Taylor’s Law by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Telling the story of Ella Anderson and her fight for her niece in a riveting manner. Will Ella find love and keep her niece or will her whole life fall apart? Jennifer Raines writes her book about life events that can happen to any of us. She shows us what the good and bad of the situation can be. The outcomes always end in happiness.
Grace Under Fire by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The story is easy to follow. Very much written like a real life story. There is heartache, love, family, friends, betrayal and more. Grace is fighting to keep everything and maybe she’ll save it all and gain so much extra in her life.
Vaughn’s Xena by M.I. Rosegold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Vaughn’s Xena (Dirty Rockhard Billionaire Book 1) by M.I. Rosegold
5 Stars
This is the first book that I have read from this author and wow, it blew me away. It is absolutely for mature audiences. It is scandalously, sexually explicit; book porn for women. There are a lot of kinks in the story e.g. bondage, edging, domination and humiliation. If you are into these things it just curious, you should enjoy this book.
Vaughn is unquestionably an alpha male. He is sexy, good looking with abs of steel. He likes to be in control. He is a man who knows what he wants and is not afraid to take it. He sets his sights on Xena. The only problem is that she’s his baby sister’s best friend. Xena is a good girl but deep down she’s sex crazed and likes it dirty. The kinkier the better. The only man she fantasizes about is her best friend’s brother. Never in a million years did she think fantasy would become reality.
This book is sizzling hot! It is not often that I give a five star review but this one deserves it. It put me through a wide range of emotions that left me panting. Towards the end there is a 180 degree twist that I never saw coming. It left my head spinning. When it ended, I was left stunned and speechless.
Review by @Anna Hirsch
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Grace Under Fire by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this contemporary romance. The author does an amazing job with their characters. They are both well developed and are written in a way that makes the reader feel every emotion they go through. I love Grace’s determined spirit and how she let’s nothing stop her from her dreams.
Grace and Ryan have both has losses in their pasts which has left them feeling Wounded and at a loss. When Ryan’s brother passes away it should have been a tragedy that brought them together. Instead Ryan ran and that forced a wedge between Ryan and Grace.
So now we fast forward. Grace is planning on taking her family’s farm over but when her mother’s health deteriorates she needs to make the move sooner than she planned. Which causes a problem. She needs to buy her family out sooner or risk losing the farm forever.
Ryan has now arrived back into her life. After being successful in selling property he’s back to sell his parents place. Should be straight forward. But he didn’t plan on the feelings Grace awakens in him.
When Grace is desperate cause she seek help from the one person that broke her trust all those years ago?
This story is about finding a romance when you least expect it. Their is sadness and happiness, lies and deceit, love and loss. Its a very emotional story and fate definately play a part but will it be enough this time?
The Muffin Shop Murder: A Delilah Crumbworthy Mystery by Holly Tierney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a nice story and a quick read. I thought the ending of the story was good but found myself a little disengaged throughout the book. I did not care for some of the characters in the story but that is just my personal preference. I did love the dog though. Anytime animals are infused in the story adds something for sure. Delilah was ok for me.
Throwing the Curve by Lauren Fraser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the second book in this series and it doesn’t disappoint. It can be read as a stand alone so don’t fret. If you enjoy this book as much as I did, you will definitely want to read the first book in the series. To start this book took some turns that I didn’t see coming. The way that the leading female character in the book is introduced to her love interest, completely caught me off guard. It was an amazing twist that you don’t typically see in the sports romance genre. The way that the characters build their interest in each other is by “using” the other person. They each had something to gain from their fake relationship. The leading female hates that she has been put in this situation and is angry with everyone including herself. The leading man is just trying to be a good team mate, so he steps up to help when a teammate tries to hide the lies and save his marriage. What starts as an enemies agreement turns to something else. The slow build in this book is everything. It helps builds the feelings, helps the characters to have growth, and makes for a dang good story. This is an easy to read story that will keep you interested in the plot the whole time. It is all fun and games until a fake relationship isn’t so fake anymore.
Reviewed by: @bbohls
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Throwing the Curve by Lauren Fraser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is book two of the series. You don’t need to read book one to follow along but I would because both are so good!
