Ashes of Aldyr by Russell Archey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This story is a wild ride. Russell Archey has a way to pull you into every character’s mindset. You really can feel the world around them. This story is a great dark fantasy book that will bring you to a new sense of being.
The Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The book had me hooked from the start! I love psychological thrillers, but boy… this took me for a ride. There were so many twists and turns, which I love, that kept me intrigued throughout the whole book. It was dark and mysterious, but also had so many layers for the characters and the plot. I highly enjoyed this book!
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71532692-ladies-of-the-links-2″ style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Ladies of the Links #2″ src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1671467790l/71532692._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71532692-ladies-of-the-links-2″>Ladies of the Links #2</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16790803.Haley_Rhoades”>Haley Rhoades</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5634498214″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This was a great second chance romance. After 5 years Christy and Ryan are reunited while he is rubbing elbows with the elite at his new country club. He’s recently moved into the community when he spots her behind the bar. He’s been doing big things and living his dream of playing in the NFL, but his life is about to change. Christy left after a colossal misunderstanding and never looked back. Now that Ryan is back in her life things are starting to look up. Ryan takes to fatherhood as if he had never been away from them. This was a fun, steamy read that can be read in one sitting. I loved all the characters. I definitely need to go back and read book one to see if I missed anything, but I don’t feel as if I did. Either way this author has just gained another fan and I can’t wait to read more of her works.
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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/106111308-charlisa-wahtomy-alba”>View all my reviews</a>
Helpful Hudson by Dannielle Pickford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Helpful Hudson was such a cute book. It taught an important lesson in a way young kids could easily understand. The artwork was beautiful and it was an easy read for young one. A great addition to your children’s book collection.
Bound by the Hinterlands by Bree M. Lewandowski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a pretty good read. I only wish it had a sequel. The story felt incomplete. Like the Prince’s visit and the possibility that he would decided that the Hinterlands could be cast aside and no longer apart of the kingdom was made to be a big part of the plot just for it not to have conclusion. However, Cressida and Caravahl were perfectly matched. Each had a tough life but a big heart the story was full of action, entertainment, wit, and romance. Definitely a good read for those who enjoy fantasy novels.
The Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I just couldn’t stop reading. I needed to know what was going to happen next. The author gives you just enough to keep you curious. And you really never see the next event coming!
I think this is a book I will read again. I know I will enjoy it more than once.
Ashes of Aldyr by Russell Archey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’m a romance reader through and through but I always challenge myself to pick up something out of my comfort zone every now and then. This one caught my eye so I decided why not. I was so glad I found it. This story took me on quite the ride in a world I didn’t want to leave. The characters and storyline are so well written you just simply sink into the pages while the outside world passes by. From start to finish I was completely hooked and couldn’t put this book down. This is a newer author to me but I’m really excited for more. I’m really looking forward to the next book and highly recommend this one to anyone who asks. Four big stars! Can’t wait for the next one!
Acting Counsel by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love picking up books by Morgana Bevan because I know I am going to be fully entertained throughout the entire story. Acting Counsel is no different as I was pulled in on the very first page and read the book in one sitting. I love how relatable the characters are, and the chemistry seriously pops off the page. You can feel the emotions that Catrina and Nathan are going through in each chapter. I’m a sucker for a good romance and with the humor and sass thrown in, this became an instant favorite. I appreciate that the author doesn’t rely on the spicy scenes to carry the bulk of the story, and everything flows nicely. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book as well as the rest of the series!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Ghosts of Alda by Russell Archey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I found this trilogy when I dared myself to read something outside my usual romance type stories. I’m a firm believer in trying something new every now and then to see if I’d enjoy more than just a romance. Boy was I surprised when this and book one became a couple of my favorite books. This author has a unique idea in this storyline and I love how different it is. From page one I promise you will find yourself drawn into the pages and never once missing to real world. I can’t wait for more. I’ll be on pins and needles waiting for the next but I just know it will be well worth the wait. Four stars and highly recommended.
Married Blind by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have read books by this author before so when I saw Married Blind pop up, I knew I wasn’t going to pass on it. I love their writing style and the way they are able to make a story flow so flawlessly that it plays like a movie in my head. This was a great romance that has quite a few moments that will have you second-guessing what comes next. Abi and Finn have found themselves on a reality show and in a marriage-of-convenience. It seems like they are going to breeze right through faking this relationship, but what happens if one (or both) of them catches real feelings? I loved this read and I think you will too!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Bound by the Hinterlands by Bree M. Lewandowski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love paranormal romance and this author slayed! Getting to see the growth and progression of the MC’s was incredible and I was seriously hooked. Such a well thought out, well executed storyline that gave and gave right to the end. This was another “cannot put it down” books that I didnt want to end!
