United We Spy - Ally Carter

United We Spy (Gallagher Girls #6) - Ally Carter
Grade: YA
Rating: 5/5 stars

Cammie Morgan has lost her father and her memory, but in the heart-pounding conclusion to the best-selling Gallagher Girls series, she finds her greatest mission yet. 
Cammie and her friends finally know why the terrorist organization called the Circle of Cavan has been hunting her. Now the spy girls and Zach must track down the Circle’s elite members to stop them before they implement a master plan that will change Cammie—and her country—forever. (Description from Goodreads)

~ * ~ * ~

What is a Gallagher Girl? Well...we’re about to find out.

United We Spy answers so many questions about who Gallagher Girls are and just what role they have in the future of both normal and spy worlds – and we get to finally see a conclusion to the terrorist-style group that is the Circle of Cavan.

Unlike previous books, while we start this one as though off to another school semester, it can’t end that way. The danger was amped up in the last book. The Circle of Cavan doesn’t play safe or fair when it comes to staying in power, and our favourite Gallagher Girls, Blackthorne Boys and amazing adults are racing against an unknown clock to stop the Circle leaders from grabbing more power and destroying the world – and I don’t think I’m exaggerating with that statement. It’s an intense journey! While there are some differences, I’m glad the increasing danger patterns continued in this one; it’s hard to go back to the innocent, carefree spy-school days again. There’s never a dull moment for Cammie and the gang.

Cammie has an interesting struggle throughout United We Spy. We know she was always going to spend time struggling against The Circle of Cavan, but the strange part was her questioning her spy-future at the same time. I liked how humanising this was. She’s not above recognising that the spy life, while all she’s known and wanted to do her whole life, has its dangers. I liked watching her try and decide on her future and come to terms with who she is the most.

I mentioned danger a lot – it needs another mention and a warning for heart attack inducing moments! Ally Carter had me all sorts of nervous throughout 90% of this book...it’s unavoidable and at the same time fun! The danger was mixed in with a few incredible twists, making this book one of the best Gallagher Girls books ever! (my favourite is still #5 – but not to say United We Spy is any less awesome!)

I loved seeing all out favourite characters again, and I’m so sad the series is over, especially because I feel like I was only just introduced to the Gallagher Girls. I will miss them...but there’s always re-reads!

5/5 stars

(ps. Super special bonus scene was amazing. I almost think it should be read before the epilogue, but it was another nice little scene to make me smile!)



Kim
(Also posted to Goodreads)

Perfect Scoundrels - Ally Carter

Perfect Scoundrels (Heist Society#3)- Ally Carter
Grade: YA
Rating: 5/5 stars

Katarina Bishop and W.W. Hale the fifth were born to lead completely different lives: Kat comes from a long, proud line of loveable criminal masterminds, while Hale is the scion of one of the most seemingly perfect dynasties in the world. If their families have one thing in common, it's that they both know how to stay under the radar while getting--or stealing--whatever they want. No matter the risk, the Bishops can always be counted on, but in Hale's family, all bets are off when money is on the line.

When Hale unexpectedly inherits his grandmother's billion dollar corporation, he quickly learns that there's no place for Kat and their old heists in his new role. But Kat won't let him go that easily, especially after she gets tipped off that his grandmother's will might have been altered in an elaborate con to steal the company's fortune. So instead of being the heir--this time, Hale might be the mark. Forced to keep a level head as she and her crew fight for one of their own, Kat comes up with an ambitious and far-reaching plan that only the Bishop family would dare attempt.

To pull it off, Kat is prepared to do the impossible, but first, she has to decide if she's willing to save her boyfriend's company if it means losing the boy. (Description from Goodreads)

~ * ~ * ~


Since the moment I was first introduced to Ally Carter, I’ve been in love. Spies, thieves, mysteries, adventures – she has a way of creating something amazing from a band of teenagers who you normally wouldn’t expect to be so incredible. But never underestimate a crafty teen! ‘Perfect Scoundrels’ sees us heading back into the dangers of planning – and pulling off – the perfect heist. But this time there’s more at stake than just a stranger’s most valuable possessions. This time family, love and loss might just make the perfect impossible.

