Category: book review

Between Now and Never, by Laura Johnston

(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Kensington Books and Lyrical Press.)
(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Kensington Books and Lyrical Press.)

Laura Johnston loves music, reading, and running. She also loves to write stories with heart. Her newest book, Between Now and Never, is a contemporary young adult novel with shades of mystery and romance.

Cody Rush is the “good” kid: basketball star, stays out of trouble, has a loving family. Julianna Schultz is his complete opposite: she loves art, her brother has a troubled past, her home life is falling apart. Cody’s dad is an FBI agent. Julianna’s mom is in prison. To make things worse, Cody’s dad is the man who put her there. Cody has only spoken to Julianna once, but he knows that their parents’ history will always make them enemies. And Cody agrees.

Until he wakes up in the hospital, with no memory of the night before, and finds pictures of himself and Julianna. Laughing. Having fun. Kissing. What happened that night? Why can’t he remember anything? And what is going on between him and Julianna? As Cody searches for answers to the mystery, he and Julianna grow closer. But the secret hidden in Cody’s memory may drive them apart forever.

Between Now and Never is a contemporary romance with hints of old-fashioned sweetness. Cody and Julianna are perfect foils for one another, and their relationship grows throughout the trials they face while the two learn to judge things—and people—for themselves, despite their past and what other people say. Between Now and Never is a great read that will have the reader intrigued by the mystery of Cody’s memories while rooting for him and Julianna to work out the issues that stand between them.

(Galley provided by Kensington Books and Lyrical Press via NetGalley.)

Wicked Charms, by Janet Evanovich

(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Bantam.)
(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Bantam.)

Janet Evanovich is the best-selling author of the Stephanie Plum series, as well as several other series, including the Lizzy and Diesel series. Her newest book is Wicked Charms, the third book in the Lizzy and Diesel series. It hits shelves today.

Lizzy Tucker just wants to enjoy her nice, normal life: make cupcakes at the bakery, hang out with Glo, and make sure Cat has everything he needs. What Lizzy gets is something else entirely. A behind-the-scenes tour of the pirate museum leads to the discovery that the fake dead pirate in a cage on display at the museum isn’t really a fake at all, but the remains of “Peg Leg” Dazzle, a notorious pirate, and one with a link to one of the missing SALIGIA stones that Lizzy has the ability to sense. Soon Lizzy and her mysterious partner, Diesel, are on the trail of the missing stone.

But Lizzy and Diesel aren’t the only ones looking for the stone. Billionaire Martin Ammon is also after the stone, and for reasons far creepier: he believes he is the god Mammon, and needs the stone to complete his transformation. With the help of Glo, Broom, Carl, and Glo’s Buccaneer American boyfriend, Lizzy sets out to find the stone before the billionaire can. And Wulf, Diesel’s enigmatic cousin is after it as well. Lizzy will have to come up with some magic of her own if she wants to win this race.

Wicked Charms delivers what Evanovich’s readers have come to expect: laughs, oddball situations, quirky supporting characters, and a dash or two of romance. The developing emotions between Lizzy and Diesel grow even hotter in this installment, with a bit of competition from Wulf thrown in for good measure. The supporting characters truly make this novel sing, and the Buccaneer American is one of Evanovich’s best creations.

(Galley provided by Bantam via NetGalley.)

Pretty Famous, by Carla Caruso

(I do not own this image. Image property of AUS Impulse.)
(I do not own this image. Image property of AUS Impulse.)

Carla Caruso is a writer from Australia who writes romance with a touch of humor. Her current novel, Pretty Famous, is the third book in the Astonvale series, which stars Celeste Pretty, a professional organizer with a knack for finding trouble.

Celeste Pretty’s life has changed for the better. Her fledgling business is off to a good start. Her father has found happiness with a new relationship. And Celeste and contractor Lenny are getting married! Things are good, except for Celeste’s new job: prestigious Astonvale College is celebrating 100 years, and they need Celeste to make sure the festivities happen as planned. And they’d like Imogen Karmel to assist her.

Between planning her own engagement party and making the sure the school celebration shines, Celeste doesn’t have time for theatrics, but she finds herself drawn into the 60-year-old murder mystery of a screen star anyway. Between her sleuthing and Imogen’s determination to find the missing prince—who doesn’t want to be a princess?—it will take a miracle to get the project completed on time.

Pretty Famous continues the quirky adventures of Celeste Pretty, with Imogen in a co-starring role that gives the reader glimpses at the depth she hides so well. Lenny is back as well, and the romance that started in A Pretty Mess comes full circle for the couple. With Celeste’s way of landing in precarious situations, the reader will laugh their way through the newest book in the Astonvale series.

(Galley provided by AUS Impulse via NetGalley.)

The Infinite, by Lori M. Lee

(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Skyscape.)
(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Skyscape.)

Lori M. Lee is an author from Wisconsin, via Laos and Thailand. She writes young adult fiction, in the fantasy genre. Her newest novel is The Infinite, the second book in the Gates of Thread and Stone series.

