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Posts Tagged 'trust'

Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis

Published December 13, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: betrayal, competition, family, friendship, plot, stakes, stealing, thief, trust

Genre: Mystery/Adventure

Ross Quest, a seventeen-year-old girl raised by a single mother in a famous thieving family, is desperate to break out on her own and experience a little normalcy. However, her plans fall apart when her mother is kidnapped and held for ransom and she is forced to dive deeper into the thieving world by entering the Thieves’ Gambit. The Thieves’ Gambit is an elaborate three part competition designed to pit the world’s best thieves against each other. The winner earns one wish, any wish, that is guaranteed to be granted. The winner is also required to work for the organization running the gambit for an entire year with no questions asked. Ross did not have any interest in doing this, but after exploring all options realizes she must in order to truly save her mother’s life. Can she compete among very determined and talented young thieves such as herself? Can she save her mother without condemning herself to another year or intense thief work? Is it possible she might find some common ground with the other teens in the competition?

Fans of heist shows and books will be immediately drawn to this title. It’s exciting, fast paced, and has many twists and turns as Ross tries to outmaneuver her opponents no matter what obstacles are placed in her way. The other characters are well described and it’s easy to see where they are all coming from, but that doesn’t change the crazy lengths they will all go to in order to win the competition. Ross has been warned her entire life not to trust anyone and the few times she has it has ended in disaster. She does not plan to make that mistake again, but some of the contestants help her see that trust isn’t always a bad thing…or is it? Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fun, fast paced escape.

A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis

Published September 13, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: flood, friendship, murder, reputation, small town, tornado, trust

Genre: Mystery

Lydia Chass is used to things going her way, she is a Chass after all. So she is stunned when she learns that an error has left her one credit shy of graduating. Determined not to be left behind she concocts a plan to create a true crime podcast about her small town’s “long stretch of bad days” that included a tornado, flash flood, and the town’s only homicide. She learns that another student also needs one credit to graduate and so the school is strongly recommending they work together. Bristal Jamison, however, does not come from a distinguished family and at times her family’s reputation is actually a hindrance in their investigation. Nevertheless, they both bring strengths to the podcast, albeit in their own ways. The town was so preoccupied with the natural disasters all those years ago and the murder victim wasn’t exactly the model citizen so no one ever looked too hard into the crime, but now that they are there is definitely someone out there who wants to stop them at all costs. Was the murder one of convenience due to the natural disasters or was it just lucky timing? Can Lydia and Bristal find a way to work together and maybe even become friends?

This mystery story really hinges on the personalities of the two main characters. Lydia is very domineering, but in a way that the reader comes to find endearing, especially as she becomes more aware of her own privilege. Bristal, meanwhile, is very rough around the edges but often says the thing everyone is thinking and does manage to get some answers from people who do not want to talk. She also has a very open and honest relationship with her mother, which is interesting, because their family is often looked down upon but Lydia quickly sees that just because something does not look as you would expect does not mean it’s wrong or bad. The mystery is interesting, but perhaps more so is the impact this string of bad days had on the characters they encounter and how it still haunts them to this day. Recommended for readers who like mysteries, but also friendship stories.

The Island by Natasha Preston

Published September 5, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: amusement park, betrayal, disappear, friendship, grudge, island, murder, secret, trust

Genre: Thriller Mystery

When Paisley, an influencer, is invited to preview a private island resort created by a billionaire who wants to create the ultimate getaway she is thrilled and honored. Her father is initially against her going with a handful of other influencers she does not know to an island where it might be difficult to reach her, but her mother convinces him to let her go. At first, this island seems too good to be true with a beautiful hotel, high end restaurants, and a full amusement park. Each influencer is assigned a lush private suite in order to truly impress them. There are some rules in place, but they are encouraged to take photos and videos in order to create buzz for this new destination. Paisley agrees to meet another influencer after hours so that they can see the amusement park on their own, but her partner never shows. She is annoyed, but figures he fell asleep. The next morning he does not show for breakfast and his room hasn’t been slept in. They are on an island so Paisley is immediately concerned, but it takes awhile before others start to notice his prolonged absence. Besides the influencers, the only other people on the island are the owner and a handful of workers. As more people start noticing strange things and getting separated from each other it becomes clear that something is not right. Could someone really be trying to keep them all from leaving the island? Who would want to hurt people they have never met prior to this island? Who can Paisley trust to keep her safe? Will she and her new friends make it safely off this island?

