Cursed By Fate by VJ Silvey

Abandoned in the woods at ten years old, Ava is rescued by Ajax and brought back to his home in the Aisling pack who are known to take in all that are rejects or have no other home. But even in this group Ava is an outsider. She grew up picked on because she has no wolf, but Ajax made sure she could defend herself. He owns a training center known to produce the strongest and fiercest warriors and now as one of his assistant trainers, she's constantly showing that she can defeat even the best warrior. The alpha's son and her nemesis in high school, Derek is her favorite warrior to humiliate and his reasons for being at the facility at all are suspect. When the threat comes down, will she be able to protect the only family she's ever known or doom them all?

Not sure how to describe this without giving it all away, but I loved this book! Ava is such a strong character and I love her interaction with the guys in training. The world building and plot were exciting, the characters are unique and relatable and I can't wait to read the rest of the series after that thrilling yet heartbreaking cliffhanger ending.

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

I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

Five years ago, David woke to the scent of blood and discovered his three-year-old son Matt murdered in his bed. He was convicted of the crime and sent to prison. Heartbroken and grieving, he doesn't even have the heart left to fight it. Life has moved on without him, his father on his deathbed, his wife divorced him and remarried, and all the while David had refused all visitors. But then his sister-in-law Rachel shows up with a picture of a boy that looks unbelievably looks like son. Finally able to hope again, David plots his escape in a desperate attempt to find Matt before he's recaptured.

This story was heartbreaking and real, full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. It's about an innocent grieving father willing to risk everything, even his life, to believe in the impossible. I loved everything about this story except for the banter between the two investigators Max and Sarah. It just seemed awkward and over-the-top to me. Still a five star read for me though.

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

Game On by Elise Eliot

Millie is a single mom of two, so when she gets fired again, she has no time to wait to find another position. But out of the blue, the perfect position falls in her lap paying more money than she ever dreamed. But soon she learns that it was too good to be true when her narcissistic boss has her at his beck and call 24/7. She tricks him into hiring her best friend Paige, and they scheme ways to pay him back for being a horrible boss. But when Colton schedules a non-negotiable trip that includes both him and her equally horrible ex-boyfriend, she's determined to quit and stand on her own. Especially when a handsome stranger steps in to defend her.

This book was hilarious! I love all the devious pranks they played on Colton. The romance kind of felt thrown into the story though as our handsome hero doesn't even appear until over halfway into the book. Insta-love isn't my favorite trope, but the rest of the story was well worth dealing with that. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Off the Map by Trish Doller

Carla's mother left when she was 5 and her father Biggie was clueless to raise a young daughter in his own. He's a teacher, so on summer breaks he'd pack up his vintage Jeep and travel to national parks with her. Now she's been traveling the world and hasn't been home for years. 

Eamon is one of seven siblings, but always the one his mother counts on to be responsible. Instead of following his dreams of travel he's stuck behind a desk as a cartographer creating maps for other people to follow.

When Carla comes to Ireland for her best friend Anna's wedding, Eamon as the best man is charged with picking her up and bringing her to the hotel. They instantly click and lose hours of time talking of her travels, then talking turns into an adventure of their own and feelings neither one expected.  

This adventure story made me want to pack up my own jeep and just take off. Carla's life sounds like so much fun! I like how their personalities just click right away and he finally finds the courage to follow his dreams instead of being the responsible one all the time. I really enjoyed this fun, spicy romance!

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

The Lady of the Loch by Elena Collins

I love this story so much! In the early 14th century Agnes is working as a kitchen maid when the castle is sacked by the English. She escapes north to Ravenscraig Castle where she meets Cam Buchanan and dreams of a happy future only to find out he's going to fight alongside Robert the Bruce.

In present day, Zoe has always been the responsible one, successful in life, while her twin Leah always seems to struggle. She's sunk in depression, barely able to dress herself much less leave the house. Zoe has cause for concern, so when a caretaker position becomes available for Ravenscraig Castle, she decides they need a change. As they're settling in and enjoying the picturesque landscape, they hear rumors around the village that the castle is haunted. At first believing it's just superstition, the twins begin to feel a haunting sadness around the tower. Can they find out the truth of the past and heal the heartbreak and betrayal?

I enjoyed the historic details of Agnes and Effie's part of the story, but it lagged a little in the middle and I started enjoying the twins story more. There was a dark and haunting feel to their story that made me want to find out more. 

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

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

Alex has idolized author Roza Vallos ever since reading her debut novel as a teenager. Now she gets a chance to have her idol as a mentor on a month-long retreat at the reclusive author's isolated mansion along with a group of other hopeful women authors. When they arrive, they are set the task of writing a whole new book in a month with daily deadlines to meet and a seven figure publishing contract as the prize. All starts well with the women busy writing, but when one of them disappears under ominous circumstances and the others secretly investigate, they discover the chilling truth about their mysterious host and the retreat.  

This story had me on the edge of my seat with a sense of looming dread. Between the rumored haunting, the threat of punishment if they missed their deadlines, and her ex-best friend turning the other writers against her with her lies and mind games, the book was fairly fast-paced and kept my interest to the very end. 

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

The Drift by C.J. Tudor

This book is three separate POV stories of survival until they combine in the end to a thrilling conclusion. First, Hannah and a handful of other students from an exclusive school are escaping to safety, fleeing a brewing deadly virus that's sweeping the nation. A flash of light, a crash, and then nothing until she wakes up to find herself one of few survivors of the bus crash. The doors are jammed, there's no way out, and the temperature is dropping fast. They'll have to work together to survive, but Hannah isn't the only one with a secret.

After volunteering for a secret project, former cop Meg wakes up suspended in a stalled cable car, dressed in a stranger's clothes, with no memory of how she got there. With her are a group of strangers all except one, a familiar face from her past... and he's dead. With little hope of rescue, these strangers will have to trust each other to survive even though one of them is a killer. 

In an abandoned ski resort, a small group is working toward creating a vaccine against the deadly virus. They are barely surviving, exchanging doses for vital supplies. But when the power starts to fail, the threat lurking in the basement gets closer and closer to escape and Carter and his small group of friends could be its first victims.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't put it down! With details of the reaction to the virus so familiar, yet so strange and the perfect time of year to read this snowy chilling story, it pulled me right in. I'm excited to read more by this new-to-me author. 

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