The Perfectionists by Sara Shephard

Authors: Sara Shephard
Publisher: Harper Teen
Date of publication: October 2014

In Beacon Heights, Washington, five girls—Ava, Caitlin, Mackenzie, Julie, and Parker—know that you don’t have to be good to be perfect. At first the girls think they have nothing in common, until they realize that they all hate Nolan Hotchkiss, who’s done terrible things to each of them. They come up with the perfect way to kill him—a hypothetical murder, of course. It’s just a joke...until Nolan turns up dead, in exactly the way they planned. Only, they didn’t do it. And unless they find the real killer, their perfect lives will come crashing down around them. 

This is a new series by the author of Pretty Little Liars.  I actually was pleasantly surprised by the book.  The book definitely has shadows of PLLs, but I thought the author came up with a good and fresh story line.  The five girls have all been wronged by the same boy in some way.  they plot to give him a taste of his own medicine.  But he shows up dead the next day.  The girls know it wasn't them, but all of the evidence puts doubts in the minds of the police.  

I felt like this book was less about the mystery and more about setting up the characters.   I was able to really get a sense of who each girl was and where she was coming from.  They may be in a school that demands perfection, but they are all less than perfect. I didn't really get the snob vibe from any of them.  In fact, I liked them all.   The book ends in a cliffhanger much like the end of a season cliffhanger would on a television show.  That was a little frustrating.  I am hoping that in the next book, there will be more mystery and sleuthing.  

I would probably keep this to the over 15 crowd. I did feel like there were some sensitive subjects that wouldn't be appropriate for tweens.  I look forward to the next book, The Good Girls, which comes out in June.

Better When He's Bold by Jay Crownover

Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow
Date of publication: February 2015

Welcome to the Point...

In a dark and broken kingdom, a ruler has to be fearless to control the streets and the ruthless people who run them.

Race Hartman is just bold enough, just smart enough, and just lost enough to wear the crown. Places like the Point will always have bad things and bad people, but the man in control of all that badness can minimize the devastation. Race has a plan, but can he prevent total annihilation without destroying himself?

Brysen Carter has always seen her best friend's brother for what he is--too pretty, too smooth, and way too dangerous to touch. Basking in Race's golden glow is very tempting, but Brysen knows she'd eventually get burned.

When she starts receiving threatening texts and someone tries to take her out in parking lot, the only person interested in keeping her safe is the one man she can't allow herself to have.

Sometimes being bold is the only way to stay alive. But can she let Race save her life . . . if it means losing herself to him? 

Better When He's Bold is the second in the "Welcome to the Point" series.  This is Race and Brysen's story.  Race has taken over running the Point from the evil Novak.  His hope is that with him calling the shots, the Point won't ever be ruled by a man like Novak again.  He also finds he can't get his mind off His sister's friend, Brysen,  Can he do his job and still be there to protect her?

In the first book, Better When He's Bad, I had a hard time reconciling the life that these characters live.  I always want my heroes to be good men.  But as I read Better When He's Bold, I began to see that sometimes you have to get your hands a little dirty in order to survive.  There are people who are evil and just plain bad seeds and then there are people like Race who has to be a little bad to bring the good and better to the world.   I felt like that came across a lot clearer in this book than in the first.  

I loved Brysen and Race together.  Their relationship really steamed up the pages.  But more than that, I really felt like they brought a balance to each other's lives.  Brysen just can't seem to catch a break.  She has given up a lot to make sure her sister makes it to college and will sacrifice anything to protect her.  I admired that about her.  Anyone who is willing to do whatever it takes to help the ones she loves is a strong person in my book.

There is a mystery in this.  Someone is stalking Brysen and Race is desperate to find out who and why.  There is also someone who is trying to sabotage Race and his partner Nassir's business in the Point.  That story seems to be an arc that will carry over into the next book.  Hopefully, they will find some resolution soon.  

Titus's book, Better When He's Brave, is up next.  I can't wait to see how the cop's story plays out!

Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

by:  Jennifer Brown
published by:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
publish date:  May 6, 2014

Jersey Cameron has always loved a good storm. Watching the clouds roll in and the wind pick up. Smelling the electricity in the air. Dancing barefoot in the rain. She lives in the Midwest, after all, where the weather is sure to keep you guessing. Jersey knows what to do when the tornado sirens sound. But she never could have prepared for this.

When her town is devastated by a tornado, Jersey loses everything. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with relatives she hardly knows-family who might as well be strangers. In an unfamiliar place, can Jersey discover that even on the darkest of days, there are some things no tornado can destroy?

