GROWN By Tiffany D. Jackson

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

GROWN By Tiffany D. JacksonGrown by Tiffany D. Jackson
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on 9/15/20
Genres: Contemporary, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Thrillers, Young Adult
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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When legendary R&B artist Korey Fields spots Enchanted Jones at an audition, her dreams of being a famous singer take flight. Until Enchanted wakes up with blood on her hands and zero memory of the previous night. Who killed Korey Fields?

Before there was a dead body, Enchanted’s dreams had turned into a nightmare. Because behind Korey’s charm and star power was a controlling dark side. Now he’s dead, the police are at the door, and all signs point to Enchanted.

Short and Sweet Review

*Trigger Warning: Sexual abuse, Rape, Drug Use, Mental Health

Enchanted wants to be a singer so when she catches the eye of Korey Wise a famous singer she thinks this is her chance. When Enchanted wakes up one morning with no recollection of what happened the night before and Korey dead, all fingers are pointing to her.

Enchanted is 17 years old and an aspiring singer. Enchanted is the older sister so she takes care of her younger siblings, she’s on the swim team, and in Will and Willow. Enchanted is a smart girl but sometimes the fact that she wants to be a singer clouds her best judgement. At an audition she meets Korey Wise. Korey seems like someone who can be like a mentor to Enchanted and help her get her foot in the door. Korey seems like someone who genuinely wants to help but this man is a monster, but we’ll get into that later. After her audition Enchanted starts spending more time with Korey at his studio and this is when we see glimpses of his controlling side and how crazy this man actually is but it gets worse when she decides to go on tour with him.

The things Enchanted had to endure while with this man were horrible it made my blood boil. Like I said earlier Enchanted is 17, Korey is 28! This man is a predator and it’s just heartbreaking to watch Enchanted get trapped in this web. Anyway while on tour Korey convinces Enchanted that he’s in love with her but he would drug her, and abuse her sexually, mentally and physically. The thing is Enchanted is being manipulated and at some points she thinks the way she’s being treated is love, she thinks she can change him. Korey is a sick creep, he likes young girls and thinks he can get away with his behavior because no one has held him accountable for his actions. Honestly reading about his behavior just made me uncomfortable and all I wanted was for Enchanted to do was get away, “run girl!” I felt so bad for her family they were worried about her and Korey just cut off her communication with them.

This book was a rollercoaster ride. I knew what I was getting into when I read the synopsis I was ready to be made uncomfortable, angry, and heartbroken. We follow Enchanted from the beginning of her journey to the present, I like how the book alternates from past and present. Enchanted’s story is not something that is surprising to hear in today’s society but I was upset just reading about how instead of being the victim she was made out to be the monster. I’m glad I got to read this book and I think it’s a great read, it deals with hard topics but these are topics that need to be addressed.

THESE VENGEFUL HEARTS By Katherine Laurin

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

THESE VENGEFUL HEARTS By Katherine LaurinThese Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin
Published by Inkyard Press on 9/8/20
Genres: Contemporary, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Thrillers, Young Adult
Pages: 368
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High, the Red Court is the name on everyone’s lips. Its members deal out social ruin and favors in equal measure, their true identities known only by their leader: the Queen of Hearts.

Ember Williams has seen firsthand the damage the Red Court can do. Now, she’s determined to hold the organization accountable by taking it down from the inside. But will the cost of revenge be more than she’s willing to sacrifice?

Short and Sweet Review

Ember is ready to take down the Red Court. Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High there’s one name that comes up and its the Red Court. Ember has been ready to get revenge on them ever since the accident that left her sister paralyzed. Now that Ember has been invited into the club she has the chance to dismantle it. The Red Court is more than Ember bargained for, especially when the jobs will effect those closest to her.

I did like the mystery of who the Red Queen was and who the other members of the court might be. Ember did get a little caught up into the world of the Red Court she liked the power and control she felt. It was interesting, she got a partner, Haley who was kind of like a mentor in all things Red Court and they had jobs that they had to accomplish. Most of the jobs were kind of heartless. All of the jobs that the Red Court received were from students of the school and once that job is completed the student ends up owing the Red Court.

Ember did have a little romance with Chase. I honestly thought their interactions were really cute. I love how competitive they were with each other. It was hard for Ember to keep her secret from Chase about being involved in with the Red Court. I also liked Ember’s relationship with her best friend Gideon although I did think he was a bit much sometimes, but he did try to keep Ember in check during her involvement with the Red Court.

I really liked this book! The mystery was great and I didn’t suspect who was the Queen of Hearts. This was a quick read and it held my attention the whole time. Definitely pick this book up if you’re interested in revenge and mystery books!

A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE By Brittany Cavallaro

A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE By Brittany CavallaroA Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
Series: Charlotte Holmes #1
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on 3/1/16
Genres: Mysteries & Detective Stories, Romance, Thrillers, Young Adult
Pages: 336
Source: Publisher
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ReviewedbyDani

Jamie Watson has always been intrigued by Charlotte Holmes; after all, their great-great-great-grandfathers are one of the most infamous pairs in history. But the Holmes family has always been odd, and Charlotte is no exception. She’s inherited Sherlock’s volatility and some of his vices—and when Jamie and Charlotte end up at the same Connecticut boarding school, Charlotte makes it clear she’s not looking for friends.

But when a student they both have a history with dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Danger is mounting and nowhere is safe—and the only people they can trust are each other.

There’s a mystery to be solved my friends! I really enjoyed reading this book I read it in one day. I love mysteries, and what’s better than a book with the greatest mystery solving duos great great grandkids? The book kid of started out slow for me especially the first chapter but chapter 2 is when it starts to pick up. Charlotte Holmes and James Watson are brought together when a fellow classmate is murdered and they’re being framed. The thing I really loved most about this mystery was the fact that the culprit was using Sherlock Holmes stories to commit the murders.
What I liked
~ Charlotte Holmes! She’s smart, strong, and her deduction skills are amazing! (If only I was a Holmes)
nice good job you rule sherlock memes
~ James Watson! I mean he’s the narrator, he’s pretty smart himself and of course very knowledgeable when it comes to recalling his great great grandfathers stories.
~ The mystery I was reading trying to figure out who was smart enough to pull this off!
~ The writing is also amazing!
What I didn’t like
James had a bit of a temper, I guess I understand some of the reasons why he got mad but others I just thought he could have been more understanding.
~ Charlotte had her secrets but it took a while to get them out of her. Just when I thought I knew her she tells us more.
Favorite Quote
~ “Access tunnels?” I said. “You really should explore more. We’ll remedy that. but not now.”
 
Overall
 I would recommend this book especially if you love mysteries. I’m ready for book 2 and too see what other mysteries this new duo solves! This book was great and had me wanting more!
yes bobs burgers yas realitytvs
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THE LEAGUE OF DELPHI by Chris Everheart

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

THE LEAGUE OF DELPHI by Chris EverheartThe League of Delphi by Chris Everheart
Series: The Delphi Trilogy #1
Published by Yellow Rocket Media Genres: Mysteries & Detective Stories, Young Adult
Source: Publisher
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ReviewedbyDani

Ten years after his father's mysterious death, 17-year-old Zach secretly returns to his wealthy hometown in search of answers. Why did his mother move him away then go into hiding to die alone? Why did she change his name, forbidding him to ever reveal his true identity? Why was he never allowed to return home? Left with nothing and no one, Zach is desperate to reconnect with this seemingly "perfect" town. But something isn't right. When a local teen commits suicide and no one seems to care, Zach's hopes collapse into disenchantment and suspicion. Ashley, a local teenager on the fringe, piques his interest with whispers of a secret committee controlling the lives of everyone around them. Could it be true? Together, Zach and Ashley delve into the hidden life of the town and discover a dark connection to Ancient Greece and the Oracle at Delphi. Their suspicions are confirmed - but the conspiracy is more terrifying and dangerous than they ever imagined...


The League of Delphi begins with Zach White, and he makes the decision to go back to the town he used to live in to learn more about his past. As Zach gets back into life in Arcanville and begins to observe what is going on, he realizes things are a bit odder than he thought. Recently, a boy he knew when he was younger died supposedly of suicide, and no one seems to be acknowledging it, no one but Ashley Sloan. Little do Ashley and Zach know that there is something else going on.

We follow Zach and Ashley on their way to figuring out just what Arcanville is all about. There is a link to Ancient Greece as well as this League of Delphi which appears to have chapters across the world. I found myself turning the pages in order to find out what was going to happen next and what the big mystery was. It’s hard to know with all the twists and turns the book takes just who is good or bad. Book one ends in a cliffhanger and I can’t decide if I want to read book two yet. This was a pretty quick read for me. Definitely check this one out if you enjoy a good mystery and a conspiracy theory.

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MY SECRET TO TELL by Natalie D. Richards

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

MY SECRET TO TELL by Natalie D. RichardsMy Secret to Tell by Natalie D. Richards
Published by Sourcebooks Fire on 10/06/2015
Genres: Contemporary, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Thrillers, Young Adult
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher
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ReviewedbyDani

One promise changed her life. One confession could end it.
There was blood on his hands. Where was the guilt in his eyes?
Emmie's had a crush on her best friend's brother forever. Deacon is the town bad boy who's always in trouble, but she sees his soft side when he volunteers with her at the local animal shelter. She doesn't think he's dangerous…until he shows up in her bedroom with blood on his hands. Deacon's father has been violently assaulted and Deacon is suspect number one. Emmie's smart enough to know how this looks, but she also knows Deacon's biggest secret—he's paralyzed by the sight of blood. She's sure he didn't do this. Or did he? Because even Deacon's own sister thinks he's guilty…


Well to be honest I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this book because I didn’t enjoy Gone too Far by Natalie D. Richards but the premise of the book intrigued me so I decided to give it a shot. I can defiantly say I liked this book more than I thought I would.  It took me a while to get into it, like halfway through the book. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Emmie she was bossy, whiny, and indecisive. She just kept changing her mind, “Is Deacon guilty or not? Should I help him or not?” things like that.  If I was in this book and my friend was in this situation I would trust them because they’re my FRIEND! What are friends for right??? I liked the whole whodunit aspect because when I found out who it was I was pretty shocked.  Emmie’s parents also got on my nerves.  They were smothering her so much that even I could feel it. I think the first half of this book was pretty slow at least for me but it started picking up towards the end. What’s really funny to me is the fact that the ending was like a game of clue “I think you did it because you’re just really suspicious to me.” Anyway the other characters were sub par, I was over them. Get some better friends would be my advice haha. In the end I would say this book was good enough that I’d read Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards. I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries and if you’ve read other books by this author.

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GONE TOO FAR by Natalie D. Richards

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

GONE TOO FAR by Natalie D. RichardsGone Too Far by Natalie D. Richards
Published by Sourcebooks Fire on January 6, 2015
Genres: Mysteries & Detective Stories, Young Adult
Pages: 319
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Keeping secrets ruined her life. But the truth might just kill her.


Piper Woods can't wait for the purgatory of senior year to end. She skirts the fringes of high school like a pro until the morning she finds a notebook with mutilated photographs and a list of student sins. She's sure the book is too gruesome to be true, until pretty, popular Stella dies after a sex-tape goes viral. Everyone's sure it's suicide, but Piper remembers Stella's name from the book and begins to suspect something much worse.

Drowning in secrets she doesn't want to keep, Piper's fears are confirmed when she receives an anonymous text message daring her to make things right. All she needs to do is choose a name, the name of someone who deserves to be punished...

 


ReviewedbyDaniI thought I’d be into this book based on the synopsis, but I wasn’t.  I really had to push myself to finish it. I like my mystery books and Gone Too Far sounded promising but I just couldn’t connect with the main character, Piper. Piper did things that just got on my nerves, for example she would keep telling her best friend that he needed to go to college even though she knew he would get angry, and then she would wonder why he was mad at her. Piper did this on more than one occasion. Not only did it bother her best friend Manny. To say the least I wasn’t a big fan of the characters in this book. The mystery in this book is the one thing I enjoyed. I didn’t know who owned the notebook, because each character was someone who could have a motive. I will read Natalie Richards other book Six Months Later, because I have it but I’m not sure if I’d recommend this book.

I would give this book a 2.5
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SUSPICION by Alexandra Monir

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

SUSPICION by Alexandra MonirSuspicion by Alexandra Monir
Published by Random House Children's Books on 2014-12-09
Genres: Horror & Ghost Stories, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Young Adult
Pages: 304
Source: Publisher
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ReviewedbyDani


Suspicion is a dark romantic YA story full of mystery and secrecy.
The book starts with the very end of the story where the main character starts retelling how she has come to be this situation. The beginning is all about a tragedy no less: the death of Imogen’s family and keeps going until we have unraveled all the mysteries and secrets that Rockford Manor has held for some years now. However, in all this turmoil of not really knowing what’s happening, we get to meet the “teenage side” of the main character. She has had a crush all her life on Sebastian, who she left years ago at Rockford Manor.  He has started dating her cousin.  There is some magic behind the story and related to the maze, as the cover promises, and Rockford Manor. I really liked all of the plot twists, and I loved the mystery.
I highly recommend Suspicion to everyone who likes mysteries, this book definitely blew me away.

 

HYSTERIA by Megan Miranda

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

HYSTERIA by Megan MirandaHysteria by Megan Miranda
Published by A&C Black on 2013
Genres: Love & Romance, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Young Adult
Pages: 326
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Reviewed by Dani

Mallory's life is falling apart. Her boyfriend was stabbed. He bled to death in her kitchen. Mallory was the one who stabbed him. But she can't remember what happened that night. She only remembers the fear . . . When Mallory's parents send her away to a boarding school, she thinks she can escape the gossip and the threats. But someone, or something, has followed her. There's the hand that touches her shoulder when she's drifting off to sleep. A voice whispering her name. And everyone knows what happened. So when a pupil is found dead, Mallory's name is on their lips. Her past can be forgotten but it's never gone. Can Mallory live with that?


After the incident Mallory’s parents decide to send her to Monroe a prep school to get away from everything back home. However, she can’t help but feel that her ex-boyfriend’s ghost has followed her. She can hear his heartbeat. She has the impression of a hand indented on her shoulder from where she’s being grabbed by his ghost. Not long after Mallory arrives, another pupil is found dead in her room. Mallory claims she was sleeping and can’t remember anything. I really liked Mallory as a character and Reid, her new love interest, is a great, loyal guy. The thing I loved most about the book is the face that Mallory doesn’t really remember the details of the night she killed Brian but throughout the book she has flashbacks of that night. I’m pretty sure there won’t be a sequel to this book but if there was I would buy it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes Romance, Thriller, and Mystery.

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VENGEANCE by Megan Miranda

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

VENGEANCE by Megan MirandaVengeance by Megan Miranda
Genres: Love & Romance, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Young Adult
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Reviewed by Dani

Falcon Lake will have its vengeance.

When everyone thought Delaney was going to die, Decker made a bargain. Anyone but her. Everyone but her.

He never realized someone might actually be listening.

Carson pulled Delaney out of the frozen water of Falcon Lake, and he died on the side of the road with his mouth pressed to hers. Troy tried to recreate Delaney’s accident, and the lake took him instead. All the talk about a curse doesn’t shake Decker, until yet another unthinkable tragedy strikes and there’s just too much coincidence and death for Decker to take . . . and too much anger.

Because Delaney knew it was coming, and she never said a word. Falcon Lake still has a hold on them both, and Decker can’t forgive Delaney until he knows why.


Vengeance by Megan Miranda is the sequel to Fracture, and this time the book is in Decker’s point of view. After the events from the last book everyone thinks Falcon Lake is haunted and is waiting to get its revenge. Decker loses someone close to him and Delaney knew it would happen, so Decker takes his anger out on Delaney, until mysterious things start to happen to them and their friends. Of course after these things start to happen everyone thinks the curse of Falcon Lake is coming to get them, and it’s especially trying to get Delaney.

In this book Decker has a lot of anger towards Delaney for keeping a secret from him. He acts harshly towards her, but you can tell deep down he really cares about her. The rest of the characters in the book set the tone of the book because they honestly feel like the curse is coming for them and now they have this fear towards Falcon Lake. Vengeance for me was a page turner because I couldn’t wait to read what was going to happen next. Vengeance had an unexpected but great ending. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal, thrillers, and mysteries. If Megan Miranda wrote another book I would buy it. (;

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THE DIAMOND THIEF
by Sharon Gosling

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

THE DIAMOND THIEF  by Sharon GoslingThe Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling
Published by Capstone on 2014-10-01
Genres: Action & Adventure, Historical, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Young Adult
Pages: 336
Source: Publisher
Goodreads

Reviewed by Dani

No-one performs on the circus trapeze like 16-year-old Remy Brunel. But Remy also leads another life, prowling through the backstreets of Victorian London as a jewel thief. When she is forced to steal one of the world's most valuable diamonds, she uncovers a world of treachery and fiendish plots.


Remy is a trapeze artist by day and jewel thief by night. Remy is sent by her boss to steal a diamond from the Tower of London. But someone else is already there trying to take the diamond for himself. While trying to hurry, she accidentally swipes a copy of the diamond from the coat of a detective. The detective, Thaddeus Rec, is accused of stealing the diamond for himself. Thad ends up losing his job over this. Remy and Thad team up to find the real culprit, to clear Thad’s name. The Diamond Thief is a fun and enjoyable book. I loved the premise and the characters. I would read the sequel.

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