Gifted by the Gods (The Accidental Zodiacs) by Jennifer Wedmore

 

Blurb:

Breya Westfall was firmly in the Wanderers category until one day when everything changed. She’s had a hard life, tossed from home to home with no real family. Always fighting for every meal, every scrap of decency she could find in life. Now, she targets the wealthy men around her and takes what she needs. Until her latest conquest knows what she is….A Zodiac with powers, ones he wants to take for himself. In their fight, she kills him and becomes a Fallen. She fears the Zodiac Enforcement Agency will be after her, she goes on the run, and there's only one place she knows of that she can find the help she needs.
Dawson Drake runs the biggest Underground black market. Anything you need he can get, but for a price. Sometimes it's a fight in his gladiator ring, sometimes it's a payment. It's all up to his whim, after all, he's favored by the Gods. They gave him his powers and he lords it over the humans who happen to get in his way. Nothing pleases him more than watching humans battle to the death. When Breya is brought to him, he is intrigued by her. He offers her the chance to escape to another planet, but she has to fight in his gladiator ring.
When word gets to Dawson that the Zodiac Enforcement Agency is about to raid his arena. Breya has a choice to make. Dawson offers Breya the chance to run with him or go to prison and never see each other again. She has to decide if he's worth taking a chance on with her heart and her safety.

 

My review:

First I LOVE THIS COVER!

A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do to get by. Breya is not your loveable down on her luck kind of girl. When a con goes wrong Breya ends up killing her mark in self defense. That puts her squarely in the sights of Dawson Drake head of the black market and nefarious doings in town. Watching Dawson and Breya grow in different ways was intriguing.

This is a fast paced story that will keep you engaged and trying to out think the characters. I look forward to seeing where these characters go from here.

 

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Imperfect Love (Juniper Springs Book 4) by Melissa Schroeder

 

Blurb:

Join the residents of Juniper Springs as the creator of the Juniper Springs Express goes up against everyone's favorite O'Bryan sister, Avery!

When I came to Juniper Springs, I didn't think I would stay, but the town's insanity got it's hooks in me. I mean, they have GAY DUCKS. And of course, I love the LOLs (Little Old Ladies). I fell in love with the residents.

So when Jon Howard shows up accusing me of stealing his house, I declare war.

It's easy at first. He likes spreadsheets and schedules. Order is the name of the game for my nemesis. I like to go with the flow and prefer sugary cereal for breakfast over egg whites.

Sure, it's hard to ignore those blue eyes and his amazing body, not to mention that fact that he smells like hot guy heaven. Also, he sees beneath the funny facade I show everyone. And the kiss he gives me? Brain scrambled. When he can quote Taylor Swift lyrics to me...I start falling hard.

But I know that I'm not built for a long relationship, especially with a man who likes to keep everyone on schedule. I'm always too loud, too unorganized, too...everything. So while I know I might be falling for him, I know this has one outcome: disaster. Only, this time, I'm not sure my heart will survive the implosion.

Author Note: Hey, readers! It's time to grab your white wine, complete with ice cubes, and snuggle in for another Juniper Springs romance. There's visits from old friends, references that Swifties will completely understand, and two amazing cats to fall for. Avery O'Bryan is about to teach Jon Howard that love doesn't have to be perfect to last a lifetime.

 

My review:

Imperfect Love is a delightfully sweet and funny small town, forced proximity enemies read that had to lovers romantic comedy. This was a fun feel good escape with loveable characters and friends from the previous books. Highly recommend.

 

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Hunting a Tyrant (The Accidental Zodiacs) by Cassidy K. O'Connor

 

 

Blurb:

Brielle Masters is a top agent of the Zodiac Enforcement Agency, dedicated to imprisoning the Fallen - those Zodiacs who use their power for evil. When she's sent to another realm to bring back a rogue Fallen who's been killing locals, Brielle expects it to be a routine mission. What she doesn't expect is to find the former love of her life, Grant Shipley, hiding on this same world.

Grant, a former Sinless who turned Fallen to save his mother's life, has been in hiding for almost a decade. As Brielle and Grant work together to take down an evil tyrant and save the realm, they must confront their past hurts and put their differences aside. But once the mission is over, will they be able to rekindle their love, or will they be forced to walk away from each other once again?

With danger lurking at every turn and their hearts on the line, Brielle and Grant must decide whether their love is worth fighting for. An Accidental Zodiacs Novel

About the Accidental Zodiac shared world: There are three types of Zodiacs: The Sinless who live life in goodness and light, their blue auras shining like beacons of hope. The Wanderers, their purple essence telling others they walk a fine line between good and evil. Then there’s The Fallen, the evil. The ones who use their powers to enhance their lives at any cost.

 

My review:

Bri lives for her work. She has no personal life to speak of. When she is sent to another realm on assignment she finds not only the criminal she is sent to retrieve she finds the one who got away. This was an emotional rollercoaster that left me loving Bri and hurting with her. I really enjoyed this story and was thrilled to know we will see Bri again.

