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No Way Out (Mafia Elite, book 1) by Amy McKinley – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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No Way Out (Mafia Elite, #1)No Way Out by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

No Way Out is a great start to a new series, which is no surprise. Amy McKinley knocks it out of the park with each new series. I am already hooked and cannot wait to go on to book 2 and see what this series has in store. This book is action packed, with a good balance of romance, and keeps us guessing. I kept waiting for Max to turn out to have some dark past, and was worried to like him too much. But the story is perfect, and had a big screw you to the “bad guys” and has a huge reveal that makes the match between Max and Liliana that much more perfect. I love McKinley’s characters, because the women are always strong tough women, who don’t need to rely on the men in their lives. I love Liliana and her friends stick up for each other, and take care of business attitudes. I hope they each get their own story in the series! Highly recommend this book, and cannot wait for the next book.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Decisions and Possibilities (Notebook Mysteries #2)Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Notebook Mysteries- Decisions and Possibilities was ah-mazing! I was instantly draw in from the cover art alone, I didn’t really even read the synopsis. This book is the second in the series, and I did not read the first one, but I really want to. It can be enjoyed as a stand alone, and I hope there is another book after this, because I must know what happens next for Emma and Jeremy! Emma is such a great character, ahead of her time. She is a young woman in 1880s Chicago, in a time when women have low expectations. She is brilliant and has the drive to go to college, and work alongside men. Her family is fascinating and I would like to know more about them. The book is action packed, moving from one case to the next. They weren’t really related, except to show us how awesome Emma is, and display her networking. But it wasn’t unorganized or chaotic, the story worked. It ended too abruptly for me, but I really enjoyed it. Unlike any other book I have read.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

SPOOKED BY A SUSPICION by Risa Nyman – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Spooked by a SuspicionSpooked by a Suspicion by Risa Nyman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While Spooked by a Suspicion is not advertised as a sequel, it follows Swallowed by a Secret. They could be read and enjoyed independently, but both are good books, so you should just read them. Despite this book being targeted to children readers (likely middle school age), I enjoyed it as an adult. I enjoyed the first book, so I was happy to hear there was a second book, so we could see more into Rocky’s life. This book centers around a difficult issue kids may encounter, but in a humorous way. Rocky’s mom drops the bomb that she is seeing someone new, and they plan to get married. Rocky didn’t even know they were officially dating, so this was a shock to him. Shortly after the announcement, strange things start to happen. Rocky is very imaginative, and comes to the conclusion his mom’s boyfriend is the cause of these things, and takes it upon himself to stop him. These things range from serious, a sports injury, to funny, being pooped on by a bird. Poor Rocky! We are led through a series of twists and turns on his summer vacation, and it teaches kids some life lessons in an entertaining way. I love the story and Risa Nyman’s style. The characters are all very fun and realistic, and can be enjoyed by all ages.

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TAINTED by Marsha R. West – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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TAINTEDTAINTED by Marsha R. West
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tainted is the first book I have read by Marsha West, and I would read more in the future. While I am not 100% sold on the writing style (too much dialogue and the mother/daughter relationship was too lovey dovey), I really enjoyed the book. The story is unique, and the characters are well written. It is a romantic suspense centered around starting over when your world comes crashing down around you. Liz Hartman is left picking up the pieces and trying to restart her life as a middle age woman, after her husband (now ex) is arrested and sent to federal prison for money laundering. Even from prison, he seems to find a way to torment and harass her.
She is constantly getting questioning stares, as everyone assumes she had to have been involved in the scheme. She wants nothing more than a clean slate, but struggles with the idea of walking away from her home to start over. Lucky for her, she has two homes. She has visited a little town in New Mexico annually, her whole life. Maybe this is the perfect place to build a new home. To help things along, the Marshall in town is her high school sweet heart. Can they rekindle their romance 20+ years later?

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So Close (Love Grows Series Book 4) by Renee Regent – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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So Close (Love Grows #4)So Close by Renee Regent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So Close is the 4th book in Renee Regent’s Love Grows series, but the first one I have read. It is for sure a stand alone book, and worth the read. It sounds like the first book has over lapping characters, so I look forward to reading that next. The story alternates narrators, back and forth between the main 2 characters. Dahlia and Levi were best friends as kids, then had a big falling out. They hadn’t talked in 7 years, and now have to work side by side for a huge project for them both. Things will go really good, or really badly. Both are nervous to have to work together, and Dahlia has a lot on the line. She just got a big promotion at work, and is trying to prove herself. She doesn’t want her personal life’s drama spread at work. And as much as she misses Levi, she holds a major grudge. Can Levi crack through her ice exterior, and get back his best friend and love of his life? Read the book and see!

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

Hairballs and Homicide (Kitty Beret Café Mysteries Book 1) by Ruth J. Hartman – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Hairballs and HomicideHairballs and Homicide by Ruth J. Hartman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hairballs and Homicide drew me in just from the title. The book cover is cute, not intense, so I knew it would be a light hearted mystery. I am glad I took a chance, because this book was great. It was a little cheesy at the end, but it was funny throughout and kept me engaged wondering who the murderer was going to be. The biggest downfall, is I now want to adopt ALL THE KITTIES! I wish this café was in my hometown so I could go and love on all the cats, and people watch all the quirky people that hang out there. I love that the author gave each cat a name and personality, as well as all the café patrons. We got to know several of the townsfolk, and that was fun. Ellie is also such a fun personality, and I hope she has a steamy relationship with Detective Simon in the next book. I look forward to reading more by Ruth Hartman.

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HOLD ME FOREVER (HERON HARBOR Book 3) by LEA NOLAN – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Hold Me ForeverHold Me Forever by Lea Nolan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hold Me Forever is part of the Heron Harbor series, but is a stand alone book. It is the first I have read, and it seems each book focuses on one Donovan sister. This book focuses on Lark, the free spirited artist sister. I will likely go back and read the other 2, because I enjoyed this book. The characters have very well written and realistic personalities and the supporting characters seem to as well. The story is told in 3rd person, but with a back and forth focus on either Lark or Hunter. This worked well because it told us about each of their feelings and perspective, but did not have to wait for the next chapter, like most books that alternate POV. There were a couple things I didn’t like in the story. I didn’t quite understand why Lark kept her relationship with Hunter a secret. Seems like she was really close with her sisters, but kept a 2 year relationship and engagement a secret… Also, there seemed to be a lot of messed up childhoods, and it got to be somewhat depressing at points. Parents that died, absent fathers, lying parents, abandoned kids… seemed like everyone who grew up in Heron Harbor had a bad homelife. Beyond that though, it was a good story and I would read more by Lea Nolan.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

Flirting with my Enemy (Love is a Mystery Book 1) by Laura Burton – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Flirting with my Enemy: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (Love is a Mystery #1)Flirting with my Enemy: A Sweet Romantic Comedy by Laura Burton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Flirting with my Enemy was a cute, though predictable, romantic comedy book by Laura Burton. It was a bit cheesy at times, but I enjoyed it, and will likely read the next book in the series. The book follows Elle and Zane, who own bakeries next door to each other. Zane is rich and British, and trying to buy Elle’s bakery. Elle is not sure if he is sincere in his offerings, or try to sabotage her and run her out of business. She is struggling between love and hate, and it is a very fine line. He is quite the charmer, but she isn’t sure if she can trust him. Elle is a bit of a hot mess, but her character is sweet. The flirting with the enemy portion of the book was entertaining, and it had a twist ending. I did not see that coming, but it was a good twist. The ending was a bit over the top, but perfect, considering what we had seen of Zane. Overall, it was an enjoyable book.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

Sinful Daughter (Dark Mafia Sins Book 1) by Emily Bowie – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Sinful DaughterSinful Daughter by Emily Bowie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sinful Daughter sucked me in before I even started reading it! The description sounded like it would be a really good intense story, and that is exactly how I would describe it. I haven’t read anything by Emily Bowie before, but I hope this turns into a whole series, because I am hooked. Before the story begins, we are given an outline of the characters and family tree. I found this pretty helpful, to get an introduction to the characters and get a feel for the families. There are 2 main mafia families (Rossis and Mancinis) in this story, and the cops either workings for them, or trying to bring them down. The story bounces back and forth between Theo and Aria’s perspective, which I really enjoyed. It let us get a feeling for the main characters. This book is packed full of danger, drama, romance, and all the feels. The romance is pretty detailed and intense, so for mature audiences only. I cannot wait to read more in this series, and highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic books and mafia thrill.

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BOY RELEASED (BOY SERIES BOOK 2) by JD Spero – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Boy ReleasedBoy Released by J.D. Spero
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Boy Released is the follow-up to J.D Spero’s Boy on Hold (and likely will not make sense if you didn’t read book 1). The story takes place 10 years later, when Tyler is released from psychiatric rehab. I had a hard time understanding the purpose of the book for the first half, then it all came together as to how it relates to the first book. Similar to the first book, I don’t feel like Hen acts his age- supposed to be 17 but is horrified by normal teen boy behavior. Perhaps what he went through as a child stunted his maturity… I’m not sure. But its not enough of an issue to withhold enjoyment in reading this story. While the book is told from the perspective of Marcella and Hen Trout, the story really is more of Tyler’s story. His actions and mental health are the reason for the story to be told. I loved the ending, and think it was perfect. If you enjoyed Boy on Hold, you should read Boy Released- it finishes the story and gives us, as the reader, resolution.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

Snowflakes and Holly (Hartwood Holiday Romance) by Jae Dawson – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Snowflakes and Holly: A Small Town Christmas Romance (A Hartwood Holiday Romance)Snowflakes and Holly: A Small Town Christmas Romance by Jae Dawson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Snowflakes and Holly is part of Jae Dawson’s Hartwood Holiday Romance series, but can be read as a stand alone book. Some of the characters overlap, but each book is it’s own story. I really loved this book- the characters, the setting, the meaning behind it… The book focuses on Holly and Blake, and both characters are so well written. Holly is a physical therapist, who is still mourning the loss of her father, 5 years later. She has a hard time with anything relating to memories of him, and has been stuck in the funk for years despite her family and friend’s best efforts. Until Blake comes along- and he somehow accomplishes more in just a few weeks than others have in years. Blake is a professional Olympian athlete, recovering from multiple injuries. Fate seems to bring them together, and opposites seem to attract. Holly is sarcastic and dark humored, where as Blake is very upbeat and silly. I highly recommend this book- it will give you all the feels. Sad, happy, funny, romantic… Can’t wait for the next book to release later this year.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

A Cold Day In Hell (Life Is Hell Book 5) by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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A Cold Day in Hell (Life is Hell #5)A Cold Day in Hell by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Cold Day in Hell is the 5th book in Naomi Valkyrie’s Life is Hell series. Like all her books, this one is action packed and has wonderful characters. This book focuses on Hadassah and Jezebel. Hadassah is an angel, and Malakhi’s sister and Jezebel is a shifter. Both have recently joined the makeshift family in Juniper Lake. Hadassah is portrayed as a total B in the beginning, but then her hard shell is penetrated and she ricks her lift and powers to save Jezebel. We learn about Jezebel’s dark past and how it is intertwined in the trafficking circle they have been trying to take down for the last couple of books. I don’t want to give away spoilers, but you should read this book, and the whole series. It probably could be read as a stand alone, but they are all overlapping characters, so you should eventually read them all.

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Unlikely in Love (A Parker Lake Novel Book 1) by Olivia Sherwood – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Unlikely in Love (A Parker Lake Novel Book 1)Unlikely in Love by Olivia Sherwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unlikely in Love was such a cute story! It is the first book in Olivia Sherwood’s Parker Lake series, and the first I have read by her. I will be back for more, as I loved her writing style. The characters are all so relateable and authentic. The story was romantic but kept clean, giving me the happily ever after I wanted. The book tells the story of Annabelle and Wyatt. Annabelle had a rough childhood and dreams of leaving town. That was short lived, as her grandmother got sick and she had to return home. Now her grandmother has passed away, leaving her with a run down farmhouse that she cant bear to give up. Wyatt is back home after 3 overseas tours, and a medical discharge from the hospital. He lives at home with his parents and struggles keeping busy, to keep the nightmares away. These unlikely incidents brought the two together, when Wyatt takes a job as a handyman on her farm. What was once a high school crush that both were too afraid to act on, could be turned into something more. If they can only let themselves love again.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

The Heart of Baker Bay by Danielle Jacks – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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The Heart of Baker BayThe Heart of Baker Bay by Danielle Jacks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Heart of Baker’s Bay was the first book I read by Danielle Jacks and I loved it. Its a really cute, clean romance book and I didn’t want to put it down. The characters are great, with wonderful realistic personalities, and the chemistry between them is entertaining. The supporting characters are well written too, not just the main two. Jody is stubborn and full of spunk and Adam is like a grumpy old man, but with good reason. The town of Clover Bay sounds wonderful, on the top of a hill, secluded from the rest of the world, but in reality, only a couple hours outside of the city. This book had my emotions on a roller coaster, many times laughing, sometimes in near tears, and then a good happy ending. I highly recommend it, and look forward to reading more by Jacks.

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Remember His Name (Remember My Name Series Book 2) by Laurencia Hoffman – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Remember His Name (Remember My Name, #2)Remember His Name by Laurencia Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Remember His Name is the 2nd book in the Remember My Name Series by Laurencia Hoffman. It is loosely a series, with not as much overlap/continuation as I would have hoped. I with they were more intertwined, as there were only a couple small mentions of overlap. I wish there was more time spent on the killer and how or why he chose his victims. I would have liked it to be a continuation of the first book, as it had a massive cliff hanger ending. That said, I am not totally disappointed in this series, it was good and held my interest. It just left me longing for more. It is a story that focuses on Wren and his heartache and pain throughout life, being an empath. The story starts out with Wren as a child, and there is a lot of focus put on his dad, and his job. I thought maybe it would take a Mafia twist, but it just kind of set the groundwork for the rest of the story. Without giving it away, I hope the character introduced toward the end gets a book of her own. I want to know what comes of her and to know what happens to the killer… is he caught? Do we learn the why behind it? This book has a trigger warning, and pay attention to it if it might bother you. These themes are strong throughout.

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Remember My Name (Remember My Name Series Book 1) by Laurencia Hoffman – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Remember My Name (Remember My Name #1)Remember My Name by Laurencia Hoffman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Remember My Name was nothing like what I was expecting, and I am not disappointed. I have not read anything by Laurencia Hoffman before, but will be starting the second book in this series ASAP. This book kept me hooked the entire time, and left me screaming at the end. The book follows Shane’s life, and his complicated love for Callan. At first I was confused when it kept jumping back in forth in time, talking about Shane and Jake, and Shane and Callan, but it quickly all came together. I love that the mystery was kept throughout, and until the end of the story. The cliff hanging ending has me pissed off, lol. The 2nd book does not sound like it continues the story, but I am really hoping it does. I need answers, now! I do caution the readers, this book focuses around a gay couple, and has multiple mentions and images of abuse (self inflicted and otherwise). This could be a trigger for some readers, and believe it deserves to be mentioned.

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Competing with the Star (Star Series Book 2) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Competing with the StarCompeting with the Star by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Competing with the Star is the 2nd book in the Star Series by Krysten Lindsay Hager. You should read them in order, as this book picks up right where the first left off. We continue to follow the life of teenager Hadley Daniels. She has recently moved to a new town, and is figuring out where she fits in socially. Over the summer, she stayed with her grandparents, and made some new friends, but teen life is confusing. She and her crush Nick have decided to make things official, which should be great news. They have so much in common and find it easy to talk to each other. However, the insecurities caused by friends comments, and rumors are prying them apart. Add in a love triangle or two, and this story is packed full of drama. Some parts had me rolling my eyes, but then I tried to remember back to what it was like being a teenager, and its spot on. Hager really captured the feelings of teenagers, both boy and girl. I love that we got to see several characters weaknesses, and how they leaned on each other, discovering who their real friends are. I think this is a great coming of age story, geared toward tween and teens, but good enough to enjoy as an adult. I look forward to reading more by this author.

