Two married women disappear on the same day in this head-hopping tale from Adele Parks. Kai and Leigh are both missing and there's a connection betweeTwo married women disappear on the same day in this head-hopping tale from Adele Parks. Kai and Leigh are both missing and there's a connection between them. I don't want to say much more than that so I don't spoil anything.
This is a slower paced, character driven mystery of the disappearance of the two women by DC Clements. She is the most interesting of the characters as she tries to figure out what happened and I liked her very much.
Overall, a satisfying story by the end. It's a bit slow in the beginning, with random punches of twists and turns along the way, but it is the characters that propel the story forward, which gives it that slow feel as you get to know who they are.
In this romantic comedy, dog-saver Hazel Bristow is forced to stay with house-flipper Linc Kennedy after he purchases the house she is staying in withIn this romantic comedy, dog-saver Hazel Bristow is forced to stay with house-flipper Linc Kennedy after he purchases the house she is staying in with her multiple foster dogs. Hazel has had some bad luck of things and she's very lucky to have friends and acquaintances who agree to help her, one of those acquaintances being Linc.
Both of these characters have many reasons to not trust each other or anyone, so they have to learn to do that after being roommates. There's some insta-attraction that starts out with a friends-with-benefits arrangement that grows feelings over time. There's no new ground here, just a pleasant forced proximity acquaintances-to-lovers setup.
There's plenty of steam between Linc and Hazel and the dogs are just terrific, especially if you are a dog loving reader! I did want more from the ending, but overall, this was a pleasant romantic comedy that was an easy-read for me. ...more
Two rivals head out on an archeological dig in Raiders of the Lost Heart. Corrie is an expert in Aztec culture and wanted to lead the expedition, but Two rivals head out on an archeological dig in Raiders of the Lost Heart. Corrie is an expert in Aztec culture and wanted to lead the expedition, but her former grad school nemesis, Dr. Ford Matthews is in charge, setting the stage for a romantic comedy.
I love stories that illustrate just what it's like to be a woman in what people might call a male dominated field like STEM. It's ripe for lots of different plot devices, like stealing someone's work or sabotaging a colleague. Corrie and Ford start out as enemies but they must put their differences aside for the sake of the dig. Of course the sparks will fly!
Ford does make some questionable moves in this enemies to lovers story. I really didn't like some of the things he did to Corrie and I wondered why she put up with his bad behavior. Some of his circumstances do manage to bring some sympathy to his behavior though and redeem some of what he's done to Corrie. The book does a good job of illustrating just how much a man can get away with, and how much harder women need to work for less consideration. I liked that about it.
In spite of all this, Corrie and Ford do have some sexual tension that builds as the dig continues. Their competitiveness shines throughout the story, which is realistic for characters that must rely on investors to fund their research. I did like that we got both Corrie's and Ford's point of view because that helped to make the characters likable.
Overall, not quite as much action as I would have liked, and the romance was well presented in some cases because of the rivalry between the characters. I liked Corrie's spirit very much in this story. There were some uneven spots that slowed down the story. This was a new-to-me author and I will be looking forward to future titles....more
Wow! This story grabbed me on the first pages and kept me turning the pages until the end. There's plenty of action and suspense, which I love. And loWow! This story grabbed me on the first pages and kept me turning the pages until the end. There's plenty of action and suspense, which I love. And lots of twists and turns to keep things interesting. Signe is a fantastic heroine -- flawed, damaged, and strong-willed. I just loved her. This is definitely on my favorites of 2023....more
I'm a big fan of the Beyond series from this author duo, and so when I saw this, I wanted to check it out. In Consort of Fire, Kit Rocha has created aI'm a big fan of the Beyond series from this author duo, and so when I saw this, I wanted to check it out. In Consort of Fire, Kit Rocha has created a world in the year 2999 full of dragons and rulers and rules.Â
Sachi is promised to one of the dragon rulers but she has her own agenda with her handmaid and her best friend and woman she loves called Zanya. They are out to kill the dragon but first Sachi must pretend she is a willing consort in order to lure him in.
Ash, the dragon is an interesting character. He's intrigued by Sachi and Zanya and has his own agenda. There's plenty of erotic content here, which if you've read this author before, you know they can deliver with some super steamy scenes and they do not disappoint in Consort of Fire. Loved it!
