Quiet in Her Bones

 

Quiet in Her Bones- Nalini Singh

Berkley Publishing

Release Date: February 23, 2021

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: When socialite Nina Rai disappeared without a trace, everyone wrote it off as another trophy wife tired of her wealthy husband. But now her bones have turned up in the shadowed green of the forest that surrounds her elite neighborhood, a haven of privilege and secrets that’s housed the same influential families for decades.

The rich live here, along with those whose job it is to make their lives easier. And somebody knows what happened to Nina one rainy night ten years ago. Her son Aarav heard a chilling scream that night, and he’s determined to uncover the ugly truth that lives beneath the moneyed elegance…but  no one is ready for the murderous secrets about to crawl out of the dark.

Even the dead aren’t allowed to break the rules in this cul-de-sac.

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Quiet in Her Bones follows Madness of Sunshine as Nalini Singh's second break from her traditional paranormal romance books (Wolf Rain, Archangel's Sun) to dive into the world of pure psychological thrillers.  In the rich and lush world of New Zealand's forests, socialite Nina Rai disappears.  Ten years later, her bones are found and old dramas are revived as her son Aarav tries to piece together what happened.

The problem with doing a review for Quiet in Her Bones is that it is almost impossible to write anything about the book that isn't a spoiler in some way.  Almost none of the characters in Quiet are particularly likable, including Aarav, who is the story's narrator.  What's interesting is trying to figure out why that is. Is he just a jerk? Is he, as he believes, a sociopath? Is he hiding something even from himself- and by extension, from the reader? Or is he a seriously messed up guy who uses being a jerk as a self defense mechanism? Possibly all of the above? My view of Aarev was like view of the mystery- it kept changing as new things were discovered or hidden.  

Like our main character, the plot of Quiet in Her Bones is a kaleidoscope that changes with ever new look and twist.  That's the brilliance of Nalini Singh's writing: even when you aren't sure you're enjoying the book, you can't stop reading to discover the truth.  Some of Quiet's plot bogged down with too many false leads and possible red herrings, and there are plenty of times when you're wondering what in the world Aarev thinks he's doing.  But keep reading and the secrets of a perfect little cul-de-sac are revealed and suddenly past and present merge into a plot where you can't put the book down until you've answered all the questions.  

Amazing descriptions of the New Zealand forests and beaches blend with the tiny domestic dramas of a few homes in a private cul-de-sac to reveal one of Nalini Singh's most psychologically thrilling books yet. A must read for mystery and suspense fans.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The Witch's Heart

The Witch's Heart- Genevieve Gornichec

Berkley

Release Date: February 9, 2021

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Angrboda’s story begins where most witches' tales end: with a burning. A punishment from Odin for refusing to provide him with knowledge of the future, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into the farthest reaches of a remote forest. There she is found by a man who reveals himself to be Loki, and her initial distrust of him transforms into a deep and abiding love.

 
Their union produces three unusual children, each with a secret destiny, who Angrboda is keen to raise at the edge of the world, safely hidden from Odin’s all-seeing eye. But as Angrboda slowly recovers her prophetic powers, she learns that her blissful life—and possibly all of existence—is in danger.
 
With help from the fierce huntress Skadi, with whom she shares a growing bond, Angrboda must choose whether she’ll accept the fate that she’s foreseen for her beloved family...or rise to remake their future. From the most ancient of tales this novel forges a story of love, loss, and hope for the modern age.

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Recent interest in telling the classic myths from the women's point of view and telling the stories of little know Greek women, like Madeline Miller has done in Circe, now enters the world of Norse myths with Genevieve Gornichec's excellent The Witch's Heart.

We all know Loki and his children Hel, the ruler of the Norse underworld, and Fenrir, the wolf. We all know Norse Mythology included a snake who circled the world, though we sometimes forget his name is Jormungand and he is also one of the children Loki had with his giantess wife.  But the myths only mention the name of Loki's giantess wife and the mother of his children once. Genevieve Gornichec imagines what life was like for Angrboda, the Ironwood Witch: wife of Loki, mother of Hel, Fenrir, and Jormungard, and otherwise unremembered in the stories.

