I enjoyed prior Kerry Wilkinson's books and I was excited to start a new series by this author.
Millie Westlake volunteers at the nursing home where heI enjoyed prior Kerry Wilkinson's books and I was excited to start a new series by this author.
Millie Westlake volunteers at the nursing home where her friend Jack works. Millie lives in Whitecliff where everyone knows each other and gossip spreads faster than you can say hi. Millie is well known but not with affection but with recrimination. She has committed two crimes in the minds of the inhabitants. First, she cheated with a politician, broke her marriage, and lost the custody of her son when the affair was found out, The second crime is that they believed she killed her parents and she got away with it plus inherited their home after they passed. The only job Millie can have is being a dog groomer although the reviews left on the net are not as nice as she would like.
One day, after spending time with Ingrid, a nursing home patient, she is told by Ingrid that the night before she saw a woman being pushed off the roof of a home close by through her window. Millie can't let it go and decides to investigate. This decision will put a target on her back but she can't stop digging with the help of Guy, an ex-reporter now blogger.
I liked Millie, her story was intriguing and I wanted to know more about her affair, her parent's death, and of course, if a woman was truly pushed and why. The story grabbed me from the very beginning and I was happy with the way the novel unfolded. The narrator Helen Keeley did a great job of bringing the character to life.
I will read the next one in the series and hope to see more of the characters. Hopefully, she can get her son back.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Bookouture via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed prior Kerry Wilkinson's books and I was excited to start a new series by this author.
Millie Westlake volunteers at the nursing home where her friend Jack works. Millie lives in Whitecliff where everyone knows each other and gossip spreads faster than you can say hi. Millie is well known but not with affection but with recrimination. She has committed two crimes in the minds of the inhabitants. First, she cheated with a politician, broke her marriage, and lost the custody of her son when the affair was found out, The second crime is that they believed she killed her parents and she got away with it plus inherited their home after they passed. The only job Millie can have is being a dog groomer although the reviews left on the net are not as nice as she would like.
One day, after spending time with Ingrid, a nursing home patient, she is told by Ingrid that the night before she saw a woman being pushed off the roof of a home close by through her window. Millie can't let it go and decides to investigate. This decision will put a target on her back but she can't stop digging with the help of Guy, an ex-reporter now blogger.
I liked Millie, her story was intriguing and I wanted to know more about her affair, her parent's death, and of course, if a woman was truly pushed and why. The story grabbed me from the very beginning and I was happy with the way the novel unfolded. The narrator Helen Keeley did a great job of bringing the character to life.
I will read the next one in the series and hope to see more of the characters. Hopefully, she can get her son back.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Bookouture via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
As the second in command of the Paranormal Investigators Unit, Shiloh Harrison follows orders. She's good at her job and has a good relatio
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As the second in command of the Paranormal Investigators Unit, Shiloh Harrison follows orders. She's good at her job and has a good relationship with her team. Her team includes a human boss (Julius Almeida), an incubus (Novak), a skinwalker (Jaxon) and a dhampir (Kathleen). Shiloh herself is a half djinn. She can grant three wishes. She also has to deal with her Quarrel, an ability to affect the combative nature of humans. If she doesn't exert control, she can be responsible for unleashing a fight where none should be.
She just finished a case and is about to spend some time with her current lover Vincent Ortiz, when she's called back to work. A trailer park has been taken hostage by a group of vampires. Her team needs to show up as soon as possible before things get out of hand. Her boss is nowhere to be found, making Shiloh the lead US Marshall.
At the scene, Shiloh meets Woodrow Tennyson, a master vampire who has moved all his line into the trailer park. Tennyson is worried. Some of his vampires have disappeared and before any more are taken he needs the team's help to discover who's behind it and why.
Shiloh knows this mission is important when Tennyson admits he's not the only master vampire or werewolf pack who has members gone missing. Forty-six vampires and twenty-eight werewolves have disappeared.
This will take the team into a never-before-seen danger where black magic is at the center of it all. Shiloh won't know who's an ally and who's a foe.
__
I love Urban Fantasy novels. I was excited about starting a new series. I was hoping to find a new favorite. I can't say that I did. However, I was entertained by the characters and the action.
I couldn't connect with Shiloh at the beginning but I liked her by the end. She made some rushed decisions. They felt too impulsive. She also has some issues with her relationships. She was with Vincent but was thinking about her ex-lover and then she throws Tennyson in the mix. She's supposed to hate vampires but she could barely keep two feet away from Tennyson.
