The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett

The Last Magician meets A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue in this thrilling tale filled with magic and set in the mysterious Carpathian Mountains where a girl must hunt down Vlad the Impaler’s cursed ring in order to save her father.

Some legends never die…

Traveling with her treasure-hunting father has always been a dream for Theodora. She’s read every book in his library, has an impressive knowledge of the world’s most sought-after relics, and has all the ambition in the world. What she doesn’t have is her father’s permission. That honor goes to her father’s nineteen-year-old protégé—and once-upon-a-time love of Theodora’s life—Huck Gallagher, while Theodora is left to sit alone in her hotel in Istanbul.

Until Huck arrives from an expedition without her father and enlists Theodora’s help in rescuing him. Armed with her father’s travel journal, the reluctant duo learns that her father had been digging up information on a legendary and magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler—more widely known as Dracula—and that it just might be the key to finding him.

Journeying into Romania, Theodora and Huck embark on a captivating adventure through Gothic villages and dark castles in the misty Carpathian Mountains to recover the notorious ring. But they aren’t the only ones who are searching for it. A secretive and dangerous occult society with a powerful link to Vlad the Impaler himself is hunting for it, too. And they will go to any lengths—including murder—to possess it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43822758-the-lady-rogue

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I've loved all of Jenn Bennett's contemporary YA books. So I was very excited to hear she was doing some fantasy YA. And like her other books, she rocked it. I really loved reading The Lady Rogue. Our heroine, Theo, is one kickass girl. Intelligent, hilarious, and quite the adventurer. Used to traveling with her father only to be left behind, this time she finds herself alone in Istanbul when her father fails to return. Unsure what to do next, Huck Gallagher makes an appearance. The boy Theodora loved before he left, breaking her heart in the process. Huck explains that he was with her father until he went missing. Together, they decide to use Theo's father's journal to retrace his steps on his last quest to find the missing ring of Vlad the Impaler. Theo and Huck soon find themselves hunted by others who are after the ring. Their journey takes them to Romania where magic, witches, spells, and curses are found along the way. It was definitely fun to read their adventures and learn the Romanian myths. Plus the bonus of watching Theo learn the truth about Huck's departure the year before and them reigniting the strong love that is between them. An overall great story that had just a little bit of everything and definitely keeps you on your toes as you try to solve the puzzles along the way. Great book!

A Deadman's Cross Novel Book 3: At Death's Door by Sherrilyn Kenyon

A Deadman's Cross Novel Book 3

#1 New York Times bestseller Sherrilyn Kenyon brings us the final chapter in the Deadman's Cross saga with At Death's Door, an epic pirate fantasy perfect for her millions of Dark-Hunter fans

Welcome to the latest Deadmen's Quest...

Valynda Moore was born cursed. So when she dies as the result of a spell gone wrong and is trapped in the body of a voodoo doll, she expects nothing else from her messed up life. Until Thorn, leader of the Hellchasers, offers her a chance at redemption and a new life.

But nothing has ever gone her way, for the Malachai, the very beast she and her crew of Deadmen have sworn to keep locked away, has risen. And this time he's taken prisoners. Valynda must keep her wits about her or be denied her salvation and forced to watch as the entire world falls into the hands of absolute evil.

It's a demon-eat-demon world where the stakes have never been higher and either redemption or the ultimate betrayal waits for her At Death's Door.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41555957-at-death-s-door

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Every time I read a new book from the Dark-Hunters Universe, I am reminded of how much I love the series. Another great book in the Deadman's Cross series. Gotta love our pirate crew. And with each new book we get another piece of the puzzle to this series. Our story here focuses on Valynda and Nibo. Valynda as we remember is our made of straw, basically a walking talking Voodoo Doll, woman. We get to dive into her past and find out exactly what happened to her. And was it a tale. And we learn about her love Nibo and how they were split apart. Loved their story. And I loved the cameos of some of my favorite characters. And like I said earlier we start to get more pieces of the puzzle that revolves around the Malachai. With each new book we get more information. And with this one set in 1717, going back into the past we realize a couple of whys in the future. The ending especially. Definitely need the next Dark-Hunter book ASAP. Great story! Looking forward to seeing how everyone and everything finally comes together. 

Stream Raiders Book 2: These Divided Shores by Sara Raasch

Stream Raiders Book 2

The thrilling sequel to These Rebel Waves—full of deadly magic, double crosses, and a revolution—from Sara Raasch, the bestselling author of the Snow Like Ashes series.

As a child, she committed unforgivable acts to free Grace Loray from King Elazar of Argrid. Now Elazar’s plan to retake the island has surpassed Lu’s darkest fears: he’s holding her and his son, Ben, captive in an endlessly shifting prison, forcing them to make a weapon that will guarantee Elazar’s success. Escape is impossible—unless Lu becomes the ruthless soldier she hoped never to be again.

