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The One Who Undid Me

Austin Heat, #1

by

Amari Nylix

 

Spicy-hot read for after the kids go to bed!

 

The One Who Undid Me is the debut novel in author Amari Nylix’s spicy-hot Texas-set romance series, Austin Heat, and the HEAT promised in the title is definitely delivered. The two main characters are both trying to leave their pasts behind them, looking for authenticity in their lives; however, each keeps secrets from the other.

Jake Skyler, the up-and-coming NFL quarterback, is trying to move beyond his frivolous playboy-party-hearty reputation and become the leader his team needs and a successful career demands. Rakell McCarthy plans to leave behind her former profession as a very exclusive and very expensive escort for the rich and famous to pursue a legitimate modeling and acting career. Neither one was planning to meet the one person who makes their hearts pound and senses race, but there they are. She has no idea he is a celebrity quarterback who attracts women like a magnet. He hasn’t a clue she’s a highly sought-after companion to some of Europe’s wealthiest men. They only know each other from working out at the same Austin gym and regular people.

For Jake, his attraction to Rakell is immediate, and while she is flattered by the attention of the handsome guy, it takes her some time to warm up to him and override the caution she’s maintained to exit her former career by the end of the year. Their banter is lively, with Jake often on the receiving end of her barbed comments.

The characters, especially Rakell, have quite developed and complex backstories, and readers will get a good understanding of what is important to them and what makes them tick. Neither Jake nor Rakell seems to have experienced a normal dating life; even Jake’s early dating was as a popular high school quarterback and without the stress of much rejection or effort. They are often awkward with each other early on and their verbal sparring, while flirty and full of innuendo, seemed like unfamiliar ground to both. Their uncertainty made them seem more human and more relatable, and then the fact is their chemistry sizzles and eventually ignites. But they still have secrets they put off revealing to each other that lurk at the edges of their relationship and threaten to destroy their gradually growing trust and love. And the longer they wait to tell all, the worse the consequences could be. The suspense kept me greatly invested in the outcome.

I enjoyed the various settings, most specifically the familiarity of Austin, Texas, and the exotic allure of Santorini. The story provides both the comfort of a hometown and the excitement of distant and fabled destinations. The storytelling is compelling and easy to read, and though the language is blunt and raw at times, it rings true to the characters’ ages, experiences, and lifestyles. I did feel the build-up went a little long, though; a lot of ground is covered. Surprisingly, the story does not wrap up completely, leaving readers with important questions unanswered, questions that will hopefully be answered in subsequent books in the series.

I recommend THE ONE WHO UNDID ME to readers of spicier romances who enjoy a football theme or a Texas setting.

 

For this and other book reviews, visit my blog Boys' Mom Reads!

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Venality

by

Vontae Jones

 

A riveting vision of a dystopian future and one young woman’s struggle to survive and safeguard her young brother.

 

Venality by Vontae Jones is a dark and brooding yet riveting vision of a dying, dystopian future Earth, where the powerful few are protected, and the rest are only pawns in their efforts to get more of whatever they want. The story follows the exploits of a small group of these others, hiding in the shadowed fringes of society, who have decided to grab a piece of the pie by whatever means necessary. The results are explosive beyond their wildest dreams and kept me enthralled every step of their journey. 

The main characters, Takara Matsumoto and her younger brother, Riku, are living on borrowed time after narrowly escaping the assassins who killed their parents. Takara loves Riku and has devoted her existence to keeping him safe. When the money she was able to grab as they fled the Rashiki soldiers ran out, she reluctantly joined a band of talented thieves led by a mysterious masked leader known as Ace. The author sets up a moral dilemma for Takara as the group’s actions go against everything she stands for. However, a week of watching Riku go hungry breaks her commitment and forces her to compromise. The author doesn’t allow her doubts to just magically disappear either, as this character continues to struggle with what is expected of her as part of the team until she reaches a moral point of no return. 

Young Riku is in awe of his sister and completely enamored of their new circumstances. I thought he and Jester made an adorable couple; their scenes together were fun and heartwarming. Vex was charming but weak and damaged by his past. Icarus is much the same but seethes with constant anger. Ace is an enigma, and I had difficulty warming up to this character. I also had trouble finding any redemptive support for the group’s various plots and plans. But an incredibly surprising twist later explains everything. 