There was a good twist at the end and a few unanswered questions. I'm hoping we get some answers in the next installment.
Stray Magic delivers a good plot and interesting characters. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this series.
Thank you HarperCollins Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of Stray Magic in exchange for an honest review.
As the second in command of the Paranormal Investigators Unit, Shiloh Harrison follows orders. She's good at her job and has a good relationship with her team. Her team includes a human boss (Julius Almeida), an incubus (Novak), a skinwalker (Jaxon) and a dhampir (Kathleen). Shiloh herself is a half djinn. She can grant three wishes. She also has to deal with her Quarrel, an ability to affect the combative nature of humans. If she doesn't exert control, she can be responsible for unleashing a fight where none should be.
She just finished a case and is about to spend some time with her current lover Vincent Ortiz, when she's called back to work. A trailer park has been taken hostage by a group of vampires. Her team needs to show up as soon as possible before things get out of hand. Her boss is nowhere to be found, making Shiloh the lead US Marshall.
At the scene, Shiloh meets Woodrow Tennyson, a master vampire who has moved all his line into the trailer park. Tennyson is worried. Some of his vampires have disappeared and before any more are taken he needs the team's help to discover who's behind it and why.
Shiloh knows this mission is important when Tennyson admits he's not the only master vampire or werewolf pack who has members gone missing. Forty-six vampires and twenty-eight werewolves have disappeared.
This will take the team into a never-before-seen danger where black magic is at the center of it all. Shiloh won't know who's an ally and who's a foe.
__
I love Urban Fantasy novels. I was excited about starting a new series. I was hoping to find a new favorite. I can't say that I did. However, I was entertained by the characters and the action.
I couldn't connect with Shiloh at the beginning but I liked her by the end. She made some rushed decisions. They felt too impulsive. She also has some issues with her relationships. She was with Vincent but was thinking about her ex-lover and then she throws Tennyson in the mix. She's supposed to hate vampires but she could barely keep two feet away from Tennyson.
There was a good twist at the end and a few unanswered questions. I'm hoping we get some answers in the next installment.
Stray Magic delivers a good plot and interesting characters. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this series.
Thank you HarperCollins Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of Stray Magic in exchange for an honest review.
A man steals an ancient Stela from a dig in Israel and smuggles it into the United States. This man is ready to sell it to the higheThis one was nuts!
A man steals an ancient Stela from a dig in Israel and smuggles it into the United States. This man is ready to sell it to the highest bidder as long as he gets the cash he needs. He doesn't care if it goes to the Israelis, Palestinians, Turks, Americans or Australians.
Lucas calls Virgil to pick up an Israeli agent. Her job is to recuperate the Stela and take it back. At first, Virgie believes this task won't be difficult but soon he realizes the opposite. No one is what they seem and enough people are either ready to pay or to steal the Stela.
Virgil is very different than Lucas in so many ways. He approaches his investigations differently too. The one thing both have in common is that they would do anything to catch the bad guys without leaving loose ends behind.
This book also marks the addition of a formidable character, Ma Nobles. A woman with several kids, a high IQ, and someone who will be perfect for Virgil as a partner.
Chloe is taking care of her mother who is dying from cancer. Besides being a caregiver, she is a bartender and a dog wA twisty psychological thriller!
Chloe is taking care of her mother who is dying from cancer. Besides being a caregiver, she is a bartender and a dog walker. Chloe who is a loner spends her time watching people. Her newest addiction is watching her new neighbors Jemma and Dr. Adam Spengler, from her apartment window.
Every morning Chloe takes her mother's dog for a walk on Jerrin's beach. Then, one morning Chloe witnesses a jet ski hitting a swimmer and then returning to hit the swimmer again. Chloe believes there is a connection between the swimmer and her new neighbors.
The swimmer had me turning the pages quickly. As I read, I started liking Chloe and was rooting for her. Jemma felt manipulative to me and I wasn't sure about her.
Loreth Anne White always does a great job at piquing my interest from early on. This one was no exception. I liked the addition of multiple chapters "It's Criminal: The Chloe Cooper Story". It gave us so much more detail about what happened. The best part was seeing Trinity Scott in this one too. She was the podcaster from Beneath's Devil Bridge (which I enjoyed too).
I'm looking forward to her next book. Always.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Montlake via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
In the small town of Deadhart in Alaska a teenager has been murdered. It looks like his throat was ripped open and drained of all hiA well-done novel!
