IBBB – Page 5 – Itsy Bitsy Book Bits

Posts

The Uncrowned King (The Blood Prince Book 2) by Ayla Marie – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

January 11, 2024/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

The Uncrowned King by Ayla Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Leo, his family and their newfound friends are back but the danger is nowhere near over for this rag tag band, they are trying to adjust to the life that they have found since Leo was introduced to the royal family in Illena since finding out he is a lost prince from their bloodline. Meanwhile, he is trying to come to terms with everything which has happened recently, especially about the ones he has left behind and those he has lost, but his brother is helping him not to fall down the rabbit hole of despair which he is determined not to fall back into.

Meanwhile, the group are learning how to live within their newly acquired luxurious lifestyle and all the pitfalls which come with living in polite society. However, they have not only caught the attention of the other royals, a band of ne’er-do-wells are also keeping them in their sights, but they have no idea just who they are tailing and how quickly the tables can be turned on them, especially as time moves on and the parallels between their and Leo’s lives become apparent and a truce is called.

As the days pass and things move along, Leo is finally starting to hope that this is a place where they can finally settle and maybe find the peace that they are all so desperately looking for, but as soon as he starts to let his guard down, his past come straight back in to rip it to pieces, but this time with all his emotional turmoil, can he stop himself from falling into the endless downward spiral he dreads, or will he be forced to meld his past and present to protect his future? This is another fast-paced dive into this fantasy world where truths, lies, revelations and secrets abound as the twists and turns in this emotional rollercoaster which will leave you gasping and living the “one last chapter” dream until you reach the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Porter And Midge: Paws and Playtime: A Kid’s Guide to a Happy Dog (Porter and Midge Children’s Book Series) by Giselle Nevada and Jennie Chen – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

January 5, 2024/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Porter and Midge: Paws and Playtime: A Kid’s Guide to a Happy Dog by Giselle Nevada
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Porter and Midge are two dogs who have loving owners, CJ and Lora and in this book, their humans are learning all about play and enrichment so that they can make Porter and Midge’s lives fun filled and joyful, but how will they be able to do it?

This book goes through all of the different ways that CJ and Lora can play safely and happily with their furry friends, from hunting for treats, walks which are full of new sights, smells and friends all the way to doggy sports and being tactile.

This is a must read for all families who are either thinking of owning a dog, or already have one so that they can teach children how to play safely and join in the excitement which Porter and Midge experience in their own journeys to perfect playtimes.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Nessie And The Living Stone: (Nessie’s Grotto) by Lois June Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

January 5, 2024/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Nessie and the Living Stone by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Craig and Linda are brother and sister, and they are on a family holiday to Loch Ness, far away from their bustling home city of Birmingham, but the one thing they haven’t yet done is see the Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie for short and they are going home in a couple of days.

So far, they have gone down to the lakeside, but they haven’t seen anything and just get shouted at by the coast guard instead, not to mention that their parents have the owner of where they are staying watching their every move, until one day that changes, and the two children find Nessie!

The only thing is that Craig feels like Linda is slowing him down, but she won’t let him go on this adventure by himself, especially when they meet a mermaid who leads them into a Viking pirate trap, however, they manage to escape and find Nessie’s Grotto, but this is where Craig finds out that he must make a decision, save Nessie’s Grotto and possibly risk his own life in the process, or save himself and let the Loch Ness Monster become just another myth, but what will he choose?

This is a whirlwind adventure beneath the waters where myth and reality combine to create an unexplored land, all while teaching some good moral lessons all at the same time, a book well worth reading for all ages.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Alien Redemption by Gloria Oliver – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

January 4, 2024/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Alien Redemption by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Claudia Zimmerman is a doctor, or at least she used to be before she was thrust out of her profession after being blamed for something which wasn’t her fault, all thanks to her employer wanting to save face rather than admit a mistake. The main drawback to this is that it has meant she has had to stay in hiding under an assumed name and not spending long periods in any one place.

As part of her disgraced status, she finds a job on a ship for medical personnel and decides it might be her only way off of the station she is currently in and escape her woes, however, that was not to be and instead she finds that the captain knows exactly who she is and what she has done, or at least been railroaded for. She is in shock and has no idea how to respond until the captain decides to go in for a little blackmail and threatens to turn her in if she doesn’t join his crew and so reluctantly, she does exactly that.

As the days and weeks pass, Claudia becomes more used to her situation and her role, as well as the challenges which come with it, including and almost permanent state of stress and anxiety about what the captain will threaten her with next, but she does her job well and looks after the crew. Normally, she isn’t allowed off the ship while they are on jobs, but one day, she is requested, and she knows full well that what she is about to do is something she will have qualms about. It turns out she is right, and her assignment is distasteful and downright abhorrent, especially when it turns out that the reason she is there, is for her to run checks on a new, sentient and humanoid species for a very specific purpose.

