Laced with Magic by Barbara Bretton (Book Review)

Title: Laced with Magic
Author: Barbara Bretton
Publisher: Penguin

First sentence: Did you ever have the feeling that you were exactly where you were meant to be, that the fates had finally got it right and the rest of your life was going to be clear sailing?

My synopsis: Chloe Hobbs was a woman with many hats - she was the owner of a knit shop called Sticks and Strings, defacto mayor of Sugar Maple (417 residents) and a sorceress-in-training. She was also half human and in love with Luke, acting sheriff of Sugar Maple and the only 100% human in residence there. For many, many years Sugar Maple had been the home of witches, vampires, were families, spirits, fae - you name it, Sugar Maple had it. A protective spell had been placed over the town by a descendant of Chloe's that kept it safe from human's detection as long as a Hobbs woman walked the earth. Chloe was the last of these women and the spell was starting to falter. She was almost 30 and was yet to have a child. When she met Luke, she was hoping that would solve this problem. She didn't count on Isadora and Karen.

Karen was Luke's ex-wife, and the mother of their deceased daughter Steffie. Until she arrived in town looking for Luke, claiming that Steffie had tried to contact her from beyond, Chloe didn't even know that Luke had had a child. Combine this with the fact that the protective spell around Sugar Maple seemed to be failing and Karen was in for an eye-opening experience.

Isadora was the fae's leader, if you will. Chloe had banished her as she threatened to take Sugar Maple beyond the mist into another dimension. The townspeople were torn over whether to support Isabella or Chloe. Unfortunately, Chloe, being only a sorceress-in-training, did not have strong enough spells to keep Isadora banished forever. She (Isadora) also makes her presence known in a big way. But where does Steffie fit in with all this and why is she trying to contact her parents?

My thoughts: What a fun book! This is a sequel to Barbara's book - Casting Spells. I would recommend reading the books in order, but it is not a necessity. I have not read Casting Spells yet, but it is in my TBR pile (and definitely moved closer to the top). Barbara's easy style of writing kept the story moving along very quickly. It was told from the viewpoints of Chloe, Luke, and Karen and intermingled very well together. I enjoyed these characters immensely and all the talk of knitting had me wanting to put down the book and pick up my needles - almost! I wanted to finish the book more. (I am definitely going to do a little stitching tonight though!) I really enjoyed the character of Chloe - how her half-human side tries to relate to her half-sorceress side. The ending took me by surprise and also brought some tears to my eyes! Best of all though is that it seems there will be another book to look forward to! Thanks Barbara! I really enjoyed this one!

I almost forgot - at the end of this book was a great little section on knitting tips and tricks, some stitches/patterns and some great websites for charity knitting!

Please visit my blog tour post to find out all the different ways to learn about Barbara and to read an excerpt of this book. If you missed her guest post - be sure to visit! It was very entertaining!

Thank you Dorothy from Pump Up Your Book Promotion for arranging this blog tour and allowing me to be part of it!


Laced with Magic
Publisher/Publication Date: Berkley Trade (Penguin), August 2009
ISBN: 978-0-425-22752-7
352 pages

Laced With Magic's Barbara Bretton Posts Today!

When I was a kid knitting was fairly popular but crochet was king. Oh, the wonders of the granny square afghan! I have a few of them dating way back into the mists of time and love them more than I can say. My mother made them from scraps of yarn leftover from other projects. The only new yarns she ever bought for a granny square afghan was the yarn used to make the borders. Sometimes it was a bright sunny yellow. Sometimes a cheerful cherry red. Occasionally a drop-dead gorgeous dramatic black. We also did cross-stitch, but not the more sophisticated counted cross stitch done today (which, by the way, just the merest thought of makes my head explode -- I can't follow the charts!) but the stamped pattern on cheap fabric kind. My friend Teresa Garcia made one for me when I was eleven: Make New Friends, Keep the Old -- One Is Silver, The Other Is Gold. (I still have it.)

(Photo: Family Circle offer from June 1970 -
Julie Nixon Eisenhower's Crewel Kit.
At least our needlework managed true bipartisanship.)