Vex failed to save Lu and Ben—and that torments him as much as his Shaking Sickness. With the disease worsening, Vex throws himself into the rebellion against Argrid. The remaining free armies are allied with the stream raider syndicates—and getting them to cooperate will take a strength Vex thought burned on a pyre six years ago.

Imprisoned, betrayed, and heartbroken, Ben is determined to end his father’s rampage. Watching Elazar sway the minds of Grace Loray as he did those of Argrid, Ben knows he has to play his father’s game of devotion to win this war. But how can a heretic prince defeat the Pious God?

As armies clash and magic rises, Lu, Vex, and Ben will confront their pasts . . . or lose their futures forever.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40942588-these-divided-shores

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Diving back into Grace Loray after book one, These Rebel Waves, left me with a mean cliffhanger and I will admit that cliffhanger was worth it after finishing These Divided Shores. I will admit that I wished I re-read These Rebel Waves before reading the sequel. As I was reading I was remembering more and more, but I know there were a couple of things that I was blanking on and wished I remembered better. But hey, I did remember the mean cliffhanger and the awesome characters Lu, Vex, and Ben. The book picks up a few weeks after the first book left off. Vex believes Lu is dead and as he fights his grief for losing her, he focuses his energy on finding and rescuing his cousin Ben. Little does Vex know that Lu is alive and Ben and her are prisoners. While Vex fights to break out Ben (and unknowing to him, Lu), Lu, Ben, and Gunnar are trying to survive the torture they are facing and the pressure to make permanent magic. The book has adventure, heartache, love, and loss. Enemies learn to come together, though not easily, to fight for a common goal. And Lu, Vex, and Ben are in the middle of it all. I really loved this sequel and the twists and turns it took. Nothing was predictable which made it all the better. And I loved getting to know these characters even more. Great finale! 

A Hidden Legacy Novel Book 4: Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews

A Hidden Legacy Novel Book 4

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrew comes an enthralling new trilogy set in the Hidden Legacy world, where magic means power, and family bloodlines are the new currency of society…

In a world where magic is the key to power and wealth, Catalina Baylor is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, and the Head of her House. Catalina has always been afraid to use her unique powers, but when her friend’s mother and sister are murdered, Catalina risks her reputation and safety to unravel the mystery.

But behind the scenes powerful forces are at work, and one of them is Alessandro Sagredo, the Italian Prime who was once Catalina’s teenage crush. Dangerous and unpredictable, Alessandro’s true motives are unclear, but he’s drawn to Catalina like a moth to a flame.

To help her friend, Catalina must test the limits of her extraordinary powers, but doing so may cost her both her House–and her heart. (

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42365101-sapphire-flames

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

AHHHH SOOOOO GOOD!!!!!! I need the next book ASAP!!! I absolutely love the Hidden Legacy books. I loved Nevada's trilogy, I loved the novella that introduced Catalina as our next main character, and now I just finished book 1 of Catalina's trilogy and I demand to have the next book right this moment. Just so good! I loved being back in their world of Houses and insane magic. The characters as usual are just the best and seriously super entertaining. Everyone in House Baylor is hysterical. Leon, Arabella, Grandma Frida. Just awesome. And now we get Catalina's story. A boy did is start off as quite a good one. And Alessandro? Her perfect match in every way. If you loved Nevada and Rogan's love story, wait until you read Catalina and Alessandro's, I guarantee you may like it even better. When Catalina's friend's family members are murdered, she can't do anything less but help. But what she takes on is way, way bigger than anything she could have expected. Dangerous, mysterious, and just all around crazy. I really loved this book (if you couldn't tell) and I am seriously looking forward to the next one. If you loved the previous books, this will not disappoint. 

Stonefire Dragons Universe Book 2: Transforming Snowridge by Jessie Donovan

Stonefire Dragons Universe Book 2

Rhydian Griffiths is the leader of Clan Snowridge in the North of Wales. Not only does he need to lead his clan, he also takes care of an orphaned boy on his own. The deadline for any remaining family to collect him expires and Rhydian decides to adopt the boy himself. However, hours later a human female shows up at his clan's gate, claiming she's the boy's aunt. While he'd usually admire her fire and determination, his dragon says he wants the human but he must resist. The last thing Rhydian needs is a human living on his clan.

Delaney Murphy spent the last three months jumping through hoops to prove she was Rian's aunt. When she finally finds the blasted Welsh clan hidden in the mountains, she's told the deadline expired. Even though they try to scare her by tossing her in a prison cell, the action only makes her more determined. After all, Rian is her only family. Provided she can ignore how the serious dragon clan leader looks at her long enough to come up with a plan, she'll be able to raise her nephew as her own.

