In a story of Spy vs. Spy we have Pride and Prejudice meets Veronica Mars.

 

Strawberry “Berry” Fields, has been raised by her private detective dad since the death of her mom eight years ago.  Her dad has taught the finer points of spying and getting the proof that she needs for her clients.  But when she spies her best friend’s dad with a letter on her mother’s letter head she has to know what her mother was working on for him and whether or not it got her killed.

 

Berry needs the help of the new boy at school, (HIS NAME), who is kind of a loner since she can’t ask her best friend to spy on her own father.  But why is (HIS NAME) so willing to break into the offices of (COMPANY NAME) with a girl he really just met?

 

Next enter in two new boys Tanner and Ryan who seem to keep appearing everywhere Berry goes with Mary Chris.  What is it they are after and why is Tanner so interested in what Berry is up too?

 

 

Overall this book is a good quick read.  Not the best book out there but with light quick references to Pride and Prejudice and slight reminders to Veronica Mars this is still a completely separate story and great in its own way.  

*DNF at 24 pages* 

Yes, that's right. 24 pages. I don't think I've ever given up on a book so quickly. 

You want to know where I draw the line? When our charming MC is at a party, with plenty of booze and sex to go around for everyone, and her charm bracelet that apparently makes her "invisible to boys" (or some crap about them not noticing her) breaks off, and she starts playing beer pong and the guy there, Austin, who she has never met before, "notices" her and 1 page later they're in a closet, making out and shedding clothes, before they get interrupted by MC's long-time crush, Blake. 2 pages after that, Austin is having sex with one of MC's "friends".

Nope. Nopity nope nope.

So yeah, that was as far in as I got, but if that's how a book starts, count me the hell out. Plus, I did flip through a tiny bit more after that, and UGH NO. I'm pretty sure it doesn't get any better. And not only that, but the writing was pretty atrocious.

This poor author has to hate being constantly compared to Veronica Mars, but the home dynamics make it impossible not to make the comparison. The single dad, mystery behind the mom, the snarky teenage daughter PI... Heck, even the dog plays a similar roll, although this time it's a St. Bernard. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Veronica Mars, and I really enjoyed the story, but the whole time I was picturing Kristen Bell in my head because the differences weren't significant enough for me to develop my own character. Jason just became a white, gay version of Wallace.

 

I'll be honest with you, I hope this turns out to be a series. I read it because of the comparisons and with the exception of the characters snark being a little weak, I had fun. There's been a marshmallow size hole in whole in my heart for years and it helped fill that in just a little bit.

3.5 This poor author has to hate being constantly compared to Veronica Mars, but the home dynamics make it impossible not to make the comparison. The single dad, mystery behind the mom death, the snarky teenage daughter PI... Heck, even the dog plays a similar roll, although this time it's a St. Bernard. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Veronica Mars, and I really enjoyed the story, but the whole time I was picturing Kristen Bell in my head because the differences weren't significant enough for me to develop my own character. Jason just became a white, gay version of Wallace.
I'll be honest with you, I hope this turns out to be a series. I read it because of the comparisons and with the exception of the characters snark being a little weak, I had fun. There's been a marshmallow size hole in whole in my heart for years and it helped fill that in just a little bit.

So, I did finish this one. Wow. What a terrible, terrible book. Imagine taking every single available YA trope - gorgeous character overlooked by men; powers yet to be revealed, random mythology (in this case Celtic) reworked in a hackneyed and trite way, damned love triangle with two beautiful, powerful men vying for the affections of the newly gorgeous MC. One of whom is apparently a god? Add to it some kilts, some jeweled swords, and the MC's nascent ability to shoot blue fire from her hands. Also, a magical breeding program.

 

Throw it in a blender. Give it the trope-fest whirl.

 

Voila. You have this book.

 

On the bright side, it is reasonably well-written and edited, and the cover is pretty. It's just that the story sucks. Read at your own risk.

 

Updates after the cut.