Review: Cleopatra Confesses

Cleopatra knows that she could become a great ruler - someday. Right now, she's busy learning about her country with her tutors. She's also learning how to rule from her father. All of the lessons are not positive.

In fact, before too long, the people have turned against their pharaoh. Cleopatra's sisters decide to rule jointly. Cleopatra learns to watch her step and her tongue. She's determined to give her sisters nothing to cause them worry about her behavior.

She sticks to her studies and learns from the mistakes her family makes. Will she be able to one day fulfill the destiny she sees for herself?


My Thoughts: The childhood of Cleopatra comes to life as she deals with growing up, betrayal, family drama, and deadly sisters. I really enjoyed reading about her family life and the stress and struggles before ruling.

Cover Thoughts: LOVE the cover!

Source: My Library

Similar Read: Spinx's Princess

Tween Tuesday Review: Dragon Flight

Creel and Marta are busy making Lady Isla's wedding gown - for her upcoming marriage to Prince Milun. Right in the middle of a fitting, Creel receives a note that Citatie has declared war.

The entire Citatie army is riding dragons.

Immediately Creel leaves for the palace where she volunteers to leading a scouting party into Citatie to spy on the other dragons. She hopes to gain information and bring it back to her King.

As Creel is the expert on dragons, it makes sense that she leads the party. The King finally agrees to her plan with the condition that his son's former bodyguard accompany her.

When they arrive in Citatie, Creel's horrified at what she discovers. They have a dragon army. They are breeding dragons. They are controlling dragons with alchemy. Creel's not sure she can stop this army. She hopes beyond hope that it doesn't come down to a dragon fight. After the last fight, she's not sure her friends will survive.

My Thoughts: The sequel to Dragon Slippers I love the bits about sewing (even though I can't sew well). I love the romance between Creel and Prince Luka. I love Marta. I love the dragons. I really just love this trilogy. I can't wait to read the conclusion.

In the acknowledgements, the author mentions how she never meant to write this book. Dragon Slippers was supposed to be a stand alone title, but her editor and her fans kept asking for more. She came up with the idea from chatting with her husband. I have to say, I'm awfully glad that she wrote it.

Cover Thoughts: Good - I like the dragons in the background flying.

Source: Inter-Library Loan.

Review: Outside In

Trella started a revolution that changed her world. Now the people should be mixing together. The people should be performing jobs. The people should be happy to be free.

Instead resentment grows as the old connotations of the Uppers and Scrubs still exist. The Scrubs don't want to perform all the menial tasks and the Uppers don't want to work. The misconceptions build until no one wants to work.

Trella's frustration grows with the committee who spends more time arguing than acting. Instead, she begins to seek out solitude and solutions on her own. She learns that there's a group sabotaging their world. Then she learns they aren't the real threat. There's a much greater threat coming from Outside.

My Thoughts: The sequel to Inside Out. I love this author! I loved her transformation where she learned to let in emotions. I love her logical approach to a problem along with her toughness and her sarcasm. I enjoyed reading what came after the rebellion and how the world changed.

Cover Thoughts: Pretty good.

Source: My Library

Sunday Matinee: Captain America

What I liked:

Hayley Atwell: her tough attitude and her shooting skills



Tommy Lee Jones



Stanley Tucci - I just LOVE him



Captain America's determination



Special Effects



The Tony Stark Connection



I adore how these movies all piece together

Plus I liked that part in Times Square.



What I disliked:
How little Chris Evans looked in the car ride with Hayley Atwell

The Ending: I was a little shocked and a little sad about the date

SO looking forward to the Avengers to see how all these movies piece together!!!!!

Mysterious Saturday Review: Shoe Done It

Rita loves her job - helping fashionistas find the perfect outfit - including shoes and accessories. No one goes out of her way more to achieve style for her clients than her boss Dolce.

Dolce sends Rita to Miami Beach to pick a specific pair of silver shoes for a special client. She's under strict instructions to keep the shoes under lock and key.

When Rita arrives the store the following morning, MarySue is already there waiting. There's one tiny detail - MarySue hasn't paid for the shoes and she doesn't have the money for them. The fundraiser she's planning on wearing them too is tonight. Without further discussion, she takes them from Rita's hand and exits the store.

She wears them to the fundraiser and the shoes are the talk of the night. Unfortunately in the morning, MarySue's found in the park - barefoot and murdered. Can Rita figure out what happened to the MarySue and those elusive silver shoes?

