Kneading a Winning Idea by Terri Sabol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Great story about not giving up! I love that Ben kept trying out new recipes to find out what would make his biscuits different from he year before and better. Sofia encourages him, which is what we all should do in a competition, encourage each other. I can’t wait to try out the recipe at the end of the book! Beautiful art work and story.
What an inspirational story of a mom who wants to fight to save the community that she calls her hometown. Sue Cleary retires from being a forensic accountant for the sake of raising her four sons and wants to help save her community from the evils of the politicians. Sue tackles the world of social media with the assistance of friends and family and creates a podcast in order to spread the word about what is going on. What a great, heartwarming book to listen to, it is so inspirational that we can make a difference in the world by doing our part and spreading the word about the woes of the community we see happening. Sue refused to stand by and watch as her hometown tried to become a tourist trap for travelers instead of the community she knew and loved. This was a great book to listen to while I was at home relaxing, or any time I was in the car driving around, or even riding as a passenger. What a great option it is to be able to enjoy the tale of a great book, and what a wonderful job they did with the volume and sound recording, in getting the characters to shine through with their personalities. Kathryn Dodson has written a wonderful book; I am looking forward to hearing more from her in the near future.
@Brandy Rymer
11/2023
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56471764-lies-that-bind” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Lies That Bind: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book 6 (Logan McKenna Series)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609268630l/56471764._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56471764-lies-that-bind”>Lies That Bind: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book 6</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5872901.Valerie_Davisson”>Valerie Davisson</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5950661242″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Logan and Ben have recently bought a fixer upper vacation home on the Oregon Coast. Things are coming along nicely when she receives an email from her half sister Olivia stating that she would like to meet up while she in town on business for a few days. While anticipating Olivia’s arrival her reporter friend gets a call about a dead body found at The Collins hotel. The deceased is Charlotte “Charlie” Collin, 32 years old and in perfect health. Logan finds herself pulled into this mysterious case for two reasons: firstly the home she recently bought was purchased from the deceased woman’s fiancé. Second: the first time she saw her sister in person was when she was being questioned by police. Was this a suicide or murder? Who would have a reason to kill this young woman? Was it her fiancé or someone unknown?<br />Another great Logan McKenna adventure down. This character attracts trouble almost as soon as she walks out her front door, but her knack for being able to find the ins and outs of a case make up for it. This is one series that I have liked from the start and I hope there are more books to come.
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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/106111308-charlisa-wahtomy-alba”>View all my reviews</a>
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow! Amazing! This book is written differently than the others in the series, but it was so well done! It’s a love story, a brotherhood, a passing of the torch, and growing old story. Hits home in every aspect. No matter who you are, something in this book will draw you in. Beautiful story telling, as always. Wonderful characters, many emotions, and several different perspectives that everyone can relate to.
The Cold Kid Case: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Stars
The Cold Kid Case is the first book in the Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery series by Rosalind Barden. It is an historical cozy mystery set in the 1930’s Las Angeles with a spunky, street smart, precocious tween named Sparky as our MC.
I love cozy mysteries, and this promised something a little different, so I was intrigued by what I might find under the cover.
Sparky takes us on a crime and investigation adventure when she becomes a murder suspect and has to work to clear her name. The story contains all the historical detailing, language, sights, and societal norms that you would expect from that era- it is richly detailed, and the descriptions are quite ‘visual’, and the characters are many and varied- but all are quirky and ‘colourful’. The author definitely did a great job of bringing everything to life.
From murder to mobsters, movie stars, and a little mayhem this turned out to be an intriguing and fun read.
Looking forward to ‘The Cannibal Caper’ (Book #2) and ‘Monkey Island Murder’ (Book #3).
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Rosalind Barden!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Detective Dylan and the Case of the Missing Mail: A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series by MJ Murray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 Stars
Detective Dylan and the Case of the Missing Mail is the first book in A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series, and debut novel, by M.J. Murray.
Budding detective Dylan is on the case when his neighbour’s mail goes missing. With the help of his sister, Emily, and their dog Theodore, these sleuths are determined to solve their first case. What ensues makes for a fun read.
This is a children’s chapter book with an easy to read and understand plot that captures the imagination by engaging the reader with a fun story that contains some ‘learning’ opportunities along the way. There are some fun, black and white, illustrations sprinkled throughout that help inspire the imagination.
This is aimed at children who are just starting to read ‘chapter books’ on their own, or with help- and contains a few ‘harder’ words to challenge them as they read (Reading Tier 2). There are also lessons in problem solving, working together, perseverance, taking initiative, finding ‘clues’, family, friendship, and more.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, M.J. Murray!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Vanishing Day: A Logan McKenna Mystery/Thriller Logan Book 4 by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the 4th book of the series. It was so good! Logan become friend with a neighbor that just moved in with her three-year-old daughter. Her neighbor, Lori is hiding from her dangerous husband things take a turn when her husband shows up. can’t wait to read the rest.
Shattered: Logan Book 1 by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is the first of the series. I am hooked! Logan just lost her husband in car crash and found out her husband was having an affair. A murder in the middle of a festival and her friend being accused, has Logan diving in to clear her name.
Lies That Bind: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book 6 by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is book 6 of the series. It is great just like all the others. It just keeps getting better and better. Moving on with life, she bought a house that needs some work with Ben. Like always she finds her self in the midst of a murder. I can’t wait to read the next.
Forest Park: Logan Book 2 by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the second book of the series. It was awesome! Logan is recently widowed. There is a murder outside of their hotel room. The point of view changes, it gives you different perspectives.
Once again this author has us delving into the world of the Satan’s Devils MC and finding happiness. There is such a feeling of home and friendship each time I hop into this world. Sure the characters are rough and grumbly. This may not be everyone’s idea of family. But through each and every book I have read or heard in this series, love, friendship, family are the overarching themes. They, down to every last man, do what they need to do for the ones they love, including their brothers.
This one was unique as it is told through a series of flashbacks as two of the mainstay characters reflect on the past. Drummer and Peg tell this story. As I listened, I came to realize that this was the series ender, at least of this chapter. So let me set the stage.
Truck had gotten patched in and was off doing his firefighting duty in California. Truck was injured on the job. He returned to Arizona but not to the club. He has put off seeing everyone.
Allie has been at the Club for going on 10 years. Not that she hasn’t enjoyed the life that being with the Club has offered her but she is realizing that she might want something more. She isn’t looking to be an Old Lady, she just doesn’t want to be what she is anymore. When the Club members start noticing that she hasn’t been fulfilling all of her club duties, Drummer calls her into his office and has a discussion.
Allie is tasked with a special job. Reach out to Truck and see if she can talk to him. Get him to come back to the club. When Allie does make contact with Truck, it only highlights that Allie doesn’t want to be what she is anymore. There has to be something else for her in this life.
This is where I wanted to smack some sense into Truck. The way he talks to and about Allie. UGH!!! I get it. I do. But, just ugh! Luckily for both myself and Allie, one of the brothers manages to talk some sense into Truck. *insert happy dance here!* But even after getting what you want, life isn’t all rainbow colored candy and beer. Each, Truck and Allie, make some life-altering decisions that have ripple-effect consequences.
In the end, Truck and Allie find their version of happiness. If I haven’t mentioned it before, I love, love, love this series. I have slowly started branching out the other chapters and 2nd Gen, but my heart will always be true to the mother chapter. One day, I will learn to ride a motorcycle or get some really good AI app, and ride off into the sunset with these characters. Until then, I will slowly add book after book to my library!! Satan’s Devils ride together!! Ride Satan’s Devils!!!
Truck Stopped by Manda Mellet is your typical motorcycle club Romance with lots of twists, turns, and lots of unexpected events. Manda Mellets writing is up there with the greats for this genre. This is book 11 in the Satans Devils MC and apparently the last book in the series. Truck is a veteran and a firefighter, recently inducted into the Satans Devils MC, who is severely injured during a fire. He is struggling so much that no one can reach him. The club sends in Allie, a “sweet butt” of the club, to try and reason with him because things were “different” between them than just biker and sweet butt, wasn’t it? Truck can’t quite believe it and Allie feels like he’s a lost cause, but is he? I ran the gamut of emotions with this one. I loved Truck, and then I thought he was a jerk, in nice terms, but he was able to be redeemed. Allie had been through an immense amount of crap and she was able to maintain a good outlook on life which I admired. The audiobook was performed really well, voices for each of the characters, and I didn’t want to stop listening. I have a hard time listening to audiobooks usually, I zone out, lose time, or have to back track, but this one pulled me in and it didn’t let go until the end. I had to listen through headphones most of the time due to the 18+ content and having kids but I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Truck Stopped.
Kneading a Winning Idea by Terri Sabol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Beautiful and fluffy. This book was beautiful and honestly not the best thing to read while hungry. Lol. I love how it has Ben sticking to what he loves to make as he learns a “new” way of making it the try and finally win first place over Sofia. It’s always the simple differences that make all the change and love how Miss Kitty is his inspiration to try something new. The recipe at the back yes please I will certainly be trying it soon.
