Justice Betrayed by Patricia Bradley

Justice Betrayed is the third book in the Memphis Cold Case series. Even though the story references the previous book, this one reads like a stand-alone novel. It takes place during Elvis Week in Memphis, which is something I didn’t know existed! It was really interesting to get a glimpse of that world. All the Elvis “tribute artists” certainly made for some colorful characters, too! On top of that, the case included multiple murders to solve, including a cold case, without much evidence to go on.

In my opinion, this book was better than the previous one in the series, Justice Buried. I really enjoyed the growth in the relationship of the main characters, Rachel and Brad, and the intriguing storyline. When I was about halfway through the book, I thought I had figured out who the villain was, but I was wrong. I was definitely surprised at the end! If you like the mystery and suspense genres, this will be a great addition to your summer reading list!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review.

The Girls’ Guide to Conquering Life by Erica and Jonathan Catherman

When I first heard about this book, the subtitle really caught my eye: “How to Ace an Interview, Change a Tire, Talk to a Guy, and 97 Other Skills You Need to Thrive.” It sounded kind of like a reference book for “adulting,” and I was excited to read it! It ended up being a little different than I was expecting. Some of the chapters would be useful for college-age girls, especially the chapters on work, car maintenance, cooking, and “fix-it” jobs around the house. Other chapters seemed to be geared more towards younger teens, addressing topics like personal hygiene and basic social skills.

I did really like the format of the book! The different topics are broken up into chapters (like Work & Ethics, Clothes & Fashion, Food & Cooking, etc). Each chapter starts with a story about a woman who excels in that particular area of life. The chapters are then broken down into skills written in a list format, only a page or two long and easy to read. There are plenty of illustrations, quotes, and fun facts sprinkled throughout!

I think any teenage girl could benefit from reading this book. Older girls might not get as much out of it, but there’s still a lot of good information for college students or girls getting their first job or apartment. It would make a great gift for nieces, daughters, or even high school graduates as they head off to college.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review.