Review & Giveaway: Damage Done by Amanda Panitch

Title: Damage Done

Author: Amanda Panitch

Publisher:  Random House Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: 7.21.2015

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller, Mystery

Series: N/A

Source:  Finished copy from publisher

Amazon

Rating: 4 ½ Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

22 minutes separate Julia Vann’s before and after.

Before: Julia had a twin brother, a boyfriend, and a best friend.

After: She has a new identity, a new hometown, and memories of those twenty-two minutes that refuse to come into focus. At least, that’s what she tells the police.

Now that she’s Lucy Black, she's able to begin again. She's even getting used to the empty bedroom where her brother should be. And her fresh start has attracted the attention of one of the hottest guys in school, a boy who will do anything to protect her. But when someone much more dangerous also takes notice, Lucy's forced to confront the dark secrets she thought were safely left behind.

One thing is clear: The damage done can never be erased. It’s only just beginning. . . . 

Review:

WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE?!

That was my reaction and mantra for most of this book. DAMAGE DONE is a twisted, brilliantly executed book that does not read like Amanda Panitch’s debut novel. My mind is still reeling from the multitude of bombs that went off.

I have to admit—I saw part of the twist coming. But only part of it. The other part? Holy. Crap. Never, ever saw that coming. It literally left me lightheaded and stunned. Pretty sure I was openly gaping at the book in front of me for a solid two minutes.

Julia/Lucy is a fascinating character to be in the head of the entire novel. You can see how much her past and present both scare her and she ultimately has to make a choice as to which will define her life. That struggle was executed wonderfully.

This book is addictive from the first chapter where you learn exactly why Julia Vann became Lucy Black to the chilling conclusion. It’s creepy, terrifying, and twisted in the best ways. 

Giveaway:
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Review: All Fall Down by Ally Carter

Title: All Fall Down

Author: Ally Carter

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: 1.20.2015

Pages: 320

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery

Series: Embassy Row #1

Source: ARC from NCTE

Rating: 4 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

A new series of global proportions -- from master of intrigue, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Ally Carter. 

This exciting new series from NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Ally Carter focuses on Grace, who can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is also the only granddaughter of perhaps the most powerful ambassador in the world, and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running across the roofs of Embassy Row.

Now, at age sixteen, she's come back to stay--in order to solve the mystery of her mother's death. In the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if she and the world are to be saved.

Review:

Prior to ALL FALL DOWN, I had never read an Ally Carter book. But now I can see why so many of my friends are such firm fans of Carter's work. She creates original stories with unique characters and thrilling situations.

Grace is still reeling from the loss of her mother three years earlier. She is sent to live her grandfather, a well known ambassador, in a last ditch effort to help reign her in (the adult rationale) and find her mother's killer (Grace's rationale).

Grace was a hard character for me to nail down. She was impulsive and kind of bratty, but I could always see her heart underneath. The more the book continues, you learn that Grace is less of a rebel and more of a girl with a broken heart.

There were parts of ALL FALL DOWN that I loved and other parts I couldn't get through fast enough. While Grace does read a bit on the younger side of the YA spectrum, she is still a refreshing character and someone I think teens will rally behind.

Buy: All Fall Down

Review: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Black Ice

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: 10.7.2014

Pages: 400

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller, Mystery

Series: No

Source: ARC from BEA

Rating: 3 ½ Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late. 

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage. 

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target. 

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally? 

Review:

BLACK ICE is a tense, thrilling ride with a lot of danger, gasp-worthy moments and head-spinning twists and turns. It’s the kind of book that deserves to be read alone, at night, with a warm cup of tea/coffee to maximize dramatic effect.

Becca Fitzpatrick does a splendid job of hurtling her readers into the frigid wilderness with Britt. I legit felt cold reading this in the middle of summer, sun blazing outside. She’s that good at transporting the reader into the middle of the action. The desperation is palpable throughout the majority of the book.

I know what you’re thinking—Then why the 3 ½ star review, Hannah?