I did have a bit of a problem with the language -- the chapters start with a date, reminding the reader it's the year 2999, but the language seems very "old english" to this reader and it threw me off every single time. I also found some of the early chapters verbose in descriptions that also kept me from sinking into the story. This all got better as I kept reader, but it was something I notices and it took me out of the story at times.
Overall, a great start to what looks like a terrific erotic romance / fantasy series. ...more
Jude Maddox is one of the Knights of the Eternal Star. He's out searching for new recruits when he meets tough girl Kiara Frey. There's something abouJude Maddox is one of the Knights of the Eternal Star. He's out searching for new recruits when he meets tough girl Kiara Frey. There's something about her that's different and it makes him take notice. Jude is focused on his job to bring the sun back to their kingdom, but they'll have to go through a whole lot before that can happen. There's a mist that is full of monsters in their way!
Kiara becomes a recruit and their relationship dynamic becomes commander-recruit which I thought was interesting as well as straddling the forbidden. In spite of the "insta-attraction" their relationship is slow burn which I love. It really works in this YA fantasy / romance.
The author has created a harsh world in the Mistlands and there is quite a bit of world building as one might expect in such a fantasy / romance. Sometimes things get a bit bogged down, but overall, the story moves at a nice pace, and the ending is really terrific. You will want more of this unique world and its characters. The ending will leave you wanting more. ...more
Olivia Fitzgerald's second book didn't quite make any money and her live-in boyfriend has left her. When she gets an offer to ghost write a book basedOlivia Fitzgerald's second book didn't quite make any money and her live-in boyfriend has left her. When she gets an offer to ghost write a book based on and because of her second book, Becky, a Daphne Du Maurier retelling, she needs the money and the jolt to her creativity, so off to Malibu she goes to work with an attractive widower, Ash Asherwood in a glass tower on the hill.
I'm not going to say much more than that because I don't want to spoil anything. What I liked most about this story was the atmosphere. There's a definite creepy gothic vibe from the start which I loved, and Olivia just can make a reader want to throw something, which I found both frustrating and amusing at times. But I did like the story and its twists and turns. I haven't read this author before, but I will be looking for future titles.
Overall, great gothic atmosphere, strange and frustrating characters, a quick, entertaining read. ...more
In this psychological thriller, childhood friends convene for a reunion that turns out to be a whole lot more. I've read quite a few of these "locked-In this psychological thriller, childhood friends convene for a reunion that turns out to be a whole lot more. I've read quite a few of these "locked-room-mysteries" this year and this one does not disappoint.
The story centers around Luna, one of the group who happens to have a medical situation that she's struggling with. She hasn't told her friends about it at all. And she's going to be critical to figuring out just what is going on at that remote mansion where the reunion takes place.
I really liked the pace of this story. The story gradually reveals not only what's going on in the present, but what happened years ago to one of their friends. There are the usual twists and turns as the story is revealed, and I didn't see all of them coming at me.
As is usually the case, there's plenty of diversity and locations that I'm not familiar with and that is a definite plus. I thought this thriller was an entertaining read. ...more
In this romantic comedy from Alexa Martin, writer Collins Carter leaves Los Angeles and returns home after a humiliating break up. Coming back home afIn this romantic comedy from Alexa Martin, writer Collins Carter leaves Los Angeles and returns home after a humiliating break up. Coming back home after years away isn't an easy transition, especially when high school friends and not-friends are her neighbors, and especially annoying is her former friend, real estate agent, Nathaniel Adams. He ghosted Collins in high school and she's never forgotten.
Nate is not thrilled about Collins return to her home, and the war between them is on and escalates when they both run for the homeowner's association president. This sets up all sorts of nasty competitive maneuvers from both parties. But you know what's said about love and hate -- there's a fine line between them and Collins and Nate come very close to it as they work out their past and move from former friends and enemies to lovers.
I really liked the light-heartedness of this story. I could tell from the start that Collins had some things to work through in her own life, and Nate was one of them. Her journey is an entertaining one, blending regrets and passions and redemption all in the same story. I liked that about it as it brings a sense of realism to this story -- who hasn't had to lick their wounds and recover from what life throws at you? I really liked that theme in the story as well.
