TOP AUDIOBOOK PICKS OF 2019

Liza’s Top Audiobook Picks of 2019

Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Random House Audio)

New to me author and OMG I loved this story so much. I’m really hoping it’s true it will soon be made into a show on Amazon Prime.

Veronica Speedwell series 1 – 4 by Deanna Raybourn (Recorded Books/Audible Audio)

I glommed this series as quickly as I could after listening to the first book in the series. I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in the series!

The Lemon Sisters by Jill Shalvis (Harper Audio)

One of my favorite books ever from Jill Shalvis! The romance was strong in this story, but it’s the sisters’ relationship that makes this such an amazing story.

Protect the Prince by Jennifer Estep (Harper Audio)

Loved the growth of all the characters in this book. I can’t wait to read the 3^rd book in 2020!

The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen (Harper Audio)

Somehow this was my first book from Sarah Dessen, and I loved her voice. Her books are classified as YA, but her voice speaks to everyone.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (Audible Audio)

I really enjoyed this story very much. While I figured out most of the mystery involved in this story rather early on, it was still such an engaging story from start to finish.

Rebel by Beverly Jenkins  (Harper Audio)

I admit it…somehow this is my first book by Ms. Bev. I absolutely loved her voice and was pulled into the story from page one.  Yes Rebel was my first book, but definitely won’t be my last!

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews (Harper Audio)

I love the Hidden Legacy series of books and really loved the first book with Catalina as the head of House Baylor.

Barenuckle Bastards series by Sarah MacLean (Harper Audio)

I listened to both books after hearing Sarah MacLean speak at RWA in July. I absolutely fell in love with her voice in these books, and can’t wait to see what happens in the 3^rd Barenuckle Bastards books.

Well Met by Jen DeLuca (Penguin Audio)

This romantic comedy story was one of the best stories I listened to this year. I actually had tried to get a print copy at RWA at the publisher’s signing and Ms. DeLuca ran out as I got to her table. I have to say it was more than worth the wait to listen to the story!

The A.I. Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole (Audible Audio)

Alyssa Cole could probably write and updated phone book and I’d love it. Her Reluctant Royals books have been some of my favorites from the very beginning. I grabbed The A.I. Who Loved Me as soon as it hit Audible and loved every minute of this story. I really hope we get more stories in the future with these characters as well.

Heidi’s Guide to Four Letter Words by Tara Sivec & Andi Arndt (Audible Originals)

I signed up for Audible Escapes in December and one of the books suggested to me was this book. I literally was laughing out loud as I was grocery shopping and again at work while listening to this story. It hit on all my happy places and I could read about these characters over and over again.

Nikki’s Top Audiobook Picks of 2019

Cold Fury Hockey series by Sawyer Bennett

1. Alex
2. Garrett
3. Zack
4. Ryker
5. Hawks
6. Max
7. Roman
8. Lucas
9. Can
10. Reed
11. Marek

All Tantor Audio

The Cold Fury Series by Sawyer Bennett 

This series was my first foray into Sawyer Bennett’s amazing world of romance novels. It took me a while to get there, I missed the bus so many times, but sweet Baby Jesus...I have arrived! 

I was looking for an audiobook from my local library to fill the silence while I was knitting a blanket, and I downloaded book 1 in the series, Alex. I was floored by how much much I loved it. I’m not typically a fan of sports romance, but the Cold Fury won me over. It’s an 11 book series and I gobbled them all up, in audiobook, over the course of 4 weeks. If I had to pick my favourite, I think it might be Zack. It’s book 3. It’s full of angst and heartbreak...my weakness in romance! I love that the book was narrated by both a man and a woman. All the books are read by Cris Dukehart and Graham Halstead. They did an amazing job bringing the characters to life.

Ethan Frost series by Tracy Wolff

1. Ruined
2. Addicted
3. Exposed

All Tantor Audio

The Ethan Frost series by Tracy Wolff

I really loved this series. It was dark and twisted, and heartbreakingly beautiful. This series deals with some sensitive, possible trigger inducing, topics. But the love story between Ethan and Chloe consumed me until I read all the books. I will say that I wasn’t a huge fan of the narrator, Tess Chalmers. Her voice grated on me a bit. It reminded me of a stereotypical “valley girl” from the 80’s. Sometimes, her voice would pull me out of the story, but most of time I was able to brush it off. 

