THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR by Kady Cross was released in the U.S. in hardcover and eBook formats on May 22, 2012 and was released in paperback format on April 30, 2013.

It is currently available to order online in all formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Harlequin TEEN, the print edition is 368 pages.

THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR is the second book in author Kady Cross’ The Steampunk Chronicles. The third book in the series, THE GIRL WITH THE IRON TOUCH, is slated for release on May 28, 2013 and a short novella in the series, THE DARK DISCOVERY OF JACK DANDY, will be releasing on July 1, 2013.

Description…

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling – or dangerous.

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her “straynge band of mysfits” have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him…for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei’s neck tightens. And tightens.

THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR is the charming, fun and utterly delightful second book in author Kady Cross’ steampunk series set in the late 1800s. While the setting may have changed from London to New York for this installment, all the elements that make this series a must read remain – appealing and charismatic characters, writing that flows easily, a plot filled with action, suspense and a hint of danger, and a slew of interesting inventions that add a modern touch to this bygone era.

And with a fierce but lovable heroine who isn’t afraid to put herself in the middle of the action, a charming yet utterly maddening hero whose distrust is keeping him from pursuing what he wants, and a daring and extremely risky rescue attempt planned, this sequel will captivate readers from start to finish.

When Finley, Griffin, Emily and Sam journey to New York to save their friend Jasper Renn, they find that rescuing him won’t be as simple as helping him prove his innocence for the murder he’s been accused of. Because Jasper’s not being held in jail. He’s being held captive by someone he once called a friend.

A friend who has given him an ultimatum – return what he stole or watch someone he loves die.

The choice is easy, but recovering what was taken would not be. And without the help of his friends, there is no way Jasper would be able to collect the pieces of the device he’d hidden, save Mei and possibly save himself.

Certainly not before lawman Whip Kirby caught up with him. And definitely not before Reno Dalton ran out of patience and allowed the clockwork collar around Mei’s throat to constrict.

Author Kady Cross takes readers on a new and exciting adventure with her characters. Without the threat of The Machinist and the temptation of Jack Dandy, Finley, Griffin, Emily and Sam are able to face their current challenge head-on. And even though their foe, Reno Dalton, is formidable, clever, cunning and extremely lethal, between Finley’s fierce determination, Sam’s brawn, Emily’s inventions, Griffin’s connection to the Aether and a little help from the Organites, the odds against them are not insurmountable.

THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR immediately invites readers into this world of airships, steam-powered inventions, corsets and clockwork devices and sends them back in time to this alternate version of the Victorian Era as seen through the author’s eyes.

With its quick pace, its endearing characters, its engaging and action-filled storyline that includes a surprise twist or two, THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR delivers on its promise to be an exciting, must read installment in this series.

Reviewer gives this book…

On a personal note…

I absolutely adore Finley Jayne. I have since the moment I “met” her in the prequel novella. And that hasn’t changed in the least since I read THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR. I actually love her even more.

She is totally my kind of heroine. She is fierce. She has a dark side. But she is a good person. And while she’s definitely not someone who could be called sweet, she is charming and at times vulnerable. Especially when it comes to Griffin King.

I’m so glad to have finally read this second book in this amazing series by author Kady Cross. I have no idea what took me so long to get it to the top of the pile. Once I started reading it I could not put it down. And I fought very hard not to pick up the next book in this series before writing this review.

I loved going back in time to the author’s version of late 1800s New York City. While steampunk is not a genre I typically read, I loved reading about the interesting inventions that make this past era something that feels a bit more modern. I also loved getting to read about Finley’s kick-a** outfits.

It took all of two sentences for me to be transported into the author’s world and story. Her writing has such an easy flow that makes tumbling into it effortless. I immediately reconnected with her characters and couldn’t wait to let the details of this story unfold.

I got caught up in the adventure – yes, this was most definitely an adventure. I was riveted by it. I was anxious to find out just what happened to Jasper Renn. I was curious about Dalton and Mei. And I was excited to explore this new setting.