Overall, a very entertaining and satisfying romantic comedy with great characters and a writing style that makes you feel like you know these characters right from the start, thanks to some great banter between them. This is really Collins story, told from her point of view, and that worked for me but there's some nice sexual tension and plenty of flirting between these main characters to satisfy my romantic soul....more
Syd Walker is a Native American archeologist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). I have to admit I wasn't well-versed in the different governmentaSyd Walker is a Native American archeologist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). I have to admit I wasn't well-versed in the different governmental agencies involved with Native Americans and that was quite the eye-opener in this story. Syd is currently living in Rhode Island and gets reassigned to help investigate the case of a skull found with her ID card. Yeah. Creepy.
To say that Syd doesn't want to return to Oklahoma is an understatement. After a devastating incident in her teens, she doesn't want to go back there. There's too much trouble, too many missing girls and now her sister is one of them. Blood Ties is very much about Syd recovering from what happened with the "devils" and figuring out who she is in the present. She often sees and hears her deceased sister Luna. Her wife is pregnant and she's ambivalent about it. Lots of mixed emotions and failures color her thinking.
As Syd hunts for her other sister, she's fearless, sometimes getting into some very dangerous situations. But she doesn't give up her search for truth and justice. The story moves along quite well and there's a complexity that I liked. This was quite a bit of new material for me regarding Native American conditions and culture and I really liked that about the story, even though it wasn't always butterflies and roses. It was dark and gritty and didn't always work out the way things should.
I feel like I must mention that the author's notes are a must read for this title. The missing indigenous women are not fiction -- this story is based on real events. I thoroughly enjoyed the Native American culture that graces this book and those were the parts I liked the most. I did like Syd as well -- from her confusion to her dedication, she was a very interesting character.
So overall, I liked this story and what I learned while reading it. It wasn't just a suspenseful thriller -- it's a powerful story about indigenous people and their history. It's about exploitation of resources and the impact of addiction. There's a lot to unpack here, and it was worth it. ...more
Wow! I really enjoyed this holiday themed thriller regarding the attempted murder of one girl, the murder of another and the disappearance of two otheWow! I really enjoyed this holiday themed thriller regarding the attempted murder of one girl, the murder of another and the disappearance of two others! Whew -- that's a lot of crime going on in this story. I was completely pulled into this novella from the start.
When four friends meet the new bad boy in town, really bad things start to happen to their close knit group. Madelaine Martin has scars to prove it, and when a podcaster decides to focus on the "true crime" case, it awakens all sorts of questions.
I just really loved this story and found it to be very clever. Even though you can pretty much figure out the best suspects as the story unfolds, I was still left with the feeling that the puzzle pieces didn't quite fit so smoothly. I felt like there was maybe more to the story, but in a good way. It made me question whether they really solved the case completely. I don't want to say more, but I was left with questions, and I liked that about the story.
The pace of the story is great. Things move along quickly and the characters are interesting and complex. I liked the different points of views presented and how the clues were revealed as the story progressed. It's a quick, entertaining thriller that kept me turning the pages. There's even a bit of romance in there too.
Dracula Daily documents an experiment in reading the events of Dracula in real time online, along with plenty of commentary from the interwebs. It wasDracula Daily documents an experiment in reading the events of Dracula in real time online, along with plenty of commentary from the interwebs. It was an interesting idea and I had some fund jumping between the book and the current day comments. I also liked the concept of reading it in real time, but did get distracted from this because it's just not how I read. I do like that I can use this Dracula Daily to repeat the experiment any time in the future. An interesting concept that influenced how I view this classic....more
Ginny Murphy likes hanging out with the guys. I immediately liked her for that! She has a group of male friends from college that she hangs out with bGinny Murphy likes hanging out with the guys. I immediately liked her for that! She has a group of male friends from college that she hangs out with because she feels more comfortable with the "guys" and for some very specific reasons. She's got something to hide and feels the men aren't as observant.
She doesn't want a romance with any of these guys either. Well, maybe that time she had with Finch, but then there's the mysterious Adrian. He inspires butterflies in the stomach whenever he's around Ginny. They can't help but listen to what they are experiencing and feeling whenever they are together.
They both have secrets. Ginny's is potentially devastating and the reader learns early in the story that she is dealing with a bulimia/anorexia disorder. She 's hiding it from everyone. Adrian's secret is a bit less devastating but could put a damper on their burgeoning romance -- he's witnessed a broken heart and doesn't want to go anywhere near that heartache.
