MY 10 FAVORITE READS OF 2020

Here we are at last, at the end of another year. And this one was particularly trying. What with the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting quarantine, 2020 has felt long. It wasn’t as hard for me as for other people (I’m an introvert) but I wouldn’t call the year a pleasant experience. 2020 was quite the tough start of a new decade. I’m with everyone hoping for a better 2021.

Even without a pandemic or home isolation, I read a lot. The number of books I finished this year wasn’t that much higher than usual. A bunch of them were riveting, which made it a hard choice to pick between them. As I’ve done before, I ended up with 10 choices. These are the books I enjoyed the most this year. Without further ado, here they are:

BOOK REVIEW: DEVIATION BY HEATHER HILDENBRAND

Title: Deviation

Author: Heather Hildenbrand

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Published on: December 30, 2014 by Alloy Entertainment (Kindle edition)

Protect. Obey. Sacrifice.

These words are the mantra of my existence. I’m not sure if it’s Titus Rogen inspiring my desire to go against what I am or my own DNA deviating. All I can think is how Titus will look when he meets his end. It trumps even my wish for freedom. In this moment, I want nothing more than to watch the life bleed from Titus’s body. And I want it at my own hands.

Titus. The Creator.

I stare at my palms. Strength aside, I wonder if I’m capable of taking a life. A human life; one with a soul. And I wonder if that isn’t easier than taking the life of an Imitation. At least humans have souls that live on. What do I have after this? Where will I go? Back into a syringe? Will Titus recycle me? Or will I be lost forever down a lab drain?

We don’t deserve that.

We don’t deserve him.

Deserving and receiving are so very different here. And I am beginning to understand, to beat someone in this world, I‘ll have to play in it.

The Clone Chronicles trilogy continues with Deviation. It is the story of Ven, an Imitation. In the book’s world, Imitations are clones meant to serve a variety of roles, like posing as their Authentics. Ven’s Authentic is Raven Rogen, the daughter of a rich and powerful businessman. This man, Titus, deployed Ven after his daughter suffered repeated kidnapping attempts. Ven's goal was to draw out the attackers so Titus could apprehend them. It wasn’t long before Ven learned stuff that completely changed her worldview. 

After a few weeks of posing as Raven, Ven found out that Titus isn’t the man she thought he was. It turns out that the kidnapping attempts on Raven were part of a rescue effort. Daniel Ryan, Raven’s boyfriend, tells Ven about Titus’s true goals with the Imitations. As their creator, he has nefarious plans they can help him achieve. This surprised me a little bit. Given the first book’s synopsis, I thought the general public (or at least wealthy people) would know about Imitations. No one does except some of Titus’s most trusted allies. 

BOOK REVIEW: NO TURNING BACK BY TIFFANY SNOW

Title: No Turning Back

Author: Tiffany Snow

Genre: Romantic suspense

Published on: December 18, 2012 by Montlake Romance

Kathleen Turner has goals. She moved to Indianapolis to start seeing to them, but things aren’t going quite as well as she’d hoped. She’s a runner for a high-powered law firm in town, not the most prestigious of positions, but it and her part-time bartender gig at least pays the bills. And one of the senior partners is a dreamboat in that obscenely rich, disturbingly good looking, slightly snobbish sort of way.

She was quite happy ogling him from afar, before she did a mortifying face plant in his lap during a meeting. After that…well…she was more about the avoiding. Mature, no. More likely to assure she keeps her job, yes.

She’s made some friends in the few months she’s been in Indy. One of those friends is her neighbor Sheila, though Kathleen can’t say she’s completely comfortable with Sheila’s job choice as a high-dollar escort.

It’s the middle of the night when Kathleen hears fighting coming from Sheila’s apartment. As disturbing as that is, it’s the ominous sound of silence afterwards that keeps Kathleen from falling back to sleep. Slipping from bed with the intention of making sure everything is okay, Kathleen knocks on her friend’s door, only to find Sheila murdered, her naked body sprawled on sheets stained crimson with her blood.

Shock and horror are followed by gritty determination when it becomes clear that Sheila’s death isn’t random and it isn’t the result of a jealous boyfriend. It’s the opening gambit in a web of murder, deceit, conspiracy, and fraud that stretches to the law firm for which Kathleen works. Maybe to the very office that Blane Kirk commands.

And Kathleen Turner, law office runner, can trust no one if she wants to survive.

No Turning Back is one of those books that compel you to keep turning page after page (no pun intended). It’s more than good enough that you lose track of time. The book centers on Kathleen Turner, a young "runner" at a prestigious law firm. She’s a charming, driven young woman who seeks to outperform herself at work. Kathleen’s also apparently named after a famous celebrity. I know a lot of them, but I had to resort to Google to find out who Kathleen Turner is.

Kathleen has led a pleasant and normal life so far. She’s recently moved to Indianapolis and is still finding her place there. Kathleen’s life changes the day she meets Blane Kirk, her boss. Their introduction was amusing. From that point on, Blane developed a special interest for Kathleen. Only, she’s not the least bit interested. Kathleen is aware of Blane’s reputation with women. She has no intention of being another of his short-lived conquests. Kathleen ignores Blane until circumstances force them to team up.

BOOK REVIEW: THE BLACK WOLF BY J.A. REDMERSKI

Title: The Black Wolf

Author: J.A. Redmerski

Genre: Thriller, romance

Published on: July 1, 2015, self-published

Since devastating secrets were uncovered by Nora Kessler, Niklas Fleischer and Victor Faust have been divided as business partners and brothers. But ultimately Niklas is persuaded to lead a mission to Italy, and he sees it as an opportunity to set in motion forgiveness—or retribution—for his brother’s betrayal.

The mission: play the role of a wealthy German investor and kidnap a beautiful, notorious madam named Francesca Moretti. No stranger to these types of roles, Niklas is the best man for the job, but this time the risks will be much greater as he will not be doing it alone. Izabel Seyfried, still fresh out of a life of imprisonment and sex slavery, could be negatively affected by the things she will see in Moretti’s mansion, and Niklas must keep her in line so she does not blow their cover and get them killed.

But Niklas isn’t the only one who must play a role—Nora takes on the humiliating task of playing Niklas’s slave, and Izabel must play the role of his lover.

On one hand, Niklas couldn’t be enjoying himself more. On the other hand, the emotions that continue to rage inside of him may be too much for him to control, and it may be Niklas—not Izabel—who needs to be kept in line. He cannot forget what Victor has done, and this mission may just be the beginning of his downward spiral.

Can the blood bond that Niklas and Victor share as brothers be stronger than resentment? Or will vengeance dig the blade so deep that their bond be eternally severed?

