The Nearness of You by K.G. Fletcher – Review by Angelina Frazzini

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The Nearness of YouThe Nearness of You by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Nearness of You by KG Fletcher. This book is a standalone contemporary romance. As soon as I started this book, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to put it down until I was done. I got sucked into the story.

Lauren is just going about her normal routine when she runs into none other than David Randle. She is so nervous and got off guard. Then the unexpected happens. He invites her to breakfast and a wedding and they bond over their many similar interests. David can’t really explain it but he just wants Lauren around as much as possible. However, there is someone that doesn’t want Lauren around and will stop at nothing to make sure she’s not.

I really enjoyed this book. The author has such an attention to detail that makes you feel like you are living the story with the characters. David is such a gentleman and you could feel how much he cared for Lauren and her feelings. By the end of the book you could really tell what Lauren was made of and how strong and sure of herself she was. All in all, the book was such a great read!

Reviewed by @angelfra6
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Redemption (An Ash Park Novel) – Review by Julie Lounello

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Redemption (Ash Park, #5)Redemption by Meghan O’Flynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Redemption by Meghan O’Flynn is a five star novel. This is the fifth and last installment of the Ash Park series. With Ash Park being a not so nice neighborhood of Detroit, you can imagine lots of bad things happen there. Petrosky is a detective and ready to move on to the next world. He has lost so much and he sees so much hurt and pain everyday that it is getting harder and harder to deal with. Now his only friend is moving away with her kids. He guesses it will be ok though because he doesn’t really feel like socializing anymore anyway. When his cases take a turn and start blurring lines between his daughter’s case and these new ones, he knows he needs to stick around to solve the case of his daughter. How could this guy still be out there lurking and killing without him figuring out who it is and capturing him. A captivating and riveting story that will keep you turning the pages all the way until the end.

Review by @julie-lounello

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Painting Kuwait Violet by Pamela Q. Fernandes – Review by Michelle Austin

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Painting Kuwait VioletPainting Kuwait Violet by Pamela Q. Fernandes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Painting Kuwait Violet was a good 4 star read.

Against her mother’s wishes, Violet gets a job working as a maid in Kuwait to help pay her father’s debts after his death. She is working in Kuwaiti’s house. While there she struggles with some barriers being in a new area and can’t leave until her contract is up.

We watch Violet develop and adjust to her new setting and create some friendships. There are lots of twist and turns with a great storyline. It felt like we were getting a second story when maids started to disappear. There was the mystery of who was doing it and why. The secondary characters added a great element to the story as well.

I found some things difficult to read when it came to the violence and treatment towards women. I had to keep telling myself this was a foreign culture. There were a few ugly cry scenes for me, I was a wreck. This is my first read from this author, she pulls you right in with the detail that you won’t want to stop until your done. If you like a good page turning mystery with suspense as well, this is a book you will enjoy. I look forward to reading more from Pamela.

Reviewed by @mab54615

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NEW BLOOM (Book 1) (Bloom Duet) by A.E. Gamrat – Review by Gail Guerrero

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New BloomNew Bloom by A.E. Gamrat
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

New Bloom by A.E. Gamrat
Four Stars

I’m not really sure how I felt about this book. I’m in-between liking it and not really interested. First let’s start with out lead female. Gwen seems to have it all together at first but you quickly see that she has some personal issues. She gives off this I’m ok vide and nothing can get to me but truly she is suffering. Now I understand her because in some aspects of my life I am like that as well. I didn’t know if she was a teenager or an adult with the way she carried herself and didn’t seen like she was mature. Kame is a mystery to me and I don’t know what to say about him except I hope he learns better communication skills. Disliked Gwen’s mom. Her dad was super flaky. The authors writing style was a little choppy but you can look past it. The conversations between the characters didn’t flow very smoothly and at times I didn’t know who was saying what to who. There wasn’t a clear plot to me. I’m hoping that the story is just taking off and that this was just a little background for what’s to come. I found myself continuing the story out of curiosity and to see how the author would develop the story. It almost feels like a coming into yourself story. Where the leads have to go desperate ways to strengthen themselves before they can be together.
Reviewed by @gguerrero89

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The Confectioner’s Guild (The Confectioner Chronicles Book 1) by Claire Luana – Review by Maura Harper

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The Confectioner's Guild (The Confectioner Chronicles Book 1)The Confectioner’s Guild by Claire Luana
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Confectioner’s Guild (The Confectioner Chronicles Book 1) by Claire Luana is a book that I “one-clicked” as soon as I saw the pre-order button. I very much enjoy this author’s stories and was excited to read this.

