​Ever since Flora Calhoun found the body of a classmate on her morning run, she has needed to fight for justice.  After taking the fight for her classmate, Lucy too far, Flora has kept her investigations to high school matters.  However, when Flora's ex-girlfriend Ava calls her in a panic, Ava responds and finds herself in a similar situation to Lucy. Ava is a person of interest for the police and her former CIA grandfather tells her to steer clear of investigating, but Flora must avenge her friend.  Returning to the scene of the crime, Flora finds clues that lead her to an underground operation linked to several classmates.  Once Flora infiltrates that operation, however; she begins to receive threats.  Questioning classmates involved isn't going very well, either.  Flora's only friend, Cass, seems to be tired of her constant trouble and new friend, VT, might be more trouble than he's worth.  When Flora's investigation leads to her family getting hurt, Flora knows she is close to the answer, but doesn't know if it's worth it anymore.


You're Next is a young adult, Nancy Drew style mystery written for the new generation.  Flora's character is complex and yet exactly a that of a teenage girl. Flora is forever changed by finding the body of her classmate and is determined to make those responsible pay.  Her interests aren't exactly cut out for a seventeen year old girl, but the way she goes about her investigations are. Falling into two common young adult tropes, Flora has absent parents and is rarely in class. The murder mystery is compelling as Ava's death seems senseless and strange for a highschooler.  The deeper Flora digs, the more danger she is put in.  The underground club creates another level of mystery and excitement as well as introduces VT, a potential love interest.  Flora's grandfather was the one responsible character in Flora's life, yet somehow let her keep getting herself in deeper trouble.  While the writing kept up a fast pace, it did take a while for Flora see what was going on right under her nose.  

​Lucretia wants one thing in life, immortality. However, to ask for such a thing from the Vampire Lord that rules over her town will only result in death.  When Lucretia is attacked in the streets by a rogue vampire, she is determined even more to gain immortality.  She pushes the Vampire Lord to give her what she wants, but Lucretia will have to jump through his many hoops.  Lucretia's wishes are compounded by the fact that she works for a powerful human lawyer who is defending Lucretia's childhood friends, members of the Vampire Resistance. WIth the disappearance of the Resistance leader, Uros, Lucretia and her boss have been pushing for Uros' release even though Lucretia believes him to be dead.  As Lucretia spends more time around the Vampires, she learns of the presence of a Draken, the only vampire who is able to kill another vampire and reconnects with Sava Novak, a vampire who she used to give blood to.  Firmly entrenched in the Vampire's world, Lucretia plans for her immortality, one way or another.    


Heartfelt is a vampire story written for vampire lovers.  Luscious writing catapults you into the secluded town where vampires rule and the humans around them are either enamored, enraged or show high esteem for the immortals among them.  Lucretia covets the vampire's ease of existence.  Lucretia's character shows a deep longing and desperation for her own benefit.  Every thought and action of Lucretia's is dripping with her desire.   Lucretia's desire mixed with her current job of helping to find Uros' current whereabouts and defend the vampire Resistance create a suspenseful plot as she is actively involved with opposing forces.  Most of all, I enjoyed being pulled into the vampire's decadent world, their parties, their dress, the levels of government, their whims and their powers.  While I guessed at one of the twists with Uros fairly early on, the ending proves exciting and surprising with an open ending for a second book. 


This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

​Luna Auber is happily working as a cake decorator with a supportive, long term boyfriend when her twin brother commits suicide.  Recently diagnosed with Huntington's disease, Luna's brother left a mysterious set of instructions for her to follow after his death including a trip to Sweden with a strict itinerary to follow in order to uncover the secrets of their identity as well as a promise of a cure. With the onset of shakes of her own, Luna goes on the trip and follows the tour. She learns of exciting ancestry, she is a direct descendant of the Birke, an iconic female Viking Warrior.  However, there is no mention of Huntington's; instead, there is a mythological story of transformation into otherworldly beings.  Determined to find her cure, Luna takes in the knowledge required of her and returns to the States unknowingly entering a war between two warring factions.  


Cure is an exciting mythological adventure.  Focusing on the Birka Viking warriors combined with shifter mythology, Cure is a unique werewolf story.  I was immediately pulled into Luna's character with her unique talents knowing people's taste in cakes as well as her deep care for people and her kind nature. Luna's brother's death catapults her into another world, led by the mysterious nature of his death and her own onset of the shakiness Luna begins her adventure in Sweden.   I loved learning the history of the Birke along with Luna and unraveling her mysterious condition.  Luna took in the information about her condition as expected, I liked how it was divulged to her in tidbits through stories and history.  The suspense heightened as Luna returned to the States and tested the full extent of her powers, inviting other shifters to find her and introduce her to a different way of thinking were werewolves rule the world. Luna's character must grow and accept a lot of change quickly to help fight a war to save humanity.  


This book was received for free in return for an honest review.