Review: Holiday Spice

Synopsis:

Darcy Shaughnessy has gotten used to her overbearing brothers chasing away any man she wants to date. But a chance meeting with a brooding — and deliciously handsome — artist is about to make this holiday season one to remember.

There’s only one thing Benjamin Tanner loves more than his woodcarving: solitude. Then he gets snowed in with Darcy in his cozy cabin in the woods, and their heated feelings begin to melt the icy barrier between them.

With Ben’s need for privacy and Darcy’s love of family and social life, will opposites still attract once the snow clears and the holiday festivities come to an end?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Holiday Spice by Samantha Chase is another brilliant masterpiece. The ending made me cry with happiness. I was affected during the entire book. Intense, emotional, and intriguing. The plot was well-done as always. Addictive…the pages went by fast. The scenes dragging me up into the characters’ lives. Every page left me wondering what will happen. I’ve never been disappointed yet with any of Samantha Chase’s novels. Her books are out of this world. Holiday Spice is exactly that. Spicy and sweet. A holiday novel that was hard to stop reading. 

The main characters were total opposites. The male character, Ben, was similar to Darcy’s brother, Owen. Socially awkward, smart, and extremely talented. Ben hates interacting with others. In fact, he doesn’t interact with his orders at all. Ben and his two brothers lost their parents. The loss and grief hit Ben the hardest. He never celebrates Christmas anymore because that’s when they lost them…

Then, comes along beautiful yet sassy, Darcy Shaunghnessy. She knocks Ben’s world out of tilt. He can’t stand hearing the truth from her so he runs and hides. But he knows she’s right. He loves her laughter, her baking, and making love to her. She makes him feel alive again. Without her, his world is grey.

Darcy Shaunghnessy is a young woman who lost her mother ata young age. Ever since then, she’s been dealing with family issues. Wanting a mom…but Santa never brought her one. Instead it was just her, her brothers, and her dad. Now, as an adult, her brother blessed her with sister-in-laws and nieces to spoil. But Darcy’s world still isn’t whole. 

Until she meets Ben. Ben makes her knees weak. He makes her feel whole. Complete. But his world and hers don’t match…it will take something toget these two their happily ever after…

Overall, I fell in love with this book. Samantha Chase knows just what us, readers, want. Heartfelt and unforgettable stories. Stories that left me laughing, crying, and falling in love. I highly recommend this new novel to readers worldwide. 

Review: Bringing Maggie Home

Synopsis:

Decades of Loss, an Unsolved Mystery, and a Rift Spanning Three Generations…
Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year old Hazel momentarily turns her back on her three-year old sister Maggie and the young girl disappears.
Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daughter Diane, who can’t understand her mother’s overprotectiveness and near paranoia. While Diane resents her mother’s inexplicable eccentricities, her daughter Meghan—a cold case agent—cherishes her grandmother’s lavish attention and affection.

 

When a traffic accident forces Meghan to take a six-week leave-of-absence to recover, all three generations of DeFord women find themselves unexpectedly under the same roof. Meghan knows she will have to act as a mediator between the two headstrong and contentious women. But when they uncover Hazel’s painful secret, will Meghan also be able to use her investigative prowess to solve the family mystery and help both women recover all that’s been lost?

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

Bringing Maggie Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer is beautiful contemporary tale. It also demonstrates a good Christian lifestyle that still is entertaining to read. Inspiring, realistic, and heartfelt. I’m still a huge fan of Kim Vogel Sawyer’s work. Her writing is three-dimensional. Sucks me into her new worlds each time I open up her new novel. A past that haunts one particular family is about to unravel. Bringing back the loss, the mystery, reopening the cold case, and bringing forth an unforgettable emotional journey. Healing, home, and family are major themes incorporated throughout this stunning story. I was hooked. Definitely a page-turner. A disappearance from the past has strong impacts on a family of women. Intense, suspenseful, and addictive. The plot is well-written. Their messy lives are bout to unfold…overall, I recommend this read. I couldn’t stop reading it once I started. Once more, Kim Vogel Sawyer has sown a perfect book. 

Review: Gone to Dust (Preview)

Synopsis:

Set in Minnesota, Gone to Dust is the debut private eye murder mystery from Emmy Award-winning Seinfeld writer Matt Goldman.

“Sharp wit, complex characters, and masterful plotting makes Goldman a writer to watch. Irreverent and insightful, private detective Nils Shapiro is sure to become a fan favorite.”—Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author.

A brutal crime. The ultimate cover-up. How do you solve a murder with no useable evidence?
Private detective Nils Shapiro is focused on forgetting his ex-wife and keeping warm during another Minneapolis winter when a former colleague, neighboring Edina Police Detective Anders Ellegaard, calls with the impossible.

Suburban divorcee Maggie Somerville was found murdered in her bedroom, her body covered with the dust from hundreds of emptied vacuum cleaner bags, all potential DNA evidence obscured by the calculating killer.

Digging into Maggie’s cell phone records, Nils finds that the most frequently called number belongs to a mysterious young woman whose true identity could shatter the Somerville family–but could she be guilty of murder?

After the FBI demands that Nils drop the case, Nils and Ellegaard are forced to take their investigation underground, where the case grows as murky as the contents of the vacuum cleaner bags. Is this a strange case of domestic violence or something with far reaching, sinister implications?

“A perfect blend of light touch and dark story—I want more of Nils Shapiro.” —Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman is another brilliant mystery to watch out for…the writer creates a thrilling read. This preview copy gave me a great glance into this new novel. Detective Nils Shapiro is a character that instantly became my new favorite. His personality and way of dealing with the investigation was beyond interesting. The things he says is funny, too. Dark, dangerous, and entertaining from page one. I highly recommend this adventure to all. 

Review: The Woods

Synopsis:

David Barnes returns home from boarding school, only to find that the life he left behind is completely different. Lost in a town he no longer knows, David falls into a downward spiral until awakened by a reality he never anticipated.

The first novel by Christopher F. Viceconte, The Woods is a contemporary coming-of-age story about struggling to find one’s place in the world. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

The Woods by Christopher F. Viceconte is a realistic story. One detail a troubled teenage boy’s life. I was intrigued. The book had a dark spin to it. I had to know what was going to happen to the main character, David Barnes. The whole story was easy to connect with and follow along. Entertaining, believable, and well-written. I recommend this tale to readers everywhere. 

Review: Reagan Through the Looking Glass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

She’s stepped into a world where everything and everyone has a price, and her time is running out to discover who holds the bounty on her head.

 

 

When Reagan’s student adviser is found dead, the police say he’s the victim of a burglary gone bad, but it’s not that simple. Jabberwock-the kingpin of the deep web, and the man who killed her brother-knows she’s close to discovering his identity.

 

 

Two men insist they can keep her safe and help her find answers. Hare is sweet, soft-spoken, and introduces her to a wicked walk on the wild side, spiced with temptation and thrill.

 

 

Hatter has kept secrets from her since they met. But he speaks her language, and a single touch from him ignites her desire.

 

 

As she follows the tracks down the rabbit hole, Reagan is dropped headfirst into a world of the dangerous and surreal, where everything and everyone has a price. And her time is running out to discover if it’s the Hatter or the Hare who owns Jabberwocky’s bounty on her.

 

 

 

Author’s Note: This book is part one of a duet. It does not stand alone.

 

 

 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Reagan Through the Looking Glass by Allyson Lindt is a fascinating new world. One that caught my attention right away. Some many references to the Alice in Wonderland that it’s intriguing. All the codes names and secrets. Reagan’s brother is killed by a notorious man. One that is well connnected and knows everyone’s secrets. Yet Reagan aka Alice soon discovers his. That’s when the game becomes deadly. She’s super smart when it comes to computer technology. And soon, the Jabberwocky won’t know what hit him until it’s over…

Allyson Lindt is a talented writer. Her books are addictive. This one, is part of a duet. Making it a must read and leaving readers like myself hanging for the next release. Exciting, dangerous, and intriguing. Reagan Through the Looking Glass is creative yet thrilling read. I enjoyed the mystery, suspense, and the risks the characters took. Hot, sexy, and entertaining to follow. I loved reading it. Reagan is a strong yet determined heroine that kept me guessing. Overall, I highly recommend this soon to be released title.

Review: Forgotten Reflections (A War Story)

Synopsis:

In the current international climate where North Korea takes center stage, “Forgotten Reflections” weaves an inspirational tale of family, lost memories, folklore and an unforgotten history, spanning three generations as South Korea rises from the ashes. 
DARE TO DREAM IN THE MIDST OF WAR. 1945.

Rice fields seem endless in a quaint farming village of South Korea, yet Iseul and the villagers have been on the verge of starvation for as long as they can remember. Their Japanese colonizers have taken every last grain with them as they are finally ousted from the Peninsula. In the newly independent Korea, Iseul and Jung-Soo dream of what their future might bring. Yet, war is on the horizon and Iseul has fallen for an alleged North Korean communist spy. 
Men are conscripted and rice is taken to feed the growing army as the Korean Peninsula is thrust into an international war that would determine if the strategic region will fall into the communist or democratic realm. With nothing but the news of death and hunger awaiting the village of women, children, and the aged, Iseul musters up whatever hope she has left to bring the village together to make paper. Soon, the village once known for its rice, becomes famous for its paper, becoming a beacon of hope for the battle-worn soldiers awaiting letters from their loved ones. Spies continue to roam South Korea, turning neighbors and families against one another. 
For years, Jung-Soo has been suspicious of his father’s allegiances. With a series of mysterious revelations about his father, Jung-Soo is forced to choose between his tainted communist past, and the future he hopes to have with Iseul after the war.

“Breathtaking, sad and beautiful. Truly gorgeous and a must–read for lovers of literature and historical fiction.” – Rebecca Charlton

“A touching story, not only about love or the Korean War, but also about our own identities and (re)unification in different forms.” – Utopia State of Mind

“A story about a grandmother’s secret life and what she sacrificed to make a better life for her children.” –- Niyati Mavinkurve

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Forgotten Reflections: A War Story by Young-Im Lee is an interesting novel. One that swept me deep into the war story. A foreign country, South Korea is at war. Both the communists and democrats want to take it over….but their war brings the one village to starvation. Hunger, loss, and desperation can be seen and felt with every page. 

A young woman is determined despite the war and its effects on her people. Soon, she brings them hope. Hope soon blossoms into her village. Letters to the soldiers helps them carry forth int the war. Families torn between choices. Love and hope still prevail…

I enjoyed reading this tale. Forgotten Reflections is an engaging story. The plot rushes me through the pages. The characters and their dilemmas entice me further into their world. A culture readers can’t miss. Young-Im Lee has presented a heartfelt novel. One that won’t be forgotten by its readers…including myself. Overall, I recommend it to readers worldwide. 

Review: Honor Among Thieves

Synopsis:

Honor Among Thieves is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that gives the reader an in-depth look at inner-city life. The plot revolves around the Alexander family, a vicious crime syndicate, and a detective hell-bent on bringing them to justice. The Alexander family has been a main focal point of local law enforcement, but after the brutal murder of an undercover narcotics agent, a federal task force is assembled to dismantle the family once and for all.

After the family’s patriarch, Clarence “Blue” Alexander, is apprehended by detective Hopkins, the head of the task force over the Alexander investigation, the heat is turned up and the family’s prowess is put to the test – a deadly game of cat-and-mouse.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Honor Among Thieves by Larry Singleton is an exciting yet short urban fiction thriller. This, piece held a lot of violence, drugs, and crimes. However, it’s main focus was on family loyalty. Despite what a family member does, they stick together in the good and in the bad. It was heartbreaking in that way. Even though these were bad guys…the words created emotions that made me feel for the characters. I felt some respect for them, even though I don’t condone that lifestyle or that way of living. Honor Among Thieves is a perfect title for this short novella. Exciting, intense, and dramatic. Dangerous, too. Overall, Larry Singleton created a believable tale with realistic characters that glued me inside their story. 

