Between Darkness & Light by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is the third in the series. While I like the series, something about Julie is making each installment a little harder for me. The author is a great storyteller and I like her take on the vampire genre. I do look forward to seeing what is next. I am definitely invested in the plot and seeing where it is leading to!
Lost Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Julia is in 16th century London. She is the daughter of a wealthy family. She has grown up with servants and has wanted for nothing. When she starts to fall in love with Adam, a servant’s son her father and older brother shatter her heart. They arrange a marriage and force her into it. Her husband is cruel. He’s not kind in any way. He’s a monster with no mercy. Julia tries to keep the people she cares about safe from his wrath, but it’s becomes harder and harder throughout their 3 years of marriage. Her husband finally does the unthinkable. He lands a blow to Julia that devastates her and she can’t see a way out. When a stranger shows up and offers her a way out she takes it. With nothing else to live for she agrees to a deal that will change her life and destiny forever. Said agreement will grant her freedom, but there is ALWAYS a catch! Accepting this deal will put her into a vampire resistance against a strong vampire king who refuses to step down and he’ll destroy anyone who is against him. Will Julia accept? Will she choose freedom and another enemy just to be rid of her husband? What will her husband think and do? Will Julia end up dead no matter the path she chooses? And will her love ever forgive her for all she has kept from him? What an interesting book! It took me a little to get into because the author was building the story and slowly sucking me in, but man oh man was it good! I can’t wait to read the others in the set! If you haven’t given this one a chance do it!! Read half of it at least! If you aren’t sucked in by then I would be really really really really surprised! Give it a chance! You won’t regret it!
Reviewed by @jaimie0459
Between Darkness & Light by Theresa Van Spankeren
Like the rest of this series, this book is great. The story plot is easy enough to follow. The characters are well built. Sad to see it finished.
Between Darkness & Light by Theresa Van Spankeren
Like the rest of this series, this book is great. The story plot is easy enough to follow. The characters are well built. Sad to see it finished.
The Detail by Dana Wayne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
He knows …. She knows … I know but they don’t know , does that makes sense 😂
I was enjoying the banter between Jessica and Seth , their awkward flirts and their dynamics as a working couple and then BOOM action hits , it was like a punch to my gut and I felt winded !!!
Jack is a really bad bad man with a very dark heart and he has such a grudge against Jessica you can actually feel the hatred he has for her and my skin crawls whenever he’s near and he deserves the death penalty but he’s a slippery one …
This was an absolute adrenaline rush for me it had me on the edge of my seat , it had romance , it had steam and it had me scared !
An absolute shout from the mountain tops read
Blood & Vengeance by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was so excited to get to read book 2 of The Casket Girls series and it did not disappoint. The story picks up right after the end of book 1, then expands on a few new characters and personalities.
Book 2 finds Desiree with a plan to help all of those residing in New Orleans and that included clearing out all of the vampires. All except for Jaxon and Theron, of course.
With Greer away, Theron has to learn to cope without her. He joins Jaxon and Desiree with the new adventure.
While the imagery and plot are dark, the romance and mystery livens up (and lights up) this book which is a great addition to the series.
The way the author goes into such detail when describing New Orleans helps transport you into another time.
If you are a fan of paranormal mysteries with a romantic twist, this is the book for you. I loved it!!
The Blood Prince by Ayla Marie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this fantasy adventure. The author does an amazing job creating the world and the characters. It is a story that will grip you and doesn’t let go. I love the relationship between the family and the loyalty that they have for each other no matter what situation they find themselves in.
Leo is the main character well follow and this is his story. After losing their parents Leo has vowed to protect his brothers and sister no matter the cost. He works as a mercenary to earn money to keep his family fed. He had a rare gift which his boss exploits to the max. When Leo’s boss realises he isnt the only one in his family with this gift, Leo and his family need to make a decision. Stay and risk certain death or leave and have a chance of a better life.
What follows is a journey as they travel away from everything they know to hopefully be free. But this journey isn’t easy and when they are still hunted down by the people they left behind it leaves you wondering whether they will ever find peace at all or is the whole family destined to be hunted and targeted until one or all of them is dead.
Love is Worth Fighting for by Effie Kammenou
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Love is Worth Fighting For By Effie Kammenou
5 out of 5 stars
18 year old Krystina was told a true love story by her grandma on a weekly basis. But in that love story lies a mystery, a mystery of what happened to her grandfather and where he went. Krystina; a blogger, traveler, and a force to be reckoned with. Loukas; a young boy with a past of mistakes, hurt and pain. What used to be best friends, now frenemies, both being somewhat friendly just for their families’ sake. Read the third installment of The Meraki Series to see the mystery unfold of Krystinas grandmother, and see if Krystina and Loukas can overcome the pain and mistakes of the past. But hold on! Can they navigate through this all with the rising pandemic of COVID-19 and the world shuts down?