Sadly BLACK ICE is a book that didn’t know when to quit. This is the type of book I wanted to end with a BANG and then be wrapped up in a chapter or two towards the end. But this book limped along at the end. The last 50 or so pages were full of unnecessary drama that made the overall plot seem cartoonish and ridiculous.

This book was phenomenal for the first ¾ of the novel. But then it seriously derailed to the point where I could only sigh and shake my head. It’s definitely worth a read, just proceed with caution.

Review: Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Don’t Look Back

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Publication Date: 4.15.2014

Pages: 384

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller

Series: No

Source: ARC from ALA MW

Rating: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend. 

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash. 

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

Review:

Jennifer L. Armentrout has been an “auto-buy” author for me for quite some time now. I’ve yet to read something of hers I didn’t love and DON’T LOOK BACK is no exception. But more than that, Armentrout continually proves herself to be a versatile writer. She has mastered steamy scenes, made me fall for a demon, a gargoyle, a god, and an alien, but now she once again proves no genre is outside of her reach with the creepy contemporary thriller.

I loved Sam from the beginning. I loved her snark and wit and that her inner monologue was what I expected my own to be if I woke up with a blank memory. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her break away and question her friends, not blindly led around by people she was supposed to love and trust.

Carson was my hero. I need one of him in my life. The way he protected and challenged Sam was exactly what Sam needed.

This plot takes more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. Nothing is what it seems, everyone has an ulterior motive, and if you think you know what happened, I promise you don’t. Fans of Armentrout’s undoubtedly had this one on pre-order, but for those who haven’t been WOWed by her before or never got into her paranormal novels, DON’T LOOK BACK is a wonderful place for you to fall in love with her writing.

 Buy: Amazon

Review: Archetype by M.D. Waters

Title: Archetype

Author: M.D. Waters

Publisher: Dutton Adult

Publication Date: 2.6.2014

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult, Dystopian, SciFi, Romance, Mystery

Series: Archetype #1

Source: ARC from author

Rating: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Emma wakes in a hospital, with no memory of what came before. Her husband, Declan, a powerful, seductive man, provides her with new memories, but her dreams contradict his stories, showing her a past life she can’t believe possible: memories of war, of a camp where girls are trained to be wives, of love for another man. Something inside her tells her not to speak of this, but she does not know why. She only knows she is at war with herself.

Suppressing those dreams during daylight hours, Emma lets Declan mold her into a happily married woman and begins to fall in love with him. But the day Noah stands before her, the line between her reality and dreams shatters.

In a future where women are a rare commodity, Emma fights for freedom but is held captive by the love of two men—one her husband, the other her worst enemy. If only she could remember which is which. . . .

Review:

This is one of those reviews that is so frustrating to write because all I can really say is, “OMG! Buy and read this book immediately …. But I can’t tell you why.” In one of the best debuts I’ve seen in years, M.D. Waters has drafted such a complex, layered world that peeling one single layer back could potentially expose the entire story. And I refuse to deny readers of that, “Holy sh*t” moment that comes while reading ARCHETYPE.

Emma is a complex girl with a lot of issues, the least of which being she wakes up with no memory to a gorgeous man standing over her saying he’s her husband. Never mind the voice that keeps whispering in her head and the dreams she has of another man. Emma has a lot to deal with, and you can’t help but cheer and root for her as a reader.

Mystery lovers will be thrilled over the twists and turns, romance lovers will swoon over multiple scenes, and scifi lovers will be in heaven. Waters is a powerhouse writer with a bright career ahead of herself. Thankfully the sequel, PROTOTYPE, will be out later this year! I, for one, cannot wait to get my hands on it!

Again, sorry for the brief review, but spilling one small secret could unravel all the others. Trust me when I say you need to read this one as soon as you can get your hands on it!