Review: The Scot Beds His Wife

Synopsis:

The Scot Beds His Wife is the next lush, captivating Victorian romance in the Victorian Rebels series by Kerrigan Byrne.

They’re rebels, scoundrels, and blackguards—dark, dashing men on the wrong side of the law. But for the women who love them, a hint of danger only makes the heart beat faster.

Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, is a notorious Highlander and an unrelenting Lothario who uses his slightly menacing charm to get what he wants—including too many women married to other men. But now, Gavin wants to put his shady past behind him…more or less. When a fiery lass who is the heiress to the land he wishes to possess drops into his lap, he sees a perfectly delicious opportunity…

A marriage most convenient…

Samantha Masters has come back to Scotland, in a pair of trousers, and with a whole world of dangerous secrets from her time spent in the Wild West trailing behind her. Her only hope of protection is to marry—and to do so quickly. Gavin is only too willing to provide that service for someone he finds so disturbingly irresistible. But even as danger approaches, what begins as a scandalous proposition slowly turns into an all-consuming passion. And Gavin discovers that he will do whatever is necessary to keep the woman he has claimed as his own…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Scot Beds His Wife by Kerrigan Byrne is the most fascinating yet most complex plot line I’ve ever read. This historical tale was engaging from the start. Never a dull moment. Dark, sad, and unforgettable. Both bad and good. The characters had to deal with a lot. From family that was no good, to even worse situations. These past memories have left deep wounds festering for so long, that it takes almost to the end to find any lightness within them and their future. 

Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, had a past that literally gave scars. Wounds that were both physical and emotional. His father was cruel to him, his siblings, and to the women his dad brought home. The jerk of a father who put his young boys through absolute hell. He forced them to participate in cruel punishments to women. Treated their mother like a prisoner…and took their innocence of childhood away. Gavin had to grow up fast. His hatred for his father fueled his energy to get revenge. But his older brother Liam beat him to it. Then, there’s this lass who comes tumbling into his path. Sam…she makes him want things he never thought he wanted or could have.

Samantha Masters is a woman who grew up the hard way. Her family were going to give her to some pervert. So, she escaped by marrying a man who was rotten to the core. The Master brother were cruel, reckless, and dangerous. Samantha is a pro with guns. Her husband has threatened to kill a young innocent woman…only in split seconds, Sam does the unthinkable. By doing so, she has sealed her fate. But then, the victim became her hero. Giving her a new life and a new chance at redemption…a path that leads her straight into the sexy lord, Gavin…

What started off as two enemies fighting turns into much more passionate, fun, and unforgettable for two broken souls. At first, they fight their feelings and attraction. But as times goes by and trouble comes to them, they end up wanting what they thought they can’t have. The Scot Beds His Wife is a beautifully written story. Full of action, intrigue, suspense, and romance.  There’s also a lot of humor. I loved it. Kerrigan Byrne is a master of historical romances…I can’t wait to read more by her. Overall, I highly recommend this book to all. 

Review: The Promise of a Letter

Synopsis:

A letter brings him back to his Amish family. It will take someone truly extraordinary to make him stay. 

Roman is on the verge of leaving the Amish ways. Feeling confined by the strict rules, he longs to do something more with his life. But when things don’t go as planned, Roman’s prospects outside of the community dwindle. Upon learning that his beloved grandmother has died and left a letter urging him to reconcile with his brother in Birch Creek, Roman decides to return home. But he doesn’t plan to stay for long.

Leanna Chupp has always made her own way in her small community of Birch Creek. Though some may call her unconventional–strange, even–Leanna is happy. Her unique outlook on life has meant she’s never had many suitors pursuing courtship, which Leanna doesn’t mind. She is content being single.

But when Roman and Leanna find themselves working together again, everything changes. Though neither fit squarely within the strictures of the Amish faith, their differences could be the very thing to help them form a deeper connection to their community and to each other. The question remains: will this strengthening bond be enough to make Roman stay for good? 

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

The Promise of a Letter by Kathleen Fuller is an exciting adventure. A book with meaning and purpose. Two protagonists feel trapped, lost, and hurt. But with some time, hope, and faith they will be able to heal and move forward with happiness. The title is exactly what the story is about and shows that even the things we want are not what we may need. 

Kathleen Fuller is a writer with a magical wand. I love traveling deep into her books.  The characters are hard to ignore. Their life issues sucked me into their dilemmas and had me rooting for them. The book also contained a great emotional journey. I felt each characters loss, hope, faith, worry, anger, and fear. It was exciting to watch them grow. 

Leanna is a young Amish woman who is nothing like the others in her community. She hated school except for a few subjects like math. Her ability to fix things is amazing. Mechanical knowledge is for men. And here, I got to watch her fulfill that role. Leanna struggled with what others said about her working as a mechanic. But still, she never gave up…and it was thanks to one man who gave her that break. Only…soon, a gossip breaks out, bringing forth doubt and fear. This causes Leanna to lose her job. I felt sorry for her. It was funny to watch her fulfill more duties suited for her gender….like canning tomatoes. Leanna is terrible at the traditional women duties. But as a mechanic, friend, daughter, and as a sister, Leanna does well. 

Roman is a young Amish man. Not wanting to marry just like Leanna. He too, is interested in mechanics and engineering. In fact, he was pursuing a degree in it. But then, tragedy strikes. Causing Roman to travel home once more. He’s not happy about it. The way he left the last time, will cause for hardship between him and his older brother, Daniel. Daniel is all he has left. But Daniel doesn’t want him home nor helping him. However, Daniel is foolish and gets injured. This causes him to feel worse. With his injuries, Roman automatically takes up the challenge to help his brother. A mechanic shop should be easy…only Roman knows he needs help. Leanna…

Daniel is the older brother of Roman. He owns his own memchanic shop. Before it was just him and Roman. Until he got married…then, things changed. Roman left never saying goodbye. This hardened Daniel’s heart and made him angry. Struggling with things, Daniel is to stubborn to ask for help. His wife is pregnant and he’s afraid she loose the baby…then, there’s the nasty rumor that has him and his wife upset. He lets go of his only employee. His best employee, Leanna. 

The Promise of a Letter is an outstanding read. Kathleen Fuller knows how to nab her readers’ attention immediately. Every page was full of action, suspense, tension, and drama. I loved it. A good clean Christian novel with a bit of romance. Overall, I highly recommend this to all. 

New Release: The Mercenary by Petra Landon

Synopsis:

She’s a prisoner of the Imperial Forces. He’s a nomad with a private mercenary army. Can a desperate girl’s risky gamble and a fierce warrior’s love turn the tide of war and alter the balance of power in their slice of space?
In a distant corner of the galaxy, Quadrant Five burns in the flames of a deadly war. The Budheya people are one of the worst affected. Once the most advanced civilization in the quadrant, they now struggle under the cruel yoke of Ketaari occupation. 
Saakshi

Imprisoned by the Ketaari Imperial Forces, a young Budheya girl is sent to a distant space station to work in an alehouse. For a girl who has known only hardship in her short life, things could be worse. Until an old foe walks into the alehouse.
Zoran

Zoran is Hadari’Kor – notorious across star systems for their prowess in battle. Their fierce reputation allows them to retain their independence, even as others are forced to choose sides in the war. Drawn to a weary-eyed server girl, Zoran is forced to confront age-old traditions and question his role in the war.
The Prisoner & The Mercenary

Alone, friendless and far from home, Saakshi makes a desperate gamble to trust a formidable and enigmatic stranger whose hot gaze haunts her dreams. The fallout from this improbable pact reverberates across space. As a relentless enemy hunts her, Zoran must fight to protect Saakshi through a minefield of shifting alliances. When passion ignites amidst the embers of a smoldering war, will a warrior’s quest for justice bring a mighty Empire to its knees …

Author’s Note : A spirited and resilient girl, a fierce warrior with a conscience, a fiery passion that flares amidst the debris of a deadly war and a love that will alter the fate of an entire quadrant forms the tale of The Mercenary, a standalone story that sets the scene for The War Chronicles – a collection of SciFi Romance & Space Opera tales with romance, swashbuckling adventure & a sprinkling of action. (less)

Release Date : August 25, 2017

About Petra Landon

An avid reader all her life, only recently has Petra allowed her own imagination to run riot. She loves to travel, loves the outdoors and reads everything she can get her hands on, time permitting. Her taste in books is very eclectic – she tends to like stories with vivid and quirky characters that have elements of fantasy, adventure, romance and mystery interspersed together. A good book for her is one that makes the reader think long after it has been finished and set aside. And one that draws the reader back to it, again and again. 

Stories have swirled in her head for years. Sometimes, when the ending of a promising book disappoints her, she imagines a different and more satisfying outcome for herself. To share the characters and tales that have lived in her imagination for so long is a labor of love and a lifelong dream come true for her.

Author Links :

Website : www.petralandon.com

Amazon : www.amazon.com/author/petralandon

Goodreads : www.goodreads.com/PetraLandon
Twitter : www.twitter.com/PetraLandon

Pinterest : www.pinterest.com/PetraLandonLife

Mailing List : https://madmimi.com/signups/49db2caaca814574981e134850a9585e/join

Book Links :

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35393531-the-mercenary
Website: www.petralandon.com/The-Mercenary

Review: Macaroons and Mayhem

Synopsis:

Excitement blossoms through Peridale when a prestigious gardening magazine picks the village as the spotlight for their next issue, but that joy quickly turns to dread when members of the local gardening society, The Peridale Green Fingers, start dying one by one after their obituaries are sent to The Peridale Post the day before their murders.

Julia is asked to bake macarons for the magazine’s unveiling of ‘The Best Garden in Peridale’ party, but with death striking the village, she has more important things to worry about. Is somebody killing The Green Fingers’ to better their chances of winning the title as well as the cash prize, or is there something more sinister happening? With her old friend and newspaper reporter, Johnny, by her side, Julia must uncover the truth before every member of the club is crushed like an unwanted weed.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Macaroons and Mayhem by Agatha Frost is the nest best book in this thrilling mystery series! I love her books. Agatha Frost has once again, proven that she is queen of the cozy mystery genre. There’s so much to love about her writing. Fast-paced, exciting, romantic, hilarious, deadly, and plenty of drama to keep me busy as always. 

The main character, Julia South, is my all time favorite sleuth. A baker at heart who has the ability to become the best world known detective. She always solves every case. Wherever Julia goes, there’s always a murder mystery to solve. In this case, more than one person dies and a fourth victim as or may not survive the attack. Someone is targeting a garden club. The top members are being killed one by one. Unless the police can figure it out, more people will die. That’s when Julia is called to the case. An investigative journalist friend comes to her after the police mocks him. He thinks he’s stumbled upon a murder investigation. But even Julia is skeptical….but as the events unfold her skeptics may changes and she’s on the hunt. Macaroons and Mayhem has proven to be Julia South’s toughest case yet. Overall, I loved reading this new mystery. I can’t wait to read the eighth book. Agatha Frost is beyond talented. 

Review: Expresso and Evil

Synopsis:

The 6th book in the BESTSELLING Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery series!

When a coffee shop opens in the village, Julia is surprised when her customers flock to the new business, leaving her café almost empty. A failed protest against the corporate chain store leaves Julia wondering if her café can survive, but she suddenly has bigger fish to fry when the owner of the coffee shop is poisoned, and she is framed for his murder.

As Julia attempts to clear her name, she is stopped in her tracks when an unwanted familiar face arrives in Peridale. Her past and present crash together, threatening to jeopardise her blossoming relationship with Barker. Julia’s history is back to haunt her, and she is forced to deal with the consequences of her actions before it is too late. Somebody is trying to frame Julia for her rival’s murder, but can she juggle her most challenging case yet with her complicated love life before she loses more than just her café?

