Review: Spying in High Heels

Several years ago, I was binge reading Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I adored the first six books, enjoyed the next few, and then they began to get so repetitive that I just had to stop. She is a great writer and I loved the characters but I wanted to finally have some relationship resolution or some kind of new twist to the plot and it just never happened. It was like the never-ending love triangle.

Spying in high heels reminded me a lot of the Stephanie Plum series when it was still enjoyable to me. I loved the main character, Maddie. She is sassy and snarky and a little bit of a hot mess in life. She accidentally gets involved in a murder investigation when her current boyfriend goes missing. She meets Jack Ramirez, one of the officers assisting with the investigation. He reluctantly shares information with her and ultimately ends up fishing her out of some sticky situations as they try to solve the murder mystery.

The story is a lot of fun. I laughed a lot and the character interactions are engaging. There is a nice pacing to the story and I never got bored. Yes, Maddie makes some dumb decisions but it isn't too overdone and she eventually smartens up a bit. There is action, mystery, and some romance but it's not overwhelming. In my opinion, it was a great first book in a series and I plan to pick up the second one immediately.

Will I get bored of this series as I did with the Stephanie Plum books? It's possible, but I'm hoping the author doesn't fall into the pit of repetition and knows to end the series while it is still on a high note. For now, I can't wait to see what happens next!

It's Monday, What are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at the Book Date.  She describes it as a place to meet up and share what you have been reading, are currently reading, and are about to be reading over the week. She also mentions that this is a meme that often causes our already overflowing TBR lists to grow even longer.  So true...

Spring is crazy for us here in the Agnella household.  One child has soccer, karate, and track and the other has art, karate, and basketball.  I feel during this season, that I live in the car. However, one advantage to this is that I get some extra reading time in while I wait for them to finish their activities.  

I try to always have one book in print and one audiobook with me at all times.  This way, I am never without a way to enjoy reading while I am out and about. :)

Last week I read

    

This week I am reading

    

Next up, I plan to begin

     
What are you reading?

Review: The Dirt on Ninth Grave

This is my guilty pleasure series. Whenever a new book comes out in the Charley Davidson series, I have no doubt that I will love it. It's a given. I remember picking up the first book in the series, First Grave on the Right, and wondering if it would be something I would enjoy. I had been reading another series and finally got sick of the repetitiveness of the plot. It just wasn't fun anymore and I was looking for something new. I swear that I read the first chapter and knew that Charley was going to be my new favorite badass heroine. Nine books later, I'm not bored or frustrated and I'm really excited for the tenth story. If you haven't read the series, there might be a bit of spoilage ahead but I'll try not to give too much away.

The Dirt on Ninth Grave finds Charley in Sleepy Hollow, NY with no memory at all. She doesn't know who she is or how she got there. I was hesitant about this at first because there are so many amnesia stories out there but this one was done well. As Charley slowly navigates life in NY, we realize that all of her friends and family are there too, supporting her and waiting patiently for her to remember who, and what, she is. The small cafe where Charley works is a perfect setting for the story and we meet some new characters who may or may not show up again in future books.

Charley was still Charley even without her memory. She was still just a little bit trashy (in a good way), inappropriate, and sassy. She still managed to get herself into trouble on several occasions and frustrate the hell out of her friends with her impulsive nature. There were also still a plethora of departed souls seeking her out, each with their own story, which added to the charm of the book. Add in a slightly unstable police officer/stalker, a few demons from hell, an angel trying to kill her, and her husband, the son of satan himself, and you've got quite a ride from beginning to end. A lot of suspense and a lot of fun with a couple of emotional moments thrown in for good measure. And of course, every chapter begins with a quote from a meme or t-shirt. My favorite from this book is...

