Tour: Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Haunting Violet
Alyxandra Harvey
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Release Date: June 21, 2011
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher

Rating: 4 stars

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.
Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

Haunting Violet is a great read. Set in Victorian England, this read will sweep you into Violet's world with page one and take you on the rollercoaster of twists and turns her story has to offer.

The plot was a bit predictable, but still tons of fun to read. I loved the murder and the mystery, in addition to how the ghosts were portrayed. The setting added so much, I absolutely adore Victorian England, so I was super excited when I heard Haunting Violet was set there.

I liked the characters a lot. Violet was a lot of fun. Elizabeth just made me laugh every time she was on the page, I loved the rebellious, adventurous quality in her. I also really liked Colin, I thought he was absolutely just a sweetheart.

I would definitely pick up this one should you have the opportunity. It was a a totally awesome mystery that was fun to piece together the pieces.

Cover Rating: B

Clarity by Kim Harrington

Clarity

Kim Harrington

Publisher: Scholastic Point

Release Date: March 1, 2011
Pages: 242
Source: ARC For Review

Rating: 5 stars

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?
This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.
Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.
And a curse.
When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Clarity is an absolutely thrilling read that will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out all the pieces to the puzzle. I was glued to the pages and any time I was forced to set it down, I was counting down until I could  read some more.

Clarity is just merely an awesome character. She was so spunky and I loved her confidence she has. There is a hilarious scene where she just dumps a soda on this snotty girl and I was sitting her cheering for Clare! I also am officially declaring myself Team Gabin, as I can't choose between Justin and Gabriel as they are both awfully lovely. Both of these guys were so swoon worthy and awesome.

I loved the mystery! It was so fun to try to figure out everything. While the story is a murder mystery, it still has a very light feel to it. There was a great mix of lighthearted, funny scenes with the more serious ones. Clarity will keep you absolutely captivated.

I absolutely adored every page of this book. It has made it's way on to my list of favorites, and is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Clarity is the sort of book that one could reread over and over, yet still never get bored, as it just has a certain quality to it that never gets old.

Dream Life by Lauren Mechling

Dream Life
Lauren Mechling
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: January 12, 2010
Pages: 336

Rating: 4.5 stars

Claire Voyante's first semester at Henry Hudson High School was eventful, to say the least. As she heads into her second semester, things are calming down a bit. But Claire has a few secrets that are getting harder to keep. Her biggest secret of all? The onyx and ivory cameo necklace her grandmother gave her for her 15th birthday. Ever since she started wearing it, her dreams have been coming to her in black and white and turning out to be oddly prophetic.

Becca’s been hanging out with her old prep school friends and never seems to have time for Claire anymore. And soon, Claire discovers why—there’s a secret group of society girls with a mysterious identity. And, turns out, a mysterious enemy who’s out to get them. The second she sniffs out trouble, Claire jumps on the case. But is it someone close to Claire who’s in danger again—or could it be Claire herself whose life is at stake?

As a sequel to Dream Girl, Dream Life does not disappoint readers one bit. I found myself really liking Dream Girl, but I absolutely LOVED Dream Life. It was wonderful visiting Claire's world again - it's a world I've fallen in love with.

Lauren Mechling delivers outstanding characters once again in Dream Life. Claire is a wonderfully written character - she's witty, snarky, smart, and always makes you laugh. Kiki is the coolest grandmother ever! You really can always count on Kiki for a good laugh. It simply amazes me how none of the characters blend into the wallpaper. They all stick out and are memorable.

Claire does some major sleuthing in Dream Life, and while the mystery aspect is a bit far-fetched and causes you to stretch your imagination, it's absolutely fascinating. I was so caught up in the story - I carried Dream Life with me everywhere I went. There were so many laugh out loud moments in the book. There was one scene at Kiki's birthday party that had me practically rolling!

Dream Life is an enjoyable read with a perfect balance of romance, a secret society, mystery, and everyday problems. This is definitely a read for anyone wanting a hilarious, page-turning, light mystery.

Murder At the Lake by Bren Gaudet

Murder At the Lake
Bren Gaudet
Publisher: Synergy Books
Release Date: August 1, 2009
Pages: 192

Rating: 3.5 stars

When 17-year-old Amanda Christie is invited to a cousins-only weekend retreat at her aunt's Austin, Texas, estate, she doesn't know what to expect. She soon finds though, that the weekend will be anything but boring. One of the guests is responsible for the death of Amanda's uncle and when a dangerous storm traps the teens inside the secluded mansion, Amanda becomes determined to uncover the killer. But when their cell phones go missing and guests begin to disappear, Amanda realizes that the killer isn't finished. With time running out and no way of knowing who to trust, she must either uncover the murderer or risk being the next victim.