Book 6 in the Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery series! Can be read as a standalone but will be enjoyed more as part of the series. A light, cozy mystery read with a cat loving and cafe-owning amateur female sleuth, in a small village setting with quirky characters. Written in British English and 48,000 words long. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes! 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Expresso and Evil: A Peridale Cafe Mystery by Agatha Frost is another brilliant mystery! I was hooked instantly. This, is the sixth book in the A Peridale Cafe Mystery series. I don’t know how Agatha Frost manages it, but she delivers a clean, hilarious, and intriguing tale every time. I haven’t found a bad book by her yet…

Inside Expresso and Evil, I followed the main character and her close knit group as another mystery tumbles literally into their own territory. In fact, it happens inside of Julia South’s bakery. Her well-know enemy is found dead in her cafe. As the facts pour forth, it looks like someone has been going to a lot of trouble to frame Julia. Her bakery is also suffering a major loss due to her customers going to her enemy’s cafe. Then, to add to the drama, mystery, and trouble, her ex husband has a surprise for her…then, there’s the technical issue with their divorce that puts Julia and Barker at a distance. So much action, mayhem, and sparks flying everywhere. Julia is my favorite sleuth. She’s kind, caring, and smart. Plus, her baking is out of this world….

Agatha Frost combines a lot of genres into one marvelous read. Her series of cozy mysteries are addictive. Once, I start a new book of hers, I can’t stop reading. Then, I wait in anticipation for the next novel to be released. Fun, charming, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. This book was also heartfelt in many ways. Expresso and Evil suits this novel well. Coffee and murder…overall, I recommend this book to readers everywhere. 

Review: Protecting the Enemy

Synopsis: 

Protecting the Enemy was originally published as Honor Bound. It has since been expanded, revised, and re-edited.
Twelve years ago, I gave up the love of my life because my family made the relationship impossible. Now that Ali has come back to me, I’m not going to give her up again.
It’s been years since I’ve seen her, and I know she’s hated me all this time. I never expected to see her working as an event planner for one of my father’s business partners. But here she is, always snooping around and getting into trouble. I’m supposed to be providing security, but I can’t stop thinking about her.
She’s up to something, and it might put her in danger. She sees me as the enemy now. Maybe I am, but I’m not going to lose her again. I might be hired to protect the man she’s working against, but my heart only wants to protect her. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Protecting the Enemy by both Samantha Chase and Noelle Adams is the second installment to their new romance series. This book is another tale about second chances. A romance that existed but never got the chance to bloom until now. But there’s plenty of obstacles to get through first. Love is messy, complex, and complicated. It can leave damage…

Hatred, anger, danger, and sparks ignite in this exciting book. I felt closer to these characters than the previous book. However, I still miss the full fledge magic that Samantha Chase always brings to her books. Seeing as this is co-written, it’s hard to  feel that magic that I’m so used to feeling. But it’s still worth reading every damn page. I was engaged. Hooked. Intrigued by ehatwould transpire between the two protagonists. Writers Samantha Chase and Noelle Adams create a chemistry that lingers far after one finishes reading. Overall, I recommend this second title to readers everywhere. Protecting the Enemy is a contemporary full of heat and action. 

Review: Pancakes and Corpses

Synopsis:

Soon to be divorced Julia South never expected to be caught up in solving a murder, until she discovered the body of her cafe’s most awkward customer. With a new smug Detective Inspector in town who underestimates her every move, Julia makes it her mission to discover the real murderer, before her village friends are dragged into the frame, and more bodies are discovered.
A light, cozy mystery read with a cat loving and cafe owning female amateur sleuth, in a small village setting with quirky characters. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Pancakes and Corpses: A Peridale Cafe Mystery by Agatha Frost is an exciting new series. I love the main character, Julia. She’s a divorced women returning back to her hometown. Here, in Peridale, Julia is baking. Baking is her passion. But then, her cakes go missing…and a dead customer turns up…which then, catches the unwanted attention of the new detective. Something about him, puts Julia off in more than one way. 

I’ve read a few other book witinnthis series before this one, and I was easily able to follow along. The mystery in each book is different and thrilling to follow. Julia is the best baker. Her hometown, Peridale, is small but sets forth a variety of interesting characters. Intriguing, fun, hilarious, sweet, and sometimes deadly. Pancakes and Corpses is a must read for all. Action, adventure, and a murder case to solve. I couldn’t stop reading it. Agatha Frost is a talented writer. Her pages flew by fast.  

Review: The Crowns of Croswald

Synopsis:

In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret… 
For sixteen years Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. When Ivy crosses the border, her powers awaken. Curiosity leads her crashing through a series of adventures at the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald’s mysterious gems. When Ivy’s magic—and her life—is threatened by the Dark Queen, she scrambles to unearth her history and save Croswald before the truth is swept away forever. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night is an exciting YA fantasy. This novel reminded me so much of my favorite series by J.K. Rolling. The Harry Potter Series…yes, this tale has so many similarities to thafamous series but still holds many differences that makes it interesting. 

The main character, Ivy, is fascinating. She is going to school as a scrivenist yet she holds something more in herself than she knows. Secrets will soon come out and Ivy will be taking on an adventure of a lifetime. Just like Harry Potter, Ivy, finds herself into trouble, danger, and drama. I loved it. The Harry Potter Serieshasended and this first book to a wonderful series is just beginning…I am thrilled to have gotten this book to read. Magic, mystery, dwarves, and a dragon. Evil is lurking close by and Ivy hasn’t faced the worst of it yet. A Queen is after Ivy. But Ivy has an opportunity to escape and maybe defeat this evil queen. I can’t wait to see what D.E. Night brings in the next book. Thrilling, full of action, suspense, and fun. I was completely engaged from the beginning to end. This, is now, my new favorite fantasy author. Overall, I highly recommend The Crowns of Croswald to readers worldwide. 

Review: Second Chance Cowboy

Synopsis:

Dancer Larissa Martine is ready to start over and Las Vegas seems like the perfect city for a shiny new beginning. But first, to honor her pact with her girlfriends, she wants to make a quick stop in Cheyenne, WY to make amends with her first love, the guy she left to chase her dreams of Broadway fame. Except rancher Matt Briggs isn’t nearly as interested in her regrets as he is in keeping her in town for his sister’s wedding. It’s a request she can’t deny when his family takes up the cause to make her stay for just one more week, but it’s difficult to maintain her friends-only boundaries with a man who attracts her as much as ever. 
After losing his father and inheriting the family ranch in addition to the one he’d bought on his own, Matt’s life is all about obligations. But Larissa’s unexpected arrival during the wedding mayhem is a bright spot he won’t ignore, even if that means tempting her into far more than just a dance. He figures one night with her will bring them both some peace with their past, which is all she said she wanted. But one night leaves Matt wanting a whole lot more and this time, he’s willing to gamble everything to make her stay. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

Second Chance Cowboy is the second book that I’ve read by Joanne Rock. I was amazed by her talent with her other book that I read before this one. Her characters literally pop off the pages. Bringing the story to readers in live motion. I felt like I was there experiencing it all in both the main characters’ shoes. I got the best perspectives from the leading female and male protagonists. Their thoughts, actions, and words could easily be felt and understood. 

Joanne Rock made me cry happy tears while reading this contemporary romance novel. I also laughed a lot. Cowboy rancher, Matt, just has affect on women. Especially, Larissa, aka Rissa. Sexy as hell, Mattcan make any woman swoon on spot. But the one woman he wanted left him eight years ago. Now, he finds her back in their ranching world. This time, he’s not ready to let her go…

Larissa is having a crappy life. Her dancing career did hit it off until her injury. Her hips still give her pain. But she still wants to audition in Las Vegas. However, on her way there, she stops home to seek forgiveness and a fresh start. Little does Larissa know that fate has more in stored for her than she planned. Like resurfering sparks between her and Matt. Matt…looked even better than she remembered. She wants him again. Feeling a bit jealous of the girl hitting on him, Larissa skates her feelings. Then, Matt’s sister ends up forcing them together for her wedding. Close proximity with each other will set off memories they never forgot…

Second Chance Cowboy is the latest novel by Joanne Rock. I love how she created so many raw emotions within me. The journey was epic. Addictive, hot, and charming. Every page was well-written. The entire story went by faster than I thought. The actions of the protagonists sped up my reading. I was so eager to find out what happened between them that I soon found the last page. And it was so good. Better than good. Superb. I have fallen in love for the second time with Joanne Rock’s writing. She delivers only the best for her readers every time. Overall, I recommend this sexy cowboy romance to all.  

Review: Chihuahua Confidential

Synopsis:

“If I say so myself, I am muy foxy!”

When novice P.I. Geri Sullivan first heard her adopted Chihuahua talk, she thought she’d gone barking mad. But it turns out Pepe is a savvy sleuth—and if he has his way, he’ll soon be a bone-a-fido celebrity, too, as Pepe and Geri are Hollywood-bound to star in the reality show Dancing With Dogs. So far, so bueno. 

Then Nigel St. Nigel, the judge everyone loves to hate, becomes the judge someone wanted dead. Pepe and Geri are hot on a killer’s heels but between perfecting the paso doble and protecting Pepe’s Pomeranian lady love, both have their paws full. If Pepe’s new status as a Beverly Hills Chihuahua goes to his head, it may be the last waltz for Geri’s crime-biting compadre…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Chihuahua Confidential by Waverly Curtis is another exciting adventure. In this new mystery, Pepe and his owner, Geri, are headed for stardom. Pepe and Geri will be featured on Dan omg with the Dogs. It is there that they find a new case. A judge most disliked is found dead. Many suspects are found making finding the killer harder to catch. Danger, risks, and mayhem are everywhere. The pages are filled with humor. Pepe the talking Chihuahua is my favorite character. Then, there’s Geri an average female who is needing a job to pay bills and feed both her and Pepe. Geri is learning to be a detective and Pepe is helping her learn. And it’s not long before another case finds the pair. Hilarious, well-developed, and a perfect read for animal lovers worldwide. I enjoyed reading the first novel in this series. This second book, was just as good. Overall, I recommend it to all. 

Review: The Churchill Plot

Synopsis:

As 90-year-old Winston Churchill barely clings to life in January 1965, Great Britain and the world prepare for the most significant funeral of the century. The long-planned grand farewell for the great man (code name: Operation Hope Not) will include the presence of a “who’s who” list of world leaders, all vying for the attention of the 350 million people who will watch it all via the relatively new Tel-Star satellite technology. 

But one world leader has decided not to go to London for the funeral of Sir Winston. 
Why would the President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, a consummate and ego-driven politician, who has just been inaugurated for his own term, following a landslide election victory the previous November, choose to stay home instead of taking the chance to make his presence known as the leader of the free world? And why would the president not send his new vice president, Hubert Humphrey, to the funeral? And why would the Secretaries of Defense and State eventually travel to London as part of the “official” US delegation, only to avoid the actual service at historic St. Paul’s Church? 

With these very true historical facts as a backdrop, we take a journey through the “looking glass” into a murky world of shadows, mystery, and intrigue. America and the world had not yet fully recovered from the assassination of Johnson’s presidential predecessor, John F. Kennedy. Yet, in a way that seems to connect back to that awful moment in November 1963, there are rumors of another vast conspiracy, one involving a terrorist attack connected to Churchill’s funeral, at the moment more when than 100 world leaders will be gathered together in one confined place. 

Just what part of THE CHURCHILL PLOT is history, and what is fiction? You may find yourself reaching for your smartphone to check facts on Google. 
Go for it. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Churchill Plot by David R. Stokes combines both historical facts and fiction into one stunning read. This novel, has caught my interest from the beginning. I love exploring a bit of history and when writers take it and spin something like this…I can’t resist reading it. The characters ranged from people I recognized to others that I didn’t. I was thoroughly entertained. Action, suspense, and mystery all wrapped into this book. Churchill ignites an intense attention where the U.S. politics is involved. A lot of events cause for serious thinking and wondering…my mind was already spinning with ideas. David R. Stokes’s writing was well-done. I definitely recommend this to history and espionage lovers. 