SHARPEST STING (ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN #18)

The truth won’t set me free—but it will probably get me killed ...

As Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, I’m used to having a target on my back. But ever since I started investigating the secret society known as the Circle, that target seems bigger than ever.

Still, I’m trying to relax and enjoy the events leading up to my friends’ wedding when I learn that an old enemy has returned to Ashland. And that’s the just beginning of my latest nightmare. Soon, I have Circle goons watching my every move, but I have no choice but to continue searching for a key piece of evidence against the evil group.

The deeper I dig, the more horrifying secrets I uncover, and the more dangerous things become for me and my friends. Just when I think I finally have a handle on things, a shocking revelation shatters my heart and leaves me with an ugly realization—that betrayal is the sharpest sting of all ... 

Release Date: October 8, 2019

Jennifer Estep

Elemental Assassin #18

Urban Fantasy

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Sharpest Sting is the newest book in the Elemental Assassin series from Jennifer Estep. As it is the 18th book in the series, I have to warn readers not to try and start with this book.

I found Sharpest Sting to be a bit darker than recent books in this series. The discovery of the leader of The Circle organization and his connections to Gin and Bria while expected, still threw me a bit the more Mason revealed about his relationship to their father Tristan. I've always felt like Gin was a pretty strong elemental. She has taken on so many elementals and always found a way to come out on top. Mason however seems to be 100 times stronger than any of the other elementals Gin has taken on. Makes me wonder if it is partly due to them both having stone magic and from the same family line, or if it is because Mason only has one elemental magic while Gin has both stone and ice magic. 

I have to say the history of who all was involved in The Circle was very interesting to me. I had suspected many were in cahoots over the course of the series, but to have it finally confirmed was gratifying. I will say I was way more shocked than I should have been to learn about Fletcher's involvement though. I honestly have seen him through Gin's eyes and I think even though he was an assassin, she saw him as more of a savior for saving her and Bria than seeing his assassin persona first. 

I really felt like this story was much more emotional as Gin learned more about her biological family as well as her adopted family. She also seemed to feel at a loss so many times on how to deal with the situation and keeping her family protected. I have to say I still have questions when it comes to Hugh Tucker and his motives. Now we added Liam Carter into the mix and I'm honestly not sure really what to think of him either. I'm going to continue to reserve judgment on both for now.

I'm never really surprised when Gin's memories start coming to her in dream form in each book. I sometimes wish I had that skill. It always seems like just when Gin needs instruction from Fletcher or a memory of a conversation, she always has just the right memory dream. Honestly, I really felt like in this book, the conversations with Fletcher in her dreams seemed to give her little comfort and she had to figure out how to protect herself almost on her own this time.

Sharpest Sting left me with so many questions, and I really need those answers. I still enjoy this series so much and especially love the time Gin spends with her family and friends. Those relationships have grown so much over the course of this series and it honestly helped this super emotional story as I knew Gin had support as she struggled through her feelings of betrayal. I look forward to seeing where Ms. Estep takes us in the next installment of this series.

Rating: 4 Stars (B-)

PROTECT THE PRINCE (CROWN OF SHARDS #2)

Everleigh Blair might be the new gladiator queen of Bellona, but her problems are far from over.

First, Evie has to deal with a court full of arrogant, demanding nobles, all of whom want to get their greedy hands on her crown. As if that wasn’t bad enough, an assassin tries to kill Evie in her own throne room.

Despite the dangers, Evie goes ahead with a scheduled trip to the neighboring kingdom of Andvari in order to secure a desperately needed alliance. But complicating matters is the stubborn Andvarian king, who wants to punish Evie for the deaths of his countrymen during the Seven Spire massacre.

But dark forces are at work inside the Andvarian palace, and Evie soon realizes that no one is safe. Worse, Evie’s immunity to magic starts acting in strange, unexpected ways, which makes her wonder whether she is truly strong enough to be a Winter Queen.

But Evie’s magic, life, and crown aren’t the only things in danger—so is her heart, thanks to Lucas Sullivan, the Andvarian king’s bastard son and Evie’s . . . well, Evie isn’t quite sure what Sullivan is to her.

