Magic Unfolds (4 stars) & Illusions Begin (4 stars) by NL Greene Plus Giveaway

I'm thrilled to be part of the blog tour for NL Greene, especially since I was able to read both books in this series. Let's start with the newest first...

About Magic Unfolds
Book Two, The MysticSeeker Series
(from GoodReads)

For the first time in her life, Becky had hopes of fulfilling her own dreams when Blaine Winters inexplicably arrived into her quiet life, teasing her with astounding possibilities she never thought imaginable. Not only did he reveal that magic was indeed real, but he also stirred feelings in her that she had only read about in clichéd romance novels. But just as quickly as he appeared, he was gone. Then Becky’s life was turned upside down by a family emergency. With the overwhelming demands of running an elite law firm as well as her ex becoming more of a threat each day, she didn’t have time for whimsical thoughts or personal exploration anyway.

Now that Blaine has mysteriously disappeared from her life, she can put her family first and focus on what she needs to do. If only it were that easy. Blaine may be gone and all of Becky’s little girl dreams of a world filled with magic with him, but that doesn’t mean all’s forgotten. Nightmares are plaguing her, someone is watching her, and there are powers within her that she can’t seem to control.

Will Becky finally get her chance at magic after all, even if she doesn’t want it?

Buy Links: Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords

Review

When life threw her a curveball, Becky walked away from the pull of a man and his magic for the sake of her family. Sparks flew when Blaine entered her life, in more ways than one; but no sooner than he appeared, he was gone. Now, she's left with responsibility and disturbing nightmares.

Lance, a man from her past who refuses to remain there, is determined to have her, and he'll stop at nothing to take what's his. Plus, Becky is beginning to experience her power with nobody to guide her. Magic continues to tempt her, but she needs to find Blaine, and he's not easily found.

Magic Unfolds continues right where Illusions Begin left off; Becky is determined to step up and take over her family responsibilities and leave magic behind. Unfortunately, it's not that easy. I enjoyed seeing Becky grow as a character in this book, especially as she faces more challenges; but I have to admit... I was ready for more magic and more Blaine, and I'm disappointed at how little there was of either.

I realize it's book two and there's still a lot of story-building going on, but bring on the magic! I'm hoping book three is magic (and Blaine) from start to finish, especially now that I care so much about Becky. Also, a new character--Becky's neighbor, Samantha--was introduced in this book, and I'm convinced she'll play an integral part in Book three. I can't wait! 

Rating:  4 stars

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
About Illusions Begin
Book One, The MysticSeeker Series
(from GoodReads)

Katherine Rebecca has always done exactly what was expected of her. Her prim and proper upbringing taught her the importance of family, sacrifice, and social stature. She has followed in her parents' footsteps, being trained and groomed daily almost from birth, to take over the family law firm. It was never a question of IF she wanted to but WHEN she would take the reins of the company. She worked rigorously toward that predetermined goal her entire life. She gave up friends, boyfriends, and an exciting social life in order to propel herself through school and college. Katherine Rebecca strives to please her parents. More than anything, she basked in their praise and approval. But now, at 21 years old, she finds herself leading a life that is nothing like the life she imagined for herself.

Becky has always possessed a deep love of magic. Ever since she was a small child she has been fascinated with magicians, illusions, mystery, and the vague hope that there was some sort of real magic in the world. But this is a secret no one knows, or at least that’s what she thought. Until one day Becky finds a mysterious business card in her pocket that leads her to an equally mysterious man. He opens up a whole new world of possibilities to her, one with a tantalizing proposition that she never thought imaginable.

Could magic actually be real?

Buy Links: Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble

Review

Becky is drawn to magic, but it doesn't fit into the plan she has for her life; a plan she believes her parents have long wanted. While being the dutiful daughter during the day, she sneaks off at night to fulfill her passionate need for magic by going to shows and learning all she can about the tricks she sees.

Then, one day, she finds a mysterious invitation to find out more about real magic. This leads her to an intriguing man named Blaine who wants to teach her. Before she can give into her desire to know, something happens that rocks her world; something that reminds her duty comes first.

Although it took me a few pages to warm up to Becky, she did find a place in my heart. She wanted to do what was best for her family, but she found ways to also feed her own interests. And I loved that she was willing to work her way up from the bottom instead of relying on her family legacy. By the end, I believed her choice and supported her although my heart broke.

This was a great first book in a series because it built the necessary foundation for the reader to care about the characters and want to see what would happen to them going forward. As soon as I finished this one, I wanted to jump right into the next. Good thing I could!

I highly recommend Illusions Begin to readers who appreciate memorable characters and an intriguing story concept. Just don't expect much resolution in book one.

Rating: 4 stars

About the Author

Author N.L. Greene is a writer of YA and NA Contemporary and Paranormal Romances. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two beautiful daughters. When she isn't writing or reading, she enjoys traveling around the world with her family, shopping and doing other girly things with her girls, or playing video games with her husband. She is a lover of dogs, chocolate, and anything pink!

Author Links: Amazon Author Page, Facebook, Goodreads, Blog, and Twitter.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.