Mini Review: The Ghost Children by Eve Bunting

Title: The Ghost Children
Author: Eve Bunting
Format: Paperback, 163 pages
Pub. Date: September 1st 1991
Source: Garage Sale


Book Description:

When Matt and Abby go to live with Great-Aunt Gerda in Sierra Madre Canyon after their mother dies, Matt is put off at first by the life-size wooden dolls whom Aunt Gerda talks to and calls her “children.” However, when someone vandalizes the dolls and two are stolen, it is Matt, with the help of his new friend, Kristin, who foils the would-be thief and returns the dolls to Aunt Gerda.

Review:

★★★

I first read this book as a kid, and I remember being particularly creeped out by it. I felt similarly towards a lot of books about dolls and dummies (like The Dollhouse Murders and Night of the Living Dummy, for example). I came across my old copy on one of my bookshelves and decided to give it another go as an adult, to see if it holds up.

And, it doesn't. Not quite. The intrigue and inherent spookiness is still there, but it's not nearly as scary as I remember. It lingers in a sort of mysterious tone, as opposed to horror or thriller. Obviously, this book is for children, so it did its job for its intended audience, and I've just grown up.

The tone is what really sells this book. It's all a bit spooky and ominous, although it is extremely predictable in some parts. And in other parts, there's big plot holes that don't ever really get filled in.

Still, it has that enjoyable 1990's nostalgia to it, in the same way that RL Stine's Goosebumps series does. But, I find those enjoyable to reread. As for The Ghost Children, I have fond memories, but it's time to say goodbye from my shelf.

If you enjoyed the Goosebumps book or if you have a kid who likes spooky stories, this is a good one to check out. But if you're an adult, it won't hold that same creepiness for you.

Review: This Lie Will Kill You by Chelsea Pitcher

Title: This Lie Will Kill You
Author: Chelsea Pitcher
Format: Paperback ARC
Pub. Date: December 11th 2018
Source: Goodreads First Reads


Book Description:

Tell the truth. Or face the consequences.

Clue meets Riverdale in this page-turning thriller that exposes the lies five teens tell about a deadly night one year ago.

One year ago, there was a party.
At the party, someone died.
Five teens each played a part and up until now, no one has told the truth.

But tonight, the five survivors arrive at an isolated mansion in the hills, expecting to compete in a contest with a $50,000 grand prize. Of course…some things are too good to be true.

Now, they realize they’ve been lured together by a person bent on revenge, a person who will stop at nothing to uncover what actually happened on that deadly night, one year ago.

Five arrived, but not all can leave. Will the truth set them free?
Or will their lies destroy them all?

Review:

★★

I've read other books by Chelsea Pitcher before and really enjoyed them. The S-Word got a five stars from me, and The Last Changeling got a four star rating from me. I so looked forward to reading this one too, but it definitely wasn't what I was expecting, and I was left disappointed. The blurb for this book claims that it's "Clue meets Riverdale". Well, I enjoyed Clue but have never seen Riverdale, but if it's anything like this, I'll be scrolling by that on Netflix.

The descriptive writing in this book was very good, and what I've seen from Pitcher in the past. Vivid, world build-y, it makes you feel like you're in the room with these characters. But unfortunately for me, that's where the good writing stopped. I didn't care about any of the characters. The way the chapters alternated between characters felt fuzzy and disjointed, and not in a way that seemed to amplify the "whodunnit" vibe of the story. The story itself was malodramatic and unrealistic (yes, I know it's a fictional book) and made me roll my eyes more than want to turn the next page.

The beginning had potential. It was a good balance of intriguing and creepy, luring you in to want to play the game alongside this cast of characters. But about halfway through the book, it felt like someone else started writing entirely. It became even more choppy and rushed, and didn't feel like the same tone at all. Probably because at this point, the "whodunnit" had already become "oh they dunnit" with a lot of pages left to go.

This wasn't what I hoped for at all. There's some genuinely good writing in here but it's hard to find. I liked the concept and idea for the plot, but found it a strange mix of over the top and boring.

I received a copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Review: I'm Not Missing by Carrie Fountain

Title: I'm Not Missing: A Novel
Author: Carrie Fountain
Format: Paperback ARC
Pub. Date: July 10th 2018
Source: Goodreads First Reads


Book Description:

When Miranda Black’s mother abandoned her, she took everything—the sun, moon, and stars—and Miranda found shelter in her friendship with Syd, who wore her own motherlessness like a badge of honor: Our mothers abandoned us. We won’t go begging for scraps.

When Syd runs away suddenly and inexplicably in the middle of their senior year, Miranda is abandoned once again, left to untangle the questions of why Syd left, where she is—and if she’s even a friend worth saving. Her only clue is Syd’s discarded pink leopard print cell phone and a single text contained there from the mysterious HIM. Along the way, forced to step out from Syd’s enormous shadow, Miranda finds herself stumbling into first love with Nick Allison of all people and learning what it means to be truly seen, to be finally not missing in her own life.

Review:

★★★★★

I was absolutely blown away by this book. I was shocked to learn that this is Carrie Fountain's first novel. It's beautiful, haunting, and just straight up well written.

However, I definitely wasn't surprised to learn that her first two publications are books of poetry. It's clear that Fountain has a way with words. The way that the writing flows is beautiful. It's a bit slow paced, but I liked that. This book is set in the desert area of the US, so for me the tempo of the writing matched the slow, low heat of the setting that the author drew me into.

I like that all of the characters were multi-faceted and had depth to them. You learn who Miranda is both at the side of her best friend Syd, and rediscover her along the way when Syd is no longer there. You learn who Nick is both through the eyes of Syd, who hates his guts, and through Miranda, who yearns for him even after he makes some questionable decisions. Even her father, who isn't really a main character, you learn to see the fatherly, put together side that Miranda sees and the scientific genius version that the rest of the world sees.

I like that Miranda was a little weird, and that she's relatable. She's flawed, like all of us. She respects prayer because of her family roots, but she isn't into the praying thing herself. So when she needs to sleep, she recites a historical speech to herself aloud instead. She breaks a romantic tension moment by laughing. She struggles with friendship and loss in a way that I think is just so human.

And then there's the case of the missing friend. Well, "not missing" friend. I actually wasn't sure where this plot arch was going, in a sort of a "who done it" type mystery style. I won't give spoilers, but I will say that I did not see the book taking the twists that it did, and it took me by surprise. But in a good way.

