Tag Archives: Young Adult

Keep Me In Your Heart by Monica Murphy-review tour

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Keep Me In Your Heart (Lancaster Prep: Next Generation 2) by Monica Murphy-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / B&N paper/

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 3, 2024

This was supposed to be the best year of Rowan Lancaster’s life. Instead, thanks to a massive linebacker, his ankle is broken and his last football season at Lancaster Prep is done. Just like that. Now his days are dull and gray. Boring.

Except for the days that include Arabella Hartley Thomas.

She’s the girl everyone wants to be friends with. Beautiful but approachable. Stylish. Quirky. Yet she gets under Rowan’s skin like no other, and he doesn’t understand why. Sure, they flirt and banter and give each other grief. But now she invades his dreams and makes his heart pound so hard he’s sure she can see it.

Until suddenly, not only does Arabella see every part that he wishes he could hide, he realizes if he let himself, he could fall―hard.

Which is the same day he learns she might be leaving…for good.

••••

REVIEW: KEEP ME IN YOUR HEART is the second instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, young / new adult LANCASTER PREP: NEXT GENERATION erotic, romance series set in the author’s LANCASTER PREP world, which is a spin off from the author’s ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND and THE CALLAHANS series. This is eighteen year old, Rowan Lancaster (son of Wren and Crew Lancaster) and soon to be eighteen year old, Arabella Thomas’s story line. KEEP ME IN YOUR HEART can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Rowan and Arabella) KEEP ME IN YOUR HEART follows the enemies to lovers relationship between eighteen year old, Rowan Lancaster (son of Wren and Crew Lancaster) and soon to be eighteen year old, Arabella Thomas. For several years Rowan and Arabella have made snarky and snide comments to one another but forced to work together on a number of school projects , they quickly discover their tempestuous actions hide a palpable attraction to one another. With the approach of the holidays, Arabella plans to spend her time alone but Rowan isn’t willing to let Arabella spend her vacation at school. Time spent together shows Arabella the true meaning of family and holiday celebrations.

The world building focuses on Rowan Lancaster , and Arabella Thomas’ future choices. Their final year at Lancaster Prep sees a change for Rowan, and the possibility of Arabella walking out of Rowan’s life. We are up close and personal with Arabella’s dysfunctional family dynamics, and the loving, large extended Lancaster clan.

The relationship between Arabella and Rowan begins acrimoniously ; their back and forth hides a barely veiled attraction that everyone sees, but our couple refuses to admit. Working together, and spending time with one another reveals drama from the past, drama that is continuing into the present and future. The sexual tension is palpable; the $ex scenes are intimate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and familiar secondary and supporting characters including characters from the author’s original LANCASTER PREP series including Wren and Crew (A MILLION KISSES IN YOUR LIFETIME): Willow Lancaster, and Rhett Bennett (ALL MY KISSES FOR YOU) We are introduced to Callahan Bennett, and the requisite mean girls who push at our story line heroine.

KEEP ME IN YOUR HEART is an emotional story of secrets and lies, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is dramatic and engrossing; the romance is spicy and flirty; the characters are broken, determined and animated.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one ALL MY KISSES FOR YOU

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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Off Edge by Addison Brae-Review & Guest Post

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Off Edge by Addison Brae-Review & Guest Post

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 26, 2024

Do you know what it’s like to win an Olympic gold, then have it stripped away? I do.

Gold is every figure skater’s life dream. At fifteen, I experience the thrill of wearing the medal for a few minutes until judges accused me of being too young to be eligible. That’s when I realized my father’s ultimate lie could cost more than my title.

During our daring escape from Russia, I pressured my coach to tell the truth about my adoption. But the quad combination and two world titles aren’t enough to keep the scandal from erasing my career and identity. Disgraced, disqualified, and devastated, I can’t face a rink, fans, or daily life. My controlling dad’s betrayal lights a fire to break free from his bad decisions. My best friend and a journalist who will tell my story step in to stop the downward spiral and help me uncover my past.

