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Holding Court
Sixteen-year-old Jules Verity knows exactly what's in store at her new job at castle-turned-dinner-theater Tudor Times. Some extra cash, wearing a fancy-pants dress, and plenty of time to secretly drool over the ever-so-tasty--and completely unavailable--Grayson Chandler. Except that it's not quite what she imagined.
For one, the costume Jules has to wear is awful. Then there's the dead body she finds that just kind of...well, disappears. Oh, and there's the small issue of Jules and her episodes of what her best friend calls "Psychic Tourette's Syndrome"--spontaneous and uncontrollable outbursts of seemingly absurd prophecies.
The only bright side? This whole dead body thing seems to have gotten Grayson's attention. Except that the more Jules investigates, the more she discovers that Grayson's interest might not be as courtly as she thought. In fact, it's starting to look suspicious...
For one, the costume Jules has to wear is awful. Then there's the dead body she finds that just kind of...well, disappears. Oh, and there's the small issue of Jules and her episodes of what her best friend calls "Psychic Tourette's Syndrome"--spontaneous and uncontrollable outbursts of seemingly absurd prophecies.
The only bright side? This whole dead body thing seems to have gotten Grayson's attention. Except that the more Jules investigates, the more she discovers that Grayson's interest might not be as courtly as she thought. In fact, it's starting to look suspicious...
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2016
9 people are currently reading
1472 people want to read
About the author
K.C. Held
1 book68 followersK.C. HELD is the author of HOLDING COURT. Born and raised in California with stopovers in Honduras, Mexico, and France, she now makes her home in the Midwest. She holds an MFA in costume design and has worked as a freelance costumer in opera, theater, film, and television. Although she once spent a summer working in a castle, there were no dead bodies involved.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
September 23, 2025
I can honestly say I’ve never read anything quite like Holding Court. I cannot tell you what it is ‘about’. You wouldn’t believe me. It simply shouldn’t work. Like sea salt on chocolate. Makes no sense. Those things do not go together. And yet….I thoroughly enjoyed the unprecedented coalescence of young love, psychics, pseudo-theatre, mystery and murder.
There’s a lot to consider as a sixteen year old girl looking for a summer job to buy a car. For example, are there any openings where the guy you’ve adored from afar since sixth grade works? As well as, what are the chances of stumbling upon a corpse that vanishes while on the job?
Being raised in a non-traditional family—specifically three generations of women, each with a unique psychic ability and completely unique feelings regarding said ability—requires a young person to develop a thicker skin and create coping mechanisms. Jules’ grandmother who “has chosen to share her gift with the world in the most obnoxious way possible” and constantly quotes Eleanor Roosevelt is like the whipped cream on already decadent dessert. While her mom keeps her own psychic ability under wraps, she is furiously and ferociously protective of her daughter, having zero qualms about calling Jules’ boss to “remind him that (she) will eviscerate him” should anything happen to her daughter on his watch.
While the atypical family creates a solid foundation, the teen-aged characters build the story with their refreshing honesty and biting sarcasm paired with quick wit and an admirable vocabulary. For me, the absolute, very best, cooler-than-the-other-side-of-the-pillow, part is the reminder that we rarely know what other people think of us. To be more accurate, we honestly do not know what someone else is thinking period—not for sure—no matter how well we know a person. It is easy to project our doubts and insecurities, to assume that someone (or everyone) sees us in a particular way or will have a specific pre-determined reaction to an event. Most often, though, the truth is surprising. Like my beloved 8th grade Algebra teacher patiently explained: “Don’t assume. You make an “ass” out of “u” and “me”.”
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
There’s a lot to consider as a sixteen year old girl looking for a summer job to buy a car. For example, are there any openings where the guy you’ve adored from afar since sixth grade works? As well as, what are the chances of stumbling upon a corpse that vanishes while on the job?
Being raised in a non-traditional family—specifically three generations of women, each with a unique psychic ability and completely unique feelings regarding said ability—requires a young person to develop a thicker skin and create coping mechanisms. Jules’ grandmother who “has chosen to share her gift with the world in the most obnoxious way possible” and constantly quotes Eleanor Roosevelt is like the whipped cream on already decadent dessert. While her mom keeps her own psychic ability under wraps, she is furiously and ferociously protective of her daughter, having zero qualms about calling Jules’ boss to “remind him that (she) will eviscerate him” should anything happen to her daughter on his watch.
While the atypical family creates a solid foundation, the teen-aged characters build the story with their refreshing honesty and biting sarcasm paired with quick wit and an admirable vocabulary. For me, the absolute, very best, cooler-than-the-other-side-of-the-pillow, part is the reminder that we rarely know what other people think of us. To be more accurate, we honestly do not know what someone else is thinking period—not for sure—no matter how well we know a person. It is easy to project our doubts and insecurities, to assume that someone (or everyone) sees us in a particular way or will have a specific pre-determined reaction to an event. Most often, though, the truth is surprising. Like my beloved 8th grade Algebra teacher patiently explained: “Don’t assume. You make an “ass” out of “u” and “me”.”
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
March 9, 2016
Written in the first person, Holding Court follows a girl named Jules, who is „cursed“ with what she likes to call „Psychic Tourette's Syndrome“.
If you're confused just like I was and wonder what that could be, let me explain it to you: from time to time, Julie, uncontrollably, blurbs out what will happen to someone in the future, but she tells that pretty much in codes. Overall, the whole thing makes her a weirdo in other people's eyes.
She's not the only one with the gift. Her grandmother can see other people's auras and her mother can tell authenticidy of an object with a single touch.
One summer, to make some money and save enough to buy herself a car, sixteen years old Jules gets a job in a place called Tudor Times.
Fun fact: Grayson, the guy she has a crush for years works there.
Funnier fact: her girlfriend Bree also works there.
Jules knew not everything will be roses and butterflies, but what she couldn't even dream about was that, while exploring secret chambers of her workplace, she would find a dead body…
First thing I have to warn you about: there are some illogical happenings trough the story.
If you are a critical reader you'll probably find it's flaws and they could put you off when it comes to finishing this story.
However, I think it is only fair of me to tell you how, if you can play blind to those flaws, you will probably end up really enjoying yourself while reading.
Yes, the main character does swoon over the guy while she should be worried about the killer and about her own sake.
Yes, the story does have a love triengle (that is, let me make that clear, a really good love triangle).
Yes, the character does not act the smartest way possible at some scenes, but…
The writing style is so good, it makes you want to devaour the story in one sitting.
The more pages you read, the plot is more and more interesting, characters are more and more likeable, the mystery is more and more mysterious.
I also have to emphasize that I didn't see who the killer was.
Of course, I had my own suspicion, but I was wrong.
And now, let me tell you what I liked the most about this book: Love triangle.
At first, I tought about giving this book a lower rating, but what made me really appreciate this novel is the love triangle in it and the way it resolved in the end.
Maybe some would call it naive or unbelievable, but I like to call it refreshing.
I have never before read the story in which all love interests wrap up the way they did here, and it never even crossed my mind that someday it would be great to read the story with that kind of result.
Just because of that, K.C. Held deserves an extra applause.
Overall, this is an easy, quick read with a great atmosphere, perfect for spring or summer when you want to read something entertaining and cute.
The writing style is enjoyable, the story has something different to offer when it comes to love interest and the very last chapter is the best chapter in the whole book, which made me appreciate this piece.
I gladely recommend it!
Note: I got this book for free via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review. Thank you EntagledTeen.
Read this and more reviews on my blog: http://bookdustmagic.wordpress.com
If you're confused just like I was and wonder what that could be, let me explain it to you: from time to time, Julie, uncontrollably, blurbs out what will happen to someone in the future, but she tells that pretty much in codes. Overall, the whole thing makes her a weirdo in other people's eyes.
She's not the only one with the gift. Her grandmother can see other people's auras and her mother can tell authenticidy of an object with a single touch.
One summer, to make some money and save enough to buy herself a car, sixteen years old Jules gets a job in a place called Tudor Times.
Fun fact: Grayson, the guy she has a crush for years works there.
Funnier fact: her girlfriend Bree also works there.
Jules knew not everything will be roses and butterflies, but what she couldn't even dream about was that, while exploring secret chambers of her workplace, she would find a dead body…
First thing I have to warn you about: there are some illogical happenings trough the story.
If you are a critical reader you'll probably find it's flaws and they could put you off when it comes to finishing this story.
However, I think it is only fair of me to tell you how, if you can play blind to those flaws, you will probably end up really enjoying yourself while reading.
Yes, the main character does swoon over the guy while she should be worried about the killer and about her own sake.
Yes, the story does have a love triengle (that is, let me make that clear, a really good love triangle).
Yes, the character does not act the smartest way possible at some scenes, but…
The writing style is so good, it makes you want to devaour the story in one sitting.
The more pages you read, the plot is more and more interesting, characters are more and more likeable, the mystery is more and more mysterious.
I also have to emphasize that I didn't see who the killer was.
Of course, I had my own suspicion, but I was wrong.
And now, let me tell you what I liked the most about this book: Love triangle.
At first, I tought about giving this book a lower rating, but what made me really appreciate this novel is the love triangle in it and the way it resolved in the end.
Maybe some would call it naive or unbelievable, but I like to call it refreshing.
I have never before read the story in which all love interests wrap up the way they did here, and it never even crossed my mind that someday it would be great to read the story with that kind of result.
Just because of that, K.C. Held deserves an extra applause.
Overall, this is an easy, quick read with a great atmosphere, perfect for spring or summer when you want to read something entertaining and cute.