The more time she spends with these individuals, the more she comes to feelings of protectiveness and is loath to let the captains plan come to fruition, but will she be able to do that and stay alive while looking after these beautiful, birdlike creatures, or will she end up out of her depth? This is an epic sci-fi adventure full of plots, secrets, lies and revelations as one woman seeks to protect a new species from a less that positive fate while battling her internal mechanisms and biases, which spins a story full of unpredictability and emotional ups and downs throughout.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Alien And The Crime Boss by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

January 2, 2024/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

The Alien & the Crime Boss by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kasper Kingston is a man on a mission and his mission is to destabilise the two main crime families and take over in their place, it is dangerous, but he has a determination to attain his goal and so he goes to a cabin in the woods so that he can watch and wait for his enemy’s destruction. Leilphun is an alien, but he will no longer be able to live on his own planet anymore, this is due to the rulers of his home planet wanting instead to punish him for his crime by throwing him into the fighting arena’s, but he has no intention of that happening and so he says goodbye to everything that he knows, undertakes an exhausting and jumps through a portal for a one way trip to Earth.

One morning Kasper sees a bright light flash outside the window and decides to go and investigate just in case it is one of the families, however when he gets there, he only finds an unconscious person with purple skin and he decides that he cannot just leave them out there in the woods and so he takes the mystery person home, ties them up and waits for them to wake up so that he can interrogate them. When Leilphun awakes after his journey to Earth, he realises that he is in a dwelling and is being restrained to a chair, the most alluring thing is the man who is sitting in front of him, however, he is less than impressed with his being questioned the minute he wakes up, but especially when his answers are not believed.

That even Kasper makes the decision to allow Leilphun to sleep next to him so that he can tell whether he tries to escape, but this is when he is attacked by the families and Leilphun surprisingly helps him to escape, later revealing that it is because they are now betrothed according to Leilphun’s people’s customs, it also confirms his story that he really isn’t from this planet and that he really didn’t need the weapons he brought with him. Will Kasper be able to maintain the distance he needs so as not to become too distracted by the handsome alien, or will Leilphun become more than just a weapon to help destroy the families while keeping himself safe? This is a novella with heart, as well as danger, retaliation and redemption which will catch you in its net and not let you go until the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

To Catch An Elf: Pennsylvania Fighter Pilot by Debra Parmley – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

December 28, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

To Catch An Elf: Pennsylvania Fighter Pilot by Debra Parmley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Marcie Hayes is a young woman with a nomadic lifestyle, she moves from place to place so that she can work as an in-home dog sitter where she temporarily moves into a client’s house so that she can look after their dog while they are on holiday, and she loves it. Normally she thoroughly checks out her clients beforehand, however, a last-minute offer in the Pocono Mountains has her changing her routine, including following the instructions left by the owner, however, in this case, she is having trouble with it because of her slightly rebellious nature and the ridiculous demands within it.

These demands include a creepy antique elf which must be posed every day in certain ways so that the owner can enter an online contest, but Marcie is not impressed and decides to do it but change things up slightly if circumstances lead to a better opportunity. While she is not happy about the elf, she is more than happy with the dog, a loveable King Charles Spaniel who loves nothing more than cuddles and walks, as long as the elf is nowhere in sight.

As the days pass, Marcie meets another resident, a tall, dark and handsome man called Ted, an RAF Pilot who also owns a dog and they are immediately attracted to one another, the connection is strong and even better, the dogs get along too and as they spend more time together, the flirting and chemistry heighten, but when Ted has to go away to a wedding, leaving Marcie home alone with the dogs, she suddenly goes quiet and Ted has a bad feeling.

When he returns to the Mountains, his worst fears come to fruition when he finds that Marcie may have been abducted, but he is determined to get her back, but will he be able to do this in time and find the breadcrumbs leading to her, or will Marcie become as lifeless as the antique elf before he can? This is a festive romance with a dash of danger, as this sweet romance turns into a race against time to rescue a damsel in distress by her knight in shining armour.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Sparky Of Bunker Hill And The Cold Kid Case by Rosalind Barden – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

December 28, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Sparky of Bunker Hill and the Cold Kid Case by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sparky is eleven and today is her birthday, she hasn’t had much luck on birthdays in the past, on one, her mother died, on the other, her guardians up and left her and today is no different. All Sparky wants is to do is crack open her lockbox full of sweets and watch the sunrise over the park, but instead she finds a little girl on the bench and it turns out she is dead!

Sparky is scared out of her wits and in her shock, she drops the candy tin and runs away, the next thing she knows is that the police have found the girl and her tin and because of what she has written inside the lid, she is now wanted for murder, with a reward on her head and has to go on the run. Unfortunately for Sparky, everyone who she classed as a friend seems to be in it for the reward and tattle to the cops, so she decides to go up Bunker Hill to somewhere she knows they won’t expect to find her.

This is how she finds some safety with the unlikely pair who live there, or at least safe enough that she can hide out until all of this is over, however, the papers want the opposite, they want to blame a whole host of other crimes on her as well, most of which she didn’t even commit!

