June was mostly about series. Continuing, starting, and finishing. Then there is that one stand alone thriller that just makes my literary heart happy.
Speaking of that stand-alone thriller, I love that Crichton’s wife has continued to have her late-husband’s work completed. Sherri, Crichton’s wife, has gone to great lengths to find the right fit for each world Michael built. While I haven’t read too many of the novels that were completed after his death, can’t say I have ever been disappointed.
The Andromeda Evolution By: Michael Crichton & Daniel H. Wilson
I am a pretty big Crichton fan. Sometimes works continued after an author’s death can be not-so- great. With his wife’s matchmaking abilities, this sequel to The Andromeda Strain is another winner. All the usual twists, turns, and random revelations. I love all of it.
The original Andromeda Strain is back and, as the title suggests, it has evolved – a few times. Per usual, politically speaking, our government (and others) haven’t forgotten the first Andromeda incident. Plans and teams are already in place when an anomaly is detected deep in the rain forest.
This story takes the reader from top secret think tanks to the depths of the Amazon then to the International Space Station. The magical blend of fact and fiction is nearly seamless. Exactly what you would expect from a Crichton novel.
Raven By: Scarlett Finn
A Stuff Your Kindle find. One I was surprised how much I liked it.
Zara is happily working her corporate life until a date is assassinated in front of her. She’s then thrust into a dark world of gray morals, vigilantes, and possible mass murder.
The world the author is introducing us to – she’s bringing us in slowly, building the intrigue. Going through it alongside Zara.
Oh, Zara. There were many times I would have liked to shake her and tell her to get over herself. The arguments between Zara and Brodie quickly began to get really redundant and annoying.
I appreciated how the author tried to write the spicy bits, avoiding as many ‘crass’ words as possible. But in doing that she created a good amount of cringe. Instead of being eloquent and romantic it was just kind of . . . icky.
While the majority of the story revolves around both the MCs’ emotional hang-ups, I’m interested to see where the main plot goes. Is the Kindred going to be able obtain the device that could kill millions?
Swallow By: Scarlett Finn
I’m really starting to get sucked in this plot line. At first it did seem a bit simple but not boring; egotistical ass with a dictator complex who feels the need to cleanse the overpopulated world. Even builds his own cult compound whose foundation is layer upon layer of vague utopian truths filled with deception.
Then of course, as the bodies pile up, the one man standing at the end put an intriguing twist in the plot. Setting the stage for the next book.
That being said, I could totally do without the romance between Brodie and Zara. It has become ridiculously repetative. Another relationship that revolves around lust. Zara and Brodie’s characters, respectfully, are great. Even having them remain a couple works well for the story. But there’s not much growth. That’s not true. There is, but then it’s repeatedly hindered when one, or both, reverts to the person they are at their core.
Now I have to read the third book, Cuckoo, to see where this ‘cleansing’ plot goes. P.S. there is no racial profiling. Just a group of self-righteous, delusional men.
Leather & Lark By: Brynne Weaver
For a full book review check out this POST. (Coming soon)
Check out this POST if you want to read a detailed plot summary. (Coming soon).
Darkest Flame By: Donna Grant
This is a random find from my local library. So glad I took a chance on it.
Contemporary fantasy set in and around the UK. It’s a thriller romance?
Denae is an American with MI5 who just happens to be a part of a corrupt team – unbeknown to her. When her jerk of a partner tries to use her as bait during their current mission, Denae kills him and wakes an ancient predator who loathes humans.
Instead of leaving her to die, he takes her to the rest of the dragon kings in human form. After all, she is the key to finding out why a human government agency is hellbent on going after something they shouldn’t know exists.
Dragon shifters, light and dark fae, deception, betrayal, love, and magic. This is so much better than the simple, borderline cheesy, cover suggests. Totally continuing the series.
Fire Rising By: Donna Grant
See, had to continue the series. Which is good because I am really enjoying how the story line is developing. Just when you think the dragon kings have figured things out, a twist here, a turn there, and they’re back to trying to rescue their own.
Following Tristan, who was killed (as Duncan, the twin to Ian) and brought back as a king. And Sammi, human half-sister to Jane, the wife of another dragon king.
As stated before, following this main plot line to discover who is targeting the kings and why is getting involved and interesting.
But the romance aspect is already getting old: grumpy dragon king wants nothing to do with humans but can’t deny the pull to this particular human and waits until it’s almost too late.
Naive human tries to be self-sacrificing and protective to save the ones she loves is thrown into this world she had no idea existed. Denying everything until it’s almost too late. Same as the first book. I will continue the series because I really want to know who is gunning for the kings, who is betraying who, who is lying, and why it’s all happening!
Pucking Wild By:Emily Rath
Loved this. Plain and simple. Much better than the first novel in this series. A lovely found family troupe that made me smile.
First, it wasn’t 800+ pages. Second, Tess is a much better person than her friend, Rachel. She has had a mentally and emotionally abusive life but didn’t realize the extent until taking her journey in this story. Being stalked, blackmailed, and harassed by a husband who won’t give her a divorce causes her to retreat even more.
I was worried this would turn out to be another why-didn’t-you-say-anything-to-anyone situation. While Tess did try to hide as much as she could in order to keep those she cared about safe (whoa, dejavu) , she was surrounded by too many people who care about her. So, thank the literary powers that be, ultimately, that wasn’t the case.
Ryan is supposed to only be twenty-two making him a decade younger than Tess. Other than a few comments sprinkled in here and there, I didn’t feel he was written as someone so young. Unless the age gap came up, I didn’t think about it. Ultimately, this element was completely irrelevant and unnecessary.
Unfortunately, the last in the main series doesn’t come out until September 2024. Luckily there are two volumes of epilogue style chapters and bonus material to binge.
Pucking Ever After Vol. 1 By: Emily Rath
Several chapters of Rachel and her slew of husbands. While I am still not Rachel’s biggest fan, even more so now, this was fun.
We get a bonus chapter that had been cut from the Pucking Around. Gotta say, it was a wise decision.
A sweet and spicy look at how the four of them have grown after one year of marriage. Predictable but funny and cute.
Ending with several chapters of their family growing in many different ways. Set during different times in the future.
All-in-all, it is nice to see the future of the characters. We got to see, in great detail, how the foundation was set and now we got to see how it has held up and flourished. Very fun.
Let me know if you’ve read any of these or if they’re on your TBR!!!
4 responses to “What I Read in June 2024”
Did you like Agatha Christie’s “The Sittaford Mystery?” You choices are very diverse it seems.
I have yet to read The Sittaford Mystery. There are very few types of books that don’t interest me in some way or another.
“The Murder at Hazelmoor” is “The Sittaford Mystery.” The former was the U.S. title while the latter was the U.K. title.
Ah, obviously I didn’t know that. I haven’t read it yet. Trying to finish my current reads first. But this one really piqued my interest.