Sometimes when you read as much as us, you don’t really get the urge to write super-detailed reviews about some books… sometimes you realize that you’re really behind and still want to share some quick thoughts about things you’ve read. That’s where this post came about. Check out some books we had shorter reviews written for and wanted to share.
He Will be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker was a book I thought sounded interesting so I decided to request it. I am glad I did because I enjoyed it!
The story focuses on two major characters. Celine and Maggie. Maggie is in New York because her best friend Celine was found dead and the police have determined it to be a suicide. Maggie doesn’t believe it and decides to move into Celine’s apartment not only to clean up her stuff, but to also do some digging to find out the truth behind her death.
There were quite a few twists and turns with this story and I admit it, I didn’t really know who the bad guy was until the end. As Maggie digs, she meets a number of questionable characters and also some trustworthy ones. I thought Tucker did a wonderful job of building out each of the characters in this story as well as layering in pieces of Celine’s journal to provide background to what Celine was really up to.
I can’t say a lot about the details of the story as I don’t want to ruin the mystery for anyone who reads this book. There were one or two parts where I kind of questioned where the story was going and what the characters were doing but overall I enjoyed this one. If you are looking for an Adult Thriller that will keep you guessing, definitely consider checking this one out. I am looking forward to more from Tucker in the future.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy!
Banished by Kimberley Griffiths Little is the second book of the Forbidden series and it dives right back into the story. I admit, it had been a little while since I read Forbidden so I was a bit lost when I started but it quickly came back to me and I found myself pulled right back into Jayden’s story.
I loved seeing more than just the desert and Jayden’s family. We get to learn more about Kadesh and the secrets he has been holding on to. As Jayden and Kadesh flee for the safety of his kingdom, they find out who they can trust and who they can’t. There is quite a bit of action in this story as not only are they running across the desert but they face off with those who follow Horeb.
Neither of these characters is the same person they were in the first book. Jayden has faced challenge after challenge and she continues to grow both in strength and determination. She is willing to do anything she can to protect and save the people she loves. Kadesh has been through a lot as well and when these two finally come face to face with each other after being separated, it is clear he isn’t the same man. Regardless, he still loves Jayden and will protect her with everything he has at his disposal.
If you’re looking for a story about love, loss and perseverance definitely check this one out. Like the first book has a unique setting and some well-developed characters. As the story moved forward and I learned more about each one, I found myself wanting to know more. Check this one out when you can!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
I had been waiting to get my hands on a copy of These Vicious Masks for a while so there was a bit of a celebration when I finally did get this in the mail. If you don’t know, I love a good historical book and this one sounded fantastic…Jane Austen meets X-Men – Sign me up!
As a young girl living in Victorian England, Evelyn is living a life that is stifling and she isn’t willing to leave her sister to danger no matter what will happen to her reputation. When her sister goes missing, Evelyn travels to London to find her and she realizes there is more to the world than she originally thought. What I enjoyed about this book was that it took the historical genre and added a paranormal aspect that wouldn’t normally be there.
I loved how tenacious Evelyn was when it came to finding her sister. She was willing to put everything on the line, including her reputation, to save Rose and she finds out along the way what she’s capable of. Supported in her search by Mr. Grey and Mr. Braddock, Evelyn proves that she is more than just a lady who should be seen and not heard. I loved the banter between all of the characters and the development of the story was very well done.
If you are looking for a book that is a great blend of historical setting and rules alongside some great storytelling, definitely check this one out. I look forward to more from these authors and can’t wait to see what happens next with this group of characters!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
From the moment I saw the cover of The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine, I knew I was going to love this book. Plus, I loved Redwine’s Defiance series so I knew I had to check this one out. I know there are mixed reviews on this one but I don’t even care. I love a good retelling and this one gave me what I wanted.
Lorelai Diederich is the crown princess and the currently hiding from her step-mother, the woman who stole the Ravenspire throne and destroyed her family. As Lorelai tries to figure out how she can protect her people, save her kingdom, and get rid of the evil queen, she experiences love and great loss as well as learns more about who she is and what she is destined to become.
This story has quite a bit of action and I loved when Prince Kol came into the story. He has his own issues and they revolve around the war his kingdom is fighting. Having recently lost his parents and older brother, Kol realizes he needs the help of the Ravenspire throne and magic to save his kingdom. Because of this, he enters into a contract that puts him up against Lorelai even though he doesn’t want to be. There’s also something about Kol that I won’t tell you that makes him a pretty formidable opponent for Lorelai.
Overall I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book in the series. If you are looking for a bit of fantasy and some swoony bits all within a fairytale retelling, consider checking this one out. I look forward to more from Redwine can’t wait to see the cover on the finished book.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto is definitely a unique story that has a little bit of everything. I admit, the first few chapters made me wonder what I was diving into but as I kept going I found myself fully intrigued by this story. The characters and the story are unique and everything else just falls into place.
Westie is an orphan and lost her family, and her arm, to cannibals. She’s somewhat of a loose cannon and living with Nigel, the man who saved her, is making things tough. See, magic plays a big role in this book and it appears that it is fading. Nigel is an inventor and he is building a machine that can harvest magic out of gold. The problem is that he is running out of money and needs investors fast. When a wealthy family comes to town to investigate Nigel’s research, Westie immediately reacts because she knows they are the cannibals who destroyed her family.
As I mentioned, Westie is a loose cannon. She reacts immediately without putting much real thought into what the consequences of her actions will be. I’m still on the fence about her as a main character as I didn’t really love her. Yes, I felt horrible about her situation and what happened to her but she continues to put herself and those she cares for, into the path of danger and it bothered me.
The secondary characters were interesting. I wish we would have learned more about them, especially Costin – outside of Westie’s interactions with them. Also, I will say, the characters in this book run the spectrum here. You have cannibals, vampires, ogres, dwarfs, and elves. I could probably go on here but the whole world felt like a mash-up of all the types of characters that could be stuffed into one story. It felt like too much but with that said, it speaks to just how diverse Modesto was going with this story.
Overall I enjoyed the story and although it focused hugely on Westie’s past and her desire for revenge, it also gave me a glimpse of a larger story tied to magic. I admit I didn’t see the twist coming so kudos to Modesto on that and I look forward to reading more from her.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the review copy!
Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Will you be adding any to your TBR list? Let us know in the comments!
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