Customer Comments

Treacherous Is the Night is the second book in Verity Kent series by Anna Lee Huber. In this book Verity travels to Belgium and France with Sydney to investigate a mystery concerning one of La Dame Blanche (Belgian underground intelligence) agents with whom she worked during WW1 and whom she considers a friend. It appears that this friend is now in peril and may need Verity's help. In the first book we didn't know a lot about Verity's role with Secret Service during the war but in this book we finally learn about many of her assignments and some of her secrets. We also get to know Sydney much better. The one character I was missing desperately is Max, the Earl of Ryde. He had such a big presence in the first book but in this book he is relegated to the sidelines with only a small part in the story. This was really disappointing because he was my favorite character in This Side of Murder. Regardless, I did enjoy Treacherous Is the Night and am looking forward to the next installment. And I do hope that we'll get a lot more of Max in the third book!

The Clockmaker's Daughter is the first book by Kate Morton that I've read even though she has been on my radar for awhile. I love historical fiction so I had high expectations for The Clockmaker's Daughter and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is an exquisitely written tale of murder, love, and loss, set mostly in the artistic world of Victorian era. There are multiple timelines with a lot of different perspectives, all united by an enchanted old house, The Birchwood Manor, and what happened there during the fateful summer of 1862. I was invested in some characters and timelines more then others. I loved reading about Elodie, our present day heroine, who discovers a lost sketchbook, full of unfinished drawings, together with an old photograph of a beautiful young woman. I also loved reading about Lucy, Edward Radcliffe's younger sister. And I loved Birdie's chapters most of all. I loved reading about Edward and Lily, the artist and his muse, through Birdie's eyes. I found some other timelines and characters less interesting but they were all important pieces of the puzzle, revealed piece by piece by the end. The Clockmaker's Daughter was hard to put down and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction.

The Witch of Willow Hall is spooky, atmospheric, and romantic. It's exactly the type of Gothic story I love and it's a perfect read for fall/Halloween season. I made the mistake of reading it before bed and was definitely feeling chills once the lights were off. If you love stories about witches, ghosts and supernatural, The Witch of Willow Hall is for you.

In The Remnant Chronicles Mary E. Pearson created a beautiful, lush but brutal fantasy world that I really enjoyed reading about. Dance of Thieves is a spin-off of that series and is set in the same universe, the story continues few years after the events of The Remnant Chronicles. As much as I enjoyed the Remnant series, I loved Dance of Thieves even more. I loved being back in that world and I really loved the new set of characters we are introduced to. I loved Kazi and Jase! There is so much swoony goodness, chemistry and kissing between them! But there is also a lot of tension and mistrust because they start as enemies and they do keep many secrets from each other. There are a lot of really interesting secondary characters too: Jase's big family and Kazi's fellow Rhatan soldiers. Even Lia and Rafe make an appearance in this book! Even though Dance of Thieves is the spin-off of The Remnant Chronicles with a set of new characters and a new story line, for the best enhanced experience it's best to read it after reading the series. Once you are immersed in that world you won't be disappointed with Dance of Thieves!

Bring Me Their Hearts is a perfect YA fantasy read. It has masterful worldbuilding, fascinating and complex characters, plenty of action and a swoon-worthy romance. This book is so good, I was engrossed in the story from the first chapter and couldn't tear myself away till I got to the last (shocking) page. I need the second book right now. After the mind blowing last chapter, I need to know what's in store for Zera, Lucien, Fione, and Malachite.

Playing with Matches was such a fun, delightful read. I loved almost everything about this book: a gorgeous eye-catching cover, tongue-in-cheek title, and the most important - a smart, funny and relevant story about dating, finding yourself and finding love in the modern, social-media driven age, with bustling New York as the backdrop to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky and romantic debut. I wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending, the story felt unfinished. So I really hope we'll get another book with these characters because I am not ready to say goodbye to Sasha, Adam, Caroline and co.