This exciting mystery thriller is everything you would expect in a story of this kind. The characters are all introduced and somewhat developed before things start to go wrong. There are several red herrings that make it more challenging to work out who is behind all the bad things going wrong on this island. The plot twists and turns until the very end, which will keep all readers, but especially reluctant readers, interested until the final reveal. The final page will definitely leave readers wanting more! The setting is truly unique and described in a way that makes it very easy to imagine. Recommended for horror and mystery fans!

I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

Published August 31, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: betrayal, escape, framed, kidnap, murder, prison, trust

Burroughs was convicted five years ago of murdering his 3 year old son. He knows he did not kill his son, but feels he failed him as a father for letting anything happen to him and has therefore never put up much of a defense. He has even refused to see visitors in the entire time he’s been in prison so he is very surprised when his sister-in-law, whom he used to be very close to, suddenly shows up. She shows him a photograph she happened upon that clearly shows a boy in the background who looks just like his son, albeit older now. Things immediately change as Burroughs knows that if it ever gets out his son could be alive that could potentially put him in danger so he decides to break out of prison in order to find and protect him like he didn’t do last time. Can he manage to break out of prison? Even if he does get out is there any way he can remain free long enough to find out if his son truly is alive? If his son is alive then who did they find wearing his son’s pajamas that fateful night?

This is a very fast paced mystery story that takes off from page 1. Burroughs has been punishing himself for five years as he struggled in prison all the while knowing that most people believed he was capable of murdering his own son. There are a fair amount of things that definitely work in his favor, but that doesn’t diminish the engaging fugitive story. The other characters are compassionate and well developed, even if they are a bit too good to be true at times. The ending, which is so important in mystery books, is plausible and satisfying. Fans of Coben and mystery fans will enjoy this title for what it is, an interesting and quick mystery story for those looking to escape. Recommended especially for reluctant readers.

Live Your Best Lie by Jessie Weaver

Published April 6, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: betrayal, cheating, friendship, lies, murder, secrets, social media, trust

Genre: Mystery

Summer Cartwright is a very powerful social media influencer who has gathered secrets about those closest to her including her best friend, Grace, her ex-boyfriend, Adam, her former camp mate, Laney, and a sophomore who aspires to be just like her, Cora. Everyone has heard the news that Summer has secured a book deal and plans to release ALL of the secrets she has on everyone else. Therefore, everyone feels they need to be especially nice and accommodating so that she might change her mind. Summer is planning the biggest, splashiest Halloween party and insists these four come. However, shortly after everyone arrives they receive a strange text message that Summer will be dead in five minutes. The party guests assume it’s a murder mystery party and start looking for clues…but then Grace, Cora, Laney, and Adam stumble upon Summer’s body and they know it was all too real and that they will all be prime suspects. Who would kill Summer at her own party? How did they do it? Is there a way for them to clear their names before it’s too late?

This story covers a lot of issues including parental abuse, academic pressures, plagiarism, the dangers of social media, and even teen dating. Many readers will find something they can commiserate with as they get to know these characters. It’s told in alternating chapters so you get to see how each one of them feels about Summer and her murder, but it takes awhile before all of the secrets spill out and it becomes clear who the killer is. The ending is exciting and satisfying and will leave readers wanting to know more about these characters. Recommended for anyone who enjoyed One of Us is Lying.

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

Published February 23, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: betrayal, blade, curse, family, Fantasy, quest, trust

Genre: Fantasy

Corayne, the daughter of a pirate, has always known her absent father had Cor Blood, but never thought it would really impact her life. However, she has always felt the desire to leave her small town and see the world. Her mother, whose pirate name is Hell Mel, absolutely refuses to ever let her come on a voyage, however. So, when an Elder and an assasin make the journey to meet her she feels compelled to listen to what they have to say. Corayne learns that her father was killed by his once abandoned twin brother, Taristan, and that he is using a stolen spindleblade to cut holes into different realms and create an unstoppable army. As she also has Cor Blood, she is one of the few people in the world who can stop him, as long as she has her own spindleblade. She agrees to go on a mission to stop this destruction before it is too late, but Taristan is very determined to rule over all and will not be easy to stop.

This first installment is very compelling not only for the quest ahead of them, but for the very colorful characters they meet along the way. It’s easy to become invested in each character’s past as well as their motivations for helping Corayne complete such a difficult and dangerous mission. It takes a little while for all of the pieces to fall into place, but fantasy readers won’t mind because the setup is complex and unique. Aveyard’s fans will be clamoring for what happens next after the very dramatic ending. Highly recommended for fantasy readers.

My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by Sajni Patel

Published October 31, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: college, family, Indian, music, sisters, traditions, trust, wedding

Genre: Romance/Realistic fiction

Zurika Damani is nervously awaiting her college acceptance letters to see if she can go to school for music (her passion is the violin) or if her parents will force her to go into pre-law as they do not believe music can be a viable career. There is a huge music competition coming up that she very much wants to go to because several elite college scouts will be there, but it during her sister’s weeklong wedding celebration. In the Indian culture there are many events around a wedding and Zuri’s family has made it very clear they expect her to be present at each and every wedding event. She must also rehearse several choreographed dance numbers and it is no secret that everyone thinks she and her partner would make a wonderful couple down the road. When she finally meets Naveen she realizes that he is not only charming, but a very talented singer who is also planning to go to the music competition. Zuri loves her family and wants to make them proud, but she can’t deny her natural inclination to pursue music as a career. Can she find a way to go to the competition without her family knowing? Is there any way her family would support her pursuing music in college? Does she think there could be a future for her and Naveen?

This story nicely depicts an American Indian family trying to incorporate all of their traditions into a wedding. There are not a lot of books about the American Indian culture and this is a good book to help normalize how students view the Indian culture around them. In many ways, Zuri’s family is like any other American family, but it is easy to see how even between generations there is a difference in how wedding traditions are viewed, which is something many families can relate to. Zuri is a very sympathetic character because she wants to be supportive of her family whom she loves, but she desperately wants some of that support for herself and her academic pursuits as well. Many students, regardless of culture, will be able to identify with feeling like you are an outsider in your own family. The relationships between the sisters and cousins are well developed and it’s easy to feel connected to this family and their story. Recommended for those who enjoy romances or books celebrating other cultures.

The Seclusion by Jaqui Castle

Published September 20, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: friendship, futuristic, government control, surveillance, trust

While out on a routine task for their jobs, Patricia “Patch” and her friend Rexx come across a van with contraband from before the seclusion, such as printed books and empty pop cans. Ever since the seclusion the U.S. has been separated from all other countries and every aspect of their lives is controlled by The Board, including where they live and what they do for a living. Patch has always found happiness in the fact that she enjoys her job at a laboratory as well as her first floor apartment that allows her a small garden. The only information they are given is routinely provided from The Board in mandatory news reports that everyone must stop and watch no matter where they are. There are also cameras in every place imaginable, even bathrooms, so privacy is something no one expects to have. When they find this mysterious van that is clearly from the “before” time, both Patch and Rexx find themselves very curious about what kinds of things were available in the old U.S. That curiosity gets them into trouble, however, and they must decide if they will just bow down to the Board who controls everything or if they will fight for answers.

This futuristic book combines similar aspects as books such as Matched, The Hunger Games, and The Testing. The main characters are struggling to learn what is real and what they have been taught is real. Every time they think they are getting ahead of the Board they are slapped back into reality and learn just how controlling the Board really is. This is the first in a two book series. Fans of futuristic stories will get pulled into this adventure as Patch tries to help her country who doesn’t even know they need help.

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

Published April 8, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: dancing, divorce, future, premonitions, Romance, trust

Yvette’s world shatters when her parents announce they are getting divorced and her belief is true love is put to the test. She does not react well to the news that her mother, her sister, and her must move out of their family home and into a smaller apartment and decides it is time to downsize her belongings as well. She takes all of her favorite romance books to donate to a free library. When she is there a mysterious woman convinces her to take a book in return for her donation and she grabs the book titled Instructions for Dancing. After receiving this book, Yvette notices that every time she sees a couple kiss she see flashes of their entire relationship from beginning to end, and they always end. This only cements her belief that love never lasts and she decides if she gets rid of the book she might not see these premonitions anymore. She notices that there is an address inside for a local dance studio and goes to return the book, but the instructor sees something in her and convinces her to practice for a big ballroom dancing competition. Yvette does not know why, but she feels drawn to the dance floor and her magnaminous partner, X. Can she really get involved with someone when she is so down on romance at the moment? Will she ever be able to reconcile with her father after he tore their family apart?

Fans of Nicola Yoon will not be disappointed with this story about two very thought out characters and their struggle to find their way in a complicated world. There are also many interesting side characters that prove nothing is ever as cut and dried as it first appears. Not all young adult readers enjoy reading romances, but this one truly has something for everyone if they are willing to give it a chance. The characters are all going through very relatable issues and most everyone can find something they can identify with. Highly recommended.

You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus

Published March 18, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: betrayal, drugs, election, lies, murder, secrets, trust

Ivy, Cal, and Mateo used to be close in junior high after they all skipped school one day and had “the best day ever” and were never caught. They have drifted apart in high school, but one day fate brings them together and they all decide to skip again in the hopes of rekindling that magical day. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned and they end up witnessing the aftermath of the murder of a classmate. They know they had no business being there and it looks very bad so they run. As they try to figure out what happened on their own, it becomes clear they are all dealing with some pretty difficult secrets that they must trust each other with in order to be able to move on. Can they clear their names even as rumors start swirling that they know what happened to their classmate and could have been involved? Will they ever be as close as they once were? Is there anyone out there they can trust?

This story engages readers right from the beginning, because you naturally feel for all of them in one way or another. It is really easy to identify with all of their struggles and yet you can see how they all came to make the choices that they did. Without giving too much away, the ending is very exciting and dramatic and leaves room for more in a potential sequel. Readers who enjoyed One of Us is Lying will enjoy this title.

Love is a Revolution by Renee Watson

Published March 4, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: family relationships, lies, love, passion, Romance, trust, truth

Nala Robertson is a very typical teenager who enjoys relaxing and having fun, so when she has go to an open mic night for an activist group for her cousin’s birthday she isn’t too excited. However, the emcee for the event, Tye, immediately catches Nala’s eye and she finds a way to talk to him after the show. He is funny, charismatic, and passionate, which Nala loves, but he is also a very serious activist for causes he cares about. Nala is worried he won’t like her since she doesn’t have any strong causes that she supports, so she lies and tells him she volunteers at her grandmother’s assisted living home, amongst other things. She knows she will be in trouble if Tye or anyone else finds out about her lies, but she’s so afraid he won’t like her if he knew the real Nala. Can she ever face the truth of who she is and will that be enough for Tye? Will she begin to change like those around her to find things she cares about and is willing to dedicate all her time and energy to?

This engaging story tackles serious issues such as finding ways to love yourself and mother/daughter issues, but does so in a way that feels light and fun. Many readers will be able to identify with Nala and her fear of not being accepted, sometimes even by herself, for who she truly is. At the same time, she must realize that people are constantly changing and growing and it’s absolutely possible to change yourself at any stage of life. Several of the supporting characters are fun, such as Nala’s grandmother and all of her friends at the assisted living home. There are many examples of love in this story and it’s through all these different relationships that Nala begins to understand how love is present in her life and how she contributes love to those around her. Recommended for fans of romances, but also for people who enjoy real stories about unique people.

All This Time by Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott

Published February 18, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: death, family, healing, loss, Romance, tragedy, trust

From the same authors as Five Feet Apart, this romance story begins with Kyle learning that his longtime girlfriend is actually not going to go to the same college as he is on their graduation night. There is a terrible storm and as they fight about their future together they get into a terrible accident where Kyle is seriously injured and Kimberly dies. He struggles for months to heal and get up every morning knowing that Kimberly is gone. He shuts out friends, puts college on hold, and generally fails to progress in any way. Then, he meets Marley and everything starts to change. Marley has also lost someone close to her and the two of them begin to work through their grief together, but as they begin to find happiness they feel overwhelming guilt that they are here and those they lost are not. Both of them harbor guilt about how their loved one died as well. Kyle can’t help shake the feeling that something will come along to disrupt his happiness because he doesn’t think he deserves it, and something definitely does but it’s something you won’t see coming. Can he fight for what he had with Marley or is it just not the right time?

This story definitely keeps the reader guessing as the plot takes some serious twists. Kyle’s relationship with Kimberly has kept him from truly living his best life and he’s starting to realize that, but also feels terrible about the fact that Kimberly is not there anymore. Marley, meanwhile, has faced some terrible things as well and because of that struggles to truly open up and believe in happy endings and forgiveness. Recommended for fans who enjoy unique romance stories such as The Fault in Our Stars and Eleanor and Park.

Don’t Let Go by Harlan Coben

Published January 21, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: betrayal, friendship, lies, murder, secrets, trust

Napoleon “Nap” Dumas has never gotten over the fact that his twin brother, Leo, and Leo’s girlfriend, Diana, were found dead after apparently getting hit by a train their senior year. It was ruled an accident, but it never sat right with Nap and he’s never been able to move on. The same night his brother died his girlfriend, Maura, ran away and was never heard from again. Nap grew up to become a detective after Diana’s dad, Augie, the police chief took him under his wing and became his mentor. He also became very close to a classmate named Ellie after the deaths and she’s still his best friend to this day. He has tried to move on, but there’s always a part of him that will wonder what happened that night. Then, Maura’s prints turn up at a crime scene where another classmate of theirs is mysteriously gunned down. Nap can’t help but wonder if it’s connected. How many of their classmates are going to die under strange circumstances? Why did Maura show up again after all of these years? Is it possible to really find out the truth about what happened that night? Does he really want to know?

Fans of Harlan Coben will enjoy this suspense mystery. There are many layers to the mystery as Nap is trying to find out how his brother and his brother’s girlfriend died all those years ago as well as finding out why friends of theirs seem to be targeted now all these years later. There are many supporting characters who contribute to the story, but not so many that you can’t keep them straight. The ending will satisfy those who love an exciting resolution.

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

Published January 7, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: adoption, family, Historical Fiction, Italy, Kidnapping, Madrid, poor, Romance, trust

Set in 1957 Madrid, Ana is working at the newly opened American hotel and Daniel has traveled to Madrid with his parents from Texas. Daniel’s mother is Spanish and always wanted to travel there with him, but under Francisco Franco’s rule Americans were not welcome for many years and tourism has only recently opened up. Ana’s family is struggling to pay bills and she is very grateful for the job she has at the hotel, but her and Daniel immediately feel a connection and begin spending time together despite everyone telling them it can only end badly. Daniel aspires to be a photojournalist and takes his fancy camera everywhere, even though the Italian soldiers have tried to intimidate him into not taking any photos of the “real Madrid.” Daniel feels fairly confident that nothing bad will happen to him since he is an American with a powerful father, but Ana knows that the Italian police can make her and her family’s life very hard so she tries to keep her head down and do what is expected of her. Meanwhile, Ana’s cousin and brother have noticed some unusual occurrences at their places of work. Puri, Ana’s cousin, works at an orphanage and begins to suspect that not all of the babies brought to her are actually orphans. Rafa, Ana’s brother, works as a grave digger and he begins to notice that many of the infant coffins that arrive from the local hospital are actually empty. What is happening to the babies in Italy and why is their reported infant mortality rate so high? Is it something Daniel could investigate on his road to hopefully becoming a photojournalist or is it too dangerous? Is there any way for Daniel and Ana to be together or do they just come from too many different backgrounds to make it work?

Once again, Ruta Sepetys has highlighted a time and a place in history that many people do not know much about and put a human face on it. Many aspects of this time period in Madrid are discussed and readers will want to know more about all of the characters. Even some of the less likable characters have understandable reasons for why they act the way they do. The environment has bred fear and want among the Italians and they aren’t sure if it will ever get any better since it’s already pretty far after the war. The characters are all so engaging that readers will find they simply do not want to stop reading about them, but the setting is also unique and thought provoking on its own. Recommended for fans of historical fiction.

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris

Published December 17, 2021 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: family, future, grief, loss, race, stereotypes, tragedy, trust

Alex Rufus has had the ability to see into the future ever since his parents died. Every time he touches any item or person he sees what will happen to that person or thing in the near or distant future. For example, he knows the ice cream shop he works at will one day be owned by someone else because he can see it when he touches the ice cream scoop at work. He learned long ago that there is no changing the future he sees, no matter what he does, so he tries to avoid touching anything he doesn’t want to know the future to. Having this ability has made him more closed off with his girlfriend and his brother, Isaiah, but he doesn’t know how to change it since so much of his time is spent dealing with the many visions he sees. Then, one day he sees a vision of himself at Isaiah’s funeral in the not so distant future and he knows he needs to act fast. He needs to reconnect with Isaiah and see if there is any way to change this terrible vision he sees. Is there a way to save Isaiah? Is there a way to ever rid himself of this terrible condition so he can truly just enjoy life as it comes at him? Will the community he lives ever see him as anything but a young, black man?

This story really paints of picture of not only how terrible having the ability to see the future would be, but also how difficult growing up black in America can truly be (even in affluent neighborhoods). Alex struggles to communicate with those around him because he fears no one will be able to understand what he is going through, but along the way they show him that they are there for him no matter what. He also learns that by not sharing his thoughts and feelings with others he has also been missing out on what is going on with them. He and his brother have drifted since their parents’ untimely death and while he understands how it happened he also realizes how precious life really is. The ending is satisfying, but does give the reader a lot to think about long after the book is over. Recommended.

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