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Mr Lucky (Trentbridge Tales Book 1) by Lee Wood – Review by Callie Luna

Mr Lucky (Trentbridge Tales #1)Mr Lucky by Lee Wood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mr. Lucky is a great book to read. I started reading it thinking that crime would take place and our main character, James, would have to solve it since he is an ex-detective. James’s story slowly is revealed in the beginning with him begging on the streets and how he got there. It is incredibly heartbreaking what he has been through and details his life trying to survive on the streets. There are many different points of view in the book that move the story along including Dave Rex who is the main opposing force in James’s life. Once James gets incredibly lucky is where the story starts to pick up and I didn’t want to stop reading it to figure out how the story would end. Mr. Lucky is a different book with a great emotional impact on the reader. I feel like Lee Wood is giving us hope and showing us positive changes that can make a difference in the lives of others.

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Marked Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 2) by Lilliana Rose – Review by Callie Luna

Marked Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 2)Marked Wolf by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Marked Wolf begins immediately where the first book (Shadow Wolf) left on a huge cliff hanger. Stepping back into the action of trying to get the blood opal back from the vampires, Tamaska’s fear of dogs, and Kodiak’s pack refusing him a relationship with Tamaska due to her being a human. Most of this book focuses on these key issues with a few extras added. Unfortunately, for me it took too long for the good parts in this book and when it did it feels like key parts were not explained. The ending was the best part, but it still felt rushed. It ends on another cliff hanger as well so I will need to read the next book.

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Forbidden Wolf (The Shadow Chronicles Book 1) by CR Robertson – Review by Callie Luna

Forbidden Wolf (The Shadow Chronicles)Forbidden Wolf by C.R. Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Forbidden Wolf is about a pair of star-crossed lovers. Tasha is a vampire and Levi is a Lycan and unfortunately their species are at war with one another. The punishment of being caught together is death yet they cannot stay away from each other. Most of the book is set in Tasha’s point of view with a few chapters from Levi to tie it together. They are both realistic characters that have a strong drive that will not stop. I enjoyed their blossoming forbidden romance and hoped for them to run away together. I originally thought that this book was going to be extremely predictable, but this was not the case. Amazingly the twists and turns in the book and the ending were even better than I hoped for. Can’t wait to read the second book Forbidden Mate!

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Forbidden Mate (The Shadow Chronicles Book 2) by CR Robertson – Review by Callie Luna

Forbidden Mate (The Shadow Chronicles)Forbidden Mate by C.R. Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spoilers for the previous book, Forbidden Wolf, are ahead. Tasha and Levi are finally able to be together due to an uneasy truce between the vampires and lycans. Both species have a common enemy now – the hellspawn. More secrets are revealed about the unlikely but destoned pair as they uncover more secrets of the vampires and lycans. I love Tasha and Levi finally being together and further building their relationship, they are perfect for one another. Forbidden Mate has several twists and turns starting about halfway through the story. The ending caused me to pick up the next book, Forbidden Moon, immediately.

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Forbidden Moon (The Shadow Chronicles Book 3) by CR Robertson – Review by Callie Luna

Forbidden Moon (The Shadow Chronicles)Forbidden Moon by C.R. Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I highly recommend Forbidden Moon and the whole series The Shadow Chronicles. This book is an amazing way to close Tasha’s and Levi’s love story. Their relationship is pushed to the limit with having to lead an army against the hellspawn while protecting their daughter. It is by far my favorite of the trilogy due to learning more about the creation of vampire, lycans, and witches. I was at the edge of my seat until the very end. The ending is everything I hoped for and more, it gave me goosebumps reading it! I can’t wait to read the next in the series Forbidden Blood.

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Forbidden Blood (The Shadow Chronicles Book 4) by CR Robertson – Review by Callie Luna

Forbidden Blood (The Shadow Chronicles Book 4)Forbidden Blood by C.R. Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Forbidden Blood takes place during Forbidden Moon but with the different viewpoints of Kimber and Fabian. Kimber is Tasha’s younger sister who has never felt like she belonged anywhere. Fabian is a guardian of the world to ensure balance and order. They bring out the best in one another and heal their pasts. I love this series and can’t wait for the next book!

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Seen by Lori Nelson – Review by Callie Luna

SeenSeen by Lori Nelson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Seen is a dystopian science fiction adventure. The viewpoint changes between Mouse and her brother Meph. Mouse wants to become a news article writer when she graduates high school in a few short months. I really wanted to enjoy this book but unfortunately for me, Seen did not meet my expectations. I struggled to picture Mouse and Mephs’ world and their motivation. They both read like overprivileged teenagers that want to have their own lives separate from their fathers. Not to say that their reasoning is unjustified due to the fathers’ outlandish behavior and the ending of this story. I also felt like there were too many subplots with Meph that took away the focus from Mouse. This book seems to be made for young adults, but I would recommend adults due to the sensitive topics that are in this book like murder, violence, gore, and attempted rape.

