World After by Susan Ee [SBM Review]

World After

(Penryn & the End of Days #2)

Susan Ee

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In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

I am loving this world that Ee has created. Penryn is such a strong and caring character. Raffe is tortured. He knows the rules, but can't help his own feelings. This is fast paced and suspenseful. The writing is so amazing that I could imagine the safetly of being in Raffe's arms. 

The story isn't all doom and gloom. I just loved Pookie Bear!!! It is true "Nobody hates cute."  That exchange with Raffe and Penryn just had me laughing out loud.  

It's a new day in the World After and I can't wait to find out what happens next!

Speaking of the Devil by Meg Collett [SBM Review]

Speaking of the Devil

(A Days of New Series Book 1)

Meg Collett

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Set in the same world as the bestselling End of Days series comes the darkly comedic stand-alone serial spin-off, Days of New. 

Clark St. James, self-professed man-candy with pink hair and duct-taped boots, didn’t ask to be the leader of the Nephilim clans or to have ancient angel magic contained in the unwanted tattoos on his arms. And most importantly, he didn’t ask for the holy angels to get their panties in a twist and ravage the earth during an angel civil war. 

Instead, Clark is making lemonade out of life’s lemons. With vodka. And a splash of whiskey just because. 

It’s up to the Descendants of Enoch—an order of humans meant to protect the holy angels while on Earth—and Clark’s Nephilim to set this destroyed world back on its axis. The angels in Heaven are busy repairing their city and rebuilding a new form of democracy. In Hell, everyone is adjusting to a new form of leadership after Clark killed Lucifer, prince of the fallen. 

Technically, it was an accident. But people keep forgetting that. 

Just when things were beginning to get boring, someone starts murdering Descendants in very…unique ways. Ways that incriminate Clark. But there’s always a calling card beside the bodies: a single burnt black feather. And Clark only knows one fallen angel that got crispy fried. 

Apparently Lucifer is back. And he’s pissed off.

Clark has always been a tortured character. He was given a destiny he not only never wanted, but one he never ever dreamed of. I just loved the end of days series and have been excited to continue the adventure. Clark is left to clean up the world and keep everyone protected. He thought he took care of Lucifer, but he seems to have been mistaken. While reading this I got to know Clark even better than before. At times I wanted to reach in and just shake him and say get your head out of your a.. Well I'm crossing my fingers he's going to once again surprise everyone. Clark has his own way of doing things and I can't wait to follow the adventure. 

Meg Collette Amazon Page

Fractured Innocence by Julia Crane [SBM Review]

Fractured Innocence

(IFICS #2)

Julia Crane

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*Warning 17+ due to sexual gritty topic and language. 

Kaitlyn and Erik are sent on a mission to track down Vance Dasvoik, a ruthless monster. His latest thrill—abducting and selling young women.

Vance's current victim: Aaliyah, a seventeen-year-old who never imagined walking her brother home from school one evening would change her life forever.

The mission quickly turns personal for Kaitlyn when she finds Aaliyah beaten, her mind and soul fractured from abuse of the worst kind. Kaitlyn knows firsthand what it's like to be haunted by the past and resolves to bring justice to the elusive Dasvoik.

This was such a heart pumping adventure. Kaitlyn is on her first mission and it's a heart breaking one. I love how Crane wrote this. It's written in not only in the main characters point of view, but we get the victim's as well. I got to follow her and the injustice that she faces. I appreciated how Crane wrote the horrific situations the victim was in. I was able to understand the urgency of her being saved without the more graphic scenes that some would delve into.  My own imagination was horrific enough. I can't wait to continue the adventure with Kaitlyn. She is so much more human than most people are.

Time's Edge by Rysa Walker [SBM Review]

Time's Edge

(The Chronos Files Book 2)

Rysa Walker

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To stop her sadistic grandfather, Saul, and his band of time travelers from rewriting history, Kate must race to retrieve the CHRONOS keys before they fall into the Cyrists’ hands. If she jumps back in time and pulls the wrong key—one that might tip off the Cyrists to her strategy—her whole plan could come crashing down, jeopardizing the future of millions of innocent people. Kate’s only ally is Kiernan, who also carries the time-traveling gene. But their growing bond threatens everything Kate is trying to rebuild with Trey, her boyfriend who can’t remember the relationship she can’t forget.

