Review: Lies I Told

Grace doesn't know any other life than being a grifter. Her latest mission is to infiltrate and be-friend a boy to discover the whereabouts of the gold bars hidden on the property.

Her first mark, a friend of the boy's doesn't take, so she goes right to the source. Logan is easy on the eyes and he's nice. The more Grace gets to know him, the more she regrets the job and her role in it.

With her brother trying to get her to leave the job and their adoptive parents behind, Grace can't help but wonder if she's going the right thing - when does the con become too much?

My Thoughts: I really loved this book; I devoured it and I'm so happy there's another book coming.

Ever since Tera Lynn Childs hooked me on Leverage, I've been a huge fan of grifter and con books. I really liked how Parker made Grace think long and hard about their past and about their future. Grace isn't all that happy in this job and I like her questioning her life. It's hard for her because she feel obligated to help her family - the people that took her in and raised her. But they never really gave her a choice on their life style.  

I liked watching both Parker and Grace learn to fit in with a new crowd of people and their tricks to getting people to like them. Where does obligation and duty end? Where does loyalty fit in? 

I can't wait to have these questions and more answered in the next book.

Cover Thoughts: I like how it's blurry
Source: My Library

Final Thoughts: Lots of action and danger and emotions kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. 

Books I'm Dying to Read: November Edition

Here's a list of books I can't wait to get my hands on come November!

Palace of Spies: Historical Spies! 

Naturals: A stand-alone from Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

 

This Wicked Game: Voodoo and secrets

Pawn: New series where one girl must learn to become more than just a pawn in a terrible game

Fiery Heart: Love this series and that ending from the last book makes me want this one ASAP

 

No Good Duke Goes Unpunished: Love this series and excited for Temple's story.

Read It and Weep: Great cozy series...with a librarian solving mysteries.

Takedown Twenty: Love these book - lots of danger, action, and laughter.

Secret Agent Josephine in Paris: Love spy books and this one looks cute.

Red Knit Cap Girl to the Rescue: Loved the first book, looking forward to more adventures.

Review: Temptation of Angels

Helen's night takes a strange turn when her mother enters her bedchamber and begins packing her things. She quickly ushers Helen into a hidden passageway with strict instructions not to come out. She tells Helen how to escape the house and where to go.

Helen arrives on the doorstep of two brothers in her bare feet and nightgown. She has no idea why she's been told to come here. She has no idea that her life is about to change forever. She has no idea she's part of a secret society.

A society she's been training for her whole life without realizing it. A society responsible for protecting the world. Helen is a Keeper.

There are dangerous beings who want to access the past, so they can change it, and they will stop at nothing to accomplish their goal.

Together can Helen and the brothers stop them from eliminating all the Keepers and taking control of the world?


My Thoughts: I loved this one! I'm a huge fan of Michelle Zink. This was my first read of the new year and it wowed me! I loved how the events unfolded. I loved unraveling the truth to Helen's life with her. I loved the strange quirks of the secret society: the jumping through lights, the necklaces, and the secret weapons. I loved the brothers - each different, but each significant. Although I do like Griffin a bit better. I loved Anna. I loved the romance, the danger, the adrenaline rushes, and the end of the world drama.

I think (I HOPE), this is the start of a trilogy or series! I can't wait to read more.

Cover Thoughts: I really like it - I think the model looks like a young Scarlett Johansson

Source: Thanks to Penguin Teen for the ARC

Release Date: March 20th
Goodreads

Review: Circle of Fire

*conclusion of the Trilogy starting with Prophecy of the Sisters and Guardian of the Gate.*

Lia is starting to worry.

She can feel time running out and she has yet to find the 4th key or the lost page of the prophecy. She's also no closer to convince Alice to help her shut the gate for good.

The stone of protection from her aunt is fading. Her relationships with the other keys are breaking apart. She doesn't know who she can trust apart from Dimitri.

Can she manage everything in time or will she die trying?


My Thoughts: I LOVED this trilogy. I love the Gothic nature of it. Circle of Fire has a particularly creepy feel to it - danger lurking in every corner and no one is trustworthy. I love the time period. I love the differences between the sisters and the similarities. I love them trying to figure each other out and their perspectives on events. The perfect ending to an amazing story.

Cover Thoughts: I ADORE it!

Source: My Library

Cover Reveal: Circle of Fire

Although there's been several similar covers floating around - THIS one is the final draft. I love it. I love the necklace an the intense look in her eyes. I can't wait for the final installment of this addicting Gothic trilogy - out August 1st!

Are you waiting for this one too?

Ghost and Graves Tour: Otis Library recap

The treat table

Goodies that Nancy from Cataloging made for the event

Gravestone cookies I made

Fun Candelabras

The book table

giving out the awesome prizes

Chatting with many teens and adults

Jessica Verday and Michelle Zink visited the library on Monday night. As you can see in addition to their great books, we had great treats. The authors chatted about their books.

The Hollow (read my review)

The Haunted (I have this one on hold)

3rd book coming next year: Title is NOT the Horror which is listed on Goodreads and it's about choices

Jessica talked about her perfume making - which you can read about in her books. She also made the character's perfumes which is awesome. She mentioned reading the latest Joe Hill novel (who is Stephen King's son). She talked about researching religion and how there's at least one common thread throughout the burial process.

Prophecy of the Sisters (read my review)

Guardian of the Gate (Read my review)

3rd book coming next year: Circle of Fire

Michelle mentioned combining mythologies in her book - Celtic, Norse, and others. She mentioned loving Stephen King and horror. She spoke about not reading while she writes so the voices don't combine and so she won't lose her muse. However, after the book is complete the reading begins.

Here's Jessica (From I Read to Relax) and I posing with the authors

And the awesome READ poster:

Review: Guardian of the Gate

*READ only if you've read PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS as this review contains SPOILERS*

Lia made her way to London after the tragedy of her brother's death. She knows that Alice is now truly her enemy. Lia continues to hunt for the missing keys while discovering how to gain power amongst the planes. She's no where near as strong as Alice and that thought frightens her.

When she receives word that her Aunt Abigail, guardian of Altus, lay dying, Lia must travel to her to discover the location of the hidden pages. These pages will tell Lia how to use the keys to close the gate once and for all.

However, traveling to Altus will be a dangerous journey. During the trek, Sophie begins to turn on Lia. The Souls have captured her and force her to tempt Lia into opening the Gate. Lia refuses, but the betrayal deeply griefs her.

Through her journey, she meets a man Dimitri. At first, he's a friend, but soon, he captured her heart. Lia doesn't know how to choose between him and James. Unfortunately, the in wake of Lia's disappearance, Alice has been comforting James. The thought of her twin with her childhood love, makes Lia sick. She vows to straighten out everything after she accomplishes her mission. Until then, she finds comfort with Dimitri.

The journey to uncover the pages will be extraordinarily dangerous. Dimitri will accompany her along with several riders along the way - each only knowing part of the journey. Will Lia and Dimitri escape with the pages unscathed and the secret knowledge or will Alice and the Souls intervene?

My Thoughts: I loved the second book in this trilogy - and I can't wait for the third book and the showdown. I enjoyed the tension between Lia and the rest of the characters as she pulls away from everyone due to the weight on her shoulders. I like the introduction of Dimitri and then now love triangle for Lia.

The Cover: I like it, it goes together with paperback cover of Prophecy of Sisters

Source: Arc from the publisher

Fun Fact: Michelle Zink will be visiting Otis Library with author Jessica Verday as part of the Ghost and Graves tour on Monday!

Review: Prophecy of the Sisters

Lia and Alice are twins. Their father has just died - making them orphans. On the day she's to bury her father, Lia discovers a mark on her wrist.

She soon discovers she's one half of an ancient prophecy that could save or end the world. Lia discovers an ancient text in the library. upon translation, it reveals that one sister is the guardian and one sister is the gate. The devil's trying desperately to come back into the normal world and wreck havoc. There are four keys to the gates that must be used to protect the world.

At first, Lia believes that she is the guardian of the gates. As her world becomes more tangled and more dangerous, she realizes she's wrong. Due to the order of her birth, she's the gate. her life takes a wild turn. She's not sure what to do or who to trust.

She knows that she can't trust Alice - her twin, her sister, her enemy. Lia must uncover the rest of the prophecy and decode it's meaning if she hopes to stop her sister. Is it too late?

My Thoughts: I love the sister plot - even though these sisters are deadly enemies. I love the sense of danger and the other worlds. I like uncover the mystery and the secrets along with Lia. It's so haunting. I can't wait to see where the next book takes me.

The Cover: I like this cover and the first cover - with the two stone statues of girls. Although neither cover really symbolizes the book.

Source: my Library

Fun Fact: Michelle Zink is part of the Ghost and Graves Tour coming to Otis Library! Including fabulous door prizes along with Ghost and Grave cookies. I can't wait to meet her.

Authors coming to Otis!

Ghost and Graves Tour:


Meet Michelle Zink


And Jessica Verday

Win awesome prizes: an iPod Shuffle, t-shirts and stickers, and an exclusive first look at giveaways of Abbey's Hollow's NEW perfume set featuring the cast of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow!



If you can't meet these two awesome authors at Otis, check out their other stops:

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Date: October 24
Time: 2:00-4:00 pm
Location: Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
540 North Broadway
Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591

The Otis Library Date: October 25 Time: 6:30-8:00 pm Location: The Otis Library 261 Main Street Norwich, CT 06360

Easton Public Library
Date: October 26
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm
Location: Easton Public Library
515 Church Street
Easton, PA 18042

NEW STOP!!

Harleysville Books LLC

Date: October 27

Time: 6:00-8:00
674 Main Street
Salford Square
Harleysville, PA 19438

Borders Express
Date: October 28
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: Borders Express
298 Exton Square Mall
Exton, PA 19341

Jefferson Market Library
Date: October 29
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: Jefferson Market Library
425 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10011

Luckily, we're one of the stops. I'm SO Super excited for this event.

I've read The Hollow and loved it. I'm on hold for the Haunted. I read Prophecy of the Sisters and Guardian of the Gate and Loved those!

Come to the library for this amazing event! (There might even be ghost and gravestone cookies!)