The Vanderbeekers on the Road by Karina Yan Glaser

The Vanderbeekers on the Road by Karina Yan Glaser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this 6th book in the Vanderbeekers series and I just have to say "I want more" so I can continue to love/follow this family and their friends, relatives and PETS! The cross country trip was fun, hysterical, madcap and of course not without all kinds of drama! A MUST READ by ALL! Highly recommended!

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What She Found (Tracy Crosswhite, #9) by Robert Dugoni

What She Found by Robert Dugoni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this 9th book in the Tracy Crosswhite series! There is a cold case Tracy takes on that takes her to many places of lies, secrets, and betrayal. I loved this latest cold case that follows Tracy on many paths (some she can't reveal, others she must push forward) and I loved her family story and her police family story too! A must read!

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The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash, #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The ​Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, I absolutely LOVED this book! Casteel and Poppy's deep abiding love, sizzling chemistry, and their relationships with their wolven. I can't wait for the 4th book in this suspenseful series! There is too too much to tell, I am just going to tell everyone they will love this book, the plot, the characters and the awesome worldbuilding. A must read!

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Legendborn (Legendborn, #1) by Tracy Deonn

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this awesome debut as part of my 2nd #BitAboutBooks Winter Reading Challenge since it is a Book with a one word title and equals 10 points. There was so so so much to like about this book--the depth of the characters, the suspenseful plot, and the worldbuilding. Once I finished this thriller, I was so excited to see there is a 2nd book so a series it will be. I happen to LOVE series and this is one that I will be biting my nails about until the 2nd book comes out!!! Bree and her best friend, Alice have plans to attend her mother's alma mater in a special program (which her mother does not want). Her mother is angry with Bree's decision and then she dies in a hit and run. Bree and her father are devastated, grief makes her into angry Bree with walls she shuts off and only shares with the reader. Imagine her surprise when she sees magic being used which leads to the most awesome, suspenseful story combining magic, fantasy, elements of the Knights of the Round Table, Root Magic, Legendborns and Onceborns and all kinds of horrid creatures like attacking hellhounds. Bree's journey was deep; she was definitely traumatized by her mother's death, going to this school has her looking into her heritage while dealing with racism, bullies, and keeping too many secrets. I LOVED Bree; she is tough, doesn't back down, and runs fast forward into trouble or answers she desperately needs. As she navigates college life, pledging a secret society and growing ever closer to Nick, she also sees a therapist to deal with her grief. I loved this book's diversity, the different friendships, and LGBTQ relationships. I though everything was authentic, researched and spun in such a way that I wanted to learn so much more! Highly recommended, can't wait for the 2nd book!!!

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A Heart So Fierce and Broken (Cursebreakers, #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG what an awesome 2nd book in the series: so much suspense, horror, and psychological torture and at the same time hope, compassion, and courage. I loved the development of Grey and also Lia Mara as they struggle with their roles. This was a very tough read at times but I could not put it down because so much is a stake for them personally and their kingdoms. But the demons and villains are always there, too, with the return of a nemisis at the end! I loved so many of the characters-- Jake and Noah, Tycho, Rhen and Harper and especially the scraver, Iisak! Talk about compulsively turning the pages, I immediately ordered the final book due out 1/26 (thankfully I only have a week to wait) and can't wait. Kemmerer has provided an awesome series; highly recommended!!!

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Fable (Fable1) by Adrienne Young

Fable by Adrienne Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this book! The character of Fable kept me turning those pages. Despite her father, his ruthlessness, and his 4 rules to live by in order to survive, Fable makes a hardscrabble life in The Narrows and can't wait to leave and make her way back to her rightful place on her father's boat. To get there, Fable pays for passage aboard the Marigold while the helmsman, West, has been buying her pyre for the last 2 years. This boat is different and Fable soon learns more than she should, all the while, trying to prove herself to the 5 members of the Marigold. Young's descriptions of the sea, the storms, boats, diving, kept me turning the pages as I rooted for Fable every page, while life turned against her at every turn. With Covid, sometimes this book was tough to read---Fable and the crew of the Marigold, had enemies at every turn and I ached for this awful world they lived in (and loved, but did they really all love this world, Willa???) and hope the final book, Namesake, is redemptive because the ending of Fable certainly WAS NOT! An intense, thrilling, gripping read!

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The Damned (The Beautiful, #2) by Renee Ahdieh

The Damned by Renée Ahdieh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could not put this 2nd book in the The Beautiful series down---all of the drama going on between Celine, now vampire Bastien, and the supernatural family members of Nicodemus Saint Germain. Hold onto your book because the suspense begins at page 1 and does not let up!!! I can't wait for the 3rd book in this series based upon the intriguing ending of this vampire, ethereal, and demonic creatures action packed novel!!!

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The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this mystery romance involving a wedding on Nantucket between Benji and Celeste; fun thing though as the wedding gets closer, Celeste is stuttering, falling for Shooter, the best man and she finds her maid of honor, Merritt, face down in the ocean on the morning of their wedding. You will turn the pages as the many guests are interviewed, many couples once seemingly perfect are now so not perfect, and as the reader goes back and forth in time and the present, a delightful, drama-filled scene, lives of characters cracked open and secrets spilled; they will be hanging on til the last page. Highly recommended!

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The Bone House (Cab Bolton, #1) by Brian Freeman

The Bone House by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great new series by Brian Freeman; I loved detective Cab Bolton with his many intimacy issues, but he was astute enough to listen to Hilary Bradley about her much maligned husband. With a murder taking place in his Florida, Cab Bolton decides to follow his suspects back to their home in an isolated Michigan town. With the town sheriff against him, Cab begins to interview and uncover a vast web of deceit, murder, and crimes. I was blown away by the ending, never saw that coming! This book had a superb, spine tingling plot, normal and broken characters, and a suspenseful story that kept me turning the pages. Going to get the next Cab Bolton on my kindle to read in this corona virus quarantine period of our lives!

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Stripped (Jonathan Stride, #2) by Brian Freeman

Stripped by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I totally enjoyed this 2nd Jonathan Stride detective mystery! This is my 3rd Brian Freeman book and I will continue to read all his books, his mysteries are mesmerizing with their sharp, thrilling plots, characters, and many many twists that keep me turning the pages! Jonathan Stride has moved to Vegas following Serena Dial after he retires from Duluth. This world will pack a punch with an old secret propelling a murderer who has an agenda to right the wrongs of the past. With new characters like Blake, Boni, Amira, Amanda and Claire, Stride and Serena race to stop the murderer as he leaves clues and micks them to catch him. The seedy side of Vegas, those controlling the casinos, and those unable to survive a killer's path kept me enthralled as I gobbled up the pages, crimes, and life stories of the characters in this slick, steamy mystery.

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Soul of Stars (Heart of Iron #2) by Ashley Poston

Soul of Stars by Ashley Poston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this 2nd and final book in the Heart of Iron series; the relationships and romances between Robb & Jax, the Captain and her wife, and Ana and Di pulled on my heartstrings. The world building was breathtaking, the crazy, awful bad guys and Ana's fiercefamily and friends were central to this human/metal series and even if the world was ending ---all of Ana's family would support her, just like she would support them. A must read, thrilling, I love all of Ashley Poston's books; teens will too!

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Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunn

Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a beautiful book! So many of my librarian friends recommended this book; and now I see why; it is so special, absorbing, and important reading. Chicken and his sister, Cat held me captive; their author mother is so busy after the death of her husband and Cat and Chicken's father; she misses that she has heaped even more responsibility on Cat, watching her brother, fearing for his safety and getting in trouble with her mother and giving up many opportunities to be a kid. That changes when a summer trip must be cancelled due to a family emergency; Chicken and Cat will spend three with their grandparents--who they have never met. The beauty of the island, figuring out her grandparents, making friends, and learning so may new things, like fishing are embraced by Cat and Chicken, forever changing them both. This is a MUST READ!

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Rogue Princess by B. R. Myers

Rogue Princess by B.R. Myers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing group and Swoon Read for the advance reader copy, Rogue Princess, by B.R. Myers in exchange for an honest review. I loved this Cinderella retelling from the awesome characters, to the exciting plot, and the beauty of planet, Astor. I was hooked from page one; Aidan is a court servant who has no qualms about taking things (jewels, daggers) in order to escape the meanness of his father and two brothers. I was in love with Aidan; he is smooth, funny and self-confident; when he “runs into” Princess Delia on a palace space ship, his answers to her many questions are hysterical especially saying “it’s classified”; he is able to convince Delia he is a bodyguard for one of the princes who have arrived to seek her hand in marriage. I could not stop reading this exciting science fiction fantasy, the many twists and turns kept me riveted. Also, Delia is not your normal princess; I laughed each time she “saved” Aidan. Delia is sensitive to her subjects, respectful to her mother, the Queen, while also being her own person, honest, trustworthy, and mindful of the political climate dictating she marry to further the kingdom (even if she is not interested in marrying). Teens will love Delia’s adventures with Aidan, the pirates, the mazes, the court intrigue, and a wonderful surprise ending, highly recommended for those who love the Lunar Chronicles and Ashley Poston’s Heart of Iron series.