Peyton has always strived to do the right thing. How she found herself in this pickle she’ll never know? How did she not know he was married? Ryan has always been told the team comes first. When his teammate makes a mess of things, he steps in to help, begrudgingly. He doesn’t believe for a second that Peyton is innocent in all this. Ryan and Peyton’s fake dating wasn’t supposed to be a whole thing but now they need to keep up the facade. Is it a facade though or do they develop feelings for each other (other than hate)? Will the team always come first or will Ryan’s priorities shift?
I really enjoyed this book! Ryan was a bit harsh at first but I get why. His character evolved well throughout the book. Peyton is also a great character. Their chemistry was wow! I couldn’t put this book down! I can’t wait to read book three!
Savage Start: A High School Bully Romance: Hidden Valley Elite Prequel by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Savage Start is the prequel to Isla Vaughn’s Hidden Valley Elite series. I have to say I really should have paid attention because just when stuff really got me hooked, it ended. It was short, a very fast read that leaves you curious about the teens at this school. I will say I have a lot of questions which I’m sure is the point but a lot of them stem from Riley. I am extremely interested in reading the rest of the series as I’d like to know what happens to this pair as well as some of the other popular and not so popular kids in this story. I do think this laid some decent ground work for the series but felt that there were some things that could have been either explained better or omitted altogether.
Everything to Me by Lauren Fraser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In all honesty, I’m not much into sports romances, but the concept of these books had me so intrigued that I had to read this series and wow, am I glad I did. Lauren Fraser has written this series so well that I truly connected to the characters and was invested in their stories.
What do you do when you invite your friend’s little sister to stay with you only to realize she’s nothing like you remember? Do you break bro code and have a little fun? Do you risk your friendship for something you’re sure will only be a passing tryst? Can true love actually be real? This is an entertaining read that definitely packs some steam along with all the feels. Kendall and Pete are great characters and this is a fast, fun read.
Throwing the Curve by Lauren Fraser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In all honesty, I’m not much into sports romances, but the concept of these books had me so intrigued that I had to read this series and wow, am I glad I did. Lauren Fraser has written this series so well that I truly connected to the characters and was invested in their stories.
When I read the description of this book I was like a moth to a flame. I had to know how two people who were thrown together because of the actions of a selfish jerk were gonna pretend to be a couple and why would Ryan (the main hero) even bother to help out this stranger?
Peyton finds herself at a party with a married man, which completely baffles her that she could be so stupid as to not have known. Ryan, the star pitcher, goes above and beyond for his teammates, so he ends up trying to help his cheating teammate by fake dating the girl he was cheating with. Peyton and Ryan are now thrown together and neither is that happy about it, though as time goes on they can’t deny the chemistry they have. Will a fake relationship turn into a real one that neither of them could see coming, or is it safer to move on and forget this whole ordeal? Even if you’re like me and not so much into sports books, I’d definitely say check this out, because if you like a book with drama, romance, chemistry, and enemies to lovers, then you are in for a treat.
What I Wish I’d Known: For Writers: 100 Authors Reveal What They Wish They’d Told Their Younger Selves by H. D. Thomson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
What I Wish I’d Known: For Writers: 100 Authors Reveal What They Wish They’d Told Their Younger Selves by H.D. Thomson is a fantastic resource for both aspiring and seasoned authors. It is full of insights on the writing craft, the writing industry, time management tips, what to avoid on your writing journey, the business side of writing, pushing forward in your writing career, and how to deal with self-doubt- with some hard truths sprinkled in along the way.
This is collection of very sound advice from 100 accomplished authors who share their best pointers and practical advice to help you on your writing journey. I found this to be both practical and inspirational. The advice is insightful, easy to understand, and helpful. I appreciate the authors for sharing their thoughts, wisdom, and hard-earned knowledge- as these tips are gold.
Happy Reading (and writing)…
Thank you, H.D. Thomson!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This thriller cleverly tackles a serious topic – elder abuse. The story focuses on a woman taken to an institution by her kids and left there with no way out and hardly anyone to believe in her sanity. The author does a masterful job of entrenching the reader in the hopelessness of her plight, and you cannot help but keep reading to see if everything turns out alright. The most heartbreaking thing for me was the fact that her son surrendered her dog to a shelter… my pets are my world and I would never forgive someone who did such a thing. There were aspects of realism, fantasy, and drama. Definitely recommend!
