This is a fantastic book. I loved Killer Blonde so I was definitely looking forward to reading this one. It definitely did not disappoint. There were some differences from the first story – mainly that this was way more descriptive than the first one. But over all it delivered in suspense and character development. Truly I loved this story and would definitely recommend it.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-09-20 16:31:392023-10-02 12:09:21Killer Smile by Allan Evans – Review by Christine Baranek
I love a good murder mystery / thriller and this one did not disappoint. It featured a killer with a devious mind – who planned out and executed those plans in incredibly interesting ways. I liked how this story took the idea of the killer being part of a larger agenda. Cade Dawkens was a well written, well developed investigator and the case contained many twists and turns. Several of which that surprised me. This was truly a fantastically written thriller in which everything seemed to be thought of. I thought that both the killer and the investigator were well developed and did not come across as contrived. I thought that the plot moved at a great pace and that the various twists came a at great times and definitely kept me wanting to read. I recommend reading this one and I will be looking to read more by Allan Evans in the future!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-09-20 16:28:012023-10-02 12:09:32Killer Blonde by Allan Evans – Review by Christine Baranek
This is an absolutely freaking fantastic book! I could not put it down. This book contains absolutely well developed characters. This book contains the kind of characters you root for and the characters that you love to hate. This book is the kind that sucks you in from the beginning and when you finally finish it you feel like you have to say good bye to some wonderful friends. That is how amazingly well developed these characters are. The addition of Granny just adds to the charm to this book! I have to say that this is the book that I will be recommending from now on when people ask me what is the best book you’ve read recently! I definitely recommend this one!
This is a fantastic rock and roll story. It is angsty at its best and filled with flawed well written characters. I really felt that Julie Archer thought of everything when it came to developing Jordan and Alexis. This is a second chance romance and Julie Archer did a fantastic job of portraying the baggage that comes with a second connection. The characters and their issues felt so real. I really just wanted to become a part of the story. I absolutely loved Jordan and Alexis and I definitely was sad when this story came to an end! I definitely recommend picking this one up!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-09-10 18:59:302023-09-14 08:46:04When We Fell Again by Julie Archer – Review by Christine Baranek
This is the second book in the Trentbridge Crime Series. This definitely functions as a standalone, but there is some overlap in characters, so I do recommend reading the first one to really get a feel for all of these characters because both are such amazing books. Peter Winston-Moore is such an interesting character. He is one who really just “steps in it” big time. However, the real character I enjoyed the most is James Sheldon who works as a private investigator whose case is way more complicated than he ever would have suspected on first glance. This author does a fantastic job developing characters, but more importantly he does an absolutely amazing job developing the setting. Everything is described in such a way that you feel like you can absolutely visualize where the story is taking place. Given that this book deals with murder and a private investigator this is a talent that should not go unnoticed. As a reader you feel like you are discovering clues with James Sheldon, not just reading about James Sheldon discovering leads and clues. I really truly cannot recommend this book, and this whole series enough!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-09-10 18:50:052023-09-14 08:45:40Lucky Break (Trentbridge Tales Book 2) by Lee Wood – Review by Christine Baranek
Susan Specht Oram has become one of my go to authors for thrillers. This one definitely was exactly what I love about her writing, it is entertaining, suspenseful, and full of twists and turns. The Mother’s Threat features a female main character named Violet Cleveland who was incredibly relatable. She was a woman who listened to what I call her “spidey senses”. Her parents definitely were an added part to the twists and turns in the story. They were definitely a distraction for Violet but I definitely related to her worry for them. Violet (and this whole story) was emotionally charged and I found that as a large part of what I loved about the story. It kept me reading and wondering how Violet was going to handle certain situations. There were many times where I thought I would have lost my cool only to see Violet continue to try to keep a calm head and her new business open and in tact. This book was legitimately so good and I definitely loved all the twists and turns in this story. Violet was the perfect main character and her parents were the perfect opposite to her. I definitely recommend this story for anyone who loves a good thriller or anyone who loves a good strong female lead with a complicated family.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-09-10 18:44:272023-09-14 08:45:16The Mother’s Threat by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Christine Baranek