My only real criticism of this book has to do with the ending. I felt like there was still a few loose ends left frayed by the time the book was over. I'm a little disappointed that Miranda's mother wasn't a bigger part of the plot line. I would have really liked to have followed that path to learn more about what happened and why.

This book is gritty and emotional, but also full of twists and even quite a few laughs. Reading the slow paced, flowing language made it very relaxing and soothing to read, despite all of the drama and issues that are presented in the book. Be warned, there's some hard to swallow for some topics, like sex, abuse, and abandonment.

I hope this isn't the last novel by Carrie Fountain, and I recommend this to anyone who likes realistic fiction with a darker, problematic side to it.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you.

HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN! Review: The Cellar by Natasha Preston

Title: The Cellar
Series: The Cellar #1
Author: Natasha Preston
Format: Paperback, 347 pages
Pub. Date: March 1st 2014
Source: Half Price Books


Book Description:

Nothing ever happens in the town of Long Thorpe – that is, until sixteen-year-old Summer Robinson disappears without a trace. No family or police investigation can track her down. Spending months inside the cellar of her kidnapper with several other girls, Summer learns of Colin’s abusive past, and his thoughts of his victims being his family…his perfect, pure flowers. But flowers can’t survive long cut off from the sun, and time is running out….

Review:

★★★★

Note: I didn't read it while it was on wattpad, so I will have no comparisons.

I'm really pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I was sucked into the story from the beginning, and it held my interest until the end. I did have some issues with it, but overall I'm glad that I read it.

I'll start with the positives. It was creepy. It wasn't very realistic feeling, but it was still a creepy story. The life described in the cellar was unsettling to say the least, and the fact that Clover (the captor) was so non-chalant and kind of white bread was what made him creepier to me. He could just be some guy. Anyone on the street. And that's worse.

I'm not generally a fan of when books split into alternate POVs, but it served its purpose well in this book. It rotates between three characters. The first is Summer/Lily, who is the main character and the girl who is kidnapped. The second is Lewis, her boyfriend. And the third is Clover/Collin, the captor. It's interesting to see how each person is reacting to this event, and I think the voices were distinguished well from one another.

The story telling was pretty good. Preston kept me interested in the story with some mild twists and turns along the way, and the cellar and the other girls who are in there just get more disturbing the longer she's in there. The book feels haunting and hollow.

But there's some negatives. My biggest issue was the main character, Summer. She has what I call "Piper Syndrome"- that is, she's the least interesting character in the cast, despite the fact that she's the main character. I wanted so much more about Clover. I wanted more about the cellar and the other girls and the hows and the whys. She's just kind of blah in comparison to all the other things going on in the story.

I didn't care for her personality much either. She's kinda dumb. She does things even though she knows she shouldn't, and then is surprised that there's consequences. You walk alone at night even though people told you not you and bad things happened. The girls in the cellar said "he'll be pissed if you do that", she does the thing, and then is surprised when he is in fact pissed. There's also a lot of crying. A lot of it. I was sympathetic for a while (I mean hello, I'd cry if I were locked in a weird murder chamber too), but it was mentioned tooooo much and it grated on my nerves.

Her boyfriend really annoyed me at times too. Keep in mind that these characters are all teenagers. He gets angry at her parents and her brother and the police for not doing enough, that he can do it himself, he can find her. I understand feeling angry and out of control, but if some teenage dude hinted that he cared more about my daughter/sister missing than I did, I'd be furious and he'd no longer be in my house.

The ending was also a bit of a let down. It all kind of fell flat *insert sad trombone music*. I just learned from reading book info on here that apparently there's a part two to the story, maybe it gets cleared up there.

The Cellar isn't my favorite story about locking girls in a room. (Is that a weird sentence? I feel like that's a weird sentence.) But, it was an entertaining enough read that kept me wondering what was going on until the end.

HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN! Review: Be Careful What You Witch For by Dawn Eastman

Title: Be Careful What You Witch For
Series: A Family Fortune Mystery #2
Author: Dawn Eastman
Format: Paperback, 304 pages
Pub. Date: July 1st 2014
Source: Won on a blog


Book Description:

Leaving a traumatic police career behind, Clyde Fortune has returned to her seemingly quiet hometown of Crystal Haven, Michigan. In spite of the psychic powers of its residents, there’s no telling what trouble is brewing in this burg…

The highlight of this year's fall festival in Crystal Haven is a bonfire with a witch’s cauldron resting over it. Clyde’s best friend, Diana, leads a ritual to divine the future, but it seems no one foresees that one of their own will drop dead—or that Diana will be a prime suspect.

Clyde already has her hands full with her eccentric family, runaway nephew, and burgeoning secret romance with a hunky homicide detective. But after another coven member is attacked, Clyde suspects there’s a witch hunt afoot and focuses her psychic and sleuthing skills to clear her friend’s name and catch a killer.

Review:

★★★

Well, I'll start this by saying that I did not read Pall in the Family, the first book in the series.

I didn't think that this would be an issue, but it was. There were a lot of callbacks to things and references and scenes and personality traits that I was expected to know, and I did not. The first part of the book was messy to get through as I sorted through this.

I didn't care much for the characters. I understand that they're supposed to be eccentric/quirky, but it got into annoyingly campy territory. To the point that I didn't have much investment in the characters and the tribulations that they were going through. I was just sort of over it.

I also expected it to be more "Halloween-y" based on the title and the cover, which was a bit of a let down.

But there were some good things about this book. I really liked the setting, for example. Crystal Haven seems like a charming little weird place that I would love to visit.

It was a pretty standard cozy mystery. Some twists, some turns. Some were more predictable than others. It's a quick read.

I think if you read the first one, you'll enjoy this one more. But, I did not. Based off of my lukewarm experience with this one, I won't be reading the first one, or the subsequent ones. If you've read book one, or if you're a big cozy mystery fan, I hope you enjoy it.

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Freeks by Amanda Hocking!

Title: Freeks

Author: Amanda Hocking

Release date: January 3rd 2017

Summary:

Welcome to Gideon Davorin’s Traveling Sideshow, where necromancy, magical visions, and pyrokinesis are more than just part of the act…

Mara has always longed for a normal life in a normal town where no one has the ability to levitate or predict the future. Instead, she roams from place to place, cleaning the tiger cage while her friends perform supernatural feats every night.