We all know there’s a bit of a mystery surrounding W.W. Hale the Fifth - a wealthy young teenage boy, who lucked onto a good thing the night Katarina Bishop introduced him to her life of crime; but luck’s not always on his side when an unfortunate occurrence happens to shake up his past life. And we finally get to see more of the Hale side of things. It was strange seeing this different Hale. And yes, we get a chance to hear more of his super secret name. We’ve experienced Hale only from Kat’s side, without the family pressures - without a family, except for the one he made for himself within Kat’s own crazy family. And then to discover his other world may be about to crumble if Kat can’t stop his fortune from being conned away from him - it's all very tense. We see a mix of a tough and broken Hale throughout this book, and it’s both emotional and crushing.

What I love most about the Heist Society series is how inclusive it is. This is not a series about one character fighting for themselves with a random best friend on the side. No, this series is a collective, a story that wouldn’t be what it is without an incredible bunch of friends and family, working together as a whole. (You might think you know another series like that and you’d be right, but it is Gallagher Girls, so we can all agree Ally Carter is awesome in the way she writes) ‘Perfect Scoundrels’ is no exception to this. Kat draws on her family and closest friends to help keep Hale sane. I love seeing the interaction between Kat and her friends, the experiences they draw on and the way they never feel like that have to do something alone; there’s always someone to lend a helping hand. Or in this case, a lot of someones. Family is definitely a big part of the book, from both Kat and Hale’s side of society. But if there was any doubt before, by the end of the book you know you want to be in Kat’s family. Hale’s filthy rich and selfish relations don’t get any of my sympathy for being thrown into a con - although Hale’s friends do. But sometimes it’s not about blood; it’s about making your own family.

For people who haven’t been too focused on relationships in the past, there are a lot of mentions about Kat and Hale being boyfriend and girlfriend in ‘Perfect Scoundrels’ – A thought that makes me incredibly happy. But it’s not all smooth sailing for the happy couple. I usually love a bit of romance in my stories, just a little something to get the heart pumping. But if you’re a long time Ally Carter fan, you’ll know her stories are more action-adventure-mystery based. And I don’t mind that one bit. Ally doesn’t need a heap of steamy scenes to make you swoon. A brief kiss in a closet sends shivers down my spine and leaves me smiling for days after. Just knowing a couple are together and want each other is enough for me.

I noticed there was a bit of a pattern change when it came to how the story was told. Still in third person and still with an amazing flow, but we don’t see as much of other people as we have in the past. The focus is nearly entirely on Kat. In the past, when the con is being performed, we would have been in the mind of so many characters – the managers and assistants and staff that are being fooled, or even just seeing the scene from Gabrielle, Hamish or Angus’s POVs. Maybe it’s because the con was so close to home, being Hale’s, but I missed seeing the action fall into place with all the other views. But at the same time, a few twists towards the end of the book wouldn’t have had the same effect from another person’s eyes. Kat has a view like no-one else.

Another amazing Heist book that had me grinning, crying and wrapped up on an epic journey. Well done Ally Carter!

5/5 stars

Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

Waiting on Wednesday #5

'Waiting On' Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, where you can gush about books that you're desperate to get your hands on...if only they were published already.

I haven't done one of these in a while, but felt like complaining about the agony of waiting for books with the people who are most likely to understand my pain.

I've been doing a few re-reads lately of a series I only discovered this year - and was incredibly angry at myself for ignoring in the past - Gallagher Girls, by Ally Carter. And while the re-reads are just as good as when I first read the series, it got me thinking about how I'm dying for a new Ally Carter book.

So my latest WoW post is dedicated to Ally's next book - Perfect Scoundrels (Heist Society #3)

Katarina Bishop and W.W. Hale the fifth were born to lead completely different lives: Kat comes from a long, proud line of lovable criminal masterminds, while Hale is the scion of one of the most seemingly perfect dynasties in the world. If their families have one thing in common, it’s that they both know how to stay under the radar while getting-or stealing-whatever they want. 

No matter the risk, the Bishops can always be counted on, but in Hale’s family, all bets are off when money is on the line. When Hale unexpectedly inherits his grandmother’s billion dollar corporation, he quickly learns that there’s no place for Kat and their old heists in his new role. But Kat won’t let him go that easily, especially after she gets tipped off that his grandmother’s will might have been altered in an elaborate con to steal the company’s fortune. So instead of being the heir-this time, Hale might be the mark. 

Forced to keep a level head as she and her crew fight for one of their own, Kat comes up with an ambitious and far-reaching plan that only the Bishop family would dare attempt. To pull it off, Kat is prepared to do the impossible, but first, she has to decide if she’s willing to save her boyfriend’s company if it means losing the boy.

Ally always makes a book fun, funny, exciting and dangerous. I can't wait to get my hands on this book!


Kim

Uncommon Criminals - Ally Carter

Uncommon Criminals (Heist Society #2) 
                                                      - Ally Carter
Grade: YA
Rating: 5/5 stars

Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life life. Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners.

There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long, and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous and that is simply… the emerald is cursed.

Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all she has her best friend—the gorgeous Hale—and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses, realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time.

Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules. (Description from Goodreads)
~ * ~ * ~

Ally Carter has done it again – she has created a perfect, fun mystery and adventure story that I could not put down. Kat, Hale and their other thieving friends take danger and excitement to a whole new level. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. There is nothing better than knowing you can pick up a book by a favourite author and not have to worry that it won’t be what you expected.

Kat Bishop is an epic teenage thief; racing around the globe to steal one of the most famous and mysterious treasures that the world has ever seen: The Cleopatra Emerald. But she’s not stealing it for herself; no, Kat’s an “uncommon criminal” – she steals stolen objects and returns them to their rightful owners, despite potential danger and cost! I love Kat’s lifestyle. She’s grown up surrounded by a life of crime and when she can’t escape the pressures of her family’s thieving history or the rush of adventure she gets for successfully pulling off heists, she decides to use her finely tuned skills for good...mostly. She may do it in a strange way, but her heart is in the right place.

Part of what I love so much about this book (and the one before it: ‘Heist Society’) is the fact that there are so many switches in point-of-view. I love seeing not only Kat’s thoughts and missions, but her friends’ movements too. But they’re not the only ones to feature in this series. There’s something strangely entertaining about seeing the POV of those being conned: the museum owners, the event organisers, the people in possession of the jewels. We get to experience how these people see Kat and her friends – we’re present for every little movement throughout the story. I find it makes everything more exciting - there are no parts left out.

The series isn’t just set up for an individual heist that’s wrapped up at the end of each book. What makes the series so thrilling is that there’s a continuing mystery unfolding slowly over each new story. There is a secret and super skilled thief running around leaving strange calling cards and often causing the characters to panic a bit. The thief is Visily Romani. He’s not new to the series, featuring more in the previous book, but he does pop up again in ‘Uncommon Criminals’. The mystery surrounding his identity and mission in the criminal world leaves me with so many questions. I love when a series has these amazing plot arcs connecting the books. One day we will hopefully discover who Visily Romani is and I know it will be a big reveal!

Like with ‘Heist Society’ I can’t end the review without mentioning Hale. He worried me a little in this book. While completely devoted to Kat, there were moments when I questioned his patience with her thieving style – I shouldn’t doubt his loyalty. Hale is a charming and caring young thief, who can always bring a smile to me face. I loved the continued tension between Kat and Hale and I’m so glad we got to see some sort of resolution for that.

Can’t say enough to show how much I loved this book. Looking forward to the next one.

5/5 stars


Kim
(Originally Posted on Goodreads)

Heist Society - Ally Carter

Heist Society (Heist Society #1) - Ally Carter
Grade: YA
Rating: 5/5 stars

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way. (Description from Goodreads)


~ * ~ * ~

It is no secret that I have a slight Ally Carter obsession. After finishing the Gallagher Girls series I could not wait to get my hands on ‘Heist Society’ and fuel my Carter fire. I had extremely high expectations – not just because it was an Ally book, but because I’d heard fantastic things about the leading male (Hale). My expectations were definitely met.

Katerina ‘Kat’ Bishop is in trouble. Despite trying her hardest to escape the family business, she finds herself pulled back in when he father’s life is in danger. What is this family business? Why, thieving of course. Professionally! Kat grew up in a world where you plan around your latest job: bank robbery, picking pockets, jewellery theft, museum break-ins...the list goes on. But thieving is a dangerous job and it’s a tough game when your life is on the line. I really enjoyed Kat. I loved her torn lifestyle. She doesn’t believe she’s completely cut-out for the life of a thief, but can’t seem to escape it for long. We get to see her question her position within her family and the community she belongs to and it’s interesting to see her work through her issues. Kat also has a pretty tough personality. She faces many dangerous turns and still manages to push her way through them – and comes out relatively unharmed too.

The book is all about family – what you would do to protect them and who you can trust to get a job done right. I loved this part of ‘Heist Society’. Despite their questionable occupations, Kat’s family sticks together through almost anything. It’s nice to see a YA book that has family members so involved with each other; it’s not done very often.

‘Heist Society’ is a sneaky book. There’s a lot of lies and surveillance undertaken in order to pull off the biggest con – the biggest Heist – Kat and her crew have ever had to face. I really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes portion of the heist. This was made easier to experience because the book was told in third person. So many different POVs were explored – particularly towards the end of the novel – that you felt like you were really involved in the action. It worked so well for the story. There’s something crazy-fun about seeing all their plans fall into place and the epic action that followed kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last line.

And finally, Hale. He needs his own paragraph. I fell in love with him from the very first smile and the tension that formed between Kat and Hale was enough to make me crazy. I adored his concern, loyalty and superman boxer-shorts. He’s definitely a character to keep an eye on.

Amazing start to what I’m sure will be another amazing series. Can’t wait to see what sneaky trouble Kat and Hale get up to next.

5/5 stars


Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

Out of Sight, Out of Time - Ally Carter

Out of Sight, Out of Time (Gallagher Girls #5)
                                                       - Ally Carter
Grade: YA
Rating: 5/5 stars

The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, her memory is a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and dirt under her nails.

All she wants is to go home. But even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers as Cammie and her friends face their most difficult challenge yet. With only their training and a few clues to guide them, the girls go in search of answers on the other side of the world. But the Circle is hot on their trail and will stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

It's a race against time (Description from Goodreads)


~ * ~ * ~

Wow, words can’t possibly describe how epic and dark this book is. The change in tone sent the Gallagher Girls series soaring to new heights, to a place I wish hadn’t ended so soon. I am officially obsessed with Cammie and her adventures.

Imagine waking up in a foreign bed; bruised, battered and believing you left home for the summer 3 days ago, only to find out 4 months have gone past and you have no memory of it. Well, this is what happens to Cammie Morgan. For a spy-in-training, loss of memory is like losing a limb. Without it, Cammie could put herself and the people she loves in danger – but danger isn’t something new for her. I always feel incredibly sorry for characters that lose their memories. With the amount of trouble they face on a day-to-day basis, it seems unfair to throw an internal obstacle in their way too. But it does make for an interesting storyline. The twists and turns that evolve from Cammie’s memory issues leaves you desperate to flick through the pages as fast as possible.

‘Out of Sight, Out of Time’ was the most emotional Gallagher Girls book so far. Cammie struggles to find herself and rekindle relationships because of her memory loss. The way Ally Carter puts her in so many vulnerable situations – and shows the growth and development Cammie achieves – had me tearing up at times. I love the change and progress the series – and Cammie – has made. The easy going, fun and carefree story we got in book #1 is long gone. Sure there is still the occasional joke and Cammie’s voice is still incredibly natural and addictive – but there is a deeper and more dangerous and lifeless tone that gives me shivers. I love when a dark book is written so well – there’s no denying the power of words.

There’s not as much fighting-action in ‘Out of Sight, Out of Time’, but the amount of mystery more than makes up for it. The unknown nature of the book practically sends Cammie and her friends all over the world – finally the spies get to go on active missions outside of America. It definitely highlights the fact that Cammie has aged throughout the series; that her horizons have expanded.

I’ve said it before, that I love Cammie’s friends, but I should probably mention just how awesome her mother and the teachers at Gallagher Academy are. Despite coming from all different worldly organisations – the teachers seem to form their own band of operatives and the loyalty between them is fantastic. I love seeing supporting characters who do more than just fill space on a page. Everyone has a role and is an important and enjoyable addition to the story.

The worst part about finished this book is that fact that I’ve caught up in the series, and the wait for the final book is going to be torture...but I’m sure it’ll be well worth the wait.

5/5 stars



Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

Only the Good Spy Young - Ally Carter

Only the Good Spy Young 
                  (Gallagher Girls #4)  - Ally Carter
Grade: YA
Rating: 5/5 stars

Cammie Morgan always knew that being a Gallagher Girl (aka spy-in-training) would mean a life of risk and danger. She just didn't know that life would start before she'd even left high school...

But now that an ancient terrorist organisation is dead-set on kidnapping her, even Cammie "The Chameleon" can't hide. And when someone she trusts is labelled a rogue double-agent, Cammie feels like her world is falling apart.

Can she still count on her classmates? Her teachers? And what about her feelings for the totally hot (yet totally unpredictable) Zach?

This semester, Cammie and her friends must spy, hack and steal if they want to find out the truth.

Cammie's life depends on it...(Description from Goodreads)


~ * ~ * ~

‘Only the Good Spy Young’ is the most intense book for the Gallagher Girls series so far. The stakes are higher. It’s not just about learning to be a spy in this book, it’s about surviving.

Cammie Morgan, spy-in-training, is under round-the-clock protection. There’s someone after her and no-where is safe. The easy going days at Gallagher Academy – school of spies – are over. No more secret trips into town to see boys or official trips into town to practice tailing ordinary people in a public environment. It’s no longer safe for Cammie to leave school grounds and unfortunately for her that means there are a lot of changes to school life with new teachers and less secret passageway visits; but that doesn’t mean the book was lacking action. I thought the previous book kicked up the heat action-wise, but ‘Only the Good Spy Young’ definitely gives book 3 a run for its money. I adored the start of this book. We barely make it through the first 5 pages before excitement and danger hits the scene. There’s nothing I enjoy more than a heart-racing start to a book.

I loved Cammie so much in this book. She managed to develop as a character in a deeper way. She has to face some difficult decisions and situations, and it causes her to grow up a lot more – not that Cammie wasn’t already pretty cluey about her lifestyle; the dangers, the risks, the skill it takes to get through a mission. But when it’s her own life that comes into focus, there’s no chance to back away from the fight. I adore her take-charge attitude. A lesser character would crumble at the thought of being hunted by a mysterious and mostly unknown group and forced to hide out behind the walls of the Academy. But Cammie never gives in. Maybe it’s her spy upbringing – the fact that she’s been taught her whole life to find clues and get answers and survive – but whatever it is, she does it brilliantly.

I feel like this book was the book of revelations. There seemed to be a new shocking twist every 20 pages – my mouth barely had a chance to close before it dropped open again. The way Ally Carter manages to keep you engaged in the series by creating these new twists is fantastic. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed it. I love when a series keeps bringing more and more to the page. The excitement and mystery added extra intensity to every scene; it’s pretty epic and super fun.

Due to the danger, once again romance wasn’t the focus for this book. But where the last book lacked the presence of a certain guy for most of the events, ‘Only the Good Spy Young’ had him popping up a little more often. Zach’s role in the book is more than you could imagine and a few of those twists I mentioned earlier involved everyone’s favourite spy. They’re totally worth reading.

The book ended with the tiniest of cliff hangers. So I’m dying to find out what happens next. Luckily, I have book 5 sitting on my shelf; it’s a good think there’s no waiting for me, I’d probably go a little insane if I was kept away from more Cammie and her adventures.

5/5 stars


Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover - Ally Carter

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover 
                       (Gallagher Girls #3) - Ally Carter
Grade: YA
Rating: 5/5 stars

Cammie Morgan has a cover for every occasion. As a spy-in-training, aliases, phony passports and fake IDs are a means of survival. But what happens when the ghosts of her past see through her flawless façade?

In her junior year at Gallagher Academy, Cammie continues to flirt with danger. When a national political convention turns into a trap, she is forced to lose her cover to save her best friend Macey - a major political target - from being kidnapped.

But are the kidnappers political extremists or something more sinister? And why has Zach, Cammie's mysterious (and totally hot) crush, suddenly returned?

With the help of an ex-Gallagher Girl, Cammie and her friends are determined to hunt down the group that threatens to tear their secret sisterhood apart.

This time it's personal. (Description from Goodreads)
~ * ~ * ~

Someone told me weeks ago that the Gallagher Girls series is the type of series where each been keeps getting better and better. They were right, so far – ‘Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover’ raised the bar – and I can only imagine what will come next.

