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Heart’s Rescue (Fallen Hearts) by Meredith Hart – Review by Helen Dawkins

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Heart's Rescue (Hearts Below, #1)Heart’s Rescue by Meredith Hart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 1st book in the Hearts Below Series. I blew through this book in one sitting. Truthfully, I liked the romance/relationship between the two main characters, Arryn and Rowan, more than the mystery and adventure in the story.

While the adventure is not boring, it just falls a little flat and I felt there wasn’t many details on what was actually going on besides the people Above thought they were monsters below and the people below thought they were monsters above. There wasn’t much background on why the wicked forced people to suffer down below or why anyone thought they were monsters. There also wasn’t a clear understanding of WHY the King Below wanted to break the barrier. We also don’t know much of Roman’s powers and why people are scared of them. The void itself is also another unknown, but that part didn’t bother me as much. It also was a little confusing how the Royal Guard treated Rowan, sometimes they seemed overly nice and at other times completely hated him – with no context as to why (besides his mysterious powers no one even knows the full extent of).

With that being said, I did very much enjoy how the relationship evolved with Roqan and Arryn. I absolutely loved BOTH of their growth, not only together but in their own separate growth. I love the new Arryn and Rowan, and I enjoyed watching them get to where they ended up by the end of the book. I wish we would have seen a little more interaction with Rowan and Phaedron to really grasp the brotherly bond between them.

I will definitely read book 2 and recommend this series to those who love a little romance with their fantasy and fae characters.

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Devil’s Claw (Logan McKenna Series Book 3) by Valerie Davisson – Review by Kirsten Berkebile

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This is Book 3 in the Logan McKenna Series. There are nine books totally, I plan on reading every single one of them at some point. In this one, we learn about sea otters and greed from a new person. Unfortunately for someone, they lose their life because of this greed. I am still currently reading it so I can’t give to much away. It does involve money and land, specifically the Sea Otter Rescue Land. I haven’t read many of Ms. Davisson’s books but this one seems to grab my attention especially because of the sea otters. I mean I never knew that sea otters made noise, I mean how would you know that unless you have seen/heard them up-close and personal.

Devil's Claw: A Logan McKenna Mystery/Thriller Book 3 (Logan McKenna Series)Devil’s Claw: A Logan McKenna Mystery/Thriller Book 3 by Valerie Davisson

Ignite My Heart (North Fork Series Book 2) by Alicia Street – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Ignite My Heart (North Fork Series Book 2)Ignite My Heart by Alicia Street
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ignite My Heart is Book Two in the North Fork Series. It is a contemporary romance full of passion, chemistry, drama, angst, and unexpected love. The story centers around the characters of Morgan and Blake. Morgan is the CEO of a protection agency and is looking for a live-in nanny for his nine-year-old daughter. His movie star ex-wife has suddenly reappeared in their lives wanting to see their daughter but for all the wrong reasons. She is worried about her reputation and wants to parade the child around in front of cameras while playing the doting mommy. Morgan is determined to protect his daughter and does not want her in the public eye which angers his ex, and she threatens to sue him for custody. He decides that he needs a live-in nanny and his friend figures that he has just the right girl for the job.

Enter Blake who is the sister of Morgan’s friend. She is out of work, down on her luck, and has been living rent free in her friend’s cabin in the woods. Blake hates living there and is terrified of being alone, so she tells her brother she plans to get a dog for protection. Her brother invites her over and tells her that he has something for her. Blake thinks that he got her a dog, so she stops to pick up dog biscuits on the way to her brother’s home. She is quite surprised when she sees the sexy stranger in her brother’s home instead of the dog she was expecting. Blake quickly learns the real reason she was invited over and is less than thrilled at the idea of becoming a nanny. With few other options available to her, Blake agrees to take the job. As Blake and Morgan spend time together their attraction grows, and Blake begins to feel like a family. Can they ever be a true family with Morgan’s ex threatening to rip them apart?

This was a beautifully written, heartwarming story with wonderful characters. Morgan was strong, smart, and a doting single dad who would do anything to protect his daughter. Blake never thought that she would have a family of her own nor did she ever see herself as a nanny. She found herself falling for this man and his daughter and felt like she belonged. Morgan’s ex-wife was someone that deserved a slap. Oh my gosh, she was horrendous and self-centered. It was all about her appearance and making herself look good for the cameras regardless of who she hurt along the way. This was a rollercoaster ride of emotions for me as Morgan and Blake navigated the ups and downs in their relationship. I look forward to reading more by this author!

