Book Spotlight: Marie Antoinette Serial Killer by Katie Alender

Colette Iselin is excited to go to Paris on a class trip. She’ll get to soak up the beauty and culture, and maybe even learn something about her family’s French roots.

But a series of gruesome murders are taking place across the city, putting everyone on edge. And as she tours museums and palaces, Colette keeps seeing a strange vision: a pale woman in a ball gown and powdered wig, who looks suspiciously like Marie Antoinette.

Colette knows her popular, status-obsessed friends won’t believe her, so she seeks out the help of a charming French boy. Together, they uncover a shocking secret involving a dark, hidden history. When Colette realizes she herself may hold the key to the mystery, her own life is suddenly in danger . . .

Acclaimed author Katie Alender brings heart-stopping suspense to this story of revenge, betrayal, intrigue — and one killer queen.

From Goodreads.com

     Colette is beyond excited to go to Paris. Recently, her life hasn't been all that she'd hope it would be. Her family is going through some changes, and she's ready to get away. But Paris isn't all that it's cracked out to be either. There is a murderer on the lose and whether she likes it or not, Colette is pulled into that world of trouble. Together with a few unlikely friends, she must solve the puzzle of her past before it's too late. 
     This is my first Katie Alender book. I feel like I should mention that from the start. I do own book one in her other series, but I've never read it. So for me, this book was a completely new experience. I also should mention that even now, I'm not sure how I'm feeling about it. But I'm getting ahead of myself. 
     Colette is the main character in this story and she is one confused little girl. I feel like that's the best way I can describe her for most of the story. She makes decisions that drive me insane and she is pretty shallow over all. Now, I know that's the way she is written for a reason, but I just couldn't get behind her for most of the book. There were times where I thought "Oh yes, finally!" and then, "Oh never mind." 
     The other characters in this book drove me right up the wall as well. Most of them are annoying and shallow and say and do things that are really frustrating. I did enjoy Jules character. He's the tour guide that comes into the picture and I really like it when he's involved. I also really liked Ashley :) That's all I'm saying about that, because you'll just have to read it. 
      Now, after saying all that, I did enjoy the book. The historical aspect was wonderful and the imagery of all the places Colette went was great. If I wanted to go to Paris before, I definitely want to go now. I also really enjoyed the murder aspect. I think it was a neat idea overall, and I really liked the way it all came together in the end. 
     Basically, you can see my struggles with this book. While I wasn't sold on the writing style, I like the overall idea. I'm curios enough to read other books by Ms Alender and I think that says a lot. I hope you guys go out and pick up your copy on September 24th, 2013. I think a lot of you will enjoy it! Plus, did I mention it's about Paris? :)

     Happy reading, 

     Valia 

Book Spotlight: The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress

An action-packed tale of gowns, guys, guns –and the heroines who use them all 

Set in turn of the century London, The Friday Society follows the stories of three very intelligent and talented young women, all of whom are assistants to powerful men: Cora, lab assistant; Michiko, Japanese fight assistant; and Nellie, magician's assistant. The three young women's lives become inexorably intertwined after a chance meeting at a ball that ends with the discovery of a murdered mystery man.

It's up to these three, in their own charming but bold way, to solve the murder–and the crimes they believe may be connected to it–without calling too much attention to themselves.

Set in the past but with a modern irreverent flare, this Steampunk whodunit introduces three unforgettable and very ladylike–well, relatively ladylike–heroines poised for more dangerous adventures.
from goodreads.com

This story follows three very different girls. Cora is a lab assistant, smart and capable, with lots of personality. Nellie is a magician’s assistant, quirky and fun, but with a heart of gold. Michiko is a Japanese fighter assistant, a little quiet, but with a heart of a warrior. The three girls meet at a chance encounter and soon as the city is plunged into panic, the three determine to do something about it. The plan leads them into the heart of danger, but together they do what girls do best, conquer. 

The Friday Society was a very interesting read for me. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect going in considering the story revolved around three different characters. I’ve read multiple characters before, but they were usually stories alternating first person chapters between the three (or five). This book wasn’t the case which I found interesting. 

