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Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats
Seventeen-year-old homecoming queen, Gracie Mason, is a budding burglar.
While attempting her inaugural break-in, Gracie blacks out and wakes up far away from the scene. It turns out she accidentally intruded on a male witch’s “circle of power,” and now she’s bonded to him for life.
Gracie quickly learns that dissolving the bond with Asher, admittedly a very handsome and charming witch, is more complicated than she initially thought. To break the bond, Gracie must delve deeper into a society of witches that involves a secret club, a shadowy council, and all sorts of magical mischief. And right when it seems things can’t get any worse, witches start turning up dead.
It’s clear that Gracie is out of her depth as her quest to sever the bond magically turns into a murder investigation. But if Gracie and Asher don’t quickly uncover the killer, they might be next on the list.
While attempting her inaugural break-in, Gracie blacks out and wakes up far away from the scene. It turns out she accidentally intruded on a male witch’s “circle of power,” and now she’s bonded to him for life.
Gracie quickly learns that dissolving the bond with Asher, admittedly a very handsome and charming witch, is more complicated than she initially thought. To break the bond, Gracie must delve deeper into a society of witches that involves a secret club, a shadowy council, and all sorts of magical mischief. And right when it seems things can’t get any worse, witches start turning up dead.
It’s clear that Gracie is out of her depth as her quest to sever the bond magically turns into a murder investigation. But if Gracie and Asher don’t quickly uncover the killer, they might be next on the list.
268 pages, Paperback
First published July 24, 2017
4 people are currently reading
779 people want to read
About the author
Carla Rehse
4 books145 followersAlthough not a native Texan, Carla prides herself on having mastered the correct usage of “y’all” and “bless your heart.”
Carla is owned by a persnickety kitty, who rules the computer keyboard and only allows Carla to write when demands for cat treats are met.
Carla is owned by a persnickety kitty, who rules the computer keyboard and only allows Carla to write when demands for cat treats are met.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 22, 2017
At seventeen Gracie Mason is a cheerleader, homecoming queen and budding burglar to try to get the attention of a guy. On Gracie's first break in however she walks into a male witch’s circle of power and finds herself awakening outside the building with a headache and no memory of what happened. Asher and his sister try to explain what happened to Gracie but of course she's not too sure when they claim to be witches. But when Gracie sees the mark on her arm signaling the beginning to a bonding ritual she knows their claim is real.
While Asher is pretty cute for a witch Gracie is certain she isn't ready for a lifetime bond with someone before graduating high school so she agrees to help try to break the bond. Breaking the bond isn't as simple as she wished though and now Gracie finds herself mixed in with a society of witches with a secret club, a shadowy council, and all sorts of magical mischief and just when it didn't seem it could get worse witches start turning up dead.
Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats by Carla Rehse is a fast paced and funny young adult read with fantasy mixed in with romance and a bit of mystery. The story took off from the opening pages leading right in with Gracie trying her break in and quickly moving onto the witchy fun of the rest of the book.
Gracie was more than a bit of fun with her sass and charm that had me laughing on more than one occasion. It was nice that a character was described as the spoiled cheerleader actually turned into a very likable and fun lead. While the action pack the pages and kept the book moving along quickly I never felt I really missed out on any world or character building along the way and just found this one a ton of fun and would definitely check out more by this author.
I received an advance copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
While Asher is pretty cute for a witch Gracie is certain she isn't ready for a lifetime bond with someone before graduating high school so she agrees to help try to break the bond. Breaking the bond isn't as simple as she wished though and now Gracie finds herself mixed in with a society of witches with a secret club, a shadowy council, and all sorts of magical mischief and just when it didn't seem it could get worse witches start turning up dead.
Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats by Carla Rehse is a fast paced and funny young adult read with fantasy mixed in with romance and a bit of mystery. The story took off from the opening pages leading right in with Gracie trying her break in and quickly moving onto the witchy fun of the rest of the book.
Gracie was more than a bit of fun with her sass and charm that had me laughing on more than one occasion. It was nice that a character was described as the spoiled cheerleader actually turned into a very likable and fun lead. While the action pack the pages and kept the book moving along quickly I never felt I really missed out on any world or character building along the way and just found this one a ton of fun and would definitely check out more by this author.
I received an advance copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
July 30, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read and review this cute debut by author Carla Rehse! Gracie Mason is caught in a magic spell by accident, and the only way the witch performing it can prevent her from dying is to bind her to him. And so she and Asher, the male witch, are caught in a bond normally reserved for couples bonding for life. Cute, fun scenario.
It was hard not to like Gracie. She has that blonde cheerleader who is way into fashion persona going on, and that's a major part of her personality, but underneath that, she's also driven and determined, which helped round her out.
And I loved Asher and Willow. What a cute "witchy" family the author has created. They're trying to figure out a way to undo the bonding spell, but also there are more pressing concerns. Asher's brother is missing, and it seems someone is out to hurt them. I thought the narrative was well done, and the story was entertaining in a light, fun way. I was a tiny bit disappointed to see so many loose ends and unanswered questions left at the end of the book.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered ons creen reader.
It was hard not to like Gracie. She has that blonde cheerleader who is way into fashion persona going on, and that's a major part of her personality, but underneath that, she's also driven and determined, which helped round her out.
And I loved Asher and Willow. What a cute "witchy" family the author has created. They're trying to figure out a way to undo the bonding spell, but also there are more pressing concerns. Asher's brother is missing, and it seems someone is out to hurt them. I thought the narrative was well done, and the story was entertaining in a light, fun way. I was a tiny bit disappointed to see so many loose ends and unanswered questions left at the end of the book.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered ons creen reader.