Buy: Amazon

Review: 3:59 by Gretchen McNeil

Title: 3:59

Author: Gretchen McNeil

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: 9.17.2013

Pages: 368

Genre: Multi-Verse

Series: No

Source: ARC from BEA

Rating: A-

Summary (from Goodreads):

Josie Byrne's life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend Nick has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. When she's betrayed by the two people she trusts most, Josie thinks things can't get worse.

Until she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time—3:59 a.m.

Jo's life is everything Josie wants: she's popular, her parents are happily married, and Nick adores her. It all seems real, but they're just dreams, right? Josie thinks so, until she wakes one night to a shadowy image of herself in the bedroom mirror – Jo. 

Josie and Jo realize that they are doppelgängers living in parallel universes that overlap every twelve hours at exactly 3:59. Fascinated by Jo's perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to jump through the portal and switch places for a day.

But Jo’s world is far from perfect. Not only is Nick not Jo's boyfriend, he hates her. Jo's mom is missing, possibly insane. And at night, shadowy creatures feed on human flesh.

By the end of the day, Josie is desperate to return to her own life. But there’s a problem: Jo has sealed the portal, trapping Josie in this dangerous world. Can she figure out a way home before it’s too late?

Review:

I’ve seen so many conflicting reviews of Gretchen McNeil’s 3:59 and I just gotta say: What is wrong with y’all? I freaking love this book! Why aren’t you all reading and loving it, too?

Josie is a bit of an odd character. It took me a little while to warm to her because while I get she had stuff going on, she was just so aloof in the beginning. But once she was trapped in Jo’s world, she came to life and I loved following her.

The paradoxes and similarities that McNeil throws up in both worlds are commendable. It amazed me the precision used to create two totally different but eerily similar worlds in one book. It think I’m in love with her brain. For real.

This book is original and fun and dark and twisted … Yes, there’s a few WTF? moments, but doesn’t every book have that? Just sit back and enjoy the ride, guys, because McNeil throws up a ton of curveballs and creative turns to keep you on the edge of your seat.

I have to warn you all: The ending nearly did me in. I’m still trying to recover from it. I’m not above begging Gretchen McNeil to write a sequel. Maybe if we all do it together it’ll happen?

Buy: Amazon

Review: The Silent Deal by Levi Stack

Title: The Silent Deal

Author: Levi Stack

Publisher: Self-published

Publication Date: 5.2.2013

Pages: 358

Genre: Historical, Mystery

Series: No

Source: ebook from author

Rating: A

Summary (from Goodreads):

When Viktor and Romulus, two peasant boys, dig too deep into their town’s strange past, they awaken the wrath of a mysterious overlord. As the blood brothers struggle to survive, their search for answers takes them through gambling parlors, bare-knuckle boxing matches, and dark forests full of wild animals and men alike. But even with the help of their friends, can they escape the deathly experiments their foe is creating in Staryi Castle?

Enter the bold lands of the Russian Empire where the colorful characters of The Card Game dwell, from the fortune-tellers and fire-jugglers of the Romani Gypsies, to the dangerous criminals that make up the Thieves World, the predecessor of the Russian Mafia.

An explosive mixture of adventure and mystery, The Silent Deal is a young adult novel that will rip readers through the pages. A perilous journey awaits…

Review:

Hello Russia! I have always wanted to travel and experience different places around the world. Especially old cultures, with their ways so different from ours. After reading this, I felt as if I actually traveled there!

Levi did an outstanding job bringing this story to life. I can just imagine the streets, the fair, the people with their clothes and even their attitudes in this epic journey. He was so detailed in the "brass art" and the cards that I believed there was no way he could have described this so clearly without having the real thing. The setting of Russia was detailed, I could close my eyes and imagine myself running through the forest or down the alley with any of those characters. You just have to read this to understand.

Not only was the setting beautiful, the characters are no disappointment either. Viktor had an amazing, yet heartfelt and sad, childhood. Levi gave you his history to better understand him and it was well worth it. Without it, you would have been clueless to countless question and the need to understand the answers Viktor sought. Romulus was by far one my favorites. You get a glimpse of his past but it's hard to understand at the beginning. Which is great, as you slowly unravel his life it all makes sense and your left with that "ahh I get it now" feeling. Or you suddenly make sense of things.

