Obedience by Liza Snow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When I started reading this book, I had really no idea what it was about exactly; this is rarely something I enjoy. I was pleasantly surprised by this book though. I was captivated and drawn in right from the start. This book is dark, twisty, romantic, and suspenseful, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I cannot wait for the next book in this series!
Punk by Leslie Georgeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Miranda and efrem are truly a match made in heaven. Steamy and written beautifully! Perfect to be read as a stand alone with enough details that’s it’s not confusing. Or if you enjoy the popov men read the series. You surely won’t be disappointed.
Dive in head first to read about a smooth talking charmer that makes you weak at the knees and a fiery passionate bombshell female lead. You won’t be disappointed.
Ways to Improve Bailey by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was a great read with amazing character development. Cori does a great job at keeping you thinking and trying to figure out what will happen next.
This book follows the story of Bailey and her friends. Bailey has a history of not always making the best decisions and not being the best version of herself. Her brother comes up with a deal to help make her a better version of herself.
Tanner Banner is an enigma. He is a young man in his early twenties teaching a college-level math course. He also dresses in a way that would be offputting for any woman. He also does not say much and is super outspoken.
What happens when the mysterious guy meets the over-chatty girl? Will they become friends or will their differences keep them away from each other? What happens when the mystery is over and she finds out who he really is? Read to find out.
Cecily in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book follows the story of Cecily and her tales from the big city. Cecily is a woman looking for her big break and to get out of her small town in Michigan. When an opportunity arises in the same city as her boyfriend, who would turn that down?
With her big break comes a lot of interactions and other tasks that take her out of her comfort zone. When you are trying to break into a highly sought-after career field like modeling and acting you need to do a lot to keep up. With the support of family, she is off to try to make her dreams a reality.
Dex is a musician trying to break into the American music scene. He meets Cecily when she comes to work with him for a video. He is used to people lying and pretending to be something they aren’t. Yet Cecily is honest even with the chance of hurting his feelings, a breath of fresh air.
What happens when you bring a small-town girl to a city that never sleeps? Will it change her for the better or turn her into a completely different person? What happens when a chance to gain experience in the industry leads to rumors?
Hope and Lies: The Abredea Series Book One by C.H. Lyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 Stars
Hope and Lies is the first book in the Abredea series by C.H. Lyn. This is the first book that I have read by this author, and after reading this I am so glad to have stumbled on her book because she brings something a little different to the table. This gave me some ‘Hunger Games’ vibes- but with its own unique ‘identity’ and feel.
It is a dystopian fantasy with superb world building, a caste system, abilities, a post-apocalyptic setting, rebellion, a battle for equality and justice, secrets, revenge, agendas, action, adventure, drama, danger, self-discovery, family, friendship, politics, corruption, grief, loss, heartache, betrayal, emotion, and hope.
The story is told from several points of view, which gave the story greater depth and interest for me- the pov’s give us a much broader perspective so we can fully appreciate what is going on. It’s a complex and multi-layered story that weaves multiple threads and timelines into one engrossing read.
Looking forward to continuing this series, as well as exploring more of this talented authors work in the near future.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, C.H. Lyn!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Fee, Fi, Fo, Grow!: The Real Magic of the Beans by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lois Wickstrom is wonderful at telling children’s tales and this is yet another example of that. A retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, this book will teach children that everyone has situations that they may need help with. Great story with great illustrations that will teach a wonderful lesson to those who read it. I really enjoy sharing the books by Lois Wickstrom with my kids and my friends.
People Safari by Feather Chelle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This story is wonderfully written, the illustrations are fantastic and the plot will draw you in and have you following along all to learn about the People that live in the Town. The animals are the main characters in this story that has you learning about who “people” are and why they don’t live in the wild like the animals. Very clever and will have you following along as we learn all about people.
Euphoric Wonderland: An Eclectic Collection of Psychedelic Poetry to Stimulate the Senses and Open the Mind by Ryan M. Becker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
While I am not a huge fan of Poetry, I found this book to be very interesting to say the least. This book is filled with music and pop culture references and will have you stopping to think. Full of rhymes and the colours that just pop off the pages. I highly recommend this book just to open your mind. Great book of poems.
Fireflies by A.R. Hadley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lots of sex along with some complicated relationships. You definitely need to be open-minded to enjoy, but if you are, you won’t regret it. While the story was complete, I do wish it had gone more in-depth. There was definitely room to expand on the tiny little details that you want to know. Still a good read which I would recommend.
