The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

 

Avery Grambs, does well in school.  She's smart and works hard but life has not been kind to her. She's in Orphan and she's sleeping in her car. She's doing everything she can to get into a good school and improve here life then the unexpected happens and it is life changing. A man she does not know, Tobias Hawthorne has left her his fortune.  He is a billionaire. Avery is stumped and confused on why this man has left her all his money but she soon finds out that in order to receive it she has to meet the requirements set forth in the will.

One of them required that, Avery  live in, The Hawthorne mansion for one year with the family that has been disinherited. It seems simple yet peculiar however Avery soon finds out that it's rather complicated. She will have to play a game along with, Tobias's four grandsons to uncover the clues he left behind. 

I had quite a bit of fun reading this book, which was unexpected. The book isn't nearly as dark as I assumed it would be. The ending felt flat however that doesn't mean I won't read the sequel because Barnes 
knows how to tell a story and develop characters. 

This Is Not the Real World (Book #2 in the This Is Not the Jess Show Series) by Anna Carey

 This is Not the Real World is the sequel to This is Not the Jess Show and it picks up right where This is Not the Jess Show left off. 

Life-Like Productions has hunted down Jess and Kipps (her boyfriend). Kipps has been forced to return to the TV set and in an effort to get Kipps back, Jess makes a deal to return to the show. What the production does not  know is that Jess is in cahoots with a source and revenge is going to be so so sweet.

This book is rather entertaining but not nearly as fun as the first book however it has expected twist and turns.
It ends on a cliffhanger and I am anxiously awaiting the next book. 

This Is Not the Jess Show (Book #1 in the This Is Not the Jess Show Series) by Anna Carey

Jess Flynn is a teen living in 1998. Life seems ordinary and normal until an unidentified metal device with an apple on it falls out of her friends pocket. Her dog is no longer her dog. He looks different but he is an imposter. Her friends are acting weird, her parents are overprotective and her  little sister is really sick. A mysterious Flu is going around and it seems as though half the town is sick. 

Jess discovers she's been living on a set since she was born and her life has been broadcast since then. Everyone around her are paid actors. It's also not the 1998. Jess flees and is being hunted down by the producers of the show.

I absolutely loved this book. I was able to experience the nostalgia of the 1990s and watch someone discover and be introduced to technology such as cell phones. There are twist and turns to this clever little book. 

If you enjoyed The Truman show you will find this book to be just as much fun. If you haven't watched The Truman Show go watch it,  now!

The Black Key (The Lone City, #3) by Amy Ewing

The third installment in the Lone City series doesn't disappoint. Violet returns to the Jewel to find and save her sister. In an effort to save her sister, Violet takes a back seat approach to the rebellion. The mission is to destroy the Jewel. 

The twists and turns are entertaining and the conclusion is perfect. 

The White Rose (The Lone City, #2) by Amy Ewing

 The White Rose picks up where The Jewel ended. Ash, Raven and Violet are now safe and living in The White Rose. We learn more background information on Ash and Violet and get a better understanding  of them as characters. Secrets are revealed making this read impossible to put down. 

A rebellion is brewing, characters are being developed, the story line and magic, that I usually don't care for blend together to form a great read and another cliffhanger ending. 

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan

Expected Publication Date: 10/04/2022

Jodi Picoult is back! I missed the style, taste and feel of her older books and this one brings that back. Jodi Picoult is one of those authors who's books I read without knowing what they are about. I just sink my teeth into them and expect to read a book that is well researched and full of well crafted characters. Mad Honey meets this criteria and also tackles a controversial subject with care and finesse and court room drama (how I have missed these from her books).

The story is told from the perspectives on Olivia, Asher and Lily. Olivia is a single mom raising her son Asher in her hometown. Asher is a teenager and in a relationship with Lily. Lily is found dead and Asher is the prime suspect. Lily is new to the town and has a secret past which complicates that case against Asher however Asher has secrets of his own. 

The story is told in present and past tense so that we get important background information about about characters. This is a story about love. The love between parents and children. Young love and the love we have for ourselves.   This story is one that needs to be told. One that people can learn from. There are twists and turns and heartbreaking moments. This book will be a sensitive topic especially for those who don't have an open mind.  Those of us who do will be thankful that writers like, Picoult exist  and write stories that are important to social issues of our time. 

