You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi REVIEW

You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty

by Akwaeke Emezi

🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

Blurb

Feyi Adekola wants to learn how to be alive again.

It’s been five years since the accident that killed the love of her life and she’s almost a new person now—an artist with her own studio, and sharing a brownstone apartment with her ride-or-die best friend, Joy, who insists it’s time for Feyi to ease back into the dating scene. Feyi isn’t ready for anything serious, but a steamy encounter at a rooftop party cascades into a whirlwind summer she could have never imagined: a luxury trip to a tropical island, decadent meals in the glamorous home of a celebrity chef, and a major curator who wants to launch her art career.

She’s even started dating the perfect guy, but their new relationship might be sabotaged before it has a chance by the dangerous thrill Feyi feels every time she locks eyes with the one person in the house who is most definitely off-limits. This new life she asked for just got a lot more complicated, and Feyi must begin her search for real answers. Who is she ready to become? Can she release her past and honor her grief while still embracing her future? And, of course, there’s the biggest question of all—how far is she willing to go for a second chance at love?

Akwaeke Emezi’s vivid and passionate writing takes us deep into a world of possibility and healing, and the constant bravery of choosing love against all odds.

Review

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty begins with a slap. It starts off so vulgar and hard and in your face and then blooms and softens into a heartbreaking love story.

In all honesty this book took me so long to get through and I'm not quite sure why. The writing was good, the story was good, the characters were good, I just really struggled to focus. Maybe if I had of read this at a different time I may have been able to get through it easier.

What I love about Akwaeke Emezi’s writing is how unapologetically sexual and sensual they can be. The sex scenes are spicy and the sexual tension is strong. Emezi writes about sex as a normal human occurrence rather than something to be hidden or embarrassed by. They open up sexual experiences in a way that shows sex as a natural form of human connections. I will say that after the first chapter or two I was expecting more explicit content than what was actually in the book.

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

The Woman in the Library

by Sulari Gentill

narrated by Katherine Littrell

Blurb

In every person's story, there is something to hide...

The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream. Security guards take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers, who'd happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just happens that one is a murderer.

Award-winning author Sulari Gentill delivers a sharply thrilling read with The Woman in the Library, an unexpectedly twisty literary adventure that examines the complicated nature of friendship and shows us that words can be the most treacherous weapons of all.

Expected Publication Date: June 7, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

So I kept seeing posts about this book all over social media. I've heard a lot of good things and just had to check it out for myself.

Unfortunately, for me this book just didn't hold up and I don't understand the hype. I mean it's fine, but it's not anything that stuck out to me or that will stay with me. I finished it, was like okay that's done and now I'm already forgetting it. I managed to finish the audio book but if I had of had to physically read it I probably wouldn't have finished.

The narrator seemed to fit the story quite well. Her voice and tones fit the story perfectly. Katherine Littrell did a good job making the characters distinguishable from each other making the storyline easier to follow, which given that it's a story about a story was super helpful.

Summer's End by Kristy Brown SPOTLIGHT

Summer's End

by Kristy Brown

Summer's End is the first of the YA Paranormal Romance trilogy which is free on KU. She wakes up in hospital, badly burned with no memory.
He’s been trained to kill her before she burns the world to ashes.

When they finally meet, will he be able to take her life now that he’s started to feel for her?

His fate is already written. The prophecy is already set… Love between them is forbidden.

Purchase Links:

 

US: https://www.amazon.com/Summers-End-Summer-Solstice-1-ebook/dp/B098T9NW59

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Summers-End-Summer-Solstice-1-ebook/dp/B098T9NW59

Author Bio

Hi I'm Kristy and I live in the U.K. I have always written short stories and poetry. I went to university to study acting which I loved, but my real passion has always been writing. So, now I write the kind of stories I would have wanted to read as a teen. "Kiera's Quest- part one & two," a Middle-grade/ teen fantasy series, is now available on e-book and paperback. If you like shape shifters, magical realms and a chosen one, then this may be for you!

My YA contemporary romance book, "Just Sam," about a young tennis star who loses someone important and has to trust in life and love again, is available on Amazon in print & on Kindle, as is my YA/NA fairy-tale retelling, "Cinderfella."​ Cinderfella has all roles reversed and is aimed slightly older, as there is a little passion and darkness to this tale, but still keeps the magic of the original.
I also have a YA Paranormal Romance trilogy, 'The Summer Solstice series.' "Summer's End," book one, "Summer's Lost" (2) and "Summer's Time," are all available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, as are all my titles. I love reading of course. I have lots of new projects in mind, and I'm currently working on a retelling of Romeo and Juliet.

Socials:

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristybrownauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristybrownauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KristyBrownWrites/

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5290332.Kristy_Brown

Game of Strength and Storm by Rachel Menard REVIEW

Game of Strength and Storm

by Rachel Menard

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

Blurb

Once a year, the Olympian Empresses grant the wishes of ten people selected by a lottery—for a price. Seventeen-year-old Gen, a former circus performer, wants the freedom of her father, who was sentenced to life in prison for murders she knows he didn’t commit. Castor plans to carry the island Arcadia into the future in place of her brother, Pollux, but only after the Empresses force a change in her island’s archaic laws that requires a male heir.

