Endless Summer

This may be my final book summer post, but judging by the titles that are hitting the bookshelves this fall we get to hold on to that summer feeling a little longer:

   

The Cabin by Natasha Preston // September 6 

Teens, cabin, murder… yes you probably heard this a 100 times. But there's a reason the trope is so popular: it's fun! The Cabin centers around Mackenzie, a high school senior, who just wants to spend the weekend with her friends in a remote cabin. What could possibly go wrong?  The friends' first night at the cabin ends in tragedy when two of the teens are found dead. And since there are no signs of a forced entry or struggle, suspicion turns to the survivors…  The Cabin is escapist horror fun at it's best: a fast paced, easy read that'll keep you guessing – and sometimes that is all a good book needs to be.

For fans of: Gretchen McNeil's Ten; Fear Street

Pasadena by Sherri L. Smith // September 13

Some call it an accident, others believe it's a suicide, but only Jude knows that there is more to it when her best friend Maggie is found dead in a swimming pool …so she starts digging to get to the truth. But the closer she gets, the more she discovers about herself, as Maggie's friends and family are  not the only ones with buried secrets. The contrast between the sunny and glamorous southern California setting, and the gritty tone and dark nature of the story make it so much more than just another young adult mystery.  Pasadena is a brilliant  homage to the great noir stories of Los Angeles, and an equally stylish, chilling, and honest story that you won't regret picking up.

For fans of: Veronica Mars

The Atlas of Cursed Places: Skeleton Tower by Vanessa Acton // October 1

When Jason's family moves to a historic lighthouse, it doesn't take long until strange things begin to happen. The sudden disappearance of the former caretakers, accidents that might not be so accidental,  and the discovery of a weird diary, all lead to the same conclusion: The lighthouse is cursed! At only a 104 pages, it isn't the most intricate story, but much like The Cabin it's simply fun. There is also a nostalgia factor to it, as the style is quite reminiscent of The Hardy Boys mysteries with some Goosebumps thrown in, and you can't really go wrong with that. 

For fans of: The Hardy Boys; Goosebumps

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura  

Advanced review copies provided by Net Galley

Tic Toc Nic…

Even though there is a ferris wheel on the cover, All The Missing Girls  is more reminiscent  of a roller coaster ride – and just like a roller coaster ride it's impossible to get off once you're on it.

Ten years ago Nicolette's (Nic) best friend Corinne disappeared from Cooley Ridge, their small North Carolina  hometown. Now, Nic is back in Cooley Ridge to help her brother fix up their old family home – and it does not take long until her past catches up with her and old wounds that she thought had long been healed start to itch again …especially when Annaleise, Nic's neighbor, disappears, in the middle of the night– just like Corinne did ten years ago.  

Small towns and missing girls are hardly an original premise – but it's the way this story is told that  makes it one of the most original books I've read in years, because author Megan Miranda  is telling it backwards. That's right, after the set up the story jumps ahead 15 days and then counts down – day by day, until we reach the night in question and find out what really happened to All The Missing Girls.

My first thought was that this sounds like a really confusing concept, but Miranda uses this to her advantage, and the result is an extremely immersive reading experience that messes with  the readers' minds in the best possible way:  The confusion – and most importantly the distrust – that is haunting the narrators flies of the pages and makes you feel like you're actually right there in Cooley Ridge, trying to solve the case yourself instead of just reading about it.  

Preorder "All The Missing Girls"

All The Missing Girls hits the shelves on June 28, and is guaranteed to keep you up during those long summer nights – sleep is overrated anyway.

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura  

Advanced review copy provided by Net Galley 

Lucky Me

With only one more stop to go until award show season is officially over, you might soon feel a little lack of Hollywood drama in your life. But don't worry because Saba Kapur's debut novel Lucky Me is guaranteed to fill that void.  

High School senior Gia Winters seems to have everything a girl could want, a hot boyfriend, a killer wardrobe, and – thanks to her famous parents – she's first in line to be the next next Miss Golden Globe. Most would consider her to be pretty lucky, if it only weren't for a pesky stalker and an even more annoying bodyguard. Or scratch that, because the bodyguard isn't all that annoying after all (even though Gia would rather be seen in last season's Louboutins than admit that). 

In Lucky Me classic screwball comedy meets Hollywood Glitterati, and the result is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time.  If you are looking for a light read, and enjoy campy drama (think White Girl Problems, or Celebutantes), then Lucky Me won't disappoint. Yes, the main characters, Gia and bodyguard Jack, come across as a little immature at times, but for me that only added to the charm.  They don't take themselves too seriously, which makes for a great contrast to the otherwise rather grim subject of a dangerous stalker, who likes to get creative with his methods (poisoned dumplings,  anyone?).

Preorder Lucky Me

Lucky Me is available from April 5
…just in time to ease that Hollywood withdrawal.