My Thoughts: The first in a new fashionable series. Rita is clumsy, entertaining, curious, and full of bright ideas. She juggles three men while hoping to find herself the perfect man after a dry spell. I loved reading about the fashion and am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Books I'm Dying to Read: Janaury Edition

Sorry - this is a couple days late- I missed the Wednesday post but here are the books coming out in January that I'm looking forward to reading!!!!

Gathering Storm: Great cover with glittering balls, raising the dead, and a the choice between two boys. Goodreads - out January 10th

Try Not to Breathe: This one sounds very emotional. I've heard great things about this author - which makes me want to read her newest book. Goodreads - Out January 19th
Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight: An American girl and British boy sit next to each other on a trans-Atlantic flight. Sounds GREAT. Love the British boy and love the short time period within the book. I have a copy of this and clearly need to read it ASAP! Goodreads Out January 2nd

Me@You.com: Two teens fall in love over the internet. Not on Goodreads yet, but BN
Initiation: I can't wait to read about Lauren's first introduction to CanterWood Crest. I adore this series! Goodreads out January 3rd

Double Feature: I love this tween series and can't wait for more adventures with the twins in Hollywood! Goodreads - out January 3rd

Don't Breath a Word:I really liked the author's debut novel and can't wait to read more about Joy and her struggles as she ends up on the streets. A gritty novel that I'm sure the teens at my library will enjoy. Goodreads January 3rd
Darkness Falls: I really liked the first book in the series, so interested to see how Nastasya and Reyn become and I hope to learn more about her family past. Goodreads -Out January 2nd.

Ditched: A unique prom story about two best friends who decide to go to prom. He ditches her. She wants to find out why - I love books about prom Goodreads Out January 10th
Charmfall - I really like this series, but not as much as I love her adult Chicagoland Vampire series. Still Scout and Lily. Lily goes through a magical blackout - sounds awesome! Goodreads

Jessica Rules the Dark Side: I really liked the first book, interested to see what happens in married life - complete with a murder, imprisonment, and lack of blood. Goodreads - Out January 10th
First Date: LOVE the cover and the premise: Addy's selected for a reality TV show to win and become the prom date of the President's Son. This sounds super cute!! GoodReads out January 10th

Darlings in Love: I loved the first book in this series. Plus romance is in the air with a new boyfriend, an ex-boyfriend, and a potential boyfriend. Goodreads Out January 10th

Guest Post: Julie Kagawa

Julie Kagawa's here to chat with us today.

Julie is the author of the very popular Iron Fey series. The Iron Knight just came out last month. There are several quizzes to take


Check out the book trailer:

If you think that looks good, read the first chapter here.

Julie answers some tough questions for us:

Being that the Iron Knight is written from Ash’s point of view, was it easier or harder to switch over and tell his story?

It was a little harder, initially. I knew Meghan; after three books I knew her voice and her personality and her quirks. It was difficult with Ash, because he was such a guarded character, and he never was really chatty. And because he’s lived such a long time, and is an Unseelie fey, he’s done some things in his life that might change how some people view him. It was actually kind of scary putting his story out there; what will people think now that they know the real Ash? But I wrote his story as honestly as I could, and I hope they will come to love the Winter Prince as much as I do.

For you, what was the hardest part in writing this series or writing in general?

Lately, it’s been making myself turn off the Internet and not check Tweetdeck every time I get stuck, lol! I get distracted very easily and “checking email” can turn into an hour of doing nothing but playing around online, very bad for the writing day. Sometimes I’ll unplug the modem or disconnect myself from the internet or I’d never get anything done.

Do you have a favorite line or two you could share with us from The Iron Knight?

Certainly! Here is an exchange between Ash and Puck:

Hey, ice-boy, you okay? You’ve got your brooding face on again.”
“I’m fine.” Puck lounged in the cradle of a tree, hands behind his head, one foot dangling in the air. “Lighten up already. We finally found the cat—which we should get a freaking medal for, the search for the Golden Fleece wasn’t this hard—and you look like you’re going to engage Mab in single combat first thing in the morning.
"I’m thinking. You should try it sometime.”
Ooh, witty.”

Did you always know you’d be writing a spin off series and can we expect to hear more of Meghan, Ash and Puck’s story in the future?

Actually, I was approached by my publisher when The Iron Fey series was wrapping up and asked if I had any more Iron Fey stories floating around my head. Which got me thinking of Ethan, Meghan’s little brother. He was the one who started the whole adventure, in a way. What would it be like growing up, able to see the fey? And the more I thought about it, the more I realized Ethan had a story to tell, too. As for Ash, Meghan, and Puck, I’m sure there will be a few cameos in the new series. ;-)

Thanks for stopping by Julie! Congrats on the release of the Iron Knight and the spin-off series