If I Had a Magic Wand by Melissa Lavi – Reviewed by Caralee Loonat

If I had a Magic WandIf I had a Magic Wand by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really thought that this was such a sweet book. I would recommend it for any new parent. I think that even though it is supposed to be geared towards a baby etc that it would suit even for a parent to an older child. I myself think that it would be a great gift for a mother to give her daughter as she is about to have her first child. The poems are very sentimental and sweet. I really was quite moved by this book. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by @caraleeloonat
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Murder on Oak Street ( A South Shore Mystery Book 1) by I.M. Foster – Review by Amanda Swindle

Murder on oak streetMurder on oak street by I. M. Foster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A little slow to start, but once you get into the meat and potatoes of this classic “whodunit” you will find out nothing has an obvious answer at first. The historical setting may be what slowed me down, as I am not a huge fan of older style writings but I was able to stay interested, throughout. I liked the believable characters and although I am unsure of the historical accuracy, it was easy to follow. The story follows Daniel O’Halleran, a coroner in 1904 New York. Daniel is struggling in both career and the romance department, and decides he needs a change. Taking on a new position in Long Island, he is happy with the change of pace and slower lifestyle it brings. That is, until he is provided an old case to review. The dialogue and plot flows smoothly, if you are into historical fiction, and it was a nice change of pace from what I usually read. I will check out other books by this author, and would recommend it to others.

Reviewed by @zoltrixes

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Return to Gallanvaig (A Quirk of Destiny Book 2) by Catherine Greenall- Review by Stephanie Driskill

Return to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of DestinyReturn to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of Destiny by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We find our group of survivors living in Gallanvaig and doing well for themselves and their community. Living a good life without GM foods and the trappings of the past in order to have simple but comfortable life full of community and love for those around them. Keeping each other safe and continuing in their quest to improve on organic lifestyles, trouble begins to brew for Calum and The World Alliance party. The Genies are back and have increased paranormal powers and another political party has thrown its hat into the ring. This new part, World Democratic Party, is all about the past and the way of life living to excess, money, wealth, transportation, food. The colony at Gallanvaig is in trouble as well as those around the world when women are kidnapped by the Genies, pregnant women! Can Calum save his family and those other women taken? Will the World Alliance party win and why in the world were nuclear missiles used to decimate America? No spoilers!! You must read it for yourself, Another great book by Greenall and one for those who are enlightened or want to be. Reading about scary epigenetics and how they can be damaging to bodies and crops. If you aren’t a vegetarian now only eating organic non-gmo foods, you will think twice about your next bite of food and where it comes from. Bravo!!

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Snow in Love by Libby Kay – Review by Jamie Burns

Ski straight into love with a cup of cocoa, Snow in Love is the perfect sweet and steamy book to get you in the Christmas spirit. Sienna and Connor are polar opposites, Sienna is the seemingly innocent Golden Girl while Connor has been known to be a player. You know what they say, opposites attract each other. However, Sienna is on a strict schedule to keep her on track to bring home a gold medal in the paralympics. Will Connor be able to convince Sienna to live and love a little? Will Sienna be able to break free from her mother’s strict and aggressive demeanor to give love a chance? Find out by picking up a copy of Snow in Love!

Murder on Oak Street ( A South Shore Mystery Book 1) by I.M. Foster – Review by Dahnielle Hibbert

Murder on oak streetMurder on oak street by I. M. Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was on mystery that I was so absorbed in I forgot to eat, sleep or do anything but finish the story. Needless to say this storyline was gripping. The characters are well developed and the plot was really interesting with many twists and turns. I absolutely loved the author’s writing style and look forward to many more by this author! A perfect example of a riveting story with a mysterious bent!

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Kamana Wanalaya by Susan Renee – Review by Kerry Carr

Kamana Wanalaya for the HolidaysKamana Wanalaya for the Holidays by Susan Renee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a really sweet and funny contemporary romance. I loved our lead characters and I liked how the author makes the female character the one who doesn’t believe in love and HEA and the male character is the believer.
The book is funny and engaging and is definately a page turner. The attraction between the main characters is interesting to watch and you can’t help but find yourself hoping that they get together but it won’t be easy convincing a non believer to belief in the magic of love and romance.

Tenley isn’t a believer in romance. She believes love doesn’t exist and that everyone should look at relationships as business dealings. In her podcast she talks about her feelings and her reasonings as to why she thinks that and trys to show people the error in their ways for trust and believing in romance.

