Allure

The Hoodoo Apprentice #2

by Lea Nolan

Worst. Summer. Ever.

Emma Guthrie races to learn the hoodoo magic needed to break The Beaumont Curse before her marked boyfriend Cooper’s sixteenth birthday. But deep in the South Carolina Lowcountry, dark, mysterious forces encroach, conspiring to separate Emma and Cooper forever. When Cooper starts to change, turning cold and indifferent, Emma discovers that both his heart and body are marked for possession by competing but equally powerful adversaries.

Desperate to save him, Emma and her twin brother, Jack, risk their lives to uncover the source of the black magic that has allured Cooper and holds him in its grip. Faced with the horror of a soul-eating boohag, Emma and Jack must fight to resist its fiendish power to free Cooper long enough to join their strengths and face it together, before it destroys them all.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Paranormal, Magic

304 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Lea Nolan is a USA Today bestselling author who writes witty contemporary stories filled with head-swooning, heart-throbbing, sweep-you-off your feet romance. She also pens books for young adults featuring bright heroines, crazy-hot heroes, diabolical plot twists, plus a dose of magic, a draft of romance, and a sprinkle of history.

Born and raised on Long Island, New York, she loves the water far too much to live inland. With her heroically supportive husband and three clever children, she resides in Maryland where she cracks crabs and bakes ugly birthday cakes.

http://bit.ly/LeaNolanNewsletter

Reviews

[Melissa Landers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neener, neener, neener...I got to read it early! (One of the benefits to being a crit partner. :) ALLURE is a fast-paced, page-turner of a sequel. You're in for a real treat!

[Colleen Houck]

That boo-hag gives me the shivers! Genuinely one of the most disgusting creatures I've ever read about. Love the addition of the granddaughter and all the havoc she brings with her and ends up inflicting upon our heroes. Nice to finally figure out what's going on with Cooper's dad. Ready to move on to book three!

[Step Into Fiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

My biggest issue with Conjure was the ages of these characters and while it's still an issue, for me, it's not as big of one during Allure. I'd actually consider this series borderline Middle Grade and Young Adult. Not only because of the ages because of the content and the dialogue. This isn't a bad thing; I've reviewed MG before and it's fine; you just have to go in to it with a different mindset. But let's put the ages aside and talk about the book because, let's be honest, that's what it's all about. I really enjoyed Allure; a lot more than Conjure, actually. Can't say I didn't see a lot of it coming but she was able to slip one in on me that I didn't suspect . . .

I love, absolutely love the relationship between twin siblings Jack and Emma. I've always wanted to be a twin just to be able to experience that twin bond that most share (though, my luck I'd get a twin that didn't share that bond and it would've been all for nothing). I don't remember getting to see a whole lot of that during Conjure - well at least not where Jack was always having Emma's back and protecting her. Then we add Cooper to the mix and it's like the icing on the cake. Not only is he Jack's best friend but he's also currently Emma's boyfriend, though he's nealry two year older.

Read full review at Step Into Fiction

Review completed by: Jessica

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Conjure so much! It's so refreshing to read a YA book that's not too mushy and is appropriate for the younger YAs, 12-14. Here's my review. You can imagine I was over the moon when, through a little hoodoo magic, I conjured up an advanced copy of Allure, the sequel to Conjure!

Allure is just as good as Conjure, but maybe just a tad better. You know why? If you were wondering what boo hags looked like after reading Conjure, you'll find out in Allure. And believe me, boo hags are the stuff of nightmares. I can see why Delia didn't want the kids to run into any. Scary stuff! Lea Nolan shares her hoodoo knowledge and makes me feel like I'm reading Delia's book of spells myself! There are only a few points of contention in the book, which I'll not share for fear of spoiling, but let's just say, that the boo hags aren't the only things that will upset you. Nolan introduces new characters and eliminates old ones; you'll be conflicted. But in a good way.

I can't wait for the rest of the world to get their hands on Allure so they can love it like I do!

I give Allure 4 paws due to the multi ethnic portrayals and easy relationships. Add these two titles to your collection. Girls of all colors will appreciate it!
ConjureLea Nolan

[Jennifer Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure this second book in the series Quite lived up to the magic present in the first book, but I still really enjoyed it. Nolan's prose is vivid and fast-moving, and her characters feel alive on the page. As with the first book, the blend of character-driven plotting, hoodoo, chemistry, and surprising turns made the book a fast and enjoyable read, so that I'm really looking forward to reading the third book and seeing how the trilogy concludes.

Absolutely recommended, but make sure you start with the first book in the Hoodoo Apprentice series, Conjure!

[Kimberly (Book Swoon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please note: this review is for book two in the series, there may be small spoilers for book one

When you begin reading Allure, the second story in the Hoodoo Apprentice young adult series, get ready to be dropped into Lea Nolan’s fantastic world where curses, soul-eating creatures, and Hoodoo go hand-in-hand with adventure, summer fun and sweet romance.

SETTING

Allure has a richly imagined setting, one that began with the first book in the Hoodoo Apprentice series Conjure, and that I fell in love with all over again. The story unfolds during the summer in South Carolina's lowcountry. Lea Nolan does an amazing job with her descriptions of Beaufort and St. Helena's Island and the Gullah people's culture and folkways. It was easy to picture Emma, Jack, and Cooper meandering through the salty grass marshes or walking beneath a canopy of giant live oak trees, dripping with Spanish moss. I could smell the sweet perfume of Miss Delia's flower and herb garden, as well as see her rainbow hued, bottle tree glistening with it’s thousands of multicolored bottles. Her descriptions are that good, and the Gullah and Hoodoo magic- let’s just say that there’s plenty of those type of descriptions too- the gross, ooey-gooey, yucky kind!

