“She's a princess and you're a jock," he says. He thrusts his chin toward Bronwyn, then at Nate. "And you're a brain. And you're a criminal. You're all walking teen-movie stereotypes.”
Engaging debut thriller!
The description for One of Us is Lying is accurate. This novel reminded me so much of one of my favorite movies, The Breakfast Club. I haven't read nor watched Pretty Little Liars but now I know I want to.
The story begins when five kids are sent to detention but only four leave the room alive. There's Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, Cooper, and Simon.
Bronwyn is the good student. Her destiny is Yale. She's an overachiever. Addy is the homecoming princess who's dating the perfect guy. Cooper is the star athlete. The one being scouted by the major leagues. Nate, the drug dealer who's on probation already. Last, there's Simon who's a threat to everyone because he's the mastermind behind the gossip app who has destroyed several lives at Bayview High.
When Simon dies, the rest of the kids are the main suspects.
Is one of them lying? Did they plan it together? Or is it one of them the culprit? Worse, is someone else framing them?
These are all valid questions which Karen M. McManus does a beautiful job at disentangling them.
I was hooked from the first chapter. Surprisingly, I ended up liking all the suspects but my favorite one was....you know it...bad boy Nate.
Nate has been given a bad deal. He comes from a broken home with an alcoholic father and a no-present mother. He has raised himself and he made the wrong decisions to pay the bills. He's in trouble with the law already. His future as a suspect looks grim.
Bronwyn was my second favorite. She's smart and protective of her younger sister. Her character grows as I was turning the pages. Her loyalty and dedication towards another character won me over.
Addy's life crumbles in front of her eyes when Simon's death affects her perfect relationship. She looks for solace in her family, specifically her older sister who supports her no questions asked. I was glad she had her. Addy's was the character that grew the most and who developed a backbone when she needed it the most.
I was not sure what to think about Cooper at first. I thought he was shallow but I soon realized he was the one under the most pressure. He was hiding things that if known, could affect the rest of his life. Even when his future is threatened, he has time to do small things in support of the other suspects.
One of Us Is Lying played in my head just like a movie. It had the perfect combination of suspense, intrigue and captivating characters. The plot, as well as the dialogue, was well developed and entertaining.
I won't hesitate to read another book by Karen M. McManus.
“Unless one of us is lying. Which is always a possibility.”
I love Kate Meader's Hot in Chicago series. She writes romance just the way I like it. Her chara
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"I skate for her."
5 swoon-worthy Fangs!
I love Kate Meader's Hot in Chicago series. She writes romance just the way I like it. Her characters have a sizzling hot chemistry, they can be funny and sweet too.
Her Chicago Rebels bring us new hot guys to fall in love with. They are not firefighters (miss you Engine 6) instead they are hockey stars. Need I say more?
Three half sisters are forced to come together after they inherited ownership of the Chicago Rebels, a failing hockey team. Their father, Cliff Chase was a piece of work and he was tougher on Harper, who's the main character in Irresistible You.
"There is no room for sentimentality in this game."
Harper Chase has wanted to take over the Chicago Rebels for years but her father never thought she was ready. After he passes, she discovers that she doesn't have all the power. Her decisions have to be approved by her two sisters, Violet and Isobel. The sisters have been estranged and Isobel and Harper found out about Violet just a couple of years ago. This could be a recipe for disaster. Harper needs someone to make the Chicago Rebels come together. Acquiring "Jinx" to help the team is first on her to-do list. Just two problems. One, Remy is not happy with his current situation and second, Harper wasn't counting of feeling attracted to him.
"Me want Cajun."
Remy "Jinx" DuPre knows he wants a chance at the Stanley Cup but joining the Rebels is not going to help him. He needs to move into a team who has a shot at winning. He's tired of being passed around and losing his chance at the trophy. He just needs to convince his new boss to let him go. Although, the more he interacts with her, the less he wants to leave her.
Irresistible You pushed all my happy triggers. Harper and DuPre were great together. Their banter and chemistry were off the charts! Couldn't help but falling in love with both. Harper was a true businesswoman. She was a hard worker despite her father wanting her to fail. Remy was adorable with his family and nieces. He was also super sexy and a great team member. He tried to guide the rest of the team to make better choices and he brought them hope.
I'm looking forward to the next few books in the series. The best part is that the other two sisters, Isabel and Violet are already likable and we know who their love interests are. Bring it on, Vadim and Bren!
"I speak and you think of sex?" "You exist and I think of sex."
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Pocket Star via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Now That You Mention It was an amazing story of growth, self-discovering and glass-half-full attitude. The story is full of charm, hilarious situations, and lovable characters.
Nora Stuart is a gastroenterologist who has to reconsider her life after getting hit by a vehicle on her way to getting pizza for her boyfriend, who's an ER doc. While she's laying in the ER, she listens to the scumbag flirting with a co-worker and decides she needs to make changes in her life.
