Remember, Remember by Anna Elliott

Remember, Remember: A Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery by Anna Elliott with Charles Veley

Book Stats:  

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction
Paperback: 343 pages
Publisher: Wilton Press/ Anna Elliott
Release date: April 2, 2017

Series:  Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery, # 3

Source: For review

Reviewed by: Kara

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

"The game's afoot in this fast-paced Victorian mystery!

A lovely young American actress has a major problem.

It's a cold morning in 1897 when she awakens outside the British Museum, lying face down on the concrete pavement . She has no memories. She does not even know who she is, although she has a vague recollection of the name Sherlock Holmes. She thinks she may have just killed someone, and she knows someone wants to kill her. As she searches for clues to her true identity, she will learn that she is not the only target. Unless she can defeat her evil adversaries, the people most dear to her will die."

In this Sherlock Holmes continuation, a young woman is found by a young police constable on the steps of the British Museum after having been assaulted. Her memory is lost, and though she tries to jog her memory, she ends up running into someone who tried to abduct her. The only one who believes her is the policeman, John Kelly, who takes her to his home to his young sister. While there, a mysterious man tries to gain entrance and both girls are forced to flee, this time running back to the British Museum where our heroine's memory is jogged enough to finally rediscover her identity, Lucy James. Lucy, remembering her ordeal, immediately runs to Baker Street to deposit the young girl, Becky, for safekeeping while warning Dr. Watson of a plan she had learned of just before she was knocked out. Lucy makes her way to the docks where she is once again trapped by Mr. Ferrars who tried to abduct her earlier. Luckily, Holmes and Kelly arrive on the scene to help. Holmes and his crew are on the tail end of an investigation into a German spy ring of the Kaiser's trying to subvert or attack the British government. Lucy, Holmes's erstwhile daughter, is an actress and talented intellectual much like her famous father. But when Kelly is accused of murder, Lucy and Holmes must try to save him from hanging as well as avoid the spies within the Metropolitan police and keep an eye out for danger from the criminals they're pursuing, Mr. Ferrars and the fake doctor.

Despite beginning with amnesia, the plot keeps the reader engaged until the mystery reveals itself. Lucy is a likeable heroine though we don't learn much of her actual background except that she is American, went to boarding schools, is a talent actress/singer, and can defend herself. My favorite part about Lucy was when she pretended to be taken in with the plot for Mr. Ferrars to be her husband and then confronts him as soon as he tries to manhandle her into his carriage. After being scared she was going to be naive and go along with some stranger, I was happy cheering her on to be plucky and determined to avoid getting in the man's carriage. It show her difference of being a more independent, strong feminist young woman who is unafraid to take care of herself even in very uncomfortable situations. This fact alone sets it apart from most Regency historicals or other Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Women are generally damsels in distress, but not Lucy! Even when she must depend on John Kelly's kindness, she still shows herself capable of obtaining things she needs and standing up for herself.

Another gem of this book is the dialogue of Holmes, who really does sound like himself, or at least, the version of Holmes that I picture as Benedict Cumberbatch. Also the revelation of Holmes having a daughter and the both of them having to negotiate a relationship when neither are very used to having family, much less sharing feelings, is another interesting bit. It's all very formal and framed with utmost care to be without emotion, stated as facts. I find this quite believable for Sherlock Holmes. There isn't much detail to the book, which might've dragged it down if included, but the lack of detail, except when narrated by the characters to further the mystery, fits the quick plot and resolution. There's a bit of romance, done as lightly as possible in this era, but still keeps the reader interested and doesn't overwhelm the other aspects of the novel. I really enjoyed reading it as it was easy to jump into, fast-paced, and not gory (as mysteries can frequently be) while also being light and fairly true to continuing a possible future of Holmes and Watson. I'd read more and I'm definitely interested in reading more from Anna Elliott.

Please note that while this is the third book in the series, it is the first written by Anna Elliott and is the first to center on Lucy James as books one and two, The Last Moriarty and The Wilhelm Conspiracy, deal with Sherlock Holmes. The fourth, The Crown Jewel Mystery is also Lucy James and was just recently released on Kindle only.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

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Posted by Kara at 07:00

 Adult, Anna Elliott, Mystery, Regency historical fiction, Remember Remember, Review, Self-published  2 People left their mark

The Time Agency by Aaron Frale

I have always been a fan of time travel stories.  I have stopped listening to experts when they say time travel cannot be done.  After all, how can there be time travel experts if there can be no time travel (some kind of conspiracy maybe?). I also like stories that weave a web of mystery.  So, when I saw this book it seemed to fit some of my favorite categories.

We start off the story with a deep mystery.  It is the main character only we do not know who, where or even when he is.  It is an interesting variation on teaching a new world through a new inhabitant or student.  Here we have somebody well versed in its intricacies only, he can't remember what they are.  The problem comes in the narration.  I'm not averse to the more experimental but, I believe the experiment failed somewhat here.  The book used not only two different POVs, it used two different perspectives.  Perspective shifts from third to first person every time the POV shifts back to the main character.  The reader has to be especially watchful for changes in voice to pick up on this change.  It does highlight the unreliability of the main character as narrator but, I still believe it could have been done a bit more elegantly by sticking to one perspective.  It would have made for a longer story but, if it is a good one, who would mind.

Character development is another tricky aspect with this one.  In this case, it isn't a bad thing.  The main character is in constant flux because he is constantly reevaluating himself and his own motivations as much as everybody else around him if not more so.  It can be one part maddening to two parts exciting depending which part of the book you are in.

I am a big Doctor Who fan (Whovian if you please) and can withstand the mental stresses, strains and leaps required to really get into any time travel story.  With that said, this book wore me out with its whiplash changes in time, scenery and perspective.  Oddly, it took a bit too much time to straighten some of it out in my head for me to really enjoy it.  The language and violence land this one firmly in the PG13 rating.

 

 

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Aaron Frale, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Mystery, Review, Science Fiction, time travel  Leave your mark

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco + Giveaway

Every so often I read a book that perfectly matches up with the time of year, and this was one of those times.  What could be more perfect than reading a delightfully chilling Jack the Ripper story in October, right before Halloween?  I was hooked on Stalking Jack the Ripper from the moment I received the book.  The back of the cover is minimalist, with a picture of historic autopsy tools and

He murdered women in cold blood.  He terrorized an entire city.  He taunted those of us who hunted him down.  But despite all these horrors, in the end, I could not deny it... I was the girl who loved The Ripper."

Chills, right?  And although the jacket copy refers to Aubrey Rose's love for The Ripper, the book is so much more than that.  It's about a wonderfully fierce and feisty independent young woman and a mystery too!

