Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Expected date of publication: October 4th, 2016

Genre: Mystery, Young Adult, LGBTQIA, Contemporary, Thriller

Goodreads Synopsis:

Flynn’s girlfriend, January, is missing. All eyes are on Flynn—he must know something. After all, he was—is—her boyfriend. They were together the night before she disappeared.

But Flynn has a secret of his own. As he struggles to uncover the truth about January’s disappearance, he must also face the truth about himself.

All I have to say about this book is (and I am stealing this from the great George Takei)… “Oh, My.” I read this book within 1 day. From the first chapter, where I met Flynn and January, it gets its hooks into me and doesn’t let go. I stayed up late to finish this book and never did that.

I was irritated with Flynn during the first half of the book. He wasn’t exactly forthcoming with the police about January’s state of mind the last time he saw her. But he started to grow on me by the 3rd chapter. By the middle of the book, I was gasping in surprise over what was being revealed about him and January.

While we were on the subject of January, I felt bad for her and then irritated with her. She lived in a dysfunctional household. Her mother, who used to be her best friend, is no longer emotionally available. Her stepfather is concerned with how her disappearance will look on his campaign run. And her stepbrother gave me the creeps in his scenes. No wonder she lied about everything to everyone, including Flynn.

I thought I had this book figured out, and then a huge twist came up and stirred everything up. Settled back down, I was hit with another twist, just as big. I didn’t see either of these coming, and they both took the breath out of me (love it when a book does that).

3 Things I liked about Last Seen Leaving:

Plot
Flynn
The plot twists

3 Things I disliked about Last Seen Leaving:

The cops
January (see above)
January’s family

I would recommend Last Seen Leaving to anyone over 16. There are mild sexual situations, strong language, and mild violence.

If you enjoyed reading Last Seen Leaving, you will enjoy reading these books:

Granted (Granted: Book 1) by Michelle Merrill

Publisher: Future House Publishing

Date Published: June 30th, 2016

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Series: Granted

Trapped—Book 0.5

Granted—Book 1

Summoned—Book 2

Goodreads synopsis:

The existence of genies may be the best-kept secret in the history of the world.

After being trapped in the Sahara Desert for her whole life, sixteen-year-old genie Brielle finally gets her first assignment in Tri-Cities, Washington. She eagerly heads out into the human world to grant her first wish so that she can gain her magic. Unfortunately, her assigned human, Addie, stopped believing in wishes years ago and would much rather that everyone just leave her alone.

Complicating everything is Rock, Brielle’s childhood friend turned enemy. Brielle doesn’t need him ruining her first trip out into the human world. Too bad she can’t keep her mind—or her eyes—off him and his annoyingly cute dimples.

To make matters worse, genies in the Tri-Cities area are suspiciously dying. One broken lamp could be an accident, but after three deaths occur, Brielle suspects someone has uncovered the genies’ secret and is slowly killing them off one by one.

With the Genie Council ignoring the threat, Brielle desperately needs to gain her magic so she can stop the murderer before she—or Rock—is the next genie to die.

I wouldn’t say I liked Brielle’s character in the beginning. But if I was expecting my lamp to be rubbed and told, sorry, it’s in storage, and you have to wait, I’d have acted the same way. Throughout the book, her character did grow on me, though. I loved her interactions with Addie and with Rock. She showed through her friendship with Addie how much she grew in maturity while she was there.

While we are on Rock, he made me want to scream. I didn’t have him figured out during the book. What was his deal? Was he a good djinn, or did he get caught up in something he had no control over? Also, the twist with him in the book was great!!! I didn’t expect what happened to happen.

Now onto Addie. I felt so bad for her. Parts of the book made me want to reach through and hug her. And for the record, I am glad that she and Brielle met. They were good for each other.

The whole storyline of Addie’s parents disappearing made me want to puke. Not going to get into it, but I disliked them. If you want to know more, read the book.

The mystery that Brielle and Rock get involved with did catch my attention. I thought it was very imaginative to have the genies die when their lamps break. It only makes sense because their life force is connected to the lamps. The way the book ended also made a great intro for a 2nd book!!!

3 Things I liked about Granted:

The storyline
Rock
Addie

3 Things I disliked about Granted:

Brielle, at the beginning of the book
Vicky (she rubbed me the wrong way)
The triplets

I would recommend Granted to anyone over 16. There is no sex, minimal violence, and non-graphic language.

If you enjoyed reading Granted, you will enjoy reading these books:

Of Fear and Faith (Death and Destiny: Book 1) by N.D. Jones

Publisher: Kuumba Publishing

Date of publication: December 7th,2019

Series: Death and Destiny

Of Fear and Faith—Book 1

Of Beasts and Bonds—Book 2

Of Deception and Divinity—Book 3

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Witches, Mythology, Adult, Magic, Shapeshifters

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | Indigo | BetterWorldBooks

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a world where nothing is ever as it seems, the seeds of love take root on the precipice of chaos, danger, and a great destiny.

