Waiting On Wednesday "Thicker Than Water"

Waiting On Wednesday 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Here is my selection for the week:

Taken from Barnes and Noble: 

On his own Thomas Bellweather hasn’t been in town long. Just long enough for his newlywed mother to be murdered, and for his new stepdad’s cop colleagues to decide Thomas is the primary suspect.   Not that there’s any evidence. But before Thomas got to Garretts Mill there had just been one other murder in twenty years.   The only person who believes him is Charlotte Rooker, little sister to three cops and, with her soft hands and sweet curves, straight-up dangerous to Thomas. Her friend was the other murder vic. And she’d like a couple answers....Answers that could get them both killed, and reveal a truth Thomas would die to keep hidden...

Release date is December 29th 2015 

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I haven't heard a ton about this new release but the cover and synopsis really caught my eye and I can't wait to see if the story is just as intriguing! 

Until next time, 
Ginger 

ARC Review of "Finding Paris"

Finding Paris 

By Joy Preble 

Stars:3 

Source: Edelweiss 

Release Date: April 21st 2015 

Leo and Paris have only ever been able to rely on one another, with a mother who couldn't care less and a step father who drinks and gambles the days away counting on each other is all they have. 

So when Paris suddenly disappears and it looks as though she's left Leo behind Leo knows something is wrong. 

Joined by a complete stranger Leo follows clues left by her sister all up and down the Vegas strip.

Leo keeps having to remind herself to not give up hope, that maybe this is all just a game and that Paris is hiding out somewhere safe, but the farther away the clues take them and the more mysterious they become Leo starts to hope less and worry more. 

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Oh how I wanted to like this book... 

I hate books that drag, so from the first couple of chapters I really thought I was going to like this book. There wasn't really any down time and the pages between each clue and destination were perfect. It was a really fast paced book that kept my attention. 

But as the book continued and Leo and Max (seemingly) got closer to finding Paris and the reason she left I started to loath them (and the book). 

The whole premise of the book was that Leo and Paris relied on one another, they told each other everything. Yet Paris decides the best way to handle the situation (which I won't go into because spoilers) is to send her on a scavenger hunt, in the middle of the night, with a stranger, no money, no car and expecting her to cross state lines. 

Um... No. 

It was so frustrating and by the end I was regretting even picking up the book in the first place. 

If you've read it let me know how you felt about it in the comments. 

Until next time,

 Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

Review of "Top Ten Clues You're Clueless"

Top Ten Clues You're Clueless 

By Liz Czuaks 

Stars: 5 

Source: OTSPSecret Sister Gift 

Chloe is constantly making lists, lists of the weirdest things she's ever seen, lists of things you've never want to hear your mother say, lists of things someone could do with 10,000 dollars. 

The last thing Chloe expected when she went into work on Christmas Eve was to be accused of stealing and held against her will in the break room along with the other under aged employees. But that's exactly what happens. 

Having read mysteries her whole life Chloe starts her own investigations into the disappearance of the money and recruits her fellow associates to help. 

Top Ten Clues You're Clueless is a fun, fast paced, read that will have you flipping the pages faster than you can read them. 

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Top 5 reasons I adored this book: 

1. Chloe. She was hilarious, I loved her inner dialog and of course her lists. 

2. The lists. I don't know about you but I am constantly making up lists, to-do lists, not to-do lists, lists of books I want to read, movies I want to watch, places I want to visit. I'm all about the lists! 

3. The mystery element. I had NO idea this was a mystery. I vaugly remember putting it on my wish list because I liked the cover and the story sounded interesting but the synopsis didn't mention anything about the missing money so that was an added bonus. 

4. The other characters. I'm not going to lie. The second all of them were locked up in the break room I started picturing them as characters from The Breakfast Club, it had that John Hughes touch to it. If they hadn't been forced to stay then they never would have learned so much about each other. 

5. The setting. I worked retail for 2 years and while I hated some aspects of it I still miss it sometimes. Hanging out with my friends in the break room, meeting new people everyday. So I instantly loved the setting, even though nearly the entire book was set inside one store it was ever changing and surprising. 

