When I saw this book it immediately looked like a book I would enjoy and so I wanted to give it a try. I thought that the author did a good job of writing, although some of it didn’t necessarily flow together. The parts of the book that I enjoyed were the ones that were personal that spoke about his feelings, his family, how he grew up. I enjoyed that he shared such personal things and was open. What I wasn’t expected was that for a memoir it would have so many statistics thrown in, especially in random places. It didn’t feel like a memoir as much as a “lesson” for better lack of a word. Some of it read more like a history lesson and when I read a memoir, a biography, an autobiography, I read it because of hoping to find a personal connection. I think this author has great potential, but I feel he needs to be clear about what his books are actually about.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2021-05-06 23:32:382021-05-06 23:33:09Black Boy Out of Time by Hari Ziyad – Review by Colleen Noyes
This was my first book by Ms. Ferguson and it was a very sweet romance book. The story revolves around Mia and Noah and with their young love they experience some growing pains. Each character has a tragic history that gives you some depth into who they are. I thought the author did a great job of keeping the story moving, brining in different aspects and showing that there is a time and place for everything. I read this book in one sitting and enjoyed it so much. If you like a sweet, clean, contemporary romance then you will love this book!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2021-01-31 21:21:552021-01-31 21:22:30A Kiss Under A Blue Christmas Moon (Daydreams & Dragonflies Rock ‘N Sweet Romance 4) by Tamara Ferguson – Review by Colleen Noyes
Not only was this my first Carrie Pulkinen book, but it was my first ever shifter book. Not knowing what to expect I went into it with an open mind and I absolutely loved it! Alice and Maggie are two light hearted fun loving girls that made it feel like the friendship I have with my best friend. They made me smile and laugh out loud several times. Enter Donovan and his mongoose and it was so “stinking” fun to read. I felt engrossed in the story, the characters were extremely well developed and everything flowed smoothly. This is one of the best books I have read over the past 6 months and I can’t wait for more. The story has a happy ending, but leaves a wonderful opening for book 2 and for the characters to grow even more. If you have never read a shifter book, this could not be a better choice to start with, it’s fun, not too serious, romantic, and overall a kick b*tt way to spend a couple of hours.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2021-01-30 14:30:142021-01-30 14:31:20Flipping the Bird: A Paranormal Chick Lit Novel (Shift Creek book 1) by Carrie Pulkinen – Review by Colleen Noyes
This is a debut book and boy does it have so much potential. You can tell that the author has a passion to write and she encompassed several subjects. The description says this book is for mid teens and I think that is the perfect audience. I think that Ms. York came at this from the mindset of a young lady and that it will appeal to those preteen-teen group. I appreciated that Ms. York took a chance on this book and believe she could be a great author with a few important tools. I can’t wait to see how this new author grows for years to come.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2021-01-30 00:21:542021-01-30 00:22:16Different, But the Same by Michaela York – Review by Colleen Noyes
Not One of Us by Debbie Herbert is a suspense/mystery story. This is my first by this author and I loved her writing style. She kept you on the edge of your seat, but without a bunch of filler. The relationships were intricate and well connected. I was pleased that she had characters from all walks of life including an autistic nephew. The main characters Teagan & Jori were strong females who each had their own backstory that made them human. This book had such a great secret that brought it all together and kept me completely enthralled from beginning to end.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2021-01-22 14:52:492021-01-22 14:53:30Not One of Us by Debbie Herbert – Review by Colleen Noyes
This story was very enjoyable, although too short. Fiona, Lach, and Conner are all strong characters who are different in many ways but each with their own strengths. I thought that the author did a great job of giving you just a taste of each characters background and then bringing it all together. This author doesn’t put in a bunch of extra fluff words which I really like. I thought that Fiona was a strong female character who knew what she wanted and made it happen. The romance was very sweet and I could see all the characters from this book being in a full length novel and driving it remarkably well.