Aubrey Rose is an excellently well-developed main character.  She is complex and unpredictable.  Stalking Jack the Ripper is set in 1888, so the reader sees her daily struggle between what society expects of her and what she expects of herself.  Rather than going full-tilt rebel, we witness her desire to still befriend her much more feminine cousin and to not overly upset/scandalize her older brother.  I always find that it's a mark of great character development if the character grows or changes any over the course of the book, and Aubrey Rose definitely does.  At the beginning of the book she is a very bright young lady who is good at following her uncle's instructions to complete an autopsy.  By the end of the book, she is very much thinking for herself and making her own decisions both on the streets and in the autopsy room.

Stalking Jack the Ripper also has a secondary character, Thomas Creswell, who is an absolute bonus!  I just loved him to bits!  I'm a huge fan of "snark," and he has "snark" for days!  His demeanor and witticisms had me smiling often through this book.  I found myself especially looking forward to any extended dialog between him and Aubrey Rose- they both gave as well as they got in the sarcastic remarks!

Finally, the mystery- this was a really good mystery.  It kept me guessing straight up to the end... and maybe beyond.  ;)  I'm not giving anything away!  You HAVE to read this one yourself.  Kerri Maniscalco reveals only one clue at a time, with a couple of red herrings, to keep you hooked.  I work in a library and ended up reading the latter part of the book on the reference desk because I couldn't put it down!  Not only will you want to solve the mystery, but you'll also cheer for Aubrey Rose as she works through the clues in the male-dominated Victorian era.

This standalone book left me craving a lot more, so I was very glad to read an author interview in which it was revealed that there will be more standalone Aubrey Rose stories in the future.  Go read Stalking Jack the Ripper now so that you can gush about it with me, and keep your eyes peeled for further adventures!

Thanks to the publisher of Stalking Jack the Ripper, we're giving away one copy of the book and some lovely soap from Skull & Bones!  (Because stalking a murderer is dirty work!)  Enter here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Fiction, Girls amp; Women, giveaway, Historical, Jimmy Patterson, Kerri Maniscalco, murder mystery, Mystery, Publisher, Review, young adult  15 People left their mark

Spells and Scones by Bailey Cates

Bailey Cates has done it again. It seems like she has found the right recipe for the perfect magical cozy mystery and keeps switching up the ingredients to entertain us with a new story with each new release. In Spells and Scones, not only do we unravel a new murder mystery, but we also have the chance to delve deeper into the relationships between characters.

Katie Lightfoot is a witch. She has only known for the last couple of years yet she has grown into her power relatively fast. She's a hedgewitch, sourcing her powers from plants and their magical properties. As a baker, it comes to her naturally, and as part owner of the Honeybee Bakery, she practices her craft daily by mixing positive ingredients and sending positive thoughts into her food. She also happens to be a lightwitch, meaning she's attracted to situations that need help finding a resolution.

Katie often finds herself near murder scenes and it's definitely true in this book. Only this time, it seems like there's very little magic involved in the crime. A Dr. Dana, a self-help guru and famous radio personality is found dead in the bookstore next to Katie's bakery. Katie feels compelled to help solve the mystery, especially when she learns the main murder suspect is an ex-witch, who just happens to be the previous owner of her familiar, Mungo. Her little terrier seems convinced that Angie is not guilty and for Katie, that's enough to convince her to help the ex-witch.

With the amount of murder scenes she "attracts", you would think Katie could start a side business as a private investigator. However, her true passion is her bakery so I highly doubt she would ever be comfortable leaving her business for a new one. She is good at investigating, using her magical powers only when necessary and only using her skills for good. However, even though it seems like she has everything figured out in her business life, it's her personal life she has a hard time dealing with. Her wonderful boyfriend Declan seems to want more (wants to move in more) but Katie is hesitant because of a past relationship that failed miserably. On top of everything, Steve Dawes professes his love for Katie and will stop at nothing to prove to Katie that he has turned his life around for her. That would put a damper on anyone's one year anniversary!

I love this series because it's light and easy to read compared to some of the other darker books I tend to read. The small town feeling, the sense of community and the wonderful food keeps me coming back for more. One of these days I'll try one of the recipes included. The Pumpkin Spice Softies sound delicious and yes, I just happen to be one of those people obsessed with pumpkin spice anything. Perfect for autumn, fans of Bailey Cates and cozy mysteries will fall for this book.

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Posted by Tynga at 04:10

 A Magical Bakery Mystery, Bailey Cates, bakery, cozy, food, Library, Magic, murder mystery, Mystery, NAL, Penguin, Review, Witch  Leave your mark

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus is one of those books where I can totally understand the people who give it five star ratings on Goodreads and the people who give it two star ratings.  So weird when that happens.  For me, the prose and setting and magic swept me in and kept me entranced- I give that part of the book five enthusiastic stars.  But then there's the plot, which left some key questions unanswered- I give that part of the book only two or three stars.

Les Cirque des Reves arrives in towns without any warning.  No advance man, no advertising posters.  In fact, most people aren't even sure how it arrives- no one sees or hears a train pull into town.  (The book is set at the turn of the twentieth century; no airplanes or tour buses.)  Once it arrives, it only opens at night.  By the light of an elaborate bonfire, guests can explore the many black and white-striped tents.  They're full of the circus usuals, like acrobats and tarot card readers, plus the fantastic, such as a tent full of dreams.  At the heart of it all is a pair of magicians who have been pitted against each other since childhood.

The Night Circus is beautifully written.  I never wanted to put it down.  At times the prose seemed almost lyrical.  Erin Morgenstern truly brings the night circus to life in your imagination as you read.  I could smell the sawdust and hear the crowd and see the flames of the bonfire... I swear my fingers felt caramel corn-sticky at times!  I'll admit that I'm predisposed to enjoying circus books, but this one was better than most.  I also loved the setting.  Because it's set at the turn of the century, we get to picture all the beautiful gowns on the female characters and nice suits with top hats on the guys.  The book takes place over the course of many years, but many of the pivotal scenes are set in fall, my favorite time of year.  The leaves are changing and the winds are blowing and there's a little crisp to the air... to me, fall is the most magical season, so it makes sense to place a magical book in the fall!

I would consider knocking a star or two off of my rating, though, for the plot.  I got very frustrated with trying to understand the game that the two main characters are playing.  They're supposed to be in a competition, but they're both working on the circus?  What are the rules?  Are there any rules?  How is a winner decided?  Don't get me wrong- I loved reading about the circus, the result of their competition!  Morgenstern could've skipped the whole competition thing and just done a romance and it would've been fine.

Overall, the writing and the circus make this a book I heartily recommend!