Top 5 words to describe this book: 

1. Adorable. 

2. Quirky. 

3. Lovable. 

4. Refreshing. 

5. Fun. 

I cannot wait to read more from Liz (who also writes under a pen name, Ellie Cahill). 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

ARC Review of "Liars, Inc."

Liars, Inc. 

By Paula Stokes 

Stars: 4 

Source: Edelweiss 

Release Date: March 24th 2015 

Liars, Inc. started off as an innocent way for Max and his friends to make money. They didn't see any harm in forging permission slips or coming up with fake alibi's for overprotective parents. 

So when Max's best friend, Preston, asks him to cover for him over the weekend Max doesn't hesitate. 

However when Monday morning rolls around and the cops are wondering where Preston ran off to Max begins to regret his decision.

Suddenly Preston is a missing person and Max is the main suspect in his disappearance. When all the evidence and clues start to point towards Max he starts doubting who to trust. After all, aren't we all liars? 

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When I picked up this book I was not in the mood for a mystery, let alone the thrilling ride that "Liars, Inc." takes you on, but it took less than one chapter for me to change my mind and dive into the craziness that is this book. 

I put aside all the other books I was reading and blew through this faster than you can say "liar, liar pants on fire". 

I loved Max's voice and his character as a whole, he felt genuine and authentic and I could relate to him easily. 

Parvati was a kick ass character who knew how to cover tracks and lay low and I LOVED that she wasn't the cliche, anti street smart, dumb blonde. Parvati hears a noise in the basement? She's out of there! None of that slowly walking down the dark stairs whispering 'Whose there?'. 

Preston was insanely dynamic and lovable and I wish that we had just a little more time with him before his... Unfortunate demise... 

The plot was so airtight and the story was so fast paced that it left me breathless and unaware of the passing hours. 

It reminds me of a line in a song, "I've never told a lie, and that makes me a liar." 

I'm not going to lie (ignore that awful attempt at a pun) I was skeptical of a book based wholly on the fact that no one can be trusted and everyone has secrets. 

I felt like I was going to be pointing fingers the entire time and checking over my shoulder (or Max's shoulder as the case may be) waiting for something bad to happen. 

I didn't see myself being able to sit back and simple enjoy the book. 

But the way that Paula tells the story had me believing everyone, trusting everyone and before I knew what was happening the ending snuck up on me and left me with my jaw on the floor re-reading the same sentence over and over again. 

In short if you're looking for a realistic, thrilling mystery or if you're a fan of Alfred Hitchcock or Mary Higgins Clark this book is for you! 

Until next time, 

Ginger  

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

Review of "Vanishing Girls"

Vanishing Girls 

By Lauren Oliver 

Stars: 5!

Source: Purchased 

Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before. Before the fight, before the accident, before Dara was left broken and angry and unable to forgive Nick for driving that night, for causing the accident. 

Now they avoid one another, they barley talk let alone share secrets like they used to. 

So when Dara goes missing Nick thinks she's just trying to get attention, play games, that is until she realizes that her disappearance might just be linked to the disappearance of another girl, this one nine years old. 

"Vanishing Girls" draws you in and hangs on to you with all it's might. It's the perfect blend of darkness and light. Of hope and utter despair. 

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The day I picked this up was the day that Lauren Oliver happened to be doing a signing at my local bookstore. I swung by and picked it up around 11am thinking I would read a least a few chapters, just enough to acquaint myself with the story and the characters so I wouldn't be completely lost during the Q&A portion of the signing.

I finished it 3 hours later. 

I can't even describe how much I LOVED this book. 

The characters are developed, the plot is spectacular and the setting is breathtaking, the story as a whole is amazing but even if you break it up into different pieces it's still worthwhile.

I loved how the story centered around sisters. Both so different yet so alike.

Weaving in Madeline Snow's disappearance really kept the story going and added a note of desperation to the storyline. 

I adored the setting of the ammusment park and it's array of unusual and original characters. 

I can honestly say that this is my all time favorite Lauren Oliver book, it's dark and twisted and intense to the point of cause the reading extreme pain and disbelief. 

The moment I finished it I wanted to start it over again from the beginning. 

If you're looking for a thrilling story that will keep you up late at night thinking about it then look no further because "Vanishing Girls" is that book! 

Until next time, 

Ginger