The world building in this story was fascinating. There is a very distinct class structure and it was interesting to see what roles people played. This is a story of magic and sweet treats (seriously, I NEEDED cupcakes by the time I finished reading it). It’s the story of a “lost girl” finding her tribe. There is murder and mystery and new crushes. Besties and trusted friends and people who want to help while still others who do not. If this wasn’t YA, I think it could almost be classified as a “cozy mystery”. There is definitely a youthful innocence to some of the characters and a mean twist to others. This story reminded me of a fairy tale with a twist.

For some reason, I read Wren (the main protagonist) with Shirley Temple’s accent and her friend Olivia as the best friend/side-kick in The Little Princess (because this is a YA book, the likelihood that anyone is going to get that reference…). This is one of those books that I would recommend to my younger cousins as a series starter.

The story flowed well, was easy to read and kept me interested from beginning to end. After the series is over, I will absolutely be going back to read again.

Review by @mauraharper
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My Hidden Life by Necie Navone – Review by Shannon Fowler

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My Hidden LifeMy Hidden Life by Necie Navone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow I love this story. This story is about the Canzano Family but more importantly Alessandra or Aless, as she is called. She is a naive, sweet and seemingly sheltered little girl for most of this story. As she grows up, we learn that she is not so sheltered. She sees and knows things. Her father is Capo or captain of the Mafia Family. And is feared by all. He is grooming Aless to take over the Family and all their dealings. This story and her training start out when she is just 6 years old. He is easily a character I can hate.

Other characters include Aless’ Nonna, Uncle Louie who is like her father, Grayson who is from the Camelot Brothers series, and Annalisa, Aless’ best friend. These four characters are the reason Aless is alive and why she will succeed in life. These characters have me one clicking the next book already!

I can not wait to read the next part of this series as there were way too many questions at the end of the story. I hope that Navone’s writing continues to be as page turning as this one is.

Review by @shannonlovesbooks

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Eye Of The Storm, A Gray Ghost Novel Book 2, by Amy McKinley – Review by Madison Degraffenreid

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Eye of the Storm (Gray Ghost #2)Eye of the Storm by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Eye Of The Storm, A Gray Ghost Novel Book 2, by Amy McKinley
5-stars
Mari is attempting to flee Colombia through the jungle when she is saved by Hannah. A life for a life and she is now responsible for tending to Chris. Chris has been injured and has no memory. Can the two survive the jungle and escape Colombia?

Another amazing action packed romance from this author. I could not put this book down. I loved Mari’s spitfire character. I also loved Chris’ character and the romance between him and Mari. This book has a great storyline and great world building. It can be read as a standalone as well. I highly recommend this novel.

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Siren Call by Phoebe Alexander – Review by Cindy Mayberry

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Siren CallSiren Call by Phoebe Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Siren Call
Eastern Shore Swingers
Book 3
By Phoebe Alexander
☆☆☆☆☆
This is a full length novel about that unexpected romance.

Jessie Martinez has worked her way into the cop life she has always desired. She has become a survivor, as she refuses to be a victim. She has worked hard and loves her job. Jessie also joined a swing club, where she can be herself. She is not interested in men romantically, but she also does not want to be tied down. Her heart has been broken enough! Not to mention the club asked her to keep an eye on Sirena.

Sirena Horne has her own secrets. She spends her weekends at the swing club, but keeps at a distance. She does not want commitments, she just wants FUN. But something is off with her, and she also just wants to forget her real life and just be. Then she meets Jessie and nothing is the same again.

Phoebe Alexander writes books of romance. Her books are erotic and spellbound as well. This story drew me in so quickly. Then it kept me interested and pulled out all my emotions. I laughed, cried and even got mad while reading this book. I loved that it was more about the characters and who they are. I fell in love with everybody in this series. This is a must read. Not for those under 18 as it contains adult situations and strong sexual content.

Review @Cinful

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Degrees of Acceptance by Via Mari – Review by Michelle Austin

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Degrees of Acceptance (Prestian Series, #2)Degrees of Acceptance by Via Mari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Degrees of Acceptance was a great 5 star read and book 2 in the Prestian series.
I really suggest that you read the first book just so that you know the history on these two, I think that it would really help.

Katarina and Chase are continuing with their relationship and I loved it. Chase is very concerned about Katarina’s safety due to so many things that are going on. When Katarina finds out who her father is that adds more to the story as well.

I really liked Chase and how protective he was with not only Katarina but with the extended friends and family as well. He was a very detailed man and planned for everything. At times I did feel like he was a little too much but I know it was out of love for Kate.

