Hope Never Dies (An Obama Biden Mystery #1) by Andrew Shaffer

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This mystery thriller reunites Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama for a political mashup full of suspense, intrigue, and laugh out loud bromance.

Vice President Joe Biden is fresh out of the Obama White House and feeling adrift when his favorite railroad conductor dies in a suspicious accident, leaving behind an ailing wife and a trail of clues. To unravel the mystery, “Amtrak Joe” re-teams with the only man he’s ever fully trusted—the 44th president of the United States. Together they’ll plumb the darkest corners of Delaware, traveling from cheap motels to biker bars and beyond, as they uncover the sinister forces advancing America’s opioid epidemic.

Part noir thriller and part bromance novel, Hope Never Dies is essentially the first published work of Obama/Biden fanfiction—and a cathartic read for anyone distressed by the current state of affairs.

Source: purchased


I had two reasons to read this book. One, Andrew Shaffer is incredibly funny. Two, Barack and Joe together again - heck yeah

If you're used to all the Obama-Biden bromance memes and you're expecting that right off the bat, you're not going to get that. This is the post-presidency, and Barack and Joe have gone their separate ways doing their own thing. The entire story is told from Joe's POV and let me say, Uncle Joe actually sounds kind of mopey at first. It's mostly that he's hurt that Barack is off doing these amazing things now that he's out of office and Joe hasn't been included. You can understand why after they've been working side by side for 8 years. What does bring them together is the death of a train conductor, someone Joe knew personally. Barack flagged it as suspicious because the deceased had something connected to Joe. Nothing lifts your spirits during retirement like a murder mystery to solve. Things don't automatically go back to normal between Barack and Joe but that awkwardness will have to take a back seat to the more important task at hand.

I enjoyed reading Hope Never Dies and there's no way you can read it without hearing either Barack's or Joe's voice in your mind. I think we could all use a little lightheartedness (yes, I know they're solving a murder) but you know, seeing them back together in action even in fiction form is the hope that most of us want and need right now. Shaffer doesn't veer towards current politics too much, maybe an allusion to it here and there but not enough to derail the story and take it in a different direction.

The story starts out a bit slow as Joe reminisces about his youth, friendships and the White House days. The pacing makes sense for this dynamic duo and reminded me a little of those old-timey black and white detective shows. It's all about nostalgia and if you're feeling sentimental for the ultimate bromance, make sure you read Hope Never Dies and then eagerly wait for the next book coming out in 2019!

~ Bel

A Change of Heart (Bollywood #3) by Sonali Dev

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Dr. Nikhil 'Nic' Joshi had it all—marriage, career, purpose. Until, while working for Doctors Without Borders in a Mumbai slum, his wife, Jen, discovered a black market organ transplant ring. Before she could expose the truth, Jen was killed.

Two years after the tragedy, Nic is a cruise ship doctor who spends his days treating seasickness and sunburn and his nights in a boozy haze. On one of those blurry evenings on deck, Nic meets a woman who makes a startling claim: she received Jen’s heart in a transplant and has a message for him. Nic wants to discount Jess Koirala’s story as absurd, but there’s something about her reckless desperation that resonates despite his doubts.

Jess has spent years working her way out of a nightmarish life in Calcutta and into a respectable Bollywood dance troupe. Now she faces losing the one thing that matters—her young son, Joy.  She needs to uncover the secrets Jen risked everything for; but the unforeseen bond that results between her and Nic is both a lifeline and a perilous complication.

Delving beyond the surface of modern Indian-American life, acclaimed author Sonali Dev’s page-turning novel is both riveting and emotionally rewarding—an extraordinary story of human connection, bravery, and hope. 


If you ask me which book totally surprised me this year I'd say it's this one. A Change of Heart about a grieving widower whose life is in shambles after witnessing his wife's death, is a masterful mix of mystery, romance, murder, political intrigue and a perilous descent into the world of black market trade. I couldn't have imagined it possible to write such a story that incorporates all these themes but here it is!

