The Best Of Her Best: Dangerous Lies - Becca Fitzpatrick

Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick 

Date Released: November 10, 2015
Publisher: Simon and Schuster 
Pages: 400 pages 
Format: Hardcover
Source: For Review from Teenreads.com
Rating: 4 Stars!
Series: Standalone!

Goodreads Synopsis: A teen is forced to make a fresh start after witnessing a violent crime—but love and danger find her anyway in this novel from Becca Fitzpatrick, the New York Times bestselling author of the Hush, Hush saga.

Stella Gordon is not her real name. Thunder Basin, Nebraska, is not her real home. This is not her real life.

After witnessing a lethal crime, Stella Gordon is sent to the middle of nowhere for her own safety before she testifies against the man she saw kill her mother’s drug dealer.

But Stella was about to start her senior year with the boyfriend she loves. How can she be pulled away from the only life she knows and expected to start a new one in Nebraska? Stella chafes at her protection and is rude to everyone she meets. She’s not planning on staying long, so why be friendly? Then she meets Chet Falconer and it becomes harder to keep her guard up, even as her guilt about having to lie to him grows.

As Stella starts to feel safer, the real threat to her life increases—because her enemies are actually closer than she thinks…

From Goodreads

I went into Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick with no high expectations. Her other novels, Black Ice, was an okay read and I still have yet to pick up her Hush, Hush series, so I knew I couldn't set any high expectations. 

But wow, I was so wrong with that!

Dangerous Lies was a perfectly weaved witness protection program novel that had elements of action and suspense with a strong romance. I was so surprised on how much I greatly enjoyed the book, especially how far Fitzpatrick was able to develop her writing more. The dialogue was fluid and the plot was moving.

Dangerous Lies begins with Stella Gordon whose life has been turned upside down every since a violent crime involving her mother and Stella sent her to the Witness Protection Program. I enjoyed Stella, she was well-written and I think one of Fitzpatrick's best characters written. She goes through so much in the novel from a druggie mother who has a relationship with a leader of a drug cartel to the adjustments she makes moving to Thunder Basin, Nebraska, any reader can't help but relate to her. As she makes her way in Thunder Basin with the care of Carmina, Stella meets Chet Falconer who changes the person she become. The characters in Dangerous Lies might be a small size, but each one was well developed. There is such a flow between the characters and what they say, it very much felt real. In addition, I loved how fast the book started right away. Right from the first page, you get hit with Stella's situation and it all climaxes until the very end. 

I absolutely love witness protection program books, especially when it's filled with tons of suspense and action. Dangerous Lies was a great novel that tackles so much more than just living the consequences of your action. It was about coming face to face with what is really going on among it all and identity. I love how Fitzpatrick grew Stella's character throughout the novel. Despite the novel centering on Stella's relationship with Chet, Fitzpatrick brings up other aspects of the novel such as Carmina's past, Stella's mom, that are weaved throughly.

Ultimately, Dangerous Lies was a home run. Complex characters and a fast paced story line will have any reader on the edge of their seat. Check this one out!

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Just Good: Break Away - Kat Spears

Break Away by Kat Spears
Date Released: September 15, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 
Pages: 290 pages
Format: Hardcover
Source: For Review
Rating: 3 Stars
Series: Standalone!

Goodreads Synopsis: When Jason Marshall’s younger sister passes away, he knows he can count on his three best friends and soccer teammates—Mario, Jordie, and Chick—to be there for him. With a grief-crippled mother and a father who’s not in the picture, he needs them more than ever. But when Mario starts hanging out with a rough group of friends and Jordie finally lands the girl of his dreams, Jason is left to fend for himself while maintaining a strained relationship with troubled and quiet Chick.

Then Jason meets Raine, a girl he thinks is out of his league but who sees him for everything he wants to be, and he finds himself pulled between building a healthy and stable relationship with a girl he might be falling in love with, grieving for his sister, and trying to hold on to the friendships he has always relied on. 

A witty and emotionally moving tale of friendship, first love, and loss, Breakaway is Kat Spears at her finest.

From Goodreads

You know when you are hyped up for a book, the moment when you can't wait to sink into the pages of a promising story? Then after finishing it, it was nothing special just good? Yeah, that how I felt with Break Away by Kat Spears. I was greatly looking forward to picking up her latest one. Everything about it seemed liked the perfect young adult contemporary novel, but it was just a good book. Nothing special here or there, just good. Average.

