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Murder in a Gated Community by Laura Koerber – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Murder in a Gated CommunityMurder in a Gated Community by Laura Koerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a fun book, not something you would necessarily expect from the title, but I greatly enjoyed it. I thought the author did a great job of creating multi-dimensional characters and the very deliberate way she brought them all together was fantastic. Clearly Barney the dog was hands down my favorite character, but I loved the friendship that blossomed between the characters. She did a great job of building the suspense about the murder and how it happened. I loved the interludes that had the HOA notes and correspondence as it really helped paint a picture of the HOA and the member in it. It was a very amusing book with a lot of heart in it. I absolutely recommend people give it a whirl!

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When Magic Calls: A Collection of Modern Fairy Tales by Caitlin Berve – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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When Magic Calls: A Collection of Modern Fairy TalesWhen Magic Calls: A Collection of Modern Fairy Tales by Caitlin Berve
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a very unique and enjoyable collection of fairy tales for adults. The author was extremely vivid in her characters and you definitely could feel the magic within! Some of the stories I couldn’t quite place how they related to other fairy tales, but it did not make them less enjoyable. My absolutely favorites were, “Letters from a Wu”, “Borrowed Skin, Borrowed Year”, “A Love to Sleep for”, and “Bones of the Soul.” This was definitely a wonderful collection and I greatly enjoyed all of the stories. If you are a lover of fairy tales, this is a diverse collection of magical tales.

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How to Catch Little Boys and Eat Them by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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How to Catch Little Boys and Eat ThemHow to Catch Little Boys and Eat Them by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I always enjoy getting an opportunity to check out this author’s works and again this story did not disappoint. Even in Kindle format the illustrations were delightful. I enjoyed the twist on a classic story and getting to see things from a giant’s perspective. I found his methods of infomercials and selling his tricks to other giants hilarious. For kids, I think this would be a great way to open up some engaging conversations about problem solving and safe ways to interact with others. It had a cute twist at the end that was very entertaining. This is a great book for younger youth and even some older grade school youth as well!

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Love Bites More (The Darkness & Light Duology, and the Love Bites World) by TL Clark – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Love Bites MoreLove Bites More by T.L. Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have read some of the author’s previous works, but I had not started the Darkness and Light Duology series, but luckily, this is a standalone story, so I was able to dive right in. I loved how steamy the book got and the chemistry between Arwyn, Elan, and Hassan was fire. I loved how humorous the story would get and I always love a story with appropriately used swear words. I definitely enjoyed how well written and developed the characters were and the story line absolutely makes me want to check out the rest of the series. I loved how well the romance was able to fit into the fantasy, action, adventure story filled with magic!

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Shadowed Obsession (Shadow Defense Security Series Book 1) by Mavery Ellscott – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Shadowed Obsession: An Action-Packed Romantic Suspense Thriller (Shadow Defense Security Series Book 1)Shadowed Obsession: An Action-Packed Romantic Suspense Thriller by Mavery Ellscott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such an explosive start to what looks like an amazing series! I have not read anything from this author before, but I will definitely be checking out her other works ASAP. The book starts off strong with action right from the start and we see the intense chemistry between Keira and Cade and it was steamy. He was such a strong and sexy hero and Keira was such an amazing heroine. She had a rough past that had definitely colored her present, but she pushed through. This book definitely had you feeling the suspense of who is after Keira and the author did an amazing job of multiple red herrings. I couldn’t put the book down until I finished the last page. It definitely had me guessing until the final reveal. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

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Oathbreakers Anonymous by Scott Warren – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Oathbreakers AnonymousOathbreakers Anonymous by Scott Warren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my first book by this author, but it definitely will not be my last! I found this to be a fantastic laugh out loud fantasy novel with a ton of heart. The author did a wonderful job of weaving together memorable characters and descriptive settings. I found the story drew me in right from the start, jumping right into action and kept my attention to the very last page. I loved the dynamics between the adventurers and the author did a great job of the longing they had to want to recover their divinity, especially Marluck, who had no idea why he lost favor and is desperate to regain it. This is a great book for anyone who is a fantasy fan who loves humor.

