Death of a Coupon Queen by Jenna Harte
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed it. Sophie finds herself wrapped up in the mystery of her coupon group members death. I really enjoyed this story and felt connected and really couldnt put it down. Will be reading more from this author
Fury of Conviction by Coreene Callahan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this paranormal story. This is a shorter story that is full of action and just a great story. This is a well written story that the author used attention to details that gave the story a realistic feel. The characters brought the story to life on each page with the action and skills. They are connectable and truly made the story for me. I found this book to be a faster paced story that packs a punch. It is a story full of kidnapping and characters who are playing a game of life or death. Natalie is a great strong character and she is determined to find a way to escape her captor who makes no mistakes. I am glad I picked up this book and look forward to going back to read book one. I highly recommend this book.
Review by @bjwagner
Death of a Coupon Queen by Jenna Harte
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
‘Death of a Coupon Queen’ by Jenna Harte follows Sophie Parker as she finds herself entangled in the murder of Marla Naylor, the reigning ‘coupon queen’ of Jefferson Grove. Harte strikes a great balance between quirkiness and intrigue- what may seem like a wacky premise is perfectly blended with the peculiar events surrounding Marla’s death to form its own new take of the quintessential ‘who dun’ it.’ It is a mystery that the audience will be eagerly turning the pages of the book to see the next piece of the puzzle Sophie finds in her efforts to find the truth.
The bizarreness of a small-town coupon group suddenly with a corpse at their doorstep unsurprisingly gives rise to its own set of compelling and lovable characters. Harte breathes life into her expertly crafted cast- so much so they could be real people. At the end of the book, I felt like I had been living in the tight-knit community of Jefferson Grove- like I could go to the infamous Booty Burgo and pound a few drinks with Junior Junior Mason, the resident landscaper, or peruse the local fair to have a bite of Aunt Rose’s acclaimed huckleberry pie. Having such a vivid set of potential players to the murderous scheme makes the mystery all the more juicier as you try to figure out who on earth killed Marla and for what possible reason.
The highlight of the book, however, is our resident town sleuth Sophie Parker, who often somehow unwittingly finds herself embroiled in deadly plots such as this one. A quick, sharp and bright young woman, Sophie’s endeavours to uncover the next clue is a delight to read about and a sense of camaraderie arises when you learn new things in tandem with her. Beyond her search for answers however, getting to track Sophie’s development throughout the story is a boon. As trickles of her past are revealed as the story progresses, her actions in the present are coloured by this context and readers are given a greater appreciation when she manages to break free of the shackles binding her. Whether it be in regards to her sweet relationship with AJ ‘Flyboy’ Devlin or her tumultuous rivalry with Vivie Danner, the strides Sophie makes to step out of the shadow of her family’s reputation is worth it alone to pick this story up.
All-in-all if you’re in the mood for a captivating spin on a murder mystery that’s set against a bizarre but welcoming backdrop of a coupon-group of all things, then Harte’s ‘Death of a Coupon Queen’ will satiate this desire and then some.
Manifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Amari is a young Africa- American man dealing with the grief of losing his beloved grandmother two weeks before, he misses the stories of her life that she used to tell and now regrets that he didn’t listen to her more and pay more attention, he can still see her in his minds eye and misses her so much so that when he agrees to help to pack his grandmothers belongings up, he is dreading it, but he goes anyway and as he is folding her clothes, he hears someone shout that they found a box of letters, some of them are really old and some of them are more modern. It turns out that these letters are stories, passed down from generation to generation, stories of times past told by the person who lived them, they are the stories which his grandma told them, so when he asks to keep them, everyone readily agrees and Amari cannot wait to read them and learn more.