While I did miss Jack – how could I not? – it was not enough to prevent me from falling in love with this installment in the series. I loved the new setting. I loved getting to solve this puzzle with Finley, Jasper, Emily, Sam and Griffin.

And I loved seeing just how things developed between Finley and Griffin without Jack’s presence in her life. Yes, Griffin was just as maddeningly frustrating without Jack nearby. I may have added the notation, “Kiss her already!” to my Kindle… on more than one occasion. But his behavior did add the perfect amount of tension to the story.

Of course I found Reno Dalton to be such an appealing character. He was totally charismatic and far more dangerous than Jack Dandy. And because he was so unpredictable, I couldn’t help but instantly like him.

THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR was such a fun and wildly entertaining installment in the series. While I may have guessed correctly when it came to a certain character who shall not be named, it did not take awake from this story’s appeal.

And while I loved that this story took place in New York City, I am thrilled that everyone will be heading back across the pond to London to embark upon a new adventure. One that is sure to include Jack Dandy.

Favorite passage…

I had ten favorite passages in this book and I wanted to include each and every one of them. And then talk all about why they were favorites.

While I couldn’t or shouldn’t do any of that, I really, really wanted to. But I did narrow it down to four passages and then finally chose just two very short ones. Because there was no way I could pick just one.

Finley glanced out into the audience. Her gaze locked with another—one the color of a stormy sky and every bit as volatile.

It was Griffin. And he wasn’t nearly as impressed with her as Emily was.

 …and…

It was a terrible time to realize you were falling in love with someone—when you were kissing another bloke.

MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza was released in the U.S. on March 12, 2013 in hardcover, audio and eBook formats. It is currently available to order online in all formats at AMAZON and in hardcover and eBook formats at BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, the print edition is 480 pages.

MILA 2.0 is the first book in author Debra Driza’s new series of the same name. The second book, currently untitled, is slated for release on April 1, 2014.

Goodreads description…

Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past—that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity-style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel.

MILA 2.0 is an action-packed, suspense-filled and wildly entertaining first book in author Debra Driza’s new series with an atypical main character who is incredibly likable and surprisingly relatable. With a fast pace, an exciting storyline that will keep readers riveted and an ending that will make them anxious for the next installment, this book is the perfect way to jump-start this series.

Mila Daily had no idea she wasn’t like everyone else. She had no idea that the recent tragedy that made her mother relocate them to Clearwater wasn’t real. She had no idea that her memories weren’t real. She had no idea she wasn’t real.

Until an accident revealed the truth and set into motion events that would force her and her mother to flee the town they only recently called home. Force Mila to learn about who she really was and what she was capable of. Force Mila to become ACTIVE.

And force her to leave behind the boy who stole her heart. A heart that she never really had to begin with.

MILA 2.0 combines elements of science fiction, action/adventure and a touch of romance in a story that has at its core the development of the main character and the question of what makes someone human. And with its rapid pace, its shifting setting, its changing cast of secondary characters, and a heroine who is easy to connect with, this story will have a wider appeal than those stories geared only toward readers of sci-fi.

Mila may not be a typical heroine, but she very much resembles one. She acts like the teenager she appears to be. She thinks like one. She has all the feelings and emotions that any teenage girl would have. And as such, she’s incredibly sympathetic, likable and easy to relate to.

But she is also fierce, competitive and deadly, qualities only touched upon in this first book in the series, but will likely play a larger role in the sequel. And which will make her a powerful and dangerous ally or adversary.

Told in four parts, each more exciting, tension-filled and captivating than the last, author Debra Driza has created a story that is intriguing, fun and lightning-fast, and the perfect escape into a world that is danger-filled with a character who is every bit as charming as she is lethal.

Reviewer gives this book…

On a personal note…

I loved this book. Seriously loved it. I did not expect it to be as quick of a read as it was. I did not expect it to be as action-packed, even with the description comparing it to one of my favorite films.

