Review: Perception by Kim Harrington

Perception (Clarity #2)
by Kim Harrington

Genre: Crime, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
Publication: March 1st, 2013 by Scholastic
Format: Paperback, 324 pages
Source: Own
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When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head... and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared. Clare needs to see her way to the truth — before it's much too late.

In the previous book, Clarity, Clare solved a murder mystery with her psychometric ability. After that, Clare’s social life turned upside down. She began to receive attention from the people around her. But then, she started to receive notes and gifts from a secret admirer. Clare suspected that the gifts might be from Gabriel, the good-looking boy who she likes, or Justin, her ex-boyfriend who wanted to win her back. But then, the messages started to become disturbing. Clare needed to find out the truth about her secret admirer, especially after a girl in town had suddenly disappeared.

I enjoyed this book. Although, not as much as Clarity. Clare was a fun character. She’s smart, curious, kind and sassy. I enjoyed Clare’s adventure in this book to uncover the truth of her secret admirer, while poking around the mystery of a disappeared girl. The writing style made this an easy and entertaining read. I read this within one sitting. I just can’t put down the book and I need to find out the truth behind the mysteries. 

Perception was definitely an enjoyable and mystery read. If you enjoy light mystery, you’re going to love this book.

Review: Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder

Fire Study (Study #3)
by Maria V. Snyder 

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Publication: May 2009, by Mira Books
Format: ebook, 284 pages
Source: Own
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When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder--able to capture and release souls--spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. Already Yelena's unusual abilities and past have set her apart. As the Council debates Yelena's fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before....

Honor sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward. Her journey is fraught with allies, enemies, lovers and would-be assassins, each of questionable loyalty. Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself--and save the land she holds dear.

Fire Study is the third book from Study series. In the previous book, Yelena found out that she is a Soulfinder, who was able to capture and release soul. Yelena must find a way to catch Ferde, a Soulstealer who had escaped in the previous book. As Yelena’s future is being decided by the council, she found out that a plot to take over Sitia, by a group of Warpers. But it won’t be easy for Yelena as the council and the First Magician, Roze, were against her. 

I love this book, although not as much as the first one. But I just can’t put down the book. I need to know what will happen to Yelena. I wanted to see more Valek, Ari and Janco. These characters were the reason why the series was much more entertaining. There were lots more action and excitement in this book, especially towards the end of it. Fire Study was very well written, with great plot and character development. I was sad to see that the series has ended. The series was fun and I don’t want to see it end. But then, I found out that there will be another three books coming out soon. I just can’t contain my excitement. I just can’t wait!

Review: Prosecco Pink by Traci Andrighetti

Prosecco Pink (Franki Amato Mysteries #2)
by Traci Andrighetti

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Chick Lit
Publication: January 2014, Gemma Halliday Publishing
Format: ebook
Source: ARC, CLP Blog Tour
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For Franki Amato, life in New Orleans is anything but “The Big Easy.” When she met handsome bank executive Bradley Hartmann, she knew she’d finally found a man she could trust. But she can’t say the same for his sexy new secretary, who is about as trustworthy as Mata Hari and every bit as seductive. Meanwhile, Franki’s best friend and employer, Veronica Maggio, has named her the lead investigator in the murder of a gorgeous cosmetics CEO who was found lying dead in the master bedroom of a historic plantation home.

Now the pressure is on Franki to figure out what a bottle of pink lip gloss and the legend of a pink diamond have to do with the bizarre killing. The problem is that the plantation is notorious for being haunted, and Franki is less than enthusiastic about the prospect of meeting a ghost. Adding to her stress, her Sicilian grandma is up to her usual meddling antics—this time planning Franki’s engagement to Bradley before he’s even considered popping the question. As Bradley grows distant and plantation employees begin dropping like Southern belles during a sweltering summer, Franki turns to a psychic with a phobia of ghosts to solve the mysterious murders and her own relationship fears.

Franki Amato is back! And this time, Franki was assigned to lead the investigation of a murder of a cosmetics CEO in the historic plantation home. Not that the investigation was going to be easy with the plantation being haunted, and Franki received a few threats. Moreover, Franki had to deal with her meddling noona, and her boyfriend’s seductive, new secretary.

