LJF's bookshelf: all en-US Sun, 06 Apr 2025 09:42:54 -0700 60 LJF's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Fear the Flames 223927257 NATIONAL BESTSELLER - An exiled princess teams up with the last man she thought she could trust in the start of a dazzling and unforgettable epic fantasy romance series.

As a child, Elowen Atarah was ripped away from her dragons and imprisoned by her father, King Garrick of Imirath. Years later, Elowen is now a woman determined to free her dragons. Having established a secret kingdom of her own called Aestilian, she's ready to do what's necessary to save her people and seek vengeance. Even if that means having to align herself with the Commander of Vareveth, Cayden Veles, the most feared and dangerous man in all the kingdoms of Ravaryn.

Cayden is ruthless, lethal, and secretive, promising to help Elowen if she will stand with him and all of Vareveth in the pending war against Imirath. Despite their contrasting motives, Elowen can't ignore their undeniable attraction as they combine their efforts and plot to infiltrate the impenetrable castle of Imirath to steal back her dragons and seek revenge on their common enemy.

As the world tries to keep them apart, the pull between Elowen and Cayden becomes impossible to resist. Working together with their crew over clandestine schemes, the threat of war looms, making the imminent heist to free her dragons their most dangerous adventure yet. But for Elowen, her vengeance is a promise signed in blood, and she'll stop at nothing to see that promise through.

An immersive fantasy filled with a sizzling reluctant-allies-to-lovers romance, a world to get lost in, dangerous quests, dragon bonds, and an entertaining band of characters to root for, Fear the Flames marks the stunning debut of Olivia Rose Darling.]]> 400 Olivia Rose Darling 0593873912 LJF 0 to-read 5.00 2022 Fear the Flames
author: Olivia Rose Darling
name: LJF
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2022
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/04/06
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]]> Wait 223641132 A young woman reunites with her teenage sister in their childhood home on Nantucket Island after their mother disappears.

Elise is out dancing the night before her college graduation when her younger sister Sophie calls to tell her their mom is nowhere to be found. Elise leaves on the next flight back to her childhood home, Nantucket Island, for the first time in nearly four years. When she arrives she discovers the ways in which her whip-smart little sister has had to make do without her.

The sisters soon learn that police stopped their mother on her way home from work and deported her to São Paulo, Brazil. Intent on bringing her back, Elise stays and secures the same job she had in high school: monitoring endangered birds that have laid eggs on a remote beach. Meanwhile, her best friend from college, Sheba—a gregarious socialite and heir to a famed children's toy company—reveals that she has inherited her grandfather’s summer mansion on Nantucket. What will Elise do when the new life she created in college collides with the life she left behind on the island? As she confronts the emotional and material realities that have fractured her family, she is confronted by a world in Brazil that her mother has had to leave behind, too.]]> 272 Gabriella Burnham 0593596528 LJF 0 to-read 0.0 2024 Wait
author: Gabriella Burnham
name: LJF
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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]]> Lovers and Liars: A Novel 222725796
Once upon a time, the Peacock sisters were little girls who combed each other’s tangled hair. But decades of secrets have led them to separate lives—and to telling lies, to themselves and to one another.

Sylvie is getting married. Again. A librarian and widow who soothes her grief by escaping into books (and shelving them perfectly), Sylvie has caught the attention of an unlikely match: Simon Rampling, a mysterious, wealthy man from Northern England. Sylvie allows herself to imagine a life beside him—one filled with the written word, kindness, and companionship. She’s ready to love again . . . or is she?

Cleo is the golden child. A successful criminal defense lawyer with the perfect boyfriend, she is immediately suspicious of Simon. Is he really who he says he is? Cleo heads to Mumberton Castle with a case of investigative files, telling herself she will expose Simon and save her sister from more heartbreak . . . but who is she really trying to save?

Emma is living a lie. She can’t afford this fancy trip—and she definitely can’t tell her husband and sons why. She once dreamt of a line of her own perfumes. Fragrances allowed her to speak in silence. Now, that tendency for silence only worsens her situation. Will she emerge with her dignity and family intact?

When their toxic mother shows up, the sisters assume the roles they fell into to survive their childhood . . . but they just might find the courage to make new choices.

Set over a spectacularly dramatic weekend, in the grand halls of a sprawling castle estate—amidst floor-to-ceiling libraries, falconry lessons, and medieval meals—Lovers and Liars is the unforgettable story of a family’s ability to forgive and to find joy in one another once again.]]> 320 Amanda Eyre Ward 0593500318 LJF 0 to-read 0.0 2024 Lovers and Liars: A Novel
author: Amanda Eyre Ward
name: LJF
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[The Wind Weaver (Reign of Remnants, #1)]]> 216246641 Magic and adventure swirl through this spellbinding romantasy where a young woman reignites the embers of an ancient prophecy, unleashing a storm that could save her realm or doom them all.

Fear of maegic plagues war-torn Anwyvn. Halflings like Rhya Fleetwood are killed on sight. But Rhya’s execution is interrupted by an unexpected savior—one far more terrifying than her would-be killers. The mysterious and mercenary Commander Scythe. In the clutches of this new enemy, Rhya finds herself fighting for her life in the barren reaches of the Northlands. Yet the farther she gets from home, the more she learns that nothing is as it seems—not her fearsome captor, not the blight that ravages her dying realm, not even herself.

For Rhya is no ordinary halfling. The strange birthmark on her chest and the wind she instinctively calls forth means she is a Remnant, one of four souls scattered across Anwyvn, fated to restore the balance of maegic…or die trying.

But mastering the power inside her is only the beginning. Desire for the Commander—a man she can never trust, a man with plans of his own—burns just as fiercely as the tempests beating against her rib cage for release. Rhya must choose: smother the flames…or let them consume her.]]> 534 Julie Johnson 0593817877 LJF 0 to-read 0.0 2025 The Wind Weaver (Reign of Remnants, #1)
author: Julie Johnson
name: LJF
average rating: 0.0
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]]> A Proposal to Die For 216247735 A fast-paced, witty, and delightful new mystery about a marriage proposal planner whose biggest job yet is threatened by a dead body (or two).

Jessamine Bricker loves a plan. Contingency plans and pros-and-cons lists are her love language, and because of that, her proposal planning business is thriving. But with rent costs rising at her office building, Jess jumps at the chance to plan a proposal between her snobby high school classmate, Diana, and her very wealthy boyfriend, Trenton Tillard…the Fourth.


Roped into joining Diana’s ”pre-bridalâ€� retreat at the exclusive Golden Ash resort, Jess hopes to fade into the background, get some work done, and maybe find some time to unwind.ĚýTheir first day is anything but Diana is furious about the mountain spa’s lack of cell phone reception, the couple next door argues constantly, and Jess swears she just saw a drug deal go down. To top it all off, she’s warned to stay out of the woods by the gruff and sexy chef, Dean Osbourne. Is this a retreat or a horror movie?


As Jess tries to do her job while placating the bride-to-be and her increasingly over-the-top demands, she spends more and more time withĚýtheĚýresort owners, finding herself much more in tune with the laid-back Osbourne family than her social climbing “boss.â€� Between a meditation garden-related drowning and Jess’s discovery of a body in a sauna, it's clearĚýthatĚýdeadlyĚýsecrets abound at the Golden Ash. Now it’s up to Jess to unravel the mysteries here in the mountains—before all her plans are cancelled…permanently.]]> 349 Molly Harper 0593817338 LJF 0 to-read 4.56 2025 A Proposal to Die For
author: Molly Harper
name: LJF
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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]]> The Familiar 211004837
What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain's king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England's heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king's favor.

Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition's wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santángel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.]]> 400 Leigh Bardugo 1250884276 LJF 0 to-read 4.17 2024 The Familiar
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: LJF
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/27
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]]> <![CDATA[It Goes So Fast: The Year of No Do-Overs]]> 211003704 An Instant New York Times Bestseller

Operating Instructions meets Glennon Doyle in this new book by famed NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly that is destined to become a classic—about the year before her son goes to college—and the joys, losses and surprises that happen along the way.

The time for do-overs is over.

Ever since she became a parent, Mary Louise Kelly has said “next year.� Next year will be the year she makes it to her son James’s soccer games (which are on weekdays at 4 p.m., right when she is on the air on NPR’s All Things Considered, talking to millions of listeners). Drive carpool for her son Alexander? Not if she wants to do that story about Ukraine and interview the secretary of state. Like millions of parents who wrestle with raising children while pursuing a career, she has never been cavalier about these decisions. The bargain she has always made with herself is this: this time I’ll get on the plane, and next year I’ll find a way to be there for the mom stuff.

Well, James and Alexander are now seventeen and fifteen, and a realization has overtaken Mary Louise: her older son will be leaving soon for college. There used to be years to make good on her promises; now, there are months, weeks, minutes. And with the devastating death of her beloved father, Mary Louise is facing act three of her life head-on.

Mary Louise is coming to grips with the reality every parent faces. Childhood has a definite expiration date. You have only so many years with your kids before they leave your house to build their own lives. It’s what every parent is supposed to want, what they raise their children to do. But it is bittersweet. Mary Louise is also dealing with the realities of having aging parents. This pivotal time brings with it the enormous questions of what you did right and what you did wrong.

This chronicle of her eldest child’s final year at home, of losing her father, as well as other curve balls thrown at her, is not a definitive answer―not for herself and certainly not for any other parent. But her questions, her issues, will resonate with every parent. And, yes, especially with mothers, who are judged more harshly by society and, more important, judge themselves more harshly. What would she do if she had to decide all over again?

Mary Louise’s thoughts as she faces the coming year will speak to anyone who has ever cared about a child or a parent. It Goes So Fast is honest, funny, poignant, revelatory, and immensely relatable.]]> 240 Mary Louise Kelly 1250859875 LJF 0 to-read 4.00 2023 It Goes So Fast: The Year of No Do-Overs
author: Mary Louise Kelly
name: LJF
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2023
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]]> The Storm We Made 218484140
Cecily knows two things: that this is all her fault; and that her family must never learn the truth.

A decade prior, Cecily had been desperate to be more than a housewife to a low-level bureaucrat in British-colonized Malaya. A chance meeting with the charismatic General Fuijwara lured her into a life of espionage, pursuing dreams of an “Asia for Asians.� Instead, Cecily helped usher in an even more brutal occupation by the Japanese. Ten years later as the war reaches its apex, her actions have caught up with her. Now her family is on the brink of destruction—and she will do anything to save them.

Spanning years of pain and triumph, told from the perspectives of four unforgettable characters, The Storm We Made is a dazzling saga about the horrors of war; the fraught relationships between the colonized and their oppressors, and the ambiguity of right and wrong when survival is at stake.]]> 350 Vanessa Chan LJF 0 to-read 3.96 2024 The Storm We Made
author: Vanessa Chan
name: LJF
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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]]> The Summer We Started Over 221996641 336 Nancy Thayer 0593724011 LJF 0 to-read 4.12 2024 The Summer We Started Over
author: Nancy Thayer
name: LJF
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop]]> 215149232
For the first few months all Yeongju does is cry, but the long hours in the shop also give her time to mull over what makes a good bookseller and store. As she starts to read hungrily, host author events, and develop her own bookselling philosophy, she eases into her new setting. Surrounded by friends, writers, and the books that connect them all, she finds her new story as the Hyunam-dong Bookshop transforms into an inviting space for lost souls to rest, heal, and remember it's never too late to scrap the plot and start again.]]> 320 Hwang Bo-Reum 1639736379 LJF 0 to-read 3.73 2022 Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop
author: Hwang Bo-Reum
name: LJF
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2022
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[A Curse for True Love (Once Upon a Broken Heart, #3)]]> 205363976 Two villains, one girl, and a deadly battle for happily ever after.

Evangeline Fox ventured to the Magnificent North in search of her happy ending, and it seems as if she has it. She’s married to a handsome prince and lives in a legendary castle. But Evangeline has no idea of the devastating price she’s paid for this fairytale. She doesn’t know what she has lost, and her husband is determined to make sure she never finds out . . . but first he must kill Jacks, the Prince of Hearts.

Blood will be shed, hearts will be stolen, and true love will be put to the test in A Curse for True Love, the breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Once Upon A Broken Heart trilogy.]]> 400 Stephanie Garber 1250851211 LJF 0 to-read 4.47 2023 A Curse for True Love (Once Upon a Broken Heart, #3)
author: Stephanie Garber
name: LJF
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2023
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/18
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]]> Finding Margaret Fuller 221441038
Massachusetts, 1836. Young, brazen, beautiful, and unapologetically brilliant, Margaret Fuller accepts an invitation from Ralph Waldo Emerson, the celebrated “Sage of Concord,� to meet his coterie of enlightened friends shaping a nation in the throes of its own self-discovery. By the end of her stay, she will become “the radiant genius and fiery heart� of the Transcendentalists, a role model to young Louisa May Alcott, an inspiration to Nathaniel Hawthorne and his scandalous Scarlet Letter, a friend to Henry David Thoreau as he ventures into the woods of Walden Pond . . . and a muse to Emerson himself. But Margaret craves more than poetry and interpersonal drama, and she finds her restless soul in need of new challenges and adventure.

And so she charts a singular course against a backdrop of dizzying historical drama: From Boston, where she hosts a women-only literary salon for students like Elizabeth Cady Stanton; to the editorial meetings of The Dial magazine, where she hones her pen as its co-founder; to Harvard’s library, where she is the first woman to study within its walls; to the gritty New York streets where she spars with Edgar Allan Poe and reports on the writings of Frederick Douglass. Margaret defies conventions time and again as an activist for women and an advocate for humanity, earning admirers and scathing critics alike.

When the legendary Horace Greeley offers an assignment in Europe, Margaret again makes history as the first female foreign news correspondent, mingling with luminaries like Frederic Chopin, Walt Whitman, George Sand, and more. But it is in Rome where she finds a world of passion, romance, and revolution, taking a Roman count as a lover—and sparking an international scandal. Evolving yet again into the roles of mother and countess, Margaret enters a new fight for Italy’s unification.

With a star-studded cast and epic sweep of historical events, this is a story of an inspiring trailblazer, a woman who loved big and lived even bigger—a fierce adventurer who transcended the rigid roles ascribed to women, and changed history for millions, all on her own terms.]]> 432 Allison Pataki 0593600258 LJF 0 to-read 4.00 2024 Finding Margaret Fuller
author: Allison Pataki
name: LJF
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
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]]> <![CDATA[The Lady Sparks a Flame (The Damsels of Discovery, #2)]]> 215366046 A Lady with a past. A man with ambition. A romance far from London society that might bridge their divides.

Lady Phoebe Hunt never anticipated returning from exile. A fatal choice drove her from England, but the death of her father—and the revelation of his debts—has brought her home. Once she settles her father’s estate, she will return to America, where she has reinvented herself. There’s no reason to remain, not even for one gravitationally challenged but deliciously tempting Sam Fenley.

