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Evil Sushi (Evil Sushi Series Book 1) by C.A. King – Review by Emma Morreale

Evil SushiEvil Sushi by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Huge fan of C. A. King so of course I’m gonna read the first in her new series. Kind of an odd start though. People get more ecofriendly but caring about methane from cows so fish becomes more popular. But because the population has exploded, the seas are becoming ever more barren. Two intrepid fisherman find something in the depths. My first guess was that this was gonna be a twist between Grabbers and Cthulhu. If either of those things tickle you fancy, read on!

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Virtue & Vice (Spicetopia #2) by Phoebe Alexander – Review by Emma Morreale

Virtue & Vice (Spicetopia Book 2)Virtue & Vice by Phoebe Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Phoebe Alexander knows how to write romance. You want slow burn? She’s got you. But Virtue & Vice has you from the first paragraph. Moon and Katja have an undeniable passion and a great vision for Spicetopia. And who doesn’t love the idea of an adult theme park?
This is the second in the Spicetopia series and can be read as a standalone. I always recommend reading series in order though.

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Out Bad (Sinners or Saints Book 1) by Janice M. Whiteaker – Review by Emma Morreale

Out BadOut Bad by Janice M. Whiteaker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off I think Gwen is way too good for Joe. He’s kind of a baby about not having ever been introduced to her before, like is his best friend’s job to introduce him to all his in-laws. Secondly, I really didn’t like his line of thinking that Gwen could save him. That really put me off when I read the synopsis. It’s not a woman’s job to save the bad boy. She’s not his mother.
That being said, I went ahead and read this and it was pretty good. Gwen and Joe had pretty good chemistry and I was able to ignore how much of an emotional child Joe was. I get that he’s done terrible things and even though he’s paid the price, it haunts him. But his reluctance to really deal with those emotions bugs me.

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Ice Crown (The Elements of Kamdaria Book 1) by Kay L Moody – Review by Emma Morreale

Ice Crown (The Elements of Kamdaria 1)Ice Crown by Kay L Moody
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book isn’t super long but the world we are introduced to is absolutely fascinating so I’m hoping for a long series. There wasn’t as much detail as I would have liked in the first book of a fantasy scifi world but you get enough to keep you thinking. Talise is a one in a million child from the Storm who can shape the elements. No one else from her poverty stricken home can say the same. Kay Moody straight up tells her readers that since Talise has lost her abilities from malnutrition before and the fact that starvation is the most common cause of death in the Storm, there may be others who COULD shape. Talise is admitted to the most prestigious academy to control her abilities and at the end of her literal decade of schooling, she will be in a contest to become Master Shaper. It’s literally the only way to keep from going back to the Storm. Or at least that’s what the powers that be want you to think. There HAS to be more than that, right?
It all felt very much like the well to do were using the lack of food (in the storm but no where else) to keep what could become an uprising or at least resistance in check. I am very excited to see where this series goes

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Tails Always Wins (Chasing Tails Book 1) by C.A. King – Review by Emma Morreale

Tails Always WinsTails Always Wins by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am a huge fan of C. A. King so when I saw this was the start of a new series, I was very excited. The first chapter was pretty metaphor heavy and got dark quickly. This book seemed to have more political threads woven into the story than past series by King but I kinda dig it. Brodie and Tails are extremely complex and I love a good revolution. Looking forward to the next book.

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Eternity (Captivity Series Book 3) by Sarah Biglow & Molly Zenk – Review by Emma Morreale

Eternity (Captivity Book 3)Eternity by Sarah Biglow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The supernatural aspects of this series are fabulous. The characters are wonderful, flawed, determined, and complex. But the most important thing about this series and this book in general is that the themes and lessons can be talked about in the context of what is happening in the world right now. I know Sarah Biglow is a lawyer so I don’t think I’m over thinking this but maybe I am. I’m still going to make everyone I know read this.

