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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 of a long line of witches and warlocks. When she meets up with a warlock who becomes her boyfriend, she finds her life, and his, in precarious waters when they are hunted by an evil greater than they have ever known.
***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***
Portia Mullins thought she was a normal girl with an encyclopedia salesmen for a dad, a nurse for a mom and a crush on the hottest boy in school who didn't even know she was alive. All that changes when she turns sixteen and she finds out not only is she a witch and a powerful one at that, but her Dad is a warlock and her Grandma is a witch too. To top it off the hottest boy in school, Vance Mangum, very much knew she was alive and as a warlock himself had been counting the days to her sixteenth birthday so he could introduce himself to her. Vance explains to Portia that not only is she his soul-mate, but he's in her coven because his demon father has been hunting him trying to steal Vance's power and turn him to a demon as well. When her best friends, the wannabe Barbie doll turns into a crazy goth chick Portia knows something's up, she only hopes she can get to the bottom of it before it's too late.
If you like paranormal romance, you'll most likely enjoy this books. It's fast paced with a good flow and easy to read. However, you'll also find quite a few grammar errors and I guess you'd say an immaturity in the writing that goes beyond it being a first person narrative in the eyes of a sixteen year old.
The characters are first of all a bit too perfect, their only possibly bad qualities have very good reasons behind them. They really don't have character flaws in anyway and both could be described as a Mary Sue character. They also seem to accept everything blindly. Oh I'm a powerful witch, well maybe I'll express disbelieve for a couple paragraphs but then I'll roll with the punches. Oh, we're soul-mates, cool, it's what I've always wanted. They fall instantly in love without any of the doubt or getting to know each other in typical relationships. She also has an 18 year old boy turning down sex with his girlfriend because he wants to wait until she's of age and they're married. And neither of their parents care that they spend every night sleeping in the same bed. Magic or not, no eighteen year old will be spending the night in my daughter's bed when she's sixteen. Their relationship is like a PG version of an adult relationship minus the courtship where they get to know each other. Nothing in real life falls as instantly into place as these characters' relationship does. No teenager is that good or accepting either. With a little more internal conflict in the characters and some more obstacles put in their way this could have been an excellent story. A better copy editor would have help as well.
I should also mention that these modern day children never even mention computers or video games or any of the other things that are normally as close to every teenage kid as the air they breath. It sort of reminded me of the PG way a mother might describe her teenage years to her children leaving out any part that could possibly be construed as a negative influence for them to copy.
That said the plot was interesting and it did flow well. The writer also has a nice writing voice. If she learned to be a little meaner to her characters I feel she could write an excellent story. She has potential and I plan to read more of Weatherford books in hopes these things will improve.
7 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 13, 2012
Great read ! Can't wait to read the next one. You won't be disapointed.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Linda__
Posted June 21, 2012
A fun light read - perfect escape for the beach.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 9, 2011
Ugh. It was so annoying, every time they see each other, they always gotta kiss. LIKE FOR REALZ, THEY BE ACTING LIKE THEY COULDNT HEAR EACH OTHER IN THEIR HEADS AND LIKE THEY DONT MEET EACH OTHER IN THEIR DREAMS? Its fine that they love each other but they ALWAYSSS gotta kiss now there something wrong with that. For realz, I like the book but honestly there's too much of the kissing.
3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.SusanMann
Posted June 2, 2011
Lacey has created a strong, role model worth, protagonist called Portia Mullins. Portia is an ordinary teenager, living an ordinary life until she reaches her sweet sixteen birthday. Instead of being given a dress or some frivolous gift, she is told she is a witch. A very powerful witch at that. She is a descendant form a long line of witches and warlocks on her father's side.
Her Grandmother is the high priestess of a coven, in which she meets Vance Magnum. A leather clad, motorbike riding bad boy. Who turns out to be more than her soulmate, they are meant to be together.
The chemistry and romance is breathtakingly deep, as Portia struggles to balance love, life, magic, family and being a teenager.
What I love most about the fact that Portia was a witch, was that she was a real witch that can do some really cool magic. Not just, mix some herbs together and cure a cold. She can move things, blast things and just about anything. However, she needs to learn them and more importantly learn how to control her powers.
Their bond is put to the test when Vance's past catches up with him. Will they survive it? Sparks will fly and not just between Vance and Portia.
