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Moby Plays the Flute by Eeha Bhatt – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Moby Plays the FluteMoby Plays the Flute by Eeha Bhatt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Moby Plays the Flute is a cute kids book, with a big message. At first, I thought the book was leading toward Moby having a learning disability, or perhaps ADHD. As she was struggling, I wanted to reach out and give her a hug- her mom is not mentioned, and her dad is a deployed Marine. It saddened me that she was struggling for a full year before everything clicking and her turn around. However, my 6 year old didn’t catch on to any of that- he was just happy she learned how to play the flute and found her “hidden” gift. The artwork is wonderful, very vibrant colors and how expressive Moby is. Her facial expression and posture changes as the story progresses, and it lets us know how she is feeling. Moby has quite the fashion sense, and I love how all the colors pop. The author very clearly spelled out the meaning of the book at the end, and the importance of self love and self confidence. I love the summary of the messages at the end, along with the interactive suggestions. This book would be great for an elementary school teacher to read in class, and build a lesson around.

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Grave Digger Academy II (Grave Digger Academy Book 2) by C.A. King – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Grave Digger Academy IIGrave Digger Academy II by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Grave Digger Academy is a new series to me, and I’m loving it. It is easy to read, but holds my interest. It is written for young adult, but I enjoy it in my 30s. This book continues where book 1 left off, as Makayla and her friend return to Grave Digger Academy for their second year. I think you need to read book one to understand what is going on, its not a stand alone. But the books are quick enough, just read them both. The 2nd book had just as much excitement as the first book did. I wish there was more details revealed around the Academy Games, but it was enough to understand the gist and enjoy it. I wish there was more description of how the treasures were discovered at the other schools, and more story to the secondary characters. We really only see what Makayla is doing. I want more on Griffin too!! I want to know his backstory, and look forward to book 3.

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Necrosis by C.L. Schneider – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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NecrosisNecrosis by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Necrosis is a book that drew me in just from the cover art. I don’t normally read this kind of book, or watch zombie movies or shows. However, the book was brilliant. The author is amazing with graphic writing. The way she described the decaying bodies had me cringing. The book was short but was not lacking at all. The characters are wonderfully written and the imagery is off the charts. There was moment of suspense and a twisted happy ending, for some anyway. The love of a mother knows no boundaries, and I loved it. I did not see that coming! Highly recommend, and look forward to more.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Haunted Christmas by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Notebook Mysteries Haunted ChristmasNotebook Mysteries Haunted Christmas by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Haunted Christmas is another book in the Notebook Mysteries series. It could probably be read as a stand alone, but with some difficulty. There are a lot of characters, which I know from past books, and their relationships and professions. While you may follow and enjoy as a stand alone, some might struggle keeping the characters straight. This is a quick read, much shorter than the others in the series. It takes place around Christmas time, and has many references to Dickens “A Christmas Carol”. I enjoyed it, and like how the case was wrapped up. The author is so creative with the crimes and methods used, as well as fitting of the time. I look forward to more adventures with Emma and her family.

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The Mind-Reading Hat (Invisible Magic Wand Series Book 6) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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The Mind-Reading Hat: Invisible Magic Wand Book SixThe Mind-Reading Hat: Invisible Magic Wand Book Six by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read the Mind Reading Hat to my 6 year old. He really enjoyed it, but was thrown off by UNbirthday. After we discussed it, he loved the idea and asked if he could have an UNbirthday too. Needless to say, I have a week to plan a party now lol.
The story is fun and I love that it was non traditional. It included grandpa and neighbor as the important people in the child’s life. The gifts were creative and the art work was great. The book is very eye catching and colorful. It was a fun story and I would read others by the author.

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Oliver, A Story of Adoption by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Oliver, A Story About AdoptionOliver, A Story About Adoption by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read Oliver to my 6 year old. Before we started, I asked if he knew what adoption is or what it means to be adopted. He said no, not really. We have “adopted” a cat, and he has a friend who is adopted, but it’s not something they talk about… I think the book did a good job of explaining WHY a kid might be put up for adoption, and a gentle way of explaining it for kids. It also addresses the wonder and curiosity that is normal for a kid to have regarding their birth parents. It did a good job of explaining adoption in a kind, loving and gentle way for young readers. We do wish the pictures were colored, rather than just drawings. My son liked seeing the imagined parents in lots of different scenes and professions. I think this is a good book for elementary school aged kids to learn about adoption in a judgement free way.

