Review: Beastly Bones (A Jackaby Novel)

 

Beastly Bones: A Jackaby Novel by William Ritter

Beastly BonesBook Description:   In 1892, New Fiddleham, New England, things are never quite what they seem, especially when Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, R. F. Jackaby, are called upon to investigate the supernatural.

First, members of a particularly vicious species of shape-shifters disguise themselves as a litter of kittens. A day later, their owner is found murdered, with a single mysterious puncture wound to her neck. Then, in nearby Gad’s Valley, dinosaur bones from a recent dig go missing, and an unidentifiable beast attacks animals and people, leaving their mangled bodies behind. Policeman Charlie Cane, exiled from New Fiddleham to the valley, calls on Abigail for help, and soon Abigail and Jackaby are on the hunt for a thief, a monster, and a murderer.

Beastly Bones, the second installment in the series, delivers the same quirky humor and unforgettable characters as Jackaby, the book the Chicago Tribune called “Sherlock Holmes crossed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

 

My Review: Can a second book be even better than the first? This one is. Shape-shifting kittens, dinosaur bones, animal attacks, a thief, monsters, and a murderer? I loved it all.

I listened to this one. I decided to go for the full experience since Nicola Barber reads this one too.  She’s just as fantastic as she was in the first one. I said it before and I’ll say it again. Nicola Barber is the perfect choice to be Abigail Rook.

There is a novella called The Map that happens between Jackaby and Beastly Bones it’s about Abigail’s birthday. Jackaby has a surprise for Abigail and I can promise you it is an adventure. The story features all the things I like best about R.F. Jackaby, the good and the bad. I wouldn’t say that you need to have read The Map before Beastly Bones but why wouldn’t you want to?

Where the first book was a whirlwind of Abigail discovering the supernatural world around her, I found this book to be more about the mystery. Abigail spent the first book being two steps behind Jackaby and putting her life in danger. In this book she’s still putting her life in danger but now she’s just one step behind (like everyone else). This opens up the story. It allows for the mystery to be center stage. And it’s a great mystery.

The setting shifts for this one too. Abigail and Jackaby in the country? They get into enough trouble in the city. Let’s just say that when all is said and done they leave a gigantic mess for a certain police officer.

While all of the shenanigans are going on in Gad’s Valley my favorite ghost is going through a transformation back in New Fiddleham. We get to find out more about her. I think she’s fascinating so I enjoyed that.

If you loved Jackaby, don’t hesitate to pick up Beastly Bones. In my humble opinion it’s even better than Jackaby.

 

Lynn5 starPGS_round

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background: Pokes Fun At by Tante Tati

Review: Never Mind My Thigh Gap

 

Never Mind My Thigh Gap by Bronte Huskinson and Sarah Newton

0-1Book Description:

“One ordinary girl, one extraordinary moment”

There are three things everyone notices about Alice. 1. Her super-hot rugby boyfriend. 2. Her sophisticated, totally gorgeous best friend. 3. Her very noticeable 38-inch long legs.

Alice is tall — just under six feet to be exact — but her self-esteem couldn’t be smaller. When her relationship starts wavering, Alice’s perfectly beautiful best friend somehow convinces her to join a modelling competition, “for a confidence boost.” But Alice is just a normal girl; she loves ice cream too much, has an unhealthy addiction to American TV and lusts after the elusive thigh gap. She can’t even walk in heels, let alone in a bikini, but she finds herself joining Runway Models anyway.

The finale is only a few months away.

Will Alice catwalk her way to self-confidence or fail, proving everyone right?

People can surprise you.

*This book was provided by the author or publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

My Review:  Sometimes a book can surprise you. This kind of book usually isn’t my thing. I like my teen angst and drama with a side of supernatural- fantasy- death and destruction. It’s also told in first person present which I can’t stand but once I began reading it was hard to stop because I wanted to see Alice succeed. I wanted her to realize she was more than she thought she was.

Alice is charming once you get to know her. I have never been in Alice’s shoes regarding appearance (she doesn’t think she’s as pretty as her friend) but I think we can all relate to her in one way or another. We all have things we are self conscious about. We all have issues that we need to overcome. I enjoyed watching Alice become empowered and take control of her destiny. And when she tells Oscar (you’re going to love him) to stop acting like his talent is nothing, I knew for sure she was changing.

