Saving the Gingerbread House by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Angela Renee Diaz

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saving the gingerbread housesaving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hansel and Gretel went on a picnic with there father. He taught them to leave crumbs for animals so the animals can lead them back. Well Hansel and Gretel hear a sound and go looking for what it is. Gretel puts into action what her dad told her about crumbs. After a lot of roaming around she finally finds her way back to her dad. Fast pace children’s book. I highly recommend.

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Chicken Little Investigates (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jade Brunton

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Chicken Little InvestigatesChicken Little Investigates by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was really cute. It gives a great lesson for kids and shows how important and helpful friendship can be. Chicken Little is also teaching her friends about gravity without even knowing what it’s called. While they are learning about something new they are also learning that they are free to be creative and have different opinions about the same thing and none of them are wrong. The value of friendship, creativity, and lessons is prominent in this book.

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Ruthless Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Book 1) by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Ashley Westerman

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Ruthless Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Book 1)Ruthless Hawke by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read the prequel and absolutely loved it. This book couldn’t come fast enough. I could not put this book down. I read it very fast, in about 1 day because it was too good. This book lacks nothing. This is a must read! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

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Shadow (Devil’s Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter Book 2) by D.M. Earl – Review by April McCoy

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Shadow (Devil's Handmaidens MC-Book Two)Shadow by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book blew me away! The second of the series, this one is incredible. Female MC club and these women are insanely strong characters. This book took me on a ride through all the emotions in my wheelhouse. I felt wrung out after reading this, and was struck by how profoundly this author was able to reach me as a reader and allow me to feel, and almost experience this storyline alongside the characters. Panther and shadow were amazing and their dynamic was powerful. Great book!!!

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Saving the Gingerbread House by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Heather Hoke

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saving the gingerbread housesaving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can never rave enough on how much I love Lois’s books!!!!!
This one is the cutest play off of the original children’s story of Hansel and Gretal that I have ever read.
I read this one out loud to my 18 month old daughter. And she just sat and listened. She also really liked the pictures. Kept pointing out the animals.

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The Forlorn Cowboy (The Studs of Clear Creek County) by Stacy-Deanne – Review by Rebeca Elliott Figueiras

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The Forlorn Cowboy by Stacy-Deanne (The Studs of Clear Creek County)The Forlorn Cowboy by Stacy-Deanne by Stacy-Deanne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another enjoyable short novella in the Studs of Clear Creek County series. These can be read as standalones; you don’t miss anything if you choose not to read the first book.
I have previously said that I enjoy the fact that the author does not shy away from the racial divide and difficulties faced at the time this series is set. I find this quite refreshing as I have often come across the typical idea portrayed that the wild west was a brilliant time.
I love the writing style the author uses, its flows so well and makes the reading experience more enjoyable. The descriptions bring the scenery and mannerisms of the characters to life and I feel as though I am transported there standing alongside the characters as they navigate their surroundings and relationships.
I was a little concerned prior to reading that this book would be similar to the last and I would have difficulty separating the two, but I’m so pleased to have been wrong! The storyline does have some similarities, but the characters and their story are vastly different, and this makes the characters more alive in my eyes.
Their personalities and ‘quirks’ really shine through in the way the author is able to portray the emotions and circumstances of the characters through description alone without the need to state it outright. Greta Fay is a strong female character, and I absolutely loved her attitude and passion for the fight for the rights of the black community.
I do wish the book was longer but I’m happy to have been able experience Christopher and Greta Fay’s story unfold.

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Cry Baby (Pierce Brothers Book 4) by Belinda Williams – Review by Sara Grantham

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Cry Baby (Pierce Brothers, #4)Cry Baby by Belinda Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love a good grump & sunshine trope… and this book did not disappoint! This was my first time reading Belinda Williams, but I loved her style of writing and found this book so easy to breeze through. I will definitely be looking at the rest of this series! This book, however, was perfect as a standalone too. I definitely recommend this if you like HEA and easy-to-read books.

