The Other Einstein

Women's history has always fascinated me so when I noticed a book about Einstein's first wife in the local bookstore I knew I had to read it. The Other Einstein is a fascinating book written from Mileva Einstein's point of view.

Mileva was an interesting character and obviously a strong woman to attend a university at a time when women were suppose to stay home, tend to their husbands, and raise children. Clearly she was brilliant and I did get the impression throughout the whole story that Marie Benedict assumed Albert's interest in her was to use her impressive intelligent to advance his own ideas. This became more apparent as the story went on, while this is a work of fiction I would like to think that Marie Benedict did get some of her assumptions correct. 

The writing was smooth and clearly creating a vivid picture of Mileva's lifestyle and dreams. I would read more of Marie Benedict's work.

Terra Incognita

Terra Incognita was a random choice from the local bookstore that was closing. Sadly the description was the most exciting part for me. I did like the start and the set up of the plot but it quickly got boring for me however I did want to know who the "Stag Man" was so I kept reading. I think part of the problem was that Terra Incognita is the second book in a series and I did not know that at the time.

Ruso was an interesting character, being a military doctor I expected him to be disciplined and firm he was not that. He was funny though when he tried to make sense of his slave Tilla and her womanly ways. While both character felt well rounded with strong personalities the story did drag and gave a lot of useless information in my opinion. It also left some other smaller mysteries unsolved that I would have liked to know more about. I do not think  will read anymore of Ruth Downie's work the writing is just not to my liking.

Land

I am not sure how Land ended up on my Nook but it was a late night pick when I could not sleep. The overall story was a bit strange and the plot line too convenient for the kids but despite that I enjoyed the story and do plan on reading Sea at some point.

When some Canadian's kids trip to Disneyland goes horribly wrong they are left stranded with no way to communicate with home. Determined to get back to Canada five kids decide to make their way from the happiest place on earth back to home. The trip is not without perils though.

Overall the story felt more like a fluffy light read that was somehow dystopian. The writing was not bad but not always clear at times. I did see improvement as the story continued so I hope that will be reflected in Sea.

Pirates!

I grabbed Pirates! from a clearance shelf at the local book store because I liked the cover and it was cheap. While I did like the story it is hard to say why, the story was nothing like I though it would be. Despite being a good length book I am hard pressed to really describe the story to someone else, it felt like it should have been full of action but it never seemed that way and it was not a love story either.

Nancy's life spiraled out of her control when her father died and she was left in the care of her elder brothers. Determined to keep their business they decide to marry Nancy off to a rich merchant in hopes of saving their late father's business. Having none of that Nancy runs away in the middle of the night with two slaves she has made friends with. Fearing her prospective husband hunting her down Nancy does the only thing she can think of she joins a pirate crew to hide.

I expected a lot of adventure, gruffness from Nancy, and pirate escapades, I got none of that. It felt a lot like I was reading a diary of a young woman and less like the adventure it was presented as. Despite the slow writing I also found I could not stop reading. The writing pulled me in and it was hard to put the book down at times. I would consider reading more work by Celia Rees because I like the writing style immensely.

Hunting Prince Dracula

Hunting Prince Dracula is the second book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series. It is the intriguing cover that drew me to research the series and get it from the library.

Audrey Rose continues to be one of my all time favorite literary characters. Still fascinated with cadavers Audrey travels with Thomas to Romania to compete for a chance to attend a school of forensics medicine. It is not long before a murder takes place right outside the train car Audrey is riding in and soon she finds herself in another tangled web of horrific murders. I really enjoyed seeing the trauma Audrey was suffering from being involved with Jack the Ripper cases, instead of just taking it all in stride Audrey struggled mentally and emotionally to come to terms with what happened. Despite struggling Audrey fought to keep it hidden in order to let her peers see her as an equal and not handicapped by her gender.

A couple times I did get confused at the end but it was a complex ending and I was super tired so that could be why.I cannot wait for the third book and I am already trying to think of which famous murders in history Audrey will begin to investigate. I do hope to see more of the wit between Audrey and Thomas continue, they are hilarious when they get going and I love their easy friendship. I was a bit shocked by some of the things that happened in Hunting Prince Dracula but I do not want to post spoilers so I will refrain from mentioning them.

Rebel of the Sands

Rebel of the Sands had been sitting on my bookshelf for a while, I knew nothing about it when I finally picked it up and I highly regret putting it off so long. Once I started I could not stop reading and I was quickly drawn into Amani's desert world. 

Amani is a young girl desperate to escape her dead end desert town where her uncle is ruthless and cruel. Despite the risks Amani masquerades as a male and enters the shooting firing pit hoping to earn enough money to run away. Instead of winning the pot with her well honed gun skills Amani meets a young foreigner who changes her life and becomes her way out of Dustwalk. Embarking on a journey with the mysterious foreigner Amani learns about the world outside of her small town through trials and tribulations. I loved Amani she was so entertaining and felt real, her flaws, character, personality, and choices made her a well rounded developed character. 

