Swept Away by Beth O’Leary – a Review

Swept Away by Beth O’Leary – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
What if you were lost at sea…with your one-night stand?

Zeke and Lexi thought it would just be a night of fun. They had no intentions of seeing each other again. Zeke is only in town for the weekend to buy back his late father’s houseboat. Lexi has no time for dating when she needs to help take care of her best friend’s daughter.

Going back home with a stranger seems like a perfect escape from their problems. But a miscommunication in the dark, foggy night means no one tied the houseboat to the dock. The next morning, Zeke and Lexi realize all they can see is miles and miles of water.

With just a few provisions on the idle boat, Zeke and Lexi must figure out how to get back home. But aside from their survival, they’re facing another challenge. Because when you’re stuck together for days on end, it gives you a lot of time to get to know someone—and to fall in love with them.

 

 

Review:

Swept Away by Beth O’Leary is a wonderful exciting, intense & romantic novel. Zeke and Lexi meet one night at the bar, and they end up at his house boat for a one-night stand. In the morning, when they wake up, they discover that the boat was not tied up and they have drifted out to sea. Thus, begins eight days lost at sea, with no phone signal, little food, storms & unable to handle the boat.

As the story continues, they have no power in steering the houseboat, hoping someone will come to their rescue. With each passing day (they end up with 8 days), they learned to limit the food, drinks; Zeke and Lexi faced so many life and death experiences at sea. Being alone leaves them exposed with angst; strengths, weaknesses, fears, issues, storms, accidents, that they end up discussing each day. Will they survive?

I really loved both Zeke and Lexi, as they were wonderful and amazing characters.  The chemistry between escalates along the way, as they were very compelling and complex characters; whom we couldn’t help but root for them.  After the 8th day, they were finally rescued, with family and friends waiting for their arrival. 

The final twist close to the end, was a total surprise; with Lexi learning something from Penny, causing her to ignore Zeke. However, Penny will reveal the truths about the past, and all well be well.  Zeke and Lexi will eventually have their happy ending.

Swept Away was an exciting, romantic, intense, adventurous, thrilling and addictive story. Both Zeke and Lexi made a wonderful endearing couple. Swept Away was so very well written by Beth O’Leary.  It was also a great epilogue. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

Share

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping by Jesse Q. Sutanto – a Review

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping by Jesse Q. Sutanto – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
Ever since a man was found dead in Vera’s teahouse, life has been good. For Vera that is. She’s surrounded by loved ones, her shop is bustling, and best of all, her son, Tilly, has a girlfriend! All thanks to Vera, because Tilly’s girlfriend is none other than Officer Selena Gray. The very same Officer Gray that she had harassed while investigating the teahouse murder. Still, Vera wishes more dead bodies would pop up in her shop, but one mustn’t be ungrateful, even if one is slightly…bored.

Then Vera comes across a distressed young woman who is obviously in need of her kindly guidance. The young woman is looking for a missing friend. Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena’s, Vera finds a treasure Selena’s briefcase. Inside is a file about the death of an enigmatic influencer—who also happens to be the friend that the young woman was looking for.

Online, Xander had it a parade of private jets, fabulous parties with socialites, and a burgeoning career as a social media influencer. The only problem is, after his body is fished out of Mission Bay, the police can’t seem to actually identify him. Who is Xander Lin? Nobody knows. Every contact is a dead end. Everybody claims not to know him, not even his parents.

Vera is determined to solve Xander’s murder. After all, doing so would surely be a big favor to Selena, and there is nothing she wouldn’t do for her future daughter-in-law.

 

 

 

Review:

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto is the 2nd book in her Vera Wong’s series.   Vera, is a sharp-witted 61-year-old, who once again becomes involved in a new mystery for her to investigate. She is surround by wonderful family, and a bustling shop, but she does become slightly bored. 

