Posts

As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Felicia Bates

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As Though You Were Mine is not the type of novel you pick up to escape reality but it is definitely one to delve into when you want to “feel”. I was invested in the storyline and characters from the very start and loved the growth and progression throughout. The plot was deep and very well written and I adored the female main character and I liked watching the dynamic between she and her mother. That being said, I really enjoyed the intricacies shown within the entire family in this novel and how they navigated real life issues both common and uncommon. I would love to read more from this author again and highly recommend this novel.

View all my reviews

Complicated Choices by Risa Nyman – Review by Felicia Bates

Complicated ChoicesComplicated Choices by Risa Nyman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I never quite know what I’m getting into when I picked up YA or teen fiction. So many times I can not connect with young main characters due to their immaturity or… age. Complicated Choices by Risa Niman was really well written without my perception of awkward, uncomfortable characters. I loved Claire, our main character and felt she had the right balance of being a teenager and being a smart, driven and enjoyable leading female. The author wrote the story really well and often times I could imagine I was there conversing with Claire and Mads. The plot was great and the book flowed well, I didn’t want to put the book down.

View all my reviews

Regaining Integrity (Code of Honor Book 4) by Brooke May – Review by Felicia Bates

Regaining Integrity (Code of Honor)Regaining Integrity by Brooke May
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Regaining Integrity is the first book I’ve read in the Code of Honor series and the first book Ive read by author Brooke May in general. I thought the story was well written and paced really well. Together, the main characters had great chemistry and I was rooting for them but separately, Chase just didn’t do it for me. Angie was more enjoyable in my opinion. I liked how the story was told in both Angie and Chase’s perspectives giving a well rounded picture. I would definitely be open to reading more by this author and I’ll likely go back and read more of this specific series as well.

View all my reviews

Leaving No Traces (A Commissario Scala Mystery in Rome) by P.J. Mann – Review by Felicia Bates

Leaving No Traces: An Italian Murder Mystery (Book 5)Leaving No Traces: An Italian Murder Mystery by P. J. Mann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

PJ Mann is a new author to me having never read any of the previous books in this series. My genre of choice is mystery or thriller so after reading the synopsis of Leaving No Traces I was eager to see if this was a series I could find myself getting into after. I really did like this book, I felt that it really hit the ground running from the very beginning with twisty unraveling until the end. I like that the book itself wasn’t too long, about 200 pages start to finish with a sneak peek of what is to come.

View all my reviews

Murder in a Gated Community by Laura Koerber – Review by Felicia Bates

Murder in a Gated CommunityMurder in a Gated Community by Laura Koerber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Murder in a Gated community was the perfect short read to liven up my week. The cast of characters was a lot of fun and took me back to my days as a nurse in an assisted living community and silently watching the interactions between “neighbors”. This was a fun story with wit and a humor that kept me engaged from start to finish. I enjoyed the scattered communication with the BOD and that each chapter had a title. As mentioned, I really did enjoy this short read and I’m curious to see what else the author has for me to delve into.

View all my reviews

The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Felicia Bates

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was really excited to give The Misery House a try based solo on the synopsis as I had never heard of this author before. This was one of those stories that had me absolutely hooked from the very first sentence and captivated to the very end. I liked that the chapters varied in perspective, really allowing the reader the “big picture”. This novel left me craving more by the end and gave me a new author to keep an eye on!

View all my reviews

Murder in a Gated Community by Laura Koerber – Review by Felicia Bates

Murder in a Gated CommunityMurder in a Gated Community by Laura Koerber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Murder in a Gated community was the perfect short read to liven up my week. The cast of characters was a lot of fun and took me back to my days as a nurse in an assisted living community and silently watching the interactions between “neighbors”. This was a fun story with wit and a humor that kept me engaged from start to finish. I enjoyed the scattered communication with the BOD and that each chapter had a title. As mentioned, I really did enjoy this short read and I’m curious to see what else the author has for me to delve into.

View all my reviews

A Toast for Laurent (Vine Valley Book 1) by Theresa Paolo – Review by Felicia Bates

A Toast for Laurent (Vine Valley, #1)A Toast for Laurent by Theresa Paolo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up A Toast for Laurent based on the synopsis and was expecting a fun read for vacation. I wasn’t expecting to connect with with female main character the way I did. While there were times I was so frustrated by her actions, her fears were completely relatable, especially with a fairly recent loss of my mother. I don’t want to get too in depth in my review in fear of spoiling anything. This book really kept my attention and pulled at my heart strings. The chemistry and friendship within had me smiling way more than I could keep track.

