Love in the Roses by T.L. Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is such an engaging book. Isabel is such a beautiful character. Her spirit and mind are so refreshing. The medieval setting was well written and the perfect backdrop to this arranged marriage between houses. Can happiness be found in this situation? Can love?
Lost Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book jumps right into Juliana’s past and grabs your attention right away! There are some very intense scenes that may be hard for some to read. This story was amazing though. Julia grows a lot but still is very naive. This book is setting the back story for Julia. It was so hard to read about her past and what all she went through. She’s not out of the woods yet and has a lot still to learn about her new life. I’m about to start the second book because I have to know what happens! This was definitely a great start to the series!
Insatiable Darkness by L.M. Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was my first book by this author, but it is far from the last! Insatiable Darkness was a short but thrilling read. I have a feeling I am going to devour this entire series right after this review. EmVee had no idea what she was getting into at her new town, but surprises lurked in every corner. Being a strong female athlete comes with its disadvantages yet her new school appears to have some individuals up for the challenge. Will this finally be a place she fits in and finds a suitable partner? I enjoyed all the twists and turns during this rollercoaster story. It is fast paced so I didn’t even have time to guess what happens next. Heading to get the next book now!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Undeniable by Victoria Saccenti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Undeniable (Central Florida Stories Book 2) by Victoria Saccenti. This is the 2nd book in the Central Florida Stories series and it is just as good as the first if not better. Its the story of Arley and Kurt who have grown up as neighbors. Kurt is five years older than Arley and best friends with her brother. Hiding in Florida after getting kidnapped and thrown into a sex trafficking ring she runs into her one true love that she thought she could never have, Kurt. Arley gets a job bartending at a BDSM club which Kurt owns part of. While Kurt tries to protect Arley from the group of guys after her they get closer and closer. Kurt is determined to protect Arley at all costs. Arley makes Kurt feel alive again and like he has something to look forward to in life. This book has all the things, suspense, mystery, romance and steamy scenes too! Once you start reading you won’t want to put it down!
Paige and the Reluctant Artist by Darci Garcia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a completely new author to me and while looking for a beach read I stumbled across this book which sounded interesting. Albeit if you’re looking for a good beach read romance novel then definitely give this one a try.
We begin by meeting Paige, an art curator, constantly on the hunt for new artists and pieces for her art exhibit. This is when she stumbles upon a painting that absolutely blows her away and she knows she must have more from this artist. I mean how hard could it be convincing someone to paint for her gallery? This is where Mark enters the story, he is a ranch owner, horse rescuer, and artist. Unfortunately Paige didn’t plan on Mark not wanting to paint more for her gallery nor the sparks that fly between them. Can Paige convince Mark to give her more paintings? What about the sparks between them can Mark move past the tragedy from his past to embrace a future with Paige? If these questions leave you intrigued you should definitely pick up this book to find out just what happens.
While I loved this cutesy romance I would have liked to have a dual perspective a little more to add more depth to the characters. It was a great read and if you like romance mixed with sexy cowboys and animals then this book is right up your alley!
Let It Be Love by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Let It Be Love (A Mustang Prairie Romance Book 5) by N.D. Jackson. This is such a good book. Its a series book but can be read as a standalone. Its the story of Kiki who is a pop starlet and Eric the mayor of a small town. Kiki’s career is going great and doesn’t really want to be in a relationship. She wants to enjoy all the craziness that is her life. Greg likes his life just fine but when he meets Kiki he falls madly and completely in love with her. He’s not crazy about all the attention hes getting from Kiki’s life. Kiki is also having to deal with her crappy manager who is a cheat and scum. Kiki really likes Greg and wants to spend time with him but would love to be able to do it without the paparazzi all up in their business. Will they be able to work out their relationship or will it be too much for Greg?
A Quirk of Destiny: Ignoramus et Ignorabimus by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Overall very good book. Not what you would first expect. I did get tripped up on some of the more scientific parts but got the idea and kept going. I already know that GM foods are bad for you, but this makes you think a bit more about what goes in your mouth. Greenall did a very good job using fiction to make us more aware of what could happen if we don’t make some changes. I think this book would be good for young adult through adult.
