44.1644º North by Josh Lanyon

The decades-old disappearance of twenty-one-year-old teaching student Deirdre Duncan is the Holy Grail for true crime buffs—and Skylar Brennan, the host of the Ugly Town podcast, is no exception. In fact, on the mean streets of the internet, he’s considered an expert on the case. (In law enforcement circles, he’s viewed as just another crackpot internet sleuth.)
Every February, the remote New Hampshire village of Woodlark is the site of a candlelight vigil for Deirdre. Family, friends, and “supporters” of the long missing girl, gather at the spot where she was last seen. This is Skylar’s first vigil, and his fans are excited, but maybe not as excited as the person who’s been anonymously emailing him coordinates to what this poison pen pal claims is Deirdre’s grave.

I know that this was a true crime standalone, but I think it was the dynamic between the characters that really made me see this as a potential series. ❤

That should give you a clue as to how I felt about 44.1644º North. There was a lot of intrigue and of course, mystery behind the reason Skylar Brennan decided to make the trek to Woodlark for the annual vigil at the location of Deirdre Duncan’s disappearance. It may have been short and sweet, but it wasn’t lacking – even though the ending seemed a bit rushed. No I might have to check out the disappearance of Maura Murray, which was the true crime inspiration for this story. 😉

Shadow Hunter (Rogue Brotherhood #0.5) by Kait Ballenger

Vampire hunter Damon Brock’s newest assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York, a city crawling with the undead. But he isn’t the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is fierce and ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family, and she works solo. But being alone is no longer an option when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf. Forced to unite against the local covens, the line between good and evil blurs when they must decide between their lifelong beliefs..and their newfound desires.
Shadow Hunter is a prequel novel to the sexy Rogue Brotherhood paranormal romance series by Kait Ballenger filled with powerful alpha males and the sexy independent women who bring them to their knees…

If you get nothing else out of this review, heed this warning – this book ends in a serious cliff hanger. It’s like a “throw the book across the room” cliff hanger. Honestly, one of the main reasons I’m considering continuing the series is the promise that there will be a resolution to the chaos that this books ends in as the series continues. Well, maybe not quite that bad, but it’s a close thing.

As for the rest of the story? I’m kind of torn. True, it was a intro to the series and a novella, but it felt like the reader was left hanging with more than just the ending. I read Rogue Wolf Hunter last year and I remember having the same feeling when I finished it. I think I may have to start from the beginning and see if I can get my bearings on this series because I don’t seem to remember having the same issues with Ballenger’s Seven Range Shifter series.

Regardless, I’m still intrigued with this world and the Rogue Brotherhood and plan to continue. Like I said, I really need to find out what eventually happens with Damon and Tiffany. ❤

Whispers At Dusk (Blackbird Trilogy #1) by Heather Graham

When serial killers run rampant across Europe it’s up to Blackbird, the Krewe of Hunters’ international  operatives, to stop them.
When darkness falls, there’s nowhere to hide.
Four bodies have been discovered along Europe’s riverbanks, placed with care—and completely drained of blood. Pinpricks on their throats indicate a slender murder weapon, but DNA found in the wounds suggests something far more sinister. Tasked with investigating, the FBI recruits Agents Della Hamilton and Mason Carter to Blackbird, an international offshoot of the Krewe of Hunters. If you want to catch a vampire killer, you need agents who can speak with the dead.  
The pair travel to Norway, where the shadowy forests of Lillehammer reveal a gruesome scene. The killer is thirsty for more victims, and the bloodless trail soon leads Della and Mason to a group that believes drinking blood is the key to immortality. To catch the culprit of such an intimate crime, the agents will have to get close. Mason’s already lost one partner; he’s not ready to risk Della as bait. But sometimes justice requires a sacrifice…

The only thing better than finding a long running series to immerse yourself in is finding a spin-off series to read along with it. 😉 I’ve kind of bounced around with the Krewe of Hunters series, so picking up the Blackbird Trilogy before I’ve even gotten past book 8 in the 38+ book series wasn’t an issue. (For me anyway…)

There’s a whole lot to love about the Krewe of Hunters and it seems that the Blackbird Trilogy isn’t going to be an exception. Taking the Krewe international with Mason and Della opens things up to a whole new realm of possibilities. Of course vampires aren’t real, but someone’s trying really hard to imitate one – with a couple of interesting twists.

The great thing about this trilogy is that the books are coming out back to back so there’s not a long wait for the next book in the series. Secrets in the Dark is coming soon and it’s already ready and waiting on my TBR pile.

His Accidental Cowboy (Woods Ranch #3) by A.M. Arthur

Wyatt Gibson is in Texas looking for answers about his past. When he talks his way into a job at Woods Ranch, he never imagines that the hot cowboy he (almost) slept with the night before not only works there, but is the one showing him the ropes.
As a rustler at the ranch, Jackson Summer handles all sorts of things: mucking, herding, grooming, riding—and minding his own damn business. A lifetime of hurt will do that to a guy. What he never imagines handling is the greenest cowboy to ever step foot in Weston, Texas.
Jackson is determined to keep his heart safe—and falling for a hot young thing like Wyatt is definitely not safe. Especially because Jackson knows Wyatt is keeping a secret…one that he can’t quite put his finger on but that just might change life at Woods Ranch forever.

