American Witch by Thea Harrison

Power can change a person…

For months Molly Sullivan endures the inexplicable: electrical surges, car breakdowns, visions. She even wonders if she might be the cause… and wonders if she might be crazy. Then she discovers her husband has cheated on her. Again. Now Molly realizes she is a newly awakening witch and a woman pushed over the edge.

Revenge can shape a person…

Josiah Mason is a Powerful witch and the leader of a secret coven with a shared goal: to destroy an ancient enemy who has ruined many lives. Josiah lost years to this man, and his sole focus is revenge. He’s prepared for every contingency—except encountering a beautiful new witch who understands nothing of the immense Power building within her or the attraction she wields over him.

Danger can bring them together…

When divorcing her husband, Molly uncovers a dangerous secret he’s willing to kill to protect. She turns to Josiah for help, and they discover a connection between Molly’s husband and Josiah’s enemy.

As they work together, a spark ignites between them that threatens to become an inferno. But Molly is done compromising herself for any man, and Josiah’s mission is his top priority. And the enemy is cunning, cruel, and drawing ever closer.

As the danger escalates, so does the tension between them. Is a lasting relationship possible? Will either of them live long enough to try?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43209718-american-witch

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

A fantastic addition to the Elder Races universe. American Witch follows Molly and Josiah as their worlds collide in the last way either could have imagined. After learning that her husband has been cheating on her, Molly leaves in a fit of rage that unleashes her Power for the very first time. Turns out she is a witch. Josiah has been carefully planning his revenge against an evil warlock for many years. His coven has worked hard to stop the psycho warlock and it is coming close to the end, that is until Molly enters Josiah's life. Their paths collide and though their courtship is anything but easy, they fall in love nonetheless and have to figure out how to keep safe while danger chases them. Molly and Josiah's romance is not easy. They have to fight for every moment and a lot of the time I wondered if they really had a chance. As much as I would have loved to see them together more and fighting side by side, they each had their own journey they needed to complete. It was the only way for the end battle to happen and for them to get their happily ever after. Also, there was a bit of a cliffhanger, that makes me wonder if there will be more to this particular series in the Elder Races universe. Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I could not put it down! Looking forward to more!

I received an ARC for an honest review.

The Eldest Curses Book 1: The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu

The Eldest Curses Book 1

From #1 New York Times bestseller Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu comes the first book in a new trilogy featuring the centuries-old High Warlock Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood after they survive the Mortal War.

Magnus Bane, a centuries old High Warlock, has taken possession of one of the great relics of the supernatural world, a powerful spell book of dark magic known as The Book of the White and there are many who want to claim it for themselves.

After the Mortal War where the part-human and part-angel Shadowhunters teamed with the part human-demon Downworlders to fight against the incursion of an army of demons, Magnus and his new lover, the mortal Alec Lightwood celebrate their survival and victory by escaping the supernatural battlefield of New York City by touring the world, but the world won’t leave them alone.

The first adult novel set within #1 New York Times bestselling author Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter series, The Lost Book of the White, written with award-winning science fiction author Wesley Chu, is a fantasy thriller that will give new readers a great way to enter the Shadowhunters world and give the millions of readers across the globe answers they’ve been looking for in this start of The Eldest Curses trilogy. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35297403-the-red-scrolls-of-magic

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Loved this book! Alec and Magnus are some of my favorite characters in the Shadowhunter world. They were the characters that snuck up on me. I didn't realize how much I would grow to love them until I got to really know the characters through the many books in the Shadowhunter world. And in every book they take me by surprise. The Red Scrolls of Magic was such a fun treat. The book takes place right after City of Glass and we follow Magnus and Alec as they go on vacation together. Yet what is a vacation if a crazy demon cult isn't chasing after them? The book was filled with fun surprises and a ton of cameos of characters that we meet in later books that had me squealing how I knew exactly who they were and who they would become. We had the cameos of those we lost later in the books and it was bittersweet to see them again. We also saw the beginnings of relationships, like Helen and Aline. And we got to see how deeply Magnus and Alec had fallen for one another in the early stages of their relationship. The story overall was not a disappointment and I'm so glad that we have two more books that follow Alec and Magnus specifically on their adventures together. The cliffhanger at the end of book made it clear that what they faced in this book will resurface for them in the future. Absolutely loved this book. And if you are a fan of Magnus and Alec, then this will not disappoint you! 

Shatter Me Series Book 5: Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me Series Book 5

The gripping fifth installment in the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Shatter Me series. Will Juliette’s broken heart make her vulnerable to the strengthening darkness within her?

Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of the other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her—secrets that change everything.

Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34992959-defy-me

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My Review 5/5 Stars

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Not gonna lie, I was terrified to read this book. How the last one ended and how painful it was, I was convinced this one was going to break me and make me wait until the last book in the series before things got better. That was not the case!! It was a fast read.I could not put it down. What we finally got in this book was a lot of answers and a lot of revelations in between the pain that Warner and  Juliette, no Ella, were going through. But finding out the truth was worth it. And when we got a reunion between Ella and Aaron, it was worth the wait. The ending was so sweet and sure that may mean the final book will have make you go through a rollercoaster of emotions, but i'll take it after what I just read. Absolutely loved this one. It may be my favorite of the series. And I am so ready to find out how this awesome series concludes. We have another novella on the way, then the final book next year. So glad Defy Me redeemed itself, at least to me it did. Great book. 