I did not expect to adore the main character like I did. I certainly didn’t expect to make a connection with her. I did not expect her humanity.

I anticipated this story would be very scientific in nature. I expected passages detailing the technology behind MILA 2.0’s creation. I expected to be interested but not engaged.

But oh my gosh I was engaged. I was riveted. I wanted to know what Mila’s real story was. I wanted to know more about her “mother” Nicole. I knew that things couldn’t stay as they were and I anxiously awaited the moment when things would change.

There is so much I loved about this story, but as it would require me to go into way too much detail about what happened with Mila, her mom, Lucas and another character who I won’t name as it would be spoiler-y, I can only talk about just a few things I loved.

I loved how the author introduced her character in the first part of the story. If someone didn’t read the book’s description or take a close look at the cover they might have been just as in the dark as the character about who and what she was.

And I loved that this story was separated into parts. Each one taking me somewhere new. Each one introducing me to a slightly different Mila. Each one offering up a new adventure.

I loved Mila’s relationship with Hunter at the beginning. And I loved her interactions with Lucas at the end. But the thing I loved most was that she had relationships at all. That she wasn’t what she was expected to be. That there was so much more to her.

As someone who doesn’t consider myself a sci-fi fan, I found myself connecting to this story and character from the very beginning. I thought the author did an amazing job developing her main character. I thought that after the initial set-up the pace just took off and didn’t let up. But I liked that the story didn’t start off so quickly. I liked that the author took the time to introduce her character before things got crazy.

There was the perfect amount of action and suspense in MILA 2.0. There was more than enough mystery, romance and heartbreak – yes I cannot believe I teared up on more than one occasion during my read. But especially after what happened toward the end.

I am still wary about a certain character’s motivations. But I suppose I’ll have to wait for the sequel to find out if my suspicions are correct. And I think there’s something going on with the character I won’t name, which is not going to make Holland at all happy. Which is fine by me.

The ending is not one with a cliffhanger, exactly, but because I desperately want to continue the story, it feels very much like one. I want to know more about a certain group that was only mentioned very briefly in this first book, but I hope will have a larger part to play in the next.

And I want to know whether a character whose safety is very much up in the air at the end of this book will be making an appearance. I really, really hope so.

MILA 2.0 was such a fun and entertaining read. My connection with the character was a complete surprise. My total enjoyment of this type of story was also unexpected. It had just the right amount of tech and science for me. Not too heavy. Not too light. And it even managed to tug at my heartstrings. Yep, loved this book.

Favorite passage…

I have a favorite passage. It’s an amazing passage that immediately grabbed me, that I would love to share. But it is a bit longer than I should share, with no logical cut-off point. And it is a bit revealing. So I won’t post it here.

But for those who want to know, it is the passage that begins with… His sideways glance burned right through my arm….

So, I’m sharing one that is much shorter, but makes me smile because it is so Mila.

The room was a small square of hopelessness.

A flash of red. And then:

Dimensions: 10 ft. by 9 ft.

I swallowed a horrified giggle. Perfect. And now I knew the exact measurements of hopelessness.

Book Trailer…

THE COLLECTOR by Victoria Scott will be released in the U.S. on April 2, 2013 in paperback and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in paperback format only at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Entangled Teen, the print edition is 400 pages.

THE COLLECTOR is the first book in author Victoria Scott’s Dante Walker series. The second book in the series entitled THE LIBERATOR is slated for release in September 2013.

THE COLLECTOR isn’t your typical good versus evil tale. It doesn’t have a run-of-the-mill “bad boy” as its protagonist. It isn’t told in a predictable voice. It is an incredibly exciting story, with a tantalizing, dynamic and totally irresistible main character, told in a refreshingly unique voice.

Dante Walker has one purpose – and that is to collect souls. His job is fairly easy, even with the competition from the other collectors. He is good at what he does. Some would say he’s the best. He is, after all, the Boss Man’s right hand.

