Corinth 2642 AD by Bindiya Schaefer

In the far future,  2642 AD, the world has suffered through the Millennial war and ethnicity and racism have disappeared. But when Jimmy Matoo is approached by the first white man he's ever seen,  he's finds out there are secret colonies of a white supremacist cult determined to become a majority again. Julius Bull is the leader of the colonies and the only one of his people to know about the world's technology.  He wants Jimmy to find out what happened to his granddaughter Cara, who disappeared from the colonies.  Jimmy refuses at first, until he finds out that his brother was killed right outside Corinth's borders on the night Cara disappeared. The only way to find out what really happened to his brother is to find Cara, but once he arrives there,  he realizes he might be lucky to even escape with his own life. 

I was amazed to find out this is the author's debut novel. The writing is excellent and I was drawn into the story from the first page.  Just like Jimmy, I would be shocked and horrified that generations of children were forced into arranged marriages so young,  their only value being the amount of children they could conceive.  I'm hoping that the ending of this book was the hint of a sequel?!

The Cosy Cottage in Ireland by Julie Caplin

Used to women falling all over themselves for him,  Conor Byrne is skeptical at first that Hannah Campbell has no clue who he is. Especially when she sneaks away after one unforgettable night together. Hannah doesn't do one night stands, and she definitely doesn't want to do the morning after with this handsome man who's way out of her league. Besides,  she's on holiday in Ireland after signing up for a prestigious cooking course at Ballygeary Cookery School...a far cry from her busy life in Manchester as a lawyer. But to her dismay,  it turns out Conor is a famous chef,  son to the owner of the cooking school she's attending... and he seems to want nothing to do with her, while she can't seem to forget him. 

This is a charmingly sweet story set on the coast of Ireland. The description of the resort and surrounding countryside was wonderful and relaxing.  While I can't cook a thing,  much like Hannah when she started, I do enjoy shows like MasterChef and Hell's Kitchen, and this book reminded me of those. This is my first book by Julie Caplin and I was surprised to find out it's part of a series.  I can't wait to read the rest of them now. 

The Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher

Persephone May has grown up in foster care,  bouncing from home to home,  never belonging.  Bad things happen when she makes eye contact with anyone and now that she's an adult, she's forced to move constantly.  But when she meets Hyacinth, she finally finds a friend,  someone not afraid to look her in the eye.  When Hyacinth invites her to visit their home in Wile Island, she finds her true home and friends that feel like family. Wile Island is full of magic and Persephone discovers a whole new side to her magical abilities.  Is she the one foretold in the prophecy to break the curse and bring the lost witches home?

At times I felt a bit lost in the story with the many characters, past and present. It's a slow build with the world-building on the island,  but I was fascinated by the library of the lost and the "librarian". The cover art on this book is amazing and what drew me to the book on the first place! Mysterious and magical...

The Spires by Kate Moretti

Not quite ready to move on after college,  five friends move into a converted church, enjoying life and their close friendship and calling themselves the Spires.  But after a party turns into a tragic fire,  the group breaks apart,  never contacting each other for twenty years. 

Penelope has a normal suburban life... husband,  two kids, large beautiful home. But when her former best friend Willa shows up on her doorstep begging for a place to stay for a couple weeks,  that horrible night she's tried to forget returns full force.  Something just doesn't seem right with Willa and she's causing a rift between Penelope, Brett, and her children.  Small things,  seemingly inconsequential,  but when added up leave Penelope feeling threatened. What is Willa really after? Will Penelope's perfect life survive?

This was a slow burn thriller.  With each incident the story has you questioning Penelope's sanity,  or Willa's possible motive. I hated how Penelope supported Brett and let him walk all over her knowing he wasn't even trying to find another job. Although I found it strange that they waited twenty years to knock down the remains of the burned out church,  I thought the beautiful building was a great representation of their friendship. A beautiful thing destroyed in one night by jealousy and buried resentments,  never visited again until the end of the story. 

