Copper Cauldron --- Terri Talley Venters -- Review Tour

 

BLURB:

Penelope Manchester, a good witch with one green and one blue eye, awaits her destiny: a warrior of God with the face of an angel, the heart of a saint, and eyes which match her own. St. Michael the Archangel flies into her life and sweeps her off her feet. Meanwhile, an evil sorcerer captures witches, steals their powers and most of their nine lives, and shrinks them to the size of a doll--a Nürnberg, doll. But when he turns two of the Manchester witches into dolls, the Manchester clan fights back with St. Michael and divine intervention. Armed with the legendary copper cauldron, a fire breathing dragon, and an arsenal of spells, good battles evil.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Terri received her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Master’s degree in Taxation from the University of Florida. She is a licensed CPA and a Second Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. She lives in St. Augustine, Florida, with her husband, Garrison, and their two sons.

Terri is the daughter of Leslie S. Talley, author of Make Old Bones which is also available from Wild Child Publishing.

On the first of each month, Terri also posts free short stories on her website. Learn more about the books in her Elements of Mystery series at http://www.elementsofmystery.com/ as she weaves her way through the Periodic Table of Elements.

http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/paranormal-c-84/copper-cauldron-p-417.html

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EXCERPT

“The battle against the devil, which is the principle task of St. Michael the archangel, is still being fought today because the devil is still alive and active in the world.”

--Pope John Paul II

Prologue

“Can you tell me a bedtime story, Great-Grandma?” Penelope asked.

The nine-year old girl looked at her great-grandmother whose eyes matched her own, one blue and one green. She lay in her pink bedroom on the second floor of the ancestral mansion located in the Garden District of New Orleans. Penelope, born in this house, represented the seventh generation of Manchester Witches to live here.

“Of course, my dear. Which story would you like to hear? Or do I even need to ask?” Violet said, smiling.

“You know the one, my favorite,” Penelope answered. She laid her small head down. Her long black hair spread across the pillow.

“I love this story too. Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Penelope. Her beautiful long black hair hung to her tiny waist. Her pale skin gave her a beautiful, youthful complexion. She possessed the most unique and treasured eyes, one blue and one green. One day, she will meet her one true love, her soul mate, her destiny. He is a warrior of God, with the face of an angel, the heart of a saint, and eyes which match her own,” Violet said.

“Thank you, Great-Grandma. When are Mommy and Daddy coming home?” Penelope asked.

“Your parents are busy fighting bad people. I hope they’ll be home very soon.”

“Why didn’t Grandma Beatrice go with them this time?” Penelope asked.

“Beatrice wanted to stay behind and keep an eye on us,” Violet replied.

“Why do we have to keep our powers a secret?” Penelope asked.

“Because it scares people,” Violet said.

“Am I really the youngest Manchester Witch to receive her powers?” Penelope asked.

“Yes, you are. You will be a very powerful and very good witch. It is part of your destiny. Your true love will be very powerful too. But your children will be even more powerful than you,” Violet explained.

“When can we go see another Church of St. Michael?” Penelope asked. She looked over at the wall behind her great-grandmother. She stared at the painting of St. Michael the Archangel, her family’s patron saint.

“We just went to the one in Charleston. How many St. Michael’s churches do you want to visit?” Violet asked.

“I want to go to all of them.”

“What is your infatuation with St. Michael the Archangel?” Violet asked.

“He’s the one I’m going to marry. He is my destiny,” Penelope said, smiling as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

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GIVEAWAY

Terri will be awarding bookmarks or magnetic bumper stickers to randomly drawn commenters at each stop and a $10 Wild Child Publishing GC to a randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour.

Go check out the rest of the stops on the tour!  

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/04/virtual-review-tour-copper-cauldron-by.html

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MY REVIEW 

This is one of the new paranormal books that will pique your interest and leave you wanting more.  While most people think of paranormal and want a Vampire, or a werewolf, this isn't the case.  Penelope is a young witch, with a blue and a green eye.  She is destined to be with a man who has the same eye colors, but she believes that he doesn't exist.  Her obsession with St. Michael is overwhelming.  She has been trying to visit all of the St. Michael Churches.  And she thinks she saw him at the latest one. Is that even possible?

Now there always has be a catch, or something that keeps 2 lovebirds apart, and we get that with our villain.  Marcus has been imprisoning witches like Penelope for ages.  He sucks their lives from their body and leaves them looking like dolls with only 1/8 of a life left.  His most prized possessions are the witches with l blue and 1 green eye.  Penelope and her cousin Cat walk right into his trap.  Luckily for them, Cat has a special ability that helps them get out of the sticky situation. 

I wondered what could the copper cauldron be so significant for.  Its introduced fairly early in the book, and I know what its used for, but unless Penelope needs it, then why else would it hold such a important spot as the title of the book.  We soon find out why since we get a look inside the ritual soon after Penelope meets her destiny.  I won't tell you whats its used for though...you need to read the book and find out!

When Penelope meets her destiny, shes confused.  He doesn't have eyes like hers, but yet its love at first sight.  And then she just doesn't care about her destiny and chooses to love him anyways.  It isn't until our villain comes back into the  picture that he reveals that he has been concealing his green eye with a blue contact.  Everything has worked out for our happy couple! 

Marcus is determined to have Penelope and her husband as his most treasured possessions.  And he succeeds.  What he doesn't realize is that Penelope's special witch powers can help her kill him and free them from this fate as dolls.  Penelope and her husband are not out of the woods yet.  He doesn't come back to life after Marcus is killed.   Only true love can do that.

I thought this book was fantastic.  After reading so many paranormal books, its refreshing to be experiencing more and more without the typical characters.  It shows much creativity on the author's part.  Terri did a fantastic job, and she left me wanting for so much more.  I was sad when the book ended.  Its a good read, and its perfect for a YA crowd.  I cannot wait to read the next book in the Copper Cauldron series!