When the struggling sideshow is miraculously offered the money they need if they set up camp in Caudry, Louisiana, Mara meets local-boy Gabe…and a normal life has never been more appealing.

But before long, performers begin disappearing and bodies are found mauled by an invisible beast. Mara realizes that there’s a sinister presence lurking in the town with its sights set on getting rid of the sideshow freeks. In order to unravel the truth before the attacker kills everyone Mara holds dear, she has seven days to take control of a power she didn’t know she was capable of—one that could change her future forever.

Bestselling author Amanda Hocking draws readers inside the dark and mysterious world of Freeks.

Review:

★★★★

I was so excited to get a chance to read this book, thanks to St. Martin's Press. I've read Amanda Hocking's work before, and loved it. I'm happy to say that Freeks didn't disappoint!

One reason that I really enjoyed this book is because the plot centers around a sideshow. One way to ensure that I read a book is to make it feature a side show, carnival, or circus. I have no idea why, but it's one of my absolute favorite settings to have for a novel. Naturally, this is what lured me into reading Freeks. I wish there would have been a little more focus on the actual traveling show, but that's nitpicking a bit.

It's also pretty dark and creepy, which is a huge plus. Hocking is great at getting that unsettling undertone into her writing, so that you're not exactly sure where the twists of the story will take you, but you know you should brace yourself for when it happens. Hocking also demonstrates her writing skills when it comes to the depth of her characters. They're the ones who sell this book, and by the end of the adventure you'll definitely have some feelings and connections to Mara and Gabe.

Speaking of Mara and Gabe, this book also features a romance. This was a little shaky for me. It wasn't bad, necessarily. I actually can't really explain why the romance didn't work perfectly for me. The timing seemed off somehow. It's okay, but there were some spots in their story where I was left raising a brow.

All in all, I am not sorry that I read Freeks. It is a paranormal young adult romance set in the 1980s that has the dark, southern charm of Louisiana mixed with a traveling side show and a super cool cast of characters. It's like Cirque du Freak grew up into a teen and got itself a boyfriend. If you like supernatural talents, mysteries, romance, or circuses and freak shows, I recommend Freeks for sure.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Get it Here:

Amazon | Macmillan | BN | BAM

Find the Author:

Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Pinterest

Giveaway:

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, who offered up one hardcover copy of Freeks for a US reader!

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Review: Secrets in the Cellar by John Glatt

Title: Secrets in the Cellar

Author: John Glatt

Format: Hardcover, 248 pages

Pub. Date: January 1st 2009

Source: Purchased from Goodwill.



Book Description via Goodreads:

Josef Fritzl was a 73-year-old retired engineer in Austria. He seemed to be living a normal life with his wife, Rosemarie, and their family--though one daughter, Elisabeth, had decades earlier been "lost" to a religious cult. Throughout the years, three of Elisabeth's children mysteriously appeared on the Fritzls' doorstep; Josef and Rosemarie raised them as their own. But only Josef knew the truth about Elisabeth's disappearance…

For twenty-seven years, Josef had imprisoned and molested Elisabeth in his man-made basement dungeon, complete with sound-proof paneling and code-protected electric locks. There, she would eventually give birth to a total of seven of Josef's children. One died in infancy--and the other three were raised alongside Elisabeth, never to see the light of day.

Then, in 2008, one of Elisabeth's children became seriously ill, and was taken to the hospital. It was the first time the nineteen-year-old girl had ever gone outside--and soon, the truth about her background, her family's captivity, and Josef's unspeakable crimes would come to light.

John Glatt's Secrets in the Cellar is the true story of a crime that shocked the world.

Review:

★★

So, I'll be the first to confess that I was swept up in this case when it was first brought to the public eye. It's morbid, yes, but it's also fascinating. I had done research online to find out all that had happened, and learned that there were some books on the subject. Coincidentally, I stumbled upon this one at a thrift store and I couldn't resist picking it up. Unfortunately, it wasn't that great of a book.

This is a part of the True Crime book series, that is, a series of factual books that examine real life crime cases. True crime. So it really bothered me that the author used fictionalizations on the people in this book who are real people, and not characters. More than once, things like this were said: "He must have known he was evil" or "she must have been scared". The author doesn't know that. Stick to the facts, and quit trying to make an already horrible story more dramatic. This extends to the passages about Josef's personal life, where the prostitutes talked about how rough and violent he was, so that only a few of them would let him be a client anymore. He makes himself look evil- we don't need to look at his BDSM lifestyle to make him even more villainous. The prostitutes did take him as a client, and did their job. While it might be morally wrong since he had a wife, this seemed like an unnecessary add on to a guy who could already be a Batman villain. He doesn't need puffing up, he's horrid on his own.

The book as a whole also wasn't written very well. It was really repetitive. You could tell when the author was really proud of a phrase or a thought, because it would show up multiple times throughout the book. There were sentences that were awkward and ended with prepositions. There's also misuse of the word "irony". It feels rushed and it probably was, as everyone was quick to make a buck off of someone else's tragedy.

Personally, I also didn't really learn that much more from this book. I knew most of this from previously reading articles online. If you've never heard of this case or only know the rough story of what happened, I'm sure that you'd find it more interesting and engrossing than I did.

That said, the case is fascinating, so the book isn't a total loss. I appreciated the fact that in the middle of the hardcover edition, there's a few pages of photographs. I did think it weird though that the author vividly describes some photographs that are not included in these pages. I thought for sure it would be included, since he was so detailed, but nope.

I'm not sorry I read this book, but I'm not holding onto it either. It's the kind of book you only need once. If you're interested in crimes, nonfiction, or this case in particular, I'd recommend at least flipping through it, but maybe get it from a library instead of running out to the store to buy it.

Review: Gone Bitch by Steve Lookner!

Title: Gone Bitch: A Parody of Gone Girl
Author: Steve Lookner
Format: Paperback, 160 pages
Pub. Date: September 19th 2014
Source: Goodreads Firstreads


Book Description via Goodreads:

Meet Nick. He's kind of dumb. Meet his wife, Amy. She's kind of a bitch. One day Amy goes missing. What happened? Find out...in GONE BITCH!