Whisper Creek by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have read one Valerie Davisson book before and I enjoyed it so I figured this one would be just as good. I wasn’t really disappointed but I definitely need to get caught up on the rest of the stories in her series. All the characters are the same and are great but I did feel I missed a lot by not reading all the books leading to this one. So make sure to read the series start to finish first!
Ross: Central Florida Stories by Victoria Saccenti
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Ross: Central Florida Stories can be read alone or as part of the series! After reading it I will be going back to read the others! It kept my attention and felt fresh. I had not discovered this author before reading this story!
Rise of the Y by Angela D. Shelton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely love this book! It helps that it is my favorite genre. I am all for dystopian reads and this one did not disappoint. You read from Lexi’s point of view and she has so much character growth. Even though she was so naive about how things are, she still felt something was off. I could definitely see this happening in real life. You may think you have the storyline figured out but then the author hits you with another plot twist. I was not expecting the ending at all and am looking forward to book 2 even more now. I also really like the cover of the book and the way the author writes. I plan to look up more books from her, even the other genres she writes. I wanted to hurry and finish the book to see the ending but then was sad it was over! I will definitely be reading book 2!
Kneading a Winning Idea by Terri Sabol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a cute book about a young man who is ready to enter a baking contest. He makes really good biscuits, but they are pretty basic and not “good enough” to win the contest. With the encouragement of his dad, who becomes his taste tester, he finds the perfect recipe for his biscuits.
This book is about practice and perseverance. It would be a great teaching tool for a young child experiencing life’s difficulties. It could be a great encouragement if read to them/with them by someone who would become their “taste tester” and cheerleader in life.
Arriving Home by Chelsea Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Both of the main characters in this book have a past they are trying to heal from. Elijah is a best selling romance author who is in the middle of a writing block. His latest book is very personal and he is reeling from a few bad reviews. So, he follows the advice of his therapist and books a spot at a writing retreat. Austin has recently been hired as the head chef at the resort where the writing retreat is located. He works a lot and keeps saving to send his mom and sister money. Then he sees Elijah staring at a blank screen and avoiding all of the other authors who are excited to mingle, so he introduces himself. They start talking, taking walks around the resort, and open up one night in the hot tub. They both have a past that they are trying to avoid talking about and that they are trying to heal from. Austin needs a place to stay for the Christmas break and he talks Elijah into taking him home as his fake boyfriend. Austin tries to help Elijah heal and Austin is starting to understand what a family should be like. This was a good read and a sweet romance with a bit of spice!
My Big Red Monster by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I honestly love Lois Wickstrom’s children’s books not just for my kids but for me. They are always so nicely illustrated and such wonderful stories that have a neat little twist. I know as a mom of two little boys I would love to have a monster under my bed that has to do whatever task I tell him to do, that does it in a whirl and it’s done. The ending made me hope that another book would be about the girl’s brother finding the “they don’t exist” monster under his bed. Lol
Murder at the Wedding by Christine Knapp
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a fun fast paced read that kept my attention from start to finish! I look forward to the rest of the series. From the very beginning I tried to solve the mystery as I read and never felt bored with the story! The characters were cute and relatable!
My Big Red Monster by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
My daughter always loves these books! There are such a cute read and always age appropriate. Its a bonus how much I enjoy them as an adult!
The Christmas Carousel by K.L. Small
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Christmas Carousel is book Two in The Brass Ring Series. It is a kids book that delivers a powerful message about the true meaning of Christmas. Rusty is back with the magic ring his grandpa gave him but the magic carousel in the park is shut down for winter. He finds a small Christmas themed carousel in the mall and decides to ride each of the different animals. To be able to afford each ride Rusty shovels snow in his neighbor’s driveways. He wants to go on adventures on the Christmas carousel while also saving money to buy his family gifts. During each of his rides he learns about the true meaning of Christmas and receives the powerful message that Christmas is about love. The character of Rusty is well written, and I love the special bond that he has with his grandfather. The author does a great job of creating vivid, magical scenes that fully immerse you into the story alongside the characters. I am a huge fan of this wonderful series and believe it delivers an important message for readers of all ages. I highly recommend this book!
Lies That Bind by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Valerie Davisson is a new to me author and I have caught myself picking up a fantastic sounding book in the middle of a series. Lies that bind drew me in with such an interesting premise from the blurb of the book and it definitely delivered. There is lots of mystery, danger, and Intrigue. I’ve come to understand the main character has had a lot of unfortunate events occur but as I haven’t read the other books in the series I cannot fully attest to this. I also feel like could be read as a stand-alone but the characters continue on from the others books also so they are connected a little bit throughout the series. Lies that bind was engaging, definitely kept me guessing, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Great read.
