Categories
Horror Mystery

Survive the Night

By Riley Sager

5*****. Best enjoyed on a summer evening when you need a good thriller to chill your bones.

It’s 1991 and Charlie may be in the car with the person who killed her best friend. She really doesn’t know. She suspects, but sometimes things go a little differently in her head, like the night Maddy was killed. She sometimes sees movies, something she’s been doing since the death of her parents, where everything becomes stylized and a screen drops in front of her vision, creating a scene straight out of a film noir or classic Hitchcock picture. She has no idea what the identity of the man in the alley or if he was even real. Charlie still blames herself. She never should have left Maddy alone that night, regardless of their fight. Now Maddy is dead, stabbed to death with her tooth removed. 

Everyone knows that the Campus Killer murdered her best friend, but no one knows who it is. All Charlie knew was that she needed to get away from Olyphant University, even if it meant leaving her boyfriend Robbie behind. She can’t live with the memories and the movies of Maddy coming back. Plus, how does she not know if she’s next? What if the killer knew she saw him?

Now, after accepting a ride share from Josh, the man in the driver’s seat of the Grand Am and the person she is slowly beginning to believe could be the guy who killed her best friend, Charlie needs to figure out if there’s a way out and if she even wants one. She suspects that she won’t make it back to Ohio in one piece if she can’t figure it out.

I love almost everything Riley Sager writes. In Survive the Night, he keeps you guessing until the very end as to what the real and true danger is. Charlie’s movie episodes are also a huge help in keeping the plotline moving through. The majority of the book you are wondering what is real and what isn’t. Is he really in the car of a killer? Is it all just a movie? 

I truly loved it. I was able to finish it in only a few days. Highly recommend!

Categories
Adventure Graphic Novels

Brindille

By Frederic Brremaud

4*. Best enjoyed when you need to dive into some beautiful art!

Brindille is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about a girl who suddenly finds herself in a small forest village with strange creatures and no idea how she got there or anything about her past. However, it seems that some very dangerous beings are after her for some reason and they are quickly eating away at the magical wood in their pursuit of her. 

With the help of her wolf companion, can Brindille figure out a way to save the world around her and also figure out how she came to be there? 

As with most graphic novels, the story is important, but the illustrations are what move it along. The premise of the story is very interesting and the end was entirely surprising, and it makes you want to reread the entire thing to see what you missed. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Diamond Book Distributors for the early copy in exchange for this review. 

Categories
Adventure Survival

In the Forest of the Lost and Found

By KD Van Brunt, Pub Date April 8, 2021

3.5* Best Enjoyed when you’re in the need for a story about a city girl surviving the wilderness

Allysa Baylor, the daughter of a world-famous director, wants to go as far away from her family as possible this summer, hopefully to France with her boyfriend. Ever since her mother died in a car accident, she has blamed her troublesome younger sister, Grace, for the accident and has done everything she could to not be around her for longer than necessary. Unfortunately, her famous dad has planned a one week middle of nowhere Canada trip with her, her sister, her brother, and her grandfather. The only thing keeping her on that trip outside of buttering up her dad in order to go across the Atlantic, is her little brother Nick, who she adores. She knows she would be letting him down in a major way if she didn’t go with.

However, when her dad and stepmom aren’t able to make it on the trip, the three siblings are sent with their grandfather to a very remote cabin by float plane, which the siblings are not at all prepared for. When their check-up flight fails to show up halfway through the week, and Alyssa spots a massive almost prehistoric-sized bear on the other side of the lake, they all begin to get concerned. It’s not until their flight back to civilization is a no-show that the family realizes that they may be in far deeper trouble then they ever could have imagined, and when their supplies begin to dwindle, Alyssa realizes that she may be the only one capable of trekking the hundreds of miles of woods in order to find help. 

I always enjoy a good survival story. At first, I had no idea where the author was going with this. Alyssa is a mostly cold rich girl with very little in the way of actual character at the beginning—and what character is there is vastly unappealing to me. However, her journey into the wilderness begins to change her and we get a more in-depth view of her past that explains a lot of her aloofness. The survival itself is pretty interesting and intense. There is also the dark, overarching enmity she has with the prehistoric-sized bear tracking her every move that keeps the pace of this one at a good clip.

The ending is very abrupt and super unsatisfying which is why I didn’t give full stars, but the book is still worth it to see the character build-up that Alyssa and her siblings experience during their months of survival in the woods. 

Thank you to ARS Fabula and Netgalley for this advanced copy in exchange for a fair review. 

Categories
Fantasy Romance

SMALL FAVORS

BY ERIN CRAIG, PUB DATE JULY 27, 2021

5*****. Best Enjoyed when you need a slow burn mystery-thriller!