View all my reviews

The Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Felicia Bates

The Master of DemiseThe Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I tend to gravitate toward psychological thrillers to get me out of a reading slump and I was drawn to the cover of this one!
I’d never heard of this author before stumbling across this novel but the synopsis coupled with the cover work drew me in. The storytelling hit the ground running from very first page and I found myself on edge as the story progressed. The writing was strong and the love to hate main character was written even stronger. This was a book that left me wanting more in all the right ways following a ride full of twists and turns. Definitely a well written thriller worth reading.

View all my reviews

House of Arsceneaux (Servants of Morrigan: Immortal Creatures) by Caterina Novelliere – Review by Felicia Bates

House of ArsceneauxHouse of Arsceneaux by Caterina Novelliere
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I secretly love a good vampire romance so I couldn’t wait to crack into this novel. This book was longer than what I tend to reach for and for me, it was slow to start. Right off the bat I love that the author named each chapter, something I’ve always enjoyed but rarely see anymore. The attention to detail and imagery really transported me to a different time and place and once I got caught up in the storyline I truly loved the escape. I look forward to exploring more from this author.

View all my reviews

Underneath The Whiskey by Chelsea Lauren – Review by Felicia Bates

Underneath The WhiskeyUnderneath The Whiskey by Chelsea Lauren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Underneath the Whiskey was a complex novel with even more complex characters. If you’re looking for a light, fluffy read… this isn’t the book for you. If you’re looking for a book that evokes true emotions and a wide range of them, I recommend giving this book a try. That being said, the book is centered around real, heavy subject matter that can he hard to read but I do think the author really did craft a well developed story. I did not connect or identify with the characters in this novel but their stories and depth was truly realistic and appreciated on my part. This was a new to me author with a great ability to right a deep, realistic storyline and I would be happy to read more.

View all my reviews

Stalked by the Devil (To Kiss a Stalker Series) by Stacy-Deanne – Review by Felicia Bates

Stalked by the Devil: BWWM Thriller (To Kiss a Stalker Series)Stalked by the Devil: BWWM Thriller by Stacy-Deanne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve been reading so many books that alternate between both main characters point of view, I thought I preferred that style of writing solely. Stalked by the Devil was narrated differently and I appreciated the way the storyline was written. There were a couple times I confused myself on which main character was who, but I think that was on me vs the writing itself. Overall, this was a well written book with strong characters, especially the women. There were twists and turns that really kept my interest from the very first bold line of the book. I have read this author in the past so I did have high expectations for this book. Thankfully, my expectations were met and I look forward to reading more from Stacy Deanne. I hadn’t realized how many books she has written, I better get to work…

View all my reviews

The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Felicia Bates

The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A middle child with two sisters and a mother that passed away from cancer this past October, you’d probably assume I would want to steer clear of this book but I was really drawn in by the synopsis. Adult relationships are complex, especially those of mother/daughter and sibling variety and I really felt like the characters were very well written with great depth to them. I really enjoyed that the story is written in multiple perspectives and allowed for a glimpse in each character’s mind. While an emotional read, this book was truly inspirational and uplifting with several glimpses of hope and lessons that while things might not work out like you planned them, they might just work out the way they’re meant to. I really found comfort in this author’s writing style and would read more from her again.

View all my reviews

Breathless Love (The Bennetts of Langston Falls Book 3) by KG Fletcher – Review by Felicia Bates

Breathless Love (The Bennetts of Langston Falls, #3)Breathless Love by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s been a really long time since I last read a KG Fletcher novel and I’m not sure why… as soon as I picked up Breathless Love, I remembered why I love reading this author. This was the third book in the Bennetts of Langston Falls series but easily read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed that the storytelling was duel perspective with both Ella Mae and Hank and how it would “back track” ever so slightly so we really did see both sides of the story. This was a great story with a lot of emotion surrounding both love and loss. As with any well written story, the plot wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies but it was realistic and heartfelt, keeping my attention from start to finish. I really look forward to catching up on the first two books in this series (and then some!)

View all my reviews

Stars Like Gasoline by Jessika Grewe Glover – Review by Felicia Bates

Stars Like GasolineStars Like Gasoline by Jessika Grewe Glover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was drawn in by the synopsis of this book and truly looked forward to reading a novel with paranormal elements. I tend to gravitate toward a lot of the same authors so I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book, since this author was new to me. Not only did the storyline exceed my expectations, I was really impressed with the author’s writing style. What I enjoyed most, however, were the main characters. Each character was written in a strong way and truly enjoyable. I was also surprised by the range of emotion the story held. There were a lot of entertaining complexities, far more intricate than the “campfire ghost story” I was anticipating. This is definitely a book I’d recommend by an author I will be looking out for.

View all my reviews

Healing Kiss by Amanda Uhl – Review by Felicia Bates

Healing KissHealing Kiss by Amanda Uhl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was drawn to Healing Kiss by the synopsis and premise of a paranormal romance. I was hooked from the very beginning and in suspense surrounding Kinetica. I thought the book was incredibly unique and captivating. I can’t think of a single time that my attention waned nor did I dislike the storyline. I really hope to read more from this author in the near future.