GONE BITCH is the hilarious new parody of Gone Girl which will have you on the edge of your seat AND rolling on the floor. All your favorite characters from Gone Girl are here...but way funnier!

First off, there's NICK. Nick doesn't seem particularly upset that his wife is missing, or particularly anxious to find her. But he is perfectly willing to stop by the searches for Amy...because he can try to pick up girls there using lines like, "I'd like to search YOUR woods." Nick also loves lying to the police. For example, Nick's alibi for the morning Amy disappeared is that he was hang gliding, taking a karate lesson, and shooting a major motion picture with Keanu Reeves.

There's also AMY, Nick's wife. Amy is basically the worst person ever. Which is unsurprising, since she's a really hot girl. Therefore her one goal in life is to make her hot girlfriends jealous, no matter what it takes. Would Amy really stoop so low as to frame Nick for murder just to make her hot girlfriends jealous? If you don't know the answer, then you haven't hung out with enough really hot girls.

There's GO, Nick's sister. Go makes out with Nick a lot, but don't get the wrong idea: they are NOT having sex. (Although they do get to third base once in a while.)

There's RAND and MARYBETH, Amy's parents, whose “Idiotic Amy” book series chronicles the embarrassing moments of Idiotic Amy, a girl who looks suspiciously like Amy and does embarrassing things suspiciously like things Amy has done. The books have been a huge success, with millions of girls worldwide buying volumes like “Idiotic Amy Wets The Bed” and “Idiotic Amy and the Guy She Had Sex With and Never Called Her Again”.

There's DESI, who's been stuck in the friend zone with Amy since kindergarten. Desi still hopes that one day Amy will come around and want to take things to another level, but tragically, he fails to realize that no guy ever escapes from the friend zone.

And don't forget BONEY and GILPIN, the detectives investigating Amy's disappearance. They strongly suspect the "crime scene" in Nick's living room is fake, because it's pretty hard for a grand piano to flip upside down accidentally.

With every page of GONE BITCH the tension builds:

Will Nick go to jail?
Will Amy ever return?
Will Nick ever get over his diarrhea from eating a search volunteer's Frito pie?

You'll want to keep reading to find out what happens, but you might not be able to stop laughing long enough to do so!

You've seen the movie. You've read the book. Now read the parody that makes fun of both!

Review:

★★★

So first, I'd like to put out a disclaimer about my reading of this parody: I haven't read Gone Girl. The thriller/mystery genre isn't really my bag, so I didn't really have an interest in it. Then I got excited when I found out it was being made into a movie, because I could skip the book and just watch that (I know, I know. I'm a terrible reader.) Then I found out that the movie starred Ben Affleck, an actor whom I don't enjoy in the least. So I decided not to watch this either. Then I stumbled across the parody, chuckled at the title, and had to give it a go.

As someone who is unfamiliar with the original book Gone Girl, I thought this was a pretty funny story. The characters were really over-written and dramatic, and the narration was snarky. I snickered aloud more than once throughout the course of the book. While I know these characters are based on the ones from Gone Girl, I honestly have read quite a few books where Lookner's version of Amy was how I viewed the main female character: obsessed with her looks and image, really shallow, boring, and altogether unlikable. And on top of that, though Nick too is written with a sense of humor, and is not without his own problems, you kind of start to like him. Maybe I should give Ben's onscreen version a try after all.

This is a pretty quick read at 160 paperback pages, and it didn't take me very long to get through it all. If you have actually read Gone Girl I think you'll feel more strongly about this parody version; either you'll be angry that he satirized a book you loved, or you'll get a laugh or two at the expense of a book you didn't enjoy. As a neutral reader, that's how I feel- neutral. It was funny, but not something that I'll probably read again (that is, unless I read Gone Girl and come back to this). I think those who read it will enjoy it more or less than me, depending on how you liked it. I'd also recommend it to people who enjoy works like Nightlight by The Harvard Lampoon.

I received this book through the Goodreads Firstreads program in exchange for my honest review.

Series Review: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency by Iain Reading!

A few months back, I reviewed the first book in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency, Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold. I really enjoyed it, and you can read my review by clicking here. The author was awesome enough to send me the rest of the books in the series. I'll talk a little about what I liked about each book, but because I read them all in a row, I'm doing a series rating.

I give the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency series:

★★★★

Four stars!


Title: Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway's Ghost
Series: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency #2
Author: Iain Reading
Format: Kindle Edition, 339 pages
Pub. Date: September 10th 2013
Source: Author


Book Description via Goodreads:

Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway's Ghost is the exciting second installment in a new series of adventure mystery stories that are one part travel, one part history and five parts adventure. This second book in the series continues the adventures of Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenage pilot who has decided to follow in the footsteps of her hero Amelia Earhart and make an epic flight around the entire world. After flying across North America Kitty's journey takes her down south to Florida where she plans to get a bit of rest and relaxation before continuing on with the rest of her long and grueling flight. As Kitty explores the strange and magical water world of the Florida Keys her knack for getting herself into precarious situations sweeps her headlong into the adventure of a lifetime involving mysterious lights, ancient shipwrecks, razor-toothed barracudas and even a sighting of the great Ernest Hemingway himself. This exhilarating story will have armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept across the landscape and history of the Florida Keys all the way from Key West to the strange and remarkable world of Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas.

Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway's Ghost is a perfect book to fire the imaginations of readers of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history this book will inspire anyone to learn about and experience as much of our amazing world as they can - just like Kitty Hawk herself.

Review:

★★★

In the second chapter of Kitty Hawk's series, we're taken away to the Florida Keys on an adventure. This one is probably my least favorite of the series so far, but it is still an enjoyable and educational read.

This book is encouraging of learning, that is, there is a ton of information in the story that is true. From the specific locations that Kitty visits or flies over, to some of the people she meets, to the animals that she encounters, there is a ton of real life knowledge threaded into the story that ensures that, whether you want to or not, you're going to learn a thing or two.

Kitty Hawk is a character that more kids should read about. She's independent and strong, and so very smart. She keeps her cool in the toughest of situations and uses her brain (mixed with skill and some luck, of course) to save herself and anyone else in trouble too. She's a good role model to have.

The setting of this one is really gorgeous. I'm sure that most people who read this book will enjoy the back drop of the Florida Keys and the waters around them. It's well described and vivid, and it definitely lured me in a bit since when I was reading it, I was in my own freezing back drop of Illinois.

