The Naturals

The NatrualsThe Natural’s by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a gripping psychological thriller! Excellent for fans of a good crime/murder mystery.

Cassie is a natural at reading people; by piecing together tiny details, she can tell exactly what kind of person you are.  She had never thought much of her ability until she was visited by a member of the FBI who invited her to be a part of a secret program that makes use of teenagers with exceptional abilities to crack cold cases.  Cassie joins the program but doesn’t realize the risk involved.  As a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie is comfortable with.  She gets caught up in the middle of a game of cat and mouse with the killer.  All of the naturals have to pool their gifts together in order to survive.

The Natural’s will have you hooked on page one and keeping you guessing until the very end.  Visit the HHS Media Center’s Mystery section to check this one out.

 

The Jewel

the jewelI recently read the first book in The Lone City Series called The Jewel by Amy Ewing.  Violet Lasting, now known as lot #197, was raised in the Marsh and has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty.  She is purchased at the surrogate auction by the Duchess of the Lake.  The Duchess has waited years for the perfect surrogate to carry out her plans to ascend her family to the throne.

Once Violet begins living in the Jewel, the circle of royalty, she learns of the bitter, cruel, violent, and backstabbing way of life that the royalty lead.  She knows that she must accept it and do whatever it takes to survive.  But then she meets Ash, the handsome companion that the Duchess has hired for her niece.  Violet has never met anyone who sees her for who she truly is and not just a surrogate who will continue the royal bloodline.  A forbidden romance begins between Violet and Ash.  She knows that the consequences could mean execution, but Ash is well worth the risk.

Being the first book in the series, it ends leaving you with many questions about Violet’s life to come.  This book is described as The Selection meets The Handmaid’s Tale.  It is a darkly riveting page turner and it will leave you wanting more.  The second book, The White Rose is set to debut October 6th 2015.  Not too long of a wait!

The Selection Continues…

Twenty years after America Singer fell in love with Prince Maxon and their fairy-tale began, the Selection lives on with their the heirdaughter Princess Eadlyn.  However, Eadlyn has no interest in romance and would put off marriage for as long as possible.  A Princess never truly controls her own life.  As heir to the throne, she is convinced to participate in her own Selection in an effort to save Illiea from an uprising.

Eadlyn makes a deal with her daddy that she will give the Selection three months of her time, but will make no promises that it will end with an engagement.  She does not expect her story to end with romance, but as the selected move into the palace Eadlyn learns that her very own happily ever after may not be as impossible as she once thought.

The Selection series continues with ,The Heir, a fourth book that is as compelling and irresistible as the the very first.  Once you start reading, you will not be able to put it down.  The only downfall is the wait for the next book.  The final book in the series will probably not release until 2016.  It will be well worth the wait I’m sure!

Red Queen

red queenThis is a MUST read.  It has quickly become one of my new favorite books and I have been telling everyone about it! Red Queen is about a girl named Mare Barrow.  In her world, you are divided into to classes; you are either “silver blooded” or “red blooded”.  Silvers are born with powers and abilities; they lead lives of luxury.  Reds are much like slaves or the workmen of the country.  They are typically very poor and, unless they have a trade skill to work somewhere to provide for the needs of the silvers, they are sent to the front lines to fight in the war.

Mare does not have a trade skill and is destined to be sent to the front lines very soon.  She spends her time picking pockets in town in an effort to provide for her family.  One night, she picks the wrong pocket and gets caught by who she later learns is the prince and future heir to the throne.  Instead of having her punished, Cal finds a way to help Mare and gets her a job at the palace.  On her first day working at the palace, Mare nearly falls to her death but is saved by her unknown power to create lightning; something that reds are not supposed to have.  The royal family quickly covers up Mare’s rare ability by claiming that she was in fact a silver born to a prominent war hero, but was raised as a red.  To keep a close eye on Mare, she is betrothed to prince Maven, Cal’s younger brother.

Mare’s new life quickly becomes filled with conspiracy, rebellion, and forbidden romance.  This book is a must read for any fan of Divergent, A Game of ThronesThe Selection, or really any dystopian novel.  It will keep you guessing and leave you on the edge of your seat!

Favorites From the Past

selection series
The Selection Series

This is, by far, one of my absolute favorite series.  The latest book in the series, The One, came out last May.  I read it over the summer and, as with all of the books, I read it in about 2 days.  They each hook you from the beginning and you can’t put them down!

The dystopian novels follow America Singer’s whirlwind romance through the selection process that only 35 girls are chosen to be apart of.  It is the chance of a life time for these girls to escape the life that is otherwise inevitable and be swept away into a world of gowns, jewels, a palace, and a chance to win the heart of Prince Maxon.  America begins the selection with no intentions of falling in love because she has already met her soul mate, Aspen.  She is only entering because her family desperately needs the money that comes along with her spot in the selection. Everything begins to change the moment she meets the gorgeous Maxon and she catches a glimpse of a future that she never imagined.

If you are a fan of Divergent, Matched, or Delirium,  you will LOVE this enchanting series! Even better, The Heir, the fourth novel in the series is set to release on May 5th!

Ten by Gretchen McNeil

tenIf you are a fan of thriller/suspense novels, Ten by Gretchen McNeil is a must read! This novel was inspired by Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.  This novel will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

Ten teens head to an exclusive house party on Henry Island.  They are expecting a weekend of fun and luxury, but after the discovery of a DVD that displays the message “Vengeance is mine”, things begin to spin out of control.  A mysterious killer begins taking out the teens, one by one.  With a storm raging, there is no way off the island and no means of contact with the outside world.  No one knows who can be trusted, and they all begin to turn on each other.  Can Meg find the killer before more people die?

Ten is a must read for even the most reluctant reader.  You will not be able to put this one down!

 

 

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

One of the most recommended reads of 2014, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is addictive.  I think the description and reviews say it best:

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

“Haunting, sophisticated . . . a novel so twisty and well-told that it will appeal to older readers as well as to adolescents.”–Wall Street Journal

“A rich, stunning summer mystery with a sharp twist that will leave you dying to talk about the book with a pal or ten.”–Parade.com

“Thrilling, beautiful, and blisteringly smart, We Were Liars is utterly unforgettable.” – John Green, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars

A Discovery of Witches

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness has definitely made the list of one of my all time favorite books! It is an excellent mix of the much loved magic found in Harry Potter and the vampire romance from Twilight.  It took me about the first 50 to 75 pages to really get into the book; so don’t toss it aside if it doesn’t catch your interest right away!

It all begins with a witch who is a direct descendant of the first woman murdered in the Salem witch trials who is reluctant to use her powers.  Diana accidentally unlocks an enchanted long-lost manuscript which is now being sought after by each species of supernatural creatures.  They believe it contains the story of all origins and the secret to immortality.  Diana soon finds herself in a race to prevent a war among all supernatural creatures.  Add to this an incredibly passionate yet dangerous romance between Diana and a 1,500 year-old vampire, and you have an enchanting read that you will NOT want to put down!

A Discovery of Witches is book one of the All Souls Trilogy.  As soon as you are finished, you will be itching to get your hands on book two!