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The White Knight Cowboy (The Studs of Clear Creek County) by Stacy-Deanne – Review by Rebeca Elliott Figueiras

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The White Knight Cowboy Stacy-DeanneThe White Knight Cowboy Stacy-Deanne by Stacy-Deanne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a short but enjoyable historical romance with cowboys, what more do you need?!

I found myself drawn in within the first couple of paragraphs. The scene is set, characters briefly introduced and the danger that Lovely Jo is in is make clear very quickly – I was gripped. I found myself needing answers to my questions about what happened. I could not put the book down until I knew everything.
The desperation Lovely Jo feels about her situation is portrayed well through her body language and actions which I liked, it built the tension for me.
It is a talent when authors are able to show you someone’s emotions or circumstances without outright saying it.
Dusty’s own situation is also made clear I don’t know what it was about him but I loved him instantly. As the story progressed, the love I had for him only grew. I found his reactions and thoughts relating to his predicament and the options available to him believable and I pondered whether I would make similar decisions in his place.
Their chemistry was clear and the way they both grew/developed as people made sense in relation to their growing relationship and their individual circumstances.
I love the writing style used in this novella, it was easy to follow and flowed so nicely. The vivid imagery created by the author was able to convey so much and I was transported from cold wet England in 2023 back in time to California in 1895. The racial divide was not overlooked to make it an ‘easy’ love story, so it was refreshing to see that the historical time portrayed was shown not just as the amazing, great wild west often seen in films.
I wish the book wasn’t as short, so I could enjoy their story a little longer, but honestly it is written so well that the book isn’t lacking even though the story is a short one.

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The Forlorn Cowboy (The Studs of Clear Creek County) by Stacy-Deanne – Review by Jennifer Gordon

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The Forlorn Cowboy by Stacy-Deanne (The Studs of Clear Creek County)The Forlorn Cowboy by Stacy-Deanne by Stacy-Deanne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable and engaging historical romance with a western feel to it. The storyline has interracial, age gap and forbidden love themes, and cowboys! Rancher Christopher falls in love with the much younger Greta Fay, but unfortunately for him he’s already marrying socialite Minnie Locke. To complicate things further, Greta Fay is a black activist fighting for the rights of Clear Creek County’s black citizens. Christopher has to choose between his growing love for Greta Fay, and the fact that if he marries Minnie he will become a very rich man. Meanwhile, Greta Fay’s dreams of fighting for Negro equality have put her at odds against her parents and the law. However, it’s her growing attraction to Christopher that threaten everything she stands for. I felt the chemistry between Christopher and Greta Fay, and liked how their relationship developed. The descriptive narrative brings both the characters and the setting vividly to life, making me feel immersed in the story.

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The Thieves (The Millersville series) Audiobook by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh

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5 Stars

The Thieves (The Millersville series) Audiobook by Susan Specht Oram

 

The Thieves is the second book in The Millersville Series. This is a fairly new author to me and I’m definitely a fan. I read the first book in this series and I definitely recommend reading or listening as its just as great as this one. I listened to this in one sitting,the narrator’s voice lured me in and kept me glued to the story till the end. This is a fast paced  thriller about  recovery mission and determination to save  her father. I highly recommend listening to this book to find out what happens next.

 

 

 

How To Write A Historical Novel And Love IT by TL Clark – Review b Carla Clemmons

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How To Write A Historical Novel And Love ItHow To Write A Historical Novel And Love It by T.L. Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I do not normally read non-fiction books but this one piqued my interest. I have always wanted to write but never knew where to start. I have always enjoyed historical romance books and wondered what the process was like to write one. This author did a wonderful job at laying everything out for you and what the process looks like from start to finish. There are even examples of making your writing better. They are also very encouraging throughout the book which I really liked. This book is a great resource to utilize regardless of where you are in the writing process!

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Chicken Little Investigates, Science Folktales, Lois Wickstrom, Review by Kristin Boutelle, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, Kids, Family

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Chicken Little Investigates: a science folktale (Science Folktales)Chicken Little Investigates: a science folktale by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is very good for the little ones. The characters have a lot of curiosity and intend to find out the answer. The characters are very relatable to young children. I love how certain words are more artistic than the regular words. It makes the words more noticeable and very appealing to the eye.

