Prep School Confidential

Author: Kara Taylor
Release Date:  July 30th, 2013

Publisher: Macmillan

Genre(s): YA Mystery
Pages:  310

*Book one of a series*

~Spoiler Free~

Summary (Goodreads):
In this breathtaking debut that reads like Gossip Girl crossed with Twin Peaks, a Queen Bee at a blue-blooded New England prep school stumbles into a murder mystery.

Anne Dowling practically runs her exclusive academy on New York’s Upper East Side—that is, until she accidentally burns part of it down and gets sent to a prestigious boarding school outside of Boston. Determined to make it back to New York, Anne couldn't care less about making friends at the preppy Wheatley School. That is, until her roommate Isabella’s body is found in the woods behind the school.

When everyone else is oddly silent, Anne becomes determined to uncover the truth no matter how many rules she has to break to do it. With the help of Isabella’s twin brother Anthony, and a cute classmate named Brent, Anne discovers that Isabella wasn’t quite the innocent nerdy girl she pretended to be. But someone will do anything to stop Anne’s snooping in this fast-paced, unputdownable read—even if it means framing her for Isabella’s murder. 

Review:
Welp... that's the last time I'm reading murder mysteries by myself in the dark at 12 AM.  LOL. 

This book was both... fluffy and heavy? If that's even possible? It never lost it's humor, that's for sure, but at the same time, it is a murder mystery, so there was a lot of heavy stuff going on as well.

The plot definitely kept me on my toes.  Codes and sweet nerdy girls hiding secrets? BRING IT.  I was dying (pun not intended) to see the ending- and boy, was it satisfying!  I honestly did not expect it, which made it the best thing ever! It's been a while since I've read a book where I was constantly suspicious of almost every character. 

I love Annie!  She was snarky and spoiled at first (like to the point where I sorta wanted to slap her...), but she underwent major character development (though even at the end, she is a teensy bit spoiled-but that's part of her charm I guess xD), and had me laughing even in some of the most serious bits.   The only thing I HATED HATED HATED about this book was that love triangle. OH MY GOODNESS.  It appeared out of nowhere- well, no I take that back.  I expected it, but I didn't expect the random kisses. Those came out of nowhere and hit me square in the face.  Yuck.  The whole love triangle mess was poorly developed, just like our two male leads, and I think she would be better off alone actually...

But anyways.  I'll get over it... eventually. xD

THAT ENDING. SO CREEPY BUT SO INTRIGUING.  I think just for that ending I'd pick up the second book... even though I REALLY don't like where this love triangle is going.... UGGGGGGH (sorry can't get over this xD).  WHHHY BOOOK?! You had such a great plot and a lovely heroine with only slightly underdeveloped supporting characters (but they were endearing ;) ), but that terrible, terrible love triangle really just.... UGGGGGGGGH.

 I'm usually not a fan of mysteries (just 'cuz- maybe I'll write a post about it in the future ;) ), but with this book and the Deadly Cool series by Gemma Halliday (one of the few mystery series that I enjoy reading again and again- WHICH I WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO- though I don't mind- IF ONLY THE THIRD BOOK WOULD JUST COME OUT D:), I'm slowly warming up to them-esp. if they have a little fluffy mixed in. xD.

Thanks for reading!

Rating:
2.7 out of 5
(I was going to give the book a 3, but that love triangle... just killed it... not in a good way... and pun totally intended...)

#TimeToRead

(Source)

Hi everyone!

National Readathon Day is coming up, and I'm super excited about it (it gives me an excuse to just read the day away :D )!!

From noon to 4, it's just high sailing with books, books, and more books! :)

For me, I have Mortal Enchantment saved just for this occasion- and if by some miracle I manage to finish it, then Snow like Ashes is next on my list. 

So are you guys participating? What books are you planning on reading? 

Happy Readings!:) 

Waiting on Wednesday Wk 36

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by the fabulous Jill over at Breaking the Spine!:)

What I'm waiting on this week:

Plot Blurb:
A sixteen-year-old governess becomes a spy in this alternative U.S. history where the British control with magic and the colonists rebel by inventing.

