Kisses and Lies (Scarlett Wakefield #2)

The second book in the Scarlett Wakefield series was a home-run for me! It was a quick read, and I LOVE Jase. He is absolutely amazing, and I wish I was Scarlett! The mystery kind of wraps up in this one, and I love Dans brother. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one!

Reader reviewed by Into The Morning

If Veronica Mars had been born in Chelsea, this would be her story.
Scarlett, though often evoking the image of a monkey in the trees, is so
realistic that I really feel she exists somewhere in the purple laurel
hills of rural England/Scotland. Lauren Henderson has captured exactly
what it's like to be this specific girl in this specific place. The
voice of the heroine is so realistic and so interesting that it's hard
to put the book down for any reason. And even though the main mystery of
the first 2 books has been solved, I will follow Scarlett into the next
100 mysteries because the author has proven herself up to the task of
writing real YA storylines. I just ask that Scarlett spend less of her
time up trees in upcoming novels -- if possible!

Reader reviewed by Ruthie

We definitely see Scarlett grow up since her debut in Kiss Me, Kill Me. She gains confidence, friends and determination. I find her a character we can look up to and Taylor, her American sidekick, is definitely the comedic relief throughout the book. Together they make a great team. I can't say I liked this book any more than the first however I can't say I liked it less. It was a good follow-up and I'm excited to read the next in the trilogy (series?).

Reader reviewed by trishalynn0708

I like how this book started
right back in to the mystery of who killed Dan. Scarlett and Taylor are
already into trouble by chapter three.
Half
way through the book it picked up and the pages flew by. Scarlett ends
up going and staying with Dan's family after she writes them a letter
saying she has something of Dan's to return and wants to talk with them. When she gets there everyone is nice to her except Callum-Dan's twin brother that Scarlett didn't know about- and Lucy, Callum's girlfriend. Callum doesn't like her because he thinks she had something to do with Dan's death. And Lucy doesn't like her because she is jealous of her and Callum. Lucy wants to run the castle with Callum
and they need to get married so that is why Lucy doesn't like Scarlett
and shoots at her one day in the woods. Scarlett doesn't know it was
Lucy until the end of the book.
I had figured out who the killer was around page 230. But it was still a shock at the end and how it played out.
I wish that Scarlett and Callum's relationship would have went farther. After Scarlett left to go to stay with Dan's family, Jase wasn't' really mentioned and I was really rooting for Scarlett and Callum.
I understand the whole them not being together because of all that they
had been through with Dan and the killer, but to me it would have been
perfect because they could have helped each other through everything.
I hope there is another book after this one. I am thinking not since the killer was already identified. But the way the book ended it was left open at the end, either in the way for you to make up your own ending on where Jase and Scarlett's relationship goes and how Plum and Scarlett get along now that Plum is going to Scarlett's school now. Or if their will be more book and more mysteries for Scarlett and Taylor to solve. I am hoping more books since I want Scarlett to get with Callum. :)

Reader reviewed by Erica

Kisses and Lies
Lauren Henderson
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Previous Books in the Series: Kiss Me, Kll Me

Rating: 4 stars

After discovering that someone saw what looked like Dans emergency EpiPen in A-lister Plums designer handbag, Scarlett and her tough American sidekick, Taylor, sneak into a posh London nightclub, where Plum has a private table. Scarlett is stunned to discover a piece of evidence that might implicate another girl in Plums exclusive circle, Lucy Raleigh. Which means Scarlett must cast a wider net in order to catch the right suspect.

Back at school, groundskeeper Jase is hoping to take Scarletts mind off her troubles with some heart-stopping kisses. Scarlett cant help but feel guilty for indulging in romantic rendezvous when she should be hunting down Dans killer. However, once Scarlett finds out how Lucy is connected to Dan, she knows she must drop everything and travel to the McAndrew estate in Scotland to hunt for more clues. But when she arrives, Scarlett becomes the target of a dangerous hunt herself.

Ok, this was great book! I think it was an equal, or possibly better than book 1, Kiss Me, Kill Me. It was really easy to get caught up in. Henderson does a great job creating characters that were all different and unique, no character was really the same. Plus, while some parts were predictable, others you couldn't guess.

Though one thing I didn't like was the fact, that Scarlett writes a letter to Dan's family saying I have something of Dan's to give back to you. What the heck? She essentially invites herself to Castle Airlie, and if Dan's family said no, they'd look bad.

Overall though, I recommend both this one, and Kiss Me, Kill Me! They were great books, though I would suggest reading them in order. I received Kiss and Lies in the mail, and started to read it. I didn't understand anything, and then I realized there was a book 1.

Reader reviewed by TheBookworm

I Couldnt Put It Down!

Kisses and Lies
By Lauren Henderson
Pub. Date: January 2009
5 out of 5 stars
PG-13 - Violence, Sensuality, and Profanity
Recommended

Scarlett is still haunted by her first kiss, six months ago. That night, Dan suffered a fatal allergic reaction and died in Scarletts arms. That terrible memory is never far from her thoughts. Determined to solve the mystery of Dans murder, Taylor and Scarlett begin to gather clues. Their dauntless search for the truth intensifies when Scarlett arrives at Dans familys castle. Hidden motives, Entail loopholes, birthday cakes, and shotguns all lurk in the shadows. Scarlett only has a few days left to unravel the mystery& before someone else gets hurt&

Kisses and Lies was completely absorbing and realistic fiction at its best. I couldnt put it down! The plots twists, turns, and backtracking were believable and kept me on my toes and dancing. Every clue aroused new suspensions.

The venerable characters were extremely easy to get attached to. I had every confidence that Scarlett and Taylor would figure it out, but I couldnt help but gasp or ooh or aah quite often. Not only were they good people they were also very versatile at locating, researching, and distributing information. I never wanted to stop cheering for them.

This is one of the first times a book had an understandable love triangle that wasnt outrageous or shallow. Jase was charming and Callum saved his smiles for special occasions. Both boys had pros and cons/ attractions and put offs.

Please let there be a third book! I dearly want to know what happens to Scarlett and her complicated relationships. I know Scarletts life goes on, and I want to be there for it.

Date Reviewed: April 9th, 2009

For more book reviews and book information check out my blog at www.inthecurrent.blogspot.com

Reader reviewed by Liz C.

Scarlett Wakefield is being forced to build a new life at
Wakefield Hall. Six months ago, at a party at a posh London
penthouse, her longtime crush Dan McAndrew died in her arms at after they
shared a hot, steamy kiss. Since then, the London
tabloids have deemed her the Kiss of Death Girl. But one day she receives a
mysterious letter in her school desk that leads her on the path to finding
Dans real killer. She finds out that someone stole Dans Epi-Pen, an emergency
syringe that would have saved his life. As if this isnt shocking enough, she
finds the allergen that killed him- peanut oil. Someone poured peanut oil on
the crisps that Scarlett ate. Another clue leads her to Dans twin brother,
Callum. Could he have killed his own brother? Or, was it his greedy girlfriend
Lucy? Scarlett takes a holiday to the McAndrew family castle in Scotland,
determined to find the killer.

 

 

Kisses and Lies is a really fun novel. It actually was even
better than the first book; Kiss Me Kill Me. Scarlett is still confident,
witty, and a little catty, but this time her personality is even more extreme.
The pace really picked up in the second half of the book, when Scarlett gets to
Scotland. She meets a whole new group of fun characters, and takes her
sleuthing to the next level. When the killer was finally identified, I thought
it was a bit ridiculous, as was the last action scene. But the ending seemed to
work, and though not everything was tied up, it felt complete.