Break Away begins the story of Jason Marshall whose younger sister recently passed away. Jason was a great character, I believe any teenager could easily relate as he deals with family issues to friend problems and his girlfriend Raine. Jason also deals with a mother who is stuck in her own world grieving and a father who was never there to begin with in Jason's life. Having his life turned around he knows he can count on his friends - Mario, Jordie, and Chick to help him get through it. Spears does a wonderful job crafting each of Jason's friends. From Chick's social awkwardness and shyness to Mario, a upbeat friend and even Jordie who helped introduce Raine, a girl who is ready for change, to Jason. Spears definitely hit the mark on the characters, everyone felt real and true to what teens would experience today. 

The book does focus greatly on Jason and Raine's relationship. From Jason dealing with family issues to Raine finding her way and place in school and in the world, I could easily relate to it all. It was so easy to step into Jason's shoes and experience what he went through, and I thought that is what made it a good novel. The relationship between Jason and Raine felt honest and true. It was not any of those fast paced relationships typical in young adult contemporary novels. 

Overall, Break Away was a solid novel. Nothing special, but well written and crafted to match the nature of teens and life's issues. I feel like every reader can relate to any of the characters and be sure to check this one out!

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A Historical Thriller: These Shallow Graves - Jennifer Donnelly

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly 

Date Released: October 27, 2015
Publisher: Random House Delacorte 
Pages: 496 pages
Format: ARC
Source: For Review From Teenreads!
Rating: 4 Stars!
Series: Standalone

Goodreads Synopsis: Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon—like all the girls in her class—she’ll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo secretly dreams of becoming a writer—a newspaper reporter like the trailblazing Nellie Bly.

Wild aspirations aside, Jo’s life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead. Charles Montfort accidentally shot himself while cleaning his revolver. One of New York City’s wealthiest men, he owned a newspaper and was partner in a massive shipping firm, and Jo knows he was far too smart to clean a loaded gun.

The more Jo uncovers about her father’s death, the more her suspicions grow. There are too many secrets. And they all seem to be buried in plain sight. Then she meets Eddie—a young, brash, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father’s newspaper—and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. Only now it might be too late to stop.

The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo Montfort could ever have imagined, and the truth is the dirtiest part of all. 

From Goodreads

These Shallow Graves was such a complex, rich historical novel that brought me back into reading. Everything about it, from it's quirky, emotional characters to a dark plot had me racing through the pages. I read Donnelly's other novel, Revolution, and loved it. It was great knowing These Shallow Graves lived up to my expectations!

The novel circles around the Victorian era. Girls forced into arranged marriages. The corrupt media spreading lies. The powerful men dominating the social classes. Donnelly creates such a rich and detailed setting, I was automatically drawn into it. The protagonist, Joe Montfort is from a rich, well-established family. She has big dreams to become a new reporter, but as her father's fatal death comes crashing into her life, that dream is far from reality. Her dad's death instantly sets the dark, suspenseful tone of the novel. I greatly enjoyed how Donnelly took the type to establish Joe and her motivating and strong personality within the first few chapters. 

As Joe searches for the answers to whom killed her dad, she meets Eddie Gallagher, a new reporter, someone she would never see herself talking with. Or much less fall in love. Joe and Eddies were great foil characters for each other. Joe is such a determined and strong willed character she balanced out Eddie's whimsical, caring attitude. The novel delves upon dark secrets hidden within Joe's world, but also the world Eddie comes from. While Donnelly's idea is not new, she presents it in her own way and provides a twist that I never saw coming!

The novel definitely kicked up as Joe and Eddies uncovered clues pertaining to her dad's killer. Joe and Eddies go through many emotional journeys from Joe's arranged marriage with Bram to a close betrayal from a family member, you can't help but be in her shoes. Another great thing was that Donnelly did not circle the whole novel around them. It was all about the killer and uncovering her family secrets. The romance between it all added to the emotional appeal of the novel and added a great depth to the novel. 

In all honestly, I believed Donnelly could have sped up on revealing who the killer is. 496 pages was a lot and she could have produced a much stronger novel with fewer pages. Some chapters just dragged me down and I felt like it didn't contribute to the novel as a whole. 

Ultimately, These Shallow Graves is one of my favorite historical YA novel from this year! Donnelly is back with a richly drawn novel filled with complex characters and a killer that will have you on the edge of you seat!

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The Best of The Best: The Fixer - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 

Date Released: July 7, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages: 384 pages
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Rating: LOVED IT! (5 Stars)
Series: Standalone!

Goodreads Synopsis: This thriller YA is Scandal meets Veronica Mars.

