Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate by M.J. Murray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This fun childrens chapter book is an easy to read style that will keep its readers captivated while also learning a little too. It is not too long in length but packs a lot into those pages. If my kids were still young they would have totally loved this book for sure!
Family Ties Family Lies by Jacqueline Boulden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What an emotional rollercoaster ride this book was! Wonderful relatable characters draw you into their world and circumstances so easily. You feel everything right along with them. Rose returns home when her mother becomes ill to care for her and while doing so she uncovers a few secrets that will forever change things for them all. I don’t want to say too much more than that at this point because I just know I will give too much away. Just do yourself a favour and read this heartfelt story.
•°•☆•°• BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE •°•☆•°•
Laurie (L.C.) Lewis is an award-winning LDS author and a weather-whining lover of Tom, her four kids, their spouses, and thirteen amazing grandkids. She’s also crazy about seafood, nesting boxes, twinkle lights, sappy movies, God, and the sea.
Born in Baltimore, Laurie raised her family within the exciting and history-rich corridor between Philadelphia, Baltimore, and D.C., which made her a politics and history junkie, but a recent move to a house overlooking Utah Lake makes Utah her new love.
Laurie has written fifteenth published novels in multiple genres, penning her women’s fiction and romance novels as Laurie Lewis, and her historical fiction novels as L.C. Lewis.
Her WWII novel, “The Letter Carrier,” won two 2023 Whitney Awards—for Novel of the Year and Best Historical/General Fiction—and the 2023 Readers Favorite Gold Medal for Inspirational Fiction. She’s also a RONE Award Winner (The Dragons of Alsace Farm) and was twice named a New Apple Literary Award winner in 2017 (The Dragons of Alsace Farm) and in 2018, winning Best New Fiction (Love on a Limb). She is also a BRAGG Medallion honoree, and she was twice named a Whitney Awards and USA Best Books Awards finalist.
Laurie’s next release will be book two in her contemporary Christian Romance series, “Silver Buckle Brides. The title is “The Better Man,” and it will release on March 28, 2024.
Laurie loves to hear from readers
Author Interview with Laurie Lewis
.•°*°•. BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE .•°*°•.Bookbub – Fay’s Kindness Parade (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes
As the chilly winds signal the arrival of winter, Turtle Fay embarks on a heartwarming journey with her friend Cray in the fifth installment of the beloved rhyming beach-themed series. In this enchanting tale, Fay and Cray set out on an adventure filled with kindness, friendship, and the joy of lending a helping flipper.
As they traverse the ocean, they encounter a series of sea creatures in need. From assisting a struggling hermit crab in finding a new shell to freeing a trapped lobster and rescuing a tangled whale, Fay and Cray exemplify the power of compassion and teamwork.
But their kindness doesn’t stop there! Along the way, they befriend a lost dolphin and help reunite him with his family, spreading love and happiness throughout the ocean community. With every act of kindness, they inspire others to join their grand parade of compassion, creating a ripple effect of positivity that warms the hearts of readers of all ages.
Filled with vibrant illustrations and rhythmic storytelling, this charming book teaches valuable lessons of empathy, gratitude, and the joy of lending a helping fin. Perfect for parents and educators seeking to instill kindness and compassion in young hearts, this enchanting tale will captivate readers and leave them with a smile that lasts long after the final page is turned.
Join Turtle Fay and Cray on their unforgettable ocean adventure, where the true magic lies in spreading kindness to all creatures, big and small.
Click here to view the Book Trailer for Fay’s Kindness Parade (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes
Gary Wakstein is known to young readers as G Pa Rhymes! After a lifetime in the restaurant industry, Gary discovered his true passion: writing children’s books that teach important life lessons through the magic of rhyme and reading. Partnering with the talented illustrator Erica Leigh, G Pa Rhymes created The Adventures of Cray book series, inspired by his own family’s adventures.
G Pa Rhymes captivates kids with his “rappin’ and rhymin'” stories and instills values like friendship, honesty, bravery, and environmental stewardship. Now a sought-after speaker, he travels to schools, museums, libraries, and anywhere else he can bring joy to children’s lives.
G Pa Rhymes tries to inspire young readers with every book he writes. He resides in Plymouth, MA, and spends his days with his children and grandchildren on Cape Cod, Asheville, NC, and Victor, Idaho.
