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Blood Rites (The Dresden Files, #6)
Jim Butcher | 2005 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.4 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
Book number 6 in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series, and the quality shows no signs of letting up.

This time, Harry Dresden is hired by his vampire acquantaince Thomas Raith to investigate a series of highly unusual murders surrounding an adult movie maker, which leads to further revelations (previously hinted at in earlier books) about Harry's own mysterious past, and just why Thomas has been an occassional ally ...

While I reckon it is probably possible to read this as a 'stand-alone' novel, it's probably best to have read the previous five books first in order to understand a few of the references made during the course of this one.
  
The Merchant’s Daughter
The Merchant’s Daughter
Melanie Dickerson | 2011 | Young Adult (YA)
10
8.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Set in the Medieval Era, Annabel and Lord Ranulf will steal your heart in this unique story that mirrors the story of Beauty and the Beast. From a nasty "Gaston" to a sweet young boy, and a caring housekeeper...The heart of the story reminds us that it is not our appearance or circumstances that define us...But our heart.

If you have read some (or all) of these books, you know that each novel can stand alone. But ultimately, they all intertwine. You can see the Family Tree on Melanie's website. I highly recommend this story and hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

I purchased a print copy of The Merchant's Daughter. This review is based on the audio version which I borrowed from my local library. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
  
The Heatwave
The Heatwave
Katerina Diamond | 2020 | Mystery, Thriller
7
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Stand-alone novel by the author of the D.S. Imogen Grey series
‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Katerina Diamond, the author of the D.S. Imogen Grey series, is back with a new stand-alone novel, The Heatwave. I read Truth or Die, book #5 of her series, and was looking forward to reading The Heatwave as soon as I read the description
"The heatwave is back. And so is the killer."

Felicity fled her town and her life, determined not to return. That is until sixteen years later, and a second girl went missing. She holds the answers to what happened to the first girl and is determined to find the second before it is too late.

Diamond hooked me from the beginning. The book is 400 pages, but it was such a page-turner it felt much shorter.

As with all thrillers, there are twists, turns, and surprise reveals. The Heatwave kept me guessing until the very end. I thought I had figured everything out, but I was so wrong. After going back over the story, I realized I picked up on many of them but could not piece them all together correctly.

Goodreads does not list any other upcoming books of Katerina Diamond but added her to my "authors to read" list to keep watch for them.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 6/25/20.
  
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Suspect (Scott James & Maggie, #1)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
In this stand alone novel, Scott James is trying to return to the LAPD after being shot in the line of duty, losing his partner in the process. He's joined the K-9 unit and teamed up with Maggie, a dog who has also undergone trauma. Will the two help each other heal? And will Scott track down the men who shot him? This reminds me why I need to read more Crais. I loved the book, feeling for the characters and getting caught up in the story. I'm not a dog person either, so that tells you just how great the characters are.

<a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-suspect-by-robert-crais.html">My full review at Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Only Ashes Remain (Market of Monsters #2)
Only Ashes Remain (Market of Monsters #2)
Rebecca Schaeffer | 2019 | Young Adult (YA)
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

Only Ashes Remain by Rebecca Schaeffer is the second novel in her Market of Monsters series. To give a fair review, I read the first book, Not Even Bones. I will review the first book, but this review concerns only Only Ashes Remain.

After Nita escaped and destroyed the black market, she just wants to be left alone. When a video of her abilities appears on the dark web, she knows she must go on the offensive. With the help of Kovit, Nita starts to take revenge on the person who sold her to her kidnappers. With everyone searching for her, Nita needs to do whatever it takes to stay alive and free.

Even though I enjoyed the first book, I discovered I needed a break before reading the second. Once I did begin reading this, I found I enjoyed this more than the first book. This book could be read as a stand-alone novel, but reading the first book would enhance this one.

This story is darker than the first, but it is a fun read since the writing makes you feel for all of the characters, including Kovit.

A third novel, When Villains Rise, was published in 2020.

This 200-word review will be published on Philomathinphila.com.
  
The 9th novel in the X-Wing series, this is (in many respects) also a stand-alone, featuring neither the Rogues nor the Wraiths of the previous X-Wing books.

Rather, this concentrates more on Wedge and a few other characters, as they are sent on a diplomatic mission to a newly-discovered world with a pilot mania that is trying to decide whether to join the New Republic or The Empire.

I've been re-reading the X-Wing books in preparation for the newest (just released) book in the series, with this previously being the last in the series. I also think it's fair to say that if you've read any of Aaron Allston's previous X-Wing books you know pretty much what to expect in this