Review: Suspicion

Suspicion by Alexandra Monir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It has been seven years since Imogen’s father and mother died in a fire at her family’s English country manor. Her guardians moved her back to New York City and isolated her from anything related to her English noble ancestors. When she learns that her cousin and grandfather are both dead and she is now the Duchess of Rockford, Imogen holds her head high and decides to take on this heavy title. Rockford begins to flourish with her return, but there are dark secrets at every turn and Imogen is unsure who she can trust and must uncover the truth before it is too late.

Suspicion is a mystery with a hint of supernatural folklore thrown in. Readers who enjoyed the Princess Diaries will like the American turned heiress pulled into the twenty-first century. The story moves along quickly and smoothly. I recommend that readers don’t start this book during a busy time of the week, since they will most likely be stuck in their favorite reading spot trying to break away. Monir has created a cast of characters that are easy to love and although this appears to be a stand-alone book, it is easy to see additional stories being created in this newly developed world.


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Review: King Dork Approximately

King Dork Approximately by Frank Portman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Tom Henderson has survived tenth grade, act one. It is now time to begin tenth grade, act two, and life is still completely unstable for King Dork. Tom had to give up his army coat since it was saturated in blood; Little Big Tom has been guilted out of the home and his imaginary girlfriends are nowhere around. He has just found out that after the winter break his school will be shut down and he will be separated from his alphabetical-order best friend who will go to a different school. This new school actually expects students to do work and bullying is not done as openly. Will the Catcher Code work in this new environment? Can the female robot’s notes help him in his next relationship?

King Dork Approximately is the second book in the King Dork series. Even for a sequel published eight years after the first book, readers should have no trouble remembering the events of the first book due to the non-stop ramblings of the narrator. This book is a tongue in cheek story told by a goofy teen boy. Readers should not go into this book expecting anything serious and definitely not for any life changing truths. King Dork Approximately is a fun escape read that will keep the reader turning pages until the end.


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Review: Captive

Captive by Aimee Carter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kitty Doe has been living a lie for two months. She is pretending to be the Prime Minister’s niece, she doesn’t know if she can trust her fake fiancé, and although the Blackcoats want her help, they allow her to do little more than give canned speeches. As she begins to understand that her role in the Hart family was not a random event, she is accused of treason and sent to Elsewhere. Kitty must relearn who she can trust, if anyone, even those who have appeared to be on her side during these past two months. What is she willing to sacrifice to help the rebellion?

Captive is the second book in The Blackcoat Rebellion series. There is not much lag time between the two books, and the clues that Carter intersperses throughout the first few chapters will jog the reader’s memory. The story is ever changing and many characters are constantly moving into and out of the storyline. There was a lot of world building and character development in the first book that readers who jump into this book will miss. I do not recommend reading Captive without reading Pawn first.


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Review: The Shadow Soul

The Shadow Soul by Kaitlyn Davis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It was a special day for Jinji. She was to become a woman with the braiding of her hair. Yet when the ceremony was finished, her life changed completely after her entire village was massacred. As the only survivor she cut off her hair and left to find vengeance. She met up with Rhen, a prince trying to uncover a plot against his family, and Jinji uses her short hair to travel as a boy. Although the two are traveling together, they still don’t trust each other enough to confide their secrets. Jinji can create illusions and Rhen can control fire. These skills are feared by many and may be their saving grace or their downfall.

The Shadow Soul is the first book in A Dance of Dragons series. The action is fast paced and the story moves along quickly and smoothly. The alternating chapters of Jinji and Rhen are weaved together effortlessly without causing a distraction for the reader. Davis has created a multi-faceted world with the potential to contain stories for many books to come. This book will satisfy male and female readers alike whether they enjoy fantasy or adventure books.


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Review: The Job

The Job by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Special Agent Kate O’Hare is good at her job. What most of the FBI does not know is that she also has a secret assignment. She has been paired up with Nicolas Fox to try and bring down the world’s felons. The fact that Fox is on the world’s top ten list and currently being chased by other agents just adds to the drama. After a series of thefts that the FBI believe Fox was responsible for, Nick and Kate team up to catch a drug lord that has his own addiction … Knipschildt chocolate! Kate is not able to stay on the side of completely legal, but with the help of some creative and not too honest specialists, they will try their best to get their man behind bars.

The Job is the third book in the Fox and O’Hare series. Readers who enjoyed the love hate relationship explored in the first two books will not be disappointed in this volume. Fox continues to try and seduce Kate, and it seems as if Kate is having a rougher time resisting him. Can they keep their relationship purely personal? Would that be in the best interest of their mission? Readers might be able to pick up this book without reading the first two, but the innuendos and fun banter will not hold the same appeal if they do. A fast paced read that can be easily devoured in one or two sittings.


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Review: Dangerous Deceptions

Dangerous Deceptions by Sarah Zettel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Peggy Fitzroy is a lady in waiting to Princess Caroline in the 1716 London court. Like many other women of her time, she is betrothed to a man not of her choosing, but she is hoping to break this arrangement so that she can be with the love of her life, Matthew. The lessons she has learned during her training to become a spy are put to good use when her fiancé returns to court with plans to claim her. Peggy must uncover the truth about her family and that of her fiancé in order to have any chance of getting out of this marriage. Does Peggy have the spy skills necessary to break this agreement?

Dangerous Deceptions is the second book in the Palace of Spies series. Whether the reader enjoys a good mystery or is a fan of historical fiction, they will find equal pleasure with this book. Peggy speaks to the reader throughout the book as she is chronicling her escapes in journal entries. The banter recorded is quick witted if not simple, but since all information is coming from the Peggy, the reader is kept in the dark about events outside of her knowledge. A fun read … but will not please all readers.


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Review: Creed

Creed by Trisha Leaver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dee has planned the perfect birthday gift … a weekend away at a concert and a hotel suite all to themselves. When their car breaks down on the way, they take shelter from the snow storm in a town call Purity Springs. They can’t find anyone and there are no phones or other communication devices. They next morning they learn that Purity Springs has a dark secret. Dee, Luke and Mike find that they have no way to escape and the town’s leader, Elijah Hawkins, has decided that Dee will become his new wife. Elijah’s son tells her he can help her escape, but can Dee and her friends pay the price needed for freedom?

Creed is a young adult thriller for fans of horror movies. Dee is a fan of scary stories and is constantly remarking about what a character in a horror movie might do. Yet even though she knows what is expected of her, she realizes that real life is not a movie and when faced with life or death choices there is no easy answer. Leaver and Currie’s debut novel is gripping and fast paced. Readers will find the pages turning quickly and the time whittling away without notice. An enjoyable read that should be moved to the top of your TBR pile.


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