In the small town of Deadhart in Alaska a teenager has been murdered. It looks like his throat was ripped open and drained of all his blood.
The town wants justice. They believed the vampire Colony living close by was responsible for the death and the humans wanted nothing more than to get approval of a Cull. They want to eradicate the vampires which can only be done if it turns out that the vampires are responsible for the death of fifteen-year-old Marcus Anderson.
Detective Barbara Atkins of the Forensic Vampire Anthropology Department is sent to investigate the case. The town is distrustful of outsiders making things harder for Barbara. More so since Reverend Colleen Grey wants a Cull too.
Barbara decides to enlist the help of the ex-sheriff, Jenson Tucker. He was the last one to investigate a murder twenty-five years ago and very similar to the current case.
Besides, Barbara and Tucker, there is also Athelinda. She is the leader of the Colony although she looks to be a child. She is very old and deadly but she insists the Colony is not guilty of the killing.
Quite a great atmospheric novel with an amazing character. I liked Barbara from the get-go. She was smart, funny, and determined to learn the truth at all costs.
The author leaves the door wide open for another book with this character and I hope it does happen. I would buy that book for sure!
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Ballantine Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ali Morris has been dealing with grief for a couple of years. She lost her mother who was her best friend and supporter. SheA Summer Romance to enjoy!
Ali Morris has been dealing with grief for a couple of years. She lost her mother who was her best friend and supporter. She was always there for her and her children. A year after her mother passed, her husband, Pete tells her he is moving out. He wants a divorce.
Life has moved on but Ali is still stuck. She only wears sweatpants and is not ready to organize her home despite working as an organizer and being good at it.
On her mother's death's second anniversary, she puts on something closer to "hard pants" and takes her dog to the local dog park. Her dog makes a beeline for a hot guy and decides to pee on him. Luckily, the guy doesn't mind and strikes up a conversation with Ali. When they see each other again, he asks her out and she agrees. This leads to more outings and more time spent together over the summer.
Could this summer romance last?
I love Anabel Monaghan's books. Her characters are more mature. The problems they have are real problems that anyone can encounter. Her main characters are always likable and memorable.
I will be looking out for her next book.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by G.P. Putnam's Sons via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sage Byrd is a teacher who is off during the summer. She owns a farm where she keeps the animals she haThis small-town romance was appealing for sure!
Sage Byrd is a teacher who is off during the summer. She owns a farm where she keeps the animals she has rescued. She enjoys gardening and loves her town life. She doesn't see herself leaving the town of Spunes, Oregon anytime soon. Even though, her ex-boyfriend of five years is already engaged to another local.
Fisher Lange lost his sister and the desire to work as a Chef. He was given custody of his niece Indy but they are not getting along well. He is mourning his sister and the loss of his career after his restaurant lost a Michelin star. He is in Spunes to oversee the construction of his boss's new restaurant and to create a menu for it.
Sparks ignite when Fisher rents the farm next to Sage and they meet. Can they enjoy a summer romance while knowing that their time is limited? Sage knows Fisher has to return to NYC where he and Indy have a life together.
I enjoyed Savor It. Both characters were likable especially Sage with all her animals. She was smart and sweet. I love how well they communicated without misunderstandings or acting childish. Also, I wish I could have tasted all the wonderful things Fisher cooked or thought about cooking. They all sounded great.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Griffin via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The novel begins with a robbery gone wrong. A woman is killed and the perpetrators are teenagers: Jimmy ShaMad River is the sixth book in this series.
The novel begins with a robbery gone wrong. A woman is killed and the perpetrators are teenagers: Jimmy Sharp, Becky Welsh, and Tom McCall.
After leaving the victim's house, the killers realize their car won't work and without a second thought, they go ahead and kill a man and steal his car.
Then, Lucas Davenport calls his best BCA agent and puts Virgil Flowers on the case.
Virgil is trying to catch them fast before the local small-town cops get to them first and perform their own version of justice.
As the body count increases, Virgil is running out of time.
Virgil is quite an entertaining character. He doesn't look or act like your usual detective. He likes indie rock bands and enjoys his off-time fishing.
The Evans women have kept the town safe from Strigoi for decades as the owners of the Evans Funeral Parlor where they can dispose of theA family job!
The Evans women have kept the town safe from Strigoi for decades as the owners of the Evans Funeral Parlor where they can dispose of the spreading evil around town.