Sixteen-year-old Tess Kendrick has spent her entire life on her grandfather's ranch. But when her estranged sister Ivy uproots her to D.C., Tess is thrown into a world that revolves around politics and power. She also starts at Hardwicke Academy, the D.C. school for the children of the rich and powerful, where she unwittingly becomes a fixer for the high school set, fixing teens’ problems the way her sister fixes their parents’ problems.

And when a conspiracy surfaces that involves the family member of one of Tess's classmates, love triangles and unbelievable family secrets come to light and life gets even more interesting—and complicated—for Tess.

Perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars and Heist Society, readers will be clamoring for this compelling teen drama with a political twist.

From Goodreads

Wow. Just wow. I loved everything in Barnes's new book The Fixer, from it's strong heroine to a suspenseful story line set in the scandalous DC, it was perfect! I've read a couple of Barnes's other books, but The Fixer tops all of them off, and possibly is one of my favorite reads of 2015 so far! 

The Fixer begins when Tess Kendrick's life is turned in a whole different direction when her sister, Ivy Kendrick takes her away from her grandfather. Tess's relationship with grandfather has been strong ever since the death of her parents. Ivy then whisks her away into the political, social bubble of DC where she is enrolled in Hardwicke Academy, where all the rich and powerful elite children go. But Tess knows something is up and she begins question who her sister really is and the power she hold in DC, known as "the fixer". I absolutely loved Tess, she was a good smart, sassy, and knew what she had to do. She was the type of person you know would do anything to undercover a mystery and Barnes wrote her well. Plus all the other characters, such as Ivy, Adam, Vivie were all great, they each had their own struggles that brought the novel together. I honestly felt sooo sad for Vivie, especially the things she goes through, that was brutal!

Action and suspense are the bread and butter to the novel. I loved the suspense after each chapter, Barnes always leaves you hanging making you read more and more. Tess learns so much more about her family, herself, and the world she is now part of, I did feel sad for her, but she is a tough character and she fought it through. Another aspect I loved was the whole Scandal vibes I got from this! I felt like I saw Ivy as Olivia Pope and it oozed Scandal. If you have not picked up that TV show, it is a must watch! 

Overall, I LOVED The Fixer a perfect balance of romance, action, scandal, and drama. Perfect for any reader looking for a great suspenseful, scandalous novel, YOU NEED TO PICK THIS ONE UP!

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Western Inspired: Vengance Road - Erin Bowman

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman 
Date Released: September 1, 2015
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336 pages
Format: ARC
Source: For Review From Teenboard
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Series: Standalone!

Goodreads Synopsis: When Kate Thompson’s father is killed by the notorious Rose Riders for a mysterious journal that reveals the secret location of a gold mine, the eighteen-year-old disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers and justice. What she finds are devious strangers, dust storms, and a pair of brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, she gets closer to the truth about herself and must decide if there's room for love in a heart so full of hate.

In the spirit of True Grit, the cutthroat days of the Wild West come to life for a new generation.

From Goodreads

Thrilling. Racing. Action packed. Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman was a great novel that was so unique and fresh, I enjoyed reading it. Featuring a strong protagonist with a passion driving her around the dry, hot desert of the West. 

The novel begins with Kate Thompson, who is disguised as Nate Thompson in hopes of finding her father's journal. Her father was killed by the Rose Riders and now Kate has no one left but herself. She was a strong, fierce character is absolutely radiated off the pages. She has one goal and she achieves it. While there is tons of action and suspense in the novel, Bowman balances it with a growing romance between Kate and Jesse. She introduces two guys: Jesse and Will that help her on her path to vengeance and I enjoyed seeing how they worked together.  I thought Kate and Jesse were great for each other and I love the companionship they each had for one another. The novel may have a small cast of characters, Bowman does a fantastic job weaving in the Rose Riders, the wild West, and Kate. 

One thing that stood out from the novel that I enjoyed was the ending of the novel. It took me by surprise! Bowman mind blows you with a twist that I did not see coming at all. The least I could say was that it was suspenseful! I love how the book came together and it was well done :)

Overall, Vengeance Road was a great novel. I do wish the novel was more complex in terms of Kate as a character overall and her family relations. But that being said, it was still a fantastic novel that will have you looking at the West in a whole new light.

Pick this one up now!

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Quick & Simple: Hide & Seek (Jess Tennant #3) - Jane Casey

Hide & Seek by Jane Casey 
Date Released: August 25, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 288 pages
Format: Hardcover
Source: For Review (Thanks!)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Series: (Jess Tennant #3)

Goodreads Synopsis: Jess Tennant's classmate is kidnapped right before the Christmas holiday in this third novel in Jane Casey's brilliant young adult mystery series.