Crochet remained very popular in the late 60s and into the early 70s. Crocheted bikinis, vests, scarves, slippers--I made them all. Crochet in 1970 was all about big hooks and triple strands of Red Heart or Aunt Lydia's Rug Yarn. Crewel was very popular around 1972. I worshipped at the altar of Erica Wilson and Elsa Williams, the queens of traditional (and non-traditional) embroidery.

(You're looking at my four-way bargello attempt c. 1982
which was really going quite well until I lost interest.
Why did I lose interest? I haven't a clue.)

The mid-to-late 70s, as I remember, were needlepoint. "Rich girl stuff" one of my Long Island friends said at the time because who could afford hand-painted canvases and pricey Paternayan Persian wool? A needlepoint shop moved into my working class neighborhood a month after we bought our first house in North Babylon and my truly exciting birthday present was Beginner Lessons. I'm telling you it was so thrilling that selling my first book had to struggle to match the joy I felt.



















(Groucho, circa 1983. Total improvisation with velour

yarns, silks, some metallics. I've since added a little
sparkly red to the end of the cigar ash.)

And then suddenly needlework seemed to vanish from the radar. Oh, I know men and women were still stitching and knitting out there but you didn't hear all that much about it. I switched over to sewing for a few years, a craft where my talent fell far short of my enthusiasm. (Would you believe I actually made my father a blue velvet caftan? What in the name of all that's decent was I thinking?)

Knitting popped back onto the radar in the mid-80s and in my opinion we have Bill Cosby to thank for it. Remember The Cosby Show? Cliff Huxtable wore the most gorgeous, elaborate hand-knit sweaters on the planet and I think seeing them every week revived interest in the craft. Sweaters were big and poufy in fluffy yarns with intarsia-like designs knitted in.

And then knitting vanished again.

See where I'm going with this? (And boy it's taken me long enough to get there.) Reading trends in romantic fiction follow the same interest curve. A Martian looking at the romance section in a local book store would think we were a country of vampires, werewolves, and demons with the occasional kick-butt superheroine tossed in for good measure. (Have I mentioned that LACED WITH MAGIC is on the stands right now??) A year or two ago we were all single working girls with cartoon covers. And not too long ago we were nursing mothers in low-cut gowns about to be ravished by hunky pirates. Or nightgown-clad damsels fleeing a spooky castle at midnight. And does anyone remember when cowboys and stalwart Apache and Cherokee and Sioux braves were #1 in the hearts of romance readers (and writers) everywhere? (Why were there no Chippewa heroes? I'm part Chippewa and that always annoyed me.)

Tastes change and that's a good thing. Life would be unbearably boring if they didn't. The trick, in needlework and in writing and in life, is learning how to change with them.





Thank you Barbara! Loved your post today...but crocheted bikinis? Ugh!

ARC Arrival: Laced with Magic by Barbara Bretton

Laced with Magic by Barbara Bretton

Publisher: Berkley Trade

I received this book for a Pump Up Your Book Tour!

About the book: In Casting Spells, USA Today bestselling author Barbara Bretton introduced knit shop owner and sorcerer's daughter Chloe Hobbs. Now, in this magical follow-up, Chloe, who's still getting a handle on her powers, is about to discover that love may not conquer all, but a nasty Fae certainly can. . .

Ever have the feeling that the fates finally got it right? That's how I felt when I met Luke MacKenzie. And no one could have convinced me otherwise--not the trolls, selkies, or spirits who also call Sugar Maple, Vermont, home. But since I live in a town that thrives on secrets, why am I surprised that the man I love has a few of his own? Because out of nowhere his ex-wife has suddenly shown up, claiming to see the spirit of their daughter, Steffie--a daughter I knew nothing about.

Now it seems Steffie's spirit is being held hostage by a certain Fae leader. And if I weave a spell to free her spirit, my nemesis will also be free--free to destroy my yarn shop, all of Sugar Maple, and everyone in it. But if I don't, Steffie won't be the only one spending eternity in hell. I'll be joining her, cursed with a broken heart. . . (back cover)

About the author: Barbara Bretton is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than forty books. She currently has over ten million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated into twelve languages in more than twenty countries.

