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April 2023

March Reading in Review.

Thank god for authors with rich backlists and lots and lots of audiobook offerings.  In march I finished the Rockton/Casey Duncan series that I have previously reviewed and then moved on to catch up on the audios of Haley Edwards Black Hat Bureau series.  I read a ton of Haley Edwards last year and I love Rue, Asa and the rest of her motley crew of magical crime fighters/found family.  I also sank deeper into Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampire series.  I always love a heroine that loves the Cubs (see my love-affair with Kitty Pryde), I rode the rollercoaster that is her relationship to Ethan and her complicated relationship with Vampiredom.  I didn't love every book but I loved the series as a whole, especially how Merit has to rebuild her friendship with Mallory and work to define herself and her role as Sentinel of House Cadogan and champion of Chicago.
Minimalist Sweet 2020 Memories Scrapbook Photo Collage  (1)
 
 
 
24. A Darkness Absolute (Rockton #3, WM/AW — Chinese/Filipino heroine Mystery/thriller with Rom Elements) gripping, emotional and invested in this little town. Cw: murder, abduction, rape, torture, guns, violence, harassment.
 
 
25. This Fallen Prey by Kelley Armstrong (AW/WM, mystery/thriller with rom elements). So much running around in the woods! CWs: murder, serial killer, betrayal, mentions of molestation, torture.
 
26. Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong (AW/WM, mystery with rom elements) yay for complicated small town dynamics and lots of theories coming home to roost! Casey’s sister! Cw: murder, toxic parents, past trauma: child death, drug use, medical procedures
 
27. Alone in the Wild by Kelley Armstrong (AW/WW, mystery with rom elements) HUGE revelations and complications as Casey and Eric try to find the parents of foundling child. CWs: murder, homophobia, racism, medical procedures, kidnapping, brainwashing.
28. Stranger in Town by Kelley Armstrong ( AW/WM, Mystery/Thriller with Rom Elements) a massacre in the woods, big pharma & decades old plot. Finally resolution to one of the big mysteries and the start of the end game. CWs: murder, kidnapping
29. The Deepest of Secrets by Kelley Armstrong (AW/WM, mystery thriller with Rom Elements). With council decided does anything still matter? Of course it does to Casey & Eric and the Rockton crew. CWs: murder, blackmail, alcoholism, betrayals.
30. Murder at Haven’s Rock by Kelley Armstrong ( Mystery/Thriller with rom elements, AW/WW) new town, new residents and a murder! Ooh and the new neighbors will bring complications for sure! CWs: murder, guns, abduction, medical procedures, drug use.
 
31. Black Wings, Grey Skies by Hailey Edwards (UF/WW/Demon/Elf M, #4) big twists, close calls and Rue & Asa’s fascination intensifies (child murder, gore, betrayal)
 
32. Gray Witch by Hailey Edwards (UF, #5) sent on a series of troubling murders, Rue and her team set in motion moves that will lead to the final confrontation ( murder, gore, mentions of past sexual assault).
33. Gray Tidings by Hailey Edwards (UF, #6) whoops I thought this was the last book…but it’s not but some heart wrenching confrontations nonetheless! CWs: murder, gore, gaslighting, coercion.
34. Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill (UF #4) I really wonder how I would have felt about some of surprise twists in this book if I hadn’t already read the 2nd series! Because wow! CWs: murder, grief, drug use, coercion, violence.
 
35. Drink Deep by Chloe Neill (UF, #5) I really enjoyed this book, Merit expanding her trust circle, dealing with her grief and making incredibly hard choices. CWs: grief, violence, magical addiction.
 
36. Biting Cold by Chloe Neill (UF, #6). The showdown over the magical book spills over and a bigger bad revealed. Questions of forgiveness atonement, restoration. CWs: violence, magical addiction, arson, possession.
 
37. House Rules by Chloe Neill ( UF, #7) I had to name search this book to see how long the Ethan/Merit would be dealing with mutual jealousy. CWs: serial killer, abduction, demagoguery, violence, murder, jealousy, blackmail, secrets, past trauma: coercion & abuse
 
38. Biting Bad by Chloe Neill (UF, #8) loved seeing some more worldbuilding re vampire life. CWs: betrayal, arson, hate crimes, medical procedures, demagoguery, violence, murder.
39. Midnight Bites by Chloe Neill (UF, shorts stories) Howling for You: Fallon finally makes her choice. CWs: betrayal, prejudice, family pressure, legacy, sacrifice, references to miscarriage Lucky Break: Ethan/Merit vacation ruined. CWs: grief, murder, feud, infertility.