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Divinely Dramatic (Divine Vintage Series) by Sandra L. Young – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Divinely Dramatic (Divine Vintage Series, #2)Divinely Dramatic by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Divinely Dramatic was a great addition to the Divine Vintage series!

Marcy Alexander is a woman of many artistic talents. She has been tasked to costume the cast of a play. Her friend, Justine, was supposed to do it, and she asked Marcy to fill in for her. She jumps at the chance, but the grumpy director, Mike Figueroa, isn’t so sure she has what it takes. Even though their first meeting isn’t the best, there is some definite chemistry below the surface. She thinks he is too gruff, and he thinks she is a bit on the weird side. As they come to spend more time together, they realize first impressions of someone aren’t always accurate. Too bad Mike has a girlfriend, and when Marcy gets the female lead, they decide to keep things professional. Despite their good intentions, it’s getting more difficult to not cross that line. To compound that issue, Marcy can read auras, and she finds that there is a ghostly mystery she has to solve.

The plot of the book flowed well. There was equal attention given to the budding romance between Marcy and Mike and the ghostly mystery of Ellen. I enjoyed seeing Tess and her hubby again. I love the relationship between the three friends and how they each rely on one another to solve their ghostly mysteries. The romance was more of a slow burn between Marcy and Mike. There is no cheating in the book.

Marcy was a great character! She was a tremendously talented and creative person. She was a great artist, a vintage fashionista, and a baker! I loved her dedication to her ailing mother. She was just a great person who I would want as a friend myself.

Mike was also a great character! I liked that Sandra Young gave him a voice as well. I couldn’t understand why he had the girlfriend he did. She was so opposite from him. He had such a wonderful heart, and he was pretty talented as well.

Like the first novel, this was a perfect blend of historical fiction, mystery, paranormal, and romance. Not many writers could blend all of those components, but Young did a great job of doing just that! I’m looking forward to the next one in the series.

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Out of Bounds (Game Time Series) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Out of BoundsOut of Bounds by Tam DeRudder Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tam DeRudder Jackson gave me another fantastic read with Out of Bounds!!!!

In this book, it’s Wyatt and Piper’s turn at happily ever after, and oh my goodness, was I glad I was along for the ride. Piper has had a rough few months, and that is putting it mildly. She has been trying to put her ex behind her, but he doesn’t seem to get the message. When he won’t leave her alone at a bar, Wyatt steps in, and finally gets him to leave. After an intriguing conversation, the evening ends in an unforgettable night, but Piper has made it clear it was just one night. However, she never saw Wyatt coming, and he will change her life in ways she never imagined.

Wyatt may very well be my favorite book boyfriend. I think Piper said it perfectly:

“Wyatt Baxter ran deep. One look at the art on the walls of his room told a story of a person who found beauty even in the most devastating and terrifying moments, who cared about details, and quality, who thought deep thoughts when he was alone.”

He was also patient, kind, and loyal to those he cared about, and Piper was lucky to have found him. He was her biggest support, and she could be herself with him, and show him every part of who she was, and he saw her for who she was deep in her soul.

At the beginning of the book, I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about Piper. As I got to know her more, especially in the chapters in which she was telling the story, I was able to see she was a girl who had been hurt incredibly badly. She was hurt so deeply, that I was surprised she was able to open her heart again to anyone. She was tough, but Jackson showed me a vulnerable side to her. I admired her ability to forgive others who had broken her heart. She became someone I would want in my corner.

Jackson again stands out in this genre, making it her own. Her characters are always complex and multi-layered, and they always go against stereotypes. The guys who live with Wyatt aren’t some dumb jocks. They are highly intelligent, and Wyatt himself is a gifted artist! She is also a talented writer, and I found myself in both books looking up words I didn’t know the meaning of. So, I have added some new words to my vocabulary!

I have been looking forward to Offsides, which is Finn and Chessley’s story. There have been hints about these two from the very beginning of this series, and this one promises to be something else! Summer of 2024 can’t get here fast enough!!!

