Toby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad Dog by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book made me laugh. Toby reminds me of our dog. It made me think that maybe our dog isn’t always a bad dog. This is a very good chapter book for beginning chapter readers. It’s funny and engaging. Definitely recommend and would be interested in more adventures with Toby.
Phoenix’s Ascent by Winter Austin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is an enjoyable and exciting military romantic suspense with plenty of drama and action, that kept me hooked from page one. Nadia Roth, code named ‘Phoenix’, was part of an all female black-ops group named ‘Hera Force’, tasked with bringing down terrorists. Following her teams last disastrous mission, Nadia suffered a traumatic brain injury, causing her memory loss. So when she meets Ex-SAS operative Mitch Edwards, who is on the run having been framed for treason by someone in the British government, in a bar in Cancun, Mexico, she doesn’t recognise the man she had an affair with. Meanwhile a maniac is developing a fantastical drug and wants a test subject who fits all the parameters.
Reinstated Hera Force linguist and assassin, Nadia and Mitch partner up to find out who has framed him. Nadia is drawn to Mitch and a memory stirs in the back of her mind, especially as her Hera teammates seem to remember him. Unknown to the team, they have a traitor in their midst who’s been revealing all their secrets to the enemy. An enemy who wants to procure the special drug and Nadia as the test subject. When the team find themselves trapped behind enemy lines, lives are at risk and Nadia still does not remember Mitch. This was a gripping page turner of a read, with great characters, and an engaging storyline, all brought together by the descriptive narrative, which made me feel immersed in the story. I would recommend reading book one first, so you have more of an understanding of the backstory to the ‘Hera Force’, but I thoroughly enjoyed this action packed and romantic novel.
Blood & Ravens: A dark, paranormal romance by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Greer has been kidnapped and put on a ship from France to America. She is in and out of consciousness during this long trip but once she finally awakens she is told by the other girls that they are headed to New Orleans where they will be married off. The girls will stay at a convent until married off. But strange things are happening and Greer is determined to figure out why and stop it. Theron is part of the strange going ons that are happening to certain girls. Will Greer be able to figure out why all this is happening and find a way to stop it?
Everything to Me by Lauren Fraser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a great romance story that has strong characters. They have an amazing connection between them. The chemistry is there right from the start and only seems to grow.
This book is the second book in the series but can be read as a standalone. It is a fun romance story that has a bit of sexy thrown in. I thought it was easy to read but overall really enjoyable. I think this will be a great series to get stuck into.
Bake Off by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Bake Off is the second book in The Bake Believe Trilogy and it follows the same wit, humour, and challenges the first novel encompassed. With strong characters who hold relatable personality traits, Bake Off provides a wholesome YA experience for readers. The family history, uncovering powers behind baking, and normal teenage drama, ensure readers are held captive to the pages. The exploration of recipes is probably my favourite part of the novel. A great YA read!
Toby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad Dog by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Toby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad Dog by Stephanie Wilson Peterson
4 Stars
This is a great book to read aloud with the kids or for younger readers who are gaining confidence and starting to read longer books. Toby experiences some silly adventures because of the cat next door. The author did a good job showing how there are two sides to a coin. While humans may consider Toby’s actions as being a “bad dog”, Toby had “good” reasons for doing what he did. This is an endearing story that is fun and hilarious with the antics between cats and dogs. The kids will love it!
Review by @Anna Hirsch
View all my reviews
The Curse of a Faeblood by M.K. Lorber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A must-read if you are into a steamy unpredictable romance. Ember hid for so long but want more than a runaway, wanted to be someone. Until life changed her path outside the walls into a town. Gavyn was always going to protect his town no matter what until a stranger appeared seeking refuge. Not knowing that soon they have to join together to save what they love the most.
The author did an amazing job with these two characters. Love both sides of the story.
Taming of the Few by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A multiple POV read leads you through the lives of numerous characters, each with their own prejudice and opinions about what the world is. Each marked with an ability that some view as a gift and others a curse, the reader is led through multiple tiers of struggle, betrayal, romance, sense of duty, and longing for acceptance. The journey for each began in a part of the world where their “kind” is far from accepted. With abilities that must be hidden or face extreme prejudice and belittling circumstances, the reader is taken along the journey of found family and development of powers to quite literally, save the world they know.
The author draws deep both historical and religious contexts to portray a story that truly draws out the horrors of what human beings are capable of. The blanket of fantasy adds a foggy glass through which the reader is able to view the world, but the pinpricks of realism draw all the nearer with each new revelation. A captivating read deems you into a hold that the pages fly by, and the world comes alive around you.
All the characters, despite their numerous backgrounds and stories, all merge together in a singular plot for their survival against genocide. A reader can do little more than root for each new POV that is splayed across the pages, their emotions sometimes in stark contrast to one another. It is oftentimes that I found myself loving one character through a viewpoint, and then hating them upon a switch. It just proves the talent that the author portrays.
Blood & Ravens: A dark, paranormal romance by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Blood and Ravens by A.D. Brazeau is the first book of the “Casket Girl” series as well as my first book by this author. Blood and Ravens is filled with vampires, demons, and Gods. I was pulled into this story wanting to know what was going to happen next. I was surprised at the twist in this story. I liked how the story took place in a late period, but I could still relate. I haven’t ever heard of the Casket Girls but was very interested in what these girls were carrying. I will have to read the next installment to see what happens next with the love between Greer and Theron and if we will see anymore twists to the story.
The Scent of Gardenias by Lorraine Haas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I found this an enthralling read; A new author to me I was not sure how I would settle to it. I must say that I found it a brilliant read and the author paints emotional pictures of the world as it was, with all the ups and downs that life brings.
Starting off in small town America in the early 1940s, the author has us following Margaret Rose; as she grows from a teenager and matures. Following her hopes and dreams. The difficulties and joy that come with large families living in uncertain times, it is not a positive spin on a these times, touching on many hard points, death, marriages of convenience and certainly the lifestyle of the time where life is run from a man’s point of view.
Young love, which quickly comes to an early and unfortunate end, sees young Margie a single mother and war widow, but life must go on and Margaret moves forward, leaving her hard earnt job.
A second unhappy marriage ends when her husband asks for divorce, 2 youngsters and Maggie trying to handle the hardships of low income through war and post war America.
Finally on her feet we find Margaret moving up in the world with her new husband, who is maybe not what he seems. The Italian family show their true colours. Margaret is whisked away to salvation, she returns to her home town.
More trials are thrown her way as she tries to live with her young family on very meagre resources. With children being involved nothing is easy.
Family, strength and lies, hardship, sorrow and joy weave together in this endearing and emotional story.
Toby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad Dog by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a very cute story for early readers. I think it’s also a good book for parents to read with their kids, especially if you have animals. I love how a cat was added in as the protagonist to make it a story of both dogs and cats. Being a cat owner, I could relate to a lot of the mischief that this dog was tricked into completely. I think it’s a good story to tell to teach how not everything an animal, or kid, does is their own fault, but could be related to other causes. This, in my opinion, is a great story to teach cause and effect to our kids. I highly recommend it. I laughed a lot and found it to be very enjoyable.
The Curse of a Faeblood by M.K. Lorber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this magical adventure romance. The character did an amazing job of setting the scenes and the characters. You can really feel the emotions that the characters go through as as the fear and the feeling of constant threat that Ember goes through, to the determination and pride that Gavyn has and his hatred and suspicion when he first meets Ember.
Ember is different. She is a Faeblood which means she has magical powers. However this is one secret that she can never tell. As she grow her mother always told her never reveal your secret and never stay in one place for too long. With her mother passing Ember is now on her own and feeling isolated and lost she tries to protect herself and keep away from harm.
That all changes when she meet Gavyn. Gavyn is an elite fighter who protects his people and especially his sister.
So when his sister offers Ember a place to stay he isnt happy and is very suspicious about who she is and what she wants.
When other people with Faeblood start to emerge from the castle Ember is excited to meet more people like her. Until she realises the danger they are to all the people she had grown to love.
Working together Ember and Gavyn need to protect everyone they care about. Can they work as a team to do this? If Ember is exposed as a faeblood will she be seen in the same light as the faebloods doing them harm? And can a relationship every work between a human and a faeblood.
This story has it all and will keep the reader gripped from beginning to end. It is beautiful to see Ember blossom into a confident woman instead of the shell of a person she is at the beginning.
Toby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad Dog by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Cute sweet story for dog lovers (and more)
I adored this story, it had me in stitches. Toby is a gorgeous character who is battling against his feline neighbour. He is so easy to love and his ‘voice’ is one that kids will easily relate to. The author has written in a way that is accessible for children transitioning into chapter books. There is also an underlying message of honesty and trust. This would make a great addition to a home or classroom library.
Toby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad Dog by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A cute story about a dog that gets a visit from a mischievous cat. Each new visit brings a new adventure. These new adventures always seem to end badly for Toby, but this does not deter him from having a new one each time the cat tempts him.