The previous two books proved that Cammie and her friends are pretty skilled spies-in-training, but clueless when it comes to life outside the Academy and that they still have a long way to go before they’re ready to be full-time spies. But when faced with an unknown and dangerous external threat, Cammie’s skills are put to the test and it could mean life or death. I can’t stress enough how awesome Cammie is. I love that she has a spy role already. She’s known as a pavement artist – someone who blends into their surroundings – who can tail people without being seen. We get to see this side of her again, a side I’ve been waiting for since she was first introduced as ‘The Chameleon’. Cammie tries to stay out of trouble, but it seems to be difficult for her to do.

The action in this book was more than I could have asked for. From the moment I opened the first page, it was almost non-stop movement, which made the book awfully hard to put down. From a spy point-of-view, it’s nice to know not everything is about sneaking around and leaving coded messages to be found. Sometimes face-to-face encounters occur and the only way out involves throwing a punch or two. As an action fan, this definitely worked in the book’s favour.

I love that it’s not just Cammie we get to learn about, especially in this book. Macey – the newest spy in Cammie’s group of friends – is in the spotlight a fair bit; and that’s not just because she is the Senator’s daughter during an election campaign, but because an attempted kidnapping brings her life outside the Academy into full focus. It’s nice when not only is the main character’s life explored, but when the best friends are pulled into the story as more than just a person you talk to between classes; it’s good to have more than one character to focus on.

My only issue with this book was the lack of romance, but I feel like that is because there was a darker tone to the book than in the previous ones. With the mystery of the kidnappers taking over everyone’s thoughts and the danger that seemed to accompany every action scene, there wasn’t a right moment for romance to enter the pages. It didn’t help that the focus of the books moved away from a major theme from the first two books: boys. But despite that, a little more romance wouldn’t have been a bad thing in my opinion – not that what we got wasn’t awesome.

‘Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover’ left me with so many questions, which I hope will be answered in the next book. Can’t wait to see what secret spy adventure Cammie will be a part of next.

5/5 stars


Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy - Ally Carter

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy 
                        (Gallagher Girls #2) - Ally Carter
Grade: YA
Rating: 5/5 stars

Cammie Morgan may have a genius IQ and attend the best school in the country, but as she starts the spring semester of her sophomore year there are a lot of things she doesn't know. Like will her ex-boyfriend even remember she exists? And how much trouble did she really get in last semester? And, most of all, exactly why is her mother acting so strangely?

All Cammie wants is a nice, normal semester, but she's about to learn her greatest lesson yet—that when you go to a school for spies, nothing is ever as it seems. (Description from Goodreads)


~ * ~ * ~

There’s something really special about a book that makes you smile the whole way through; despite the fact that finishing the book left me with incredibly sore cheeks. ‘Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy’ was an amazing sequel to the first Gallagher Girls book, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

I finished the first Gallagher Girls book with the feeling that I loved the series, that I was addicted already, but I wanted a bit more action and a bit more spying. The second book definitely gave me what I had been looking for. We start off during Winter break, between semesters; Cammie Morgan – spy-in-training – is making her way into CIA headquarters to be debriefed on her short-lived “normal” romance and wondering how she’ll ever get back to the life she had before boys entered her immediate radar. Little does she know that normal boys are just the beginning. I know I said it in my review of book 1, but I just adore Cammie. The mix of teenage spy and teenage girl makes Cammie super interesting. You’re never sure which side is going to push through more and when they collide, you can’t help smiling.

While the Gallagher Girls series is ultimately a story that focuses on Cammie, it’s not just about her. One of my favourite things about this series so far is the friendships. In YA books, the main character tends to have one or two stand out friends who sometimes know what’s going on in their weird and wacky lives, but despite how close they appear to be with each other the best friends are almost never completely involved in the story. For Gallagher Girls, this is totally different. Cammie has three incredible best friends: Bex, Liz and Macey; and they help her through everything. There is rarely a mission within or out of the school that doesn’t involve a team effort to achieve an outcome. These girls are always there for Cammie, in whatever way she needs and I love it.

‘Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy’ puts a lot more focus on spying and missions. There’s a hell of a lot more action and I couldn’t have hoped for more. Ally Carter has a way of making you feel like you’re really part of the missions; probably because of the way she has Cammie and her friends write up reports of their spy activities. There are whole sections of the book written out with Cammie and the gang referred to as ‘The Operatives’ and their mission target ‘The Subject’. Not in a third person sense, but in a fun we’re-learning-to-be-spies-and-writing-these-reports-are-what-spies-do way. They’re funny and they have random inserts that help interpret information in different ways; but most importantly they give you an insight into the life of a Gallagher Girl - and a spy-in-training - which makes you feel like you’re part of the story.