September 18, 2017
Something that I have enjoyed reading is about witches and after reading the Mystic Willow Bay series by Jessica Sorensen, I was feeling in the mood to read about another witch, and this title sounded fun. It took a different twist than I thought it would. Gracie is a teenage girl who is very resourceful and is trying to impress her former step-brother, Ben. She has a Clueless relationship going on there. Think Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd. When she tries to break into a building, though things backfire and go cray-cray as she finds herself accidentally imprinted and bonded with Asher who turns out to be a teen witch. Asher was in the same building doing a spell to find out what had happened to his older brother Ryder when Gracie turned up and disturbed the spell. Now Asher along with his twin sister Willow must try to break his bond with Gracie and along the way find out what has happened to Ryder. As the book goes along, we discover that Ryder was in deep and that the witches want Asher's family extinguished and if that wasn't too much to deal with Gracie's new stepmother to be Whitney is a witch and carrying a half witch/ human baby.
Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats was like an Action-packed version of Witches of Waverley Place for me. Imagine Witches of Waverley Place with Killing and Torture, and you have Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats.
Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats was like an Action-packed version of Witches of Waverley Place for me. Imagine Witches of Waverley Place with Killing and Torture, and you have Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats.
December 29, 2017
Received in exchange for a honest review.
This was a hoot.
Gracie seems to be very self involved and kind of a evil genius at first glance but there is more to her than meets the eye. She is very loyal and smart. Also fun and kind for being pushy in a good way. she meets Asher accidentally when she is trying to impress Ben. Ben who thinks of her as his sister even after their parents break up.
And the parents in this book were not good. They were way to self involved and didn’t care about the children. Well Asher’s did but she was a little lost in grief most of book. I mean Gracie’s mom and dad just treated her like cattle. Go here go there. Her dad with a new younger women like they are revolving doors and the newest one wow just wow. Gracie had a right to lash out with what her parents were doing to her.but despite horrible parents, these teenagers were well adjusted and just fun.
Asher and his sister are witches. For Asher he is considered a black sheep although I have a theory there and I also think he is stronger as a witch than people think. When he meets Gracie, the girl he has been crushing on at the gym, it is when he is doing a locator spell and suddenly him and Gracie are in a bind.
A bind that brings them together and learn about one another. Forces Gracie to see things from different perspectives but also put her evil genius to good use. They learn about themselves as well and gains strength and courage from each other.
Asher is very much a family guy. He is fiercely protective and loyal to them. His crush on Gracie is so adorable and how him and Gracie get close in the book each time they go on an adventure is a hoot. Not your traditional dates of getting to know you. He sees beyond the facade she shows others to the sweet kind girl that Gracie is. And Gracie sees Asher as the strong, kind, caring and adorable guy he is. These two are working together to find Asher’s brother and in the process get involved in witch business by accident. The witch politics are a little murky and hopefully this will be explained more in a later book.
As they race to find out who killed another witch these two get up to all kinds of witch mischief that is just so fun and entertaining. With their life in endanger these two do some wild things to untangle the mess and find the truth behind it all. The attraction is a slow burn that becomes more when least expected and taht was great because it kept the focus on the story and the schemes and trouble these two were getting into. A truly fun entertaining and sweet book.
This was a hoot.
Gracie seems to be very self involved and kind of a evil genius at first glance but there is more to her than meets the eye. She is very loyal and smart. Also fun and kind for being pushy in a good way. she meets Asher accidentally when she is trying to impress Ben. Ben who thinks of her as his sister even after their parents break up.
And the parents in this book were not good. They were way to self involved and didn’t care about the children. Well Asher’s did but she was a little lost in grief most of book. I mean Gracie’s mom and dad just treated her like cattle. Go here go there. Her dad with a new younger women like they are revolving doors and the newest one wow just wow. Gracie had a right to lash out with what her parents were doing to her.but despite horrible parents, these teenagers were well adjusted and just fun.
Asher and his sister are witches. For Asher he is considered a black sheep although I have a theory there and I also think he is stronger as a witch than people think. When he meets Gracie, the girl he has been crushing on at the gym, it is when he is doing a locator spell and suddenly him and Gracie are in a bind.
A bind that brings them together and learn about one another. Forces Gracie to see things from different perspectives but also put her evil genius to good use. They learn about themselves as well and gains strength and courage from each other.
Asher is very much a family guy. He is fiercely protective and loyal to them. His crush on Gracie is so adorable and how him and Gracie get close in the book each time they go on an adventure is a hoot. Not your traditional dates of getting to know you. He sees beyond the facade she shows others to the sweet kind girl that Gracie is. And Gracie sees Asher as the strong, kind, caring and adorable guy he is. These two are working together to find Asher’s brother and in the process get involved in witch business by accident. The witch politics are a little murky and hopefully this will be explained more in a later book.
As they race to find out who killed another witch these two get up to all kinds of witch mischief that is just so fun and entertaining. With their life in endanger these two do some wild things to untangle the mess and find the truth behind it all. The attraction is a slow burn that becomes more when least expected and taht was great because it kept the focus on the story and the schemes and trouble these two were getting into. A truly fun entertaining and sweet book.
March 13, 2018
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My initial draw to this title was that it sounded like a cute YA read and it also had witches. It sounded like a light read that I might enjoy. A few chapters in I felt as if the story was overflowing with cliches and the main character, Gracie, was too superficial. Fortunately she wound up having enough depth to her character that I was able to enjoy the read.
The world building was pretty cool. I liked the idea of witches each specializing in a particular element. The politics of witch royalty and how they must marry influential humans was all pretty neat as well. The world constructed within this story was pretty well crafted.
Asher made for a pretty interesting character and a good love interest. In some ways I did find him a little too perfect though, but it wasn’t over the top. My favorite character was probably his twin sister Willow. I think it would be far more interesting to read a story from her point of view as she is not so vanilla.
The plot and pacing were good and this was a captivating story. At times I found myself irritated with how superficial and self-absorbed Gracie was. Brand name clothes and expensive clothes were too important for me to take her seriously all the time. But from the cover and description all of that seems like what I signed up for, so it wasn’t surprising. There was no false advertising.
The plot, world building and writing really make this book shine though. It could have fell flat with how superficial and vanilla it was at times. But the author really added depth with her writing. By the end of the story Gracie felt more likable and I’m glad I didn’t give up reading this one. The best aspect of this book was probably the world building.
