Title: Denied (Kelly Pruett Mystery #2) Author: Mary Keliikoa Genre: Mystery Suspense Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Not for me, maybe for you.
I enjoy a good suspense novel, but the writing style of Mary Keliikoa didn’t work for me despite giving her two books to sell me on it. I find it slow, dry, and rather pedantic. In my head, the voice of the main character was a drawl. The entire thing was frustrating as hell.
PI Kelly Pruett is following in her father’s footsteps. She’s trying to keep his private investigation agency going after his death. After almost dying on a case, she’s on recovery when she takes a new investigation for a childhood friend to find the woman’s missing father.
I find it difficult to dislike a shifter book. The sub-genre is chockablock with both the traditional and the far-out, so I tend to soak those books up. I don’t regret it either.
Alpha’s Moon is good. Much more the traditional shifter story with a kickass heroine and a truly devoted Alpha-Heir who is dying to claim her.
After a night out, Sheridan finds herself at the center of an abduction investigation for her close friend Kayleigh. A White Knight in the form of Kayleigh’s brother rides in and takes over. Kane is the Alpha-Heir of the Dirigo Pack and in charge of security. His senses tell him Sheridan isn’t a suspect, and what’s more, she’s his true mate. He doesn’t expect her to fight the mating call so hard or to want her like he does. Meanwhile, his sister is missing, and someone is subverting the investigation. Who in the pack is guilty of the unthinkable? Treason.
If you are a Piper Lawson fan, you won’t be disappointed.
Beautiful Sins is the second book in The Enemies Trilogy. This is a spin-off of The Rivals Trilogy and centers around Harrison and Rae, who are from that series. The first book, Beautiful Enemy, is set in Ibiza, where Harrison and Rae first fall in love and hit their first real hiccup, which sends Rae running to Los Angeles, where Beautiful Sins begins. Now, Rae, an up-and-coming DJ, is trying to make her way back into the spotlight for her talent and not for the scandals plaguing her.
Having finished this book, the thing I feel most is that a lot happened here. Beautiful Sins is a soap opera, not in a bad way, just in a slightly WOAH way. Piper Lawson tends to write these very intricate stories, though, and if you have read her before, you know what you are in for, if not, know that this will be a ride.
Title: Will Author: Kat Savage Genre: Best Friend’s Brother Rom-Com Release Date: 22 June 2021
Summary:
Willette Archer has a secret—though some would argue how well kept it actually is. As right-hand woman and best friend to the owner of Bird’s Eye Tattoo Studio, her job has become her whole life. So, she occupies her days with shop decisions to avoid her disappointing dating life.
Of course, that might also have something to do with her two-decade old infatuation with her aforementioned best friend’s older brother.
Derek Tanner is at a loss—with basically everything. His apartment lease is up, most of his belongings are somewhere in storage, and the good doctor has been pulling extra shifts at the hospital due to lack of staff. So, yeah. His life is chaos. Thanks to these wonderful circumstances, dating is nowhere on his radar.
When his little brother suggests he stay in Willette’s spare room for the time being, he’s both grateful and hesitant. Sure, he grew up with Will too, but they’ve never been as close—let alone in close quarters.
It doesn’t take very long for Doctor Derek to start seeing Will in a new light. This makes him think perhaps he should be examined. Will, on the other hand, is this close to feigning injury just so he’ll touch her already.
When boundaries are crossed and relationships are finally taken to the next level, will Willette get exactly what she’s been hoping for since childhood, or will her fantasy be forever ruined?
Title: A Lady of Embers (Fires of the Fae Series #1) Author: Erin O’Kane Genre: Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance Release Date: 11 June 2021
Summary:
After a long war between the elves and humans, Morrowmer is a land full of divided people.
Finally free from decades of captivity, Annalise, a high elf, is on the run.
Moving from refugee camp to refugee camp, she keeps to herself. These places are dangerous, especially for an elf. One night, the camp is attacked by strange, ferocious beasts. She should flee, but when she stops to save a human, she alters her fate forever.
Stolen and taken to a new land, she discovers there is so much more going on than she first thought. A great darkness is about to descend on the Fae Lands and she might be the only one who can save them all.
Can Annalise rise from the ashes of her past and become the person she was born to be?
*This is slow burn reverse harem and is aimed at readers 18+. There are some scenes that some readers may find upsetting.
Title: Pride and Paranormal (Souls and Shadows #1) Author: Adrienne Blake Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Romance Release Date: 01 June 2021
Summary:
What do love potions and banshee karaoke have to do with one of the greatest enemies-to-lovers’ tales of all time? Everything.
Izzy is the only responsible witch in her poor family of misfits and as such, she has duties to uphold. But a hot, mysterious, and infuriating warlock is determined to get in the way.
