In the Midst of Omens by Nicole Bailey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is a def read. Bailey’s writing style was perfect for this story. Sometimes the world building in stories will bore me, but this book was the opposite. She has such vivid descriptions I was able to imagine everything easily. Couldn’t this book down!
Wasabi by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I didn’t even know what to expect when I chose this book to read. I knew that it would be unique from all the other books I have read. There is a lot of action and mysteriousness of what is going on with the new species taking over the world. I applaud the author with their creativeness and being descriptive enough to let the reader see what is going on according to the characters perspective.
Percy’s Brides: A Double Trouble Romance by Ivy Hart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was such a wholesome read and Percy is such a kind soul , he may sell hardware but he’s got a soft gentle way about him ….this was a story of people searching for love and living life in a very time
So he’s needing a bride and both his mother and sister are encouraging him to think about a mail order bride and while he’s hesitant he finally gives and writes a letter …. Now I get his hesitation but I. Those days it wasn’t unheard of or that strange , I’d be very weary in this day and age though ..
So Clara replies with some encouragement of Margret , a friend and also a teacher and she’s a school teacher and shame I felt sorry for her because she didn’t always have it easy being a teacher and a woman in that time , also she was determined to make it on her own and not depend on her family influence which says a lot about her as a person I think anyhoo she has desire to be a wife and mother and if I’m honest I’d also fall for Percy and his beautiful penmanship 📚
Percy felt it unfair to bring a woman into the hard living of a mining town and especially if she was from the city because amneties were limited and it isn’t an easy life so he’s honest and wants to paint a picture of what would be her life ….
Then we have Amelia our seamstress who is rather talented and a humble soul but she also has dreams not only for her shop but also of love and family … and she reads of Percy and quest of finding love ….. she too writes a letter to Percy
Percy has his hands full when both ladies arrived with days of each and hoping to be his wife and then tragedy strikes at the coal mine and romances are put on hold when survival becomes more important and when a town has to pull together and stand together….. my heart just broke for everyone involved ….
All is well that ends well as it always is with God’s plan and His will will always prevail 🙏I just want to say that Percy is a man with a love for God and he’s a big heart and I may just have thrown myself into the equation if I wasn’t already madly in love with my own Percy 😉❣️
Productivity is Power 2: For Creative, Business, and Other Professionals by Hillary Rettig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Delicious Death by Byrd Nash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Delicious Death is book 2 in the Madame Chalamet Series. I was very much looking forward to this book after reading the first one! Bryd came back with more wit, twists, turns, and of course, ghosty adventures. Overall I love supernatural mysteries, and this series has quickly become one of my favorites! Wholeheartedly cannot wait to jump into the next book!
Second Glance by A.E. Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
Second Glance: A Serrulata Saga Romance Novel (The Serrulata Saga) by A.E. Bennett
Second Glance: A Serrulata Saga Romance Novel ( The Serrulata Saga) is a MM Romance that I really wasn’t sure what to expect going in. I had a really hard time getting into the story and I couldn’t make myself connect with the characters. I wanted to but just couldn’t. I’m going to to put this on the list of rereads and hopefully the second time around will be better. If you like this genre then I’d recommend reading it to find out what happens next. This is a fairly new author to me and I’m going to check what other books they have.
The Handshake Agreement by A. Akinosho
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
The Handshake Agreement (Book 1) by A. Akinosho
The Handshake Agreement (Book 1) is a Second chance romance/ Age Gap romance that will have your emotions all over the place. The twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat turning the pages trying to figure out what was going to happen next. The characters are developed and creative yet make the story come to life. This is Anne and Declan’s story. He had no plans of ever marrying her and yet years later he finds himself craving her. She is a realist and doesn’t believe in love, that is until he crashed into her life. But when he leaves her at the alter things changed. There’s a lot going on and at times I had a hard time following but I pushed through. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next . I’m looking forward to reading more from this Author.
Percy’s Brides: A Double Trouble Romance by Ivy Hart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a clean historical western romance book with a plot that revolves around mail-order brides. The groom finds himself faced with a dilemma of two women and how multiple potential brides came into the picture. I think you’ll really enjoy this book if you’re a fan of historical westerns or romance novels. It’s a well-written and engaging story with characters that you’ll root for. I hope you’ll give this book a try. I think you’ll be glad you did.
