Soul Screamers Vol. 3

Soul Screamers Vol. 3
by Rachel Vincent
 
Book: Soul Screamers
Publisher: Harlequin
Pub Date: July 30, 013
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy
Format: Print
Source: Bought
Book Links: Goodreads  Amazon  Bookshop
 
What happens when the reapers come for Kaylee? 
Don't miss Volume Three of New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent's compelling, spellbinding Soul Screamers series. 

IF I DIE 
Thanks to her mother's sacrifice, Kaylee Cavanaugh has lived most of her life on borrowed time, but now that borrowed time is almost up. Kaylee has only seven days left to prepare for the end. To say goodbye. And yeah, to stop an incubus from preying on her high school. Tick tock… 

NEVER TO SLEEP 
First time in print! 
Sophie Cavanaugh is sick of the social fallout from her cousin Kaylee's mental issues. Doesn't she realize people think "crazy" runs in the family? But then a cute boy, a fateful scream and a trip to a nightmare world leave Sophie wondering just what's real and how to get home….

 
BEFORE I WAKE 
Dying wasn't easy for Kaylee, but faking life is a whole new kind of struggle. The only good moments are those spent in Tod's arms. But death hasn't stopped her old enemies, and now everyone Kaylee loves is in danger….  

 
My Review:  Welp, it finally happened. The series went down hill for me. I  had high hopes the series would continue like the other two that I loved but this book changed all of that. 

First off, it should be no surprise something is going to go down that's going to get everyone involved into something bad and dangerous. Also, I'm really tired of breaking down who and what everyone is in every book. Once is enough for the main characters and then its fine for any new ones. But to repeat it over and over again is really annoying and makes me want to throw the book across the room. 

Nash is also getting on my last nerve. He is so codependent on Sabine its really just sad at this point. He's keeping Sabine at a distance, least trying to while she's all hot and bothered for him. Nash is still so fascinated with getting Kaylee back and will jump at any glimmer of hope she will give him. 

Eventually the love triangle came to play and Kaylee went from being together with Nash again to kissing Todd and soon found her soul mate so to speak. It was all just a hot mess. If that wasn't already enough we finally get to telling Sophie the truth about everything and her family. Though, it doesn't really stop how she both treats and sees Kaylee. Oh and to top it all off, Kaylee gets news about her life and how her second chance at it won't be as long as anyone had hoped for. Not that a sealed fate is going to change the fact that her enemies are still out there trying to hurt those she cares about and wanting to get a hold of her. Then a new after life role and really this book had so much going on as the other too but the way it screamed immaturity at points, the nagging, etc. It really disappointed me. 

 

My Rating:

✪✪

Weekly Spotlight - March Anticipated Reads

 

The Fox and the Devil
An obsession with a beautiful serial killer entangles a vampire hunter’s daughter in an immortal sapphic romance in this enthralling gothic fantasy from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lucy Undying.

Anneke has a complicated relationship with her father, Abraham Van Helsing—doctor, scientist, and madman devoted to studying vampires—up until the night she comes home to find him murdered, with a surreally beautiful woman looming over his body. A woman who leaves no trace behind, other than the dreams and nightmares that plague Anneke every night.

Spurred by her desire for vengeance and armed with the latest in forensic and investigatory techniques, Anneke puts together a team of detectives to catch her mysterious serial killer. Because her father isn’t the only inexplicably dead body. There’s a trail of victims across Europe and Anneke is certain they’re all connected.

But during the years spent relentlessly hunting the killer, Anneke keeps some crucial evidence to infuriatingly coy letters, addressed only to Anneke, occasionally soaked in blood, and always signed Diavola. Devil. The obsession is mutual, and all the more dangerous for it.

The closer Anneke gets to her devil, though, the less sense the world makes. Maybe her father wasn’t a madman, after all. Diavola might be something much worse than a serial killer . . . and much harder to destroy. Because as Anneke unearths more of Diavola’s tragic past, she suspects there’s still a heart somewhere in that undead body.

A heart that beats for Anneke alone.

Get it Here

 

Game On
I hate that woman.
Tyler Neumann has spent years looking for his father, and not because he wants to meet the man. No, he wants to destroy him. And he'll manipulate whoever he can to exact his revenge.

Including Stella McCormick. She's everything Tyler hates. Her wealth and privilege have protected her for her entire life, and Tyler thinks it's time she finally paid the price. Whether she's ready to or not.
I hate that man.