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Next Door to a Star (The Star Series) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Next Door to a StarNext Door to a Star by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Next Door to a Star is the first book in The Star Series by Krysten Lindsay Hager. It is the first book I have read by her, and I enjoyed it. It is a somewhat of a coming of age book, and would be good for middle or high school kids (I am in my 30s and enjoyed it). This book follows Hadley through her awkward teen years, and finding herself. She has only one friend, who has moved away, and cannot fathom the thought of spending the summer alone. When her grandparents invite her to their home for the summer, she jumps on it. They live next door to another teen, who was a teen star actress. Hadley has dreams of becoming her friend, and in turn, increasing her popularity points. I loved seeing her transition and mature throughout the book. She learned the value of friendship, navigated her way through crushes/dating as well as how to handle backstabbing mean girls. This book has all the typical middle and high school drama, and we get to see it from the inside out. Hadley is stuck in the middle of the popular in crowd, and good friends that are not popular. I look forward to reading the second book to see what happens next.

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House in the Woods by Jessica Aiken-Hall – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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House in the WoodsHouse in the Woods by Jessica Aiken-Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

House in the Woods was Ah-Mazing. I have read a lot of books by Jessica Aiken-Hall, but this was my all time favorite. This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It is a mystery suspense, that I had partly figured out about half way through, but not all the details. The book is about Molly Jackson, college student, and how her life is turned upside down one summer. She decided to stay home for college, after her mother was diagnosed with dementia. Her dad is somewhat of a loose cannon, a hole, and she doesn’t feel right leaving her mom home alone with him. We start off thinking that will be the focus of the story- Molly’s mom and her wandering off, getting lost, the fear surrounding that. Then things take a whole new twist, when Molly sees a flyer hung at school for a missing person. She takes the flyer on a whim, curious why she never heard about this before… it is a small town after all… Then she realizes she looks a lot like the missing woman, who was the same age as her brother. From there, things just get stranger and stranger. This is so much going on in this book, I don’t want to give away any spoilers. But read it. Do it, you won’t regret it!

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MORNIN THE SUPER BIRD – FINDS A WAY TO FIGHT EXTINCTION by JULES HEARTLY – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Mornin The Super Bird : Mornin Finds a Way to Stop ExtinctionMornin The Super Bird : Mornin Finds a Way to Stop Extinction by Jules Heartly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mornin the Super Bird is an adorable character created by Jules Heartly and drawn by Diego Diaz. The book Mornin Finds a Way to Stop Extinction is a cute, fun way to explain extinction to elementary school age children. The book is geared toward kids, in a way they can understand- through pictures and songs. The birds make a video, and share it with their animal friends, who share it with their human friends, who shares it with his friends. The power of sharing and working together spreads the message far and wide, to save the animals. The book has a cute song for the kids to sing. It explains not only what extinction is, but explains what kids can do to help prevent extinction of birds like Mornin and his friends. I love that the book doesnt just talk about changes that need to happen in the world, but empowers the children to make small changes in their worlds. The book breaks it down for the kids how they can help change the world! Simple things like avoid plastic, stop littering, recycle, and turn off lights. We can all do our part and save these animals from extinction. Super adorable book, with a powerful message. This should be read in all classrooms and homes! I would say it is appropriate for 3-9 year olds.

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was drawn to Red Coat, just from the cover art. I have never read anything by Isobella Dunn, and this seems like it might be her first book, which is amazing. I loved this book. I got hooked in the first couple pages, reading about Sara and her teen troubles. We then come across Rachael, whose story seems to mirror Sara’s. I am a sucker for the pull at your heart strings stories of foster care. Rachael’s path and Sara’s intersect when she is caught running away from her foster home, and Sara is called in on the case. By the time it got to that point, I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down. Dunn has a great writing style, and I fell in love with most of the characters. I say most, because I didn’t love Colin- I found him a little pushy, but he also had a incredible sweet side. All the supporting characters played a big role, and the book was a good balance. There was a little bit of hoping for a happy ending for everyone, and sitting on the edge of your seat in fear of what is to come. It was a little more suspense filled than I expected, but I was not disappointed. Highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading more by this author.

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Jeremy Full of Grace by Greta Cribbs – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Jeremy Full of GraceJeremy Full of Grace by Greta Cribbs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was instantly intrigued by the description, and chose to give Jeremy Full of Grace a shot. I mean, a teenage boy, being pregnant, what in the world?! I had to see how that works… It is the first book I have read by Greta Cribbs, and I couldn’t put it down! Granted, its a short book, but still. It is a weird twist of religion and sci-fi/dystopian, which is such an odd combination, but it worked. The main theme surrounds Catholicism, but it isn’t preachy, and most of the references are common knowledge. I love that she writes about “Them” and “Before” in a context that we understand something is going on, but don’t know all the details. The characters were great. The book is written bouncing around, point of view and timeframe, which was a little weird, but once you have a feeling for the timeline, it is easy enough to follow. I was a little disappointed not all my questions were answered, but it was still a good story. I don’t want to give away and spoilers, so I will leave it at that.

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Moonlit Kiss (A Venice Romance) (Moonlit Destination Series) by Amy McKinley – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Moonlit Kiss (A Venice Romance)Moonlit Kiss by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Moonlit Kiss is unlike anything I have read by Amy McKinley. It is not at all what I expected, but I loved it none the less. It is part of the Moonlit Destinations Series, but is a stand alone book. Like all the other McKinley books I have read, it is a romantic story with a twist of mystery suspense. What sets this book apart from the others, is the twist of history and ghosts. It tells the story of Gianna and Sergio meeting and falling in love with Venice. However, it is intertwined with the past romance of their distant relatives. The writing is very graphic, and I was able to envision the neighborhood and houses, despite never being to Venice or even really seeing pictures of it. The characters are all personable and I would love to see spin off stories to develop the neighbors, perhaps as a prequel, since there is so much history there. There was a lot of interesting twists along the way that I didn’t expect. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but highly recommend this book, and all of McKinley’s books.

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Sleeping Angel (Soul Connection Book 2) by Nikki Lynn Barrett – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Sleeping Angel (Soul Connection, #2)Sleeping Angel by Nikki Lynn Barrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sleeping Angel is the 2nd book in the Soul Connection series by Nikki Lynn Barrett. While I did read the first book, it was years ago, and I didn’t fully remember the details. That being said, this book can be enjoyed as a stand alone. The characters from book 1 are important in this book as well, but their role is explained within. This book was unlike anything I have ever read. To be honest, I was confused for the better part of the book. The first half, there are so many characters, and all seem to be connected or related in some way or another. Then, once I grasped all the connections, things really started getting good, yet, more complicated. I really had to stop a couple of times and just let it all sink in. Mad props to Barrett for creating this story line, as it has so much thought behind it. This is a book that focuses around ghosts, reincarnation, afterlife, love, and second chances. I felt like we really got to know the characters, and their connections to each other. I recommend this book, but read it when you can focus on it- There is a lot going on at once!

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Chased (A Cambridge Men of Honour Novel Book One): A Dark Mafia Bad Boy Romance (Cambridge Men of Honour—Dark Mafia Romances 1) by Felicity Brandon – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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ChasedChased by Felicity Brandon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Chased is the first book in the Cambridge Men of Honor series by Felicity Brandon. It is the first book I have read by this author, and it was very well written. The imagery used lets us envision the characters, and the scenes play out. At first it had a bit of a 50 Shades feel to it- rich powerful male, who likes to be in control; Young innocent female college student. But then it evolved, and we caught a glimpse of the mafia side of Chase. Allegra did not end up being what we expected, but I feel there is more to her story to come. The book has some strong themes, that I believe should have a reader warning. They were a little much for me. Without giving things away, sexual exploitation, rape, bondage, and kidnapping. Reader discretion is advised. The book was well written, and the author told a good, intense story.