Murder a la Christie by Marilyn Levinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am really starting to enjoy reading these cozy murder mystery books. I have not really read too many traditional murder mystery books, so the Agatha Christie books that are referenced, I am not familiar with, but the author did a great job of blending them in, in a way that even novice murder mystery readers can follow. I absolutely loved Professor Lexie Driscoll’s attitude and her refusal to believe that the death at her first book club is natural causes. As she starts investigating further, she starts to see the cracks in the sophisticated wealthy town she is staying in. As she continues to investigate, more members of the book club she is running start dying. She is also juggling handsome suitors while trying to investigate and convince people to take her seriously. This is a fun and faced paced story with well written characters, fantastic descriptions and so many twists and turns, you could get dizzy. I did my best to try and solve the mystery before the end, but I did not. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
The Monkey Island Murder: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 Stars
The Monkey Island Murder is the third book in the Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery series by Rosalind Barden. I have been enjoying this cute historical cozy mystery series which is set in the 1930’s and follows Sparky, the spunky, street smart, precocious tween (11 year-old) FMC on her mystery solving adventures.
Sparky has had some interesting adventures/cases over the course of the series, and this one sees her thrust into some trouble, mischief and mayhem when her ‘boss’, Bookie, is implicated in a murder. Working to prove he has been set up- Sparky puts her detective skills to the test- which results in a fun read.
From murder, to set ups, antics, mobsters, Sparky’s movie star guardian, banter, investigation, and a little mayhem made for another intriguing and fun mystery/adventure. The South Seas Shenanigans (Book #4) will be the next adventure for Sparky (due to release early October 2024). Can’t wait to see what she gets up to there.
Again, as with the rest of the series, 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’, adding an extra element of interest to the story/series. The characters are many and varied- but all are quirky and quite ‘colourful’ individuals. The author definitely did a great job of bringing her characters and story to life.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Rosalind Barden!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Percy’s Brides: A Double Trouble Romance by Ivy Hart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is my first time coming across author Ivy Hart. This story Is great if you are looking for something short but with drama filled twists and turns, this is the book for you and you won’t regret reading. This historical western romance with now one but two mail-order brides, from the male MC family. I also loved the hea we got for the main characters.I definitely wanna read some of this author’s other books like the Jardin sisters series, it looks good and the covers are super pretty. And they are quick reads, from what I’ve seen this author writes fast reading. Which is awesome for when you need those quick Romance fixes 🤣🥰 I look forward to discovering more from this author.
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209353275-whiskey-throttle” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Whiskey Throttle (Moto X #6)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1714449754l/209353275._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209353275-whiskey-throttle”>Whiskey Throttle</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13487635.Brooke_May”>Brooke May</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6592584735″>4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Parker has been living life in the fast lane as a well known motocross racer. He has been living like a rock star if you will. All of the partying has been his way of coping with his PTSD and it hasn’t worked. Even though he thought he was doing everything in his power to be a good partner to Megan and a good father to Lindsey, but it wasn’t enough. Megan has had enough. She packs up Lindsey and all of their belongings and leaves. Parker has finally hit rock bottom and decides that he needs to get his life together. If not for himself then for his little family. Will he be able to face his past and work through his trauma? Will he be able to get Megan to come back to him? This book is a bit different than the other work I have read by this author, but it was good. I came into this series halfway through with this book and feel it can be read as a standalone. I will be going back to read the others so I can get a better feel for the series as well as any recurring characters. Even if you don’t want to read the series as a whole I do recommend this book as it was good on its own.
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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/106111308-charlisa-wahtomy-alba”>View all my reviews</a>
Double Delight: The Complete Series by Julie Castle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Double Delight is two shorter steamy romances rolled into one. The author brings us to a small town of what seems to be second chances at happiness. The four main characters for their own reasons are/aren’t looking for sex let alone romance but it finds them. The way the author navigates both stories keeps the reader wanting more.
Story 1: April is determined to lose her v-card. Everyone she knows seems to be getting married and in relationships. Her on the other hand is in a failed 3 year engagement. Her aunt’s medical emergency gave her an easy out. Out on the prowl April decides Will is her target. Who is a very willing target indeed. Will wants her more than just one night. Especially once he finds out her secret. He knows it should be special. However can he put himself in a place where he’s available for more?
Both have meddling exes. Will they make it as a couple?