Teagan is the opposite. He classes himself as a love guru and firmly believes in the power of love and romance and strives to show everyone that it is real.
When Tenley calls Teagan out for his false ideas of love, Teagan decides to set her a challenge.

If Tenley will join him at this romantic resort in Hawaii and doesn’t find love then he will donate to her podcast.
When Tenley accepts the challenge neither of them expect the outcome.
This is a fun push and pull story where both parties are wanting to prove their views right but when it comes down to it who will come off as the winner? When emotions and attraction starts to run wild can Teagan convince the relationship non believer to take a chance on him and the possibilities of romance?

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Kamana Wanalaya by Susan Renee – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

Kamana Wanalaya for the Holidays: A Grinchy/Sunshine Holiday RomanceKamana Wanalaya for the Holidays: A Grinchy/Sunshine Holiday Romance by Susan Renee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tenley Shay does a podcast under the name TJ On Par and is the voice of practicality in relationships. In her podcasts seem she seems to be a bit of downer on the concept of love and instead feels it is better to remain single. Tenley believes that people should be realistic about the concept of love and relationships.

Teagan is the exact opposite of Tenley and believes in the concept of love. After all, he does call himself the Love Guru so he must be an expert on the subject. When the Love Guru publishes an article about a romantic couple’s retreat at his favorite Hawaiian resort Tenley quickly becomes his biggest critic.

The Love Guru puts TJ On Par on the spot and offers her an all-expense paid trip at the Kamana Wanalaya resort believing that he can get her to fall in love. If he cannot then he will donate $10,000 to her podcast. Tenley reluctantly agrees feeling that it is a win-win situation for her. A free vacation and money for her podcast.

When Tenley arrives at the resort Teagan cannot deny his attraction to her witty sense of humor and her feisty attitude. Tenley also feels a twinge of attraction to the drop-dead gorgeous Teagan. Will they give in to their attraction to each other? Will Tenley drop her guard and finally believe that love is real?

This book had me chuckling from the first page with the witty remarks. The banter between Teagan and Tenley was witty and amusing. The chemistry between them was sizzling. The book was well written, witty, light-hearted, and romantic. A great read! PS: Am I the only one who picked up on the book’s title and how it sounds when pronounced slowly?

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Murder on Oak Street ( A South Shore Mystery Book 1) by I.M. Foster – Review by Jana Lewis

Murder on oak streetMurder on oak street by I. M. Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and how everything intertwines. I suspected the culprit, but did not have the whole thing figured out, so it was a great surprise to connect everything together. The author does a great job in developing each character and keeping them true to their nature, which was great. The antagonists are also well developed and realistic. I could picture each character, along with the various locations clearly and it was enjoyable to follow them along on the journey. I couldn’t put the book down until it was done! Now I want more!

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Kamana Wanalaya by Susan Renee – Review by Jennifer Gordon

Kamana Wanalaya for the HolidaysKamana Wanalaya for the Holidays by Susan Renee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable and engaging lighthearted contemporary romance, which had me happily turning the pages. Teagan, the Love Guru publishes an article about spending a week at the Hawaiian couple’s retreat, ‘Kamana Wanalaya Resort’, and Tenley Shay, the voice behind TJ ON PAR, a podcast for Practical Adult Relationships, is quick to comment. Tenley, is known for her disapproval of love and the practicality of remaining single for life, so, Teagan decides to call her bluff, and invites her on an all-expense paid trip to the couple’s retreat, for a little R&R before the holidays. He wants to prove her cynicism wrong and if he can’t get her to fall in love, then he will donate to her podcast.
Having met and are coupled up for the week, their chemistry sizzles off the page, leading to some steamy scenes. Teagan finds himself attracted to her feisty attitude and her sense of humour. However, can Tenley, the world’s biggest relationship cynic change her thoughts on love. Asking her to risk everything, forget about her opinions on love, and take a real chance at love, might be too much to ask. This is a fun read, which kept me hooked throughout, the characters and the setting are brought to life, making me feel immersed in the story. I loved the main characters, and was cheering the couple on, hoping they would get their own HEA, for the holidays!

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If I Had a Magic Wand by Melissa Lavi – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

If I had a Magic WandIf I had a Magic Wand by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful collection of wishes for our babies. It was truly heartwarming to read and gives you a warm fuzzy feeling. The illustrations were beautiful and really pulled the collection together. I loved how the magic wand was passed on from parent to parent and baby to baby throughout. I wish that I had this collection when my (now grown) sons were babies. This is a must for any parent, soon-to-be- parent, or even grandparent, aunt, or uncle to add to their library. I highly recommend!

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Return to Gallanvaig (A Quirk of Destiny Book 2) by Catherine Greenall – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

Return to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of DestinyReturn to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of Destiny by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Return to Gallanvaig is Book Two in the Quirk of Destiny Series. It has now been two years since the destruction from the outbreak caused from genetically modified food. The Genies are intent on increasing their race while another group of enemies also presents itself. The new group is determined to cause death and destruction while trying to take over the world. The GM-free survivors are the only hope for humanity, but will they have what it takes to save the world?

This was an interesting take on the destruction caused by the widespread consumption of genetically modified foods. The author has done a spectacular job of creating a vivid picture of a world in which the evils of genetically modified foods are taking over. It contained, action, suspense, intrigue and good versus evil while also portraying a message about the importance of caring for our environment. A great read!

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Taming the Few (Guardians of the PHAE Book 1) by Rowan Dillon – Review by Michaela Massie

Taming of the Few: An Irish Urban Fantasy Novel (Guardians of the PHAE #1)Taming of the Few: An Irish Urban Fantasy Novel by Rowan Dillon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anna Taylor’s life has been turned upside down. Some people who carry some old blood have had…some changes; some physical, and some magical in nature. And the world is NOT ready, for any of this. Anna Taylor is one of those few. And after her new found changes were forcibly told to the world, she had to run. Read this awesome book and follow Anna on her journey as she discovers more about herself and others like her, while trying to keep herself and her new friends alive as they try and find their place in the world.

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If I Had a Magic Wand by Melissa Lavi – Review by Dahnielle Hibbert

If I had a Magic WandIf I had a Magic Wand by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story sums up what every parent wishes for their child. It is a lovely story told in the style of a poem. This is the perfect goodnight book to read to your child. The book has beautiful illustrations and really brings home how much a parent loves their child. Defined worth the buy as it will become one of your favorites to read to your babies.

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Kamana Wanalaya by Susan Renee – Review by Katie Turner

Kamana Wanalaya for the HolidaysKamana Wanalaya for the Holidays by Susan Renee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tenley Shay is a podcast host that goes by the name TJ on PAR (Practical Adult Relationships). On air, she promotes her thoughts that love is essentially a fairytale and does not exist. Teagan Mackenzie, TJ Mack aka the Love Guru, believes love is the essence and driving force of truly living one’s best life. When Teagan is a guest on another podcast, and is questioned on his thoughts of TJ on PAR’s opinion, he finds himself making an offer to this Grinch, to join him on a trip to Kamana Wanalaya’s resort in Hawaii. If she does not fall in love with everything about the resort, he promises to make a $10k donation to her podcast. She agrees to go, thinking it will be an easy $10k. Little do they both know that this will be an experience neither of them expected, nor will they ever forget.

Kamana Wanalaya for the Holidays is my first book by Susan Renee, and I absolutely loved it. I loved the character development, the scene setting, and how we were able to read in both Teagan and Tenley’s point of view. I felt like that really helped me to connect with both of these characters and to better understand their opposing ways of thinking. If you’re looking for a perfectly-paced steamy story, with beautiful descriptions, dialogue that can have you laughing and really feeling all the feels, I highly recommend giving this book a chance!

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Much Ado About Dying (Guardians of the PHAE Book 2) by Rowan Dillon – Review by Michaela Massie

Much Ado About Dying: An Irish Urban Fantasy Novel (Guardians of the PHAE #2)Much Ado About Dying: An Irish Urban Fantasy Novel by Rowan Dillon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Róisín is a powerful healer, and wants nothing more than to help the people who need her abilities. She’s willing to do anything to help people, even making pacts with ancient gods. Róisín is one of the Unhidden, and therefore she has to always watch her back. This awesome tale takes us through Róisín’s journey as she fights for her life (and many lives) from ancient gods and extremists who all want her gone.

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Murder on Oak Street ( A South Shore Mystery Book 1) by I.M. Foster – Review by Tausha Treadway

Murder on oak streetMurder on oak street by I. M. Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Murder on Oak Street ( A South Shore Mystery Book 1) by I.M. Foster. I LOVED this book and can’t wait for the next one. Its the story of Daniel O’Halleran who is a coroner’s physician. He feels like no one takes him seriously and they are always pushing him to hurry up and push cases through. On top of not being super happy with his job his fiancee stood him up at the altar so he makes the hard decision to pack up and move on. He moves to Long Island from New York and accepts a coroner’s assistant position. The boss tells him not to expect anything like the amount of cases in New York here. His first case just happens to be one of is very first cases in New York that he had to hurry up and pass on and where his feeling that something was not right. Will Daniel be able to solve this old case and prove to himself especially that he was right all along. I loved this book and if you love mysteries you will too!

