Secrets at the Cafe: A Novel of Suspense about Family and Friendship by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Carla Clemmons

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Secrets at the CafeSecrets at the Cafe by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have just recently started to really enjoy this type of genre! This author did not disappoint with this thriller. I really enjoy the writing style as this is the second book of hers I have read. They have a way of keeping you interested without being overly descriptive. Karina is not completely sure of who she can trust and keeps running into dead ends as she searches for her grandmother’s diary. Along with the cafe it was left to her when her grandmother passed and Karina was told to read it and take care of the cafe as her grandmother’s dying wish. So when the diary goes missing it becomes a frantic search to find out who took it and why. Is there more in the diary than just her grandmother’s thoughts? With lots of twists in the story and secrets being revealed this book will definitely keep you interested!

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Triple Trouble at Amberwood (The Amberwood Hall Ballet School Series) by Eleanor Dixon – Review by Julie Johnson

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Triple Trouble at Amberwood: A fast-paced middle-grade story set in a ballet boarding school haunted by friendly ghosts (Amberwood Hall Ballet School)Triple Trouble at Amberwood: A fast-paced middle-grade story set in a ballet boarding school haunted by friendly ghosts by Eleanor Dixon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I dove into book 4 of this series having not read any of the previous books. This book is geared more towards 8-12 year olds but most, if not all, age groups would enjoy this book. It took me a minute to get into the story and I think it’s because I did not have a back story going into it since I skipped the first three books. However, I found this to be an enjoyable read.

There are ghosts lurking around Amberwood Hall. Some are friendlier than others and it’s up to Lauren and her friends to figure out what’s causing things to go awry at different times. When the big production at the end of the year is cancelled, there is suspicion as to who might be behind the reason.

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Wicked Ends: A Dark College Bully Romance (Hidden Valley Elite Series, Book 8 ) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Elisha Johnson

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Wicked Ends (Hidden Valley Elite #8)Wicked Ends by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wicked Ends: A Dark College Bully Romance (Hidden Valley Elite) by Isla Vaughn- 5 out of 5 stars

This is the final book in the the Hidden Valley Elite series. What an amazing end to this knock-out series! This author truly put their all into the characters, with their intrigue and personalities all being so unique; I love how all of these books can be read as stand alones just as well as back to back. Winter and Shane faced their own ghosts, healed from their past traumas, and steamed things up between the two of them. This book was very hard to put down. I highly recommend reading this book.

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Mission Target (Jake Wolfe Thrillers Book 7) by Mark Nolan – Review by Elisha Johnson

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Mission Target (Jake Wolfe, # 7)Mission Target by Mark Nolan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mission Target (Jake Wolfe Thrillers Book 7) by Mark Nolan- 5 out of 5 stars

This is the seventh book in this dynamic series. The bond that Cody and Jake have is undeniable. This is my first time reading a book from this author so I will definitely need to go back and and read from the beginning. I look forward to reading the books prior to this one as well as any that the author may come out with. I highly recommend this series.

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The Cannibal Caper (Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery Series) by Rosalind Barden – Review by Elisha Johnson

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The Cannibal Caper: A Sparky of Bunker Hill MysteryThe Cannibal Caper: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Cannibal Caper: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden- 4 out of 5 stars

Second book in this series and Sparky is back only this time she is dealing with a cannibal that has sophisticated tastes. With such great attention to detail, this author time travels you back to 1930’s Los Angeles. You truly feel like you are sleuthing right alongside Sparky. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next. I highly recommend this book.

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Secrets at the Café: A Novel of Suspense about Family and Friendship by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Darla Yocom

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Secrets at the CafeSecrets at the Cafe by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Karina is struggling with her life at the moment. She’s attempting to run her grandmother’s cafe to honor her memory. Keeping up with the day to day responsibilities at the cafe s a lot and she is trying to make her grandmother proud after her unexpected deathbed request. When her unreliable and flaky cousin is more focused on her love life than covering her entire shift, life gets a bit exhausting.

When a mysterious diary is uncovered by a nosey guest and then mysteriously disappears, the mysterious plot thickens.

I really enjoyed how well the author wrote and created the characters in this book. While the characters differ on most fronts, all come across the page as authentic and quite unique.