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Obedience (Ties That Bind Book 1) by Liza Snow – Review by Callie Luna

ObedienceObedience by Liza Snow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I highly recommend Obedience by Liza Snow! This book is X rated and only for adults. I absolutely loved all the characters and dynamics of the story. Even though the focus is the forbidden romance blossoming between Cassandra and Chandler the twists and turns and plot of the story were extremely refreshing. The main storyline is about Cassandra following her dream of being a silk aerialist for Cirque du Lys. She finally gets to train under her idol and mentor, Chandler. Chandler is her professor and mentor and should not blur the boundary between them. The book switches the viewpoint between Cassandra and Chandler perfectly. The passionate, steamy scenes in the book feel natural and I loved the BDSM aspects such as bondage. Get ready for an entertaining show at the circus!

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The Wandering Isles: A Crown of Stones Novella (Soulbound Journeys Book 1) by C. L. Schneider – Review by Callie Luna

The Wandering Isles (The Crown of Stones)The Wandering Isles by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is always hard to say goodbye to your favorite characters, I was excited to find another tale of their adventures awaits. The Wandering Isles is a novella from after the A Crown of Stones trilogy was completed. I highly recommend reading the series before the novella otherwise there are major spoilers ahead for you! Ian Troy has set sail with Jarryd Kane to find adventure on the open seas. Unfortunately for them, their past still comes back to haunt them on the Wandering Isles as they struggle to determine reality. I highly enjoyed this extra tale of Ian Troy’s adventures due to Schneiders’ excellent use of storytelling and details. I look forward to enjoying more tales from Schneider!

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Tally and the Angel: Book Three, Japan by Eleanor Dixon – Review by Callie Luna

Japan (Tally and the Angel #3)Japan by Eleanor Dixon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book that I have read in the series. Even though it was book 3 I could still understand and enjoy the story. This book is suitable for all ages and helps readers to learn about Japan in a fun way. Tally and her dad are in Japan for business where she meets the Aikawas and their son, Yoshi, and his friend Miyu. The children get to explore Japan with museums, sumo wrestling, graves, and magic drums. I want to read the previous two adventures to learn exactly how Tally got her angel, Jophiel.

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Foxy Tails by Natalina Reis – Review by Callie Luna

Foxy TailsFoxy Tails by Natalina Reis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Foxy Tails by Natalina Reis was an enjoyable story. I originally picked it up since it had a hint of magic, I was willing to try out the MM fantasy romance genre. When I read that Huli was a nine tailed fox I immediately thought of Naruto, if that is what you expect it is nothing like it besides his need for mischief (which is a common fox trait). I wish that the world building come had been a little stronger. The sexy scenes were very short and brief. I enjoyed that some chapters had a change in perspective between Huli and Xiao so you have a greater understanding of their past and feelings. The connections between the main characters and the evolving story kept me engaged. The ending felt slightly rushed and ended in a major cliffhanger.

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Cabin Eight (The Millersville Series Book 3) by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Callie Luna

Cabin Eight (The Millersville series)Cabin Eight by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cabin Eight is my least favorite from the Millersville series. I highly recommend Shore Lodge and The Thieves instead. I think the biggest issue with the book is that I found the storyline unbelievable. It felt like Alice in Wonderland or a dream world where I was trying to make sense of the trials that Miranda was going through. She must learn from her mistakes to forgive herself for her past. It is a short story and does make you question how many permissions you’ve given away to companies mining your personal information.

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The Crown of Stones: Magic-Borne (The Crown of Stones Book 3) by C.L. Schneider – Review by Callie Luna

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

Magic-Borne is the third and final book in The Crown of Stones trilogy. Ian Troy is fighting to fix the glimpse into the tragic future that he foresaw five years ahead. As events start playing out like he was foretold he doesn’t know if his presence will be enough to change it. Is his future set-in stone? Will he be enough to stop his father and finally destroy the crown of stones?

This book is even darker than the previous two due to the intensity of the story. The twist and turns had me devouring this book. I loved this epic trilogy and highly recommend it.

