Meow if it's Murder by T.C. LoTempio

For the two years I have worked as a bookseller, I have avoided the mystery section of my store like the plague. I have never had a tolerance for novels following the brooding, damaged detective main character as they solve crimes and have a drinking problem. I have a lot of old ladies tendencies, but I swore reading cozies would never be one of them. Well, clearly I lied to myself because the moment I saw the cover and description, I knew I had to own this book. Filled with wit, humor, a handsome cat and constant plot twists (plus a steamy little romance) this book had my full attention from the moment I picked it up.

Our main character Nora Charles has just returned to he hometown of Cruz, California from Chicago to take over her mother's sandwich shop, since she'd just passed away. Having been a crime reporter, specializing in mob stories, Nora's new quiet life lasts a whopping 15 minutes before she's diving head first in a cold case involving her late mother's good friend. As the questions begin piling up with little end in sight, Nora is surprised by a chubby tuxedo cat showing up at her shop. Welcoming himself into her life (as most cats do) Nora finds herself a very reluctant cat owner, until she discovers he once belonged to a PI and may have some detective skills up his sleeve. With a shocking ability of communication, Nick literally spells out clues for Nora using scrabble tiles when she just needs a little extra nudge. Right when it seems like Nora will never be able to figure out just who dun' it, everything wraps up and ties together with a neat little bow.

For my first cozy, I have to say it was amazing. Being anti-mystery genre, I was shocked to find myself entirely submerged and loving this novel. I've got so many questions left about our little sleuth kitty Nick and am already dying for the next installment. The author is coming to my store on Tuesday, December 2nd and I've gotta remember to ask her how I can teach my cat to play scrabble too. Hilarious, witty, intriguing and exciting this beguiling read will definitely entertain a variety of readers, even those that aren't big cat fans. This is bar none my recommendation for anyone looking for a neat mystery not focused entirely on a police force or detective.

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Conversion by Katherine Howe

The first book I read by Katherine Howe was The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, I had been floored by this novel as I am a massive fan of Salem witches and well written fiction. When I saw that she was coming out with a teen book I knew I'd be all over it. Distractions mounted and I only just got around to reading this gem and am slightly mad at myself for taking so long. Ripped into the two worlds you go between through chapters, I found myself unable to walk away, constantly looking at my bookmark, itching to pick it back up. Based on true events, Arthur Miller's Crucible, and realistic day to day teen girl struggles Conversion is sure to please just about any reader.

Colleen Rowley is your main character in 2012, an attendee of St. Joans elite private girls high school, she is in a battle for valedictorian when things around her start to crumble. Girls are falling ill in class, seizure like spasms, hair falling out, coughing up pins, inexplicable tragedies befalling everyone Colleen knows. Jump to 1706 and follow around Ann Putnam, the character omitted from Arthur Miller's crucible, but the young woman to finger 40 witches in the sleepy town of Salem Village. Colleen's home town of Danvers turns out to be originally know as Salem Village where so many women were hanged hundreds of years before, could the town be cursed? Perhaps the strange ailments that bewitched a group of young women in the 1700's is back and grabbing a new batch of girls? Maybe it's just a group of stressed out, over worked young girls reaching out for attention, filled with so many twists and turns Conversion will keeping you second guessing what you think is right the entire way.

Weaving together two equally captivating stories Conversion is an intense book you won't be able to walk away from. With deeply developed characters, emotional plot twists and mind boggling discoveries this is definitely a great novel to pick up for any YA fan. I really think this would make an awesome holiday gift for the avid reader, it'll occupy a decent amount of time and leave the reader feeling very relieved at the end and a little bit questioning. As I said before, I definitely regret taking so long to finally pick this book up, but I am thrilled to have finally read such a great book by a renowned author with such clear skill and passion for her trade.

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The Thickety by J.A. White

I was introduced to The Thickety by pure chance at work when a really neat looking envelope arrived in the mail. I found myself constantly looking at the artwork and took it home at the end of my shift, fast forward a few hours later and I'd completed the book and sent a fan-girling email to the author. The moment I started the book I knew how phenomenal it was going to be, filled with vivid imagery and skill boosting vocabulary, this book is awesome for the intended age range of 8-12 and even better for all humans that like to read at all. In the time this book has been released I have sold just about 60 copies to readers ranging from 8-53 years old. Filled with beautiful scenery, terrifying beasts, laughter and heart ache The Thickety is a captivating read for any fan of the Harry Potter series.