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Beyond Friendship (The Irresistible Series Book 3) by Marlyn Love – Review byTara Johnson Barnes

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Beyond Friendship (The Irresistible Series #3)Beyond Friendship by Marlyn Love
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beyond Friendship is the third book in The Irresistible Series. It is a slow burn, friends to lovers, contemporary romance full of passion, chemistry, lies, secrets, betrayal, drama, angst, and sexual tension. The story centers around the characters of Brian and Amanda and is told from each of their POV. When Brian first meets Amanda, he is stunned by her beauty and feels an instant attraction to her. He jumps at the chance to play the hero and come to her rescue when he sees her receiving unwanted attention from a gentleman admirer. Amanda is instantly attracted to Brian and the chemistry between them is undeniable. However, as fate would have it Amanda is the sister of his best friend, so Brian puts her in the friend zone and tries to ignore his feelings for her. This might be for the best anyhow because Brian is notorious for having one-night stands with women but refuses to have anyone become close to him. He has very good reasons for not allowing anyone to get too close to him and has been harboring a secret for years that not even his best friends know about. Years go by and Brian and Amanda have been doing their best not to act on their attraction to one another. It is almost unbearable, but Brian feels it is for the best because of the secret he harbors. When his secret is revealed, Amanda stands by his side but is he too damaged for them to have a relationship?

This storyline was intriguing and sucked me in from the first few pages. Instantly I needed to know what would become of the attraction between Amanda and Brian. Would they fall into each other’s arms? Would she be just another one-night stand? Would his best friend be okay with the relationship? It was interesting to see how the tension between Amanda and Brian built and how he had enough respect for her to not follow through with his attraction to her. Then to learn that Brian had reasons for not wanting more than one-night stands with women. Initially, he comes across as a playboy who uses women and tosses them aside. It turns out there was far more to it than that and he guarded his heart closely for very valid reasons. Amanda was sweet, kind, smart, and very understanding when she learned of Brian’s secrets. I loved this slow-burn romance between the characters and how the relationship between them built over time. I look forward to reading more by this author.

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Mr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium by Lois Wickstrom Tori Mitton

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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58870215-mr-barsins-toy-emporium” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Mr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630084968l/58870215._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58870215-mr-barsins-toy-emporium”>Mr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/331633.Lois_Wickstrom”>Lois Wickstrom</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5884570555″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Lily, Jack, Audrey all go to Mr barsin’s toy emporium. Except this isn’t a normal toy store. This is an imagination toy store. This is where as a child you let your imagination run wild. Lily chooses a sylph as her pet, Jack chooses a mermaid, and Audrey chooses a dragon. They all go through these missions, and having to choose to be with their families or stay with their pet. Toward the end a hurricane is coming in and everyone needs to evacuate. Mr Barsin tells them they have to choose to stay at the emporium with their pets or go with their families, but he needs the children so he can be more powerful. Mr Barsin is half dragon, and he needs all the energy from switching children into imaginary things. All three children come together to slay mr Barsin.<br />This was such a wild ride and so so good! Highly recommend!!<br />
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Shadow’s Fall (Shadowstalker Series Book 3) by Natalie Johanson – Review by Elisha Johnson

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Shadow's Fall (Shadowstalker Series Book 3)Shadow’s Fall by Natalie Johanson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shadow’s Fall (Shadowstalker Series) by Natalie Johanson – 4 out of 5 stars

This is the third book in this thrilling series. I highly suggest that you read the series from book one or you will most likely get confused on some parts too. All in all it is a wonderfully written dark fantasy. It has great characters with elements of magic. I recommend.

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Mr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium by Lois Wickstrom review by Elisha Johnson

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Mr. Barsins' Toy EmporiumMr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium by Lois Wickstrom- 4 out of 5 stars

Cute little chapter book. It follows four children while they are at a toy store where imaginary friends are real. This book is full of so much wonder and fascination. It really makes you appreciate the amazingly innocent minds of children. I highly recommend.

