Ruthless Rival by L.J. Shen

As the housekeeper's son, Nicolai is warned not to touch anything in the Roth house,  especially their only daughter Arya. He first met her when they were 12 and she was unlike anything he expected. They become friends and spend every day together that summer and the next.  But then the summer they both turned 14, Arya's father catches them at their first kiss. The next thing Nicolai knows he in an all male boarding school,  black and blue,  and never sees his mother again. 

Years later,  he has opportunity at revenge when a court case comes up against Conrad Roth and his PR consultant is none other than daughter Arya. He's changed his name and his image and it HAS been 18 years,  but Christian still can't believe she doesn't recognize him.  Did he mean that little to her? As the case moves on, his feelings move from thoughts of revenge to how to keep her in his life. 

I love how these two lost kids from terrible homes found each other and became best friends.  And they're so IT for each other that neither one found any lasting relationship in all the years between. How Christian waited for her every day...<swoon>! But I did feel like shaking him when,  after finding out what she really thought happened to him,  he didn't tell the truth that he was Nicolai! I'm so excited that this is part of a series. Nicolai's friends, especially Riggs, are fascinating characters and I can't wait to read their stories!

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

The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon

It's 1978 and Gran has brought home a young girl to become a sister for her grandchildren, Vi and Eric. Iris doesn't behave like other children-- she refuses to speak,  can't dress herself,  brush her hair or teeth,  and has to be taught everything.  Vi invites her to join the monster club she and Eric created after seeing Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and they happily chase monsters through the nearby woods. Gran is busy at her renowned hospital across the street where she works as a psychiatrist helping the mentally ill.  Vi is put in charge of Iris and told to report to Gran if she brings up anything from her past.  But Iris can't remember anything before the day Gran brought her home and, feeling bad,  Vi promises to find out where Iris came from, including her real name.  But the truth she finds is more than she can handle...

2019: Lizzie Shelley is famous for her podcast Monsters Among Us and even appeared on a popular monster hunter tv series. After a girl disappears in Vermont after seeing the local monster,  the town is on edge.  Lizzie has her own reasons for hunting this monster,  fearing it's her long lost sister. 

I've read several books by this author and loved them. This wasn't quite what I expected when I picked up the book so it took me a bit to get into it,  but it didn't take long for her to put her spin on this story inspired by Shelley's classic. Before long,  I was engrossed in the storyline and couldn't wait to see what happened next.  Loved it!!

The Unknown Beloved by Amy Harmon

Chicago 1923: Tortured by the loss of his two children and estrangement of his wife,  young policeman Michael Malone is ready to end his life.  Just one more case and that'll be that.  But when he meets 10-year-old Dani Flanagan, orphaned on the eve of her birthday in a case ruled a murder/suicide that Michael knows is so much more, he escorts her to live with her aunts and she gives him hope and purpose.  He joins Eliot Ness as one of the Untouchables, taking down Al Capone.

Cleveland 15 years later: Eliot Ness is now the Director of Safety in Cleveland, where the Torso murders are continuing to terrorize the poor neighborhoods.  The community is on edge the longer the case goes on and refuse to talk to the police so they decide to bring in cops from other areas to investigate undercover. Michael is set up in a local boarding house and he's shocked to discover that his innkeeper is none other than Dani. She discovers the real reason he's in Cleveland and is determined to use her gift to help him solve the case. But the closer they get to identifying the Butcher, the more it puts Dani in danger of becoming his next victim.

This book is based on real people and the true crime case of the Torso murders. The author did an excellent job of setting the scene of the city and time period,  I could almost see the story like a black and white movie playing in my head.  Dani's gift helped her with her job in the morgue, giving the indigent dead respect and a proper memorial. I really found her gift and the way she used it for good to be fascinating.  Rough, jaded, and cynical Michael Malone was fascinating to me too,  feeling he didn't deserve happiness,  dedicated to his job.  I'm glad he finally accepted a happy ending. This was definitely a five star read for me. 