It’s 1888, and sixteen-year-old Verity Newton lands a job in New York as a governess to a wealthy leading family—but she quickly learns that the family has big secrets. Magisters have always ruled the colonies, but now an underground society of mechanics and engineers are developing non-magical sources of power via steam engines that they hope will help them gain freedom from British rule. The family Verity works for is magister—but it seems like the children's young guardian uncle is sympathetic to the rebel cause. As Verity falls for a charming rebel inventor and agrees to become a spy, she also becomes more and more enmeshed in the magister family’s life. She soon realizes she’s uniquely positioned to advance the cause—but to do so, she’ll have to reveal her own dangerous secret. 

Date released:
July 14th, 2015

I do believe that is one of the most epic first sentences of a plot blurb I've ever encountered.  

I was hooked even before I finished reading the whole thing. 

So what are you waiting on this week?

:)

Jane Austen-based: Prom and Prejudice, Epic Fail, Prada and Prejudice

*Wrote this a while back, but just recently found it buried under other to-be edited posts lol. Minor edits on the time references ;)* 

A few months ago (actually, I think this is closer to a year LOL),  I fell totally in love with Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  Afterwards, to help ease my book hangover, I went on a Jane Austen spree- well, sort of. It was more like any-YA-books-that-was-based-on-Pride-and-Prejudice-with-a-modern-twist spree.  LOL ;)  I meant to actually go on a true Jane Austen spree (Emma was next on my list!), but I got distracted with other books (like these ones) and new releases, and I haven't quite been able to accomplish that yet (perhaps this summer?) ;)

My favorite out of the three Pride and Prejudice-based books was Prom and Prejudice.  It was such a cute book that I could read over and over again ;).  As expected, the plot is much like Pride and Prejudice, but with a modern twist, and the characters themselves were similar to the characters of the original book.  I actually was warming up more to Epic Fail, but the ending messed that up for me. (It was one of those, "Wait, the book ended here?" endings.) But Prom and Prejudice had great closure, and I liked it a lot.

As a whole, Epic Fail and Prom and Prejudice  were very similar. In fact, I thought one book had copied the other until I realized, duh (*face palm*), they were based on the same book. (LOL) Prada and Prejudice was a little different.  Instead of being a modern twist, "Elizabeth" bumps her head and goes back in time.  I thought this book was okay; it was a lot of fluff and not a lot of substance.  I mean the first two books were fluffy as well, but it had some substance that grounded it ( like the themes of Pride and Prejudice were much clearer in those two books).

Out of these three, I would recommend Prom and Prejudice first (better ending), and if you're like me and craving more Epic Fail.  :)

The next book I want to pick up is Spy and Prejudice, but I'll have to see LOL.  I might get sidetracked again ahaha.

Thanks for reading! :)

Waiting on Wednesday Wk 35

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by the fabulous Jill over at Breaking the Spine!:)

What I'm waiting on this week:

*This cover is creepily cool*

Plot blurb;

Pram Bellamy is special—she can talk to ghosts. She doesn’t have too many friends amongst the living, but that’s all right. She has her books, she has her aunts, and she has her best friend, the ghostly Felix.

Then Pram meets Clarence, a boy from school who has also lost a parent and is looking for answers. Together they arrive at the door of the mysterious Lady Savant, who promises to help. But this spiritualist knows the true nature of Pram’s power, and what she has planned is more terrifying than any ghost.

Lauren DeStefano is beloved by critics and readers alike, and her middle grade debut is lyrical, evocative and not to be missed.

Comes out Sept. 1st. 2015 

So what are you waiting on this week? :)

Dangerous Reflections

Author: Shay West
Release Date:  June 17th, 2014

Publisher: Booktrope

Genre(s): YA Science Fiction 

Pages:   214

*Book one of a series*

~Spoiler Free~

Summary (Goodreads):

Alexis Davenport wants to go home. She hates her new school, her mother for moving her away from her friends, and her father for walking out.