Before I Let You Go by Kellie Wallace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Before I let you go
By: Kellie Wallace
Review by: Susan Ratchford
5 Stars
This book was everything I could’ve hoped for and more! I laughed, I cried, and I was wowed by Wallace’s world! If you are looking for a romantic, supernatural fantasy look no further! Before I let you go, has everything but the kitchen sink! It’s an amazing twist on a genre that can sometimes come off as predictable! This book was so far from that it was refreshing and unexpected, A true gem!
Mistaken Identity by Stephanie R. Caffrey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mistaken Identity is the first book in the London Detective agency series and wow what an amazing introduction. The characters pop out of the pages right into your lap. Our heroine, Evelyn is an amazing character to get to know and so strong! You can feel the spark between her and Patrick right away! This mystery is fast paced and has a nice slow burn romance so the intensity never stops! This book is completely addicting and I cannot wait to read book Two in this enticing series!
The Archcrusade: Tome One: The Archspawn – Pilgrimage & Prophecies by K.M. Hogenson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Archcrusade: Tome One is the first book in the Archcrusade Series by this author K. M. Hogenson. This is the first time that I’ve had the pleasure of picking up work produced by this author.
The cover was intriguing and makes you really wanna read it just to see what lies within. Even more so after reading the synopsis of the book. I was glad to give in to my curiosity and read it. I was not disappointed 😀 it was a longer than normal read, taking about 3 days to finish with breaks of course. Although i really didn’t want to stop reading lol. It’s read from multiple POVs, which I enjoyed greatly. This high-fantasy was jam packed with magic, adventure, mythical characters,creatures, and action. With in depth detail characters and a well planned out world. I can’t wait to see what else the author has in store for us! I highly recommend reading this
Web of Evil by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The more they dig the worse it gets. Absolutely love this series and need to go back to read Lord Hani’s series. Neferet and Bener-ib are back and once again find themselves amid a mystery.
It’s summer and the city heat can be overwhelming so the sunets take the orphans they care for to Neferet’s fathers’ country home on weekends to enjoy the open fields cooler air. What started as a calm day quickly became so much more when her father and brother-in-law return from their boat ride on the river with the body of a man that the reed cutters discovered. By the looks of the mans clothing they discover he must be from the local village and possibly a scribe. As midday looms overhead and the sun beats down on them Neferet, Bener-ib, Hani, Mut-tuy and their dog brute head to the village to speak with the mayor. Upon discovering that the mayor is a woman, Neferet is impressed and pleased at such a rare site but quickly discover the man, Tjay, is not well liked in the village and could have a long list of possible suspects in his passing. Meeting his wife Ta-em-resefu only confirms the dislike and the knowledge he did not treat her and their children well. Estranged from his entire family, besides a sister that is described as a strange bond with the entire village is a suspect. The webs begin for form when the wife explains that the mayor is Tjay’s stepmother, but that even she did not side with him and helped to protect his wife and children when he was in a bad mood.
In a village of potential suspects how will they narrow it down? With so many reasons to end him, what was the final straw? Will Neferet succeed before it’s too late and the webs catch her? Once more this author pulls you back in time giving you a historically beautiful world mixed with relatable current day mystery and suspense. We continue to see Neferet grow and evolve as she becomes more experienced in not only reading the people around her but the environment. Will she be able to learn enough to keep out of the traps being laid around her pulling her deeper into the webs of evil that surround what she thought was an innocent scribe taken too soon. I cannot wait to see what will come next from this author.
The Glow in Loretta’s Garden by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Glow in Loretta’s Garden was a cute and educational story. I have read a couple of the stories in the series, and this was my favorite. My son learned about fireflies in school recently, so he enjoyed reading more about them. I learned a lot, but some of the information he already knew. He got really excited that it was accurate- he told me about the male and females and where they hang out, and then right after, it was on the next page. We liked the lesson after the story concluded, educating us more on the bugs. This book is great for elementary aged and worked as a great supplement to the lesson. I plan to tell his teacher about it for next year!
Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy
Family Ties Family Lies by Jacqueline Boulden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is not my usual read but I am really glad I picked it up. This was a great read from the start. I really love Rose’s character and enjoyed reading from her point of view. This book had a plot twist I did not see coming at all. This story made me feel a lot of emotions I was not expecting to feel when I picked it up. It was definitely a read where I had to know what was going to happen and what Rose was going to discover if she kept digging into her family’s past. I literally read it one sitting! I will be looking for more books from this author as they have a very easy writing style with characters that are easy to relate to. If you are looking for a page turner then I definitely recommend picking this book up!
Charming Chapter : A Later-in-Life Just Kisses Romance by Lori Haas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Charming Chapter was a cute story with a happy ending. I love that it wasn’t the typical young characters, but multi generational. Laura, the main character, has just turned 60 and has decided to travel to England to investigate her ancestors roots. She meets Hugh and they hit it off right away. The book is full of all kinds of important messages- Follow your dreams, listen to your heart, don’t be afraid to start over or fall in love again. The advice Laura gives her daughter is perfect and so spot on! I will look forward to reading more if this series continues.
Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy
The Hidden Present by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
We are so lucky to have found this author awhile back because she is absolutely marvelous! Every single time I bring a book home, both of my kids get outwardly excited. This one belongs to the Invisible Magic Wand series which we have loved each installment of. Caspian always goes on such imaginative adventures, and this was no different! He has to search for his unbirthday present with an Inquisitive Indicator, which is a perfect name for the actual item. This exploration contains an important lesson for kids as most of the author’s books do. The illustrations are beautiful and really add another layer to the story. I highly recommend picking up this book (and series) to share with the young ones in your life!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Managing Mischief by Alyndra Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
First book was so good and I couldn’t wait to read the next one. This second book in the series was even more intense. Both Ashton and Zachary’s attraction and desire grows and intensifies as time moves forward. Both are very taken with one another in every way possible. Their heated connection takes them on even more twists and turns then before. Even through the difficult situations they endure, they are able to manage the circumstances together. It is amazing to see their connection grow even through challenging matters.
No Rest for the Wicked by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
No Rest for the Wicked is the first book in the Life is Hell series. I’ve been enjoying a lot of books by this author recently, including the House Valdis series, so knew I was in for a treat with this one! I love how she brings together unique fantasy elements and a variety of LGBTQ+ relationships.
In No Rest for the Wicked, we discover the small town of Juniper Lake through the eyes of burnt out demon Delilah. She’s in need of a break and, as the title suggests, the universe has other plans for her! This book does a good job of establishing the characters and giving the town history and depth.
I particularly like some of the supporting characters, including Jezebel and Millicent. I need to read more of the series now to get to spend some more time with these characters!
This book gets five stars from me. I’d recommend the series to readers who are already fans of the author’s work, and those who enjoy varied LGBTQ+ paranormal romances.
https://www.amazon.com/review/R3SZFKF1549JGH/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6380266802
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1091584384
Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate by MJ Murray- 5 out of 5 stars
Dylan and his sister are on another adventure. The two of them, along with their loyal dog set out to try and solve the newest mystery. This is the second book in the youth sleuths series and I have to say, they are a perfect introduction into the mystery genre.
A Girl, Stuck by Kelly Elizabeth Huston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Girl, Stuck (A Novel) by Kelly Elizabeth Huston- 5 out of 5 stars
This book had great character development with plenty of twists and turns that kept drawing me in. The cover art doesn’t draw much to the eye but the authors words breathe life into the pages. Although this book is the third in the series, it can be as a standalone without feeling as if you have missed something important. I can not wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this book.
A Girl, Stuck by Kelly Elizabeth Huston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Girl, Stuck (A Novel) by Kelly Elizabeth Huston- 5 out of 5 stars
This book had great character development with plenty of twists and turns that kept drawing me in. The cover art doesn’t draw much to the eye but the authors words breathe life into the pages. Although this book is the third in the series, it can be as a standalone without feeling as if you have missed something important. I can not wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this book.
The Hidden Present by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Hidden Present is Book Eight in the Invisible Magic Wand Series. Caspian wakes up on his Unbirthday and looks under his bed for his Unbirthday present but cannot find it. He is puzzled by this because his grandpa always leaves it there in a special box. Caspian goes to the kitchen where he finds an Inquisitive Indicator on the table and a note from his grandpa. Caspian must use the Inquisitive Indicator to follow the clues and find his Unbirthday present. The clues take Caspian on a little adventure as he uses the clues to solve the mystery of the hidden Unbirthday present. A cute and engaging read full of colorful illustrations that help bring the story to life.