When Kara Westfall was five years old, her mother was convicted of the worst of all crimes: witchcraft. Years later, Kara and her little brother, Taff, are still shunned by the people of their village, who believe that nothing is more evil than magic. Especially the dark that emanates from a lush forest advancing on the village, known by many names, Sorydyr's Realm, The Dark Wood, but mostly the Thickety. Lured into it's shadows by a strange bird and promises of secrets revealed, young Kara stumbles upon the answers she has always sought, but uncovers even more than she bargained for. Finding a powerful book, that may have belonged to her mother, Kara is overwhelmed by the power to right the wrongs done unto her and her family. Kara's adventure leads her on a roller coaster of trials and tribulations teaching her life lessons she never thought she'd need to learn.

Fast paced and exciting from beginning to end The Thickety is a four book series that you can not miss. The characters will make you love them and as you make your way through the strange forest of Sordyr you find not everything is always as it may seem. Watch the shadows and listen carefully, there are many hidden truths to be found all around you. Easily my most recommended read at all times, I can not stress how well I believe this series has the power to do.

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The Cellar by Natasha Preston

I like to believe I am at least 90% dead inside, but while reading The Cellar the amount of times I cried confirmed, I am not. Filled with heart stopping suspense and soul gripping sadness this novel had a depth I was not expecting from a YA title. What I thought would be a creepy story about a stolen girl turned into a heart wrenching tale of Stockholm syndrome and a mother's worst fear.

A regular night out with friends turns into a garish nightmare for 16 year old Summer when she's kidnapped just blocks from her home. Taken by a man demanding to be called Clover, she is thrust into a cellar made up into a full on apartment with three other girls. Her named is immediately changed to Lily and we learn all the girls have been renamed to mimic beautiful flora, Rose, Poppy and Violet. Clover has collected his perfect family that he will gladly kill to protect, even if that means destroying a flower and replacing her with a new one. Under the guise that he is cleansing the world of filth, we learn that Clover is a deranged man that was broken by his mother at a young age and spent his life trying to make her proud by killing "whores" who ruin perfectly good families. As Summer slowly begins to fade into Lily over a course of time, begrudgingly sliding into her role to accept the horrors she must face on a daily basis. With one girl hopelessly in love with her capture, another praying for escape but too fearful to try and the last so desperately reckless, Lily begins to lose hope. As the chapters jump between Clover, Summer and her beloved boyfriend Lewis, we learn no one on the outside has given up a single shred of hope. Day in and day out Lewis and her family tirelessly hunt for her, tracking any clue no matter how futile. Until a gut decision turns Lewis in the right direction, you are kept on the edge of your seat fearing Clover is too clever to be figured out.

A truly terrifying tale for any young girl, parent, lover or sibling The Cellar opens our eyes to the madness that could be behind any corner. Though I would've loved even more insight to Clover's life with his Mommie Dearest, his villainous character had so many well developed sides and emotions, he was able to strike fear with any mercurial stare. You will grow to love the lowers you watch wither in their tomb and pray for their safety and happy ending. Any heavy suspense or thriller fan will definitely love his novel as much as I did.

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The Beast Within by Serena Valentino

I picked up The Beast Within the moment it arrived in the bookstore I work at and it has sat atop my ever growing pile waiting for the perfect moment to be read. That moment finally arrived on a Monday night and nothing was able to force me to put this book down. Upon completion of this novel I found myself even more viciously in love with Beast than I have been my entire life.  If you loved Beauty and The Beast and have always felt a longing for more about the beautiful, broken boy this is the book you need to pick up immediately.