This was my first book by this author and I liked it. I think that the author did a great job of giving some of the backstory on each character and I thought she did a great job of introducing all of the characters. The first chapter had SO much emotion, feeling, and heartbreak that I was immediately drawn in to it, but the subsequent chapters felt like they were missing that same umf for ME, I imagine for many readers they will disagree with me and I encourage them to buy a copy and read it. I expected a little more to revolve around the MMA stuff, more fights, more details, but it seemed to just be thrown in to the middle of a love story. I appreciated that this author laid such great foundation and I think that she can really take all of these characters far with a little more depth. I fully intend to read other books by this author.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2021-01-06 21:16:192021-01-06 21:18:50Fighting for Us (Love is Worth Fighting For Book 1) by Bella Emy – Review by Colleen Noyes
I first discovered this author 5 years ago when I read the first Walker series book. So when I saw this one I had to buy it and read it. The author did NOT disappoint, this story is absolutely captivating, Chloe is a strong and independent female who knows her worth. Jason is a good guy with a good heart and a strong sense of trying to do the right thing. I love Byron who I just wanted to call grandpa and hug on him. I wanted to wrap my hands around William and found myself quite often cussing him out. The other secondary characters added even more to the story and I’m hoping there will be secondary books that have Tyler, Gwendolyn and the rest of the crew. The authors writing style flows so incredibly smooth, she connects the characters, and the readers to the characters. There were hysterical moments that made me laugh out loud (just remember stapler), parts that made me scream, and even parts that brought tears to my eyes. This was the perfect book to bring in the New Year with and I enjoyed it tremendously. if you enjoy a good clean romance book that is driven by real romance, laughter, a happily ever after, and just a little office politics you should get your copy today! I promise this author will bring immense joy to you.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2021-01-02 22:27:402021-01-02 22:28:42CORPORATE CHRISTMAS by BERNADETTE MARIE – Review by Colleen Noyes
This book was a quick and easy read! I think it it was a longer length you really could connect more with the characters, but that’s hard in a short story. i think that the authors writing style is fun and smooth and I can’t wait to read some of her longer books to get an even better feel:) if you like a short story, with some office romance, and a little heat than you will love this one.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2021-01-01 23:01:112021-01-01 23:01:57OFFICE MISTAKES by BETH HALE – Review by Colleen Noyes
I could NOT put this book down! From the very first page it had me invested and the more I read the more I had to carry it with me wherever I went to try to grab a few pages here, a few pages there. The characters are flawless, Adeline has just enough spunk and Stone has just enough manly grrr. The author did a great job of making them relatable and oh my goodness so funny! I fell in love with Adeline’s events and couldn’t wait for the next mishap. This story has humor, sexiness, a little mystery, romance, and fun. The secondary characters were just as impressive and I will be praying daily for this author to write more about these two. One of my favorite 2020 books I’ve read. If you like a strong heroine, laugh out loud moments, a realistic true relationship, and a little put the other person in their place story, this is the one you want to get.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2021-01-01 12:16:292021-01-01 12:17:13Fake Fiancé (A Second Chance Office Romance) by Amy McKinley – Review by Colleen Noyes
This is my second book by this author and I love it even more than the first. The setting is beautiful, you can feel like you are there. The author does a great job of describing without over subscribing. I love the main character Joanie and all the secondary characters, especially Sarah. I enjoyed how the author intertwined the characters, the town, and the yearly Christmas traditions. You could feel the coziness of the town, how everyone was connected and friendly. Throw in a couple of hijinks, a little mystery, some laughter, and some good recipes and you have yourself a sweet cozy mystery. My only question was what happened to Meredith from the previous book? I can’t wait to dive in to the rest of the books by this author. Her writing style is sweet and light which is perfect!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2020-12-30 12:07:502020-12-30 13:08:36Sweets and Santa (The Matchmaking Baker Book 2) by Rosie Pease – Review by Colleen Noyes
