Mini Review: Ring and Crown

Book 1 in a new series

Last week I had a giveaway of this great book and compared it to Taylor Swift's song Love Story.

I really really enjoyed this book and here are a few reasons:

* Multiple perspectives

* A kingdom in trouble

* Magic

* The aftermath of War and trying to figure out peace

* Romances and Alliances (Love vs Duty)

* The Friendships

I devoured this book and can't wait to see what happens next!

Cover Thoughts: It's ok.
Source: Book sent for review

Mysterious Saturday Review: Naturals

At 17, Cassie has a talent for reading people. She knows who people are and what they want by looking at them. One day, a guy comes into a dinner and leaves a card behind.

It's a card for the FBI. They want to talk with her about joining a classified program with teens. When Cassie goes to chat with them, she knows that she wants to join. Just as she knows her extended family won't be very happy to hear the news. They aren't, but she makes it clear this is her choice.

More than anything she wants to help people who have had trauma in their lives - just like her. Cassie arrives out the safe house and meets her housemates. She starts working with Dean and agents on training and then looking at cold cases.

But a current case keeps coming back to them. There's a serial killer on the loose - a killer that might have ties to Cassie's mom. Cassie will do anything to help stop the killer - but is she in over her head?

My Thoughts: I'm sucker for crime dramas on TV and I love Jennifer Lynn Barnes' previous books - so clearly this book was an amazingly good read. I loved how Cassie read people. I wanted to know what she would think about me. I liked her big family, but understood her shyness around them. I felt horrible for Cassie - how she relives her nightmare over and over again. My heart breaks for what she went through. But I like her determination the help others.  I liked her new housemates - the banter between them, the snark, and the potential for romance. A creepy fun read that had me guessing until the very end. 

Cover Thoughts: Creepy and fabulous.
Source: My Library

False Series Book Contest

I'm pleased to be part of the False Series Book Giveaway

About Dan: After pumping gas for nine years to put himself through college, Dan Krokos, now twenty-seven, dropped out to write full-time. He is currently hard at work on three separate projects: the final stop for Miranda North in the False Memory series, the next adventure for thirteen-year-old Mason Stark in The Planet Thieves series, and his first adult thriller. 

All of Dan’s books have been optioned for film or television, and False Memory recently won the International Thriller Writer’s Award for best Young Adult book. He enjoys watching TV, playing MMORPGs, and drinking coffee.

About False Memory: (Summary from Publisher)

Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her-except Peter, a boy who isn't at all surprised by Miranda's shocking ability.

Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn't easy-especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can't remember loving.

Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn't seem to matter...when there may not be a future.

Sounds awesome right?  Enter now!

*US and Canada residents 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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/

Review: Perfect Scoundrels

 *Heist Society #3*

Kat and Hale seem to have finally gotten it right - until in the middle of a heist, Hale leaves Kat hanging - literally! Of course, he has a good reason; his grandmother just died.

She was the only family member who really loved him. Just like that, Hale's sucked out of Kat's world and back into the societal world he thought he left behind.

Before long, Kat realizes that someone inside the family's setting up Hale for the biggest con she's ever seen. She knows that even though things between her and Hale are rocky, at best, she must do everything in her power to help him.

My Thoughts: Talk about a book of perfection! High emotions, high drama, and the highest stakes ever for Kat and Hale! While I loved the idea of Kat and Hale - I loved even more the wrench thrown into their relationship. Kat was put into an impossible position. I loved her interactions with Hale. I love how she dominated her family of thieves, working all the angels. I found the family lawyer slimy, but deliciously evil. My heart broke for Hale as he went through the ringer because of his family. This heist book kept me on the edge of my seat, furiously turning pages to see what happened next! 

Cover Thoughts: Love it! It ties in nicely with other cover - love the reflection in the sunglasses
Source: My library

Review: The Darlings in Love

*sequel to The Darlings Are Forever*

Natalya is afraid she messed things up with Colin for good - until she gets a text from him saying he saw her in the park.  After much consideration she responds. The two begin playing chess again. Natalya isn't sure if she's reading too much into his behavior, but she knows her feelings for him haven't changed. Could he be hiding something from her?

Jane's been convinced to act in a student directed performance - that Mark's directing. The subject matter woos her and she starts considering his offer. Her co-star wins her over. Before long, Jane can't wait to run lines with Simon. Could he be her first boyfriend?

Victoria can't believe that she's dating Jack. He's the perfect boyfriend. She loves the time they spend together - just the two of them. However, they hang out with his music friends quite a bit. Soon Victoria's realizing that they don't have anything in common. Can they still make their relationship work?

My Thoughts: I really like the friendship between these three girls. It's strong enough for them to tell the truth about their romantic relationships. It's strong enough to cover for each other when they're sneaking out with their boyfriends. It's strong enough to support each other when boys break their hearts. It's strong enough for them to just have each other. While this book tackles mostly romantic entanglements, I think the real relationship of this book is their friendship. I do hope there's more adventures for the Darlings.


Cover Thoughts: I really liked the cover for the first Darling book. This just seems generic to me. It's cute and all - but kind of boring


Source: My Library


Similar Read: The Daughters