The dynamic plot has a bit of everything to keep the reader engaged throughout the entire story.

You do not need to be a fan of this genre or author to pick up this book, fall in love with the story and become an instant fan of both.

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Jade: Hidden Scars: A Forbidden Age-Gap Romance (Book 1) by A. Akinosho – Review by Elisha Johnson

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Hidden Scars (Jade #1)Hidden Scars by A. Akinosho
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jade: Hidden Scars: A Forbidden Age-Gap Romance (book 1) by A. Akinosho- 4 out of 5 stars

This book had an interesting dynamic about it. The main characters trauma bonded in a way, healed eachother some how, and then fell in love. The plot and storyline are well written. Overall, this is pretty good and I look forward to reading the next. I highly recommend this book.

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A Christmas Amish Courtship (Amish Courtship Series) by Jennifer Spredemann – Review by Elisha Johnson

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The Cold Kid Case: A Sparky of Bunker Hill MysteryThe Cold Kid Case: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Cold Kid Case – A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden- 4 out of 5 stars

My first read from this author and I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It revolves around an 11 year old named Sparky who is accused of murder. Sparky has to stay undercover to be able to clear her name, but can she do it? I love books that are in a historical setting but this one has a great storyline and attention to detail as well. I highly recommend this book.

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Raining Fish and Frogs by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shannen Kern

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Raining Fish and FrogsRaining Fish and Frogs by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Everyone in my family absolutely LOVES all of Lois Wickstrom’s books! We always learn something in a fun and imaginative way. This author could never write too many books because we are always clamoring for more! This story was incredibly informative in a wonderfully whimsical way. The illustrations were also beautiful and added depth to the story. My kiddos laughed when random items began raining from the sky that had been pulled from the lake! Towards the end we got to learn about tornadoes and natural weather phenomena. I highly recommend picking this up and sharing with the young ones in your family!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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Luna the Howling Husky Finds Her Howl by Samantha Shannon – Review by Shannon Fowler

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Luna the Howling Husky Finds Her HowlLuna the Howling Husky Finds Her Howl by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cute kids story about a puppy that couldn’t find her howl. Luna soon discovers that being different is ok. She learns there are all kinds of differences. She also finds what she needs to be a howling success!
This cute story also includes wonderful pictures bringing Luna and her friend to life. Easy to read and sweet for all ages.

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Luna the Howling Husky Finds Her Howl by Samantha Shannon – Review by Angela Plate, December 2023

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Luna the Howling Husky Finds Her HowlLuna the Howling Husky Finds Her Howl by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a cute children’s book. It’s a sweet story about being different and accepting that not everyone is the same. I have 2 children on the autism spectrum and I think this will help younger children understand a little bit about accepting themselves.

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Secrets at the Café: A Novel of Suspense about Family and Friendship by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Shannen Kern

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Secrets at the CafeSecrets at the Cafe by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have read many books by this author, and I believe that this is my favorite so far! I sat down to read this book on a whim and finished it all at once – sorry for all the responsibilities I otherwise neglected! We get to experience life with 24-year-old Karina who loses her grandmother that raised her. It’s heart wrenching and emotional on every level as Karina herself starts to think she’s going crazy. Once someone steals her grandmother’s diary, she knows something bigger is going on. Spinning an incredibly suspenseful tale, this author will throw twists and turns your way on this rollercoaster. I highly recommend picking it up if you’re looking for a quick book to get lost in!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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Raining Fish and Frogs by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Crystal Brehant

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Raining Fish and FrogsRaining Fish and Frogs by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A cute and silly story my son and I enjoyed. Lois Wickstrom always manages to wrap science in a bit of fun. We are never disappointed when we read her books. We have read so many of them together. I highly recommend any of her books, especially this one.

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Luna the Howling Husky Finds Her Howl by Samantha Shannon – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Luna the Howling Husky Finds Her HowlLuna the Howling Husky Finds Her Howl by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

LOVE the illustrations! So detailed, colorful and there are hidden gems all over! No offense to the story (which is good itself) but I had more fun looking at the pages to see what I could find. Then imagine my surprise when I got to the end and it has all kinds of neat things! A child of any age will easily enjoy looking at all the pages while an older child will like both and get the meaning behind the story. Plus this will help a parent to chat about being kind to others and self.

