Grade A Stupid by A.J. Lape

 

			Grade A Stupid (The Darcy Walker Series) Price: $2.99
Fifteen years ago, Darcy Walker's parents thought it was a good idea to give her a unique name: Darcy, meaning "dark walker." Whether that was a stroke of genius or stroke of stupid, they definitely nailed the irony. She lacks direction, her grades stink despite a high IQ, she's boringly average--although flirting admirers claim otherwise--and God help her, she's infatuated with a bad-boy. A bad-boy that her hottie best friend, Dylan, wishes would get acquainted with his fist. And, oh yeah, there's that tattoo that was a royally stupid idea. With her life spiraling out of control, everything changes when she skips class and finds a dead body...in fact, it gets worse. It jump starts Darcy's inner-verb, and her brain hardwired for action gets caught up in a situation she can’t let go. Set in the fictional Cincinnati town of Valley, Ohio, Darcy falls into a world of threats, violence, and gangland exploits chasing down every clue to finger the murderer. When a fellow misfit is fingered for the crime, Darcy goes from zero-to-sixty trying to clear his name--constructing aliases, breaking the law, everything that makes perfect sense to her but reeks of Grade A Stupid to everyone else. Trouble is...will she live to see 16? 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful  Murder and Mayhem, All the Things A Teenager Looks For! Right?!, November 10, 2012

This review is from: Grade A Stupid (The Darcy Walker Series) (Kindle Edition)

What do you do when you find a dead body in the garbage container?

Do you: A) Call the police; B) Run Far Away; or C) Make sure nothing is touched and wait for help?

Those would be the reasonable things to do right?

Well, what if you have a curious nature?

What if you consider yourself a verb, someone that has to be in action, and cannot stand to be stagnant?

What if you know that no matter what you do you will always be in some kind of trouble?

What do you do?
If you are like Darcy, you do not let anything stop you from figuring out the truth, even if that means breaking the law and dragging others through the mud with you.

Darcy Walker is your typical teenage girl. She has an IQ that is beyond normal and yet, is barely scraping by in her schoolwork. Everyone tells Darcy that she is beautiful but she just assumes they are joking. Then there is her best friend in the whole wide world, Dylan. Dylan Taylor is your typical teenage boy. He is cocky, smart, athletic, and gorgeous.

While Dylan and his family are vacationing in Hawaii for Spring Break, Darcy finds herself entrapped in a web of lies and deceit. Will Dylan find his best friend still alive when he returns or will he find her laid out on the front porch like Darcy's little sister's pet squirrel?

AJ Lape will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page until the last. She is a master storyteller and knows how to reel you in and keep you coming back for more. Grade A Stupid is a book that is right up there with the Nancy Drew Mysteries by Carolyn Keene and the Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon! Excellent from start to finish, I know you won't be disappointed!

› Visit Amazon's A. J. Lape Page

Biography

A. J. lives in Cincinnati with her husband, two feministic daughters, an ADD dog, a spoiled hamster, and an unapologetic and unrepentant addiction to Coca-Cola. She studied English, Journalism, and Political Science at Morehead State University and left the business world when her daughters were born. Her love for suspense and a good story was born from watching Mystery Science Theater with her sister during childhood. That and any B-movie with comedic undertones they could get their hands on.

From a small town in rural Kentucky, her sister and she lived in their imaginations on a regular basis, and A.J.'s love for the bizarre and paranormal still holds true to this day. She loves roller coasters, scary movies, and haunted houses and the weird sense of accomplishment it gives her when she can make it through without keeling over.

From her parents she learned the value of hard work and determination. While her father held down two jobs, he still somehow got his Doctorate Degree in Theology. Conversations in her home revolved around Heaven and Hell, angels and demons, & aliens and the mythological on a regular basis. She was very influenced by the spirit world and the need people have to understand the unexplainable...and the grossly unfair.

If Life has taught her anything, it's the need to acquire a wicked sense of humor, come up swinging, and to never, ever give up...no matter what obstacle is in front of you.

In her spare time, she likes to read, watch too much cable TV, or cheer like a banshee at her daughter's sporting events. She's a huge hometown sports fan and bleeds all things Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals. When she's not riding that razor-thin line between creativity and insanity, she's waiting for her mothership to pick her up, but that's on the down-low, of course...big wink.

She's currently hard at work on the first installment of her urban fantasy series, The Curse of Jude Nichols.

Their Journey Begins by K. Meador

 

 

 

 Their Journey Before is an anthology of short stories incorporating the characters from "Journey to Freedom" and introducing them in this book, before Greggory, Robert, Marrissa, Daniel and Charles and Carmen meet.

There are no spoilers in this book; therefore, it can be read before or after "Journey to Freedom."

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Life, Struggles, and Overcoming Adversity, November 10, 2012

By 

M-NSmith "Mary-Nancy Smith" (Otterville, MO) -

This review is from: Their Journey Begins (Journey to Freedom) (Kindle Edition)

We have all heard stories of slaves and Indians during or before the Civil War era but have you ever read something that makes you feel like you are right there with the characters?

Have you ever read a story that keeps you looking over your shoulder because you are afraid that someone might find out you are sneaking around?

Have you ever experienced the emotions of someone on the run whether from their past, someone evil, or just trying to make a better life for themselves?

If you haven't and you would like to experience it for yourself then this is the anthology for you.

These short stories allow you a glimpse into the lives of five very different people that are all struggling to make it.

They are sad, scary, heartwarming, uplifting, and thought provoking all rolled into one.

K. Meador is an awesome author that takes you to the heart of the story and lets you see and live her characters through their eyes.

I totally recommend this book. I know you will not be disappointed!

An unlikely meeting...
Marrissa is running away, as fast as her feet can carry her. After enduring the abuse at the hands of her employer for years, she has finally found the strength to strike out on her own, and now she has been unceremoniously thrust into an adventure with a man she doesn't know. But things become more serious when she and her companion are taken in by the Cherokee. After enduring attempts on her life at the hands of a jealous wife, Marrissa must once again leave people behind and make her own way. But this time she might be leaving true love behind.

An undying devotion...
Greggory longs to be a free man. Facing the violent prejudices against him as a half breed, and running from the high price set on his head by the owner of the plantation he used to belong to, he never expected to find peace and happiness with the young woman at his side. But the more time he spends with Marrissa, the more he realizes she is the one for him, and when evidence points to her untimely demise, he vows to gain his freedom and love no one else. But fate might not be done with him yet, and Greggory may have a second chance at the life he first glimpsed in Marrissa's eyes.

A timeless love...
Set amid the tumultuous backdrop of the American Civil War, Journey to Freedom, chronicles the harrowing misadventures of two star-crossed lovers through nineteenth century America, battling violence, prejudice, and the inherent struggles of their time. Join author K-Trina Meador for a touching saga of love, faith, and survival.