Rebel of the Sands is written entirely in first person however I still felt like I got to know the vast array of side characters and enjoy their personality. The writing was quick, delicate, and perfect for the character of the story. I am already on the waiting list for Traitor to the Throne.

Stalking Jack the Ripper

Stalking Jack the Ripper drew me in with it's lovely cover and the Halloween feel it gave me reading the description. I loved the story, the writing, and Audrey Rose the main character.

Audrey Rose is everything society does not want her to be, smart, studious, adventurous, and determined to forge her own path in a society dominated by males. Learning from her Uncle Audrey Rose enjoying doing autopsies on cadavers while advancing the art of science. With a father determined to keep her safe and ladylike Audrey Rose learning to sneak around to fulfill her need to learn science, this goes well until someone starts killing women and mutilating them. Shoved into the middle of the chaos of the Ripper killings Audrey Rose must use all her wits to survive.

I could not get enough of the story and I am eagerly hoping the library will receive the next book in the series, this one had a clear ending despite being part of a series. The writing was lovely, witty, and elegant while painting a clear picture of the world Audrey Rose lived in.

The Houdini Spector

The Houdini Sector is the last book in the The Houdini Mysteries series. All the Harry Houdini mysteries seemed to start slow but they drew me and I could not put them down.

Determined to be successful as an escape artist Harry goes about pursuing someone who will hire him to entertain crowds with his daring acts. With the help of his brother Harry gets tangled up in proving that a seance is a fake. All goes well until one of the guests at the seance ends up dead. Confused and befuddled the two brothers work to figure out how and who committed the murder.

I will miss the Harry Houdini stories they were fun and I enjoyed Daniel Stashower's style of writing. While it seems no more Harry Houdini mysteries will happen I do plan on reading some other work by Daniel Stashower.

City of Fallen Angels

Since I felt like City of Glass ended the Mortal Instruments series I never bothered to pick up City of Fallen Angels until I started watching Shadow Hunters on Freeform.

I love the angle that was taken with Simon and how things started out with his problems, it felt like he got a bit under-shadowed in the previous books but had a chance to shine in City of Fallen Angels. I did sort of miss the Valentine influence since he had played such a massive role in the previous books however I never wanted to put the book down when my lunch break was over.

I don't have the fifth book but I do plan on ordering it from the library.

United as One

United as One is the final book in the I am Number Four series. While I loved I am Number Four I felt the rest of the series was one let down after another but I did want to know the fate of the Garde so I finished the series.

John was the only character I really felt a connection with, I think the other Garde keeping their numbers and not names played a part in that role. Sadly as the series went on I felt less and less connected with the characters and just wanted to know the end. Then I was disappointed in the ending it had so much build up to the grand finale that I felt it was a let d own.

One day I may pursue the novellas but not right now I need a break from the characters. 

The Fate of Ten

The Fate of Ten is the sixth book in the I am Number Four series and it took me awhile to read. I was pretty bored with it in parts.

Ella is still fighting to get away from the Mogs and learning to embrace her telepathy. Struggling to hold on to her humanity as she works at escaping Ella is given a special gift that allows her to learn the real story between the Guarde and Mogs.

Determined to save humanity John works tirelessly with the other Guarde to fight against the Mogs. Overwhelmed by the odds they fear all is lost when a sacred Lorite temple is revealed. Splitting up half the group goes to Mexico to investigate this temple and the other half race to New York where the Mogs intend to attack.

The writing still throws me at times and I do have to think which character is talking at the start of new chapters. Since they are all told from first person point of view it can take me awhile to figure it out. Since I am almost done with the series I do intend to finish it.

The Revenge of Seven

The Revenge of Seven is the fifth book in I am Number Four series. So far this has been my least favorite book of the series.

Marina is full of desire to take revenge on Five who betrayed the Guarde resulting in the death of one of them. Full of anger Marina forms a new legacy the ability to use moisture to make ice and she intends to use this deadly legacy to hunt down Five.

John is struggling to know what to do and forcing himself to the trust Adam, the Mog that was experiment on with a dead guardes body. Unsure on what to do John ignores the advice of the other guarde and agrees to bring Adam into the circle.

Still separated the Guarde all work at fulfilling different tasks. I still struggle with figuring out whose point of view is happening quickly, this has never happened to me with any other book series so it is bothering me a lot. Other then that I just found this book filler until the last couple of chapters and unlike the other books in the series this one just flat out stopped. No smooth ending it just was wham I am done. I am too invested in the series to stop with it so I will continue on with The Fate of Ten.

The General's Notorious Widow

I cannot recall where I got The General's Notorious Widow but it was not what I imagined at all.

I loved the opening of the story, a middle aged woman enjoying a meal who is suddenly harassed by a writer wanting to share her story with the world. Not about to be written about Lixie tells the writer where to go every way possible including unladylike ways. I waited the whole story for things to go back that way but they never did. I also was not sure what the story was really about it seemed to have a really weak plot line overall. 

The writing at the start was hilarious and smoothly perfect. I did want it to go back to that and while I never struggled with the writing style I craved more flair.

The Fall of Five

The Fall of Five is the fourth book in the I am Number Four series.

The trend of telling from multiple points of view continues with new points of view added in, sadly like the previous books I did struggle at times to figure out whose point of view it was at times. Having gathered together the Garde is only missing Number Five and soon they have a sign from Five. Determined to unite Four thinks of a plan to find Five and hopefully unite them as a team.

For some reason the story felt a bit underwhelming at times for me. I do wish that things were still just told from one point of view. Overall I just prefer a book series stay consistent with points of view and I am Number Four was told entirely from Four's point of view. Despite struggling at times to figure out whose point of view is happening I do have The Revenge of Seven downloaded on my Nook and I cannot wait to start it.

Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War

I had hoped Tides of War would be told mainly from Jaina's point of view but only about a third of the story was.

Always a strong advocate for peace Jaina tries to maintain a balance between the Alliance and the Horde as she struggles to make both sides embrace peace. This has always been an easy task for Jaina since she is full of love and hope however that all changes when the Horde brings war to the steps of Theramore. Determined to keep all that she loves safe and lead her people to victory Jaina prepares for war.

My main disappointment was having so many different character's point of views occurring throughout the story. I wanted more from Jaina's point of view. The story did flow well and the writing was crisp and smooth. 

The Rise of Nine

The Rise of Nine is the third book in the I Am Number Four series. Once again I was caught off guard since the story was not told from Nine's point of view.

Having lost his best friend in the Mog fortress and becoming wounded from an aerial poison Four is struggling on what road to take. Overjoyed at having freed Nine the two boys debate about the best path to take and end up disagreeing throughout the whole story. Their bickering did get tiresome, girls are a bit catty so I can them bickering easier then two teenage boys.

Six having gone in search of seven is delighted upon discovering not only seven but ten as well. Safely reunited the three guarde go in search of number eight who is rumored to be in India. Chased by the Mogs the girls have to quickly hurry as they race the clock trying to reunite all the members of the guarde for the battle against the Mogs.

Almost every chapter was a cliff hanger and I hated that. I would just get into the part about one of the groups and it would switch to the other group. Drove my crazy. Since more people are being introduce more points of view are appearing and I do still wish for a little part at the start of each chapter saying whose point of view it is. 

H2O

H2O came up on my Nook as a match for a book I may like.

Ruby is hanging out with her friends at a party one day when the parents come home and quickly usher everyone inside. The rain is coming and it is deadly. Confused and lost Ruby goes home and is quickly quarantined into the living room by her step-father. Scared and unsure of what is going on Ruby struggles to accept that her world has changed.

I was not a fan of H2O at all. I struggled with all that happened. Ruby kissed an infected boy and even got the mark on her face but did not die from it nor did it spread. This part drove me crazy. Makes no sense and does not fit with the story at all. I also did not like Ruby's attitude towards everything and she showed almost no emotion. All in all she just felt flat and underdeveloped. I will not be continuing the series.

The Power of Six

The Power of Six  is the second book in the Lorian Legacies. Sadly I was disappointed in the story. 

Since the title was The Power of Six I assumed it would be about Six but it was not. Also it flip flopped between Four's and Seven's point of view. I do not really enjoy it when a series switches from being all from one person's point of view to multiple points of view. I do wish that Pittacus Lore had put with the chapter number for the person's point of view it was.

The story line felt a little less thought out and did flow as smoothly. Things were choppy and transitions between characters felt a bit rushed and out of place. I do want to continue on with the series I just hope The Rise of Nine has a better flow to it.

Six's Legacy

Six's Legacy is the first in the novella series and I was pleasantly surprised once again. It was briefly mentioned in I am Number Four that Six's Cepan was killed and Six's Legacy tells the story of how it happened. Despite being a novella a lot of information was packed into the story and I read it in one night easily. I do plan on continuing the novella stories but I want to time them right so I wont get spoilers.

Harry Houdini Mysteries: The Floating Lady Murder

The Floating Lady Murder is the second book in the Harry Houdini Mysteries.

