Wicked Magic: A Weeping Willow Novel by Sandra Madera

I would first like to write about my experience I had, finding Sandra Madera's books.......

Last fall I was looking for something new to read. I was short on money, so I went searching through the free E books that were available for my Nook.  Sandra Madera's short stories peeked my curiosity. She had four short stories available for free. OVERBOARD, a mystery/psychological thriller, SANGRE FALLS, a paranormal/mystery and Weeping Willow 1 & 2, a unique paranormal story leaving me emotionally invested and eager for more.  After I read all four short stories, I knew I discovered a very talented writer that can create different worlds with wonderful suspense and their own unique twists.

I had to read more from Sandra and bought RESTRAINT, a horror/mystery.  Reading RESTRAINT, confirmed to me, that I have truly found a hidden treasure. Sandra Madera is a passionate writer. She is unique and versatile in her story telling. I was excited when the second book came out LAMENT: A Restraint Novel,  ( I loved it ) and I can't wait for the third book  MALCONTENT. 

Here is a link to a previous post of mine about Sandra Madera and my reviews of Restraint and Lament 

http://josies-haven.blogspot.com/2012/04/sandra-madera-restraint-trilogy-and-her.html

Now for Wicked Magic:

goodreads

Wicked Magic: A Weeping Willow Novel
by Sandra Madera
YA Paranormal Romance (16 & up)
Published by Sandra Madera
Pub. Date: July 22, 2012
E Book
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥





Summary  ~from goodreads~

After a time of peace, Willow's world is turned on its side when Nalin is captured and taken into the Underworld. (YA Fiction Novel, intended for 16 and up).

Just when Willow and Nalin were ready to bind their life forces in a marriage ceremony, their time of peace has ended.

Willow finds out a secret that is both the cause of their union and exile. Daphne, Nalin's evil sister, has gathered a group of powerful allies in her quest to regain the Ljósálfar kingdom and overthrow their newly formed government. Hoping to separate Willow and Nalin forever, Daphne casts her brother into the darkest and deadliest realm imaginable...Hades.

However, Daphne never expected Willow to delve into the depths of hell to reunite with her lost love and try to set things right. Rules have been broken...Deals have been made...How much is Willow willing to risk to save Nalin's soul?

My Review:

I've been waiting eagerly to read more about Willow and Nalin since last November. Thank you Sandra for continuing their journey. Before reading  Wicked Magic: A Weeping Willow Novel , I recommend reading  Weeping Willow 1&2. Two wonderful short stories about Willow (Chloe), on  how she discovers her true identity and the choices she makes in dealing with what she discovers. I absolutely love reading about Willow. Willow starts out as a girl who is teased and feels all alone. As a reader you watch her grow into a very strong and self confident woman.

Wicked Magic was quite the ride.  This book did not disappoint me at all.  I found myself going through an emotional roller coaster.  I am so amazed by Sandra's writing.  This story is very suspenseful and tugged at my emotions constantly.  I started out happy and excited for Willow and Nalin.  Then soon enough my happiness for them became worry!  Poor Willow and Nalin, they just don't seem to catch a break.  So I read on eagerly waiting for things to get better.  Nalin disappears and Willow realizes she is the only one that can save her other half of her soul, Nalin.  In her journey to rescue Nalin, she finds out the truth about herself.  She finds it difficult to know who to trust and most of all, can she trust herself to reach her goal to save Nalin. Not only is Nalin and Willows life in jeopardy, but also the two kingdoms. Will there ever be peace between the  Ljósálfar and Dökkálfar?  Can the two races of Elves overcome hatred and find acceptance in one another?  Will the other realms, such as the Fae help without selfish reasons?  Is Evil going to win out?  There is so much is in stake for everyone.

The story ended with a major cliffhanger. At the end I yelled out loud,  "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"
My son happened to be near me when a yelled and he looked at me and said,   "I guess that was a good book?"  I then looked at him and replied with a heavy sigh and some heated anger,  "Yes!!! But now I have awhile to wait for the next book.......UGH!!!"

Sandra Madera you are an amazing writer! I so need the next book.
I hope I do not have too wait long.