One of my favorite things about this book is that while you have the main plot between Viktor and Romulus, you also have the agenda of the Leopard, the Roma Gypsies, and all the while still trying to decipher what The Silent Deal is on your own.

The title holds true to this book. I loved that about it. I was so blown away by this first book that I cannot wait to have the second. I am left gasping at the end, wanting, no needing to know more.

Buy: Amazon

Review: Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne

Title: Truly, Madly, Deadly

Author: Hannah Jayne

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Publication Date: 7.2.2013

Pages: 272

Genre: Contemporary, Mystery

Series: No

Source: eARC from publisher

Rating: C-

Summary (from Goodreads):

Sawyer Dodd has it all. She's a star track athlete, choir soloist, and A-student. And her boyfriend is the handsome all-star Kevin Anderson. But behind the medals, prom pictures, and perfect smiles, Sawyer finds herself trapped in a controlling, abusive relationship with Kevin. When he dies in a drunk-driving accident, Sawyer is secretly relieved. She's free. Until she opens her locker and finds a mysterious letter signed by "an admirer" and printed with two simple words: "You're welcome."

Review:

In Truly, Madly, Deadly Hannah Jayne attempts to tell the story of a girl trying to unravel the mystery of who killed her abusive boyfriend.

Yes. I said attempts.

There were several things about this that just didn’t work for me. The first was that I never really got a feel for the dynamics of Sawyer’s relationship with Kevin. Maybe I would have cared more about his murder if I understood what went wrong in their relationship. And I felt like Sawyer was never really clear on how she felt about him—did she love it? Did she fear him? Was she relieved he was gone? Happy he was gone? Totally indifferent one way or another? Maybe there was just too much emphasis placed on this from the synopsis, but I felt this really needed to be explained more.

There were several other murders/attacks that led me to the obvious conclusion that Sawyer had a stalker, not someone just trying to help her. But these attacks and murders just felt … forced. There was little fluidity. At one point early on, Sawyer is sexually harassed by a teacher at her school. This just came out of left field and I felt like there was no resolution to this at all. It was never brought up again after it happened. I know this was done to villainize the teacher (I hate being vague, but I’m trying to keep this spoiler-free), but that could have been done if the teacher was just needlessly harsh with grading. It felt like the sexual harassment was dismissed and it shouldn’t be. If you’re going to bring up a subject as volatile and complex as a male teacher blatantly abusing his power over a female student for sexual gain, you need to address it and follow through.

Truly, Madly, Deadly is a relatively short read, which was good as I often found my attention waning. My initial like of Sawyer grew to apathy by the end and while the unmasking of the killer was mildly surprising, I ended this just wanting more. There is a very real possibility a lot of people will enjoy this thriller and that’s fantastic. This just didn’t work for me.

Buy: Amazon 

Review: Ten by Gretchen McNeil

Title: Ten

Author: Gretchen McNeil

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: 9.18.2012

Pages: 304

Genre: Horror, Contemporary, Mystery

Series: No

Source: ARC from a friend

 

Rating: A+

 

Summary (from Goodreads):

And their doom comes swiftly.
It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

 

Review:

Rarely have I wanted a book to be a movie as bad as I do Ten by Gretchen McNeil. Reading this book was like watching a fantastic horror flick. It has all the elements that I love—suspense, action, mystery, and a healthy dose of romantic angst.

 

Meg is, simply put, kick-ass. This is probably one of the most realistic teenage female characters I’ve read in a really long time. Not only is Meg strong, but she’s also not a total hero. When she’s supposed to be afraid, she is and admits it. One of my biggest pet peeves is taking a strong heroine and making her seemingly invincible. Meg is very human in her flaws, and I loved how easily I was able to connect with her.