The first letter is from a woman called Sallie who was a slave on a plantation in Tennessee in the 1860’s, it tells of her first memories and the experiences she went through as a slave, as well as the transition between that and becoming citizens when slavery is abolished. The next story and from is her daughter Isabelle who talks about life in Chicago in the 1920’s where segregation between the races still exists and the troubles it caused between them, as well as the societal upheaval as people fought for equality. Lisa is the next generation of this family to speak and she continues with the fight against segregation and inequality in New York, specifically focussing on school life from the point of view of a child of 5 years old and the rise of Martin Luther King and how his speeches inspired those who lived at the time. Jessica is next with her experiences at college in Atlanta 1990 and how multicultural and interesting life was talking to people from around the world and learning about their lives at the same time as experiencing the changes in her own and finally it is the turn of Amari and their feelings around the events of modern day America.
This collection of stories tells the story of African-Americans from their point of view, not those of the history books, it is emotional, compelling and interesting throughout and inspires you to think about life and how much it has both changed and remained the same, it is thought provoking and well worth a read.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
Avenging Devil Part 2: Satan’s Devils MC San Diego by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
Avenging Devil Part 2 (Satan’s Devils MC San Diego #4) by Manda Mellett
Avenging Devil Part Two is the fourth book in the Satan’s Devils MC San Diego , this book definitely deserves more than five stars. Holy Cow what an intense ride! If you haven’t already read part one I highly recommend reading it first as this one picks up right where the first one left us. Manda Mellett out did herself yet again as this book left me almost breathless but in a good way. There’s some intense moments I found myself holding my breath while on the edge of my seat. This author is one of my favorites and I am never disappointed with any of her books. I highly recommend reading this book to find out how it all plays out for Saffie and Niran. I can’t wait to see what she brings us next.
Fury of Conviction by Coreene Callahan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I absolutely fell in love with this book. Once I started I couldn’t stop, Hamersveld and Natalie are now on my list of characters I adore. The chemistry between them and the passion they had for one another jumped off the pages. Natalie was tough and she didn’t back down and Hamersveld was the enemy but started to care for her and she didn’t know how to handle it. This is a very steamy and fun read, I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good dragon shifter Romance, very enemies to lovers! Coreene Callahan did a great job bringing these characters to life!
The Forsaken: Wraith by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a super enjoyable read, there is nothing better than a fierce no nonsense female lead. Especially when you throw in a bunch of misfits that have to figure out how to work together! The chemistry was great, I loved Alenas character so much, after everything she went through as a child and then being trained under the Guild of thieves and assassins?! This book had great world building, relatable characters and an adventure that doesn’t stop. I can’t wait to see where the rest of the books go! This was the first book I have read by Martin Ferguson and I’m ready for more.
Snowflakes and Holly: A Small Town Christmas Romance by Jae Dawson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Jae Dawson…… bravo!!
This was such a good story, definitely my new favorite out of the series.
Blake and Holly shows us that even when life gives you lemons you can make lemonade.
This book is about two people who come from two different very tragic pasts and how by finding each other they heal.
I absolutely loved that the book wasn’t just sad and filled with drama, the humor in the book definitely gave it an extra layer.
Stunning book
Manifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really beautifully written book about one person’s family history. I love how the history was written in letters given down the generations.
It follows a family’s history from being slaves to white people to the first black president. The story is interesting and really opens your eyes to what people had to go through in the past when things were all against them just because of the colour of their skin.
It was a captivating read that I really enjoyed.
~ ~ ~ ~ PREORDER ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
N.D. Jackson spends her days wandering the streets of whatever European city she and her husband are visiting (currently Romania!), creating new characters and new lives for her novels, and she spends her nights cooking yummy vegan food and whipping up cocktails for loved ones. Though a native of Chicago she now lives in Romania and longs for the days she could fill her passport with stamps from Germany, Amsterdam, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Austria and all the other places she’s been and longs to visit.
Since she picked up her first book at the age of 7, not a day goes by she doesn’t read a page or chapter. Or finish a whole book. Her first novel, Conflict of Interest was published in 2014 at the ripe old age of she’s not telling and she had been entertaining readers with tales of love and romance ever since.
When she isn’t reading or writing books & blogs, or ghostwriting, N.D. can be found indulging in her love of all things true crime, perfecting new vegan cuisine and seeing with the world with her bearded husband!