This is a cozy mystery. Which is short and quick to read. I found it to be the perfect mystery to read one rainy night where I really just wanted to sit and read and be cuddled up with my favorite blanket, a warm drink, and a good book that I can be absorbed in until the rain stops. This story focuses on Eve who begins to wonder how Murder Creek got its name. She begins to research and finds herself deep into a 20 year old missing person case. She soon finds herself obsessed. She ends up writing a term paper on this case and decides to spend some time trying to solve a case that had been unsolved for 20 years. Eve becomes an amazing investigative journalist and begins to get the locals to warm up to her and begin talking. I truly enjoyed Eve as a character. I know I have become hyper fixated on something to the point that I can’t let it go. I feel like this is Eve with this case. But I also feel like its why some of the locals start to open up, because they can tell shes just intrigued and in college so no one really thinks she will solve anything. I definitely enjoyed this story. I thought that is was exactly as it was described – a cozy mystery. I loved it and definitely want to read more written by Jane Suen soon!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-09-10 18:37:012023-09-14 08:44:54Murder Creek by Jane Suen – Review by Christine Baranek
This is the longest Lois Wickstrom book I have read and I love to see something that is for some older children than usual. This story focuses on somewhat of a heavier topic than her usual fare so I would not recommend this one for her usual preschool / kindergarten crowd, but it is more for late elementary. In this story we meet a main character who has an undocumented immigrant for a mother and a father who was U.S. Military. However, he passed away before being able to marry, Xenia’s, (the main character) mother. This means that Xenia and her brother are U.S. citizens. This is a reality for many children living in the U.S. right now. Lois Wickstrom does a great job addressing this in a way that is accessible to children this young and does not make it stigmatizing in any way. She also shows the challenges that this poses Xenia and her family and how they have to try to avoid drawing attention to themselves. When their worst fears come to fruition Xenia and her family have to get creative to see each other and also have to rely on the kindness of others. This is quite possibly the best Lois Wickstrom book I have read and I love the way she addresses this topic. She handles this reality in such a light hearted way that does not make it inaccessible to the children who read it. But it also does a great job of really showing the reality for families in these situations. I highly recommend this one!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-09-03 18:15:182023-09-14 07:48:56Xenia Navarro and the Magic Ants by Lois Wickstrom and Milagros Darling – Review by Christine Baranek
Isla is a phenomenal writer and in this series she has created the perfect characters who keep you coming back for me. They hook you in and don’t let you go until the next page and their stories continue to the next book so you are anxiously waiting for the next book to find out what happens next. I definitely do not recommend missing a single book, not only because they are so phenomenal, but also because the each book provides context for the next. Which in my opinion just makes this series so special. This book is Phoenix’s and Aspen’s story. Which is so very complicated. But yet it is so good in all the right ways. Phoenix and Aspen find themselves in an incredibly complex situation yet watching them handle it kept me turning the pages so very fast. This book definitely kept me wanting more so I will be anxiously awaiting the next one! I definitely recommend picking up this series!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-09-03 18:08:282023-09-14 07:48:49Cruel Hate (Hidden Valley Elite Book 5) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Christine Baranek
This is not my first Winter Austin book and it definitely won’t be my last. When I open a Winter Austin book, I know that I am going to get fantastic suspense that will keep me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I also know that I am going to read amazing characters and that the detectives and police in it are going to add an extra layer of entertainment. Atonement does not disappoint at all with this. Austen once again has crafted fantastic characters and a plotline that does not disappoint. This story also features PTSD and Winter Austin does a fantastic job of providing background information about PTSD. Nic is such a well written multifaceted character. I found that the amount of depth written to her was amazing and made her extra interesting. I absolutely loved this book and I definitely recommend it!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-09-03 17:58:182023-09-14 07:48:41Atonement (The McIntire County Series Book 1) by Winter Austin – Review by Christine Baranek