The Stowaway by James S Murray and Darren Wearmouth

Two years ago Maria Fontana was a psychology professor at Columbia University serving on a jury for a serial killer trial. With a lot of circumstantial evidence and no DNA, it's declared a mistrial when, for the third time,  one juror voted not guilty. Now the twelve jurors are being threatened by the victims'families and hounded by the media.  To save the rest,  Maria admits she's the one who let Wyatt Butler go free.  After a forced sabbatical, she,  her fiance Steve, and her two children go on a cruise. But when murders start to happen on the ship with the same MO as Wyatt Butler,  Maria knows it's either him or a copycat, and his ultimate goal is Maria and her family. 

This story is packed full of action and suspense, and the setting on a cruise ship with no escape just adds to the thrill.  Although the descriptions of murdered children were quite gruesome, they paint a picture of a truly horrible killer.  And was that a hint at the end of a sequel? I'll be waiting in line for it if so!

I received an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Serve N' Protect by Tee O'Fallon

Markus York was injured on the job as a secret service agent.  Frustrated with nothing to do while recovering in protective custody waiting for his attacker to be caught,  he reinjures himself doing too much.  His service dog, Ghost, leaps through the window to get help.  

Sophie Morgan is recovering from a car accident that nearly severed her leg.  When the neighbor dog comes barking and insisting she follow,  she finds Markus delirious and heavily drugged with pain meds. But when she tries to call an ambulance, he refuses. Markus' boss decides he needs someone to take care of him and keep him from doing too much so he hires Sophie. He's determined to keep her at a distance to keep her safe, but her positive sunny nature slowly works its way through his grumpy standoffish shell. 

A tough manly guy afraid to show feelings,  a girl with her own problems hiding behind a bubbly exterior,  and a loving, seriously awesome dog. What more could a story need? I loved this book!

I received an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

The Bookbinder's Daughter by Jessica Thorne

After her father's death,  Sophie is contacted by her Uncle Edward with an offer of a job-- bookbinder at the prestigious Ayredale Library. This is the position her mother held before she mysteriously disappeared when Sophie was still a teen,  and her father dragged her away to London. When she returns to the library,  memories from her forgotten past start to come back to her,  including a dark haired boy, Will, that she'd fallen for all those years ago. But Sophie's ties to this library run deep and strange things start to happen,  whispers of voices long forgotten and an unknown power buried deep under the library's surface. 

The library itself seems to be a malevolent character in this book,  a creeping presence in the background. The descriptions of the library,  the tree,  and the characters just painted a picture for me and I was lost in its magical world from beginning to end. 

Big thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the advance reader copy of this wonderful book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily

There's Something About Molly by Christina Hovland

Molly is a professional matchmaker and runs her own vlog with dating tips,  but she's not such an expert at her own dating life.  In fact,  she seems to set up her first dates with other women she thinks they'd be perfect for.  But when a matchmaking competition requires her to be in a relationship to stay in first place,  she chooses Gavin.  As her best friend's ex, he's off limits,  and she's always disliked him for the way he treated Rachel when they were married.  And Gavin has good reason to agree to the arrangement because it would keep his interfering mother from trying to set him up with every woman they come across. The more time they spend together,  the more she realizes Gavin's not the bad guy she thought he was. Could this get trial turn into a lifetime?

This was a cute enemies to lovers fake relationship story.  I love how Molly is a strong single mother doing everything to provide the best for her son and refuses to take a handout. And the fact that Gavin's twins are Oliver's friends gives Molly a chance to see Gavin in a different light,  as a capable and loving father. The cover art is really cute and drew my attention.  

The Light Through the Leaves by Glendy Vanderah

Ellis has always escaped to the woods when she's troubled,  seeking peace and comfort. When she sees her husband cheating on her,  she takes her children with her to the woods,  promising her 4-year-old twins,  Jasper and River,  they could catch tadpoles in the stream. In a moment of distraction,  she leaves 2-month-old Viola behind.  When she returns for her, the baby is gone. Feeling fractured and unfit for motherhood,  Ellis leaves her family behind,  traveling throughout the country trying to escape her guilt and substance abuse issues. 

Meanwhile,  Raven is being raised to believe in the magic of nature.  Her mother wished really hard to the spirits,  and they gave her a baby. Raven is taught to be suspicious of strangers,  technology,  medicine,  even school. But eventually her mother gives in and Raven is thrown into a world totally foreign to her.  She must keep her magic a secret and never tell. 

This story was heartbreaking, magical,  and finally beautiful. I thought it really showed the wonder of nature and the power of family and friends to heal.