My Big Red Monster by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is another cute fast read by Lois Wickstrom! It is packed with bright, colorful, detailed illustrations that help you visualize the scenes and get more involved in the story. The Giants and Monsters Series Books can be read as standalone, but they are all cute and entertaining, so I’d suggest reading them all. This is the third in the series.
My Big Red Monster is a fun children’s story about a girl who is afraid of the monster under her bed. After the monster taunts her about doing bad things unless she gives him jobs to do, she finally confronts the monster and stands up to him, allowing herself to overcome her fear. She then sends the monster to her brother’s room, because he didn’t believe her when she told him she had a monster under the bed, so hopefully now he will see for himself.
Lies That Bind: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book 6 by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lies That Bind is Book Six in the Logan McKenna Mystery series. It is a crime thriller full of drama, intrigue, action, mystery, and suspense. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I do recommend reading previous books in this series to get Logan’s backstory. Logan’s latest adventure finds her meeting long lost family members, buying a fixer-upper with her boyfriend, and trying to solve a mysterious death. Through a series of confessions and old journals Logan discovers some long-buried secrets that put her life in danger. I loved the characters that were introduced in this book and found each one of them relatable. Of course, Logan remains my favorite because of her strength, determination, and courage in the face of danger. I loved how the author took us back in time throughout the book to a different era. I cannot wait to see what Logan’s next adventure will be!
Lies That Bind by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lies That Bind: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book 6 (Logan McKenna Series)
I seem to stick to the same genre once I have found one I like whether it be books or music, I know what I like and have a hard time trying something out of my norm. This book is definitely out of my norm and I throughly enjoyed it.
It was a little hard for me to keep up sometimes since I was not caught up on the series but it ended up making sense to me in the end.
The murder of Charlie Collins was a fascinating mystery for me. Something bugged the back of my brain until all of the information was revealed. Though I was unable to put it all together I was quite close.
I definitely need to go back and read the earlier books and then this one again to see if it’s different with the full history.
Definitely recommend reading the book and series.
SAFE HARBOR: Logan Book 5 by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Safe Harbor is Book five in the Logan Mckenna Mystery Series. It is a crime thriller packed with action, mystery, intrigue, loss, angst, and drama. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I do recommend reading previous books in the series to get Logan’s backstory. This time around Logan’s life is going well and she feels content. She goes on vacation with her family to the coast of Oregon and they are having a peaceful, much deserved vacation when a murder takes place in the small community. Suddenly Logan is confronted with her past after becoming the prime suspect in a murder investigation. Not only must Logan try to prove her innocence, but she is faced with having to make a difficult decision. This was yet another fantastic book in this series with great characters and an intriguing storyline. The descriptions of the Oregon coast were vivid and made me feel as though I was there with Logan and her family. Looking forward to the next book!
Arriving Home by Chelsea Lauren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am a sucker for a well written male male or MM romance. Not to mention I am a Halloween girlie so for a holiday romance to grab me is a challenge in itself. Also please there is some triggering content so check out other reviews to make sure it is right for you. I really liked this and the characters Elijah and Austin will have you happy kicking your feet.
Reviews by @michellerenee6590
Vanishing Day: A Logan McKenna Mystery/Thriller Logan Book 4 by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Vanishing Day is Book Four in the Logan McKenna Mystery Series. It is a crime thriller with mystery, action, drama, suspense, and intrigue. Although this book could be read as a standalone, I do recommend that previous books in the series be read first in order to know more about Logan and her backstory. This book will leave you on the edge of your seat as Logan is once again facing danger as she tries to help her new neighbor after she was viciously attacked and left for dead. The three-year-old daughter of the young woman was the sole witness to the attack, but it leaves little for the local police to go on. Logan steps in to help the woman and her young daughter but quickly realizes the woman is not who she says she is, and this puts her life in danger, along with that of the woman and her daughter. I love this series and the character of Logan. She is smart, feisty, strong, courageous and determined. This book takes some twists and turns that will have you reading until the end. Looking forward to the next book in this amazing series!
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Olivia is a woman in her 40’s going through menopause and is CEO of her own business. She has recently been invited to her ex husbands wedding in Belize and her kids are just hoping she will go. After giving in and saying she will go her daughter decides she needs to be set up with a fake date so that she isn’t a laughing stock at the wedding. Holly, Olivia’s daughter and Hannah her roommate have decided that Olivia needs to be set up with Hannah’s dad, Roman LaFontaine. Roman is a professional hockey player for the Florida Storm Chasers. A fake date for her ex husbands wedding, what could possibly go wrong? Especially with both of them being big names in the public. Could she just keep this a casual week of pretending to date Roman or will she begin to fall for him?
