Five Things (4): The Final Gambit

 

I loved this series! And I'm glad there's one more book coming. I also can't wait to see what Jennifer Lynn Barnes writes next.  I don't want to talk too much about this one because...spoilers. 

So here are five things I loved about it (not to mention that ending!)

Review: Manhunt

* Book 3 in the Silver Jaguar Society Mysteries *

Art thieves strike at midnight all around the world. It's up the society recover the lost items. They're heading to Paris where they believe another theft will occur. Henry, Anna, and Jose are traveling to Paris too. They're supposed to stay behind in the bookstore while the adults search for clues.

But when the adults don't return, the trio take matters into their own hands. The society believes there's a mole in their group. They aren't sure who to trust. The trio isn't sure if they should trust Hem, their guide. He's been a little superior and shifty.

When the Mona Lisa is stolen, they band together to attempt to find their family and the stolen art. But will they succeed or will they trust the wrong person?

My Thoughts: I adore this series - there's so much action and danger. I loved learning more about Paris, especially Notre Dame and the catacombs.  I loved traveling through the streets of Paris with the gang and eating all the food. I wanted to travel to Pris after reading this one (but then who wouldn't?) I love the friendship between Henry, Anna, and Jose. I love the Harry Potter references. I loved the messages in the wall in the bookstore. Although I would love more in this series, it's a great ending to a fun trilogy. Looking forward to more books by this author!

Cover Thoughts: Clever
Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: This series is highly recommended for school and public libraries! Lots of action, danger, and adventure with a diverse cast.

Redemption Blog Tour

Welcome to today's stop on the Redemption Blog Tour. I'm happy to be a part of it! I was so excited when Anne contacted me, I adored both Aurelia and Exile. Of course I wanted to read the ending of the trilogy!

Aurelia and Robert learn of turmoil in their homeland. Although they've exiled themselves across the water, their hearts turn heavy at the news. Tyralt is under attack and a friend arrives on their doorstep asking for their help.

Aurelia knows she can't turn away from her homeland. She's still not convinces she the right person for the job, but as always with Robert by her side, she's willing to try.

Going back puts her life in danger, but Aurelia can't leave her homeland in the hands of her treacherous sister any longer. It's time she takes a stand. 

My Thoughts: I was so happy to read this book and I wasn't disappointed. I loved it from the first page until the end. I liked watching both Robert and Aurelia come into their own. I liked the strategies, the defiance, and the determination.  I loved meeting people from the homeland. I love how Aurelia grew and how she took control of her life.  A fantastic ending to a wonderful trilogy.

Source: ARC for review
Final Thoughts: If you're a Aurelia and Exile fan, you won't want to miss this ending!

About the Author:
Anne Osterlund grew up in the sunshine of Eastern Oregon and graduated from Whitworth College. She lives in a cute little yellow house with her best feline friend, Simba, and her own library of young adult books. She enjoys immersing her students in language, literature, and imagination. Anne has written five novels: Aurelia, Exile, Redemption, Academy 7, and Salvation. She has dreams of many more in the future. Unveil the intrigue on her website.

Mini Review: Way Back Home

 * Book 3 in the Wildflower Trilogy *

Bird's rocking the road tour, giving it her all every night with her brother and her best friend helping her out. Life on the road is mostly great, but there's a moment when Bird just wants to be herself for the night, and of course it backfires. Chaos ensues. 

The Good:
The bus tour
Life on the road
No parents
Drama
The romance
Advice
All the pressure
That reporter!

The Bad:
It's over. I loved reading about Bird and her world. I'm sad the trilogy ended, but it was a great read.

Overall: A really fun series for anyone who loves country music, books about rock stars, and Taylor Swift

Mini Review: Smoked

* The final book in the Scorched trilogy * 

Now that Emmy's secret is out, she's in constant danger. Trinity does what she can to help out her dragon, but the tension between them is high.  Especially due to a secret from Emmy. Could her secret destroy everything they've been fighting against?

The Good:
The return of Emmy and Trinity
The danger
The high emotions that ran through the book
The brothers
The ending

The Bad:
The characters made some pretty bad choices along the way

Cover Thoughts: I liked the other two covers better
Source: My Library

Final Thoughts: A satisfying ending to a trilogy filled with emotion, danger, action, plot twists, and romance. If you're a fan of dragon books, be sure to check this trilogy out!

Blog Tour: I am the Traitor

The Unknown Assassin’s 8 Tips for Going on the Run

Thinking of going on the run? Here are eight tips from The Unknown Assassin who has been trained from a young age to move through the world while staying invisible. 

1.    Let go of the ego.

Maybe you like the idea that you go to a certain school or you’re on a certain team. Maybe you like your name or your family’s name, or you’re proud of what your mom does for a living. If you go on the run, you can forget about all of it. Everything about you is an identifier, so the world can no longer know who you really are or where you come from. The Unknown Assassin is unknown for a reason. He’s let go of everything that carries meaning for most of us, making himself into a living ghost.