Long story short, if you liked book one, you'll enjoy book two well enough. It's an adventure book that can be read by itself, but I recommend book one too, for a middle grade or young adult audience.

Title: Kitty Hawk and the Icelandic Intrigue
Series: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency #3
Author: Iain Reading
Format: Kindle Edition, 306 pages
Pub. Date: April 19th 2013
Source: Author


Book Description via Goodreads:

Following in the footsteps of her hero Amelia Earhart, Kitty Hawk sets off on an epic flight around the world and arrives in Iceland's capital city of Reykjavik where she finds herself immersed in a beautiful alien world of volcanoes, Vikings, elves and trolls. Before she knows it Kitty is plunged head first into an amazing adventure that sweeps her across a rugged landscape where humans and nature exist side-by-side in an uneasy truce and magical realms seem to lie just out of sight beneath the surface.

Kitty Hawk and the Icelandic Intrigue is the dazzling third installment of the Flying Detective Agency series featuring Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenaged seaplane pilot with boundless curiosity and a knack for getting herself into - and out of - all kinds of precarious situations.

This is a perfect book to fire the imaginations of readers of all ages - armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike. From dangerous criminals and corrupt government officials to mystical beings and clashes with the elemental forces of nature, this book has it all. Come and join Kitty Hawk as she experiences the strange and extraordinary world of the Icelanders, and unravels the Icelandic Intrigue.

Review:

★★★★

This third book in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency picks up the next chapter of Kitty's flying adventure. She finds herself in Iceland in a new story of action and this time, even fantasy.

I have a fascination with Icelandic custom as well as the country as a whole. It's so pretty looking, and is a place that I would love to go visit, so I was drawn in immediately by Reading's descriptions of the landscapes. I learned a lot, as can be expected from all of the books in this series. There is a cornucopia of information in this book that helps you learn more about what Kitty is going through as you move across the plot itself.

A plot which I really enjoyed. The first two books had fantasy elements, of course. Though this book series is an informative one they are still works of fiction. However, this book had my own personal preference of fantasy. That is, just below the surface, there is a land of magic. Kitty's new adventure involves plots involving Vikings and elves and trolls, all set in this gorgeous Iceland scenery. The plot was exciting and well paced, and kept my attention.

Kitty continues to be the tough heroine that she's proven herself to be throughout, with her head on her shoulders and her heart set and determined on her goals. I found that the character development was a bit weaker in this book than in the ones previous, but it didn't hinder me too much from reading it.

My one critique of this book is how it ended. I won't go into details, but it made the book end on a bit of a low note for me. The series doesn't end here, but it did put a bit of a damper on my reading.

I think this book will appeal to anyone who likes a young adult fantasy adventure, and those who liked the first two books are sure to enjoy this one as well.

Title: Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic
Series: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency #4
Author: Iain Reading
Format: Kindle Edition, 321 pages
Pub. Date: February 16th 2014
Source: Author


Book Description via Goodreads:

Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic is the thrillingly cryptic fourth installment of the exciting Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series featuring the intrepid teenage seaplane pilot Kitty Hawk and her various adventures of mystery and intrigue as she follows in the footsteps of Amelia Earhart on an epic flight around the world.

This fourth book in the series brings Kitty to the emerald hills of Ireland where she meets a handsome stranger and is quickly swept up in a perplexing hundred-year-old family treasure hunt involving secret codes and puzzling clues that lead her on a fast-paced adventure that carries her from Dublin to London - from the decks of the ill-fated ocean liner Titanic to the temples of ancient Egypt and the streets of Jack the Ripper - until she finally unlocks the mystery and discovers the long-hidden treasure.

Much like the earlier books in this series, Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic is a perfect book to fire the imaginations of armchair detectives of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history the reader will find themselves immersed in brand new worlds that are brought to life before their very eyes as Kitty Hawk experiences the stories and history of a doomed ocean liner and unravels the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic.

Review:

★★★★

This is the fourth book in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency series by Iain Reading. These are adventure books that follow young pilot Kitty Hawk on a series of mysterious adventures that launch her all over the world in order to solve them all and learn along the way. The fourth book is an enjoyable addition to the rest of the Kitty Hawk lineup.

I was drawn in immediately by the cover and title. There are a few points in history by which I am fascinated. Somewhere near the top of that list, is the sinking of the Titanic. I was excited to see that this book deals with the ship. I knew a lot of the information already because of this fascination, but there was still things I didn't know previously and a lot of information to boot. This book weaved in stories of Jack the Ripper and the Titanic among other things, but did so in a way where it didn't seem encyclopedic. As usual, the book was descriptively written and made me want to travel, just as all the other books in the series have. From Ireland to England and even to Egypt, this adventure spans all over and I would love to travel with Kitty, despite all the strange mysteries she gets herself into.

For the first time in this series though, the characters fell short for me. I didn't connect or cheer for Kitty Hawk as much as I had in the first three books previous. She made a few decisions that set me aback a bit. She was still likable enough, but she wasn't quite as admirable in my eyes, and I hope this gets remedied in a future KHFDA book.

This will sure to be fun for young adult fans of mystery and adventure, or even just those who are as fascinated by the Titanic as I am.

Review- The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook edited by Kate White!

Title: The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook: Wickedly Good Meals and Desserts to Die For
Editor: Kate White
Format: Hardcover, 176 pages
Pub. Date: March 24th 2015
Source: Quirk Books


Book Description via Goodreads:

The Mystery Writers of America have joined forces to deliver this superb collection of more than 100 wickedly good recipes. From Mary Higgins Clark’s Game Night Chili and Harlan Coben’s Crab Meat Dip to Scott Turow’s Innocent Frittata and Kathy Reich’s Shrimp Scampi, this cookbook offers one tasty treat after another. Complete with a glamorous art-deco design and intriguing sidebars on the surprising—and sometimes deadly—links between food and foul play, this is the ultimate cookbook for crime aficionados.

Review:

★★★★★

Before I can even start my review of the actual book itself, I'd like to mention how beautiful this hardcover is. It's a textured cover with a cute pattern of skulls, knives, and forks on the side and a golden ribbon placeholder. It looks very old school murder mystery novel, which is a perfect homage considering what book this is!