SUMMARY

Allure continues the story that began in Conjure with Emma, Jack and Cooper off seeking Summertime fun and adventure, only this time around Emma needs to use her newfound Hoodoo powers to break The Beaumont Curse placed upon her boyfriend Cooper. She has until his sixteenth birthday to break the curse or else he’ll become like all the other generations of Beaumont men, wandering and soulless. Together with her brother Jack and guidance from Miss Delia, they try to save Cooper. What they don’t expect is that they will have to face a soul-eating boohag and dark magic before they can free Cooper.

CHARACTERS

Emma Guthrie is really starting to become a great Hoodoo apprentice, and in this story she’s totally devoted to saving Cooper (her crush turned boyfriend) much like she was devoted to breaking the curse on her brother Jack in book one (Conjure). Even when faced with danger, and possibly getting her heart-broken, she does not back down, nor give-up on anyone (even when they're acting like a jerk to her) but keeps on- determined to see the best in them. I loved that Emma is smart, loyal, kind, and kick-butt too.

Jack Guthrie: Jack takes on a much better role in this story which I loved. He’s sweet, supportive and a pretty awesome twin brother throughout the story, such a refreshing change from the obnoxious behavior in Conjure. He really shines in this story so much more, so if you read book one, and didn’t think you’d want any more of his Jack-Attitude don’t worry, you're going to love this Jack- complete turn around since he’s thrown off the Creep!

Cooper Beaumont is such a sweet doll of a guy, but thanks to the Beaumont Curse, this sweet guy is going to go turn a bit Gremlin (Okay- not physically people) on us. Lea Nolan brings in curses, temptation, and havoc on poor Cooper before all is said and done. I still loved his character though throughout the story though, and you can’t help but root for him.

Miss Delia (the most powerful Gullah Hoodoo root worker on St. Helena) is back helping Emma any way she can to break The Beaumont Curse. This feisty, older lady (90+) continues to play an important role in Emma, Jack and Cooper’s lives. She is a force to be reckoned with, and not someone you’d want to make an enemy of.

THE ROMANCE
Emma and Cooper are officially together as girlfriend and boyfriend in Allure. There’s lot’s more hand-holding, dreamy looks and sweet kisses this time around.

Swoon Level: Crush

Swoon Quote: Warning, skip if you don’t want to read swoon yumminess ahead!

“You’re my girl Emmaline. If I want to kiss you in front of the whole state of South Carolina, I will. He steps closer and plants an even deeper, hotter kiss, causing my head to swoon and legs to wobble.”

WHAT I LIKED

Yay for Twins! Emma and Jack, as twins are really awesome in Allure. Such a great change has come over on Jack since Conjure. Together, I felt Emma and Jack were unstoppable.

WHAT MADE ME SAD (Not a negative thing)

Well, I kind of knew it was going to need to happen, if you read the summary you know there’s a curse on darling Cooper’s head, well- let’s just say he becomes a bit of a jerk to poor Emma in part of the story.

THE RATING 4.5 Stars. I really liked it!

RECOMMENDATION

Lea Nolan has created a great Middle Grade crossover novel. The teens featured in the story are between 14-16, giving the story (and series) a younger feel, but with it’s enticing mystery, magic, and sweet romance, older teens and adults will find it just as appealing. Perfect for those looking for magic, curses, and icky monsters in their read.

DO YOU NEED TO READ BOOK ONE

Lea Nolan does a great recap on the first story Conjure, so you don’t necessarily have to read the first book, but I would strongly recommend that you do. There’s just so many wonderful details, and an great introductions to the characters you’ll won’t want to miss out on besides a fabulous story featuring pirates, treasure and a flesh eating curse in Conjure!

PLEASE NOTE: A courtesy review copy of this book was provided by Entangled Teen via NetGalley in exchange for my fair review. Thank you Entangled Teen for the review opportunity!

[Jessica Reigle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at Step Into Fiction

My biggest issue with Conjure was the ages of these characters and while it's still an issue, for me, it's not as big of one during Allure. I'd actually consider this series borderline Middle Grade and Young Adult. Not only because of the ages because of the content and the dialogue. This isn't a bad thing; I've reviewed MG before and it's fine; you just have to go in to it with a different mindset. But let's put the ages aside and talk about the book because, let's be honest, that's what it's all about. I really enjoyed Allure; a lot more than Conjure, actually. Can't say I didn't see a lot of it coming but she was able to slip one in on me that I didn't suspect . . .

I love, absolutely love the relationship between twin siblings Jack and Emma. I've always wanted to be a twin just to be able to experience that twin bond that most share (though, my luck I'd get a twin that didn't share that bond and it would've been all for nothing). I don't remember getting to see a whole lot of that during Conjure - well at least not where Jack was always having Emma's back and protecting her. Then we add Cooper to the mix and it's like the icing on the cake. Not only is he Jack's best friend but he's also currently Emma's boyfriend, though he's nealry two year older.

Allure picks off where Conjure left off - we're still trying to find a cure for the curse put on the Beaumont family; where once any Beaumont man turns sixteen his soul is ripped from his body and everything changes. It's been happening for three hundred years but the Guthrie's love Cooper the way he is now, the perfect southern gentleman, and they can't risk him losing all that he is. Emma is willing to go to any lengths to save the one she loves most but it's never that easy, is it?

We're introduced to two new and interesting characters. Taneea, who is Miss Delia's great-grand daughter and such a hot mess. As soon as she was introduce I suspected there would be trouble in paradise for Emma and Cooper - I wanted to be wrong and just think she'd settle for Jack because he's a nice guy, right? But she's not the worst of our worries - oh no, it's this new investigator that's been brought in to town to look in to the break in at the museum recently. Claude Corbeau - you'll be smart to remember this name, it's someone we come across quite frequently and honestly, I haven't figured him out yet. I'm not sure what his deal is or what his end game is but I can tell you one thing - I can't wait to find out.

As always, I love Miss Delia. She may be in his 90's but that woman will put you in your place like you've never seen before. Honestly, I'd be afraid of her - she's not someone I'd want to mess with. But she's so awesome and very important to the story and especially for Emma.

