What’s Not to Love by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

 

“In the game of love, there’s always extra credit.”

“Since high school began, Alison Sanger and Ethan Molloy have competed on almost everything. AP classes, the school paper, community service, it never ends. If Alison could avoid Ethan until graduation, she would. Except, naturally, for two over-achieving seniors with their sights on valedictorian and Harvard, they share all the same classes and extracurriculars. So when their school’s principal assigns them the task of co-planning a previous class’s ten-year reunion, with the promise of a recommendation for Harvard if they do, Ethan and Alison are willing to endure one more activity together if it means beating the other out of the lead.

But with all this extra time spent in each other’s company, their rivalry begins to feel closer to friendship. And as tension between them builds, Alison fights the growing realization that the only thing she wants more than winning…is Ethan.”  - taken from Goodreads.com

This author duo keeps getting better with each new book. Alison and Ethan are cutthroat competitors for everything academic at their school, whether it be for valedictorian or an acceptance to Harvard University. Teachers and classmates alike are wary of the constant one-upmanship between the two of them. Tensions between the two soon boil over when the principal assigns them to plan a 10-year reunion for a former class at the school. Soon, Alison and Ethan realize that there is more to their relationship than the competition but, can the rivalry be set aside for a chance at love? 

Fans will appreciate the glimpse of Fitz and Juniper from Time of Our Lives.

Visit Emily & Austin’s website.

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (The Inheritance Games book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The Inheritance Games, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“The Inheritance Games ended with a bombshell, and now heiress Avery Grambs has to pick up the pieces and find the man who might hold the answers to all of her questions—including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than to his own daughters or grandsons. 

Thanks to a DNA test, Avery knows that she’s not a Hawthorne by blood, but clues pile up hinting at a deeper connection to the family than she had ever imagined. As the mystery grows and the plot thickens, Grayson and Jameson, two of the enigmatic and magnetic Hawthorne grandsons, continue to pull Avery in different directions. And there are threats lurking around every corner, as adversaries emerge who will stop at nothing to see Avery out of the picture—by any means necessary.” - taken from Goodreads.com 

The stakes are now higher after the cliffhanger ending of the first book. Avery is on the hunt to find the one person who may hold the answers to all of her questions about why Tobias Hawthorne chose her to inherit his billions. With the help of the brothers Hawthorne, more clues are discovered and several family secrets are revealed. Not to mention, Avery finds herself drawn to one brother in particular.

With another jaw-dropping ending, fans will be counting the days to August 30th, 2022 for the last book in the trilogy, The Final Gambit.

Visit Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ website.

Seasons of Chaos by Elle Cosimano (Seasons of the Storm book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Seasons of the Storm, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“As immortal Seasons, Jack and Fleur wielded powerful magic in their roles as a Winter and a Spring. Yet there wasn’t magic strong enough to keep them apart, and they risked everything for their love, for the freedom to live their lives as they choose—together.

That choice came at a cost. Jack sacrificed his Winter magic—and his immortality—to ensure their survival. Although he’d do anything for Fleur, he can’t deny the emptiness he’s felt since. Or the fear that his choice to give up his magic may have doomed them after all.

The world they thought they left behind is still dealing with the fallout of the rebellion they started. With Professor Lyon as the new Chronos, Seasons are free to do as they please. But not everyone is happy with the change in leadership. When an old enemy seeks revenge, the world’s most powerful magic runs wild and unchecked, creating global chaos.

Thrust into the middle of a new war, Jack and Fleur are faced with the aftermath of their choices. But are they strong enough to save the world from a storm that’s spinning out of control?” - taken from Goodreads.com

I'm not surprised about how this story ended but it did have a couple of twists I didn't see coming. Of course, Jack and Fleur were going to have a major wrench thrown into their happily ever after. A little slow at times but with a fast-paced ending, this read definitely a satisfying ending.

Visit Elle Cosimano’s website.

The Hollow Heart by Marie Rutkoski (Forgotten Gods book 2)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The Midnight Lie, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“At the end of The Midnight Lie, Nirrim offered up her heart to the God of Thieves in order to restore her people’s memories of their city’s history. The Half Kith who once lived imprisoned behind the city’s wall now realize that many among them are powerful. Meanwhile, the person Nirrim once loved most, Sid, has returned to her home country of Herran, where she must navigate the politics of being a rogue princess who has finally agreed to do her duty.

In the Herrani court, rumors begin to grow of a new threat rising across the sea, of magic unleashed on the world, and of a cruel, black-haired queen who can push false memories into your mind, so that you believe your dearest friends to be your enemies.

Sid doesn’t know that this queen is Nirrim, who seeks her revenge against a world that has wronged her. Can Sid save Nirrim from herself? Does Nirrim even want to be saved? As blood is shed and war begins, Sid and Nirrim find that it might not matter what they want…for the gods have their own plans.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I loved Marie Rutkoski’s Winner’s trilogy and couldn’t wait to see where the story of their daughter Sid would take her. The second book gave me more information about the lives of Kestrel and Arin and I loved it. With Sid back at home, Nirrim has gone a little power crazy since her deal with the God of Thieves. Once Sid is able to solve her mother’s illness and worked out her perceived differences with her parents, it is up to her to stop the growing threat that Nirrim has become.