“A dyslexic man walks into a bra- T-shirt”

The Dirt on Ninth Grave is another winner by Darynda Jones in my opinion. I finished it this morning and I'm still smiling.                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Review: The Madman's Daughter

I am a lover of horror and monsters and things that go bump in the night.  Not the slash em' up kind of horror, but the scary kind of horror that keeps you on the edge of your seat with ghosts and creatures of the night.  When I was young, I loved watching movies like Mysterious Island, 10,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and other adventures. One of these was The Island of Doctor Moreau, the original story by H.G. Wells.  I remember the story clearly and when I fell across The Madman's Daughter and realized it was the story of Doctor Moreau's child, I had to grab it to see what they came up with.

This book was so much fun and the pace didn't allow for much down time.  There were moments in the story where I was anxious, surprised, and even completely appalled at what was being described. Juliet was perfect as Dr. Moreau's daughter.  She was strong, yet also unsure of herself, constantly questioning whether she was stable or cut of the same cloth as her father.  She desperately wanted to believe that he had some good in him.  She was terrified and curious and then terrified and disgusted at her own curiosity.  The pure horror of what the island is could put anyone over the edge but Juliet somehow manages to keep herself together, even after she realized how dire the situation really is and that her life may end on the island if she doesn't find a way to escape.

Dr. Moreau himself is a genius of the mad scientist type.  He is portrayed as both brilliant and insane, and truly believes that his experiments are just and acceptable. The details of the experimentation and the creatures on the island are not always easy to read about but also give the story that dark edge which is both difficult to read but fascinating at the same time and really pays homage to the original story. The creatures/humans were both creative and disturbing but also instilled empathy and compassion from both myself as the reader and from some of the characters in the story.

There is a bit of a love triangle in the story and I'm usually not a fan of this, but it works in this book and it doesn't overpower the rest of the story. Both male leads were written very well and I actually loved the direction they both took in the story. The romantic plot line was a little bit tiring due to Juliet's constant back and forth and there were a few moments where I wanted to slap some sense into her but the way it ended (to be continued) was both unique and a bit surprising.  I had some theories but I didn't realize exactly what was going to do happen until just before the end. 

The Madman's Daughter gets a five star rating from me.  I have already bought the second book and can't wait to get started to see what happens next.  I highly recommend it to anyone who likes this genre.

                                                                                                                                       

Top Ten Tuesday, March 15th

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish.  A different top ten topic is presented each week. This week's top ten is easy for me as my TBR list is huge so I just took the ten I am most looking forward to in the coming months.

Top Ten Books on My Spring TBR

The Murder of Mary Russell

by Laurie R. King

This is the newest book in the mystery series that follows Mary Russell, wife of Sherlock Holmes, as she investigates crimes with her husband.  I love these books but I don't like to rush through them because I know once I finish, I have a long wait for the next book.

The Girl with all the Gifts

By M.R. Carey

I saw this on another blog and it looked intriguing.  It also got pretty good reviews so I decided to give it a go.

Beastly Bones

by William Ritter

I just read the first book in this series, Jackaby, and loved it.  I'm really looking forward to reading the second book.

Bloodcraft

by Amalie Howard

I read Bloodspell, the first book a couple of years ago and it seemed like forever before this one came out so I'm excited that the author finally did write a second story.

The Pursuit

by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

This is the fifth book in the Fox and O'Hare crime series.  Similar to the Stephanie Plum books by Evanovich but not as repetitive yet.  Fun reading.

Luckiest Girl Alive

by Jessica Knoll

Another that I had seen on someone else's blog.  I loved the cover and plot so added it to the list.

Throne of Glass

by Sarah Maas

This book has been on my TBR list forever! I don't know why I keep putting other books in front of it but I have decided it will definitely be read this spring.

The Dirt on the Ninth Grave

Darynda Jones

One of my favorite series, fun and completely inappropriate. One of my few guilty pleasure series. Charley Davidson, the main character, is a riot and every book makes me laugh out loud.

Ready Player One

Ernest Cline

Another one that has been on my list for a while but keeps getting passed over.  Someone else just recommended it so I've bumped it up on the list for spring.

A Darker Shade of Magic

by V.E. Schwab

A recommendation from another blogger and a twitter member.  I love the synopsis and I'm looking forward to it.  I just wish I had more hours in the day to read!