The story of Docia’s fierce determination to discover her true identity, unerase her career, and find the passion to skate again will engage teen readers, figure skating fans, and anyone who’s ever experienced betrayal from someone close.

•••••

REVIEW:I love watching figure skating ⛸️ it’s so graceful and full of passion.

This is a story that captures all that passion and beauty.

YA/NA read that just transports you into the mind of a fifteen year old skater. Her joy at skating her best, winning a medal. Then her confusion at the cryptic conversation with a fellow skater. Then horror/fear and absolute sorrow/pain at being stripped of the medal.

Docia was such an amazing character, you feel her joy and her pain in this book. Her father was a total a$$! How he could do that to his daughter just floored me! Her friend was just a rock.

We also get a little romance 🥰 a daring escape and a twist that was a little unexpected, but a nice surprise. Watching Docia come into her own, breaking away from her overbearing father. To discover family doesn’t have to be blood related.

Told from Docia’s point of view. Her emotions are put on display. Her resilience, her determination and her willingness to fight for what was done to her.

So, if you like skating/mystery or even just a new book/author to read, then grab this book.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B🦋

 

Who are your favorite literary villains?

By Addison Brae, author of Off Edge

Who are the characters that creep you out most in books or movies? Laurent, James, and Victoria in Twilight, Aunt Lydia in The Handmaid’s Tale, and Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games are major villains. What do you like and not like about these antagonist characters?

Some villains are real people and others are supernatural or giant human/societal forces. Each affect and challenge the main character in different ways. All require the protagonist to stay on their guard. They also keep us reading to see what will happen next. For example, how will Frodo make it past Boromir and Sauron with the ring to Mount Doom and back home safely to the Shire in Lord of the Rings? Is it possible for Harry Potter to fight off human foes like Draco Malfoy to defeat Lord Voldemort? Will Percy Jackson prevail in each of his battles against Luke Castellan, Kronos, King of the Titans, and his other enemies?

Has someone or something in your life creeped you out? Maybe the neighbor or a coworker who’s just always there? Or maybe you’ve had a period in your life when nothing went your way. Your family, people at school or work, or some unknown force wreaks havoc on everything you try to do. Some characters’ creepiness is more overt and for others, it may be hard to put your finger on exactly what makes you squirm. They’re just disturbing.

This type of creepy character inspired some colorful antagonists in Off Edge. One is Docia’s former friend, Stacy, a vicious competitor who’s in on the scheme to bring her down. A mashup of a couple of former bosses who started out friendly then turned mean inspired her into a character who says things like this:

She prances up, arms open for a big hug. “Congratulations, Docia. Enjoy your fourth place….” She leans in close, “…until everyone finds out….”

Another is Docia’s father who has characteristics of people in past relationships in my life. This character’s control and emotional abuse whittles away at Docia’s self-confidence with reactions such as this:

“I did it!”

 “You did, and I’m so proud of you, sweetie. You looked beautiful out there.”

 Dad’s embrace isn’t so warm. “Nice job, Docia. I’ve told you a million times not to rush your elements. You know better.”

I stiffen and pull away. “But I’m in fourth place,” I whisper out of the media’s view.

The best part of an intriguing rival is how the main character reacts to them. Do they face off in a direct battle? What’s wickedly satisfying in fiction is when the main character brings the bad guy down and walks away in complete victory.

Next time someone creeps you out, say hello. Talk to them. Maybe they just need a kind word. Now is a perfect time to change a potentially bad outcome to something fantastic.

Happy reading!

 

Social Media: Amazon author/ Goodreads/ Website /X (Twitter)/ Facebook

Addison Brae lives in Dallas, Texas on the edge of downtown. As a child, she was constantly in trouble for hiding under the bed to read when she was supposed to be napping. She has been writing since childhood starting with diaries, letters, and short stories. She continues today with articles, video scripts, and other content as an independent marketing consultant.