With five books so far, the In the Company of Killers series shows no sign of slowing down. That’s a good thing, as this is one of the most addictive series I’ve read. This time, it’s Niklas Fleischer’s turn as the protagonist. Joining him as major supporting characters are Nora Kessler and Izabel Seyfried. The previous book ended with major changes. Nora revealed a secret that drove a huge wedge between Niklas and his brother, Victor Faust. The latter’s a highly trained contract killer who left his old Order to start his own.

In The Black Wolf, Izabel is still in training, with Nora as her new mentor. After the two return from a risky mission, Victor assigns them a new one. There’s a catch: they will need Niklas’s assistance. The latter has gone AWOL after learning of his brother’s betrayal. Victor knows where Niklas is, so he sends Izabel to talk to him. She's not afraid to press Niklas to get his help. Victor warned if Niklas doesn’t go, neither will Izabel. When Niklas hears about the target, he understands why Victor trusts only him to protect Izabel.

BOOK REVIEW: TEN THOUSAND SKIES ABOVE YOU BY CLAUDIA GRAY

Title: Ten Thousand Skies Above You

Author: Claudia Gray

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Published on: November 3, 2015 by Harper Teen

Ten thousand worlds. Ten thousand enemies. One love.

Marguerite Caine has done the impossible, traveling to alternate dimensions with the Firebird—the brilliant invention of her parents, her boyfriend, Paul, and their friend Theo. But she has also caught the attention of enemies willing to kidnap, blackmail, and even kill to use the Firebird for themselves.

When Paul’s soul is splintered into four pieces—pieces that are trapped within Pauls in other dimensions—Marguerite will do anything, and travel anywhere, to save him. But the price of his safe return is steep. If she doesn’t sabotage her parents in multiple universes, Paul will be lost forever.

Unwilling to sacrifice her family, Marguerite enlists the brilliant Theo to help. The two forge a plan to save Paul and the Firebird, but succeeding means outsmarting a genius and risking not only their lives but also the lives of their counterparts in every other dimension.

Their mission takes them to the most dangerous universes yet: a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each leap brings Marguerite closer to saving Paul—but her journey reveals dark truths that lead her to doubt the one constant she’s found between worlds: their love for each other.

The Firebird trilogy continues with this second installment. Ten Thousand Skies Above You picks up almost right where the first book left off. It also drops protagonist Marguerite Caine straight into action. She’s the teen daughter of two renowned physicists, Dr. Henry Caine and Dr. Lera Kovalenka. They created the Firebird, a wearable device used to move through parallel realities. In the first book, Marguerite was able to clear her friend Paul Markov's name. She also discovered that her father was still alive. Triad, the corporation that funded Firebird research, had been holding him hostage. 

The Caines explain the truth: multiversal travel is not only possible. Triad wants to be the sole entity with that power. Their leader, tech CEO Wyatt Conley, used a spy to keep an eye on the Caines. He also turned Marguerite into a “perfect traveler”. If you remember, the Firebird transfers the user’s mind, not their body. The latter apparently vanishes into some quantum state. Regular travelers can’t stay too long in a parallel reality, or their doppelgänger regains control. As a perfect traveler, Marguerite stays in control no matter how much time she spends in a given parallel universe. 

BOOK REVIEW: GUILT BY ASSOCIATION BY MARCIA CLARK

Title: Guilt by Association

Author: Marcia Clark

Genre: Mystery, legal thriller

Published on: April 20, 2011 by Mulholland Books

Los Angeles D.A. Rachel Knight is a tenacious, wise-cracking, and fiercely intelligent prosecutor in the city's most elite division. When her colleague, Jake, is found dead at a grisly crime scene, Rachel is shaken to the core. She must take over his toughest case: the assault of a young woman from a prominent family.

But she can't stop herself from digging deeper into Jake's death, a decision that exposes a world of power and violence and will have her risking her reputation--and her life--to find the truth.

With her tremendous expertise in the nuances of L.A. courts and crime, and with a vibrant ensemble cast of characters, Marcia Clark combines intimate detail, riotous humor, and visceral action in a debut thriller that marks the launch of a major new figure on the crime-writing scene.

I bought this book back when I had a taste for mysteries with female protagonists in law enforcement. Guilt by Association had really good reviews, so I got myself a copy. The main character is Rachel Knight, a prosecutor in the Special Trials division of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office. When we meet her, Rachel’s been a DA for at least seven years. She recently transferred to Special Trials, her dream job. Rachel describes the position as highly demanding and time-consuming. She claims that’s what she finds attractive about it. 

Rachel has two close friends in Special Trials. One is Jake Pahlmeyer, and the other is Toni. Early in the book, a burning building grabs Rachel’s attention in the evening. When Rachel gets there, she’s horrified to see a paramedic taking Jake away on a stretcher. A police lieutenant escorts Rachel home. There, she keeps Jake’s death to herself, hoping it's only a bad dream. But as one can expect, there’s no such luck. Jake is still dead next morning. This affects Rachel deeply. They were what she describes as office soulmates. Rachel and Jake knew nothing personal about each other, but they were otherwise inseparable. 

BOOK REVIEW: CASSIDY JONES AND THE SECRET FORMULA BY ELISE STOKES

Title: Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula

Author: Elise Stokes

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Published on: December 13, 2010 by JACE Publishing LLC

Cassidy Jones is your typical teenager-- that is, until a seemingly harmless accident in the laboratory of a world-renowned geneticist turns her world upside down.

Discovering incredible strength, speed, and enhanced physical senses that defy logic, Cassidy embarks on an action-packed adventure that has her fighting for answers...and for her very life.

Don't miss the other action-packed books in Cassidy Jones Adventures!

Cassidy Jones and Vulcan's Gift, Book Two

Cassidy Jones and the Seventh Attendant, Book Three

Cassidy Jones and the Luminous, Book Four

Cassidy Jones and the Eternal Flame, Book Five

I seriously enjoy fiction (books or movies) about people who can do stuff others can’t. Whether it’s superpowers or tech/genetic enhancements, it fascinates me. That’s what drew me to the Cassidy Jones Adventures series. This first entry introduces the titular character. She’s an average, redheaded, 14-year-old schoolgirl. One day, Cassidy accompanies her father—a famous radio host—and his assistant to an interview. The subject is Dr. Serena Phillips, a prominent geneticist. While in her lab, Cassidy has an accident that gives her extraordinary abilities. It’s over so fast that not even the people in the room realize what happened.

Cassidy’s powers don’t manifest right away. She first notices she can smell what the next-door neighbors are having for breakfast. Cassidy soon discovers she has enhanced strength, speed, senses, and a wicked-fast healing factor. Seeking to understand exactly what happened to her, Cassidy turns to Emery Phillips. He’s the son of Dr. Phillips. Someone kidnapped her the day after Cassidy’s accident. The Joneses offered shelter to Emery for the meantime.