 

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Blood Omen (An Accidental Zodiac Story) by Lia Davis

  

Blurb:

Returning home and reclaiming my life sounded like a great idea while I was going through my brother’s version of vampire rehab. But thirty minutes after returning to Earth, it’s clear that my zodiac-vampire hybrid senses aren’t prepared to handle the life I used to live.
 

After five years away I’m overwhelmed, but there’s no chance I’m letting my baby sister chase bad guys without me.
 

I’ve worked too hard to quit now.
 

Then Grace is kidnapped, and all I have to track her down are the primal instincts I keep locked away. I build a team and insert myself into the investigation, because I don’t trust the ZEA not to turn their backs on Grace. Like they did me five years ago.
 

However, my sister isn’t the only Zodiac to go missing.
 

ZEA was counting on my pushy, Alpha personality to ensure I got involved. Why else would they have assigned me to the one Enforcer I’d be happy to never see again?
 

Maverick Burgess is grumpy, stubborn, and gorgeous. His blood tempts me like nothing I’ve ever experienced. But Rick is off limits, for his own good, and for mine. My vampire sire would kill anyone who tried to claim my heart.
 

I can keep Rick at arm’s length while my team and I search for my sister, but I can’t resist the lure of a mystery. With the help of some unlikely allies, it’s beginning to look like we’ve uncovered something more dangerous than a serial kidnapper, and we’re in too deep to stop now

 

My review:

I fell into this story and was immediately engaged by these characters. I WANT MORE! Savannah has been through hell and come out the other side only to find her baby sister has been kidnapped. She will do whatever it takes to get her back even work with her ex. Fast paced fun.

 

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The First Death (Columbia River Book 4) by Kendra Elliot

 

 

Blurb:

For a search and rescue expert, the buried remains of her past are a dangerous obsession in a twisting novel of suspense by a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author.

Rowan Wolff was five years old when she, her brother, and their babysitter were kidnapped by a serial killer in the Pacific Northwest. The babysitter was murdered. Rowan was saved. Her brother was killed and buried in the forest, his remains never found. The convicted killer refuses to say where he buried the boy. Twenty-five years later, Rowan is committed to search and rescue with her faithful canine and is obsessed with finding her brother’s grave—and closure.

Detective Evan Bolton thrives on unraveling tough cases, but his latest is disturbing. There’s another serial killer hunting in Deschutes County, Oregon, and the crimes are identical to those committed by the sociopath languishing in prison. Each victim is linked to Rowan. When skeletal remains of several bodies are exhumed in the forest, Rowan’s connection becomes more entwined and impossible to ignore.

Rowan and Evan are determined to solve the case before someone else dies. And someone else will, as the truth about the past is unearthed.

 

My review:

The First Death is several mysteries rolled into an intense tale of kidnapping, torture and murder. Add in a slow burn romantic interest and you have another fantastic adventure. I was sucked into this story and couldn’t put it down.

Though this is part of a series it can be read standalone.

 

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Just Witched (Witchless In Seattle Mysteries Book 15) by Dakota Cassidy

 

 

Blurb:

It’s a nice day for a white wedding…if I can make it down the aisle unscathed and still breathing, that is!

’Tis I, newly restored witch and armchair sleuth Stevie Cartwright, and I’m finally about to marry Win, my soul mate/ex-spy turned groom-zilla. We’ve gone to hell and back (and a few planes of existence) for our happily ever after, and nothing’s going to get in the way of our union…except possibly a murder while auditioning musical options for the reception.

The blessed event is just days away, but Win and I can’t resist a good mystery, so in between last-minute wedding decisions, the early arrival of my high-maintenance parents, my klutzy mishaps, and an ill-timed visit from the ghost of my long-forgotten ex-fiancé, we’re tracking a killer in Ebenezer Falls’ latest whodunit.

Time to multitask like a champ and get me to the church…er, backyard…on time.

Piece of cake, right?

 

My review:

The Witchless In Seattle book we’ve waited for. Win and Stevie are getting hitched. Win is doing his best to make it perfect for them. Just about everything that can go wrong does. But as with all the books in this series to date this story is filled with murder, mystery, laughs and love. A fabulous addition to the series.

 

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Cross (Courting Chaos #1) by Heather Young-Nichols

 

Blurb:

A sexy drummer and a rock god’s daughter…what could possibly go wrong?

Indie Cinderstone

All I want is to spend a nice summer with my rock star father.
But then some random guy assumes I’m a groupie and tries to kick me out of the venue.
That’s never happened before. Imagine my surprise when I find out that the random guy is actually Cross Rhodes, the smoking hot drummer for Courting Chaos, Dad’s opener.
I don’t fall for rock stars—ever. Yet Cross quickly has me wanting to break all the rules.

Cross Rhodes

What bigger mistake could I make than to call the sexy, sassy daughter of the man could make or break us a groupie?
Oh. I could also try to kick her out of the arena.
Better yet, I could not be able to get her out of my mind. Indie is off limits.
I don’t seem to care.
Hooking up with her could definitely ruin our big break and we already have our bassist determined to do that.
Still I can’t stay away.

 

My review:

A fun rock and roll romance Cross features some sweet and funny moments that had me laughing out loud. The bad guy is so horrible that I cheered when he got his comeuppance. I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the next installment.

 

Buy links:

Amazon