Review: Onyx Webb The Series (book 10)

Synopsis:

Welcome Back to the World of Onyx Webb! This is Book Ten. (Episodes 29, 30, 31, & 32) Haven’t Gotten Entangled Yet? Please Start with Book One.

Book Ten is the end of the Onyx Webb saga with the final pieces of the web sewn together.
Onyx Webb is a complex multi-genre mash-up that combines elements of supernatural suspense, crime, horror, romance, and more. The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times.
In Book Ten: The Mulvaneys deal with aftermath of the Solstice Eclipse Ball. Stan Lee and Spider Boy finally meet. Readers finally learn the fate of Onyx Webb. Scroll Up and Grab Book Ten Today! 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Onyx Webb: The Series by both Richard Penton and Andrea Waltz is the last installment to this superb series. A paranormal soap opera tale filled with tons of action, adventure, and ghosts. Onyx Webb is by far still my favorite character. Her story was beautifully done. Noah is another character from this series that I loved too. He’s Onyx’s other half. Their relationship is unusual and emotionally engaging. All the other characters were awesome. They added to each featured episode. Fueling the drama, trouble, and mystery.  Richard Penton and Andrea Waltz are two talented writers. Each one spun this entire book and it’s Series into one that readers like myself will never forget. Nothing is easy in this book nor among the characters. Complex, complicated, and exciting. Never a dull moment. The pages flew by fast. I was once more hooked. I can’t wait to see the next book these writers come up with next. Their words brought forth a new world in which readers like myself easily got lost within….addictive. Overall, I highly recommend book ten to all. 

Review: Protecting His Best Friend’s Sister

Synopsis:

Protecting His Best Friend’s Sister was originally published as Duty Bound. It has since been expanded, revised, and re-edited.

The only woman I want is the one I can never have.

Harper. My best friend’s sister. I’ve wanted her since I was eighteen, but she’s always been off-limits. Now I’m home after years in the Marines, and nothing has changed–except everything has. Her brother is dead, and she’s on a hopeless quest for answers about his death.
And I want her just as much as ever.

Someone is trying to kill her now, and she won’t let me keep her safe. I have to protect her anyway, even if she doesn’t trust me, even if she hates me for it. A man protects what’s precious to him, whether or not he can ever claim her for his own.

And Harper has always been precious to me.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Protecting His Best Friend’s Sister by both Samantha Chase and Noelle Adams is a sexy yet emotional short read. This novella is packed with loss, anger, and lust. Levi is best friends with Harper’s older brother. He has wanted and liked Harper since the beginning but it really hit Levi the hardest when Harper grew up…

As a teenager, Harper turned heads. Levi was no different. She had him wrapped around her finger and had no idea. Levi has struggled with his attraction to Harper. She’s off limits. Not going to mess up a friendship just because he likes his best friend’s sister. Little sister.

Now, Harper is a grown woman. No little about her. Curves, flawless skin and still as fierce as before…Levi wished it was under better circumstances. His best friend, Harper’s brother, Gavin, died. Burying him. Sadness and pain hits them both. Harper hates Levi. 

Only she doesn’t know why he left her that one day. Nor does she know just how much he really cares about her…

Harper is in danger and Levi will protect her. But where that leaves them afterwards is something readers will have to discover on their own. 

Hot, well-developed, and entertaining. Both Samantha Chase and Noelle Adams have started a series that caught my heart and attention. I missed the deeper connection I get from Samantha’s novels but this one was still good. Protecting His Best Friend’s Sister is a must read.  

Review: Pangaea (The End of Days)

Synopsis:

At the dawn of humankind came the end of all that stood before.

This story is one such fairytale. Except it is not truly a fairytale. It is the story of Giants and Immortals, and of Earth’s greatest legend, Pangaea.

The great continent and the ocean Panthalassa were more than just the earth and the sea—they were the future. They were more than the children that ran across their playgrounds, the farmers that plowed their fields, and the sailors that travelled their waters. More than the hopes and fears of their inhabitants. And much more than the myths and legends who walked the Earth three hundred million years ago. They were a dream, a covenant made long before this universe ever took shape.

This is the tale of an end of an Age.

These are its tragic last days.

Pangaea is being torn apart by magic, and an old evil is set to return. Its greatest champions are blinded by ambition, choked by politics, and crippled by pain. 

Brought together by fate, seven young heroes set out to save the world.

But what can children do against living gods?
Preview the book here (click The Book)

https://www.pangaeathelegend.com/ 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Pangaea: The End of Days by Bolivar Beato is a fascinating book. Inside are tales full of other tales. Each one was pure magic fantasy…myths, events, wars, and other things. Detailed, carefully planned, and entertaining. The book held a intense environment…breaking into more intense moments. Every tale inside connected to the next one. Short, entertaining, and magical. There is so much to read that readers will be taken from their seats into a whole new universe unlike any other. Bolivar Beato is a talented writer. Creating worlds that capture my attention and held until the end.

Review: The Final Score

Synopsis:
In the new Play-by-Play novel by the New York Times bestselling author of Rules of Contact, a star quarterback is torn between his love of the game—and the woman who may be the love of his life.

Nathan Riley is ready to follow in the footsteps of his famous football player father. He’s been drafted as quarterback for his dad’s former team, and his future is bright. When his friend Mia Cassidy moves to the same city, their years-long friendship suddenly sparks hot, reminding him of the one night they had together in college that he can never forget.

Like Nathan, Mia is from a sports dynasty family and embarking on an incredible new career—as founder of her own sports management company. Her friendship with Nathan means everything to her, and tossing sex into the mix again could jeopardize it. But the chemistry between them has always sizzled, and it isn’t long before Mia realizes she wants more with Nathan than just late-night talks and pizza. 

 
Passion has a funny way of changing the rules, and soon Nathan and Mia discover that to win it all, they’ll have to make an unexpected play for love.

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

The Final Score by Jaci Burton is a swoon worthy romance. This book will definitely take to fans of sports, sex, and romance. The once best friend relationship ends up turning into something way more than either thought. Neither MIA nor Nathan can ignore the sparks, heat, and their hearts. Their hearts want each other. However, Mia is determined to try to keep it a best friend only relationship…but as time goes by…she realizes she wants more. Nathan loves football. With Mia nearer to him, he can’t concentrate on just sports stuff. Their relationship has gone and left. Leaving behind something much more intense. Something worth fighting for…

The Final Score is a hot read. I couldn’t stop reading it. Jaci Burton knows how to creation the right amount of lust, heat, and unforgettable characters. The scenes fly by fast. One moment, I’m starting the next, I’ve finished reading. Truly, a novel worth picking up to read. Overall, I recommend to readers worldwide. 

Review: The Art of Hiding

Synopsis:

Nina McCarrick has it all: a loving husband, two beautiful boys, a well-appointed home and more time than she knows what to do with. Life is perfect. Until her husband, Finn, is killed in a car accident and everything Nina thought she could rely on unravels.

Alone, bereft and faced with a mountain of debt, Nina quickly loses her life of luxury and she begins to question whether she ever really knew the man she married. Forced to move out of her family home, Nina returns to the rundown Southampton council estate—and the sister—she thought she had left far behind.

But Nina can’t let herself be overwhelmed—her boys need her. To save them, and herself, she will have to do what her husband discouraged for so long: pursue a career of her own. Torn between the life she thought she knew and the reality she now faces, Nina finally must learn what it means to take control of her life.

Bestselling author Amanda Prowse once again plumbs the depths of human experience in this stirring and empowering tale of one woman’s loss and love.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse is one of the most believable tale I’ve read. A story of loss, love, and hope. The loss of a father and husband, losing their home, and moving to a new place.  Plus, a single widowed mother dealing with a teenager who seems like he’s connecting with her anymore. A you’re son who loves her still but is also wanting to be like his big brother. Sweet, heartfelt, and realistic. 

The title, The Art of Hiding, fits well. I was amazed at how well the mother holds onto the little she has. Her sons. Going after a career, a new home, and a new area can place a lot of stress and emotions on a family that has already lost so much. But with time, there’s hope and maybe even some healing. I was throughly entertained with this book. Every page was exciting. Something always caught my attention and held it there until the ending. Amanda Prowse is a talented writer. This, was the second novel of hers that I’ve read. Enjoyable, easy to follow along, and great characters to love. Overall, I recommend this novel to all. 

Review: Cat Got Your Secrets

Synopsis:

Lacy Marie Crocker has settled into a comfortable groove back home in New Orleans, and with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, she’s busier than ever running a thriving pet boutique, helping her mother organize the upcoming National Pet Pageant, and untangling her complicated love life. But when delivering a king-sized order of dreidel-shaped doggy biscuits for a Saint Berdoodle’s bark-mitzvah, Lacy stumbles into yet another murder scene—and the last person to see the victim alive was her own father.

It’s up to Lacy to clear her dad’s name from the suspect list before Detective Jack Oliver has to cage him for good. But just when she starts pawing at the truth, she receives a threatening letter from a mysterious blackmailer bent on silencing her with her own secrets. And Lacy’s not the only one with bones in her closet.

Time’s running out in this deadly cat-and-mouse game in Cat Got Your Secrets, the delightfully funny third novel in Julie Chase’s Kitty Couture mystery series, perfect for “all those feline fanciers who love to read Rita Mae Brown” (Suspense Magazine).

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Cat Got Your Secrets by Julie Chase is an exciting new murder mystery. A young woman finds out that her dad is anything but fine. His whole body language says he’s not okay. Just as Lacey goes to a client, she soon finds that he’s dead. And the last person who saw him alive was her dad. From there things become more complicated and messy. A blackmailer insists she stays quiet. But Lacey keeps digging away for the truth. 

Cat Got Your Secrets is full of danger, risks, and humor. I was intrigued. Julie Chase created characters that were easy to relate to and like them. Lacey is close to my age and her life felt believable. Her parents were real in their behavior. A pushy but caring mother and a good dad whose hiding secrets….but I also learned that he wasn’t the only one keeping them. Interesting, entertaining, and a feel good read. I enjoyed following this mystery. Overall, I recommend it to readers everywhere. 

Review: The Return

Synopsis:

Beautiful and winsome, Betsy Zook never questioned her family’s rigid expectations, nor those of devoted Hans, but then she never had to. Not until the night when she’s taken captive in a surprise Indian raid. During her captivity, Betsy faces brutality and hardship, but also unexpected kindness. She draws strength from native Caleb, who encourages her to find God in all circumstances. She finds herself torn between her pious upbringing and the intense new feelings this compelling man awakens within her. 

Handsome and complex, Hans is greatly anguished by Betsy’s captivity and turns to Tessa Bauer for comfort. Eagerly, Tessa responds, overlooking troubling signs of Hans’s hunger for revenge. When Betsy is finally restored to the Amish, have things gone too far between Hans and Tessa? 

Inspired by true events, this deeply layered novel gives a glimpse into the tumultuous days of prerevolutionary Pennsylvania through the eyes of two young, determined, and faith-filled women.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Return by Suzanne Woods Fisher is an inspiring tale. It’s also full of hardships, woe, and hope. The book is based off some realistic events from the past. I enjoyed following this historical Christian piece. A group of Christians find themselves in the wilderness. A new land that is just as dangerous as it is good. Indians are nearby. In fact, one Indian will become something more to one of the protagonists. Her faith is questioned. Danger escalates and loss is felt. A massacre happens. Half Indians are slaughtered out of fear by others. Anger and fear make for trouble. One Amish man finds himself in such a predicament. Caleb is half Indian and half Mennonite. Betsy feels protective of her new friend. But Caleb is struggling with what’s happening to his kind. Betsy is hopeful thinking one day, Caleb will be ready to enter her world.  But right now he’s hurt, confused, and not ready. Understanding and relating to each character inside this book was easy. I felt their emotions. Fear, anger, sadness, love, and hope. Kindness played a role throughout the troubled and terrible times. Overall, I would recommend The Return to readers everywhere. Themes of friendship, bullying, and respect are found here. It was a well-written yet engaging read. 