Gornichec imagines Angrboda as a woman trying to rebuild a life that has been taken from her over and over by the gods. She may be a powerful witch, but she isn't a warrior and isn't looking for glory or fame- just peace. When she meets Loki she is drawn back into the world of Asgard and the gods, if only on the edge.  She hears tales from Loki and her friend Skadi that anyone reading Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology, or any other version of the tales, would be familiar with. Tales of Thor and Odin, Baldur and Freyja, but from a different point of view- the giant's view. The view of the 'monster'. It's a fascinating tale with the twist that perhaps it isn't the events themselves that matter, but why they happen. Anyone vaguely familiar with the stories knows what will happen to Loki and his sons. But why? Angrboda herself has visions about the what, but not the why. Her questions become what can be prevented and what can be changed. What does eternity mean and who are gods who aren't remembered? Are we our actions, or the hidden reasons behind them? These are questions all the main characters struggle with, with varying degrees of success in answering them. 

The Witch's Heart is a beautiful story of deep love and sacrifice and (like the myths themselves) pain and joy.  Gornichec's debut novel is a complex, emotional masterpiece that will have you reading it again and again to discover new nuances every time. 

An excellent story for those interested in twists on well known myths and seeing new women's voices soaring.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Much Ado About You

 

Much Ado About You- Samantha Young

Berkley Publishing

Release Date: February 2, 2021

Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: At thirty-three-years old Evangeline Starling’s life in Chicago is missing that special something. And when she’s passed over for promotion at work, Evie realizes she needs to make a change. Some time away to regain perspective might be just the thing. In a burst of impulsivity, she plans a holiday in a quaint English village. The holiday package comes with a temporary position at Much Ado About Books, the bookstore located beneath her rental apartment. There’s no better dream vacation for the bookish Evie, a life-long Shakespeare lover.

Not only is Evie swept up in running the delightful store as soon as she arrives, she’s drawn into the lives, loves and drama of the friendly villagers. Including Roane Robson, the charismatic and sexy farmer who tempts Evie every day with his friendly flirtations. Evie is determined to keep him at bay because a holiday romance can only end in heartbreak, right? But Evie can’t deny their connection and longs to trust in her handsome farmer that their whirlwind romance could turn in to the forever kind of love.

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Evie's impulsive decision to vacation in a tiny village in England and run a bookstore might seem crazy, but from day one it seems like she's found her real home.  She fits in with the people, she loves the delightful little bookstore, and her instant chemistry with hot farmer Roane Robson is the sort of discovery no woman should pass up.  Evie is determined not to be impulsive about jumping into more than friendship with Roane and his Great Dane, Shadow, but they are the perfect fit, instantly comfortable with each other in conversation and quiet.  The more happy she is in England, the more she wonders if she's putting off thinking about her life- or if she's finally living it.  It was really interesting and thought-provoking for me every time Evie wonders this, because she's voicing what it takes some of us our whole lives to acknowledge- we aren't supposed to live by anyone else's timelines or milestones, we aren't supposed to worry about other people in place of our own happiness.  We should live the life that makes us perfectly happy. And if we can meet and fall in love with our perfect match in only a matter of weeks- should we spend years worrying about what could go wrong or take the leap and discover all the things that can go right.

Evie is impulsive, caring, thoughtful, and always puts others before herself. She's a delightful person to spend a book with and I enjoyed every moment of her.  Roane, her amazing farmer, is intelligent, caring, thoughtful, and doesn't think twice when he meets Evie. He and his dog Shadow know she's the right one- but I loved how Roane doesn't push to get what he wants exactly as he wants it right away.  He convinces Evie they should be friends and through him, Evie finds village life much more layered and complex than she guessed.  Secrets, Romeo-and-Juliet-style tragedies, and more abound in a village of caring people, and Evie is instantly right at home. Inevitably, Roane's long game works and Evie sees him as more than a friend, but they've gotten to know each other so well it doesn't feel crazy to follow up on their feelings. I liked how they decided not to put an end date on the relationship, not to go into it thinking it would only be for while she's in England, but to see what happens as it happens. I was rather dreading the inevitable, when one of them makes a mistake that will cause the other a crisis of faith (things can't happen TOO perfectly for our characters after all!) but, spoiler alert, we get a perfect happy ending. 