Ginny's disorder drives a lot of this story but there's a lot more going on here. I really found the view of her eating disorder both interesting and disturbing. It was worth the time to learn about this myself as I was reading. My heart hurt for Ginny and the depths of her secret -- I could feel the weight of it all in the words on the page. I liked that about the book, and I loved that emotional connection to the story.
While Ginny's eating disorder and its emotional landscape takes a bit of page time, the romance between Adrian and Ginny captivated me as well. It's easy to want these two characters to have it all, only they will need trust and bravery to get there. I liked that about the story. The stakes are high, and so are the rewards if they can figure themselves out. This is really a story about repressing your feelings and what that can do to you.
I was sucked into this story from the start and couldn't stop until I knew what was going to happen to Adrian and Ginny. It doesn't spare any gory relationship details and that was a definite plus for me in my reading of this title....more
A missing woman is presumed dead, killed by one of her two husbands. Or was it someone else? And where is the body? The lack of a body has the cops a A missing woman is presumed dead, killed by one of her two husbands. Or was it someone else? And where is the body? The lack of a body has the cops a bit miffed and looking for answers in this followup psychological thriller from Adele Parks. This works well as a standalone, so if you haven't read the first DCI Clements book, it's all good.
The story does start out a bit on the slow side and it took me a bit to follow the head hopping multiple points of view and the strange present tense voice of the narrator, but somewhere in there I became hooked on figuring out what was going on here.
The characters are what I liked most about this story. And I mean that I found them interesting, frustrating and at time downright scary. I loved how things get wrapped up with the husbands as well and I found the ending very satisfying.
Overall, in spite of a slow start, I found this story to be creative and it held my attention to the end which really was terrific. Most of the action happens in the last third of the book and it's all worth it! A nicely crafted psychological mystery-thriller. ...more
If you are looking for some light-hearted romance short stories, this anthology is a perfect choice! The stories are just the right size for a nightlIf you are looking for some light-hearted romance short stories, this anthology is a perfect choice! The stories are just the right size for a nightly reading or a palette cleaner between books, or just when you are looking for sweet romance. And then there's the whole animal rescue angle that always entertains me as a dog-person. Â
There's just so much to like in this anthology, including two of my favorite romance authors, Stina Lindenblatt and Serena Bell. I know I'm going to have a good time with their contributions. In Hot Under the Collar from Serena Bell, it's the Hott and Cold Festival and their promotion is "adopt a dog/ date a fire fighter" This is a very cute story of a free spirit and a fire fighter that is just so adorable! And it's a nice complement to Serena Bell's new Hott Springs Eternal series.
In Decidedly with Paws from Stina Lindenblatt, a very lovely proposal could get derailed by a missing dog, a returning ex-boyfriend and an overheard phone call. It's a lovely, romantic story that put a smile on my face.
This is a terrific anthology of romance short stories that I really enjoyed. ...more
The blurb does a great job of explaining the story in Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons, so I won't rehash that and I don't want to The blurb does a great job of explaining the story in Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons, so I won't rehash that and I don't want to give any spoilers. I'm not a big horror reader, but I do occasionally like dark, twisty, and deadly stories, so this one really hit a button for me.
It's a Jumanji-like story, where what seems like an innocent card game ends up having long and far-reaching consequences. Five friends started the game, and one did not make it out. The book starts with a visit from the "dead" friend and had me hooked from the start.
The basis of the underworld location is in Japanese folklore, which I knew absolutely nothing about, but wow, that's some scary stuff! It's a book that you won't want to put down, but sometimes is so intense that you have to put it down, if you know what I mean. I liked that about it.
As for the friends and friendships between the four high school seniors that remain, I can't say that I liked them all, but I did find them intriguing at times, and sometimes they did things that made me want to scream and throw my e-reader. They really haven't had much contact since they first played the game, and I think that made it harder to connect with them. There are four points of view here and sometimes that can be hard to follow.
There's a nice twist at the end which I loved, and the pace in the second half is faster and more engaging than the first half. Not all of the threads in the story are resolved or explained. Was that so the reader fills in the blanks? I don't know, and it didn't bother me much, but there are some explanations that could make the story more robust in nature.