This is my first read by this author and I LOVED it! It felt like a true cozy mystery book right from the beginning. It is funny, light-hearted, and engaging. You immediately feel connected to the characters and the humor is spot on. The relationship between the Gram, Mom, and daughter is well written and made this very short story that more enjoyable! I can’t wait to read the next one. If you enjoy, light hearted, fun, paranormal, stories you will want to go get this one asap!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2020-12-29 10:08:142020-12-29 10:13:51Coffee and Calicos by Rosie Pease – Review by Colleen Noyes
This was my first book by this author and I found it to be fairly good. The authors writing style made it a fast paced read with some great details. I found that the characters were well written, but they lacked much back story to really make me connect with them. There were moments that I would start to feel a little connection, but just not enough. I would have liked to have seen the author push a bit more with some details and part of it felt like the storyline was jumpy. I felt that the author did a great job of making Selena relatable and you can tell the author did some research on the matter, which as a reader I appreciated. I see that this is the first in a series and I feel there was enough potential there to give a second book a chance:)
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2020-12-28 23:23:412020-12-28 23:28:20Not Like Her (Selena Bailey, #1) by H.K. Christie – Review by Colleen Noyes
I love a good suspense thriller and this book was so on target! The author did an incredible job of weaving the story from beginning to end. There was suspense, murder, mystery, relationships, twists and much more with the turn of every page. The story revolves around a tragedy involving two officers and how they are trying to find their way back to each other, but what the reader doesn’t know is all the little hidden secrets and clues that are woven beautifully. This author is absolutely incredible with her writing style that felt like several of the “big” names out there, like Patterson or Grafton. I was beyond blown away and will automatically make her a one click author moving forward. My only complaint is how fast will the next one be up to grab lol. If you enjoy reading a good suspense novel, with twists, turns, and who done it, that have well developed characters, and a brilliant writing style then you will want to grab this one right away!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2020-12-27 23:05:222020-12-29 10:00:53The Bullet Theory (Dr. Nolan Mills Book 1) by Sonya Jesus – Review by Colleen Noyes
This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it! I love a book that has romance, mystery, and action, especially if the main catalyst isn’t sex. I thought the author did a great job of introducing us to these characters and gave us just enough to be intrigued to hope to see them in more books. I feel like we got to see just the tip of the iceberg with them as I would expect in a short read. I can tell that this author has a way with words, and can weave a story. I can’t wait to read some of her full novels to really get a sense of her writing and the characters she creates. She left me wanting more. If you like a very quick read that is romantic suspense then you will enjoy this one very much.
First and foremost WOW! I am a pretty critical reader, rarely giving higher than 4 stars so you have to blow me out of the water and this book did just that. It takes a unique author to tell a story that revolves around so much vulnerability, betrayal, fear, and yet incredible strength. This story had so many elements it’s hard to articulate without spoilers. The characters are well written, very real, and each have their own quirks. I appreciated that for instance when Derek was speaking the author portrayed that while he was a good man, he still had the same thoughts of any other regular guy, he still had wants and desires and would catch himself having to rethink and almost battle with himself, not because he was a bad guy just that he was human. When you are a woman who has survived any type of unspeakable act the internal battle is real and even with therapy. You constantly second guess, wonder, feel bouts of shame, but then you find an inner strength, a will to survive, a will not to let it define who you are. This author did a perfect balance of all of that, I could feel the struggles of Gia, I could feel the evil of Ethan, I could feel the confusion of Derek. I could feel the hairs on my neck standing up, I could feel the pit in my stomach, I could feel the ache of my muscles, I could feel the determination, self preservation, and the pure will reading these words. I don’t know how I have never read anything by this author, but she will be on my permanent one click list now. If you like a romantic suspense that has a powerful woman with a great supporting cast than this book is for you. I would suggest you read the synopsis for any warnings the author gives, if you are triggered by certain things.