Samuel Fenley is all ambition. Rising from shop boy to wealthy investor, he’s left knocking on doors that open only for those with a title. Unless he buys the damned door itself—and the estate that goes with it. Sam offers to relieve Phoebe of her burdens, but is her crumbling mansion all Sam wants? Or is it the Lady herself?

When threats from Phoebe’s past spark new dangers, Sam and Phoebe discover that neither is what the other expected. Standing on the edge of disaster, the disgraced Ice Queen will have to decide if she wants to forge through life alone, or let an unlikely hero melt her heart.]]> 380 Elizabeth Everett 0593550498 LJF 0 to-read 4.13 2025 The Lady Sparks a Flame (The Damsels of Discovery, #2)
author: Elizabeth Everett
name: LJF
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2025
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]]> <![CDATA[The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions]]> 220161418 The Power of Habit and Angela Duckworth’s Grit, a renowned social psychologist demonstrates the power of small acts—and how a subtle turning of habits into rituals can add purpose and pleasure to life.

Our lives are filled with repetitive tasks meant to boost productivity—what we come to know as habits. Over time, these habits (for example, brushing your teeth or putting on your right sock first) are done on autopilot. But when a layer of mindfulness accompanies a habit—when we focus on the precise way an act is performed—a ritual has been created. Now, an everyday act goes from black-and-white to technicolor. And as author Michael Norton explains here, it’s these rituals that make life worth living.

Think of the way you savor a certain beverage, the care you take with a certain outfit that only gets worn on special occasions, the unique way that your family gathers around the table at the holidays, or the secret language you enjoy with your significant other. To some, these behaviors may seem quirky, but because rituals matter so deeply to us on a personal level, they saturate our lives with purpose and meaning. Rituals can heal a community experiencing a great loss, guide a speaker through a difficult presentation, drive a stadium of sports fans to ecstasy, inspire courage in soldiers going into combat, and help us rise to challenges and realize opportunities. Among those who have made effective use of rituals are Maya Angelou, Keith Richards, Barack Obama, and Steve Jobs. Drawing on decades of original research, author Michal Norton reveals that shifting from a “habitual� mindset to a “ritual� mindset can both enhance performance and add meaning to your life.

Compelling, inspiring, and practical, The Ritual Effect takes us on a fascinating tour of the intention-filled acts that drive human behavior and shows us how to create simple rituals to imbue everyday life with a sense of purpose and joy.]]> 288 Michael Norton 1982153032 LJF 0 to-read 0.0 2024 The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions
author: Michael Norton
name: LJF
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]]> The Wives: A Memoir 214151663
When her new husband joins an elite Army unit, Simone Gorrindo is uprooted from New York City and dropped into Columbus, Georgia—a town so foreign she might as well have landed on the moon. With her husband frequently deployed, Simone is left to find her place in this new world, alone—until she meets the wives.

Gorrindo gives us an intimate look into the inner lives of a remarkable group of women and a tender, unflinching portrait of a marriage. A love story, an unforgettable coming-of-age tale, and a bracing tour of the intractable divisions that plague our country today, The Wives offers a rare and powerful gift: a hopeful stitch in the fabric of a torn America.]]> 432 Simone Gorrindo 1982178507 LJF 0 to-read 4.71 2024 The Wives: A Memoir
author: Simone Gorrindo
name: LJF
average rating: 4.71
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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]]> Edgewood (Edgewood #1) 17380608
But what was once a source of wonder soon becomes a dangerous liability as a ruthless organization hunts them down, determined to exploit their powers for their own gain. As the enemy closes in and threatens Russ's family, he and his newfound friends must band together and fight back, forever altering their destinies and the lives of those they love.

For fans of action-packed sci-fi novels with a touch of romance, this book is a must-read. If you enjoyed "X-Men," you'll love this thrilling tale of ordinary people with extraordinary abilities.]]> 325 Karen McQuestion 1736788817 LJF 0 to-read 3.99 2012 Edgewood (Edgewood #1)
author: Karen McQuestion
name: LJF
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2012
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/12
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]]> Victim 222175384
Javier Perez is a hustler from a family of hustlers. He learns from an early age how to play the game to his own advantage, how his background—murdered drug dealer dad, single cash-strapped mom, best friend serving time for gang activity—can be a key to doors he didn’t even know existed. This kind of story, molded in the right way, is just what college admissions committees are looking for, and a full academic scholarship to a prestigious university brings Javi one step closer to his dream of becoming a famous writer.

As a college student, Javi embellishes his life story until there’s not even a kernel of truth left. The only real connection to his past is the occasional letter he trades with his childhood best friend, Gio, who doesn’t seem to care about Javi’s newfound awareness of white privilege or the school-to-prison pipeline. Soon after Javi graduates, a viral essay transforms him from a writer on the rise to a journalist at a legendary magazine where the editors applaud his “unique perspective.� But Gio more than anyone knows who Javi really is, and sees through his game. Once Gio’s released from prison and Javi offers to cut him in on the deal, will he play along with Javi’s charade, or will it all come crumbling down?

A satirical sendup of tear-jerking trauma plots with a tender portrait of friendship at its core, Victim asks what real diversity looks like and how far one man is willing to go to make his story hit the right notes.]]> 288 Andrew Boryga 0593471261 LJF 0 to-read 4.00 2024 Victim
author: Andrew Boryga
name: LJF
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/10
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]]> Miss Morgan's Book Brigade 214152250 The New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the “captivating, richly drawn� (Woman’s World) The Paris Library returns with a brilliant new novel based on the true story of Jessie Carson—the American librarian who changed the literary landscape of France.

1918: As the Great War rages, Jessie Carson takes a leave of absence from the New York Public Library to work for the American Committee for Devastated France. Founded by millionaire Anne Morgan, this group of international women help rebuild devastated French communities just miles from the front. Upon arrival, Jessie strives to establish something that the French have never seen—children’s libraries. She turns ambulances into bookmobiles and trains the first French female librarians. Then she disappears.

1987: When NYPL librarian and aspiring writer Wendy Peterson stumbles across a passing reference to Jessie Carson in the archives, she becomes consumed with learning her fate. In her obsessive research, she discovers that she and the elusive librarian have more in common than their work at New York’s famed library, but she has no idea their paths will converge in surprising ways across time.]]> 352 Janet Skeslien Charles 1668008998 LJF 0 to-read 4.18 2024 Miss Morgan's Book Brigade
author: Janet Skeslien Charles
name: LJF
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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]]> Daughters of Shandong 223329042
Daughters are the Ang family’s curse.

In 1948, civil war ravages the Chinese countryside, but in rural Shandong, the wealthy, landowning Angs are more concerned with their lack of an heir. Hai is the eldest of four girls and spends her days looking after her sisters. Headstrong Di, who is just a year younger, learns to hide in plain sight, and their mother—abused by the family for failing to birth a boy—finds her own small acts of rebellion in the kitchen. As the Communist army closes in on their town, the rest of the prosperous household flees, leaving behind the girls and their mother because they view them as useless mouths to feed.

Without an Ang male to punish, the land-seizing cadres choose Hai, as the eldest child, to stand trial for her family’s crimes. She barely survives their brutality. Realizing the worst is yet to come, the women plan their escape. Starving and penniless but resourceful, they forge travel permits and embark on a thousand-mile journey to confront the family that abandoned them.

From the countryside to the bustling city of Qingdao, and onward to British Hong Kong and eventually Taiwan, they witness the changing tide of a nation and the plight of multitudes caught in the wake of revolution. But with the loss of their home and the life they’ve known also comes new freedom—to take hold of their fate, to shake free of the bonds of their gender, and to claim their own story.

Told in assured, evocative prose, with impeccably drawn characters, Daughters of Shandong is a hopeful, powerful story about the resilience of women in war; the enduring love between mothers, daughters, and sisters; and the sacrifices made to lift up future generations.]]> 400 Eve J. Chung 0593640543 LJF 0 to-read 4.53 2024 Daughters of Shandong
author: Eve J. Chung
name: LJF
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/06
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]]> <![CDATA[The City Beyond the Sea (Greenwild, #2)]]> 216470371 Daisy Thistledown's epic adventure continues in the spellbinding sequel to New York Times bestseller The World Behind the Door by Pari Thomson.In a land ruled by water, treachery runs deep . . . Daisy Thistledown and the Five O'Clock Club might have defeated a terrifying foe, but their journey to find the missing Botanists is only just beginning.Desperate to join the long-awaited expedition to the heart of the Amazon, Daisy and her friends abandon the safety of magical Mallowmarsh –only to fall face-first into danger on the high seas when they find themselves pursued across the waves by Grim Reapers. Their only to find the legendary Iffenwild, a mysterious pocket of the Greenwild hidden and lost to time.But beneath the waves, a strange botanical magic stirs. And it will take all of Daisy's courage and determination � and the trust of an unexpected new friend � if she is to discover the truth that haunts Iffenwild, and save the Greenwild from a terrible fate.]]> 400 Pari Thomson 1250894557 LJF 0 to-read 4.60 2024 The City Beyond the Sea (Greenwild, #2)
author: Pari Thomson
name: LJF
average rating: 4.60
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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]]> The Smoke That Thunders 213395524

Then Naborhi begins having strange dreams and finds a mysterious animal that becomes instantly bonded to her. When she meets Atai, the son of an Oracle from a rival kingdom, she learns that she is being guided by the gods. She and Atai journey to find the boy Naborhi is dreaming of, but when that boy turns out to be a kidnapped prince, Naborhi realizes there is more than just her freedom at stake: she must stop a war that has already been set in motion.


Woven through with Urhobo and West African folklore and mythology, The Smoke That Thunders is a gripping young adult fantasy that heralds the arrival of a powerhouse debut author.]]> 304 Erhu Kome 1324082267 LJF 0 to-read 0.0 The Smoke That Thunders
author: Erhu Kome
name: LJF
average rating: 0.0
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]]> Hidden Yellow Stars 216425351 Based on the true story of two World War II heroines who risked everything to save Jewish children from the Gestapo.�

Belgium, 1942�

Young schoolteacher Andrée Geulen secretly defies the Nazis in Belgium, who are forcing Jews to wear a yellow Star of David. Andrée is not Jewish, but she feels a maternal connection to her students, who are living in constant fear, and decides to take action. No child should have to suffer under such persecution. But what can one woman do against an entire army?�

Ida Sterno is a Jewish woman who works with a clandestine resistance group tasked with hiding children from the Gestapo. She recruits Andrée because her Aryan appearance can provide crucial security measures for their efforts. Andrée agrees to join and begins work immediately by adopting a code name: Claude Fournier.�

Together, Andrée and Ida work tirelessly to move Jewish children from their families and smuggle them to safety through the secret channels established by the Committee for the Defense of Jews. As each child is hidden, Andrée commits to memory their true name and history. Someday, she vows, she will help reunite as many of these families as she can.�

 â¶Ä�

But with the Gestapo closing in along with the traitorous Fat Jacques, who has turned from ally to enemy and is threatening to identify any Jew he meets, Andrée and Ida must work against increasingly impossible odds to save as many children as possible and keep them safely hidden—even if it might cost them their own lives. ]]> 352 Rebecca Connolly 163993393X LJF 0 to-read 4.25 Hidden Yellow Stars
author: Rebecca Connolly
name: LJF
average rating: 4.25
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]]> The Sweet Blue Distance 222839104
Carrie Ballentyne’s life was upended in 1845 when she had to leave the only home she’d ever known in the mountains of upstate New York. With her are her widowed mother and younger brother Nathan, but the separation from Bonner, Ballentyne, and Savard relatives weighs heavily. ĚýIn time Carrie finds footing as a midwife and nurse, but she never feels at ease in the city. So when, a decade later, she receives an invitation from a doctor in Santa Fe to join him at his practice, she readily accepts.
Ěý
The trip across the country is long and often dangerous, but she travels the last leg on horseback with men who have been hired to see her safely through the Native nations fighting the westward flood of colonizers. On that journey she makes friends who will be with her for all her Eva, a young widow; and Eli, an experienced surveyor. Once Carrie is established in Santa Fe, it becomes clear that her employer is not everything she was led to believe, and she is forced to face far more challenges and responsibilities than she anticipated. But she dedicates herself to the work and the women, providing health care, delivering babies, and earning the trust of her patients.
Ěý
In the course of that first summer in New Mexico, determined to make a life for herself in a new kind of wilderness far beyond her imagination, Carrie finds friendship, support, and even love where she least expected.]]> 800 Sara Donati 1984805061 LJF 0 to-read 4.00 2024 The Sweet Blue Distance
author: Sara Donati
name: LJF
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/06
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]]> <![CDATA[How to Solve Your Own Murder (Castle Knoll Files, #1)]]> 222419283
It’s 1965 and teenage Frances Adams is at an English country fair with her two best friends. But Frances’s night takes a hairpin turn when a fortune-teller makes a bone-chilling prediction: One day, Frances will be murdered. Frances spends a lifetime trying to solve a crime that hasn’t happened yet, compiling dirt on every person who crosses her path in an effort to prevent her own demise. For decades, no one takes Frances seriously, until nearly sixty years later, when Frances is found murdered, like she always said she would be.
Ěý
In the present day, Annie Adams has been summoned to a meeting at the sprawling country estate of her wealthy and reclusive great-aunt Frances. But by the time Annie arrives in the quaint English village of Castle Knoll, Frances is already dead. Annie is determined to catch the killer, but thanks to Frances’s lifelong habit of digging up secrets and lies, it seems every endearing and eccentric villager might just have a motive for her murder. Can Annie safely unravel the dark mystery at the heart of Castle Knoll, or will dredging up the past throw her into the path of a killer?
Ěý
As Annie gets closer to the truth, and closer to the danger, she starts to fear she might inherit her aunt’s fate instead of her fortune.]]> 384 Kristen Perrin 0593474023 LJF 0 to-read 3.83 2024 How to Solve Your Own Murder (Castle Knoll Files, #1)
author: Kristen Perrin
name: LJF
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/06
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]]> <![CDATA[The Deathly Grimm (The Forest Grimm, #2)]]> 211003953 The spellbinding sequel to Kathryn Purdie's bestselling dark fairytale, where our main characters must return to the forest—and its monsters.

The story hasn't ended yet.

After surviving the Forest Grimm and defeating the Wolf, Clara and Axel have made it back to their village, the one place they can be safe behind the forest's borders. But when the forest itself begins luring in more villagers, it's clear that Clara and Axel have only treated the symptoms of the forest's curse, not the cause—and it's getting worse.

Burdened with visions of the past and learning to navigate her fragile new relationship with Axel, Clara finds herself entering the forest with Axel yet again to discover the truth once and for all: the identity of the murderer who caused the curse. As they fight murderous woodsmen with incomprehensible riddles, ladies who will drag you into an eternal dance, and ghosts with the power to wield the forest against them, Clara and Axel realize the stakes are higher than ever. If they don't survive the dark, deadly twists of the forest once more, not only will they never escape, they may also no longer have a home to escape to.

Romantic, eerie, and beautiful, The Deathly Grimm is the triumphant conclusion to Kathryn Purdie's bestselling Forest Grimm duology.]]> 400 Kathryn Purdie 1250873029 LJF 0 to-read 4.00 2025 The Deathly Grimm (The Forest Grimm, #2)
author: Kathryn Purdie
name: LJF
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/05
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]]> The Glittering Edge 218372490 432 Alyssa Villaire 0316574945 LJF 0 to-read 3.90 2025 The Glittering Edge
author: Alyssa Villaire
name: LJF
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/02
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]]> <![CDATA[Blood Beneath the Snow (Blood & Souls Duology, #1)]]> 214537684 A heart-pounding romantasy following a rebellious princess who must compete to the death against her siblings for the crown to ensure justice, while fighting her feelings for her country's most powerful enemy by debut author Alexandra Kennington

Revna is no stranger to struggle. As the only member of the royal family without a magical ability, she is seen as an embarrassing mistake by her kingdom and a blight on her bloodline. Luckily, Revna has found family in other outcasts in her kingdom. But when her two closest friends� lives are put in danger, she is determined to save them by any means necessary, no matter the cost. The Bloodshed Trials—a competition where the last sibling in the royal family standing takes the throne—might just be the ultimate price.

Revna turns down her arranged marriage and commits to competing for the throne only to be kidnapped by the mysterious and terrifyingly powerful Hellbringer, the general of her country’s greatest enemy. He has the ability to rend souls with the flick of his wrist and is every inch as intimidating as the war stories say he is. But Revna wonders if there may be some humanity left in him—especially when he reveals there are other parties who want her on the throne for their own secret reasons.]]> 384 Alexandra Kennington LJF 0 to-read 4.07 2025 Blood Beneath the Snow (Blood & Souls Duology, #1)
author: Alexandra Kennington
name: LJF
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2025
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]]> To Sway A Soul 218627300
When Zhi Lan turned down the opportunity to become a nobleman’s concubine, she vowed to make her own fortune—not marry into it. But as a lowly farm girl, becoming a self-sustaining artist like her master Dan Li Chen is a lofty goal. Her meager fortune finally takes a turn when Master Dan’s recent masterpiece catches the attention of the city magistrate, who offers them both his esteemed patronage.

But when the prized painting is stolen, the magistrate issues an impossible ultimatum: paint a replica in three short days, or hang with the criminal who stole from him. Zhi Lan knows her only choice is to recover the masterpiece—even if it means joining forces with the uncommonly handsome thief who stole it.

It has been six years since Shao Qing made a foolish bargain with a lesser demon. The price? His soul. Since then, he has been traveling with a raucous band of art thieves, numb to everything but the thrill of their heists. But when an impassioned painter’s apprentice blackmails him into helping her retrieve her master's painting, his long dormant emotions begin to awaken. Compelled and unexpectedly intrigued, he accepts her bargain.

However, retrieving the stolen artwork proves more difficult than either of them anticipated. When the two are forced to conduct a heist of their own, Zhi Lan and Shao Qing must rely on one another despite their conflicting beliefs. Suddenly Zhi Lan is questioning the principles she’s always lived by, while Shao Qing begins to suspect he might have something left to lose.

As three days come to an end, the secrets they uncover will either bring them closer—or tear them apart.

Half a Soul meets your favorite historical C-drama in this Chinese folktale-inspired New Adult romantasy.

Tempting Thieves is a multi-author romantasy collection featuring cunning thieves who outsmart relentless hunters, steal forbidden treasures, and find love along the way. With enemies-to-lovers tension, slow-burn longing, forced proximity, secret identities, only one bed, and grumpy/sunshine dynamics, every story delivers an irresistible fantasy escape. Perfect for fans of forbidden romance, morally gray heroes, daring rogues, and clean yet sizzling chemistry. Each book in the collection is a standalone. Read in any order.]]> Ireen Chau 1962634051 LJF 0 to-read 4.48 2025 To Sway A Soul
author: Ireen Chau
name: LJF
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/01
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]]> Emma 23332879 308 Stacy King 1927925355 LJF 0 to-read 3.93 1815 Emma
author: Stacy King
name: LJF
average rating: 3.93
book published: 1815
rating: 0
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]]> Becoming Malka 29752046
If Judith had her way, her daughter would still be dressing up in fairy wings and princess crowns- collecting wild flowers and connecting with her spiritual energy, but for Molly; making plans and compiling data came as second nature. She and her father had delighted in spending long, cozy, afternoons cuddled in the library studying ancient family history. David Abramovitz began recounting tales of great-grandparents trekking across Mother Russia when his daughter was still quite young. Captivated, Molly learned how her relatives boarded a ship and sailed across the ocean to reach the shores of Argentina.

Now, at last, Molly's plans are coming to fruition. Her trek to her ancestral home leads her to an accidental discovery of a mythical tarot card. Will the life lessons revealed on this enchanted journey shake up her staid and uncomplicated life? Only time will tell.]]> 332 Mirta Ines Trupp 1530502225 LJF 0 to-read 4.30 Becoming Malka
author: Mirta Ines Trupp
name: LJF
average rating: 4.30
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date added: 2025/02/24
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]]> Wild Reverence 222376906
Ten years ago, Vincent of Beckett wrote to Matilda on the darkest night of his life―begging the goddess he befriended in dreams to help him. When his request went unanswered, Vincent moved on, becoming the hardened, irreverent lord of the river who has long forgotten Matilda. That is, until she comes tumbling into his bedroom window with a letter for him.

As Fate would have it, Matilda and Vincent were destined to find each other beyond dreams. There may be a chance for Matilda to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods, but at immense sacrifice. She will have to face something she fears even more than losing her magic: to be vulnerable, and to allow herself to finally be loved.]]> 544 Rebecca Ross 1250373352 LJF 0 to-read 4.78 2025 Wild Reverence
author: Rebecca Ross
name: LJF
average rating: 4.78
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/23
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]]> I Am Rome (Julius Caesar, #1) 221216648 The runaway international bestseller--part sweeping historical epic, part legal thriller--following the trial that shaped the life of the young Julius Caesar and gave root to an immortal legacy.

Every legend has a beginning.

Rome, 77 B.C. Senator Dolabella, known for using violence against anyone who opposes him, is going on trial for corruption and has already hired the best lawyers and even bought the jury. No man dares accept the role of prosecutor--until, against all odds, an unknown twenty-three-year-old steps out to lead the case, defend the people of Rome, and defy the power of the elite class. This lawyer’s name is Caius Julius Caesar.

Masterfully combining exhaustive historical rigor with extraordinary narrative skills, Santiago Posteguillo shows us the man behind the myth of Caesar as never before, taking us to the dangerous streets of Rome where the Senate's henchmen lurk on every corner, submerging us in the thick of battle, and letting us live the great love story of Julius Caesar and his wife, Cornelia.Ěý

After Julius Caesar, the world was never the same. I Am Rome tells the tale of the early events that shaped this extraordinary man's fate--and changed the course of history itself.]]> 624 Santiago Posteguillo 0593598067 LJF 0 to-read 4.00 2022 I Am Rome (Julius Caesar, #1)
author: Santiago Posteguillo
name: LJF
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2022
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/21
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]]> The Love Simulation 214289343 AN AMAZON BEST ROMANCE BOOK OF THE MONTH!

A passionate vice principal and a guarded science teacher compete for a grand prize, only to realize their budding relationship might be the real jackpot.

Brianna Rogers has been told a time (or six) she needs to stop jumping into things head first. But when the principal rescinds his approval for a library upgrade, deciding to spend the money on a football field instead, she sees red. Literally. Brianna throws her hat in the ring and joins a team of teachers who will spend their summer in a Mars simulation. As the sister of an astronaut, this should be easy, right? What she didn’t count on was the last-minute addition to the team—Roman science teacher, son of the principal, and too handsome for his own good.


Roman and Brianna have been hot and cold all year, and living in close quarters intensifies their animosity and attraction. Brianna is sure he’s been sent by his father to sabotage them, foiling their chance at prize money that will cover all of the school’s actual needs. But each day, Roman proves himself to be a dedicated teammate—and Brianna finds herself falling harder and harder. While it’s clear the feeling is mutual, she can’t shake the sense that he’s hiding something. As the simulation nears its end, Brianna realizes she may have to make an impossible choice, between the school she’s dedicated herself to, and the man who has won his way into her heart.]]> 315 Etta Easton 059364025X LJF 0 to-read 3.78 2025 The Love Simulation
author: Etta Easton
name: LJF
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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]]> Without a Shadow 215359103
After her father disappears, Adlai keeps going back to the market determined to find some trace of him and stealing what she can with her shadow. Until one day she picks the wrong mark—someone who knows her little trick and tries to take her shadow for himself.

Everything Adlai thought she knew about her shadow is turned upside down, and her father’s disappearance takes on a new light as she’s forced to flee the city or risk being hunted. From the desert to the Shadow World to even more unlikely places, Adlai knows one thing for her shadow is a gift worth killing for.

For readers who enjoy Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, We Hunt the Flames by Hafsah Faizal, The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty and Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett.]]> 320 H. J. Reynolds 0744308364 LJF 0 to-read 0.0 Without a Shadow
author: H. J. Reynolds
name: LJF
average rating: 0.0
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date added: 2025/02/19
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]]> <![CDATA[The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan, #1)]]> 217313011
In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire’s borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death both terrifying and impossible.

Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home.

At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana’s brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior—but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana’s mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective.

As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.

By an “endlessly inventive� (Vulture) author with a “wicked sense of humor� (NPR), The Tainted Cup mixes the charms of detective fiction with brilliant world-building to deliver a fiendishly clever mystery that’s at once instantly recognizable and thrillingly new.]]> 432 Robert Jackson Bennett 1984820710 LJF 0 to-read 4.42 2024 The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan, #1)
author: Robert Jackson Bennett
name: LJF
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/19
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]]> Full Exposure 75299365
Boudoir photographer Josie Parks never ever takes a vacation. But when a client cancels a New Orleans shoot at the last minute, she decides to fly out from her Washington, D.C., studio anyway. Maybe the trip will reawaken her recently stagnant muse. After all, it’s Mardi Gras season�

Spencer Pham has come home after twelve soul-sucking years in corporate hell to pursue his making a docu-film on his family’s history as the first Vietnamese Mardi Gras krewe. The last thing he expects is getting whacked in the head by a beautiful woman trying to snag some parade beads.

Over some beignets and coffee, Spencer and Josie connect over their artistic pursuits. He offers to show her the real New Orleans, if she’ll help him with the camerawork for his film. Despite Josie’s type-A personality clashing with Spencer’s laissez-faire attitude, they seem to make a great team, and soon, the good times are rolling both on and off camera. But Josie has a life in D.C., and they both have big dreams they’re chasing. When this Big Easy fling starts feeling awfully serious, can they find a way to choose between personal and professional passion?]]> 318 Thien-Kim Lam 006323730X LJF 0 to-read 3.58 2023 Full Exposure
author: Thien-Kim Lam
name: LJF
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2023
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/19
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]]> The Mystery of Locked Rooms 213570818 Three friends team up to find a hidden treasure in an abandoned 1940s fun house.

Twelve-year-old Sarah Kelley wants nothing more from her seventh-grade year than to beat the hardest escape room left in her town with her best friends West and Hannah. But when her house receives a foreclosure notice everything changes. After her father became ill two years ago, things have been bad, but she did not think they would become lose-your-house bad.

She feels helpless until the day Hannah mentions a treasure rumored to be hidden in the walls of an abandoned fun house. According to legend, Hans, Erik, and James Halloran were orphaned at eight years old and lived with different families until they were able to reunite as adults. Their dream was to build the best fun house in existence. They wanted the experience to be more than mirror mazes and optical illusions, so they not only created elaborate riddles and secret passages, but they also claimed to have hidden a treasure inside. Sarah, West, and Hannah decide to explore, but once in, they realize the house is unlike any escape room they've attempted.]]> 272 Lindsay Currie 1728259568 LJF 0 to-read 4.14 2024 The Mystery of Locked Rooms
author: Lindsay Currie
name: LJF
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/12
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]]> Heartless 58443261 Alternate cover edition can be found here

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland, she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love. Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

In her first stand-alone teen novel, the New York Times-bestselling author dazzles us with a prequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

]]> 464 Marissa Meyer LJF 0 to-read 4.03 2016 Heartless
author: Marissa Meyer
name: LJF
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2016
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/10
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]]> <![CDATA[The Stars Undying (Empire Without End, #1)]]> 62874004 A sweeping tale of empire and betrayal set among the stars, perfect for readers of Ann Leckie and Arkady Martine,ĚýThe Stars Undying is a queer, spectacular space opera debut inspired by the rise and fall of ancient Rome and Egypt—and the lives and loves of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar.

Princess Altagracia has lost everything. After a bloody civil war, her twin sister has claimed both the crown of their planet, Szayet, and the Pearl of its prophecy: a computer that contains the immortal soul of Szayet’s god.

So when the interstellar Empire of Ceiao turns its conquering eye toward Szayet, Gracia sees an opportunity. To regain her planet, Gracia places herself in the hands of the empire and its dangerous commander, Matheus Ceirran.

But winning over Matheus, to say nothing of his mercurial and compelling captain Anita, is no easy feat. And in trying to secure her planet’s sovereignty and future, Gracia will find herself torn between Matheus’s ambitions, Anita’s unpredictable desires, and the demands of the Pearl that whispers in her ear.

For Szayet’s sake and her own, she will need to become more than a princess with a silver tongue. She will have to become a queen as history has never seen before.]]> 560 Emery Robin 0316391492 LJF 0 to-read 3.75 2022 The Stars Undying (Empire Without End, #1)
author: Emery Robin
name: LJF
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2022
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes, #1)]]> 61219635 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9781250886088.

A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes.

After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time.

The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success—not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.

If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won't be able to go it alone.

But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.]]> 304 Travis Baldree LJF 0 to-read 4.17 2022 Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes, #1)
author: Travis Baldree
name: LJF
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2022
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/06
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]]> <![CDATA[The Gorgon's Fury (Tales of Newel and Doren #1)]]> 216319402 #1 New York Times best-selling author Brandon Mull returns to Fablehaven with a brand-new story starring the comedic satyrs, Newel and Doren, and their battle against a gorgon.

