Genre: Fantasy

Emmy grew up with a loving father and a neighbor, Grace, who was like a sister to her. Emmy’s father was skilled in magic and was helping both girls to develop their skills so that when they were presented to society they would be accepted. Emmy could transform objects and she was quite skilled at it, but after her presentation she was betrayed by someone she trusted dearly and had to watch helplessly as her father was murdered trying to defend her. Two years later she has been wasting away in a horrible prison feeling truly alone when all of a sudden another prisoner named Jack rescues her. He claims he was also framed for something he did not do and wants revenge. Emmy agrees to help him get revenge with her magical skills if he agrees to get her out of that terrible place. As they begin to piece their stories together it becomes very obvious that they were betrayed by the same people. After transforming them into newcomers to the magical world, they quickly infiltrate this secret society and begin plotting their revenge. However, those that betrayed them might still have some tricks up their sleeves. Can Emmy and Jack get revenge on those who falsely accused them of crimes they did not commit? Will they ever truly be able to clear their names so that they can be themselves again? What other crimes will they uncover along the way?

This fantasy novel is full of surprise and intrigue right from the beginning. Emmy’s world completely turns on its head at a time that she thought would be the happiest of her life. As she deals with those who betrayed her, she also comes to learn more about those who have risked a lot to help her. There are many twists and turns in the story as she struggles to find out who she can really trust and who is only out for themselves. Even though these characters can do magic there are a lot of parallels with young people today and how quickly they are willing to betray each other if it means they get a better opportunity for themselves. Many readers will be able to identify with Emmy as she struggles to rebuild trust for those around her after being so horribly betrayed in the past. The characters in this novel are all really memorable and unique too, so as Emmy and Jack try to get their revenge it seems equally satisfying to the reader to see some of these truly conniving people meet their match. Recommended for anyone who enjoys fantasy titles, but even if a reader doesn’t favor fantasy the characters and plot are exciting enough for all readers.

Genre: Mystery

In this modern day retelling of Little Women, the story opens with Beth being found dead in the woods after a New Year’s Eve Party. Each chapter focuses on a different character so the reader gets to see how each sister and friend handle the aftermath of her brutal death. The March sisters vow to find out who might have hurt their beloved sisters, but as they all begin to recount their final moments with her it becomes obvious that they all had motives. To complicate things further, in this retelling Mr. March, the girls’ father, had written Little Women about all of their lives and in his version Beth died. This had caused public outrage for fans of Beth who felt she deserved better. Even Beth herself felt like she had to show everyone that her life was worth living. After the backlash from the book, Mr. March moved to the woods to let things die down, but no one has been able to reach him since. They very much want him to come home at this terrible time for the family. Beth’s boyfriend and their childhood neighbor both take the news of Beth’s death very hard as well, but are they both telling everything they know about that fateful night? Can the March sisters find out who killed Beth? Will they ever find out where their father is? Will they ever truly be able to move forward without Beth as their moral guide?

This retelling is modern, fresh, and suspenseful. There are some changes made by the author to the original story that may not sit well with readers who love the original, but for the most part readers will find it to be a fun new twist on an old classic. The characters are all developed fully, including Beth. They are all individuals who have their own opinions and motivations and are never confused with each other in the story. The clues to the mystery keep getting more and more interesting as it becomes obvious that everyone has a really good secret they do not want anyone to find out, but are they secrets worth killing over? The ending is both exciting and satisfying for mystery readers and will leave everyone feeling like they know these characters whether or not they are familiar with the original.

Genre: Fantasy

Tilla was raised by a father with a royal title, Lord Kent of the Western Province. Things were good for Tilla until he remarried and had legitimate children. After that point she was technically provided for, but he spent less and less time with her. She didn’t mind spending time with the other royal bastards (especially her half brother, Jax), but often wished her father would visit her like he did in the old days. When Princess Lyriana comes for a visit, Tilla is shocked when she chooses to sit at the bastards’ table. They end up agreeing to meet Princess Lyriana later to show her the tunnels under the castle and have a bit of fun, but end up witnessing a coup! They all manage to escape, but are now on the run from Tilla’s father and others of his loyal subjects who participated in the coup. Tilla isn’t sure if she can trust her father not to kill her for what she saw, but she does feel a responsibility to Princess Lyriana, whom she knows was supposed to die that night had she been where she was supposed to be. Can they get the princess across the country to warn the king of the threat coming his way? Will they be any more accepted by the King than they were back home? Will Tilla and her friends ever be regarded as more than just a bastard?