And that’s why he was entrusted to collect one particular soul. Charlie Cooper’s soul. A soul that is one of the very brightest Dante has ever seen. And he has ten days to make the collection. Ten days to dim its light. Ten days in which to not only please the Boss Man but to earn his promotion to Soul Director, which means a permanent place on earth.

And Dante is not about to fail. No matter how good Charlie is. Because everybody wants something. And from what he can tell she wants him.

Oh yeah, he’s got this.

From the outset readers will be captivated by Dante Walker, whose personality, if not always charming, is nothing less than magnetic. His confidence and arrogance and the very nature of his job serve to create a main character readers will want to know more about. He is someone who has much more going for him than good looks and the seemingly shallow demeanor he presents. There is a depth to Dante Walker.

On what initially appears to be the opposite side of the spectrum is Charlie Cooper. She is outwardly gawky, innocent, and a bit of a social misfit. But she is as good as they come. A loyal friend. Someone who sees the good in others. Someone who wants to make the world a better place.

And THE COLLECTOR brings them together in a story that is spellbinding, tension-filled and electrifying. A story that will keep readers on edge as they watch Dante try to make the collection, and hope that he doesn’t succeed. A story that will engage readers because of Dante’s cocky and oftentimes crude attitude and Charlie’s sweet and innocent one. And a story that is, at its core, a heartwarming one.

Author Victoria Scott has created a deliciously appealing main character, a story that feels very much an original, with a pacing that moves lightning fast. And with a few surprises that will keep readers enrapt, THE COLLECTOR is an exhilarating and absolutely riveting must read.

Reviewer gives this book…

On a personal note…

There is so much I want to say about THE COLLECTOR but on pain of being collected I have to try and refrain. Well, okay, the punishment may not be that severe, but it feels like it could be. It feels like if I even just think about giving away a few of the secrets from this story I’ll have one of those little seals slapped over my soul light.

And the last thing I want is to have my soul taken away. Especially since D… Nope, not going to trick me into revealing that.

But oh my gosh I loved this story. While it was completely the opposite of what I expected, I absolutely fell head-over-heels in love. And read it all at once. Nope, I couldn’t put this one down.

I expected a story that was dark. Really dark. But what I got was a story that was completely heart-warming. I’m talking the warm and fuzzies through and through. I expected a bad boy. I mean the baddest of the bad. But Dante was the kind of guy that could melt your heart.

And while I really can’t say why… you know, that dimming of my soul light issue… I can just say that while Dante may be cocky, arrogant, egotistical, it’s not all he is. He has so much more going for him. And I loved every single bit of it… of him… except maybe for his red sneakers. Not a fan of those. But thankfully… shoot, no I won’t say anything about that either.

What I loved as much, if not more than, the story itself was the author’s voice that came through in her character, Dante. Like I said above, in my review, it was refreshingly unique. It gave the story character. It gave it a different feel from all the other YA stories I’ve read. And it made it so easy to devour.

Just hearing the story in Dante’s voice, made me grin while reading. And seeing how his inner monologue changed at various points in the story turned my grin into a full-on ear-to-ear smile.

Of course this story is a good versus evil story. But it didn’t have that same-old same-old feel to it. I loved seeing the world the author created through Dante’s eyes. I loved the way he saw Charlie. Well, except maybe at the beginning. At the beginning he didn’t really see Charlie. But I really shouldn’t say any more about that, either.

I am so excited that this book has a sequel. I’m really nervous about where it might lead. Especially because there’s this thing that happened that I as a reader know, but one of the characters doesn’t know. And it makes me really, really, really anxious about just what the author plans on doing with this particular little tidbit. Okay, so it’s not that little. It’s actually a huge thing. Anyway….

It’s hard not to want to make this entire note about Dante, because he is sort of larger than life, even if he’s not exactly alive. But I should probably talk about the story itself. Which was exciting. I mean really exciting. The unputdownable variety of exciting.

As it unfolded, while I may have known the general direction the story was headed, I didn’t know for sure where it might lead. Which made me want to read faster so I could reach the end and find out those answers.

