The Sleuth or Dare Series

Partners in Crime
by Kim Harrington

When best friends Darcy and Norah have to create a fake business for a school assignment, they come up with a great idea: a detective agency! Darcy loves mysteries, and Norah likes helping people, so it's a perfect fit.

But then their pretend agency gets a real case. Someone is missing, and it's up to Darcy and Norah to take on the search. Unfortunately, there's someone else out there who doesn't want the two detectives stirring up any trouble. . . .

With the help of hidden clues, spy gadgets, and trusted friends, can Darcy and Norah crack the case in time?

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Sleepover Stakeout
by Kim Harrington

Norah and Darcy's detective agency, Partners in Crime, is taking on new and chilling case. The girls' classmate, Maya, is hearing strange, crackling voices coming over the baby monitor while she's babysitting late at night. Maya is worried someone might be in danger.

To help investigate, Norah and Darcy join her for a sleepover stakeout. In between eating snacks and watching TV, the girls are on high alert for anything suspicious. Soon, they stumble upon a mysterious secret they never could have imagined - but Norah and Darcy clash over how to interpret the new clues.

Can the girls get past their differences to see their way to the truth?

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Framed and Dangerous

by Kim Harrington 

 

Norah and Darcy are still in a fight, but crime doesn't stop just because the girls aren't speaking. Someone has set fire to their school's brand-new field house. And the prime suspect is Zane Munro, the cute boy Norah can't help crushing on.

When Zane asks Partners in Crime for help, Norah and Darcy must band together to investigate. Norah knows Zane is innocent, but the clues are not in his favor. Can she and Darcy mend their friendship, crack the case, and clear Zane's name before it's too late? (all descriptions taken from Amazon.com)

 

I decided to review this whole series together as they are small chapter books and it seemed a little silly to review each alone... anyway, I loved this series!  I was so happy to read about two SMART girls who are somewhat popular and nice and just have a great time doing what they love. 

 

Norah is an astronomy geek (me in high school!) and Darcy is a computer genius obsessed with CSI type TV shows.  Together, they not only celebrate their dorkiness, but they also make one heck of a deductive crime-solving team.  Following their investigations was fun and exciting. 

 

I loved that even though they have rough spots in their best-friendship, they work to stay friends.  They let others into their lives and in fact grow quite the little group around them, but it always comes back to Norah and Darcy, Darcy and Norah. 

 

These books were fun, easy to read, geektastic, and had great mysteries. I'm hoping that someday the series continues!  For now, though, I'm happy with where things ended, too...

 

Full disclosure: Books 1 & 2 purchased and signed by the author at a book event at The Otis Library in Norwich, CT. Book 3 borrowed through interlibrary loan.

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Anxiously Awaiting...Spirit and Dust!

Spirit and Dust

by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Sequel to Texas Gothic

Publication date: May 13, 2013

Speaking to the dead is no new thing for Daisy Goodnight. The living, on the other hand, can occasionally be a problem. Especially when they knock you out, kidnap you, and force you to be their magical police dog.

Donald Maguire—mob boss, extraordinaire—has a missing daughter and Daisy is his first choice to track her down. But he didn't actually ask her for help. When she woke up in his guest bedroom, she was told. But why her? And who—or what—in the world is the Black Jackal?

I really loved Texas Gothic. It was creepy, it was snarky, and it had romance. <3 Some of my favorite things. I am so excited to know that this sequel is coming out!!

What's On My Hold List?

Welcome to the June 2012 edition

of

"What's on My Hold List?"

One of the most beautiful things about working in a Library is that I have the ability to put lots of things on hold and read them *before* I buy!! These are some of the books that I'm currently waiting for, though I may buy one or two of them after reading, as well. 

Black Howl

by Christina Henry

Black Wings, book three

The Inferior

by Peadar O. Guilin

Sleepover Stakeout

by Kim Harrington

Sleuth or Dare, book 2

Wicked Business

by Janet Evanovich

Lizzy and Diesel, book 2

You can click on each title to go to their Amazon page for a description...

So, these are the books I'm waiting anxiously to get my hands on...what are you waiting for??