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura  

Advanced copy provided by Net Galley 

A Study in Charlotte

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little apprehensive about A Study in Charlotte. Holmes and Watson at boarding school, in Connecticut? Please…

Whether they came in the form of an actual teenaged Holmes, a descendant, or a younger sibling, I've read a fair share of …lets call call them rather adventurous young adult books based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories. And they all had one thing in common, I only enjoyed them because I do enjoy almost anything Sherlock Holmes, which I can't say about  Brittany Cavallaro's A Study in Charlotte …because I quickly realized that it's more than just another reinterpretation of the classic. But let's start from the beginning… 

When Jamie Watson ends up at the same American boarding school as the infamous Charlotte Holmes, it seems like the two teens are destined to be anything but friends, even though Jamie spent the greater part of his life dreaming about going on adventures with the descendant of his great-great-great-grandfather's best friend. In old "be careful what you wish for" fashion, these dreams come true when another student – who happens to be a mutual enemy of the two – is murdered and everything points towards Jamie and Charlotte. 

Even though the suspenseful mystery is filled with (really clever!) references to the original stories,  the characters – especially Jamie …I mean Watson, whose narration is compelling, witty, and sometimes awkward in the best possible way –  are strong enough to stand on their own. Yes, they are Holmes and Watson, but they aren't just Holmes and Watson, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to someone who has never read a Sherlock Holmes story in their life.  Granted, I have a soft  spot for boarding school mysteries, and basically dedicated my entire academic career to teenage detectives, but it's not often that a book keeps me up until 4 in the morning because the cliffhanger endings make it impossible to put it down. So no matter if you're a fan of Conan Doyle's famous detective, or if you just in the mood for a clever and edgy mystery -  A Study in Charlotte won't disappoint.

PREORDER "A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE"

…and even the Connecticut thing makes perfect sense, I promise! 

A Study in Charlotte is the first installment of a Trilogy, and available from March, 1.

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura  

Day 12: Hump Day Homework "(Not) Home for Christmas"

Here's your second Hump Day Homework assignment of the month, and it's something for those who like to spend Christmas on the road or up in the air...

Watch: Good Luck Charlie it's Christmas (2011)

It's for kids, but It's Christmas and brilliant so who cares... Cancelled flights,  zany travel companions, and  a car named Yugo lead to an hilarious journey from  Denver to Palm Springs.  And the soundtrack is (in old Disney Channel fashion) pretty awesome, too. 

Listen to: Cabin Pressure Christmas Special

listen to me

Ever wondered what an improvised Christmas Party on an airplane is like? Just listen to the Cabin Pressure Christmas special to find out how hilarious it really can be.  The crew has to spend Christmas aboard Gerti, captain Martin tries his best to make this one an unforgettable holiday, and as per usual it ends in heartfelt disaster.

Read:  The Con Artist of Catalina Island (A McAfee Twins Christmas Novel)

read me

Silent Night? Chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Not for the McAfee Twins. The detective's well deserved Christmas vacation turns into a murder investigation, and they soon find themselves in a dangerous web of lies, deceit, and holiday debacles. Add a toothless poodle, Uncle Robert in a Santa Suit, and it's just another family Christmas for Kerry and Terry  McAfee. 

...Wait, we're not done yet, today I have an early Christmas present for my fellow bibliophiles:

CLICK ME

It's a coupon for my favorite online store! Just enter BOOKWORM at checkout to get 20% off all tees - but it's only good for today!

Peace, Love and Mistletoe
Laura

Private Eyes

Take Nancy Drew, let her  grow up a little, add a twin sister with a pink Harley, and move it  all to  Hollywood. What you get are the  McAfee Twins,  Kerry and Terry, two sleuths more reminiscent of Philip Marlowe than our beloved Nancy.

Mystery, action, humor and zany characters, what's not to love?  (and if all that isn't enough to get  your attention there's even a Christmas mystery...yes CHRISTMAS MYSTERY!)  

But what attracts me the most about these books are the redheaded heroines, brainy and rational Kerry and the more impulsive wild child Terry. ‘Cause honestly, who didn't dream of solving crimes with their best friend at some point of their life?  And even if that detective dream didn't come true, there is no reason why you  shouldn't dress the part:  

Click here for product list

1) Every detective needs a cool leather jacket, if it's a pink one like Terry's trademark biker jacket  or something  a little more classic, you can't go wrong  with vintage leather.

2) Boots - if  you wanna chase suspects on your Harley strappy sandals aren't the best idea, and sturdy boots add an instant coolness factor to any outfit.

3) Jeans and a T-shirt - yes it does sound a little simple, but that's the point.  You're a  PI , you wanna blend in - a silver satin dress  would be rather inconvenient.

So whether you're an armchair detective who likes to get lost in a good story,  or  aspiring to do the real thing take these  fashion clues  and you´ll solve  any crime by dinner time. 

Peace, Love and Sunshine

Laura

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