Review: Hex You

Hex You by P.C. Cast
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mercy and Hunter are now the protectors of the Gates since their mother was murdered by a demon. These gates lead to different underworlds where creatures of legend and mythology are real. When Mercy and Khenti get trapped in the Ancient Egyptian Underworld, Hunter must determine what needs to be done to get them out. Of course, one catastrophe is not enough. Amphitrite has not been completely defeated and she plans to get revenge on Hunter. Since Hunter is stretched thin with too many magical attacks, the Gates are no longer keeping the creatures at bay. Will Hunter save her twin and the residents of Goodeville? What sacrifices will need to be made along the way?

Hex You is the third book in the Sisters of Salem series. This supernatural novel takes off quickly and does not spend a lot of time rehashing events from the previous books (thank goodness), yet I had no problem following along and quickly remembered who everyone was. This is not a very long book so the twists and turns came regularly and the characters were varied, yet relatable. I believe this is supposed to be a trilogy (and this part of the story is complete), but I can see Cast and Cast creating more stories in this world they created.

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Review: Going Dark

Going Dark by Melissa de la Cruz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Josh is at the airport ready to head home after a wonderful trip to Rome with his girlfriend.  The problem is she has disappeared.  They were having lunch before going to the airport when she suddenly got angry and left.  When he gets home he doesn’t know what to do.  He decides to do nothing … until people begin to wonder if he did something to her.  How do you prove you are innocent when there is no body?  What really happened?

Going Dark is a stand-alone mystery that had me thinking I knew where it was going and left me surprised with the truth.  This is not a jaw-dropping surprise, but it didn’t end with what I was thinking during the first half of the book.  Cruz has stepped out of her normal fantasy genre and has hit a home run with a great escape read that is also a quick read.  I recommend Going Dark to all mystery fans.

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Review: Queen Among the Dead

Queen Among the Dead by Lesley Livingston
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Magic has been banned in the kingdom of Eire but the Druid priests are keeping it alive in secret.  Neve is the youngest princess and Ronan is on the path to be a Druid priest.  Their roles may be against each other, but when Eire is threatened they work together in an attempt to have Neve on the throne.  What will Neve learn about magic and herself?  Will the kingdom of Eire survive?

Queen Among the Dead is a stand-alone fantasy adventure that will bring Irish legends to a new set of readers.  I love retold fairytales and legends and was looking forward to this novel, but the final result left me feeling unimpressed.  I’m not sure what was missing, but my mind kept wandering and I had to stop often and try to think about the story to help it make sense to me.  A good read, but shouldn’t be rushed to the top of a TBR list.

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Review: The Stranded

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Forty years after an apocalyptic war, the decedents of the passengers of Arcadia are still on the ship.  Some have a plan to get off the ship and onto the mainland, but many know that they are stuck until their last breath because the residents of Arcadia are not allowed to leave.  Esther is working hard to better herself, but life is not fair and many obstacles are in her way.  Nik wants to liberate the Arcadia and is willing to do anything to break free.  When these two lives cross, the lives of everyone around them are also changed.

The Stranded is the first book in the Stranded series and it isn’t really in one genre.  I would almost say it is a sci-fi adventure, but that doesn’t do it justice either.  The entire time I was reading this book I was thinking about how I would react … how would I behave … what would I do to survive?  This is a series, so there isn’t a clean ending, but readers are not left with a cliffhanger.  I will definitely be looking for book number two next summer.

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Review: The Secret Gift

The Secret Gift by Bethany Atazadeh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jezebel has a secret … she has the Gift of shape-shifting and can’t let anyone know.  Many would want to exploit this gift and others would want to take it away from her.  She knows she needs to keep it hidden, but when one of her friends sees her practicing her Gift, her fears are realized and she is blackmailed into using the Gift for selfish reasons.  What will Jezebel be asked to do?  How will she respond? 

The Secret Gift is the first book in The Queen’s Rise series.  The description asks “WHAT IF THE EVIL QUEEN WAS INNOCENT UNTIL SHE WAS BETRAYED?” and that made me want to read this book, but Jezebel is far from being royalty, let alone the actual queen.  Knowing that “EVIL QUEEN” is in her future, this story was fascinating and fun, but without that one statement, I’m not sure I would know what the purpose of this book was.  I want to see how the next book continues the story to see if it is a true fairytale retelling.

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Review: Lady Reaper

Lady Reaper by Christina Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many readers are already familiar with Myla and Lincoln.  If you aren’t, don’t start with this book; you could, but why would you?  With that being said, Myla and Lincoln are back in their early years and readers discover some missing elements of what shaped these young people into the bad@$$ adults they became.  Myla never shirked a good fight and after she learns that Lady Reaper will be visiting Purgatory’s Annual Lust Festival, she plans to take care of business.  Lincoln is approaching his eighteenth year and he has many obligations being a part-angel prince.  During a mission, he discovers his best friend might be hiding secrets from him and the adventure just flows from there.

Lady Reaper is a prequel novella for the book Reaper Games.  This is also the tenth book in the Angelbound Origins series.  This series is a spin-off of the Angelbound series and the Angelbound Offspring series.  I have read all these books in publication order and it does take some time to keep characters straight, but I enjoy going back in time and learning new nuggets about characters I have been following across so many stories.  This is short and will feel like a teaser to many, but hopefully, when we get Reaper Games, we will fully understand the task at hand.

