Glass Houses by Sinister Styx
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A tragic, but fast read that kept me hooked! Broken people, broken relationships, lots of drama, and a bit of magic. So much in one novella! I highly enjoyed this book by Sinister Styx and look forward to more.
Glass Houses by Sinister Styx
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
It doesn’t take much to shatter glass. Ivy is married to her husband of two years, Falcon. They both love each other very much. Throwing lavish parties together is something they normally enjoy, but Ivy is suspicious of her husband seeing someone else and this party does not go the way it normally does. Falcon has taken things too far, and their lives will never be the same.
This was a quick read but such an interesting story. I would love to read another book from this author.
Amaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Amaleigh and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt
4 Stars
This is an adorable story that’s geared towards children aged 4-7 years old. Amaleigh is an amazing child of five who loves nature. She loves being outdoors. She comes up with a big idea to share her love of nature with the world. The story shows that no matter what your age is, if you put your mind to something, you can achieve anything. At the end of the book, there is some interesting information on how to do what Amaleigh did. If everyone could see the world through the eyes of a child, the world would be a much better place.
Review by @Anna Hirsch
View all my reviews
Master Catteneo by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
After reading the fourth book of the Masters of the Consulate series ,Master Romano I went back and binged read books 1-3 (even though you don’t have to have to. It can be read as a standalone) while I waited for this one (Master Catteneo ) to come out. I was soooo excited when it dropped. I couldn’t read it fast enough. It was hard to put down once you started. Alessia was a firecracker from the start and I loved it, especially since she’s a human in the world of Paranormal. And Master Catteneo what can I say another sexy vampire 😍. Sylvia Black is such an amazing author. I really loveeeee all her work🥰. February is truly to far away 😭
Ps Isala 🙄lol ugh
Devlin by Angela K. Parker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
What happens when the coworker you’ve secretly been pining over for years, is suddenly giving you attention after your recent breakup? This is exactly what happens to Eve. She is focused on her career and knows that she shouldn’t get involved with Devlin. Devlin is the office eye candy and he knows it. But the women in the office just don’t cut it for him, there’s only one and it’s Eve. Now that she finally got rid of her boyfriend, he can finally make his move. After spending a night together, Eve just wants things to go back to normal. Devlin on the other hand, cannot keep her off his mind. Will the be able to continue working together as if nothing happened or will their office romance turn into something even heavier?
Amaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Amaleigha is a five year old who has the gift of observing all the wonders nature has to bring. Amaleigha comes up with an idea to share her joy with others in this book. The story was delightful, I liked Amaleigha and thought the illustrations were vibrant and captured the spirit of the book. I also learned about something new from Amaleigha’s idea.
Glass Houses by Sinister Styx
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Well definitely not what I expected. Glasshouses is a short story of deceit, denial, revenge, and murder. A continuous cycle that just keeps repeating itself. What the author wrote easily got that point across even though it was a short story. So much happened in the few pages this story took.
Ivy and Falcon accuse the other of being unfaithful. Falcon, so hurt by this, decides he will make the accusations accurate. In front of everyone they know, he humiliates her by dominating someone else.
The story itself was well written, it just wasn’t for me. Doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it. It won’t take much time so give it a try.
Dwarves’ Dilemma, The by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read the Dwarve’s Dilemma with my 6 year old daughter and we both loved it. It was a great, unique take on what it is like to be fair to one another. I often enjoy reading this author to my children, especially the stories that have an element for science to them. I love a children’s book that teaches important life lessons as wel. This book has that as well as fun characters and really cool illustrations. Another fun book to add to our bedtime story rotation!
Murder on oak street by I. M. Foster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is one of those books that really has a bit of everything. It is well written, full of mystery and suspense and I thought it was so intriguing. I loved the way the author seemed to connect everything, for me it pulled me into the story so much more. I couldn’t wait to see how things would unravel and what the outcome would be.
As the first book in a new series, I thought this was a really strong start. The characters were interesting, and really fit the storyline well. The author knew exactly how to capture your attention. I am very much looking forward to book 2!
The Rom Com Movie Club – Book One by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
If you are looking for a fun romantic comedy that would be perfect to read cozied up with your reading blanket and a glass of wine, then this one is for you!
The Rom Com Movie Club by Bernadette Marie is all about 4 best friends Lisa, Tina, Ruby and Mindy and their love for rom coms. As they continue their monthly rom com movie club, they are also planning a wedding for Tina who is about to marry the love of her life. What they didn’t know is that one fated movie club will bring love into Lisa’s life as well. Only problem is…it’s the brother of Tina’s soon to be husband. Will Lisa’s blooming love interfere with her best friend’s wedding?