This was a satisfactory end to the story but I do hope that the author delves back into this world at a later date. 

Visit Marie Rutkoski’s website.

As Good As Dead by Holy Jackson (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder book 3)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Good Girl, Bad Blood, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Pip Fitz-Amobi is haunted by the way her last investigation ended. Soon she’ll be leaving for Cambridge University but then another case finds her . . . and this time it’s all about Pip.

Pip is used to online death threats, but there’s one that catches her eye, someone who keeps asking: who will look for you when you’re the one who disappears? And it’s not just online. Pip has a stalker who knows where she lives. The police refuse to act and then Pip finds connections between her stalker and a local serial killer. The killer has been in prison for six years, but Pip suspects that the wrong man is behind bars. As the deadly game plays out, Pip realizes that everything in Little Kilton is finally coming full circle. If Pip doesn’t find the answers, this time she will be the one who disappears . . .” - taken from Goodreads.com

I loved the first half of this book and really hope that Pip could find a way past her guilt over the Child Brunswick case. I thought her helping to clear a wrongly convicted man of murder was her way to move out of the past. What I was unprepared for was the dark turn that Pip takes in the second half of the story. This was an okay resolution to the story for me. I just wish there had been a more positive conclusion. 

The Last Legacy by Adrienne Young

 

SPOILER ALERT! This is a standalone novel set in the same world as the author’s Fable duology. Some of the characters from the previous books take part in this story but it isn’t necessary to read those in order to enjoy this book.

“When a letter from her uncle Henrik arrives on Bryn Roth's eighteenth birthday, summoning her back to Bastian, Bryn is eager to prove herself and finally take her place in her long-lost family.

Henrik has plans for Bryn, but she must win everyone’s trust if she wants to hold any power in the delicate architecture of the family. It doesn’t take long for her to see that the Roths are entangled in shadows. Despite their growing influence in upscale Bastian, their hands are still in the kind of dirty business that got Bryn’s parents killed years ago. With a forbidden romance to contend with and dangerous work ahead, the cost of being accepted into the Roths may be more than Bryn can pay.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This was a great book then immediately sucked me in. Set in the same world as the Fable duology, this book expands on the Roth family. When Bryn is sent back to Bastian to live with her uncle, little does she know what will be waiting for her as she attempts to take her place in the family. Nothing has changed since her parents were killed even though her uncle has his sights on raising the family’s standing amongst the Merchants’ Guild. When a forbidden romance goes against her uncle's plans for her, will Bryn be able to devise an escape from the family in order to gain back for life?

Visit Adrienne Young’s website.

Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift (Wickery book 1)

 

“Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her worth to her people.

Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard who's mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for the first time since he was a child.

Together, their arranged marriage will unite two of Wickery's most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar, Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but sweet.

Only, destiny has other plans and with the criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths cross...and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret identities instead.

Between dodging deathly spells and keeping their true selves hidden, the pair must learn to put their trust in the other if either is to uncover the real threat. Now Wickery's fate is in the hands of rivals..? Fiancées..? Partners..? Whatever they are, it's complicated and bound for greatness or destruction.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This was a great start to an incredible fantasy story. Two young royal heirs are arranged to be married and their first meeting isn't a smooth one. Nine years have passed with the occasional letter written between them. Neither is looking forward to the day when they will once again meet. When Jatin switches places with his guard and unknowingly meets his fiance Adraa, the two become intrigued by each other not knowing their true identities.

Working together to uncover the criminal underworld, the two begin to fall for one another as a threat to their kingdoms and their futures, looms large on the horizon. Eager fans will be left waiting for the final installment in this Indian-inspired fantasy. 

The story will conclude on January 18, 2022, with Bound by Firelight.

Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller (Bladesmith book 1)

 

“Eighteen-year-old Ziva prefers metal to people. She spends her days tucked away in her forge, safe from society and the anxiety it causes her, using her magical gift to craft unique weapons imbued with power.

Then Ziva receives a commission from a powerful warlord, and the result is a sword capable of stealing its victims' secrets. A sword that can cut far deeper than the length of its blade. A sword with the strength to topple kingdoms. When Ziva learns of the warlord’s intentions to use the weapon to enslave all the world under her rule, she takes her sister and flees.

Joined by a distractingly handsome mercenary and a young scholar with extensive knowledge of the world's known magics, Ziva and her sister set out on a quest to keep the sword safe until they can find a worthy wielder or a way to destroy it entirely.”  - taken from Goodreads.com

Once again, this author has penned a great start to her newest fantasy duology. Ziva is a talented bladesmith with the ability to infuse magic into her creations. Along with her younger sister, the two become unwilling participants in a deadly game with a powerful warlord who has commissioned a weapon from Ziva. Unfortunately, Ziva’s newest weapon cannot fall into the hands of the one person with the power to wrestle control of the divided kingdom.

A slow-burning romance, a friend-building Journey, and an incredible heart-wrenching cliffhanger will leave readers clamoring for the next book. Ziva’s story concludes with book two, Master of Iron, due out on July 26, 2022.

Visit Tricia Levenseller’s website.