Teen Book Character Outfit: Also Known As

I just finished reading this book - I reviewed it yesterday. Here's the outfit that Maggie wears to the Halloween party - the night her life changes.

The pin will also go up on my Library Pinterest Board

Mysterious Saturday Review: Also Known As

Maggie's never had a normal life. She travels with her spy parents - helping them break into safes all over the world. She hasn't met a safe she can't crack. Upon finishing their assignment in Iceland, they're headed to New York.

There, Maggie discovers that she's earned her first solo mission. She's to attend a local high school and befriend a boy. She needs to get inside Jesse Oliver's house and steal a computer file, which contains an article of the Collective - including a list of operative's names. There's a mole within the Collective and Maggie can't fail to recover the information.

On her first day, she meets Roux. Roux is a snarky know-it-all social outcast. Maggie meets Jesse Oliver by chance on the street and babbles about her Halloween costume to recover from a situation. Now she needs to make her plan come true. And it does - in an odd sort of way.

Halloween night changes her world -she attends her first high school party, talks to her mark, kisses a boy, and steals a flash drive. With a fantastic night, what could go wrong now?

My Thoughts: I LOVED this book - lots of action, danger, snarky friends, and romance. I loved learning the trade secrets and about the Collective. I found Angelo charming, funny, and a great character. I loved Roux for her snappy snarky ways, but I also felt bad for her too. Maggie finally gets to have a chance at a normal life - something she's been longing for, but something that shifts her parents' attention. They start to worry about her, creating rules. Maggie goes from breaking into safes in dangerous situations to fighting about curfews. I like how Maggie explores her new freedom and experiences firsts in teenage years. I love Maggie's flirty interactions with Jesse. I'm so hoping this is the start of a new spy/thriller series! 

Cover Thoughts: LOVE
Source: My Library
Similar Read: I'd Tell You I Love You, but Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

Rules of Summer

* Comes out in early June - Look for this one!*

Rory needs to get escape her mother and her mother's new boyfriend. She finds the perfect summer getaway -working for the employers of her aunt in the Hamptons. She's going to be their errand girl. As soon as she steps off the train, she realizes that she's been transported into another world.

A world where the staff and the family don't mix. She's been warned not to mix with the family and to stay out of their way. After her first night where she spills sauce on Isabel's dress, she believes it. But there's something about Isabel.

Isabel Rule isn't sure where she belongs. She spent a year in California and feels out of touch in the Hamptons. She hates the catty behavior, the gossip, and the obsession with money. Isabel starts hanging out with Mike, a boy from town.

She needs help sneaking out to see Mike and it looks like befriend Rory just might be the answer. Two girls from different worlds for a friendship over the summer that will forever change them.

My Thoughts: The perfect summer book and the start of a new series! It's a mix of Judy Blume's Summer Sisters and the Melissa de la Cruz's Au Pairs series. A fantastic novel about finding yourself and what you're made of. I loved the feel of this book, I devoured it. Both have a summer romance that changes them and puts their friendship in a whole new light.  I loved how the friendship grew between Isabel and Rory - how horrible it started, but little by little, they began to understand each other and appreciate the other.  Put this on your to-read list, you don't want to miss it!!

Cover Thoughts: Very Summery! Love the feel
Source: ARC from the publisher
Similar Read: The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland

Review: Indigo Spell

 *Third book in the Bloodlines series*

Sydney's attending a wedding, to show that relations between the Moroi and the Alchemists are improving. At the wedding, she takes great lengths to hide her feelings and her true relationship with Adrian. Among her peers, Sydney tries to blend into the background.

Already, her questions have raised some eyebrows. When Sydney realizes that  she's been lied to, she takes matters into her own hands. She tracks down the elusive Marcus Finch.

 She learns what he knows -and isn't happy. Will his information change her path? Between uncovering the truth and tracking down a magical killer, Sydney doesn't have a lot of free time to decide her fate.

 
My Thoughts: I'm SUCH a fan of this series. I'm even starting...to like Adrian. I didn't like him from the previous books, but now...he's captured my interest. I really enjoy this group of characters and their chemistry together. I love their loyalty to each other and how they've grown as friends - despite their pasts. 