Things start out vaguely: Nic's a barely functioning cruise ship doctor who prefers to be in a drunken stupor most of the time. Jess appears out of nowhere with a cryptic message about his late wife, Jen. It's a bit confusing to understand at the beginning but it sets the tone. Jess has an urgent agenda that can only be completed with Nic in full control of his faculties which means she has to insinuate herself into his life more than she's already done so. Despite his apprehension, he's desperate to cling to anything that can help him understand what happened to Jen. Jess' motives are revealed in brief snatches but we are given enough to know that someone else is pulling the strings and she has much at stake. It's impossible not to get emotionally wrapped up in Nic's grief or Jess' distress. There is a sinister undertone thanks to some gruesome elements, and the more they uncover about Jen, the more dire their situation becomes. 

"This man, for all his brokenness, was a healer."

~ A Change of Heart, p.95

Nic and Jess are hugely complex individuals yet these two who are so broken develop this strange synergy between them. Somehow they get through to each other and as unlikely as that is, I liked their impact on each other. While Nic and Jess run hot and cold, there's police officer, Rahul, who serves as the story's moral compass. As someone investigating Jen's death, he's the one shining beacon of integrity in this entire story. 

I couldn't have imagined how much I'd love A Change of Heart and I promise you that you will run the gamut of emotions as you read it. You'll also be amazed by how cleverly the details are ultimately woven together. I clung to every word and felt all the anticipation and frenzy as it reached its climax. Dev writes emotions into something that I can see and even now months later I find myself thinking back to particular scenes. This is certain to be my first of many Sonali Dev books that I will read. 

~ Bel

Note: I didn't realize until I was done that this is the third book in Dev's Bollywood Series and I'm happy to say that it can be read as a standalone. The fourth book, A Distant Heart releases in December.

The Devil You Know by Trish Doller

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Eighteen-year-old Arcadia wants adventure. Living in a tiny Florida town with her dad and four-year-old brother, Cadie spends most of her time working, going to school, and taking care of her family. So when she meets two handsome cousins at a campfire party, she finally has a chance for fun. They invite her and friend to join them on a road trip, and it's just the risk she's been craving-the opportunity to escape. But what starts out as a fun, sexy journey quickly becomes dangerous when she discovers that one of them is not at all who he claims to be. One of them has deadly intentions.

A road trip fling turns terrifying in this contemporary story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Cadie has felt the heavy burden of responsibility for much of her teen years. Her mother died a few years before, leaving Cadie, her younger brother and her father. Her dad has had a very hard time adjusting to life without her mother and so Cadie has taken on the role of caretaker for the family. In addition to that, she’s also been working at the family’s grocery store. All Cadie longs to do is to be free to be able to enjoy being a teenager. She’s already given up so much – being on the soccer team, her boyfriend and pretty much any kind of social activity just to be able to take care of her family.

When she hears about her friends going to a popular party, Cadie decides that she’s had enough of missing out and heads there to join in on the fun. Truth be told, she’s also a bit curious about what her ex is up to with his new girlfriend. Yes, she’s slightly jealous but mostly disappointed that they broke up because her life became too complicated. So she distracts herself at the party when she meets two cousins who are making a quick stop on their road trip. Embracing her new spontaneous side, Cadie decides to accept their invitation to join them on their travels along with one of her school friends. And this is where things start to get weird. Not only is there an incident involving one of the party revelers the morning of after the party but right before they're supposed to leave, Cadie's friend goes missing. 

I was on board with the story up until this point. You’d think that once your friend goes missing, the second bizarre incident in as many days, you’d be on alert and forgo the road trip but no. Cady is so stubborn and desperate to taste freedom that she ignores any warning signs and continues on with the two cousins. She ends up getting herself into quite a mess.

I loved Trish Doller’s other book, Something Like Normal, a story about a young soldier with PTSD, so I was really excited to see that she had something different. Though everything works out at the end, I feel that I would have enjoyed this story more if I wasn't so annoyed with Cadie and her bad decision making. 

~ Bel

Scarlett Undercover by Jennifer Latham

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A voice-driven mystery perfect for fans of Veronica Mars.