This is the first in a series and contains a very interesting setup. The royal bastards are not treated terribly well in their kingdom, but they still have some benefits over servants as long as they don’t draw a lot of attention to themselves. As they have gotten older they have questioned what their role will be as adults, but their royal parents are not keen to discuss much of anything with them let alone future plans. When the Princess comes to visit it becomes painfully clear that when the kingdoms merged there were still many people who wished they had stayed separate and have been planning their chance to break away this entire time. This of course leads Tilla to wonder if her father has merely kept her around to help with this coup he has been planning or if he truly cares for her. Meanwhile, the other bastards are dealing with their own insecurities, but for the good of them all they vow to band together to help the princess. Can they really get to safety when everyone they ever cared about is trying to hunt them down? Recommended for readers who enjoy fantasy series.

Genre: Mystery

Holly is pulled into a very high profile wedding after her mentor Simone, the previous bridesmaid, is found dead in one of the wedding dress choices at a rehearsal. The Kensington family is wealthy and powerful, but even they are struggling to understand how something so tragic could happen at such a happy time for them. Adrianna’s, the bride’s, fiancee hires Holly to look into the matter, but quickly gets pulled in as a replacement bridesmaid in the hopes she can uncover the truth. Adrianna is especially freaked out because years earlier she had been kidnapped for days and the details are eerily similar to how Simone were found. Holly gets close to a detective working the case with her, but their styles are very different and she isn’t sure how compatible they are working the case together. Meanwhile, Adrianna’s father, Leopold, is determined the wedding go on as scheduled at the family owned island where a private school once stood. After arriving at the island, Holly notices both how secluded they truly are and some Kensington family secrets from the past she thinks might have led to Simone’s death. Can Holly uncover all of the Kensington’s secrets before the killer strikes again? Is she safe on the Kensington owned island where no one can get to her for miles? Will she ever understand how Adrianna chose her bridesmaid’s in the first place?

This mystery story is perfect for a vacation read because it is exciting and engaging, but also moves quickly and the ending is satisfying. Readers looking for a quick, fun read will enjoy this title as the mystery kicks off right away in the story. Holly’s character is unique and clever as she stands out from other more generic detectives in stories. Her appearance, specialty, and even background help her stay memorable should she appear in any future books. The characters definitely all have their own secrets and when they are finally revealed they are pretty shocking and unexpected. Fans of mystery books will be pleasantly surprised a the conclusion.

Genre: Fantasy/Romance

Aren has been running her father’s tavern and getting her twin sisters’ ready for the prince’s upcoming visit all on her own. She is used to acting alone since her mother’s death. Her father is too sick and frail and her sisters are so beautiful they need to be protected at all costs. When Prince Dietan finally arrives, Aren is surprised that he doesn’t seem that interested in meeting a potential princess, which is supposed to be the purpose of his trip. Nearby kingdoms are threatening to attack and if he were to find a suitable princess a war could possibly be avoided between the countries. Instead, Dietan wants to know where a reclusive witch lives and Aren knows he will need help if he wants to find her. Meanwhile, Aren is attacked on her way back to the tavern and Dietan arrives to save her, while clearly using magical means. She learns he has a secret that has been plaguing him for years and if he can’t find someone to help him the secret will probably kill him. In order to travel and try to find a solution to his curse, he needs a bride by his side to help explain his tour around the country. Now that Aren has found suitable matches for her sisters she desperately wants to see outside their town and this could be her chance. She agrees to pose as Dietan’s bride to be, but as they continue to head toward danger and enemies on all sides, they begin to form an attraction for real. Can Aren help Dietan break the terrible Rings of Fate curse? Can they ever truly be together? Is their alliance meant to be?