This was such a fantastic and emotional story. I found myself crying (actually sobbing) at several parts of this. Yet, I never wanted to stop reading this story. I wanted to see how it ended. I wanted to follow the emotional arc of the main character Julie, even if I was so emotionally invested in it. Julie is a fantastic main character and she is one that I found myself relating to and rooting for. The emotional layers in this between gaining custody of her niece and nephew, who are actually her flesh and blood, and processing the loss of her brother and sister in law it just all seems like it is too much. Then Grant enters the picture. The emotional complexity of him entering just really kept me reading at such an intense pace. I wanted to know what was going to happen in Julie’s life, if she was going to keep her job, if Grant was there for good reasons, if she was going to learn to love raising the kids, if everyone was going to get a happy ending. I have so much more I want to say, but won’t for fear of spoilers. I will say that this book is a must read and that these characters are so very well written. I definitely recommend reading this book! But make sure to have tissues handy!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-09-03 17:51:052023-09-14 07:47:41As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Christine Baranek
Stacy-Deanne has become an author that I get excited when I see that she has a new release because I know that it will be a book that I will enjoy from the moment I pick it up. She has yet to disappoint me with this. This book is one in a series, and although there is overlap in some characters from book to book, there is no doubt in my mind that each book works as a standalone. Billie Jean is such a fantastic main character who is fighting for the rights of her people, in a time where it can be dangerous to do so. Fisher is a man from a wealthy family who begins to develop feelings for Billie Jean, even though he knows that he definitely shouldn’t. The chemistry between the two of them absolutely jumps off of the page. I also love the historical story line and how this book features a strong female lead. These are stories that need to be told, even if they are fictional,. I love that Stacy-Deanne does not shy away from these complicated story lines and complicated times in history and instead uses them to create fantastic novels that you do not want to put down! Once again, this book leaves me anxiously awaiting Stacy-Deanne’s next release!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-26 12:07:282023-09-05 14:49:43The Reluctant Suitor (The Studs of Clear Creek County) by Stacy-Deanne – Review by Christine Baranek
The Anchor Knot: Securing the Knot of Truth By: DonnaLee Overly
This was my first novel by DonnaLee Overly that I have read. I definitely will read more of hers now, that is how much I enjoyed reading this one. This was a fantastic book about a character who is really in the process of discovering who she is. She is in the limelight of politics, but really doesn’t know if this is where she wants to be. She also is there by proxy, it isn’t her running for political office. Plus she is dealing with the loss of her late husband in addition to her fiance who is running for governor. She is the queen of putting everyone first, but she never stops and asks who she is or what she wants. This is something that I definitely relate to on an amazingly personal level. Gabby was very well written and her personal struggles were really well written and as the reader you really felt for Gabby and you wanted to see her find what she wanted, not what everyone else wants. I loved the complexity of the relationships in this book. This book is so fantastic. I definitely recommend it. I have found another author that I really want to read more of.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-20 11:01:162023-09-05 13:40:27The Anchor Knot (The Knot Series Book 2) by DonnaLee Overly – Review by Christine Baranek
Russian and Royally Complicated By: Gwyn McNamee and Christy Anderson
This is the follow up to Royally Complicated. I truly loved this one. It showed just as much character development as the last one. In it we meet the prince’s best friend Lev and Bridget’s best friend Daphne. Both of which hate one another but find a common bond in being lost after the events that happened between their best friends, the prince and Bridget. This is a fantastic enemies to lovers romance, which just so happens to be my favorite trope. They have fantastic tension and their banter was so much fun to read you could feel their feelings and tension just emanate off the page. This book has the perfect amount of sizzle to it too. I definitely recommend this book. It is such a fun read that I didn’t want to put down!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-19 11:33:192023-08-24 14:57:59Russian and Royally Complicated (The Crowned Hearts Series Book 2) by Gwyn McNamee and Christy Anderson – Review by Christine Baranek