Despite my unease over their motives, methods, and resulting mayhem, the plans in motion are riveting reading. The author has a flair for crafting exciting action scenes with well-choreographed, vivid, and easily visualized fight sequences. The story is well-paced and absorbing, and it kept me reading as long as my time allowed. The ending is nothing like anything I’ve encountered before; I never saw that coming. 

Although this is the author’s debut novel, it felt much more polished than that. There is room for additional editing to address awkward or incorrect word choices and usage, repetition (e.g., simper), and mistakes involving homophones. 

I recommend VENALITY to readers of young adult dystopian fiction. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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River of Wrath

St. Benedict, #2

by

Alexandra Weis and Lucas Astor

 

Exciting, with a palpable feeling of foreboding from the first page!

 

Months after the events of Halloween night and the death of the psychotic scion of the wealthy and influential Devereaux family, the bones of another young woman are found half-buried in the sand of the beach of the Bogue Falaya River in St. Benedict, Louisiana. Discovered after the deaths of several local high school students, residents are scared. But Leslie Moore, whose twin sister, Dawn, was one of the victims, and her friends, Sara, Kelly, and Taylor, know more than they're telling about what's happening in the formerly sleepy little town. 

As the pressure of keeping their secret takes its toll on the four girls, a new boy arrives in town, and he's eager to make new friends and seemingly learn all he can about the Devereauxs, especially Gage, the current head of the family. But when one more young woman is found dead at the river's edge, rumors fly, and suspicions start to take over. Is Luke Cross who he says he is? And does the girls' paranoia perhaps have a foothold in reality? It certainly feels to Leslie like she's being watched. 

River of Wrath is the sequel to River of Ashes and is the second book in the Alexandra Weis and Lucas Astor co-penned St. Benedict series. From the first page, there is an uneasy atmosphere in the town, and revelations from the main character, Leslie Moore, will undoubtedly establish the 'why?' But menace and foreboding continue to creep across every page as an unknown entity stalks Leslie and her friends. 

The book is an ultimate page-turner, and you don't need to have read the first book to enjoy this one. However, the setup in River of Ashes provides a clearer understanding of the existing relationships and the trauma experienced before the current action, making for a more satisfying story overall. The authors have created a believable small town in southeastern Louisiana, populated by an entire community. Even with the plethora of characters, the book is easy to read and follow, and the pages seemed to fly by as the story unfolded. As a bonus, I want to compliment the creators on the eye-catching book cover and the atmospheric graphics on each chapter's first page, giving the impression of peering into the trees edging the Bogue Falaya or surrounding the abbey. 

The characters engaged me immediately. Leslie, grieving the loss of her twin and feeling some responsibility for her death, is also neck-deep in regret over her complicity in what happened to Beau Devereaux. In addition, she's confused by her attraction to Luke and conflicted about her decision to break things off with her longtime boyfriend, Derek, who isn't making it any easier. Taylor is obsessed with the Devereaux family's background, seeking the key to understanding what happened to her and the others. Sara, confident and callous, is self-absorbed and self-serving, while Kelly is fearful. They are all slowly falling apart. The reader is a spectator to the waking nightmare the girls' lives have become since the events of book one. 

The feeling of foreboding is palpable throughout, and shocking twists and turns make for an exciting story you won't want to put down. I recommend RIVER OF WRATH to readers who enjoy contemporary young adult thrillers that have a touch of the paranormal and fans of the previous book in the series. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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Part of the Solution

by

Elana Michelson

 

Intriguing flashback to the 70s mystery.

 

Part of the Solution by Elana Michelson is a fun new novel, part mystery and part love letter to the late 1970s wind-down of the counterculture of the 60s, with both goals well met. When Professor Jennifer Morgan comes face-to-face with her former lover, Detective Ford McDermott, in the lobby of a Boston conference hotel, more than forty years after they parted ways, they agree to meet later that evening for a drink and a good catch-up. But while she awaits their reunion, she reflects on the circumstances of their meeting and what separated them so many years ago: the murder of one of her housemates. 

Jennifer and her housemates, Wendy, Will, and Samir, had lived together in rooms above the diner she and Wendy owned and operated in Flanders, a quaint Massachusetts village that hosted the vestiges of a disappearing hippie community, just down the road from a private liberal arts college. Will, Wendy’s boyfriend, made a living as a carpenter and woodworker, while Samir, a friend of Will’s, was somewhat of a mystery, who drifted in and out, occasionally working at the local food coop, but largely known and revered by the college set as a peace activist from the West Coast. Also known for cutting a swath through his female admirers, he’d garnered his share of detractors. Jennifer, herself, felt his disingenuousness and was not a fan, but she tolerated his presence well enough to maintain the harmony of their group. Police Officer Ford McDermott is Jennifer’s opposite in many ways, and their meeting during the investigation of the murder of one of her housemates leads to an instant attraction and a hot, burning romance. 