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Look Both Ways: a tale told in ten blocks by Jason Reynolds

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jason Reynolds is a must read author for ALL! Even though this book is a middle school read, we all laugh and learn so much about kids as the navigate school, going to and from school---all in their journey of life! What I loved most about this book was the authenticity that pops off each page, Reynolds gets kids, life on the streets and in neighborhoods! In the first tale told in this tale told in ten blocks, Jasmine and TJ's friendship is deep, strong and special. The "friendship bags" are called litter of love AND notes that say I've missed you. In Five Things Easier to do Than Simeon and Kenzi's Secret Handshake also have a special friendship, but Jason Reynolds has awesome descriptions, such as Fredo's Corner Store "always smelled like incense smoke trying to mask dirty mop water." Finally, the special way Jason Reynolds uses to describe his characters---handshakes "they grab hands, shake, shake, slide, finger grip, shake, shake. Then point to themselves, double fist pump throw a peace sign beside each of their right ears, point to each other, slap their individual fingertips together, rub the air as if they are holding a ball---bigger than the one in Kenzi's bag--then they thumb their chins and shake their heads at each other before ending it with a big hug." A must read that will thrill all Jason Reynolds fans and friends.

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Slay by Brittney Morris

Slay by Brittney Morris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow what a great, important read! Kiera Johnson is definitely one of my favorite protagonists; she is thoughtful, lives 2 lives--- she one of 4 African Americans in a mostly white prep school & asked really stupid questions about Black culture (as if she is the expert) and her 2nd life is in a black neighborhood where she is secretly the creator and moderator of a virtual reality game (which includes role playing (loved the names and costumes, cards (with Black connotations, some really hysterical & created by moderators and members) and different worlds, known as Slay. I loved how Kiera derived so much pleasure from Slay, so many online friends, and a true sense of Black community--hence players as Kings and Queens and can only join by invitation from a member (keeping an all black membership) until it is not. A must read, teens will love it for what it says about many different aspects of Black culture, history, and today's reality.

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The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ruta Sepetys has done it again; this beautiful awful story of a Franco's dictatorship and the poor people of Spain who cannot tell/talk to anyone about what is really going on (as well as what went on for the 30 odd years Franco ruled with an iron grip). I truly loved Daniel as he visits Spain with his mother (who is from Spain) and oil man husband/father. He wants to be a photographer while he father expects him to go into the family business. While in Spain, he meets Ana, who works in the hotel and is assigned to his family. As Daniel becomes friendly with Ana, a diplomat's son, and a journalist, his life changes---he becomes aware that there is much he does not know about the people of Spain and there is little they will tell him, why? As Daniel delves deeper into the mysteries and secrets---lives are being threatened. What will happen to Daniel, his family and friends? I was so disturbed as I read this thoroughly researched book, while the true reports, commentary and oral history in each chapter shed a light on people who were held in a tight reign of silence, fear, and prejudice. A must read!

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A Curse So Dark and Lonely(Cursebreakers #1) by Brigid Kemmerer

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can't wait for the 2nd book, so happy this will be a series & I can revisit with Harper, Prince Rhen, CommanderGrey and the villagers of Emberfall!!! I loved everything about Harper; she is fearless, courageous, protective of others, loves her family, and will not let her cerebral palsy define her. I rooted for her to break the curse, fall in love with Rhen, and vanquish the monster. Rhen and Grey stole my heart with their resolute yet resigned support of one another. I also loved the alternate worlds of D.C. and Emberfall, the fantasy, the changes in Harper, Rhen & Grey as they unite with their plot (alliance) with Harper as the Princess of Disi, bringing armies to strengthen Emberfall's borders. I loved the thrill of this retelling of Beauty and the Beast; I stayed up way late to finish this awesome read that gave me so many highs and lows, so much hope just to have it dashed (hated Lilith), Brigid Kemmerer's lush language, her story, her world building were just breathtaking and so enjoyable for this reader!

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The Toll (Arc of the Scythe #3) by Neal Shusterman

The Toll by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh the narration of this awesome 3rd book in the Arc of a Scythe series was my favorite & it is because of Greg Tremblay's superlative narration of so many wonderful, awful characters!!! This final book was a nail biter with so much going on with The Toll, The Thunderhead, Scythe Anastasia and Scythe Lucifer (loved them!!!) and don't forget awful Goddard and his belief in himself alone!!! Shusterman wrote such a great series (just like his Unwind Dystology), I will read anything he writes because he is that good- his worlds & words suck you right in!!! While the world is dive bombing--- forces (Goddard) are working against the Tonists while Grayson (The Toll) travels the world helping the Tonists; all I can say about this book & series is---it is MASTERFUL, ENJOYABLE, THRILLING and a MUST READ!

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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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King of Scars (Nikolai Duology #1) by Leigh Bardugo

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love the lst in the Nikolai Lantsov Duology, Awesomely narrated by: Lauren Fortgang and what a Series it will be with the Grisha returning (I LOVE them!!!) battling for a place in the world rather than being hunted down. I loved the return to world of Ravka and Fjerda; ached for Nina as she mourned Mathias (don't know why he had to die- I need to get over it I suppose) hope Nikolai can rid himself of the Darkling, but I loved Nikolai's outlook, humor and ability to truly be a king to his people, no matter happens. I can't wait for the 2nd and final book! Highly recommended!

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