This is the second book in the Vaccaro Empire Collection. It can be read as a standalone, but I definitely recommend reading both. This book features Valenzia and Luca. Who have had two very different upbringings. Luca has grown up with a vendetta against his father. He wants to abduct Valenzia and marry her. However, he has no intention actually falling for her. He is simply seeking revenge against the people he holds responsible for ruining his family. When he meets her sparks fly. This is definitely a story about the lines between love and hate. It is filled with suspense and twists and turns. It kept me wanting to read, I wanted to see how their story would end. I truly enjoy reading stories about families that are at odds and this is one of them. Where there is generations of hatred. I definitely recommend this page turner!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-19 11:10:342023-08-24 14:57:52Deadly Vengeance (The Vaccaro Empire Collection Book 2) by Anise Storm – Review by Christine Baranek
Royally Complicated By: Gwyn McNamee and Christy Anderson
This is a fantastic story that features a prince and a heartbroken girl. Fyn is the prince and he is written as a very relatable royal character. He is at the beach to escape – from life, from all that is expected of him, etc. I could relate to that on a very visceral level – I mean who hasn’t had a moment where they want to run away just to breathe. Bridget is alone on her honeymoon. So she is drinking away her current situation and making the best of this beach vacation. I definitely didn’t blame her. I have to give the authors credit – Bridget’s situation could have come about very whiney and poor me but it didn’t she was a girl on the beach who happened to be heartbroken. But heartbroken was not a defining role for her. I loved how spicy this book got! This is definitely more of a modern fairy tale and I truly enjoyed it. It has a good balance of romance, fairy tale, and yet still went into the aspects of royalty. I definitely recommend reading this one. It has just enough spice to keep you satisfied!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-18 18:30:032023-08-24 14:35:26Royally Complicated (The Crowned Hearts Series Book 1) by Gwyn McNamee and Christy Anderson – Review by Christine Baranek
I have enjoyed each and everyone of the Balefire Series I have read. I love a good rockstar book and Tam DeRudder Jackson is one of the best I have read at writing them. Blu and Ashleigh were fantastic characters, who were dynamic together. They had wonderful banter and I enjoyed reading the two of them interact with one another. I also love how well she uses a dual perspective to tell this story. I always enjoy (when it is done well) seeing the characters alternate in telling the story, she also gives enough of an overlap that you feel that you are seeing things from both perspectives. I have read all of the series and enjoy each and every one, but if this is the first one you are drawn to, you can definitely read it as a standalone. This is a fantastic book and I am excited to see what happens next in the Balefire Series!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-18 18:20:552023-08-24 14:35:18Sing For Me (The Balefire Series Book 2) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Christine Baranek
A Forever Kind of Thing By: Carrie Thomas and Melinda Harris
This is a fantastic look at the ups and downs of being in high school from the view point of two girls from two very different upbringings. The authors do a fantastic job of making you feel like you are in high school experiencing every piece of drama as you are reading. This is a great teenage romance and the authors are fantastic at creating believable teenage characters who have the kind of teenage love we all know. That tumultuous love where each truly has the others back at the end of the day. This book is amazingly well written and I definitely recommend it.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-18 18:13:172023-08-24 14:35:03A Forever Kind of Thing by Carrie Thomas and Melinda Harris – Review by Christine Baranek
This is the second book in the Olympic Peninsula Series. I read the first book, The Silent Woodsman, and was anxiously awaiting the second book. I do think this book functions as a standalone, however, I will say that I definitely recommend reading the first book first. This is due to the same characters being featured in both books. I feel that you miss a large part of this story if you are unfamiliar with the background of the characters. This time it’s Liam’s story. He was presumed dead in a terrorist attack. His sister, however, never lost hope that he was alive. She believed in their connection. Ali (his sister) and her husband, Joe, bring him back home. Liam and Ali are such amazing characters, they are dark and twisty and completely believable. They have had such a tight bond and have been through so much. It only makes sense that Liam is completely unsure of what he wants next in is life. However, if you read the first book, you know that not only did Liam and Ali have difficulty in growing up. Joe has an incredibly complicated family. And his sister needs his help. Joe and his sister have a good relationship. Teresa is also an excellent character. I loved how she and Liam interacted. Cat Treadgold is a fantastic author who really has a strength in creating complex, believable and relatable characters. Each and everyone one of the characters introduced in this book is perfect. They are absolutely well written and why I know that I will be seeking out more of Cat’s book’s in the future!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-18 17:55:292023-08-24 14:53:14The Guardsman (The Olympic Peninsula Series Book 2) by Cat Treadgold – Review by Christine Baranek
