Book Reviews

Party of Two is a modern-day romance with a political twist. Olivia, the career-focused lawyer, is not looking to date. So when a hot stranger starts engaging with her on which desserts are better, Olivia obliges him. That is, until she finds out he’s Max Powell, the hot senator from California. But unbeknownst to her, Max isn’t giving up without a fight and after Max sends a cake to her office, Olivia is hooked. 

– Camia Rhodes

But Max isn’t just passionate about desserts, he’s also passionate about criminal justice reform and is currently working to pass a bill in Congress. Olivia admires that about him. He’s also  sweet, charming, a good listener, and an even better kisser. Olivia can be herself around him and doesn’t have to hide her intelligence and what she does for a living (even though she lied that night at the bar). But Olivia knows that his life is always on full display, and dating him would put her life on display as well. She just wants to keep things casual, but on their second date, Max lets it slip that he is looking for a girlfriend, and she only has one week to think about how she feels about him. 

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been enamored with spooky stories set in the woods. So when I heard about the YA fantasy book, Among the Beasts & Briars by Ashley Poston (author of Geekerella and Heart of Iron), I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. 

–Alanna Smith

Cerys, daughter of the royal gardener and best friend to the crown princess, lives in the kingdom of Aloriya: a prosperous and happy country surrounded by a dark and forbidden wood.

The enchanted crown worn by the royal family is meant to keep the kingdom safe, but a horrific attack from the woods on coronation day changes everything. Cerys is forced to flee into the hungry forest with no one but a loyal fox for a companion and her own magic blood for protection, searching for the lost Lady of the Wilds to save her home.