I really liked Allure - it definitely drew me in more to the story and it was just a very fun, enjoyable read. If you haven't read Conjure yet, I definitely think you should do that if you're looking for something fun, something easy and something involving magic (specifically Hoodoo). This is definitely a great second book and it's something that grabs your attention more, making you want more from these characters in the next book.

Thank you so much to Rockstar Book Tours for allowing me to be a part of this tour. Y'all are awesome, as always. And a big thank you to Entangled for allowing me the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Always a pleasure to work with everyone there!

[Andrea at Reading Lark · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 Rating
Review Posted on Reading Lark 10/1/13: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2013/...

I should have known that this would be a difficult read from the tagline: Worst.Summer.Ever. It surely wasn't a story that was fun and uplifting. Poor Emma! Not only is she racing against the clock to save poor Cooper from losing his soul to a nasty curse, but she's also dodging questions about a museum theft and trying to care for the ailing Miss Delia. To make matters worse, Miss Delia's great granddaughter, Taneea, has come to town and she has her eyes set on Cooper and Miss Delia's hoodoo book. Can Emma save the ones she loves and still manage to come out unscathed?

The sense of urgency in this one begins in the first chapter. There is very little down time between the end of the last novel and the beginning of Allure. I felt this incredible sense of panic as Cooper's birthday draws closer. He is one of my favorite characters and I didn't want to think about this sweet boy losing his soul to a dark curse. It just wouldn't be right. I kept encouraging Emma and Miss Delia to figure out how to break the spell before it was too late. This sense of urgency and foreboding had me reading at a frantic pace.

While I was invested in this story and the characters, I didn't enjoy this one as much as the Conjured. I believe part of this can be explained by Cooper's actions. For a majority of the book, he is not himself. He's acting differently, dressing differently, and pushing Emma away. This is not Cooper nor did I enjoy this version of him. Like Emma, I was put off by his behavior. I kept reading quickly though, hoping that somehow his strange attitude and behavior would be explained. Eventually, the reason behind Cooper's sudden personality change is made clear.

I also felt like Emma lost a bit of herself in this one. She's not the strong girl we see in the first novel. She's scared and frazzled. Emma also begins to long for the way things used to be which leads her down some depressing paths as she tries to figure out everything that is happening around her. I understood why she was feeling these emotions, but I missed the Emma I had grown to know in the first book. There are moments when that Emma does shine through, but there is so much stress and chaotic activity that those moments are few and far between.

My biggest complaint with this one was the pacing. Some moments seemed to race by while others meandered along. Some scenes seemed a bit too long and a bit too laden down with unnecessary details. I prefer novels that show rather than tell. I don't recall this being such an issue with the first novel. I still enjoyed the read, but not as much as I enjoyed the first one.

One Last Gripe: I've already commented on my issue with the pacing which is my only complaint about this one.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: I love the lore and culture.

First Sentence: A stiff, hot wind blows across the Beaufort River, carrying the scent of parched sea grass, mucky earth, and belly-up red fish* through the car window.
* = my best guess at what this word should be, there were some odd issues going on in this e-ARC which I am positive were fixed before publication

Favorite Character: Emma

Least Favorite Character: Taneea

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to visit with Emma, Cooper, Jack and Miss Delia again that I dove right into Allure during Dewey's 24-hour read-a-thon this past weekend. Conjure was so enjoyable and different exploring the South Carolina low country, the Gullah people a little and the magic and responsibility of hoodoo that I was enthralled by the setting the Ms. Nolan created for these books.

This was a great book to read during the read-a-thon. It continued the exciting story from Conjure, it delved deeper into the characters, the curse, the general setting of the area and more learning of hoodoo for Emma. First I loved the characters again. Emma, Jack, Cooper and Miss Delia make such an interesting team. And the romance between Emma and Cooper is sweet. Of course there are some new characters in Allure who liven things up a bit (or frustrate you like they really should). Miss Delia's great-granddaughter comes to stay and boy does she bring trouble. I found some of this predictable, but it didn't take away from the story in the least for me. All three main characters go through some changes in different ways and I enjoyed watching their growth. Growth is always essential for me when I consider the characters in a book, and Ms. Nolan does a great job maturing and changing the characters just enough that it seems reasonable in the short period of time that this book takes place. I also like that they have some guidance from adults like Jack and Emma's father and of course Miss Delia who is one of my favorite secondary characters of all time.

As far as plot, wow, it's very fast-moving. From the very first page the plot starts with a bang. You know the main premise is that the four characters are in a race against time to stop the curse from taking Cooper's soul when he turns 16 in a few weeks. So it's a ticking clock and of course there is more than just the curse to hinder the group from finding the right hoodoo to reverse the curse. I loved watching the plot develop. It was done in an amazing way that kept me enthralled from beginning to end. And just when I thought that the book was done, another monkey wrench was thrown into the plot. I'm not really sure how Ms. Nolan could have packed much more into this 300 page book, but she makes sure it is a thriller.

As a great continuation to the first book in the series Conjure, Allure makes a wonderful second installment. And while things come to a natural completion at the end of Allure I cannot wait for the third installment. This series is so interesting to me. I love the characters, the plot line and the setting. And I feel that Ms. Nolan has tried to be as true as she can to the hoodoo tradition so it fascinates me and makes me feel that I am learning something new about a very interesting group of people. This series is for the young and older alike, it holds your interest, it has great characters and it's just different which is one of the main reasons I love it. So if you haven't read Conjure get it and read it. If you have read it, then run and grab Allure because you know you want to know what happens next. Now to just wait for the next book . . .

[Jenea · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 hearts


Allure in the second installment in The Hoodoo Apprentice series, and I was excited when I was offered a copy of Allure because I absolutely adored Conjure. And with this picking up shortly where Conjured left off, it was easy to slip right back into Emma and Copper’s world.