Review: The Portrait of Vengeance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

An unsolved case. A tempest of memories. The future’s at stake—and time is running out…

 

 

Gwen Marcey has done a good job of keeping the pain of her past boxed up. But as she investigates the case of a missing child in Lapwai, Idaho, details keep surfacing that are eerily similar to her childhood traumas. She doesn’t believe in coincidences. So what’s going on here?

 

No one knows more about the impact of the past than the Nez Perce people of Lapwai. Gwen finds herself an unwelcome visitor to some, making her investigation even more difficult. The questions keep piling up, but answers are slow in coming—and the clock is ticking for a missing little girl. Meanwhile, her ex-husband back home is threatening to take sole custody of their daughter.

 

 

As Gwen’s past and present collide, she’s in a desperate race for the truth. Because only truth will ensure she still has a future.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

The Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks is another brilliant mystery in this exciting series. Gwen Marcey is the main protagonist who is dealing with a lot. She lost her parents at a young age. Now, as an adult she will come close to the killer. The one who killed her parents is trying to kill her and the six missing kids she found. Gwen forces herself into this new investigation. She left the crime scene where her mother was murdered. Gwen will use all of her power to uncover the truth for this cold case investigation as well as save the children…all of the, who are now, counting on her to save them all.

The Portrait of Vengeance is a thrilling rush. Adventure, action, and mystery. Themes of death, loss, and hope are found here. I was hooked. The forensic artist, Gwen Marcey, has her own demons to face as well as the struggle to survive an ordeal. She must conquer the new challenges. Strong, determined, and smart. Gwen is a character to love. I immediately connected to her. Overall, I recommend this entertaining tale to readers everywhere.

Review: The Summer that Made Us

Synopsis:

Mothers and daughters, sisters and cousins, they lived for summers at the lake house until a tragic accident changed everything. The Summer That Made Us is an unforgettable story about a family learning to accept the past, to forgive and to love each other again. 

That was then… 

For the Hempsteads, summers were idyllic. Two sisters who married two brothers and had three daughters each, the women would escape the city the moment school was out to gather at the family house on Lake Waseka. The lake was a magical place, a haven where they were happy and carefree. All of their problems drifted away as the days passed in sun-dappled contentment. 

Until the summer that changed everything. 

This is now… 

After an accidental drowning turned the lake house into a site of tragedy and grief, it was closed up. For good. Torn apart, none of the Hempstead women speak of what happened that summer, and relationships between them are uneasy at best, hurtful at worst. But in the face of new challenges, one woman is determined to draw her family together again, and the only way that can happen is to return to the lake and face the truth. 

Robyn Carr has crafted a beautifully woven story about the complexities of family dynamics and the value of strong female relationships.

Rating: 3.5-stars

Review:

The Summer that Made Us by Robyn Carr is a great read. At its center, lies a family struggling with their lives. Each one feels stressed. A past event has kept them torn apart. Now, in the present they go back to the place where all went wrong. Some want to forget it, while others want to remember the good that was there. Hope, fear, anger, and a sadness lingers on every page. I was taken into each character’s feelings. They felt hesitant about the future. Loss, death, and managing relationships both personal and in the family is a hard thing to juggle. I understood the characters’ actions. However, I didn’t feel as close to them as I have with other characters. Robyn Carr is phenomenal writer. Her stories have always inspired me. This book, is inspiring in many ways but the emotional entertaining connection wasn’t really there for me. I didn’t really want to dig deep in this tale. But I continued. The themes and points were on target. Just didn’t feel as engaging as Robyn Carr’s previous novels. The Summer that Made Us fits perfectly with the pages’ content. I do recommend this book. It drags some but it’s still worth reading. 

Review: To Wager Her Heart

Synopsis:

With fates bound by a shared tragedy, a reformed gambler from the Colorado Territory and a Southern Belle bent on breaking free from society’s expectations must work together to achieve their dreams—provided that the truth doesn’t tear them apart first. 
Sylas Rutledge, the new owner of the Northeast Line Railroad, invests everything he has into this venture, partly for the sake of the challenge. But mostly to clear his father’s name. One man holds the key to Sy’s success—General William Giles Harding of Nashville’s Belle Meade Plantation. But Harding is champagne and thoroughbreds, and Sy Rutledge is beer and bullocks. Sy needs someone to help him maneuver his way through Nashville’s society, and when he meets Alexandra Jamison, he quickly decides he’s found his tutor. Only, he soon discovers that the very train accident his father is blamed for causing is what killed Alexandra Jamison’s fiancee—and what has broken her heart. 
Spurning an arranged marriage by her father, Alexandra instead pursues her passion for teaching at Fisk University, the first freedmen’s university in the United States. But family—and Nashville society—do not approve, and she soon finds herself cast out from both. Through connections with the Harding family, Alexandra and Sy become unlikely allies. And despite her first impressions, Alexandra gradually finds herself coming to respect, and even care for this man. But how can she, when her heart is still spoken for? And when Sy’s roguish qualities and adventuresome spirit smack more of recklessness than responsibility and honor? 
Sylas Rutledge will risk everything to win over the woman he loves. What he doesn’t count on is having to wager her heart to do it. 
Set against the real history of Nashville’s Belle Meade Plantation and the original Fisk University Jubilee Singers ensemble, To Wager Her Heart is a stirring love story about seeking justice and restoring honor at a time in history when both were tenuous and hard-won. 

Rating: 4.5-stars 

Review:

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander is a brilliant historical romance. Full of emotions. Both protagonists find themselves in  a world of hurt that binds them together. Each one seeking something with the help of the other. Tamera Alexander brought me back into the era of railroads and their danger. High clout families, politics, and the risks of falling in love. The stakes are high and the scenes are engaging. Themes of loss, honor, and hope are found here. I was intrigued with both the southern belle determined to make her own way and the troubled man taking on a huge task. Heartfelt, entertaining, and well-developed. Alexandra Jamison is a strong female character. She worked hard and it paid off…the feeling of accomplishment back then in her time period was the best part of the book. To Wager Her Heart has won my heart over many times. I highly recommend it to readers worldwide. 

Review: Take to the Limit

Synopsis:

They are part of an elite unit. On task. Off grid. These are the men of the Shadow Ops task force. Be seduced and thrilled by Take to the Limit, the next Unbroken Heroes novel by Dawn Ryder. 

Holding out for a hero…
A hardened military machine, Bram Magnus is a tough, combat-ready, all-American hero who never surrenders. But the one thing he can’t fight? His smoldering, intense attraction to his girlfriend’s younger sister. He’s always kept his feelings locked deeply down. But when his girlfriend betrays him the night before he ships off to Afghanistan, Bram has one chance to show the woman he’s resisted for years that he wants her as fiercely as the first day he saw her.
Ever since her older sister first brought home the soldier with steely hard muscles and piercing eyes, Jaelyn has wanted Bram, and when her sister casts him aside the night before he leaves, Jaelyn can’t resist one steamy hot kiss with him. But danger is not far behind, and even as a deadly enemy hunts them, their relationship only grows more explosive. It’s all Bram can do to keep Jaelyn safe, but with a threat this powerful, will they pay the ultimate price for their passion?

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Take to the Limit by Dawn Ryder is a sexy tale featuring alpha males. Males who think only about their work and nothing else. Or so they thought…Enter a beautiful woman and a Bram can’t let go. He’s leaving on a mission. Told to leave her alone. But his heart can’t. So, he does what he can. Writes letters to her. Not one, not two, but dozens of letters. Letting her know she’s all he’s thinking about while away. Hot sex. Instant chemistry. And fear. Jaelyn loves Bram. He is a sexy tall man who has her toes curling in the hot sand. Her dreams are filled with nothin glut him. She kissed him hard before he left. Her heart aches for him. Thinking she won’t ever see him again, she hardens her heart against him. When he arrives back to her, all hell breaks loose. His letters he wrote were never given to her….someone stole them. Jealousy. Jaelyn pushes Bram away. But he’s not giving up without a hell of a fight. Hell, she’s worth everything to him. Then, danger comes and knocks their world into a crazy space. No one knows where it will lead. But Bram is going to fight until he has Jaelyn safe again in his arms…and in his bed. 

Dawn Ryder knows how to heat up the pages. I blushed every time. The heat was scorching. The sex soon turned to love making. The characters each had their own fears and struggles. But somehow they keep moving forward and work through them. Friends who tease but also have their backs. Family that will always support them no matter what. I loved the granddaughter and grandfather relationships in this book. It was sweet, charming, and hilarious. Overall, I enjoyed reading Take to the Limit. It’s a perfect title for the scenes inside…a super solider and his strong yet bold woman. 

Review: Murder in Little Shendon

Synopsis:

MURDER IN LITTLE SHENDON 

Picture, if you will, a picturesque village called Little Shendon, suddenly caught up in dealing with a murder of one of its citizens – not a particularly well-liked one at that. Which makes it all the more intriguing because the list of suspects becomes very long. This tantalizing tale unfolds with delightful twists and turns to find out whodunit to Mr. Bartholomew Fynche, the murdered shopkeeper. Fear grips the community as the investigation slowly progresses. Everyone is interviewed; everyone is suspect! From the murdered man’s housekeeper to Lady Armstrong, her staff and her nephew. Or could it be the shy librarian new in town? Or the defiant retired army major and his ladyfriend, the post mistress? Or perhaps the weird sisters who live on the edge of town? 

Then there is the couple who own the local inn and pub, along with the two Americans who are staying there? Even the vicar and his wife fall under the gloom of suspicion. Uncertainty, wariness, and terror reign as neighbors watch neighbors to discover the evil that permeates their upturned lives. No one feels safe in this charming little village. 

A.H. Richardson, noted author, places in your trembling hands a mystery murder that will keep you reading until you learn the details, uncovered by Police Inspector Stanley Burgess and his two amateur detectives, his friend Sir Victor Hazlitt and the famed Shakespearean actor Beresford Brandon. 

Scratch your head with them over the strange clues that turn up. Follow them as they tread carefully among the landmines that appear innocent as they lie hidden beneath the surface of mystery. Something evil skulks in this tiny country village. Who is the murderer? And why was this strange uncivil man dispatched in such a seemingly civil community? You are challenged to discover the culprit before the last few pages. And no fair looking ahead – it’s the journey that proves the most enticing. 

Rating: 4-stars

Review: 

Murder in Little Sheldon by A.H. Richardson is an interesting mystery. This book, left me wondering and guessing who could have murdered the shop keeper. Every character had some tie to the investigation. Each one looked just as guilty as the other. Motive was in high demand. I loved that I couldn’t figure it out until the ending. I don’t like reading mysteries where I already know who committed the crime. As a reader, I appreciated the suspense, intrigue, and the twists. Murder in Little Sheldon made me think of two movies with this kind of who dunnit theme. Especially, The Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I found the writing entertaining and refreshing. It’s a challenge worth reading. Overall, A.H. Richardson is an a writer I would keep on my watch out list. 

Review: Fault Lines

Synopsis:

As a security expert, Charlie Hazard is all about taking control of the situation. But when the stunning Dr. Gabriella Speciale draws him into a secret psychological project, risk parameters are shattered. Every move brings him to the edge of one fault line after another, and Charlie struggles to stay clear of a maelstrom of entangled dangers. 

The research team abandons the lab on the Florida coast and flees to a mountain refuge in Italy. The battles in Charlie’s mind are overtaken by real life attacks. He must grapple with the daunting realization that a conspiracy is taking hold on both internal and external levels. Can Gabriella be trusted, or is she just part of the scheme? 

