Mundie Moms

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

CHASING TRUTH / HIDING LIES by Julie Cross / Book Review #ChasingTruth #HidingLies #EleanorAmesSeries


Out today is HIDING LIES, the second book in The Eleanor Ames Series by Julie Cross. This series is one YA fans who love a thrilling mystery, suspense, action, and romance will enjoy. It's a mix of Veronica Mars, Ally Carter a modern day YA Sherlock Holmes. To celebrate it's release, I wanted to share my reviews on the first books in the series. This was a series I really enjoyed reading, and devoured both books back to back. Note, there is some violence, language and sensual scenes that may not be suitable for younger readers.

ABOUT CHASING TRUTH



By: Julie Cross
Published by: Entangled Teen
Released on: September 27th, 2016
Series: Eleanor Ames #1
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads

At Holden Prep, the rich and powerful rule the school—and they’ll do just about anything to keep their dirty little secrets hidden.

When former con artist Eleanor Ames’s homecoming date commits suicide, she’s positive there’s something more going on. The more questions she asks, though, the more she crosses paths with Miles Beckett. He’s sexy, mysterious, arrogant…and he’s asking all the same questions.

Eleanor might not trust him—she doesn’t even like him—but they can’t keep their hands off of each other. Fighting the infuriating attraction is almost as hard as ignoring the fact that Miles isn’t telling her the truth…and that there’s a good chance he thinks she’s the killer.


This book is one YA fans who love a thrilling mystery, suspense, action, and romance will enjoy. It's a mix of Veronica Mars, Ally Carter a modern day YA Sherlock Holmes. I wouldn't except anything less from a Julie Cross book. Eleanor and Miles's story was a heart racing, exciting read with a mix of humor, some swooning, and a lot of trying to figure out who as behind all the trouble that was happening.

Eleanor and Miles were fun characters to get to know. Though Eleanor to me was a bit easier to connect with. She's not had the best of upbringings and she's doing her best to start over with a new life, and a second chance all while trying to leave her past behind her. Her past isn't as easy to leave behind. I loved her girl power attitude, and the fact that she wasn't afraid to risk it all to uncover what she felt wasn't right. She doesn't settle nor does she take no for answer. 

Miles and Eleanor as a good match, and great opposites. There's definitely more mystery surrounding him. I almost had him figured out before more is revealed about who he really is, and why he's everywhere Eleanor is, aside from going to the same school. I loved how these two can play the same game, yet get under each other's skin at the same time. Their chemistry was sizzling. I liked what these two had to offer each other, and despite the opposite sides they're one so to speak, I liked how they tried to make things work. 

The twists in this book were awesome! There was a lot involved with the twists, and the who done it. I didn't see that one coming at all. The characters in this book were all interesting. It was easy to see why some were deemed suspects, yet some of them I was surprised with the change of direction their characters went at the end of the book. The pacing this book is fast paced, and highly entertaining. 

I'm not sure how I missed this book's release a couple of years ago, because this was definitely my kind of read. It definitely kept me hooked and I devoured it in one sitting. If you're a fan of action, suspense and some romance mixed in, definitely add this one to your list of books to read. 

*There is some violence, language and sensual scenes that may not be suitable for younger readers.

ABOUT HIDING LIES



By: Julie Cross
Published by: Entangled Teen
Released on: April 17th, 2018
Series: Eleanor Ames #2
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads

Fans of Veronica Mars or Ally Carter will love the snarky, whip-smart former con artist Eleanor, in this sequel to Chasing Truth.

At Holden Prep, dirty little secrets always have a way of coming to the surface.

Eleanor Ames has never been what she seems. Average high school student on the outside, but reformed con artist trying to break free of her past on the inside. When Eleanor receives startling news about someone from her previous criminal life, plans for a new operation coinciding with her school’s upcoming field trip quickly consume her.

But operations rarely go according to plan. And this is one her irresistible teen FBI agent boyfriend, Miles, would never approve of.

Now, more than just Ellie’s reputation is at stake. If she fails, it could be her life


Picking up right were Chasing Truth ends, Cross doesn't waste much time throwing readers right back into the mix of Eleanor and Miles's complicated lives. If you haven't read the first book in awhile, no worries. Cross does a great job at recapping some of the key events from the first book within the first couple of chapters, making it easy to get right back into the story. 


Ellie's past quickly catches up to her in this story, leaving Ellie with some tough choices. Due to some events at the end of the last book, Miles and Ellie have some tough choices to make, and some complications they have to work through that are out of their control. Ellie once again proves she's the tough, resilient heroine she was in the first book. She definitely doesn't have an easy out with complex storyline. 

Miles frustrated me more in this book. I liked how Ellie saw a double standard when it came to their trusting each other. Though it doesn't get explained until later on in the book, it was something I'm glad wasn't overlooked when it came to Miles, and his secrets. That certain thing (which I won't mention because of spoilers) definitely surprised me with Miles, though I suppose it shouldn't have.

With all the danger and drama surrounded Ellie's past, her family's role in this book, their ties to the mob, and a the twist that happened in the previous book coming back for them in this book, I had excepted a more dramatic ending towards the end than what took place. Having said that, I do like this book's ending. It definitely took me longer to get into this storyline than it did for Chasing Truth. Once I did though, I couldn't stop reading. I'm really hoping that this ending means there will be another story in this series, because there are a lot of unanswered questions. 

As I've previously shared, this series is one YA fans who love a thrilling mystery, suspense, action, and romance will enjoy. It's a mix of Veronica Mars, Ally Carter a modern day YA Sherlock Holmes. This was a series I really enjoyed reading, and devoured both books back to back. I'm really hoping there will be another book in this series.

*There is some violence, language and sensual scenes that may not be suitable for younger readers.

OUT TODAY! 4/17/18 New YA Releases


HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY to today's newest YA releases! Here's a list of what you'll find out on book store shelves today: 

Which new releases are you looking forward to picking up today? 

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