Sugar & Spice by Phoebe Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Sugar & Spice (Spicetopia Book 1) by Phoebe Alexander- 5 out of 5 stars
Sexy, sneaky, spicy, secretive, steamy storyline. This book has all of that and so much more! Single mom Jolie and sexy Cy craft a storyline that will keep you transfixed. Sparks fly and then secrets start to reveal themselves. I love how the author wrote this book Undercover Boss style. I highly recommend this book.
Mistaken Identity by Stephanie R. Caffrey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A luggage mix up during a layover at a British airport leads to a case of mistaken identity. The mistaken identity leads to the love of a lifetime. Along the way, readers will encounter mobsters and estranged families. The ones fighting corruption begin to wonder who they can actually trust. I couldn’t put this book down!
Charming Chapter : A Later-in-Life Just Kisses Romance by Lori Haas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is such a sweet and heartwarming story. It is unusual to get a book that has such an older character as it focus and even more unusual for one to do it so well. The main character was really engaging and I thought her whole arch was so inspiring and brilliant to read. She is the kind of person that makes me thing you can do anything no matter how old you might be.
I thought the story was really well imagined, and made me appreciate my capital city more than I have in a while. I loved watching the main character explore it and discover more about herself. The story was interesting and I easily became absorbed in it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.
The Complete Echo Series by C.R. Alam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Complete Echo Series: A Heartfelt Romance Collection (The Echo Series) by C.R. Alam. This is such a good romantic series. One of my favorite books was Dangerous Rhythm. Its the story of Lina who used to be Army intelligence but now works as Security for the rock band Canis Major. Curtis is the epitome of rock star, he loves money, women and a wild lifestyle. Lina is loving this easy job until she gets involved with Curtis. She has been trying to avoid him because she gets her emotions all involved. When Curtis sees something he shouldn’t he becomes a target of the Mob. Lina has to be around him now so that she can protect him from this threat. Lina isn’t strong enough to fight her attraction to Curtis but she has to for the sake of Curtis’ safety. Will she be able to keep Curtis safe along with fighting her attraction to him. Will Curtis ever settle down so that Lina won’t be heartbroken! I loved this book because of the mystery along with the romance! I also really enjoyed Echoing Hearts. This is the first story of The Echo Series and its a slow burn romance. Its the story of Rae who has been reluctant to find love because she has watched her mom be heartbroken for a long time. She is a travel blogger and goes to Dean Rowland’s ranch to do a article on it. Dean is angry at everyone due to being left at the altar. When he sees Rae he thinks she is trespassing so their first meet it not pretty. After their initial meeting he can’t get her out of is mind and he wants nothing more than to see her again. She refuses all his advances and when she finally gives in and they are starting to see each other her best friend comes to town and causes upheaval. Dean has never been jealous like this. Will he ruin their new relationship because of his jealousy.
Mistaken Identity by Stephanie R. Caffrey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mistaken Identity (London Detective Agency Series) by Stephanie R. Caffrey. This is a wonderful romantic suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Grad student Evelyn is on her way to Greece and while in the airport in London she is mistaken for someone else and Private Investigator Patrick thinks Evelyn is someone else so he grabs her. Megan is the girl that Patrick was looking for and after he realizes Evelyn is not the girl he’s after he lets her go. Hurrying to get on the plane Evelyn mistakenly picks up Megan’s suitcase putting her in serious danger. This leaves Patrick feeling like he has to protect Evelyn. As they spend time together they begin to grow feelings for each other. This book will keep you flipping pages late in the night. Such a good romantic suspense!
