Finding Reviews I Didn't Know About....Like Christmas!

So my night job keeps me very busy either working (or sleeping!) and I feel like I miss so much on Facebook and my other social-networking sites.  I started searching around today and found I was right!  So here are some recent reviews I just found.  Once again, blessed be the Blogger! Spellbound by Samantha Combs

Title- Spellbound

Author- Samantha Combs

Released- 13th June 2011

Publisher- Astraea Press

Genre- YA, Paranormal/Fantasy

Review- What a fast paced, energetic, fun read. Combs captured my attention from the first paragraph. Her intense attention to detail is extraordinary. What I loved most about the book was how Combs did the chapters from different characters perspectives, I got to see all points of view of the story which I really enjoyed. Combs had a lot happening in such a short period of time but she managed to keep the story flowing without making it seem rushed. The relationships that formed in Spellbound were in themselves fast paced. I think Combs was spot on with how intense and full on teenage relationships can be, especially in the relationships between Logan and Serena and Dave and Tamera. The paranormal side of Spellbound was really fascinating. Witches, Shapeshifting Demons and Trolls made for one exciting battle between good and evil.

There isn't really much more to say about Spellbound without giving too much away. So I will leave you with a strong recommendation to giveSpellbound a read. It will be well worth it.

To purchase your copy of Spellbound head to AMAZON

And check out Samantha's blog too

	http://www.samanthacombswrites.blogspot..comiveSpellbound a read. It will be well worth it.

To purchase your copy of Spellbound head to 

And check out Samantha's blog too 
Spellbound 
by Samantha Combs (Goodreads Author), Elaina Lee (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator) 

Lissette's review

Oct 12, 11

Read from September 29 to October 10, 2011

Magic, witches, warlocks, and demons galore - this book has it all. Samantha Combs has done a beautiful job in spinning many elements of the paranormal with a good dose of fantasy. Not to mention the hot and heavy romance growing between Serena Starr and Logan Daniels with every turn of the page.

Logan has always led a comfortable life, while taking care of his mother and sister ever since his father's demise so long ago. He's surrounded himself with the best of friends and is practically the star of the school's baseball team. While things have not always been in his favor, he's done his best to make the most of what he's had. Yet he's never imagined that meeting the girl of his dreams would turn his life so upside-down.

Serena is every bit as beautiful - blonde, green eyes, and quite special, she's everything that Logan could ever want in a woman. Yet he has no idea of the secrets that she hides inside. You see, Serena is a witch. So are her sisters. Little does Logan know, the sisters are there for a reason - one that seems so unfathomable to him.

When dark forces invade the city, Logan comes to realize that Serena is far from being just an ordinary girl. She's a witch, one who's captured his heart completely. One whom he'll do his damnedest to protect, no matter the cost.

Unable to accept that there are others hunting his beloved, Logan knows that he'll need to accept her for who, and what she is, in order to help her, and her family, with what's to come. As they band together in hopes of taking down the evil that stretches across the town, Logan starts to learn just how special he and Serena really are.

Accepting everything that has come to pass is hard, at first, but he follows his instincts and gives in to what he's known all along. Come what may, they're there for one another in every way possible.

Strength comes in the oddest of ways, yet it's the bonds that have been formed that will allow them to overcome the obstacles that have been thrown their way. For love and friendship will make their ordeals bearable as they battle against those intent on taking away what they love the most

Thanks for reading everyone.  Don't you think the new paperback version of Spellbound would make a nifty Christmas present?  Me too!  Follow this buy link and thanks for supporting this indie author:

http://www.amazon.com/Spellbound-Samantha-Combs/dp/1463787936/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1309285775&sr=1-1

New Review for Spellbound is in - 4 STARS

Hey everyone, pleased to post a new review from Mera's YA Book List, an excellent blogger on the web, I'll post her site at the end of the review.  Check out what she had to say about SPELLBOUND:

Chamera's Reviews > Spellbound

My rating:

edit my review

shelf: read

Spellbound 
by Samantha Combs (Goodreads Author), Elaina Lee (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator) 

Chamera's review

Aug 11, 11

Read from July 19 to August 11, 2011

Logan Daniels has had an acceptably ordinary life. In fact, if you were to ask him, he'd say his family and his town were in all regards normal. This all changes when Serena Starr and her two siblings move into the quiet town of Lancaster. Upon sight of Serena, Logan is instantly smitten, and with perfect reason. Serena, with long honey colored hair and shimmering green eyes, as she is described by Logan, is absolutely stunning. Besides her looks, Serena is perfectly sweet and pure of heart.

But there are many things that the dark haired cutie, Logan, doesn't know about Serena. In fact, there are several things he doesn't know about his town, his family, and most importantly himself.
Samantha Combs' telling of this beautiful tale is spectacular. One thing I admire most in an author is the ability to make the events, and especially, the characters, of a novel realistic, and Miss Combs does not fail in that regard. The characters remind me of people I know from high school, and I can see qualities of average teenagers reflected in each person she has spun into creation.

Serena and Logan are perfect for each other, and other relationships in the story will make you smile. The story tests most of these relationships, and the characters struggle to work through the problems that occur. But don't let the love in this story fool you. This is far more than an average teen love story. Things take an ominous and dangerous turn, not just for Logan and Serena, but for their families, their friends, and everyone in the town of Lancaster.

