The One That Got Away with Murder by Trish Lundy

 

“Be careful who you fall for...

Robbie and Trevor Cresmont have a body count—the killer kind. Handsome and popular, the Crestmont brothers' have enough wealth and privilege to ensure they’ll never be found guilty of any wrongdoing, even if all of Happy Valley believes they're behind the deaths of their ex-girlfriends. First there was soccer star Victoria Moreno, Robbie’s ex, who mysteriously drowned at the family lake house. Then, a year later, Trevor’s girlfriend died of a suspicious overdose.

But the Crestmonts aren’t the only ones with secrets. Lauren O'Brian might be the new girl at school, but she's never been a good girl. With a dark past of her own, she's desperate for a fresh start. Except when she starts a no-strings-attached relationship with Robbie, her chance is put in jeopardy. During what’s meant to be their last weekend together, Lauren stumbles across shocking evidence that just might implicate Robbie.

With danger closing in, Lauren doesn't know who to trust. And after a third death rocks the town, she must decide whether to end things with Robbie or risk becoming another cautionary tale. - taken from Goodreads.

Lauren is new to Happy Valley and ready for a fresh start after the events of the past year. Meeting Robbie before school starts was an outlet for forgetting her past. When the girls on her new soccer team warn her to stay away from the Crestmont boys, Trevor and Robbie, Lauren doesn’t  immediately take their advice. The Crestmont boys each have had a girlfriend who died under mysterious circumstances. Ready to break things off after finding disturbing evidence, Lauren soon realizes that things aren’t what they seem. The more she pries into what happened, the more convoluted the mystery becomes. Not sure who she can trust, will Lauren be able to find the true murderer before it is too late?

Visit Trish Lundy’s website.

Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter (Better Than the Movies book 2)

 

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

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

“For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: the strong-willed girl next door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off for college to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process.

Flash forward months later, and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him.

Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with rom-com-worthy grand gestures she loves. Only . . . Liz will have none of it! Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend . . . a guy friend.

Still, Wes won’t give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.” - taken from Goodreads.

OMG! What can I say about this book without spoiling everything about it? Two years have passed since Wes and Liz got together, started UCLA, and the unfathomable happened. Wes now has gotten a second chance but will Liz give him a second chance? Probably one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Visit Lynn Painter’s website.

A Queen’s Game by Katharine McGee

 

“In the last glittering decade of European empires, courts, and kings, three young women are on a collision course with history—and with each other.

Alix of Hesse is Queen Victoria’s favorite granddaughter, so she can expect to end up with a prince . . . except that the prince she’s falling for is not the one she’s supposed to marry.

Hélène d’Orléans, daughter of the exiled King of France, doesn’t mind being a former princess; it gives her more opportunity to break the rules. Like running around with the handsome, charming, and very much off-limits heir to the British throne, Prince Eddy.

Then there’s May of Teck. After spending her entire life on the fringes of the royal world, May is determined to marry a prince—and not just any prince, but the future king.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a fun spin on royal history during the later part of the Victorian era that is inspired by somewhat true events. Three young women are determined to have a say in their own futures among European royalty. I had to keep stopping throughout the book to research the various historical figures. While that may have spoiled the ending of book two, I learned how most everyone was related to Queen Victoria and how she manipulated her grandchildren for her own gain.

Book two is TBA.

Visit Katharine McGee’s website.

Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibanez (Secrets of the Nile book 2)

 

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

“1885, Egypt

Inez Olivera is left reeling from her cousin Elvira’s murder, and her mother’s betrayal, and when Tío Ricardo issues an ultimatum about her inheritance, she’s left with only one option to consider.

Marriage to Whitford Hayes.

Former British soldier, her uncle’s aide de camp, and one time nemesis, Whit has his own mysterious reasons for staying in Egypt. With her heart on the line, Inez might have to bind her fate to the one person whose secret plans could ruin her.” - taken from Goodreads.