There are things in the woods that mean the people of Amity Falls harm. At least, that’s the superstition. The edges of the forest are lined with bells and are meant to ward off these beings from town. However, it has been many years since their small village has seen any sign of the creatures that exist in the dark beyond the pines, and the stories have been slowly edging toward superstition. That is until the winter supply run goes terribly awry and the only thing left of the group is a terrified horse in the town square sporting large, claw-like gouges from a huge, unknown animal. 

Ellerie Downing, the beekeeper’s daughter, questions what could possibly have made this happen and the town is divided. Is it really just large, ferocious wolves that peer out of the woods at night with silver eyes? Or is it the creatures? And who is this mysterious boy that showed up one day and refuses to give her his name? Why are people suddenly beginning to show up in their isolated village? 

However, The most pressing question on everyone’s minds is how are they going to survive the winter when every attempt at survival seems to be thwarted? 

Suspicions soar as something sinister overtakes the town. Are basic instinct and long held grudges causing the townspeople to sabotage their neighbors or is something more sinister occurring? And can Ellerie convince the town to start taking the old tales seriously before it’s too late?

Craig is an amazing author. This book is the kind I love. Is something supernatural going on or is there a logical explanation as to what is happening? Plus the small town suspicions, mystery, and survival aspects are everything I want in a book. The only thing I had a tough time with was the ending, but it’s because it feels very abrupt. Otherwise, everything else is fantastic and I absolutely swallowed up every last honey-sweet bite. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Categories
Romance

When a Duke Loves a Governess

by Olivia Drake, Pub Date 7/27/2021

3.5 Stars.

Tessa James dreams of owning her own millinery shop where she can create beautiful hats for her patrons and not the monstrosities that she helps with at Madame Blanchet’s. However, when she and Blanchet have a falling out, she must come up with a different way to make her dream come true. She hears of a position in the Duke of Carlin’s home as a governess to his unruly 5 year old daughter, Lady Sophy. Lucky for Tessa, she knows how to handle young girls with difficult temperaments. Perhaps she can use this opportunity to find her father, who appears to be of noble blood, and demand a loan from him. However, first she needs to tell a few white lies in order to convince the Duke to hire her on.

Guy Whitby has just returned from four years traveling the world collecting botanical samples after the death of his late wife, a trip cut short by the passing of the previous Duke of Carlin. Since his return and subsequent adjustment to his position, he has gone through many, many governesses due to his daughter’s temperament. When Miss James shows up to apply for the position, he is reluctant to hire the pretty miss who doesn’t seem to have any references to speak of. However, hearing her tale, he decides to give her a chance.

As Sophy takes to Tessa, Guy finds himself taking to her as well. She is unlike the usual women who travel in his circles of society and she lights up when he talks to her of his travels. As they strain against their obvious chemistry, events turn dangerous as a thief destroys Guy’s study in the middle of the night. Tessa and Guy find themselves in an interesting position as truths are revealed and the Carlin Curse appears to become a real possibility. Can Guy and Tessa figure out what’s really going on before everything is upended? Or will they find themselves permanently unrequited?

I enjoyed this read. It had many delicious passionate scenes and plenty of intrigue. However, there were a couple of loose ends and the perspective seemed to change from paragraph to paragraph. The ending, although somewhat satisfying, felt very rushed and unfinished. I would have liked a little more detail or an epilogue. Nonetheless, it was a fun ride!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Categories
Romance

One Thing Leads to a Lover

By Susanna Craig. Pub Date April 6, 2021

***** 5 Stars. Best enjoyed outdoors in the garden or curled up in your library.

I think Susanna Craig is going to be a part of my auto-buy list from now on!

Amanda Bartlett, the young widowed Countess of Kingston, has been living a dull life up until the day she brings home a package that is supposed to be a gift for her son, but turns out to be a cryptic French cookbook. This cookbook turns out to be of some interest to British intelligence.

Enter Major Langley Stanhope, aka The Magpie, a master mimic in the spy game. Stanhope is sent to retrieve the mysterious volume from Amanda, which could lead to the recovery of a fellow missing spy. However, when the volume goes missing, Stanhope and Amanda find themselves in a rather dangerous situation and Stanhope must use all his skills to keep Amanda, her family, and himself from the enemies that would do whatever they can to get it back.

As the danger grows and Amanda and Stanhope work together, they find that their hearts may be on the line as well.

I absolutely LOVED this book! The first in this series was great as well, but I honestly thought this one was even better. I am so excited for the next book in the Love & Let Spy collection!

The characters were very well thought out and the setting jumped straight from the page. I found myself very emotionally invested in the couple and the fate of Amanda’s children at the hands of their appointed male guardian, a boring man whose eyes were also set on Amanda and who was a huge part of the conflict.