To say I loved this back, is an understatement. Mystery, trauma, romance, and drama, all entangled into one eloquently written book. Love is Worth Fighting For, is written with multiple views, giving you more information about each character. The romance is slow, but is absolutely beautifully written and takes you in a whirlwind. Another part I love is the background building. You get the romance story of Krystina, but you also go through the pain and heartache of Krystina’s grandparents.
Not every part of this book has a happy ending though. There were a couple of sad parts that just ripped your heart into shred, leaving you as the reader crying and wanting to throw the book.
I also loved the different viewpoints from each character, and getting little insights into each character’s love life. From weddings, to heartbreak, stories of the past, dreams of the future.
Only thing I disliked is how there were different viewpoints from each character, but the whole story was told in third person versus the character directing it as if it was a first person point of view.
Overall, an amazing read and I cannot wait to read more books in this series!
Tale of a Body Thief by Kristy Centeno
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Rovena has her hands full. She must keep the dead man alive. Yep, he arose again but this time with a new soul. And it isn’t as easy as she may think. Rovena is a strong and touch chick that will do what she needs to to survive. She is a hunter. I found this book entertaining. It is wildly unpredictable, and I love this. This is a large factor on what pulled me in. From page 1, I was sucked in by the action (demon fight, anyone?). The characters are well developed. The story has a little of everything in it: humor, mystery, fantasy, paranormal, romance. This is one of the best paranormal books I’ve read this year. I literally couldn’t put it down until I had finished it.
Someone Exactly Like Me by Debbie Cromack
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Pain can be a fickle thing. Pain from a heartbreak can be even worse. Destiny is an author in a writing slump and Nicco is a up and coming celebrity trying to break into the American market. When the two make a deal on her thirtieth birthday all they expect is to help each other’s careers. Partners turn into friendship turn into more? When both have been burned from their past, is there any hope for their future? Amazing writing can’t wait for the next book.
The Blood Prince by Ayla Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was a feast for the eyes and soul literally. I loved how good and intelligent the writing was. I was very much hooked, and intrigued as I read. I could not put this gem down. Very much enjoyed it.
What I enjoyed very much was the character development. Leo came a long way from when I was first introduced to him. He stood for many things, family, independence, and honor. He was strong willed. But even the strongest of us have our weak points. I loved the relationship he had with his bother. Quite commendable. Outside the family love, enjoyed the epic danger they faced together. The descriptive uses of the words by the author really made a visual effect strongly on myself as the reader. The book had its intense moments and moments where it held you in deep suspense. I was in anticipation through out my reading, Loved it truly from start to finish. I look forward to reading more by this author!
Amazing book which held a very intelligent story and well dine writing. For sure not one to be passed up for any cause. I highly recommend this must read book. Do not pass it up! Well wroth a read! Loved it!
The Colors of Friendship by K.R. Raye
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is book one of the series. I didn’t know what to expect but boy this book took me for a ride.
This book is about three friends who couldn’t be more different if they tried. Melody is the romantic dreamer. She is absolutely convinced she will find the love of her life and live happily ever after. She wants what her parents have and while there is nothing wrong with that, she places a lot of importance in finding her soulmate in college. Imani is tough and no nonsense. While she doesn’t think love doesn’t exist she doesn’t value it the way Melody does. Lance feels love doesn’t exist but outside of football all he needs to worry about is Melody and Imani. Melody meets Kevin and she’s sure he’s everything she’s looked for. Even when things begin to change she gives him the benefit of the doubt. Imani never had a good feeling about Kevin but Imani and Lance will be there for Melody no matter what.
This book is well written. It touches on some sensitive subject matter as it relates to abusive relationships but it was done well. There was a lot of emotion in this story as Imani and Lance navigated how to help Melody. I enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more.
Love is Worth Fighting for by Effie Kammenou
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Let me just start off by saying this series was absolutely wonderful. I loved everything about them.
Love is Worth Fighting for is the 3rd book in the Meraki Series. This story follows couple Krystina and Loukas. I’ve been dying to know their story since book one. I could tell there had to be something there with all the back and forth between them in the 1st 2 books and boy was I right. Their story is officially my favorite so far in this series. I loved being able to see how their relationship started, how things went sideway and how they came full circle back to each other.
I also really enjoyed getting closure to yiayia and Panos’ love story.