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 circus, Doubleday, Erin Morgenstern, Fantasy amp; Magic, historic, Library, Magic, magicians, Mystery, Review  1 Person left their mark

Near Enemy by Adam Sternbergh

I very recently read and loved Shovel Ready, the first Spademan novel, so I was not surprised at all to end up loving Near Enemy!  (Yes, you read that right:  this is a sequel.  Check out my review of Shovel Ready HERE.)

Near Enemy begins very much the same way Shovel Ready began... and it also starts off much differently.  The story begins with Spademan getting a call- just a name, no other info, no introductions, then a click.  Spademan waits a few minutes for the money to clear his bank account, then begins looking for the person behind the name.  That's the similarity.  The difference?  At the end of the day, Spademan now has a "family" to go home to!  Mark has moved in with him, and he's also helping to look after Persephone and her daughter.

In Near Enemy, Spademan is supposed to "take care of" Lesser, a guy who creeps about in the limnosphere, peeping on other people's dreams.  No one would miss a creep like that.  However, when Spademan arrives at Lesser's apartment, he arrives at just the right moment, when Lesser wakes up screaming.  He was creeping on a guy's nasty orgy fantasy when all of a sudden a woman in a burqa shows up and blows up the guy, killing him.  Remember the rules from Shovel Ready?  You're not supposed to be able to die in the limnosphere.  Suddenly Lesser and Spademan are hearing reports of others getting blown up in the limnosphere by the same strange woman.  Just as in Shovel Ready, Spademan is intrigued enough to keep Lesser alive and investigate these strange doings.

There are so many things to love about these books:  they're super snarky (totally my favorite sense of humor), dystopian (taking place in a not-so-distant future after someone nuclear bombs NYC), and mysterious.  Adam Sternbergh manages to keep me guessing all the way to the end!

I gave a very short excerpt in my review of Shovel Ready.  Sternbergh uses the same composition tactics in this book- no quotation marks and no declaration of who's speaking.  But it works!  I wasn't sure about it at first, but I got used to it really quickly.  And y'all, I'm someone who is usually overly bothered by unconventional composition.  I read a book once in which the author would use two or even three exclamation points at the end of sentences and it totally distracted me from the entire point of the book.  For whatever reason, Sternbergh's lack of quotation marks didn't distract me at all.  It even feels right- the conversation in the book is very sparse, as is the landscape, so it seems perfect to have the physical type on the pages be sparse also.

I do so hope this turns into a whole mystery series.  I've really come to like Spademan, and I want to hang out with him more.  The mysteries in the first two books are so completely different from each other as well- no formulaic mystery here!  In Near Enemy, the mystery lies with a female Middle Eastern suicide bomber in the limnosphere... kind of like terrorism 2.0.  As I've mentioned, these mystery aspects to the story are really well plotted out, keeping the reader guessing.  Spademan is a truly reluctant hero:  who would guess that the hit man would turn detective/rescuer?

If I hadn't already given Shovel Ready five of five stars, I'd rate Near Enemy even higher than it.  (Alas, not mathematically possible.)  Perhaps because I already "knew" the main character, and was therefore all the more invested in his story?  I would've never guessed that I'd enjoy two books with a hit man as the main character so much!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Action amp; Adventure, Adam Sternbergh, Crown Publishing Group, Dystopian, Free, Mystery, Noir, NYC, Review, Spademan  Leave your mark

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

First, Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers!

Richard is a perfectly normal young computer programmer.  His former college classmate Dirk Gently is a holistic detective, specializing in missing cats and messy divorces.  Richard's boss is Gordon Way, owner of the largest British computer firm, and Richard is dating Gordon's younger sister, Susan.  Richard and Dirk's former professor, Reg, is very adept at sleight of hand, and has a fondness for Coleridge.  Michael Wenton-Weakes is the former editor of an arts and culture magazine, and also wishes to date Susan.  So what on earth do all of these people have to do with each other?

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency is definitely more of a "slow burn" than other Douglas Adams novels that I've read.  There are a lot of threads to be woven together before we can get around to solving the mystery.  The mystery?  Gordon Way has been murdered.  Whodunnit?  Working together, the characters muddle along under Dirk's directions to put the pieces together and save the world, and humanity.

To be honest, I found this novel a bit meandering and even hard to follow at some moments.  It was definitely difficult to get into.  There's an entire chapter very early in that introduces the Electric Monk and his horse-- but they are introduced without preamble, and then not mentioned again for quite some time.  I kept wondering when/if they'd show up again, and how they'd fit into the story.  There follows another extended scene at a Cambridge University dinner, where Reg is introduced, along with half a dozen other professors.  A heads up:  you don't need to take notes.  The other professors, described in some detail, never pop up again in the story.

To be fair, the Electric Monk and events at the dinner do turn out to be quite integral to the plot later on.  You may also wonder where the sci-finess is during the early parts of the book... never fear!  It gets quite exciting in the second half.  Richard is very much the Arthur Dent of the book, a hapless Brit along for the reluctant ride.  Poor guy just wants his life back to normal!  How can anyone relax or get any work done with horses suddenly appearing in bathrooms and salt shakers suddenly appearing in antique Greek vases?  Dirk is the Ford Prefect here; quite haphazardly maneuvering through life, and always accepting the most spectacular possibilities as correct.  Their conversational interplay is very amusing.  And as I mentioned, there is a good bit of sci-fi in the solving of the mystery, after the setting and characters are established; I don't want to give away even a hint of the ending so I'm afraid I can't tell you what all they encounter!

Overall, not Douglas Adams' most awesome book.  Slow to start, with a whirlwind ending.  But the characters are definitely likable, and I didn't have to force myself too hard to stick with it.  Solid middle-ground.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Action amp; Adventure, Alien, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Douglas Adams, Mystery, Purchased, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, time travel  2 People left their mark

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

Wow... The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is an epic time-bending tale of science and vengeance, along the lines of The Curious Tale of Benjamin Button or The Time Traveler's Wife... but plus some.

Harry is a kalachakra, which means that when he dies, he is reborn with all of his memories intact.  He doesn't ever travel forward through time; he's always born in 1919 to the same woman.  He's not alone; there are a number of kalachakra throughout the world, and they form a support network for each other.  Harry's first ten lives or so are rather uneventful (I mean, other than the fact that at about age 4 he comes into all of his memories and consciousness from multiple full past lives) as he figures out what his "condition" means for him and how to make the best use of his time.  He seems to work through all the grief stages, you know, like anger, depression, questioning, etc.  In one life he even tries to tell another person what is happening to him... it doesn't go well.