As Rhydian tries to ignore the female, a threat reminds him of why any human inside Snowridge could be in danger. He has to work together with Delaney to ensure not only her safety, but Rian's as well. Of course it might mean giving up the family he's secretly always wanted but had long denied.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47947338-transforming-snowridge

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

We have made it to Snowridge! The clan we have visited before but not in the way we explore it this time. Definitely one of my favorites from our dragon universe that Jessie Donovan created. Our story follows the clean leader of Snowridge, Rhydian Griffiths and human and former boxing champion, Delaney Murphy. Delaney has spent the last three months trying to prove that she is the aunt of orphan Rian, who lost his parents months ago and has been living with Rhydian. When she finally arrives at Snowridge, the deadline has expired but Rhydian isn't cruel. He senses that there is more to Delaney and that she will fight for the right to take care of her nephew. The sparks between Rhydian and Delaney are so intense, that it doesn't take Rhydian long to figure out Delaney is his true-mate. But having a human mate isn't easy at Snowridge, where the clan is mistrustful of humans. Together, they have to prove that not all humans are bad, find a way to raise Rian together, and decide if a future together is what they want. As always, the love story between our main characters are sweet and fun! And I gotta say Rhydian's dragon had me laughing right from the start. Plus, Delaney is such a badass! She's a strong female character who fights for what she wants and protects those who she considers hers. Loved their story! And I look forward to seeing more of them in future books.

I received an ARC for an honest review. 

Starfish by Lisa Becker

Ambitious graduate Marin Collins accepts a four-month internship at a prestigious public relations firm to work on a tech account, but her plans are derailed when she’s assigned to go on the road with touring rock band Kings Quarters, hailed by Rolling Stone as the next big thing. 

Enter Brad Osterhauser, the reluctant rock star who would rather be coding computer games than penning Grammy-nominated songs. 

Traveling by bus, city to city with a group of practical joking bandmates and a greedy manager, Marin and Brad forge a friendship and forbidden romance over a shared love of Seinfeld episodes, stolen moments and Red Vines. 

But when Marin’s accused of betraying her company and the band, will Brad come to her defense or believe she was disloyal to him for the sake of her career? 

Told in alternating perspectives of Marin and Brad, Starfish is a contemporary romance of unexpected love, the redemptive power of music and hogging the bed

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47813743-starfish

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Such a fun romance story to read. Marin Collins is ready to head to Seattle for a four-month internship with a prestigious public relations firm, but her plans are derailed when she is assigned to go on the road with a rock band instead. Freaked out by the sudden change and worried that she won't be able to prove herself and land a job when the internship is over, she packs her bags anyway and hops on the bus. But she isn't prepared for the songwriter, guitarist, nerdy, rock star that is part of the band. Brad may love being in a band with his brother, but his real love is coding computer games. But after meeting Marin, he thinks that this tour will be a bit better than the previous ones. Marin and Brad are for real adorable. In this story we get the boy meets girl, become best friends, but with the fear of the girl mixing work life and personal life, boy needs to step up his game and prove that the chemistry between them can lead to something great and taking the risk to be together despite woking together will be worth it in the end. Hilarious banter between the two and a cast of even more hilarious characters with them, this story will have you laughing, swooning, and cheering for Marin and Brad to get their happy ending. Definitely a fun story and I wish there were more! 

The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen

What if you fell in love with the one person you'd sworn to destroy? 

Lara has only one thought for her husband on their wedding day: I will bring your kingdom to its knees. A princess trained from childhood to be a lethal spy, Lara knows that the Bridge Kingdom represents both legendary evil - and legendary promise. The only route through a storm-ravaged world, the Bridge Kingdom controls all trade and travel between lands, allowing its ruler to enrich himself and deprive his enemies, including Lara's homeland. So when she is sent as a bride under the guise of fulfilling a treaty of peace, Lara is prepared to do whatever it takes to fracture the defenses of the impenetrable Bridge Kingdom. 

But as she infiltrates her new home - a lush paradise surrounded by tempest seas - and comes to know her new husband, Aren, Lara begins to question where the true evil resides. Around her, she sees a kingdom fighting for survival, and in Aren, a man fiercely protective of his people. As her mission drives her to deeper understanding of the fight to possess the bridge, Lara finds the simmering attraction between her and Aren impossible to ignore. 

Her goal nearly within reach, Lara will have to decide her own fate: Will she be the destroyer of a king or the savior of her people?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46356471-the-bridge-kingdom

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Definitely my favorite of Danielle L. Jensen's books. And I need the second book to come out asap! The story of kingdoms, war, princes, princesses, assassins, spies, and love. This book has it all. And it had me hooked from the very beginning. Lara was trained for one thing, to be the bride of the enemy and destroy them from within. But she was unprepared for the king to be anything but the demon her father portrayed him as. All she wants is freedom. To complete this mission and disappear. But the thoughts of leaving are halted by the king who is more than he seems and by the truth that is slowly being revealed. It becomes a matter of what is the truth. She was told she was doing the greater good for her kingdom by tearing another kingdom down. But there are always more than one side to the story. Lara has to choose what to believe and who she will fight for. Really great book. Plenty of twists in turns in what could seem predictable. And with the cliffhanger ending, yeah I need the second one now please.