Tag Archives: read in 2026

Small Town Romance – Savage Consequences by Amanda Siegrist #amandasiegrist #savageconsequences

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Amanda Siegrist found me some years ago and I am happy she did. The more of her work I read, the more I enjoy her writing. She has developed her craft well. loving romance, suspense and happy ever afters.

Savage Consequences was originally written as Sunrise Awakening. It was the first book Amanda ever wrote. It is now the fifth book in the Consequences series. I loved it then, and I love it now. Seeing I read so many novels, it’s easy to entertain me with one I have read before, especially when it has been edited and story things are changed.

I love novels that take place in small towns. So let’s start by meeting Officer Jake Anders. He escaped the big city and left his tragic past behind. The thing is, you can’t run away from your post. It follows you wherever you go. And, murder can happen anywhere.

Jake, literally, bumped into Maddie, the local librarian. Instalove? Instant attraction? Does it matter? It doesn’t take long before danger rears its ugly head and it circles around Maddie.

Jo is an interesting character. She has a habit of spouting random facts.

Weird things begin happening to Maddie. As with most romantic suspense novels, she hesitates telling Jake about them. We all know that she should seek help. Jake does, eventually, put his foot down. Someone will be with her at all times. The scenario is one of my pet peeves about romantic suspense novels. It is hard to avoid it, but Amanda had a fine way of dealing with the don’t go into the woods dilemma.

Claire…an excellent twist. I had my suspicions, but I didn’t quite get to that conclusion. i love when an author can surprise me. Get me so lost in thestory that I am eager for the next word, the next sentence, the next paragraph, making me want to flip ahead, though I never allow myself to do so.

The ending….the dratted cliffhanger. To find out what happens next, we’ll be reading Lucas and Elle’s story.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

At some point you have to face the consequences.

Small-town Officer Jake Anders thought he’d found peace after escaping his horrific past. Then savage murders rock his quiet town, each more brutal than the last. Walking away isn’t in his nature. Neither is falling for a woman with secrets.

Maddie, the beautiful librarian remodeling the local library, captured his heart with one sweet smile. As Jake digs deeper into the murders, a chilling pattern Maddie is at the center of it all. He vows to keep her safe, but she’s hiding something. And the more he presses, the more she pulls away.

With each brutal discovery, Jake realizes the killer is closer than he imagined, circling Maddie with deadly intent. She won’t tell him what she’s concealing from him, but he’ll do anything to protect her, even if it pushes her away to keep her alive. Because nothing will stop him from finding this killer. Nothing.

Perfect for readers who love small-town suspense with deadly secrets and heart-stopping romance. One-click Savage Consequences to discover the explosive truth today!


Please This book was previously published as Sunrise Awakening. It’s been heavily edited and quite a few parts of the story has changed.

  • Genre: Fiction, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Thriller
  • 268 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published June 9, 2026 by Amanda Siegrist

ABOUT AMANDA SIEGRIST

Amanda Siegrist

Love! Gimme some love and heaps of romance. I have a sappy heart that just loves two people meeting, going through the cycles of a relationship, and ultimately, falling in love. Give me a good book like that and I’m a happy camper:)

I write contemporary and romantic suspense, but I am partial to suspense. I just love a good mystery.

Besides writing, I love baking, crafts, and baseball…oh, and meeting new people. *smiles*

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook / Instagram

MY AMANDA SIEGRIST REVIEWS

 

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Does Hell Have Email – I Hope This Email Finds You In Hell by Mackenzie Reed #mackenziereed

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I Hope This Email Finds You in Hell immediately whet my appetite. I had to know what Mackenzie Reed has to share. How about you? Can a title draw you in? A cover?

Want to go to Hell? The entrance is in Times Square,. So, after seeing her boss doing an exorcism in the office, Brie demands he take her with him to rescue her coworker and friend, who has been by her side since her parents death.

Battling demons may not be romantic, but working together can cause a sense of familiarity and bring them closer together. I do love a little fun with my danger, and, we do have a little romance. I Hope This Email Finds You In Hell by Mackenzie Reed is not a mind blowing read, but I enjoyed my time with the characters and would recommend it, if you are looking for a fun, easy reading and entertaining book.

3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

When staying late at the office leads to witnessing an exorcism, Brie Benson’s mundane life takes a hellish turn…literally.

After her parents’ death, twenty-seven-year-old Brie has mastered the art of compartmentalization to survive her mind-numbing routine as a receptionist at a life insurance company. But when she accidentally catches her hot, uptight boss, Luke, performing an exorcism on Debra from accounting, her carefully ordered world implodes.

