Adam and Sarah Morgan had a perfect marriage and life. Adam, a struggling writer, and Sarah, the most prominent defense attorney in the Washington D.C. area, have a beautiful home in the city, are wealthy, and can escape life to their picturesque lake home. That is until Kelly, Adam’s mistress, is discovered dead in their lake house bedroom. Kelly has been stabbed to death and Adam is the prime suspect. Now Sarah finds herself having to defend her husband from being accused of murder, but can she win this case, too?
Honestly, I devoured this book in 24 hours. The Perfect Marriage was well-written. I really liked the chapters being written from different character perspectives, and the story kept me on the edge of my seat. The novel was a fast pace, and it did not lose my attention when reading the book. The ending took me by surprise with how she built the story. I did not expect her to end it the way she did, but I appreciated how the novel ended. I typically am great at discovering who the murderer is, but there were twists and turns that threw me off a bit.
I loved Sarah as a main character. She represented a powerhouse of a woman, and the author really made you feel for her situation. My feelings toward Adam kept changing through the book. The author did a wonderful job of helping me understand Adam’s frustrations, but then I would find myself so annoyed with him for his actions. Jeneva Rose wrote well-developed secondary characters that really helped the reader feel connected to the main characters’ past. The dialogue was just right, and the author expressed the characters’ feelings through well-written plot building. Overall, I would highly recommend this psychological thriller!
Alright fans of Sarah J. Maas! We have a serious question to debate on my reading blog. Are you team Azriel or team Cassian from ACOTAR??? I cannot take credit for these amazing photos that were found on social media, BUT we can use them to discuss these swoon-worthy fae men. (Photo credits go to Artworks by ROKII)
Team Azriel
We have Azriel, who is dark and mysterious. He is everywhere, literally, thanks to his stealth like skills and shadows. He has an awfully sad childhood, yet remained caring towards friends closest to him. I love the relationship he has with Cassian and Rhysand. They have that brotherly relationship that makes him vulnerable and caring. We also get a different side of him when he treats Feyre’s sister with care and gentleness when she just is not ready to accept her new life. So yes, he is mysterious, but we also get to read about his playful and caring side. His physical features are helpful, too!
Team Cassian
On the other hand, we have Cassian. He is literally the opposite of Az. He is talkative, loud, and FUNNY. Yet, he has that badass side of him that comes out when his friends are threatened. I love the relationship he has with Feyre. She is clearly seen as a sister, and while he does protect her, he trusts her to take care of herself, too. I love that he is not threatened by strong women, and pushes them to learn to protect themselves, which we learned stems from his sad childhood. The loud and talkative Cassian only hides the kind and thoughtfulness that only few get to see. Again, his physical features are divine, too.
If fae men were only real! So, which one is it, team Az or team Cassian?
I’m on the fence, but leaning more towards Az. Although, I would take Rhysand Every. Single. Time. Let me know what you are thinking with a comment below!
I have been reading Young Adult Fantasy stories for 10 plus years. My first experience with this genre was an amazing series from Sarah J. Maas, so I obviously have to list it as my #1 choice!
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas I was hooked in the first chapter of this series. It is basically a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but is an amazing take on a classic love story. Feyre is taken captive by Tamlin when she is discovered as the one that killed a large wolf in the woods, except it was not a wolf. Now Feyre has to make up for the life she took. The tension between Tamlin and Feyre is exciting, sexy, and a slow burn. Feyre is a strong and independent FMC. She reminds me of Katniss from the Hunger Games, but in a world of Fae. Rhysand….well you have to read it to understand how much I love him. I always tend to love the first book of a series, but ACOTAR just kept getting better and better as the books were published. So grab this series, and I promise you won’t regret it!
2. Flames of Chaos by Amelia Hutchins
This was a series that I was unsure about at first. The paranormal was more than I expected and way outside my box, but once I got past it, I found a love for this series. Aria and her sisters return to the human realm to find one of their own is missing. In the human realm is where they meet Knox. Aria is a funny and strong FMC. I literally laughed out loud at times when reading some of her dialogue. Knox is controlling, rude, and conniving, but at the same time, sexy and drool worthy. This story had me experiencing all the emotions, and the smut level is on fire for this series. I highly recommend it!
3. Lady of Darkness by Melissa Roehrich
Lady of Darkness is another series of strong female characters and great world building. Scarlett was raised to be feared as a trio of assassins. She takes one final assignment in hopes of retrieving the name of her mother’s killer. Then children begin to go missing, and Scarlett is forced to make decisions she never thought she would make. These women are badass and I love the relationships the author built among the three women. There are twists and turns that were unexpected, and it was hard to put the series down. I really loved this story. It was a unique plot and had me laughing, crying, and swooning over some of the characters. Buy it today!
4. A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark
If you like a dark and mysterious MMC, then this is the book series for you! When Prisca flees her village when ousted for her secretive powers, she is found and left for dead by a mercenary. When she meets with him and his crew again, they make bargains that will alter their lives, but will it be for the better? Prisca is brave, independent, and cares deeply for her family. Lorian is protective, possessive, moody and sexy. This enemies to lovers romance is to die for, so grab the book and settle in for an adventure.
5. The Broken Kingdoms by LJ Andrews
The last series in my top 5 series to read over and over is The Broken Kingdoms. Curse of Shadows and Thorns starts this series off with Elise, a princess whose Uncle controls the fate of her ill father’s life by promising her hand in marriage. When she meets Legion Gray, the dowry negotiator, she finds him grumpy, secretive, and hard to resist. After a coup throws the kingdom in a tizzy, Elise trusts Legion to protect her, but after discovering his secrets, can she really trust him to help her and her people? I really enjoyed all of the characters in this series, and I love that the author gives other characters their own stories. Give this one a read!
After the war, the Tairen are slowly fading and the only cure to saving the Tairen and the fey lives within Celieria. Rain Tairen Soul sets out to find this cure to save the Fading Lands, but when he arrives, he finds more than just the answer he has been seeking.
Ellysetta, a wood carver’s daughter, has always loved the stories of the Tairen Soul and the fey. Ellie has always found herself drawn to Rain in a way no other mortal has. When word that Rain is visiting Celieria, Ellie’s dream of meeting Rain finally happens, but she finds she is drawn to him in a way that she least expected.
The story of Rain and Ellie was gripping and exciting. I really loved reading this story and had a hard time putting it down to focus on life. Ellie, I find, to be an enjoyable character. She is strong and independent. She loves with all of her heart, and allows this trait to lead her in life. At first I was skeptical of Rain, but the more you learn his back story, the more his character makes sense. You can’t help but fall in love with him and his mysterious ways. I also love the banter between him and his most trusted fey friends.
It took me a while to understand the writing style that C.L.Wilson chose to use. The dialogue is just right, but the character perspective was confusing for me in the beginning. It was not always clear which character’s thought you were reading. I eventually got used to her style of writing, but it is still not my favorite choice of writing. However, I did really enjoy the world building for the fey and the Fading Lands. It is a unique fantasy series, and I cannot wait to finish reading the Tairen Soul.