I loved getting to know the characters. The girls are all very different, so to see how Ms Kress written them was a bit fascinating. It’s always great to see how authors tackle unusual points of view or ways of writing and I had fun reading about these three. 

However, I wanted a little bit more of their personalities to stand out. I wanted to know a bit more about all three, but I guess that’ll come in later books. Can’t have it all in book one right? Also, more romance! I’d love to see all three of these girls develop relationships. The one that did, oh that was too cute! Also, the world Ms Kress created was believable and up front. I loved that I could picture what she was talking about. 

Overall, this was a great read. I’ve fallen in love with the steampunk genre and want to read all things steampunk, so this was a good one for me! I’m not sure if there will be more books featuring The Friday Society, but I’m definitely up for me! 

The Friday Society comes out December 6th, 2012. Let me know what you think! 

Happy reading, 

Valia 

Book Spotlight: Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….
From Goodreads.com

This is a story of Alice Bell, a girl who’s life changed in a span of a moment. Alice grew up in your average home with a bratty sister she adored and parent’s who were a bit eccentric. Maybe not your average family, because Alice’s dad could see monsters no one else could, and that did not sit well anyone. On Alice’s birthday, she talks her parents to venture out at night for her sister’s recital and that’s the night her life changes. Her family gone, and Alice is now seeing the same monsters that plagued her father. Is she going crazy or is this real? When she starts a new school and meets Cole, she’ll have to rethink everything she believes in order to survive. 

Alice in Zombieland is the first book I’ve read by Gena Showalter and holy hotness why have I waited so long? Seriously, this book was just too much fun to read. Alice is a great character. She has a way about her that every person can relate to, but also something underneath that makes her the perfect heroine. Her emotions are right on the dot and her actions follow the craziness of her life. I loved seeing Alice develop as a character, coming to terms with the world outside of her comfort zone and taking that stand when needed. 

Enter Cole. Oh Cole, where have you been all my life? This boy, umm, I have no words really. Well, maybe a few. Gorgeous. Dangerous. Fierce. Considerate. Protective. Did I mention gorgeous? He’s really the perfect example of all the best qualities mixed in with all the real ones. I mean, a guy can be perfect on paper, but not so perfect in “real life.” For some reason, I could totally see Cole walking down the street and that’s saying a lot. 

Together Alice and Cole have to fight a lot more than just their growing feelings for each other. The whole book is action, friendship, and romance blended together for a great delivery. I absolutely adored this book, and laughed more than once at some of the craziness in it. I actually have a soft spot for a lot of the secondary characters which doesn’t happen often. At least not for me. 

Alice in Zombieland is out now and is the first in the White Rabbit Chronicles. I can’t wait to see what else Gena has in store for us. I’m going to have to go read all of her other books now! 

Have you read Alice in Zombieland? What did you think? 

Happy reading, 

Valia 

Book Spotlight: The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe

“With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normal would become forever out of reach.” 
 
Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.
 
England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.
 
Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.
 
Filled with lush atmosphere, thrilling romance, and ancient magic, The Sweetest Dark brilliantly captures a rich historical era while unfolding an enchanting love story that defies time.
From goodreads.com

The Sweetest Dark is a story about Lora, a girl who’s life hasn’t been a bed of roses. As an orphan, she’s been placed in a home that doesn’t understand who or what she is, making that much harder for her to discover that for herself. When the war strikes, she is sent away to a private school for girls, away from the dangers of invading troops. There she meets sweet Jesse and the mysterious Armand, both boys who push her beyond the limits of herself and help her find the true meaning behind her existence. 

Truthfully, it took me a moment to get into the book. The beginning is so all over the place, trying to set up the story, that I wasn’t sure what exactly was going on. I know that beginning was needed to explain who Lora was as a character, but it left me a bit baffled. However, once Lora makes it to the school, it becomes a little bit clearer.

Lora is an interesting character. Honestly, at times I wondered if she was a bit crazy. She’s not your typical heroine that’s for sure. She comes off a bit aloof in the beginning, but once she starts discovering more about herself, her characters starts to develop as well. I liked her best when she had to interact with Armand. It seemed that he brought out the real her, pushing her beyond the comfort zones she’s created for herself. 