Leave behind your assumptions about the way the world works, and race along the unknown corridors of human consciousness in Fault Lines.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Fault Lines by Thomas Locke is fascinating thriller. Instantly, I was hooked. The story is about mind-shifting technology that one can destroy and another is fighting to keep alive. Danger, risks, and a mystery that propelled me from my chair into the book. The plot was well-developed and built up the intensity as the pages were flipped. Two main characters, Charlie and Gaberiella brought this tale to life. Charlie is in the line of protection duty while Gabriella is a psychologist who takes him deeper into a deadly scenario. My heart raced. The threats felt real. The novel reminded me of the fast-paced Bourne Series. Overall, I recommend this thrilling title to readers worldwide. 

Review: Going Down and Man Candy

Synopsis:

“Elise Sax will win your heart.”—NYT bestelling author Jill Shalvis

“Elise Sax will make you laugh. Her larger-than-life characters jump off the page and make crazy seem like a fun place to hang out.”–Christie Craig, New York Times bestselling author of Texas Hold ‘Em

“Elise Sax belongs on every bookshelf.” — Melissa Foster, New York Times Bestselling Author 

The Five Wishes Series: Novellas about wishes that go terribly wrong…fortunately. Five Wishes…A happy ending is just a coin toss away. Each novella is approximately 100 pages with NO cliffhanger.

Book 1: Going Down:

Marion MacAlister wants to nail her audition, not get nailed. Truly. Honestly. All right…maybe she does want to get nailed, but that’s just because her hottie landlord and local diner owner Mack Ryan is confusing her. Can friends become lovers? Especially friends who might not even be friends in the first place? 

Book 2: Man Candy:

Raine Harper is in love with Wade Gates. But Wade likes women who are model thin, and Raine is model thin plus a whole lot of pounds. Desperate to make him love her, she trains just a little too hard and passes out in the arms of superstar movie star Dirk Adams. Dirk thinks Raine’s junk in the trunk is perfect and proposes to make Wade jealous by becoming her pretend boyfriend. Pretend soon seems very real. Is Dirk a great actor, or is something really developing between Raine and the movie star? 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Going Down and Man Candy by Elise Sax is a 2-in-1 book set. A great summer romance set that is enjoyable to follow. The two stories feature a different woman going through body issues. They also want to be super skinny. One wants to make it as an actress. The other wanting her long time crush to fall in love with her. Each one has a super hot guy after their own hearts. Sweet, sexy, and entertaining. Both stories are easy to read and short. Elise Sax writes funny yet romantic tales. Overall, I recommend her book set to all. 

Review: Whole Again

Synopsis:

John Lawrence loved Vicki Masterson his entire life. They grew up together. But it wasn’t meant to be.

After John is disabled in Iraq, that couldn’t be more obvious. He struggles to start a new career while dealing with a prosthetic leg. Vicki recovers from divorce along with her own paralyzing self-doubt.

Enter “Growing Strong” Vicki’s grandmothers landscaping business and a new start for both of them. Can they can get over themselves and their own insecurities to build a life together? 

Rating: 4-stars 

Review: 

Whole Again by Colleen S. Myers is an entertaining contemporary romance. Two old friends have had the biggest crush on each other. Now, one is recently divorced and the other has just returned from war with a prosthetic leg. Each character has struggles to overcome before they can move forward. Insecurities, drama, and danger. Life is complex. Inside Whole Again, there’s a brewing romance, risks, fears, and life threatening situations. Colleen S. Myers has created an exciting read from the first page. Never a dull moment. Intriguing, realistic, and heartfelt. Overall, I recommend this novella to all. 

Review: A Life Before

Synopsis:

Picture yourself as Mike Strange, a lawyer in 1989 who agrees to represent residents of a large condominium complex, twelve of whom have lost a spouse to lung cancer in the past five years. Surprisingly, all twelve were non-smokers, nor were exposed to second-hand smoke. But all were exposed for years to radon gas emanating from the basements of their condo units. 
As this young lawyer starts ruffling too many feathers to bring those responsible to justice, his wife Susan is brutally murdered by an unknown assailant, clearly as a warning to Mike to back off. For twenty years, her murder has eluded a suspect by the police. 

Only one person seems to have a clue after all this time, a young college student, Samantha Collins, who has recurring dreams of the murder of a young housewife by a tattooed man with a scar on his chin. She has had this dream since she was thirteen, but now in 2011, the dreams are more frequent and include more and more information that place Samantha Collins as the reincarnated Susan Strange from years ago. 

Share the excitement as this one cold case is brought back to life through the vision of Samantha, as the perfect crime may not have been so perfect after all. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

A Life Before by Julien Ayotte is an exciting thriller. Right away, I was swept into the book. The characters were believable and the scenes fly by fast. I was completely lost within the pages. There are several cases inside that keep readers like myself guessing. Intriguing, stunning, and well-told. Julien Ayotte is a new writer to watch out for…his words come to life. Danger, excitement, and emotional. Crime happens everywhere. These crimes were entertaining to follow. Overall, I recommend A Life Before to readers everywhere. 

Review: The Transmigrant

Synopsis:

The year is AD 8. In the backwaters of Galilee, the twelve-year-old carpenter Yeshua nourishes an impossible dream—to become a rabbi.

When a Buddhist pilgrim tells him about a country called Sindh, where anyone can be a monk, Yeshua’s hope rekindles. He joins a camel caravan and sets off on a thousand mile journey across the Silk Road into the unknown. Guided by the words of the Buddha and Krishna, but crippled by a stubborn reluctance to obey rules, Yeshua stumbles from temple to temple in search for a place where he may finally teach.

THE TRANSMIGRANT is a remarkable tale of self-discovery that explores the lost years of Jesus. It is a reflection on the lengths a man will go to be admired, accepted and, ultimately, loved. 

THE TRANSMIGRANT is an alternative take on the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Inspired both by ancient scriptures and relatively new findings, such as Russian traveler Nicolas Notovitch’s 1894 book “The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ”, THE TRANSMIGRANT explores Jesus’ life during the years not mentioned in the Bible.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Transmigrant by Kristi Saare Duarte is a unique historical tale. It takes readers back in time. A lot of research has gone into making this one of the best reads yet. I haven’t read anything quite this good. The Transmigrant is a journey of man. Searching constantly for what he needs. Easy to follow, relate to, and understand. The pages are full of deep meaning. Engaging, well-developed, and stunning. Kristi Saare Duarte showed me the depths of what humans are and will go to….it was amazing. Physically and emotionally. I highly recommend readers to open this book and explore the most famous of all men, Jesus. His life unravels here. 

Review: The Summer House

Synopsis:

When Flossy Merrill summons her children to the beloved family beach house to celebrate their father’s eightieth birthday, both cherished memories and long-kept secrets come to light in this charming and lyrical novel from the author of The Lake Season and Mystic Summer.
Flossy Merrill has managed to—somewhat begrudgingly—gather her three ungrateful grown children from their dysfunctional lives for a summer reunion at the family’s Rhode Island beach house. Clementine, her youngest child and a young mother of two small children, has caused Flossy the most worry after enduring a tragically life-altering year. But Samuel and his partner Evan are not far behind in their ability to alarm: their prospective adoption search has just taken a heart-wrenching turn. Only Paige, the eldest of the headstrong Merrill clan, is her usual self: arriving precisely on time with her well-adapted teens. Little does her family know that she, too, is facing personal struggles of her own.
No matter. With her family finally congregated under one seaside roof, Flossy is determined to steer her family back on course even as she prepares to reveal the fate of the summer house that everyone has thus far taken for granted: she’s selling it. The Merrill children are both shocked and outraged and each returns to memories of their childhoods at their once beloved summer house—the house where they have not only grown up, but from which they have grown away. With each lost in their respective heartaches, Clementine, Samuel, and Paige will be forced to reconsider what really matters before they all say goodbye to a house that not only defined their summers, but, ultimately, the ways in which they define themselves. 
Featuring McKinnon’s “sharp and evocative” (Kirkus Reviews) voice, this warm-hearted novel is perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Mary Alice Monroe.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Summer House by Hannah McKinnon is a superb summer read. A story about a family dealing with a lot of issues. The mother forces her kids back to the summer house. There she hopes to help them deal with their issues and maybe, find some peace. A worried mother over grown children. The mother herself has something to share with her children. She plans to sell their summer house. A place full of childhood memories for the children who are now, grown adults. The journey is rocky at first but smooths over as the pages are turned. Emotional, stunning, and heartfelt. 

Hannah McKinnon writes well. Her characters are believable. Each one adds to the plot. A different issue like the lost of a husband. Readers will easily relate to the them. I was able to understand and love the characters. The mother was the centerfold of this family. Strong, dependent, and clever. She loves her family. Caring, loving, and sweet. I couldn’t put this book down…The Summer House lured me from my seat and deep onto its pages. A deep entertaining read. One that pulled at my heart strings all the way. Overall, I recommend this novel to readers worldwide. Loss, love, and healing. 

Review: Any Dream Will Do

Synopsis:

Shay Benson adored her younger brother, Caden, and that got her into trouble. When he owed money, Shay realized she would do anything to help him avoid the men who were threatening him, and she crossed lines she never should have crossed. Now, determined to start fresh, she finds herself in search of a place to stay and wanders into a church to escape from the cold.
Pastor Drew Douglas adored his wife. But when he lost her, it was all he could do to focus on his two beautiful kids, and his flock came in a distant third. Now, as he too is thinking about a fresh start, he walks through his sanctuary and finds Shay sitting in a pew.

The pair strike up a friendship—Drew helps Shay get back on her feet, and she reignites his sense of purpose—that, over time, turns into something deeper, something soulful, spiritual, and possibly romantic. Even Drew’s two children are taken with this woman who has brought light back into their lives. Perhaps most important, Shay learns to trust again as she, in turn, proves herself trustworthy to her adopted community.

But Caden’s return to town and a disastrous secret threaten to undo the life Shay has tried so hard to rebuild. It will take the utmost courage and faith if she and Drew hope to find healing and open their hearts to a brighter future.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Any Dream Will Do by Debbie Macomber is as close to a realistic story as possible. Everything felt real. It was like reading a person’s journey from the rough life to a good one. A young woman has had trust issues due to the men in her life. With no One But a brother as family and as a friend, Shay had to learn a lot of lessons. Including, not trusting her baby brother. He relied on her and she made a bad choice because she thought it was a life or death situation. Her brother used her. Broke his promise and left Shay to deal with the consequences. Shay went to prison, lost her bank job, and is dealing with a lot of emotions. Anger, fear, and survival mode. After being released she finds no where to go. Stepping into a church, Shay’s life turns around….she meets Paster Drew. 

Pastor Drew is another interesting character. He and his very young kids lost a loved one. A wife and mother. Drew was hopeless and lost until he meets Shay. He sees hope for her. Even though she can’t. She has a tough attitude but inside she’s good. Drew calls a friend and help Shay into a program for women like her. Because he helped her, Shay forms an attachment of trust, liking, and hope towards him. Drew can’t help but feel good knowing he helped her. Something about Shay also gives him hope for the future. Then there’s his kids. Both meet Shay. Shay loves them as much as they love her. 

Debbie Macomber has written an inspiring tale here. I couldn’t stop reading it. The whole story made me cry, smile, and fall in love. Lost souls finding their ways after a tragedy. A little faith, hope, and love go a long way in this novel. Those who have been through a tough time can easily relate to both Shay and Drew’s issues. Struggles can make or break us at times. But it’s about continuing even when we have nothing else to lose. Overall, I recommend this contemporary to all. Any Dream Will Do is a must read. 

Review: Maybe I Do

Synopsis: 

She doesn’t believe in fairy tales. He is married to his job. Maybe whiskey is the secret ingredient that will bring them together—and give true love a shot in Nicole McLaughlin’s Maybe I Do?