This engaging fantasy story pulls the reader in from the beginning because Aren is such a great character. She can do it all: run the tavern, run the family home, and take care of everyone. Yet, when she is attacked she cannot fight them on her own and is grateful when Dieten steps in. He gives her the possibility of being able to explore and be something other than the person everyone has come to rely on. While she loves her family, she definitely feels like everything is resting on her shoulders and she isn’t sure this is the life she really wants. Dietan, on the other hand, has huge expectations on him as well, but the curse has limited him in every way. If he could find a way to break the curse he might be able to truly fulfill his true leadership potential. As their journey begins it becomes obvious that they need each other in order to attain their goals. Romantasy readers will devour this story.

Genre: Mystery/Historical Fiction

This mystery is set in 1910 where a Viscount of an expansive estate believes that Halley’s Comet is going to obliviate life as they know it. So, he has his staff work tirelessly to seal up Tithe Hall in order to try and protect them from the tidal waves he believes are coming to destroy earth. As luck would have it, an underbutler, Stephen Pike, arrives the very day these preparations are taking place having been recommended by a family member. He does have a record and he is very concerned they will turn him away and he desperately needs work. However, the butler is very overwhelmed and decides to tell the Viscount that he requested an additional staff member in order to help seal up the Hall. After sealing up everyone in their rooms, Stephen is sent to check on Miss Decima, the prickly elderly family member who constantly terrorizes the staff. It is Stephen’s job to make sure she stays sealed in her room for the night, but Decima has other plans and they end up going outside to watch the comet. The next morning, Stephen notices that there is blood coming from underneath the study where the Viscount was sealed up alone. He rushes to get help and by the time they break open the door they find the Viscount murdered in a grisly manner. Since he is new and has been to prison (for a crime he was innocent of) all eyes turn to him, but Decima knows he was with her and could not have committed the murder. Plus, it seems impossible anyone could have gotten in and out of the room with it being sealed from the inside. Decima and Stephen vow to prove his innocence before he goes down yet again for a crime he didn’t commit. Can they find the real culprit(s)? More importantly, can they figure out how it is possible for someone to get murdered inside a locked room?

This fun mystery has a Gosford Park/Downton Abbey feel as the reader is introduced to the staff and their very particular jobs and rules they must follow. The pace of the story is not overwhelming, but does not lag behind either as Stephen and Decima strive to find clues that will not only exonerate him, but also let them know if the rest of them are in danger with a killer nearby. The dynamics of the manor are very interesting as every servant has a place and no one is supposed to mess with that. The family members staying at the house all have their own agendas for going along with the hysteria over Halley’s Comet, but are those agendas enough to kill for? Fans of British type mysteries will enjoy this title.

Genre: Mystery

In this sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me, Hannah and Bailey have now been without Owen for five years. Bailey has graduated from college and has begun her first full time job. Hannah is still working on her art and even having shows, which is when she first suspects she sees Owen. Hannah knows that Owen showing back up is probably not a good thing and learns that Bailey’s grandfather, Nicholas, has just died and that puts them both in jeopardy as he had worked out a deal to keep them both safe from the mob he works for. So, they both use their planned escape contingencies to go on the run and find out if there is a way for all of them (including Owen) to stay safe under the new regime controlling the mob. Can they reunite with Owen? Will they ever be able to live without looking over their shoulders? Will they ever know once and for all whether or not the mob was behind Bailey’s mother’s death?

Fans of the first novel will love that this one picks up right where the old one left off. Bailey and Hannah have gotten close to Nicholas despite his dealings with the mob that created this entire mess. The story also helps them find answers that were never given in the first book. The relationship of Hannah and Bailey is also fun for the reader to see because they have been through so much together with the loss of Owen. The story is very fast paced and action packed as they try to find answers and get their lives back. Fans who thought their journey had ended will be pleasantly surprised by this very exciting second installment.

Genre: Mystery/Suspense

A series of bad events lead army surgeon Maggie McCabe to lose her license, including her husband getting killed in the field and her coping with alcohol. She also recently lost her mother, who was a well known and respected surgeon in her own right. Now, she is struggling to help her sister pay the mortgage so that they don’t lose their childhood home. When an old friend offers her a job opportunity that seems too good to be true, Maggie can’t help but feel intrigued by the opportunity to perform surgery again. Once she is whisked away to an unknown location, however, things begin to seem very sketchy. She does perform the two surgeries for her clients, however, but is shocked when one patient disappears and the other appears to have a connection to her late husband. As she begins to fear for her safety she knows she must flee before it is too late. Can she survive this ordeal now that they no longer need her? Can she find out who is behind this secret operation? Is there a connection to her late husband? Is she being paranoid after her years of combat work?

