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Bake Off (Bake Believe Series Book 2) by Cori Cooper – Review by Rosanna Ingram

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Bake OffBake Off by Cori Cooper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cat has made the road trip with her family to see the family bakery and to (hopefully) figure out how to control her emotional baking. Instead of just sitting down and laying out the family history, CG creates a scavenger hunt that gives Cat and Robyn a more “hands on” approach. But, Cat is observant, and is noticing that there are lots of things not being said from different members of her family…and she is determined to figure it out. Turns out there is more going on than everyone is letting on.

I enjoyed the first book in the series and was happy to see Cat get some answers that will help her. This book is definitely written for a younger reader (maybe 10-14 years of age), but I still enjoyed it. And…there is a recipe at the end of each chapter that sounds super yummy!

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Bake Off (Bake Believe Series Book 2) by Cori Cooper – Review by Jamie Truex

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Bake OffBake Off by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cat is back! This time her and her family travel to meet GG and her aunt for Thanksgiving vacation. She learns about the family bakery and why her mom refuses to cook. Again there are recipes at each chapter, which really are part of the book! Love the writing style and the characters. Highly recommend.

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Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse (The Forerunner Saga Book 1) by Jay Veloso Batista – Review By Erica Fish

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Thorfinn and the Witch's Curse (The Forerunner Series #1)Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse by Jay Veloso Batista
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse is the first book in The Forerunner Saga by Jay Veloso Batista. It was a historical fantasy book. I was pulled into the story from the first page until the last page. I felt as if I was right in the thick of the story with the characters. The book includes ghosts and Vikings. The storyline has adventure, history, Norse mythology, and paranormal elements. The attention to detail is what held my attention. The story is about Finn, who starts the story as a normal boy. He is a part of the Viking Kingdoms in England. There was a witch’s curse that becomes Finn’s fate. He is by day a boy and a ghost at night. Finn has an adventure in his future. I highly recommend this book to follow Finn’s adventure.

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Bake Off (Bake Believe Series Book 2) by Cori Cooper – Review by Jerricka Brown

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Bake OffBake Off by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a quick fun read. I enjoyed that it includes recipes. I found myself trying a few of them. The baking and fantasy aspects worked perfectly together. It made it enjoyable. The author knows how to get the attention of teens and adults alike with this one.

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Bake Off (Bake Believe Series Book 2) by Cori Cooper – Review by Betsy Melano

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Bake OffBake Off by Cori Cooper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the second in a series, which I thought I had read the first book but I must have been dreaming. lol Anyway, I was able to figure out the characters but I think I may have missed something by not reading the fist book. I’m sure I’ll be correcting that mistake very soon.

I love Cat and her grandma GG, who challenges Cat with recipes and not making it too easy for Cat and Robyn to figure out answers. How fun to have a scavenger hunt around the city finding the answers that GG won’t provide easily. I think this was not only fun but also helped
Cat really find out about her ancestors and especially the original baker of the family.

The characters are really easy to connect with, the book is a really fun read, and the recipes listed in the book would be a fun experience for young bakers to try!

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy Review by Jennifer Ramos

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic TrilogyAncient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beautifully written retellings of some well-known Greek mythologys written through a female perspective. To read a book where females from the past can voice their thoughts, actions, and feelings evoke the other spectrum of a quieted spirit. It is such a great outlook in which the author established here. These ancient tellings tell of lives and circumstances that once was but many of its lessons and values still hold true to many in today’s modern world.

There is the Hymn of Demeter where Demeter and her daughter as their experiences and romance are depicted in this telling. Also included is the story of Odyssey as the voice of those women who loved him dearly elaborate on his many challenges in his life. Lastly, there is the Epic of Gilgamesh where moments of grieving, greed, and pridefulness allows readers to be able to reflect and learn from this story.

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Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns Book 1) by Kay L. Moody – Review by Jo Frizzell

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Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns, #1)Flame and Crystal Thorns by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading this book! Chloe is a headstrong but compassionate person who cares so deeply about her family. I adore her as a character. The author did a fantastic job of creating the world and illustrating it with their words. I would love to go see Faerie and was fascinated from beginning to end of this book. Quintus is also very headstrong but with such a genuine care for his home. I would love to meet both Chloe and Quintus and talk to them about their different experiences.

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar – Review by Shai Flores

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic TrilogyAncient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a retelling of 3 historical stories with a fresh twist and perspective. I loved the unique spins on classics. I had heard versions of 2 of the 3 of them, but it was still interesting to read a new version. I was drawn to read this book because I love mythology and I love when stories are retold by different character POV. I found these stories easy to read and full of adventure, independence, courage, and determination. If you enjoy a good monsters vs gods story, this book will be worth reading.