This book is refreshing, different from the others out there. I would rank this book one of the best paranormal young adult books out there. It appeals to readers both young and old. I will read it over and over again. You won't be disappointed.
Check out Lacey Weatherford's website for her Of Witches and Warlocks Series.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I really enjoyed reading about the magical human kind of powers again. After all those werewolves and vampires, it's nice to read about the grandma with a coven hiding in her basement. Who wouldn't want such a grandma?
When Portia turns sixteen, she learns that she has magical powers. Together with her grandma and father she is in a coven, where she discovers that Vince, the hottest guy in school, is a warlock. They fall in a love so strong they can't even stand to be separated any more. But Vince has a dark past that catches up with him...
The Trouble With Spells is a very romance heavy book. Almost suffocatingly so. They bind themselves together with magic, like a magical engagement, making it physically hurt to be apart from each other. It was the complete opposite of the usual romantic plot line of a young-adult novel. There is no angsty "does he really like me" rambling, but unconditional love. Maybe it's cynical me speaking, but I thought it to be a tiny bit scary. It's like marrying on your sixteenth. It was well written though, and their love for each other, while a bit creepy, was very believable. You can understand why they care for each other, and this is one of those things that's really hard to achieve in a book.
One of the best things about this book was the magic part. I liked the descriptions about the rituals and the spells. Even though this book has its foundation in an old concept, it doesn't feel corny at all. There were some really cool new abilities added that made me very excited.
I liked both the main characters Portia and Vance a lot. They both have their flaws, but they only get more likeable because of them. I think Vance will make a lot of women all over the world swoon and flutter! As for secondary characters, I especially loved Portia's grandmother. A spell casting granny. That's so awesome.
If you're looking for a good paranormal romance young-adult that deals with a one true love, The Trouble With Spells is definitely a book for you.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ts books like these that make me believe in soul mates. Portia and Vance are just perfect for each other. The concept of 'love at first sight' surrounds this couple. The swoon-worthy Vance and budding-witch Portia make the most adorable couple.
Okay as a book reviewer, i am to be completely honest. Painstakingly honest, if required but bashing a book is not what i have set out to do. Being as this is the second book i have read revolving around witches, forming a unchangeable opinion would be too hostile. (Now i have feeling that you might be thinking that either i have conflicting feelings about this book or that i am seriously out to do some bashing. I'll just clear it.i'm here to do neither.)
The Trouble With Spells revolves around this couple, a newly-turned witch and an all-too powerful warlock. (You gotta love these settings) Anyway, Vance (the warlock, if you didn't already guess) at first tries to battle his feelings for Portia (the witch) because he feels that he carries with him a danger, but Portia is not going to give up. This is isn't how the story plays out though. Vance doesn't play the all hard to get hero and Portia is no where the stalkerish-ever-so-persistent heroine. Just saying.
Together Vance and Portia make this adorable couple and you find yourself thinking back to Edward and Bella (even though i have no intentions of going there because comparing books to other books is not what i set out to do). The extreme feelings of love that both these characters have for each other is just to breathtaking. Portia is just to cute when the first spell that she creates is for the protection of Vance. Check the spell out below:
Oh moon, Tonight i call on thee
To help me set a spirit free
Give thy protection on this night
Ever surround him with the light
Let no evil near him get
May only goodness now be met
This book contains some hot make-out scenes and i just loved reading them. I had a blast reading it and for me it was no-putting-downer (if you can understand that)
Plus the ending was heart breaking and breathtaking. "psst" You'll just have to read to find out.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.3.5 A beautiful story about a young witch who at sixteen is just discovering her family's heritage and coming into her powers, and the boy she falls in love with who is a powerful warlock with dark forces after him. I really enjoyed Weatherford's writing style, it was simple and to the point, exactly how I would write a novel if I were as creative as her! Both Portia and Vance are strong main characters. I especially loved Portia, her strengths, determination and commitment. Vance looses his bad boy appeal as the story progresses but his dedication to Portia and his protectiveness for her when it comes to everyday teenage life, his father and his self, balances the loss out somewhat, though I would of liked to see more of the alpha he has inside. Great character development, all the main and side characters were well fleshed out and incredibly endearing. I felt really involved with their story. Portia and Vance's relationship is fast and intense but Weatherford lends it believability with magical explanations. Though Portia's family's reactions to the fervent relationship of teenagers was unbelievable, and as a former teen who had a lot of freedom and now a mother I wasn't buying the easy-going attitude of the parents. But, that is totally my opinion and is sure to differ from others. At first the plot moved along at a slow pace for me but the final chapters were surprising and exciting. This was very much a light, fell-good story until the end where you were gripped by suspense and the grittiness of the dark side of magic, with a heartbreaking cliffhanger that leads to the next installment in the series that I will be sure to read. The world building got a little too descriptive in some instances but didn't take away from the story. Very clean, great for young adults. All in all, a very good read and I plan to continue the series and would recommend it to others.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Tishia