The writing style is enjoyable, the story has something different to offer when it comes to love interest and the very last chapter is the best chapter in the whole book, which made me appreciate this piece.
I gladely recommend it!
Note: I got this book for free via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review. Thank you EntagledTeen.
Read this and more reviews on my blog: http://bookdustmagic.wordpress.com
March 1, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley.)
This was a YA mystery story, about a girl who had sudden psychic premonitions.
Juliet was a cute character, and her little outbursts were quite funny. She seemed to be really intent on finding out what had happened to the missing dead body she discovered, although she seemed a bit clueless at times!
The storyline in this was about Juliet getting a new job, and discovering a dead body in a secret passage that then went missing! This was an enjoyable read, although the pace was a little slow in places.
The ending to this was pretty good, and I was happy with the way things were resolved. Things did seem a little unrealistic on the romance front though.
6.25 out of 10
“Mermaids blush when clothes unmake the man!”
This was a YA mystery story, about a girl who had sudden psychic premonitions.
Juliet was a cute character, and her little outbursts were quite funny. She seemed to be really intent on finding out what had happened to the missing dead body she discovered, although she seemed a bit clueless at times!
The storyline in this was about Juliet getting a new job, and discovering a dead body in a secret passage that then went missing! This was an enjoyable read, although the pace was a little slow in places.
The ending to this was pretty good, and I was happy with the way things were resolved. Things did seem a little unrealistic on the romance front though.
6.25 out of 10
November 19, 2025
Holding Court is a cute teen romance.
Jules is “cursed” with premonitions that seem more like a serious case of Tourrette’s. She randomly blurts strange and unusual conflagrations of words making her an outcast at school and difficult to keep a job. When Jules gets hired as the fortune teller at the local mid-evil reenactment castle it might be the perfect place to really put her talents to use until someone turns up dead.
It seems, no matter how hard Jules tries, everything she touches just goes wrong…But extremely funny and outrageously wrong.
A murder, a mystery and a high school crush, you have all the makings of a very teen romance. Overall, enjoyable, I found the pace a little slow but made up for in outlandish humor. This story is truly written with the younger romance reader at heart.
I received this ARC copy of Holding Court from Entangled Publishing, LLC - Teen in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication March 1, 2016.
Jules is “cursed” with premonitions that seem more like a serious case of Tourrette’s. She randomly blurts strange and unusual conflagrations of words making her an outcast at school and difficult to keep a job. When Jules gets hired as the fortune teller at the local mid-evil reenactment castle it might be the perfect place to really put her talents to use until someone turns up dead.
It seems, no matter how hard Jules tries, everything she touches just goes wrong…But extremely funny and outrageously wrong.
A murder, a mystery and a high school crush, you have all the makings of a very teen romance. Overall, enjoyable, I found the pace a little slow but made up for in outlandish humor. This story is truly written with the younger romance reader at heart.
I received this ARC copy of Holding Court from Entangled Publishing, LLC - Teen in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication March 1, 2016.
March 3, 2016
Amazon has the pb for just $7! Go snag it quick! Veronica Mars meets Awkward. Hilarious and fun!
December 18, 2015
Completely delightful! I honestly can’t remember the last time I had this much fun reading. HOLDING COURT is the perfect blend of laugh-out-loud hijinks and butterfly-inducing romance. I didn’t want it to end!
February 29, 2016
4.5 “I fell in love with the protagonist” STARS
ARC via NetGalley.
Thank you, Entangled!
Full review also on the blog: https://t.co/FxyQR1HZCw
First thing I'll say about this is I started and finished it in one day. A Friday. I could've gone out with my friends or gone with my husband to a nice restaurant... or even started partying since it's Carnaval this weekend, but nope. I chose to stay home and finish this book because I fell in love with Jules.
When that happens, don’t expect me to step away until there are no more words to read. Then, I end up feeling both happy and sad. I guess every bookworm knows the feeling. And while I was thrilled to get to know Jules, I was sad to have to let her go.
You should come meet Jules -- a.k.a Juliet Verity a.k.a Buttercup a.k.a my new BFF. A super awesome sixteen-year-old who comes from a line of eccentric women with special “gifts.” Her grandmother, for example, can see people’s auras and find their perfect match. And while her grandmother and her mother have found ways to turn their gifts into something profitable for the family, Jules is still going through the “I’m a freak” phase. It sure doesn’t help that her gift isn’t making being a teenager any easy. According to Jules’ very funny best friend, the poor girl suffers from "Psychic Tourette's Syndrome". What’s that? Out of nowhere, Jules will yell some absurd prophecy that makes no sense at the time, but later turns out to be helpful. Sounds pretty cool, except when you’re trying to keep people from thinking you’re batshit crazy.
But you know where being batshit crazy is cool and profitable? At the castle-turned-dinner-theater Tudor Times where everyone dresses up and pretends to be someone else. Jules is hired to play the part of Mad Maid of Kent (a psychic num), which means she’s practically getting paid to be herself. Pretty good, huh? What makes it even better is that she’ll get to spend time with her longtime crush and now coworker, Grayson Chandler.
It’d be the perfect job if it weren’t for the dead body she found. The same body that disappeared minutes later, leaving everyone wondering if Jules really saw it or if this was just another part of her psychic gift. Only way to find out? Teaming up with Grayson and searching for the dead girl and her murderer. That’s when the adventure began.
While the whole Tudor vibe and the mystery about the missing body made the story unique and interesting, Jules was the most special element in this as far as I was concerned. You can call her a special snowflake, if you want… I honestly don’t care, because I connected with her from the start.
Jules was funny, like make-me-laugh-out-loud-a-lot funny. Her logic was spot on and her sense of humor was refreshing:
Like, dude, she was hilarious.
Jules stood firmly against slut shaming. Grayson was in a relationship with Bree, the most perfect girl in town, but every time Jules talked about her “rival”, she did it in a way that made you respect her even more:
And don’t expect Jules to get involved with someone else’s boyfriend, because she’s not up for that kind of crap:
I highlighted another part that proves the point above (“You’d better go call Bree” – can’t say more because of spoilers) while reading and added “YES, YES, YES!” as my notes. Honestly, I’m so tired of people treating cheating like it’s not a big deal, and I was so, so happy that Jules wasn’t of one them.
I guess what I’m saying is I fell hard for Jules, so I completely understand the big secret revealed at the end. It makes perfect sense to me. *shrugs*
The romance wasn’t as big as I normally like it, but with the search for the missing girl and the mystery involving the possible murder taking much of everyone’s time, it was understandable that they had to keep the romance as a subplot. Plus, this is being sold as YA mystery and not YA romance, so...
I’m sure there will be reviews complaining about historical inconsistencies (not saying there's a problem with the book, but there’s always someone complaining about that), but (again) I don’t care. I didn’t request this book because of the historical references and I’m not quoting anything from a fiction with history as a subplot when discussing important historical facts, so yeah… there’s that.
This book delivered what it promised and a little more: a fun, sweet YA contemporary story with great mystery, a good romance and a main character that made my list of characters I want to be friends with.
ARC via NetGalley.
Thank you, Entangled!
Full review also on the blog: https://t.co/FxyQR1HZCw
First thing I'll say about this is I started and finished it in one day. A Friday. I could've gone out with my friends or gone with my husband to a nice restaurant... or even started partying since it's Carnaval this weekend, but nope. I chose to stay home and finish this book because I fell in love with Jules.
When that happens, don’t expect me to step away until there are no more words to read. Then, I end up feeling both happy and sad. I guess every bookworm knows the feeling. And while I was thrilled to get to know Jules, I was sad to have to let her go.
You should come meet Jules -- a.k.a Juliet Verity a.k.a Buttercup a.k.a my new BFF. A super awesome sixteen-year-old who comes from a line of eccentric women with special “gifts.” Her grandmother, for example, can see people’s auras and find their perfect match. And while her grandmother and her mother have found ways to turn their gifts into something profitable for the family, Jules is still going through the “I’m a freak” phase. It sure doesn’t help that her gift isn’t making being a teenager any easy. According to Jules’ very funny best friend, the poor girl suffers from "Psychic Tourette's Syndrome". What’s that? Out of nowhere, Jules will yell some absurd prophecy that makes no sense at the time, but later turns out to be helpful. Sounds pretty cool, except when you’re trying to keep people from thinking you’re batshit crazy.
But you know where being batshit crazy is cool and profitable? At the castle-turned-dinner-theater Tudor Times where everyone dresses up and pretends to be someone else. Jules is hired to play the part of Mad Maid of Kent (a psychic num), which means she’s practically getting paid to be herself. Pretty good, huh? What makes it even better is that she’ll get to spend time with her longtime crush and now coworker, Grayson Chandler.
It’d be the perfect job if it weren’t for the dead body she found. The same body that disappeared minutes later, leaving everyone wondering if Jules really saw it or if this was just another part of her psychic gift. Only way to find out? Teaming up with Grayson and searching for the dead girl and her murderer. That’s when the adventure began.
While the whole Tudor vibe and the mystery about the missing body made the story unique and interesting, Jules was the most special element in this as far as I was concerned. You can call her a special snowflake, if you want… I honestly don’t care, because I connected with her from the start.
Jules was funny, like make-me-laugh-out-loud-a-lot funny. Her logic was spot on and her sense of humor was refreshing:
“That brings up an interesting point, Miss Verity. You’re the only one who’s seen Sarah Buckley dead.”
“Uh, no. I’m pretty sure whoever killed her and moved her body saw her, too.”
Like, dude, she was hilarious.