To get what they want, Gen and Castor must race to complete the better half of ten nearly impossible labors. They have to catch the fastest ship in the sea, slay the immortal Hydra, defeat a gangster called the Boar, and capture the flesh-eating Mares, among other deadly tasks.

Gen has her magic, her ability to speak to animals, her inhuman strength—and the help of Pollux, who’s been secretly pining for her for years. But Castor has her own gifts: the power of the storms, along with endless coin. Only one can win. The other walks away with nothing—if she walks away at all.

Expected Publication Date: June 7, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Well shit.. that was an interesting ride. I had so much fun reading this. Once I started reading it I was hooked instantly. I ended up reading the entire thing in two sittings. It's incredibly fast paced and such a quick read, especially for how long the book is.

GAME OF STRENGTH AND STORM is told in multiple perspectives. We hear from Gen, Castor and Pullox, however Gen's perspective is what we read about the most. I would say Gen is portrayed in a more favorable light than Castor and along with being the main POV it makes her easier to cheer for even though Castor is hard not to like as well.

Judging by how things ended I'm guessing and hoping there is a sequel in the works and I'm going to need it asap. As the story was wrapping up I was thinking about how I would have liked if things had of ended differently, then things happen and well, is there a place I can sign up for the next book yet??

Deep In Providence by Riss M. Neilson REVIEW

Deep In Providence

by Riss M. Neilson

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

Synopsis

For best friends Miliani, Inez, Natalie and Jasmine, Providence, Rhode Island has a magic of its own. From the bodegas and late-night food trucks on Broad Street to The Hill that watches over the city, every corner of Providence glows with memories of them practicing spells, mixing up potions and doing séances with the help of the magic Miliani’s Filipino grandfather taught her.

But when Jasmine is killed by a drunk driver, the world they have always known is left haunted by grief...and Jasmine's lingering spirit. Determined to bring her back, the surviving friends band together, testing the limits of their magic and everything they know about life, death, and each other.

And as their plan to resurrect Jasmine grows darker and more demanding than they imagined, their separate lives begin to splinter the bonds they depend on, revealing buried secrets that threaten the people they care about most. Miliani, Inez and Natalie will have to rely on more than just their mystical abilities to find the light.

Publication Date: May 31, 2022

**There is a pre-order campaign for this novel with some beautiful swag! Check out the post on @rissmneilson 's page on Instagram for more details! Hurry up and get those pre-orders in.** 

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book was so dam delicious! I grabbed every chance I could to just devour it. Deep in Providence gave me everything my little heart hoped for. There's friendship, family, dark magic, love, healing and even some laughs along the way. There was nothing this book was lacking, there is nothing that could have made it any better.

There is a lot going on in this story. Each main character has their own things they're dealing with stitched into the main story. Normally I wouldn't enjoy so much going on but everything is woven together so magnificently. It's incredibly fast paced and the flow is just incredible! I'm still in shocked how a book can have so many different things going on and still have it all coherent and effortless. It's been days since I finished this book and I'm still stunned by how well done it is.

This is Riss M. Neilson's debut novel and I'm calling it now, Riss is an author to watch! Deep In Providence is an incredibly written work of art and I can't wait to see what she releases next. Sign me up!

Nacimiento by J.R. Agramonte SPOTLIGHT

 Nacimiento

by J.R. Agramonte

Synopsis

The Cinans were created to surpass humanity, but a god has decided they are an aberration, so they have a time limit to prove they deserve existence. Failure to so will mean their extinction.

Alice Gurra, a young and promising scientists, is the sole witness of an abnormal event:
The birth of a child from the corpse of an Alas Sangros, an extinct race of Cinans incapable of conceiving new life. He breaks yet another law of biology as he is the only known being that can control both black and white energy.

Will this hybrid be the salvation or perhaps, the doom of it's spieces?
This is the story of Lidel, a child that only dreams of becoming a hero.
With this Nacimiento, his adventure begins.

Purchase Links:

☆☆ AVAILABLE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED ☆☆

English Version:

🇬🇧 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09TZGP9DH

🇦🇺https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09TZGP9DH

🇨🇦 https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09TZGP9DH

🇺🇲 https://www.amazon.com/J-R-Agramonte-ebook/dp/B09TZGP9DH

🇫🇷 https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B09TZGP9DH

🇮🇳 https://www.amazon.in/dp/B09TZGP9DH

🇯🇵 https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B09TZGP9DH

Spanish Version:

https://amzn.to/3vk0kQx

Author Bio

J. R. Agrmamonte is an author born and raised in the capital of Cuba, Habana .
As a professional tourguide, he has been the host for thousands of tourist. Listening stories from so many cultures, reading and gaming, J.R learned of many worlds, brought from the past and/or from imagination. One day, he decided to create his own.

Social Media Links

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22221604.Javier_Rodriguez_Agramonte

Instagram: https://instagram.com/j.r.agramonte

Twitter: https://twitter.com/javyfromHabana

The Favor by Nora Murphy REVIEW

 The Favor

by Nora Murphy

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Synopsis

Staying is dangerous. Leaving could be worse.

Leah and McKenna have never met, though they have parallel lives.