Much Ado About You is a delightful, feel-good romance that had me smiling with every page. A wonderful, comfortable, magical book, this is definitely going to be one that I reread regularly.  I definitely recommend curling up with Much Ado About You this winter with a blanket, hot drink, and fuzzy pet, and let Samantha Young, Evie, and Roane sweep you away!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Someday My Duke Will Come

 

Someday My Duke Will Come (Island of Synne 2)-Christina Britton

Forever

Release Date: January 12, 2021

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Lady Clara Ashford had no intention of ever getting married. A rogue took advantage of her innocence when she was young, and she's spent her whole life trying to make sure no one finds out. But now that her sister is engaged, Clara's well-meaning aunt has set her sights on Clara. Desperate to avoid the matchmaking schemes, Clara's not sure what to do -- until her neighbor, the new Duke of Reigate, shows up on her doorstep in need of her help.

Quincy Nesbitt reluctantly accepted the dukedom after his brother's death, but he'll be damned if he accepts his brother's fiancée as well. The only polite way to decline is to become engaged to someone else -- quickly. Lady Clara has the right connections and happens to need him as much as he needs her. But he soon discovers she's also witty and selfless, and if he's not careful, he just might lose his heart.

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This was a book that had all my emotions invested in it: full of humor, heartache, tenderness, romantic love, and love for family. From the beginning you are invested in Clara, a woman who has devoted herself to being useful to her family because a secret from her past means she believes she cannot have a husband and family of her own. Her little sister is engaged and Clara is dealing with some up-coming empty nest panic- who is she when she doesn't have a sister to care for? She's so used to emotionally isolating herself from everyone, including her family, that she seems to have convinced herself that she has no worth outside of what she can do for others.  

Quincy lost his father when he was young, and ran away from home (and England) rather than deal with his cold and cruel mother.  Returning to England to visit friends, he decides to visit home and get some closure- only to discover his three older brothers are dead and he has inherited the dukedom he never expected or wanted! Taking over the estates means abandoning dreams of travel to try to repair the damage done by his brothers but worse, it means living near his mother.  Quincy may play the devil-may-care charmer to the outside world, but he is a man who cares about doing what is right, even if it means sacrificing his own dreams.

The fake engagement between Clara and Quincy is the answer to both their problems- but of course it becomes far too real since both already had feelings for the other.  I enjoyed seeing how they supported each other in difficult times, always providing what the other needed to solve whatever problem there was, even if that problem was their own emotional turmoil.  They really are a perfect partnership and I was cheering all the way for them to finally realize it.

This was the first Christina Britton book I read, but I will definitely be reading others by her. The second in a series, but I didn't feel like I was lost for not having read the first book already. Though now I will certainly go back and find it.  "Someday My Duke Will Come" is a lovely story of friendship and partnership, discovering yourself and how sometimes another can see you better than you yourself can- and they can help you discover the best in yourself.  Well-written and emotionally captivating, a great read!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

All the Colors of Night

 

All the Colors of Night (Fogg Lake #2)- Jayne Ann Krentz

Berkley Publishers

Release Date: January 5, 2021

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: North Chastain possesses a paranormal talent that gives him the ability to track down the most dangerous psychic criminals. When his father suddenly falls into a coma-like state, North is convinced it was caused by a deadly artifact that traces back to the days of a secret government program known only as the Bluestone Project. North knows his only hope of saving his father is to find the artifact. He is good when it comes to tracking down killers, but to locate the relic he’s going to need help from a psychic who knows the shadowy world of obsessive collectors, deceptive dealers and ruthless raiders.…

With her reputation in ruins after a false accusation, antiques expert Sierra Raines is looking for a fresh start. She turns to the murky backwaters of the paranormal artifacts trade, finding and transporting valuable objects with a psychic provenance. When North Chastain approaches her for help, Sierra takes him on as a client, though not without reservations. North represents the mysterious Foundation, the secretive organization established to police the underworld populated by psychic criminals and those, like Sierra, who make a living in the shadows of that world.
 
North and Sierra soon find themselves at the scene of the Incident, which occurred decades ago in Fogg Lake. The town and its residents were forever changed by the disaster in the nearby Bluestone Project labs. The pair unearths shocking truths about what happened that fateful night, but they are playing with fire—someone in town knows what they’ve discovered and will do anything to make sure the secrets stay buried.

