Breathless Reads Tour Stop: Salt Lake City

This is another post that should have been up weeks ago.  But, better late than never I always say.

This event was such a blast. I really hope that other publishing houses will consider sending their big tours to Salt Lake City, because I'm telling you, we have a huge YA following here in Utah.

This is yet another event post with no photos. I meant to take some, I really did. However, I was on babysitting detail since my husband was working, and she had a meltdown about halfway through the event.  More about that in a minute.


Brenna Yovanoff was probably the biggest surprise to me. She wrote this very harrowing, spine-chilling book, and she's super sweet and soft-spoken. And extremely fashionable.

You can read a little about the questions and answers at these blogs:

The Secret Adventures of WriterGirl
Cranberry Fries (you can even see a picture of me on this one!)
Squeaky Books

One of my favorite things about this blog is getting to work with authors. It's really a thrill to go to an event and have an author recognize who I am and thank me for what I'm doing. Those who blog know that it's really a lot of work, and sometimes a little thankless.

So, I mentioned that my sweet baby had a meltdown at the event. She waited until after the presentation thankfully, but by the time we got in the signing line she'd had enough. Plus, I had a big bag of books to get signed, and had to stand. Every one of these authors was so incredibly kind in my moment of crisis. Kirsten Miller held Abigail for a minute while I got my stuff reorganized. Beth Revis and Andrea Cremer let her sit on the table and play with the bookmarks. Ally Condie stopped what she was doing to make sure that I got my book signed and then got the heck out of there.  I don't know if any of you all will read this blog, but thanks for your help. Honestly.

Oh, and I did pick up a little something at the event for you readers. I've got a signed hardcover copy of Across the Universe by Beth Revis. It's going to be March's commenter contest prize. So watch for more details on that tomorrow!

Life, The Universe and Everything 2011

I totally should have done this post last week, but I got very ill on Sunday night when I write most of my posts, so it didn't get done. So, here you have it. Also, don't forget that today is the last day to comment on posts this month to win a copy of Delirium!

Life, The Universe and Everything is a science fiction and fantasy symposium that is held at Brigham Young University every year. If you read or write science fiction or fantasy, it's well worth your while to attend. With very few exceptions, the panels and speakers are very good.

I didn't take any pictures, because I just didn't, but I did take a few notes:

For writers, the panel on agents was great. In this day and age, they are absolutely necessary. Why? Because an agent takes gets you into places that you couldn't not get yourself. Also, by taking out some of the business aspects of writing, you have more time to be creative.

The panel on sequels was great. Mette Ivie Harrison, Jessica Day George, and Bree Despain were wonderful. It was interesting to hear the types of struggles that they had while writing their series.  I especially loved Jessica Day George's comments on younger readers and how perceptive they are when it comes to books. While older readers will most likely not notice a few inconsistencies, younger readers will pick up on them quickly and not let go.

The other panel I loved was on fractured fairy tales. These are my favorite stories to read, and it is also the novel that I am currently writing.  I think that there are a lot of different ways to pull off writing a fairy tale retelling. You can either be very obvious, like Beauty by Robin McKinley, or much more subtle. However, the story has to be at least a little bit recognizable.

James Dashner's keynote speech was very classic Dashner. I really enjoyed listening to the steps that he took to publication and how different it is now for him than it was back then.  I hope that his story inspires other authors who have worked so hard to get published to not give up.

Anyway, besides the panels, I got a chance to catch up with some old friends, and meet some new ones. It's such a blast to be in a setting like that with like-minded people and really just delve into the craft of writing. I really think that even those who don't consider themselves writing would learn a lot.

Desires of the Dead: Blog Tour

Character Interview with Mr. Ambrose (Violet's Father)

What were your thoughts and feelings when you first learned of Violet's gift? How do you feel now?

I’ll admit that when I first found out Vi had inherited her grandmother’s gift, it made me sad. Who wants their daughter to bear a burden like that? But after a while, it just became a part of who she was. Now, it’s hard to imagine her without it.

How do you feel about Violet and Jay's relationship? What advice would you give them?

When it comes to Jay, I trust her completely. I know she has made some questionable decisions when it comes to her ability, which I will always worry about, but I’ve always felt better knowing that she has Jay. My advice for them is very fatherly advice: Make smart decisions.

What scares you most about Violet's gift?

Honestly, pretty much everything. When she was finding animals in the woods, it was something I could deal with, but now, I’m not so sure...