I love this book. Prosecco Pink is the second book from Franki Amato Mystery series, but it can be read as a standalone. In my opinion, Prosecco Pink was definitely better than the first book. It was a lot more exciting, and the mystery behind Franki’s case hooked me right from the start. I’m happy that noona was back with her new scheme for her granddaughter. What I love most about the series was the supporting characters. They made the story much more entertaining. I’m looking to see more of Franki’s family and Glenda. I bet they’re going to be fun. 

Prosecco Pink has the right amount of mystery, suspense, humor and romance. I would definitely recommend this book to Cozy Mystery lover.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Limoncello Yellow by Traci Andrighetti

Limoncello Yellow (Franki Amato Mystery)
by Traci Andrighetti

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Chick Lit
Publication: January 2014, Gemma Halliday Publishing
Format: ebook
Source: Own
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Francesca "Franki" Amato is a tough-talking rookie cop in Austin, Texas—until an unfortunate 911 call involving her boyfriend, Vince, and a German female wrestler convinces her once and for all that she just isn't cut out for a life on the police force. So Franki makes the snap decision to move to New Orleans to work at her friend Veronica's detective agency, Private Chicks, Inc. But Franki's hopes for a more stable life are soon dashed when Private Chicks is hired by the prime suspect in a murder case to find out what really happened to a beautiful young boutique manager who was found strangled to death with a cheap yellow scarf. When she's not investigating, Franki is hoping to seduce handsome bank executive Bradley Hartmann, but most of her time is spent dodging date offers from a string of "good Italian boys"—make that not-so-good aging Italian men—that her meddlesome Sicilian grandma has recruited as marriage candidates. As Mardi Gras approaches and the mystery of the murdered shop girl gets more complicated, Franki must decipher the odd ramblings of a Voodoo priestess to solve both the murder and the mystery of her own love life.

Francesca "Franki" Amato caught her boyfriend, Vince, with a German female wrestler and convinced that life with the police force isn’t for her. Franki moved o New Orleans to work with her friend, Veronica at her detective agency, Private Chicks, Inc. Her first case was to investigate a murder case, where a woman was found strangled to death with a yellow scarf.

Limoncello Yellow by Traci Andrighetti is a fun, quick read. Franki Amato was fun and sassy. I loved the characters around Franki, especially her noona. Her noona’s matchmaking plans for Franki were mostly humorous! I am happy that the book focused more on the investigations. The mystery was neatly written. There were a few twists that I did not see it coming. I had to keep guessing who the murder was. I love the way the writer described things, especially the characters and the scenes around them. If you’re a fan of cozy mystery, you’re going to enjoy this book.

Review: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

The Testing (The Testing #1)
by Joelle Charbonneau

Genre: Adventure, Dystopia, Young Adult
Publication: June, 2013
Format: ebook, 336 pages
Source: Own
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Who will be chosen to lead? The best...the brightest...the deadliest? There will be a testing. In the wake of the Seven Stages War, the government of the Unified Commonwealth devised The Testing to assess the instinct, intellect and sheer nerve among a select group of the population's young people. Candidates who pass, attend the University to become leaders of the Commonwealth; civilization's hope to transform a post-war wasteland into a peaceful and technologically advanced society. But progress comes at a price. Mechanically-inclined Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a candidate but on the eve of her departure, her father confides partial memories of his grisly experience as a candidate, still haunted by nightmares and living in fear of what he can't remember. It's not enough to pass the test, Cia will have to survive it "and "her deadly fellow candidates. To stay alive Cia will have to learn who she can trust and, if necessary, who she must kill.

Cia Vale was happy to be chosen for The Testing so that she can go to the University. No one knows much about The Testing. Even Cia’s father, a graduate, didn’t remember much about the test. But once Cia was chosen for the test, he told her about his nightmares and warned Cia to be really careful. 

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau reminds me of the Hunger Games, and I’m sure a lot of readers had compared the two books. I love this book. Once I read it, I just couldn’t stop until I find out what was going to happen next. I think that the testing parts were very exciting. I enjoyed reading about what the government had prepared for the test.