Let It Be Love by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a super cute romance. It was interesting that this story doesn’t start at the very beginning of Eric and Kiki’s relationship. At first I wasn’t sure if I would like that – usually I want to know everything about how a relationship starts, but in this instance it really worked. I didn’t read the previous books in this series, so I suspect you see the beginning of their relationship in previous books, but it did not detract from this story at all.
Eric and Kiki are figuring out their relationship and trying to make it work. Eric may be the mayor of Mustang Prairie, but that kind of public figure is not quite the same as being a pop star, and it has made him a bit reluctant. But you can tell he truly cares for Kiki, and once he decided he was in, he didn’t waver.
Kiki is dealing with a lot. She is getting ready to tour, is dealing with a smarmy agent, and has been working on songs that are different from what she usually sings. She cares a lot for Eric, but has things in her past that make her hesitate.
The growth of both characters was great. You see them grow both individually and as a couple. The level of communication was better than a stereotypical romance – even if there was something Kiki wasn’t quite ready to share, she acknowledged it was actively looking for when to do so. If she made a mistake, she owned it. I really liked watching them get to their happily everything today.
Let It Be Love by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
An enjoyable and engaging contemporary romance, which kept me happily turning the pages. Pop starlet Kiki Ramirez and ‘civilian’, small town mayor Eric didn’t plan to fall in love, but they did. However, their relationship is being tested by Kiki’s fame, her crazy agent, the paparazzi, and the Hollywood machine. I loved Kiki and Eric and was cheering them on, hoping they would get their HEA. The characters were well defined and I felt engaged with them and their circumstances. The chemistry between the couple really came across in the story. The storyline flowed well and I found myself immersed in the story. This was a heartwarming romance which I definitely recommend.
Let It Be Love by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a heart warming story. I’m not a fan of pregnancy in a romance book but this one wasn’t that bad. Kiki Ramirez is a famous pop star and is secretly dating Eric a small town mayor. The story follow them learning what it’s like to fall in love, deal with a crappy agent (Louie can eat ****) and handle the hard side of fame. Is shows what it’s like to communicate in a relationship though very difficult ups and downs. Outside of the pregnancy aspect of it I loved the book!
Murder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau
Mystery…Intrigue…Murder. Murder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau has this and so much more to keep you turning the pages. So grab your favorite beverage and curl up with this murder mystery that will not disappoint.
Set in Colorado Springs in 1899, Cora Croft is finishing her last year at Colorado Springs High School. As a young female interested in continuing her education, her teacher recommends she volunteer to be the new assistant of famed Nikola Tesla. As she embarks on the journey of assisting with intriguing scientific discoveries, Cora gets pulled into solving the mysterious death of Tesla’s previous assistant and finding his missing documents.
Cora is such a well written character. She is full of inquiry, strong-minded and intelligent. Author Brazeau did a great job imagining these characters and found a way to make the story flow in a quick and interesting way. As the mystery unfolds, you are rooting for Cora and hoping she can help solve the mystery and continue to grow in the process.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who wants to go back in time, solve a mystery and go on a great ride in the process.
Love in the Roses by T.L. Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this historical romance set during the War of the Roses in England. The characters themselves were well-developed. But I particularly liked the world-building and the attention to detail in terms of the setting, the dialogue style, and all of this brings the book to life. The drama and the intrigue kept the story moving even as some of the details flew over my head a little. Overall, an enjoyable read.
Murder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this YA historical mystery novel, which had me hooked from start to finish. Set in 1899, in Colorado Springs, seventeen year old Cora Croft is in her final year at Palmer High School. She finds herself uncovering a mystery involving Nikola Tesla and his secret projects. Tesla is ready to pack up his secret lab and return to New York after the mysterious death of his assistant, and the theft of some important documents. However, when Cora offers to help him uncover who is behind these events, in order for Tesla to stay and complete his work he agrees.