Satyrs Newel and Doren are maturing into more responsible citizens after helping put an end to the dragon rebellion. But the thought of growing out of adolescence has the two goatmen in crisis mode. If that isn’t enough to worry about, a few unlucky inhabitants of Fablehaven have been found petrified, turned to stone, including fellow satyrs. Could this new threat be the workings of a dangerous gorgon?

Newel and Doren become intrigued after an informant divulges information about a legendary Listening Doll—a talisman with the power to reveal the antidote for any magical malady—hidden somewhere in the Florida swamplands. If the mystical doll can solve any problem, maybe she has the answer of how to turn back the clock, so they won’t have to grow up.

Perhaps a trip to Florida is just what Newel and Doren need to get their mojo in time to win the annual Satyr Games. Two new challengers, Barrett and Hoff, are talking smack about dethroning Newel and Doren as perennial champions. And the new opponents have a smartphone!

Finding the Listening Doll and saving Fablehaven is important, sure. But Newel and Doren are also desperate for a smartphone of their own. Let the adventure and the games begin!]]> 192 Brandon Mull 1639933794 LJF 0 to-read 4.17 The Gorgon's Fury (Tales of Newel and Doren #1)
author: Brandon Mull
name: LJF
average rating: 4.17
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date added: 2025/02/05
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]]> <![CDATA[The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club]]> 221473261 Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

It is the summer of 1919 and Constance Haverhill is without prospects. Now that all the men have returned from the front, she has been asked to give up her cottage and her job at the estate she helped run during the war. While she looks for a position as a bookkeeper or—horror—a governess, she’s sent as a lady’s companion to an old family friend who is convalescing at a seaside hotel. Despite having only weeks to find a permanent home, Constance is swept up in the social whirl of Hazelbourne-on-Sea after she rescues the local baronet’s daughter, Poppy Wirrall, from a social faux pas.

Poppy wears trousers, operates a taxi and delivery service to employ local women, and runs a ladies� motorcycle club (to which she plans to add flying lessons). She and her friends enthusiastically welcome Constance into their circle. And then there is Harris, Poppy’s recalcitrant but handsome brother—a fighter pilot recently wounded in battle—who warms in Constance’s presence. But things are more complicated than they seem in this sunny pocket of English high society. As the country prepares to celebrate its hard-won peace, Constance and the women of the club are forced to confront the fact that the freedoms they gained during the war are being revoked.

Whip-smart and utterly transportive, The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club is historical fiction of the highest order: an unforgettable coming-of-age story, a tender romance, and a portrait of a nation on the brink of change.]]> 448 Helen Simonson 1984801333 LJF 0 to-read 4.12 2024 The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club
author: Helen Simonson
name: LJF
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/03
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]]> <![CDATA[The Queen's Resistance (The Queen's Rising, #2)]]> 214466891
Aodhan Morgane, formerly known as Cartier Évariste, is adjusting to the stark contrast between his pre-rebellion life in Valenia and his current one as lord of a fallen House. During his castle’s restoration, he discovers Tomas, a young boy whose past is a mystery. So when Brienna is as taken with Tomas as he is, Cartier lets his mind wander—what if he doesn’t have to raise him or his House alone?

However, Brienna and Cartier must put their love aside and stay focused on the most vital tasks at hand—the Lannons' trial, forging alliances, executing justice, and ensuring that no one halts the queen’s coronation. But resistance is rumbling among the old regime’s supporters, who are desperate to find a weakness in the rebels� forces. And what makes one more vulnerable than love?

In this epic follow-up to The Queen's Rising, Rebecca Ross weaves political intrigue, complicated relationships, and undying love to create a story that readers won't be able to put down.]]> 496 Rebecca Ross 0063428415 LJF 0 to-read 4.38 2019 The Queen's Resistance (The Queen's Rising, #2)
author: Rebecca Ross
name: LJF
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2019
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/01
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]]> Sisters of Sword and Song 214466920 From the author of The Queen’s Rising comes a thrilling YA stand-alone fantasy about the unbreakable bond between sisters. Perfect for fans of Ember in the Ashes, Sky in the Deep, and Court of Fives.

After eight long years, Evadne will finally be reunited with her older sister, Halcyon, who has been proudly serving in the queen’s army. But when Halcyon appears earlier than expected, Eva knows something has gone terribly wrong. Halcyon is on the run, hunted by her commander and charged with murder.

Though Halcyon’s life is spared during her trial, the punishment is heavy. And when Eva volunteers to serve part of Halcyon’s sentence, she’s determined to find out exactly what happened. But as Eva begins her sentence, she quickly learns that there are fates much worse than death.]]> 480 Rebecca Ross 0063428423 LJF 0 to-read 4.25 2020 Sisters of Sword and Song
author: Rebecca Ross
name: LJF
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2020
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/01
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]]> Dreams Lie Beneath 214466894 A story about magic and the captivating power of dreams.

A curse plagues the realm of Azenor—during each new moon, magic flows from the nearby mountain and brings nightmares to life. Only magicians, who serve as territory wardens, stand between people and their worst dreams.

Clementine Madigan is ready to take over as the warden of her small town, but when two magicians challenge her, she is unwittingly drawn into a century-old conflict. She seeks revenge, but as she secretly gets closer to Phelan, one of the handsome young magicians, secrets begin to rise. Clementine must unite with her rival to fight the realm’s curse, which seems to be haunting her every turn.]]> 496 Rebecca Ross 0063428431 LJF 0 to-read 4.50 2021 Dreams Lie Beneath
author: Rebecca Ross
name: LJF
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2021
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/01
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]]> <![CDATA[The Queen's Rising (The Queen's Rising, #1)]]> 214466903
Growing up in the southern kingdom of Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her. While some are born with a talent for one of the five passions—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—Brienna struggled to find hers until she chose knowledge. However, despite all her preparations, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true: she is left without a patron.

Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Suspicious of his intent, she reluctantly accepts. But there is much more to his story, for there is a dangerous plot to overthrow the king of Maevana—the rival kingdom of Valenia—and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the northern throne. And others are involved, some closer to Brienna than she realizes.

With war brewing, Brienna must choose whose side she will remain loyal to—passion or blood. Because a queen is destined to rise and lead the battle to reclaim the crown. Who will be that queen?

With gorgeous description and detailed rendering of a world where not everything is what it seems, debut author Rebecca Ross weaves an intricate tale of revenge, loyalty, and, ultimately, self-discovery.]]> 480 Rebecca Ross 0063428407 LJF 0 to-read 3.76 2018 The Queen's Rising (The Queen's Rising, #1)
author: Rebecca Ross
name: LJF
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2018
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/01
shelves: to-read
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]]> Shelterwood 220817706
1990. Law enforcement ranger Valerie Boren-Odell arrives at Horsethief Trail National Park seeking a quiet place to raise her son. But no sooner has Valerie reported for duty than a teenage hiker goes missing and the long-hidden burial site of three children is discovered in a cave. Val’s quest to uncover the truth wins an ally among the Choctaw Nation’s Tribal Police but soon collides with the deadly legacy of the land itself.

1909. Eleven-year-old Olive Radley knows that her stepfather is a threat to the two Choctaw girls boarded in their home. When the older girl disappears, Ollie flees, taking six-year-old Nessa with her. Together they begin a perilous journey to the remote Winding Stair Mountains, the territory of outlaws, treasure hunters, and desperate men. Along the way, they form an unlikely band with other children struggling to get by on their own.

In this gripping novel, Lisa Wingate traces the story of children abandoned by the law and the battle to see justice done. Amid times of deep conflict over who owns the land and its riches, Ollie and Val each leave behind one life in search of another.]]> 384 Lisa Wingate 0593726529 LJF 0 to-read 3.89 2024 Shelterwood
author: Lisa Wingate
name: LJF
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/01
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]]> Double Lives 213870623
Since childhood, identical twins Leona and Fiona Dunbar have been getting in—and out—of trouble by pretending to be each other. Yet underneath, they couldn't be more different. Outspoken Leona lives to break rules, have a good time, and scandalize their respectable hometown of Lexington. Fiona is a seemingly-demure churchgoing girl who is the apple of her domineering, widowed mother Mavis’s eye.

But together, the twins have fooled teachers, boyfriends, bosses, racist police—and most importantly, strait-laced Mavis. Even when Leona does jail time for Fiona, their unbreakable bond keeps them fiercely loyal. . . . So when Fiona feels stifled in her passionless marriage, and Leona is heartbroken over losing her one true love, it's perfect timing to change places once again . . .

Leona is shocked to discover she enjoys the security of being a wife and homebody. And the unexpected spark between her and Fiona’s husband is giving her all kinds of deliciously sexy ideas. Meanwhile, Fiona enjoys being free, single, and reveling in the independence she's never had. And the more she indulges her secret, long-repressed wild child, the more Leona’s ex-lover becomes one temptation she’s having trouble resisting . . .

As the sisters� masquerade ignites desires and appetites they never expected, it also puts their most damning secrets on the line. Once the fallout rocks their small town, can Fiona and Leona's deep sisterhood shield them from total disaster and help them reconcile their mistakes? Or will the trust between them become a weapon that shatters their lives for good?]]> 320 Mary Monroe 1496743164 LJF 0 to-read 4.64 Double Lives
author: Mary Monroe
name: LJF
average rating: 4.64
book published:
rating: 0
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]]> The Storm We Made 214151519 A novel about a Malayan mother who becomes an unlikely spy for the invading Japanese forces during WWII—and the shocking consequences that rain upon her community and family.

Malaya, 1945. Cecily Alcantara’s family is in terrible danger: her fifteen-year-old son, Abel, has disappeared, and her youngest daughter, Jasmin, is confined in a basement to prevent being pressed into service at the comfort stations. Her eldest daughter Jujube, who works at a tea house frequented by drunk Japanese soldiers, becomes angrier by the day.

Cecily knows two things: that this is all her fault; and that her family must never learn the truth.

A decade prior, Cecily had been desperate to be more than a housewife to a low-level bureaucrat in British-colonized Malaya. A chance meeting with the charismatic General Fuijwara lured her into a life of espionage, pursuing dreams of an “Asia for Asians.� Instead, Cecily helped usher in an even more brutal occupation by the Japanese. Ten years later as the war reaches its apex, her actions have caught up with her. Now her family is on the brink of destruction—and she will do anything to save them.]]> 368 Vanessa Chan 1668015153 LJF 0 to-read 3.63 2024 The Storm We Made
author: Vanessa Chan
name: LJF
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/01
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]]> <![CDATA[Lovers in Auschwitz: A True Story]]> 173403889
The incredible true story of two Holocaust survivors who fell in love in Auschwitz, only to be separated upon liberation and lead remarkable lives apart following the war—and then find each other again more than 70 years later.
Ěý
Zippi Spitzer and David Wisnia were captivated by each other from the moment they first exchanged glances across the work floor. It was the beginning of a love story that could have happened anywhere. Except for one this romance was unfolding in history’s most notorious death camp, between two young prisoners whose budding intimacy risked dooming them if they were caught.

Incredibly, David and Zippi survived for years beneath the ash-choked skies of Auschwitz. Under the protection of their fellow inmates, their romance grew and deepened, even as their brushes with death mounted and David’s luck in particular seemed close to running out. As the war’s end finally approached and the time came for them to leave the camp, David and Zippi made plans to meet again. But neither of them could imagine how long their reunion would take or how many lives they would live in the interim. They had no inkling, either, of the betrayals that would await them along the way. But David did suspect that Zippi harbored a secret—one that could explain the mystery of his survival all those years ago.

An unbelievable tale of romance, sacrifice, loss, and resilience, Lovers in Auschwitz Ěýis a saga of two young people who found themselves trapped inside a waking nightmare of the Nazisâ€� creation, yet who nevertheless discovered a love that sustained them through history’s darkest hour.]]> 400 Keren Blankfeld 0316564788 LJF 0 to-read 4.54 Lovers in Auschwitz: A True Story
author: Keren Blankfeld
name: LJF
average rating: 4.54
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/01
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]]> The Lost Library 210585822 A little free library guarded by a cat and a boy who takes on the mystery it keeps.

When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.

Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures, but the town itself.

Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an aging (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story from award-winning authors Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. It's about owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book (and, of course, the librarian who gave it to you).]]> 224 Rebecca Stead 1250838835 LJF 0 to-read 4.43 2023 The Lost Library
author: Rebecca Stead
name: LJF
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2023
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/01
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]]> The Fox Wife 211003810 Some people think foxes are similar to ghosts because we go around collecting qi, but nothing could be further than the truth. We are living creatures, just like you, only usually better looking . . .

Manchuria, 1908.
In the last years of the dying Qing Empire, a courtesan is found frozen in a doorway. Her death is clouded by rumors of foxes, which are believed to lure people by transforming themselves into beautiful women and handsome men. Bao, a detective with an uncanny ability to sniff out the truth, is hired to uncover the dead woman’s identity. Since childhood, Bao has been intrigued by the fox gods, yet they’ve remained tantalizingly out of reach—until, perhaps, now.

Meanwhile, a family who owns a famous Chinese medicine shop can cure ailments but can’t escape the curse that afflicts them—their eldest sons die before their twenty-fourth birthdays. When a disruptively winsome servant named Snow enters their household, the family’s luck seems to change—or does it?

Snow is a creature of many secrets, but most of all she’s a mother seeking vengeance for her lost child. Hunting a murderer, she will follow the trail from northern China to Japan, while Bao follows doggedly behind. Navigating the myths and misconceptions of fox spirits, both Snow and Bao will encounter old friends and new foes, even as more deaths occur.

New York Times bestselling author Yangsze Choo brilliantly explores a world of mortals and spirits, humans and beasts, and their dazzling intersection. Epic in scope and full of singular, unforgettable characters, The Fox Wife is a stunning novel about old loves and second chances, the depths of maternal love, and ancient folktales that may very well be true.]]> 400 Yangsze Choo 1250266033 LJF 0 to-read 3.93 2024 The Fox Wife
author: Yangsze Choo
name: LJF
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[To Slip the Bonds of Earth (Katharine Wright, #1)]]> 213870691
December 1903: While Wilbur and Orville Wright’s flying machine is quite literally taking off in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with its historic fifty-seven second flight, their sister Katharine is back home in Dayton, Ohio, running the bicycle shop, teaching Latin, and looking after the family. A Latin teacher and suffragette, Katharine is fiercely independent, intellectual, and the only Wright sibling to finish college. But at twenty-nine, she’s frustrated by the gender inequality in academia and is for a new challenge. She never suspects it will be sleuthing�

Returning home to Dayton, Wilbur and Orville accept an invitation to a friend’s party. Nervous about leaving their as-yet-unpatented flyer plans unattended, Wilbur decides to bring them to the festivities . . . where they are stolen right out from under his nose. As always, it’s Katharine’s job to problem solve—and in this case, crime-solve.

