Thursday, July 17, 2025

Murder Between Friends by Liz Lawson


“Grace, Henry, and Ally grew up together on the same block. They used to be best friends--until Grace's testimony put Henry's brother, Jake, away for killing their English teacher. Now, two years later, Ally and Henry hate Grace, and Grace is doubting what she thinks she saw that night. 


It feels like everyone's getting a second chance, then, when due to a mistrial, Jake is suddenly released. And Henry knows his brother is innocent, but when Grace reaches out to say she’s rethinking what she saw the night of the murder, Jake’s reaction is confusing. He doesn’t want Henry—or Grace--getting involved.


For Ally not getting involved isn’t an option, and there’s nothing Grace can say to convince Ally she’s not the enemy. But can Ally afford to push Grace out when she’s one of the only other people willing to believe in Jake’s innocence?  


The clock is ticking. Jake’s new trial date is about to be set, and he's sure to be found guilty again unless there's new evidence to prove he's innocent. Grace, Henry, and Ally are going to have to decide whether you can trust an old friend now that they’re your enemy. - taken from Goodreads.


Told in three different points of views, this trio of former friends work together to clear one brother’s name and uncover who the real culprit is. Suspenseful until the end.


Visit Liz Lawson’s website.

Saturday, July 12, 2025

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

 

“Every citizen of England is granted one bargain from their immortal fae queen.


High society girls are expected to bargain for qualities that will win them suitors: a rare talent for piano in exchange for one’s happiest childhood memory. A perfect smile for one’s ability to taste.


But Ivy Benton’s debut season arrives with a shocking twist: a competition to secure the heart of the Queen’s fae son, Prince Bram. A prize that could save Ivy’s family from ruin… and free her sister from the bargain that destroyed her.


Yet every glittering fae deal has a rotting heart—and at the center of this contest is a dark plot that could destroy everything Ivy knows.” - taken from Goodreads.


This book was pitched as The Cruel Prince meets The Selection and boy was that correct. It is also a twist on the history of English royalty where a fae queen sits on the throne. Ivy Benton is determined to find out what happened to her older sister Lydia during her disappearance. Fallen from society because of her sister, the family’s hopes are dependent on the match Ivy can make during her season. The stakes are raised substantially when the Queen announces that her son, Prince Bram, will be looking for a wife. Can Ivy survive the brutal season that she is about to face?


No word yet on a second book, but with that ending, there better be one on the horizon,


Visit Sasha Peyton Smith’s website.

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Salvacion by Sandra Proudman

 

“Lola de La Peña yearns to be free from the societal expectations of a young Mexican lady of her station. She spends her days pretending to be delicate and proper while watching her mamá cure the sick and injured with sal negra (black salt), a recently discovered magic that heals even the most mortal of sicknesses and wounds. But by night, she is Salvación, the free-spirit lady vigilante protecting the town of Coloma from those who threaten its peace and safety among the rising tension in Alta California after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.


But one night, a woman races into Coloma, barely alive, to tell the horrifying tale of how her town was obliterated by sal roja, a potent, deadly magic capable of obliterating anything it comes into contact with and the man who wields it: Damien Hernández. And when Hernández arrives the next day with a party of fifty strong and promises of returning Alta California to México, Lola knows it’s only a matter of time before he brings the region under his rule—all Hernández needs is the next full moon and the stolen, ancient amulet he carries to mine enough sal roja to conquer the land. Determined to protect everything she loves, Lola races against time as Salvación to stop his plans. What she didn’t count on was the distracting and infuriating Alejandro, who travels with Hernández but doesn't seem to share his ambitions. With the stakes higher than ever and Hernández getting closer to his goals, Lola will do anything to foil his plans, even teaming up with Alejandro—who she doesn’t fully trust, but can’t help but fall in love with.” - taken from Goodreads.


This gender swapped Zorro story was slow to start but the ending was worth the read,


Visit Sandra Proudman’s website.

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid

 

“By encouraging massive accumulations of debt from its underclass, a single corporation, Caerus, controls all aspects of society.


Inesa lives with her brother in a half-sunken town where they scrape by running a taxidermy shop. Unbeknownst to Inesa, their cruel and indolent mother has accrued an enormous debt—enough to qualify one of her children for Caerus’s livestreamed assassination spectacle: the Lamb’s Gauntlet.


Melinoë is a Caerus assassin, trained to track and kill the sacrificial Lambs. The product of neural reconditioning and physiological alteration, she is a living weapon, known for her cold brutality and deadly beauty. She has never failed to assassinate one of her marks.