FAVORITE FICTIONAL CHARACTERS FROM BOOKS

Good morning, everyone! I’m back with the first blog post that’s not a book review. I’ve published a bunch of those in the time since my last status update post. That was back in June, a whopping four months ago. I can’t believe time flew by this fast! Today, I’m publishing a special blog post. I've shared lists of my favorite books, both from last decade and from previous years. This time I’m writing about my favorite characters. I’ve read so many books that quite a few characters have stuck with me. Some of these are popular, and others not well-known. This list is in no particular order. I am also including images for some of the characters, at least those that I could find. For others, I fan-cast an actor I think would portray them well. Here it goes:

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BOOK REVIEW: AS DUST DANCES BY SAMANTHA YOUNG

Title: As Dust Dances

Author: Samantha Young

Genre: New Adult, romance

Published on: July 16, 2018, self-published

Once upon a time Skylar Finch was the lead singer of a hugely successful American pop-rock band. But fame made her miserable. When years of living a lie suddenly ended in tragedy, Skylar fell off the map.

Eighteen months later she’s sleeping in a tent in a cemetery in Glasgow, making just enough money to eat by busking on the streets. She manages to avoid recognition, but not the attention of one of Glasgow’s ambitious A&R executives.

Killian O’Dea works at Skyscraper Records, Scotland’s most successful record label. Raised by his uncle and owner of the label, Killian’s upbringing would have been devoid of affection entirely if it wasn’t for his loving sister. Killian is unflinchingly determined to bring the label more success than ever, and the young homeless woman who busks on Buchanan Street is going to help him do that. Her music speaks to him in a way he refuses to over-analyze. All he knows is that if it can touch his dark soul, it’ll set everyone else’s alight.

Skylar makes it clear that she doesn’t want to sign with him. But when she experiences the dangerous reality of a woman sleeping rough, Skylar has no one else but Killian to turn to. An undeniable connection forms between them. But Skylar doesn’t want the career Killian is trying to forge for her, and when her past comes back to haunt her Killian will be faced with a decision that could ruin him. He must either free Skylar from his selfish machinations and destroy everything he’s ever worked for, or lose a woman who has come to mean more to him than he ever thought possible…

I’ve read a few Samantha Young books before. My favorite was On Dublin Street. It was a gripping, steamy romance. I looked forward to reading another novel like it. Then I came across As Dust Dances. The heroine of this book is Skylar Finch. She was the lead singer of a popular American pop-rock band called Tellurian. Skylar vanished overnight after an unspecified tragedy. Over a year later, Sky winds up on the streets of Glasgow, Scotland. She’s been homeless the whole time. Skylar keeps herself alive by busking. She’s halfway across the world, so she figures no one will recognize her.

One day, Skylar’s enthralling music catches the attention of Killian O’Dea. He happens to be an executive at one of Scotland’s biggest record labels. Killian watches Skylar a few times until he approaches her. It’s not clear whether he knows who she is. When Skylar finds out Killian wants to sign her to his label, she refuses. For some reason, Skylar wants nothing more to do with fame. Killian can’t believe Skylar wants to remain homeless willingly. There are thousands of other indigents out there who wish they had another choice. 

BOOK REVIEW: IMITATION BY HEATHER HILDENBRAND

Title: Imitation

Author: Heather Hildenbrand

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Published on: July 29, 2014 by Alloy Entertainment (Kindle edition)

Everyone is exactly like me. There is no one like me.

Ven wrestles with these contradicting truths every day. A clone of wealthy eighteen-year-old Raven Rogen, Ven knows everything about the girl she was created to serve: the clothes she wears, the boys she loves, the friends she loves to hate. Yet she’s never met the Authentic Raven face-to-face. Imitations like Ven only get to leave the lab when they’re needed—to replace a dead Authentic, donate an organ, or complete a specific mission. And Raven has never needed Ven . . . until now.

When there is an attack on Raven’s life, Ven is thrust into the real world, posing as Raven to draw out the people who tried to harm her. But as Ven dives deeper into Raven’s world, she begins to question everything she was ever told. She exists for Raven, but is she prepared to sacrifice herself for a girl she’s never met?

Fans of Cinder, The Selection and Sara Shepard’s Lying Game series will love Imitation, a thrilling, action-packed novel sure to keep readers guessing until the very last page.

When I came across Imitation in the Kindle store, the premise intrigued me right away. It was the kind of idea I wish I’d had if I were a sci-fi writer. In the book’s world, Imitations are clones made to fulfill various roles for their Authentics. This can include donating organs or even replacing a dead Authentic. The book's protagonist is Ven, the Imitation of rich young socialite Raven Rogen. She lives with other Imitations in a building called Twig City. They only ever leave when their Authentics need them. Ven "woke up" five years ago, but she's physically eighteen—the same age as Raven.

Ven has spent her life training to be Raven's double in every way. She watches videos to learn Raven's mannerisms and personality, and to know her friends. Imitation begins after Raven suffers an attack. Titus, her father, hides her away and brings Ven out. The two meet shortly after. Ven recognizes Titus, but not from her training videos. He turns out to be the creator of the Imitations. As the book progresses, you learn Titus is a secretive, powerful man. Although he had Ven study Raven's family, he seems to have thought Ven didn't need to know about him or his affairs. This is why Ven knows so little about him at first.

BOOK REVIEW: SEEDS OF INIQUITY BY J.A. REDMERSKI

Title: Seeds of Iniquity

Author: J.A. Redmerski

Genre: Thriller, romance

Published on: September 29, 2014, self-published

Victor Faust’s new Order is growing. Business is good as there is no rest for the wicked in an underground world of hardcore criminals and contract killing. Relationships among the operatives have changed little over the past year—but things are about to change now, and all six high-ranking members of the new Order will be blindsided by an unlikely enemy.

Loved ones whose only ties to Victor’s organization are their relationships with its members, are abducted. The price to get them back safely—the six must confess their deepest, darkest secret to this mysterious young woman named Nora, who is as deadly as she is beautiful, and who seems to know more about each of them than they know about each other. And although no one has any clue about who Nora really is, it becomes clear that she also isn’t who she appears to be.

So much more is at stake than secrets and the lives of innocent loved ones; with each member that Nora forces to confess, the truth about their dark pasts and their present objectives will cast suspicion, pit some against each other, and may tear others apart.

Before the game is over everyone will know who this woman is and why she is here, but the damage she will leave in her wake could be the beginning of the new Order’s destruction.

Whose dark secret will be the darkest of all? And can Victor’s Order survive any of them?

The Order is back in another thrilling installment of In the Company of Killers. Unlike the previous book, Seeds of Iniquity does not focus on any single character. Victor Faust's Order (his contract killer organization) has grown in the time since The Swan and the Jackal ended. Izabel Seyfried is also getting better. She’s earning a don’t-mess-with-her kind of reputation. The only one who’s brave enough to tease Izabel now is Niklas, Victor’s brother. Dorian Flynn is also part of the group, as well as another newcomer: James Woodard. He’s a tech expert who claims to be able to find information on anyone.

