Review: Prep School Confidential

Prep School Confidential by Kara Taylor

Synopsis (From Goodreads): In this breathtaking debut that reads like Gossip Girl crossed with Twin Peaks, a Queen Bee at a blue-blooded New England prep school stumbles into a murder mystery.

Anne Dowling practically runs her exclusive academy on New York’s Upper East Side—that is, until she accidentally burns part of it down and gets sent to a prestigious boarding school outside of Boston. Determined to make it back to New York, Anne couldn't care less about making friends at the preppy Wheatley School. That is, until her roommate Isabella’s body is found in the woods behind the school. 

When everyone else is oddly silent, Anne becomes determined to uncover the truth no matter how many rules she has to break to do it. With the help of Isabella’s twin brother Anthony, and a cute classmate named Brent, Anne discovers that Isabella wasn’t quite the innocent nerdy girl she pretended to be. But someone will do anything to stop Anne’s snooping in this fast-paced, unputdownable read—even if it means framing her for Isabella’s murder.

When I first heard about Prep School Confidential I was instantly drawn to it because of it's comparison to the TV shows Pretty Little Liars and Revenge, two shows I absolutely love, and what's not to love about a murder mystery at an exclusive boarding school? Well, I was not sorry for reading it. The story starts by introducing the reader to rebel, Anne Dowling who goes a little too far in her troublemaking when she accidentally burns down a bart of her school and her parents are forced to send her to an exclusive boarding school.

The only thing Anne wants to do is get back to New York, but that all changes when her roommate, Isabella's body is found in the woods behind the school. Determined to find the killer, especially when everyone else is remaining oddly silent, Anne sets to work with the help of Isabella's twin brother and Brent, a cute classmate, but will searching for the killer put her own life in jeopardy or even get her framed for Isabella's murder?

Taylor creates a cast of vastly different characters, each with secrets and motives of their own for wanting to harm Isabella that leads to a lot of twists and turns throughout the entire story. From page one, the story doesn't let up. It really draws the reader in and the one thing I really loved was Anne's sassy and sarcastic attitude. The mystery was also something that kept me guessing, and that was what made me want to keep reading.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves the show Pretty Little Liars or Revenge, or just a good thrilling mystery because that is what you will get with Prep School Confidential. I look forward to seeing what other mysteries await with the next of Anne Dowling's stories.

Source: NetGalley

2013 Debut Author Challenge: #7 of 12

Practice makes perfect

I have recently taken up a new hobby (well, taken up is putting it mildly, becoming obsessed with is a better way to put it) and it has reminded me that with any new skill it does take time and effort to master - nothing happens over night (even though it would be so easy if that were the case, but not as much fun).

What is my new hobby you may ask? It is none other than the wonderful world of digital photography. After obtaining a DSLR camera with various lenses and filters, a tripod and anything else I would possibly need to get started (yeah, not exactly a cheap hobby), I've been reading anything I can get my hands on to learn all the different tricks I can do with my new toy. The one problem I have encountered with the camera is that my usual 2hr drive to get to my parents now takes roughly 3hrs when I stop to take pictures of the landscape.

I know it's going to take a lot of time to master my camera, but anything worth mastering is worth the time and energy that is put into it (as long as you enjoy it). What I'm looking forward to as well is the digital photography course I start in a month which will hopefully allow me to take my digital photography to a professional level.

The one thing I have learnt with starting this journey is that it's okay to make mistakes, but you need to try new things and experiment or you won't know if you can succeed. Boy experimenting is the one thing I'm good at, I don't think I want to stand in the rain for another 20 minutes photographing a lake... yeah, the lengths you go to get a good picture.

What is a hobby that you've been practicing at? Have you had any interesting experiences doing your hobby?

Heavenly Hell Blog Tour

Welcome to my stop on the Heavenly Hell blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours.  Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!


Heavenly Hell

by Aria Williams

Release Date: 04/24/13

Summary from Goodreads:
You'd think being stuck in the body of a beautiful seventeen year old girl forever would be a gift. But when you are fallen, it is more like a curse.

Indiana was a beautiful angel, enjoying the perks of Heaven, until she was tricked by a demon to fall in love with him. She was forced to fall from Heaven and remain in her seventeen year old form, banished to Earth, for all of eternity.

Now, unable to cope with her banishment, she is a seemingly normal seventeen year old girl by day, while she spends her nights punishing men for the wrongs they have committed against women.

Although Indiana has lived on Earth for thousands of years, she recently settled into a small town, where she has finally been able to make some lasting friendships. When a handsome, mysterious boy comes to town, Indiana knows something is not right. He might end up her ally, or she might end up in the fight of her life.

About the Author

I am an author with Limitless Publishing who loves to write YA and paranormal romance.

Author Links

  

My Review:

Trapped in the body of a 17-year-old, beautiful fallen angel Indianna pretends to be a normal teenage girl by day, while at night she goes around and punishes any man who abuses woman or hurts them in any way. When a mysterious boy comes to town she instantly knows something isn't right, but will he end up her ally or will he cost her her life?

Heavenly Hell was an intriguing take on the fallen angel and a non-stop thrilling read that made me want to keep turning the page to find out what was going to happen next. All the characters were strong and believable, especially Indy, who was a strong and kick-butting teenager, which I absolutely loved. Then came along Nate, the Demon slayer whose job was to kill Indy because his boss told him she was a demon and he was unsure of the truth.

For a fallen angel story it had it's own uniqueness which was great to see and Indy had her own backstory and history that was hinted at throughout the story which made for a great story. I look forward to reading the next in the series and I recommend this to anyone who loves the paranormal genre, especially those fallen angel stories.

***GIVEAWAY***
1-ebook copy of Heavenly Hell and swag pack (1x canvas print bag, 2x bookmarks, 1x key ring and 1xcharm bracelet) (INT)

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