Monday 30 September 2013

*{Tour Stop}* Reviews + Giveaways : Returned and Before By Keeley Smith



Returned (Pendle Hill #1) By Keeley Smith

Summary :

17 year old Cora Hunt has one wish, to live the life of a normal teenager. Her wish never comes true. After her reluctant move to a sleepy village in the middle of Lancashire Cora's life is turned upside down when she discovers she is a witch. A very powerful witch. 
Cora is not just any old witch, she is the daughter of Alizon Device who was one of the most powerful witches of her time. Dealing with her new found powers is quite a challenge, but when the past she didn't know about unearths new complications in the form of Jack Thomas, her life becomes increasingly dangerous with each waking minute.
 Jack also has a secret past, a past that clashes with Cora's. A confrontation between the two results in a life or death situation. The brutal events of 1612 happened hundreds of years ago, but what Jack and Cora face is a definite déjà vu. 

The only question is, will their fate be the same as those who perished in 1612?

Review :

Oh. My. Gosh! This book was amazing. I fell in love with almost all the characters mentioned in the book except the bad guys for obvious reasons. They are simply mean and bad and mean...you know what I'm talking about. :D

So our Cora here has been on the move for the past year and really is just tired of it and wants a place to settle down. London seemed like a good place to do that but where Cora moves to after London is a village in the middle of Lancashire. But her heart isn't where she is. She'd not really impressed by her surrounding as she was with London. But it still feels like she's finally come home. Why she feels that she doesn't know yet. Then before a weird encounter with a weird lady she happens to meet jack who apparently hates her because someone warned him about her. But warned about what?? 

Soon after she finds out her true identity and is shocked to know that not everything in her life is as it seems. While the story unfolds Jack finds out his part of the family history just as Cora  does hers. The result?? Jack has to kill Cora to survive & viceversa . It 's kill or be killed. But will they actually be able to do just that? Is their hate for each  other so strong that it surpasses everything else?

 The pace of the story was great,I never had a boring moment in this book. I am a sucker for reincarnated soul stories, though Jack and Cora were not exactly reincarnated , the history between them had me glued to this book excited to know how things would progress. The fights scenes were just perfect. They kept me at the edge of my seat. While reading Returned I laughed, smiled and my heart hurt for what Jack and Cora had lost and by the end of the book after the death of a much loved character I was in tears. Overall this book again reminded me of  my hatred of cliffhangers. There's could not have been a better cliffhanger to end  a book.Totally excited for the next book in the series and see what happens next!
Rating : 4/5 Stars


Before By Keeley Smith

Summary :

Cora and Jack are childhood friends who have always lived next door to each other in a beautiful, idyllic part of Lancashire. What binds them as lifelong friends are their powers.

As young witches, life is hard. If the commoners find out their secret, they will be killed. But Cora is lucky, she has her best friend Jack by her side.
Having grown up together they know each other, they trust each other, they love each other. However their blossoming relationship is cut short by the events of one day. A date that will bring their perfect worlds crashing down around them.

20th August 1612

Cora and Jack are forced to face the reality of being a witch during these turbulent times, however they don’t know that their lives will become part of one of the most famous witch trials to have ever hit England.

The Pendle Hill witch trials of 1612.

Review :

I was so excited to start this one. Having read Returned already and reading about the incidents in the past I was really curious as to what actually happened! 

Before gave me just that and I'm so happy! Since it's a novella I don't have much to talk about without giving everything away, So I'll  be short and sweet. In before we get to know in detail as to what exactly happened in 1612. The relationship between Jack & Cora. The tragedy they both had to go through had me in tears. The climax was so heartbreaking  I had tissues all around me. Yes that's how sad the terrible events of 20th august 1612 made me. 

The misunderstanding between Jack and Cora was another sad incident among others which happened during the same time. Overall I'm glad I got this book to read and understand the history of Jack  Cora even better. Can't wait for the next book in the series :) I recommend this to all those out there regardless of age who love history with a twist of magic in it. You sure would be glad by the end that you picked it up. I know I am!
Rating : 4/5 Stars

About The Author :



I've always loved reading, it is a common known fact that I pretty much demolish 
a book a day. Expensive hobby, but a great one! I've dabbled with writing since the 
day I could actually write. So, it was only fitting that I had my first book published 
when I was 15.

If I'm not writing you would generally find me reading, creating jewellery, 
trawling social networking sites and listening to music. I will pretty much listen to 
any kind of music but I have two favourites, country music which has been with 
me since I was a little toddler and I also love to listen to movie scores, especially 
when I'm writing!

I currently live in Yorkshire with my husband.

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