I really like the “Sometimes we make mistakes and thats okay” little paragraph. The next couple pages are wonderful learning opportunities for all (adults too). This is such a good book all the way around that I can see sending this to families in my circle to help spread the kind word.

Well Done!

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Dark Moon Secrets (The Witch Moon Series Book 1) by Lilliana Rose – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Dark Moon Secrets (Witch Moon #1)Dark Moon Secrets by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dark Moon Secrets is Book One in the Witch Moon Series. It is a paranormal romance with action, suspense, danger, mystery, intrigue, witches, shifters, and secrets. The story centers Tanjie who finds her life turned upside down when she receives an unexpected inheritance. When she goes to claim the inheritance, she makes the startling discovery that not only is she a witch but that she is the hope for the future. Now she is thrown into a completely unfamiliar world and must learn how to accept her birthright and how to use her new powers. A riveting read with exquisitely written scenes that fully immerse you into the story, great characters that are easily relatable, magic, fated mates, secret worlds, and long buried secrets.

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Lela’s Choice by Jennifer Raines – Review by Kerry Baker

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Lela's ChoiceLela’s Choice by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Malta is one of my absolute favourite places on earth, so as soon as I read this book ventured to the Isle I knew I had to read it. I really enjoyed this book right from the start. The story was quite complex but was well developed by the author. So much seems to go on and it really drew me in.
I loved the characters in the book. It wasn’t just the main characters that made an impact, they all added to the story and made it even better. This is a great story overall and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

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A Journey for Dorothy (The Reluctant Wagon Train Bride Series) by P. Creeden – Review by Kerry Baker

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A Journey for Dorothy (The Reluctant Wagon Train Bride #8)A Journey for Dorothy by P. Creeden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Having read a previous book in this series, I was looking forward to discovering more. This book is a sweet and lovely historical romance story. I really connected with the characters in this book and loved watching how they developed. Their relationship didn’t have a typical start but it was great to watch them grow as their journey went on.
I don’t always enjoy clean romances, as I can find them a bit boring. But the author of these books creates stories that are interesting enough to keep my attention. I have enjoyed the couple of books that I have read so far and I am excited to see what else is in store.

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The Befallen by Cambria Williams – Review by Jennifer Larson

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The BefallenThe Befallen by Cambria Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Befallen review
Cambria Williams

The befallen is a great read based in the times of sovereigns lords and ladies. It had a very medieval feel to it but also has the tales of fate and destiny. I would consider this a dystopian novel and Cambria truly delivered.

This dual point of view was perfected with such a transitional ease that nothing was left to question or confuse a reader.

I also feel this book is very inspirational that even if something is holding you back, physically or mentally that achieving success is always still possible.

I give this YA novel a five star rating because it is well deserved. Not many books can pull emotions as well as The Befallen has for me.

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Secrets at the Café: A Novel of Suspense about Family and Friendship by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Secrets at the CafeSecrets at the Cafe by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Secrets at the Café is a suspenseful mystery with drama, suspense, secrets, lies, rumors, death, loss, grief, and family relationships. The story centers around the character of Karina who has promised her grandmother that she will look after her café after she passes away. This involves Karina moving back to her small hometown and completely upheaving her life, but she loved her grandmother dearly and will do anything to ensure she follows through on the promise she made. Part of the promise Karina made to her grandmother involves reading a journal her grandmother left behind. However, before she has a chance to read it the journal completely disappears. Rumors are circulating around town about a hidden stash of money so everyone is a suspect. With the list of suspects increasing by the moment, Karina has her work cut out for her trying to determine who stole the journal. A tense, action-filled ride, with twists and turns to keep you reading until the final page. The storyline is intriguing, the characters are admirable, and the secrets the missing journal may contain makes for a compelling read. A great read!

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Raining Fish and Frogs by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Manda Kelly

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Raining Fish and FrogsRaining Fish and Frogs by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lois Wickstrom has done it again. This is a very cute book that helps kids to understand how wind and rain work, in terms they’re eager to understand. Brightly colored and well illustrated pictures help to tell the story from a visionary standpoint. I absolutely recommend this book for young kids learning about weather and how it works.