She lives for Foo Fighters, 90’s grunge, curry, Nina Simone & Adele, politics traveling, all things French, any Asian noodle dish you sit in front of her and…cocktails.
~ ~ ~ ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
AJ Renee grew up in a military family and moved around until her family settled in Florida. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a M.S. in Criminal Justice and a B.S. in Psychology. She currently resides in Illinois and spends her time with her Air Force husband, three young daughters, and cat. She loves to travel and see family and friends whenever she gets a chance. She has a love of music, movies, and anything that can make her laugh. AJ believes in reading books with humor and mystery that end in a happily ever after to help ease our minds and hearts of life’s daily struggles.
~ ~ ~ ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Coreene Callahan is the bestselling author of the Dragonfury Novels and Circle of Seven Series, in which she combines her love of adventure and the supernatural with her passion for history. After graduating with honors in psychology and taking a detour to work in interior design, Coreene finally returned to her first love: writing. Her debut novel, Fury of Fire was a finalist in the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest in two categories: Best First Book and Best Paranormal. She lives in Canada with her family, a spirited Anatolian Shepherd, and her wild imaginary world. Visit her at www.CoreeneCallahan.com
Finding It All by Stacey Komosinski
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3 Stars
Finding It All is the first book in the Finding Happiness In Harmony series and debut novel for Stacey Komosinski. It is a contemporary romancey with a ‘slow burn’, in a small town setting, with friendship/s, finding love unexpectedly, and a ‘sweet’ feel.
I am such a book junkie that I get a bit of a thrill when I discover a new author (i.e.- new reading material), so I happily one-clicked a copy to explore. I love a great romance, and the synopsis for this had all the ingredients that I love- so I couldn’t wait to meet Chloe and Chris and follow their story.
The story was a little slow to get going and did lag at points through the book. I ‘liked’ it- but it didn’t ‘hook’ me the way I had really hoped for. As this is the first book in the series, and the author’s debut novel, I would be interested in reading the rest of the series to see where we go from here, and to see how Ms. Komosinski’s style develops along the way.
Thank you, Stacey Komosinski.
Reviewed by @angelahayes
The Liminal Space by T.S. Simons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Great continuation of the series. Again a lot going on and more dimension to the main character from his growth since the last book.
Caim by T.S. Simons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have enjoyed the series so far and I thought Cam would get his peaceful ending. I do not think this is the end of the series but we will see.
The Forsaken: Wraith by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Forsaken: Wraith was my first book by Martin Ferguson and I was very impressed!
The story really came alive for me and I found myself excited to see what would happen next.
Alena (Slayer), having lost her family and home at a young age, is raised and trained by the Guild.
Training to be either Savior, Slayer, Assassin or Thief, Alena passed her trial earning herself a position in the Guild as Slayer.
Given her first assignment, she rounds up a team of unlikely misfits. They are faced with danger and evils. I don’t know how you would be able to resist getting sucked into the story!
This book was a quick read and I am so happy that I was able to experience it! It was a page turner for me and now I impatiently wait for book 2!
Antipodes by T.S. Simons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book reminded me so much of a Nora Roberts book that was published a few years ago but without the magic. It is a very busy book and many layers, but this gives the book so much dimension. I love the main character Cam, can not wait to read the rest of the series.
Death of a Coupon Queen by Jenna Harte
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Great cozy mystery! We meet Sophie, whom lives with her great Aunt Rose, working part time at a library and as a bartender, is a suspect when she goes over to her “coupon” mentor Marla’s house, whom winds up dead. With twists along the way, Sophie tries to find out whom would commit this crime. There are so many questions on “Who Done It”. Can I just say that Aunt Rose is the best! This book is entertaining, fun, light with a twist of mystery all wrapped into a great story! Highly recommended!
.
Azrael by Matthew Huntley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Amazing Debut Book
The crime/thriller genre is my favorite and now I have a new author on my list. Matthew Huntley has the ability to take me into the mind of a serial killer in this book. This book has all the making of an intense, suspenseful, and crime thriller. The pace of the story was fast but I recommend paying attention to the details. I have to admit that I did reread some sections because I missed the clue but it was well worth it. The characters are complex, fully developed, and intense. The story is about a serial killer that was put into jail, but after some time the killings start up again. Andrew was the officer who put him in jail. He is thinking that he may have been wrong about his suspect. I highly recommend this book. It will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.
Manifested Dreams by Yvonne Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Manifested Dreams was a really good read! However, this book was a little difficult to read as a white woman. There were snippets of history sprinkled throughout this short novel that I never learned about at school. Reading this book really made me realize all of the privilege I actually have. I highly encourage everyone (especially non people of color) to read this, to maybe gain some insight into the struggles people of color have faced and continue to face everyday. My only complaint was the flow. I feel like the letters could have flowed and segued better throughout. But this was a very interesting and informing read. I’m glad I picked this one up and learned from it.
Death of a Coupon Queen by Jenna Harte
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Death of a Coupon Queen (Sophie Parker Mystery Series) by Jenna Harte. This is a super fun who done it and cozy mystery. This is the story of Sophie who is trying to live her best life, living with her Aunt Rose and working 2 jobs to make ends meet. She is also learning about coupon’s from a group of women trying to save money. When her coupon mentor is found murdered Sophie is questioned but gives her statement and leaves it at that. Since Sophie was the last person to see Marla her mentor alive a lot of the focus is on her. A.J. Sophie’s boyfriend is not happy with the prospect of Sophie being involved in another murder. Sophie decides she better do her own investigation to clear her name. This is a fun who done it that has a few laughs along the way.
Snowflakes and Holly: A Small Town Christmas Romance by Jae Dawson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Snowflakes and Holly (Hartwood Holiday Romance) by Jae Dawson.This is such a good holiday read. Its the story of Holly who is still reeling from the death of her father. A girl that used to be up for anything and a risk taker has no become so cautious its like she lives in a bubble. Blake is a former gold medal snow boarder who has had is life turned upside down due to a cancer diagnosis. Losing his leg and his career he is trying to figure out what he’s going to do the rest of his life. When Holly and Blake are thrown together when his therapist goes on maternity leave and Holly is her replacement sparks fly. Will Blake be able to push Holly out of her comfort zone enough to see if they can make a relationship work? Read Snowflakes and Holly to find out.
Houses of Deception by Cynthia Hamilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Houses of Deception is the sixth installment to The Madeline Dawkins series and boy oh boy was it just as good as the others. Ms. Hamilton provides us with so much in this intricate story including plenty of suspense, mystery, danger and more. While all of Ms. Hamiltons books can be read as stand alones I don’t personally recommend it because you’ll miss out on a lot of action. Ms. Hamilton gives us clever characters, mysteries that leave us furiously flipping the pages, and so much suspense that we’re on the edge of our seats. So if you want a good sneaky and clever mystery then I highly recommend Houses of Deception.
Death of a Coupon Queen by Jenna Harte
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Death of a Coupon Queen by Jenna Harte was a great Cozy Mystery. Sophie Parker is back home in the town she grew up with living with her Aunt Rose. She is working two jobs, one at the library and one at a local bar. Sophie is a member of the coupon club with several other women. Sophie finds the couple Queen Marla’s dead body. She cannot help but ask questions and get herself into trouble trying to solve the murder.
This was my first dragon shifter tale. Dahlia Nite is pretty kickass. I love how she “lies” to Her sidekick, Evans, to get out of him following her. She is supposed to protect humanity from the monsters but those lines are blurring. She wonders if its a virus or if somethings is triggering people. The narrator has a really fantastic voice for this story. She sets the tone with just the right attitude and cockiness that I think fits Dahlia. The adventures in the story are non-stop. Highly recommend in audio form as the narration makes the book even better.
Nite Fire: Chain Reaction by C.L. Schneider is the second book in the series and a brilliant follow up to book 1. It took no time at all to fall completely back in with these characters. The relationships that had been built in book one have easily continued on into this book.