What's on your top ten list this week?

                                                                      

It's Monday, What are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and is a great place to meet up and share what you have been reading, what you are currently reading and what you are about to read.  It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and add to that ever growing TBR pile! And mine is... ever growing. :)

Last week I read

This week I am reading

Next week I plan to begin

 

Review: Happily Ever Ninja

Penny Reid never disappoints. I reluctantly picked up her first book in the Knitting in the City series, Neanderthal Seeks Human, and found myself so engaged that I read it in one evening.  This was a big deal because I don't read chic lit... ever. I was thrilled to find out that it was a series and that I would be able to read about the lives of all of the characters from the first story.  I have loved every book, including this latest one, Happily Ever Ninja, the story of Greg and Fiona, continued from Ninja at First Site (A novella).  It was refreshing to read a "married" romance where many of the daily challenges of marriage and parenthood were completely relatable.  The addition of a subplot with a bit of action and suspense added to my enjoyment of the story.  What really keeps me reading Reid's books however, is the characters.  Each character in the story is so well written and likable that you can't help but invest yourself in their well-being. Plus, as always, the continuous sarcasm and conversational wit has me laughing all the time.  Penny Reid's books are great weekend reads and will instantly lift your spirits if you are feeling down or just looking for something light and fun. Happily Ever Ninja is another winner and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Click on the titles below to see each of the books in order:

Neanderthal Seeks Human

Friends Without Benefits

Love Hacked: A Reluctant Romance

Beauty and the Mustache

Neanderthal Marries Human

Ninja at First Site

Happily Ever Ninja

Click here to visit Penny Reid's website

If I Could Make Everyone Read One Book....

As book lovers, we all have a list of books that we want to give to someone and say, "You HAVE to read this!"  I do this often but I find that I only get minimal results.  I get a lot of, "I'm too busy to read," or "I don't really enjoy that kind of book," or, "I'll write it down and check it out later," which again, yields minimal results. Yet, for me, I feel a need for someone else to read that book immediately so I can have a fellow reader with whom to share my elation about the story.  This is one of the reasons I began a book blog in the first place.  I wanted a place to share my reading and to immerse myself in a world where everyone cherishes books as much as I do.  

This week, as I was adding to my TBR list and browsing the usual blogs and social media sites, I kept coming across one of my favorite books of all time.  This is the book I would probably choose if I were to be stranded on a desert island and would read over and over again. A book I would choose if I knew I could only choose one from a library to save from fire or flood.  A book that I will always have on my shelf and never sell or give away.  The book I just bought for my son, handed to him, and said, "You HAVE to read this!"  We will see how that goes...

So, if you haven't already read this book and you are looking for something magical, something written beautifully and that is, in my opinion, completely mesmerizing, I highly recommend this story and hope that you enjoy it as much as I have and will continue to, for a long time to come.

Do you have one book that you feel this way about? 

Which book would you want everyone to read?

Series Review: Finishing School Series

A couple of years ago, I first read Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate Series and fell in love with it. There was something about the author's style, mixed with the old-world steampunk setting, and engaging characters that pulled me right in. I read the whole series in less than two weeks and then went through a short withdrawal, unable to find a new book that satisfied for a while.

With Carriger's Finishing School Series, I found that same joy as soon as I began the first book, Etiquiette and Espionage. This time, I purchased the Audible version and was delighted with the narrator. Having the story told with the British accent was an added bonus, a perfect accompaniment to the story.

The books follow the main character, Sephronia, and her friends as they begin finishing school. However, this isn't your ordinary finishing school. These girls are not only learning manners, fashion, and etiquette, but also poisons, weaponry, and diversion, all while attending the most popular balls and shopping for the latest fashion accessories. The girls bond while attending school in the flying dirigible and deal with all of the normal teenage dramas with a good deal of espionage added in.