There's nothing I love more than a good mystery, and that's just what Murder At the Lake was. Murder at the Lake had great characters and a suspenseful plot.

The plot was totally suspenseful. Gaudet mastered the art of making you suspect everyone at once, and switch your alliances to characters often. The characters were very well written. I really loved Chris - he was the perfect guy. Though I did think Chris and Amanda's romance was rushed. Either way, I can't wait to see more of him in future books!

The writing was almost too mature for the book in spots. I think Bren Gaudet was trying to write in a more grown-up manner, and in that it didn't match the characters and plot of the book. The first bit of the book, I just wasn't getting caught up in the story. It was very heavy on description, and was a bit bored. Later on, the descriptions toned down and I found myself needing to know what was going to happen next.

I can't wait to see where Amanda's sleuthing takes her next, but I know I'll be hopping on board, reading about her adventures!

Invisible I: The Amanda Project by Stella Lennon

Invisible I (The Amanda Project Book 1)
Stella Lennon
Release Date: September 22, 2009
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 304

Rating: 3.5 stars

When enigmatic high school student Amanda Valentino disappears, her closest friends vow to find her. The search begins in Invisible I, the first title in the eight-book series. But once the teens follow clues that might lead to Amanda, they realize that everything they thought they knew about her was false and find themselves with more questions than answers. As they begin to compare notes on their missing friend, the mystery of where—and who—Amanda is deepens.

The series begins with the books, which stand alone, but will lead readers to www.theamandaproject.com for an extended Amanda Project experience. Online, they can write stories, post art, share theories about Amanda (which could be chosen to become a part of later books in the series), even design and buy clothing and accessories inspired by Amanda. Regularly updated content by and about the characters from the books will keep the community buzzing and ensure that readers check back often.

The Amanda Project is more than a new series plus a website—The Amanda Project is the evolution of fiction for girls.

Invisible I is a promising start to what could be a great series! Invisible I takes you through Amanda's disappearance and her 3 "guides" quest to find her. It was definately a page turner, because I kept thinking Who's Amanda? and What's She Doing? This was a totally fun read.

My issue with Invisible I was that it didn't seem come to any point. For Book 1, I don't necessarily want all the answers for the series, but I'd like a little more information. When Book 1 finishes, I want some issues resolved and also putting something new on the field. I felt that I was just running in the same circles throughout the entire book. All I really figured out was that Amanda told about a bajillion different stories. I also found it a little hard to believe everything she managed to pull off - though maybe that's a topic for the next 7 books.

The ending is totally intriguing, it sets up the next book and makes readers want to know exactly what will happen next and get the answers to their questions.

I love the page design on the book, there's different designs on some of the pages, and "notes" on others. I also really like the cover.

I'll definately check out Book 2, I want to see where finding Amanda leads Callie, Nia, and Hal next and how their friendship grows.

Kisses and Lies by Lauren Henderson

Kisses and Lies
Lauren Henderson
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Previous Books in the Series: Kiss Me, Kll Me

Rating: 4 stars

After discovering that someone saw what looked like Dan’s emergency EpiPen in A-lister Plum’s designer handbag, Scarlett and her tough American sidekick, Taylor, sneak into a posh London nightclub, where Plum has a private table. Scarlett is stunned to discover a piece of evidence that might implicate another girl in Plum’s exclusive circle, Lucy Raleigh. Which means Scarlett must cast a wider net in order to catch the right suspect.

Back at school, groundskeeper Jase is hoping to take Scarlett’s mind off her troubles with some heart-stopping kisses. Scarlett can’t help but feel guilty for indulging in romantic rendezvous when she should be hunting down Dan’s killer. However, once Scarlett finds out how Lucy is connected to Dan, she knows she must drop everything and travel to the McAndrew estate in Scotland to hunt for more clues. But when she arrives, Scarlett becomes the target of a dangerous hunt herself.

Ok, this was great book! I think it was an equal, or possibly better than book 1, Kiss Me, Kill Me. It was really easy to get caught up in. Henderson does a great job creating characters that were all different and unique, no character was really the same. Plus, while some parts were predictable, others you couldn't guess.

Though one thing I didn't like was the fact, that Scarlett writes a letter to Dan's family saying I have something of Dan's to give back to you. What the heck? She essentially invites herself to Castle Airlie, and if Dan's family said no, they'd look bad.

Overall though, I recommend both this one, and Kiss Me, Kill Me! They were great books, though I would suggest reading them in order. I received Kiss and Lies in the mail, and started to read it. I didn't understand anything, and then I realized there was a book 1.

:)