A long time ago, actually a couple hundred years ago, there was a curse that had been placed on the Beaumont family, when the boys turn 16 their souls are taken, and with Copper’s birthday fastly approaching, the urgency grows by the day. Emma and Jack are trying everything they can to find a way to break it, but will it be in time. Cooper is beginning that change and is not the same sweet boy he has always been.

Emma is just a fabulous young girl, she is kind and caring, and does an amazing job with her magic. Yes, she gets herself into some situation that are scary and she shows she is afraid sometimes, but she pushes through and proves herself to be a pretty strong girl. Her brother Jack, was a character that I didn’t really like in Conjure, but for me he definitely redeemed himself. He is more caring for his sister and others too, and works right there with Emma, never giving up. We are introduced to a new character, Taneea, who happens to be the grandaughter of Delia, the spunky old woman.

The plot was darker, it moves quickly and even more suspenseful than before. There were more details given about the Beaumont curse, and one surprise after another and just gets even worse. And Copper who is also the love interest for Emma has started acting different and dressing different, and just wasn’t the normal lovable character he was before, but all of this is due to the curse. I knew when I started this that there would be plenty of excitement and lost of hoodoo spells, and I wasn’t disappointed at all. The villains are perfectly evil, the ending is freakin awesome and heartbreaking. It sets up exactly where the story need to be for the next book.

This is fantastic and so worth picking up and reading. Can’t wait to see what happens next in this magical world Nolan has written.


For more review, check out For more of reviews, visit Book Live Forever

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Genre* YA Paranormal
*Rating* 3.5

*My Thoughts*

Allure continues the story from Conjure with 14 year old Emma Guthrie having become a Hoodoo apprentice under 97-year old Gullah Miss Delia in order to not only save her twin brother Jack from the 300 year old Gullah curse called the Creep, but also to find a way to cure her boyfriend Cooper Beaumont. Time is ticking away until Cooper turns 16 and ends up swallowed whole like his father Beau did thanks to a root doctor who went searching for revenge on the Beaumont family.

Emma continues to be a determined young lady with fire and spunk and determination against all odds that seem to be stacked up against her. She has an emotional rollercoaster of a ride when new antagonists (Claude Corbeau & Taneea Branson) arrive on the scene and makes things very interesting between Cooper, Emma, and Jack as well as Miss Delia.

At one point in the story, I was absolutely rooting for Emma to walk away from the whole thing and let Cooper suffer in his misery. But, that would have been too easy and apparently Nolan has a whole lot more in store for Emma and her characters in the next book and we wouldn't have learned about yet another curse that affects the Guthrie family.

One of the things I always look for in a sequel is the continuation of the storyline without hiccups or mumbo jumbo. I look for character and relationship growths as well. Once again, Emma does not act like she's 14 years of age. She's determined to defeat her nemesis Sabina before things get ugly and out of control.

She does have a few emotions that I would be rather upset over had she just rolled over and pretended as though nothing bothers her at all. I'm still a little unsure about Jack since he's almost like a third wheel in the relationship between Cooper and Emma. I'm also not really looking forward to a quick reconciliation between Emma and Cooper no matter how much readers want it to be.

I won't tell anyone NOT to read Conjure before jumping into Allure. Although Nolan does a fairly decent job of summarizing previous events, I absolutely feel that the series SHOULD be read in order, and not skipped over for the sake of time and expediency. I know we have a pile of books to read, but that doesn't mean one should ignore the authors previous works.

A Huge Thank YOU! Goes out to Heather from Entangled who kindly provided me with an updated copy of Allure after there were certain problems with my copy I received via NetGalley. As always Heather, you are the best!

*Recvd 09/09/2013 via NetGalley* Published October 1st 2013 by Entangled: Teen

[A Book Vacation · Rating 4 out of 5]

To see my full review:

http://wp.me/p1jhaj-3X3

The tables have turned in this sequel to Conjure, and though one curse was broken, another looms on the horizon, one thats potential to wreak havoc threatens not only Cooper, but Emma and Jack as well. Everything is nearly right with the world again now that Jack is finally back to his caring, loving self, however there’s another curse to break, and suddenly, Cooper isn’t acting like himself. In truth, Nolan replaced my hate for Jack with my hate for Cooper in this sequel, and it seems there truly is no break for Emma from the mental and verbal abuse she endures, first in Conjure, and now in Allure.

In my opinion, Emma is too good of a person, and whereas I wanted her to leave Jack by the wayside in book one, I was even more desperate for Emma to leave Cooper by the wayside in book two. However, with a heart of gold and a love stronger than her hate, Emma works desperately to break Cooper’s curse. She’s a much better person than I, that’s for sure, but, while Cooper is a jerk, the difference between Jack’s curse and Cooper’s is that this time, it’s obviously not Cooper’s fault he’s acting this way. Unfortunately, I’m not that forgiving and, fault or not, his actions still hurt, A LOT, so I desperately wanted Emma to leave Cooper in the dust, curse and all. However, some very interesting facts come out about this curse later on in the novel, and it’s not just the Beaumont’s that it effects, but also Emma and Jack, unbeknownst to them, and this makes the race against time a fun one for the reader, especially with the revelation of the boohag…

While a majority of this novel was much more predictable for me than the first one, I think it was meant to be written this way in order to add shock value for the reader later on, because all at once the reader is blindsided by some events that, I, at least, never saw coming. And, these events added an extra air of awesome for me as a reader, especially because it includes some magical forms that I’ve never thought about or read about in any other novels, which is epic.

There are a number of characters in this novel that we love to hate, and with the events unfurling, it becomes obvious that there is more evil present in this novel than readers initially knew going in. While there is a resolution of sorts in this novel, an even bigger allusion to events to come is looming overhead, and I can’t wait to read the next installment!

Entangled Publishing, LLC has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release tomorrow, October 1, 2013.

[Francine Soleil · Rating 4 out of 5]

originally posted here: http://alwayslostinbooks.wordpress.co...