I'm being honest when I say that I couldn't wait to drive to work in the morning and take the dog for a walk in the afternoon. I listened every chance I got and enjoyed every minute. I found myself wanting to talk with a British accent and wishing I could have my own small mechanical sausage dog. I couldn't have asked for more. Such fun to read, with much action while still keeping a light-hearted feel to the stories. I highly recommend the Finishing School Series for both young adults and adults if you are a fan of the steampunk genre. If you are looking for something more edgy but just as engaging, try the Parasol Protectorate books. I will definitely be reading everything I can get my hands on from Gail Carriger!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

#Sixtybooks: January Check-in

Hello #Sixtybooks readers!

We are almost at the end of our first month together and we are truly ecstatic about all of the people who have joined the #Sixtybooks in 2016 challenge. Over 270 people have already pledged to participate in this movement to make reading a regular part of our daily lives! Readers are posting on Twitter at #Sixtybooks, we are up to almost fifty members in our #Sixtybooks group on Goodreads, and thirty-six members in #Sixtybooks on Facebook. Thank you for spreading the word and please continue to share!

Melissa and I are hoping to post regularly to all sites about the books we are reading. Since it is still fairly early in the challenge, we thought a good starting place would be to share a couple of books from our TBR lists that we are really looking forward to reading this year. I know my TBR is entirely out of control but there are a few books that will move right to the top as soon as I get my hands on them. 

Here are our “can’t wait to read” titles:

Laura’s Books

Melissa’s Books



Leave a comment to let us know what books you are looking forward to this year.

Happy reading! 

Laura (@lagnella) and Melissa (@mmorriswrite)

Review: The 5th Wave

The 5th Wave is yet another one of those books that I kept looking at over and over again but for some reason kept putting on the back burner. When I found out it was going to be released as a movie in January, I decided to buy it for both myself and my son so we could read it and then go see the movie.

I have to say that I was hooked right away but also a little bit confused during the first pages.  It took me a few minutes to figure out who was narrating and get used to the author's style.  Once I figured out who was talking and what was going on,  I picked up the pace and was completely engrossed in the story.  I liked that most of the chapters were fairly short, sections were separated by a black page with white title, and that every few chapters the point of view would change from Cassie to Ben, and once or twice to Sammy, Cassie's little brother.

Cassie is perfect as the heroine of the story.  She's a young girl who has survived the first few waves of the alien invasion and who is forced into situations that cause her to grow up fast.  She is strong, but at the same time fragile, on the verge of total breakdown.  It almost seems like she is in a state of permanent shock over what she has seen and that fear and her natural instinct to survive are what help her to stay alive. The only thing that keeps her going is the possibility that her brother Sammy is still alive and she can find him. Once Evan enters the picture and she is no longer alone, she lets go a little bit and we see her start to lean on someone for support.  This doesn't last long however, and she toughens up once again.  I knew something was suspicious but I kept going back and forth about whether my theories were correct or not.  I was able to predict a couple of things accurately but I was also surprised once or twice at a twist that I was not expecting.  I already have a few different theories going about what path the next book will take.

My only issue was with Cassie and Ben's meeting toward the end of the story.  I had been wondering how it would play out but it seemed a bit rushed and awkward and I found myself a bit disappointed. I would have liked the author to give this section a bit more meaning.  I guess though, that the awkwardness of the meeting could have been intentional...

Otherwise, the fast pace and engaging storyline kept me reading.  I finished it in just a few days and I will definitely be picking up the next one soon.

                                                                                                                                           

Friday Finds: January 15th

FRIDAY FINDS is hosted by A Daily Rhythm and showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

While I did receive a few new books from publishers this week, I also bought two books.  One, which technically is a pre-order and releasing in early April, is The Murder of Mary Russell, which is from a series that I adore.  I hadn't realized that it was coming out this soon so I'm very excited! The second, Jackaby, is a book that I came across on someone else's blog.  It looked like my kind of story and I really liked the cover and blurb so I grabbed it for my Kindle. 

What were your finds this week?

