Brutal Lies by R.A. Smyth

This was not part of my plan.
Enrolling at Pacific Prep was supposed to gain me freedom and a feeling of control over my life. Buried truths are being revealed, and my goals are becoming less clear by the day.
My entire life, I’ve wanted a family; wanted to know if I had one out there. I’ve craved answers and now that I’m getting them, I don’t know if I’m ready.
I have a brother, a family.
Sadly, the knowledge of that isn’t comforting, because I can’t trust them.
The same distrust extends to the guys that are invading every aspect of my life. Suddenly, they’re everywhere, demanding the truth from my lips and tugging at a heart that’s been cold for far too long.

~Blurb from Goodreads

Will the truth set me free, or rip me apart?

I’m going to start by saying a couple quick things about the first book of this amazing new series. Book one, Broken Trust, was a rollercoaster of twists and turns and surprises. Even while seeing the story through our MC, Hadley’s eyes, there was so much about her that was left unknown. I love reading in a perspective of a character who’s keeping secrets from the reader as well as the other characters. This was such a good story, it ticked so many boxes for me, some I didn’t even know I had. The big reveal at the end had me freaking out in the best way. It was the kind of twist I live for and I hadn’t seen it coming. It’s been a while since I fell so completely in love with a story like I did with this one.

Now, for book two. Brutal Lies picked up not just right after the end of book one, but even went back a tiny bit. There were chapters sprinkled throughout the story that showed what was happening concurrently to what we’d already read, but from one of the guys’ perspectives instead. It was a writing choice I haven’t seen much of before and I really enjoyed it. We got so much more information that way.

Hadley is a fantastic main character. She’s tough, strong as hell, with a tragically dark past. But she’s not completely untouchable, and getting to see someone so strong be weak is refreshing and realistic. R.A. Smyth has a way of writing trauma and the effects of that trauma is a very real and relatable way.

Onto the guys of this story. I adore every one of them. Which, let’s be real, is not unusual with reverse harem. Each guy is very distinct from the others, and their individual relationships with Hadley are all amazing. Their relationships with each other are also amazing. I’m total trash for found families, and that’s basically what the guys have together.

The major conflict of this series so far is seriously dark. There’s still so much unknown but what we do know so far is horrifying and twisted. In a perfectly done way. I cannot wait to see the antagonists of this story get what’s coming to them. And I can’t wait to see what other horrible, depraved things they do in the mean time.

Brutal Lies released today (YAY!) August 23, 2021. Check it out on Goodreads! And check out book one as well! Both are available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.

Forsaken (Rejected Mate Academy #2) by E. M. Moore

Unwanted. Dismissed. Forsaken.

As if it’s not bad enough that I’m the OG at Greystone, Lydia has decided that the school’s apparent generosity is running out. I have two weeks to get my mate to accept me—or I’m out. Left to die. Feral.

With the odds already stacked against me, I return to Daybreak for the Winter Solstice festivities. One last chance. One more desperate attempt. However, what’s supposed to be a time filled with fun and falling in love is the complete opposite.

Not only is someone trying to kill me, but things are heating up with the wrong person—a shifter who is most definitely not my mate.

I guess I’m playing the game of what’s going to take me out first: Feral, a murdering psychopath, or breaking the pack’s most cherished law. -Blurb from Goodreads

Forsaken is the second book in the Rejected Mate Academy series, which is made up on a collection of standalone novels each following a different couple. The series revolves around Greystone Academy, where shifters who have been rejected by their mates are sent for “reform.” My review of book one, Untamed, can be found here.

Mia Adams has been at the academy longer than anyone else. She and her best friend Nathan were both rejected by their mates who had been in a relationship with each other before the mate bonds made themselves known. Mia has been informed that her time at the academy is coming to an end one way or another. She can either finally get her mate to accept her, or she will be banished from shifter society and forced to go feral. When she and the other rejected shifters from her pack are sent home for a short time, Mia discovers just how hard her mission is when it becomes clear someone is trying to kill her. Throw on top of that the growing feelings she has for someone who is not her mate, and Mia’s having just a splendid time.

Forsaken is a beautifully written story of defying fate and choosing your own path. Watching Mia fight for what she truly wants and for herself as well is amazing. Her journey was so inspiring. If you don’t like the hand life has dealt you, fight for the one you want instead. The ending of this story was satisfying as well as a bit open ended. I’m hopeful that it’s set up the rest of the series for a satisfying overall conclusion. And I hope we get to see more of Mia down the road.

Forsaken contains adult themes including sexual content, violence, and abuse. It released today, August 9th, 2021 and is available on Kindle Unlimited. Check it out on Goodreads now!