During a covert mission, the team runs into a beautiful and enigmatic woman. She’s Nora Kessler, and she's abducted loved ones who have ties to the six heads of Victor’s Order. The group attempts to subdue Nora, but she manages to take them all on without help. That’s no mean feat, beating up four professional killers! Nora ends up allowing the Order to capture her. She has a deal to make with them. Nora will free their loved ones if each member confesses their darkest secret. The group debates whether they should play along with her game. Victor agrees, mostly because one of the abducted is Izabel’s grandmother, Dina. She’s the only connection to the normal world that Izabel has left.

BOOK REVIEW: FOR THE RECORD BY K.A. LINDE

Title: For The Record

Author: K.A. Linde

Genre: Romance

Published on: November 18, 2014 by Montlake Romance

With Congressman Brady Maxwell up for reelection and journalist Liz Dougherty about to graduate into a promising career, the ambitious couple’s future is brighter than ever. They share a passion for their work…and for each other. But when Brady holds a press conference to officially introduce Liz as his girlfriend, reporters hungry for a scandal bombard her. Now, her every move is under a vicious magnifying glass, and her life feels like it’s falling apart.

On the road to reelection, the passionate bond between the congressman and the journalist gets tested at every stop. Threatened by shameless media sensationalism and jealous exes, Brady and Liz now have to learn to trust each other despite what they read in the papers.

In the finale to USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s sexy Record trilogy, Liz and Brady may be setting off fireworks along the campaign trail, but can their love transcend politics as usual?

The controversial romance between Liz Dougherty and Brady Maxwell is back in this final entry of the Record trilogy. For the Record starts at the heels of a crucial revelation at the end of the previous book. After someone outs them to the press, Brady and Liz confirm that they’re an item. This is a risky move, as they're not your average couple. Liz is an aspiring political reporter, and Brady is a big-name politician. Now that people know they're dating, their careers could be at stake. In book one, Brady made clear to Liz that he'd pick his career over her no matter what. Little did they know they'd fall in love.

As you could expect, things don’t go smoothly. Liz recently ended a relationship with her former crush and ex-boss Hayden Lane. They’d met while working for the newspaper at UNC Chapel Hill. Hayden royally screwed up with Liz after making a misguided decision. The media find out about this and accuse Brady of breaking Hayden and Liz up. The latter also faces backlash that makes her see reporters in a new light. 

BOOK REVIEW: A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU BY CLAUDIA GRAY

Title: A Thousand Pieces of You

Author: Claudia Gray

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Published on: November 4, 2014 by Harper Teen

Marguerite Caine's physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes—and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite's father is murdered, and the killer—her parent's handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul— escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. But she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows—including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul's guilt—as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father's death is far more sinister than she expected.

Well thought-out and crafted science fiction is a joy to read for me. I’ve read books about time machines and incredible genetic powers. A Thousand Pieces of You piqued my interest partly because of the stunning cover. It does a great job of showing the book’s theme: parallel realities. The protagonist is Marguerite Caine, the young daughter of two prominent physicists. The premise is that they’ve developed a world-changing invention: the Firebird. It is a small electronic device fashioned into a pendant. The Firebird enables its wearer to travel across the multiverse.

There’s a big setback right from the start. Dr. Henry Caine gets himself murdered. Paul Markov is the alleged killer. He’s one of the Caines’ brilliant assistants and friend to Marguerite. Paul uses the first perfected Firebird prototype to escape arrest. Filled with grief and rage, Marguerite decides to hunt him down. Theo, Paul and Marguerite’s other friend (and the second assistant) agrees to help her. Theo manages to get two more Firebird prototypes working, and they go after Paul.

BOOK REVIEW: SCREAM FOR ME BY CYNTHIA EDEN

Title: Scream For Me

Author: Cynthia Eden

Genre: Romantic suspense, thriller

Published on: February 4, 2014 by Montlake Romance

Nothing is deeper than the desire they can’t fight—or deadlier than the evil they can’t escape.

They were only supposed to have a professional relationship, but FBI agent Kyle McKenzie has been fantasizing about his sexy partner, Cadence Hollow, from the moment they first moment. It takes the darkest case of their careers to finally bring their hidden desire bubbling to the surface. Once they’re in each other’s arms, though, they swear that nothing short of death will part them. The Night Hunter—a cunning stalker whose four-state, fifteen-year abduction spree began in Paradox, Alabama, with Kyle’s sister—may be only too happy to oblige.

In the small town, Kyle must confront the painful past he’s been hiding from Cadence. Kyle vows to put the Hunter behind bars…or in the ground. But the one thing that obsesses Kyle more than his sister’s grim fate—his furious love for Cadence—is the weapon the Hunter will use to lure his pursuers into the mouth of a murderous trap.

Suspense author Cynthia Eden delivers another hit with Scream For Me. Even though this book is part of the same series as Die for Me, it introduces new characters. The protagonists are Kyle McKenzie and Cadence Hollow, two FBI agents who arrive in Paradox, Alabama for an investigation. The local police chief, James Anniston, summoned them. Someone abducted a young woman at a highway in the dead of night. Anniston requested McKenzie because the abduction resembles one that happened fifteen years earlier. McKenzie worked that case.

Right from the start, you find out that Kyle and Cadence are attracted to each other. They’ve had romantic feelings for a long time, but haven’t been brave enough to act on them. Both Kyle and Cadence have a deep secret that they aren’t yet willing to share with each other. Cadence, though, knows enough to be aware that Kyle may be too close to the case to be objective. 

BOOK REVIEW: SET ME FREE BY MELISSA PEARL

Title: Set Me Free

Author: Melissa Pearl

Genre: Romance, mystery

Published on: May 3, 2014 by Evatopia Press (first edition)

It’s time for Lucy to stop running…and fight back.

Lucy Tate has spent the last five years on the run. That is, until she met Zach, the one guy she couldn’t bear to leave even though it could cost both of them their lives.

Hunted by a crooked FBI agent who killed her parents, Lucy has taken on one disguise after the next. But Zach knows exactly who she is and in spite of mounting evidence indicating her guilt in her parents’ deaths, he knows she’s innocent.

Convinced that it’s time to put her years on the run behind her, Zach and Lucy vow to fight back, clear her name, and take down the real killer. 

With support from Zach’s loyal friends and his uncle, an investigative reporter, they set out on a dangerous mission hoping that the truth...will set them free.

Set Me Free is the final book in the Fugitive Series—simmering duet novels packed with intrigue and suspense. If you like high-adrenaline page-turners, tenacious characters and a love that will ultimately win, then these Fugitive novels are perfect for you.