And for the entire read I was torn between rooting for one thing to happen – because I adored Dante – and for another – because I adored Charlie. So I wasn’t sure just how I’d feel at the story’s end. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to choose sides. I wasn’t sure I’d be happy with the outcome.

But let me just say that oh my gosh I loved how things ended. There was enough of a resolution to satisfy and enough left unresolved to make me anxious and in desperate need of book two.

I am so glad that I got the chance to read THE COLLECTOR early. And I am so happy that I did end up reading it right now, even if it means a longer wait for the sequel. While I was initially deterred by all the hype surrounding this book, I couldn’t help but to fall madly in love with it. Trash talking attitude, arrogant demeanor, red sneakers, and all.

Favorite passage…

I had a LOT of favorite passages in this book. And while not spoiler-y I’m only allowed to choose a favorite from the beginning of the book. Yep. Sorry, those are the rules on this one. So while not my very most favorite, here is one I like, a lot.

I need to get away from this house. Away from Charlie and her big, trusting eyes. Away from Grams and the look she just gave me. What am I supposed to feel? Guilt? Shame?

No.

I won’t.

I am The Collector.

This review is based on an eARC I received from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

SUMMERSET ABBEY by T.J. Brown will be released in the U.S. on January 15, 2013 in paperback, audio and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in all formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Gallery Books, the print edition is 320 pages.

SUMMERSET ABBEY is the first book in a new series of the same name by author T.J. Brown. The second book in the series, A BLOOM IN WINTER, is slated for release on March 5, 2013.

***

***

Diving into SUMMERSET ABBEY feels decadent. Much like the elegant, opulent and scandalous world in which the story takes place. A world that’s caught between the past and the present, one that’s on the verge of modernism but still clings to traditionalism.

A world where entitlement and leisure, lavish parties and arranged marriages contrast with motorcars, aeroplanes, suffragettes and the working class. And where the lords and ladies of the manor continue to embrace their way of life even as the world moves forward without them.

SUMMERSET ABBEY is a story that is rich with beauty, includes a bevy of interesting characters, has a wonderful flow to the writing and feels fresh and modern yet captures the essence of the time period around which the story revolves.

Told from multiple perspectives, the author, T.J. Brown, gives readers the opportunity to meet three young women – Rowena, Prudence and Victoria – who grew up in the same household but who find themselves in very different circumstances following the death of the man who raised them.

Rowena discovers herself to be newly burdened with responsibilities she didn’t ask for and ones she wasn’t in the least bit ready for. Victoria’s dreams of making her own way in the world are put on hold when it becomes necessary to relocate to Summerset Abbey. And Prudence is forced to face the harsh reality that while she always believed herself to be equal to her “sisters,” outside of the place she used to call home she is anything but.

As the first book in this new series, SUMMERSET ABBEY sets up the series brilliantly. It builds the world, develops the characters, and moves the plot forward enough for readers to feel satisfied with what they’ve been given but still eager for more.

And while the pace is unhurried, the story has an easy flow that will keep readers connected throughout – even as it switches between each of the different character’s storylines. It has characters that readers will want to spend time getting to know. It has writing that gives this tale a more contemporary feel, allowing for a broader appeal. And it has three different story arcs that readers will want to follow to their conclusion.

Brimming with secrets, lies, scandal and betrayal, SUMMERSET ABBEY is an immensely entertaining, thoroughly engaging and utterly enchanting tale that will keep readers in its thrall.

Reviewer gives this book…

On a personal note…

I fell madly in love with SUMMERSET ABBEY pretty much from the moment I started reading it. I was instantly drawn into the world which had the feel of a bygone era but also felt as if it was on the cusp of a modern one.

I loved meeting Victoria, Prudence and Rowena, though I felt much more of a connection with Prudence than either of her two “sisters.” She was the most relatable, the strongest, the most sympathetic. And she had the most swoon-worthy man interested in her company – Lord Billingsly.