Fireflies by A.R. Hadley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is written amazingly well. I fell in love with Mike and Dane and their love for each other. (Despite the fact that my first and second husbands were named Mike and Dane, yes ironic I know) I have a dear friend who lives the “poly” lifestyle and it was very interesting to read more about how the couples (even in fictional literature) make these relationships work. The personalities of Mike and Dane are really well written, you will definitely want to keep turning pages and reading about how they make their twosome a family. It’s so well written and will capture your attention within a couple pages.
This is the first book in this series, and let me tell you it was definitely and adventure worth taking with Tally and the hard Ian angel, Jopheil. The reader is introduced to Tally right after she lost her mom who she was really close to. Her father takes her on a trip to India where Tally makes new friends and faces more challenges. Jopheil is woven throughout the story in bits of the journey. This book was out of my normal zone of reading, but I loved it! It is nice to read a book about a different culture and learn a little more about other people in the process. This is a great book that can bring a strong connection for those who have lost loved ones and the struggles that you face.
Cecily in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the third book in this series and even though it is not recommended to read as stand-alones, I read this book and fell in love with the characters and the plot. There may be some things I missed from the first two books (which I now plan on going back and reading) but I honestly didn’t miss it. Cecily is doing big things in her life. This story will have you turning the pages to find out how she does it and all that she deals with along the way. LOVED this book and will be reading the first two just to tie it all together.
Sleeping Love by Natalina Reis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed the premise of this book. A true loves kiss, is it enough? There was a good mix of adventure and romance that kept your attention. I felt like I really got to know the three main characters but the foreground characters were lost in the mix. All in all, a really interesting story that was a super quick read.
The Guardian of Whispers by B.E. Padgett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 Stars
This was a fun story to read….and perfect for the younger middle school ages and even for adults as well. The author took me on an adventure with mystery, intrigue, special gifts and I love the bond of the twins Jon and Frank. I am already looking forward to more in this series.
Jon and Frank are normal twin boys with a loving family and siblings. Jon is more of the adventurous and not afraid to stir up a little trouble, while his twin brother, Frank, definitely more quiet and laid back. When the time comes….the twins start to notice some changes…and their parents take note as well….the boys are truly special. Needing to hone in on their gifts and the rules that apply… Jon and Frank are sent to a special school for children whom have different special gifts.
What comes with these special gifts is learning how and when to use them….but when Jon is in trouble when a special relic goes missing…..will Frank, McClery and friends be able to clear Jon’s name?
What a fun read!
The Guardian of Whispers by B.E. Padgett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a fun read! My 11-year-old daughter and I read this one together, and we both really enjoyed it! I think the story flows flawlessly and draws you into what the twins, Frank and Jon, are going through. I really enjoyed the imagery created around the Perceptually Gifted West Hills School as well. I feel like I would have read this even without my daughter, so we can’t wait for The Reeds of West Hills series to continue!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
I really enjoyed Helpful Hudson by Dannielle Pickford because teaches children that it is okay to take time for themselves. Hudson always enjoys helping others. In fact he does a great job helping his family, that is until one day he doesn’t feel like helping. Everyone tries to figure out what is wrong, and when they discover that he needs help, they all do things to help make him feel better. I love that the story shows children that it is ok to need and ask for help. I think that there is so much pressure on children and adults alike that we all need the reminder that it is okay to ask for help. This story has beautiful illustrations and a wonderful message, and I would recommend it to anyone who has young children or works with them. If you work at a school, you can talk to children about helping others and identifying when they need help. You can also teach about how to go about asking for help and how to help others.
The Guardian of Whispers by B.E. Padgett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What would you do if a mysterious doctor showed up at your house and wanted to examine you and your twin brother? Then your parents start acting strangely, secretive even and they won’t let him check you out. This is exactly how Jon and Frank Reed’s adventure begins in the book The Guardian of Whispers (The Reeds of West Hills Book 1) by B. E. Padgett. This is an engaging tale of twin brothers who find out they have “gifts.” Both brothers have a hard time adjusting to and controlling their “gifts” aka powers. Deciding they needed help learning to control them, their parents sent them to a boarding school in Washington where their mom went when she needed to learn to control her power. So not only do they have to adjust to new powers, but also to a new place, and new people thousands of miles away from their big family.
I’m well over the 9-12 year old intended target age for this book but I really enjoyed it immensely! The characters are fun, realistic, and well-written; this helped the story flow nicely. The author has woven a magical tale that will leave you wanting more! I can’t wait to read the next installment and see what other adventures await Jon and Frank Reed.