I liked Alice’s mom. Early on in the book her mom tells tells her that she can’t let a boy control her and that she needs to do what makes her happy. I liked that she flat out said it. She didn’t give it a soft sell. She was direct and honest. I think it’s hard to be that direct and honest with another adult, I can’t imagine what it’s like to give advice to a child.

This book is for anyone who wants to be something more than they are. This is a beautiful story about proving that you can believe in yourself and the transformation that takes place once you do. Don’t allow the title to make you think this book is about thigh gaps. It’s about a great deal more.

Lynn4 starPGS_round

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background Image: Pink by StockSnap

Review: The Paladin Caper by Patrick Weekes

The Paladin Caper (Rogues of the Republic 3) by Patrick Weekes

TPCBook Description:  A thief’s good deeds are never done.

Loch and her crew are determined to stop the ancients from returning to reclaim the world they once ruled, but the kidnapping of a friend throws their plans awry. When a desperate rescue turns into a shocking reunion, the ancients return and seize power. Determined to stop them, Loch and the group look for a way to close the gate to the ancients’ world, but this time, they find themselves up against an enemy that has insinuated itself into the highest ranks of the Republic. Cruel, cunning, and connected, the ancients target the crew’s families and histories, threatening to tear friendships apart.

If that weren’t bad enough, Loch must deal with her treacherous assassin sister, her turncoat ancient friend, and a daemon who has sworn to hunt her to the ends of the earth. In order to save the Republic and pull off her largest con ever, Loch will need her friends…and maybe her enemies too.

My Review: I really enjoyed this book. I decided to listen to it instead of reading it because in the past I’ve gotten hung up on the complicated names of the characters. Justine Eyre narrates this series and does a far better job of saying the names than I ever could. So, I was happy to let her entertain me. I enjoyed her narration of this series. She has a dozen different voices in her arsenal which I appreciate. An audio book is a lot more fun when the narrator is very talented.

This books wraps everything up so I think it’s the last one. I can’t say that I was ready for the series to be over but this was a great end. It was also left open so maybe it’s not the end forever.

Patrick Weeks writes fascinating characters and I’m going to miss these characters. My favorite thing about this series has always been the characters. They are balanced and well thought out. I’m not just talking about character arcs. The personalities of the characters are balanced, not just with the other characters but within themselves. The book I read before this one had a strong main character who went completely off the rails. The character began acting in a way that moved the plot along put abandoned all semblance of who the character had proven herself to be up to that point. I stopped reading. It made me appreciate how this story’s characters were constructed.

I was surprised when the end came. I should have known that Patrick Weeks would bring the series together in the same fashion that he does each individual book. I always expect to see how the con will conclude because the author always appears to share everything of consequence. I have never felt as if something was being kept from me but something always has. I guess that’s the trademark of a great storyteller. If this is the last one, I’m going to miss this series.

Lynn

 

 

5 starPGS_round

 

 

 

 

 

Background Image: Falkensteiner Cave by Hans

 

Review: Prudence (The Custard Protocol) by Gail Carriger

Prudence (The Custard Protocol) by Gail Carriger

Performed by Moira Quirk

PrudenceBook Description: When Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama (“Rue” to her friends) is bequeathed an unexpected dirigible, she does what any sensible female under similar circumstances would do — she christens it the Spotted Custard and floats off to India.