I found Liliana Hart by accident about 8 or 9 years ago when I saw the cover to her first JJ Graves book and that book blew me away. I’m a bit behind on the series, but every book I have read has been loved. So, when I was looking for a quick cozy mystery book I came across this one and let me tell thank goodness i did! The setting is perfect, I love that it’s light but has mystery and I love the connection between Agatha and Hank. I would have liked to see a little more build up and suspense in the book like she writes in the JJ Graves series, but I’m hoping that will happy as the series progresses. If you are looking for a light cozy mystery that is a quick read then grab this book!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2020-12-15 00:10:382020-12-28 23:31:33The Farmer’s Slaughter by Liliana Hart & Scott Silver II – Review by Colleen Noyes
So, I have read the super “popular” vampire series, but haven’t really given more thought to the genre. I loved the cover of this book (which is how I pick all books, no synopsis reading here) and wanted to expand into something other than my usual genre. I was NOT disappointed at all. I enjoyed the interactions between Edith and Darren and I appreciated that this was a story led by actual storytelling and not sex. I found the premise to be one with great promise, I loved that it flowed and was a quick easy read. I would have liked the characters to have a little more depth and backstoroy, but am hopeful it will be in the next book. Overall I felt the authors did a great job, and can I just say this book had some of the best editing I have ever seen! If you enjoy vampires, minimal violence, and more substance than sex this will be a book you will absolutely enjoy!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2020-12-14 17:38:552020-12-21 14:12:18HUNTED (HUNTED series Book 1) by Sarah Biglow & Molly Zenk – Review by Colleen Noyes
This book surprised me, I’ll admit it. I’ve never read anything by this author and picked it up based off of the cover. Dom and Tallulah were such a cute couple, but not in the fluffy no substance kind. What I enjoyed most about this couple is that their relationship seemed very realistic. There is romance, but the parts that got me were the tender moments, the moments that they cared about each other, the simple brush of a hand, and the best was the banter. I am a woman who loves to banter and harass my man and get it back. There is romance and some HOT intimate scenes but they don’t drive the story or the book. There was substance to the words, to the story, there were surprises and even a little twist. They dealt with real world things and this book did a great job of showing how a couple thinks about those differently, but also how they find their strength in each other. The author’s writing style is very easy to read, the words just flowed, and she made you feel connected to each person even the secondary character like Amy, Mason, and Seb. If you enjoy contemporary romance that is about more than just doing it you will want to pick up this book. I already preordered the next book this morning!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2020-12-04 11:42:392020-12-04 11:48:01At Last (The Adams Brothers BOOK 1) by Mindy McKinley – Review by Colleen Noyes
I’ll be honest, I picked up this book to read because I liked the cover which was mysterious and I love Chicago lol. India Kells did a fantastic job of character development, intrigue, and just the right amount of action. I enjoyed the concept of a team from different backgrounds and with different skills working together for a common reason. This story had mystery, adventure, and excitement. You could feel the heat and connection between “the vigilante” and Orla coming off the pages. I really enjoyed that the women in this book weren’t damsels in distress but instead every bit as brave, hard headed, and funny as the male characters. If you enjoy mystery with some romance and action then this is a book you want to pick up right away! I can’t wait to read the next one Urban Justice.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2020-11-30 14:45:462020-12-04 11:49:25Night Justice (A Chicago Vigilantes Novel Book 1) by India Kells – Review by Colleen Noyes
Mr. Talisman’s second book I must say was even better than the first book. One of the things I appreciated most about this one was that there seemed to be more personality with the characters. I loved how Matt, Julia, and Dan had almost a sibling banter. There were several times that I laughed out loud because I could visualize it. I enjoyed the way that certain storylines circled back to part of book 1 and I found myself thoroughly engaged in the adventures from beginning to end. Mr. Talisman does a very good job of visualization without overdoing it or leaving huge gaps of filler. Over all I felt much more connected to this story which makes me longing for the next one. You could also see the growth in the author’s writing and commitment to detail. While this is not a genre I read often, I was enthralled and would recommend it to anyone that likes adventure, treasure hunting, and much more. Well done Mr. Talisman!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2020-11-30 14:10:552020-11-30 14:11:25Journeys Through TimeSpace (Journeys Through Book 2) by James Talisman – Review by Colleen Noyes
This book is not my normal genre, but I found it so intriguing! The author does a great job of bringing the reader in visually. As you are reading you can close your eyes and feel like you are right there. While I loved all the characters I would love to see them split into two books, it was hard for me to keep up with them all, but that is probably just a personal thing. Each character had a unique personality, no two were the same and I loved that there is nothing else out there like this book that I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to read more from this author and see how they grow. I found it hard to believe this was a debut novel, because it was that well written. There is action, mystery, scenes that could be in a movie and even some romance. I immediately felt connected to a couple of the characters which always keeps me glued to a book and I couldn’t put this one down!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2020-11-30 12:59:302020-11-30 13:12:38Journeys Through SpaceTime (Journeys Through Book 1) by James Talisman – Review by Colleen Noyes