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Shadow’s Fall (Shadowstalker Series Book 3) by Natalie Johanson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Shadow's Fall (Shadowstalker Series Book 3)Shadow’s Fall by Natalie Johanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shadow’s Fall is Book Three in the Shadowstalker Series. Although it could possibly be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the other books in the series first. I started with the third book not realizing there were two other books prior to this one. I will be going back to read those ones and then rereading this one because it will make more sense knowing the full backstory. It is a YA fantasy story with action, suspense, mystery, intrigue, magic, drama, and danger. The story centers around the character of Rose who has become the newly appointed Chief of her clan. She is trying to deal with a lot of issues at once but at the top of her list is finding Gerik and stopping him from hurting anyone that she cares about. If anyone can possibly stop him, Rose can because she is smart, strong, fierce, and determined. As Rose sets off on her adventure King Micah returns to a world full of chaos and anger. He must try to find a way to turn things around and keep everyone happy. The two characters have their work cut out for them. The author creates a great story full of secrets, sacrifices, lies, magic, and adventure that keep you riveted until the end. Anxiously awaiting the next book in this series!

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Mr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium by Lois Wickstrom Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Mr. Barsins' Toy EmporiumMr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium is a chapter book designed for children between the ages of eight to twelve years of age. This book is a fantasy story that follows the adventures of several children as they discover magic, adventure, excitement, and perhaps a bit of danger while exploring Mr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium. In a magical room hidden from view is a place where all four seasons exist at once. In this room is where the elementals live, and each child is allowed to adopt one as their friend. Four children end up at the emporium for different reasons and each discover adventures with their new imaginary friend. Soon they are caught up in the fantasy worlds of dragons, gnomes, mermaids, and sylphs. This was an entertaining and fun storyline with interesting characters. I loved the illustrations that were sprinkled throughout the book. Anxious to see what this author comes up with next!

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Beyond Friendship (The Irresistible Series Book 3) by Marlyn Love – Review by Barbara Bohls

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Beyond Friendship (The Irresistible Series #3)Beyond Friendship by Marlyn Love
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the series but I feel like you would be able to read this series out of order. If you accidentally stumbled upon this book and read it, you wouldn’t be lost and would find that this is an amazing story. The characters are written beautifully that you will feel like they are your besties. There are times that you just want to face-palm yourself because you are the invested in what you’re reading. You will love all the angst that this story brings. The steam is really well written that it just flows off the pages. I found myself turning the pages as fast as I could because I needed to know if the characters will overcome what they are facing and how it will end for them. This is a book you don’t want to miss and I would suggest reading the entire series because you can’t go wrong with reading books that are really well written.
Reviewed by: @bbohls

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Mr. Wimp (The Human Mating Site Book 1) by B.L. Wilde – Review by Tori Mitton

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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/128044878-mr-wimp” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Mr Wimp (The Human Mating Site #1)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1682294262l/128044878._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/128044878-mr-wimp”>Mr Wimp</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6451338.B_L_Wilde”>B.L. Wilde</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5882037493″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Bella is married to Joel. When one day he comes home and tells Bella he doesn’t want to be together anymore. Except the fact they have a cat and house together. Bella is afraid to tell mutual friends about what has happened. Bella’s best friend Ava is able to do snooping and finds out that Joel had been cheating. Bella visits with her friends then her family. Her parents buy Joel out so Bella can stay in the house.<br />As soon as Bella and Joel seperate, Bella comes out of her shell and becomes this amazing person that everyone has been waiting for. Bella is ready to dive in to the dating pool, when she meets Liam at a bar.<br />This was such a great quick read! And pretty funny!! Cannot wait for more
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Ignite My Heart (North Fork Series Book 2) by Alicia Street – Review by Tori Mitton

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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197121059-ignite-my-heart” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Ignite My Heart (North Fork Series Book 2)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1694456137l/197121059._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197121059-ignite-my-heart”>Ignite My Heart</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29779456.Alicia_Street”>Alicia Street</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5882025893″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Morgan is looking for a good live in nanny for his daughter Ciara. Well his best friend so happens to have a little sister Blake who seems to be the perfect fit. Morgan is very protective of his daughter, as her mother is an actress and really doesn’t want anything to do with Ciara. That is until she gets married and decides she wants to try and be mother of the year. Morgan already has full custody and refuses any visits that aren’t supervised. Blake wasn’t planning on falling in love with anyone or have children, until she meets Ciara, and Morgan.<br />It’s a slow romance but oh so good. It will give you many laughs, and smiles until your cheeks hurt. What a beautiful story!
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Cruel Love (Hidden Valley Elite Book 6) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Helen Dawkins

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Cruel Love: A College Sports Romance (Hidden Valley Elite #6)Cruel Love: A College Sports Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the last book in the duet story about Phoenix and Aspen (+ prequel). I highly recommend reading Books 1-4 in the series beforehand as well, but it is not required.

