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I’ll Love You Tomorrow (Trading Heartbeats Trilogy Book 3) by Julie Navickas – Review by Barbie England

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I'll Love You Tomorrow (The Trading Heartbeats Trilogy #3)I’ll Love You Tomorrow by Julie Navickas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This trilogy should be read in order to properly understand the backstory. Mitch and Lauren are a married couple that are clearly still in love with each other but they are trying to figure out what has begun to pull them apart. Mitch thinks that Lauren has allowed her restaurant Pier 39 to consume her life and leaves no room for him. While they are on a trip to celebrate the engagement of a friend, Lauren gets a devastating call that her restaurant has burned down. Although Vegas worked its magic for this couple, will this new life stress tear them apart once again? I feel like the synopsis gives away a lot of the plot to this story. However, I really enjoy how the things that Mitch and Lauren are going through are actually relatable to real life. I have enjoyed all of the books in this series. I find the characters loveable and real.

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How to Make a Flying Carpet (Alex, the Inventor) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Barbie England

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How to Make a Flying Carpet (Alex, the Inventor #2)How to Make a Flying Carpet by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book would be a fun way to get a conversation started about magnetism. I like how it walks through different ideas of ways that magnets can be used. As always, Ms. Wickstrom has done a wonderful job presenting scientific information in a way that is engaging and educational at the same time.

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Obedience (Ties That Bind Book 1) by Liza Snow – Review by Barbie England

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ObedienceObedience by Liza Snow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The thing about this book that captured my attention was the description of the student-teacher relationship. Cassandra has admired Chandler basically her whole life. She followed his acrobatic career in the circus. When she gets the chance to work with him as her mentor, she quickly begins absorbing information from his knowledge and experience. Chandler knew from his first glance at Cassandra that he wanted to be the one to show her the silks used in his circus act. Their feelings for each other quickly develop beyond a mere professional relationship. However, tension follows them as they both are keeping secrets from each other. I didn’t realize until the end of the story that this is actually the start of the series, but I feel like the story Ms. Snow penned wraps up the introduction to Cassandra and Chandler’s lives. It also left enough of a cliffhanger that I am excited to read the next book. There are some spicy bits, that enhance the story in my opinion.

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Under My Care (Chase Care Book 3) by R.L. Dunn – Review by Barbie England

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Under My Care (Chase Care Book 3)Under My Care by R.L. Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Under My Care follows two medical professionals who met years earlier in the Air Force. Pete is working for a private firm when called to rescue a kidnapping victim. Rowena finds herself as the only doctor on duty as a severe blizzard isolates the rural hospital in Montana where she is in charge of the emergency room. There are many twists and turns that happen during the time that Pete’s team ends up snowed in Guardian Hospital. There is someone sabotaging what little supplies and essential medical resources that they have. Pete and Rowena try to figure out who has evil intentions, determine the direction of their relationship, and most importantly, keep the patients and themselves alive.

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Ruthless Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Book 1) by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Barbie England

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

This is the first installment of the Hawke Family’s second generation stories. Although it can be read alone, there are characters that were in Mrs. McNamee’s first series. I love that all the members of the Hawke clan are fierce, and determined when it comes to their family. Isaac is the son of Stone from the first series. He is a lawyer who works for the family, but his mind is focused on the a girl who he met five years prior to the beginning of the story. It turns out that the girl, Jack, as he nicknamed her, is the daughter of a mob boss from Chicago. Jack’s father brings her to the Hawke’s for protection. Isaac and Jack realize instantly that this is not the first time they have met, and Jack’s four year old daughter, is also Isaac’s daughter. The story is a suspenseful page-tuner that has you hoping no-one is going to get seriously hurt. I’m excited to read the next part of this saga!

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The Man in Black by L.R. Liverpool – Review by Barbie England

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The Man In BlackThe Man In Black by L.R. Liverpool
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Man in Black is story about exploring your dreams. Fenimore James has been obsessed with crime stories that he clips from the newspaper, and decides to leave home to join a gang. He decides to go by the name Simon, and when he meets the leader of a notorious gang, Red, he is introduced to the rest of the gang by that name. The story begins in the fall of the year 1880, and as Simon lives with the gang he discovers that he is interested romantically in one of its’ members. There are all kinds of escapades that happen along the way as they explore the physical terrain and also Simon lives with the choices that sometimes feel uncomfortable to him. While all of that is going on members of the gang are getting murdered one at a time, Simon sees a mysterious Man in Black, and tries to figure out who is after them before its too late.