Broken Pieces by Judith Pinkard was a beautiful and raw story. When I saw the cover I knew I had to pick up this book, but I wasn’t prepared for what I was about to read. This is a biographical book not about tragedy but about the perseverance of a young woman as the course of her whole life is changed by one moment in life at 3 months old. The story felt like I was sitting with a life long friend conversating. It was smooth and real. The story brought me to tears but at the same time made me feel strong. As a woman who has endured much in her life I could relate to this story, it reminded me that we are never alone, that there is always someone who has felt what we felt. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. My favorite quote in the book summed it all up for me “It’s like this. God has a blackboard, some chalk, and an eraser. Everything you say, think, or do that is bad, God writes it on the blackboard. But if you’re sorry for those things written on the blackboard, and you tell God that you’re sorry and that you’ll try not to do it again, then He’ll erase it. That way, you start clean every day.” Thank you to Ms. Pinkard for sharing your story with us.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2019-04-19 17:59:372019-04-19 17:59:37Broken Pieces by Judith B. Pinkard – Review by Colleen Noyes
I would like to find Ms. Skye and just maybe gently smack her. This is the first book I have read by this author and W-O-W! I loved her writing style and her frequent use of my favorite word the F word lol. The storyline flowed smoothly, and I found myself torn for each of the three main characters at one point or another. Damien, Jaxson, and Olivia, each have something that draws you in and makes you not only root for them but be conflicted. There was suspense, surprises, mouth dropping moments, and some dang hot steamy scenes. This author’s work kept me engaged from the first page to the last page and I can’t wait to read other books by her, but most of all I can not wait for the continuation of this story because I have so many thoughts on what might be coming next. Don’t Let Me by Marie Skye is one of my fave books so far this year.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2019-04-08 23:41:492019-04-11 12:54:09Don’t Let Me (Simplicit Duet Book 1) by Marie Skye – Review by Colleen Noyes
The Inheritance by India Kells, was a quick read that I breezed right through. With the book only being 92 pages I was concerned about character development but was extremely pleased. You were able to get to know plenty about Lani and Max and regardless of how they were initially brought together you fell in love with them. The writing style was fast paced without a bunch of fluff and it was pure story. I was left wanting more and hope that the author considers a whole series of these two characters. This was my first book by this author and I can’t wait to delve into all her stories.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2019-03-04 13:40:342019-03-04 13:41:23The Inheritance: The Story of an Unlikely Submissive – Review by Colleen Noyes
The Light at Dawn By KL Montgomery Is a book that will truly rip your heart out, tear it to shreds, stomp on it, and then slowly put it back together. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I was not prepared for all of the emotions that it would make me feel. I found myself crying, laughing, and wondering about the world around me. This book is about so much more than one story it is about grief, heartache, overcoming all of the obstacles that life may throw at you, and at the end of the day love.
This book will make you feel emotions that you didn’t know you could feel. I could not have chosen a better first book to read by this author than this one. While it does deal with sensitive issues the author does a brilliant job of making sure you have no idea where she stands on the issue itself. You can tell that the author did an immense amount of research and portrayed the differences In a very humane and compassionate way.
One of the key things that I feel the book shows that maybe it wasn’t intended Is something that I think is so needed in today’s society. This author showed that 2 people or 2 groups can be on opposite ends of an issue, but still care about each other, love each other, and continue to make the world a better place.
I could not put this book down from the time that I started it until the time that I finished it and I don’t believe that you will either. The one warning that I would give you Is to make sure that you have your box of tissues prepared.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2019-02-10 15:06:412019-02-11 13:55:10The Light at Dawn by K.L. Montgomery – Review by Colleen Noyes
Ummm holy crap?! The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry is a book that has it all if you enjoy reading mystery, psychological, thriller type books. When I got this month’s list of “First Reads” I thought why not pick this one and I am so glad I did. The story revolves around Christopher a doctor and his wife Hannah who is a nurse. A happily married couple who seem to have the perfect stable life except their desire to have a child has been impossible. They encounter a young girl Janie, who is admitted to the hospital under unspeakable circumstances and soon take her in. What starts out as their dream coming true, quickly turns into a nightmare that you won’t soon forget.