This book is a fantastically well written romantic suspense. The characters are amazing. Neve and Con are the perfect type of romance characters. They have a yearning for each other that runs deep but neither really speaks of it and keeps it to themselves. Neve is an incredible strong heroine and Con is incredibly protective of her. However, as in all my favorite books, every character in this book is incredibly complicated and dark and twisted. This is such a very well written book that I cannot recommend enough. It is filled with twists and turns and romance, truthfully it has everything a reader can ask for!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-18 17:39:152023-08-24 14:53:07Dead Sound (Things Unseen Series Book1) by Anise Eden – Review by Christine Baranek
This book is the sequel to Dead Sound. It is a fantastic thriller. It is well written and is filled with twists and turns that kept me reading way late into the night. Con and Neve are incredibly interesting characters. Every part of this plot seemed incredibly unique to me and every time I thought that I had it pretty much figured out, there would be another twist to keep me guessing. I truly enjoyed this book and recommend it for anyone who enjoys a great thriller.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-18 17:30:062023-08-24 14:50:11Dead Keen (Things Unseen Book 2) by Anise Eden – Review by Christine Baranek
This is such a fantastic story! It is a great rock story that has a main character who undergoes so much growth and development throughout the book. Adrian is not your normal rock story – he doesn’t ooze sex, drugs and music. Instead he has a relationship with Hastings who has a condition called synesthesia. This dynamic between Adrian and Hastings is something that I can truly not describe. It is just best experienced. This book took me through every emotion possible and I loved every second of it. Only the best storytellers can write a book to make you feel things as much as I did in this book Andrea Fehsenfelt is a true storyteller and her work in this book makes it a must read. I hope to read more from her soon!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-18 17:17:262023-08-24 14:50:03A Rainbow Like You by Andréa Fehsenfeld – Review by Christine Baranek
This is a fantastic billionaire romance featuring Ava and Matthias. I loved the dynamic between the two of them. I loved the dynamic that they have known each other for a really long time and that their families are super close. This added layers of complication to each of both Ava and Matthias. It is was a nice twist that she is also looking at a lifetime of happiness with Matthias’ brother. I feel that this was a key piece of the story that really added depth to the characters. I think that this book was very well written and it definitely kept me wanting more. I had a hard time putting it down! I definitely recommend this one!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-18 17:04:542023-08-24 14:49:20Cruel King by K.M. Scott – Review by Christine Baranek
This was such a sweet story. I loved Pyper as a character. She seemed so self-confident and sure of herself. She also knew exactly what she wanted. However, she also knew what she didn’t want. At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about Pyper and her efforts to cancel prom. However, I love the bigger story that that part of the plot lent itself to. I loved the lessons that were found in this story. This story gave me all the feels and transported me back to my own high school days, my insecurities and my feelings that I really knew everything. I definitely recommend this story!!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-18 16:47:212023-08-24 14:49:13Sage Advice by Cori Cooper – Review by Christine Baranek
This was a very enjoyable, well written book. I enjoyed the character of Derek and thought that he was very well written. He seemed to have it all but yet when I was reading it I did not find him to be arrogant or someone that I had a hard time reading about. Melinda was a fantastic person to play off of Derek’s character. She was definitely spunky. I loved watching both their work and professional relationship develop. It seemed to do so very naturally and it did not seem forced or contrived. I loved how the two of them bonded together to rise above their challenges and how there were many rocky points. I definitely recommend this story. It was one that was easy to read and well written.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-13 11:41:512023-08-23 07:34:08Softest Touch by Adina D. Grey – Review by Christine Baranek