Addison writes adult and new adult romantic suspense and contemporary young adult fiction. When she’s not writing, Addison travels, collects interesting cocktail recipes, and hosts parties. She’s still addicted to reading and enjoys jogging in her neighborhood park, sipping red wine, binge-watching TV series, vintage clothing, and hanging out with her artistic other half and their neurotic cat Lucy.

Watch for Off Edge, a new young adult contemporary scheduled to release in September 2024. The story of this young Olympic champion’s fierce determination to discover her true identity, unerase her career, and find the passion to skate again will engage teen readers, figure skating fans, and anyone who’s ever experienced betrayal from someone close.

Nothing brings a book to life better than film. Watch the book trailers for the romantic suspense Becker Circle and Dark Energy on YouTube. Also stream or download the songs, DARK ENERGY (Brian Miller) and DARK ENERGY .germans REMIX (Bobby Hoke/Brian Miller), from your favorite music source. BECKER CIRCLE and DARK ENERGY are huge tributes to bartenders, bar managers, and servers – all superheroes!

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Homeland Insecurity by Shawn M Warner-review

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Homeland Insecurity (The Langley Irregulars 1) by Shawn M Warner-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / B&N Paper /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 4, 2024

Secret agents are all Jack and his friends ever wanted to be. Spy adventures were the movies they watched, the books they read, even the games they played.

Playtime is over!

Kelly, a political refugee and friend of Jack’s sister is targeted for revenge by the man her father sent to prison. Armed with nothing but heroic courage and skills born from their childhood dreams, Jack and his friends fight a battle against an enemy who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. If Jack is to survive, he and his friends must work as a team and even then, winning comes at a terrible price.

•••

REVIEW: This isn’t my usual read. But I was going on holiday, so I thought I’d try it out….

I did like the profiles of the characters at the front of the book, and I did pop back several times to check them out as they appeared in the book. I also really liked the camaraderie between them.

Phil/Peter/Collin and Jack were a blend of personalities that worked well together. So when Jack finds out that a friend of his sisters is being bullied, he rallies the troops and takes a stand. But you have to wonder if they’ve bitten off more than they can handle? Someone wanting revenge on Kelly’s father (he’d been sent to prison and now they want to settle a score!)

Great characters, well thought out and the plot although a little used, was given a new slant. It’s a teen book, it’s not that dark, but it certainly gave a few authors that write this genre a run for their money. It had something that was childlike, but also quiet grown up, I mean who takes on people that would 💀you and not think twice, and doing this as a teen (ok your a teen until nineteen)

It certainly wasn’t Nancy Drew/ Famous Five and the Secret Seven (all classics in my generation,) now readers want more of an edge and less innocent times!

It’s a YA book, but I’d happily watch this at the cinema (as long as it stayed true to the book.) I could not put it down until the last page. Definitely a book I’d read again on holiday.

It’s a fast paced, action and adventure story. Lots going on, a few twists thrown in for good measure.

Highly recommended if you’re a fan of Percy Jackson/Harry Potter/Inheritance Games. I did think of a younger James Bond at one point 😆

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

Shawn’s an adventure lover whose wildest and most rewarding journey is being a husband and father — followed closely by inventing Young Adult characters and concocting outlandish adventures for them.

In Homeland Insecurity, a fast-paced action-adventure, Shawn crafted a tale readers will fall in love with. Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor, his debut, became Amazon’s #1 Best Seller around the globe and is available in multiple languages as well as on audio

 

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DAMAGED GOODS (All Saints High 4) by LJ Shen -review tour

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DAMAGED GOODS (All Saints High 4) by LJ Shen -review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/171498175-damaged-goods

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 24, 2024

Underneath the goody two-shoes persona is damaged goods…but can the bad boy across the street save her?