The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook is a collection of recipes from dozens of just that- mystery authors. I'm familiar with more than a few of these authors (Charlaine Harris, Joelle Charbonneau, and Gillian Flynn to name a sample), and the ones I haven't heard of have still made an impact on the mystery genre. There's even a special bonus recipe from the one and only Richard Castle of the show "Castle" which I thought was a great touch.

The recipes are divided by course for easy navigation, and each course chapter has its own index so it's easy to find your favorite author or your favorite recipe, whichever it may be that you're looking for. There's also really cool facts and tips sprinkled throughout the book. But what's really awesome about these recipes is that they each have a back story. So many of them are pulled from the author's book- a character who made this dinner for another character or a character who owned a bakery, things like that. I love seeing fiction brought to real life like this, especially since more than once I have looked up recipes after reading a book (like The Hunger Games and Beautiful Disaster for example). If the recipe isn't from a book, there's still a nice personal story about why the author included it. It feels like I'm in a book club or something, like I'm really casually friends with these amazing writers who are giving me new dishes to try. It's a cool, cozy vibe to the whole book.

I also really like that at the end of the book, there's charts for weight/measurement conversions. That's a really overlooked thing in cookbooks, in my opinion. I wish there had been more pictures, but that being said there's a fair amount of photographs in here to help you along the way. Some of the dishes that I'm most looking forward to making are Male Chauvinist Pigs in the Blanket (Nelson DeMille), Grandma Maria's Pasta Puttanesca (Lorenzo Carcaterra), and Latvian Solstice Squares (William Burton McCormick). There's also a cocktails section, for the perfect night in.

Plus, proceeds go to the MWA, which is pretty cool too.

I think this book is fantastic, and any book lover (especially a mystery book lover) would love to have this recipe collection. I also think it'd make a perfect gift, due to both the delicious content and the gorgeous presentation.

Thanks so much to Quirk Books who provided me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Cut Me Free by J.R. Johansson

Title: Cut Me Free
Author: J.R. Johansson
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: January 27th 2015
Source: Netgalley & Macmillan Children's Publishing Group


Book Description via Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Charlotte barely escaped from her abusive parents. Her little brother, Sam, wasn't as lucky. Now she's trying to begin the new life she always dreamed of for them, but never thought she'd have to experience alone. She's hired a techie-genius with a knack for forgery to remove the last ties to her old life. But while she can erase her former identity, she can’t rid herself of the memories. And her troubled history won’t let her ignore the little girl she sees one day in the park. The girl with the bruises and burn marks.

That’s when Charlotte begins to receive the messages. Threatening notes left in her apartment--without a trace of entry. And they’re addressed to Piper, her old name. As the messages grow in frequency, she doesn’t just need to uncover who is leaving them; she needs to stop whoever it is before anyone else she loves ends up dead.

Related Music:

While reading Cut Me Free, I kept thinking of and playing this song: Fight Like a Girl by Emilie Autumn

Review:

★★★★★

This book, y'all. It gave me so many feelings that I don't know where to start. I was really annoyed that real life things like "school" and "sleeping" had to get in my way of reading this book. I was hooked early on and remained fascinated until I was out of pages and unsure of what to do with my life from that point onward.

This book is written in such a manor that there is this really creepy undertone the entire time. Think of old horror movies where there's that weird blue lighting effect and randomly dripping water and that unsettling quiet music before the storm. Got it in mind? That's kind of how I felt while reading this book. There were so many ups and downs and my emotions were not ready for such twists. Most of them I saw coming, but one however I did not. This prompted me to shout profanely on Twitter, and thankfully the author sees it as a compliment (which is exactly how I meant it).

I grew surprisingly attached to these characters. I wasn't really all that "into" the relationship that forms between Charlotte and Cam, but at some point my dislike of the pair disappeared and I was hoping that they got the chance to try to make it work. Charlotte, quite understandably, is sometimes hard to read, harsh, blunt, and emotionally distant. Maybe it's because I'm not a stranger to abuse (though nowhere on this scale, thank you any god that will listen), but I found that really relatable. And then there's the children, Sam and Sanda, who add a whole different level of heartbreak and hope to the book. I wasn't sure what directions it was going to take in the beginning, but it was one helluva ride for everyone involved.

I feel weird saying I loved this book, because it very, very heavily focuses on extreme cases of abuse, murder, and child trafficking. So in lieu of that, I will say that Johansson successfully wrote about topics that are hard to address, hard to choke down, and hard to focus on (when there's so much good you can use to ignore the bad things) in a way that feels gritty, realistic, and honest. It feels educated, from the sociopathic behaviors from various characters to the defenses taken against them, it just felt so real. It was almost scary.

This book will appeal to those who enjoy dark young adult fiction, books dealing with abuse, murder, thrillers, mysteries and I'll throw in contemporaries for good measures. This isn't a book that I'm likely to forget in the near future, and served as a reminder that this shit doesn't just happen in books but every day here in the US and elsewhere. Be warned, as I mentioned before, that this book has a lot of gory physical and mental abuse and death, so do not go into this for a light fluffy read or if these are triggers for you Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Tour- Guest Post, Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: Rue Toulouse by Debby Grahl!

RUE Toulouse

by Debby Grahl

Release Date: January 15 , 2014

Published by The Writers Coffee Shop

Genre: FICTION / Romance / General / Suspense

ISBN e-book:   978-1-61213-318-8

Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH

Summary:

It’s Mardi Gras time in New Orleans. Attending a masquerade ball, wealthy fashion designer Caterine Doucette, dressed as a shimmering ice princess, has her cool façade shattered when she encounters Bayou-born ex-cop Remi Michaud, disguised as the darkly handsome pirate Jean Lafitte. Their true identities hidden, the princess and the pirate come together in an explosion of passion and desire. But when fantasy turns to cold reality, Caterine panics and disappears into the night, unaware this man will soon be sent to rescue her from a killer and will capture her heart.

Orphaned at a young age, Caterine grew up in the home of her beloved grandmother, Miss Dauphine Doucette. Despised by her Doucette relatives for the devotion she received from her grandmère, Caterine suffered years of envy and disdain. The young Caterine learned quickly how easily the love she had to give could be thrown back in her face.

After Miss Dauphine turns over ownership of the century-old fashion house, Ma Chérie, to Caterine, an attempt is made on her life, for there are those in the Doucette family who will stop at nothing to possess what they feel is their rightful inheritance.

