My Life With the Walter Boys by Ali Novak

 

“Jackie Howard does not like surprises. Chaos is the enemy. The best way to get her successful, busy parents to notice her is to be perfect. The perfect look, the perfect grades—the perfect daughter. And then…

Surprise #1: Jackie’s family dies in a freak car accident.

Surprise #2: Jackie has to move cross-country to live with the Walters—her new guardians.

Surprise #3: The Walters have twelve sons. (Well, eleven, but Parker acts like a boy anyway.)

Jackie is now surrounded by the enemy. Loud, dirty, annoying boys—who have no concept of personal space. Okay, several of the oldest guys are flat-out gorgeous. But still annoying. She’s not stuck-up or boring—no matter what they say. But proving it is another matter. How can she fit in and move on when she needs to keep her parents’ memory alive by living up to the promise of perfect?” - taken from Goodreads.

Jackie Howard's life has been turned upside down with the car accident that killed her family. Three months later, her guardian thinks a change in scenery would be best and her mother's college roommate offers to take her in. Moving from New York City to Colorado is enough of a culture shock, but the Walter family has 12 boys. Can Jackie fit into the ranch life and what happens when more than one brother shows an interest in her?

Visit Ali Novak’s website.

Two Sides to Every Murder by Danielle Valentine

 

“Most people’s births aren’t immortalized in a police report—but Olivia was born during the infamous Camp Lost Lake murders. Seventeen years later, Olivia’s life looks pretty perfect . . . until she discovers the man she calls dad is not her biological father. Now she wants answers about her bloodline, and the only place she knows to look is Camp Lost Lake.

Most people don’t spend their formative years on the run with an alleged murderer—but Reagan did. In the court of public opinion, her mom was found guilty of the deaths at Camp Lost Lake, and both of them have been in hiding ever since. But Reagan believes in her mother’s innocence and is determined to clear her name.

Luckily for Olivia and Reagan, Camp Lost Lake is finally reopening, providing the perfect opportunity to find answers. But someone else is dead set on keeping the past hidden, even if it means committing murder.” -  taken from Goodreads.

Told in the span of one nerve wracking day, Olivia and Reagan, unknown to one another, are each trying to figure out what happened to change their lives that June night at Camp Lost Lake when several murders occurred. In a spooky, horror-filled mystery, everyone’s lives will be changed. Once again, the author will keep readers glued to the edge of their seats until the shocking end.

Visit Danielle Valentine’s website.

The Summer Queen by Rochelle Hassan (Buried & the Bound trilogy book 2)

 

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

“As a new coven, Aziza, Leo, and Tristan faced evil and triumphed. All that’s left is to put their lives back together, a process complicated by the fallout from painful secrets, the emotional and physical scars they now carry, and the mysteries that still haunt them.

But with the approach of the solstice comes the arrival of strange new visitors to Blackthorn: the Summer Court, a nomadic community of Fair Folk from deep in Elphame. They’ve journeyed to the border between the human world and fairyland, far from their usual caravan route, to take back something that belongs to them—something Leo’s not willing to lose.

Refusing to give up without a fight, he makes a risky deal with the Summer Court’s princess and regent. The challenge she proposes sends Coven Blackthorn into the farthest, wildest reaches of Elphame.

But when you play games with the Fair Folk, even winning has a cost.” - taken from Goodreads.

Aziza, Leo and Tristan are trying to figure out what's next in their lives when they must launch a rescue mission to the Summer Court. Shocking secrets and some new characters are introduced to set up the final book in this trilogy.

The final book in the trilogy, The Spell for Unraveling, is coming out on August 12, 2025.

Visit Rochelle Hassan’s website.

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth

 

“Nerds are so hot.

Especially battle robot building nerds.

Bel would rather die than think about the future. College apps? You’re funny. Extracurriculars? Not a chance. But when she accidentally reveals a talent for engineering at school, she’s basically forced into joining the robotics club. Even worse? All the boys ignore Bel—and Neelam, the only other girl on the team, doesn't seem to like her either.

Enter Mateo Luna, captain of the club, who recognizes Bel as a potential asset—until they start butting heads. Bel doesn’t care about Nationals, while Teo cares too much. But as the nights of after-school work grow longer and longer, Bel and Teo realize they've built more than just a combat-ready robot for the championship: they’ve made space for each other and themselves.” - taken from Goodreads.

Told from both Bel and Teo’s points of view, the story covers their senior year being on the school's robotics team. Bel is a newcomer who is dealing with her parents divorce and trying to find her path for the future. Teo has his entire life planned out down to the last stressful detail. As sparks fly between the two of them, can Bell survive? What is a boy dominated world to find her place? The end of this book was perfect

Visit Alexene Farol Follmuth’s website.

The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe (Girls I’ve Been book 2)

 

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

“High school is over, but Nora O'Malley's life isn't, which is weird now that her murderous stepdad Raymond is free.

Determined to enjoy summer before her (possibly) imminent demise, Nora plans a ten day backpacking trip with Iris and Wes. Her plans hit a snag when Wes's girlfriend tags along. Amanda is nice, so it's not a huge issue—until she gets taken. Or rather, mistaken...for Nora. All because of a borrowed flannel.

Now Raymond has a hostage. Nora has no leverage. Iris has a spear and Wes is building boobytraps. It'll take all of their skills to make it out of the forest alive.