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Broken. (Green St. Girls Series) by N.D. Jackson – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Broken. (Green St. Girls #2)Broken. by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was the second book in the Green St. Girls series and while I didn’t read book one, this was definitely able to stand alone, but I will absolutely be checking out book one to get more of the back story on the four girls. I absolutely love Indigo and Gideon together. They were so adorable together and I loved how patient and supportive Gideon was with Indigo. I also loved the multiple POV’s so we could get into the minds of both of the main characters. Indigo has overcome so much and the author did an amazing job of balancing her accomplishments and her feelings of inadequacy perfectly. This was a fast paced book that had not only the romance, but also elements of suspense and danger. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series!

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Tequila Midnight (Southwest Suspense Novels Book 1) by Kathryn Dodson – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Tequila MidnightTequila Midnight by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a great book and I am so excited to read the next book in the series when it comes out. Jessica was such a wonderful character. Initially she comes across as a kick-butt hard working woman, who takes what she wants and makes no apologies for her choices, but as the pages continued to turn, you slowly start to see the cracks in the armor she has built around her. The assignment she takes, to locate a missing woman, takes her on a journey of self discovery. Jessica has a lot of demons to contend with, both from her past and her current life. I loved that she had such an amazing support group of friends and I loved her pup Tela! This was definitely a fast paced story that I couldn’t put down! It definetely held me in suspense and had so many twist and turns. A fantastic read with an awesome heroine!

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Smooth Hoperator (Love on Tap Book 2) by Sylvie Stewart – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Smooth Hoperator (Love on Tap, #2)Smooth Hoperator by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this story, not only was it a delightfully sweet rom-com, but it was filled with hilarious side characters, hysterical one-liners, and intrigue and suspense. I always love getting the different POV’s from both main characters so we can see what they both are thinking and how they are interpreting the different situations. The chemistry between Sunny and Carter was absolutely steaming and I love that the author wasn’t shy with her descriptions of the bedroom scenes. I absolutely adored Sunny elderly grandfather and found his conspiracy theories priceless. It looks like this is book 2 in a series about Carter’s family and I will definitely be checking out book 1 and the follow up books as well!

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Ladies of the Links (Ladies of the Links Book 2) by Haley Rhoades – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Ladies of the Links #2Ladies of the Links #2 by Haley Rhoades
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely adored this story. Christy was such a great character and I loved seeing her growth as a character. She is such a great mom and the twins absolutely cracked me up! They were such adorable characters. Ryan was an amazing lead character and definitely brought the sizzle to the book. I loved all of the supporting characters in the story as well. They created a great group of friends who got along well and supported each other. I have not read the first book in this series, but I will be remedying this immediately and I can’t wait to read book 3! This was a great story full of humor and love.

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My Goodbye Girl by Anna Gomez – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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My Goodbye GirlMy Goodbye Girl by Anna Gomez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So first off, the vivid descriptions in this story were off the charts imagery. I could absolutely picture the characters and the locations that were described in the story. This book was so sweet and just when I thought I had everything figured out, the author threw in a new twist that completely threw me for a loop. Tessa and Simon are absolutely amazing together and while I can’t exactly relate to the jet setting lifestyle they have, the relationship problems they experienced were extremely realistic. I literally couldn’t put this book down until I had finished the last page. I absolutely fell in love with the characters and definitely alternated between laughing and crying throughout the book. I have not read anything from this author before, but I will definitely be checking out her other books, I will just make sure to keep tissues handy. If you are looking for an amazing book that will leave your heart filled, this is a great book to check out.

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Twisted Proposal (Central Florida Stories Book 3) by Victoria Saccenti – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Twisted Proposal (Central Florida Stories)Twisted Proposal by Victoria Saccenti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was absolutely a very dark and sexy read. I had not read anything from the author before and it looks like there are two other books in the series that I am definitely going to need to check out. This definitely had some darker tones to it and the author’s vivid description of the BDSM lifestyle is extremely sexy. The author created multifaceted characters that just suck you right into the story. This is a very sexy enemies to lovers story and seeing how Ethan and Sienna start out and the progression is just so well written. This is definitely a must read and I can’t wait to check out her other works.