In the shadow of an ancient prophecy, two individuals will be drawn together to meet a dangerous calling–or die trying. For legends tell of a powerful Fire Witch and a legendary shapeshifter who will one day rid the world of the wrath of the Water Witch of Legend, and restore the world to peace and balance.

However, for Sanura Williams and FBI Special Agent Assefa Berber, their destinies will not be so easily won, as fear and faith will ultimately determine their fates. In the heat of battle and the chill of prophecy, Sanura and Assefa will weather the dual storms of lust and love. Are they prepared for the intoxicating swirl of danger and attraction? Can they overcome their fears of such a powerful prophecy? In the face of their foes, these legendary warriors must embrace their roles as heroes, side-by-side, and defend humanity against the coming doom.

3 Things I Liked About Of Fear and Faith

The characters.
I genuinely loved all of them, but Assefa and Sanura were my favorites. I really appreciated that the author didn’t reveal everything about Assefa right away. The little hints sprinkled throughout kept me guessing—and when the truth finally came out? It was HUGE.

The paranormal monsters.
For some reason, this completely thrilled me (yes, I know—no life). Instead of the usual rogue vampires or animal shifters, we get sirens, Raven Mockers, and Adze. It felt fresh, unexpected, and honestly exciting.

The sex scenes.
Hot. Hot. Hot. The chemistry between Sanura and Assefa was off the charts, and it translated into some seriously epic scenes that added to the story instead of distracting from it.

3 Things I Didn’t Like About Of Fear and Faith

Sanura’s ex.
He was a total creep and deeply unpleasant. I won’t say much more—you really need to read the book to fully appreciate how awful he is.

Mike.
I found him incredibly unlikable at the beginning of the story, to the point where it was hard for me to warm up to him at all.

Sanura’s reaction to Assefa’s big secret.
Without giving anything away, her reaction felt a little over the top to me. I understood why she reacted the way she did, but it still grated.

I would recommend Of Fear and Faith to readers 21 and over. It contains graphic sex scenes, strong language, and violence, and is best suited for adults who enjoy paranormal romance with heat and high stakes.

The Ones (The Ones: Book 1) by Daniel Sweren-Becker

Publisher: Imprint

Date of publication: September 6, 2016

Series: The Ones

The Ones—Book 1

The Equals—Book 2

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia

Goodreads Synopsis:

Cody has always been proud of being a One. She and her boyfriend James were two of the lucky babies from the 1% of the U.S. population that were randomly selected to benefit from genetic engineering. Now, she and the rest of The Ones are excelling. They are healthy, beautiful, and talented. They aren’t otherworldly, just perfect. And to some, that’s not fair. The Equality Movement, capitalizing on the growing fear and jealousy, gains political traction and actually outlaws their existence. Society shows its darker side as The Ones are marginalized. The line between right and wrong blurs in the face of injustice and Cody becomes closer to a group of radical Ones intent on fighting back. James begins to fear just how far she is willing to go for the cause.

3 Things I Liked About The Ones

Cody and James’s romance.
I loved how sweet and innocent their relationship was. The author took the time to let it unfold naturally, and amid a world that’s completely falling apart, their connection felt normal. That contrast made it even more special.

How realistic the plot felt—for the most part.
If you take out the genetically modified kids and drop in current events instead, the story becomes even more unsettling. That realism made the book feel a little too close to home at times.

The family relationships.
The difference between James’s relationship with his family and Cody’s relationship with her mother is stark—and sad. Honestly, I’d rather have a parent who isn’t physically present than one who’s there but emotionally absent.

The Equality Movement.
They genuinely reminded me of Nazis. Their solution to what they believe is a problem is deeply disturbing—and you’ll need to read the book to understand just how far they go. Everything they stand for feels wrong, and what makes it even scarier is how much power they gain.

Kai’s group of friends.
Kai and Taryn rubbed me the wrong way from the moment they appeared. The way they operate didn’t sit right with me at all, and I didn’t believe Kai for a second about specific events. Watching Cody get pulled deeper into their mess just turned into a complete cluster.

The Ones is for readers who enjoy dystopian stories grounded in realism, slow-burn young love, complicated family dynamics, and themes that feel uncomfortably close to our current world.

Afterward by Jennifer Mathieu

Afterward: A Novel by [Mathieu, Jennifer]

Publisher: Roaring Book Press

Date of publication: September 20th, 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Realistic Fiction

Goodreads synopsis:

When Caroline’s little brother is kidnapped, his subsequent rescue leads to the discovery of Ethan, a teenager who has been living with the kidnapper since he was a young child himself. In the aftermath, Caroline can’t help but wonder what Ethan knows about everything that happened to her brother, who is not readjusting well to life at home. And although Ethan is desperate for a friend, he can’t see Caroline without experiencing a resurgence of traumatic memories. But after the media circus surrounding the kidnappings departs from their small Texas town, both Caroline and Ethan find that they need a friend–and their best option just might be each other.

3 Things I Liked About Afterward

The characters: Ethan, Caroline, and Dylan.
I loved all three of them, and my heart broke for each in different ways. They all respond to the trauma of the kidnapping differently, which felt incredibly real. We especially see Dylan’s experience through Caroline’s eyes, and that perspective made it hit even harder.

The storyline itself.
Be prepared for tears—starting on page one. This is not an easy book to read, but it pulls you in anyway. The author did an incredible job handling the story with care while still making it emotionally powerful.

The ending.
I won’t give anything away, but the ending couldn’t have been better. It was powerful and hopeful in a quiet, realistic way. It really shows how much healing can happen in the year following a traumatic event.

3 Things I Disliked About Afterward

Caroline’s parents.
Oh my lord. I couldn’t stand them. They blame Caroline for Dylan’s disappearance, completely miss the fact that she’s spiraling, and fail to get Dylan the help he needs after he’s found. I understand that the author intentionally wrote them as a contrast to Ethan’s parents, but they got under my skin in a big way.

Ethan’s flashbacks and anxiety attacks.
These were incredibly hard to read—not because they were poorly written, but because they were so accurate. I cried during his first flashback and ended up sobbing through several others. As someone with moderate anxiety, his panic attacks felt painfully honest. I actually had to pause and do breathing exercises because they started triggering my own anxiety.

When Ethan remembers his abuse.
This is never something you want to read about, but the author handled it with great care. It was alluded to rather than described graphically, which made it no less devastating—but very thoughtfully done.

The author also includes several vital resources in the author’s note, which I really appreciated, including organizations that support missing and exploited children, survivors of sexual assault, and families affected by trauma.

I would recommend Afterward to readers over 18 who are prepared for a deeply emotional, heavy—but ultimately meaningful—story.

Deception Island (The Legionnaires: Book 1) by Brynn Kelly

Publisher: HQN Books

Date of publication: May 31st, 2016

Genre: Romance, Suspense, Thriller, Mystery

Series: The Legionnaires

Deception Island—Book 1

Edge of Truth—Book 2

Forbidden River—Book 2.5

A Risk Worth Taking—Book 3

Goodreads Synopsis:

A stolen boy

A haunted soldier

A cornered con woman…

Rafe Angelito thought he was done with the demons from his past—until his son is kidnapped. Blackmailed into abducting an American heiress, the legionnaire soon finds himself trapped in paradise with a fiery, daring beauty who’s nothing he expects…and everything he desires. But when he uncovers her own dark secret, Rafe realizes he’s made a critical mistake—one that could cost him everything.

Playing body double for a spoiled socialite was supposed to be Holly Ryan’s ticket to freedom. But when she’s snatched off her yacht by a tall, dark and dangerous stranger, the not-quite-reformed con artist will make a desperate play to turn her captor from enemy to ally, by any means necessary.

Yet as scorching days melt into sultry nights, Holly is drawn to the mysterious capitaine, with his unexpected sense of honor and his searing touch. When they’re double-crossed, they’ll have to risk trusting each other in ways they never imagined…because in this deadly game of deception, it’s their lives—and hearts—on the line.

Oh my lord, this book was good. Everything about it felt like gold. From Rafe’s background as a child soldier, to Holly’s time in prison, to the circumstances that led to Rafe kidnapping her—I was completely hooked. I finished this book in one sitting because I genuinely could not stop reading.

Going into a Harlequin novel, I usually expect a pretty specific formula: an overconfident hero, a heroine who can’t see past her own issues, lukewarm sex scenes, and a plot that doesn’t dig too deep. That was not the case here. The twists and turns kept me guessing, the story never settled into something predictable, and the sex scenes were HOT, HOT, HOT—without ever taking away from the plot.

At its core, this story pulls you in emotionally. If you’re a parent, you already know—you’d do anything to get your child back. That’s exactly what Rafe does after discovering his son has been kidnapped by someone from his past. As more of his history is revealed, it’s impossible not to feel for him. His story is heartbreaking.

Holly’s story is just as tragic, though it unfolds more slowly. At first, all we know is that she’s an ex-con who’s been approached by a U.S. senator to impersonate his daughter on a sailing trip around the world. What the author reveals along the way explains so much about who Holly is and why—and it’s devastating in the best, most emotionally effective way.

I also appreciated the inclusion of child soldiers and human sex trafficking as subplots. Both are deeply disturbing realities, and the author handles them in a way that adds weight to the story without feeling exploitative. There are links at the end of the book for readers who want to learn more or help make a difference.

And then there’s the twist. A huge one. The kind that makes you put the book down and just say, “Whoa.” There wasn’t even a hint—it completely blindsided me, in the best way.

The ending was perfect. Honestly, if it had ended any other way, I would’ve been disappointed.

In The Clearing (Tracy Crosswhite: Book 3) by Robert Dugoni

In the Clearing (Tracy Crosswhite Book 3) by [Dugoni, Robert]

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Date of publication: May 17th, 2016

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Suspense, Contemporary, Detective, Adult

Series: Tracy Crosswhite Series

The Academy—Book 0.25

Third Watch—Book 0.5

My Sister’s Grave—Book 1

Her Final Breath—Book 2

In the Clearing—Book 3

The Trapped Girl—Book 4

Close to Home—Book 5

A Steep Price—Book 6

A Cold Trail—Book 7

In Her Tracks—Book 8

The Last Line—Book 8.5

What She Found—Book 9

Purchase Links: Amazon |Audible

Goodreads synopsis:

Detective Tracy Crosswhite has a skill, and a soft spot, for tackling unsolved crimes. Having lost her own sister to murder at a young age, Tracy has dedicated her career to bringing justice and closure to the families and friends of victims of crime.

So when Jenny, a former police academy classmate, and protégé, asks Tracy to help solve a cold case that involves the suspicious suicide of a Native American high school girl forty years earlier, Tracy agrees. Following up on evidence Jenny’s detective father collected when he was the investigating deputy, Tracy probes one small town’s memory and finds dark, well-concealed secrets hidden within the community’s fabric. Can Tracy uphold the promise she’s made to the dead girl’s family and deliver the truth of what happened to their daughter? Or will she become the next victim?

Want a book you can devour in one sitting? Then read In the Clearing. I was completely glued to this one and couldn’t put it down.

The main storyline and the subplot were both fantastic. The author does a great job of alternating between the cold case and the one Tracy is currently working on, seamlessly moving between past and present—and even between different perspectives. That’s something I usually struggle with in books like this, but here it absolutely worked. The way both cases come together in the end is chilling. I actually got goosebumps.

I did figure out who killed Kimi about halfway through the book—but not because it was obvious in a bad way. There were plenty of red herrings and apparent dead ends, so when everything was revealed, I was still shocked. And there’s a major twist I did not see coming.

What surprised me most is that even though this is part of a series, it works perfectly as a standalone. I usually avoid reading books out of order because characters and plots tend to bleed together. Not here. What happens in previous books stays in previous books.

Faithful by Alice Hoffman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Date of publication: February 9th, 2017

Genre: Contemporary, Magical Realism, Coming of Age, New York

Purchase Links: Amazon | Audible |Apple Books |WorldCat

Goodreads synopsis:

Growing up on Long Island, Shelby Richmond is an ordinary girl until one night an extraordinary tragedy changes her fate. Her best friend’s future is destroyed in an accident, while Shelby walks away with the burden of guilt.

What happens when a life is turned inside out? When love is something so distant it may as well be a star in the sky? Faithful is the story of a survivor, filled with emotion—from dark suffering to true happiness—a moving portrait of a young woman finding her way in the modern world. A fan of Chinese food, dogs, bookstores, and men she should stay away from, Shelby has to fight her way back to her own future. In New York City she finds a circle of lost and found souls—including an angel who’s been watching over her ever since that fateful icy night.

Here is a character you will fall in love with, so believable and real and endearing, that she captures both the ache of loneliness and the joy of finding yourself at last. For anyone who’s ever been a hurt teenager, for every mother of a daughter who has lost her way, Faithful is a roadmap.

I cried while reading this book. I—about as unemotional as a rock—cried. The heartbreak on the page is honestly mind-numbing. But what rises from those ashes? That part was something special.

The writing is fantastic. I love a story that pulls you in and makes you feel alongside the characters, and this one absolutely does. I felt deeply for Shelby. She’s broken, yes—but she finds a way to piece herself back together. Not perfectly, but perfectly for where she is in that moment.

The ending wasn’t what I expected, but it fit the story in a way that felt right.

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3 Things I Liked About Of Fear and Faith

3 Things I Didn’t Like About Of Fear and Faith

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3 Things I Liked About The Ones

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3 Things I Liked About Afterward

3 Things I Disliked About Afterward

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