Highly Anticipated Adult books for the second half of 2016

It's aways exciting when you get to read your favorite books from your favorite authors! 

Here are the ones I'm currently dying to get ahold of!

 Resurrected by Stephanie Nelson - TBA

A Beautiful Funeral by Jamie McGuire - August 15, 2016

The Sight by Chloe Neill - August 16, 2016

Inflict by Cora Carmack - TBA

Diablo Lake: Protected by Lauren Dane - December 12, 2016

Force of Temptation by Suzanne Wright - December 13, 2016

Alliance by K De Long and Rebecca Hamilton - October 11, 2016

Review of The Heir and The Spare by Emily Albright

Family can be complicated. Especially when skeletons from the past pop up unexpectedly. For American Evie Gray, finding out her deceased mother had a secret identity, and not one of the caped crusader variety, was quite the surprise. Evie’s mom had a secret life before she was even born, one that involved tiaras.
In this modern day fairytale, Evie is on a path to figure out who her mom really was, while discovering for herself what the future will hold. Charged with her late mother’s letters, Evie embarks on a quest into her past. The first item on the list is to attend Oxford, her mom’s alma mater. There, Evie stumbles upon a real-life prince charming, Edmund Stuart the second Prince of England, who is all too happy to be the counterpart to her damsel in distress.
Evie can’t resist her growing attraction to Edmund as they spend more time together trying to unravel the clues her mother left behind. But, when doubts arise as to whether or not Edmund could ever be with an untitled American, what really ends up unraveling is Evie’s heart. When Evie uncovers all the facts about her mom’s former life, she realizes her mom’s past can open doors she never dreamed possible, doors that can help her be with Edmund. But, with everything now unveiled, Evie starts to crack under the pressure of new family responsibilities and the realization that her perfect prince may want her for all the wrong reasons.

 Amazon 

Barnes and Noble

Review:
I'm not sure why the bad reviews. This book lived up to all of my expectations based on the description. It's a fun, romantic read that flies by. I read it quickly and fell in love with all the characters. Everyone had their own unique quirks and personalities. I was rooting for the main characters the whole time. The mystery became a little obvious earlier in the story than the characters discovered it, but that was about all. If you are looking for a fun, flirty, and clean romance set at Oxford in Brittain, this is the five-star read for you!

About the Author:

Emily Albright's debut novel, THE HEIR AND THE SPARE, is available now from Merit Press. The sequel, EVERYDAY MAGIC, releases this November.

She's a writer, a major bookworm, a lover of romantic movies, a wife, a mother, an owner of one adorable (yet slightly insane) cockapoo, and uses way too many :).

Visit her facebook.

Find her on Twitter.

Or check out her website.

 Coming soon:

For once, Maggie McKendrick just wants to control her own life. Her overbearing Hollywood director father has it all planned out for her: UCLA, law school, then working as an entertainment lawyer, preferably for him. But Maggie has other, more creative spirit friendly, plans. Namely, Thrippletons School of Fashion and Design in England, and then onto becoming a designer, preferably a wildly successful one. The big snag in her plan? Getting it past her dad.

A movie shoot takes the family to the Scottish Highlands for the summer, and closer to Maggie’s dream school. While there, she runs into the charming Preston Browne. Maggie is intrigued and decides to bend her no guys rule—instituted after her ex used her to get close to her dad. Forced to keep secrets from Preston in order to protect the future plans she’s made, Maggie finds herself falling for the tall Brit. And for once in her life she knows that he’s interested in her, not her Hollywood connections. When Maggie's father blackmails her into dating his lead actor, she isn’t left with a choice. The biggest problem isn’t having to date hunky, mega-hottie, Ben Chambers. No, it’s praying she doesn’t lose Preston in the process.

Excelling at her dream school, Maggie’s personal life is a tangled mess. She needs to decide if living a lie is worth losing Preston or chance going against her father and facing his wrath. When the tabloids expose the truth of her fake relationship with Ben, Maggie's world is thrown into a tailspin. Ultimately, Maggie must find the courage to take risks and forge ahead on her own path.

Expected publication: December 2nd 2016 by Merit Press

Review of The Howling Heart by April Bostick

Paige Donovan is an ambitious college graduate who aspires to reach the top of the corporate ladder. She’s climbing fast when given the promotion of a lifetime at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City. Her bright future comes to an unexpected halt after news of her father’s death. She inherits his old cabin in the Colorado Rockies, and just when she thinks her luck couldn’t get any worse, she has a car accident in the mountains and awakens in the small, remote community of Black River.

Soon, she’s engulfed in the mystical world of Varulv---wolves descended from 13th century Scandinavia and blessed by Norse gods with the ability to appear human. Paige is desperate to return home, but never expects to fall for her rescuer, Riley Gray, a charming young werewolf from England who offers her an alternate future with his pack.

Now, she must choose between the career she’s always wanted and the love she’s always dreamed. 

Check it out on Goodreads 

Review:

For the most part, this book was very enjoyable. I love shifter stories, especially shifter romances. Paige was a fun character. I loved following her journey.

The concept was solid. I was intrigued enough to keep turning the pages. Quinn was a great character as well. I loved her sass, strength, and loyalty.

I only have two complaints of this story and that is why I deducted a star. 

1. Riley. He is the love interest for Paige. I'm okay with vulnerable guys, but he was a head case it felt like. One minute he's aggressive, and the next, he's sobbing and begging Paige. it makes him come across as a weak character. The author tries to redeem him about halfway, but I already had my impression made. 

2. The ending. It felt very unrealistic, materialistic, and unfair. That's all I can say about that.

Overall, despite its problems, I did like the story. This book gets four glittery stars!

Waiting on Wednesday-Arcana Rising

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine which spotlights highly anticipated upcoming releases.

This week I’m waiting on:

Book: Arcana Rising

Author: Kresley Cole

Release Date: August 15, 2016

Losses mount and deadly new threats converge in this fourth action-packed tale of the Arcana Chronicles by #1 New York Times bestseller Kresley Cole.

When the battle is done . . .
The Emperor unleashed hell and annihilated an army, jeopardizing the future of mankind--but Circe struck back. The epic clash between them devastates the Arcana world and nearly kills Evie, separating her from her allies.

And all hope is lost . . .
With Aric missing and no sign that Jack and Selena escaped Richter's reach, Evie turns more and more to the darkness lurking inside her. Two Arcana emerge as game changers: one who could be her salvation, the other her worst nightmare.

Vengeance becomes everything.
To take on Richter, Evie must reunite with Death and mend their broken bond. But as she learns more about her role in the future--and her chilling past--will she become a monster like the Emperor? Or can Evie and her allies rise up from Richter's ashes, stronger than ever before?

What are you looking forward to reading?

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense Books I enjoyed

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense books are hot right now. 

Even though most of the books I read are paranormal, some other books are worth reading.

Here are some I have thoroughly enjoyed. 

From YA to Adult, they are all fabulous!

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Deceiving Lies by Molly McAdams

Made For You by Melissa Marr

Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick

Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

The Hardest Part by Heather London

Sin and Swoon by Tara Brown

Blood and Bone by Tara Brown

Soul and Blade by Tara Brown

Brilliant Secrets by Dawna Raver

 The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall

Map of Fates by Maggie Hall

Have you read any good suspense books lately?

Review of Wandering Wild by Jessica Taylor

Raised by Wanderers, sixteen-year-old Tal travels the roads of the southern wild in her Chevy by day and camps in her tent trailer at night. Hustling, conning, and grifting her way into just enough cash to save her fifteen-year-old brother, Wen, from bare-knuckle fighting was once enough to keep her dreams of traveling the whole world at bay. Everything changes when the Wanderers set up camp in a little town called Cedar Falls.

There, Spencer Sway, a boy Tal tried to hustle at a game of billiards, keeps popping up into her life—and worst of all—into her scams. Buttoned-up, starched-and-ironed Spencer talks of places where Tal’s truck can’t take her. His promises of traveling across oceans are almost enough to shatter her love of the Wanderer life.

When a boy shows up at camp, ready to make good on a nearly-forgotten arranged marriage to Tal, Tal and Wen make a pact: No matter the cost, they will use their limitless skills of grift to earn the bride price and buy back her future—even if Spencer Sway gets used along the way. 

Amazon  Barnes and Noble

Review:
I loved Tal, Wen, and Spencer! What a great group of complex characters! Spencer was a great love interest. Swoon-worthy for sure! He believed in Tal even though he had every right to distrust her. Tal was a fantastic heroine. She battled real emotions and moral dilemmas. Wen, another awesome character. The whole bookstore situation was cute. Paranormal or not, I never could tell. The conclusion of the book was satisfying and I am looking forward to reading more by this author. Five glittery stars!

About the Author:

I adore atmospheric settings, dangerous girls, and characters who sneak out late at night. My debut novel, WANDERING WILD, received a starred review from VOYA and is available now. My next two novels, starting with A MAP FOR LOST GIRLS, will be published in 2018 and 2019 by Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin. I live in Northern California with a few degrees I'm not using, one dog, and many teetering towers of books.

Represented by Melissa Sarver White at Folio Literary Management.

Follow me on Twitter at @JessicaTaylorYA and check out my website at www.jessicataylorwrites.com