Will she be able to figure out who killed that little girl and why so that she can clear her name, and will she be able to trust her unusual saviours, or will the mobsters, street kids or the other unsavoury characters she knows turn her in before she even has the chance? This is a historical novel which shows Depression Era Los Angeles from a perspective which not many would, all while weaving a mystery around characters who could well have been real in this quirky book.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Dreamscape (J.J. Morris Book 2) by J.N. Sheats – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

December 27, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Dreamscape by J.N. Sheats
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Joey is a young woman in her first year of college at Portstown and it is tough going for her and her straight A record has fallen to a C if she is lucky, but she can’t catch a break to study when she is still reeling from the events of the year before. After the fallout from the Great Hunt and the attack on her friend group, she has been immersed in a world that is hidden from most and she has no real enjoyment of it, it just beings stress and exhaustion.

That isn’t the only thing, which is exhausting her, she has been having strangely vivid dreams and most recently nightmares, but she has nobody she can talk to about it, so she just keeps it all her to herself, however, one night when she wakes again screaming from another nightmare to the sights and smells of a fire on campus. She is drawn to see it, but she is also feeling strange when she does, but she still cannot stop watching, at least until she is by force.

As Joey continues to try and study, she is also working in the college library, this is where she also decides to do some research into the fire and her dreams, but she finds nothing on the internet and is definitely frustrated by it. Unfortunately, things just become more distracting as one of the mysterious Warner Guardians starts to investigate and soon people start to go missing, students from the college and more fires pop up.

Joey knows that the only thing she can do to try and figure out how everything is connected is to bite the bullet and go visit the friends and ask for their help, but will she be able to face the guilt associated with them and be albe to solve the mysterious fires and missing students, all while trying to pass her finals? This is a fantasy which is full of fiery content, stubborn teens and one nasty Dream Conductor, as a tangled web is unravelled to reveal the truths hidden beneath the facade of normality of Portstown and its inhabitants.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Orenda: The Latitude Series Book 2 by T. S. Simons – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

December 26, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Orenda by T.S. Simons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Caitlin is back and she is home where she is introducing Gio to the rest of her family, and just as she expected, he fits right in, so as the days pass and he learns the skills her family have honed over a lifetime, she realises just how much she misses her sister. Soon, however, Caitlin is introduced to her future role as an ambassador to one of the newest communities of the ACC, she doesn’t really want it, but she has had experience in both the domed communities where she grew up and the underwater unhabs where she accidentally travelled on the 45th latitude and met Gio.

One day, Gio comes back from spending time with her dad and something is wrong, there is a strain and so when her mother pulled her to one side, it turns out that Gio asked her dad for permission to marry her and this announcement throws everyone for a loop and Caitlin is angry, but true to form, she and Gio work things out and agree to marry before they head to their new position. This turns into a joint ceremony and a massive party with family and friends travelling there from all over the world, where bonds are renewed, created and a lot of fun is had.

Soon after, Caitlin and Gio begin their work learning how to be ambassadors and what that entails and it os more work than Caitlin expected, but as she works through the exhaustion, cramming of information into her head and some of it completely baffling her, Caitlin runs herself into exhaustion, but it has a positive affect as it enables her to work through her worries, fears and anxieties to realise how important and enriching this post will be. When the time comes for Caitlin to really start, she begins to build relationships within the community and deal with some of the issues they face, and this leads to the kind of problem solving she lives for, so when she comes up with an idea, she latches on and is determined to make it a reality and if she can, it means a whole new future for all the communities in the ACC.

So as she calls in aid from different communities to reach this goal, it is not all plain sailing as old issues and enemies resurface to cause problems Caitlin had hoped she had left behind, but can maintain what she has built amid secrets, lies, betrayals and constant danger to keep herself, her family and the communities safe from this growing threat, or will she lose everything she has worked for? This is another amazing continuation of this series where science, science fiction and fantasy collide to create a future which could be a reality, as well as keeping you invested in the characters, their challenges and successes in this challenging, yet enthralling read.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Detective Dylan And The Case Of The Missing Mail: A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series by MJ Murray – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

December 26, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Detective Dylan and the Case of the Missing Mail: A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series by MJ Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is the summer holidays and Dylan is waiting by the mailbox for a very exciting and very important package, it is his detective kit from the Youth Sleuths, his favourite show.

As Dylan unpacks the kit with his little sister, she just will not stop talking and asking to use it as well, so he says she can be his assistant, as soon as they have a crime to solve.

Just as they are wondering what their first case will be, the neighbour next door comes out to her mailbox and finds that her mail is missing, and this is just what Dylan needed, his first case, but can he, his little sister and their adorable dog find the clues, solve the mystery and catch the culprit?

This is a lovely story for and children who are always exploring the world around them and have a love of mystery, as well as puzzles and treasure hunts, as they read along and become a detective alongside Dylan.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Festive Fates: 11 Spirited Holiday Tales Kyndra Hatch, S.E. Smith, Candace Colt, Winnie Winkle, Stephanie Harrell, Cassandra Chandler, Natalie Palma, Jill Wallace, Eliza Sinclair, Electra Gajdos, Pauline Baird Jones – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

December 16, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Festive Fates: 11 Spirited Holiday Tales by Natalie Palma
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is the festive season, and everyone seems to be happy, filled with love and ready to spend some quality time with those around them, but is this the same on every planet?