Do you regret letting Violet be used by the police/FBI for her gift to catch criminals? What are your fears associated with her collaboration with them?

I’ve always known that Vi would have to make a decision about her ability someday; I just was hoping it would be much later in her life. It scares me, but I have to support her choices. That’s what family is all about.

What are your hopes for Violet for the future?

A normal, happy life…with no dead bodies.

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About Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting:

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

Glimpse Playlist

Today we have Stacey Wallace Benefiel the author of Glimpse to introduce the playlist that she used when writing her book. I'll have a review of her novel next week!

These songs are all by musicians that I listen to while writing the Zellie Wells trilogy.  Usually, I make a Pandora station for each book.  These tracks are listed in such a way that they follow the story of Glimpse.  For example, Sweet Disposition is the song that is playing when Zellie and Avery first get together.

http://listen.grooveshark.com/playlist/Glimpse+Playlist/43078527?src=5

I Want to Belong to You by Katie Herzig
Kids by MGMT
Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones
Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap
Bubbly by Colbie Calliat
Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens
La La Love You by Pixies
Our Song by Taylor Swift
With or Without You by U2
Rewind by Diane Birch
Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift

About Glimpse:
Zellie Wells has a devastating crush on Avery Adams, the son of her mom’s high school sweetheart. At her sixteenth birthday party, held in the basement of her dad’s church, she finally finds the courage to talk to him. Turns out, the devastating crush is mutual.

As Avery takes her hand and leads her out onto the makeshift dance floor, Zellie is overwhelmed by her first vision of his death; shocking because not only are they both covered in his blood, but they’re old, like 35, and she is pregnant.

Afraid to tell anyone about the vision, (she’d just be labeled a freaky black magic witch, right?) Zellie keeps the knowledge of Avery’s future to herself and tries to act like any other teenager in love. When they get caught on their way to a secret rendezvous by her mom and his dad, they are forbidden to see each other.

Convinced that their parents are freaking out unnecessarily, Avery and Zellie vow to be together no matter what. They continue their relationship in secret until Zellie learns that their parents are just trying to prevent her and Avery from suffering like they did. The visions are hereditary, they’re dangerous, and if they stay together the visions will come true.

Now Zellie must choose between severing all ties with Avery, like her mom did to prevent his father’s death, and finding a way to change Avery’s future. 

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg: Review

Prom and Prejudice
By: Elizabeth Eulberg

Format: Hardcover, 231 pages
Published: January 1, 2001; Point
Source: finished copy received from publisher

author website | author blog | author twitter | author facebook

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Summary (from Goodreads): After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.

Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season — prom or otherwise.

My Review:
I think this book is totally appropriate for a Valentine's Day review. With the exception of one novel, I have never met a Pride and Prejudice retelling/mashup/inspiration that I didn't like. There's even this movie that was done in our local area that basically puts Elizabeth and Darcy in a college setting and Mormon that is hilarious. If you're not Mormon like I am, I probably wouldn't recommend it to you since it's really one of those things that you have to know the culture in order to get. But, as an attendee of BYU, I think the movie is spot on. It should also be noted that I like BOTH of the movies, and prefer Matthew McFadyen over Colin Firth as Darcy. Please don't stop reading this review if you love Colin Firth. I swear I'll never mention it again.

Anyway, all of that aside, I loved Prom and Prejudice. I thought that the high school setting was fun without getting caught up in a bunch of drama.  I thought that Eulberg channeled Elizabeth Bennett beautifully.  I really liked the touch that Elizabeth was an accomplished pianist, since that's something she didn't particularly enjoy (to say the least) in the original.

If you are a Pride and Prejudice purist, you probably won't like the book. But, the essence of Austen's original story is still there. Yes, some of the events and people were taken out or combined.  But, ultimately, Elizabeth and Darcy meet, they hate each other, and then grow to respect each other, and then... well you know what happens next.

But, I did miss some of the supporting characters. Especially the absence of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. Their banter was one of the things that I liked about the original. I suppose that the equivalent of Mrs. Bennett would have been the atmosphere of the school and the immense pressure put on students to prepare for and secure dates to the prom.  But it would have been nice to have a Mr. Bennett there making fun of the absolute ridiculousness of the situation.

Like I said at the beginning, I loved the book. It was cute, funny, and a very nice adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I'd also recommend the novel to younger readers since it's clean, and probably something that a lot of girls can relate to.