Jules stood firmly against slut shaming. Grayson was in a relationship with Bree, the most perfect girl in town, but every time Jules talked about her “rival”, she did it in a way that made you respect her even more:
Bree Blair is so perfect you can’t even hate her properly.
She (Bree) envelops me in a rose-scented hug. She doesn’t just look perfect, she smells good, too. I should hate her. But I can’t.
And don’t expect Jules to get involved with someone else’s boyfriend, because she’s not up for that kind of crap:
“Cami, I’m serious. I will never be Bree Blair, and I’m not going to be the kind of girl who goes after someone else’s boyfriend, either.”
I highlighted another part that proves the point above (“You’d better go call Bree” – can’t say more because of spoilers) while reading and added “YES, YES, YES!” as my notes. Honestly, I’m so tired of people treating cheating like it’s not a big deal, and I was so, so happy that Jules wasn’t of one them.
I guess what I’m saying is I fell hard for Jules, so I completely understand the big secret revealed at the end. It makes perfect sense to me. *shrugs*
The romance wasn’t as big as I normally like it, but with the search for the missing girl and the mystery involving the possible murder taking much of everyone’s time, it was understandable that they had to keep the romance as a subplot. Plus, this is being sold as YA mystery and not YA romance, so...
I’m sure there will be reviews complaining about historical inconsistencies (not saying there's a problem with the book, but there’s always someone complaining about that), but (again) I don’t care. I didn’t request this book because of the historical references and I’m not quoting anything from a fiction with history as a subplot when discussing important historical facts, so yeah… there’s that.
This book delivered what it promised and a little more: a fun, sweet YA contemporary story with great mystery, a good romance and a main character that made my list of characters I want to be friends with.
March 3, 2016
Sixteen year old Jules Verity has a family that each have different gifts, or curses depending on how you look at it. Her grandmother can see auras and has used the ability to set up her own matchmaking service. Her mother can touch any object and tell the authenticity so has her own antique shop. However Jules doesn't have control over her ability, it seems she's psychic but it comes as blurting out random sayings that make little to no sense at the time thus her best friend Cami has dubbed the ability "Psychic Tourette's Syndrome".
Jules like any other sixteen year old with a brand new drivers license wants her own car so she decides to get a summer job at Tudor Times, a dinner theater in a castle where Jules thinks she's applying to be a fair maiden but ends up playing a crazy psychic nun the Mad Maid of Kent which fits Jules Psychic Tourettes quite perfectly. Other than embarrassment from her long time crush Grayson seeing her as a nun, Jules should have found herself the perfect job, that is until she stumbles into a secret passage and finds a dead body.
Holding Court is just a fun, light-hearted book that was just too cute for words. I completely enjoyed everything about this story. The setting had me from the start as it reminded me of a place I have actually been to called Medieval Times near Chicago. But Jules was just adorable with her blurting out the most random things at the most inopportune times that it had me giggling all the way through the pages.
The book can be best described as a young adult cozy mystery with a tad bit of romance thrown into the mix. Jules has a crush on Grayson but the main focus of the story is the fact Jules had found a body and no one seems to believe her due to her outbursts. She takes investigating into her own hands and embarks on one hilarious adventure.
Overall, great fun read that I'd definitely recommend checking out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Jules like any other sixteen year old with a brand new drivers license wants her own car so she decides to get a summer job at Tudor Times, a dinner theater in a castle where Jules thinks she's applying to be a fair maiden but ends up playing a crazy psychic nun the Mad Maid of Kent which fits Jules Psychic Tourettes quite perfectly. Other than embarrassment from her long time crush Grayson seeing her as a nun, Jules should have found herself the perfect job, that is until she stumbles into a secret passage and finds a dead body.
Holding Court is just a fun, light-hearted book that was just too cute for words. I completely enjoyed everything about this story. The setting had me from the start as it reminded me of a place I have actually been to called Medieval Times near Chicago. But Jules was just adorable with her blurting out the most random things at the most inopportune times that it had me giggling all the way through the pages.
The book can be best described as a young adult cozy mystery with a tad bit of romance thrown into the mix. Jules has a crush on Grayson but the main focus of the story is the fact Jules had found a body and no one seems to believe her due to her outbursts. She takes investigating into her own hands and embarks on one hilarious adventure.
Overall, great fun read that I'd definitely recommend checking out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
December 27, 2015
I love this book so much. It's the perfect mix of everything I love: charming, hilarious characters; a super-smart, clue-filled puzzle to solve ; and a spooky, mysterious castle filled with people in costumes. The pining romance left me gasping. The mystery left me gasping. I basically didn't breathe for like the last half of the book. (I might have snuck a breath or two... so I could finish reading before death.)
And Juliet's family is amazing. I love her mother and grandmother so much. I may start a letter-writing campaign to get a sequel just so I can spend more time with everyone.
Everyone should have this book on their 2016 TBR piles!
And Juliet's family is amazing. I love her mother and grandmother so much. I may start a letter-writing campaign to get a sequel just so I can spend more time with everyone.
Everyone should have this book on their 2016 TBR piles!
May 8, 2016
I don’t think I can thank Entangled Teen enough for tossing this book my way! Holding Court might very well be the cutest, funniest YA Contemporary Mystery that has come out so far this year!
Holding Court follows one summer in the life of sixteen year old Jules Verity. With her mom gone away due to a job, Jules decides to take up a job at the “castle-turned-dinner-theatre" Tudor Times. She hopes to wear fancy dresses and have a little extra in the cookie jar. Of course, there’s the tiny incentive of getting to see Grayson Chandler, her long time crush. Except, nothing goes quite as she planned because her costume is a pain in the MFA, and Grayson’s girlfriend is so damned nice, that Jules feels bad drooling over him. And then, there’s the issue of her having discovered a dead body while on the job.
Jules a completely normal teenager with all the normal teenager melodrama and eye-rolling, except for the fact that she blurts out nonsensical prophecies at the most inopportune moments. Jules' best friend refers to this problem as "Psychic Tourette's Syndrome," and man, she’s so right! Jules’ “prophecies” make absolutely no sense, watching her sometimes shout it out in peoples’ faces made me cringe for her. Juliet was a very cute character, and she’s exactly the type of person whom you would want to be best friends with! Basically, this girl made every part of the book completely laugh out loud worthy!
The mystery around the dead girl Jules discovers, her seemingly absurd prophecies, and the entire concept of Tudor Times was brilliant! I love how everything was tied up neatly by the end, and there’s no doubt that the book was very, very well constructed. The setting and the costumes especially added to the cute/funny/creepy aura that the book created, and what’s even more interesting is that Jules was not the only person with gifts! I loved to see her stumbling around, though, and the author has exceptionally good comic timing :)
The writing in Holding Court is what really impresses. It is a debut, but it most definitely does not read like one. I loved the romance—it’s super spoilery, so no talking about it—but it was so swoony! There wasn’t too much of it, what with PEOPLE DYING and everything and so it took a backseat, but I almost prefer it that way. It made the book all the more realistic. Holding Court is a kind of book you don’t want to see end—I certainly didn’t—and I’m definitely recommending it to you if you love fluff and humour with your mysterious dead bodies!
I was provided a free earc of this book by Entangled Teen through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not in any way, however, influence the content of this review.
Holding Court follows one summer in the life of sixteen year old Jules Verity. With her mom gone away due to a job, Jules decides to take up a job at the “castle-turned-dinner-theatre" Tudor Times. She hopes to wear fancy dresses and have a little extra in the cookie jar. Of course, there’s the tiny incentive of getting to see Grayson Chandler, her long time crush. Except, nothing goes quite as she planned because her costume is a pain in the MFA, and Grayson’s girlfriend is so damned nice, that Jules feels bad drooling over him. And then, there’s the issue of her having discovered a dead body while on the job.
Jules a completely normal teenager with all the normal teenager melodrama and eye-rolling, except for the fact that she blurts out nonsensical prophecies at the most inopportune moments. Jules' best friend refers to this problem as "Psychic Tourette's Syndrome," and man, she’s so right! Jules’ “prophecies” make absolutely no sense, watching her sometimes shout it out in peoples’ faces made me cringe for her. Juliet was a very cute character, and she’s exactly the type of person whom you would want to be best friends with! Basically, this girl made every part of the book completely laugh out loud worthy!
The mystery around the dead girl Jules discovers, her seemingly absurd prophecies, and the entire concept of Tudor Times was brilliant! I love how everything was tied up neatly by the end, and there’s no doubt that the book was very, very well constructed. The setting and the costumes especially added to the cute/funny/creepy aura that the book created, and what’s even more interesting is that Jules was not the only person with gifts! I loved to see her stumbling around, though, and the author has exceptionally good comic timing :)
The writing in Holding Court is what really impresses. It is a debut, but it most definitely does not read like one. I loved the romance—it’s super spoilery, so no talking about it—but it was so swoony! There wasn’t too much of it, what with PEOPLE DYING and everything and so it took a backseat, but I almost prefer it that way. It made the book all the more realistic. Holding Court is a kind of book you don’t want to see end—I certainly didn’t—and I’m definitely recommending it to you if you love fluff and humour with your mysterious dead bodies!
I was provided a free earc of this book by Entangled Teen through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not in any way, however, influence the content of this review.
February 28, 2016
First things first: I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
The book comes out March 1st. GO CHECK IT OUT!!!!
I'm so glad I stumbled upon this book. The cover immediatly made me wanna read it. The story sounded pretty interesting too.