Lucy Tate’s story ends in this second and final book of the A Fugitive duology. The protagonist is a teenager who’s lived on the run for five years. A corrupt officer of the law murdered Lucy's parents. He found out they had incriminating info on him. This man has not forgotten about the girl who slipped away. He’s almost caught Lucy twice, killing some friends who took her under their wing. This made Lucy even more afraid.

Set Me Free starts right after the previous book ended. Zach Schultz, Lucy's boyfriend, enlisted his uncle Alex's help to stop Lucy's parents' murderer. Elliott, the most suspicious and protective of Zach's friends, also knows what's going on. Lucy is still reluctant to let anyone else know about her situation. She doesn't want to get Zach and his friends killed. Lucy's already gone through the trauma of a friend dying in her arms.

BOOK REVIEW: UNMERCIFUL BY CAT MILLER

Title: Unmerciful

Author: Cat Miller

Genre: Fantasy, romance

Published on: May 22, 2018, self-published

Being a vampire sure bites…

Lindsay Roselle’s biggest worry should have been what to wear under her gown at her college graduation, not how she was going to survive the night as a newly turned vampire. After catching the attention of the Rogue, a vampire out to destroy the Vampire Nation, Lindsay was forced to undergo the change herself. Convinced she’s fated for an end worse than death, Lindsay had all but given up until she’s rescued...by the last person she ever expected to see again.

Kayden Paris wasn’t anything like the playboy Lindsay remembered from the night they shared together...and she wouldn’t have forgotten the fangs. Kayden is the heir to his vampire clan and son of the mightiest warrior in the Vampire Nation, but even he may not be able to heal all the wounds Lindsay suffered at the hands of the Rogue.

In a life fraught with secrets, lies, and deadly enemies, Lindsay must first learn to trust herself in order to survive.

After a long wait (six years of it!) the third entry in the Forbidden Bond saga is here. It was a big relief for me when I spotted Unmerciful in the Kindle store. I thought the author wasn't going to release any more sequels. I've read quite a few unfinished series by now. It's a shame when it happens, especially when you really like the books. Fortunately, Forbidden Bond is still an active series.

Each book in this series has a different couple as the main protagonists. Unmerciful is Kayden Paris’s and Lindsay Roselle’s story. Both characters were introduced in Unbound. He’s a member of the Vampire Nation’s warrior class. As the son of the chief, Gage Paris, Kayden is one of those characters with big shoes to fill. He went through a rebellious phase a few years ago. When Kayden met Danielle Vaughn, she changed his world. They didn’t end up together, but Dani still made Kayden a better man.

BOOK REVIEW: FINDING CLAIRE FLETCHER BY LISA REGAN

Title: Finding Claire Fletcher

Author: Lisa Regan

Genre: Mystery

Published on: August 6, 2012, self-published

With his career on thin ice and fresh ink on his divorce papers, Sacramento PD Detective Connor Parks goes searching for solace at the bottom of a bottle…and winds up in the arms of a beautiful woman. By morning she’s gone, and the one clue she left behind sends Connor on a desperate mission to unravel a decade-old mystery—her abduction.

Presumed dead for the last ten years, Claire Fletcher has been living her life as “Lynn,” a woman in the terrifying grip of her captor. After her unforgettable night with Connor, Claire clings to the hope that she’ll see him again, that he’ll follow her into the dark. But anyone who gets close to Claire has a way of turning up dead…and she’s unwittingly made Connor next on the list.

Before long, it becomes disturbingly clear: finding Claire Fletcher isn’t just going to be dangerous—it could be deadly.

This is a mystery/crime thriller novel centered on titular character Claire Fletcher. She’s a young woman who was kidnapped when she was fifteen. Her captor is a twisted monster whose identity is a mystery for most of the book. He’s kept Claire to himself for an entire decade and calls her Lynn. She’s been unable to escape his clutches. The man does allow her a little freedom, as Claire holds a job. She hasn’t lost all hope, fortunately. Claire sneaks out of town one night looking to pick up a man. 

Enter Connor Parks. He’s a detective with the Sacramento PD. Connor recently found himself in huge trouble. He killed a suspect he thought was carrying a weapon. Connor is at a bar when a woman introduces herself to him. Claire uses her real name but doesn’t reveal her situation. She passes herself off as just another bar customer. Connor and Claire hit it off, and they go to the detective’s house, where they sleep together. The next morning, Connor wakes up to find Claire gone. All she left is a note with her name and address. 

BOOK REVIEW: PUSHING THE LIMITS BY BROOKE CUMBERLAND

Title: Pushing the Limits

Author: Brooke Cumberland

Genre: Romance

Published on: September 16, 2015; self-published

He's my art professor.

I'm his student.

With an electric connection and undeniable chemistry, I know it won't be long until one of us cracks.

When the opportunity arises to pose naked for the entire art class, I can't help the thrill of knowing he'll be watching me.

While they all look past me with their eyes narrowed and concentrated, drawing only the lines and angles of my body, he sees right through me down to my vulnerability.

He sees more than just the physical aspects--he sees me.

That's when I see the struggle in his features as he tries to stay in control.

How do we keep our distance when everything seems to be pulling us together?

What feels so right can only go wrong if we keep pushing the limits.

At the time I first bought this book, I was in the mood for a risqué romance. I hadn’t read anything like Pushing the Limits before, except the Call series by Emma Hart. I read romance books for the heroine, so I thought I would like Aspen Evans. She’s the main protagonist of this novel. Is she a likable character? I was intrigued enough to find out. 

Half of Pushing the Limits is written in Aspen’s first-person POV. She's a hardened, secretive young woman who attends the California School of Liberal Arts. It’s revealed from the very start that Aspen lost her twin sister, Ariel, six years ago. Since then, Aspen uses art as a form of therapy. It turned out that Aspen has so much talent that she’s now enrolled in an Advanced Art class. She even has several pieces on display at one of the largest museums in the city. Aspen also works there as a tour guide.

BOOK REVIEW: THE SWAN AND THE JACKAL BY J.A. REDMERSKI

Title: The Swan and the Jackal

Author: J.A. Redmerski

Genre: Thriller, romance

Published on: March 3, 2014, self-published

Fredrik Gustavsson never considered the possibility of love, or that anyone could ever understand or accept his dark and bloody lifestyle—until he met Seraphina, a woman as vicious and blood-thirsty as Fredrik himself. They spent two short but unforgettable years together, full of lust and killing and the darkest kind of love that two people can share.

And then Seraphina was gone.