Struggling to pay the bills Dash and his eccentric brother Harry answer an advertisement for work from the newspaper for a magician. Not just any magician though the famous Kellar magician who has apparently perfected the floating lady trick. With a bit of help from a hungry lion Dash and Harry are quickly hired by Mr. Kellar and they learn that the trick needs a bit more work. After some kinks are taken care of the trick is ready to perform only it goes horribly wrong when the young lady falls to her death or so it would seem.

It took a long time for the murder to actually happen and I kept waiting for but I did like The Floating Lady Murder far more then The Dime Street Murder. I will get around to reading the next book in the series eventually.

I Am Number Four

I cannot recall how I got a sample of I Am Number Four downloaded on my Nook but I am glad I did. I spent far too many nights saying to myself just one more page.

John Smith is living a lie, everything from his name to his existence. Having fled his home planet during an invasion from another alien species John and eight others are the sole hope of his race. However three of those nine are now dead and John is next on the list. Hoping for a new start in Paradise Ohio John goes to school and works at blending in. He ever makes friends with a boy in his class who is into aliens and works on confessing his crush to the cutest girl in school. For the most part everything is normal for John except for the worry that he will have to fleet at any moment to avoid his pursuers.

What wonderful writing, vivid storytelling, and imaginative aliens. I was in shock realizing I had read hundreds of pages, nothing felt like filler. Feels like I blinked and the story was over. I already have The Power of Six downloaded on my Nook and I cannot wait to start it tonight.

Scarelt Nights

Scarlet Nights was a random grab off my to read shelf as I rushed to work one morning. I do not recall where I got it.

Mike is a detective and does all sorts of dangerous missions, when his boss tells him he is going to investigate a notorious fugitive in his hometown he is less then eager. Having left the town many years ago Mike has no desire to return but he is determined to keep his sister safe and his sister's friend Sara.

Sara is happily planning her wedding and eagerly awaiting the return his fiance when her best friend's brother shows up in her room one night. Someone Mike manages to wiggle his way into Sara's life and their friendship quickly grows.

I liked the mystery of what was going on but some of the romance parts were a bit corny. I was happy that despite the length of the book the plot was not driven by intimate scenes but actual mystery and plot.

Caraval

My first thought of Caraval was that is was going to be like The Night Circus but while I was mistaken I was not disappointed. Without a doubt Caraval is the best book I have read this year.

Scarlett fears her controlling father and worries about her younger sister facing his wrath when she angers her father. Determined to do something to protect her sister and herself Scar agrees to an arranged marriage to escape her father. Determined to make one last attempt to correspond with the legendary leader of Caraval, Legend, Scar writes to him explaining she is to be married. After years of no answers from Legend Scar is shocked when Legend writes back including three tickets to Caraval. Unsure what to do Scar's fate is sealed when her younger sister arranges for her to be taken and she arrives at the game.

I loved Scar, she was a well rounded character with flaws, hopes, fears, and it was clear that the trials of the game changed her. While Caraval is a series Scar's story to me felt complete and I was not really left with questions. I do wonder if the next story will have Scar as a side character or have her taking center stage once again.

The Gauntlet

I have eagerly awaited the release of The Gauntlet. The Hunt ended on a major cliffhanger and I was beyond eager to learn what happened.

Cora is determined to win the Gauntlet and declare humans an intelligent species. Unsure of who to trust and fearing she will not make it to the Gauntlet in time Cora must determine her own path. With her friends to help her Cora learns about inner strength and how to overcome fear. Cora's growth was amazing and I loved how she developed as a character. Even though she grew as a person she maintained flaws, some did seem to disappear but others grew more making Cora feel real and complex.

Despite my excitement for The Gauntlet I was disappointed in the ending. I had so many unanswered questions and I wanted a bit more closure. Sadly the author said this is the end of Cora and her friends story. Due to the rather abrupt ending I am not sure I would read another series by Megan Shepard.

Lady's Maid

Even though I was not overly impressed with Lady's Maid I was unable to put it down and stop reading it entirely.

Wilson was not just a maid to Mrs. Barrett but a friend and a confidant. I really liked Wilson at times and other times I did not care for her much. She had a hard life and clearly struggled to make the most of her life. Worshiping her mistress she showed no hesitation in leaving all she knew to make Mrs. Barrette into Mrs. Browning. As for growth I am not really sure Wilson's personality changed just her amount of life experience.

The writing was told in first person past tense and letters. I was not a fan of the writing style at all and I almost quit reading due to it a few times. It was nice to see how someone imagined Mr. and Mrs. Browning life especially through a servants eyes.

Dream Factory

Ever since I read the first few pages of Dream Factory at the bookstore I have been eager to read the whole story. Since I missed my chance of getting it from the bookstore I ordered it from the library.

Disney cast has gone out on strike in an attempt to get dental insurance so a bunch of high school students were brought in to play the role of the characters. Ella is lost and not sure what to do with herself so getting a job at Disneyworld is a good plan for the time being. Cast as Cinderella Ella struggles to embrace the magic of Disneyland.

