Suspicion by Alexandra Monir

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Title: Suspicion

Author: Alexandra Monir

Length: 368 pages

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Classification: Young Adult, Paranormal, Mystery

Release Date: December 9, 2014

Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you so much Random House/Delacorte Press!)

Read: November 2014

Mysterious. Magnificent. Creepy. Welcome to Rockford Manor. "There's something hidden in the Maze." Seventeen-year-old Imogen has never forgotten the last words her father said to her seven years ago, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family's English country manor. Haunted by her parents' deaths, Imogen moves to New York City with her new guardians. But when a letter arrives with the news of her cousin's untimely death, revealing that Imogen is now the only heir left to run the estate, she returns to England and warily accepts her role as duchess. All is not as it seems at Rockford, and Imogen quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind the mansion's aristocratic exterior, hinting that the spate of deaths in her family were no accident. And at the center of the mystery is Imogen herself--and Sebastian, the childhood friend she has secretly loved for years. Just what has Imogen walked into? Combining a fresh twist on the classic REBECCA with a spine-tingling mystery and powerful romance, SUSPICION is an action-packed thrill ride. (From GoodReads)

GoodReads || Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Books-a-Million

***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

My Rating: 

I love the cover and the summary sounded awesome, so I decided that this was a book I wanted to read.
I have never read REBECCA, so I can't really comment on how much they are or are not alike.
The only expectation I had going into this book was hoping that I will enjoy the story.

Imogen lost both her parents as well as her uncle and aunt in a fire when she was ten years old. For the past seven years she has lived in New York with her guardians. And she hasn't been back to Rockford Manor since the tragic event that changed her life forever. Until she finds out that her grandfather and cousin have both passed away, leaving her as the sole survivor of Rockford Manor. Imogen then decides to move back to the place that she doesn't really want to be. Accepting to become the duchess of Rockford Manor. She then discovers dark secrets and tries to uncover the mystery surrounding Rockford Manor.

It was very easy for me to get swept up in the story. And I like the way the story was presented, seeing a glimpse of the present, then going back years and months to find out what had happened up to that point.

I think that the story is a mystery with paranormal elements and a bit of romance.

I was really fascinated with the mystery in this story. I kept second-guessing my thoughts regarding what was happening and who was involved. And I didn't really see the ending coming. It really surprised me and I think it was definitely a twist. The ending isn't exactly realistic, but I don't really mind because unrealistic things in books don't bother me (a large majority of the time).

To me there wasn't as much romance as I thought there would be. And the bit of romance that was in the story didn't have much of a build up. I didn't feel like it was insta-love or anything, but I was hoping for more development in their relationship and romance.
I didn't really connect with Imogen's relationship, and I think it was mostly due to wanting there to be a bit more. Even though I wanted a little bit more, this didn't keep me from enjoying what I was reading.  And I do like that the romance isn't the majority of the story.

I like Imogen. I felt so bad for everything that she had been through. I found the paranormal elements to be very intriguing and was anxious to learn more about them and how it related to Imogen.

I was interested in the other characters and how they all fit into the story.

I feel like the ending had resolutions and some answers, but I was left wondering what else would happen and wanting to know more about certain things.

My Recommendation:
This book interested me and I enjoyed reading it. But I didn't fall in love with it. If you enjoy reading books that have mystery and some paranormal elements, then you might enjoy reading this book. There isn't as much romance as I thought there would be as I read. And the ending was a bit crazy, but overall, I found the book interesting.
I'd check it out at the library.

Game by Barry Lyga

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Title: Game (Jasper Dent #2)

Author: Barry Lyga

Length: 520 pages

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Classification: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Release Date: April 16, 2013

Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you Little Brown!)

Read: September 2014

GoodReads

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

Billy grinned. “Oh, New York,” he whispered. “We’re gonna have so much fun.” I Hunt Killers introduced the world to Jazz, the son of history’s most infamous serial killer, Billy Dent. In an effort to prove murder didn’t run in the family, Jazz teamed with the police in the small town of Lobo’s Nod to solve a deadly case. And now, when a determined New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz’s door asking for help, he can’t say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big Apple–and its police force–running scared. So Jazz and his girlfriend, Connie, hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer’s murderous game. (From GoodReads)

***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

***This is part of a series. There will be spoilers of things that happened in the other book(s) so if you haven't read it and don't want to know things that happened, please stop reading now.*** 

My Rating:

The Story:

Wow! Barry Lyga has done it again. What an intense follow-up to I HUNT KILLERS.
This story pretty much picks up where book one left off. Billy is free. Jazz is trying to deal with the fact that Billy is free and his involvement in the situation. When a NYPD detective shows up and convinces Jazz to come with him to New York to try and catch a serial killer that is going by the name Hat-Dog Killer.

