Book Review: Double Crossed by Ally Carter

Title: Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story

Author: Ally Carter

Series: Heist Society #2.5, Gallagher Girls #5.5

Published January 22nd 2013 by Disney Hyperion

Age: Young Adult

Macey McHenry—Glamorous society girl or spy-in-training?

W.W. Hale V—Heir to an American dynasty or master thief?

There are two sides to every coin. Whether these two can work together is a tossup.

Born into privilege, Macey and Hale are experts at mingling with the upper class. But even if they’ve never raised an eyebrow at the glitz, neither teenager has ever felt at home with the glamour.

When Macey and Hale meet at a society gala, the party takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly they’re at the center of a hostage situation, and it’s up to them to stop the thugs from becoming hostile. Will Macey’s spy skills and Hale’s con-man ways be enough to outsmart a ruthless gang? Or will they have to seek out the ultimate inside girl to help?

The worlds of Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls collide in Ally Carter’s fast-paced, high-stakes and tantalizing new story. Get a behind the scenes glimpse as Ally delivers an irresistible thriller that is full of her signature style and savvy twists.

I love the Gallagher Girls and Heist Society series, so a story that combines those two worlds sounded amazing! It didn't disappointed me. It's short but exciting and fun, event when it was a little weird to see Macey and Hale interacting, but they make a good team. I can see them working together in the future :)

Definitely recommended to fans of these series, or if you want to try and see spies and thieves are for you!

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon.

Waiting on Wednesday #109: United We Spy (Gallagher Girls #6) by Ally Carter

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick: United We Spy (Gallagher Girls #6) by Ally Carter

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.

September 2013 by Hyperion Book CH

I love this series, it's one of my favorites :) I can't wait to read the last book, United We Spy.

Waiting on Wednesday # 102 - Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick: Perfect Scoundrels (Heist Society #3) by Ally Carter

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.

February 5th 2013 by Hyperion Books for Children

I love this series, it's cool and refreshing :)

Book Review: Out of Sight, Out of Time (Gallagher Girls #5) by Ally Carter

Title: Out of Sight, Out of Time

Author: Ally Carter

Series: Gallagher Girls #5

Release Date: March 13th 2012

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Age: Young Adult

The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan--an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It’s a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

The Gallagher Girls is one of my favorite series. Spies are cool! I was very curious about the fifth book, because now Cammie knows more about the Circle of Cavan and what was her father's mission when he disappeared.

If you read the fourth book, you know Cammie decided to 'run away'. But this book it totally different from what I expected, because Cammie wakes up and she doesn't remember anything that happened last months. So she's now trying to remember, with the help of her friends and family, and get surprises every time they discover something new.

This book was darker. Cammie was in real danger, there are some murders and torture, but nothing explicit. I wanted more about a certain spy boy, but I know it wasn't the time...

I think this series is changing and for good. Now the characters are older and it's logic they now face real dangers. Sometimes Cammie's abilities surprised, I can't believe she's the same girl from the previous books, but still, I can't wait to discover what the author have in mind for these characters (I really hope there is a next book!).

More about this book at www.allycarter.com, Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.

Waiting on Wednesday # 63 - Out of Sight, Out of Time

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick:

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF TIME by Ally Carter

With more than a million Gallagher Girls books sold, a legion of fans have fallen in love with the New York Times best-selling spy-girl series, and the fifth book delivers the most nerve-wracking, high-stakes adventure yet.

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.

March 20, 2012 by Hyperion Book

Goodreads - Amazon

I just love the Gallagher Girl series! If you haven't tried it, you should! It's the perfect chick lit YA series.

Book Review: Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Title: Uncommon Criminals

Author: Ally Carter

Series: Heist Society #1

Releaste Date: June 21st 2011

Publisher: Hyperion Book

Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short 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 . . . 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 and 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.

I love Ally Carter's books because her writing style is so easy to read. It just grabs you and makes you love her characters and their story.

Uncommon Criminals is the sequel of Heist Society, and follows the story of Kat. After the rob at the Henley, Kat has been working alone. So it's not a surprise her family and Hale are mad at her.

They say Kat is drunk with her success, but I don't see her that way. I was glad she is finally becoming herself, and following her own path. She doesn't like to steal from people, but she likes to be a thief. It's kind of confusing, but I understand her. She has a good heart.

I was kind of mad with her family, and Hale, for being so hard on her. It's not like she's betraying them. And I love Hale, but sometimes he was too intense. It's like he wants to control Kat, and when she finally had the guts to do something with him, he kind of freaks out! I don't get it.

I feel like I would have been a bad thief. The plot, and their plans to steal the Cleopatra Emerald where amazing, but let me tell you, I was confused. At the ending, I had so many questions! {spoilers: did Kat knew her Uncle Eddie was the inside man? Did Hale's and Nick's fight was real or fake?}

I really liked Heist Society and Uncommon Criminals wasn't the exception. It has a good plot, better characters and overall, I loved it.

More about this book at www.allycarter.com, Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.

Book Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Title: Heist Society

Author: Ally Carter

Series: Heist Society #1

Release Date: February 9th 2010

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Age: Young Adult

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her 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 her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster's art collection has been stolen, and he wants it returned. 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 (very crooked) history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

I love the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter, so Heist Society was on my wishlist since it was published.

Kat and her family are thieves. Although she has helped her father to steal, now she wants to have a new life where she can go to school and just be a regular girl. But it's difficult to run from your life while your father is being accused of stealing to a dangerous Italian millionaire. It's in her hands to find the paintings stolen and give them back, to save her father's life.

I liked the idea of thieves, but I loved that Kat felt guilty about it. All members of her family are thieves, even her best friend Hale. It's not easy to come back to the family business while everybody is judging you.

What I love about this author is that her books aren't just another love story. Obviously there is a possible romance between Kat and Hale, but the book doesn't focus only on that.

Although is was interesting the theme about thieves and plans to steal, I think the characters needed to be more developed. Kat is a girl everyone will like and probably any girl can relate to her. Hale has more personality, as her cousin Gabrielle.

Heist Society is an interesting book, original and easy to read. I definitely recommend it if you want to read something different. It's the first book of the Heist Society series, but the next one, Uncommon Criminals, is already available.

More about this book at www.allycarter.com, Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.

Book Review: Only the Good Spy Young (Gallagher Girls #4) by Ally Carter

Title: Only the Good Spy Young
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Gallagher Girls #4
Release Date: June 29th, 2010
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Age: Young Adult

When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn’t know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when Cammie faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her. Now the danger follows her everywhere, and even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent, Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers—or even her own heart.

In this fourth installment of the New York Times best-selling series, the Gallagher Girls must hack, spy, steal, and lie their way to the truth.as they go searching for answers, recognizing that the key to Cammie’s future may lie deep in the past.

The Gallagher Girls series is one of my favorites, so of course I was excited to read this one!

At Only the Good Spy Young, we already know Cammie is in danger. Her life is very controlled now, and things are changing not only at her school, but with her family and friends as well.

I loved this book. It was darker and serious than the previous, but it was perfect that way because Cammie is older and in a very dangerous position. I was very happy with her relationship with Zach, not only because they are very in love, but because finally Cammie learned about him, his finally and which side he is.

It's still a mystery for me why she's in danger, but I believe the next book will give me more information about that. I loved the spy missions, and the ending was really surprising and frustrating, and at the same time so exciting!

Overall, Only the Good Spy Young may be my favorite book from this series. As always, the author managed to surprise me and I can't wait for the next book!

More about this book at allycarter.com, Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.

Book Review: Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover (Gallagher Girls #3) by Ally Carter

Title: Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover

Author: Ally Carter

Series: Gallagher Girls #3

Published: June 9th, 2009

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Age: Young Adult

When Cammie "The Chameleon" Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston, she thinks she's in for an exciting end to her summer break. After all, she's there to watch Macey's father accept the nomination for vice president of the United States. But when you go to the world's best school (for spies), "exciting" and "deadly" are never far apart. Cammie and Macey soon find themselves trapped in a kidnappers' plot, with only their espionage skills to save them. As her junior year begins, Cammie can't shake the memory of what happened in Boston, and even the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women doesn't feel like the safe haven it once did. Shocking secrets and old flames seem to lurk around every one of the mansion's corners as Cammie and her friends struggle to answer the questions, Who is after Macey? And how can the Gallagher Girls keep her safe? Soon Cammie is joining Bex and Liz as Macey's private security team on the campaign trail. The girls must use their spy training at every turn as the stakes are raised, and Cammie gets closer and closer to the shocking truth...

I love the Gallagher Girls series and after reading this book it's obvious that I love Ally Carter.

As always, in Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover the author manages to write a new and interesting story with the same characters.

I love Cammie. She's an excellent protagonist in YA books, really. I love her friends too. She's strong, intelligent and with a good heart. And I really like her romance with Zach, because she likes him very much but isn't as the usual ya character, who is ready to give her life just to be with him. He's mysterious and probably a suspect, by the way! Of course I always complain about their relationship because I want more of them, but it's refreshing.

I don't want to give spoilers but Macey is in danger and Cammie is there to help her when she was going to be kidnapped. The mystery in this book is really good, and I discovered I'd be a very bad spy. The ending left me extremely surprised! I wasn't expecting this turn at all.

Overall, I enjoyed very much Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover, and the Gallagher Girls series is definitely one of my favorites! If you are looking for a fresh chick lit YA series, this one is perfect. Really, what is cooler that girl learning to be spies?

More about this book at allycarter.com, Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.