There are three problems: Someone is lying. Someone is keeping secrets.

And someone has to die.” - taken from Goodreads.

A great continuation of Nora O’Malley’s story now that most of her secrets are out. A backpacking trip with Iris, Wes, and Wes’s girlfriend Amanda goes off the rails when Raymond Keene decides to reclaim his daughter Ashley (Nora), no matter the cost. Delving into Ashley’s (Nora’s) past life along with the unexpected return of a former mark, not everyone will make it out of the forest alive. Hold on tight because this sequel is as good as the first.

Visit Tess Sharpe’s website.

Twelfth Night by Alexene Farol Follmuth

 

“Viola Reyes is annoyed.

Her painstakingly crafted tabletop game campaign was shot down, her best friend is suggesting she try being more “likable,” and school running back Jack Orsino is the most lackadaisical Student Body President she’s ever seen, which makes her job as VP that much harder. Vi’s favorite escape from the world is the MMORPG Twelfth Knight, but online spaces aren’t exactly kind to girls like her―girls who are extremely competent and have the swagger to prove it. So Vi creates a masculine alter ego, choosing to play as a knight named Cesario to create a safe haven for herself.

But when a football injury leads Jack Orsino to the world of Twelfth Knight, Vi is alarmed to discover their online alter egos―Cesario and Duke Orsino―are surprisingly well-matched.

As the long nights of game-play turn into discussions about life and love, Vi and Jack soon realize they’ve become more than just weapon-wielding characters in an online game. But Vi has been concealing her true identity from Jack, and Jack might just be falling for her offline…” - taken from Goodreads.

Inspired by the Shakespeare play of the same name. Viola plays an online game where she poses as a boy to keep the harassment at bay. When Duke Orsino, the star quarterback, is sidelined with an injury, he spends his newfound time playing the same game as Viola. As the two grow closer online and in real life, what happens when Duke realizes that he's been duped by Viola?

Visit Alexene Farol Follmuth’s website.

Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu (Smoke and Stars book 2)

 

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

“A year has passed since superstar Winter and secret agent Sydney Cossette went undercover - on a dangerous mission to bring down the baddest man in London.

Winter hasn't stopped thinking about Sydney since, and she's been trying not to think about him

Family secrets and nasty newspapers has Winter desperate to re-enter the secret world. And it's not long before he gets his chance.

Sydney is back, and this time the mission goes right to the heart of the United States of America. A rescue gone wrong, an assassination attempt - and the return of an old flame - puts Winter right back into the action . . . and into a country on the brink of chaos.

And when a murder accusation has Sydney on the run, suddenly it's not just a life at stake, but all-out war.” - taken from Goodreads.

I was super stoked to get back into the world with Winter and Sydney and see where their next mission would take them. Fans of the author’s Warcross duology will be surprised to see a couple of guest appearances. Not quite the epic ending the Marie Lu’s is usually know for but fans will be able to fantasize about this duo’s future.

Visit Marie Lu’s website.

Burning Crowns by Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber (Twin Crowns book 3)

 

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

“Twin queens Rose & Wren survived the Battle for Anadawn and brought back magic to their kingdom. But danger lurks in Eana’s shadows.

Wren is troubled. Ever since she performed the blood spell on Prince Ansel, her magic has become unruly. Worse, the spell created a link between Wren and the very man she’s trying to forget: Icy King Alarik of Gevra. A curse is eating away at both of them. To fix it they must journey to the northern mountains—under the watchful guard of Captain Tor Iversen—to consult with the Healer on High.

Rose is haunted. Waking one night to find her undead ancestor Oonagh Starcrest by her bed, she receives a warning: surrender the throne—or face a war that will destroy Eana. With nowhere to turn and desperate to find a weapon to defeat Oonagh, Rose seeks help from Shen-Lo in the Sunkissed Kingdom, but what she finds there may break her heart.

As Oonagh threatens all Rose and Wren hold dear, it will take everything they have to save Eana–including a sacrifice they may not be prepared to make.” - taken from Goodreads.

Not quite the ending that I was expecting but the storyline is wrapped up by the ending.

Visit Catherine Doyle’s website.

Visit Katherine Webber’s website.

Royal Scandal by Aimee Carter (Royal Blood book 2)

 

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

“American girl turned monarchy nightmare, Evan Bright, has gotten used to the press about her but the media attention has only seemed to get worse. 

From desperate clickbait articles about her and the President's son to Royal Record headlines pitting her against Princess Maisie, it seems everyone is dying for Evan to return back to America for good. Meanwhile Evan is receiving mysterious threats about her real story being revealed in a tell-all biography. 

When more information is leaked about Evan, she fears she will always be Britain's media villain. But the threats escalate when there is an attempted assassination with no suspects...and Evan believes the person is in the palace's walls. 

They say what doesn't kill you will make you stronger...but what if it's the royal family who wants you dead?” - taken from Goodreads.

Six months have passed since american teenager Evan Bright was outed as the illegitimate daughter of Alexander II,the king of England. The road hasn’t been easy for Evan either in the media spotlight or privately with the royal family. When an assassination attempt on Evan’s life almost succeeds, she takes it upon herself to uncover who wants her dead. And that person is closer than she wants. Uncover all of the dark secrets that the British royal family would like undiscovered as Evan finds out who is determined to be rid of her, once and for all.

Book three is due out in 2025.

Visit Aimee Carter’s website.