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Shattered Snow (The Mirror Chronicles Book 1) Rachel Huffmire – Review by Connie Cranston

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Shattered SnowShattered Snow by Rachel Huffmire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shattered Snow by Rachel Huffmire has become one of my favorite Fairy Tale retellings! The character development made this story unique and exceptional. I love that we get the villains backstory and the mirror is not just a face stuck on the wall. The author did a great job giving these characters more depth.
The ending was absolutely perfect! I highly recommend this story!

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Her Blackened Heart (The Blackened Series Book 2) by Isra Sravenheart – Review by Connie Cranston

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Her Blackened HeartHer Blackened Heart by Isra Sravenheart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Her Blackened Heart is the second book in the Blackened series by Isra Sravenheart. The evil Lady Isra is at it again with her companion and lover, Astrid. Can she lead the good witch Contessia astray? What will Isra do about her enemy Everilda?
As with the first book, I still wish it was written in first-person rather than the narrated third-person. Maybe that’s just personal choice as the story is still interesting and has a twist at the end that definitely came out of left field and was unexpected. Like the first, this story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I’m sure we have not seen the end of Lady Isra yet.

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Diamonds & Deception (Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 3) by Ellen Butler – Review by Connie Cranston

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Diamonds & Deception (Karina Cardinal Mystery, #3)Diamonds & Deception by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Diamonds & Deception is the third installment in the Karina Cardinal Mystery series by Ellen Butler. The entire series is full of mystery, suspense, and romance. I have yet to be disappointed by this author. Karina always finds herself wrapped up in trouble, but each storyline is unique and pulls the reader in. Although each book can be read as stand alones, I highly recommend reading them in order. You’ll love this author!

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Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler – Review by Connie Cranston

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Fatal Legislation (Karina Cardinal Mystery #2)Fatal Legislation by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fatal Legislation is the second installment in the Karina Cardinal Mystery series by Ellen Butler. This murder mystery has a nice pace and the author does an excellent job at character building. It’s suspenseful and draws you in completely. I’m really enjoying Ellen Butler’s writing style and can’t wait to read more from her.

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Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery (Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 1) by Ellen Butler – Review by Connie Cranston

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Isabella's Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1)Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler is a cozy mystery. The author does a wonderful job at submerging the reader into the life of main character Karina Cardinal. The pacing of the storyline is great and I love that it’s based on a true event. The blending of fact and fiction is amazing. I can’t wait to continue reading this series.

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Her Blackened Soul (The Blackened Series Book 1) by Isra Sravenheart – Review by Connie Cranston

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Her Blackened Soul (The Blackened, #1)Her Blackened Soul by Isra Sravenheart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Her Blackened Soul is the first book in the Blackened Series by Isra Sravenheart. This story is a unique fairytale from the “villains” point of view. I wish it was written in 1st-person point of view so we could really get in the mind of the main character, Lady Isra. I feel like there was a lot more telling instead of showing of events and emotions. I like that Lady Isra owns the fact that she is evil and doesn’t really care what others think of her. I would like to see more character growth, but that may come in later books in the series. The story kind of ends on a cliffhanger, so I’m hoping Lady Isra finds herself with more love in her heart.

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The Widow: A Dark Romantic Fantasy by Naomi Valkyrie & Rebecca E. McEwen – Review by Connie Cranston

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The Widow: A Dark Romantic FantasyThe Widow: A Dark Romantic Fantasy by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Widow by Naomi Valkyrie and Rebecca E. McEwen was not at all what I expected. When I first started reading this story, I was immediately drawn in by the emotion portrayed by the main character, Vashti. The authors do a great job at getting the reader invested in her struggles and desires. Once you’re invested, the story takes a dark and mysterious turn. I really enjoyed reading this, and highly recommend it!

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Calamity under the Chandelier (A Sleuthing Starlet Mystery Book 1) by Camilla Blythe – Review by Connie Cranston

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Calamity under the Chandelier (Sleuthing Starlet Mystery #1)Calamity under the Chandelier by Bianca Blythe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Calamity Under the Chandelier by Bianca Blythe is a murder mystery set just before WWII. This whodunit story is light and entertaining. It ends with an unexpected twist that main character, Cora, didn’t see coming. If you’re a fan of the game Clue, you’ll enjoy this story as Cora gathers clues to figure out who killed the Duke and how. I had fun trying to figure out who it was and look forward to the next story in this series.

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Calamity under the Chandelier (A Sleuthing Starlet Mystery Book 1) by Camilla Blythe – Review by Connie Cranston

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Calamity under the Chandelier (Sleuthing Starlet Mystery #1)Calamity under the Chandelier by Bianca Blythe

Calamity Under the Chandelier by Bianca Blythe is a murder mystery set just before WWII. This whodunit story is light and entertaining. It ends with an unexpected twist that main character, Cora, didn’t see coming. If you’re a fan of the game Clue, you’ll enjoy this story as Cora gathers clues to figure out who killed the Duke and how. I had fun trying to figure out who it was and look forward to the next story in this series.