Her situation was also the most heartbreaking. While all three were uprooted from their home when Rowena and Victoria’s father died, only Prudence had to suffer the radical change in her circumstances. And only she had to face the cruelty that Summerset Abbey dished out. Not only from the wealthy and privileged, but from the servants. Prudence did not fit in anywhere at Summerset Abbey and my heart broke for her.

Victoria was charming, strong-willed and an absolutely delightful character. She had very strong opinions for someone whose health issues left her body weakened. I loved seeing just what she got herself up to when she wasn’t being watched by Rowena or Prudence. For someone who could easily have allowed herself to be doted on or coddled, she opted instead to create her own adventures and do as much as she was capable of for herself.

I”m so glad we got to experience this story from all three sisters’ points of view, as well as the occasional peek at the world from Lady Summerset’s perspective. Because if I didn’t get to see things through Rowena Buxton’s eyes, I might only have thought of her as dreadful. Instead I saw her as flawed and frustrating but not horrible.

Her story was absolutely riveting but she herself was a cross between maddening and mildly sympathetic. Mostly maddening, though. Not my favorite traits for a character. And while she had kindness in her, she was weak and indecisive and sometimes just as rude and entitled as Lady Summerset herself.

I couldn’t decide if she’d have been better off growing up in a household that was much more traditional, where all her choices were taken away from her, or if it would have been better for her to have grown up in an environment that was far more modern than the one she was brought up in. A world where she was completely free to do as she pleased.

I wanted to throttle her because of the way she handled, or rather didn’t handle, the situation with Prudence. She moped. She became sad. She got depressed. She did nothing.

But she wasn’t totally unlikable. She was rather charming and adventurous when she stepped away from Summerset Abbey and spent time with Jonathan Wells. Without the heavy burdens of responsibility she would have been very likable. Sadly those weren’t her circumstances. And as frustrating as she was, as much as I wanted to scream at her, I loved getting to experience the story from her point of view.

I loved getting swept away by this story. It felt somehow luxurious to be letting my imagination linger in the past, in a world where time moved just a little bit slower, people dressed for every occasion – even when it wasn’t practical – and etiquette was still very much a part of everyday life.

And I loved trying to uncover the secrets of Summerset Abbey and attempting to figure out just what the scandal was. This was an utterly engaging and absolutely delightful read and a world I can’t wait to learn more about when I revisit it in A BLOOM IN WINTER.

I did read the short snippet from the second book in the series that was included at the end of SUMMERSET ABBEY, and I cannot wait to find out exactly how a certain girl got into that particular circumstance. Fortunately book two comes out in March so the wait won’t be too torturous.

Favorite passage…

I actually had ten favorite passages. One most definitely involved Prudence and Lord Billingsley… actually a couple of them involved the pair… but as my favorite one was rather lengthy and my second favorite was a bit too short, I thought I’d tease this passage about Rowena. Which I also loved as it showed a side of her that was very likable indeed.

“… Please don’t leave me, all right?”

Rowena’s breath caught as his hand searched for hers. She slipped her hand into his and he gripped it as if he would never let it go. Their palms melded and their fingers curled together so naturally, as if this was the hand hers had been waiting for.

He broke eye contact with her and she felt a sudden emptiness in her chest, as if she had just lost something of great value.

This review is based on an eARC I received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

THE DEAD AND BURIED by Kim Harrington was released in the U.S. on January 1, 2013 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to order online in both formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Point, an imprint of Scholastic, the print edition is 304 pages.

***

***

Kim Harrington delivers yet another exciting, suspenseful and fun to read mystery in THE DEAD AND BURIED. With plenty of suspects to keep readers guessing, a vengeful ghost to give them chills and a touch of romance to make them smile, this story of murder, mean girls and a haunted house will keep the pages turning.

For years Jade Kelley wanted to leave the small, isolated town and the old, drafty home she grew up in. Her wish was finally coming true and she was excited. Even though it meant starting her senior year of high school somewhere new and that she’d only be there for a year before heading off to college.