After a couple of lives, Harry hooks up with the Cronus Club, the network of kalachakra.  He is able to partake in debates about such things as "why not kill Hitler?"  (No spoilers; you'll have to read the book to find out why!)  I will admit that the first half of the book moves a little slowly.  There is a lot of groundwork to lay, to explain the kalachakra phenomenon, and we get to know Harry.  Would you like a book with character development?  Imagine how much growth and development you can fit into a few hundred years of a character's life!  I enjoyed this part.  The story unfolds in a steady rate without too much dawdling in any one life.  The format is also intriguing; the book is written as Harry August writing his memoirs, so it's like sitting and having tea (Harry is British) with him while he tells his life (lives') story.

Then, about halfway through the book, the reader finds the conflict.  You know the structure of a good book:  set-up, conflict, resolution.  The conflict here is a kicker!  During one early life, an old and dying Harry is visited at his hospital bedside by a young girl, a fellow kalachakra, who has been sent to warn him that the world is ending.  You see, kalachakra have a method of passing information from generation to generation, back and forth in time this way.  Harry is confused by this message, though:  hasn't the world always been ending?  Over the course of succeeding lives, Harry finds out, though, that the problem is that the world is ending more quickly.  Thus begins an exciting chase through time, as Harry pursues a person who is bent on destroying the world as quickly as possible.  Each death gives Harry a failure... and another chance to try again to catch the culprit.

I also mentioned science in my opening statement.  Throughout all of his lives, Harry is instrumental in scientific discovery and advancement.  He walks a fine line between that discovery, and not advancing science too greatly beyond it's predetermined timeline.  (There could be chaos if someone suddenly "discovered" the personal computer in 1950, for example.)  And this--science--is exactly what could bring about the end of the world sooner than later.  I'll admit:  a lot of the science went over my head, but it's ok.  You totally don't have to understand quantum physics in order to grasp the plot of the book.  Under all the scientific tug-of-war, there's the foundation plot of good vs. evil, and a chase through time.

I definitely recommend The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Claire North, Edelweiss, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Redhook, reincarnation, Review  1 Person left their mark

The Diabolical Miss Hyde: Electric Empire Series #1 by Viola Carr

At a time when women had not yet gotten the right to vote, Dr. Eliza Jekyll is a woman trying to make a career in a field that is not always taken seriously when performed by men.  On top of that, she has to deal with Lizzie Hyde, the Royal Society and her mysterious benefactor.

The Diabolical Miss Hyde: Electric Empire Series #1 by Viola Carr is a more unique telling of the old tale by Robert Louis Stevenson.  The change in gender of the main character(s) is accompanied by another subtler difference.  In this telling, we get a good understanding of the two characters that reside in the single body.  It is an interesting experience to watch both of these characters develop independently while still understanding they are essentially the same person. They are surrounded by a cast of characters that seem to fulfill their purpose. There are those exceptions that act outside of the archetype they represent and give a bit more life to the story.

The Victorian London setting always seems to be the best for the Jekyll and Hyde and Viola Carr takes full advantage of that in this book.  The style and sensibilities of an era marked by industrial advancement are a fertile field for a story that is about discovery and invention mixed with a bit of mysticism and folklore.

The story is interesting and keeps a decent stride, there are moments in the beginning where the author over used certain elements of the story (in my opinion).  To me, one of the more exhausting things a writer can do is to be repeatedly redundant over and over and over again. I may be more especially sensitive to this and that part of the book may not bother most readers.  Once I got into the meat of the story, I was in to the end.

 

The Diabolical Miss Hyde by Viola Carr is an entertaining book that gives hope for the series that is promised in the title.  If you like classics reimagined, this is worth a try.  It is not, however, for the little ones.  Language, violence and mature scenes (yes, I mean sex) put this deep into the PG13 rating.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Jekyll and Hyde, Mystery, Purchased, Review, Science Fiction, steampunk, Viola Carr, Voyager  2 People left their mark

Magic and Macaroons by Bailey Cates

Another sweet and magical treat from Bailey Cates! Since I've started reading this series a while back, I've really come to enjoy the characters and the small town feel of Savannah, Georgia. Personally, I don't know much about the practice of magic and Wicca, but I always feel like what the characters practice might actually be authentic.

Katie Lightfoot hasn't been practicing as a witch for very long but as a catalyst/lightwitch, her magical powers are curiously strong. Trouble seems to find her at every corner, but always for a good reason. With her intuitive mind and the help of her fellow coven members, she helps solve murder mysteries. This time, the murdered victim is particularly close to Katie and she feels it's her duty to help solve the mystery, especially since the victim's niece and protogée appears to be magically cursed into a coma. The niece's life might depend Katie fishing out the truth, but Katie's own life is at risk when she is targeted for asking too many questions. Since she suspects voodoo is part of the answer, she has been sleuthing around, asking questions about voodoo and black magic. Obviously someone isn't thrilled that Katie is poking her nose in the voodoo community. However, the near-death experience doesn't stop Katie for long.

In this book, Declan, Katie's boyfriend, seems to have embraced Katie's magical side and is more open to that aspect of her life. He almost doesn't have a choice because he has recently discovered that he, himself can channel his great-uncle from the after life. Katie's other "suitor", Steve, seems to have finally acknowledged Katie's rejection by getting engaged, which is a whole other story. Suffice to say, nothing is ever boring when it comes to Katie's love life.

I keep coming back to this series mainly because it's an easy and light read, but let's be honest, I'm also interested in the food. Although I've never tried any of the recipes at the end of the books, they have me salivating throughout the story. Since I love coconut, and macaroons are some of my favorite deserts, I've decided to try one of the recipes at the end of this book. I'll make sure to come back and let you know in the comments how they turned out.

MAGIC AND MACAROONS is the fifth book of the Magical Bakery Mystery series, and as the series goes on, we learn more about Katie and what her purpose as a lightwitch might actually be. The series is nothing too complicated but I do recommend reading the books in order. I would recommend this book and series to any fan of cozy mysteries. The magical elements makes it that much more original and adds a little flair to some of the eccentric characters. Personally, this book is the best of series so far. The last few chapters are particularly gripping and I hope the author is already working on the next book.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 A Magical Bakery Mystery, Bailey Cates, Library, Magic, murder mystery, Mystery, Obsidian, Penguin, Review, Voodoo, Witch  1 Person left their mark

The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant by Joanna Wiebe

This book is SO DIFFICULT to talk about without spoilers!  So I apologize in advance if anything I write seems a bit fuzzy.  I can tell you that you definitely, absolutely need to read this book.