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Golden Void (Black Blade Book 3) by Alexander Charalambides – Review by Connie Cranston

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Golden VoidGolden Void by Alexander Charalambides
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Golden Void (Black Blade Book 3) by Alexander Charalambides follows Megan, a minor character from the previous stories. I really enjoyed reading from her point of view as she once again gets caught up in a magical quest. The author is very detail oriented, so at times the story is a bit slow, however there is plenty of action and drama. With a serial killer Wizard on the loose and a cocky athlete to deal with, will Megan be able to help complete their quest or will she find herself among unlikely enemies? Although this book can be read as a standalone, I would suggest reading the previous ones first.

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Winter’s Wolf (The Cursed Series Book 1) by Lou Grimes – Review By Connie Cranston

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Winter's Wolf (The Cursed, #1)Winter’s Wolf by Lou Grimes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Winter’s Wolf by Lou Grimes is a paranormal romance. Louvette can’t seem to control her temper or stay out of trouble. Her mother is constantly having to move to the next town for a fresh start and to check Louvette into a new school. That all changes when Louvette’s late grandfather leaves everything to her in his will and she learns more about the side of her family she never knew about.

Grimes does a great job setting up the world and characters. I loved the relationship between Louvette and her mother. The story is action packed with a bit of mystery. I can’t wait to read the next book on this series.

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Just the Way You Are by Allison M. Boot – Review by Connie Cranston

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Just the Way You AreJust the Way You Are by Allison M Boot
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Just the Way You Are is a fairy tale romance novella by Allison M. Lewis. I love the message behind the story, but I was hoping for more of a triumph of overcoming adversity for the main character. Misty is a disabled princess who longs to see the outside world and fall in love with a prince. Her parents don’t want the monarchy to look weak so they keep her in a tower. Misty plans to sneak out and make the most of her life. The plot is short and sweet. It would make a perfect bedtime story.

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Hansel & Gretel (Down the Rabbit Hole) Anthology – Review By Connie Cranston

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Hansel & Gretel: Down the Rabbit HoleHansel & Gretel: Down the Rabbit Hole by Autumn Sand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading the unique stories in this anthology. Each one transforms the original tale of Hansel & Gretel into something completely different. Each author touches on a different theme and will make you feel different emotions. Some made me laugh, while another made me want to cry. It’s certainly a ride down the rabbit hole.

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Love is What You Bake of it (The Meraki Series Book 1) by Effie Kammenou – Review by Connie Cranston

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Love is What You Bake of it (Meraki, #1)Love is What You Bake of it by Effie Kammenou
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading “Love Is What You Bake of It,” by Effie Kammenou! I think what I loved most about it was how realistic the characters were. Life is a mess, and so are the lives of the main characters, Kally and Max. Their stories are full of hurt, struggles, and betrayals, but there’s always still hope. This was such a heartwarming read and I thought the recipes sprinkled throughout the book were great! I’m excited to read more from this author!

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All The Wrong Reasons (Serendipity Falls Novel Book 1) by Erin Bevan – Review by Connie Cranston

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All The Wrong ReasonsAll The Wrong Reasons by Erin Bevan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All the Wrong Reasons: A Serendipity Falls novel is the first I’ve read by Erin Baven. I thought this contemporary romance was very well written. The characters feel real and complicated. The story itself has emotion, drama, and enough twists to make you want to cry. It also had the perfect ending for Alex and Max. I look forward to reading more from this author.

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High Fae Academy – Year One: Fae Paranormal Romance by Kaylin Peyerk – Review by Connie Cranston

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High Fae Academy: Year OneHigh Fae Academy: Year One by Kaylin Peyerk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

High Fae Academy: Year One is the first in the series by Kaylin Peyerk. I really enjoyed reading this story! Besides it being my favorite genre, I was intrigued by the world and the magic. I did think the character development could be better, but I look forward to reading more about these characters. The story ends on a cliff hanger, so I’m hopeful we’ll get more character back stories and growth. I can’t wait to see how the story progresses.

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Black Blade (Black Blade Book 1) by Alexander Charalambides – Review by Connie Cranston

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Black BladeBlack Blade by Alexander Charalambides
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Black Blade by Alexander Charalambides is a fantasy adventure following Lance, an American student, who finds Excaliber and is chosen for a quest. This story is full of action and magic. I enjoyed the characters, but was a little confused by the timeline at points. The POV changes also confused me a bit. I think with a few more headings that can be fixed. I do think this was an interesting and unique take on the story of Lancelot and Excaliber. I look forward to reading the next adventure from this author.

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2am Secrets by M. Piper – Review by Connie Cranston

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2am Secrets2am Secrets by M. Piper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

2am Secrets by M. Piper was a hot and steamy forbidden romance! Sadie and Sam are twins who have one rule when it comes to relationships, friends are off the table. Too bad Sam’s best friend is all Sadie wants. The author did a great job with character building. In the end, I wanted to know more about what happened to Sadie, Archer, and especially Sam. There was so much chemistry and emotion in this story. I hope we get more on these characters.