I loved watching Sydney uncover more information about the Alchemists and their history. She's a very strong character - fiercely determined, loyal, and brilliant. However, I admit waiting for the chinks in her armor to appear.  I liked watching her struggle with her feelings and with her sense of duty.  I adored Jill for stepping in when she did. I felt horrible for Eddie - I hope to see more of him in the next book.

I found the magical subplot intriguing. Mrs Terwilliger is smart, crafty, and powerful. I like her interactions with Sydney. She's good at poking holes in Sydney's preconceived thoughts. 

Clearly, I love watching Sydney grow as a character with the help of the secondary characters. All in all, a fabulous read filled with action, danger, and romance!

Cover Thoughts: Still not a fan.
Source: My Library.

What's On My Hold List (43)

My Librarian friend Jess from I Read to Relax came up with a great idea.  It's to highlight the books on hold at the library. I usually have 20-40 items checked out at the library and another 20 items on hold.

Big Girl Panties: Book by Janet Evanovich's niece (I think - although I could be wrong. I remember reading they were connected)- sounds funny and I love the premise. 

What She Wants: Loved the previous two books in the Life in Icicle Falls series

Flirt Skirt: I'm not really a sewer, but I went shopping this week and found a seriously lacking of skirts. Could this book jump-start me into sewing?

Women's History Month

...is drawing to a close. Today at the Hub, I'm talking about women's history through books. Check it out!

Tween Tuesday Review: If the Shoe Fits

 *Book 2 in the series -  my review for Fairest of All*

**Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens. Join the fun! **

Jonah and Abby have been trying to get back through the mirror - to check on Snow and also to learn about more about Maryrose, the person in the magic mirror.  After nights of trying, the siblings finally fall into the mirror.

 Instead of falling into Snow's story, they drop into a new story. They arrive at a ball - just before the gorgeous stranger princess is announced. When Cinderella runs off at midnight, Abby and Jonah follow her. They let it slip that the Prince wants to marry Cinderella. At first Cinderella doesn't believe them, but then she allows the fairy tale to sink in. Now she's walking around on a cloud of air and waiting for the next few days to be over. Suddenly her fairy godmother appears with news...Cinderella marrying the prince might not happen.

My Thoughts: I love this series!  The twist on the fairy tale changes the story, making me read the book in one sitting. The fairy godmother wants to reward someone who's NOT a damsel in distress, but who can take care of herself. I love this sentiment.  Why wait for a Prince if you can rescue yourself?  I loved the baking scene - where Cinderella learns how to bake brownies. I love how the fairy tale changes with the humorous interferences of Abby and Jonah. So looking forward to the next chapter!

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: My Library. 

Top Ten Tuesday

This week we're featuring Top Ten  Books I Recommend The Most. As a librarian, I'm recommending YA books to library users (both adult and YA) and co-works. I recommend way to many books for this topic, so I'm narrowing it down. Sarah Dessen is a favorite author with teens here. Here are the top 10 books/authors that I recommend to them after they've finished reading her books.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish

Susane Colasanti

Jen Calonita

Stephanie Perkins

Elizabeth Eulberg

Jennifer Echols

13 Little  Blue Envelopes

Pants on Fire

The Daughters

Audrey, Wait

The Summer My Life Began

Review: Flicker and Burn

 * Book 2 in the Cold Fury trilogy*

Sara Jane's spending her summer searching for her missing family. She's trying to uncover more secrets buried in the notebook. She's trying to keep the mob happy, so they don't think her father's off telling company secrets. Most importantly, she's trying to save her life by fighting off deranged creatures.

As the summer comes to a close, new family members appear. She's surprised to find herself happy to have a cousin the same age. Still Sara Jane tries to keep them from uncovering the truth about her family's disappearance, not to mention the real family business.

Sara Jane's also trying to juggle her relationship with Max. He's asking questions that she doesn't want to answer and brushing him off isn't making him happy.

All this pressure is getting to her. Can she uncover the information she needs without getting caught?

