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A Moore Affair (Moore Family Saga Book 4) by Michele Sims – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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A Moore Affair (Moore Family Saga #4)A Moore Affair by Michele Sims
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Moore Affair is book four in the Moore Family Sega series of books. Bella and Miles are together at last and are getting ready to get married. Bella feels ecstatic to be marrying the man that she loves beyond everything but at the same time can’t help but wonder if she’s ready to be the wife of someone so famous. Along with Miles’ fame comes not only the whirlwind tours but a fan base that that can be downright frightening at times. However, Bella chooses to put all her fear and doubts aside and makes the best of it because she is surrounded by her family.

After their wedding, Miles and Bella decide to honeymoon in Paris and Italy. Bella soon learns that Miles and his stage persona of Ari are two very different people all wrapped up in one little package which naturally makes her uneasy. Bella becomes doubtful and fearful of those that could break them apart and constantly worries that she is not enough for Miles. When Bella unexpectedly becomes pregnant, she tries to forget all her doubts and insecurities and chooses instead to focus on the joy of becoming a mother. Then suddenly life throws them another curveball and their life is thrown into a tailspin once again.

Bella’s beloved home that she grew up in as a child is destroyed by fire setting off a chain of events. When secrets start to unfold and come to the surface Bella and Miles must decide if they can trust one another with their pasts or if it will put their future in jeopardy. Of course, the relationship between Miles and Bella can never come easy as there’s always someone or something on the outside that is trying to tear them apart. Bella knows that she loves Miles with all her heart but she’s not sure if she can overcome her doubts, fears, and insecurities. Will she be able to overcome the secrets that she unfolds and move forward with her relationship with Miles?

Book four answers more of the questions from the first few books and builds on the story of Miles and Bella. The characters of Bella and Miles were real, raw, and believable. They went through trials and tribulations that put their relationship to the test and as in any relationship they had to decide if they could survive the tests and be strong enough as a couple to endure it and come out stronger on the other side. The book did not disappoint as the Moore Family Sega unfolded. Although this book could possibly be read as a standalone, I highly recommend starting with book 1 and working your way through the series. Each book starts off where the last one left off and unfolds more of the Moore Family Saga. Enjoyable read, I highly recommend!

View all my reviews @Tara Johnson Barnes

The Fire God Tour (Moore Family Saga Book 3) by Michele Sims – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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The Fire God Tour (Moore Family Saga, #3)The Fire God Tour by Michele Sims
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Fire God Tour is Book 3 in the Moore Family Saga Series of books. In this book Miles Moore is grown up and is now a famous performer known as Hip Hop Artist Ari. Miles has learned more about his affliction and is obsessed with the use of fire. He uses his ability to play with fire and implement it every chance he gets during his concerts. His whole life Miles has had to learn about the death threats against him due to his affliction but now there are also death threats against him due to his fame and fortune. On the plus side he’s making a lot of money, he can have any woman he wants, and he can travel wherever he wants. Life is good and the whole world is his oyster.

When Bella joins Miles team as the Chief of Marketing she is everything that he despises in a woman. She is too professional and uptight for his liking, so he mocks her every chance he gets and refers to her as the Ice Queen. Bella only wants to maintain a professional relationship with Miles but can’t help but find herself attracted to him, an attraction that she tries to deny. Miles also wants to keep things on a professional basis and knows that there could never be a relationship between them, yet for some unknown reason he finds himself attracted to Bella. Although Miles can have any woman, he wants due to his fame as an artist he finds something about Bella that is irresistible and can’t stop thinking about her. Bella finds herself thinking about Miles as well, but she knows what a womanizer he is and has no intention of following through with her attraction to him.

As the Chief of Marketing for Miles’ company Bella does not like Miles using fire during his concerts. Bella is unaware of Miles’ affliction and his ability to create fire so can’t understand his morbid obsession with the use of fire during his concerts and tours and attempts to get him to stop using it. This is not just due to the potential risks involved around the use of fire but because on a personal level Bella has a deep-seated fear of fire stemming back to her childhood. This is something where Miles and Bella disagree, and it instantly puts a wedge between them seemingly ruining any chance of them ever following through with their mutual attraction or having a relationship.

