Kiss Me Kill Me by Lauren Henderson

When 16-year-old Scarlett Wakefield transfers from St. Tabby’s to Wakefield Hall Collegiate, she is relieved that no one knows her dark, haunting secret. A few months ago, Scarlett was invited to an elite party with a guest list full of the hottest names in British society, including Dan McAndrew. Before the party, Scarlett had only imagined what it would be like to have her first kiss with Dan, but on the penthouse terrace, Dan leaned in close and she no longer had to wonder. Their kiss was beautiful and perfect and magical, and then . . . Dan McAndrew took his last breath as she held him in her arms. No one knows how or why Dan died, and everyone at St. Tabby’s believes Scarlett had something to do with it. But now that she’s safely hidden away at Wakefield Hall, Scarlett would rather forget that it ever happened. Only she can’t. Especially when she receives an anonymous note that will set her on the path to clearing her name and finding out what really happened to the first and last boy she kissed. - from book cover

.........

One thing that I can difiantly tell you about this books it that it's hard to find! Well....at my library at anyway. With it being a paperback, naturally I searched in the YA Paperback section. Nothing.

Okay, maybe the librarian stuck it in with the hardcovers. Zilch. Finally, after like seven library-trips of searching, I finally found a copy in the section where they stash the Paperbacks of Unusual Size (i.e books that can't fit in those little paperback holders that turn.)

You've got be kidding.

To be completely honest I was expecting Kiss Me Kill Me have more mystery within it's pages. Instead, it kind of fluttered around talking about how Plum and her followers treated Scarlett or how much she missed Dan. It didn't actually pick up the scandal/mystery about Dan's death till the end of the book. (I'm assuming that was the publishers and author's devious plan. LOL)

At first I liked Scarlett's character, but when she skipped out on her friends and got caught up with Dan's death, she became just like the rest of St. Tabby's cookie-cutter, elite girls. And what about the magical first kiss? [Cough] More like two crazy teenagers expressing hormones. First kiss? Special. Scarlett's "first" kiss? Um, was it really her first kiss?-because it sure didn't seem like it.

Not all of the book as cliché though. The scenes with Scarlett and her new found friend, Taylor, were fun to read: spying, climbing up drain pipes, dodging snooty teachers, etc.; and the prestigious school background was interesting enough to keep you captivated. Still, this book didn't have that genuine mystery feel to it. Despite my negativeness, I will probably read it's sequel Kiss and Lies in order to find out what happens to Scarlett. Maybe after reading the second book, I can make my review more complete.

I neither recommend nor discourage you from reading Kiss Me Kill Me because it depends. If you were expecting a mystery novel or something grand and exciting like the cover, I wouldn't scour the library like I did. If you like the silly scenes of high society teenagers and scandals, then be my guest-but don't say I didn't warn you.

Pages: 272 Published: 2008 Publisher: Delacorte

Genre: Contemporary, teen romance,teen drama, British

Age Group: YA, ages 14+ Content: Language, kissing, sexual references

Enjoyed It: 3/5 Rating: (based on content)

You've Got Blackmail by Rachel Wright

Lozzie Cracknell is a girl on the edge. Her parents have recently separated; she forgot to mail the invitations to her mum’s super-important client party; the school bully is out to get her following an unfortunate e-mail incident involving Photoshop and a picture of a horse’s behind; and now it looks like Mum might be dating her English teacher, the utterly loathsome Mr. Hilary Barnett.

Just when she’s got about as much stress as she can handle, Lozzie and her best mate Dex stumble upon a tantalizing mystery—it seems Mr. Barnett is being blackmailed. But who on earth would blackmail a bore like him, and why? As they delve deeper into the mystery, questions pile on top of questions, and the one thing that does become clear is that danger can lurk in totally unexpected places . . .