Black Dagger Brotherhood Series Book 17: The Savior by J.R. Ward

Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 17

In the venerable history of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, only one male has ever been expelled—but Murhder’s insanity gave the Brothers no choice. Haunted by visions of a female he could not save, he nonetheless returns to Caldwell on a mission to right the wrong that ruined him. However, he is not prepared for what he must face in his quest for redemption.

Dr. Sarah Watkins, researcher at a biomedical firm, is struggling with the loss of her fellow scientist fiancé. When the FBI starts asking about his death, she questions what really happened and soon learns the terrible truth: Her firm is conducting inhumane experiments in secret and the man she thought she knew and loved was involved in the torture.

As Murhder and Sarah’s destinies become irrevocably entwined, desire ignites between them. But can they forge a future that spans the divide separating the two species? And as a new foe emerges in the war against the vampires, will Murhder return to his Brothers... or resume his lonely existence forevermore? 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42101728-the-savior

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Favorite. Hands down my favorite book of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Yeah. It was that good. Wow! I'm still processing what I just read. I absolutely loved Murhder's story. The Brother has been mentioned so much throughout the series and now we finally get his story. And it was definitely one worth waiting for. Murhder returns to the Brotherhood and though he was requested for a specific reason, he can't leave just yet. He needs their help. Meanwhile, Dr. Sarah Watkins finds herself on a path that will eventually lead her vampires and Murhder. And once they meet, well it is a connection that that can only be defined as destiny. Alongside their story, we focus on John Matthew. When JM is injured in the field by the mysterious new shadow creatures, it's not looking too good for him. We see so many familiar faces in this book, which of course I always love. Revelations occur and some long awaited events finally happen as well. Like I said, this book has become my favorite of the series. Murhder is such a great characters, Sarah is a badass, and John Matthew gets much needed love. Oh, and there were plenty of twists and turns to this story, especially near the end. Slight spoiler, if you haven't read Ward's Fallen Angels series, you may want to start. Because something tells me the next book is about to get a lot more interesting. Absolutely love this series. So glad we got a Legacy book coming out in the summer and a short story in the winter!! Definitely going to need that to hold me over until the next year's BDB book. 

SAl & Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez

How did a raw chicken get inside Yasmany's locker?

When Sal Vidon meets Gabi Real for the first time, it isn't under the best of circumstances. Sal is in the principal's office for the third time in three days, and it's still the first week of school. Gabi, student council president and editor of the school paper, is there to support her friend Yasmany, who just picked a fight with Sal. She is determined to prove that somehow, Sal planted a raw chicken in Yasmany's locker, even though nobody saw him do it and the bloody poultry has since mysteriously disappeared. 

Sal prides himself on being an excellent magician, but for this sleight of hand, he relied on a talent no one would guess . . . except maybe Gabi, whose sharp eyes never miss a trick. When Gabi learns that he's capable of conjuring things much bigger than a chicken--including his dead mother--and she takes it all in stride, Sal knows that she is someone he can work with. There's only one slight problem: their manipulation of time and space could put the entire universe at risk. 

A sassy entropy sweeper, a documentary about wedgies, a principal who wears a Venetian bauta mask, and heaping platefuls of Cuban food are just some of the delights that await in this mind-blowing novel gift-wrapped in love and laughter.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40697304-sal-and-gabi-break-the-universe

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My Review: 4/5

A fun book and another great edition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. Fun, creative, hilarious, and a lot of Spanglish, this is a wonderful book perfect for kids. The book has so much diversity and creativity it was really a joy to read. The characters made you laugh and cry and every moment was so engaging. Throw in some Cuban culture and some multi-verse theory, and you have something truly unique here. And it isn't over! Still another book to go. 

As Kismet Would Have It by Sandyha Menon

Will Dimple and Rishi find their happily ever after? Find out in this funny, romantic, endlessly charming e-novella sequel to the New York Times bestseller When Dimple Met Rishi!

Dimple Shah has a lot of opinions about marriage, but they boil down to this: It’s not for her. Sure, she loves her boyfriend, Rishi, but why does she need to validate that with an institution that has historically never favored the woman? Why go through all that hassle?

Rishi Patel deeply disagrees. He believes in the power that comes with combining love and tradition, and when the time comes, wants nothing more than to honor those things in a huge celebration with his friends and family. He knows Dimple loves him, but in hearing her rant about how marriage is a “construct of hegemonic masculinity” for the millionth time, a small, niggling part of him worries that it’s not the institution of marriage Dimple has a problem with; maybe it’s him.

The two lovebirds find themselves at a philosophical impasse. Can they find a way to work it out, or does kismet have other plans?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43822994-as-kismet-would-have-it

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

A short story from the world of When Dimple Met Rishi. So freaking cute! I loved Dimple and Rishi's story, am definitely looking forward to reading There's Something About Sweetie that comes out next month, and this short story determining Dimple and Rishi's future was great! We got a small preview of Ash and Sweetie's story and we got to revisit Dimple and Rishi, who are two characters I really love. This short story was a perfect ending, or really beginning, to their future. How can you make a life changing decision so young in life? Does it have to be now? If your views are so different what hope is there for the future? The answer? And the one that really only matters? Love. Adorable story. Definitely a must read if you love these books and these characters!