The Veil of Corruption by C.B. Lyall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
The Veil of Corruption is the second book in The Virus of Beauty series by C.B. Lyall. As I mentioned before, this is a wonderful YA fantasy series that has such a unique, original, and very imaginative storyline. This book follows on from The Virus of Beauty (Book #1) so I highly recommend reading that first before continuing with this second instalment. Knowing what transpired in Book #1 will definitely enhance your reading experience of this book, as well as the series as a whole.
The Veil of Corruption is a great young adult urban fantasy with magic, action, adventure, witches, wizards, danger, dramatic developments, mysteriousness, suspense, conflict, politics, and superb world-building.
The stakes seem to get higher here and it’s up to Wilf to face evil head on, and save the day. What happens makes for an intriguing read, providing a fun adventure.
If you love a tightly woven, intriguing YA fantasy with originality, tension, and quirky characters- then this is definitely the book/series for you.
Happy Reading!
Thank you, C.B. Lyall!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Vaughn’s Xena by M.I. Rosegold
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really liked this book and definitely was not prepared for the unexpected twist!! I am eager to read more from this author – her descriptions jump off the page. The scenes are super spicy, the characters are unique, and I like that it explores an atypical relationship in Xena’s demisexuality. The only thing that seemed ironic to me was that, in her innner narrative, Xena tries not to swear yet she can be so explicit otherwise. I got used to it though as a character quirk. Overall a compelling read and now I must read the next one to find out what happens!
True Colors by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book had all the memories of my middle school days come back to me. Reading Landry’s story and all of the drama that came along with it made me wish I had found this book in middle school. My daughter and I read it together and it had amazing learning opportunities for her. It showed her that not everyone is your friend and some are even a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I loved reading Landry’s story and watching her “grow up” a little and become more true to herself!
Savage Start: A High School Bully Romance: Hidden Valley Elite Prequel by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Riley and Cole seem like they’re going to be a safe haven to one another through the wild storms their lives bring to them. While from different backgrounds, they both have surprises behind closed doors that no one would guess at.
Riley, a con artist teen who is used to moving frequently, changing her appearance to blend in and who learned everything she knows from her mom, is a teen wondering what her mom has up her sleeve this time. They have moved again to a new location, and she still hasn’t switched her appearance to fit in with the crowd. However, she has never lived close to a beach before and takes advantage of spending as much time as she wants wandering and thinking. While on a stroll, she caught sight of a house party and found her way in to get a sense of the crowd. She meets Cole as she tries to filch something small to make herself feel more comfortable.
Cole, a local rich kid with everything people could imagine they’d want, has a lot of skeletons in his closet. He is attending the party at his cousins house that Riley sneaks into from the beach. As he catches her coming out of one of the upstairs rooms, he corners her. Inexplicably, they’re both feeling a strong draw and wild attraction to one another.
As the story progresses, you see more about how resilient and tough these teens are, and the screwed up things that can be happening that no one else realizes. This was an excellent way to introduce the series and I can’t wait to read deeper into their stories and watch their relationship build!
Saving the Bellydancer by Debra Parmley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Saving the Bellydancer was alright. It’s the author’s return to the Green Brotherhood. These books are typically shorter. They also work just as well as standalone novels. I’ve read the others and though this one is good, I can say it’s not my favorite one. You may feel differently so don’t let that deter you. Maybe even let it make you consider reading the two that came before it.
Cutter is a live in the moment guy when it comes to women. Quick, easy, move on type of guy. Doesn’t want to be tied down, despite his grandma’s urging. But having a conversation with Mrs. Brown at his fellow Navy Seals wedding makes him reevaluate his self and life.
Zarifah is newly single, after leaving her abusive ex-fiancé. Trying to protect herself and navigate life back to what it once was for her. When she consumed herself in dancing and gymnastics. Her ex started to pull her away from that, so now it’s time to find her center. What she didn’t expect to find was a gorgeous Navy Seal who can speak flowers. A man who could potentially protect her from her past but who also sees her as well.