Stella might not believe in love at first sight, but loathing at first sight - no question. From the moment she sets eyes on Tyler in her tattoo parlor, she knows he's the devil planning to make her life hell.

Forced to play the part of his girlfriend and invite him into her family's glittering circles, Stella quickly clocks Tyler's ulterior motives. But love and hate are two sides of the same coin, and soon she doesn't know which is being blackmailed by a man who wants to ruin her, or that they can't seem to keep their hands off each other.

Get it Here

 

The Wings that Bind
The night's chaos left us breathless. Now the real nightmare begins.

A second dragon has awoken–her heart tainted and her power commandeered by two ruthless highbloods whose cruelty knows no bounds.

My dearest friend teetered on the brink of death. A dragon saved her, but now she's tied to him in a way I can scarcely understand. What will this new bond do to the woman I've come to love as a sister?

And then there’s Blake. Once my relentless tormentor—he betrayed me again, nearly condemning Nyxaris to a cursed, stone-cold fate. Now something has shifted in him. His gray eyes hide a secret he’s desperate to keep.

I saved Blake’s life, despite everything. Yet now my every heartbeat questions where we go from here.

With Bloodwing Academy in turmoil and a new headmaster no one saw coming, only one thing is This is going to be one hell of a term.

At Bloodwing Academy, power comes with blood, and betrayal is as common as ambition. This dark fantasy series tackles mature themes. Readers are advised to consult the trigger warnings before embarking on this intense, morally gray/black journey through the realm of Sangratha!

Get it Here

 
 

Midnight on the Celestial
Roe Damarcus has never been afraid of the dead. Her power to summon spirits has awed the guests of her esteemed family’s galas for as long as she can remember. Her future is certain, and her gift will be another shining jewel in the Damarcus legacy.

But when she fails her realm’s trial to keep her magic and is deemed too dangerous for society, she faces a harrowing choice: give up her gift or serve a punishment sentence aboard the Celestial, a luxurious magical cruise ship where staff members compete for guest votes to earn a coveted retrial.

As a concierge, Roe juggles the demands of affluent guests, cruel bosses, and the suspicion that an infuriatingly handsome silks performer, Ivander, is determined to keep her from a retrial.

But the true dangers surface after her shift ends when the Celestial transforms into halls of nightmares that kill staff members after dark. Faced with the reality of serving aboard, Roe begins to question the ship, trials, and the system that put her there. But the moment Roe sinks into the ship's dark history, she's wrongly framed for a guest's murder. Vowing to conjure her own second chance, Roe will use whatever power she has to uncover the secrets of the ship, her family, and their entwined bloody past... before she becomes the Celestial’s next victim.

Get it Here

March Reading Challenge

 

Let's get reading! March Reading challenge is here!  

Here is a list of books to help you get started:

Historical Fiction:

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Mathews 

The Gods Time Forgot by Kelsie Gonzales 

 

Humor Books:
The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs

A Proposal to Die For by Molly Harper

To Kiss a Knight by Grace Hitchcock

We welcome you to comment with your suggestions and tell us which bingo spot you’re most excited about this month!

Book Spotlight - Pretty Vicious

 

Pretty Vicious 

Laurel just wanted to survive college, keep her father fed, and fly under the radar.

Delivering pizzas was supposed to be the safe kind of side hustle, until the night she witnesses a murder at Ashford House, the most elite and secretive fraternity on campus.

Now she’s a prisoner of The Order, a blood-bound society that controls everything from politics to police. They rule with ritual, obedience, and violence, and they’ve decided Laurel doesn’t get to leave.

At the center of it all is Carrson Ashford, heir to the powerful Ashford legacy.

Cold. Commanding. Infuriatingly magnetic.
Under the rules of The Order, he “bonds” her, marking Laurel as his.

Body. Mind. Soul.

But Laurel isn’t here to be claimed. Not without a fight.
To save her father and her future, Laurel must navigate a twisted realm of initiation rites, brutal secrets, and a bond that may destroy them both.

In this world, there’s one rule: obey or die.

But love doesn’t follow rules. And neither does Laurel.

Talking Point:

Pretty Vicious explores several themes, but at its core is a question I couldn’t stop thinking about:

How much power, control, and even violence does a society needs in order to function successfully?

Carrson Ashford was raised inside a secret society called The Order. His world is built on loyalty, legacy, and control. He was taught from childhood that love is weakness, vulnerability is dangerous, and survival requires dominance.

Then the FMC of the story, Laurel crashes into his world.