 Here is the trailer to her next book....Wicked Love




Here are several different links to learn more about Sandra Madera and her books:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4777433.Sandra_Madera

http://www.sandramadera.com/AboutMe.html

http://www.youtube.com/smadera23

Sandra Madera: Restraint Trilogy and her wonderful short stories

After reading two short stories, Weeping Willow Part 1 & 2, I felt like I discovered a hidden treasure through my Nook. I absolutely loved Weeping Willow. It can be difficult for a reader to enjoy a short story, but Sandra Madera does an awesome job writing them.
I wanted to read more of her books so I added her two other short stories to my Nook, Sangre Falls and Overboard. Sandra Madera impressed me with these books. I like the fact that all her stories were completely different. From Weeping Willow stories about Elves. Sangre Falls story about a vampire who sees the dead and Overboard  a  mystery that keeps you guessing.

It is wonderful to read stories from an author who's very versatile in her writing.

Here is a link to her short stories. Sandra created book trailers for each one.
http://www.sandramadera.com/ShortStories.html

Find out more about Sandra Madera. Check out her website.
http://sandra-madera.blogspot.com/

Restraint (Restraint Trilogy #1)
by Sandra Madera
YA 16 & up
Publisher: Sandra Madera
Pub. Date: May 27, 2011
eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♥½







Summary: ~ from Barnes & Noble~


Tragic circumstances bring two sisters, Laura and Linda, to a foreign land where they are stripped of their fortune and are at the mercy of their estranged uncle. However, strange happenings force Laura to believe their current situation was no accident. Something is after her.
After the abrupt death of her father, Laura Carter and her sister Linda, are shipped off to England by her uncle they barely know. They are taken to a large house in Annesley to begin a life of service.  When Laura becomes a governess to a young boy named Marcus, she begins to experience strange things in the night...horrible things.
Creatures in the night. Bite marks on her body.
Laura is about to discover a secret that has existed in her family for generations...
Something wants to possess her. It wants her blood, but it didn't expect her to resist and lose all restraint.


Review:


Laura is such a strong character. As soon as she figures out what is really happening to her, she chooses to find a way out of her situation. She becomes focused on helping others, making her a protector. She refuses to give up, making her a survivalist. I love the twist and turns this story takes. Not knowing where the story was going to end up made this a great book for me.
I love reading stories that are set in the Victorian era and I'm a huge fan of  classic literature. Being a fan of Sandra Madera's short stories, I was excited to read this novel. This story captured my attention right from the beginning. Tragedy, mystery, suspense, survival, horror and just a touch of romance. I do not normally read horror books but I have read a few. I happened to just read Bram Stoker's Dracula, just a couple of months before reading Restraint. I love the fact that Restraint gave me the feeling I had while reading Dracula. These vampires are not your typical modern day vampires(beautiful and hot). I don't have a problem with beautiful, hot vampires I love to read about them too. But  It was refreshing to read a story that resembles the classic vampire. These vampires can seem beautiful when they want to, but when the evil in them shows, it is then the vampire is seen for who they really are.

                                                                        ♦♦♦♦

Lament (Restraint Trilogy #2)
by Sandra Madera
YA 16 & Up
Publisher: Sandra Madera
Pub. Date: January 31, 2012
eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥







Summary: ~ from Barns & Noble~


Stranded in a foreign land, two sisters, Linda and Laura are on a quest to regain their fortune and rebuild their once normal life. However, the past they fought so hard to flee has caught up with them and each must face the consequences of their actions. For Linda, the price may be too high.
Something seeks her demise.
After the horrifying experience of fleeing for their lives, Linda Carter and her sister, Laura, are on a mission to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. however, they never expected their past to follow them.
Betrayed by those closest to them and left at the mercy of those they fought to escape, everything they planned goes horribly wrong as Linda is captured by her enemy and held captive in an attempt to lure Laura into a trap.
Can Linda escape without being bitten by the very beast she both feared...and loved?


Review:


A great second book to this trilogy. The book picks up from where Restraint ended. The first book was told in Laura's point of view, this second book is told in Linda's point of view. Linda has to now step up and be the strong one. She has to come to terms of what has happened. She faces the ugly truth of her family's history and that pure evil exist. Lament has more action, suspense, horror. Can Linda or Laura ever find happiness or love? One thing is for sure their lives will never be the same again.


                                                                      ♦♦♦♦

The third book Malcontent  may be out by December 2012.

And Wicked Magic  A Weeping Willow novel  will be released soon.This will include both short stories.

I most definitely will be getting these Novels as soon as they are released!! I am also glad to hear that Sandra will be publishing soft cover books of Restraint,  Lament  and  Wicked Magic.