Bailey Followhill is the perfect daughter. Sweet. Charitable. Pretty. Control freak. Not a hair out of place, not an inch out of line, she is everything her troublemaking sister Daria isn’t. But when her A game turns out to be a lukewarm C- at Juilliard, Bailey’s picture-ready life starts fraying faster than the worn satin ribbons of her pointe shoes. She’s becoming a piece of gossip. The Troubled Child. A drug abuser. No longer the girl her best friend once knew.

Lev Cole is so golden, he’s got the Midas Touch. Prized quarterback. Football captain. Hottest guy in SoCal. A textbook cliché. But with a girlfriend he doesn’t love and a career path he doesn’t value, Lev is coasting. The only two things he cares about, Bailey and becoming a pilot, are out of reach.

But Lev is done being satisfied with the life others have chosen for him. He wants to pick his own cards. To demolish the seamless kingdom of lies his family stitched together on the ruins his mother left behind.

The question is, can he save his best friend and his dream before too much damage is done?

••••••

REVIEW: DAMAGED GOODS is the fourth instalment in LJ Shen’s contemporary, young -new adult ALL SAINTS HIGH romance series-a second generation spin off from the author’s SINNERS OF SAINTS series. This is football player Lev Cole, and ballet dancer Bailey Followhill’s story line. DAMAGED GOODS can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order or at the very least book one PRETTY RECKLESS for backstory. Bailey is Daria’s sister (Pretty Reckless), and the daughter of Jamie and Melody (Defy/Sinners of Saints): Lev is the son of Dean and Rosie Cole (Ruckus/Sinners of Saints).

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise including drug addiction, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from three first person perspectives (Bailey, Lev, Dixie) using present day and memories from the past, DAMAGED GOODS follows the turbulent relationship between our story line couple. Bailey and Lev are best friends: grew up together, neighbors, and each was a product of parents who pushed a little bit too hard. Lev wanted to become an Air Force pilot but found himself playing a game he no longer loved. Bailey was her mother’s last hope of living vicariously through her daughter’s success but Bailey’s life spiralled out of control, wherein she would lose the only boy she would ever love. What ensues is the struggling relationship and friendship between Bailey and Lev, and the fall-out when Bailey hits rock bottom, and Lev can no longer hold her hand, saving her from the demons that control her life.

The world building focuses on drug addiction and a loss of control; on the untenable expectations of a parent, and the perceived failure of the child; on self-loathing, issues of low self-esteem, and the ultimate betrayal by the those claiming to be friends. As this is a story line focusing on high school aged characters, the young adult story line includes the requisite mean girls, a love triangle, and all the angst of trying to fit in with family and friends.

The relationship between Bailey and Lev is a lifelong friendship in which Lev has been in love with his best friend as long as he can remember but Bailey is scared; unsure of her future, a future that is now controlled by addiction and drugs. As Bailey continues to spiral, her relationship with Lev suffers, and believing himself Bailey’s only chance at survival, Lev is willing to give up everything for the woman he loves. The $ex scenes are passionate but mostly implied.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, dynamic and often questionable secondary and supporting characters including all of the previous story line couples, as well as several (now parents) from the original Sinners of Saints series. We are reintroduced to Bailey’s parents Jamie and Mel (Defy/ Sinner of Saints) , her sister Daria and husband Penn (Pretty Reckless 1), Dean ‘Ruckus’ Cole (Ruckus), Vicious (Vicious); Lev’s football teammates; real estate agent Dixie; and the requisite mean girl(s).

DAMAGED GOODS is a story of addiction and spiral; pain and injury; dreams and failure; of perception and reality; of acceptance and love. The premise is gritty and heart breaking; the romance struggles in the face of secrets and lies, addiction and betrayal; the characters are struggling, broken, but fighting to survive.

I want to address the copious number of 1-star reviews, and in this, the rating appears to be based on high expectations and disappointment about a couple of secondary characters. Every reader has hopes for, or confidence in the outcome for certain situations but for these two secondary characters in particular, the results were not what readers expected, and was ultimately difficult to accept.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

L.J. Shen is USA Today, WSJ, Washington Post and #1 Amazon Kindle Store bestselling author of contemporary romance books.