Spurred on by the inept investigation conducted by the detective assigned to the murder case, Allard Johns, Jennifer looks into the death herself. I enjoyed her using her intimate, astute observations of the people around her as she hypothesized who and what was behind the murder. While she initially considered everyone, it was her confidence in her assessments that led her to identify the killer correctly. While she and Ford ended up living separate lives, I could not help but wonder what the trajectory of their joint journey might have been. 

The plot moved a little too slowly for me, with world-building and character introductions taking up almost 40 percent of the novel before the murder. The intriguing circumstances of the victim’s death, a closed-circle mystery, kept me engaged, as did the relationship blooming between Jennifer and Ford. Even with a second murder attempt, this is a quiet story with a gradual reveal rather than an 11th-hour bombshell. I enjoyed the cultural references of the time and the musical timestamps throughout, many of which I could clearly recall experiencing myself back then. 

I recommend PART OF THE SOLUTION to mystery readers, especially those who enjoy stories set in the late 1970s.

 

Find this and other book review on my blog, Guatemala Paula Loves to Read.

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Phantom Hearts

Ghost, #2

by

Minnette Meador

 

Imaginative and suspenseful spicy paranormal romance!

 

Phantom Hearts by author Minnette Meador is the latest novella in her Ghost series, which began with A Ghost of a Chance. The plot is intriguing, with the main character, psychic Brianna “Bri” Eugenia Alberic, discovering she’s been impregnated by the demon, Reggie, seduced in her dreams. She learns of her condition only a day after she and the man she loves, Sgt. John Thompson, finally consummated their relationship. I could feel her shock and anger as she came to understand what had been done to her. The two main male characters are complete opposites. While Reggie literally drags her through hell, John goes through hell to rescue her. 

The story contains explicit adult situations, so this one is not for children or readers who prefer their romances sweet. Some scenes are loving, passionate moments between two people who have long waited to commit to each other. However, others include Reggie’s scene of seduction and lust-filled orgies in the third circle of hell. The author has the marvelous ability to make both types vividly real, and they make quite an impression. 

Supporting the main cast are some fascinating and quirky characters. Bri’s deceased grandmother, Gomo, has some fun moments and always has her back. I also enjoyed Reggie’s sister, Beatrice, and Charon from Purgatory. 

With its tense, well-crafted plot and a cast of likable characters, both recurring and new, I recommend PHANTOM HEARTS to readers of spicy paranormal romances. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

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Water Grave

Detective Abbey Rhodes Mysteries, #1

by

Mitchell S. Karnes

 

Great debut for this new police detective mystery series!

 

Water Grave is the first book in author Mitchell S. Karnes's new mystery series featuring Detective Abbey Rhodes of the Nashville, Tennessee, Homicide Division. When the body of a dynamic young pastor is discovered in the church's baptistery, rookie Detective Abbey Rhodes and her senior partner, Detective Sam Tidwell, are assigned to determine the killer. However, their early disagreement over the direction the case should take makes for an uneasy pairing and heated conflict. Abbey must decide between disobeying orders, following her instincts, and pursuing additional leads, or going along with what she feels is a hastily identified perpetrator who she believes is innocent. 

I really liked Abbey, the main character with a complicated past and conflicted conscience. The child of missionary parents, a tragic childhood has pushed her away from her family and her faith, in fact, all vestiges of organized religion. However, it is the events of the past that have shaped her future and initiated her deep need to seek out the truth and justice for others. As the fresh, green detective, she shares the attitude of others new to their careers, believing that their more recent training outstrips the knowledge of their older coworkers. Still, she quickly recognized that she had more to learn from her older partner. Her relationship with her mentor/partner, Sam, is complicated; she thinks he's coasting and taking the easiest way to case closure, and he thinks she's too young and inexperienced. But the truth of what's coloring Sam's attitude toward Abbey is a surprising twist. 

