Midnight Thief

Kyra has always had to find a way to take care of herself. She has skills- she can climb, she is clever, she can get into places others cannot. Her skill have gotten her a reputation in the city. When James, the leader of the Assassin's Guild offers her a job, she can't say no. She has people who are depending on her to provide for them. She knows it will be nice to have coin in her pocket, even though her best friends Flick and Bella are none too happy with her choice. Then there is Tristam. His best friend is killed by a Demon Cat and it's rider. Tristam is a knight and has vowed to hunt down the cat that killed his friend. When Kyra and Tristam cross paths, their goals are at odds. James asks her to do something she just isn't willing to do. But if she doesn't he has threatened those she loves. But is teaming up with Tristam going to make things better for Kyra? When things go wrong, Kyra finds that she isn't who she thought she was and maybe she holds more cards than anyone gives her credit for. I enjoyed the twist near the end of this book and should have seen it coming. The characters are interesting and you definitely root for them. Kyra is a strong female character and Tristam isn't scared of that. I get to meet the author tomorrow, so I'm super excited. And I can't wait to read the next book. Happy reading my friends!

Winter Falls

The Benandanti vs. the Malandanti. They are fighting for control of the world's magic. Clans are called to serve each and protect the seven points of magic in the world. Alessia is just a normal girl, living with her mother in Maine. Then she starts having dreams of turning into a falcon. Before she knows it, she finds out she IS turning into a falcon as she has been called by the Benandanti to serve the clan protecting the waterfall in Twin Willows, behind her very house. The problem is, the Guild is trying to build a power plant on the waterfall. The Guild is led by the Wolfe Family. Their twins,  Jonah and Bree are mysterious and aloof. But Jonah and Alessia soon find themselves attracted to each other. As their relationship grows, Alessia must decide if she can trust Jonah with her secret. Jonah has secrets of his own and when the battle for Twin Willows grows the most tense, their worlds collide. What happens when your greatest love is also your greatest enemy? Romeo and Juliet anyone? I enjoyed this first book in the series and look forward to reading the rest, along with meeting their author. The connection to Italy was a nice addition to the story, it reminded me a lot about my own family. And made me hungry for meatballs. If you are up for a supernatural love story, this is a fast paced, easy adventure. So choose you side, figure out who you can believe and keep a window open, you never know when you'll be called! Happy reading my friends!!

Extraction

In two weeks we are having four authors come and visit. Stephanie Diaz is one of them so I figure that it is my responsibility to read at least one of each of their books. I finished Zodiac by Romina Russell and I ordered the other books. Before this one arrived I started Sarah Dessen's new book- which is immediately addicting, but I had to put it down when my box arrived. I decided to start with this one. I planned to read about 50 pages a day so I could get the 3 books remaining finished by the 25th. Day one and 350 pages later, I realized that there was no way to put this book down. And that math has no place in my reading life.  It is the story of Clementine. She lived on the surface of her planet. Her life expectancy is short. She has no family, only Logan, the boy she may love. She has one chance to get off the surface and go to the Core. But she must be Promising. She must make it to Extraction, where she will be allowed to live a long and prosperous life. Or so she's told. But this would mean leaving Logan behind and never seeing him again. He didn't make Extraction and his fate is to live a few more years and then be replaced. When Clementine is selected, she finds that life in the Core isn't all it is promised and that she will have to do things that go against her beliefs if she wants to survive. She is determined to find a way to save Logan. None of her new life is what she expects and she soon finds herself running from the very people she thought would save her. I really enjoyed this book. It reminds me of Atlantia by Allie Condie. I couldn't put it down. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series, of course, I don't have book two- only book three. Typical. I guess I'll have to force myself to go to the bookstore to get the next one. In the meantime, I'm on to the next author and I don't think I'll be able to put this one down either! If only there were no papers to grade... at least I'm done with Hell on Wheels for now, so I'll have more time to read. Happy reading my friends!

Con Academy

Will arrives at Connaughton Academy with one thing on his mind- his next con. What he doesn't expect is the Andrea has already been running one of her own. And she's onto him.  The school just isn't big enough for two teenage con artists so they strike a deal. Whoever can get their mark to cough up 10,000 dollars first gets to stay. The other has to high tail it out of there. Enter Brandt Rush. Super rich kid. Super jerk. So deserving of being conned. And the heck with 10,000 dollars. Will is going to take him for 2 million. What could possibly stand in his way? Not his con artist dad, or his con artist uncle. Not a headmaster who knows he is a fraud. Not Brandt himself. Certainly not Gatsby, the girl who works in the library. Or will she? Will has to decide if living a con is really who he wants to be. This is a quick, fun read with lots of twists and turns. You never really know who is being conned. You never know who to trust. So pick up this little gem and "may the best con win". Trust me!  Happy reading my friends!

