Fresh Fiction Reviews (23)

I haven't done one of these posts since last year. And I have quite a few books to share.

"From Burnout to Belonging: A Satisfying Final Visit to Rome, Kentucky"

"Calling all Anne girls"

"A Typewriter. A Wish. Consequences No One Saw Coming."

"Tennis Anyone?"

"An insider's look at Buckingham Palace"

"So much love for the library cozy series"

"Fun Fresh Rom-Com"

"Murder in a Small Town"

"The Perfect Summer Read"

"Fantastic start to a new series"

Top Ten Tuesday: Duologies

 This week's topic is all about duologies - 2 books with the same main character.

Duologies I've Read and Loved

* I still need to read We Free the Stars

Review: Emmy and Oliver

Emmy and Oliver used to be best friend, until the day Oliver's father kidnapped him. Fast forward 10 years to the day Oliver comes home.

Life's changed in the past 10 years. For one thing, Emmy's parents clutched her tightly, holding her too close to home. In order to breathe a little, she's taken up surfing. Emmy feels bad lying about her surfing skills, her dreams, and her hopes for the future.

Now that Oliver's back, he's trying to find his footing with his mother, his twin sisters, and his new step-father. At first, Emmy and her friends give him space.

But then Emmy and Oliver start hanging out again, picking right back where they left off. At first it's hard, trying to share the past ten years. Soon they're telling each other secrets they can't tell anyone else. 

My Thoughts: I really loved this book. 

I found Oliver's reactions to both the kidnapping and coming home fascinating. My heart broke for him and what he went through - the whole ordeal. I liked watching him struggle to find a place for himself back home. I loved his interactions with his sisters. 

I felt for Emmy and her friends first discovering what happened to their friend and then dealing with the aftermath and then finally moving on. It's understandable how Emmy's parents reacted - and how she rebelled against their rules.

Caro and Drew were great best friends. I loved their conversations with Emmy and how they attempted to befriend Oliver once again. 

I loved the moments between Emmy and Oliver: when they surfed, when they talked about the past, and when they talked about their hopes and dreams for the future.

Cover Thoughts: Love
Source: My Library

Final Thoughts: Snap this book up! Right now. What are you waiting for?

Top Ten Tuesday: Last Books into My Possession

This week's topic is  Last Ten Books That Came Into My Possession  (purchased, from the library...you get the picture)

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish

From the Library:

Wicked Charms

Second Chance Summer

Emmy and Oliver

Best Friend Next Door

Spoonful of Murder

For a Blog Tour:

Anne and Henry

For Review:

Revenge of the Flower Girls

Revenge of the 

Jars of Hope

Purchased:

She Went All the Way

Review: Going Rogue

* Book 2 in the AKA series - read my review for Book 1 *

The Collective has accused Maggie's parents of stealing priceless gold coins. She knows they're innocent and she's willing to do whatever it takes to prove it.

She didn't figure on getting into fights with her boyfriend and her best friend. Yes, they helped her out of a jam last time, but she's trying to protect them.

Yet, it doesn't quite work out the way Maggie expected. She's keeping everyone except for Angelo in the dark. Could it be her downfall?

My Thoughts: I'm a sucker for spy books and this series is amazingly good. I love Maggie - how she longs to be a normal teen even though her entire life has been different. I like how she gets excited about every day things. I love her sense of loyalty and how she wants to protect her friends. I love Roux and her smart-aleck ways. My heart breaks for her family and school life and I'm glad she and Maggie found each other. I love Jesse and how he wants to look out for Maggie. I loved not knowing who to trust and how the secrets start piling up. A great spy novel with action, danger, family, and friendship.  I can't wait to read more adventures from Maggie and her friends. 

Cover Thoughts: Love it!
Source: ARC for review

Books I'm Dying to Read: January Edition

Here's a list of books I can't wait to get my hands on come January! 

 

Queen's Choice: Love the cover and this book of faeries and the journey to find the heir sounds great. 

Cruel Beauty: the tagline: Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast = sold.

Uninvited: A genetic testing reveals a murder gene. Is Davy really dangerous?

Offering: Excited read the ending of this trilogy which has been great so far.

Lost Planet: A boy with a mission is running out of time

Rule of Three: Survival story as the computers are targeted - sounds like a cross between Die Hard 4 and Life as We Knew It

Home of the Braised: Love this series. The Secretary of Defense is found dead right before an important State dinner. 

That Old Black Magic:  Piper Donovan heads for New Orleans for a pastry class and a potential role in a movie - when a murder happens.

Breath of Frost: Regency Witched (enough said)

Vitro: Sophie's looking for her mother - a scientist on a island full of danger, people from test tubes, and a deadly secret. 

 

Going Rogue: sequel to Also Known As - where Maggie has to clear her parents' name.

See Jane Run: Riley's being sent secret messages about her past - messages that could ruin everything

Monster Chefs: Looks super fun!

Dare the Wind: A book about a woman sailor - Ellen Prentiss breaking records.

 

Duck Duck Moose: The ducks are trying to put together a party, but moose keeps getting in the way.

The Night Before My Birthday: Birthdays! Who doesn't love that?

Home to Seaview: Love Sheryl Woods - looking forward to a new series by one of my favorite adult authors.