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Bound by the Hinterlands by Bree M. Lewandowski – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Bound by the HinterlandsBound by the Hinterlands by Bree M. Lewandowski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely adored this story. I thought the author did a wonderful job of creating an imaginative and well described world with complex and interesting characters. I absolutely adored Cressida and couldn’t wait to see how she would handle each situation that came up. She is definitely one of my favorite book characters! Seeing the progression of her relationship with Caravahl, despite all of the barriers was so sweet to follow. This book definitely had its share of twist and turns, but everything wrapped up well! I will be absolutely checking out the author’s other works and keeping an eye out for anything new!

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House of Arsceneaux (Servants of Morrigan: Immortal Creatures) by Caterina Novelliere – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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House of ArsceneauxHouse of Arsceneaux by Caterina Novelliere
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was absolutely blown away at how fantastic this book was. The author did an amazing job of creating unforgettable characters and descriptive backdrops for everything to play out in. I would absolutely love to visit Louisiana after reading this story. This was a fabulous book, it wasn’t a quick read, but definitely worth every page, I couldn’t put it down. Every time I thought that everything was resolved, the author threw in more plot twists that just kept making it better. Caitlin and Evariste or Gage, were just the perfect couple and the different obstacles they faced just made them even more incredible. Seeing the change and growth with both of them separately and together was wonderful. I loved all of the immortal creatures popping in and out of the story. This was an extremely well written vampire love story for the ages. I can’t wait to see what other stories the author will write.

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Falling Again (Buckeye Falls Book 3) by Libby Kay – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Falling AgainFalling Again by Libby Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so excited to get to read this third novel and return to Buckeye Falls! I loved that we got to see Natalie and Anthony take center stage in this story. We got brief glimpses of the two of them in the previous novels, so it was wonderful to get to know them both better! I loved that we got to see the POV of both characters and their internal and external struggles. The difficulties that they both faced were very realistic, but I loved that they both wanted to try, but were struggling in the execution of it. I loved that we got to see some brief appearances from characters from previous books. This is a wonderful series and I am absolutely dying to get to read the next novel in the series. I just can’t get enough of Buckeye Falls.

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Trapping the Butterfly (Butterflies Fly Free Series Book 1) by Debra Parmley – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Trapping the ButterflyTrapping the Butterfly by Debra Parmley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this to be a wonderful coming of age story set in the roaring twenties. The author did an amazing job of describing the settings, characters, and the feel of the roaring twenties. We have Bethany who feels trapped by her aunt and uncle, who have raised her for years. I loved how Bethany’s character development unfolded throughout the story. She has dreams and desires, but she is limited by her strict and abusive family members. With her 18th birthday just around the corner she has plans to set herself free, but she finds herself entangled with a business associate of her uncle’s, an associate of Al Capone, and the detective who is determined to take Capone down. I loved the character of Bethany and how she works so hard to find her own way. This is a great book for anyone looking for a descriptive well written story of a young girl finding her way in the roaring twenties.

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Earl of Griffith (Once Upon a Widow Book 6) by Aubrey Wynne – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Earl of Griffith (Once Upon a Widow Book 6)Earl of Griffith by Aubrey Wynne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely love historical romance and this story did not disappoint! I found it to be a very sweet story with two wonderful main characters. I had not read the previous books before this, but I loved that the author gave us the different POV’s so we could see what the different characters were thinking and feeling. The author did a wonderful job of describing the characters and the scenery, so you feel like you are really there in the story. Lady Helen and her daughter Maeve were such a sweet pair and seeing how much she loved her daughter was so heartwarming. I loved how sweet Conway was with Helen and how amazing he was with Maeve. If you love sweet historical romances, this is the book for you!

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Editor Kill Fee (The Taylor Browning Cozy Mysteries Book 3) by GG Collins – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Editor Kill Fee (Taylor Browning Cozy Mysteries #3)Editor Kill Fee by G.G. Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my first Taylor Browning story and while the book alluded to the other two stories, it definitely made me want to check them out further! I loved how well written the characters were and how we got to see the back story on so many characters. It definitely made the story more enjoyable. I loved getting to meet Oscar and his new brother Cheddar. They definitely made the story so much more fun! I was absolutely impressed at how many different storylines were happening, but they were all important to the storyline. I love that Taylor just can’t help but get involved in a mystery while also trying to balance her professional and personal life. The author did an amazing job of weaving a story that felt mystical and realistic as well. It was a vivid cozy mystery full of amazing characters and the gorgeous background of New Mexico.