Not knowing whom to trust, Caterine goes into hiding. Miss Dauphine, convinced someone in her own family is behind the attack, hires Remi, now working for a private security company, to track her down and unmask her would-be assassin.

Learning that the affluent Caterine Doucette is the beautiful princess he held in his arms at the ball, Remi is torn between his growing desire for her and painful memories of another rich socialite’s betrayal. Caterine finds herself falling in love with Remi, but old embedded pain leaves her afraid to open her heart.

Down in the Big Easy, Caterine and Remi must learn to trust one another if they are to survive in a world of family greed and ruthless revenge.

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Guest Post: New Orleans

Rue Toulouse takes place in one of my favorite cities, New Orleans. My husband and I first visited the city in 1989 and have been back many many times since. New Orleans, in particular the French Quarter, is one of those cities that visitors either love or hate. Yes, the buildings are old and in need of repair, and some neighborhoods are still recovering from the storms. Yes, the sidewalks are uneven and can be a challenge at times. Yes, some of the aroma's wafting through the air aren't always pleasant. And yes, on some streets the window displays aren't suitable for children, and the music inside might be too loud. But, this is what makes New Orleans New Orleans.

The buildings might be in need of repair, but the wrought iron balconies with their colorful hanging plants are delightful. As you walk along you'll see everything from vintage clothing to t-shirt shops; sexy underwear to vampire clothing; exquisite jewelry to Mardi Gras beads; French perfume to patchouli; Wiccan and Voodoo shops to beautiful old churches; haunted historic hotels to intimate B & B's; spooky cemeteries with their above ground tombs to swamp boat rides.

Every kind of restaurant from sizzling steak and gourmet Creole to Cajun gumbo, red beans and rice, hot chickery coffee and beignets, and crawfish etoufee; shrimp po boys and mufaletta to hand thrown pizza.


You'll be entertained by street musicians playing funky blues, old rock, modern jazz, country, or classical.

You'll see people carrying red go cups and hear others calling, “who dat” and “where y’at?” And the streets are full of people from every walk of life.

It was a few years ago, while David and I were visiting the city and I was sitting on our hotel balcony, or gallery as they are called there, that the idea for Rue Toulouse came to me.

There’s a saying, “only in New Orleans.” And this is so true. As I sat on my balcony overlooking Toulouse Street, I could see a musician setting up on the corner. Soon the clear sounds of his saxophone filled the night. The smell of spicy gumbo from the restaurant across from me wafted through the air. The clip clop from a horse drawn carriage passed beneath me, its driver thrilling his passengers with tales of the ghosts that haunt the city. A man painted all in silver strolled along juggling oranges while a bicycle cab pedaled by. A group of laughing tourists carrying red go cups went into a bar, and the long low whistle of a boat on the Mississippi could be heard in the distance.

As I sat there, taking it all in, I thought what a wonderful city to set a story in. From its diverse people to its incredible food. I sipped my glass of wine and nibbled Voodoo chips and the characters in Rue Toulouse began to take form in my mind. In one scene, I have Remi look down on Rue Toulouse from the gallery of his apartment and he thinks he sees Caterine driving by. Hopefully I’ve brought a little of this wonderful city to life for you while you read about Caterine and Remi as they learn to love and trust one another -- down in the heart of the Big Easy.

Excerpt:

“Hello, Princess.”

Caterine stared in disbelief at the man leaning against the door frame. Her mouth suddenly gone dry, she whispered, “Remi?”

“At your service.”

She opened her mouth and closed it several times before she stammered, “Wha-what are you doing here?”

“Your grandmother sent me.”

“Why?”

“Let me in, and I’ll tell you.”

Without a word, she stepped back to let him pass. He quickly scanned the room. “Nice, isn’t it? I’ve never stayed here, but I’ve heard it’s a great hotel. It suits you. But would you care to tell me why you’re here and not on a plane out of New Orleans?”

Caterine’s back stiffened. “I don’t see what concern that is of yours. I called Elaine and expected either Paul or her to come. So, again, what are you doing here instead of Paul?”

“You’re in trouble and need help.”

“But you don’t even know me.”

Remi smiled. “We have met.”

Caterine felt her face turning scarlet.

He chuckled. “I take it you remember.”

Remember? Oh, how she remembered. She’d relived those moments in his arms over and over again. And here he was standing in front of her wanting to help. It took everything she had not to throw herself at him. “I still don’t understand. How did you find out what happened?”

“I was on my way home when I heard Ma Chérie’s alarm. I found your hair clip and the blood on the sidewalk. What did that guy do to you?”

She looked away and in a barely audible voice said, “He held a gun to my back and tried to force me into a van.”

Remi’s jaw tightened. “That fils de putain left some blood. If we find him, we have a DNA sample.” He reached out and took her hand. “How did you get away from him?”

“First I swung wildly and hit him in the nose with the alarm remote I had in my fist. Then I got him with my umbrella.”

“Way to go, Princess.”

She gave him a slight smile. “And I’m pretty sure the remote saved my life. I set the alarm off while he held the gun to my back.”

“You must have been terrified. I promise we’ll get the bastard who did that to you.”

She tried to blink back the tears that suddenly filled her eyes.

“Don’t cry.” With the tip of his finger, he brushed away the tear that slid down her cheek. “You’re safe. I’m here.”

Review:

★★★★★

I won't lie to you. What originally drew me into this book was the mask on the cover, and the promise of a masquerade. Then, I found out it was set in New Orleans, and I was sold. I was blown away by this romantic suspense novel and it will definitely be one that I read again.

What stands out for me the most in this book is the setting. I used to spend a lot of time in New Orleans when my dad lived down there, and I became smitten with the city. I miss it every single day that I'm not there. Grahl made me both more and less home sick for the place. It was written so vividly and with the expert eye of someone who's been there and seen it, and that makes all the difference. I could smell the cafe au lait, hear the jazz, and damn near taste the hurricanes. It brought back a lot of fond memories for me and it made me zone-out into the book completely, because the writing made me relive it all over again. So genuinely, thanks for that Ms. Grahl.

I also really loved the characters. Caterine is relatable and right from the first few chapters I ached with her and was completely on her side. She's strong, Southern, and sassy (and not to mention absolutely fabulous) from cover to cover, and I really wanted all the best for her over the course of the novel.

