The Counselors by Jessica Goodman

“Camp Alpine Lake is the only place where Goldie Easton feels safe.

She's always had a special connection to the place, even before she was old enough to attend. The camp is the lifeline of Roxwood, the small town she lives in. Alpine Lake provides jobs, money and prestige to the region. Few Roxwood locals, though, get to reap the rewards of living so close to the glam summer that camp, with its five-figure tuition and rich kids who have been dumped there for eight weeks by their powerful parents. Goldie's one of them.

Even with her "townie" background, Goldie has never felt more at home at camp and now she's back as a counselor, desperate for summer to start and her best friends, Ava and Imogen, to arrive. Because Goldie has a terrible dark secret she's been keeping and she is more in need of the comfort than ever.

But Goldie's not the only person at camp who has been lying. When a teen turns up dead in the lake late one night, she knows that the death couldn't have been an accident. She also knows that Ava was at the lake that same night.

What did Ava see and what does she know? Why hasn't she said anything to Goldie about the death? Worse--what did Ava do?

But asking questions offers no answers, only broken bonds of lifelong friendship, with hidden danger and betrayals deeper than Goldie ever imagined.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was another great whodunit by the author that will keep you on your toes until the end. Told by Goldie between Then and Now, readers will be haunted by all of the secrets she keeps and uncovers during one summer at the ultra prestigious Camp Alpine Lake. 

Visit Jessica Goodman’s website.

Vengeance of the Pirate Queen by Tricia Levenseller (Daughter of the Pirate King book 3)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first book.

“You can’t be afraid of the dark when you’re the monster lurking in the shadows.

As an assassin working for the pirate queen, Sorinda is surprised when Alosa’s next task for her is not to kill a new target, but to captain a handpicked crew on a rescue mission. Unfortunately, her sailing master is Kearan. He may be the best helmsman the pirate queen has, but Sorinda finds him a real pain in the arse. Sadly, there are few places on a ship to hide from an attentive man.

As the crew of the Vengeance faces dangerous waters and deadly sea creatures, they accidentally awaken the King of the Undersea, a being who can control the dead. Their rescue mission quickly turns into a fight to save the world, but first, Sorinda must save herself from becoming an undead queen. - taken from Goodreads.

Picking up after the last book, the story switches from Alosa who is now the pirate queen to Sorinda. Alosa charges Sorinda to captain a rescue mission, effectively putting her out of her comfort zone. On top of it, Alosa sends Kearan, who has a crush on Sorinda, as part of her crew. Readers will be furiously turning the pages to see whether or not Sorinda will complete or fail at her mission. Fans of the series will be glad to be back in the world of the Pirate Queen.

Visit Tricia Levenseller’s website.

Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello

 

“Charming, handsome Trey Anderson balances the pressures of school popularity with a job at his family’s beloved local bookshop, Wonderland.

Quirky, creative Ariel Spencer needs tuition for the prestigious art program of her dreams, and an opening at Wonderland is the answer. When Trey and Ariel learn that Wonderland is on the brink of being shut down by a neighborhood gentrifier, they team up to stop the doors from closing before the Christmas Eve deadline—and embark on a hate-to-love journey that will change them forever.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a cute Christmas romance that takes place in a London bookshop. Ariel needs tuition money to attend the same art school that her father did. She walks into Wonderland hoping for a position. Enter Trey, Ariel’s secret crush whose family are the longtime owners of the store. He has to tell her that they aren’t hiring. When Trey’s father falls from a ladder and breaks his leg, his mother hires Ariel to help out. It’s not long before Trey and Ariel realize that the bookshop is in financial trouble and must work together to save the business before Christmas Eve and discover love along the way.

Visit Abiola Bello’s website.

The Name Drop by Susan Lee

“When Elijah Ri arrives in New York City for an internship at his father’s massive tech company, Haneul Corporation, he expects the royal treatment that comes with being the future CEO—even if that’s the last thing he wants. But instead, he finds himself shuffled into a group of overworked, unpaid interns, all sharing a shoebox apartment for the summer.

When Jessica Lee arrives in New York City, she’s eager to make the most of her internship at Haneul Corporation, even if she’s at the bottom of the corporate ladder. But she’s shocked to be introduced as the new executive-in-training intern with a gorgeous brownstone all to herself.

It doesn’t take long for Elijah and Jessica to discover the source of the they share the same Korean name. But they decide to stay switched—so Elijah can have a relaxing summer away from his controlling dad while Jessica can make the connections she desperately needs for college recommendations.

As Elijah and Jessica work together to keep up the charade, a spark develops between them. Can they avoid discovery—and total disaster—with their feelings and futures on the line?” - taken from Goodreads.

When a case of mistaken identity turns out to be good fortune for both Jessica and Elijah, they never imagined how their summer plans would change. Elijah, son of the CEO, is excited to finally not have the pressure of his family overshadowing him as he hangs out with the other interns and is treated like a regular person. Jessica sees her opportunity to shine as she takes  Elijah’s place as the VIP executive intern to get some much needed references for college. As they work together on a final project, sparks begin to emerge but will their friendship survive when their true identities are discovered?

Visit Susan Lee’s website.

Foxglove by Adalyn Grace (Belladonna book 2)

 

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

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher of the first book.

“A duke has been murdered. The lord of Thorn Grove has been framed. And Fate, the elusive brother of Death, has taken up residence in a sumptuous estate nearby. He's hellbent on revenge after Death took the life of the woman he loved many years ago...and now he's determined to have Signa for himself, no matter the cost.

Signa and her cousin Blythe are certain that Fate can save Elijah Hawthorne from prison if they will entertain his presence. But the more time the girls spend with Fate, the more frightening their reality becomes as Signa exhibits dramatic new powers that link her to Fate's past. With mysteries and danger around every corner, the cousins must decide if they can trust one another as they navigate their futures in high society, unravel the murders that haunt their family, and play Fate's unexpected games—all with their destinies hanging in the balance.

Dangerous, suspenseful, and seductive, this sequel to Signa and Death's story is as utterly romantic as it is perfectly deadly.” - taken from Goodreads.

This second book in the series starts off with a death and the mystery of who really did it. Unfortunately, the storyline was slow to build for me in the beginning. Once Blythe discovers some of Signa’s secrets, the action really picks up when Signa goes home to Foxglove. With Fate adamant that Signa belongs with him and she is determined to save what’s left of her family, the ending sets up the final installment of the series with Wisteria.

The trilogy concludes with Wisteria, due out on August 20, 2024.

Visit Adalyn Grace’s website.

The Legacies by Jessica Goodman

 

“Old money. New secrets. One killer party.

Scoring an invitation for membership to the exclusive Legacy Club in New York City is more than an honor. It gives you a lifetime of access to power and wealth beyond any prep school doors and guaranteed safety and security as Legacy Club members always look out for their own. That is, after you make it through a rigorous week of events and the extravagant gala, the Legacy Ball.

So it’s not surprising when Excelsior Prep seniors Bernie Kaplan, Isobel Rothcroft, and Skyler Hawkins are nominated as Legacies; their family pedigrees have assured their membership since birth—even if they're all keeping secrets that could destroy their reputations. But scholarship kid from Queens Tori Tasso? She’s a surprise nominee, someone no one saw coming. Tori’s never fit in this world of designer bags, penthouse apartments, and million-dollar donations. So what did she do to secure her place?

The night of the Legacy Ball is supposed to be the best night of these seniors’ lives, a night of haute couture, endless champagne, and plenty of hushed gossip.

Everyone expects a night of luxury and excess.

No one expects their secrets to come out.

Or for someone to die trying to keep them hidden.” - taken from Goodreads.

A great book that propels you forward to the very last page wondering who and why because secrets are worth killing for. A definite read for fans of Karen McManus.

Visit Jessica Goodman’s website.

Never Vacation With Your Ex by Emily Wibberly & Austin Siegemund-Broka

“Seventeen-year-old volleyball star Kaylee Jordan lives a life of player rankings, constant training, and a carefully curated social media full of followers watching to see if she'll go pro out of high school like her famous mom. Her one refuge, and the thing she looks forward to every summer? The vacation her family spends in Malibu with the Freeman-Yus. This year, there’s only one problem: Kaylee and their son, Dean, dated for the past three months, and Kaylee just unceremoniously dumped him.

Hoping to spare them the worst summer ever, Kaylee comes to Dean with her unconventional solution: she’s going to walk him through her rules for getting over an ex. When Dean grudgingly cooperates, Kaylee’s got her work cut out for her. But helping Dean follow her own rules starts becoming difficult when the pressures of Kaylee’s family legacy and perfect life start to feel less like a plan and more like a prison… and amid warm California nights and stolen laughs, Kaylee feels herself falling for Dean for the same reasons and some new ones.

With their trip coming to an end, Kaylee has to make the complicated choice between doing what’s expected and taking a (second) chance on love.” - taken from Goodreads.

Kaylee Jordan wasn’t this author duo’s best love interest. She didn’t treat Dean like she should have. Kaylee also places a lot of pressure on herself and it affects her relationships. She dumped Dean after only two months of dating, making for a rough family vacation. Dean takes Kaylee up on her offer to help him move on from her but what happens when Kaylee isn’t able to follow her own advice?

Visit Emily & Austin’s website.