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Arrrgh! Me Hate To Wait! by Mary Bleckwehl – Review by Barbie England

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Arrrgh! Me HATE To Wait!Arrrgh! Me HATE To Wait! by Mary Evanson Bleckwehl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Half-Pint is an adorable little piggy who has some trouble deciding where to stay. First, she lived on the Poop Deck, where there were diapers and she had to take naps. She dreamed of one day being like her older siblings and going to Pirate School. This book has a nice lesson about being patient, and also careful about what you ask for. It also includes vibrant illustrations that add details to the words of the story. Kids would enjoy reading about Half-Pint and her journey to begin Pirate School.

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Sharing His Nanny by Tori Chase – Review by Barbie England

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Sharing His Nanny: A Curvy Girl Reverse Harem RomanceSharing His Nanny: A Curvy Girl Reverse Harem Romance by Tori Chase
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story to me felt like an excellent blend of reality mixed with some hot, spicy content. Charles has recently found out that he is the father to a baby girl. Charles and his two friends, Alex and Jordan, make a trio that meets for a month long retreat to a Malibu beach house. Charles’ mother hires Stella, who is her step-daughter to be a Nanny to Charles’ daughter. The beginning of the story has a good plot set up, and explanations of all the participants’ thinking processes. Eventually, the friends realize they are desiring more than just a typical Nanny relationship with Stella. Everything in this book was exciting, and being honest, also it gave me some Stella envy.

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The Hawke Family Complete Collection by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Barbie England

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The Hawke Family Complete CollectionThe Hawke Family Complete Collection by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a collection of the six books in The Hawke Family series. Each of them have a unique, but still interconnected story. They need to be read in order. The Hawke family is made up of biological siblings with their partners; also it has members who are adopted in the sense of a found family. They are fiercely loyal to each other, and always focused on the best interests of each individual. Sometimes this leads to angst within the characters who struggle with knowing the choice they want to make might not be what the family members want them to choose. Ms. McNamee does an excellent job of not only building suspense into each book, but also creating a consistent world within. By the time I reached the end of each story, all the questions I had were answered. There is good representation of a person with different abilities. Contained within book 3 are some BDSM descriptions. Of course all of the storyline is awesome, but Ms. McNamee also gets an A+ rating for the spicy parts. The explicit descriptions were just perfection!

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Ladybugs for Loretta (Loretta’s Insects) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Barbie England

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Ladybugs for LorettaLadybugs for Loretta by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story is an informative, yet entertaining story about a girl named Loretta. One day in the winter she finds some ladybugs and decides to bring them home. She becomes obsessed with finding all of the ladybugs. Eventually she has enough to share with neighbors. There were some informative details that I learned from this book. I think some younger children would be entertained by this story, but might struggle to read it independently. Ms.Wickstrom has once again done an excellent job at making science enjoyable to read about!

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Beast (Popov Bratva Book 5) by Leslie Georgeson – Review by Barbie England

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Beast (Popov Bratva #5)Beast by Leslie Georgeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book I have read in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed how the reader found out things about what had happened in Adrik’s (also known as The Beast) past as he revealed them to his love interest. It’s sweet how they both have this desire for each other, and although he has worked for the family for years, Adrik has attempted to maintain his professional distance from Annika. The two have their individual traumas that both eventually feed into the events that unfold when Adrik and his best friend Tim are the two Bratva members assigned to be Annika’s personal guards when she begins receiving threating text messages. I am excited to go back and read the other works in this series! I have not read a book written by Mrs. Georgeson that didn’t have me hooked!

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Kamana Wanalaya by Susan Renee – Review by Barbie England

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Kamana Wanalaya for the HolidaysKamana Wanalaya for the Holidays by Susan Renee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m not sure if there are spoilers in this book for the others in the series. At the beginning of the book the reader is introduced to Tenley, whose podcast is called TJ on Par. She wants her listeners to not mistake love for convenience, and views marriage as a business contract. TJ Mack (Teagan) is the self proclaimed guru of romance. Teagan says, “We fall in love by chance, but we stay in love by choice.” Tenley is challenged by Reagan to spend a week at Kamana Wanalya, which is a resort in Hawaii where he grew up. I loved this sweet story, and the way the characters were written kind of made me root for them all. I found myself wanting to know more about the side characters, so I may continue reading the other novels in the series. At the end of their time in Hawaii what new discoveries will be made? You’ll have to read it to find out