Ghosts of Alda by Russell Archey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read this book first and definitely got a bit lost, so my tip is to start with the first book as intended! After orienting myself, I was able to dive into this book headfirst and get completely absorbed into the world that Russell Archey has created. I would say that this is one of my favorite genres so I can be a tad picky when reading new books under this umbrella. I’m happy to say that The Obscured Throne is one of my top favorite series in the past couple years and have already recommended it to quite a few of my friends. If you’d like to get lost in a darker fantasy story, this is definitely for you. Be sure to start with the first book in the series so you don’t have to double-back like I did. I highly recommend picking this up as you won’t be disappointed!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Acting Counsel by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Acting Counsel: A Close Proximity Hollywood Romance (Kings of Screen Book 3)
I am totally head over heels in love with Nathan. He is charming but spoiled and doesn’t know how to accept no, especially when it comes to Catrina. I think most women would wish they were pursued like that by an Adonis.
Catrina had her life planned, she was going to work her butt off until she made Partner in the law firm. But a two chance encounters change everything.
The moments in Scotland were my favorite. They were both free to be themselves and enjoy one another without feeling like they were being watched at all times.
I cannot wait to get my hands on Jackson’s story. Think it is going to be amazing.
The Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the floor……I was very intrigued by the cover of the book and knowing that this is a psychological crime thriller, I decided to give it a chance….and can I say…..
Holy Wow……I did not see the twists and turns coming! This author gave me a plot that is totally mind blowing to me….I definitely will be thinking about this book for a long time.
Mitch Wegner is a smart and prestigious professor at a university. When a student. in his class dies, all eyes are turned to Mitch due to his grading system….the University did not want the attention from the press if students are taking their lives over the pressure of grades….or was the student murdered. Rumors circled around Mitch…and when rumors start circling, Mitch goes down this dark spiral….students no longer liking him, his marriage to his wife Emily on the rocks and his fellow colleague also questioning Mitch…..
What will this lead to? Is Mitch responsible for students deaths on campus or is there something more dark hiding in the corners?
This story really got me, just when I think I had it figured out….this author threw many wrenches in my thinking and had me until the end….I had not seen anything coming. I cannot wait to see what this author has in store in the future…this is a true must read!
Bound by the Hinterlands by Bree M. Lewandowski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Cressida grew up with an abusive father. No matter what she did, he was always angry with her. Once he was basically on his deathbed, he forced her into an arranged marriage with the Baron of the Hinterlands, Caravahl. All Cressida wanted to do was be free to become whatever she wanted to be so instantly she was resentful of her new home and life.
Caravahl never wanted to be married. Being the Baron of the Hinterlands was a curse in his mind, one he felt he should bare alone so when his hand was forced, he reluctantly welcomed Cressida as his new wife. They came to an agreement to be spouse in name only for now and she was to help him as the Baroness of the lands.
The prince and his guests decided to make an unexpected visit causing the couple to pretend to be the newlyweds everyone thought they should be. Cressida takes her role as Baroness seriously but there seems to be more darkness in the Hinterlands then she originally thought. Something seems amiss and sinister but with Caravahl keeping his dark past a secret, Cressida can only do so much to succeed in her new role and help the Hinterlands and its people.
I really enjoyed this book although it was not as dark as the synopsis lets on. The first half of the book seemed to be progressing slowly. A slow burn romance while the couple are discovering how to be married. The second half of the book is when it gets more exciting. It is very easy to fall in love with Cressida and Caravahl. Cressida has no self confidence and feels like she is worthless thanks to her father telling her so for years but that still doesn’t stop her from gracefully becoming what she needs to be. Caravahl is used to having all the weight on his shoulders alone so when Cressida offers to help, he has trouble letting her in. Their relationship takes time which makes it very refreshing to watch grow.
Bound by the Hinterlands by Bree M. Lewandowski
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is an interesting story full of the paranormal and romance. Cressida has had a hard life. Her mother has passed and her father is controlling and abusive. Now he makes her life even harder by marrying Cressida off to a stranger, a baron from another land. Cressida takes this in stride and does her duty. Yet soon she finds that this new world and its people have stolen her heart but all is not as it should be. As Cressida and Caravahl try to find their way an evil is trying to take what it wants. It was nice to be along for their adventure but I did not fall in love with the characters. For me there was more telling than showing in their story and I did not get lost in this world but there is a good amount of character development and the plot does move at a good pace. It was nice to see Cressida and Caravahl learn to fight for what is truly important. We see their strength and what it can achieve if given the chance.