My Thoughts: The second book in this trilogy packs lots of action and danger.  It's gripping, emotional, and thrilling. I liked the new addition of the Rispoli family, even though they posed more trouble for Sara Jane.  I liked Heather's side of Cold Fury - it was impressive and fitting.  It took me a bit to wrap my head around the Ice Cream Guys - I couldn't see them in my mind, but they were vicious. I felt horrible for Doug. Most of his action happened off the pages, but I couldn't believe what he did. As in the previous book, I loved uncovering bits and pieces of the mob's history and their secret hideouts. I really liked Flicker and Burn and can't wait to see how it all wraps up! 

Cover Thoughts: I like it
Source: ARC from the author

Teen Book Character Outfit

This week features Sara Jane Rispoli from Flicker and Burn (review coming tomorrow)

Flicker and Burn by jrummel 

The pin will also go up on my Library Pinterest Board

Mysterious Saturday Review: Going Going Ganache

*Official Release Date: April 3nd*

**Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series #5 **

Melanie and Angie unintentionally start a food fight during a photo shoot for the magazine. They ruin the shoot - not to mention anger the magazine staff. In order to make amends, the head honcho  decides that he admires the Fairy Tale Cupcakes staff loyalty.

He wants the bakery to host a week long boot camp where they will churn out 1,000 cupcakes for a charity event at the end of the week. From the beginning, there are problems - the staff doesn't get along. They would rather be anywhere but in the bakery.

When Mel discovers a body of one of their own - the attitude changes a little. Now more than ever, they want to uncover the culprit. Could someone on staff be a murderer?

My Thoughts: I really enjoy this series - it's a delicious read. I adored the cupcake fight between Mel, Marty, and Angie and their arch rival. I enjoyed the new characters and their fights. Plus, I loved having an insider look at a magazine and what putting an issue out entails. The book brings up work ethics and bullying in the workplace.

Lots of emotions running through this installment, making my heart ache. I felt horrible for Mel and her emotional block. I was nervous and anxious for Tate - and then happy, but confused. I love finding out more about Tate's family background and meeting his parents. I loved seeing a softer side of Angie. All three of them face major life changes.

I gobbled up this book, which ends on a cliff hanger, leaving me breathless for more!

Cover Thoughts: Great!
Source: Sent  an ARC from the author

On my librarian blog..

We're celebrating March Madness - check it out!

On the Road Again....Chat with Authors!

Be there!!!!

Review: The Prom Book

The Good: A fun filled book of lots of great ideas ranging from planning your prom night to asking the right boy to scheduling your day to hosting a prom party. Metz talks about going to a salon, but she also gives several suggestions on hair styles, make-up tips, and manicure to create at home. There's a great section on budgeting, how to earn money, and what to spend money on. Workout to get in shape, staying safe on prom night, and how to capture lasting memories round out the book. Lots of great and important information mixed with bright pictures make this a book teens will pick up. A book to make prom a relaxing night and important tips to get away from all the drama.

The Bad: Not a great book for libraries as there is room for writing down their thoughts and bulletin board style for pictures of dresses.

PS: Here's an older post on some fun fiction books about Prom!

PPS: Here's a blog post from my librarian blog on book covers and Prom dresses.

What's on My Holds List (42)

My Librarian friend Jess from I Read to Relax came up with a great idea.  It's to highlight the books on hold at the library. I usually have 20-40 items checked out at the library and another 20 items on hold.

Panic Button: I love this cozy series about buttons - this is the 3rd one.

Simple Fortunetelling with Tarot Cards: In Salem, MA last October, I bought Tarot cards, but now I need to know how to read them.

Storm Season: Finally getting my hands on the second graphic novel from Richard Castle's Derrick Storm novels

What's waiting for you at your library?

Top Ten Tuesday

I'm doing a rewind this week and talking about Books that Make Me Think of Spring - I'm ready for warmth and sun. I long for flip-flop weather. These books give me that same piece of mind.

 - meme from The Broke and the Bookish

Tween Tuesday Review: Day of Doom

* The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers: Series #6 *

~ with some spoilers form the previous books

Amy and Dan have just handed the Vespers the last of the devices required. They're waiting for their kidnapped friends and family to be returned to them but it's not going to happen. The Vespers retract their previous deal.