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Painter of the Damned (Painted Souls Book 2) by Rob Samborn – Review by Barbie England

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Painter of the Damned (Painted Souls, #2)Painter of the Damned by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Painter of the Damned is the second book in the Painted Souls series. The series should be read in order for a proper understanding. In this continuation, Nick continues on his mission to attempt to rescue the souls which have been imprisoned in the painting Paradise. Nick makes a deeper connection with his past life Angelo, and all Angelo wants is to be reunited with his love, Isabella, who is in Paradise. Julia, Nick’s wife struggles with accepting what seems like something that can be real, but is actually happening. Della Porta is busy with his mission to advance the Order’s power to become a world religion. Will Nick accomplish his goal, or will Della Porta continue imprisoning more people for eternity with the help of the new painter, his nephew, Carlo? This story balances a good amount of angst with excellent world building. I’m looking forward to reading the third book already!

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Amaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt – Review by Barbie England

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Amaleigha and the Big IdeaAmaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I saw a lot of my own daughter in this book. She is like Amaleigha, who likes to explore the seasons. Part of this exploration is going outside without shoes on. She is encouraged by her grandmother who understands Amaleigha. With the assistance of her brother, she builds a park where people can explore barefoot. This book is inspirational because it teaches children the power in believing yourself and illustrates how they should always be working towards achieving their dreams.

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Super Enemies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Barbie England

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Super EnemiesSuper Enemies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mira and Carl are a sister and brother duo that are the main characters in this story. The two usually like to pick opposite sides f every activity. When they read comics, Carl wants to be the hero. Mira, however, likes the villains more. So one day when they go to the beach, they decide to play these roles. Carl builds elaborate sandcastles as each time his sister finds different ways to try to destroy his efforts. At the end of the day they discover something new. I didn’t really see it coming ahead of time. I think children working in any type of group could benefit from reading this book.

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The Dwarves’ Dilemma (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Barbie England

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Dwarves' Dilemma, TheDwarves’ Dilemma, The by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the kingdom of Aleta, the Queen uses a mirror to help her know if he is treating her subjects fairly. When the mirror reveals a situation where the Queen is not the fairest, Snow White come to help. Will the Queen give up the title of the fairest, or make a decision that favors one party over the other? As always Loos Wickstrom has woven some true science facts into the folktale elements of this short children’s book. The illustrations add a colorful background to the story that will aid the reader to have a better visualization of the story.

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Pardon Me, Please by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Barbie England

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Pardon Me, PleasePardon Me, Please by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Albert is a turkey who lives at a farm. There is a family shopping at the farm and they begin to examine him. Albert uses his physical features to display his emotions as he listens to the family discuss his fate. Albert really likes the talk about the President of the U.S. pardoning his turkey. This is a cute little story that uses personification to possibly introduce a new tradition into the Thanksgiving celebration of American families.

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Malayeka (Heartstrings Book 3) by Brooke May – Review by Barbie England

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Malayeka (Heartstrings Book 3)Malayeka by Brooke May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Malayka is the third installment in the Heartstrings series. You should read Aiko and Faida in order before this book. I like how the author writes a short review of the story in a way that doesn’t seem repetitive at the beginning of each story. The two individuals who have connected heartstrings are from opposite sides of the crosstown rivalry. This feud between the Thompson and Reid families has been in existence multiple generations before Billie and Leopold were born. From the start Billie who meets Malayka in her bakery seems frustrated with the townspeople’s behavior when Leo and his cousin let some sheep loose in the bakery. These stories are a quick read and an easy escape.

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Faida (Heartstrings Book 3) by Brooke May – Review by Barbie England

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Faida (Heartstrings Book 2)Faida by Brooke May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an enjoyable book written by Ms. May! It is the second in the heartstrings series. It definitely contains some spoilers, so this series should be read in order. I think the author made a good choice to review how the cupids work to help people fall in love at the beginning of the book. The cupids see a string that connects the two hearts, and the brighter it glows, the stronger love they have for each other. Faida is a cupid whose name means wings that are folded. After Faida’s matchmaking experience, she is kind of jaded to the whale experience of falling in love. She is assigned to help a man named Robert Peters. Robert is a single dad and also the CEO of his company. When Faida meets Robert, she observes that his only heartstring (strong connection) is with his daughter Alice.Will Faida be able to help Robert find love and continue to be an awesome Dad? You must read this book to find out the answer!

