Vampires are real, and one just happens to be a little person in an acrobatic act for the circus. His partner is Leila, an unusual woman, but completely human. She can read people when she touches them and has the power of electricity in her touch. While her electrical ability sounds really cool, it means she can’t touch anyone without potentially killing them (hence the vampire acrobatic partner - he won’t die). But it’s the reading of people that gets her noticed.

A kidnapping, a rescue, some threats, and a long trip overseas finds her in the amazingly extravagant home of Vlad Tepesh - yes, THE Vlad Tepesh. He is determined to use Leila to find whoever is out to hunt him down, and also prevent them from using her to do the same to him. But first, they need to figure out who the bad guy is.

Vlad is a mercurial sort of vampire. He hides his heart from the world and refuses to let himself love anyone. But Leila intrigues him, and he soon finds that it might just be worth it to open himself up again. Leila challenges him on multiple emotional levels and never backs down from him - something that is usually a very dangerous thing to do.
Leila, and her friend Marty, made this book for me. They are all the friendship goals in the world, and he better not die or I will be really upset. Vlad was fun, but also a bit of the vampire cliche - tall, dark, handsome, brooding, moody, violent - it didn’t seem like anything really new.

I’m excited to read the next book in the Night Prince series. I think there’s a lot of adventure and romance in store for Vlad and Leila, and I can’t wait to see how the battle plays out.

Kerry Lonsdale has a way with her characters. Molly and Cassie start the book faced with the frightening reality that Cassie has inherited psychic abilities. It runs in the women of the family, but each generation is a little different. Cassie is forced to see horrible events in the near future, reliving them in her nightmares until the event comes to pass. And someone usually ends up dead. Not a very good thing for a little girl.

When Cassie sees Molly’s death, they both completely freak out - understandably so - and take a trip to Molly’s mother’s house - hoping that Cassie can learn to control her abilities. But also hoping to find a way to avoid Cassie’s tragic vision.

Nana has other ideas though, and this is where things started to take a few very interesting turns. One of those turns was Owen. And while this isn’t quite a romance, there is definitely a romantic storyline between him and Molly - with a long history to drive it forward. Owen and Nana both play a crucial role in helping both Molly and Cassie find their way.

I found myself infinitely frustrated at Molly’s inability to stay away from the very things that could make Cassie’s vision come to pass. Like a moth to the flame - she was drawn to it. Lonsdale used this to create a level of suspense without having an actual bad guy, and it was brilliant. The tension was ever-present and I could feel it in every word and between each line.

I was shocked at the end. Lonsdale led me on and made me believe so many things - and I was wrong about a lot of them. We have a lot of happy moments, but there is some sadness as well. Much like life, this novel took me on a journey the was quite memorable.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Atomic Habits does a very good job of laying out the framework of changing, improving, and getting rid of habits. James Clear walks you through the process of how habits form using realistic examples and psychological and sociological backup. Maybe even a bit of chemistry thrown in when he mentions how the chemicals in the brain respond to stimulus. But the book isn’t a bunch of high-level information that you can’t use. It’s laid out in a way that you can follow step-by-step to help create better habits in your life.

James Clear pulls on his own personal experiences and the work of several habit specialists (is that what they are called?). He brings their work together and pairs them with real-life exercises and homework to help you along the way. I did listen to the audiobook, and handouts are available through links he provides verbally throughout.

While I was able to take away a few great ideas on how to build good habits (habit-stacking is probably my favorite), there were a few times things got a little repetitive. I understand similar concepts are being presented in different ways with different approaches, but I wanted to hit fast-forward every now and then. There were also a few extreme examples - which were acknowledged as such - but I didn’t see a following more real-life example to go along with it.

Atomic Habits was a good read, and I did learn a lot. There are a few tactics and practices that I plan on trying, and there are a few that I won’t. If you’re looking for some good ideas, I’d give this book a try.

I really loved this book. It was a mix of sci-fi, psychological thriller, suspense, and police procedural mystery. They different aspects wound around each other very nicely, with none really outshining the others overall.

It did take a few pages longer to completely get into the story though. There are lots of characters from the get-go, and the technology of the masques and their various add-ons was something you started to understand as you went through the story instead of right away.

