Review: The Book of Lies

Title: The Book of Lies
Author: Mary Horlock
Source: Netgalley

Synopsis from Netgalley:
Life on the tiny island of Guernsey in the English Channel can be tough for some, but things have become particularly claustrophobic for Cat Rozier. She’s fifteen, an overweight bookworm, and she’s just killed her best friend.

Nicolette is the new girl at Cat’s all-girls high school, beautiful and instantly popular. But Nic, without explanation, takes Cat under her wing, inviting her out to parties and teaching her to drink whatever they can shoplift. The two become inseparable, while the other girls wonder why Nic’s hanging out with this geek. A perceived betrayal, however, sends them spinning apart, and in the way that small-town bullies do best, Nic’s retribution is larger than life.

Cat’s father, Emile, has died just months before. While running the small press he’d inherited from his father, Emile made it his life’s work to bring to light the truth about the Nazi occupation of Guernsey, from Churchill’s abandonment of the island to those families and individuals who tried to resist in their own way. But above all, he hoped to set straight the reputation of his older brother, Charlie. Through audio recordings Charlie left behind before his death in 1965 and letters Emile wrote to various publications, we piece together Charlie’s own confession, his struggle against the Nazis, and the betrayals buried deep in the island and in the Rozier family story.
My review:


My rating:
I really enjoyed this book.  I liked the back and forth between narrators.  I do wish the author would have focused more on the father's part of the story.  I didn't really like the main narrator, Cat.  She kind of annoyed me and her situation didn't seem to bother her at all.  The book was well written and entertaining.  Another thing I didn't like was the cover.  I don't usually judge a book by it's cover, but all of the covers I've seen just didn't pull me in.

4 stars

**I received an electronic copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. 

Contest craze mini challenge: lucky number 7

Lucky Number 7

Princess Bookie's Contest Craze is in full swing! Today I'm hosting a mini challenge. It'll be fun to see what everyone comes up with!!!

TO ENTER:

• Open a book you are currently reading.
• Turn to page 7.
• Count to the 7th word.
• If the word is an article (a, an, the, etc), go to the next real word.
• Type the word into a Google Images search, and select a picture that you can stand.
• Create a blog post with the following information:
• Picture of book
• Book title and author
• 7th word on 7th page
• Randomly selected picture
• Link to this post and Princess Bookie's Contest Craze. 

My book:
Tinkers by Paul Harding

My word: eight

Top 100 YA books

I've seen this list on a lot of other blogs, and I thought I would use it to keep track of what I've read.