It’s been six years since Fredrik’s lover and sadistic partner in crime turned his world upside-down. Seraphina went into hiding and has eluded him ever since. Now, he’s getting closer to finding her, and an innocent woman named Cassia is the key to drawing Seraphina from the shadows. But Cassia—after sustaining injuries from a fire that Seraphina ignited—suffers from amnesia and can’t give Fredrik the information he desperately seeks. Having no other choice, Fredrik has been keeping Cassia locked in his basement as he not only tries to get her to recall her past—because she and Seraphina share it—but also to protect her from Seraphina, who clearly wants her dead.

But Cassia is a light in the darkness that Fredrik never believed existed. After a year subjected to her kindness and compassion, he finds himself struggling with his love for Seraphina, and his growing feelings for Cassia—because he knows that to love one, the other must die.

Will light win out over darkness, or will something more powerful than either further destroy an already tortured soul?

With two books so far, In The Company of Killers has had Sarai Cohen/Izabel Seyfried as the protagonist. She's a damaged young girl who became a contract killer after escaping captivity. The series returns with a third installment, The Swan and the Jackal. This time the main character is Fredrik Gustavsson. He’s without doubt the darkest and most damaged character in this series. People call him the Jackal, but you don’t learn why until near the middle of the book. They also call him The Specialist. Fredrik is the go-to torturer in Victor’s new Order (a contract killer organization). He can do stuff to people that are just…horrible, yet he’s not exactly evil. You likely wouldn’t root for Fredrik if he were real, but as a book character it’s a different story. No pun intended.

Before The Swan and the Jackal starts, Victor assumed that Fredrik had killed his ex-wife. She appears right at the start of the book, though. Her name is Seraphina Bragado, and she has a darkness that rivals Fredrik’s. The two loved each other, until something changed things. Now, Fredrik is looking for Seraphina after she spared his life. She's been on the run for years. Fredrik’s search leads him to Cassia Carrington, a young woman who turns out to be the best tool for finding Seraphina. Cassia is amnesiac, though. She narrowly survived a fire that Seraphina started. Fredrik has been keeping Cassia in his basement, waiting for her memories to return. He can’t risk Seraphina killing her. Besides Fredrik, no one knows Seraphina better than Cassia.

BOOK REVIEW: FREE SOULS BY SUSAN KAYE QUINN

Title: Free Souls

Author: Susan Kaye Quinn

Genre: Science Fiction

Published on: December 14, 2012, self-published

When your mind is a weapon, freedom comes at a price.

Four months have passed since Kira left home to join Julian's Jacker Freedom Alliance, but the hole in her heart still whistles empty where her boyfriend Raf used to be. She fills it with weapons training, JFA patrols, and an obsessive hunt for FBI agent Kestrel, ignoring Julian's worries about her safety and repeated attempts to recruit her for his revolutionary chat-casts. When anti-jacker politician Vellus surrounds Jackertown with the National Guard, Kira discovers there's more to Julian's concerns than she knew, but she's forced to take on a mission that neither want and that might be her last: assassinating Senator Vellus before he can snuff out Julian's revolution and the jackers she's come to love.

After the second book, I got hooked on the Mindjack Trilogy. So I quickly bought the next book, eager to find out what happens next. Free Souls didn’t disappoint, but it could have been better. A few months have passed since Closed Hearts. Kira is now an active member of Julian’s Jacker Freedom Alliance. She’s also discovered new powers derived from her mindjacking ability. In the previous two books, Kira showed that she could jack into her own mind. This led her to unlock some pretty handy abilities.

Kira shows one of these new skills right at the beginning. During a mission, she goes into a hyped-up state. That’s what Kira calls going into her mind to dose herself with adrenaline. She also converts her muscles from slow-twitch to fast-twitch. Not sure how plausible that last bit is, but I chose to suspend disbelief. The conversion lets Kira run at superhuman speeds. This skill has a side effect, though. Kira refers to it as a blowback, a short period in which her entire body is completely sore and tired.

BOOK REVIEW: RESISTING RUBY ROSE BY JESSIE HUMPHRIES

Title: Resisting Ruby Rose

Author: Jessie Humphries

Genre: Mystery

Published on: October 28, 2014 by Skyscape

Still reeling from the heartbreaking events that unfolded on Grissom Island, Ruby Rose is trying to come to terms with the fact that she’s gone from a vigilante in killer shoes to a stone-cold killer. Everyone from her therapist to her smoking-hot boyfriend keeps trying to convince her that she hasn’t crossed over to the dark side, but Ruby isn’t so sure. It doesn’t help that her nemesis, Detective “Mastermind” Martinez, is still out there, waiting for another chance to take her down.

When an alleged CIA agent named Skryker shows up and asks for a meeting, Ruby figures it just means more questions about her case. But he has information of an entirely different nature and a job offer: join an elite force of young assassins, including Skryker’s right-hand guy, Quinn Donovan. Quinn is distractingly charming, handsome—and deadly. Ruby resists becoming a killer again, but as she becomes more ensnared in a web of deceit, no one around her is safe.

Shoe-loving teen sleuth/vigilante Ruby Rose is back for a new adventure. It’s been some time since the ending of Killing Ruby Rose. Ruby is recovering from both physical and emotional wounds. She bravely ran into a knife to thwart a madman, but he managed to escape. Ruby is also trying to assimilate the shocking truths that she uncovered.

Ruby hasn't been speaking much to anyone lately. This changes when the CIA reaches out to her. They've been looking for the guy who put Ruby in dire situations in the previous book. A particular agent, Skryker (that's not a misspelling) keeps Ruby updated on the investigation. He also seems to have ulterior motives. Ruby doesn't have much chance to think about Skryker's info after her mother, Jane, suffers a strange accident. At the hospital, Ruby crosses paths with Quin, a guy she finds intriguing and handsome. She isn't too thrilled when she learns Quin is there on behalf of Skryker.

BOOK REVIEW: ON THE RECORD BY K.A. LINDE

Title: On the Record

Author: K.A. Linde

Genre: Romance

Published on: August 26, 2014 by Montlake Romance

For political reporter Liz Dougherty, election day—a day of looking toward the future and saying goodbye to the past—seems like a fitting time to start a new relationship. But feelings for her former flame still linger...

The sexy second book in bestselling author K.A. Linde’s Record series decides whether it’s better to pick up the pieces and move on...or to pick up right where you left off.

***

Liz Dougherty’s intriguing story continues in On the Record. If you’ve read the previous book, you’ll recall that it ended in a cliffhanger. This sequel picks up a few months after. Brady Maxwell has won the November election to the House of Representatives. Liz is happy that he’s achieved his biggest wish. For her part, Liz has been working hard, both on her classes and on the college newspaper she works at. No one has managed to find out that Liz had a brief but intense relationship with Brady. She hopes to keep it that way.

Now that Liz is single, the doors are open for another guy to scoop her up. She develops a closer relationship with Hayden Lane, her boss. The two have been longtime friends. Liz has, in fact, had a crush on Hayden for years, from before she met Brady. As the attraction is rekindled, Liz decides to give Hayden a chance. He regrets not asking Liz on a date when he had the opportunity. Now Hayden is trying to rectify that. Liz has always thought of him as a pleasant, charismatic, and driven guy. They start dating. Unfortunately, the memory of Brady keeps Liz from becoming intimate with Hayden. She can’t stand to do more than kiss him. Hayden takes it in stride, but it's eating him up inside.

BOOK REVIEW: DIE FOR ME BY CYNTHIA EDEN

Title: Die For Me

Author: Cynthia Eden

Genre: Romantic suspense, thriller

Published on: February 12, 2013 by Montlake Romance

Katherine Cole thought her fiance was the perfect man until he turned out to be the perfect killer. He left his victims stabbed through the heart holding a telltale single red rose and was deemed the Valentine Killer. Three years ago he vanished. Now he's back. And he's hunting the one who got away. In New Orleans, Katherine dared to hope she was finally safe, yet somehow he found her. This time, Katherine won't just sit silently by; she'll do anything to stop the monster she once loved, even trust the sexy cop promising to keep her safe? Detective Dane Black never lets his emotions interfere with the job, even as the Valentine Killer surfaces in New Orleans to stalk his prey. But when Dane agrees to protect the killer's ex-fiance, he can't ignore the passion kindling between them. After a single unforgettable night binds them body and soul, Dane won't rest until Katherine is safe in his arms and the Valentine Killer is dead.

This is one of those "male cop protects female crime victim and ends up falling for her" type novels. What's fresh to me about Die for Me is the villain. Michael O’Rourke is a psychopath who enjoys torturing women and stabbing them in the heart. He always leaves them with a rose, which earned him the nickname "Valentine Killer". He's mostly referred to as Valentine.

When the Valentine Killer met Katelynn Crenshaw, he fell in love with her (in his own way). Their relationship was quite happy, until Katelynn witnesses a dreadful scene. This makes Valentine go into hiding and Katelynn is placed in Witness Protection. Thanks to the help of U.S. Marshall Anthony Ross, Katelynn moves to New Orleans. She changes her name to Katherine Cole. In three years, Katherine only makes a couple of close friends. She became warier about getting close to other people.

BOOK REVIEW: THE PERFECT GAME BY J. STERLING

Title: The Perfect Game

Author: J. Sterling

Genre: Romance

Published on: October 11, 2012, self-published

He's a game she never intended to play.

And she's the game changer he never knew he needed.

The Perfect Game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews & Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind... like getting Cassie to give him the time of day.

They're both damaged, filled with mistrust and guarded before they find one another (and themselves) in this emotional journey about love and forgiveness. Strap yourselves for a ride that will not only break your heart, but put it back together.

Sometimes life gets ugly before it gets beautiful...

Stellar reviews and a nicely-designed cover were enough to convince me to pick up this book. The fans seemed as enraptured with it as fans of franchises like The Hunger Games or Twilight. I wanted to know what all the fuss was about. As I’ve mentioned before, New Adult is among my favorite genres. Not to add that the heroine of The Perfect Game is quite attractive.

This book introduces us to Cassie Andrews and Jack Carter. They’re college juniors at the same school. Cassie loves photography, and Jack dreams of playing baseball in the major leagues. When the two first meet, there’s nothing that would make you expect they would want to cross paths again. At least, Cassie isn’t impressed with Jack. He’s too cocky and too much of a ladies’ man for her taste. Jack, though, finds Cassie fascinating. He makes it his personal mission to convince Cassie to give him a chance. She’s the first girl not to fall for Jack’s charms the moment she laid eyes on him. It takes a lot of cajoling on Jack’s part before Cassie finally agrees to a date. By this time, though, she can’t deny that she finds Jack handsome.

BOOK REVIEW: UNFORGIVEN BY CAT MILLER

Title: Unforgiven

Author: Cat Miller

Genre: Fantasy, romance

Published on: July 17, 2012 (first edition), self-published

Things are about to heat up…

Brandi Vaughn wishes she could stand out. She’d do anything to get out from behind the shadow of her socialite family—which now includes Dani, her half sister, recently discovered to be the most powerful vampire known to their kind.

But Brandi is more extraordinary than anyone realizes. The fiery young vamp has a secret elemental power—an inner flame that she must keep under control so as not to reveal herself to the dangerous rogue vampire targeting exceptional talents like hers. But when two desperate followers of the Rogue attempt to kidnap Dani during her wedding ceremony, Brandi lets loose with a pyrotechnic display that doesn’t go unnoticed…

As the vampire nation comes face-to-face with the threat of the Shade army, Brandi is caught in an emotional tug of war between the light and the dark. Torn between the affections of lovers from both factions, she will need to choose who to trust with her heart: a warrior or a rogue.

Things are mostly the same since the ending in Unbound. This second installment in the Forbidden Bond series starts right after the previous book. The main character, Soleil Danielle Vaughn, was a former demi-vamp. She got turned into a full vampire after a member of the vampire warrior class tried to bond with her. The bonding failed, and now that vampire, Darren, is in hiding.

Unforgiven begins when Dani’s bonding ceremony with Chase Deidrick is about to start. They had a tumultuous relationship in the previous book, but in the end, their love prevailed. The vampire society has all but accepted Dani, especially now that she’s a full vampire. Dani is eager to bond herself to Chase. She fears that the bonding might fail again, though.

BOOK REVIEW: EVIL NEVER DIES BY T.R. RAGAN

Title: Evil Never Dies

Author: T.R. Ragan

Genre: Mystery, thriller

Published on: August 4, 2015 by Thomas & Mercer

Private investigator Lizzy Gardner believed in law and order once. But after losing a loved one to a killer and watching too many vicious predators game the system and walk free, she’s traded flawed justice for perfect vengeance.

Together with her tough and trusted assistants, Lizzy is tracking down a list of Sacramento’s worst offenders and dealing out the payback they deserve. But she may be lethally outmatched by a new criminal, a murderer the papers have dubbed the Sacramento Strangler. This ritualistic serial killer is dropping corpses and cryptic clues at a shocking rate—and he’s growing bolder and bloodier the longer he’s at large.

In the suspenseful finale to the Lizzy Gardner series, bestselling author T.R. Ragan’s gutsy heroine lashes out against the relentless onslaught of evil as she desperately fights to hang on to her own humanity.

Over four years since determined PI Lizzy Gardner made her debut, the final book in her series is here. Lizzy has since become one of my favorite fictional characters. Although she’s pretty on the surface, she is rather damaged on the inside. When Lizzy was a teen, she escaped from the clutches of a twisted serial killer. The experience inspired Lizzy to become a private investigator and a self-defense instructor. She wanted to help other women defend themselves from the monsters of the world.