Now Amy and Dan need to uncover their location and figure out what Vesper One wants to do with the machine. They uncover the fact that Isabel Kabra is in fact Vesper Two and she's headed to Washington D.C. They decide to follow her in hopes of learning more before leading a rescue attempt on the hostages.

The doomsday device will trigger a shift in the tectonic plates creating massive destruction. The weather's already starting to act crazy but they'll need to travel once they figure out the plan. Can they stop the Vespers?

My Thoughts: I really love this series! It's full of action, adventure, and danger. The combined plot twists and action make this book hard to put down. After the ending of the last book, Amy lost some of her focus.  Now she digs deep within herself as an attempt to forget the horrors they've helped unleash and to save both the hostages and the world.
I love Amy's strength, even though she gets knocked down - she gets back up and fights. She's fierce, tough, and always ready to kick butt. Dan follows his sister's lead and is always ready to lend a hand. His smarts make him valuable. Together they make a formidable team - hard to beat as they keep trying. I love their determination, their loyalty, and their outside the box thinking.

Just when I thought it was over -there's another series coming Unstoppable

Cover Thoughts: Love it!
Source: my library

Review: Spies and Prejudice

** Comes out in June - put this one on your list!!!**

Strawberry Fields (Berry) works for her father - who's a private investigator. She and her BFF Mary Chris Moss (they bonded in elementary school over weird names) are at a stakeout when they meet the boys.

While Mary ogles Ryan, Berry overhears Tanner make a snide remark about her. When the boys come over to talk to the girls, Berry isn't friendly. She just wants to get the job done. She leaves when she snaps the photo she needs.

Out in the parking lot, she spies Mare's father meeting a woman. The stranger hands him papers along with a warning. Berry's confused and snaps pictures, just in case. At home, she enlarges the photographs and discovers her mother's name on the papers. Her mom's been dead for eight years.

Berry can't let it go. She wants to know what happened to her mother. Was her death an accident? Was she murdered? Was it suicide? How far will she go to uncover the truth and why does Tanner and the new  boy at school Drew keep meeting her at every turn?

My Thoughts: I'm addicted to anything Pride and Prejudice related. The tagline for this book is Pride and Prejudice meets Veronica Mars. But honestly, the title sold me already!

I loved this book - both for the both the Pride and Prejudice angle and the private investigator angle.  I felt bad for Berry as her discovery reopens wounds from her mother's death. The death made her grow up quickly as her father went into a shell. Now they have a strange relationship as Berry's been making her own decisions for years. During the most important time of her life, Berry isn't sure who to trust with her dangerous secrets. 

Her father warns her to stop digging into the past. Berry doesn't listen. The choices she makes puts everyone she cares about into danger. The suspense, danger, action,  and romance makes this book hard to put down.

I hope this is the start of a new series!

Cover Thoughts: I like it, the ARC has red instead of purple. I think both colors are good - they make the cover pop.
Source: ARC received for review

Happy St Patrick's Day

Do you have a favorite book set in Ireland? Here are mine!

 Enjoy the Day.

For Teens:

For Adults:

Mysterious Saturday Review: To Brie or Not To Brie

(Cheese Shop Mystery Series #4)

Charlotte's gearing up for her cousin's wedding nuptials to her best friend (not to mention setting her own wedding date). She's been working on a brie and blueberry ice cream. Her latest attempt has turned out perfectly and she's teamed up with the ice cream shop down the street in selling it.

 When a stranger turns up murdered in the ice cream shop, everyone in town is talking. It turns out the murder weapon is a container of Charlotte's ice cream. Worse, it turns out the man isn't a stranger - he's connected to Jacky's past.
  
Now the Sheriff's looking at Jacky - who had means and opportunity, but most of all motive. Jordan wants Charlotte to leave this murder alone and trust the Sheriff to look out for his sister. Charlotte's worried about Jacky's future. Plus when people come to her with theories, how can she not  look into them?