Allure can be read without Conjure because Lea Nolan was able to recap the major events in Conjure. I personally did not need it because I had read Conjure 2 or 3 times already so most of the details were still in my mind. However, I think it would be a great help to those who read a long time ago or it would serve beneficial to those who haven’t read the first book. As for me, it was a little unnecessary.

Allure has definitely taken a different turn from Conjure. The only thing I expected from this book was Emma working hard to break the Beaumont curse so I was very much surprised by most of what happened in Allure. Not only does Emma Guthrie have to work hard to break a curse, she also has to deal with new villains and creatures that are capable of too many evil deeds. More secrets would be unlocked but more would also surface. More wonders and more gross details will also play out through the book.

In this book, Emma becomes more vulnerable and emotional, which isn’t really becoming, but understandable since she’s just a teenager. The Beaumont curse is a ticking time bomb. Hoodoo takes too much of her energy and she is left too exhausted. Her romantic relationship is in a very wobbly state. Plus so many more surprises. I cannot even imagine how I could handle all of that in her age. Oh, and there will be four (or more or less) evils lurking about.

I hate the villains the way they should be hated because they were just too evil. And I feel they all have big roles to play in the next book so I am quite afraid of what may happen next. However, I would definitely love to see how Miss Delia, Cooper, and Jack would help Emma along the way, considering they all played major roles in aiding her so far. My personal favorite would definitely be Miss Delia. She’s like the Gandalf in the story. A very entertaining, wise, and powerful old woman. One of my favorite Miss Delia lines:

“…no matter where you go, you’ll never settle anywhere until you’re settled on the inside.”

OVERALL, Allure has so much more to offer than Conjure, but I cannot really stomach most of the details because they were so intense (gross/suspense/painful/etc.). I personally prefer Conjure more, but Allure was still definitely a great read that kept me at the edge of my seat with all the things going on. It’s filled with lovable characters to root for, and despicable characters I wish would disappear. I was caught in the whirlwind of everything that happened in this book, and I can’t believe I have been allured to need the next book. Again. I can’t wait to see where this will go next.

[Andrea: BookStoreFinds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for BookStoreFinds.com

I recently read Conjure and I really enjoyed it , so I was excited to start Allure and see where things went from there. We pick up almost right after book 1 ended. After Emma saved her brother from the Creep, she accidentally ruined the one thing that she could use to save Cooper, the love of her life, YIKES! While Emma and Mrs Delia search for a way to repair the ruby and save Cooper from the Beaumont Curse, we get introduced to two more characters!

Mrs Delia's delinquent niece gets dropped off on her door step by her mother to stay for the summer as Taneea has been kicked out of every school and her mother refuses to let her live with her and her new husband any longer. Emma instantly gets a bad feeling for Taneea and knows that she's going to be bad news.

Claude Corbeau shows up shortly there after and Emma's spirit guide basically hits her over the head with all the bad feels for this dude. Hired by Coopers father to track down those who stole from the museum, that was Emma, Jack and Cooper, he is bad news #2!! I almost instantly knew that there was more to him then he was letting on. You'll want to keep an eye out for him!

At this point I just new that this book was going to have more drama and trouble then Conjure did! I was excited to stay the least. I was not disappointed. We soon realize that Taneea and Cooper are getting closer and that there's trouble in paradise. That with the added trouble of trying to keep everyone out of jail, Save coopers life, The fact that Coopers family are starting to loose their minds, you got a pretty great book! Oh did I not mention the new spirits and paranormals? No? Huh, must have slipped my mind.

Allure is the perfect sequel to Conjure, you get more drama, with the added twist of mystery and a love triangle. I know... "ugh, a love triangle!" but it works in this series!

The characters are still pretty great together. Emma, cooper and Jack are loveable and pretty funny. Mrs Delia is the long lost hoodoo teacher that I always dreamed of. She's stern but still hilarious. She reminds me of my grandmother actually, she'll put you in your place!

Allure is another fun read that anyone who loves paranormal will enjoy. I'm really excited to get into Illusion(Releases Oct 5th!) and find out where The Hoodoo Apprentice series

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very young YA book. The characters are 14 & 15, so they are just getting to the age where they really start making their own decisions. Allure picks up right after Conjure ends. Emma is still trying to find a cure to save Cooper’s soul, and things just keep getting messier and more difficult.

In order to read Allure, you really need to read Conjure first. Lea does a great job of recapping everything, but you really need the full experience. We learned so much about Emma, Jack & Cooper in Conjure that you really need to know going into Allure. I loved how close these 3 were throughout both books (even though Jack acted like a jerk in the majority of Conjure – but, he was losing his skin, so I forgave him) and really enjoyed reading about the relationship developing between Emma and Cooper. Emma’s been in love with Cooper for a year, and he’s finally admitted he feels the same way, so finding out that he’s going to lose his soul in a little over a month due to a curse put onto his family because his ancestors were some nasty people is extremely upsetting. Emma puts all her energy into finding a cure for the curse by working with Delia – an elderly Hoodoo practitioner who took her on as an apprentice when Jack’s flesh was disappearing (or exploding – however you want to say it).

Of course, things aren’t hard enough, and Delia’s great-granddaughter shows up in town and she wants Delia all to herself. She’s a pretty nasty package, and to make it even worse, she has Cooper in her sights. I’d love 5 minutes alone in a dark alley with this chick, she was a real piece of work! And poor Emma, in addition to having to deal with Teneea, she is having to deal with Cooper’s changing. In Conjure, Cooper was so lovable, doting on Emma, and just a really sweet guy. In contrast, Jack was a total jerk. In Allure, the tables have turned. Jack’s the sweet, loving, helpful brother, and Cooper starts acting like a total jerk. I know he’s losing his soul soon, but jeez! Come on Cooper, snap out of it!

I really enjoyed Lea’s writing, she did an amazing job bringing the characters to life and building up the world they live in. She also did a wonderful job explaining everything in the book to make it realistic and easy to relate to. Allure ends on a cliffhanger, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I give this one 4.5 stars!