There is so much going on and they have several sexy moments that are hot. They can’t get enuff of each other. There are some twists and turns that threw me, along with mystery, hot sex, danger, and so much more. Once I started I couldn’t stop until I was done. All of the secondary characters were great. I had an idea of how I wanted to see it end but I didn’t expect what really happened. I can’t wait until the next book to see where all of this goes from here. If your looking for a great series, I highly suggest this one. This series is on my top reads for 2018 list.

Reviewed by @mab54615

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The Changeup (Resort Romance #6) by Mary Billiter – Review by Jana Teppih

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The Changeup (Resort Romance #6)The Changeup by Mary Billiter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Changeup is the sixth book in Mary Billiter’s Resort Romance’s series! I found the series when the fourth book came out and I have been a fan of her writing ever since. One could think that it is some flimsy easy reading when seeing that it is “Resort Romance” but it is far from that! Mary’s books make you feel, deep, and they make you think and I promise you that you do find yourself thinking of the stories now and then! AND you can read each story as a standalone so it means you have not missed the train!
The Changeup is the story of Rebel Roberts who is trying to keep a low profile as a hotel conference services manager/ being in Witness Protection, and Ryan McHenry who is a former college baseball pitcher/aspiring deputy sheriff. Add to this a dead body and what do you have at your hands? Chemistry that leaves you blushing and reaching for a fan and … suspense/a mess of gargantuan proportions … sort of … They will take you on a ride that you keep wishing that ends in Happily Ever After AND let’s not forget about all those great supporting characters, it is another bunch of great cast and it is something that I have enjoyed with each of the book in the series!

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Broken Circle, A Gray Ghost Novel book 1 by Amy McKinley – Review by Madison Degraffenreid

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Broken Circle (Gray Ghost #1)Broken Circle by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Broken Circle, A Gray Ghost Novel book 1 by Amy McKinley
5-star novel
Liv’s world is turned upside down when she discovers that her dream has been a lie. Her husband is involved with a terrible drug cartel and its family. She knew there was a reason for not ever meeting them. With her life possibly at stake she makes a run for it after she becomes stuck in Colombia with her husband. She has to get away from all the death and blood. In her escape she is aided by several people but those who are caught are killed. Can she get out of the country and stay hidden?

This was an exciting and gripping story that I could not put down. Readers will love Liv and will be pulled into her story. My heart ached for the loss she experienced in this novel. I loved that she stayed strong though.

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The Confectioner’s Guild (The Confectioner Chronicles Book 1) by Claire Luana – Review By Felicia Bates

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The Confectioner's Guild (The Confectioner Chronicles Book 1)The Confectioner’s Guild by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Confectioner’s Guild (The Confectioner Chronicles Book 1)
Claire Luana
5/5 stars

The Confectioner’s Guild is not my first experience with Claire Luana’s writing, I’ve read some of another series written by her and despite not being a true fantasy reader, I loved it. This series is different than the one I’ve read by the author in the past, but when I read the synopsis for the first book in The Confectioner Chronicles series I had high hopes, and I will admit I wasn’t disappointed in this unique, fast paced story.
The story kicks off pretty quickly, ramping up the intensity right out of the gate which I really enjoyed. So often the first book in the series serves as a means of laying a foundation as well as providing a story, this didn’t feel drawn out it was action packed and intriguing from the very start.
The Confectioner’s Guild left me wondering why I don’t read more YA novels. This truly has a little bit of everything, twists, turns, mystery, romance but nothing over the top. I loved the imagery and felt like I was transported to another world and Wren is a strong, likable character despite her difficult past. I’d give this book 5 stars all around, from the cover art to the words between the pages. I am looking forward to following The Confectioner Chronicles.

Review by @fnbates

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Painting Kuwait Violet by Pamela Q. Fernandes – Review by Tracy Manderson

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Painting Kuwait VioletPainting Kuwait Violet by Pamela Q. Fernandes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Painting Kuwait Violet by Pamela Q. Fernandes
4 out of 5 stars