The Council of Mirrors

The Council of Mirrors
by Michael Buckley
The Sisters Grimm, book nine

In the final volume in the Sisters Grimm series, Sabrina, Daphne, and the rest of the Grimms and their friends must face off against the Master to decide the fate of Ferryport Landing—and the world. When Mirror fails to escape the barrier using Granny Relda’s body, he turns to his plan B: killing all the Grimms so that the magical barrier collapses. In the meantime, Sabrina has gathered the other magic mirrors as advisors on how to deal with their mortal enemy. They tell her to join forces with the Scarlet Hand against Mirror, in exchange for offering all the citizens of Ferryport Landing their freedom. (description from Amazon.com)

This is one of my all time favorite series! I love, love, love Sabrina and Daphne. I love that they interact with fairy tale characters. I love everything about this series. :)

While I am extremely SAD that this series is over, I also thought it ended in just the most perfect way. The villians are finally tamed, families are reunited, friends have come back together, and love wins out in the end.

Since this is the last book, there's not a lot that I can say without giving everything away, other than... if you've never read this series and you love fairy tales, you should try them...but definitely start with book one, The Fairy Tale Detectives!!

The Unknowns

The Unknowns

by Benedict Carey



In a trailer park called Adjacent, next to the Folsom Energy Plant, people have started to vanish, and no one seems to care. At first Lady Di and her best friend, Tom Jones, barely notice the disappearances—until their beloved math tutor, Mrs. Clarke, is abducted, too. Mrs. Clarke has left them clues in the form of math equations that lead them all over the trailer park, through hidden tunnels under “Mount Trashmore,” and into the Folsom Energy Plant itself, where Lady Di and Tom Jones and a gang of other misfits uncover the sordid truth about what’s really happening there. (description from Amazon.com)

While I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book and I'm usually a *huge* fan of puzzle-based books, this book just had too much real math in it for me.  (I was also coming down with a nasty headcold when I was reading it, so that may have contributed to my lack of focus, lol...) Anyway, I found myself skimming through the math explanations just looking for the next actual piece of action...not good. 

The two main characters were interesting and I found myself very curious as to what was going on in their little island, but I just couldn't push past the math part of this book to really, truly enjoy it.  :(

Short Story Mini-Reviews

Independent and strong-willed Della Tsang did not believe in ghosts, until she sees her dead cousin in a dark alley. She did not believe in vampires, until she turns into one. Should she follow her vampire cousin’s lead and walk away from everything she knows, or join Shadow Falls, a camp for special teens. (description from Amazon.com)

Intriguing. I really liked Della's personality and the combination of all different types of supernatural beings that know about one another. I love the premise, though the author's writing style jars me a little. I am definitely interested in going to read the first book in the Shadow Falls series now.



Meet Jessie Gillmansen as she realizes that things might not be what they seem in the town of Junction. (description from author's website)

This one didn't thrill me at all. I don't know if it's because it was so short or if it just didn't really hint at what the series is really about...I don't think I'll follow up with this one. Too many other things I'm dying to read!



I am Gwen Frost, and I have a Gypsy gift. It’s called psychometry – that's a fancy way of saying that I see images in my head and get flashes of other people’s memories off almost everything I touch, even guys. (description from Amazon.com)

Very well done. I loved the way that Gwen discovers her friend's secret and how it affects her own personal life so strongly. I'm absolutely going to go get the first official book in the Mythos Academy series because I can't wait to see who she ends up going to school with!!

If You Like: Veronica Mars

"If You Like…” is a feature highlighting blogger recommendations for books, authors, TV shows, movies, and music based on the things you already know and love. This week includes suggestions for some favorite older titles and childhood favorites.

With everything I had going on this week, I didn't get a chance to submit my recommendations, but the other bloggers sent in some great ones! If you loved "Veronica Mars," which I did...it was my favorite show of all time!...you will also love these books, TV shows, and movies.

Meanwhile

Meanwhile: Pick any Path. 3,856 Story Possibilities
by Jason Shiga

Chocolate or Vanilla? This simple choice is all it takes to get started with Meanwhile, the wildly inventive creation of comics mastermind Jason Shiga, of whom Scott McCloud said “Crazy + Genius = Shiga.” Jimmy, whose every move is under your control, finds himself in a mad scientist’s lab, where he’s given a choice between three amazing objects: a mind-reading device, a time-travel machine, or the Killitron 3000 (which is as ominous as it sounds). Down each of these paths there are puzzles, mysterious clues, and shocking revelations. It’s up to the reader to lead Jimmy to success or disaster.