My initial draw to this title was that it sounded like a cute YA read and it also had witches. It sounded like a light read that I might enjoy. A few chapters in I felt as if the story was overflowing with cliches and the main character, Gracie, was too superficial. Fortunately she wound up having enough depth to her character that I was able to enjoy the read.
The world building was pretty cool. I liked the idea of witches each specializing in a particular element. The politics of witch royalty and how they must marry influential humans was all pretty neat as well. The world constructed within this story was pretty well crafted.
Asher made for a pretty interesting character and a good love interest. In some ways I did find him a little too perfect though, but it wasn’t over the top. My favorite character was probably his twin sister Willow. I think it would be far more interesting to read a story from her point of view as she is not so vanilla.
The plot and pacing were good and this was a captivating story. At times I found myself irritated with how superficial and self-absorbed Gracie was. Brand name clothes and expensive clothes were too important for me to take her seriously all the time. But from the cover and description all of that seems like what I signed up for, so it wasn’t surprising. There was no false advertising.
The plot, world building and writing really make this book shine though. It could have fell flat with how superficial and vanilla it was at times. But the author really added depth with her writing. By the end of the story Gracie felt more likable and I’m glad I didn’t give up reading this one. The best aspect of this book was probably the world building.
September 22, 2017
This book was just brimming with awesomeness. I will admit to being a little worried at first about following around a very spoiled rich teenager but Gracie grew on me rather quickly.
Gracie Mason is a cheerleader and a master manipulator. Fear not, though, because she is determined to put her evil power to good use. Sure, it starts off with her trying to use this skill to get in good with her latest crush, but she soon finds herself knee deep in witches and magic. The source of said magic? That’s Asher, a guy who ended up saving her life and bonding them together. He’s got trouble of his own, however, and Gracie just can’t help herself. These two make a very powerful combination.
What starts out as a mutually beneficial partnership soon grows into friendship and then sizzling chemistry. Maybe there was chemistry all along, but it really heats up when the magic starts flying. As an intro book, this story certainly had me hooked. I want more of Asher and Gracie and I’m dying to see what happens next!
Gracie Mason is a cheerleader and a master manipulator. Fear not, though, because she is determined to put her evil power to good use. Sure, it starts off with her trying to use this skill to get in good with her latest crush, but she soon finds herself knee deep in witches and magic. The source of said magic? That’s Asher, a guy who ended up saving her life and bonding them together. He’s got trouble of his own, however, and Gracie just can’t help herself. These two make a very powerful combination.
What starts out as a mutually beneficial partnership soon grows into friendship and then sizzling chemistry. Maybe there was chemistry all along, but it really heats up when the magic starts flying. As an intro book, this story certainly had me hooked. I want more of Asher and Gracie and I’m dying to see what happens next!
July 27, 2017
This book is amazing. Getting to see the world through Gracie's eyes is so much fun. The character had me in stitches. She's so funny, yet she's also a blend of sassy and sensitive. I can't wait for the next book.
August 2, 2017
Review to come
October 1, 2017
A mashup up of Clueless and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Poor little rich kid Gracie Mason brings her sense of fashion and killer heels to play when she's magically bonded to Asher. Gracie is never without a plan or her couture handbag and tackles every shocking surprise thrown at her when she discovers witches in her posh neighborhood. Who knew warlocks could be boyfriend material! She takes it in stride until people start dying all around her and all she has to cling to is a bond that may or may not go beyond platonic. Luckily her wits and resources are as deep as her wallet.
A fun read that moves at a fast pace and is full of memorable characters!
A fun read that moves at a fast pace and is full of memorable characters!
August 30, 2017
A snarky, sassy, and cute read with heaps of magical action and a bit of sweet romance too.
Gracie Mason was born with a silver-spoon and has it all. When she accidentally is bonded to a male witch for life, her world turns upside down. But Gracie isn't just anyone and knows how to take on anything with style. That is, until she stumbles over a secret group who is trying to take over the witch king's throne and change the world.
Gracie Mason is a character packed with personality and will either be one a reader loves or can't stand. She's rich. She's flippant. And she's so over the top that a sequined witch hat in the middle of town hall wouldn't stand out on her. Her dialogue and attitude is so cliche that it hurts, and her love for fashion reminds of a silly, rich-teen-girl drama on TV. But on the same hand, Gracie isn't a person easy to categorize. She has a 'dark' side which is so askew to the snobby princess image that it gives her exactly the twist needed to make her likable and easy to cheer for. And she has heart. She keeps it buried, and it shows in a pure Gracie Mason way...but it's hard not to find her intentions golden.
Boring is not a word which can be used to describe this book. The pacing holds steady, bringing in one unexpected twist after the other. Nothing is as it seems, and it's impossible to predict where everything's going. There's a bit missing on the explanations behind the intrigue and some of the magical aspects, but it's not enough to ruin the fun. And that's what this is, a story with tons of magic, a bit of mystery and quirky humor to make sure the entire thing never runs too deep or serious.
The romance is sweet, not smooth and a little mumble-jumbled at the end. It's not love at first sight, and the chemistry stumbles rather than flows. But, in a way, it works. There's a dib and a dab, lots of uncertainty, sparks which could turn into more, and a lovely sense of possibility and nothing written in stone. In other words, this book might lead into more story to come. Or it might not.
Summed up, this isn't a read for everyone, but it holds definite character and fun. Readers who love humor with their magic and adventure, and are ready to meet a girl who takes on life with her own style are sure to enjoy this fun read.
I received a complimentary copy and found this book so fun that I had to leave my honest thoughts.
Gracie Mason was born with a silver-spoon and has it all. When she accidentally is bonded to a male witch for life, her world turns upside down. But Gracie isn't just anyone and knows how to take on anything with style. That is, until she stumbles over a secret group who is trying to take over the witch king's throne and change the world.