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Murder She Meowed (Bookshop Kitties Mysteries, Book 2) by Ruth J. Hartman – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Murder She Meowed (Bookshop Kitties Mysteries Book 2)Murder She Meowed by Ruth J. Hartman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Murder She Meowed is the second book in the Bookshop Kitties Mysteries Series and a perfect read for those who love cozy mysteries and adorable kitties!

Christy is thrilled to be celebrating her Aunt Betty’s wedding to Wallace. It’s a sweet, small wedding complete with Christy’s cats taking part in it. Everything is perfect until Janie’s ex-husband shows up and takes many by surprise…and not in a good way. After the reception, Christy and Micah, Christy’s crush, agree to help Janie clean up at her pastry shop. What awaits them there is more than they bargained for, it’s Janie’s ex who is very much DEAD! Now, it’s up to Christy and her friends to solve the murder and keep Janie out of jail.

This was such a charming read complete with a charming town and quirky, loveable characters, including Christy’s adorable cats, Milton and Pearl. Those two cuties are as much a part of the stories as their human counterparts. I enjoyed how each of the characters is connected. It’s a town I would love to live in!

The mystery kept me so engaged throughout the book. Some twists and turns kept me guessing, especially when another body turns up! I also liked the light romance. There is definitely chemistry between Micah and Christy, but I really like the fact that Hartman isn’t rushing it, and even Janie may have a love interest.

If you love cozy mysteries with great characters, a hint of romance, a charming town, and the cutest kitties ever, I suggest giving this series a try!

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray)Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a beautiful tale of friendship, courage, and bravery!!!

Cray the Crab and Hay the Fox are off on a journey to celebrate Hay’s mother’s birthday. In addition to the exciting journey, they encounter some roadblocks and obstacles. They rely on each other, but they also meet some new friends who can help them reach their final destination.

Hay Goes Home is a book for all ages! It teaches children how to be brave, the importance of friendship, asking for help, and building courage, but it also reminds adults of those life lessons that we sometimes forget!

The illustrations are stunning, and I love the rhyming in the book. One of my favorite features was the tips at the end to build courage. Again, this is a book that can be enjoyed by all ages!!!!

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Deja Brew All Over Again: A Runaway Bride Romance (Love on Tap Series) by Sylvie Stewart – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Deja Brew All Over Again: A Runaway Bride RomanceDeja Brew All Over Again: A Runaway Bride Romance by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Deja Brew All Over Again is my first read from Sylvie Stewart but definitely not my last! I just adored this romance!!!!

Miller sees himself as the family screw-up, although I think he is a little hard on himself. Yes, he has made some decisions that weren’t the best, but boy does this guy have a knight in shining armor’s heart! He loves his family, and I loved how he went completely out of his way to help Maisy and Bear! He was everything that made him a great book boyfriend!!! He’s pretty much irresistible and is the perfect package even though that package might be a little dented.

Maisy was the perfect match for Miller. She has the same heart, and she only wants the best for her little brother, Bear, and she will do just about anything to get him out of the clutches of her horrible, irresponsible mother. UGH! She also saw things in Miller that others necessarily didn’t see. She wasn’t just beautiful…she was smart, intelligent, tenacious, and loyal to those she loved.

I loved Miller’s family! They were just great characters, and I loved how they each accepted and protected Maisy and Bear. And, Bear, there are no words for this precocious little boy. He made me laugh more than anybody in the book. I loved getting to know this wonderful family!!!!!

I was in the mood to read something lighter. I have been reading a lot of thrillers, which I love, but I needed something a bit lighter. This book did not disappoint! It had all the ingredients I love in a romance…a great story, wonderful characters, and a swoony romance. I got all of these things and more in this one. Plus, Stewart is a great writer!!!! I started the series with this particular book, and I can’t wait to go back and get to know all the other characters better! Thanks, Sylvie Stewart, for giving me the book I needed at just the right time!!!

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