Category: New books

What’s Ashley Reading?: Boudicca’s Daughter

Boudicca’s Daughter by Elodie Harper

First line: The twisted branches flash past, swift as shadows, yet solid as spears.

Summary: Few women strike fear in the hearts of Rome like the Iceni queen, Boudicca. She challenged Rome’s takeover of Britannia with a revolt that destroyed several key towns across the southern lands. But the revolt was doomed to collapse and the mighty queen is conquered leaving her daughter a captive of the Roman general, Paulinus.

Solina, the daughter of Boudicca and a druid king, has spent her life in her mother’s shadow but is now forced to carve out her own path in a world she never imagined she would inhabit. As a prisoner she is taken to Nero’s Rome where she finds that survival in the capital can be just as dangerous as war. With her life now in Rome she must come to terms with her past, the enemy all around her and what it truly means to be Boudicca’s daughter.

My Thoughts: Ever since I heard that Elodie Harper was going to write a book about Boudicca I could not wait for its release! I even went out and bought a copy of the beautiful book so I can add it to my collection. And it did not disappoint. I loved everything about this book!

While this book is historical fiction much of Solina’s life is fiction including her name. Boudicca’s daughters and their violation by Roman soldiers were cited as important reasons behind the revolt. Little is actually known about what happened to them afterwards and the records are all from Roman historians giving them a very one sided point of view. But I think Harper did a fantastic job imagining what life may have been like for a high profile prisoner being taken to Rome during a turbulent time in its own history.

Told through several viewpoints including Boudicca, Solina and Paulinius we travel from the Iceni homeland, to fierce battles, then captivity and finally to Rome. Solina is portrayed as a woman who is constantly in conflict with herself on surviving and the urge to continue the resistance to Roman control. As I’m sure the author intended, I could feel this struggle throughout Solina’s journey. Added to this Harper shows how cutthroat life in Rome was at the time of Nero. No one was safe from incriminations and threats. I could feel the anxiety of it through the narrative while also finding it fascinating.

I would highly recommend this and Elodie Harper’s trilogy set in Pompeii. She writes fascinating characters who inhabited the ancient world. We are shown the darker sides of what this gilded society was like through the eyes of strong female characters.

FYI: Currently this book is only available through Libby/Overdrive.

What’s Ashley Reading?: What Fury Brings

What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller

First line: Given the extreme size of the king’s sword, Olerra felt certain the man was compensating for something.

Summary: In the kingdom of Amarra women rule the land and men are subservient. The potential future queen, Olerra, is trying to secure her ascension to the throne and the one way she believes will help is by stealing a husband from the neighboring kingdom of Brutus. This will show her strength and cunning to her people. Her intended target is the second son of the king of Brutus. He is known for his beauty and docile nature which will help with breaking him to her will.

Sanos, the crown prince of Brutus, has been raised for the throne but it hasn’t been easy. His father is abusive and controlling leading Sanos to do what he can to protect the rest of the family from his wrath. But one night in a drunken prank he takes the place of his brother and gets captured by an Amarran princess. Sanos is determined to escape and return to his kingdom but as he spends more time with the princess in her kingdom he finds the need for escape is slowly going away.

My Thoughts: I had no idea what I was getting into with this book. I have read most of Levenseller’s young adult works and really enjoyed them so I was definitely going to pick up her first adult book. While her YA books could be spicy this took it to a whole other level. She does preface the book with trigger warnings and reasoning behind the writing of this book which I found very insightful. So for this review I also want to let you know that the author’s note is a must read for anyone before starting What Fury Brings.

Now on to the actually review. I did enjoy this and how the world that is built here is something completely different. She turns most fantasy books on their head. This is a female led society and the women have an extra magical strength over men. But they are not the norm in the world they inhabit. It is only the kingdom of Amarra which has these rules. Everywhere else fits into the patriarchal mindset.

Olerra is a strong woman who is trying to do better for her people by winning the throne away from her greedy masochistic cousin. There were times I did not like her but as we learn more about her motives that lessens. The choices she makes are in the hopes of helping her people in the future but to get there she has to fit into some of her societies norms which are rather off putting.

The biggest issue was how quickly the relationship seems to change. I know that several weeks or months have gone by but to the reader it seems like less. When you consider what Olerra has done to Sanos I felt like things came to a conclusion rather fast. But with this being said I felt like the pacing was well done. It did not drag on and the conclusion was swift. This appears to be a standalone but I can see that the author does have a way that they could expand it beyond the first book if she so decides.

I will definitely continue to read Levenseller’s books but now I will be a little more prepared for what she will bring to her adult romantasy in the future.

FYI : Only available at the moment on Libby.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Warrior Princess Assassin

Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer

First line: The bells stopped tolling hours ago, so it must be near midnight.

Summary: King Maddox Kyronan has earned a reputation as a ruthless leader who will use his fire magic to get what he wants. Princess Jory has lived a sheltered life in the palace but is being forced to marry King Maddox in the hopes that his magic can help her kingdom. And Asher is the son of aristocrats who has been forced to live as a slave and now works for the assassin’s guild in order to survive. As the three characters come together there are prejudices between them and many secrets as well. Can they survive the threats coming at them from everywhere? Or will the secrets that they hold be their undoing?