The conclusion to this adventure is action packed from the start after the shocking ending from book one. Inez is desperate to find out what happened to her father and what her mother has done with the Cleopatra cache. Not knowing who she can trust, including her own heart, Inez must rely on Whit to help her solve the mystery. With a shocking end to the story, the illustrated epilogue is worthwhile as a new story is hinted at with one character.

Visit Isabel Ibanez’s website.

Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis (Thieves’ Gambit book 2)

 

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

“It's been six months since the end of the Gambit. Instead of winning an impossible wish, Ross has the threat of her family’s execution hanging over her head. Devroe, the only person Ross thought she could trust, could wish the Quests into oblivion at any time. Shockingly, despite his betrayal, Devroe is still making a play for Ross’s heart as the two work together pulling jobs for the Organization. But Ross has learned her lesson: A Quest can only trust another Quest.

When Ross finds herself at the center of a power struggle within the Organization, she sees her chance to change her fortunes. As a new deadly Gambit develops for control of the criminal underworld, Ross strikes a risky deal to guarantee protection for herself and her family.

In this final clash, Ross will square off against a ruthless opponent who will stop at nothing to seize power, and in their corner will be not only Devroe but his mother, who wants to destroy the Quests at any cost.

The new Gambit takes Ross and her crew into the intoxicating casinos of Monte Carlo and across treacherous snow-covered slopes in Antarctica as Ross competes against Devroe in a fight for her life. Loyalties will be tested, backs stabbed, hearts broken. May the best thief win.” - taken from Goodreads

Six months have passed and Ross and her friends find themselves in a new gambit where the stakes are life and death. Readers will quickly become immersed in the story once again and will find the ending a bit shocking. I for one enjoyed the epilogue but was a bit disappointed to say goodbye to the characters in this story.

Visit Kayvion Lewis’ website.

The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard (Luminaries book 3)

 

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

“Winnie Wednesday’s future is looking bright. Hemlock Falls is no longer hunting the werewolf, she and Erica Thursday are tentative friends, and Winnie finally knows exactly where she stands with Jay Friday.

With everything finally on track, Winnie is looking forward to the Nightmare Masquerade, a week-long celebration of all things Luminary. But as Luminaries from across the world flock to the small town, uninvited guests also arrive. Winnie is confronted by a masked Diana and charged with an impossible task—one that threatens everything and everyone Winnie loves.

As Winnie fights to stop new enemies before time runs out, old mysteries won't stop intruding. Her missing father is somehow entangled with her search for hidden witches, and as Winnie digs deeper into the long-standing war between the Luminaries and the Dianas, she discovers rifts within her own family she never could have imagined.

What does loyalty mean when family and enemies look the same?” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a fantastic conclusion to the Luminaries trilogy. Winnie Wednesday is determined to solve all of the current problems plaguing Hemlock Falls. With an influx of visitors to the town, one makes herself known to Winnie as a Diana who is determined to finish what was started four years ago. Can Winnie solve all of the big mysteries in the town before it’s too late?

Visit Susan Dennard’s website.

The Shadows Rule All by Abigail Owen (Dominions book 3)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, The Liar’s Crown and The Stolen Throne, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“King Eidolon has taken everything. Meren's throne, her Shadowraith, and even her kingdom. She is a queen with no one to rule, and a tattered army that's not even hers. And now the shadows who once tormented Reven live within her, enticing her to betray her friends. The Alignment is almost upon them--the culmination of centuries that have fueled a vengeful king's festering rage. They're outnumbered and underpowered. And even if they could unleash the trapped goddesses, they could destroy the kingdom and everything in it.”

The final book in this trilogy did take me a while to get into but once Reven reenters the story, the action begins to pick up. Even through the twists and turns in the fight to stop Eidolon, no one is spared in the journey to the end.

Visit Abigail Owen’s website.

Dead Below Deck by Jan Gangsei

 

“It was supposed to be the best-ever girls’ trip: five days, four friends, one luxury yacht, no parents. But on the final night, as the yacht cruised the deep and dark waters between Florida and Grand Cayman, eighteen-year-old heiress Giselle vanished. She’s nowhere to be found the next morning even after a frantic search, until security footage surfaces . . . showing Maggie pushing her overboard.