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Aiko (Heartstrings Book 1) by Brooke May – Review by Barbie England

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Aiko (Heartstrings #1)Aiko by Brooke May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Aiko is the first book of the Heartstrings series. It follows Aiko who is one of the cupids who were created to assist Cupid with his job. Aiko seems to make a disaster happen every time that she has an assignment, instead of the desired love connection. She first meets Alejandro (who she calls Al) while he is on a date with a woman named Felicia. When Al tries to play in a Mariachi band on the date it ends in disaster, and the gesture is not seen as romantic. Al is once again searching for love. When Aiko discovers that Al is her next assignment, she has to learn how to be gracious to herself. Aiko sees two people that have a heartstring connection to Al. Will she choose the correct woman to focus on, or will her efforts end in more disappointment and problems?

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A Christmas to Remember by 5 Prince Publishing – Review by Barbie England

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A Christmas to Remember: An Anthology from 5 Prince PublishingA Christmas to Remember: An Anthology from 5 Prince Publishing by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Christmas to Remember is a collection of short stories that involve romance around the Christmas Holiday. Gretchen and Levi are two competing bakers who were once student and pupil, but now find themselves in a holiday baking contest. Hank is the IT manager for the city of St. Francis and Amity is a jewelry maker who has been offered an opportunity to move to Los Angeles to expand her business. My favorite of the collection has to be Randi and Wil’s story. I’m a total sucker for an adorable animal story, and Penny, who is a dachshund, is my absolute favorite dog breed. Next there is Max and Cassie who work together to help their friends plan a Christmas Eve wedding. There’s even a tree farmer named Nat who ends up as her town’s representative to try to teach the new bank officer the way things are in the town of Evergreen when his plans threaten to close many of the small town’s businesses. Val and Sal are both worried about gaining their respective fathers’ approval before admitting that the childhood friends both have feelings for one another. Sal is also next in line to head his family’s branch of the Mafia. Finally, there is Abby, who has received an inheritance from her grandfather under the condition that she at least be engaged by her thirty-fifth Christmas. Will Abby give up her chance for receiving the money, settle for sharing the money by bending the rules with her ex, or forge a new bond with the artist she just met? The selections in this book mostly focus on small-town settings, with a few of them set in Colorado. There are a variety of romance tropes contained in the pages. I enjoyed reading them all! I especially enjoyed the Christmas elements with descriptions of traditions, decorations, and social events that accompany this special time of year.

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Lab Spill (The Cool Thing Series Book 2) by Robert Rife – Review by Barbie England

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LAB SPILL: A Dark Comedy. Maybe. (THE COOL THING SERIES)LAB SPILL: A Dark Comedy. Maybe. by Robert Rife
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lab Spill is the second book in this series. You should probably read the first book, The Cool Thing first for maximum enjoyment. There is definitely some dark humor in this series. In this story you are following the adventures of RL, Jayderay, and Frankie. There are two main settings. The first is in Texas, and the second, well that’s in a place called the Waydown. The Waydown is a place that is the remnants of a long-ago abandoned and thought to be sealed off science experiment gone totally wrong, Lab Spills are creatures that have mutated from this area. Jayderay has been given a house known as Roaton. The house’s personality, a lab created person named Proby (who goes by Elvis), and the cast of characters explore what happens with the breastplate/portal between the “topside” and the Waydown in this series installment.

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The Victor (The Freemasons Book 1) by Nicole Flockton – Review by Barbie England

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The Victor (The Freemasons #1)The Victor by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ava Jacobs has spent time living separately from her husband, Cole. She has decided that it is time for them to end the marriage that she feels was forced on them due to her pregnancy that unfortunately ended in miscarriage. Cole finds himself now managing his father’s company in the plastics field after his father passed. Cole is also very involved with the Lode Drysor, a group of Freemasons. When Ava approaches Cole to demand a divorce he instead talks her into putting her skills as an event planner (her career) to use in order to plan the Parklite Foundation Ball that his lodge is hosting. At Cole’s instance, Ava agrees to not only plan the event, but also spend the month at their former home. Will Cole and Ava both work past their pain and grief, or will Cole agree as he promised to grant Ava the divorce once the Ball is over? You have to read Victor to find out.