Wedding photographer Charlotte Linley loves her work—even though she hates weddings. Sure, she still holds a grudge after being left at the altar by her high-school sweetheart. But today Charlotte is just happy to have complete control over her career, which is flourishing. Especially since she joined forces with one of the three gorgeous owners of The Stag, a boutique distillery that has become Kansas City’s hottest wedding venue.

Dean Troyer, bitter after the end of his own marriage, knows that Charlotte is the real deal—beautiful, talented, and successful. He may flirt with her every time she comes to The Stag but Dean is determined to keep his professional distance. . .particularly now that she’s helping him with his own sister’s wedding. The only problem? The more time Dean spends with Charlotte, the deeper their connection grows. Is this a rom-com cliché or could it be that these two jaded souls in the wedding business have finally found their real-life happily ever after?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Maybe I Do by Nicole McLaughlin is a sexy sweet contemporary read. I was addicted from the first page. Here, the writer has brought together two kind people. Each one has their own fears that they struggle with, as well as their attraction to each other. Dean is forty-one- years-old. He feels old. Yet he stays fit. Packing a six pack and not a single grey hair, he’s every woman’s fantasy. Including, Charlotte’s. Dean was married once, and it didn’t work. Plus, he’s hiding a secret. Then, there’s Charlotte who was almost married. Her fiancée didn’t meet her at the aisle. Now, she works as a photographer photographing weddings mostly. Charlotte also holds a secret of her own. 

Maybe I Do fits in perfectly. Each protagonist finally figures out that maybe they do want a happily forever…but will their fears stop them? Nicole McLaughlin created a beautiful yet emotional journey. I cried, laughed, and fell in love. Two older people falling deeper for one another. Their lust, attraction, and fears have a long way to go. It was easy to relate to the characters. Hopeful, funny, and well-developed. This book felt so real. Truly, a heartfelt romance. Overall, I recommend this to readers everywhere.

Review: Need You Now

Synopsis:

Welcome to the small island town of Cloud Bay, where it’s never the wrong time to find a love that’s oh-so-right. . .

Caleb White knows what he wants out of life—and being a star tennis player is not it. After speaking to the press about his plans to retire, Caleb decides that a trip to quaint, beautiful Cloud Bay for its legendary music festival is exactly what he needs. There will be time to figure out what to do with his life without a racket in his hand soon enough. Until then, Caleb is content to be stuck on an island with CloudFest’s gorgeous director Faith Harper. . .

The daughter of a famous rock star, Faith knows all about fame, fortune, and hot flings that aren’t meant to last longer than a few good songs. Gorgeous, built Caleb is a temptation she can’t resist, but she’s not prepared for the way he makes her feel. . .and the dreams that they both share. What begins as a carefree distraction deepens into something real. But is Caleb ready to put his celebrity behind him and give life in the slow lane with Faith a chance?

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Need You Now by Emma Douglas is a hot summer read. The instant chemistry between characters lured me further into the book. The daughter of a musician is needing a new fling. She soon spots a sexy man with the bluest eyes. Attraction hard and fast. Later on, Faith finds out who he is. The famous Caleb White, star tennis player, who has recently retired. Both start out wanting a good distraction. A no strong relationship. But the more they’re together the harder that becomes for them both. Sparks fly everywhere. Hot, sexy, and fun. Emma Douglas has created an exciting contemporary novel. I was entertained. In the beginning the pages dragged a bit in speed, but soon took off fast. Need You Now suits this book well. Both Faith and Caleb need each other in their lives. But the question lingers if they will figure it out…overall, this was an engaging story. 

Review: Leave the Night On

Synopsis:

Love, betrayal, and sweet revenge—life in Cottonbloom is about to get a whole lot hotter . . .

Sutton Mize is known for lavishing attention on the customers who flock to her boutique on the wealthy side of her Mississippi town. So when she finds a lace thong in her fiancé’s classic cherry-red Camaro, she knows just who she sold it to: her own best friend. In an instant, Sutton’s whole world goes up in flames. . .

Wyatt Abbott has harbored a crush on Sutton since he was a young kid from the other side of the tracks. He witnessed Sutton’s shocking discovery in the Camaro at his family-owned garage—and it made him angry. What kind of man could take lovely, gorgeous Sutton for granted? But then Sutton comes up with an idea: Why not give her betrothed a taste of his own medicine and pretend that she’s got a lover of her own? Wyatt is more than happy to play the hot-and-heavy boyfriend. But what begins as a fictional affair soon develops into something more real, and more passionate, than either Sutton or Wyatt could have imagined. Could it be that true love has been waiting under the hood all along?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Leave the Night On by Laura Trentham is full of excitement. From betrayal by a best friend and from a fiancée, a false relationship, and a path to new love…I was hooked. The main character, Sutton is a strong woman. She’s more than just daddy’s little rich girl and more than a beauty. Wyatt is now, a mechanic. The best around his side of town. He can’t deny his attraction to Stutton. Something about her always had his interest. Stutton’s life was going well, until she and Wyatt find her ex cheating on her. From there, revenge, sweet lies, and a whole lot of action happen. I was intrigued with every page. I couldn’t stop reading it. Leave the Night On fits this story well. The plot was fast-paced. Entertaining, engaging, and hilariously sweet. I loved it. Laura Trentham has done it again. Creating another magical world where I got lost within the pages. Overall, I recommend this contemporary romance to all. 

Review: A Wedding Tail

Synopsis:

’TIL DEATH DO US BARK…

Wedding planner Zoe Plum has brides from all walks of life vying for her services. The only problem is: happily-single Zoe doesn’t actually enjoy weddings—but that might change when she meets the singer of a local band playing at one of her weddings. His name is Levi Dolson and he’s too gorgeous for his own good. And now he’s gone ahead and charmed her new dachshund. . .

It’s no secret that Zoe doesn’t believe in fairy tales, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to make sweet music with Levi. While she’s convinced she doesn’t need a man, when someone starts setting one trap after the next to make sure she never plans a wedding ever again, she might need Levi in more ways than she could have imagined. But just how far is Zoe’s hidden enemy willing to go? The only thing Levi knows for sure is that he will do everything in his power to protect the woman who brings music to his soul. Maybe that will prove to Zoe, once and for all, that he is a man worthy of her heart. . .

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

A Wedding Tail by Casey Griffin is spectacular. It combines murder, mystery, and romance into one amazing read. This is also a great book for animal lovers. Especially, those that love dogs. An adopted wiener ends up rescuing his adoptive mother from a murderer. She ends up saving the man who has become so much more to her than just hot kisses. Her heart is totally in love with him. Now, it’s up for her to call the shots. The murderer was a character that I didn’t expect to be the killer. Surprises are everywhere in this book. Humor, intrigue, heat, and an unforgettable emotional journey. Casey Griffin has once again, hooked me. Her books are worth reading. I was so happy that her latest novel, A Wedding Tail, turned out perfect. Crazy brides, a weddding gone wrong, a flirtatious man, someone sabotaging Zoe’s business and much more…this, was one adventure I’ll never forget. Hilarious, sweet, and engaging. Overall, I highly recommended this title to all. 

Review: The Kentucky Cure

Synopsis:

Elise Newton is your classic non-committer. Although this time…this guy, Darren Masterson is giving her a run on her oath to staying single forever. After all, that’s how her mother raised her–never let your guard down and get sucked into forever. Before she has to decide what to do, she gets called home to take care of her mom, fresh out of foot surgery. While in Kentucky, she runs into Ben, her first love–the one who almost lassoed her with a ring and an ‘I do’ twelve years ago. 
Follow Elise’s journey to understanding why she can’t commit, and you’ll discover the one she can’t live without.
*title was previously released as A Reason to Stay*
Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Kentucky Cure by Julieanne Dove is a great journey. A young woman who has commitment issues may find her cure after all. The main character, Elise, was believable. I felt like she kept running away from life over and over again. It was hard to feel what she was really feeling. I couldn’t really get a good grasp on it in the beginning. Then, towards the middle I discovered why she has the issue. But again, I couldn’t really connect with her. Instead, I felt more connection to the guys who loved her. Heartbreaking, heartfelt, and emotional. The whole story felt sad. Until the ending…it was great. It was worth reading the ending. The title fits the plot well. Overall, Kentucky Cure is a contemporary romance novel that is entertaining. 

Review: Unraveling

Synopsis:

What happens when happily ever after starts to unravel?

Eliyana Ember doesn’t believe in true love. Not anymore. After defeating her grandfather and saving the Second Reflection, El only trusts what’s right in front of her. The tangible. The real. Not some unexplained Kiss of Infinity she once shared with the ghost of a boy she’s trying to forget. She has more important things to worry about–like becoming queen of the Second Reflection, a role she is so not prepared to fill.

Now that the Verity is intertwined with her soul and Joshua’s finally by her side, El is ready to learn more about her mysterious birth land, the land she now rules. So why does she feel like something–or someone–is missing?

When the thresholds begin to drain and the Callings, those powerful magical gifts, begin to fail, El wonders if her link to Ky Rhyen may have something to do with it. For light and darkness cannot coexist. She needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can El find a way to sever her connection to Ky and save the Reflections–and keep herself from falling for him in the process?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Unraveling by Sara Ella is an unforgettable fantasy. The second book in the trilogy set. I was hooked. A magical place full of action, suspense, and intrigue. It was an epic emotional journey. One that swept me off my seat and pulled me directly into its world. The main character El is quite interesting. Determined, brave, and hopeful. Her connection to Ky, a ghost is lost in a way. But still lingers. Only if El can remember…him. The story was heartfelt, engaging, and romantic. Fast-paced. The danger, mystery, and characters have pulled me in closer to the world. I can’t wait to read the next book. Sara Ella writes well. I got lost within her pages. Felt the rush of excitement, fear, and loss. This is one book that I recommend not only to teens, but also to adults. It was addictive. Superb. Unraveling is a masterpiece readers must read. 

Review: When Lightening Strikes

Synopsis:

Simon O’Neal’s causing trouble again. And it’s up to Gail DeMarco to stop him.

Gail DeMarco left Whiskey Creek, California, to make a name for herself in Los Angeles. Her PR firm has accumulated a roster of A-list clients, including the biggest box office hit of all—sexy and unpredictable Simon O’Neal. But Simon, who’s just been through a turbulent divorce, is so busy self-destructing he won’t listen to anything she says. She drops him from her list—and he retaliates by taking the rest of her clients with him.

Desperate to save her company, Gail has to humble herself by making a deal with Simon. The one thing he wants is custody of his son, but that’s going to require a whole new image. He needs to marry some squeaky-clean girl who’ll drag him off to some small, obscure place like Whiskey Creek….

Gail’s the only one he can trust. She agrees to become his wife—reluctantly. But she isn’t reluctant because he’s too hard to like. It’s because he’s too hard not to love!

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

When Lightening Strikes by Brenda Novak is another brilliant contemporary tale. I was excited to see what Brenda Novak has written. After reading it, I was in love. The characters were realistic. Even when a PR marketing lady with a famous movie star is stuck together, I was intrigued. Both when about their actions the way real people would have done. That surprised me. Usually, characters do some realistic things and some Dream worthy things. Being around a sexy male actor would be any woman’s dream. Everyone’s except for Gail. She wants nothing to do with the stubborn no good actor, Simon. Sure he has money and looks. But his attitude is sour. Plus, his actions make his life spin further out of control. He drinks, he tried breaking into his ex wife’s house to see his son…and all he gets is trouble. The media love that. His wife wants his money and uses their kid as a leverage. Simon can’t win custody due to his bad boy image. So, that’s where Gail comes in…she’s the best at PR. He wants her to help him. However, she can’t stand the man and declines. Gail doesn’t want to work with someone who won’t listen to her. So, she says some awful things to him and cuts him loose. Then, he gets back at her. That’s where all hell breaks loose. Soon, they find themselves crawling back to each other for help. Gail needs him to undo the damage done to her business, and she will help him win his kid back. Sounds easy….add in a fake marriage of two years and a force of no drinking, no sex, and no bad stuff. Simon can only handle so much. But he does what Gail says…

Falling in love is what neither one wanted nor expected. The more time they’re together the harder it is to resist…

Overall, When Lightening Strikes is a charming heartfelt story. I loved it. So many emotions and an epic journey ahead. Brenda Novak has done it again in creating the best romance. I was hooked. Engaging, sweet, and funny. This is a book I recommend to all. 