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Ways to Improve Bailey by Cori Cooper – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Ways to Improve BaileyWays to Improve Bailey by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely adored this story! It was a very clean and sweet YA Rom Com, that is full of heart and laughter. I loved all of the characters; the author did a great job of creating multidimensional characters. I especially loved her older brother Dayton, he comes off as the annoying older brother, picking on his little sister, but as the story unfolds, we see how much he really does love his little sister and wants what is best for her. Tanner was such an amazing character, seeing his character development and his patience with Bailey was the cutest thing. Bailey was a great female heroine, she was spunky and sassy, but when it mattered, she was kind and caring. Seeing her and Tanner work through so many different situations was absolutely delightful! I loved the background of the Froyo store, definitely made me think about my froyo toppings! This was a wonderful story and I can’t wait to read more from the author.

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Twisted Bond by Danielle Jacks – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Twisted BondTwisted Bond by Danielle Jacks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my first book by this author and I am definitely going to be checking her other books out ASAP! The bond between Rose and Titan was dark and as the title suggested, twisted. Rose was an amazing heroine who was strong and not afraid to get her hands dirty. Titan was the tortured prince, keeping a deadly secret about his kingdom. The author wrote a vivid tale that pulled you right into the story. She weaved a magical and paranormal story that had witches, shifters, magic, curses, and romance. I loved that we had different POV’s so we could get a full picture of what was happening. The story was extremely well written and it was fantastic to see how the characters grew. The author did an amazing job of developing all of the characters and creating some very intense situations. If you love dark romance, enemies to lovers, with a paranormal, fantasy twist, this is a great book to read!

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Concert Hall Hit (A Darcy Gaughan Mystery) by J.C. Kenney – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Concert Hall Hit: A Darcy Gaughan MysteryConcert Hall Hit: A Darcy Gaughan Mystery by J.C. Kenney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a fantastic cozy mystery! The author has created a very vivid life in the small town of Marysburg, Indiana. I had not read the first book in the series, but the author filled in enough of the blanks that I was able to have a good understanding of the characters from the previous story, but left enough out, that I will be catching up on the story ASAP. I found Darcy to be an amazing heroine and it was wonderful to see her continued growth as a character and sleuth. The author did an awesome job of really describing all of the characters, even smaller minor characters. She has created a town that you would absolutely want to go visit and explore. The mystery of who killed Derek Tufnell is full of twists and turns, with an ending I did not see coming! I hope the author is planning to write more Darcy mysteries in the future!

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The Serpent and the Firefly by Courtney Davis – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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The Serpent and the FireflyThe Serpent and the Firefly by Courtney Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely adored this story. The author created a unique world of angels, demons, fae, humans, and other magical creatures. We meet Jade and Baal and the electricity between the two of them was electric. The author did a great job of being descriptive and really drawing you into the tale. It was definitely a page turner that I couldn’t put down. All of the characters were well written and the author did a great job of creating well rounded characters. I loved seeing the growth in both Jade and Baal, both together and separately. This was my second story from the author, and I look forward to reading her other works.

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A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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A Curse of Ash and IronA Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You absolutely can’t go wrong with a historical fiction with a steampunk fairy tale twist, a retelling of Cinderella, set in 1876 Philadelphia. Benjamin Grimm and Eleanor Banneker make the perfect team together. I did enjoy though that the author definitely created some additional obstacles for them, outside of just trying to break the curse. She did an amazing amount of research and you really do feel like you are in that time period with some added magical aspects. This was a wonderful young adult book that readers of all ages will be delighted to enjoy. This was my first novel from this author, but I can’t wait to check out the rest of her books!