Painting Kuwait Violet written by Pamela Q. Fernandes is the first book that I have read by this author. This is a different kind of book than I’m use to reading. The characters are well written and the description of Kuwait is awesome I could picture myself walking along the dessert. The story was great but I hated that women are mere possessions to be manipulated. Yes I know this is an everyday thing in certain countries.
Violet Baretto graduates in 1996 and leaves Goa to work in oil-rich Kuwait as a maid for a wealthy Kuwaiti woman. To her horror, she finds herself accused of theft, her colleagues assaulted, thrown from moving cars or performing favors.
Violet is well educated and intelligent and she takes this job because jobs are tight and no one is hiring in her field. She takes the job and form an unusual alliance with the Kuwaiti matriarch Sabah Dashti. Sabah is hiding something from Violet the police think this matriarch is running a prostitution ring because nine of Sabah’s previous maids have absconded, five of them were found pregnant.
Kuwait is still patriarchal and women are second-class citizens. Despite their differences, both Sabah and Violet are hungry for success. But a woman-hating, killer has set eyes on them and will not let them succeed at any cost.
Like I said earlier this is a great story but I hate that woman are second-class citizens in this part of the world. I recommend this story
By
Tracy
Review by @tracym

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Moments That Define Us A Gray Ghost Prequel by Amy McKinley – Review by Madison Degraffenreid

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Moments That Define Us (Gray Ghost #0.5)Moments That Define Us by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Moments That Define Us by Amy McKinley A Gray Ghost Prequel

This 5-star novel is a prequel to the Gray Ghost series. It provides excellent background to several characters seen later in the novels. I felt that the character development in this novel was excellent and they all had a very emotional upbringing which could be a tear jerker for many. I know there was one main incident that had me almost in tears. I really enjoyed this novel though and look forward to reading more about these characters later.

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Calling the Curveball: a Lawson Family Novel By Tracey Cramer-Kelly – Review by Katie Kearney

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Calling the CurveballCalling the Curveball by Tracey Cramer-Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Calling the Curveball: a Lawson Family Novel By Tracey Cramer-Kelly. This story of second chances is one I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. From page one I was drawn into Kira and Jamie’s emotional story. The author does a wonderful job of writing characters you can relate to and feel a connection with as well as feeling the connection they have together. With each passing emotion that’s written you feel it more than just read the words and that’s one of my favorite parts of their story. Each character has their own heartbreaks in the past and are trying to figure out life after them. The storyline is well written and paced nicely never feeling rushed or lacking anything. The characters are complex and believable, you truly feel like it plays out in front of your eyes. This is my first book by this author and it definitely won’t be my last, I’m excited to see where else readers are taken with this author. I’m giving this book a five star review because it truly had me feeling like I never wanted it to end. I recommend this to everyone.

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Calling The Curveball-Lawson Family Book One by Tracey Cramer-Kelly – Review by Krystal Gaston

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Calling the CurveballCalling the Curveball by Tracey Cramer-Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Calling The Curveball book one in The Lawson Family Series written by Tracey Cramer-Kelly. This is a story about getting a second chance at happiness and a future. Jamie has isn’t looking for love or anything. He’s content in his life, atleast that what he keeps telling himself. He owns his own business and even though it’s not his dream job it’s his. Kira is just stuck, she’s not sure what she wants out of life anymore after a nasty divorce. She has her own house and teaches science but it’s not her dream job or where she wanted to be in life. When they meet at a ball game that Jamie is the umpire in and Kira takes a chance and asks him out it wasn’t supposed to be more than a summer fling, if it even made it that far. The characters are unique and well thought out, you can relate to their fears and feelings. I can’t wait for book two.
Reviewed by @KrystalGaston

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Calling the Curveball: a Lawson Family Novel by Tracey Cramer-Kelly – Review by Heather Bahm

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Calling the CurveballCalling the Curveball by Tracey Cramer-Kelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Calling the Curveball: a Lawson Family Novel, by Tracey Cramer-Kelly, is a sports romance. From the beginning the author has woven the story with characters that are broken in some sort of way that touches the reader with their story. Two individuals who may not have necessarily found one another are brought together initially over a game of baseball, with its underlying theme throughout the story. Both Kira and Jamie are charismatic individuals with passions that seem to intertwine, but they each have their own faults that they are trying to live with and move on from. Emotional, touching, and well written, this story was filled with attraction, meaningful growth, and the possibility of a true friendship or even the hope of something more.

Reviewed by @hbahm

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Redemption: An Ash Park Novel (Volume 5) by Meghan O’Flynn – Review by Sue Kemp

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Redemption (Ash Park, #5)Redemption by Meghan O’Flynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Redemption: An Ash Park Novel (Volume 5)
By Meghan O’Flynn

Redemption is book five in the Ash Park series by Meghan O’Flynn. I have to say I don’t know how any of these can be a favourite, they are all as good as each other. As with the other books in this series it is very well written, and most dark and twisted. But then what did we expect of this series? Like I have said in my other reviews of this series I probably wouldn’t read at night in bed, if you are like me it will just about give you nightmares. However, I do highly recommend that this series is read, you will not be disappointed at all. The whole series has lots of twists and turns, so if you like reading books that give you goose bumps, have you wondering what’s happening next and murder, then you need to get this series and read it. Thank you, Meghan, for and awesome, scary read.