Cora along with friends Harrison and Marshall work together to unravel the mystery, and discover secrets along the way. Cora has to deal with time, the elements and social constraints, and then she discovers that she is in danger. This was a fast paced story with an exciting storyline and plenty of plot twists, which kept me happily turning the pages. I loved the characters, especially the likeable and relatable Cora, and I felt that I was alongside her uncovering the clues. The historical details really brought the era to life along with the real life Tesla.
Let It Be Love by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed reading Let it Be Love. It was a wonderful story about overcoming obstacles and romance. Have you ever had anxiety/depression so bad that you don’t think anything good could ever happen to you? I definitely have and that’s exactly the battle our main character deals with throughout. The author depicted it beautifully, I felt like I was in the main character’s shoes.
Kiki is a pop star, she still can’t believe it sometimes. Has a wonderful boyfriend, who she thinks will leave her any minute. Also is pregnant and feels Eric is only staying for the baby. These things happen to people who have had a messed up childhood, because that’s all they know. (I’ve been through it myself.) This book is her struggle to not only reinvent herself but actually accept that it’s all not a dream, this is her life!
Eric is a saint in my eyes. He’s so patient and loving with Kiki. It’s beautiful. Not many men out there would accept the constant insecurities of the woman they are seeing/in love with. I understand it’s a book of fiction but it gives one hope that they may find a partner like this someday. Because there are definitely people out there just like him.
This book is definitely not just a romance but about the struggles one goes through overcoming and taking back one’s life! Read it, trust me it may surprise you like it did me!
This was my first audio book in many, many years… and I was amazed at just how fast I was pulled into the story! I could not stop listening. Jane Suen created a story and characters that were seamless and relatable. Eve was the perfect heroine – a determined college student who wanted to find the truth about a cold case in a small town. Her relentless drive kept me engaged and I finished Murder Creek in one sitting! Very compelling and intriguing.
Undeniable by Victoria Saccenti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is an exciting book full of romance, sex and danger. This book is the second in the series but can be easily read as a standalone. I loved the characters in this book. They were intriguing and really piqued my interest. I thought their connection was undeniable and convincing right from the word go.
This author is one of those that I have come to trust. Their writing is always captivating and I always find myself enjoying whatever Book I am reading. This series is a great example as to why. I would definitely recommend this book.
Let It Be Love by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Eric is a small town mayor just trying to woo the woman he loves. The only problem is that she is a mega pop superstar. Kiki isn’t just a mega pop star, she was a successful child actor before that. There are lots of people who think they have a claim to Kiki and her life. Kiki has strained relationships with her entire family due her stardom and all that comes with it. Eric wants to find a way to balance her stardom with his quiet, small town life.
The author gets you all in the feels. The book is excellent! While Kiki and Eric figure out how to build a life somewhere between the concert stage and being a hermit, Kiki finds out what being a person is like. Friendships and love are keys to this romance! Great story and outcome!!
The Mermaid and the Water Magnifying Glass by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This really is such a delightful series to read. Every time I tell me daughter there is a new one she gets so excited. The stories are engaging and perfect for the intended audience. It is also interesting and well written enough to entertain any adult involved with the reading. These books are always ones we have to read multiple times, which for me is all I need to tell me it is a success. A great book and a great series.
Blood & Vengeance by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
We are welcomed back into this second book of this series with our main woman Desiree. After the events of book one she had one thing in mind. And that was the vampires need to be dealt with. Dealt with in the way of getting rid of them.
But, the arrival of another player in power makes that a much harder task to accomplish. I finished this in one sitting and truly cannot wait to read more from this author!!!!!
Review by @michellerenee6590
View all my reviews
Paige and the Reluctant Artist by Darci Garcia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was written by a new author to me. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but it’s a romance and the cover has a cat on it. Cats are always a wonderful way to get me to pick up a book. What I found was a very cute story with romance and animals combined. I thought the writer did an amazing job with describing what was taking place. I could visualize the surroundings in my mind. I also thought that she did a wonderful job with the characters, and I felt like these could be personal friends of mine. I did feel like it took a little too long for them to connect but once they did, WOW what a connection it was. This was a very fast paced book for me as I was unable to put it down. I even snuck in some reading while at work. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of romantic stories. I look forward to picking up more books from this author.