I loved this book as much, or even more so, than the first two books in the series. Both the characters and the storyline were very believable, with possibly the exception of the ability to create fire out of thin air. However, it was nice to become absorbed in Miles and his world of fire and his life as a famous Hip Hop Artist. I loved learning more about Miles and getting to know more of him as a character; one that showed different sides of his personality based on whether he was the Hip Hop Artist Ari, or whether he was Miles. Going through the ups and downs of having fame and fortune while also trying to maintain a private life is something that I’m sure every famous person has had to deal with. The author does a great job of showing the readers the struggle between a public image and a private life that most famous musicians must struggle with. This was another great read! Now onto Book 4!

View all my reviews @Tara Johnson Barnes

Playing With Fire (Moore Family Saga Book 2) by Michele Sims – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Playing with FirePlaying with Fire by Michele Sims
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Playing With Fire is Book Two in the Moore Family Saga Series of books. This book seamlessly picks up where book one left off. Cade’s success as a musician is taking off when he’s been offered a chance to go on tour in Paris, France. Alicia and his young son Miles come along with them until Alicia becomes tired of the touring and wants to return with their young son back to the United States. Alicia knew that when she married Cade that things would sometimes become difficult because of him being a musician. But what she never anticipated was how alone that she would feel even though she is married. She knows that Cade loves her with all his heart, but she misses her family back home and wants her young son to get to know her side of the family. Cade is upset and misses his wife and young son terribly. However, he is also enjoying his fame and his rise to stardom, which causes Cade to become conflicted between his family and his growing success as a musician.

Shortly after Alicia returns home with her young son Miles, he falls very ill. She must call Cade and get him to come home as she breaks the news to him that their young son is gravely ill. To make matters worse Alicia must deal with a woman who was once her friend but has now become her enemy. Will Cade and Alicia be able to get to the bottom of what strange ailment is afflicting their young son? Will they be able to remain strong as a couple while also enduring the ups and downs and hardships of parenting?

This is a great series and I highly recommend that you start with book one, Seed on Fire, and work your way through the series because each book introduces you to more of the storyline. Each book progresses where the last one left off and answers some questions from the previous book. In Book Two we are introduced to more of the family and their roles that play a vital part in the Moore Family Saga. We learn a lot about both Kaiden and Alicia and their respective upbringings when we are introduced to their families. Things become intense with Kaiden, and Alicia’s relationship and it threatens to disintegrate when they are hit with some bumps in the road. They are forced to decide if they should weather the storm together or call it quits.

View all my reviews @Tara Johnson Barnes

Seed on Fire (Moore Family Saga Book 1) by Michele Sims – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Act I: Seed On Fire (Moore Family Saga, #1)Act I: Seed On Fire by Michele Sims
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Seed on Fire is Book One in the Moore Family Saga series of books. We are introduced to Kaiden, a musician, and Alicia Moore, a young couple that fall head over heels in love and soon become married after a whirlwind romance. Alicia unexpectedly becomes pregnant on their honeymoon, something which threatens to tear Cade and Alicia apart. Kaiden, or Cade as his friends call him, and Alicia, or Lecia as her close friends call her, find their relationship put to the test with this revelation.

Cade never expected to settle down but that all changed when he met Lecia. He is now struggling with the sudden life changes and his impending fatherhood. Lecia finds herself overjoyed and cannot wait to become a mother but is struggling with the loss of her career because of her impending motherhood. These life changes cause a rift between Cade and Lecia but soon a series of horrific events not only threatens to break them apart but also puts the life of their unborn child in danger. Will their love be strong enough to endure the threats and hardships put before them?