She witnesses Carrson murder a rival, and under the rules of The Order, he “bonds” her to him. He does this to keep her silent, but also to keep her safe. 

However, Laurel is no damsel in distress. She challenges Carrson at every turn. She questions the system that shaped him. Carrson in particular, doesn't know what to do with Laurels' questions, her curiosity. He was raised for blind obedience. He also doesn't know what to do with the feelings he develops for Laurel. He was trained for everything except for love.

 The more time they’re forced together, the more the tension between them builds, not just physical, but ideological.  

I think it's this dynamic that fascinates readers about morally gray heroes in secret society/dark academia romance novels. It isn’t just their darkness. It’s the tension between who they were trained to be and who they become when love forces them to choose differently.

Carrson believes he’s the villain.

Laurel refuses to let him be one.

Now feast your eyes on this GORGEOUS character art

 

Author Bio:

Melissa Dymond is a mom, doctor, and writer. When she’s not working, you can find her drinking an iced white chocolate mocha while voraciously reading, scrolling social media, or planning her family’s next Disney vacation.

Always surrounded by boys, Melissa lives with her doctor husband, three amazing sons, and her adorable Siberian husky Buddy.

 

Links:

Goodreads

Amazon

Soul Screamers Vol. 2

Soul Screamers Vol. 2
by Rachel Vincent
 
Book: Soul Screamers
Publisher: Harlequin
Pub Date: November 13, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy
Format: Print
Source: Bought
Book Links: Goodreads  Amazon  Bookshop
 
And the scream keeps coming…... Don't miss Volume Two of New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent's unique and fascinating Soul Screamers series.

MY SOUL TO KEEP
Aside from the whole "I scream when someone is about to die" thing, Kaylee Cavanaugh's life has gotten better. She's getting to know her dad, doing okay in school and has a hot new boyfriend who understands her in every way. Until the hellion Avari starts tempting everyone with an exotic new drug—demon's breath….

MY SOUL TO STEAL
Now on shaky ground with Nash Hudson, Kaylee is taking their relationship easy. But then Sabine—Nash's ex—storms into their lives. She's determined to get Nash back and there's nothing she won't do to remind him of what they had. And since Sabine has special abilities of her own, Kaylee is headed into a battle she's not sure she can win….

REAPER —First time in print!—
Though Tod Hudson died two years ago, thanks to his job as a Reaper he's never had to move on or let go of his family—no matter how much Nash would like him to! But few people know about how he came to accept the job of claiming souls….

 
My Review: Woah was this one busy. A LOT happens and moves decently fast so you aren't bored waiting for something to come along.

Nash... welp if there was anything good to say about him before, there sure isn't now. Boy did a stupid thing, got addicted and took a bit of time before he finally took responsibility for what he did. Plus what he had to do in order to get more was just wrong and Kaylee was right to break away from him. It wasn't just the addiction piece but what he sold to get more was one of the most painful parts and Nash may never earn her trust back again, let alone anything else or more. 

Then you have Todd who is trying to go the extra mile to save Addy, his girlfriend that he had when he was alive and still loves her even now. She is in deep and didn't know it until Kaylee and the boys told Addy what's really going on and what is about to happen to her. 

Todd wants to save her and so does Kaylee. It's big, dangerous, complicated and more than they should be handling on their own. But do they tell the adults and ask for help off the bat like they should???? Eventually the adults are aware but the trouble they face is bigger and it's only going to get harder after this.

Overall, I still really like this story and this volume might be even better than the last. There is so much going on and you're never given time to be bored waiting for something to happen. New skills are learned, demons tangled up with humans, a demon basically obsessed with Kaylee and so so much more. Worth the read and I'm excited to continue this series and see what else this author has written.

 

My Rating:

✪✪✪✪

Soul Screamers Vol. 1

Soul Screamers Vol. 1
by Rachel Vincent
 
Book: Soul Screamers
Publisher: Harlequin
Pub Date: November 22, 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy
Format: Print
Source: Bought
Book Links: Goodreads  Amazon  Bookshop
 
It starts with a scream….

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent's compelling Soul Screamers series keeps getting better—here, for the first time, the original stories are compiled into one special volume….

My Soul to Lose
—The prequel: never before in print!—
Kaylee is just your average girl shopping at the mall with friends—until a terrified scream bursts from her that cannot be stopped. Taken to a hospital ward, will she be able to save her mind—and her life?