On turning a new leaf, Nora decides to go back to her hometown of Scupper Island to recuperate but also to try to salvage her relationship with her mother and her niece Poe while waiting for her sister to get out of jail. She brings with her, her dog, Boomer who's always able to cheer her up.
Nora doesn't have good memories from Scupper Island. She was a shy, introverted and overweight teenager. It happened after her father left them which caused a rift in her relationship with her sister, Lily. Lily became the popular one and was never there for Nora. Her mother became distant and unapproachable. Nora found herself pouring into her studies and trying to compete for a scholarship with the lovable and popular Luke who turned out to be a mean bastard. He's nothing like his brother Sully (inserts thousands of heart emojis) whom I adored.
As with any of Kristan Higgins's books, I laughed, I cheered, I squirmed, I cried. There are so many emotions going through me with her work and Now That You Mention It delivers them and more.
Her characters and her pets are always memorable. Sully was great and so was his daughter Audrey. Xiaowen brought hilarity and freshness to the scenes. Nora's persistence in getting through her family was commendable and admirable.
As a huge fan of Mrs. Higgins, I can only hope she writes many more stories.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by HQN via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The main theme of the book is how much human to keep? Which could be interpreted as: Is the Terra Indigene
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Perfect ending to the story arc!
The main theme of the book is how much human to keep? Which could be interpreted as: Is the Terra Indigene at risk of becoming more human? or is all humanity on the brink of getting eradicated from this world because some humans overstep their boundaries?
The Elders, the most powerful Others, are almost ready to make a decision about Thaisia but before they do it, two Elders leave the wild country to watch over the Courtyard. The Elders are intrigued about Simon and Meg. Their curiosity has been picked. They want to know how a blood prophet has changed the dynamics in the Courtyard and their leader Simon Wolfguard.
“You would kill the sweet blood not-Wolf?”
When detective Montgomery's brother Cyrus arrives at the Courtyard unexpectedly, everyone can smell trouble. The Others know he's dangerous but the Elders want to learn more about him. They want to know how one human can create problems for both human and Terra Indigene interacting together.
To say the least, Cyrus is definitely a rotten apple. He's nothing like Montgomery or his mother Twyla. Twyla has become like a grandmother to most of the Courtyard. Even the Others have a hard time denying her things. She has taken special affection towards Skippy. A certain scene involving both had me crying.
Etched in Bone has the same winning recipe. The characters are all important. Yes, Simon and Meg's relationship is the glue that keeps these two worlds together (and I love them both) but I'm as much invested in the human pack, the Others living in the Courtyard, the blood prophets, the Intuit people, Prairie Gold and the characters living in Great Island to name a few.
I'm sad this part of the Others' world has come to an end. It's hard for me to part ways with so many great characters and I can only hope we get to see some of them in the next book.
Kristan Higgins is one of my favorite authors. I'm always super excited when she releases a new book. On
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"Don't make me wait too long."
Kristan Higgins is one of my favorite authors. I'm always super excited when she releases a new book. On Second Thought had everything I have come to love about her books.
On Second Thought is about two sisters, step-sisters as it is.
Kate O' Leary is the older sister. She has recently married a man after knowing him for just four months. She and her husband Nathan are anxious for her to become pregnant since she's almost forty. She loves her husband and she's very happy with her life and her job as a photographer.
Ainsley O' Leary is the younger sister. She's not crazy about her job and she dislikes her boss Jonathan. She has been in a long-term relationship with Eric Fisher. She's sure he's ready to propose to her and this is something she has been waiting for a while now. They have been dating for eleven years. When Eric was diagnosed with testicular cancer she was the one who stayed by his side and helps him through his journey. Now, she's ready for their relationship to move into matrimony.
In a blink of an eye, Kate's husband Nathan dies and she becomes a widow. Not too long after, Ainsley's dreams die too. Eric breaks up with her and asks her to move out. This will force Ainsley to find a place to live. She moves in with Kate and the sisters will have a chance at learning to communicate with each other despite never being close before.
This book had it all. Strong emotions, devastating loss, humor, and romance all made an appearance. I just love how these two sisters were able to find a common ground and were able to make their bond ten times stronger than it was, to begin with. I laughed and cried throughout it. It was easy to feel what the characters were going through and sympathize with their loss. The men they both fall for were both great. I won't spoil it. Just trust me, they were both worth it.
"I like that you always seem happy."
If You Only Knew and On Second Thought are different than Mrs. Higgins's prior work. These two have a feel more towards women's fiction than Contemporary Romance. However, we still get the signature pets. In this case a fish and a dog.
Don't hesitate to buy this one. It's worth it.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Harlequin via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
“If he was the sweet, terrifying darkness, I was the glittering light that only his shadows could make clear.”
What a sobbing mess I am!
Sarah J. Mass created a world which gave me a twister of emotions. I was giddy with happiness, sweating during a battle, crying in devastation or sighing with love.