As she sets out to uncover the thief among their circle of friends, Katharine soon gets more than she bargained She finds her number one suspect dead with a letter opener lodged in his chest. It seems the patent is the least of her brothers� worries. They have a far more earthbound concern—prison. Now Katharine will have to keep her feet on the ground and put all her skills to work to make sure Wilbur and Orville are free to fly another day.]]> 305 Amanda Flower 1496756096 LJF 0 to-read 3.67 2024 To Slip the Bonds of Earth (Katharine Wright, #1)
author: Amanda Flower
name: LJF
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/01
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]]> Spiral (Off the Ice, #2) 213651272 He’s on edge while she’s en pointe in this fake-dating sports romance from the author of the smash hit Collide.

Elias Westbrook, a newly drafted hockey player for the Toronto Thunder, is facing the challenges of fame and media scrutiny. With a growing fan base and too many expectations on his shoulders, he’s struggling to make his first career goal. The tabloids are reporting on his every move, including which woman he was last seen with, but all he wants to do is escape the spotlight.

Enter from stage left Sage Beaumont, an aspiring ballerina with dreams of joining the AuroraĚýBallet Theatre, but her lack of popularity online leaves her at a major disadvantage for securing the lead role. When Sage finds herself with the perfect opportunity to make her dreams come true by fake dating Elias, she takes her shot.

Soon enough, the flimsy fake-dating rules they set in place fall away in the face of their sizzling connection. But before things spiral out of control, Sage and Elias will have to decide if they’re willing to take the leap together or if they'll call it quits.]]> 367 Bal Khabra 0593818296 LJF 0 to-read 3.92 2025 Spiral (Off the Ice, #2)
author: Bal Khabra
name: LJF
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/01
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]]> <![CDATA[The Encanto's Curse (The Encanto's Daughter, #2)]]> 214269000 The vampire queen must break her curse in this YA romantasy inspired by Filipino folklore, a sequel to The Encanto’s Daughter by #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz!

A curse has befallen Biringan. Stalking the night sky and sinking sharp teeth in its prey, a vampire-like creature—a manananggal—is terrorizing the kingdom. Now MJ Robertson-Rodriguez must fulfill her duties as the newly crowned queen and restore peace. Except . . . when MJ wakes up in tattered clothes stained with blood, she quickly realizes the monster lives within her.
To prevent more destruction, MJ flees to Mount Makiling with select members of her court, all while keeping her curse secret. By her side is Lucas, the talented knight who broke her heart by giving his own to another. And there’s Prince Qian, the devilishly handsome monster hunter from the Jade Empire who's visiting on a diplomatic mission.
In the mountains, MJ is charmed by Qian's valiant spirit. Could he be the one to finally mend her broken heart, which still beats for Lucas? But as the manananggal fills MJ with bloodthirst, she must set love aside and break the curse before it consumes her forever.
ĚýĚýĚýĚýWhen a neighboring kingdom threatens to wage war on Biringan, can the young queen regain control of herself before she loses control of the crown?]]> 352 Melissa de la Cruz 0593533119 LJF 0 to-read 4.22 2025 The Encanto's Curse (The Encanto's Daughter, #2)
author: Melissa de la Cruz
name: LJF
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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]]> We Could Be Magic 215149189 A swoon-worthy young adult graphic novel about a girl's summer job at a theme park from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer.


When Tabitha Laurie was growing up, a visit to Sommerland saved her belief in true love, even as her parents� marriage was falling apart. Now she’s landed her dream job at the theme park’s prestigious summer program, where she can make magical memories for other kids, guests, and superfans just like her. All she has to do is audition for one of the coveted princess roles, and soon her dreams will come true.

There’s just one problem. The heroes and heroines at Sommerland are all, well� thin. And no matter how much Tabi lives for the magic, she simply doesn't fit the park's idea of a princess.

Given a not-so-regal position at a nacho food stand instead, Tabi is going to need the support of new friends, a new crush, and a whole lot of magic if she’s going to devise her own happily ever after. . . without getting herself fired in the process.

With art by Joelle Murray, the wonder of Sommerland comes to life with charming characters and whimsical backdrops. We Could Be Magic is a perfect read for anyone looking to get swept away by a sparkly summer romance.]]> 256 Marissa Meyer 1250379393 LJF 0 to-read 4.46 2025 We Could Be Magic
author: Marissa Meyer
name: LJF
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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]]> Gothikana 211004739 Beauty & the Beast meets the gothic suspense of Dracula in this erotic dark academia story by RuNyx―the New York Times bestselling sensation, now in paperback!

An unusual girl. An enigmatic man. An ancient castle. What could go wrong?

An outcast her entire life, Corvina Clemm is left adrift after losing her mother. When she receives the admission letter from the mysterious University of Verenmore, she accepts it as a sign from the universe. The last thing she expects though is an olden, secluded castle on top of a mountain riddled with secrets, deceit, and death.

An enigma his entire life, Vad Deverell likes being a closed book but knowing exactly everything that happens in the university. A part-time professor working on his thesis, Vad has been around long enough to know the dangers the castle possesses.
And he knows the moment his paths cross with Corvina, she's dangerous to everything that he is.

They shouldn't have caught each other's eye. They cannot be. But a chill-inducing century-old mystery forces them to collide. People have disappeared every five years for over a hundred years, and Corvina is getting clues to unraveling it all, and Vad needs to keep an eye on her.

And so begins a tale of the mystique, the morbid, the macabre, and a deep love that blossoms in the unlikeliest of places.]]> 416 RuNyx 1250334225 LJF 0 to-read 3.78 2021 Gothikana
author: RuNyx
name: LJF
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2021
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/01
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]]> Waking Fire (Waking Fire, #1) 66098778
This incendiary YA fantasy debut follows a girl who will stop at nothing to save her village after it’s discovered by a dangerous warlord and his army of undead monsters.

Naira Khoum has only known life in Lagusa, a quiet village at the desert’s end. But to the rest of the world, Lagusa is a myth, its location shrouded in secrecy. While war rages to the north led by power-hungry Sothpike and his army of undead monsters called Dambi, Naira’s people live in peace.

Until the impossible happens—Lagusa is attacked by a Mistress sent to do Sothpike’s bidding with a hoard of Dambi under her control. The Mistress is looking for something, and she’s willing to let her Dambi destroy Lagusa to get it.

Desperate to protect her home, Naira convinces her twin brother Nez and handsome refugee Kal to join the newly formed resistance with her. Together, they’ll have to figure out what the Mistress wants—before there’s nothing left of Lagusa to save.]]> 336 Jean Louise 1335458093 LJF 0 to-read 3.50 2023 Waking Fire (Waking Fire, #1)
author: Jean Louise
name: LJF
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2023
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/01/12
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]]> Expiration Dates 214151562
From the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years and One Italian Summer comes the romance that will define a generation.

Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a name: Jake.

But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction, and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that—if he found out—would break his heart.

Told with her signature warmth and insight into matters of the heart, Rebecca Serle has finally set her sights on romantic love. The result is a gripping, emotional, passionate, and (yes) heartbreaking novel about what it means to be single, what it means to find love, and ultimately how we define each of them for ourselves. Expiration Dates is the one fans have been waiting for.]]> 288 Rebecca Serle 1982166835 LJF 0 to-read 3.54 2024 Expiration Dates
author: Rebecca Serle
name: LJF
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/01/12
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]]> Becoming Madam Secretary 221754311 She took on titans, battled generals, and changed the world as we know it�

New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray returns with a captivating and dramatic new novel about an American heroine Frances Perkins.

Raised on tales of her revolutionary ancestors, Frances Perkins arrives in New York City at the turn of the century, armed with her trusty parasol and an unyielding determination to make a difference.

When she’s not working with children in the crowded tenements in Hell’s Kitchen, Frances throws herself into the social scene in Greenwich Village, befriending an eclectic group of politicians, artists, and activists, including the millionaire socialite Mary Harriman Rumsey, the flirtatious budding author Sinclair Lewis, and the brilliant but troubled reformer Paul Wilson, with whom she falls deeply in love.

But when Frances meets a young lawyer named Franklin Delano Roosevelt at a tea dance, sparks fly in all the wrong directions. She thinks he’s a rich, arrogant dilettante who gets by on a handsome face and a famous name. He thinks she’s a priggish bluestocking and insufferable do-gooder. Neither knows it yet, but over the next twenty years, they will form a historic partnership that will carry them both to the White House.

Frances is destined to rise in a political world dominated by men, facing down the Great Depression as FDR’s most trusted lieutenant—even as she struggles to balance the demands of a public career with marriage and motherhood. And when vicious political attacks mount and personal tragedies threaten to derail her ambitions, she must decide what she’s willing to do—and what she’s willing to sacrifice—to save a nation.]]> 544 Stephanie Dray 0593437071 LJF 0 to-read 4.39 2024 Becoming Madam Secretary
author: Stephanie Dray
name: LJF
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/01/05
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]]> Funny Story 220999062 A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.

Daphne always loved the way her fiancé, Peter, told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it... right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.

Which is how Daphne begins her new story: stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned-up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?

But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex... right?]]> 416 Emily Henry 0593441214 LJF 0 to-read 4.20 2024 Funny Story
author: Emily Henry
name: LJF
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/01/05
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]]> The Girl from the Grand Hotel 217470802 368 Camille Aubray LJF 0 to-read 3.55 2024 The Girl from the Grand Hotel
author: Camille Aubray
name: LJF
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/01/04
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]]> <![CDATA[Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure (Nonna Maria, #3)]]> 218695929
As Nonna Maria's longtime friend and sometimes colleague, Captain Murino of the Ischian caribineri never wanted to see harm brought to the doorstep of everyone's favorite espresso-brewing, counsel-giving amateur sleuth. But when you live a long life, you're bound to make a few enemies. And when those enemies come calling, you have to rely on friends. Faced with an assassin seeking revenge for a decades-old grudge, Captain Murino has no choice but to turn to Maria, who must use all her neighborly resources, clever faculties, and web of connections to save him from his perilous predicament.

On the other side of the island, a second mystery begins to unfold from the deathbed of another of Maria's old friends, when he hands his granddaughter a yellowed map and tells her of a treasure to be found in one of Ischia’s secret caverns, known as the Magician’s Cave. There are traps and pits. There will be others with sinister motives who will do all they can to make the treasure their own. But this map is a guide—the only gift he has to give. When the granddaughter needs help cracking the code, she turns to her grandfather's most trusted Nonna Maria.

From battling foes in medieval castles to exploring the notorious caverns where smugglers hid their goods, Nonna Maria and her friends—some old, some new—embark on their most swashbuckling adventure yet.]]> 288 Lorenzo Carcaterra 0593499239 LJF 0 to-read 3.50 Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure (Nonna Maria, #3)
author: Lorenzo Carcaterra
name: LJF
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/01/04
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]]> Homeseeking 211025496 An epic and intimate tale of one couple across sixty years as world events pull them together and apart, illuminating the Chinese diaspora and exploring what it means to find home far from your homeland.

A single choice can define an entire life.

Haiwen is buying bananas at a 99 Ranch Market in Los Angeles when he looks up and sees Suchi, his Suchi, for the first time in sixty years. To recently widowed Haiwen it feels like a second chance, but Suchi has only survived by refusing to look back.

Suchi was seven when she first met Haiwen in their Shanghai neighborhood, drawn by the sound of his violin. Their childhood friendship blossomed into soul-deep love, but when Haiwen secretly enlisted in the Nationalist army in 1947 to save his brother from the draft, she was left with just his violin and a note: Forgive me.

Homeseeking follows the separated lovers through six decades of tumultuous Chinese history as war, famine, and opportunity take them separately to the song halls of Hong Kong, the military encampments of Taiwan, the bustling streets of New York, and sunny California, telling Haiwen’s story from the present to the past while tracing Suchi’s from her childhood to the present, meeting in the crucible of their lives. Throughout, Haiwen holds his memories close while Suchi forces herself to look only forward, neither losing sight of the home they hold in their hearts.

At once epic and intimate, Homeseeking is a story of family, sacrifice, and loyalty, and of the power of love to endure beyond distance, beyond time.]]> 512 Karissa Chen 0593713001 LJF 0 to-read 4.31 2025 Homeseeking
author: Karissa Chen
name: LJF
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/01/04
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]]> <![CDATA[A Traitor Sister (Remnants of the Fallen Kingdom, #2)]]> 222883912
Free of her master’s manipulations, Astra’s ready to embrace her powers and learn about her origin—until her fae prince is caught in a dark magic prison. Her only hope is to unearth long lost secrets and use magic more powerful than she’s ever dreamed. With no guidance and no training, she needs to act fast if she hopes to save her kindred soul and her friends.

Meanwhile, the Crystal Castle is rushing to a pit of fire. When it gets there, it will open a chasm and destroy the kingdom.

The Crystal Court’s false king is desperate to acquire magic and steer his castle away from this doom. His last hope is to seduce Astra, whose unique heritage could provide the solution he seeks. Problem is, there’s an impostor in her place—and she's plotting to kill him.

With a complex web of magical politics and character relationships within a richly built fantasy world, A Traitor Sister is the thrilling, romantic, and emotional sequel to A Cursed Son.

It’s book 2 in the series Remnants of the Fallen Kingdom, a steamy romantasy series perfect for fans of enemies to lovers, fae courts, epic action, hilarious banter, and heroines embracing their power.]]> 510 Day Leitao 199079016X LJF 0 to-read 4.38 A Traitor Sister (Remnants of the Fallen Kingdom, #2)
author: Day Leitao
name: LJF
average rating: 4.38
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/01/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> My Friends 217163697 #1ĚýNew York TimesĚýbestselling author Fredrik Backman returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a stranger’s life twenty-five years later.

Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an artist herself, knows otherwise and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.

Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their difficult home lives by spending their days laughing and telling stories out on a pier. There’s Joar, who never backs down from a fight; quiet and bookish Ted who is mourning his father; Ali, the daughter of a man who never stays in one place for long; and finally, there’s the artist, a boy who hoards sleeping pills and shuns attention, but who possesses an extraordinary gift that might be his ticket to a better life. These four lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be put into eighteen-year-old Louisa’s care. As she struggles to decide what to do with this bequest, she embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn the story of how the painting came to be. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more she feels compelled to unleash her own artistic spirit, but happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this fresh testament to the transformative power of friendship and art.]]> 448 Fredrik Backman 1982112824 LJF 0 to-read 4.59 2025 My Friends
author: Fredrik Backman
name: LJF
average rating: 4.59
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/01/04
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]]> <![CDATA[Always Remember (Ravenswood #3)]]> 134113867 Lady Jennifer Arden and Ben Ellis know that a match between them is out of the question. Yet their hearts yearn for the impossible.

Left unable to walk by a childhood illness, Lady Jennifer, sister of the Duke of Wilby, has grown up to make a happy place for herself in society. Outgoing and cheerful, she has many friends and enjoys the pleasures of high society—even if she cannot dance at balls or stroll in Hyde Park. She is blessed with a large, loving, and protective family. But she secretly dreams of marriage and children, and of walking—and dancing.

