The Monsters We Defy
RECOMMENDED: The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope is $2.99 and a Kindle Daily Deal! Sarah read this one and gave it a B:
I liked the painstaking and careful character development of the first half more than the zoomy-zoom plot of the second half, but the foundation of historical fiction and incredible detail coupled with folk magic, ghosts, and negotiating with spirits made this an exceptionally fun, absorbing, and thoughtful story.
A woman able to communicate with spirits must assemble a ragtag crew to pull off a daring heist to save her community in this timely and dazzling historical fantasy that weaves together African American folk magic, history, and romance.
Washington D. C., 1925
Clara Johnson talks to spirits, a gift that saved her during her darkest moments in a Washington D. C. jail. Now a curse that’s left her indebted to the cunning spirit world. So, when the Empress, the powerful spirit who holds her debt, offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, a desperate Clara seizes the chance. The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District.
Clara can’t pull off this daring heist alone. She’ll need help from an unlikely team, from a jazz musician capable of hypnotizing with a melody to an aging vaudeville actor who can change his face, to pull off the impossible. But as they encounter increasingly difficult obstacles, a dangerous spirit interferes at every turn. Conflict in the spirit world is leaking into the human one and along D.C’.s legendary Black Broadway, a mystery unfolds—one that not only has repercussions for Clara but all of the city’s residents.
Diablo Lake: Moonstruck
RECOMMENDED: Diablo Lake: Moonstruck by Lauren Dane is $1.99! Sarah reviewed this one and thought it was a great start to the series. Here are some of her thoughts:
This paranormal small Southern town of shifters and witches and rival pack tensions between the Dooleys and Pembrys is immersively fun, sexy, and thoughtful. Bonus points: witches AND vivid, loving female friendships.
In Diablo Lake, Washington, a town populated by werewolves, witches, and more, magic woven deep into the earth protects the town’s secrets from outsiders.
Katie Grady left Diablo Lake to get over a humiliating breakup; but her family needs her help, so she’s back, in a sublet right across the hall from the guy she’s lusted after for years. Jace Dooley is hotter than ever, and their friendship picks up along with massive doses of grown-up chemistry.
The very scent of Katie sharpens Jace’s canines, makes the wolf within him stir. There’s nothing more alluring to a Pack Alpha than a sexy female who is so very in charge. She won’t be coddled, but if he plays his hand just right she might be convinced to become his.
Katie presents a challenge to Jace’s wolf nature, whose chief instinct is to protect. Especially now that she’s coming into the magic that is her birthright – and suddenly Jace isn’t the only one who’s interested in Katie, or the raw power she’s just learning to use.
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert is $2.99 and another KDD! This is Hibbert’s young adult debut and it was mentioned on a previous Hide Your Wallet. Shana just recommend this one on audio.
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Brown Sisters trilogy, comes a laugh-out-loud story about a quirky content creator and a clean-cut athlete testing their abilities to survive the great outdoors—and each other.
Bradley Graeme is pretty much perfect. He’s a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine.
Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption—yet, she’s still not cool enough for the popular kids’ table. Which is why Brad abandoned her for the in-crowd years ago. (At least, that’s how Celine sees it.)
These days, there’s nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she’s surprised to find Brad right beside her.
Forced to work as a team for the chance to win a grand prize, these two teens must trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past. And as this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?
The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen
The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen by Ada Bright and Cass Grafton is $1.99! This may appeal to some Austen lovers out there. The heroine suspects her neighbor is a time traveling Jane Austen.
When a time traveling Jane Austen gets stuck in modern-day England, it’s up to an avid fan to save her in this charmingly funny fantasy novel.
As a Jane Austen superfan, Rose Wallace can’t wait for Bath’s annual Austen festival, especially when this year’s VIP is the dishy archaeologist Dr. Aiden Trevellyan! But could there be another VIP in town already?
When Rose first sees her building’s newest resident, she can’t deny the mysterious woman’s striking resemblance to her favorite author. And when she realizes that her neighbor is indeed the Jane Austen, Rose’s wildest dreams come true—and her world turns upside down.
Jane’s time traveling adventure has been sabotaged by a mischievous dog, trapping her in the twenty-first century. And only Rose seems to have noticed. Now she will have to do whatever it takes to help Jane get back home—or else her favorite novels will never be written!