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The Confectioner’s Guild (The Confectioner Chronicles #1) by Claire Luana – Review by Emily Walsh

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The Confectioner's Guild (The Confectioner Chronicles Book 1)The Confectioner’s Guild
By: Claire Luana
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Confectioner’s Guild (The Confectioner Chronicles #1) by Claire Luana was a fast pace, unique read that had me hooked from the first cupcake till the last.

My first read by this author, I went in with a open mind, as I love these types of weird quirky books. What a fun read, it was everything I was hoping it would be and more. Claire Luana open this book running and quickly the plot is under way, and we are just as shocked, confused and bewildered as poor Wren. That type of opening can be tricky, but the with the author’s smooth, detailed writing, it worked beyond belief.

As for Wren our MC, I liked her from the start. Right away she gives you some of her sad backstory, her life but still left something hidden, that you don’t get to know until later. She has a good head on her shoulders and it helped her throughout this adventure. You can see her change as the story goes on, she get less skittish and, gains confidence lacked before being snached away.

As for the overall plot and mystery, I will say I had that figured out pretty fast, but it didn’t take away form the funnes that it this read. As I said the writing is solid, detail and a treat to the eyes. But I will say though I had the main players figured out, I didn’t see all it coming. That added that extra something special, that made this story all the more wickedly good.

Overall this book is a must read, so please take my super high recommendation and my stamp of approval, that this book will hook you, if not for the adventure, then it will be the cupcakes.

Happy Reading

Review by @eawalsh

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The Confectioner’s Exile by Claire Luana – Review by Maura Harper

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The Confectioner's ExileThe Confectioner’s Exile by Claire Luana
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sometimes series are odd. The series is written and then a “prequel” is added at the beginning to better explain a character or characters. That’s what this prequel is. It’s the explanation of what makes Hale, Hale. I would suggest reading the series first and going back to this story.

It’s a quick and easy read with lots of drama, conflict and emotions. The writing is visually appealing and allows the reader to visualize what is going on. While it’s listed as a novella, it packs a lot of punch.

This is not a new to me author and I absolutely recommend their stories.

Review by @mauraharper
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The Nearness of You by K.G. Fletcher – Review by Debi Kircher

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The Nearness of YouThe Nearness of You by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Nearness of You by KG Fletcher

5++++++ Stars

This author was already up in my favorites after reading her Southern Promises series, but she jumped even a few more spots after this one…I loved loved loved this book! And I can also say…I Love Love Love this author…she is completely awesome.

Everything about this story was spot on, the characters…sigh…i fell for both of them pretty quick, David turned out to be someone totally different than i thought he would be and I was so glad, he is what I love in my leading men. I so loved Lauren as well…The whole dynamic between these two worked perfectly. I am so thankful this story did not end up going the way I thought it would, although a few of the little twists and turns caught me off guard they were placed at just the perfect times throughout.

I had all the feels while reading this, and I shed a few tears in a few places. This is definitely one of my favorite reads of this year so far and its funny because another of this authors books shares a spot on that list.

Read this Im not even kidding, it is awesome and when your done go read her Southern Promises Series…definite rereads in the future for me.

One of those stories you never want to end…..

Brilliant!!

Review by @debikircher

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Redemption: An Ash Park Novel (Volume #5) – Review by Liz Vrchota

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Redemption (Ash Park, #5)Redemption by Meghan O’Flynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“YOU MUST BE READY TO BURN YOURSEF
IN YOUR OWN FLAME;
HOW COULD YOU RISE ANEW IF YOU HAVE
NOT FIRST BECOME ASHES?”
~Friedrich Nietzsche,
Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Phantasmagorical! Yup! I pulled out the big guns and used my thesaurus for this review! I was legit running out of words for Meghan O’Flynn’s Ash Park novels! I hate sounding like a broken record and I want to be as correct as I can. These books are amazing! Buy them all at once! You will want to knock out a day or two, depending on how fast you read, or devour them. I know my family wasn’t very pleased that I ignored them each time I picked one up ha-ha, but I was one that devoured them mostly past my bedtime, and wasn’t so fun the next day though!  I will warn you though, if you read these after dark, they can induce nightmares. (Perfect for that Halloween season that is upon us.)

“Redemption” is the fifth installment of the Ash Park series from Meghan O’Flynn. Here is about where I would really recommend that you go back and read the previous books before you start this one, especially the first one, “Famished”. For this one we go back to the beginning and revisit ‘Looking Glass Killer’ who kidnapped Hannah Montgomery. I have been dying to know what happened to her since the end of Famished. That was a cliffhanger that has been nagging me for four novels now and I was so excited to finally find out how this would all come together. Let me tell you though… In true Meghan O’Flynn fashion there was nothing predictable about it! Nothing! I love this about O’Flynn’s writing! She makes it so much fun to read. I am always some of those that seems to have the movie or book figured out halfway through. It’s an extra treat when I can’t, like an extra bang for my buck! My detective, Petrosky is back and set on figuring out all the pieces of the puzzle, regardless of the danger factor. No spoilers here though. For the juicy bits you will have to pick up a copy for yourself. I will now be waiting with baited breath for the next installment in the series, “The Jilted.” In the meantime, gratefully I there is one more novel by Meghan O’Flynn I can scoop up that I haven’t read yet. Thanks for another great thriller O’Flynn!

“FROM LITTLE SPARK MAY BURST A MIGHT FLAME.”
~DANTE ALIGHIERI, THE DIVINE COMEDY

Review by @lizaileen
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The Nearness of You by K.G. Fletcher – Review by Heather Bahm

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The Nearness of YouThe Nearness of You by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

K.G. Fletcher’s The Nearness of You was a brilliant written romance with fantastic characters that shine within the story. Lauren and David set this story on full speed throttle and I’m amazed they didn’t catch fire. I couldn’t put this story down once I started and that’s a sign of a truly talented author. K.G. Fletcher’s ability to share a story with exquisite detail is right here waiting to be read. It includes a mix of everything but not in way that is over done. It’s finely tuned and I loved every minute of it.

Review by @hbahm

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My Hidden Life: Brothers of Camelot Prequel (My Life Series Book 1) by Necie Navone – Review by Heather Bahm

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My Hidden Life: Brothers of Camelot Prequel (My Life Series Book 1)My Hidden Life: Brothers of Camelot Prequel by Necie Navone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My Hidden Life: Brothers of Camelot Prequel, by Necie Navone, is the first book in the My Life Series. This coming of age/crime fiction story was well written and an instant page turner. The author delved straight into the story leaving nothing left to chance setting the stage for where we begin and what is potentially to come. I enjoyed the flow of the story and it felt well paced. Alessandra is a complicated character and Necie Navone showcases that as this story progresses. I look forward to seeing what hurdles she encounters in the subsequent stories and what growth she will experience.

Reviewed by @hbahm

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The Confectioner’s Guild ( The Confectioner Chronicles Book #1) by Claire Luana – Review by Angela Hayes

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The Confectioner's Guild (The Confectioner Chronicles Book 1)The Confectioner’s Guild by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

The Confectioner’s Guild is the first book in The Confectioner’s Chronicles by Claire Luana. The Moonburner Cycle is one of my favourite fantasy series ever, so when I discovered that Ms. Luana was releasing a new series, I could not wait for it to be available. I began devouring it within minutes of it hitting my Kindle. Even though the premise is quite different from the Moonburner books, I still had really high expectations and I am really excited to say that Ms. Luana certainly delivered on all the promise that the synopsis held. I was spellbound right from the beginning and loved every minute of this interesting, intriguing and slightly quirky read. Ok, I admit that Ms. Luana pretty much had me sold just from the premise alone. I mean, what’s not to love about a YA fantasy mystery??? There were sweet treats, murder, mystery, suspense, magic, danger, action, adventure, friendship, self-discovery, hidden agendas, quirky characters, surprises, and twists. Oh yeah, I was completely hooked!!!!
As with the Moonburner series, Ms Luana has once again created a unique and wonderful world in which to set her story. Ms. Luana’s imagination seems to know no bounds as she brings so many creative and unique elements to her storyline. It’s a wonderfully written story full of visual texture, wonderful descriptions and intricate details. The story is complex- with many layers, all beautifully interwoven and stitched together quite seamlessly to produce this delightful read.
The characters are unique, interesting, well thought out and fully developed. They were so enchanting; the cast of characters added an extra element of appeal to the whole story.
This is definitely a story I won’t forget any time soon and I can’t wait for the rest of the series and have already pre-ordered them in advance!