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Amaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt – Review by Dahnielle Hibbert

Amaleigha and the Big IdeaAmaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful tale about a young girl with an amazing idea to turn something she lives into a place everyone could enjoy. Some people find a precious gift and hide it away where only they can enjoy it, but Amaleigha chose to share her special place. This would be a lovely story to read to your children and teach the lesson of sharing. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is amazing.

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Return to Gallanvaig (A Quirk of Destiny Book 2) by Catherine Greenall – Review by Tausha Treadway

Return to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of DestinyReturn to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of Destiny by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Return to Gallanvaig (A Quirk of Destiny Book 2) by Catherine Greenall. This is the 2nd book in the series and I highly recommend you read the first one to better understand this one. This book picks up 10 years after the first one and its a very long read so be prepared. The story is about a outbreak of after genetically modified food cause a mutation in the DNA of humans. These humans are called Genies and are lead by Balthazar and he’s evil. He and the Genies are trying to take over and have all the power but they are in for a fight. This is a fast paced dystopian, fantasy read that will keep you flipping pages late in the night. Great good vs evil story!

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The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily – Review by Tracy Greenhalgh

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn RanchThe Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first book from this author and wow, what an amazing picture is drawn by her words.
In this book we follow Emma, the only child of matriarch and land owner Josie Rosales, as the 5th generation of first and only born daughter in the family, the largest ranch in Texas passes from mother to daughter.
After moving away to college Emma returns home, and whilst her parents go to Europe she goes camping. And it is over a year before anyone sees her again.
Where has Emma been, with absolutely no sign of her or others, who is Kai, and why does Emma feel tied to him?
What a wonderfully written book, full of intrigue and a world that is well described. Involving the modern world, head strong educated women; people that live by completely different rules as if from a time gone by.
I would thoroughly enjoy a second book that takes us through the following years, The Thorn, The Land and The People.

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Kamana Wanalaya by Susan Renee – Review by Shea Gilkerson

Kamana Wanalaya for the HolidaysKamana Wanalaya for the Holidays by Susan Renee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a very quick read due to how funny and engaging it was. From the opening line, it kept me interested and entertained. There are several laugh out loud moments, plenty of humor and uncomfortable moments and steam.

Tenley and Teagan are both podcast hosts. Tenley considers herself outside of being interested in love and is all about practicality and logic – no love for this girl and she doesn’t think others should be so obsessed with it, either. Teagan considers himself the “Love Guru” and just can’t stand how UNINTERESTED in love Tenley is. She’s a stick in the mud, not allowing herself any joy of a relationship.

So Teagan does what any red-blooded male would do in his situation – he invites her on a couples retreat in Hawaii, his treat. If she falls in love, Teagan wins, and if she doesn’t, she wins and gets 10k. Of course Tenley is interested in a free tropical vacation and the “guarantee” of ten thousand dollars, and so…away they go.

Along the way they find out it is an entire trip built around couples in love, they’re seated with couples in love, they’re pretending to BE a couple in love. They discover an attraction to one another that neither one of them expected, lots of excellent characters making cameos from the authors other books, and a possibility between them that neither of them expected. Who really “wins” this bet?

Very fun story. Cute, easy read, likable characters, beautiful backdrop, and a lot of fun.

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Return to Gallanvaig (A Quirk of Destiny Book 2) by Catherine Greenall – Review by Kirsten Berkebile

Return to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of DestinyReturn to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of Destiny by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I honestly feel like this book is about world domination and how it goes from a democratic society to an a World Alliance. Now there are some people who want to go back to the democratic society but many people don’t believe that they can survive like that. This story makes me believe that World War 3 could actually happen with the US. It also makes me think of all the things that have happened in today’s world. I feel like we just keep getting knocked down with illnesses, tsunamis, earthquakes, tornados. Disasters that could have been avoided if we just took the necessary precautions. Definitely not a quick read at all, its 600 pages.