The book is about Jules, 16 years old, blessed or well cursed with PTS (Psychic Tourette's Syndrome), it's the way her best friend Cami calls her spontaneous and uncontrollable prophecies that Jules keeps shouting in other people's faces. Jules is looking for a summer job, and finds an add in the newspaper for a job at a castle. She imagines she can dress up in beautiful dresses. Instead her job is to be the crazy nun. Also on her first day at work, she finds a dead body. And the mystery begins.
I love Jules as a main character. It's been a while since I read someone so fun. There were some lines in there that actually made me laugh out loud. At the same time she has a lot of insecurities, thinking that everyone assumes she is just a freak because she has these weird outburst. I just found her to be really lovable and overall really well written.
The story also had amazing characters. I loved Jules friendship with Cami and the relationship she had with her grandma (she's one amazing character. So many great lines. Such a fun personality.)
Something that I also really enjoyed was the love triangle. Uh, I know. Another one of those. But I loved how this one was written. How Bree wasn't the typical "other girl" that was mean and not likeable at all. Cause I loved Bree. And I really loved all the little revelations at the end of the book. So well handled. SO GREAT.
The writing in the book was amazing. It was such a fun and easy read. I loved the setting. I loved the mystery. I never got to the point where I just didn't care anymore who killed who. So I'm giving this book all the stars and I'm telling you all to pick up this book and reading. It's so entertaining.
The book comes out March 1st. GO CHECK IT OUT!!!!
I'm so glad I stumbled upon this book. The cover immediatly made me wanna read it. The story sounded pretty interesting too.
The book is about Jules, 16 years old, blessed or well cursed with PTS (Psychic Tourette's Syndrome), it's the way her best friend Cami calls her spontaneous and uncontrollable prophecies that Jules keeps shouting in other people's faces. Jules is looking for a summer job, and finds an add in the newspaper for a job at a castle. She imagines she can dress up in beautiful dresses. Instead her job is to be the crazy nun. Also on her first day at work, she finds a dead body. And the mystery begins.
I love Jules as a main character. It's been a while since I read someone so fun. There were some lines in there that actually made me laugh out loud. At the same time she has a lot of insecurities, thinking that everyone assumes she is just a freak because she has these weird outburst. I just found her to be really lovable and overall really well written.
The story also had amazing characters. I loved Jules friendship with Cami and the relationship she had with her grandma (she's one amazing character. So many great lines. Such a fun personality.)
Something that I also really enjoyed was the love triangle. Uh, I know. Another one of those. But I loved how this one was written. How Bree wasn't the typical "other girl" that was mean and not likeable at all. Cause I loved Bree. And I really loved all the little revelations at the end of the book. So well handled. SO GREAT.
The writing in the book was amazing. It was such a fun and easy read. I loved the setting. I loved the mystery. I never got to the point where I just didn't care anymore who killed who. So I'm giving this book all the stars and I'm telling you all to pick up this book and reading. It's so entertaining.
February 5, 2016
2.5 stars. This was cute, if frivolous and just an "alright" little story.
99% of the writing was either dialogue or Juliet's thoughts (basically unspoken dialogue), so I would have appreciated more detailed writing about the other characters and the setting, as well as backstory. I wanted to know more about Juliet's family's psychic history! Their powers! This book is so short, it could have really benefited from more of anything.
Also, while the humor came off as charming and quirky at first (loved the Princess Bride quips), I thought there could have been more tact when it came to the nun bits. Like, nuns are pretty cool people. I'm not even Catholic, but I just thought the early jokes lacked taste and will definitely offend some people.
Totally called the ending regarding Bree, by the way. Wish that could have been explored a little for the sake of character development. But like I said, I wish anything had been explored a little bit more.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
99% of the writing was either dialogue or Juliet's thoughts (basically unspoken dialogue), so I would have appreciated more detailed writing about the other characters and the setting, as well as backstory. I wanted to know more about Juliet's family's psychic history! Their powers! This book is so short, it could have really benefited from more of anything.
Also, while the humor came off as charming and quirky at first (loved the Princess Bride quips), I thought there could have been more tact when it came to the nun bits. Like, nuns are pretty cool people. I'm not even Catholic, but I just thought the early jokes lacked taste and will definitely offend some people.
Totally called the ending regarding Bree, by the way. Wish that could have been explored a little for the sake of character development. But like I said, I wish anything had been explored a little bit more.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2016
I knew I was going to love this book when I started laughing at the very first sentence. I thought to myself, “This is going to be one of my favorite authors.” Before I go into all the wonderful reasons of why I adored this book, let me tell you a little bit about what it’s about.
Juliet “Jules” Verity has always considered herself a freak, thanks to her annoying habit of uncontrollably spewing crazy-sounding prophecies at random. It’s made a lot of things in her life very difficult — such as trying to find a normal job or speaking with her longtime crush Grayson Chandler. Jules is out of a job for the summer when her mother has to close down her antique shop for a temporary job in Paris. So when her bestie Cami finds a job listing at the interactive castle theater called Tudor Times for the part of psychic Maid of Kent, she reluctantly applies because she’s desperate to buy a car since her grandma’s hot pink golf cart is her only motorized choice for transport. Little does she know that her unavailable crush works there, the Mad Maid of Kent is a crazy nun, and that she’ll find a dead body that disappears and leads her into investigating a murder no one believes her about.
"I so wish I could read his mind. Because part of me wonders…I give myself a little shake. Get real, Jules. Taylor Swift said it best, Bree’s the cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers."
Ah! This book had everything I look for in a young adult contemporary. Witty and charming characters, crazy funny dialogue, easy writing style, a story that makes you read through the night, and did I mention lots of laughs?! Add to that romance filled with hilariously awkward moments, mystery involving castle intrigue and dashing knights (or should I say, squights), and lovable family and side characters that made me crack up. Jules’ prophetic gift made for a unique approach to the genre and it ended up being one of my favorite aspects of the book. Jules and Grayson also made it to my OTP list — their mutual love of The Princess Bride was oh-so-cute. The mystery was great — usually I can predict whodunits immediately, but I only guessed around halfway through. I am in shock that this is the author’s debut novel. Please, I need more!! Her writing style really reminded me of one of my favorite authors ever, Jenny B. Jones. All I can say is that K.C. Held has made me a forever fan with Holding Court!
If you enjoy laughing, you will enjoy this new YA. *wink* Seriously though, it was adorably hilarious and I savored every moment. Totally recommended for those who like the YA contemporary genre.
See full review and more on my blog: http://www.willbakeforbooks.com/2016/...
Juliet “Jules” Verity has always considered herself a freak, thanks to her annoying habit of uncontrollably spewing crazy-sounding prophecies at random. It’s made a lot of things in her life very difficult — such as trying to find a normal job or speaking with her longtime crush Grayson Chandler. Jules is out of a job for the summer when her mother has to close down her antique shop for a temporary job in Paris. So when her bestie Cami finds a job listing at the interactive castle theater called Tudor Times for the part of psychic Maid of Kent, she reluctantly applies because she’s desperate to buy a car since her grandma’s hot pink golf cart is her only motorized choice for transport. Little does she know that her unavailable crush works there, the Mad Maid of Kent is a crazy nun, and that she’ll find a dead body that disappears and leads her into investigating a murder no one believes her about.
"I so wish I could read his mind. Because part of me wonders…I give myself a little shake. Get real, Jules. Taylor Swift said it best, Bree’s the cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers."
Ah! This book had everything I look for in a young adult contemporary. Witty and charming characters, crazy funny dialogue, easy writing style, a story that makes you read through the night, and did I mention lots of laughs?! Add to that romance filled with hilariously awkward moments, mystery involving castle intrigue and dashing knights (or should I say, squights), and lovable family and side characters that made me crack up. Jules’ prophetic gift made for a unique approach to the genre and it ended up being one of my favorite aspects of the book. Jules and Grayson also made it to my OTP list — their mutual love of The Princess Bride was oh-so-cute. The mystery was great — usually I can predict whodunits immediately, but I only guessed around halfway through. I am in shock that this is the author’s debut novel. Please, I need more!! Her writing style really reminded me of one of my favorite authors ever, Jenny B. Jones. All I can say is that K.C. Held has made me a forever fan with Holding Court!
If you enjoy laughing, you will enjoy this new YA. *wink* Seriously though, it was adorably hilarious and I savored every moment. Totally recommended for those who like the YA contemporary genre.
See full review and more on my blog: http://www.willbakeforbooks.com/2016/...
July 22, 2016
"Who told you to say that?"
"What? No one. I have a blurting problem. It happens more when I'm nervous. Like now. My friend Cami calls it Psychic Tourette's Syndrome. PTS for short. I call it mortifying."
The Good
This was such a funny and cute story. The characters are wonderful. Jules Verity comes from a family in which the women all exhibit some sort of power. Her quirky grandmother runs a matchmaking company called The Aura of Romance with her ability to read auras and she drives a pink golf cart around town with advertisements plastered on it. Her mom has the ability to tell the history of an object by touching it. Jules is the best though. She randomly blurts out psychic premonitions that often sound more loony than accurate. For example, "Be alert to the squirt and smell the ketchup!".
Jules finds the best job for her possible as the Mad Maid of Kent at Tudor Times. It's a place for people to visit where everything is set in the time of King Henry the VIII. The Mad Maid of Kent is known to be a crazy psychic so it works quite well. This setting made for some interesting dialogue as well as unique weapons and storing places for bodies. The story is a mystery. She finds a dead body on her first day of work and rolls on from there with Jules investigating.
The Bad
While I'm sure there were flaws with the story, I didn't notice them. This was just what I needed at the time.
The Romance
Jules has had a crush on Grayson for quite some time. I like how in this one, Grayson has a girlfriend that Jules loves. She thinks Bree is one of the best people she's ever met, and I have to agree that she's pretty great. This sets up an interesting dynamic, and I'm glad about how everything worked out in the end.