I will share with you as much as Goodreads does:  Anne Merchant is a brand new student at Cania Christy, a very, very exclusive boarding school on an island off the coast of Maine.  Parents are paying exorbitant amounts in tuition to send their high-achieving teens here, where the fight to be valedictorian seems to be almost life-or-death.  Anne fits it alright; she's definitely smart, and a talented artist.  A few questions are left lingering, though:  how is her lowly funeral-director dad paying the tuition for this place?  Why is she living in a cottage off-campus rather than in the dorms with the rest of the students?  And what's the big secret, that keeps the villagers from interacting with the students?

Right from the start, this book had a deliciously dark and spooky feel to it, and the author never lets the tension slip.  I was glued to it through and through!  Have you been to Maine?  I have, and I can vouch for the coastal islands having an intermittent deep fog that drifts in off the ocean.  I could just imagine Anne waking up in a chilly attic bedroom on the first morning of school, shivering into her school uniform and a coat, and walking toward school.  Can you imagine walking through a deep fog and suddenly coming upon a thick red line painted across the road, marking the territory between school grounds and village property?  That would spook nearly anyone!  And then to arrive at school and find out that none of your peers are friendly or welcoming?  As I mentioned:  delightfully dark.

The setting isn't the only dark part of the book.  You'll definitely start to get the feeling that "something's up" from the near the beginning of the book.  No spoilers, but I will promise that although the jacket cover doesn't mention anything fantastic or supernatural, I will let you know that the novel fits on this blog.  ;)  The plot twists and turns will leave you guessing right up to the end.  The novel is told entirely from Anne's pov, so the reader gets to uncover clues and come to conclusions right alongside her.  Wiebe did a great job with spacing out clues and reveals, and with never allowing Anne to make improbable leaps to conclusions.  As I was reading, I kept thinking "ah ha!" but then by the end of the chapter I'd be surprised again!  All of the surprises, though, fit very nicely into the novel's context, and never seemed too ludicrous.

There was only slight downside to the book, and that was in the female relationships.  There's a bit of a Mean Girls thing going on at Cania Christy.  I definitely say "boo" to girls being catty to each other, but I have to admit it might not be too abnormal among teen girls, especially ones forced to live together.

The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant is the first book in a trilogy, and I'm so glad!  I already have the sequel sitting beside my armchair to read.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 BenBella, boarding school, Edelweiss, Fiction, Joanna Wiebe, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Review, V Trilogy, young adult  3 People left their mark

The Twistrose Key by Tone Almhjell

OHMYGOODNESS!  How much did I LOVE this book!  I usually hate when a book has a blurb on the front proclaiming it "*famous book title* meets *famous book title*" but in this case it turne out to be so true.  The Twistrose Key had a blurb saying it was a mash of The Chronicles of Narnia and The Golden Compass.  So accurate!

Eleven-year-old Lin has had a rough couple of months.  Her family has moved to the city from their farm, and then Lin's pet rat Rufus passes away.  On a cold, wet night, Lin goes exploring in her cellar and finds a magical key, addressed to her.  Next thing she knows, she's in Sylver, just as Lucy passed through the wardrobe to reach Narnia.  This is where I got hooked:  only a couple pages in and I was rearranging my life to make extra reading time!  You see, Sylver is where especially well-loved pets or tame wild animals go after death.  They become larger and more dextrous and gain speech and they live in a little town.  How AWESOME is that premise?!  To think that our beloved pets never truly, completely die, but instead go on to a magical place?  Lin has been "summoned" to Sylver to help solve a mystery.  There's one semi-human (human in shape & form, but very magical) family that lives in Sylver and helps maintain the magic.  Unfortunately, they have disappeared.  If Lin can't solve this mystery and find them in just a few hours, Sylver will start to unravel as the magic unwinds.

Ya'll, this upper middle-grades story was so good that I'm trying to convince the hubby (usually only reads adult nonfiction) to try it!  The writing and pacing were excellent.  I never found myself bored or skimming.  In fact, this book took me a little longer to read than usual because I would find myself lingering over a particularly well-written passage.  It was hard to remember that C.S. Lewis himself didn't write it!  I so enjoyed "walking" around Sylver with Lin and Rufus, and meeting other animals.  When the task grew dangerous, I found myself getting pretty nervous.

The characters themselves definitely added to the book.  The friendship between Lin and Rufus is so sweet.  Neither is perfect, but they complement each other well.  When Lin gets too impatient and impulsive, Rufus is there to force her to slow down and think.  And when Rufus encounters a fear, Lin is there to help encourage him along.  The characters also did most of the heavy-lifting of world building.  Because this is Lin's first (and probably only) visit to Sylver, Rufus continues to explain things to her as they go about town searching for the missing people.  This also clues the reader in on the social mores and infrastructure layout of Sylver.  Super helpful, and meant there were no long paragraphs or sections describing scenery.

The mystery itself was really well done too.  Lin continually uncovers clues throughout the evening, but you'll be guessing until the end!  There's no way anyone could predict that ending.  Don't worry; no spoilers.  Just saying that the clues were doled out often enough to keep me very, very engaged, but not quite enough clues were given for the reader to solve the mystery before Lin does.  I love "group solves" in mystery books!

To sum up:  excellent writing, characters you'll love, gorgeous setting.  I'm adding Tone Almhjell to my "auto-buy" list!

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Action amp; Adventure, anthropomorphic animals, Fantasy amp; Magic, Friendship, Mystery, Publisher, Puffin Books, Review, Tone Almhjell  4 People left their mark

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Warning!  This is the sequel to The Raven Boys.  You can read the review of that book HERE.  No spoilers for The Dream Thieves, but I can't promise that there won't be The Raven Boys spoilers ahead.

These books have so many things to love!  There's the dynamic cast of characters:  Gansey, the rich eccentric kid; Blue, the only non-psychic in a family of psychics; Adam, the hardscrabble poor kid; and Ronan, quiet Ronan; and Noah the ghost.  (Yes!  Maggie Stiefvater gives so much live to a ghost; he's definitely a "real" character.)  There's the setting:  the South.  Oh, how I love books set in the South!  And at a boarding school!  Last but not least, the supernatural plot:  the cohort is questing after Glendower, an ancient Welsh king who lays at rest somewhere upon the ley line (magic vein) that runs through town.

While the first book focused much more on Gansey and Blue, this sequel focuses much of it's attention on Ronan.  Ronan has a secret (this isn't a spoiler; it's talked about on the book jacket):  he can bring actual factual physical objects out of his dreams.  It starts very small; while Gansey is away visiting his family, he dreams himself up a set of keys to Gansey's Camaro for a joyride.  But soon he is dreaming (literally) much bigger.  The passages when we readers get to journey into Ronan's dream world are spectacular.  The imagery is very vivid and the danger feels very real.  There's also still a little romance.  It's definitely not the focal point of the plot, but there's that unique tension between Blue and Adam.  You'll remember that all her life, all her family members have had premonitions that Blue will doom her true love to death with the first sweet kiss.  And you can imagine the kind of tension that would bring into a relationship!  I wouldn't call it a love triangle; not by a long shot; but there is a little ambiguity as to who her true love is.