Meanwhile is a wholly original story of invention, discovery, and saving the world, told through a system of tabs that take you forward, backward, upside down, and right side up again. Each read creates a new adventure!
(description taken from Amazon.com)

Choose your own adventure meets the graphic novel...awesome!
This is a book that I would hand to any reluctant to read middle school boy. It is a choose your own adventure book, in graphic format, full of inventions, clues, disaster, random events, and a mystery. Very cool.

What did I love the most? Trying to follow the lines to see where the story goes next...turning the pages by the cool tabs...and realizing that the pages are laminated to prevent quick wear and TEAR! (The Librarian in me loved this!! I could just imagine having to replace the book about 8 times if the pages were normal...)

Fun. Interesting. I'd love to see another one.
So, what do you want? Chocolate or Vanilla...

Raised by Wolves

Raised by Wolves
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

This book restored my faith in YA paranormal fiction. Don't get me wrong...I love fantasy, paranormal romance, and if you couldn't tell...I'm addicted to YA books! Lately, though, everything seems to be fitting this genre...published just to get money from the Twilight addicts, I'm sure. Raised by Wolves, though is a great, really, really outstanding addition to this genre.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved books about werewolves. Vampires used to give me nightmares, but I always imagined cozying up (and not in a gross way!!) with a wolf that would later be able to talk to me...so cool! Post-Twilight it seems as if everyone jumped on the vampire/werewolf bandwagon and lots of...let's say, not stellar, books came out.

This book totally stood out from the pack, though. *wink, wink*

Bryn is a strong heroine...which I LOVE. She stubbornly refuses to give in...ever. What she considers hers, she will defend to the death. Even when she is totally outclassed by a bunch of supernaturals! Her connection to Chase was very sudden, but very believable, as they had been hurt in the same ways. Though Bryn isn't technically pack, she was raised to think like a wolf. This gives her insight into the ways that they think and react...and lets them react to her almost as if she could change in an instant.

Her relationship with Callum was so intriguing. I kept being drawn in by his almost fatherly attitude towards her...even when he's keeping enormous secrets from her. His concern for her welfare was always utmost, even when she couldn't see it, and I'm dying to see how things evolve there in Trial by Fire.

This plot twists, excellent characters, and just general shapeshifting fun in this book just really, truly reminded me why I LOVE werewolves and will defend them as a paranormal character over vampires any day!!!

Full disclosure: Purchased and read on my Nook!

Dead is Just a Rumor

Dead is Just a Rumor
by Marlene Perez
Dead is series, book four

As the creepy little town of Nightshade prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary - on Halloween, of course - many of its paranormal residents are receiving mysterious blackmail letters. Psychic teen Daisy Giordano and her sisters set out to find out who is behind the threats. But launching an investigation isn't easy for Daisy with her overprotective father watching her every move. Though she's happy to have him back after the years he spent being held captive by an anti-paranormal group called the Scourge, Dad is having a difficult time adjusting to home life - and the fact that his little girl is now a senior in high school. He even disapproves of Daisy's boyfriend, Ryan. Can their relationship take the strain? And Daisy's got even more on her plate: A talented amateur chef, she has won cooking lessons with celebrity chef Circe Silvertongue. After nosing around (with a little help from Circe's pet pig), Daisy begins to suspect the temperamental chef's secrets aren't only in her ingredients...
(description taken from Amazon.com)

I love this series. They are fun, quick to read paranormal mysteries. This newest one involves blackmail, ghostly writings, a pet pig, and an awesome semi-alive jukebox. Not only is each mystery fun in itself, but in every book a little more of the history of Nightshade is revealed. It was really cool to see more come out about the town while they were preparing for the anniversary party.

Daisy is a fun character. She is funny, nice, smart, and yet believable...because she's also somewhat short-tempered and hasn't quite learned to control her temper (and thus her telekenesis) yet. Her best friend, Samantha, her boyfriend, Ryan, and each of her family members are also great characters.

All in all, these are books that I can't wait to get my hands on. When does book five come out??

Full disclosure: egalley received from publisher via netgalley.