It's Christmas in Port Sentinel, the tiny English town where Jess Tennant has been living for more than a year now. She wasn't sure how she felt about moving away from London when her mom dragged her to Port Sentinel right before the beginning of high school, but even Jess has to admit the town has completely outdone itself for the holidays. There's a Christmas market complete with mini ice-rink, and fairy lights decorate the bare trees all over town.

For one of Jess's classmates, though, the Christmas season is anything but magical. She's been kidnapped and is being held in a dilapidated cottage near a deserted beach. And Jess might be the only one who can figure out where she is in time to rescue her.

Hide and Seek is another delightfully clever young adult mystery from beloved author Jane Casey.

From Goodreads

I greatly enjoy the Jess Tennant series and the third book was a bit overshadowed by the first two. Don't get me wrong, I loved the second one, but the third one just felt flat, it was good, but I wished it was more complex in terms of mystery and plot. Ultimately, it turned out a great read and definitely still worth picking up seeing how everything in Jess's life turns out. 

Hide and Seek just by the title relates to a lot of what goes on in the novel. It is Christmas in Port Sentinel and the mystery begins when one of Jess's classmates is kidnapped and held in a cottage near a beach. The tensions in the novel were intense and everything moved pretty quickly. Jess is just as great of a protagonist as she is in the previous books, and in this one, she deals a lot more with her emotions towards Will and family circles. Casey does a great job with weaving together a mystery, but also exploring Jess and her emotions as well.

I'd have to admit, the mystery of the novel was bit cliche, but I didn't suspect who did what until the very end. I wish Casey added more plot to the whole novel, things just needed to be more developed. The action was okay, nothing super crazy, just was hoping for more out of Jess and her incredible abilities to rescue people and solve mysteries. It almost seemed too easy...

But overall, I enjoyed reading the finale to the Jess Tennant series! It was a quick and simple book and goes straight to the point. Be sure to pick this one up if your reading the Jess Tennant series or looking for a new mystery series to start!

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A Thoughtful Read: We All Looked Up - Tommy Wallach

We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach 
Date Released: March 24, 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384 pages
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Series: Standalone!

Goodreads Synopsis: Before the asteroid we let ourselves be defined by labels:
The athlete, the outcast, the slacker, the overachiever. 

But then we all looked up and everything changed. 

They said it would be here in two months. That gave us two months to leave our labels behind. Two months to become something bigger than what we'd been, something that would last even after the end. 

Two months to really live.

From Goodreads

To be honest, I was looking forward to picking this one up. There was a lot of good reviews here and there, with the exception of a couple bad ones, I knew I had to pick it up. We All Looked Up was a good portrayal of how teens would react and act if their circumstances forced them do value every second of their lives just as a asteroid, Ardor, is about to come crashing into Earth. The novel was good, nothing special, but I enjoyed reading about each of the character's journey into a world where they almost have nothing left. Opening and refreshing, it was a great novel :) 

The novel has multiple perspectives from Eliza, Andy, Peter and Anita, four high school students who's lives are about to change because of Ardor, an asteroid, that is about to hit Earth. Wallach is able to paint a novel where any reader could relate to at least one of the characters and see themselves in their shoes. I enjoyed reading all of the perspectives, and I was actually able to keep up with the plot and characters. Wallach also bring in some diversity in his novel, by including a trans, Hispanic, and African American characters into the mix. While each character goes through with their own journey, it all eventually leads them together and it gives a lot of though to the reader. Like how would we change if an asteroid was coming to Earth to destroy the only place we know? What would we do with out limited time? I absolutely love it when a novel does that and if you do to check this one out!

The novel does suffer from a some slow points in the novel, with a couple drawn out chapters. Some times I found myself having to re-read a couple chapters before to remember where I was and what was going on. But overall, I still greatly enjoyed the book!

We All Looked Up is a great read if your looking for a realistic/contemporary that leaves you with a lot to think about life and how valuable time is. Check this one out!

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Thoughtful & Real: The Porcupine of Truth - Bill Konigsberg

Porcupine of Truth by Bill Konigsberg
Date Released: May 26, 2015
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Pages: 336 pages
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Rating: 4 Stars!
Series: Standalone!

Goodreads Synopsis: The author of OPENLY STRAIGHT returns with an epic road trip involving family history, gay history, the girlfriend our hero can't have, the grandfather he never knew, and the Porcupine of Truth. 

Carson Smith is resigned to spending his summer in Billings, Montana, helping his mom take care of his father, a dying alcoholic he doesn't really know. Then he meets Aisha Stinson, a beautiful girl who has run away from her difficult family, and Pastor John Logan, who's long held a secret regarding Carson's grandfather, who disappeared without warning or explanation thirty years before. Together, Carson and Aisha embark on an epic road trip to find the answers that might save Carson's dad, restore his fragmented family, and discover the "Porcupine of Truth" in all of their lives. 

From Goodreads

I absolutely loved The Porcupine of Truth by Bill Konigsberg! It was fun, real and honest and it was just a book that opened up a lot about people and what life is. Konigsberg crafted such a well-written and funny YA novel that I believe any reader, young or old, definitely needs to pick it. Everything from its adventurous and fun protagonist Carson Smith to a secret that's been left in the shadows, it was an amazing read.

“Some things you remember, and some you forget. Of the things you remember, you have to wonder what’s real and what’s translated into a memory from a story you heard.”

The book begins with Carson who meets Alisha Stinson, a beautiful girl that he happens to met at the zoo. Who also happens to be a lesbian. In addition, Alisha faces a tough situation being kicked out of her house because of being a lesbian. Carson then decides to take her into his house and ultimately sets the path to finding his grandfather's long held secret to meeting new people. I greatly enjoyed Carson as a protagonist, he had such an ease and teenage spirit that any YA reader could relate to. His relationship with Alisha was something unique and special. I thought Alisha was a great contrast character to Carson because she was there to add some fun and spunk to their trip. 

I loved how the novel deals with Carson's grandfather's secret. Konigsberg doesn't automatically hit the reader with Carson's gay history. While this was my first LGBT novel, it definitely did not disappoint. The author does an amazing job in weaving a journey with Carson in finding who his grandfather was and telling his alcoholic dad who he was. The Porcupine of Truth touched upon issues of hate against "gays" but also the idea that they are also humans and need to be treated just like normal people. 

Ultimately, The Porcupine of Truth was such a thoughtful and real read. It opens a lot about human nature and how powerful the truth is. I loved everything about this book and I cannot wait to see what else Konigsberg has to write in the future! Definitely pick up the novel if your looking for a great LGBT novel. 

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Tragic & Likeable:Trouble - Non Pratt

Trouble by Non Pratt
Date Released: March 6, 2014
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
Pages: 384 pages
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Series: Standalone!

Goodreads Synopsis: In this dazzling debut novel, a pregnant teen learns the meaning of friendship—from the boy who pretends to be her baby’s father.

When the entire high school finds out that Hannah Shepard is pregnant via her ex-best friend, she has a full-on meltdown in her backyard. The one witness (besides the rest of the world): Aaron Tyler, a transfer student and the only boy who doesn’t seem to want to get into Hannah’s pants. Confused and scared, Hannah needs someone to be on her side. Wishing to make up for his own past mistakes, Aaron does the unthinkable and offers to pretend to be the father of Hannah’s unborn baby. Even more unbelievable, Hannah hears herself saying “yes.”

Told in alternating perspectives between Hannah and Aaron, Trouble is the story of two teenagers helping each other to move forward in the wake of tragedy and devastating choices. As you read about their year of loss, regret, and hope, you’ll remember your first, real best friend—and how they were like a first love. 

From Goodreads

Trouble by Non Pratt was a book I really wanted to like, but it just ended up as a book to finish to get off my TBR pile. While it had it's golden moments (such as the protagonist and her new found friend) it gets bogged down by a boring story line and lack of characterization. But overall, the book had a great message about finding those true friends and who will be there when life becomes hard.

The book begins with Hannah, who is 15 and pregnant. As she navigates high school, her pregnancy becomes a big issue, affecting herself, friends, and family. Her best friend, Katie starts to become more mean and her family becomes distant. I enjoyed how the book wasn't full on about Hannah being pregnant from page one, but transitioned to her journey. The book also splits POV with young, new boy named Aaron who seems to care for Hannah. I thought that Aaron was a great supporting character to Hannah, he seemed to bring out things from Hannah she never experiences and say things she never saw her self saying. The characterization on Hannah and Aaron was great, just wished Pratt developed the other characters more. Also, the plot needed more layers and longer chapters to further the story.

Just like with any pregnancy YA novels, the protagonist makes the choice to do an abortion, adoption, or keep the baby. I won't be giving away spoilers but I thought Hannah's choice was very brave and right. The father of the baby also is brought up in the book that comes at a total shock!

Overalll, Trouble by Non Pratt was a good novel, definitely should be read by teens to show teenage pregnancy has an BIG effect on one's life. Unique and powerful, Trouble by Non Pratt was a book that explores family and friend relationship, no matter the current situation. 

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