When Ben Ellis comes across Lady Jennifer as she struggles to walk with the aid of primitive crutches, he instantly understands her yearning. He is a fixer. It is often said of him that he never saw a practical problem he did not have to solve. He wants to help her discover independence and motion—driving a carriage, swimming, even walking a different way. But he must be careful. He is the bastard son of the late Earl of Stratton. Though he was raised with the earl’s family, he knows he does not really belong in the world of the ton.

Jennifer is shocked—and intrigued—by Ben’s ideas, and both families are alarmed by the growing friendship and perhaps more that they sense developing between the two. A duke’s sister certainly cannot marry the bastard son of an earl. Except sometimes, love can find a way.]]> 366 Mary Balogh LJF 0 4.42 2024 Always Remember (Ravenswood #3)
author: Mary Balogh
name: LJF
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2025/01/01
date added: 2025/01/01
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]]> The Queen's Spade 211096512
A young lady can take only so many injuries before humiliation and insult forge a vow of revenge . . .

The year is 1862, and murderous desires are simmering in England. Nineteen-year-old Sarah Bonetta Forbes (Sally), once a princess of the Egbado Clan, desires one thing above all else: revenge against the British Crown and its system of colonial “humanitarianism,� which stole her dignity and transformed her into royal property. From military men to political leaders, she’s vowed to ruin all who’ve had a hand in her afflictions. The top of her list? Her godmother, Britain’s mighty monarch, Queen Victoria herself.

Taking down the Crown means entering into a twisted game of court politics and manipulating the Queen’s inner circle—even if that means aligning with a dangerous yet alluring crime lord in London’s underworld and exploiting the affections of Queen Victoria’s own son, Prince Albert, as a means to an end. But when Queen Victoria begins to suspect Sally’s true intentions, she plays the only card in Victorian society that could possibly cage Sally once again: marriage. Because if there’s one thing Sally desires more than revenge, it’s her freedom. With time running out and her wedding day looming, Sally’s vengeful game of cat and mouse turns deadly as she’s faced with the striking revelation that that the price for vengeance isn’t just paid in blood. It means sacrificing your heart.

Loosely inspired by the true story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, Queen Victoria’s African goddaughter, The Queen’s Spade is a lush and riveting historical thriller perfect for fans of A Dowry of Blood and Grave Mercy.]]> 416 Sarah Raughley 0063344386 LJF 0 to-read 3.62 2025 The Queen's Spade
author: Sarah Raughley
name: LJF
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/16
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round]]> 214152456 A USA TODAY Bestseller
A Washington Post Bestseller

Inspired by Jami Attenberg’s wildly popular literary movement #1000WordsofSummer, this writer’s guide features encouraging essays on creativity, productivity, and writing from acclaimed authors including Roxane Gay, Lauren Groff, Celeste Ng, Meg Wolitzer, and Carmen Maria Machado.

In 2018, novelist Jami Attenberg, faced with a looming deadline, needed writing inspiration. Using a bootcamp model, she and a friend set out to write one thousand words daily for two weeks straight. They opened this practice to Attenberg’s online community and soon hundreds then thousands of people started using the #1000WordsofSummer hashtag to track their work and support one another. What began as a simple challenge between two friends has become a literary movement—write 1,000 words per day without judgment, or bias, or concerns about writer’s block, and see what comes of it.

1000 Words is the book-length extension of this movement. It is about becoming—and staying—motivated, discovering yourself and your creative desires, and approaching your craft from a new direction. It features advice from more than fifty well-known writers, including New York Times bestsellers, Pulitzer Prize winners, and stars of the literary world. Framing these letters are words of wisdom and encouragement, plus specific strategies, from Attenberg on how to carve out a creative path for yourself all year round.

Paired with vibrant word art illustrations, 1000 Words is an accessible and motivational craft book that allows you to open any page and get a quick and fulfilling hit of inspiration.

Featuring Roxane Gay, Bryan Washington, Susan Orlean, Maris Kreizman, Sara Novic, Rumaan Alam, Lauren Oyler, Emma Straub, Christopher Gonzales, Benjamin Percy, Mira Jacob, Laura van den Berg, Carmen Maria Machado, Courtney Sullivan, Rebecca Carroll, Ada Limon, R.O. Kwon, Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, Elissa Washuta, Alexander Chee, Maggie Shipstead, Deesha Philyaw, Jasmine Guillory, Kristen Arnett, Attica Locke, Megan Abbott, Min Jin Lee, Lauren Groff, Andrew Sean Greer, Camille Dungy, Megan Giddings, Isaac Fitsgerald, Hannah Tinti, Michael H. Weber, Celeste Ng, Elizabeth McCracken, Will Leitch, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Morgan Parker, Kiese Laymon, Melissa Febos, Alissa Nutting, Liz Moore, Laila Lalami, Megan Mayhew Berman, Rebecca Makkai, Meg Wolitzer, Mychal Denzel Smith, Josh Gondelman, and Dantiel W. Moniz.]]> 272 Jami Attenberg 166802361X LJF 0 to-read 4.46 2024 1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round
author: Jami Attenberg
name: LJF
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Wicked Wit of Jane Austen 20638210 146 Dominique Enright LJF 5 favorites, classics, own-it 3.33 2002 The Wicked Wit of Jane Austen
author: Dominique Enright
name: LJF
average rating: 3.33
book published: 2002
rating: 5
read at: 2018/06/16
date added: 2024/12/13
shelves: favorites, classics, own-it
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Gilded Crown (The Raven's Trade, #1)]]> 128201408 The Witch’s Heart meets The Foxglove King in this debut novel about a woman who can bring people back from the dead, and the princess � and only heir to the throne � that she must protect, no matter the cost.

The first time Hellevir visited Death, she was ten years old�

Since she was a little girl, Hellevir has been able to raise the dead. Every creature can be saved for a price, a price demanded by the shrouded figure who rules the afterlife, who takes a little more from Hellevir with each soul she resurrects.

Such a gift can rarely remain a secret. When Princess Sullivain, sole heir to the kingdom’s throne, is assassinated, the Queen summons Hellevir to demand she bring her granddaughter back to life. But once is not enough; the killers might strike again. The Princess� death would cause a civil war, so the Queen commands that Hellevir remain by her side.

But Sullivain is no easy woman to be bound to, even as Hellevir begins to fall in love with her. With the threat of war looming, Hellevir must trade more and more of herself to keep the princess alive.

But Death will always take what he is owed.]]> 384 Marianne Gordon 0063248794 LJF 0 to-read 3.62 2023 The Gilded Crown (The Raven's Trade, #1)
author: Marianne Gordon
name: LJF
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2023
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/13
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]]> <![CDATA[Three Kinds of Lucky (The Shadow Age, #1)]]> 220239078 Luck is its own kind of magic, in this first book in an electrifying new contemporary fantasy series from the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Hollows novels.

Petra Grady has known since adolescence that she has no talent for magic—and that’s never going to change. But as a sweeper first-class, she’s parlayed her rare ability to handle dross—the damaging, magical waste generated by her more talented kin’s spellwork—into a decent life working at the mages� university.

Except Grady’s relatively predictable life is about to be upended. When the oblivious, sexy, and oh-so-out-of-reach Benedict Strom needs someone with her abilities for a research project studying dross and how to render it harmless, she’s stuck working on his team—whether she wants to or not.

Only Benedict doesn’t understand the characteristics of dross like Grady does. After an unthinkable accident, she and Benedict are forced to go on the run to seek out the one person who might be able to help: an outcast exiled ten years ago for the crime of using dross to cast spells. Now Grady must decide whether to stick with the magical status quo or embrace her own hidden talents . . . and risk shattering their entire world.]]> 464 Kim Harrison 059354868X LJF 0 to-read 4.00 2024 Three Kinds of Lucky (The Shadow Age, #1)
author: Kim Harrison
name: LJF
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/06
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]]> <![CDATA[The Space Between Us (Love Struck, #1)]]> 212587858 A wildly funny enemies-to-lovers, only one bed, billionaire romantic comedy from Amazon All-Star Melanie Summers�

Gwen Fox has two obsessions: her life’s work and her hatred of Ty Sterling, the cynical billionaire who wants to shut down her program.

About to lose everything, Gwen is forced to travel to Peru to change his mind. Her mission to save her team takes an unexpected turn when the pair find themselves stranded alone together in the jungle.

Forced to rely on each other, the space between enemies and lovers begins to collapse. As their bickering reaches new heights, so does their undeniable attraction. Gwen starts to see that Ty’s heart may not be made of stone after all.

But could he possibly be the love of her life?

*Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner, Fiction—Chick-Lit, and Chick Lit Book Cafe International Book Excellence Award WINNER for Best Billionaire Romance and Best Rom-Com*

*** The Space Between Us is a swoon-worthy, laugh-out-loud tale that comes complete with baby alpacas, pink dolphins, and the world’s most awkward hallucinogenic tea ceremony. It’s a standalone rom-com with a little more spice than a regular Melanie Summers book. ***

WHAT TO EXPECT:
� Lush, romantic settings, adventure, and a little danger
� Forced Proximity/only one tent
� A secret cinnamon roll hero masquerading as a grump
� Loads of witty banter and delicious tension]]> 366 Melanie Summers 1988891868 LJF 0 to-read 3.76 The Space Between Us (Love Struck, #1)
author: Melanie Summers
name: LJF
average rating: 3.76
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/05
shelves: to-read
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]]> Where the Dark Stands Still 125201142 A girl with dangerous magic makes a risky bargain with a demon to be free of her monstrous power in this young adult fantasy perfect for fans of An Enchantment of Ravens and House of Salt and Sorrows.

Liska knows that magic is monstrous, and its practitioners are monsters. She has done everything possible to suppress her own magic, to disastrous consequences. Desperate to be free of it, Liska flees her small village and delves into the dangerous, demon-inhabited spirit-wood to steal a mythical fern flower. If she plucks it, she can use its one wish to banish her powers. Everyone who has sought the fern flower has fallen prey to unknown horrors, so when Liska is caught by the demon warden of the wood—called The Leszy—a bargain seems better than death: one year of servitude in exchange for the fern flower and its wish.

Whisked away to The Leszy’s crumbling manor, Liska soon makes an unsettling discovery: she is not the first person to strike this bargain, and all her predecessors have mysteriously vanished. If Liska wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her taciturn host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts—figurative and literal—of his past. Because something wakes in the woods, something deadly and without mercy. It frightens even The Leszy…and cannot be defeated unless Liska embraces the monster she’s always feared becoming.]]> 368 A.B. Poranek 1665936479 LJF 0 to-read 4.14 2024 Where the Dark Stands Still
author: A.B. Poranek
name: LJF
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/01
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]]> A Hundred Sweet Promises 57355494 WINNER - 2023 AMERICAN FICTION AWARDS - Historical Fiction & Historical RomanceFINALIST- 2022 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS - Historical Fiction & Literary FictionSHORTLIST- 2022 HAWTHORNE PRIZE - Historical Fiction2022 GOLD CATEGORY WINNER - Historical AudiobookAS FEATURED ON NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (NPR) A family secret revealed 40 years ago by a grandmother to her grandson is now an acclaimed Russian historical fiction novel. "A Hundred Sweet Promises" is the tale of the author’s grandfather, Nasrosoltan, a famed composer, who on the eve of World War I travels from Persia to Russia to study classical music at the St. Petersburg Conservatory with such masters as Rimsky-Korsakov. While there, Nasrosoltan falls in love with a Romanov princess, but the royalty surrounding him considers this a forbidden love. Unexpectedly, the Tsar gets involved, and Nasrosoltan suddenly finds himself in a battle between head and heart while being carried forward on a wave of destiny toward an uncertain future. A novel based on a true story set against the backdrop of the final days of Imperial Russia.KIRKUS REVIEWS"...An exceedingly intelligent tale that thoughtfully juxtaposes the maddening effects of romantic love with the violent paroxysms of political insurrection. Furthermore, the reader is given a rare literary a peek into distinct revolutionary periods—Russia and Iran in the early years of the 20th century and Iran in the century’s last quarter. A dramatically affecting novel that is also politically astute." - "Kirkus Reviews"PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BOOK LIFE REVIEW "....one of the peculiar pleasures of this novel is that its author seems deeply familiar with & fond of 19th century Russian literature; there are hints of Chekhov, Tolstoy’s “Kreutzer Sonata� and Pushkin’s “The Queen of Spades.� The narrative style evokes the writers of that period, and their influence is felt throughout the text. The novel is well-researched and convincingly recreates the pomp and glitter of St. Petersburg in the twilight of the Romanov empire. The story brings back how honor was an achievable ideal and nobility of character and behavior were the qualities sought after in a romantic hero and heroine. Nasrosoltan Minbashian is an appealing and vividly drawn romantic hero in his grandson's retelling of the ill-fated love between the Persian composer and the Russian princess who ultimately wound up wed to Rasputin's assassin, Prince Felix Yusupov. Nasrosoltan's complex inner life and character are depicted with a sure hand."-"Publishers Weekly""Already this novel is being compared to Chekhov, Tolstoy, and Pushkin, but I would venture to add another famous Russian novelist into the mix � Boris Pasternak � for in the story I saw the reflection of the rich and meaty tale of Doctor Zhivago, which blends the turbulence of the political arena at the precipice of the Great War and the Russian Revolution with the lovely refrains of young love and the dreamy world of an artist in search of escape where love reigns supreme. Zhivago’s love of poetry and his homeland is overshadowed by reality, just as Nasrosoltan’s love of music along with his love of both Russia and Iran is brought face to face with the harsh reality of his station in life � face to face with Tsar Nicholas, himself, in a confrontation and pronouncement of love as to place this book firmly alongside those classic Russian novels as a contender for pure, exquisite literature.]]> 302 Sepehr Haddad LJF 0 to-read 3.95 2021 A Hundred Sweet Promises
author: Sepehr Haddad
name: LJF
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2021
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/01
shelves: to-read
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]]> The Heart of Winter 211025449
Abe Winter and Ruth Warneke were never meant to be together—at least if you ask Ruth. Yet their catastrophic blind date in college evolved into a seventy-year marriage and a life on a farm on Bainbridge Island with their hens and beloved Labrador, Megs. Through the years, the Winters have fallen in and out of lockstep, and from their haunting losses and guarded secrets, a dependable partnership has been forged.

But when Ruth’s loose tooth turns out to be something much more malicious, the beautiful, reliable life they’ve created together comes to a crisis. As Ruth struggles with her crumbling independence, Abe must learn how to take care of her while their three living children question his ability to look after his wife. And once again, the couple has to reconfigure how to be there for each other.