I also find the group's quest to be quite unique:  a long-deceased Welsh king.  And whoever finds his resting place first will be able to harness the power of the ley line to grant a wish, so to speak.  I only truly enjoy books that contain magic if the magic is logical.  And let me reassure you:  the magic in Henrietta, GA is logical.  The group is always figuring out new parameters to the line as they seek to follow it to Glendower.  I won't give anything away by revealing what they learn about the line in this book, but you'll remember that in The Raven Boys they learned that the ley line is what allows Noah to hang about.

I'll wrap up with a note on the narration, as I listened to this on CD during my commute.  The reader is Will Patton, who is an incredibly talented actor and voiceover reader.  He is, however, also about 60 years old.  I spent the first part of the book a bit distracted by deja vu.  He sounded so familiar!  I finally remembered one evening to look up what other books he's narrated, and saw that he did Doctor Sleep by Stephen King.  I listened to that earlier this year, and he did a bang-up job with it.  However, all the characters in that book are definitely adults.  And some of them are evil.  Patton uses the same voice and cadence for The Dream Thieves, and it doesn't quite fit.  Nearly all of the characters are teens, and I don't think the story itself is quite as dark as Patton made it feel.  So it might not make any sense, but I would say the reader is excellent, but not excellent for this particular book.

Overall, a unique plot with 3D characters.  I would recommend the print book over the audiobook, but the important part is that I'd recommend it.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 dream travel, Fairy Tales amp; Folklore, Fantasy amp; Magic, ley lines, Library, Maggie Stiefvater, Mystery, Review, Scholastic, The Raven Cycle  2 People left their mark

Day Shift by Charlaine Harris

The more I read this series, the more I seem to fall in love with its characters. Mind you, it's only the second book of the series, but Day Shift has revealed a lot of background information about the citizens of Midnight, Texas. The more I think about it, the more I realize the series hasn't really settled with a main character. At least, not yet. It's almost as if the main character is the town, and its citizens are simply supporting the stories it's hosting.

To be quite honest, Day Shift wasn't very thrilling nor was it very engaging. I liked the book enough because I really enjoy the characters, but when it comes to the story, it's a little bit disappointing. The story really begins when Manfred is in Dallas for a working weekend in a hotel, where he plans to meet up with clients and do personal psychic readings. However, the night before he's set to start working, he notices another Midnight, Texas resident, Olivia, dining in the same hotel restaurant. He thinks little of it until the next morning when Olivia's dining companions are found dead in their hotel room. And things get even more complicated when Manfred's own client dies in the middle of the reading. The timing and the circumstances are bad for Manfred's business, especially when he is accused of murdering and stealing from his client.

As suspicions are raised, Manfred is the main focus of the murder investigation and reporters camp out in front of his house in Midnight. Along with the newly renovated and grand reopening of the Midnight Hotel, the town is getting more attention than the residents are used to. The people of Midnight like the fact that their little town is quiet and doesn't get many visitors, and all the action is making some of the residents anxious and unhappy about the unwanted publicity. Manfred and Olivia join together and decide to solve the murder, in order to get rid of the unwanted attention as soon as possible. The more they investigate, the more things get complicated and troublesome.

The main story and mystery surrounds Manfred but the other residents of the town also have their own problems to deal with. The town Reverend, simply referred to as Rev, is charged with the care of a growing boy; Joe finds himself in a situation where the only way to survive is to do something he promised long ago he wouldn't do; Olivia deals with her past and we learn more about who she is, and what she does for a living.

We also meet a few new characters who are living temporarily in the Midnight Hotel. One of these characters is actually linked to Sookie Stackhouse, the main character of Charlaine Harris' other bestselling series. With this link, we confirm our suspicions that this series is based in the same universe as the Sookie Stackhouse books. I highly doubt the author will push this link any further but it's good to know that things may get even more supernatural. Like Bon Temps, Midnight is a special town that seems to attract the supernatural, but the why of this has yet to be investigated.

Overall, I was a little bit disappointed with the main mystery but the various side stories add excitement to the book. For someone that hasn't finished Charlaine Harris' other series, I'm actually quite invested in this new one. I'm really looking forward to reading more about Midnight and its mysterious residents. Who wouldn't be attracted to a town with a witch, a vampire, a psychic, a shape-shifter, a talking cat and angels?

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Posted by Tynga at 03:38

 Ace, angels, Charlaine Harris, Library, Midnight, Midnight Texas, Mystery, Paranormal, Penguin, psychic, Shapeshifter, Texas, Witch  2 People left their mark

The Shadow Cabinet by Maureen Johnson

Ohmygoodness how much did I LOVE this book?!  <--See?  I can't even write coherently or maturely about it.  Too excited.  I've been waiting nearly a year since the last book in the series!  That was entirely too long.  And now I'll probably have to wait another year for the next book....  If you haven't yet started this series, I do recommend that you start with the first book, The Name of the Star, followed by The Madness Underneath before reading this review.

This YA series is just jam packed with all the things I love:  it's set in modern-day London, most of the characters attend a boarding school, the main character is from small-town Louisiana, there are ghosts, and one of them is Jack the Ripper.  In The Shadow Cabinet, there even two "bonus" elements:  interdimensional (I think I just made that word up) travel and a cult!

I know that's quite a list of plot elements, but never you fear:  Maureen Johnson weaves it all together so very skillfully, and manages to include a lot of character development and interaction in between all the action.  During the previous book, Rory met the Shades, a kind of ghostbustin' group that are responsible for her still being alive.  In this book, the reader really gets to know the Shades a lot better as she works with them to find Stephen's spirit and bring him back, out of his coma.  One of Rory's tasks is to go through a ton of notes and books from Stephen's apartment to try to determine where his spirit may have settled, and as she goes through the personal items and journals, we learn a lot about him and his interest in the Shadow Cabinet.  This is also where we get a little romantic development in the book:  Rory isn't blind, and knows that Jerome is awesomely sweet and really cute, but he doesn't know about ghosts.  Stephen is also really cute, and Rory can talk to him about ghosts.  You'll just have to read the book to find out how all that goes!

For a medium-length YA book, Maureen Johnson sneaks in plenty of atmosphere.  I so loved reading about Rory's travels around London in pursuit of Stephen!  London is definitely on my travel wish-list, but reading books set there is as close as I can get right now.  There's a fantastic scene in the book in a cemetery.  I won't give away any spoilers, but there is foggy mist.  That feels very "London" to me.

