All of the books in this post I either purchased or were available in KU. All are also self-published.
Sweep With Me (Innkeeper Chronicles #4.5) by Ilona Andrews 01/14/2020-
I love Ilona Andrews and I especially love this series, so of course I one-clicked the pre-order button when I saw that I was releasing right after the new year. Sweep With Me is a novella length addition to the Innkeeper Chronicles and features Dina, Sean, and Gertrude Hunt.
As with any Ilona Andrews book, Sweep With Me grabs you right from the beginning and doesn’t let go until the exciting conclusion. Sean is the newest Innkeeper alongside Dina and the events of One Fell Sweep has left the Inn in need of new weapons for defense and Dina trying to reconnect with Gertrude Hunt. There are new guests that have asked for sanctuary and they are just as unique and intriguing as always.
I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed by a book in this series and Sweep With Me was just as enjoyable as I anticipated it to be. Full of humor, snappy dialogue, and heart pounding adventure, this novella felt like it had a higher page count. It also left me looking forward for more in this world.
Strange Love by Ann Aguirre (Galactic Love #1) 01/15/2020-
I one-clicked this sci-fi romance ages ago when the author had a cover reveal post on Twitter. I am just as much a sucker for a well done cover as I am for a sexy, weird, alien romance set in space.
This was such a fun read! The hero is a softy with self confidence issues and the heroine quickly adapts to her new life circumstances and spends the Choosing (a series of increasingly more difficult tasks set in a game/tournament setting) kicking ass and taking names. I really enjoyed their getting to know you and developing relationship. They do have a lovely, slow burn romance and because their biology is so different they have some sweet conversations about how to give each other pleasure and how to make it work.
This was exactly what I needed last week and I’m glad I had my one-click finger ready.
I purchased my copy, but I did notice today that it is also available in KU.
Pack of Lies (The Potentate of Atlanta #2) by Hailey Edwards 01/15/2020–
This is the second book in the Beginner’s Guide to Necromancy spin-off series, The Potentate of Atlanta, and features Hadley and Midas Kinase.
I was anxious to get back to this world after really enjoying the first book in the series. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about Hadley being the main protagonist in this spin-off after her behavior in the original series, but surprisingly I did like her. But, really I am super dedicated to getting to know Midas better.
The plot arc kind of carries over from Shadow of Doubt and once again we see Hadley, Ford, Bishop, and of course, Midas, have to battle the bad guys to save Atlanta and the Pack. And while I did enjoy the mystery of them figuring out where the hell the mutant roaches came from, what the second book really does is advance the budding relationship between Hadley and Midas. They are COURTING now y’all. Spooning and giving each other love bites and wearing each others shirts. Yesssss. I am here for it!
FYI this is not a series to read out of order. You really should start with Beginner’s Guide to Necromancy and go from there. As for me, I’m more than ready to see what comes next.
I also loved the Ilona Adrews book. Whatever they write always seems to hit my sweet spot. I would probably enjoy it if they wrote a phone book.
I disagree on Strange Love by Ann Aguirre. I saw some talk about it on Twitter, so I bought it. It didn’t work for me. It think it was aiming for a fun rom com type mood, but I couldn’t really get into it. I thought I would see it as kind of fun, like the Ice Planet Barbarians series, but I didn’t really feel the connection between the hero and heroine. The heroine also seemed to buy into everything too quickly. I also don’t think that sex between a bug-like being and a human appeals to me. This is the second Aguirre book I have read, and the first one wasn’t something I really enjoyed either, so I think that while Ilona Andrews really works for me, Ann Aguirre does not. This makes me feel kind of sad, because I see skill in her writing, but I guess she is not for me.
I have several authors that everyone raves about and just don’t work for me. It’s a bummer because I WANT to like their voice, especially when so many of my friends recs their books.
I read Strange Love and found it to be a fun read. It’s quite different from other books I’ve read by the author. And who can resist a talking dog? I’ll happily read more if she continues the series.
I loved the talking dog!
I loved Strange Love! A light fun read! Different and funny. Loved the dog!!
I’m keeping my fingers crossed this will turn out to be a series.
I need to start The Potentate of Atlanta series by Hailey Edwards as I loved Beginner’s Guide to Necromancy.
I wasn’t sure how I would feel about Hadley, but I am enjoying her POV and I like being in this world. Linus makes random appearances, so that helps too. Lol