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Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse (The Forerunner Saga Book 1) by Jay Veloso Batista – Review By Kerry Baker

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Thorfinn and the Witch's Curse (The Forerunner Series #1)Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse by Jay Veloso Batista
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved the whole feel of this book. The slightly magical yet historical air really captivated me. I enjoyed thr fact that the book centred around a young boy as the main character. I thought it brought a different perspective to the book.
The writing was highly detailed and descriptive. I could easily imagine what the author were describing. This was a truly enjoyable book and I am looking forward to what comes next.

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Bake Off (Bake Believe Series Book 2) by Cori Cooper – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

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Bake OffBake Off by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bake Off is the second in the series, sequel to Bake Believe. It is a fun urban fantasy for preteen and teen readers who love baking and food. There’s a recipe at the end of every chapter – I can imagine reading it together during the school holidays, doing a chapter a day and then making the recipe! But I ended up mostly reading it on the subway, saving the recipes for later. Anyway, I do love a book that lets you know how to make the delicious treats it’s been describing!
The story is written from Cat’s perspective. I really like the style – it feels like chatting to a teenager about their interests and experiences. Even the recipes are in this friendly and conversational style. Cat is observant, and we see her thought process as she notices the tensions and behaviour of her family and figures out how best to respond.
This is a really fun read! I love baking and enjoy reading fantasy, so it’s perfect for me and gets five stars! I would recommend the series to young readers who love to bake and eat delicious food!

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Bake Off (Bake Believe Series Book 2) by Cori Cooper – Review by Dahnielle Hibbert

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Bake OffBake Off by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cat is back and this time Cat, Robyn and the rest of the family are off to visit GG (Grandma Ginny). Of course there are adventures and antics that create the fun atmosphere this author has a way with. This book was enjoyable even for me although I would imagine the target audience is ages 10-16ish. My daughter and I are both avid readers and though she is an adult as well I will be passing this series to her as I have so far really enjoyed it. I am very much looking forward to book three.

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BAKE BELIEVE (BAKE BELIEVE SERIES BOOK 1) BY CORI COOPER – REVIEW BY CARLIE DEL GALLO

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

This has to be one of the first books that I have read by this author and her story was a great read. I could see my friends with children having a blast reading this to their daughters as well as enjoying the book as much as I did! This story is filled with magic that makes it a blast reading. The main character finds out that when she bakes, she can make things happen. This was a wonderful first book and I cannot wait until I read the next book!

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar – Review by Victoria Trifu

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic TrilogyAncient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ancient Reflections is a wonderous take on classic Greek mythology. While most ancient Greek stories focus on the male gods and demigods and women take a back seat, Ancient Reflections is about the females who make up Olympus and the Underworld. In this trilogy we are taken through the everyday lives of some of the mighty Greek gods and goddesses. Familiar heavy hitters such as Zeus, Hades, Aphrodite, and Athena appear, and we get to know some of the others like we’ve never heard before. If you are a fan of Greek mythology, definitely check this book out!

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar – Review by Kayla Octaviano

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic TrilogyAncient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I first read the synopsis of this book, I thought it was going to be similar to reading a history book, or a literature book. Personally, I’m not a big fan of either. But I really enjoyed reading this book! It explains everything so you can follow along, it has relatable themes and really cool stories to follow. The characters are gods, and until this book, I didn’t know gods could be relatable. Read this book if you enjoy a good story line and great in depth description.

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar – Review by Erica Fish

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic TrilogyAncient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This trilogy is intriguing. A Pomegranate and the Maiden is the story of Demeter and Persephone; Unsung Odysseys is the story of Odysseus’ return from Troy, and Gigamesh of Uruk is the story of Gilgamesh and Mesopotamian hero.

I was able to read these stories and see the similarities to the original mythology. The storytelling of Tamara Agha-Jaffar is amazing. I loved her attention to detail. The stories are seen through a woman’s view. I highly recommend these stories.

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Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse (The Forerunner Saga Book 1) by Jay Veloso Batista – Review By Jo Frizzell

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Thorfinn and the Witch's Curse (The Forerunner Series #1)Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse by Jay Veloso Batista
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was excellent! The author did a fantastic job illustrating this world. It’s one of those places that I really want to visit and meet all the characters. I was fascinated by the world itself and the storytelling in the book. The author’s characters were well-written and their descriptions were top-notch. I adore the way the characters interacted and look forward to reading more of this series!