My Thoughts: I love this small town series, it's full of charm, great characters, romance, and lots of twists and turns. I loved the moments between Charlotte and Mathew's daughters (Clair and Amy). I felt sad for all of them as they packed up their things to move in with the happy couple. I loved learning more about Jacky and through her, Jordan. While they're likable characters, it's hard to understand them without knowing much about them. I do like uncovering bits of their past along with Charlotte. I can't believe the ending, it makes me long for the next book in the series! All in all, a fabulous installment to the series full of twists and turns, suspects, and theories against the backdrop of a small town charm with romance, friendship, and plenty of gossip

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: My Library.     

On the Librarian blog...

Today I'm talking about a chocolate program Kim and I hosted this week (recipe include). Take a look

Top Spring Adult Books

In a spin-off from this week's Top Ten Tuesday where I talked about my most anticipated reads of Spring (April, May, and June), I'm sharing my adult fiction titles along with cozy mysteries list. And in no particular order...

Adult:

The Heist
Big Girl Panties
Inferno
Someday, Someday Maybe
Wedding Night
Bridgertons
Ashford Affair
Starting Now
Sand Castle Bay
Gameboard of the Gods

Cozy Mystery:

Oak and dagger
Going Going Ganache
The Good, the Bad, and the Witchy
Topped Chef
Final Sentence
Diva Frosts a Cupcake
Storm Front
Grace Takes Off
Monument to Death
Killer Honeymoon

Poison Blog Tour

Poison came out this week. It was Bridget Zinn's first book. Sadly, she died before it was published. I can't wait to read it!

I'm so happy to be a part of this crazy popular blog tour. We're supposed to talk about a first moment in our literature lives.  As a YA Librarian, I've been hearing about Tumblr and looking at ones for a little while. Finally a tweet from Kelly Jenson (@catagator) spurred me into action. I created my first tumblr, in hopes of of both joining a new social media site and also in hopes that it will be a great way to connect with teens. So - here it is: http://yabooknerdlibrarian.tumblr.com/

Poison Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she's the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom's future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.
But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.
 
Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king's army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she's not alone. She's armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can't stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?
Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she's certainly no damsel-in-distress—she's the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

Doesn't it sounds super good? Add Poison to your Goodreads pile!  

About Bridget Zinn

Bridget grew up in Wisconsin. She went to the county fair where she met the love of her life, Barrett Dowell. They got married right before she went in for exploratory surgery which revealed she had colon cancer. They christened that summer the "summer of love" and the two celebrated with several more weddings. Bridget continued to read and write until the day she died. Her last tweet was "Sunshine and a brand new book. Perfect."

Bridget wanted to make people laugh and hoped readers would enjoy spending time with the characters she created. As a librarian/writer she loved books with strong young women with aspirations. She also felt teens needed more humorous reads. She really wanted to write a book with pockets of warmth and happiness and hoped that her readers' copies would show the watermarks of many bath time reads.

Check out her website @ http://bridgetzinn.com/

Books I'm DYING to Read: May Edition

Here's a round up of all the books I can't wait to get my hands on come May!

All I Need: Love Susane's books - summer romances, soul mates, and last moments of summer.

Book of Broken Hearts: What happens when you a take an oath about a boy...but fall for him anyways?

Sink or Swim:Abby and her brother get pulled into the Little Mermaid fairy tale

Wednesdays in the Tower: Sequel to the amazing Tuesdays at the Castle

Game Set Match: tennis, love, and drama (New Adult)

Summer I Became a Nerd: Nerdy girl in a popular body - what happens when Maddie lets out her true self...

Inferno: More Robert Langdon

Storm Front: Richard Castle - Derrick Storm novel

How My Summer went Up In Flames: A girl goes to great lengths to get back at her cheating ex-boyfriend

Five Summers: After spending 5 summers together at camp, 4 former BFFs reunite for a weekend.

Awaken: The end of the trilogy between Pierce and John

Girl with the Iron Touch: 3rd book in this Steampunk series

Topped Chef: 3rd in the series set in Key West

Sea Glass Island: Last book in the Ocean Breeze trilogy

School for Good and Evil: School for fairy tale heroines or villains

Rules for Disappearing: After living as 6 different people in 6 different places, now Meg wants answers as to why she's been living in the Witness Protection Program.