Does Cutter have to protect her?
Are they free to know one another no issues?
That and many more questions come to mind while reading. Some of those went unanswered for me, but that could be from the shorter nature of the story. Plus its extras weren’t necessarily central to the main plot line. The author did what was needed to give you start to end. With a solid plot.
Grace Under Fire by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Grace Anderson is having a hard time. She has just lost her best friend to suicide and now she must buy out her parent’s farm ten years earlier than originally planned. Her neighbor and best friend’s brother Ryan Wilson comes back to town to flip his mother’s farm property and leave, he blames himself for his brother’s suicide and doesn’t want any attachments. Of course, fate has a hand and Grace has to turn to Ryan for help.
I really enjoyed this book. This is the second book in the Anderson series but I think you can read it as a stand-alone. Ryan and Grace are great together. They have amazing chemistry and I was rooting for them from the start. I really love how the author can weave romance and complex dynamics. This book is well written and a definite page-turner.
The Muffin Shop Murder: A Delilah Crumbworthy Mystery by Holly Tierney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was such a fun cozy mystery. This is the first in the series, and I just couldn’t put it down. It is a great start to a series, and I can’t wait to read more. There were fantastic characters and so many mini stories within the main story. It was very easy to read and follow along because the characters and storyline were well written. I truly can’t wait to read what’s next in this series.
The Man In Black by L.R. Liverpool
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This story is of a young man deciding to change his lifestyle and grow into a different person. By the end of the story will he be the same young boy as the beginning or will he change? L.R. Liverpool did the research and nailed the speech and gave an awesome narrative. If you are into history, cowboy type stories, this is the one for you.
Taylor’s Law by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
After Ella Aderson’s sister, Chrissy dies she finds herself appointed to care for Chrissy’s young daughter, Tessa. Soon she also finds herself going up against Jacon Taylor, a lawyer representing Drew Browning’s, Tessa’s named father, parents who are seeking custody of the young child. Ella finds herself attracted to Jacob but doesn’t know how to handle the attraction being on opposite sides of this case. This book is well written and structured. I really enjoyed the characters. The complex themes in the story are handled beautifully. This was a wonderful read and I really enjoyed the chemistry between Ella and Jacob. Highly recommended.
Grace Under Fire by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Just as good as the first! I jumped right into this one, after reading Taylor’s Law. Once again I was captivated and couldn’t put it down from the moment I picked it up. Another tear jerker, but at least this time I knew Ms. Raines would have me feeling all the emotions. This is so well written you certainly feel like part of the family. Although this is book 2 in the series, it can be read as a stand alone but you would be missing out on a great read if you skip Taylor’s Law.
Taylor’s Law by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An easy and engaging read. I couldn’t put it down once I started.
This is a very sweet love story with relatable lovable characters.
This is a bit more of an emotional read than I have been reading lately but I am so very glad I did. I lost my dad to cancer 16 years ago and I truly try to avoid books that have cancer as part of the story line. This was so very well written and I as emotional as it was to read I truly enjoyed it from beginning to end. I can’t wait to read what happens next.
The Exchange: A Novel by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Exchange is definitely what the title states: A Gripping Psychological Thriller and an Incredible Twist. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I was very wrong. Same moved to LA to become an actress, like many before her. Once she got there, she finds out that the actress life is much harder than it seems and finds it impossible to even get an audition in the big city. I did find the main character, Sam, to be very naïve and seems to constantly put herself into questionable situations. Insert Corey, a charming man who quickly wins Sam over, and then abandons her completely. There are so many questions asked throughout this book, but they do get answered. This was my first read from this author and while I did find a couple spots to be predictable, it was an easy and twisting read that I enjoyed.
Reviewed by @zoltrixes
Amaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an adorable little children’s book. I read it my children and they absolutely loved it. This is about a little girl who loves everything to do with the outdoors and nature. She comes up with an idea that she wants to share with the world. And with the help of friends and family to help with creating this idea she has. This little girl is smart, determined and won’t let anything stop her from doing what she wants to do. The pictures were very detailed and amazingly illustrated.
The Muffin Shop Murder: A Delilah Crumbworthy Mystery by Holly Tierney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Muffin Shop Murder is the first book in the Delilah Crunbworthy series by Holly Tierney. Delilah steps in and takes over a muffin shop formerly owned by the McArdjes in the town of Snowflake and is immediately thrown into the thick of it. She immediately makes new friends and customers. Pretty soon she finds herself involved in the mystery of the young lady that dies in the shop before she took it over. I really enjoyed this book. Delilah is quirky and fun. The townspeople are all very entertaining. This plot is very cozy and is the perfect story for reading a mystery on a cold winter’s day.
Vaughn’s Xena by M.I. Rosegold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow, I had not read anything previously from this author, but that will be changing quickly. This book brought steamy to a whole new level right from the get go. You can feel the attraction between Vaughn and Xena just radiating off of the pages. Not only was this a seriously steamy story, but it was a wonderful romance story that I found myself laughing and then yelling at the characters and then feeling a sense of relief when things would shift again. I absolutely loved her best friend Ron, she was such a great bestie and so hilarious and fun! I loved the interactions between all of the characters and the author did a wonderful job of creating characters that you truly care about. The pacing was well set and definitely ebbed and flowed well. If you are in the mood for an amazing romance with steaminess off the charts, this is the book for you! I can’t wait to read the rest of her work!
Chatroom With A View by Glenn Maynard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The mind of a killer has always fascinated me ! Why do they kill ? What goes through their mind while they’re killing ? How do they feel when someone is begging and pleading for their ? Do they have remorse afterwards but feel justified in what they did ?
This is dark , scary but not just the events taken place but the people themselves , “ victims “ of circumstance to a degree and it’s frightening what can happen to a person when hurt , neglected avoided , abused , unheard , mistreated, misunderstood …..
Troy is very troubled and while his history is tragic I can’t help but ask the question “ why?” You still have a choice , if your parent was an alcoholic or abusive you can change the pattern and not follow suite , I know sometimes it’s just the way life unfolds but if you’re serious enough not to let someone suffer like you did find help 🤷♀️🙈he’s not one of my favourite characters , at all
It might feel like it’s a slow start but be patient it does change but be prepared for a twisted , tense and frightful read . A busy read , but a good read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Arrrgh! Me HATE To Wait! by Mary Evanson Bleckwehl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Arrrgh! Me Hate To Wait! by Mary Bleckwehl. This is such a fun book. I bought it for my 4 year old soon to be 5 nephew and even his 9 year old brother enjoyed it. Its the story of a Pirate Pig who is called Half Pint Porky. She can not wait to attend Pearl of Pork Pirate School. Her older siblings are all there and she just thinks its really unfair that she can’t go yet. When it does become time for her to go she is re thinking this whole thing. Its a bit scary. When she finally goes and makes friends she realizes its not so scary after all. We all loved this story. We laughed several times and the pictures were great. This book would make a great gift for the preschooler in your life and their older siblings might just like it too!
Absolution by Anise Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was a rollercoaster from page 1 to the VERY END! I loved it all.
Dominic Price was absolutely Inlove with his girlfriend, Juliana Rutherford. They were from different social circles. Juliana was a rich princess and Dominic was working at country club where her family attended. They had a great relationship and her father hated it and went as far as having Dominic fired.
One night after the couple gets into an argument, Juliana goes missing. Of
Course Dominic is blamed and even get charged with her disappearance. He vows as of that day, he will do everything in his power to get even with Juliana and her dad thinking they set him up.
Many years later, Dominic has done very well for himself. He doesn’t have to want for anything. He’s got everyone and anyone he will ever need In his pocket.
When Whitney Greene shows up looking exactly like Jules, he hates her and tries anything he can to stay away from her but she is always there. She has some information for him but being she looks
So similar to Jules, he cannot even speak to her without getting angry. She even shows up at one of his private parties and he goes so far to embarrass her. Only she is not Jules. She is Whitney. I don’t even know what to say except you need this book. Who is Jules, who is Whitney, where did Whitney come from and why? Better yet, what happened with Jules and where is she. This book was such an emotional rollercoaster with so many things that you don’t expect. Grab your copy today!
Review by @xchellex