In Evil Never Dies, Lizzy is even more broken than ever. At the end of the last book, her would-be husband (FBI agent Jared Shayne) died. He got shot several times during a surprise attack. Since Jared's death, Lizzy hasn't been the same. Now she harbors a deep, powerful anger towards the criminals and wrongdoers out there. Seeming to cross over to the dark side, Lizzy partners with Hayley and Kitally. She's resolved to take justice into their own hands. The criminals they target become the main villains this time around. That means there are more than one or two bad guys in this book. One of these is the strongest, so he can be considered a main antagonist.

BOOK REVIEW: I KNOW LUCY BY MELISSA PEARL

Title: I Know Lucy

Author: Melissa Pearl

Genre: Romance, mystery

Published on: April 17, 2014 by Evatopia Press

Lucy Tate is on the run. After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents, she's spent five years in hiding -- taking on different personas and faking her way through life. The authorities can't be trusted, so she remains in the shadows, always one beat ahead of the man who is forever hunting her. That is, until she meets Zach Schultz, a senior at Monte Vista High and the one guy she can’t bear to leave. Suddenly her natural instincts to lie, cheat, and run are overshadowed by something else...the desire to stay and perhaps, love. It’s her one shot at a normal life.

Curious by nature, Zach is immediately drawn to the new girl at school. How can a person look both confident and vulnerable all in the same moment? Determined to figure Lucy out, he sets out to unravel the mystery that is her and soon finds himself caught up in a cat and mouse game. For the first time in his life he is faced with the reality that the truth can no longer set him free...if anything, it's going to get him killed.

The intriguing synopsis drew me to this novel. A teenage girl living on the run after witnessing a horrible crime? I had to know more. The protagonist, Lucy Tate, fled from home after a crooked cop murdered her parents. She was only thirteen at the time, too young to have been forced into such a dangerous life. Lucy had to adapt fast to survive. Several years later, she turns up in Danville, a small but wealthy California town. Lucy enrolls at Monte Vista High under the alias of Danielle Harrison.

I Know Lucy starts by introducing the other protagonist, Zach Schultz. He notices Danielle at school one day and feels an irresistible attraction to her. Zach is a bit of a male Nancy Drew, highly curious and with a taste for mysteries. He doesn’t know Danielle before deciding she’s a puzzle he needs to solve. Something about the new girl intrigues Zach. I scoffed a bit at this even though I’m not judgmental about romance. Still, this was a little over the top. Zach sees a lot in Danielle from just one or two looks at her.

BOOK REVIEW: FLUX FLAME BY K.J. JACKSON

Title: Flux Flame

Author: K.J. Jackson

Genre: Fantasy, romance

Published on: October 28, 2013 by AWD Publishing

A dark path is calling, and though she fights it, Skye soon finds herself lost in the most important battle of her life. A fight for control over her very own soul.

Watching his wife crumble from the inside out, Aiden is forced into the hardest decisions of his life. Decisions that will either save or damn Skye.

While Aiden and Skye fight the darkness within, Charlotte and Triaten find themselves swept up by an outside force that is determined to end their bond.

Fate and the flame moon threaten them all, and the four friends must find a way to band together against the evil that threatens all of humanity.

The Flame Moon series is intended for mature audiences. There is violence, sexual situations, and harsh language.

I thought the first two books in the Flame Moon series ender a bit too quick. Maybe that’s because I enjoyed them so much. I usually am not fond of “unoriginal” fantasy (like using Atlantis or, in this novel’s case, basing the characters on Greek deities). Despite that, these books were really well done. The main characters are Skye, Aiden, Triaten, Charlotte, and Shiv. They’re Panthenites, a semi-magical race that humans used to view as gods. The Panthenites have their opposites, known as Malefics. Neither of them look any different from humans, so they’re able to coexist.

Once again, Flux Flame picks up at the exact point the previous book left off. As you’ll remember if you read Triple Infinity, Skye has landed in huge personal trouble. After she and Shiv got caught in a surprise attack, they underwent a transformation. This comes as a shock to Skye, who thought that her sister Shiv was human and died in the attack. The latter appears jubilant with her second chance at life. And Skye couldn’t be happier to have her sister back—even with what Shiv has become. Aiden wasn’t fond of Shiv in the first place, so it’s a wonder how things will turn out.

BOOK REVIEW: REVIVING IZABEL BY J.A. REDMERSKI

Title: Reviving Izabel

Author: J.A. Redmerski

Genre: Thriller, romance

Published on: December 4, 2013 (first edition), self-published

Determined to live a dark life in the company of the assassin who freed her from bondage, Sarai sets out on her own to settle a score with an evil sadist. Unskilled and untrained in the art of killing, the events that unfold leave her hanging precariously on the edge of death when nothing goes as planned.

Sarai’s reckless choices send her on a path she knows she can never turn back from and so she presents Victor with an ultimatum: help her become more like him and give her a fighting chance, or she’ll do it alone no matter the consequences. Knowing that Sarai cannot become what she wants to be overnight, Victor begins to train her and inevitably their complicated relationship heats up.

As Arthur Hamburg’s right-hand man, Willem Stephens, closes in on his crusade to destroy Sarai, she is left with the crushing realization that she may have bitten off more than she can chew. But Sarai, taking on the new and improved role of Izabel Seyfried, still has a set of deadly skills of her own that will prove to be all she needs to secure her place beside Victor.

But there is one test that Izabel must face that has the potential to destroy everything she is working so hard to achieve. One final test that will not only make her question her decision to want this dangerous life, but will make her question everything she has come to trust about Victor Faust.

New Adult romance and dark thrillers are considerably different genres. J.A. Redmerski manages to handle them both with brilliance. Killing Sarai was mind-blowing, and now the author brings the titular character back in Reviving Izabel. This book’s story continues months after the first one ended. Sarai is living with her surrogate mother, Dina, trying to lead a normal life. The endeavor is proving rather difficult. Until some time ago, Sarai was kept captive by Javier, a Mexican cartel lord who dealt in sex trafficking. All those years of suffering left their mark on Sarai. She can barely function in normal society now.

Sarai's still far from well-adjusted despite finding a friend (Dahlia) and a boyfriend (Eric). Unbeknownst to anyone, Sarai hasn't forgot about Victor Faust, the man who freed her from Javier. Victor is a contract killer who grew to care for Sarai in the time they spent together. Because of his dangerous life, he knew he couldn’t keep her close. Victor thought Sarai deserved a chance at a normal life, so he left her with Dina. She has other things in mind, though. Sarai goes after a vile man named Arthur Hamburg, whom she met in the previous book. It doesn't take long for Sarai to realize she's in over her head. She barely escapes with her life thanks to Victor, who returns just in time.