Ducey Evans is in her eighties, Lenore is her daughter, and Grace is Lenore's daughter. Last, there is Luna. She is Grace's daughter. A teenager who doesn't know what her family's job really is.
When several bodies start rising, Ducey, Lenore, and Grace know what they have to do.
Bless Your Heart was a light horror novel. At times, the pace was slow and for me, the "Strigoi" felt more like ghouls than vampires.
Cliffhanger: No
3/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Look on the Bright Side had me tearing up by the end!
Lark Smith is rotating through oncology when she's told she will be sent to rotate through the ERLook on the Bright Side had me tearing up by the end!
Lark Smith is rotating through oncology when she's told she will be sent to rotate through the ER instead because she gets too emotional with her patients. Yet, the only thing she wants is to become an oncologist, so when Dr. Lorenzo "Satan" Santini offers her an exchange she decides to accept it. Dr. Satan needs a date for the next three months to convince his dying grandmother that he is not alone. If Lark says yes, he will call his connections to get her closer to an oncology position. The last thing Lark was expecting was to fall for his family and for his brother, Dante.
Chapter by chapter, we start discovering what happened to Lark and why she has an obsession with oncology. At the same time, we also get two more POVs. One is Lark's mother Ellie. The other one is Joy, Lark's landlady.
The summer will be a summer of growth for all three.
Look on the Bright Side is a woman's fiction novel with a side of romance. It is also about loss, healing, and self-discovery.
As always, Kristan Higgins writes an emotional ride that I can't help but enjoy.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I swear this series is much funnier if you listen to the audiobooks!
I didn't think I was going to enjoy this one as much as the first Finlay book butI swear this series is much funnier if you listen to the audiobooks!
I didn't think I was going to enjoy this one as much as the first Finlay book but surprisingly, I did. I had so much fun with it.
I recommend reading this series in order. By the end of Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice. It felt like an arc had ended. So I'm excited about next Finlay's adventure.
This novel begins with Finlay and Vero planning to travel to Atlantic City to find Javi and the Aston Martin but their girls' weekend becomes complicated when they can't leave alone. Finlay's ex-husband Steven, her children, and her mother are all coming with them.
Their trip became even more complicated when the cops showed up.
I loved the emerging Finlay. The character continues to evolve and is becoming more assertive. I also love her friendship with Vero. They are a great duo.
I look forward to reading the next one.
Cliffhanger: No
4.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dr. Sloan Hastings is starting her forensic pathology fellowship. As part of her fellowship, she needs to do research. She decides toA good thriller!
Dr. Sloan Hastings is starting her forensic pathology fellowship. As part of her fellowship, she needs to do research. She decides to center hers on DNA. Due to this, she decides to submit her own DNA to an ancestor website. Sloan knows she is adopted and even though she had never wanted to meet her biological parents, this could bring insight into her planned research.
No one is more shocked than Sloan when her DNA comes back proving that Sloan is none other than Charlotte Margolis, "baby Charlotte", who went missing with her parents back in 1995. The Margolis family has power and connections everywhere but what do they know about her disappearance?
After making the discovery, Sloan is approached by Sheriff Eric Stamos. His father was the Sheriff in 1995 investigating a hit-and-run case where her mother was a suspect. Just a few days after her parents disappeared, the Sheriff died from an overdose. Eric believes his father was murdered and he needs Sloan's help to prove it.
Quite a compelling plotline with remarkable characters. The suspense was just right.
I'm looking forward to reading another book by this author.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Kensington Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Liv is an artist who was abroad in Italy studying her craft. After finishing her classes, she returnsSeven Summers is a love story but not a rom-com.
Liv is an artist who was abroad in Italy studying her craft. After finishing her classes, she returns to Cornwall and her family home. Her plan is to move to London to continue pursuing her dream of sculpting. In the meantime, she takes a job at Seaglass, the local restaurant. Here is where she meets Flinn, a musician playing with the local band.
Liv and Finn fall for each other quite quickly but how will things work for them? She lives in the UK and Finn lives in the States and only comes to Cornwall for the summers.
After tragedy strikes, they decide not to keep in contact but to see each other in Cornwall every summer unless one of them falls in love with someone else.
On the seventh summer, we meet Tom, a newcomer who will stir things around. Liv and Tom have an undeniable connection and one that could be worth exploring.
Seven Summers takes you through two timelines: the Present Summer and through the last six. The story deals with friendship, grief, heartbreak, personal growth, disabilities, and love.