View all my reviews

Savage Truth (Hidden Valley Elite Book 2) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Felicia Bates

Savage Truth: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Hidden Valley Elite Book 2)Savage Truth: A Dark High School Bully Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Savage Truth is book two in Isla Vaughn’s Hidden Valley Elite series. I recommend starting from book one, or better yet, the prequel as these books are meant to be read in order and the sequel offers great insight. I was really excited to pick up this book and delve more into Riley and Cole.. I felt like their story had been a dark and twisty rollercoaster ride and the romantic suspense had gotten to a point where I wanted and needed closure. I enjoyed that the first book ended with a cliffhanger leaving readers to pick up where we had left off, leading to more suspense and anticipation. It has been a long time since I read a series that wasn’t a stand alone, so I missed that feeling of needing more. This series has brought that so far.. I am happy to have had lingering questions answered and do feel like this is a series worth reading. In addition to a unique storyline with interesting characters, I simply liked how the story is told by both character’s perspectives. I am looking forward to reading more from Isla Vaughn.

View all my reviews

Euphoric Wonderland by Ryan M. Becker – Review by Felicia Bates

Euphoric Wonderland: An Eclectic Collection of Psychedelic Poetry to Stimulate the Senses and Open the MindEuphoric Wonderland: An Eclectic Collection of Psychedelic Poetry to Stimulate the Senses and Open the Mind by Ryan M. Becker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was drawn to the psychedelic cover for Euphoric Wonderland and was pleasantly surprised by the color and creative illustrations within the pages. Poetry is something I only read occasionally and most that spark my interest are flowery pieces about soulmates and twin flames. I absolutely loved the diversity in this collection. The poems showcased varied in length, some pages long where others just a few lines. This variation worked nicely for me. I was surprised how many poems I really enjoyed because I wasn’t sure what to expect overall. I had a soft spot for those to mentioned the Beatles and I’m a sucker for a good rhyme. If you have interest in poetry, I would recommend this collection. I truly believe there is something in here for everyone.

View all my reviews

Cabin Eight (The Millersville Series Book 3) by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Felicia Bates

Cabin Eight (The Millersville series)Cabin Eight by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third book in this author’s Millersville series but only the second I’ve read. That being said, Cabin Eight reads well as a stand-alone book. One thing I noticed in the first book I read by this author is that the thrills throughout each plot make you stop to think… could this really happen? Do people do these things? That in itself is eery and something the author carried into this book as well. I liked the twists and turns throughout this novel and while I didn’t find this book one that I “couldn’t put down” I was still invested from start to finish. Overall, I think this is a really good novel and would definitely recommend to people interested in the thriller/psychological thriller. I hope to read more of this author in the future.

View all my reviews

Savage Lies (Hidden Valley Elite Book 1) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Felicia Bates

Savage Lies: A High School Bully Romance (Hidden Valley Elite Book 1)Savage Lies: A High School Bully Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Savage Lies is the full length book in Isla Vaughn’s Hidden Valley Elite series and being new to the whole bully to lover romance trope, I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I read the prequel prior to Savage Lies and fell in love with Isla Vaughn’s writing style and was excited to see how a full length novel would progress. The storyline was dramatic with really complex characters and great character development, something I wasn’t really expecting but was so impressed with, despite a darker than anticipated nature. I was drawn into the storyline from the very first page and left hanging on every word by the end. I very much look forward to reading on in book two.

View all my reviews

Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Felicia Bates

Savage Start: A High School Bully Romance: Hidden Valley Elite PrequelSavage Start: A High School Bully Romance: Hidden Valley Elite Prequel by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Savage Start is Isla Vaughn’s prequel in the Hidden Valley Elite series. I’m sure the series would be read just fine without it but the book is incredibly short and was worth it to me to set the “scene.” Riley and Cole are likable characters and I really enjoyed that the female main character was the “trouble” while the male was the “elite rich kid”. The prequel kept my attention from the first to last page and left me craving more and ready to continue the series.

View all my reviews

Little Red, the Detective (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Felicia Bates

Little Red, the Detective: a science folktale (Science Folktales)Little Red, the Detective: a science folktale by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great children’s book from Lois Wickstrom. After reading this with my six year old and asking her thoughts she gave an enthusiastic “awesome!” and explained her favorite part. While her favorite part was a silly wolf antic, mine was the subtle education the storyline had to offer. I loved Red’s resourcefulness and keen investigative skills.
Once again, I would definitely recommend adding this to your library.

View all my reviews

Insomnia: (A Short Stories Collection) by Kelly Covic – Review by Felicia Bates

Insomnia (A Short Stories Collection)Insomnia by Kelly Covic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m not one to seek out and read anthologies or short stories but when I stumbled across Insomnia, I was truly intrigued. How can you go wrong by taking a chance on such a short read anyway? Before delving in, I read a review where someone describes this as a collection of “camp fire stories” and I love that description. I’ve never read this author before but she exceeded all my expectations. There were SO many times I wanted to write down a quote from just about every story because the author’s way with words was incredible. The description and vivid storytelling really thrilled me. Whether you read the stories at once, or pace yourself… I would definitely recommend this book.

View all my reviews

Braving Lily (True Platinum Series Book 7) by Morgana Bevan – Review by Felicia Bates

Braving Lily (True Platinum, #5)Braving Lily by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Braving Lily is the first book I’ve read in Morgana Bevan’s rockstar romance series but I was familiar with her writing from another series so I was excited to branch out. I really enjoyed this book overall and loved both main characters. I really liked watching as Lily and Rhys softened toward each other and watching the character growth and chemistry progress. This book was a great stand alone read that was easy to follow along with and I found myself looking forward to reading it each evening before bed. I was looking at what else the collection has to offer and I can’t wait to read more.

View all my reviews

Chicken Little Investigates (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Felicia Bates

Chicken Little Investigates: a science folktale (Science Folktales)Chicken Little Investigates: a science folktale by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As a parent, I love reading Lois Wickstrom books! I was excited to introduce Chicken Little Investigates to my children. My kids have been watching the movie Chicken Little and I was looking forward to seeing this author’s spin. I liked how words like “falling” or “fell” were printed in a downward motion and some important words in bold. My daughter was able to pick up on cues and help read the book with me which is always a great feeling. When I asked her if she liked the book she said “I didn’t really think it was good, I thought it was the goodest!” So I would say Chicken Little Investigates is another hit by Lois Wickstrom!

View all my reviews

Ocean’s Three (Made In Heaven #2) by Elena Kincaid – Review by Felicia Bates

Ocean's Three (Made In Heaven, #2)Ocean’s Three by Elena Kincaid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ocean’s Three is the second book in the Made in Heaven series by Elena Kincaid. I did read the first book in the series but it wouldn’t be absolutely necessary before delving into this book. I enjoyed the book overall. The three main characters were likable and the story read smoothly. Mostly, I loved the idea behind the series, it was truly a unique read. If you’re looking for a unique escape from reality with love and steam and can keep an open mind this quick read might be for you.

View all my reviews

Saving the Gingerbread House by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Felicia Bates

saving the gingerbread housesaving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read Saving The Gingerbread House to my 6 year old daughter and she really enjoyed the story, declaring “it was the best book ever.”. My favorite part was all of the animals and illustrations, listing each of the birds by their actual type. My daughter liked that the animals nibbled at the gingerbread house. Overall, it was a sweet story that lightly illustrated accountability and helping others.

View all my reviews

A Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small – Review by Felicia Bates

A Dress To Remember: A Fairy TaleA Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There is so much I enjoyed about this book! From the rich, imaginative storytelling and the gorgeous illustrations sprinkled throughout all the way to the family history notes this book was a pleasure to read. Written for younger readers but just as enjoyable as an adult, this book really kept my interest from start to finish. Zarina was painfully whiny at the start of the story as the youngest of many, and especially royalty is expected to be, I suppose. I was genuinely surprised when I found myself really connecting with the narration as the story progressed. I’m not one to often let my imagination run wild or seek out a fairytale type story but I’m really glad I gave this a chance.

View all my reviews

Cry Baby (Pierce Brothers Book 4) by Belinda Williams – Review by Felicia Bates

Cry Baby: A Grump Sunshine Slow Burn Romantic Comedy (Pierce Brothers Book 4)Cry Baby: A Grump Sunshine Slow Burn Romantic Comedy by Belinda Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cry Baby is the first book I’ve read by this author and obviously the first I’ve read of the Pierce Brothers series. This book read well without having read any books prior. Cry Baby was a refreshing rom com that handled loss and grief well. The characters were really well written and I loved to see the progression as the storyline unfolded. As always when I find a book series later in the game, I am really interested in reading more and learning about the tie in characters. I found yet another to add to my ever growing to be read pile. If you’re looking for a slow burn rom com with realistic and enjoyable characters, I recommend Cry Baby.

View all my reviews

Shore Lodge by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Felicia Bates

Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller (The Millersville series)Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shore Lodge is the first book I’ve ever read by this author but I will definitely be reading more. I read this book pretty quickly because I needed to know what was going to happen to Jackie. I kept setting myself up for a particular twist to happen because I couldn’t believe children could be that cruel to a parent. That being said, this book definitely had characters you love to hate. Overall, I really did enjoy the book. I felt that Jackie was an excellent main character and she was most definitely underestimated more than once. If you like books that keep you on edge and quicken your pulse, definitely give Shore Lodge a go.

View all my reviews