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Euphoric Wonderland by Ryan M. Becker – Review by Barbie England

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Euphoric Wonderland: An Eclectic Collection of Psychedelic Poetry to Stimulate the Senses and Open the MindEuphoric Wonderland: An Eclectic Collection of Psychedelic Poetry to Stimulate the Senses and Open the Mind by Ryan M. Becker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I haven’t read many collections of poetry. However, I found elements of this collection that I identify with, which heightened my enjoyment. I believe that poetry is designed to make you feel something. At times Mr. Becker uses language that I am unfamiliar with. I enjoyed this, because I got the chance to expand on my vocabulary skill, and slow down to really grasp the meaning behind his words. I feel like some of the music references were probably missed by me as I’m not an avid listener to the Beatles. My favorite poems in this volume were the ones that depicted the author’s mental health and how he deals with it. Also, the background design contributes to the themes of the poems, and enhances the reading experience in a lovely way!

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Dainty Damsels by J.N. Sheats – Review by Barbie England

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Dainty Damsels: Halloween Collection 2022Dainty Damsels: Halloween Collection 2022 by J.N. Sheats
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a cute set of coloring pages! Coloring is one of my favorite self-care activities. The mention of using a paper to prevent bleed throughs and to test colors out is so practical. I’m excited to share these images with my teenage daughter who also enjoys coloring.

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I Loved You Yesterday (Trading Heartbeats Trilogy Book 1) by Julie Navickas – Review by Barbie England

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I Loved You Yesterday: Book One in the Trading Heartbeats TrilogyI Loved You Yesterday: Book One in the Trading Heartbeats Trilogy by Julie Navickas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is the first book in the Trading Heartbeats Trilogy. It features a love triangle between Mavis, Josh, and Austin. Mavis and Josh happen to be childhood sweethearts. Austin is Josh’s brother. When the story begins Josh is getting a divorce and his ex-wife tells him that he was always in love with Mavis. At this point it had been over ten years since Mavis left unexpectedly, and only left a note that raised more questions. Mavis’ brother is also married to Josh and Austin’s sister. As the story develops we see the motivations, explanations, and realizations that each character has. I liked the relatability in this story. I am looking forward to the next book!

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Oliver by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Barbie England

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Oliver: A Story about AdoptionOliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oliver has been adopted. After he get in trouble one day, he starts thinking about the reasons his birth parents could not be the ones who are taking care of him. He also contemplates what his life could be like with out his adoptive parents. I think this book would be a good resource for kids who may need help to start a conversation about adoption. It brings up reasons for adoptions in a way that a child would be able to understand. The illustrations are not in color though. Visually, it might appeal to a child’s eyes more if it was more colorful, but the content of the words is quality.

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The Mind-Reading Hat (Invisible Magic Wand Book Six) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Barbie England

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The Mind-Reading Hat: Invisible Magic Wand Book SixThe Mind-Reading Hat: Invisible Magic Wand Book Six by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Caspian is the main character in this Children’s book. His grandfather gives him a present on his “Un-birthday.” He also receives a stone from his mother. These two items work to help and Caspian learns that they both have a function to help him solve problems. While he is wearing the hat, he can hear the thoughts of other people and animals. Caspian’s neighbor makes him a pecan loaf which he really enjoys. While visiting the neighbor, Caspian hears, with the help of the hat, that someone needs his help. Using the hat and thinking stone will help solve the problem and help Caspian find his final present. I think the text feature of the print that is the actual thoughts that he is hearing will help children make sense of the story. These characters are adorable.

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The Mermaid and the Rainbow (Mermaid Science) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Barbie England

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the mermaid and the rainbowthe mermaid and the rainbow by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story has some science experiments that kids can replicate easily. The information is presented in an engaging and factual way. I think that it would encourage kids to investigate more and ask questions. This and the related titles are all good resources for teachers to support science curriculum. Trezzie (the mermaid) is Maia’s imaginary friend who helps to show Fig (Maia’s human friend) how to see air, and how to use water and a mirror to make a rainbow. This is a wonderful children’s story!

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The Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace (Mermaid Science) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Barbie England

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The Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace (Mermaid Science)The Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace is a children’s story in the group that follows two friends and a mermaid. Maia is the one who can communicate with the mermaid, whose name is Trezzie. This book teaches factual information that may help teachers introduce or supplement science lessons on the states of matter. The art style is a nice complement to the content as well.

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