This book was so enjoyable. The movie’s mentioned, the strong relatable friendships and the great characters had me rushing to finish but not wanting the book to end. I cannot wait to pick up book 2. I may have to plan a reading slumber party with a few of my besties so we can all enjoy!
Happy Reading
Reckless Heart by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Reckless Heart is one of my all-time favourite stories by Jane. I really enjoy her writing. This engaging emotional tale has all the feels. It is a short story that is a sweet second chance romance. I read the book in one sitting as the story just called to me and the characters were wonderful likeable and well developed. It has everything to delight the sense and keep the pages turning. With high emotions, angst, steam, misunderstandings, pain and hurt are just some of what you get. My only wish once again is that it was longer.
Mary is ready to embrace her new life as a sexy single woman and has her sights set on a certain someone. However, it may be more difficult than she thought.
Brad returns for his sister’s wedding and has mixed emotions seeing his lost crush. Does he have it in him to relive the pain from the past and move forward?
You will have to read this beautiful tale to see what happens. A perfect present for someone for Christmas.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I do not read many books aimed at teens, but this was such a fun book to read and easy to get into. Gwendolyn is a dream-shifter that changes into the form she is dreaming about, and comes out as an elk, right at elk hunting season. Now she has to learn what it means to be an elk, and try to return to herself, without being hunted. That aside, she is also challenged by time. If she doesn’t find a way to revert to her human form within 3 months, she will remain an elk forever. This is definitely geared towards the middle school chapter book genre, and my kids would easily love this one, but even as an adult it made me smile and appreciate it. I would recommend it to anyone that wants something a little unique.
Reviewed by @zoltrixes
More Than by Diane Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Peggy has spent so much effort on being a single-mom to her twins, that she has lost herself in the process. As the twins are getting ready to leave for college, she has to find out how to spend her days. Currently, those days are spent watching a show about a woman connecting with deceased loved ones while eating Pop-Tarts. When her children give her a gift certificate to a boot camp, she is hurt and angry…but, with the motivation of being part of the studio audience of her favorite show (and maybe connecting with her late husband) and all the free-time she has since she doesn’t have to be a mom all day long, she starts going to the classes. What happens during these classes is not only a transformation of her strength and body…but also of her own identity.
I enjoyed all the characters in this story. I could feel the resentment between her and Carmen…and how that evolved throughout the book. As she bettered her health, she also bettered her relationships and outlook. While she may have lost her sense of self, she is slowly finding it through her bootcamp classes (and the relationships she is building along the way). It was a good story of how your life can change when you start putting yourself first.
Master Catteneo by Sylvia Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Master Catteneo was another great vampire romance by this author. I believe I had read most of this series and I just love it. This story starts with Overmaster Descalia (head of the vampires) mate being kidnapped by her sister who is trying to take over the underworld and overthrow the vampires. If you have read any of these stories, you know that the vampire men love their mates something fierce. Master Catteneo is also a head of a vampire territory and is helping to find his leader’s mate. He decides that he is going to get help from a respected “seer” in his territory. What he didn’t expect was the woman’s granddaughter, Alessia. Master Catteneo is not worried about the stories he has heard about the granddaughter because he is known as the life bachelor of vampire masters. Alessia also has many of the “seer” abilities and while trying to help the vampires find the mate, she realizes she has a mental connection to Catteneo. This connection could be the direct line they need to fine Overmaster’s mate. Can they learn to trust each other, trust the love and connection that is developing, and see past the fact that she is human?
I enjoyed this story. I won’t say it is my favorite in the series, but it still had loveable characters and a strong female presence. I liked that one of the characters was human, Alessia was sassy, smart, and assertive. I feel the connection between the two was good but super fast and unrealistic in nature. There was no process of thought before they were getting together physically – even after all this talk about trying to understand what the connection was, etc. I also think is it one of the more sexually tame editions in the series. They also kind of leave it as a cliff hanger. Granted, the story of Alessia and Catteneo did finish, but when I read the last page and turned, I expected more and it just ended. Now, I know I will end up reading the others, but I never felt the other stories ended in this way.
Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Gwendolyn is not your typical 12-year-old girl. At night when she goes to sleep, she can shift into the shape of any animal that she dreams of. Usually when she wakes up, she is human again. Up until the day there is a fire in her home and a fire alarm wakes her up in the middle of the night. Now Gwendolyn is an elk and is unable to shift back to human form. She is anxious to shift back to human form because she has Journalism camp that she wants to attend. Oh, and there is the problem that it is elk hunting season.