Zodiac

Rho is from House Cancer. She is a normal teenage girl, going to school to learn to read the stars and playing with a band. She admires a fine boy from afar and is happy with her family. Until the moon she is on collides with another and her life is turned upside down. She amazingly winds up leading her House as it's Guardian. With that the boy she has long admired becomes her Advisor and maybe something more. As Rho tries to figure out what happened to her home, an evil force is making it's way through the galaxy. The mythical 13th house of the Zodiac, let by a childhood monster Ochus. When Ochus attacks Rho, no one believes her, not even Mathias. She must find a way to convince the other 11 houses to band together to fight this monster. Her only friend is Hysan, the Libran Guardian who always has a plan and a twinkle in his eye. He alone believes what she has foretold in the stars and is willing to risk everything to help her. Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Rho has to believe in herself against all those who are telling her she is wrong, or childish, or a traitor. This is the first book in a series and ends with a definite... dun dun dun. There is adventure, betrayal, and of course a love triangle between Rho, Mathias and Hysan. There is an epic setting only confined by the imagination. And there will be a rematch. "As we Librans know, those who think in only straight lines cannot see around a curve." Well, this Gemini enjoyed Rho's story and wishes all signs of the Zodiac, happy reading my friends.

Trouble

They say don't judge a book by it's cover, but the cover of this book is why I picked it up. It just felt right. Only book lovers will understand that. This one didn't let me down. While it will not be on the shelf in my 8th grade classroom, it will be something I recommend to those who have gone on to high school- if you're still following my blog. This is the story of Hannah. She is fifteen and seemingly making terrible choices in the boy department. A lot of terrible choices. The kind of choices that will change her life. Then there is Aaron. He is running from his own terrible choice. He is heartbroken and damaged and not sure what his purpose in life is. Well, they meet. And Aaron doesn't want Hannah for what the other boys do and this confuses her. He sees her for who she really is and not who the others believer her to be. She isn't easy to befriend, there is a huge chip on her shoulder. But he needs a purpose in life and when they find out Hannah is pregnant, Aaron defines what a best friend is. Someone who sticks by you no matter the consequence. Someone who sticks up for you when it is the hardest. Someone who faces the devastatingly scary future by your side. Hannah didn't know what that kind of friend was until Aaron. Aaron finds being Hannah's friend gives him back his purpose in life. This is a beautiful book told from both Hannah and Aaron's perspectives. The characters grow and change as they become more than best friends, they become family. It is a hopeful book. Even if life throws curves your way, with a friend by your side, you can face anything. A best friend can help you heal. A best friend can throw you a lifeline. You just have to let them in. This is a book of mature content, so be warned. It is NOT for a younger or immature reader. It is also a British book, so some of the terminology can be confusing. That being said, I loved Trouble and look forward to reading more books by this author. Happy reading my friends!

The Wondrous and the Wicked

Oh my friends, the beginning of the school year and a marathon Netflix binge of Hell on Wheels, (Cullen Bohannon I think I love you) has consumed my usual reading time. But today I finally finished the Dispossessed Trilogy. The story of Luc and Ingrid, the gargoyle and the Duster, Nolan and Gabby, the demon hunter and the wannabe demon hunter, Grayson and Chelle, the hellhound and the girl who could never love a hellhound, all mixed in with the evil Axia, the demon with angel blood who wants to take over the world. Ingrid is trying to figure out the best ways to use her powers to take down Axia, who is trying to reclaim her angel blood from Ingrid. She is also trying to figure out a way to have a life with Luc, who is forbidden to have one with a human. Gabby is in hiding after killing a gargoyle, longing for Nolan to reach out to her after he sent her away. And Grayson. Ingrid's twin just wants to make things right for his family while fighting his hellhound blood. One will lose their life saving the others. One will find true love. One will be given the greatest gift imaginable. I will miss this world of the Paris gargoyles. It is such a clever premise. If you love a good supernatural thriller set in the City of Lights, start with the Beautiful and the Cursed. If you don't fall in love with Luc and Nolan, Grayson and Rory and even Hugh, then maybe the city will pull you in. Just find a safe place and hope a gargoyle will be watching over your shoulder. Happy reading my friends.