Barbara lives in New Jersey but loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books. (back cover)

Laced With Magic
Publisher/Publication Date: Berkley Trade, August 2009
ISBN: 978-0-425-22752-7
352 pages

Book Tour: Laced with Magic by Barbara Bretton

Laced with Magic by Barbara Bretton
(touring Aug 3 - Sept 25)
Publisher: Berkley Trade

About the book: Knit shop owner and sorcerer’s daughter Chloe Hobbs felt the Fates finally got it right when she met Luke MacKenzie. And no one could have convinced her otherwise—including the trolls, selkies, or spirits who also call Sugar Maple, Vermont, home. But then out of nowhere Luke’s ex-wife suddenly shows up, claiming to see the spirit of their daughter, Steffie—a daughter Chloe knows nothing about.

Steffie’s spirit is being held hostage by a certain Fae leader. And if Chloe weaves a spell to free her spirit, her nemesis will also be free—free to destroy her yarn shop and all of Sugar Maple. But if she doesn’t, Steffie won’t be the only one spending eternity in hell. Chloe’ll be joining her, cursed with a broken heart.

About the author: Barbara Bretton is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. Her most recent title, Laced With Magic, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. She currently has over ten million copies in print around the world and have been translated into twelve languages in over twenty countries.

Barbara has been featured in articles in The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Romantic Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Herald News, Home News, Somerset Gazette,among others, and has been interviewed by Independent Network News Television, appeared on the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles Osgood of WCBS, among others.

Her awards include both Reviewer’s Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times; Gold and Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur; the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf; and several sales awards from Bookrak. Ms. Bretton was included in a recent edition of Contemporary Authors.

Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.

You can visit Barbara on her blog at http://bmafb.blogspot.com or connect with her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/barbarbretton.com.
(all information from Pump Up Your Book Tour Blog)

Read an excerpt of Laced With Magic.

Please come back and visit me on Sept 18 for a guest post by Barbara and Sept 22 for my review!

Laced with Magic
Publisher/Publication Date: Berkley Trade, Aug 2009
ISBN: 978-0425227527
352 pages

The Friday 56: 6-26-2009

Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Storytime with Tonya and Friends.
*Post a link along with your post back to Storytime with Tonya and Friends.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.




Henry from Fully Caffeinated stood up on his chair and waved an angry fist "Maybe Isadora has had the right idea all along. I say it's time to think about moving the whole shebang beyond the mist." (from Casting Spells, p56)

Wonderful Win: Casting Spells

Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton

Publisher: Penguin

I am not sure where this came from. I received it in the mail (autographed!) along with a great tote bag featuring Casting Spells on one side and Laced With Magic on the other. There were also bookmarks and fridge magnets! I believe I had visited Mrs. Bretton's website and had taken her up on her offer of free fridge magnets and book marks. . . and I know that I have entered some contests for this book - but where this great package came from is a mystery. (Though I just realized that I never checked the mailing label - I will have to go to the recycle bin later and see if it can give me a clue - I will keep you updated!)

About the book: Sugar Maple looks like any bucolic Vermont town, but when the tourists go home, it's a different story - inhabited as it is with warlocks, sprites, vampires, witches, and an ancient secret. And I know all about secrets. I'm Chloe Hobbs, owner of Sticks & Strings, a popular knitting shop where your yarn never tangles, you always get gauge. . . and the knitter sitting next to you comes out only after dark.

I'm also a sorcerer's daughter - a single sorcerer's daughter with Sugar Maple's future in her hands, which means the whole town is casting spells meant to help me find Mr. Right. Who'd have guessed I'd find him in Luke MacKenzie, a cop investigating Sugar Maple's very first murder? Bad news is he's 100 percent human, which could spell disaster for a normal future with a paranormal woman like me - in love, in danger, and in way over my head. (from the back cover)

About the author: Barbara Bretton is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than forty books. She currently has more than ten million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated into twelve languages in more than twenty countries.

Barbara lives in New Jersey but loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.

Casting Spells
Publisher/Publication Date: Penguin, November 2008
ISBN: 978-0-425-22364-2
320 pages