When Inesa learns that her mother has offered her as a sacrifice, at first she despairs—the Gauntlet is always a bloodbath for the impoverished debtors. But she’s had years of practice surviving in the apocalyptic wastes, and with the help of her hunter brother, she might stand a chance of staying alive.


For Melinoë, this is a game she can’t afford to lose. Despite her reputation for mercilessness, she is haunted by painful flashbacks. After her last Gauntlet, where she broke down on livestream, she desperately needs redemption.


As Mel pursues Inesa across the wasteland, both girls begin to question everything: Inesa wonders if there’s more to life than survival, while Mel wonders if she’s capable of more than killing.


And both wonder if, against all odds, they might be falling in love.” - taken from Goodreads.


A haunting twist on The Hunger Games that kept me turning the pages until the end.


Visit Ava Reid’s website.

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

 

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim


“Truyan Saigas didn't choose to become a con artist, but after her father is lost at sea, it’s up to her to support her mother and two younger sisters. A gifted art forger, Tru has the unique ability to paint the future, but even such magic is not enough to put her family back together again, or stave off the gangsters demanding payment in blood for her mother’s gambling debts.


Left with few options, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. He offers a fresh start for her mother and sisters and elusive answers about her father's disappearance, but in exchange, she must join him in his desolate undersea palace. And she must assist him in a plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King's inner circle, painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms. . . .” - taken from Goodreads.


An incredible twist of the Beauty and the Beast tale that is every fantasy lover’s dream. 


Visit Elizabeth Lim’s website.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Our Infinite Fates by Lauren Steven

 

“They've loved each other in a thousand lifetimes. They've killed each other in every one.


Evelyn remembers all her past lives. She also remembers that in every single one, she’s been murdered before her eighteenth birthday by Arden, a supernatural being whose soul―and survival―is tethered to hers.


The problem is that she’s quite fond of the life she’s in now, and her little sister needs her for bone marrow transplants in order to stay alive. If Evelyn wants to save her sister, she’ll have to:


1. Find the centuries-old devil who hunts her through each life―before they find her first.

2. Figure out why she’s being hunted and finally break their curse.

3. Try not to fall in love.” - taken from Goodreads.


Visit Laura Steven’s website.

The Romance Rivalry by Susan Lee

 

“She’s read every romance…except her own…


Irene Park loves romance novels—so much so she’s made a career of them as an online book reviewer with a massive following. But Irene’s real life dating story? Non-existent. So when she starts her freshman year of college, she sets her sights on finding true love using the one thing she really understands…romance book tropes.


If only it were that easy.


Enter Aiden Jeon, Irene’s online book review rival and biggest nemesis. When Aiden challenges her to see who can find love-by-trope first, he becomes the one person standing in her way to getting everything she wants both professionally and personally, too. So when the competition takes an unexpected turn, forcing the two of them to have to partner in the ultimate trope, fake dating, Irene is not prepared for everything she believed about romance, and Aiden, to flip on its head.


As Irene tackles the challenges of college life, struggles to figure out what she really wants for herself, all while trying to win the race for love, Irene realizes the answers may not be found in a romance novel. Happily Ever Afters seem so easy on page. But for Irene to find her ultimate HEA, she’ll have to get her nose out of the book and become the main character of her own story.” - taken from Goodreads.


Visit Susan Lee’s website.

Monday, June 16, 2025

It’s Not Me, It’s You by Alex Light

 

“Jackie Myers is a fraud. Or she might be a genius—the jury’s still out. The thing is, she secretly runs "pleasebreakmyheart," a gone-viral account aimed at breaking hearts and ending relationships—and she just used it to break up her insufferable eternal nemesis's picture-perfect relationship.

Wilson is the buttoned-up, type-A assistant manager of her nightmares—but it turns out he’s also, apparently, a really great boyfriend.
So with her conscience (and paycheck) on the line, Jackie decides there’s only one thing to do: She’s going to help Wilson win his ex-girlfriend back. Which should be easy, considering Jackie hates him…right?” - taken from Goodreads.

Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao

 

Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao


“For Gemma's whole life, it has always been her and her mom against the world. As far as she knew, all her grandparents—and thus her ties to Taiwanese culture—were dead. Until one day when a mysterious man shows up at her door with two shocking the news that her grandfather has just recently passed, and the first clue to a treasure hunt that Gemma hopes will lead to her inheritance.


There's just one major problem: to complete the hunt, she has to go to her grandfather's home in Taiwan. And the only way she can get there is by asking her ex and biggest high-school rival, Xander, for help. But after swallowing her pride, Gemma finds herself halfway across the world, ready to unearth her life-changing prize. Soon Gemma discovers that the treasure hunt is about much more than money—it's about finally learning about her family, her cultural roots, and maybe even finding true love.” - taken from Goodreads.