They don’t—ever—find themselves in the same train carriage or meet accidentally at the gym or the coffee shop. They don’t—ever—discuss their problems and find common ground. They don’t—ever—acknowledge to each other that although their lives have all the trappings of success, wealth and happiness, they are, in fact, trapped.

Because Leah understands that what’s inside a home can be more dangerous than what’s outside. Driving past McKenna’s house one night, she sees what she knows only too well herself from her own marriage: McKenna’s “perfect” husband is not what he seems. She decides to keep an eye out for McKenna, until one night, she intervenes.

Leah and McKenna have never met. But they will.

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I have very little to say about this book. While I thought the story itself was fine it didn't do much for me. I was waiting for something suspenseful to happen but it never did.

What this book did do was provide an insight to the different way abuse can take place besides physical along with the different fears victims face when making the decision to knave or stay. The husband's behavior in this book can be very triggering so I think you should take that into consideration.

Poūkahangatus: Poems by Tayi Tibble REVIEW

Poūkahangatus: Poems

by Tayi Tibble

Synopsis

The American debut of an acclaimed young poet as she explores her identity as a twenty-first-century Indigenous woman.

Intimate, moving, virtuosic, and hilarious, Tayi Tibble is one of the most exciting new voices in poetry today. In Poūkahangatus (pronounced "Pocahontas"), her debut volume, Tibble challenges a dazzling array of mythologies--Greek, Māori, feminist, kiwi--peeling them apart, respinning them in modern terms. Her poems move from rhythmic discussions of the Kardashians, sugar daddies, and Twilight to exquisite renderings of the natural world and precise emotions ("The lump in her throat swelled like a sea that threatened to take him from her, and she had to swallow hard"). Tibble is also a master narrator of teenage womanhood, its exhilarating highs and devastating lows; her high-camp aesthetics correlate to the overflowing beauty, irony, and ruination of her surroundings.

Poem by poem, Tibble carves out a bold new way of engaging history without merely telling it, of straddling modernity and ancestry, desire and exploitation: a truly twenty-first-century negative capability. These are warm, provocative, and profoundly original poems, written by a woman for whom diving into the wreck means taking on new assumptions--namely, that it is not radical to write from a world in which the effects of colonization, land, work, and gender are obviously connected. Along the way, Tibble scrutinizes perception and how she as a Māori woman fits into trends, stereotypes, and popular culture. With language that is at once colorful, passionate, and laugh-out-loud funny, Poūkahangatus is the work of one of our most daring new poets.

Expected Publication: July 26, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Poūkahangatus is the debute poetry collection by Tayi Tibble. I just have to take a second and and recognize how incredibly stunning that cover is! The second I saw it I just had to read this book.

I can't say I connected to every poem in hate. I also can't say I enjoyed every poem in here, but the ones I enjoyed made this entire collection worth reading. I loved being able to read a poetry collection by a young indigenous woman getting a glimpse into her perspective of the world.

My favorite poem in this collection is "Our Nan Lets Us Smoke Inside". It brought back memories of smoking and playing cards with my own nan (yes, I was legal age). The nostalgia I felt reading this poem was just wonderful.

Poūkahangatus is a very small book coming in at only 96 pages. So if you're looking for just a quick dip into someone else's perspective through poetry than this could potentially be a great option for you.

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren REVIEW

 Love and Other Words

by Christina Lauren

🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑

Synopsis

The story of the heart can never be unwritten.

Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away.

But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly bookish friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother...only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her.

Told in alternating timelines between Then and Now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much more—spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco devouring books, sharing favorite words, and talking through their growing pains and triumphs. As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by the agony of what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.

Review

I enjoyed this one a lot more than I expected, well most of it anyways. After how much I disliked "In A Holidaze" I had no intention of trying Christina Lauren again but this ended up being the book club pick so here I am.

I'm really not a big fan of Macy, or I should say the way that nobody can let go of her. Like, it's been 11 years since she has seen Elliot and his family. Yet 10 years after the last time she spoke to them Elliot finally brings home a girlfriend and his mom can't get her name right because she is calling her Macy! After 10 years! Like what? I get that we're all supposed to love Macy and she is so special but this was laid on so thick that it started taking away from the story.

Another issue I have is Macy's breakup with her fiancé, it was way too easy. Their whole relationship was there more as a statement to her love for Elliot rather than an actual obstacle to face. There was no drama, no emotion, no conflict at all just calmly and quietly done. I feel like the fiancé character was only created so she would have someone to leave when Elliot came around and it was time for them to reunite.

What I dislike about romance in general is how predictable it is. You basically know when you start how things are going to end and ultimately it's just the journey of getting there. While Love and Other Words was also predictable, the journey there was mostly enjoyable. I liked watching everything play out and seeing how the characters got from the beginning to the end. If you're into romance than you'll probably enjoy it more than I did. Personally, I thought it started strong and then lost me in the last 150 pages.

Other People's Lives by JE Rowney REVIEW

Other People’s Lives

by JE Rowney

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Synopsis

Listen carefully.

 
Watch closely.

 
Trust nobody.

 
“Let me ask you. Are you worried that someone is watching you, or are you worried that
you think someone is watching you?”
Sophie Portman has lost her husband, and she thinks she may be losing her mind.