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King & Hunt: A Lust / Hate Story By Brienne Dubh – Review by Connie Cranston

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King & Hunt: A Lust / Hate StoryKing & Hunt: A Lust / Hate Story by Brienne Dubh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

King & Hunt by Brienne Dubh is an enemy to lovers novella. It’s a fast read that will seduce you from the start. Gabriella King and Christian Hunt have a heated chemistry whether they’re at each other’s throats or in each other’s beds. The author doesn’t expand on much else, but I enjoyed the quick read.

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The Flame and The Blade (Flame and Blade Series) by Meredith Hart – Review by Connie Cranston

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The Flame and The Blade (Flame and Blade #1)The Flame and The Blade by Meredith Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Flame and The Blade by Meredith Hart is an addictive fantasy read! I devoured it in one day and am desperate for the next one! There’s magic, romance, humor, demons, and more. I would have loved to see a map that went along with the story though. Otherwise, I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

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The Wicked Wolves of Windsor: and other fairytales by Byrd Nash – Review by Connie Cranston

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The Wicked Wolves of Windsor: and other fairytalesThe Wicked Wolves of Windsor: and other fairytales by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Wicked Wolves Of Windsor by Byrd Nash is a collecting of short stories ranging from twisted classical tales to new modern fairytales. There are sorceresses, fae, kings, queens, and lots of talking animals. If you love folktales, you’ll love these stories. There is definitely a Grimms lens on a few of them though, so I would not suggest reading these as bed time stories.

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Lillie (Maggie Trilogy Series Book 3) by Mya O’Malley – Review by Connie Cranston

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Lillie (Maggie Trilogy Series Book 3)Lillie by Mya O’Malley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Lillie” by Mya O’Malley is the final book in the Maggie Trilogy. This one was by far my favorite of the three.

Just when Naomi thought she was moving on with her life with her new little family, a young friend from her past shows up. Of course this is no ordinary friend. It’s a spirit that has decided to “play” with Naomi’s stepdaughter, just like she did with Naomi when she was young. The story of Lillie is eerie and tragic. I thought it had a perfect ending though!

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Naomi (Maggie Trilogy Book 2) by Mya O’Malley – Review by Connie Cranston

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NaomiNaomi by Mya O’Malley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Naomi by Mya O’Malley is the second book in the Maggie Trilogy. It can easily be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading Maggie first to get Naomi’s entire back story. Wanted or not, Naomi seems to attract spirits with unfinished business. She does what she can to help them pass over, but this time the spirit seems to have a personal vendetta against Naomi. Worse yet, this new spirit is interfering with Naomi’s personal life and making her doubt even herself. I think I enjoyed Naomi more than I did Maggie. I loved getting Naomi’s fiance, Bryce’s, POV and seeing their relationship grow. If you’re looking for a suspenseful but heartwarming read, this is it!

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Maggie (Maggie Trilogy Book 1) by Mya O’Malley – Review by Connie Cranston

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MaggieMaggie by Mya O’Malley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“Maggie” by Mya O’Malley will have you questioning whether ghosts are real or not. I found the premise of this story to be fascinating. Our main character, Naomi, is inspired to write a novel about a woman named Maggie who is buried in the cemetery behind Naomi’s home. Naomi believes Maggie has an untold story about her death and begins seeing her ghost.

As I was reading, there were a few things that bothered me. For example, everyone seems to believe in Naomi’s story about seeing the ghost of Maggie without much skepticism. Also, at times the dialogue seemed unnatural. However, this was an easy and enjoyable read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes paranormal romance.

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Somebody in the Neighborhood by Judy Moore – Review by Connie Cranston

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Somebody in the NeighborhoodSomebody in the Neighborhood by Judy Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Somebody in the Neighborhood” is a whodunit murder mystery filled with twists, turns, and drama. I found myself being suspicious of a lot of the characters for the murder of the main character, Dawn’s, aunt. I did end up guessing correctly who the murderer was, but the story ended perfectly with a twist. It definitely makes you wonder what secrets people, especially those you’re close to, have. I look forward to reading more from this author.

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Winds of Fear (Fearless Series Book 3) by Gledé Browne Kabongo – Review by Connie Cranston

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Winds of Fear (Fearless Series #3)Winds of Fear by Glede Browne Kabongo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Winds of Fear gripped me from the very beginning. Glede Browne Kabongo does a great job of building suspense and making the reader want more. As a mother, it was easy to connect to the main character, Abbie, as her suspicions grow when she notices her new neighbors are a little too interested in her oldest son. This story is emotionally packed as Abbie battles with trusting her instincts and trying to focus on her responsibilities as a doctoral candidate. I look forward to reading more from this author.

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