THE BOOK CHARMER (DOVE POND #1)

New York Times bestselling author Karen Hawkins crafts an unforgettable story about a sleepy Southern town, two fiercely independent women, and a truly magical friendship.

Sarah Dove is no ordinary bookworm. To her, books have always been more than just objects: they live, they breathe, and sometimes they even speak. When Sarah grows up to become the librarian in her quaint Southern town of Dove Pond, her gift helps place every book in the hands of the perfect reader. Recently, however, the books have been whispering about something out of the ordinary: the arrival of a displaced city girl named Grace Wheeler.

If the books are right, Grace could be the savior that Dove Pond desperately needs. The problem is, Grace wants little to do with the town or its quirky residents—Sarah chief among them. It takes a bit of urging, and the help of an especially wise book, but Grace ultimately embraces the challenge to rescue her charmed new community. In her quest, she discovers the tantalizing promise of new love, the deep strength that comes from having a true friend, and the power of finding just the right book.

Release Date: July 30, 2019

Gallery Books

Dove Pond #1

Romantic Fiction

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

The Book Charmer is the first book in the Dove Pond series of books from Karen Hawkins, and honestly the first book I've read by this author somehow. I absolutely adored this book.

Sarah Dove has always had books talk to her telling her who needs to read each book. As a bookworm, this seems like the coolest gift ever. I love we find out in this book that each of the 7 Dove sisters are each given a special gift. I firmly believe books talking to you is the best one. 

Sarah has always wanted to be the one to save her beloved hometown of Dove Pond, but the books are telling her the newest resident Grace Wheeler will actually be the one to save the town. However, Grace only has plans to say in Dove Pond for a year and then move back to the city with Mama G and her niece Daisy. Grace also seems to be all about doing her job and taking care of her family with no help from other when she first arrives. I loved seeing the growth of each of the characters in this book as the story progressed.

I adored the town of Dove Pond. I grew up in a small southern town and I love reading about small towns. Dove Pond was just as much a character in this book as all the people and books. While there is an element of romance in this story, the friendships seemed to be much more important and in the forefront of this book. I love seeing Sarah and Grace become such good friends as they worked together with so many other friends to save their town. Ms. Hawkins gave her readers a beautiful and emotion filled story and I wish I already had the next book in the series. While this is the first book I've read from Ms. Hawkins, it absolutely will not be the last.

  

Rating: 4 Stars (B)

PRISONER OF NIGHT (BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD #16.5)

From #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward comes an unforgettable story of passion and vengeance set in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world.

When Ahmare’s brother is abducted, there is nothing she won’t do to get him back safely. She is unprepared, however, for the lengths she will have to go to save his life. Paired with a dangerous but enticing prisoner, she embarks on an odyssey into another world.

Duran, betrayed by his father, imprisoned in a dungeon for decades, has survived only because of his thirst for vengeance. He has been biding his time to escape and is shocked to find an unlikely and temporary freedom in the form of a determined young female.

Battling against deadly forces and facing unforeseen peril, the pair are in a race to save Ahmare’s brother. As time runs out, and the unthinkable looms, even true love may not be enough to carry them through.

Release Date: January 7, 2019

Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books

Black Dagger Brotherhood #16.5

Paranormal Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Prisoner of Night is a book within the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, but not one of the main books from Ward's BDB series. While not one of her full-length annual BDB books, Ms. Ward gives her readers a fully developed story about Ahmare and Duran.

When Ahmare's brother Ahlan is abducted, she will do anything to earn his freedom, including working with prisoner Duran to recover Chalen's beloved. While initially Ahmare and Duran seemed like an unlikely pair to work together, I quickly saw they seemed to understand each other in a way no one else does. Thankfully Duran still has a friend in Nexi, who helps Ahmare and Duran when needed. Ahmare and Duran also had a pretty instant attraction to one another. I have to say I'm not shocked by much when it comes to Ward's books, but the level of pain Duran now needed to find pleasure did throw me a bit. Not to the point that I didn't like the story, but that I hurt for Duran and all he had been put through since his father turned him over to Chalen.

Prisoner of Night was a way more emotional read than I had expected when I started reading. Ward pulled me in from the very first page and kept me engaged the entire book. Fans of her BDB series will love this glimpse into other parts of her world. I would love to actually see these new characters show up in future books in the BDB world. I was already ready for the next BDB story, but now I'm counting the days until the April 2019 release of The Savior.

Rating: 4 Stars (B)

CONSUMED: A NOVEL

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the popular Black Dagger Brotherhood series comes a brand-new novel about arson investigator, Ann Ashburn, who is consumed by her troubled past, her family's scorched legacy, and her current case: chasing a deadly killer.

Anne Ashburn is a woman consumed...

By her bitter family legacy, by her scorched career as a firefighter, by her obsession with department bad-boy Danny McGuire, and by a new case that pits her against a fiery killer.

Strong-willed Anne was fearless and loved the thrill of fighting fires, pushing herself to be the best. But when one risky decision at a warehouse fire changes her life forever, Anne must reinvent not only her job, but her whole self.

Shattered and demoralized, Anne finds her new career as an arson investigator a pale substitute for the adrenaline-fueled life she left behind. She doesn't believe she will ever feel that same all-consuming passion for her job again--until she encounters a string of suspicious fires setting her beloved city ablaze.

Danny McGuire is a premiere fireman, best in the county, but in the midst of a personal meltdown. Danny is taking risks like never before and seems to have a death wish until he teams up with Anne to find the fire starter. But Danny may be more than a distraction, and as Anne narrows in on her target, the arsonist begins to target her.

From the creator of the bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood, get ready for a new band of brothers. And a firestorm . . .

Release Date: October 2, 2018

Gallery Books

Firefighters #1

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Consumed is the first book in the exciting new contemporary series featuring firefighters from J.R. Ward. I honestly can say it was a roller coaster ride from start to finish and I enjoyed the ride immensely.

Anne Ashburn and Danny McGuire are both such strong characters. They each are so strong in their own right, I worried there would be no give and take when it came to them, but they also each had their weaknesses, that helped to balance them out. Ward threw a major curveball into both character's lives in the beginning of this book and I found myself being unable to put down the book so I could find out where she would take us on this wild ride.

There was plenty of chemistry between Anne and Danny, and while I really enjoyed the romance between them, I was totally and completely pulled in by the mystery of the serial arsonist. I had in my mind who was behind part of it, and was totally blown away when I found out I was so off base. I love when a writer keeps me guessing and Ward did an amazing job with keeping the reader guessing in Consumed.

I feel like Consumed was just the set up for a new series of books from J.R. Ward and have to say I'd be pretty excited to get another series of books from Ward. I adore her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, which is a paranormal/urban fantasy series. I have enjoyed her contemporary books in the past and am excited to see where she takes all the characters from Consumed in future books.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)