 

McNeil does the novel a great service by truly setting up scenes. I felt like I was on the island with the characters. She does such a fantastic job laying out each scene; it was like watching a movie in my head. From the start when we arrived on the island in the midst of a storm, to walking around the island, I felt like I was an extra in the scenes because I was so clearly able to envision what was happening. McNeil walks that fine line between just enough information and too much info to enjoy a novel. While she would aptly illustrate a setting, it wasn’t overdone. It flowed effortlessly.

 

The plot kept me guessing to the end and the twist at the end was delicious. I highly recommend checking this book out, and if you can read it on a dark and stormy night at home alone, then definitely do it. It will totally get you in the mood.

 

 

Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

Review: Social Suicide by Gemma Halliday

Title: Social Suicide

Author: Gemma Halliday

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Publication Date: 4.24.2012

Pages: 272

Genre: Mystery

Series: Yes (Deadly Cool #2)

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: A-

Summary (from Goodreads):

Twittercide [twit-er-sahyd]: the killing of one human being by another while the victim is in the act of tweeting.

Call me crazy, but I figured writing for the Herbert Hoover High Homepage would be a pretty sweet gig. Pad the resume for college applications, get a first look at the gossip column, spend some time ogling the paper’s brooding bad-boy editor, Chase Erikson. But on my first big story, things went... a little south. What should have been a normal interview with Sydney Sanders turned into me discovering the Homecoming Queen-hopeful dead in her pool. Electrocuted while Tweeting. Now, in addition to developing a reputation as HHH’s resident body finder, I’m stuck trying to prove that Sydney’s death wasn’t suicide.

I’m starting to long for the days when my biggest worry was whether the cafeteria was serving pizza sticks or Tuesday Tacos...

Review:

I adore this series. It totally feeds into a more grown up Nancy Drew need I have. This series is fun, witty, and twisted. Gemma Halliday does a wonderful job keeping things moving and quick. I never once got bored with this novel, nor with its prequel. It’s great to grab a book and breeze through it in an afternoon.

Hartley is one of the best narrators I’ve ever read in a novel. Maybe it’s because she’s an intrepid reporter, maybe it’s because she’s a total smart ass, but I love her to pieces. She’s fantastic and I swear our brains are on the same wavelength. This girl is fantastic.

I will admit that this plot is a bit predictable, but I honestly don’t care. It’s just such a fun story to read, that I never really cared. And the end put the biggest grin on my face. The way Hartley and her friends Chase and Sam work together is literary gold.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. If you’re looking for something quick, light, and utterly enjoyable? Grab this series and indulge.

Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

Review: The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Last Echo

Author: Kimberly Derting

Publisher:  HarperCollins

Publication Date: 4.17.2012

Pages: 358

Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Series: Yes (Body Finder #3)

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: A-

Summary (from Goodreads):

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice.

When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye…

Review:

I went into this series with such a feeling of trepidation, mostly because I believed this was the last book in the series. Kimberly Derting has assured us it is most assuredly not, and thank heavens. I don’t know what I’d do without this series. Hands down the Body Finder series is one of my all time favorites.

The Last Echo is everything I have come to love about this series: It’s romantic, thrilling, mysterious, and hot. By book 3, you know what you’re getting yourself into. Violet is one of my favorite heroines. She is feisty, kind, sweet, and fearless. This is the girl you want in your corner when the chips are down. I could read about her adventures all day.

One of the things I love most about this series is the romance. Violet and Jay are the prom king and queen of the YA world. Not only does their romance sizzle, but I feel like it also showcases a healthy young adult relationship. They aren’t perfect—far from it, but they work through their problems, they respect each other, and they genuinely love each other. The only thing that could throw a wrench in their idyllic love affair is Rafe, but I refuse to admit Derting would pull a love triangle on me.

This isn’t a series that runs short on action and thrills, but I really feel like Derting brought her A game to the table on this one. The writing is sharp and tight, and she can weave a story with twists and turns that makes my head spin. It is such a total joy to read this series. I also love the team aspect to this. I love the cast of characters that have been compiled and how they all have these amazing abilities that click together to make them quite the formidable crime solving team.