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Sugar & Spice (Spicetopia #1) by Phoebe Alexander Featured in the Sweetest Obsessions Boxed Set Collection – Review by Emma Morreale

Sweetest Obsessions: A Contemporary Romance Boxed Set CollectionSweetest Obsessions: A Contemporary Romance Boxed Set Collection by Jane Anthony
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With a title like Sugar and Spice, and Phoebe Alexander as the author, I knew this would get delicious.
Jolie and Cy have an instant attraction but as they work together at a family amusement park, things can get a little dicey what with the fraternization and such. Jolie’s attraction also brings up guilt since spending time with Cy would take time away from her boys. Cy has a secret that could threaten the budding romance he can’t ignore.
I’m excited this is the start of a new series so I’m hoping it’s a long one and we get more of these characters.

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Sanctuary (Captivity Series Book 2) by Sarah Biglow & Molly Zenk – Review by Emma Morreale

Sanctuary (Captivity Book 2)Sanctuary by Sarah Biglow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m seriously digging these characters and this world. There are some bits (like a fast growing hybrid baby) that are reminiscent of other books I’ve read, but I say that in the BEST way possible. It’s like how your favorite books make you think about the possibilities that could result from the smallest details you pick up and then it blossoms.
I’m about to force all my friends to get this series so I can have ridiculous, overthinking discussions.
DO NOT read this book first. I know it says novella, and I always think they come first no matter when they are published but you need to read these in order.

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Legacy of Luck (The Druid’s Brooch Series Book 3) by Christy Nicholas – Review by Emma Morreale

Legacy of Luck (Druid's Brooch #3)Legacy of Luck by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve read a few of the Druid’s Brooch books and one or two others that had to do with Travelers. I was very excited to read this because I find their culture very interesting and it always adds a bit of dramatic and romantic flair to any story.
This particular book was a pretty easy read with a few twists and I definitely think that while a lot of the Druid’s Brooch books are heavily fantasy based, this one has the most realism in terms of where the plot ends up and what happens to and between the different characters. I really enjoyed that.
Katie is by far my favorite character and I got a bit of a shock near the end that I will not spoil.

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The Girls across the Bay (The Knox and Sheppard Mysteries, Book 1) by Emerald O’Brien – Review by Emma Morreale

The Girls Across The Bay (Knox and Sheppard, #1)The Girls Across The Bay by Emerald O’Brien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The pacing for this book was a bit meh. Similar aspects of detective/police/journalism seemed rushed in one part and nit picked at others. It could be one of those things where the formatting is deliberate and only becomes apparent on a second read. Some of the plot was confusing and I couldn’t really nail down a timeline but it didn’t really confuse me too much. Hopefully the next book will answer some of my questions and resolve a cliffhanger or two.
All in all, this was a very nice read and I am looking forward to the next book in the series

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Captivity: A Paranormal Romance Novella (Captivity Book 1) by Sarah Biglow & Molly Zenk – Review by Emma Morreale

Captivity (Captivity Book 1)Captivity by Sarah Biglow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With Lorelei being a bounty hunter and Aiden having a huge chunk of his memory missing, it was very easy to get invested in this story. I can’t think of another one I’ve read where one of the characters was a phoenix so it was nice to get a little bit of variety in a genre that is pretty repetitive at times. The fact that when Aiden is reborn he loses his past memories was a very interesting concept to me and I immediately started thinking about how one would combat such a situation and what instances you could come up against that would put that in jeopardy. It reminded me a bit of one of my favorite books where every twelve years, everyone forgets everything. They write in books but books are easily destroyed with fire so that wouldn’t really be a good option for Aiden. As I’ve said before, I love any book that really gets me thinking so I’m sure I will read this one again and again.