Thank you Ms. Luana!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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Degrees of Acceptance (Prestian Series Book #2) by Via Mari – Review by Angela Hayes

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Degrees of Acceptance (Prestian Series, #2)Degrees of Acceptance by Via Mari
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

Degrees of Acceptance is the second book in the Prestian series by Via Mari. It is an erotic romantic suspense- full of emotion, mystery, action, danger, secrets, hidden agendas, humour, and more. I really liked the first book and was really looking forward to the rest of the series. I did have some high expectations for this book and am happy to say that it was just as good as the first, if not a little better. This book should be read as part of the series as this story is a continuation from book one, so I strongly advise you to read the first book before starting off on this one.
As we discovered in book #1, Katarina Meilers (Kate) is a design consultant who was hired to help design a new state of the art medical facility for the Prestian Corporation. As part of the planning process the whole team had been flown to Aruba for a week-long brainstorming and design conference. Kate arrived a few days early in order to get things set up for the week ahead. Then a stressful situation introduces her to a very sexy and charming man, she later discovers is the billionaire owner of Prestian Corporation- the very company who had hired her for the project. Things soon get complicated when things heat up between them and then take on a sinister turn when Kate is targeted by a stalker with an agenda. All the while Chase does everything he can to keep her safe.
So, after everything they’d been through, this book picks up the story after the hair-raising events of the previous book. Chase and Kate explore their new relationship and all that it entails, and things get interesting, not just in the bedroom. Kate meets the father she never knew and discovers that he brings another layer of complications. As their three worlds collide, danger follows and once again Chase does everything he can to keep her and her loved ones safe.
This was a really great story that easily pulled me in and kept me engrossed the whole way through. I love the electrifying chemistry between Kate and Chase, their connection was intense. As with the last book, Ms. Mari built the tension beautifully. She turned up the dial on the suspense to “high”- keeping me on the edge of my seat, guessing what would happen next.
Some of the minor issues that I had with the first book have been rectified in this instalment. Although, at times the language still seems a bit ‘formal’ and a little ‘old fashioned’. But again, the story was engrossing enough that this didn’t detract too much from the overall storyline, or from my enjoyment of the book.
There were a few unexpected developments and twists which kept thing quite interesting and had me clamouring to know how it all works out. Bring on the next book!

Thank you, Ms. Mari!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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The Changeup (A Resort Romance Novel) By Mary Billiter – Review by Laura Furuta

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The Changeup (A Resort Romance Novel Book 6)The Changeup by Mary Billiter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Changeup (A Resort Romance Novel Book 6)
By: Mary Billiter
5 out of 5 stars

The story The Changeup (A Resort Romance Novel Book 6) by Mary Billiter is an action/mystery/romance book. It is a story that hooked me in from the very first chapter and I didn’t want to put it down until I had finished the last page. It has questions that are raised and need to be investigated/answered. I found myself trying to put together the clues like a puzzle. I loved reading about the characters of Rebel Roberts and Ryan McHenry. Rebel is a woman who is part of the Witness Protection Program. She has to be kept safe so that she can testify. She finds herself with a job at the Point Resort in Long Beach, CA. She also finds herself very attracted to Ryan. Ryan is a man that wants to become a deputy sheriff. There were officers in his family and that is what his goal is. He soon finds himself in the middle of an investigation that starts when he and Rebel find a dead body. They begin a search for the truth behind the death. Both Rebel and Ryan have an attraction to each other. While Rebel knows it is not a good idea for her to become involved with Ryan her heart is telling her otherwise. There is energy when they kiss and a passion for each other. Will these two find out the reason behind the body that they find? Will they give into their emotions and feelings for each other? Will they get a chance at happiness? What would happen if Ryan finds out the secret that Rebel protects? Read this book to find out. I enjoyed reading about how Ryan and Rebel banter back and forth with each other. I also enjoyed reading about the other characters that they interact with and the part that each one plays in the story. This is a wonderfully written book that I would highly recommend reading. This is a series that I have loved since I read the first book and I also suggest reading the first five stories.

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The Changeup (Resort Romance Series Book #6) by Mary Billiter – Review by Angela Hayes

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The Changeup (Resort Romance #6)The Changeup by Mary Billiter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