2.    Your phone is not your friend.

By now you know that your phone can be tracked, your position triangulated between cell towers or pinpointed via GPS. There’s no way to run with a phone in your pocket. But it’s not just your phone. Laptops and tablets also expose you and your coordinates to the people trying to find you. So running means no tech for you.

3.    Forget about flying.  

Or taking the train. Or renting a car. Or calling an Uber. In fact, forget about any form of transportation that requires you to buy a ticket or register your name or information. All of it can be tracked, and if they can find the ticket, they can find you. 

4.    Cash is king.

If you want to stay hidden, you can’t use credit cards, Paypal, Apple Pay, or any digitally-linked payment system. You can’t even go to the ATM at your bank. (Think cameras. Think receipts. Think trouble.)  Your best bet is to have a lot of cash in small denominations. Where do you keep all this cash and how do you replenish it? That’s your problem. You’re the one who decided to run.

5.    Do you have a lot of family and friends? Not anymore.

One of the toughest things about being on the run is being socially isolated. Friends (especially new friends) ask questions, and you can’t afford questions. The Unknown Assassin has no friends. He lives isolated from others, moving from town to town to complete his mission. It’s not fun, but it’s his job. Could you really live like that?

6.    Welcome to the social media blackout.

No e-mail or text messages. No Facebook status updates, Instagram photos, tweets or snapchats. If you want to stay on the run, you have to drop off the web.

7.    Never call 911.

Need help? Sorry. No police or fire to the rescue, and visits to the emergency room are not possible. All of these services keep records, take names, file reports.  The Unknown Assassin is a trained soldier, equipped to handle all situations. Can you?

8.    Get ready to run again. It is inevitable.

Because no matter how far you’ve run or how well-hidden you are, you will be found. And then you’ll have to run again. And again. Forever.

As you can see by this list, being on the run sucks, and it’s nearly impossible in our digital world, especially if you live in a country like the United States. The Unknown Assassin does it because he has to, because he is on a never-ending mission for a secret government organization. If you’re not on a secret mission, it’s a lot easier (and more fun) to stay home.

Miss a stop? Check out the rest of the tour:

6/8/2015- The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia- Excerpt

6/8/2015-Curling Up With A Good Book- Guest Post

6/9/2015- Parajunkee- Interview

6/9/2015- The Book Landers- Review 

6/10/2015- Swoony Boys Podcast- Interview

6/11/2015- Fiktshun- Interview and Review

6/12/2015- YA Book Nerd- Guest Post

About the Book:
Title: I AM THE TRAITOR (The Unknown Assassin #3)

Author: Allen Zadoff

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pub. Date: June 17, 2014

Pages: 432

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads

In the third and final installment in the Unknown Assassin trilogy, Boy Nobody is on the run from The Program and uncovers a secret about his past that forces him to decide where his loyalties lie.

The Program has sent Boy Nobody on countless missions, instructed to kill whichever target he was given. But now, after going rogue, he is on his own mission to rescue his friend Howard who was captured by The Program. Boy Nobody manages to free Howard as well as Tanya, a mysterious girl who was being held with him. Howard and Tanya help Boy Nobody collect information about his father, eventually revealing a dangerous secret that teaches Boy Nobody a valuable lesson -- he can't trust anyone.

Allen Zadoff packs the third book of the Unknown Assassin series with even more action, higher stakes, and mind-blowing reveals that will leave readers riveted.

About Allen:

Allen Zadoff is the author of the THE UNKNOWN ASSASSIN series as well as several acclaimed novels includingFOOD, GIRLS, AND OTHER THINGS I CAN'T HAVE, winner of the Sid Fleischman Humor Award and a YALSA Popular Paperback for Young Adults. Allen's action-packed series debut, I AM THE WEAPON (formerly BOY NOBODY), is a page-turning thriller about a teenage assassin that has already been optioned for film by Sony Pictures & Overbrook Entertainment. The book was featured in the Los Angeles Times' Summer Reading guide and has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and VOYA. Kirkus Reviews called I AM THE WEAPON "fast, furious, and fun." Look for the sequel, I AM THE MISSION, beginning in June 2014.  Allen is a graduate of Cornell University and the Harvard University Institute for Advanced Theatre Training. His training as a super spy, however, has yet to be verified. Visit Allen on the web at www.allenzadoff.com.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Sounds Awesome right? I've read and loved the first two books and can't wait to read the conclusion.

You have a chance to win all THREE books!

5 sets of THE UNKNOWN ASSASSIN Series (Books 1-3) US only

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Mysterious Saturday Review: Embers and Ash

 * Final. book in the trilogy - comes out July 10th *

Sara Jane has had a hard few months trying to pretend that everything's normal - that someone hasn't kidnapped her parents and her younger brother, that goons aren't chasing her all over town, and that she isn't helping keep the mob under control.  The secrets she learns about the mob and her family will lead her to discover the ultimate power but can anything ever be the same?

My Thoughts: I loved this trilogy - for the actin, the danger, the loyalty, the secrets of Chicago, and the inside knowledge of the mob.  I loved Feisty Sara Jane and her determination. I loved Doug and Harry. I really liked the ending, especially since I never saw the plot twists coming. An excellent end to a heart-pounding trilogy.