Meet Scarlett, a smart, sarcastic, kick-butt, Muslim American heroine, ready to take on crime in her hometown of Las Almas. When a new case finds the private eye caught up in a centuries-old battle of evil genies and ancient curses, Scarlett discovers that her own family secrets may have more to do with the situation than she thinks -- and that cracking the case could lead to solving her father's murder.

Jennifer Latham delivers a compelling story and a character to remember in this one-of-a-kind debut novel.

This is a story driven by a smart, sassy and fearless young woman who knows what to say and how to get her way. Scarlett is often nonplussed when things don’t go exactly as planned. She manages to make the most out of situations and get to the point.

Scarlett is hired by a young girl who is worried about her older brother’s strange behavior as of late. She suspects that her brother has something to do with the recent death of a friend. This person’s death was all over the news and at first Scarlett's instinct is to decline the case. But when she sees how scared this little girl is, she can’t turn her back. After meeting this brother and getting strange vibes off of him, Scarlett thinks that her client may actually be on to something.

Scarlett is a resourceful young detective who isn’t afraid to seek out the truth. And as she digs further into this mystery, she becomes a target. It turns out that this case may hit closer to home than she realized as she starts to make connections between a cult-like group of kids and her father’s murder. Here the story branches out into the paranormal with some intriguing myths and history.

This was a fun mystery to read but in all honesty, I was drawn to this story after hearing that the heroine was a Muslim-American. I was curious to see how that would factor into the story itself. If anything, it exposes the reader to some of the customs and how those are integrated into their every day lives. Scarlett to a certain extent is more progressive with regards to her religion. Scarlett’s older sister, who’s studying to become a doctor, has found comfort in many of the traditions since the death of their parents. Both girls show a healthy respect for their beliefs though both practice differently.

However, this is only a small part of the person Scarlett is. She’s a compassionate person who looks after her client. She’s a fighter who refuses to be shut down. She's a snarky opponent who sees through people's bull. She's loyal to her family and friends. And she’s a young girl in love. All these aspects combined make Scarlett a fine role model for young readers everywhere. Scarlett Undercover is a fun read and I’m excited to introduce my daughters to this!

~ Bel

Forget Me by K.A. Harrington

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An edge-of-your seat psychological thriller with a romantic twist

On the three-month anniversary of her boyfriend Flynn’s death, Morgan uploads her only photo of him to FriendShare to get some closure—but she’s shocked when the facial recognition software suggests she tag him as "Evan Murphy." She’s never heard of Evan, but a quick search tells her that he lives in a nearby town and looks exactly like Flynn. 

Only this boy is very much alive.

Digging through layers of secrets and lies, Morgan is left questioning everything she thought she knew about her boyfriend, her town, and even her parents' involvement in this massive web of lies.

Forget Me is a delicious little mystery that grabbed my attention from the beginning. I especially enjoyed the first few chapters as Harrington* describes Morgan’s bewilderment and sense of betrayal. She saw her boyfriend Flynn die and believed him to be dead. Creepy, right? Let's just say that the worst punch to the gut is nothing compared to all the chaotic emotions rumbling through her.

Morgan and her best friend Toni start their own investigation. First up in the plan, they’ll have another friend Reece invite this lookalike Evan to a party that Reece is throwing. On neutral ground they should be able to safely check him out and determine if there’s a greater mystery. It doesn’t go smoothly as it turns out that Evan has questions of his own.  Despite the circumstances surrounding their introduction and any misgivings they have, they agree to team up to solve this case. What they encounter are more lies, suspicion and cover ups. Getting used to working with each other and building trust is hard enough. It gets tougher and more hazardous when it seems like everyone they know has things to hide and needs desperately to be left in the dark.

I was quite pleased by the time Forget Me came to its conclusion. There may have been some things I was able to predict but there were also a few twists thrown in for good measure. I was completely thrown by a smaller mystery that was introduced half way through the story.  I enjoy psychological mysteries but don't get the chance to read them too often. Forget Me took care of my craving so I'm good for a while. If you're wanting something quick and suspenseful, add this to your list!