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Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse (The Forerunner Saga Book 1) by Jay Veloso Batista – Review By Mary Espinoza

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Thorfinn and the Witch's Curse (The Forerunner Series #1)Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse by Jay Veloso Batista
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This particular story takes place in a wondrous world… Midgard, the Viking Kingdoms of ninth century England. The imagery, vivid yet accurate, brought to mind a familiar style of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. The story’s characters all had a unique feeling to them, and the plot was entertaining and interesting. From the beginning of the story, till the end, you are entertained and drawn to keep reading to find what happens next. Overall, this is a fascinating and excellent read, and one that I highly recommend, especially if you are drawn to and interested in Medieval and Norse mythology.

Mary Espinoza May 2022
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Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns Book 1) by Kay L. Moody – Review by Edie Kelleher

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Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns, #1)Flame and Crystal Thorns by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a great way to start a series! I did not realise this was a spin off from another series, however, I was still able to enjoy this book as a first in its own. I still recommend reading the prior series first though (I’ll be reading them now!)
The author does some spectacular world building, and I found the main character Chloe super relatable and easy to like. The plot had plenty of drama, action and intrigue to keep you hooked on each page.

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Coyote’s Road Trip by Laura Koerber – Review by Santana Hicks

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Coyote's Road TripCoyote’s Road Trip by Laura Koerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Coyote is a nature spirit who lived in the desert all his life. After climate change ruined what he remembers as home, Coyote decides to find his new home elsewhere. He jumps in his truck and just drives with a few different people to keep him company along the way. Coyote tries relentlessly to find where he belongs while fighting the urge to return back to what he is used to.

I really enjoyed the writing of this author. They have a way with words. The world building was portrayed amazingly. The way the author described all the different sceneries made me feel like I was actually looking at the same thing Coyote was.

This book is a dystopia set in the near future with hints of magic along the way. It was a calm short read and I would recommend settling in and reading this book.

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Bake Believe (Bake Believe Series Book 1) by Cori Cooper – Review by Kristine Solano-Witucky

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Bake BelieveBake Believe by Cori Cooper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book. Cat finding out that when her family bakes the unimaginable happens… Magic happens. Her life changes when she finds out that by baking she can make things happen. This series is such an awesome read I can’t wait for book 3.

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar – Review by Susan Ratchford

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic TrilogyAncient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy
Written By: Tamara Agha-Jaffar
Review By: Susan Ratchford
5 Stars

A wonderfully written trilogy where the voices of Ancient Greeks’ most powerful women take center stage. A fresh new perspective on the mythical tales that have entertained us for centuries!
Amazing! I highly recommend this trilogy! As a lover of Greek Mythology I thought the change of perspective from male oriented to female oriented was genius and eye opening! The stories became different, even more engaging and emotionally convincing. It really made me realize how the voices of even the strongest and most known women have been diminished or even silenced over time. Tamara Agha-Jaffar also creates a really nice flow that is fast paced and makes the pages fly by without ever getting dull or drawn out. These beautiful stories have characters that are so easy to connect with who face struggles that are still so relevant today!

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar – Review by Sheri Schrader

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic TrilogyAncient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy is a collection of three retellings of classic mythological stories.
A Pomegranate and the Maiden tells the story of Demeter and Persephone, Unsung Odysseys retells the story of Odysseus’ return from Troy, and Gilgamesh of Uruk tells the story of Gilgamesh. It is always hit and miss when authors retell the stories of old. However, the author does an excellent job of keeping the story’s integrity and changing the POV of the female characters. I enjoyed the stories and am now curious to read more from this author. I look forward to reading more soon.

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic TrilogyAncient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the first story in this trilogy, which is based on the Hymn of Demeter, A Pomegranate and the Maiden, the lives and actions of Demeter and her daughter are explored through their eyes, through their experiences and their love.

In the second story, which is based on the Odyssey, Unsung Odysseys, told through the eyes of the women who loved him, this new perspective of his travels shows what happened between the trials he faced throughout his life.

In the third and final story based on the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh of Uruk explores pride, greed, grief and loss, as stories are recounted and lessons are shared to teach lessons everyone should know.

In this retelling of three stories from Ancient Times, stories of love, grief, challenges and the overcoming of barriers, this book shows new, feminist perspectives and how relevant the stories remain today, while showing what we can learn from the past. Will you dive into these Ancient Reflections and see what you will learn from them?

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar – Review by Lyndsay withey

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic TrilogyAncient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Greek mythology is not typically a genre I enjoy reading, however I loved the way the author put a new take on these three stories. It was not exactly a quick read however it did keep me drawn in and engaged the entire time. I enjoyed the amount of detail put into the beginning of each section so you could truly understand who is character was if you were not familiar with the original Greek mythology. Not necessarily a book I would put on my reread list but very enjoyable.

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic TrilogyAncient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I greatly enjoyed this retelling of Greek Mythology. This book is beautifully written and gives a feminine perspective of the events of these three stories. It really helps you to understand the possibility of why some of the events took place and what these women would have been thinking. The stories are touching and it is very easy to relate to the ladies in the stories. It was heart-breaking to put yourself in some of their shoes. I highly recommend this book to everyone that may want to consider what it would have been like for the ladies of mythology.

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar – Review by Jana Lewis

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic TrilogyAncient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was truly fascinating. I am not one who has been overly excited about Greek mythology but these stories were so entertaining and enjoyable. I found The Pomegranate and the Maiden truly enjoyable, especially as a mother. I understood Persephone’s desire to get away from her mother, but I truly empathize with Demeter, as a mother that wants to protect her daughter from the ways of the world, and is unable to do it. The connections made to our life on earth were interesting and played well – including the changing of the seasons and how women are in a subservient position to men – but still fighting back in whatever ways are needed. Truly enjoyable read – highly recommended!

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar – Review by Amy Brennan

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic TrilogyAncient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had a long road trip this weekend and hooking my kindle up to my car stereo system, I knew I was in for the trip of my life, and I wasn’t wrong. Not only did these stories have me wanting to renew my knowledge of the originals, but it had me realizing that I really do have an interest in timeless tales all over the map, and not just my favorite nursery or wives tales. This author really captured the voices of the women, and those that we weren’t overly accustomed to hearing about or from, and allowed the reader, at the very least me, to become immersed in the stories and really get my mind moving in all different directions.

New perspectives are quite important when it comes to all stories, and it brings what used to be common knowledge and interest to the surface again. I do believe that this author has a talent that not many have, what with the ability to bring these mythic tales back and has spent a long time honing what was to come off the pages, and I very much look forward to reading the stories and being able to disappear into the pages rather than hear them read to me. I especially like the way the different characters thoughts are portrayed, making it far easier to relate/connect with everyone’s feelings, and thoughts, whether they were right or wrong. I will most definitely be looking up more by this author soon, certainly worth a read, well done!

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar – Review by Lauren West

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic TrilogyAncient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have always loved Greek Mythology and everything within it holds a special place in my heart. This trilogy was one of my favorite reads of this year. Each story was told each within a female voice and POV. A modern tale touched upon with a classic feel. As you read through and the stories come to life it transports you to back to the tales itself, and gives you that hidden glimpse. This was a wonderful read and If you love Greek Mythology then this is for you.

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Taming of the Few (Guardians of the PHAE Book 1) by Rowan Dillon – Review by Crystal Jimmo

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Taming of the FewTaming of the Few by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At first it was a little difficult to read and keep track of all of the different characters, but once I got further into it, it got easier to read. I enjoyed the overall story and the different perspectives and lifestyles. One thing that had made me sad is that it was no different then the perils we are facing in real life, I guess that’s why it hit a little closer to home for me. I loved that it brought in a different kind of “fairy” than we are all used to. It brought into modern day. Overall it was well written and kept me on the edge of my seat! I can’t wait to see what book 2 has in store for us!

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Flame and Crystal Thorns (Far and Crystal Thorns Book 1) by Kay L. Moody – Review by Mandy Ott

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Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns, #1)Flame and Crystal Thorns by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first time reading Kay L. Moody and was rewarded with a well written, fairy fantasy story. This is a spin-off from one of Moody’s previous series, The Fae of Bitter Thorn. While this is a new series and can be read without previous knowledge, I did feel like I was missing a little bit of backstory that may have been divulged in the other series. However, the wonderful world building and character development in Flame and Crystal Thorns made it seem as if that previous knowledge was unnecessary. I am a fan of this type of story and have read many fantasy novels over the years, but Kay L. Moody is able to create a world that is unique yet somehow familiar. The struggle Chloe goes through in wanting to help everyone yet having to choose who to save is heartbreaking. Chloe is realistic, witty, and headstrong. I can’t wait to read more from Kay L. Moody!

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