Review: Virgin River

Synopsis:

“Wanted: Midwife/nurse practitioner in Virgin River, population six hundred. Make a difference against the backdrop of towering California redwoods and crystal-clear rivers. Rent-free cabin included.” 

When the recently widowed Melinda Monroe sees this ad she quickly decides that the remote mountain town of Virgin River might be the perfect place to escape her heartache, and to reenergize the nursing career she loves. But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of arriving: the cabin is a dump, the roads are treacherous and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realizing she’s made a huge mistake, Mel decides to leave town the following morning.
But a tiny baby, abandoned on a front porch, changes her plans…and a former marine cements them into place.
Melinda Monroe may have come to Virgin River looking for escape, but instead she finds her home.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Virgin River by Robyn Carr is an exciting adventure. One that took me to a small-town, Virgin River. There isn’t a school, no Starbucks, and her promised quarters is falling apart. Not like what the woman said on the phone to get Melinda to come to Virgin River. Apparently, nothing was what it seemed. First, Melinda gets stuck in mud with her fancy BMW. Her living quarters is dirty and falling apart. And the doctor doesn’t want her there to help him. 

But then things changed. A baby is found outside her place. Someone abandoned it. Then, Melinda decided to stay for a little bit. Using that little bit of time, a former marine works his butt off to make her own place new and clean. Plus, he’s attracted to her. Doing his damn best to keep apretty young medical woman in town proved to be a challenge. One worth doing. 

Melinda wanted out of L.A. Danger was everywhere. She couldn’t handle the pressure of fear that amounted with the amount of criminals everywhere. Then, she finds out about Virign River. A small-town looking for someone like her. A safe and quiet place to move. Melinda found a lot of surprises in Virgin River. Tested her will power and determination. 

Virgin River is a novel about community, small-towns, and new beginnings. I loved it. Robyn Carr swept me from my chair into her sweet, charming, and romantic tale. This book was engaging from start to end. Overall, I recommend it to all. 

Review: Woman Enters Left

Synopsis:

A woman sets out on a cross-country road trip, unknowingly tracing in reverse the path her mother traveled thirty years before.
In the 1950s, movie star Louise Wilde is caught between an unfulfilling acting career and a shaky marriage when she receives an out-of-the-blue phone call: She has inherited the estate of Florence “Florrie” Daniels, a Hollywood screenwriter she barely recalls meeting. Among Florrie’s possessions are several unproduced screenplays, personal journals, and—inexplicably—old photographs of Louise’s mother, Ethel. On an impulse, Louise leaves a film shoot in Las Vegas and sets off for her father’s house on the East Coast, hoping for answers about the curious inheritance and, perhaps, about her own troubled marriage.

Nearly thirty years earlier, Florrie takes off on an adventure of her own, driving her Model T westward from New Jersey in pursuit of broader horizons. She has the promise of a Hollywood job and, in the passenger seat, Ethel, her best friend since childhood. Florrie will do anything for Ethel, who is desperate to reach Nevada in time to reconcile with her husband and reunite with her daughter. Ethel fears the loss of her marriage; Florrie, with long-held secrets confided only in her journal, fears its survival.

In parallel tales, the three women—Louise, Florrie, Ethel—discover that not all journeys follow a map. As they rediscover their carefree selves on the road, they learn that sometimes the paths we follow are shaped more by our traveling companions than by our destinations. 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Woman Enters Left by Jessica Brockmole is an interesting adventure. A young woman suddenly learns that she inherits quite a lot from a woman she barely knows. This only intrigues her curiosity. As the plot unfolds, she finds more clues. Turning to her father she learns about her past. Then, there’s the situation with her husband. Not exactly on best terms, but then she learns things about her husband. Understanding sets in and maybe forgiveness too. It was a heartfelt story that holds a lot of details in the beginning…making the plot feel a bit like it’s dragging but then, it picks up speed. I enjoyed following the main protagonist, Louise. Her marriage and history is fascinating to follow. Overall, I recommend this tale to readers everywhere. 

Review: Planez

Synopsis:

Essence Brown is a beautiful fashion magazine editor-in-chief living in New York City. When she meets Malcolm Hill, a handsome real estate agent from Chicago on a business trip, things began to heat up. They say you shouldn’t mix business with pleasure, but what happens when you do? 
Planez will take you on a ride of your life, full of sex, thrill and betrayal. This isn’t your ordinary flight…fasten your seat belt and prepare for take off. 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Planez by Mariah James is an alluring read. Hot, spicy, and full of action. The heat spread like a wild fire. Consuming the reader whole. The plot was interesting. Mariah James created an adult fictional piece that had me riding a rollercoaster. The emotions were everywhere. Intense and exciting. New. Both Essence and Malcom kept me guessing. The pages were entertaining to keep on following the pair. Mariah James also included each protagonist’s viewpoint. I think that made this book a good read. Overall, it was enjoyable to watch as the characters struggled and fell in love. 

Review: Between Lost and Found

Synopsis:

Janelle Marshall’s life is finally going according to plan. Her perfect, upscale career–and her perfect, successful boyfriend–will make her future as secure and predictable as her childhood never was. And with luck, Little Bill, the grandfather who raised her will someday understand why she’d rather play it safe than be impulsive. But just when she should be happiest, she gets a distressing call: Little Bill has gone missing. Now Janelle must go to the one place she’s long avoided–the tiny mountain town of Mammoth Falls, South Dakota.

Tracking down her eccentric grandfather is easier said than done, and Janelle has no choice but to stay as long as it takes. Yet little by little, she’s drawn in by the unique town, the helpful locals, and their distinctly straightforward ways. Before long, she realizes that those who also care about Little Bill are struggling with their own vulnerabilities–and secrets as deep as the mistakes they try to set right. As Janelle learns to draw on their support and hard-won experience, she’ll challenge her past, comes to terms with her present–and chart her own surprising course forward.

Vibrant, heartfelt, and uplifting, Between Lost and Found is about gaining the courage to take chances, learning to let go, and rediscovering the family–and the self–you thought you knew… 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Between Lost and Found by Shelly Stratton is a great read for women everywhere. It’s about family, life, and taking chances. I enjoyed following the characters as they went about their lives. Choices were made and some consequences happened. It was an enjoyable journey. This was my first book that I’ve read by Shelly Stratton. In the beginning it dragged some but then sped up a little. A woman’s grandfather goes missing…so, she leaves behind her perfect life to head back home to him. There she finds some peace. Facing her fears, Janelle learns a lot. But it takes her grandfather to help her a bit. The title fits in perfectly with the protagonist. Overall, it was a great read. 

Review: Stargazey Point

Synopsis:

Shelley Noble’s Stargazey Point is a beautiful story of love, heartbreak, friendship, and new beginnings.

Devastated by tragedy during her last project, documentarian Abbie Sinclair seeks refuge with three octogenarian siblings, who live in a looming plantation house at the edge of the world.

South Carolina’s Stargazey Point used to be a popular family beach resort, but the beaches have eroded, most of the businesses have closed, and the crowds have gone. It’s the perfect place to hide from the rest of world.

But hiding is harder than she thought it would be. There’s a wise Gullah woman who seems to see into Abbie’s soul, and an intriguing man on a quest to bring Stargazey Point back to life.

Stargazey Point by Shelley Nobel is the perfect beach read any time of year.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Stargazey Point by Shelley Noble is a fascinating tale. Full of action, intrigue, and heartfelt moments. It instantly grabbed my heart from the beginning. I laughed, cried, and fell in love. The characters were amazing. Felt so real. It was almost like magic. The plot itself was interesting. Believable. Like stepping into a Hallmark movie. Shelley Noble’s words created a deeper meaning. Family, community, and new beginnings. Every page made me feel as if I were really there with the characters. 

Stargazey Point is a small southern spot that readers will love. History, culture, and the people who live there come to life on every page. Until now, I haven’t read any other books by Shelley Noble. I’m very happy to have read this one. A woman who feels depressed from her past is soon sent by a friend to Stargazey Point. There, she stays with her friend’s family. Two older women and an older man. Southern charm is turned up full notch here. Big southern plantation that somehow survived a storm that ruined the once thriving town. Money is almost out for one family. The brother has a kept secret that may come to save them and their home. Abbie comes looking for peace and ends up bringing life into the town and the people she met. It was hard not to like Abbie. She struggled with her own demons. Yet she gave everything she had to help others. Then, there’s Cab. He at first mistrusts her…but after knowing her a bit she soon engages his full attention. Sparks fly. But first fears have to be solved if they they even stand a chance at happiness. Themes like friendship and love are strong. Shelley Noble has done a superb job in creating this masterpiece. Entertaining, emotional, and charming. Overall, I recommend it to others. 

Review: Take Me Home for Christmas

Synopsis:

Christmas is a time for remembering….
Too bad all memories aren’t pleasant. Everyone in Whiskey Creek remembers Sophia DeBussi as the town’s Mean Girl. Especially Ted Dixon, whose love she once scorned. 
But Sophia has paid the price for her youthful transgressions. The man she did marry was rich and powerful but abusive. So when he goes missing, she secretly hopes he’ll never come back—until she learns that he died running from an FBI probe of his investment firm. Not only has he left Sophia penniless, he’s left her to face all the townspeople he cheated…. 
Sophia is reduced to looking for any kind of work to pay the bills and support her daughter. With no other options, she becomes housekeeper for none other than Ted, now a successful suspense writer. He can’t bring himself to turn his back on her, not at Christmas, but he refuses to get emotionally involved. He learned his lesson the last time. 
Or will the season of love and forgiveness give them both another chance at happiness? 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Take Me Home for Christmas by Brenda Novak was another brilliant read. I don’t know how she does it. Every book is good. Engaging, whole hearted, and stunning. This latest novel, was centered on family. There were other themes like dealing with bullying, harassment, alcoholism and other stuff. Plus, old flames rekindling. 

First, I was introduced to a young woman. One that was super gorgeous and still is. She used her popularity around Whiskey Creek to her advantage. However, that left her with enemies, a broken heart, and no friends. Sophia left a good guy for one that turned out to be way worse than she ever feared. Her one night with a rich guy ended up with her being pregnant. So, her only option was to marry him. Leaving behind the one guy who truly cared about her as she did for him. 

Now, after having lost her husband on the day of her anniversary, Sophia returns back home. Whiskey Creek is her home. But then, she finds her husband stole money from all the people. Their home, cars, furniture, and jewels were taken. The people in town hate her. All but for one man. The one she left behind…Ted Dixon. 

Ted Dixon doesn’t want to be around Sophia. He wants to be over her. But he’s not. He’s hurt but seeing her current situation, he hires her to be his housekeeper. From there, he finds out what has happened to her before her marriage and afterwards. Ted can’t stop himself from saving Sophie and her little girl. But things are getting more complicated…

Take Me Home for Christmas left me feeling sad, angry, and happy. The emotional journey was epic. Brenda Novak has once again, swept me off my feet. Her book was intriguing. I was hooked from the beginning. Life is messy. The characters were three dimensional. Believable and realistic. I can see Sophie and Ted’s situations happening worldwide to real people. Hurt, betrayal,  hope, and love. So many emotions. I loved it. I wasn’t sure how the book would end. Overall, I recommend this contemporar romance to all.