Ninth House (Alex Stern #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I loved the narrators - Lauren Fortgang and Michael David Axtell; they were awesome! But, As I said in my Goodeads progress; I did not like Alex Stern, despite all the reader learns, Alex is not a good person (I know she has extenuating circumstances) but as I have said in other books and reviews---NOW with some writers - the tendency for maliciousness (no hope during or at the end of the book) and an unlikable main character, is not why I read/enjoy a book. I read to feel good rather than meanness (there is too much cruelty in the world right now) also Leigh Bardugo mentions at the end in an interview with the narrator---her time at Yale was filled with "fun, strange, wonderful people" but also bleak, shameful (magic/discovery). I will read the next book because I want Alex to be a better person and also a good shepherd for the Ninth House but I don't have too much hope this will happen---fingers crossed. Also, I like dangerous but the awful, horrendous actions, were very burdensome to this reader and Alex did not help matters---she was a problem---keeping things to herself, lying, running away, and treating people badly. I really liked her one friend before she attended Harvard and I liked Dawes. No One Else and that does not make a good book for me!

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Best Friends (Real Friends #2) by Shannon Hale

Best Friends by Shannon Hale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, this was a more serious look at Shannon Hale's elementary & middle years before she begins high school. Shannon is a good kid who is with a group of popular friends ruled by a bully and I could feel her anxiety as she tries to figure things out, figure out what a best friend is, and loved her first attempt at a novel. What I really enjoyed was the sub who came in to teach when her pregnant teacher left for pregnancy leave. I also loved the author notes, kids will love this book!

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Tempting the Bodyguard (Gamble Brothers #3) by J. Lynn, Jennifer L. Armentrout

Tempting the Bodyguard by J. Lynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this 3rd book in Gamble Brothers series; loved Alana and Chandler, they were both characters you could easily dislike. But as the story sizzled, their romance progressed; I changed my mind and fell full into their personalities and quirks, their chemistry and the chase that Chandler made so delicious. There was humor, mystery, and drama in this final book and I reveled in the tug of war that was Alana & Chandler. They both have warm sides to their personalities that each brought out in one another. I could not stop turning the pages; this was a very sizzling romance with lots of crazy sizzling sex!

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Shades of Magic Vol. 1 The Steel Prince by V. E. Schwab

Shades of Magic Vol. 1: The Steel Prince by V.E. Schwab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED this comic which expands and deals with lesser characters from the Shades of Magic books. In this Maxim Maresh and his father are major characters and also Tieren, Isra and Arisa. For a slim volume this book packed a punch as crown prince Maxim and Isra battle masked Arisa, the evil Pirate Queen who kills everyone and anyone in a vicious, horrible way. I will be reading all these new comics!!!

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Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1) by Kerri Maniscalco

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to and loved this audiobook from Kerri Maniscalco for #yearofYA October horror chat. I loved Nicola Barber's voice, I loved Audrey Rose and Thomas as they lived and worked as a forensic team for her uncle during the time of Jack the Ripper. The mystery and horror were palpable and I loved the new twist; a must read and a thriller!

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Stargazing by Jen Wang

Stargazing by Jen Wang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jen Wang really knows the graphic novel format and she just grabs the reader and brings them into a new and different world. Based very loosely on something that happened to Jen as a child, the illustrations and story movingly tell a story of friendship, empathy, and a journey between new friend, Moon and Christine. A book all should read.

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Duty or Desire (Westmoreland Legacy Series#5) by Brenda Jackson

Duty or Desire by Brenda Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance (U.S. & Canada) and HQN for the advance reader copy, Duty or Desire by exciting romance author, Brenda Jackson, in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this 5th book in the Westmoreland Legacy series (I have read 1 other in the series and boy do I love those Westmoreland men!). I fell in love with Sheriff Pete Higgins, an honorary Westmoreland, as he struggles with his scruples. He is honest, upright, but still grieving over his dead fiancée, and has crafted a life he loves with his young stepdaughter. When his nanny must leave to care for an ailing family member, she does not leave him without a nanny but instead names Myra Hollister as the perfect choice. Pete is drawn to the beautiful, kind, Myra and has major misgivings about his attraction toward Myra and what it might do to his carefully constructed life. I could not stop turning the pages of this ebook as I rooted for Pete and Myra to find their way to love and each other. I enjoy the steamy novels of Brenda Jackson; her worlds, her characters, and the plots are all deliciously sinful to read and enjoy! This latest Brenda Jackson romance was a thrill and guilty pleasure.

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All Fired Up (Road to Love #3) by Lori Foster

All Fired Up by Lori Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance (U.S. & Canada) and HQN for the advance reader copy, All Fired Up by favorite romance author, Lori Foster, in exchange for an honest review. I read and loved the first 2 novels in this series! This third book, Road to Love, was awesome, too! Lori Foster excels in writing romance novels that combine sizzle, drama, mystery, and thrills compelling the reader to turn the pages and fall in love with her stories and characters. This novel did not disappoint! From the first page, mysterious Mitch lurking in the shadows grabbed my attention and garnered my trust as he defends Charlotte, finds his family, and allows himself to trust in building a life with Jack, Brodie and mom, Ros Crews, even as his past threatens to destroy his new happiness. Foster’s characters are always strong, interesting, empathetic, and authentic which is why Charlotte is one of my favorite characters in the Foster series; she is honest, sympathetic, but also no nonsense (loved her tart mouth with Jack and Brodie) and her interest in Mitch is immediate and undeniable. Fans of Foster and readers of romance novels will not want to miss this totally satisfying read!

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Finding Home Again (Catalina Cove #3) by Brenda Jackson

Finding Home Again by Brenda Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance (U.S. & Canada) and HQN for the advance reader copy, Finding Home Again by Brenda Jackson, in exchange for an honest review. I read the 2nd book in this Catalina Cove series first (I have not read the 1st, Love in Catalina Cove, but can’t wait to read about Vashti and her journey to love) and I was mesmerized by Brenda Jackson’s beautiful description of Catalina Cove; the sights, the sounds, the water, the beaches and the alluring weather. I was familiar with Bryce and Kaegan’s contentious relationship but did not know the why. Finding Home Again reveals the awful breakup ten years before of Bryce and Keagan, their deep friendship as children and their romance during their high school years and college. I loved their story but the back and forth anger with each other, the glares and mean-spirited words that continued over the years was a little too much conflict for this reader. But I continued to root for Bryce and Kaegan since their thoughts revealed they were not over each other, had cared deeply for each other throughout their loves and still had a raging chemistry. How Kaegan is able to reach Bryce, time and again, required patience and that is where his unwavering love was able to conquer all. Branda Jackson is one of my favorite authors; her books are full of romance, undeniable chemistry, and characters who are real, sympathetic, and totally drawn to each other (I loved Bryce’s love of Kaegan’s long hair falling on his shoulders but also on her body, face, etc). An enjoyable addition to the Catalina Cove series, brimming with romance, naughty thoughts, and packed with sexual energy.

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Kiss Number * by Colleen AF Venable

Kiss Number 8 by Colleen A.F. Venable
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to @ReadingRants & the awesome Jennifer Hubert Swan for an awesome graphic novel recommendation! I loved author Colleen AF Venable's story and Ellen T Crenshaw's B&W illustrations! Madison is a normal teen who has a great family (even with secrets) friends (not a fan of Cat) and relatives but like all teens, she has questions, frustrations, and sometimes acts out with her friends which can mean they are all not speaking to one another. Turning the pages and seeing how Mads deals with her father, grandparents, boys, girls, kissing was engrossing and thrilling. Teens will be sharing this slice of life with each other as they see themselves in the drama of teen life.

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The Shadow Cabinet (Shades of London #3) by Maureen Johnson

The Shadow Cabinet by Maureen Johnson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I loved the first book, the 2nd a little less and I really did not like this 3rd book; I had high hopes but Rory was not the spitfire of the first 2 books, she seems to be caught between 2 worlds, and once again her lies are her undoing. The therapist Jane and her followers were awful. The only people I liked because they remained true to their characters were Boo, Callum and Thorpe (he did not take any crap and he believed in what the group was doing) even Stephen bothered me (he keeps too much to himself ALL the TIME) and there seemed to be more lag time trying to find Stephen. I know there is supposed to be a 4th book but I am asking Maureen Johnson, please go back to the 1st book and craft a 4th book that will do justice to Rory and her ghost fighting friends.

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The Madness Underneath (Shades of London #2) by Maureen Johnson

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As Rory continues to spin her web of lies with Jerome and Jazz, she is ushered back from her parent's watchful eyes to help Stephen, Callum and Boo solve more murders but now Rory is herself a terminus and her 3 comrades do not have their terminuses anymore...their work is more difficult now.