The plot progresses quickly, with the murder occurring right away and a suspect identified, arrested, and charged soon after – all on circumstantial evidence. The investigation is a steady police procedural even after Abbey is ordered off further inquiry into the case. The story's perspective alternates between Abbey's first-person narrative and third-person viewpoints, giving the reader a more complete picture of what is happening. Abbey's past is slowly revealed in bits and pieces, and it kept me wondering for quite a while. There are a number of suspects in the murder to start with, but alibis and subsequent plot twists help eliminate some and put forward others, which kept me guessing until almost the final resolution. 

I recommend WATER GRAVE to mystery readers who enjoy police procedural-style stories and strong female protagonists. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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The Circle of Nine: Novellas

Circle of Nine, #2

by

Valerie Biel

 

Excellent, in-depth stories featuring three of the women of the Tuatha Quinn line.

 

The Circle of Nine: Novellas is the second book in author Valerie Biel’s magical fantasy series and is a trio of tales, each one focusing on the backstory of a woman introduced in Book One, Beltany. The Quinn matriarchy is rich in lore and magical stories. This collection features Bressa Gormley, the teacher and mentor of Onora Quinn, the originator of the family book passed down from mother to daughter through the ages; Dervla Quinn, who lived more than a century later; and Phoebe Quinn, a more recent writer in the book from the 1960s. 

Valerie Biel is a skilled teller of tales, bringing each of the women to life and focusing on the years in their lives prior to the stories they reveal during their turn writing the family book. All of them describe pivotal points in their histories. In Bressa’s Banishment, readers learn how the old wisewoman came to live on the enchanted island in Lough Dooras. Dervla’s Destiny lays the groundwork for the tragic events that Dervla Quinn’s immediate family will later experience. While Phoebe’s Mission is one of mysteries and occurs early enough that Phoebe’s gran is still alive and occasionally lucid. 

The novellas expand the myth and magic of the world of THE CIRCLE OF NINE and allow an intimate view into characters previously encountered only as words on pages in the handed-down ancestral history. I recommend them for readers who enjoy contemporary fantasy stories featuring folklore and magic. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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A Pantomime of Peril

Cotswold Antique Mystery, #3)

by

Victoria Tait

 

A villain onstage and in real life meets his end during the village pantomime!

 

A Pantomime of Peril is the third book in author Victoria Tait’s cozy Cotswold Antique Mystery series, featuring friends Dotty Sayers and Keya Varma, who have both been recruited into helping with Dr. Peter Wimsey’s production of a traditional holiday pantomime. When the obnoxious newcomer to the village of Colm Akeman, Wickham Vane, collapses onstage during the first performance of Jack and the Beanstalk, everyone immediately believes it’s the combination of his exertion, the heat from the stage lights, and underlying medical conditions that’s to blame. But when Keya, the local Crime Scene Manager, discovers differently, there’s almost an unlimited number of people who had reason to wish the man ill. 

Dotty, Keya, and all the friends and neighbors from their small village are back, and as the holidays close in, it’s up to the ladies to figure out who is actually behind the man’s murder. Dr. Peter Wimsey had launched the pantomime as a means to get their elderly residents out of their houses for some seasonal socializing. Wickham Vane, a well-known but overbearing professional actor and director, who had recently relocated to the village, barges his way into the production, grabs the reins of the show, the role of the giant, and runs off many of the local volunteers. Dotty, busy with a large winter auction at work, has no intention of participating in the theatrical but steps up to fill in where she can. Keya, while engaged in her own business and looking forward to the holidays and a much-deserved escape with her partner, Sujin, volunteers as well, so she is in the wings when the actor utters his final “Fee Fi Fo Fum.” Between her experience and Dotty’s keen observations, there are plenty of folk who had the means and motives to stop the dead man in his tracks. 

The holiday season and the victim’s renown all increase the number of suspects on hand, and there are some good red herrings to distract armchair detectives from guessing the perpetrator too quickly. Twists and turns in the plot make for a clever holiday-themed homicide from start to finish. 

Although this is the third book in the series, readers new to it will easily be able to read and enjoy this latest installment. I recommend A PANTOMIME OF PERIL to cozy mystery fans.

 

For this and other book reviews, visit my blog, BOYS' MOM READS!

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Killer Tracks

Misty Pines Mystery, #3

by

Mary Keliikoa

 

Suspenseful and exciting – genuine page-turner!

