his potential. I cheered when the pieces I knew existed finally clicked into place for him. He is a smart, sweet character in whom I have absolute faith.

As for Amelia, well, our heroine is still in the clutches of the evil Queen Julia, who is nuttier than a peanut butter sandwich eaten by Norman Bates. During her captivity, she is befriended by Tragar, an ageless librarian who knew Amelia’s mother and kept her secrets; and, she is acquainted with Baleon, a Hunter whose loyalty to the Queen just might be in question. Amelia practices her powers with Micah, though Micah’s role in this novel is smaller, which isn’t a bad thing (and I’m pretty sure he will be more prevalent in the next book). Amelia grows stronger every day, both in backbone and power. I treasure her smart mouth, her devotion, and her selflessness. I particularly enjoyed her stance and show of power during the novel’s culminating scenes. She is a smart cookie, that Amelia.

Our cast of supporting characters is back for round two, and I hold Bethany near and dear to my heart. That girl kills me. Sugar and spice on top, grits and determination underneath. I have a theory about her that I won’t posit here, but I’m interested to see if I’m right when the next book is published. Cole, like Micah, has a smaller role in this novel, but his reduction is imperative because it makes way for several other characters, some of whose true identities will shock you.

Ms. Smith is a gifted writer who easily and breezily creates beautiful or dangerous worlds in which the reader gets lost. Her writing is almost flawless and her characters are wholly developed, believably likeable, hateable, or just plain crazy, as prescribed. Her settings were gorgeously realized in “Bound By Duty” and “Bound By Spells” is no different; she creates without alienating. I’m naturally drawn to the action of a story and tend to skim descriptions, but I don’t ever do that with Ms. Smith’s novels. Okay, maybe sometimes I skip ahead to the dialogue because I’m a horribly impatient person and my heart has to know what’s happening with Aidan, but I always go back and read every line, every time.

“Bound By Spells”: Five out of five stars; if I could, I’d give it more stars. Beautifully written, detailed, funny, empowering, original, and just plain good. Read this book/series, people!

Quotes:

“I woke up naked – again.” This is my favorite opening line of a book, second only to S.E. Hinton’s opening line in “The Outsiders.”

“I pushed my way into the building, up the stairs, and to Bethany’s door. The door I whispered my love for Amelia into.”

“You’re going to need to understand, too, Cole. This is bigger than her. It’s bigger than anything you’ve given up. She has to do this. She has to fight with us. Every Immortal has a stake in this.”

“‘See you, Dillon,’ I muttered, wondering why my best, and most confusing, advice so far had come from a dog and a kid.”

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Series:

 BOUND BY DUTY IS ON SALE FOR $.99 FOR A LIMITED TIME!

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Author Bio: Stormy SmithStormy Bio Pic

Stormy Smith calls Iowa’s capital home now, but was raised in a tiny town in the Southeast corner of the state. She grew to love books honestly, having a mom that read voraciously and instilled that same love in her. She knew quickly that stories of fantasy were her favorite, and even as an adult gravitates toward paranormal stories in any form.

Writing a book had never been an aspiration, but suddenly the story was there and couldn’t be stopped. When she isn’t working on, or thinking about, her books, Stormy’s favorite places include bar patios, live music shows, her yoga mat or anywhere she can relax with her husband or girlfriends.

Connect with Stormy:

Website ** Facebook ** Tumblr ** Twitter ** Instagram ** Amazon ** GoodReads ** SPOTIFY Music Playlist

 

Giveaway:

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