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Bloom by Kevin Panetta

Bloom by Kevin Panetta
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Jenn Lagarde for her recommendation of amazing graphic novels!!! I loved the growing friendship of Ari and Hector as they bond over baking in the family bakery (Ari is going to leave with a band) and their many adventures to special places, and Hector's overall niceness and kindness and kickass baking skills had me enthralled from the first page!!! A must read!!!

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The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved listening to Tom Hanks superlative narration of The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. I live very close to Elkins Park, and my best friend in high school lived in Jenkintown; so any mention of places in and around this area brought back fond memories. And since my father was in real estate, I understood intimately how Danny's Dad made his living. I really loved the story but I despised Danny and Maeve's Dad for his distant role in their lives. I could not fathom why a house (that particular house) would chase away their mother. She left a husband, 2 children, and a house filled with staff because she hated the house and even worse wanted to go help people in the world---I did not once ever think she was a saint (I was on Danny's side). Maeve almost dies when her mother leaves, she misses her so much she goes into a deep depression. I loved the way brave, brash Maeve took over the role of mother to Danny. It was the insinuation of Andrea and later her marriage (and her 2 children) to their father that really rocks their world. When their father dies tragically ---Andrea boots them out of the house (also the staff) and Maeve once again becomes Danny's mother/guardian. The adversarial relationship between Maeve and Celeste was just awful; and so difficult for Danny. It was very difficult to read how much their past life affected their future, Patchett's writing was stark and unflinching; themes of family, grief, what is home, memory, and conflict permeate as we see//listen to both Danny and Maeve's perspective. This book kept me rooted from beginning to end; an uncomfortable spine tingler---I wanted so much more for Danny and Maeve.

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The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish

The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to awesome author and narrator, Tiffany Haddish, as a result of my Nerdy hero, Donalyn Miller's recommendation. Tiffany Haddish is funny, sassy, and wants us to know about her life. It was not easy; she suffered physical, mental and verbal abuse at the hands of her mother, was placed in foster care, and never knew her father. Because she was positive, funny and a true comedian, Tiffany struggles through life but there are some special people who reach out and help her to become the person she is today---not perfect but in control of her life. There were many times I was laughing out loud; a very enjoyable memoir!

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The Hive by Barry Lyga

The Hive by Barry Lyga
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this awesome page turned by one of my fave authors, Barry Lyga, for the Oct twitter chat with #YearofYA which includes any kind of creepy mystery scifi books - come join us Thursday 10/24 at 8PM EST. But about this book---Cassie is deeply angry due to her father's death 6 months ago (he was famous hacker Harlon Mckinney and Cassie spent her life right next to him as a coder, hacker, social media king). In a new school with no friends and still really angry, Cassie spurns a new friend and joins with a mean girl coven, and remains ridiculously callous toward her mom and life. One awful jokes gets Cassie noticed, not in a good way, and in days she is being vilified by the HIVE, loses her few friends, her mother and must run for her life because the HIVE wants her dead. This was a deliciously creepy, thrilling page turner on the world as it exists with social and political upheaval, mob justice, apathy abounding, and violence just around the corner. I ached for Cassie's grief and rooted for her anger to leave, a great book teens will be passing around!

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Frankly In Love (Frankly In Love #1) by David Yoon

Frankly in Love by David Yoon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this debut book, debut author and main character Frankly!!! Awesomely Narrated by Raymond J. Lee, Frankly (Frank Li) is a Korean American senior, nerd, good kid who falls for a white girl (strictly forbidden by his parents- since his sister is banished for marrying Black Miles)Brit Means. Since his family still meets with others who went to the same college together- their kids are called Limbos, Frank and Joy Song have grown up as Limbos- now Joy is dating a Chinese guy (unbeknownst to her parents) and as Joy and Frank lament their love problems they come up with a great solution---they will ACT like they are dating to fool the parents. This book is about so much more...but Frankly is such a believable character, stuck between the Korean immigrant parent wishes and stuck between his California upbringing---he is honest, compelling, mouthy, and sincere. There is so much to love about this novel, definitely a MUST READ! Loved it!!