I absolutely love this story. At first, I didn’t think anyone could surpass Riley & Cole (Book 1 & 2), but this couple blew them out of the park.

Neither of their pasts let them have the desire to fall in love. They don’t have great relationship models in their life. Onto of that, they both have very high career goals, and nothing will get in their way. That is until they meet eachothers match. Both Aspen and Phoenix are headstrong and take no crap.

After a one night stand, Aspen ends up pregnant. Both are very hard-headed, and while they both want this child, there is something deeper in their relationship, something neither of them are willing to admit.

There is a lot of back and forth in this book. Do not expect a happy relationship from the beginning. Expect to cry and scream at the characters to get their shit together.

It takes a life changing event to get them both to accept the fact they love each other. It takes Phoenix losing his memory of Aspen. It is soooo cute to see Phoenix and what he thinks of Aspen without his macho-man personality he has grown into.

The ending is A+++ they are the cutest! I can’t wait to read the next duet and conclude the series! I love seeing the tid bits of information about the previous couples throughout the next books as well – I get to hang on to them just a little longer!

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Wild For Me (The Balefire Series Book 3) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Brittany Angel

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Wild For Me (Balefire, #3)Wild For Me by Tam DeRudder Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great one in the Balefire series. Wild For Me is book 3 in the series but can be read as a standalone. When Dakota and Annabelle cross paths again for the first time since their one wild, crazy night, sparks fly. Soon, Annabelle scores the internship of a lifetime and will once again be in Dakota Perri’s orbit. This was a fun, quick read and does really well telling the characters stories. I will, however, stand by my stance that a miscommunication trope is never a good choice. It’s always too predictable and seems 100% avoidable, but alas, it still worked out, and we got out HEA.

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Vixen: (Devil’s Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter) by D.M. Earl – Review by Kirsten Berkebile

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OMG Vixen had me in tears throughout the entire book. I loved that the author mentions herself in the book. So many things happened towards the middle and ending of the story. However there were lots of things that started from the first book and was carried over into each character’s book. I love that each character gets a chance to tell their story and yet still be apart of something so amazing as the Devil’s Handmaidens MC or Grimm Wolves. I wish I had someone like these ladies have each other. There is a lot of scary things throughout each book, while there is romance there is a lot demons and dangerous things that happen and if you aren’t willing to keep reading past those dangerous moments, this series is definitely not for you.  I personally have felt a connection with each character as I have read their story. It’s all too real for some of the reading and I had to stop and take a deep breath before I continued reading. I can not wait to read another book from D.M.Earl.

Vixen: (Devil's Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter)Vixen: by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG Vixen had me in tears throughout the entire book. I loved that the author mentions herself in the book. So many things happened towards the middle and ending of the story. However there were lots of things that started from the first book and was carried over into each character’s book. I love that each character gets a chance to tell their story and yet still be apart of something so amazing as the Devil’s Handmaidens MC or Grimm Wolves. I wish I had someone like these ladies have each other. There is a lot of scary things throughout each book, while there is romance there is a lot demons and dangerous things that happen and if you aren’t willing to keep reading past those dangerous moments, this series is definitely not for you. I personally have felt a connection with each character as I have read their story. It’s all too real for some of the reading and I had to stop and take a deep breath before I continued reading. I can not wait to read another book from D.M.Earl.

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Wild For Me (The Balefire Series Book 3) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Wild For Me (Balefire, #3)Wild For Me by Tam DeRudder Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wild For Me is Book Three in The Balefire series. It is a second chance, contemporary romance that centers around the characters of Annabelle and Dakota. We were introduced to them in previous books as secondary characters, but this book goes into their story. Annabelle has recently graduated from college and has been given the opportunity to do an internship with her favorite band, Balefire. The internship will allow her to gain admission to an MBA program that she wants to attend. The tricky part is that two years ago Annabelle slept with the lead guitarist, Dakota, of the band Balefire and she never expected to see him again. Dakota has slept with numerous women over the years and prides himself on never sleeping with the same woman twice. When he slept with Annabelle, he never expected to see her again, but he does find himself thinking about her and wondering how she feels about him. As fate would have it Annabelle and Dakota are brought together when a member of Balefire is about to get married to Annabelle’s best friend. The attraction and chemistry between Annabelle and Dakota is undeniable but she does not want to be accused of sleeping her way to the top. Dakota has a reputation for sleeping around so he must try to prove to Annabelle that he truly does care for her. The push and pull between the two becomes intense as Dakota and Annabelle navigate their feelings and attraction for one another.

This was another great book in this rockstar romance series. The characters of Dakota and Annabelle grew from what we read briefly in previous books. Annabelle is hardworking, smart, ambitious, and determined. She was attempting to explore her wild side when she slept with Dakota and never expected it to become anything more than her fulfilling a dream of hers. Afterwards, Annabelle put it behind her and focused on graduating college and pursuing her MBA. Dakota has a reputation for being wild, carefree, ambitious, and a bit of a jerk. He never expected any woman to make him feel the need to settle down and stop sleeping around until he met Annabelle. His fear of commitment stems from something traumatic in his past which enables us to better understand why Dakota acts the way he does. It was interesting to read and see how the chemistry would play out between Annabelle and Dakota and if there was any hope of a real, true relationship. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

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Mr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jaimie Salmon-Colburn

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Mr. Barsins' Toy EmporiumMr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is such a cute book! I got it for my 8 year old, but after reading it all together by 11 year old enjoyed it as well! I have gotten and read a few of this authors books and I must say that you can’t go wrong with any of her stuff. She’s such a wonderful children’s book author!! I can’t wait to read more with my kids from her. This small children’s chapter book takes place in Mr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium. This toy shop is a world a magical world where imaginary friends are real. The book follows four children in their quest for imagination and adventure. A world where it’s all four season and there are creatures all around. Lily, Jack, Audrey, and Nick are all drawn to the Emporium in different ways, but their stories slowly connect at the shop. The book is full of magic and adventures, but like everything there is a price to pay for the imaginary friends and it isn’t money! This book captures you in it’s grip and you just can’t wait to read it. It only took a couple days for my children and I to read and that was with us taking turns reading chapter by chapter.

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@jaimie0459

Cruel Love (Hidden Valley Elite Book 6) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Brittany Angel

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Cruel Love: A College Sports Romance (Hidden Valley Elite #6)Cruel Love: A College Sports Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I tell you, I inhaled this book. I absolutely inhaled it. Cruel Love picks up right where we were left at the end of Cruel Hate. (Man, that cliffhanger!) While there are some obstacles for the characters to overcome, they overcome them quickly and lead you to exactly where you want to see them. Except for the latest cliffhanger! Setting you up perfectly for the next installment! I’m dying to find out what happens next!

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A Death on Fools Lane (An Eve Sawyer Mystery) by Jane Suen – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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A Death on Fools Lane (Eve Sawyer Mystery #4)A Death on Fools Lane by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Death on Fool’s Lane is Book Four in the Eve Sawyer Mystery series. It is a cozy mystery with action, suspense, drama, intrigue, secrets, lies, and crime. Although it could possibly be read as a standalone, I do highly recommend reading the first books in the series because they introduce you to the FMC and give her backstory. The story centers around the character of Eve Sawyer who is a college journalism student with the uncanny ability to find a good story. I love the character of Eve and was drawn to her in the first book in this series. She is smart, feisty, determined, strong, and brave. Eve is also a bit of an amateur sleuth who enjoys tracking clues and solving mysteries that may otherwise go unsolved. When Eve and her friends decided to spend the Christmas holidays together house-sitting for her friend Cassie’s aunt the last thing, they expected was to be awakened to the police knocking at the door. As they soon discover a retired police detective and his retired cadaver dog have discovered a dead man hanging from the tree in the backyard of Cassie’s aunt’s house. Now Eve and her friends must determine who this man is and why he is there. They must also try to figure out if this man’s death was a murder or a suicide. As they try to unravel the clues, they discover that someone is not keen on the mystery being solved and danger lurks around every corner for Eve and her friends. The ensuing investigation takes some twists and turns that kept me guessing and that grabbed my attention until the very end. I highly recommend this book!