 
She seeks the help of psychiatrist Andrew Thacker, but as she starts to open up, the truth begins to
unravel and nothing is quite as it seems.

 
Other People's Lives is a gripping psychological thriller from bestselling author JE Rowney.

 
"A heart-stopping twist. I never saw it coming." - advance reader review.

 
Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Other-Peoples-Lives-J-Rowney-ebook/dp/B09GK9T7FZ/

 
US - https://www.amazon.com/Other-Peoples-Lives-J-Rowney-ebook/dp/B09GK9T7FZ/

CAN -   https://www.amazon.ca/Other-Peoples-Lives-J-Rowney-ebook/dp/B09GK9T7FZ/

Review

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and the J.E. Rowney for having me on this blog tour and providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed enjoyed this book overall. The story was entertaining and held my attention. It's an easy read that can be read rather quickly. While I can't say I actually enjoyed the personalities of any of the characters I think they fit their roles in the book perfectly. They were the perfect amount of dislikeable for the situations that took place.

This was so cleverly done. At first I missed something very important and it wasn't until a conversation with someone else that I really understood what happened. Once I understood it was like an "oh wow" moment where everything just clicked.

There are subtle clues throughout the story that clearly give away this key part of the story but they are also so easy to miss. When you're reading this one pay attention to everything! I don't think that everyone is going to understand what happens here and for that reason I don't think this is for everybody. However, I do think those who get it, are going to really enjoy it.

Author Bio

J.E. Rowney spent several years in the cold Yorkshire hills, but now lives on the south coast of
England. She spent ten years working as a midwife before turning in her gloves to become an
author.

 
She has written ten novels, and also enjoys writing short stories. In 2020 she was the winner of the
Pen to Print Short Story award, the Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction, and, in 2021, the Fresher
Publishing Student Writing Award.

 
She spends lots of time writing in coffee shops, so if you see her, say hello.

 
Ms. Rowney says: "I always dreamed of being a writer, until I realised that I was. Then I started to
write."

 
You can find out more about JE Rowney on her website at jerowney.com (where you can download a free book!), or follow @jerowneywriter on social media.

 
Social Media Links
http://facebook.com/jerowneywriter
http://instagram.com/jerowneywriter
http://twitter.com/jerowneywriter

Wildseed Witch by Marti Dumas REVIEW

 Wildseed Witch

by Marti Dumas

🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

Synopsis:

Hasani’s post-seventh-grade summer to-do list is pretty simple: get a bigger following for her makeup YouTube channel and figure out how to get her parents back together. What she does NOT expect is that an emotional outburst will spark a latent magical ability in her. Or that the magic will be strong enough to attract the attention of witches. Or that before she can say #BlackGirlMagic, she’ll be shipped off on a scholarship to a fancy finishing school for talented young ladies.

Les Belles Demoiselles is a literal charm school. Here, generations of young ladies from old-money witch families have learned to harness their magic, and alumnae grow to become some of the most powerful women across industries, including politicians, philanthropists, CEOs, entrepreneurs—and yes, even social media influencers. Needless to say, admission to the school is highly coveted, very exclusive . . . and Hasani sticks out like a weed in a rose bouquet.

While the other girls have always known they were destined to be witches, Hasani is a Wildseed––a stray witch from a family of non-witches, with no background knowledge, no way to control her magic, and a lot to catch up on. "Wildseed" may be an insult that the other girls throw at her, but Wildseeds are more powerful than they know. And Hasani will learn that there are ways to use magic and thrive that can never be taught in a classroom.

Expected Publication Date: May 10, 2022

Review:

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was really looking forward to reading this book as magical middle grade is one of my favorite things to read. Unfortunately, this one just didn't click with me. I could not connect with Hesani at all. The story just didn't pull me in and make me care.

While this book clearly wasn't for me I do think others would enjoy it. I feel like when my daughter gets a little older this is exactly what she would want to read. There is strong YouTube representation here that I think kids of this social media age will appreciate and relate too. The story is simple and fun with a slight twist that will entertain young readers.

If you have a middle school aged girl, or even a little younger/older, who enjoys magic, nature or wants to be an influencer this is something I'd recommend picking up.

When You Call My Name by Tucker Shaw REVIEW

 When You Call My Name

by Tucker Shaw

🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

Synopsis:

Film fanatic Adam is seventeen and being asked out on his first date—and the guy is cute. Heart racing, Adam accepts, quickly falling in love with Callum like the movies always promised.

Fashion-obsessed Ben is eighteen and has just left his home upstate after his mother discovers his hidden stash of gay magazines. When he comes to New York City, Ben’s sexuality begins to feel less like a secret and more like a badge of honor.

Then Callum disappears, leaving Adam heartbroken, and Ben finds out his new world is more closed-minded than he thought. When Adam finally tracks Callum down, he learns the guy he loves is very ill. And in a chance meeting near the hospital where Callum is being treated, Ben and Adam meet, forever changing each other’s lives. As both begin to open their eyes to the possibilities of queer love and life, they realize sometimes the only people who can help you are the people who can really see you—in all your messy glory.

A love letter to New York and the liberating power of queer friendship, When You Call My Name is a hopeful novel about the pivotal moments of our youth that break our hearts and the people who help us put them back together.