Love is Worth Fighting for by Effie Kammenou
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was my first read in the series and by this author. It definitely can be a standalone. This book is a “falling in love with my friend/enemy” story told from different points of views. We meet Krystina, who wants to travel, expand her blog and be “insta” famous. She works hard at planning her outfits, photoshoots and uploads. When Krystina and her family take a trip to find their long lost grandfather… she finds that what she thought she knew isn’t what is real. Longtime family friend Loukas tags along and goes through some tough situations with Krystina. This trip makes her think differently about and love and learn that love is worth fighting for.
I loved the characters and the way the story goes back and forth between past and present.
A Quirk of Destiny: Ignoramus et Ignorabimus by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a great opportunity for readers who have not read or just starting to read apocalyptic books. This has a great narrative and world-building. It has a few sentences that are stumbling blocks or have to be re-read to understand, but you ignore it when reading it to find out what happens. I quickly immersed myself into the book and was eager to know more about the conspiracy and how the government caused the end of the world. The characters are personable and they are easy to know. This is an overall experience. Not at all your typical zombie/plague type of book.
The main characters discover a virus that was first tested on rats and then quickly went south. Both scientists and citizens alike try to fight or uncover the cause and stop it. But it is too late the government quickly covers it up and tries to kill everyone involved. Not realizing it’s too late. This is a seat-of-your-pants thriller/ conspiracy at the core and a plague/zombie book secondly. Definitely worth reading.
Murder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Murder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau – Review by Maryn Belling
Welcome to Colorado Springs. Home to sparkling landscapes and barely a generation of history. Our completely relatable Miss Cora Croft – academic hopeful and hopelessly short of her mother’s example of corseted grace – would rather walk in the snow than be beholden. Amid the usual challenges for a lady of her age, social status, and upbringing, Cora tussles with calculus, physics, and gender roles.
Set 40 years after the gold-rush, the attraction of new residents to Colorado Springs is for medical reasons (consumption & tuberculosis). The railroad’s depot (Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe) constructed in Colorado Springs in 1917 is alluded to through character presence, but the town is still foot-traffic, horse, and buggy propelled.
With Pike’s Peak watching over the town and its inhabitants, Nikola Tesla watches over his experiments with physics. Despite the integral presence of physics and calculus in the workings of Tesla’s lab, readers needn’t possess specific knowledge of either topic.
The greater mysteries for Colorado Springs’ inhabitants are untimely deaths. Miss Cora’s scientific mind works through the myriad pieces to reveal the truth.
Murder in the Lightning Room, A Historical Mystery, A.D. Brazeau, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, YA, Historical, Mystery, Maryn Belling, July 2022
The Detail by Dana Wayne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The was a very enjoyable read that kept me interested! It was fresh and new in the romance department but it was still a mystery! The author does an excellent job of writing tension between the characters and keeping the page turning because readers need to know what happens next! I will definitely be finding more titles by this author!
Murder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5 Stars
Murder in the Lightning Room: A Historical Mystery by A.D Brazeau
This is another great read by the author. Living in Colorado this book instantly captured my attention. Colorado Springs is an interesting place to be and especially in the late 1890’s early 1900’s.
Cora is in her final year in high school and will be heading to university in the fall. One of her professors tells her of an opportunity. She will be the assistant to a researcher that is in town. Can she uncover what is going on? Will she be in danger? The quote I chose for Cora is: “I’m sure it will get better. Science isn’t only exciting experiments. There’s a lot of preparation and planning. Calculations need to be made, materials gathered. We’ll get to do something fun at some point. I’m sure of it.”
Highly recommended for YA Historical lovers.