Gracie Mason is a character packed with personality and will either be one a reader loves or can't stand. She's rich. She's flippant. And she's so over the top that a sequined witch hat in the middle of town hall wouldn't stand out on her. Her dialogue and attitude is so cliche that it hurts, and her love for fashion reminds of a silly, rich-teen-girl drama on TV. But on the same hand, Gracie isn't a person easy to categorize. She has a 'dark' side which is so askew to the snobby princess image that it gives her exactly the twist needed to make her likable and easy to cheer for. And she has heart. She keeps it buried, and it shows in a pure Gracie Mason way...but it's hard not to find her intentions golden.
Boring is not a word which can be used to describe this book. The pacing holds steady, bringing in one unexpected twist after the other. Nothing is as it seems, and it's impossible to predict where everything's going. There's a bit missing on the explanations behind the intrigue and some of the magical aspects, but it's not enough to ruin the fun. And that's what this is, a story with tons of magic, a bit of mystery and quirky humor to make sure the entire thing never runs too deep or serious.
The romance is sweet, not smooth and a little mumble-jumbled at the end. It's not love at first sight, and the chemistry stumbles rather than flows. But, in a way, it works. There's a dib and a dab, lots of uncertainty, sparks which could turn into more, and a lovely sense of possibility and nothing written in stone. In other words, this book might lead into more story to come. Or it might not.
Summed up, this isn't a read for everyone, but it holds definite character and fun. Readers who love humor with their magic and adventure, and are ready to meet a girl who takes on life with her own style are sure to enjoy this fun read.
I received a complimentary copy and found this book so fun that I had to leave my honest thoughts.
January 7, 2018
Gracie just wanted to gain a little attention from the boy of her dreams - she never intended to end up in a situation that sees her bonded to a male witch. But that's exactly where she finds herself after stumbling across Asher and interrupting his spell. Now it's not all bad because he is quite good looking and she does find herself catching her breath when he is nearby. However, things are about to get far more complicated as witches turn up dead and it becomes somewhat urgent to get to the bottom of what is going on. Gracie is apparently in no great hurry to break the bond - after all she wouldn't want Asher to die which is the usual outcome of breaking the bond. The world would be worse off without Asher in it.
This is a pretty solid book that has a strong storyline that moves quite quickly. You do find yourself quite attached to the main characters and hope that they can stay out of trouble long enough to get to sort out who is up to what and stop the bad guys. Gracie is extremely peppy, Asher is rather dashing for a teenage character and his sister is all sorts of sassy. I must admit the door is wide open for a sequel or two as there were quite a few pieces of the story left unfinished so I will be interested to see where the journey takes these characters next.
If fantasy in the form of magic and witches appeals to your teenager or yourself then this is a book to pick up and try - it would be hard to be disappointed as 'Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats' has humour in abundance and just enough of everything to be quite appealing.
Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for having the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
This is a pretty solid book that has a strong storyline that moves quite quickly. You do find yourself quite attached to the main characters and hope that they can stay out of trouble long enough to get to sort out who is up to what and stop the bad guys. Gracie is extremely peppy, Asher is rather dashing for a teenage character and his sister is all sorts of sassy. I must admit the door is wide open for a sequel or two as there were quite a few pieces of the story left unfinished so I will be interested to see where the journey takes these characters next.
If fantasy in the form of magic and witches appeals to your teenager or yourself then this is a book to pick up and try - it would be hard to be disappointed as 'Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats' has humour in abundance and just enough of everything to be quite appealing.
Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for having the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
August 30, 2017
This book is just what I needed to get me out of my reading slump. I joined bout of books last week in an attempt to motivate myself to get some reading done and I'm glad I picked this lovely gem to focus my efforts on.
First off, Gracie is awesome. She's a no nonsense and all nonsense girl all rolled in one. Sometimes the name dropping of all the different designers was a bit distracting from the story, but I understand it was necessary to build up Gracie's over the top, only child, rich kid connections. Despite her background, I think Gracie's character was well rounded and a lot of fun.
Asher and Willow round out the trio of misfits and their interactions with Gracie made me laugh out loud. They have seen their share of tragedy and frustration at such a young age, but are empowered and stubborn enough to try to change the way things are. I would love to read a book from Willow's perspective because I think it would be full of sarcasm and wit.
For keeping me entertained and turning pages, this book gets a glowing 5 stars from me. It was well written, fun and just the right amount of seriousness to bring it to a conclusion. I would highly recommend it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated and my opinions are my own.
First off, Gracie is awesome. She's a no nonsense and all nonsense girl all rolled in one. Sometimes the name dropping of all the different designers was a bit distracting from the story, but I understand it was necessary to build up Gracie's over the top, only child, rich kid connections. Despite her background, I think Gracie's character was well rounded and a lot of fun.
Asher and Willow round out the trio of misfits and their interactions with Gracie made me laugh out loud. They have seen their share of tragedy and frustration at such a young age, but are empowered and stubborn enough to try to change the way things are. I would love to read a book from Willow's perspective because I think it would be full of sarcasm and wit.
For keeping me entertained and turning pages, this book gets a glowing 5 stars from me. It was well written, fun and just the right amount of seriousness to bring it to a conclusion. I would highly recommend it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated and my opinions are my own.
August 7, 2017
A magical tale with lovable characters.
Seventeen-year-old Gracie Mason has everything going for her, homecoming queen, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, and a member of the student council. Due to family problems and an unrequited crush she turns to burglary as a way to win Ben’s affections.
Her first attempted break-in goes badly. She steps into a male witch’s “circle of power” and finds herself in quite a mess. On top of that she’s bonded to him for life unless she can break the bond. Gracie quickly learns that dissolving the bond with Asher, admittedly a hunk, is more complicated than she imagined. Right when it seems things can’t get any worse, witches start turning up dead. Her quest to sever the bond magically turns into a murder investigation.
This was a fun read, filled with magic, adventure, with a bit of humor mixed in. Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats is an urban fantasy set in central Texas. Author Carla Rehse’s characters are entertaining in a magical world where the unexpected takes place.
If you like YA and urban fantasy, you’ll enjoy Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats. Four stars in my book.
Seventeen-year-old Gracie Mason has everything going for her, homecoming queen, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, and a member of the student council. Due to family problems and an unrequited crush she turns to burglary as a way to win Ben’s affections.