Mark thought a job at Disneyworld would be the perfect way to escape his family and moving into a family business position. How wrong he was, cast as Dale he hates the costume and all the rules which he never wants to follow.

The premise for the story was awesome and super original but sadly my favorite part was the description on the back and the first chapter. The story just felt too cliche and flat to me. I was hoping for more character development and nothing was really resolved with Ella and her deep sadness.

The Dark Days Pact

The Dark Days Pact is the second book in the Lady Helen Series and I was so excited to enjoy every page of the story. I cannot wait for the third book to be released.

Helen has come a long way, having pressed the temper of her uncle too far she is now living in the house of an aide of a dark days club member along with her ever faithful maid Darby. Unsure of her situation Helen does he best to learn to accept her reclaimer powers and embrace her destiny of being the ultimate reclaimer.

While everything is told from Helen's point of view I feel like I have a strong bond with all the numerous side characters. They are well thought out, full of flaws, inner struggles, and feelings. Beautiful writing that makes me feel like I am sitting in the room watching the events unfold. The entire time I was kept guessing on what was occurring, who I could trust, and the overall decision of the dark days club to let Helen fight. After some thinking I do have my own ideas of what is going to happen and I eagerly await release of then next book, 2018 feels like it will take forever to get here.

Taming the Forest King

Taming the Forest King was nothing I expected it to be at all. Magic, mythical creatures, and battles was what I imagined.

Tevra is the Colonel of the light Calvary and earned her rank through her skills and sheer determination. Sent by the king to an outer forest province Tevra is horrified to see the Governor living like a royal while the common people starve. Taking matters into her own hands Tevra quickly seizes control and learns the way of the forest people.

Taming the Forest King was different but it is hard to say how it was different. I really liked Tevra, she had flaws but none of them were annoying. She was just blind to a lot of things that did not involve warfare. Even though I read and enjoyed the story I am hard a bit hard pressed to say what the story was actually about. Despite that I never felt like I was reading filler. It was a fun read and I would consider reading other works by Claudia J. Edwards.

The Dark Days Club

The cover is what drew me to The Dark Days Club so I downloaded a sample. The sample was a couple chapters and I was immediately drawn into the story. I had to learn more about Lady Helen.

Helen is intriguing and enlightening character. I love her spirit, despite her overbearing uncle she is determined to make her own choices and remain free. Having reached the eighteen Helen is to presented to the Queen and announce her coming out in society. Fearful of her mother's shady reputation Helen is shocked when the queen gives her unsettling news about her late mother.

The writing was a pleasure to read. I loved every word and the intricate word building. All the characters had lovely personalities with flaws, development, and clear differences between them all. I cannot wait to start The Dark Days Pact.

Wings of Arian

Wings of Arian was not totally what I expected it to be. What drew me in was the lovely cover, minus the snake of course.

Kiora is the main character and I was a bit confused at the start as to what was going on with things. The story starts in the middle of Kiora's training so I was a bit lost as to what Kiora was doing at the start of the book. I did some growth with Kiora as she learned to embrace the magic in her and her job as The Solus. Having lived her live in a sheltered valley Kiora is not overly sure of her destiny but she knows she wants to do what is right for the people who look to her. 

Emane is the crowned prince and used to everyone falling all over themselves to grant him his every wish. His father takes pride in the fact that his family line has no magic. It is to Emane's horror and his fathers that Emane is destined to the be protector of the Solus. Going into combat for someone is not so bad but doing it for Kiora, a girl he cannot stand, is a true test. 

Kiora's and Emane's relation was a bit of a struggle to read at times. It felt like it changed around a lot and quickly. One moment they hated each other and the next they were hugging. It just felt a bit far fetched. I did see a few typos and a few words missing letters but it did not take away from the story. I personally met the author and she told me about the stories so I know this was her first book. I could tell it was a first attempt at writing but I was also able to see how the writing evolved over time and smoothed out. I hope to see further improvement in the rest of the series.

Dangerous

Dangerous was a random pick on my Nook. I have mixed feelings about the story, I did not overly love it but I was unable to stop reading.

Ria loves being a fire magic user and it is her first year at a prestigious magic school. Everything is going perfect for Ria including her super hot boyfriend who happens to be a water magic user until suddenly Ria starts losing control of herself as the first symptoms of magic disease start to appear in her life.

The love circle part is bugging me a lot. Ria is playing two boys and I do not like that at all. Her emotions change way too quickly for my taste and it seems a bit unbelievable at times. Other then that part I did enjoy the story and  I am curious to know more. I will get the second book eventually.

Echoes of Communism

Echos of Communism was a blind impulse buy, I saw the sticker that declared it was by a local author. I knew little of what the story was about when I started it but I was quickly hooked.