Great read! Fast paced read, strong characters and great story line. This book has it all action, love, betrayal and family drama all in one. I recommend to anyone who wants to go on the forbidden adventure. We all want to cross that line but never dare too. Read how one woman takes that step over the line and risks it all.
Living With Conviction: Unexpected Sisterhood, Healing, and Redemption in the Wake of Life-Altering Choices by Toby Dorr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Great read! Fast paced read, strong characters and great story line. This book has it all action, love, betrayal and family drama all in one. I recommend to anyone who wants to go on the forbidden adventure. We all want to cross that line but never dare too. Read how one woman takes that step over the line and risks it all.
The Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Holy smokes. What a read! The entire time, I was convinced the main character was just a narcissistic, psychopathic, insane and twisted character, and while he was a bit of a narcissist, the freaking plot twist at the end had me reeling! I’m not really someone who reads thrillers, but this one was 100% worth it! The writing was immaculate and detailed. I couldn’t get enough of it! It’s a relatively quick read too!
Talks Like Thunder by Randal Nerhus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Talks Like Thunder by Marjorie Carter & Radal Nerhus was an epic tale of the life of an American Indian warrior who struggles to survive the terror of the white man. This novella had me on the edge of my seat in fear for Talks Like Thunder, I was so scared for her right from the start when her Grandfather comes to take her home to the tribe that he is the Chief of. I could tell that Talks Like Thunder was going to be a fighter right from the start, she did not let me down at all! The characters are so realistic, the descriptions and the characteristics of each were so eloquently described that I felt like I was reading about real people and the struggles that they went through in the 1800s. I knew the second that Talks Like Thunder saw Sparrow, I just knew that there would be a connection between the two of them. The fact that the authors slowly built up the love between these two characters so subtly, drew me in even more as they trained together as warriors, and as their friendship built up. The agony of what the Chiricahuas tribe suffered from the white man just broke my heart. I know that this is what happened, but reading about it here really helped me understand and feel what the American Indians had experienced, it was so real for me. The way that the white man’s school system was portrayed is exactly how I’ve always imagined it to be, I just wanted to cry for poor Harriet (Talks Like Thunder). Watching her new friends as they tried to teach her the ways to stay safe, and then to see Harriet try and do the same for the new girl, it was like seeing her relive her pain and agony all over again. This was such an amazing tale of the perseverance of a very strong-willed, determined warrior who would do anything to help her people be led to survival, and was so heartwrenching to see all the agony and suffering she and her people were put through when all they wanted was to rebuild a new home for themselves.
Brandy Rymer
06/2023
Ways to Improve Bailey by Cori Cooper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Bailey’s brother Dayton has taken it upon himself to be Bailey’s self improvement guru. He’s designed a list of her flaws and ways to overcome them. I mean, who wouldn’t want a brother as awesome as Dayton?
Bailey is sassy and a bit immature. She flirts her way into a dinner date every night but never goes with the same guy. She loves food and someday wants to travel the world and write a food blog. All these non-committal dates are starting to come back to bite her hiney though. Lots of jaded guys who see they were taken for a free meal.
Then Tanner starts to frequent the froyo shop where Bailey works and she finds herself committed to a dinner date with him. She can’t get out of it because of the list. Bailey will soon learn that things may not be as they appear and it’s going to take a lot of introspection on her part to see it.
This was a super fun read that young adults will enjoy. It’s a very clean book, one that I wouldn’t have any qualms about letting a 12 year old read (not sure a younger age would enjoy it as much). There are moments where I was laughing at loud and other times I felt that Bailey needed to be turned over someone’s knee (even though she’s in her 20’s). She’s such a spoiled brat!! LOL
Ghosts of Alda by Russell Archey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a great second in this series! I would recommend reading the first book so you can really dive into the storyline. This story will keep you engaged throughout the entire book. I really enjoy the characters in this series and am really looking forward to book 3. The cover alone pulled me in just like the first book. The characters have a lot of growth and you get to read from multiple perspectives. This is a darker fantasy read but I was not disappointed at all and am a huge fantasy fan! This is a fast paced book but make sure to have some time set aside because you will not want to put it down! It feels like this book picks up right where the first left off so be ready!