Expected Publication: May 3, 2022

Review:

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

There is something so bittersweet about a love that you can never hang on to. When Adam falls for Callum he really believes they have a long time left together. When things change, Adam is left brokenhearted and must figure out where his life will go from here. Ben moves out of his mother's house after she finds his stash of queer magazines. He has to figure out what his life looks like now as an openly gay teen. When Adam and Ben meet they might just find out what life and friendship really mean and what being fully seen really feels like.

At its core, this story was really sweet. There were a lot of relationships in here that are very well done. Ben and Gil's friendship was my favorite. The love these two have for each other is so apparent and easily gushes out of the pages. Victor and Jack are two side characters that I fell completely in love with. I would love a book that focuses on their remaining time together.

What I didn't enjoy about this book is the pacing. I felt like the story dragged in numerous places which took me out of the story a little bit. When I hit these lulls in the story I had to take a step away and catch a breather. Had they have not been there I feel like I would have binged the entire book.

While this isn't a book I would reach for again I do think it's still a worthwhile read. It provides a glimpse into the past of what young gay individuals experienced during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We see them losing their friends and loved ones, dealing with their own fears contracting the deadly virus, and learning how to love and hope in such a dangerous time.

Ask For Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli REVIEW

 Ask For Andrea

by Noelle W. Ihli

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

Synopsis

James Carson has gotten away with murder three times.

The only thing that might stop him from killing again? The three women he murdered.

He hunted them online, masquerading as an eligible bachelor. Then he played the perfect gentleman, a thick layer of charm and a thousand-watt smile hiding the fact that his first dates end in shallow graves.

What James doesn’t know is that his three victims have found each other. And that they're coming for him.

Brecia, Meghan, and Skye might be dead, but they’re not gone. And they won’t rest until they find a way to keep him from killing again.

The haunt is on.

Expected Publication Date: April 15, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

First of all, Ask For Andrea is so damn delicious and binge worthy! I literally read it from start to finish in less than a 12 hour period.

In Ask For Andrea we follow Brecia, Meghan, and Skye. Three women who have been murdered but aren't quite as gone as the online predator James Carson thought. When the spirits of these women find each other they become a force James never saw coming. With heartbreaking situations and ice cold justice, Ask For Andrea is the perfect story of revenge from beyond the grave.

Did I mention how freaking good this book was? I was pulled under the spell of this hypnotic story from very early on. I went through so many emotions from heartbreak during the girls deaths, to a dark thrill when the girls finally decide to take revenge. This book was just so effing good, putting it down was not an option.

Ask For Andrea is a dark and exciting experience that will captivate you completely and leave you breathless.

How To Money by Jean Chatzky and Kathryn Tuggle REVIEW

 How to Money

by Jean Chatzky & Kathryn Tuggle

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

Synopsis

There’s no getting around it. You need to know how to manage money to know how to manage life — but most of us don’t! This illustrated guidebook from New York Times bestselling author and financial expert Jean Chatzky, Kathryn Tuggle, and their team at HerMoney breaks down the basics of money—how to earn it, manage it, and use it—giving you all the tools you need to take charge and be fearless with personal finance.

How to Money will teach you the ins and outs of:
-creating a budget (and sticking to it)
-scoring that first job (and what that paycheck means)
-navigating student loans (and avoiding student debt)
-getting that first credit card (and what “credit” is)
-investing like a pro (and why it’s important!)

All so you can earn more, save smart, invest wisely, borrow only when you have to, and enjoy everything you've got!

Expected Publication Date: May 10, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

How to Money is a great little book to educate and encourage smart habits when dealing with money. It is mainly geared towards young adults however I think this would be a good reference book for anyone who would like to learn the basics of finances. This book covers so many different aspects of finances from how to write checks to conversations with potential bosses at job interviews.

There is so much useful information in this book. I think this easy to follow how to guide should be in the hands of teens and young adults alike. If you are entering the work force or feel like you could use some more help with basic finances then this is the book you need.

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth REVIEW

 The Younger Wife

by Sally Hepworth

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Synopsis

THE HUSBAND
A heart surgeon at the top of his field, Stephen Aston is getting married again. But first he must divorce his current wife, even though she can no longer speak for herself.

THE DAUGHTERS
Tully and Rachel Aston look upon their father’s fiancée, Heather, as nothing but an interloper. Heather is younger than both of them. Clearly, she’s after their father’s money.

THE FORMER WIFE
With their mother in a precarious position, Tully and Rachel are determined to get to the truth about their family’s secrets, the new wife closing in, and who their father really is.

THE YOUNGER WIFE
Heather has secrets of her own. Will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses in all of them?

Expected Publication Date: April 5, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Have you ever read a book that just messed with your mind so much that you're not sure how to accurately describe what just happened? That's exactly how I feel right now.

This turned out to be a truly fascinating book. You don't know who to trust, you second guess things that happened and in the end you're still left asking what the f**k just happened! I can't wait to read something else by this author. I've heard of her before but this is my first experience reading her books and I'm in shock and awe.

Read this book if you're a fan of (1) family dramas, (2) multiple POV and (3) books that make you second guess everything you think you know.