Cia, the main character was great. She’s humble and intelligent. Although did sound a little too perfect. It was like she had a six sense to get everything right. I wished that there were more interaction between Cia and the other characters, because I would love to know them as well. 

But still, The Testing was written brilliantly. I just can’t wait to see what will happen next to Cia and the others in the next book!

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

Magic Study (Study #2)
by Maria V. Snyder

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Publication: November, 2007 by Mira Books
Format: ebook, 284 pages
Source: Own
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So far, I've managed to survive. You would think after being kidnapped as a child, imprisoned in my teens and released to become a poison taster, I would have endured enough. But no. The discovery of my magical abilities--powers forbidden in Ixia--has resulted in an execution order. My only chance is to flee to Sitia, my long-lost birthplace.

But Sitia is unfamiliar. I'm treated like an enemy--even by my own brother. Plus I can't control my powers. I want to learn about my magic, but there isn't time. A rogue magician has emerged and I'm targeted as his next victim.

Will my magical abilities save me...or be my downfall?

I love the previous book,  bought Magic Study as soon as I finished Poison Study. I just can’t get enough of Yelena, Valek and their friends. I couldn’t say that Magic Study was as good as Poison Study, but I still like it. Very much.

In this book, Yelena returned to her birthplace, Sitia after she was banished from Ixia. Yelena learned more about magic and how to control them from Irys, the fourth magician. Returning to Sitia means that she will be meeting her family for the first time since she was kidnapped. Her reunion, however, was not as she had expected. Her brother didn’t exactly welcome her return. 

The pace of the story was a bit slower than the first book. But it still has a very good storyline. I wasn’t too excited to see Yelena separated with her friends in Ixia, but it was interesting to see Yelena in a new environment. I was excited to see how Yelena reunited with her family. Her family members (especially her cousins) are very interesting. Yelena made a few more friends in Sitia (and a few more enemies). The new characters (I love the moon man and Kiki) made the story much more exciting, but I am so happy to see Valek, the Commander, Ari and Janco reappearance. 

If you enjoyed the first book, Poison Study, you'll definitely want to read Magic Study.

Release Day Blitz: Prosecco Pink by Traci Andrighetti - Giveaway

Prosecco Pink
by Traci Andrighetti

Genre: Chick Lit/Cozy Mystery
Publication: November 3
Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords | Gemma Halliday Publishing 

For Franki Amato, life in New Orleans is anything but “The Big Easy.” When she met handsome bank executive Bradley Hartmann, she knew she’d finally found a man she could trust. But she can’t say the same for his sexy new secretary, who is about as trustworthy as Mata Hari and every bit as seductive. Meanwhile, Franki’s best friend and employer, Veronica Maggio, has named her the lead investigator in the murder of a gorgeous cosmetics CEO who was found lying dead in the master bedroom of a historic plantation home. Now the pressure is on Franki to figure out what a bottle of pink lip gloss and the legend of a pink diamond have to do with the bizarre killing. The problem is that the plantation is notorious for being haunted, and Franki is less than enthusiastic about the prospect of meeting a ghost. Adding to her stress, her Sicilian grandma is up to her usual meddling antics—this time planning Franki’s engagement to Bradley before he’s even considered popping the question. As Bradley grows distant and plantation employees begin dropping like Southern belles during a sweltering summer, Franki turns to a psychic with a phobia of ghosts to solve the mysterious murders and her own relationship fears.

Traci's bio:
Traci Andrighetti is the national and international bestselling author of the Franki Amato Mysteries. In her previous life, she was an award-winning literary translator and a Lecturer of Italian at the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a PhD in Applied Linguistics. But then she got wise and ditched that academic stuff for a life of crime—writing, that is.

If she's not hard at work on her next novel, Traci is probably watching her favorite Italian soap opera, eating Tex Mex or sampling fruity cocktails, and maybe all at the same time. She lives in Austin with her husband, young son (who desperately wants to be in one of her books) and three treat-addicted dogs.

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