Gwendolyn asks for help from a magician, but he seems to be unable to shift her back. The magician does give her access to his magical library in case there is a book that can help her. Of course, the book she needs has a magical spell on it and she cannot get anywhere near it. Will Gwendolyn shift back to human form before Journalism camp begins? Will she be able to keep safe as an elk from the hunters?
A very cute story geared towards 8–12-year-olds. This book contains magic, drama, and adventure with some twists and turns along the way. Gwendolyn is a remarkable young girl who is smart, funny, and brave despite the odds she is faced with. She knows want she wants and will not be deterred by obstacles that get in her way. A beautiful story about self-discovery and the importance of not giving up.
Snow in Love by Libby Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a great holiday read. It is a fast paced story that keeps you turning the pages. This is exactly what everyone needs during the holiday season. This book is just the right length to feel like you can actually read the whole thing during the holiday season. With always being on the go and places to be, this book would be a great companion on road trips to visit families or to just snuggle on the couch for a few hours. The characters have substantial growth through this quick read. There are obstacles that they have to overcome. It has the classic bad boy that everyone loves and gets our blood pumping right away. The holiday traditions helps melt him enough to be able to fall for the girl of his dreams. I can’t stress enough how amazing this short book is. It is a must read for the holiday season.
Reviewed by: @bbohls
Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
If you’re a fan of Lois Wickstrom’s books and the Disney movie, Seeing Red, you will love this selection! Gwendolyn, a middle school student, is a very determined and goal-oriented girl with ambitions of one day being a journalist. Her main priorities right now are finishing her paper on time and a running competition where the prize money will go towards a journalism camp at the university. Then unexpectedly, there is a fire in her home and realizes she needs to escape when she wakes up as an elk. The changing into the elk doesn’t come too much of a surprise as Gwendolyn comes from a family of dream-shifters, humans that can transform into animals while dreaming. The unfortunate part is that now Gwendolyn is stuck in this animal form. She then embarks on a mission to continue her strides to make it to journalism camp and find a way to transform herself back to human form before time runs out.
Being a kids book, there are so many great takeaways from the situation Gwendolyn has been dealt with. Learning to be flexible, sticking to your goals, coming up with new ideas, and seeking others in times of need are all great points to be instilled in kids. Another great thing for kids to enjoy is that fantasy aspect, which is a big trend nowadays. Thinking of this as I’m reading the book is to seek the opportunity of reading this book along with your kid/pre-teen together. This opens up such great discussions and bonding as well.
The Rom Com Movie Club – Book One by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ruby, Lisa, Tina, and Mindy have gathered once a month since college for Rom Com movie nights. Their informal club is an opportunity to get together to unwind, share some laughs and de-stress from their everyday lives. On Rom Com Movie Club nights, the four girls use face masks, paint their nails, drink wine, and watch their favorite romantic comedies. Of course, they all want their happily ever after but for most of them it seems to be an unattainable dream.
Then Tina becomes engaged to be married and a chance encounter has Lisa falling head over heels for the brother of her best friend, Tina’s fiancée. Tina does not take it well and feels Lisa is going to ruin her wedding. Lisa is devastated and the friendships she has with the girls feels as though it is in jeopardy. Lisa feels as though these girls are her family so it takes an emotional toll on her to think she may lose them. Now Lisa feels that she must give up her happily ever after or risk losing her best friend.
This was a cute book about friendship and love. The girls had an unbreakable bond until romance was involved and then their friendship was put to the test. A misunderstanding between friends almost came between Tina and Lisa and came close to breaking up the friendship between the four girls. Thankfully, Mindy and Ruby were not willing to let something so trivial come between them. I loved all the characters and the bond they had. I loved the banter the girls had between them and could not help but laugh out loud when there was some name calling involved between them. Knowing it was all meant in a loving and fun way they laughed as well. I enjoyed the character of Ryan and how he fell in love with Lisa, seeing past the wet nails and face mask to see her true beauty.
Shadow Patterns of Melt – Book One by J.R.P. Fogg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Shadow Patterns of Melt by J. R. P. Fogg. This is not my usual genre but I truly enjoyed it. Its a sci fi wild adventure that is a little hard to keep up if you are not used to the sci fi terms. Once you get used to the terms you are in for a fun ride. Its the story of Nalia and Bishr who are fighting the system to do what they want when they want. They have been busy transporting cargo and people across the the planets and they are doing great until they are tasked with taking care of another ship. The story is relevant even today with people not wanting to be told what to do and how to do it. There are even funny parts like the strange bugs they have. If you love sci fi and adventure then you need to read this fun fast paced adventure.
Soliloquy by Janet Fogg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Soliloquy is a moving time travel story with a musical thread running through it. After inheriting a mysterious box from her grandmother, Erin is transported through time and space to France in WWII. She has to balance surviving the time she’s in, finding a way to get back to her own time and keeping those around her safe.
It’s a great read! The historical setting is vivid and well-researched, and it’s interesting experiencing it through Erin’s modern perspective. There are plenty of mysteries to unravel, as Erin learns more about her grandmother and great aunt and comes to understand the situation she’s in.
I particularly loved the descriptions of music, as well as the focus on the experiences of musicians in WWII. Erin is valued for her musical abilities and can use them to her advantage, but this is also a source of pressure and puts her in danger.
I would recommend this book to fans of time travel romance, particularly those with an interest in music or WWII. This book gets five stars from me!
The Rom Com Movie Club – Book One by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is from an author I have read many times and who never disappoints. She has an amazing talent of writing fantastic romance novels that I love reading. With The Rom Com Movie Club she certainly does not disappoint. I really, really enjoyed reading this book and I’m sure that it’s a book that I will read again.
While hosting the monthly rom com movie club, Lisa inadvertently gets to meet her best friend’s future brother in Law, Ryan. There is instant chemistry between the two but future bride Tina demands that nothing happens between the 2 of them as it will take the shine of her upcoming wedding.
Needless to say, I really did not like Tina very much. She’s a total Bridezilla who is thinking about herself and not at all for her best friend who has major insecurities.
I really enjoyed Lisa and Ryan’s story. Both are great characters and I loved how they interacted with each other and how Ryan was a total sweetheart and took Lisa’s insecurities seriously and helped her overcome them.
Definitely recommend.
Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is not my first read by Lois Wickstrom, I think her books are very entertaining, short reads for children of all ages. This one, Dream-shifter is geared towards the older adolescents, but is without a doubt a great story!
Imagine waking up and you are the animal that you were dreaming of!! Gwendolyn is a dream-shifter, she transforms into any animal when she is asleep but turns back into her human form as long as she isn’t startled awake. Well, one night all of that changes and a fire at Gwendolyn’s home startles her awake and she finds herself stuck waking up as an elk. And despite Gwendolyn’s best efforts, she is stuck as an elk for quite some time, will she ever change back into her human form, or will she forever be stuck wondering around as an elk??
Lois Wickstrom definitely covered suspense, adventure, and great character building!
Mary Espinoza, November 2022
Tink by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow this is my first all female MC. I Loved it! Tink and her club The Devil’s Handmaiden MC are out to stop human traffickers. After living in her fathers MC her entire young life, she is no stranger to the MC world. She has one goal more important than the human traffickers. Something you will need to read the book to find out. Ellington, a former navy seal, finds himself in a fog. Living life from one day to the other. But when Tink walks into the bar his whole life changes. Now he has something to live for. As the two get close, secrets start coming out, a whole new journey could change everything for the couple. Can they stay clear of the angel of death? Can L keep Tink safe? Does Tink find what she is looking for? This author is not new to me, but this is a whole new world. This story will capture you on the first page and keep you reading. Be ready for the roller coaster you will embark upon. The female characters are just as independent as the men. As this MC story has opened a whole new world, I for one can’t wait for book 2.
Review@cinful
Borrowed Time by Lane Cohen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Borrowed Time by Lane Cohen is a creative science fiction story filled with details from science, classic sci-fi, history, anything you can think of time travel related, it’s in this book! I really enjoyed the way that Cohen made such interesting characters whose pasts and concerns really built up the plot. This novel really makes you ask the ultimate time travel question – if you could change the past, what would you change? And would that be the right thing to do? Is it really necessary to try to change the past to fix the future?
The novel is about a physics professor Andy Case and his student Samoset Brown are both interested in time travel from an academic perspective, and for Case it provides an interesting discussion topic for his otherwise unenthusiastic class. Let’s just say that they bit off more than they could chew when they stepped into the realm of time traveling.
This is a great read for time travel fans!
Mary Espinoza, November 2022
The Rom Com Movie Club – Book One by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this romantic comedy story. It was a great read and reminded me of the days when I would have sleepovers with my friends. The author does a great job with the characters. Each one is an individual but they always work and look out for each other.
Their connection is so strong and nice to read. You really get a sense of their friendship.
