#Review - The Younger Gods by Katie Shepard #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Night-Singers Duology
Format: 464 pages, Paperback
Release Date: January 13, 2026
Publisher: Ace
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Romance

Danger looms when a former priestess sails to the realm of the dead to find her fallen lover, only to discover the gods she thought she defeated are preparing for war.

Iona Night-Singer thought she’d overthrown the gods. Her mortal rebellion eked out a painful victory by using the gods’ own powers against them—though she lost her betrothed, Taran, in a final battle with the god of death. Months later, the war doesn’t feel over. Not with Taran gone. Especially not when the gods still answer the prayers she sings.

Angry, grieving, and with a gnawing dread that the gods will return, Iona strikes a deal with her former patron goddess: if Iona can convince Taran to follow her home from the Underworld, he’ll be free to live again. If she fails, they’ll both be trapped there forever.

No sooner does she find him, she makes a horrible discovery. The dead gods have been reborn, they are plotting revenge—and Taran, it seems, was always one of them. This reincarnated trickster god with Taran’s face no longer remembers her or the war they fought together, and she doubts not just his loyalties but his love.

Determined to stop the next war without revealing her part in the last one, Iona enters her deadliest battle yet, one where she fights to bring Taran home without him even knowing it.

The Younger Gods, by Katie Shepard, is the first of a two-part duology called The Night-Singer Duology. This story is the author's romantasy debut in the epic fantasy space, blending Greek-inspired mythology, a gender-swapped Orpheus-and-Eurydice retelling, high-stakes adventure, and deeply emotional romance. At its core, the story follows Iona, a former priestess who once led a rebellion against the tyrannical gods—particularly the God of Death—and seemingly won. 

But victory came at a devastating personal cost: the death of her beloved betrothed, Taran. Refusing to accept his loss, Iona embarks on a perilous journey to the Underworld (the realm of the dead) to bring him back. What begins as a classic descent-into-hell-for-love quest quickly spirals into something far more complex and dangerous. In the land of the dead, Iona discovers that the gods she believed defeated are not gone—they've been reborn as the "younger gods," scheming revenge and preparing for war. 

Even more shattering, Taran may not be the mortal man she loved; he could be the reincarnated form of a trickster god, with no memory of their shared past or their relationship. The worldbuilding feels rich and lived-in: a complex religious system, vivid depictions of the Underworld, and a pantheon of gods who are convincingly vicious, petty, cruel, and manipulative—far from benevolent Olympians. The gods' cruelty and the lingering consequences of Iona's rebellion add moral ambiguity that elevates the stakes beyond simple good vs. evil. 

Iona is a compelling protagonist—fierce, determined, guilt-ridden, and deeply human in her flaws. Her grief and love for Taran feel raw and authentic, driving the book's emotional core. Taran, as the potential trickster god, brings sharp banter, charisma, and layers of mystery; their chemistry crackles with tension, especially as questions of identity, memory, and trust complicate their reunion. Side characters, including scheming deities and allies in the Underworld, add depth and keep the plot twisting, including a twisted cliffhanger ending. 

Amazon | Audible | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

#Review - No One Knew by Kendra Elliot #Thriller #Suspense

Series: Noelle Marshall (#2)
Format: 317 pages, Hardcover
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Publisher: Montlake
Source: Publisher
Genre: Thriller, Suspense

For a detective and an FBI agent, two seemingly disparate murder investigations collide with a twist in an explosive novel of suspense by a Wall Street Journal bestselling author.

In the crisp mountain air of central Oregon, a teenage girl’s search for discarded cans leads to a horrifying discovery: a body, brutally murdered and abandoned in the woods. The case falls to Deschutes County Detective Noelle Marshall, who finds herself navigating a community steeped in secrets, suspicion, and distrust of outsiders—especially law enforcement.

Miles away, FBI Special Agent Max Rhodes investigates a different kind of darkness—chatter about a violent uprising from a shadowy militia group preparing for war. The two cases seem worlds apart. But as Noelle digs into the murdered man’s past and Max closes in on the source of the terror plot, their paths begin to converge in a terrifying way. This was no random killing. It was a message. A merciless killer and a hidden army are operating in the same shadows, and finding the link between them is the only thing standing between a single murder and a full-blown massacre.