Before I Let You Go by Kelly Rimmer REVIEW

 Before I Let You Go

by Kelly Rimmer

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Synopsis

The 2:00 a.m. call is the first time Lexie Vidler has heard her sister’s voice in years. Annie is a drug addict, a thief, a liar—and in trouble, again. Lexie has always bailed Annie out, given her money, a place to sleep, sent her to every kind of rehab. But this time, she’s not just strung out—she’s pregnant and in premature labor. If she goes to the hospital, she’ll lose custody of her baby—maybe even go to prison. But the alternative is unthinkable.

As weeks unfold, Lexie finds herself caring for her fragile newborn niece while her carefully ordered life is collapsing around her. She’s in danger of losing her job, and her fiancé only has so much patience for Annie’s drama. In court-ordered rehab, Annie attempts to halt her downward spiral by confronting long-buried secrets from the sisters’ childhood, ghosts that Lexie doesn’t want to face. But will the journey heal Annie, or lead her down a darker path?

Both candid and compassionate, Before I Let You Go explores a hotly divisive topic and asks how far the ties of family love can be stretched before they finally break.

Review

In full transparency, I went into this book completely blind. I didn't know anything about it and actually thought it was a thriller. One day I just grabbed it off the shelf and read it on a whim. After finishing the book I did read the synopsis. After reading it I don't think this book would have impacted me as much if I had of read the synopsis first. For that reason I do recommend going in blind, however if you are someone who requires trigger warnings I do recommend checking those out as there are a few of them.

Before I Let You Go is an exquisitely written family drama about two sisters, their past and their future. Lexie, who has a great job and an amazing fiancé, and Annie, who is pregnant and has a severe drug addiction that she's never quite been able to conquer. After not speaking for two years Lexie receives a 2 AM phone call from Annie saying she pregnant, something is wrong and the hospital is not an option. From there the two girls lives will intwine in ways that will test their love and trust in each other.

Holy crap on a cracker did this book ever get to me! My heart was totally and completely shattered. This beautifully written tragedy is written in a way that is raw and honest. In alternating view points, Lexie in the present and Annie in the past, we are taken through the journey of their lives from childhood to where they are now. Before I Let You Go is a heartbreaking story of addiction, family, pain and the ties that connect them together.

I recommend this to anyone who is looking for something honest and raw about real life issues. Before you read it, I strongly recommend grabbing some tissues.

You Should Have Seen This Coming by Shani Michelle REVIEW

 You Should Have Seen This Coming

by Shani Michelle

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Synopsis

Hayden sees the past. Just touching an object will occasionally give her flashes of the previous owner's memories. And if that memory happens to be a deeply hidden secret, then she has no problem making you pay for your crime, in cash.

Cassie sees the future, and it sucks. She will randomly wake up from dreams filled with disasters that she feels compelled to stop, and she would really like to stop watching her boyfriend fall in love with someone else!

But when Cassie tries to warn Hayden that her latest blackmailing scheme is a trap, she knows she's really in trouble. All her visions warn her of the upcoming kidnapping, nothing she does stops it. And it's all Hayden's fault!

Can Hayden's gift help her find Cassie before it's too late?

Expected Publication Date: April 12, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Hayden and Cassie are not friends. Hayden sees the past and uses her visions to blackmail her classmates. Cassie sees the future and uses her visions to help when she can. When helping Hayden gets Cassie kidnapped, Hayden must use her abilities to try and find Cassie before it's too late.

This was so much fun! This delicious fast-paced story hooked me from the first couple chapters. I devoured it! The POVs were easy to distinguish between which girl was narratoring which chapters. The transition between each girl was smooth. As a reader I found it easy to jump back and forth between girls.

I was completely hooked throughout most of the story. It wasn't until around the ending I started to lose interest. The entire story was interesting and a bit different, then it just flipped into the usual YA theatrics. I found near the ending to be just a bit too dramatic to for the story.

Overall, I recommend this one if you're interested in YA Mysteries. I would describe this one as a dark, psychic Nancy Drew.

The Whispers by Heidi Perks REVIEW

 The Whispers

by Heidi Perks

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Synopsis

Anna loves Girls’ Night with her friends. With the kids safely in bed, it’s a chance for the women to let loose, enjoy some wine, and just laugh. But after one lively evening, Anna doesn’t arrive for school drop-off the next morning—or the next, or the next.

Everyone, especially her husband and young son, are frantic with worry but none more so than Grace, her childhood best friend. Grace is certain that someone is hiding the truth about Anna’s unexplained disappearance. As rumors fly and accusations are whispered among neighbors, Grace decides to take matters into her own hands and find out what happened to Anna…or die trying.

Review

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Grace and Anna were closer than sisters, until they were 17 years old and Grace moved away with her family. Now 19 years later Grace has moved home and would love nothing more than to rekindle her friendship with Anna. However, Anna is standoffish and seems to prefer the company of her current friends than getting back their old friendship. One night Grace is invited out for drinks with Anna and her friends, that is the last night Anna has been seen by anybody. Now Grace must dig up all the clues she can find to figure out if something was done to her, if she had an accident or if she left on her own accord.

This was a very slow burn which isn't something I tend to enjoy. I have enjoyed it in certain books, however in this case I feel like it could have been sped up significantly. It reminded me of a soap opera where little twists are slotted to keep the interest of the consumer without disturbing the slow progression.