Her first attempted break-in goes badly. She steps into a male witch’s “circle of power” and finds herself in quite a mess. On top of that she’s bonded to him for life unless she can break the bond. Gracie quickly learns that dissolving the bond with Asher, admittedly a hunk, is more complicated than she imagined. Right when it seems things can’t get any worse, witches start turning up dead. Her quest to sever the bond magically turns into a murder investigation.
This was a fun read, filled with magic, adventure, with a bit of humor mixed in. Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats is an urban fantasy set in central Texas. Author Carla Rehse’s characters are entertaining in a magical world where the unexpected takes place.
If you like YA and urban fantasy, you’ll enjoy Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats. Four stars in my book.
December 27, 2017
Received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a honest review from Broad Universe via NetGalley.
This book was so much fun! It was like Clueless and Veronica Mars with witches thrown in the mix. Gracie was sassy, bossy, and liked to be in charge! When she accidentally gets bonded for life to Asher, a witch, her life gets turned upside down. I loved how Asher really complimented Gracie. He was such a nice down to earth guy and I felt like Gracie really needed someone like him to balance her out.
I also thought the mystery in the book was really fantastic. Gracie, Asher, and Willow (Asher's sister) work together to try and determine who is hurting witches in the community. Gracie always had a plan for any situation.
I enjoyed this book so much that when I was about 80% finished with the book, I thought I hope there is a sequel! (It looks like there is!) I really loved this book with the snarky Gracie, her ability to think quick on her feet, the mystery, and of course sweet Asher.
This book was so much fun! It was like Clueless and Veronica Mars with witches thrown in the mix. Gracie was sassy, bossy, and liked to be in charge! When she accidentally gets bonded for life to Asher, a witch, her life gets turned upside down. I loved how Asher really complimented Gracie. He was such a nice down to earth guy and I felt like Gracie really needed someone like him to balance her out.
I also thought the mystery in the book was really fantastic. Gracie, Asher, and Willow (Asher's sister) work together to try and determine who is hurting witches in the community. Gracie always had a plan for any situation.
I enjoyed this book so much that when I was about 80% finished with the book, I thought I hope there is a sequel! (It looks like there is!) I really loved this book with the snarky Gracie, her ability to think quick on her feet, the mystery, and of course sweet Asher.
December 31, 2017
Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats was a light, fun read that was an interesting blend of cozy mystery, coming of age, and paranormal romance. The plot was fast-paced, adventure filled, and funny. The author did a good job of explaining the world, the various factions, and the reasoning behind character's decisions. I found myself chuckling sometimes about the character's mishaps and misadventures.
I wasn't a huge fan of Gracie, the main character, which spoiled my overall enjoyment of the book. If she truly had experienced character growth throughout the book, I would have been okay that she started off as shallow, spoiled, and a bit sociopathic. However, she only changed a bit in the presence of Asher and I never got the feeling that she truly did want to change. Despite my dislike of Gracie, I generally enjoyed this book. I would recommend this one to those who are looking for a cute and fun YA read.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author through YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't a huge fan of Gracie, the main character, which spoiled my overall enjoyment of the book. If she truly had experienced character growth throughout the book, I would have been okay that she started off as shallow, spoiled, and a bit sociopathic. However, she only changed a bit in the presence of Asher and I never got the feeling that she truly did want to change. Despite my dislike of Gracie, I generally enjoyed this book. I would recommend this one to those who are looking for a cute and fun YA read.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author through YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2017
Magical romp with a poor little rich girl
I don’t know how I feel about this book. One the one hand, it’s a fun fantasy romp in the vein of the Mortal Instruments that hurtles along so fast, you miss the plotholes. On the other, it’s the story of a spoiled rich girl who mobilises her considerable resources and talents only for her own benefit - or to ‘help’ whichever boy she fancies herself in love with.
She always knows best, even when it’s obvious that she doesn’t, and I can’t bring myself to care about her. The other characters all dance around her or are obstacles for her to complain about. I’d like to think she’s learnt some compassion by the end, but I doubt it.
It was a fun enough read, but there are enough similar books out there that I probably won’t pick up the sequel.
I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t know how I feel about this book. One the one hand, it’s a fun fantasy romp in the vein of the Mortal Instruments that hurtles along so fast, you miss the plotholes. On the other, it’s the story of a spoiled rich girl who mobilises her considerable resources and talents only for her own benefit - or to ‘help’ whichever boy she fancies herself in love with.
She always knows best, even when it’s obvious that she doesn’t, and I can’t bring myself to care about her. The other characters all dance around her or are obstacles for her to complain about. I’d like to think she’s learnt some compassion by the end, but I doubt it.
It was a fun enough read, but there are enough similar books out there that I probably won’t pick up the sequel.
I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 29, 2017
Gracie Mason is accidentally bonded with Asher Halrick when a magical spell goes wrong and is drawn into a world of magic and murder, far different from the exclusive and privileged life she leads.
Asher and his twin sister Willow are both witches. He is adorable and she's the cute geeky girl. Neither would normally be part of Gracie's social set which are mostly mean girls and their rich counterparts. Her parents are a wreck, divorced and using Gracie (as she uses them) to fight each other.
I tried hard, but I couldn't like Gracie. She's the queen of mean girls and doesn't really mature to a better person. There's hints she could be nice once in awhile, but they don't really make up for her obsession with designer clothes and lack of regard for anyone not of her status.
This is a well-written and fast-paced YA story. It's not a book I'd normally read, but I do think fans of the genre would really like it.
Asher and his twin sister Willow are both witches. He is adorable and she's the cute geeky girl. Neither would normally be part of Gracie's social set which are mostly mean girls and their rich counterparts. Her parents are a wreck, divorced and using Gracie (as she uses them) to fight each other.
I tried hard, but I couldn't like Gracie. She's the queen of mean girls and doesn't really mature to a better person. There's hints she could be nice once in awhile, but they don't really make up for her obsession with designer clothes and lack of regard for anyone not of her status.
This is a well-written and fast-paced YA story. It's not a book I'd normally read, but I do think fans of the genre would really like it.
