The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton

I received an advance review copy of, The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton, from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It'll be available in March 2016.

From the publisher about this book:In need of a good adventure, Delaney Nichols takes the leap and moves to Edinburgh, Scotland to start a job at The Cracked Spine. She doesn't know much about what she's gotten herself into, other than that the work sounds exciting, and that her new boss, Edwin MacAlister, has given her the opportunity of a lifetime. Edwin has promised that she'll be working with "a desk that has seen the likes of kings and queens, paupers and princes," and Delaney can't wait to get started.

When she arrives, she meets her new Scottish family; also working at the Cracked Spine are Rosie, perpetually wrapped in scarves, and who always has tiny dog Hector in tow; Hamlet, a nineteen-year-old thespian with a colored past and bright future; and Edwin, who is just as enigmatic and mysterious as Delaney expected. An unexpected bonus is Tom the bartender from across the street, with his piercing eyes, and a rolling brogue -- and it doesn't hurt that he looks awfully good in a kilt.

But before she can settle into her new life, a precious artifact -- a previously undiscovered First Folio of Shakespeare's plays -- goes missing, and Edwin's sister is murdered, seemingly in connection to the missing folio. Delaney decides to do some sleuthing of her own, to find out just what the real story is behind the priceless folio, and how it's connected to the tragic death, all without getting harmed herself.

 1 out of 5 stars 

*

The sweet tea: The writing is in good form and in the end there is a mystery solved, but there's definitely more bitter than sweet with this story. I'm rating this story one star, because I'm sure that the great detail (information dumping) involved with this book could appeal to a specific audience, it's just not me.

The bitter tea: There is a lot of detail in this book that I'm sure was supposed to be used for something other than fulfilling a word count. For example, Delaney hears voices...or better yet, she audibly hears book quotes during random times throughout the book. How awesome would it be, if it helped the story along somehow, but it doesn't. There is a lot of Scottish dialect, which took away from the story to me, because after reading the various adjectives used to describe the book store, I didn't want to take more time, trying to sound/read what the characters were saying. It was boring for me and took me about three weeks to finish it. I'm sorry, but I would not recommend it.

My short character Twitter review:  The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton review here: http://ow.ly/WeKrc Dear Book, it's not u, it's me  #netgalley #goodreads #Amazon

The Lost Girl by R.L. Stine

I received a review copy of, The Lost Girl, by R.L. Stine from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

From the publisher about this book: Generations of children and teens have grown up on R.L. Stine's bestselling and hugely popular horror series, Fear Street and Goosebumps. Now, the Fear Street series is back with a chilling new installment, packed with pure nightmare fodder that will scare Stine's avid fan base of teen readers and adults. New student Lizzy Palmer is the talk of Shadyside High. Michael and his girlfriend Pepper befriend her, but the closer they get to her, the stranger she seems… and the more attractive she is to Michael. He invites her to join him on a snowmobile race that ends in a tragic accident. Soon, Michael's friends start being murdered, and Pepper becomes convinced that Lizzy is behind the killings. But to her total shock, she and Michael are drawn into a tragic story of an unthinkable betrayal committed over 60 years ago. Frightening and tense in the way that only this master of horror can deliver, The Lost Girl is another terrifying Fear Street novel by the king of juvenile horror.

So here's my breakdown for the book: 

  4 out of 5 stars 

****

The sweet tea: There are definitely some strange things about Lizzy Palmer that strikes me as weird and it doesn't take long for Michael's girlfriend, Pepper, to pick up on it. I definitely felt for the girl as the story progressed and Michael seem to become more interested in Lizzy. This is a story that I can see catering to its target audience. Beware: There is a section in the book that details a death scene with horses being starved and eating a body, is downright adult audience worthy! I thought it might have been a tad to gory for a 12 year old...maybe a 16 year old wouldn't care too much. 

The bitter tea: As stated above, the death scene and some blood being exchanged between characters were a bit sadistic. It has the makings of a great Halloween special on Teen Nickelodeon. In order to avoid spoilers, I won't complain about the cop out, I felt the author did at the end of the story to wrap this book up, but I get it. It's a short story for a younger audience. 

My short character Twitter review:  The Lost Girl by R.L. Stine review here: http://ow.ly/VyiTE Death scene might be 2 rough 4 juveniles #netgalley #goodreads #Amazon

Opening Belle a Novel by Maureen Sherry

I received an advance review copy of, Opening Belle, by Maureen Sherry, from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is due to be released in February 2016.

From the publisher about this book: 

"In 2008, Isabelle—a self-made, thirty-something Wall Street star—appears to have it all: an Upper West Side apartment, three healthy children, a handsome husband, and a high-powered job. But her reality is something else. Her trading desk work environment resembles a 1980s frat party, her husband feels employment is beneath him, and the bulk of childcare and homecare still falls in Belle’s already full lap."

And of course you include an ex-fiance who comes back into your life, richer and even more dashing than when he left you in the cold, and you got some drama that will intrigue you to read what happens to the characters. 

 Variety wrote about it earlier this year: 

"Reese Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea’s Pacific Standard banner is developing a film adaptation for Warner Bros. of Maureen Sherry Klinsky’s upcoming novel “Opening Belle” with an eye to Witherspoon starring." 

By the time I did the research on this book, the author, and found out that Reese Witherspoon was interested in the film version of this book, I gasped. I literally gasped and said I must get a copy of this book. 

And so I did. 

So here's my breakdown of the book: 

  3 out of 5 stars 

***

The sweet tea: A great idea. Believable scenarios. (There's nothing more dangerous and tempting, than a handsome man -- especially an ex - with disposable cash and an intimate knowledge of your sweet spots.) The author took a series of unfortunate events and turned it into what could be a best selling book and hopefully a successful movie. 

The bitter tea: Quite a bit of financial jargon used. Some parts I did skip over. There were definitely some 'I am woman, hear me roar' parts I would have love to seen, but didn't. There were parts where I felt like, here we go, this is going to be the scene where it turns completely in her favor...and no. It didn't. That could be a plus to some people, but to me, I was like, crap. That sucked. 

My short character Twitter review:  Opening Belle by Maureen Sherry ARC http://ow.ly/V5JTS. Real life isn't always sweet, u just learn to reduce the bitterness. #netgalley