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Perfect: The Jodi Arias Story by Shanna Hogan

 Picture Perfect is the story of Jodi Arias and the tragic death of Travis Alexander. Arias murdered, Travis in a brutal and horrific manner. This book covers the relationship Travis and Jodi had. It's obviously from Jodi's view as Travis isn't around to give his perspective. 

Hogan tells us how they met and how the relationship rose and fell. We learn the opinion of Travis's friends in regards to Jodi. None are favorable.  The days leading up to the murder, the day of and after are covered. The court proceedings make for a small but important part of the book. 

I didn't learn anything new from this book but the read was interesting and very organized. 

The Jewel (The Lone City, #1) by Amy Ewing

If you are a fan of The Selection Series by Kiera Cass,  The Bumped Series by Megan McCafferty, The Eve Series by Anna Carey and The Chemical Garden Series by Lauren DeStefano, than this book is for you. 

Violet has been identified as a surrogate. This means that she will be forced to bear a child to a member of the Jewel Society. She will be auctioned off to the highest bidder and become their property. She and other women have been trained for this and when Violet is purchased by the Duchess of the Lake she is put into a world very different from the one she grew up in. A world of balls, fancy dresses, make up, parties and abuse. 

Violet and others like her have to be able to manipulate three Auguries, color, shape and growth. Learning and using them causes pain and when Violet finds out what they want her to use her Auguries for she learns that things in the Jewel are a lot more sinister than she imagined. 

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I do! It exceeded my expectations. The characters are well developed, the plot line is intriguing and of course there is romance, which I could do without but understand why it is part of the storyline. 

Survive the Night by Riley Sager

 

It's the 90's. Cell phones are not common place, payphones and call boxes are the way to get ahold of others. After the death of her bestfriend, Charlie is looking for a ride off campus and back home. She runs into Josh, at the ride share bulletin on campus and decides to take him up on his offer. She doesn't think much about him being older and assumes that he is a graduate student. 

Charlie leaves campus in the dark of the night with Josh. The ride home is  6 hours l
ong and over the course of the ride Charlie becomes increasingly  suspicious of Josh. Charlie recognizes that taking a ride from a stranger especially when there is a serial killer on the lose is a terrible idea and he may very well the Campus Killer.

The story is told in flashbacks and present day. You also learn that that Charlie tends to zone out and see "movies" in her head. This in turn makes her an unreliable narrator leaving you to question everything.

You will find yourself guessing along the way and when the heat of this cat and mouse game picks up and twists and turns keep coming you'll be turning the pages fast to reach the conclusion. 

This is one book - I'd enjoy seeing as a Netflix or Hulu series. It would be entertaining.

Darling Girl: A Novel of Peter Pan By Liz Michalsk

 I have never been a huge fan of Disney or fairy tales. The only knowledge, I had of Peter Pan was the name of a few of the characters and Wendy's blue dress. It was a blue dress, right or was it a blue nightgown? Despite this I found myself interested in reading this novel. I felt having little to no background information on the story of Peter Pan would benefit me and it did as I really ended up enjoying this read. If you like. The Lunar Chronicles Series by Marissa Meyer you might enjoy this one despite it being quite different.

Holly Darling is the granddaughter of Wendy Darling. She is aware of her family background (to a degree) and when her daughter who is in a comma goes missing, she knows that Peter Pan is somehow involved and she has to find him. 

Stories unravel, deep secrets surface and when realism and fantasy join together the read becomes entertaining yet dark. There is so much darkness and quite a few moments that might be triggers for some so read with caution if you have triggers. 

In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn

Sixteen-year old Finn is dead. She was just in a major car accident. She watches as her family and friends struggle so survive. It's cold and dark, her dad has a life threatening injury and the snow won't let up. Finn watches over everyone and through her we get to see what they each struggle with and experience.

Finn is a delightful character and the other characters are well developed. Be prepared for an incredibly emotional journey. You will need to set time aside to read this book because once you start reading you won't want to stop. 

This is the most powerful and moving book I've read this year.