The story itself, was actually really good. I really enjoyed the unreliable narrator. I kept going back and forth from "oh this was predictable" to "no wait I was wrong" to "no I was right" and back again. I didn't like any of the characters and I didn't trust any of them. They were perfectly written for this story. Making them so unlikable increased the confusion on who could really be trusted and who has secrets they want to stay buried.

You should read this book if you're interested in:

- unreliable narrators
- toxic female friendships
- slow burns that unravel just enough to keep you reading

A Million Quiet Revolutions by Robin Gow REVIEW

 A Million Quiet Revolutions

by Robin Gow

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Synopsis

For as long as they can remember, Aaron and Oliver have only ever had each other. In a small town with few queer teenagers, let alone young trans men, they've shared milestones like coming out as trans, buying the right binders--and falling for each other.

But just as their relationship has started to blossom, Aaron moves away. Feeling adrift, separated from the one person who understands them, they seek solace in digging deep into the annals of America's past. When they discover the story of two Revolutionary War soldiers who they believe to have been trans man in love, they're inspired to pay tribute to these soldiers by adopting their names--Aaron and Oliver. As they learn, they delve further into unwritten queer stories, and they discover the transformative power of reclaiming one's place in history.

Expected Publication Date: March 22, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Million Quiet Revolutions is beautifully written. It's an absolutely gorgeous story about two trans boys who are finding themselves and growing in both life and love. It brings together the past and present to help paint the picture of the boys love for each other. The characters are multi-dimensional with flaws and imperfections showing them as whole and complex beings. The story, the writing, the imagery.. it's all stunning. What an incredibly written book.

Throughout the whole book we see the contrast between Oliver and Aaron's lives. One boy is accepted and supported by his friends and family, while the other boy is part of a family who refuses to acknowledge him as who he really is. The relationship between Oliver and his mom is so adorable. I was so thankful Oliver had a family who supported him even if they didn't understand what he was going through.

Written entirely in verse, A Million Quiet Revolutions is exactly the story you want when looking for a fresh taste of love and hope.

Daughter by Kate McLaughlin REVIEW

 Daughter

by Kate McLaughlin

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Synopsis

Scarlet’s life is pretty average. Overly protective mom. Great friends. Cute boy she’s interested in. And a father she’s never known – until she does.

When the FBI show up at Scarlet’s door, she is shocked to learn her father is infamous serial killer Jeffrey Robert Lake. And now, he’s dying and will only give the names and locations of his remaining victims to the one person, the daughter he hasn’t seen since she was a baby.

Scarlet’s mother has tried to protect her from Lake’s horrifying legacy, but there’s no way they can escape the media firestorm that erupts when they come out of hiding. Or the people who blame Scarlet for her father’s choices. When trying to do the right thing puts her life in danger, Scarlet is faced with a choice – go back into hiding or make the world see her as more than a monster’s daughter.

Kate McLaughlin’s Daughter is a novel about trying right deadly choices that were never yours to begin with.

Expected Publication Date: March 8, 2022
 

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Daughter is a deliciously disturbing novel about a girl who finds out her father is a psychopathic killer who will only give the names of his victims to her. He isn't just going to hand them over though, and what happens will leave you chilled and disturbed.

This was so good! It is well paced and packed with tension. I couldn't help but devour it as quickly as I possibly could. I was so invested in the communication between Scarlet and her father. The atmosphere is so creepy and unsettling it just puts you in a chokehold where you need the rest of the story.

Where this book lost a bit of momentum for me was at the end. Things went on a little long for me but that is just a personal preference. I prefer more of an abrupt ending with a couple lose ends rather than a clean, well explained ending.

Overall, I enjoyed this so much. Try this one if you're looking for a psychological thriller with a creepy psychopathic killer who also has a God complex.

Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein REVIEW

 Head Over Heels

by Hannah Orenstein

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Synopsis

The past seven years have been hard on Avery Abrams: After training her entire life to make the Olympic gymnastics team, a disastrous performance ended her athletic career for good. Her best friend and teammate, Jasmine, went on to become an Olympic champion, then committed the ultimate betrayal by marrying their emotionally abusive coach, Dimitri.

Now, reeling from a breakup with her football star boyfriend, Avery returns to her Massachusetts hometown, where new coach Ryan asks her to help him train a promising young gymnast with Olympic aspirations. Despite her misgivings and worries about the memories it will evoke, Avery agrees. Back in the gym, she’s surprised to find sparks flying with Ryan. But when a shocking scandal in the gymnastics world breaks, it has shattering effects not only for the sport but also for Avery and her old friend Jasmine.

Review

I enjoyed this book so much! I wasn't looking forward to reading it because I'd read it was a rom-com but I don't feel like that's accurate. Yes it did have romance, but I found it to be very understated and more of a subplot than a main focus.

The main focus was on the gymnastics. We get a glimpse into the lives of a gymnast training for Olympic tryouts. We get to see the hardwork and dedication required to pursue such a huge dream.

I really appreciate how this book also brought attention to sexual assault in gymnasts. However, I don't think this part of the book would be limiting to gymnasts. I feel like it spotlighted a different type of sexual assault that isn't talked about as much as it should be, the kind that is subtle and makes the assaulted actually question themselves if that really did happen.