My Soul to Take
She's always felt different, but now Kaylee discovers why. The screams that cannot be denied mean that someone near her will die—and she can never save them. Because saving one life means taking another….

My Soul to Save
Going on dates with her boyfriend is still new to Kaylee. But when the singer of the band they're seeing dies onstage and Kaylee doesn't scream, she knows something crazy is going on. Soon she discovers souls can indeed be sold….

My Review: I'm finally tackling this series and was glad that I did. It was a pretty darn good fresh new take on paranormal with a banshee at the center which I don't see written much of. 

Kaylee is trying her best at being a normal girl. But when the urge to scream comes back it not only makes her look like she has problems but her aunt and uncle may send her back to the hospital for it and she is not crazy in the slightest. 

When Nash enters the picture and is able to calm Kaylee down in a way no one could before. He knows what she is and ends up having to be the one to break the news to her. Kaylee isn't human but a banshee who screams is a song for souls.

Now things make a little more sense to her. Even though she is still not thrilled about the fact that no one told her. Her uncle is one too and so are her parents. Oh and it's part of the reason why her dad just dropped her off and ran off to Ireland. Plus why being present in her life is heard because of her mums sacrifice. 

Kaylee's life is about to change in so many ways and things are just getting started. 

Overall I loved the story, the background, the characters. It's different, fun, many twists and turns and so much more.  

 

My Rating:

✪✪✪✪

Weekly Spotlight - Darkness Rising

 

The Gathering
Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel...different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

My Review

The Calling
Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the mark of what she truly is - a skin-walker. 

She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly everyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it's only a matter of time before she's able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.

Now Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.

My Review

The Rising
The race for survival comes to a thrilling conclusion in the heart-stopping finale to the Darkness Rising trilogy, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.

Things are getting desperate for Maya and her friends. Hunted by the powerful St. Clouds and now a rival Cabal as well, they're quickly running out of places to hide.

All they have is the name and number of someone who might be able to give them a few answers. Answers to why they're so valuable, and why their supernatural powers are getting more and more out of control. But Maya is unprepared for the truths that await her. And like it or not, she'll have to face down some demons from her past if she ever hopes to move on with her life. Because Maya can't keep running forever.

With all the twists, thrills, and romance that have made Kelley Armstrong an international bestseller, plus the surprising return of some fan-favorite characters, The Rising will hold you under its spell long after its breathtaking end.

My Review

Cupid Is A Liar

Cupid Is A Liar
by Lexi Davis
 
Book: Stand Alone
Publisher: Author
Pub Date: February 9, 2026
Genre: Adult, Romance, Dark
Format: ARC
Source: Author
Book Links: Goodreads  Amazon  
 
I thought the worst thing that could happen on Valentine’s Day was getting stood up.

I was wrong.

When my date ghosts me and I decide to confront him, I don’t expect the night to spiral. I don’t expect danger and I definitely don’t expect the quiet, intense man from down the hall to step in and change everything.

Damian Salvanti is calm under pressure.

Terrifyingly observant.
And far too willing to put himself between me and the world.

The more time I spend with him, the more unsettling the truth becomes.

He knows me.
My routines.
My fears.
The things I want but never say out loud.
Because Damian hasn’t just been watching out for me.

He’s been watching me…

Cupid Is a Liar is a dark, fast-paced Valentine’s romance featuring an obsessive, morally gray hero who falls first, a heroine who chooses danger over safety, and a love story that blurs the line between devotion and obsession.

 
My Review: Ahhhh, LOVE this! As far as stalker romances go, this is one I approve of. (Though that's not condoning real life stalkers)

Damian is a bit of a recluse. He hasn't left his apartment, let alone have gone out in a while. So he remains in his space, surrounded by monitors and his favorite screen with Hannah in it. 

Hannah has a routine, expect tonight that routine is out the window. It's Valentine's Day and she has a date. When this date goes from being stood up, to a neighbor crashing her plans, confronting the fool who stood her up and so much more. 

Hannah goes from thinking Damian is this decent looking and overall decent guy from her building to how in the world does he know about her allergy, parents, routine, etc.

Confessions are made by Damian and will let everything go, forget it all and leave Hannah alone for good if she asks. She just needs to come to the roof....

UGH I so loved this. Even though it was a quick novella, it should've been more. I read through this so quicky, so hooked that I wish I could've forgotten this book just so I could read it again.

A dark romance with spice and a stalker you'll fall for fast and hard. A stalker you'd want on your side. Don't wait on this novella!  

My Rating:

✪✪✪✪✪