But the new house her father and stepmother bought was perfect. She couldn’t have been happier.

Until the kids at school started whispering behind her back. Until she started to notice that the things in her room weren’t always where she left them. Until her little brother Colby mentioned seeing a girl in his room that no one else could see. Until she started to feel an unexplainable chill in the air.

And until she discovered the reason why her family could afford such a beautiful home in such a nice neighborhood.

Author Kim Harrington did a fantastic job in creating this mystery. She managed to cast suspicion on a number of characters. She revealed enough to allow readers to start putting the pieces of the puzzle together. She made the main character’s sleuthing efforts believable. And she even included a love story which added angst and heartache to this suspense-filled tale.

Jade is a likable and clever, loyal and protective heroine. She is someone who forms her own opinions and doesn’t allow others to make up her mind for her. She is independent and isn’t afraid to be exactly who she is. But she’s not so different as to be unrelatable. She’s still shy around the kids at her new school, nervous and angry and hurt by her father, and frightened by what’s going on in her picture perfect home.

With a few twists and turns, a couple of spine-tingling moments, a mystery that will leave room for doubt as to whodunit and a cast of characters that are fun to get to know, THE DEAD AND BURIED is an incredibly entertaining, at times chilling, tension-filled and captivating read.

Reviewer gives this book…

On a personal note…

I am a huge fan of mystery stories. And I’m an even bigger fan of Kim Harrington’s writing. Put the two together and I’m in love.

I was a little nervous about meeting a new character, as I loved the author’s CLARITY series and the characters in that series. But Jade was such a likable and relatable character for me. She had a maturity to her which seemed appropriate for someone who lost her mother at a young age and took on such a protective role of her younger brother, Colby.

More than that, though, I loved that she chose her own path, didn’t ditch her less than popular friend just because she could have and didn’t instantly label someone as guilty because someone told her they were.

I loved that she fought hard against the love triangle that seemed insistent on forming even though she didn’t want it to. And I loved that she was inquisitive and not just because she had to be.

My favorite parts, however – aside from all things Donovan, of course – were the peeks into Kayla Sloane’s diary. With each peek another part to the puzzle was revealed. Sometimes it was a small part, but it gave the most insight into just what may have happened.

And while I adored Jade, I can’t say the same for Kayla. Now that girl was seriously messed up. She was power-hungry, malicious and downright evil at times. She may not have deserved what happened to her, but what she did to Jade and Colby made me think that maybe she did.

I was totally caught up in the mystery even though I knew exactly who did it from the moment I first “met” the character who did it. Not that it was in any way easy or obvious. But this is the third mystery I’ve read by this author. The fact that it took three books for me to be this quick on the uptake is a testament to the author’s skill at crafting her mysteries.

And it was so much fun to be proven right, to follow along as Jade tried to figure things out. All the while being bullied by a certain angry ghost, being pursued by a boy she wasn’t really interested in and being put on an emotional roller coaster by a boy she was.

I absolutely loved this story and its characters, especially Jade, Colby, Robot Girl and the Cute Boy and with the possible exceptions of the Fruity-Smelling Girl and Perfect Boy. And no, I don’t plan on revealing who they are. And yes, I love the nicknames.

This was such a fun read that had it all – a mystery, mean girls, swoon-worthy boys, and a haunted house. And you can bet that I did get a chill or two. Especially when that one thing happened with Colby. And then it happened again.

Favorite passage…

I have a few passages that I love, but as they are all slightly spoiler-y and would definitely take away from the surprise factor, I won’t include them here. There’s also this one quote about secrets that resonates.

But I thought I’d include one that made me smile instead. And no, I won’t reveal just who Jade’s speaking to or just what her answer is.

There were only a few inches between us now and I felt each one. He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “So it’s okay if I do this?”

He kissed my earlobe, then his lips trailed down my neck, then back up to my cheek. He stopped at my lips, and I realized he was waiting for a response.

Source: This review is based on a printed ARC I received from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.