Kai is no longer trapped in the Labyrinth, the poverty-riddled warren of the city she grew up in. Now she’s discovered that being trapped is always a horrible place to be, no matter how big the “cage” is. Her current cage is Ninurta, the city she has called home for her entire life. But being home doesn’t mean things are still the same.

Avan is an Infinite now, and he no longer remembers their previous life, or their love. A rebel group is threatening the fledgling new government, and Kai is afraid her brother Reev is part of it. To make matters worse, a threat from outside the city walls arises, putting the city in even more danger. Now, with her ability to manipulate the threads of time vanished, Kai is powerless to stop the disaster looming over her life, her loved ones, and her very world.

The Infinite picks up where The Gates of Thread and Stone left off, with Kai in a bigger mess than before. Ninurta itself comes to vibrant life on the page, as do Kai’s forays outside the city walls. Avan is no longer the boy she loved from the first book, his character is now shaped by forces far beyond himself, and the reader will be anxious to see if he ever remembers Kai and the live they had.

(Galley provided by Skyscape via NetGalley.)

Gates of Thread and Stone, by Lori M. Lee

(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Skyscape and Lori M. Lee.)
(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Skyscape and Lori M. Lee.)

Lori M. Lee is an author from Wisconsin, via Laos and Thailand. She writes young adult fiction, in the fantasy genre. Her first published novel is The Gates of Thread and Stone, the first book in the Gates of Thread and Stone series.

Seventeen-year-old Kai lives in the Labyrinth, a warren of poverty, secrets, and desperation on the edge of the city. Keeping your mouth shut is the only way to survive there. It’s just Kai and Reev, her older adopted brother, against the world, and Kai is fine with that. They’re poor, but they have each other.

Then one day, Reev disappears, and Kai has to choose between keeping her mouth shut and trying to save Reev. No contest. Soon Kai finds herself swept up in the revolution that has been brewing for centuries, as the secrets of her past—and her origins—threaten to overtake her. With the help of Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the forbidding reputation, Kai must fight: to save Reev, to find out who she is, for her very survival.

The Gates of Thread and Stone is a compelling tale of magic and adventure, set in a world both forbidding and harsh and filled with mysteries. The world is not as it seems, and neither is Kai. Her journey of discovery—initially a rescue mission—leads her to place she’s never dreamed of, and reveals things she never considered. The riveting tale will mesmerize readers from the first page.

(Galley provided by Skyscape via NetGalley.)

Part-Time Princess, by Pamela Dumond

part time princess cover

Pamela Dumond “discovered” Erin Brokovich’s story and brought it to the big screen. She has written several novels, including young adult, new adult, romance, and self-help. Her new book, Part-Time Princess, is the first book in the Ladies-in-Waiting series.

Lucy Trabbicio has a life. It’s not a fantastic one, but she gets by, as a cocktail waitress at a biker bar. Money is tight, so when a mysterious job opportunity comes her way, she’s intrigued. Turns out the job is to impersonate Lady Elizabeth Billingsley as she travels to the tiny country of Fredonia, to keep Prince Cristoph Timmel interested while Lady Elizabeth takes care of some personal business in the U.S.

Lucy is skeptical, but the paycheck is more than she can turn down, so she agrees, enduring the ensuing whirlwind of makeovers, beauty treatments, and lessons. A princess has to walk, talk, dress, and eat a certain way, after all. Before she knows it, Lucy is off to the Alps and her new identity.

On the flight, she meets bad-boy Nick, who seems to have a very personal history with Lady Elizabeth. Lucy is drawn to Nick, but she’s not who he thinks she is. And Nick isn’t Prince Cristoph, so he isn’t part of the job. Soon, Lucy is swept up in the romance and drama of the royal lifestyle. But parties aren’t enough to satisfy her, and she finds herself drawn to Nick, despite “her” engagement to Cristoph. Lucy is desperate to keep up the façade, even when someone tries to kill her, and Lady Elizabeth promises she’ll be back before the wedding.

But what if she isn’t? Will Lucy continue in her role as someone else, or will she admit who she really is, and risk losing her newfound friends and family?

Part-Time Princess is lighthearted and funny, with breathless romance and mystery, too. The breezy style makes the pages fly by, and Lucy’s antics will have the reader laughing and hoping through every chapter.

(Galley provided via NetGalley.)

The Spinster Bride, by Jane Goodger

The Spinster Bride, by Jane Goodger (I do not own this image. Image by Lyrical Trade.)
The Spinster Bride, by Jane Goodger (I do not own this image. Image by Lyrical Trade.)

Jane Goodger is an author in love with all things Victorian: houses, clothes, carriages, so it’s no wonder she writes Victorian romances. Her latest book, The Spinster Bride, is the last book in the Lords and Ladies series.

Marjorie Penwhistle was once the belle of the Season, with men at her feet and the world on a plate. Now, at the ripe old age of 23 and still unmarried, she’s on the verge of becoming a spinster. Good thing Marjorie doesn’t care about that. She wants to live her life, travel, and care for her brother, who’s a bit different and the recipient of their mother’s ire. When Marjorie isn’t the recipient of it herself, that is, since her mother insists that she marry a man of title and wealth, and won’t take “no” for an answer.