But Maggie has no memory of what happened. All she knows is that she woke up with a throbbing headache, thousands of dollars in cash in her safe, a passport that isn’t hers, and Giselle’s diary. And while Maggie had her own reasons to want Giselle dead, so did everyone else on board: jealous Viv, calculating Emi, even some members of the staff.

What really went down on the top deck that night? Maggie will have to work her way backward to uncover the secrets that everyone—even Giselle—kept below deck or she’s dead in the water." - taken from Goodreads.

An incredible mystery that I devoured in two days. Told in reverse chronological order from the moment everyone realizes that Giselle is missing to the beginning of the spring break cruise, readers learn what is going on between Giselle and Maggie. The plot is enhanced through flashbacks from Giselle's diary as well as current police reports. This book ends with a shocking reveal that rates won't see coming.

Visit Jan Gangsei’s website

ASAP by Axie Oh

 

SPOILER ALERT. It's not necessary to read the first book in this series, XOXO, but it will greatly enhance your reading pleasure with this one. Previous characters do play a role.

“Sori has worked her whole life to become a K-pop idol, until she realizes she doesn’t want a life forever in the spotlight. But that’s not actually up to Sori—she’s caught between her exacting mother’s entertainment company and her father’s presidential aspirations. And as the pressure to keep her flawless public image grows, the last person she should be thinking about is her ex-boyfriend.

Nathaniel is off limits—she knows this. A member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world and forbidden from dating, he isn’t any more of an option now than he was two years ago. Still, she can’t forget that their whirlwind romance was the last time she remembers being really happy. Or that his family welcomed her into their home when she needed it most. . . .

So when Nathaniel finds himself rocked by scandal, Sori offers him a hideaway with her. And back in close quarters, it’s hard to deny their old feelings. But when Sori gets an opportunity to break free from her parent’s expectations, she will have to decide: Is her future worth sacrificing for a second chance at love?” - taken from Goodreads.

This book centered around Nathaniel from XOXO and Sori, Jenny’s friend. These two try to toe the K-Idol line and ignore their feelings for one another. But when things go awry, Nathaniel and Sori find that the one person they can rely on is each other. A cute and quick romance read. 

Visit Axie Oh’s website.

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

 

“The fire wasn’t Marlowe Wexler’s fault. Dates should be hot, but not hot enough to warrant literal firefighters. Akilah, the girl Marlowe has been in love with for years, will never go out with her again. No one dates an accidental arsonist.

With her house-sitting career up in flames, it seems the universe owes Marlowe a new summer job, and that’s how she ends up at Morning House, a mansion built on an island in the 1920s and abandoned shortly thereafter. It’s easy enough, giving tours. Low risk of fire. High chance of getting bored talking about stained glass and nut cutlets and Prohibition.

Oh, and the deaths. Did anyone mention the deaths?” - taken from Goodreads.

This was truly a great book that revolved around two different mysteries, ninety years apart. After accidentally setting fire to the house she watches, Marlowe Wexler takes a summer job at Morning House. Upon arrival at the island, she is soon thrust into the tragedies that surrounded the Ralston family, the house’s previous owners. When her boss disappears, Marlowe’s inner thoughts start spinning to figure out what happened. She soon finds herself in danger the deeper she dives into the mystery 

I really like this mystery better than I thought. Finding the Ralston treasure at the end to solve the final mystery was terrific. I am glad I gave this book a shot.

Visit Maureen Johnson’s website.

Heir by Sabaa Tahir (Heir duology book 1)

 

SPOILER ALERT! This is a spin off series of the previous series, An Ember in the Ashes. Events in this book take place after the events that take place in the final book, A Sky Beyond the Storm. It’s not necessary to read the Ember Quarter to enjoy this book.

“An orphan.

An outcast.

A prince.

And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees.

Growing up in the Kegari slums, AIZ has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hotheaded mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite.