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Jayne Ann Krentz continues her Fogg Lake series with Sierra Raines, a descendant of Fogg Lake residents effected by the Incident- a secret government lab experiment gone wrong that gave most of the town psychic abilities.  Sierra is a go-between in Seattle, assessing the provenance of paranormal artifacts and delivering them to collectors.  So when North Chastain arrives in town to find the artifact that put his father in a coma, she's the logical choice to help.  But they find themselves unravelling mysteries of the past, all seemingly connected to Fogg Lake and paranormal weapons that people died to protect, and killed to uncover.

This is a book about turning points, new beginnings, and closing the past. Sierra is floating through life, knowing what she does isn't her calling, but not yet sure what her calling is.  She wants to help people the way her parents do, but not in a corporate environment the way North does.  So the dangerous world of paranormal artifact collecting is as good as any in the mean time- crazy gun wielding collectors not withstanding.  North is losing his psychic abilities and has no idea what he'll do when they've gone. He is trying to figure out who he is without his talents, but saving his father comes first.  It was a really interesting and effective combination to have two strong characters who know how to handle themselves who are both also vulnerable and searching for their true path in life. 

Those who haven't read The Vanishing already won't have too much trouble coming in on book 2 of the series. While there are some overlapping characters and Fogg Lake and the Foundation remain at the center of the mysteries, All the Colors of Night can still stand on its own like any series Krentz has done.  Unusually, she gives us a bit of a teaser about what's coming up in her next Fogg Lake book, and the clues are both ominous and exciting.  It looks like I may have to recommend reading the first two books before book 3 comes out next year- which won't be a hardship to anyone! Krentz continues her easy style of writing, filling her book with light witty humor, dangerous power hungry villains, and enough psychic thrills to please any paranormal romance reader. Long time Krentz/Quick/Castle readers will be happy when the Arcane Society finally gets mentioned here, with a few clues that they are still running.  Will we see Arcane and the Jones family return to center stage in book three? Will Arcane and the Foundation have to work together to handle dangerous paranormal weapons and the remnants of Vortex? We have a year to wait and find out, but another Amanda Quick book this spring to help us fill the void.     

Give Way To Night

 

Give Way To Night (Aven Book 2)- Cass Morris

DAW Publishing

Release Date: December 29, 2020

Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Latona of the Vitelliae, mage of Spirit and Fire, is eager to wield her newfound empowerment on behalf of the citizens of Aven--but societal forces conspire to keep her from exercising her gifts, even when the resurgence of a banished cult plots the city's ruin. To combat this threat, Latona must ally with Fracture mage Vibia, the distrustful sister of Sempronius Tarren.

While Latona struggles to defend their home, Sempronius leads soldiers through wartorn provinces to lift the siege of Toletum, where Latona's brother Gaius is hemmed in by supernatural forces. Sempronius must contend not only with the war-king Ekialde and his sorcerers, but with the machinations of political rivals and the temptations of his own soul, ever-susceptible to the darker side of ambition.

Though separated by many miles soon after their love affair began, Latona and Sempronius are united by passion as they strive to protect Aven and build its glorious future.

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In Give Way To Night, book two of Cass Morris' fantastic Aven Cycle series, Morris weaves together the continuing trials of Latona, Sempronius, and their families. In Aven, Morris' fantasy version of ancient Rome, Latona is beginning to step out of the shadows and assert her identity, developing her magical abilities and confidence. On the other side of the continent her brother Gaius is trying to withstand a siege by the war-king Ekialde, who is using dark magics to destroy those who stand against him.  Attempting to rescue Gaius, Sempronius is leading three legions of troops to lift the siege and runs into the dark magic himself.  Coincidentally (or not), Latona is discovering similar dark magic in Aven, and she and her allies are the only ones willing to root it out.