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The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price by C. L. Schneider – Review by Callie Luna

Magic-Price (The Crown of Stones, #1)Magic-Price by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Magic-Price is the first in the trilogy of The Crown of Stones series. This book is a must read, once you get halfway through you will be unable to put it down. It starts out with Ian Troy making a terrible mistake that weighs heavy on his soul. Even though it has been ten years since the tragic event where he took the lives of many. When I first started reading it, I got ‘The Witcher’ vibes due to him having a magic horse, white hair, and is set in a similar time period. He is a badass that fights for what he believes is right. After getting further into the story it developed into its own and I was unable to put the book down due to all the revelations. I can’t wait to read the next book Magic-Scars as the ending leaves you wanting more.

I highly recommend reading Magic-Price if you love epic high fantasy. Where the main character is not perfect and is trying to atone for his prior sins. There is magic, love, friendship, and forgiveness.

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The Crown of Stones: Magic-Scars (The Crown of Stones Book 2) by C.L. Schneider – Review by Callie Luna

Magic-Scars (The Crown of Stones, #2)Magic-Scars by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Magic-Scars is the second in the trilogy of The Crown of Stones series. Starting two and a half years after Magic-Price ends. Ian Troy gets rescued from his prison, the mines, and has no memory due to the drugs that Draken has been forcing. He has been tortured and forced to do heinous acts for the past two years. As he slowly gets his terrible memories back bit by bit, he must forgive himself again for the death and loss of those around him. He doesn’t know whom to trust or how he acted before and is solely going by instinct. Join Ian on his journey to rediscover his past and to right the present.

This book is meant only for adults due to the sex scenes and graphic nature of it, they are done extremely well. I loved this book even more than the first book due to feeling a great connection to Troy from the loss of his memories. He keeps trying to do what he believes is right and protect those around him while trying to break the mold he was shoved in. I was shocked towards the end of the book when I believed all hope was lost, I was crushed and cried only to be saved a little towards the end. I can’t wait to read the last book in the series Magic-Borne.

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Return to Hoodoo (Boudin, Bourbon, and Barbecue, Book 1) Audiobook by Reggi Dupree – Review by Callie Luna

Return to Hoodoo is a must-read/ listen to! Gwen is a kick-ass main character that is very down-to-earth. She goes back to her hometown of Hoodoo, Texas due to an inheritance that she cannot say no to. The story is new and exciting as more is revealed about the town of Hoodoo and the main character Gwen. She is relatable as a woman who is fascinated with sexy men and Bourbon.

I was hooked by the first descriptions of the main character Gwen when remarking on herself. The narration is absolutely perfect; all the voices and inner monologues are done extremely well. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook.

Return to Hoodoo (Boudin, Bourbon, and Barbecue, Book 1) by Reggi Dupree – Review by Callie Luna

Return to Hoodoo: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Novel (Boudin, Barbecue, and Hoodoo Book 1)Return to Hoodoo: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel by Reggi Dupree
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Return to Hoodoo is a must-read/ listen to! Gwen is a kick-ass main character that is very down-to-earth. She goes back to her hometown of Hoodoo, Texas due to an inheritance that she cannot say no to. The story is new and exciting as more is revealed about the town of Hoodoo and the main character Gwen. She is relatable as a woman who is fascinated with sexy men and Bourbon. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook as the voice of Gwen is absolutely perfect.

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The Thieves (The Millersville series) Audiobook by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Callie Luna

The Thieves starts out with Jasime and her friend Phil robbing her boss in order for Jas to pay for her father’s surgery. Unfortunately for them a couple, Bets and Zerk, watches them and steals the money, and leaves them stranded on the side of the road. This is when the situation goes from bad to worse as they must track the thieves down to get the money.

This story is hilarious. I actually found myself laughing out loud at parts of the book. The stakes are high with the amount of money and how much they are willing to risk to get it back. The ending has a nice twist that I did not see coming. This book is extremely different from the first book in the Millersville Series, Shore Lodge, which was extremely suspenseful and did not have the goofiness of this story.

The voice narration is done very well. My only complaint is that it is set in the viewpoint of Jas or Bets and the voice does not vary for these two distinct characters. The title of the chapter and what is going on is the indication of the viewpoint rather than the voice.

Spirit Guide (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries Book 3) by Byrd Nash – Review by Callie Luna

Spirit Guide (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries #3)Spirit Guide by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The third book, Spirit Guide, did not disappoint. As always the action begins right away sucking you in. This time girls are going missing. Elenor has been contracted by the Duke’s friend in order to find his missing daughter. When she starts unraveling the threads of the case she realizes how close it hits to home with the death of her father. The case itself is interesting and the added suspense of her father’s death and her secret love for the Duke keeps me coming back for more.