Finders Keepers, Cowboy by Rachelle Paige Campbell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
An enjoyable and engaging small town western romance which kept me happily turning the pages. Meg runs an antiques store which is faltering, and so when her elderly friendly neighbour Hank asks her to clear out his shed she says yes hoping to discover a forgotten treasure. Her only concern in visiting Montana Ranch is seeing Hank’s grandson Ryan, her childhood frenemy. Ryan is a workaholic putting everything into his business having gone into the world of high-end tourism. He usually avoids Meg, his annoying neighbour, but with her clearing out his Grandfather’s shed he can’t ignore her. However, the forced proximity has him seeing Meg in a different light. As the couple’s feelings develop a surprise discovery forces them to choose to either trust in the potential of love, or end the relationship and move on. This is a sweet, heartwarming slow burn romance between two likeable and relatable characters within a small town setting. The enemies to lovers storyline had me hooked and both the characters and the setting came to life, making me feel immersed in the story. I also loved octogenarian Hank who is a wonderful character. I look forward to the next book in the series.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6369511796
Sugar & Spice by Phoebe Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Sugar & Spice by Phoebe Alexander is the first book in the Spicetopia series and to say that I really enjoyed this book is an understatement! Phoebe has written a story about a hardworking mother who is just trying to make ends meet for her sons, and a hot, rich boy who thinks he’s being slick by going in as an undercover boss.
Spicetopia is a place for adults to vacation, relax and have fun in an “adult” setting. It is original, fun, sexy and so much more! After experiencing some time at Spicetopia you will find yourself needing more than an ice-cold drink to cool down!
Cy (rich, hot boy) has orders from his parents to try to discover and infiltrate the enemy, his parents are convinced that the theme park they own is being compromised but have no idea where to start. This is where Cy comes into the story, but as time goes on, Cy realizes just who the true enemy is. However, Cy comes across an unusual situation when he meets the queen of Spicetopia, Jolie, and now he can’t get her out of his mind.
Jolie is a hard-working woman who works two jobs to make sure her sons are taken care of, and even with the two jobs it is just enough to scrape by. Jolie finds herself in a unique situation when a certain young man comes to work. Now she can’t get him out of her head, and it is really messing with her since she has a family to worry about. Jolie really worries about what Cy will think of her when he finds out her secrets.
This is the type of story you can find yourself lost in, this story has a little bit of everything in it, and it makes for a really great read! You will find yourself having a hard time putting down this book once you pick it up to read! Great job Phoebe on writing a great story, I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series!
Mary Espinoza, March 2024
Family Ties Family Lies by Jacqueline Boulden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this story. It is a mixture of family drama and mysteries. The author does a great job of describing the scenes and the characters so much so that it feels like you know the characters personally.
This story gripped me from the beginning as we meet Rose and her mother. When her mother was diagnosed with cancer Rose moves back home to care for her. As a journalist/photographer she is not one to turn her back on a mystery and when crime starts happening in the small town she wants to get to the bottom of it.
Added to this is the mystery involving Roses own family.
When Rose discovers secrets of her fathers in the attic she feels compelled to get to the truth but when she is warned off by not only her mother but also her brother will she back down or will their resistance make her even more determined?
Are some family secrets best kept in the dark? What will be the consequences of uncovering these secrets?
I loved Rose’s determination to uncover the truth and my heart went out to her as she struggles to for and come to terms with her mother’s diagnoses. I honestly couldnt put this book down as each chapter left me wanting to know what happens next. I really enjoyed this story. Parts of it are quite emotional to read, situations around Rose and her mum and her illness really pulled at my heart. This author did a great job of making the reader emotionally invest in the characters.
The Hidden Present by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This author is quickly becoming one of my favorite children’s authors. This story is a quick and cute read. It is book 8 in the Invisible Magic Wand series. We continue to follow Caspian on a little adventure using his mind and his “Inquisitive Indicator”. Every year Caspian has an unbirthday and his Grandpa leaves him a gift. This is the first year there is no gift. Caspian quickly learns other ways of finding things. The pictures are adorable and fitting for the story. I look forward to the next adventure with Grandpa and Caspian.
The Hidden Present by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am in love with this series! These are cute stories filled with wonder, allowing a child to open their imagination to amazing possibilities! The Hidden Present, like the rest of the series, can be read as a standalone book, but I’d encourage you to check out the rest of the series as they are all well-written and include beautifully rendered illustrations. I must say this book is by far my favorite yet!
It’s Caspian’s unbirthday again, but our young hero is surprised when he wakes up and can’t find his unbirthday gift. Could it be that his grandpa forgot his unbirthday? Caspian goes on the lookout for his present and his grandpa to see what’s going on. It’s on this hunt that Caspian finds what I think is his coolest unbirthday gift yet; The Inquisitive Indicator. Read this cute story and find out just what this new gift is and what all it can do!