Cover Thoughts: Love it
Source: sent for review

Mini Review: The One

At the end of The Elite, it's clear that things look rocky for American. Maxon's father doesn't trust her and it's convinced she's Princess material. America is still confused about her feelings for Maxon -there have been so many mixed signals and misunderstandings. What will their future hold - marriage, friendship, or enemies? 

The Good: A perfect end to a fantastic trilogy filled with romance, friendship, family, danger, moments that made me gasp and my heart stop.

The Bad: It's over

Overall: If you haven't read this trilogy yet, run to a library and get all the books and read them! They're amazingly good.

Adult Review: Sapphire's are an Earl's Best Friend

* Book 3 in the Jewels of the Ton trilogy * 

Lily loved her secret life as a spy for the crown. No one guess her secret identity with her cover as a courtesan. Now she's on her toughest mission yet. She must attend a house party of the man she suspects to be selling the names of agents to the wrong side.

To attend the party, she must pretend to be enamored with the Earl of Darlington. In truth - he and his friends are horrible and Lily's been in love with the Earl's son for as long as she can remember.

In fact, he's attending the party and his presence forces her make mistakes. He finds her in all the wrong places - demanding answers and kissing her. Lily's not sure she can stop him from finding out the truth about her, about her past, and about her mission.

Will the mission be compromised?

My Thoughts: I loved this trilogy - lots of action, danger, romance, and spies! In this last book in the trilogy, I felt bad for Lily. She's torn between love and duty to the crown. England needs the name of the person selling secrets of their spies. i love how she tries to make everything work out, but blunders her way through it all. I hate that she's put in the position of having to please the Earl of Darlington at his house party. He's horrible. I hate that Lady Emma was in the house during the party. I did like Andrew and his interactions with Lily; their banter was entertaining (especially that ending). While I'm sad this is the end of the trilogy, I can't wait to see what Shana Galen comes up with next.

Cover Thoughts: Love it!
Source: ARC sent for review
Due Date: Out on Tuesday!

Review: Taste of Darkness

* Final book in the Healer trilogy *

Avery and her band of friends still need to defeat their enemies: King Tohon, Jael, and the Skeleton King. Prince Ryne's forces seem to be outnumbered but perhaps not outwitted.

Can Avery and her friends use their talents and magic to help turn the tide of the war in their favor?

My Thoughts: A great end to a powerful trilogy dealing with war, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, and love. I love Avry for her strength, her loyalty, her determination, her sense of friendship, her confidence, and how she always speaks her mind. I love the banter between the monkeys - they add some tension relief with their antics. I love how they all have Avry's back. I love Avry's bond with Kerrick and their relationship. I loved this trilogy for the action, the danger, the humor, and the love. Maria V. Snyder is a must read author for me.

Cover Thoughts: I liked it - especially with the lilies
Source: My Library

Mysterious Saturday Review: Third Lie's the Charm

 * Final book in the trilogy*

Kate's not ready to let go of Grace. The Sisterhood's still active and Kate wants revenge. She's annoying her friends and family by making them angry and sad that she can't let this rest. They don't understand why she has to make things right.

When another boy dies, things get worse. The boy called Kate that night, but Kate was busy infiltrating the Sisterhood. Now she's on a mission to see who's behind the mysterious letter sent from the Brotherhood. She really does want this nightmare to be over. Maybe then she can reclaim a normal life.

My Thoughts: I really loved this trilogy for the mystery, for the plot twists, for the secrets, for the danger, for the lies fro the betrayals, and for the deep ever lasting friendship. I laughed at Kate's snark. I laughed at Seth's goofiness. I wanted to know more about Grace. I never wanted to go to Pemberly Brown, even though it sounds pretty on the surface. I wanted to see Kate kick butt and take names. I'm sad to see the end of Kate and her friends but I loved the ending. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: my Library

Mini Review: Allegiant

The final chapter in the Divergent series where Tris and Four figure out the next step and how to make their world better. 

My Thoughts: I've heard tons of people were unhappy with the ending of this trilogy. I admit that I didn't cry. I wasn't broken. I didn't throw the book across the room. Maybe it was the rumblings of unhappiness that made me prepared for the worst. Maybe it was the fact that I hadn't read Insurgent in a while. Maybe it was the fact that it made sense to me. I could see why is happened the way it happened. That's not to say I wasn't sad, but just that I understood it. 

Did you like it or hate it?

Mini Review: Sweet Legacy

The end of the trilogy where three sisters not only decide the fate of their world, but the fate of the monster world too.

The Good: I love the sisters and their relationship - including how they're changed since learning about each other. I love the romances and the surprise of Grace's brother (and his past - which broke my heart.) I loved their quest and how the worked on it - together. Plus that monkey always makes me laugh - even when tensions run high. I love the ending and what it means.

The Bad: It's over :(

Overall Verdict: If you haven't read this trilogy, what are you waiting for? Go Now!