Drifting Dawn by Samantha Young

Drifting Dawn by Samantha Young -- 372 pages

After eighteen years, I’ve come home to the Scottish island of my childhood. It’s the place I vowed I wouldn’t return to so I never again had to see the man who broke my heart into a million pieces. Yet family has inevitably brought me back, and avoiding my ex, Quinn McQuarrie, is proving impossible when he insists on digging up the past every time we meet.

Quinn is now a single dad, the local contractor, and the person the entire town is rooting for to get his happily ever after. The problem is, he wants me to be his HEA, and I just want to move on. When Quinn sees my plans to save the town’s volunteer lifeboat service as an opportunity to work together, I’m stuck with him. And, unfortunately, I soon realize there’s no denying that the chemistry we share has only grown more intense with the passing of time. I know Quinn wants more than just a physical relationship, but it’s all I can promise with so much hurt and distrust between us. However, when strange disturbances escalate to harassment, our lives are turned upside down, and Quinn proves he will do anything in his power to protect me. Even if it means losing each other before we ever get our second chance…

My Hero Academia, Volumes 1 - 3

My Hero Academia, Volume 1 - 189 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 2 - 207 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 3 - 190 pages

Kohei Horikoshi, Caleb D. Cook (Translator)

Series Summary (From Volume 1 on Goodreads)

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks” at age four? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn’t got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all, gives him a chance to change his destiny…

Review

I finally got around to checking out this series and I definitely think it lives up to the hype.  Well-placed time-skips allow the earlier volumes to maintain a faster pace while also making time for necessary bits of exposition.  I already have the next few volumes in reserve!  

Villains are Destined to Die, Volumes 5 & 6

Villains are Destined to Die, Volume 5 - 272 pages

Villains are Destined to Die, Volume 6 - 288 pages

SUOL, Gwon Gyeoeul (Original Creator), Chiho Christie (Letterer), David Odell (Translator), Ah Cho (Translator)

Series Summary (From Volume 1 on Goodreads)

A villain living life in hard mode... whose every path leads to death."

Playing Daughter of the Duke Love Project as the easy mode heroine, Ivonne, makes charming the male characters a breeze. But once you switch to hard mode and step into the shoes of Penelope, the misunderstood villain, it’s nearly impossible to even stay alive! So imagine the shock of suddenly waking up in Penelope’s body―you know right away that your life is on the line. With love interests who will kill you if their affection meters drop too low and the inability to speak without choosing from pre-selected dialogue, it quickly becomes clear that Penelope’s chances have been rigged from the start―and this villain might just be destined to die!

Review

Things really started ramping up in these two volumes!  An unforeseen changeup in how "The System" works has really thrown a massive wrench into things.  This, combined with the way Penelope treats one of her "love interests" as more game mechanic than human being had me wondering if she was headed down a dark road in spite of her efforts (or perhaps because of them).  ...At least until the reveal at the end of volume 6.  

Chasing the Fire by Paisley Hope

Chasing the Fire by Paisley Hope -- 405 pages

She's as wild as fire. He's ready to burn for her.

Olivia Sutton is the sweetheart of Laurel Creek. The owner of a popular boutique, she enjoys the comforts of home, her cat, and freshly baked treats. She's been burned before and she knows the kind of man she should want. Yet beneath her good girl exterior, Olivia harbors a secret desire for a man who can take control.

Enter Asher Reed, the town’s fire chief, known for his intense eyes and mysterious past. Asher keeps everything in his life tightly controlled. . . except when it comes to Olivia, the copper-haired beauty who has captured his attention in ways he can’t ignore.

After a fire damages Olivia’s home, Asher steps in to help her pick up the pieces, finding her a temporary place to settle at Silver Pines Ranch. When one moment of weakness leads to two pink lines, Olivia and Asher begin spending more time together, determined to be friends. Though Olivia soon realizes that the smoldering firefighter might be the key to her deepest desires and the future she’s always dreamed of. But when she discovers the truth about his past and how it connects with her own, will their spark ignite into a blazing romance—or will their future be extinguished by the weight of family secrets?

The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray

The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray, 322 pages

Claudia Gray's Mr. Darcy and Miss Tillney books have been a lovely series and a satisfying return to Austen's world. The newest installment involves the murder of Mansfield Park's own Mr. Rushworth and the ensuing chaos amongst the social season in London.  The books in this series keep getting better. I devoured this tale and anxiously await the next installment!

 

Guadalcanal's Longest Fight by Dave R. Holland

Guadalcanal's Longest Fight: The Pivotal Battles of the Matanikau Front by Dave R. Holland -304 pages

The Matanikau River bordered the right (western) flank of the U.S. Marines’ position on Guadalcanal Island and became heavily contested through six battles against the Japanese. The Japanese were trying to retake the airfields on Guadalcanal and pressed toward the Matanikau to place large artillery close enough to shell the U.S. perimeter. Many books on the campaign have covered the fighting closer to the U.S. perimeter, but this maybe the only book that has focused on the battles to the west. The author has spent many years as a guide on the island and is very familiar with the locations described. The author also had access to Japanese records not previously evaluated. It was enlightening to learn about the vast amount of artillery, aircraft, and naval resources involved in this campaign in addition to the hard fighting on the ground by marines and army units.  

Villains are Destined to Die, Volumes 1 - 4

Villains are Destined to Die, Volume 1 - 264 pages

Villains are Destined to Die, Volume 2 - 270 pages

Villains are Destined to Die, Volume 3 - 288 pages

Villains are Destined to Die, Volume 4 - 272 pages

SUOL, Gwon Gyeoeul (Original Creator), Chiho Christie (Letterer), David Odell (Translator), Ah Cho (Translator)

Series Summary (From Volume 1 on Goodreads)

A villain living life in hard mode... whose every path leads to death."

Playing Daughter of the Duke Love Project as the easy mode heroine, Ivonne, makes charming the male characters a breeze. But once you switch to hard mode and step into the shoes of Penelope, the misunderstood villain, it’s nearly impossible to even stay alive! So imagine the shock of suddenly waking up in Penelope’s body―you know right away that your life is on the line. With love interests who will kill you if their affection meters drop too low and the inability to speak without choosing from pre-selected dialogue, it quickly becomes clear that Penelope’s chances have been rigged from the start―and this villain might just be destined to die!

Review

My initial impression did waver a bit, given that some of the "character development" can occasionally feel a little close to Penelope trying/needing to "fix" her abusers in order to make any progress, let alone stay alive.  I am glad I gave it some time, though.  While it can lean a bit heavily on internal monologuing, the pace and worldbuilding are still decent enough, without too much exposition.  What's more, the full-color illustrations are absolutely gorgeous!