Overall, a good horror story, interesting mythology, and some twists you won't see coming. ...more
This is the conclusion of the Dark Protectors series and it's a doozy! This is a complicated, multi-layered world, so I'll start out by saying you neeThis is the conclusion of the Dark Protectors series and it's a doozy! This is a complicated, multi-layered world, so I'll start out by saying you need to read this series from the beginning for full impact. I started somewhere in the middle and found I had to cycle back and start from the beginning to understand everything.
In the finale, a grown-up Hope must make her prophecy come to pass, and in the process, there's tons of action and surprises and suspense as the dominoes fall into place. I did like the level of action in this conclusion.
There's also a love-triangle, a trope I do love. Paxton and Drake must vie for Hope's attentions and it gets interesting as the war comes to a head. Not going to spoil it for you here, but it's worth it!...more
Beat and Melody are the son and daughter of the famous duo called Steel Birds. Their parents dissolved the band and haven't spoken to each other in yeBeat and Melody are the son and daughter of the famous duo called Steel Birds. Their parents dissolved the band and haven't spoken to each other in years. When Beat ends up in a tight spot, the decides to accept an offer to reunite the Steel Birds for a million dollar fee. Beat met Melody years ago and he's equally eager to see her again, and also worried that she might break down his defenses. He has a thing for her. It's so cute in an intense sort of way. The crush is reciprocal and these two are really adorable.
Getting their mothers back together is no easy feat, but it makes them stars when their efforts are live-streamed to the world. It was a bit crazy how much everyone loved Steel Birds, I had a hard time with that a bit, but I absolutely loved the ending to it all. Beat and Melody really have to decide what they want to each other, but Beat is pretty hard to resist with his earnest yearning and love for Melody, which was super sweet and a joy to read. ...more
Burke Barret (great name!) is a former pro football player who's career is ended by injury. He isn't quite sure what to do with himself, and things gBurke Barret (great name!) is a former pro football player who's career is ended by injury. He isn't quite sure what to do with himself, and things get worse when his best friends are killed, leaving him a home to renovate in their honor. It's a lot of weight on his shoulders.
Charlotte Cunningham is a sweet historical restoration expert who gets to work with the surly Burke on the renovations. There's instant friction between them, and Burke is rough as sandpaper throughout. As the story moves along, the relationship between Burke and Charlotte gradually changes into something like friendship, and then maybe more. This is definitely slow burn, with plenty of banter and conversation as Charlotte and Burke fall for each other. I really did like how the growth of their relationship was portrayed through their renovation project.
But while their feelings may have grown, there's still plenty of conflict as Burke still doesn't know what to do. How does he honor his best friends? What does he do with his life? Can he dump the past and move forward? While these may be typical struggles in romance, they are well done here without making it seem contrived or quickly resolved. Burke makes lots of mistakes, but he also gives good apology too, which was awesome.
I really liked this romance. It relies quite a bit on dialogue to advance their relationship and I loved that about it, along with the chemistry between Burke and Charlotte. While there are steamy moments, I really liked their conversation most of all. ...more
In Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong, Laney Kilpatrick, the owner of a secluded island getaway, is called back to her island home when her rental tenIn Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong, Laney Kilpatrick, the owner of a secluded island getaway, is called back to her island home when her rental tenants find some crazy stuff happening. By crazy, I mean blood-in-a-closet and other strange occurrences.
With her is her sister's daughter, who Laney is now raising, Laney's ex-husband Kit and his sister Jayla, and another former friend named Sadie and her brother Garrett. It's clear from the start that there are secrets among this group and I have to say I was surprised when the truth finally comes out.
As more strange things continue to happen, each incident escalating until it's clear they are stranded on the island and someone is after them all. And there's a chance that "someone" is actually not human, when some of the bodies react in ways they shouldn't. I'm not a big reader of the horror genre and I did like where this story took me as a reader, since it wasn't my typical read.
The truth of it all isn't revealed until the final pages, and I did like how this story wrapped up. I was engaged with these people on the island, even though they aren't all very likable and they did stupid stuff like walk around the island in the dark. I still wanted to know to know what was going on. Hemlock Island is a nice twist on the forced=proximity with a killer on the loose story. This is a quick and engaging read that might make you think twice about secluded vacation spots! ...more
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