Vera meets a young distressed girl, Millie, who is looking for a missing friend.  Her friend, Xander was a successful social media influencer and Vera helps Millie to look for her friend, who turns up dead. Vera begins to collect a group of young characters, who knew Xander, to help her solve the crime. The way Vera captivates the people around her is delightful, and loved by her new young friends. She brings humor into this story, especially with her meddling in their lives.  Vera is determined to discover who was Xander, especially since those friends, who really did not know his real name; she will gather those friends and find the truth. This was an interesting plot, filled with suspense, as well as Vera keeping them under her wing; as well as always bringing huge amounts of food, and her famous tea. 

Besides her regular family, as well as her young friends, others become concerned with many worried about her interfering and gaining the attention of dangerous people, who are possible behind the murder.  Her son, Tilly’s girlfriend is Officer Selena Gray (who worked on the previous case), and Selena is not too happy with Vera, becoming involved, and putting herself in danger.

I really got a kick out of Vera, especially her wonderful grandmotherly affection for the very young, who call her grandma; as well as her social media influence friends. They teach Vera new skills, even becoming quickly well-known on social media.  Vera is always there for each of them, to build their confidence. 

What follows is Millie will tell Vera the truths about her evil mother and father, and who is truly behind the murders. Vera was injured, and Selena will get the department to find the bad people committing the crimes. 

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man), was a wonderful, fun, exciting, heartwarming story with a group of new people who Vera helped and protected.  Once again, Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping was a delightful story, so very well written by Jesse Q. Sutanto.  I look forward to more from Vera Wong.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Share

Just Our Luck by Denise Williams – a Review

Just Our Luck by Denise Williams – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
Who needs love? Not Sybil Sweet. After years of bouncing from job to job in search of something that feels right and from man to man in search of something special, Sybil is embracing her role as the directionless, floundering member of her family. All she really wants now is a little financial stability and carb comfort. Lucky for her, she’s got just enough in the bank to buy a lottery ticket, and the late-night donut store is open.

Kiran Anderson abandoned his dreams of becoming a doctor to take over running his family’s bakery, and after two years of fighting a losing battle to save the place, he’s exhausted and broke. But when a whirlwind of a woman sweeps in late one night, flirty energy gives way to more…until she runs out the next morning, leaving behind her winning lottery ticket.

Lucky for Kiran, his attempt to return the ticket looks like a grand romantic gesture and goes viral, sending sales through the roof. In an effort to keep the store afloat and to get Sybil’s family off of her back, they agree to fake a relationship for three months. Even with hundreds of millions of dollars, finding each other might end up being the sweetest bit of luck for both of them.

 

 

 

Review:

Just Our Luck by Denise Williams is another one of her romantic stand-alone novels. We meet Sybil Sweet, who continually bounces from job to job, unable to find a good job.  She is a floundering member of her family, with little financial stability. Sybil stops at the donut shop one evening and buys a lottery ticket; and meets Kiran, who is hot and sexy. This will become an interracial romance, with she also being a plus-size female.

Kiran Anderson, was scheduled to return to med school for his next semester, but when his grandfather suffered a stroke, he deferred the semester to help his family run the donut shop; until his grandfather recovers.  Both Sybil and Kiran find themselves attracted to each other.

The following morning, Kiran spots the lottery ticket that Sybil forgot to take; and sees that the ticket was a winning one.  Kiran is determined to find Sybil, and is interviewed on social media requesting the help of finding Sybil, to give her the winning ticket; Sybil sees the video and returns to the shop. Sybil learns how much she won, which turned into millions; and she also wants to help Kiran and family to keep their donut shop business afloat.

Sybil and Kiran were totally different, as she was impulsive, cheerful and always does the unthinkable; whereas Kiran was a hard worker, disciplined and thrives on success. But a connection between them kept pulling them together, with her loving Kiran’s calm and he enjoying her wonderful personality. The chemistry between them was sizzling.  Sybill convinces Kiran to appear on social media talking about their attraction to each other, with them hiding that this was a fake dating trope. 