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Wild Lavender (Heart & Hand Series Book 1) by Nicole E. Kelleher – Review by Barbara Bohls

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Wild Lavender (Heart & Hand, #1)Wild Lavender by Nicole E. Kelleher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a great escape from the reality of every day life. You will be swept away into a historical fantasy romance. The book will have you turning pages to find out what happens. Not only is the story about romance but, there is adventure, secrets, second chances, mystery, and evolution of characters. You will want to know what happens when two people who met once and couldn’t forget the other one, meet again. It will have you wondering what is going to happen to the traitors in this story and who is it going to affect. Being able to be get lost in the words on the pages and so caught up in the story that you won’t get much done until you finish this book, speaks of how well it was written. This is the first book in the series and it will have you wanting to keep reading every book that follows. I know that I am going to be reading the rest of this series. It has been a long, long time since I have been sucked into a fantasy romance book. I can’t stress enough how amazing this book is and how if you are remotely considering reading, you should just go ahead and do it.
Reviewed by: @bbohls
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Gumshoe Goes To A Quinceanera (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 2) by Laura Hawks – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Gumshoe Goes To A Quinceanera (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 2)Gumshoe Goes To A Quinceanera by Laura Hawks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gumshoe Goes To A Quinceneara is the second book in the Gumshoe Mysteries series. It is a YA cozy mystery that continues with the adventures of Mia and her sidekick Gumshoe. If you have not yet read the first book, I highly recommend that you do. It introduces the characters of Mia and Gumshoe, gives their backstory, and how they met. This time around the two are trying to find a murderer before he ruins her friend Tiffany’s quinceneara. Mia and Gumshoe come face to face with the sinister world of corruption as they track the clues.

This was another great book in this series with a fast-paced and intriguing storyline. I fell in love with the characters of Mia and Gumshoe in the first book. I love the relationship that Mia and Gumshoe have and got a chuckle out of the banter between them. This book had action, mystery, murder, mayhem, magic, suspense, drama, and twists and turns that hook you until the end. I highly recommend this book!

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Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1) by Laura Hawks – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries #1)Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms by Laura Hawks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gumshoe and the Mysterious Mushrooms is the first book in the Gumshoe Mysteries series. It is a YA cozy mystery for thirteen- to eighteen-year-olds. The story centers around the character of a young girl named Mia who discovers at the age of fifteen that not only is she a witch but that the stray cat she has been feeding behind her family restaurant is her familiar. The cat likes to be called Gumshoe because he recalls a former life where he was a Private Investigator, referred to as gumshoes in those days. Mia has always known that she can sense things before they happen but it all suddenly makes sense when she learns that she is a witch. When customers who ate at her parent’s restaurant suddenly become violently ill, Mia and Gumshoe set out to solve the mystery of the mushrooms that are reportedly the culprit. Danger lurks around every corner as Mia and Gumshoe start to unravel the mystery of who is responsible for the poisonings.

I loved this storyline and adored the characters of Mia and Gumshoe. Mia is smart, sweet, kind, and talented. She is a talented up and coming chef and loves cooking. Gumshoe makes for a perfect sidekick for Mia. He is clever, funny, wise-cracking, and as one would expect from a PI, he loves to drink and smoke. Together the two are unstoppable and able to crack the clues to solve the mystery. This book is a quick read and takes some twists and turns along the way. It has action, suspense, mystery, magic, familiars, and witty banter. I really enjoyed the ending where Mia helps Gumshoe remember more about his past. The recipes included at the end were a fantastic touch, thank you. I look forward to reading more by this author!

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Born to Die (The McIntire County Series Book 2) by Winter Austin – Review by Tori Mitton

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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195006169-born-to-die” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Born to Die (The McIntire County Series: #2)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1690281176l/195006169._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195006169-born-to-die”>Born to Die</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6880807.Winter_Austin”>Winter Austin</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5875133617″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Cassy is trying to forget her past and the trauma she went through two years ago. Kidnapped by madmen, escaped leaving with some scars. Her ex Boyce comes back into town to help her department with a string of robberies. Cassy is cold towards Boyce, I mean who wouldn’t be with what he did. But they end up having to work together, as Boyce thinks the robberies and the murder of one of her follow police men is tied together. Boyce wants to try and get cozy with Cassy again. But she has a sister, brother in law and a nephew to protect. Such another amazing read by Winter!
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Born to Die (The McIntire County Series Book 2) by Winter Austin – Review by Elisha Johnson

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Born to Die (The McIntire County Series: #2)Born to Die by Winter Austin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Born to Die: The McIntire County Series by Winter Austin – 5 out of 5 stars

Second book in this series and it does not disappoint. This book will keep you on your toes. More mystery, more romance, and more trauma. I am absolutely loving this series so far! I am can not wait to see what else this author will bring to the table.

Review by @elishajohnson

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Born to Die (The McIntire County Series Book 2) by Winter Austin – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Born to Die (The McIntire County Series: #2)Born to Die by Winter Austin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Born To Die is the second book in The McIntire County Series. It is a gripping romantic suspense book that centers around the character of Detective Cassy Rivers. We first met Cassy in Atonement, the prequel to this book. If you have not yet read the first book, I highly recommend that you do as there are details that will overlap. Cassy is the sister to Nic Rivers who was the main character in the prequel, Atonement. She is still dealing with the aftermath of barely escaping from her life two years ago. Now faced with the tragic death of a fellow officer and a string of robberies she must ask the help of her ex against her best wishes. This man broke her heart and has left her with trust issues. What she does not realize is that her ex, Boyce, had very good reasons for doing so. As Boyce and Cassy work side by side the attraction between them grows and things heat up in more way than one.

This book was another well written story with a strong female character who persevered and battled through her own demons. The relationship between her and Boyce was an interesting dynamic that kept me reading so I could see how it all played out. The two clearly had feelings for each other but because of how it ended, Cassy had trust issues. Boyce had his reasons for leaving and did so to protect her, but she still felt betrayed. This book had action, suspense, drama, lies, secrets, betrayals, passion, and romance. I look forward to reading the next book in this fantastic series!

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Cruel Love (Hidden Valley Elite Book 6) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Cruel Love (Hidden Valley Elite #6)Cruel Love by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cruel Love is Book Six in the Hidden Valley Elite series. This book continues with Aspen and Phoenix’s story, so I highly recommend reading the books Cruel Start and Cruel Hate prior to reading this one. Without reading those books prior to this one you will not understand the characters or their backstory. The story starts with a bang that will immediately draw you into the story and hook you until the end. After a horrific car accident Phoenix was hospitalized and is suffering from memory loss. He wakes up to discover a beautiful blonde girl by his bedside but has no recollection of who she is. Phoenix not only does not know who Aspen is but has no memory that he is the father to her unborn baby. In his mind Phoenix is only fourteen years old and has suffered a head injury incurred during a football game. Aspen is devastated that Phoenix does not remember her or that she is pregnant with his child. She fears that she will be left to raise their baby on her own. Everyone is walking on eggshells around Phoenix for fear that they will set his recovery back, but Aspen does not want to hide the pregnancy from him. The car accident has changed the entire dynamic of their relationship and complicates matters even farther. Will Phoenix remember who Aspen is? Will Aspen be left to raise their baby on her own?

This story immediately drew me in from the first few pages and kept me riveted until the end. Phoenix risked his life to save the lives of Aspen and their unborn child. In doing so, the accident has left him suffering from amnesia and he no longer knows who Aspen is or that she is pregnant with his child. It was an interesting dynamic as both Phoenix and Aspen’s lives were changed by that fateful accident. Phoenix wakes up a different person than the bully he was before. Aspen fears setting back his recovery but eventually her pregnancy will be noticeable and will be impossible to hide. Both characters are forced to make some difficult choices and navigate through numerous challenges as they fight for themselves and their unborn child. It was an intense rollercoaster ride of love, loss, tragedy, unplanned pregnancy, drama, lust, passion, secrets, lies, betrayal, angst, and drama galore. I highly recommend this book!

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Cruel Love (Hidden Valley Elite Book 6) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Barbara Bohls

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Cruel Love (Hidden Valley Elite #6)Cruel Love by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is amazing and will have you hooked from the jump. There is the mystery, the intrigue, the spice, the love, and the character growth. It picks up right where it needs to. If you haven’t read Cruel Hate, you will want to do so before reading this book or you will not know what is going on. I wasn’t sure what to think going into this book based on how the other one left off. I was not disappointed. It was so worth the wait on every sense of the level. The characters are relatable. You are ale to find traits with all of the that resonate with you. These books keep getting better and better with every single one of them. It is a fast paced read because you are sucked into their world and can’t wait to see what is going to happen and who is going to do what. You are going to find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat in anticipation. You just want to be able to scream at the characters sometimes because you are so caught up in the moment. If you haven’t read any of this series, I highly recommend that you do. You won’t be disappointed and it will go on your reread pile. I know that every book is on mine. They are just that good.

Reviewed by: @bbohls
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Cruel Love (Hidden Valley Elite Book 6) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Kirsten Berkebile

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So this is book 6 in the series:  Aspen and Phoenix continue with some added drama because of the accident. Especially since Phoenix doesn’t remember anything including Aspen and the fact that she is pregnant. Now there is more issues then before because his recovery from the accident takes precedent over everything. Can they survive this traumatic experience and move forward? Read to find out but make sure you read the first two books first. I will let you know that the ending really threw me but I can’t wait to continue reading the series to find out what happens next.

Cruel Love (Hidden Valley Elite #6)Cruel Love by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So this is book 6 in the series: Aspen and Phoenix continue with some added drama because of the accident. Especially since Phoenix doesn’t remember anything including Aspen and the fact that she is pregnant. Now there is more issues then before because his recovery from the accident takes precedent over everything. Can they survive this traumatic experience and move forward? Read to find out but make sure you read the first two books first. I will let you know that the ending really threw me but I can’t wait to continue reading the series to find out what happens next.

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Cruel Love (Hidden Valley Elite Book 6) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Jaimie Salmon-Colburn

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Cruel Love (Hidden Valley Elite #6)Cruel Love by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First let me start by saying that this is NOT a stand alone book. You have to read Cruel Hate and I also suggest that you read the prequel Cruel Start as well. Although Cruel Start isn’t NEEDED, it gives you some back story that just makes the overall story that much better! Cruel Love is the continued story of Aspen and Phoenix. In book one (which is left on a huge cliffhanger!) Aspen is pregnant and Phoenix is the father. Phoenix unfortunately loses his memory in an accident. YEARS of memories just wiped out clean. Everyone walks around him on eggshells hiding things “for his own good”. To him everyone is just lying and keeping secrets. Pushing his brain to remember causes headaches and blackouts, so keeping certain things from him for the time being is a must. So what do you do when the father of your child doesn’t even remember you or that you’re pregnant? Eventually Aspen will start to show and there will be no more hiding. Secrets are piling up and the past is also knocking around to come to the surface. Can Aspen deal with the pregnancy alone? Phoenix isn’t any help in his current state. He has to put school and football on hold as is. So how much will they both have to give up? Will she be alone caring for a baby they both wanted to keep before the accident? Things have changed between them and she’s worried about when he finally does get his memory back! Things will heat up and break down on so many levels. This book is so good! I have loved this WHOLE series (Hidden Valley Elite) so far and I can’t wait to read the rest of it!! If you love enemies to lovers with plenty of back and forth heat and banter this one is for you! I suggest reading them ALL and in order because you get to learn about the other characters in the book and how they all line up with each other. The prequels are wonderful small starts too, so read those as well!!! But again in order!! You will not regret it! I know I sure didn’t. 🙂

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@jaimie0459

The Hand of God: From Oppenheimer to Hypersonics by Paul McCarthy – Review by Elisha Johnson

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The Hand of God: From Oppenheimer to Hypersonics - A Crash Course on Nuclear Weapons and Humankind's Most Dangerous GameThe Hand of God: From Oppenheimer to Hypersonics – A Crash Course on Nuclear Weapons and Humankind’s Most Dangerous Game by Paul McCarthy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Hand of God: From Oppenheimer to Hypersonics – A Crash Course on Nuclear Weapons and Humankind’s Most Dangerous Game by Paul McCarthy – 5 out of 5 stars

Wow! Fantastic and terrifyingly descriptive book about the nuclear age. This historically accurate book will suck you in and hold your interest for hours. The auther did an amazing job with such a stressful subject. I highly recommend, especially if you are a history buff like myself.

Review by @elishajohnson

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