Posts Tagged 'deceit'

The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave

Genre: Mystery

In this sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me, Hannah and Bailey have now been without Owen for five years. Bailey has graduated from college and has begun her first full time job. Hannah is still working on her art and even having shows, which is when she first suspects she sees Owen. Hannah knows that Owen showing back up is probably not a good thing and learns that Bailey’s grandfather, Nicholas, has just died and that puts them both in jeopardy as he had worked out a deal to keep them both safe from the mob he works for. So, they both use their planned escape contingencies to go on the run and find out if there is a way for all of them (including Owen) to stay safe under the new regime controlling the mob. Can they reunite with Owen? Will they ever be able to live without looking over their shoulders? Will they ever know once and for all whether or not the mob was behind Bailey’s mother’s death?

Fans of the first novel will love that this one picks up right where the old one left off. Bailey and Hannah have gotten close to Nicholas despite his dealings with the mob that created this entire mess. The story also helps them find answers that were never given in the first book. The relationship of Hannah and Bailey is also fun for the reader to see because they have been through so much together with the loss of Owen. The story is very fast paced and action packed as they try to find answers and get their lives back. Fans who thought their journey had ended will be pleasantly surprised by this very exciting second installment.

Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis

In this sequel to the Thieves Gambit, Ross Quest must work with Devroe for an entire year due to the outcome of the Gambit. This is tricky because Ross felt she had feelings and trust for Devroe and then he completely betrayed her in the end and she now knows that his family has a huge vendetta against hers. Devroe is trying to make amends and claims he had no choice, but Ross will not let him in again. Meanwhile, her mother (who also betrayed her) is also trying to get back into Ross’s good graces, but Ross has seen her mother’s antics one too many times. When Ross finds out that someone is making a play to take control of The Organization she sees a chance to earn her freedom back, but who can she really trust, if anyone? Is there any way to get out of the clutches of The Organization without having to compromise who she is?

This sequel is just as thrilling and exciting as the first one and will leave readers wanting more. The entire host of characters are colorful and memorable, so when they come back in this book they are easy to place from the first book. There are many surprises as they come up with an elaborate scheme to try and beat those trying to deceive them and it’s always unclear who is on which side. There is still a lot of story to tell with these characters so hopefully there will be more installments into this series. Recommended for reluctant readers.

Ever Cursed by Corey Ann Haydu

Genre: Fantasy

Number of Pages: 296

The princesses of Ever were all cursed by a witch, Regan, five years ago. On their 13th birthday, each of them has lost something. Jane, the oldest, lost the ability to eat. Although she has not died she has withered away and become very weak and feeble. Meanwhile, her sisters lost the ability to sleep, love, remember, and hope, respectively. At the same time they were cursed their mother was frozen into a glass box overlooking the kingdom. The witch who cast the curse did so in a fit of rage and didn’t properly think through the repercussions. The king seems unperturbed by his family getting cursed and still seems happy and well adjusted, despite his wife and daughters’ suffering. Also, the princesses must break the curse before the Regan’s 18th birthday…which is in five days. As the princesses and Regan work together to try and break the curse they realize they may not be as different as they previously thought. They also begin to uncover a lot of secrets the kingdom has been hiding. Is it too late to save everyone? Can they bring back happiness to EVERYONE in the kingdom and not just the royalty? Can royalty and witches come together in harmony without fighting for power?

This fantasy story is unique, which fantasy fans will enjoy. The characters are all well developed and the plot has several twists and turns that will surprise the reader, but are completely supported by the set up of the story. The female characters are all strong and brave in their own way and they begin to see they have been deceived by the king, the most powerful man in the kingdom. The ending is very exciting and satisfying, which will leave readers wanting more. Recommended for fantasy fans.

Queen of Someday by Sherry D. Ficklin

queen of someday

Genre:  Historical Fiction

# of Pages:  249

RAC:  Yes

Sophie has been summoned to Russia to meet with the Empress and her nephew, the heir to the throne.  Sophie’s mother has impressed upon Sophie how important it is for their family to secure a match with the prince because they have many debts and are in danger of losing their title and land.  Once Sophie arrives in Russia it becomes clear that the prince is very self involved and wants all attention on him at all times.  She begins to spend a lot of time with her Russian tutor, Sergei, and one of the prince’s men, Alexander.  Eventually, Sophie begins to have affection for Alexander and she knows how much trouble she would be in if anyone ever found out.  Meanwhile, she is informed that she must learn fluent Russian and convert to Greek Orthodox before she can marry the prince.  Can she turn her back on her family and marry the man she loves or must she marry a man she finds vile in order to save her family?

Loosely based on Catherine the Great, Ficklin makes no apologies for any historical inaccuracies.  The story is interesting in that very little is written in the young adult category for this era in historical fiction.  Due to the fact that it is based on true events, there are some twists to the story that may shock and dismay readers, but is essential in order to follow the arch of Catherine’s life.  The characters are interesting and written so that they are not easily confused.  Fans of series such as The Luxe or Cleopatra’s Daughter will enjoy this title.


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