I can't talk about the Shadow Cabinet too much without spoilers, but it turns out that it's something like the Illuminati theories here in America.  Or the Knights Templar.  And Stephen was looking into it, so the rest of the Shades end up looking into it too.  Very realistically, many of the characters are non-believers, but a few are skeptical believers.  I can talk a little more about the cult.  The book opens with a flashback scene to the 1970s, where two young people have recruited ten other young people into their worship of ancient Greek gods.  During a ceremony, they kill all the kids.  Fast forward 40 years, and now the Shades discover a tenuous link between Rory's psychologist, her classmate Charlotte's disappearance, and this cult from way back when.

I read physical copies of the first two books, and branched out into audio for this third book.  WOW!  I may need to go back and listen to the first two also.  Nicola Barber is one of my new all-time favorite narrators after this.  She does nonregional dictation for most of the book, and a realistic Louisiana accent for Rory, and a clear & fantastic British accent for all the other characters!  And she switches smoothly and effortlessly through all three accents!  I was so impressed with the conversations between Rory and any other character, when Nicola had to switch back and forth multiple times between southern & British accents.

Two super enthusiastic thumbs up!

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 boarding school, Brilliance Audio, ghosts, Library, Maureen Johnson, Mystery, Paranormal, Review, Shades of London, young adult  Leave your mark

Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris

This book is definitely interesting. There's something mysterious and captivating behind the story and the characters kept me engaged through it all. I'll be the first to admit that this book isn't for everyone. From the various Goodreads reviews, it's obvious readers will have different responses to this first book of the series.

Midnight, Texas is a very small town. It's home to a variety of interesting characters, including a psychic, a witch, a vampire, a gay couple with a dog, a straight couple with a baby, and other seemingly normal people. One thing they all have in common, however, is that they all have their secrets. Manfred the psychic, the newest guy in town, quickly learns that no one asks questions in this small community. Those who want to share do, but it's unseemly to flat out ask about people's history. Manfred is alright with that until strange things start to happen. Especially when the community finds a decomposing body on the outskirts of town. Questions are now guaranteed.

The main reason why this book won't be for everyone is the slow build up. Not everyone will appreciate the slow and detailed introduction to the characters. Personally, I really liked it because it allowed me to really understand the characters before things unraveled. I'll admit, the book isn't full of action. It isn't even full of paranormal stuff. I would classify this book as a mystery first, with paranormal elements infused to add depth and detail. It's almost as if the author couldn't get away from the genre that truly made her famous. But somehow it works and I'm glad for the paranormal stuff.

Enter this book with an open mind. Forget that Charlaine Harris is behind the Sookie Stackhouse books. I haven't read Harris' other series so I can't speak for those, but Midnight Crossroad is definitely different from the Sookie books. It kind of reminds me a little of Kelley Armstrong's Cainsville series with the murder investigation and the constant secrets. It also has the mysteriousness of a Stephen King novel with all its different characters and point of views.

I'm keeping this review short because I truly believe readers need to explore it on their own. Do I recommend this book? Yes and no. Yes, because I really enjoyed it, despite being a little disappointed with the very little amount of action it included. No, because I don't want to be responsible for recommending a book that you won't like. I will be checking out the next book, which is releasing this week because the residents of Midnight, Texas charmed me as much as the ones from Bon Temps, Louisiana did. I definitely want to know more about them and see where their stories will lead us.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:38

 Ace, Charlaine Harris, Midnight Texas, Mystery, Paranormal, Penguin, psychic, Purchased, Review, Vampire, Witch  3 People left their mark

Night of the Living Deed by E. J. Copperman

The great thing about a small town is that it seems like everybody knows everybody else and that can make seem friendly.  The bad thing about a small town is, it seems like everybody knows everybody else and you have very little privacy.  Allison finds that out when she returns to her hometown to start a Guest House (not a B&B).   She also discovers, though, secrets still manage to be kept and some are darker than others. At least that is the impression she gets from her first two guests, a pair of ghosts!  Allison must get her old house ready for business while raising her daughter and finding a murderer.

The story is written from the perspective of Allison so, we get to know quite a bit about her, her quick wit and her no-nonsense attitude.  Through Allison, we meet some of her friends, her mother and some acquaintances both unsavory and benign.  This makes for an eclectic collection of characters which is great for a murder mystery.  They're all varied and described well enough that it's easy to keep straight who is who.   It also allows for ample 'red herrings' which I believe is a requirement of a good murder mystery.

The pacing of  Night of the Living Deed is beautifully maintained.  So much so that, the reader is never worn out or left to feel stagnant at any time.   E.J. Copperman marries extraordinary events with the mundane to create and then relieve tension in the crafting of this story.

If I were to be negative about anything, it would be on two somewhat minor points.  One has to do with how to repair plaster walls.  A bit boring and pointless to complain about it even though it was hard to overlook when I was in the middle of the book.  The other I won't go into great detail (spoilers) but, there was a moment when two events seemed to get confused with each other.  Once a gain, not important, just one of those double take moments.

The Night of the Living Deed was a fun romp through two of my favorite genres: ghost stories and murder mysteries.  In both characters and content, this proves to be an inviting opening to an intriguing series.  There are some mature moments and a little bit of language that I believe puts this in the PG13 range.

 

***There is only one day to vote on the next series for me to review!  Just go to my las STS and share your thoughts!



 

 

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Berkley, E.J. Copperman, ghosts, halloween, Haunted Guesthouse Mystery, Mystery, Paranormal, Purchased, Review  1 Person left their mark

Written in Red: A Novel of the Others by Anne Bishop

Even after all the excellent suggestions I've received for the next series I should delve into, I took a gamble on a book I happened to find out of pure luck and placement on a website.  I didn't read too deep into the synopsis, which works out well for this book but decided to check it out based on the ratings and not the write ups.  Here's what I found.

Written In Red by Anne Bishop, more than a book about a lost woman looking for her way in the cold.  It's a story of wanting to belong, wanting to be somebody but also a story touched by  greed.  Meg finds herself in the midst of beings known as the Others.  The Others are beings from so many of our myths and nightmares.  The fact that these beings live in a somewhat self imposed segregation makes Megs new job as Liaison necessary.

This is a somewhat unique telling of the story of troubled town and the stranger who came in and changed everything with their mere presence.  The story is constructed well enough that, even though you may feel you see the direction it's going, there are sufficient twists and subtle differences to keep you engaged and entertained.  The chief problem I had with the writing style was that occasionally the I would miss the POV change and wind up confusing the motivation of some characters.  I also could have used a bit more texture as far as the setting was concerned.  I'm starting to see where discomfort can be a great illustration tool for an author.  My feet were sore by time Frodo reached Mordor, by the time Eragon made it out of the Hadarac Desert I was sunburned and dehydrated and by the time Blomkvist and Lisbeth found the killer, I was taking regular restroom breaks (Swedish people seem to love their coffee).