She writes angsty books, unredeemable anti-heroes who are in Elon Musk’s tax bracket, and sassy heroines who bring them to their knees (for more reasons than one).

HEAs and grovelling are guaranteed.

She lives in Florida with her husband, three sons, and a disturbingly active imagination.

Keep up with L.J. on all platforms:
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Facebook➜ https://goo.gl/fKCSo4
Website ➜ www.authorljshen.com

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I’LL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU (Lancaster Prep 4) by Monica Murphy-review

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I’LL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU (Lancaster Prep 4) by Monica Murphy

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 18,2023

Weston Fontaine is the hottest senior at Lancaster Prep.
And he knows it.
He’s gorgeous. Confident. Smart.

Too smart.
Everyone loves him. He could have any girl on campus, except for one.
Me.
I’m a Lancaster, meaning I’m basically untouchable–or so I thought. It’s my family who owns this God forsaken private school that I don’t want to attend. But according to my parents, I have to endure my senior year at Lancaster Prep before I can return to what I love the most: ballet.
West doesn’t make my time here easy. He’s arrogant. Crude. Insufferable. He torments me in the worst way, to the point that I can’t stand him. Yet he’s the only boy I’ve ever let touch me…
You see, West and I? We share a secret. On a hot summer night in Paris, we hooked up. And I never do that. Ever. I revealed parts of myself to him I’ve never shown anyone else. He’s seen me at my most vulnerable. I told him my secrets. And he told me his. In Paris, he was sexy. Protective. Even dare I say…sweet.
Now he’s the villain in my story, yet I can’t help but chase after that feeling only West can give me. Despite our hatred for each other, we somehow burn brighter when we’re together. So what happens when you helplessly fall for the one person you know is bad for you?
If you’re like me, you go ahead and fall for him anyway.

••••••

REVIEW: I’LL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU is the fourth instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, young adult to new adult LANCASTER PREP erotic, romance series. This is Fontaine Champagne heir Weston Fontaine, and dancer Carolina Lancaster’s story line. I’LL ALWAYS BE WITH you can be read as a stand alone but for back story and cohesion I recommend reading the series in order. Some of the events of book three PROMISES WE MEANT TO KEEP cross over with, and run parallel to the events of I’LL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Caroline and West) I’LL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU covers a few years in the life of Fontaine Champagne heir Weston Fontaine, and dancer Carolina Lancaster. At the ages of seventeen Carolina Lancaster, and Weston Fontaine met in Europe while Weston was on vacation, and Carolina was attending a prestigious dance school in London. One night together ended with Carolina expelled, and the resulting fallout found Carolina attending the family owned Lancaster Prep school in America, where she will come face to face with the young man that will break her heart. Weston Fontaine is part of the popular crowd at Lancaster Prep, and believing Carolina had lied, bullied our heroine along with several others in the popular crowd but Weston struggled to stay away from the young woman that called to his heart, and continued their relationship in secret but all was not well behind the scenes are their extended families were battling with illness and disease, and as such Weston would be called home, leaving a heart broken Carolina in the wake. Two years will pass before Carolina will once again face down with our story line hero, two years in which she will discover the truth, a truth Weston struggled to reveal. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between West and Carolina, and the potential fall-out as issues of family threaten any chance at a happily ever after.

The relationship between Weston and Carolina begins as a weekend summer fling where neither one expected anything more. Meeting at Lancaster Prep left each with issues of trust, secrets and lies in which struggles, illness and a lack of communication threaten any attempt at their own happily ever after. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative but I dislike the use of a certain four-letter word in my romance story lines.

The secondary and supporting characters include Carolina’s parents, her sister Sylvie (Promises We Meant to Keep), and brother Whit (Things I Wanted to Say but Never Did #1), friend Sadie Swanson; Whit’s parents; and friends Brent and TJ, as well as the requisite mean girls, and questionable actions.