What follows is their relationship continues grow, even if Kiran, who is grumpy at times, still plans to return to med school. I really liked Sybil and Kiran together, with their chemistry making things even stronger; and sexy.  With Sybil now very rich, she does gives donations to help businesses and others, but she does make mistakes.  I loved so many of their friends and family, which was fun, humorous and enjoyable. I will say at times things were a bit slow.

Just Our Luck was a fun, exciting, entertaining and romantic story.  Just Our Luck was written by Denise Williams

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Share

The Love We Found by Jill Santopolo – a Review

The Love We Found by Jill Santopolo – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
It’s been ten years. In case you’re out there somewhere—in case you’re listening, I’m here. And I have so much to tell you.

It’s been nearly ten years since Gabe’s been gone when Lucy finds a tiny piece of paper in a box of his old photos. An address in Rome. Why did Gabe keep it, and what was he doing in Italy? Lucy buys a last-minute ticket. Impulsive, but Gabe always brought that out in her.

Lucy’s journey to uncover Gabe’s secret leads her to Dr. Dax Amstrong, a New Yorker in Italy working with an NGO. His broad shoulders and sad, intense eyes draw Lucy in. His touch reaches her in a forgotten place—one that no one has neared since Gabe.

But her old life awaits, along with an earth-shattering decision—whether she and Darren should tell their son Samuel the truth about his real father. How can Lucy move forward while she’s rooted in regret? Fate broke her heart in the past. Can finding new love set her free?

 

 

Review:

The Love We Found by Jill Santopolo was a wonderful standalone novel.  This was a sequel to the previous book, The Light We Lost, which now takes picks up a decade after Gabe’s death, with his editor (Eric) calling Lucy to plan a promotion for a new book to be published.  Lucy ends up searching for Gabe boxes that has been in the closet for many years; she ends up finding an address in Italy with a drawing of a young boy.  Lucy decides to fly to Italy to do research on her own, why Gabe would have kept this address.  She will meet the family, including the young man (10 Years older), Bashire, who was a drawing expert whose photo was still cherished.

While in Italy, she meets Dax, a doctor who works with refugees coming into Italy. Lucy finds herself attracted to Dax, as he also falls hard for her.  When Dax returns to the states, their relationship escalates.  Though Gabe has been dead for 10 years, she wonders if her and Dax have found love. 

The main focus of this story revolves around Lucy, her three kids, and her ex, Darren and his wife, Courtney.   Lucy and Darren have shared custody, with each week the families switching to their house.  Their three kids – Violet, Liam, and Sam, make a very good happy family. Sam the youngest (8 years old) is actually Gabe’s son, which only Darren knows about.  Lucy decides she wants to tell Sam, and her other two kids, about Gabe; which infuriates Darren, who does not want this to be revealed.  Darren found out about Gabe, which was a reason for the divorce. The conflict between Darren and Lucy has them both at crossroads; but with help from Courtney, Lucy does tell her three kids about Gabe, and Sam realizes that he looks like Gabe. 

When Dax returns from Italy, their romance resumes, until Lucy fears her kids will not accept him.  She decides to break up with Dax, as she is reluctant to hurt her family; but when Dax has to help find Sam, and everything changes, including the kid’s acceptance.

The Love We Found was a very emotional and powerful journey, filled with grief, life, loss and secrets.  The Love We Found was very well written by Jill Santopolo.  This was a wonderful story, which I suggest you read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

Share

A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner – a Review

A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub 

 

Description:
1956, Malibu, Something is not right on Paradise Circle.

With her name on the Hollywood blacklist and her life on hold, starlet Melanie Cole has little choice in company. There is her next-door neighbor, Elwood, but the screenwriter’s agoraphobia allows for just short chats through open windows. He’s her sole confidante, though, as she and her housekeeper, Eva, an immigrant from war-torn Europe, rarely make conversation.

Then one early morning Melanie and Eva spot Elwood’s sister-in-law and caretaker, June, digging in his beloved rose garden. After that they don’t see Elwood at all anymore. Where could a man who never leaves the house possibly have gone?