Posted April 9, 2011
This book was a nice surprise. Being almost 30 myself, I often feel that I am too old to read books in the Young Adult genre. I love them anyway though! This particular book had me hooked from the beginning. Portia finds out that she is a witch on her 16th birthday. Vance, who is a warlock, has fought an attraction to Portia for 2 whole years - waiting until she found out about her heritage before even approaching her. Poor Vance had such a tough childhood, and is such a lonely person. There is just something about him that makes your heart melt - he is perfect boyfriend material. Portia and Vance are both really mature for their age and are waiting for marriage to become intimate.They fall in love very quickly though, and there are plenty of romantic and passionate scenes in this book. There is also plenty of danger lurking around to make things exciting. The ending has left me almost heartbroken. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in this series! I'm dying to know what happens next!!!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 18, 2013
This book is amazing. I recommend it to all middle schoolers and up. Enjoy
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 4, 2013
Really great couldn't put it down can not wait to read the next book
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 3, 2012
Reminds me of twilight
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 21, 2011
Can't wait for the sequel.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.As a very long time fan of the television show Charmed I particularly enjoyed the reading of "The Trouble With Spells", though it is not Adult orientated but Young Adult it was a fun book to sit down and enjoy for the day! From the very first page the book captivates the reader, I fell in love with Vance Mangum almost as fast as Portia did! The fact that Portia is a witch is a family secret but once she is told and starts to explore her powers she soon proves to be much more adept instinctively than expected and as Vance is a very strong Warlock he helps her to learn much faster how to use her newfound powers.... Their romance is very beautiful to watch as it unfolds throughout the book, the threat from Vance's past makes them bond even stronger as each needs the other more and more as they spend time together... I found that the dramatic tension created by the author with all the twists and turns she treats us to in the trials that Portia and Vance face together kept me interested and reading as fast as possible to find out what happened next... The final chapters were shocking and poignant and heartbreaking in so many ways but very well done and lead straight into the next installment of the series, I cannot wait to see what adventures befall the pair in The Demon Kiss (Of Witches and Warlocks Bk #2)! I am very happy to have been given a chance to read this re-release and cannot believe it took me this long to do so as it was a truly wonderful emotionally rich book with two characters who made me sigh for my lost youth but gave me lots of joy when immersed in their world of magic and mayhem
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 18, 2013
Creepy
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 16, 2013
Love the book but gotta give it a four star due to two things. It's the way portia and vance talk. Don't get me wrong it is sweet and romantic and a can not put it down read but teenagers just do not talk like that. They sound older than they realy are and, well teenage boys do not talk the way vance does usually. The auther made him say all the things that girls want to hear and, how they think boys should act and speak. He just didn't sound like a teenage boy to me. I could be wrong mind you but, that is just how it comes of to me. Anyway dispite those issues I LOVE THE BOOK and recomend it.
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Posted May 13, 2013
I absolutely love these series. By far it grabs you and you can't put it down. Lacey Weatherford is an amazing writer. I bought her books after seeing a book blogger review them. I had gotten them for my teenage daughter, but I read them after she told me how good they were. I highly recommend reading these!!! It's true paranormal romance in way that hasn't been told. She completely captivates you and can feel the emotions of the characters, sense what they must be going through, and you end up cheering and plotting along.
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Posted April 28, 2013
Love this book and series. :)
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Posted April 28, 2013
I love this book i can get enof of it
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Posted April 16, 2013
Stupidest book i have ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever read
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Overview
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 of a long line of witches and warlocks. When she meets up with a warlock who becomes her boyfriend, she finds her life, and his, in precarious waters when they are hunted by an evil greater than they have ever known.