October 9, 2017
This looked like a fun little witch cozy mystery. The mystery was okay but there was one huge problem for me. The main character is a self-admited sociopath. She and her group of friends have repeatedly pulled "capers" that ended up destroying the lives of multiple people. Some readers might think it is okay because those people were usually not good people. But these girls didn't seem to care if theywere good or bad, they just were in their way or had annoyed the girls.
It is true that there are stories that have shallow cheerleader type main characters that grow into strong females. Movies like Clueless and Legally Blonde come to mind. But those are featuring characters that aren't the most aware coming into their own. They are easy to like and to root for them. I just never really cared for Gracie in this story and most of the time I wished she would get what was coming to her.
It is true that there are stories that have shallow cheerleader type main characters that grow into strong females. Movies like Clueless and Legally Blonde come to mind. But those are featuring characters that aren't the most aware coming into their own. They are easy to like and to root for them. I just never really cared for Gracie in this story and most of the time I wished she would get what was coming to her.
November 24, 2017
This zany story follows young teenage witch, Gracie, and a slew of unfortunate events. No, not the Baudelaire orphans type, but more of a “Sabrina-isk” type mashed with a mystery. Gracie is the teenage witch where she turns up in places at the wrong time.
After entering a male witch, Asher’s, circle while she was attempting a break in, she ends up being bonded to him for life. Then she is dragged into his family drama of his family member’s mysteriously dying. Who and what are causing this?
This book is full of laughs and you’ll enjoy this pleasant ride with Gracie and Asher!
After entering a male witch, Asher’s, circle while she was attempting a break in, she ends up being bonded to him for life. Then she is dragged into his family drama of his family member’s mysteriously dying. Who and what are causing this?
This book is full of laughs and you’ll enjoy this pleasant ride with Gracie and Asher!
September 5, 2017
Magic meets snarky. Gracie a snarky, rich, underestimated young lady meets Asher a witch. This book was full of magical romance that makes the reader laugh out loud. The chemistry between Asher and Gracie was well written and enjoyable to read. I look forward to reading more books from this author. Thank You NetGalley and Carla Rehse for allowing me to read this book and write a honest review.
September 20, 2017
Super, super cute. A little corny, a little fluffy but fun. I really liked the witches in it and the magic. I had a hard time with Gracie at first (she's just a bit too shallow for my tastes) but she grew on me and I suspect that if there are more books in this series that Gracie will gain some depth. Over all, a fun read.
September 25, 2017
Legally Blonde meets the Halliwells.
Hah! This was a fun and diverting read. Fairly dingbat in the best Clueless manner, Alicia Silverstone would have done this one proud, with a witchy setting. Gracie should join Alex Rider!
Hah! This was a fun and diverting read. Fairly dingbat in the best Clueless manner, Alicia Silverstone would have done this one proud, with a witchy setting. Gracie should join Alex Rider!
July 18, 2017
Received from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for honest review.
Gracie Mason is a homecoming queen, daughter of the wealthiest man in town. She has everything, she could ever need. Story start with her trying to break in building, to impress a guy she has a crush on. She lack out and wakes up in her car. She stumbled on witches circle of power. In order to save her, they are now bonded to life.
She is want to break the bond, but it is not that easy. The fact that he is very attractive and charming doesn't help ether. She must go deep in the magical society in order to find a way to break it. But will she want to?
I love that there is more to Gracie than meets the eye. She is caring, extremely resourceful and really bad ass. She takes her money and influence to pull "jobs" with her friends. Love it! Her home love is far from ideal.
She find true friendship and love on most unusual place. I love they you can see her grow and develop during the story. The book has so many layers.
Highly recommend it!
Gracie Mason is a homecoming queen, daughter of the wealthiest man in town. She has everything, she could ever need. Story start with her trying to break in building, to impress a guy she has a crush on. She lack out and wakes up in her car. She stumbled on witches circle of power. In order to save her, they are now bonded to life.
She is want to break the bond, but it is not that easy. The fact that he is very attractive and charming doesn't help ether. She must go deep in the magical society in order to find a way to break it. But will she want to?
I love that there is more to Gracie than meets the eye. She is caring, extremely resourceful and really bad ass. She takes her money and influence to pull "jobs" with her friends. Love it! Her home love is far from ideal.
She find true friendship and love on most unusual place. I love they you can see her grow and develop during the story. The book has so many layers.
Highly recommend it!
August 8, 2017
What’s not to love about this main character! Gracie Mason is a funny, sassy and enterprising heroine who ends up being much more than the homecoming queen and cheerleader captain we first meet. She isn’t afraid to take action, even when she’s faced with this strange and unfamiliar world of magic, and especially if it can help her friends. She has lots of heart. Asher, the male witch, is sweet and thoughtful, and great boyfriend potential! Together, they get entangled in a conspiracy that goes deep into the world of magic and makes for a really fun page turner. This book is like Clueless meets Sabrina the Teenage Witch, with romance, humor, and lots of amazing magic and action! Can’t wait for a sequel!
September 30, 2017
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book
We all know how much I love magic and witches. And this book—I really liked!
At first I thought our main character Gracie was going to be your usual unlikable mean girl/spoiled brat. But I am happy to report that I was wrong! Okay, she might be a smidge conceited, a fashionista, and she is rich, but there was a depth to her I was not expecting!
I'm sorry I judged her. She was very thoughtful and caring—I was pleasantly surprised! She was very funny and quite sassy, too! And she could really hold her own in this new, crazy, magical world! I really loved her! Oh, and Asher... I adored him! He was so sweet and lovable! This book just had a really interesting bunch of characters, overall. Gracie’s friends... they’re quite something. Lol. They’re very extravagant and dramatic. It was pretty fun.
However, the thing that made me knock off one star was the witch politics. I thought they way it was described was confusing and I found it a bit hard to follow. The explanation of the magic itself was okay. I did love the fact that instead of the female protagonist being the witch, as is the case in pretty much every other YA book, it was instead the male love interest the one who was the witch! That was a fun, refreshing twist!
