Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin (Serpent & Dove book 2)

 

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

“After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Dames Blanches, Lou, Reid, Coco, and Ansel are on the run from coven, kingdom, and church—fugitives with nowhere to hide.

To elude the scores of witches and throngs of chasseurs at their heels, Lou and Reid need allies. Strong ones. But protection comes at a price, and the group is forced to embark on separate quests to build their forces. As Lou and Reid try to close the widening rift between them, the dastardly Morgane baits them in a lethal game of cat and mouse that threatens to destroy something worth more than any coven.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Picking up immediately from what I thought was a cliffhanger, our merry gang is on the run for their lives from everyone. In an attempt to gather allies against Morgane, several new characters are introduced. This second book truly ends in a whopper of a cliffhanger that makes the ending of the first book look like child's play.

Visit Shelby Mahurin’s website.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

 

“Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might die. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it's unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the "natural wonders" of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It's only with Violet that Finch can be himself--a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who's not such a freak after all. And it's only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Trigger warning: suicide and bullying. Theodore Finch meets Violet Markey when the two of them are on the ledge of the school bell tower contemplating jumping. Finch talks Violet down but everyone assumes that she is the one who saved the “freak”. The two are thrown together for a geography project and their relationship takes off from there. Not wanting to spoil anything, I did love this heartbreaking story.

Visit Jennifer Niven’s website.

Majesty by Katharine McGee (American Royals book 2)

 

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

“Is America ready for its first queen?

Power is intoxicating. Like first love, it can leave you breathless. Princess Beatrice was born with it. Princess Samantha was born with less. Some, like Nina Gonzalez, are pulled into it. And a few will claw their way in. Ahem, we're looking at you Daphne Deighton.

As America adjusts to the idea of a queen on the throne, Beatrice grapples with everything she lost when she gained the ultimate crown. Samantha is busy living up to her "party princess" persona...and maybe adding a party prince by her side. Nina is trying to avoid the palace--and Prince Jefferson--at all costs. And a dangerous secret threatens to undo all of Daphne's carefully laid "marry Prince Jefferson" plans.

A new reign has begun.... “ - taken from Goodreads.com

The story picks up six weeks after the death of King George and Beatrice is now the first queen of America. Centered around Beatrice, Samantha, Nina, and Daphne, these for ladies grow and develop into their own over the course of the book. I was pleasantly surprised by where three of the ladies ended up but I do wish one girl had gotten her comeuppance. I guess in a way she did.

 Although there is not a third book, I would love to see a short story that takes place in the future.

Visit Katharine McGee’s website.

Rebel Spy by Veronica Rossi

 

“Rebellious Frannie Tasker knows little about the war between England and its thirteen colonies in 1776, until a shipwreck off her home in Grand Bahama Island presents an unthinkable opportunity. The body of a young woman floating in the sea gives Frannie the chance to escape her brutal stepfather--and she takes it.

Assuming the identity of the drowned Emmeline Coates, Frannie is rescued by a British merchant ship and sails with the crew to New York. For the next three years, Frannie lives a lie as Miss Coates, swept up in a courtship by a dashing British lieutenant. But after witnessing the darker side of the war, she realizes that her position gives her power. Soon she finds herself eavesdropping on British officers, risking everything to pass information on to George Washington's Culper spy ring as agent 355. Frannie believes in the fight for American liberty--but what will it cost her? Inspired by the true "355" and rich in historical detail and intrigue, this is the story of an unlikely New York society girl turned an even unlikelier spy.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I have been looking forward to reading this book for several months before it even came out. The mystery surrounding spy 355 hooked me and I did some extensive research before starting the story. Frannie Tasker and all her friends and family are fictional but many historical events, people, and places are woven into the story. The beginning was a bit slow to build and her decision to become a spy seemed quick, but I was pleasantly surprised by all of the possibilities that the ending provided.

Visit Veronica Rossi’s website.