Conclusion
Holding Court is a very funny, cute read. I laughed quite a lot while reading it. The characters are wonderful and the romance is charming. The setting at Tudor Times makes for a fun environment with interesting dialogue and the mystery of the dead bodies makes for a great who-done-it plot. Definitely recommended.
Sent for honest review through Netgalley
"What? No one. I have a blurting problem. It happens more when I'm nervous. Like now. My friend Cami calls it Psychic Tourette's Syndrome. PTS for short. I call it mortifying."
The Good
This was such a funny and cute story. The characters are wonderful. Jules Verity comes from a family in which the women all exhibit some sort of power. Her quirky grandmother runs a matchmaking company called The Aura of Romance with her ability to read auras and she drives a pink golf cart around town with advertisements plastered on it. Her mom has the ability to tell the history of an object by touching it. Jules is the best though. She randomly blurts out psychic premonitions that often sound more loony than accurate. For example, "Be alert to the squirt and smell the ketchup!".
Jules finds the best job for her possible as the Mad Maid of Kent at Tudor Times. It's a place for people to visit where everything is set in the time of King Henry the VIII. The Mad Maid of Kent is known to be a crazy psychic so it works quite well. This setting made for some interesting dialogue as well as unique weapons and storing places for bodies. The story is a mystery. She finds a dead body on her first day of work and rolls on from there with Jules investigating.
The Bad
While I'm sure there were flaws with the story, I didn't notice them. This was just what I needed at the time.
The Romance
Jules has had a crush on Grayson for quite some time. I like how in this one, Grayson has a girlfriend that Jules loves. She thinks Bree is one of the best people she's ever met, and I have to agree that she's pretty great. This sets up an interesting dynamic, and I'm glad about how everything worked out in the end.
Conclusion
Holding Court is a very funny, cute read. I laughed quite a lot while reading it. The characters are wonderful and the romance is charming. The setting at Tudor Times makes for a fun environment with interesting dialogue and the mystery of the dead bodies makes for a great who-done-it plot. Definitely recommended.
Sent for honest review through Netgalley
March 7, 2016
I knew just a few pages into KC Held's debut, HOLDING COURT, that I was going to enjoy the book--particularly after discovering that Held and I have a mutual adoration of Elizabeth Peters' wonderfully madcap mysteries, and those were part of her inspiration behind this book.
This book was fun, breezy, and witty with just the right touch of romance. Juliet ("Jules") Verity was a delightful main character--smart, loyal, and just self-deprecating enough to be relatable. Part of this, of course, comes from her "PTS"--or self-diagnosed psychic Tourette's syndrome, where she feels an inexplicable compulsion to blurt random things that turn out to be true. (Jules is aware that this isn't real Tourette's syndrome, and even comments on the fact that corprolalia, or the blurting tendency most commonly associated with Tourette's syndrome, only happens in 10 % of the cases). Whatever the cause, her blurts are a source of annoyance and embarrassment to Jules.
As the story begins, Jules is looking for a summer job--and finds the perfect one at a local Medieval dinner theater, where, she believes, she'll get to wear an attractive dress and discretely ogle her long-time crush from a distance. But life, of course, rarely works the way you planned (especially in novels!) and Jules finds herself cast as a mad, fortune-telling nun, of all things, and that her crush's girlfriend is also part of the staff. When Jules stumbles across a dead body (that disappears while she's trying to summon help), things only get worse, particularly as Jules tries to uncover information that could clear herself from suspicion.
Held does a wonderful job with this--it's compulsively readable, quick, and the characters run the gamut from funny to downright creepy. Despite the potential darkness of the murder, Held keeps the tone light even as the tension picks up (a perfect combination for me: there's a reason I read cozy mysteries!). Recommended for readers looking for a light-hearted, escapist read.
This book was fun, breezy, and witty with just the right touch of romance. Juliet ("Jules") Verity was a delightful main character--smart, loyal, and just self-deprecating enough to be relatable. Part of this, of course, comes from her "PTS"--or self-diagnosed psychic Tourette's syndrome, where she feels an inexplicable compulsion to blurt random things that turn out to be true. (Jules is aware that this isn't real Tourette's syndrome, and even comments on the fact that corprolalia, or the blurting tendency most commonly associated with Tourette's syndrome, only happens in 10 % of the cases). Whatever the cause, her blurts are a source of annoyance and embarrassment to Jules.
As the story begins, Jules is looking for a summer job--and finds the perfect one at a local Medieval dinner theater, where, she believes, she'll get to wear an attractive dress and discretely ogle her long-time crush from a distance. But life, of course, rarely works the way you planned (especially in novels!) and Jules finds herself cast as a mad, fortune-telling nun, of all things, and that her crush's girlfriend is also part of the staff. When Jules stumbles across a dead body (that disappears while she's trying to summon help), things only get worse, particularly as Jules tries to uncover information that could clear herself from suspicion.
Held does a wonderful job with this--it's compulsively readable, quick, and the characters run the gamut from funny to downright creepy. Despite the potential darkness of the murder, Held keeps the tone light even as the tension picks up (a perfect combination for me: there's a reason I read cozy mysteries!). Recommended for readers looking for a light-hearted, escapist read.
March 1, 2016
Ohmigosh, this book made me so giddy with happiness! I'm pretty sure my cheeks are going to be sore from smiling and laughing so much.
Let me be fair by saying I am obsessed with two things that feature prominently in the book - the Tudor family and The Princess Bride. I've also always wanted to work in one of those old-timey places where you get to wear a costume and play someone else for tourists. So, really, this book had me from the description.
Poor Jules Verity has an unfortunate gift for prophecy. It sounds like such a cool thing, right? Being able to prophesize the future? Except, she more blurts out sentences that seem nonsensical and appear at the worst of times (which her BFF dubs Psychic Tourette's Syndrome). As hard as she tries to control it, she can't seem to stop blurting silly things for no reason. This makes her absolutely perfect for a summer job at the Tudor Times, where she'll play a nun who also had a gift for prophecy and was known for babbling nonsense. Even better, Jules' crush, Grayson works at the castle, too. Seems perfect--until Jules stumbles over (literally) the dead body of a girl in a secret passageway, only to have that body disappear as Jules runs for help.
This book combines mystery, romance, and humor. I honestly didn't want it to end, and even cursed my already long commute for not being longer when it came to having to put it down at my stop. Jules is a hilarious MC, and I can't but feel bad for her and all of her embarrassing moments. Grayson is totally swoon-worthy, and I don't blame Jules one bit for her crush--even if Grayson does have a longtime girlfriend. Oops.
I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a laugh-out-loud YA with a bit of a mystery/thriller vibe thrown in.
LOVE.
*** Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for the eARC in exchange for an honest review***
Let me be fair by saying I am obsessed with two things that feature prominently in the book - the Tudor family and The Princess Bride. I've also always wanted to work in one of those old-timey places where you get to wear a costume and play someone else for tourists. So, really, this book had me from the description.
Poor Jules Verity has an unfortunate gift for prophecy. It sounds like such a cool thing, right? Being able to prophesize the future? Except, she more blurts out sentences that seem nonsensical and appear at the worst of times (which her BFF dubs Psychic Tourette's Syndrome). As hard as she tries to control it, she can't seem to stop blurting silly things for no reason. This makes her absolutely perfect for a summer job at the Tudor Times, where she'll play a nun who also had a gift for prophecy and was known for babbling nonsense. Even better, Jules' crush, Grayson works at the castle, too. Seems perfect--until Jules stumbles over (literally) the dead body of a girl in a secret passageway, only to have that body disappear as Jules runs for help.
This book combines mystery, romance, and humor. I honestly didn't want it to end, and even cursed my already long commute for not being longer when it came to having to put it down at my stop. Jules is a hilarious MC, and I can't but feel bad for her and all of her embarrassing moments. Grayson is totally swoon-worthy, and I don't blame Jules one bit for her crush--even if Grayson does have a longtime girlfriend. Oops.
I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a laugh-out-loud YA with a bit of a mystery/thriller vibe thrown in.
LOVE.
*** Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for the eARC in exchange for an honest review***
February 25, 2016
*** I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review***
This book is the perfect coming of age novel for all younger teens. This is because it is the kind of book that has a complex, yet easy to follow, mystery that must be solved and the protagonist grows throughout this book in confidence and as a person. This novel is also written for a younger audience without appearing juvenile so older teens can also enjoy this quick read.
What I liked:
*The Mystery
I love a good book with a little be of mystery thrown in and this book definitely has that! Jules ends up finding a dead body in the castle that she works at but the body disappears. This forces Jules to try and prove her sanity by attempting to find the body even though there is a murderer on the loose.
*The Romance
I did enjoy the love interest of Grayson even though he was off limits since he was dating someone else during the book. I enjoyed seeing the mystery bring these two together and how they were able to communicate with each other to become closer than ever. The author created a love interest that was interesting to read about.
*Jules Family
What's a book without the supporting character? The author definitely does a great job at creating supporting characters that were fun and fit the story perfectly. I especially love Jules grandmother since she was down to earth and an adult the Jules could depend on.
*A Dash of the Supernatural
This book features a family that has psychic abilities, with some abilities being more useful than others. It added a little bit of extra excitement that I believe the story needed.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I would recommend this novel for any younger teens or anyone who wants a simple read.
This book is the perfect coming of age novel for all younger teens. This is because it is the kind of book that has a complex, yet easy to follow, mystery that must be solved and the protagonist grows throughout this book in confidence and as a person. This novel is also written for a younger audience without appearing juvenile so older teens can also enjoy this quick read.
What I liked:
*The Mystery
I love a good book with a little be of mystery thrown in and this book definitely has that! Jules ends up finding a dead body in the castle that she works at but the body disappears. This forces Jules to try and prove her sanity by attempting to find the body even though there is a murderer on the loose.
*The Romance
I did enjoy the love interest of Grayson even though he was off limits since he was dating someone else during the book. I enjoyed seeing the mystery bring these two together and how they were able to communicate with each other to become closer than ever. The author created a love interest that was interesting to read about.
*Jules Family
What's a book without the supporting character? The author definitely does a great job at creating supporting characters that were fun and fit the story perfectly. I especially love Jules grandmother since she was down to earth and an adult the Jules could depend on.
*A Dash of the Supernatural
This book features a family that has psychic abilities, with some abilities being more useful than others. It added a little bit of extra excitement that I believe the story needed.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I would recommend this novel for any younger teens or anyone who wants a simple read.
February 9, 2016
I wasn't reading much this past weekend because life and adulting, but whenever I picked this book up, I couldn't put it down after just one more chapter. It's equal parts funny, swoony, and a little bit creepy. In other words, the perfect combination for a YA mystery.
Jules Verity is as truthful as they come. She also has the gift that her BFF dubbed Psychic Tourette's Syndrome, which causes her to blurt out prophecies that seem to make no sense, but turn out to be poignant and useful later on most of the time. She's in love, from afar, with Grayson Chandler ever since he moved to their school, but he's been unavailable this entire time. Over the summer, she gets a job at Tudor Times hoping that she'll be wearing a sumptuous costume that gives her a little cleavage, but instead she has to play the part of a crazy nun who has the "gift of visions."
Things go from bad to worse when she accidentally finds a dead body in one of the castle's secret passageways. Which promptly disappears....
Lots of twisty plots, swoony moments, quotations from The Princess Bride, and laughs. You don't want to miss this book by debut author K.C. Held!
Jules Verity is as truthful as they come. She also has the gift that her BFF dubbed Psychic Tourette's Syndrome, which causes her to blurt out prophecies that seem to make no sense, but turn out to be poignant and useful later on most of the time. She's in love, from afar, with Grayson Chandler ever since he moved to their school, but he's been unavailable this entire time. Over the summer, she gets a job at Tudor Times hoping that she'll be wearing a sumptuous costume that gives her a little cleavage, but instead she has to play the part of a crazy nun who has the "gift of visions."
Things go from bad to worse when she accidentally finds a dead body in one of the castle's secret passageways. Which promptly disappears....
Lots of twisty plots, swoony moments, quotations from The Princess Bride, and laughs. You don't want to miss this book by debut author K.C. Held!
July 5, 2017
Thank you for netgalley, the publisher, and author for the chance to read this book.
I am so pleasantly surprised to say that I kind of loved this book. I love murder mysteries, but my favorite ones are the ones that can also make me laugh. I love the humor that breaks up the tension and seriousness. This book was fun and well written. Some things were easy to figure out, but there were some twists and I didn't figure out who the murderer was beforehand like I do in so many books.
The characters were great and I love Jules and her family. I really hope the the author writes more for this series. I want more from Jules' mom and especially her grandma.
I am so pleasantly surprised to say that I kind of loved this book. I love murder mysteries, but my favorite ones are the ones that can also make me laugh. I love the humor that breaks up the tension and seriousness. This book was fun and well written. Some things were easy to figure out, but there were some twists and I didn't figure out who the murderer was beforehand like I do in so many books.
The characters were great and I love Jules and her family. I really hope the the author writes more for this series. I want more from Jules' mom and especially her grandma.
June 8, 2017
Oops, I read this in one sitting (I keep doing that lately) but I so totally do not regret a thing. I have a feeling Holding Court is going to become on of my favorite cheer me up reads. Quirky characters with a narrator I definitely related to, not that I have a blurting problem, I'm just awkward, a mystery and a castle! I only wish this book had been longer and that it dove more into Juliet learning to control her premonitions.
The narration style and wry humor was exactly what I love; I literally read two pages of the sample and knew I had to buy this. Of course, I was then nervous that it not be as awesome as I hoped. I was not disappointed. I've been reading serious emotional books and thrillers lately, this was a lovely interlude. It is not particularly deep in any way, nor is the plot complex but it wasn't shallow either. What does stand out about Holding Court, other than its great voice, are the relationships between Juliet and other girls and women in the book.
Juliet's grandmother had a more direct role in the book than her mother, who is currently traveling for work, but both of them support Juliet and push her to grow as a person. (Juliet's father is really only mentioned to establish he isn't around, I'm not sure a grandfather was ever mentioned.) They worry about her, sometimes have misunderstandings and disagreements, but still love their daughter.
Juliet also has good relationships with most of the other girls she interacts with, her best friend (who is also adorable), the current Maid of Kent, and Bree, the girlfriend of the boy Juliet is crushing on. Which can I say, it's just awesome. Especially since girls are expected to hate someone who is their rival (or perceived rival) in love, Juliet has even internalized that she is supposed to hate Bree (I kinda wish the book had dealt with this a little more directly, but it sill handled it well). But Juliet likes Bree, even if they aren't best friends. Bree stood up for Juliet when they were younger and is genuinely nice. I mean Juliet is nice too, but Bree is the person who makes friends with everyone and is impossible to hate. Juliet also doesn't forget about Bree when Grayson starts noticing her. Juliet is perfectly happy to ogle Grayson from afar, she doesn't chase after him, she constantly wish he would break up with Bree and she doesn't complain about Bree not being good enough for Grayson. It's refreshing. Not that Juliet gets along with everyone, but the girls that she doesn't get along with only make a minor appearance and aren't a source of angst or an example of disproportionate payback.
Now some quotes.
In short, I would be thrilled if there was a sequel because I would love to spend more time with these characters and see Juliet's gifts develop.
The narration style and wry humor was exactly what I love; I literally read two pages of the sample and knew I had to buy this. Of course, I was then nervous that it not be as awesome as I hoped. I was not disappointed. I've been reading serious emotional books and thrillers lately, this was a lovely interlude. It is not particularly deep in any way, nor is the plot complex but it wasn't shallow either. What does stand out about Holding Court, other than its great voice, are the relationships between Juliet and other girls and women in the book.
Juliet's grandmother had a more direct role in the book than her mother, who is currently traveling for work, but both of them support Juliet and push her to grow as a person. (Juliet's father is really only mentioned to establish he isn't around, I'm not sure a grandfather was ever mentioned.) They worry about her, sometimes have misunderstandings and disagreements, but still love their daughter.
Juliet also has good relationships with most of the other girls she interacts with, her best friend (who is also adorable), the current Maid of Kent, and Bree, the girlfriend of the boy Juliet is crushing on. Which can I say, it's just awesome. Especially since girls are expected to hate someone who is their rival (or perceived rival) in love, Juliet has even internalized that she is supposed to hate Bree (I kinda wish the book had dealt with this a little more directly, but it sill handled it well). But Juliet likes Bree, even if they aren't best friends. Bree stood up for Juliet when they were younger and is genuinely nice. I mean Juliet is nice too, but Bree is the person who makes friends with everyone and is impossible to hate. Juliet also doesn't forget about Bree when Grayson starts noticing her. Juliet is perfectly happy to ogle Grayson from afar, she doesn't chase after him, she constantly wish he would break up with Bree and she doesn't complain about Bree not being good enough for Grayson. It's refreshing. Not that Juliet gets along with everyone, but the girls that she doesn't get along with only make a minor appearance and aren't a source of angst or an example of disproportionate payback.
Now some quotes.
The only thing that could possibly make the situation more awkward would be for me to have one of my uncontrollable psychic fits.
So, of course, I do.
My eyes fill with tears from the sharp pain in my arm and I lie there for a second trying to decide if my elbow is broken or just missing the top layer of skin.
I look up at him, and my heart gives a funny little flutter. “The virgin hides the truth!” I yell in his face.
“You don’t say?”
“I pretty much wish I hadn’t.”
“I decided upon the simplest course of action.” He stands up, and I’m pretty sure this is the part where he’s going to go all Henry VIII on me and either lop my head off or order one of his minions to do it. “I called your mother.”
In short, I would be thrilled if there was a sequel because I would love to spend more time with these characters and see Juliet's gifts develop.
June 25, 2017
This book was so much fun! I read it in one sitting and often found myself giggling but also feeling bad because there is certainly a serious mystery going on. It's a bit of an odd read, but too cute to pass!
January 10, 2017
So somehow I missed the murder mystery part and thought this would just be a cute fluffy contemporary read?
OK, so it is a fluffy YA contemporary read, dead bodies aside. Jules is an adorably funny 16 year old psychic, who can't help blurting out random premonitions. She takes a job as a fortune-telling nun at Tudor Times, a Henry VIII themed castle-touristy-place because her long time crush, Grayson, works there.
After she finds a secret passageway and a dead body, things just kinda spiral out of control, but the book stays pretty light. (Honestly, this is the first murder mystery chick lit book I've ever read, but I liked it!)
Four stars just because it's such a fun read. I mean, you get gems like:
"Your nun is pregnant!" I blurt.
Everyone stares at me, and I decide my best option is to make a dash for the back curtain.
Gran looks up and sees my wide eyes and my hand over my mouth. "What'd you say this time? A real doozy, huh?"
and
"Sure. No problem," I say, but my nunly armpits are starting to feel uncomfortably clammy. At least black linen is good at disguising sweat circles.
and
I look up at him, and my heart gives a funny little flutter. "The virgin hides the truth!" I yell in his face.