Latona continues as the main character in Night, and she is in some ways more sure of herself while in other ways more conflicted than before.  Thanks to Sempronius' support she now believes in her talents, and is willing to not only continue experimenting with her abilities but using them.  She has a sense of duty that rivals any soldier, but sees her duty as standing for the citizens who need assistance through magic.  Interestingly, although we got rid of the Dictator Ocella in the beginning of the first book, his shadow continues to be felt throughout this book.  The reader gets more of an idea of what happened to individual citizens, like Latona, here. I appreciated how some characters like Vibia, who thought she knew Latona because of rumors, discover how wrong they were and who the person behind the rumors truly is. Night is full of strong female characters who are continuing to discover and use their strength here: Vibia, Aula, and Alhena all get more page time and are wonderful to get to know further.

If you haven't read Cass Morris' first book, From Unseen Fire, you are missing out on a fantastic new voice in the fantasy realm. Give Way To Night proves that she intends to continue writing intricate plots, with layers upon layers of political, personal, and magical threads woven together into a brilliant whole.  Her world building skills only develop further here, with detailed descriptions that make the reader feel as if they are marching with Sempronius' armies, or walking Aven's streets with Aula and Latona.  Morris has clearly done a lot of careful research to bring ancient Rome to life and clearly thought carefully about what she wants to change for her own world, and the end result is nothing short of spectacular.

While a reader could pick up Give Way To Night without having read From Unseen Fire, it would definitely be helpful to have read Fire first to get to know some of the characters and their conflicts from the beginning.  Readers should also be warned that Night ends on a cliff hanger, leaving us more desperate than usual to read the next book and discover how Morris will get her characters through the problems she's gotten them into. 

Unlike many sequels, Give Way to Night stands equal to From Unseen Fire and will charm fantasy lovers completely.

     

Dark Archive

Dark Archive (Invisible Library 7)- Genevieve Cogman

Penguin Random House/Ace 

Release Date: December 29, 2020

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis:  Irene is teaching her new assistant the fundamentals of a Librarian's job, and finding that training a young Fae is more difficult than she expected. But when they're the targets of kidnapping and assassination attempts, she decides that learning by doing is the only option they have left ... 

In order to protect themselves, Irene and her friends must do what they do best: search for information to defeat the overwhelming threat they face and identify their unseen enemy. To do that, Irene will have to delve deeper into her own history than she ever has before, face an ancient foe, and uncover secrets that will change her life and the course of the Library forever.

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Genevieve Cogman (The Secret Chapter) returns to the worlds of the Invisible Library with a bang.  Irene and Kai are trying to hold together the tenuous peace treaty between the Fae and the dragons while stealing books for the Library and training a new apprentice.  Catherine, Fae delegate Lord Silver's neice, is probably a lot like a very young Irene and desperately wants to be a librarian and read books all the time.  The on the job training of how to avoid assassins and archvillains might not be what she'd hoped for, but at least she's learning from an expert.  But is the archvillain is question London's new Napoleon of crime, or a vicious and familiar foe? And who is the person behind the Professor? 

Irene remains the Librarian we all admire her for being: practical, full of snarky wit and crazy ideas, and one of the only people capable of keeping her hysteria to herself when all others are screaming theirs aloud. Practice makes perfect after all. She is who I want to be when I grow up. But even Irene found herself in situations throughout The Dark Archive that tested that talent there.  From the first page on she and the others are in active danger and trying to figure out who they've most recently annoyed enough to try and kill them.  Is it personal or a way to sabotage the fragile new treaty? Or are they, for once, only collateral damage as friends of detective Peregrine Vale, who is searching for clues behind a new force in London's criminal underworld?  Just as readers (and Irene) got glimpses into the secrets of dragons in The Secret Chapter, we get glimpses into the Fae here.  Catherine is the first Fae we've met still young enough to be actively considering what her archetype is going to be, and through Vale we get glimpses into the possibilities higher chaos worlds can have on someone with Fae blood.  Without giving away spoilers (like who the villains are) I can promise danger, fire, and destroying stained glass windows along with shocking revelations and clues to even more secrets.  It's a busy few days even by Irene's standards!

Cogman has some serious "wow" moments in Dark Archive and is clearly setting up her readers (and her heroes) for some massive "whoa" moments in future books.  Not a cliffhanger ending (thank you Genevieve!) but one that will leave you desperate to see what happens next. While some of this book will be easier to follow for those who have already read the rest of the series, newcomers will not feel totally lost starting here. A great new chapter in the Invisible Library series!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review