Crossroads (Ashford Creek #2) Carrie Ann Ryan

 

Crossroads (Ashford Creek #2)

By: Carrie Ann Ryan

Recommendation: 🌕🌕🌕🌕 - (Out of 5 🌕)

Genre: Small Town Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Suspense

Length: 334 Pages

Pace: Fast

Moods: Emotional, Suspenseful, Easy to Read, Happily Ever After, Romantic, Wonderful Characters, Steamy, Page Turner, 

Release Date: April 20, 2026

      

    Carrie Ann Ryan has brought together two of my most loved series in Crossroads; 'The Wilder Brothers and Ashford Creek. This story is so much more than a romance, it has elements of a suspense thriller. I was sitting on the edge of my seat wondering which direction the story would take.

Synopsis:

    Bodhi Ashford has been something of a mystery man. A recluse, living alone on the edge of town, only associating with those who stood by him in his time of need. Accused of murdering his wife and two young children, some town members still believe him to be guilty. To make matters worse, his twin, Malcolm died in a tragic bus accident while on tour with the rock bank Wilder. One can only wonder how much more one person can endure.

    Kiera West is a unicorn. She is a female drummer; a really good one. When the opportunity presented itself, she auditioned for the rock bank Wilder. Now she finds herself in a difficult position. She is hiding from an abusive and violent ex-boyfriend who is threatening her life and her career. When a friend offered her to stay in an isolated cabin outside of Ashford Creek, she jumped at the opportunity. Unfortunately, the cabin is owned by a man she believes hates her for taking his brother's place.

What I Loved:

• Bodhi Ashford: A man who has had to overcome great loss. The love of his life and his two children murdered in their own home. He blames himself for not being able to rescue them. He lives with the knowledge of how tragically they suffered. To make matters worse, he lost his other half, the person he began life with, his twin brother. If anyone deserves a win, it's Bodhi.
• The Wilder Brothers and Ashford Creek Connection: I absolutely loved the Wilder Brothers series. It was unique storytelling with some amazing storylines. I get the same feeling when I read any story in the Ashford Creek series. I am really looking forward to future installments.
• Suspense/Thriller: My general philosophy is if it's a book I can and will read it but I tend to fixate more towards romance and fantasy books. I have recently begun to include suspense/thriller novels in my rotation. Crossroads hit a lot of positive points for me. It is really everything I love about reading.

Wrap Up:

    Bodhi and Kiera are both wonderfully likable characters. I felt so much ache over the loss they both have suffered in their lives. It would be extremely hard to not root for them to get the happy ending they both deserve.

 I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.                                            

Available for purchase:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Vitalia (Circus of Souls #1) Eliza Benner

 

Vitalia (Circus of Souls #1)

By: Eliza Benner

Recommendation: 🌕🌕🌕🌕 - (Out of 5 🌕)

Genre: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Dragon Shifters

Length: 390 Pages

Pace: Fast

Moods: Adventurous, Emotional, Great World Building, Action Packed, Easy to Read, Steamy

Release Date: February 5, 2026

        Vitalia -     Full of Life

    This is my first Eliza Benner book and she has blown my mind. Benner has managed to create a unique story in a genre that has become increasingly cookie cutter. When I wasn't reading Vitalia, I was thinking about Vitalia: the story, it's characters, the setting; every layer of the story added to it's incredible overarching storyline. 

Synopsis:

    Naevyn has not had a lot of luck in her short life. Her parents died when she was young  leaving her to raise and care for her younger sister and brother. The only source of income t be had in her small town was to work the mine, sourcing and hauling heavy shadowstone. She thought her luck might taking a turn for the better when a local boy of some means invited her to attend the circus with him. Unfortunately, asking Naevyn to attend was part of a cruel joke. To add to matters the circus isn't what she thought it was.

    For the past several hundred years, Cairos and his friends have been cursed to perform in the Fae King's circus. They travel Xardon performing as a means to capture the souls of the unsuspecting humans in attendance. This was until Naevyn. Is it possible Naevy is the human girl from their ancient prophecy? The one destined to break the curse and end the King's terrible reign?

What I Loved:

• The Unique Story: Dragons and Fae written in a way I have never seen before. Two of my favorite tropes intertwined and overlayed one on top of the other.
• The Fae World: Brenner does an amazing job of describing the world Naevyn finds her self stranded in. The glass forest with leaves that break easily underfoot. Dark shadowstone with silver running throughout. Scary creatures that come out in the dark to hunt unsuspecting humans.
• Cairos: An incredible angsty, beautiful male Fae. Cairos does not enjoy what he is cursed to do but understands the obligation. His life has been filled with the pain and suffering of those he cares about most. In Vitalia he starts out as an unsympathetic individual who over the course of the story he becomes increasingly more protective of Naevyn. He is your typical alpha male.

Wrap Up:

    I am incredibly pleased I had the opportunity to read this story. I look forward to the second installment of the Circus of Souls series.

 I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.                                            

Available for purchase:

Amazon