Only one thing is certain—protecting a prince might be even harder than killing a queen…

Release Date: July 2, 2019

Harper Voyager

Crown of Shards #2

Epic Fantasy

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Protect the Prince is the second book in the Crown of Shards series from Jennifer Estep, and picks up right where Kill the Queen left off. Everleigh/Evie Blair is one of the Winter Blairs which makes her a winter queen, and Evie is still trying to figure out what being a Winter Queen really means as the book opens. Evie has such a big heart and truly wants to take care of the people in Bellona, though she really doesn't enjoy the politics that goes along with being Queen.

I really enjoyed getting to spend more time with Evie and all of her friends. I loved that she decided to visit Andvari to try and align their kingdoms for the future. Lucas Sullivan/Sully, who Evie has a complicated relationship with, is in fact the bastard son of the Andvarian king. Evie does in fact continue to have to deal with the Bastards Brigade of Morta trying to kill her along with members of the Andvarian royal line. I loved the intrigue, action, and the romance of this story so very much. I will say I figured out the spy in Andvari pretty early on in the story and wondered how Evie missed so many of the signs, and could only figure it was because she was so biased about another character.

I saw so much growth of Evie's character from the start of this series until the end of this book. She seems much more willing to listen to others and has finally started to understand more about her magic. I also loved the romance that had been building between Evie and Sully from the first time they met. Evie has to make some pretty tough choices in this book to make sure she takes care of her kingdom, and I was so afraid it would destroy everything between Evie and Sully. I feel like her plan totally could have backfired on her had she not had so many of her friends watching her back.

Evie continued to communicate with Maeven, who is Mortan and I feel like she will play a very big role in the third book in this series. There is just too much left unfinished between Evie and Maeven for it not to be important for the next book. Protect the Prince left me wanting more in the best way possible. I can't wait to see where Ms. Estep takes us with the third book in this trilogy.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)

KILL THE QUEEN (CROWN OF SHARDS #1)

Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin series—an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.

In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.

Release Date: October 2, 2018

Harper Voyager

Crown of Shards #1

Fantasy/Urban Fantasy

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Kill the Queen is the first book in the new Crown of Shards series from Jennifer Estep. Jennifer Estep has been a go-to author for me for Urban Fantasy/Fantasy books from the moment I first read her books, and I have to sayKill the Queen was another winner.

Jennifer Estep has a talent for writing kickass heroines, and she did so in spades with Lady Everleigh. I will say that much like Evie herself, I found myself seeing Lady Everleigh as Evie from the very beginning of the  book. Evie has never seen herself as strong thanks to years of abuse from her cousin Vasilia and all of her friends. However, if there is one thing Evie is, it is a survivor. She survived the assassination of her parents as a young child, and then the mass assassination of the Queen and the rest of the royal family by her cousin Vasilia. The one secret Evie's mother had her keep to herself was her immunity to magic, which ends up being the only thing that saves her life in the attack.

As this is the first book in the series, there is much world building in this book, yet it wasn't overwhelming or detracting from the story, though the book did move a little slowly in the beginning. Part of what I love about each series from Jennifer Estep is the fact that her heroines have such character growth in each book. Evie really does start out as a wallflower in Kill the Queen, yet start to grow into her strength the longer she is on the run. When Kill the Queen begins, and even soon after Evie escapes, she is still hiding her true self and her strengths. 

I really felt like we just started to see the beginnings for Evie's true potential in Kill the Queen. Not only do I want to see what happens next with Evie, but so many of the other characters we met in this first book. I also want to know more about the various kingdoms and how each one will tie into the series overall. While I feel like the Crown of Shards series will mostly focus on Evie, I feel like along the way we will learn more about both her friends and enemies and I can't wait to see where Ms. Estep takes us next.

Rating: 4 Stars (B)

VENOM IN THE VEINS (ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN #17)

Blood might be thicker than water, but venom is stronger than just about anything …

It was supposed to be a nice, quiet, simple dinner with friends—but nothing is ever nice, quiet, or simple when you’re Gin Blanco, the Spider, notorious assassin and current queen of the Ashland underworld.