Have you seen the movie Into the Storm?  Or those shows on The Weather Channel about tornadoes when people relive their experiences?  This is what this book was like.  
Jersey is left at home alone while her sister and mother head off to dance class when the tornado hits.  After surviving a direct hit by the tornado, Jersey is left to fend for herself for day before she find out that her mother and sister have been killed.  Only her stepfather survived and he is so overcome with grief that he can barely take care of himself, let alone his teenage stepdaughter.  She gets sent to her biological father that she's never met only find herself in a horrible place with people that don't want her.  Jersey's life is spiraling out of control, and she doesn't think there will be anyone left to take care of her.  

This was a great book.  Torn Away was one of the few books that I wanted to go tell my kids to read.  That sounds terrible, but they're not big readers and I think they would really like this one.  It was exciting and heartbreaking, but ultimately had a satisfying conclusion.  I would definitely recommend Torn Away!

Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder Series

I started listening to this series when I saw the latest book at the library, but I don't read book series out of order.  So I went back to the beginning and started with Sworn to Silence (2009, Minotaur Books).  We're introduced to Painters Mill Chief of Police Kate Burkholder.  Formerly Amish, she now lives an "English" lifestyle.  This story in about the resurfacing of a serial killer that was long thought dead, one that Kate thought she killed herself as a child.  Kate and State Investigator John Thomasetti are pulled into a long, dangerous investigation that hits very close to home for Kate.

I ended up really liking this book.  I liked the character Kate.  The interplay between Kate and Thomasetti was great.  Both characters were majorly flawed so that made for some interesting reading.  Kate was whip smart, but often times limited by her Amish upbringing and that added an unique dynamic.  I never got on the Amish book bandwagon, but I definitely got on the wagon for this series.

I went from Sworn to Silence straight into Pray for Silence (2010, Minotaur Books).  This book was a lot grittier than her first book.  The subject matter was darker and more shocking for sure.  It dealt with the murder of an entire Amish family.  While the mother, father, and sons were shot execution style, the daughter's were viciously brutalized.  However, much like the first book, I really liked Kate and how committed she was to her job and her community of Painters Mill.  The relationship that developed between Thomasetti and Kate only got more and more interesting.

I chain-read right on in to book 3 which is Breaking Silence (2011, Minotaur).  The bad thing about reading a series one right after another is that you notice repetition.  I also find that when you listen to audiobooks that repetition is far more noticeable than when you read a written book.  By time I got to book 3, I was picking up on some phrases that I had already heard.  THEN, I felt like the phrases within this particular book were getting repetitive.  This book was about hate crimes against the Amish.  Kate always lists out the justifications that people give for their hatred of the Amish, it's always the same list over and over again.  Ok, I got it the first two times you gave it.

So I decided it was time to take a little break from this series.  In the next few weeks I'm going to be reading the rest of it.  I really love the characters.  I love the town of Painters Mill and I can't wait to get back there!

Blog Tour: Ryder- American Treasure by Nick Pengelley

Author: Nick Pengelley

Date of publication: January 20, 2015
Published by : Alibi

Fast-paced, edgy, and action-packed, the perfect read for anyone who loves the novels of Steve Berry or James Rollins, Ryder: American Treasure marks the return of Ayesha Ryder, a woman digging into history’s most dangerous secrets—and hiding some of her own.

During of the War of 1812, British troops ransacked the White House and made off with valuables that were never returned. Two centuries later, a British curator finds a vital clue to the long-vanished loot. Within hours, the curator is assassinated—and Ayesha Ryder, a Palestinian-born antiquities expert, is expertly framed for his murder.

Who could be behind such a conspiracy? And why do they want Ryder out of the way? To find out, she picks up a trail leading from a mysterious nineteenth-century letter to the upcoming presidential election. As Ryder dodges killers in the shadow of hidden alliances, sexual blackmail, and international power plays, she finds that all roads lead to the Middle East, where a fragile peace agreement threatens to unravel . . . and another mystery begs to be discovered.

Ryder’s rarefied academic career and her violent past are about to collide. And her only hope of survival is to confront a powerful secret agent who has been waiting for one thing: the chance to kill Ayesha Ryder with his own two hands.

The first book in this series was just an OK read for me, but I thought I would give this second one a try.  Who doesn't like American history and conspiracy theories?  In this one, Ayesha is commissioned to find the lost treasure of the war of 1812.  The hunt turns out to be more deadly than she thought.

Sadly, this was a DNF book for me.  I just had a hard time getting into it.  I was hoping for a treasure hunt book, but it turned out to be much more political than I would have liked.  I am just not one for politics in the stories I read.  I had a hard time connecting with the characters.  I do think there is an audience for this book however, so if you like political intrigue, I would recommend giving this a try. It just wasn't for me.

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About Nick Pengelley

Nick Pengelley is the author of the political thrillers Ryder and Ryder: American Treasure. Australian by birth, he’s had careers in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom as a law professor, legal consultant, and analyst on Middle East politics, which is his passion. Pengelley lives in Toronto with his wife, Pamela.

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Nick Pengelley’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Tuesday, January 13th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Tuesday, January 13th: Bell, Book & Candle

Wednesday, January 14th: Book Nerd

Thursday, January 15th: Queen of All She Reads

Monday, January 19th: Omnimystery News – author guest post

Monday, January 19th: Reading Reality

Tuesday, January 20th: Vic’s Media Room

Tuesday, January 20th: 2 Kids and Tired

Wednesday, January 21st: Reading to Distraction

Thursday, January 22nd: Joyfully Retired

Monday, January 26th: Dwell in Possibility

Tuesday, January 27th: Read-Love-Blog

Tuesday, January 27th: Words by Webb

Monday, February 2nd: No More Grumpy Bookseller

Thursday, February 5th: From the TBR Pile

Monday, February 9th: Brooke Blogs

Tuesday, February 10th: A Fantastical Librarian

Throwback Thursday: Mac's Angels: Midnight Fantasy by Sandra Chastain

Author: Sandra Chastain
First published in 1995 by Bantam; Re-issued in 2013 by Loveswept

At the stroke of midnight, he opened his door to a dream...

Just when quarterback Joe Armstrong had decided his life was over, the dorbell rang--- and a long legged enchantress made him reconsider! Annie Calloway insisted she wasn't a vision or a witch, just someone who cared, but Joe didn't want his soal saved...only a kiss that tasted of paradise. Could a wildfire angel who'd nearly surrendered to sorrow herself heal a hero who'd forgotten how to dream?

Weaving heartbreak & humor into a tale of sizzling senusality & magic, bestselling author Sandra Chastain sends a heavenly heroine to the rescue of a wounded warrior. Once she'd convinced him he had a reason to live, could he persuade her that she was his reason to love?

Midnight Fantasy is the first in a throwback series by Ms. Chastain and the first I have read by this author.  I was intrigued by the premise behind the book and for the most part, I enjoyed it. Joe has extreme guilt over the death of his best friend in a boating accident.  Annie has been sent to try to bring him out of hiding and back into life.She has been hired by a secret agency who sends "angels" to people when they need them the most.  Annie harbors a secret of her own and may just need Joe as much as he needs her.


I thought the romance part was cute.  They two of them got along well and I believed their attraction.  The thing I was on the fence about was the time line.  Both of the characters have huge problems that they need to overcome and I didn't buy that one week would be enough time to overcome them.  The other thing that disappointed me was the lack of information about Mac and how his "agency" came about.  I kind of felt like I was missing back story on that aspect.  As this is the first book, I was surprised  and would have liked more background.  

The epilogue sets up the next book, Sinner and Saint.  I have it in my TBR pile, so keep an eye out!

Blog tour: Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman

Author: Luara Lippman
Publisher Harper
Date of publication: First published in 1997, reissued in 2011

Discover the first novel in New York Timesbestselling author Laura Lippman’s outstanding Tess Monaghan series! When a former Baltimore reporter must solve the murder of a notorious attorney, she discovers Charm City is rife with dark, sordid, and dangerous secrets.

In a city where someone is murdered almost every day, attorney Michael Abramowitz’s death should be just another statistic. But the slain lawyer’s notoriety—and his taste for illicit midday trysts—make the case front-page news in every local paper except the Star, which crashed and burned before Abramowitz did.

A former Star reporter who knows every inch of this town—from historic Fort McHenry to the crumbling projects of Cherry Hill—now-unemployed journalist Tess Monaghan also knows the guy the cops like for the killing: cuckolded fiancé Darryl “Rock” Paxton. The time is ripe for a career move, so when rowing buddy Rock wants to hire her to do some unorthodox snooping to help clear his name, Tess agrees.

But there are lethal secrets hiding in the Charm City shadows. And Tess’s own name could end up on that ever-expanding list of Baltimore dead.

In anticipation of the 12th Tess Monaghan book coming out this summer, Harper is promoting the first book in the series, Baltimore Blues.  I have had this book on my TBR list for a long time, so this blog tour was great incentive to read it.  I enjoyed the mystery part of the book.  It definitely kept me guessing as whether or not Rock was guilty.  

I really didn't care for Tess in the beginning.  I thought she was kind of a slacker.  I have little respect for someone who just floats by.  But, as she began to use her reporter skills to start taking apart the case, I began to like her more and more.  She is definitely a character I could come to love.  I  have the next book, Charm City on my MP3 player, so keep an eye out for it in a Throwback Thursday post soon!  

About the author:

Since her debut in 1997, Laura Lippman has been heralded for her thoughtful, timely crime novels set in her beloved hometown of Baltimore. She is the author of twenty works of fiction, including eleven Tess Monaghan mysteries. She lives in Baltimore, New Orleans, and New York City with her family.

Connect with Laura on her website, Facebook, or Twitter.

Purchase Links

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Laura’s Tour Stops

Tuesday, January 20th: No More Grumpy Bookseller

Wednesday, January 21st: she treads softly

Thursday, January 22nd: Kritters Rambling

Monday, January 26th: Reading Reality

Tuesday, January 27th: Drey’s Library

Wednesday, January 28th: 5 Minutes For Books

Thursday, January 29th: FictionZeal

Tuesday, February 3rd: Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Wednesday, February 4th: From the TBR Pile

Thursday, February 5th: Colloquium

TBD: BoundbyWords

Romance is in the Air Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Romance is in the Air Giveaway Hop hosted by I'm a Reader, Not a Writer. 

For a full list of participating blogs go here.

We have 2 books to give away.  2 lucky winners will be chosen and receive one of the books.(US Only Please) 

To enter just fill out the Rafflecopter below.  Good luck!

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Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman

Author: Neil Gaiman
Publisher: William Morrow
Date of publication: February 3, 2015

In this new anthology, Neil Gaiman pierces the veil of reality to reveal the enigmatic, shadowy world that lies beneath. Trigger Warning includes previously published pieces of short fiction--stories, verse, and a very special Doctor Who story that was written for the fiftieth anniversary of the beloved series in 2013--as well "Black Dog," a new tale that revisits the world of American Gods, exclusive to this collection.

Trigger Warning explores the masks we all wear and the people we are beneath them to reveal our vulnerabilities and our truest selves. Here is a rich cornucopia of horror and ghosts stories, science fiction and fairy tales, fabulism and poetry that explore the realm of experience and emotion. In "Adventure Story"--a thematic companion to The Ocean at the End of the Lane--Gaiman ponders death and the way people take their stories with them when they die. His social media experience "A Calendar of Tales" are short takes inspired by replies to fan tweets about the months of the year--stories of pirates and the March winds, an igloo made of books, and a Mother's Day card that portends disturbances in the universe. Gaiman offers his own ingenious spin on Sherlock Holmes in his award-nominated mystery tale "The Case of Death and Honey". And "Click-Clack the Rattlebag" explains the creaks and clatter we hear when we're all alone in the darkness.

Trigger Warning is the latest anthology out by Neil Gaiman. The book is made up of older stories that have been previously published as well as some new content.  Die hard fans will probably recognize most of them.  There is also a special treat for Doctor Who fans and fans of his American Gods series. I do recommend reading the introduction by the author.  In it, he includes background behind each story. I found that really interesting and it was glad I took the time to read it.

Personally, this author has always been a hit or miss for me.  I can't say that I have loved everything I have read by him.  That is how I felt about this anthology.  I will be honest, I didn't love everything in this book.  Some of the pieces I just didn't understand and actually re-read one to see if I missed something.  Despite that, there were a couple that stood out to me.  I liked the creepy story, "Click-Clack the Rattlebag".  I would have to say that one was my favorite.  I also liked "The Thing about Cassandra".  That has a cool interesting twist to it.  

I would recommend picking this up.  There is definitely something for everyone in here.  That is the great thing about anthologies.  You can always find something to fit your mood.

Blog Tour: All That Glitters by Michael Murphy

Author: Michael Murphy
Publisher: Alibi

Date of Publication: January 06, 2015

In Michael Murphy’s rollicking new Jake & Laura mystery, the hard-boiled writer and the aspiring movie star head for sun-drenched Los Angeles, where a cold-blooded murderer lurks behind the scenes.

Just arrived from New York, Broadway actress Laura Wilson is slated to star in Hollywood’s newest screwball comedy. At her side, of course, is Jake Donovan, under pressure to write his next mystery novel. But peace and quiet are not to be had when an all-too-real murder plot intrudes: After a glitzy party, the son of a studio honcho is discovered dead from a gunshot wound. And since Jake exchanged words with the hothead just hours before his death, the bestselling author becomes the LAPD’s prime suspect.