I love when people ask me to recommend a YA mystery to them. I immediately point them in the direction of this series and I’ve yet to hear a single complaint about it.

Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

Review: Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne

Title: Harbinger

Author: Sara Wilson Etienne

Publisher:  G.P. Putnam’s Sons BYR

Publication Date: 2.2.12

Pages: 309

Genre: Paranormal Mystery

Series: No

Source: ARC from author

Rating: B+

Summary (from Goodreads):

Plagued by waking visions and nightmares, inexplicably drawn to the bones of dead animals, Faye thinks she's going crazy. Fast. Her parents beleive Holbrook Academy might just be the solution. Dr. Mordoch tells her it's the only answer. But Faye knows that something's not quite right about Dr. Mordoch and her creepy, prisonlike school for disturbed teenagers.

What's wrong with Holbrook goes beyond the Takers, sadistic guards who threaten the student body with Tasers and pepper spray; or Nurse, who doles out pills at bedtime and doses of solitary confinement when kids step out of line; or Rita, the strange girl who delivers ominous messages to Faye that never seem to make any sense. What's wrong with Holbrook begins and ends with Faye's red hands; she and her newfound friends--her Holbrook "family"--wake up every morning with their hands stained the terrible brown of dried blood. Faye has no idea what it means but fears she may be the cause.

Because despite the strangeness of Holbrook and the island on which it sits, Faye feels oddly connected to the place; she feels especially linked to the handsome Kel, who helps her unravel the mystery. There's just one problem: Faye's certain Kel's trying to kill her--and maybe the rest of the world, too.

Review:

It takes a lot for a book to spook me, which is why I don’t recommend reading this one at night when the rest of the house is asleep. Sara Wilson Etienne scared the crap out of me in Harbinger—and I loved every second of it.

Faye is a complex character. She hasn’t had an easy life—far from it. She questions everything and has lived under the assumption that she’s insane for years. She took a little while for me to adjust to, but by the middle of the novel, I genuine came to care for her, and the members of her “Family”—her fellow asylum inmates.

I am a horribly impatient reader by nature. I tend to like knowing exactly where a book is going, and I really had to let that control issue go here. I was often times just as confused as Faye was, and had to wait for things to be revealed to me as they were revealed to her. I sort of got irritated by that at first, then I quickly let that go and gave myself over to this novel.

This book is a page turner. Etienne gives just enough tantalizing details to keep you guessing and intrigued. I had to get to the end to find out what was happening. This book gets down right freaky in some places, but it’s totally worth the read. I can’t wait to see what she writes next because I will definitely be reading it.

Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

Review: Slide by Jill Hathaway

Title: Slide

Author: Jill Hathaway

Publisher:  Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: 3.27.2012

Pages: 256

Genre: Paranormal, Mystery

Series: No

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: A-

Summary (from Goodreads):

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

Review:

It’s a shame there aren’t more books like this one. Jill Hathaway blew me away with the brilliant mixture of mystery, suspense, and romance. Once I started this book, I couldn’t stop. This is one of those books that you stay up until the early hours of the morning to finish because the tale gets so twisted and complex, you have no clue who the killer is. I love a mystery that can genuinely surprise me, and Slide delivered that in spades.

The novel is told through Vee’s point of view, which is imperative to the story. As a reader I was able to unravel the story with Vee, giving me just enough info to keep me guessing. My only issue with this book, though, is that I felt Vee tried a little to hard to be an individual. Maybe it’s just me, but I felt like she wore her individuality as a shield, and I sometimes struggled to connect with her.

Hathaway’s writing, however, is so vibrant and hypnotic, that any reservations I felt about Vee became inconsequential. This story is original and quick. I love the concept of “sliding” and that Hathaway took to time to explain it so I had no question about Vee’s ability and how it worked.