Story 2: Monica is on the hunt. The hunt for a husband. Creating lists of potential suitors and weighing the pros and cons of those decisions is her strategy. After one failed marriage she wants to get it right this time. That is until Matt blows the whole thing out of the water. He’s not the marrying type. But she can’t keep her mind and thoughts off of him. As for Matt he’s never felt this way and is determined to prove her wrong. Tasked with planning a joint pre wedding shower/bachelor party that could be exactly what’s needed to keep them together. Will Matt prove Monica wrong?
There’s love, romance, and tons of passionate steam throughout this book. Both stories have the reader rooting for the characters to take the right path. Now will you?
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212113209-percy-s-brides” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Percy’s Brides: A Double Trouble Romance” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1714032656l/212113209._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212113209-percy-s-brides”>Percy’s Brides: A Double Trouble Romance</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17915481.Ivy_Hart”>Ivy Hart</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6592543736″>4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Rather than go into the family business, Percy has opened his own hardware store a town over. He does well for himself but his mother and sisters worry about him not having someone to take care of him. Mail order brides are all the rage and it may just be what gets him down the aisle. Percy sends out letters and at least two young women want to get to know him better. Clara arrives hoping to wed Percy and start building up the education in the community. Not too long after, Amelia arrives thinking she is going to wed Percy. Who will he choose? This was a fun and quick read. The story flowed nicely and the characters were likeable. I will definitely read more books by this author.
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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/106111308-charlisa-wahtomy-alba”>View all my reviews</a>
Percy’s Brides: A Double Trouble Romance by Ivy Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Great characters and fun story. Truly a happy ever after story. Lots of family drama and entertaining moments. I would recommend for anyone looking for a fun romantic novel. This is a quick read, and the storyline flows very well.
Whiskey Throttle by Brooke May
Whiskey Throttle (Moto X Book 6)
What a perfect end to this series. I loved that we got to go on this journey with Parker as he tries to figure everything in his life out.
Parker has PTSD from his childhood and has no idea how to get passed it and recover. Paige and others have pushed him towards getting help, but he wasn’t able to make that step until he hit his rock bottom. He does it in true Parker fashion and it is a huge wake up call to him.
While his love life is involved, this book is so much more than a romance. This book is more about healing and recovery which could help someone if they happen to read it.
I have read several books by Ms. May over the years, have enjoyed them all but this one touched me in a way I wasn’t expecting and I love it.
Toasted by Isobel Reed
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Toasted is a fast-paced, small-town romance. When Libby finds herself needing the fire department so soon after moving to a new town, she has no idea what she’s in for when Zach is one of the firefighters who show up to help her. What quickly ensues is a romance she never knew she could want or have. Their banter was fun to read, and the supporting characters were all excellent additions that hopefully get their own stories soon!
Italian American: Jack & Mariella’s journey continues… by Luigina Vecchione
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Italian American is the story of Jack and Mariella, after their marriage and Mariella coming to America. I did not know it was a sequel, and now I am very excited to go back and read book 1- where it all began. I decided to read the book just off the cover art- it pulled me in. The story begins as Mariella and Jack’s daughters are adults and asking their mother to tell her story of being a young Italian bride coming to America. The story reads like a memoir- very realistic and filled with details and feelings. We hear the first hand struggles of learning the American language, being a foreigner after WW2, and the feeling of being torn from your family in a time without cell phones. I fell in love with the characters and the story telling. I look forward to the prior book, and more from this author.
Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy
Wasabi by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wasabi is the third book in the Evil Sushi Series by C. A. King. I’m so glad that I stuck with the series until this final book. I definitely enjoyed it a lot more than the first and second books. That said I’d definitely recommend reading them in order. A lot happens in the early books. I enjoyed the unexpected ending to the series – I think Aileen definitely had the right idea!
Reviewed by @aliciaknoke
View all my reviews
Sashimi by C.A. King
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Sashimi continues the dystopian Evil Sushi series. How will the world respond to the newest threat from Sashimi? All over the earth new infections and mutants are emerging. Scientists are trying to discover a cure while the government and armed forces are trying to protect human life. In this second book in the series I had a hard time following the story as it jumped around quite a bit. I needed to backtrack a couple of times to figure out exactly what was going on. That said, it’s definitely an interesting storyline and I’m excited to see where the final book takes us.
Reviewed by @aliciaknoke
This is a four book series and this is the second book in the series. I read the first book and loved it. I loved this one as well. Loved revisiting the same cast of characters, just focused on different ones this time. Really is a good series and I loved this book as much as the first one. They can be read in order or as a stand alone.
Ted works at the Kincaid ranch and they have hired Stephanie as their yoga teacher. Now that school is starting she needs to go back to teaching kindergarteners. Ted likes Stephanie but she doesnt know, She likes him but he doesn’t know it.
They are both kinda quiet and reserve will they let each other know how they feel. Check out the story and see what you think.
Productivity is Power 2: For Creative, Business, and Other Professionals by Hillary Rettig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
While you might be debating if this book is really for you because of the title — let me tell you there is something for everyone. While Retting points out the exact exercises in her book may not be exactly right for you, I do think it’s time wasted. There were some that were not a fit for me, but even still, the exercise did get me looking at things from a different perspective. I would recommend this book. After all, knowledge is power.
Percy’s Brides: A Double Trouble Romance by Ivy Hart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Percy is an honorable pillar in the community and much to his mother and sister’s dismay he is still a bachelor. He wants more than his store, but doesn’t know where to look for love. Then Clara. followed by Amelia a week later, show up at his store each believing they are the missing piece of Percy’s life. When the town comes together after a tragedy each is shown their destiny.
Percy’s Brides was a short read that kept moving at a quick pace. Parts of the story were quite predictable making for a fun read.
The Book of Fears: A Collection of Short Stories by K.S. Gantt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is an interesting collection of short stories. Each one centering around a certain kind of phobia. There are eight different stories that deal with the worst possibilities for those dealing with these phobias. The stories can be a bit creepy especially for those with the same kind of phobias so be sure to read the trigger warnings before jumping in. The stories move along nicely and kept me interested and thinking twice about phobias and what may be the cause of them.
Oscar and Emmy Weather a Hurricane by Terri Sabol
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Oscar and Emmy are at it again, this time they are teaching us how to weather a storm. My 7 year old daughter really enjoyed Oscar and Emmy Weather a Hurricane. She was very interested in what kind of things should be prepared in case of emergent weather. The book was just long enough to be engaging while being educational with wonderful illustrations.
Murder a la Christie by Marilyn Levinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Murder a la Christie by Marilyn Levinson is the first book in the Golden Age of Mystery Bookclub series. It follows Dr. and Professor Lexie Driscoll as she tries to solve the murder of her dear friend. We are introduced to a slew of quirky characters; many of whom live in a small but rich American suburb. This was a fast-paced book in the style of Agatha Christie. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a quick whodunit mystery with a strong female lead.
Reviewed by @WhisperHymer
Productivity is Power 2: For Creative, Business, and Other Professionals by Hillary Rettig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Productivity is Power 2: For Creative, Business, and Other Professionals by Hillary Rettig is a self-help book geared towards finding and working through barriers to productivity. It starts with a chapter for those who are needing to be productive now! Which I appreciated though I didn’t need it at the moment. The book is riddled with tops and tricks to increase productivity and to get out of ruts to motivation. If you like a self-help book with actual, doable techniques than this book is a gift.
Reviewed by @WhisperHymer
Whiskey Throttle by Brooke May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book gripped me from the Prologue! I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that hooked me that quickly, so I knew I was in for an incredible ride. This is the sixth book in the Moto X series, but I read it as a standalone and think it did well. Of course, I am going to pick up ALL of the previous books now because I need more. A lot more. Our main character Parker is one complex and intriguing guy. The trauma that is haunting him will be dealt with one way or another. Will he be able to confront his demons and come out on the other side for his family, or will the darkness end up taking everything from him? I couldn’t put this book down and read it in one sitting. I highly recommend picking this up if you’re looking for a captivating contemporary romance with a lot of intense emotion!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Percy’s Brides: A Double Trouble Romance by Ivy Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
While this is the first book I have read by this author, it certainly will not be the last! It was a pretty quick read as well and found myself not wanting it to end. Even though it is on the shorter side, the flow of the story itself is wonderful. The storyline didn’t have any jolting instances that could have pulled me out of the world, which I appreciate because it seems to happen quite often in other western romances. It’s also quite entertaining with some family meddling and drama thrown in as well. Our main character, Percy, was placed in a unique dilemma by family and has to somehow find a way out without too much damage. This is a refreshingly clean romance to read on your Sunday afternoon. I’m eager to read other books by this author!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Productivity is Power 2: For Creative, Business, and Other Professionals by Hillary Rettig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book offers hope for the productivity-challenged. It is arranged into manageable chunks. The author includes several exercises to help readers get through common obstructions to productivity. This is an easy read. Furthermore, it gives this reader a way through some of life’s stumbles.