Banished from her people for an unforgivable crime, SIRSHA is a down-on-her-luck tracker who uses magic to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Martial Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But when a chance encounter leads to an unexpected attraction, Sirsha learns her mission might cost her far more than she's willing to give up.

QUIL is the crown prince of the Empire and nephew of a venerated empress, but he’s loath to take the throne when his aunt steps down. As the son of a reviled emperor, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.” - taken from Goodreads.

Zacharias Marcus Livius Aquilius Farrar, aka Quill, does not want to become emperor. Sirsha Westerling has taken a job that may cost her everything. And Aiz bet-Dafra is determined to save her people, no matter the cost. On a crash course that brings everyone together in the most unimaginable way possible, readers will be eagerly awaiting the conclusion to this new chapter in the Ember world.

The story will conclude with the final book in the duology to be announced.

Visit Sabaa Tahir’s website.

Children of Anguish & Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi (Legacy of Orïsha book 3)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Children of Blood and Bone and Children of Virtue & Vengeance, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

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

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

“New allies rise.

The Blood Moon nears.

Zélie faces her final enemy.

The king who hunts her heart.

When Zelie seized the royal palace that fateful night, she thought her battles had come to an end. The monarchy had finally fallen. The maji had risen again. Zélie never expected to find herself locked in a cage and trapped on a foreign ship. Now warriors with iron skulls traffic her and her people across the seas, far from their homeland.

Then everything changes when Zélie meets King Baldyr, her true captor, the ruler of the Skulls, and the man who has ravaged entire civilizations to find her. Baldyr’s quest to harness Zélie’s strength sends Zélie, Amari, and Tzain searching for allies in unknown lands.

But as Baldyr closes in, catastrophe charges Orïsha’s shores. It will take everything Zélie has to face her final enemy and save her people before the Skulls annihilate them for good.” - taken from Goodreads.

The five year wait for this conclusion was not worth it. The story went completely off track from the first two books and the ending was less than desired.

Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen (Fall of the Dragon book 1)

 

“Eighteen-year-old Aihui Ying dreams of becoming a world-class engineer like her father, but after his sudden murder, her life falls apart. Left with only a journal of her father’s engineering secrets and a jade pendant snatched from the assassin, a heartbroken Ying follows the trail to the capital and the prestigious Engineers Guild—a place that harbors her father’s hidden past—determined to discover why anyone would threaten a man who ultimately chose a quiet life over fame and fortune.

Disguised as her brother, Ying manages to infiltrate the guild’s male-only apprenticeship trial with the help of an unlikely ally—Aogiya Ye-yang, the taciturn eighth prince of the High Command. With her father’s renown placing a target firmly on her back, Ying must stay one step ahead of her fellow competitors, the jealous guild masters, and the killer still hunting for her father’s journal. Complicating everything is her increasingly tangled relationship with the prince, who may have mysterious plans of his own.

The secrets concealed within the guild can be as deadly as the weapons they build—and with her life and the future of her homeland at stake, Ying doesn’t know who to trust. Can she avenge her father even if it means going against everything he stood for, or will she be next in the mastermind’s line of fire?” - taken from Goodreads.

I thoroughly enjoyed this East Asian steampunk/silkpunk story about a young girl, who after witnessing the death of her father, travels to the capital to avenge his death. Along the way she meets the eighth prince who secures her a spot in the engineering guild trials, a male only competition. Hoping to discover more of her father's past, she disguises herself as her younger brother to take part in the competition. It's not long before secrets are uncovered and our heroine discovers she isn't sure who she can trust. That ending was a heartbreaker. Sorry but there are no actual dragons in this book.

Book two, The Jade Dragon, is due out June 17, 2025.

Visit Amber Chen’s website.

Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber

 

“THE HOUSE IS ALWAYS HUNGRY…

After a mysterious attack claims the lives of her parents, all Estela has left is her determination to solve the case. Suffering from survivor’s guilt so intense that she might be losing her grip on reality, she accepts an invitation to live overseas with an estranged aunt at their ancestral Spanish castle, la Sombra.