I love when the twist in the story is revealed and my jaw literally drops. This is that kind of book. You won’t see the end coming, and that made the ride all the sweeter. Hathaway is a truly gifted writer, and if you enjoy a thrilling murder mystery with a hint of romance? This is totally your book. Go grab it now!

Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

Review: Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Title: Deadly Cool

Author: Gemma Halliday

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: 10.11.2011

Pages: 272

Genre: Contemporary, Mystery

Series: No

Copy: ARC provided by HarperTeen for review

Rating: A

Summary (from Goodreads):

Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he's pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren't enough, now he's depending on Hartley to clear his name. Seriously? Not cool. But as much as Hartley wouldn't mind seeing him squirm, she knows he's innocent, and she's the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school's resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer's next victim.

Review:

Veronica Mars, watch out: there’s a new super sleuth in town and she’s doing it with just as much comedy and snark as you. Hartley Featherstone is one fabulous character, and I adore Gemma Halliday for creating her. This book is a fun, fast, and dazzling read.

As if finding out your boyfriend is cheating on you with the president of the chastity club isn’t bad enough, you find said president’s dead body in your boyfriend ex-boyfriend’s closet. Hartley has some serious issues she’s dealing with, and that’s before the end of chapter 2. While this story could quickly morph into the tragic, emotionally-wrought tale of a teenage girl whose boyfriend cheated, Hartley handles this whole situation with such grace and wit, I fell in love with her immediately.

While Hartley is the lead (and a wonderful one at that), she’s surrounded by a fabulous cast. Josh, the cheater and suspected murderer amused me to no end. He provided a lot of comic relief for me, mainly because his idiotic statements gave Hartley some awesome, one-line zingers. Sam was a great, supportive best friend. I loved her. And Chase? He rocked. I gleefully anticipated any of his scenes. He and Hartley were fabulous together. Their chemistry sizzled on every page.

This is a great read for teens and adults. The pace is quick, the dialogue is sharp, and the plot is tight. This book was a delight to read, and I’ll be recommending it to all of my friends.

Buy: Amazon (Pre-Order)

Review: Never Have I Ever by Sara Shepard

Title: Never Have I Ever

Author: Sara Shepard

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date:

Pages: 309

Genre: Contemporary; Mystery

Series: Yes (The Lying Game #2)

Source: E-book

Rating: A

Summary (from Goodreads):

My perfect life was a lie.

Now I’d do anything to uncover the truth.

Not long ago, I had everything a girl could wish for: amazing friends, an adorable boyfriend, a loving family. But none of them know that I’m gone—that I’m dead. To solve my murder, my long-lost twin sister, Emma, has taken my place. She sleeps in my room, wears my clothes, and calls my parents Mom and Dad.

And my killer is watching her every move.

I remember little from my life, just flashes and flickers, so all I can do is follow along as Emma tries to solve the mystery of my disappearance. But the deeper she digs, the more suspects she uncovers. It turns out my friends and I played a lot of games—games that ruined people’s lives. Anyone could want revenge . . . anyone could want me—and now Emma—dead.

Review:

I read The Lying Game when it came out last year, my first Sara Shepard book. I thought it was cute, fun, summer-y fluff with a unique plot. I’m not sure if I simply have a different frame of mind this time around, but while book one was fun, I found Never Have I Ever to be addicting. I could not put this book down!

While it still has the catchy, summer vibe that I enjoyed in book one, Never Have I Ever takes it to the next level. It explores the dynamic between the lying game group, and makes deeper connections between the friends. Anyone I considered a suspect in Sutton’s murder was systematically refuted as the killer, which frustrated me in the best way possible. I love the mystery surrounding these books.

I know there’s now a renewed interest in this series because of the TV series on ABC. I’ve watched the first few episodes of The Lying Game and while it is great, it doesn’t hold a candle to the books. I adore the romance of Emma and Ethan in the books, versus how it is being set up on the TV show. There’s something more visceral and emotional about their connection in the novels that is lost on the show. And after all, aren’t books always better than anything TV or movies can create?