I’ll admit I was a little worried about the issue of boys for the series. After eliminating the town boys as an option for romance I figured we were in for a lack of heart-racing and tingly feelings. Boy was I wrong! It becomes painfully obvious the girls of Gallagher Academy, while incredibly smart and excellent spies, are at a disadvantage by not being able to socialise and work with the opposite sex – the people they may have to interact with in the future. So what’s the solution? Why bring 15 boys to the school for a semester, of course. Cammie can’t escape the attention of one particular guy. I won’t say more about him, because it’s really better to experience the relationship for yourself; but I will say, he made me smile so much!

This book was an excellent sequel. I think I’ve become a Gallagher Girl addict.

5/5 stars


Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

I'd tell you I love you, but then I'd have to kill you - Ally Carter

I'd tell you I love you, but then I'd have to kill you (Gallagher Girls #1) - Ally Carter
Grade: YA
Rating: 4/5 stars

Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her?

Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love. (Description from Goodreads)
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My book of choice is nearly always something from paranormal, fantasy or dystopian genres, occasionally throwing in a few contemporaries here and there. This is mostly because they dominate the YA book range, so it’s hard not to pick up a new book without vampires, werewolves, witches or fae. I have never really considered the idea of a Spy book before, but I wish I had. I’m pretty angry at myself for not jumping on the Gallagher Girls bandwagon earlier. I haven’t read such a fun start to a series is so long. ‘I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have To Kill You’ was a fantastic book, full of secret missions and spies-in-training and a few well placed kicks that had me smiling the whole way through.

Cammie Morgan is a Gallagher Girl. To an outsider, she appears to be a rich girl going to a privileged girls boarding school in the middle of no-where; but to those in the know, she’s an important young intelligent girl who attends a super secret training school: a Spy training school. The daughter of two secret agents (a.k.a. Spies), Cammie has some mad skills are her disposal – but life isn’t exactly easy when you’re learning to be a spy. I adore Cammie. Her voice was so easy to pick up; fun, relaxed, really easy to read along with. She speaks to you as though she’s specifically writing for the purpose of someone reading about her thoughts and events...almost like a journal without the dear diary part and with a lot more spy terminology. It made the book seem very conversational. A retelling of what happened and yet interactive. She’s speaking directly to you and makes references to that fact throughout the book. It was really enjoyable.

Cammie’s comfortable spy life takes a strange turn when she runs into Josh, a hot boy from the town nearby, who just happens to take an interest in her. She sees this as a potential mission: find out why a seemingly normal – but cute – guy could be interested in her and attempt to act just as normal. I love how awkward Cammie becomes when she’s around Josh; she’s trained to observe, trained to kill, trained to save the world...but can’t quite work out how to speak-boy; which is sort of understandable when you come from an all girl spy school. Despite being some super genius epic teen, she just could not figure out the boy and dating thing.

As one would expect from a spy book, there’s a lot of talk about going on missions and learning to create the perfect secret identity – we even get to see a bit of this first hand. Cammie talks to us in spy terms, outlines the life of a spy-in-training. It’s all very secretive and yet oddly informative and it’s fun to watch Cammie – and her best friends Bex and Liz – in their natural spy environment. It all becomes easier to understand the idea of secret agents because of Gallagher Academy. The school has some pretty nifty gadgets that help to teach the girls exactly what it’s like to be a spy. Teachers that are wanted in countries all over the world, underground passages that hold the more dangerous classrooms, flashing lights to tell the students which language they are allowed to use that day (they learn 14 different ones, so the possibilities are endless) and the list of secret inventions and missions mentioned throughout the book leave you with your mouth hanging open. I would have liked to see a bit more of the school life – exploring the grounds, taking secret exists or discovering a new passage, but it was just as exciting knowing there’s a Spy school hidden in plain sight!

The only issue I had with the book was the action. Sure, there was enough of it that you got a sense of the skills the girls are developing and you do get to witness it on one or two occasions. But for the amount of skill they brag about, there just wasn’t enough. Maybe it was the theme of the book, about Cammie getting a chance to step outside the lifestyle she grew up with – there were limited opportunities for kick-ass action to take place. But I was hoping for a little more.

4/5 stars


Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)