Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge

Rachelle doesn't always believe the warnings that her Aunt Leonie is constantly drilling into her mind.  She knows she shouldn't walk in the forest alone because there are dangers, and those dangers could cost her life, or other's lives as well.  The forestborn and woodspawn are dangerous to any human, and the few humans that survive suffer horrendous consequences.  

Rachelle makes some terrible mistakes, and in order to recompense her sins, she tries to protect her town from the dreaded woodspawn.  She draws the attention of the king who orders Rachelle to be a bodyguard to his son.  

Rachelle knows that the Devourer will be returning soon.  She knows that the Darkness will soon take over, and there will be no more light.  Her Aunt Leonie warned her that this would happen, but she didn't take the old woman seriously. Now her aunt is dead, and it is Rachelle's fault.  She has a duty to stop the Devourer, and she doesn't have time to be a bodyguard to the King's spoiled son.  The future of the world depends on her.  

She knows the forestborn who "owns" her will be returning soon to help the Devourer return to power and eat the sun.  She must find the sword that will end the Devourer's life.  Can she trust Armand, the king's son, to keep his mouth shut?  As a matter of fact, who can she trust?  

Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff

He's the new kid in school, and there is something about him that makes people want to trust him.  Ben, however, works for The Program, and the Program takes care of suspected threats to our government.

Ben is a sixteen year old assassin.  He has been taught to go in, prepare, finish the task assigned, and leave without a trace.  But now there are complications.  Now there is a "rush" job.  Now there is a target that Ben likes. Now there is a daughter could easily date.

I couldn't put the book down.  I was sucked in and couldn't wait to read about what the next move would be.  There is a sequel.  I usually don't do sequels, but this one will go on my reading list.

The Invasion of the Tearling by Erica Johansen

Kelsea is trying to be a good ruler, but a lot of things are stacked against her.  The dreaded Mort army is approaching, and not only outnumbers the Tear army, but they have more firepower.  She has angered the head of the church, and she has unknown enemies.  Who are Rowland Finn and the Fetch?  What secrets does the Red Queen have that she protects at all cost?

Kelsea has been having more and more blackouts.  These blackouts take her back to Pre-Crossing times.  A woman named Lily is prominent in Kelsea's dreams, so much so that Kelsea is beginning to look like Lily.  What happened in Pre-Crossing America?  What was life like for the people living there- especially women?  Why is Lily so important?

While the Mort army is getting closer and closer to the Keep, Lazarus and the Queen's Guard do all they can to keep Kelsea safe while she deals with her blackouts and tries to understand the darkness inside her.  It is a time of great sacrifice for all Tearlings- and as much as they love their new queen, neither they nor she understand what it takes to be the ruler the country needs during the time of crisis.

The Red Queen will do anything, ANYTHING, to get the sapphires that Kelsea wears and have Kelsea killed.  She has sold her soul already, so she has nothing to lose.

Can Kelsea get her blackouts under control and protect her people?  Who can she trust?  Can she give her heart to someone without him breaking it?  And who is Lily?  Why is her history so important to the Tearlings?

I loved this book, and honestly, I cannot wait to read the next installment.  Let's talk about it!

Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich

Who has worse luck than Stephanie Plum?  Well, no one really.  She has ruined numerous cars, had apartment fires, been attacked by crazed convicts, and cannot decide between the two men in her life.  

Ranger, who was in special forces, has a past that Stephanie doesn't fully understand.  She does understand that a one-eyed Russian agent from the past is trying to kill him.  She also knows that her life is in danger as well because of her association with Ranger. 

Stephanie also needs to bring in Jimmy Poletti, who is a drug runner and sex trafficker.  He's a scumbag; she needs to get him off the streets, and get the much needed body receipt money for a vehicle - since her loaner from Ranger was destroyed by a rocket propelled grenade.

Add Grandma Mazur, Lula, ten crazed chihuahuas, Atlantic City, a three foot magnet for trouble and you have the makings for Top Secret Twenty-One.  If you haven't read the series before, you're missing out!  

Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich

This is the time of year when things get really hectic, and we just need a book that will give us some belly laughs.  If you haven't met Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter, you have been missing out on someone's life that is much crazier than mine will ever be.

 Stephanie is in her early thirties and just not ready to settle down.  It doesn't help that she has Joe Morelli and Ranger interested in her romantically - or otherwise.  She also has her Grandmother Mazur, her friend, Lula, an ex "ho." and her hamster, Rex.

Someone is killing elderly ladies and putting them in dumpsters.  Stephanie is quite upset, and wants to find the killer because she is worried about her grandmother's safety.   There is also a giraffe on the loose.  Is Morelli's godfather involved?  Will Morelli's Grandma Bella put the evil eye on Stephanie if she won't leave Sunny, Morelli's godfather alone? Will Stephanie have to give up bounty hunting as work in a butcher shop to help pay the bills?  Is grass fed beef all it is cracked up to be?

If you have a couple of hours, dive into these books.  They are laugh out loud funny.  If you don't have time to sit down and read them, download the audio version from your public library.  I guarantee you will laugh all the way to your destination.