Author: megs14malloy

Review: Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler

~ megs14malloy

Come As You AreCome As You Are by Dahlia Adler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

Come As You Are is a YA Contemporary Romance from Dahlia Adler. I’ve read from Adler before, and this one has certainly bumped her up my Must-Read Authors list.

In this story, we are following Everett ‘Evie’ Riley, who has decided to transfer to a private high school after being betrayed by a trifecta of important people in her life: her boyfriend, her best friend and her sister.

Evie is desperate for a fresh start. She needs new scenery and new people. Her new start faces it’s first hurdle on move-in day though, when Evie finds herself mistakenly assigned to an all-boys dorm and wouldn’t you know it, there’s no room for her in the girls dorm.

Rumors and speculation regarding Evie’s unfortunate housing predicament quickly spread throughout the small campus. Unsure what else to do, Evie decides to lean into her enticing new reputation.

In order to do this though, good girl Evie is going to need some help, which she finds in the form of her grumpy, yet exceeding cool, dorm mate, Salem Grayson.

As it turns out, Salem needs a little help as well, repairing his relationship with his parents after he was kicked out of another school. Evie could be the perfect person to help him with that. It’s a win, win.

Sadly, even as Salem starts to turn his reputation around and succeed at absolutely everything he tries, Evie cannot seem to catch a break. As Evie comes to certain realizations about herself and her life, it turns out maybe she’s destined for a different path than she once expected.

I really loved this. I’m not sure how memorable the overall story will be for me long-term as far as the smaller details go, but there was so much I adored about it in the moment.

The characters were fabulous, both the main characters, and the side characters. Adler built this beautiful found family feeling into the story that I felt added a lot of warmth. With these kids being away from home at a boarding school, that element would make sense, and it was well done.

Additionally, the banter was fantastic and I experienced a full range of emotions over the course of the story. Dahlia Adler has quickly become a favorite for me.

Evie was such a great main character. She really was going through a lot, and I liked how she faced it all with an emotional maturity that was good to see. Having your boyfriend, sister and best friend betray you all at once, that could definitely cause one to spiral, but I liked how she took action to move forward from it versus dwelling.

Not only did she take action, she did it on her own. Her parents weren’t really aware of the full scope of what had happened, and Evie shouldered all the responsibility for forging her new path. I respected that.

Sure, a lot of the drama is still teen, but as it should be, it’s a YA book. Adler also always includes a diverse cast of characters, and I appreciated that representation, as well as some of the topics explored in regards to sexuality, relationships, etc.

Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I wish I’d have read it sooner. I recommend this to any YA Contemporary Romance Reader. It’s a good one!!!

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Review: I Found a Body by Becky C. Brynolf

~ megs14malloy

I Found a BodyI Found a Body by Becky C. Brynolf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

I Found a Body is a Adult Mystery that I ended up really enjoying. I was hesitant going in because the overall rating is below a 3.5, which seems fairly low for a new Mystery. I actually put it off for a while because of that.

And I have to say it wasn’t at all what I expected, particularly based on the vibes this cover is giving off, but I did find it interesting. I think it could be a case of the cover selling Cozy or Humorous, and it’s not really that. It’s just a Mystery, and it actually tackles some fairly serious topics.

We have DS Mona Hendricks, who 9-years ago was called to the scene of murder after a body had been discovered by a popular influencer while she was live-streaming. The footage went viral and the case sort of blew up, with lasting repercussions both for Mona and the influencer, Kylie.

In spite of its high exposure, the case remains unsolved all these years later. Mona, who has officially reached rock bottom, alone and out of work, estranged from her daughter, is surprised when Kylie, now a TV personality, approaches her to reopen the case.

Though she can’t really do so in an official capacity, Mona agrees to help Kylie and the two set out to see if they can finally solve the case that haunts them both.

There’s some back and forth in time and amongst people involved; a lot of moving pieces. I found Mona to be a compelling main character. You don’t learn immediately what led to her life taking such a stark downward trajectory, and I did like learning about all of that.

I thought the mystery was fairly well-plotted. There were moments where I might have been mildly confused, or felt like maybe some things didn’t add up, but in the end, I feel like Brynolf pulled it off. I am glad I ignored the overall rating and still gave this one a shot.

Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books and Highbridge Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I would recommend this to Mystery fans, and particularly the audiobook format, which was well narrated.

I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

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Review: My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

~ megs14malloy

My Husband's WifeMy Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After a rejuvenating run, Eden Fox, an up-and-coming artist, returns to her recently-acquired home, a beautiful property known as Spyglass, only to be faced with a locked door and a key that no longer fits the lock.

Saying she’s confused is putting it mildly, but the confusion turns to fear after she knocks, and a woman who could pass for her twin answers the door. Her husband appears as well, but instead of clearing things up, he acts like he doesn’t know her, and claims the other woman is his wife.

We also follow a woman named Birdy, whose long-lost grandmother was once the proud owner of Spyglass. Birdy’s perspective is quite different for Eden’s, and involves her discovery of a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person’s death date.

As you can imagine, both of these perspectives are intriguing in their own right. As you go back and forth between the two women, and others, pieces begin slotting into place and you’re left pondering, how are they connected?

Secrets, mystery, deception and obsession, this story has it all. Grab your popcorn and buckle up, because it’s a wild ride. The perfect read if you need a distraction from the world. I read this in a day after a terrible winter storm had knocked out our power for days.

Luckily, I had this downloaded and it definitely saved my mood from getting too low. I listened to it all at once, while I cleaned and tidied as much as I could, and I was absolutely swept up into the story.

The audiobook is fantastic, with multiple narrators and occasional sound effects, this production succeeded in bringing the drama and action of this story to life. It felt like a cinematic event versus a book. I highly recommend the audio format for those who enjoy audiobooks.

I consider Alice Feeney to be the Queen of Twists, and this novel did nothing but solidify that belief. My Husband’s Wife was so crazy and outrageously fun. All of the unpredictable drama, the turns, the sly shifts in perspective bringing continuous new insights, I loved it all.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. As always, Feeney is an absolute delight to read. I’m looking forward to whatever she writes next!!

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Review: Enchantra (Wicked Games #2) by Kaylie Smith

~ megs14malloy

Enchantra (Wicked Games, #2)Enchantra by Kaylie Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Enchantra is the 2nd-book in Kaylie Smith’s Wicked Games Romantasy series. I loved the 1st-book, Phantasma, when I read it in 2024, and it single-handedly propelled me into my admittedly short-lived Romantasy Girl era.

And when I say era, what I mean is as is typical for me, I quickly purchased numerous Romantasy books and then never read any of them.

I’m not proud, but here we are. In fact, I even got an audio ARC of this book, which I was over the moon excited for, and I am just reading it now, over a year later.

Full disclosure: I didn’t listen to the audio ARC, I read my hard copy, which I received from Book of the Month. Anywho, with the boring admin out of the way, let’s get into the book, shall we?

In Enchantra, we’re following Ophelia’s little sister, Genevieve. At the end of the 1st-book, we learn that Vivi is getting ready to do some European travels. Even though Ophie has established an entire itinerary for Vivi to follow, Vivi has other plans.

Desiring answers about her mother’s past and her own true nature, Vivi heads to Italy to seek out her Mom’s old friend, and occasional pen pal, Barrington Silver, at his family estate, Enchantra.

Once there, she’s greeted gruffly by one of Barrigton’s many children, Rowin, who insists that she leave immediately. After traveling all that way though, Vivi is determined not to leave without answers.

One thing leads to another and she ends up getting sucked into the Silver’s lives and the insidious game of hide and seek they’re forced to play every year, solely for the entertainment of the Devils in Hell.

She’s forced to team up with Rowin, in a fake courtship, so that they may compete together as a couple. It’s her only possible chance of survival.

It’s enemies-to-lovers, it’s high stakes and it’s got a strong gaming element that I always enjoy. I actually enjoyed the games here even more than in Phantasma because of the family element. The family is fighting against each other to win, which made it feel more personal.

I loved the Silver family. There’s a lot of them and their relationships are complicated to say the least, but you can still feel the love among the siblings. Even when they’re trying to stab each other through the heart.

I loved the setting of Enchantra as well. The property was giving heavy Beauty and the Beast, but darker and more twisted, vibes. They even spent a lot of time in the library, though I wouldn’t want to sit on that couch ever again.

The game was played in rounds, with one family member selected to be the hunter and the rest of the players had to hide. It provided quite a bit of downtime for Rowin and Vivi to get to know one another, particularly since they needed to hide as a couple.

I loved the progression of their relationship and the push and pull as the attraction grew. Vivi is my girl, I adored her. She was strong-willed, defiant and a little mouthy, but she also had a strength and determination that I think ended up surprising Rowin in a good way.

Rowin was such a strong leading man as well. He was swoony and so hot. I could definitely understand why Vivi would become so enraptured by him.

The steam was fantastic too. Not too much, not too little, it was just right.

I also appreciated how evenly Smith distributed the action/family drama plot with the romance element. Neither one overshadowed the other, and I feel like there’s a real art to that. It’s executed so well, whether you’re here for the romance or here for the games.

I’m kicking myself for putting off reading this for so long. I loved it. It was an absolute blast of a read. Someone please tell me we are getting more books in this series. I am guessing yes based on the ending of this one, but I have heard no actual news in that regard either way.

Overall, this was freaking fantastic. I loved it with my whole heart, even more than the 1st-book actually. Vivi is such a sensational protagonist and Rowin is just my kind of kink. Am I about to enter my Romantasy era 2.0, where maybe I actually read the books this time?

Thank you to Second Sky Books for providing me with a copy to read and review. Though I didn’t listen to the audio, I am confident this book is just as fabulous regardless of the format you read it in!

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Review: Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra

~ megs14malloy

Warning SignsWarning Signs by Tracy Sierra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tracy Sierra impressed me with her debut novel, Nightwatching, when I read it back in 2024. It was disturbing in such a realistic way, and played off one of my own personal fears, which is being in my house as an intruder breaks in to cause harm.

That horrifying scenario is something I think about a lot actually, I write whilst being home alone for the weekend.

Warning Signs is Sierra’s Sophmore novel and follows 12-year old Zach as he joins his Dad, somewhat reluctantly, on a father-son ski weekend. Before you jump to conclusions and think, how nice, a Dad who wants to spend time with his son, I’ll just let you know, that’s not the case here.

Bram, Zach’s Dad, has his own strong motives for this trip and it has nothing to do with father-son bonding time. Bram’s business is currently in financial distress, and the weekend was planned as a way to woo potential investors.

Bram and Zach are being joined by some rich men, and their sons, in the hopes that Bram will be able to make some deals on the mountain. Because nothing says, let’s spend some money like apres ski drinks.

As you would expect in a Winter Thriller, things begin to go wrong with the group pretty quickly. There’s tensions among the adults and Zach feels like something scary is watching their cabin from the woods.

As the dangers escalate Zach’s unsure who to trust, but he’s sure thankful that he was trained in outdoor survival by his Mom. He might need to utilize all of that valuable knowledge in order to make it off this mountain alive.

While this may have started out feeling like a standard Winter Thriller, a ski weekend gone bad, it took a sharp turn in a direction I wasn’t expecting. Sierra knows how to get a Reader’s pulse racing and I was gripped until the end.

The initial sections of this doesn’t have the same intensity as Nightwatching, which got cooking right from the start, but this story definitely gets there as the story progresses. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a slow build, but it does take some time to really get humming.

I wasn’t sure either how I would feel about following the perspective of a 12-year old boy in this type of story, but it really worked. I feel like his perspective was the best way to convey the level of danger and I did grow attached to him. I was on the edge of my seat on his behalf.

At times it felt hopeless, and it definitely made me anxious, but in a good way. I flew through the second half and ended up enjoying the heck out of it. I would recommend this to anyone who loves an intense Winter Thriller, or anyone who had fun with Sierra’s previous book.

Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books for providing me with a copy to read and review. There’s no denying that Tracy Sierra is such a talented writer. I’m really looking forward to whatever she releases next!

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Review: Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman

~ megs14malloy

Operation Bounce HouseOperation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dungeon Crawler Carl has legitimately taken the world by storm, but guess what? Matt Dinniman has lots of other tricks up his talented-sleeves, and he proves that with Operation Bounce House.

This story follows a group of colonists on New Sonora, set in deep space, who suddenly find their home planet being used by Earthlings as a sort of playing field for their VR gaming.

Earth citizens can pay to create their own personal war machines that then get sent to the distant planet via the newly opened transfer gate. They can then use those machines to attack the alien population, all Earth descendants, mind you, in a sort of war simulation game.

The game is called Operation Bounce House.

Our protagonist is Oliver Lewis, and we follow him, his sister, Lulu, and their best friends and loved ones as this assault on their lives and land begins, and we continue to follow them throughout, to the bitter end.

I found this incredibly interesting from the start. As we meet all the characters on New Sonora and learn about their daily lives and struggles, it was incredibly well-developed.

Oliver and Lulu had a family robot Roger, who turned out to be one of my favorite characters in the story. He added humor and was continuously teaching and guiding the humans surrounding him. He also had been on the colony planet since its inception, so was able to recollect the full history of the settlement easily.

I really grew to love the full cast of characters over the course of the story. As you go along with their struggles with them, which is literally a fight for their survival, you can’t help but get emotionally invested in their outcome.

They were all distinctive, with unique attributes and personalities. I felt like I was there with them. That’s how real Dinniman made this little group of colonists.

I appreciated so much the themes Dinniman explored in this, but because of the heavier subject matter, it does have a more serious feel than DCC.

For example, the idea of the ‘other’. The people on Earth viewed the residents of New Sonora as the other; almost subhuman. Therefore, it gave them leeway to do as they pleased in the game.

It made me think of a lot of different things going on in our world, not just now, but really over all time. A sort of us versus them mentality, and how humans can sort of block entire groups off as not being like them and therefore undeserving of the same rights and care.

I like how Dinniman formatted this story as it demonstrates this whole scenario from the ‘others’ perspective. I feel like Dinniman gets pretty thoughtful in this one in that regard whilst also keeping to his basic fun-filled, humorous style.

There’s actually so much to unpack here. My brain is reeling from this ride. It really pulls you in. You feel like you’re a part of this world on the brink of disaster.

I just really appreciated all the important topics Dinniman included without making the narrative feel preachy, or thrusting his own agenda down the Readers throats. He’s laying out a scenario and allowing the Reader to do some free-thinking, which I just love!

I’ll admit it was heavier than I was expecting, as far as tone, but I did appreciate the direction he went with it and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Thank you to the publisher, Ace, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I love Dinniman’s creativity and writing style. I knew that from reading DCC, but this solidifies that assessment.

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Review: Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews

~ megs14malloy

HazelthornHazelthorn by C.G. Drews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Hazelthorn is a YA Gothic Horror story from C.G. Drews. I read from Drews for the first time last year when I read their popular novel, Don’t Let the Forest In.

I was immediately impressed by the style of their prose, the relationships developed within the story and the vivid imagery evoked. I’m happy to report, all of these top-shelf qualities are again on display within the pages of Hazelthorn.

This story follows Evander, who has lived like a ghost within the walls of Hazelthorn estate ever since he was taken in as a small child by Byron Lennox-Hall, the reclusive billionaire owner of the estate.

Evander has very specific rules that he is made to abide by, such as he can never leave the estate, he isn’t to go into the gardens, and he shouldn’t ever be left alone with Laurie, Byron’s mischievous grandson.

The last rule was actually established for good reason, when 7-years ago, Laurie tried to kill Evander, a situation which he barely survived. In spite of this though, Evander does have a bit of an unhealthy attraction to Laurie. Honestly, he’s hard to resist.

When Byron unexpectedly dies, and it’s announced the entire estate is being left to Evander, he suddenly has threats coming from all sides. As you can imagine, other family members aren’t exactly pleased with this turn of events.

Despite his sudden windfall, Evander’s not happy. He’s suspicious about the way the way Byron died. He believes he was killed, but why? And how can he prove it?

Suddenly, Laurie becomes Evander’s best ally for getting to the bottom of what really happened to Byron, and figuring out the true that lies at the heart of Hazelthorn.

This was great. It’s dark and engaging and I was intrigued by Hazelthorn and everything going on there. Actually the more I think about it, perhaps I underrated this one a bit. It’s probably closer to a full 4-star rating for me.

I just think in comparison to Don’t Let the Forest In, I didn’t find this one as easy to track, and I also didn’t feel as emotionally invested, although there was still so much to love about this story.

In some ways, this story did remind me of a few other things I’ve read before, for example, These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall. What did stand out was the level of botanical horror that Drews included. That I really, really enjoyed.

This did have some interesting twists and some dangerous family drama, which I also thought was a lot of fun. I actually wouldn’t mind reading this again someday, maybe getting a hard copy and annotating could help bring more of the nuances of the story to the forefront for me.

At the end of the day, this is another fantastic story from Drews, delivering on their signature writing style and lush, gothic atmosphere.

Thank you to the publisher, Recorded Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. C.G. Drews is such a talent, and I cannot wait to continue to follow their career. I know we’re going to have a long and beautiful friendship!

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Review: The Cross (Eddie Flynn #0.5) by Steve Cavanagh

~ megs14malloy

The Cross (Eddie Flynn #0.5)The Cross by Steve Cavanagh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars**

The Cross is a prequel novella to Steve Cavanagh’s popular Eddie Flynn Legal Thriller series, recently repackaged and re-released by Simon & Schuster Audio Originals to match the beautiful new series covers.

Originally released in 2015, this series has aged really well. While listening to this, it felt as modern as any other Legal Thriller I’ve picked up in the last couple of years.

Eddie Flynn, the protagonist of this series, is an ex-con artist turned ingenious NYC defense attorney. In this case, Eddie represents a woman whose husband died in a confrontation with a police officer.

The dead man was himself accused of being part of a robbery gone bad. His widow, Eddie’s client, vehemently denies that fact, and through Eddie’s thorough investigations, he’s inclined to agree. Things aren’t adding up.

Eddie has a lot on the line with this case, as a loss could mean the collapse of his tiny, floundering law firm. The further he digs, the more corruption and deceit he uncovers. Is Eddie in over his head, or will he be able to successfully win this emotionally-charged case?

This was good. Coming in at under 100-pages, it did go very quickly. I feel like even though it was a fully-fleshed out case, in order for me to become more invested, I would have need about 100-more pages. Nevertheless, I knew what I was getting into going in and I did enjoy it.

I have read other, later books in the series, so this was nice to see the start of Eddie’s legal career. I think this series is a lot of fun. I love how twisted a lot of the cases get and I’m definitely planning to read them all.

Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster Audio Originals, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I definitely recommend this series, and this audiobook, for anyone who enjoys fast-paced, engaging Legal Thrillers.

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Review: Cold Burn (National Parks Thriller #2) by A.J. Landau, Jon Land & Jeff Ayers

~ megs14malloy

Cold Burn (National Parks Thriller #2)Cold Burn by A.J. Landau
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cold Burn is the 2nd-book in the National Parks Thriller series by A.J. Landau, which is actually a pseudonym for the writing duo of Jon Land and Jeff Ayers.

I didn’t read the 1st-book in the series, Leave No Trace, but as with many Adult Mystery series, they can be read in any order. I certainly didn’t feel lost jumping into this one as I did without that background of book 1.

This book includes scenes at Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, as well as Florida’s Everglades National Park. The thing connecting the two, a deadly prehistoric microbe that not only killed off the wooly mammoth, but more recently, a USGS survey team that kicks our action off.

With powerful people battling for the lethal microbe, to use for their own gain, it’s up to NPS Special Agent Michael Walker and FBI Special Investigator Gina Delgado to exterminate the threat the microbe poses to the world.

In the beginning, Cold Burn felt refreshing. I don’t tend to pick up a lot of Action Thrillers, but unfortunately it was unable to ever fully capture my attention.

There are a lot of moving parts to this story. I liked how we were getting action in both Alaska and Florida. Unfortunately, because there was so much going on, and because I wasn’t fully hooked in, I feel like I wasn’t paying close enough attention to grasp all of the connections.

I can appreciate that this is a good book, particularly for Readers who love an intense Action Thriller with political intrigue and shady dealings. I just wasn’t that person at the time that I read this.

I might still read the 1st-book in the series, because it was alluded to a few times in this story, and the case they were investigating in that one did sound very interesting. Also, I have recently seen a 3rd-book announced, which is set at Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park that sounds like it could be a good one too.

Needless to say, even though this one didn’t blow me out of the water, I still enjoyed it enough that I’m willing to continue on with the rest of the books in the series.

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I know many Readers will love this series, and I’m not willing to give up on it yet. It’s got a great concept and compelling main characters. I feel like the more I read, the more attached I’ll become.

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Review: Monster in the Moonlight (Monster Hunter #4) by Annelise Ryan

~ megs14malloy

Monster in the Moonlight (Monster Hunter, #4)Monster in the Moonlight by Annelise Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Monster in the Moonlight is another fantastic installment in Annelise Ryan’s Monster Hunter series. This is the 4th-book and I’ve enjoyed them all. Unsurprising, since they combine 2 of my favorite things: spooky vibes and cozy mysteries.

These books follow Morgan Carter, a cryptozoologist and specialty bookstore owner, who along with her lovable dog, Newt, investigates cases that may be linked to potential cryptid activity. Each installment features Morgan in different places, investigating creatures from lore.

In this story, Morgan gets consulted after a dead body is discovered on Bray Road in Wisconsin. The brutal killing sparks rumors that the Beast of Bray Road, a werewolf-like creature thought to inhabit the area, has returned.

It’s clear the woman has been mutilated by some type of large animal, and the locals are convinced it’s the Beast. A local policeman is actually the one to contact Morgan, through a mutual friend, for help, hoping she’ll be able to disprove the Beast’s existence.

As Morgan starts her investigation, it soon becomes clear this is a much larger case, with a much larger web than initially anticipated. Per usual, she soon finds herself in danger and racing against the clock to get to the bottom of what’s happening on Bray Road.

I’m not going to deny these books are a little silly, but Ryan nevertheless makes them super-duper fun, and that’s what I’m looking for in a Cozy series.

I’ve grown attached to Morgan and Newt, so I’m hoping for more installments to the series. There’s plenty more cryptids to explore, after all.

Morgan is a great leading lady. She’s smart and daring, never afraid to put herself out there in order to succeed at her investigations. She’s also a great Dog Mom, always considering Newt’s needs at all times. I never have to worry about him while reading, which is a great comfort to me.

This was another solid mystery too. I was captivated about what was going on. Morgan is like a dog with a bone once she gets a lead, and I knew she wasn’t going to leave this town without answers.

I would recommend this series to any Cozy Mystery fans, but particularly those looking for something a little different in their Cozy. It’s one-of-a-kind.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’ll be anxiously awaiting news as to whether or not there are going to be more books in the Monster Hunter series!!

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