Fans of Harlan Coben will enjoy this title as it keeps readers interested from the beginning. It is easy to sympathize with Maggie since she has been through so much and it feels like nothing will ever lighten up for her. Many people in her situation would find themselves saying yes to this proposal only to find themselves in this very scary situation where there is no way out. There are many side characters who are all written in a way that make it difficult to ascertain who is trustworthy and who is not. Maggie is definitely a character that could potentially come back in a future adventure since her story is long from resolved. Fans will be pleased with the ending and will undoubtedly want to see more from this character.

Genre: Fantasy

Mallory and her sister have been trying their best to survive after their mother’s death, but unfortunately the magical gifts they inherited from her aren’t as lucrative as hers were. Mallory has the ability to see ghosts and her sister doesn’t even like talking about her gift, so they make due giving fake seances and tarot readings, and giving tours of the Saphir House to gullible tourists who are willing to buy anything. That is until Mallory gets caught by some police and must flee before getting arrested for fraud. Unbeknownst to her, one of the guests at her last house tour is actually the rightful heir to the Saphir Houses and lands and he ends up claiming she had permission to sneak onto his property to give these tours. In exchange, he wants Mallory and her sister to accompany him back to the country house in order to expel the ghost of Count Bastien, his murderous ancestor who supposedly murdered three of his wives before being killed himself. Since the ghost’s return, the ghost has been causing a lot of trouble which has led the house and vineyard to fall into disrepair as no one will work there. Mallory knows she needs to get out of the city before the police come looking for her again, but doesn’t believe she has the ability to banish a ghost. Meanwhile, she has become aware of some supernatural hunters who might be able to help for a price. Shortly after arriving at the country estate there is another brutal murder and she can’t help but feel like she knows exactly who the culprit is and it is not a ghost. Can she manage to help the current Count Bastien without revealing she is not as magical as her mother was? Will it be helpful that she can actually talk to the ghosts of the three wives that were murdered in the House Saphir houses that led to so many legends and myths to be spread about the family? Can they possibly break the curse that is holding the murdered ghosts in these ancestral houses? Will they be able to stop the murderer before more attacks occur?

This is another great story by Marissa Meyer. The retelling of Bluebeard is exciting, dramatic, and has many plot twists and turns that will keep readers intrigued. The characters are all really engaging too, especially the ghost Mallory meets at the House Saphir in town. The ending is full of surprises, but all the details make sense and feel satisfying. Readers of Meyer’s other series will enjoy this one as well. Recommended for fantasy readers.

Genre: Mystery/Suspense

In this sequel to The Woman in Cabin 10, Lo Blacklock is now married with two young kids and trying to get back into her career after taking some time during covid to raise her kids. The world has changed a bit and she’s struggling to find her way back into journalism when she is suddenly invited to an opening of a luxury Swiss Hotel. As much as she does not want to leave her kids for that long, it would give her a chance to stop by England and visit her mom as well. Plus, it’s a great way to start working in the travel industry again. When she arrives the hotel is grander than she even imagined, but on her first night she is startled to see a brand new mascara in her makeup bag that is the same one she borrowed from the mysterious “woman in cabin 10” in the last novel. Then, she comes across a note asking her to come to suite 11 right away. Even though it is late she decides to go anyway and meets a woman who claims she is being held against her will by the very millionaire who owns the hotel and needs Lo’s help to escape. Lo has a family now and does not want to put herself in peril, but she also knows she can’t let this woman suffer when there is something she could have done about it. Meanwhile, she desperately wants to interview that millionaire in the hopes of getting a story published. Is the woman who she says she is? Is her situation really as dire as she claims? Will the plan for Lo to help her work or will it leave Lo in a world of trouble?

This follow-up is fast paced and exciting in a new location. Lo’s new status as a wife and mother does change her priorities, but she’s still the same reporter at heart who does want to help people in need. The location sounds amazing and is a nice juxtaposition for all the shady people who are there enjoying it. There are many twists and turns as well as many people around Lo (both new faces and familiar ones) that she must decide who she can trust in order to get out of this safely. Fans who enjoyed the first one will definitely want to see what Lo Blacklock is up to now.