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Grave Digger Academy (Grave Digger Academy Book 1) by C.A. King – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Grave Digger AcademyGrave Digger Academy by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Grave Digger Academy 1 was a good book, that quickly drew me in, and I look forward to book 2. It is a short book, that I was able to read in a day or 2, as I didn’t want to put it down. The characters are well written and each have their own personality, which comes through very well. I am not typically big on paranormal books, but the cover art drew me in. The author does a good job of laying the ground work, and providing the details for us to envision this world. We follow Makayla, in her first year of the paranormal academy, which seems similar to college. She applied to 3, and was denied from all but this school- which is the taboo school no one wants to go to, as it seems to be the last resort for the rejects. I was a little confused why there are grave diggers and Grave Diggers, and why they aren’t given different names…. but I hope that will become more clear later in the series. Makayla has a bit of mystery to her, and we slowly learn that she is more important than she seems at first- Made me think of Harry Potter, in the importance and history. I recommend this book and am dedicated to the series now- keep them coming!

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I Loved You Yesterday (Trading Heartbeats Trilogy Book 1) by Julie Navickas – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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I Loved You Yesterday: Book One in the Trading Heartbeats TrilogyI Loved You Yesterday: Book One in the Trading Heartbeats Trilogy by Julie Navickas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I Loved You Yesterday is a really sweet story about second chances. It’s full of guilt, drunken bad decisions, love and friendship. Josh is a total push over who should have more respect for himself… but he is also very loving and forgiving which was sweet. The reason Mavis left was not much of a shock, I saw it coming. However, I didn’t expect all the other stuff that came AFTER her leaving. The end of the epilogue, I also kind of expected and secretly hoped for… maybe Austin will take that position at the Chicago office after all. I want a story about Lauren and Mitch too, here’s to hoping! Although the book was much of what I expected, I still really enjoyed it. It is a sweet book, full of some shock, and I recommend it to those who enjoy romantic novels.

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In Plain Sight (Logan McKenna Mystery Series Book 8) by Valerie Davisson – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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In Plain Sight: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book 8In Plain Sight: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book 8 by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In Plain Sight is the 8th book in the Logan McKenna series. I haven’t read them all, but have read a couple. This can be enjoyed as a stand alone book. It is full of suspense and I love that the mystery was held out until the very end. The story follows Logan and her friends, as they try to solve a murder they stumble across. The main characters are female and they are all strong leads- smart, successful, strong, etc. and I love that. This book had me captivated and I didn’t want to put it down. I struggled to learn the characters in the beginning because we are introduced to a lot in a short period of time. Most being female and I had a hard time keeping them straight. But if you have the same problem, stick it out. You won’t regret it! I look forward to reading more in the series.

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Dinosaur Friends: 2 books in 1: A Present for the Volcano and Saving Conifer’s Eggs by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Dinosaur Friends: 2 books in 1: A Present for the Volcano and Saving Conifer's EggsDinosaur Friends: 2 books in 1: A Present for the Volcano and Saving Conifer’s Eggs by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read these two Dinosaur Friends books, A Present for the Volcano and Saving Conifer’s Eggs, to my 6 year old son. He loved the pictures and guessing what would come next. He liked Saving Conifer’s Eggs more. He insisted on googling “ginko trees” after reading, to see if they were real. Thank you for adding in unknown trees, to help my little guy learn! The pictures are really cute and colorful.
We also had a discussion on the names of the dinosaurs. He knew Spike was the anklyo due to having spikes but wanted to know where Conifer came from. Then was mad because a carnivore shouldn’t be named after a plant- so there’s some 6 year old feedback lol
A Present for the Volcano was really cute. My son was sure the Lava would overflow, but was happy the friends were safe and were able to work together.