Bluestone County has become one of my favorite series to read recently. This book definitely functions as a standalone, but I recommend reading it with the other books in the series because they are all fantastic and it will give you a good feel for all of the characters and the small town. This book is Summer’s turn. Summer has returned home to reclaim her grandfather’s bar – the one that she has always dreamed of owning and running. However, she finds out that an old friend has bought it and is running it. Teddy bought the bar and he is a retired Navy Seal, he thought he could truly handle anything – but then he met Summer. I had gotten a feel for the characters of Teddy and Summer in some of the other books I have read in the Bluestone Series, so I was really looking forward to reading this one. I loved the dynamic between Teddy and Summer. I felt that they were very well written and that their chemistry built as the story went on. I loved how Teddy had a very soft spot for Summer that went way back and that he really looked out for her. I also felt that their dialogue was very well written. I definitely recommend reading this book and I hope that there is more to come from Bluestone County soon!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-13 11:30:342023-08-23 07:33:59Love Shots (Bluestone Series Book 4) by Isobel Reed – Review by Christine Baranek
This is such a sweet story. It would be perfect for a little one who is facing anxiety regarding anything. In this story Lilly forgets her stuffed rabbit, however, I could see this for a child who is suffering from separation anxiety, or who is beginning school for the first time. I like how this book takes the time to explain the physical symptoms that accompany anxiety and show how Lilly learns to face her anxiety. As an educator, I am always looking for books that focus on social emotional skills, this book is an amazing one that I will be adding to my repertoire. I am frequently recommending to parents books that might help with something their student is struggling with. I definitely recommend this book to all parents!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-13 11:09:412023-08-23 07:33:22Lilly Tames Her Worries by Carole Heaney – Review by Christine Baranek
I picked up this book on a recommendation from a friend. I did not know that the author intended for the book to be read in sequential order in the series. That being said, once I figured out the pieces and the parts that I was missing, I truly loved this book. I will be going back to read the rest of the Off the Record Series as well as the Black Halo world. However, I am not going to let the fact that I haven’t read the others color my review of this book. Spook is such an interesting character, he was well written and clearly had a past that left him hurt. The fact that he ups and runs when his secrets get out is relatable, I mean who doesn’t wish that they could just run away and start over. I love that he has made such an impact on the rest of the band that they are determined to help him, no matter what it takes. The author describes this book as angsty and that is exactly what this book is. This book depicts what I envision what a rock star’s life is like, especially when it comes to all the bedsharing. Spook is what brought me to this book and what really has drawn me to the Black Halo world. Xane had a lot of flaws, but his concern for his bandmate really was endearing to me. I truly enjoyed how far he went to get his friend and bandmate back. I definitely recommend this book, but I also recommend reading the rest of the Off the Record books first!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-05 20:11:582023-08-16 13:35:18Refrain (Off the Record Book 3) by Madelynne Ellis – Review by Christine Baranek
This is a collection of stories from many best selling authors. It is filled with happily ever after stories that each features a normal everyday hero, not a super hero, but someone you or I might know. The best thing about this anthology is that I picked it up to read the story written by Naomi Valkyrie, who is an author that I truly enjoy, but I was able to find many new authors who writing styles were all types I seek out and who appeal to my preferences. I love Naomi Valkyrie’s story and I thought the characters in her story were so wonderful. Elijah and Jude were amazing characters and I truly enjoyed getting to know them. Jude was absolutely heartwarming as a neighbor. This story is the reason I picked up the anthology and it did not disappoint. But each and every story features wonderful characters and fantastic romance plots. I definitely recommend picking it up, you just might find some new authors to add to your must read list!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-05 19:53:462023-08-16 13:35:12Saved by the Everyday Hero (Limited Edition Romance Collections) by Naomi Valkyrie & Various Authors – Review by Christine Baranek
This is such a fantastic read. It is as billed, completely unpredictable. Detective James Sheldon is an absolutely amazing character, he is incredibly likable and you are rooting for him through the whole book. This is an absolutely fantastic story of how a millionaire and a homeless person cross paths because of a lottery win. I will honestly tell you that this book kept me reading late at night and guessing until the very last page. This is the first book in the Trentbridge Tales Series and I am glad to hear that. I enjoyed this book I am glad to see that the author will be writing more. I definitely recommend giving this book a try!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christinehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine2023-08-05 15:23:532023-08-16 13:28:31Mr Lucky (Trentbridge Tales Book 1) by Lee Wood – Review by Christine Baranek
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Killer Smile by Allan Evans