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The Trouble With Paradise (A Madeline Dawkins Mystery Book 4) by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Emma Morreale

The Trouble with Paradise (Madeline Dawkins #4)The Trouble with Paradise by Cynthia Hamilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With even more page turning suspense and a little extra romance for Madeline and Mike, the fourth installment of the Madeline Dawkins Mysteries is fantastic. Two different women with dead husbands need help for almost opposite reasons. One isn’t convinced of her husband’s suicide and the other might have been framed for her husband’s bizarre death. Madeline’s trash bag ex asks for help and out of the goodness of his heart, Mike says yes. Yes, the help is for Lindsay but I still think Steve had some nerve even asking.
Mike and Madeline have hearts really too good for their world and are prepared to do whatever it takes to help these two women.

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Blackbird’s Deliverance (Silent Secrets Series Book 4) by Lisette Kristensen – Review by Emma Morreale

Blackbird's Deliverance (Book Four)Blackbird’s Deliverance by Lisette Kristensen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For the most part I have really enjoyed this series. It has been a thrill ride from the first word and this book is no exception. The detail pulls you in without getting too wordy and the twists punch you in the gut and keep you glued to each page. You have to read these from the beginning or you are going to miss so much.
The only problem I have with this particular book is the circumstances under which Francesca was kidnapped. A Mafia boss’s wife with a predictable pattern to her daily routine? Please. Even with her being under protection and having a new identity, she’d know better than anyone how dangerous routines are. I loved the rest of the book but I just kept thinking about how stupid that move had been.

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Whom Shall I Kiss… An Earl, A Marquess, or A Duke? (Tricking the Scoundrels #1) by Laura A. Barnes – Review by Emma Morreale

Whom Shall I Kiss... An Earl, A Marquess, or A Duke? (Tricking the Scoundrels #1)Whom Shall I Kiss… An Earl, A Marquess, or A Duke? by Laura A. Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved the fact that Sidney has such an analytical mind and is putting it to use in order to expose the men who ruin reputations of women for fun. It was a bit difficult to suspend my disbelief that any of these men would actually face any repercussions at all but you never know, so I kept on reading. With a bit of a scientific mind myself, I honestly think I was more drawn to the parameters and different aspects of Sidney’s research than any other bits of the story. I kept wondering how she was going to make sure all of her information was going to be accurate if she was mostly going off memory. My first thought would be that Sophia would be helping take notes but she immediately struck me as to timid/ sensible to jeopardize her own future for this, and I would not blame her one bit. In comparison to a few other books I have read based around this time period and the life of the ton, Whom Shall I Kiss? is a lovely difference from other heroines who are concerned with family and finding a good match because it’s expected. While they each had their own nuances, I felt I could relate more to Sidney than others. Very excited for the next book.

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Michael’s Heart by Lori Thomas Harrington – Review by Emma Morreale

Michael's HeartMichael’s Heart by Lori Thomas Harrington
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Michael’s Heart grabbed my attention from the synopsis. As an amateur musician, I’ve always associated music with emotion and often judge a piece on what emotions and how intense those emotions are. While Colbie, Lyric, and other characters are all important, it seemed like there were too many aspects to the plot right off the bat. You’ve got the competition, the song with missing lyrics, and Colbie’s accident all within the first chapter. As you read on, things don’t get crazy tangled or too much more complicated but the structuring put me off.
That being said, I enjoyed Colbie’s desperate search for what holds her soul together while also threatening to tear her apart at the seams. If you get confused at the beginning, don’t give up. The wrap up is worth it.

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The Gauntlet: The Soppranaturale Series by Ashley Pagano – Review by Emma Morreale

The Gauntlet: The Soppranaturale SeriesThe Gauntlet: The Soppranaturale Series by Ashley Pagano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really like the idea of supernatural beings living together in a hotel. It’s kind of like a mix between Altered Carbon and the adults from Harry Potter. With that those types of shenanigans bouncing around in my brain, this particular story was more serious that I imagined it would be, but that’s not a bad thing. It was really hard to not think of Link in a little green tunic and hat, and I really wanted him to call Ommily Zelda at least once. But she’s more like Shiek, in that Ommily is some one I would be able to view as a fighter more quickly.
The first couple sentences grab you with the odd details that make everything more real. I could see the puckering in the wallpaper, I could SEE Ommily moving from painting to painting. Ashley Pagano’s writing style is a bit odd but dang, if she doesn’t pull me along with ease.

