Secrets, Lies and Fireflies

Secrets, Lies and Fireflies by Angie Fox
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a heartwarming book! This installment really pulled at my heartstrings from start to finish.

Verity and Lucy begin the book with a most important task - proving that skunks are just as good if not better than dogs. Things are looking up until they spot smoke coming from the town library where Verity’s sister is volunteering. That’s where this book’s mystery begins - with a body and potential arson. One unexpected bright spot in this craziness comes in the form of a new ghost - Verity’s grandmother! She is critical in getting Verity and her sister out of the flaming library, but also in identifying a clue to be used in this mystery.

There’s a bit of tension between Verity, Frankie and the new ghost in town, but all of that is almost to be expected in the Frankie/Verity dynamic. It doesn’t matter though, because everyone comes together (both living and dead) to crack the case and bring justice to the wronged. I love the insane yet somehow down to earth feel of these books, the characters, and the genuine relationships showcased within. I know we are supposed to root for Frankie eventually getting freed from Verity’s property but I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t know I could pick up another book about their antics.

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Head Above Water

Head Above Water by Hailey Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that is probably more filler than content, but it was definitely necessary after a bit of rushed relationship in the previous one. This book gives us a lot more of Cam’s family dynamic, more backstory on her powers, a lot more pack lore/beliefs, and some overdue courting between Graeson and Cam.

We join this story already in progress from the end of the last one. Graeson invited Cam’s family down to his pack land for a few reasons, but definitely under false pretenses. Cam begrudgingly follows and joins them all as they set up camp. The pack, however, is not as welcoming as maybe Graeson assumed. There are exceptions, of course, but ultimately they end up attacked and unwelcome from the moment they “trespass.”

I reluctantly became more and more onboard with Graeson, despite his questionable understanding of consent. He tells Cam almost nothing and expects her to be the docile little flower he imagines, only to be shocked that she can defend herself. This whole book ends up being about their budding relationship and trying to find their mermaid friend. The big bad in this book is still the same as book 1, but they do make some progress. As expected from all the other books from this author, we don’t get a concrete ending and even have cliffhanger-like situations presented.

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Malcolm

Malcolm by Margo Bond Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the first in the spinoff series from the Moonstone pack books. I think you can start here, but you’ll certainly be missing the earlier story that led this pack into the current position it is in.

Larissa and Malcolm have been frenemies for their whole life. Larissa is the more studious, steady type of leader. Malcolm is the punch first, ask questions later type of leaders. At the start of this book it becomes clear that they both are interested in becoming alpha, once Nick steps aside. The background here is that the pack was previously led by an evil tyrant who Nick, upon returning to his original pack, took out with the help of the majority of the pack. The small group of dissenters left after being confronted with the previous alpha’s deeds, were either killed or ran away. It’s the duo of runaways that ends up pushing the pack into even more turmoil.

While Larissa and Malcolm battle it out for the alpha position, the returning dissenters begin planting seeds of discontent amongst the pack members. All of this comes to a head just when Larissa and Malcolm come to the conclusion that they are better together than apart. This book had some action, some fated mates romance, and ended up taking longer for the main characters to realize things than the reader. This was a quick read, making for a fun installment to join this pack with.

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