As they try to find out if something has happened to him, unexpected secrets are revealed among all three women, leading to an alliance that seems the only way for any of them to hold on to what they can still call their own. But it’s a fragile pact and one little spark could send it all up in smoke…

 

 

Review:

A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner is a very good standalone novel. The story begins in Paradise Circle in Malibu, in the 1950’s. Melanie Cole is a young starlet, who because of her actor boyfriend has been suspected to be communist, and blacklisted; with Melanie also is on the radar of the McCarthy hunt.  Carson, the actor, sets her up in a house, all expenses paid, including a maid. Melanie is lonely, and she chats through open windows with her next-door neighbor, Elwood; who is a famous screen writer.

Eva, the maid, comes 6 times a week, and is a Polish immigrant, who also has her own secrets.  Eva not only is the housekeeper, but she also cooks. Eva plans to stay working for Melanie, since she keeps her secret immigration past.

June is Elwood’s sister-in-law, and one day both Melanie and Eva spot June, digging in Elwood’s beloved rose garden. Melanie finds this odd, as Elwood never leaves the house, and they both become suspicious and concerned for Elwood’s wellbeing. Since she has no contact anymore with Elwood, Melanie gets Eva to spend half her workday with June, helping doing housework; in order to find what’s happening with Elwood.   Eva cannot find anything, without her trying to look into his room.  But soon, June becomes an ally to Eva, sharing their secrets.  Melanie tries to get more information pertaining to Elwood, she suspects that something has happened to him. 

We do learn that Elwood, was in an accident years ago, causing someone’s death, which caused his life to change.  As Elwood got older, he suffered from severe illness; with June being the one who typed and changed all of his writing.  Melanie will discover that Elwood was dead, but she will learn that he committed suicide.   

Unexpected secrets are revealed for each of the three women, which will eventually lead into an alliance, and the start of a friendship.  Each of the three women have different life experiences; Melanie being an actress, Eva, the polish maid who hides her immigration secrets, and June, who became a successful screen writer.

A Map to Paradise was a wonderful story of friendship, secrets, resilience, trauma, tension and death.  It was heartwarming to see the friendship grow between Eva, Melanie, and June. A Map to Paradise was a terrific page turner, that was very well written by Susan Meissner.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Share

Bosse by Dianna Love – a Review

Bosse by Dianna Love – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

 

Description:
Can a gifted female on an impossible mission and a tortured wolf shifter doomed to die in a cage risk trust to save each other?

Bosse will never leave the cage he’s been locked in for over the past two years. Used as entertainment for a lion shifter pretending to be a king, he’s forced to battle other shifters daily where only one can survive thanks to his pack alpha who sold him. The minute he realized female pack members were coming to his bed only to breed, he refused to have a cub born by women unworthy of being mates only to be taken away. Then a chance for escape comes from a strange female servant who secretly gives him food better than his normal gruel, he’s immediately suspicious but … she also leaves him cookies. Who bakes cookies for a monster? The more he watches her, the more his numb heart begins to feel again, which is dangerous. What if she’s trying to trick him like others who betrayed him?

When an important female leader goes missing, Alifair is tasked with finding the woman. Why? Because Alifair inherited the duty to protect her clan of gifted beings, but her magic is flawed. Even her best asset of clairvoyant dreams has occasional hiccups. That’s how she ended up captured in Slovakia to toil as a servant where the female leader is being held. With no sight of the leader in weeks, Alifair is at the point of panic until a new dream shows points to the person who can aid her in succeeding at her duty. Her dream godmother must have been on a drinking binge because Alifair will first have to free the most dangerous wolf shifter locked in the basement cages. Then time runs out when Bosse infuriates the crazy lion shifter who decrees Boose will die by the next morning, forcing her to gamble her life to make deal with the wolf shifter.

Alifair enters his cage prepared for the worst and discovers a man who touches her heart with one surprising action. Bosse’s cookie fairy offers him the freedom he never expected, but with an unacceptable condition.

