The Name of the Star (Shades of London #1) by Maureen Johnson

Hardcover, 372 pages

Published September 29th 2011 by Putnam Juvenile 

 

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

I love a good murder mystery and add in Jack the Ripper... I am definitely hooked. Admittedly, though, this book has been on my shelf for a while and I don't know why I am just now getting to it. I feel I need to write Maureen Johnson a personal letter of apology. I now have quite a few of my students lined up for it as well, so I know it will be a well read book before the end of this school year. That is definitely NOT going to be a problem to me. 

Rory moved from Louisiana to England in hopes of finding the fun and newness of life in a place I would love to me to as well. What she doesn't expect is to find herself back in the center of a murder spree that parallels those of the infamous Jack the Ripper. I love how Maureen weaves the past with the present in this novel. Jack the Ripper is one of those things in history that we still talk about because it is the ultimate mystery and throughout this book, I definitely found myself looking things up online (some I wish I probably hadn't) but loved the new twist to the story through Rory's experience. 

I now have to run and get the next book because I can't wait to see how the saga continues. Check out Maureen's blog here and you can see what other goodies she has! 

Happy reading!

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Phoenix (Black City #2) by Elizabeth Richards

Kindle Edition, 273 pages

Published June 4th 2013 by Putnam Juvenile 

 

 Ash and Natalie are just starting to build a life together when things in the United Sentry States go from bad to worse. Ash and Natalie find themselves at the center of turmoil when dictator Purian Rose threatens Natalie’s life unless Ash votes in favor of Rose’s Law—a law that will send Darklings and other dissenters to a deadly concentration camp known as the Tenth.

When Ash can’t bring himself to trade Natalie’s life for those of millions of Darklings, her fate is sealed. Enter Elijah Theroux, the handsome Bastet boy Natalie once saved from her mother’s labs, where he’d been experimented on and tortured. It was his venom the Sentry used to create the lethal Golden Haze, the heart of the government conspiracy that led to Black City’s uprising and Ash’s rebirth as the Phoenix, the face of the rebellion. Elijah is back and Ash doesn’t like him; it’s clear he’s taken with Natalie, and Ash fears she may have feelings for him as well.

But Elijah also may have the answer to taking down Purian Rose for good—a powerful weapon called the Ora. Ash, Natalie and Elijah just have to escape Black City undetected to find it. But fleeing the city and finding this weapon (if it even exists) are easier said than done, and the quest could tear Ash and Natalie apart, even pushing them into the arms of others.

This enthralling sequel to Black City is just as absorbing, delicious and steamy as the first book, leaving readers hungry for the series conclusion.

 

 

I told you it would be up soon :) Both books were actually finished within 4 days of each other... but again, I had to teach so that took away precious reading time!! Haha!

 

You know how sometimes the sequel to a great book was such a let down? No title please, no titles! Believe me when I say that this one will not leave you disappointed. Though it may leave you a little (no A LOT) antsy for the next, and final, book! And the Cliffhanger of the Year Award goes to....

ELIZABETH RICHARDS

for her amazing work in Phoenix (Black City #2)

 

Seriously,  that is the only warning I will give you so don't say I didn't warn you. Just when you think you have it almost figured out, Richards has an amazing way of throwing all that you know up in the air and making you rethink it all. The fact that she does that and keeps readers on their toes is what draws me into her story even more. I have said it before, but there are certain genres that are starting to have books that all sound the same and (as I said in my review of Black City) this series is such a breath of fresh air. This series is one that has something for everyone because of the dynamic story that is told throughout each page. It has drama for all, a romance for the girls, major fighting and death for the guys and everything else you could ask for.

 

I just saw where someone tweeted that if you are missing Divergent, then this is the series you need to read next and I couldn't agree anymore!  

 

Make sure to visit Elizabeth here for updates on the final book, contests and much more! By the way... I entered her  "Show Me Your Pumpkins" contest to win a signed copy of Phoenix and swag and guess what?! I WON!!! Here is the winning pumpkin (inspired by Divergent) along with my kids pumpkins they carved!

 

 

 

I am so excited :) Maybe she will accidently slip in a copy of Wings (Black City #3) for me! Hey... a girl can dream, right?! 

 

Happy reading all! 

Black City (Black City #1) by Elizabeth Richards

Hardcover, 374 pages

Published November 13th 2012 by G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR 

 

  

A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war.

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-old Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

 

I love nothing more than getting a book recommendation from my students.  And I really mean that! They find some of the greatest books that I miss out on sometimes (despite my vast reading selection). Black City is by far one of the best recommendations of books that I have gotten in a very long time! I must say though, that when Jade (my amazing student) told me about it I was a little hesitant. Vampires and I have not gotten along for a while. But I decided to give it a chance and a mere 12 hours later... I was done with the book. It would have been sooner but I had to do my pesky job and teach kiddos! Haha!

This book is not your typical vampire story in any way, shape, or form. The amazing wold that Elizabeth Richards has built in the dystopian society is unlike anything I have ever experienced and its unique writing was a breath of fresh air to my reading addiction. Natalie and Ash have obstacles to jump over, under and through but the biggest one is each other. The dynamics between the two are so real and well written that you can picture them in your head very easily. This is by far one of my top reads of this year and I am just so sorry that I didn't find it sooner. Thank goodness for my amazing students!! 

Happy reading!

PS: I have to admit that I didn't take the time to write this review before getting Phoenix (Black City #2) on my Kindle that night and finishing it a few hours later! So look for that review very soon... because you know I am already done with it now too :)

Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published August 1st 2013 by Peachtree Publishers

Sam is a geek movie-buff with a ragtag group of loser friends who have been taking abuse from the popular kids for years. But when the super-cool Camilla moves to town, she surprises everyone by choosing to spend time with Sam's group. Suddenly they go from geek to chic, and find that not everything boils down to us and them. With their social lives in flux, Sam and Camilla spend more and more time together. They become the best of friends, and Sam finds that he's happier and more comfortable in his own skin than ever before. But eventually Sam must admit to himself that he's fallen in love. If he confesses his true feelings to Camilla, will everything change again?

  I think we have all had those moments when someone joins our group of friends and we wonder "What the heck are you doing?". Not because we are mean, but because we really are confused as to why this person who we think would never associate with us is suddenly taking an interest in us. Well Sam can relate to us in that aspect. Camilla has moved to Australia and into Sam's life when he and his friends are perfectly fine with being the geeks they are. I loved the characters in this book and don't really know if I could pick a favorite because they were all written so well. 

So many times I read books that are written about teenagers where the characters don't seem real. The characters in this book are teenagers- dialogue, actions, and quirks! Sam has a quirky sense of humor which I just love and couldn't get enough of. Being a teenager is the same no matter which continent you are on and that proves true with this novel. I love that it is evident in this novel that teenagers everywhere deal with the same issues! 

Enter to win a copy of Life in Outer Space here!!

Happy reading!