Swearing Brie to secrecy, Luke reveals he’s from a line of demon hunters and that demonic activity is spiking. But when her emotional support coworker vanishes, Brie is determined to find her. With nothing left to lose, she convinces Luke to let her join his rescue mission.

The problem? Their destination is hell. And the entrance is in Times Square.

Now Brie and Luke must navigate a corporate underworld of monsters and bureaucratic nightmares while racing to save their colleague and repair a tearing veil between worlds. All before their growing feelings become irrelevant and hell claims them forever.

  • Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Romance, Romantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural
  • 351 pages, Kindle Edition
  • First published September 1, 2026 by Berkley

ABOUT MACKENZIE REED

Mackenzie Reed is the author of the young adult novels The Rosewood Hunt, The Wilde Trials, and Worse Than the Others, and the adult novel I Hope This Email Finds You in Hell. She cultivated her love of storytelling at Nazareth College, where she graduated with a BA in communication and media. A native of upstate New York, she can usually be found spending time with her family, trying to outwalk her plot holes, and living out her authorly dream of writing in local cafes. Visit her online at mackenziemreed.com.

Website

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Dark Paranormal Romance – Pride: Kneel Before None by Sadie Winchester #sadiewinchester #pride

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Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Welcome To Suburbia. Pride: Kneel Before None by Sadie Winchester is the first book in the Infernal Virtures series that cover the Seven Deadly Sins. If all the rest of the stories are as good as Pride, I hope to get a chance to read them all. Each story is written by a different author.

Pride is a dark paranormal romance and I do love walking on the dark side. Ace is a demon casino owner. Eve is a precognitive and Ace has foreseen her appearance, so when she walked in the casino, he knew she would be his. Eve had come to his casino to save her brother. She felt confident she could win the blackjack tournament and hoped to buy his freedom with the winnings.

The romance is steamy. I expected that and much of the book was what I expected and hoped for, drawing me in from the opening pages. I enjoy the enemies to lovers dance. There are enough twists and turns to keep me on my toes and whets my appetite for the next book in the series, Envy by B J Wolff.

My thanks go out to Sadie Winchester for the opportunity to read Pride, and the introduction to the Infernal Virtues series.

 

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Welcome to Superbia. A city where sins are celebrated as virtues, and monsters no longer hide in the shadows. All manner of creatures revel in the pride of their true natures beneath neon lights.

EVE
Did you know the odds of beating the house are one hundred to zero when you’re the hottest precognitive since… well, ever?
I did.
Every gamble was mine to win until I walked into Sevenfold Casino.
That was my first mistake.
My second? Underestimating Ace Reynard, its arrogant owner.
Ace wasn’t just a demon I hadn’t seen coming, he was the blind spot I never knew existed.
All I wanted was enough money to buy my brother’s freedom.
Instead, I wagered far more, putting my body and my life at Ace’s mercy.
Until he cracked the mirror I’d spent my entire life believing reflected only me.

ACE
Knights of Hell aren’t known for patience.
I waited anyway.
For more than two years, I watched the future unfold one vision at a time, knowing my Little Spade would eventually walk through the doors of Sevenfold Casino.
She wasn’t just another pretty face.
My power recognized hers long before we met, and every instinct I possessed demanded that I claim what fate had already promised was mine.
What I didn’t expect was for destiny to be holding cards of its own.
Fate brought her to my table.
I simply made sure the house always won.

  • Genre: Dark, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural
  • 360 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published September 25, 2026

ABOUT SADIE WINCHESTER

A dark romance author, Sadie Winchester is looking forward to sharing the stories living in her head rent-free with the rest of the world. She writes across a variety of sub-genres, including mafia romance and paranormal romance.

During her high school years, she fell in love with writing short stories which continued on/off into adulthood. Finally, she decided to pursue her dream in 2023, and the rest is history.

Sadie lives in the Pine Barrens with her husband and son. When she’s not reading and writing, she enjoys spending time outdoors, sipping local brews, and binge-watching her favorite shows.

Website

MY SADIE WINCHESTER REVIEWS

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Good Vs Evil – The Devil Knows Her Name by C N Vair #cnvair #netgalley #cnvair #thedevilknowshername

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Witch battles devil's century-old pact to protect her loved ones

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love the title, The Devil Knows Her Name by C N Vair. It definitely caught my attention, so I had to grab a copy and find out for myself what it means. It is an appropriate title and it is true. The devil does know Tess Wynne. When she died, she made a deal with the devil, and once a year he returns and offers her more power so he can get a foothold in the human world. So far, she has not succumbed to his pleas.

“I would do anything to live, I thought. I was desperate and the devil heard me.”

Tess runs a wildlife sanctuary and uses her magic to protect it from human influence.

A new pastor comes to town and wants the land her sanctuary stands on.

C N Vair is a new author for me, and she did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Tess Wynne. The story was suitably dark and gruesome, as any battle with a demon would be. The good versus evil scenario plays out and…you will need to find out for yourself.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In the isolated Appalachian town of Burrsville, Tess Wynne lives in precious quiet. Having been left for dead a century earlier, Tess made a deal with the devil to stay in the only home she’s known. Tending to her wildlife sanctuary, she keeps the land and its people safe — pulling on spidering threads of ancient magic, trying to preserve the balance of nature against the encroaching ravages of human influence. But, every autumn, the devil returns, offering Tess more power in exchange for a foothold into the human world. And, every autumn, Tess refuses.

As Tess prepares her wildlife sanctuary for the winter, an unexpected addition to Burrsville catches the locals’ attention. Freshly arrived Zeke Abdee, the town’s new pastor, begins to sinisterly mold the townspeople to his will.

With everyone slowly turning on Tess, Pastor Zeke is determined to stake his claim on the very land where Tess keeps her sanctuary. Cornered, a desperate Tess pushes her magic to the darkest edges. All the while, the devil bides his time, waiting for Tess to decide if she will be prey — or predator…

  • Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Gothic, Horror, Mystery, Witches
  • 360 pages, Hardcover
  • Published August 25, 2026 by Berkley

ABOUT C N VAIR

C.N. Vair (she/her) is a horror and dark fantasy author living in Western New York. A former journalist, she’s interested in the history and haunted corners of small towns, the magic and malice of the natural world, and power in all its forms. When she’s not writing, you can find her wandering in woods and cemeteries, growing poisonous plants in her garden, or spending time with her husband and dogs.

Website

 

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    Review – Bring Them Home by Carolyn Arnold #carolynarnold #BringThemHome #NetGalley

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    Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    Bring Them Home by Carolyn Arnold is the sixteenth book in the Amanda Steele series. Amanda Steele is the complete package for a mystery series, a not so perfect woman who loves her work and her adopted daughter, Zoe. She doesn’t have a relationship going on, right now, but…

    In Bring them Home by Carolyn Arnold, the mystery hits close to home when one of the kidnapped victims is Zoe’s school teacher. Amanda struggles between work and motherhood, and protecting Zoe is at the top of her list of things to do.

    Amanda and her partner, Trent, have some great dialogue. Their brainstorming the what ifs of the mystery make for some great reading. The sexual tension between them is not to be denied. Will they ever come together and have the relationship I feel they both deserve? They already make a fantastic team.

    I know a lot of people don’t care for Prologues and Epilogues, but I love them. Prologues can set the hook early, and Carolyn Arnold gets me every time. Her Epilogues make me eager for the next book to come. If you are looking for an easy to read police procedural, you can’t go wrong with a Carolyn Arnold book. Even though Detective Amanda Steele is a series, each book can stand alone.

    My thanks go out to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to share Bring Them Home by Carolyn Arnold.

    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    She’d never been this terrified but she refused to let it show, to give her captors more power. As she was led out of the van with her parents, she stifled a cry. Ahead of her was an old farm, surrounded by fields. There was no one for miles around. No one to hear the screams that would inevitably come.

    When a seemingly ordinary family goes missing in plain sight, Detective Amanda Steele is called in to find them before it’s too late. The only evidence left behind is the mother’s abandoned car in a mall parking lot—her phone and purse on the front seat. But why would anyone target a loving mother, a dedicated father and elementary schoolteacher, and a teenage girl?

    Amanda and Trent speak with friends and family but can’t unearth any reason the family would disappear on their own. Their darker suspicion is confirmed when they find CCTV footage of the mother and daughter being bundled into an unmarked black van, driven away at speed. They are looking at an abduction.

    Soon charred remains are discovered in a field outside of town, and Amanda uncovers a lead that could blow the investigation wide open. If she’s right, this case is linked to a woman who went missing ten years ago—and closer still, to someone within the police department. But can Amanda and Trent put all the pieces together in time to stop a twisted killer before more lives are lost?

    A completely gripping and pulse-pounding crime thriller, perfect for fans of Kendra Elliott, Robert Dugoni and Mary Burton.

    • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Police Procedural, Suspense, Thriller
    • 342 pages, Kindle Edition
    • Published August 27, 2026 by Bookouture
    • Series: Detective Amanda Steele #16

    ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

    CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

    Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

    She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

    MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

     

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    After Dusk – After Alex by R M Demeester #rmdemeester #afteralex #afterdusk

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    Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    I have missed some of the After Dusk books, but I do know Gia, so I was glad to get my hands on After Alex and find out how Gia is doing since she hooked up with Alex.

    It has been four years since the death of Alex’s daughter and the end of his marriage to Valarie. Instead of their daughter’s death drawing them together, it drove them apart.

    Gia was a high class call girl and Alex was her bodyguard. It is not surprising that they fell in love and wanted to get out of the dangerous world of drugs and underground clubs they were living in, but the past isn’t done with them.

    When Gia and his ex wife, Valarie are taken Alex was determined to make everyone involved pay. He felt he had everything to lose and everything to gain, which makes him a very dangerous man.

    So, buckle your seatbelt because this is gonna be a wild ride.

    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    Could Alex Roberts lose everything again?

    Four years after the death of his daughter and the collapse of his marriage, Alex has finally rebuilt his life. With Gia, he has found something stability, passion, and a future he never thought he’d have again. But the past isn’t finished with him.
    When his ex-wife Valarie leaves a chilling note in the condo he shares with Gia, Alex knows she’s back. And she isn’t just looking for closure, she’s unpredictable. As the threat grows, so does the guilt Alex thought he had buried. He still feels responsible for Valarie and everything that went wrong. Gia sees it too. She feels him slipping, piece by piece, into the wreckage of a life he barely survived.

    Now Alex must face the woman he couldn’t save or risk losing the one who saved him.

    • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Romance
    • 161 pages, Kindle Edition
    • Published October 24, 2025 by Thorned Heart Press
    • Series: After Dark #4

    ABOUT R M DEMEESTER

    R.M. Demeester, from Saskatchewan, loves being a mom, reading books, and writing. She’s been writing since she was very young. Today, she’s known for her stories in women’s fiction, romantic suspense, and thrillers. She also has a rescue dog named Gainer, a chocolate lab who passed away recently, but is still very much loved and missed. Her newest book, “The Girl Once Known”, comes out in February 2024.

    MY R M DEMEESTER REVIEWS

     

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    Review – This Never Happened by Kent Heckenlively #thisneverhappened #kentheckenlively @pumpupyourbook

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    Amazon / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    I was not familiar with any of Kent Heckenlively’s books…until I got my hands on a copy of This Never Happened. This book was a fabulous surprise.

    Heidi Scherzinger is a working girl, but she is not your average call girl. She is Chicago’s most infamous call girl and she is in Sonny Battaglia’s, the country’s most powerful Mob boss, sights. He makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Get out of town and relocate to Washington DC. Can you guess where this is going?

    This is a Watergate style romp through the bedrooms of Washington DC. Whoever holds the information has the power.

    I really enjoyed my time with Heidi. Kudos to Ken for a ‘lively’ adventure. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more of his work.

    4 Stars

    AMAZON SYNOPSIS

    Heidi Scherzinger is just a typical working girl in Chicago in 1972. Well, maybe not so typical. In fact, she’s running Chicago’s most successful independent call girl outfit when she’s summoned to meet with Sonny Battaglia, the country’s most powerful Mob boss.

    The other local call girl agencies are complaining about her success, so Sonny offers her a deal: either she gets whacked, or she relocates to Washington, D.C., where she’ll be working for the “Agency” under the control of the creepy Sidney Gottshalk, the resident blackmail specialist.

    The Agency wants blackmail material on all the horny Democrats flooding the Capitol in the run-up to the presidential election, trying to defeat President Nicholas Dixon as he runs for a second term.

    The always efficient Heidi quickly sets up a first-class operation, aided by the quietly competent Milton Greenbaum. What follows is a Florence Gump-style adventure through a 1970s Washington, D.C., that might be just a little different than the version you read about in your history books.

    • Genre: Fiction, Political, Suspense, Thriller
    • 406 pages, Paperback
    • Published June 23, 2026 by Manhattan Book Group

    ABOUT KENT HECKENLIVELY

    When I was fourteen years old I submitted my first story to ANALOG magazine, devoted to short science fiction stories. My story did not get accepted, but I did get a gentle rejection letter which told me to keep writing. In college I wrote my first novel, spent many years writing screenplays, and eventually ran across a story I thought I could turn into a non-fiction story. That was PLAGUE, co-authored with Dr. Judy Mikovits.