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The Letter Carrier by L.C. Lewis – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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The Letter CarrierThe Letter Carrier by Laurie L.C. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Letter Carrier is one of the most captivating books I’ve read. I love reading about WWII and Nazi Germany, and this book checked all those boxes. The book is largely based on a true story and reads like a memoir. There is so much detail and you can feel the fear in the characters. It is focused around Michelle Nagat and her family, during a 4 year stretch. They have the largest home in their French village, which is commandeered by German soldiers in the 1940s. They quickly become prisoners within their own home, being servants to the soldiers. In fear of their lives daily, they do what they must to survive. I loved reading the ending, telling of the current lives of the characters. We also hear about the authors research and work put into writing and publishing the book. Highly recommend, this book held my attention start to finish, and beyond. I found myself Googling the family and events, to see what details were factual. I would love to read other books by the author, as she writes wonderfully, capturing the characters, and truly does her research.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Unexpected Outcomes (Notebook Mysteries Book 4) by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Unexpected Outcomes (Notebook Mysteries book #4)Notebook Mysteries ~ Unexpected Outcomes by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unexpected Outcomes is the 4th book in the Notebook Mysteries series. I love reading this series, the books are full of adventure and mystery. This book continued building on the same characters, with the focus on Emma and Jeremy. I like that it spent quite a bit of time on their parents and building the history of Cole, Ellis and Abbey. They have an interesting past, and I was happy to see it come full circle. The ending was a bit abrupt for my liking, so I hope there is another book to come. I wish the final chapter was an epilogue with a bit more detail to it. This book had a lot of cases involved, so it moves around quite a bit. However, they all tie together due to Emma and Jeremy and their family. The series gives us a view into the previous century, but I’m not sure how accurate it is. They send a lot of telegrams and send for carriages often, which I anticipate would be quite costly in that era. I also don’t think the police would have been so accepting in having a female civilian being part of their cases, interviewing their suspects, etc. But aside from that, I love the story and series.

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Rivals (Mafia Elite Book 7) by Amy McKinley – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Rivals (Mafia Elite, #7)Rivals by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rivals is the latest book in the Mafia Elite series, and it was ah-mazing, just like all the others. This is one of my favorite series and am sad that it is likely coming to an end. Mia is a character I kind of forgot about, as she is part of the New York mafia families. Most of the series focuses on the Chicago Five Families, and Nico is part of that group. Their story is slightly different from the others, in that the main characters didn’t know each other growing up. They meet for the first time when Mia pulls a gun or Nico and soon after, negotiates their marriage. The build of their relationship is a good story, and has a couple twists and turns along the way. I love the bomb dropped toward the end, changing the course of action. There is justice served and everyone gets what they deserve. Highly recommend this book and hope there is more to come.

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Key to His Heart by Kristina Beck – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Key To His HeartKey To His Heart by Kristina Beck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Key to his Heart was an amazing book, one of the best I’ve read this year. It’s the ultimate love story, drawn by fate. The characters were very well written and I love them. TJ was a pro athlete but is so down to earth and a small town guy. Katrina has had a pretty bad life over all, but has made the most of it. She is not cynical and instead has a positive outlook on life, and is being the best she can for her son. She is recently divorced, single mom, living in a town where she knows no one. There are so many things that brought the two together, but it remained lovely and not cheesy. I loved how it slowly unfolded, and we learned more and more of the characters and the fate that brings them together. TJ is an amazing guy that I fell in love with right away. The little connections they have are cute and really make for a good story. The ending was exactly what I was hoping for. Highly recommend this book, and hope to read more by the author!

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This Time Around by Jane Suen – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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This Time AroundThis Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed This Time Around. It is a quick, cute story about second chances at love. Katie has gone home for, what she thought, was a quick get away for a friend’s wedding. However, plans quickly changed within those 2 days and led her in a different direction. I liked that the story was mostly told about Katie but with little blurbs to show Chase’s side of things. The ending tho, come on! The author had quite a few loose ends, then threw a wrench in things, starting a new story like then bam. The end. Thank goodness for the epilogue…for a little closure to us readers.