The characters are written well and you can envision each one. I found myself drawn to Hannah and feeling her frustration at not being heard. I could see the pain on her face, the disappointment of slowly losing her husband to a manipulative child. Often, Christopher made me so angry and I was literally saying “Are you fricking kidding me? What are you blind?” This book was enthralling, frustrating, heartbreaking, and kept me on my toes. The author pulled out all the stops and even though I knew early on what the “truth” was going to be I still found it to be a wonderful read that had so many twists and turns you didn’t see coming. This was my first read by this author but I can promise it won’t be my last. I appreciated the vivid details that weren’t over done and loved the different points of views. The secondary characters were realistic and strong and the writing style was smooth and easy. This is a book that you will want to read as soon as you can. Please note that there are some things that may be disturbing but if you like psychological type books you will see it for what it is.
Untrainable by Jamie Schlosser is the first book I have read by this author and it was truly a gem! The characters were funny and relatable in so many ways. I found myself constantly amused while reading it, that it played like a sitcom in my head.
This book had it’s share of romance mixed in with a tiny bit of angst, but it was a fun way to spend the afternoon. Theodore Legend aka Theo-dog is a strong male character that has been through the ringer. He’s completely killed his career with his boyish antics and bad behavior. Enter in the shy, sweet, always does the right thing, Hadley who is a dog trainer hired to “train” Theo-dog and you have all the ingredients for a laugh out loud romance comedy.
The author’s writing style is smooth and one of the things I appreciated the most is the lack of extreme over detail (the grass was white with just a hint of yellow from the hint of orange sky). You could see each scene perfectly without it being overdone. You can tell that this author is doing what she was made to do as everything seamlessly flowed.
The secondary characters, especially Hadley’s family added such wit and I loved all their shenanigans of an everyday family. It brought up memories of my own childhood. The intimate scenes were done well and with class but still had a big amount of steaminess to them. Overall, I would highly recommend this book for a fun filled read you won’t soon forget.
Several years ago, I saw a cover of this book on Amazon and it wowed me so I bought the book without reading any of the reviews or the synopsis. The first couple of pages dropped my jaw and I went “WTF am I reading?” because I find it impossible to not finish a book I start, I continued reading and to this day it is in my top 5 best books ever. The entire series blew me away and I fell in love with that author, Courtney Cole.
Fast forward a little over 4 years later and I see she has written a new book called Saving Beck. If you have ever been touched by addiction especially as the loved one of an addict then this book will touch you in so many ways. The author takes a very serious epidemic and weaves it into a heart wrenching story on so many levels. This book will showcase how even when you think it can’t happen to your family, you can never predict. It shows that no matter who you are it can happen to you.
This book had me in tears from beginning to end because I could feel the hurt, the questions, the frustration, the pain, the self-questioning and most importantly the realization that no matter how much you love someone, no matter how much you love the addict, no matter how much you give, sacrifice, and try to mend them, only they can mend themselves. Only they can make the end choice to move forward. It reminds you, that it’s not your battle, that you can’t love them out of the addiction, you can’t anger them out of the addiction, you can’t guilt or beat them out of the addiction, and that sometimes all you can do is sit back, love, hope, and most of all pray that it all works out, knowing that not everyone can be saved. Courtney Cole, writes this story with such truth and gusto. Her words grab you by the heart and squeeze. She brings you to tears and to your knees, and makes you “hear” all the things you don’t want to hear as the loved one.
Some of my favorite quotes were :
“ Doing drugs is easy. Doing life is hard. And sometimes, we have to hide from it in the best ways we can”
“ People like to carry their burdens with them, she said. We feel like if we punish ourselves long enough for everything that has gone wrong in life, we’ll somehow make it right again by our own misery.”
“They have him on medication to help the withdrawal, but it’s still a struggle for him. Beck is the one who has to do the heavy lifting. He’s the one who lives with the constant need to use. All I can do is be there for him.”
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2018-12-27 21:28:282018-12-27 21:33:42Saving Beck by Courtney Cole – Review by Colleen Noyes
This series has been awesome! I can’t wait until I have time to read the all of them!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Colleen Noyeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngColleen Noyes2018-05-24 02:33:562018-09-23 02:37:05Relationship Resuscitation by Jennifer Theriot – Review by Colleen Noyes
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Black Boy Out of Time by Hari Ziyad