I’LL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU is a story of secrets and lies, miscommunication and misunderstanding; mental illness; family, friendships, relationships and love. The premise is heart breaking and emotional; the romance is seductive; the characters are young, desperate and determined.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Things I Wanted To Say
A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime
Birthday Kisses 2.5
Promises WE Meant to Keep

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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The Iron Vow by Julie Kagawa – a Review

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The Iron Vow by Julie Kagawa – a Review

 

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

 

Description:
After leaping through the portal to Evenfall, Meghan and her companions find themselves in a terrifying new world where Nightmares roam and glamour is nearly nonexistent. As their magic wanes and the creatures of Evenfall rise against them, the race to find the Nightmare King grows ever more desperate. But what they discover–about Evenfall, about the Nightmare King, about themselves–will shake everything they thought they knew to the core.

The Nightmare King stirs. A world hangs in the balance. And as twilight descends upon all the realms of Faery, Meghan and her allies must make one more impossible choice.

 

 

 

Review:

The Iron Vow by Julie Kagawa is the 3rd and final book in her fantastic The Iron Fey: Evenfall trilogy. I loved that Kagawa started this book with a summary of the previous books in this trilogy, giving us a chance to remember everything.  I loved this series, as Julie Kagawa has been added to my list of authors I must read.

Meghan and her group are now in Evenfall, a dangerous world filled with darkness, nightmares, creatures, and their determination to find the Nightmare King.   With their magic slowly depleting, the danger escalates, as they are willing to risk everything to save the people of Evenfall, as well as Faery. It was great to see all of them (Meghan, Ash, Puck, Grim, Kieran and Nyx) again. Along the way, they face such terrifying attacks and though they survive, the battles have left them all bruised and beaten, with very little glamour left. With Evenfall slowly fading, Meghan is determined to find a way to break the curse done many years ago by the First Lady, and allow them to live again.  Can they stop The Nightmare King from destroying all of Nevernever and Faery.

What follows is a fantastic, exciting, wild, action-packed dangerous adventure that brings everyone (including the courts) together to fight the evil entity that threatens the end of the world. Even with the ultra-powerful group, Meghan, Ash, Puck, Grim, Nyx, Keirran, as well as Evenfall soldiers who join them, the battles are brutal, horrific and dynamic. I do not want to give spoilers, as you need to read this book from start to finish.  Fabulous finale. 

The Iron Vow was a fascinating conclusion to this trilogy, and I loved all of the wonderful characters Kagawa created, such as Meghan, Puck, Ash, Grimalkin, and so many others.  The Iron Vow was so well written by Julie Kagawa, with wonderful characters, fun humor, and a wild exciting, tense, action filled story.  The amazing ending had a number of surprises, including the courts who needed to help to save the world. Thank you, Julie Kagawa for giving us such a fascinating series and conclusion.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Someone Is Always Watching by Kelley Armstrong-a review

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Someone Is Always Watching by Kelley Armstrong-a review

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 11, 2023

Blythe and her friends—Gabrielle, and brother and sister Tucker and Tanya—have always been a tight friend group, attending a local high school and falling in and out of love with each other. But an act of violence has caused a rift between Blythe and Tucker . . . and unexpected bursts of aggression and disturbing nightmares have started to become more frequent in their lives.

The strange happenings culminate in a shocking event at school: Gabrielle is found covered in blood in front of their deceased principal, with no memory of what happened.

Cracks in their friendship, as well as in their own memories, start appearing, threatening to expose long-forgotten secrets which could change the group’s lives forever. How can Blythe and her friends trust each other when they can’t even trust their own memories?

•••

REVIEW:SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING by Kelley Armstrong is a contemporary, young adult, psychological, suspense thriller focusing on the small town of Darlington Hills and a research facility owned by CMT.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person perspective (Blythe Warren) and several third person omniscient perspectives SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING follows in the aftermath of the so-called suicide of the local high school principal but from the outset everything is spiralling out of control, memories are erased, and the truth is definitely stranger than fiction.