I loved B.A. Paris's first two books and was eagerly awaiting Bring Me Back. This book is another addictive domestic suspense, full of unpredictable twists and turns. I was very engrossed in the story and found it hard to put down. I enjoyed Bring Me Back very much but I thought the ending was a little unbelievable. I couldn't suspend my disbelief entirely. I still think B.A. Paris is one of the best domestic suspense writers and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

Wow! What an addictive page-turner Sunburn turned out to be. I was sucked into the story from the first page, it was so engrossing, I finished the book in one day. The characters are complex and morally gray (I loved them!) and the pacing is great. The reader doesn't have to wait until the last page for the whole mystery to be revealed. We are getting more and more clues as the story progresses. With each new clue revealed and a new layer peeled away, the story becomes more interesting and more intense. Both Polly and Adam have many secrets and both are not honest with each other, it's not always clear who is the predator and who is the prey in the game they are playing. I really didn't know which way the story would go. Was Polly a victim or was she a villain? What were Adam's intensions? You'll have to read the book to find out! This book surprised me in the best possible way. I've read a lot of thrillers lately and was feeling a little burnt out (excuse the pun) but Sunburn reignited my appreciation for the genre.

Jar of Hearts is not my usual read. When it comes to thrillers, I prefer domestic suspense over serial killers, but this book blew me away. It's a shocking, dark story about twisted love, violence and murders that made me gasp at many unpredictable plot twists, and that I found very hard to put down. Jar of Hearts is one of the best thrillers I've read, I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves dark stories. Jennifer Hillier is a very talented writer, I will be checking her other books for sure.

I thoroughly enjoyed the twisted tale that is Something in the Water. The book is very addictive, with many surprises, morally gray characters making very questionable choices, and the story that asks questions such as how well do you really know people closest to you and can you trust anyone but yourself? I would highly recommend Something in the Water to any suspense/thriller lovers.

The Kiss Quotient is a sweet and sexy romance that will make you laugh, swoon, and fall in love with the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I had high expectations for this book and I am glad to report it didn't disappoint. I loved the main characters, Stella and Michael, separately and I especially loved them together. They have great chemistry and are perfect for each other. I loved Stella's quirkiness and I loved how sweet and patient Michael was with her. I also loved Michael's big family and hope we will get to see more of them throughout the series. If you are looking for a good contemporary romance don't look any further. The Kiss Quotient is a very strong romantic fiction debut and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, The Bride Test.

I am not a big fan of slow paced stories but I thoroughly enjoyed this slow burning domestic suspense novel. The House Swap is a fascinating look into addiction and a marriage on the brink of collapse. I found the characters interesting and morally flawed, they made some bad choices, but I could relate to them and understand their motives. Francis, who is stuck in a fog of addiction, not caring about his wife and his young son; Caroline, who is unable to cope with her husband's addiction and is looking for a destruction somewhere else; and Carl, who is falling in love with the wrong woman. I loved the writing style and the slow build-up, it kept me compulsively turning pages. You will read and think you know what is happening but you really don't, not until much later, once all pieces of the puzzle are revealed. I would definitely recommend The House Swap to domestic suspense lovers.

If you are looking for an outstanding YA Fantasy, don't look any further than Onyx and Ivory. This book is engrossing and unputdownable, it has all the elements of a great fantasy read: complex worldbuilding, compelling characters, interesting magic system, action-packed battles, and a star-crossed romance. In Onyx and Ivory, Arnett tackles many important social issues: prejudice, injustice, religious influence (and even access to birth control), but they are all wrapped up in pulse-racing, heart-pounding, exquisite storytelling. There is not a lot I didn’t love about the book, it exceeded all my expectations, and I cannot wait for the next installment!

The Neighbors was an emotional, edge-of-your-seat read about how secrets and lies can shape different relationships and impact people's lives. The story is written in four different POVs and two different timelines (past and present). It could've have been confusing with so many different POVs but it actually worked well, each character had a very distinct voice. Each character is hiding something and is haunted by bad decisions or events from the past. All the characters are complicated and flawed, I found Abby the most interesting and Liam the most mysterious. The writing was very engrossing, I had a hard time putting the book down because I had to know what was going to happen to the characters. I wanted to give The Neighbors 5 stars but I wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending. There are a lot of twists, which some I guessed and was expecting, but the twist in the last chapter, Sarah's diary entry, was one twist too many for me. I feel that it was unnecessary and didn’t add much to the story. If that last chapter wasn't there it would have been a perfect read. I still very much enjoyed this book and will definitely pick up other books by this author.

You Think It, I'll Say It is a collection of short stories written by the brilliant Curtis Sittenfeld. I don't read a lot of short stories because I prefer full length novels but I enjoyed this book immensely. It's smart, witty, enjoyable, and very relevant. Different stories touch on different important topics, such as womanhood, motherhood, sexuality, love, marriage, and friendship, just to name a few. I loved all the stories, some more than others, and would love to see some of them expanded because I want to see more of the characters.

4.5 stars You Me Everything is beautifully written, emotional, and heart wrenching story about second chances, family, and courage in the face of a devastating illness. I loved everything about the book: exquisite writing, complex characters, gorgeous setting, and a beautiful life-affirming message. So grab a glass (or two) of delicious French wine, a box of tissues and enjoy this wonderful story.

My Oxford Year is a very enjoyable, well-written work of women's fiction/chick lit and it's exactly the type of book I love to read. It’s a sweet love story between young idealistic American woman, Ella, who comes to Oxford for her post-graduate degree and gorgeous and a little mysterious local, Jamie, who happens to be her literature professor, and who makes her fall in love with him and his city. Two things that I loved most about the book are the setting and the dialogue. Kudos to the author for bringing Oxford to live on the pages of her book. I could easy picture myself exploring the streets of the beautiful city with Ella and Jamie. The dialogue was smart, funny, and engaging. It is such an important part in developing the story and the characters, and it shined in My Oxford Year. The movie adaptation is already in development and the rumor is that Outlander's Sam Heughan will play Jamie. I was imaging Sam as Jamie while reading the book and I really hope we will get to see him in the movie. I just can't wait to see the film.

The cover and the blurb of Beyond a Darkened Shore intrigued me enough to want to read the book but I didn't know that it's a historical fantasy that mixes Celtic and Norse mythologies. When I stared reading the book and realized it has all of those things I was so much more excited to read it. And once I started reading it I had a hard time putting this dark, gritty, action packed story down. Jessica Leake created a rich, fascinating world filled with lush scenery, complex characters, terrifying monsters, and scheming gods and goddesses. There is so much to explore in this world and I hope we will get another book set in the same universe. I want more of Ciara, Lief and their adventures.

There are three things you need to know about Sometimes I Lie: 1.Nothing and no one in this book is what they seem. 2.Once you start reading it, you won’t be able to put it down. 3. This book will mess with your head. So grab your copy, clear your diary (you don’t want to be interrupted while reading it) and enjoy the ride (you might get dizzy from all the crazy twists though).

Wow! What an addictive page-turner Sunburn turned out to be. I was sucked into the story from the first page, it was so engrossing, I finished the book in one day. The characters are complex and morally gray (I loved them!) and the pacing is great. The reader doesn't have to wait until the last page for the whole mystery to be revealed. We are getting more and more clues as the story progresses. With each new clue revealed and a new layer peeled away, the story becomes more interesting and more intense. Both Polly and Adam have many secrets and both are not honest with each other, it's not always clear who is the predator and who is the prey in the game they are playing. I really didn't know which way the story would go. Was Polly a victim or was she a villain? What were Adam's intensions? You'll have to read the book to find out! This book surprised me in the best possible way. I've read a lot of thrillers lately and was feeling a little burnt out (excuse the pun) but Sunburn reignited my appreciation for the genre.

I won a copy of Broken Beautiful Hearts in a Goodreads giveaway. This is the second book by Kami Garcia I've read and she is surely becoming one of my favorite YA authors. Beautiful Broken Hearts is a YA romance but it's also so much more than that. It's a gritty, relevant, thought-provoking book that deals with important issues (abusive relationships, drug use, grief) in a meaningful way. I loved Kami's writing, I loved the characters she created, I loved the swoony romance, and I really appreciated the way she combined lightheartedness and humor with darker themes to create an addictive and important story that should be on every teenage girl's (or young woman's) radar.