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Review: Lumara

Lumara by Melissa Landers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Talia does not like Mystics. She believes they are all scammers after one told her she wasn't really sick. When her boyfriend admits he is a Mystic and wants her to meet his family, she decides to try and be open-minded. Talia learns that his family isn't all bad and starts to change her opinion of Mystics until the wedding party goes into a coma and she is blamed. As she tries to prove her innocence, she learns truths about herself and her family that shake her beliefs.

Lumara is a stand-alone fantasy novel that sounds like it would be a captivating read, but in reality was one-dimensional. The last third of the book redeemed the majority and I finished happy I stuck it out. This is a short read, so most readers won't feel frustrated with the overall storyline. I recommend this book for those who need something to read, but not worthy of a TBR list. 

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Review: The Shattered City

The Shattered City by Lisa Maxwell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Esta and Harte have been through a lot.  They have traveled through time and throughout the land to collect powerful artifacts that are needed to control the Book’s power.  They have lost even more … family, friends, and their hearts.  They are down to their last artifact.  Their hunt has brought them back to where everything started … New York City.  The city has changed, their friends have left, and time is not on their side.  Will they be able to save magic?  What will they be asked to sacrifice along the way?

The Shattered City is the fourth book in The Last Magician series.  This fantasy novel jumps around in time and characters, so readers will benefit from a pause between chapters to orient themselves with these changes.  I will admit that this volume was very long, but not many pages were wasted on unnecessary story elements; Maxwell just had a lot of ground to cover and it appears she didn’t want this split into two books.  The Shattered City was a good conclusion to the story, but the book itself was ho-hum.  

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Review: A Thousand Heartbeats

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Annika has lived a pampered life, but as a princess and the spare heir, she knows that her life is not her own.  The next task she must undertake?  Marry a man she does not love.  Miles’ life has been the opposite.  He has trained with the Dahrainian army and wants to help reclaim the kingdom that was stolen.  Lennox doesn’t have time for anything else … even love.  When these two are thrown together, love sparks, even though they both know it is impossible.  What will these young people do next?  Who will end up in control of the kingdom?

A Thousand Heartbeats is a stand-alone romance told in alternating voices.  Readers will experience a full story as the point of view switches between these two protagonists.  Cass has created a wonderful world with believable characters and a captivating story.  Although this is a stand-alone novel with a firm ending, this newly created world has hidden depths and I wouldn’t be surprised if more books are released.  A good romance that wasn’t too long and wasn’t risqué at all.  

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Review: Five Survive

Five Survive by Holly Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is time for the senior year spring break road trip and Red plans to enjoy time with her friends in an RV.  The drive seems to never end but everyone is trying to enjoy themselves until they make some wrong turns and the RV breaks down in a secluded area with no cell phone reception.  They quickly learn that this wasn’t an accident when a sniper shoots out their wheels and their gas tank.  He tells them that he knows who they are and he will let them go IF they tell him the secret he wants.  What secret?  Who is hiding something?  Who is going to die?

Five Survive is a stand-alone mystery that was a page-turner from the start.  Jackson has created a new cast of characters that readers will easily relate to and as different people slowly admit to their secrets; readers will be just as shocked as those within the pages.  We know from the title that one of them will die, but the why and the how is a shocker.  I enjoyed this book and think all mystery fans will enjoy it too.

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Review: Children of Ragnarok

Children of Ragnarok by Cinda Williams Chima
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eiric has had a fairly good life on his modir’s farm.  He must work hard to keep everything going, but he must also try and stay out of his stepfadir’s way.  When Eiric is put on trial for killing his stepfadir, he knows that there isn’t going to be a good outcome since the jury is made up of his stepfadir’s family.  Reggin is a performer who is controlled by a fire demon.  She wants to get away and when two wyrdspinners offer to train her, she thinks it is an offer she can’t refuse.  These two stories alternate throughout the book and readers will willingly anticipate when they will converge.

Children of Ragnarok is the first book in the Runestone Saga series.  This series is different than many of Chima’s other series because it takes place during the time of the Vikings, but as a person who enjoys books and TV shows about this time period, I willingly jumped into this one.  There is a lot of world-building and character development, but the time spent on these pages adds so much to the story that readers won’t be bothered by it.  I enjoyed the start of this new series and can’t wait for the next book to be published.

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Review: Gleanings

Gleanings by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many readers have enjoyed the world where Scythe decide who dies and people live what seems like forever and Gleanings: Stories from the Arc of a Scythe will take them into new storylines, new worlds, and introduce new Scythes.  As with any short story collection, there are some amazing stories and some ho-hum stories, yet everyone who liked the original books will be happy that this volume was released.  I did find myself pacing myself; I wanted to pause after each story before going on to the next so that the events could cement more into my brain.  I know that isn’t the only way to read this book, but it worked for me.  This collection has a variety of secrets from some very talented authors.

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Review: The Luminaries

The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Winnie wants to be a part of the Luminaries, but since she had to stop training four years ago when her family was shunned, she isn’t sure she has what it takes to survive the three tests.  When Winnie unexpectantly accomplishes the first test, her family is quickly welcomed back into the community.  She asks Jay to help train her before the next two tests and he seems to understand what she saw the night she “killed” her first monster.  What is the creature that is stalking the already dangerous forest?  Does Winnie have what it takes to join the Luminaries? 

The Luminaries is the first book in a series by the same name.  This fantasy/supernatural novel took elements from older stories and weaved in new and updated creatures that made it a refreshing read.  Dennard has created a new world that has the promise for many stories and the end left readers with no doubt that there will be more books in our future.  Readers don’t need to be diehard fantasy or supernatural fans to enjoy this story.