I found the whole concept of the masques fascinating. Changing who you were on a whim and a few credits (if you had them). Masques were a way to set apart the rich from the poor, the Legacies from the Unders. The ultimate status symbol - and a key piece of evidence in the murder of a high-profile tech company owner.

The investigation leads you into a mix of stories including a divorced police detective, twin masque designers, and Legacies that feel they are above the very law itself. There's even a side story that's a touch of romance with a paranormal-ish element. I'd really like to see more of where that one went.

The mystery remained unsolved until that one key piece of evidence was finally found - and I really liked it that way. I was guessing right along with the detective, and I followed every single one of his thoughts and swore he'd figured it out - until things changed. A great story that I think many will fall in love with.

​**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

A Simple Wedding was a lot of fun to read. I loved Jenny and Nick enough to overlook the not-so-tiny lie Jenny had to tell. Jenny was truly stuck between a rock and a hard place with it. Having sworn to keep her super-famous cousin's wedding a secret, she was pretending she was planning her own. Jenny's conflict and debate over telling the town's people that she had come to love the secret, and keeping her promise was very real.

Jenny's cousin, Kay, is a famous movie star. And she acted like a lot of the stereotypes that go along with that position. She constantly changed her mind and expected people to just "make it happen," including her cousin. She seemed so detached from reality, and Jenny was too afraid to stand up to her.

Jenny's saving grace was the baker from I Do Cakes, Nick. He encouraged her to stand up for what she wanted. Remember he thought it was her wedding. But he also stood by her and helped in so many big and small ways when she needed to make changes to the plan. Apparently, he can also make a mean chocolate cupcake, which is an instant win in my book.

I do think the town forgave Jenny and moved on really quickly. I don't want the main character to suffer, but I do think showing consequences that last more than a few minutes is important.

Overall, this hits all the highs of a traditional Hallmark Romance. It sounds like this will be an ongoing series. And I really hope that happens. This town and the people in it quickly become your friends, and I need to visit them and see another Heart's Landing wedding.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Leila and Vlad’s relationship is far from perfect. In fact, the book starts out with quite a row and Leila walking away - with Maximus on her heals for protection. She returns to the carnival circuit to find her old friend and partner, Marty. But what she thought was a return to her old life, is no such thing. Marty appears to have moved on with a new partner, and she flounders trying to figure out what to do next.

Unfortunately, that seems to be Leila running for her life with Maximus at her side. This makes things a little uncomfortable since he has a crush on Leila, and she never seems sure of what his motives really are. How much would he be willing to say and do just to turn her away from the idea of returning to Vlad?

In the long run, Vlad and Leila find themselves up against a new enemy and will need to rely on each other to get things taken care of. But if Vlad wants to get Leila back, he’s going to have to make some major changes, both emotionally and in the location of his bathroom.

This book did hit a little bit of the book 2 hump that seems to plague so many second-in-series. It felt a lot more like a transition between book one and book three than a complete story unto itself. The cliffhanger ending really added to that impression as well. Getting ready for book 3 was an exciting trip though, and it looks like there’s only more excitement to come.

Jabberwocky Princess is a fantastical fairy tale that I’m surprised Disney hasn’t taken for a movie yet. The world’s most famous monster-hunter disappeared mysteriously, but he left much of his knowledge to his daughter, Kainda. Looked down upon as a kitchen maid, she really doesn’t fit in anywhere except when she visits her best friend, a knight who plays a surprising role that I didn’t wholly expect at first.

The story alternates between Kainda and Princess Opal’s POV. Opal seems to be a bit of a stereotype, especially compared to Kainda. Opal is the princess being forced to marry the champion knight that finally rids the kingdom of the beast that is plaguing its land. But of course, she wants nothing to with it. She wants a love match and actually puts herself and her friends in some danger when she throws a bit of a fit and leaves the protection sent to ride with her.

There’s a prince sent with the knights, hoping to win Opal’s hand. Not because he loves her, but because he’s tired of his father harping on him to do something with his life. At first, the characters describe him as a bit of a philanderer and extremely arrogant. However, the first time we see him on the page, he comes across as anything but that. The author tries to explain why, but it fell a little flat.

I was very excited to see two happily ever afters, and not the ones I expected at first. It would have been a better story if there was a little more growth in the characters. They never really became more than what they started as. I also wish there had been a few clues as to who the big bad guy really was; little things sprinkled along the way that would have all made sense at the end. Instead, it was sort of dumped on you in a typical evil villain soliloquy.

I think a younger YA audience would really enjoy this a lot. As an adult with an older teenager, I think Jabberwocky Princess was an entertaining read, but not dynamic enough to really stand out.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book*

Mila has risked it all to take on the job of Executive Director at Marina Ranch, and the pressure is on to perform. While trying to fill the last of the luxury retirement apartments, she falls in love with the residents. You can see it in the way she really knows each of them as individuals, not just clients or people to take care of. When a new potential client, Rose, walks through the door with her hunky adopted son - we see potential hearts all around.

But convincing Blake that Marina Ranch is the right place for Rose proves to be a challenge, one that Mila is more than willing to take on. And when they are pushed together by their mutual attraction, things don't go exactly as planned. In fact, they sort of fail in a hilariously miserable way. Through the series of disasterous dates, both Mila and Blake I was able to really see both of their personalities and watch them grow, as they both had lessons to learn from each other - about letting go, being yourself, and looking to the future.

Several of the residents of Marina Ranch play supporting roles in the book, and I loved each of them. Throw out the stereotypical elderly person, and get ready to meet the quirky and fun-loving residents who are willing to team up for a good cause. I looked forward to their interactions and conversations, and they brought an added dimension to the book in the sense of a community around our couple.

Sunset Dreams is a touching and fun romance between two stubborn and carreer-driven people. On the surface, you would never pair Mila and Blake together, but through the pages, they open up and find out they are perfect for each other.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

A Lush Rhapsody by Selena Laurence is a passing of the torch. The long-time rock star band - Lush - teaming up with (and at times going against) the new up and coming stars - Rhapsody. When the two bands meet up for a summer tour, the sparks fly between the newest Lush member, Tully, and the lead guitarist of Rhapsody, Blaze.

The two bands are rivals, and a romance between two members seems strictly off-limits. But the sparks between Tully and Blaze are off the charts hot, and they can't seem to stay away from each other for long.

The band rivalry reminded me of sports in high school - there was always that one school you just had to beat - and you would do just about anything to beat them. Blaze takes this too far and ends up causing all sorts of problems for everyone, and he drags Tully right into the middle of his scheme.

I love that A Lush Rhapsody dealt with some pretty serious issues that are all too common in today's society - and not just amongst rock stars. We got to explore Blaze's dark side, the side that wanted to win at all costs. But we also got to see him try to redeem himself and make things right again.

Tully was the perfect almost opposite to Blaze. She finally had her dream job, and she wanted to make everything work. Between being the "new girl" and the ever-rising tension between bands, she struggles to find where she fits.

I really enjoyed how Selena Laurence wrapped everything up - mostly. There's a lot more story out there to tell and several single band members. I love these guys, and I can't wait to see who gets hit by the love bug next.

In Other Words, Love by Shirley Jump is such a sweet romance - both in terms of genre and just in general. The second-chance romance is everything you could ever want. Kate is terrified to let herself fall for Trent again. And Trent is just terrified in general.

While Kate and Trent didn't have a massive, horrible, awful breakup, it did leave Kate devastated. I'm not entirely sure how it left Trent. Possibly regretful? I wish I could have gotten a little more into his head about that.

But now they need each other. Kate needs the paycheck from ghostwriting his book. And Trent needs her to ghostwrite the book or his company could be in trouble. So they agree to keep it professional - but we all know how that turns out.

Their path back to each other was scenic and beautiful. Their connection was evident on every page. Both characters had to grow and change. Life threw them both several curveballs, and it only made them seem more real. Sometimes they rolled with the punches, and sometimes they needed some help to get there.

The side characters really stood out in this one. The snarky and unsupportive friend from college. The families that only wanted what was best for both of them. Especially Kate's grandma - she was amazing.

There was more than just a romance here. There was a finding of themselves. A reconnection to their dreams and who they really are. A very well-developed and captivating story.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**