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Shadow Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 1) by Lilliana Rose – Review by Callie Luna

Shadow Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 1)Shadow Wolf by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shadow Wolf is about a potential forbidden romance. Tamaska is a human that is dead set on furthering her career, she is extremely headstrong. When the Blood Opal (a priceless gem) is stolen she will do anything to find it and save her career. Kodiak is a wolf shifter that was hired with his team to protect the Blood Opal but feels a responsibility to protect Tamaska from the hidden magical world. The sexy scenes are spicy and worth the read alone. It ends on a major cliffhanger so be prepared to buy the next book!

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Creatures of the Night by C.A. King – Review by Callie Luna

Creatures of the NightCreatures of the Night by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Creatures of the Night has such a strong opening that I wanted to love the book. It starts with portals opening all around the world and creatures coming out and killing the majority of the human population. Due to this females became mages and males became knights. I wished that C.A. King would have fully fleshed out this new world. Unfortunately, for me, it felt like it was watered down and not enough detail was given. The ending feels rushed and very confusing with unfinished loose ends.

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The 45th Parallel (Antipodes Series Book 6) by T.S. Simons – Review by Callie Luna

The 45th Parallel (Antipodes, #6)The 45th Parallel by T.S. Simons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The 45th Parallel is from the viewpoint of Freyja and Cam’s daughter, Caitlin. She is about to turn 21 and has a knack for mischief with her sister Seraphine. They are both special children with the ability to survive the protozoa including the infected water. Not surprisingly they are bored with their current lives and long for adventure. They want to travel the world as their parents have. When their travels don’t go as planned they may have bitten off more than they can chew.

I enjoyed this new addition to the Antipodes Series. It is nice to learn how all the characters are doing after 14 years later. Cait’s point of view is that of a young adult trying to find her place in the world. I highly recommend reading this series!

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Sessrúmnir (Antipodes Series Book 5) by T.S. Simons – Review by Callie Luna

Sessrumnir (Antipodes, #5)Sessrumnir by T.S. Simons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sessrumnir begins completely different from where Caim left off as it has been 7 years since then. It has been 20 years since they started living in the domes. Needless to say, a lot has changed. Freyja, Cam, and their friends and family must again set off on an adventure to save the human population. This book has the heart of the others with now much older characters. I still enjoyed this book, but I feel like it was slower paced than the rest of the series.

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Caim (Antipodes 4) by T.S. Simons – Review by Callie Luna

Caim (Antipodes, #4)Caim by T.S. Simons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spoilers ahead for the previous book, Ouroborous. Do not read if you have not finished! Highly recommend reading them in order!

Caim starts with surprise visitors to Lewis, 7 years after they have disconnected the portals and declined to become part of Collective. Their Caim of Roseglen has grown considerably and they are all living their best lives. The visitors bring two little girls that have striking features extremely similar to Freyjas’ own daughters. Thus, it is discovered that genetic material from Kat (Freyjas’ sister) has been used to create children. Of course, their group must journey to find out the whole truth. Freyja is still the first-person viewpoint that we follow, and this makes this book even more devastating. Only wait until you find out who the father is and that those two girls are not all the surprises in store. The ending of this book expertly led up to an extremely surprising conclusion.

I can’t wait to read Sessrumnir, the next book in the Antipodes series!

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Ouroboros (Antipodes Book 3) by T.S. Simons – Review by Callie Luna

Ouroboros (Antipodes, #3)Ouroboros by T.S. Simons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spoilers ahead for the previous book, the Liminal Space. Do not read if you have not finished! Highly recommend reading them in order!

Ourobororos starts with Cam needing to be alone with his loss of Lae. Cam sets off on a journey to discover more about Lae’s past to be able to share Lae with their son, Louis. Freyja comes looking for Cam to potentially be able to rekindle their relationship. The viewpoint switches to Freyja and we get to experience what she went through in Antipodes and Liminal Space. Her viewpoint is extremely refreshing and brings new life to the series! The stakes are higher than ever when the true reason why they get selected is revealed! This ending is the most closed in the whole series but is still open for mystery, I still needed to know what was going to happen next. Again, I love this series so much and this book is one of my favorites!

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The Liminal Space (Antipodes Book 2) by T.S. Simons – Review by Callie Luna

The Liminal Space (Antipodes, #2)The Liminal Space by T.S. Simons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spoilers ahead for the previous book, Antipodes. Do not read if you have not finished! Highly recommend reading them in order!