My Thoughts: I absolutely love Brigid Kemmerer! Ever since picking up her Cursebreakers series, I have been obsessed with her fantasy novels. Now she has an adult fantasy and I was immediately ready to read it. It did not disappoint. There is mystery, magic, secrets, a little violence and romance. It has everything that the hot new genre of romantasy is all about.

I loved the characters and the romance. Each character has their flaws which leads them to make mistakes. As the plot moved along it took some turns that I did not expect. I thought it was going to go one way and it switched course. I liked the change to an expected narrative and this helped build up the tensions in the book. While the plot is pretty loose in this first book it is driven by the characters and their interactions. Near the end we get a little bit more of the drama which will most likely appear in the next books. This book will definitely pull you in with the intriguing character dynamics and the steamy romance. I will be constantly checking Netgalley for the next book in the series!

FYI: Physical and mental abuse, torture, language, sex, violence

What’s Ashley Reading?: Too Old For This

Too Old For This by Samantha Downing

First line: The remains of my dinner start to congeal.

Summary: Lottie Jones has spent the last few decades in a small town trying to move on from her past. She spends her time with friends playing bingo at her church. But then one day a journalist looking into the unsolved murders from Lottie’s past shows up on her doorstep and shakes up her quiet life. Lottie soon realizes that getting away with murder was much easier when she was younger but she will do what she needs to in order to keep her secrets.

My Thoughts: Starting this book I was very excited. It immediately gave me An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good vibes. We have an elderly woman who just happens to be a serial killer and has gotten away with it for decades. Sounds intriguing, right? And it really started out that way but after a bit I felt like the story was dragging on and on. At one point it felt like we had come to the end of the story but it was only 40% or so into the book. I wondered what could continue to happen after this. But more and more problems kept piling on to Lottie. She had to use her limited knowledge of technology and play up her feebleness to get herself out of some tough spots. It became almost comical in its complexity at times. I had fun and did really enjoy the story but it felt a little long. For Downing’s fans it will be a good addition to their TBR list this fall.

FYI: Murder, dismemberment, blackmail

What’s Ashley Reading?: You Belong Here

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda

First line: I knew how easily a story could shift.

Summary: Beckett grew up practically on the campus of Wyatt College. Her parents were professors at the college and it made sense to attend for her own education. Everything went smoothly until her senior year when two locals were killed on campus and her roommate went on the run for the murder. After these events Beckett left and rarely returned because the town never forgot and didn’t forgive the fact that she may have been involved.

Twenty years later, Beckett’s daughter secretly applies and receives a full scholarship to Wyatt College. Fighting against her fears for her daughter and the secrets of her past she allows her to attend. But then one weekend she receives a mysterious call and then the disappearance of her daughter draw her back to the town and the people who still blame her for what happened so long ago.

My Thoughts: Megan Miranda has been a very solid author. I usually rate her books a 3 or 4 star. They have good storylines and twists that can be shocking but at other times they fall a little flat. This one was a 3 star read for me. It took a while to get into the plot. I loved the short chapters and peeks into the past timeline. It helped explain things that were happening in the present and why Beckett felt the way she did about the town and college.

Having attended a small town college in rural Kansas there were things I could easily relate to. I pictured Tabor College in Hillsboro as I read, which was a fun addition to my reading journey. I also grew up going there for summer camps and visiting the town where family lived or for sporting events gave it this hometown feel. Having this book come out near the start of the school year is a perfect time as kids head to college. I think many will enjoy the plot and the atmosphere of the story.

What’s Ashley Reading?: She Didn’t See It Coming

She Didn’t See It Coming by Shari Lapena

First line: Bryden Frost is running late.

Summary: Bryden Frost has the perfect life. A loving husband, a luxury condo, a beautiful daughter and supportive friends but then one day she doesn’t show up to get her daughter from daycare. When her husband Sam comes home he finds her car, her wallet and no sign of foul play. It appears that she just vanished. As the police get involved pieces of their perfect life begin to fall apart. The police are now in a race against time to find her before it is too late.

My Thoughts: Several years ago I found Shari Lapena and really enjoyed her stories. She wrote good mysteries with lots of twists and turns. They felt fresh and intriguing. With this one I started out really liking the suspense of finding Bryden. I was invested in what happened because so much seemed off about the scenario but as the story kept on I slowly lost interest as I put the story together before the big reveal. I felt it was rather anti-climactic at the end.

In relation to the characters many of the people involved were horrible. As things are revealed there are lots of secrets in their pasts. It could easily have been multiple people for many reasons. Several parts of the plot seemed to be added just to have some filler because they did not seem to be resolved by the end. It was an okay story but definitely not my favorite of Lapena’s work.

FYI: Release date is July 29, 2025.

What’s Ashley Reading?: With a Vengeance

With a Vengeance by Riley Sager

First line: The train isn’t empty, although it certainly feels that way.

