The Holdout by Graham Moore

 The Holdout by Graham Moore

322 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Summary (from Missouri Evergreen):

It's the most sensational case of the decade. Fifteen-year-old Jessica Silver, heiress to a billion-dollar real estate fortune, vanishes on her way home from school. Her teacher Bobby Nock, a twenty-five-year-old African American man, is the prime suspect after illicit text messages are discovered between them--and Jessica's blood is found in his car. The subsequent trial taps straight into America's most pressing preoccupations: race, class, sex, law enforcement, and the lurid sins of the rich and famous. It's an open and shut case for the prosecution, and a quick conviction seems all but guaranteed. Until Maya Seale, a young woman on the jury, convinced of Nock's innocence, persuades the rest of the jurors to return the verdict of not guilty, a controversial decision that will change all of their lives forever. Flash forward ten years. A true-crime docuseries reassembles the jurors, with particular focus on Maya, now a defense attorney herself. When one of the jurors is found dead in Maya's hotel room, all evidence points to her as the killer. Now, she must prove her own innocence--by getting to the bottom of a case that is far from closed. As the present-day murder investigation weaves together with the story of what really happened during their deliberation, told by each of the jurors in turn, the secrets they have all been keeping threaten to come out--with drastic consequences for all involved.

My thoughts: This was a page-turner. I really like anything with courtrooms and law involved, so this was a great read. I especially liked that the main character's actions felt believable. It got me thinking about the justice system - most fascinating to me was the truth is not always the best defense strategy in court. I was not super happy with the ending, but after thinking about it for a few days, it was pretty clever on more than just one level.

A Rebel Without Claws by Juliette Cross

A Rebel Without Claws by Juliette Cross -- 320 pages

After yet another bar fight and arrest, bad boy Ronan Reed leaves Texas to live with his uncle Shane, alpha of the Blood Moon pack. Since werewolf cage fighting isn’t illegal in Louisiana, Ronan makes big plans to lead his own team in the ring. But when he sets eyes on sweet Celine Cruz, his whole world stops and she becomes a tantalizing distraction he doesn’t need.

As an Aura witch, Celine always wants to help heal the broken. She knows all too well what it’s like to battle anxiety, and so she’s dedicated her life to helping those in need. But the second she meets Ronan, she knows she’s in trouble. He’s everything her close-knit family would hate: a werewolf with a hot temper and a sinful grin to match, who runs with a dangerous crowd. So why can’t she stay away?

Ronan thinks she’s a good girl. Little does he know, all Celine wants is to do wicked things with the bad boy werewolf, who revels in breaking all her rules. But as their forbidden romance becomes too tempting to resist, Ronan notices that the wolves are circling . . . and they’re coming after his mate.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna -- 336 pages

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don't mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she's used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and...Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he's concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn't know she was looking for....

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

 The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini-371 pages (paperback)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

A sweeping story of family, love, and friendship told against the devastating backdrop of the history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful novel that has become a beloved, one-of-a-kind classic.

The 10th anniversary edition of the New York Times bestseller and international classic loved by millions of readers.

Thoughts: This is really, really good. It is sad, but hopeful. Amir endures much and makes a decision he regrets for many years, but he finally gets the opportunity to atone. The synopsis above is a really good description. I did not want to put this down once I really got into it. 

Adversary to the Villain

Adversary to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 352 pages Book 4

Synopsis: Evie has always tried to be helpful, loyal, and only mildly involved in treason. But with a dangerous prophecy threatening the very magic of Rennedawn―not to mention the race to claim its necessary artifacts before King Benedict does―things are starting to feel…less like a career path and more like a serious problem.

The prophecy won’t stop pointing in Evie’s direction. The Villain’s magic keeps choosing her. And honestly, if you’re going to be accused of evil anyway, you might as well commit.

Unfortunately, the more Evie leans into her alleged villain era, the more her boss starts acting like the hero of a completely different story. Trystan is getting closer―closer than is wise, advisable, or even remotely professional―and looking at her like she’s already chosen a side. His.

Which is deeply inconvenient, because if Evie can’t save the kingdom’s magic, she might just become its greatest threat.

My Thoughts: I love this series! We are getting to the impending doom of it all and I cannot wait to see how this series concludes! The snark is still snarky, the characters are still beloved and the plot is still interesting. Read this series if you enjoy comedic romantasy!

A Monsoon Rising

 A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon 400 pages Book 2

Synopsis: Two hearts circle each other in the eye of the storm in this highly anticipated epic fantasy follow-up to the New York Times bestseller, The Hurricane Wars—prepare for more enemies-to-lovers romance, magical adventures, and political schemes in this Southeast Asian-inspired world.

After a lifetime of war, Alaric and Talasyn are thrust into a political marriage between their homelands that was supposed to end the fighting; however, this forced proximity with a sworn foe feels far from peaceful. Now Talasyn must play the part of Alaric’s willing empress while her allies secretly plot to overthrow his reign. But the longer the couple are trapped together, the harder it becomes to deny the slow burn romance crackling like lightning between them. When the time comes to act, can she trust him, or must she ignore her heart for the sake of so many others?

As the master of the Shadowforged Legion, Alaric has trained for battle all his life, but marrying a Lightweaver might be his most dangerous challenge yet. With tensions between nations churning, he needs to focus on the greater threat―the Moonless Dark, a high-stakes cataclysmic magical event that could devour everything. Only he and Talasyn can stop it, with a powerful merging of their unique magic system of light and shadow that they alone can create together. But saving their world from this disaster is a mere preface to his father’s more sinister schemes, and his wife is a burning flame in the darkness, tempting both his loyalties and his desires.

My Thoughts: Once I finished book one, which ended on a cliff hanger, of course I had to pick up book 2! This one was just as good as book one! I loved the battles, the tension, the yearning, and the banter. If you enjoy Star Wars, you will love this book!

 

Page Count: 326

Reverence by: Raena Rood

Synopsis:

Reverence takes place in a dystopian society where a deadly virus has devastated the world. The survivors live within the walls of Vita Nova, a city that has created strict rules and programs to control its population. Kira Liebert works as a volunteer advocate, helping people who choose to sacrifice themselves for the good of the city. When she becomes involved with a man named Will Foster, she begins to question what she has been taught about the world outside the walls and the society she lives in.

Review:

This book was unfortunately another one that wasn’t a favorite for me. I love dystopian books, so I had high hopes for this one, but that’s on me for not looking up more about the book beforehand. My dislike for this one was mostly due to it becoming overly religious. While that usually never bothers me, this felt heavily pushed throughout the story. I went in expecting a dystopian book and was met with Christianity being a major component of the plot.