Visit Gloria Chao’s website.

Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies by Abigail Hing Wen

 

“Tan Lee finds himself embroiled in an unusual love triangle, all while trying to defuse a heist, unravel a conspiracy, and navigate the most complicated babysitting assignment ever in this YA novel by national bestselling author Abigail Hing Wen.


After a magical kiss at Prom, best friends Tan Lee and Winter Woo agree to cool it off, a plan that goes awry when their parents jointly head off to Hawaii and leave Tan and Winter to babysit Tan's sister Sana together. If that isn't complicated enough, Tan's ex-girlfriend from Shanghai arrives on his doorstep with money stolen from her billionaire father and thugs on her heels.


Tan soon finds himself on the run, trying to out-manuever international hackers and protect his friends, family and sister - and his own heart.” - taken from Goodreads.


Visit Abigail Hing Wen’s website.

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

His Mortal Demise by Vanessa Le (The Last Bloodcarver book 2)

 

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


“Kochin is a heartsooth -- a rare being with the ability to heal any wound. Any wound, that is, except death.


Intent on defying nature and bringing Nhika back to life, Kochin keeps her body in a life-preserving casket and waits for a miracle. Stricken with grief and descending into madness, Kochin realizes the answer to his desperate quest can only lie in one place: Yarong, the lush yet battle-ridden island the first heartsooths called home.


Months later, Nhika wakes in a familiar manor-house, with Kochin nowhere to be found. As she traces his footsteps across Theumas, she discovers the haunting path he walked to bring her back, and a world changed by war.


When Kochin discovers the true and grisly way to resurrect a person from the grave, he must decide exactly how much he is willing to sacrifice, in order to reunite with the woman he loves…” - taken from Goodreads.


Told between Kochin six months ago and Nhika in the present time, this story was slow to wrap up until the end.


Visit Vanessa Le’s website.

They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman

 

“In Gold Coast, Long Island, everything from the expensive downtown shops to the manicured beaches, to the pressed uniforms of Jill Newman and her friends, looks perfect. But as Jill found out three years ago, nothing is as it seems.


Freshman year Jill's best friend, the brilliant, dazzling Shaila Arnold, was killed by her boyfriend. After that dark night on the beach, Graham confessed, the case was closed, and Jill tried to move on.


Now, it's Jill's senior year and she's determined to make it her best yet. After all, she's a senior and a Player--a member of Gold Coast Prep's exclusive, not-so-secret secret society. Senior Players have the best parties, highest grades and the admiration of the entire school. This is going to be Jill's year. She's sure of it.


But when Jill starts getting texts proclaiming Graham's innocence, her dreams of the perfect senior year start to crumble. If Graham didn't kill Shaila, who did? Jill vows to find out, but digging deeper could mean putting her friendships, and her future, in jeopardy.” - taken from Goodreads.


A compelling mystery told between the past as the present.


Visit Jessica Goodman’s website.

The Deathly Grimm by Kathryn Purdie (The Forest Grimm duology book 2)

 

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


The story hasn't ended yet.


After surviving the Forest Grimm and defeating the Wolf, Clara and Axel have made it back to their village, the one place they can be safe behind the forest's borders. But when the forest itself begins luring in more villagers, it's clear that Clara and Axel have only treated the symptoms of the forest's curse, not the cause—and it's getting worse.


Burdened with visions of the past and learning to navigate her fragile new relationship with Axel, Clara finds herself entering the forest with Axel yet again to discover the truth once and for all: the identity of the murderer who caused the curse. As they fight murderous woodsmen with incomprehensible riddles, ladies who will drag you into an eternal dance, and ghosts with the power to wield the forest against them, Clara and Axel realize the stakes are higher than ever. If they don't survive the dark, deadly twists of the forest once more, not only will they never escape, they may also no longer have a home to escape to.” - taken from Goodreads.


A satisfactory conclusion to this fairy tale inspired duology.


Visit Kathryn Purdie's website.

Monday, April 28, 2025

Silent Sister by Megan Davidhizar

 

“Two sisters went missing on their class trip—Grace, the outgoing athlete who is friends with just about everyone, and Maddy, the wallflower wilting in her sister’s shadow who'd rather absorb herself in her journal than talk to her classmates.


But when Grace is found—injured, with no memory of what happened—everybody thinks she’s lying. It’s hard not to look guilty with Maddy’s blood on her clothes.


Desperate to save her sister—and prove her own innocence—Grace must piece together what happened on that school trip with the help of her sister’s notebook and classmates who may not be telling the police everything that about that tragic night.


She will discover her sister’s secrets can’t stay quiet…but what if her own are the most terrifying of all?” - taken from Goodreads.