Total: 23/100

1. Alex Finn – Beastly
2. Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones
3. Ally Carter – Gallagher Girls (1, 2, 3, 4)
4. Ally Condie – Matched
5. Alyson Noel – The Immortals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
6. Anastasia Hopcus – Shadow Hills
7. Angie Sage – Septimus Heap (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
8. Ann Brashares – The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1, 2, 3, 4)
9. Anna Godbersen – Luxe (1, 2, 3, 4)
10. Anthony Horowitz – Alex Rider (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
11. Aprilynne Pike – Wings (1, 2, 3)
12. Becca Fitzpatrick – Hush, Hush (1, 2)
13. Brandon Mull – Fablehaven (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
14. Brian Selznick – The Invention of Hugo Cabret
15. Cassandra Clare – The Mortal Instruments (1, 2, 3, 4)
16. Carrie Jones – Need (1, 2, 3)
17. Carrie Ryan – The Forest of Hands and Teeth (1, 2, 3, 4)
18. Christopher Paolini – Inheritance (1, 2, 3, 4)
19. Cinda Williams Chima – The Heir Chronicles (1, 2, 3)
20. Colleen Houck – Tigers Saga (1, 2)
21. Cornelia Funke – Inkheart (1, 2, 3)
22. Ellen Hopkins – Impulse
23. Eoin Colfer – Artemis Fowl (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
24. Faraaz Kazi – Truly, Madly, Deeply
25. Frank Beddor – The Looking Glass Wars (1, 2, 3)
26. Gabrielle Zevin – Elsewhere
27. Gail Carson Levine – Fairest
28. Holly Black – Tithe (1, 2, 3)
29. J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
30. James Dashner – The Maze Runner (1, 2)
31. James Patterson – Maximum Ride (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
32. Jay Asher – Thirteen Reasons Why
33. Jeanne DuPrau – Books of Ember (1, 2, 3, 4)
34. Jeff Kinney – Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
35. John Boyne – The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
36. John Green – An Abundance of Katherines
37. John Green – Looking for Alaska
38. John Green – Paper Towns
39. Jonathan Stroud – Bartimaeus (1, 2, 3, 4)
40. Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl – Caster Chronicles (1, 2)
41. Kelley Armstrong – Darkest Powers (1, 2, 3)
42. Kristin Cashore – The Seven Kingdoms (1, 2)
43. Lauren Kate – Fallen (1, 2, 3)
44. Lemony Snicket – Series of Unfortunate Events (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
45. Libba Bray – Gemma Doyle (1, 2, 3)
46. Lisa McMann – Dream Catcher (1, 2, 3)
47. Louise Rennison – Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
48. M.T. Anderson – Feed
49. Maggie Stiefvater – The Wolves of Mercy Falls (1, 2, 3)
50. Margaret Peterson Haddix – Shadow Children (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
51. Maria V. Snyder – Study (1, 2, 3)
52. Markus Zusak – The Book Thief
53. Markus Zusak – I am the Messenger
54. Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
55. Mary Ting – Crossroads
56. Maureen Johnson – Little Blue Envelope (1, 2)
57. Meg Cabot – All-American Girl (1, 2)
58. Meg Cabot – The Mediator (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
59. Meg Cabot – The Princess Diaries (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
60. Meg Rosoff – How I Live Now
61. Megan McCafferty – Jessica Darling (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
62. Megan Whalen Turner – The Queen’s Thief (1, 2, 3, 4)
63. Melina Marchetta – On the Jellicoe Road
64. Melissa de la Cruz – Blue Bloods (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
65. Melissa Marr – Wicked Lovely (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
66. Michael Grant – Gone (1, 2, 3, 4)
67. Nancy Farmer – The House of the Scorpion
68. Neal Shusterman – Unwind
69. Neil Gaiman – Coraline
70. Neil Gaiman – Stardust
71. Neil Gaiman – The Graveyard Book
72. P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast – House of Night (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
73. Philip Pullman – His Dark Materials (1, 2, 3)
74. Rachel Caine – The Morganville Vampires (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
75. Rachel Cohn & David Levithan – Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
76. Richelle Mead – Vampire Academy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
77. Rick Riordan – Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
78. Rom LcO’Feer – Somewhere Carnal Over 40 Winks
79. S.L. Naeole – Grace (1, 2, 3, 4)
80. Sabrina Bryan & Julia DeVillers – Princess of Gossip
81. Sarah Dessen – Along for the Ride
82. Sarah Dessen – Lock and Key
83. Sarah Dessen – The Truth about Forever
84. Sara Shepard – Pretty Little Liars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
85. Scott Westerfeld – Leviathan (1, 2)
86. Scott Westerfeld – Uglies (1, 2, 3)
87. Shannon Hale – Books of a Thousand Days
88. Shannon Hale – Princess Academy
89. Shannon Hale – The Books of Bayern (1, 2, 3, 4)
90. Sherman Alexie & Ellen Forney – The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
91. Simone Elkeles – Perfect Chemistry (1, 2, 3)
92. Stephenie Meyer – The Host
93. Stephenie Meyer – Twilight Saga (1, 2, 3, 4)
94. Sue Monk Kidd – The Secret Life of Bees
95. Susan Beth Pfeffer – Last Survivors (1, 2, 3)
96. Suzanne Collins – Hunger Games (1, 2, 3)
97. Suzanne Collins – Underland Chronicles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
98. Terry Pratchett – Tiffany Aching (1, 2, 3, 4)
99. Tonya Hurley – Ghost Girl (1, 2, 3)
100. Wendelin Van Draanen – Flipped

Review: The Legacy

Title: The Legacy
Author: Katherine Webb
Source: Netgalley

Synopsis from Netgalley:
Following the death of their grandmother, Erica Calcott and her sister Beth return to Storton Manor, a grand and imposing house in Wiltshire, England, where they spent their summer holidays as children. When Erica begins to sort through her grandmother’s belongings, she is flooded with memories of her childhood—and of her cousin, Henry, whose disappearance from the manor tore the family apart.

Erica sets out to discover what happened to Henry—so that the past can be laid to rest, and her sister, Beth, might finally find some peace. Gradually, as Erica begins to sift through remnants of the past, a secret family history emerges: one that stretches all the way back to Oklahoma in the 1900s, to a beautiful society heiress and a haunting, savage land. As past and present converge, Erica and Beth must come to terms with two terrible acts of betrayal—and the heartbreaking legacy left behind.

My review:
This was another book with a slow start.  Once I got into it, it was enjoyable.  It was well written, if a little confusing at times.  Certain things were alluded to, like the cousins' disappearance and Beth's illness, but they weren't fully explained until mostly through the book.  The ending was satisfying, but a little predictable.  Overall, this was a well written and enjoyable book about two sisters and their shared secret.

My rating: 3 1/2 stars

**I received a free electronic copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.  

Review: The last letter from your lover

Title: The Last letter from your lover
Author: Jojo Moyes
Source: Netgalley

Synopsis from Netgalley:
It is 1960. When Jennifer Stirling wakes up in the hospital, she can remember nothing-not the tragic car accident that put her there, not her husband, not even who she is. She feels like a stranger in her own life until she stumbles upon an impassioned letter, signed simply "B", asking her to leave her husband.

Years later, in 2003, a journalist named Ellie discovers the same enigmatic letter in a forgotten file in her newspaper's archives. She becomes obsessed by the story and hopeful that it can resurrect her faltering career. Perhaps if these lovers had a happy ending she will find one to her own complicated love life, too. Ellie's search will rewrite history and help her see the truth about her own modern romance.


My review:
I really liked this book.  It was a bit slow to get started, so I didn't expect to like it very much, but it picked up and pulled me in.  I loved the little bit of mystery about who "B" was, and I was really rooting for him and Jennifer to get together.  I think I actually yelled and threw my kindle down (on the couch, so it was okay!) when they missed each other.  The ending was a little bit predictable, when the reader discovers who and where B is.  I enjoyed the love story and the weaving together of the stories.


My rating: 4 stars

**I received an electronic copy of this book for free from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

August wrap up

I can't believe it's already September.  Classes started yesterday, but I don't have class until Tuesday.  This is the start of my last year of school.  I am excited but also nervous (mostly because that means I'll have to get a real job soon!)

I got quite a bit of reading done this month.  Now if only I could keep up with reviewing books.

101. Cleopatra’s Moon
102. Still alice
103. The golden notebook   
104. Game of thrones
105. when lightning strikes
106. Code name cassandra  
107. I’d know you anywhere
108. A stolen life
109. Smuggled
110. Crooked letter, crooked letter   
111. Divergent   
112. The legacy 

113. The summer I turned pretty  
114. The tent   
115. Death of Vishnu
116. Chronicle of a death foretold
117. Cleopatra  
118. Poison study
119. Good bones
120. Still missing
121. The last letter from your lover
122. Twilight sleep
123. The book of lies
124. Turn of mind   
125. Magic study   
126. Delirium   
127. Fire study 

Best book: I read so many great books this month, so it's hard to choose! I would have to say Divergent. Can't wait for the sequel.