Monday, January 27, 2020

Review: One of Us is Next by Karen McManus

One of Us Is Next (One of Us Is Lying, #2)One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The follow up to One of Us is Lying, this mystery has some familiar characters that we were introduced in McManus' first book: the original four (Nate, Bronwyn, Addie, and Cooper) and of course additional characters. We get a peak into the original four lives' but they are secondary to the action of this follow up. Nothing has changed at the high school: gossip is still the currency that keeps the your school social status high. When the latest reiteration of the gossip mill turns deadly, it is up to the Maeve, Knox, and Phoebe to figure out what is happening before it is too late.

The story in this book unfolds at a steady enough pace to keep even the more reluctant readers engaged and those who have not had a chance or accidentally pick this one up first, will not be lost. There are snippets at times when the author fills in missing pieces from the first book, and you will be spoiled to the twist in that book if you read this one first. Overall, fans of McManus will like this third book and second in the series, though those obsessed with the first book's characters, may be disappointed this one does not focus on them. However, I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a quick young adult mystery that features elements of a game or how social media can affect teens' lives.

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Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Review: Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women, #1)Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Set during Victorian England, Bringing Down the Duke is the story of Annabella as she enters Oxford College as one of the first women accepted. The catch, she has to accept an internship with a women's suffrage group in order for her tuition to be paid. Through this, she must approach men who have influence over their peers to support the women's suffrage movement. Enter Sebastian, the Duke of Montgomery. Sebastian has been bringing back his family from near ruin since his father's death and he is the epitome of a scandal free peer (if one turns a blind eye to his divorce). While the two of them do battle over the right to vote, they are also confronted with the attraction they feel for each other. Annabelle won't fall for another handsome aristocrat and Sebastian cannot give up his reputation by causing another scandal.

A fan of historical romances, this had me smiling and chuckling a good number of times. I appreciated Annabelle's frankiness and her determination to do better with her life. I liked Sebastian though I am not sure if I quite believe he was ready for the big grand gesture. Overall, the pacing was a bit off towards the end, but I enjoyed this debut novel nonetheless. I look forward to continuing with the second in this series.

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