This was my first British novel, so you can image the culture shock or the head-spins from all that foreign slag. To tell you the truth, you really need a glossary of British slang because most of the time, I didn't know what they were even talking about. And I thought some of our slang words were silly, try this out for size:

Instead of saying or saying something close to "Saved by a bell", they say "Saved by a biscuit".

"Saved by a biscuit"?? You've got to be kidding me. Of course though, they probably think the same way about our gang slangs like "Sup'" or "Dog" (most unintelligent).

The "mystery blackmail" plot in this book is pretty predictable-sorry no Agatha Christie or even Nancy Drew here. I felt that the book was rather choppy and had too many short sentences which gave you the feeling that the author was trying too had to describe the moment. You've Got Blackmail is a comedy so you won't be board I can tell you that, but the characters were a tad too shallow. Nonetheless it was fairly enjoyable and will surely keep those pages flipping. Say, maybe you'll even pick up some funky slang words like "saved by a biscuit" or "bugger"....then again, maybe not.

You've Got Blackmail is a short light read that will tickle you pink or even awaken your best British accent. Tea anyone?

Pages: 194   Year Published: April 2009    Genre: Realistic/Contemporary, British

Age Group: YA, 12+  Classroom Use? No   Content: References to "doing the do" 

         Enjoyed It: 3/5 BLTs    Rating:             

 

The Parliament of Blood by Justin Richards

After reading the Twilight series, I had enough of “good” vampires. There are tons of vampire books, but can you believe there are very few with “bad” vampires in them?

It makes you wonder if anybody knows that vampires were considered evil (yeah, sorry girls, if vampires were real, chances are Edward would be more interested in his next meal than getting a girlfriend) or that they are more monster than human.

I mean, seriously, if vamps really existed, they’d probably be laughing their fangs off reading all the stuff we’ve come up with about them (no offense readers and authors).

[Somewhere near a dark forest, in a misty grave yard, a muffled voice from deep within the earth says, “None taken.”]

Um, did you hear something? Ooookay.......

My idea of a vamp novel would be a good old fashion one where the vampires are “bad”-ya know the ones where the villagers hang garlic on their doors and scream “AHHH! Vampire, run! instead of “OMG! It’s Edward!! Pinch me!”. With much searching, I found one:

It all starts out with Sir William and his discovery of an old sarcophagus in the Unclassified Department where he works in the London Museum (aka the department full of stuff that the museum doesn’t have a special room for, or things that They don’t want anyone to see). And for the record, museums really do have stuff on file that has been discovered blah blah years ago, but has never been displayed. Kinda of creepy if you ask me.

After a little accident with a knife and some spilled blood, the mummy comes to life and is picked up a mysterious driver and his coach that has a symbol on it. Was it a prank or something dangerously real? When George Archer and Sir William find some mysterious photographs that reveal literally nothing, lets just say they’ve really uncovered something worth show casing.

With the police involved, half the nobles attending a centuries old secret Club, and all their witnesses turning up either dead or undead, George, Eddie, Liz, and Sir William must get to the bottom of this......before it’s too late.

Parliament of Blood is told from the human’s side of story and is clearly a humans vs. vampires book like that of Dracula. The book takes place in the late 1800s and sticks to traditional and historical vampire facts and legends. I gave it four B.L.Ts not because there was anything in it, but because it was a tad creepy at times.

I’m glad I choose this vampy book, but I for one won’t be reading another thriller book for awhile.

(Not good for the subconscious mind.)

And, oh yes, don’t read this book at night.......

Pages: 359 Year Published: 2008 Genre:: Thriller/Horror

Age Group: YA, ages 14+ Content: HorrorRecommend? Yes

Enjoyed It: 5/5 Rating:

Book previews or book clips are becomeng very popular. Some book previews are just pictures, but some I have seen with actual actors. I decided to make a book preview for Parliament of Blood. I hope to feature more of my "home-made" book previews in the future or simply do a podcast of a review.

Make sure to turn up your sound! Tell me what you think: