The Web of Humanity: A Novel by Maria Turchin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am fascinated with WWII stories. I’ve always been one to watch series or books that give different perspective and this book delivers! Great read!
The Web of Humanity: A Novel by Maria Turchin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first I’ve read from this author and really my first historical fiction. I’ve never been a history buff, but I feel like I learned more reading this novel than I remember from history class, and it kept me hooked from the first chapter. I’m quite shocked that this is a new author, as her writing is well-researched, detailed, gripping, and incredibly thought-provoking. The character development of Anna was very well done and you could easily feel like you were going on her adventure with her. If you enjoy long and descriptive novels that will keep you yearning for more, grab this book!
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The Web of Humanity: A Novel by Maria Turchin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Amazing book! I felt like I learned so much. The attention to detail was excellent. I felt like I was there seeing things through the eyes of regular everyday people. This book is so much more than just about war. I could not put it down! I wanted more and more. I learned so much about World War II and how it affects everyone, including other generations. Everyone should read this!
Blindsided: A Contemporary Sports Romance by T. Christensen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Betrayed. Blindsided. Bullied. Those three words cover the story in a nutshell. The tension is palpable, and emotions run rampant. There is heartbreak, drama, as well as lots of angst and so so much anger, pain, betrayal of the worst kind and the torment is at an all-time high, at breaking point. The plot is interesting and engaging and the characters are complex. The story is captivating, and you just want to scream at people (ok more than scream) and embrace others.
Betrayed. Blindsided. Bullied. Those three words are what she has had to live with for three years. Three years of hell. Three years of pain. Three years of feeling worthless. Three years of being condemned.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Blindsided: A Contemporary Sports Romance by T. Christensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a beautiful read.
All teenagers and young adults should read it.
This was a morally sound plot of romance and friendship.
Do you remember who your best friend was in high school?
This story proves that we need to love ourseleves.
The trope of best friends to enemies drives this read.
The author really took their time to build the atmosphere of love and success.
This is a very light enjoyable read.
Perfect amount of spice.
Perfectly ordinary.
Perfect to get out of a slump,
Five stars.
Unlikely to Stay by Ashlie Knapp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Unlikely to Stay (Parker Lake Book 3) is a romantic comedy and another amazing book in this wonderful series. This author writes from the heart and her tales hook in to you and you won’t want to stop reading even when the book is finished. The wonderful and crazy and heartwarming characters make you laugh out loud, smile and cry right along with them. They have become like family that you actually want to spend time with. The word building makes you picture each and every scene bringing to life amazing friends and family an the town in which they live. This book and the series is well written and flowed effortlessly and you will find yourself still thinking about it long after you have finished reading it.
Settle in and get comfy and enjoy the journey. I know I did.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Fall to Pieces by Becky Flade
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fall to Pieces was full of surprises for me. I totally didn’t see things playing out the way they did and I was glad. I love it when I don’t see the twists until they’re being revealed.
Lexi has a lot going on in her life and unfortunately she doesn’t make the best choices. She was quite determined to make sure she was able to catch the killer before there is another victim.
Xavier comes into Lexi’s life at the perfect time with the homicides and every thing else she is dealing with both personally and at work.
This book had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next and it did not disappoint.
Born in Darkness by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Book 3 in the Mafia Elite series does it again.
A great mix of the down and dirty world of mafia families, passionate stolen moments and personal vendettas.
Stefano and Emiliana have eyes only for each other, but have to wait for Stefanos father to die off in order to be safe. Stolen kisses in secret have to be enough to satisfy them, but it ends up getting them caught and the witness turns out to be a rat.
This book is great standalone, but I love reading the prior books in a series and having some back story on fringe characters in the later offerings.
Holiday Hope by Shanna Hatfield
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This holiday romance story was everything you could ask for in a romance/ historical fiction book!
Cora Lee is on the train to Holiday to marry a guy she has never met! After being picked up at the train station by her soon to be father in law they go home to find out her groom(Jude) is no where to be found! What a horrible way to start a relationship!!
But as they try to figure out what to do next, Jude’s brother (Jace) steps in and well things between him and Cora Lee heat up!
You will have to read it yourself to find out the ending!!
This book is such a great read. Happy reading!