There was only one part I thought could have been done a little better however, that is hard to get into without spoilers. It wasn't perfect, but it was pretty close.

I'd recommend this book to someone who is looking for a quick read with a good story and flawed characters.

Every Variable of Us by Charles A. Bush REVIEW

Every Variable of Us

by Charles A. Bush

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Synopsis:

After Philly teenager Alexis Duncan is injured in a gang shooting, her dreams of a college scholarship and pro basketball career vanish in an instant. To avoid becoming another Black teen trapped in her poverty-stricken neighborhood, she shifts her focus to the school's STEM team, a group of nerds seeking their own college scholarships. Academics have never been her thing, but Alexis is freshly motivated by Aamani Chakrabarti, the new Indian student who becomes her mentor (and crush?). Alexis begins to see herself as so much more than an athlete. But just as her future starts to reform, Alexis’s own doubts and old loyalties pull her back into harm’s way.

Expected Publication Date: March 1, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

All Alexis wants is to get out of her poverty-stricken neighborhood and she knows how she will do it, basketball. When she gets shot and ends up with a permanent injury preventing her from ever playing ball again her dreams of a scholarship are over. With the help of the new girl at school Alexis begins to shift her focus to academics in a final attempt to escape a future of fear and poverty.

This book was so heartbreaking. The author has a way of taking Alexis and really bringing her to life. She is a character you end up caring about and fearing for. So many times I was on edge just wishing that things would finally work out and she would be alright. Along with Alexis there was a whole cast of characters that were also wonderfully done. This story made me feel it all from laughter to fear. Every moment was like a loop on a roller coaster. I thought it was incredibly well written.

Two Nickels by Michael F. DeConzo REVIEW

Two Nickels

by Michael F. DeConzo

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Synopsis

Thirty-year-old Johnny Romano wants to be taken seriously, but the choices he makes—a one-man production of Waiting for Godot, a monumental sneeze in a cold syrup commercial, and a thirty-thousand-dollar gambling debt to Salvatore "Sally Toast" Tosterelli—have sabotaged his acting career. His bad decisions have, more importantly, put his four-and-a-half-year relationship with a woman he truly loves—soap opera star Laura Winters—on the edge of a cliff.

 
Through a botched car theft, Johnny meets Virgil Shepherd, street person and sometime porter for a bar on Hudson Street in Greenwich Village. Scribbling his poems on napkins from Dunkin Donuts, Virgil is convinced that he is the Roman poet who guided Dante through Hell. Johnny is convinced that he is crazy. But as their lives converge, Johnny begins to suspect that the mysterious Virgil may actually have an agenda of his own.

Set ten days before Christmas in 1997, Two Nickels follows this very unlikely pair through Manhattan (and a few choice spots on Staten Island) as they head toward the answer to a question that Johnny has done his best to avoid: What does it take for us to forgive ourselves and begin to heal?

Review

Thank you to the author for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed reading Two Nickels. I really liked how New York was described in enough detail to create easy visualization without becoming dense and bogged down with information overload. The story itself was a lot of fun. It was refreshing yet cozy. The details of characters and events were well written with a great balance of action, drama and humor. The entire book is incredibly well written.

I would classify this book as easy reading. It is not going to give you thrills and chills, but if you're looking for something to give your mind a break while you simply relax and enjoy then this is what you're looking for. It's light and fun and a great book for a relaxed and casual reading experience.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh REVIEW

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea

by Axie Oh

Synopsis

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…

Expected Publication Date: February 22, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

First, I want to take a minute to appreciate that absolutely beautiful cover! Wow, she is absolutely stunning!

As for the story, it's simply wonderful. The writing is beautiful and flows so wonderfully. Reading it felt like I was being carried through a magical dream with everything happening right in front of me. It was so easy to get lost in. The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea is the type of story that I had to savor because I didn't want it to end. I could have stayed in that world forever.

This is my first experience with Axie Oh and I can't wait to dive into another one of her worlds.

Just Right Jillian by Nicole D. Collier REVIEW

 Just Right Jillian

by Nicole D. Collier

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Synopsis

Fifth-grader Jillian will do just about anything to blend in, including staying quiet even when she has the right answer. After she loses a classroom competition because she won't speak up, she sets her mind on winning her school's biggest competition. But breaking out of her shell is easier said than done, and Jillian has only a month to keep her promise to her grandmother and prove to herself that she can speak up and show everyone her true self.

A warm and relatable middle-grade debut novel about family, friendship, and finding the confidence to break free from the crowd and be who you truly are.

Publication Day: Feb 1, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Jillian promised her grandmother she would try to be a little less shy. When the perfect opportunity arises at school Jillian decides to do her absolute very best to come out of her shell and show everyone how smart she really is.

This book is one of the sweetest middle grade books I've read. The story just warms you from the inside out. What I really liked about this book is the issues the characters face (and no I'm not just talking about being shy) are addressed in a way that is suitable for the middle grade child while still being enjoyable and relatable for a slightly older audience. With an adorable cast and heartwarming relationships Just Right Jillian belongs on every middle graders bookshelf.