Story number one “Twas The Fight Before Christmas” involves a family gathering where one of the guests is more familiar with fighting than with singing carols, but will that change this year?

Story number two “Home For Christmas” talks about the importance of family, home and love as one woman’s meditation leads to unexpected consequences, but will she learn anything from this experience?

Story number three “Unwrapping The True Spirit” deals with a non-earthbound festival where gifts are exchanged and love abounds, but when one billionaire forgets to buy a gift, can he figure out what the perfect gift for his mate could be before time runs out?

Story number four “Christmas Trapping” Baxin and Miaxa are two aliens who are protecting an Earth family, the Maddox’s, but when they learn about Santa Claus, they are determined to stop him in his tracks, but will they succeed, or will a peaceful Christmas reign?

Story number five “The Winter Queen” is a charming story of one man and his big heart as he tries to win over one which has been cold as ice for a long time, but can he really melt it, or will his become just as cold?

Story number six “Retired But Not Forgotten” is all about recapturing life as a retired detective takes to the streets once again as a PI with a cheerful partner and a determination to solve her cases, but can this lonely and jaded woman be won over and find joy in the Christmas season once again?

In Story number seven “Sunshine’s War” it is WWII and one South African reconnaissance pilot is severely injured during service, but when he wakes up being nursed by a stranger, will he be able to find a new sunshine, or will he lose it all?

Story number eight “Wicked Beginnings” amid a works Christmas party, two colleagues have feelings they try to hide and bury deep within themselves, however, when they finally have a chance under the mistletoe, will they take it, or miss out again?

Story number nine “Magical Mayhem” a bartender finds out that her job is much more than meets the eye when Halloween comes around and new responsibilities are thrust upon her as a Keeper, but can she figure out how to corral the magical creatures who frequent the establishment, or will magical mayhem reign?

In story number ten “Seshka’s Gift” one girl must overcome her past to create a new future by learning that adversity can be a strength, especially when things go drastically wrong in the Mageguild Academy during the Harvest Moon, but can she do it?

Finally, story number eleven “Searching For Thanksgiving” tells the tale of a group of young Dragonlings who go on an adventurous quest to find Thanksgiving, but with only half a story and one map to go on, can these youngsters save the day, or will danger find them first?

This anthology spins these short stories with festive flair which will envelop you in feel good vibes and sweet romances from different points of view while you go on a whirlwind adventure through the universe.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Dark Moon Secrets (The Witch Moon Series Book 1) by Lilliana Rose – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

December 10, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Dark Moon Secrets by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tanjie is a young woman with everything she wants, good friends, an apartment and a job she enjoys, but one day her intuition tells her that something is wrong with one of her neighbours and when she goes to investigate, the worst has happened, and she is embroiled in grief all over again. When she finds out that she was included in her neighbours will, she is shocked, especially when she finds out that she now owns a bookshop, but there are conditions attached to the windfall, this throws Tanjie’s plans in the air, but she feels like she doesn’t have a choice, especially when her intuition is screaming at her to follow the instructions left to her.

Alaric is the son of the alpha is the Dark Moon Pack, but he doesn’t agree on the pack’s stance towards the witches who they live side by side with and this causes his rebellious nature to go into overdrive, but he still wants to be either the beta or the alpha and so he tries his best to hold his tongue. This changes when he discovers a scent in the air of something new and it draws him into a small local shop where he comes face to face with a young woman who says she is the new boss and it takes everything in him not to drown in her presence, even though he knows it is completely against the rules.

As soon as Tanjie goes to the bookshop, she is thrown back into a world that she was determined to avoid and forget, a world of witches and magic, but she realises that she knows even less than she thought and the more she finds out, the more she is determined to unveil everything, however, when Alaric walks into her shop, the attraction is immediate and strong, but it is against the other witches rules. As Tanjie learns how to be a witch and Alaric tries to maintain his position in the pack, they are undeniably drawn to each other, but will this be their downfall, or will they be able to flout the rules and be together against the rules of their worlds? In this paranormal romance, there are secrets, deceit and danger everywhere, as well as emotional turmoil as revelations abound in this tale which keeps you enthralled throughout.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Luna the Howling Husky Finds Her Howl: A Children’s Picture Book about Finding Your Voice, Friendship, & Kindness (Jake the Growling Dog) Samantha Shannon and Lei Yang – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

December 4, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Luna the Howling Husky Finds Her Howl by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Luna is a young husky with brothers and sisters galore, but she doesn’t play with them much because she can’t howl, and she doesn’t fit in. This makes Luna feel lonely because she can’t sing with the winds or at the moon, no matter how hard she tries.

One day Luna makes a friend who is as shy and quiet as she is, so they play together and become the best of friends, but Luna still can’t howl and unlike her siblings, she hasn’t been adopted, but will she ever be able to howl and find her forever home?

This is charming story with lovely illustrations, and which has a very important lesson we all should learn and that is to treat everyone with kindness, even if they are different because everyone is deserving of happiness.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Finding Your Heart by Nadia Han – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

December 4, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Finding Your Heart: A Journal for Discovering Your Heart by Nadia Han
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

No matter where you are in life, things happen which are both within and outside of your control and all this can build up inside until it has nowhere else to go but out and at this is the time of year when everyone is thinking about festivities and the upcoming new year.