~ Bel

Author K.A. Harrington is also known as Kim Harrington.

Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

* * * * 3/4

Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late.

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…

Becca Fitzpatrick certainly made an enormous impact with the Hush Hush series. That having concluded, it’s interesting to see what she has done next with Black Ice. It’s a departure from what we’re used to and I’ve got to hand it to her, she’s done a bang up job here! Also, how freaking cool is this cover?!

I’ll come clean and say that when I’d first heard of the premise for this book months ago, I wasn’t too impressed. I’m not an outdoorsy gal and the idea of a mountain trek and being lost just didn’t appeal to me. So fast forward to months later, I read the premise again and all of a sudden I’m all over this. I have no idea what changed. Black Ice is well planned out and takes its time to reveal the plot. There are a few things going on here. Britt wants to exert her independence from her ex-boyfriend. She wants to demonstrate this to him but winds up needing to prove this to herself. She and her best friend end up seeking shelter with strangers one night and it’s all awkward and shady. I’ll excuse her few moments of cluelessness here because put next to her needy, whiney and childish bestie, Britt comes off as a perfect angel. When she does realize what’s up, her mind spurs into action and she’s all about making sure her best friend is safe as she formulates a plan to either escape these two fugitives or misdirect them so that she can buy her some time as she leads them to the authorities. Then she unwittingly stumbles upon the murder mysteries and she feels in over her head. But not for long.

I really like that Britt is a resourceful person. She starts off as someone still feeling slighted by her ex but then evolves into a leader. She had no idea she was capable of such things.  Through flashbacks she has a new perspective on her relationship with Calvin. May be it wasn’t all that “perfect” or healthy. Still, being stuck on a mountain with the fugitive Mason, no matter how good looking he is, is not the ideal place to evaluate her relationship history. Her attraction to Mason is concerning as she feels she may be experiencing Stockholm Syndrome. Like I said, she’s smart and clearly no damsel in distress. This experience is opening her eyes to understanding that there are more things to consider that are below the surface.

As I read along, I kept wondering how much longer things could drag on as I just couldn’t fathom what else could be thrown in there. The plot does unravel itself and once Britt gets herself out of her temporary stupor she’s no longer the captive. This changes the nature of her relationship with everyone.

I won’t say any more. Black Ice was a terrific read and far more than I had originally expected. I was able to slowly put the pieces together but most of all, I really liked Britt. How great to see a female character seize upon a perilous and life-changing experience to kick some butt!

~ Bel

Firelight by Kristen Callihan (Paranormal Romance, Non-YA, 18 yrs+)

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London, 1881

Once the flames are ignited …

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family’s fortune decimated and forced her to wed London’s most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity…

Lord Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it’s selfish to take Miranda as his wife. Yet he can’t help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn’t felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

Set in Victorian England, Firelight is an impeccable story fraught with mystery, deception and enough sexual tension to leave the pages smoldering. With that backdrop and a sinister paranormal element looming overhead our heroic couple, Miranda and Lord Archer, are perfectly matched in this remarkable debut from Kristen Callihan.

Creating a special connection between characters is tricky especially when it’s instant despite its extraordinary circumstances. What makes it work in Firelight is how well the characters play off each other. Their exchanges are often heated and it’s clear that there’s a spark in Miranda that inspires Lord Archer’s admiration and longing for her. Miranda, in spite of her husband's handicap, is not reviled by him. Instead she is drawn to him and after observing how others react to him, she yearns to protect him. She also clearly loves to goad him as much as he does her. And have I mentioned the sexual tension?? It’s so palpable that I thought of shaking the book to knock some sense into the two of them.

Another thing I liked is that Miranda isn’t some delicate little thing that easily panics. She’s quick-witted and self-assured enough that she is not afraid to unleash her inner bad ass. Part of that is due to her extraordinary ability that she keeps hidden from everyone, including Lord Archer. Comprehending that his bizarre appearance easily makes him the scapegoat for the murders, she takes it upon herself to do her own investigation and clear his name.