Soon, she stumbles upon a plot involving local dissidents, a kidnapped brigadier’s wife, and some awfully familiar Scottish werewolves. Faced with a dire crisis (and an embarrassing lack of bloomers), Rue must rely on her good breeding — and her metanatural abilities — to get to the bottom of it all…
My Review: I decided to listen to this book rather than read it. I am a fan of Gail Carriger, I loved her Finishing School series but I didn’t care for Soulless. I read it and discovered that I really didn’t like Alexia. I found her to be loud, whiny, and difficult. (I tried to read Changeless I honestly did.) I felt really bad because the rest of the book was so good. I love Gail Carriger’s smooth writing style, humor, and cleverness. So this series is my do over, my second chance to join the adventure.
 I probably missed a lot by not reading the previous series but I can personally attest that you don’t need to have read the Parasol Protectorate to really enjoy Prudence. Misunderstood and resourceful to a fault, Prudence has her mothers strong will and Lord Akeldama’s everything else. I suspect she enjoys being a wolf best so I guess she gets that from her father. Rue is a unique character. She is less traditional shape-shifter and more shape-borrower. She can become any supernatural being that she touches just so long as she doesn’t get too far away from them.
This book has a varied cast of characters. My favorite relationship is between Rue and Prim. I like the contrast between them. As the audience we get to see Rue in all of her metanatural glory. It never occurs to her that she should wait for one of the boys to help her out. She dives right in to fix what’s broken. It’s interesting to see Rue compare herself to perfect Prim and come up short. The two characters compliment each other in a way only best friends can.
 Can I tell you how much I enjoyed Moira Quirk reading this book? It’s really important to get the right person to read an audio book and Moira Quirk was the perfect choice for this one. You can practically feel the motion of the story. You can actually feel Rue’s exasperation with a certain engineer. She has very distinct voices for each of the characters. For me, that’s the trademark of a truly great narrator. I will definitely look for more books performed by Moira Quirk.
 I loved the characters, the narrator is excellent, and I hope we get at least another four or five books in this series. I love it when an author can create something we haven’t see before, from something that we have.  I’m hooked.
 Lynn5 starPGS_roundThere isn’t really any questionable content in this book. Everything is proper and Victorian.
Background Image: Tree-jungle by Hans

Tricky Twenty-Two

 

Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich

TrickyBook Description:  Stephanie Plum might not be the world’s greatest bounty hunter, but she knows when she’s being played. Ken Globovic (aka Gobbles), hailed as the Supreme Exalted Zookeeper of the animal house known as Zeta fraternity, has been arrested for beating up the dean of students at Kiltman College. Gobbles has missed his court date and gone into hiding. People have seen him on campus, but no one will talk. Things just aren’t adding up, and Stephanie can’t shake the feeling that something funny is going on at the college—and it’s not just Zeta fraternity pranks.

As much as people love Gobbles, they hate Doug Linken. When Linken is gunned down in his backyard it’s good riddance, and the list of possible murder suspects is long. The only people who care about finding Linken’s killer are Trenton cop Joe Morelli, who has been assigned the case, security expert Ranger, who was hired to protect Linken, and Stephanie, who has her eye on a cash prize and hopefully has some tricks up her sleeve.

My Review: This wasn’t my favorite Stephanie Plum book. It has an excellent main plot that is well thought out and well executed. It reminded me of the early days of this series. Things fell apart for me in the character relationships. Are we nearing the end of the series? It really felt like it.

Reason One:

I have never been a fan of the relationship between Stephanie and Morelli. I don’t like the character. His biggest failing is that he doesn’t accept her for who she is. It could also be argued that she hasn’t accepted herself. Twenty-two full fledged books; he doesn’t get it and she’s still in denial. That horse really can’t be flogged anymore, its desiccated bones can’t handle it. There isn’t anything left. That’s why the side story in this book bothered me so much. Morelli treats her badly. He always treats her badly but in this book it’s really terrible. The reasons he gives at the end are inadequate at best. Laughable, really. Then she forgives all in a really big way. A really, really big way.

Reason Two:

I am not a Ranger fan either. Until this book it looked like he had commitment issues. He’s hardly in this one and things appear to have completely cooled between them. I think it’s time for a new love interest.

Reason Three:

Stephanie’s mom finally understands why Stephanie likes bond enforcement by the end of this book. The apocalypse is near. What will they disagree about if the proper Mrs. Plum understands her daughter and no longer finds her exasperating? Apocalypse.

Lula and Grandma Mazur are just as fun and entertaining as usual. They are actually more fun and entertaining than usual because of the tense plot. Lula is hysterical as always. There are a few laugh out loud moments but I still think the apocalypse is near for this series. It needs new life. Hopefully in the form of a new love interest. I’ll give it one more book.

Lynn3 starQC-13_round

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background Image: Cambridge by tpsdave

Romulus Buckle and the Engines of War

I re-posted my review for The City of the Founders on Monday. I re-posted my review for The Engines of War today. Guess what I’m posting on Friday? Answer: Romulus Buckle and the Luminiferous Aether came out in December.

Originally posted Mar 2014

Romulus Buckle and the Engines of War

by Richard Ellis Preston Jr.

 

RomulusBuckle-720Book Description:   The frozen wasteland of Snow World—known as Southern California before an alien invasion decimated civilization—is home to warring steampunk clans. Crankshafts, Imperials, Tinskins, Brineboilers, and many more all battle one another for precious supplies, against ravenous mutant beasts for basic survival, and with the mysterious Founders for their very freedom.