For most people, it is a time of joy, but for others it can also be a time of sadness, stress and despair, and journalling can be something that will help get people through the hard times and appreciate the good.

This book is a beautifully set out way to work through the thoughts and emotions which are floating around in your head, as well as the ideas, goals and hopes so that you also can find your way to your heart and unlock the mysteries hidden within.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Whispered Surrender: A Dark Mafia Romance (Sinful Duets Book 1) by Via Mari- Reviewed by Stephanie Dulac

December 3, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Stephanie Dulac

Whispered Surrender by Via Mari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Whispered Surrender: A Dark Mafia Romance is the first book that i have read by this author and let me tell you i was not expecting to love this book as much as i did. Whispered Surrender is A Dark Mafia Romance with some suspense. Whispered Surrender had me hooked from the beginning, In this book we have two parts part one is about Sasha and Jay i loved following there story, i enjoyed reading about there budding romance. Part two has Matt and Marenah. Marenah is also sashas sister and as much as i loved reading about Sasha i adored reading about Marenah. I seriously can not wait to read the next book i hope it will be just as captivating as this read. If you are into romance books i highly recommend you add this sires to your list. Thank you to this amazing author for this wonderful book.

@stephaniedulac25
View all my reviews

Quick Affirmations for Children: A to Z of Easy Motivations for Creating Better days by Kim Ann, Yobe Qiu – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

December 1, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Quick Affirmations for Children: A to Z of Easy Motivations for Creating Better days – Positive Affirmations for Happy Children by Kim Ann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In everybody’s life, we experience negativity, but there is no reason why we can’t all use some positivity and affirmations to create a good start to the day.

This book makes it easy for children to do just that, it has an easy-to-read affirmation for each letter of the alphabet and fun illustrations to go with them.

It is easy to understand and will build confidence both mentally and educationally with some great words in the phrases created that all ages could enjoy.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Master Sardinia: Dark Vampire Romance (Masters of the Consulate Book 8) by Sylvia Black – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

November 30, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Master Sardinia by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Master Sardinia is one of the Masters of the Consulate under Overmaster Descallia and he has just found out that the shifters and rogue vampires they have been chasing have bedded down in his territory and he is on the warpath. When he is notified that some are attempting a takeover of one of his exclusive clubs, he heads straight there with some of the other masters to take care of things, but what he doesn’t expect is to get an earful from the owner’s daughter.

Madria is a headstrong young woman with a head for numbers and a hatred of all thing’s vampire, especially given what has just happened in the club she is a part owner of; however, she is a firecracker and doesn’t mince her words when confronting the bloodsucker in charge of the whole mess. She makes her displeasure known, so Master Sardinia doesn’t have a choice but to try and teach her some manners, followed by taking her to the surviving shifters so that they can find out where they are all hiding.

The interrogation doesn’t go to plan when Madria is attacked and Master Sardinia has no choice but to turn her, especially when it is possible that she could be a deciding factor in this war with the traitors. Madria is beyond angry once she wakes up from the transition, however, her part becomes clear when she talks of the past and how it has influenced her present, however, when it is revealed that she sees a vision of the future, it is filled with blood, darkness and doom. While Master Sardinia is trying to figure out what the future holds while trying to calm the magnetic attraction between himself and Madria, it is clear that when the inevitable clash arrives, he will do what he can to protect her, but will it be enough to keep them both alive long enough to see where the future takes them, or will another of the filthy rogues try and take her away?

This is another dark vampire romance where lies, deceit and secrets create a slowly tightening noose around the Masters and their women as they fight for those under their protection in one of their most fierce battles yet, which will leave you hooked until you find out whether they win or not.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Baking a Bicycle: Invisible Magic Wand Book Seven by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

November 29, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Baking a Bicycle: Invisible Magic Wand Book Seven by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is Caspian’s Unbirthday once again, but this time Caspian knows what he would like and so he asks for a bicycle, but his Grandpa says that his Unbirthday present is always a surprise and unexpected, so when Caspian wakes up to find an envelope of Baking Up Dust, he wonders if he can bake a bicycle!

Will Caspian and his grandpa be able to use his Unbirthday present to bake a bicycle, or will it all blow away before he has a chance to even try? This is another fun filled story with plenty of enchantment and magic for everyone to enjoy.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Christmas Carousel (The Brass Ring Series Book 2) by K. L. Small – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

November 29, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

The Christmas Carousel by K.L. Small
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rusty, his grandpa and the rest of the household return and this time it is Christmas time, and everyone is thinking about presents and what to get for each other, but Rusty isn’t sure what he can get, but he knows it must be special.

One day, Rusty gets to go to the strip mall and when he gets there, he is super excited to see a Christmas themed carousel in the central area, so he immediately thinks of the adventures he had with his grandpa on one and heads straight over to see whether he can talk to the animals on this one as well and believe it or not, he can!