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

Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman

When Gabe Parker is cast as the next Bond, the public isn't happy. Chani, a journalist assigned puff pieces her whole career,  is hired to write a profile on him.  Gabe has been her celebrity crush,  but she knows this could make her career. Given unprecedented access,  she visits his home and they immediately hit it off, kicking off a weekend of friendship and parties.  Her article is a smashing success,  launching her career,  but everyone still asks if she slept with him,  even as she denies it. Female journalists always do it to get the story,  right? Chani had hoped there might be something there between them,  but it must have been just his acting charm,  since he ran to Vegas to marry his costar shortly after. Now, ten years later,  Gabe's staff want to recreate that weekend and have her write another article. Ten years seems a lifetime,  yet no time at all,  as all those feelings come flooding back. Can she trust that he feels the same,  or is he really that good of an actor?

This book is written in alternating chapters between the past and present,  with some articles and interviews in between.  I could see Gabe's struggle with his addiction in the beginning,  but his down-to-earth boy-next-door  personality was surprising,  especially to Chani. She was young,  naive, and honestly a bit dim witted in the beginning,  but after ten years and a divorce,  she's jaded and not so easily won over by Gabe's charm.  In glad the two finally found their HEA.

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

A Family Affair by Robyn Carr

Just when Anna McNichol's life is running smooth, her husband dies unexpectedly. After a life spent supporting him emotionally,  now she's left floundering herself. But she needs to be strong for her children and her ailing mother, who's disappearing more daily into her dementia. Adding to her stress is the mysterious pregnant woman at Chad's funeral.  Did he cheat again,  and is the baby his? And all of her children are struggling with their grief in different ways and in need of her advice.  She really needs some support and finds it in an unexpected source.

This book is so heartfelt and real.  Families are dramatic and messy,  and this family is no exception. Each of them is dealing with their own life-changing problems,  but they come together over their grief to heal and forgive,  and it actually brings them closer. 

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

Fool Me Once by Ashley Winstead

This book caught me from the first scene that has Lee Stone doing the morning after walk of shame through Disney World wearing a Belle costume after sleeping with a groomsman in a Disney themed wedding. After several heartbreaks in her life, Lee doesn't believe in love. So when she thinks her college boyfriend is cheating on her, she decides to get him back in the worst way by sleeping with his rival in the law program. She discovers her mistake later but it's too late and Ben is gone.

Five years later, Lee is working for a female founded and run electric vehicle company. She is ready to push forward their plan, dubbed the "green machine", to make Texas the first and largest clean energy state. But then she finds out the governor's aide she'll be working with is none other than Ben. She has to deal with her past or her dream career could go up in smoke. 

While I could see where Lee was coming from after her past relationships, I still couldn't agree with her anger and justification for what she'd done. I spent most of the book frustrated at her character and wondering why Ben even put up with her. He was definitely the best part of the book. Even when she lets him down over and over, he's always there for her when she really needs him. We all need a Ben in our lives! I like the green theme throughout the book: clean energy against big oil. And recognition for the female entrepreneurs and politicians fighting back against a male dominated government. 

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

The Shadow House by Anna Downes

Alex is a single mother escaping an abusive relationship and decides to take refuge in the seemingly idyllic ecovillage of Pine Ridge. But upon arriving at her new home,  she finds a disturbing gift on the porch.  Along with her sullen teenage son and cranky teething baby,  they settle in to the welcoming community.  But as time goes on,  some of the villagers aren't so friendly and someone seems to be threatening her and her son. Along with rumors of the past and the witch in the woods, Alex becomes more unsettled and determined to find out the truth behind the threats. Could history be repeating itself?

Alternating between the previous flower farm owner, Renee, and Alex, the chapters uncover the truth behind the original disappearance of Renee's son Gabriel and the present threats against Ollie. The spooky woods and the abandoned farmhouse overlooking the village provide the perfect ominous backdrop for this creepy story.  I didn't see that ending coming! I thought I had it all figured out but I was left guessing until the very end. 

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