I was so glad to find it is the same person narration the story too. The enthusiasm and excitement that she evokes with her narration is just amazing. I definitely think I enjoyed it even more thanks to that. I love the mix of supernatural and natural in this series, it has been done in such a believable way. This is a brilliant series and I cannot wait for the next book.
Mann in the Crossfire: A Jarvis Mann Hardboiled Detective Mystery Novel by R. Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mann in the Crossfire: A Jarvis Mann Hardboiled Detective Mystery Novel by R. Weir is the eighth book in the Jarvis Mann Mystery series. It is probably best to read this series in order so that you get full enjoyment however the book can be read as a stand-alone.
I loved that this book really was a fast past, action packed story that felt like w true crime mystery. The author knew just how to keep you on the edge of your seat the whole way through and constantly guessing as to what might happen.
It takes a lot for a series to reach this number of books and based on what I just read I can see this series being fantastic for many more books to come. I hope that we get to see more from this detective as the whole series is just fantastic.
The Forsaken: Wraith by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was brilliant, I really enjoyed the plot and it had me hooked straight away, the details on the characters were brilliant and all well written it has been awhile since I have been so invested in a book
An Enduring Love by Wareeze Woodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I found this book to be another beautiful work of this amazing author I have come to adore so very much. The story alone was captivating and kept me interested in the sense I wanted to know what would happen next for the characters. I will admit freely, there was some down falls to the one character Rhys for me, but that alone is a personal opinion and does not reflect on my love and enjoyment for this book!
The story follows the love story of Rhys and Rebecca. A married couple. But to me they seemed at times on different levels of one another. Rebecca seemed to me anyway very supportive of her love and anything he was to under go. Rhys on the other hand (again personal opinion) was someone who needed more compassion for his wife and let alone make her feel more than just an object in the room. He at the beginning of the book before events happened and a departure for family events happened…he could have easily been more of a caring husband, and perhaps a more genuine human being,
Life happens and Rhys is called away on duty to see his father. Of course, as I knew right away, Rebecca, would easily agree to his dutiful need to go. From then on though, a lot of things happen and not in a good way. They are separated. In Rebecca’s mind I truly believe she never expected things to go the way they did! But, this made her a more determined character and someone quite strong willed. Truly a character you want to root for and see them succeed. Chaos and and war truly go hand in hand. And the years count on and Rhys has come to a conclusion that Rebecca is no longer with him. While Rebecca is unknown to these assumptions
Over the time Rebecca is working her hardest to get to her husband. She loved him truly and she truly was defining all odds, and she had the heart full of wants and love for Rhys. No matter my personal opinion, he held her heart dear. As I read, I truly felt all the pain and the emotions she felt. Everything she was going through, would it all be for naught? Their future was truly unknown? But, she truly believed he would be waiting there for her with open arms.
At long last, Rebecca has found her love Rhys….but sadly the timing she does I felt was the most heartbreaking moment of her entire life. He was announcing his marriage to be with another woman he had fallen in love with over the course of believing she had been dead. I felt her pain and shock. I felt so much for Rebecca. She had gone thorough so much an to come back to this? I can not even imagine what was going through her heart, it was as if she was holding a vase, in slow motion it began to fall at the news and truly felt like all the love and hope she held dear was shattering between her finger tips.
But as I read on…its a true fact you endure for what and who you love. You put your best forward to overcome any obstacles because in the end, love is and always be worth it. In truth even though it was not a instant moment of realization, Rhys comes to see this. He fell in love with another woman yes and was preparing a marriage to her. But in all that one person, you love with all your heart, that makes you feel whole, and gives you the reason to get up every day, to strive to be the best you can be, for him…it most certainly was Rebecca.
Love truly can define all odds you just have to test the grounds of what you are willing to do to achieve it. And never give up, not even for a second.
Wareeze Woodson is an amazing dedicated author to work. Every book she writes, I entail a adventure of emotion and heart felt feelings. And one thing is for certain I always have hope for the main characters I am reading about. Her writing is classic, the detail and scenery is perfect and spot on and she knows how to swoop her reader in and hold onto them as they turn the pages yearning for more and what is to come.
Well done and amazing book. Highly recommend!