This time around, someone seems to be targeting Stuart Mosley, the president of First Trust bank. Lots of people have grudges against Mosley, but the more I investigate, the more Mosley’s problems seem to be connected to some of my own, especially when it comes to the Circle, the evil, shadowy group that is secretly responsible for much of the crime and corruption in Ashland.

But when another blast from my dark and deadly past as the Spider comes to light, I wonder if I’ll be able to survive this dangerous new enemy, who has a burning thirst for revenge that will only be satisfied with one thing: my death.

Release Date: June 12, 2018

Elemental Assassin #17

Jennifer Estep

Urban Fantasy

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza' Review:

The Elemental Assassin series of books is the first series of books I read when I discovered the Urban Fantasy genre. Gin Blanco and her friends and family remain some of my favorite characters I've every read. Venom in the Veinsis the newest story in the Elemental Assassin world.

Part of what I love about the series is the consistency of Gin and all of her friends. While Finn, Bria, Owen, and Silvio seem to take most things at face value, Gin is always sure there is more than meets the eye...and usually right on the money. When Finn's boss Stuart Mosley is the victim of a mugging and attempted kidnapping, everyone else thinks it is just a random occurrence, and Gin totally feels like there is more to it. I love how suspicious Gin is of everyone in Ashland, especially as she has plenty of reasons for her concerns.

As Gin is still diligently trying to figure out exactly who is behind the evil group the Circle, a blast form the past seems to come back to haunt her. Alanna Eaton is the daughter of Amelia Eaton, whom Gin killed many years ago. It turns out that Amelia was part of the Circle, and her daughter Alanna is back in Ashland and wants to take over where her mother left off. From all the flashbacks in Gin's dreams, it appears that Alanna was even more evil than her mother if possible.

We wouldn't have an Elemental Assassin book if Gin didn't run into major trouble that only she could figure out how to survive the experience. I still absolutely love how Gin's mind works through all the twists and turns thrown her way. I sometime wish her memory of the past came to her a bit sooner than right when she puts herself into danger though. I have to say that Mab remains my favorite villain from this series and while I like some aspects of the Circle, it seems to just be branching out more and more over each book. I thought I had a few things figured out when we first met Hugh Tucker, but now I'm a bit confused as to why he continues to almost be in Gin's corner part of the time and ready to let her almost die at other times. Add in the mysterious Mason, who we finally might know more about, and the notes from years ago from the Circle, and my confusion level increased. I'm really hoping we get the full mystery of the Circle and how involved Gin's family was in the Circle soon.

Venom in the Veinswas a good addition to the Elemental Assassin series, but I think it left me with more questions than answers for the first time in a long time with this series. I loved time with Gin and all her friends and family and have to say that even after 17 books, I'm still hooked on the series. I'm hoping we get a few more answers with the next installment in the series.

Rating: 4 Stars (B-)

SPARTAN HEART SPOTLIGHT & EXCERPT

Title: Spartan Heart

Series: Mythos Academy spinoff #1

Release date: Dec. 5, 2017 – self-published

Ebook ISBN: 978-0-9861885-3-4

Print book ISBN: 978-0-9861885-4-1

Page count: About 325 pages or around 95,000 words

Genre: Young adult urban fantasy – mythology

Available in: E-book and print book

Price: The e-book will be $4.99 and available at all the usual e-book retailers.

            The print book will be $14.99 and available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Audiobook: I should have more news to share on the audiobook soon. But as of right now, the audiobook will NOT be released on Dec. 5.

Book description:

New school year, same old problems . . . 

At Mythos Academy, everyone knows exactly who I am: Rory Forseti, Spartan girl and the daughter of Reapers.  

Even though I fought alongside my cousin Gwen Frost to save the mythological world from Loki and his evil Reapers of Chaos, I’m still the most hated girl at the academy because of all the horrible things my parents did. I had hoped that this school year would be different, but the other kids just won’t let me forget about my parents. 

But something strange is going on at the Colorado academy. First, I run into a Viking guy who dislikes me more than most. Then I notice some odd artifacts in the Library of Antiquities. And worst of all, I start hearing rumors about a new group of Reapers who can summon mythological monsters. 

I might be the most hated girl at Mythos Academy, but I’m also the only one who can save it . . .