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Review: Wait for Me

Wait for Me by Sara Shepard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Casey may only be seventeen years old but she is already a college sophomore and is dating one of New York City’s most eligible bachelors.  When she starts hearing voices, she thinks it is the stress of school and takes an impromptu trip to Avon, a small coastal town.  The voices don’t go away and now she is seeing visions.  She doesn’t know if these visions are trying to tell her something, but she does know that there is something about Jake that draws her to him.  Will Casey discover why she has these voices and visions?  Why is she pulled to Jake and Avon?

Wait for Me is a stand-alone romantic mystery.   Yes … I did just make that genre up.  This book does not fall easily into a genre and I could even be compelled to add supernatural to the mix.  The story was easy to follow, but I feel that Shepard wrapped it up too quickly.  One minute we discover a small piece of the back story and suddenly the book is over.  Other than that, Wait for Me was a wonderful escape read that will satisfy many different reading profiles.

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Review: Going Rogue

Going Rogue by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stephanie is as ready as she can be to start her day at work when she arrives at Vinnie’s Bail Bonds and it is locked up tight and Connie, the office manager, is nowhere to be found.  The truth is discovered when they receive a call from the kidnapper.  They will let Connie go if-and-when a coin used for collateral is returned.  The coin is no longer at the bail bonds office and it is now up to Stephanie and her friends to discover where the coin went and return it to Connie’s captor.  Why is this coin so important?  How will Stephanie and her friends get out of this situation?

Going Rogue is the twenty-ninth Stephanie Plum book and it was a fun and easy escape.  The overall story is only slightly different from past escapades, yet it is still enjoyable.  Stephanie is just as accident prone and the bad guys aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed either.  Although there are a lot of repeats, Evanovich has still created an entertaining story that left me feeling lighthearted and pleased.

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Review: No Plan B

No Plan B by Lee Child
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jack Reacher sees a woman being pushed in front of a bus.  Another witness says she jumped and that it was suicide.  Reacher won’t accept what the police say and is determined to discover why the woman was murdered and it is being covered up.  He quickly learns that it is larger than one woman and once again Reacher is determined to assist the underdog. 

No Plan B is the twenty-seventh book in the Jack Reacher series.  As readers of this series know, no one can outsmart or get one over on Jack and this story is no different.  Lee has developed a storyline that was easy to fall into and fun to unravel.  Adventure books are always great because readers get to live vicariously through the characters while staying perfectly safe in their own lives; this book is no exception.  My kindle almost turned its own pages as the book revealed its secrets.

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Review: Mad Honey

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Olivia never thought she would be living in her childhood home taking care of bees, but when the love of her life became abusive, she fled with her son.  Lily has also started a new life.  She had been bullied at her last school and believes a fresh start is what her senior year needs.  These two meet up because of Olivia’s son, Asher.  He quickly falls for Lily and Olivia believes this is the change she was waiting for.  That is until Lily is dead and the police believe Asher did it.  Olivia knows her husband was abusive, but could her son have done the unthinkable?

Mad Honey is a realistic fiction story that covers domestic violence, small-town relations, and gender identity.  The overarching story was wonderful and I’m glad I invested the time in the book, but I feel as if Picoult was jumping on the social issues bandwagon to push an agenda.  I believe everyone needs a voice, but sometimes it feels as if agendas are the only topics acceptable now.  A good read, but know there is more to the book than just a good story.

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Review: The First to Die at the End

The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Valentino has just moved to New York City and can’t wait to move forward into the future.  Orion has a bad heart and keeps expecting to not have another day.  They meet in Times Square on the night before Death-Cast goes live.  They both joined Death-Cast for different reasons, but when Valentino receives the very first phone call … their lives become intertwined forever.  Neither boy knows how the day will end, but they do know they want to spend Valentino’s last minutes or hours together.

The First to Die at the End is the prequel novel to They Both Die at the End.  The original book was released five years ago, but I actually just read it this summer for book club.  Because of reading these two books so close, I was able to fully appreciate the cameo appearances of many characters from the original story.  I will admit I didn’t like the language and sexual thoughts/descriptions, but it wasn’t enough for me to stop reading the book.  A thoroughly enjoyable this prequel and I am glad I got to read about how it all started. 

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Review: The Epic Story of Every Living Thing

The Epic Story of Every Living Thing by Deb Caletti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Harper has never had a father.  Her mother told her that she was conceived through in vitro fertilization using an anonymous sperm donor.  Harper is also constantly on Instagram.  When a chance comment connects her with a half-sibling, she quickly learned that the sperm donor had 41 other children … all her half-siblings.  One of the half-siblings offers to have a few of them to his parent’s condo in Hawaii where they can meet this mysterious donor.  With a summer in Hawaii in front of Harper, what will she discover about the man and the shipwreck he is obsessed with?  As she spends time with her half-siblings, what additional secrets will be uncovered?

The Epic Story of Every Living Thing is a stand-alone realistic novel that was just different enough to make me want to keep reading to understand the story completely.  This book does take place shortly after the Covid-19 shutdown was ended, so the characters deal a little with the fear that everyone was facing at the time, but this is not a pandemic story.  I have never really thought about sperm donors having dozens of possible children and the ramifications if they met.  This novel was interesting from the start and the twist towards the end had me gasp out loud.

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Review: The Weight of Blood

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Maddy has a secret.  Her mother was black and her father wants her to pass as white.  She has done it for many years; even going so far as staying home if there is even a chance of rain … she can’t take the chance that her hair will change.  Her carefulness ends when it begins raining during a school run.  She can’t stop what happens to her hair and everyone sees the truth.  It doesn’t take long for Maddy to become the target of mean girls and the viral video spurs students to ask for an integrated prom.  Yes, it is 2014 and their school still holds TWO proms.  One is for the white students and one is for everyone else.  Unfortunately, her classmates aren’t done picking on her and Maddy’s other secret is more than they expect. 

The Weight of Blood is a stand-alone supernatural novel that tells the ending at the beginning and then exposes the hidden truths throughout the rest of the story.  I enjoyed the varied points of view.  Sometimes readers will learn through a person’s experience, sometimes a podcast transcript, and other times an interview.  All questions are answered at the end and I believe most readers will see a commonality to a famous story by Stephen King.

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Review: Shades of Rust and Ruin

Shades of Rust and Ruin by A.G. Howard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Phoenix doesn't like Halloween. If you asked her, she would tell you her family is cursed on October 31st.  When she was 3 years old, both of her parents died on this holiday. Eleven years later ... so did her twin sister. Nix doesn't know why she hasn't died, but she finds release when she draws the creatures in her imaginary Mystiquel. Unfortunately, her escape into her art doesn't satisfy her when she starts to lose her ability to see colors. It is Halloween again and now her uncle is missing. Why is Nix’s family affected by Halloween?  Does Nix have what it takes to unlock the truths hidden in her artwork? 

 

Shades of Rust and Ruin is the first book in the fantasy series by the same name. So much of faeries, fantasy, and steampunk repeats itself, yet Howard has created a new world that had me eager to learn what would happen next. This story is built upon some standard genre truths and adds new twists and turns to keep the pages turning. Goodreads has this listed as a duology and I can't wait to read the next book.   

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Review: Three Kisses, One Midnight: A Novel

Three Kisses, One Midnight: A Novel by Roshani Chokshi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Onny’s grandmother left her a recipe for a love potion.  She was told that it can’t make someone love you, but if there is a spark … it can fan the flame.  Onny, True, and Ash (The Coven) decide to create this love potion and use it during the masquerade ball.  But love is fickle and these girls learn that there is more to love than what they thought.  Will The Coven succeed in finding true love?  What truths about themselves will they discover along the way?

Three Kisses, One Midnight is a stand-alone novel that is part supernatural and part romance.  Neither genre overpowers the other and readers will be delighted with how the story unfolds.  I was interested to learn more about each character as they tried their best to find love and the subordinate characters were just as interesting as they weaved in and out of the main characters’ tales.  Three possible romances with one overarching story made this an extremely fun read.

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Review: Ashfall Prophecy

Ashfall Prophecy by Pittacus Lore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Syd knows he is different.  He was raised by his human mother and doesn’t really remember his alien father.  It turns out that Syd’s father died on the planet Ashfall protecting a secret about humans and Denzans.  Syd is now faced with an impossible choice.  He can free humans from the limitations of Earth or he can destroy Earth itself to keep humans from attacking other species … again.  Syd knows that he has been prophesied a world-killer, but can he choose his own path?  Was his father’s death in vain?

Ashfall Prophecy is the second book in the Ashfall series.  The book’s introduction tells readers that this is a duology, but after finishing this book I believe Lore can write more in this sci-fi universe if he chooses.  This novel is full of space travel, aliens, adventure and personal conflict, so many reader types will enjoy this book.  The overall feel is similar to Lore’s other novels and I found myself wondering if the worlds were crossing, but readers do NOT need to have read the other series to enjoy this one.

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Review: Blue Bloods: After Life

Blue Bloods: After Life by Melissa de la Cruz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Schuyler has just sacrificed Jack in order to defeat Lucifer when she wakes up in 2020 New York.  Not only is the city not as she remembers it, but she also isn’t in her regular body and everyone else is different in some way.  She quickly finds out that she isn’t in her New York … she is in a different universe.  Here, Lucifer is still alive and the mayor of New York; Jack is also alive, but is Lucifer’s right-hand man.  Schuyler doesn’t know what is going on and then Kingsley contacts her.  He remembers their world and has his own ideas about what has happened.  Will Schuyler be able to defeat Lucifer again?

Blue Bloods: After Life is a spin-off of the original Blue Bloods series.  I found it interesting that the time jump brings the characters into the fall of the Covid-19 outbreak (in our world) and the vampires were taking advantage of a mysterious illness and the vaccine that was being released.  If this is a one-and-done spin-off book, it was fun and worth the read.  If this becomes a new series, though, I will need to save my thoughts to see where de la Cruz plans to go with the storyline.  It was a nice escape to revisit old characters and this might be the introduction needed to bring this series back into the hands of young readers.

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Review: Primeval Fire

Primeval Fire by C.T. Rwizi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Salo died and the world is at war.  When members of his clan start having odd experiences, the mystic tells them that a signal is coming from the west and they must respond.  During this same time, Ilapara and Tuk decide that they are going to raise Salo from the dead.  They seem to be successful, but the Salo they resurrected is not behaving like the person they remember.  Why are these groups pulled towards the west?  Will they be able to keep the world they know from collapsing?

Primeval Fire is the third and final book in the Scarlet Odyssey series.  Rwizi didn’t spend much time getting readers caught up with past events and I am happy because this book had enough length and I enjoyed just jumping in and following the adventure.  With that being said, I recommend that readers start with the first book and work their way through it so that they can enjoy the full story and readers will want to reach the end to enjoy the climax.

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Review: Upgrade

Upgrade by Blake Crouch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Logan is a very lucky man.  He was hit by a bomb that infected him with a virus.  What made him lucky was that the virus didn’t kill him or change his genetic structure.  He is released to return to his family and then he notices some small changes … nothing major.  He can finally concentrate long enough to finish a book, he can multitask, and he can beat his daughter at chess.  Then he finds out the truth.  His genome has been hacked and he is told “You are the next step in human evolution.”  Logan is off the chart smart, now, and it will be up to him to try and stop the larger plan that has already been set in motion.  Will Logan be able to stop this human evolution?  What changes will he need to embrace in himself to protect everyone else?

Upgrade is a science fiction story that was also a wonderful escape.  I loved the near future aspect with science that was only a little beyond what we do now.  This story could be our future if we stay on the track we are moving and that makes this book that much more believable.  We don’t need to suspend disbelief to accept aliens or far space travel.  Everything happens in our true backyard and readers will want to get to the end to discover what happens next.  

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Review: Gage

Gage by Christina Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gage is the leader of L’Griffe and this dragon shifter mafia takes care of illegal and legal aspects of dragon shifters on Earth.  The other groups of non-humans also have their own gangs.  Usually, they stay away from each other, but when the demons create The Horde, the balance of power shifts considerably.  Gage knows they must conquer this new threat and, lucky for him, his love interest’s family are fierce warriors.  They learn that the leader of The Horde is an old foe long thought dead.  Will this group be able to overcome all the obstacles that come their way?

Gage is the eighth and final book in the Angelbound Offspring series.  Bauer mentions at the beginning that she didn’t do her usually backstory reminders and that readers should have read the previous books first.  I second that thought.  This story jumps right in and the characters fight evil and their personal passions in their usual way … which may be confusing for those who start here.  I enjoyed the cameo appearances of some of my old favorites and was sad to think this is the last book.  I’ve read most of Bauer’s works, though, and who knows where they might pop up in the future.

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Review: No One Is Alone

No One Is Alone by Rachel Vincent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Michaela has a good life.  She has a best friend she can tell anything and a single mother who she has a good relationship with.  She doesn’t see her dad very often, though.  He lives a few towns away and only comes around near holidays and on her birthday.  That all changes when her mother is hit by a car and dies.  She learns she must move in with her dad … and his other family.  Turns out he wasn’t a confirmed bachelor who didn’t want a family.  He already had a family and her mom was the other woman.  His wife knew about Michaela, but her two brothers and her sister just found out, hours before she was brought over to live with them.  Will this new family ever become hers?

No One Is Alone is a stand-alone realistic fiction story that grabbed my attention at the beginning and kept me reading until the end.  Vincent created characters that were easy to understand and empathize with.  I lost my father when I was young, but I didn’t learn about another family that needed to be understood while also grieving.  This could have happened to me (or anyone else) and that realization made the book that much more compelling.  I recommend No One Is Alone to everyone who enjoys a good read.

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Review: Cold, Cold Bones

Cold, Cold Bones by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The cold has come to North Carolina, but Tempe isn’t concerned. Her daughter has returned to civilian life and she plans to use the time indoors to reconnect. During one of their nights in, Tempe receives a very odd package … a human eye with GPS coordinates etched on it. These coordinates lead to more remains and when a mummified body is found in the state park … Tempe starts to see a connection. On the surface, they don’t seem to be linked, but Tempe notices that they look like homicide cases she worked on early in her career. Are these bodies connected or is Tempe grasping at straws? Why is her daughter not available to spend time with her all of a sudden?

Cold, Cold Bones is the twenty-first book in the Temperance Brennan series. One of my favorite parts of this series is that I don’t need too many pages to remember the basics about each character. Since each book is its own mystery, I don’t need to remember specifics about the previous stories and can just relax and enjoy the one in front of me. Cold, Cold Bones was no exception. As the bodies piled up, I was thinking ahead and trying to figure out where the events would lead. I loved all the twists and turns and needed this escape from reality for a few hours.

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Review: Katzenjammer

Katzenjammer by Francesca Zappia
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cat is trapped in her high school.  She doesn’t remember why she never leaves or why she has a cat mask made of her own flesh.  Everything changes when her school stops being a place of safety and begins to cause damage to those around her.  Cat never thought she would be able to leave her school, but if she wants to live, she will need to find a way out.  What is the reason Cat is stuck in her school?  Will she be able to uncover this secret and save herself?

Katzenjammer is a stand-alone supernatural mystery that has the potential to be an interesting read, but in the end, fell short.  I enjoyed the switching timeline to learn about Cat’s past as she was experiencing her new reality, but I felt like the ending was contrived and rushed.  Overall, the premise of the story seems forced to fill a niche about what is going on in today’s schools.  A good read but shouldn’t be rushed to the top of anyone’s TBR pile.

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Review: Blade Breaker

Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We are back for the sequel to Realm Breaker with some old friends and many new adventures.  Mortals and immortals alike must deal with death and chaos while many people’s pasts come back to haunt them.  New and old magic is in the air and this group of unlikely heroes must work together to face Queen Erida and the evil she has planned.  Will they be successful?  Will they all make it to the end of this novel?   I highly recommend that anyone who picks up Blade Breaker read Realm Breaker first.  The world-building and character development will be hard to follow if the original pieces are missing.  A fun fantasy and I have already added the next book to my TBR list.

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Review: Rivals

Rivals by Katharine McGee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beatrice is now the Queen of the American royal family.  She didn’t expect to take charge so young but she is giving it her all.  Princess Samantha has always been the fun-loving royal, but now she has fallen for Lord Marshall and wonders if it is for real or if her heart will be broken.  Beatrice may have met a royal with the potential to be a friend but will she be able to let down her guard enough to make a lasting connection?    Nina and Daphne have always been rivals for Prince Jefferson’s attention, but when Lady Gabriella attacks both of them, this unlikely duo teams up to hopefully put her in her place.

Rivals is the third book in the American Royals series.  This alternate history novel was just as fun to read as the first two books.  Although the point of view was constantly changing, it wasn’t hard to keep them straight because the “voice” of the character came through as the story moved forward.  I loved the young adult drama with a royal spin and couldn’t wait to see how this installment was going to end.  McGee does mention in the author’s note that a fourth book is in the works and I will be looking for it when it is ready.

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Review: Places We've Never Been

Places We've Never Been by Kasie West
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Skyler moved away four years ago and Norah misses her childhood best friend.  When he first left, they talked all the time, but it eventually evolved into liking each other’s posts on social media.  The moms (who are best friends) decide to plan an RV road trip for both families.  Norah can’t wait!  When Skyler arrives, though, he acts as if he would rather be anywhere else.  Why is Skyler so distant?  What will Norah discover about their families and herself as they drive up the west coast?

Places We’ve Never Been is a stand-alone romance that was quick to read and quick to forget.  I enjoyed the fact that this book could be quickly devoured in a weekend, especially since it is almost summer, but I also wanted to know more about these characters and what they were feeling and thinking.  This romance is “clean” and can be enjoyed by even the youngest teen and I will easily recommend it to all my library visitors.

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Review: Hide

Hide by Kiersten White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fourteen people are asked to spend seven days hiding.  The prize is $50,000 and the chance this might become a reality TV show.  Everyone has a reason to win and not just the money.  Mack feels she is better at hiding than anyone.  She is alive because she was able to hide as a kid.  When people keep disappearing, Mack wants to know what is going on.  Will anyone make it out alive?  What is happening?

Hide is a stand-alone supernatural thriller that had me wondering what was going to happen.  I thought I had an idea, but that was easily smashed as the story unfolded.  White has created a storyline that was a fun escape without dragging it out.  It wasn’t too short and definitely not too long.  I enjoyed this book, but am glad it is not a series (because it isn’t needed).

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Review: What Can't Be Seen

What Can't Be Seen by Brianna Labuskes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dr. Gretchen White is known as a top-notch psychologist and has worked closely with the Boston PD to solve many cases.  The one case she hasn’t been able to solve … the death of her aunt.  Most people believe she killed her aunt because she was found over the body holding a bloody knife.  It has been 30 years and Gretchen wants to prove her innocence.  Did Gretchen kill her aunt?  If she didn’t, can they discover who did?  What secrets will be uncovered along the way?

What Can’t Be Seen is the second book in the Dr. Gretchen White series.  This psychological thriller took a bit of time to get rolling, but once I was invested in the story I couldn’t put it down.  Did this person do it?  Did that person do it?  Who did it?  That is what kept going through my mind as I turned the pages.  This book is worth the time to get to the real killer.

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Review: Bravely

Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It has been a few years since Merida had her last big adventure and she assumed her life would stay as it is.  She loves her family, but she is bored and longs for another adventure.  When she runs into Feradach, a being whose job is to get rid of doomed things, she makes an agreement to save DunBroch.  Will she get her family to change their ways … within a year?  Will DunBroch be saved?  What will Merida learn through her newest adventure?

Bravely is a stand-alone fantasy adventure that readers can enjoy even if they never saw or read the original tale.  Stiefvater has taken a character that many are familiar with and given her new depths and additional escapades to read about.  This book should be geared towards teens, yet it feels as if the author let it also be readable by younger people looking to learn more about Merida.  As long as older readers know that the audience is wide, this lower level of complexity can be overlooked.  I enjoyed the adventure and couldn’t wait to find out how it would end.

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Review: An Unreliable Magic

An Unreliable Magic by Rin Chupeco
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Nameless Sword has been found.  Legend says that whoever can wield the sword will be the most powerful warrior of their time.  Who will try and take the sword?  Who will be able to use it?  The Snow Queen is still out in the world causing mischief and Tala needs to find out what to do next.  When will the Snow Queen attack again?  Who is on her side and who is with Tala?

An Unreliable Magic is the second book in the A Hundred Names for Magic series.  Overall I enjoyed the storyline, but there were too many places that dragged and my mind started wandering.  I enjoyed the alternate history with fairy tale magic dispersed throughout, but I didn’t enjoy the way Chupeco included gender role discussions that seemed to be pushed in because of what is going on in our real timeline.  Overall this was an enjoyable read and I will look for the next book whenever it is released. 

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Review: Book of Night

Book of Night by Holly Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Charlie is a con artist.  This wasn’t a choice she consciously made; it was thrust upon her through a series of events outside her control.  She lives her life as a bartender and tries to stay away from the not-so-secret world of shadow trading.  That is until someone from her past returns and Charlie’s life begins to crumble around her.  Charlie needs to unravel the secrets she has been ignoring, but who can she trust?  Will Charlie lose a part of herself along the way?

Book of Night is a stand-alone fantasy series that was interesting yet familiar.  Black has created a brand new world of shadows and the people who can control them, yet the concept was not hard to understand and the events flowed smoothly.  This is Black’s first adult fantasy book and thankfully it was not full of sex and violence.  That isn’t saying there wasn’t anything risqué, but I can easily recommend this to my high school students and not worry about the content.  Book of Night is a must-read for all fantasy fans.

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Review: Family of Liars

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

We Were Liars was a suspense-filled book that kept me wondering how the mystery would be solved.  Family of Liars was disappointing when compared to the original.  It is a new summer and a new set of circumstances, but the mystery isn’t there.  Readers discover what happened relatively early on and the mystery is the why behind the episode.  The author’s note does warn that this is a prequel and spoilers will be given to the original story, but overall this story was not as good as We Were Liars.  I wanted to have a five-star adventure, but sadly it was only a three-star read.

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Review: The Key to Fury

The Key to Fury by Kristin Cast
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

For fifty years, the Key Corporation has kept the pandemic from returning.  Elodie and Aiden have learned that there is more to the Key Corporation than what the public knows and they are on the run and hope to find New Dawn.  The Eos resistance movement says they are working towards a better world, but are they just another group of people who hunger for power?  Who can these two young people trust?  What other truths will they learn along the way?

The Key to Fury is the second book in The Key series.  I want to start by saying that I enjoyed the first book, but was disappointed with this story.  The overall feel was formulaic and I wanted something unexpected.  Readers do learn more about these characters and the world they live in, so there is a chance that the next volume will redeem the series.  I will give the series another chance if Cast decides to extend it.

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Review: Year on Fire

Year on Fire by Julie Buxbaum
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Paige is devastated when she learns her boyfriend kissed another person.  When she finds out it was her best friend Immie, her world seems to implode.  That is until Rohan arrives at their school.  Paige calls dibs and Immie wants to let her have him, but something about Ro just pulls her towards him.  After a fire in the girls’ bathroom of their school, everyone believes it must have been arson.  Who would want to set a fire in their school?  Will the longtime friendship survive the turmoil after the kiss? 

Year of Fire is a stand-alone realistic fiction story that explores friendship, young love, and learning to accept yourself and others.  I really wanted to love this book, but overall the story was just two-dimensional.  I felt that way throughout the story and when the arsonist is revealed, it just seemed anticlimactic.  Year on Fire is a quick read for those who want something easy at the beach or for the weekend, but I don’t think it should be moved to the top of anyone’s TBR list.

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Review: Mirrors and Mysteries

Mirrors and Mysteries by Christina Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grayson is glad she no longer has to serve Lady R.  Her new position has her teaching shifter orphans at Thornfield.  Not only does she get to mold young minds, her boss is Dex, the sexy alpha.  Because of fairy tale life templates, things must go sideways.  Enter Jocasta, a witch that demands Dex and Grayson learn the truth about Rapunzels.  Will they be able to uncover the answer or will Grayson have to return to Lady R’s dominion.  As Grayson and Dex work closely together, will they come to terms with their feelings?

Mirrors and Mysteries is the ninth book in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series.  Goodreads says that this is the last book in the Dex and Grayson story, but it is not!  Bauer tells us in the author’s note at the beginning that she needed another book to explore everything with these characters and as readers make it to the end of the story they will be content with anticipation that there is more to come.  I enjoyed learning more background on these characters even as information about others was sprinkled throughout.  A fun, quick read that will have readers looking for more.

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Review: Omens Bite

Omens Bite by P.C. Cast
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mercy and Hunter’s mother has been murdered and the role of protector of the Gates is now theirs.  These Gates lead to different underworlds where mythological and nightmarish creatures live.  Unfortunately, the sisters are no longer a team.  Can Mercy save the Gates on her own?  Will Hunter be able to fight the allure of a dark goddess? 

Omens Bite is the second book in the Sisters of Salem series.  It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a twin (I don’t); I believe everyone can relate to the issues Hunter and Mercy are dealing with after their mother’s death.  The mythology that is woven into the story is not overbearing and it was an enjoyable escape to learn some things about Egypt and its past.  Cast left this story incomplete, so readers will want to add the next book to their TBR list so that they will look for it in the near future.  Omens Bite was a fun and easy read that took me away for a while.

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Review: In a Garden Burning Gold

In a Garden Burning Gold by Rory Power
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rhea knows her duty.  She must choose a consort who will ensure a prosperous season and then she must kill them.  This is how it must be … or is it?  An independence movement is taking root in their country and the power her father once had is diminishing.  They have power over the seasons, tides, and the stars, but do they have the power to keep their country intact? 

In a Garden Burning Gold is the first book in the Argyrosi series.  This is a fantasy series that includes a lot of world-building, but it is this same complex world that makes the storyline so captivating.  Rhea must face family deception head-on as she becomes her own person instead of the power wielded by her father.  Power has created a story that has the potential to be an epic adventure as the characters learn their strengths and overcome the many obstacles set before them.  In a Garden Burning Gold is the first book and readers will finish wanting to know what happens next.