In this bighearted and profound portrait of a marriage, Jonathan Evison explores seventy years of big moments in subtle ways, elegantly braiding the Winters� turbulent history with their present-day battles, showing us how the oddly paired college kids became parents, fell apart and back together, andgrew into the Abe and Ruth of today. Endlessly heartwarming and moving, The Heart of Winter is a reminder that true love lives in small, everyday moments.]]> 368 Jonathan Evison 059347354X LJF 0 to-read 4.11 2025 The Heart of Winter
author: Jonathan Evison
name: LJF
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[All This Twisted Glory (This Woven Kingdom, #3)]]> 210384534 Enemies to lovers, found family and heart-breaking romance comes All This Twisted Glory, the highly anticipated third novel in the Persian inspired mythology This Woven Kingdom series.

As the long-lost heir to the Jinn throne, Alizeh has finally found her people―and she might’ve found her crown. Cyrus, the mercurial ruler of Tulan, has offered her his kingdom in a twisted exchange: one that would begin with their marriage and end with his murder.

Cyrus’s dark reputation precedes him; all the world knows of his blood-soaked past. Killing him should be easy―and accepting his offer might be the only way to fulfill her destiny and save her people. But the more Alizeh learns of him, the more she questions whether the terrible stories about him are true.

Ensnared by secrets, Cyrus has ached for Alizeh since she first appeared in his dreams many months ago. Now that he knows those visions were planted by the devil, he can hardly bear to look at her―much less endure her company. But despite their best efforts to despise each other, Alizeh and Cyrus are drawn together over and over with an all-consuming thirst that threatens to destroy them both.

Meanwhile, Prince Kamran has arrived in Tulan, ready to exact revenge�

Layered with exquisite tension and heart-stopping romance, All This Twisted Glory is the explosive third book in the captivating, bestselling This Woven Kingdom series.]]> 416 Tahereh Mafi 0062972510 LJF 0 to-read 4.32 2024 All This Twisted Glory (This Woven Kingdom, #3)
author: Tahereh Mafi
name: LJF
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/11/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Under Loch and Key 209455891 A woman discovers that not all monsters are her enemy—the opposite, in fact—in this new paranormal romance by Lana Ferguson, author of The Fake Mate.

Keyanna “Key� MacKay is used to secrets. Raised by a single father who never divulged his past, it’s only after his death that she finds herself thrust into the world he’d always refused to speak of. With just a childhood bedtime story about a monster that saved her father’s life and the name of her estranged grandmother to go off of, Key has no idea what she’ll find in Scotland. But repeating her father’s mistakes and being rescued by a gorgeous, angry Scotsman—who thinks she’s an idiot—is definitely the last thing she expects.

Lachlan Greer has his own secrets to keep, especially from the bonnie lass he pulls to safety from the slippery shore—a lass with captivating eyes and the last name he’s been taught not to trust. He’s looking for answers as well, and Key’s presence on the grounds they both now occupy presents a real problem. It’s even more troublesome when he gets a front row seat to the lukewarm welcome Key receives from her family; the strange powers she begins to develop; and the fierce determination she brings to every obstacle in her path. Things he shouldn’t care about, and someone he definitely doesn’t find wildly attractive.

When their secrets collide, it becomes clear that Lachlan could hold the answers Keyanna is after—and that she might also be the key to uncovering his. Up against time, mystery, and a centuries old curse, they’ll quickly discover that magic might not only be in fairy tales, and that love can be a real loch-mess.]]> 415 Lana Ferguson 0593816862 LJF 0 to-read 3.71 2024 Under Loch and Key
author: Lana Ferguson
name: LJF
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/11/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Under the Oak Tree, Vol. 1 199346768 Most fairytales end with a wedding and a happily-ever-after—but this is no fairytale. The updated and official translation of Under the Oak Tree, the #1 webnovel on MANTA.

Lady Maximilian is the daughter of the powerful Duke Croyso, but she is rarely allowed outside her family’s sprawling castle for fear that her stutter will tarnish their noble name. When she is forced to marry Sir Riftan, a lowborn knight caught in one of her father’s schemes, Maxi doesn’t dare hope for happiness, let alone love. Her stumbling communication and his gruff manner sour their relationship before it can begin, and Riftan leaves without a word the morning after their vows are exchanged.

Now, three years after their disastrous wedding night, Riftan has returned as a war hero. To Maxi’s surprise, despite rumors that he was offered marriage to Princess Agnes, a beautiful and renowned sorceress, Riftan still wants Maxi for his wife. And when he comes to claim her, his longing becomes a desire that bewilders Maxi, even as she is overcome by the scorching heat that Riftan’s presence ignites within her. As she learns to navigate the intricacies of her new life, Maxi will find herself and her courage, and discover that she is anything but powerless.

This volume collects chapters 1-76 of the original webnovel by Suji Kim.]]> 496 Suji Kim 0593871197 LJF 0 to-read 3.71 2024 Under the Oak Tree, Vol. 1
author: Suji Kim
name: LJF
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/11/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Castle Ever Dark (Everlight, #2)]]> 210829708 The secrets have bloomed . . . beware of the thorns.
Ivy Rune is shocked to receive a position at the Count’s forbidden castle, until the Count’s charming young heir, Jack reveals her late father’s connection there. Ivy accepts, determined to finally uncover her father’s secret life and learn more about her magic.
But the castle holds more secrets than her father’s last journal. Unspoken rules govern the halls, danger lurks around every corner, and knowing who to trust is impossible. Soon it’s clear that her father's secrets are not the only ones hidden in these walls—others are keeping secrets too.
When Ivy discovers a friend in grave danger and learns the dark reason behind the Count’s Woodworking Tournament, she is desperate to protect her friend and escape. To succeed, Ivy must solve her father's clues and unlock her true potential. But if she fails, Ivy will meet the same mysterious fate that claimed her father.

If you enjoyed the grand halls in House of Salt and Sorrows and the gothic atmosphere of Belladonna, you'll love this lush fantasy world brimming with suspense, magic, and friendship.]]> 332 Sara Knightly LJF 0 to-read 4.41 Castle Ever Dark (Everlight, #2)
author: Sara Knightly
name: LJF
average rating: 4.41
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/11/24
shelves: to-read
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]]> Norcliff 212761732 Erin Hart is devastated when she loses her fiance and parents on her wedding day. To get her parents back, she must choose between bowing to the demands of the neighboring Mortons or gathering what allies she can and fighting to free herself from their clutches.
A POWERFUL FOE
The Mortons hold Erin's parents hostage and won't brook any refusal to comply with their wishes. Ardent Morton has demanded Erin's hand in marriage, and with it, the control of Erin's home, Norcliff.
A LOOMING THREAT
Erin must travel to the capital to seek help from King Ulrich and the nobles at court, but with bandits harrying Arndale from the north, what aid can Erin hope to receive?]]> 258 K.A. Connolly LJF 0 to-read 3.29 Norcliff
author: K.A. Connolly
name: LJF
average rating: 3.29
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/11/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Sleeping Knight (The Enchanted Forest Saga, #2)]]> 221766425 He waited two hundred years for her�

After centuries of slumber, the Sleeping Knight has finally awakened and now, Lady Violet Galloway, an unlikely hero, finds herself whisked away to a brand-new adventure in a far-off land!

Feeling lost, without a purpose and at a crossroads in her life, on her twenty-first birthday, Violet is gifted a peculiar amethyst heart shape stone necklace by her great-grandmother. Wearing it safely tucked around her neck, Violet wanders deep into the enchanted forest, where she accidentally stumbles upon a sleeping knight. Much to her surprise, this sleeping knight has not only awakened from his long and deep slumber, but he also seems to know a lot about her... including her name... which is most curious, considering that she’s never once met him before until now...

As the second son to the former and late King of the West, Maximus never intended to become the heir to the throne. That was a role reserved for his much beloved elder brother, the former King Leopold. However, when a fierce rebellion is unleashed by a wicked witch, his brother is murdered, leaving the former rebel, Maximus, as the new crown prince and the next rightful heir to the throne. But in an effort to thwart his succession, the wicked witch has unjustly crowned herself as the new queen instead. But all hope is not lost, for there is also a prophecy foretold about a savior and once Maximus comes to discover the true identity of this fair maiden, he ventures into her world to find her. And after two hundred years of waiting, Maximus has finally awakened and now, he must urgently convince Violet to come and face an upcoming and epic war, which will ultimately be fought between the forces of good and of evil�

But along their journey, our heroes will discover that learning to trust and depend on each other might be their only hope for survival and that sometimes, new and unexpected alliances can surprisingly blossom into the most enchanting of love affairs. Will Violet and Maximus achieve their long awaited happily ever afters? Can justice prevail and true love come to conquer all, in this epic and romantic fairy tale that spans across both time and space?]]> 325 Kristina Stangl 196323202X LJF 0 to-read 4.70 The Sleeping Knight (The Enchanted Forest Saga, #2)
author: Kristina Stangl
name: LJF
average rating: 4.70
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/11/24
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[Lost in the Future: The Storm (Lost in the Future, #1)]]> 207297067 A group of classmates must learn to work together to survive being LOST IN THE FUTURE!

A school field trip to an ancient castle goes terribly wrong for a group of friends, when a dangerous storm erupts. As they are about to leave the castle, four friends are cornered by their arch nemesis� the class bully, who tries to pull one of his usual pranks. Instead, they all get the scare of their lives, when they fall down a tunnel that transports them into the future: a future where mankind has nearly disappeared from the face of the earth, and where nature has taken control. The friends will have to face up to this hostile new world� as well as their nemesis, who must come to terms with his own trauma� if they are to work together and have any chance of making it back home...]]> 128 Damian 1545812209 LJF 0 to-read 3.27 Lost in the Future: The Storm (Lost in the Future, #1)
author: Damian
name: LJF
average rating: 3.27
book published:
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[All Folked Up (Good Folk: Modern Folktales, #3)]]> 221609075
Rumor has it that gruff, brooding, and solitary man-of-mystery Isaac Sylvester is back in town, and the only thing folks in Green Valley know for certain is that this prodigal son’s motives are as elusive as he is. He’s been spotted loitering near the old Townsen farm, hanging around the Hill's homestead, and glaring menacingly from the edges of The Donner Lodge’s parking lot. What this hometown-hero-turned-criminal wants, no one knows. Nor can they stop talking about it.

Hannah's last night as an exotic dancer might just be her most memorable.

Hannah Townsen has often been a subject of local gossip. Folks shook their heads when Hannah's daddy ran out on her momma; folks blessed her heart after Hannah's momma had that tragic accident; and folks really talked up a tizzy when Hannah became an exotic dancer in order to pay off her parents' debt and put food on the table. But now, ten years after being dubbed as a hometown-stripper-with-a-heart-of-gold, Hannah has seemingly—and finally—fallen off the gossip mill's radar.

That is, until the enigmatic Isaac Sylvester shows up at Hannah's retirement party wanting so much more than a private dance. . .

'All Folked Up' is the third book in the Good Folk series and is a full-length, small town, contemporary romantic comedy novel.]]> 332 Penny Reid 196034238X LJF 0 to-read 4.27 2024 All Folked Up (Good Folk: Modern Folktales, #3)
author: Penny Reid
name: LJF
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/11/24
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]]> <![CDATA[Broken Souls and Bones (Broken Souls and Bones, #1)]]> 217453580 Together they’ll restore a divided kingdom—or burn it down—in this new romantasy from USA Today bestselling author and TikTok sensation LJ Andrews.

Lyra Bien intended to live a quiet life to avoid the attention of the magic-obsessed king in the fortress of Stonegate. Until Roark Ashwood—the prince’s silent guard and rumored killer for the crown—invades her village and uncovers the truth behind the silver scars in her eyes. To save her best friend from death, she’s forced to reveal her abilities, and is immediately claimed by the crown as the next melder.

To be the King’s melder is to be revered and feared in equal measures, but above all it is a slow death sentence. Lyra is determined to find a way to free herself and her friends from bondage. But first she must get more information from the silent, brooding sentry who first took her captive: Roark.

As Lyra gets closer to Roark, she soon learns he’s nothing like she assumed—and in fact everything she needs. The more they work as allies, the harder it becomes to ignore the growing passion between them. After a sinister truth is revealed, Roark and Lyra must choose to stand against all they know, or accept their dark destiny.]]> 480 L.J. Andrews 0593818679 LJF 0 to-read 4.64 2025 Broken Souls and Bones (Broken Souls and Bones, #1)
author: L.J. Andrews
name: LJF
average rating: 4.64
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[Firebird (The Fire That Binds, #1)]]> 211004924 DELUXE EDITION―featuring beautiful original illustrated stenciled edges with a foil case stamp, and designed endpapers!

House of the Dragon meets From Blood and Ash in this epic, scorching dark romantasy.

A conqueror captivated�
A witch prophesied to save them all�
A world where dragons rule Rome.

From the moment Roman general and nephew to the emperor Julianus Dakkia laid eyes on Malina, he was enthralled by the Dacian dancer. Years later, the fierce beauty stands before him on a scarred battlefield, her life in danger. He instinctively shifts into his fierce dragon form to save her, an action that may mean his head on the imperial gate. But he and his dragon know one thing: she belongs to them.

Malina can’t believe that the centurion who had once bestowed a secret talisman on her is the Roman general of legendary brutality. His prowess as a warrior cannot be denied, yet they don’t reveal the secret he hides. All Malina knows is his protection and gentle touch. And she cannot deny how her soul has always seemed to answer his.

As they navigate a world where flying deathriders conquer and burn, their love will ignite a firestorm that can only end in heartbreak or death. Or both.

Firebird is a fantasy with some dark themes, including elements of master/slave relationship, attempted sexual assault (not between MCs), and dubious consent (not between MCs). Readers who may be sensitive to these elements, please take note.]]> 400 Juliette Cross 1250339944 LJF 0 to-read 3.71 2025 Firebird (The Fire That Binds, #1)
author: Juliette Cross
name: LJF
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[Cloaked in Beauty (Texas Ever After, #3)]]> 209351061 352 Karen Witemeyer 0764240439 LJF 0 to-read 4.37 2024 Cloaked in Beauty (Texas Ever After, #3)
author: Karen Witemeyer
name: LJF
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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]]> Between Now and Forever 210832028 Neighbors to lovers can be a risky proposition in this funny, sexy, and swoony romantic comedy between a single mother and the grumpy man next door by USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke.

When Gabrielle Solomon falls, she falls hard. Even if that means literally toppling over a porch railing in nothing but a flimsy towel—right in front of her sexy new neighbor.

Jay Stetson is 100 percent hero material with those arms, that chest, and his deliciously oh-so-sexy smirk. The chiseled hunk in flannel has an irresistible off-limits attitude while plucking Gabrielle out of the bushes and saving her from a snake. Unfortunately, he’s not indulging in what Gabrielle is offering—not with his emotional train wreck of a past.

