Willing Prey by Allie Oleander

After a messy divorce from her cheating ex, Claire jumps at the chance to pay off her student loans. Her teacher salary and the little she makes as a waitress hardly make a dent, so $30,000 for 30 days seems like easy money. But Shane is nothing like she expected. Sure, in the woods he's the wild hunter, but at home he's socially awkward and even a bit shy and she'll try anything to see him smile. When the contract is up, will she be able to let him go?

This book is definitely dark and spicy, as expected, but I loved seeing the heart and emotions behind the characters as we get to read from both points of view. Shane's chapters especially had me seeing him not as a heartless control freak, but as a lonely man taught to suppress his emotions. The banter between the two was fun to read and the story was fast paced with a lot of action. And OMG... the bear scene!!! I about died laughing. I'm so excited for the sequel now!!

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group and the author Allie Oleander for my ARC of this book. I was so excited to receive my copy!

Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham

It's been 22 years since Claire lost her sister Natalie when she was 11. She has since become an investigative journalist but never got over the trauma, especially since Natalie's body was never found. After losing her job, she gets a call from her father to return home to care for her estranged mother, but her mother doesn't want her help. Left adrift with nothing to do, Claire starts going through old pictures and visiting old memories, like the Galloway Farm, the last place Natalie was truly happy. While there, Claire's offered a job and shortly after starting, she finds the owner's old diary and her curiosity won't let it go. The further she reads the more secrets she discovers and she starts to suspect she may finally find the truth.

This is a slow burn thriller with clues sprinkled throughout, some more obvious than others. I enjoyed the southern vibes and the tense atmosphere. This author writes a slower paced thriller than assume, but I speciation her writing style. I look forward to her next. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I Become Her by Joe Hart

It's only been ten days into their honeymoon cruise and Imogen suspects Lev of infidelity. And somehow during the argument that follows Lev goes overboard. It's a miracle he's found alive... an even bigger miracle he doesn't remember what happened that night. After they return home however, she's paranoid that he remembers more than he lets on and she realizes she never knew her husband at all.

Wow! This is even better than Or Else and I loved that book. There are so many twists in this book, told from different perspectives and timelines, and I never completely knew what was going on until the shocking end.

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher

I received an audiobook arc of this book and the narrator did a wonderful job of making the story come to life. This is a retelling of the classic Snow White fairytale, but through the eyes of a side character and it's a whole new story. Anja is a plant witch that tries out poisons on herself to try and help people. When the king asks her for help to save his daughter Snow, Anja can't figure out why she's so sick... until she goes through a magic mirror into another world. With fascinating, awkwardly realistic characters (including a talking cat that steals the show), awesome world building, and fast pacing, this book is a must-read for fantasy lovers. Oddly enough, this is my first book by this author and now I'm excited to pick up another. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer

Charlie and Ethan have been best friends since childhood and after graduation, Ethan wants nothing more than to leave their small town to travel and sing his music. Charlie grew up moving town to town chasing her father's photography career. She wants to settle down in her own home with a stable career and a reliable husband. Now after her bitter divorce is final, Charlie is convinced she needs to keep her sister from making the same mistake by marrying her on-again-off-again boyfriend. She and Ethan drive cross country in his camper van to catch Laurel before she elopes. But being this close to Ethan may have her changing her own priorities. 

I got so frustrated with Charlie, so convinced she's right that she won't even try a different way. The timeline jumps from past to present to show their friendship through the years, which I absolutely loved. Ethan was so obviously smitten from the start, afraid to get his heart broken again and willing to take whatever Charlie will give. Their third act breakup was hard to read and Ethan deserved so much more groveling! Overall I liked this road trip friends to lovers story. 

The Ripple Effect by Maggie North

Meet Lyle "McHuge" McHugh, a man who claims 6'4" when under duress (though we all know he's lying), a man who chooses kindness in every circumstance at the expense of his own feelings, a man who needs help to keep his business afloat... literally! This is the first session of his startup relationship therapy whitewater adventure, but his business partner is forced into paternity leave early, leaving McHuge floundering for help. Stellar Byrd only offered help as a last resort given their history but now the job is even more complicated than expected when they add in a fake engagement, a hostile client, and unexpected business competition. Will their fledgling business survive the summer?

I loved McHuge in the first book so I was so happy he was getting his own. I love how these total opposites teach other to become their best selves and their love story is a such a sweet slow burn. The Canadian wilderness setting was beautiful, the whitewater scenes were fun, and the characters were unique and relatable. The ending was a bit abrupt for me, but overall I really enjoyed this book.

Unwanted by Mia Sheridan

There are two victims in the small town of Helena Springs, Montana and wilderness guide Harper is called in to assist with the investigation. The only suspect is an enigma...a man dressed in animal skins carrying a bow and arrows going only by the name Lucas. He's been called a savage, but Harper can see the intelligence in his eyes and the more time she spends with him the more questions she has. How has he survived in this harsh environment alone for 15 years? Why was he abandoned in the wilderness at only 8 years old? And why does she feel such a strong attachment to this stranger?

What a great mystery! The details were given sparingly as Lucas can trust no one. The story is told with flashbacks to his earlier time in the wilderness and his struggle to survive. As the details fall in place, it only created a bigger mystery and more questions. And the final connection between him and Harper was such a great surprise! The pacing of this story was perfect, the romance just enough, the setting was absolutely beautiful, and the conclusion even surprised me. 

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.