A Court of Wings and Ruin takes us back to Feyre and Rhysand's world. Now, separated after the events at the end of ACOMAF but still able to communicate with each other. Feyre has made her number one priority to find out any information about the nefarious plans Hybern has so she can help Rhysand, her sisters, their friends, and the humans survive.
ACOWAR also paves the road for Feyre's sisters' futures. Both, Nesta and Elain have to deal with their new circumstances. They are not on the human side of the wall any longer. Furthermore, they will need to deal with their feelings towards Cassian and Lucien, respectively.
I love everything about this book. Every single scene was performed masterfully. SJM made this series an Epic Fantasy with amazing secondary characters. Each character was full of life and depth. Feyre and Rhysand's character development through the series was flawless.
ACOWAR has one of the best battle scenes I have read in recent years. So many things happened. My heart was in turmoil in a seesaw of emotions. A particular scene just broke me.
I can't finish my review without talking about Cassian, Morr, Amren, and Azriel. They're as important as the two main characters. They complement them. They are a family. ACOWAR shows you that family can be created not only made.
“ it is the family you make, not the one you are born into, that matters.”
These characters are all broken and they have all suffered. Because of my last statement, I would need to include Tamlin and Lucien in this group too. Neither had a happy life before Feyre meets them. In this regard, I'm glad SJM didn't make Tamlin a completely horrible person. I hope he can redeem himself later.
“We're all a broken, in our own ways - In places no one might see.”
I can't wait to see if each of them gets its own book. They surely deserve one. I do know who I want to get one first.
“ I will find you in the next world - the next life. And we will have that time. I promise.”
Laura Griffin knows how to mix suspense and romance in a perfect combination! She makes you invested in the mystery as well as the couple's
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Laura Griffin knows how to mix suspense and romance in a perfect combination! She makes you invested in the mystery as well as the couple's budding attraction.
At Close Range has Daniele Harper as the lead detective investigating a double murder in the park. The deceased were working at the same university and they were having an affair. Dani knows the Delphi Center will need to help them with this case. When Scott Black shows up to help with the ballistic evidence, she tries hard to remain unaffected by him. Dani has known Scott for a long time. He's her older brother's best friend. He is an ex-SEAL and after an injury, he now works for the Delphi Center. Scott and Dani have shared one kiss months back and neither has forgotten it. Nonetheless, she knows Scott is not looking for a serious relationship. Maintaining her distance is the smart thing to do. But, when Scott's job and freedom are at stake and someone starts shooting at Dani, neither wants to continue keeping their restraint.
I was so excited to read this book. I loved Deep Dark and I was sure this one was going to be as good. The story flows smoothly and the plot was always intriguing. As for the main characters, I couldn't wait until they got together and when they did, it was everything I wanted it to be.
Dani was trying hard to prove she could do her job. I could feel how tired and stressed she was feeling while trying to deal with her feelings for Scott and not losing her cool.
Scott was stubborn but in the best way. He wouldn't let go of the investigation or of Dani. He knew he could help her and he needed to keep her safe.
I can't wait for the next one in this series! I'm excited to see the next couple fall in love while solving a case.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Pocket Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
“Because sometimes the best intentions could lead to some very dark places, and once you were there, it could be almost impossible to find your way home again, unless there was someone willing to help you. Unless you could get there and back by the light of a candle.”
Uff, EVERYTHING CAN BE A SPOILER!
How do I write a review?
Well, the only thing I can say is that this is another amazing installment in the October Daye series. From the blurb, you know Amandine is Toby's mother. She's also a Firstborn and she has been missing for most of the books. However, Amandine is back and she wants Toby to find her other daughter, August. At the beginning, Toby doesn't want to get involved. She's finally in a happy place in her life. She has good friends and she's in love. Planning her wedding should be a priority on her to-do list. Yet, this is not to be. Amandine won't take no for an answer. She will take whoever is important to Toby to get her to do what she wants.
Just like all the books in this series, The Brightest Fell is action-packed. So many things happen and you just have to try to keep up. One event will trigger a chain reaction that can't be stopped. There are always great twists which come as a surprise. Seanan McGuire's creativity amazes me. That's why after eleven books, I'm still a huge fan.
“The Luidaeg is singing Disney songs.”
My favorite character on The Brightest Fell besides Toby was the Luidaeg. The character that I was hoping had redemption was Simon. The character that needs to pay: Amandine who's nothing but a spoiled brat.
One thing I missed the most in this book was Tybalt. I have come to adore them as a couple and I want to listen to his one-liners. He's one of my favorite male characters in a UF series (Adam from the Mercyverse is another one of my favorites). After all, how can anyone not love the King of Cats? I certainly do.
“I love you. Take comfort in that. Even in your dreams, you are no longer capable of imagining a world in which I do not love you. Hold fast to that ideal.”
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Daw via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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