No One Knew is the second installment in author Kendra Elliot's Noelle Marshall series. The story is told via Detective Noelle Marshall, Special Agent Max Rhodes, and Emma Chambers, a young woman who finds a dead body that triggers a series of events that include Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick and Police Chief Truman Daly to stop a possible terrorist attack around Bend, Oregon. The story opens with a haunting discovery: a lonely teenage girl, scavenging for discarded cans in the woods to scrape together a living, stumbles upon a brutally murdered body. 

This chilling find pulls Deschutes County Detective Noelle Marshall into a complex investigation in a tight-knit community riddled with secrets, suspicion, and deep-seated distrust of law enforcement. Meanwhile, FBI Special Agent Max Rhodes (Noelle's romantic interest from the first book) is tracking ominous online chatter about a violent uprising planned by a shadowy militia group gearing up for war. What initially appear to be two unrelated cases slowly converge in shocking ways, revealing that the murder was no random act—it was a deliberate message, and the stakes quickly escalate from a single homicide to the threat of a full-scale massacre. 

Noelle Marshall continues to be a standout protagonist: tough, intelligent, and layered with personal history that makes her relatable. Her evolving relationship with Max adds emotional depth without overwhelming the suspense—it's sweet, realistic, and full of chemistry. The teenage witness, Emma, is heartbreakingly well-drawn; her loneliness and resilience steal the show and add a poignant human element to the thriller plot. The book explores timely issues like militia extremism, community distrust of authorities, and the power of unlikely alliances. 

Yet it also emphasizes hope, compassion, and people stepping up for one another. I find it interesting that both Noelle and Max have painful past histories. Noelle is still experiencing issues that force her to write everything down, while Max's family is still angry at him for something that happened 12 years ago, which makes him hunted by a villain in this story. This series is not finished. Elliot posted that she intends to continue Noelle's story, and I am all for it. I am looking forward to seeing Max's family issues resolved. I am looking forward to more of Mercy and Truman as well. 

Amazon | Audible | Barnes & Noble 

#Review - Secrets You Can't Keep by Debra Webb #Mystery #Suspense

Series: Vera Boyett (#3)
Format: 319 pages, Paperback
Release Date: December 9, 2025
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Source: Publisher
Genre: Mystery, Suspense

From USA Today bestselling author Debra Webb comes crime analyst Vera Boyett’s next case—a triple homicide that tears a small town apart…and an accident that could do worse to her family.

A cabin in the woods. Three dead, one in critical condition. Property owned by not just any Tennessee local, but one of the richest men in the country.

Vera Boyett isn’t quite sure what it means. But that’s why Sheriff Gray “Bent” Benton called her: to figure it out. Criminal analysis is what she does best. Even when the town is in panicked shambles, even when the case is more delicate than most…and even when it’s not the only case on her plate.

Vera’s family is caught in a deadly mess of its own. And while her pregnant sister seems an unlikely culprit, each new detail seems to point to her guilt. Desperate to protect her, Vera vows to find out what really happened.

As evidence emerges in both cases, Vera and Bent work to unravel a dangerous web of secrets to get to the truth. But their investigations reveal more than they ever expected…

Secrets You Can't Keep is the third installment in author Debra Webb's Vera Boyett series. The book introduces the two storylines: one of the multiple murders at the cabin of the area’s local billionaire and the second, the death of the mother-in-law of Vera’s little sister, Luna. Vera, now a Crime Scene Analyst Consultant in Tennessee, works with Sheriff Bent on the murder investigation of Thomas Wilton and two of his guests. The story is told through the eyes of Vera, Bent, Luna, and a fourth character I won't spoil. 

Upon arriving at the scene of the murder of Thomas Wilton and two other guests, Vera discovers that Alicia is still alive (even though she will spend most of the novel in a coma and as a suspect, since a murder weapon was found under her body). The death toll and the number of suspects grow the deeper Bent and Vera get into the investigation, and the more twisted the story becomes. Vera, who is very intuitive, knows she's being played and ends up getting hurt. 

Simultaneously, Vera soon discovers that she has another death on her hands when she learns that her younger sister Luna found her husband's mother, Jackie, dead at the bottom of the stairs when Luna returned from the store. Her sister, Luna, is very pregnant with her first child and the innocent sister in the Boyett family. Allegedly, Jackie attacked Luna, who managed to survive with a few bruises. To make matters more twisted, Luna's father-in-law had a massive heart attack at the time of Jackie's murder. 

Vera, Eve, and Luna have been hounded by something that happened many years ago, while Luna seems to be the only sister untouched by those events, Vera and Eve know the community knows they don't have clean hands. We also have the deepening relationship between Vera and Bent, which ends up in a comfortable position by the time the story ends. Like Bent, I have said this before, and I will say it again, Vera always seems to put her own life on the line, and sometimes ends up hurt. Lastly, I am not sure if this is the last in the series, which it appears to be, but one of the storylines wasn't finished as far as I am concerned, and no, I am not going to spoil what happens. 

Amazon | Audible | Barnes & Noble 

#Review - The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline #Thriller #Suspense

Series: Standalone
Format: 400 pages, Hardcover

Release Date: July 15, 2025
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Source: Publisher
Genre: Thriller / Suspense

One awful night, Julia Pritzker witnesses the murder of her beloved husband during a mugging on a Philadelphia street. Later, while grieving him, she’s suddenly fearful that her fate is written in the stars, not held in her own hands.
 
Her luck seems to change when stunning news arrives from Italy, informing her that she’s inherited a fortune, a Tuscan villa, and a vineyard. But she’s mystified by her Italian benefactor, a total stranger named Emilia Rossi. She flies to Tuscany for answers.
 
There, Julia learns that Rossi suffered from delusions of grandeur, believing herself to be a descendant of Caterina Sforza, a powerful Renaissance duchess. Julia doubts that is true, but she can’t deny the uncanny resemblance between her, Caterina, and Rossi. She starts to unearth eerie parallels between them—and disturbing secrets.
 
Before long, Julia suspects she’s being followed and experiences disorienting delusions of her own. Even meeting a romantic Florentine doesn’t quiet her unease. Then events turn deadly, and Julia finds herself in a harrowing struggle for sanity and survival.

Lisa Scottoline, a prolific author known for her legal thrillers and standalone suspense novels, ventures into bolder gothic territory with The Unraveling of Julia. This psychological thriller follows Julia Pritzker, a young widow grappling with profound grief after witnessing her husband Mike's brutal murder during a mugging in Philadelphia. Believing herself cursed—especially after her horoscope seems to predict the tragedy—Julia spirals into depression and agoraphobia. 

An unexpected inheritance from a stranger, Emilia Rossi, offers a lifeline: a crumbling Tuscan villa and vineyard in Chianti, along with a substantial fortune. Hoping Emilia might be a biological relative (Julia was adopted), she travels to Italy to uncover the truth, only to find herself entangled in secrets, dangers, and questions about her own sanity. The Tuscan setting is vividly rendered, transporting readers to sun-drenched hills, wild vineyards, and historic sites tied to figures like Caterina Sforza, a fierce Renaissance warrior whose story parallels Julia's journey of resilience. 

The novel explores themes of grief, identity, ancestral echoes, female empowerment, and the blurred line between reality and delusion, with light supernatural touches involving astrology, visions, and premonitions that add an ethereal layer without overwhelming the plot. Julia is a compelling protagonist—vulnerable yet determined—as she confronts loss and seeks rebirth. Her emotional arc, from bedridden despair to fierce self-discovery, feels authentic and poignant. 

Supporting characters, including potential romantic interests and enigmatic caretakers, add depth and suspicion. The exploration of how past traumas and ancestral histories resonate in the present is thoughtfully handled. Excellent twists keep readers guessing, with dashes of romance providing emotional balance. The subtle astrology elements explore sanity versus madness in a fresh way.

Amazon | Audible | Barnes & Noble | Kobo