Sleeping Love by Natalina Reis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
YES! I absolutely LOVED this different view of Sleeping Beauty and how the author made it their own. I have enjoyed other books by Natalina Reis but was still unprepared for how much I was going to fall for this one. The flow of the story took me a little bit to get used to, but once I found the rhythm there was just no letting go. I love the characters and how deeply invested I became throughout the book. I can’t wait to see what our amazing author has in store for us next!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Lap Baby: Emotional Women’s Fiction by Amy Q. Barker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5 stars
This book is so well written and will pull at all of your heart strings. The beginning was a little slow for me. But once it picked up, it picked up! This is such a great read.
Euphoric Wonderland: An Eclectic Collection of Psychedelic Poetry to Stimulate the Senses and Open the Mind by Ryan M. Becker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
For some reason I don’t particularly enjoy reading books that contain poetry so I don’t usually pick them up but 9/10 times I’m always pleasantly surprised by how much I really end up liking to read them, which was the case with this book. Ryan Beckers book of poetry was unique, original, and was also very visually appealing too with the colors and designs that were used throughout.
Editor Kill Fee by G.G. Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the third book in The Taylor Browning Cozy Mysteries. Although this I part of a series, the book can be read as a stand alone book. Just keep in mind that you might want to read the first two books in the series ones you’re done with this treasure. This story had me reading faster to see what Taylor and her cats uncover as they search for what happened to Anita. This mystery has dangerous roads, a back story of people gone missing, and so much more.
The author did a great job of world building and the characters kept the story interesting even when a character might not be my cup of tea! I’m looking forward to reading the first two books in the series.
Fee, Fi, Fo, Grow!: The Real Magic of the Beans by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A modern twist to Jack and the Beanstalk. This book was well written and illustrated. My 8-year-old son enjoyed it, as did I.
Sleeping Love by Natalina Reis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
New author for me and I wasn’t disappointed! I love a good friends to lover book. Book was full of twists and i loved the characters! Great retelling of sleeping beauty and I loved every single page! I’ll be reading more books by Natalina! Beautiful read and I highly recommend!
Cecily in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was the first time I had read a book by this author and read it as a standalone as well. I am going to pick up the previous books in the series as well because this was a super fun read! I feel like the characters are incredibly relatable and the flow of the book was wonderful. I sped through this in one afternoon because I was completely engrossed in this world.
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Fee, Fi, Fo, Grow!: The Real Magic of the Beans by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Another wonderful story by Lois Wickstrom! My kiddos and I absolutely loved this spin on a much-loved children’s book. The illustrations are beautiful, and all of the dialogue leaves room for scientific discussions that we had fun with. I also liked that kindness played a very important role in this story. I highly recommend picking this one up and sitting with the young ones in your life to read it together!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Sleeping Love by Natalina Reis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is my third Reis book and I just love how she mixes her elements of fantasy with a whirlwind of romance! Love this book just as much! Part sleeping beauty aspects mixed in with dark magic overtaking a kingdom and it is up to Ayo and Yi to figure out how to help the situation. Along with a group of people that they meet and connect with throughout the story, the story takes the reader through secrets and betrayal, rediscovery, and fighting for what you love. If you’re a Reis fan or simply love fantasy type stories, give this one a try! It would be worth it!
Cecily in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read this book without reading the first two in the series. I feel like this book can be read alone, but readers would probably benefit from reading the first two books. I felt the writing was good, especially the dialogue and communication between characters.
Cecily Taylor Damone wants to be with her boyfriend, Andrew, and also have a successful acting career. Throughout their relationship, jealously threatens to keep Cecily and Andrew apart. I dislike how jealous the two characters are, but this is a young adult romance and I feel the characters are portrayed well for being young adults. I enjoyed this read even though I am much older than young adults. I look forward to seeing what is in store for Cecily in the next book.
Cecily in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is such a fantastic read, I found it not knowing it was book 3. I still read it and I loved it. It is on the shorter side but it is worth it. I couldn’t put it down. The characters are so well written and the storyline is wonderful. I am not going to lie even though I am way past the YA age I still read books from that category. The writing is different and more relatable. I’m definitely going to go back and read the other books and whatever else the author has written.
People Safari by Feather Chelle My rating: 5 of 5 stars Absolutely adorable! Both my niece and nephew loved the story, especially since it’s from an animals point of view. […]
Cecily in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Love this series. Cecily has been asked to look into working with a new up and coming designer in New York during Christmas break. Her dad says if she keeps her grades up he will think about it. Her pop star boyfriend Andrew is still having issues with his writing and is unsure if his newest album will be put out or not. Will her dreams of becoming a model come true with this chance in New York?