This is an easy chapter read for kids. It is easy to follow and entertaining. The story moves along quickly, and each new chapter is a new adventure. The dog is a cute character, and it was enjoyable to see his emotions and thoughts. Although this is an entraining story, I feel that the character of the cat was a bit too nasty, especially when you have young minds that soak everything up.
Toby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad Dog by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Toby is a cute book for kids and adults. I love that it was written from the dog’s point of view. I wish it had more art work, but perhaps that is a downfall of an e-book. I read it to my 6 year old who really enjoyed it. It was a bit long to hold his interest, so we spread it over a couple days.
The cat makes me think of the evil cats from Lady and the Tramp. Teasing the dog to get him in trouble. We laughed a couple times, as Toby is a very snarky and sarcastic little dog. My son felt so sad for Toby when he got in trouble, saying Poor puppy!
Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy
Toby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad Dog by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh my goodness how cute is this book! Toby has some mishaps all thanks to a neighborhood cat and his owner keeps calling him a bad dog! Poor Toby! This book is a short chapter book, which is excellent for beginning chapter/struggling readers to start with as the chapters are short, the language is accessible, and the story is engaging! The only thing that may trip up some kids is that he doesn’t call his owners Dad or Mom, rather he calls them HuDad/HuMom ( I’m guessing it’s a play on human but I’m not sure). Other than that will 100% recommend for young readers or readers who enjoy reading children’s literature!
The Wolf’s Shadow by Cecilia Dominic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely love this take on lycans. This book is the first in The Lycanthropy Files series and I can’t wait to dig into the next book! I love the scientific take of this. Jane’s world is turned upside down by a fire at work and losing her job. Then her grandfather leaves her his estate and she goes there to find her footing again only to be entangled in mystery. This intriguing book was full of twists and turns and left me wanting more.
The Wish-Eater by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was so excited to pick up a new book by this author. And when I read the description of this story I knew I was going to love it. From the moment I started reading I was completely hooked. The book was well developed and intriguing. I loved how the author made it feel quite exciting and mysterious.
The characters fit with the book so well. They were interwoven in a clever way and really keep your attention. This author has firmly become one of favourites and I never hesitate to pick up a book she was written. This is yet another example of why.
The Scent of Gardenias by Lorraine Haas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a really good read! This was vert well written, with such a rich storyline and rich storytelling, it was hard to put down. It was so easy for me to imagine myself being right there with Maggie (Margaret) and the rest of characters as this story unfolded. It was such a beautiful story and history, I could hardly put it down. I am honestly in awe of well this novel was written and done. I didn’t want to leave or stop reading. Kudos to this author for this amazing gem of a story. I’m so glad I got the chance to read it!
The Scent of Gardenias by Lorraine Haas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is not in my normal wheel house, so I was a little apprehensive to start it. I was completely blown away with this book. The way it is written gives you all the feelings that you could ever dream of. It shows a very strong determined female lead. She goes through many trials and tribulations throughout this book trying to make sure that she actually does something with her life. This is completely unheard of during the WWII time frame and gives my inner feminist a pep rally so to speak. Knowing that this story is inspired by true events makes it even better. It is like a birds eye view as to how women were treated during the 1920’s. It will make you realized how far women’s rights have come and yet how far they need to go. The constant ups and downs that the main character goes through is gut wrenching and inspiring. I felt raw and vulnerable while reading this and I didn’t want it to end. It was an amazing escape from my normal genre and I am so glad that I took the adventure. I highly recommend this book to anyone who just wants to see a woman thrive through what most would consider huge life decisions and tragedies.
Reviewed by @bbohls
The Last Cabin Girl by Tom Swyers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
My first read that includes Covid -19 as well as my first read by this Author and I love this book!
The Author has given us a very interesting and engaging plot line and has us rooting for the main character. All characters are introduced well and have their own unique twist to the story.
I really enjoyed the journal entries that are mixed between the chapters, it added to the suspense and twists throughout the book.
This is a great read if you are into crime suspense thrillers, I couldn’t put it down once I started! (I ordered a physical copy of the book before I even got halfway through the ebook!)
The Traitor, An Underground Bad Boys Series by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is book two in the trilogy and all I can say is she definitely keeps the embers burning in this one because it is hot!!! The m/m/f action had me tearing through this story fast. You don’t have to read the first in the trilogy to enjoy this book although I would recommend it to get the full experience. The characters are rich and complex, and the story delivers beyond just the erotic scenes. India Kell’s delivers once again.
By @katiecat
The Debt Collector by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the first book in the trilogy and oh boy what a start. It’s erotic and has all the m/m/f action I didn’t realize I was even looking for. Locke and Gage are drool worthy in every way and the honorable/bad boy thing they have going is hot as hell. This will most certainly be a reread for me and a recommendation to others looking for a steamy book with a great plot to boot.
By @katiecat
The Curse of a Faeblood by M.K. Lorber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the first book that I have read from the author, and I was not disappointed. It did take me a little bit to be able to fully understand where the author was going with the story, but once I realized I was hooked. I’ve always been a big fan of fae books, honestly anything magical. But this was something that once I was immersed, you were not able to pull me away. It was like i had to finish this book to see how it ended. The author was able to bring the world to life. I was able to fell and see everything the characters were. Experience everything through their eyes. I’m excited to see what else this author has instore with this series.
The Cruiser by Rowan Rossler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
First I want to start out by saying that the Author had me hooked from the very beginning. Rowan Rossler’s writing was amazing. The detail she put in making sure the reader knew every detail was so breath taking. It was honestly like a movie that played. I want more…. no I need more. Not only are both character development was perfectly written the love story that was the undertone was always simmering at the service. Perfection.
Vandana works for a luxury PR firm a d has a movie star for a husband. Everything was perfect that is until her husband drops a huge bomb and has Vandana questioning everything. In walks Morgan with the perfect opportunity to help Vandana try and find some semblance of life again. Morgan is a talented yacht designer who needs a PR firm to help promote his yachts. And who better then a woman he finds attractive. What could go wrong? With Vandana and Morgan working closely together sparks are bound to fly. If only they both can let go of some baggage.
Taming of the Few by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Personally I have never read something by this author before, but this was an interesting read for my first time. This book was full of so many wonderful things, and was overall a great story. While the story and the plot were both fantastic, I did find myself getting lost a couple of times because of all of the different characters and their abilities. But overall it is a well thought out book, with plenty of action, great characters, and more. So if your looking for a complex but interesting read pick this one up today.
Snap Me Up by Landra Graf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book way more than I thought I would. I loved going with Gina on her journey to figure everything out. It was very interesting and different than anything I’ve read. The chemistry between Gina and Sampson was amazing. Overall a very very good read!
Reigning Hearts: The Complete Series by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The best thing about picking up this series, is as soon as you finish the first, you can continue immersing yourself in a world of romance and quaint towns. The characters are complex yet relatable, and you find yourself identifying personally with traits of each. This is better than Hallmark, with loads of the passion and intimacy! The author perfectly blends conversation with humor and sass. There is just enough heartbreak spattered in to give these characters depth and memorability.
Though I didn’t want the series to end, I can say the final book was my absolute favorite. A Cold Creek Christmas gives me everything I could want. Christmas decorations and music – the description of a winter wonderland – small town feel – and a passionate pairing.
I can’t wait to read more from this author!
The Traveler by Deborah Dugan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It’s all come together now. I am so very glad that I came back and read the first installment in this set. I made the mistake of reading the second installment prior to this one, and it makes a lot more sense now. This author is an immaculate storyteller, and this is one story that you don’t want to miss. It’s completely different than anything else I have ever read, and the characters, the travels, adventures and connections are all sewn up in a few cute packages. I thoroughly enjoy the way that the novel is written in parts, dividing the different stories so that the reader doesn’t get lost along the way.
I felt as though I looked at this life differently after following the friendship of the Traveler and Tristan, and how overcoming your fears, even with a little assistance, can clear your outlook on life and appreciate the little things that are everywhere, every day. I will be going back and reading the second installment of The Traveler, as I’m sure that even more will become clear, and will be an immersive adventure once more. Do set aside time to really dig deep into these stories, as the more you put into them, the more you’ll get out. Highly recommend!
Exit Strategy by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
Nite Fire: Exit Strategy (Book 5) by C.L. Schneider
Nite Fire: Exit Strategy is the fifth and final book in this series. This is a Paranormal/Urban Fantasy that I truly enjoyed reading. I’m a huge fan of this author and her style of writing , attention to detail along with amazing characters make for awesome stories. I’m a little bummed that this is the last book in this series, but I’m excited to see what this author brings us next. I highly recommend reading this series in order if you haven’t already started as each book builds off the last one. This series is definitely going on my list of re-reads. I will say this plan on reading this in one sitting because once you start you won’t want to stop till the end. Dahlia’s back and in a race against time while fighting to hold back the dragon within that’s been dying to come out. So I highly recommend reading this fast paced story to find out what happens next. As always I look forward to reading more from this Author .