    In between writing, I worked a summer for a United States Senator, spent two summers chasing bad guys at the United States Attorney’s Office, and spent six weeks in a virus lab where I worked with Ebola.

    In college I was a double major in English and Political Science, served as Head of our Model United Nations team, and was our school’s Rhodes Scholar Candidate. In law school I was a writer and editor for law review, and also won top honors in our Mock Trial class.

    I worked as a lawyer with my dad for several years, then found myself drawn to my original love of science and became a science teacher. Now I get to teach science during the day and write about it at night.

     

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    Review – Nearshore by Steve Hawk #netgalley #stevehawk #nearshore

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    A gripping coastal debut of humanity, power, and looming catastrophe

    Amazon / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    Do surfing and nuclear bombs go hand in hand? They do in Nearshore by Steve Hawk. It reeks of possibilities. Our current reality makes Steve Hawk’s novel read as truth. How isolated are we as a country and as individuals? Words versus actions? It seems to me like many things are possible that we, as a people, would never thought a reality. How much of terrorism is home grown?

    It seems to be more plot than character driven, but I found myself rooting for the good guys. In books like Nearshore, there are a lot of details that can, at times, cause this action story to bog down.

    All in all, the story kept me involved and I would consider reading more of Steve Hawk’s work.

    My thanks go out to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the opportunity to share my review for Nearshore by Steve Hawk.

     

    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    “Nearshore is the best novel of homegrown nuclear terrorism yet written, chillingly credible, terrifying, and all too plausible.”
    — Richard Rhodes, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Making of the Atomic Bomb

    “An exceptionally thoughtful literary thriller. In the depth and breadth of its story, in the lyricism of its prose, Nearshore will surely establish Steve Hawk as a writer to be reckoned with.”
    — Kem Nunn, author of Tapping the Source, Dogs of Winter, and Tijuana Straits

    “Engrossing, graceful, and transporting, this is a terrific—if terrifying—tale of near apocalypse.”
    — Publisher’s Weekly


    Daybreak, West Virginia: A “small” nuclear bomb detonates beside an Appalachia highway. The weapon’s explosive yield is meager, the death count blessedly low. And yet—it is history’s first act of nuclear terrorism, and it threatens to tilt the world beyond reckoning.

    Months later, surfer and lifeguard Jamie Palmer is patrolling his domain, a treacherous stretch of wild California coast, when he responds to a mysterious nearshore boating accident that has jettisoned two people overboard. The victims turn out to be Palmer’s best friend—a brilliant, renegade Stanford University professor—and the man’s teenage son, Luca. The professor drowns, Luca survives—leaving Palmer the boy’s guardian.

    Soon after, Chelsea Wu, a math prodigy and doctoral student, confides to Palmer that she and the professor unearthed a link between a Silicon Valley megacorporation, its sociopathic billionaire founder, and the nuke in West Virginia. When a second device is detonated, this unlikely team—the surfer, the orphan, and the math whiz—must persuade investigators that the bombmakers are not only homegrown, but also hiding in plain sight.

    An immersive and disturbingly plausible debut, Nearshore delivers a mix of literary suspense and coastal noir. Moving with the speed of a barreling wave, Nearshore also explores deeper clashes: isolation versus community and family, Silicon Valley versus humanity, words versus action, land versus sea.

    • Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Literary, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
    • 352 pages, Hardcover
    • Published August 18, 2026 by Viking

    ABOUT STEVE HAWK

    Steve Hawk began his writing career as a newspaper reporter. He would go on to spent eight years as editor of Surfer magazine, six years as executive editor of Sierra (the magazine of the Sierra Club), and five years as editor of Stanford Business magazine.

    He also worked as a writer and consultant on the fictional HBO series John From Cincinnati. He is the author of Waves, a coffee-table book about the aesthetics and physics of ocean waves, and recently ghost-wrote a book (due out in the summer of 2027) for his brother, Tony, that celebrates the history and culture of skateboarding.

    He has been surfing for nearly 60 years, and is one of a one of a handful of people to have ridden waves on all seven continents. He lives with his family near Half Moon Bay, California, where he spends as much time as possible frolicking in the ocean. Nearshore is his first novel.