Watch Me is exquisitely written, raw story of obsession gone wrong. The book is very engrossing, reading it was akin to watching a train going at full speed toward a crash. You know it's going to end bad but you can't look away. The story is told in dual POV that alternates between Sam, a college student obsessed with his English professor and Kate, the said professor. Sam was such a dark disturbing character, I found him very fascinating. It was a lot more interesting to be in Sam's head than Kate's. I found a little difficult to connect with her. I thought the best part of the book was the writing. Despite the dark subject matter the book is written in beautiful lyrical prose. I found myself highlighting many passages and swooning over wonderful sentences. I enjoyed Watch Me immensely and would recommend this book to anyone who likes dark suspenseful stories with complex unreliable narrators.

I am a big fan of Deanna Raybourn's writing, I've read all her books and was looking forward to Victoria and Stoker's next adventure. A Treacherous Curse has everything I was looking for and more. It has a great murder mystery involving an ancient Egyptian curse, a number of interesting suspects, and a lot of banter and tension between Victoria and Stoker. We even get to meet Stoker's ex-wife, Caroline, and learn more about Stoker's past. Every time I finish Deanna's book I am hungry for the next one. I would highly recommend Victoria Speedwell series to any mystery lover.

The Wife Between Us is a very suspenseful, hard to put down domestic thriller. It's incredibly well-written and engrossing, I was sucked into the story from the first page. One of the lines in the blurb is "Assume nothing" and it’s an excellent advise. Also don’t read any spoilers or discussions before reading the book. For the best experience go in blind, you won't be disappointed. The Wife Between Us is one of the best psychological thrillers I've read and is well worth the hype. I cannot wait to see the movie (which is already in development)

The Woman in the Window is a very suspenseful, hard to put down thriller about an agoraphobic woman, Dr. Anna Fox. Unable to leave her house due to her phobia she spends her days spying on her neighbors and discovering their dark secrets. This book has been compared to The Girl on the Train. It is true that both books are similar but I found The Woman in the Window a lot more engrossing. The characters are more complex, the plot is more interesting and the pacing is better. I was never bored while reading The Woman in the Window, I was bored a lot while reading The Girl on the Train. I would highly recommend The Woman in the Window to all suspense lovers. And if like me, you didn't love The Girl on the Train, give The Woman in the Window a chance.

Heart on Fire is the third and final book in Kingmaker Chronicles by Amanda Bouchet. I really enjoyed first two books and was eagerly awaiting the conclusion. I love the fantasy world that Amanda Bouchet created and I love the characters, Cat, Griffin, and the Beta team. I loved reading about their adventures, the dangers they faced, and the adversaries they were working to overcome in order to build a better life for the citizens of Thalyria. In the beginning of Heart on Fire they still have one formidable enemy (Andromeda) to fight in order to accomplish their dream. Overall I enjoyed Heart of Fire, my only complaint is that I wanted more action. The first two books build up to the final battle in the war against Cat's mother, Andromeda. The armies are assembled and trained, important alliances are made, Cat is perfecting her powers. So in Hearts on Fire I was expecting and hoping for a really epic final battle between Cat and Griffin's people and Andromeda, and I must say I didn't get it. The final showdown was anticlimactic and a tad disappointing. The ending was too abrupt and left me wanting more. I will definitely read more books by Amanda Bouchet because I love Kingmaker Chronicles, especially first two books, A Promise of Fire and Breath of Fire. And I would still highly recommend this series to fantasy and romance lovers.

I loved Renee's first two books and so I was very excited to read Flame in the Mist. I am happy to report this book did not disappoint! Just like her other books, Flame in the Mist is exquisitely written, wonderful and unique. I love how original the story is. It's inspired by Japanese folklore with some Robin Hood vibes. Flame in the Mist is unputdownable and unforgettable. I cannot wait for the second book and I want it right now!

The Garden of Small Beginnings is a wonderful heart-warming story about life, loss, motherhood, friendship, and second chances. It has a cast of interesting and quirky characters, and a lot of humor and charm. Even though the book deals with heavy subjects of loss and grief it still manages to be lighthearted and uplifting. A Garden of Small Beginnings is a perfect book club read.

