Tag: Geeks

REVIEW: A Geek Girl's Guide series by Julie Anne Lindsey

REVIEW: A Geek Girl’s Guide series by Julie Anne Lindsey

Posted on by Jaymie

Book One – A Geek Girl’s Guide to Murder – When a friend is found dead in her IT office, “geek girl” Mia is the primary suspect for the new security guy. She’ll go to Comic Con and back to find the real killer.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

Book Two – A Geek Girl’s Guide to Arsenic – When an acquaintance at the Renaissance Faire/Craft Fair drops dead in her family’s booth of organic beauty products, Mia’s grandmother’s business is in jeopardy. Mia will have to prove it wasn’t one of their products that poisoned the man if they want to overcome the bad press. What better way to do that but to find the real killer?

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

Book Three – A Geek Girl’s Guide to Justice – Mia is barely over the stress of the last time she stumbled onto a murder when she finds an old friend of her grandparents dead. Jake would love nothing more than for Mia to leave this alone. She’s planning Bree’s baby shower and working three jobs. She has more than enough on her plate. But her grandmother wants to know the truth of what happened to her friend. Mia’s just going to ask some questions. How much trouble could that be?

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

Review

This series is a treat! I don’t even remember where I first heard of it, but the minute I finished the first one, I asked the local library to order the other two.

The characters are my favorite part of this. Mia has a fascinating family and great chemistry with the love interest. I love that Mia is quirky, smart and independent. She’s a fabulous, strong main character.

The mysteries are good. The second book was the strongest for me. Number three had a different feel because the reader doesn’t know the victim at all before he dies. This made it hard to establish strong suspects for the reader to puzzle through.

There’s lots to enjoy in this series – terrific characters, interesting settings (a gated community, the Ren Faire, etc.), fun mysteries, and plenty of “extra” plot pieces to keep the stories engaging. Check out the whole series!

REVIEW: Not Now, Not Ever by Lily Anderson

REVIEW: Not Now, Not Ever by Lily Anderson

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Elliot Lawrence Gabaroche is expected to go to either the Air Force Academy (like the Lawrence part of the family) or go into Law like her dad (which means attending a summer mock trial camp).

But “Ever” Lawrence has been accepted to Camp Onward, a camp for genius students where she hopes to win a scholarship to Rayevich College so she can join their science fiction literature program.

While everyone thinks Ellie is doing what THEY want her to do, she hops a train to Oregon as Ever to pursue her own plans for the future.

Ever doesn’t count on her annoying cousin, Isaiah, showing up at the same camp. They have to pretend to be twins so no one at the camp catches on to their secrets – her real name, his real age, and the fact that neither set of parents knows where they are. If their parents find out, both kids will lose their chance at the scholarship and setting their own course for the future. Ever also doesn’t count on meeting a great guy, making terrific friends, or stumbling into a mystery.

Review

This was excellent! The voice was outstanding. Ever is smart and sharp and so funny. I was truly sad when the book ended and there was no more Ever.

This is the second book published by the author, Lily Anderson, and I have loved both of them. The writing is fantastic. Lots of great voice and terrific humor. Anderson is an author I will put on a “must buy” list because I really enjoy her style.

The cast of characters is quirky and fun. The interplay between the kids on Ever’s team was a hoot. There were lots of great geeky moments. I kept reading passages aloud to my family because I was enjoying the book so much. The scene where the team gets together for the first time, and the counselors give them a taste of what is to come, is one of my favorites.

I loved Ever’s quest for her own path while feeling pressure and expectations from her whole family. The camp scholarship contest was a great plot – it brought interesting characters together and threw in some nice twists and a little mystery. Everything clicked perfectly for me in this book. (Some language)

Many, many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for an electronic review copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reading this book was a delight!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Geekerella by Ashley Poston

REVIEW: Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Elle is one of the biggest Starfield fans ever. She blogs about it. Her parents met because of the show. And her dad started ExcelsiCon to celebrate it. Going to the con this year – winning the cosplay contest – would be a dream come true. And it might even help her escape her nightmare life with her “step-monster” and step-sisters.

Darien is also a huge Starfield fan. But no one knows that. He’s famous for his soap opera work which gets him the role of Prince Carmindor in the Starfield movie. The Starfield fandom hates the casting. They think he’s a poser. There’s a blogger who blasts him online, and her posts have gone viral. And there are leaks and other troubles on the set. Darien can’t catch a break.

Until he starts texting the random girl he called by mistake. In their conversation, both Elle and Darien can be themselves, even though neither knows who the other is. It would be great if they could connect in real life like they do on the phone. But there are too many complications in the way.

 

Review

This was fantastic. Such a fun mashup of science fiction fandoms with the story of Cinderella and a nod to You’ve Got Mail tossed in.

It took a little time for me to get into the rhythm of the story. Elle’s “family” is horrible. She initially has no friends or support which was really sad. And it took a little while for me to warm up to Darien’s character, to really see him as a person rather than the role he had to play. Once the rhythm was established, I couldn’t put the book down.

The Cinderella pieces of the story were my favorite. The “pre-ball” melt down was so horrible and aggravating! But all the pieces – the pumpkin, the dress, the slipper – came together perfectly in fun, fresh ways.

This is a sharp, clever, and FUN story. Great for geeky readers as well as fans of re-worked fairy tales and great teen romance.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½