Ah, Armand! If I had to pick teams, I’d be team Armand. I try so hard now days to keep myself from choosing one guy over the other, because it seems my guy always looses, but I couldn’t help myself. While Jesse was an interesting addition to the cast of characters, his relationship with Lora just didn’t do it for me. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed having Jesse in the picture and he’s such a sweetie. But when it came to which male character I enjoyed more, Armand took the top. The relationship that Lora and Armand had felt more real, something that I can imagine happening at any time. However, this is not a typical love triangle, which is why there really is no teams. You have to read it and discover it for yourself. 

The world Shana created is interesting and enchanting. This was my first book by her, and I was drawn in by the flow of her words and descriptions. Her story is almost poetic in a way, which was a different read for me. The supernatural elements will take you by surprise, and the ending will leave you breathless!The Sweetest Dark comes out April 3, 2013! I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading, 

Valia 

Book Spotlight: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….
From Goodreads.com

Poison Princess starts out two hundred and some days after the Flash. The world is not what it used to be and Evie is searching for a way to survive. When she stumbles into an occupied house, she sits down and tells her story. She takes us back to her high school, introduces us to her friends, and then tells us what happened before and after the Flash. Through the story we find out exactly who she is and what role she’ll play in the world. Set off to find her grandmother after the Flash, Evie is joined by an unlikely ally in the form of her old high school nemesis Jack. Together they begin a journey that will change their lives forever. 

This was my first Kresley Cole book. I know she writes a well loved adult series and while I’ve wanted to read it, I just haven’t gotten around to it. Poison Princess was a different read for me. There was so much going on throughout the whole book that I had to stop and reread parts just to keep up with the story. Kresley is very talented in creating a realistic and terrifying world. Her imagination definitely takes you on a ride!

Evie wasn’t my favorite character. I know usually the main character is the one you love, but I didn’t really feel much for Evie. Well, I wanted to slap her a few times. I liked her well enough, especially when she tried to become more than she already was. I have to give her props for all the things she did for her mom, and how she tried to learn to be a better person. Once she started maturing a little bit, I starting cheering her on. 

Jack is not a typical hero of the story, which I kind of enjoyed. I can’t say that I loved him either but he had some interesting qualities about him and I liked how Kresley portrayed him. His whole fascination of us against them when it came to money kind of annoyed me a lot though. I mean after the Flash, does it really freaking matter Jack? Does it? You’re all just trying to survive! Get over it already and go kiss some Evie face or something. I really did enjoy parts of their relationship, especially when they got over themselves and became a little more like the characters I knew them to be!

Overall, while I didn’t love Poison Princess, I did enjoy it. It was a crazy read, with a world created to blow you away. I’d be interested to see where this goes. The last few pages really kept me glued to the book, and that ending? THAT ENDING! I can’t believe I’m going to have to wait forever for book 2! 

Poison Princess comes out October 2, 2012! I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading, 

Valia

Book Spotlight: The Believing Game by Eireann Corrigan

A private academy. A cult leader. A girl caught in the middle.

After Greer Cannon discovers that shoplifting can be a sport and sex can be a superpower, her parents pack her up and send her off to McCracken Hill-a cloistered academy for troubled teens. At McCracken, Greer chafes under the elaborate systems and self-help lingo of therapeutic education. Then Greer meets Addison Bradley. A handsome, charismatic local, Addison seems almost as devoted to Greer as he is to the 12 steps. When he introduces Greer to his mentor Joshua, she finds herself captivated by the older man's calm wisdom. Finally, Greer feels understood.

But Greer starts to question: Where has Joshua come from? What does he want in return for his guidance? The more she digs, the more his lies are exposed. When Joshua's influence over Addison edges them all closer to danger, Greer decides to confront them both. Suddenly, she finds herself on the outside of Joshua's circle. And swiftly, she discovers it's not safe there.
From Goodreads.com

      At the beginning of the book, Greer Cannon gets caught for shoplifting. Tired of their daughters antics, Greer’s parents send her off to a “reform school” or school for troubled teens. In this place, everything you own has to be earned, and Greer works at keeping a low profile just so she can return home. Then she meets Addison. 

Addison comes with his own problems. While he may look menacing and ready to take on the world, he has the kindest heart. Especially around Greer. Soon, the two are inseparable and Addison introduces Greer to Joshua, his mentor. From here, the book takes a spin, and Greer and Addison will never be the same. 

Honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about this book. I’ve never read anything by Eireann before and I was definitely excited by the premise. I think it was a very different kind of a story for me to read so it took me a while to get through it. The story is so complex, so real it makes you stop and think. I work a lot of people and their problems, and it amazed me in this book how Joshua didn’t really have to lie, he just had to say something in a particular way to make it something it wasn’t (if that makes sense). Joshua is so twisted, so bent on controlling these children, that it leaves goosebumps running up and down your arms. 

As a main character, Greer was a good one. Even from the very beginning, she kept to her standards, keeping Joshua and his ideas at an arm length. Yes, I wasn’t happy with her making decisions based on what Addison would think or how she would affect him, but in the end, she took a stand and that’s what’s important. I think that’s the part I most enjoyed about the book. In the end, Greer and her friends thought for themselves and that’s winning. 

Addison was a good character, so was Sophie and the other kids. Overall, the story was a web of thoughts and emotions and it was definitely an interesting read. If you like psychological thrillers, this book is for you! 

The Believing Game is out this December!!! Let me know your thoughts! 

Happy reading, 

Valia 

Book Spotlight: Burning Blue by Paul Griffin

How far would you go for love, beauty, and jealousy? 
When Nicole Castro, the most beautiful girl in her wealthy New Jersey high school, is splashed with acid on the left side of her perfect face, the whole world takes notice. But quiet loner Jay Nazarro does more than that--he decides to find out who did it. Jay understands how it feels to be treated like a freak, and he also has a secret: He's a brilliant hacker. But the deeper he digs, the more danger he's in--and the more he falls for Nicole. Too bad everyone is turning into a suspect, including Nicole herself. 
Award-winning author Paul Griffin has written a high-stakes, soulful mystery about the meaning--and dangers--of love and beauty.
From goodreads.com
Thanks ATWAT for the copy!

The book starts out with Nicole's attack. She’s at school, trying to get to a class, when someone steps out in front of her and sprays her face with acid. In that moment, the beauty queen’s life changes forever. Jay is an outsider at school, plagued by his own problems, but when Nicole is attacked, Jay can’t just sit by and do nothing. Nicole and Jay become friends, and Jay becomes determined to find out what really happened to Nicole. This is the beginning of their story. 

This was my first Paul Griffin book and I have to be honest, it did not disappoint. I’m always cautious when reading new to me authors, but I’m also cautious when it comes to these types of mysteries. For me, it’s either hit or miss, there’s no in between when it comes to these stories. Well, Burning Blue is a definite hit!

Jay is a strong complicated character, who has a lot of problems in his life. Despite everything, he stands true to his convictions and fights for those who can’t fight for themselves. I loved Jay because he was so dysfunctional! I know it sounds funny, but whatever problems he had, he didn’t let them define him and that’s what I loved about him. He pushed through his own insecurities, his own mishaps, to help someone he didn’t really know. In my eyes, that makes him a great hero.

Nicole was an interesting character as well. I loved that she wasn’t just some airhead beauty queen who had her beauty taken from her and THEN she discovers who she truly is. No, Nicole has always had a soft heart, and she’s been searching for her own identity long before the attack. Nicole was a steady character throughout the book, growing just like a real person would, fighting through the adversaries of life. 

Jay and Nicole’s relationship was sweet and up front. I loved how real their interactions were, how personal their growth seemed. These characters leaped off the pages and spoke to you. 

Paul created an emotional, raw and real story folded in the pages of mystery. I had a few things figured out but some took me by surprise. I love when that happens in a book! I flew through this book and I’d recommend it to everyone, even if you’re not big on contemporary! Burning Blue comes out October 25th, 2012! Buy it, read it, love it! 

Happy reading, 

Valia