Serpent's Kiss By: Melissa de la Cruz

Serpent's Kiss
Author: Melissa De La Cruz
Publisher: Hyperion
Pages: 336
Rating: 4/5

The intriguing Beauchamp family, introduced in the New York Times bestselling Witches of East End, returns in Serpent's Kiss, with dizzying plot twists and spellbinding magic.

Joanna and her daughters, bookish Ingrid and wild-child Freya, are just settling into the newfound peace that has been cast over their small, off-the map town of North Hampton. With the centuries-old restriction against practicing magic lifted, casting spells, mixing potions, and curing troubled souls has never felt so good for the three witches. That is, until everything gets turned upside down--from Joanna's organized kitchen to Ingrid's previously nonexistent love life to Freya's once unshakeable faith in her sexy soul mate, Killian Gardiner.

When Freya's twin brother, Freddie, suddenly returns, escaped from Limbo and professing innocence on a long-ago crime, Freya should be ecstatic. The golden boy can do no wrong. Or can he? Freddie blames no other than her fiancé Killian for his downfall, and enlists Freya's help to prove it. Now Freya doesn't know who to believe or trust.

And for the first time in--well, forever, really--Ingrid is also busy in love. Matt Noble, the handsome and charming police detective, has won her heart. But can romance work between a virgin witch and a mortal who doesn't believe in magic? Things get even more complicated when it appears Ingrid is harboring the prime suspects in Matt's police investigation.

To add to the chaos, a dead spirit is attempting to make contact with Joanna--but does it mean to bring harm or help? Joanna asks her sort-of ex-husband Norman to help figure it out, only to accidentally invite him to a Thanksgiving dinner with a dapper gentleman she's recently begun dating.

As the witches pull together to discover the serpent within their midst and the culprit behind Freddie's imprisonment, everything is thrown into peril. Will the discovery come too late to save those they love most?

Melissa de la Cruz weaves all this and more in a blockbuster sequel that is not to be missed by her fans, and one that is sure to enchant new readers of the series.

***Before I get started I just wanted to say a big thank you to all of you for getting me to 50 followers- Ahhh, so exciting! Hearing all of your wonderful comments just encourages me more and more to continue blogging to the best of my ability *gives big virtual hug***

   Serpent's Kiss is book two in New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz's Witches of East End series . I'm sure most of you are familiar with Cruz's other successful mouthwatering Blue Bloods series- I still find myself daydreaming about Jack Force.....*smiles* The first book, Witches of East End, came out last June and introduced us to a powerful trio of witches; Freya, Ingrid, and Joanna.

   This book may have taken me a bit longer to read, but it wasn't due to the lack of interest (exams can be blamed for that one). From the very beginning, Melissa de la Cruz sucks you right back into the plot and then teases you so you'll be begging for more. The pace of the story was tasteful and kept you entertained without any moments of boredom while also hitting the climax at just the right time. I stayed up pretty late last night just so I could see how it would end.

   What I love about Cruz's writing is her creation of multiple narrators (something she has also done in the Blue Blood series). Serpent's Kiss ultimately has three main characters in which we get to experience each chapter from one of their perspectives (with Freya's twin, Freddie, also getting a few chapters of his own). This change in perspectives allows you to really see how these individuals' problems and joys effect one another. Questions one character has can be answered by another....almost as if you are watching a play in which the audience knows for than the characters on stage. It's a thrill to read :)

   Ingrid's perspective was personally my favourite of the three to read. Although I loved reading about Freya's sexy life and Joanna's struggles, Ingrid's personal problems really kept me the most entertained. Her issues with her love interest Matt were funny, joyful, and heartbreaking. There were more than a few times were I just wanted to give Ingrid a big bear hug!With that being said, I'm sure most of you will take pleasure in reading Freya's scolding hot scenes with her boyfriend Killian- maybe we'll be able to see Mrs.Cruz use this writing style for another, particular couple in Blue Bloods...ahem...Jack and Schuyler....wink-wink, nudgy-nudge-nudge?!


I couldn't go without mentioning how much I laughed at the title for chapter twenty-seven, Stand under My Umbrella (ella...ella...ella)! Really, many of you might think it's silly to laugh so hard at a title name but I think we can all agree...everything is funny at one in the morning. Mrs.Cruz definitely got bonus points for that one *plays Rihanna's Umbrella song*


Favourite Quotes...


"Um," she said. "Actually, Norman, this is my dear friend Harold. And Harold, this is my...um...my sort-of husband...Norman."
"Awkward," Killian whispered. 


"Freya's right." Ingrid nodded. "The transformation wiped me out," she said. "I almost couldn't turn the pixies back to their real form."
"Well, that's good to hear," Sven (pixie) muttered. 

Overall...

   Overall Serpent's Kiss was a thrilling and sexy instalment in Melissa de la Cruz's magically wicked Witches of East End series- I can't wait to return to the Beauchamp family in June 2013 for book three, The Winds of Salem! ***For any parents out there, I also want to make it clear that this book does contain sexual scenes that are a bit too descriptive for the young YA readers out there.*** I really can't believe we have to wait another year to see what happens next! But in the meantime, be sure to check out Cruz's other series, in which I did a Memory Lane Monday for the first book here, and a cover reveal for the next instalment here! Don't forget to watch the book trailer below and leave a comment letting me know your thoughts on the series! Keep Reading!

Your Y.A. Bookworm,

Caitlin <3