Through this ruined world soars the Pneumatic Zeppelin, captained by the daring Romulus Buckle. In the wake of a nearly suicidal assault on the Founders’ prison city to rescue key military leaders, both the steam-powered airship and its crew are bruised and battered. Yet there’s little time for rest or repairs: Founders raids threaten to shatter the fragile alliance Buckle has risked everything to forge among the clans.

Even as he musters what seems a futile defense in the face of inevitable war, Buckle learns that the most mysterious clan of all is holding his long-lost sister in a secret base—and that she holds the ultimate key to victory over the Founders. But rescuing her means abandoning his allies and praying they survive long enough for there to be an alliance to return to.

My Review:

This installment is action packed.  It doesn’t stop for even one second.  It opens with Buckle looking for the remains of an airship that went down during the attack on the Devil’s Punchbowl (his home).  He rides up a mountain with an insane guide-in the freezing cold-without Sabrina, Max, or anyone else for back up. I expect nothing less from our hero. Max follows him anyway, and I would expect nothing less from her.

It wouldn’t be a Romulus Buckle adventure if there weren’t beasties so of course Max has to save him and then he has to save her. The thing I love most about these books is that Buckle needs his family. He doesn’t always know it and he tries to keep them safe, but he needs them as much as they need him. I also love that he has an aura of invincibility. It makes it fun to read about the good captain.

The action in this book is breathtaking.  There are out of control animals on the ground and in the air, a ball (the dancing kind), a duel, and even an airship battle.  And Buckle tries get himself blown up again. There is also a touching scene with Imperial leader Katzenjammer Smelt and his children. It’s an important scene because it gives him some badly needed humanity.  I hated him in the first book.

I’ve become a fan of the audiobooks as well. They are both read by Luke Daniels who does a wonderful job. If you love adventure of any kind then you’ll love this book.

Lynn5 starPGS_round

 

 

 

 

 

Background Image: Finland-Snow by Trespa

 

Romulus Buckle and the City of the Founders

Originally posted Feb 2014

Romulus Buckle and the City of the Founders

by Richard Ellis Preston Jr.

Romulus Buckle & the City of the Founders lgBook Description:  In a post-apocalyptic world of endless snow, Captain Romulus Buckle and the stalwart crew of the Pneumatic Zeppelin must embark on a perilous mission to rescue their kidnapped leader, Balthazar Crankshaft, from the impenetrable City of the Founders. Steaming over a territory once known as Southern California – before it was devastated in the alien war – Buckle navigates his massive airship through skies infested with enemy war zeppelins and ravenous alien beasties in this swashbuckling and high-octane steampunk adventure. Life is desperate in the Snow World – and death is quick – Buckle and his ship’s company must brave poisoned wastelands of noxious mustard and do battle with forgewalkers, steampipers and armored locomotives as they plunge from the skies into the underground prison warrens of the fortress-city.

Captain Romulus Buckle must lead the Pneumatic Zeppelin and its crew of never-do-wells on a desperate mission where he must risk everything to save Balthazar and attempt to prevent a catastrophic war which could wipe out all that is left of civilization and the entire human race.

My Review:

This book is one of my new favorites; it was so much fun to read. I also listened to this book and it was better than what was happening in my head.  The audiobook is read by Luke Daniels and he did a beautiful job capturing each character.

Captain Romulus Buckle is probably the youngest airship captain I’ve read about. The entire crew is young but he appears to be one of the youngest. The author danced precariously on the line of maturity and youthful zeal.  He is a mature captain with a complete understanding of what it takes to be a captain.  He fights off, mostly, the part of himself that is impulsive. It was the most interesting thing in the book for me and that’s saying something because this book is full of amazing things.

Everyone wears hats and they are not just a fashion statement. They serve a purpose like all really good steam gadgets.  The hats plug into the airship.  Yes you heard right.  They plug into the airship. Which is just fun. They are described in great detail.  In fact everything is described in great detail and I wouldn’t want it any other way.  The author is very imagenative and I wanted to keep reading about how to navigate the airship.  It was facinating.  I wanted to know more about the animals aboard too.  I wanted to know more about the systems and the hydrogen bags and tanglers.  Tanglers are sky monsters.  Really dangerous and scary sky monsters.