Excerpt: Read the first chapter online here – http://www.jenniferestep.com/books/spartanheart/

Scroll down, and click on the Read Excerpt tab.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2yJSI9W

B&N Nook: http://tinyurl.com/y8b9c2o5

iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/ya84jd4d

Google Play: http://tinyurl.com/y9ydqvf8

Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/ybpl4tgt

Smashwords: http://tinyurl.com/ybb6fqke

JENNIFER’S BIO AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer writes the Mythos Academy spinoff series. Spartan Heart, book #1, will be released on Dec. 5.

Jennifer is also the author of the Elemental Assassin, Kill the Queen, Bigtime, and Black Blade series.

For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow Jennifer on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter. You can also sign up for her newsletter.

Website: http://www.jenniferestep.com/

Blog: http://www.jenniferestep.com/blog/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferEstepAuthor?fref=ts

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Jennifer_Estep  (@Jennifer_Estep)

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/580315.Jennifer_Estep

Newsletter signup: http://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-jennifer/newsletter/

SPARTAN HEART EXCERPT

The first day of school is always the worst.
A new school year means new classes, new books, new professors, new projects to prepare and papers to write. Plus, you have to decide what you’re going to wear and how you’re going to act and what kind of person you’re going to be—and be seen as—until school breaks for the summer several long, distant, dreary months in the future. There’s so much freaking pressure to get every little thing right starting from that very first day. And that’s just for regular kids.
That pressure is turned up to extremes at Mythos Academy.
“Are you excited for the first day of school?” a light, happy voice asked.
I stuffed one last textbook into my dark green messenger bag, then slid it over to one side of the kitchen table. I looked up to find Rachel Maddox, my aunt, smiling at me. “Not really.”
Instead of being put off by my sour, surly tone, Aunt Rachel’s smile widened. “Well, you should be excited. It’s a brand-new school year and a brand-new start for us. Everything’s going to be great, Rory. You’ll see.”
“You mean like all the other kids, professors, and workers suddenly forgetting that my parents were Reapers of Chaos and all the horrible things they did?” I snorted. “Not bloody likely.”
Aunt Rachel’s warm smile vanished like a candle flame being snuffed out by a cold wind. She dropped her gaze from mine and turned back to the stove, flipping the blackberry pancakes that she was making special for my first day of school. And hers too, since she worked as a chef in the Mythos dining hall.
I winced, guilt churning in my stomach. Aunt Rachel was twenty-seven, only ten years older than me, since I had turned seventeen a few days ago. She had always been more of a big sister to me than an aunt—at least until my parents were murdered last year.
My mom and dad, Rebecca and Tyson Forseti, hadn’t been brave, strong, noble Spartan warriors like I’d thought. The two of them had secretly been Reapers, working with others to bring Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos, back here to the mortal realm. And my parents hadn’t been your average, run-of-the-mill Reaper bad guys. Oh, no. They had been Reaper assassins, the worst of the worst, responsible for killing dozens and dozens of innocent people.
I had been absolutely horrified when I’d learned the truth about them, especially since the whole time, all my years growing up, I had never realized what kind of evil warriors—what kind of evil people—they truly were.
My parents had fooled me as easily as they had everyone else, leaving behind a deep, jagged wound that just wouldn’t heal. Even now, a year after their deaths, their betrayal still coated my heart like a cold frost, freezing out all my previous love for them.
Sometimes I couldn’t feel anything but that cold numbing me from the inside out. Other times, I was so angry at my parents for all their lies that I half expected red-hot steam to spew out of my ears like I was a cartoon character. In those moments, I wanted to lash out at everyone and everything around me. I just wanted to hurt someone or something the same way my parents had hurt me, especially since I was still dealing with the consequences of all their evil actions. Maybe I also wanted to lash out because I was a Spartan, and fighting was what we were naturally hardwired to do. If only dealing with my emotions were as easy as battling Reapers.
I didn’t know which was worse, not feeling anything or feeling way too much. Or maybe it was going back and forth between the two extremes. Either way, the cold numbness and hot anger had been my constant companions ever since the day I found out about my parents. 
But I wasn’t the only one who’d been devastated by the truth. So had Aunt Rachel, who had always looked up to her big sister, Rebecca. Aunt Rachel had been hurt just as badly as I had been, but she’d stepped up and taken me in anyway, despite all the horrible things my parents had done. She had even put her dreams of going to culinary school in Paris on hold so she could stay here in Colorado and take care of me. Aunt Rachel had been so good to me this past year, and she did her absolute best to protect me.
I didn’t mean to snap at Aunt Rachel. Really, I didn’t. That was my hot anger boiling up through the icy numbness and getting the best of me. Sometimes, though, it was hard to even look at her, since she had the same long, glossy black hair, green eyes, and pretty features that my mom had. The same black hair and green eyes that I had as well and the same features that haunted me every time I looked in the mirror.
More than once, I had thought about dyeing my hair neon-pink or wearing violet contacts so I wouldn’t look so much like my mom anymore. Who wanted to be the daughter of notorious Reaper assassins? Much less look exactly like one of them? Nobody, that’s who.

