The Tower By Jade Varden

Series: Deck Of Lies #2
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery
Release Date: April 5th 2012
Source: Review Copy From Author
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars - I may or may not have thought it was a Dalek when I first saw it
Synopsis: Death brings some families closer, but it’s ripped mine apart. I wanted to convince the police that they had the wrong suspect...but I never expected them to start suspecting me. Now, I have no choice but to keep searching for the truth, even if all my relationships fall to pieces around me. Someone is trying to make me look guilty. I never thought my mission to prove my own innocence would lead me to more family secrets. I thought I had already discovered the truth about myself. But every answer raises more questions, and everything I think I know is about to change...again. I have to find the truth, no matter how much it hurts -- before I get charged with murder. 

I started this book with huge expectations after reading and loving the first book. And did it meet my expectations? No. It exceeded them. The second book in the Deck Of Lies series has all the mystery and twists that drew me to the first book but they're multiplied ten times over. There is not a dull moment in this book and although the turns can make you slightly dizzy it's well worth it. It would be difficult to describe The Tower without giving too much away so all I'm going to say is that the plot this time around revolves around a murder case, some huge family issues and of course there is romantic aspects.

I have about the same opinion on the characters as I did first time around apart from two slight differences: One, I like Sawyer a lot more than I did originally and two, I do not like Owen. At all. At the end of the first book he was beginning to creep me out but now that feeling has been amplified. Rain grew on me and I began to like her way more than before. My problem was there wasn't nearly enough River, I missed him!

Overall the book is one of the best, most exciting mysteries I have ever read. Jade has managed to lure me into thinking I know who the killer is but then she blows it all out of the water and to keep me from guessing takes a very gifted author. The story building is amazing and the plot is seamless. I would recommend this to people who enjoy just the right mix of entertainment and mystery with of course the cliffhangers that I am beginning to associate with this series. I can honestly say it's one of the best self published books I've read.

My Favorite Quote:
“Lucy?” 
“Sure,” Sawyer smiled. “That’s the re­cep­tion­ist’s name.” 
Von Shel­ton charm.

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Justice By Jade Varden

Cover Rating: 2/5 - Not crazy about the pink myself
Overall Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: "A House of Cards... When you build an entire life on a foundation of lies, it only takes one truth for the whole thing to come crashing down. I never invited the truth in. I never went searching for it. I never had any reason to suspect that the two people I loved most were dishonest with me every second of every day. I made one bad decision, and in a single day my entire world changed. If I'm ever going to discover the truth about myself and my parents, I have to trace all the lies back to their source. I have to try to find the truth that they're hiding. The more I discover about myself, and my past, the more I realize that lies really are better than the truth. But now that I know the lies are all around me, I can't stop until I've discovered them all. I'll pull each lie away, one by one, and examine it to see what's underneath…until this house of cards crumbles into dust at my feet.  I just hope I can survive the crash."

This book saved my life, well not literally. I had run out of books and was about to freak out but luckily Melanie (Cusick-Jones) offered to ask the author of this book if I could have a review copy and I was given one. I really enjoyed this book and it had been one of the only ones I haven't been able to predict. I was constantly thinking I didn't see that coming! When usually I'm like I knew that was going to happen, I bet this will happen next... oh what do you know, I was right. Rain Ramey was quite a good main character and she didn't annoy me too much. There was the stereotypical mean girl character but I didn't hate her either weirdly enough, her brother was okay. I really liked Owen at the beginning and I loved River. The only character I actually hated was Violet, she was just so annoying.

The book is a mystery with a pinch of romance mixed in. Wow it sounds like a recipe now. When we got closer to the end I began to feel creeped out by a certain character - not saying who - and I have suspicions that I need validating! I think I know something important but knowing this book there will be another twist and my suspicions will prove to be wrong. I'm not really one for a mystery but after reading this I don't know why. It was a change from my usual genre but a good one. I would recommend this book to people who like working out mystery's along with the main character. Like a competition who can work it out first, usually I'm good at that. I would give this book 4/5 stars and look forward to reading the second book.

My favorite quote:
"I never meant to run off on you the other day. Believe me, I've got no problem with pretty girls who want to hit on me," he actually had the nerve to wink."

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK