Review: The Quarry Girls by Jess Lourey

The Quarry Girls by Jess Lourey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, however I've since purchased an ebook copy, as always all opinions are my own.

This was disturbing, and that was probably the author's intent.  This follows Heather a 16 year old girl in smalltown USA in 1977.  She is feeling disconnected from her two best friends as they are hanging out with boys, going to parties, and doing things that she isn't ready for.  Heather's got alot going on at home with taking care of her younger sister and keeping and eye on her mom who rarely gets out of bed while her district attorney dad is at the office.  She tries to connect with her friends by playing games in the tunnels under their town and playing in their all girl band.  When Heather and her friend Brenda see something in the tunnels that they shouldn't things go downhill.  There is already a girl missing in town, and when their friend Maureen turns up missing they don't want to be next.  Heather decides to take things into her own hands to get answers about what is going on in her town when her world is turned upside down and she beings to question who the good guys are and right from wrong.

We also follow Beth, the first girl to go missing in the town.  Her chapters are short, and awful in the sense that what she is going through is terrible.  Beth is also a fighter and we see her fight with all she has against her terrible circumstances.

I had to suspend my disbelief that Heather would do all the things she did and be so naive, but then again humans do strange things in real life.  The author's note mentions that this is supposed to read a bit like a true crime show, with this story being inspired by real events from Saint Cloud, Minnesota where the author grew up.  In that respect, the author achieved her goal, this does give you that experience.  You have crooked men in power doing awful things and covering it up to paint their own narrative.  You have friendly neighbors that don't ask too many questions and pretend bad things don't happen in their town and when they do they ignore them.

Overall, I enjoyed this.   This was a decent thriller, but there was no big reveal.  Everyone was a villain for some reason or another, and the real villain was kind of evident from the beginning.  There were almost too many "bad guys" and bad things happening to and around Heather all at once that took me out of the story.  On the other hand this depicts some very real things that happen in society and they should make your skin crawl, so for that I give the author kudos!  I had to put the book down a couple of times because of the way I was feeling about a scene or chapter.

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Review: Where Shadows Meet: A Novel by Patrice Caldwell

Where Shadows Meet: A Novel by Patrice Caldwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided both an ARC and ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this.  The audiobook has several narrators, which is helpful as the story is told from Favre, Leyla, and Najja's perspectives.  As many of the characters in this book are female and the POVs are female it really helped having a distinct voice as the POVs switched.  This doesn't alternate between chapters, though it is mainly told in the present from Najja and Leyla's point of views with sprinklings of the past here and there from Favre's perspective.  I also found it helpful to have a copy of the ebook handy as there are lots of characters and new names to keep track of.  The ebook also has a handy family tree to look at and an explanation of the vampire bloodlines which are important.  The audiobook will come with a PDF of supplemental information, the ALC did not so I don't know what all it contains.

This follows Leyla, a vampire,  Crown Princess, and descendant of the original vampire.  She tries to live up to her mother's expectations but always seems to fall short.  When the capital comes under attack by strange monsters and Leyla's best friend is captured, she vows to save her.  Her mother forbids her, but she has chosen to take fate into her own hands this time.  Najja is a yamaja and her people are the messengers of fate, and her fate is tied to Leyla in some way.  They team up to find Leyla's missing friend and possibly prevent the world from ending.  As Leyla and Najja are on their quest, Favre a powerful and old vampire awakens from a long sleep and is determined to awake her true love who has also been asleep for very long time.  Favre has sacrificed much for Thana and will continue to sacrifice to awaken her again, even if it ends in destruction.

We get some great info about Thana and Favre's relationship in the past and how the vampire bloodlines/classes came to be.  We also get some background on the world and how everything works which I appreciated.  Favre is on a mission to awaken her love and will do anything to get her back, but I can see the cracks in the foundation starting to form or atleast I hope I do.  I'm hoping Favre comes to her senses about how much she has sacrificed for Thana, and Thana hasn't done much but manipulate and take from those around her.  As for Leyla and Najja, their relationship is only just beginning to blossom, and I expect it to develop further as the series progresses.  There are some more mature themes, but nothing graphic, gory, or detailed for YA readers who are ready for something on the more mature side of the age range. 

I am really looking forward to where this series goes.  This does end on a cliffhanger but you could see it coming well in advance.  I thought the pacing was good, we got good character development, and I love a good YA fantasy that discusses some bigger topics.  This does have trigger warnings so make sure you read the author's note before picking this up, she addresses them there.

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Review: A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of his book via Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore through Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is the second book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, and while this can be read a standalone I would recommend reading [book:The Tainted Cup|150247395] first.  It was a nice introduction to the world and the characters of Din and Ana and how they interact to solve crimes.  The novels act as companions, following completely separate incidents with interconnected characters and themes and the author does a fantastic job giving you enough background information in this novel so you don't feel lost.  It has been over a year since I've read book 1 and I felt like I had a nice refresher on the world and the characters.  The world is strange and complex, and the author does a wonderful job detailing out the setting for this murder mystery.

As with the first book, Iudex investigator Din is sent on a mission to uncover clues when a murder under strange circumstances occurs in a small village on the outskirts of the Empire.  Yarrowdale is a strange place, but it is very important to the empire, and when officers of the Treasury disappear and are found murdered only the best are sent to find out what happened.  His superior officer and mentor Ana, trails behind him to conduct the investigation in her strange methods.   Once in Yarrowdale, Din meets up with Malo, a Warden who aides in the investigation.  Malo is surly, but she takes her duties seriously especially when the precious reagents produced in her homeland are in danger.  As Ana, Din, and Malo investigate the murder of the treasury officer, they uncover a much larger plot that puts not only Yarrowdale, but the entire empire in danger.  They must quickly find the culprit and stop him before he does more damage.

This was an excellent adventure!  As with the first book it weaves several genres into a Sherlockian style mystery.   I loved the fantasy setting and the characters.  We meet new characters with new augmentations.  In this world people can choose to under go procedures to permanently enhance their abilities like Din's ability to remember everything for his position as an engraver or take tonics to temporarily enhance things like wakefulness or stamina. I'm not sure how many books there are going to be in this series but if Din and Ana are investigating I'm going along on every case with them.  In this installment we get to know more about Ana's abilities, even if she doesn't come right out and say what they are.  Ana's methods are strange and she is able to draw conclusions from the most disparate information, but in this particular investigation and with Din's engraver abilities she is able to piece together the solution in a way we haven't seen before.  I won't spoil Ana's abilities, but she did tell Din she would reveal her enhancements when the time was right.  We also learn more about the strange leviathan creatures that threaten the world and what is done with them at the mystical place called the Shroud.  

There is so much going on in this book, but I never once felt overwhelmed or confused.  The author does a great job with the pacing and keeping the reader engaged and connected to each of the plotlines.  With such a complicated storyline and so many offshoots it would have been very easy to lose sight of what was going on, but RJB kept things connected and brought things together in the end in such a great way.   We get a great reveal as one would expect in a mystery, but along with the investigation we also get eerie emotional movements as well as excellent fantasy elements.  We get more information about all of the abilities people can have and we get more development into Din and Ana's relationship.  There were some great side characters that both helped and hindered the investigation.  The author does a good job feeding you information throughout leaving clues along the way.  I loved this book and the series has quickly become a favorite to recommend to other mystery and fantasy fans!

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Review: The Prince Without Sorrow: Obsidian Throne, Book 1 by Maithree Wijesekara

The Prince Without Sorrow: Obsidian Throne, Book 1 by Maithree Wijesekara
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.  In full transparency, I borrowed the audiobook from my local library after publication date and listened to the audiobook while following along with the ARC.

This is the first book in a trilogy and follows Shakti, a witch whose order follows pacifist teachings, but when the emperor orders her village and everyone she loves brutally murdered she breaks that code.  Shakti seeks revenge with a curse upon the emperor, but as with all magic it takes an unexpected turn she never expected.  She seeks to overthrow the new emperor from within, but she has also discovered new abilities that will either aid her cause or get her killed.  Our second point of view is from the emperor's son Ashoka who practices pacifist ways, despite his father being a violent tyrant.  His siblings follow his father's tactics and Ashoka is shunned for his peaceful ways.  When Emperor Adil unexpectedly dies, Ashoka must not only find his way under his brother's rule, but he seeks to make changes within the empire by bargaining with his brother and sister for power.  

Shakti and Ashoka's paths only briefly cross despite their goals being similar.  They both want to save the witches from persecution and violence.  They both want the the new emperor to rule with a more peace minded approach, but they both are going to have to break some rules to get to their desired outcomes.  I enjoyed the magic and the lore woven into the story and look forward to seeing how that evolves over the rest of the series.  I also look forward to seeing where Shakti's revenge arc and Ashoka's pacifist takeover arc take them.   There is clearly alot more story to be told.  

This book poses quite a few questions about morals, politics, and societal norms.  Many of the characters are set in their ways one way or the other, so discussion about change is often not well met or leads no where.  I'm expecting as our main characters continue on their chosen paths, we will see these questions and conversations come up again and our characters will begin to sway the masses to their causes, but this book feels more like it is setting the stage for more to come.  I can't tell if they will aid each other in the future or become enemies, but I look forward to finding out as the story continues.

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Review: The Merger by Adriana Locke

The Merger by Adriana Locke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC via the author, all opinions are my own.

This is the 4th book int he Brewer Family series, however you can read it as a complete standalone.

I love Adriana's books, and this pains me to give it 3 stars.  They have all been instant favorites.   It took me until the latter half of the audiobook to finally connect with Gannon and Carys.  That isn't the norm, I am normally connected within the first chapter or two.  Grumpy sunshine, opposites attract is one of my favorite tropes too.  I feel like for the first half of the book, the main characters spent most of the time objectifying each other and having sexy times before we got to the plot.  I never felt the chemistry develop between them and I felt like the family interactions that I love so much within Locke's interconnected series was missing.  Tate is present and Gannon's other siblings were in a few scenes here and there but far less than we have seen in other installments in the past.  As the story develops Gannon and Carys didn't feel like strangers to me any longer and I started to enjoy the storyline.  I wanted more character development (aka background story) earlier on in the book interspersed with their inner monologues about how hot each other were and their banter and innuendos.  

Overall, while this had some humorous moments and in the end Carys and Gannon get the happy ending they were meant to have, this one isn't my favorite.  The narrators did a good job with the dual POV narration.

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Review: The Deathly Grimm

The Deathly Grimm by Kathryn Purdie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided both an ARC and ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is the second book in the Forest Grimm duology, and don't feel this could be read as a standalone. You really do need to read The Forest Grimm first to understand what is going on and what is going on with the world and the characters. This installment drops you right back into the world where the first book leaves off and the characters pick up where they left off. With the curse on the village only partially broken, Clara and Axel must venture back into the Forest Grimm and Henni must go into hiding until they return with answers and the missing page from the Book of Fortunes. As they venture back into the forest Clara and Axel's relationship will be tested, and Clara will have to face many of her fears as they find more lost villagers and try to break the curse for good. They face

Once again the author does a great job leaning into the darker side of the fairy tales in this book and weaves them into the plot with her own reimagining. This is a bit of retelling and mystery. It has a nice twist when we finally get the full reveal of who the real villain of the story is and how the curse came to be.

Much like with the first book, I felt this read a bit young for my tastes, but the target audience is young adult so take that with a grain of salt. We do get more character development from Clara in this book, which was something I felt was lacking in the first book. In the last book I felt like everything she did was based on what the tarot cards told her was going to happen, where in this book she almost shunned the cards and what they foretold. She was able to think before she acted and solve some of the riddles without acting on impulse all the time. I would have like more character development overall, but I do appreciate the character development we did get.

Overall I felt like this was a satisfying conclusion to the duology.

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Review: Transmentation | Transience: Or, an Accession to the People’s Council for Nine Thousand Worlds by Darkly Lem

Transmentation | Transience: Or, an Accession to the People’s Council for Nine Thousand Worlds by Darkly Lem
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided both an ALC and ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Dion Graham was a fantastic narrator!  I enjoyed the different voices he gave the the various characters and he did different accents as each character moved from world to world at times.  Such a fantastic performance!

This is perfect for fans of Caldwell Turnbull's No Gods, No Monsters and the Convergence Saga. Turnbull is a member of the author who make up Darkly Lem, the other authors in the collaboration are Josh Eure, Craig Lincoln, Ben Murphy, and M. Darusha Wehm. This didn't feel like it was written by multiple authors, and felt like a cohesive effort by the five members that make up Darkly Lem. If you enjoy that style of writing and storytelling you will enjoy this sci-fi, speculative fiction. This touches on politics, philosophy, environmental factors, corruption, self-reflection, and more.

Overall I really enjoyed this. It is strange in the best way, and while the pacing is a bit slow that fit the plot as it develops and the characters move about the multiverse. It is told from several different perspectives, but I had a hard time telling the characters apart and perhaps that was by design. There is a definite undertone of self-reflection by the characters as they move from place to place and they question their own identities. A major part of the plot is that characters can travel the multiverse and they inhabit different "husks" in different worlds. Their consciousness travels, while their "prime body" stays put, but don't quote me on that I'm still not 100% clear on that point. Some people have the ability to travel on their own, while others can move multiple people at once and the characters visit something akin to a train station to travel. It wasn't always clear if the character was another person when they traveled or if they were themselves, and that was a bit confusing for me. This is one of those books that I feel like upon re-read I would really understand the world and the science much better. I enjoyed the various characters once I got comfortable with their plotlines and motivations. There is alot going on and I was left with that feeling of "What did I just read?" when I was done. With this book that is meant as a huge compliment to the authors as I want to start over and dive back in because this book was so intriguing and interesting. I want to pick up on all of those things that I missed the first time through and pay closer attention to certain characters. I believe this is the beginning of a series and will 100% continue on.

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Review: The Knight and the Butcherbird: A Short Story by Alix E. Harrow

The Knight and the Butcherbird: A Short Story by Alix E. Harrow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is a strange little book set in a small Appalachian town, where demons infest the wild lands and knights are summoned to hunt them down.  Information is no longer passed down electronically, but via storytellers, the current storyteller is Shrike who knows more about the town's current demon than anyone as it was once her wife May.  The knight also knows much about demons but he longs to know the secret of their creation for like Shrike, his wife was also turned into a demon.  Shrike is determined to keep May safe and prevent the knight from harming her.  He is surprised by the history lesson given by the storyteller, but knowing what he knows about the toxic lands and the science and medicine available in the cities it all makes sense.

I really enjoyed this short story.  The author packs alot of information into only about 40 pages.  It is rare that I find a short story that feels complete and while the author could probably write and entire novel about this world, I think it is perfect as is.  Harrow's work to date has been hit or miss for me, but this was a real hit!  I loved the push and pull between Shrike and the Knight, they both have secrets and personal motivations.  They both want to protect their loved ones and took their vows seriously.  This also has  commentary on the environment, technology, healthcare, societal collapse, religion, etc.  It certainly made me think.

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Review: Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is told from multiple perspectives, and I appreciated that the audiobook had multiple narrators, all of whom I enjoyed.  It really helped to know which person from the island you were with for that chapter based on the voice you were hearing.

This mainly follows Dominic and Rowan.  Dom is a widower and his three children on a tiny island that has been used for research and as a seedbank.  All of the scientists have left the island, as the sea is threatening to overtake the island and the lighthouse Dom and his family live in.  He and the kids are responsible for packing up the seeds and whatever else they can salvage when the last ship comes to get them.  The kids Raff, Fen, and Orly really don't know a home other than the island and spend their days among the plants and seals.  Their lives are about to be completely turned upside down when they have to return to "proper" society, but as they are packing things up a strange woman washes up on shore during a storm.  When Rowan finally wakes up she finds Dominic's strange family nursing her back to health.  As she gets to know them she finds that while they are kind, something strange is going on and she is determined to find out what they are hiding.  Turns out she has secrets and motivations of her own.

As far as thrillers go this was pretty tame, it is atmospheric though.  The themes of isolation, desperation, and loneliness played a much bigger part than the actual mystery elements.  This is very much about the human condition and what each character is going through and their connection to the island.  This is highly character driven, and the characters are well developed.  I felt the pacing was a bit slow, but I chalk that up to the fact that we swap POVs almost every chapter. While  much of the story is told from Dom or Rowan's perspectives, we also get chapters told from each of the children, that tends to slow things down for me because just as you think you are getting somewhere the author takes you somewhere else.  It all does come together in the end.  I wasn't a big fan of the romance element, I didn't feel the chemistry between the two main characters.  I feel like the romance wasn't necessary and the story would have been fine without it. I did think that the world building was excellent and I felt like I was on the beach with the seals or in the storms with the characters.  The setting and flora and fauna were all described very well and you can tell that the author did her research which I always appreciate.  

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Review: Heart of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes

Heart of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley for the rerelease of this book by Ace/Berkley in February 2025, however I do want to mention that I had previously purchased audiobook versions of the series. As always all opinions expressed in my review are my own.

We pick up where book 2 leaves off with Vor still trying to balance his duties as king and husband while Faraine desperately wants to help her new kingdom and find her place.  In an attempt to help the kingdom Faraine looks deeper into her own growing powers and uncovers secrets about Vor's world that not many know.  Things take a bit of a darker turn as Vor keeps his agreement to help Faraine's father and as Faraine delves deeper into her abilities.  Things also heat up as Vor and Faraine accept their feelings for one another and stop pretending that their wedding was just a political alliance.  

I loved this whole series and very much enjoyed going on this journey with Faraine and Vor.  I really enjoyed the world building and the character development.  There are some spicy scenes for the romance lovers, but as a fantasy lover myself this hit all of the right notes with action, adventure, and magical elements as well.

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Review: Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided both an ALC and an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This follows Evelyn and Arden through a thousand years as they have fallen in love and he has betrayed and murdered in each one before she turns 18.  She can't remember why he hunts her or why they are bound to each other, and he won't tell her.  All she knows that in this life, her younger sister is dying and her bone marrow is the one thing that might save her.  She has to evade Arden long enough for the doctors to perform atleast her part of the procedure to give her sister a chance.  The only problem is she hasn't figured out who Arden is masquerading as in this life as he has hidden himself very well this time and she is running out of time before her 18th birthday.

This alternates in varying timelines from the present day to past lives that Arden and Evelyn have lived.  I liked that this takes us back to several different places in history, and Evelyn isn't always a woman and Arden isn't always a man and they aren't always in a traditional heterosexual relationship.  Gender wasn't a preference for either one of them, it was more the connection they shared.  Sometimes they are already together while others they have to find one another and that spark takes hold when they reunite again and they remember who they are.  I do wish we would have spent a little more time in these past chapters getting to know the characters and their backstories a bit more.  They were significant turning points in the relationship between the two main characters and would have lent a bit more to the character development and helped us understand how deep their connection really was and why they were willing to make the bargain they did.  

We eventually find out why Arden murders Evelyn every 18 years just before her birthday, but it comes toward the very end and felt a bit rushed.  I was a bit disappointed with the ending despite very much enjoying the rest of the book.  I thought the reveal was good and the concept was great, I just wanted a bit more development and explanation to go with that plotline. Overall I did enjoy getting to know our characters and their relationship.

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Review: The Fourth Consort by Edward Ashton

The Fourth Consort by Edward Ashton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided both and ARC and an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Dalton was a down on his luck guy with nothing to look forward to, when he gets recruited to be part of a confederation to spread love and harmony throughout the galaxy. Dalton's crew is Unity, but they have a nemesis group called The Assembly and they really don't get along. Both groups seek out new civilizations and want to broker alliances and they will do whatever it takes to make sure their side wins a new friend.

Dalton finds himself stranded on a new planet and guest of the planet's queen. He and Breaker, a member of the Assembly are both vying for her attention and still attempting to form and alliance, but Dalton has a hard time understanding the culture and strange sense of honor that the their mostly female civilization operates under. At the same time he questions the motivations of his own crew and mission. His survival on the planet hinges on the queen making him her consort, which Dalton doesn't understand, as there is no romance between them. As things become more clear he comes to understand how politics work on the planet and that he may just be a bargaining chip.