Behind Closed Doors was one of my favorite books of last year and so I had high expectations for The Breakdown. I must say I loved The Breakdown even more than Behind Closed Doors. This book grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. I couldn't put it down, I couldn't wait to find out if Cass was indeed losing her memory or something much more sinister was happening. There were plenty of twists, turns, and mind games that kept me guessing, and the ending was very satisfying. B.A. Paris is quickly becoming one of my favorite suspense authors and I can't wait to see what other stories she'll come up with.

Ivory and Bone was my first prehistoric read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is unique and the author paints vivid and fascinating picture of life of early humans and their struggle for survival in the harsh but beautiful landscape full of roaming mammoths and saber-tooth cats. The story is told by Kol from Manu clan and centers around him and two girls he meets one summer, Mya from clan of Olen and Lo from clan of Bosha. Their meeting puts in motion series of events that will change their lives and lives of their clans forever. The main conflict of the book is between Mya and Lo and it's to do with something that happen in their past. Kol finds himself in the middle of it and does not know who to trust. Kol was likeable character for the most part but he was clueless at times which annoyed me a bit. It was quite obvious which girl was honest and which girl was cunning and plotting but Kol could not distinguish between lies or truth even when it was in front of him like a big woolly mammoth. I hope he wises up a bit in the next book. But the story was so much more than that. I loved the description of day to day life of clans. Their way of life is simple but fraught with dangers, worries about finding food, survival and continuation of the clans. It seems that even among prehistoric people there were those who tried to adapt to change and those who stubbornly clung to old ways of living and hunting even when landscape and hunting grounds around them were changing to the point where old way of life became unsustainable. Julie Eshbaugh's writing is exquisite, captivating and transporting. I could almost see majestic mammoths and predatory cats, feel the biting wind coming from Great Ice, and experience clan's daily life. After reading Ivory and Bone I am craving more prehistoric stories and definitely want to read second book in the series to discover what is next for Kol, Mya and their people.

The Blackbird Season is a suspense novel about the disappearance of a high school student Lucia and a possible involvement of her math teacher and baseball coach Nate Winters, who may or may not have had an inappropriate relationship with her. This book was just OK for me. I found the pacing very slow and didn’t understand why some of the subplots were introduced because they had zero bearing on the story. There was a romantic relationship developing between two characters that lead to nowhere, also a supposed infidelity of one very minor character that wasn't at all relevant to Lucia disappearance. I kept scratching my head, thinking what was the point of these subplots? I did like the mystery of blackbird's bizarre phenomenon and how it was tied to the story, it was unusual and interesting. The mystery of Lucia disappearance was OK but it could've been done better, there was not a lot of surprise or suspense in this whole story for me. As I read The Blackbird Season I kept comparing it to Everything You Want Me to Be that came out earlier this year because both these books have a similar premise: small town setting, disappearance of a high school student and her teacher's involvement, but I found Everything You Want Me to Be so much better and more gripping!

So I Married a Sorcerer is the second book in The Embraced series by Kerrelyn Sparks. I really enjoyed How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days and was looking forward to reading the second book. So I Married a Sorcerer is a great addition to the series and I loved it as much as the first book. I love the fantasy world that Ms. Sparks created and I love her characters, the Embraced sisters we met in the first book and the men who fall in love with them. The writing is fun (I was grinning a lot while reading), the characters are complex and interesting, and the chemistry between them is sizzling. Rupert and Brigitta are so good together, I was rooting for them from the moment they met. There is a lot of adventure, action, danger, and new and old villains. It is best to read this book after reading the first book, because even though this book is about a different couple, there is an important story arc (of Chameleon) that started in How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days and has a major part in So I Married a Sorcerer. Also a lot of characters from How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days appear in this book and some play an important role in this story as well. I am loving the fantasy world of The Embraced and looking forward to the next book.

It’s quite hard to discuss The Marriage Pact without giving anything away so this is going to be a short review. I think it is best to go into this book without reading any spoilers. The Marriage Pact is intense, creepy, and disturbing. The story is unique and the writing style is very engaging. I found very hard to put the book down, I kept reading even as I was horrified by what was happening. There are a lot of twists that kept me on the edge of my seat till the last page. The Marriage Pact would make for a great movie, in fact the movie rights have already been sold, and I can’t wait to see it.