 

Killer Tracks is the third book in author Mary Keliikoa’s suspenseful Misty Pines Mystery series, and while I’ve loved the previous two books, this one may be my favorite! Sheriff Jax Turner and his ex-wife, Abby Kanekoa, take a week off from their respective law enforcement jobs to go on a trip together, reconnect, and work through their issues. Abby, a luxury-vacation-type woman, surprises Jax by arranging for them to spend the week at a renovated ranger station in a mountain recreation area not yet open to the public. But evidence that someone else has been in the cabin right before they arrive sets off alarm bells for both of them. Odd incidents, including a vandalized truck, a surprise visit from a woman camping in the restricted area, and the looming danger of an approaching wildfire, threaten not only their romantic getaway but also their very lives. Meanwhile, back in Misty Pines, Deputy Rachel Killian, in charge while the sheriff is on vacation, is challenged by the discovery of a murder victim: one who shows similar signs as those of a serial killer from years earlier. 

The plot is fast-paced, and the story unfolds from multiple points of view in alternating chapters, including the disconcerting narrative of former inmate 22-A-4242, who has been released early from incarceration and is eager to put into action plans he’s dwelled on since he went inside. Both Jax and Rachel are torn over their circumstances. Jax is ecstatic over Abby’s overtures to talk and the possibility of reconciliation with the woman he loves, but he’s anxious about leaving his fairly young and inexperienced staff on their own for the first time. After watching Jax’s agony over the past two books, I was so glad to see him and Abby take this step. I really enjoyed them as a couple in this story. 

Rachel is delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the department in Jax’s absence, confident in her abilities and ready to shine and prove her true value to the town. Successfully solving a homicide would go a long way to cementing her reputation, but she has to accomplish that first, and with the additional element that a serial killer may be at work, so much could go sideways really fast. 

With foreshadowing from the former inmate’s narrative, the story begins in a tense atmosphere, but the author continually builds suspense. I was quickly immersed in the story, and with the cinematic descriptions and twists and turns in the plot, I couldn’t put this book down until I had turned the final page. 

I recommend KILLER TRACKS to readers of mystery and suspense. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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The Misremembered Lighthouse

Hayley Hunter Mystery, #2

by

p.m. terrell

 

Spooky, intense paranormal mystery!

 

The Misremembered Lighthouse may be the second riveting Hayley Hunter Mystery by author p.m. terrell, but readers new to the series can easily dive right in and enjoy a great story. In this book, renowned historical fiction author Hayley Hunter returns to the U.S. after a year’s sojourn in Ireland, where she went to research her Irish roots for a book but stayed to pursue a new love and a slower, more rural lifestyle. Due to visa restrictions, she must leave Ireland for 1 year. She rents a secluded, long-decommissioned lighthouse near Raleigh, North Carolina, where she plans to research her Revolutionary War-era ancestors and their involvement during the conflict for her next novel. She soon discovers she may not be alone on the remote property as she glimpses ghostly, disappearing figures and the original lighthouse lamp that lights with a will of its own. 

Hayley is a gutsy gal, sticking around when she feels the ice-cold presence of spirits, hears disembodied voices, and inexplicably moved objects, as well as things that go bump in the night. She initially clings to logical explanations and excuses for what she sees, but when Shay MacGregor, her love from Ireland, arrives for an extended visit and corroborates her experiences, it becomes all too real. 

The book is two stories in one, as Hayley uncovers the journal of the original lighthouse keeper, Jonathan Corbyn. Jon is a tragic figure, coming from Scotland to the British colony of North Carolina after participating in the Battle of Culloden, only to end up on the losing side and deemed a traitor. He builds the lighthouse himself with the goal of a quiet, solitary, and peaceful future, but is caught between family and friends and the oath of royalty he swore to the Crown when he was granted his property in the new territory. 

The story is well-paced, with the ghostly activity beginning immediately. Hayley’s initial encounters are a little disconcerting but still deliciously creepy, and immediately evoked The Ghost and Mrs. Muir vibes. However, as the action progresses, the situation becomes more tragic and dangerous, and, while there is a romance, it is between the main character and her very much alive love interest. Unfortunately, the lighthouse keeper is not alone, and he has a story he’s determined for Hayley to uncover. I enjoyed the dual-timeline structure, with Hayley’s story unfolding in the present and Jon’s in early 1776, presented as journal entries. Hayley and Shay’s relationship is loving and strong, and it is a wonderful storyline that continues through the series. This book was a definite page-turner for me. 

I recommend THE MISREMEMBERED LIGHTHOUSE to readers of paranormal suspense. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.