[Vanya D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTE: I received the book through Netgalley. Thanks a bunch to the Entangled Teen team!

Conjure, the first book in The Hoodoo Apprentice series was something really refreshing and I ended up really intrigued by it. Which is why, I had to have Allure and review it for you guys. I had grand expectations for it, and I'm happy to say that I wasn't disappointed.

Allure was as thrilling, as full of adventure, dark magic and pure love as Conjure was and let me tell you - you won't regret picking it up. It continues the story of Emmaline and Jack Guthrie and their friend Cooper Beaumont.

Unlike Conjure however, everything has intensified at least a dozen times over. Cooper's time is running out and the nearer his birthday comes, the more the Beaumont's curse seems to take toll on him. Then there's the private investigator who is sniffing around Miss Delia, concerning a certain mortar and dagger that had disappeared from the local Museum. Mix in Tannea (Miss Delia's absolutely outrageous great-granddaughter) and the bowl of misfortunes is almost complete. I say almost because there are a bunch of other twists and turns that came right at me, leaving me baffled. I kept on asking myself "What on earth just happened?" numerous times. In the good way.

I was happy to see that fourteen year old Emma has grown in character. She is stronger and more sure of herself. And her heart is beating with love for Cooper. Good thing is, it is now reciprocated. There was a certain thing I didn't like about Emma though. She wasn't assertive at all. A whole ton of questions kept on piling in her mind, but she never even tried looking for answers. There were a bunch of clues too, but she just never acted. I know she's just 14, but if she is to mess with the forces of darkness/nature/whatever, a certain shrewdness would be necessary.

Jack was definitely nicer, seeing that his skin wasn't falling off in this installment. And Connor... he was really sweet until.. well, until whatever had to happen happened.

Packed up with a slight edge of humor, lots of thrilling adventures, realistic characters who grow with each step they take, Allure is a read that would keep you up at night.

[Bookish Satty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from the author and publisher, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review.
Firstly I would like to thank Lea Nolan (author) and Entangled Publishing for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this awesome book.
In this sequel we find Emma who is trying hard to learn and improve her Hoodoo magic and is getting drained and weak in this process and on the other hand we have her boyfriend Cooper who is acting all cold and ignorant. Oh no, don’t blame the poor guy, he is under a Beaumont Curse which will take his life on his sixteenth birthday if Emma cannot find a cure of it. Thus we join the dangerous quest of Emma and her twin brother Jack as they fight to find the cure and save Cooper while the Boohag is turning all rocks for fulfilling the curse.
I really enjoyed the story though I didn’t read the first one but this sequel didn’t seem confusing at all and there were adequate descriptions and explanations from book 1 to ease the read for the readers of book 2. This story has magic, magical creatures, pure and true love, fighting for saving the love, curse, cure, revelations of well kept secrets which were meant to be kept hidden only but now it is going to shock everyone to their bones. The writing style is great and comfortable and I quickly got connected with the well thought out plot. I found Cooper to be a little irritating but he wasn’t in his senses so that eased my irritation a little. Emma is fabulous and totally developed and flourished. She is not whimsical or acts like a total stupid heroine rather she saves the day. Jack is likable as well. The suspense that the author succeeded in keeping till the end kept me on the edge and also made me anxious. The slow revelations of the mysterious secrets spiced up the story. I know I shouldn’t say this but I liked Boohag as well. It is a story which is full of magic, action, curses and is a total page turner that will surprise you and will shock you as well. Would definitely recommend this book to everyone and it can be read by readers of all ages. Give it a shot, guys!

[Shy The WidowMaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great to get back into the world of Emma,Jack,Ms Delia and Cooper and it was just as fun as the last book. I think this series may become one of my guilty pleasure series as it is just such a fun easy read and full of such culture. We start this series again with Emma and Ms Delia trying to work on the curse that is on Cooper and time is rapidly running out. Emma has become such a strong character and I loved how much she has grown with her gift. She was really starting to turn into a star pupil for Ms Delia. Emma has to contend with a lot more this time around as there is someone in town trying to solve the crime from the last book. I loved how this time we got even more spells and conjuring in this book. I think this is my favorite thing I love about this series and I love how patient Ms Delia is with Emma.

As the story progresses Emma and Jack learn that they will have to band together to help Cooper. Ms Delia gets a visitor in the form of a family member and this girl causes nothing but trouble and starts to create all kinds of tension within the group. They learn that on top of Cooper's curse they have more to worry about in the form of a boo hag. Yes I said a boo hag. It was cool to have a different type of creature out there as a villain and I loved it. It was creepy and weird but yet so necessary for the story.The kids really were in for a long fight to make things right with Cooper and to keep him safe.

Overall this was another great read. I loved everything about it and seeing all the characters grow and become more powerful. I loved how Emma comes into her own and she really does this time around. I am hoping there is a book three so that this story can continue. This book gave us romance,mystery,suspense and lots of action along the way. I really recommend this series and think you should read it if you haven't already. I would recommend this one to readers that love magic.

[Jennifer]

I love an author who can transport me into the world that I’m reading about. I feel like that is the case with Lea Nolan’s Allure. Honestly there were moments where I thought I talk with a southern accent. I felt like I was totally absorbed into the world while I was reading. That is definitely one of my favorite things about books.

I think Emma grew through the book. Her hoodoo workings are definitely becoming stronger and she is learning some lessons about love of course. The thing I love about her is how she trudges on, even if things are going to crap. She will stop and say you know what I can’t deal with this right now I have more important problems. There are often times where she seems really mature and of course other times where she is a young girl who has a boyfriend who is being, well. He is being what he is being. (can’t spoil too much)

Cooper I’m mad at you...

There are some new characters both on the creepy and annoying side. I actually thought maybe one of them would turn out to be nice but no, that wasn’t the case. I was glad for that though because you can’t redeem everyone.

Boo Hags freak me out. I mean seriously I think I’m going to have nightmares about them. I never want to meet a Boo Hag, I think I might put some brooms around my house.