I didn't have high expectations going into The Glass Spare because I thought this is going to be just another cliché YA story about a teenage princess and a doomed kingdom. To my surprise I really enjoyed this book. I found it original and well-written, with fresh ideas and compelling characters. The worldbuilding is fantastic, it's a blend of fantasy with modern technology, alchemy and curses along with trains, solar panels, and phones. I found our main heroine Wil interesting and complex. She is a reluctant princess, who would rather see the world than live in a castle in luxury. She does get to travel but not of her own accord as she gets banished from her kingdom after a tragic event she unwittingly caused. One of the aspects I loved the most is Wil's relationship with her brothers, Owen and Gerdie. They have such a strong bond, and their love and support for each other is absolute. I also liked Loom and enjoyed reading about and seeing his and Wil's relationship grow and develop. There is no insta-love and I was so grateful for that. The Glass Spare has many layers and surprises that I didn't expect but that kept me very invested in the story. I cannot wait to read the second book. If you love fantasy but are weary of YA tropes and cliches I dare you to give The Glass Spare a chance.

I don't play video games and I am not a big fan of virtual reality so I wasn't sure if I wanted to read Warcross, but all the high praise from book bloggers and reviewers I trust convinced me to give this book a try. And I must say I really enjoyed Warcross. The worldbuilding is amazing and the story is unique. The book is full of action, unexpected twists, and a sprinkle of romance. I liked the main heroine Emika a lot, Hideo was more difficult to figure out. He came across as distant and aloof, and because the story is told from Emika's POV it was hard to understand his motives and his behavior. Though I do love a mysterious hero! But by far the best thing about Warcross was the ending. It was epic, it was mind blowing, and it was a perfect set up for the next book. I cannot wait to read book two!

The Light We Lost is lyrical, romantic and heart-wrenching. It's a story of first love, choices, destiny and sacrifices. It's beautifully written and thought-provoking. This book is described as Me Before You meets One Day so I had a pretty good understanding that it would involve major heartache for the characters and a lot of sobbing for me. Even though I knew where the story was going I couldn't stop reading it. And as I finished the last page I couldn't stop thinking about Lucy's and Gabe's journey. This story will stay with me for a long time just like Me Before You and One Day

Wrong to Need You was just an OK book for me. I made the mistake of reading it without reading the first book in the series because I thought it could be read as a stand-alone. I was wrong! Complicated family dynamics that were introduced in the first book play a major part in book two. Both Jackson and Sadia have big families with complex relationships that I found hard to untangle and care for. The very large number of secondary characters took away the focus from Jackson and Sadia. I was not interested in all the family drama and was bored a lot while reading Wrong to Need You. Jackson and Sadia were an OK couple, I didn't find them particularly interesting and didn't connect with them. We didn't really get to see their relationship develop because too much time was spent on other characters. I do have to give credit to the author for giving us a very diverse cast. Read Wrong to Need You if you've already read and enjoyed the first book, and are invested in the characters.

The Vanishing Season is an addicting page-turner and a well written mystery about a serial killer operating in a small town in New England. Our main heroine Ellery was a victim and a lone survivor of a notorious serial killer who abducted her when she was only fourteen. She was rescued by an FBI agent Reed Markham. Fourteen years later Ellery is a police officer in Woodbury, MA where people start to disappear every year around the same time. Although nobody in town knows about her gruesome past, Ellery believes that someone knows her secret and these disappearances are connected to her abduction. Because the local police department isn't investigating these disappearances she asks Reed for help. The book sucked me in from the first page. From the sinister prologue to the very satisfying epilogue I couldn't put it down. Although I guessed early on who the killer was, there were enough interesting twists and turns to kept me glued to the pages. I did question myself and changed my mind about the suspect a couple of times but in the end my first hunch was correct. In addition to the satisfying mystery, I loved Ellery and Reed's relationship. They are bound by a traumatic event that changed both their lives forever and would always have a powerful connection. They work extremely well together to solve the murders. I also loved Bump, he was such a great furry character. I would highly recommend The Vanishing Season to all the mystery and suspense lovers. And I cannot wait to read another book by this author.