Beneath its gothic façade, la Sombra harbors a trove of family secrets, and Estela begins to suspect her parents’ deaths may be linked to their past. Her investigation takes a supernatural turn when she crosses paths with a silver-eyed boy only she can see. Estela worries Sebastián is a hallucination, but he claims he’s been trapped in the castle. They grudgingly team up to find answers and as their investigation ignites, so does a romance, mistrust twined with every caress.

As the mysteries pile up, it feels to Estela like everyone in the tiny town of Oscuro is lying and that whoever was behind the attack has followed her to Spain. The deeper she ventures into la Sombra’s secrets, the more certain she becomes that the suspect she’s chasing has already found her . . . and they’re closer than she ever realized. - taken from Goodreads.

This Gothic mystery/romance book gave me Dark Shadows vibes. Estela is left an orphan after a mysterious accident kills everyone on a subway car but her. Soon a previously unknown aunt sends her a ticket to come and live in Spain with her. Once there, the mystery about her family and the cursed castle they reside in intensifies.. The ending did wrap up a bit too quickly for me in this standalone novel.

Visit Romina Garber’s website.

Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon (Rowan & Neil book 2)

 

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

“They fell for each other in just twenty-four hours. Now Rowan and Neil embark on a long-distance relationship during their first year of college in this romantic, dual points of view sequel to Today Tonight Tomorrow .

When longtime rivals Rowan Roth and Neil McNair confessed their feelings on the last day of senior year, they knew they’d only have a couple months together before they left for college. Now summer is over, and they’re determined to make their relationship work as they begin school in different states.

In Boston, Rowan is eager to be among other aspiring novelists, learning from a creative writing professor she adores. She’s just not sure why she suddenly can’t seem to find her voice.

In New York, Neil embraces the chaos of the city, clicking with a new friend group more easily than he anticipated. But when his past refuses to leave him alone, he doesn’t know how to handle his rapidly changing mental health—or how to talk about it with the girl he loves.

Over a year of late-night phone calls, weekend visits, and East Coast adventures, Rowan and Neil fall for each other again and again as they grapple with the uncertainty of their new lives. They’ve spent so many years at odds with each other—now that they’re finally on the same team, what does the future hold for them?” - taken from Goodreads.

Over the course of a year, Rowan and Neil must learn to navigate a long distance relationship while finding their place in college. Follow along through the ups and downs of Freshmen year as they struggle to find their footing. The epilogue was a fantastic finish.

Visit Rachel Lynn Solomon’s website.

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Greatest Game book 1)

 

SPOILER ALERT! This is a spin off series of the previous series, The Inheritance Games. Events in this book take place after the events that take place in the book, The Brothers Hawthorne. 

“Seven tickets. An island of dreams. The chance of a lifetime.

Welcome to the Grandest Game, an annual competition run by billionaire Avery Grambs and the four infamous Hawthorne brothers, whose family fortune she inherited. Designed to give anyone a shot at fame and fortune, this year’s game requires one of seven golden tickets to enter. With millions on the line, those seven players will do whatever it takes to win.

Some of the players are in it for the money. Some for power. Some for reasons all their own. Every single one of them has secrets. Amidst it all is Grayson Hawthorne, tasked with a vital role in this year’s game. But as tensions rise and the mind-bending challenges push the players to their limits—physically, mentally, and emotionally—it soon becomes clear that not everyone is playing by the rules.” - taken from Goodreads.

This new Inheritance Game series picks up following the events that transpired in The Brothers Hawthorne. Heiress Avery Grambs and the Hawthorne Brothers hold an annual competition called the Grandest Game to distribute the wealth that she inherited. This year's competitors all have ties to the Hawthorne family, including the surprise player Grayson and his half-sisters. As the mysteries deepen and the stakes are raised higher, who will survive this year's competition unscathed?

This book does end on a cliffhanger that will be resolved with book two, Glorious Rivals, due out July 29, 2025.

Visit Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ website.