This book was full of action, adventure, romance, danger and ultimately the family ties that bind. The author does a great job of tackling the difficult topics of the sacrifices and the often-difficult concept of forgiveness that most couples are faced with throughout their relationship. The characters of Kaiden and Alicia were described so well so you could not help but feel that you knew them. I loved the relationship that they had and the lengths that they would go to remain together. No matter what they went through and who tried to tear them apart their love for each other was undeniable and unbreakable. From the very first few pages I was hooked, and I needed to learn more about this couple and what was going to become of them and their relationship and ultimately what would become of their unborn child. I was hooked and not only quickly devoured Book One but immediately moved onto Book Two in the series, Playing With Fire, followed up by the next few books in the series. I highly recommend the Moore Family Saga series of books.

View all my reviews @Tara Johnson Barnes

Blindsided by T. Christensen – Review by Barbara Bohls

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Blindsided: A Contemporary Sports RomanceBlindsided: A Contemporary Sports Romance by T. Christensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was not what I was expecting. It was incredibly much much more. This is not your everyday high school bully romance book. It has many twists and turns which leave your mouth hanging open. You will have to reread a few sentences throughout the book because you won’t believe that, yes, that actually happened. This book is really well written and was a huge page turner for me. This is my first book by this author and I can officially say I will be reading more. The writing style sucks you in and the story line keeps you there. The characters in this book are spot on. I couldn’t see this book without the characters in it, like it just made sense. This book also has STEAM to it. I am so invested in these characters that I hope all of them get their own story. You will fall in love, have your heart ripped out, be stitched back together, get angry, smile with vindictiveness, and have a happily ever after. What else do you need from a book? NOTHING!! AMAZING!! This is a must read for 2022.

Reviewed by @bbohls

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Brittany Angel

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Exiled SouthExiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lizbeth Gordon is a school counselor who experiences a major life event when her husband unexpectedly dies. She decides to leave Washington where she has spent the last 20 years to return home to South Carolina. There, while trying to navigate the loss of her husband and her children’s grief in the loss of their father she uncovers a possible family member lost during the reconstruction of Charleston. This sends her on a journey to discover her roots and uncover family secrets.

This multi-generational novel was a wonderful read. I really appreciated the multiple POV and how fast paced it was without rushing. I enclosed Lizbeth’s and her family story the more I read. I wish there was a follow up!

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Exiled SouthExiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lizbeth Gordon is a school counselor who seems to be able to resolve conflict in the lives of others but is unable to do so in her own life. After she unexpectedly loses her husband, she feels alone and is in need for time to herself. Lizbeth decides to return to South Carolina to stay at her family’s cottage on the beach. While there visiting with her family her aunt tells Lizbeth stories of family ancestors who disappeared during the Civil War Reconstruction. This leads Lizbeth to research her family roots to find out what happened to her family and where they may have ended up. In her quest to solve the mystery surrounding the mysterious disappearance of her ancestors Lizbeth hits a brick wall and is unable to find any farther information about this part of her family. Lizbeth becomes frustrated and feels as though she needs to give up, so she accepts a job that she is offered in Rio de Janeiro.

It is in Rio de Janeiro where she meets someone with the same surname as the ancestor that she was researching. This person has old paperwork and an old diary written by someone with the same surname. Could this person be a long lost relative of Lizbeth’s? Could this person be the key to unlocking the secrets of her past?

This book resonated with me because I am currently researching my family tree. This is something that I have been trying to unravel over the years and have stopped and started on numerous occasions. I, too, have stumbled onto roadblocks and dead ends in some of my research with my ancestors. I could identify with the character of Lizbeth Gordon because she was much like me. Despite hitting numerous dead ends she was determined to solve the mystery and fill in the missing pieces from her past. I had to keep reading because I was anxious to see if she would solve the mystery and what length she would go to. I think my favorite part of the entire book was the journal entries that she found that had been written over 100 years ago. I love that kind of stuff!

View all my reviews@TaraJohnsonBarnes