Ileana Johnson Paugh talks of her life growing up in Romania under socialism as she dreams of coming to the US and being free. The story is true and tells the truth about the failing attempts at socialism. I actually felt like Ileana was sitting in my living room talking to me for most of the book. The story read smoothly and was interesting. At times parts were repeated a bit too often for my liking but I do understand that Ileana was trying to make a point. Throughout the story Ileana is brutally honest and points out similarities she sees between the US and communism. In several ways the story was eye opening and other ways it just reaffirmed things I already believe. 

If you struggled to read about politics or the brutal truth of what is happening in the world Echoes of Communism most likely will upset you. If you are curious about how people living with socialism survive and some of the key signs of it Echos of Communism would be an interesting read.  

An Uexpected Wish

An Unexpected Wish was a free book for Barnes and Noble readouts. The cover was so cute I had to give it a try. Plus I love a good period romance.

Anne felt like a typical character, the oldest she was left to take care of her two younger sisters when her brother threw them out. Putting her hopes on her beautiful younger sister Anne works at setting up a match that will get them out of the poor house. In order to escape the stress of her life she walks the Fairy Steps and finally makes a local superstition come true, reaching the top without touching the sides. Unable to resist Anne makes a wish for a handsome and rich husband for herself. Feeling silly she starts to fall apart when the men in the town begin to court her unexpectedly.

I would have liked to see a bit more humor, moments felt repeated and overused at times. It was a cute idea just a bit too much filler in it for my taste personally. It did not hold my attention enough that I will pursue the stories about the younger sister's finding love. The intimate scenes were too much for my at times as well.

Harry Houdini Mysteries: The Dime Museum Murders

Harry Houdini Mysteries: The Dime Museum Murders was an impulse buy from the local bookstore that closed down.

The story is told completely from the point of view of Harry's brother Dash. Since no one is really aware of being an escape artist Harry works at a dime theater and is not the most popular act. Frustrated by his lack of success Harry is thrilled when the police summon him to help explain a locked room murder. Mistakenly confused as to thinking the police want help in solving the crime Harry eagerly rushes to scene only to learn he is wanted because his name sounds similar to a toy makers. Undeterred Harry decides to solve the mystery himself and unmake the murder.

Even though Dash was telling Harry's story Dash was my favorite character. He comes off as the more practical brother and his character was interesting. Having worked hard all his life to better himself Dash is extremely appreciative of his circumstances in life. All in all I enjoyed the story and I am grateful I bought the whole series on a whim.

This is Where it Ends

This is Where it Ends is not my usual choice of book however since I read a few pages in the bookstore months ago I have been unable to get it out of my head.

The story occurs in less then an hour but changes the lives of every student at Opportunity High. A normal school assembly turns into a massacre when a former student chains the doors shut and locks the students inside to start shooting them. Told from the point of view of four different students at times the story feels far too surreal and horrifying to keep reading yet I was unable to stop.

I always find it a bit more challenging to review a true story so I tend to just focus on the writing and how it makes me feel. Horrifying, chilling, heartbreaking, angry, and hopeful where among the vast array of emotions I felt. Every person was written well and made it feel like I knew them. A powerful and eye opening read.

Seven Minutes in Heaven

Seven Minutes in Heaven is the final book in The Lying Game series.

Four months of living a lie as her twin and Emma is failing to appease Sutton's killer by keeping up the proper appearances. All that falls apart though when a body is found in Sabino Canyon and suddenly the police want answers as to why a dead girl who bears a resemble to Sutton is in the canyon. Unsure what to do Emma continues to try to lie her way out of everything while hunting the killer. Drawing ever closer to the truth Emma realizes she is running out of time before she ends up dead as well.

I had not realized Seven Minutes in Heaven was the final book when I started it. After having read the previous books I was not about accept most of the answers that were being presented to Emma and I was thrilled to find out my hunch about the killer from the first book was right. \

Emma's transformation from lost, shy, foster girl to tough, nothing phases me Sutton, to finding herself was wonderful written out and displayed. The teenage years are hard for anyone let alone someone trying to play a deceased twin they never met before yet the writing was flawless and fit perfectly. Overall I just loved the whole series and one day I will try the Pretty Little Liars series, not sure I would ever try to watch either series on tv since that is not my thing.

True Lies

True Lies is a novella in The Lying Game series.

One of my major complaints about novellas is they just do not feel like a complete story more like a chapter about a character that should have been included in the main story. This is not the case with True Lies. Since Sutton is dead during the time line of The Lying Game novels it is nice to see things from her point of view in the novellas. Not only that but they feel like a complete and total story.