As his excitement grows, Rusty is determined to ride the carousel and find the perfect gifts for his family, but unfortunately, this carousel costs money, so as he starts completing jobs for his neighbours, he saves up his money for rides and gifts. As he rides the different animals, what adventures will Rusty go on this time and will he still find the time to work out what the perfect gift is, or will he ignore the lessons and miss out on the true meaning of Christmas altogether? This is yet another wonderful addition to this series of whimsical adventures and meaningful conversations.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Rise of the Y: A YA Post Apocalyptic Dystopian by Angela D. Shelton – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

November 29, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Rise of the Y by Angela D. Shelton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lexi is a young woman of seventeen who lives with her parents and maternal grandparents in the Administration building in the Imperium, a place where order is maintained by a ruling class with a lot of very stringent rules. On her seventeenth birthday, Lexi is to take the mandatory aptitude test and be given her final career, as well as her new living quarters and the name of her mate after a few days.

Lexi has dreams of working anywhere but where her parents do and she has a plan of how she is going to get there, but as with some plans, this one doesn’t quite work out the way she hoped, but she isn’t mad, however, her father is. As she prepares to forge her own path, tragedy strikes and she loses nearly everything and what she doesn’t lose directly, she loses later on, but instead she finds a family secret, links to a rebellious faction called the Y and this calls to the rebel in her and she has to find out more.

This is where Lexi begins to tread a dangerous path, in public, she is a pure example of the Imperium, working hard at her job, getting married, living with her mate and hopefully having the big family the Imperium dreams of, however, in the shadows, she becomes further engaged in the under the radar workings of Y.

Can Lexi continue to live this double life and work out who in the tangled web of her life she can trust, or will she bring tragedy down on herself and those around her? This is an unpredictable story of loyalty and rebellion, where trust is hard to find and loyalty even harder, as danger watches from the shadows while foundations crumble below a totalitarian society in danger of falling into the worst nightmare of their own creation.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Dumpster Dying (A Hazardous Hoarding Mystery Book 1) by Michelle Bennington – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

November 28, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Dumpster Dying by Michelle Bennington
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Birdie Harper is a woman on a mission, she is on a mission to increase her collection of objects, so she goes to yard sales regularly with her finding treasures, or at least treasures to her, but her favourite thing is to go dumpster diving, she has her favourite stores and will go out in the middle of the night and find things she can use in projects, or to decorate her home. Unfortunately for Birdie, her sister Oda Dean doesn’t see her treasures the same way, she sees them as trash, rubbish which is becoming a possible health hazard and is always calling Birdie a hoarder, and this annoys Birdie to no end.

One night while she is diving, she finds something more than she bargained for, a dead body and it is someone Birdie was rather fond of, a young woman in the prime of her life. As Birdie relays all the information she can to the police, but also to her unfortunate husband, who just so happens to be a ghost, so he cannot offer any comfort, but can lend an ear and maybe even some help?

This discovery leads Birdie into an investigation of her own as she tries to find out what happened to her friend, she is also determined that Oda Dean and Walter are going to help her, but will she be able to find out who the culprit is before her dumpster diving days are over? This is a cozy mystery with ghostly aid which will keep you guessing as Birdie uncovers clues, information and danger while keeping up with her unusual hobbies.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Catford Catastrophe Zone by Petra Jacob – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

November 28, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

The Catford Catastrophe Zone by Petra Jacob
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Frankie is a young woman who works as an undercover police officer in London in 2120 in a world where technology rules and everyone has enhancements implanted into their bodies, or at least they do in the north of London, however, those in the south have something similar, however, they are more rudimentary and not always of the best quality. These enhancements are now so integral to Frankie’s life and the lives of those around her that it is automatic to use them, but like everyone else, she wants more.

Frankie has just finished a mission and wants nothing more than to ger the go ahead that her application to be one of the DNA enhanced crime fighters has been approved, but unfortunately, she has to do one more mission before she can get there, but this mission is not exactly what she was hoping for, she has to go into a poverty zone and infiltrate a group of rebels. Frankie is completely unimpressed by this, but will do anything to attain her dream, so when she is prepared, she packs a suitcase and is dropped off at the lift to the poverty zone with just rudimentary clothing, a map and an address, but what she finds when she arrives is worse than she could ever imagine.

The living conditions, the flora, fauna and people have all been understated, they border on inhumane and the number of mutations and dilapidation she sees astounds her, but when she meets her housemates, she is convinced that they cannot be the threat they have been made out to be. As Frankie reports to her superiors, the more she realises that she is stuck there for the long term, however, the more time she spends investigating and figuring out her housemates, the more confused she becomes, especially when she finds out that it isn’t safe to go to ground level, but not why, so she digs and the more secrets she uncovers, the more shocks she finds, but will she ever be able to return to her former life after seeing the poverty zones for herself, or will she succumb to the environment first? This is a sci-fi adventure where nothing is as it seems, and danger surrounds the inhabitants of this changed city as secrets are uncovered, lies are told and truths are revealed in this twisted version of a possible future.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Hope For A New World ( The Hope Series Book 1) by Renee W. Peek – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

November 28, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Hope For A New World by Renee W Peek
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Maddison Bear’s Heart is an environmental lawyer and her life’s work is to protect the earth and those inhabiting it, however, this work is about to be cranked up into a new gear when she arrives at a conference and meets more than just others who share a similar belief. Maddison is approached by two women of Hopi decent who they explain, have been waiting a long time to meet her and now is the right time to speak with her, this is where they explain about the earth as a sentient being named Gaia who has been speaking to them about the end times and usher in a new world and that Maddison is going to be the ones who leads them to safety.

Maddison is understandably shocked by these revelations and at first is reluctant to believe the two women, however, when she realises that this isn’t the first time that she has felt a presence and that this explains a lot of what she has been feeling for a long time. As Maddison is introduced to the other people in attendance, she realises just how much responsibility has been thrust upon her shoulders, however, she knows she isn’t alone in the mission she has been given, but to the outside, she has to project a different exterior so that they can achieve their goals.

This mission is further clarifies when the sister of Gaia, Adelphi approaches Maddison through another voice saying that she will welcome them if they can travel to her, so Maddison is tasked to work with the military so that they can use one of their newest ships to undertake this journey, however, it is not all smooth sailing when people have to be left behind on their own journeys to help in Gaia’s transition and someone sabotages the ship. Will Maddison and her colourful group of women, men and some animals be able to survive the journeys they are on, or will the military and those associated with it destroy their chances before they can even begin? This is a journey which is filled with twists, turns and an unprecedented level of unpredictability in this adventure to a new planet where hope is the only sure thing which everyone is relying on.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Encounter With Old Coyote by Laura Koerber – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

November 28, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Encounters with Old Coyote by Laura Koerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Andrea is a woman at the end of her days, she has been an atheist all her life, however, when she dies, she is astounded to find that she becomes a ghost! She is even more confused after spending the night alone and desperately seeking answers to meet a being with the body of a man, the face of a coyote and antlers, especially when he begins to make coffee and introduces himself as Coyote.

Andrea immediately starts asking questions about God, the afterlife and why she is still there, however, the Coyote isn’t as forthcoming with the information she wants, but what he does do is share a story and that is where this story really begins. Andrea and Coyote begin a journey where they share stories from their lifetimes and these range from youthful adventures involving indulgence and vomit, to observations of the world including spiders in showers, losing a bra in a truck stop and the existential questions of existence.

In this story, filled with stories you will be inspired to think of your life and what you will leave behind, as well as the stories you will tell in the future, but most of all, it will make you think about what you can do to create more stories in the future, as you make your way through a gentle, yet thought provoking journey of reflection.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

I Am A Bold Asian Boy: A Positive Affirmation Book for Asian Boys (Asian Family Series) by Yobe Qiu – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

November 28, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

I Am a Bold Asian Boy: A Positive Affirmation Book for Asian Boys by Yobe Qiu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This charming book is all about encouraging young Asian boys to be themselves and find the beauty, courage and brilliance of their culture and everyday life.

With the lovely illustrations, this book is suitable for everyone and will bring a positive look at life which is not just limited to the targeted audience as anyone can learn from the messages within.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Inquisitor: WaterFyre Rising #4 by Nadia Han- Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

November 23, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

The Inquisitor by Nadia Han
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Forrest Navarro is a doctor who specialises in immunology, but he also has a passion for natural remedies and mixing the eastern and western medicine so that he can help his patients to the best of his ability, however, he also has a dark side thanks to traumatic events from his childhood. Kiera Ford is a fashion photographer and works as a freelancer so that she can be more flexible with when and where and he loves her job, but she also has a passion for nature and photographing that is her hobby, but lately, she is having to work more than play more.

When Forrest comes to see family, it also coincides with a darker motive for being in the area, however, when he runs into the woman he cannot forget thanks to one night with her, he is determined to find out why it was only one night. Meanwhile, Keira is working at a high class camping resort with a brand who believe that it would make a fantastic backdrop and they weren’t lying, so Keira balances work and pleasure by scouting for the best places and once she has found them, she agrees to go to dinner with the others on the team and get to know them, but all that changes when she sees Forrest at another table, she cannot forget the night they spent together and how regrettably, it could never be more.

As these two mix work and pleasure, they begin to reconnect and work through their pasts, however, the peace was not to last when a string of events at the campsite rip them apart and an abduction places Keira in a dark place and when Forrest finds out that she is gone, he is determined to find her and destroy everyone who stands in his way, so when he hears about women being auctioned off to the highest bidder, he knows where he has to go, but will he be able to get to Keira before she disappears forever, or will their second chance disappear before their eyes? This is a fast paced and spicy romance where danger and darkness surround the light as it tries to snuff it out and kill the romance it shines upon in this action-packed dark romance.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Joy’s Christmas Escape: The Marshal’s Mail Order Bride Book 1 by P. Creeden – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

November 23, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

Joy’s Christmas Escape: The Marshal’s Mail Order Bride Book 1 by P. Creeden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Joy Stewart is a young lady grieving the recent passing of her grandmother, a woman who raised her from a young age after the passing of her parents, so when she is confronted by a hulking man escorting her from the graveside to speak to a man she has never met, Joy is astonished. Unfortunately for Joy, this is not going to be a nice conversation because the man who wants to speak to her, kindly lets her know that her grandmother owed him a lot of money in the form of past loans and he demands that Joy pays the rest of the owing’s, or becomes his wife, but her grandma has made other plans for Joy.

Marshall Jack Bolling is the law enforcement in the small town of Virginia City and so lives above the jailhouse with his mother, as he is out checking on one of the residents, he is heading home and sees smoke in the distance and as he saddles his horse he starts to organise a bucket chain, however, as he approaches the scene, his worst fears are realised, it is his childhood home. He is relieved when he sees his niece and nephew alive and well, but he is devastated when he finds out that his sister and her husband were not so fortunate, so he takes the children to live with him and his mother, but looking after them takes more of a toll than he expected and he tries to look for a nanny, with no success.

As Joy tries to process her situation, she falls on more bad luck and needs to make a decision, stay or run, meanwhile, Jack is advised that there could be another way to bring in help with the children, a mail order bride, but he is reluctant, especially with it coming up to Christmas. Will Jack find someone to be his wife before the holidays really begin and will Joy find her escape from the threats when she follows the plan her grandmother set out and will she be able to run far enough to not have to look over her shoulder? This is a slow burn romance set to a backdrop of emotional turmoil, despair and hope where two decisions can either make or break lives, as danger lurks in every shadow in this engaging historical romance.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

This Egg Won’t Hatch by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

November 22, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

This Egg Won’t Hatch by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mama Warbler is waiting for her nest full of eggs to hatch, but the first one who does, isn’t her own, it is the Cuckoo’s egg, but she still looks after it until all her eggs have hatched but one.

The last egg belongs to a very timid warbler, it also doesn’t help that the Cuckoo is whispering about how awful it is outside off the egg and to stay in her shell where it is safe.

What will the last warbler chick do, stay in the shell, or venture out into the big wide world? This is a charming story with a lovely message within about kindness and how it can affect others when it isn’t reciprocated.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Cannibal Caper: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

November 21, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

The Cannibal Caper: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sparky is an eleven-year-old girl living in Los Angeles, more specifically, the Bunker Hill area during the 1930’s depression, but she is not one of the well to do who live just down the road, no, she has had hardships, lost a family, a home and at one point, her reputation. However, she is now back, still up to her old tricks, but she has people who care about her and somewhere to live again which is not a cellar or basement in an abandoned house, but somewhere with a comfortable bed in a room which is all her own and even now, she cannot believe her luck.

One thing about Sparky is that her name is not just representative of her flaming red hair and wild nature, it is her quick wit and shenanigans as well, she is still working off her debts, albeit not everyone knows about it. That is until she ends up in the middle of an unbelievable event which leads her to watching over a pet and finding out an incredible news story, a story about cannibals in Los Angeles! This news interests Sparky and she cannot help but try and figure out who the cannibal is, but the more she finds out, the more her list of suspects grows, not to mention the ongoing capers within her secret double life.

This does mean that she has to keep secrets from her friends, Tootsie, her unofficial guardian and the boy who swears he will marry her one day, Bobby and this does make her feel lonely. Tootsie however, is determined to tame her wildness and that involves school (again) but Sparky is reluctant, especially with a cannibal on the loose and a mysterious pet shop which everyone warns her away from, but are these places and people connected, or is this caper one all on its own and will this caper be too much for Sparky to handle? This is a sassy, historical mystery where danger lies on every street corner and ne’er-do-wells hang around everywhere while this one-of-a-kind amateur sleuth tries to solve this cannibal caper while keeping her double life undercover all at the same time.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Grave Digger Academy IV by C. A. King – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

November 19, 2023/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Roxsanne Lesieur

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

Makayla returns for a fourth year at the Grave Digger Academy, but as soon as she arrives, something is different, there have been some repairs made to the building, but they are only half finished and unfortunately, that can mean only one thing, the rumours she heard over the summer about the Academy are true, but not only that, the loneliness she felt, even though she was surrounded by family is going to continue this year as well. This is confirmed as soon as she walks into the dining hall where the students and teachers are gathered, she can see that they are all staring daggers at her and nobody wants her to sit with them, not even her friends, or at least the ones who are actually there.

This isn’t the only change, classes and teachers are different as well, Makayla is hoping that they will learn something useful this year, but that loneliness comes back when she realises that she cannot summon her helpers again, another drawback to the new changes. There are, however, some positive things for Makayla to look forward to, possible forging a new friendship, answers to her questions and the ability to follow her dreams so that she is able to achieve her goals and make these possibilities, realities.

As usual, things do not go quite to plan for Makayla and her group, but while she is finding the answers she needs, she knows she is being observed and that means that danger is always on the horizon, but can Makayla achieve the answers to her questions and reconnect with her past, so that she can live through the present? This is yet another fantasy adventure across graveyards, both new and forgotten, as well as twists and turns between magical travels and enchanting places.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Archives