 

Review:

Bosse by Dianna Love is another wonderful story in the World of Gallize Shifters.  I am a big fan of Dianna Love, as she always gives us fantastic stories. We meet Bosse, after his alpha sold him to a Lion shifter, and his days are filled with dangerous fights ordered by his king, Krol; with the loser dying. Bosse (his wolf Titan) are slowly losing their strength because of the horrific treatment.

We also meet Alifair, who is imprisoned in the castle with other women, doing cleaning, cooking, etc. She does have dreams that are realistic, and sneaks food to Bosse, as she as some magical ability, and knows she needs to help him escape.  Alifair is also looking for her leader, Rez, who has been kidnapped; she does know somewhere in the complex, she needs to rescue her.

Alifair & Bosse have their dreams, with them discovering some surprising details that just might be their salvation.  She goes out of her way secretly doing everything to keep Bosse alive and healthy; as they both are beginning to become of fond of each other. Their relationship changes quickly and a romantic love between them escalates; and Alifair helps Bosse escape.

Bosse eventually will meets up with the Gallize shifters, who will help him go back and defeat the evil king.  He knows he needs to get back to Alifair, in achieving her goal to save her leader, as well as save another pregnant Gallize woman. The Gallize warriors will join Bosse to defeat the enemies.

The last third of the book was extremely wild, action packed, intense and exciting, with Bosse and his new friends from the Gallize battle to free the woman and destroy Krol. Bosse was a fantastic story filled with twists and surprises, that was very addicting.  Bosse was so very well written by Dianna Love. If you enjoy action, exciting adventure and romance, you need to read Bosse.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied by Author

Share

Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn -a Review

Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn -a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
After more than a year of laying low, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are called back into action. They have enjoyed their rest, but the lack of excitement is starting to a professional killer can only take so many watercolor classes and yoga sessions before she gets the itch to get back in the game. When they receive a call from Naomi Ndiaye, the head of the elite assassin organization known as the Museum, they are ready tackle the greatest challenge of their careers.

Someone on the inside has compiled a list of important kills committed by Museum agents, all of them connected to a single, shadowy figure, an Eastern European gangster who rules her business empire with an iron fist and plays puppet master in international affairs. Naomi is convinced this criminal queen is bent upon revenge, killing off the agents who attempted to thwart her, and the aging quartet of killers is next.

Together the foursome embark on a wild ride across the globe on the double mission of rooting out the Museum’s mole and hunting down the gangster and her assassin. But their nemesis is unlike any they’ve faced before, and it will take all their experience and a whole lot of luck to get out of this mission alive.

 

 

 

Review:

Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn is the 2nd book in her Killers of a Certain Age series. Our heroines, Billie, Mary Alice, Helen and Natalie, have worked for the secret Museum, an elite private network of assassins for 40 years. This was a fun, exciting & and entertaining novel. I really enjoyed this story, as this book was even better then the first book.

The retired deadly women assassins are back. After more than a year of laying low & resting, the ladies (Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, Natalie) are called back into action. The head of the elite assassin organization (Museum), Naomi, recalls them as it seems that someone may be seeking revenge against those connected to the Museum and it is up to our ladies to the find answers. 

They meet together to find out who is out to kill them, and though they are in their 60’s, they are such a riot, and wonderful friends, having been together for 40 years. Their assignments can be bloody, cold, intense& exciting, but they are also witty/charming, as they also protect each other. These women are deadly assassins for their international organization that eliminated unsavory people in various governments. But they were now retired, and yet they still get called to return to work to help eliminate the leaders who have targeted them.

