Posts

The Changed Man (The Olympic Peninsula Series, Book 4) by Cat Treadgold – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

The Changed Man (The Olympic Peninsula series Book 4)The Changed Man by Cat Treadgold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Changed Man is Book Four in the Olympic Peninsula series. It is a contemporary romance with family dynamics, drama, secrets, intrigue, mystery, suspense, angst, and conflict. The characters are interconnected from the previous books in this series, so it is best to read the previous books prior to this one. This story focus on the MC Jake O’Connell who has returned to Port Townsend for his brother David’s wedding. Jake has been estranged from the family and returned without letting anyone know that he was coming so his return causes quite a stir within his family. He has held a bit of a grudge against his brothers because they left him to run the family business while they ran off to pursue their dreams. Jake has left his life as the CEO of the family business in North Bend and has turned to a life of writing. The story focuses on how Jake has transformed his life, and the complex relationship Jake has with his family, especially his twin brother, the famous country singer Joe Bob Blade. When Jake meets Chiara, his brother’s son’s guardian, he feels an instant connection, but she is married. He wants her despite the obstacles that are standing in his way. This book builds on prior ones in the series and delves a bit deeper into the complicated lives and relationships of the O’Connell family. The characters were relatable, engaging, multi faceted, complex, and experienced tremendous growth throughout the story. The storyline was well written with intricate details that fully immerse you into the lives of this complex family.

View all my reviews@tarab

The Glow in Loretta’s Garden (Loretta’s Insects) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

The Glow in Loretta's Garden (Loretta's Insects)The Glow in Loretta’s Garden by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Glow in Loretta’s Garden is Book Five in the Loretta’s Insects series. It is a children’s picture book that teaches children about the life cycle of fireflies. Loretta loves insects and while digging in her flower bed she finds glowing larvae. She places them in an empty ant farm and watches them as they dig little mud houses underground. After several days of observing the activity of the larvae Loretta notices that there are fireflies coming out so she takes the ant farm outside so they can fly free. She then spends time watching the fireflies and makes some interesting observations about how they flash. A cute and informative read that is a good resource for kids to learn about the life cycle of a firefly. The illustrations were okay, but I personally found the illustrations in previous books in this series more captivating and engaging. Overall, a great read.

View all my reviews@tarab