King Bastard by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
King Bastard: A Dark Sparrow Novel by India Kells
Five Stars
This is one of my all time favorite series by this author. I have been waiting to get my hands on this last installment and find out how this all ends. This is Lazarus and Sasha’s story. This book like the rest of the series is full of mystery, action and white hot sizzling passion. It has been a wild ride with the Bastards, each has a place in my heart. This book can be read as a stand alone, but I highly recommend you read the series in order. It will be well worth your time to get the whole backstory. This is definitely a 5+ Stars Book.
Review @sunbarn
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Murder off Route 82: An Eve Sawyer Mystery by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Eve Sawyer is back with another mystery to solve, this time it is one of her fellow students at Midway College, Eve has just gone back for her next semester at Midway after a summer full of investigating and all she wants to do is get ahead with her work and revitalise friendships which may have lapsed over the holidays. This however is not to be when the mother of a fellow student calls Eve early one morning worried because her daughter hadn’t turned up to her house as planned and that she hadn’t been in contact, this was unusual for the young lady and her mother was really worried. Eve agrees to look into the mystery as she liked her and was worried by this break in habit as well, but she can’t do it alone, so she calls on a fellow student who also helped her to solve her last beachside crime and enlists their aid in the search.
As Eve starts to investigate, every question seems to lead to more answers as she tries to create a timeline of the missing girl and talks to her friends, housemate and boyfriend first, but when no information is forthcoming, Eve soon realises that the missing girls boyfriend is also nowhere to be found, Eve now has two missing people to find and not just one. As things start to look like they will never be solved Eve and her friend decide to create a campaign to put in the local paper and make up some missing persons fliers and for some extra help, she turns to another friend and her Journalism professor for some professional help.
When a lead comes from an unexpected source, Eve may finally have a chance at solving the mystery, but this is also where dangers start to pop up when Eve and her friends find themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time and this means that more help is needed, so a few calls are made so that their whereabouts are known. Will Eve and her friends be able to stave off the dangerous elements of this case in order to uncover the dark secrets hidden away, or will tragedy strike before the mystery can be solved? This is another thrilling instalment into the Eve Sawyer mysteries where time is short and evidence is lacking, but the tenacious team have their sleuthing skills on their side as this fast paced story plays out.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
The Web of Humanity: A Novel by Maria Turchin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am a sucker for historical fiction, and this book is the best one I’ve come across in a LONG time. First of all, the author’s style of writing is so easy to follow that I just slipped right down into the story. It’s wild to believe this is the author’s first novel. Anna is such a compelling character that it was not hard to believe her and the journey she takes into the past. I love reading books that make me ask questions and continue reading in order to get to the bottom of those questions. I am also into genealogy and am intrigued by the thought of getting to know my ancestors and the reasons why they did certain things and lived a certain way, and this novel brings it all back to the human condition. What does it mean to be human and do the things that humans do? I feel like this is a good read for teenagers, as well as adults, who are curious about delving into the intricacies of human interaction and survival. I highly recommend this book.
A Cold Creek Christmas by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Cold Creek Christmas: A Single Dad Small Town Holiday Novella
(Reigning Hearts Book 5) by K.G. Fletcher
Five Stars
This is the perfect Christmas story…. it really had my emotions going up and down. This is Amber and Gio’s story, and though it was short it was so sweet. This whole series is amazing, but I was hoping Amber would get her story. It was definitely worth the wait. This is my favorite Christmas book this season. I was laughing out loud one minute and reaching for a tissue the next. A perfect blend of Sweet and Snappy!
Review by @sunbarn
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Blindsided: A Contemporary Sports Romance by T. Christensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Well what can I say I was definitely blindsided by this book I thought it was going to be a happy romance about the boy next door, instead it’s an intense, emotional and gripping story of how two best friends become enemies when really they should of been more. It was well written and the characters are great. You won’t be disappointed
Ember’s Secret by Catherine Peace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The first book in this series was so amazing! Embers story was just sooo enthralling! Its been a while since I felt love for a book like this but I really couldn’t put it down! I cannot wait to read more from this author. I couldn’t reccommend this book enough! It was wrriten so well, in that it felt as if the characters feelings were my own! Reccomend Reccomend Reccomend!!!
Piasa by Maggie Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
These novels are so fun to read but I would highly recommend that you start with the first in the series and work your way to this one if you have not done so already. The books all work together and build upon one another in such a wonderful way. I absolutely loved this novel. I feel like I often find myself saying so with this author but this book has to be one of my favorites and really just captivates me from the very first page until that last chapter I savored. I loved the characters and the folklore that is deeply woven throughout as well as the wonderful paranormal details. I can’t say enough good things, run and scoop this gem up for yourself and see what the magic is all all about!
Review by @lizaileen
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Murder off Route 82 by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Having enjoyed the previous books in this series I was looking forward to being back with our heroine Eve Sawyer, and I was not disappointed. In this story journalism student Eve is back at college after an eventful summer break. However, she is soon back to investigating a mystery when she’s asked to find a missing classmate by their mum, and when Eve discovers that her boyfriend is also missing she can’t help but investigate further. Along with two friends and her journalism professor Eve launches a publicity campaign hoping to attract attention. With limited evidence, a ticking clock, thugs and dark secrets Eve faces a dangerous struggle to bring both of the missing people back alive.
Like the authors previous cozy mysteries this is an exciting and fast paced read which had me hooked from page one. The plot twists kept me guessing until the end, and I was completely immersed in the story due to the authors descriptive narrative. Eve is a great main character who really brings the story together and I enjoyed investigating along with her. Although part of a series this can be read as a standalone story, but personally I would recommend reading the other books first for more enjoyment. An engaging read which kept me happily turning the pages, and I look forward to the next book in the series.
Ember’s Secret by Catherine Peace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a great paranormal romance by an author who was completely new to me. I don’t read a lot of paranormal romance but when I do I always enjoy it, so I really need to add more of it to my reading list. Judging by how much I enjoyed this book, I’d definitely read more of this author’s work.
Ember Ngata is a fantastic character that I loved reading about. She just wants her restaurant to do well and to have hr family back together. Just one thing – she has a rather huge secret. She experiences so much angst in this book. Should she do what’s right for her restaurant or should she worry more about the safety of her family? This is a decision that isn’t made any easier by the presence of Austin Garten, host of a food TV show who wants to promote her restaurant as her cooking is out of this world.
I loved the dynamic between Austin and Ember, how they worked so well together and the growing attraction between them that Ember tried so hard to fight as there is no way she could risk Austin finding out her secret.
I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it to others.
The Heart of a Hussar by Griffin Brady
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I immediately fell in love with Jacek and Oliwia’s story. A historical fiction book set in 17th century Poland, this captivating story is set around a soldier who is part of the elite military group of Winged Hussars and his love for the young woman that puts him in conflict with his duty. The characters are well written and the attention to detail in describing the scenes, the battles, and the relationships among each of the characters draws you into the story. Jacek and Oliwia’s fates will have you rushing to read the second book to continue their story.
Reviewed by Terri Jo McAllister
Black Canvas by Laura Rossi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow I really don’t know where to start with this book. It is definately an amazing psychological Thriller which will keep you gripped from start to finish. The author does such an amazing job with the characters and the story tells and there are so many twists and turns that you even find yourself questioning your own sanity. With so many stories you never know who is telling the truth and which stories are lies. The author does an amazing job at building so many smoke screens into this book that when you think you have a handle on it something changes your views and ideas all over again.
Aria is a psychologist. After losing one of her patients she is struggling to come to terms with it, feeling like it was her fault and that she missed something. Added to this confusion the stress of a divorcee from her cheating husband and Aria has a lot to deal with. When the police call her in to speak to a young woman found injured on the streets Aria realises this is something big and very dangerous. As she finds herself getting more dragged into her new case she also relives her old case and her patient that died. Could the two cases be linked in some way?
As we delve deeper into her patients minds and also see a side to Aria coming out. A side that has demons and holds secrets of their own. Through the steps Aria learns how freeing it is when we sometimes wear a mask that is different to the mask we wear everyday.
Born in Darkness by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Born in darkness is the 3rd book in the Mafia Elite series by Amy McKinley, I am really enjoying this series so far and I am so glad that this booked ended the way it did! I think I guess who had been betraying the families at the end of the last book so was very glad to see that story progress. This book follows Stefano and Emiliana, who have been in love for as long as they can remember but due to Stefano’s controlling father they were never able to get to be together, that is until Emiliana life is put at risk again. I really liked this book, my only gripe is that it ended too quickly! I wanted them to string out the final confrontation but that’s just because I was cheering them on. This is a fast paced and exciting read. Highly recommend.
Blindsided: A Contemporary Sports Romance by T. Christensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book brought everything to the tale, and that is what made it so realistic as it was for me! I opened this book expecting a Rom Com with some drama, but it gave so much more, it was powerful and real as if the story was living before my very own eyes. This was a first time author for me, and most certainly will not be my last! They made a very well impression and literally have hooked me with their amazing writing!