I really enjoyed reading I HUNT KILLERS so I was really excited to start GAME.
I found this book to be a bit darker and gruesome.
This book instantly grabbed my attention and made me want to know what was going to happen. And there were twists and turns that surprised me.
And the majority of the time, when I would guess something, it seemed like I was completely off base. So I really liked that the author was able to keep me on my toes and guessing.

I loved that the story wasn't just told from Jazz's point of view. In this book, we get to read from Connie and Howie's points of views also. Which was great. I really enjoyed these sections of the book as well. We also get to read some from Billy Dent and The Killer's points of view. Which was also fascinating. And I feel that these points of view are so well written, I didn't get confused by which one I was reading from.

I think there are more cliffhangers left at the end of this book than the first one. I was left wanting more. I am very anxious to read the next book.

The Characters:

I really like and find most of the characters in this story to be fascinating. They are all well-developed and written. I am really interested in finding out what else happens to them all in the next installment.

Jazz: Still struggling with his past and how that will shape his future. He is very smart and has a special way of seeing things differently from other people. I find him to be a very complex and fascinating character. I love that he cares about others, especially his friend and girlfriend. And I like that he seems very determined to figure out and stop The Killer.

Connie: I loved getting to read from Connie's point of view. She cares about Jazz so much and she wants to do what she can to help him and keep him safe. She is a very determined and strong character. I have thought and liked that about her since the first book.

Howie: Another character that I am excited to have a few chapters told from his point of view. Howie is the one that makes the most jokes. I love that he tries to have humor when things around him can not be the best. I definitely care about this character. And I love that his condition doesn't keep him from trying to live his life.

Billy Dent: Still a dark and creepy guy. We get to be inside of his head a few times during the chapters from his point of view.

The Killer: I also found this character to be dark and creepy. These chapters where we see glimpses inside the killer's head can be intense.

My Recommendation:

I think this was an excellent sequel to I HUNT KILLERS. I found this story to be complex and a bit mind blowing. I can't wait to read the next one. I highly recommend reading this installment if you enjoyed reading the first book.

Mummies in the Morning by Mary Pope Osbourne

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Title: Mummies in the Morning
(Magic Tree House #3)

Author: Mary Pope Osbourne

Illustrator: Sal Murdocca

Length: 65 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Classification: Children's Book, Chapter Book, Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery, Time Travel

Release Date: August 1993

Source: Paperback

GoodReads

Jack and Annie don't need another mummy.
But that's what they get when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to ancient Egypt. There they meet a long-dead queen who needs their help. Will Jack and Annie be able to solve the puzzle, or will they end up as mummies themselves? (From GoodReads)

Cutie Pie’s Rating:

"I like this book a lot. Like a lot, a lot."

What is this book about?

About Jack and Annie following the cat and getting the Book of Dead.

What was your favorite part of the story?

 When they followed the noise (the cat's meow) to the entrance of the pyramid. 

Why did you like it?

 Because they followed the noise and found what they were looking for. They did good.

Is there anything you didn't like about this book?

No, I like all of it.

Do you like the illustrations?

Yes.

Who do you think will like this book?

Everyone that likes Magic Tree House.

My Rating:

I personally like this book series. Cutie Pie and I read the second book in the series last school year and decided that we wanted to continue reading them.
In this story, Jack and Annie travel back to the past to the time of the Pyramids. They get to go in the pyramid and quickly involved in solving a mystery.
I really like this book because I think it is a nice glimpse and introduction to a bit of Egyptian history. I especially love that it has so many educational facts about mummies, the Pyramids and other Egyptian history. Also has some fun vocabulary words.
Not only does this book contain an educational value, but it is a fun adventure for kids to read about.
We love the ongoing mystery with the series as well as the puzzle that Jack and Annie have to solve.
I highly recommend this book to fans of this book series.
Best read either to, with, or by elementary school children. Full of fun and entertainment for the family, so I think Pre-K children can enjoy the story as well.
I am looking forward to reading the next adventure. 