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Something About Aimee (Girls from the Street Book 1) by S.E. Smith – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Something About Aimee (Girls from the Street Book 1)Something About Aimee by S.E. Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There’s something about Aimee was a story that had me on the edge of my seat. There was so many unexpected twists and turns. It was a little more heated than I prefer, but overall it was a great story. I love Aimee and her character. She is a total kick butt girl, who can hold her own and is brilliant. I kept wishing we knew more about her past, and then my wishes were granted. The author did a great job of building the characters slowly. It had kind of a 50 shades feel to it, as I look back. Rich powerful male, inexperienced young girl (altho homeless was a nice twist) but it makes for a good story.
Qadir was a character I didn’t like at first but he grew on me. I love his brother Tarek and his dad, and hope they make it into further stories. To be honest, the names was hard to pronounce, which I always hate, but I guess they are middle eastern so it’s to be expected… overall, it was a good book. The epilogue was a good wrap up and made me love Qadir.

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Amber Waves of Grace by Jessica Berg – Review By Elizabeth Sanchez

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Amber Waves of GraceAmber Waves of Grace by Jessica Berg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don’t really know where the title came from, but I’m glad I read Amber Waves of Grace. It was a really good book with amazing characters. I know so much more about farming now, haha. But for real, it is a wholesome clean story. The characters all go through some pretty heavy stuff, but it is real life problems. The story was realistic and not just a fairy tale love story. I love how close the families are, and the characters all have good chemistry. I enjoyed reading the afterward acknowledgements, learning where the character inspiration came from. Highly recommend and look forward to reading more by the author.

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Enchanted in Time by Nikki Lynn Barrett – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Enchanted in TimeEnchanted in Time by Nikki Lynn Barrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Enchanted in Time was a book I did not want to put down. The characters pulled me in straight away. Even though I knew the direction the book was going and had it figured out early, I still enjoyed reading it. There is a bit of a twist toward the end. I got really confused for a bit, along with the characters, but things were sorted out. I love the creativity of the story. Time travel books are usually pretty confusing to me, but this one was well written. I was happy with the ending, and it tied up all the loose ends. Not your average love story, highly recommend.

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Castor’s Kiss (Soul Bonded in the Stars Book 2) by Tai James – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Castor's Kiss (Soul Bonded in the Stars # 2)Castor’s Kiss by Tai James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Castor’s Kiss is an action packed story, that I hope is the start to a series. It seemed to be wrapping up nicely for a good HEA. However, it continued and ended in quite a cliff hanger. The book follows Mia and Castor, and is action packed. Mia was captured and is forced to be a fighter for entertainment. Castor is sent to rescue her. Before they even meet, they have a strong connection that evolves throughout the book. The story gave me a bit of a star wars feel, since it is filled with different types of alien type humans, each described as different color skin and different skills. The world building is wonderful and the characters are well written. I look forward to reading more and getting to know the other characters. I hope Nox and Phoenix get their own books, as they each sound like there is a lot to tell about them. I also would enjoy a prequel to learn more about Mia and Castor’s life prior to this book.

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Murder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Murder in the Lightning RoomMurder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don’t know how much of Murder in the Lightning Room is historically accurate, but it made for a good story! The story follows teenager Cora through a series of adventures. She is one of the brightest in her grade and dreams of great adventure and a career not common for women in that time. She is presented with the opportunity to work with Nikola Tesla. Her mom is opposed, but she does so anyway. That is the start of a series of events that takes Cora and her friends on quite the adventure. They take it upon themselves to try to solve a crime spree that includes theft, murder, and betrayal. You’ll never guess who is found in the center of it all. I liked the ending, as it tied up the loose ends and provided a happily ever after for a few characters. I would read more by this author and would be happy if this book turns into a series. It was very action packed and kept me hooked until the end.

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Levi (The Brothers of Creekside Ranch Book 1) by Edith Mackenzie – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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LeviLevi by Edith Mackenzie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Levi had me hooked from the first page. The author has a way with words and I hardly put my kindle down while reading this book. The book started right in the middle of the action. I thought Levi was a jerk in the beginning and was happy to learn the reason why, and start to see a transition to him mid-book. His brothers are fun and very loveable so I can’t wait to read their stories. Bella is not at all what I expected. She grew up an aristocrat, but somehow ended up with a Russian mob boy friend. I wish there was more back story there, but it gave us enough information to go on, and we discovered more of their past relationship as the story went on. The ending was abrupt but at the same time was kind of a perfect happily ever after. I am glad to know the story continues in book two though. Happy to have found a new author and series!