Kills Well with Others has a fun, action filled, humor, friendship and exciting mystery; with plenty of humor and snark.  Kills Well with Others was a fabulous fast and fun read; which was very well written by Deanna Raybourn.  If you enjoy mysteries, thrillers, crime, and women who are fantastic together as government assassins.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

Share

Blood Beneath the Snow by Alexandra Kennington – a Review

Blood Beneath the Snow by Alexandra Kennington – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
Revna is no stranger to struggle. As the only member of the royal family without a magical ability, she is seen as an embarrassing mistake to her kingdom and a blight on her family tree. Luckily, Revna has found family in other outcasts in her kingdom. But when her two closest friends’ lives are put in danger, she is determined to save them by any means necessary, no matter the cost. The Bloodshed Trials—a competition where the last sibling in the royal family standing takes the throne—might just be the ultimate price.

Revna turns down her arranged marriage and commits to competing for the throne only to be kidnapped by the mysterious and terrifyingly powerful Hellbringer, the general of her country’s greatest enemy. He has the ability to rend souls with the flick of his wrist and is every inch as intimidating as the war stories say he is. But Revna wonders if there may be some humanity left in him—especially when he reveals there are other parties who want her on the throne for their own furtive reasons.

 

 

Review:

Blood Beneath the Snow by Alexandra Kennington is the 1st book in her Blood & Souls Duology series. We meet Revna, our heroine, who is a member of her royal family, but her family does not accept her; as she has no magic ability, and is considered an outcast. Revna goes out of her way to secretly meet friends in the kingdom, and works with them to protect others, who are treated badly. Revna, is a princess, and has no problem standing up to her family, which does get her into trouble many times; especially her brothers who have Lurae (magic ability), and she is Nilurae (without magic). Her father hates her, and seeks to pair her off in a marriage of convenience to get rid of her. When Revna’s two friends are put in danger, she is determined to save them.

Hellbringer, a deadly warrior, is her country’s enemy; he has amazing abilities, with the strength to kill hundreds with just a thought.   In a surprising turn, Revna is captured by the Hellbringer, determined to train her on the Bloodshed Trials, to take on her brothers, allowing her to become Queen.  His own Queen wants her to take the crown, becoming part their country, and he is committed to training her. Hellbringer wears a mask, as Revna wants to see his face, as he is enticingly masculine and attractive, but he continues to wear the mask. He is hard teacher, pushing her to learn everything.  In a short time, both Revna and Hellbringer (Soren) slowly find themselves growing becoming extremely attracted to each other. As the Bloodshed Trials is close, he arranges for her to be dropped off close to her home; as he leaves her. When the family finds her, they all were not too happy with her, but they rush to find the Hellbringer, to no avail. In that battle of soldiers, Frode was killed, and he was the closest to Revna.  

Revna adds herself to the Bloodshed Trials, which is a brutal horrific contest which the last surviving royal sibling will take over the throne. Jac another brother decided to take up Revna’s speech to run away from the games; leaving both Eric and Bjorn, who have no qualms in killing her. Volkan, the one she refused to marry, turned out to be a good friend, in helping her.

Blood Beneath the Snow was a very good fantasy, filled with intrigue, sinister, betrayal, tough and evil family along the way.  Blood Beneath the Snow was very well written by Alexandra Kennington.  I really enjoyed the story, and though some parts were slow, it was a very good story line. Revna was a fantastic heroine.  If you enjoy romantic fantasy, I suggest you read this book. I look forward to the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

                       Ace Hardcover | On sale: March 11, 2025
                                        Excerpt

I tapped my foot, growing impatient. The ritual and ceremony were supposed to start first thing in the morning, while the sun rose over the hills in the east. But here we all stood, blowing hot puffs of breath over our numbing hands, still waiting as the sun ascended in the sky.

The chatter of the crowd closed in around me and I fumed at how normal the godtouched sounded. They discussed what might still be available at the market despite the shortages, what parties they were attending later this week, whether their spouses and children were due back from the front lines in this round of military rotations. All the while, their expensive jewelry flashed in the dappled sunlight and they basked in the warmth of their fur-lined cloaks-as if they all weren’t here to witness a murder.