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Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am going to include this awesome graphic novel for my #YearofYA twitter chat 10/24/19 at 8PM EST. The topic is terrifying books but this is a Halloween Book plain and simple and needs to be included and READ by everyone. Deja is such a great girl; she has dated both boys and girls, she is funny, fun, loves her food, and very well liked. Enter Josiah (Josie to everyone) who is shy, quiet, and mooning over the same girl for the last 3 years. Now it is the last night of work at the Pumpkin Patch, Josie and Deja decide to have an adventure and oh what a funny, fun time as they roam through all the stores, food and game stands. I loved Faith Erin Hicks gorgeous illustrations, the characters, the Patch and especially the crazy runaway ram. For a fun Halloween story, this graphic novel, and Rainbow Rowell & Faith Erin Hicks do no disappoint! Thoroughly enjoyable!

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Forget Me Not (Catalina Cove) by Brenda Jackson

Forget Me Not by Brenda Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this romance! Ashley Ryan is such an impressive strong protagonist grieving the death of her husband, Devon, in a car crash, still three years later. Her friends decide to treat her to a 2 week trip to Catalina Cove. I loved how Brenda Jackson set this heart-wrenching love story up with Ashley literally being saved by a man looking exactly like Jason! She wants to do and say all kinds of things but she goes to the right people, finds out about his amnesia, and decides to formulate a way to get to know this new Jason---Ray Sullivan! I could not stop turning the pages; there was so much sizzle and chemistry between them but also so much trepidation between them too. I loved Ashley and Jason/Ray, will they find their way back to each other??? A definite MUST READ!

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Love Unleashed by Lori Foster

Love Unleashed by Lori Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this novella from Lori Foster! There was a great story and romance between friends who own and love a cat a dog, sizzling chemistry leading to a meant to be romance. Not only do you love Evan and Cinder but you also love Cate, Evan's cat and Doug, Cinder's dog (he was fierce in the protection area) as a crazy patient targets Cinder. I read everything of Lori Foster and this romance was perfect!The pacing was frantic while the back story simmers to a boil!

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The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to my reader/librarian friend, Nancy Summers for recommending this new series from Maureen Johnson! It will also be part of my #YearofYA reading for October--anything that leaves you with goosebumps and this Jack the Ripper copycat thriller did just that!!! Come join us for a discussion of creepy YA titles Thursday 10/24 @8pm EST for a delightful twitter chat with #YearofYA. Rory is a teen from Louisiana spending a year at the London Boarding School Wexford. It is there that she begins to make friends, choke and almost die and begins seeing ghosts!!! Maureen Johnson's writing was sizzling, perfect, and scary as a Jack the Ripper copycat begins murdering again in and around her school. As Rory falls into life at her school, she also unknowingly sees the real murderer; but why didn't her roommate see him? Enter the police and also "secret police" investigating the current murders. I could not put down this book; can't wait to read the 2nd book and find out what happens with Jazza, Jerome, Stephen, Callum and Boo. Even more delicious was the Oh My Gosh ending!!! You have to read it, it is creepy, scary and I could not put it down. Teens will love Rory and her fierce personality.

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Shelter From the Storm by Lori Foster

Shelter from the Storm by Lori Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this novella from Lori Foster! There was a great story and romance between Roy and Sabrina, quick chemistry leading to a meant to be romance and even more, kids and animals in need! I read everything of Lori Foster and this romance was perfect!

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Saving Everest by Sky Chase

Saving Everest by Sky Chase
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the advance reader copy of Saving Everest by Sky Chase, in exchange for an honest review. I could not put this book down, debut author, Sky Chase has written a great, diverse YA romance. The story of Everest Finley, popular, gifted and athletic, who silently suffers from depression and tries to end his life was crushing. Everest really has no strong family support; when he returns to school he is scorned by his girlfriend, best friend, and team members. Retreating to the library, he meets Beverly, a quiet, shy, but happy girl who pledges her friendship and support. Both Bev and Everest are strong likable characters teens will relate to and love as Bev and Everest become best friends, challenging themselves to become better for each other. I fell in love with Everest’s voice, his honest music, and his fearlessness. While Bev was a strong positive influence for Everest, he challenged her to go outside her comfort zone, become visible, and experience what high school is all about. Together can they both find their true selves? Bev and Everest are smart, confused, of- the-moment teens who are just trying to understand life, love, and their place in the world. The drama and action move this story of friendship and romance forward to a satisfying conclusion. I would love to see another book from Sky Chase following Everest and Bev after high school! One reason for the 4-star rating; I did feel Everest would have benefited from follow-up help from a therapist for his suicide attempt and continuing depression. This debut accurately and honestly deals with teen mental health, family issues, and high school life; highly recommended!

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