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Falling for You (Buckeye Falls Book 2) by Libby Kay – Review by Julie Johnson

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Falling for You (Buckeye Falls, #2)Falling for You by Libby Kay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars!!

CeCe LaRue is familiar with the heat of a kitchen but she’s not about to be burned by another man in her life. She’s quite content working at Max’s Diner in Buckeye Falls. When an opportunity comes up to enter a cooking contest, CeCe is hesitant but interested.

Evan Lawson is that friend that everyone wants to have. Always a smile or hug to share, Evan is a remarkable guy. Is he perfect? No…show me a perfect guy please and I might change my mind. Evan is finding an attraction to CeCe though as they work side by side at the diner everyday. He’s actually been crushing on CeCe for quite some time and when the cooking competition comes up he’s hoping it’s a chance to get even closer to her.

A past flame in CeCe’s life could scorch any hopes of this relationship ever going anywhere if things don’t change fast!

I loved this second book in this series. I did read the first one as well and equally loved it. This can be read as a stand alone. I really enjoy the style of writing in this series and the stories come to life before you as you read. I found myself tearing up and angry and then the next minute I was fist pumping and hollering for a victory! I’m excited about the next book but was a bit surprised as to the characters in the next one!! I was just sure it would be someone else featured but hopefully their story is coming soon too!

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The Summer I Went Crazy by Laura Koerber – Review by Jennifer Allen

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The Summer I Went CrazyThe Summer I Went Crazy by Laura Koerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book that I have read by Laura and it was absolutely amazing. The main character, Bennie is trying so hard to enjoy summer before he heads off to college. After one horrible drunken night, everything that Bennie thought was true is twisted around. This summer is going to be one to remember and change everything. If you like coming of age stories, then this is the book for you.

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Chicken Little Investigates (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jennifer Allen

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Chicken Little investigatesChicken Little investigates by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lois Wickstrom has done it again. Chicken Little investigates is a very cute tale. Chicken Little and his friends decide to investigate items falling and the sound they make. As they make their way to see the King, they pick up more friends with different sounding items. All that they want is for the king to name the sound for them. If you love cute children’s book, then this is the book for you.

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Echoing Hearts (The Echo Series Book 1) by C.R. Alam – Review by Charlene Gonzalez

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Echoing Hearts (Book 1 of The Echo Series)Echoing Hearts by C.R. Alam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An amazing story of both sides of love being a failure, but crazy how Rea’s best friend has to be part of this crazy love and wants to be part of the ride.
Dean never cared when he was dumped at the church and Rae had never wanted to do with love in the beginning since her mom had problems but like they say love will always find its way back to you and will bring a whole lot of problems.
Brandon is longing to be with Rae but does not know how or when to put himself out there.

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A Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small – Review by Jennifer Crain

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A Dress To Remember: A Fairy TaleA Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A retelling of Cinderella that is intriguing with a surprise ending! The author, K.L. Small, does a fantastic job of deviating from the original fairy tale to captivate your interest, while still keeping enough elements of the original fairy tale (magic, bravery, saving people you love) to keep it fresh.

The best part of the book, in my opinion, is the characterization of the main characters. I grew to really like the growth the Cinderella character, Princess Zarina, exhibits as the story unfolds. She is not a stagnant character by any means!

Another aspect of the book I thoroughly enjoyed are the believable twists and turns to get the story from point A to point B. Nothing seemed “forced,” and a truly magical read.

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Chicken Little Investigates (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Emily H

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Chicken Little investigatesChicken Little investigates by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Chicken Little is out and something hits him in the head. She decides to investigate and with her entourage of friends she meets along the way comes up with a variety of ideas to call what hit her on the head.

Fun little adventure on a classic tale. I liked the illustrations and it had some really funny moments where I think children would laugh out loud.