Anyways. It's kinda short and only about three characters get development, but the love interest quotes Princess Bride, and Jules might be the cutest protagonist I've ever read. This book would have been literal perfection for me when I was 16. Even now, it's still hilarious.
OK, so it is a fluffy YA contemporary read, dead bodies aside. Jules is an adorably funny 16 year old psychic, who can't help blurting out random premonitions. She takes a job as a fortune-telling nun at Tudor Times, a Henry VIII themed castle-touristy-place because her long time crush, Grayson, works there.
After she finds a secret passageway and a dead body, things just kinda spiral out of control, but the book stays pretty light. (Honestly, this is the first murder mystery chick lit book I've ever read, but I liked it!)
Four stars just because it's such a fun read. I mean, you get gems like:
"Your nun is pregnant!" I blurt.
Everyone stares at me, and I decide my best option is to make a dash for the back curtain.
Gran looks up and sees my wide eyes and my hand over my mouth. "What'd you say this time? A real doozy, huh?"
and
"Sure. No problem," I say, but my nunly armpits are starting to feel uncomfortably clammy. At least black linen is good at disguising sweat circles.
and
I look up at him, and my heart gives a funny little flutter. "The virgin hides the truth!" I yell in his face.
Anyways. It's kinda short and only about three characters get development, but the love interest quotes Princess Bride, and Jules might be the cutest protagonist I've ever read. This book would have been literal perfection for me when I was 16. Even now, it's still hilarious.
March 8, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start off by saying, if you are on the fence about this one, but like a good mystery and a girl who randomly blurts out the future: this one is for you. I really enjoyed this one and found myself giggling like a madwoman at some points because it was too true and too hilarious. There were even some points where I felt such second hand embarrassment for Jules that I had to put the book down and wait a couple minutes before continuing. This is such a fun read and I recommend it!
Jules is such a fun and easy to like character. She has her issues and her (tad bit) dysfunctional family, but she knows how to work it. I like that even though she sees these premonitions as a flaw in getting dates, she doesn't always see them as a flaw in herself. Sure, she is upset about it sometimes, but really who wouldn't be. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to randomly yell the future at somebody. But she was so much fun and tried to take matters into her own hands. I also liked that it wasn't about trying to solve the murder for her -- it was about proving herself as a person.
I kinda liked that it was just known in town that some people had "gifts" rather than Jules trying to hide what she could do. Not that she really could per say. But I like when the magic and the fantasy intertwine nicely as a part of life rather than trying to figure out how it could work. Like, I would be okay living in a world where someone could randomly tell me the future even if it didn't really make sense. And I did like that everyone was pretty open to taking it. I feel like this made the world that much more interesting. I would like to live in this town that Jules comes from.
I had some of the mysteries figured out from pretty early on but I would like to reread this one so I could see how Jules's physic premonitions helped play into the mystery itself. As much as I tried to really pay attention to them, some of them were so funny that I found myself laughing rather than taking note. And this leads into the one thing I didn't like: that there wasn't more. There were some open threads (i.e. the ketchup, the auras, the play!) that I wanted to know about. I wanted some sort of resolution for these, so if Held wants to write a sequel, I will read said sequel. But as it stands, some of these threads leave the ending feel a bit unsatisfying.
I could go on and on about the things I liked about this one, but really you should see them for yourself. This is one of those novels that is most definitely cheesy, but is still a super fun read. And the romance wasn't overbearing so there's that too! But I don't want to go into detail about that because I might spoil it. Anyway, this one is available now (and only $6! WORTH IT), so you should pick it up!
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
Let me start off by saying, if you are on the fence about this one, but like a good mystery and a girl who randomly blurts out the future: this one is for you. I really enjoyed this one and found myself giggling like a madwoman at some points because it was too true and too hilarious. There were even some points where I felt such second hand embarrassment for Jules that I had to put the book down and wait a couple minutes before continuing. This is such a fun read and I recommend it!
Jules is such a fun and easy to like character. She has her issues and her (tad bit) dysfunctional family, but she knows how to work it. I like that even though she sees these premonitions as a flaw in getting dates, she doesn't always see them as a flaw in herself. Sure, she is upset about it sometimes, but really who wouldn't be. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to randomly yell the future at somebody. But she was so much fun and tried to take matters into her own hands. I also liked that it wasn't about trying to solve the murder for her -- it was about proving herself as a person.
I kinda liked that it was just known in town that some people had "gifts" rather than Jules trying to hide what she could do. Not that she really could per say. But I like when the magic and the fantasy intertwine nicely as a part of life rather than trying to figure out how it could work. Like, I would be okay living in a world where someone could randomly tell me the future even if it didn't really make sense. And I did like that everyone was pretty open to taking it. I feel like this made the world that much more interesting. I would like to live in this town that Jules comes from.
I had some of the mysteries figured out from pretty early on but I would like to reread this one so I could see how Jules's physic premonitions helped play into the mystery itself. As much as I tried to really pay attention to them, some of them were so funny that I found myself laughing rather than taking note. And this leads into the one thing I didn't like: that there wasn't more. There were some open threads (i.e. the ketchup, the auras, the play!) that I wanted to know about. I wanted some sort of resolution for these, so if Held wants to write a sequel, I will read said sequel. But as it stands, some of these threads leave the ending feel a bit unsatisfying.
I could go on and on about the things I liked about this one, but really you should see them for yourself. This is one of those novels that is most definitely cheesy, but is still a super fun read. And the romance wasn't overbearing so there's that too! But I don't want to go into detail about that because I might spoil it. Anyway, this one is available now (and only $6! WORTH IT), so you should pick it up!
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
February 14, 2016
Even though this YA book was a murder mystery, it was a lot of fun! It was cute, charming, and quite funny. There were certain things that I didn't like about this book, but I definitely enjoyed it as a whole.
I felt like the first chapter of this book was a little jarring. The book jumped right into talking about Juliet's premonitions that she blurts out, and it made me very confused. It took me a little while to understanding what was happening. Once I understood Juliet's situation, the book was a lot more enjoyable.
Juliet was a fun main character. I thought she was really witty and adorable. However, she was a bit oblivious at times, and I wanted to shake some sense into her! Other than that, I thought Juliet was a great main character. I really liked her relationship with her family and her best friend, Cami. Her grandmother was hilarious! Cami was a sweet girl, but her obsession with getting Juliet and Grayson together was a little tiresome.
Speaking of Grayson, I thought he was so swoon worthy. His relationship with Juliet was really cute. It seemed a little cliche and I think it could have done with more development, but it was still adorable. They had some really sweet moments together, and I would love to read about them more. I can tell that with more development, they would be such a great couple.
I thought the plot of this book was really interesting! The author did a great job at creating a mystery that wasn't boring or extremely predictable. I had a fun time trying to figure out the mystery right along side Juliet. One thing I thought was missing from the book was more explanation on Juliet's powers. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had a better understanding of her abilities, why she has them, the history of her powers, etc.
One of my favorite things about this book was that it had so many references to The Princess Bride . I love that movie, and I thought all the references to it in this book were fantastic! It was even better when Grayson and Juliet flirted by using quotes from the movie.
Overall, this was a quick and entertaining read. I would definitely read a sequel to this book if the author wrote one!
4 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for a honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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I felt like the first chapter of this book was a little jarring. The book jumped right into talking about Juliet's premonitions that she blurts out, and it made me very confused. It took me a little while to understanding what was happening. Once I understood Juliet's situation, the book was a lot more enjoyable.
Juliet was a fun main character. I thought she was really witty and adorable. However, she was a bit oblivious at times, and I wanted to shake some sense into her! Other than that, I thought Juliet was a great main character. I really liked her relationship with her family and her best friend, Cami. Her grandmother was hilarious! Cami was a sweet girl, but her obsession with getting Juliet and Grayson together was a little tiresome.
Speaking of Grayson, I thought he was so swoon worthy. His relationship with Juliet was really cute. It seemed a little cliche and I think it could have done with more development, but it was still adorable. They had some really sweet moments together, and I would love to read about them more. I can tell that with more development, they would be such a great couple.
I thought the plot of this book was really interesting! The author did a great job at creating a mystery that wasn't boring or extremely predictable. I had a fun time trying to figure out the mystery right along side Juliet. One thing I thought was missing from the book was more explanation on Juliet's powers. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had a better understanding of her abilities, why she has them, the history of her powers, etc.
One of my favorite things about this book was that it had so many references to The Princess Bride . I love that movie, and I thought all the references to it in this book were fantastic! It was even better when Grayson and Juliet flirted by using quotes from the movie.
Overall, this was a quick and entertaining read. I would definitely read a sequel to this book if the author wrote one!
4 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for a honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
May 20, 2016
PLEASE TELL ME THIS IS GOING TO BE A SERIES?! It really, really needs to be you guys!
This book is so much perfection you have no idea, it was funny, there was romance, there was mystery and ya know...murder and it was also kind of original. Like the whole setting was so brilliantly done and I wasn't expecting all the scenes with them doing the whole Tudor thing, it was brilliant and very well done and added a little something extra to the book!
I loved the setting in general, and I would totally go there if given half a chance, not going to lie! The setting really came alive for me, it was vivid and creepy in parts and was very atmospheric.
I loved the characters and I need another book to confirm how perfect Hank and Jules's mum are for each other! They're a rather lively bunch, and they all helped to bring the story to life, especially as half of them you were kind of suspicious of!