Desperate to maintain her idea of control Sutton balks at letting her little sister Laurel into the lying game. Charlotte and Madeline have other ideas though and quickly amend the lying rule games so the two sisters have to face off to see if Laurel is going to be allowed into the exclusive club. Several different sides of Sutton were displayed along with how insecure Sutton felt all the time, in such a short few chapters my view and opinion of Sutton changed drastically.

Cross My Heart, Hope to Die

Cross My Heart, Hope to Die is the fifth book in The Lying Game series.

Running out of suspects Emma continues to investigate Sutton's murder while doing all she can to keep the killer at bay. Still determined to bring Sutton's killer to justice Emma cowers in fear when she realizes that Becky, their mother, was in the canyon with Sutton the night she died. Could Becky have murdered her own daughter then forced her twin sister to step into her shoes in some twisted moment of regret?

For some reason I struggled with Cross My Heart, Hope to Die. I flat out did not want Becky to the killer so that was part of it. The drama and intense moments also seemed to dwindle down to nothing until the very end of the story at that point my interest was drastically caught up again.

Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek is the fourth book in The Lying Game Series.


Emma continues to search for her sister's killer while living her life. Having thought she cleared Sutton's little sister Laurel she Emma is distraught to learn that Laurel's alibi for the night is a lie. Did her little sister kill her after all? To add to her stress Emma has to deal with Sutton's parents who are acting extremely odd. Perhaps the killer is closer then Emma though.

It feels like each book is having less and less tension. In the first couple books the killer kept leaving cryptic messages for Emma to just play along. Yet in the Hide and Seek that creep vibe did not really appear. Maybe I am just getting used to the style of writing so it is not as impact. Despite this I have Cross My Heart and Hope to Die downloaded on my Nook waiting to be read.

Two Truths and a Lie

Two Truths and a Lie is the third book in the Lying Game series.

As Emma falls into the life of Sutton more and more her determination continues to grow when it comes to finding out who killed Sutton. Having cleared her friends for the most part Emma shifts her focus to Thayer. Having returned to town after missing for months Emma is convinced Thayer did Sutton in. Determined to find evidence she searches for the truth while trying to outwit a killer.

Two Truths and a Lie was slower and not as attention grabbing for me. I did like the plot but I would have liked a bit more drama and intense moments in it. The characters seemed a lot more tame and mild then in the previous books. Despite that I already have Hide and Seek which I am eager to start.

Never Have I Ever

Never Have I Ever is the second book in The Lying Game series.

Totally unsure who to trust Emma continues to investigate the disappearance and death of her twin sister Sutton while living her life. Unsure on who to trust at all Emma decides to focus on the twitter twins, sisters who have a grudge against Sutton for a dangerous prank she played on them before disappearing. Determined to find answers Emma watches the Twitter Twins every move trying to figure out if they are responsible for her sister's disappearance and death.

Never Have I Ever was just as entertaining as The Lying Game. The entire time I was kept guessing as to each person's motives and trying to figure out what was going on. I loved the writing and how everyone is being portrayed in a way that could make them a suspect. I still have no clue who is responsible for Sutton's death but I am eager to find out, I cannot wait to start Two Truths and A Lie.

The First Lie

The First Lie is a novella in the Lying Game series.

Sutton is a master of the lying game and loves to constantly make the stakes higher and the pranks bigger. When her best friend's brother comes back from soccer camp full of confidence the girls decide to knock him down a few pegs. Always doing a big prank at the start of the school year Sutton toys with Thayer and plays a dangerous game. 

Since this is a novella it was short but it felt like a full coherent story. I was thrilled to read something from Sutton's point of view since she appeared to be a majorly mean person in the Lying Game and I was anxious to know her thoughts. 

The Lying Game

The Lying Game was offered on Free Book Friday a couple weeks ago and since I was between books on my Nook I gave it a try.

Right away the story drew me in, Emma was in shock seeing a girl who looked just like her being strangled in a video on youtube. Unsure what to do Emma scours the web and comes across the facebook page of the girl that looks just like her. Messaging her quickly Emma is delighted when the girl writes back asking her to meet with her. Having nothing to lose Emma backs her bag and heads to Arizona to meet her long lost twin sister. Instead of her sister many puzzles appear the most puzzling of them all Sutton has disappeared and someone wants Emma to pretend to be her.

I never watched Pretty Little Liars but I did enjoy the story a lot, I was constantly kept guessing and I enjoyed that. I never knew what was coming or what was going to happen. I already have the second book checked out and I cannot wait to read it.

Cold-Hearted Rake

The only reason I chose Cold-Hearted Rake was I love the dress on the cover. Sadly it had far too many intimate scenes for my taste but I did enjoy the overall story.

Widowed after three days of marriage Kathleen is unsure of what is going to happen to her since the new Earl seems keen on disposing of the estate and moving on quickly. Worried for her three in-laws Kathleen attempts to think of a solution that will keep her and the younger girls off the streets. 