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

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Title: I Hunt Killers (Jasper Dent #1)

Author: Barry Lyga

Length: 359 pages

Publisher: Little Brown Books

Classification: Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery, Crime

Release Date: April 3, 2012

Source: e-galley (Via NetGalley)

Read: August 2014

GoodReads
Amazon
Books-a-Million
Barnes & Noble

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad? Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say. But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could—from the criminal's point of view. And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod. In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret—could he be more like his father than anyone knows? (From GoodReads)

***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

My Rating:

The Story:

Wow!!! This book seriously took me by surprised and completely wowed me.
The story is unlike any other book I have read.
The author did an amazing job with the story and the characters.
The main character is the son of a well-known, feared, horrible serial killer.

What I liked best about this book was that I was constantly guessing, wondering, and questioning who the killer was.

I think that the plot is very well-developed and complex. The story had a lot of mystery surrounding it. I didn't really know what was going to happen next. (Other than the fact that someone else was most likely going to be murdered, but I hadn't the smallest guess as to who that person was going to be.)

There is a tiny bit of a cliffhanger-ish situation at the end. I was left with so many questions and the desire to find out more. I have to know what happens next.
Yet at the same time, I was satisfied in a sense with the ending. I felt like it was a good ending to the first book and it created a story and world that I really want to get lost in again and find out more of what happens now.

The Characters:

The characters are all well-developed. It was easy for me to picture them and they definitely felt realistic.

Jazz- A very interesting character. He has so many demons bottled up inside of him. He struggles with remembering his childhood and the things his father has done. As well as an inner battle with himself and how the thinks he will become.

Howie and Connie- The best friend and the girlfriend. I love these characters. I love their relationship with Jazz. How they are always there for him and keep him grounded. I love the banter. There were so many moments between Jazz and Howie that made me smile.

The Impressionist- I found it interesting that there were a few chapters that we read from this perspective, yet it didn't give me any clues or insight to the identity of this character. There is still so much I don't know about this person and I am anxious to unveil more about the character and find some answers.

Billy Dent- What a character. We get glimpses of him through Jazz's perspective. A chilling character. One that will/could give you nightmares.

I also really enjoyed Jazz's grandma. She is very interesting and well written. And I really like Jazz's interactions with G. William Tanner (The Sheriff).

Recommendation:

If you like reading a thrilling story that involves murder and can keep you guessing, then I recommend giving this book a read. It was interesting, mysterious and at times intense.
I think that fans of shows like Criminal Minds will enjoy this story.

Mini Review: The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry

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Title: The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die

Author: April Henry

Length: 224 pages

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Classification: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller

Release Date: June 11, 2013

Source: e-book (purchased)

Read: July 2014

GoodReads

“Take her out back and finish her off.” She doesn’t know who she is. She doesn’t know where she is, or why. All she knows when she comes to in a ransacked cabin is that there are two men arguing over whether or not to kill her. And that she must run. In her riveting style, April Henry crafts a nail-biting thriller involving murder, identity theft, and biological warfare. Follow Cady and Ty (her accidental savior turned companion), as they race against the clock to stay alive. (From GoodReads)

My Rating:

This is a genre that I haven't read many books from before.
I purchased this e-book thanks to Fierce Reads having a readalong (#ReadAprilHenry) on Twitter.
I was a little hesitant at first, because I wasn't sure if it was a book that I would enjoy reading. But in the end I decided to give it a try since it was part of the readalong and on sale.
And I am really glad that I stepped out of my normal genres and read this one.

It is a quick and intense read.

It instantly grabbed my attention from the very beginning of the story. I was so mesmerized by the world, the story and the main character, Cady and trying to find out what was going to happen next. I could not put the book down.

There were a couple things that I saw coming (just minor details) but overall the story had twists that surprised me. It was a bit of a mystery to figure out the motive behind why these people were after her and wanted to kill her.

I like the characters. I especially likeTy. I found his character to be interesting. I was a little surprised that he helped her so much when he didn't know her. But overall he is a very likable character. He is nice and caring.
I also enjoyed reading from Cady's point of view because she has amnesia, which is a different type of point of view for me. It helped add mystery and some suspense to the story.

My Recommendation:

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. If you enjoy reading thrillers that have some mystery and are a very quick read, then I suggest giving this book a try.