As evidence of Saul’s twisted mind builds, Kate’s missions become more complex, blurring the line between good and evil. Which of the people Saul plans to sacrifice in the past can she and Kiernan save without risking their ultimate goal—or their own lives?

I am so obsessed with this series!! The story line is so interesting and traveling through history with Walker has been such a pleasure. The suspense and mystery is so well written and obviously well researched. After reading the series so far I can believe it! Walkers adventure is fun, exciting, mesmerizing, and with heart pounding suspense. It's also a great series that can be shared with younger readers. I know my daughter is going to be as captivated by it as I am.  I can't wait to continue the adventure.

A Ghostly Grave by Tonya Kappes [SBM Review]

A Ghostly Grave

(Ghostly Southern Mysteries #2)

Tonya Kappes

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There's a ghost on the loose—and a fox in the henhouse

Four years ago, the Eternal Slumber Funeral Home put Chicken Teater in the ground. Now undertaker Emma Lee Raines is digging him back up. The whole scene is bad for business, especially with her granny running for mayor and a big festival setting up in town. But ever since Emma Lee started seeing ghosts, Chicken's been pestering her to figure out who killed him.

With her handsome boyfriend, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross, busy getting new forensics on the old corpse, Emma Lee has time to look into her first suspect. Chicken's widow may be a former Miss Kentucky, but the love of his life was another beauty queen: Lady Cluckington, his prize-winning hen. Was Mrs. Teater the jealous type? Chicken seems to think so. Something's definitely rotten in Sleepy Hollow—and Emma Lee just prays it's not her luck.

This is such a fun and suspense filled mystery. Kappes kept me guessing and surprised me at every turn. I just love Emma and Henry and can't wait to follow them on their next adventure. It's not very often I can find not only a series, but an author I can share with my daughter. Kappes writing is for all ages and I would encourage you to share with your younger readers. A great adventure to share with your children.

Angelfall by Susan Ee [SBM Review]

Angelfall

Susan Ee

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It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back. Anything, including making a deal with Raffe, an injured enemy angel. Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco, where Penryn will risk everything to rescue her sister and Raffe will put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

This was such an amazing adventure! The story grabbed my attention right from the start and couldn't put the story down. It's exciting and imaginative. Fast paced and suspenseful. I just love our leading characters and this world that Ee has created. There is so much more left to explore and so much more to learn about the characters. It's the perfect series for me to share with my teenage daughter! I know she is going to love it as much as I have.  I can not wait to read the next book in the series.

Dark Bishop by Rachael Brownell & Casey L. Bond [SBM Review]

Pawn

(Dark Bishop Series Part 1)

Casey Bond      Rachael Brownell

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A dangerous game has begun. 

“Sydney, order up for table two!” 
Who knew the road to Hollywood would be so glamorous. I’ve been working in this diner for months. My feet hurt. My arms ache. But slowly, I’m putting money away. I’ll get to California. I refuse to wind up like my mother. 
Head down. Work hard. Save money. It’s all going according to plan, until Jake Bishop walks in to the diner… 

In his game, everyone’s a pawn… 

“Can I get you anything else, gentlemen?” she asked with a smile. 
I had to touch her. I had to have her. Girls like Sydney are rare. And I will make her mine—whatever the cost. No one will get in my way. 

…and he’s never lost a game. 

What just happened?? This story took me completely by surprise. I don't know how Brownell & Bond did it, but I actually love a true villain. Bishop surprised me. You get to know him right from the start, but it didn't stop me from being attracted to him. This story was sweet and heartwarming one minute and then dark and life threatening the next! The story is told in the two main characters point of views. So I got an inside look into their motives and their secret thoughts. I also appreciate that it wasn't left with a cliff hanger. We got a true ending to this part of the story. I do know it will continue and I can't wait to get my hands on the next part. I can't wait to follow Bishop on his next conquest.