I really liked the world we were introduced to in this book—both the magical one and Gracie’s everyday life in high society, and whatnot. There were a couple of great plot twists I did not see coming, and you all know how much I love being surprised. And I also really enjoyed the romance—it was just so sweet!
---
I am very much looking forward to the sequel, which I hear is in the works! Yay!
“Just boy troubles.”
That sounds far simpler than the truth that I've had a crush on my almost stepbrother for several months, which led me to try to commit burglary, but instead I've somehow become shackled to an honest-to-goodness witch.
We all know how much I love magic and witches. And this book—I really liked!
“Can’t say I’ve ever had a more interesting date.” Somehow, I’ve gotten myself stuck in the middle of a moody, paranormal teenage novel.
At first I thought our main character Gracie was going to be your usual unlikable mean girl/spoiled brat. But I am happy to report that I was wrong! Okay, she might be a smidge conceited, a fashionista, and she is rich, but there was a depth to her I was not expecting!
People misjudge my intelligence all the time.
I'm sorry I judged her. She was very thoughtful and caring—I was pleasantly surprised! She was very funny and quite sassy, too! And she could really hold her own in this new, crazy, magical world! I really loved her! Oh, and Asher... I adored him! He was so sweet and lovable! This book just had a really interesting bunch of characters, overall. Gracie’s friends... they’re quite something. Lol. They’re very extravagant and dramatic. It was pretty fun.
However, the thing that made me knock off one star was the witch politics. I thought they way it was described was confusing and I found it a bit hard to follow. The explanation of the magic itself was okay. I did love the fact that instead of the female protagonist being the witch, as is the case in pretty much every other YA book, it was instead the male love interest the one who was the witch! That was a fun, refreshing twist!
I really liked the world we were introduced to in this book—both the magical one and Gracie’s everyday life in high society, and whatnot. There were a couple of great plot twists I did not see coming, and you all know how much I love being surprised. And I also really enjoyed the romance—it was just so sweet!
The pain etched on Asher’s face breaks my heart. I want to hold him tight and soothe him, which would be wildly inappropriate in front of his mother.
---
I’m still trying to untangle my feelings about [Asher]—and if he gets himself killed before I figure it out, I’m so kicking his ass.
I am very much looking forward to the sequel, which I hear is in the works! Yay!
“I have two major talents: correctly identifying next season’s fashion trends and creating chaos. I’ll use both of them.”
April 12, 2020
*This was sent to me in return for an honest review*
In the end, I loved this book.
At first I really didn't like Gracie. I thought she was stuck up and overly stereotypical. basically she just got on my nerves.
Then Asher came into it...
...it was like she changed into someone else around him. she still annoyed me on occasion when her queen bee persona was portrayed a bit to strongly but it didn't detract from the greatness plot line.
Asher was the real hero of this story for me. He was charismatic, funny but serious when the situation called for it. The losses he faces killed me a little more each time because I felt for him so much.
INCREDIBLE CHARACTER!!
Overall, it was intriguing, original and gripping throughout.
all in all, I completely recommend. I can't wait for the sqeual because I want more Asher!!!
In summary: I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK - BIG TIME!!
Here is my full review: https://hawthornbookreviews.com/2017/...
In the end, I loved this book.
At first I really didn't like Gracie. I thought she was stuck up and overly stereotypical. basically she just got on my nerves.
Then Asher came into it...
...it was like she changed into someone else around him. she still annoyed me on occasion when her queen bee persona was portrayed a bit to strongly but it didn't detract from the greatness plot line.
Asher was the real hero of this story for me. He was charismatic, funny but serious when the situation called for it. The losses he faces killed me a little more each time because I felt for him so much.
INCREDIBLE CHARACTER!!
Overall, it was intriguing, original and gripping throughout.
all in all, I completely recommend. I can't wait for the sqeual because I want more Asher!!!
In summary: I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK - BIG TIME!!
Here is my full review: https://hawthornbookreviews.com/2017/...
September 12, 2017
**4.5 Stars**
Gracie has figured out the perfect plan to break into an office building and steal a list of companies that are not animal friendly to woo her crush Ben. But what she did not count on was a guy there as well, chanting Italianish and ruining her break-in attempt. When Gracie ends up hitting her head and wakes up back in her car, she figures she imagined the whole thing. That is until a boy starts following her and he says that he saved her life, but that is just the start of the mess Gracie finds herself in.
I was so entertained by this cute, hysterical, supernatural, mysterious, romantic read. I had heard about this title a few months ago and thought it sounded good, but it seriously kept popping up every time I was on some sort of book social media so I figured it was kismet for me to read it. I am so glad that I got the chance to pick up this fun story and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a light paranormal romance.
I loved the movie Legally Blonde and I felt like Pink Lock Picks had moments reminiscent of Legally Blonde woven in it. The main character, Gracie, appeared as a boppy full figured blonde with incredibly fashion sense, yet her mind was sharp and witty, with the skills of a future criminal mastermind (pink lock pick and all!), and was one cheer donation from world domination (or you know, saving pets from experimentation, same diff). She may have started out on her stand against animal cruelty to win a boy, but she did her research and stood by her new ideals- and still can look spectacular in her animal/environmentally friendly clothes and makeup. There were so many times Gracie stated she wasn’t a good person, but then would come to the rescue of a bullied geek or performed some random charity act. Her total Texan attitude was hysterical, and she played it so well. Some of the random things Gracie said or thought made me laugh such as:
"I seriously need to find a Texan to Italianish dictionary" or
"But I make you feel like your losing your mind? My psychics teacher told me the same thing last year."
She knows who she is and likes herself as is, curves and all, and she rolls with the punches like a pro! She is told that she was going to die and was bonded to a witch, she didn’t freak out but instead figured a way to fix said bonding and keep doing her own crusade. Seriously, I loved Gracie and her take no prisoner attitude and I think she is a great role model.
