Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Review and Giveaway: Tarnished and Torn

Tarnished and Torn (Wishcraft - Book 5) by Juliet Blackwell

Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Obsidian Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 336
ISBN-10: 045124009X
ISBN-13: 978-0451240095

(Received for an honest review from Obsidian Mystery)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Juliet Blackwell on the WEB: Website, Blog, TwitterFacebook, Goodreads, Library Thing, Cozy Mystery

Books in the series:

Secondhand Spirits (2009), A Cast-Off Coven (2010), Hexes and Hemlines (2011), In a Witch's Wardrobe (2012), Tarnished and Torn (2013)

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.



Excerpt from Tarnished and Torn, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

As the owner of a popular vintage clothing store, Lily Ivory can enjoy a day of antique jewelry shopping and still call it work. But as one of San Francisco’s resident witches, searching for hidden treasures can sometimes lead to dangerous discoveries… 
 
When Lily arrives at an antique jewelry fair, her bargain sensors go off left and right—but she also picks up a faint vibration of magic. Could the hard-bargaining merchant Griselda be a fellow practitioner? It certainly seems that way when a sudden fire sends panic through the crowd, and Lily discovers Griselda murdered in a way that nods to an old-fashioned witch hunt…
 
A crime that hits close to home turns into an unwelcome flash from the past when the police bring in their lead suspect—Lily’s estranged father. Though he may not deserve her help, Lily is determined to clear her father’s name and solve a murder that’s anything but crystal clear. 


Thoughts:

Juliet Blackwell's fifth book in the Wishcraft series, Tarnished and Torn will take the reader back to Aunt Cora's Closet and the wonderful characters Blackwell has created in this paranormal cozy mystery series. Blackwell uses her own interest in witch craft to bring authenticity and realism to her novels. Readers will find that this book appeals to both the mystery lover and the paranormal enthusiast. A great combination! 

Juliet Blackwell's books are always fun to read. Whether it's the vintage jewelry and clothing she describes, the cunning mystery she creates or all things witch, Blackwell makes it interesting. In Tarnished and Torn, as always we learn more and more about plucky heroine, Lily Ivory. This time Lily is at a gem fair looking for vintage jewelry for her store, when a murder takes place. Right place, right time for a witch and amateur sleuth. 

The mystery aspect of the book was well crafted and intriguing. Trying to figure out who killed Griselda and why will have the reader piecing together the clues right along with Lily. I always enjoy the way that Lily looks at the world, how she processes things so differently from most amateur sleuth characters. I think Blackwell has done a wonderful job of making Lily easy to relate to even though she has her quirks. 

The witch craft angle is always interesting to me. So many books focus on witch craft in a negative way and I like that Blackwell takes a different road with Lily. Her books have a lighter tone which is typical of cozies and that also helps to give Lily a brighter outlook. I like the combination of paranormal with the mystery. Lily uses her magic for a lot of things, maybe even a little sleuthing. 

This is a well written addition to the series that readers and fans will really enjoy. Juliet Blackwell never disappoints and Lily Ivory knows how to solve a crime. 

Tarnished and Torn is available today from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Juliet Blackwell has been fascinated with witchcraft, alternative healing, and spirits of all kinds ever since she was a child. As an anthropologist, she studied systems of physical and mental health care all over the world. 

Blackwell is the New York Times bestselling author of the Witchcraft Mystery series, which features a misfit witch with a vintage clothing store in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury neighborhood. The series includes Secondhand Spirits, A Cast-off Coven, Hexes and Hemlines, In a Witch's Wardrobe, and Tarnished and Torn (to be released July 3, 2012).


Giveaway Details:


The publisher is sponsoring a one copy giveaway for Tarnished and Torn by Juliet Blackwell.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only (publisher request)
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight, EST, July 16th.

1. Please leave a comment for the author on this post.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

27 comments:

Sjhkitten said...

Thanks for the review and the chance to win a free copy of the book :)

Jennifer said...

I've read all the other Witchcraft books & LOVE them... :)

CB said...

BOOKS!!!! I NEED BOOKS!!! I am always looking for new author's to read (at least new to me.) Pick me pick me. :-)

Unknown said...

I love your review! I often struggle to review mysteries without giving anything away and yours is perfect. I also like how Blackwell's books portray the paranormal in a positive light.

Elizabeth Schroedle said...

I am always looking for new authors to read. I will have to give this series a tryout.

Toni N said...

Thank you for a chance to read a new series. I am interested in all types of books and really hope I win.
Thank you for being a writer
Toni N

Unknown said...

I love your books! Can't wait to read this one!

Elaine said...

Thanks for the review! It is always good to read about new books and new-to-me authors.

Katreader said...

I adore this series and can't wait to read what happens next!

Debbie Carnes said...

Thanks for a chance to win this book. It sounds GREAT, I'd love to read it

Karen Dailey said...

I look forward to reading Tarnished and Torn. I live the series!

MoJo said...

I love all your books and am downloading this one today!

Anonymous said...

I love this series and hope I win!

Brooke Showalter said...

This is a great series, I would love to win!

Brooke Bumgardner

Angela - Bookaunt said...

Another great cozy to win. Thank you for the chance to win.

Elizabeth MacGregor-Kirkcaldy said...

Thank you for the lovely review and chance to win a copy of Tarnished and Torn ~ I have this series on my TBR List and can't wait ~ they all sound magickal and delightful!!! :) Happy Reading and Writing ~ Cheers~ Elizabeth MacGregor

holdenj said...

Congrats to Juliet on her continued success! I think a vintage store be a great setting for a paranormal style cozy! Thanks!

bn100 said...

Sounds interesting

Sue Farrell said...

You've gotten me hooked on these paranormal cozies---keep writing them.

suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Carol M said...

The witch craft angle does sound good! I'd love to start reading this series!

Wendy Newcomb said...

Thank you for giving me a chance to win this for my daughter, she loves cozy mystery's.

wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

I would love to win/read this book. It sounds terrific.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Theresa N. said...

Your new book sounds wonderful.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this!
I happened to pick up one of
her books earlier, it is GOOD!

annie

mysandycat@aol.com

ceblain said...

I was totally bewitched with the review :) and would very much like to get started on your series. I have not seen this book or gotten to know your writing yet, but would love to win this book and get going on catching up with the series. Looks really cute and very interesting.

Thank you.

Charlotte said...

Sounds like a great book to read.

ann said...

this sounds like a book that I really would enjoy reading. thanks for the chance to win