Devon has always loved his life of freedom and no worries. Learning that his cousin has passed away at a rather young age he is annoyed to bothered with the shambles of an estate he has inherited. Determined to piece the estate off as quickly as possible Devon does not count on Kathleen standing up to him and demanding he figure out what would happen to the 200 families that work on the estate.

I enjoyed the story and the writing just too many inmate scenes for me personally. I may continue on with the next book in the series if I happen to see it at the library but I wont seek it out.

OyMG

I am not really sure what drew me to OyMG but I am glad I gave it a try.

Ellie loves to debate and give speeches. Upon learning that the school of her dreams is far out of her parents budget Ellie decides to attend a Christian debate camp in hopes of winning a scholarship to the school. Shortly after arriving at the Christian debate camp things start to go wrong for Ellie, being Jewish she has a rash of bad luck with Christian topics such as a Christmas tree. Managing to overcome the dilemma's Ellie befriends Devon the grandson of the woman awarding the scholarship. With a bit of help from her family Ellie works at discovering who she truly is.

OyMG was a really light, easy, read and it fit my mood perfectly. It was not heavy on the romance aspect of the story and focused more on Ellie facing tough decisions in her life. The writing was smooth and easy to follow along. All in all an entertaining read. 

Champion

Champion is the third and final novel in the Legend trilogy.

Day has sacrificed a lot to stop the corrupt Republic and Elector. With a new elector Day hopes for suitability and change to come to the Republic. Knowing that he holds the power of the common person Day continues to work with June in helping the Republic mend it's broken bond with the citizens. All is going well until Day learns that the experiments the Republic did on him are catching up and he has little time before the side affects will take his life.

June has it all, she is in a position of power, learning how to govern the Republic and close the Aden the current Elector of the republic. Yet everything still feels wrong, June yearns to be near Day who seems to be going out of his way to ignore her. However when crisis approaches the Republic due to the colonies June and Day have no choice to be to unite in an attempt to save the Republic one last time.

It has been several months since I read Prodigy and even longer since I read Legend. I recall I adored legend and was disappointed in Prodigy. That is pretty typical for me when it comes to trilogies however usually the third book redeems the series for me. Champion started to do that for me until the end. I hated the ending, ruined the whole series for me sadly. Despite not liking the ending I would consider reading more of Marie Lu's work.

Endure

I cannot recall the last time I was able to read a trilogy one after another so it was a wonderful treat. Endure is the third and final book in the Defy trilogy.

Alexa has come a long way, no longer having to hide that she is a girl and in love with the King Alexa works at accepting more in her life beyond the sword. Struck by the orders from Rafe to protect him at all costs and her best friend taken prisoner by Rafe Alexa knows only that she must rescue her friend.

I was seriously disappointed in Endure. I read it in one sitting for the most part and it was super repetitive. It felt like I had read the same parts in the previous books and just kept looping. After a hundred pages or so of the same stuff the last battle finally started which was a huge disappointment. It felt like Sara B. Larson took the easy way out with the ending. I doubt I will pursue further works if Larson continue to write.

Ignite

Ignite is the second book in the Defy trilogy.

Having helped Damion take the throne from his father Alexa is happy for things to go back to normal. Terrified of Damion's feelings towards her and embarrassed by the burn scars on half her face Alexa runs from her feelings about Damion. Refusing to acknowledge how she feels for him she just hides behind being his guard. Soon a delegation from a neighboring kingdom arrives to meet with the young king only to bring with them a host of problems.

Since a third country was introduced I wish that it had been set up a little bit in Defy. Barely mentioned I was sort of confused as to why a third country was suddenly needed. I did enjoy Ignite though, the writing was fast paced and wonderfully smooth. I checked out Endure last night and I cannot wait to start it.

Defy

The only reason I chose Defy was it happened to be on the front page of the library homepage and available for check out. It took me several chapters to finally get into the story but after about five chapters I was hooked.

Alexa is hiding among her enemies, determined not to enter the breeding house to produce soldiers for the king's army Alexa lets her twin cut her hair and masquerades a boy. Not just any boy though, the best fighter among the soldiers Alexa becomes Alex and is chosen to be the crown prince's personal guard. Disgruntled with the attitude of the spoiled, air head prince Alex just focuses on keeping the prince alive and her secret safe.

When I saw the Defy was getting negative reviews on Goodreads and that it was so slow to start I almost stopped trying. I am thankful I did not. Normally I hate love triangles with a passion but a love triangle did not really exist in Defy, Alex was always clear with her feelings. I really enjoyed the magic and fighting system in Defy, they both felt like separate entities that were well thought out. Despite being left with a couple questions the end did tie everything up nicely. Maybe the questions I had will be answered in Ignite.