To make matters worse, Alex is haunted by images of strange girls reflected in her mirror. It’s bad enough juggling homework, a relentless bully, boys, and a deadbeat dad; now, she must save the world from an evil presence hell-bent on changing the past – and our futures. Who knew her A+ in history was going to be this important? 

Review:
**Thank you so much to the author and publisher for sending me a copy of this book! **

The biggest problem I had with this book is with its main character, Alex.  She's not a very likeable girl; she's shallow, whiny, and a little bit dumb.  She also has "The Chosen One" complex (which is just briefly mentioned at the end... so I'm withholding judgment there).  But oddly enough, if you take her out of the equation (and the insta-love... ARGH), the plot of the story is interesting.

But anyways.

I'll mention the good first.  The plot is interesting.  It's not particularly unique (time traveling, saving the world), but the details and the historical aspect gives the plot its own color.  I absolutely love history, and so I could relate with Alex on that level (the one and only thing).   (Btw, I was total fangirling over the Book of Kells- even if it was brief. )  Drifter and his master also intrigue me, and throughout the book, I was trying to figure how each historical event related to one another (only to find that the book ended before that was revealed. ARGGGH).

... And that's about it.

Now for the bad parts:

The book has waaay too much telling rather than showing.  It makes the dialogue and the general flow of the book stilted/awkward, making the book a little bit "clunky" to read (not sure if this is the right word choice).

And finally... Alex.

The insta-love game is strong with this one.  I honestly don't want to delve too much into it (it'll make me rage all over again... > . < ), but she literally falls in love with every "good looking" guy she sets her eyes upon.  (!!!)

.  

And her relationship with Beau is absolutely RIDICULOUS.  She KNOWS (SHE SAYS IT LIKE A GAZILLION TIMES) he's just using her for her brains, and she would get annoyed for like a split second before melting under his" handsome smile." (This would happen again, and again, and again...)  She even states, in not so many words, that she wants a guy like him to validate her own worth.

Um no.   

Alex also sounds like an elementary school kid even though she's suppose to be in high school.  She's very materialistic and selfish, and she blames her mom for everything (then turns right around, promises to be better to her mom, and then blames her mom again).  I understand that she's coming from a tough spot (her dad left her, etc), but that still doesn't excuse her behavior, and IT'S NOT HER MOM'S FAULT.  I actually sympathized more with her mom than with Alex- until her mom tells her to ignore her bullies and to make light of it by laughing it off. DUUUUDE. She was being bullied with inappropriate photo-shopped pictures.  This is not something to be laughed off and ignored.

Also, all her friends think she's the greatest thing ever. I thought it was weird how random people would just come up to her and become instant friends with her.  That's not realistic- but then again, this book is about time-traveling soooo.... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Her friends aren't so bad though; in fact, I sort of like them better than Alex (I say sort of, since they aren't that developed...). Both Catelyn and Beau are just bad characters.  I disliked them not only because of their actions, but also because they were one-dimensional and complete cardboard.  They were just there to be there.

Final Thoughts:  I was really hoping Alex would change by the end of book (that would have been AWESOME character development), but alas, that wasn't so. In a nutshell: Enjoyed the plot, disliked the character (s).

Thanks for reading!:)

Rating: 1.5 out of 5 

Waiting on Wednesday Wk 34

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by the fabulous Jill over at Breaking the Spine!:)

What I'm waiting on this week:

Plot Blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder wowed readers with Poison Study, the unforgettable story of poison taster Yelena. Now she's back with a new tale of intrigue.

Once, only her own life hung in the balance.

Oddly enough, when Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But she'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands and protect her relationship with Valek.

Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek's job - and his life - are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret - or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is - while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralizing her powers.

Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous.

Release date: February 24th 2015 

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this one... I was a little disappointed by the Healer series, and though I love the Poison Study series to death, I don't know  if a new book would add anything more to the story (... then again it's been a while since I've read this series, and this will give me an excuse to read it again LOL).

Will be eagerly and nervously watching for this one. 

What are you guys waiting on this week? 

:)