Charles Norris doesn’t have a title. What he does have is a war wound that makes him bitter, and a desire for a wife and a family of his home. He also has a tendency to fall in love with completely the wrong women, so he blackmails Marjorie into helping him find a suitable bride.

Clandestine meetings, secret notes left in hidden spots, and covert plots draw the two together as they search for the perfect wife for Charles. Along the way, they become friends, and fully appreciative of the stellar qualities of the other. It’s a good thing they are entirely unsuitable for each other. Or are they?

The Spinster Bride is a humorous tale of romance and light intrigue, and characters that will make you laugh, sigh, and root for them to see the light. The relationship that develops between Marjorie and Charles shows real depth as the characters show their secret selves and realize perhaps the one they were looking for was right in front of them all along.

(Galley provided by Lyrical Trade via NetGalley.)

The Wicked City, by Megan Morgan

The Wicked City, by Megan Morgan (Courtesy of Lyrical Press).
The Wicked City, by Megan Morgan (Courtesy of Lyrical Press).

Megan Morgan writes fantasy and paranormal romance. She’s an airport lounge bartender as well as a writer, and knows a thing or two about people. Her latest novel, The Wicked City, is the first book in the Siren Song series.

June Coffin is tired of the jokes about her name. She’s tired of people judging her for her tattoos and her smoking habits. She’s tired of being judged for being a Siren, able to influence people with her voice. But when her twin brother, Justin, is kidnapped by Chicago’s Institute of Supernatural Research, her attitude has a whole new focus.

Desperate to rescue Justin, June takes a walk on the dark side. To oppose her powerful enemies, she’ll need some powerful friends, so she teams up with a non-paranormal man who’s always supported paranormals. Too bad his wife just died, and June accidentally erased his memory. Oops. Her other teammate is a troublemaking paranormal leader who wants a little publicity for his cause, and isn’t afraid to go to great lengths to get it. With friends like these, what could possibly go wrong?

The Wicked City is a gritty paranormal romance with an intriguingly different premise. June is feisty and foul-mouthed, full of attitude, covered in tattoos and piercings, but she has a good heart and will stop at nothing to save her brother. The setting is dark,and the novel is steamy and sassy, with a twist.

(Galley provided by Lyrical Press via NetGalley.)

Hidden Deep, by Amy Patrick

Hidden Deep, by Amy Patrick (Courtesy of Oxford South Press).
Hidden Deep, by Amy Patrick (Courtesy of Oxford South Press).

Amy Patrick is the author of several contemporary romance novels. Her first young adult fantasy novel, Hidden Deep, is the first book in the Hidden trilogy, and is available now.

Ryann Carroll and her mother have just moved back to the small Mississippi town her grandmother calls home. After her father’s affair, they needed a change. Ryann loves the change, and the deep woods surrounding her grandmother’s home. Ten years before, she became lost in those woods and almost froze to death, but a mysterious boy saved her life. A boy that everyone convinced her never actually existed.

Which she believes, until he shows up out of the blue one day, while she’s skinny dipping, naturally. All grown up now, Lad is the most attractive boy she’s ever seen, and Ryann is drawn to him more than any boy she’s ever met. But there’s something different about Lad. He says he’s home-schooled, but Ryann suspects something a little more…exotic.

Lad has thought about Ryann for years, even though he risked his life and those of his people when he saved her life. Now she’s back, and Lad is torn between his love for Ryan and the safety of the people he’s sworn to protect.

Hidden Deep is a young adult fantasy novel set in steamy rural Mississippi, and the steam spills over to the attraction between Lad and Ryann. The characters are great, and the unique setting comes to life on the pages of this engrossing read.

(Galley provided by Oxford South Press via NetGalley.)

A Pretty Mess, by Carla Caruso

A Pretty mess, by Carla Caruse (Image courtesy of Aus Impulse).
A Pretty mess, by Carla Caruso (Image courtesy of AUS Impulse).

Carla Caruso is from an Italian family, but she lives in Australia. She loves romantic comedies, so it’s no surprise that she writes them as well. The first novel in her Astonvale series, A Pretty Mess, is available now.

Celeste Pretty is a bit of a neat freak. You have to be, when your father is a hoarder, and you don’t want to die a horrible death, smothered under a pile of old newspapers and busted tools. Celeste has turned her organization gift into a new business: professional organizer.

Landing a major celebrity client is great news for a new business, so Celeste is thrilled when fitness guru Natalia Samphire signs on. If she can impress Natalia, she’ll be all set. But this job proves a bit tricky: she finds a blackmail note and other mysterious items, and Natalia is acting strange. Not to mention, hunky builder Lenny Muscat is a distraction that Celeste doesn’t need. She has to make this job a success if she’s going to make it out on her own.

So no distractions from sexy men. And no clients acting oddly. Even if she has to figure out what’s going on all by herself, and put a stop to it. No matter how dangerous that is.

A Pretty Mess is a fun, light-hearted tale of love and chaos. The writing is breezy, the characters are engaging, and the story itself has moments of humor and mystery intertwined with romance.

(Galley provided by AUS Impulse via NetGalley.)