Bibliophile Support Group

Truth or Dare is a YA contemporary suspense novel by Jacqueline Green. When Tenley Reed returns to her hometown, she brings her age-old game of truth or dare with her. It’s a way, along with her fabulous parties, to reclaim her popularity after being gone so long. For Caitlin “Angel” Thomas, it’s a chance to reunite with her best friend and forget about her Harvard plans for a while. Sydney Morgan didn’t even go to the party, consumed of thoughts of her kind-of-boyfriend being back in town – and never interested in that scene anyway. All three, however, begin to receive mysterious, anonymous dares once the party is over… Dares that involve very real threats. Tenley, Caitlin, and Sydney all have secrets – how far will they go to keep them that way? Truth or Dare was exactly what I would hope it would be! Quickly, it presented hints of mystery, which I very much liked. The setting of Echo Bay is haunted by a past of drowning victims come Fall Festival time, at least o...

The Runaway King is the second in the YA intrigue/historical Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A Nielsen. Yet again, just like Monday, we have a second book – which means I don’t think you should read this review until you have read the first book, in this case The False Prince . You can check out my review of The False Prince here . This is a trilogy with so many twists and turns, I REALLY recommend not reading this review unless you’ve read The False Prince . I don’t want you to ruin the fun for yourself! There will be inevitable spoilers here, if I want to give any idea of what The Runaway King is about. Final warning… SERIOUSLY … It’s only been weeks since Jaron took the throne after being threatened, tortured, and forcibly educated to impersonate the missing-and-thought-dead youngest son of the now-murdered royal family. When all along he was the true Jaron to start with. Now, on the day of the funeral for his family, he finds himself the almost-victim of an assassi...

Love’s Awakening is the second book in Laura Frantz’s historical fiction series The Ballantyne Legacy . As this is a series that follows the legacy, the generations, of a family – I strongly feel that reading the books in order are important. So, if you have not already, start with Silas and Eden’s journey in Love’s Reckoning – review here – before continuing on with Love’s Awakening . Until then, I recommend avoiding this review for inevitable spoilers. In Love’s Awakening , we return to Pennsylvania – this time in 1822. Elinor Ballantyne, youngest child of Silas and Eden, is headed home – having made the executive decision that she had been “finished” enough at finishing school. Longing to see her family and friends again, she’s only slightly concerned what they will think of her choice. As the lovely, delicate, mannered daughter, she’s been blessed with the chance to get the best schooling and opportunities – and with a fortune to rival others, she is extremely eligible....

Quick Fix is a humorous paranormal mystery novel, and the follow-up to In a Fix , by Linda Grimes. I adored In a Fix – it was fun, breezy, original and stuffed with romance, mystery and humor. And so is Quick Fix !!! But if you have not read In a Fix , you really have no business reading the synopsis of Quick Fix – spoiling awesomeness should not be a priority, thankyouverymuch! Instead, you can click here to read my complete thoughts on In a Fix . Those of you, who HAVE read In a Fix , carry on: Ciel Halligan, aura adapter/life fixer enjoys her job of stepping into her clients lives and assisting with their problems – as them. If only she could fix her own life and confused romantic entanglements. Anywho, whilst on a job at the National Zoo with her new, recently-turned-maybe-boyfriend Billy and his little sister Molly she ponders her suddenly complicated emotions. Billy, best friend since childhood and longtime ne'er-do-well, has morphed into more – but her h...

City of Ice is a middle grade fantasy adventure, and book two in the City Trilogy , by Laurence Yep. As I stated on Monday, I decided to wait on reading the first book in this trilogy, City of Fire . Because I’m waiting, not skimming because of dislike or disinterest, I’m also waiting on the second book, City of Ice . But for those of you who are interested, I figured I’d give you some information about City of Ice – though it’d be best to avoid unless you’ve already read City of Fire , because the less you know the better!!! In an alternate version of our world in 1941 there are lap griffins, legendary Chinese warriors, Japanese folk creatures, dragons taking human form, and gods in disguise! Scirye and her companions have pursued the dragon Badik and Mr. Roland all the way to the Arctic Circle, intent on avenging the deaths of their loved ones. With help they chase their enemies across the desolate Wastes, determined to stop Mr. Roland from locating the second of the Five...

The Invention of Sarah Cummings is the third novel in Olivia Newport’s Christian historical fiction series Avenue of Dreams . The Pursuit of Lucy Banning and The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow are the first two books, and I definitely recommend reading them in order to maximize the storytelling experience, not to mention avoid some plot spoilers! You can click on the titles to see my reviews. If you’re up-to-date with this series, you should be aware of Sarah Cummings character. She takes the spotlight in this book. Here’s a little synopsis: It’s the turn of the century in Chicago, and a life of a maid – of an orphan – is not what Sarah was meant to have. She feels this through and through, every day that she mops a floor or serves a supper. With her amazing sewing skills she has managed to take her wealthy Banning employers castoff gowns and make them into fashionable garments. It’s when she’s wearing one of her creations that she meets newcomer Lillie Wagner. Lillie takes...