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Isabella Bride of Ohio: American Mail Order Bride by Debra Parmley – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Isabella, Bride of Ohio (American Mail-Order Brides Series)Isabella, Bride of Ohio by Debra Parmley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Isabella Bride of Ohio, American Mail Order Bride is not the type of book I normally read, but it sounded interested. I admit, I didn’t know American mail order brides was a thing, but it intrigued me. The topic being quite taboo, made it all the more interesting. I liked Isabella, but also felt quite bad for her situation. She has had a hard life, and she is only still a teen! I was at first astonished for her to be all alone, but then had to remember it was a different time. I enjoyed reading the book but found her very naive, falling in love too quickly. I kept waiting for something to happen. She made me think of the movie Frozen – “You can’t marry a man you just met!” But yet, Isabella met, got engaged and wed very quickly. Again, the time and situation was different then. I wasn’t much surprised by the encounter on the train but if left me wanting to know more of Tom. Who is he? What did he mean by “like a constable” but yet wasn’t one. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? The mystery behind him kept me intrigued. The author kept sprinkling more facts as the book went on, and I kind of saw the ending coming, but still enjoyed it. It wrapped up all the loose ends. The book itself was a short quick read, so I didn’t get too invested in the characters, but it was enjoyable.

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The Prospect of Death (An Alyssa Chalmers Cozy Mystery) by Carmen Radtke – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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The Prospect of Death (Alyssa Chalmers mysteries, #2)The Prospect of Death by Carmen Radtke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Prospect of Death pleasantly surprised me. I don’t normally enjoy historical books that take place centuries ago, but the description really drew me in. It took me a while for me to get into the book as it started a little slow. However, once they were in Run’s End, it really picked up. As the events started to unfold, I didn’t want to stop reading. There are a lot of characters, and they are referred to by first name and last name, so I had a hard time keeping them straight. However, they are really well written and each serve an important role in the story. I like how the women made their presence important, and so much more than the mail order brides they started out to be. Alyssa’s relationship with the doctor and Mr. Kendrick was interesting to say the least. I enjoyed the ending and look forward to reading the next book in the series.

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Distant Memories (Nurse Morgan Series Book 2) by Kate MacInnis – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Distant Memories: A Nurse Morgan Series: Book TwoDistant Memories: A Nurse Morgan Series: Book Two by Kate MacInnis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Distant Memories picks up where the first book (Distant Heart Sounds) left off but could likely read it without the first. There Is quite a bit of recap/summary of characters, abilities and their relationships. I think the characters were actually introduced better in this book than the first. I really enjoyed this book but wish there was more closure. I hoped to find out more about the time loop nurses and wish that was developed more. I love the relationships and what Gloria and Elisabeth brought to the table. Their friendships were just as important to Morgan as Savvy and her other coworkers. Dr Lightfoot is a cool character too. I love how supportive he is. I expected him to be more in tune to the afterworld, based on his early introduction in book one. None the less, I enjoyed this book more than the first and would be happy to hear if a 3rd is written.

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Jake the Growling Dog Shares His Trail (Jake the Growling Dog Book 3) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Jake the Growling Dog Shares His TrailJake the Growling Dog Shares His Trail by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jake the Growling Dog Shares his Trail is the 3rd book in an adorable series. It follows Jake in different situations, that help children relate to difficult social situations. This book can be used for many different topics. It can be used to explain diversity or disabilities and showing kindness to those that are different than us. It can help explain to little kids to turn to their friends for help, and to share their feelings. That it’s okay to feel scared, and how overcome that feeling and face your fears. Not to judge others too quickly or harsh, and give people a chance to be your friend.
The story is light hearted and a fun rhyming book, without feeling forced. I love the last 2 lines of the story! “Be a friend to those you meet, who might be different from you. You’ll find many things in common with new friends, pure and true!”
Props to the illustrator, the colors are very bright and make the image pop. My son loved looking for the butterfly and dragonfly on each page. I love that there is teaching tools after the story, that a parent or teacher could use as a lesson plan or assist in some tough conversations. Highly recommend this story to lower grade elementary school teachers or counselors.