Underneath The Whiskey by Chelsea Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book surprised me. The name is actually what caught my attention first. Then reading the little blurb, I decided to give it a go. I am so glad I did. Ben’s story is one that was hard to hear. His personal demons, his determination to keep his family together and maintain a “normal life”… And then there’s Caden… This story is one that hurt my heart, then slowly healed it. I was here for it all. If you’re okay with MM romance and some mention of domestic abuse and alcoholism, you should absolutely read this book!
Review by @ MandaKelly
Underneath The Whiskey by Chelsea Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I couldn’t put this book down, I needed to know what was going to happen next. The writing in this book made me feel so many emotions!!! I haven’t read a book in a while that’s had me so emotionally invested in *most* of the characters. I hated characters, I loved characters, I rooted for people and rooted against people. It was sad and happy and so good. The warning in the beginning of the story should not be ignored! I have dealt with a few of the things in this book in real life and it did stir up some feelings!
The Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The book opens with a startling chapter that immediately gets the reader’s attention. The main character is challenged when one of his students is thought to commit suicide, then another student the professor has a connection to dies. As the story continues, Mitch begins to spiral, receiving hit by hit of new issues he must try to cope with…or not… Psychological thrillers have become one of my favorite genre-reads, for sure, so I really love/appreciate how Mujagic has put together this story! When a plot is great, you don’t really have to like the main character but still feel the pull to invest your time in finishing the tale anyway. It was intense, twisted, and had me guessing till the last chapter!
Twisted Bond by Danielle Jacks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh I just love paranormal romances with a forbidden or romeo and Juliet type bond. Also I love wolf and witch type romances. This was definitely right up my alley. I love how the author is able to bring the characters to life and make the reader feel as though you are right there. The balance of adventure and drama along with the romance was just right. The author was able to create a world that was fiery and tumultuous. The chemistry between the characters is electric. I really was on the edge of my seat anxious to see how the whole story would unfold. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.
Reviewed by @caraleeloonatDa
View all my reviews
Acting Counsel by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Catrina and Nathan met at a bar by chance on a Friday night and had a one night fling. Come to find out Nathan is Catrina’s new client and mega movie star. Catrina is hoping that with Nathan’s acquisition of Starlight Studios that this will show the law firm she works for that she will be the perfect partner. However the connection between her and Nathan is strong. Nathan hopes there can be more to their relationship after the acquisition is done however Catrina doesn’t want to chance her job.
Living With Conviction: Unexpected Sisterhood, Healing, and Redemption in the Wake of Life-Altering Choices by Toby Dorr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I knew this book would be good just from the fact it is based on a true story. Having studied Law, true crime has always fascinated me. And yet this book captivated me in a way I did not expect at all. I thought the author did an amazing job of pulling us into her world, and her journey, setting the scene as though we were there with her. I was hooked on this story the moment I started reading. It is a raw, honest and awe inspiring story that I would highly recommend to everyone! I cannot wait to discover what else this author has produced.
Ladies of the Links #2 by Haley Rhoades
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Really sweet story of previous high school sweethearts who were separated six-ish years prior, and run into each other unexpectedly at an event. Having not read anything by Haley Rhoades previously, I kept expecting a dramatic turn of events to occur, someone cheating or throwing a wrench in the couple rekindling their love, and was pleasantly surprised to read just an enjoyable story. The supporting characters (siblings and best friends) are fun and everything you want in a bff, and the touch of “magic”, if you will, is done tastefully and adds something special to the story.
Very enjoyable, quick read!
A Teacher’s Heart by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is such a sweet and heartwarming story, designed to teach children that every one is different. Using teachers as a focal point I think this book does a fantastic job at celebrating differences in a way that is engaging and fun for children to read. The illustrations in the book really add life to the story and make it so much easier for the intended audience to enjoy it.
This would be a great book to introduce to a child just before they start school as it would make them feel easier about the unfamiliar. This is a brilliant book that was a pleasure to read.
Talks Like Thunder by Randal Nerhus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This novella is a fictional story but steeped in history. Historical fiction is my go-to when I need to be immersed into a world not my own. It is rich in Indigenous culture and fantastic storytelling. This is the first installment in a series, and it is a quick read. My only complaint is that it was not longer; however, that is an element of a novella. This story follows a strong female character, Desert Fox, who loses both parents to sickness and is then forced to leave home with her grandfather as he takes her to his village. We get to see Desert Fox’s transformation from young girl to grown warrior, now known as Talks Like Thunder, as well as her home’s transformation into U.S. territory. I highly recommend this beautiful, and also heart-wrenching, story.