A Quirk of Destiny: Ignoramus et Ignorabimus by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is fiction, but it is filled with so many factual things that it makes it even scarier. Could this happen? Could the overpopulation of the world and our reliance on genetically-modified foods create the end of the world?
Catherine Greenall used real research and stories in order to build this very real, very intense world where society as we know it can no longer exist. There were so many twists and turns – and I did not see them coming!
Knowing this is a trilogy, I cannot wait to see what is next for these characters. I fell in love with so many of them, and I was always rooting for humanity to win.
Castor’s Kiss by Tai James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I often find fantasy/sci-fi books more difficult to get into while trying to learn other-worldly creatures and scenery, but the author did a great job of seamlessly introducing different species into the story line without taking away from the gist of it. Having not read the first book in this series, I was still able to easily assimilate the characters and worlds depicted.
Mia, having been tortured and sold into slavery as a fighter, struggles to hold onto any hope of escape from a world that’s become kill or be killed. When Castor shows up and says he’s come to rescue her on behalf of her old crew, who were presumed dead, she’s lost and out of trust for others. When he’s tossed into the fighting scene, as well, in hopes of helping Mia find a safe escape, the two learn it’s going to take them both to get out of the mess they’re in.
As a big Hunger Games fan, I found a few themes that were definitely very similar: Mia is forced into fighting for her life and excels at it and then becomes a “favorite” among spectators who can watch live or via feeds from cameras buzzing around; the planet on which she’s held captive is populated by creatures who are known for “enhancements” to their appearance; Mia and Castor are forced into a “contest” on a different planet with rumored beastly creatures that they must survive along with fighting the other competitors to the death. Despite those obvious similarities to the Hunger Games, Castor’s Kiss has a lot more to the story than those themes.
I found the book to be engaging, more action-packed than expected, and quite thrilling to read. Both Mia and Castor are unaware of a soul bond between them until they meet, and all of the fears, insecurities, and trying to decide how they feel about the bond and what it means for them individually and as a couple in the future felt very realistic for anyone experiencing a strong romantic connection with another. The entire book, although obviously fictitious, had a realness to it that speaks volumes for the author’s ability to weave a story that’s believable in completely unbelievable circumstances and situations.
Blood & Vengeance by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was the second book I have read by A.D. Brazeau and I’m loving each book. So, in this book Desiree is our main character who is helping Theron, the vampire, her friends BF, fight off other vampires throughout the city. Desiree is determined to fight and kill the other vamps but then she meets Jaxon. Jaxon who wants to change and not kill innocent people anymore wants to learn to control himself and be like Theron. You see where I’m going…. Will Desiree have the happy ending that Greer did and find someone to love and that loves her back? This series is a MUST READ! If I could give it more stars I would!
5 stars
For any fans of epic fantasy and beautifully created worlds, you will NEVER go wrong with a book by Tricia Copeland. This book and series is very familiar to me and I was excited to be able to listen to a favorite. The story came to life in a brand new way and allowed me to thoroughly enjoy the story and universe powerfully. The narration only added to the richness of the story development. Run and get a copy of the book and audio as quick as you can. Worth every minute!
Let It Be Love by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this romance story. This isn’t the first book I have read by this author. Each one is unique but I have never been disappointed and I wasn’t with this one. I love the author’s style of writing. How you feel completely drawn into the story and the lives of the characters. The storyline isn’t so far fetched either so it feels realistic and relatable which helps you connect to the characters even more.
Our two characters in this story are Kiki and Eric.
Kiki is a pop starlet. Her career is going well and she never saw herself falling in love but she did. She falls in love with a normal guy called Eric.
Eric falls madly in love with Kiki as well but he had trouble coping with all the gossip and rumours that surround his famous love. Are the stories true? Does he need to doubt the woman he loves?
Together they need to find a way to protect their love and work to make sure that nothing comes between them. But with Kiki’s agent and meddling paparazzi trying to tear them apart do they even stand a chance.
You will fall in love with this couple from the beginning and you will be cheering them on all the way through this story. But when the odds are stacked against them does their love stand a chance of surviving?
