S.T.A.G.S. is the New Secret Society YA Novel

The old adage warns us not to judge a book by its cover which is exactly the opposite of what I did with S.T.A.G.S. by M.A. Bennett. The cover grabbed me immediately, with it's chilling juxtaposition of high class decor and the gun scope marking. I was instantly intrigued.

The novel takes place in a fancy English boarding school where the cool kids, a.k.a. The Medievals,  shun technology and opt instead for a weekend of "Huntin' Shootin' Fishin'".  Without giving too much away, this book exceeded my expectations and brought new life into the thriller/suspense YA genre. Despite one gruesome scene, the book was a fast paced read that would find a place onto anyone who enjoys secret society type novels.

Southern Gothic Thriller Hits All the Right Marks

When I started reading the novel The Breathless by Tara Goedjen, I did not know it was geared to young adults. As a matter of fact, I didn't realize it was a YA novel at all until after I finished and I went online to read other people's opinions of the book. In no way am I suggesting that YA books are any less entertaining than other thrillers, but this one really blew me away. As a reader it pulled me right in and kept me at arm's length for the four days it took me to finish.

The book does center around teenagers which is probably why it lends itself well to the YA category but the story is so much more than your typical teenager thriller. Set in and around an old antebellum mansion, the story takes on a strong southern gothic feel immediately. So much so that you often find yourself as a reader forgetting that this book partially takes place in a time of iPhones, social media and selfies. It's haunting, romantic and full of secrets.

The novel works to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of Ro Cole while bringing up spells to raise the dead, shady family history and a few genuine scares tossed in for good measure.

This was an enjoyable book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good page turning thriller.

Make Up by Michelle Phan is Just What Her YouTube Fans Ordered

If you know who Michelle Phan is, than you hit the bulls eye for this book's demographic. Are you scratching your head and wondering if I've insulted your age? Don't worry, I fall in the upper 30s category (wink wink) and this book still offered some useful advice to me as well.

Make Up by Michelle Phan

Quick back story of Michelle Phan because really, that is what makes her such an internet celebrity. Michelle is a self made celeb (which is quite refreshing!) who made a name for herself by creating How-To Makeup tutorials on YouTube. She amassed a HUGE following and created both Ipsy (the full-size monthly beauty box subscription service), as well as her own cosmetics line, em. Quite an impressive accomplishment for a twenty-something.

Make Up is Phan's first book and is basically three books in one. First is her autobiography, Second is the guts of the book (make up tips, tricks and tutorials) and the Third section about how to cultivate your own business/brand.

I think that this book is perfectly targeted for the tweens through twenty-year old set, as it gives them lots of useful advice (both style wise and career wise), but for anyone a little older, this information may all be old news to you.

Having said that, I found certain aspects of the book to be useful (the smokey eye instruction because I can never quite nail the perfect technique!). There were also ample reminders about Do's and Dont's in the age of oversharing and social media.

Definitely gift this book to a young girl in your life. She'll be impressed that you even KNEW who Michelle Phan was!

Blogger note: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. This review is entirely based on my opinion and contains my honest evaluation.