But that was me, Rory Forseti, and this was my life, like it or not.

SNARED (ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN #16)

If you don’t know Gin “the Spider” Blanco, you don’t know dangerous female heroines.

Irony 101—The Spider herself snared in someone else’s web…



Another week, another few clues trickling in about the Circle, the mysterious group that supposedly runs the city’s underworld. Gathering intel on my hidden enemies is a painstaking process, but a more immediate mystery has popped up on my radar: a missing girl.

My search for the girl begins on the mean streets of Ashland, but with all the killers and crooks in this city, I’m not holding out much hope that she’s still alive.



A series of clues leads me down an increasingly dark, dangerous path, and I realize that the missing girl is really just the first thread in this web of evil. As an assassin, I’m used to facing down the worst of the worst, but nothing prepares me for this new, terrifying enemy—one who strikes from the shadows and is determined to make me the next victim. 

Release Date: April 25, 2017

Elemental Assassin #16

Urban Fantasy

Pocket Books

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s Review:

I've been a fan of the Elemental Assassin series from the very first book. Honestly it is one of those series I generally read and listen to the audiobook later because I love the series so much. I'm really enjoying the mystery of the members of The Circle and the leader of The Circle. 

Snared was a good addition to the Elemental Assassin series. I will say I wish we had a bit more focus on discovering more of the members and the leader of The Circle, rather than suddenly having a serial killer in Ashland. I'll just say, I find it hard to believe Gin, especially with Silvio as her assistant, had no idea there was a potential serial killer in Ashland. Yes she had been busy, but she is normally better about keeping up with everything in Ashland. I did enjoy the Dollmaker storyline, especially as we learned the motive behind the killer's mindset. 

I did want more from the Circle, especially as Gin was going after Damien Rivera as the weakest link of the members. I have to say I'm totally and completely intrigued by the vampire Tucker and the fact that while a member of the Circle, he seems to keep saving Gin. I do think he has probably done so for the last time without having issues with the leader of the Circle.

I had a couple of other issues with Snared, but honestly they are issues that have popped up before in books, so it isn't something that will keep me from reading and enjoying each book. Gin has an innate sense to go with her gut instinct and yet there were several times in Snared she ignored her gut and there were issues because of it. I get because of childhood trauma she could have blocked out memories about people from her past. However, it seems like her dreams that give her back those memories always pop up after she has met the person from her past without recognition. I get it a time or two, but it seems to be a running issue for Gin. She is such a smart and kick-ass character, I find it hard to believe her memory could be that bad. 

I will say even with the issues I mentioned, it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of Snared nor would it ever keep me from continuing to read the series. I love seeing Gin continue to work to clean up Ashland and work with her friends to solve each problem as it happens. Honestly, Snared made me even more excited about Gin's future battle with the members of the Circle. 

Rating: 4 Stars (B) 

Buy Links:

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/29aRbza
Amazon print: http://amzn.to/29bMlD8
Barnes & Noble ebook: http://tinyurl.com/jnglk5b
Barnes & Noble print book: http://tinyurl.com/hldg9cr
Books-A-Million: http://tinyurl.com/h7ac7ff
Google Play: http://tinyurl.com/hgm5779
iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/hwgr5g2
Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/hxpcw3q
IndieBound: http://tinyurl.com/jquk9bw

Audible: http://tinyurl.com/lgw4a9j
Amazon audiobook: http://amzn.to/2n8wSHT