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Saving the Gingerbread House by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Katie Matthews

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saving the gingerbread housesaving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a lovely take on the traditional tale Hansel and Gretel. Again as with other books by this author the story was well written, a nice pace and beautifully illustrated. This would be a great addition to read alongside the original tale and see how the two stories differ and how the characters were different in each one.
This was a fun and engaging read and a great story for young children to enjoy!

@katiem
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The Forlorn Cowboy (The Studs of Clear Creek County) by Stacy-Deanne – Review by Katie Matthews

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The Forlorn Cowboy by Stacy-Deanne (The Studs of Clear Creek County)The Forlorn Cowboy by Stacy-Deanne by Stacy-Deanne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoy this authors writing. She creates such likeable characters and I find the time period in which she sets her stories as well as the places really interesting to read about. I loved the characters Christopher and Greta, I was really rooting for them the whole way through, they had such passion and chemistry between them. The books in this series are only short novellas but they certainly don’t lack anything. With easy to follow storylines and fast flowing writing they really are a pleasure to read although I admit I would happily read a full length novel about The Studs of Clear Creek County!!
Another fabulous read from this author and I am definitely looking forward to more from her in the future!

@katiem
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Doctor Frank Enstein (Doctors of Eastport General) by C.A. King – Review by Katie Matthews

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Doctor Frank Enstein (Doctors of Eastport General)Doctor Frank Enstein by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve read quite a few book from this author and I am really enjoying this new Doctors of Eastport series. The stories might be on the shorter side but they certainly are full to the brim of great characters, dreamy doctors and definitely some steamy moments along the way! I loved the characters Frank and Barbara, they might not have had the best first meeting but they had a good connection and definitely some humours moments between them.
I would definitely recommend this book, series and author! I can’t wait for more to come!

@katiem
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Spirit Guide (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries Book 3) by Byrd Nash – Review by Heidi Schoolman

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Spirit Guide (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries #3)Spirit Guide by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries series. A nobleman’s daughter has went missing and Elinor and Tristan team up to find out why. As she investigates, she finds that an old rival may have something to do with it – so she decides to go it alone. Elinor stumbles upon something amiss with the Society. Tristan finds out Elinor has now gone missing, and he needs to find out who and why. If you love ghost mysteries, this series is for you!

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A Stranger in Disguise (A Commissario Scala Mystery in Rome) by P.J. Mann – Review by Mary Espinoza

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A Stranger in Disguise: An Italian Murder Mystery (A Commissario Scala Mystery in Rome)A Stranger in Disguise: An Italian Murder Mystery by P. J. Mann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A stranger in disguise…. the title is what truly piqued my interest. I didn’t know when I picked up the book that it was part of a series…as a matter of fact it is book #4 in the series! I read this book as a stand-alone book, and it didn’t disappoint at all, I actually plan to go back and read the other 3 book at some point in time. This story is centered around multiple murdered bodies as an actors’ troupe is set to perform the cursed play, Macbeth. I mean come on…Macbeth…nothing good ever comes from the play Macbeth!

This book was a fast read, yet very interesting. I have never read anything from P.J. Mann, and I will say that I wasn’t disappointed! The author had a great way of leaving enough hints to keep you hooked, but not too much to where you figured out the mystery! There were plenty of twists and turns in this book and it kept you wanting more!
The banter was another cool thing, P.J. kept the book original by introducing how you think the banter would be…especially between Inspector Scala and his colleagues, to me this was highly realistic! There were times when I felt like I was also a detective working right beside them trying to solve the mysteries! I don’t think that anyone will be disappointed reading this book!

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Mary Espinoza, March 2023

Shadow Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 1) by Lilliana Rose – Review by April McCoy

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Shadow Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 1)Shadow Wolf by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an awesome book with a crazy good character dynamic between the MCs. With conflict and chaos, danger and excitement, this book had it all! The supernatural aspect really brought it home for me and i found this to be a really enjoyable exciting read. It was a nail biter for sure and I was in a race with no one to the end.