City of Fire is a middle grade fantasy novel by Laurence Yep. Scirye loves her older sister Niske – she’s been getting fighting lessons from her and spending as much time with her as she can while she’s escorting their people’s treasures to San Francisco in 1941, as well as guarding them. But when an otherworldly being steals a precious item, Niske dies trying to protect it. Determined to avenge her death, Scirye sets out with Bayang, a dragon disguised as a Pinkerton agent, Leech, a boy with powers he has yet to discover, and Leech’s best friend Koko with secrets of his own. They all have a reason to hunt down the evil dragon Badik. Not to mention the mysterious Mr. Roland. Even as the group gathers new friends, their enemy may be too strong to stop. His plan runs much more evil than they initially realized… City of Fire was a Fall 2009 IndieBound Kinds’ Next List Selection, an Amazon.com Best Books of September Selection, and has received numerous admiring reviews. Un...

Janie Face to Face is a YA contemporary novel, and the fifth and final novel in the Janie books, by Caroline B. Cooney. On this blog you won’t find a review of The Face on the Milk Carton , Whatever Happened to Janie?, The Voice on the Radio , or What Janie Found . The reason? I read them over ten years ago. These books had an effect on me as a youngin’ and when I heard that Cooney was revisiting these characters to give us a follow-up, I knew I had to read it. But, first, I had to refresh my memory by rereading those prior four books. At times I felt the writing level wasn’t as up to par as other novels – but no matter what there still was a core of heart wrenching pain, suspense, and readability that you really cannot deny. In Janie Face to Face , Janie starts off as a freshman in college – ready to see if she can leave her messy past behind her and move on. Yet, there are others who are desperate to keep the past alive, to revisit it, to ask more questions – and those o...

Spirit and Dust is a YA contemporary paranormal novel by Rosemary Clement-Moore. Daisy Goodnight has a unique talent for talking to the dead. Her family has a history of supernatural talents, and Daisy has taken up the torch for working with the FBI and doing her part with the gift she has. Being that the FBI agent she usually works with is tasty and young doesn’t hurt either… This time, though, Daisy is whisked away from her college freshman chemistry class to help look into the disappearance of a wealthy young woman and the murder of her bodyguard. And things aren’t going smoothly. When trying to talk to the ghost of the bodyguard, something is off. He’s terrified of something. Clearly, people are in danger here. Such as her – as she ends up getting snatched by a crime boss that wants to utilize Daisy’s gift for his own purposes… Oh. My. Goodness. Have I mentioned that I absolutely LOVE Rosemary Clement-Moore?!? In Spirit and Dust we have fantastic witty, pop...

The Lucy Variations is a YA contemporary novel by Sara Zarr. Eight months ago, Lucy walked off the stage of a Prague concert – leaving behind the promising future of an acclaimed child pianist. Her future had been mapped out and executed flawlessly until that moment. People knew her name, her concerts were packed… everything was exactly as it was supposed to be. For her family. But Lucy faced the death of a loved one that day by walking away from what she knew – what she no longer loved. Yet, at sixteen, it is as though her life is over. What does she do now? Her little brother Gus is now shouldering the family expectations and hopes. And it’s when he gets a new, young piano teacher that Lucy starts to realize she might still love the piano… if only she can play on her own terms. Sara Zarr has continually impressed me since I started reading her. Once Was Lost was compelling and then How to Save a Life blew me away! The Lucy Variations again cemented my belief that ...

Rules of Murder is a 1930s murder mystery, and the first in the Drew Farthering Mystery series, by Julianna Deering. Drew Farthering returns home to his English countryside estate of Farthering Place just in time for one of his mother Constance’s weekend bashes. And his room is occupied by one of the guests. But ever the stylish gentlemen, he removes the unwanted visitor from his room promptly and at the prodding of his kind stepfather and estranged mother, joins the party. Things take a turn, however, when a body is found. A lover of mysteries on the page, Drew finds it a bit more difficult in real life – but enlists the help of his best friend Nick, son of the butler, and as-intelligent-as-she-is-beautiful Madeline, the visiting American niece of his stepfather. Together they try to piece together the clues to what could have happened on his otherwise peaceful grounds and realize that murder is no game… I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie. I adore her murder mysteries, ...

The Beautiful and the Cursed is a YA historical horror/paranormal novel by Page Morgan. After an incident that has left rumors swirling behind them, Ingrid and Gabriella Waverly leave behind London for the unfamiliar city of Paris in 1899. Their brother Grayson had gone ahead to secure a house for them, but when the sisters and their mother arrive they find not a house but an old, abandoned abbey, roof lined with stone gargoyles that Ingrid could almost swear moved. And Grayson is missing. Being Grayson’s twin, Ingrid senses that something is wrong. She doesn’t follow the opinion of the Parisian police that Grayson is off on the town living it up. Someone else seems concerned, though. Luc. A devastatingly handsome servant with piercing eyes. The way he looks at her is penetrating but always feels angry. He fascinates her. As Ingrid and her younger sister Gabby take it upon themselves to find their brother, they are led down a path of otherworldly revelations and dark tru...