    Website

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    Romantasy – Immortal Rose by Alexandra Bracken #alexandrabracken #immortalrose #netgalley

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    immortal

     

    immortal

    Amazon / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    I love the cover for Immortal Rose, but it is the author that made me request a copy of the book from NetGalley. It’s eye catching…and I do love a good fantasy. It’s a long book, but if I love a book, I want it to keep on going. BUT, I have grown to hate cliffhangers, unless I already have the books necessary to finish the series. I read so many books, it will get lost in the shuffle.

    Viola Lockwood is a fantastic character. She’s strong and has morals that make her a trustworthy person. She is the last of a family of member of the Rosebourne family. Her being a fairy has given her the gift that enables her to infuse a perfume with magic. Of course, if something can be used for good, it can also be used for bad.

    Hugh Thornton is the person responsible for her being imprisoned, because she is the only person who can help, when the kingdom is left vulnerable to a coup. Their attraction to each other builds as the danger heightens. The romance is slow burning.

    I have read some of Alexandra Bracken’s work, so I felt confident that Immortal Rose wouldn’t let me down. The writing flows smoothly and the depth and detail of Viola and Hugh’s world bring the story to life. It’s not always easy to know who to love/hate, but I do love when a character struggles to redeem themselves. All in all, I can highly recommend Immortal Rose, but BEWARE, I knock off a star when there is a cliffhanger. I didn’t know it was going to be a duology. Would that have made a difference? It’s hard to say, because I love Alexandra’s writing style so much, I grab whatever I see.

     

    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    From Alexandra Bracken, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lore, comes a stunningly original adult fantasy. Set in a sumptuous world ruled by magical perfume, this achingly romantic, slow-burn love story will shatter your heart and leave you breathless.

    Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.

    When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.

    Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers.

    As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen.

    But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.

    This deluxe limited hardcover edition features beautiful stenciled edges and illustrated endpapers —available on the first printing only!

    • Genre: Enemies To Lovers, Fae, Fantasy, Fiction, Romance
    • 489 pages, Kindle Edition
    • First published August 18, 2026
    • Series: Immortal Rose Duology #1

    ABOUT ALEXANDRA BRACKEN (from Amazon)

    Alexandra Bracken is the #1 New York Times and internationally best-selling author of The Darkest Minds series and Lore. Born and raised in Arizona, she moved east to study English and History at The College of William & Mary in Virginia. Her work has been adapted for feature film and is available across the world in more than twenty languages.

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    Hero Or Traitor – Fighting For Lucy by Jane Blythe #JaneBlythe #fightingforlucy

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    Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    Anybody that knows Jane Blythe’s work, knows she puts her characters through some of the most horrendous situations, and Fighting For Lucy is no exception. It picks up where Fighting For Scarlett shared a tease, but each characters story reaches a happy ever after before she sends the next characters on their perilous adventures.

    A plane crash in the Mexican jungle? That can’t be good. Even worse, Lucy is stuck with her brother’s friend, Zander Madden. Zander, a former Delta Force operator, carries a lot of emotional baggage. His teammates had been killed, and, even though he was taken prisoner, he survived, and craves revenge.

    Can he put all that aside and save Lucy?

    I love that Lucy is a strong character with epilepsy. It adds an extra element to her personality and her determination to survive, no matter what. She uses physical fitness to compensate, but being an adrenaline junky could make you wonder if she has a death wish.

    I love romantic suspense novels and Jane Blythe is a master of the genre. Sure, some things are predictable, but that’s okay. That’s the nature of the beast. The romance is forever and the danger makes them earn their happy ever after. So, be sure and fasten your seatbelt because this is going to be a very bumpy ride.

    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    Is she lost with a hero or a traitor?

    Having her plane crash in the Mexican jungle would be bad enough for Lucy Elrod if the man she was stuck with wasn’t her best friend’s supposedly dead brother. On the run from a weapon’s trafficker determined to get the formula for a new drug out of her, Lucy will do whatever it takes to stay alive, even if that means ending the life of her friend’s brother for real this time.

    Former Delta Force operator Zander Madden lost everything. The only thing he has to live for is revenge. The darkness inside him urges him to do anything to avenge his fallen teammates, and he’ll have to decide how far he’s willing to go and what he’s prepared to sacrifice to do it. Can he allow himself to let Lucy’s light guide him or will he wind up snuffing it out?

    • Genre: Fiction, Military, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Thriller
    • 298 pages, Kindle Edition
    • Published July 16, 2024

    ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

    USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane’s most popular series includes Saving SEALs, part of Susan Stoker’s OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker’s world. When Jane isn’t binge-reading she’s counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!

    Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

    MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

    • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
    • You can see my Reviews HERE.
    • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
    • Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
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