The Changeup is the sixth book in the Resort Romance Series by Mary Billiter. It is a bit of a whodunnit mystery with romance, suspense, and intrigue. It can be read as a standalone, but the rest of the series is also really great, so you would be missing out by not reading them all and getting the full experience.
I have been really enjoying this series, so I was really pleased to get my hands on this book and see what Ms. Billiter had in store for us this time. Once again this Ms. Billiter gives us something a bit different from the other books in the series. This book definitely has its own identity, flavour and tone- but still blends in well as part of the overall series. I liked that this was a mystery with a whodunnit feel to it, and the mystery itself was quite intriguing.
Rebel Roberts is the conference services manager at the Point Resort in Long Beach. But, her whole life is a cover- as she’s been placed in Witness protection by the FBI. Rebel’s meant to be keeping a low profile, so the last thing she needs is to stumble across a dead body. She can’t bring that kind of scrutiny on herself, because that may blow her cover completely. What will she do?
Ryan McHenry is known around these parts as McCutie. The former college ball player is now training to be a deputy sheriff, while working part-time delivering office supplies. Chance has him on the scene as they stumble across the body. Contrary to his better judgement he finds himself agreeing to help her. What ensues makes for some very entertaining reading as we follow along on this investigation and try to get to the bottom of it all.
This book was a great read, but it did feel a little rushed at times, especially towards the end.
The characters are great, especially Ryan (and his father). I did like Rebel, but she really frustrated me at times with her choices.
The story is told from a duel POV which gives us a really balanced perspective.
I am looking forward to Ms. Billiter’s next book!

Thank you, Ms. Billiter!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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Calling the Curveball a Lawson Family Novel By Tracey Cramer-Kelly – Review by Laura Furuta

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Calling the CurveballCalling the Curveball by Tracey Cramer-Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Calling the Curveball: a Lawson Family Novel
By: Tracey Cramer-Kelly
5 out of 5 stars

The story Calling the Curveball: a Lawson Family Novel by Tracey Cramer-Kelly is a sports romance book. It is a story that hooked me in from the very beginning and I didn’t want to put it down until I had read the final page. It is an amazingly touching story with plenty of emotions. Mine went up and down the entire time that I read the book. There are times when my eyes were misty. This story has times that are heartbreaking and also heartwarming. I loved reading about the characters of Jamie Lawson and Kira Walker. Jamie is the local chiropractor after his dreams of playing baseball were dashed by an accident. He is a man that has not been in a serious relationship since his wife died. Then he sees Kira at a ball game he is the umpire for. Kira is a teacher. She is smart, beautiful, and caring. She is very attracted to Jamie when she first sees him. Is she thinking of just having a summer fling with him? These two seem right together. The attraction is there and undeniable. Is Jamie affecting Kira’s heart more than she is admitting? Jamie’s life is sometimes filled with guilt and grief. If he wants a future with Kira is he ready to let go of the past? Will these two find an HEA? Read this book to find out. The author does a wonderful job in making you feel the emotions that Jamie is going through and how his life is affected by his past. You find yourself wanting to heal the pain he is feeling. You also feel the emotions that Kira has from her point of view. I enjoyed reading how both Kira and Jamie banter back and forth as well as interacting with the other characters that are introduced. This is an amazing story that I highly recommend reading.

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Calling the Curveball ( A Lawson Family Novel #1) by Tracey Cramer-Kelly – Review by Angela Hayes

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Calling the CurveballCalling the Curveball by Tracey Cramer-Kelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

Calling the Curveball is A Lawson Family Novel (Book #1) by Tracey Cramer-Kelly. It is a sweet and emotive second chance romance that covers loss, guilt, shattered dreams, picking up the pieces, starting again, drama, new beginnings, families, hope, faith, and Love. Ms. Cramer-Kelly is a ‘new-to-me” author and I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of her before now. Reading this book won’t be the last foray into Ms. Cramer-Kelly’s world/s. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be going back to explore more of her books in the future.
Kira Walker is a school teacher who is trying to re-focus on her life, picking up the pieces after a messy divorce two years earlier. She’s in town visiting her sister for the summer, when the sexy umpire at the towns annual ball game catches her eye. Since her divorce, she’s always quite careful when it comes to men and relationships- not wanting to expose herself to heartache again. But there is something about this man that prompts her to wonder if a diversion with Mr. Sexy Umpire Man would be just what she needs to shake things up a bit? She surprises herself by asking him out and is even more surprised , and very happy, when he says yes.
What happens when all your plans and dreams for the future are shattered all at once. Leaving you broken, both physically, and emotionally? Jamie Lawson had a promising future in Baseball, everything he hoped for was within his grasp. Then tragedy struck, breaking his heart, and snatching away his dreams. That was five years ago, and he’s still trying to recover and fully move on with his life. As his life took a new and unexpected direction, so did his choice of careers- becoming a Chiropractor instead of a ballplayer. He’s taken completely off-guard when a lovely woman asks him out, then he surprises himself by agreeing. And so, this lovely story begins. Is there a chance for them to find a future together? Or will past pain prevent them from finding happiness? Will this be nothing more than a summer fling?
This was such a sweet and romantic story. It’s well written with fully developed and likeable characters. I am looking forward to seeing what else Ms. Cramer-Kelly has up her sleeve.

Thank you, Ms. Cramer-Kelly!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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