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The Hawthorne Legacy
The Hawthorne Legacy
Jennifer Lynn Barnes | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Young Adult (YA)
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
After having read the first in this series on The Pigeonhole, I knew I’d have to read the rest (I’m a completionist 🤷🏼‍♀️)!! So I preordered this from the library. It didn’t disappoint, either. Avery is still trying to work out why she has been left the Hawthorne fortune, and someone is still trying to make sure that she doesn’t live to inherit.

The clues come thick and fast, as so the death threats. Avery is still trying to deal with the fact that her father wants to get his hands on the money too, and he will do all that he can to make sure that he gets ‘his share’.

Grayson and Jameson Hawthorne are still being their enigmatic selves, and Avery appears undecided as to which brother she likes best (why choose?!).

By the end of the book, a lot of questions are answered, but there are plenty more that need resolving.

I’ll be very interested to see what happens in the next instalment!
  
TW
The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy, #2)
Marie Rutkoski | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
6
8.3 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
So I am actually giving this book a 3.5 stars instead of just a three. There are going to be slight spoilers throughout the review, so read at your own peril.

This was a typical second book in a trilogy. It is there to get to the last plot point and explain some background stuff that will most likely be needed in the last book, but it was kinda milk-toast to me.

The relationship between Kestrel and Arin didn't really grow too much until the very last second, but even then it wasn't a huge change. They argue way too much in my opinion. Maybe I am just spoiled with other books, but I didn't feel much romantic tension between the two whenever they were together. I feel like the first book did a much better job at building up the romance, and then this one just crushed it completely. They are however, finally seeing each other's side of the story which is nice. I just wished it had happened sooner.

I hate the emperor, he is a major dick. So is Kestrel's father. I want both of them to suffer in the next book.

I understand that introducing the easterners was important for the conflict to come, but I didn't feel any attachment to the new characters. The queen and her brother were kinda boring and didn't leave much of an impression on me after I read their parts. Maybe they will get more interesting in the next book?

I hated what happened with Jess and Ronan. I understand it was significant in showing that Kestrel has to leave her old life behind and that her friends are not as welcome to change as she is, but it was still not cool what happened to them. I actually really liked Ronan in the first book, but he turned into such an ass.

I enjoyed the last twenty pages of the book more than the rest because I feel like it started to pick up more. There was the inklings of what the next book will focus on and I think it will be a really cool concept.

I know I am mostly harping on the book in this review, but I really did enjoy it. I just liked the first one more than I did this one. I think Kestrel getting a backbone and standing up to the emperor was cool. I loved her friendship with Verex, too. Though I don't think they're endgame, I like them as friends.

I need to read the next book to see what happens!!
  
Bedrock (Bedrock #1)
Bedrock (Bedrock #1)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Addison Greyer knows better.
Or at least she should.
Never in a million years would she have guessed she'd wind up agreeing to the sinister side-gig her tough-as-nails new boss proposes.
Until she does.
Turns out, one bad decision often leads to another.
He's troubled.
She's married.
It's a dangerous game, for sure--one in which she stands to lose the most. Soon,
she learns desire is not only dangerous but deadly and there's a price to be paid for her mistakes.
A pound of flesh.
Never in a million years would she have guessed how far her picturesque little suburban life would unravel.
Until it does.
She should have known better.
Too bad she didn't.

Intelligently written story of choices and the consequences of those choices. All choices have consequences, some good, some bad.
 This is the story of Addison.
A typical house wife, Addison wishes she had continued with her career and not stayed at home with her 3 boys. Although she is desperately in love with them, she feels like their is a part of her that is missing. Her husband is involved with his career that he does not notice that she is a different person to the one he married.
Addison has many threads to her life and not what you would expect. You slowly peel back her layers.
I found myself drawn to reading in order to find out what was going to happen next.
The characters are interesting and the many twists and turns keep you wanting to know more and make you feel engaged with their lives.
This is a must read book and I recommend it to anyone.
Can't wait to find out what happens next.

I received my copy free from the Author and this is my own honest voluntary review.
  
Sometimes I Lie
Sometimes I Lie
Alice Feeney | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
10
7.8 (17 Ratings)
Book Rating
<b><i>Nothing happens by accident.</b></i>

After being in a bit of a reading slump for a week or so, this is exactly the kind of book I needed to read to get my life back in order. This book is fast-paced, twisty & turny and overall fun to read. Thank you, Feeney, for getting me out of my slump with this terrific mystery thriller!

This is most definitely, one of the <i>best</i> thrillers I’ve read in such a long time. The writing style is superb, the characters are so well developed and complex (in a good way!!) and the twists in the plot come out of nowhere (again, in a good way)!