The book starts with a slight difference to the Prince's downfall into the Beast visage he later dons by having it be the work of a family of witches that curse him fr breaking the heart of their gorgeous, beloved youngest sister. The Prince scoffs at their threats as idle words of worry and continues on in his search for a bride beautiful enough to be at his arm. When he finds a girl he deems worthy of his presence, he begins drifting into madness - noticing slight changes in his perfect appearance, a more haggard and drawn face, a clear cruelty and violence about his eyes his mean demeanor become more and more prominent. At last he recalls the words of the witched, true love's kiss having the ability to break this vile curse. So he treats his new lady with the utmost kindness and care until the perfect moment he may finally kiss her, only the curse speeds up so he lashes out, banishing the girl from his kingdom and driving her to extremes and destroying her family. Irate, he locks down the castle, refusing guests and keeping to his room until he becomes the Beast we all know so well. Enters Belle to take her father's place as his captive, and more of the story we have all grown to love, but this time with more insight to Beast's feelings and inner thoughts shining a light on the sweet scared boy he is. Ending of course with our fairytale kiss you ride a roller coaster of emotions leading up to that point with more story than one could have ever hoped for.

Putting my extreme adoration for this tale (as old as time HA) aside, it is a beautifully haunting novel delving farther into the psyche of this man than ever before. Even if you weren't previously a large fan of Beauty and The Beast this book weaves a story of romance that will melt any frozen heart and quell any skeptic beast. A quick read that is sure to take even the slowest reader just a short stint of time, it's a light novel that will uplift you and let you walk away feeling even better than before.

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The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters

This is the YA novel young girls NEED to have in their personal collections.Witty, brave and unapologetic this book,though based in 1900, holds a lot true for today's woman and girl. After having so loved Shadow of Blackbirds, I was positively flushed at the idea of getting another taste of Ms. Winter's beautiful talent and I must say, I was in no way disappointed. In under 24 hours I started and completed this book with an intense desire to sing it's praises from the rooftops.

We enter the novel meeting young Olivia Mead on her 17th birthday at a hypnotism show, titillated to be terrified by the evenings performance, only to find it would leave her with a bit more. After being called on stage and used in an act, her father has the brilliant idea of keeping her a "good little lady" by having the spark and spunk hypnotized right out of her. Young performer Henri agrees to this challenge for a serious financial need, but as he grows to know Olivia, finds himself unable to keep her silenced or hurt her. The beautiful romance that takes place through the novel rides on an eloquent back burner, not trumping the women's voices as they fight for their rights to be equals. Meeting so many young suffragists amidst some of the worst times to be a woman instills power in your character and in your reader. As Olivia struggles through situations that aren't so far off from instances today,you find yourself rallying for her strength and victory.

When this book came to an end I was almost devastated to let it go, but so proud to see a book directed at young girls that really drives home the views and ideas they need more and more every day. So often our girls are taught you are not worthy without beauty, don't save yourself - a prince will arrive and fix all your problems, but not in the book. Cat has given girls the voice and power to stand on their own and realize they have the strength to fight their own battles. I firmly believe we need a hundred more books like this for our girls, immediately.

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You by Caroline Kepnes

Ever get tired of seeing a man stalk a woman and her taking it as a compliment and the story crafting him as a beautiful romantic? Well I know it kills me, and Caroline Kepnes' novel You put stalking, obsessive men in the right light. 

Your character Joe starts out as your average bookseller (I immediately bonded over that obviously) who sees a beautiful woman walk in, and does what every bookseller does in that scenario, watches you and judges the books you touch. Being slightly creepy myself, I see no harm in his strong desire to speak to this lass named Guinevere Beck, after their encounter at the register you think, well isn't he kinda cute. Until the next pages come along and you are very wrong. We've all done some social media stalking before, meet a cute guy, get his name, hunt his Facebook, well darling Joe takes it to a new extreme - he finds her Facebook and Twitter and home address and goes to stand outside her house, in full costume so she doesn't recognize him. If that isn't a well thought out romantic plan, I just don't know what is! The story progresses and Beck starts bumping into Joe, what a surprise to see you there!  Not really, he followed her, and stole her phone but you'll learn all about how much he needed it. Eventually, as these things tend to do, it spirals out of control - people in Beck's life go missing. As Joe becomes more and more convinced he and Beck were destined to be together and she remains a flighty social butterfly, he gets desperate to maintain his hold on her, no matter what that may take.

If you enjoy Stephen King's Misery or just want to see some light shone on what an obsessive stalker is actually like, you need to run out and get You - it has easily become one of my most favorite novels of this year.

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