This was an unexpected mystery for me, but in a good way. Told by both sisters, Grace in the present and Maddy in the past, readers will be clamouring to discover what Grace is trying to remember about that night. Heartbreaking at times, the ending completely caught me off guard. So glad that I read/listened to this book.


Visit Megan Davidhizar’s website.

The Beasts We Bury by D.L. Taylor (The Broken Citadel book 1)

 

SPOILER ALERT/WARNING!The main character is forced to kill animals against her will. Be prepared.


“Will he steal her heart... or her chance at the throne?


Daughter and heir to the throne, Mancella Cliff yearns for a life without bloodshed. But as a child, she emerged from the Broken Citadel with the power to summon animals—only after killing them with her bare hands. Her magic is a constant reminder of the horrors her father, the ruler of the realm, has forced upon her to strengthen their power.


Silver is a charming thief struggling to survive in a world torn apart by Mancella’s father’s reign. When a mysterious benefactor recruits him for the heist of a lifetime, a chance to rob the castle, Silver relishes the opportunity for a real future—and revenge. But he'll have to manipulate Mance and earn her trust to pull it off.


As the deception and carnage mount, Mance must find a way to save her realm without becoming the ruthless monster she's been bred to be. And when Silver discovers that his actions are fueling the violence that Mance wants to prevent, he'll have to choose between his ambition and the girl he’s falling for.” - taken from Goodreads.


Mancella just wants out from under her father’s control. Forced to slaughter animals against her will to harness their powers, she is trying to find a way to save their realm before she becomes just like her father. When she begins to place her trust and heart with the one person who is working against her, can she change the situation before it is too late?


Silver is ready to change his future after the destruction wrought by Mancella’s father to his life. Working against Mancella with a secretive supporter, Silver soon realizes that he and Mancella both want the same thing. Can the two come to an agreement and work together before it is too late?


Book two is TBA.


Visit D.L. Taylor’s website.

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me: the New Republic book 1)


SPOILER ALERT! This book is a continuation of the Shatter Me series. Readers will be a bit lost if they haven’t read the earlier books.


“James Anderson had a plan. Or half of one. All that matters is that he managed to do what his older brother, the famous Aaron Warner Anderson, never did: infiltrate Ark Island, the last refuge of The Reestablishment. In the past decade no outsider has breached the stronghold of the authoritarian regime, but James is in. In a prison cell, sure, but as far as James is concerned, a win is a win.


It’s been ten years since the fall of The Reestablishment. Ten years since the notorious duo — Juliette Ferrars and Aaron Warner Anderson — led a worldwide rebellion and established the New Republic of the West. But after a decade of unsettling quiet, The Reestablishment is ready to make a devastating move, and they have the perfect person for the job.


Rosabelle Wolff had a plan. She always has a plan. On Ark Island, where constant surveillance is packaged as security, even emotions must be experienced with caution. A trained assassin, her every movement is monitored by synthetic intelligence—and when she’s given an order to kill, she never hesitates.” - taken from Goodreads.


It was so good to be back in the world of Shatter Me. Ten years have passed and Warner and Adam’s little brother, James is the star of this series. With the Reestablishment having one surviving foothold left, James is determined to gather intel for his older brother, even though he has to go against Warner’s wishes. Unfortunately, James doesn’t expect what he uncovers. With that cliffhanger ending, fans will be eagerly awaiting the next book in this installment. Fans of the previous series will be glad to see that the previous characters that active roles in the new series, not just brief mentions.


Book two is TBD.


Visit Tahereh Mafi’s website.

Fearless by Lauren Roberts (Powerless trilogy book 3)


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


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

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


“Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer return to the Kingdom of Ilya…


And Paedyn has a life-altering choice to make. Whatever she decides will determine her fate—and the fate of those around her—forever.


In the ultimate battle of love and loyalty, who wins?” - take from Goodreads.


Picking up immediately from the ending of Reckless, Paedyn finds herself torn between Kitt and Kai. Without giving too much away, this book does answer all of the mysteries surrounding our characters and doesn’t rush the ending. An excellent end to this trilogy.


Visit Lauren Roberts’ website.

Friday, April 11, 2025

Rebel Witch by Kristin Ciccarelli (Crimson Moth book 2)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Heartless Hunter, 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.


“A WITCH...

Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.


A WITCH HUNTER...

Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by allying herself with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.


AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE...

When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.” - taken from Goodreads.


Two months have passed since the end of the first book.Without giving too much away, our characters must make some heart wrenching decisions that keep the story moving. This book was an incredible ending to this duology that has to be one of my favorite books of the year.


Visit Kristen Ciccarelli’s website.