Every month Lisa, Mindy, Ruby, and Tina all meet up for a night of girlie chatter and a rom com movie. This has been their routine for years but things maybe changing with Tina getting married and new love appearing in the most unlikely of places. What happens when your bes friends love interest is your future brother in law? Can the friendship survive it if things go wrong? Is Tina being unfair expecting Lisa to not date her brother in law? When things come to a head Lisa needs to choose. Does she finally want her own happy ever after or is she prepared to lose hers so that her friend can get her dream day?
The Rom Com Movie Club – Book One by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Who doesn’t like a good Rom Com?
This book has references to some of the most iconic Rom Coms out there. You’ll meet Lisa and her friends and realize that their monthly rom com club is AMAZING.
For someone that hasn’t ever felt like she had a family, Lisa is about to embark down a heartfelt and warm path.
Very cute story and gets the reader all up in their feelings.
Kiss Away Your Pain by Debbie Cromack
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is book two of the series but can be read as a standalone.
Candi was sure she’s already met her soulmate. Now he’s gone. She just isn’t meant to love anymore. There’s no way there could be anyone to make her feel the way she did. That is until she meets Enzo. Enzo spots Candi across the room and knows she’s beautiful. Nothing can happen though, he doesn’t do relationships. Will these two be able to work through their hang ups or is there really just one soulmate after all?
I enjoyed this book! The chemistry between Candi and Enzo is off the charts. I was rooting for them the whole time! Definitely worth a read!
Return to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of Destiny by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Join in on this jaw dropping realistic post-apocalyptic fiction that will have you questioning every item of food you eat and every person involved in manufacturing your food.
Book 2 starts off 2 years after the initial outbreak after genetically modified food caused mutations in the human DNA. Genies are becoming organized under Balthazar and and desperately want to grow their numbers and control, consequences be damned.
Good vs Evil, intense page turning action drama, death, illness, sinister intentions and exquisite well researched science fiction will grip you and make you question everything you know….and make you want to start a garden 😂
This series is incredible post apocalyptic fiction (but so realistic) and I cannot wait to see how that ending turns out in Book 3. I was definitely immediately going “I have to know what happens! ” Don’t miss this series!!!
Master Catteneo by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Master Catteneo is in charge of bringing the Overmaster’s mate back home after she is taken by her own sister out for revenge. Catteneo goes to a local psychic named Ezra to see if she knows the whereabouts of said mate when he is greeted by Alessia, the granddaughter of the local psychic. Ezra getting up in age suggests that Alessia go with Catteneo.
Instantly they start off on the wrong foot. Being a master vampire, Catteneo is used to being submitted to but he will not get that from Alessia. She is sassy, stubborn and independent. The Overmaster insists that the two be stuck at the hip until they can find his love.
Both of the main characters are used to working alone but in order to get the missing person back they have to put aside their differences and their fantasies aside and work together.
This is book 5 of the Masters of the Consulate book but can technically be read as a stand alone without much trouble. The only thing I had difficulty with was some of the history of the background characters. This is also the first book I have read of the series and I must say that I am intrigued to read the previous books in the series. The book was action packed, romantic with a little bit of steam, and had great characters.
Shadow Patterns of Melt – Book One by J.R.P. Fogg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Bishr and Nialla are specialists in space travel, they have been through all the training and now have been in charge of their own ship the Metronome for years transporting cargo and people across the universe for a fee, they make a brilliant team with Bishr being a comms genius and Nialla, a whiz with physics, sometimes she is even known as a savant, she is just that good. They love the freedom which comes from traversing wormholes and jumps between the 400 habitable planets, as well as the 30 which are in the “gration” process and they want to continue to live, laugh and love in their own time.
As they are flying towards their next destination, everything seems to be going to plan until Bishr ill and Nialla has to both look after the other and the ship, this is not easy as there are only the two of them, but somehow they manage. As he recovers, Bishr goes through the correspondence and highlights one message in particular about a Stratum Three planet which is going to be listed as open for gration, he finds the images of the clouds scudding over the surface of the planet relaxing and so saves the skim for later, however, as they are discussing it, the jump they are planning goes wrong.
Nialla and Bishr encounter some issues and between the calcs, the dishes and their superluminal flight, they have to make some decisions which will not just affect them, the shadows which these decisions cast over the rest of the known universe will also come into play, but what will happen and can their love, work, laugh and love mantra keep them safe, or will their unplanned discovery, the history of their parents legacies and the future of mankind in space rip them apart? This is a dystopian sci-fi of universal proportions as split second decisions mean the difference between life, death and everything in between, in this race to calculate, formulate and experiment with unknowns runs its course, in this new and immersive reality.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