Our heroine, sixteen year old Blythe Warren, is worried that something has happened to her best friend Gabrielle, who prior to the apparent suicide of the high school principal was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. Blythe had followed Gabrielle to the principal’s office but her memory of what happened or why is non-existent except for small flash-backs that do not make sense. As Blythe’s memory begins to reveal something more sinister at work, her group of well-connected and close knit friends begins to unravel a secret closely connected to the CMT Research Facility, where all of their parents work.

Blythe, along with her sisters, and friends all attend a private and prestigious STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) school, sponsored by the local CMT Research Facility but all is not well within the student body when Blythe begins to receive messages from an unknown sender, and encoded emails reveal an long term experiment that went horribly wrong.

SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING is a story of power and control, secrets and lies, murder and mystery, memories and madness, twists and turns where nothing is as it seems, and people are not whom they claim to be. Kelley Armstrong invites the reader into a psychological thriller, an intense story of mystery and suspense wherein it takes a group of sixteen year old high school students to break through the veil of power and control. The thought-provoking premise is dark, gritty tragic and dramatic; the characters are flawed, broken and easily manipulated.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Last Huntress by Lenore Borja-review and excerpt

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The Last Huntress (Mirror Realm 1) by Lenore Borja-review and excerpt

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 1, 2022

Alice Daniels has a problem. Her reflection keeps misbehaving when she looks in the mirror–and the longer she ignores it, the harder it tries to get her attention. On her eighteenth birthday, she learns why: she is a huntress, someone gifted with the power to enter mirrors and the magical world that exists beyond. But with this power comes immense responsibility, for in the Mirror Realm lurks an evil that has infected the human race for centuries: demons. It is up to her and her three huntress sisters–with the help of one handsome and overbearing protector–to hunt and banish this evil one demon at a time, thereby keeping the chaos in check. But when an ancient god pays Alice a visit that turns deadly, it is clear the Mirror Realm is more than it seems, and she soon finds herself in a race against time to save the life–and soul–of the one man the gods are determined to never let her have.

•••••••

REVIEW: Reading the blurb I’m thinking it’s a retelling of Alice through the looking glass. But it’s not, there are a few similarities, but maybe that was just me.

Alice can control mirrors!

Fancy a change of scenery, walk through a mirror. But it’s not that simple as we find out in the book.Alice has never trusted a mirror, her reflection can’t be trusted, it looks back at her distorted or even oddly sometimes!But all that becomes apparent when she discovers her hidden power (or curse!) she can move into a different world/realm just by walking through a mirror, there is also the fact you canleap incredibly high, or even fly in this realm.But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There is a dark force that wants the mirror realm for its self, and it will do anything to achieve this.

I really enjoyed the story. Loved the interaction with her sisters, I enjoyed the banter and almost instant attraction between her and her guardian/protector.It’s a little confusing at times, and the fact we are just meant to accept all the things thrown at Alice, the lack of information in some instances (the bond between sisters needed a little more information).I don’t want to give too much away as it is a good story, a few little hiccups won’t really take away from this book.

There are a few twists I didn’t see coming. There are also moments in the book I wanted to shout at the characters (and the author) and there are times in the story I just wanted to scoop Alice up and give her a big cuddle.Is there a HEA (happy ever after) in this book I hear you ask? Well….. nope!! Not telling you, but I will say that I wasn’t expecting it to go down the way it did ?

The mirror realm is fascinating. It’s full of wonderful and sometimes scary characters. The demons are the characters your going to be booing,

It’s touted as a YA (young adult) read, and it’s said it’s aimed at them.It’s a book filled with adventure/mystery and a splash of magic. And don’t forget the romance ?I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see of the mirror realm.I’m definitely adding this author to my list.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Julie B ?