The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean

Thanh Dao and her sister were promised employment and a better life in England. But Thanh was taken by Lenn to his farm to be his wife.  Everything has been taken from her in the seven years she's been imprisoned on his farm. The first time she tried to escape,  he caught her and made it nearly impossible to try again. Now she's watched constantly by Lenn and the cameras that film her every move. He even takes her name,  calling her Jane after his mother and his first wife.  But when she discovers she's pregnant,  she's more determined than ever to escape. 

I was shocked and horrified by the conditions "Jane" was forced to endure for years. I was rooting her on throughout the book that even though she suffered endless pain for years she still stayed strong,  plotting against Lenn every second of every day. This story was hard to read but well worth it. 

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

Ray Carney, wanting to get away from his family history of crime,  opens a gently used furniture store in Harlem. He sees himself as a middleman to the to and from of objects,  a churn of property,  and he was just the facilitator of that churn...and if some of those objects come from nefarious means,  how is he to blame?

But when his cousin names him to a shady new group of friends who plan to run the Hotel Theresa, all of a sudden,  Ray's shop is frequented by assorted lowlifes and shady cops. He looks for a better life,  a better home,  but this is no way to get it.  He has to work hard to get himself,  his cousin,  and his shop back out of trouble. 

I loved the descriptions of different areas and neighborhoods in Harlem in the 60s from Ray's perspective.  I like how he'd choose a house or apartment and imagine his family living there.  I really respected Ray for trying to provide for his family in the mostly legal way and get away from his father's criminal ways. 

I received an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Dreaming Under An Island Skye by Lisa Hobman

Still mourning her husband's death to cancer two years later,  Juliette decides she needs to get away from the constant reminders of him and travels to Skye for the summer. She takes a volunteer position for room and board at the local museum,  run by a crabby standoffish artist. Reid is a single father,  abandoned by his ex-wife who ran off with a biker. His first encounters with Juliette are confrontational.  But when the life of his little boy Evin is threatened and Juliette saves him,  Reid realizes how wrong he's been and they become friends. As they spend more time together and Juliette tries to bring him out of his depression,  she starts falling for him. Can two lost souls come together to help each other heal?

This is a wonderful story of second chances at love in a beautiful small town setting.  I've always been fascinated with Scotland,  and this made me want to visit even more!

All Bleeding Stops by Michael J Collins

Matthew Barrett, a surgeon fresh out of residency in 1967 is drafted and sent sent to Pho Bai, Vietnam. At first hopeful that he can make a difference, he is quickly left feeling disillusioned by all the blood and death. He spirals into depression and alcoholism and only the love of Therese, a nurse stationed in his hospital, can make a difference. But when he fails to save one specific life, he is left reeling, unable to perform surgery anymore without flashbacks of his failure.
I'm feeling so emotional after reading this book. This phenomenal story is going to stick with me for a long time.
I received an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Every Day in December by Kitty Wilson

Five years ago on the day her goddaughter was born, Belle saw college friend Rory mourning the tragic loss of his longtime girlfriend after a car accident. Now Rory is back in town helping his mother through her cancer diagnosis. Although she's going through some hard times of her own,  Belle is determined to share her love of Christmas with scrooge Rory. Their friendship turns quickly to attraction,  but Rory is determined never to be in another relationship.  He can't survive the pain of losing the one he loves again. Can Belle's loving and sunny nature change his mind?

This was a slow burn romance full of the magic of the Christmas season.  From hot chocolate, ice skating,  and sledding,  to the simple smells of pine and Christmas cookies, this book is guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit. 

The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer

At the beginning of the book,  we have Penny who's been arrested in what seems a slam dunk case. She was discovered covered in blood,  holding the knife over a brutally murdered woman. Her mother Grace insists that she's innocent despite all the evidence against her. Penny has multiple personality disorder and has divided the traumatic memories of her life between the personalities. Can Grace and the psychiatrist find out the truth before its too late?

This was such a great psychological thriller! I never knew what was going to happen next and how they were going to bring out her different personalities to discover the truth.  I found it fascinating that each personality had no memory of the other.  