Paige Toon really knows how to write. Her characters were all believable and relatable and despite loving Finn, I fell in love with Tom too.
This was my first book from this author but it won't be the last.
Cliffhanger: No
4.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by G.P. Putnam's Sons via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's Sophie Steinbeck's wedding day and she is hoping for an interruption. Sophie knows her fiancee is nothing but a cheating bastard, so s"I object!"
It's Sophie Steinbeck's wedding day and she is hoping for an interruption. Sophie knows her fiancee is nothing but a cheating bastard, so she hires an Objector! At the right time, her objector will show up and she won't need to marry Stuart.
Matt has a side gig. He becomes the objector at weddings. You guessed right when the wedding officer is asking if someone objects to the union, he is the one who jumps and says he objects. Doing this has helped people in need just like Sophie.
After the failed wedding, Matt and Sophie share a moment and a few months later, they meet again.
Matt asks Sophie to join him as an objector and save people from mistakes. What starts as a friendship soon makes them realize they are attracted to each other, but how will it work when they have both sworn off love?
This was a fun lovers-to-friends romance! The banter between these two was what did it for me. It was so easy to fall in love with these characters.
I'm looking forward to Lynn Painter's next book.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For the hard-core readers of this series, this installment doesn't disappoint.
Mercy is still recuperating from the attack sAction-packed winter storm!
For the hard-core readers of this series, this installment doesn't disappoint.
Mercy is still recuperating from the attack she suffered in the last book. She is not doing well. Her mind and her magic were affected by the Soul Taker. No one really knows how to fix her.
Adam knows she is not well but no one he knows can help her.
Then, Mercy's half-brother, Gary shows up. He is unable to talk or comprehend. Something happened to him while he was taking care of a ranch in Montana. Despite her own problems, Mercy knows she has to help him.
Mercy and Adam decide to take a trip to Montana to find the answers. Their trip is not an easy one. The winter storm is a powerful one. Someone is behind it. But why? By whom?
As they arrive at the Lounge, they are met by a wedding party. It's not a typical one. Mercy and Adam come to the realization that more than Gary's life is in danger.
I love Mercy and Adam together. They have learned to trust each other and to let the other be independent when the right occasion arises. My one complaint is that I missed the rest of the pack and I also miss Bran.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Ace via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
After finding a post on Reddit, Emma decides to DM a message to Justin.
Justin post's on Reddit is quiteAnother powerful book written by Abby Jimenez.
After finding a post on Reddit, Emma decides to DM a message to Justin.
Justin post's on Reddit is quite funny. The gist of the post is that after leaving him, every woman he dates, then they go on to find their true love.
Emma is surprised because the exact same thing has happened to her, so she tells him that in her message.
After a few interactions through texts and then video, Justin tries to convince her to come to Minnesota so they can date and then break up. Hoping that both can find their true love after.
Emma is a traveling nurse and when her current job ends, she convinces her best friend and roommate to go to Minnesota with her.
Emma and Justin have tons of chemistry and their relationship progresses wonderfully. There were just a couple of issues: Emma's mother is back in the picture and dating her boss. Emma's mother was not a good mother. She abandoned Emma as a child and Emma was raised in foster care. The second issue was that due to unfortunate circumstances, Justin was soon becoming the guardian of his three siblings.
I did love this story. So much heart! There is a lot of pain and at times, it was hard to like Emma. Justin on the the other hand, was perfect. He was very understanding and supportive.
I can't wait for her next book.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Forever via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hazel Sharp is coming back home for her father's funeral. He was a long-time detective in a small town. Coming back takes woA good amount of suspense!
Hazel Sharp is coming back home for her father's funeral. He was a long-time detective in a small town. Coming back takes work. Her mother left her when she was a teenager and she has a strained relationship with her brothers Caden and Gage who are both police officers like their father. Matters get worse, when she is told her father left the house solely to her!
The town of Mirror Lake is suffering the worst drought in years. The lake level is so low that things long buried are resurfacing. At the same time the funeral is occurring, a car is pulled from the lake. The vehicle contains two dead bodies!
Is this discovery connected to Hazel's mom's disappearance?
I felt the suspense as Hazel started uncovering all the secrets kept from her. The paranoia she develops sensing someone in her house or finding things have moved around the house made me think of the movie When A Stranger Calls. "The call is coming from inside the house." I wanted to scream at her that someone was around.
I have enjoyed many books by Megan Miranda and Daughter of Mine can be added to the "yes" column.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Marysue Rucci Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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