Mysterious Saturday Review: Deadly Heat

* Book #5 in the Nikki Heat Series *

Nikki Heat found a breakthrough in her mother's case; a secret code that she's told no one about. Soon, she confides in Rook. Together, they dig deeper. 

Unfortunately, another article about Nikki has hit the internet. She's attracted the attention of a serial killer. He's leaving bodies all over town with clues to his next victim.

Nikki's scrambling to work both cases - but her boss only wants her focusing on the Rainbow Killer. Nikki's not about to give up her mother's case. She juggles them both. Only the serial killer's getting too close. He wants to play a game, but in his mind she ends up dead in that game.

Can Nikki close out the case before it's too late?

My Thoughts: I love the tie in books with Castle. As a big fan of the show, I like seeing it extended beyond the show and finding similarities between them. I like the story-line of Nikki Heat's mother and how it becomes the backdrop of the books, in addition to the murders happening in New York City. I like seeing Heat in her element at the precinct. I like watching her bounce ideas off her team and her debriefings.  I like the mystery of the serial killer and seeing him try to outwit Heat. A great installment to a fun, fast-paced mystery.

Cover Thoughts: I like it.

Source: My Library

Review: School Spirits

Izzy Brannick has been training her whole life to fight monsters. Her sister disappeared one night when they were taking down a group of witches. Since then, her mom's been over-protective.

Now Izzy has her first solo job. There's activity happening in a high school - murder by ghost. Izzy's job is to infiltrate the high school, figure out what's going on, and stop it. She's never gone to high school before.

Almost immediately, she befriends Remy - who turns out to be the leader of the ghost hunting society at school. Remy tells her of the ghost legend. Before long, Izzy experiences seeing the ghost herself.

Her mom's giving her a strict deadline on finishing the assignment, but Izzy's not sure she wants to leave high school and her new friends behind.

My Thoughts: A spin-off series from Hex Hall featuring her cousin. I loved this book, it had the same feel as the Hex Hall books - romance, ghosts, mysterious happenings, a new girl in school, and snarkiness. I love that Izzy's research into high school included reading teen magazines and watching hit TV shows (which reminded me of something on ABC Family). I hope there's more book coming with Izzy as the main character because there were several unanswered questions. 

Cover Thoughts: Similar to Hex Hall
Source: My Library

Mysterious Saturday Review: Frozen Heat

*4th book in the Heat series*

When a murder happens early one morning, everything changes. At the scene, Nikki Heat recognizes the suitcase the victim lies in. It's the suitcase that was stolen from the apartment the night her mother was murdered.

Now, years later, she believes the murders are connected. She's never heard of the deceased woman, but she's determined to find out the connection between her and her mother. Rock attempts to help by rehashing her mother's death. Nikki has no desire to relive the past, but as Rook prods her, she relents.

Together they dig up some clues. As they keep digging, they uncover hidden life of Nikki's mom. Will Nikki finally know what happened that night and who's reponsbile? 

My Thoughts: I LOVE this series. I'm a HUGE Castle fan and these books are on my automatic to read pile.  I love how similar and yet wildly different the books are to the characters on the TV show. Obviously it's not the same characters, but key plot points are similar. I love how Rook tries to make Nikki laugh at traumatic moments. I love his geekiness and hit wit. I love their banter. There's deep emotions running through this book. It's personal. I love uncovering the secrets of Nikki's mother's life. I liked how Rook and Nikki traveled to uncover answers that no one asked before. I love the combination of Roach. I like how the police force is very different from the TV show, but with similar players. An emotional roller coaster ride of action, danger, and death.

Cover Thoughts: Fun - but I'm not sure it would grab my attention if I didn't know about the series.
Source: my Library

Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian

The last Artemis Fowl comes out July 10th.I think the cover is great - but I hate when the art changes direction midway through the series.... I hate it when a great series ends. Are you excited to read the end???

Can't wait until then, read the first chapter here

Castle:

In last nights killer season finale, two awesome bookish things were revealed:

Derrick Storm graphic novel is in the works and will be out in September



and the reveal of the next Nikki Heat cover - also out in September 20th.



I can't WAIT for both!

Mysterious Saturday Review: Naked Heat

Jameson Rook, the famous magazine journalist, is found on the scene of Nikki Heat's murder victim - gossip columnist, Cassidy Towne. Rook has been shadowing Towne for his next article.

Nikki isn't thrilled with their reunion. She's still getting grief from the magazine article he published about her. Plus her team isn't happy with him either. Still, she must work with him to uncover the murderer.

In a case this big, there's too many celebrities with a grudge against Cassidy Town. She broke many stories, dug up dirt, and slung mud. It's almost impossible to find someone who didn't want her quiet - permanently.

Heat and Rook wade through the suspects ranging from a member of the mob, a pro baseball player, a sketchy politician, and a singer. Rook has the inside track on Town: she was writing a tell all memoir about someone famous. She refused to divulge that information, but she dug up something juicy.

My Thoughts: I love the combo of the books and the TV show. I like how the books differ from the show, yet I can still picture the characters from the show while reading. It's sort of like a tell-all fictional book - very fun.

The Cover: Interesting - I like the blend of the city with the type writer

Source: My Library

Review: The Candidates

Danica isn't normal, but she's never shared her secret with anyone. She's forced herself to become invisible because she doesn't want to hurt anyone else.

She's forced out of her shell when recruiters from Delcroix Academy come to her home (where she lives with her grandmother). They offer her a scholarship to their prestigious school. Danica isn't sure she wants to attend the school, but she agrees to try for her grandmother's sake.

Now, she's thrown into a world where everyone has a talent - everyone except for her and Jack. Jack's a boy she met who isn't sure he wants to be at the school either. He doesn't like the gates that keep the school separated from the rest of the world - and everyone locked inside. They spend their time together studying and hanging out.

Little by little, Danica begins to relax. She lets herself develop a friendship with Jack and with two other girls. One of the recruiters was a student - and he's shown an interest in Danica. She can't help but wonder if he just wants to be friends or something more. Then Jack comes to her with all these theories and there's a theory about Cam.

Is there something going on behind the scenes at Delcroix Academy?

My Thoughts: A very interesting start to the new series. I love the tension, the discussion about the gate, and the friendship between Jack and Danica. I loved the secrecy surrounding the school and the supernatural powers of Danica. I didn't love Cam - but probably because I like Jack so much. I can't wait to see where this series will go next.

Cover Thoughts: I like it - I like seeing all the power flying around and Danica behind the gate.

Source: My Library

Fun Fact: Check back tomorrow for an interview with Inara Scott