Poison is a very intense and sinister hard-to-put-down domestic thriller. I was on the edge of the seat the whole time I was reading it while trying to figure out what exactly was happening. Was Cass truly a victim or was she being paranoid and losing her mind? Was a crime committed and did Ryan try to kill Cass? One of the reasons it was hard to know what was happening is because Cass is very unreliable narrator. I got frustrated with her few times because she was making some very stupid, unsafe decisions for someone whose life was supposedly in danger. And Ryan was just plain horrible. He is creepy and manipulative, and doesn't have any redeeming qualities. I really didn't know which way the story would go and was guessing until the very end. Overall I was satisfied with the ending but I wanted a little something more, an epilogue perhaps. The Poison is very well written and I would definitely recommend it to psychological suspense lovers.

The Paris Secret is a story set in the world of high stakes art dealings and a fictional account (based on true historical events) of artworks confiscated/stolen by the Nazis during WW2 that were found in present time in an abandoned Parisian apartment. I really enjoyed this book, I found it suspenseful and at times very intense. I love Ms. Swan's writing style, it's is very engaging, the book sucked me in from the first page and didn't let go. I was very immersed in the story and was compulsively turning pages because I couldn't wait to discover all the secrets. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves mystery, historical fiction, and romance. I am looking forward to reading other books by this author.

I adore 1001 Nights Tales, and I love stories based on Middle Eastern folklore so I was very excited to get a chance to read The City of Brass early. I am happy to say that this book lived up to my expectations and did not disappoint. The world we are introduced to in The City of Brass is spellbinding, its full of magical beings (djinns, ifrits, shafits), scary mythical creatures, and hidden cities. The society and the politics that the author created in her book are fascinating. The writing is exquisite and the characters are complex and morally flawed. None of the characters are black and white. Nahri, our main heroine, is a con artist and a thief. She is an orphan who was left to survive on her own on the streets of Cairo. Ali is a prince and the second son of the ruler of Daevabad. He is extremely wealthy and loyal to his ruling family, but he also secretly supports poor citizens and rebels of Daevabad. And then there is Dara, the most complex character of them. He is the djinn that Nahri summoned accidentally. He is mysterious, elusive, and has centuries worth of secrets and regrets. He is known as the most ruthless djinn warrior. Is he a hero or a villain? I still haven't made my mind about it but I love his character regardless. This trio has a lot of secrets between them and they are thrown together on a very twisty path full of action and adventures. The City of Brass is an amazing epic fantasy and I cannot wait to read the second book. I just wish I didn't have to wait until next year for it.

Among the Red Stars is YA historical fiction based on a true story of Russian airwomen who served in Red Army's 588th Night Bomber Regiment during WW2. These legendary women put fear in Germans (who dubbed them Night Witches) with their stealthy and precise nightly bombings. The story of Night Witches is the story of bravery, strength, friendship, and sacrifices amid the ugliness of war. This is exactly the type of story I love to read. When I saw this book on Edelweiss I requested it immediately and couldn't wait to start reading it. Among the Red Stars is impeccably researched, well-written, and is very authentic. The author did an amazing job weaving true facts and people with fictional characters, and created an unforgettable story. I really liked historical note at the end of the book that gave us more history about various real people who appeared in the book. And I loved the epilogue! It was emotional and sad but also hopeful. Among the Red Stars is a perfect read for those who love historical fiction, WW2 stories, strong female heroines, amazing female friendships, and tales of bravery and heroism.

This Side of Murder is a great historical murder mystery set in one of my favorite time periods, the beginning of 20th century just after WW1 ended. It has a cast of interesting characters lead by our main heroine Verity, who is a war widow and a former Secret Service operative. Verity is smart, resourceful, and very likeable. The setting of This Side of Murder is very atmospheric. As I was reading I was getting Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" vibes: an isolated island, a storm, a party with a strange mix of people who start dropping dead one by one. I found the first part of the book a little slow but as I got to the middle there was a major twist/revelation that I didn’t see coming, and from then on I couldn't put the book down. The ending was satisfying but I still have major feels and questions about it and cannot wait for the second book to find out what's next in store for Verity and co.