My Rating:

Don't forget to comment on this post for a chance to win a copy of Delirium by Lauren Oliver.

Author Interview: Mary Hooper

Mary Hooper is the author of many young adult and adult novels. She's here today talking about her newest title, FALLEN GRACE, which was released on February 1, 2011.

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It's obvious from reading your book that you did quite a bit of research on the time period. What types of things did you do to learn more about Victorian London?


There is a marvellous book by a journalist (Mayhew) written in Victorian times and called LONDON LABOUR AND THE LONDON POOR. He went around interviewing the ordinary, poor working people and writing down their stories. Absolutely heart-wrenching.

I liked the Dickens cameo in FALLEN GRACE. Why did you decide to include him in the story?


I like to put real people in my books, just to remind the reader that this is a TRUE story and not fantasy. So far I've had King Charles II, Charles Duval the highwayman and Nell Gwyn the king's mistress. In the next (see below) I've got Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes books, putting in an appearance. Of course I have to make sure that the person appearing really was in London (or wherever) at the time and acts as they truly would have done.

Grace and Lily encounter many things throughout the story that are absolutely heartbreaking. How typical was their experience for that time period and why was it important to you to tell that story?


Their experiences are true ones (see Mayhew, above). We can read books about kings and queens and the aristocracy of the day because they left diaries and letters and their lives were documented, so I wanted to give the poor a voice. Also, rags to riches makes a great story!

You mention on your website that you left school when you were 15? What caused you to leave early, and do you regret waiting so long to receive formal education?

Up to about 1970, in the UK you were able to leave school at 15. I was keen to get out into the world and I didn't realise I knew absolutely nothing until later. I don't regret this now because I had great fun going (part time) to University when I was 40 and reading all the books I should have read earlier.

You also mention in your bio on your website that once you began writing historical novels you realized how much you love doing them. What about the historical fiction genre draws you to it?


I wish I knew! I just know that when I began working on my first historical: AT THE SIGN OF THE SUGARED PLUM (about the Great Plague) I had discovered what I liked doing best.

If you don't mind telling, are you working on any projects now?


My next book is called VELVET and is about a girl who takes a job working for a medium in Victorian London. Conan Doyle was a keen supporter of Spiritualism...

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Author Bio:

Mary Hooper is a very popular writer for children and young adults. Mary's brilliant historical novels, At the House of the Magician, By Royal Command, At the Sign of the Sugared Plum, Petals in the Ashes and The Extraordinary Life and Times of Eliza Rose have a huge fan base, as do her contemporary novels for teenagers. Mary is very much in demand for her events at literary festivals and schools. She lives in England.

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann: Review

Cryer's Cross
By: Lisa McMann

Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
Published: February 8, 2011; Simon Pulse
Source: E-Galley from Simon and Schuster
Challenges: 2011 E-Book Challenge

author website | author twitter | author blog | author facebook

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Summary (from Goodreads): The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

My Review:
Cryer's Cross was a chilling novel that I couldn't tear myself away from while I was in the moment reading it, but not one that left such a lasting impression that I recommend it to everyone I meet. Readers that like the horror genre will definitely eat this one up, and I am happy to report that I really did like this book much better than the WAKE series.

I'm not really into horror. It tends to give me nightmares. Yes, actual nightmares complete with monsters. I guess my psyche never got the memo that those were supposed to go away after like the age of 8. But, the creepiness factor was just enough that it kept me turning pages to see what happened, but not quite enough that I had to sleep with the light on.  Also, the psychological aspect of the story made it a little easier for me to handle than the actual undead popping out of the ground, know what I mean?

With that being said; however, I have to agree with Steph Su's review that the OCD component of Kendall's character was underdeveloped. I don't have OCD, and frankly, I don't know anyone that has OCD, but it seemed that the only thing that Kendall was obsessed about was the pattern of the desks in the room. And, other than her need to get to school early to fix the desks every morning, it really didn't impact her life all that much. Again, I'm not psychologist, but I think I would have liked to see that aspect of the book fleshed out just a little more.

Best thing about this book and Lisa McMann's writing is that she totally nailed the small town culture. I grew up in a small town. I live in a small town now. Granted, it's not as small as Cryer's Cross, but pretty close. I can totally understand both Kendall and Jacian's frustrations throughout the book. It's hard to come into a culture that is so reluctant to change, and perhaps even harder to do in a small change is change your identity. That is so very nicely played out in this book.

