Summer's Opus

  Title: God's Forsaken (The Guilty Ones – Book 1) Author: David Brevik Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal Fiction Rating: Four Stars! Michel is the Angel of Death, but he’s no match for Vipa, a huntress on a mission to destroy the forsaken god, Tragun. From the moment their paths cross, Vipa is a major thorn in his side — and her reckless approach to fighting manages to land him in jail! Just when he thinks his day can’t get any worse, Vipa shows up again, this time to break him out of prison. Naturally, there’s a price to pay for her efforts: he must help her find Tragun. Reluctant, Michel agrees, but he instantly regrets his decision when Vipa seals the deal with a bonding curse! Now forced to comply, Michel must learn to get along with Vipa and her team: a vampire and a humanoid lizard, so that they can attempt to accomplish the impossible.   God's Forsaken is a fun read. There’s lots of action and some amazing world building, and I really en...

  Title: Angels Can’t Swim Author: Alexandra McCann Genre: Contemporary NA Fiction Rating: Five Stars! On a college swim team, there are three very different girls living three very separate but linked lives . . . Jenna loves to swim and she’s a valued member of her college swim team, but Jenna has a couple of secrets. One, she really likes the attention her athleticism brings her; and two, she secretly craves everyone’s approval, especially her team’s coach. Coach Ted is renowned for leading his team to victory, and while some believe that he’s a little too involved, all of the girls respect and adore him, and Jenna especially doesn’t mind his praise or the way he touches and lingers too long, and she definitely doesn’t mind that he thinks so highly of her that he’s willing to entrust her to watch his children, and maybe do a little something more . . . Maggie got into college on an academic scholarship but her heart has always been in the water. As a wal...

  Title: A Stranger in the House Author: Shari Lapena Genre: Adult Mystery Rating: Five Stars! Karen and Tom Krupp are happily married, their vows so recently taken that they’re still in that annoyingly blissful honeymoon stage. Life in their upstate New York home is pleasant, both of them free to enjoy each other’s company as they haven’t had children yet and Tom, a respected accountant, does a great job but doesn’t allow himself to get distracted by his work. He and Karen are best friends and life, for all intents and purposes, is perfect . . . that is until one night when Tom returns home, late from work, and finds Karen missing — it seems like such a rash, unwarranted thought, but her car is gone and there’s plenty of evidence to show that she left in a hurry. She even left her purse behind, complete with her phone and ID, which Tom knows she wouldn’t do intentionally. Desperate, he searches the house for answers and then decides to call the police...

Title: What The Cat Dragged In (The Celtic Witch Mysteries – Book 1) Author: Molly Milligan Genre: Adult Supernatural Cozy Rating: Five Stars! The body that turns up in Bron's garden has been there for decades, and he died of natural causes, so she should just rebury him and carry on as normal, right? But resuming the status quo isn’t easy when the ghost of the dead man wants attention — and he’s going about it in the most comical of ways! It's down to Bron, a traditional hedge witch, to find out what the ghosts wants, which is all well and good since she’s currently teaching Maddie, her cousin from America, the ropes about their family history and all of the magical fun that it entails. Soon, the girls are up to their knees in faery folk (don't trust 'em), druids (keen on trees), wild animals (Bron's a healer), the obligatory smoldering blacksmith (sorry, he prefers men), and the maddest Mad Great Aunt of all. Trust me; it’s well worth the...

  Title: Final Sanctuary Author: Hope Bates Genre: YA Science Fiction Rating: Four Stars! In 2055, corrupt leaders control the last of the fresh water aquifers and use their power to oppress the less fortunate. Governments are separated into sovereign states and are often further divided into different classes. In Corain, the wealthy and privileged, known as the Elite, enjoy the finer things in life, while the Workers live in poverty and deprived conditions. Seventeen-year-old Brielle has grown up on the harsh streets of the impoverished Lower Quad in Corain, but as a child, she recalls a happier childhood as a member of the Elite class, before her father abandoned them, leaving her and her mother to face abject poverty. As Workers, only the healthy can make it into service on the mammoth wall that surrounds their city, which is the only chance a Worker gets to make a better life for themselves and for their families. When Brielle finally comes of age f...