“ Sweetheart, can you get that?”
Alice set down the glass she was unwrapping and peeled herself
off the kitchen floor.
“Coming!” she called, weaving her way through stacks of boxes.
Something furry and black darted in front of her. She tripped. “Dammit, Boop!”
He meowed like his tail had just been caught in a mousetrap. “Oh, like it’s my fault?”
Yellow eyes regarded her with scorn. The doorbell rang again. “Alice! Can you please get the door?”
“COMING!”
She hopped to the foyer as Boop ran figure eights between her legs. Exasperated, she scooped him up and held him tight to her chest as she pulled the door open with her free hand.
“Yes?” she said, with maybe a bit too much bite.
“Hi, I’m David.”
He was as handsome as they come, and she was suddenly very
aware of her ratty appearance. She attempted to smooth her hair back but was interrupted by claws digging into her neck. The stranger on her doorstep stepped forward.
“Aw, hi, kitty,” he said, reaching toward the squirming feline.
79
Boop flattened his ears and hissed. Then a razor-sharp claw sliced into Alice’s arm.
“Ow!” she cried, releasing her hold. Boop leapt over her shoulder and disappeared back into the house, leaving her disheveled and more than a little embarrassed.
“Nice cat.”
“Sorry,” she said, licking her finger to dab at the fresh wound. “He’s not usually like that. I think he’s just stressed from the move.”
“Colorado, right?”
She looked up. His green eyes sparkled in the afternoon sun. “How did you know that?”
He smiled. A devilish sort of smile. The kind tall, dark, and swoon-worthy guys like him perfected. The kind girls like her needed to be leery of.
“License plate,” he said, gesturing casually behind him to the Volvo in the driveway.
“Oh. Right. Sorry, who are you again?”
“David Martin. I live down the block. Saw the moving truck and thought I’d stop by, welcome you to the neighborhood.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks.” He seemed nice enough, but something about him was unsettling.
“So . . . Do you have a name? Or should I just call you ‘girl with the psycho cat’?”
She laughed and extended her hand. “Sorry. I’m Alice. Alice Daniels.”
He took her hand in his. The unsettling feeling increased tenfold.
“Alice,” he repeated, leaning forward until his face was inches from hers. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Smiling uneasily, she pulled hard until she wrenched free from his grasp.
“Hello. Can we help you?”
His eyes darted over her shoulder, and he didn’t miss a beat. “You must be Ms. Daniels.”
10 7 THELASTHUNTRESSAlice turned as her mother paused at the doorway. She could tell from her face she was already smitten; it took everything in her power not to roll her eyes.
“Mom, this is David. He lives down the street and stopped by to welcome us to the neighborhood.”
“Well, isn’t that nice,” her mom said as she reached out to shake his hand. “Good to meet you, David. And call me Judy. Do you go to Remington?”
“I do,” he said, glancing at Alice. “You too? Senior?”
Something told her he already knew that. Her eyes wanted to narrow, but it would be too obvious. So she just said yes instead.
He slapped his palm on his thigh. “Then you have to come to the real party tonight!”
“As opposed to a fake one?”
“Alice,” Judy tsked. “Don’t be rude.”
He chuckled. “Sorry, that was confusing. The Remington Reel.
It’s kind of a newsletter-slash-blog. They’re having a back-to-school party tonight.”
“Well, that sounds like fun. She’d love to come.”
“Mom . . .” Alice said, grabbing hold of her mom’s arm and squeezing tight. “I thought we were unpacking tonight.”
Judy ignored her. “David, just tell us when she should be ready.”
He dug his hands in his pockets and slid his gaze back to Alice. “Pick you up at eight.”


 

Lenore Borja grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She attended Arizona State University before moving to New York City to study acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After a brief career as an actress, she spent several years working in executive search and human resources in New York and San Francisco. She now resides in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband and a bossy feline named Maximus. When she’s not writing, she enjoys adventure travel and anything that gets the heart racing, whether it’s hiking, running, or getting lost in a good book.

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