Kitty Hawk and The Curse of the Yukon Gold by Iain Reading

Title: Kitty Hawk and The Curse of the Yukon Gold
Author: Iain Reading
Length: 336 pages
Classification: Young Adult, Adventure, Mystery
Release Date: December 2012
Source: e-book (provided by author)
Thank you Iain Reading!
Read: April 2014

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is the thrilling first installment in a new young adult series of adventure mystery stories by Iain Reading. This first book of the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series introduces Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenage pilot with her own De Havilland Beaver seaplane and a nose for mystery and intrigue. A cross between Amelia Earhart, Nancy Drew and Pippi Longstocking, Kitty is a quirky young heroine with boundless curiosity and a knack for getting herself into all kinds of precarious situations.

After leaving her home in the western Canadian fishing village of Tofino to spend the summer in Alaska studying humpback whales, Kitty finds herself caught up in an unforgettable adventure involving stolen gold, devious criminals, ghostly shipwrecks, and bone-chilling curses. Kitty's adventure begins with the lingering mystery of a sunken ship called the Clara Nevada. As the plot continues to unfold, this spirited story will have readers anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept along through the history of the Klondike Gold Rush to a suspenseful final climatic chase across the rugged terrain of Canada's Yukon.

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is a perfect book to fire the imagination of readers of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history this book will inspire anyone to learn and experience more for themselves. 

**This e-book was provided for me by the author and/or publicist in exchange for a honest review.**

My Rating: 

Overall, I enjoyed the plot of this book.
Iain Reading fills the story with a lot of details and history. This book is full of actual places, historical information, scientific information (about whales) and detailed stories about the Gold Rush.

But this story wasn't really a me story. I did enjoy the plot of the book, but it is not one that I would reread.
I did have a hard time getting into the story though, it took me several days to read the book and I didn't get very interested until the last 40% or so. For me, parts of the book dragged and were boring. And some parts felt repetitive.

But overall, the story had adventure, mystery, and had an interesting concept.

Kitty Hawk is not your average teenager. Her father taught her how to fly planes when she was a little girl. After writing a letter to an outdoor/sports supply company, she gets sponsored for her own expedition to study whales in Alaska.
She studies the whales and makes new friends. She then learns about the Gold Rush and gets herself mixed up trying to solve a mystery involving stolen gold.

This book is really full of information. There are a lot of actual places written about in the story. There are little pictures of maps to help illustrate where Kitty is traveling. And not only does the book include historical information about the Gold Rush, there are also some historical facts shared about some authors that lived or had been in the same area that Kitty was at.

Even though, this book is not one that I would normally read, I do think there are others that would really enjoy reading this story.

I recommend this book to readers that enjoy reading books that are full of history, information and details. I also think people that enjoy reading mysteries could enjoy this book. Also, if you like history about the Gold Rush in particular, then this book might interest

Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

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Title: Confessions of a Murder                        Suspect

Author: James Patterson and Maxine                 Paetro

Length: 387 pages

Publisher: Little, Brown and                                  Company

Classification: Young Adult, Mystery,                           Thriller

Release Date: September 24, 2012

My Rating:

I found it interesting and enjoyable. 


I received this book as part of the Good Reads First Reads program.


This was the first James Patterson book I have ever read. So I didn't go into the book having any real expectations other than expecting it to be pretty good since he is a best selling author.

And I must say I found this book enjoyable. I really love the style of writing.
The story is told from the point of view of Tandy Angel. But it is written as if the character is currently sitting down with us telling us the story.
One of my favorite things about the book is that the author includes CONFESSIONS in the book. They are in between chapters and I find them to be quite interesting.

In the beginning of the story we find that Tandy's parents have been murdered and the four Angel children are the prime suspects.

I think the mystery was good, I changed suspects a few times while reading along. Although I didn't ever really think that Tandy committed the murder. I think it was because we were hearing everything from her perspective, although she didn't really ever rule herself out, she kept herself in the pool of suspects along with the others.

And I definitely did not see the ending coming. I was surprised to find out who did it.
I was a little let down by the ending. I really was expecting something different, but I accept the ending and understand why it ended the way it did.

I do plan on reading the next book in the series Confessions The Private School Murders that came out last year.

I found this book to be a fun read, there were times where I didn't want to put it down.