I was afraid that this was going to be a love triangle when the story started since Gracie has a desperate crush on her kinda-sorta stepbrother (can I just mention what a tool her father is?), hence her crusade to save the planet. But then comes Asher, the very cute, broody almost stalker who claims that they are bonded and he is a witch. Dealing with Asher was enough for Gracie to realize that she was not really into Ben as much as she originally thought, more like the idea of Ben and his good deeds. I loved the interaction between Asher and Gracie, where they had to try and figure out what was the bond and what was actually them developing feelings for each other. They were so opposite, Gracie loud and in your face, Asher quiet and introverted, yet they meshed so well and I rooted for a real love connection the entire book.
This was such a fun story and I enjoyed the ride. As they say, everything is bigger in Texas, and this book proved that. The story wrapped up nicely so this may be a standalone, but I would love another adventure with Gracie and Asher, or maybe even just set in this world with Willow. This was my first book by Carla but it won’t be my last.
Come visit my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ for more book stuff!
Gracie has figured out the perfect plan to break into an office building and steal a list of companies that are not animal friendly to woo her crush Ben. But what she did not count on was a guy there as well, chanting Italianish and ruining her break-in attempt. When Gracie ends up hitting her head and wakes up back in her car, she figures she imagined the whole thing. That is until a boy starts following her and he says that he saved her life, but that is just the start of the mess Gracie finds herself in.
I was so entertained by this cute, hysterical, supernatural, mysterious, romantic read. I had heard about this title a few months ago and thought it sounded good, but it seriously kept popping up every time I was on some sort of book social media so I figured it was kismet for me to read it. I am so glad that I got the chance to pick up this fun story and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a light paranormal romance.
I loved the movie Legally Blonde and I felt like Pink Lock Picks had moments reminiscent of Legally Blonde woven in it. The main character, Gracie, appeared as a boppy full figured blonde with incredibly fashion sense, yet her mind was sharp and witty, with the skills of a future criminal mastermind (pink lock pick and all!), and was one cheer donation from world domination (or you know, saving pets from experimentation, same diff). She may have started out on her stand against animal cruelty to win a boy, but she did her research and stood by her new ideals- and still can look spectacular in her animal/environmentally friendly clothes and makeup. There were so many times Gracie stated she wasn’t a good person, but then would come to the rescue of a bullied geek or performed some random charity act. Her total Texan attitude was hysterical, and she played it so well. Some of the random things Gracie said or thought made me laugh such as:
"I seriously need to find a Texan to Italianish dictionary" or
"But I make you feel like your losing your mind? My psychics teacher told me the same thing last year."
She knows who she is and likes herself as is, curves and all, and she rolls with the punches like a pro! She is told that she was going to die and was bonded to a witch, she didn’t freak out but instead figured a way to fix said bonding and keep doing her own crusade. Seriously, I loved Gracie and her take no prisoner attitude and I think she is a great role model.
I was afraid that this was going to be a love triangle when the story started since Gracie has a desperate crush on her kinda-sorta stepbrother (can I just mention what a tool her father is?), hence her crusade to save the planet. But then comes Asher, the very cute, broody almost stalker who claims that they are bonded and he is a witch. Dealing with Asher was enough for Gracie to realize that she was not really into Ben as much as she originally thought, more like the idea of Ben and his good deeds. I loved the interaction between Asher and Gracie, where they had to try and figure out what was the bond and what was actually them developing feelings for each other. They were so opposite, Gracie loud and in your face, Asher quiet and introverted, yet they meshed so well and I rooted for a real love connection the entire book.
This was such a fun story and I enjoyed the ride. As they say, everything is bigger in Texas, and this book proved that. The story wrapped up nicely so this may be a standalone, but I would love another adventure with Gracie and Asher, or maybe even just set in this world with Willow. This was my first book by Carla but it won’t be my last.
Come visit my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ for more book stuff!
Read
September 20, 2017DNF at 25%
I don't like not finishing a book, but there was no connection with the narrator, Gracie and I didn't care for her character much.
I don't like not finishing a book, but there was no connection with the narrator, Gracie and I didn't care for her character much.
January 18, 2018
A big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. First time reading this author. This is a young adult book. I found it to be a bit over the top, but different and a bit fun and interesting.
February 20, 2018
RATING: 4.5
It is definitely a different flavor of witch story and surprisingly I really enjoyed it. Instead of wands, their power relies on elements and it’s something I wish the author delve into deeper. But then, maybe she’ll do since it looks like Carla Rehse is working on the sequel to this book. The plot is sure interesting but there are sure a lot of loose ends that need to be tied and I need more world building when it comes to the witches. It is also curious as in this story, it is the guy who’s the witch instead of the girl and it made things more entertaining. The characters are likeable enough, even Gracie, despite her appearing to be a self-absorbed rich brat at times but I like how she gives such a fun POV. She is charming and funny and there’s more to her personality that will endear to others. Asher is a total dream guy, a handsome and sweet young man who also belongs to the witch royalty but with some issues of his own. All in all, the writing is solid and it is definitely a fun read. The romance is cute and adorable. The pacing is fast and it is filled with magic, mystery, action, and humor that it’s so hard not to like. I can’t wait to see what’s the next adventure in store for Gracie and Asher.
It is definitely a different flavor of witch story and surprisingly I really enjoyed it. Instead of wands, their power relies on elements and it’s something I wish the author delve into deeper. But then, maybe she’ll do since it looks like Carla Rehse is working on the sequel to this book. The plot is sure interesting but there are sure a lot of loose ends that need to be tied and I need more world building when it comes to the witches. It is also curious as in this story, it is the guy who’s the witch instead of the girl and it made things more entertaining. The characters are likeable enough, even Gracie, despite her appearing to be a self-absorbed rich brat at times but I like how she gives such a fun POV. She is charming and funny and there’s more to her personality that will endear to others. Asher is a total dream guy, a handsome and sweet young man who also belongs to the witch royalty but with some issues of his own. All in all, the writing is solid and it is definitely a fun read. The romance is cute and adorable. The pacing is fast and it is filled with magic, mystery, action, and humor that it’s so hard not to like. I can’t wait to see what’s the next adventure in store for Gracie and Asher.
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