There is romance in this book, but it's kind of subtle, and not the main focus of the book, but I enjoyed the scenes, they where cute and I was rooting for them as a couple because they where adorable together and I now have the intense urge to re-watch Princess Bride or actually read the book, seeing as it's staring at me from my shelf! I just loved the two of them together!
The plot was brilliant, it kept taking twists and turns, I wasn't sure what was going to happen next, I actually guessed the murderer...but then talked myself out of because I couldn't quite think of a motivation and then there was this other scene and I was like NO WAY, but then it wasn't the person I was being led to believe it was and yeah. There's lots of mind blowing surprises, and I loved the twist to Bree and everything with her and Grayson and Jules, it surprised me and was pure brilliance!
Holding Court is well written, it's fast paced, and it's entertaining. The characters come to life, and the setting is vivid and mysterious and kinda creepy at times. The romance was cute, and certainly gave you the warm and fuzzies, but was not the main point of the story, nor was it simple and easy and I particularly like that it took an original twist and didn't end how most of these kinds of stories end! I loved the power Jules had, it was part of what made the book funny even though I felt for her so badly! I was so intrigued by her mum and Grandmother as well! I loved how the author decided to step it up a notch and actually have scenes with the characters in well...character as their Tudor counterpart! Particularly Hank!
In short it was everything you want in a book!
This book is so much perfection you have no idea, it was funny, there was romance, there was mystery and ya know...murder and it was also kind of original. Like the whole setting was so brilliantly done and I wasn't expecting all the scenes with them doing the whole Tudor thing, it was brilliant and very well done and added a little something extra to the book!
I loved the setting in general, and I would totally go there if given half a chance, not going to lie! The setting really came alive for me, it was vivid and creepy in parts and was very atmospheric.
I loved the characters and I need another book to confirm how perfect Hank and Jules's mum are for each other! They're a rather lively bunch, and they all helped to bring the story to life, especially as half of them you were kind of suspicious of!
There is romance in this book, but it's kind of subtle, and not the main focus of the book, but I enjoyed the scenes, they where cute and I was rooting for them as a couple because they where adorable together and I now have the intense urge to re-watch Princess Bride or actually read the book, seeing as it's staring at me from my shelf! I just loved the two of them together!
The plot was brilliant, it kept taking twists and turns, I wasn't sure what was going to happen next, I actually guessed the murderer...but then talked myself out of because I couldn't quite think of a motivation and then there was this other scene and I was like NO WAY, but then it wasn't the person I was being led to believe it was and yeah. There's lots of mind blowing surprises, and I loved the twist to Bree and everything with her and Grayson and Jules, it surprised me and was pure brilliance!
Holding Court is well written, it's fast paced, and it's entertaining. The characters come to life, and the setting is vivid and mysterious and kinda creepy at times. The romance was cute, and certainly gave you the warm and fuzzies, but was not the main point of the story, nor was it simple and easy and I particularly like that it took an original twist and didn't end how most of these kinds of stories end! I loved the power Jules had, it was part of what made the book funny even though I felt for her so badly! I was so intrigued by her mum and Grandmother as well! I loved how the author decided to step it up a notch and actually have scenes with the characters in well...character as their Tudor counterpart! Particularly Hank!
In short it was everything you want in a book!
March 13, 2016
Let me start out by saying this…this book was so much fun to read I am actually going to search for other books written by the author. I read a lot. When I say a lot I mean one or more books daily is the norm for me. I was not expecting all the goodness that exists within this little gem.
So Holding Court follows Juliet ‘Jules’ Verity. She is a high school girl working a summer job while her mom is out of town at a local tourist spot Tudor Times. It is a Medieval Times type themed restaurant. Jules is not the normal girl next door and her family is a little out of the lines as well. Her grandmother is able to read people’s auras, her mother has the ability to determine where and when an object originated and Jules..well she has what her best friend calls PTS also known as Psychic Tourette Syndrome. She randomly and uncontrollably blurts out things that happen to be true..eventually. This story follows Jules through a who done it mystery with the boy she has had the hots for forever that may or may not have less than honorable intentions. Finding a dead body tends to help a girl get noticed right? This was so funny..I laughed out loud so many times. It was so charming..definitely appropriate for 14+. I recommend this to anyone who likes a good read. I didn’t expect the ending either.
Disclaimer: I received a ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley. Thank you to K.C. Held and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to get my paws on this sweet story.
So Holding Court follows Juliet ‘Jules’ Verity. She is a high school girl working a summer job while her mom is out of town at a local tourist spot Tudor Times. It is a Medieval Times type themed restaurant. Jules is not the normal girl next door and her family is a little out of the lines as well. Her grandmother is able to read people’s auras, her mother has the ability to determine where and when an object originated and Jules..well she has what her best friend calls PTS also known as Psychic Tourette Syndrome. She randomly and uncontrollably blurts out things that happen to be true..eventually. This story follows Jules through a who done it mystery with the boy she has had the hots for forever that may or may not have less than honorable intentions. Finding a dead body tends to help a girl get noticed right? This was so funny..I laughed out loud so many times. It was so charming..definitely appropriate for 14+. I recommend this to anyone who likes a good read. I didn’t expect the ending either.
Disclaimer: I received a ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley. Thank you to K.C. Held and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to get my paws on this sweet story.
February 28, 2016
This review was originally posted on Cocktails and Books
I was looking for something a little different to read and this Entangled Teen title caught my attention. The heroine is quirky (along with her grandmother and best friend), her job a bit over the top and the storyline full of comedy and a little suspense.
Jules, who has bouts of physic moments where she blurts out whatever is presented to her, finds herself playing a psychic nun at the local medieval castle tourist attraction. It also happens to be where the guy she's always had a crush on, Grayson, also works along with his seemingly perfect girlfriend. It's a comedy of errors that lead Jules to discover a dead body that somehow ends up disappearing. It's up to Jule to figure out what happened to the girl, since no one else seems to believe her.
The story was fun, although sometimes a little too far fetched for my taste. Jules, her grandmother and her best friend were ridiculous, but they often made me laugh. This wasn't my favorite book (since I enjoy a little more angst in my books), but it was fun and light.
I was looking for something a little different to read and this Entangled Teen title caught my attention. The heroine is quirky (along with her grandmother and best friend), her job a bit over the top and the storyline full of comedy and a little suspense.
Jules, who has bouts of physic moments where she blurts out whatever is presented to her, finds herself playing a psychic nun at the local medieval castle tourist attraction. It also happens to be where the guy she's always had a crush on, Grayson, also works along with his seemingly perfect girlfriend. It's a comedy of errors that lead Jules to discover a dead body that somehow ends up disappearing. It's up to Jule to figure out what happened to the girl, since no one else seems to believe her.
The story was fun, although sometimes a little too far fetched for my taste. Jules, her grandmother and her best friend were ridiculous, but they often made me laugh. This wasn't my favorite book (since I enjoy a little more angst in my books), but it was fun and light.
March 2, 2016
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
The women in Jules family have the gift of sight. For Jules this manifests with what she calls "psychic Tourette's syndrome". She randomly blurts out prophesies in the form of sentences that seem to make no sense. At least not at the time.
When Jules lands a job playing a psychic at a local castle she stumbles across a dead body while trying to hide from her childhood crush. The dead body promptly goes missing and the mystery begins.
This story is a fun, quirky, teenage mystery with a little romance thrown in. Lunewood Castle is a great setting with its secret passageways, pretty costumes, dinner theatre and array of interesting employees.
I loved the way this story is written. There is lots of conversation and action, there is always something going on. I had a blast reading Holding Court. It is a great G rated read for teens and adults alike.
The women in Jules family have the gift of sight. For Jules this manifests with what she calls "psychic Tourette's syndrome". She randomly blurts out prophesies in the form of sentences that seem to make no sense. At least not at the time.
When Jules lands a job playing a psychic at a local castle she stumbles across a dead body while trying to hide from her childhood crush. The dead body promptly goes missing and the mystery begins.
This story is a fun, quirky, teenage mystery with a little romance thrown in. Lunewood Castle is a great setting with its secret passageways, pretty costumes, dinner theatre and array of interesting employees.
I loved the way this story is written. There is lots of conversation and action, there is always something going on. I had a blast reading Holding Court. It is a great G rated read for teens and adults alike.
March 4, 2016
One thing is for sure as I was reading this you totally forget this is her first one because she already has the touch. The touch to capture a reader in one form or another. she also reminded me that even in YA you can have a great mystery and she uses the character Jules to ensnare you. She is not left out in the who will make her heart go pitter patter either. From the very beginning when even her own family were comfortable in allowing her a few hours in the shop that other employment when it came up seem at first perfect but that is when it gets really good from then out. Filled with humor, mystery, paranormal you will be given predicaments and things that she will have to deal with and encounter. Her jealously too will work against her at times but this author will put her out of her misery in the end of this quite nicely. While reading this and getting to the end though you will be sadden a bit that you are finished and would not mind meeting up with her and her friends again.
February 20, 2016
I’m very glad I had the chance to read an early copy of HOLDING COURT. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read a book that made me laugh out loud from the first page. This book is adorable, delightful, and quirky in a good way. It’s also one of the cleanest YA books I’ve read in a long time, which puts it squarely in the to-buy pile of books for my pre-teen daughter.
Oh, and I didn’t mention The Princess Bride analogies and quotes. Happiness! I totally recommend this for anyone wanting a fun read with a sweet romance, a mystery, and lots of Tudor costumes.
Oh, and I didn’t mention The Princess Bride analogies and quotes. Happiness! I totally recommend this for anyone wanting a fun read with a sweet romance, a mystery, and lots of Tudor costumes.
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