In 1930s Tinseltown, anything goes. Proving his innocence won’t be easy in a town where sex, seduction, and naked power run rampant. With gossip columnist Louella Parsons dead-set on publicizing the charges against him, Jake has no choice but to do what everyone else does in the City of Angels: act like someone else. Blackie Doyle, the tough-talking, fist-swinging, womanizing hero from Jake’s novels wouldn’t pull any punches until he exposed the real killer—nor will Jake, to keep the role of a lifetime from being his last.

All the Glitters is the sequel to The Yankee Club (My review) I really enjoyed going along on another adventure with Jake and Laura.  This time around, they are in California so that Laura can star in her first moving picture.  When the screen play writer is murdered after a party, Jake becomes the number one suspect.  He must prove he is innocent or lose the future he wants with Laura.

There are a number of suspects, so the story really keeps you guessing until the end.  With actors, directors, and the mob, you never know who is telling the truth and who is putting on an act.  I don't want to give too much of the plot away, because it would ruin it.  But, just when I thought I had it figured out, I found out I was totally wrong.  

As I said before, it was fun to visit with Jake and Laura again.  I love this couple.  They make a great team.  If you have ever watched any of the Nick and Nora Charles movies, you will understand what this couple is like.  They have great banter and a lot of love and affection.  And, speaking of Nick and Nora, actor William Powell makes an appearance in the book as well as some other known celebrities.  These cameos are one of the other things that I love about this series.

I highly recommend this book and the first book, I hope another Jake and Laura book comes out soon!

About the author:

Michael Murphy is a full-time writer and part-time urban chicken rancher. He lives in Arizona with his wife of more than forty years and the four children they adopted this past year. He’s active in several local writers’ groups and conducts novel-writing workshops at bookstores and libraries.

http://www.mjmurphy.com

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Michael Murphy’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Saturday, December 27th: Vic’s Media Room – Review of Book 1, The Yankee Club

Monday, January 5th: Omnimystery News - author guest post

Tuesday, January 6th: Reading Reality

Wednesday, January 7th: The Book Binder’s Daughter

Thursday, January 8th: Joyfully Retired

Friday, January 9th: The Reader’s Hollow

Monday, January 12th: Mystery Playground

Tuesday, January 13th: A Book Geek

Tuesday, January 13th: Vic’s Media Room

Thursday, January 15th: Dwell in Possibility

Friday, January 16th: Fiction Zeal

Monday, January 19th: Open Book Society

Monday, January 19th: A Chick Who Reads

Wednesday, January 21st: Lilac Reviews

Monday, January 26th: Psychotic State Book Reviews

Tuesday, January 27th: Bibliotica

Wednesday, January 28th: The Discerning Reader

Thursday, January 29th: Mom in Love with Fiction

Monday, February 2nd: From the TBR Pile

Date TBD: Read a Latte

TBD: Laura’s Booklist

Push by Eve Silver

Author: Eve Silver
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Date of publication: June 2014

It’s either break the rules or die.

Miki Jones lives her life by her own strict set of rules, to keep control, to keep the gray fog of grief at bay. Then she’s pulled into the Game, where she—and her team—will die unless she follows a new set of rules: those set by the mysterious Committee.

But rules don’t mean answers, and without answers, it’s hard to trust. People are dying. The rules are unraveling. And Miki knows she’s being watched, uncertain if it’s the Drau or someone—something—else. Forced to make impossible choices and battling to save those she loves, Miki begins to see the Committee in a glaring new light.

And then the Game crosses a new boundary, pushes harder into Miki’s and her friends’ lives, and there’s nothing in the rules that can save them now.

Push is the second in The Game trilogy.  I enjoyed the first book.  Autumn and I reviewed  Rush back in April 2014.  I know that the first book left me with a few questions that I was hoping would be answered in this book.  Unfortunately, I have more questions.  I feel like this second book is a lot like the second books of other trilogies  Not a lot happens to further the story along.  This whole series probably could be condensed into two books.

That isn't to say Push wasn't enjoyable.  It was fast paced with a lot of action.  I found myself liking the characters more and more.  The fight scenes in particular were nail biting and dangerous. Not everyone is safe from harm in this one as in the first one.  The book also ended with in another cliffhanger.  I am looking forward to Crash, the finally book in the trilogy.   I am hoping for a satisfying conclusion!