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The Forlorn Cowboy (The Studs of Clear Creek County) by Stacy-Deanne – Review by Carrie Reed

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The Forlorn Cowboy by Stacy-Deanne (The Studs of Clear Creek County)The Forlorn Cowboy by Stacy-Deanne by Stacy-Deanne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This one might be my favorite of the Clear Creek County series. I love Greta Fay’s character, she is a strong black woman, fighting for not only her family and their future but the future of other black men, women and children. I love her fight, and that Christopher and Minnie are some of the people who support her. My heart clenched when Greta Fay is at the engagement party and everything started to fall apart right in front of her eyes, but Christopher redeemed himself in my eyes. I can’t be anything but happy that her best friend Minnie stuck by her, and stood up for her no matter what. Beautiful historical romance.

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Spirit Guide (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries Book 3) by Byrd Nash – Review by Moriah Venable

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Spirit Guide (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries #3)Spirit Guide by Byrd Nash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Still on the hunt for her father’s killer, Elinor Chalamet and the Duke de Archambeau, Tristan Fontaine work together to solve the mystery of who is behind the kidnapping of a noblewoman’s daughter.

I love this series. It gives me a Sherlock Holmes type mystery and vibe with a supernatural twist. The slow burn romance is also an aspect that is well written.

I love Elinor’s character. Even when someone tells her not to do something, she still does it. It is really interesting seeing her communicate with ghosts such as when she takes in the grief of the ghost she is talking to. Thinking it over, as a medium it does make sense that she would.

I read that there will be more novels released this year. I can’t wait to read them.

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Shadow Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 1) by Lilliana Rose – Review by Sarah King

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Shadow Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 1)Shadow Wolf by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Let me start out saying if you don’t enjoy stories ending on cliffhangers, this one is not for you. This is both the first is a series and the first book by lilliana Rose. There is a bit of suspense, mystery, and romance. We have Tamaska, a human who is hired to organize the sale of the Blood Opal. It’s stolen before this happens; however, Kodiak, a member of the security team, knows it was the vampires who are responsible for the theft. His werewolf pack runs the security company hired by Tamaska, and now they must get the gem back. Will Tamaska find out the whole truth? How will she handle it? Will she choose a side? Can Tamaska and Kodiak overcome their differences?

While I really do not enjoy stories that are true cliffhangers, I didn’t realize this one was until I was too invested. I really enjoyed the authors writing style and can’t wait yo see how she has this story play out.

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Ocean’s Three (Made In Heaven #2) by Elena Kincaid – Review by LaliLovely

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Ocean's Three (Made In Heaven, #2)Ocean’s Three by Elena Kincaid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Like the 1st book, this was a great quickie!
Steamy & sexy with a surprising little twisty bit. There were so many cute moments & a few that made me tear up. The cruise setting through most of the book makes this a fantastic beach read or anytime you have a couple hours to escape into a naughty fantasy! Be careful, even MORE crushes on fictional men could happen.

Review by @lalilovely

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Ocean’s Three (Made In Heaven #2) by Elena Kincaid – Review by LaliLovely

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Ocean's Three (Made In Heaven, #2)Ocean’s Three by Elena Kincaid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Like the 1st book, this was a great quickie!
Steamy & sexy with a surprising little twisty bit. There were so many cute moments & a few that made me tear up. The cruise setting through most of the book makes this a fantastic beach read or anytime you have a couple hours to escape into a naughty fantasy! Be careful, even MORE crushes on fictional men could happen.

Review by @lalilovely

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Three Made In Heaven (Made In Heaven #1) by Elena Kincaid – Review by LaliLovely

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Three Made in Heaven (Made in Heaven, #1)Three Made in Heaven by Elena Kincaid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is like a good quickie – flirty, steamy, & fun! Most of this is smut, & the rest feels a bit rushed to get back to the smut, but I am not mad at it ! Still a super sweet & cute love story with clever, lowkey suspense to keep things exciting in a different way. Great for a 2 or 3 hour break from the real world to have even more crushes on fictional men.

Review by @lalilovely

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