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Review: Dig Two Graves

Dig Two Graves by Gretchen McNeil
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Neve has been convinced to attend a Glam Camp that promises to empower her and forge lasting friendships.  She makes friends with Diane and wonders if it might become more, but then she jokingly promises to kill Diane’s brother if Diane kills her ex-best friend, Yasmin.  Or at least Neve thought they were joking.  When Yasmin is murdered in her bed, Diane blackmails Neve into killing Javier, her stepbrother.  Neve pretends to go along, but she never really wanted anyone dead.  Will Neve be able to stop anyone else from dying?  What other tricks does Diane have planned for Neve’s life?

Dig Two Graves is a stand-alone mystery that had a promising storyline that didn’t pull through.  There were lots of twists and turns that kept me reading, but there were also sections that were just unbelievable.  McNeil has created a fun mystery that would be a good weekend or beach read, but not a page turner that will keep fans guessing.  I recommend Dig Two Graves for mystery fans but it doesn’t need to be at the top of your TBR pile.

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Review: Unravel

Unravel by Amelia Loken
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Marguerite has had many obstacles growing up.  Even though she is next in line for the throne (after her father) her uncle thinks a deaf person should not rule; he even broke her hand to keep her from signing.  Her uncle also fights against everything magical and since Marguerite is a witch, she must keep that hidden from him as well. After seeing her first witch trial, Marguerite runs away with a rescued child and her uncle takes his chance to seize the throne.  What will he do to keep Marguerite from the throne?  What obstacles will she need to overcome while fighting back?

Unravel is a stand-alone supernatural novel that was an amazing read with interesting characters.  Loken’s freshman novel broke the mold with a strong female protagonist that did not let her deficits become a disability.  This book had action and adventure with the reader discovering hidden truths around every turn.  One of my tells of a good book is thinking about it when I’m not reading it and that is what Unravel did for me.  Unravel is a great read that will have readers thinking differently about those who we call disabled.

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Review: The Recovery Agent

The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gabriela is good at finding lost items. She has been hired to find a variety of things, some small and some not so small. Her most recent job is to help her family, because of storm damage; they need money fast and believe the best way to that end is to find a hidden treasure that has become part of their family legend. The Ring of Solomon is rumored to be in the jungles of Peru and her ex-husband has the map. Gabriela and Rafer are now gallivanting around the globe in search of this ring, but they aren’t the only ones. There is also a drug lord and his henchmen close on their tail. The ring must be real because Gabriela’s family needs it, but can they find it before the others looking for it?

The Recovery Agent is the first book in the Gabriela Rose series. This newest novel by Evanovich is everything fans will hope for. There is the obvious action and adventure, but there is also a hint of romance and a splash of humor. I don’t know if it is because I’m about the age of the main characters, but I found myself laughing out loud (literally) with some of the one-liners they were spouting out. The only downside of this series is that it is new and there isn’t anything else to read next (yet).


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Review: The Match

The Match by Harlan Coben
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wilde has no real family.  He has people who have been role models to him, but since he was found as a small boy living in the woods alone, he doesn’t know where he came from.  He was ok with that or so he thought.  Wilde has just gotten a close match on a DNA website for his father.  He decides to meet his father and learns that he didn’t know anything about Wilde.  Wilde chooses to extend his DNA research and uncovers truths no one is expecting.  There is also a community of online doxxers whose main goal is to expose anonymous trolls and it seems that they are being targeted by a serial killer.   What is the connection between these doxxers and Wilde?

The Match is the second book in the Wilde series.  This sequel’s timeline follows closely behind the events from the first book, but the mystery here can be enjoyed without that first storyline.  Coben does mention some of the earlier events, but they are more to fill in gaps that will help readers.  The overarching mystery is weaved into the mystery of Wilde’s childhood and readers will enjoy trying to decide where the story will go next.  The Match is a good mystery with a satisfying ending. 

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Review: Star Father

Star Father by Charlie N. Holmberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Aija knows that things are changing.  It has been four days since the Sun left the sky and the Earth was plunged into constant darkness.  This is when she finds a man by the river.  He doesn’t look like anyone she has ever seen and the heat coming off his skin is not normal either.  Aija might be a farmhand, but she also is an artist.  She longs to draw and sculpt him; then he wakes up.  His name is Saiyon and he has enemies; strange enemies that must be godlings.  Where will the attraction between Aija and the earthbound Sun God go?  What risks are they willing to take to be together?

Star Father is the second book in the Star Mother Fantasy duology.  Although it is a second book, readers do not need to have read the first book to fully enjoy this story.  Holmberg has expanded this fantastical world and added new characters while also giving us a glimpse into the deeper aspects of old friends and foes.  I thoroughly enjoyed all the adventures and quickly turned the pages to see if love would win out or not.  A great read, even if Fantasies aren’t your usual genre. 

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Review: Run Rose Run

Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

AnnieLee is on the run.  She wants to leave her past behind and forge ahead in the music industry.  She learns quickly that there are a lot of obstacles in getting a chance to sing, let alone to be discovered. AnnieLee’s big break comes when a retired country music star decides to take her under her wing.  She doesn’t want the help at first, but when her past keeps stopping by for a visit; AnnieLee must trust someone with her present, even if she doesn’t want to tell them about her past.

Run Rose Run is a realistic fiction story firmly placed in the country music scene.  I am used to most of Patterson’s books being a mystery, yet this story has the mystery component playing second or third fiddle.  Parton has a story that not only entertains the masses, but it also teaches us about the struggles to be discovered as a music star.  Whether readers enjoy country music or not, everyone can still enjoy this story of an underdog fighting for what she wants.

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