Review: Etiquette and Espionage

My first Gail Carringer book was Soulless, which was the first book in the Parasol Protectorant series.  I was immediately hooked and read all five books in the series within less than a month.  I guess you could say I devoured them.  When Etiquette and Espionage came out, I was reluctant to pick it up, not because I thought it wouldn't be good, but because I loved the other series so much that I was afraid I would compare it and be disappointed.  I wanted it to have a fair chance.

So... I waited.

I'm not really sure what made me choose now to grab the first book in Carringer's Finishing School series.  Maybe it was the lure of the British dialogue, the Victorian steampunk setting, or knowing that I was most likely about to meet a strong sassy female heroine that I would adore.  The reality?  I got all three of these and more.  The characters and their adventures gave me the same joy as the first Harry Potter book.  Sophronia is truly a girl ahead of her time whose family doesn't appreciate her love for technology and books. They send her to finishing school, but no ordinary finishing school. Sophronia and her friends are learning how to gather intelligence, spy, and if need be, kill, and to do it all with perfect poise and impeccable manners.

I love Sophronia's spark. She is smart, spunky, and unafraid.  She, Soap, Vieve, and her other friends embark on several covert missions that include both suspense and a bit of humor.  One minor character I especially adored was Bumbersnoot, the mcanimal dog, who was an accidental acquirement at the beginning of the book but ended up being of the utmost importance to the main mission. The story is perfectly paced with just the right balance of action, character development, and setting detail.

I closed this book smiling and have already grabbed the second one on Audible.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens to these characters next. There is also an entire website dedicated to the series and the Academy.  Well worth checking out.  You can find it at http://finishingschoolbooks.com/  Enjoy!

                                                                                                                                        

#Sixtybooks Bling

Looking for some bling to show that you are a part of the #Sixtybooks movement?  We've got some options for you...

Add the badge below to your profile picture on Twitter or Facebook by going to picbadges.com/t/EXocKt8Z

Have a blog and want to show that you are participating?  Grab our #Sixtybooks button code below!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://sixtybooks.com/" rel="nofollow" title="#Sixtybooks" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1347.photobucket.com/albums/p718/Lagnella/blogbutton_zpshaa1vkvs.jpg" alt="#Sixtybooks" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Musing Monday: January 4th

Musing Mondays is hosted by A Daily Rhythm and is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What do you do when you finish a book? Do you immediately start another one?

Well, I have to say it is hard to only choose one of these questions because I really could write about all of them.  I'm currently reading The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, and although I procrastinated for months about starting it, I finally decided to push it to the top of my list since the movie is coming out toward the end of the month. I'm really glad I picked it up.  I was completely hooked as soon as I began the story.

Do I start a book right after I finish the previous one? Sometimes. It really depends on how much I loved the book I just finished and want to dwell in it's awesomeness.  I rarely wait more than a day or two though because withdrawal quickly begins to set in.  :)

Have a great week of reading!                                                                                                                  

Review: Library of Souls

As much as I loved Library of Souls, finishing it is slightly bittersweet because it is the last book in the Miss Perigrine trilogy as far as I know.  Finding a book or series that really has that special something, one that you never tire of rereading or recommending, doesn't happen very often.  Miss Perigrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Hollow City, and Library of Souls, all by Ransom Riggs, all go into my top books of all time, especially the first book in the series, which included amazing photos to accompany the story.

Library of Souls continues where Hollow City left off, with our main characters Jacob, Emma, and their companions searching for Miss Peregrine and the other captive Ymbrynes and friends.  All the while, they are either avoiding or being chased by Hollowgasts or Wights.  The story is fast-paced and full of suspense as you wonder if some of the characters we have come to know will live or die. There are some fabulous photos in this story also but I didn't find them to be quite as intriguing as they were in the first two books. However, I loved that this book really focused on Jacob and his growth as a peculiar.  He spends a lot of time doubting himself but finds that when it really counts, he is able to achieve.  He also learns that it is ok not to be the hero all the time and no one feels less about him when he fails.  Jacob basically finds his place in the world and everything wraps up nicely.

Although there could be the possibility of other adventures for Jacob and his friends, it does seem as though it is over.  I will however, be returning to the world of the peculiars often to visit and these books by Ransom Riggs will always be fondly remembered.