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Sexy Drug (Losing My Heart Book 1) by Melody Calder – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Sexy Drug (Losing My Heart #1)Sexy Drug by Melody Calder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sexy Drug is the first book I have read by Melody Calder, but I LOVED it. I cannot wait to read the rest of the Losing My Heart series. I was instantly hooked and didn’t want to put it down. Lucky for me, I was passenger on a road trip, so I got to read it all in 1 night. However, it had such a cliff hanger ending that I am left wanting more. The book focuses around Katie, the daughter of a drug lord/cartel leader. When there is an attempt on her life, her dad assigns her a body guard, Ramone. The reader and Katie first believes he is just hired muscle, and one of the “bad guys” but we soon see there may be something deeper. There are hints and clues into his past, and who he really is, but it is never fully revealed. I love that the mystery remained throughout. I love reading mafia books, but this one takes the cake. Highly recommend this book, and cannot wait to read the next book.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

Bake Believe by Cori Cooper – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Bake BelieveBake Believe by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bake Believe is the first book I have read by Cori Cooper, but I would definitely read more. It was a super cute book, and even tho it is geared toward kids, I enjoyed it as an adult. I think it is a little long for my 11 year old to enjoy, but it is a cute book for those who like reading. It is written from the perspective of Cat, an 8th grader. She has never cooked for real in her life, as everything is microwaved in her home. Her first day of 8th grade lands her in a culinary class, due to a scheduling error. She assumes she will hate it, but turns out she LOVES it. She finds she enjoys baking, and her current crush is in that class, and her group, which is just icing on the cake. See what I did there? You will find lots of that in this book- There are recipes between each chapter, and they are written in the lingo of a teenager- TOTALLY, Super Duper, etc. I found that really fun and look forward to trying the actual recipes from this book.

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Date Night by KM Lowe – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Date NightDate Night by K.M. Lowe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Date Night is a really cute fun romance by KM Lowe. Despite being just over 100 pages, it is a full story and we really get to know and love the characters. Hannah and Kyle have worked together on several projects over the years, but have never met. Their correspondence has always been through email. When they finally meet, sparks fly for both of them. However, due to past failed relationships, neither of them is looking for anything, and both have sworn off relationships for the foreseeable future. Their business meeting turns out to be enjoyable for both of them, so they agree to meet once more. Simply for a no strings attached Date Night. But will things really stop at that… guess you need to read to find out!

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Murder at Honeybee Lake (Shadow of a Doubt Book 2) by Jessica Aiken-Hall – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Murder at Honeybee Lake (Shadow of a Doubt, #2)Murder at Honeybee Lake by Jessica Aiken-Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Murder at Honeybee Lake is the 2nd book in the Shadow of Doubt series by Jessica Aiken-Hall. I liked the first book better, as it was more intense, but this book was very good too. They should be read in order, as there are a lot of overlapping characters, without much background given. This book focuses on Randy Fletcher, who came to the rescue in book one, taking care of Tessa. This book is full of suspense from the very beginning. Randy and his boyfriend Ben are swimming in the lake outside their house, when they find a dead body. Everything gets tangled up, and Randy is soon in quite a pickle. His life is thrown upside down, and soon it is difficult to determine what is good and what is bad. I was glad to have the book be a true mystery, with the truth not being revealed until the end. I love how all the characters are connected in a mysterious way that are slowly discovered. Highly recommend this series, and cant wait to read more by the author.

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Sure As Hell (Life Is Hell Book 4) by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Sure As Hell (Life is Hell #4)Sure As Hell by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sure as Hell is the 4th book in Naomi Valkyrie’s series Life is Hell. It should be read as part of the series, because all the characters overlap. To fully understand what each character is (as they are all paranormal) and their relationships (many overlapping relationships, 3 somes, etc). Also, the series is awesome, so really, you’d be doing yourself a favor by reading them all. I don’t normally read paranormal books, but I am hooked on this series.
This book focuses on Jaru and Lark. As with all books in the series, there is a bit of romance, as well as a bit of action and suspense. Because this book’s main character is an imp, and former contract companion (think call girl), and contains mixed relationships, it is for a more mature audience. I enjoyed getting to know Lark as more than a prankster fairy he has been in the previous books. I also enjoyed seeing Jaru grow up, so to speak, and learn to be his own person, outside of being a companion. Looking forward to the next book in the series

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy