Review: Unbreak My Heart

Clem thought her summer would be boring. She was wrong.

She thought she would miss her life - most of all her friends. She was wrong.

She's happy to be getting away from everything - all the drama, all the judgement, and all the accusations.

She's not getting away from the sadness or the heartbreak because her best friend and her broke up. Clem's been trying to write to Amanda to share her side of the story, but she can't find the right words.

She spends her days hanging with her family, moping, reading, and trying to forget.

Clem meets people along the same boating route. There's one boy her age and they've started hanging out. She wants to tell him the truth, but she's terrified what he will think of her.  But as the summer progresses and the more time they spend together, she begins to find a glimpse of her old self. Does she owe him the truth?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I liked the timeline - flashing between the previous school year and the summer. I liked waiting to uncover the horrors of the year. I really liked Clem's sister  Olive. She was so observant and wise beyond her years. I liked how she tried to break Clem out of her shell. I liked the talk of music, Clementine's friends, and that she read so many books. I loved the main issue with the year before and what Clem's heartache was really about. I really liked the ending. A fantastic summer book!

Cover Thoughts: Love it!
Source: My Library

Adult Review: Rutherford Park

Rutherford Park is home to the Cavendish family - but it's about to be ruined.

Lady Octavia feels trapped in her house - even more so when she spies her husband kissing another woman.

A servant girl has a secret growing inside her and hopes for a better future - if not for herself then for her baby.

Harry lives the life of an heir - wandering, gambling, and pursing women.

On the eve of war, secrets come to light that could change everything.

My Thoughts: Stated as perfect for Downton Abbey fans, I found this book a little hard to get into. I had a hard time respecting the characters and caring about them, but in the end I needed to know how everything turned out. I do wish there had been more from the downstairs perspective. Overall, a good book for those looking for a historical read filled with family secrets and and drama.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: Sent for review

Mysterious Saturday Review: Panic Button

 * Book 3 in the series *

Josie loved looking at the vintage Victorian charm string - with one thousand buttons. A costumer wanted it appraised before she donates it to a museum. Josie wouldn't mind purchasing the unique item, however the owner believes that the charm string is cursed.

She wants to get it out of her life once and for all. It's brought her nothing but bad luck since she inherited it.

After the woman picks up the charm string after the appraisal, someone murders her in the alley outside the button shop.  The charm string appears to be the murder weapon. Buttons are strewn all over the area.

Detective Nev asks Josie to help look into the murder. Luckily, Josie took excellent notes for her work. She's able to determine two buttons are missing from the collection. Could either of those buttons be valuable enough for murder? 

My Thoughts: I love this series and I love learning little tidbits about buttons along the way. I love the inclusion of the vintage charm string. I love Josie's shop; it sounds perfect. I like how Josie went to Angela's town - looking for clues and learning about the people of the town. The town sounded charming at first, until it's secrets are revealed. The towns people knew almost everything about each other since it's a small town, but some of them had ugly secrets. I enjoyed the romantic moments between Josie and Nev. I love Stan and how he helps out in the investigation and protects Josie. A charming addition to the series that leaves me waiting for the next installment.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library

Review: Confessions: Private School Murder

 * sequel to Confessions of a Murder Suspect*

It's been a few months since the death of Tandy's parents. She hasn't gotten used to be normal and having feelings. And it's about to get worse.

Her brother's on trail for the murder of his girlfriend and unborn son.  There's no evidence against him except he doesn't have an alibi and he has motive.  Tandy knows she has to do something to help.

When a girl is murdered in her neighborhood, Tandy itches to look into it.  When more girls appear die, she's convinced there's a serial killer on the loose.

On top of the investigations, her memories are starting to come back. She knows James is real and her first love, but why is it so hard for her to remember?

As the days go on, things become more clear. Can Tandy solve three mysteries - one for her family, one for the neighborhood, and one for herself.

My Thoughts: I confess like the sequel better than the first book. I devoured this book.  I found Tandy more likable and enjoyed her thought process and know-it-all tendencies. I loved the introduction of Jacob and what that means for the family. I found Mathew's story line - it was sad and heartbreaking. What horrors this family has gone through.  I found Hugo sweet and a little crazy. I liked the blooming relationship between Harry and Tandy's friend. I liked the set up for the next book; especially the potential location.

Cover Thoughts: I like it.
Source: Arc Sent for review

Sounds good? Check out my contest where you could win both books plus goodies.

Review: No Safety in Numbers

Just a regular day at the mall turns deadly when Marco discovers a bomb in the air ducts. He stumbles across the device by chance, while trying to escape a bunch of bullies.  He doesn't want to be late to work, now that might be the least of his troubles.

People have been told not to leave the mall. They mingle and talk to strangers as the day turns into night. Lexi, a Senator's daughter, meets a popular girl who has a nerdy side. Shay tries to keep her younger sister and her grandmother from worrying. Ryan runs into his brother's jock friends who take him under their wing. Marco takes on extra shifts at the restaurant to make more money.

The longer they're stuck at the mall, the more tempers rise. Authorities are rounding up anyone with a cough. People are getting antsy. They want answers. They want to go home and they're not afraid to get creative about it.

Will they uncover the truth and be allowed to leave in the near future - or do they even have a future?

My Thoughts: The first book in a series sucked me in. I can't imagine being stuck in a mall for days with strangers. I liked the four teens and seeing the situation from the various perspectives. I liked how they started forming relationships with strangers and how they interacted with their friends. I liked how they tried to uncover the truth about their quarantine.  The action, the danger, and the suspense kept me from putting this book down and reminded me of a teenage version of 24.

Cover Thoughts: Simple, but effective. I really like it.
Source: My Library.

Confessions and Clues: Confessions - The Private School Murders

CONFESSIONS: THE PRIVATE SCHOOL MURDERS

By James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

On Sale October 7, 2013

About the book

Confessions: The Private School Murders is the gripping second installment in James Patterson’s #1 New York Times bestselling new teen detective series!

Wealthy young women are being murdered, and the police are looking for all the right answers in all the wrong places.  And Tandy Angel wants to know who’s really responsible.

In the meantime, Tandy’s brother Matthew is on trial for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, actress Tamara Gee, and Tandy is delving deeper into the Angel family closet to uncover the mysteries of her scandalous family

As the victims continue to pile up, can Tandy untangle the mysteries in time?  Or will she be the next victim?

The Clue Set-up: There have been a string of murders on the Upper West Side in NYC.  A killer is on the loose targeting private school girls, and while the police look for all the right answers in all the wrong places, Tandy Angel is determined to uncover who is really responsible.  Tandy has shared these five clues that hint at who the killer may be.
 
But what is going on in Tandy’s mind as she tracks the footsteps of a killer?  Here is one of Tandy’s true CONFESSIONS, an inside look at her thoughts and feelings.
 
To piece together the full story and get an inside look at this thrilling story, you’ll have to pick up a copy of Confessions: The Private School Murders, on-sale October 7^th however books are sold.

Confession #3:

Tandy Angel, mastermind determined to track down a serial killer targeting private school girls on the Upper West Side, confesses her hunch in a key moment to uncovering the person responsible in Confessions: The Private School Murders: 

“I've got a hunch that Lena and Stacey were shot with the same gun, but after the killer left if behind with Lena he had to get a new one.

He then used that gun to shoot both Adele and Marla.”

-Confessions: The Private School Murders (page 128)

Check out another clue @  Mundie Moms 

Spill Your Confessions

One winner receives a journal, a custom t-shirt and copies of Confessions of a Murder Suspect and Confessions: The Private School Murders!

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What's on My Hold's List (60)

My Librarian friend Jess from I Read to Relax came up with a great idea.  It's to highlight the books we read from the library. These are all books that are on hold for me at the library.

Lost in London: I love books set in England and this tween title looks super cute!

Rebel Spring: I really enjoyed Falling Kingdom and can't wait to read more - especially after all those plot twists.

Pawn: I've seen this talked about at various webinars and it looks really good!