Seriously, Craig, I am sincerely looking forward to the next installment!

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the advanced copy in exchange for this fair and honest review.

Categories
Fantasy Romance

NAMESAKE

BY ADRIENNE YOUNG. PUB DATE MARCH 16, 2021

5 STARS. BEST ENJOYED on a warm, breezy day. Preferably near the ocean, but at least we can pretend!

Fable was really good. Like, so so so good.

Namesake was amazing.

What an emotional and adventurous ride! It starts where Fable left off, and there are so many feels and the plot and story moves at such a clip that there was not a boring page in it for me.

Namesake takes the stakes from Fable and raises them higher. It picks up with Fable on the Luna, the ship of Saint’s sworn enemy, Zola, who wants to use Fable’s gift to bring in a huge haul of dredged gems. Fable is given the reigns to a hastily built crew of dredgers from Jeval, including Koy, who has been out for Fable’s blood. In order for Fable to get back to her beloved Marigold and the crew that has become her found family, she must work herself to the bone to reach the quotas demanded of her. However, despite Fable’s Zola has other plans for her involving the most powerful gem merchant in the sea…

Namesake brings us beyond the narrows and deeper into the characters. Honestly, I think this one was better than Fable, and that’s saying something because Fable was one of my favorite reads last year.

Also, the ending? Let me just say I cried. A lot. And I’m sure if I ever re-read Namesake, I’ll do it again.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of Namesake in exchange for this fair and honest review.

Categories
Fantasy Horror Mystery

DOWN COMES THE NIGHT

BY ALLISON SAFT. PUB DATE 3/2/21

3 STARS. Best Enjoyed when you’re stuck in a dark mansion where something seems wrong but you’re still in the mood for an enemies to lovers romance.

Wren Southerland’s healing abilities and empathetic heart may have finally ruined her life. After healing a young boy who appears to be an enemy spy connected to the disappearances of her fellow soldiers, allowing him to escape, she is dismissed from her place on the guard where she serves under her best friend and first love. Isabel, the Queen of Danu–as well as Wren’s emotionally withholding and dismissive aunt–plans to send Wren far from her comfort and into the mines, a hell on earth for any healer. As she awaits her fate at the abbey where she honed her skills, a mysterious letter appears from a nobleman from the nearby neutral country of Cisneros. In the letter, Lord Lowry promises to aid Danu in the centuries-old war against their enemy, Vesria, in exchange for her help healing his favored servant, Henry. Wren sees this as a chance at peace. Though the Queen disagrees and forbids her from going, Wren still manages to find her way alone.

However, when Wren arrives at the old estate across the border, she finds that nothing is as it should be. Not only does the ancient mansion seem to be hiding dark secrets, but “Henry” turns out to be Hal Cavendish, the Reaper of Vesria and the most wanted man in Danu. After her initial shock, Wren sees this as an opportunity to reclaim her place and begins to formulate a plan. Unfortunately, there are machinations larger than both Wren and Hal at play, and they realize that must learn to work together–as well as fight the growing feelings they have for one another–in order to save not only themselves, but the countries they love.

There are so many things going on with this story. There’s the family drama, the political intrigue, the gothic mystery, a sort of love triangle, an interesting power structure, and an enemies to lovers romance arc. All of the plots were carried through, some far more successfully than others. For instance, the gothic mystery was a little painful as the MC really appeared to be oblivious and I found myself mentally screaming at her at times because very obvious mentions were made to vital parts of the story that seemed to be completely ignored. Usually, that wouldn’t slide with me, but the other plot points kept me invested. There was also the issue I had with figuring out the time period it was supposed to mimic. It felt like a mix between the late 1800s and WW1 Europe. It wasn’t enough to put me off, but at times I was really confused and I believe a little extra world building would have been helpful.

On the other side of this coin, I also enjoyed the setting and the depth of the characters themselves as well as the political and technological differences between countries that have and don’t have magic. I really enjoyed that part of the story because it was believable that a country without magic would have made the nonmagical advances that Cisneros would need to have in order to continue to improve themselves as they could not use magic the way their neighbors could. The enemies to lovers romance was also really great. I enjoyed that part of the story a lot. Although I knew where it was all leading, I wasn’t sure how or why it was going in that direction. It’s possible there may have been too many plot lines active at once. Regardless, it was still a good read.

Saft probably needs more work on her mystery writing, but I think the potential is definitely there and if she also improves her ability to write romance. I think her next book could be a killer. Overall, this book is worth a read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for and advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Categories
Fantasy Romance

The Queen’s Council: Rebel Rose

by Emma Theriault. Pub date 11.10.2020

4.5 Stars! Best enjoyed when you want a bit of your history to have some fairy tale in it.

The Queen’s Council promises to be a fantastic series if you’re like me and you love not only fairy tales, but the origins and history that come along with them. The first book in the series tackles the subject of Beauty and the Beast.

Rebel Rose takes place during the French Revolution in 1789, shortly after the curse of the Beast has been broken and Aveyon has been freed from the magic of the enchantress. As Prince Lio and Belle start their new lives together, they journey to Paris to reunite with Lio’s cousin Bastien, Duc de Vincennes, to take his place back at court. Belle is extremely excited to see Paris and explore it as she and her father once did long before. As she is still a commoner and has not taken a title, she is allowed to roam free. However, as Lio and Belle arrive in Paris, there is an undercurrent of tension running through the city as the starving commoners rebel against the nobility of France, who has taxed them to the point of poverty and their bellies go hungry. After witnessing a horrifying event in the streets of Paris, Belle feels that she must use her unique position as a commoner married to nobility to try and help the people of Aveyon from suffering the same fate, and Bastien decides to join them. However, something isn’t quite right with Bastien and Belle cannot decide if he is just the frivolous nobleman that he shows to the world, or if he has sympathy for the revolutionaries. AS the story unfolds, Belle begins to question her decisions and must stop the plot that is threatening Lio and his subjects before the tide of revolution can reach Aveyon and destroy everything they’ve ever known.

I had this arc in my pocket for awhile before picking it up, and I truly regret not reading it sooner. I love stories like this, the ones that take fairy tales and put them into their time period. It makes the world feel a little more magical. Also, because no one else knows about the curse except those that were a part of it, there was a level of camaraderie and a good explanation for why all of the characters see the world differently than those around them and why they aren’t tied to the tropes of other commoners and noblemen.

The characters were well written for the most part, although I would have liked to see a little more depth in Lio. He felt very flat. I did enjoy reading a story from the point of view of a married woman who loved her husband. It allowed the stories to be more about the event but still added a romance factor that showed the different side of life and what love is really like rather than just the angst of lust. Belle as also very mama bear with all of the people she cared about, even the villagers who used to make fun of her before she married Lio, and all of our favorite characters like Mrs. Potts, Chip, Lumiere, and Cogsworth were present.

Overall, I am grateful to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for bringing this lovely ARC to my library in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own and were gladly given.

Categories
Romance

Who’s That Earl?

By Susanna Craig Pub Date Aug 8, 2020.

Four Stars****, Best Enjoyed when…well, whenever!

Thomas Sutherland, a spy for the British Army, comes home to settle the matter of an inheritance. He has no real intention of leaving his position and wishes to return to the life he is used to as quickly as possible. That is until his superior officer makes it clear that he must do his domestic duties before he will be allowed to resume his place. As it turns out, Sutherland’s inheritance is that of the entirety of the Scottish village he spent his summers in as a child, including Dunnock Castle. His plan is to quickly set the place up, find someone who can properly run the land, and head back to the foreign lands he’s spent most of his life in. Luckily, it appears that a famous author has already taken up residence in the castle and may have a secretary who can do just that for him. However, when he appears on the doorstep of his new found seat, he discovers that the secretary he thought was a man is not only decided NOT male, but is also a widowed woman, and the one he fell in love with before he took his foreign commission! This may be harder than he thought…

Ms. Jayne Quayle has lived under the guise of widowed Mrs. Higginbotham for the past six years, acting as a amanuensis to the popular and reclusive gothic novelist, Robin Ratliff. Well, that’s what she wants people to think. She’s neither a widow, nor just a simple copy editor, but the author him-well, her-self. This precarious tower of deception has kept her hidden and independent for many years. That is, until the whole guise is threatened when a certain handsome soldier she once had feelings for turns up on the doorstep of Dunnock Castle where she has been living. However, when death threats against Mr. Ratliff start to show up in the mail, Thomas feels the need to protect Jayne, and Jayne feels a passion stirring in her that she hasn’t felt in years. At the risk of toppling everything they both have at stake, they band together to find out who is threatening Robin Ratliff, while trying to protect their secrets. Someone should have also reminded them to protect their hearts.

I really truly loved this book. I could practically see the setting in the misty, cold Scottish Highlands. The characters were well-rounded. The only thing that slightly bothered me was when the author described Thomas as slipping into a deep brogue and it felt a little forced and over used. However, I truly loved Jayne. I also loved seeing a smart and creative BBW in the lead role of a romance novel.

I’m a true sucker for regency era spy romances and this delivered in spades. The quaint town, all of the side characters, and even the secret underlying plot that encapsulates the series is a bit of a mysterious delight. I’m honestly excited for the next one. Plus, look at that cover and the title! So cute!

Thank you Kensington books and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Kensington always seems to deliver exactly what I need.