The book was true to its word. I went into reading this book not knowing how lovely it would turn out to be. Yes, the book was not all roses and tulips, it was so much more than that! What made this book for me was the characters, they were real as the heart that is racing inside my own body. The characters went through stuff that was more than just drama or a pit pat to find one another. The pack that Brock and Krista had from very young was very realistic to my eyes, and as they aged and grew up things they went through, it happens often, I loved the author put it in there, with the sense of not every story matures happily without pain and hurt feelings. To me that was very commendable to input!
As the stuff between happens then you add to this triangle that contains them as well as Victoria (did not like her at first glance, and that opinion really stayed and I think she was written to be that way) and throw in Rylan an you got a deep engaging story. I enjoyed reading very much about these group of characters and how they would choose how to live and make choices and have to standby what they chose. The story itself as well as the characters brought on a lot of intrigue. Loved this book!
This book brought on very much enjoyment and was very remarkable in more ways than one! I loved it from start to finish. I highly recommend this book, as well as this amazing and gifted author. I look forward to reading more books by them! I know for a fact, I will surely enjoy more of their work!
Murder off Route 82 by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Eve Sawyer is ready to wave goodbye to summer. Third book in the series Eve sets out to find what happen to her daughter Eve become a bit famous among these parts. Its a fast paced book and predictable but a nice predictal. The ending however had it own twist which added to the story.
The Web of Humanity: A Novel by Maria Turchin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book has been an absolute treasure to read! I love historical fiction and this is right up my alley. The author takes you on a wonderful and page turning experience during WWII. Anna, the main character, drew me in as soon as the book started. I could NOT put this book down. If you enjoy a clue-finding type of book, this is the one to read. If you like genealogy, this is also a great read. It’s definitely made me want to get back into learning my ancestral history.
Reviewed by @danihoneycutt
The Web of Humanity: A Novel by Maria Turchin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I fell in love with the characters more than the actual story surrounding it. That’s really odd for me to say but if you follow the flow of the way it unravels. So much of this book warms my heart in so many ways. It was almost like I was drawn to this book and it was well worth the read as it flowed easily, well written, and a whole experience!
Colors of Darkness: Ability Awareness Activity Book by Feather Chelle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I had the opportunity to read the messages within the book, and it was great to see what it is like to work within the confinements of blindness and other impairments as well. It reminded me of some of the exercises done to settle anxiety and return to oneness! I think these exercises were quite calming, and the commentary throughout the book was insightful. I look forward to continuing these exercises regularly!
Red’s Peril Part 2: The Prez’s Old Lady by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Red’s Peril Part 2: The Prez’s Old Lady is the second book in Satan’s Devil Vegas chapter books. Picking up from where part 1 left off the story follows club president Red while he tries to get his head around not only reuniting with the love of his life but also being a father. His child Zeke is a wonderful character and I really loved how this book respectfully introduced an LQBTQ character into a world that is predominantly not inclusive. The Satan’s Devils do take a while to get round to using the correct pronouns for Zeke but it is very well written. I have really enjoyed all the books in this world of bikers and their adventures. This is a testament to the author who not only has to keep track of a myriad of characters but also keep coming up with new ways to keep us readers hooked. I highly recommend.
Piasa by Maggie Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have read many books by this author and I was once again drawn into the book and lost within the world she has created. I found the characters to be likable and well written. I really like her story and the world she has created with shifters and other supernatural creatures. I love how there is an element of forbidden love.
My most favorite shifter is a dragon so I was in seventh heaven with this book. I like the whole lore that the author creates and how the story progresses. I just could not put this book down. I cannot wait to read more from this author in future.
Reviewed by @caraleeloonat
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Blindsided by T. Christensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book lived up to its title. I was blindsided by the quality and the impression it left with me. Just reading the blurb had my heart rate elevated. I am one to avoid conflict but just crave it in my stories. This book had plenty of that. As well as betrayal, hurt, anger, discovery and forgiveness. This story was extremely angsty, with a lot of sweating and heart racing moments. The characters were very detailed and the reader got a very explicit look into the catty, sometimes malicious and very judgemental side of adolescence. I felt for these characters and what they went through. Stories like this leave you with thoughts that love really does beat all and if you are meant to be, then the fight to HEA is fought with determination, courage and complete stubbornness. An intricately written saga that will not be forgotten. 5 stars