Just neighbors. Just friends. Or so he says.

Secretly, he’s smitten with the single, fierce mama bear of two who plays Miss Fix-It at the house next door. He doesn’t even really mind the noise or the chaos her young sons cause. What he does mind is how his lonely heart races when looking into her emerald-colored eyes.

Can Jay let his painful memories go, or will he let the woman of his dreams slip between his fingers?]]> 253 Adriana Locke 1662512457 LJF 0 to-read 4.04 Between Now and Forever
author: Adriana Locke
name: LJF
average rating: 4.04
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rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[The Forest King's Daughter (Thirstwood, #1)]]> 214175189 For fans of Sarah J. Maas andĚýHolly Black,ĚýThe Forest King's DaughterĚýis an enemies-to-forbidden-lovers romance from theĚýNew York TimesĚýbestselling author ofĚýFrostblood.

Once upon a time, amongĚýthe bloodredĚýtrees ofĚýThirstwood, a youngĚýforestĚýprincess became friends with a lonely demon boy. He gifted her an amber ring, a worthless trinket…or so he thought...because no sooner did he slide it onto her finger than the demon queen andĚýforestĚýking declared war.

Years later, Cassia is a crucial force in her father’s army, wielding her ring of light that can blind and disorient hundreds of demons at a time. Then battle-hardened ZeruĚýabductsĚýher, planning to steal the ring back to fix his costly childhood mistake. Exhausted, terrified, and more than a little mistrusting, Cassia is forced to travel with Zeru to a place they both believed only existed in storybooks, one where their childhood friendship slowly rekindles into something much more. But it's only a matter of time before the war they've escaped comes for them, and a hidden threat toĚýforest folkĚýand demons alike grows in the shadows.

From the author of the Frostblood SagaĚýcomes the first book in an enchanting,Ěýadventure-filled fantasy series about the daughters of the powerfulĚýforestĚýking, sure to leave readers breathless and desperate for more.]]> 384 Elly Blake 0316395722 LJF 0 to-read 3.65 2025 The Forest King's Daughter (Thirstwood, #1)
author: Elly Blake
name: LJF
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest]]> 214175204
Clare’s quiet and predictable days are met with upheaval when a badger soul named Gingersnipes knocks on his door. Despite Clare’s efforts to usher her into the Afterlife, the badger is unable to leave Deadwood. This is unprecedented. Baffling. A disturbing mystery which threatens the delicate balance between the living and the dead.

Desperate for help, Clare and Gingersnipes set out on a treacherous journey to find Hesterfowl—the visionary grouse who recently foretold of turmoil in Deadwood. But upon their arrival, Hesterfowl divulges a shocking revelation that leaves Clare devastated, outraged, and determined to do anything to change his fate.

This delightfully grim tale is a heartwarming exploration of moving on, perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo and Tim Burton.]]> 320 Aubrey Hartman 0316575720 LJF 0 to-read 4.56 The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest
author: Aubrey Hartman
name: LJF
average rating: 4.56
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]]> <![CDATA[To Steal from Thieves (Thieves & Kings #1)]]> 215749025 In this high-stakes heist novel, an alchemologist and a con man team up to steal a rare necklace—but complicated feelings of attraction and deception threaten to destroy everything and everyone they love—for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Judy I. Lin.

Within the dazzling halls of London’s Crystal Palace, the event of the season has arrived: The Great Exhibition. An opportunity for the greatest minds of the century to come together under one roof in an unprecedented display of art and invention. And for two unlikely partners in crime, it’s about to become the score of a lifetime.

Charming conman Kane Durante works alone—or on occasion with his best friend, Fletcher. But when his boss, the infamous Kingpin of London’s magical dark market, gives him the impossible task of stealing a priceless artifact from the Great Exhibition, he knows it’s a job he can’t pull off alone. Enter Zaria Mendoza, daughter of one of London’s greatest alchemologists. Ever since her father’s death, Zaria’s been struggling to keep her underground business afloat, and impatient clients are becoming violent. When the infuriatingly handsome Kane offers her the promise of enough money to get out of debt and leave London entirely, she knows she can’t walk away from this dangerous partnership.

But robbing one of the most public, heavily-guarded buildings in London isn’t going to be easy, especially when love and betrayal threaten to ruin everything they've worked so hard for.]]> 400 M.K. Lobb 0316575488 LJF 0 to-read 4.12 2025 To Steal from Thieves (Thieves & Kings #1)
author: M.K. Lobb
name: LJF
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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]]> Rough Edges 209181253 A single parents romance

In the charming city of Meadows Creek, basketball is about to rewrite the stories of two single parents. Teenagers Daniel and Marcus become unlikely matchmakers as their friendship blossoms on the court, igniting a slow-burning connection for their parents, Laura and Bennett.

Peeling back layers of grief, loss, and desire, Laura and Bennett navigate a path to a shared future. But as prejudice threatens to extinguish the sparks of attraction, they must confront their own biases, opening their hearts to a future filled with hope, healing, and an everlasting love.

Join Laura and Bennett on a journey filled where laughter, tears, and hope lead to an unexpected and passionate connection.

Get ready for a love story with a slam dunk!

For more about the tropes and TW in "Rough Edges," check Elsa Jacobs Author's website.]]> 372 Elsa Jacobs 1738900053 LJF 0 to-read 3.86 Rough Edges
author: Elsa Jacobs
name: LJF
average rating: 3.86
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]]> <![CDATA[Love in Translation: A Spicy Opposites Attract Forced Proximity Romance]]> 201043178 This could be their greatest adventure yet�

A stressed-out translator on the brink of a meltdown and a thrill seeker with a serious case of wanderlust find love outside their comfort zones.

Up until a few months ago, Rheo Whitlock had it all. Stability, self-confidence and a safe job as an interpreter for the United Nations� It was the predictable sort of existence she, as a dedicated homebody, had always dreamed of—the security she’d needed thanks to her nomadic #vanlife upbringing. But ever since an unfortunate “hot mic� moment threw her career into a tailspin, she’s been struggling—really struggling—with fear, anxiety and uncertainty. A calculated escape is in order, and Rheo knows just the place: her grandmother’s secluded hideaway in the breathtaking town of Gilmartin.

Except she won’t be alone, thanks to a random twist of fate�

Fletcher Wright lives for adrenaline, always chasing the next high. So when he learns he’ll have to share his rental accommodations with Rheo—a stranger, basically—he simply chalks it up to another challenge. It doesn’t hurt that there’s an immediate attraction between them, which neither can explain. Before long, they’re not just sharing a house and new experiences—they’re sharing a bed. But when it’s time for Fletcher to move on to the next adventure, he and Rheo will both have to decide—are they ready to take the biggest risk of all?]]> 288 Joss Wood 1335574883 LJF 0 to-read 3.27 Love in Translation: A Spicy Opposites Attract Forced Proximity Romance
author: Joss Wood
name: LJF
average rating: 3.27
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]]> <![CDATA[Stuck in the Country with You: A Spicy Small Town Western Romance]]> 201043181 Good fences make good neighbors—except when a scorching shared past makes things complicated—in this delightful city-meets-country romance from Zuri Day.

She’s packing her bags—and her baggage.

Ten years ago, Genesis Washington made a very poor decision. At the time, it seemed great. Fantastic. Explosive. But the truth is, your one-night rebound should never be your younger brother’s rival. And he definitely shouldn’t be someone who allegedly only slept with you to gain the upper hand—even if the sex was amazing.

Now Genesis is blindsided when the farm she’s inherited just happens to be right next door to Jaxson King, the regrettable one-night stand she’s still painfully attracted to. This man has aged like the finest of wines, and what’s worse, he’s now a thoughtful and responsible father. Good thing Genesis has a (*cough* long-distance *cough*) boyfriend. Well, sort of. It’s complicated.

Jaxson and his hotness should be easy enough to ignore. But when city-girl Genesis discovers there’s a serious learning curve to her humble new home, it’s Jaxson who’s there to lend a very skilled helping hand. With every problem that arises, Jaxson is seemingly making all the right moves—both on the farm and when things heat up behind closed doors. But, surely, that doesn’t mean he’s right for Genesis, does it?

From showing up to glowing up, the characters in Afterglow Books are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way. Don’t miss any of these other fun titles�

Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah St. John
The Devil in Blue Jeans by Stacey Kennedy
Out of Office by A.H. Cunningham
Church Girl by Naima Simone]]> 288 Zuri Day 1335574891 LJF 0 to-read 3.30 Stuck in the Country with You: A Spicy Small Town Western Romance
author: Zuri Day
name: LJF
average rating: 3.30
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]]> Just Our Luck 215361843 A lottery ticket + donuts = love in this steamy new fake dating romance from beloved author Denise Williams.

Who needs love? Not Sybil Sweet. After years of bouncing from job to job in search of something that feels right and from man to man in search of something special, Sybil is embracing her role as the directionless, floundering member of her family. All she really wants now is a little financial stability and carb comfort. Lucky for her, she’s got just enough in the bank to buy a lottery ticket, and the late-night donut store is open.

Kiran Anderson abandoned his dreams of becoming a doctor to take over running his family’s bakery, and after two years of fighting a losing battle to save the place, he’s exhausted and broke. But when a whirlwind of a woman sweeps in late one night, flirty energy gives way to more…until she runs out the next morning, leaving behind her winning lottery ticket.

Lucky for Kiran, his attempt to return the ticket looks like a grand romantic gesture and goes viral, sending sales through the roof. In an effort to keep the store afloat and to get Sybil’s family off of her back, they agree to fake a relationship for three months. Even with hundreds of millions of dollars, finding each other might end up being the sweetest bit of luck for both of them.]]> 400 Denise Williams 0593641434 LJF 0 to-read 3.61 2025 Just Our Luck
author: Denise Williams
name: LJF
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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]]> First Love Language 211399755 For fans of Frankly in Love and Tokyo Ever After comes a romantic dramedy about finding love and reconnecting with your culture in the most surprising ways.

Taiwanese American Catie Carlson has never fit in with her white family. As much as she loves her stepmom and stepsister, she yearns to understand more about her culture and find her biological mother.

So Catie is shocked when an opportunity comes knocking on her Her summer spa coworker, Toby, says he’ll teach her Mandarin. In exchange, she needs to teach him how to date so he can finally work up the courage to ask out his crush. The only problem is that Catie doesn’t actually have any dating experience. But she can fake it.

With her late father’s copy of The Five Love Languages and all his annotated notes, Catie becomes the perfect dating coach. Or so she thinks. As she gets dangerously close to Toby and to finding out what really happened to her biological mom, she realizes that learning the language of love might be tougher than she thought.

Stefany Valentine’s debut novel is both a fresh, fun romance as well as a profound, luminous story about grief, family, transracial adoption, and what it means to truly follow your heart.]]> 304 Stefany Valentine 0593750969 LJF 0 to-read 3.94 2025 First Love Language
author: Stefany Valentine
name: LJF
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[Never Let You Go (Emerald Creek, #1)]]> 212466628 Christopher Wright is Emerald Creek’s hot, broody, single dad baker. And my totally off-limits boss.

The fine print of my baking apprenticeship contract neglected to mention a few key details. Like how hot the master baker would be. Or that he’d be really good with his hands, and not just in the bakery. Oh and that part about “room and board�? A bedroom way too close to his, and him cooking for me and his daughter every night.

I'm here to secure my inheritance: my late grandmother's sprawling empire of industrial bakeries. She never loved me, but she was the only family I had. Despite her coldness, inheriting her legacy is my last chance to find a sense of belonging.

But as my relationship with Christopher grows, my focus shifts.
This single man. His little girl. The small town they live in and the new friends that treat me like family.
All this feels more like home than I’ve ever known.
Until Christopher catches onto the real reasons I’m here.]]> 534 Bella Rivers 1962627012 LJF 0 to-read 3.88 Never Let You Go (Emerald Creek, #1)
author: Bella Rivers
name: LJF
average rating: 3.88
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]]> <![CDATA[Love in Store (Hollow Creek, #2)]]> 221276079
When a prominent resident suggests opening a boutique in Hollow Creek, Montana, little does she know the distress it will cause. Distress for the owner’s spoiled niece, McKenna, who will assist with the shop, and distress for the new sheriff, Clayton Beringer, who finds sparring with McKenna more taxing than apprehending criminals.

McKenna Chapman would prefer to be anywhere but the backward and uncivilized town of Hollow Creek, Montana. She especially could do without that obnoxious, but handsome, Sheriff Beringer. For what type of lawman insists on traipsing into the boutique in search of criminals? Does he not know the first thing about proper etiquette?

As newly-elected sheriff of Hollow Creek, Clayton Beringer has two goals—to make his late father proud and to effectively serve the townsfolk. He knew he might have to capture dangerous criminals on the lam, but he never figured he would have to contend with an uppity, and unfortunately, beautiful, clerk at the boutique.

While unexpected circumstances draw McKenna and Clayton together and force them to realize their growing attraction to each other, evil threatens Hollow Creek. Will they come to terms with the fact that they love each other—while catching an outlaw in the process?



Enjoy Love in Store after reading Love in Disguise or enjoy it as a standalone.

Please note: Love in Store is a faith-filled Christian historical romance.]]> 258 Penny Zeller 1957847360 LJF 0 to-read 4.95 2024 Love in Store (Hollow Creek, #2)
author: Penny Zeller
name: LJF
average rating: 4.95
book published: 2024
rating: 0
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]]> Mother of Rome 211399780 A powerful and fierce reimagining of the earliest Roman legend: the twins, Romulus and Remus, mythical founders of history’s greatest empire, and the woman whose sacrifice made it all possible.

The names Romulus and Remus may be immortalized in map and stone and chronicle, but their mother exists only as a preface to her sons� journey, the princess turned oath-breaking priestess, condemned to death alongside her children.

But she did not die; she survived. And so does her story.

Beautiful, royal, rich: Rhea has it all—until her father loses his kingdom in a treacherous coup, and she is sent to the order of the Vestal Virgins to ensure she will never produce an heir.

Except when mortals scheme, gods laugh.

Rhea becomes pregnant, and human society turns against her. Abandoned, ostracized, and facing the gravest punishment, Rhea forges a dangerous deal with the divine, one that will forever change the trajectory of her life…and her beloved land.

To save her sons and reclaim their birthright, Rhea must summon nature’s mightiest force � a mother’s love � and fight.

All roads may lead to Rome, but they began with Rhea Silvia.]]> 400 Lauren J.A. Bear 0593638948 LJF 0 to-read 4.35 2025 Mother of Rome
author: Lauren J.A. Bear
name: LJF
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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]]> Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1) 13455782
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war � and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.]]> 338 Tahereh Mafi 0062085506 LJF 0 to-read 3.72 2011 Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1)
author: Tahereh Mafi
name: LJF
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2011
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/11/24
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]]>