Liminal Space starts by filling in the gaps of Cams journey back to Lewis. Freyja comes to Lewis Island and Cam must face his past. They find out about more communities of survivors where potentially one of his family members could be alive.

The true meaning of Liminal Space is discussed and felt by the reader. It is the space in-between major life events, which are often tragic, to move you to the next part of your life. August Island was Cams Liminal Space.

I could not put this book down! It is truly a heartwarming story about the survival of humanity. Be warned this book broke my heart and then started mending the wounds again. Now for the next book, Ouroboros!

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Antipodes (Antipodes Book 1) by T.S. Simons – Review by Callie Luna

Antipodes (Antipodes, #1)Antipodes by T.S. Simons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Antipodes is an amazing start to the series! The beginning gives you a sense of normality before the apparent problem of the water supply appears. It reminded me of COVID-19 when the first outbreak happened; I didn’t believe it would affect the United States, and I wasn’t worried about it until it hit close to home. In the beginning, Cam is the same way he doesn’t believe that it would be able to hit Australia. When the government sends out a text for testing, he ends up getting his ticket to an island to live in a safe new community with 300 strangers. It was an extremely challenging decision to leave his family and friends behind and there are many topics touched on including survivors’ guilt. I found the premise to be believable and the setup of the island detailed enough, including the issue of being completely self-sustaining. I was able to put myself in Cam’s shoes easily and it make me think about how I could potentially survive.

I didn’t think the book could get any better at this point but when his world turns upside down it changes everything. It sends him into an even greater adventure in this new post-apocalyptic world. The ending is amazing but felt a little rushed. The next book, The Liminal Space fills in all the missing details nicely.

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Journeys Through Collection: Volumes 1-3 by James Talisman – Review by Callie Luna

Journeys Through Collection: Volume 1-3Journeys Through Collection: Volume 1-3 by James Talisman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The first book, Journeys Through SpaceTime, falls a bit flat. There was no emotion or connection to the characters. I felt like I was watching movie scenes instead of reading a book. The change in viewpoints consistently was confusing. There were viewpoints that I liked and some that I did not. It was nice when the story switched to the characters, I was most interested in. It was like reading five different books and hard to remember it all. I was confused by how it was all connected, when I reached the end of the book it was not any clearer.

The second book, Journeys Through TimeSpace, is much better and starts to help connect a few missing dots. Instead of being all over the place we are focused on saving the Earth with Matt and his friend, Dan, and girlfriend, Julia. The secret societies add to the story instead of taking away because they have the information needed to save Earth. My favorite part is when Matt, Dan, and Julia time travel to different lives that they have previously lived throughout time. The few cuts to the enemy reptilian species add to the suspense, starting with them gaining the power to destroy Earth. It helps to put more tension or pressure on the main characters.

The third book, Journeys Through AllCreation, helped to further connect the dots. It starts two years after our last adventure. One of the characters from the first book turns out to be Matts’ twin in his past life and they must save the MultiVerse. Another of the viewpoints that we haven’t heard since book one comes back into play. Still one of my biggest issues is that ideas that I need (or like to be) explained are not. Yet almost everything about the characters is explained instead of shown. It all comes down to this… Can Matt again save Earth when the stakes are even higher this time?

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Delicious Death (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries Book 2) by Byrd Nash – Review by Callie Luna

Delicious Death (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries #2)Delicious Death by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book of Madame Chalamet and let me say I was not disappointed! I loved that this time Elinor is supposed to be on vacation to attend the Winter Revel with her friend Charlotte but she seems to be unable to stay out of trouble. When the king falls ill from mysterious circumstances, Elinor takes it upon herself to figure out who is the true culprit. Not to mention she helps the living with spirits of the dead holding on or vice versa. I am a true foodie at heart and loved the descriptions of all the courses of food from the top chefs’ competition. I can’t wait to read the next installment of Ghost Mysteries.

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Ghost Talker (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries Book 1) by Byrd Nash – Review by Callie Luna

Ghost Talker (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries #1)Ghost Talker by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book helps to introduce the main character Madame Chalamet for this six-part novella series. The time period reminds me of Bridgeton where there are lords and ladies, castles, and dinner parties. The way that Madame Chalamet communicates to the dead is clearly explained at the beginning of the series and more pieces throughout. With a recently deceased body, she is able to grasp key information for the police. Due to the sensitive nature of the case the duke de Archambeau, Tristan Fontaine decides that she must remain at his residence until the case is solved. The twists and turns of the case are fun and made me unable to put the book down. There is still the underlying mystery of who killed her father to figure out but she is able to get another step closer by the end of the book.

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