This book is a beautiful combination of steampunk and family drama.  Balthazar isn’t just the Crankshaft leader.  He adopted Buckle when he was very young.  In fact Balthazar and his wife adopted many children and a few of them work on the ship such as the chief navigator and chief engineer. When Buckle cooks up his rescue mission. All of Balthazar’s adopted children want to help.  There is also a mystery regarding Buckle’s biological sister Elizabeth who was killed in an Imperial attack.  Another mystery surrounds his adopted sister Sabrina and why a captured sandpiper freaked out when he saw her.

Even if you haven’t read any steampunk before you will still be mesmerized by all of the detail and easy storytelling. This book will be your gateway drug. It felt like Richard Ellis Preston Jr. built the Pneumatic Zeppelin and told us a story about it.  I loved it.

 

Lynn

5 starPGS_round

 

There are battles and an automaton meets a grisly end.

 

I also suggest:

flash goldHuntedRomulusBuckle-720

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original Background Image: Sky by Giografiche

 

 

Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares

 

Hello everyone! Happy holidays! I said that when we found a good book to recommend that we would tell you about it. I have one. I read it a while ago but I listened to the audio version over the weekend and remembered how much I loved it. So here we go.

 

Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

51glspx9S3L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_Book Description:

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

16-year-old Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on her favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. Dash, in a bad mood during the holidays, happens to be the first guy to pick up the notebook and rise to its challenges.

What follows is a whirlwind romance as Dash and Lily trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations all across New York City. But can their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions, or will their scavenger hunt end in a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Co-written by Rachel Cohn (GINGERBREAD) and David Levithan, co-author of WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON with John Green (THE FAULT IN OUR STARS), DASH & LILY’S BOOK OF DARES is a love story that will have readers scouring bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

 

My Review: It should be noted that I don’t agree with this book description.  While it is possible that I missed all of the epic romantic moments, I think it’s unlikely. I found this book to be about two people who learn about themselves while they learn about each other. They pass a notebook back and forth without meeting until almost the middle of the story. Okay it’s more like three quarters, but that is what makes this story so great. There isn’t a single dull moment. The dares are what keep the story going. That’s what I liked most about this story. Okay, that’s probably not exactly true. I also loved that this story takes place during the days leading up to Christmas and goes all the way to New Year’s morning.

Lily’s love of Christmas is infectious. So is Dash’s love of words. (He wants the entire OED for Christmas.) They are perfectly balanced characters. Dash is a bit surly but also kind and thoughtful even though he doesn’t always want to be. Lily is mostly laid back and fun but don’t cross the Lily-bear. You’ll be very sorry.

This book is just so much fun. I don’t think that it matters that they’re teenagers that are abandoned at Christmas. This story will be fun to anyone. Lily’s parents take a very belated trip to Fiji. Dash uses the fact that his parents don’t speak to one another to get a vacation for himself. You see, his parents had a very nasty divorce and he’s smart. He tells his mother that he’s spending the holidays with his father and he tells his father he’s spending the holidays with his mother so both sets of parents go on vacation. It’s genius. It’s brilliant! He is free to wander the city and dare.

The dares that Dash and Lily go on are not dangerous. They simply take the characters out of their comfort zone. Even when Dash sends Lily to a club at three a.m. it’s under the supervision of two trusted friends. (Lily doesn’t know it.) And when Lily sends Dash to Macy’s- well, Lily has family everywhere.

This is a charming tale that takes place in New York City at Christmas. What could possibly be better than that? It’s a complete adventure. And the characters really make this story great.

Lynn

 

 

 

 

 

5 starPGS_round

 

 

 

 

I also suggest:

St. Nick coverMTLGTM_cover81pQoNpy7JL

 

 

Starling by Lesley Livingston

StarlingStarling (Starling Saga)

By Lesley Livingston

Updated *Originally posted 8/12/2013*

 

Book Description: Mason Starling is a champion fencer on the Gosforth Academy team, but she’s never had to fight for her life. Not until the night a ferocious, otherworldly storm rips through Manhattan, trapping Mason and her teammates inside the school. Mason is besieged by nightmarish creatures more terrifying than the thunder and lightning as the raging tempest also brings a dangerous stranger into her life: a young man who remembers nothing but his name—the Fennrys Wolf. His arrival tears Mason’s world apart, even as she feels an undeniable connection to him. Together, they seek to unravel the secrets of Fenn’s identity as strange and supernatural forces gather around them. When they discover Mason’s family—with its dark allegiance to ancient Norse gods—is at the heart of the mystery, Fennrys and Mason are suddenly faced with a terrifying future.

Set against the gritty, shadowed back-drop of New York City, this first novel in award-winning author Lesley Livingston’s epic Starling Saga is an intoxicating blend of sweeping romance and pulse-pounding action.

My Review: This book combined some of my favorite things; storms, trees, and mythology.  You don’t need any knowledge of, or interest in, mythology to enjoy this book.  Explanations are seamlessly given for all of the mythology references. If mythology isn’t your thing you won’t even know it’s happening. I, personally, love it when books are smart.  This is one smart book and Mason is one smart girl.

Mason’s life is torn apart by a storm.  Her life of fencing, studying, and having a crush on the school’s fencing superstar comes to an end during that storm.  Being billionaire Gunnar Starling’s little princess has kept Mason safe from a great many things such as betrayal.  That doesn’t last but with the help of new friends it looks like she may just find her way. She’s smart, responsible, and reliable. Those are traits that will help her save the world. She also has a sword and a destiny. Those will help too.

Fennrys, our token mysterious character, having amnesia was a fun twist.  He would have been overpowering if he had remembered who he was and what he was capable of.  This way, by the time he remembers, he’s playing catch up and left scrambling to save Mason (who, by the way, is completely capable of saving herself). He gets to be mysterious without even trying.

A character who surprised me was Heather.  I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of her.  Is she a prophet? A seer? A fairy?  What do you call someone who can see people’s true love?  I was all ready to hate her as the “mean girl” of this story but as it turns out she couldn’t be further from mean girl territory.   She even covers for Mason and Fennrys. That’s how you know who your friends are. Will they cover for you when you really need them to? That is the age old question.

If you’re looking for a fun adventure then this is it.  It has monsters!  It has goddesses!  It has talk of Ragnarok! It has it all.

Descendant and Transcendent books two and three are out now.

lynn signature

PicsArt_1375992687897  PGS_round Violence. Mason and Fennrys are saving the world after all.

 

 

 

 

Background Image: misty forest by skeeze

Get Even by Gretchen McNeil

Get Even by Gretchen McNeil

 

Get EvenBook Description:

The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars in Gretchen McNeil’s witty and suspenseful novel about four disparate girls who join forces to take revenge on high school bullies and create dangerous enemies for themselves in the process.

Bree, Olivia, Kitty, and Margot have nothing in common—at least that’s what they’d like the students and administrators of their elite private school to think. The girls have different goals, different friends, and different lives, but they share one very big secret: They’re all members of Don’t Get Mad, a secret society that anonymously takes revenge on the school’s bullies, mean girls, and tyrannical teachers.

When their latest target ends up dead with a blood-soaked “DGM” card in his hands, the girls realize that they’re not as anonymous as they thought—and that someone now wants revenge on them. Soon the clues are piling up, the police are closing in . . . and everyone has something to lose.

 

My Review: I don’t think this book is Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars. I think it’s more Heist Society meets Pretty Little Liars. The members of the secret society in question function like a team. The group isn’t about secret handshakes and holding secrets over each others heads. In fact the members of DGM don’t find out each others secrets until the end of the book. In case you’re wondering the secrets are big.

Each member has a particular skill set. Bree breaks into places and uses her bad attitude to their advantage. Olivia is the actress. Margot is the hacker. And then we have Kitty, who happens to be the ringleader. DGM was her creation and she spends the book conflicted about it. This book isn’t about the rise of DGM. It’s about the fall of it.

My only issue with this book was that the end felt less like an end and more like the book just kind of stops. I flipped back and forth on my e reader but I was out of pages. It ends at a really traumatic point. Maybe I was supposed to feel like the assembly where Kitty intends to give herself up was the big intense scene. I can’t say that I did because the whole book is made up of glorious moments like that. There were just too many loose ends.

Luckily for all of you who haven’t read it yet, number two “Get Dirty” is out now. I was dying to know how it ends. I will only say that Get Dirty doesn’t have the problem that Get Even had. There is a spectacular ending. True fourth of July stuff. I hope there are more. I love these characters.

lynn signaturepicsart_1375992730999QC-13_round

 

 

 

 

I’m giving this Questionable Content only because it deals with issues like those in Pretty Little Liars. So bullying, language things like that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background Image: American High School by dspskk0