Early on I decided to see this as an early work in the series and so, I placed less importance on the character development.  Most of the more-than-human characters could have shown more of themselves than just the characteristics of their non-human side.  Being constantly reminded that werewolves are 'growly', stubborn and protective can be a bit tiresome after a while.

This is a nice entry into the book series, The Others.  It gives sufficient background and leaves much to be discovered in the future.  I'm hoping the story matures with the characters in the next book in the series since I'll soon be checking that one out soon.   Written In Red is definitely PG13 for violence and language.  I would save this for very mature teens.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Anne Bishop, Mystery, Mythology, Paranormal, Purchased, Review, ROC, The Others  Leave your mark

Compulsion by Martina Boone

Ohmygoodness I loved this book SO. MUCH.  I work in a teen section of a library, and I know I will be recommending this to so many teens!  Adults (such as myself) will enjoy this too.  It's very well written, with strongly developed characters and setting, and a rich plot that will leave you hooked through the very end.

The story focuses around Barrie, who has spent the first 17 years of her life very protected by her mother and godfather.  She rarely left her San Francisco home except for school, and her mother never left the house at all.  Now, because of her mother's untimely death and her godfather's severe illness, she is being sent to live with an aunt she's never met on a plantation she's never seen.  This plantation, off the coast of South Carolina, is full of family secrets and lore that will keep Barrie on her toes.

Compulsion is a Southern mystery, steeped in history and magic.  Barrie has always know that she was "different."  She feels a compulsion to find lost things and return them to their rightful owner.  She literally feels pressure in her head until she finds what was lost.  Upon arriving at Watson's Landing, she discovers an aunt, an uncle, and cousins that she never knew she had.  She also learns that her quirk is actually a gift that everyone in her family has.  And they're not alone:  the other side of the family has a curse, and another old family in town has a different gift.  It's hard to explain, but Martina Boone does the magical gifts in such a way that they're not heavyhanded or overexplained or overly relied upon by the characters.  It's like my inner voice was nodding and saying, "yes, yes... that makes sense.  Of course she can always find lost things."  It didn't feel like a stretch of the imagination at all to believe that families could pass along mystical gifts or curses the way other families pass along the gene for blue eyes.

The story behind the gifts and curse is revealed to Barrie pretty early in the book.  The mysteries as to why the families are feuding, and why none of them seem able to leave the island, and why the plantation homes are falling apart... well, those are another story.  These, too, are very well done.  I was kept guessing (and riveted!) right up to the very end.  Even though it's been announced that this is the first book in a trilogy, don't fear:  nearly all of your questions will be answered.

I want to talk about the setting!  Old South; plantation homes.... I could hear the honey-thick accents of all the characters!  I could feel the humidity!  I could picture the long driveways lined with massive oaks dripping with Spanish moss!  (Can you tell that I live in and love the south?)  I dreaded coming to the end of Compulsion, and already can't wait to go back to Watson's Landing in the sequel.

Lastly, are you a reader who needs a sweet Southern romance to round out the story?  Never fear!  Barrie has an irresistible neighbor, who always seems to know just how to please her.  There's no messy love triangle here; Barrie (and I) fall head over heels for Eight.  Their relationship is far from syrupy sweet; it's real and it's sometimes rough and it feels like it has it's base firmly in friendship.  I love Barrie and Eight together, and hope to see their relationship deepen further in the next book.

The magic, the mystery, and the setting have me completely sold on Compulsion.  I also think it'd be a fantastic movie... (hint, hint Hollywood!) and I'm impatiently waiting for Persuasion, the next book in the trilogy.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Fantasy amp; Magic, Heirs of Watson Island, Historical, History, Library, Martina Boone, Mystery, Mystical Gifts, Review, Simon Pulse, Southern, young adult  2 People left their mark

The Sweet Dead Life by Joy Preble

I was literally laughing out loud by the end of page 1 of this book!  It has a really strong start, with a main character who has that snark that I love so much.  However, I finished the book slightly conflicted.

The Sweet Dead Life reads as a series of journal entries by the main character, Jenna.  She's 14, in 8th grade, and possibly dying.  This journal (this book) is her way of recounting events that transpire.  Jenna has been sick and getting sicker for a few weeks now.  Unfortunately, her mom is deeply depressed and her older teen brother is always high and she's only in 8th grade and unable to take herself to the doctor.  One afternoon, Jenna passes out and her brother decides it's time to go to the hospital.  When Jenna wakes up in the hospital after surviving a major car wreck, her brother is suddenly beatified.  His skin has cleared up and he's standing up straighter.  And he's being nice to her.  How weird.  Turns out:  he didn't survive the car wreck with her, and he's now an angel.  (This isn't a spoiler; it's in the summary on the back of the book.)

Things that I love about The Sweet Dead Life:  Jenna's dry sense of humor.  I'm talking Sahara Desert dry here.  I love it!  As I mentioned before, I was literally chuckling out loud.  I also love the sibling/family dynamic in the book.  Joy Preble manages to show how much the siblings love each other and their mom while still keeping it all real.  They occasionally get frustrated with each other, but they always have each other's backs and will do whatever it takes to keep the family together and afloat.  I also love that this book shows teens dealing with a parent with mental illness.  Jenna and Casey's mom is so depressed that she literally cannot get out of bed some days.  She's stopped cooking and cleaning and working.  This is, unfortunately, a reality that some teens are living.  It's nice to have books that reflect that.

Some things that turned me off just a little:  Jenna's language and independence.  She's only 14 and in 8th grade, but I kept picturing her closer to 16 or 17.  She has the mouth of a sailor!  Realistically, I don't see myself recommending this book to many middle schoolers.  So I kind of wish the main character was solidly high school to more closely match her personality and language.  I also got a little weary of the drug references.  Jenna repeatedly references Casey's affinity for marijuana.  Like, every other page.  This was another reason why I thought Jenna should maybe be a little older; she was very aware of the weed smoking, and knowledgeable as to when and where Casey got his weed from.  Weed is the only drug named in the book, so there's none of the hard stuff.  But still... it was a little heavy-handed for my taste.

While the middle got just a little bogged down, the start and finish of The Sweet Dead Life were strong enough and entertaining enough for me to add the sequel to my to-read list.  It's a quick read; a mystery; some of the characters are angels; most of the characters are teens.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 angels, Joy Preble, Mystery, Publisher, Review, Soho Teen, Sweet Dead Life, young adult  1 Person left their mark