Review By
Manda Kelly

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Slay It With a Diamond (Diamond District Mystery Book 3) by Rob Bates – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Slay It With a Diamond (Diamond District Mystery Book 3)Slay It With a Diamond by Rob Bates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Slay It With A Diamond is Book Three in The Diamond District Mystery Series. It is a cozy mystery with drama, suspense, action, danger, secrets, lies, humor, and witty banter. The story is set in New York City’s Diamond District and centers around the character of Mimi who is an amateur sleuth. Mimi used to be a journalist and loves a good mystery that she can delve into. As she digs into the mystery behind a cursed diamond she uncovers long-buried secrets, family feuds, and scandals that put her life in danger. A great read that takes Mimi into the cutthroat world of diamonds and how sinister it can be. The characters are quirky, and Mimi is someone that can be simultaneously smart and somewhat naive. Her boyfriend seems to help her remain focused and grounded. An entertaining read with twists and turns that will compel you to read to the end.

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Dreamscape (J.J. Morris Mysteries) by J.N. Sheats – Review by Kerry Carr

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DreamscapeDreamscape by J.N. Sheats
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the J. J Morris. I would suggest reading these books in order so that you get the full experience and fully enjoy this author’s writing.
This is a really interesting paranormal mystery book for YA, however older readers would enjoy this as well. The author’s character building is amazing and the world building is so good you can’t help being drawn into it. This is a story filled with mystery, danger, twists and turns as well as the challenges faced by a young girl.

Joey is now at college. After everything that happen previously she is struggling to come to terms with it all and with the realisation that the world isn’t what she first thought it was. Her eyes are now open wide to all the dangerous out there.
As she tries to struggle through her studies while she is being plagued by dreams things start to happen that don’t make sense.
Fires start to happen at the school. Is this just to people playing pranks or could it be something else?
As the fires happen more often Joey’s dreams take a more violent and terrifying turn. Who is trying to get to her through her dreams and why? With the fires, the terrifying dark dreams and people going missing on campus will Joey be able to solve all these mysteries, protect herself and pass this semester in college or will it all be too much for her and will she fall into her dark dreams that the Dream Conductors are placing in her mind.
When you are already confused about the real world, how can to figure out what is real and what is a fantasy?

This story is gripping and I loved the adventure the author took me on. I really felt for Joey as she was going through her struggles and trying to figure out what is normal in her life now. After she has had her eyes opened is it even possible for her to return to just being a normal student. Me personally I think she has seen to much to ever be just a normal person again.

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Slay It With a Diamond (Diamond District Mystery Book 3) by Rob Bates – Review by Megan Conley

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Slay It With a Diamond (Diamond District Mystery Book 3)Slay It With a Diamond by Rob Bates
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’m a sucker for shiny things and murder so when I had an opportunity to read about diamonds and murder…sign me up! This is book 3 in the series and while you don’t necessarily need to read the other 2, I think it would help. I liked the idea of the plot being a hybrid learn about diamonds/murder mystery and it was done well…but there were parts that were very slow for me and just really kind of overdone. The beginning was hard for me to get into, but once I did, it was able to keep my interest. I also felt that there was a lot of time spent on characters that weren’t necessarily integral to the plot and that slowed the book down as well. I liked it…it was a fine read.

Reviewed by @meggs1717
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Unexpected by Laylah Abrams – Review by Samantha Cleaver

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UnexpectedUnexpected by Laylah Abrams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a lovely, reverse fairy tale with some spice.
This book starts with a young lady, Claire, and her friends at a restaurant where Nick is a waiter.

They start out as a fling, but quickly started to fall for each other. Though they’d never admit it out loud.

If you’re looking for some spice yet a friendly romance, then I definitely recommend this book.

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Carrie’s Flight (Grandma’s Closet) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Bobbi Wagner

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Carrie's Flight (Grandma's Closet)Carrie’s Flight by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this children;s book. This is an author that enjoys reading her children’s books for sure. This is a story about Carrie and how she finds a pair of antique wings. Will she be able to figure out how to make them fly? Will she learn the magic of love? This is a cute story that would be great for any child. It is a story that has great illustrations. I enjoyed how the author made the story come to life through them. It is an easy story to read. I highly recommend this children’s book.