Synopsis from Amazon:
The adventure that began with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and continued in Hollow City comes to a thrilling conclusion with Library of Souls. As the story opens, sixteen-year-old Jacob discovers a powerful new ability, and soon he’s diving through history to rescue his peculiar companions from a heavily guarded fortress. Accompanying Jacob on his journey are Emma Bloom, a girl with fire at her fingertips, and Addison MacHenry, a dog with a nose for sniffing out lost children.
 
They’ll travel from modern-day London to the labyrinthine alleys of Devil’s Acre, the most wretched slum in all of Victorian England. It’s a place where the fate of peculiar children everywhere will be decided once and for all. Like its predecessors, Library of Souls blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

#Sixtybooks in 2016 Reading Challenge

The #Sixtybooks Challenge is hosted by Laura@thebookjunkie (that’s me!) and Melissa@www.melissamorrisinoa.com.  We have also created a blog dedicated to the sixty books movement at www.sixtybooks.com. The goal is simple:

Read #Sixtybooks in 2016 and share your reading to motivate and inspire other people to make reading part of their daily routine.

Join us by clicking here! Then, decide how you will keep track of your books. You can log you reading however you like. Some options include: Joining Goodreads to track books, keeping a paper log, using a Google Map or your own Google Form, or whatever method you choose.

There will be updates and activities each month. To stay connected, you can:

1. Follow Laura’s blog
2. Follow Melissa’s blog
3. Join our #Sixtybooks group on Goodreads
4. Use #Sixtybooks on Twitter
5. Follow us on Twitter @lagnella and/or @mmorriswrite

We love comments!  Let us know you joined below and about any books you are excited about reading this year.  I already have quite a few books in my TBR pile ready to go.  

#Sixtybooks in 2016, here we come!

Cover Reveal: Cogling by Jordan Mierek

COGLING

A Steampunk Fairy Tale for Young Adults

who love a little Romance in their Adventures

When fifteen-year-old Edna Mather tears an expensive and unfamiliar pocket watch off her little brother's neck, he crumbles into a pile of cogs right before her eyes. Horrified, Edna flees for help, but encounters Ike, a thief who attempts to steal the watch before he realizes what it is: a device to power Coglings—clockwork changelings left in place of stolen children who have been forced to work in factories.

Desperate to rescue her brother, Edna sets off across the kingdom to the hags' swamp, with Ike in tow. There, they learn Coglings are also replacing nobility so the hags can stage a rebellion and rule over humanity. Edna and Ike must stop the revolt, but the populace believes hags are helpful godmothers and healers. No one wants to believe a lowly servant and a thief, especially when Ike has secrets that label them both as traitors. 

Together, Edna and Ike must make the kingdom trust them or stop the hags themselves, even if Ike is forced to embrace his dark heritage and Edna must surrender her family. 

###

COGLING has already gained advanced praise from NY Times Bestselling author Maria V. Snyder!

“This is a fun YA Steampunk novel. It's very different than many other Steampunk stories I've read. Basic plot is Edna's brother is kidnapped by hags and replaced with a "cogling" and she's on a mission to find and rescue her brother. The world is a Victorian-era with a strict class system for the humans and for those with magic. The woman with magic are called hags and the men with magic are orges and they're not nice and are planning to change the system. I really enjoyed learning about the world and the characters are well drawn and engaging.”

###

Check out COGLING on GoodReads and Curiosity Quills.  

· 

Meet the author – Jordan Elizabeth Mierek lives in a dream world.  Sometimes she comes out to do her day job, but most of the time she is writing about her favorite people – her characters!  COGLING is her fourth book.  Her previous steampunk series, the Treasure Chronicles, include TREASURE DARKLY and BORN OF TREASURE.  Her debut novel, ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW, is a young adult fantasy-horror.  You can find her short stories in numerous anthologies.  Check out her website, JordanElizabethMierek.com, for contests and bonus stories!

Win a steampunk necklace!

a Rafflecopter giveaway