When the rich and handsome Fitz Darcy blows into town, sparks fly.
The wrong kind…
He has earned her ire as much as her eye with his constant harsh words and acts, but what will happen when a bit of magic goes awry, and Izzy needs the help of this powerful man she claims to hate?
Will Izzy’s pride get in the way of saving her family’s welfare and reputation? Find out in this witty, funny, fantasy retelling of Pride & Prejudice.
Pride and Paranormal by Adrienne Blake. A magical enemies-to-lovers story filled with witches, warlocks, and vampires on the road to their happy-ever-after. This book is the first in the series of Souls and Shadows but reads as a standalone romance.
Title: A Lady of Embers (Fires of the Fae Series #1) Author: Erin O’Kane Genre: Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance Release Date: 11 June 2021
Summary:
After a long war between the elves and humans, Morrowmer is a land full of divided people.
Finally free from decades of captivity, Annalise, a high elf, is on the run.
Moving from refugee camp to refugee camp, she keeps to herself. These places are dangerous, especially for an elf. One night, the camp is attacked by strange, ferocious beasts. She should flee, but when she stops to save a human, she alters her fate forever.
Stolen and taken to a new land, she discovers there is so much more going on than she first thought. A great darkness is about to descend on the Fae Lands and she might be the only one who can save them all.
Can Annalise rise from the ashes of her past and become the person she was born to be?
*This is slow burn reverse harem and is aimed at readers 18+. There are some scenes that some readers may find upsetting.
Title: Of Light and Dark (The Dark Series #3) Author: Danah Logan Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romantic Suspense Release Date: 08 June 2021
Summary:
My name is Lilly. What is my last name, you ask? I. Don’t. Know.
I lost track of who I am months ago. I thought I was a McGuire until my brother let me in on the secrets that drove a wedge between my family so many years ago.
Consumed with the need for answers, I made decisions others would’ve called reckless—and they’re probably right.
The feeling of betrayal sat too deep for me to see reason. I should’ve told my parents, informed the authorities, but trust is a fragile thing. Once it’s broken, is there really a chance of rebuilding it?
Then I met him.
He gave me answers, but he had questions of his own. The more time we spent together, the more we bonded…until the lines were blurred. Home was no longer tied to a place but to two individuals. Throughout our search for the truth, I almost lost the boy that means everything to me. Hunted by the media, tormented by Rhys’s psychotic ex and her followers, I became a target, and my need to run put everyone at risk.
No one could’ve expected what actually happened over a decade ago. How one decision started a chain of events that led to me being the pawn in her game.
Find out what really happened ten years ago in this angst-filled, romantic-suspense story full Of Light and Dark.
**AUTHOR’S NOTE: Dear Reader, Of Light and Dark is the THIRD book and CONCLUSION of Lilly and Rhys’s trilogy within The Dark Series. The first three books in the series are one continuous story, with In the Dark being the first book. This book is intended for MATURE readers and features strong language, sexual scenes, and situations that may be considered TRIGGERS for some. Reader Discretion is advised.
Title: A Shifter’s Sin (Wolves of Hawthorne Cove #1) Author: Debbie Cassidy Genre: Adult, Reverse Harem, Romance, Urban Fantasy Release Date: 03 June 2021
Summary:
A Lycan that can’t shift is no use to anyone.
I’ve made it my mission to be useful to my pack. As pack enforcer, I’m fast and strong, but when the time comes to bond with my mate, it isn’t enough.
Rejection means lone wolf status and isolation from the pack. But when a package arrives with an unexpected inheritance, the pack that wants to shun me, suddenly has a new use for me.
Turns out, I’m the proud owner of a house in mysterious territory, rumoured to be home to a pack of beautifully twisted shifters. Hawthorne Cove is Impregnable to Lycans, but not to a half human like me.
Now I have a second chance to be accepted by my pack.
All I have to do is infiltrate the Hawthorne pack, find the source of their power and steal it.
Easier said than done.
Because once I pass the mystical boundaries surrounding the town, I’ll be absolutely, and totally at the mercy of the wolves of Hawthorne Cove.
Title: A Night Twice As Long Author: Andrew Simonet Genre: Contemporary Young Adult Release Date:01 June 2021
Summary:
What do you call the difference between what you should feel and what you do feel? Life?
The blackout has been going on for three weeks. But Alex feels like she’s been living in the dark for a year, ever since her brother, who has autism, was removed from the house, something Alex blames herself for. So when her best friend, Anthony, asks her to trek to another town to figure out the truth about the blackout, Alex says yes.
On a journey that ultimately takes all day and night, Alex’s relationships with Anthony, her brother, and herself will transform in ways that change them all forever.
In this honest and gripping young adult novel, Andrew Simonet spins a propulsive tale about what it means to turn on the lights and look at what’s real.