And then there's Remi. Oh lord, Remi. He gets a paragraph all to himself. Every girl (or guy, for that matter) has their dream specimen. I'm not saying Remi is it necessary, but he comes alarmingly close. He's protective and serious and handsome and has a lovable Bayou accent and at some point is dressed like a pirate and I would like to know wear I may order a Remi Michaud for myself, please. (To my girlfriend that's eventually going to be reading this: love youuuuuuu.)

The book was well written and well-paced. I was drawn in slowly in the beginning by the instant connection to characters and the familiar, well-loved setting of New Orleans, and was kept hostage by a series of twists and turns and delicious romance. This book had so many aspects of things that I look for in a book, plus a little something extra. This was my first time reading the work of Debby Grahl and I sincerely hope it will not be the last. I also hope that Remi will join the other men enslaved by means of my bookshelves soon.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, Southern ex-cops, a good ole fashion murder attempt, or the one and only New Orleans. Thank you so much to The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

About the Author:

Debby Grahl lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband, David, and their cat, Tigger. When she’s not writing, she enjoys biking, walking on the beach, and having a glass of wine at sunset. Her favorite places to visit are the Cotswolds of England, Captiva Island in Florida, New Orleans, New York City, and her home state of Michigan. She is a history buff who also enjoys reading murder mysteries, time travel, and of course, romance. Visually impaired since childhood by Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading software to research and write her books. Debby belongs to Romance Writers of America, Florida Romance Writers, Hearts Across History, and Lowcountry Romance Writers. Her first novel, The Silver Crescent, was released January 2014.

Be sure to look for her other book, The Silver Crescent as well!

Special pricing for RUE Toulouse Release! 

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~~CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR~~

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Praise for RUE Toulouse

"When privileged fashion designer Caterine Doucette meets sexy Cajun ex-cop Remi Michaud, things get way hotter than usual in New Orleans around Mardi Gras. Caterine's life is in danger, and Remi is hired to protect her - a job to which he applies himself most personally. Hot, and with a genuine mystery, I didn't know exactly who the baddie was until the ultimate showdown."  - Andrea

 Goodreads Review

True Stories Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway of Alice + Freda Forever by Alexis Coe!

Welcome! I'm happy to be today's stop on the True Stories Blog Tour from Zest Books! Today I have an interview with the author of Alice + Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis Alexis Coe. In addition, you can check out my review and enter to win a copy of your very own!

Title: Alice + Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis
Author: Alexis Coe
Format: 208 pages, Hardcover
Release date: October 7th 2014
Publisher: Pulp/Zest Books

Book Description:

In 1892, America was obsessed with a teenage murderess, but it wasn’t her crime that shocked the nation – it was her motivation. Nineteen-year-old Alice Mitchell planned to pass as a man and marry seventeen-year-old Freda Ward, but when their love letters were discovered, they were forbidden to ever speak again. Desperate and isolated, Alice pilfered her father’s razor, and on a cold winter’s day, she slashed her ex-fiancée’s throat. Now more than 120 years later, their tragic but true story is being told. Alice + Freda Forever, by historian Alexis Coe and with illustrations by Sally Klann, is embellished with letters, maps, historical documents, and more.



Advanced Praise:

“This is a captivating account, and readers will quickly become absorbed in the suspense surrounding Freda’s murder. Additionally, the book provides a foundation for discussion of sociocultural themes, such as how LGBT relationships have historically been viewed by society, gender and femininity, and even journalism.” –★ School Library Journal [Starred Review]

"The murder was a national sensation at the time, but is little known today. Alexis Coe....retells it here with the color and liveliness of a novel." - The New Yorker

Buy it here:
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | TBD | Zest Books

About the Author:
Alexis Coe is a columnist at The Awl and The Toast. She has contributed to The Atlantic, Slate, The Millions, The Hairpin, LA Weekly, The Bay Citizen, Mission at Tenth, The Paris Review Daily, Los Angeles Review of Books and other publications. Before moving to San Francisco, she was a research curator at the New York Public Library, where she co-curated the most popular exhibition in the library's 101 years, and a project-based oral historian at the Brooklyn Historical Society.

Check out the rest of the tour here!

Review:

★★★★ ★

Four and a half stars.

---

I was really intrigued when Zest Books invited me to read this title. Alice + Freda Forever promised to hit all of the buttons of my literary interests: young love, LGBT themes, history, and murder. This book definitely delivered, and made for a book that I couldn't put down.

The great thing about this book is that it seems to be really, really well researched. I'll be the first one to admit to you that I had never even heard of this murder until I came across this book. Coe includes historical settings, background information, family information, and even hand-written letters in this book, making it feel authentic and accurate. It's clear that history and representation was the forefront of this book, and I think that's great. I learned a lot, without it being so preachy that it seems like a text book. Coe managed to make fact read like gripping fiction, and it really worked for me.

I also really liked that this book was full of illustrations. It was a nice touch and helped me more easily visualize what was going on. Plus, if you take off the sleeve on the hardcover edition, there's an illustration embossed on the book itself. I think that was a really pretty, nice detail that I wouldn't have thought about.

And then of course, there's the story itself. It's fascinating. It's disturbing and creepy and morbid but you can't help but to keep reading, and even sympathizing with the characters in this book. I started out thinking "who could possibly commit such a crime against the one they love?" but the more I kept reading into their personal stories, the more I started to get it. That's another part of what makes this tale so disturbing, it seems so... Normal. Relatable almost, as strange as that is to say about a murder. I was sucked in from the first page, and thanks to the great writing and good pacing, I devoured this book.

I'd recommend Alice + Freda Forever to anyone looking for a teenage history story, a murder case, or LGBT history. Thank you so much to Zest Books who provided me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway:

-This giveaway will run from October 13th to October 20th, 2014
-This giveaway is open to US/CAN
-This giveaway is open to those 13 and older (with parental permission of course)
-It is open to anyone over that age who can legally enter, receive, and use their prize.
-One (1) winner will win a copy.
-This giveaway is sponsored wholly by the publisher. I am not responsible.
-This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity.
-Winner will have 48 hours to reply, or a new winner will be chosen. Winner will be chosen using random.org.
-Invalid entries will be removed, so please don't cheat.
-Void where prohibited. Odds will vary. No purchase necessary.
-My opinions are my own. Information will not be stored or sold, and will be used only to contact the winners.

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