A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

 

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

“Truyan Saigas didn't choose to become a con artist, but after her father is lost at sea, it’s up to her to support her mother and two younger sisters. A gifted art forger, Tru has the unique ability to paint the future, but even such magic is not enough to put her family back together again, or stave off the gangsters demanding payment in blood for her mother’s gambling debts.

Left with few options, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. He offers a fresh start for her mother and sisters and elusive answers about her father's disappearance, but in exchange, she must join him in his desolate undersea palace. And she must assist him in a plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King's inner circle, painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms. . . .” - taken from Goodreads.

An incredible twist of the Beauty and the Beast tale that is every fantasy lover’s dream. 

Visit Elizabeth Lim’s website.

Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManus

 

“For all of Kat’s life, it’s just been her and her mother, Jamie—except for the forty-eight hours when Jamie was married and Kat had a stepbrother, Liam. That all ended in an epic divorce, and Kat and Liam haven’t spoken since.

Now Jamie is a jewel thief trying to go straight, but she has one last job—at billionaire Ross Sutherland’s birthday party. And Kat has figured out a way to tag along. What Kat doesn’t know, though, is that there are two surprise guests at the dazzling Sutherland compound that weekend. The last two people she wants to run into. Liam and his father—a serial scammer who has his sights set on Ross Sutherland’s youngest daughter.

Kat and Liam are on a collision course to disaster, and when a Sutherland dies, they realize they might actually be in the killer’s crosshairs themselves. Somehow Kat and Liam are the new targets, and they can’t trust anyone—except each other.

Or can they? Because if there’s one thing both Kat and Liam know, it’s how to lie. They learned from the best.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a fast paced thrilling mystery that will keep readers guessing until the very end when the last person suspected is the culprit. Kat and Liam both realize that they are in over their heads very quickly when things quickly spiral out of control. With only each other and one surprising Sutherland to figure out what is going on and who is trying to kill Jamie, time is running out before Kat and Liam’s lives implode.

Visit Karen M. McManus’ website.

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe (The Girls I’ve Been book 1)

 

“Nora O’Malley’s been a lot of girls. As the daughter of a con-artist who targets criminal men, she grew up as her mother’s protégé. But when mom fell for the mark instead of conning him, Nora pulled the ultimate con: escape.

For five years Nora’s been playing at normal. But she needs to dust off the skills she ditched because she has three problems:

#1: Her ex walked in on her with her girlfriend. Even though they’re all friends, Wes didn’t know about her and Iris.

#2: The morning after Wes finds them kissing, they all have to meet to deposit the fundraiser money they raised at the bank. It’s a nightmare that goes from awkward to deadly, because:

#3: Right after they enter bank, two guys start robbing it.

The bank robbers may be trouble, but Nora’s something else entirely. They have no idea who they’re really holding hostage…” - taken from Goodreads.

This was an unexpected book that wasn’t on my radar but I’m so glad that I picked it up. Imagine going to the bank to make a deposit with your ex-boyfriend and current girlfriend and hoping that it will be quick. If that isn’t enough of a nightmare, before you can leave, wwe bank is held up for a robbery that goes terribly wrong. Readers get to meet Nora O’Mallery (not her real name) as she tries to figure out a way to get everyone out of the situation alive. Told in present day with flashbacks to Nora’s previous lives with her con artist mother and hoe she escaped, readers will be clamoring for the ending to see if everyone survives and what Nora chooses to divulge about her past.

Book two, The Girl in Question, is out now.

Visit Tess Sharpe’s website.

Red Glove by Holly Black (Curse Workers book 2)

“The cons get twistier and the stakes get higher.”

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't read the first book in the series, White Cat, Stop! I don't want to ruin the story for you.

“Curses and cons. Magic and the Mob.”


After spending the summer with his mother in Atlantic City looking for her next millionaire mark, Cassel Sharpe is almost looking forward to the start of school. In a short time, Cassel has discovered quite a few things about himself. He is the most powerful curse worker around. Cassel has the ability to transform with a touch of his hand. The girl he loves, Lila Zacharov, is no longer a white cat he unknowingly turned. But unfortunately, Cassel’s mother, an emotion worker, has cursed Lila to love Cassel and he can no longer trust what Lila says. And after spending the summer avoiding Lila, Cassel is stunned when she enrolls at Wallingford Prep. Looks like it might be an interesting school year.

Cassel is soon pulled out of class and called into the headmistress’s office. Upon his arrival, he notices two men waiting on him are federal officers. He is taken to their headquarters where he is eventually told that his brother Philip is dead and that he was working with the government at the time. Cassel is offered training and a job with the government if he finds out the information Philip was going to supply. The only clue the feds have to go on is a grainy image of a woman wearing a red glove. To make matters worse, at Philip’s funeral, Lila’s father offers Cassel a job. He also tells Cassel he wasn’t responsible for his brother’s death.

Which path will Cassel choose, the feds or the mob? Can he find out who is responsible for his brother’s death? And does Lila really love him or is it just the curse talking?

The trilogy concludes with Black Heart in 2012.

Visit Holly Black’s website.

White Cat: The Curse Workers series by Holly Black

Curse workers have the ability to change someone's emotions, luck or memories with the touch of their hand. Nowadays curse work is illegal so most workers are part of one of the six big worker families. Cassel Sharpe comes from a family of curse workers, only he isn't a worker. What Cassel is good at is faking and lying. He is trying to live a normal life. That is as normal as can be for someone who killed their best friend three years ago and doesn't remember doing it.

One night Cassel wakes up on the roof of his dorm. He was sleepwalking while dreaming of a white cat that bit his tongue out. He is kicked out of Wallingford Preparatory and is sent to live with his brother Philip since his mother is in prison for doing curse work. Soon Cassel's Grandad comes to take him home. The house is trashed since Cassel's parents were hoarders. No one has lived there in three years since Cassel's father died and his mother went to prison. He and his Grandad start to clean up the mess.

While at home, Cassel notices a stray white cat, the same one from his dreams. It seems as if the cat is trying to tell him something. And being back around his brothers he notices that they are keeping secrets from him and his memories have been altered. Soon Cassel realizes that his life is not what it seems and he has a few secrets of his own.

Cassel's story continues in Red Glove out May 2011 and picks up about six months after White Cat ends.

Visit Holly Black's website.