Just like books 1 & 2 I enjoyed that the author continued to add the little extras at the end of some of the chapters. I enjoyed being able to see into the minds of the characters that went back in time.
I also thought it was really neat that the author chose to place this story in our time and have the characters go through what we were going through with Covid and how it was affecting our lives.
The author did a phenomenal job telling the stories of each of these characters relationships and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and see who’s love story will be told in that one.
Let It Be Love by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a super sweet book. A small-town mayor and a Pop Princess meet, develop a relationship, and prove to the world that normal and extraordinary can work.
Eric is a small-town mayor, and he is a private person, but can he overcome his need for privacy and allow himself to be seen in public with one of the most recognizable pop stars ever?
Kiki is trying to break out of the Pop world and write more mature music. She wants to embrace the fact that she is no longer the child star that she once was and PROVE to the world that she is more than the flashy outfits.
The couple is thrown a few road blocks so lets see if they can dodge the obstacles.
This is the fifth book in the series but I haven’t read the first four and had no problems understanding the plot and figuring out the secondary characters and their part in the story.
Let It Be Love by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lies, lyrics and love
Book 5 of the Mustang Prairie Romance and Eric and Kiki get their moment. There are obstacles to their HEA and as they navigate these more discoveries are made. It was great to have glimpses of characters from previous books and to see how their relationships are developing. A fast paced story which was entertaining, romantic and an excellent read.
Ballet School Rumours: An Amberwood Hall Ballet School Adventure by Eleanor Dixon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I wish I had began with book 1, but that will be my next read. I have been reading more YA stories lately and enjoying them, and this one moved quickly to the top of my list. This story had a number of great elements within it, and a wonderful cast of characters to play it out. The emphasis of friend ship, loyalty, honesty, and drama all entwined in this paranormal mystery is a great read for all ages. You will fall in love with Lauren, Grace, and Rodney instantly and will feel like your right beside them trying to solve this mystery.
༻•
•༺ •COMING SOON• ༻••༺ •
Ten years ago, my teenage dreams ended with a kiss and a bully’s fist.
The target of a brutal attack, Wesley became lost to me, his mind wiped of the six months we spent together, writing songs and creating a bond that ran soul-deep.
Blamed for the tragedy and forced to remain at a distance, I watched Wesley’s rise to fame as he sang the songs we wrote, the only things he remembered from that lost period of his life.
When a decade-old songbook I published comes to light, accusations fly that I’m a plagiarist, stealing Wesley’s lyrics.
What a joke.
But after facing down his lawyer, I wipe clean a personal debt and make a quick exit.
Only I don’t get far. Because Wesley is outside, waiting.
His mind may have forgotten me, but as soon as our eyes meet, something in him recognizes something in me.
The chemistry between us is explosive, and I can’t resist the moth-to-flame tug into his world — even if it’s only for one night.
This could be our second chance… Unless his instant attraction means his memories are returning.
And if they do…
He’ll wish he’d remembered to forget me.
•*•❥☆ COMING SOON ☆❥•*••*•❥☆They call me the quiet one—but I’m just as brutal, dark, and broken.
No woman has ever breached the walls of my heart, and I’m content with who I am. Until Mia Tucci seeks me out.
The New York Mafia princess is an enemy, a fantasy with midnight hair, violet eyes, and a body that promises hours of sin—and she needs my help. But helping her will cost me.
When she barters information that could take down her family’s operation, I’m too intrigued to turn her away. And as we get to know one another, my defenses fracture, tempting me to give her my trust.
But no one in the Mafia is innocent.
My only hope is that intertwining our futures to protect her from her family will not be at the price of mine.
Triggers: violence
Her special abilities can save lives, but so can they kill.
Rovena Silvex has hunted and eliminated dozens of demons throughout the ten years since her initiation as a hunter. Possessing supernatural skills only makes her job a lot easier.
When she’s asked to visit the county morgue to look over a deceased victim and find out what demon killed him, the body rising from the dead is the last thing she expects.
Now Rovena is stuck with a walking corpse and no answers as to how he managed to return to the world of the living. However, the victim has changed and the more time she spends with him, the more she realizes that what crossed over might not have been the soul of the dead man but something much worse.
Complications arise when her new assignment is targeted by demons hell-bent on making sure he stays dead for good.
Killing demons has always been a piece of cake. Keeping one alive however, is a whole new ballgame for her. If she fails, she risks setting in motion a war between heaven and hell. But if she succeeds, she could trap a powerful Lord in a world he doesn’t belong in, forever.
Kristy Centeno loves to spin tales of creatures that go bump in the night, with a sprinkle of romance to top them off. Her passion for writing stems from a lifelong enjoyment of reading and the pleasure derived from the magical worlds created by authors like her. She prefers her female leads strong, independent, and stubborn who will stop at nothing to save their loved ones and protect those they care for.
Kristy currently resides in Pennsylvania with her five kids, a quartet of noisy parakeets, and a spoiled puppy. When she’s not working or writing, she juggles her free time between raising a handful of minions and pursuing other career goals.
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༻BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE༻༻
A mercenary with death following his every step…
Leo has been evading Lady Death’s grip his entire life. First, fighting in the merciless Tominese arenas, and then becoming the most feared mercenary in the country. The unnatural powers that have made him into a ruthless killer are the same that prohibit his very existence under the royal laws of Tominay. Though they will always be hunted, he protects his brothers and sister with his every breath because allowing death to take them away has never been an option.
Now they must run, or face their worst nightmares…
When Leo’s employer finds out his younger brother holds the same power that made him into an invaluable weapon, they must make a long-awaited decision: to stay and risk slaughter, or to flee their home in search of a new life.
Will they survive the journey, or fall fighting for their freedom?
It’s a battle for survival as the siblings chase the land of their people in the hopes of a better future. Though they try to outrun it, the demons of the past never cease to haunt them, and the trials of the future hold more terror than can be imagined. But will the journey truly lead to the salvation they crave, or walk them straight to the bloody end they fear?
Ayla Marie is a Canadian high school student whose love for fantasy started when she was twelve and hasn’t dulled since. She will read any book you put in front of her—textbooks do not count—especially when they have action packed storylines and a romantic subplot that makes you want to read as fast as you can, while wishing it would never end. Though writing, reading, and studying take up most of her time—or all her time according to her younger brother—she always manages to find space in her schedule to play some soccer and hang out with friends and family. Her goofy dog and two cats are her biggest fans, and though she could have done without the constantly interrupting barks and meows, she loves their annoying presence very much.
The Blood Prince is her debut novel, but she plans to write many more, deepening her love for writing and literature with every page.
Insatiable Darkness by L.M. Preston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sports, Mystery & Body Parts… OH MY! This is a short story that is fast paced and I think the author did a good job writing it. The main characters are good ones and I loved following their story and seeing where this huge mystery was going. I am looking forward to more by this author in the future!
Happy Reading.
Undeniable by Victoria Saccenti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 Stars
Undeniable is the second book in the Central Florida Stories series by Victoria Saccenti. This is a contemporary romance with second chances, danger, drama, angst, and emotion. There is an erotic BDSM component too, that gives this story an added element of interest.
Victoria Saccenti crafted her characters really well- creating fully realised individuals with their own quirks and flaws. Both our MC’s have their own challenges, bringing angst, tension, and plenty of emotion to the whole story. We have our female lead, Arely, on the run from the mob, trying to stay off their radar by taking a job in a BDSM club. While our male lead, Kurt, has just been going through the motions, not truly living, dealing with PTSD since leaving the military. They have a history between them that adds another layer to their story. Add in simmering chemistry, danger, and some intrigue and we have quite an interesting story.
Happy Reading!
Thank you, Victoria Saccenti!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
A Quirk of Destiny: Ignoramus et Ignorabimus by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is an interesting take on the dystopian genre and had me turning the page to see how the story unfolds. The story is told from a third person point of view, based in the UK, and is written in British English. There’s some slang as an American that I didn’t understand, but figured it out as I read on.
I haven’t read a novel with this type of outbreak leading up to a dystopian future and it’s a distinguishing feature- something I wouldn’t have thought of! If you like dystopian stories, this would be a fantastic addition to the TBR pile!
Reviewed by @bilberrysweet
Brandy Vaughn, July 2022
Undeniable by Victoria Saccenti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Undeniable (Central Florida Stories Book 2) by Victoria Saccenti
Story telling at its finest. Book 2 in this series does not disappoint! Ms Saccenti leaves her audience on the edge of their seats, anxious to find out what happens next!!
Arley is running from the cartel and finds herself hiding out in a BDSM club, in which her old friend Kurt is part owner. Arley and Kurt knew each other growing up in the neighborhood and while there was some mutual attraction back then, nothing ever manifested from it. Fast forward to present day and the minute that they cross paths again, sparks begin to fly! Arley is in the run from some bad people. Kurt, an ex-marine and natural born protector, does whatever he can to keep Arley safe, while the flames of desire between the two of them sizzle off the pages! Will Kurt be able to keep Arley out of harms way in order to form a real relationship with her?