Nothing is exactly as it seems, but that also seems to be the theme with most of the residents and employees at Woods Ranch. They all have their secrets, some of them more serious than others, but none of them are kept with malicious intent. Wyatt and his secrets are no exception, even though they have the potential to hurt more than one person, including Wyatt himself.

Despite the age gap, Wyatt and Jackson are the perfect couple. I loved how they grew together and weathered the turmoil that the revelation of why Wyatt was really there caused. It wasn’t easy and there were some rocky moments, but it worked out for everyone – eventually.

I’m not sure what A.M. Arthur has in store for readers next, but I’m there for it. 😉

The Little Flower Shop (Indiana Summers Series #2) by Lori Foster

How did her love life become a community affair?
Since her divorce, Emily Lucretia—affectionately known as the flower lady to the people of Cemetery, Indiana—has been focused on her flower shop and taking care of her aging aunt and uncle. Her love life is hardly the centerpiece of her busy days. 
Saul Culver, the town’s favorite bachelor and owner of the local barbecue joint, has been interested in Emily for a while. But as much as Emily knows about flowers, she can be a little oblivious to her own appeal. Saul is determined to show her just how special she is.
Saul isn’t the only one trying to get Emily out of her shell. Well-meaning locals have started tagging photos of Emily with #theflowerlady on social media—and now the entire town is involved in finding her Mr. Right. Saul won’t give up easily. He’s  finally  caught her attention, and he’s determined to convince Emily—and the town—that this is the real deal and not just some passing trend.

I got hooked on the quirky little town and its residents as soon as I read Honeymoon Cottage. Needless to say, Cemetery, Indiana is a unique destination. 😉

I’ve mentioned more than once that I adore pretty much everything offered by this author, but I tend to lean more toward her romantic suspense. There’s something appealing about a light romance with witty characters and a small town full of quirkiness. And who can resist a town mascot that seems to take on a life of “her” own?

I think what I like most about the Indiana Summers (Cemetery Indiana) series is the way that everyone seems to look out for each other. That’s actually the new theme for the town. It’s kind of a refreshing concept to see businesses actually working with each other instead of trying to compete and one-up each other. That alone makes this a true “feel good” series.

I’m pretty sure that the series will continue and I can’t wait to see what the residents of this special close-knit town get into next. ❤

Shadow of Death (Amy Larson & Hunter Forrest FBI #3) by Heather Graham

You can cut off the head of the snake, but another will emerge.
When two hikers go missing within a series of daunting caves outside of Denver, Colorado, FDLE special agent Amy Larson and her partner, FBI special agent Hunter Forrest, have good reason to suspect foul play. The pair of hikers are only the latest to vanish after a rash of disappearances that’s left local law enforcement stumped. But in searching the dank caverns near the Arkansas River, the agents aren’t prepared for the horror they uncover: a muddy pit littered with corpses. Covered in bite marks. Made by human teeth.
When a tiny toy horse is found on the scene, Amy and Hunter recognize the calling card. They’ll have to move quickly before the already sizable body count can grow. Their investigation soon draws them down the rabbit hole of a dangerous cult with a sinister mandate—one that involves human sacrifices. Anything to further their twisted cause. But when more people go missing, it becomes clear the cult’s reach extends beyond state lines, leading Amy and Hunter deep into the Florida Everglades to set a perilous trap, one that stands to risk everything they hold dear, including their lives.

I first ran across the Amy Larson & Hunter Forrest FBI series when my local library ran out of copies of the early books in the Krewe of Hunters series. I started looking for more Heather Graham books and this one caught my eye. Although it doesn’t have the paranormal aspect that the Krewe is based on, it has just as much evil and craziness. So, when Shadow of Death was available for review, making the request was a no-brainer.

In Shadow of Death, the stakes are getting even higher and it seems that the horsemen are getting even more daring – if that’s even possible. This installment took them out of Florida and took them to the caves and caverns in Colorado, which made it abundantly clear that the people responsible had a much farther reach than even Amy and Hunter expected.

The Reaper Follows is the next book in the series and I can’t wait to see where the author takes the series next.

Death at the Deep Dive (Secrets & Scrabble #7) by Josh Lanyon

When Pirate Cove’s mystery bookstore owner and sometimes-amateur sleuth Ellery Page discovers a vintage diving collection bag full of antique gold coins tucked away for safe keeping in the stockroom of The Crow’s Nest, it sets off a series of increasingly dangerous events, culminating in meeting Police Chief Jack Carson’s parents. Er… Culminating in murder.

