Review: Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett

Author: Jenn Bennett
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: September 2019

Some legends never die…

Traveling with her treasure-hunting father has always been a dream for Theodora. She’s read every book in his library, has an impressive knowledge of the world’s most sought-after relics, and has all the ambition in the world. What she doesn’t have is her father’s permission. That honor goes to her father’s nineteen-year-old protégé—and once-upon-a-time love of Theodora’s life—Huck Gallagher, while Theodora is left to sit alone in her hotel in Istanbul.

Until Huck arrives from an expedition without her father and enlists Theodora’s help in rescuing him. Armed with her father’s travel journal, the reluctant duo learns that her father had been digging up information on a legendary and magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler—more widely known as Dracula—and that it just might be the key to finding him.

Journeying into Romania, Theodora and Huck embark on a captivating adventure through Gothic villages and dark castles in the misty Carpathian Mountains to recover the notorious ring. But they aren’t the only ones who are searching for it. A secretive and dangerous occult society with a powerful link to Vlad the Impaler himself is hunting for it, too. And they will go to any lengths—including murder—to possess it.

Jen Bennett is quickly becoming a favorite YA author for me.  I have enjoyed everything that I have read by her.  Lady Rogue is no exception.  This is a bit different from her contemporary books  because it has a YA historical fantasy.  I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure story featuring Theodora and Huck.  Not only were the characters interesting, the adventure was pretty non -top and very engaging.

My favorite part about the book was the relationship between Theodora and Huck.  It has been about a year since they had any interaction because of a falling out.  They actually talked about the issue multiple times until it was resolved. That is what I have come to love about this author's characters.  They actually communicate with each other and the angst is kept to a minimum.   The cast of characters that they meet while on their hunt for Theo's father was a lot of fun and added a lot of color to the book.  

I'm not sure if this is a stand alone or if it will end up being a series.  I would love to read more about Theodora and Huck in future adventures.  I highly recommend trying this one out if you are a fan of treasure hunt adventures with a little romance thrown in.

Review: Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett

Author: Jenn Bennet
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publiocation Date:Arpil 2019

After an awkward first encounter, Birdie and Daniel are forced to work together in a Seattle hotel where a famous author leads a mysterious and secluded life in this romantic contemporary novel from the author of Alex, Approximately.

Mystery-book aficionado Birdie Lindberg has an overactive imagination. Raised in isolation and homeschooled by strict grandparents, she’s cultivated a whimsical fantasy life in which she plays the heroic detective and every stranger is a suspect. But her solitary world expands when she takes a job the summer before college, working the graveyard shift at a historic Seattle hotel.

In her new job, Birdie hopes to blossom from introverted dreamer to brave pioneer, and gregarious Daniel Aoki volunteers to be her guide. The hotel’s charismatic young van driver shares the same nocturnal shift and patronizes the waterfront Moonlight Diner where she waits for the early morning ferry after work. Daniel also shares her appetite for intrigue, and he’s stumbled upon a real-life mystery: a famous reclusive writer—never before seen in public—might be secretly meeting someone at the hotel.

To uncover the writer’s puzzling identity, Birdie must come out of her shell…discovering that the most confounding mystery of all may be her growing feelings for the elusive riddle that is Daniel. 

Serious Moonlight is the latest YA romance and the second one I have read from this author.  I really enjoyed Starry Eyes, so I was excited to read this one.  I ended up really enjoying this story. It's not just a romance.  It deals with grief, loss and figuring out where you fit in life.  

The main characters were wonderful. I appreciated Birdie's love of mysteries and how she would build a profile of the people she met.  I loved her relationship with her godmother. I also loved the relationship Daniel had with his family  The slow burn of the romance between Birdie and Daniel was greatly appreciated.  There was no insta-love. Despite their initial encounter, I liked that they became friends first.  I also appreciated the way the author handled the subject of sex in the story.  The characters actually talked about it maturely and responsibly.  That was refreshing.

I probably would keep this one to older YA readers.  Along with the sexual content, there is talk of suicide and depression. That could be a trigger for some readers, so keep that in mind.  Ms. Bennett has another hit on her hands.  I am looking forward to her next book.

Review: Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Author: Jenn Bennett
Publihser: Simon Pulse
Date of publicaiton: April 2018

Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern-day Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.

But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

What could go wrong?

With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.

And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars? 

Starry Eyes is a YA contemporary that involves a sweet friends to lovers to enemies to lovers again trope.  Zorie and Lennon (I loved his name) used to be best friends.  But something happened on Homecoming night that broke up their friendship and budding romance.  When they find themselves on the same camping trip and they are abandoned by their friends, Zorie and Lennon must work together to find their way out of the forest.

I'll admit at first, I didn't love this one in the beginning.  I though it was a little over the top.  I mean Zorie's parent own a spa that is next to a sex toy shop owned by Lennon's two mothers. THat part isn't what bothered me. I was just worried it was going to end up being cheesy.  Instead, I was pleasantly surprised.  I ended up enjoying the story.  Both Zorie and Lennon were dealing with some issues and end up being able to work through them with the help of the other. The big falling out at Homecoming was all a misunderstanding and lack of communication.  But, their time in the woods was well spent as they talked out everything and cleared the air.  Can I just say that I would have loved a boy like Lennon in my life when I was a teen.  It's worth a read.  I would recommend it to the older YA crown though.  There is some content (while done tastefully and responsibly) that I don't think younger YA readers are ready for.