I tried not to think about the godforsaken-my own people. The ones at the back of the crowd, dreading what the next hour would bring. Knowing they’d see blood of their own spilled on the altar of the gods and then be expected to go about their day as if nothing had happened. I wondered if any would lose toes or fingers from frostbite after enduring the frigid conditions of midwinter in their worn shoes and their thin cloaks, fraying at the edges. Whether their children’s ribs were showing in the wake of a war they despised. Whether they’d go home and cry silently for a few moments, hugging their families tight as they wondered why it was worth living another day.

My thoughts were interrupted by the temple doors swinging open. The crowd fell silent immediately, every head bowing low. I stared at the priests for a moment too long before Freja elbowed me, and I directed my gaze to the ground as well.

The holy men still managed to make me shudder, even after having spent a lifetime in close contact with them. They dressed entirely in white, in robes stretching from their necks to their wrists and ankles. Veils covered their hair and faces so that they blended in perfectly with the snowy landscape-except for the eyes.

The fabric of their veils was pinned to the necklines of their robes, meaning not a single inch of skin was visible on any of the priests. Above each one’s forehead was an eye embroidered with bloodred thread, eerie enough to make both the godtouched and the godforsaken feel the priest was peering directly into the depths of their soul.

I hated the priests almost as much as I hated the gods.

An endless stream of them flooded out the doors until they had filled the steps of the structure, the blades of their scythes winking in the sun. The last to exit brought with him a white cloth with another embroidered eye on it to drape over the altar. Fury ripped through me at the sight, but I forced myself to stay still. My fingernails bit half-moons into the flesh of my palms and I busied my mind with the reminder of what I was here to do.

“Every priest in the country must be here,” Freja whispered as we surveyed them. “I’ve never seen this many in one place before. Do you think they traveled for the ritual?”

“Who knows,” I murmured, feeling the telltale furrow of my brows appear. “I wasn’t expecting them all to be here. This might be harder than we thought.”

My friend nodded, readjusting the bundle of fabric in her arms. “Guess we’ll see how fast we can run.”

Another figure exited the temple. The queen. She’d once confided to me when I was a small child that the crown she wore today was her favorite: an arch that stretched from behind one ear to the other, hugging tightly to her hair, rays projecting out like a halo to frame her face. The gold of it glimmered in the morning sunlight, contrasting against her dark black hair. Her gown was a deep blood red, one of our national colors. It flowed like liquid, and I found myself wondering if she was freezing beneath the fabric. It certainly didn’t look warm.

She stepped to the center of the dais and stood before the altar. My eyes found my feet and I clenched my jaw as if the tension would prevent her from seeing me, recognizing me. A priest came forward to stand next to her, facing the crowd. In one synchronized movement, the other priests pounded the wooden handles of their scythes on the temple’s stone steps, sending a booming echo through the square. The ceremony had begun.

“Ready?” I asked Freja. My heart pounded with anticipation.

She nodded. “Let’s hope this works.”

The priest at the altar began speaking in a resounding voice. “Welcome to the Winter Ritual, beloved citizens of Bhorglid. Today marks the beginning of a new year, one filled with great hope for our country. Even now, we wage holy war against Kryllian, our armies drawing closer to taking over the southernmost country in the Fjordlands.”

A cheer erupted around us, and I suppressed a sigh of irritation. The godtouched in the crowd, whose partners, parents, and children fought on the front lines, were ecstatic to hear it repeated: their loved ones weren’t fighting in just any war. No, it was a holy war. Decreed by the gods.

The priest continued, “Generations ago, the Fjordlands were stolen from us. We, who communicate directly with the gods. Instead of harmony, discord was wrought and the Fjordlands were split into three. For thirteen generations, the gods have mourned with us as we have waited for their perfect timing. Now you are blessed to be part of the chosen few alive to see this miracle come to pass. Kryllian shall be rightfully ours. The gods have declared it.”

I tried not to let my emotions show on my face. The speech had been the same every year since the war began, but it never failed to make me wince. Halvar had been the one to explain to me years ago how the priest’s version of this story had been edited in Bhorglid’s favor. Only those who passed on the original stories verbally still knew the truth. He’d been lucky enough to come from a family that didn’t embrace the revisionist version of our history.

In actuality, the Fjordlands had been filled with wandering people, those with magical abilities and those without living in peace-until a pair with powers far beyond what was necessary for mortal man decided they could speak with the gods. And according to them, the gods said those with abilities had been blessed. Godtouched.

The rest of us were godforsaken. Forgotten by our holy pantheon, called unworthy from the moment we entered the world. While the godtouched enjoyed innate abilities that allowed them to manipulate elements of the world around them, the way the gods had once done as they walked the land millennia ago, the rest of us were normal. Shunted to the edge of a society where an invisible group of gods claimed we were lesser.

The speech grated against my nerves like the screech of a metal fork across a ceramic plate. Enduring the rest of this drivel was going to kill me. I was ready to move, ready to wreak havoc, ready to wrap my hands around the nearest priest’s throat and rip their veil off. Only watching the light fade from their eyes would be enough to calm me.

Freja snatched my hand and squeezed. “No,” she hissed. “We have to wait until they’ve brought out the child.”

My hands shook with fury against hers. But she was right. The priests enabled the foul treatment of the godforsaken, but we weren’t here to rid ourselves of them. Today was about saving a life, not taking it.

Even if I wished it were possible to do both.

The priest droned on, but I focused on Freja’s words and nodded, forcing myself to breathe deeply. The godtouched around us were too intent on listening to the priests to notice me acting strangely.

The ritual speech continued despite my swirling thoughts. “As we perform the new year ritual, this unholy blood will be a tribute to the gods. In exchange for our sacrifice, they will grant us their power. We will gain a powerful advantage in this war; with the vanquishing of this life, we will be able to defeat the Hellbringer. The gods have declared it so.”

Freja squeezed my hand again, barely in time to keep an indignant huff from escaping me. This part of the speech was new, the logic as incomprehensible as the rest. How would killing an infant grant us the power to stop the most powerful godtouched being to exist in any of our lifetimes and end the war? As Freja released my hand, the queen gestured to the side of the stage for several acolytes to bring someone forward. I glanced over but couldn’t make out the woman’s face; the figure was hunched at an odd angle and a low moan emanated from her mouth. There was a wriggling bundle clutched to her chest. My stomach sank, the way it did every year.

The priest took the infant out of the person’s arms and began to move toward the altar.

The figure left in the shadows-undoubtedly the child’s mother, a godforsaken woman-let out a haunting scream, her wail of anguish echoing through the square and silencing everyone, even the godtouched. I clenched my teeth. The screams were always the worst part. Worse than the blood. The mother collapsed to her knees and howling sobs cracked the silence.

Freja and I were the only ones who appeared affected. The priests’ expressions were carefully hidden behind their face coverings and the godtouched on either side of us were reverently silent, waiting for spilled blood to spell their salvation. The queen curled her lip at the bundle in the priest’s arms as he set it carefully on the altar.

As he laid it down, it wriggled, and a tiny hand emerged from the blankets.

Seeing the movement made my throat raw. The last child born to godforsaken parents each year was always culled-a horrifying euphemism-as a sacrifice to the gods. Only the youngest, freshest blood would do for this brutal tradition, repeated winter after winter.

“Now,” I said to Freja as anger sparked in my stomach. “We go now.”

Excerpted from Blood Beneath the Snow by Alexandra Kennington Copyright © 2025 by Alexandra Kennington. Excerpted by permission of Ace. All rights reserved.

 


 

Alexandra Kennington’s publisher, Berkley, is offering a paper copy of BLOOD BENEATH THE SNOW  to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page at the top of your computer.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please LIKE us on GOODREADS  for an additional entry.

6.Please LIKE and FOLLOW ACE BOOKS on Facebook for an addition entry.

7. Please LIKE  ALEXANDRA KENNINGTON  on Facebook

8. Giveaway is open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from March 11 to 14th, 2025

 

 

 

Share