With the way Eleventh Grave in Moonlight ended I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book. I was lucky to get an ARC of the 12th Grave and I loved every word of it. The Trouble with Twelfth Grave is the penultimate book in the Charley Davidson series so I was savoring every sentence and every chapter, I didn't want this book to end. But I couldn't put it down so I finished it in one day. The Trouble with Twelfth Grave is everything you expect from Darynda's books. A lot of sarcasm from Charley, a lot of brooding from Reyes, some very hot sexy encounters between these two, and nail-biting paranormal adventures for the whole gang. For me this was one of the best books in the series. I cannot wait for the 13th Grave and I already know that I will miss Charley, Reyes and the gang once the series end.

The Duchess Deal was such a fun and outrageous (in the best way) book about a scarred Duke and a penniless seamstress who marry in a marriage of convenience. Duke of Ashbury returned from war with scars on his face and body, he is in need of an heir but he doesn't think a woman of the ton will want to marry him because of his disfigurement. So when Emma turns up at his house in a wedding dress he decides on the spot that she would do as his wife. I loved Ash and Emma, they are so funny and adorable together! The dialogue is brilliant, I thoroughly enjoyed their banter, the snark, and the sassiness. It was akin to watching a game of tennis or a badminton to see who is going to score a point ;-). Both Ash and Emma are interesting and likeable and there is enough conflict and tension between them to keep reader's interest. I was so engrossed, I couldn't put the book down! The Duchess Deal was my first Tessa Dare book and is the best historical romance I've read in a long time. I enjoyed it immensely and only wish I picked up any of her books sooner.

Last Christmas in Paris is an emotional, heart-wrenching, beautifully written story about love and friendship set during World War One. When I started reading the book and realized that it's written almost entirely in the form of letters I was a little worried that I wouldn't enjoyed it but I must say the format worked perfectly. The writing is exquisite and compelling, I shed quite a few tears while reading the book. The Last Christmas in Paris was very difficult to read at times because of how vividly the despair, the heartbreak, and the tragedy of war were conveyed through the letters. I was emotionally exhausted when I finished reading it but I was also very satisfied with the ending. If you love historical fiction The Last Christmas in Paris should be at the top of your reading list, it's one of the best World War One books I've read.

I absolutely loved The Idea of You, I was grinning and swooning at almost every page. And when I wasn't grinning, I was feeling emotional and teary. I can't believe that Robinne Lee is a debut author, her writing is exquisite. She conveyed perfectly the feeling of falling in love, the giddiness and the rush of emotions that comes with that, and the heartache and the torment that comes when new lovers are separated and missing each other. The main characters are complex, interesting, and very likeable. I loved Solene. She is funny, smart, and successful, but also very relatable. Despite her beauty and success, she often feels self-doubt like so many women in a society where woman's value is placed on her beauty and her age rather than her accomplishments, and where women past certain age become invisible. Solene is a woman you would want to be or have as a friend. And Hayes, oh Hayes, my new book boyfriend! He is sweet, sexy, and just perfect. He is a member of a boy band but he has a depth of character that really surprised me. I haven't swooned so much over a fictional hero in a long time. I was very invested in Solene's and Hayes' story and didn’t want this book to end. I was daydreaming about the pair of them long after I finished the book. The Idea of You is an emotional roller coaster and a smart, thought-provoking love story. I am certain it is going to be one of the best books of the year

I don't have adequate words to describe how much I loved The Alice Network. Every time I read a book by Kate Quinn I am in awe of her talent, her exquisite writing, and the fascinating characters she creates. She has an amazing ability to weave real events and people with fictional characters to create the most unforgettable stories. I was so engrossed in the book, I couldn't put it down. I was racing through the pages to discover if Eve and Charlie found the truth they were searching for and had the closure they needed. On the other hand I didn't want this book to end because I didn't want to say goodbye to Charlie, Eve and, of course, Finn. I can't get enough of this trio and want more books with them! The Alice Network is without a doubt one of the best books I've read this year and it is going straight on my "favorites" shelf. I cannot recommend this book enough. Run, don't walk to a bookstore to get this gem!