I really loved getting to know Dalton as he had to navigate this precarious environment. He can't leave the planet, and he is forced to be the consort of an alien queen for political reasons. He is always offending those around him, mainly because he doesn't understand their culture, which leads to some pretty humorous moments throughout the book. I loved the snark from the AI translator that helps Dalton navigator the various languages. At times this felt like cozy sci-fi as Dalton deals with more social situations and what he feels is moral and honorable and there isn't alot of graphic content when it comes to violence and other content.

I loved this. It was fun, had the right amount of humor, and falls in the more cozy genre that is so popular right now. This has more political intrigue and self reflection themes to it, so if you are expecting epic world building and super technical sci-fi this is not that book. Dalton spends much of his time underground so there isn't a ton of world building or description of the world. The plot is more focused on will Dalton follow the orders of his exploration company, or will he follow his own moral compass. I thought Dalton's relationship with Breaker was great and while this is a standalone I would love to know how they get on in the future.

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Review: On Loverose Lane by Samantha Young

On Loverose Lane by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author, all opinions are my own.

The book reads as a complete standalone, however if you have read the original On Dublin Street series, you will recognize many characters who make cameos.  I love that we have returned to this world with Beth, the daughter of Joss and Braden and hope to see more of the 2nd generation of the Dublin Street characters. 

Beth owns a successful social media company, she grew up with privilege but she always had to work for what she wanted.  One thing that she wanted, but pushed away was Callan Keen.  She thought she was doing the right thing at 16, but things didn't end up the way she had hope and they both ended up hurt in the end.  Callan is now a famous soccer/football star, and he happens to be moving into Beth's building.  Running into each other regularly brings back memories and unresolved feelings, especially when Beth asks Callan to be her fake boyfriend to help her land a big client.  In return, Beth promises to set Callan and his best friend Baird up with a meeting with her dad regarding a property he owns.  This mutually beneficial relationship would be great for their career goals, and it just so happens it is equally beneficial in the bedroom as well.  Things get a bit spicy between these two.  As their casual arrangement comes to a close, neither one of them wants it to end but they both have things from their past that are keeping them from taking the next step.  

This has good mental health rep as Beth deals with anxiety, but she doesn't full open up about it.  She takes on too much and deals with everything on her own.  If you have read On Dublin Street, you will be familiar with Joss' struggles with grief and anxiety.  Joss has conversations with both Beth and Callan about how she learned to deal with those things and that she was there for them both if they needed someone to talk to.  Callan, like Joss, has a hard time letting people get close to him because of tragic loss at a young age and doesn't know how to deal with big feelings.  With the support of the people around them, they are able to take steps to fight for their relationship and build something together.  I really enjoyed getting to know Beth and Callan as they got to know each other as adults and rekindle their romance from high school. This also has great side characters, Beth has a huge family and we meet many of them in the book.  I suspect as this is a 2nd gen series we will see more of them in the future.  Callan's best friend and business partner Baird was awesome, and I hope to see more of him in the future as well.

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Review: A Dragon of Black Glass: Moonfall, Book 3 by James Rollins

A Dragon of Black Glass: Moonfall, Book 3 by James Rollins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. Nicola Barber has done a wonderful job narrating the series!

This is the 3rd Moonfall series, and I have been hooked since book 1. This is not the end of the series, I'm not sure if the book with end with 4 or 5 books in total, I've seen indications of both since the beginning of the series. This series has a ton of characters and bounces around alot from perspective to perspective, so it isn't going to be for everyone as there is alot of information to keep track of. The audio books are on the long side 22-25ish hours, so you need to be invested in the characters and their journey. I have found the pacing to be good and the world building to be engrossing. There are several genres represented in the books and series over all, we have court politics, as well as some cool science fiction elements, a bit of magic, action, adventure, and so much more. I'm anxious to see where our group heads in the next book.

As moonfall approaches, Nyx, her friends, and her ever present bat companion Bashaliia must race across the lands where the sun never sets to find the secrets to getting the earth turning again and preventing the apocalypse. On their journey they find only more secrets and more danger as the world on the sun filled side of the earth has learned to adapt and hide from the blazing heat, just as it did on the cold side. Nyx must continue to work on her understanding and control of her bridle song as it will be a key component to saving or destroying the world. While Nyx and her crew are braving the desert and fighting new monsters, elsewhere Kanthe is fighting a different kind of fight. He is dealing with political scheming and working with his new bride to gain allies where they can and uncover plots against them.

This does end with a cliffhanger so be prepared for that. The stakes are pretty high toward the end and I know readers who are invested are going to want to know what happens sooner rather than later. Each of our characters has a goal and a purpose and the author does a good job keeping the reader invested in that plotline before you can forget about them and what they are doing. I'm very anxious to see how our characters proceed with preventing moonfall and navigate all of the various other obstacles that are thrown their way in book 4.

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RELEASE BLITZ: On Loverose Lane by Samantha Young

 

On Loverose Lane by Samantha Young is now live! 

Imagine my surprise when my new neighbor turns out to be one of Scotland’s most famous (and hottest) professional footballers, Callan Keen. I’m even more shocked to discover that the brooding player is still holding a grudge for something that happened (or didn’t happen) between us years ago.

Too busy trying to take my social media management company to the next level, I don’t have time for this gorgeous blast from the past. Or at least I shouldn’t. Yet whenever I see him, I can’t help but engage in a battle of wits with the grump upstairs.

When a huge client opportunity arises, circumstances force me to enlist Callan’s help. I require a fake date and Callan needs me to facilitate a meeting with my dad to further his own business interests.

The deal between us should be simple. Except, of course, the blazing chemistry we’ve shared since the moment we met. We can’t deny it, we can’t control it, and soon we’re agreeing to six weeks of no-strings-attached, mind-blowing, steamy shenanigans.

I told myself I was too smart to catch feelings. But when Callan finally finds out the truth about our past, he becomes the guy I used to know. And that man is way too easy to fall for.

The problem is that Callan has vowed to never let another person close enough to break his heart again.

It just might prove impossible to show my stubborn Scotsman I’m worth the risk, especially when old wounds are re-opened and threaten to wreck any chance of a future together…

The #1 International bestselling author is back with this emotional and steamy sports romance in which ambitious entrepreneur, Beth Carmichael, meets her match in the grumpy football captain who moves into the apartment above hers.

  

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4e0wML2

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Narrated by: Shane East & Zara Hampton-Brown

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Meet Samantha

Samantha Young is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She's been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. Samantha writes adult contemporary and paranormal romance, YA urban fantasy and YA contemporary fiction and is currently published in 31 countries.
She resides in Scotland.

 

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Review: Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley

Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.  I did end up listening to the audiobook which I borrowed from my library as this has been sitting on my TBR for a while.  I'm sorry it took me so long to read this as this was really great!  This is the kind of fantasy that I love to get lost in.

I don't know why more people aren't talking about this book!  It had everything I look for in a fantasy.  There are some dark moments, trials, interesting magic, interesting fae creatures and characters, betrayal, and a bit of romance.

Kenna is not well liked in her village.  She is always collecting things from the bog to sell or trade to survive.  Her best friend is selected along with several other women to be sent to the fae in Mistei as tribute.  The people of Kenna's town believe this to be a great honor, but Kenna isn't so sure.  She offers to help her friend and the women travel the dark path on their journey only to become trapped in the fae land her self and find herself enslaved.  She is assigned to a fae who is about to undergo trials to prove her worth and grant her immortality and power.  Kenna must aid her mistress or face death.  Armed only with her wits and a strange magical dagger she found in the bog before entering Mistei, Kenna finds that the world she has entered is wrought with secrets and plots to overthrow the mad king.  She also finds herself being courted by a handsome fae prince.  

I really enjoyed this.  Kenna develops so much as she helps Lara through the trials.  She is always wandering around gathering information wherever she can to ensure that Lara will successfully pass.  Kenna is always getting herself into sticky situations, but she is clever and finds a way out of them.  I loved the addition of the dagger, which is sentient, and a character in its own right.  I expect we will see more out of the dagger in book 2 as there were some pretty big revelations at the end of this book.  I really enjoyed the characters and the world building.  I can't wait for book 2 out later this year and to find out where Kenna the now Princess of Blood ends up in this magical world.

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Review: Get Lost with You: A Novel by Sophie Sullivan

Get Lost with You: A Novel by Sophie Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided both the ALC and ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.  Than you to St. Martins Press/St. Martin's Griffin and RB Media/Recorded Books for providing me with advanced copies of the book in both formats.  I have really come to enjoy reading along with the audiobook when I get the opportunity.  The narrator did a great job keeping me engaged

This was a super sweet second chance, small town romance.  Jillian Keller, aka Jilly has been in love with Levi since high school.  He left their small town of Smile to chase his dreams of becoming a chef and working in a big time fancy restaurant and while he had feelings for her, he didn't want to lead her on.  He was also friends with her older brothers and didn't want to break the "bro code".  Fast forward into the future, Jilly is a divorced single mom and helping to run a small lodge with her brothers.  She is cautious about everything in her life but overly so when it comes to love after her failed marriage.  She has alot on her plate with the lodge's summer opening looming and some new offerings on the way to bring in new clients.  She doesn't have time for a new relationship when Levi reenters her life, but everything happens for a reason.  

Levi has returned home to help out with the family construction business when his dad needs routine surgery.  There is a rift between father and son that needs mending due to Levi leaving town to pursue his dreams and not taking over the family business.  Naturally feelings were hurt, but Levi wants nothing more than to mend this fence and reestablish himself in his home town.  He achieved his goal to become a successful chef, and now more than ever he knows that the small town life is what he wants.  He also wants to explore that spark he has always felt for Jilly, so when an opportunity to cook at the lodge and spend more time with her opens up he jumps at the chance to show her how great they can be together and that he isn't going anywhere.

I really loved this.  Levi and Jilly were really cute together, they kept their relationship playful while dealing with real life situations.  They passed notes to one another like teenagers to keep things fun, while building up the trust needed for something concrete.  It is very low spice, there are some intimate scenes, but they are fade to black and not very descriptive.  I appreciated that Jilly got to explore her feelings of inadequacy in a relationship and fears about a new relationship as a single mom on her own terms.  She had real conversations with Levi and the conversation she had with her mom were really great to help her overcome her objections and find love again.

This is the 2nd book in the Rock Bottom series, but it does read as a complete standalone.  I have not read the 1st book in the series which centers around Jilly's brother Beckett and girlfriend Presley.  They are side characters in this book, and I'll be picking Love, Naturally soon as I want to know everything about their love story!  This is also my first book by the author, but it will not be my last!

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Release Blitz:The Kiss Lottery by Ilsa Madden-Mills

 

The Kiss Lottery by Ilsa Madden-Mills is now live!

From bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills comes a steamy story about first love and second chances where a city girl returns home for a Valentine's Day tradition...and the boy who broke her heart.

Roses are red, violets are blue--someone in Rose has feelings for you...

Yeah, bad ones. Everly Davis didn't leave her tight-knit hometown on the best terms. It's been ten years, but you don't forget heartbreak like that. Then again, the anonymous invite to the annual Kiss Lottery in Rose, Tennessee, gives Everly content for her podcast. And she has a bone to pick with that old heartbreak anyway.

Beckett Whitfield has never left Rose--and he's never forgotten Everly. He even named the villain in his latest bestseller after her. Turns out she's not happy about that. Nothing about their reunion is particularly happy, and after the way they left things, what did he expect?

When the Kiss Lottery pairs them together, Everly and Beckett will have to confront old feelings that never went away and the secrets they never shared. But finally telling each other everything might be exactly what they've needed all along.

 Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

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Meet Ilsa Madden-Mills

#1 Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills pens angsty new adult and contemporary romances.

A former high school English teacher and librarian, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.

She's addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online.

 

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