Because the things Logan doesn't know about Serena and her mysterious sisters, and the thing he learns about his entire family is that they are spectacularly... witch-y. As dark forces cast their eyes on the couple and everyone they hold dear, it becomes obvious that it is up to Logan to help save the day. I love a story with both a hero and a heroine and Spellbound is definitely that. Also, with interchanging view points throughout the book, the thoughts of everyone is made known, which only makes this book even more perfect.

I love the language used, the diverse characters, the love connections, the conflicts, and the familial like ties the characters strengthen with one another. The dialogue was perfect and the chapters melded together splendidly. Samantha Combs' Spellbound had me biting my lip, tapping my leg, and anticipating the next act in the chain of events that occur. At times I smiled like a dork and screamed like a lunatic (and trust me, when you scream out loud in a room that's not particularly empty, you get lots of strange looks). This book is at times both fun and somber, and you feel what the characters feel. One thing this book is not is predictable, and I love that. This is one YA novel that will keep you on your feet and the ending will have you wishing for more Samantha Combs. It has an completely stunning cover that captures the eye, and was what first drew me to the book. Both the author and her mystically delicious characters are absolutely... bewitching. Samantha Combs is a force to be reckoned with in the writing world. The last time I delved into a story so easily and completely was when reading P.C. + Kristin Cast's House of Night series and trust me, this is a very magnificent accomplishment. I highly recommend it... and not just because Logan Daniels is entirely drool worthy

http://merasyabooklist.blogspot.com/?spref=fb


Don't miss it, it's awesome!

Received a "Lovely Rose" From Romancing the Book" Review for Spellbound

I hope you'll allow me a little bit of horn-tooting right now.  I submitted my book, Spellbound, for review to the highly influential review site, Romancing the Book, and the responded right away with a nice reply that they didn't normally do Young Adult reviews but that they would certainly see if they had a reviewer who was interested and get back to me if I didn't mind waiting.  I was grateful for the response and replied I appreciated waiting.  I didn't hold out much hope.  There are soooo many talented writers out there and a veritable plethora of books to read.

My muse went on a field trip it seems, because not more than a week or so later I received a followup email notifying me that one of their reviewers WAS interested and with my permission, they would send my book to her straight away.  I said yes, yes, YES!  That was a couple weeks ago and the review came in today. GUESS WHAT?  I was bestowed a Lovely Rose.  In their rating system, that is only one lower than their highest rating, and when it was transferred to Goodreads, it became 4 out of 5 stars.  Good on me!

So here it is, because I am quite proud of it, and because I quite like how the reviewer did her job (thanks to you, Shyla!)  I am loving the review but I am so pleased that the reviewer was entertained by my book.  As an author, that's really all I want to do.  And the fact that this reviewer thinks I have done that is AWESOME!

Romancing the Book's Reviews > Spellbound

My rating:

edit my review

shelf: read

Spellbound 
by Samantha Combs (Goodreads Author), Elaina Lee (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator) 

Romancing the Book's review 

Jul 21, 11

bookshelves: fantasy, paranormal, ya

Read in July, 2011

Reviewed by Shyla
Book provided by author for review

Spellbound starts off and places you into the thick of action. Demons, witches destiny and young love explode across the screen. I wasn’t even a page in, and I had a list of questions I wanted answered. This was a smart move expertly executed by the clever Ms. Combs. As we move on from the prologue we meet our Hero. Logan is a dark haired cutie who’s breezing his way through his senior year of high school. Nothing much happens in the tiny town of Lancaster, New Hampshire. So when he see’s three new girls in the office he stops to say hi, and his heart skips a beat.

Our heroine Serena star has arrived on the scene. Her honey colored hair is a mass of spirals that Logan wants to touch and I can picture vividly. Samantha has a real gift for imagery. She manipulated the words like a pro, and I have no problem envisioning the characters and their setting. From the first day she arrived we get the sense there’ something strange about Serena Starr. She appears and disappears in the blink of an eye and abnormal activity occurs around her.

Logan witnesses it , but remains quiet because to him all that matters is he likes her. Serena is sweet, intelligent and beautiful. She’s the perfect match for well mannered and romantic Logan, except she’s a teen witch, better known as a twitch. Twitches are watched by the council that governs them, and her eldest sister makes it clear they would not approve of her dalliance with a ‘normal’.

I developed a girlish crush on Logan. This is high-school sweethearts at its best. The joyous burst of emotions felt when you meet that special someone is contagious as it jumps off the page. Samantha does an excellent job of staying true to the teenage experience while inserting action, suspense and romance. The twists and turns of the plot kept me off kilter, and I was stunned when the Starr family came clean with Logan. His love interest is a future member of a the council, and it’s no coincidence they landed in Lancaster. There are dark forces at work.

Serena has chosen Logan, and this means he has an important role to play too. But we won’t know how important until further in to the book. The conflict with the council escalates, and the story takes a deliciously dark turn. Once the tiny town of Lancaster is over run by demons, all bets are off.

This story has it all; romance, adventure, myth and a well thought out plot. I loved how Samantha linked the lives of the characters together and gave each one their own time to shine.

The descriptions are magnificent as she breathes life to this strange new world she’s created.

With witches who fly on broom sticks, have the gift of site, transform, and so much more. I would describe it as a Harry Potter for the modern, edgier teen. My one complaint was at times the scenes felt a bit long. I’d have liked to see some of them shortened. I would highly recommend this to YA and paranormal fans