Black Crimson by Linda Kage

On a dark and stormy night, Camille is settling in to her comfy nest engrossed in her guilty pleasure paranormal romance, laughing at the cheesy romance lines, just as I'm doing cuddled up with this guilty pleasure fairy-tale retelling. Then it's off to granny's house where she runs into the big bad flirty graffiti artist dubbed Black Crimson. As an aspiring journalist, she's been following the story of this infamous artist and realized she has an inside scoop that could get her the promotion she wants. But to expose him would ruin the life of the man she's falling for...

I didn't realize this was the last book in a series, so I was a little lost on all the characters and connections that came before. Camille and Brick's story was unique, though, and enjoyable enough as a standalone.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Perfect Timing by Owen Nichols

Jess is a comedian,  Tom is a musician. They literally bump into each other one night and are instantly attracted.  But when Jess finds out he has a girlfriend,  she refuses to speak to him again.  Now a year later,  Tom's band is famous and he's writing songs to her hoping she'll hear them and contact him.  Due to his anxiety around women,  he had created a fake girlfriend to keep his friends off his back, and the song Sarah's Not Real finally gets the message across.  But through a series of meetings and missed opportunities the timing just never seems right for them. They have to work through their own issues before they can finally grow and be together. 

This book is really hard to describe,  but I thought it was a beautiful love story, not a romance. I thought it was a little like When Harry  Met Sally, that over the years while they keep meeting,  they change and grow,  and in the end their relationship was deeper and more meaningful.

Read My Lips by Kelle Z Riley

Self-made billionaire Clayton McClain has a well-kept secret that he's held all his life... he's severely dyslexic.  So far,  he's been able to hide it with well paid assistants and his best friend and business partner,  Jimmy. But after his mother's death,  he receives a letter from her that he's unable to read and he decides to finally confront his disability. He turns to the literacy foundation that his chocolatier company sponsors,  but goes in disguise. 

When Claire Lennox meets Artie for the first time he's wearing threadbare clothes and pretending to be a lowly employee in the McClain chocolate factory.  They're immediately attracted, but a bad past relationship with a corporate executive has Claire reluctant to give him a chance. As they become closer and start a relationship,  Artie is afraid to tell her the truth given her past. Will she ever accept his true identity?

I love this rags to riches story that shines a light on literacy and dyslexia. Just like a man,  Clayton needs a little more trust and communication and it takes his friend Jimmy to talk some sense into him...only too late to do any good!

The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara

When Maya Maas decides to surprise her boyfriend by coming to California where he's on a business trip, the last thing she expects is a text from a complete stranger answering his phone. And then finding out that her boyfriend is cheating on her.  The stranger then suggests a visit to nearby Carmel-by-the-sea to help console her and celebrate her birthday.  He gives her an idyllic day,  guiding her by text to the best attractions. When,  at the end of the day,  they agree to meet,  the stranger (or Max as she calls him) never shows.  But her boyfriend does and convinces her he never cheated. Almost a year later,  Maya still can't seem to forget Max and her perfect day in California. When a romance book about to be published describes that day in detail,  Maya travels back to California,  desperate to find out from the author the true identity of Max. 

This story was heartwarming and sweet.  For Max to give a perfect stranger such a wonderful birthday after giving her devastating news was really sweet.  This small vacation town sounds like such a wonderful place to visit and fall in love! Although the ending was predictable from the start,  I still really enjoyed this book. 

I received an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily. 

Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens

This story is based on decades of true cold case missing and murdered indigenous women in British Columbiaon the Highway of Tears. In Dark Roads,  the town is Cold Creek. Women in the town are warned against traveling this highway after dark.  After her father's tragic death in a car accident,  Hailey is forced to live with her aunt and uncle.  When her uncle Vaugn, a town cop,  becomes increasingly stern and controlling, and Hailey discovers a truly disturbing secret,  she is forced to escape.

Beth is the sister of one of the victims.  Unlike her super religious parents,  she can't seem to let the case go cold.  Determined to find answers,  she travels to Cold Creek to work in the diner Amber worked in. Will she finally discover what happened to Amber or become a victim herself?

I loved this thriller! I honestly couldn't put it down.  It's so creepy and disturbing that I found myself constantly watching over my shoulder after dark and jumping at shadows. 

I received an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.  My review is given voluntarily.