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Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1) by Laura Hawks – Review by Emma Morreale

Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1)Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms by Laura Hawks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book feels like Teen fiction and cozy mystery wrapped into one. Gumshoe puts me in mind of a mix of Salem and Columbo. Mia has a whole truckload of unpleasant dumped on her for her birthday but girl doesn’t miss a beat. She knows she is in one of the roughest of situations she’ll probably ever face, but she’s not going to let a trivial thing like that stop her from figuring out why her world has been turned upside down. She’ll clear her family’s name and that’s all there is to it.
I’m thrilled that this is book one because that means more!

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Queen of the Warrior Bees (Natural Forces Book 1) by Jean Gill – Review by Emma Morreale

Queen of the Warrior Bees (Natural Forces #1)Queen of the Warrior Bees by Jean Gill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Right off the bat there were so many things that intrigued me about this book. I absolutely adore bees so just reading the words warrior bees made me think “I need this book right now”. And I was not disappointed. Mielitta was found as baby and she believes that for this reason, she is kept as a servant and a child while all her peers are now considered adults. Most of her school friends also seem to have forgotten her somewhat. Is this some sort of magic or are they just all just huge jerks?
The Forest is forbidden and most people don’t question why. Mielitta can’t help but be curious when everyone else is content and I love her for that. How she experiences the world around her is extremely intriguing. Food and drink only taste of salt but her sense of smell has like 4 layers to it. She can assign colors to different scents as well as descriptive words she has only read but knows instinctively are accurate. Everything about this girl fascinating and had me tearing through this book for answers, especially after reading about the Councillors. They immediately seemed sketchy and their abilities made me distrust basically every word they said. They all seemed out for themselves no matter how much they said they were loyal to the Citadel.
I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book!

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Girl Trap (A Madeline Dawkins Mystery Book 3) by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Emma Morreale

Girl TrapGirl Trap by Cynthia Hamilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cynthia Hamilton really knows how to grab me from just a synopsis. How could I possibly say no to two separate, seemingly straight forward cases of missing persons? I tore through this book to get to the part where Madeline reaches the Catholic school because how could that not be filled with mystery and delicious intrigue. With the topic of sex trafficking, Ms. Hamilton was not afraid to sugar coat some details and I really respect her for it. It will make some people uncomfortable to read but if it makes even one person get involved in fighting it, every bit of discomfort is worth it compared to what it could prevent.
This is absolutely the most intense of this series. I hope it keeps up because it makes for amazing reading but it also gets you in the frame of mind to follow Madeline and Mike’s lead and do something about it.

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Never Let Me Go (Bayou Devils MC Book 6) by A.M. Myers – Review by Emma Morreale

Never Let Me Go (Bayou Devils MC #6)Never Let Me Go by A.M. Myers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have read all of the books in this series and it makes me soooo happy that each new book is just as good if not better than the last. Each male main character has faults and flaws that make him realistic and relatable. Sawyer is no exception. He is a gentleman to a lady in a position of extreme vulnerability. Juliette basically has a fresh start to reinvent herself but it came at an enormous cost. But has that cost been fully paid? Strap in and find out. But don’t forget your helmet, kids. Helmets save lives.

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Hidden Magic: A Sanctuary Chronicles Novella by India Kells – Review by Emma Morreale

Hidden Magic: A Sanctuary Chronicles NovellaHidden Magic: A Sanctuary Chronicles Novella by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the pace of this book. You get immediate tension and the feeling something is wrong from Brant. He feels that deep down in your gut, imminent doom type of wrong and of course it’s somehow involving the love of his life, Kat. She’s just making cookies, not bothering anyone and WHAM- two total creeps show up after the shop has closed (which really made me hate them on a personal level, having worked in retail for a significant period of time). Kat is a telepath who doesn’t need any special gifts to know that these scrubs from her past aren’t just going to say hi and bye. They are more of the mind to shoot Brant in the chest and leave with Kat. Too bad it takes more than that to kill a werelynx.
India Kells is so wonderful with her descriptions and after reading two other books from this series, I was excited to read this novella-but I wish it had been longer.
If you’re new to paranormal romance or India Kells, this would be a decent place to start since it’s only a novella but it’s not the first in the series.

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A High Price to Pay (The Madeline Dawkins Series Book 2) by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Emma Morreale

A High Price to Pay (Madeline Dawkins, #2)A High Price to Pay by Cynthia Hamilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed Spouse Trap and was so looking forward to this book. Madeline is so much more sure of herself and I loved seeing how much she had matured as a character. She’s not throwing a minor pity party anymore because she knows she can take care of herself but also doesn’t have that superhero complex that drives me up the wall.
The story line did get a bit crowded at one point because so much was being thrown at Madeline and Mike, and even though they were repetitive in talking though details of the case, I didn’t mind that. It made me think of how I need to talk though things out loud (no matter who is around) to really get a handle on problems and such.
Overall, I loved the story and hope to see more in this series.

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Nite Fire: Smoke & Mirrors (Book 3) by C. L. Schneider – Review by Emma Morreale

Smoke & Mirrors (Nite Fire #3)Smoke & Mirrors by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As soon as I read the description of Smoke and Mirrors, I knew all plans were off until I finished reading. A serial killer and clues to follow that are too good to be true? Nothing gets past Dahlia for long but the ride in between is phenomenal. I’ve read the previous books and love Dahlia as well as her relationship with Detective Creed. Their banter is genuine in both its irritation and respect.
The two worlds involved are incredibly rich in the details provided and, while I never suggest reading a series out of order, the reader is given enough to get by on the previous events bother normal and supernatural. But why dive into the the third when the set up is the best part?!
All types of readers will enjoy this book and the entire series. It’s mystery with supernatural poured on top, deliciously mixed in, and with a list of compelling characters, C.L. Schneider will have you hooked.

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Nite Fire: Smoke & Mirrors (Book 3) by C. L. Schneider – Review by Emma Morreale

Smoke & Mirrors (Nite Fire #3)Smoke & Mirrors by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As soon as I read the description of Smoke and Mirrors, I knew all plans were off until I finished reading. A serial killer and clues to follow that are too good to be true? Nothing gets past Dahlia for long but the ride in between is phenomenal. I’ve read the previous books and love Dahlia as well as her relationship with Detective Creed. Their banter is genuine in both its irritation and respect.
The two worlds involved are incredibly rich in the details provided and, while I never suggest reading a series out of order, the reader is given enough to get by on the previous events bother normal and supernatural. But why dive into the the third when the set up is the best part?!
All types of readers will enjoy this book and the entire series. It’s mystery with supernatural poured on top, deliciously mixed in, and with a list of compelling characters, C.L. Schneider will have you hooked.

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Enemies of the Desert (Silent Secrets Series Book 3) by Lisette Kristensen – Review by Emma Morreale

Enemies of the DesertEnemies of the Desert by Lisette Kristensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blackbird has come up against her arch enemy and as awesome as she is, Salena is no joke and a well fleshed out villain. I always think they’re the best when you find yourself saying, “I don’t like it, but they have a point” But Israel needs saved, and no one is getting in the way and coming out alive!
I am a huge proponent of reading a series in order and I cannot stress that enough with this one. You’re probably going to be a bit lost on the background (Lisette Kristensen does a good job at providing necessary info from her previous books), but more important than that is you don’t want to miss why Blackbird has had to become who she is and how she has developed. It all starts with a snitch and I promise you don’t to miss it.

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Spouse Trap: A Madeline Dawkins Mystery (The Madeline Dawkins Series Book 1) by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Emma Morreale

Spouse Trap (Madeline Dawkins, #1)Spouse Trap by Cynthia Hamilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I fell in love with Madeline immediately. She has the perfect life and is devoted to her husband, Steve, but one pinch of jealousy from him seems to have a cascade effect including her waking up naked with no idea what happened. Steve somehow comes up with compromising pictures from that time (which screamed set up to me) and with an adultery prenup clause, things are looking as bad as they can get. But my girl Maddy will not go down without a fight!
Her need to know what happened instead of crawling in on herself shows so much strength and I love her for it.
The fact that this took place in Santa Barbara was hilarious to me since I am a huge fan of Psych and I was hoping half the time that Shawn and Gus would show up, just for the giggles.
Cannot wait to dig into the next book!

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Trickster’s Hunt (Three Tricksters Book 1) by Carrie Whitethorne – Review by Emma Morreale

Trickster's Hunt (Three Tricksters #1)Trickster’s Hunt by Carrie Whitethorne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am a sucker for anything related to Egypt so this book grabbed my interest immediately. I kept picturing Rhett as Ardeth Bay and it was fantastic.
For the most part I really enjoyed this book and am absolutely looking forward to the other. Maia is supposed to be a 19 year old competitive eater but how she is written, she seems mid to late 20’s. Maybe that was because the drinking age in the UK is different than the US so that threw me off. The structure of the book was pretty heavily set around eating competitions and then that just kind of stopped. I get that with the intro of three sexy djinn into Maia’s life, things would be far from normal but it just seemed to me like she was the kind of woman who would let nothing and no one pull her from what she loves doing.

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MaddJax Series, Boxed Series Set, Book One & Book Two: A Second Chance Stepbrother/co-CEO Romance by Deborah Ann – Review by Emma Morreale

MaddJax Series, Boxed Series Set, Book One & Book TwoMaddJax Series, Boxed Series Set, Book One & Book Two by Deborah Ann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For sure my kind of book. It’s one that pulls you in and the next thing you know, one more chapter has become 4 AM and oh well I’m almost done so I’ll finish it now.
I have no idea how Maddison was able to deal with everything that was thrown at her AT HER 5 YEAR HIGH SCHOOL REUNION that she basically footed the bill for. I don’t even want to go to my 10th next year and my class was, for the most part, open minded and kind people. Put all that together with running a company and the surprise but not entirely unwelcome appearance of the stepbrother she’s always been in love with, and I was exhausted trying to keep up with everything.
For anyone who is wary of the step sibling part of this, it’s no worse than actual world history. Maddison and Jaxon aren’t related by blood. Looking at you, European royalty.

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Beachcomber Enemy: a Romantic Thriller (Beachcomber Investigations Book 10) by Stephanie Queen – Review by Emma Morreale

Beachcomber EnemyBeachcomber Enemy by Stephanie Queen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The adventures (and trouble) Dane and Shana get into will take you on a wild ride every time. At the 10th book in the series, I was kind of surprised I was looking forward to it as much as I was. Occasionally I get bored with long series, but Stephanie Queen knows how to keep me enthralled. Dane and Shana have such opposite ways of thinking about things and I have been very happy about the lack of moments that make me scream “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER” in cases of misunderstandings that some books use as a suspense supplement.

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Impact (Twisted Hearts Love Story Book 4) by Autumn Sand – Review by Emma Morreale

Impact (A Twisted Hearts Love Story book 4)Impact by Autumn Sand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Manny has had a difficult life and hides his pain behind a tough guy facade but when his childhood love comes back into his life, his weakness for her is on full display and that is gonna cause a lot of problems.
I wasn’t super happy with how to chapters were laid out chronologically but it wasn’t too difficult to keep up with the timeline. As a standalone, this is a pretty good story so if anyone is hooked by the characters, plot, or vivid imagery, you have to check out the rest of the series.

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