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Review by @bjwagner

A Journey for Dorothy (The Reluctant Wagon Train Bride Series) by P. Creeden – Review by Jennifer Gordon

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A Journey for Dorothy (The Reluctant Wagon Train Bride #8)A Journey for Dorothy by P. Creeden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable and engaging historical romance which kept me captivated throughout. Although it’s part of a series it can be read as a standalone story. Each one is about one of twenty brides who have to marry in order to travel to Oregon on the wagon train. Dorothy Mason is a widow looking for a new start moving from Virginia and travelling west to Oregon. It’s not until she arrives in Missouri that she discovers that to travel on the wagon train she must marry again. Having sold her old house and everything she owns, Dorothy has no choice even though she had decided never to marry again, due to her broken heart. Reverend Elias Stone believe’s in bringing lost souls to the Lord, and feels that it’s his calling in life to help those that are lost and moving out west in search of gold and riches. He arranges to join a wagon train heading to Oregon and California but before his journey begins he finds himself in a harrowing situation, that nearly ends his life and potentially stop him from travelling.

His only option is to consider marrying a woman he doesn’t know, but he thinks maybe it’s God’s plan. Elias and Dorothy marry with the understanding they will get an annulment once they reach Oregon. However, having spent the long journey together maybe their plans will change, especially if they end up falling in love. This is a heartwarming, sweet romance with an intriguing storyline and wonderful characters. Both Dorothy and Elias are likeable and relatable, and I loved how their relationship developed throughout the story and their connection really came across. The setting was brought vividly to life through the descriptive narrative and the added historical details transported me back to the era, and I felt as though I was travelling alongside the couple on the wagon train. I look forward to reading other books in this series.

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A Journey for Dorothy (The Reluctant Wagon Train Bride Series) by P. Creeden – Review by Bobbi Wagner

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A Journey for Dorothy (The Reluctant Wagon Train Bride #8)A Journey for Dorothy by P. Creeden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an author that I have enjoyed reading from the first book I picked up. I enjoy their writing style as well as their attention to details that make the stories realistic. This book is no different. It is a story that is well written with characters that are written with a lot of heart. A story about a widow who is just trying to start over and destiny brings two people together. I enjoyed how the characters pulled me into the story. They are connectable, relatable and kept me engaging throughout the story. I enjoyed the growth which made the story easy to read. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.

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Review by @bjwagner

Secrets at the Café: A Novel of Suspense about Family and Friendship by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Secrets at the CafeSecrets at the Cafe by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another amazing read by Susan Specht Oram, she never disappoints! Secrets at the Cafe: A Novel of Suspense about Family and Friendship is full of secrets (as the title implies) with an interesting plot. This one is a cozy mystery, so nothing too brutal or over the top, but plenty of twists and turns along the way. When Karina’s grandmother passes away, she is left in charge of the family cafe and her journal. When the journal is stolen, Karina has to make sure she gets it back, afterall, it was her grandmother’s dying wish. Now with the unread journal missing, the questions begin to circle in. What is in this journal that is so important, is it a treasure map of sorts? Was it taken for greed or to keep something hidden? Who would want her grandmother’s secrets, or who would want to keep them hidden? So many questions and the only way to answer them is to get the journal back. There was definitely some questionable decisions made. Some distrust and some trust given in places that did not make sense to me, but overall I really liked this story and how it played out.

Reviewed BY @zoltrixes

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Lottery of Secrets by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Laura Jones

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R17NZAG1SJVI8I/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0C9YTGRNL

https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/341751343

https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/182758142

Children of the Wild (Children of the Wild Series) by Krysta Tawlks – Review by Tori Mitton

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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195101359-children-of-the-wild” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Children of the Wild” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1691030736l/195101359._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195101359-children-of-the-wild”>Children of the Wild</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20678933.Krysta_Tawlks”>Krysta Tawlks</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6028936907″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Young Elbert and his siblings and parents are trying to navigate their life, while also reeling with grief from loosing the youngest child junie. Elbert feels all these changes happening within him, and he’s scared of what’s happening to him and what he will become, while also helping his brothers. His youngest middle brother sleep walks so Elbert feels like he always needs to be around just to save Finn.<br />Elbert goes through so much in his journey, through grief, family dynamics, his best friend distancing himself. This was such a wonderful read and journey to go through.
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