NetGalley Review: Hush (Lakeview #1) by Stacey R. Campbell

Green Darner Press
Published Jan. 23, 2013
278 Pages

Blakely Henry doesn’t want to know any information of her biological parents. After looking and not finding anything she has given up. 

When Max Ryder comes to town and shows interest in Blakely, her true identity comes into question. What Blakely doesn’t know is that Max  is there to find out if she is the lost Princess to Europe’s favorite royality.

However, feelings are involved and there is someone who doesn’t want the Princess found. Can Blakely survive the threats against and the truth about Max?

I picked this book because of the cover. Didn’t even read what it was about; I just really liked the cover. So I shouldn’t have been surprised that it wasn’t a historical romance (lol).

Anyway, this was a good read. I was surprised because Blakey, Max and every teenager in the book acted as if they were at least 23 years old. Their whole attitude, outlook on dating, everything seemed much older than their age. I was a bit taken back.

I liked Blakey because she had a good head on her shoulder, a developed personality but she was a bit boring. There was nothing more to her than school, her friends, her smart comments and her amazing body (that Max keeps mentioning).

Oddly enough, I really liked Max. He had a heart and really loved the girl. His initial intention was not pure but he grew to really love her.

My biggest issue with this book is how the climax wasn’t really climatic. It was like oh . .  well okay. The ending was just thrown there. It wasn’t exciting just a there it is. I wish there was more effort in the two biggest part of the week.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. 3 Pickles

Book Review: The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan

Tim Macbeth is a 17 year old new transfer to Irving boarding school. He is

Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published Jan. 8, 2013
312 Pages

an albino student who hopes to get by this semester unnoticed. However, he does the opposite and falls for the most popular girl in school Vanessa Sheller, who happens to be the girlfriend of the most popular boy in school.

If anyone finds out that Vanessa and Tim have a thing going on it could mean social disaster. But that is not the only worry of Vanessa and Tim. They have to complete a senior paper called “The Tragedy Paper” given by the hardest English teacher in the school.

YAY For my second realistic fiction book of the year! I enjoyed this book very much. The author did an amazing job capturing me as I read. You are told the story through Tim however, Tim has graduated school and you are hearing through a CD  as a student named Duncan is hearing it.  Tim left his story, recorded on CDs, in his old room left for Duncan to hear. This set up was really cool because while Tim is sharing his story, Duncan has an on going story of his own.

As for the characters, I thought they were extremely developed. I was surprised by Tim because although he was conflicted on the inside you did not see it as he spoke with others. He was an extremely likable character; even Vanessa was a likable character. No one was over board with emotions or pity.

What I didn’t like was the lack of focus on the tragedy paper. Tim and Vanessa was not stressing this paper. It was there but it wasn’t the main focus. It was a focus for Duncan because Tim left his words to show Duncan tragedy. Tim and Vanessa did have school concerns but it was overruled by their feelings for each other.

Another concept about this book that I like and didn’t like was the tragedy. The author makes you assume and she even feeds that assumption  by bluntly saying everything that you’re thinking and when the climax hits you’re like that is not what expected. I love to be surprised in books but I go back and forth in this case because she made me feel as if I knew the ending. Good writing trick.

Overall, I loved this book. Perfect score: 5 Pickles

NetGalley Book Review: The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant (The V Trilogy #1) by Joanna Wiebe

BenBella Books
To Be Published Jan. 14, 2014
272 Pages

*This book was received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Recently Motif by Tanya interviewed author Joanna Wiebe about her new book. Read it here!

Anne Merchant is sent to Cania Christy boarding school where the most wealthiest teenagers attend. Not understanding how she was able to attend the school, since her father is the funeral director, Merchant begins attending the school with nothing but questions. 

However, this isn’t any typical boarding school. You are graded for every thing you do including a school dance. Students are obsessed with the Big V which is to become valedictorian and no one could be trusted.

Merchant, with the help of an attractive senior must learn the school’s secrets and accept the truth in order to live.

When I finished this book I really couldn’t tell if I liked it or not. But I am going to say that I liked it but as much as I thought I would.

Merchant is an interesting character. Her mission is to find the truth and she does a horrible way of doing as such. She was a boring detective. However, she was witty which I loved. So I went back and forth with her because she was pushing for answers but barely did the work to find it out.

As for the writing I though the story itself had too much going on towards the end. It was one twist, another one and then one more to add dramatic effect for the second book. Although the story was a bit boring, I liked what the author was doing up until the climax.

But the story itself is completely original. It was nothing what I expected from a story regarding boarding school. I just believe that towards the end it was too much added in the first book.

Finally, I didn’t like the ended. THAT was expected and it was disappointing. I looked at the book and scream WHY! I seriously do not know one teenager that would agree with that decision.

Overall, the book gets 7 out of 10. I am curious about the second book but I am in no rush to read it.

Pickles