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The Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace (Mermaid Science) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Mermaid and the Ice Cube NecklaceMermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Mermaid and ice cube Necklace is another book in the Mermaid Science series. It is a cute book for elementary school age children. The pictures all all very colorful. My son was thrown off by the names, as they are not common names, wondering who was who. I like the scientific explanations at the end. But I feel are a little more complex than the book… making it not as suitable for young ages. My 6 year old doesn’t understand what molecules are or comprehend density… but I do like how the book can be paired with an elementary lesson on solid/liquid/gas etc.
We tried the ice cube beads and it didn’t work, to my sons disappointment. Maybe his breath wasn’t hot enough. However it was a cute idea and I like how it explained the why/how behind it all. A little bit of learning and science while having fun and reading is always a win for me.

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Distant Heart Sounds (Nurse Morgan Series Book 1) by Kate MacInnis – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Distant Heart Sounds (Nurse Morgan #1)Distant Heart Sounds by Kate MacInnis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Distant Heart Sounds is the first book in the Nurse Morgan Series. It was my first by this author and I really enjoyed it. I will be reading book 2 soon! The book follows Morgan, an Emergency Dept nurse, shortly after returning to work after a near death experience. She soon discovers she has new abilities- seeing auras around people, seeing the future and past events, and communicating with ghosts. The ghosts that live in her house are hilarious, and a good addition to the story. I like how all the characters personalities are a bit different, and complement each other. Morgan has great friends, and it was fun to see her abilities develop as the book progressed. I was hoping for more development into Dr Lightfoot’s character, so I hope book 2 builds on him more. I recommend this book- while paranormal in nature, it isn’t creepy. Its lighthearted and funny at times.

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Unlikely to Fit (Parker Lake) by Olivia Sherwood – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Unlikely to Fit (A Parker Lake Novel Book 2)Unlikely to Fit by Ashlie Knapp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unlikely to Fit is the 2nd book in the Parker Lake series. While the characters do overlap, the book could be enjoyed without reading the series in order. This book focuses on Breckin and Griff. They have known each other forever, but didn’t really KNOW each other. They share common friends and were sort of pushed together, and both resisted at first. Then they slowed discovered their feelings for each other, which were made stronger by their broken hearts. They are such a fun couple, and I was glad their story had a happily ever after. I look forward to the next book, because I want to know what happens for them. The ending was perfect. Highly recommend this book, series and author.

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Deadly Sommer (Nora Sommer Caribbean Suspense Book 1) by Nicholas Harvey – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Deadly Sommer (Nora Sommer #1)Deadly Sommer by Nicholas Harvey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Deadly Sommer is the first book in the Nora Sommer Caribbean Suspense series. I hope the author makes a prequel, because there is a lot of reference to Nora’s past and how/why she joined the police force. This is the first book I have read by this author but I am hooked. It was so well written, and the characters were wonderful. He even wrote the locals’ speech in the broken English you would find in the Cayman Islands. This book was filled with suspense, and kept me on the edge of my seat. It slowly unraveled, but kept us guessing what would come next. Nora is an amazing character, despite being young and a rookie cop, she is very resourceful and passionate. I cant wait to read the next book in the series.

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As Close to Perfect by Maria Jane – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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As Close to PerfectAs Close to Perfect by Maria Jane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really liked As Close to Perfect. It is a good friend’s to lovers story, with a lot of drama along the way. I like that we got to see a glimpse of Bree’s failed relationships along the way. Most romance books just show the transition of THAT relationship, so this was a nice surprise. It was a little more than the typical Romance novel, as it contained themes of Interracial relationships and meeting parents expectations, and the challenges and feelings that go along with that. It also touched on real concerns in long term relationships-Where will you live? Who will work? Will you have kids? I thought the characters were very mature for discussing this early on in the relationship. I like that while Bree cared what her parents thought, ultimately she followed her own heart. I now see it is part of a series, and look forward to reading the other 2 books.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy