Ice Dance by Vik Azeem
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
So many twists and turns in this wonderful book! Kept me guessing and reading into the night – nothing was as it originally seemed! Definitely an original plot line and a number of genres mixed together! What an adventure! I recommend it!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Better Gnomes & Gardens by Casey Cardel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
There’s a lot to be discovered in Mysty Haven and in this fun page-turner we get to discover it through the eyes, ears and especially nose of investigative reporter Bob. I loved that little pieces were revealed at a time and not everything was explained at once even when it wasn’t exactly natural. I look forward to more books by this fabulous author!!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Divided Lives by K.R. Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Having read one of The Notebook Mysteries by the same author, I can’t believe I didn’t click that Aunt Emma was the same Emma! No wonder I loved the character of Lottie and her varied group of friends. It was once again fantastic to read about the US at the beginning of the 20th Century and to have adventures with female heroines who do not fit the stereotypes of the time! Love a strong female lead! Will definitely be looking for more from this author and her wonderful characters!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Dainty Damsels: Halloween Collection 2022 by J.N. Sheats
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
So many gorgeous pictures to colour! The images have a Halloween twist but are also cute and fun! Plus I love the testing pages at the front that allow you to test your colouring materials first rather than potentially ruining any of the colouring pages by accident! Will be looking forward to more from this creator!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Emma by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I haven’t read much about 19th Century Chicago before but this book had it all. Hidden, mysterious happenings, a great female protagonist and a great cast of characters! It was wonderful to see a female heroine being taken seriously in this time period and Emma is not without a few tricks up her sleeve which definitely kept me amused and reading long into the night. Highly recommended!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Love’s Mulligan by C.A. Miconi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The dream of the one who got away secretly still pining after you? – check! A second chance at love – well you’ll just have to read this fabulous book in a series! I can definitely tell you it’s worth the read – great characters, an exciting, modern setting and so much more! Looking forward to more from this author!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
The Letter Carrier by Laurie L.C. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres and I have read many books on WWII but this one just struck differently. I think the fact that it was based on a true story and also from the perspective of an ordinary French family in German occupied France during the war years all just gave it a unique twist! I learnt things I never knew and became so invested in the Naget family’s plight that I just couldn’t put it down! Highly recommended!
Review by @sparkinside
One In A Billion by Belinda Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Well Seth is a little different to his brothers that have featured in this series so far but that doesn’t mean he’s not a nice guy too! Victoria certainly has more guts than me with her bravado and plotting – I was cringing in anticipation of her being discovered! A sign of a great author creating great characters when you empathise with them like that! Looking forward to book 4!
Review by @sparkinside
Spoilsport by Belinda Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love that the tag line mentions not being funny because the banter between Nadia and Luke was so entertaining! I love that Nadia is not one to back down and neither is Luke so when you put them together sparks fly! Another great book in this series with another nice guy – it must run in the family!
Review by @sparkinside
Mr. Nice Guy by Belinda Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The first book I’ve read in this series and the first by this author but it definitely won’t be the last for either. I fell in love with Tom and Chelsea straight away – maybe I’m just a sucker for nice guys lol. The supporting characters also provide comic relief and I look forward to reading some of their adventures in the coming books!
Review by @sparkinside
Love is Worth Fighting for by Effie Kammenou
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ah young love! How different this book was to the others in the series simply because of the age of the main characters! Loukas and Krystina are just starting out and discovering who they are and what they want (or supposedly don’t want) in life. From different family struggles to learning what lies beneath, this book was fantastic and I highly recommend it!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Love by Design by Effie Kammenou
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve always wanted to work on a magazine and I love an alpha male! This second book in the series delivers it all! It was great to learn more about Mia and her life away from her family plus the gorgeous Nicholas of course! What is behind his hot and cold attitude? I love when characters have depth like that! What can I say but yet another amazing book by this author!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Love is What You Bake of it by Effie Kammenou
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow, anyone else hungry after reading this book? My thanks to the author for providing so many recipes too – now to see if I’m as talented as Kally! I’ll admit it took me a moment to get into this book and to warm to Kally but once I learnt more about her background it was easier to see where she was coming from and I warmed to the whole Anadarakis family – I’m looking forward to learning more about them in the rest of the series as well as Max and Athena of course! Oh and I almost forgot – grateful to learn more about Greek culture too! This book has it all!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Deadly Sommer by Nicholas Harvey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow, this book kept me on my toes right from the start! The suspense and tension is built right from the first chapter – you just know something is going to wrong – it’s like when you hear that music on a TV show! Nora Sommer is not your average detective from her heritage to her attitude, she throws you at every turn! Definitely one to keep an eye on! Plus the setting – wow! Highly recommended!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Reigning Hearts: The Complete Series by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It is always great when you have a whole series of books in one collection as then you don’t have to wait for the next one but I will now have to read more of this author’s fabulous titles! Five is not enough!
From spurned lovers causing mischief to heart melting moments, this series has it all plus more! The locations are so easy fall in love with and so are all the people who live there! Heartbreaking tragedy, happy ever after, all of these stories will keep you reading way into the early hours!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
The Cruiser by Rowan Rossler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
My first book by this author, but it won’t be the last especially as this is the first in a series! Morgan and Vandana bring the spice and the heat in this modern luxury romance. The locations including Monaco and LA provide the perfect backdrop – who wouldn’t want to be relaxing in a gorgeous hotel on the Mediterranean?? A great read for by the beach or snuggling up with a blanket on a cold winter’s night!!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Reunion in the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Back to Bunya Junction for the last book in the series – this makes me sad as I’ve fallen in love with the world and its characters but once again, it is brilliantly written.
This fourth book is a different kind of romance as the lead characters are married from the beginning (and not in a marriage of convenience) so that throws a new spin on things and shows the true side to all marriages – that there can still be miscommunication and misunderstandings. It also gives everyone hope that true love still exists if you’re willing to fight for it!
So goodbye to Bunya Junction, but still looking forward to future books by this author!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Doctor in the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Having grown up wanting to be a doctor and loving new babies, this third instalment checked all the boxes, not to mention the romance one of course. I had already read the first two books in this series so it was great to return to Bunya Junction and discover what all the other Carruthers siblings were up to since I last saw them. Love the rural Australian setting as well and picturing the town and all its characters. Highly recommended!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow! That’s the first thing to say about this amazing book! I am a lover of historical books where they flip between modern day and the past and that concept is captured perfectly here! I think we all want to bet on our dreams like Tess and have a man like Trey there to catch us! Highly recommended for lovers of historical and/or paranormal fiction!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have always been a history buff and loved reading historical fiction but I must admit as an Australian my knowledge of the American Civil War is somewhat limited. That being said, this story provided so much historical (and other) information, it helped me to learn a great deal. It stirred my interest so that I was Googling any terms I didn’t know (as a foreigner) and also looking up recipes for some of the dishes mentioned!
And Lizbeth, the main character is so passionate about social justice and equality, just like me – although I must admit she’s braver than I am! Definitely a great book to read and I would recommend it!
Review by @sparkinside
The Web of Humanity: A Novel by Maria Turchin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow, did this one keep the twists and turns coming! I won’t go into the number of late nights I had where I just couldn’t put this book down! I love historical fiction and especially ones where there is a present day component and a mystery and found all three aspects in this delightful story! I would definitely recommend it and whilst I read the eBook version, I am thinking I need to buy the hard copy to give as gifts!
Review by @sparkinside
Conveniently Yours by Anise Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
My first book by this author but it won’t be the last! Fell in love with the characters – can’t go past an alpha male who is a marshmallow when it comes to his woman. Marriage of convenience are some of my favourite stories and this one did not disappoint. There was even a sneak peek of the next book in the series at the end – that will soon be added to my tbr list!!
Review by @sparkinside
Snowflakes & Stockings by Marianne Rice
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Love discovering a new author especially when they have a series already established! This was the first of Marianne Rice’s books I have read, but I can’t wait to read the rest of the A Wilton Hill’s Christmas series! Liberty and Sawyer are both very likeable characters who kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next! And those family scenes – who wouldn’t want to be part of a family like that?!! Highly recommended!
Review by @sparkinside
Runaway to the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A stranger in a wedding dress! What a way to start a book! I loved learning more about Pandora (appropriate name for the character I must say!) and Jonas – especially after being introduced to him in the first Bunya Junction book. Also loved hearing more about Sindy and Ryan from Home to the Outback! Now to wait for the rest of the series!!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Home to the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What can I say? I fell in love with the citizens of Bunya Junction! It’s been awhile since I read a book set in Australia so it was great to discover this series, the characters and the setting! Ryan was the type of guy every woman wants and the way various situations were written was simply superb! Looking forward to reading the next one!
Review by @sparkinside
Another Yesterday by Angela Christina Archer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Angela Christina Archer piqued my interest and mystery solving skills with this book! By gradually building the story and keeping things hidden at first, she kept me guessing and wondering how it was all going to develop! I was hoping I was going to be wrong about some things but even the parts that made me want to look away for the sake of the characters were so well written! Highly recommended!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Written in the Stars by Angela Christina Archer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book hooked me right from the start! What a different era meant for pregnant women who hadn’t met society’s rules! Even when it flashed forward to 1980, the world was still so different to today – smoking right outside a hospital room?!! Angela Christina Archer had me formulating theories and turning the pages to find out what would happen next and if my guesses were correct! Looking forward to reading more from this fabulous author!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Potager Plot by Vikki Walton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a great read that kept me guessing and turning the pages! It was the first book I had read of the Backyard Farming Mystery series, but I will have to look into reading the rest! So many twists and turns!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Hairballs and Homicide by Ruth J. Hartman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book! As a cat lover myself, I have been to cafes with kitties roaming and I could just picture Ellie and the rest of the townspeople enjoying spending time with all the feline characters! Especially Templeton! The mystery aspect was very well written and kept me guessing and turning the pages to find out what would happen next! Can’t wait to read more in this series!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Death of a Coupon Queen by Jenna Harte
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loved this book!! Such a great mystery that kept me reading into the night (long after I should have been asleep lol)! Kept me guessing and theorising about whodunnit!!
It’s the 2nd in the series but the 1st I have read so I will definitely need to go back and read #1!!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
