Mysterious Saturday Review: The Walled Flower

* Book 2 in the series ~ Read my review for Crafty Killing*

Katie's desperately unhappy when she realizes her dream house has been sold. The house has always been her ideal location for a bed and breakfast. With her dream no longer in grasp, Katie tries to make the best of things.

She goes over to welcome her new neighbors in Victoria Square with a pizza. She offers to help the knock down a wall. Before she knows it, she's uncovered a body sealed in the wall.

The body's soon identified as Heather Winston, a girl who disappeared twenty years ago.  Her aunt, Rose, is a vendor at the Artisan's Alley.  The family's always assumed that Heather left the area hoping to make it as a model. As her only living relative, Rose turns to Katie asking her for help.

Looking for clues in a 20 year old case isn't easy. On top of the murder, Katie's dealing with pushy vendors at work, a wedding where she's become the maid of honor at the last second, and she must find a new apartment to live.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed the second book in this series. I love the behind the scenes moments at the Artisans Alley. I love Victoria Square - it sounds perfect (except for all those dead bodies).  Katie's sweet and tries to help everyone, which leaves her stressed. The murdered kept me guessing until the end. I love Seth. I love Andy and his pizza joint. I can almost taste the cinnamon buns he's now creating.  So looking forward to more in this series.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable!

Source: My Library

A Snapshot of the Little Brown Fall Preview

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to be invited and to attend Little Brown and Company's fall book preview. It's always fabulous day. I loved talking with other librarians and book people. It's the BEST!

Libba Bray was the special guest star. She was there to chat about her upcoming book The Diviners. The book, set in the 1920s, is part of a four book set. It sounds amazing and I can't wait to read it.

It took her 4 years of research once she had the idea. She's always loved the 1920s and wanted to blend historical fiction with the supernatural (again).  Her idea came during a book tour in Germany during an election. People were fascinated with the election.  Issues kept coming up and she realized they paralleled the 1920s.  She found that Americans tend to forget out history. And voila! The book comes out in September.

She even sang for us...using action figures! It was magical! There's even a video so you can watch it too!!!

I learned about several books that I'm excited to read or re-read with the picture books!


And here they are:

Etiquette and Espionage: Sounds like a cross between Gallagher Girls and Grave Mercy plus...steampunk. The cover is GORGEOUS! It comes out February of 2013

Ten Tiny Toes: Looks VERY sweet. I adore the illustrations by Mark Brown. Here's one of the collages, which are amazing in person. I love the textures and the depth of them.  This one comes out September 2012

Iron Hearted Violet:  This middle grade looks super cute! It's about a princess who uncovers a secret library...and a magical book. She lets loose a magical being, who might want to destroy the world. This book had me at the cover - but also Princess and secret library!! October 2012 (The final cover will be a bit lighter)

Return to Me: One girl has her life all planned out. She graduates high school and during the summer in between high school and college - life happens. There's romance, family drama, and big decisions made. Sounds awesome! Out January 2013

Monster's Monster: This one sweet, playful, and funny! Out September 2012

Nighttime Ninja: Fun cover - the leaves are textured! A fun story with some spooky moments. Loved the end! Out September 2012

Ones I think teens at my library will love:

When We Wake:  Medical testing in the future. Great cover! Out March 2013

Zom-B by Darren Shan - about...zombies. The first one will be out October 2012

Two that we didn't talk about, but were there in ARC format:

White Winter - book 2 of the Belles books by Jen Calonita. I confess that was my train book and I finished it during lunch today. I LOVED it! I've adored all her books. It comes out October 2012


and finally

The Land of Stories - out July 17th

Review: Struck

* Comes out May 8th*

Destruction hits LA with an earthquake. Mia and her family are trying to escape from the harsh aftermath. Mia and her brother attend school only for the rations at the end of the day.

Their mother isn't well. She's a shell of her former self. Mia's trying to keep the family together. She's not happy when someone at school discovers her secret.

Mia's drawn to lightning. It's struck her over and over again and her body's covered with red scars. The lightning gives her power.

Now other people recognize her power and Mia's caught in a deadly struggle between two organization who claim they need her help. Mia could be the destruction of the earth or she could be the salvation. Mia's sure she doesn't want to be anyone's instrument, but will she have a choice?

My Thoughts: I loved the idea of the lightning as power and a weapon. It was a unique idea to me. I loved the forbidden love angle and Jeremy. He was intense, shy, nerdy, and determined. I liked Mia for her snark, her reservations, her loyalty to her family, and her strength. I liked the two cults - both interesting in their own way and both scary. The ending was intense, tying up the loose ends, but leaving room for more of Mia's story. (A quick check on Goodreads tells me that this book is Struck #1). A great debut with drama, cults, romance, and the possible destruction of the world.


Cover Thoughts: Great! I love the lightning and the scars.


Source: the publisher


Challenge: Debut Author Challenge 2012


Similar Read: Life as We Knew It

Rock the DROP

Support TEEN Literature Day!

"Drop" teen books anywhere that teens hang out.

I've been dropping books for a few years and teens love them.

Will you be participating this year?

What's On My Holds List (8)

 

My Librarian friend Jess from I Read to Relax came up with a great idea.  It's to highlight the books on hold at the library. I usually have 20-40 items checked out at the library and another 20 items on hold.

Paper Made: I love paper crafts!!!!

 Scarlet Pepper: I LOVED Flowerbed of State! I can't wait to read this one.

Nancy Clancy Super Sleuth: I Love Fancy Nancy and I'm super excited about her first chapter book!

To Catch an Heiress: I love Julia Quinn!

Letters from a Stranger: I read about this book in PW and thought it sounded interesting. I'm going to give it a try.  

Tween Tuesday Review: Princess Curse

Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted here at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens! Join the fun and discover great reads for tweens!

* A retelling of the fairy tale Twelve Dancing Princesses*

Reveka works as an herbalist's apprentice. One day she longs to join a nunnery where she can become an herbalist. However, in order to join the nunnery, she'll need a substantial dowry.

She has mixed feelings when she hears the strange tales about the princesses and the people lying sleeping in the tower. The people won't wake up, they're just like vegetables While it's horrible, if Reveka can figure out the mystery, she'll have a dowry big enough to make her dreams come true.

As she tries to get close enough to the princesses, she discovers a hidden world. Could she be the girl to break the curse?


My Thoughts: I really liked this retelling - which added in other mythology. I loved the descriptions of the underworld. I didn't like the princesses, they seemed cold - even towards each other.  I found the father-daughter relationship intriguing and I like how it blossomed. I liked the magic and differences between the worlds. I liked Reveka - her determination, her intelligence, and her loyalty. I would love to see this as a trilogy as it seems there's more to the story.


Cover Thoughts: I love it!


Source: my Library

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