Lord Archer for his part is chivalrous but also forward thinking. He has no wish to tame the exquisite Miranda. He struggles feeling at once selfish for taking her as his wife and finding solace in her presence. Because of his "curse" he keeps her at bay unwilling for her to discover the truth of his condition. It's amazing to think of this strapping aristocrat as vulnerable. Still, whether around her or not, he is all consumed by her, at one point he muses, 

“Did the rest of the world not realize what excruciating pleasure simply holding a woman could inflict upon a man?”

That. Is. Swoon-worthy. Also swoon-worthy: the alleyways. Seriously, what is up with alleys and brick walls for hot interludes for all ages? (City of Fallen Angels being another example)

I believe you get the point. Secrets aside, Firelight also has a terrific cast of characters that includes Miranda's sisters, Daisy and Poppy. Miranda isn't the only one with an independent mind and her sisters are quite entertaining. Lord Archer's adversaries are many and some shadier than others like the Marquis of Northrup, Ian Ranulf, whose motives are very, very suspicious.

Firelight is so much fun and the paranormal aspect heightened the excitement. Kristen Callihan does a superb job developing the story from both angles bringing it to a satisfying finish. Firelight is part of the Darkest London series which also features Ember, the prequel available as an eBook, and Moonglow, out later this year that will feature Miranda's sister, Daisy, and the Marquis of Northrup. If you're a fan of romance and the supernatural, you'll like Firelight.

~ Bel

The Stuttering Tattoo by Greg Logsted

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Steven Bishop is extraordinarily ordinary. He goes to school. He rides his motorcycle. He stutters. His best friend is a former Colombian cartel hit man turned cook/construction worker. You know, ordinary. All that changes the day Becky Moore walks into his classroom. Becky is dazzling, enigmatic.

One day Steven gives Becky a ride home on his motorcycle. There, they discover a severed arm, one of, the fingers still has an unusual ring attached: a circle, in the middle of which is a heart at the center of which is a bold number 37. While comforting Becky, Steven discovers a tattoo at the base of her neck: it is the same symbol. And so begins a thrilling descent into a world of crime and murder, a ride wilder than any Steven has taken before.

As you may gather from the above description, Steven’s life is indeed not ordinary.  Living with his cop dad, his mom having left the family earlier, Steven has always been one of the quieter kids mostly due to his stuttering. He prefers giving one-word answers and focuses on his schoolwork, working out and his construction job with his friend, Carlos. When the feisty young Becky walks into his algebra class one day, he feels an immediate and inexplicable draw to her. He follows her out to the parking lot to find her slashing someone’s tires and then walking away.  He’s hooked. He has to know who she is. He bumps into her at a coffee shop and gives her a ride home from the coffee shop. Put that in the "win" column!

Not so fast. A potenitally romantic moment is interrupted when they uncover a severed hand in her backyard. As Steven tries to comfort a very distraught and terrified Becky, he notices that she also has the same tattoo on her neck that is visible on the severed arm. Now faced with something like this most people would normally run screaming the other way but Steven is an unusual kind of guy. He doesn’t scare easily and because he feels so intensely for Beck already, he’s determined to help sort out whatever mess she’s in.

Little does he know how convoluted the mess is. Getting deeper into the mystery he discovers that the 37 is much like the mafia with their elaborate schemes and volatile ways. Members are born into it and no one leaves. Steven's not sure how Becky is mixed up with them. Without any hesitation, he assumes his knight in shining armor role and plots to help her get out. 

Logsted has plenty going for him in this book – mystery, murder and stolen identities – to keep the plot in motion. I found it hard to believe at first that Steven, a quiet, stay-under-the-radar guy, would even contemplate getting involved in something like this. But it works. And while some elements seem predictable, there are others that make you second-guess anyone Steven is in contact with. There was also one instance that surprised me so much that I had to go back and re-read a previous chapter to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I thought Carlos was a terrific character inspiring a healthy mix of respect and awe for him knowing the kind of life he led before.  He’s definitely not someone to be messed with and he’s Steven’s strongest ally and defender.

I recommend The Stuttering Tattoo if you’re in need of a mystery or a quick read.

~ Bel