Sunday, March 20, 2011

Review: The Trouble with Spells by Lacey Weatherford

The Trouble with Spells: Book 1 of the Witches and Warlocks series by Lacey Weatherford

Amazon Product Description:
Portia Mullins had always lived the life of a normal teenager, up until her sixteenth birthday. She is then informed by her grandma that she is actually a witch who is a descendant from a long line of witches and warlocks. After overcoming her disbelief she finds that being a member of the coven comes with one great perk in the form of the schools handsome bad boy, Vance Mangum. Vance and Portia have an immediate connection as a budding romance begins, only to be threatened by turbulent skies on the horizon as Vance's checkered past rears its ugly head to haunt them. Portia is forced to use her untried powers in defense of everything she loves in a desperate attempt to hold on to the one thing that really matters in her life.


Wow!  I am so impressed!  I was IN from the very start.  The characters are beautifully written and the story is fantastic.  I was on the edge of my chair, turning pages as fast as I could read them!  Couldn't get enough of this book!  It has all the elements of a must read.  It has non-stop action, daring deeds, good vs. evil, danger and suspense, as well as being an all out love story.  

All of the characters have been carefully created and as a reader I found myself drawn to each of them for different reasons:
Portia - she is a genuinely nice young girl, adjusts remarkably well to finding out that she is a witch, and falls HARD and FAST for the school "bad boy" Vance.
Vance - the school "bad boy" but truly a powerful warlock who has been secretly in love with Portia for 2 years before they finally get to meet and find out she loves him too, he is running from his father and his father's evil plan for him.
Grandma Mullins - an amazing, wise, powerful, loving, supportive woman, she leads the coven.
Stacey - Portia's mother who is not magical in a witch sense, but is in her own way and who is completely comfortable in her role as the only non-magical member of the family.
Sean - Portia's dad who seems to always find the right balance, he is the second most powerful person in the coven.
Brad - Shelly's boyfriend who you expect to be the dumb jock with no ability to befriend the "bad boy" Vance, but who completely surprises you by being so very much more.
Shelly - Portia's best friend, she falls under the spell of an evil witch, spends a bit of time being jealous of the relationship that appears to be taking her best friend but comes around.
There are more characters, but obviously these are my favorites.  They are so well created that I found myself completely invested in their lives in no time.  It was refreshing to read a YA love story with no love triangle and even the willingness of Portia to die to save Vance doesn't rub the reader wrong.
Loved the book - can't wait to read the next one!