Summary: Anna Matheson’s life was destroyed by a train disaster in 1942. For years she has ruminated on the people who ruined her life and now she has uncovered the truth behind their deeds from over a decade before. In a master plan to take down all of them she lures them onto a train from Philadelphia to Chicago which will end in their arrest for their crimes. However, someone on board the train has another plan for the conspirators. Anna must hunt a killer amongst them in order to get the justice she has been waiting years for which means protecting the people she hates the most.

My Thoughts: Once again Riley Sager has changed course from his usual format, not that it’s a bad thing but different than what he has written before. He has returned to a female main character but rather than only one narrator we get the perspective of all the passengers of the train. Early on you get the feel of Murder on the Orient Express and I was in for it.

I did really enjoy this book. I love closed door because it makes you pay attention to every little detail because these are the parts that may give you a clue to the killer’s identity. Everyone is a suspect and there are only so many places to hide. I think the addition of giving us other perspectives helped enhance the mystery but we still cannot trust anyone.

I had a lot of fun reading this but my one critique is near the end where there was cliché scene that felt silly. When you read it you will understand. It seems to be added because it is almost expected but I could have done without it. Even with this scene I found the mystery intriguing and entertaining. If you love Agatha Christie and a good closed door mystery, then I’d highly recommend Sager’s newest novel.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Kill Your Darlings

Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson

First line: The first attempt at killing her husband was the night of the dinner party.

Summary: Thom and Wendy have been married for years and the whole time they have had a secret that has bound them together. But now Wendy is sure that she is ready to make sure that Thom will never reveal this secret, which means she needs to kill him. Everything leading the Wendy’s decision is evident from their past. Told in reverse the story hits on major life events going all the way back to their secret and the childhood that brought them together. Sometimes only two people can keep a secret if one of them is dead.

My Thoughts: Of all the Peter Swanson books, this was probably my least favorite. I loved the premise which several authors have used recently. Sometimes it works and other times not as much. At the beginning I was really interested in how it would work out. However, I felt that much of it dragged on and on. I did not like any of the characters. They all had major flaws and we see where it came from as the story progressed. Even the ending felt rather blah. There was a bit of information that ties back to the beginning and shows what consequences may be coming for our characters. This slow burn was interesting but Swanson’s other books have been much more engaging for me.

FYI: Release date is June 10, 2025.

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Love Haters

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

First line: It was quitting time on a Friday, but Cole Hutcheson didn’t care.

Summary: Katie Vaughn has had a turbulent love life recently and her career may be the next thing to implode. Her supervisor has recommended her for a promotional video about the Coast Guard starring none other than Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, who also happens to be her boss’s brother. Rather than expose the fact that she cannot swim she takes the job and decides she will tackle that speed bump when she arrives in Key West. However, upon her arrival in paradise things become messier than expected as Hutch happens to be the best looking man she’s ever seen and the chaos around the job brings them closer together.

My Thoughts: Katherine Center is definitely becoming one of my highly anticipated new release authors. This is my third book by her and I have enjoyed all of them. Her writing is witty but also it gives the characters flaws which makes them endearing. In her newest story, Katie struggles with image and self-worth issues that I believe many readers, especially women, will identify with. It can be a difficult topic to discuss but she did a great job with it. I really enjoyed seeing Katie grow through the story and accept herself for who she is.

In addition to Katie there are many other characters to love but I definitely was a huge fan of the Great Dane, George Bailey. He barrels into the book, literally, and steals the reader’s heart. I can easily picture this lovable dog who just doesn’t understand how big he truly is. I also loved Rue, Hutch’s aunt and Katie’s landlord in Key West. She is larger than life and has a personality that brings Katie out of her shell and adds some color to her life. In all I found the book to be an enjoyable read and perfect for summer and a cold drink by the pool or on the beach.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Murder By Cheesecake

Murder By Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage

First line: Rose Nylund whispered into the lemon-yellow telephone receiver, twisting the cord tightly between her fingers, her words obscured by the gurgling of the coffee percolator.

Summary: Picture it…Miami. Rose Nylund is planning a beautiful St. Olaf wedding in Miami but things are not going as planned. She is working against the groom’s snobby family and the fact that Dorothy’s date was found face first in a cheesecake in the hotel’s freezer. What else could go wrong? Well it appears that Dorothy may be the prime suspect in the man’s death since their one and only date was disaster. The girls are determined to clear Dorothy’s name, find the killer and make sure the wedding goes off without any more problems.

My Thoughts: Several years ago I binge watched The Golden Girls for the first time and absolutely loved it! Those ladies were witty and the show as completely ridiculous but it is perfection in sitcom TV. When I saw that we were getting a Golden Girls mystery series, I was all in. It was a cute, quirky and silly murder mystery. In all it was exactly what you’d expect from these ladies. The things they did while pursuing the criminal were outlandish and the St. Olaf wedding preparations were beyond kooky. It could easily have been an extended episode of the show. While is it nothing overly fantastic it fits perfectly in The Golden Girls fandom by giving all the silliness and wit of the characters that many of us love. If you love the show you will like the book too.