I loved each and every character in this. No one is originally as they seem and as the plot builds and builds around them, each person grows more and more complex. We suspect all of them for different things, so sure we’re right, and then all of a sudden, a new revelation appears and we’re shocked back into not knowing what the hell is going on. That's what’s so great about this novel, you think you’ve got it, you think you know what will happen next, but don’t be so naive! Just you wait and see what Feeney pulls out of the bag next.

As for the plot, I thought this was wonderfully unique. Having the perspective of Amber in a coma, telling us her story, was an incredible way to keep us “in the know” without actually knowing anything!

This is a seriously dark, but superbly written and executed novel. Any psychological thriller lovers out there? Well, you <i>must</i> pick this up in 2017!

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.</i>
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2163 KP) rated Prodigal Son in Books

Mar 17, 2021 (Updated Mar 17, 2021)  
Prodigal Son
Prodigal Son
Gregg Hurwitz | 2021 | Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Will Orphan X’s Retirement Last?
In the few weeks since Evan Smoak retired, he’s found that adjusting to normal life is more of a struggle than he anticipated, especially since he has nothing to fill his time. The phone calls from Veronica, the woman claiming to be his mother, aren’t helping. He finally decides to meet her, and she asks for his help protecting Andrew Duran from the people trying to kill him. Evan begins tracking down Andrew just to see what his situation is. Will he help Andrew? What might having Veronica in his life mean for him?

If you are new to these books, I don’t recommend you start here. Yes, the background you need is given as events unfold, but to fully appreciate the growth in Evan and his relationships with others, you need the full background the earlier books give you. As a fan, I loved those growth moments in this book. Unfortunately, they did come at the expense of the pacing. Normally, author Gregg Hurwitz is a master at keeping the thrills going while developing the characters for us. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great action scenes, and the book always held my interest. It’s just not quite on par with his others. The scenes spent giving us technical information didn’t help with the pacing. Having said that, it’s going to be a long wait until the next book comes out so I can find out what happens next. Being a thriller, this does have more language and violence than my normal selections, so be prepared before you pick it up. Fans will definitely enjoy this book, and if you haven’t started the series yet, I recommend you do so today.
  
Daughter of Chaos (Red Magic #1)
Daughter of Chaos (Red Magic #1)
Jen McConnel | 2014 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
In Darlena's world, magic is divided into three different categories. To put it simply - white is good, black is bad, and green is balance. Normally a witch will choose a path on her 16th birthday. Darlena has passed this milestone without declaring which path she will follow. One evening Hecate shows up and puts Darlena on the spot - which path will she choose? Darlena follows her heart and her instincts and chooses a colour that she has never heard of before - Red. It must be a real path because the next day she is expelled from school with no explanation. Anyone who hears what colour she has chosen, reacts in a very different way to how Darlena was expecting.

I loved how Jen McConnel set this all up and how it was all executed. The writing and links are flawless, with plenty of surprises along the way. I thought having Aphrodite as a patron of Red magic was brilliant, and anyone who thinks that love isn't chaotic is seriously mistaken!

With lessons to be learnt, Darlena has some serious choices to make. Some of which she makes on the rebound, some of which she has time to think about. With friends and allies helping her along the way, as well as enemies trying to hinder her, her life is moving along at breakneck speed. Will she find the time to figure out what to do?

With a cast of amazing characters, from the noble yet slightly self-righteous Justin to the flawed and grasping Rochelle, you have a fast-paced story that will keep you engrossed from beginning to end. I can't wait to read more about Darlena's story to see what happens next. Definitely recommended.

* Verified Purchase on Amazon *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 19, 2016
  
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Merissa (11935 KP) rated Hers, Unleashed (Hers #3) in Books

Jun 15, 2021 (Updated Jul 18, 2023)  
Hers, Unleashed (Hers #3)
Hers, Unleashed (Hers #3)
Anna Adler | 2020 | Dystopia, Erotica, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
HERS, UNLEASHED is the third book in the Hers series and follows on from Hers, Unbroken, with situations arising following actions and situations in that book, so I would definitely recommend you read at least that one first. Of course, my full recommendation would be to read both, but that's because they're both brilliant.

Roth has escaped one prison in exchange for a voluntary one of three months. He knows Selenia has no interest in his past, so if he can just disappear, he'll be fine. His mistress, Kaitlyn, is a Security Office who lives in one of the underground domes, so he figures he'll be even safer. But what happens when convenience turns into something else?

Oh, I do love these books!!! Anna Adler gives you a nicely rounded story with plenty of steamy moments plus action on the streets. Holly and Chase have a small cameo here, which was great to see. Selenia has changed since Book 2, and Kaitlyn hasn't really questioned any of it too deeply. Meeting Roth, and eventually hearing some of his back story, well, it all changed for her and they both realised the world wasn't perfect.

I read this book in one sitting, one sunny afternoon, and I thoroughly enjoyed every single word and scene. I really can't wait to return to Selenia and see what happens next. Absolutely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 15, 2021