I had this one on my TBR ARC list for a while before I read it. Why, you might ask? The author released book 7 in the series before releasing book 6 and I didn’t want to read them out of order. (A shocker coming from me, I know, but there you have it!) It didn’t take me long to pick up Death at the Deep Dive after I (finally) got to read Lament at Loon Landing. That’s one way to keep a reader on their toes! 😉

I’ve gotta say, as far as mysteries go, this one had more than a couple of twists and turns. There were way more than average usual suspects, which made this one a pretty fast read. Even Jack was more likable in this installment so there wasn’t a lot of time wasted being irritated with him. LOL!

As usual, the quirky characters drove the story and I enjoyed my time spent in Pirate’s Cove. According to the author there’s more to come and I can’t wait for the story to continue.

Lament at Loon Landing (Secrets and Scrabble #6) by Josh Lanyon

Fakes, folk music, and ghost fires
When legendary folk singer Lara Fairplay agrees to make her comeback appearance at Pirate Cove’s annual maritime music festival, everyone in the quaint seaside village is delighted—including mystery bookstore owner and sometimes amateur sleuth, Ellery Page.
Lara is scheduled to perform a recently discovered piece of music attributed to “the father of American music,” Stephen Foster.
Several mysterious accidents later, Ellery is less delighted—especially when it becomes clear to him that someone plans to silence the celebrity songbird forever.

Finally! I saw in the author’s review that she asked readers to remind her never to write series books out of sequence again. LOL!

So, was it worth the wait? Yes! Not because there was anything earth shattering about the events that took place or that it kept me on the edge of my seat (though parts of it did…) It was mainly because I just love spending time in this quirky little seaside village with all its “characters”. As much as I love Ellery and Jack, I have to admit, I spent a fair amount of time being aggravated with the good detective. Sure, he had his reasons for acting the way that he did, but I still find myself sympathizing more with Ellery most of the time. *sigh*

Since I already have the next book in the series (and have for a while now…) stay tuned! Death at the Deep Dive is up next!

In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune

In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots–fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe. 
The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “HAP,” he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio-a past spent hunting humans. 
When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic’s assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming. 
Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?

That time that a bunch of robots reduced me to tears. I’d say it was totally unexpected, but not at the hands of this #EvilAuthor – yeah, that pretty much sums up my initial thoughts when I finished In the Lives of Puppets. As usual, with just about every book I’ve picked up by T.J. Klune, I got more than I bargained for.

The concept of family is taken to a whole new extreme In the Lives of Puppets. Victor is a human raised by his android “father” Gio. He grows up loving to “tinker” as much as his father and finds the rest of his “family” members and brings them back to “life” along the way. They include a nervous, needy little vacuum and a hilariously sadistic nurse machine ironically named Nurse Ratched. (Yes, the irony is strong in this one. 😉 ) They live in a network of houses built high in the trees in a forest far away from everyone. Finding HAP changes everything for all of them.

During the course of In the Lives of Puppets, Victor learns that nothing is quite what it seems. Secrets have been kept, lies were told and supreme sacrifices were made. He has a lot to come to terms with, but he’s not alone.

In case you’re wondering, yes, there were tears. Some happy, some heartbreaking. (Along with quite a few “Easter Eggs” that made me smile.) Things aren’t exactly perfect in the end, but as readers have come to expect from T.J. Klune, you’re left with a strong sense of love and hope. ❤

Conquer the Kingdom (Gargoyle Queen #3) by Jennifer Estep

Time is running out for crown princess Gemma Ripley. Despite being a cunning spy and a powerful mind magier, Gemma hasn’t been able to track down the most dangerous enemy her kingdom of Andvari has ever seen. Adding to her worries is the Sword and Shield tournament. With gladiators flocking to the capital city of Glanzen, Gemma can’t tell who is friend–or foe.
Determined to protect Andvari at any cost, Gemma hatches a bold plan, but things aren’t what they seem. Soon, everything she holds dear is being threatened, including her burgeoning relationship with Prince Leonidas Morricone.
With the kingdom she holds dear slipping through her fingers, Gemma will have to conquer her fear and unlock the true secret of her magic–or watch her friends and family die and her beloved Andvari fall . . .

I’m not sure how I missed picking up the first series in this world created by Jennifer Estep. She’s definitely not a “new to me” author because I have been a fan since I was first introduced to Gin in the Elemental Assassin series. I’m just glad that I finally dove into the Gargoyle Queen series and now that I’ve been introduced to the world, it won’t be long until I pick up the Crown of Shards series.

Conquer the Kingdom picks up pretty much where Tear Down the Throne left off. As the description hints, there is a fine line between “friend and foe” and Gemma and her family have made the decision to keep some of those “foes” very close. Things aren’t exactly as they seem on a lot of levels in Conquer the Kingdom. The story is full of lots of twists, turns and some interesting confessions and some surprising allies.

As with all series with characters I’ve fallen in love with, I was sad to see this series end, but I’m kind of curious about what comes next. I’m pretty sure readers haven’t seen the last of this world. ❤