I'm going to recommend this book to people who liked the WAKE trilogy. It's got the same suspense and nice romantic story line as that series with less of the weird sex dreams. Also, if you like psychological thrillers and horror, you might give this one a try.


My Rating:

Angelfire Character Art

One of the fantastic new releases this month is Angelfire by Courtney Moulton.  Today I've got some fantastic character art done by Courtney herself.

About Angelfire:

This debut, the first novel in a trilogy, is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action.

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.  

Don't forget to leave a comment on posts this month to be entered to win Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Details on the comment contest here.

Announcing: Monthly Commenter Contest

As I was reading through the reader survey that so many of you graciously filled out, I noticed that you would like to see more giveaways. However, for those of you that don't want your inbox/reader clogged with a million posts about different contests that you may not be interested in, and to promote the general community, I'm introducing:

The Monthly Commenter Contest

This is how it will work:

Each month I will pick a random commenter from one of the posts within the last month to win a featured book.  Each thoughtful comment you leave on a post during the month will count as a contest entry. However, the following types of comments will NOT be eligible:

• Great post! I'll definitely add it to my TBR pile.
• Hey! I'm your newest follower, would you check out my blog and follow me back?
• Love your site (although I do appreciate the sentiments)
• Generic, one or two word comments.

You don't need to write an essay, just make it evident to me that you've at least read the post, mmkay?


Only comments on posts from the current month will be eligible. Sorry, you can't comment on every post from the last 2 years. Well, actually, you can, but it won't be a contest entry.


All of these contests are open internationally unless I specify otherwise. So, comment away!

Please make sure that when you comment, that I have an email address or something that lets me identify who you are. Anonymous comments will not be eligible, obviously. But, if you have a blogger account linked or your website, make sure your contact information is either in your blogger profile or on your blog. If I can't get a hold of you, I'll pick another comment.


This month's featured title that will be up for grabs is...

Delirium 

by Lauren Oliver

Each month's featured book will either be a new release or a signed book by either a local author or one that has been through the area.

Comment period ends at midnight on the last day of the month. Have any questions? Leave them in the comments or email me.

Barnes and Noble Groupon Deal

Booklovers, I've got a deal for you today that you are going to love.

$10 for $20 Gift Certificate to Barnes and Noble

Have I told you how much I love Groupon?! This deal is going to be good from Thursday, February 3 at 3 pm CST until Monday, February 6, 11:59 pm CST. But, take it from me, you're going to want to snag this one quick!

Also, for Nook users, this gift certificate IS good for E-Books! So, it's essentially 50% for up to $20 of e-books.

You can thank me later. Or now.. Whatever.

Blogger Confidential: Never Say Never

Have you ever been faced with an issue while reading or blogging and thought: I wonder what other bloggers think about this?  No matter what genre or audience you blog for, we all face the same problems.  Are you a publisher or author wondering what goes on in a blogger's (and by extension a reader's) head?

Blogger confidential is a series of 12 questions asked to 11 bloggers about the nitty gritty details of blogging. Everything from what prompts a blogger to pick up a book, to what happens when a book doesn't live up to its hype.  This series was inspired by Wastepaper Prose's Author Insight series.

If you feel inspired by any of these questions, leave your answer in the comments, or create your own post!

This week's question:

Is there anything in blogging that you've done that you swore you'd never do? What changed your mind?

"Hmmm . . . nothing is coming to mind." Natasha from Maw Books

"Not so much with my actual blog, but I swore I’d never get a Twitter account. I never really saw the point, but now I spend entirely too much time on there! I only decided to make an account after I saw how beneficial it can be when spreading the word about new posts and connecting with fellow bloggers and authors." Sara from The Hiding Spot

"Posted every single day and stayed up very late to do so. I always said I wouldn't do this, "it's just a blog". Well, it's become more than that. It's a daily interaction with people who share my same thoughts and feelings about books. Which can often be hard to find in "real life". More than anything though, the reason behind it had more to do with a desire to share more. I've developed an insane addiction to children's and YA books that has me constantly thinking about new ways to talk about them, thus leading to my daily posting and late nights. But I love it!" Danielle from There's a Book

"I guess the only thing is keeping up with the blog and its community. I am really grateful to all my followers and readers, and so it hurts that I cannot comment or participate as much as I use to. It was not so much that my mind was changed, but rather that I got a job. For a majority of my blog's life, I have been 100% focused on it, but now with the job, it is SO hard sometimes to get everything done. I hate feeling like things are not getting taken care of." Kate from The Neverending Shelf

"I don’t think so, actually. But then I don’t go around swearing off things very much. Or at least not blogging things. I may never touch broccoli again after the Great Vomiting Incident of 2009, but that’s another story entirely and one not at all worth going into here. There are worlds that blogging has opened up to me that I am certain I would never have discovered otherwise and that is one of the reasons it has bewitched me so. For instance, I hadn’t formally sworn off anything, but I had never read a straight romance novel before I was challenged to do so by some blogfriends. That first one wasn’t so much a go, but I have since found a small near-handful that have worked for me just swimmingly. And I would never have found them without those wonderful romance readers and bloggers out there who make me laugh on a daily basis and wisely and deftly point me toward books that are made for Angie. When you read blogs centered around genres you don’t normally read, you discover the wonderfully smart, funny people who do read them and you find yourself irresistibly drawn to search out what they recommend. Because good book are good books. Period. No matter the genre." Angie from Angieville

"I don't think so... why, was there something on your mind when you asked this question? :)" Steph from Steph Su Reads

"I don't know if I've done things I swore I would never do, but I've definitely changed things. I went from no ratings to ratings and from no disclosure to disclosure. That's why conversation with other bloggers and people who do what you do can be so valuable and I think bloggers should always feel it's okay to change something that's not working for them." Amy from My Friend Amy

"I did a meme! I swore I never would I saw them as 'fillers' now I see that
some of them can be community building." Pam from Bookalicious

"I was asked by a reader not to talk about my follower numbers any more so I haven't. Until now. I don't think they mean anything, more often than not they represent a bloggers need to have competitions to look like a quality reviewer. Some bloggers have high numbers because they are THAT good. My numbers are relatively small which bums me out when I allow myself to get into a high school mentality of wanting to be prom queen. I've learnt that my followers mostly come by every single day. They are a loyal little bunch and I love them to bits. Would I like more? Yes. But that's a vanity thing." Adele from Persnickety Snark

"Ummm.....well....I did write a good review once for a book I wasn't crazy about because I had gotten too close to the author. I felt icky afterwards and swore to never do it again!" Andye from Reading Teen

"I've sworn that I would never lie about how I felt about a book, even if I'm friends with the author (and I've never done this). Admittedly, it's caused authors to cease contact with me after they read my review, but I'd rather be honest and lose a potential friend than lie or even not post a review (because I think not posting a review is akin to lying and is taking the cowardly way out)." Trish from Hey Lady! Whatcha Reading?

Heist Society by Ally Carter: Review

Heist Society
By: Ally Carter

Format: Hardcover, 287 pages
Published: February 2010, Hyperion CH
Source: Purchased

Author Website | Author Twitter

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Summary (from Goodreads): When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster's art collection has been stolen, and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s (very crooked) history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

My Review:
Just like in the Gallagher Girls series, I was hooked by the original concept, and stuck around for the witty comments and great characters.

Kat has such a sweet heart that you almost forget that she is an art thief. When she goes to Colgan, it's to get away from "the life," and make something different for her life. She gets dragged back into it after a heist planned by her buddy Hale gets her expelled from school. She learns that her father has been framed for a heist that he didn't do, and it's up to her to clear his name, by stealing paintings.

I loved all the different locations that this book took place in, and the fun cast of characters that Ally Carter created. I've heard the book compared to a YA Ocean's Eleven, (confession: I've never seen the movie all the way through) so if you liked that story, you'll probably enjoy this one.  Especially funny was the Bagshaw Brothers and their suggestions for different ways the heist could be executed. For instance:

"Princess Bride?" Hamish offered, but his brother turned to him.
"Do you know where we can find a six-fingered man on such short notice?"

But under all the light-hearted dialogue and handsome characters, there was a much deeper message. The Author's Note at the end of the book notes that during WWII the Nazis took many family treasures and works of art, many of which have never been returned.  Interspersed throughout the book are heart-wrenching stories of pieces of art that were taken from families during this time.

My only complaint with the book was that it didn't move very quickly. I put the book down several times and picked up others. Not because there was anything specifically wrong, but I just lost interest from time to time.

I can't wait for the next book, Uncommon Criminals. And, as a side note, I really enjoy reading Ally Carter's blog. She has a lot of advice for writers, and well as interesting tidbits about her books and the book world. You can also check out the interview I did with her a little while back. (link)

My Rating:

Profanity: None
Sexuality: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Violence: None