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Obedience (Ties That Bind Book 1) by Liza Snow – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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ObedienceObedience by Liza Snow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, this book not only brought the steam, but the mystery and suspense kept me reading until the last page. Cassandra and Chandler were so sexy together and the age gap just made it all the hotter. The slow build up and reveal to the mystery. I had never thought of a circus as being a sexy background, but the author did an amazing job. The author created a vivid and descriptive world that our characters live in. This was an amazing start to an explosive series; I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

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The Guardian of Whispers (The Reeds of West Hills Book 1) by B. E. Padgett – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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The Guardian of Whispers (The Reeds of West Hills #1)The Guardian of Whispers by B.E. Padgett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thought the author did a wonderful job of setting up a fantastic series start. We meet the Reed twins, Jon and Frank, who it turns out, have special powers. This story definitely gave me Percy Jackson vibes and fans of that series will absolutely love this series. The book does a great job a creating a nice mixture of action, adventure, heart, and humor. The author has created a magical new world that will delight readers young and young at heart. I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series.

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Operation Escape (Space Force Rejects Book 2) by Landra Graf – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Operation Escape (Space Force Rejects Book 2)Operation Escape by Landra Graf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was thrilled to get to read book two in this riveting and exciting series. I was hopeful it would pick up where book one left off, but instead takes on a new journey, where we see how the stories intersect and we learn more about Space Force and some of its deadly secrets. Sera and Markus make a great team and I loved how awkward Sera was, it made watching them stumble through their feelings. This was a great story that I couldn’t put down. You don’t have to read book one to follow this story, but I absolutely recommend it, as it’s an amazing story as well. If you love your sci-fi with some romance, this is a great story!

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A Spot of Earl Slay (Tea Time Troubles Book 1) by Aubrey Elle – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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A Spot of Earl SlayA Spot of Earl Slay by Aubrey Elle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a great start to a new series! I loved the small town of Fayette and all of the colorful people who live there. The author did a great job of drawing me into the story and describing the town and townsfolk. I loved how realistic the characters all were. Like they are people you could imagine in your everyday life. Naomi, her daughter Ella and their very helpful tea drinking neighbors Barbara and Ingrid, make up an amazing quartet of women that just works. This was a delightful cozy murder story, with plenty of heart and humor. I can’t wait to see what happens next in the town and I am hopeful for a bit of romance for Naomi in the coming novels.

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The Vassal of Magic (The Virus of Beauty Book 3) by C.B. Lyall – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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The Vassal of Magic (Virus of Beauty, #3)The Vassal of Magic by C.B. Lyall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so excited to get to finish this amazing series! The journey that Wilf has traveled, mostly against his will, is thrilling and will keep you turning until the final page. The author did a great job of creating realistic characters and relationships within a fantasy novel about magic. This is definitely a series you want to start at the beginning with, and you definitely won’t be disappointed when you get to this conclusion. This is an action packed adventure series full of magic, love, friendships, and family. Seeing Wilf grow into the strong person he becomes, as well as the rest of the characters as they learn to work together to save magic. I absolutely adored this series and I highly recommend it.

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The Crown of Stones: Magic-Borne (The Crown of Stones Book 3) by C.L. Schneider – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Magic-Borne (The Crown of Stones #3)Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a wonderful conclusion to a fantastic series. The author continues to do a great job of writing characters that feel so relatable, even in a world of magic. The author continues with a roller coaster of action and adventure. I loved how detailed and descriptive the story was, you really feel like you are there with the characters. I loved Ian and how he persevered through all of his trials and the strength he showed. This story will absolutely tug at your heart and keep you enthralled until the last page. Wonderful series for anyone who is a lover of fantasy novels.

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Amy’s Rebellion (Gemstone Massacre Book 1) by Julia Goldhirsh – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Amy's Rebellion (Gemstone Massacre)Amy’s Rebellion by Julia Goldhirsh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story. The author did a great job of creating a sci-fi fantasy world that mixes in their world with the regular human world. We jump right in with Amy, who is semi on the run from the powers that destroyed her home. She has made some close friends who are helping her and I loved the friendships between the characters and how they are all working to help take down Opal, the vengeful leader. I felt the author did an amazing job of inclusivity with LGBTQ+ characters and it is weaved in seamlessly. The author has created a magical world and story full of twists and turns. Amy is a fantastic character who you can’t help but root for. I will be checking out the prequel as well as this is an amazing start to a wonderful series!

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