So this books has twist and turns and interesting plot lines. I loved how hoodoo plays such a role in the story and can picture myself in the garden and using the mortar to grind up herbs. It’s such a neat idea for a story and so interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this besides this series. It’s also one of those stories where you don’t want to elaborate too much in the review because you don’t want to give anything away. It was fast paced and easy to get lost in. You can zoom through the pages without even thinking about it. If only to get through some tough stuff. I will definitely continue on and read the next book.

[Angela ReadingCave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous addition to a great series! Allure has it all: murder, mystery and well of course romance.

Picking up literally where Conjure left off, Emma and Miss Delia are looking for a way to break the Beaumont Curse. They have little time and the sense of urgency is real. What better way to screw up a good hunt then throwing in a mystery guest- in the form of Miss Delia’s wayward great granddaughter. Taneea is the opposite of Emma in every way. A beautiful yet mean girl who is extremely forward with Emma’s boyfriend, Cooper. There is something not right with this gal.

Cooper starts off the same loving, adorable guy that he was in Conjure but midway through the book something happens. He stops working to getting the curse broken. Emma and Jack cannot find him for long periods of time. Something or someone is way more important than certain doom.

Emma throughout this book keeps a level head and her eyes on the goal. She will save Cooper, even if she gets heartbroken along the way. You can tell that she truly does care for him, especially after how he treats her. Will she find a cure in time? Is Cooper's actions really a product of his heart? Or is there something more sinister at work? Will she stop referring to her spirit guide as spirit guide? (This was my only complaint about the book.) I mean seriously, she could just give her spirit guide a name something like Sally.

In the previous book, Conjure, Jack was kinda mean. He was under a curse and well his flesh was falling off. So you had to give him some room for an attitude. In Allure, it is like he is a new and improved brother. It's refreshing to see him be so nice to his sister- especially when his bestie does what he does to her.

All will be revealed, but with a wicked twist of fate Nolan leaves the reader waiting for the next installment.

My Rating 4 out of 5 stars

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[Kelsey Ketch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful cover! But overall, Allure wasn’t half as appealing to me as the first novel, Conjure. I found the first 230 pages not only disappointing, but frustrating to the max. It was long, boring, and the characters were really starting to get on my nerves.

Emma seemed more ignorant than in the previous novel, and was completely blinded by her emotions to the point where I had to wonder if she was paying attention to any of the obvious clues around her. Especially when it came to Teneea, her behavior, and the affect she had on Cooper’s judgment. Oh, and Cooper—GRRR—if I was the main character in this novel, I would have not tolerated his attitude. Typically, I don’t mind a character’s behavior changing, especially when I understand why, but I felt, in Cooper’s case, it was taken way too far. At a certain point, I finally gave up on him. I honestly didn’t care if he was under a spell, a good part of me just wanted the curse to take him and be done with it. Yes, sweet, lovable Cooper made me that mad! Actually, the only character I did like in this novel was Jack, and there wasn’t enough with him to really keep my interest.

What saved Allure from a single star was the last 123 pages. That’s when it started to have the “old gang” feel to it again, despite Cooper still pining after Teneea. Also, it’s where the adventure and mystery finally started to click in. And it was interesting with its twists and turns, some of which I saw coming from the start and some that took me completely by surprise. This was where the story blossomed. But Cooper still has a lot of making up to do before I accept him back with open arms.

In conclusion, I’m going to continue the series since I always loved the concept, but I really was not at all impressed with Allure.

[Daisy (AThousandLivesOfDaisy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allure is the second book in The Hoodoo Apprentice by Lea Nolan and is still just as good as the first book.
I read this book early from NetGalley in return for an honest review. This will be a spoiler free review, especially as it comes out today!

These books fall under the YA genre and I can say I really enjoyed this book. It starts off just where the last book ended, which I felt was a good transition especially as I read both books back to back. Wonderful for me!

The pace continued in this book and didn't necessarily fall in to the trap of over done romance that can happen in a YA genre. The author has a really nice way of writing that was a pleasure to read. She has a way of creating a very fast paced novel where you want to turn the pages and find out what it going to happen in the next chapter.

She creates twists, bends, curves and more in to the plot line so you never feel that the plot line (which I thought was very creative) has dulled down.

The characters she creates I feel got the development they needed in this book. They can certainly make you emote frustration or curiosity but always end up growing on you eventually.

With this month being the month of Halloween, I liked the extra bit of creepiness that this novel had.
All in all, it was a really fun read! It has good friendships, scary bits, bad guys, suspense and more. I think it would also be appropriate for people who are on the younger range of Young Adult. I will look forward to reading more works from Lea Nolan in the future!

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allure picks up right where Conjure left off, with Miss Delia returning home from the hospital and Emma, Jack and Cooper still trying to figure out how to break the curse that plaques Cooper's family.

To say that I liked this even more than Conjure would be an understatement. I liked Emma, Jack and Cooper in the first book but I really started to fall in love with them after reading Allure.

Nolan amps it up with the hoodoo lore, the mystery, the creep factor and the friendship between all three characters. Not to mention the simple fact that Emma's character grows a ton, both in maturity and also in her strength as a character, friend, sister and apprentice to Miss Delia (who I still adore!).

The writing was better, the plot thicker and the suspense even more dramatic all while still keeping this a clean fun read that is perfect for any age group.

It was hard seeing Cooper change as the curse and his birthday drew near and my heart went you to Emma but once again she shows up just how loyal and good she really is.

The bad guys are even more terrible than before and things start to get downright hard for Emma and Miss Delia as they try to deal with it all. I really loved the relationship between the feisty Miss D and Emma. It was both enduring and heartwarming to watch them interact with one another and see how close their bond and respect for one another has grown through the books and storyline.


There were some unexpected turn of events that left me feeling a little sad but also very eager for the next installment.

[EndlessReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A HUGE thank you to Lea for providing me with an ARC copy for me to review :)

So we know from the last book that when Cooper becomes of age on his 16th birthday he will lose hie soul to a cure that was placed on his family name by the voodoo Sabina.

After the trio break one curse, another comes to the forefront and ten times worse.

We embark on another mystical adventure with Emma, Jack & Cooper. We see new faces and old faces.
Taneea we learn is Miss Delia's grand-daughter, who we learn further in the book is manipulating Emma's plans and driving a wedge between her and Cooper.


I thought Jack was a jerk in the 1st book, but in this he's the adoring brother, always there to help and protect. My hate shifts to Cooper, I loved Cooper in the 1st book, but the way he's changing in this book and the stuff and actions he does is unbelievable!

Seriously wacko, sort it out!

We see Emma become more advanced in her Hoodoo antics, she becomes more independent and a strong teenager, I expect sooo much more from her in Lea's further books.


We see a stand off at the end with Emma, Jack, Cooper & Sabina. When you think everything will work out fine, it gets a whole lot worse!
I love the writing style of this author, she builds a wonderful world and there is any real MAJOR cliffhangers :D (YAY)

Can't wait for book 3 (if there is one) as I want to see what happens next in this series.

Love this series so far, its a nice break to read a YA for a change :)

[Angelique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma’s summer is not going quite as she planned it. She has to race against the clock to save her boyfriend’s life thanks to a very nasty curse that will kill him on his birthday unless she finds some cure. With the help of her twin, will she be able to do it or is Cooper doomed?
I thought I would be a bit lost picking up this one without reading the first one, but the author managed to create the story in such a way that I could keep up and dig myself deeply into the meat of this one. I have never read a ‘Hoodoo’ book either and to be honest the only knowledge I have is of watching some TV series episodes so I am by no means an expert but Lea Nolan made it an easy world to delve into. I never felt lost or confused as weaved a tale of an unsure teenager that is just trying to learn enough craft to save her boyfriend.
Emma and Jack are both fantastic characters and I loved reading their relationship. I didn’t really get that much of a feel for Emma’s relationship with Cooper but that’s probably cos he was kinda a bit of a disappearing douche through a lot of the book. . I loved Miss Delia’s character. Not quite what I expected but fun nonetheless.
This was a great read that, once I got into it I found hard to put down.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cooper Beaumont’s sixteenth birthday is almost here. While the ‘sweet sixteen’ is a cause of celebration for most, it certainly isn’t the case for Cooper. He is marked by the Beaumont Curse which will claim his life on his birthday if Emma can’t find a cure.

Emma Guthrie is training in hoodoo magic. She is determined to find a way to break this curse. However, practicing hoodoo leaves Emma exhausted and drained. To make matters worse, there are new obstacles that she didn’t see coming. Miss Delia does her best to guide Emma in the right direction.

Emma finds her relationship with Cooper on shaky ground. Doubt about her ability to save him begins to creep into her mind. Revelations begin to emerge that unlock secrets that were meant to be hidden. As the boohag makes its way to fulfill the curse, Emma and Jack fight to save Cooper and ultimately themselves.

Lea Nolen has created a captivating story that will draw readers in from the beginning. With the hint of more trouble looming on the horizon, readers will be waiting for the next installment of this series.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing me an ARC for an honest review.

[Annabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an ARC of this book last week, and I decided to start reading it in m vacation. I’m glad I was on vacation because this book had me hooked from the first page.
It’s the second book in this series and it starts of almost right after the last line of the first book. This made reading this book so much more fun!

It moves along in the same pace as the first book and I really loved the first book. The story gripped me just like the first one, and I just had to read and had to know what was going to happen and if they could fight this curse. I’m not going to spoil anything for you. If you want to know what’s happening in this book you just have to read it!

I love the writing style of this author, she builds a wonderful world and is a great story-teller. I love how she builds a story and makes you feel like you’re living it, I love reading stories that take you into the world the author created.


After reading Conjure I couldn’t imagine a book that would be more exciting as this one but Lea Nolan did it again! I can’t wait to read more.

[Franjessca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Review posted on Book Lovin' Mamas

I loved Conjure and was excited to read Allure, and with that ending of Conjure, I was anxious to find out if Emma would be able to stop the curse from happening and losing her boyfriend for good.

Lea Nolan did a spectacular job on the sequel, and I look forward to the next book. I need to find out if Emma and Cooper will have their happily ever after because I am shocked at the ending. Poor Emma and poor Cooper. =(

I give this book 5 full moons and highly recommend it to young adult readers out there and fans of Lea Nolan. You will love this book, but be prepared to want to go through the book and slap some characters silly. ( I know I wanted to do it with Cooper and especially Taneea)

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

***I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Allure is the second book in The Hoodoo Apprentice series by Lea Nolan. I have not read the first book, therefore my biggest issue with this one is that it cannot be read as a standalone. You must read Conjure first, then hopefully you won't be as lost as I was while reading Allure.

Allure is a thrilling and magical adventure that picks up where Conjure ended. Emma is still trying to find a cure to the Beaumont Curse to save her boyfriend Cooper's soul before his 16th birthday. I really enjoyed Allure, once I figured out the players and all, and would recommend you give it a try. It has a bit of everything: young love, mystery, paranormal, suspense, and a soul-eating boohag. What's a boohag? Read the book!

[Zaida · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might not have gotten to read it early, but I wish I could have. I was so excited when I went searching and found the book was (actually had been) out (for several months). I couldn't put it down. There was heartbreak, a little horror, mystery, and a whole lot of magic that kept me turning the page. What's worse though is that is still so much you questions not answered! It's hard to find a YA story that's unique, but this one is although there might have been a little cliche at the end (I won't spoil it or fault the author for it because it was necessary).
To make a long review short without actually telling you what happens in the book (uh that's why you want to read it after all) the sequel was better than the first and will keep you very invested in getting to the end of the story. Can't wait to read the next one!