Insatiable Darkness by L.M. Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Insatiable Darkness was a great first book in the Vigilant series. It left me wanting more and more and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. There is a cliffhanger so beware, however it made me NEED to continue with the series. The author has a great writing style and she led us into the characters in a way that made us learn who they were and their prevalence to the story. I really enjoyed and will be grabbing what else is out in the series asap! A great thrilling ride to settle in and solve the mystery!
Deception (Central Florida Stories Book 1) by Victoria Saccenti
Great story! Full of action & adventure, with just the right amount of twists. Leaves the reader wanting more. Couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to determine what happens at the end! First time reading Victoria Saccenti, but it definitely won’t be my last!
While away at war, the bonds formed between the soldiers is like no other. Joe, an ex-marine is full of anger & rage and ready to extract revenge on the girl who broke his war time buddy’s heart, causing him to commit suicide . While Joe’s original intention with Hunter is to avenge his buddy’s death, he finds himself completely captivated by her as well. As the story unfolds, Joe is torn between continuing to seek revenge for his friend’s death and the feelings he is developing for Hunter. Will he allow himself to develop a sincere relationship with Hunter, or will the anger consuming him over the death of his friend be too much to let go, causing him to lose the possibility of a true relationship with Hunter?
I’m Not Your Difference by Theresa Sederholt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’m Not Your Difference is the fourth book in the Fitz Series of mystery stories. This book highlights the character Andy, introduced in the earlier books as Fitz’s brother-in-law and close friend. The crime part of the story centres around a homophobic serial killer, with Fitz fighting to prove that what appear to be a series of guilt-ridden suicides are not what they seem. Meanwhile, Andy is trying to get back on the dating scene as a single father with early onset Parkinson’s.
This is a sensitive story, with many scenes focusing on domestic and family life. We see in flashbacks Andy’s family coming together to support him when he’s diagnosed sun Parkinson’s, and later their concern for him as he agrees to reconnect with his ex. We also see Andy’s love for his adoptive daughter, Stella, as well as his niece and nephew.
This book works alright as a standalone, if there are themes in it that particularly interest you. But reading it as part of the series will give you more background for the other characters.
I’m Not Your Difference gets five stars from me – an enjoyable and captivating read!
Love is Worth Fighting for by Effie Kammenou
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Krystina and Loukas have known each other for their whole lives. At one point they were best friends and inseparable, that is until the other boys continues Loukas to do some things that in Krystina’s mind we’re unforgivable.
Krystina wants to be famous. What girl these days doesn’t want to travel and dreams of being a famous blogger on Instagram? But, as usual, Loukas is always there. All she wants is for him to leave her alone so she can breathe and do her own thing.
When situations arise and Krystina is stuck trying to manage it all, Loukas is there to help her through it all. Add on to that the search her family has been doing for her missing grandfather, and things start to get a little intense. Krystina and her sisters are determined to find and bring home this man even in the midst of hard times. This determination will test everything Krystina has and may help her learn that no matter what, love is worth the fight.
This was an entertaining read. I didn’t read much about the description prior to starting it, so I didn’t realize it took place during the pandemic and closures. I feel like the pandemic side of it was well done and realistically portrayed in most ways, although the timeline bouncing got me a little confused at times.
At times, the timeline felt jumbled to me when discussing present day events vs events happening that felt like they would have been in present day but were labeled differently (ex: one chapter would be present day in June, then suddenly it’s thanksgiving 2020, but the story continues into December). I enjoyed falling back in time with Kalliope and Panos so the dates on the timeline are definitely important to follow along with.
While it can be read as a standalone in the series, I feel that if I had read the first two books I would have been able to understand a little more in some parts. I found myself lost and unsure on several occasions and feel that the first part of the series may have helped with that confusion.
I loved that there are recipes found throughout some of the chapters because I enjoy food and plan to come back and try some of them!
Overall, I liked reading this book and would be will to try more from this author. However, definitely plan to read any series from her in order.
One Unexpected Gift by Marianne Rice
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a story that will melt your heart and bring out all the emotional feelers. Skylar has to find her way in single motherhood. With the help of her band of sisters, she will tell Gabriela’s father about her and work through the intricacies of a relationship. She and Nick both bring baggage. Can that love survive? A beautifully written story with real struggles that just makes you smile. The characters are wonderful and feel like family. You’ll find youurself relating to them. The plot is very smooth, just like a flowing river. A romance that I would recommend to all contemporary romance lovers.
Murder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This story is set in Colorado Springs. Nicholas Tesla’s time in Colorado Springs is a key component of the story. The protagonist is a teenage high school girl. A budding romance ensues between two amateur detectives. The ending is a surprise!