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Amaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt – Review by Cindy Mayberry

Amaleigha and the Big IdeaAmaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Here is another great read and experimental story for your children. Her love for all things nature was a joy to read. Amaleighas way of bringing others out to explore, would encourage all children and adults to want to see it for themselves. I love this author’s children’s books. She writes with children and adults in mind. Her story is fast paced and as well as easy to follow. I recommend this book for all parents to read and explore with their children.

Review@cinful

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Love Tools (Bluestone Series Book 1) by Isobel Reed – Review by Katrina Jones

Love Tools (Bluestone Series, #1)Love Tools by Isobel Reed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a great read!

Lily moves to a small country town to run her dad’s store after he leaves to her in his will. She quickly finds a friend in Sam and learns that her brother Jake is always around. The banter between Lily and Jake had me actually laughing out loud.

This is the first book I’ve read from this author but I will be diving into more soon!

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Amaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt – Review by Bethany Leigh Rucker

Amaleigha and the Big IdeaAmaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Five-Year-Old Amaleigha has a big future ahead of her. While spending time in her backyard, she gets one of her big ideas. She decides that she wants to show people things she loves to do. Therefore, she puts her plan to action with the help her parents, grandmother, and brother. People around the community start taking notice, and are surprised by Amaleigha plan. This is a must read to find out what she is able to do.

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The Daredevil (WaterFyre Rising Book 2) by Nadia Han – Review by Bobbi Wagner

The Daredevil: A Friends to Lovers Romance (WaterFyre Rising Book 2)The Daredevil: A Friends to Lovers Romance by Nadia Han
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this romance story. This is my first book by this author. I enjoyed her writing skills and attention to details that brought her story to life. This is a well written story where friends become lovers but not without the life struggles. I enjoyed how the characters pulled me into their world with ease. They are relatable and kept the story engaging for me to the end. I enjoyed watching their growth throughout the story. Their chemistry is off the charts and their struggles feel real. This is a fast paced story that is full steam, romance and secrets that could destroy them. I also found this book hard to put down. You don’t want to miss this book. It is a great read and I highly recommend it.

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Review by @bjwagner

If I Had a Magic Wand by Melissa Lavi – Review by Megan Conley

If I had a Magic WandIf I had a Magic Wand by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really love the simplicity and sing-songy nature of this book. It’s a great book for parents to read to their kids at bedtime. It would make a fantastic baby shower gift. The illustrations were magical and I loved the imagery of the passing of the wand throughout the book. Great book that definitely gets you right in the feels with all of the things we wish for our children.

Reviewed by @meggs1717

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Amaleigha Loves a Good Story by Janice Pratt – Review by Moriah Venable

Amaleigha Loves a Good StoryAmaleigha Loves a Good Story by Janice Pratt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a short but cute read. The grownups around her always talk about how caring and thoughtful Amaleigha is. She can be seen making a card for someone or planning a surprise.

Amaleigha also loved to read and visit the school library. She notices that there are not a lot of books for people who speak a different language. So sets her plan into action so that students who speak a different language would have more books to choose from.

Reading this just shows you what can happen when word gets around. So many people wanted to help and raise money in order to purchase books.

Not long after that, the community opened the bilingual free library.

I loved this story and how the community came together to help out with this goal.

I hope to read more Amaleigha stories.

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Super Enemies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Melissa Saxton

PSuper EnemiesSuper Enemies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mira and Carl are your typical brother and sister and can’t agree on a single activity to do… until one day their dad brings them to the beach and Carl keeps building castles and Mira destroys every single one! Can they actually have fun together?
This is a super cute children’s book about a brother and sister who just can’t get along and I read it with my 4.5 year old daughter who loved it!

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Return to Gallanvaig (A Quirk of Destiny Book 2) by Catherine Greenall – Review by Rayne East

Return to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of DestinyReturn to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of Destiny by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Post-apocalyptic survival
This is the second book in the Quirk of Destiny series and it is amazing. It is set two years after book one and so much more has happened. I highly recommend reading book one first as it helps to understand the dystopian world and key players so much more. The story is just as in depth as the first and though this is a long book the writing style kept me engaged. The action, paranormal twists and links to real life made for an intriguing and thought-provoking read. There is a cliffy so I eagerly await book three.

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Amaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt – Review by Gillian Fawell

Amaleigha and the Big IdeaAmaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a great story that reminds us all that we need to take the time to enjoy the environment around us and how important it is for children’s voices to be heard. Amaleigha is such a sweet, smart girl and she has some great ideas – one of which is obviously explored in this beautiful story. Highly recommended!

Reviewed by @sparkinside

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